Chapter Five "Letting Go Of the Mask..."

"Bring me Ebony, or they will die!" Ebony jumped out of her slumber. Die? But they're just kids... Ebony stopped remembering that it was only a dream. But it was a dream that was starting to get to her. She had to face it soon or later that the dreams might actually mean something. It had been two days since they had come to this place and everyone except her had managed to find something to do. Siva had decided to take on the massive task of unbraiding washing and re-braiding her hair. She was tender headed so Ebony knew it would be a few days before they saw the finished product. Siva had also been smart enough to bring her favorite CD's none of which Jack liked so every once in a while Ebony would hear him rush up the stairs and bang on her door to turn it down. He was so in control when he did it. And Ebony found her self enjoying every moment of it. Jack on the other hand was busy with his laptop, he had managed to fix the lights the first day and make sure the water was guaranteed to continue running. Ebony had seen him throw a tantrum when Siva had almost spilt water on the laptop, and when she had moved it off the kitchen table so she could eat. But for Ebony there was nothing. She mostly sat in her room and waited for the time to past. She looked out her window it was beginning to get dark which meant she had once again like yesterday slept her day away. Please someone find Java before I die of boredom!
Deciding that she had had enough of sleep she got out of bed and went downstairs. She heard Jack tapping and cursing as he took the computer apart and laid out the parts. She went to the doorway and watched him. He was gentle as he laid the parts out on the table and untangled cords. When he found a piece was missing he cursed then wrote down the part on a list he was making. It's all so interesting from here: Jack and he's computer. Ebony pulled her robe around her walking to the room.
Hearing her movements he spoke, "Go away Siva I don't want hair all over everything!"
"Wrong sister," Ebony stood over him her arms crossed.
"Oh well if it isn't you? I thought you were dead."
"Why?"
"If you were we could all go home..."
"Oh thanks glad to know you care." Dork! Ebony moved to sit down across from him on the floor. She looked at one of the pieces, and then glancing in his direction smiling mischievously she picked it up. "What's this for then, Jack?!" She announced waving it in the air.
Jack looked up momentarily stunned. "Put that down!" He tried to grab it from her but she quickly moved out of his way. She stood running to the opposite side of the large dinning room. "GEEZ, EBONY! Give it back!"
"Yeah right!" She laughed holding it in the air.
He stood moving toward her threateningly. "Ebony if you don't give that here, I'll—"
"You'll what? Hit me? Fat Chance!" she moved back toward an open window. "Come and get it Jackie boy!"
Jack rushed toward her and trying to get the piece back. "Ebony Please!"
She held it behind her back so he wouldn't get to it. "No Jack!" She laughed as she wiggled and moved even closer to the window. Suddenly as Jack moved further over her to reach behind her back she lost her balanced. She was just small enough to fit though the open window but Jack quickly grabbed her waist keeping her from falling. She looked up at him. He saved my life... But as Ebony was about to smile there was a distant crash as the piece hit the ground and broke.
"Jack, I-I'm so sorry." Ebony stuttered, but he didn't listen. Hands still on her waist he moved her away from the window and looked outside.
Then he turned to her he's face flooded with anger. "Go away, Ebony."
What? "Jack I didn't mean—I'm sorry."
"No you're not. You're not sorry, Ebony. Now get the Hell Out!" He yelled all most in her face.
"Jack I am sorry." Ebony said sincerely. I really am sorry.
 "Ebony you're nothing but a conniving little bitch I hate you and I don't want to see you near my stuff!"
Ebony stared at Jack. He had never said anything like this to anyone, so why me? Ebony wanted to slap him, punch him. She wanted to scream right back but she couldn't, and she didn't know why. She nodded. "You want it that way?" She said half in anger half in sadness.
"Yeah" Jack gave her a sarcastic I-can't-believe-you-just-asked-that look.
Seeing this Ebony soon found her anger, "FINE!" She stomped back up to her room slamming the door behind her. After a moment she heard the back door slam as Jack went to retrieve the fallen piece. I hate him...he just like all the others. Ebony jumped back into bed and curling up pulling the covers close to her neck she focused on the window to the side of her bed facing the backyard and tried to think of every bad thing she would do with Jack when he least expected it. He's going to pay for that out burst. And why couldn't I think of anything to say, that's not me... Ebony simmered until she feel back to sleep in boredom.
That night Ebony stood near the window she had stared out of earlier. Se had discovered that if she arched her head just right she could see the ocean which was diagonal to the house, but in front of her was nothing but uncut grass and wooded land. It was almost part of some kind of fairy tale and as the sky grew darker she expected fairies to come and cart her off, but there was little chance of that. She was going to have to suffer here with her sister...and Jack: The perfect combination of hell.
 As Ebony leaned against the closed glass of the window so cool against her face she finally started to relax. Everything was getting to her and she was going t have to find something to do. After a minute she finally figured it out. Cards! I love solitaire. That was when she decided on his next trip into the City Jack was getting her a deck of cards. There was only one thing wrong. He wasn't talking to her. Ebony sighed banging her head against the window pain but then something caught her attention. It was a bright flash quick and sudden and then another. She searched the yard to see where it was coming form when and then saw it coming from the woods. It was odd, but then she suddenly noticed a pattern. She watched trying to commit it all the memory. She didn't have any paper but she was going to get some in case this happen again. But then she remembered. She didn't know what it meant. As the flashing stopped she tried to think of what it could be. She couldn't ask Siva, but she was oblivious to everything outside her room and Jack, well like the cards...there was no chance. Ebony sighed, and climbing back into the bed retold herself the pattern of long flashes, short flashes, and no flashes at all.

