Chapter 10–Deceive

It took some time for Jinx's breathing to slow to its steady sleeping rate. I spent the minutes staring off into the blackness of the cabinet. With the door shut, there was no light whatsoever. My mind played tricks with me, melding shapes out of the black nothingness.

It felt like I'd gone blind, with the darkness pushing in on me from every angle. I could hardly tell if my eyes were even open, and I found myself blinking, just to make sure my eyes were still there. It made me feel weak, not being able to see. When I was little, I used to be terrified of the dark. But now, it just seemed to be blocking things from me, like a veil I just couldn't see through.

Eventually, after listening to Jinx's steady breaths while I slowly counted to thirty, I slipped out of the sleeping bag. Again, the murk set in on me, forcing me to rely on my other sense to navigate my way through the other intermingled sleeping bags. I listened to the quiet breaths of the others. Even though this muted sound was only there faintly, it stuck out like a sore thumb in the silence.

Once or twice, I accidentally kicked and/or stepped on someone, but they all continued to sleep, oblivious to my scheme. I extended my hands to feel the wall, guiding myself towards the door. I wrapped my hand around the nail that served as a doorknob and gently eased it open. It's creaks were like firecrackers, bursting out through the silent night air. I was sure to have woken someone with all the noise I was making, but—lucky for me—they slumbered on.

Once I was outside, I released the breath I'd been holding. Out here, it wasn't much brighter, the moon only a pale splotch on the otherwise cloud-clogged sky. Despite the gloom, out here I knew my way around. The cupboard hideout wasn't far from Freeman's lane.

I sighed. I hadn't thought about the stony road that ran along the center of our town for almost a week now. It ran right by my house and lead all the way down to the library, my goal. I made my way along the path, not skipping, not hopping, but walking in a straight line, focusing on not tripping of stumbling.

I kept my face straight, not moving it in the least. I didn't allow the slightest bit of a smile creep onto my face. Why be happy? The world seemed to hate me. Maybe, if I could get this one thing right, I would be accepted for the first time in my life. The slight evening wind blew my hair out behind me, giving me a rather demented look. I was ready to cut it off, though. I'd cut it all off for Jinx.

The Library's wrought-iron gates loomed out of the darkness, glistening dully in whatever moonlight there truly was. The statues beyond the barriers were now entangled with ivy, the deep green strands embellished every so often with a five-pointed leaf. They changed the once bare stone to a thing of life. It was the root, and they were the extensions.

As I walked down the long open path towards the huge double doors of the Library, I continued to stare up at the statues. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Jinx was like the statue, the base of the 'Punks. He was the center; he was the heart. Like the ivy, without Jinx, the others would be nothing. But he could go on without them. However, when they were with him, they complimented him. I smiled to myself. And some of them enjoy being with him.

It seemed I got to the Library much too fast. I bit my lower lip, having second thoughts about my plan for the first time.

I have to do this to please Jinx, I reminded myself. We all must sacrifice at some point. I walked in, making sure my breathing remained even and steady. It got increasingly harder as the bleach came into sight.

Jinx, I thought. Think of Jinx. Think of how he'll promote us, how he'll repay us, how he'll love us.

I made my way up to the bottle, climbing on a pile of books so I could remove the lid. It popped off easily, and the acidic smell flooded out. The bottle was nearly full; the pearly white liquid glistening beneath me. I dipped my hand in, feeling it between my fingers. How would I get it in my hair?

I got to my knees so I was as I close as I could get without falling in. I took a deep breath, gathered up my hair, and flipped it all into the bleach.

Oddly, I found pleasure in this. I was actually doing something. For the first time in my life, I was managing on my own! I worked my hands through my hair, dipping it in as far as it would go to make sure I covered everything, even the roots. The tangles and knots that had formed over the last twenty-four hours came loose in the substance until my hair flowed in the bleach like smoke.

After soaking my hair for what could have easily been half an hour, I removed it. It fell in wet strands around my face, dripping. I retrieved a pair of scissors from one of the other shelves and began snipping away blindly at my hair. Small clumps of now-bleached hair fell to the ground until I was settled with it.

It was exactly what they'd suggested now. However, I needed to prove I could have my own touch. I grabbed a vial of ink and dipped my hair in, so that the edges soaked it up, becoming blackened.

