Chapter 29.
Baxter.
I was hesitant to do so, but he was the only one I could turn to. He didn't seem happy to see me, but the feeling was mutual. The only thing that we acknowledged we had in common was murder and that we shared a sister, Brookelle. "We're putting all of our feelings for each other on hold."
"I have no feelings towards you, you're dead to me."
I glared at him, but swallowed my comeback, "putting that aside…"
Boa.
Baxter could barely tell me what happened to Brookelle, he wasn't sure how to explain it to me and I had to see it for myself. We were headed to the headmaster, fury and rage overwhelming the both of us. We stormed into the headmaster's room closing and locking the door behind us. "What the fuck did you do to Brookelle?" I slammed my hand on his desk. The wood cracking with the amount of power I used.
"You two were forbidden to see Brookelle," the headmaster glared at the two of us.
"What. Did. You. Do?" Baxter demanded, barely able to speak with the amount of anger he had.
"I didn't do anything."
"Who did it?" I spat.
"I can't tell you the names, but-"
"How could you let them do that to her?"
"It wasn't like I told them to do it."
I slammed my fist on the desk again, creating an even larger crack, "What did they do?"
…
I grabbed a fist full of his shirt, pulled him inside the detention hallway and slammed him on the brick wall. Baxter shut the door and locked it behind him. "Give me the names."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stuttered.
"My sister, she has white hair, blind, there were people who beat her up multiple times a day."
His eyes widened, and sweat started to form. "R-right, I-I didn't mean to let them in. I didn't know she was your sister. I, uhm, if I knew-"
I slammed his face on the cell bars next to me. "Enough with the crap," Baxter spat, "give us the bloody names and we'll be on our way."
"There was Jones or James… young kid, he graduated…"
"Who else?"
"I-I don't know their names-"
"What did they look like?"
"Uh, there was another guy… red head, with red eyes, he's not a student."
"Brick. Any more?"
A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his forehead, "uh, no. No. Just those two."
I smashed his face on the cell bars again, my voice growing darker, "any more?"
"Uh… I-I can't remember. I-"
I twisted his arm and began to pull on it.
"Okay, okay! There was one more!"
"Who?"
"It was one of the staff… I-I don't remember who it was-"
I slammed him on the ground and took out a sharp object, aiming it at his horrified eye, "tell us now, or you'll be twining with my sister."
"Alright! It was me! I did it! I did it!" He began bawling, fearing for his life.
I glared at him, disgusted with him. I stabbed his eye with the sharp object and left it in there. He screamed in agony and horror. Baxter took his turn, pulling out a knife. "No, please don't! Please! I'm begging you! Please!"
"Did my sister ask for you to stop?"
He let out an ugly noise, "yes."
"Did you stop?"
He sobbed even harder, "n-no."
Baxter chopped off his finger and the man shrieked in pain, "then, neither will I. We'll show you what pain is."
…
We left him, on the verge of death, twitching and shivering. Most of his limbs were detached from him, his bones crushed or dislocated, skinned. Blood was his new colour.
Brick.
Flashback.
"You'll come with me, right?" She looked up at me with big, almost hopeful, eyes, "you'll be there with me?"
I nodded, giving her an encouraging smile, "yeah,"
End of flashback.
We were in the taxi, driving to North High School. The driver refused to drive all the way so we were forced to walk the last 5 minutes of it. She stopped and physically shivered, shaking off the bad feelings she had. "You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"You have nothing to worry about, Brookelle's in detention."
"What about the school work I have to catch up on, the exams I missed."
I stopped her, and stood directly in front of her. That's what she's worried about? School? I just banged the biggest nerd I've ever met. I guess it's better that than having to comfort her about Brookelle. "I'm sure they won't force you to take them until you're ready."
"Are you sure?"
I shrugged, "pretty sure."
We finally got inside the school. "Where are we going?" She asked.
"I think you should talk to the headmaster before you see your friends again."
I could hear footsteps running towards me, "you bastard!" I turned and just barely avoided a punch. It was Boa.
"What the fuck? What are you doing?"
He threw another punch, but I just barely dodged that one. He sneakily kicked me in the gut and I hunched over. He quickly took this chance to slam his elbow on my lower back and I fell to my knees.
"What do you want from me?" I spat, trying to get back up, but he knocked me down.
