Vivian slowly opened her eyes to the orange-red hue of color. She looked over and saw Mark standing next to her. He was more solid than before. She reached over to him and brushed her hand against his. His hand snapped just in that second, and the two held hands. Vivian's mouth dropped open as she could feel him like he was an average person in front of her. She looked up at him as he was staring straight ahead of them. His hair gently blew in the hot air that surrounded them. She looked around them slowly, taking in the land that reminded her of a desert with no grass and many rocks and dusty dirt. She looked up at the sky that looked like the sun was setting as they stood there in the middle of a neighborhood of a bunch of single homes, each one looking just like the next one.
"Vivi," Mark spoke, and his voice was more robust, louder, and more profound than what she remembered. Her mind began to try to process what was happening as he looked down at her. "Vivi, listen to me. You are never supposed to come here or walk around without me here, understand?" She swallowed hard as she nodded her head yes and looked up at his eyes. His eyes that ocean green brighter.
"Mark, I am so confused," Vivian said softly, and Mark stared into her blue eyes that sparkled with joy and happiness even though that was not how she was feeling right now.
"This is my world. I am just like you… to a point."
"But your voice is different. I can touch you. I can feel your skin, and you're not just a breeze against my skin." She shook her hand that Mark was holding and then looked at her other hand in just as much as curiously that maybe she had changed herself.
"Yes, this world makes both you and I on as even as we would ever be" Mark was surprised at how much she already noticed had changed. "Come on, let's get to my house," He said, and just like that, the two of them started to walk down the sidewalk. Vivian was still amazed as she continued to look at the world around her. She couldn't understand or stop comparing it to the world she knew about. The two of them stopped at a corner lot, and Mark started to walk up the path to the porch, and Vivian stopped as her eyes caught the figure sitting on the patio. "There is nothing to be afraid of. I am right here."
Vivian's breath started to become shallow as she swallowed as well as she could. She could feel the air almost escaping her lungs as she slowly took a few steps behind Mark, her eyes not leaving the figure. " Good night Randall"
"Good Night Mark. I see you have brought a visitor." His voice was rough, challenging, and had a bit of a scratching sound to it as Vivian bowed her, head unable to get herself to now even look at the figure that should be clear to see his features.
"Yes, Randall, this is Vivian," Mark said, so proud as he beamed about it. Mark shook her hand, and Vivian slowly walked around Mark to stand there. He placed his hands on her shoulders as she placed her hands on top of his and slowly looked up.
"Nice to meet you Vivian. I heard so much about you. I am one of Mark's oldest friends here Randall" Vivian looked at him. He was an older gentleman that had gray hair, very dark eyes that had a gold outline. He wore a t-shirt with jeans and had a pipe in his hand that he took a slow drag out of after speaking.
"Nice to meet you as well," Vivian said, her manors kicking in, and she squeezed Mark's hand a bit, unsure what to do.
"Would you like some ice cream?" Randall asked as he looked up at Mark. "I am sure it has been a long journey, and you are hungry."
"Yes, please," Vivian said a bit perk, and Randall smiled.
"Very good" He paused, "Mark, I believe there is some Chocolate in the freezer. Can you serve me a bowl as well? I will be in a bit" Mark nodded and tapped Vivian's shoulder with one hand, and she took a step to the side and allowed Mark to walk in front of her. She looked at Randall as he smiled that sweet grandparent smile that she had seen at the park over and over with other kids. Vivian followed Mark into the house.
"Come on, I almost had you," Blake screamed, and Vivian's attention was focused on the green and blue-haired mohawk young man playing a video game on the couch. He wore jeans that were torn and ripped in the knees. His shirt was some type of band that she had never heard of before.
Vivian looked up at Mark as he bellowed at Blaze, "Blaze one minute, and then you can go back to your rage of killing already dead items."
"What I almost did have him," He tried to tell Mark as he turned around and noticed Vivian standing behind him. His eyes met her, and he was silent. "Oh" was the only word that came out of his mouth.
"Yes, this is Vivian. Vivian, This is Blaze. He is the youngest one of the group." Vivian took a step alongside Mark as she took his hand once more.
"Nice to meet you," Vivian said softly, and Blaze looked at Mark and then at Vivian. Vivian is small compared to Mark. Her red hair and blue eyes, reminding Blaze of the ocean that he has seen a few times in his lifetime. Her rounded heart-shaped face was adorable. What could Mark not imprint on someone looking like that? Blaze could tell her soul was so pure, and he was a magnet to him.
"Vivian, if you go straight into the kitchen, and I will be right there," Mark said, and Vivian watched him point down the hallway as he had to question the behavior of Blaze.
