The house loomed in front of the trio as the pair of girls supported Robbie up the front steps and into the front door. Mentioning that he can manage to walk himself Cat let go, Tori stopped supporting him but continued to hold his hand. The entire area had a fine layer of dust over everything with the only traces that someone had been in the house was the shoe prints left behind by their first trek through and now Beck's. The house appeared to have been deserted since all the furniture was still intact, there were even a few personal items around the house. Venturing off Cat looked at some of the items that sat on the mantle covered in dust. As Tori led Robbie after Beck's footsteps which led upstairs Cat picked up one of the pictures and dragged her finger across the glass almost dropping it when she saw an older man standing behind a very young Robbie even in the picture she could see the older man clutching hard on Robbie's shoulder. Moving to the next item she saw an article about the older man getting an award for helping with the local boy scouts the man in question was Henry Shapiro. Taking out her phone Cat did an internet search for the man and the first thing that popped up caused her to sway and fall down onto one of the chairs causing a flurry of dust to fly into the air causing Cat to sneeze twice.
The first item that popped up on Henry was a report on his arrest. Neighbors were surprised and appalled upon discovering that local man Henry Shapiro was arrested after his nephew alerted authorities that his uncle abused him on countless occasions. Further investigations revealed a dungeon of sorts in his basement where it was revealed he not only abused children but. Cat couldn't go on instead just delete the link and turned to go find the others. She discovered everyone in an old bedroom, the furniture was still here and it appeared to be Robbie's childhood bedroom.
"When my parents would go out of town I'd stay here," explained Robbie answering a question no one asked yet.
"Robbie you don't have to," started Tori but Robbie hugged her from the side.
"No I have to tell you guys about this if we're going to figure things out. At first nothing seemed to be wrong he was a really great guy, taking care of me acting like a segregate father. One rainy afternoon he asked me if I wanted to play pretend, pretend to be spies. We ran around the house, me hiding and him finding me and eventually we ended up in the basement. He told me that as the spy he needed to...to.." Robbie started to choke up a little comforted by his friends as they drew closer to him, "I'm alright, he told me that he was going to interrogate me, which he did. I thought it was in all fun and games until he got way into it. I wont go into much detail but I do remember this one." He pulled away from Tori so that he could lift his shirt and lower his pants a little revealing a black rectangle on his hip that appeared to have teeth marks of some sort. "Jumper cables."
"Oh my god," whispered Beck as Robbie dropped his shirt back down.
"When did they first appear then?" asked Cat softly as Tori resumed her hold on Robbie.
"The day that my uncle was arrested, everything would have gone on like normal except one day he wanted to do something he saw was done in Vietnam involving bamboo shoots. I always complied because he kept telling me that it was all my fault, my parents hated me and that's why I was always over there. He chained me down again and lifted my hand as he explained everything to me and like an idiot I believed him. As he came closer to me with those pointed shoots and suddenly everything went black. I awoke later to find myself in my room hearing the front door break. Clamoring downstairs I discovered a pair of police officers, one took me and led me away. It wasn't until later did I discover that something had attacked my uncle, freed me and then called the police. It was a tag team of R and surprisingly Clayton but I didn't remember him at the time. Eventually I started to see doctors and the police about the incident as well as other alters, Rex appeared followed by Stephanie and Matthew. "
"I was always alone so eventually I discovered these friends who would stay with me no matter what and in a way, they made me sicker because I became dependent on them. Then I came to Hollywood Arts and met you guys. I realized that I didn't want to be sick anymore, but Beck, Cat, Andre and Jade had already met the alters. They promised to keep my sickness a secret and agreed to help me as I went on the medication to prevent the alters from randomly taking over in times of stress. That's why I didn't transition when say we got trapped in Beck's RV that one time and I drawn that fish water."
They all smiled at that memory before Robbie started to lead them out of the room and back to the steps leading down to the basement. Memories of past events played in Robbie's head threatening to push out. Squeezing Tori's hand Robbie's breathing was starting to get heavy.
"I...need to get out of here, please guys I feel like the world is closing in.." before he could continue his eyes rolled back and he passed out.
The cool air spun whirled bits of sand around Matthew's feet from the top of the rocks that he was standing on. The view from up here was amazing as he looked out at the ocean and the vastness of blue water. Turning from where he was his gaze went to the front of the beach house where he was staying with his girlfriend, Jade. Their plan had worked amazingly well and a week later they had both run off, heading down south to Huntington Beach and renting a cabin just off the beach. Looking amazing as usual Jade smirked as their eyes met, instead of the dark colors she normally wore she was wearing a red sun dress with white flowers all over it. As she walked down onto the sand towards him he leapt off the rocks and began walking towards her. They met in the middle, embracing and kissing each other tenderly.
"It's only been a week yet I know that I want to spend the rest of my life here with you," whispered Jade as their kiss broke earning a smile from Matthew.
"And I with you Jade, but it doesn't matter to me where we are as long as we are together I will always be happy," Matthew replied holding her against him and once again facing the water as it lapped at the beach.
Standing up on the road with a pair of binoculars in his hand stood Trickster. Lowering them he turned to look behind him, instead of the busy seaside town there was nothing but darkness. As long as Matthew stayed in that house, on this beach with Jade he could hold this illusion for a long time he was sure. For now though, since it was just starting up he needed to stay there and make sure everything was set, if he left to tend after Stephanie the results would be unimaginable. Pulling out a notepad he continued to write down his plans for Stephanie when he felt something tug at his mind. The world around the edges began to peel as Trickster was ripped from Matthew's world.
As Tori struggled to keep Robbie up while Beck came around to the other side to catch him. Suddenly as he fainted Robbie reached out and grasped at Beck's arm steadying himself.
