So much drama oh my goodness. It pained me to write this chapter.
"Jerome!" Mitch called into the house.
"Mitch, I'm packing-"
"Ashley knows!"
Mitch heard a bag hit the ground and the pounding of footsteps. "What did you do?"
"I don't know, she just came up to me and said she knew!"
"Hold on, calm down. Let's be logical about this." Jerome took a deep breath. "Did she directly say, "I know you're pretending to be in love" or something like that?"
"No, but-"
"See? Nothing to worry about. She probably doesn't even know." Jerome walked back into the kitchen, Mitch trailing behind him.
"Do you really think so?" Mitch asked.
"Of course, buddy. We haven't done anything to make anyone think so, right?"
Mitch sighed. "Okay, you're probably right. That comment she made was probably just to bug me."
"What could she have possibly said to bug you, biggums? She's your friend."
"I see the way you look at him, there's something there but it certainly isn't love. Ridiculous, right?"
Jerome turned around and glared at Mitch. "Does that not qualify as an "I know you're faking it" statement to you?"
"No?" Mitch asked timidly.
"What are we going to do? Someone knows, she might tell someone... We have to get rid of her."
"We aren't disposing of my friend." Mitch said firmly. "Why don't we... Hypnotize her?"
"Do you actually know how?" Jerome asked. Mitch sunk back into his chair. "Kidnap her, maybe."
"No way!" Mitch said. "No hurting her."
"We wouldn't hurt her, just put her in a respawn dome I can make with some food and tools while we sort this out-"
"I'm tired of this!" Mitch yelled suddenly. Jerome looked at him in shock. "Today we confused fans, tore apart Team Crafted, and now we're trying to kidnap one of our best friends, all for what? So we don't die? Some days I want to let go, Jerome. Just let this all be over."
"Don't talk like that." Jerome demanded. "That's what he wants."
"Maybe it's what I want to." Mitch said. "I'm tired of playing games. I'm tired of being a pawn in his chess match."
"We don't have to be-"
"Not if he's dead." Mitch said firmly. "This has gone on for too long. I'm ready."
"Are you serious?" Jerome asked. "No way!"
"So you'd prefer to keep on acting like puppets for the rest of our lives?"
"I'm not committing murder!" Jerome insisted.
"What is your problem?" Mitch asked incredulously.
"My problem?" Jerome yelled back. "You are the problem here. I saved you twice out of the goodness of my heart. I left you for a reason, Mitch. Finally I created a life for myself and even then I had to take you under my wing. I was forced to fall in love with you. Do you know how hard it was for me, spending my days knowing I was watched? I spent life with someone who is the reason it turned upside down. After all I've done for you, you still act like you're always right. Well for once, you're wrong. No matter what my beliefs I am and will always be a bacca. My family is one."
"Jerome." He pleaded, realization settling in. "You aren't like them, you aren't violent-"
"Oh yeah? How's this for violent?"
Mitch jumped back at the sensation of a sting on his arm. He looked between the paw-shaped mark and Jerome, tears brimming in his eyes. "Please." He cried softly.
Jerome seemed to be in more shock than Mitch. "I...I... Look what you made me do!" With once last glance, he sprinted out of the room.
"Oh no." Mitch moaned. "What did he do?" He sunk onto the bed and sobbed. "What have I done?"
He stayed like that for a while, quietly crying. He never realized how wrong he was about Jerome, how little he truly knew about the bacca. He was an awful friend. As he slowly sat up, his eyes were brought to a familiar sight. The view of the stars from this bed was perfect, just the same as it had been four months ago when he made a difficult choice. The stars he thought of as his family stared back at him once again, but this time they scorned him for being so foolish. He would've been the worst leader the village had seen if he couldn't even read Jerome's emotions. It was so plain to see. He objected every time Mitch brought up killing baccas, and it was his dad! No matter how much Mitch resented days and days of endless training, he would never have the strength nor will to kill his own father. He truly was the dumbest person around.
A window next to Mitch slammed shut and made him jump, sending him into fighting position. His head spun around checking for danger, but all he saw was a small piece of paper on the floor. He sighed at his inability to detect a human presence and picked it up. It read:
You have failed. Extermination shall begin in fifteen minutes, starting with her.
Mitch stared at the picture for a moment. In between his fingers sat a photograph of Kyleigh holding her baby. This was so wrong. What could he do? She told him never to go back to that place.
The answer was obvious, still. Mitch bolted out the doors, down the street, and towards the suburbs. He had to run 1500 blocks in fifteen minutes... barely doable, but how would he get them to safety in time? It was all do delicate, he hated himself for doing the math. Some things were better left unexplained, he decided.
Unfortunately, he had to cross right through all the YouTuber homes to get where he needed, and that meant trouble. "Mitch!" A girl called out, but he ignored her. Now was not the time for heartfelt discussions about their relationship. A dozen other small youtubers called out to him, but he kept running. No more lives would be ruined because of him. He had already destroyed countless ones, and he had seen just what he'd done to Jerome. After he killed Jerome's father, he would disappear from civilization so he couldn't affect anyone else.
He saw the familiar street and bolted up it, but stopped. Something was wrong... he could sense it. It was much too calm, too peaceful. He looked around but all he saw were signs for a mandatory house inspection this week. But if the whole street was evacuated, why did Mitch have to-
Mitch's vision blackened as he was forcefully pushed to the ground. Something wrapped around his head and arms as steady breathing pulsed on his neck. "You stupid, stupid boy." It sneered. "You thought you'd be the hero, didn't you? Too bad you're the victim, and there's no witnesses."
Mitch felt a thud on his head and he drifted into an unconscious state.
So MeromeFTW is psychic... see why I was in awe? Please tell me my stories aren't that predictable. Please.
~Scarlett
