I don't own Victorious or any of its characters in this chapter or any to come.

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Do you remember when you were younger and a simple horror story would be enough to scare you?

For some it was something fun to do at a sleep over or a thrill to be scared for a while. For others it was a nightmare or something that had us checking the closets and under the bed for weeks. Regardless of how you took it, it made an impact.

Just like it was supposed to.

Of course when we're young it's just all fun and games, we didn't really what it all meant. These horror stories and monster hiding around our room weren't simply a pastime, they were preparing us. They were slowly chipping away at our imagination to make room for what the future held. It taught us to be afraid, to fear the things we hear about. The harsh reality was that it was to prepare us for what was to come.

The real horror.

To be honest I'm not really sure what it is, I've never experienced it. Some people never have to. No one ever wants to but most people still get infected with it at least once in their lifetime anyway. The ones who survive to tell about it don't actually remember much, if anything at all. That's part of why it's so strange to me. It sparks my curiosity. We're so afraid of it but no one can actually tell us why.

I know that's it's painful.

I haven't seen it firsthand but I've heard it echo through the halls once. Someone screaming at the top of their lungs like someone was ripping out their soul. It still haunts me to this day and it was years ago. I know I said that I was curious but I still don't ever want to experience it. God only knows if I'd even survive it.

They say this is when it's at its peak. When you're a young adult is when you're most susceptible to it. Sometimes it's like walking on eggshells, the paranoia of thinking you're getting it and praying your quarantine is quick and painless. Other times you don't have the slightest clue that you could have it and then like a lightning bolt, it hits you when you're least expecting it.

After you're infected, you're quarantined immediately after the screaming episode is over. They say it's dangerous to try and take them when they're in so much pain. It could lead to serious injuries for both parties or the infected might not even survive it. So basically people just stand around and watch you lose your sanity and convulse, and when you're done, they take you away.

Three weeks. They take you for three weeks to some facility to closely monitor your brain activity and other vitals. Some people return to their original state and as the infection goes, so does the memories of what happened. Others aren't so lucky…

The get stuck. They harbor the infection and after they're quarantine is up, they come back. It doesn't seem like much of a difference, but it is. It's like they're not from this world anymore. They act strangely and lose the ability to communicate. They speak only a language that the other infected can understand.

It's not all hopeless. The infection can still leave them and they can return to normal, but the more time that passes once infected, the harder it is to get rid of it.

This is of course if you even survive getting infected.

It's not contagious, thank god, but it's still painful to hear about. I've lost two or three friends to it. I was told they went off to be quarantined and then… they never came back. We'll, they came back but they didn't come back. I had never seen anything like it.

One friend of mine… they didn't survive the moment of infection. That was the hardest to hear about.

Currently I only know one or two people who have ever been infected and come back to us free of it. One of them has even been infected twice. It's not uncommon to have it more than once, but it's still a bit of a rarity, especially at our age.

Apparently it gets easier as we mature. Adults above the age of twenty-five or so are not infected nearly as much, but if they are infected, the odds are they will live with it forever.

"Are you okay?" I hear breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah" I sigh, turning to the small voice. "Just reading over the hazard poster again"

"Oh. Your eyes kind of glazed over so I figured you were daydreaming." She says.

I guess that's kind of what I was doing. These "Safety Posters" have been on every wall, in every mailbox, and are even on the mirrors in the bathrooms. I know them by heart by now. It starts in middle school, mandatory classes and tests to make sure its drilled into our brains by the time we hit high school. High school isn't much different, only more relaxed about it. We all know that 30% of us are going to be infected so it's just a matter of reporting someone you think is showing signs. 'Please report strange behavior immediately' is practically painted up and down every hall.

"Are you… are you thinking about your parents?" She asks quietly.

"A little yeah. I just… they're really gone ya know?" I say.

Yeah… I lost my parents to the infection four months ago.

One day everything was fine, normal. Then when Trina and I got home from school there were dozens of healthcare and hazardcare workers in our driveway. They told us that a neighbor had heard our parents screaming and immediately called it in. I didn't want to believe it but, I saw Trina and she looked so… heartbroken. That's kind of what made it real, when I realized just how much this affected people.