"Okay," She said, nodded her head, followed what Mark said, and walked into the hallway that was barely lit to see through to the kitchen. Mark waited until he could not see her anymore and looked at Blaze with fire in his eyes.
"What was that?"
"Mark, she is a magnet. She is so young. Are you sure that you want to do this?" Blaze said as he stood on the couch, his controller in his hand.
"Do what? She is just visiting" Mark looked at him, confused like innocent.
"She is a magnet. Do you understand that for miles around here, people are going to know she can see them and will follow her into her world?"
"He is right," Randall said as he walked into the living room. "You will need to teach her sooner than later about different types of us."
"Well, there are rules for her to be here, and she won't break them. So, no worries about that. We will protect her" Mark knew already that any human that would be in this house they would protect until the end.
"Yes," Blaze and Randall said in unison.
"She is a strong magnet, that is all," Blaze said as he sat back down and looked back at his game.
Randall pointed to the kitchen, and Mark knew just to let Blaze go since he was upset, but more for safety since this would put Hailey at risk when she came here. Hailey was not like Vivian, and Blaze knew that. He also knew that Hailey knew much more about this world than she should.
"Off the chair. I will get it," Mark said, and Vivian listened as she looked at him walking into the kitchen area.
"Sorry, I was trying to get the bowls," She said as she smiled, and Mark placed a hand on her back to make sure she didn't fall as she got down.
"You're so smart to get the ice cream out first," Randall said as he took a seat at the end of the table. "Mark never does that," He said, and Mark bobbled his head, and Vivian laughed a little and smiled. Randall smiled at her, and she took a seat at the table.
"Bowls and spoons," Mark said and brought them to the table. "Not too much, okay? It is the middle of the night."
"It looks like it is daytime outside," Vivian said and looked at Mark and then at the ice cream as she started to dig into the tub of chocolate.
"Yes, it always looks like dusk around here."
"So, how do you know when it is time to go to sleep?" Vivian asked so innocently that Randall could not help, but laugh and Mark just reached over and brushed her hair from her face, and Vivian smiled. Blaze was right, and she was so innocent.
"We just go to sleep when we are tired" He paused. "That's enough," He said, and Vivian sat back on her feet.
"Is it always hot here too?"
"Yes," Randall said and placed a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. "We have not snow, rain, or that cloudy day" Vivian looked at him and then looked at Mark, who nodded in agreement.
"What about the moon and the stars?" She asked, and Mark shook his head no
"I only see the moon and stars when I am in your world," He said to her, and she looked down at her ice cream as she tried to understand that almost everything that she knew was different now. The three of them sat and chatted and ate ice cream, which helped Vivian with the cottonmouth she was having in the heat.
"Can I ask a favor," Randall asked as he looked at Vivian. "Can I hold your hand?" She looked at Mark, who nodded and knew what he was doing as he asked for a long time ago.
"Okay," She said as she slowly placed her hand into her open hand, and just like that, Mark watched her eyes start to fog over to this dark blue, almost black color as Randall searched her mind for the item that he was asking for. Randall received the information and started to page through the memories that Vivian had yet to have. He found a memory that reminded him of Monika and their once shared innocence. Randall couldn't help himself; it had been so long since he remembered her in the same way Vivian would have. Mark watched as he could tell that Vivian was starting to get scared.
"Randall, stop, you're going to scare her," Mark growled in front of the table as he could see that it caught his attention, and he stopped. Vivian removed her hand quickly and started to rub her eyes as she had just woken up from a dream.
"What was that?" She asked as she licked her lips and pushed them together.
"I can see memories," Randall said, making it as easy as he could.
"Who is that?" Vivian said and looked over at Mark; the panic in her eyes spoke volumes. She couldn't process what was happening, but the cat was out of the bag now.
"Mark!" Blaze screamed for him, and he stood and, in a blast of wind, left the kitchen and into the living room. "Stay with Randall," He said at the same time.
"Who is it Vivian," Randall asked as he knew what was happening and needed to see how far she could push her power.
Vivian looked up at him as she stared at him and got herself to go into a soft gaze. "It is a female with long hair. stunning pretty" She paused between her sentences. "She knows Mark. She smells like trash."
Randall laughed a bit at what she said. He loves that she is honest and innocent and that she speaks what comes to her mind "What does she want Vivian?"
"Lori, what are you doing here?" Mark stood at the door behind Blaze. She put her nose up into the air and took a deep breath of the air from the house.
"You have a new friend" She paused, "Can I meet her?"
"No," Mark said and knew that it was already out there about Vivian.