"Stop it!" Blossom demanded, getting in between the both of us.
Boa pushed her aside, with the amount of anger he had he pushed her too hard, but Blossom was able to catch herself before falling completely, "shut the fuck up if you know what's good for you," he told her.
He was just about to punch me straight in the face when Blossom grabbed his wrist with both her hands, stopping the punch mid way. "Shit!" I said, my eyes wide and so were Boa's.
"Stop this!"
"You don't even know what he's done!" He shouted.
She whipped her head to look at me but quickly turned back to him, "you're right, I don't know what he's done, but I'm sure there's a better way to solve this."
Boa clenched his teeth together so much, I could almost hear them grinding against each other, "the only way to fix this, is to give back what he's done."
"What did he do?"
"Blossom, I think you should just go to the headmaster's office without me, I'll settle this," I told her.
Boa caught on, on how I didn't want her to know and he took this opportunity, "you know what your little pedophile boyfriend did?" He paused to look at my reaction, "he beat up Brookelle and mentally scarred her."
I bit my lip, and I waited for Blossom's reaction. Except, she didn't explode on me like I thought she would, nor did she cry about it, she simply turned to look at me. "You did?" She seemed grateful, almost relieved.
Boa was taken aback and finally snatched his hand out of her grip, "what?"
"Boa," Blossom started, "Brookelle just got what she deserved."
Boa took a step back, his eyes wide and confused. "You watch out, Fosse," he said before leaving.
Boa.
I awoke to my little brother on top of me, and a knife on my neck. I knew if I moved I'd get hurt or killed. He had hatred and rage in his eyes. "Baxter," I said his name. His lip trembled; I could see his teeth clenched tightly together.
"You did this to her. This is all your fault," he spat, venom in every word he spoke. I stared into his cold eyes, the same eyes Brookelle had.
I closed my eyes and sighed, "son of a bitch. Just do it, then. Get it over with." I felt something wet drip onto me, and opened my eyes. That's when I realized he was crying, sobbing.
"She'll never be the same," he let out a moan, "she's just been tortured and ripped apart too many times." He paused, "there's nothing left of her… I don't understand why they do this to her."
"Look, mate, she's done some horrible things herself," I told him. I had had a lot of thought after what Blossom told me and I realised it's just what getting even is. As much as I love Brookelle, she does deserve what she got.
"She was four when it started!" He snapped, "four years old. Who the fuck tortures a bloody four year old?" He paused again, "why would they do that?"
I shook my head and the blade scraped on my neck as I did so, "I don't know."
He glared hard at me, pushing the blade into my neck, before releasing me, "I don't know how she did it," he muttered. He got off me and I sat up in my bed.
"But thankfully, they're gone," I told him, ignoring his comment.
He shook his head and more tears were pouring down his face, "they're not gone. If they were, Brookelle wouldn't exist."
There was silence, and a sudden question started tugging at me, "what did you do… those years alone?"
He avoided my gaze, "I was looking for them."
My eyes widened, "did you-"
"No," he told me, immediately answering my unfinished question, "but I found where they took her before." I waited for him to continue, "I waited for… for who knows how long, and no one would go in there. Of course, homeless people or other kids who were just looking for a place to have fun, but not… them."
"I don't think we'll ever know who they are."
There was a moment of hesitated silence, "I think they know where we are though."
"Us?" I asked.
"The three Strice siblings all in one place. I'm sure they know, and I think they're coming."
Buttercup.
Brick had to leave Blossom and left me to watch over her. "Brookelle was apparently released from detention two weeks ago," Brick told me.
"Where is she now?" I asked.
He shrugged, "I have no idea. Boa said something about her being mentally insane."
I scoffed, "she already was sick in the head."
"Well, I guess she's worse."
"That's what she gets," I muttered.
"Hopefully, it's a disability rather than something that makes her become an even more psycho killer."
My eyes widened. I didn't even think of it like that. "Oh, shit."
"But don't worry, she's at least unable to hurt anyone for a while."
I furrowed my eyebrows, "what do you mean?"
Headmaster, Professor Utonium.
He barged into my office, so suddenly, I jumped, nearly spilling my coffee. "Damn it."