Three weeks later our parents were released but, we haven't talked to them since. They take care of us, they're here for us, we wake up and come home to them, but they're not really here. The best we can do is simply look at each other in sadness and wonder why this had to happen. I think a part of them knows what's happened to them, but I don't think they'll ever truly come back. Now it's just me Trina. We depend on each other more than ever and no matter what, we have each other's backs.

"I know. Sometimes I when I get home I still think my mom is gonna be ready and waiting for me to share my day with her and then help make dinner." She says before pulling me into a hug. "But you don't have to worry, you still have us".

She lost her mom too. She still has her dad, but her mother and brother are infected. They have been for years.

"Thanks Cat" I say hugging her tighter.

I don't know what I'd do without the people I have. They've been my rock since all this happened. Cat has definitely been there for the most though, well, her and Trina. I know we're gonna get through this, all of us.

And dang Cat gives the best hugs.

"You smell so good" I purr.

"What?" She says pulling back to look at me.

"Uh…" I start.

"I've never met someone more capable of ruining a moment than you Vega." I hear from behind me.

"How else do you think I get all the ladies?" I ask turning to face her. "I-men, men! I meant men." I quickly correct myself.

"Right. Regardless the gender, I pity them. Anyway, Andre wants us to help him with something in Sikowits room, so he told me to come get you two." Jade says with a bored expression.

"Wait, someone asked you to do something, and you complied?" I feign shock.

"Mostly because I knew you would embarrass yourself while trying to cop a feel with Cat. Pleased to say I was not disappointed" She smirks.

As my jaw now resides on the floor, I slowly turn to defend myself to Cat, but to my relief, she is rather intensely smelling her shirt. Thank God.

I turn back to scold Jade but I notice that something else has her attention. She looks almost defeated. I follow her line of sight and…

Oh.

Beck casually walks by, his eyes on us for a moment or two before continuing on to his next class.

We lost Beck about nine months ago. He the second one in our group to be infected and stay that way. All I know is that Jade's the one who had to call it in. She was with him when it happened and hasn't been the same since. I mean, she still absolutely horrible to me, but it has a different edge to it. It's more habitual than anything with intent behind it.

"He could still come back you know…" I trail off.

"Honestly, I don't think he is." She says before walking off to Sikowits'.

I'm sure she'll be ok, I mean, she's Jade West right? But that doesn't stop me from wanting to comfort her. Granted she would probably stab me in the throat for trying, but blood makes her happy, so maybe it would be worth it.

"Do you think-" I'm cut off by Cat's head being buried into the crook of my neck, followed by a deep inhale.

"Ohhhh, now I get it. You smell good too Tori!" She beams.

"Thank you" I choke out.

"Why is your face all red?" She asks confused.

"You… probably don't wanna know. Come on, Andre needs us" I say laying my arm around her shoulders in a… "friendly" manner. Yeah let's go with that.

Although we're in a world where we're in a constant fear and many of our loved ones have fallen to it, Cat's right, we still have each other. We still have what's left to hold on to. And if it's anyone I'm not letting go of…

It's gonna be Cat every time.

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Hello my Lotus Blossoms

So, I wrote this. You like it?

Haha, it's a tad different from anything I've ever written before, but I like it. I want to be able to branch out outside of my usual genres. Being a writer partially about originality and versatility. I wanna be able to grow in those areas.

Funny story, the line I had up there when Tori and Cat are hugging, "You smell so good," may have actually happened... in my life. Yeah I went on a date last Wednesday and dropped that line whilst hugging him goodbye. I have no idea why he still likes me…

Anyway, let me know what you think of this. Don't worry, the heaviness is not going to be anything like my last fic, this one will definitely be more lighthearted with more humor.

ALSO: I'm turning "Make This Go On Forever" into a book. And ladies and gentlemen, I need your help. PM me or leave it in your review if you wanna help me out and I will be eternally grateful. I'm ready to take my writing seriously and make a career out of it. I know I can do it.

Last but not least: Thank you to all who reviewed my last fic as I polished it off. And thank you so much for the prayers and PM's. I am doing SOOOOO much better.

P.S. Bug the crap out of me if I struggle to update every week. I refuse to fall back into pit of despair and little writing. I love you guys and I wanna show it.

Remember, Reviews = Love, so spread it around. Thick.

A.Y.P.