"Oh, come on, Mark. We had our fun no need to have bitterness from it," Lori said in the most sexual way that she rolled his eye in disappointment and disgustment. It was working on Blaze tho as he started to drool from the mouth to get what she was putting out.
"Please, it has nothing to do with that" He paused. "She is none of your concern. She is just a visitor, just like everyone else has."
"Mark, baby. She smells so sweet her scent is all over. You must have marked her, or you wouldn't be so protective of her"
"Lori, don't push my limit on this." Lori looked at Blaze and tried to push that way
"Come on, Mark, just let her meet Vivian." Blaze said, and Mark looked at him, her eyes red in anger.
"No, she isn't yours Blaze."
"Lori just wants to meet her," Blaze said, and Mark grabbed him by the shirt.
"Enough!" He growled at him, "You don't touch her, neither of you!"
Vivian looked into the dark hallway. "He is coming, Randall" She paused and down at her empty bowl of ice cream. Randall looked at the doorway, and Mark appeared. Vivian is still staring at her bowl of ice cream.
"Vivi, let me introduce you to someone." Mark paused, unsure about this, and almost didn't want to do this. He walked over to Vivian and ran his hand against her back; just like that, she was brought back to reality.
"She is not good," Vivian paused and looked up at him.
Mark looked at Randall and knew that none of us in this house was a good person beyond Vivian. He paused and took a deep breath. "She won't touch you. We will be next to you" Vivian looked up at Mark and then got off her chair and stood next to him.
"If we have to," She said, and Mark's heart was beginning to break as she spoke. He closed his eyes, and Randall watched as he already knew that Vivian meant more to Mark than what he was saying. Mark put his hand out, and Vivian took it and headed back to the living room. Randall got up and followed them out.
Vivian squinted as she walked into the living room and the bright light. Mark stopped, and she stopped behind him. She held onto her hand tight, and Mark looked down at her as Lori gasp "She is a child, Mark!"
Mark looked back at Lori, his eyes burning with anger, "You wanted to meet her!" He growled, and Blaze stood between the two.
"Slow it down; Mark" Blaze knew that he was going to regret it if he lost control.
"I am not a child," Vivian paused, and at Lori, her eyes white like there was no color in them.
"Oh, she speaks," Lori said with a snicker "Child, you don't know what you are getting yourself into"
Randall walked into the living room as he could feel the tension in the house just become unbearable. "Oh, Lori, don't get your panties in a twist. Mark moved on from your games."
"Please, this does not affect my panties," She snubbed as her nose went up, and Vivian gagged as silent as she could, but Lori noticed and gave her an evil eye.
"Vivian isn't that your name?" she said and bent over and placed her hand on her knees to talk to her.
"Yes," She said and squeezed his hand, and Mark could tell she was uncomfortable.
"Tell me, Vivian, can you get a message out to the other side?" She asked, and Vivian looked up at Mark.
"Lori, please do your dirty work," Mark said, almost tired of the games that she was playing.
"Why not use her to your advantage, Mark?" She paused and stood straight up. "I am not going to be the other one that will be looking for a favor from your human."
"Stop!" Mark growled, and Randall moved to stand between the two.
"Look Lori you and I know each other, and I know you could tell what Vivian is, but you need to let natural courses happen." Randall was the only one speaking any sense in this case. "How about to cut some slack and come back in a few years? Vivian is still learning her power, but she is very good at it." He paused, "Vivian, do you remember what you told me in the kitchen?"
"Yes," She said softly.
"How about you tell Lori what you said?" Randall smiled and looked at Mark
Vivian looked at Mark, and he shook her hand. Vivian took a breath. "It is a beautiful female with long hair. She is very pretty" She paused and looked at Randall, and Lori stood there proud of herself at all the nice things she said about her.
"Go on; there is more" He paused and crossed his arm, knowing this last bit would put Lori in the right place to leave.
Vivian looked at Mark, knowing what she would say was not nice. "But," She paused, and Randall gave her a look, and Vivian split it out, "She knows Mark. She smells like trash."
Blaze busted out laughing, and Lori was angry at Vivian. "Looks like your reputation is still the same as it was years ago!" Blaze said as he continued to laugh as hard as he could.
"You did this on purpose!" She walked up to Randall and pointed into his chest, and Mark pushed Vivian behind him. Her alarm started to ring out, and Lori looked at Vivian. "You better get your baby to bed in enough time. Mortals don't want to have to give an excuse on what happened," She said as he put her nose up into the air and walked out the house. Mark looked down at Vivian and brushed his hand against her hair and down her cheek. The motion was so innocent, but Randall could feel that tie stronger than even Mark knew.