NOTES: Sorry this has taken me so long to update, I have been extremely busy with work and only now, have I had time to do this chapter. I really hope it's worth the wait for you guys.
Warning: This chapter will contain strong language and mild violence.
Chapter 11
It was the throbbing pain that Steven noticed, as he slowly gained consciousness…his face contorted with pain as he began to open his eyes. His vision was blurry at first and even lifting his head up to get a better view of his surrounds still hurt. It felt like a painful hangover. Eventually, he could see where he was…he was still in his beach house but his body couldn't move, like it was restraint…and as he looked down, he noticed he was ducted taped to the chair…pretty much full bodied like a cocoon. He could feel his arms behind his back.
STEVEN: What the…?
He tried to move but it was no use, he was tightly strapped to the chair. He tried to even move the chair, but his weight and restriction was stopping him from doing so. He looked around again…and saw the broken cup and stained chocolate liquid on the wooden flooring. He started to breathe heavily, remembering what happened…
Spinel turned her face towards Steven and exposed her red angry eyes and toothy grin and started laughing evilly.
SPINEL: And you…just helped me escaped, DICKHEAD!
And as quick as a flash, she took Steven's cup of hot chocolate off him and splashed it over Steven's face, the scream was barely a second as she smashed the cup over his head
…and then blank.
Steven tried to turn his head back to see if anything was behind him but it was no use. Steven again tried to move any part of his body, mainly his arms to get out of his restraints. Any progress of that was very little, since the duct tape was strong and durable and only God knows how many times Spinel wrapped Steven with the tape. It was clear that Spinel had escaped by now, so any danger was hopefully long gone towards Steven but he started to worry for Spinel herself…he had to get out. Steven grunted and tried to shake the chair, anything to get a movement and quickly this situation was slowly getting frustrating.
VOICE: Ah, you're awake.
Steven instantly stopped and looked around. He was surprised to hear that voice, the voice of whom tied him up and did this to him.
STEVEN: Spinel…?
Steven again looked around but couldn't see her.
Just then, Spinel walked into his view, coming from behind. Steven's heart was rushing but fear never filled him, as he tried to stay calm…the question was, which Spinel was he talking to.
Spinel had running mascara running down her cheeks, as if she were crying but this just made her look sinister. She clearly was the bad side of Spinel. Steven just stared at her, as the young woman calmly sat down, holding a plate…and munching a sandwich. Steven looked at her almost dumbfounded. Spinel then sat in front of Steven.
SPINEL: You were knocked out for such a long time, that I got bored. (Takes a bite out of her sandwich) And as you know…I hate waiting. Waiting is for assholes, so instead I made myself a sandwich. Mmm, it's good. It's bacon. (Chews a few times) I make a good sandwich. (As she swallows her bite, she just looks at the sandwich…almost sadly) …well, at least my mom thought so. (Smiles) Anyway, fuck it. (Takes another bite) She's gone now. (Looks at Steven innocently) Oh my, I'm sorry…did you want one?
STEVEN: …
SPINEL: (Shrugs) Hmph. Suit yourself. Your loss.
There was a strange pause, as Spinel was licking her fingers from the melting butter. Steven shock his head, just watching how calm and natural Spinel was…if anything, it really was hard to tell which Spinel he was talking too, even if the obvious conclusion was the angry, no holds-barrel Spinel, he was pulling off the innocent Spinel very confidently.
STEVEN: Why didn't you run away?
SPINEL: Run away…?
STEVEN: Yeah, run away! You had your chance to escape and yet you're still here.
SPINEL: Come on, even you know I wouldn't get far.
STEVEN: You could've fooled me. Anyone else would've jumped at the chance to escape.
SPINEL: Maybe I wanted some more fun. (Shrugs) Maybe…I just want to hurt you a bit more.
STEVEN: W-What…?
SPINEL: (Purposely ignore Steven) I wouldn't have been able to hurt you while you were unconscious, now could I?…because you wouldn't have been able to feel anything. (Smiles wildly) Now, you're awake…I can cut you. (Childish clapping) Yay!
STEVEN: Huh…? The hell?! Spinel, (Struggles in his bond) I…I haven't done anything to you…
SPINEL: Actually…yes, you have!
STEVEN: Wha…what? I've been nothing but nice to you ever since I've meet you.
SPINEL: Lies! All lies! (Stands up and points at Steven) YOU LIAR! YOU ARE A LIAR! YOU'VE CHARM ME WITH YOUR LIES!
STEVEN: Spinel, for God's sake, what are you talking about? I lied to you?! When…? I've done nothing but been honest with you and-
SPINEL: (Interrupts) You lied to…my good side…
STEVEN: Huh…? I…I don't understand. Can you not remember…? Can you not remember how nice and loveable I've been towards you? (Shakes in his chair through confusion and frustration)…for Christ sake, we…(Deflated)…we made love…
Spinel pauses…while Steven bows his head down. Spinal seemed content and slightly loss for words.
STEVEN: I…I understand…
SPINEL: Understand what?
STEVEN: I understand why you didn't run away. It's because you're scared.
SPINEL: Scared? ME?!
STEVEN: Yes, scared! You…you had your chance to escape but you didn't…why? (Lifts his head up, tears were forming) Because I know…I understand. You're scared of what's out there, you're scared of what might happen to you, you're scared of something new-
SPINEL: Stop it! Shut up!
STEVEN: (Ignores her anger rising)…you're scared of running away. You're scared of running away from something…something you've never felt before for a long, long time…
SPINEL: SHUT UP!
