Disclaimer:
This chapter contains possible violence, gore, and mentions of rape. If any of these things disturb you, there will be a marker that will give you a chance to skip past those sections. You will be informed before and after the specific scenes so that you can avoid any triggering themes or acts that are written out. Keep in mind that this disclaimer is a 'precaution' and will be followed up with direct warnings when necessary.
Thank you in advance and enjoy the chapter.
Previously:
"Are they okay?" a light-hearted voice of concern asked the older woman who appeared to be muttering to herself. "Mother?"
Celeste towered over the unconscious forms of the young men and women scattered along her home. Currently, she was taking special care of Jade West, gently rubbing rosemary on her pale forehead as a way of helping her.
"I don't know, child..."
"But, you can bring them back. right?" A hallowed silence filled the room, giving Lucille her answer. There wasn't much that could be done besides praying, utilizing talismans and herbs to ward off any further damage to the young men and women's psyche. Lucille, for her part, was patiently watching the still forms of those she cared about with anxiety. "Who or what could have caused this?"
At that moment, Celeste froze in her tracks. Dark orbs slowly turned creepily to the younger woman, fear and anger burning behind them. While this rage was not directed towards her, it was still enough to make her stop the line of questioning.
"The Livro da ilusão..." her voice was so low that it came off as if she was afraid to utter the name too loudly. She then turned her hardened gaze back to the young adults lying down before her. "As for 'who'? It is a cursed book that was written by a mambo asogwe (high priest or priestess) who desired to control the strands of time and fate. While successful, that asogwe was punished by the Loa for stealing their secrets and documenting them."
"So, what exactly is happening to them?"
Celeste sighed, mainly due to the level of stress that was beginning to overwhelm her.
"Have a seat child, this will be a lot to take in."
Demons Within
Chapter 50: Dark Tunnel
Lucille could only look back at her mother with a perplexed expression. Throughout her time as a bokor-in-training, she'd never heard of such a thing as what was stated by the haunted lady softly invocating over the young men and women in their home.
"What exactly is this Livro da ilusão?"
"It is a terrible tome that was conceived generations ago in an attempt to defy the powers of the spirit realm. It was said to have the potential to induce those under its spell into a comatose state."
"But if that's all it can do, then shouldn't we be able to pull little brother and the others out?" Lucille asked, slowly sifting through some books pertaining to rituals and counterspells. "There has to be something that could be used to pull them out of this."
"Sadly, that's not the end of it, cher." Both women turned towards the lone entranceway where none other than a familiar Cajun stood with a stoic look on his scruffy features. With arms crossed, his eyes narrowed as he stepped past the threshold.
"What are you talkin' about, Remy?" Lucille huffed, not one for the guy's annoying antics at the moment. A swift reprimanding from the elder woman put to rest any further outbursts from the now pouting daughter.
"Hush child..." she pressed a digit onto her lips before turning her attention back to the young man. "Go ahead, Remy."
"Thank you, Madame." he tipped his hat politely. "The Livro da ilusão isn't just a comatose spell, but, rather one that sends those inflicted by it into an alternate world where their past memories are rearranged. By being forced into this realm, they're unable to decipher what's real and what's illusion and that's still just the tip of the iceberg."
"There's more?"
He nodded. "I'm afraid so, Lucille. Ya see, everyone affected can either experience their own personal alternate reality or experience one massive one. In the case of these guys, it appears to be the latter."
For the first time since the incident occurred, Celeste finally allowed the ghost of a grin to appear. "So, they can be saved?"
"Correct. It's much easier to do so but, it'll still require a bit of skill," his scowl deepened, followed by a heavy exhalation of frustration. "The first thing we'll need to do is figure out the initial victim of this spell in order to pinpoint the source of their fantasy. After that, we'll need to send someone into the mindscape and draw them out. If we can form a line of communication to do just that, then we can focus on getting you inside and maybe figuring out the identity of the perpetrator."
Both women nodded.
"Excellent, so Lucille, you'll be the one we need to send inside after we figure out the aforementioned victim."
"Why me?"
"Because, in order for this to be effective, we'll need someone who has the strongest bond with most of the group which means you'll have the greatest chance of pulling each of them out."
By now, Lucille wasn't sure how to feel about that revelation. Sure, it was certainly true, but, that didn't make her feel any less uneasy about the mission laid out. Was she truly capable of completing this without screwing things up? Would she be prepared for whatever 'reality' awaited her? She took a moment to swallow the lump of saliva that had built up in her mouth before taking a moment to stare at the unconscious form of her brother Liam resting comfortably on the nearby couch.
"If that is the case, then why not my mother? She's equally qualified to handle these types of issues; more than I am, I admit."
"Possibly," Remy removed his fedora, wiping away some imaginary dust before putting it back on. "But, as I just stated, you have the strongest connection with the majority of the group. While Madame Celeste is indeed the boy's mother, she does not have that strong of a bond with the rest save for the two beaus. In truth, you actually beat her out in that category by at least one body."
At that moment, he pointed his thumb over to the stilled body of one Beck Oliver who was currently resting on a plush blanket that Lucille herself had provided.
"Between your feelings for the poor guy adding to the heightened emotions towards the pale girl, you are the only one out of the three of us who can go in and bring them out. Am I clear?"
"I don't think I can..." she averted her gaze. "What if I mess up? What if I tamper with something that could ruin everything?"
As tears began to surface, Lucille felt a warmth that she hadn't known she was missing until now surround her.
"You won't, child. I have faith that you can, and will, help bring them back."
