I was horribly nauseated all morning probably due to the concussion I most
assuredly had. I waited quietly tensely like a cornered panther ready to
spring the minute someone opened that door. Seconds ticked by like years
eventually the door opened, but as I sprung a pair of arms grabbed me and
hauled me back in slamming the door shut behind us. I fought them for a
moment then turned to see who had pulled me back. I hoped it was Spot,
instead I found Mush, his eyes darkened with worry and fear.
"Cam, we gotta get ya outta here." He whispered urgently
"What the hell do you think I was doing Mush?" I snapped sitting and putting my head in my hands, the sudden movements I had made had only worsened the pounding in my skull.
"I couldn't let ya get out while they were watchin me." Mush hissed urgently. "The Brooklyn Boys are in uproar, ya caused quite a stir last night and Spot's been missin, didn't come back till early this morning. He shut the door to his room and hasn't even been willin to listen to what's been goin on. Jack's taken over for right now, but Sarah's got him convinced ya lost it completely and need to be locked up."
"I know Mush." I sighed trying to will my headache away, I vaguely remembered someone telling me once that you can trick your body into feeling better by willing it better. I was pretty sure in never worked when you needed to be on full alert and ready to run, it sure wasn't working now. I leaned back against the wall before telling him the vital piece of information I learned earlier. A piece that no matter what happened to me might make all the difference in his mind. "Sarah's behind it all Mush, she was the bait for Ox to get Mimic so she could get rid of me. She's framed me for stealing the money, all of this has been a game to try to get me out of the picture, so she can once again be the belle of the ball."
Mush nodded mulling that thought over, I let him, as I looked out the window thinking about all that had gotten me to this point. Funny how you never stop to think about your life until you think that it could very well be over. At least if you have the time to mull life over, I hadn't when Ox had taken me. I took full advantage of the moment until Mush chose to speak again.
"Mimic overheard ya argument with Spot last night, Crutchy told us that ya told him the same story about bein from the future. He said ya had a bracelet with ya birth date on it that matched what ya said." Mush broke into my musings, I whipped my head around, a move that was not too smart and I clutched my head as I waited for the world to stop spinning. Silently I reached under the mattress from my perch on it and pulled my bracelet from its hiding spot and handed it over.
"It's the truth whether you or anyone else believe me." I told him vehemently.
"I'll believe what ever ya say Cam, ya ain't lied to me before." Mush replied squeezing my hand gently. Tears gathered in my eyes as Mush squeezed my hand gently, then pulled me into his arms as the sobs started. His arms that could so easily crush me held me as gently as if I were a priceless piece of china. He rested his head on my bent one rocking me like a child. I knew in that instant that he would be a wonderful father.
"Is there anyway you can prove it Cameo?" he asked suddenly hope in his eyes. " Could you tell us what's gonna happen in the news tomorrow."
I shook my head and the light died, how could I prove it without waiting years. I couldn't give them solid proof right now. I closed his hand over my bracelet.
"Keep it just incase, well you know." I said softly, hiccupping a little as the sobs ebbed.
"We're gonna get ya outta here okay." He whispered to me comfortingly. " We ain't gonna let them take ya to the crazy house I promise. We're ya friends and ya ain't given us nothin less that your absolute loyalty, we ain't gonna give ya anything less. I've gotta go, just lay here and stare at the wall, no matter what we do don't do anything, but that got it."
I nodded and my mind closed on one thing before he left. I grabbed his arm and he turned to look down at me.
"Mush Spot was there last night when they hit me on the head." I said suddenly. He looked at me confused. " He couldn't have come in this morning he was looking down at me before I passed out."
"You must have been seein things the only people in the room was Mimic, Blink, me and a few of Spot's boys." Mush told me " We've been tryin to tell him all mornin what's goin on. I think maybe he could stop it, but we ain't countin on it."
I nodded knowing the feeling of being unable to count on Spot when things really got bad. I had given him my trust too many times to count and he had let me down every time.
"Lay down remember, I'll come in later and get ya." Mush told me I did as he told, staring blankly at the wall.
"She's just starin away." I heard Mush say sadly to the people beyond the door.
