Anika: Hey guys. Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays! Just got back from Disney World where Aj tried to steal Tinkerbell so that she could fly and rule her evil army from the sky. It took her three hours to realize Tinkerbell was a fictional character. I really need to get a DNA test to see if she really is my sister. This chapter took a little longer to write than normal because Aj didn't help at all. She's still moping because the world didn't end on the 21st. She's really depressed that we all survived for some reason, so it might just be me for a few chapters. Here's the chapter.
Previously:
"Oh, sorry. That was rude. I'm Ari. My friends sent me by to talk to you. I guess they're too lazy to give you their message themselves." He smiled once more, and instead of my mind spinning into conclusions, I gave a small smile back.
"What friends?" I asked, closing the door behind me.
Strike Three.
A smile formed on his lips, as he seemed to absorb all of the details of my dorm. This enough would have sent me over the edge and had me pounding his skull in ten minutes ago. Perhaps I was still in shock, but I decided to drown out all of my paranoid thoughts for the time being. I was sick of always being on edge and following Jeb's training rules. After all the times that he had screwed me over, why the hell should I listen to anything he had ever told me. Maya was the perfect example. She went against every rule and training that Jeb had set and abandoned him, yet her life ended up perfect. You know, besides the whole going missing thing.
"It's kinda funny how many kids here are calling their mommy's and daddy's after hearing that news report. As if mommy and daddy would help any." He stated bitterly, ignoring my past question. His change of subject struck me as odd, but I figured that right now, that was what anyone would be talking about.
"I'm guessing you didn't call your parents." I quipped, trying to avoid thinking about the current situation and ending up in fetal position. He scoffed, as if the idea seemed about as far-fetched as getting a letter of acceptance to a magic school, via owl.
"Let's just say I have a bad relationship with them." He muttered, scowling inwardly. The expression on his face looked almost murderous, sending chills down my spine.
"But I'm sure you already know how that is." He went on, quickly turning the subject to me. The murderous rage that had gleamed in his eyes only a few seconds ago had vanished, replaced by a knowing smirk.
"Oh, do I? How do you figure?" I asked, steel returning to my gaze at the mention of parents. Who did he think he was to assume what I was like? In fact, why was he even here?
"Well, for one, I don't see you dialing a phone and weeping to daddy for help." He retorted, in an almost mocking tone.
"How do you know I haven't already?"
"Because you don't seem like the type. I bet you're like me. You have a mother that doesn't really know who you are, and doesn't even know it. Even worse than that, you have a controlling father who barely recognizes that you're a person, not just some tool that he can use to do his bidding." I froze upon hearing his words, starting to wake up from my stupid act of defiance against Jeb. There was no way he could have just guessed all of that.
"Ari, why are you here?" I spoke slowly, casually leaning back ad trying to reach for something I could use to defend myself in case my returning senses were correct.
"I think you know why. Brigid says hello, by the way."
Faster than even I could register, his arm shot out at me and I felt his something collide with the back of my head. Blurrily, I saw the corner of the dorm's dresser speed towards my vision and then all I could feel was a white-hot pain in my temple.
Fang didn't know whether to be relieved or annoyed that Principal Abate had cleared everyone out of the commons, not wanting the students to worry too much. It seemed as if a cloud of dread had attached itself to the school, making everything to seem so much more real. Now that the disappearing kids were becoming more serious and more threatening, Fang almost felt guilty for having fun with the Flock at Maya's house just a week ago. Maya. Fang reconsidered stopping by her dorm to see if she was okay after the news story, but decided against it. Normally, Fang would have known whether Maya wanted him there or not, but lately, she had been confusing as hell. It irritated him to no end. He had always secretly prided himself in being able to read others while he was unreadable to everyone around him, but ever since break had ended, Maya was as unreadable as he was.
He tried to fight a small smile as he remembered waking up briefly the night that the whole Flock had been roped into helping Iggy with his list. He had woken up feeling heavier than normal and smelt strawberries. It wasn't long before he was awake enough to see that Maya had fallen asleep on top of him. Back before, when things still sucked and Maya was easy to figure out, he would have teased her senseless. This time, Fang decided to keep it to himself. He had no idea why.
Maybe because he knew that the new Maya would probably hit him if he tried to tease her, a fact that Iggy was now very familiar with. Or maybe, it was something else entirely.
As Fang neared his own dorm, hoping that Iggy was already in there and asleep, he instantly regretted not going to Maya's dorm. Crowding in front of his dorm was Brigid, along with Lissa and two of their wannabes. Their giggling stopped as soon as they spotted him and Fang cursed himself for not being a ninja and getting as far away from them as possibly without being seen.