A moment that felt like an eternity.
That's all it took for the mother-daughter tandem to hash things out about this situation.
"Okay, I'll do it..." her voice, barely above a whisper, open the door to progress.
"Perfect. Because I think we should start with the most obvious suspects."
Confused, Lucille raised an eyebrow. "And who might that be?"
Liam & Jade
Liam and Lola both returned with matching smiles on their faces, much to the chagrin of one Quinn Pensky who frowned at the pair. In her eyes, the duo would definitely owe her for having to use her precious nano-tech before they could be properly tested. However, another glance at a recovering Jade West fixed her attitude quickly enough where she wouldn't raise an issue this time considering it was for a good cause. In Jade's case, the idea of her newly regained friendship with Liam, combined with her soon to be healed eye, had her feeling like she could take on the world. In truth, she was skeptical about letting some random stranger experiment with such a vital part of her anatomy but, given her connection to the couple, Jade was grateful for the time taken to fix her up.
Upon the couple's arrival, Quinn mentioned something about them bringing her something from Sushi Rox before leaving to finish touching up her room, leaving the trio to get reacquainted with one another. Several hours would pass and, much to the relief, the sweltering heat would cease its onslaught and give way to the soothing breeze as the sun began descending behind the waves of the ocean.
No longer in danger of any side-effects from the treatment, Jade was more than happy to get out of the building, relishing the fresh air that hit against her face.
"I never thought I'd say this, but, it's good to be outside!" she stretched haphazardly, narrowly whacking her best friend upside the head.
"Never thought I'd hear you say those words," Liam stuck his tongue out.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" the goth raised an eyebrow, wondering whether the boy would fall into her snare.
She and Lola watched as he raised his hands up defensively. "From what I remember, you were always the type to wall yourself at home or someplace where no one could find you."
Jade rolled her eyes yet remained silent; she wasn't going to take the bait.
"Yeah well, I guess I should be going..." she averted her gaze towards some random group of kids playing extreme frisbee. "It's only a matter of time before Vega and the others start hitting my phone up."
"Are you sure you have to leave so soon?" A pair of eyes fell upon, not Liam, but the tan girl. "I'm sure we can find a place for you to crash tonight. You're more than welcome to go out with us."
While her boyfriend just watched in astonishment, Jade could feel this weird feeling resonating within her stomach; a feeling that she had to admit she hadn't felt in a long time. Earth and sky fixed on one another in a mental debate, determination vs uncertainty warring against each other.
"I- I don't know... I don't want to impose on your date."
"Nonsense," Lola flicked her hand repeatedly. "We can always take a rain check on that."
"Are you sure?"
This time, Liam closed the gap between them. "Trust me when I tell you, Lola doesn't say things that she doesn't mean. If she's invited you, she really wants you to join us."
Unknown to the olive-skinned girl, there was an unsaid conversation brought ensuing between the newly reunited friends as well. If Jade was her old self, she would've made some snarky remark about seducing the two. Instead, she remained still as she nodded towards the young man after several seconds of their unspoken duel.
Come on, Jade.
I don't know...
We'd love to have you with us.
I would be imposing...
Why are you being so difficult?
Are you surprised?
It's him, isn't it?
No.
Jade.
Drop it...
Stop lying!
Fine! Yes...
Jade let out a sigh, clearly frustrated with the mental interrogation conducted by the boy.
"Alright, I'll go with you guys if it'll get you off my back," though her face bore a scowl, her tone lacked the dedication to her gankiness. She rolled her eyes as Liam and Lola did celebratory victory dances though, she couldn't resist the amused smirk that crept along her face. She then found herself being led by both arms to their intended destination. "The food had better be as good as you say it is..."
The night progressed with minimum issues for the goth as she enjoyed her evening at Sushi Rox, though she attributed much of it to the pleasant company. After a wonderful meal and conversation, she spent some time listening to an impromptu concert by some local musicians who, in her 'expert' opinion, weren't half bad. At times, she would find herself getting lost in the musical stylings of the rock groups which didn't go unnoticed by her hosts. Lola, who by now had grown much more comfortable with the dark natured girl, found herself joining her while the band continued their performance. The closer their forms drew, the more of the tension began to fizzle away.
For Jade, it was the perfect chance to shed her defenses and savor the calm environment around her. In Lola's case, she too appeared at ease as she swung her hips to the beat. The ambiance encompassing them increased in strength as they inched closer while sustaining a respectable distance from one another. Midnight & Earthly locks whipped in the twilight sky as they both felt their inner strife melting away with each move they made; neither seemed to have a care in the world while they continued to be enchanted by the air encompassing them. Ultimately the song ended, leaving the girls to stop and catch their breath while another group began to make their way onstage.
"You're not a bad dancer," Lola panted while wiping a few droplets of sweat from her brow.
To her wonder, Jade's breathing was a bit uneasy as well as she was hunched over, though it did little to stop her from smiling. "Thanks, you're not so bad yourself. I wasn't sure you could keep up."
"Well, now you-" the brunette paused her gloating to scan around the area, her gaze intensifying with each passing second. "Where's Liam?"
On the opposite end of the campus, the missing person in question was sitting on one of the guard rails staring at the stars hovering over the horizon. His lids slowly closed as the breeze tickled his face. Steadily he inhaled while contemplating his previous actions; he knew that he should've given the girl's a heads up but, he couldn't bring himself to do that.
