Hey Readers,
We're back! And very sorry for our unexpected week or two absence. We had what felt like a couple hundred health issues come up out of the blue. Not that September was all bad, we had some awesome birthdays and magical trips that were great.
But that's all behind us now.
We're back, and we'll keep posting on Thursday night/Friday morning and on Sunday.
We're so close to the end of this book, and Twisted and I are getting closer every day to having book 5 finished.
So...
Are you guys ready for this? Cause I wasn't...
There are so not tears running down my face after reading this chapter...
...
Lots of Love,
-Dark-
He casually leans against the ship as he unabashedly eavesdrops, Lilo mirroring him and looking just as guilty.
A trash barge.
The very idea makes his lip curl into a snarl.
That's how the Isle got its correspondence?
It was another layer to the shit cake that was this whole situation.
His fists clench at his sides as he bites his cheek.
He was grateful his furious outrage was burying the tears he'd be shedding without it.
Not that he hadn't cried over the situation.
He had.
Several times.
Tears of frustration.
Anger.
Uselessness.
The last time he'd felt this powerless had been after he'd lost Tadashi.
And, maybe it had been the years that passed.
Or maybe it was his vindication at finding Calhoun and bringing him to justice.
But those feelings paled in comparison to the emotions that currently beat at his chest.
It started as an ache when David and Nani discreetly and carefully explained the situation.
Not the intimate parts, obviously.
Just the overarching concern.
Anger.
Frustration.
And so many more feelings that his brother and sister had expressed.
It was so rare that their jobs affected them on such a level, but it was-
Agonizing to hear the amount of pain they were both in.
They'd been thoroughly trained.
Were top in their field.
Yet, the whole situation had affected them in such a deeply visceral way.
He'd been so hesitant at first when they approached him about the adoption.
Like, lolz, you're fucking joking, right?
You barely trust us with Stitch.
He glances at Lilo, but they'd talked about it ad nauseam before they settled on if David and Nani were serious, it was for a stupidly concerning fucking reason.
And then they'd met Carlos.
And it just fucking clicked.
He'd never been so enamored with a kid before.
A kid so similar and drastically different than himself.
But then came the darkness.
The overbearing concern.
The crushing worry.
The stupid amount of fucking disbelief.
He'd always loathed the thought of the Isle.
Albeit had ever so ignorantly believed the rhetoric that even Villains could love their kids.
After all, Callaghan did so much damage and evil out of love for his daughter.
But maybe that was the difference.
He'd become a villain for his daughter.
Father before villain.
He was ignorant.
Stupid.
Their parents had walked a path of evil long before these kids were even a thought.
His teeth snap together as he clenches his jaw.
His hand grips his shirt over his heart.
So much pain.
So much suffering.
Why had it taken him so long, why had it taken meeting these kids, for the pieces to click.
It had taken his whole Ohana to talk him down from gearing up and racing into that place.
His eyes narrow.
Dumb.
These kids deserved so much more.
Deserved liberation.
Freedom.
What the fuck was Auradon thinking?
His eyes settle on the kids waiting for the barge to pull in to dock.
Didn't they understand how evil fucking worked?
He swallows as the images from the surveillance flash in his eyes.
T.
The 'Spider'.
T was already teetering on a thin line.
It was impossible to read the kid with that fucking hood but-
The number of people, albeit sick depraved fucks, he'd killed?
Killed.
That was a hard thing to come back from.
And the fact he'd done most of it with- Darts? Filled with fuck only knew what...
He wasn't sure what to think.
Was it better to kill while people were knocked out?
Or more concerning?
He closes his eyes.
Did it matter?
He takes a deep breath.
Had the kid chosen it?
Or had there just not been an alternative.
He seriously doubted they had prisons in what was supposed to be a prison.
It was a moral dilemma, one of the hundreds that were currently keeping him up at night.
Who was he to judge wh-
Finally!
He felt like they'd been waiting for fucking ever for this damn thing.
He runs his hands over his face.
"Chill you lolo." Lilo shakes her head.
"Right," He takes a deep breath, his full attention back on the kids.
He eyes the barge as it bumps into place, noting the group all straightening up and watching Ben as the prince nervously runs his thumb along the wrapped package containing his notebook and all the letters.
The flat surface erupts into motion as several workers rush around, securing the vessel while others disembark down the ramp.
Ben clears his throat when the first man makes his way over to them.
