Bo and Lauren Voiceover:
Goodnight stars….
….Goodnight air…
…goodnight noises…everywhere…
…goodnight…
..Nobody…
It's funny the things you start to remember at the end…
,,,it's funny how you get this feeling where you know it's the end…
..it's all so funny…in the saddest of ways.
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Lauren's POV
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"Up. Up. Up." I order, pulling the curtains open letting an unusual flood of sunlight it. Eyes fluttering shut on instinct, it's almost funny how quickly the body adapts. Spent well over fifty years exposed to the sun, some years more often than not, yet a few measly years of bashfulness and it becomes an instant migraine trigger. "Bo, get up."
"I'm up." She grumbles through an exaggerated yawn, throwing my pillow at me.
"You look horrible my love."
"That's not nice."
"I said my love," Giving a little shrug, I flash as much of a smile as my exhausted muscles allow. It's sad when even my face muscles have reached the point exhaustion. "Softened the blow."
"No." Shaking her head, another more realistic yawn escapes as she pushes herself up against the headboard. "What would have softened the blow is saying it naked…or in some kinda outfit."
My eyebrow raising. "Some type of outfit?"
"Mm-hm, I vote lab coat…and nothing else."
"I vote you clean yourself up and join this thing called the land of the living."
"I will."
"When?"
"Tonight."
"Why tonight and not now?" My interest beginning to waver as I begin picking up her discarded clothing tossed over the floor. Sighing, I find myself tossing them onto the chair creating a nice little pile. At least it isn't the floor.
"Dinner."
"Glad to see your priorities are straight."
"Har-har-har."
"What?"
"What?"
"What?"
"You forgot."
"Forgot what?"
"Dinner."
"Hm?"
"For Charlie's friend."
"Charlie's friend?"
"Babe, seriously. Charlie's friend, Elle. She helped them get home safe. Ringing any bells?"
"Ah, yes…yes." I nod, dropping her boots at the leg of the chair. "We're going to need to bring in a maid until this situation has resolved itself."
"The dinner?"
"No, me having to be away and you're…" I hesitate, thinking of the most delicate way to proceed. "Having slight difficulties healing."
"That's a nice way of saying I'm broken."
"You're not broken. It's simply…"
"Yes, Lauren tell me what it SIMPLY is."
"You went through a traumatic event. This is psychological, as much as you don't want to hear that. You just need a little bit of rest and to get back out into the world. It will help."
"Help me or you?"
"Shall I lie and say that I would not appreciate some help?" Sighing once more, I come to stand at the edge of the bed. "Regardless of what I would appreciate, when I say I think getting out will help you Bo, I say it genuinely."
"Well tonight will be the first step."
"Right, about tonight…"
"No. No. No. No. No." She fusses, attempting to sit up fully only to wince in pain and lean back against the headboard. "You're not bailing on this. Sean is already not coming. Kenz is laid up. I have no idea if Ria will make an appearance."
"Speaking of, have to spoke to her?"
"Don't change the subject."
"I'm worried about her, I haven't seen her."
"How would you, you're never here." She snaps, shaking her head as if she caught herself. "She's fine. I kind of spoke to her last night. Okay, well I spoke at her. She apparently pretending to sleep was more interesting than me."
"Hm. I had saw her walking away when I pulled up this morning. I called out to her, but she didn't so much as look back."
"She's fine. Look, Lauren…you're coming tonight. This friend of OUR daughter is not only the first friend that she has ever wanted to bring home, but more importantly helped saved our family's lives."
"Yes, and in due time I will meet her. In fact in due time I will give her a medal along with the other heroes of that night and will make sure her career path is paved. For now though, I do not have time to deal with a dinner."
"Lauren."
"Yes?" Taking a deep breath, I glance toward the bathroom. Irritation beginning to get the better of me. "Bo, this isn't for discussion."
"You're right, it's not. You're coming."
"No, I'm not."
"Yeah, you really are."
"It has only been three days Bo. I can barely come home to check on my wife and children."
