Short chapter, but hopefully a good one. I think I did pretty good trying to show Dean's past. Tell me what you think.
Chapter 28
Chloee POV
"So, I was thinking…" JJ says as he jogs up beside me. I brush the sweat off my forehead.
"Wow! Thinking, you?" I say sarcastically. "That's shocking, I'm shocked." JJ moves so he's in front of me, walking backwards.
"Chloee Cruces, would you like to go on a date with me?" He says with a smug smile.
For a second I'm caught off guard by him saying my last name, but then I realize he's from Erudite so he probably found a way to get it. "Why would I go out with you?" I say. "You're rude to my friends and sleeping with the enemy."
"I'm not rude to you," he says. I shake my head at his idiocy. "Plus, Realm is not someone you want as a friend."
"And why is that?" I ask pretending not to care. Realm only talks to Sloane about his personal life.
"The kid's an idiot," he says. I can't believe this is his way of persuading me to go out with him.
"Says the idiot," a voice says from behind me. I turn to see Realm there with Sloane on his back. Sloane slides down from his back.
"Do they not know?" JJ asks him. I look to Realm for an answer, but he just brushes it off. "Come' on at least tell your friends." Realm walks past me grabbing my arm on the way. JJ grabs my other arm causing me to be in the middle of them. I fling my arms down and move out of the way. They seem to be having a staring contest.
"Get your own friends," Realm says. JJ moves closer to Realm. "Back off, Johnson."
"Why so many secrets?" He asks. "Hey, Peacekeeper!" JJ shouts to the Amity boy. I don't remember his name. The amity boy looks up, he seems stunned that he just called him that.
Dean POV
"You know something about secrets, right?" He asks me. I continue walking as if his words meant nothing to me. I hear my heart beating and look up as I walk to make sure they can't hear it. "You know, I did some research," He knows. I stop in my tracks, but don't look back to the group of people I can feel staring at me. "Looks like Realm's not the only one with daddy issues."
"What'd you just say?" I ask turning to see his face light up with excitement.
"My dad set up this year's aptitude test," He says causing me to step forward. "Specifically the bus scenario." I think back the the aptitude test. The bus, my father. He was so scary that they put him in a fucking simulation.
"I swear to God, if you-"
"If I what?" he says cutting me off.
"Gather around everyone," He starts. "Once upon a time, there was a man named Daniel," I clench my hands into fists at my sides.
"Shut it," I warn.
"Now this man was special."
"Stop, JJ." Realm says.
"He got a woman pregnant. Not that big of a deal, right?"
"JJ!" Realm says louder. I feel my fingernails piercing into the palms of my hands.
"That's until he set her on fire." Realm shoves him into the wall. "Along with the two other woman who he raped and then killed." I grab the collar of his shirt and ball it in my fists.
"I heard he made you watch," JJ says. I push him back so he hits the chasm railing.
"You better shut it," I warn again.
"Now that's not very Amity." He says pouting in a mocking way. "See, Dean here was an exception."
"What do you mean?" Chloee asks. I shove him harder against the rail.
"After his father was executed, Jeannine brought him into the faction system."
Sloane presses her lips together. She knows, but she never told anyone one, unlike JJ.
"What do you mean 'into' the faction system?" Marlon asks. I just noticed his presence.
"Dean was factionless," He says. I swing my arm at his face, hitting him in the jaw. He stumbles but regains his balance clutching his jaw. Even on his dark skin you can see the start of a bruise. "I guess you and Realm have another thing incommon."
"Why are you doing this?" I ask him. He smiles back in response.
"Mom's dead." He says I step forward to him but his foot twists on a rock and he falls backwards towards the chasm.
I grab him by the forearm and hold onto the railing so I don't fall off too.
"Shit, Shit, Shit," Marlon says running his hands through his buzzed hair.
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't let go?" I ask him. Water hist his side making me sway.
"I'm sorry, please!" He cries. I lift him up high enough for him to grab the railing. As soon as he's up he moves away from the edge still on the ground.
