Posted a day later because this website was being a DOUCHE and not allowing me to log in.
WHY NO, LABYDWELL IS NOT ANGRY TODAY.
But it has nothing to do with the internets, so don't even think that it's only about this goddamn website!!
Anyways, enjoy it, you freaks. Reading is a better activity than chatting unintelligent speak with friends all day long anyways!! -anger vibes- NO. My anger did not come from me chatting all day! buzz off!!
Chapter Twenty-One: Ultimatum
Lying in wait
My heart was heavy with the apparent dark victory that Lukas held over my head. I was lost among myself with ideas, thoughts, worries, excuses and accusations. Slowly my feet dragged themselves over to Yolanda for instinctive reasons. I was half-expecting a scolding and maybe a detention, but when I got there I got something worse than all of that.
She was standing silent and straight-jawed next to the bed my…'friends' had carried me to. Her arms were across her chest in a business like way, though her facial features said nothing about business, only soft worry and hidden concern.
"So you did come back," she noted, her voice stable. I blinked and nodded slowly. "For any reason in particular?" She asked. I shook my head, but stopped midway.
"Lay down. Sleep, maybe. Still delirious,"
Delirious is an understatement. My mind shot.
Yolanda nodded and stepped to the side. I shuffled in to seat myself on the bed, but as I passed Yolanda, she leaned down and whispered in my ear like a soft, uneasy mother.
"If you ever need anything, just know that I'm here. I don't expect to know your story, not yet. Just know that you can talk to me, alright?"
Dammit. Nurse plus scars plus strange behavior equals bad.
I regarded her as an ignorant teenager should and sat on the bed. She stared at me for a moment, then left the room.
I swung my feet onto the bed, taking note of my shoes and socks underneath the end table. I inhaled a long and deep sigh, and closed my eyes. Maybe sleep would clear this all up.
After a while I realized there was a problem.
There was no way I was even coming close to sleep.
Frustrated, I punched the mattress and lay there, regardless of how my mind would torment me. I didn't need sleep anyways. I didn't need anything.
I just wanted a glimmer of hope…
VICTORIOUS: Picking out victories in failures
Picking out pink
Two days. Two days had disappeared, and I haven't heard from Lukas, Yumi, or Nevaeh since. Two days passed without a blink of sleep shown by the ever darkening circles underneath my eyes. Two days went by with no news from cops or anything and the rest of us cowering in paranoia and scrounging for anything to hold on to. Two days of solid nothing.
Aelita had told me that Jeremy used the voice changer at the lab to call Yumi's parents as Yumi, telling them that she'd be staying over for the weekend for studying, seeing as the kidnapping case was kept from public. As far as they knew, it worked for now. She told me this at the beginning of free time before she headed off with Odd and Jeremy to study together in the park and I stole away, locking myself in my dorm.
Still no sleep for me—not that I was dying for some, that is. I didn't want it—or seem to need it. Kiwi showed signs of worry for me, and though he was a dog—a dumb dog—it clearly said that he knew feeling like none other. He wouldn't leave me alone for hours, always seeming to make sure I was alright. Through my reassurance I calmed him down—for a moment.
The music teacher wanted to hold a special meeting with select students from the class—students who apparently showed talent in the field of music. He invited them to come whether they wanted to or not. So I showed up after lunch Saturday afternoon.
There were about ten kids in there. Aelita and Odd were present, as well as Tamiya and a few other kids I recognized. I took a seat close to the door for an unknown reason. The other kids sat within their own groups around the room, fairly spread out.
The teacher began to talk about some sort of talent show coming up late in the year—around the end of May or so. It was barely April now.
About halfway into his suggestion about somehow getting together to do a music number, my phone buzzed and rang with Subdigitals in my pocket. I grabbed my pocket, suddenly in a cold sweat. The teacher glared at me and was about to approach me and confiscate my phone when I used my clammy hands to fumble with it, answer it, and blast out the door so clumsy and unexpectedly it left the room dead silent in confusion.
I almost answered one second too late. Lukas made that very apparent.
"Close call. I almost was about to revert to plan B…though I'm quite sure you wouldn't like the outcome of that…,"
I had to take a second to regain my breath before I spoke, "What…What do you want?" My voice was strained and quiet, not threatening at all.
