Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Happy Halloween Jade

Chapter 7 – Face your fears

No One's POV

Looking as if she was in a state of shock, Jade turned away from Robbie and walked towards the refrigerator. Opening it, she looked for a beer. That was because she needed one, simply to help her come to terms with the fact that the Cenobite-Tori was not just a figment of her imagination. Though it wasn't a cenobite, it was something. Not only that, it had invaded her mind.

"No, not invaded, that's not right. Violated, yeah that's it." Thought Jade numbly as she moved a container of juice to find something to help her cope.

There was no beer unfortunately. There were however, 3 cans of wine which probably belonged to Tori's mother. Being a secret wine connoisseur, Jade would normally never even think of degrading herself by drinking wine from a can. But at the moment, she was far beyond the point of caring. Picking one up, she could see it was a chardonnay, which she quickly opened. She took one drink and could only note how it was even more revolting that she had imagined. An instant later, she proceeded to drain the entire can then toss it aside.

"Are you alright Jade?" Came a voice from next to her.

Jade quickly grabbed another can, this one a white merlot, and opened it. Only then did she turn to see who had spoken to her. It was beck.

"It was real." Said Jade just before she drained about a 3rd of the can in her now shaking hand.

"What was real?"

"That thing in my dream last night. That think that tried to take me."

"What thing?" Asked Andre. "What dream"

Not caring if the others knew, besides the fact she was in the process of falling apart, Jade walked over to the couch and began to recite the details of the dream along with the horrible creature in it. As Jade continued the story, the others remained silent and listened in horror.

Tori who had been paying for the pizzas when Jade first heard the news, came in just as Jade started the story. She wasn't at first sure why Jade had decided to tell the others about the nightmare. But Tori could tell right away, that Jade looked deeply disturbed, even more so than earlier. However, she put the pizza's down and elected to let Jade tell the story.

But while Jade told the story, Tori's attention was caught by the TV news story about the corrupt evangelist who died in his sleep. According to the story, this evangelist had a mistress who wanted to be wife #2. But when he said would not divorce his wife, the mistress threatened to go to the press. Realizing that would quickly ruin him, the evangelist, then hired a lowlife drug dealer, to kill the mistress. Unfortunately for him, the drug dealer was actually an undercover narcotics cop. He was quickly arrested but claimed he framed by the deep state.

His trial was due to start in a few days. The report said he had come home from a late-night prayer vigil at his church a little after 1 am last night, going to sleep shortly after. His wife, when she woke in the morning, found that he was dead. His cause of death has not been determined, pending an autopsy, but is suspected to be a heart attack in his sleep. There were no signs of foul play."

Tori knew that the thing in Jade's dream had made reference to just that and realized that it gave the dream a whole new and rather terrible interpretation.

"That thing was real?" Thought Tori, as she began to tremble.

As Jade finished the story, all looked to stunned to speak. Tori, who was standing took a step back as she suddenly began to panic.

"So, you're saying Jade, that it was real." Said Andre cautiously.

"YES!" Shot back Jade angrily.

Beck thought for a moment and tried to rationalize it in an attempt to calm Jade down. "The story, has been in the news. Perhaps you saw a story about his upcoming trial and just put it in your dream."

"I don't read the fucking news or watch it on TV." Ranted Jade, who now appeared to be on the verge of tears. "I'd never heard of this asshole. Besides, he came home a little after 1 am and went to sleep. I freed myself and woke up at about the same time he went to sleep. It then went after him. It Came to him in a form that both allured and terrified him. He gave into it and IT TOOK HIM, LIKE IT ALMOST TOOK ME!"

Jade at this point, screamed "Nevermore" and broke down into tears.

As Beck, Cat and Robbie, quickly moved to calm Jade, who seemed inconsolable, Andre noticed that the front door was open and Tori was gone. He quickly ran out the door after her.

He could see her running across the lawn away from the house. Sprinting after her, he quickly caught up and grabbed her arm.

"Hey Tori. Stop"

As Tori stopped and turned towards Andre, he could see a river of rears flowing down her face.

"IT'S ALL MY FAULT. IT'S ALL MY FAULT. I DID THIS. I TRAUMATIZED HER AND THEN THIS THING TRIED TO TAKE HER."

Tori then grabbed a hold of Andre and cried into his shoulder. It was obvious to him that she was completely overwhelmed with guilt and shame.

He let her cry into his shoulder a bit more then put his hand on her shoulders and took a step back.

"and your running away?"

"I..I..couldn't face her. She hates me. How could I ever face her now?" Sobbed Tori.

