Torment of Paradise
Chapter 1
The cool breeze passed through the room, making the sleeping figure stir slightly. The person turned more now, a frown erasing away the content lines of sleep. A few minutes later, they woke up suddenly, cold sweat on their forehead, breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Jeez…I need something to eat." came the shaky voice as they headed downstairs.
Running a slightly trembling hand through their long hair, she headed for the kitchen intent on getting something calm their shaky stomach. A mug of hot chocolate was fixed and a few minutes later, she was sitting on the swing on the back porch, enjoying the view.
The moon hung low in the sky, cresting the waves with luminous foam while the white sand of the beach below had turned a silver colour. It was so very beautiful out tonight yet she couldn't really enjoy it. All the emotions she had kept away under lock and key during the day surfaced at night; they tormented her sleep, her dreams…she was starting to fell worn down and tired. She simply watched the waves, falling into a trance that she almost didn't notice the person who sat next to her quietly.
"Jess? Are you OK?"
She turned around startled to see Quatre's tousled blond head, bright aqua green eyes and pajama clad form. "Quatre! I…I didn't hear you come."
"Yeah…you didn't. What's wrong Jess?" he paused looking out over the water before looking back at her. "You seem preoccupied lately."
"A bit." she looked back out over the water falling silent again.
"Jess?" his hand rested on her shoulder gently. "Are you-"
"So how was your day Quatre?" she asked softly, not looking at him still; she didn't want to deal with questions now.
"It was good." his hand left her shoulder. "Didn't have a mission today for once. That was a bit weird I suppose."
"Hn." she nodded her head slightly. "Wish I had that. Wish I had a lot of things."
"Like?"
She didn't look at him before standing up and walking to the edge of the water, letting it lap at her feet. She liked the way it felt on her bare feet, cooling and gentle.
"Jess?" Quatre came up behind her.
"Nothing." she whispered. "It's not important." she didn't want to burden him with her own sorrows; they each had enough of those as pilots.
"Jess-" he started.
She turned to him giving him gentle smile before her hand went to his cheek, holding it gently as she spoke softly. "Don't worry about me."
"It must be important if it's troubling you." he replied softly as he watched the waves also. He looked back at her. Does it have to do with your mission from today?"
"Well…"she trailed off a bit unsure of how to answer. "no…and yes." her arms crossed as the breeze picked up slightly, rustling their clothes. "I…"she shook her head, trying to brush it off.
"What do you mean no and yes?" he asked, peering into her face with a concerned expression.
She paused; there was that tone in his voice, he really wanted an answer; if she didn't tell him now, he'd keep trying for it…he was as stubborn as her…she loved that sometimes; now she wished he wasn't like that at all.
"Jess…"
"Quatre…"she looked at him, unsure. "have you ever…have you ever…never mind." she gave a heavy sigh. "Just never mind. Let's go back inside and sleep OK? Please?"
"Sure." he said as they walked away from the water's edge. "Are you going back to sleep?"
"Um…yes?" she offered with a weak smile.
"Want some company?" he asked as they headed back into the kitchen.
"Company would be nice…if you're not tired." she looked at him with a smile. "If you are, I want you to go and sleep OK?"
"I will…Allah knows you get on our cases about it." he chuckled as they headed into the living room.
"Yes well, I see Duo party enough all night and he's barely able to get up in the morning." she muttered as they plopped themselves on the couch. "How he's so bright and cherry in the morning is beyond me."
"You're just saying that because you're not a morning person." he laughed as he picked up the remote. "Is there anything decent to watch at this hour?"
"Probably some cheesy B-class movie. Like 'Mothra' "she chuckled. "Just surf around and we'll find something."
Settling down on the couch together, they went through the channels before deciding on one.
"Where exactly are they?" Quatre asked in a whisper as the people moved around on the screen.
"In Mexico…looking at Aztec temples." she replied back softly. "You know that place just below America?"
I know, I know. I thought you'd fallen asleep. Wanted to make sure you were up." he chuckled.
"I'm wide awake." she replied, stifling her yawn. 'Like hell I am.'
"Oh. OK then. What's that giant snake thing with the feathers around its neck again?"
"Quezacotl. He was the main deity of the Aztecs and you know what those temples were used for?"
"Nope. Care to enlighten me Ms. 'History Buff'?"
"Funny you." she smacked him playfully. "They used to sacrifice people to him, to ensure a bountiful crop and such."
"Sacrifice?" he looked at the screen a bit squeamish. "How many? I can still see the bloodstains."
"Sometimes it could be hundreds in a day."
"That's kind of horrendous. All those people…"
"But Quatre…"she yawned a bit. "is it really any different from what we're doing now? We still sacrifice people…but to a different 'god'…or rather 'gods' I should say."
"True…but that's why some people use pacifism now; to eliminate the need for violence hopefully. Granted back then it would have been survival of the fittest…but still……"
She chuckled slowly at the queasy look on his face. "Aren't you glad I didn't tell you what they did with the bodies afterwards."
"Why? What did they do?" he looked at her, curious but afraid almost.
"Trust me…if the sacrifices made your stomach turn, this would make you freak out."
"Did they let crocodiles eat them?" he asked.
"Nope." she stretched out before sinking back into her chair loosely. "I don't think you really want to know."
A mixed look crossed his face for a second. "Yes I do."
She looked at him, vision starting to go fuzzy. "You really what to know?"
"Yes."
She shook her head closing her eyes; it was even harder to open them. "They ate them."
"You mean…they ate them? Like cook over a fire and eat?"
"Yeah." through her blurred vision, she caught the look on his face. "I warned you Quatre."
"Yeah I know. Wasn't expecting it to be that though." he looked at the screen before looking at her again. "They really ate people?"
"Yup. Look if this is starting to get to you, we can watch something else."
"No, no it's all right. I'm actually sort of interested in it. Sacrifice and cannibalism aside."
"Good. I don't think I would have let you change the channel anyways." she managed in a sleepy voice; everything was fading in and out so fast.
"You and what army?" his disjointed voice replied.
"Just you wait and see Quatre Raberba Winner…I'll…I'll." she fell off as sleep claimed her. She barely realized that she fell into a warm, soft object that soothed away her troubles…for a bit at least.