In my head, I pictured it looking brilliant. I would finally be one of the 'Punks! I pranced happily over to the shattered hand mirror propped against a shelf and froze when I saw myself.

The reality of what I did began to sink in. I dropped to my knees, my jaw gaping in shock and horror. When I'd been cutting it, it hadn't seemed real, but now…

It looked horrible. Utterly horrible. The new-found white of my hair clashed with my main skin tone, making my face look dark and blotchy. With my dark rims, it looked even paler, like a ghost. The cuts were jagged and uneven, extremely short in some places and much to long in others. And the ink was terribly distributed, thick in some areas, non-existent in those nearby. I let out a strangled cry.

Why? Why had I done this? I loved my hair just they way it was! And now that it was cut, it would never come back! I looked at all the hair on the ground and covered my mouth to prevent from bursting into tears. What in the world had possessed me to do such a thing?

And as I thought about it, it was all Jinx. If I hadn't been doing it to please Jinx, I wouldn't have. But I did. And I shouldn't have done something so stupid! I would do a lot of things, but dying and cutting my hair just seemed to cross the line now.

Before, it had seemed so harmless. Just a little dye, and it would look as perfect as Nissa's hair. But of course, it had to all go wrong. Now—as the 'Punks would say—I looked like shit!

As I thought about it, everything fell into place. The 'Punks had convinced me to do this! They were bad influences, Mum was right, she was completely right, and she did still love me.

"I have to get back…" I whispered to myself. "Before I do something else stupid!"

I tried to run, to get to my feet and run home, but I couldn't. I just couldn't bring myself to. It wasn't an emotional thing, I literally couldn't move my legs. "Mum!" I yelled out, my voice cracking. "Dad! Weredy! Anyone?"

"Tsk, tsk," a familiar voices sneered. "You're parents can't hear you now. Now, you're in my land."

I blinked. I was back in the cupboard, but now, there were no sleeping bags. What? Hadn't I just been in the library? I looked around. This had to be one of my visions, but it just couldn't be. It was black, except for one pumpkin light, barely illuminating me.

"Jinx," I called, recognizing the voice instantly. "I'm scared! My hair looks terrible! I want to go home—"

"I said, you can't go home," Jinx snapped. "So shut the hell up and sit down!"

Panic began to close in on me, and confusion. What was happening?

"What, sweetie," Velvet smirked. "You don't understand?"

"No!" I yelled. "Jinx, I thought you liked me!"

He made an annoyed sound. "You? You're a pillow. Much to soft, and full of air."

"That makes no sense," Velvet pointed out.

"Shut up!" Jinx snarled. Velvet let out a pained yell, even though I heard to collision. "Tia, you do what I say now, ok? And you are not going home."

Everything began to fit together. The thrill of being with the 'Punks was instantly replaced by a terrible sinking feeling. I was wrong, they were going to hurt me now, and I was trapped.

I leapt towards the door, tugging on it. "Let me out!" I yelled, slamming my entire body into the door. "I have to get out of here!"

"Uh uh uh," I could picture Jinx's sick expression as he shook his head. I felt an invisible blow to my chest.

Now the fear duplicated. There had been nothing that hit me! I just… well, felt the reaction! What the hell was going on?

As if he'd read my mind, Jinx let out a cruel chuckle. "Poor, predictable Tia. You're cute, but not that cute."

Another blow came out of nowhere, sending me sprawling into the floor. I let out a cry of pain, both hands flying to the stitches on my side, a few of which had snapped from the impact. "I don't understand!" I sobbed. "I thought you were going to help me?"

He scoffed. "You think I'd actually help a mortal like you? Of course not! You're just a pawn in my scheme, a minor player, a small fry. I," he paused dramatically, "Am everything."

Why had I been so stupid? I mentally cursed myself. But how? Usually, I was independent! I wasn't easily swayed when I had my heart set on something! But how had Jinx changed my outlook on everything, covered my eyes from the truth and filled me with lies?

"You been deceived!" he snapped. "Burn!"

"No…" I whispered. "But… how?"

"I am a higher being," Jinx smirked. "I control the universe."

"That's impossible," I stated, raising my voice a bit. It wavered with my fear, which was impossible to hide.