"She must have mentally retreated into herself." I heard Sarah say, "Common after a psychotic has an episode." I snorted trying not to laugh at the psychobabble bullshit she was feeding them. The funniest part was she had no clue as to what the hell she was talking about. It sounded good though to the uneducated mind of the newsies. Common sense could have picked it apart, but they were too frightened to care. If Spot could only hear her he would tell her to shove it up her ass.
I heard his voice shouting for some breakfast, I heard someone scramble down the stairs. My heart rose as hope filled it, quickly I batted down the first truly insane thought I had had. He wouldn't save me, he hadn't before and I sure as hell couldn't count on him to do it now. I would save or damn myself. I looked around and found I was sitting up, I had come up the moment I had heard his voice.
I closed my eyes for a moment then slowly lay back down and stared at the wall like Mush told me to do. Every now and then someone would check on me and find me in the same position. I figured Mush was going to play off of Sarah's babble and use it to get me free. I even found myself having a little fun with it on occasion when the door opened I would drool. I tried not to laugh as they uttered comments of disgust. My life had come crashing down around me and I was laughing at the fact I was drooling. Mentally I shook my head, it beat pondering what had happened and what was going to happen. In a way it kept me sane, it kept me from loosing myself in pain and anger. It kept me aware and ready to fight or flee. It kept me from thinking about what I was going to do and all that I was going to leave.
Most of me wanted to leave, but there was that one part that had been so happy here that I didn't want to go. A very small part of me, later I would learn that the necklace had been tied to my emotions. That only when I consciously and subconsciously wanted to go home would I be able to. The gypsies were counting on me never wanting to. They had not expected my life to be as complicated as it had become. They figured that I would eventually adjust and life would go on. Few of us that are marked to go to the past or to the future have the soap opera life that I had lived through. Few go through the hell I had lived through.
I smiled at that point for I had been thinking about the idea that my life had become a soap opera. Well I hadn't had amnesia yet, that was all that was missing, and Spots evil twin brother. I chuckled softly, oh wait that had been last night as I was passing out. He had made his way down out the window only to return when all was asleep and sneak downstairs. I giggled to myself and managed a drool as the door opened again.
"She's laughin to herself." I heard the person who had looked in on me say.
"She must be reliving her moment of insane rage, shut the door quickly." Sarah cried. I laughed outright unable to help myself. Insane rage, yes I had been insanely angry last night as that asshole had tried to grope me, but who wouldn't after having been tortured by men who had done the same thing. I hoped the boy I had attacked would live; I closed my eyes unable to help the sorrow that accompanied that thought. I had never wanted anyone to die, I had lost it like that only once before. As I said in the beginning of my story I had a bad temper and had done things I did not like when I lost my temper. This was one more to add to the list of things that seemed so paltry when compared to the fact I had almost taken a man's life.
The necklace around my neck was still warm not uncomfortably so, but noticeably so. I could feel it hum in my ears and knew that it was working. As lightning flashed and the rain started I smiled. Rain in the middle of November was rather uncommon I remember thinking. We had had a few dustings of snow, for it had been too cold for rain. I smelled the fresh clean scent of it and longed for the freedom to run out into it and dance.
Darkness started to fall and the rain only got heavier, I knew that my moment was coming soon. I heard the footsteps and heard the door open, Mush poked his head around the corner then shook his head coming to a stop at the foot of my bed. I felt him haul me up keeping a sad look on his face as he did. I saw Sarah's triumphant face as Mush pushed me through the people; I turned my head and gave her a look that burned. A look that made her eyes widen as she realized I knew and that I was promising retribution. I heard Spot's door open, I heard his footsteps as he made his way to where the crowd of people were watching Mush push me to the stairs. Blink and Crutchy stood at either side of the stair well; I knew that they were going to try to hold off the boys long enough for me to get a head start. I looked at Blink who nodded slowly and knew that the moment I had a chance I was to run.
"What's goin on?" Spot asked looking from me to the boys.
"We're takin her to the crazy house Spot she almost killed one of ya boys last night." Jack said stepping up. Mimic pulled on Spot's hand urgently as he pointed to me. My eyes looked down at the small boy and I gave him a sweet smile before letting my face go slack and my body. Mush loosened his grip knowing I was going to take this chance to break free.
