A/N: This is my second fanfiction, but my first for the House of Anubis realm. House of Anubis has been my obsession for a couple of months now. I watched the first episode on New Year's Eve and became instantly hooked. Now that season one is over, and there is no confirmed season 2, I decided to write this. I wasn't going to write this quite yet (I've been dedicated to my other FF for the Darkest Powers series- so if you have read those, check out my FanFiction!), but I've been having withdraws from the show, so I thought this would be a good time to get this posted.
This takes place about a three or four months after season one ends. And this may make some people disappointed, but I have an OC (Original Character) narrating this. Before you get completely upset and switch to some Twilight FanFiction, I'd like for you to still give this a chance. I have spent a lot of time trying to produce an in-depth character with lots of flaws that can be relateable. Now, whether I've succeeded in that is up to you. (And I'd love for you to review and tell me whether I did or not!). But, ALL characters in the original series WILL show up.
You may experience some confusion in this chapter, but that is there for a reason. Happy Reading! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own House of Anubis. Or any creative disclaimers, for that matter.
"You'll be fine." His hands clamped my shoulders in a reassuring way, squeezing until all of my uneasiness was absent. Him being here helped, but didn't quite get rid of all of the anxiety forming in the pit of my stomach. It was crucial that I did everything correctly, said everything correctly. One mistake and our plan could plummet and sizzle out. I didn't want him to leave. Not when he was the only person I could truly trust.
I twisted my head until I was staring straight into his eyes, his two orbs of blue the only thing comforting about my entire situation. They sparkled as the sun's ray peeked out behind the confining clouds and reflected on our red van. He had been living in his van for weeks, sleeping in the front seats, keeping myself stored in the back, refusing to come out. He hadn't specified his reasons behind this, but I could tell he was depressed. I was glad to know that I was of some company to him, though. By the seems of it, he didn't have any friend or family to turn to. I was his only one. But, in this aspect, we could relate immensely.
"Do you remember the plan?" His words were soft, not wanting to be alarming, but that didn't keep the urgency in his voice from percolating through. I nodded my head in agreement. I did remember the plan... how could I not? Every day he forced the words of his tactic down my throat, these words eventually becoming permanently embedded into my brain. Some nights I woke up from visions of this strategy growing amiss, my failure leading to our capture and eventually to the death of him, my sole purpose. They were sinister people... they made me watch his death... they murdered him... they...
"Iris..." He noted my wavering sadness and reached out a hand to wipe the tears from my face. His hands were gentle as he chased the rain away one-by-one. With one hand still tracing invisible marks on my face, he lifted the other to gingerly cup my chin.
"Rainbow," he spoke with much tenderness. "Shh... it's okay. It'll all be okay. I'm here, safe." He pushed the hair stuck to my face away and pulled it back behind my ear. I reached out and rested my hand on his arm. It was okay... he was here, very much alive. All would turn out fine. He wouldn't leave me.
"I-I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice trembling like the engine of a train. "I've d-disappointed you. It won't happen a-again."
He took his hands off my face and placed them at his side, working with a loose strand on his coat. We sat in silence for a moment, the only sound projecting in his car was the muffling of our breathing, in-sync together. Sometimes I wondered why he had stayed, why he had chosen to protect me instead of living on his own. It would be much easier that way. One less person to feed, one less person to take care of. Just pack his bag, erase his memory, and the rest would be fate. Forget about me for good. The only thing cutting these threads of doubt was the fact that he didn't live by fate... he chose his own destiny. That much I knew.
He glanced up after a minute, his attitude more composed than before. He looked at me with welcoming eyes as he said, "Would you like to go over the plan again?"
I nodded with concurrence, with confidence. I was certain that I wouldn't mess this up, couldn't mess this up. He put his faith in me and I had to return the favor.
His words were serious as he clarified his plan. "You'll walk in and explain your situation. You're a new student at Anubis House. You registered a couple of months ago. Your form is located in your backpack. Pressure them into thinking that there's must have gotten lost in the mail. Is that part clear?" He paused to make sure I was catching on before he continued, "Become close with the girl with the Eye... the Eye of Horus. You'll recognize her. Sweet... charming... friendly..." He made a gagging noise. I couldn't help but crack a smile to lighten the mood.