Andre pondered for a moment. While he wasn't completely convinced the thing was real, Tori and Jade both did and he realized he needed to be careful what he said. "OK, you really scared Jade. Then this thing invades her dream. But can you say for 100% certainty, that the two things are connected. That one caused the other."

"It has to be connected!"

"But you can't say that for certain. My grandma used to go to beauty parlor on Gallery street that she really liked. But one day after going there, she drove away and 3 blocks later she runs over a piece of metal in the street and blows out a tire. She blamed the parlor for putting it there, She thought they were getting revenge because she didn't want any of the complementary tea. She never went there again. The piece of metal, probably fell off a truck or something. It had nothing to do with the beauty parlor. But she thought they were connected and it let it affect her life"

Now looking a bit insulted as well as very upset, Tori said. "Are you saying I'm crazy like your grandmother?"

"No. I'm saying that just because you think there is a connection, doesn't mean there is one. This thing assuming it's real. You don't know anything about it, where it comes from, why it picks its victims. So, in absence of any solid knowledge of it, you cannot say with any absolute certainty what you did, caused that thing to pick Jade."

Andre could tell that Tori seemed to be accepting the argument, but knew he wasn't finished.

"Tori. Jade said that only the thought of loosing you, gave her the strength to beat that thing. If you run out on Jade tonight. Not only will Jade really lose you, which will essentially make her nightmare come true, but you will never forgive yourself and that guilt will destroy you. Even if the two things are connected, you had no possible way of knowing that would happen. Not in a million years."

Tori wiped her tears, lowered her head and said. "Oh…."

"Look. Jade fought back and didn't give up. She fought her way back to you. Yes, you did hurt her by tricking her, but you need to fight back, not against some monster, but your guilt, fear and shame. Don't let it ruin you, ruin your relationship or stop you from doing what you need to do to in order to make things right."

Tori whimpered in response. "I don't know what to say."

"How about I'm sorry and I love you. You don't really need say anything else." Andre put his arm around Tori and started to lead her back to the house. "Come on. Let's go back. I'm sure Jade is worried."

After wiping her tears and giving quiet nod, Tori let Andre lead her back towards the house.

A few moments later, Andre and Tori entered the house to see the others, still clustered around a sobbing Jade, still attempting to console her.

"Where's Tori" Murmured Jade between sobs.

"I'm right here." Replied Tori, her voice shaking.

Tori, who was barely holding herself together, watched as Jade looked up at her. The Goth's eyes were bloodshot and full of terror. Like her, long streams of tears ran down her face. Just seeing that, tore her apart inside even more than she already was. In her heart she still felt like this was all her doing. It took all the willpower she had to not turn and run right there. The feeling of shame was almost too much to bare.

Tori paused, for a moment, to gather her courage and then started to walk slowly towards Jade. As she did, Andre picked up the pizza's and covertly gestured towards the others that they should leave.

Beck moved to put his hand on Jade's shoulder, but quickly pulled it back. "Look. I don't want you to think we're bailing on you, but perhaps you two should be alone. "

"We can stay if you like." Added Robbie.

Jade who had looked away from Tori to the floor, shook her head. "You guys can go. Thank you."

Cat quickly gave Jade a hug, causing her cringe. "Call me if you need anything. Kay Kay."

Tori stopped a few feet away from Jade as the others left. On his way out, Andre smiled at Tori and whispered. "You can do it."

A few moments later, Tori could hear the door shut, indicating the pair was alone. For a long second, neither moved or spoke. An oppressive silence seemed to quickly fill the room, especially the space between them.

Tori then walked up to Jade, and knelt down in front of her. As much as she wanted to stop them, tears once again started to flow down her face.

"Jade, I am so sorry. I'm sorry for….." Pausing, she thought and mentally prepared herself for the rest of her apology. All that long list of the other things she had to apologize for. But Andre's words quickly flashed through her head.

She then looked up into Jade's eyes, as hard as it was, she managed to not look away in shame.

"Jade…..I love you." Tori said tearfully.

Having said it, Tori found herself facing her greatest fear. The fear that this silence would continue forever, that there would be nothing more to say.

Ever so slowly, Jade reached down and took Tori's hands. It was then, Tori could see the fear in Jade's eyes began to fade away.

"I love you too"

I'm sorry I've kept you waiting, other things had taken priority of writing. I lost my job for one, due to covid. I had to find a new one and thankfully I have one now. I hope every one else is doing well. I hope you enjoy this latest chapter and as always, please let me know what you think.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) Rest in Peace. You will be missed.