Fun fact: Ree's original name was to be JJ Witwicky.
WARNING: Slight molestation
Word count: 3,093
Chapter 7
"By Myself"
Ree stared in the mirror, her back facing it but her head twisted around to see the bare flesh. She traced a finger across the large marks that trailed up her spine, they were scars from something. She didn't know what.
Curious and intent on finding it, the girl walked away from her mirror, slipping on a bra and a shirt before approaching her bookshelf that was lined with countless journals. A variety of covers greeted her; there was leather, hard cover, paper, velvet, felt, etc.
Ree picked out the one on the left end of the shelf, it was the first journal she archived. A charcoal Baron Fig Confidant. The yellow bookmark was placed randomly inside.
The girl opened it up, turning to the first page where she began her entries.
"Jazz suggested I write my day here so I can remember. So, I'll fill you in, future Ree. There was a terrorist attack on Mission City, as I've been informed. My back had three large wounds, no one knows where they came from. You developed short-term memory loss and amnesia... Fun, right? Every morning, I wake to nothing and these journals..."
This doesn't go into great detail as to how she got these scars. Something happened during that terrorist attack, and Ree wanted to find out what.
First of all, who was Jazz?
Secondly, why can't Megatron stop staring at her? He had this malicious smile, and a primal look in his red eyes. Whether it was because of her nightmare last night, or when she pulled off her shirt to see the scars, Ree would never know. Or maybe it was both?
A certain part of the spirit told her he was aroused, and it immensely disturbed the girl.
Ree averted her gaze, trying and failing to distract herself from the spirit. The others still hadn't returned, which she found to be just fine. Why am I even concerned about them in the first place? I don't care for the spirits, at least, I don't think I care. I hope I don't.
She stared as Megatron stood and stretched, purposely moving his trenchcoat away to show off his muscles that were visible through his tight-fitting shirt. He smirked when he caught Ree's gaze, "Like what you're..." he paused his stretch and sentence to run a hand up his stomach, shirt slightly pulling up to reveal the tight abs he bore, "...Seeing?"
In a split second, he had Ree "pinned" against the wall, hands placed on either side of her head and snarling face a few inches away from hers. The poor girl was stuck in a moment of fear before she realized that he couldn't hurt her.
Nonetheless, Megatron tried to physically touch the girl, becoming violent when she knew no actual harm would come to her. Ree could just faintly feel the spirit biting her earlobe, a hand trailing down her stomach in an uncomfortable manner. She fidgeted under his invisible grasp. You better fucking let me go!
"Or what?" He challenged, grinning as the conflict raged in her eyes, "You'll scream? Darling, no one would believe you," his lips grazed her cheek, a hand holding the back of her head to him and Ree swore he was actually touching her. He made sure she watched as he licked his pale lips, "You can't escape."
I'll find a way, Ree mentally spat at the spirit.
She was struck with fear as Megatron lunged at her again, hands landing on her shoulders, feeling like he really was making physical contact. He pressed himself against her, having an imaginary force to keep the girl in place. Chuckling, the spirit whispered in her ear, "I'd like to see you try," his forehead pressed against hers, Ree could feel energy from him from the close proximity. If he was dead, why does he feel alive? Megatron smirked, ignoring her thoughts, "If you do have any ideas..."
A shock was sent through their contact, the girl jerked as her vision grew white with pain. The spirit watched with bittersweet satisfaction as Ree convulsed and collapsed, left on her knees while gripping her head, screaming in pain, "Get them out of my head!"
The other four spirits appeared, stressed by the situation that also affected them. The girl curled in on herself as the pain subsided to a tingling sensation on her temples.
The door nearby flew open, someone rushed in, he was an out-of-focus mixture of red, white, yellow and khaki. The man, supposedly Dr. Chet, placed a hand on Ree's back to steady her. Fatigue quickly came over her, she sat there with her head limp in her hands, not caring enough for the questions flying around.
Sam stepped in, Ree could tell by his muffled voice before her hearing gave out again, "What happened?"
Three more figures soon follow, one recognizably Prowl and the other two her aunt and uncle. Ratchet used his finger to lift Ree's head by her chin, she blinked, trying to get the fuzziness of her vision and thoughts away. The doctor's mouth moved but the girl couldn't focus. That was very unpleasant, whatever Megatron did.
Ratchet turned, firmly stating his words, "We're taking her off the medication starting now," her hearing was the first sense she returned to, besides touch, "I'll have a talk with Dr. Harold. For now, she needs to regain whatever energy she just lost."
Ree felt arms pick her up bridal style before she was deposited on her bed. She had momentarily opened her eyes to see the blurry figures of the five spirits and the other five adults in her room, she pushed down the anxiety rising up in her chest.
They all left within a few minutes of fussing over the girl, she simply ignored them out of exhaustion.