"Whatta ya mean ya takin her?" Spot snapped " I didn't say nothin about lettin her leave to go anywhere."'
As Jack began to explain and Sarah stepped to his side giving Spot all sorts of babble that sounded good I ripped my arms free of Mush's grasp. He made an effort to grab me that intentionally missed and I flew down the stairs my hands tightly clenched in my chemise holding it to my knees.
"Where in the hell..." Spot cried. " She's gonna get herself killed."
I heard Spot hot on my heels pushing Sarah and her stupid banter away, ignoring the protests from Jack. I flung the door open and hesitated for only a moment before running into freezing rain.
The night was black, the rain chilling me swiftly, my feet getting bruised and cut on the cobble stoned streets. The gas streetlamps wavered in the night dancing from behind their glass covering. The street was littered with broken bottles, paper, and various bits of refuse. It stretched ahead of me seeming to extend on forever. I heard the boys pounding after me making me think of wolves all working together for a common goal, to bring the prey down.
My chemise became soaked through almost immediately, sticking to me wetly as I ran. My long hair curling and tangling to eventually hang in limp dripping tendrils, that clung to me like wet seaweed that I had to scrape off my face. I gasped as I gained a new cut on my foot but forced myself on.
I heard the shouts of the boys behind me hot in pursuit and I ran harder. I felt the necklace heating more, almost burning me as I neared the Brooklyn Bridge. I grabbed it and whirled to face my pursuers praying that the necklace would work. Praying that I would go back and not be forced to stay here to be killed slowly in an insane asylum. Thunder grumbled overhead and I looked to the sky for a moment before a flash of white caught my eye. It was Spot, his white shirt soaked to his skin, his hair plastered to his scalp. Despite the darkness I could not help but see those blue eyes burning me with his gaze. They widened as they saw me inching toward the bridge. Spot stopped seeing me backing toward the railing and reached his hand out.
"Briar don't." He cried the anguish in his voice apparent enough to make me stop. "Don't jump."
I realized then he thought I meant to end my life by jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge. I laughed then allowing him to move cautiously closer. I hadn't even thought if it, but it gave me an out if the necklace did not work. I would rather jump from that bridge than go where they planned.
"What would it matter Michael?" I cried " I'll die if you send me to the insane asylum, they will kill me slower than I would if I jumped now."
"I'm not going to let them take you." He told me now close enough to touch me, his hand gripped my arm and I looked into his eyes tears shining in my own. The necklace started to burn hot, I felt the rain touch my skin soft as sand. It was starting, I could stop it, I had before that night on my way to the party at the Brooklyn Lodging House, but I wasn't sure I wanted to. It had been that night that had set into motion all that had brought me to this moment. The night I had made a bad choice that had brought me love and heartache. The choice I almost wished I had never made. For to love and to have lost is, no matter how the saying goes, infinitely more painful than to have never loved at all.
"You're freezing, you'll catch ya death." He whispered running his hands up and down my arms.
"Do you love me Spot?" I asked as I saw light like the suns rays start to fall on me, my hand in mid air ready to grab the necklace as I had that night and stop it all. At that moment I would have thrown the necklace from the bridge and stayed for the rest of my life had he told me he did.
" I don't know Briar, all I know is I can't let ya go." He replied, my hand dropped, it was not enough.
" You have to, you have no choice, I can't stay here Spot." I whispered knowing the necklace was taking me that I was going home. "It was wrong of me to come here, I don't know why they sent me. I thought it was for you, but I was wrong."
Mush, Blink and Mimic ran into view I watched them stop dead as the light started shining brighter, the humming starting to fill my ears.
"You don't believe in me Spot, you can never love me." I said on a broken sob " I'm not sure you know how to love beyond Glimmer and if you did, I'm crazy remember. You could never have crazy children."
He closed his eyes and stepped back the pain naked on his face as he did.
"Go then, jump, I can't stop ya." Spot whispered. "I want to, I want ya here, but I know ya ain't never gonna believe me. I've brokin ya trust too many times."
I didn't register his words had I, I might have stopped the necklace before it was too late. I stepped close to him, allowed his arms to wrap around me, I pulled his chin down and kissed him with all the love I had. I pulled away for a moment determined to leave him with some words that would one day tell him I had not been crazy, that I had been telling him the truth.