"Hi, Nick." Brigid waived, already strutting over to where he stood. Fang resisted the urge to scowl as she called him by his real name. He had always hated that stupid, preppy name. Fang said nothing to Brigid, even as she stood just a foot away from him, batting her eyelashes.
"What do you want?" Fang asked simply, hoping that his harsh tone would scare her off. Unfortunately, it seemed the message was lost on her.
"Well, we never really have time together anymore and since that freak had a panic attack just because a couple of kids ran away or something, now we have some time along to hang out. And stuff." She purred, stepping slightly closer. A lot of things could have stood out to Fang. But there was one thing that he could only seem to focus on. One thing that seemed to make his blood boil.
"She's not a freak." He growled, clenching his fists. A couple of Brigid's fan girls scattered, obviously not wanting to be around, leaving only Lissa, Brigid, and Fang in the otherwise empty hallway.
"Oh, really? Haven't you noticed how different she's been lately? She's been edgy and can't cheer for the life of her, she ditches her friends without any explanation, all of a sudden, out of the blue, she wants to go back to her old friends who she hasn't talked to in over a year, she seems to have an entirely different wardrobe, and it seems like half of what everything around here says she pretends to understand. It's like—it's almost as if she's an entirely different person. Nick, you and I both know that you aren't stupid. She didn't just wake up one morning and decide to change her complete personality. In fact—"
"Brigid, don't. He's not worth it. Please, don't make me stuck in the middle of your war with Maya by making this even worse. You're acting like a bitch." Lissa interrupted, pleading with Brigid in hopes of saving her friendship. Brigid turned toward the redhead, scowling slightly at being interrupted, but returned her gaze to Fang.
"In fact, I think it's because she's hiding something, something big. My father is a therapist and he's told me that when people are guilty, they try to act nicer in an attempt to make up for what they're guilty about. Or something like that. So, the question is, Nick," she paused in mid-stride, flashing her diamond white teeth to build up what she was going to say, "Do you have any idea what she could be hiding? Like, for example, has Maya been friendly with any other boys lately?"
For once, Fang wasn't silent because he didn't see a reason to talk or to annoy his friends. He was forced into silence from the shock Brigid had just hit him with. As much as he hated to admit it, to even consider it, part of what she had said was right. He couldn't keep denying that the changes in Maya were just because she woke up one day feeling nostalgic for the pre-high school era. She had changed so drastically in such a small amount of time that there had to be a reason for it. While it was kinda pushing it to suggest that she was acting like a completely different person, Brigid had brought up some valid points. That is, until she suggested that Maya would cheat on him. That—that was crossing the line.
There was just some part of him—some gut feeling—that told him there was no way Maya would cheat on him. But then, he would doubt himself entirely. He knew that that wasn't true. At least, the new Maya wouldn't cheat on him. He hoped. No, he didn't care. Maybe this was just some stunt Maya was pulling to try and play a prank on him and the flock and Brigid and Lissa were in on it. Fang reminded himself that not long ago, if someone had told him Maya had cheated on him, not only would he not have cared, he wouldn't have been surprised. As hard as it was to believe, despite new Maya's seemingly chronic antisocial attitude, along with her regular attitude, and the annoying way she seemed to now be able to best him in the art of comebacks, Fang knew he would care if someone revealed to him that Maya had cheated on him. Especially if that someone was Brigid.
"You're lying. Maya's not a queen bitch, unlike you. She doesn't jump from guy to guy every week." Fang argued, now firmly set in the belief that Brigid was just a lying bitch that was scorned because Maya kicked her ass. Smirking slightly as her eyebrows shot to her forehead because Fang didn't fall for her petty lie, Fang walked past her to move towards his dorm, accidentally shoving her a little on the way.
"Oh, really," She seemed to taunt, making Fang pause from turning the smooth metal knob, "Then how come she's cheating on you right now?"
Fang turned around to face Brigid, his nostrils flaring, as he spat out a disbelieving, "What?"
I felt like curling up into a ball and falling asleep, hoping that the pounding in my head would go away. Unfortunately, even in my hazy state of semi-consciousness, I felt my legs being dragged and I couldn't help the curiosity of finding out why my limbs were moving without me moving them. I opened my eyes just a tiny bit, nearly shutting them immediately from the harsh light, but what I saw threw enough sense into me to allow me to keep my eyes open. Ari was looming over my form, a knife in one hand and rope in the other. Upon seeing the knife, the memories of the attack rushed back, causing me to involuntarily groan.
His eyes snapped to where I was and he smiled cruelly, dropping the rope as he had finished tying my legs together.
