Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters, the movie, "The night of the Comet" are property of someone else and not me.

Night of the Comet

Chapter 4 - Jade's Story.

We'll jump back a bit and tell Jade's story.

Jade's Pov

It all started last night at Andre's party. Since him and his grandmother moved out of that little apartment into that nice home, with a big patio, he'd been looking forward to throwing a party.

So naturally with the comet soon to arrive, he decided to use that occasion to do so. He invited us and a number of other friends and students from Hollywood arts. I understand his grandmother had plans elsewhere.

A fun party and another chance to rub Tori's face in my happiness. I just feel this compulsive need to do it, whether I'm happy or not.

Arriving at the party, I was none too happy to find out that Vega had to work. Actually that really irked me. But there was nothing I could do about it so I decided to try and party on.

But for some reason, my mood had been ruined and I didn't feel like partying much. Oh Beck was, hanging with the group.

So I just wandered the party and did what I do best, make other people feel worse than me, through the liberal use of insults and threats.

Well about an hour before the comet showed up, I got an email from my father of all people. He was at some swanky comet party, at the luxury penthouse apartment of a business friend of his. He told me that one the many guests was a movie producer who was the co-producer of "the Scissoring.

He told me that he talked to the host and arranged it for me and Beck to come if we wanted. Normally a swanky upper class party, would be something I wouldn't be caught dead in, but considering I could meet a producer of the Scissoring and enjoy some top shelf booze and food, I can certainly make an exception.

My father had little time for me and recently he's been making more of an effort to do things with me. I guess he felt bad about all those long business trips. Tonight he thought of me and know this was something I'd like, which was a pleasant surprise.

So I searched an found Beck talking to Cat.

"Hi Jade, I was just keeping him warm for you." Said the red haired girl, with an annoying giggle.

I just disregarded her and rolled my eyes. "Come on Beck, we're blowing this dump and going to a party uptown. Top shelf booze, Caviar and I'm told they have that Renaldo, that celebrity chef cooking the food. My dad said we could come. So say you're goodbyes and let's go."

Beck narrowed his eyes and stayed put. "What's in it for you? Besides, you can't just order me around."

"What do you mean what's in it for me? and I just did order you around."

Beck scoffed. "You hate parties like that. You think the people that attend them are stupid and shallow. So you must have a reason."

I huffed. "Ok, Ok, Thomas Doolittle the co-producer of the scissoring will be there. I want to meet him. I hear they're thinking of making a sequel. Maybe I could make some points with him, so he remembers me casting time."

Beck shook his head. "No, were here at a fun party with our friends and you want to run off because some guy who had something to with that stupid scissoring movie is there. We're staying."

Shooting me down was one thing, but calling the scissoring stupid, made my blood boil.

"The scissoring is not stupid and why won't you support me!" I shot back.

Beck normally backs, off, but stood his ground. "I do support you. Everyone supports you. You're just too selfish to know any better."

And it started from there, I just kept attacking him as Cat slunk way with a sad expression. Beck kept verbally jabbing back.

Eventually he let me have it. "I was stupid to get back with you. You're selfish, mean and paranoid, Tori was wonderful to you and you treated her like shit. I'm so fucking sick of you."

For a moment he tensed as I could tell he fully expected me to deck him, only Cat putting herself between us stopped me. Instead I screamed, turned on my heel and stormed off. So I hopped in my car and drove downtown.

The party was down town in one of those new glass and steel skyscrapers and I arrived in the lobby about 15 minutes before the comet arrived.

When I got to the elevator, I found a strawberry blonde woman of about 20 in a fancy dress waiting there. She made a pleasant smile, but the elevator arrived and ignoring her, I got in.

All was fine as we rode up until we passed the 20th floor when we both felt a jolt and the elevator suddenly stopped.

"Fuck" I cursed out loud ad I pressed the button for the penthouse once again.

However nothing happened, the elevator door didn't open and neither did it move.

"What's happening?" Said the other girl.

"What do you think happened, something went wrong and we're stuck. Or weren't you paying attention."

The girl shook her head. "No need to be so rude."

I then pressed the emergency intercom button. Moments later a voice came over the intercom.

"This is building security. We're aware of the problem and are working on getting you out. Is every one ok?"

