Chapter 11

As time passed, Pandora's grip relaxed slightly and Scott could breathe with more ease. Their breaths were even and somehow were mirroring each other without meaning to. As Scott inhaled through a red blur of hair, the sweet fading scent of shampoo cooling his head, Pandora would breathe in through her sniffling nose.

"Why…?"

Scott did not have to read her mind to know what she was asking. He had the dying urge to ask that too. Everything that happened was all so strong and weird, almost like a dream. This was not a dream though, he was certain. Things needed a lot explanation.

"Scott… Is it true…? What I dreamt just now… Did they really… do that to you…?"

Pandora unwrapped her hands and was sitting directly in front of him, staring straight at him. Although the room was really dark, Scott could feel the intensity of her eyes. He did not answer, half-pretending he was asleep. That was one question he wanted to avoid answering. Pandora took the silence as confirmation.

Heat seeped into his right hand where Pandora's made contact with softly. "Why would they do that to you? How could anyone… why?" Her whisper was so quiet, it was as though she was only talking to herself.

Scott lolled his head back until it hit the wall he was leaning against. His eyes were closed. Instead of the usual boiling hatred that attacked him, it was a calm serenity of acceptance that took over him this time. Something had changed; he was actually willing to find an answer. A minute of silence ensued as Pandora waited patiently. When Scott spoke, his voice was low and steady, dark.

"You should be able to figure out by now that there's something I never told you. Something I have been hiding. A freakish thing. Me and Jamie… I don't know why but we telepathic abilities. We can read people's mind, and worst still, actually control them. It's nothing glorious, nothing heroic. I hate it. It's the reason why our lives are so screwed up. Pandora, don't think I'm just an injured person who needs help. I'm not innocent. I killed a man with my powers once. It was an accident, but it was still me."

Scott waited for Pandora's reaction, for her to despise him. To judge his wild story, he realise he really did not care. As for talking, he needed the explanation as much as she did.

"Like I said before, there were a bunch of lunatics who were obsessed with talented kids with powers. I remember they said something about the old ones or whatever five or something. You know the rest, the caught me and…" A brief pause when Scott was mildly surprise the memories from the torture was vague and numb. "It's exactly like your nightmare just now. I don't even know why you are dreaming of this. That's something I would like to know. So they tortured me pretty bad, really bad. The constant pain, the drugging. And the next thing I know, here I am."

Scott's head was still against the wall, his eyes were avoiding Pandora's. He did not know what was going to happen next, maybe she is going to explain, maybe she is not going to. For one thing, he was tired. Really tired.

Pandora chewed on her lips, her head resting on her knees she drew to her chest. She did not like what was happening to Scott. She rather him be angry and maybe vent out than curling away. The boy she was looking at was swallowed in darkness. Pandora felt the overwhelming sadness for the broken boy in front of her and she was suddenly so desperate to help him, to comfort him. But she was at a loss of words and under a weird but strong impulse, she extended her hands again and wrapped it around Scott's neck. Gently, she planted a slight kiss on his forehead. His eyes widened slightly in surprise and Pandora stared into his deep eyes that were darkest shade she has ever seen.

The world exploded around her suddenly as Scott reached out to her face and pulled her into a tight kiss. His lips were cool and soft yet they stung hers. Her mind had gone blank and she kissed him back as slowly, her thumb lingering and tracing his jaw line. She felt his hands burrowing into her hair while pressing his lips against hers. But there was pain, the more they kissed, the worst it got. Pandora' lips sizzled and her head whirled. It was hard to describe but the pain soon spread all over her body and grew until she could no longer bear it anymore. She gasped and sprang away from Scott.

The shock had not reached Pandora yet for her head was pounding and her entire body was burning. Confusion came over her as she dug her nails into her head and tried her best to think straight. Pandora panicked as she soon began to lose her sense of sight and everything slowly faded into terrifying darkness. Breath was stolen out of her lungs as she groped about blindly.

Pandora…

The darkness, the awful feeling all over her body, the fear of not knowing, and now the eerie whisper behind her ears. Pandora's mouth was dry and she froze where she stood, it felt like oblivion.

She heard it again, someone was with her in this world of darkness and saying her name. The voice was deep, rattling deep and terrifyingly low. Pandora could not help but feel that it was dripping with sinister and a dark shade of evil. Paralyzed with trepidation, she swallowed and croaked feebly, "Who's there?"

There was a low creepy chuckle everywhere, it was behind her, it was far from her, it was beside her, repeated over again as though echoes of the dead. Pandora's goose bumps flared up and she wrapped herself with her own hands, feeling terribly miserable in this absolute darkness.

You are scared, so very very scared… Pathetic, child.

Pandora immediately swallowed back her tears and tried not to choke, she felt vulnerable enough without exposing her weakness. "Who are you? I want to know where I am!" grinding her teeth together to stop her stutter. An icy cold breeze swept through her and raked her bones to chills, it almost felt like some ghost had stepped into her. Pandora's lips slipped a trembling whimper and she collapsed to the ground, huddling herself. Darkness spoke again.

Who am I? You don't remember. But what you did just now was outrageous, I am tempted to return your memories to you. Don't fret child, I'll only ask a little favor from you.

