Jao: Thanks to everyone who's commented so far. Honestly I just wanted to write again and had no real idea where this was going. I was pretty much gunna let my music write it for me, but then after going thru my CD collection for the millionth time I realized I needed to figure out what I wanted to do. So here we are. A nice Horror KP fanfic.
If you're not a fan of Josh Mankey I suggest you stick around.
If you've read my story End of Resistance this story will probably be more graphic. Should have a rating of R, which I'll change later. Till then I hope you guys enjoy. "Closure" is by Chevelle, off their Wonder What's Next album.
Paragon
Chapter Two—"Closure"
Love is one of the best motivators. It can lead men to great heights. It can lead men to true happiness. But it also can turn them blind, and rob them of reason. For those made a victim of humanities most contradicting emotion may we bow our heads. For it is you who have lost the light. Let your heart heal and regain your eyes…
It still was sinking in by time last period was about to begin. Ron couldn't help but to ask himself if…if he had just said something earlier then perhaps it could be he who- No. He shoved that thought aside. But something crept up on him and ran down his neck, it's pinching feet gripping flesh as it wormed its way down his back. Once centered between shoulder blades it tapped both spine and heart. Muscles contracted, breath stopped and Ron felt himself fall against the lockers, cold metal against heated skin. He could feel it no matter how he tried to push it aside. The creature known as depression was well on it's way to draining what little the boy had left to offer. After all…what did it matter?
What a better way to end his birthday than with some heartbreak? Sure, Kim had "dated" that Monkey guy…but he always figured she'd figure out how much of a jerk he was. There was something about Josh that made Ron quiver deep down. It wasn't jealousy, or hatred, but a fear that ran much deeper than that caused by a bully or a jerk. It was a mortal fear. And it worried him that Kim would trust someone like Mankey. He watched as she and Josh walked by, neither looking his way. But Ron hadn't moved either. Even if he had, he wouldn't expect Kim to look to him…
"Hey Ron." The voice made him jump and Ron spun to see Josh standing behind him. That shiver returned. How could that be? Didn't he just watch Kim and Josh walk away in the opposite direction? The fear only growing as Ron noticed there was no one else in the hall. How did the hallway empty so fast? A clock on the wall read 9:00. Just then the lights in the hallway flickered off. The only illumination came from the exit signs and the few scattered windows in this section of the school. The signs that pointed the way to safety now spilt crimson light upon the scene.
"What's going on? Wh-where'd everybody go?" And despite facing numerous enemies in his years, never had Ron felt so threatened by the toothy grin of the person in front of him. Josh approached, slamming a fist into the locker next to Ron's head, trapping Ron against the steel. The books fell from his arms. Mankey was so close-
"What's wrong, Ron?" The voice echoed and bounced down the abandoned halls, followed by whispers, giggles from deep shadows. "Not scared of the dark are you? You're such a coward. Not even man enough to face up to your feelings." Josh moved his fist from locker to Ron's shoulder. Ron on the other hand couldn't move, his body seemingly frozen by the other's touch. Say something, move! Ron's mind raced almost as fast as his heart and his mouth ran dry.
Suddenly the halls filled with students, pouring from doors that flew open. They all marched and gathered around for some disturbed show Josh were sure to provide. Cold washed over Ron as Josh's fingers made contact with the skin of his neck.
"I'm going to let you in on a little secret, Ron." Hands moved to cover Ron's eyes. "Even tho your eyes are open they're closed to yourself." Thumbs moved to the bridge of Ron's nose. He still couldn't move, couldn't even close his eyes. Ever slowly thumbs began to pass the threshold of flesh as Josh pressed into light brown eyes sockets.
Sound erupted from deep within.
"So I'll see you at-what was it again? …Bueno Nacho? That Mexican place?" So much for sounding smooth Josh thought as he watched Kim smirk.
"Yea. We'll be there around 7-ish, ok?" He leaned in and gave Kim a final kiss before heading on his way home when something made him stop dead in his tracks. A scream came from the school. One filled with fear, one of pain. In an instant Kim had dashed inside.
A small crowd had gathered and she easily pushed her way thru to see Ron curled up in a little ball, hands covering his face as if to hold it together. She fell to his side and once she touched him he gasped and opened red eyes.
"Ron! What hap-." Before she could finish he had wrapped his arms around her neck, holding her. After a few moments and the crowd dispersed Kim gently pushed him back. Ron rubbed itchy eyes. "Are you ok now, Ron? What happened? Did someone do something to you?"