"We're just peachy, in fact, we've just started a game of checkers. Get us the fuck out of here." I roared."

The girl then spoke up. "I'm fine, please get us out."

"We've called the repair person, just sit tight."

Now really pissed, I kicked the metal wall of the elevator and screamed. "Fuck." All that did was hurt my foot.

The girl gave me a disapproving look. "Well I don't like being in here either, especially with you, but you don't need to be so angry."

Sitting down in the corner I shook my head.

"I'm Stacy by the way."

"Jade." I muttered.

After some moments of silence, she asked. "How long to the comet. I was supposed to meet my boyfriend Steve, at the party. I wanted to be with him, when it happened."

Glancing at my phone, I said. "About 10 minutes."

I tried to text my dad that I was stuck in the elevator, but the signal was blocked. There was nothing I could do. So I sat and quietly fumed in the corner while Stacy, played solitaire on her phone.

Sitting in the elevator, some 10 minutes later, I wondered what the light show looked like, which only pissed me off more, cause I was missing it.

Another half an hour passed and I had missed the show, but we were still stuck. I pressed the intercom button.

"Hey, what's the status on those repairs?"

This time, there was no reply.

I pressed it again. "Hey buster, can't you hear me?"

Nothing.

This only further, increased my anger and began to pace back and forth like a tiger in a cage. Stacy just looked sad and played with her phone.

After 10 minutes of me pacing she said, "They told us to wait."

I shot her a dirty look and sat back down.

Impatiently I waited another hour in which Stacy made several attempts to speak with me, but Ignored them all. She was trying to be friendly, but I wasn't in the mood. I pressed the intecom button again, several times but no one answered.

I was angry, frustrated and helpless, which I hated utterly.

"Just try and sleep, they'll have us out." Stacy said before laying down.

So I punched the wall and after my hand stopped throbbing, I took her advice. I curled up in the corner and closed my eyes. I did manage to sleep, but fitfully.

Wakening up some time later, I was in just a foul mood as I was before. In addition my back hurt and I had to pee.

A pressed the intercom again in vain, but no answer.

Waking up Stacy said. "According to my phone, it's just after 8:30 in the morning."

"Fuck what are they doing, they leave us in here for almost 7 hours with no word. Who in the hell is running this place."

"We need to wait." Said the ever placid, Stacy.

I shook my head. "No way. I've been cooped up in this metal box, for almost 7 hours, I'm crabby, I'm tired, my back hurts and I have to pee. So we are getting out."

"How?"

I pointed to the faint outline of the trapdoor in the ceiling. "Up and out."

"I don't know."

"Come on Stacy, help me."

"They told us to wait."

"yes, they told us to wait, yet they've done nothing else. Now help me Up."

After a moment's hesitation, Stacy moved and helped me so I could reach and open the trap door. I then pulled myself up and onto the dirty roof of the elevator. Thankfully the door to the 21st floor was only 2 feet above the car.

"Do you see anyone?" Called out Stacy.

"No, I'll reach down, grab my hand."

So I helped Stacy up and moments later had the elevator door open.

"Oh my god, were free. Steve must be so worried."

"Whatever" I muttered as I helped her up and then got out myself.

We found ourselves in a marble floored corridor which led to some sort of Law office; but it was closed. Not caring about that, I made a beeline for a nearby bathroom and finally managed to relive myself and wash up. Stacy did as well.

"Now what Jade?"

"I'll tell you what, we go downstairs where then I royally kick the ass of whoever is in charge of this place."

I found the stairs and walked down 21 flights, as I had no intention of taking one of those deathtrap elevators. Arriving in the lobby, I was furious and ready to take the security guard's head off.

But it was empty.

The large desk with all the monitors and buttons where the security guard sat last night was unmanned.

"Jade? aren't those supposed to be manned 24/7?"

"Yes they are. Stay put. I'll check the john."

After calling out, "Hello" I checked out both the men's and women's rooms but both were empty. A quick walk of the ground floor resulted in me finding no one.

Now I was both angry and now just a bit perplexed.

Reentering the lobby, I found Stacy behind the security desk, holding up what looked like a pair of brown pants. She looked very puzzled. "Jade, look at this."

I walked around the desk and behind it was a guards uniform, belt, nightstick, 2-way radio, keys, shoes all on the floor. Plus there was red dust in and around the clothes.