His plan prolonged as he said, "The keeper of the house- Victor- ...make sure you don't give out any suspicious hints... he'll definitely catch them. He's a wicked man, a heartless man. He'll change you as a person; force you to see the evil, to see who you are inside... the darkness within..." His voice trailed off as his once assertive face was now streaked with hesitancy. I've never seen him like this before. My eyebrows scrunched together as my eyes evolved to an ominous shade black. I suddenly grew a strong dislike for this man. How could he hurt him... how?
I hit the side of the door in fury, the contact causing a loud echo to bellow inside of the car. My breathing accelerated while my pulse increased to its maximum. The throbbing in my hand confirmed the worst of my fears... I was a monster.
I kicked the console; slapped and screamed at the stiff seat that was not supporting me rightfully during my rage. I continuted to beat the tinted window until my hands went numb. All rational thoughts exited my head. I deserved to be locked up... I was not safe... no one was safe...
He let out a strain of profanities as he tried to hold me back, stop me from going completely insane. He reached for my wrists, and after several failed attempts, he grabbed them and pinned me down, his sharp nails tearing into my skin. I was forced to be submissive, no matter how much my wince proved otherwise. But, I wasn't a dog, I wasn't someone's doormat. I was absolutely no one's adherent. I squirmed underneath his grasp until one of my hands was free and I whipped it, lashing him in the face. He stumbled back in his seat, his hand clutching his cheek where my fingernail made contact. I could see the blood already start to trickle down his face.
"Dammit... I... gahh..." His words came out uneven as he tried to form a sentence, but couldn't under the pain pulsing throughout his body. The pain I wreaked.
I remained in my seat, my head balanced on top of my rigid knees. The tears streaked my overheated face, but they cooled me down and diminished my anger. I peeked over at him in the seat next to mine. Irate. Despondent. Disappointed... in me.
"I-I'm so s-sorry." My lip trembled as I spoke. Demoralization flooded my body and rushed through my veins. I inflicted the worst in everybody, primarily myself.
He glared at me, his once gleaming eyes now omitted. He spoke carefully, not wanting to set me off again. "Someone could have heard you. My plan... everything we have worked towards... it could have been thrown away because you are too imprudent to think about your actions." I glanced away, guilt overpowering anything I could have possibly said.
He reached across the seat and grabbed me by the chin, compelling me to stare at him. "I don't have to help you, you know. I can kick you out right now, with no one to turn to, no one of your assistance. Would you like that?" His grip tightened on my chin, his thumb pushing into my jaw. I didn't say anything. Didn't want to.
"I said, would you like that!" His fingertips were thrust into my skin, my eyes filling with tears yet again. I shook my head immediately, not wanting to feel any more pain.
He shoved my head away and gazed disgustingly out the window. He refused to look at me. "Don't you dare mess this up for me, Iris. Don't you dare."
I took in a deep breath, trying to regain my confidence, and said, "I won't. I promise."
I glared into the open air, not staring at one certain thing, but instead trying to lay my thoughts out in front of me. I was to walk into the house, my presence warming and my smile radiating. Hopefully, they would accept me. If they declined my stay, though, I would show them a copy of the form he meticulously falsified. Money would not be a problem either... he had taken care of that matter. All I had to do was fake my graciousness and get ahold of the Eye of Horus, and if I was lucky, the Elixir. But, why was I so worried? Was it because of dissatisfaction or the wrongdoing I was about to perform? I thoroughly believed that I wasn't a bad person... yet not a good one, either. I was somewhere in the middle, skimming the edge of abusing welcomed seclusion.
The car shook, startling me out of my consuming thoughts. He had put the car into gear, the keys now rattling in the ignition, their place finally found. His hands were locked securely on the steering wheel, his eyes set on the road ahead of him. They scanned over each and every pebble flying off the tires, presuming them to be a suspecting person, not a lazy rock. He watched every movement that was made outside of the car closely; he would not let his guard down until I was safely in the house. He was strongly dedicated to his plan and would not let one reckless mistake ruin it. Like when I went on my frenzy.