"Is it now?" Jinx asked. "Velvet, watch this."

And then, he just walked out of the gloom. Just seeing him made me want to scream, run and slap him in the face all at the same time. Surprisingly, his face showed only concern. "Tia? I thought you were gone!"

"But," I began. "Weren't you saying—"

"We were just going to see up your outfit for you, remember?" he said, taking my hand. "Come with me."

I followed him with no hesitation. I didn't want to keep Estelle waiting! I stopped for a moment when I noticed my side hurting. I looked down to see all the stitches torn open, and a few new wounds on either side. How had that happened?

"Tia, honey, why did you stop?"

As I stared at my open wounds, it came back to me. Jinx had lashed out at me, ripping at my side, blows coming from every angle.

I looked up to see his face, his one visible eye very near to me. "It's ok," he assured me, stroking my cheek.

He was right, everything was…

I froze. No, no, what was I thinking? I raised my fist punching him in the face. "Stay away from me!" I yelled.

"But Tia," he whined. "We were going to see—"

"Enough of your lies," I grimaced. "Right now, I don't know what's real and what's not, but I know for sure that staying with you won't be safe." I shot a glance at my wounds, and even more of Jinx's words floated back to me. "You can't control me."

"Oh, but I can," he very simply stated.

"I'm strong enough to fight back," I replied, clenching my fists at my side. "And believe me, I will."

He laughed again, a horrible, disgusting laugh, one filled with schadenfreude. "You think I'm finished? I've hardly begun!"

I looked around. Great, now I was outside! What? I was outside. It was overcast, the light shining through the clouds nearly green. I was on my knees, stroking Weredy. Tears streamed down my cheeks, for before me lay the bodies of my parents, their eyes lifeless, their mouths agape.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," came Jinx's voice from behind me. I turned and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my head in his chest. "However, I found the culprits behind this heinous crime." From behind his back, he brought out 3 and 4. "Now, you must kill them, for they killed your parents."

Anger boiled up inside of me. How dare they murder my beloved parents, who'd nurtured me since I was a child and raised me to an adult? I was ready to kill them, to stab out their hearts and to watch them suffer and die.

As I raised my arm, dagger clutched in my fist, I looked down at my side, the gash gaping, small amounts of oil seeping from my metals. I stopped myself just in time. "No," I whispered. "No, no…"

Everything evaporated, swirling away like mist. I stood angrily. "You nearly made me murder the twins!"

"Yes," he replied boldly. "And you resisted better than I expected. However, it is clear you have little control of your emotions. That is one of your greatest disadvantages."

I set my jaw, my brow lowered. "Let me go," I ordered. "Now."

"Oh ho, you're so scary," he fakely cried. "We all better let her go before she does… what?"

What would I do? I was just a hopeless little girl, trying to be brave. I might as well give up and do whatever Jinx says—

"Stop it!" I yelled, clapping my hands over my ears. "Stop filling my head with your lies!"

"Then what are you going to do about it?" Jinx asked.

"This," I simply replied. I mustered up all my strength and courage, and repelled him from my mind. I thought of every time he caused pain to me, or to the others, I thought of how much he hated me, I thought of my hair, lying in clumps on the Library floor, I thought of my family, scattered in clumps trying to find me. I was able to push him from my mind, to form an invisible barrier to protect me from his mind changing words. After staying in the Jinx-free state for a moment, flashes of white began to obscure my vision. I became very light headed, my stomach flipped, my courage sunk away and I fell to my knees, panting. I still remained in my scowl, my eyes locked on Jinx.

He actually looked mildly surprised. I could tell I was stronger than he'd expected. "We just need time to break you," he snapped. "A few days in solitary should do you good."

"No," I stated, but before I could do anything, I felt myself being shoved backwards, now in a new environment, with cobblestone walls pressing in on either side of me, and a trap door dangerously close behind me. And Jinx pushed me, down, down into the darkness of the pit below. "You can come out when you've learned to be a good follower," he growled, then slammed the door, leaving me in blackness.

And that's that! FINALLY! I've been waiting to write this part for a long time. Now you can see why the title is Deception! ^^ Sorry about any mistakes, I didn't have as much time to edit this as I would've liked. I was just so excited to get to update again! Well, you know the deal. No idea when I'll update next. Comment!