STEVEN: "Love"…you're scared of love, you're scared of being alone. You're scared you'll run off and become like your mother-
SPINEL: I SAID, SHUT UP! (Grabs the butter knife) SHUT UP!
She slashes Steven across the face, leaving a big gash. Butter knifes aren't sharp, but with the right amount of force, they can be a deadly weapon. Steven turned his face, as if to move away from the pain. Spinel panted angrily and slashed at his face again, almost in the same spot from the first time. Steven winched at the pain, once the blade had pierced his skin and trickle of blood dripped down his cheek. Spinel took a few steps back…still panting, almost hyperventilating. All Steven could do was let the pain have its moment, let it know it hurts…it was uncomfortable at first but it didn't take long for the pain to ease down…maybe the adrenaline helped. Even so, Steven slowly turned his face towards Spinel and a tear slowly dripped from his eyes and ran along his cut cheek, stinging it a little. Spinel tried to control her breathing.
STEVEN: Did you enjoy that…?
SPINEL: I…wha…what?
STEVEN: You said you wanted to cut me…and you did. I hope that helped. I hope that you got it out of your system.
SPINEL: I…I…I just wanted you to…shut up, that was all…I…(Looks at the knife) Oh my God…(Drops the knife) What have I done…? What am I doing…? (Looks at her hands) I'm a monster!
STEVEN: No…you're not! You just…you just need my help. You just need me!
SPINEL: (Looks at Steven, starts to cry) I hurt you…
STEVEN: That doesn't matter, okay. Don't worry about me, I knew the dangers and-
SPINEL: The dangers…?
STEVEN:…I knew the risks of bringing you back here. (Smiles) And I don't regret it.
SPINEL: You're…ducted taped to a chair and have cuts on your face…and you don't regret your decision of me?
STEVEN: So what. Cuts can heal. Wounds heal. You can heal…
SPINEL: No…
Spinel turns away from Steven and almost stumbles towards a mirror. She reluctantly refuses to look at herself in the mirror, she starts sobbing and while Steven tries to reassure her that everything is fine, she chooses to ignore him…and finally looks at herself. She gasps as she sees her evil self, smiling with no regard to what's going on. The so-called reflection was in a more confident stance than her real self.
Hurt him some more! You know you loved it…
SPINEL: GO AWAY!
I'll never go! I'll be with you forever!
STEVEN: (A little frantic) Just ignore the voices, Spinel, just ignore them. Don't listen to them. Think for yourself, you're in control, not those voices, not the evil side…it's YOU, who's in control!
Spinel screams and then smashes the mirror, making Steven a little worried, he tried to move once again but to no avail. Spinel's fist made the cracks spread from where she punched, making it looked like a patterned spiders web…but the reflection was still there, laughing back at her…but more disoriented this time, as the cracks seemed to reflect more of her evil side and speaking in unison.
See? No matter what you do, I'll still be here and I'll never go!
SPINEL: You…(Sobbing)…y-you ruined my life…
No, you did. I am just you and nothing but you. YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF! I'm just that little "push" that you need.
Spinel screams again and repeated punches the mirror and until shards fell off and that it was no longer a mirror no more, she kept punching the glass, cutting her knuckles in the process. Her reflection was long gone…and a nice sharp reflective glass fell towards Steven. Spinel was crying, a total mess. She fell to her knees.
STEVEN: Spinel…?
Spinel cried again, her tears flooding her cheeks and yet, something that her reflection said, gave her an idea, as it echoed through her mind.
I'm just that little "push" that you need.
I'm just that little "push" that you need.
I'm just that little "PUSH" that you need….
PUSH!
SPINEL: A little…push…?
STEVEN: Spinel, please, stop this and let's just talk. You're sick but I can help you, you know I can help you!
SPINEL: I'm sorry, Steven…
STEVEN: It's…it's okay
SPINEL: No. No, it's not! I hurt people. I hurt…you. (Sobs) I'm no good to anyone…
STEVEN: Spinel, please don't say that-
SPINEL: It's true. No matter who I'm with…I hurt them. I…I hurt people when I should be hurting myself.
STEVEN: No, no, Spinel…please, listen to me-
SPINEL: I'm not needed.
STEVEN: Yes, you are! I need you! Are you listening to me? I need you!
SPINEL: I…I don't want this pain anymore…
STEVEN: Spinel, listen to me, I know it's hard and believe I've been there but you're not on your own, okay? You hear me? You're not on your own!
SPINEL: (Seems to ignore Steven) But…I think I can make it go away…
STEVEN: What?
SPINEL: (Wipes her tears) Yes. I now know what to do. I can make this pain stop. (Looks at Steven) And…I can be free.
STEVEN: No, wait, no…I know that talk. Spinel, whatever you're thinking, don't do it! You hear?! DON'T DO IT!
SPINEL: I have a train to catch, Steven.
STEVEN: No, NO! (Tries his best to sway himself).
Spinel gets close to Steven and gives him a little peck on the cheek.
SPINEL: You can't heal me, Steven. (Smiles) But thank you for showing me a way out~
STEVEN: No, Spinel, wait!
SPINEL: (Walks to the door, opens it and turns to look back at Steven) Goodbye, Dr. Steven Universe.
And with that, Spinel closes the door after her, leaving Steven still struggling to get out of his binds and swaying the chair, while calling out Spinel's name.
He knew, he didn't have much time…to save her…
End of Chapter.
…
NOTES: Again, I apologise for not updating any sooner but we're here now and we're ready to finish this. I've just gotta choose whether to have a happy ending…or a sad ending…