Words had left Ron, the hallways were still filled with students and the lights were on. The clock read 3:00 and Kim was there. What happened then? Was it a dream? Surly he didn't fall sleep at his locker. Something strange was happening and Josh was behind it. Ron knew it-felt it with every fiber of his body. And he had to warn Kim.
"Kim. Y-you can't move in with Mankey. He's-." You could almost hear Kim's breath stop. Ron shook off the guilt and kept going. "He's dangerous."
"Josh is not dangerous, Ron." She was hurt and it was obvious in her tone. She stood and looked down at him. "I think I would know if he was."
"You have to believe me! He's-."
"I'm what?" They both turned to see Josh who had jogged up. "I came when you didn't come back, Kim. Is everything ok?" Kim took Josh's arm and looked back to Ron who was still on the floor.
"Yea. Everything's fine." Ron swallowed on Kim's emphasized "fine." Josh, on the other hand, grinned and began to walk away with Kim only to stop and turn back with a grin.
"Keep your eyes open, Ron."
6:30 the phone rang in the Stoppable household. Ron's folks were out, which was no surprise.
"Hello?"
"Ron? It's Kim."
"Oh. Hi, KP." There was hesitation on Kim's side.
"Ron, I'm sorry, but can we reschedule the whole-."
"No problem, Kim. It's not that important anyway. You just go have fun with Josh."
"Now wait a minuet, Ron. I'm not asking this because of Josh. Why do you hate him so much anyway?"
"Hate him? I don't hate him, KP. He hates me."
"That's bull Ron and you know it." Rufus who had spent the day home due to a bellyache poked his head up from the pillow he was on.
"Oh really? Something is wrong, Kim. There's something wrong about him-sick and wrong!"
"Ron, you're being ridiculous."
"Oh really? Was I being ridiculous when I said the same thing about Monkey Fist? Huh? You can't see who he really is, Kim. Josh is-."
"The best thing that has happened to me in my life--In fact…" The phone fell from Ron's hand. Josh was the best thing? Didn't 12 years of friendship, of undying loyalty mean anything to her? He picked up the phone only to hear that Kim hadn't missed a beat in her rant. Ranting always one of the things she did best. "…And if you'd just trust someone for a change-."
"Kim," He swallowed pushing back the hurt. "You just have to believe me. I wouldn't say something like this if I didn't really mean it."
"You say a lot of things you don't mean, Ron. Like when you said you were happy for me. Ron, I thought you were my friend, why would you take something like that back?"
"Ok I lied before, I'm sorry. But Kim-."
"Why would you lie to me?"
"I wanted you to be happy, I wanted…I don't know. But I just can't let you move in with him." Kim gritted her teeth.
"If you really wanted me to be happy you'd stop saying all this shit about Josh. Bottom line is you can't stop me from being with him, Ron. I valued your opinion as a friend-no as a brother, but if you're going to lie to me and say awful things about him then I don't think we can be friends anymore."
"Is that what we were?" Ron's voice was a lot quieter now. Dull. "Because a friend would listen. A friend wouldn't do this to someone on their fucking birthday, Kim. I'm sorry if I don't agree with your pick of a boyfriend, but I can't trust him. He's bad road. If my opinion hurts you then too bad, grow up and learn to deal with it."
The sound of the phone hitting the receiver was Kim's reply and he smirked past welling tears; it was always like Kim. Able to dish out ridicule, but once the tables turned she could never take it. Heaven forbid someone ever tell her she was wrong. So he had to prove it to her the Josh was no good. But how? There was no proof in an unexplained vision or gut feeling. He had to catch Josh at something.
"Keep my eyes open, huh? I'll keep them open alright."
Jao: Hope that wasn't too much like... gore to start you guys out with. It'll get a lot worse as we go on. You have to sit there and wonder—who is the one Kim should be worried about? Josh or Ron?
As for birthdays, as someone brought up in my reviews, I figured as long as they reach the same age within the school year it would be correct. I myself have a friend who has a birthday in December and mine is in February. Most people turn 18 in their senior year. That's what I based my logic on. .:shrugs:. And I was worried about having a phone convo, 'cuz I know how FFn kills most formatting. I hope it wasn't too annoying to have such large spaces between the dialogs.
And I want to apologize for the long wait. I know I'm usually faster with updates. I'll see you guys in chapter 3. Thanks everyone!