"Spot, listen to me." I said urgently " You don't believe me now that I'm from the future and I can't prove it to you. Listen and time will prove it to you. In April of 1912 only a few years from now they will sail a new ship called Titanic, it will hit an iceberg on it's maiden voyage and sink killing over a thousand people. In 1914 the Archeduke of Austria will be assassinated spurring a World War, the First World War. In 1920 they will pass prohibition of alcohol and it will be illegal to buy, sell, or consume alcohol. The mafia will rise up use this to make money, lots of money. Lawyers, congressmen, judges and policemen will make money on bribes to look the other way. In 1930 the stock market will crash and America will go into a depression only to be brought out again by World War II. Every time you read the news and one of these is in the headlines you will know I was right, I was not crazy. You will then realize that you let me go because you could not believe your heart."
He grabbed my arms and dragged me back to him his lips almost frantic as if in kissing me he could keep me there. I was still kissing him as the light shone blindingly behind my closed lids and the ripping pain made it's way through my body, burning me. I heard my cry of pain and then it was a noiseless scream, tears streamed from my eyes.
The light was gone it was cold and no arms were there to hold me.
"What's she doin out here? Faire's been closed for nearly four months now." I heard a voice say.
"Don't know maybe someone dumped her here to die."
There was something cold and powdery on the ground, something that made me shiver as I tried to sit up. I found I couldn't, I was too exhausted and I let myself fall back into the darkness once more.
No it's not over, not yet. I've been threatened to give a happy ending and the muses have conferred and agreed that poor Cameo deserves it. So onward we will write.
Rhap: Yup Assholes the whole lot of them! That's okay the storm is breaking and the sun will come out again, though unfortunately that means the end is in sight. AHHHHHHH no! I loved writing this I don't want it to end! Well I guess I can't keep poor Cam going through hell, it has to end some time.
Falco: You can't kill him, he's going to be very repentant I promise! Hey where are I my waffles?
Hotshot: Bad, bad Rover! Spot says he's sorry, he hates having to live with out Cam isn't that enough? She's not done yet, though I promise it wont be hell again, just five years of trying to forget.....oops don't let the muses see that or they may end it here! Peeks around I don't think they're looking good! Whew. Okay I didn't really hate Sarah, I just don't like her. She's so stupid and Maid Marian like AHHHH it kills me she's in an alleyway filled with broken crates and even a broken chair. What does she do? She screams and does nothing to help not to mention calls her little brother into the thick of it and doesn't even push him behind her. AHHHH okay rant button is off. Hope you liked it. More to follow.
Chelci: Honey it's okay, I promise things will get better! No kicking spot's butt he's in the corner doing it himself. See while our lovely Briar is at home, he's lived his life and he had to do it without her. He's not to happy with me right now, the only thing keeping him from kicking my butt is everyone is asking for a happy ending.
Skittles: Dahling sorry she went back, she left Spot! Hope to talk to you soon!
Shortie : Woah, calm down honey, I'm not taking offense, just taking notes. It's okay, I'd rather you give me your honest opinion. Thank you for your compliment! Here ya go! Hope you enjoy!
Dreamer: Cruel and necessary. I promise things will get better! I really want more on your story! E-mail me soon! I'll think about the cracker thing, where can I fit that in? hmmmmmm (snaps fingers) muses front and center, you got the idea okay off with you! I don't know. I wanted to fit in a Jack and Jill thing with the Gillian story, I totally didn't realize it until a friend pointed it out he he he. I didn't get the opening so we'll see.
Angel: AHHHHH I may have to stop writing if you guys keep missing things in class and saying odd things in class. Seems to be a common affliction my story has been having. I wouldn't want the world as we know it to come crashing down because the youth of today didn't catch something or were locked up for crazies because of my story. Okay sorry odd mood, it catches me unawares sometimes. No more twists (looks and muses and pouts) well maybe one more that's all they'll give me. Okay so I'm glad you like it!