"Hey what's wrong Robbie?" Cat asked as she watched Robbie shake his head.
"What are we doing in here?"
"Don't you remember Robbie, you were just telling us," started Cat but Beck broke her off.
"Who are you?"
"Trickster, I was in the middle of something, sometimes when he needs us, one of us specifically then we come out. R when he's getting attacked, Rex when needs confidence."
"And you?"
"I was born from the hate that Robbie felt towards his uncle. His fear of being here finally got to him, and that's why I'm here. Let's get out of here, I need take care of something and for once I don't want be out here." With that the group followed Robbie outside into the darkening evening air, "Is there somewhere we can go?"
"I live nearby," chirped Cat, "But I need to call Jade and let her know what's going on." They all agreed and Cat, going with Beck and Tori going with Trickster, led them to her house.
Opening his eyes Matthew realized it was now night time. He could still feel Jade resting beside him and smiled slightly before frowning in confusion not remembering how he had gotten here. Sitting up in his bed as Jade shifted in her slumber he picked up his bathrobe and walked to the front windows. Looking out he saw that it was storming outside, the normally peaceful waves crashing violently against the rocks as thunder boomed and streaks of lightning broke open the sky. Closing his eyes he wondered how Jade could be asleep through all this, walking back into the bedroom. Suddenly there was a crash as lightning smashed into the house blowing open a hole in the roof as well as catching part of the roof on fire. Rushing into the bedroom he saw that Jade was still sleeping, smiling he shook her away or at least tried to, she wasn't moving.
"Jade? Jade! Jade wake up please I need you to wake up." he cried as he shook her. Her head rolled slightly back and forth but her eyes never opened. Soon the smoke was heavy in the room so he hoisted her up into his arms and began to carry her out into the now pouring weather. Setting her down on the beach as the house behind him burned he placed his head to her chest trying to hear a heart beat, or anything at all.
"Damnit Jade wake up," he shouted at her as he began to do CPR compressions, tears running down his face mixing with the rain. "JADE WAKE UP!" he screamed at her before feeling a smack across his face causing him to jolt away for a second time. He found himself sitting in the same bed but with Jade next to him rubbing his back for him.
"No need to yell, you were just dreaming, having a nightmare." exclaimed Jade as she held Matthew close to her and kissed him.
"Just a dream?" he repeated looking up at her
"Just a dream," she repeated holding his face and looking into his eyes.
"Maybe we were wrong Jade. I love you so much and if I was my own person there would be nothing that could keep us apart but I don't know, something about this feels wrong."
"No," said Jade softly, different from her usual shriek, "This is not just your happiness but mine as well, you cant take that from me can you?"
"You're right I cant do that to you but not just because I love you but because Robbie puts everyone over himself, including you and me."
"No I don't want to lose you Matthew, not to Robbie or anyone else. I love you so much, you understand me better then anyone else, including Beck." Matthew thought about her words, about everything that had happened and sighed.
"I'm glad that we spent this time together Jade but we need to go back."
"Tomorrow then," she said snuggling him close and he relaxed laying back with her.
"Tomorrow," he agreed.
This was odd, Matthew was plotting on leaving this fantasy without realizing it was a fantasy since Trickster was able to get back in time to make him think the fantasy falling apart into just being a dream. Apparently that snapped him into place though but this just caused Trickster to drown, he wasn't going to let Matthew out, Matthew needed to die for his selfishness.
Stepping back a step he appeared out of the fantasy back into the cage room. Watching as Matthew twitched in his slumber he turned away and was startled backwards at seeing Clayton standing there.
"What's going on with them?" he asked Trickster who shrugged.
"Working on Matthew right now and soon will take over with Stephanie but both at the same time would exert too much stress and I couldn't hold both at the same time. Is Robbie in control?"
"Yes but I'm letting him sleep right now so that we have energy for tomorrow."
"Why? What happens tomorrow?"
"I'm going to text Beck later letting him know to go to Saint Claire Maximum Security prison, that's where Henry was, he died last year but we need Robbie to stand at his grave so he can finally get off his chest what needs to be said."
"Agreed, I'll take care of him right now" with that he turned and vanished re entering the dream world, time to end this.
The next moment Matthew was sitting on the beach watching Jade as she played in the ocean, it was one of those moments that made him love her even more. Suddenly she fell and landed hard in the water with a big splash. Standing up and rushing towards her he waded out and saw that she had struck her head on a rock because it was bleeding. Moving over and kneeling down to her he frowned and wiped the wet hair from her eyes.
"Jade, are you okay?"
"You're too late," she coughed out.
"What?" he started to ask when suddenly her hands shot up and wrapped around his throat instantly tightening. With a quick move he was flipped over and slammed onto the rocky sand as the waves washed over him covering his entire face except for the tip of his nose. His hands shot up as he tried to pry her fingers away before starting to kick and lash out.
"Jade stop it," he croaked out when he could, "You're going to..."
"Kill you?" she smirked as she sat up and changed into Trickster who tightened his grip more, "You had a second chance Matthew and you failed. It's time for you to go away for good. I wish I could say I'm sorry but you're the worse of all, so selfish." Matthew's eyes bugged out as the water withdrew into the ocean the beach and sand started to fall apart into the darkness. With one final squeeze Matthew's hands stopped fighting, he stopped kicking. Rising Trickster watched as Matthew's body vanished as well, stepping backwards out of the dream world and appearing next to the cages he smiled to see that Matthew, like Rex was gone. His mistakes were almost fixed, almost time. Clayton sped up the process but he could still do this, he could cure Robbie of all alters, except for himself that was. Plans changed, but the end result never did. Looking down at Stephanie Trickster knew she could wait a little longer, because his next target was R.