A smirk pulls at his lip as the man drops into an awkward bow, "My Prince." He trips over himself before he stands with a befuddled expression.
"Hello there." Ben smiles easily, "I was hoping I could ask a favor of you."
"Of course," The man quickly dips his head, "What do you need."
"I'd very much appreciate it if you could ask your captain to pass this off to the Goblins on the next trip to the Isle." Ben smiles as he holds the package out, "Everything they need is written on the package, I just need to know it will make it to their hands."
The man's confusion grows as he tilts his head to the side, "My Prince," He frowns, "the barges aren't running to the Isle of the Lost. There's a new contract, so we take them further out." The worker scratches the back of his head,
"You have got to fucking be kidding me," Jay's crossed arms press into his ribs.
Mal's glare turns murderous as her eyes flash acid green, "The fuck you just say!?"
"Uh-" The man takes several steps back as he holds up his hands.
His eyes narrow as Evie's eyes water, and a heart-breaking whine leaves her lips.
His eyes quickly moved to Carlos, who was staring at the man blankly.
He knew that face.
He pushes off the ship.
He was processing something.
The fuck was happening?
Ben frowns as he hugs the package to his chest, "How long have you been working with the new contract?"
"Bout," the man pauses for a minute, "Since the barrier was, ya know, damaged."
"Fucking seriously?" Jay bites his lip as he rises up on the balls of his feet, bending forward with the force of his arms pressing into his ribs, "No barges? None? There hasn't been a single one in two months? None since the ceremony?"
Mal's growl was feral.
Evie's cry soul-wrenching.
Carlos's blank features slowly morph into horror as he steps back.
Coiling.
As if he was about to run away.
The fuck was he missing?
"Um," The worker glances at Mal in fear before he slowly shakes their head, "No, sir. Not since the orders changed. But, um, I can send the Captain for more information if you need it, sir. I'm supposed to be making repairs."
"That won't be necessary." Ben nods once in dismissal, but his voice was so tight it sounded like he was about to snap.
"Understood, my Prince," The man quickly bows again before he scrambles away.
Carlos presses a hand to his chest, his eyes closed as tears stream down his face before he looks out towards the orange encapsulated Isle in the distance, "But-" He bites his lip.
"I can't-" Jay snaps before he punches a pole, "Why?" He growls before he stomps off, hitting every pole he passes.
Evie fans her red face fervently as tears pour from her eyes.
Mal's snarl makes him question how he ever found Evie to be the scary one as she lets out a rumbling growl, kicking a crate with enough force its side shatters.
Lilo meets his eyes, clearly just as confused as he was before they nod in sync.
"I got the girls." She breathes.
"Right."
They bolt towards the kids.
"Ben, Carlos." He barks at the Prince before he runs after Jay.
"Don't touch him." Mal snaps
Was that a warning or a threat?
He shakes his head.
It didn't matter.
He'd take the consequences.
The kid was going to shatter his knuckles.
But seriously-
What the fuck was happening?
What was he missing?
He hated this.
Hated being in such overwhelming darkness.
Jay was already stepping off the dock when he finally catches up with him.
"Brah," He breathes out, "Talk to me, the fuck?"
"Go away," Jay growls before he punches the last pole marking the end of the dock.
"No."
"Carlos."
"You."
"I want to be alone." When Jay punches the pole, this time, he leaves behind a small streak of blood on the rough wooden surface.
"And I don't want you fucking hurting yourself."
"I'm fine," Jay snaps before he runs his hands over his hair and tugs, "just go!"
"Yeah, no." He frowns.
Jay growls, "Go. Get. Carlos." He orders.
"Like I don't fucking want to." He snaps back, "But, I ain't leaving you like this. Leaving you."
"Fuck off." Jay snaps as he presses his palms into his eyes, "I don't want you here."
"Look," He holds his hands up, "You know what fair." He steps back. "Do you."
Jay throws his arms in the air before he turns and walks off.
"Fuck this." Jay screams before he punches a sign as he passes it, "How the fuck are they eating?" He questions no one in particular, his voice teetering between rage and agony.
He tilts his head as his brow furrow before his eyes widen in disgust-
And then horror.
And then rage fills him, and it's him punching a pole before he starts kicking the shit out of it. "Motherfuckingbullshitfuckingcuntofakamifuckingpieceofshifuckingcounciltmotherfucker."
"Dad!"