I hoped.
"I think it's time we settled our…differences, don't you? I'll hand you the choice again between your darling sister and the Jap. Think of it as generosity from me, I wouldn't be doing this normally. Tomorrow at the same time it is right now I want to see you on top of the old abandoned factory near your school. You heard me. On the roof. Not a second early, not a second late. I'll be there with the two prizes. Come early and witness their death—come late and see the aftermath. I have the gun—and you should know it wasn't easy looking for it after you threw it in the damned woods."
That's what he came to Kadic for that one night—the gun. I shoved my face nervously to the window of the music room door, staring desperately at the clock with wild eyes.
Twelve forty-five.
"Are they okay? Please, just let me speak with them…,"
Lukas's voice sounded as if he gained a scowl on his face, "You'll see. Tomorrow. Factory roof. On the dot,"
I sensed the hang up coming and took my face from the door, bursting.
"Wait!" I nearly screamed, "Wait! Let me speak with them! Let me speak with Yumi! Please! I just want to talk—," Click, endless beep, "…with them…,"
I took the phone from my ear and stared at it, letting the dial tone drone monotonously until I finally closed it shut.
"…No," I whispered in useless protest.
Two minutes later the kids started trudging out from the room—some of them staring at me, but most of them ignoring. Aelita and Odd made eye contact the longest, sensing and knowing what had gone on. Before they could close in the music teacher, mustache, glasses, goatee and all, stepped in between them and me, eyes flashing.
"Hand it over young man," he ordered, holding his hand out, "You know phones aren't allowed in or around class!"
I winced. I figured that Lukas had finished his business over the phone with me, but I could never be sure of that or anything when it came to him. But if I disobeyed the teacher, he might give me a punishment that would disallow me from being there at twelve forty-five. I noticeably bit my lower lip as I struggled with the decision. Picking the lesser of two evils has never been and never will be an easy choice.
Which is why I wanted to fall to my knees in worship when Aelita decided for me.
"Mr. Polowski, please—his, uh, mother is in critical condition at the hospital, and updates are random and urgent—If it was possible to give him a break…,"
The music teacher stared at Aelita for too long of a while, contemplating. Odd shifted on his uneven feet during the silence as the teacher looked back between me and Aelita. Finally he sighed, and looked at me over his glasses.
"Just this once—you hear? You should've told me about it beforehand, okay? Until next time, Mr. Anders," He gave a curt nod, and I numbly nodded in return. He locked his room, then walked off to the break room. Aelita and Odd came forward then. I couldn't stop myself at that point.
"Oh God, thank you…," I hoarsely whispered.
"You don't need to call her God, y'know," Odd said, though his face was solemn and his tone gave away his seriousness. No one smiled at his joke, though it was quite zingy for once.
Aelita nodded gravely in return, not expecting me to tell the events, but asking anyways.
"So what's the news?"
I glanced around, and although no one was around I grimaced and bit my lip.
"Not here—anywhere but here,"
Odd searched the area with his eyes as Aelita agreed.
"Jeremy's room is safe. Let's go. If we're caught we can say that we were studying for Criminal Justice class,"
While contemplating the option I noticed Sissy and her goons approaching nearby. It wasn't that hard to make a quick decision when I saw her.
"Yes," I said, "Yeah, that's perfect. Let's go,"
Aelita and Odd bordered me as we power-walked past them. Sissy's suspicious eyes followed me for a moment before she apparently lost interest and continued to walk, prissiness in her step. I tried to ignore that.
Odd didn't pause a second after knocking on Jeremy's door before walking right in with authority. Jeremy jumped and turned from his computer, startled. When he saw me his expression turned halfway to dark stone, but he hid it well.
"What's up?" he asked, concerned, "Did something…electric happen?"
Aelita and Odd both shook their head, Odd using his smart-mouth.
"Only slightly so—not in that way," then added, "Reese here got a…call. From that one guy,"
Jeremy's hard expression released somewhat. He stared at me with sky blue eyes that were unmasked by glasses, then glanced up at Aelita before turning back to me.