"Jade what is this?" Stacy said as she dropped the pants.

Now I was really starting to wonder what was going on. "I don't know."

Stacy pulled out her phone, "I'm calling Steve."

"You do that." I said as I examined the dust.

As she dialed the phone, I picked up the 2 way. "Hello, is anyone there?"

No response.

I then spent a few minutes looking at the monitors for the security cameras, but they revealed no one, on any of the monitors.

After hanging up the phone, Stacy began to look worried. "Jade, Steve's not answering. I called my mom, my dad, my sister, my best friend, no one's answering. That's not right."

I nudged her and grabbed my phone, "Come on, let's go outside."

As we walked out of the buildings glass lobby, I started to dial, Beck, than Cat, then Andre, then my dad, but no one answered.

In the pit of my stomach, I began to sense something was amiss.

In front of the building was large open plaza with a huge fountain in the middle. At first everything looked normal; all the buildings were intact and even the fountain was running.

Stacy pointed up. "Jade the sky?"

I looked up to see the sky was covered from one end of the horizon to another with this bizarre looking red haze.

But I then noticed all the clothes. All over the plaza were more sets of clothes, but more than clothes, wallets, purses. With each set of clothes there was dust.

"Jade, what's happening?"

I vainly searched for some sort of answer, but none came. "I dunno."

Noticing something even more odd, I pointed to something off in the distance. "What do you see there?"

"It's the 110 freeway, Why?"

"What wrong with it?"

"Uhhh….I don't know."

"Stacy, that's one of the most busy freeways in the country, it has cars on it day and night, 7 days a week and though there are cars on it, nothings moving. Also do you notice something or actually the lack of something?"

Stacy was beginning to look quite jittery. "I don't hear anything."

I don't know why but I looked at the clothes and the dust. Last night when I arrived there was a huge crowd of people here, all waiting for the comet. One of the shirts on the ground, I remember some fat guy wearing. But all that's left is clothes and dust.

It didn't take me long to figure out, what was happening.

"Stacy, that dust. It's not dust."

"Wha…what is it."

Trying to ignore my own nerves, I stated bluntly. "All that's left of the people."

Stacy's voice started to shake. "That can't be….I'm calling 911."

While she did that, I examined the contents of a wallet discarded nearby. It contained over 110 dollars.

"Jade, no one's answering."

"IT CAN'T BE, YOU DIALED WRONG!" I snapped.

"You try then?"

I did and no one answered. Standing in the plaza surrounded by the powdery remains of dozens of people, I suddenly began to feel ill.

Stacy pointed across the street. "Wait, Jade! I see someone."

Looking over, I could see what looked like a man in an expensive suit, kneeling over something on the sidewalk.

"Come on, he'll know what's going on."

Walking towards him, I tried to make out what he was doing, but I couldn't. It wasn't until we got within 20 feet of him did I see what he was doing.

He was eating a cat.

For a brief instant we stood there in shock until he turned and looked at us. His eyes were a dull grey and deeply sunken in. His mouth was stained with blood.

Letting out an ear piercing scream, Stacy ran off down the street.

I would have followed her, if it wasn't for the fact that the freak in the grey Armani suit, charged me like a bull.

Not even thinking twice, I pulled my scissors from my boot and held it out. Oddly, not even seeming to care, he kept on charging and impaled himself on my scissors. However the force of him doing that knocked me backwards on the ground.

Pulling himself off my scissors he crawled up and tried to bite me. Half freaked out and pumping with adrenaline, I jammed my scissors deep in his neck.

The freak screamed, got off me and for a few moments, thrashed wildly on the ground before coming very still.

Only then did I realize, my hands were shaking and I was covered in his blood. Hundreds of hours of horror films never prepared me for this. I was in shock.

I fell to my knees, half expecting him to get back up. But he lay still.

A moment later I vomited.

It's undignified for me to admit to vomiting after killing some freak, but you go through that and not want to vomit, I dare you.

It took me a few minutes to mentally pull myself together. Only then did I approach the motionless man and kicked him. He didn't move.

Cautiously I pulled the scissors from his neck and other than some squirting blood, nothing happened.

I started to run at that point, I don't even know why. I just had to run and I ran in the same direction which Stacy had run. I had to find her, the one sane person left.

