Chapter 3: Facing the Fears

I try to breathe

Memories overtaking me

I try to face them

But the thought is too much to conceive

I only know that I can change

Everything else just stays the same

So now I step out of the darkness

That my life became…

-Fade: Staind

Present

"Mr Halliwell, Mr Halliwell?"

"Um, yeah what?" My thoughts are interrupted by 'The Dull'.

"How kind of you to join us again, now if you're not too busy there, would you mind answering the question?" Oh great, questions! My thoughts filled with unheard sarcasm, so, umm, what was he even taking about?

Finally the bell rang, and after a mini-lecture about paying attention, I'm free! Well for half an hour break, but I'll take what I can get.

I slowly make my way through the busy corridor looking for any sign of Chris.

Chris' POV

I have to get out of here! I feel like I'm suffocating, drowning in a sea of people, people I can't stand to be around, people I can't even look at. Wyatts probably looking for me, wanting to know if I survived my first two classes. I did but I can't wait any longer, I have to get out.

I'm out! I'm… I have no idea. I'm lost, I need it to stop. But how can I over come something I've never accepted… I understand what I must do, and now a year later I finally feel ready to go back, to once again stand on the grounds of my nightmare, to feel the guilt and fear bubble up inside of me, but this time it will not overwhelm me, this time I shall walk away, free.

I managed to get all the way to the front door before I realised what I was actually doing. No, come on, I can do this, I have to do this. I slowly lift my shaking hand to turn the doorknob; the rusty metal feels cool in my clammy palm. Turning, turning, push…huh? Ok let's try that again, turning, turning, push…stupid locked door. So I finally get enough courage to come back to the scene of my personal hell and the doors locked- sigh, damn I'm beginning to sound like Wyatt.

Ok, right back to the door, maybe it's a sign, no, the piece of wood sticking out of the front lawn saying no trespassing is a sign, the door is merely a obstacle, one which I must pass. There's no way I can turn back now, I have to do this for myself, for my piece of mind. Orbing time. I close my eyes tightly, draw in a shaky breath then disappear in the usual dazzling blue lights.

I feel my shoes gently hit the soft carpet beneath so I know I'm inside. But for understandable reasons I can't bring myself to open my eyes. I realise that since arriving at the house my confidence has been growing steadily, I guess I didn't realise just how much I needed this. With those thoughts running through my mind I open my eyes to a view I haven't seen in twelve long months.

The familiar hallway that is stretched out in front of me is now coated with thick layers of dust and cobwebs. The paint is cracking of the walls and the usual white carpet has turned an ugly grey.

The old floor squeaks under my weight as I take my first few steps. Its funny to think just how familiar this place is, but at the same time be thinking how strange my surroundings look.

I make my way into the kitchen; I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as I struggle to keep my thoughts sane. This all just looks so wrong, houses are suppose to be lived in, this house is suppose to be lived in…its unnatural.

My breathing suddenly quickens, no not now, I'm so close, I can feel a panic attack coming, but I have to get this over with, quickly- thank god for dad.

After orbing from the kitchen I reappear in another room, Libby's room.

A great sadness comes over me as I stare at the empty room with four blank walls. The usual brightly coloured walls filled with posters and picture of friends, the delightful spotty bed, and the striped rug, everything that made this room seem alive was now gone. Everything that screamed 'Libby' was gone, now it all just seems dead.

I open the door and run out, I can on longer stay in there, the guilt will soon over power me and I still have a mission to complete.

Wyatt's POV

Damn, damn, damn, damn, and oh yeah did I say DAMN! The stupid bell just rang, and the stupid thirty minute break is over and now I have a stupid…hmm, - timetable, Monday, Monday, there it is, period three… biology! - A stupid biology class and I haven't found Chris anywhere! But no I'm not angry, just because I can't sense him doesn't mean he's not there. My crafty little brother stuck an anti-sensing spell on himself, its been like that for a year now cause no one can remove it, and boy does it make mum paranoid. I guess I'll just go and search for him again at lunch, he's got to have some space, but man, if I'm not in a better mood by then, I am so gonna give him a piece of my mind! –Oh my god! I just sounded like mum! Ahhhhh!