"What did he say?" he asked. I tried to keep my limbs from trembling before I launched and quoted the entire conversation word for word. Aelita, Jeremy and Odd all listened intently as I closed my eyes, recalling every last detail that I could—even the sound effects. It was all etched in my brain.
"He…he hung up without letting me speak to them…," I finished finally, plopping down next to Odd on Jer's bed, "I…I don't even know if he's…done anything to them…," I cupped one of my hands over my eyes while staring down and massaged the edges of them tenderly, wincing although it didn't hurt. The three that made up what was left of the gang stared off in silence—Odd directed at me, Aelita out the window, and Jeremy just off into nowhere. I heaved in a few shaky breaths before Jeremy tried to stop the disturbing quiet. I thanked him telepathically.
Because I was really starting to hate silence.
"So is that it then?" He said, grabbing his glasses and polishing them as a diversion for his hands, "Just…show up? Go along with what he says?"
"I can't see how we can maneuver around it," I lowly answered, "Anything slightly off color and…,"
Odd let out a disturbed mumble and stood up, beginning to pace, "That can't be it—We gotta think of something, some way to get around him—Wait, Jeremy, what if you…If you activate a…you know…,"
Jeremy stared at him, "Odd, no. I can't. First off, it would…expose it to people we don't want. Secondly, you know who would jump on that advantage and just make things worse!"
Odd stared, scowled, and burst at him, "You think I don't know that? I do! But this is our friend, a teammate, someone that we can't lose! Ever since…that guy left we've been struggling, and without Yumi it'll be even worse! Aside from that, there's a little girl with her life on the line as well! Little. Girl. Jeremy. I don't think any of us could live with each other if a little girl…well…if that happened on the very roof of our factory!"
"I know that, Odd!" Jeremy argued, frustrated with himself more than his friend, "I know what's at stake! But for once, I can't turn things around! The safest way we can do this is to stick according to Lukas or whoever's plan! It's the only way it'll work…,"
Jeremy sighed and sank down into his chair, depressed. Odd gazed at him, trying to figure out if there was a way—anyway—to make it a better situation. He finally snarled at himself and kicked at the closet very hard with his ridiculously big boot. Snarling viciously at himself again, he dropped to the floor and clutched his leg, hurting but still very angry and not for the pain either.
"Odd," Aelita chided, "Don't do that!"
"I don't care what I do, because apparently nothing I do will help Yumi and Nevaeh, huh?!" he growled angrily. Aelita looked at him very sympathetically and wrapped her arms around her, breathing deeply to keep calm.
"I know…," she said softly, "I'm…I'm scared too, Odd…,"
Odd paused and looked up at her, the sun twinkling on his piercings. Half of his look was a glare, but the other was a mixed feeling of agreement. Jeremy let out a whoosh of air, and laid back, rubbing his forehead. I looked away.
What Aelita just said went for everyone in the room—no matter what their position was within the group.
After a while Aelita spoke up again, this time a little louder but with no more hope than she did last time.
"There are…a few things we could prepare for," she muttered, "Jeremy, Odd and I could go early…maybe even sleep there tonight. Jeremy, this would be for—,"
"—A return trip," he confirmed. Aelita nodded.
"And for video surveillance. Just in case. Reese, we'll need your number for contact if you have the time to do so,"
I nodded slowly, even though my brain highly doubted that I would be using my phone for anything unless Lukas called again.
Jeremy swiveled around to his computer to fix a few things on the screen, the keyboard tacking with his fingers. After thirty seconds of pause, Aelita lit up with another idea.
"Oh…I know the com to Yumi's gym locker…I mean, that's where she's storing the—the…,"
"His sword…," Odd finished, "Do you think we could use it? Is it of any use?"
Aelita shot a glance at me, and tucked her chin down, "Yeah…Yeah there's someone in the room who I know is skilled at that sort of thing…,"
Jeremy immediately stopped typing and slowly turned to look at the pink-haired girl, then after a while switched his gaze to me. Odd caught on and looked at me also. Aelita took in a big breath and refrained from joining in on the staring contest. I shook my head and stood up.