My rages aren't explanatory. I never mean to lose self-control. It just happens so quickly and so very easily. Emotions are a difficult thing for me to configure. How does one truly express oneself in a simple action, a simple expression? How does one live with all of these sensations bottled up for so awfully long without exploding? That is how it is with me. The steam builds up and increases after every incident until my emotions come tumbling out, sort of like a kept lid on a boiling pot resting on a heated stove. Is it insanity, or just a part of my whimsical being?
The trees rushed by without any sense of pattern as the van drove along the dirt road. At the end of the trail, I could see a blur of light, confirming that the road was to end soon. Birds wove in and out between the trees, without a care in the world. Sometimes I wished I was like them. Unconcerned. Free. The desire to fly being my only passion. We met the last of the dirt road and I glanced back to wave goodbye to the birds. I had a feeling we would meet again soon, though.
The pavement was a nice break from the constant jolts and I soon found myself marveling over the scenery. There were about ten different buildings lying in an array, all so gigantic and beautifully structure that I had to blink to make sure it was all real. There was one especially long and huge building, which I assumed was the school I would be visiting for the time being. It was absolutely gorgeous that I had myself thinking that there was no way it could be a school. But, it was. This would be my new life.
He merged from road to road before we finally came to our destination: Anubis House. It was a Victorian House, standing tall and smugly in the center of what might as well had been the greenest grass I had ever seen. Benches were positioned symmetrically in front of the house, this move causing a little of the worry to ease. This house didn't seem as terrible as he had described it.
He plucked the keys out of the ignition and wordlessly handed me a small box. A set of green contact lenses. I was about to ask how this would completely change my identity, but decided against it. It would be better not to argue.
I opened the box and set the lenses on my eyes. I felt disoriented at first, but that quickly diminished. I stared at him, watching him. He didn't seem to notice me at all.
I cleared my throat and said, "What about my hair?"
He shook his head. He must have discerned my confusion because he justified his reason. "It's not needed. They won't recognize you."
My puzzlement doubled by this. It didn't make any sense. But, he was in charge, as always. I stretched behind the seat and grabbed my bag. It contained everything I needed: fake ID, my registration form, even a pair of books for school. I was to arrive as everyone else at this boarding school did.
I looked at myself one last time in the rear view mirror. I appeared fragile and tiny, lacking the confidence I needed. I pushed the black sidebangs out of my eyes and put on my biggest smile. It was improvement, but not by much. I'd have to do better once inside.
The man I feared for reached over and touched my arm lightly, graciously. He observed me with kind eyes, the sparkly tint now returned. He sent me a small, supportive smile and I then realized that he was the only one in this world that I could possible love.
He leaned over and pressed his lips to my temple before sliding them down to my ear. He pushed the hair back so his words would be audible.
"You'll do fine, Rainbow. I'll call you tonight once you are settled. Add me into your contacts as Thomas. This is the name you will know and describe me by. Never give out my real name. Is that clear to you, Iris?"
I answered with, "Yes, I understand, Thomas."
I felt him smile against my hair. He then whispered, "You are beautiful. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."
My cheeks reddened at his words. No one had ever said that to me before. Not even my parents.
He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before he threw open my door. He waved for me to step out and I did. I watched him as he shut the door carefully behind me. I'd miss him.
I straightened my white shirt over my jeans and combed through my hair with delicate fingers. I licked my lips until they were moist and then slung my backpack over my shoulder. All pessimistic thoughts left my head as this was the first time I had sincerely felt self-confident. I was the bird I wanted to be so badly earlier. But, I would not accomplish this for myself, I'd do it for him.
I sauntered up the sidewalk to the porch. I took the steps two at a time, excited to actually please someone for a change. I raised my hand and knocked on the door. Behind it, I heard people scurry to get to the door on time. I glimpsed back behind me and saw that he was now gone, the car no where to be seen.
As I waited for the door to open, I began to wonder why he had chose the name Thomas. Why, it was nothing like Rufus.