Chris' POV

There it is. The core of my inner torment, the living room. I have so many happy memories here as well but since that day none of them have been able to surface. Wow, look at that, the carpet still has blood stains on it, wonder who's. Probably Bryon's. Morbid thoughts keep running through my head, but for some reason they don't disturb me, I think I've had all a can take and now I'm just numb. About time. I turn to see the hole in the wall where the knife was plunged through my hand. I sat in that same spot I sat all those months ago and I watch as my mind replays the events, all the while I feel nothing.

Wyatt's POV

Ok, I'm out of here! I can't find my brother anywhere so he's obviously left; I'm just going to have to forget about school, what a shame, because I have more important things to do! First stop home.

Chris' POV

"Lets finish this." Yekom strolls over to Jake, who up to now hasn't said a word the whole time, his eyes wide, unblinking. It grips the boy by the head, but Jake who was usually so lively remains motionless. I look into his eyes; there was nothing there, the boy I had once known was long gone. With one great tug Jakes head is lifted from his shoulders, body dropping numbly below. Yekom shuffles it around in his scaly claws, smiling briefly before throwing it thoughtlessly away.

I can see everything so clearly; every second of the event is recorded perfectly in my head. But as horrible as it may be I will watch it through, it's the only way to escape.

It hits the ground with a sickening thud, stirring the… "Bang, bang!" What was that? "Bang, bang!" I'm knock out of my thoughts by a sudden pounding on the front door. It stops but is replaced by a very familiar sound, orbs.

Knowing it Wyatt looking for me after I skipped school, I decide to leave; I really don't want to have to explain to him what I'm doing. But as I disappear one thought lays heavily on my mind; I failed my mission.

Wyatt's POV

This is a long shot but I'm seriously running out of ideas, and hiding spots. I searched home, the bridge, the park and the graveyard. Although the bodies of Chris' friends were too…umm, wrecked, a memorial was still made for them and it seemed like a logical place to look. But now I find myself in a very familiar scene, in a place I'm not sure why I'm looking. Libby's house. The whole place sends a shiver down my spine as I walk through the many rooms at a trance like pace. It doesn't even accrue to me to call out, to see if anyone is there.

Finally I find myself standing at the doorway where my view on the level of cruelness from demons was changed forever. Images of red flash before my eyes as I remember the aftermath of the attack.

One-Year Ago

"Shhh, shhh, you're ok, everything's gonna be alright now," I gently sooth my brother as the warm glow emits from my trembling hands. It takes a while, too long for my comfort, but finally his wounds heal. "Wy, we have to help the others now!" He stands up and for a few seconds I'm lost for the right words. I soon realise he's confused and in some serious denial about what's happened, but denial is better than horror. I quickly pull him back down to me, using my body to shelter him from the gore behind me. Using every ounce of will power I have I mange to find the strength to make those loveable blue lights appear, and save my brother from any more emotion stress.

"MUM, DAD!" The moment I feel the wooden floor of the attic beneath me I scream as loud as I can for help. "Wy, what are you doing we have to go back!" Chris pleads with me; I ignore him and shout again. "MUM, DAD, ANYONE!" A few moments later Dad orbs in followed by Mum racing through the door. Upon seeing the looks on our faces and not to mention the state of Chris' blood soaked clothes, they immediately start freaking out. "Oh my god, Wyatt, Chris what happened," Mum cries as she rushes to embrace us, Dad beats her to it and tries to heal Chris.

"Dad its ok, he's ok, I already healed him. T-the, the…" I can't bring myself to say it; I wouldn't even know what to say.

"The what? What happened? Where were you?" Dads voice is full of a forced calmness.

"It's not mine." Chris' voice comes out as a small whisper.

"What's not honey?" Mum gently prods him for the answer.

"The blood." Chris seems so calm now, it's actually scary, I think I preferred the panicking.

Suddenly Mum clicked. "Libby's party," to our silent reactions she knows she's right, "oh baby, come here, its alright now." She pulls him into a tight hug, but Chris remains still, silent.

Dad orbs out only to reappear a few seconds later, he looks pale and is unsteady on his feet. I can understand why, and for now I think Chris can too.