"It doesn't matter if I can wield a sword or not—if I don't get the opportunity right, it'll be useless. He has the gun," I said straight to Aelita. Her features tightened up as if it hurt to hear that even though she most likely knew that already.
"Still…," she whispered, "It's always better than nothing…,"
That awful quiet once again erupted in the room, only to be disturbed by heavy footsteps and booming knocks on the door.
"Belpois! Are you in there? Mail call! You got a letter from your parents!"
Jeremy nonchalantly called to Jim, saying that the door was open. The handle turned downwards and the proud sweatband bearing gym teacher filled the empty space, gaping at the scene.
"What is this here? Stones! You know that you're not allowed on this floor!" He said, pointing straight to Aelita.
"Yes I know Jim," she said, forcing a fake smile and tone, "We were just studying Criminal Justice together, that's all," she lied. Jim didn't catch it, so it's all good.
He blinked his eyes in dim confusion a few times before he straightened up and cleared his throat.
"Well, yes, studying together is a good thing, only I can't understand why Della Robia is on the floor like that, and um, Anders, you got a letter today too. Just came in, in fact," He waved a envelope in front of him, "Should I give it to you now or—,"
"You can…shove it under my door…," I said quietly. Jim nodded and left the room, leaving Jeremy's letter on the pillow of his bed. I stared at it for a while, then blinked.
Something just occurred in my brain that told me that something was way off. Odd voiced that out loud for all of us.
"Wait…so, um, who'd you get a letter from?"
I shook my head. I didn't know.
Jeremy went over the plotted plan for us for Sunday two times, making sure we knew every detail. He and Odd were going to sleep in the factory tonight, and tomorrow I'll come to the factory with Jeremy's directions that he gave me, with Aelita meeting me before hand with Yumi's (or, should I say, my) sword. I could conceal it underneath my jacket as I approached the factory, just in case he was looking over the edge of the roof. I'd make it there by street and not sewer. Smart enough.
After the second time of running through it, Jeremy gave a little glance to both Odd and Aelita, and Aelita turned to me.
"Um, Reese, we've got some planning to do that kind of needs to be…alone,"
I recognized the flash of eyes as soon as I saw it, but acted as though I didn't know it. I nodded to her and without question I left the room, closing the door softly behind me.
Proceeding to my room took next to no time at all. I opened the door to find the letter carelessly laying in front of my feet, and I picked it up, finding no return address or stamp—just a simple name of 'Reese Anders' scrawled on the front.
Here's the kicker: My name was enclosed in noticeable quotations.
Whoever this was definitely knew about my alias.
Feeling heat rise up in my throat, I sat down on my bed, ignoring Kiwi's hellos. I was slightly nervous, but my curiosity overcame that quite easily. Kiwi soon became bored and padded off to lie down. I slowly ripped the envelope open and took out a folded sheet of paper.
I unfolded it, took a glance, and brought the sheet to my face, shutting my eyes desperately tight. It got crinkled a bit, and even though I didn't want to harm it in anyway, I let it happen.
My face creased back in severe sorrow, and tears began to leak their way out silently.
Odd walked in a minute later, starting up as if he was going to ask me something in a normal tone, but softened when he saw me for real.
"Hey Reese, I—…Reese…?"
He stopped in the doorway, inspecting me. Slowly approaching, his voice got to a concerned level as he too ignored Kiwi.
"Reese…? What is that…?"
I didn't reply. I couldn't. The pain was too much. As he approached I didn't move whatsoever. He could see my tears, and stared at the sheet—knowing that it was the very thing that caused that.
When he got close enough he tentatively grabbed the top of the paper, wanting to see. I didn't stop him as he carefully and slowly took it out of my hands.
He remained silent with a touch of grim knowledge as he stared at the paper. With time he lowered it, and stared at me.
Sorry empathy was truly shown in his eyes as he gently placed the sheet face up on my lap, kneeling down so he was level with me.
I watched as one of my tear drops fell onto the paper, soaking into my baby sister's crayon drawing of her and me holding hands in a field of sun—the both of us smiling.
Okaaaay...
I think I'm slightly better now. If only.
It'd be better if I didn't walk or bike anywhere today. I'm gonna stay inside and write/draw.
Thank you.