(Looks around) Did I miss anyone? I hope not if I did I'm sorry I love you, but damn it you're lucky I got this up at all. After two martini's and not finding my bed until nearly 2 and that damn idiot that wouldn't keep his hand off my leg...Ah late night lots of fun screwing with drunk people at the bar. HA HA HA! Okay off I go to try to ramble out a new chapter for the other story!
"Cam, we gotta get ya outta here." He whispered urgently
"What the hell do you think I was doing Mush?" I snapped sitting and putting my head in my hands, the sudden movements I had made had only worsened the pounding in my skull.
"I couldn't let ya get out while they were watchin me." Mush hissed urgently. "The Brooklyn Boys are in uproar, ya caused quite a stir last night and Spot's been missin, didn't come back till early this morning. He shut the door to his room and hasn't even been willin to listen to what's been goin on. Jack's taken over for right now, but Sarah's got him convinced ya lost it completely and need to be locked up."
"I know Mush." I sighed trying to will my headache away, I vaguely remembered someone telling me once that you can trick your body into feeling better by willing it better. I was pretty sure in never worked when you needed to be on full alert and ready to run, it sure wasn't working now. I leaned back against the wall before telling him the vital piece of information I learned earlier. A piece that no matter what happened to me might make all the difference in his mind. "Sarah's behind it all Mush, she was the bait for Ox to get Mimic so she could get rid of me. She's framed me for stealing the money, all of this has been a game to try to get me out of the picture, so she can once again be the belle of the ball."
Mush nodded mulling that thought over, I let him, as I looked out the window thinking about all that had gotten me to this point. Funny how you never stop to think about your life until you think that it could very well be over. At least if you have the time to mull life over, I hadn't when Ox had taken me. I took full advantage of the moment until Mush chose to speak again.
"Mimic overheard ya argument with Spot last night, Crutchy told us that ya told him the same story about bein from the future. He said ya had a bracelet with ya birth date on it that matched what ya said." Mush broke into my musings, I whipped my head around, a move that was not too smart and I clutched my head as I waited for the world to stop spinning. Silently I reached under the mattress from my perch on it and pulled my bracelet from its hiding spot and handed it over.
"It's the truth whether you or anyone else believe me." I told him vehemently.
"I'll believe what ever ya say Cam, ya ain't lied to me before." Mush replied squeezing my hand gently. Tears gathered in my eyes as Mush squeezed my hand gently, then pulled me into his arms as the sobs started. His arms that could so easily crush me held me as gently as if I were a priceless piece of china. He rested his head on my bent one rocking me like a child. I knew in that instant that he would be a wonderful father.
"Is there anyway you can prove it Cameo?" he asked suddenly hope in his eyes. " Could you tell us what's gonna happen in the news tomorrow."
I shook my head and the light died, how could I prove it without waiting years. I couldn't give them solid proof right now. I closed his hand over my bracelet.
"Keep it just incase, well you know." I said softly, hiccupping a little as the sobs ebbed.
"We're gonna get ya outta here okay." He whispered to me comfortingly. " We ain't gonna let them take ya to the crazy house I promise. We're ya friends and ya ain't given us nothin less that your absolute loyalty, we ain't gonna give ya anything less. I've gotta go, just lay here and stare at the wall, no matter what we do don't do anything, but that got it."
I nodded and my mind closed on one thing before he left. I grabbed his arm and he turned to look down at me.
"Mush Spot was there last night when they hit me on the head." I said suddenly. He looked at me confused. " He couldn't have come in this morning he was looking down at me before I passed out."
"You must have been seein things the only people in the room was Mimic, Blink, me and a few of Spot's boys." Mush told me " We've been tryin to tell him all mornin what's goin on. I think maybe he could stop it, but we ain't countin on it."
I nodded knowing the feeling of being unable to count on Spot when things really got bad. I had given him my trust too many times to count and he had let me down every time.
"Lay down remember, I'll come in later and get ya." Mush told me I did as he told, staring blankly at the wall.
"She's just starin away." I heard Mush say sadly to the people beyond the door.
"She must have mentally retreated into herself." I heard Sarah say, "Common after a psychotic has an episode." I snorted trying not to laugh at the psychobabble bullshit she was feeding them. The funniest part was she had no clue as to what the hell she was talking about. It sounded good though to the uneducated mind of the newsies. Common sense could have picked it apart, but they were too frightened to care. If Spot could only hear her he would tell her to shove it up her ass.