Present

The images abruptly stop, as I see something that holds great interest, then just as quickly everything falls into place.

I bend down and run my hand across the floor, looking at the palm, it's now covered in dust. I look down once more; in amongst all the dust and dirt sit sets of footprints trailing around the room. Since I haven't yet stepped foot inside this room that can only leave one other suspect. Chris.

Chris' POV

After a few hours of just sitting round at the park I'm at last able to go home. I thought it'd be better to wait until school finished just on case someone was home.

I take a one step through the front door and a pissed off Wyatt jumps out, blocking my path, great.

"Where the heck have you been all day?" he demands.

"At school," well what was I suppose to say?

"Don't lie to me, I know you weren't there," Wyatt's tone softens, making me feel kind of guilty, "please, I just want to help you." I study his face for a while, realising he must know I was at the house, I don't need this.

"You already have Wy, I'm fine," and with that I walk off. Sharing time is over; I really just want to be alone.

Wyatt's POV

I know he's not alright but what can I do? If he doesn't want to talk to me, he's not likely to listen either. Why can't life be simple?

"So sweetie how did your trip to magic school go?" Nooo! Ever since I got home Annie's been talking non-stop about how she can't wait to go back, and now Mum, who hasn't heard her yet just got her started again!

"It was sooo cool! When I get big I'm going to take all the classes! A mummy, I can a?"

"You can do whatever you want to honey," yeah Aunt Paige, way to go and encourage her, sigh.

"See I can! I'm going to cast some great spells, and my potions will kill all the demons I want! I'll be Annie the Unstoppable Witch, you wait and see…"

Blah, blah, blah, oh finally I've managed to dial out my cousins consistent talking, I'm really starting to dislike any family members eating at the same table as me. At least I'm safe in my bedroom; Chris isn't a big talker, anymore.

For once I'm glad we share a room, I know he's safe if he's only a few feet away… well physically anyway. Emotionally… I really wish he'd talk to me, let me in, I won't judge him but I want to know why he went back to Libby's.

I hear the door open and look up to see Chris enter, he doesn't look at me, he just turns off the light and climbs into bed. "Night Wy."

"Night." Guess I'll have to try again tomorrow.

Chris' POV

I feel like I've been lying in bed for ages before I finally drift off. I find myself back at Libby's house and the event starts to play once again in my mind, but this time it starts from where it left off earlier today. I don't recognise this memory, I don't think I've ever gotten this far through.

It hits the ground with a sickening thud, stirring the unconscious Libby who's lying nearby. Detron walks over to her and roughly picks her up, her body also covered in Byron's blood.

The small girl slowly opens her eyes; I can see the haunted expression they held as she tries to take in everything that lies around her.

"Chris?" her voice comes out as a near whisper.

Suddenly my vision blurs, as an intense sick felling kicks in, darkness starts to claim me, overbearing me until I can't hold on any longer. The last thing I hear, that will remain ringing through my ears for the rest of my life is a frightened scream then a deep scratchy voice replay:

"Happy birthday."

I awake in my bed, a cold sweat running down my forehead, oh my god, how could I never have seen this before? All my confusion about that day suddenly falls into place; things that never even accrued to me start topping up in my mind. One of the demons had said 'happy birthday,' he knew it was her birthday, they had planned this, it wasn't a spear of the moment attack, they planned it! That potion they shoved down my throat, I know it was responsible for the anti-sense thing, I just never told anyone, but what if it did something else. No, it can't be, it isn't possible! But it never saw it happen, I have no idea what happened, there's no prove that I'm wrong.

What if Bryon, Jake, Blair and Nikki, all their deaths were just a cover up, the bloody mess, the unrecognisable bodies, it was all just there so no one would know?

I sprang up, sitting in my bed staring out into the darkness that this my room. A small smile appears on my lips as two simple words escape my mouth, two words that once again give my life a meaning, a true reason to start the new day.

"She's alive."

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Yay another chapter done! sorry for the wait, next chapter will be up by Jan 5th (my birhtday!) hope everyone had a great christmas!

Thank you all so much for the reviews, they seriously make my day!

vampyfreak