Chapter Six "Flipping inside out for nothing..."

After that incident Ebony didn't leave her room for a day. She didn't want to risk going near Jack and she couldn't believe she was thinking like this but there was no way around it. She had been called those things before, but when Jack said it, it hurt. On the second day after 'The Incident' as she referred to from then on, Ebony was in desperate need of paper and was counting on her memory. There had been another move of assorted flashes much different from the ones before and she needed to write them down. Toward the middle of the day she had went down stairs expecting Jack to be taking a power nap in the dining room with his precious laptop. She looked everywhere. First the kitchen, then the living room, but there was nothing. Finally creeping quietly she went to the Dining room. She knew Jack had paper it was just the matter of taking it form him.
When she opened the door she was right when she thought he was taking a nap. Leaning over the table his head buried in his crossed arms Jack slept peacefully. Ebony smiled at his harmless cuteness, but then getting back to her mission at hand she surveyed the area for the paper. At first she didn't see it but then she noticed that he was sleeping half way on top of the pad of paper he was keeping his list on. She gently walked over trying not to make a sound. She reached over Jack trying not to touch him afraid he would wake. As she wiggled the pad from under him she felt him stir. She held her breathe and then as he settled she exhaled in relief. She was just about to pull the pad free when he stirred again this time mumbling in his sleep. "I-I didn't mean it," he mumbled. Ebony stopped listening to him talk, biting her lip with fear that he would wake up. "Sorry, baby." What?! Ebony tried not laugh, but it was difficult. She rubbed his back gently to quiet him, and after a few inaudible murmurs Jack was back to being sound a sleep. This time Ebony wanting to get out fast, and jerking the pad from under Jack's arm tore the paper she need from the pad. Then slipping it back under his arm she walked to the door. But then hearing Jack stir again he mumbled, "I'm sorry, sorry....Ebony." Ebony turned but noticing he was waking, she quickly left the room.