Pandora bit her lips as her mind worked furiously. It made sense, she knew there was something wrong going one, and the mention of stolen memories… But there was absolutely no trust going on between her and the freaky voice. The way he said 'favor', it sounded terrible.

"Who are you?" She sounded way more confident than she felt. There was a long awful silence and the seconds dragged. And all of a sudden, icy cold hands cupped her neck and her ears tingled when she heard the soft, dangerous whisper.

Chaos, King of the Old Ones.


Scott wanted to smack himself and punch his stupid face. What the hell did he bloody do that for? Why did he have to kiss her? Everything that Pandora had done to him was truly amazing and their relationship was the best and the only one he had. And now Scott kissed her, everything would change. He just ruined their friendship, Pandora would feel more awkward than ever. Why would she have any feelings at all for him, when they met for only what, a few days? He groaned and did smack his face now, feeling heat rushing to his face.

Scott was very confused as it is but even more so when he saw Pandora sprawled on the floor. The unnaturalness of the series of events might even seem comical to him but he quickly realised the emergency. Pandora was taking in shallow breaths and her face was contorted into twisted fear. Obviously, it did not seem as if she would just drop dead asleep and it seemed more possible that she… lose her conscious?

Scott reached out for her hand and tried to wake her up. There was no respond and her hands were very cold, her dark red hair contrasting her pale face. He hesitated for a moment, but decided he had better do something about this weird situation. Taking a deep breath, Scott closed his eyes and opened the door into Pandora's mind, hoping his power would somehow help him understand the situation.

It was a weird sensation, almost like being pushed out of a place by unwelcoming hands. The harder he tried, the greater the resistance. Finally, the force jolted him back to his own head and he sat there helplessly, absolutely stunned. Although he hardly ever used his power, this was the first time it failed him. It almost felt as though there was something blocking him, was Pandora resisting him?

Troubled and confused, Scott stroked the beads of perspiration off Pandora's pale forehead absentmindedly before half carrying half dragging her back to the mattress. A pang of guilt stung him as he realised Pandora had been sleeping on the uncomfortable stiff mattress while he was enjoying her little bed. Something came over him and Scott gently carried her to her room and lay her on her bed. It took some effort and his chest wound strained but he thought she deserve the bed after all the hospitality she provided him and her given condition. She did not stir at all and that troubled him.

Again he reached into her mind to find out what was going on but failed. Was she having the same nightmare? Scott tensed and shivered, grasping Pandora's limp hands for comfort. No, he would not allow his thoughts to go there again. He had enough for one night. Grinding his teeth together to ease the headache, he backed against the wall and crouched there, letting his thoughts stray. Thoughts that inevitably led him back to their earlier shared moment of… proximity.

Scott squeezed his eyes shut, how did he even know how to kiss a girl? This was his first, and it felt… instinctive? He didn't know what happen, but after her lips swept his forehead, something came over him. He still did not understand his feelings then, or now. Why had he kissed her? His fingers lingered to his lips and he could still faintly remember the taste. When Scott looked at Pandora resting in her bed, he suddenly noticed everything. How her eyebrows drew together into a frown, her face pale as a moon but also as uniquely significant, standing out in the darkness of his life. And of course, her distinctive beautiful flaming hair. He reached out his hands to stroke the strands, but forced himself to withdraw them.

No, he is not the romantic type. What the hell was he thinking anyway? Scott liked Pandora, the feeling he had for her was purely friendship and gratefulness. Nothing more. He clenched his fist and tried to reason with himself. Pandora had shown him how to care, and now he would care for her. Yes, he did kiss her. But that was because he had a foggy head at that time. Truthfully though, he did adore her for wanting to help him so badly. Scott hated people's pity but with Pandora's overwhelming sincerity, he learned to accept it. When he felt so much alone, when he had almost given up on his own stupid life, Pandora had saved him. She had comforted him sincerely and shown to him the bright side of the night. Scott had something to live for, he no longer felt unwanted and miserable and that feeling washed over him so strongly that yeah he kissed her. But that kiss was only a token of gratitude and a gesture of friendship, acted on impulse.

Scott's lip quivered into a tight smile when he finally convinced himself. He only hope Pandora would not misunderstand, he would explain to her if there be the need. He sighed deeply and remained crouched beside her bed. He did not want to leave her, maybe he was worried or maybe he felt lonely. This was a long night.

Psssshhhh yes I realised the chapters are getting longer and longer sorry… I didn't really know when to stop but hopefully ya'll won't mind. My exams are finally over so I can focus some time on writing it. I'm glad I receive reviews because that really encourages me a lot. Thank you so much for reading my silly fanfic and leaving nice comments wow my heart is melted caramel :D

I have finish plotting the story more or less and it seems to be getting weirder and crazier… But I guess I won't give up till the end or leave it at a cliffhanger. There are reasons to the weird things going on and hopefully I can fill in all the loopholes before the end.

I don't want the two to have a real hardcore love relationship because I believe that is too out-of-character for Scott. I try my best to make him the same person in the books but I'm not too sure so please help me out and tell me if there's anything I need to improve on his character in this bizarre situation. I'll really appreciate it! Thanks and have a great day 0v0