I found her 20 minutes later, or more to the point, what was left of her. She was lying on the curb in front of a closed Jetbrew.

Stopping dead in my tracks, I realized she'd been torn apart; her blood, now covering the sidewalk. One or more of those freaks must have gotten to her. Looking at her, I felt a deep stab of regret for rebuffing her attempts at conversation, not too mention I threw up again. I doubt I'll ever get that image of her lying dead like that, out of my mind, ever.

I loved the TV show the Walking Dead. So much so I never missed an episode. Now I found myself very much in a nightmarish, real world version of it and all I wanted was for things to go back to normal.

Not able to stand looking at Stacy anymore, I just ran in the opposite direction. Eventually one of those other freaked out things spotted me and started to chase me. I was going to try my scissors again, but as I turned a corner I spotted a parked cop car. Next to it, was a police uniform and a pile of dust.

There was also a pistol.

Sprinting the last few yards, I ran to the pile, pulled out the gun and promptly put 2 slugs in the freaks chest. Jerking backwards, he felt to the ground and didn't move. I stood there and just to be sure, put a bullet in its head. At least I could kill the fucking things, that did make me feel just a bit better, but not much.

I tried to use the police radio to call for help, but no one answered.

At that point, took the gun, extra ammo and just wandered in a daze. There was no one, just clothes and dust. At one point I broke into a Gap store and found myself some clean clothes. God I hate The Gap. A little while later as I passed an empty car with the radio still running. I heard the station and the DJ playing. So I made my way there.

No One's POV.

Jade sighed deeply and looked to Tori and Trina. "So upon arriving here, I find you two dumb dumbs, which means I've gone crazy or gone to hell. I'm freaked out, pissed off and having the grandaddy of all bad days"

Tori tried to smile but failed. "At least you're ok."

Jade shook her head and lay back, closing her eyes.

Trina spoke a moment later. "Wait, how come us three are alive and everyone isn't."

"Cause God hates me, that's why. Stuck here with my cheating ex and her brainless sister."

"SHIT THE HELL UP. I NEVER CHEATED ON YOU!" Blasted Tori in a fit of frustration.

Jade momentarily opened her eyes, then closed them.

For about 5 minutes, all three girls sat there, listening to the taped DJ, talking happily about the upcoming Christmas Holiday.

Despite her ordeal, Jade did wonder why they survived. She then looked to Trina. "Hey Fatso, Where were you last night. When the comet came?"

"For the last time, I'm not fat. I had an argument with my stepmother, then spent the night in the neighbors garden shed."

Jade thought for another few seconds. "What was it made of?"

Trina shrugged, "Um…It metal, yeah, it was yellow and made of metal."

Jade nodded and looked to Tori. "Same question? Where were you?"

Tori hesitated answering for a moment before blurting out the answer. "With Ryder in the old fallout shelter beneath the theatre."

Jade laughed mockingly, "That figures."

"Jade, I remember Ryder telling me about it. The shelter was concrete, with a layer of lead and more concrete."

Jade tilted her head, as a thought formed in her mind. "And I spent it in a metal elevator. That's it."

"That's what?" Asked Tori.

"Metal. Each one of us, was in something that was made of some kind of metal, when the comet struck. Me in a metal elevator, probably stainless steel. Tori slutting away in a fallout shelter with lead walls and Wonderbrain in a metal garden shed."

Disregarding the insult, Tori nodded. "So the metal provided us with some kind of protection, from what ever happened to all the people."

"What about the freaks?" Asked Trina.

Jade closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "Maybe those people were inside buildings, but not surrounded by metal. So maybe it provided partial protection. The comet affected them, but just enough to drive them mad."

Tori looked to Trina then to Jade. "You worried about Beck."

Jade fumed and bolted off the couch. "Of course I am."

The Goth then started to the doorway.

"Jade where are you going?"

"Back to Andre's. See if I have a boyfriend left."

Tori uneasily stepped forward. "Can I go? I'm worried about Them too."

Jade threw up her hands. "Fine, whatever"

Trina backed off. "I'm staying here, where its safe."

Tori quickly hugged her sister. "Just stay indoors and don't go anywhere, we'll be back."

"We'll be back." Mocked Jade, as she walked out of the studio.

With a final wave, Tori turned and followed Jade.