"You have to take what you deserve Ebony. You know that, you know that no one is going to hand it to you. So just take it Ebony, take the world."
 Ebony sat up in bed her hand held to her head. This had definitely been different. No street, no Amber and Trudy, no kids, but Zoot was there and the hooded figure was talking to her in a recognizable voice from far away. Take what you deserve. Ebony thought hadn't she been doing that since the virus? Taking her position as Loco priestess, taking her position as Militia leader, taking her position as City-Leader, it all led up her ladder of success but none of this made sense. Could she take the world and even if she could, did she want it? Ebony was beginning to become sick with her dreams. Every time she had one she wanted to bash her brains out. They didn't make sense even though they looked like it and they were stupid...just stupid. "Stupid dreams..." Ebony mumbles sighing at the same time.
"What dreams...?"
Ebony looked up and standing at her door as if to rush out was Jack. "What are you doing here?" She grumbled.
"I-I brought you some food. You haven't been eating much."
"What do you care; the sooner I die the sooner we can all go home." She rolled her eyes mimicking Jack's voice.
"Ebony I was only kidding. I didn't mean it like that."
"Then what did you mean Jack?" She looked at him putting him on the spot.
"I meant that I hadn't seen you that much, and...well...I hadn't seen you." He said adding the last part as if it were at the last minute.
Ebony looked away from as if to ponder this answer. She pulled her knees to her chest and looked in the opposite direction of Jack to the window, "And what about the other stuff?" She mumbled laying her head on top of her knees.
Jack didn't responded at first, trying to put his words together. "Ebony, they're only words." As soon as he said that he knew it was the wrong answer. "No wait...."
She turned to face him slightly pale from anger and being in doors for over a week. "Well words hurt, Jack, especially when you've done nothing to deserve them!"
"Ebony, wait—"
"GET OUT JACK!" Ebony threw one of her pillows in his direction as he shrank out of the door. "You're nothing, Jack, NOTHING." Ebony screamed to the closed door. "You're nothing to me..." She whimpered curling up in her bed. He is nothing, but I'm finding that hard to believe.

Later that evening when Ebony was asleep Jack came into her room. He was quiet as he entered whispering her name and watching to see if she was awake. When she didn't stir he came in and eased on to the bed next to her. "Ebony," he whispered quietly trying to wake her, but she didn't move. "Fine, you're just as stubborn as ever." Jack sighed. "Ebony, I really didn't mean what I said. All of it, I should have said none of it, and then I wouldn't have to sit up in the middle of the night worrying about you. Not that I'm being selfish or anything. I just—"
What the hell? Is that Jack? Ebony opened her eyes looking next to her she saw Jack sitting on her bed and rambling. Ebony was almost ready to sit up and slap him one good when she heard him say he was sorry for everything. Sorry? Oh I should listen to this. "I don't know why I said it. I guess it was the moment. You almost feel out of the window. That wasn't good, no, Jay would kill me. I wouldn't blame him. You're special." Special? Ebony smiled. After a moment of silence Jack stood and walked to the door. "Ebony, I know you weren't listening and telling you this is going to be harder tomorrow, but...whatever."
Jack was just about to walk out of the door when Ebony sat up. "Jack?" she smiled.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"Oh don't bother; I've been sleeping too much anyways. Umm...Jack...why were you in here anyways." She asked trying to play concerned.
"I just, I wanted to make sure you was ok, and to apologize for everything."
"Don't worry about it; I'm used to it." She sighed. "So, how's the laptop coming?"
"Everything is replaceable I just have to find the missing parts in the City tomorrow." He edged closer to her.
"Oh really? So nothing that can't be fixed." She moved her legs letting him sit on the bed.
"Yeah, everything is going smoother now."
She smiled. "That's good." She nodded moving a little closer to him. "Jack do you think when your finish you could show me?"
Excitement flashed across Jack's face. "I could show you tomorrow when I come back with the parts." Then he sobered. "That's if you want..."
"I'd like that." She nodded.
"Really? Ok, ok then it'll be cool; I promise." He stood up from the bed. "I better go, get some rest and yeah. Good night Ebony."
"Night Jack, oh wait...could you get me a deck of cards?"
"Of course, and I'll count them to make sure they're all there." Jack grinned. Ebony smiled back until he had left the room then laying back into bed she wondered at what she had done. What had she started?