It was wrong and yet, he still thought it best to just slip into the crowd while Lola and Jade danced without a care in the world. In his eyes, he didn't want to disturb their mesmerizing choreography and made his decision to endure some solitude. It would prove to be short-lived as a familiar face approached him.
"What do you want, Michael?" he muttered, clearly not receptive of the African-American boy.
"I was just heading back to the concert with Tina when I noticed you were over here all by yourself..."
"Wait... Tina? What happened to Sasha?" he peered over his shoulder at the energetic boy with an interrogating glare.
"That's beside the point," he quipped frantically while rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought you were with Lola and some other girl?"
"That's none of your business... go back to your date."
Clearly, Michael could tell that something was troubling his friend but, the distant calls from aforementioned Tina drug him from his mission, much to Liam's relief. Nothing against the guy, but he just had little time or patience for explaining himself. Taking a moment to compose himself, he focused his mind once more on the earlier thoughts plaguing him.
"Thought he'd never leave," he turned around, eyes fixed on the dimly painted waters in front of him.
"I'll say..." An icy chill ran down Liam's spine at the voice behind him. "It seems that you have a knack for disappearing when people aren't paying attention."
Maybe if I don't turn around, she won't be as angry...'he surmised while a slight shiver crept throughout his body.
"Not acknowledging us will only make up angrier, Liam..." Jade's cryptic tone made him want to wince as he was no stranger to the girl's wrath. "You have some explaining to do."
Slowly, he twisted his body only to find himself staring at the annoyed faces of both Lola & Jade.
"H-hey!" he weakly greeted. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, I don't know... Lola and I figured that we'd take a break from the show and see the mythical Malibu waves while sipping some drinks," in an instant an ivory hand tightly gripped his black t-shirt. "What the hell do you think we're doing here, moron?"
"Jade, please let my boyfriend go..." Despite her anger, she obliged leaving Liam to fall onto the grass below due to him losing his balance. He picked himself up, groaning from the rather hard thud he made upon contact with the ground. "Anyways, the more important question would be why did you run off?"
They both watched as their friend/boyfriend let out an unsteady sigh while avoiding eye-contact with them. Upon closer inspection, the two could make out the slight swaying motion of his body, further implying that whatever was responsible for his departure must've been really serious.
"I really don't want to-"
"No!" The goth shocked the couple with her unforeseen outburst, tears brimming the corners of her azure gems. "You're not about to pull that same crap again!"
"Again?" the attention suddenly turned to Lola who sported a puzzled expression. "What do you mean 'again', Jade?"
"To make a long story short, this is how your boyfriend was acting right before he made up his mind to leave Hollywood Arts and move here. Isn't that right?"
"That's not fair!" he bellowed, unwilling to face this without some form of defense. "We both know why I really left!"
"Yeah, and that only took over two years to explain."
"Why are you being such a gank?!"
"The same reason you're acting like an ass!"
Silence.
Soul crushing silence mixed perfectly with the uncomfortable atmosphere swirling around the trio with Lola Martinez obviously the odd girl out. One thing was apparent however, there was indeed some strain within the association related to something much deeper than the two were letting on. Regrettably, she wouldn't get the chance to investigate further as the raven-haired girl stormed off without another word, leaving the twosome speechless.
"What was I thinking?" Jade grumbled as she neared her car. "He was a heartless ass back then and he's still one now..."
"Are you sure about that?" Jade spun her body instantly while simultaneously brandishing her favorite pair of scissors to use on the poor idiot foolish enough to creep up on her. To her surprise or lack thereof, it was Lola who now held her hands up defensively. "Okay, I'm sorry...!"
"Sorry, Lola..." her fury subsiding for now. "I thought you were some dumbass thinking he'd get a feel or something."
"I should be the one apologizing," this response made the gothic queen's eyebrows raise. "for my insensitive boyfriend, that is."
Crossing her arms, Jade's lips began to contort into a soft frown.
"Why are you apologizing on his behalf? Is he too spineless to do it himself?"
Lola chose not to take the bait dangled in front of her.
"No. In truth, that was just a bargaining tool."
"Bargaining tool?" she tucked her black hair behind her left ear. "For what exactly?"
"The story between you and Liam."
To say that this caught Jade West off guard would be an understatement. Nobody dared questioned her connections or origins with anyone aside from her abusive significant other. To hear this now forced her into a position she wasn't used to being in: Anxious. A bead of sweat ran down her temple, her mouth suddenly becoming dry as the Sahara Desert as she tried to concoct a proper comeback.
"I thought it was made clear that he and I are... well, sort of friends." she scoffed, though she lacked the conviction necessary to throw the young girl off. "What more could there be?"
This was her first mistake.
If she'd been on her game, she would've left things at the somewhat concise answer that might've ended the conversation. Instead, she inadvertently handed the keys to Pandora's Box to Lola who was quick to use it to get her answers.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that there's something going on between you two that you're not telling me or him," she smirked softly, further leading Jade into a fog-covered labyrinth, adding to her disadvantage. "If I had to take a guess, I'd wager that you two were once an item?"
Then came her second mistake.
"No way!" she replied, her voice swiftly elevating in volume and tone, an undisputed indicator of her rapidly diminishing composure which only happened when she felt threatened or was being accused of something that wasn't true. "As if I'd date him while I was in a relationship with someone else! I'm NOT a cheater, Lola!"
"But you are ATTRACTED to him..."
Eyes wild and wide like a wounded animal's shook under the soft gaze of the girl before her. "W-what?"
"You just stated that you wouldn't date Liam because you were in a relationship at the time, correct?" Jade's silence gave her the clue she sought. "So, does that mean that you would've if you were single?"