I heard his voice shouting for some breakfast, I heard someone scramble down the stairs. My heart rose as hope filled it, quickly I batted down the first truly insane thought I had had. He wouldn't save me, he hadn't before and I sure as hell couldn't count on him to do it now. I would save or damn myself. I looked around and found I was sitting up, I had come up the moment I had heard his voice.
I closed my eyes for a moment then slowly lay back down and stared at the wall like Mush told me to do. Every now and then someone would check on me and find me in the same position. I figured Mush was going to play off of Sarah's babble and use it to get me free. I even found myself having a little fun with it on occasion when the door opened I would drool. I tried not to laugh as they uttered comments of disgust. My life had come crashing down around me and I was laughing at the fact I was drooling. Mentally I shook my head, it beat pondering what had happened and what was going to happen. In a way it kept me sane, it kept me from loosing myself in pain and anger. It kept me aware and ready to fight or flee. It kept me from thinking about what I was going to do and all that I was going to leave.
Most of me wanted to leave, but there was that one part that had been so happy here that I didn't want to go. A very small part of me, later I would learn that the necklace had been tied to my emotions. That only when I consciously and subconsciously wanted to go home would I be able to. The gypsies were counting on me never wanting to. They had not expected my life to be as complicated as it had become. They figured that I would eventually adjust and life would go on. Few of us that are marked to go to the past or to the future have the soap opera life that I had lived through. Few go through the hell I had lived through.
I smiled at that point for I had been thinking about the idea that my life had become a soap opera. Well I hadn't had amnesia yet, that was all that was missing, and Spots evil twin brother. I chuckled softly, oh wait that had been last night as I was passing out. He had made his way down out the window only to return when all was asleep and sneak downstairs. I giggled to myself and managed a drool as the door opened again.
"She's laughin to herself." I heard the person who had looked in on me say.
"She must be reliving her moment of insane rage, shut the door quickly." Sarah cried. I laughed outright unable to help myself. Insane rage, yes I had been insanely angry last night as that asshole had tried to grope me, but who wouldn't after having been tortured by men who had done the same thing. I hoped the boy I had attacked would live; I closed my eyes unable to help the sorrow that accompanied that thought. I had never wanted anyone to die, I had lost it like that only once before. As I said in the beginning of my story I had a bad temper and had done things I did not like when I lost my temper. This was one more to add to the list of things that seemed so paltry when compared to the fact I had almost taken a man's life.
The necklace around my neck was still warm not uncomfortably so, but noticeably so. I could feel it hum in my ears and knew that it was working. As lightning flashed and the rain started I smiled. Rain in the middle of November was rather uncommon I remember thinking. We had had a few dustings of snow, for it had been too cold for rain. I smelled the fresh clean scent of it and longed for the freedom to run out into it and dance.
Darkness started to fall and the rain only got heavier, I knew that my moment was coming soon. I heard the footsteps and heard the door open, Mush poked his head around the corner then shook his head coming to a stop at the foot of my bed. I felt him haul me up keeping a sad look on his face as he did. I saw Sarah's triumphant face as Mush pushed me through the people; I turned my head and gave her a look that burned. A look that made her eyes widen as she realized I knew and that I was promising retribution. I heard Spot's door open, I heard his footsteps as he made his way to where the crowd of people were watching Mush push me to the stairs. Blink and Crutchy stood at either side of the stair well; I knew that they were going to try to hold off the boys long enough for me to get a head start. I looked at Blink who nodded slowly and knew that the moment I had a chance I was to run.
"What's goin on?" Spot asked looking from me to the boys.
"We're takin her to the crazy house Spot she almost killed one of ya boys last night." Jack said stepping up. Mimic pulled on Spot's hand urgently as he pointed to me. My eyes looked down at the small boy and I gave him a sweet smile before letting my face go slack and my body. Mush loosened his grip knowing I was going to take this chance to break free.
"Whatta ya mean ya takin her?" Spot snapped " I didn't say nothin about lettin her leave to go anywhere."'