"Is this some kind of hobby of yours? Tying up helpless girls after you've finished your homework?" I attempted sarcasm, although the words didn't come out nearly as strong as I would've liked. He knelt down closer to me, holding up the knife and smiling as the knife glinted. Without warning, he slapped me. Hard. I tasted the familiar warm metallic liquid and didn't even notice he had begun tracing patterns with the blade's tip across my stomach.
"So pretty," He murmured, "Won't be for long though." He seemed to almost ponder how I would look while I attempted to edge away from the uncomfortable chill of the knife. He returned his focus back to me and the blade seemed to press into my flesh a little harder. At this point, no blood had been drawn. At this point, he was toying with the victim.
"You're insane." I spat, trying to put all my hatred in my still shaky voice.
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm perfectly sane and doing this because of revenge." He leaned over me, just close enough. Knowing that whatever move I made would be stupid, I kicked out with my still bound legs with enough force to knock Ari into my dresser, where the clutter building up crashed into him. Even though every movement was painful, I sprang up from the floor and tried to get to the door as quickly as I could with my legs bound together, silently praying a thank you that I was a slob who ignored Angel when she would nag me to clean up.
Just, as I was about to reach the door, there was a pull on my legs that sent me crashing to the floor, landing on my arms. Ari had recovered quicker than I had hoped. And now, he was mad. Luckily for me, I was even madder. I used my arms to get back on my feet, just in time to dodge a blow to my head. Using his momentum against him, I punched him before he had time to regain his balance. Even with the blood dripping from his nose, he seemed to take on an animalistic persona. He showed no signs of being hurt, which was not only offensive, but also bad for me. Very bad.
Thanks to my still bound legs, Ari had time to send a perfectly aimed hook punch to my jaw. I crashed into the door, the world spinning around me. I longed to be free of my restraints so I could kick his ass just like I had with so many others. In a hopeless attempt, I made a mad attempt to open the door, only to be pounced on by Ari. He clutched a thick handful of my—now—bloody hair and yanked me up so that I was standing.
"Hey, careful! What do I look like? A rag—" I stopped speaking as I felt the razor sharp chill of the knife press into my throat, just enough so that if I so much as coughed, I would end up bleeding out on the carpet.
I clenched my jaw, trying to put on a fearless expression as I was yanked and dragged by my hair to the far end of my dorm, away from my one chance of escape. Grinning sadistically at me, Ari swung me by my hair into the wall. I gasped as I felt my head explode in pain and began to see stars. Oh, how I wanted to just lie down on he floor, next to my semi-dried blood, and just sleep.
A hard kick to my ribs was enough to bring me out of my stupor, as I couldn't keep in a guttural scream. Only, now I was gagged so nobody would be able to hear me. When did he gag me? He leaned down next to me, as happy as a child at Disney Land, and removed the gag from my mouth.
"You know, doesn't add up," I coughed, unable to use full sentences due to the incredible pain, "Brigid sent you, she's a bitch. But…she…she's petty. Pathetic. She wouldn't have someone torture me…kill me. Why are you here?" I swallowed, trying to keep from screaming. If Jeb saw me right now, he would be so disappointed. I was even disappointed myself. How could some ordinary teenager beat me so badly? Sure, I wasn't able to use half of my body, but I still should have fought back harder. My eyes trailed over to the knife that Ari had discarded when he had slammed me into a wall. I had almost forgotten what it was like to believe I was going to die. What was worse than the actual dying part was that I had always been alone. While I was pretending to be Maya, I was able to see what it was like to not be alone and to have friends. Even though the whole time I was still alone, fighting for my life completely alone and always handling myself just like I was used to, not needing help from anybody. It was a little poetic that I would die alone too.
"Brigid sent me here to teach you a lesson. Just for me to make out with you for your little boy toy to walk in on. As soon as I saw who the bitch she wanted humiliated was, I couldn't believe my luck," He laughed cruelly, making me shiver against my will, "Tell me, Max, how long have you been hiding out here. You wouldn't believe it if I told you what daddy has been doing. Oh, this is just too good to be true."
He laughed viciously, leaning over me so that I could see his brown eyes. Seeing the bloodthirstiness in my eyes just proved to me that I was about to die. So…why wasn't I scared?
"I'm going to enjoy killing you." He cackled, before my airflow was cut off and there was a painful pressure on my throat. I was thrashing, struggling, trying to find out why the air suddenly disappeared. Jeb had trained me so that I could go three and a half minutes without air. In three and a half minutes, I would be dead. Even though I knew it was a lost cause, even though I knew nobody was around, even though I wanted this pain to be gone so much, I took the little energy I had left and used it to scream as loud as I could.
"What?" Fang repeated, steeping closer to Brigid. His voice was low, deadly. Fang was glaring at Brigid, his special glare that had nearly made everyone he had ever used it on pee their pants. Well, except for one girl. Brigid was scared, realizing she may have gone overboard when she was taunting Fang. Good, Fang thought, She should be scared.