Finally, her third mistake would come, though, this time Jade had no choice but to set off the trap laid out by the Huntress.
"That's not fair, Lola..." her voice now a ghost of what it used to be. "You tricked me."
"And you're stalling, Jade."
"Fine, the answer's yes. I do like him, alright?" Defeat laced each word perfectly as Jade threw her arms up. "I wanted to tell him but, I chickened out. After that girl left him broken, I saw in his eyes something that I knew all too well."
Intrigued, Lola tilted her head slightly. "What did you see?"
"Anguish."
"Anguish?"
"It was as if I was watching a movie of his life through those damn green eyes of his. I saw a little boy abandoned early on in his childhood growing up to be a guarded young man who rarely trusted anybody and it killed me inside because I know that feeling all too well." By this point, Jade was so enraptured in her story, she didn't notice, or didn't care, that she was crying. "I know the hell he's endured by others who were supposed to protect and love you. We were broken and yet, we could've pieced the other together in our friendship... but..."
"But what?"
"I don't know..." she shook her head slowly.
"We both feared him." The deep voice pierced the smothering emotional plane. "We both were afraid of what Beck would do to the other."
Quickly wiping away the stray streaks, Jade immediately folded her around her body.
"Didn't think you'd show up."
"You should know me better than that," he let out an uncomfortable chuckle.
"Whatever..." she huffed. "Still doesn't change things between us."
Even Lola felt the sting of the ivory girl's barb but, noticing her lover didn't give a reaction, she knew something was up. After all the time the two have spent together, she could tell that it wasn't going to rattle him a second time.
"And what are things between us?"
His words held no emotional tell-tale which began to stir something from within the pit of her stomach that she'd only felt before when dealing with her significant other. She redirected her attention to the young man, managing to find herself captivated by those duel gems of honesty and strength. To her, deep within her heart and soul, she knew what he meant to her; he was everything she could've ever wished for wrapped up in one human shell. He was her literal opposite in the sense that he was more open to express what was inside of him or, at least he was better at it than she was.
To her, he was perfect.
"I don't know anymore..." her hushed tone revealed a subtle dose of uncertainty behind her response. "I-I should go."
She reached for the door of the Impala only to have a soft hand placed on her own. Despite the dim surrounding them, Jade could make out whose touch it was. She slowly lifted her gaze, eventually meeting with the sweet terra orbs of a saddened Lola Martinez. Everything in her screamed to rip her hand away, get in her car, and speed off into the night and yet as if rooted in the ground, she found herself unable to commit to the idea. It was something about her that made her feel at ease despite the awkward ambiance around them.
"Look, I know you've only known me for the better part of a day," she resisted the urge to laugh at that. "but, please tell us what's going on. I'll admit that Liam can be a stubborn ass at times but, even I can see that he's trying, Jade."
Turning her view towards the boy, Jade noticed that he was staring at the ground but, more importantly, there was a tiny sliver of pink adorning his cheeks. If they'd been alone, she would've reveled in the feeling of warmth rushing throughout her body. However, she settled on the tiniest of grins before approaching her estranged friend. In a moment that seemed to last forever, Jade let her grin grow into a solid smile. though there was something else behind it as well. Something that only Lola happened to catch in that split second; a twinkle in the goth's aqua pools, one that didn't signify lust but, an intrigue that confirmed her earlier inquiry.
"I think I can live with that," Jade's snarky tone shifted the focus onto herself again. "Between Beck being in Canada, and my family not really caring about me, I can settle with spending the night. But, I'll need some clothes to wear."
"You can borrow some of mine," Lola volunteered with a bit more eagerness than she'd hoped. "Though, now that I think about it, I don't think we're the same size."
"It's alright. I can just make due with what I have until tomorrow."
"No way! I have a couple of shirts that I really don't wear anymore. Plus, you can bunk in my room since the staff doesn't check my hall." Lola and Jade just stared at the boy, neither saying a word, much to his concern. "What? I'm just trying to help..."
Lola was about to say something but was stopped when the sound of a door shutting caught her ear.
"How can I say no to that?" Jade grinned softly.
After settling on the details of Jade's stay, Liam thought it best, correctly, to walk his girlfriend to her dorm before returning to his own room. Upon their arrival, the two shared one final kiss before Lola turned in for the night. Back at Liam's dormitory, giggles and hums aplenty permeating from the room as he pulled out his keycard and unlocked the door, allowing entry into his room. What he found was none other than his best friend sitting on his bed wearing a black Jack Skellington t-shirt that was clearly too big and a knowing smirk adorning her lips.
That's all...
"Had fun?"
"Sorry we lost track of time," he rubbed his neck sheepishly.
"Right," the goth droned playfully. "Well, I'm glad you didn't choose to get some 'fun time' while I was stuck waiting."
"W-what?!" he stepped back, aghast at her blunt remark. "I wouldn't do that!"
"So, you're telling me that you two haven't done anything with your girlfriend?" she crossed her arms, allowing the collar of the shirt to drift further down her right shoulder. "I don't buy it."
He half expected her to continue her interrogation, it was what she was good at after all, but found that he'd been baited when she erupted into a fit of giggles at his flustered expression.
"Sorry, Tiger. I couldn't resist."
If irritation were a virus, it had definitely infested Liam's being as he felt a pang pierce his gut.
"Glad to know you still have your sense of humor..."
"Of course! Not everything's changed about me," she smiled brightly before giving him a tight hug. "It's one of my many likable qualities "
"Mhmm." he rolled his eyes, clearly not amused at Jade's antics, though, he found himself falling victim to a chuckled that tickled his throat.