As Jack began to explain and Sarah stepped to his side giving Spot all sorts of babble that sounded good I ripped my arms free of Mush's grasp. He made an effort to grab me that intentionally missed and I flew down the stairs my hands tightly clenched in my chemise holding it to my knees.
"Where in the hell..." Spot cried. " She's gonna get herself killed."
I heard Spot hot on my heels pushing Sarah and her stupid banter away, ignoring the protests from Jack. I flung the door open and hesitated for only a moment before running into freezing rain.
The night was black, the rain chilling me swiftly, my feet getting bruised and cut on the cobble stoned streets. The gas streetlamps wavered in the night dancing from behind their glass covering. The street was littered with broken bottles, paper, and various bits of refuse. It stretched ahead of me seeming to extend on forever. I heard the boys pounding after me making me think of wolves all working together for a common goal, to bring the prey down.
My chemise became soaked through almost immediately, sticking to me wetly as I ran. My long hair curling and tangling to eventually hang in limp dripping tendrils, that clung to me like wet seaweed that I had to scrape off my face. I gasped as I gained a new cut on my foot but forced myself on.
I heard the shouts of the boys behind me hot in pursuit and I ran harder. I felt the necklace heating more, almost burning me as I neared the Brooklyn Bridge. I grabbed it and whirled to face my pursuers praying that the necklace would work. Praying that I would go back and not be forced to stay here to be killed slowly in an insane asylum. Thunder grumbled overhead and I looked to the sky for a moment before a flash of white caught my eye. It was Spot, his white shirt soaked to his skin, his hair plastered to his scalp. Despite the darkness I could not help but see those blue eyes burning me with his gaze. They widened as they saw me inching toward the bridge. Spot stopped seeing me backing toward the railing and reached his hand out.
"Briar don't." He cried the anguish in his voice apparent enough to make me stop. "Don't jump."
I realized then he thought I meant to end my life by jumping from the Brooklyn Bridge. I laughed then allowing him to move cautiously closer. I hadn't even thought if it, but it gave me an out if the necklace did not work. I would rather jump from that bridge than go where they planned.
"What would it matter Michael?" I cried " I'll die if you send me to the insane asylum, they will kill me slower than I would if I jumped now."
"I'm not going to let them take you." He told me now close enough to touch me, his hand gripped my arm and I looked into his eyes tears shining in my own. The necklace started to burn hot, I felt the rain touch my skin soft as sand. It was starting, I could stop it, I had before that night on my way to the party at the Brooklyn Lodging House, but I wasn't sure I wanted to. It had been that night that had set into motion all that had brought me to this moment. The night I had made a bad choice that had brought me love and heartache. The choice I almost wished I had never made. For to love and to have lost is, no matter how the saying goes, infinitely more painful than to have never loved at all.
"You're freezing, you'll catch ya death." He whispered running his hands up and down my arms.
"Do you love me Spot?" I asked as I saw light like the suns rays start to fall on me, my hand in mid air ready to grab the necklace as I had that night and stop it all. At that moment I would have thrown the necklace from the bridge and stayed for the rest of my life had he told me he did.
" I don't know Briar, all I know is I can't let ya go." He replied, my hand dropped, it was not enough.
" You have to, you have no choice, I can't stay here Spot." I whispered knowing the necklace was taking me that I was going home. "It was wrong of me to come here, I don't know why they sent me. I thought it was for you, but I was wrong."
Mush, Blink and Mimic ran into view I watched them stop dead as the light started shining brighter, the humming starting to fill my ears.
"You don't believe in me Spot, you can never love me." I said on a broken sob " I'm not sure you know how to love beyond Glimmer and if you did, I'm crazy remember. You could never have crazy children."
He closed his eyes and stepped back the pain naked on his face as he did.
"Go then, jump, I can't stop ya." Spot whispered. "I want to, I want ya here, but I know ya ain't never gonna believe me. I've brokin ya trust too many times."
I didn't register his words had I, I might have stopped the necklace before it was too late. I stepped close to him, allowed his arms to wrap around me, I pulled his chin down and kissed him with all the love I had. I pulled away for a moment determined to leave him with some words that would one day tell him I had not been crazy, that I had been telling him the truth.