It was the only warning he got before scrawny arms circle his waist and weight thuds against his back.
He hisses as he steps back and takes a ragged breath, shoving his hair out of his face.
"Please," Carlos begs.
"Go back to your mother."
"No." He cries as his arms tighten and he starts shaking, "Don't make me leave."
Tears roll down his cheeks as he shakes with unbridled rage, taking one ragged breath after another. "Please," He forces out. "I- just-I can't right now." He looks around desperately. He needed to break something.
Hurt something.
Rip something apart.
Trash.
On top of fucking everything.
On top of the earthquakes.
On top of tsunamis.
They hadn't had fucking food?
If you could call it that.
Lilo was currently hugging a sobbing, hysterical Evie.
Ben was holding Mal back by her shoulders as she raged at the Isle inches away from the end of the dock.
"You can." Carlos nods against his side, "You can this with me right now, I promise."
"Fucking damn it." He slams his forehead against the pole hard enough to shake it and definitely hard enough to bruise. He takes another ragged breath and leaves his head there for a long moment as he tries to get his pulse to stop racing.
Carlos was silently sobbing into his ribs, his whole body shaking with his efforts to remain quiet.
He swallows.
"Just-" He takes another deep breath. "Please. Just. I don't want to hurt you. You can stay, but I fucking need a minute, please."
Carlos nods as his grip loosens before he takes a step back.
"Thank. You." He takes another deep breath before he falls to his knees and grips the dock before he shoves his head into the water and screams in complete and utter rage.
The wood bites into his hands as he grips the edges.
He pulls his head out and does it several more times before he's finally okay enough to collapse on the docks. He lets out a deep breath and looks around for Carlos.
He curses when he finds the boy tucked between the pole and a barrel, curled around himself as if he were trying to be as small as possible.
"Chibi-chan," He breathes softly.
A plea.
An apology.
He slowly pulls himself to his feet before he makes his way over and kneels down next to him. "I'm sorry, that was fucked up." He sighs, "Can I-" He closes his eyes as his chest aches.
Constricts.
Sorrow floods him.
"Can I get that hug now?"
Carlos launches himself from the small space faster than he would have thought possible, knocking them both to the ground.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I should have listened to you."
He sighs as one arm wraps around his waist, his other on his head as he pulls him close. "It's okay, Chibi-chan. It's okay. Promise. I'm sorry you," He swallows as more tears fall, "Needed me, and I didn't-" His breath hitches.
"Was... worried... about you," Carlos explains, his deep sobs interrupting his words.
"You deserve better." He holds Carlos tighter.
"No!" Carlos shakes his head adamantly, "No, don't say that."
The arms around his neck tighten dangerously.
He's silent as he stares up at the blue sky above them.
What the fuck had he been thinking?
Listening to David and Nani?
He barely had his shit together.
Carlos needed, and deserved, better.
He'd grown up around so much violence.
And he-
More tears stream from his eyes.
"I choose you. You chose me. You can't take that back. No taksies backsies. You said!" Carlos shouts as he pulls back to glare at him, "I've only chosen a few things, ever. Don't take that from me. I chose to sit next to Deez. I chose to visit Yensid. And I choose you and Lilo."
He breathes out, not able to make eye contact.
Shame licks at him like flames.
Choices.
So many choices had been taken from these kids.
This kid.
Too fucking many.
So fucking many.
He takes another ragged breath.
"I-"
He swallows.
He knew he should.
Knew Carlos deserved the best.
Had thought he'd been the best for Carlos.
That he and Lilo would be the best.
But were they really?
Choices.
He breathes out again.
The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Carlos.
Hurt his Chibi-Chan
But he was hurting him right now, wasn't he?
"Progress." Carlos breathes out, "Not perfection. Please. I'll stop telling you to sleep. Just please. Don't send me away."
He closes his eyes as he hugs Carlos closer, his heart breaking at the terror-filled pleas.
"I'll tell you about the Isle. I won't look at another chemistry book. I'll be reckless. I'll start fights. I'll bet on bot fights. Just don't get rid of me."
He pulls Carlos's head into the crook of his shoulder as he shakes.
All anger and tension drain from him.
Was this kid-
This fucking kid.
More tears fall.
"I-" He nuzzles Carlos's head, "I'd never want to get rid of you."