Silence then filled the room, uncomfortable and smothering the pair who sat and stood awkwardly from one another. While it wasn't that there was anything wrong between them, there was this feeling of uncertainty that seemed to hover over them. For starters, there was the case of their individual pasts, something both Jade and Liam didn't want to address for their own personal reasons.
Between abuse and unresolved feelings, it was clear to them both that this meeting was no mere accident.
"I'm impressed..." his voice fragmented the mirror, not caring about the shards of difficulties that threatened to slice him. As he presumed, Jade flashed a look of pure dismay. "I didn't think that you of all people would be the one to come all of this way just to find me."
Embarrassed, the pale girl turned away, hiding her face with her raven locks. "I-it was nothing..."
"I don't think that you playing detective and using an old picture that someone posted on TheSlap to pinpoint my location can be classified as 'nothing'." a smug grin slowly crept along his full lips. "If anything, that's something that I'd expect from Tori."
"Don't ever compare me to Vega!" in one fell swoop, Jade managed to not only rush at the boy but pull out her favorite (for the moment) pair of scissors.
"What the hell?!" he fell backward, a result of him tripping over his own feet, and landed on the plush carpet beneath him as an irate Jade (thankfully) missed him completely. "It was just a joke, ya gank!"
"Don't call me her, got it?"
"Noted." he rolled his eyes, no doubt reminiscing over a distant memory. "Look, I didn't mean to offend you, Jade."
Once more, Jade looked at anything that wasn't her now cautious friend.
"No problem. I shouldn't have flown off of the handle like that," she replied, stuffing the sharp weapon back into her combat boots. "Especially since you don't know the whole story."
Emerald eyes stared back with curiosity dancing behind them like a child on Christmas morning.
"What do you mean by 'whole story'?" he asked, voice shivering slightly for fear of what the answer might be.
Gone now was the angry ball of fire that just tried to gut him like a fish, replaced with an unsure expression that told him more than he realized he'd wanted to find out. "Can we go for a walk? I don't feel comfortable saying this when others could be listening."
Jade half expected her friend to decline and make a case for how paranoid she was acting; it was his nature after all. So, imagine her shock when he nodded silently instead, watching his concerned eyes cut towards his room door. Once his gaze returned to her, the caution behind his orbs disappeared only to be replaced with a light that even she had to admit she'd missed after all of this time.
"I think a late night walk sounds good. Though campus can be creepy at night," he teased.
"Don't worry," she smirked playfully, a challenging response to his own. "I'll protect you."
'Just like old times.' they both silently mused as the sun began its descent.
"Lola, are you alright?" a worried Zoey asked while sitting on her bed. "You seem a bit... anxious."
"Huh? Why would I be anxious? What makes you think that I'm anxious?!"
"Because you're clutching your sweater as if it owes you money..." the blond pointed a digit towards the unfortunate article of clothing in Lola Martinez's grip.
Noticing this, she loosened her hold on the neck of the ugly Christmas sweater, though, she was still unwilling to accept the clear observation made by her best friend.
"M-maybe, I just d-don't like it?" she replied, flashing an awkward smile.
"I swear, if you hold on any tighter, you'll start tearing the threads..." Zoey Brooks walked over, taking the reindeer adorned top and tossing it in the open closet nearby. "You're worried about Liam, aren't you?"
"Sort of..."
"Lola?"
"Okay! Yes, I'm troubled about my boyfriend."
"That explains the stranglehold on poor Rudolf back there," Zoey giggled slightly but soon regained her somber mood when her friend continued to pout. "Sorry. Just trying to lighten things up."
"Thanks." She rolled her eyes. "To be honest, I'm not really bothered about Liam..."
"It's something else isn't it?"
"Yeah... Jade."
"The goth girl? She seems pretty friendly to me," Zoey shrugged but discerned the tiniest sliver of iniquity emerged behind amber colored eyes. "Lola?"
"She is friendly, and that's the problem. I'm wondering how deep does their friendship go? What's their history?"
"Why didn't you just ask them?" Blue eyes matched the shade of iniquity of her olive-skinned friend. For a split moment, she could feel a dark sensation rushing through her head before it disappeared once more.
Shaking off the unwanted feeling, she looked up to see Lola gently rubbing her temples as if to say 'I felt it too'.
"Because I think they're hiding something..."
"Like what?"
"I don't know..." Lola bit her lip, gently nibbling the soft skin. At the same time, her techmate went off, indicating a new message.
The night sky shrouded the school grounds in a blanket of soft blue, mixing with the calm breeze to create the perfect scene for the duo of Jade and Liam. Thankfully, each pathway was well lit with lamp posts to easily guide the pair wherever they were intending to go. Given her earlier appearance, Liam gave her a pair of basketball shorts that fit her pretty well, actually a little too well as the black bottoms seemed to accentuate her lower body well enough. Since leaving his room, the two explored the campus, showing off the various hangout spots along with a few places that he'd use to get away from the other students. Eventually, they would find themselves walking around a long forgotten path that was well hidden behind a large group of trees.
In spite of all of this, Jade wasn't in the pleasant mood.
"Where exactly are you taking me?"
Much to her chagrin, Liam didn't respond. Instead, he continued putting his focus on the path ahead; he didn't want to get them lost.
"Liam, you haven't said anything since we left the dorms and it's kind of creepy." she huffed, crossing her arms under her breasts.