"Spot, listen to me." I said urgently " You don't believe me now that I'm from the future and I can't prove it to you. Listen and time will prove it to you. In April of 1912 only a few years from now they will sail a new ship called Titanic, it will hit an iceberg on it's maiden voyage and sink killing over a thousand people. In 1914 the Archeduke of Austria will be assassinated spurring a World War, the First World War. In 1920 they will pass prohibition of alcohol and it will be illegal to buy, sell, or consume alcohol. The mafia will rise up use this to make money, lots of money. Lawyers, congressmen, judges and policemen will make money on bribes to look the other way. In 1930 the stock market will crash and America will go into a depression only to be brought out again by World War II. Every time you read the news and one of these is in the headlines you will know I was right, I was not crazy. You will then realize that you let me go because you could not believe your heart."
He grabbed my arms and dragged me back to him his lips almost frantic as if in kissing me he could keep me there. I was still kissing him as the light shone blindingly behind my closed lids and the ripping pain made it's way through my body, burning me. I heard my cry of pain and then it was a noiseless scream, tears streamed from my eyes.
The light was gone it was cold and no arms were there to hold me.
"What's she doin out here? Faire's been closed for nearly four months now." I heard a voice say.
"Don't know maybe someone dumped her here to die."
There was something cold and powdery on the ground, something that made me shiver as I tried to sit up. I found I couldn't, I was too exhausted and I let myself fall back into the darkness once more.
No it's not over, not yet. I've been threatened to give a happy ending and the muses have conferred and agreed that poor Cameo deserves it. So onward we will write.
Rhap: Yup Assholes the whole lot of them! That's okay the storm is breaking and the sun will come out again, though unfortunately that means the end is in sight. AHHHHHHH no! I loved writing this I don't want it to end! Well I guess I can't keep poor Cam going through hell, it has to end some time.
Falco: You can't kill him, he's going to be very repentant I promise! Hey where are I my waffles?
Hotshot: Bad, bad Rover! Spot says he's sorry, he hates having to live with out Cam isn't that enough? She's not done yet, though I promise it wont be hell again, just five years of trying to forget.....oops don't let the muses see that or they may end it here! Peeks around I don't think they're looking good! Whew. Okay I didn't really hate Sarah, I just don't like her. She's so stupid and Maid Marian like AHHHH it kills me she's in an alleyway filled with broken crates and even a broken chair. What does she do? She screams and does nothing to help not to mention calls her little brother into the thick of it and doesn't even push him behind her. AHHHH okay rant button is off. Hope you liked it. More to follow.
Chelci: Honey it's okay, I promise things will get better! No kicking spot's butt he's in the corner doing it himself. See while our lovely Briar is at home, he's lived his life and he had to do it without her. He's not to happy with me right now, the only thing keeping him from kicking my butt is everyone is asking for a happy ending.
Skittles: Dahling sorry she went back, she left Spot! Hope to talk to you soon!
Shortie : Woah, calm down honey, I'm not taking offense, just taking notes. It's okay, I'd rather you give me your honest opinion. Thank you for your compliment! Here ya go! Hope you enjoy!
Dreamer: Cruel and necessary. I promise things will get better! I really want more on your story! E-mail me soon! I'll think about the cracker thing, where can I fit that in? hmmmmmm (snaps fingers) muses front and center, you got the idea okay off with you! I don't know. I wanted to fit in a Jack and Jill thing with the Gillian story, I totally didn't realize it until a friend pointed it out he he he. I didn't get the opening so we'll see.
Angel: AHHHHH I may have to stop writing if you guys keep missing things in class and saying odd things in class. Seems to be a common affliction my story has been having. I wouldn't want the world as we know it to come crashing down because the youth of today didn't catch something or were locked up for crazies because of my story. Okay sorry odd mood, it catches me unawares sometimes. No more twists (looks and muses and pouts) well maybe one more that's all they'll give me. Okay so I'm glad you like it!
(Looks around) Did I miss anyone? I hope not if I did I'm sorry I love you, but damn it you're lucky I got this up at all. After two martini's and not finding my bed until nearly 2 and that damn idiot that wouldn't keep his hand off my leg...Ah late night lots of fun screwing with drunk people at the bar. HA HA HA! Okay off I go to try to ramble out a new chapter for the other story!