"Where was I?"
"You were dead. I mourned you."
Confusion furrowed his brow. Julia...he loved her...she was home, safety, integrity. She made him a better man – the man he could never be without her. Eva – they had shared a year together...or did they? He was drawn to her even as he knew his place was with Julia. Every time Eva touched him he felt as though she was leaching the willpower out of him.
Pain throbbed within his heart as the previous night intruded into his thoughts. The fear in Julia's eyes when he struck the wall so close to her face appalled him. Yet she didn't back down. She steadily held his eyes and told him to leave. This was not how he was supposed to be. What the hell is happening? He paced like a caged animal even though he was alone in an open field...no obstruction, no bars, no enclosure but he felt trapped.
Christine. Who the hell was she, really? Friend? Foe? He kept hearing Julia's words about the badge she found in the caves. "Aktaion – your father's company - Christine lied" His gut clenched as the hateful words he spewed at her came to the forefront of his mind. God! She should hate him with every fiber of her being. Why can't he stay away from Eva?
He spun at the sound of approaching footsteps, his fists clenched, his stance automatically altered to a crouch, ready for battle. He relaxed a bit as he recognized that it was Joe and Norrie. The former had a concerned expression clouding his face. The latter, Norrie, did not. She was clearly pissed and not trying to hide it.
"Hey Barbie."
"Hey Joe, Norrie. What's up?"
The young redhead took a step forward, her intent to encroach on his space. Her anger was palpable, her hands clenched so hard they were trembling.
"What . Did . You . Do?" Her voice was low, threatening, intent on getting an answer. When she saw hesitation mixed with guilt on Barbie's face, she exploded.
What did you do to Julia? Her eyes, her face. I've never seen her like this...not when she thought you got hung...not when you went over the cliff. What did you do? It's like she's dead inside and damn you for doing that to her. Fix . This. I don't care what you do but fix this. Get your stupid self away from Eva and that witch Christine and get your head on straight. This . Is . Not . You!"
Joe tugged her to his side and spoke softly. "She's right Barbie. You have to take care of this. There's something going on with Christine and Eva. They have some kind of hold on the town. Norrie and I somehow found our true selves and you need to do that too. Stay away from them. Go to Julia and please talk to her like you used to."
Barbie's jaw was a hard line as he glared at the teenagers. Then he realized they could be right. Something was not right in Chester's Mill and he'd been blind to that. His stance relaxed, his glare smoothed out as he swiped a hand across his face. Without a word he turned and began to make his way out of the field.
"Where are you going?"
"To find Julia."