"Sorry, I just didn't want to ruin the surprise."
"What surprise?"
Her question would be answered when she laid eyes on a small clearing. In truth, it was an interesting sight, to say the least as she took in the sight of a rather old building that appeared to be abandoned, though not long enough to come off as dangerous. It was still pretty well kept as she'd soon find out while following her friend and crush inside.
"Welcome to my hiding spot." his upbeat voice pulled her from her exploration.
"I gotta say, this is a pretty cool hangout..." her eyes returned to the dark halls with fascination. "Bet, Lola's not too fond of this place though."
Unseen by her, Liam tensed sharply at the mention of his significant other.
"Actually..." apprehension soon reared its ugly head. "She doesn't know about this place... well, at least not that I hang out here from time to time."
Skepticism etched along her pale features, intrigue soon began to surface at the sudden revelation.
"Does anyone know about this place?" he shook his head, not trusting his own voice at the moment. "That means I'm the first and only one?"
"You want a megaphone to shout that out?"
"Nope, just wanted to know the situation... Plus, I just like poking fun at you too."
"Of course..."
"That being said, I doubt that you brought me here just to show off your secret clubhouse. Right?"
"Nothing get's passed you. I wanted us to have a safe place to talk, away from prying ears."
"I've taught you well." Jade nodded in approval; eager to see more of the old Liam that she remembered all those years ago.
"Come on." he took her hand, only to release it a split second later as if a spark had jolted him. "Sorry, I um..."
"It's fine..." she replied, feeling the same thing.
Their trek, aided by a coincidental assist by the full moon's illumination, didn't take too long as they traversed several flights of steps that'd lead them both to the rooftop. The two entered through the door, both a bit winded but, grateful at completing their journey. Jade, still trying to catch her breath, soon took a glance at her surroundings only to marvel at the scene laid out before her.
Along with several lawn chairs that folded into makeshift cots, she noticed the lone table and chairs that made this place rather comfortable in a simplistic way. She then walked past Liam until she arrived at the edge, taking in the sight of the city. Street lights combined with the soft ambiance of peace and tranquility to create a breathtaking view.
"It's not much... but, I like the solitude I get when I come here."
"I can see why you do!" she smiled, not grin, as she continued marveling. "This place is pretty badass, in my opinion."
"Glad you like it."
"I love it..." she finally turned back to him, leaning her body against the stone guardrail. "Thanks for inviting me here."
Though he didn't say anything, Jade could tell that he was grateful to have her here. Of course, that awkward silence began to creep in around the duo, slithering around like a serpent preparing to strike at its prey; the reason they came here.
Jade knew.
Liam knew it.
Yet, neither wanted to just come out about the subject that created this situation in the first place. It was like a wound that had healed improperly and now needed to be reopened in order to correctly being fixed. For Jade, that wound was still ongoing as her problems were still in existence long after Liam's departure. For Liam himself, the calm world he'd known was now in jeopardy of falling apart.
"Jade..."
"I guess I should start from the beginning, huh?" she watched as he reluctantly nodded. "Well, let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. After you left, the gang kind of just fell apart. Your sister and Shapiro are still together, and still annoying as hell. No offense."
"No offense taken," he smirked. "How's Ahrya doing herself?"
"She's the number one student in our class. She still misses you, but, she's accepted that you're gone and just left it at that."
Once more, that pang bit down on his heart. He hadn't thought about his old life or his sister/cousin in so long that it almost didn't appear real to him. As he took a seat in one of the lawn chairs, Jade followed suit, letting out a soft exhale. When she noticed his solemn reaction, she chose to resume her explanation.
"Andre and Cat come by from time to time, but, it's not the same. For once, Cat seems to be acting normal which is weird in and of itself. Unless she's around Andre, she hardly bounces or has a crazy story to bring up about her crazy brother. I just chose to ignore it... Outside of being wrapped up in his music, he's usually hanging around Cat."
"I'm glad their all doing well... or well enough." he cast his emeralds to the ground beneath him, depression weighing down on him at the realization that he was, somewhat, responsible for all of this happening. "I guess that leaves all of the heavy stuff now, huh?"
"Yeah..." Jade replied, hiding any expression from her tone. "But, before I tell you anything further, you must promise me one thing."
Sensing something amiss, Liam would find himself turning his entire body towards the gothic queen of Hollywood Arts. Was what she was about to say even worse than he thought? By now his mind was a rollercoaster of emotions, a whirlwind of uncertainty and curiosity mixed together in a cauldron of torment.
"W-what?" he cursed himself for the fear that escaped his lips.
"...that you won't do what you did with Trina," Azure crystals remained locked and focused as they peered into the soul of Liam. "Promise me that you won't blame yourself for anything that's happened to us over the last couple of years. I also don't want you freaking out or feeling like you have to save anyone either. Promise me, Liam!"
He opened his mouth, but words just wouldn't come out. In truth, it was his nature to feel responsible for something that, albeit indirectly, involved him. Even now, his mind took him to the darkest recesses where his worst thoughts dwelled. Looking at Jade West and studying her stone features, clearly, she was adamant about her terms and wouldn't budge in the least, not that he expected that.
"Okay..." he finally swallowed. "I promise, Jade."
Now it was her turn to analyze his appearance as she took in every detail presented to her. Azure orbs watched diligently for any signs of lies and yet, found none to be had. Surprisingly, this was a good sign in her opinion.
Still, she would take her time and practice caution throughout; what she was about to reveal was nothing to take lightly.