"Then don't. Don't say I deserve better. Don't hate yourself. I know what that is. Jay does it all the time. Mal. Deez. T. I do it too. So stop. Don't be a role model with that." Carlos takes a deep breath, and when he continues, it's not as desperate, "I'll be okay with you being angry. I promise. You can be angry. You're allowed to be anything you need to be. David says it's okay. So it's okay for you too."
He runs his hand through Carlos's hair before he sighs.
Unsure of what to say.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Seven breaths later.
He pulls them both up, "If that's how you really feel…" He glances down at the boy in his arms, "Then let's go home."
"That is how I feel." Carlos nods before he turns his face towards the dock, "And, it's not like there's anything we can do here."
"Not yet." He breathes darkly.
Carlos bites his lip before he looks back up, "T makes jerky. So do Deez and Gil when they catch fish. They can live on that, right?"
He sighs
Could they?
He didn't want to lie.
He didn't want to tell the truth.
"They sound resourceful. I'm sure they've figured something out."
Assuming they weren't-
He holds Carlos tighter.
What the fuck were they going to do if they weren't?
How were they going to do that?
Tell them?
His heart tightens.
His stomach twists.
A sour taste fills his mouth.
Resourceful.
Survivalists.
Stubborn.
Killers.
His jaw tenses.
He shakes his head.
Don't.
Just don't.
They were alive.
Somehow, someway.
Deez was for sure, at least.
That was something.
An Olympian-
Half or not.
Could survive that shit.
The others?
He shuts down the thoughts.
There had been worse odds.
Lilo walks up to him with Evie.
"We need to get back, at least to the ship. I don't want Jay alone. Not with all this shit." He rubs his head. "I'll never forgive myself if something happens to him."
"Drone?" Lilo questions.
He nods before his eyes drift to the exhausted Princess. "Switch?"
Lilo nods, "C'mere Chibi-chan." She holds out her arms to embrace Carlos as he sweeps Evie off her feet.
His eyes sweep to where Ben was carrying Mal close to his chest. Her arms clinging around his neck.
"Text the Ohana who actually knows how to handle this shit."
"Right," Lilo nods before her eyes drop to Carlos, "Know how to talk to text yet?"
Carlos shakes his head before he wipes at his face, "Show me?"
She smiles as she nods before she walks him through the steps to work his watch.
He grins weakly before his eyes fall on Evie. He'd never seen the girl without make-up before.
He sighs.
Girl was beautiful without it.
And actually looked her age.
But fuck if the dark circles under her eyes weren't alarmingly prominent.
He shakes his head; the others were going to throw a shit fit.
His lips tug in a soft smile as she looks up at him with red-rimmed eyes, biting her lip with indecision. "Is, is Jay okay?"
"He will be." He sighs.
She nods before she sighs, "Sorry." She says before she wraps her arms around his neck and hides her face.
These kids.
He nudges her head gently.
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
Yeah, he wasn't getting any sleep tonight.
Fuck Cobra.
It was time for a shark attack.
Well, this was a fucking chapter…
Like seriously yo, that went dark super fast.
2 months.
2 months without food.
2 months without supplies.
2 months without Deez being able to send letters.
2 months since…
Yeah, 2 months doesn't seem like a long time- until it is.
That's a long fucking time to go with out.
How do you think the Isle is handling that?
Do you guys think T is actually running shit?
Do you think he can handle that type of pressure?
Fuck man, shit is getting serious for this pack- Fuck only knows how serious it is for those on the Isle right now…
I mean, yeah, we know (for the most part, since we've yet to start the rewrite) but ya'll are as much in the dark as the pack is right now.
Auradon is fucking disgusting for a damned utopia.
Cause, you're seriously telling me with all those cameras, no one noticed the kids picking through the trash?
I really wanted Jay and Hiro to get into a fist fight in this one. Like so fucking bad, but it went in a completely different direction. A direction that broke my fucking heart. Poor Carlos. Talk about being terrified. That boy worships Hiro and just the thought of losing him pushed him into hysterics.
Evie's definitely throwing up.
Mal's going to break more shit.
Carlos is for sure going to spiral for a minute.
And Jay?
Jay is going to bust his hand on all the things-
During fucking finals, no less. These kids should be studying, but no, they're worried about how their friends are surviving.
How the fuck are these kidz going to deal with this latest shit show?
How are you guys dealing with this shit show?
Let us know
In the comments below.
As ushe, flames always welcomed
Much love and shit,
-Twisted