"Oh, you don't know," Brigid regained her taunting composure, "Before you came, Jen was just telling me how she saw a Junior, Ari, go into her dorm. Alone. I guess this would be the perfect time, seeing as nobody was around to catch them. I've heard from a lot of people that Ari always gets what he wants."
Fang took an involuntary step back, shocked by the news. Lissa had abandoned the scene, obviously afraid of what was to come.
"I'm sorry, Nick. I really am." Brigid sympathized, resting her hand on Fang's shoulder. Fang let her keep her hand on his shoulder, too lost in his thoughts to care.
"I mean, after the Sam incident, I really wished you didn't have to go through this again. But, just know that I'm here for you if you need comforting." Brigid began to rub her hand up and down Fang's arm. Fang stood, tense and angry as he remembered Sam. That wiener.
"You said that Ari's in her room right now?" Brigid nodded, not quite understanding why he cared. Fang's common sense seemed to shut off as he pushed Brigid away from him and bolted to Maya and Angel's dorm. If Maya really was cheating on him and Brigid had told the truth, Fang was going to enjoy kicking dude's ass. Somehow, even though Fang was detached from reality as rage took over him, he was able to make his way to Maya's dorm without needing to think. Before he knew it, he had arrived and was about to throw the door open when he heard a scream.
I wasn't quite sure how long I had been without air. It could have been seconds or minutes or hours. Probably not the latter, but it sure did feel like it. I wanted to say that my life flashed in front of my eyes and I came to an acceptance that I had had a good run and a loving family with caring friends that stuck with me until my dying moments. But, that would be a load of crap. Hate to break it to you Soap watchers, but your life doesn't flash in front of your eyes as you're dying. All I could think was, Oh god, this hurts so (Insert Swear Word Here) bad. Any other thought was deemed unnecessary. Maybe that was why the loud crack of a door opening was completely ignored. At the back of mind, I registered some yelling, but it was probably just my subconscious chastising me for getting myself killed so easily.
Strangely, when the pressure had been relieved from my neck, it felt almost unnatural. I opened my eyes a little, afraid of what I would find. When I saw Fang, of all people, leaning over me, eyes wide with shock, I think it was understandable that I pegged it as a hallucination. It was when I felt myself gently being cradled in his arms and heard him yelling for help that I decided this was real. Opening my eyes more, despite an overwhelming desire to keep them closed, I saw that Ari was unconscious.
"Fang?" I groaned, raspy, due to the whole getting choked by a psycho tidbit. He seemed shocked that I was alive, let alone conscious. What can I say? I'm amazing.
"Maya? You look like crap." He joked, to ease the seriousness of the situation. While some might have found this annoying, it was absolutely what I needed.
"Ditto." I breathed, coughing some because of the pain. I heard him yell out for help, but wasn't paying attention to it. My head really hurt.
I sat up, despite the white-hot pain in my ribs, and leaned into Fang's shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Fang asked, lifting my chin up so that he could look me in the eye. Normally I would have replied something like, peachy, because I hate sympathy and feeling weak. But now, as embarrassing as it was, all I could do was begin to sob like a little baby while Fang held me. I know, pathetic. But you try nearly getting killed and hurting so bad you almost wished you had been killed and we'll see how you react. Jerk.
I had never had anyone comfort me before. I had never needed anyone to comfort me before. I was used to handling everything myself and bottling up all the pain and hurt I felt because I was all alone. But now, even though I'm not, and will never be, a damsel in distress, it felt disgustingly nice being comforted by someone else to let off everything I had always carried on my shoulders. Maybe, just maybe, I could get used to it.
That is, if I didn't bleed out or go into a coma. Happy thoughts.
It was ten minutes before the campus security arrived to drag Ari away. There was a mob outside of my dorm, crowding to see what had happened, but only the flock had been allowed inside. Silence rang in my ears, drowning out the crowds and the comforting words of the Flock as I lifted my head to watch Ari being escorted out of the dorm. Questions plaqued my mind, but as I was able to focus more on him, a chill ran down my spine. Suddenly, everything seemed to make sense as I focused on the—albeit bloodstained—white blazer that Ari was wearing.
How had the White Coats managed to find me?
Anika: Dramatic, don't you think. It is from this point on that things are going to start getting good. Any thoughts about what will happen next?
Questions:
1. Would you rather us include more action in the story or more between Max and Fang or with the whole flock.
2. What would you rather see? A hula hooping bear in a tutu or a cupcake war?
REVIEW and be rewarded with delicious cookies! Cookies! You can not resist the chocolate chip cookies! So what are you waiting for, start reviewing! -Anika.