"Alright. As I'm sure you've already figured out, Beck is the reason for my black eye." she stopped abruptly to gauge Liam's reaction only to see him with a neutral mask. "To make a long story short, he's been abusive for some time now and-."
"How long?"
"What?" she frowned deeply.
"How long has he been abusing you?" his voice was enough to send an icy chill down her spine, despite the warm air around them.
"It started about six months after you left."
"What?!"
"You promised not to freak out!" she yelled back, watching him pout like a child that had just been disciplined.
"Sorry... Please continue."
Jade took a moment to allow her friend (and crush) to regain his composure before releasing the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding in.
"As I was saying, Beck and I had already been on the rocks after Trina disappeared and it only got worse after you left. I began to notice that he was acting weird at first but then strangely would become calm unless you were brought up. Whether it was in the group or in private, he would visibly show signs of irritation or visible anger. Eventually, he made it clear that he wanted no traces of you to remain in the group, so, he separated us from the group."
"Wow."
"That's only the tip of the iceberg though..." she chuckled bitterly. "Several months later, he made it clear that he didn't want you and I talking as it was deemed as cheating in his eyes. I tried to protest it but, he dismissed it and gave me an ultimatum: lose him or lose you... Guess which one I chose?"
"Jade, I..." he sat up, slumped in his seat as Jade held up a hand to cut him off once again.
"You don't have to pacify me," she averted her gaze, fearing the sight of sympathy that settled within his gaze. "I know it was a dumb decision and I'm paying for it. I abandoned our friendship so that I could hold onto what I thought was love. Instead, I lost that in favor of lust and disgust. The only thing I can say is that" she sniffed, wiping away the tears that stung the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I left you when you needed us the most..." In an instant, a helpless Liam watched as the floodgates opened, victorious in its battle with the dark-haired girl. "I was angry and hurt that you left and..."
She then a warmth envelop her body, soft skin caressing her own.
"You don't have to say anything else..." he whispered, feeling her involuntarily shiver. "You don't need to apologize, Jade."
"But..." she whimpered into his shirt. "I tried to hurt you! I chose that asshole over you and..."
"Jade..."
"I deserve this emptiness!"
"Jade."
"Maybe I do deserve to be abused!"
"Jade!" His booming voice echoed into the night, shocking her at the sudden fierceness behind it. "I'm sorry for yelling, but, I couldn't just let you keep justifying abuse..."
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't," she wiped her face again, slowly coming back to the senses. "After everything that I've done, how can you say I shouldn't?"
At that moment, she saw it... that same realization from that day over two years ago. A light that shined from his heart, no matter the emotion expressed, was now noticeable once again only now, it was with a sincere smile. "Because look where we are now?"
Her face contorted from one of shame to that of confusion.
"You tracked me down. You fought to get onto the campus. You even went through Lola and the others to find me and try and mend our friendship! In my eyes, Jade, you've redeemed yourself."
"You really think so?" she asked soft enough for him to hear the desire for sincerity exuding from her heart.
"Absolutely."
Jade then lunged at the unsuspecting boy, capturing him in the tightest hug she could muster under her own strength. Aside from the initial shock, he returned the gesture with equal vigor. Strong arms held the girl just enough to let her know that she was safe with him and that's all Jade could ask for at the moment. The only questions now were where do they go from here?
While their relationship had been mended, there was still the case of Tori and... something else that made her wonder.
This feeling was... familiar?
"Liam?"
"Yeah, Jade?" his soft words made her heart flutter; another familiar sign that troubled her.
"Do you feel like we've done this before?"
He then pulled away, just enough to take in the troubled look on her face. In truth, he too felt something that made him begin to question everything he knew up to this point. It was as if everything after Trina's disappearance was not as it appeared to be. On top of that, Jade was experiencing similar effects?
"It's like... we've been through something like this before."
"And yet, I don't have any recollection of anything substantial other than the day you pinned me down for talking bad about the other Vega. It's all a fog, honestly..."
"Right. I just wish that I knew what to do." he shook his head slowly, trying to figure out the meaning of these dormant feeling inside of him. "Wait!"
"What?"
"That day! What were you thinking after I pinned you down?"
"Excuse me?" she raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I want to know what it was that you were about to do before Tori made me get off of you?"
"I don't see what it has to do with now..."
"Do it."
Jade's eyes slowly grew wider than ever before at the bluntness behind his statement. While he didn't know what he was asking for, Jade certainly did. On that day, she realized that she liked Liam as more than a friend and... it was the moment that she wanted to kiss him and make him forget about his past; she wanted to rid his mind and heart of Trina Vega.
"Liam, I can't... It wouldn't be right."
"But Jade," he tried to explain but, she pulled away. "I don't know why but, something is telling me that this... this life isn't really mine. It's like I don't belong..."
Sadly Jade wasn't listening, instead, she felt like she was ruining the life he'd worked so hard to build.
"I won't have you branded as a cheater..." she took in the scene of the city in the distance. "After seeing you and Lola together, I won't let you ruin that. Plus, I'm still with Beck..."
Seeing her resolve, Liam let out a sigh as his heart continued to pound through his ribcage. "I guess you're right. It wouldn't be fair to them since we're tied to them..."
"Exactly, and no matter how much I want to, I won't drag you down into a mess just for my sake."
"But what if I wasn't tied to Lola anymore?"
Jade West cut her eyes at the young man.
"You wouldn't..." she whispered, afraid that her words would initiate the very deed under suspicion. "Liam, you wouldn't break mmph!"