"You're dead!" He charged at me, one of the kitchen knives in his hands, obviously stolen. I rolled my chair back just as he whipped his hand, out to in, trying to slice my neck and just barely missing; I felt the blade tickle my neck. He shoved everything that was on my desk to the floor, staining the carpet with hot coffee. I jumped to my feet just as he jumped onto my desk. His grey eyes were full of rage; I knew there was no point in even trying to talk to him. He swung his arms around hysterically, trying to spill a bit of my blood. I dodged the sharp metal as best I could. He jumped from the desk his hand that gripped the knife right next to his ear as he pulled down that same hand, aiming it at my chest. I rolled away just in time, and he simply stabbed the floor. I got up with a grunt; I'm not as in shape as I was 25 years ago. He yanked the knife out of the floor and whirled around to face me. He charged at me again and kicked me; I blocked his kicks with my forearm. I was doing pretty good for someone my age, if I do say so myself, before he punched me with the hand not carrying the knife in the face. My head snapped back and I fell on my butt.
Guards entered my office and one of them tackled the boy just in time, right before he pierced the blade into my flesh. He dropped the knife and it clattered onto the ground. I pushed it as far away from him as possible with my foot. He was screaming and grunting, but the guards hired here are much bigger and stronger than any of the students in this school. I stood up and straightened my suit, putting a hand over my head, to fix my hair. "Should we take him to detention?" One of the guards asked, as Boa struggled against the grip of two guards.
I cleared my throat, "no, take him underground."
Just as the guards passed me with Boa squirming in their grip, Boa spat in my face. "You bastard," he said.
Blossom.
"What are you looking at?" Buttercup grouched at a boy who didn't even acknowledge us from the start.
"Buttercup, he didn't even look at us."
"But he was about to. I saw it! In his eyes!"
"How could you see it in his eyes if he didn't even look at you?"
"Hey!" Buttercup shouted at someone, "what's that in your hands?"
"Uhm, it's my phone," the innocent, not really innocent, girl squeaked.
"Uhuh, and what were you doing with it?"
"Texting?"
"Texting?" She let out a sharp laugh, "yeah, right. I saw you look at Blossom. Did you take a photo of her? Who are you going to send it to? Are you going to sell it? Wh-"
"Buttercup!" I shouted, I then turned to the girl, "I'm so sorry, she's just a little scared."
"Scared? Who the fuck said I was scared?" She yelled.
"Paranoid, then," I glanced an annoyed look at her. The girl left, peeking back at us, confused and frightened by Buttercup's behavior, as I was simply annoyed at it. She huffed then looked at me with her cloudy green eyes. I was too tired and hungry to lecture her. "Let's just… quickly get breakfast," I said, walking ahead of her. She quickly caught up to me and growled, hissed or shouted at anyone in our presence.
Bunny.
I sat playing with my food in front of me. I sighed; it was just Bubbles and I sitting on our table. "…nny? Bunny? Hello?" Bubbles called for me, snapping me out of my trance.
I flinched, unsure of where I was or what I was doing at that very moment. "Uhm, sorry, sorry. What did you say?" I asked, putting some of my food into my mouth.
"I just told you…" Bubbles said, her expression hurt and angry.
"Can you repeat it again?" I asked.
"I already said it twice, I'm not going to say it a third time," she snapped.
"I'm sorry, I'm just a little out of it."
She shook her head, "it's fine, it didn't matter anyways."
"I'm sorry," I told her one more time, stifling a yawn.
"Are you not going to visit your family during the holiday?" she asked, taking a bite of her food.
I shook my head, "my family's in a bit of a mess right now."
"What happened?"
I started fidgeting with my fork, my eyes suddenly unable to look at her eyes. "My parents have been trying to get a divorce and their fighting over who will get custody over my younger sister. And like, my sister, she's just… like… She's been feeling really down lately. I just… I don't know, my aunt has apparently been badmouthing me and so has most of my family really. I, like-"
"Oh, stop," Bubbles muttered.
I looked up at her, confused, "uh, what?"
"Your problems aren't even that bad," she told me.
"I know their not that bad but it's just that it's kind of hard for me. I-"
"Hard for you? Your complaining because your parents are getting a divorce and that your family's talking badly about you, when most of us don't even have a family anymore. Like, I don't have anyone to go visit or call anymore during the holidays. Like, oh my god. I can't believe you're complaining. You are not allowed to complain. I mean, look at me. I'm in a wheelchair, my parents disowned me and my friends are all traumatised."