"There's more where that came from," Megatron's smirk was the last thing she saw before falling asleep once more, making a mental note to eat when she wakes.
~ o Castle of Shards o ~
A headache was present, but at least it was a peaceful quiet, even as Ree opened her eyes and saw none the five spirits staring right back at her.
It made her uncomfortable, yet comfortable. More unnerving as their usual greetings weren't there.
They were gone... for now.
Ree slipped out of her bed and observed the empty room, it was unfamiliar and familiar. If that made any sense. She kept getting a sense of déjà vu.
Her eyes found the laptop on her desk, it was open but on standby. Curious, she turned on the computer and watched as the screen lit up, desktop greeting her. A folder was open, many audio files were placed in it. Ree clicked on the most recent that was labeled as today's date. Audio began playing, it was her voice that gave a recap of her day and other usual fillers.
Once it was done, the girl stood and stayed still. What was I supposed to do? She glanced around, how do I get to my dresser? I somehow got here... Ree glanced at the space in between her bed and desk, trying to figure out what she had done to get across that stretch.
Having an idea, she picked up her foot, placing it a couple feet in front of her other. Oh, she realized. A few minutes was spent on walking and she finally stumbled to her dresser, pulling it open and taking out... what to wear?
The girl took out a wine red turtleneck and black skinny jeans, as well as slipping on white ankle socks and her Vans. A simple outfit.
Ree looked at herself in the mirror, the shirt she wore hugged her body and made her chest and hips prominent, even though she had barely any curves. It was a complimenting set of clothes.
She quickly ran a brush through her short hair, watching the strands become frizzy with static from the brush.
Ree tried her best to ignore a feeling of dread in her stomach and the itching on her wrist that she wishes that it would just go away.
Momentarily glancing at the bathroom, she pulled on a jacket as she walked past.
The girl continued her way downstairs, greeted by four unfamiliar faces. Two of which she remembered from her recording earlier; her aunt and uncle. The other two, she's never met. At least, she doesn't think.
Ree went into the kitchen, eyeing the medication sitting on the counter. All the prescription bottles were labeled as hers. Her message didn't say anything about having to take medicine, so she shrugged it off.
The girl prepared herself a simple breakfast; a toasted cream cheese bagel. She stared at the bread before taking a few nibbles. Within a few bites, Ree lost her appetite.
Pressing a finger to her temple, the girl threw away the bagel, "Aunt Judy?" she waited for a reply, "Do you have anything for headaches?"
It was a sharp pain in her temples, diverting her attention. She had to constantly close her eyes because she was becoming sensitive to light.
Judy walked in and walked over to the cabinets, looking through a few pill bottles before taking a white bottle with a blue label out. The woman handed it to her niece and returned to the other room with little words said. Odd for an overly excited, chatty and energetic woman like her.
Ree stared at the pill sitting in her hand. Without taking her eyes off the medication, the girl grabbed herself a glass of water to help swallow her pill.
As the ice-cold water slid down her throat, the pain in her head spiked and she braced herself on the counter, setting down her glass and placed her free hand on her temple.
Pushing past the pain and walking to her bedroom, closing the door and flopping onto her bed, she thought about what had happened the day before.
A small ringing broke out in her ear, Ree could have sworn it's happened before... It was odd, but faded away when she turned her head to find the source as if an object was making the noise. It's all in your head... err, ear drum.
The alarm clock wasn't set, Ree noted, it was almost nine in the morning, she could still go to school. But it didn't seem like she should, or could. The girl didn't feel well and all she wanted to do was lie in bed all day, maybe watch a movie or two.
It was a deafening silence she sat in, the occasional noise from outside, such as a car door closing or birds, and then there were mute voices from downstairs. The ventilation turned on every few minutes, Ree counted to three-hundred sixty-two for the time between breaks, the silence. The vents go quiet for six minutes, comes on for five, then shuts off.
She counted every crack, scuff, mark, etc. on the ceiling over and over. Soon, Ree turned over and began counting how many times the wind blows against the house, how many times the curtains move in response, the window rattling, the birds tweeting, breath intakes, blinks, cuts on her arms, pictures on her wal-
Cuts on her arms? Turning her attention back to her left wrist, she saw red lines. Healed by the looks of it. Other marks indicated her arm was previously wrapped up.
Sitting up, Ree stared intently at her arm. She cut herself... that's right. But why? And if they were wrapped up, she glanced at the discarded bandages in her trashcan nearby, who knows that I cut myself?
Was it the two men downstairs? The... who were they again? It looked like a... doctor and police officer. Right?
I hate my memory, she scoffed, unable to even remember their faces. Unable to remember anything, and it was frustrating sometimes. There are things that seem important that she wants to remember. It feels like she's left out on some things.
Irritated, the girl stood from her bed, ignoring the head rush and stomping out of her room, which wasn't peaceful enough.