Her lips were captured abruptly, muffling her reprimanding, and most importantly, captivating her mind and heart. He was kissing her! Liam was kissing Jade West and she, despite her 'warning' accepted it. Slowly, her arms wrapped around his neck when a wave of understanding began to overtake her. Memories stemming from that fateful day soon started to flood in like a raging river, relentless in its arrival.
The two years of depression. Jade's confession on the lookout followed by Tori's. The competition. His severe injuries in Yerba. Them becoming a polyamorous couple. The girl's possession. New Orleans and more all swept back into her mind as did it with Liam as well. The moments were so intense that it forced them both to tear themselves from the other...
There stood, not just their best friend, but their soulmate.
"Tiger?" she struggled with the smile that threatened to split her face.
"Hey, Jade..." he mirrored, stepping closer to his beloved girlfriend. "I knew it."
"But how?"
Placing a finger under her chin, he lifted her face gently for another peck. "I could never forget my monster."
The two just held each other, neither willing to let their lover go, until the sounds of clapping ripping away their attention.
"Isn't that sweet?" a recognizable voice put them on guard. "It seems my now ex-boyfriend isn't as perfect as I thought."
"..."
"Aww. What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" This time, it was Zoey Brooks' voice that emerged from the roof's lone exit.
"Jade get behind me." he stretched out an arm to protect her, though he wasn't sure how he'd do that.
"I wouldn't worry too much about her safety, young prince..." Now a third voice rang in the couple's ear, only behind them.
"Who said that? What do you want with us?" he growled, at the invisible male.
A pair of footsteps could be heard from the darkness. Louder and louder it grew until a young man emerged from the pitch black depths. The figure was a young Caucasian male, lean in stature and having a brooding/arrogant appearance.
"Who the hell are you?" emerald eyes narrowed, careful not to lower his defenses.
"Wait, I recognize him..." Jade spoke up, though with the utmost disgust in her voice.
"Hello again, Jade..." his lips curled up into a dark and lecherous smirk. "You're looking good as usual."
"Whoever you are," Liam darkly interjected. "I'd advise you to stay away from her."
The young man turned his attention back to the young African-American glaring daggers at him.
"My apologies, where are my manners... I am known as Thoran," his hazel orbs returned the demonic look. "and I'm here to kill you, young master."
Main Characters (thus far)
Liam Patterson:
After finding out that Trina ran away, after sharing their first time with each other, a betrayed Liam decided that he no longer wanted to stay in a city that continued to destroy his outlook on the world. He chooses to transfer, winding up in PCA where it is learned that he encountered Zoey and the gang at some point. This is definitely true with Lola Martinez, whom he initially mistakes for Tori at first. After that awkward encounter, it is revealed that the two have become an item at some point. With a new semester looming in a month, he finds himself thrust back into the uncertainty of his past: the return of Jade West.
After an initial argument, they both seem to settle things enough after, unintentionally, recreating the day they nearly killed each other. After a fit of laughter, they engage in an emotional back and forth that finally explained a little bit of why she came to PCA looking for him. As the conversation progressed, Liam & Jade seem to have rekindled their friendship, all while managing to avoid any misunderstandings with Lola and Zoey.
Lola Martinez:
Shortly after he transferred to PCA, Lola meets Liam at some point where the two share an awkward encounter with one another. Eventually, they form a strong friendship that, sometime later, form a romantic relationship. She happened to run into Jade West after overhearing her mentioning Liam and helped her get onto the campus grounds. After getting to know her, but, also seeing her boyfriend's reaction to her, it's safe to say that Lola will be keeping a close eye on the goth.
It is later discovered that she and Liam became a couple after a school dance (more will be elaborated on in due time). Despite her reservations, she would find that Jade posed no threat to her and settled on her first impression of the girl. Now, with Zoey, she's looking to help out her new friend with the help of Quinn Pensky. Now, it turns out that she's not who she appears to be.
Jade West:
After finding out that her friend, Liam was leaving Hollywood, Jade, at some point, fell out with the young boy. After over a year of no communication, Jade went looking for him, while keeping her mission a secret from Beck, Tori, and the others. She tried to get in once she found a lead on his location but struggled to get inside until she met Lola, whom she also mistook for Tori Vega. The two eventually worked out the 'kinks' with that and soon, Jade was given access to PCA as a registered guest. Conflicted with her actions, she finds that her lead was true as she prepares the fateful encounter.
She would explain her actions to Liam, after some verbal warfare that resulted in an emotional breakdown and revelation of their shared connection with Jade's boyfriend, Beck Oliver. While Liam had always known the truth since his departure, Jade was stunned to find out that his leaving had little to do with Trina Vega but her significant other. After a tearful embrace, she can rest easy (to some degree) knowing that her bond with Liam is still intact after not speaking for years.
Zoey Brooks
While having the least to do personally so far, Zoey is responsible for Liam and Lola formally meeting after his arrival at PCA. She even introduced him to the other members of her friendship circle which opened the door for him to start a new life. Throughout his time there, she tried to get him to open up about his past but only succeeded in getting tidbits and general information about his life before PCA. Now, she has a better understanding after eavesdropping on his and Jade's discussion about their past connection.
She now seems to handle the role of "Voice of Reason" very well as she had the most level-headed resolve out of the four so far, even coming up with the idea of bringing in their good friend, albeit reluctantly, Quinn Pensky.
Thoran
Not much is known about this mysterious young man except that he is directly tied to the world that Liam and Jade are currently trapped in. On top of that, it seems that his main goal is to kill Liam, but, what is his reasoning for doing so?