"Bubbles, I didn't mean to get on you nerves or whatever. I was just telling you because you asked," I tried to explain, my eyebrows furrowed.
She sighed, "you know what? Just, no. I can't. I just, I'm going to go." She started backing up her wheelchair but then paused right next to me. "I love you Bunny, but I love Blossom and Buttercup more. They're just nicer and they understand me better."
"Bubbles, where's this coming from?" I asked, stopping her from getting too far. "Did I do something to piss you off?"
"No, it's just I don't want to be around people who make me feel bad about myself."
"What?"
"Bye, Bunny," with that she rolled herself out of the cafeteria and left. I left shortly after, not wanting to be alone in front of everyone.
Buttercup.
"She just complained about all these little things!" She shouted, angrily, "like, other people have it worse than her."
"Are you serious? That's so rude."
"I know! I told her to stop complaining and like," Bubbles let out a frustrated noise. "I just, can't. I don't understand her."
"Yeah, she's been so weird and out of it lately," Blossom chimed in, she didn't use to gossip with us, but ever since she came back she's gotten much more angrier and bitter.
"I know, what's up with her?" I asked, starting to get annoyed with Bunny.
"I feel sorry for her though," Blossom started. Bubbles and I stared at her, waiting for her to explain herself. "Well, I mean, Bunny's always alone ever since Brookelle went psycho."
"Well, we're her friends, if she wanted to do things, she can just ask us but she doesn't," Bubbles said.
"That's true," I agreed with both of them, "but yeah, what Bubbles said is also right, like, she chooses not to be with us. That's her fault."
Blossom.
We sat eating breakfast and one of the girls in the grade below me, I forgot her name, came up to me, "hey, Blossom. I-"
"What do you want with Blossom?" Buttecup snapped.
"I just wanted to talk to her, I heard she was back and just-"
"And just what?" I didn't bother myself to try to stop Buttercup, until the girl started talking back.
The girl's eyebrows knitted together, "I was just going to ask if she was okay," she began to raise her voice.
"She doesn't need your sympathy."
I grabbed Buttercup's arm and held her down before she could stand up, Buttercup's head whipped to face me, "Buttercup," I started, shaking my head, "enough."
Buttercup scowled at the girl before she left back to her own table. The other girls turned around to look at us as well.
Baxter.
There was an empty box on the floor, I picked it up and found that it was a box of nails. I heard the sound of metals clicking together and then she started choking. I flashed over to her and forced her bloody mouth open. I started to yell at her to spit it out and eventually she did. There were a total of six 1-inch nails in her mouth. I had to tug at one of them on the inside of her cheek to get it out.
I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I let it out. She simply sat there on my bed, her eyes blank and blood hanging on the edge of her mouth.
Blossom.
I waited until we got to our room before lecturing Buttercup. "Just please, stop."
"I'm just trying to protect you," she argued.
"Whatever that was, it wasn't protecting me. It was isolating everyone from me."
"God, sorry, I'll just stop then."
"Thank you."
"And when Brookelle does come back, you better not come crawling back to me."
"I won't be, because I don't need your help," I told her, I could see a flash of hurt in her eyes, but I didn't recognise it at the time. "Just leave me alone, you're so damn annoying, I can't do anything with you around because you're just… just you!" I knew I should have stopped then, but I didn't, it just flowed out, "you're too aggressive and angry and rude and mean! I don't understand you at all!"
"You don't need to understand me! I was just trying to make things easier for you!" She started shouting back at me.
"I never asked you to do it!"
"There are other people worried about you! Don't you understand that? You're making them worry over you!"
"Just shut up! All you people are doing is giving me a constant reminder of what I've done! It's disgusting and I hate it!"
"You know what? You're just so selfish and ungrateful. No wonder Brick doesn't like you."
"What do you mean doesn't, he likes me now," I told her, a bit worried over her response.
She scoffed, "you think he likes you?" I didn't reply and so she rolled her eyes and left the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
I'll try to start updating quicker, now that I've gotten a lot of it done. I still don't have an ending, so... hopefully I'll figure one out. Thank you for being so patient with me.
xoxo.