Shoving back on her jackets, and a pair of Vans, Ree walked downstairs, keeping her steps light and listening to the satisfying clicks the sole of her shoe made on the hard wood floors. She passed by the four adults, muttering that she'll be in the backyard.
The girl opened the door, welcoming the cold wash of air that greeted her immediately. She stood at the door for a moment, breathing in the fresh crisp air. It hasn't even reached September yet and they've received a cold front. It's too cold for summer, in the sixties, but at least it's refreshing instead of the heat. Nevada was mainly a warm place.
Ree settled herself on the stone path, the coldness seeping through her jeans.
The birds and rustling trees were louder and more calming. The girl let out a breath, seeing the faintest of clouds flow from her mouth, she exhaled harder and a more visible cold breath came along with it. The swirls of air dissipated into the sky.
Ree set her hands on her bent knees, sitting Indian style.
Pondering, contemplating, thinking, considering... all the same, yet different.
Just like the spirits.
They were gone, and hopefully permanently.
Never to return...
Ree knew that was easier said than done.
Feeling the urge to read, the girl stood and took a few strides back inside, heading upstairs.
Her hands found the bookshelf, where all her journals were. She grabbed a leather journal, the skin had the typical pattern that reminded her of reptiles. It was dated a few months ago, being the fourth journal on her shelf and thus far, the largest width wise, being crammed with multiple papers that were taped in. The tallest journal was in the middle, being fabric and parchment-colored paper.
The one she held was all black; the cover, the pages... hopefully not the writing too. Ree opened and let out a sigh in relief. It was silver and gold writing, most likely a gel pen was used. The girl glanced at her desk, where a cup with pens sat, she found gold and silver, both almost empty.
Ree opened the first page, heading out her bedroom and back outside. Her small writing was neat and almost unlegible, even to her. The writing was mainly silver, then there were drawings and other doodles lying around in mostly gold, some the metallic grey.
Paying no heed to the unvacated living room, Ree moved on outside, where she sat in her previous spot, now cold from the weather.
Light and dark clouds loomed over the town, covering the sun and making the scene gloomy, that's what many people see. Ree views it as calming. She likes it, not the blaring heat from the sun.
The girl began reading the journal as a way to pass time.
~ o Castle of Shards o ~
A growl interrupted the silence...
Where had that come from?
Ree subtly glanced around without moving her head, trying to find the source.
A minute passed, nothing happened and the girl returned to the last page of her journal.
Then whatever it was growled again. This time, Ree could feel it. In her stomach... it was an odd feeling, like it was begging for something missin-
She facepalmed, food! Right!
Quickly finishing up the last page, the girl closed the book and raced back inside, announcing to Aunt Judy, who was in the kitchen, that she was hungry before running upstairs to drop off her journal.
Ree returned to a sandwich on her plate. It was peanutbutter and jelly. Good enough, she sat down and took a large bite, savoring the taste.
A little while passed and Ree finished her sandwich, and she had nothing else to do.
"Aunt Judy?" she said lightly, waiting for the woman to respond, "Can I go for a walk or something?"
Her aunt hummed, "Curfew's six."
Ree smiled and walked towards the front door, she was stiff from not getting enough exercise.
The girl walked down the street, using the sidewalk. Everything looked new to her, yet she's most likely been down this way countless times.
Heading down the road, wherever it took her, Ree enjoyed the feeling of moving and the sounds that greeted her.
The five spirits shouldn't return... Ree assumes it's the schizophrenia medication that makes them appear. But what was there before? More like who was there before?
Stopping, she realized that she had just walked down to a park. It was empty, for the most part. It was simply a field with a couple trees lining the paths. A playground lied at the edge.
A good place to think.
Ree headed towards a swing set, sitting down on one of them and looking at her feet, which hovered just above the ground. Scowling, she scooted forward so the toe of her shoe just barely made contact with the soil below the swing. There wasn't any molch, undoubtedly, it had all been kicked away.
"Don't worry, I get th' same prob too," someone said from beside her. The girl turned her head to see an African-American man, who was... transparent.
He was the spirit.
"...Jazz?" She hesitantly said, not knowing if this was who was constantly mentioned in her journals.
"Tha's me," he offered a smile, which looked a little strained. The spirit looked exhausted, if that was even possible, and he didn't look happy. Something was wrong. His face then turned upside down and he frowned, "Yeah. You've been hurtin' yourself."
His accent was dropped. Mostly. He sounded serious and Ree couldn't help but pull down her sleeve further to hide the already covered wrist.
"It's been rough..."
"I know," he murmured, "I've been watchin'. But ya haven't been able t' see me, 'cause the 'Cons decided t' steal ya from me."
The girl nodded, welcoming this friendly spirit back into her mind. He embraced the greeting.
Jazz swung in sync with her.