"Yeah, as you're wife I'm aware. But as your wife I'm putting my foot down and telling you that you need to be there tonight for your family. Then you can vanish back to your office and get your jollies playing dictator again."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing." Sighing, she runs her hands through her hair.
"No, I demand an explanation."
"Oh you demand?" She sort of chuckles. "It's fine. I made peace with it."
"With what?"
"That you're never happier than when you're doing you're being a dictator."
"Excuse me?" I snort. "Our democracy works more efficiently than any other democracy in the history of democracies."
"I was unaware there was queens in democracies."
"Were."
"What?"
"The word is were, not was."
"Ah, yes please gimmie an English lesson."
"Bo." Drawing in a deep breath, I step away from the bed. The beginning of a dull throbbing in the back of my head doing nothing to help calm me. "I understand you're working through some things, some things that began before this unfortunate incident, but understand that I am going on two hours of sleep myself. Understand that I have not stopped working since that very first bomb went off. Understand that my patience are hanging on by a thread, and your delve into petulance is dangerously close to severing that last thread."
"That's a lot of words to say I'm acting like a bitch and you're too busy to deal with it."
"That is not what I said."
"It's what you meant."
"Bo, this right here." Pausing, unnecessarily I wave between us, as if she wouldn't have known what I meant otherwise. "This is the old us. This is the us from a very long time ago. We don't do this anymore."
"Right, because our marriage is so perfect."
"Yes, it is." I snap, exhaling rather than saying what was about to follow. "It's been perfect for a long time. This is not an attractive look my love."
"Yeah well, you aren't looking so hot today either…my love."
I can't help laughing, a slight underlining amusing tone to it all. I had forgotten how she could get. "Since you choose to be childish, let me put this in terms you will understand. Fix your shit. And no, I am not coming to dinner."
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Victoria's POV
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…goodnight stars…
Forty seven, that's the number of scratches on the metal ceiling. Ninety two is the number of times I've counted them. My eyes always seem to flutter open as I somehow manage to find consciousness one more time. Each time a little bit more of a surprise than the last. Vision always blurred at first from the blood and from the tears I'll never admit to having. It probably takes a good five minutes before I can see them, but then I count. And I say probably because I have absolutely no fucking clue how long I've been here.
On one hand I assume not so long because well I'm still here. On the other hand I've lost conscious ninety-two fuckin' times. Could really go either way I guess. To be fair, the blow torch makes me fall out rather quick. I'm gonna say I've been here…twenty-four hours. Yeah, that sounds about fair.
…goodnight air…
My head falls forward, an abrupt wildfire ripping through my lungs. Jaw clenching as I know what follows. A tightness in my chest so unbearable my vision starts to fade. Panic setting in as my body begins to jerk. I'm forgetting to breathe. There's some disconnect between my mind and my body. Because now…I know what's happening…yet my body just doesn't cooperate. She says its collapsed lungs healing, a slowed heart kicking back into gear as my body remembers to live.
…goodnight noise…everywhere…
It comes to pass just as it has every time before. Head heavy, but I manage to lift it. She's leaning against the door, hammer in her hand as she watches me. If I was to be optimistic about this shit…I've actually learned quite a few new things. There's five basic torture groups…blunt, sharp, cold, hot and loud. I've also learned that blunt and sharp are bearable.
Ha. How funny. Me here…me of all people saying that blunt and sharp object torture is bearable. Can guarantee you never once in my life did I ever think that I would ever say those words. It's the loud I have a problem with. My eyes leaving her to the drill on the table. Yeah, the loud is the worst. Something about the sound…sound of the drill…sound of my screams…sound of the drill going through my bone. Yeah, loud is the worst.
She must be a mind reader because I hear her laugh as she walks over to the table, dropping the hammer and grabbing the drill. Well fuck my life. Her head cocks to the side as I manage to get a laugh out. Fuck my life, Least my sense of humor is intact. The thought only making me laugh a little more. The pain so dull now I barely feel it.
…Goodnight…
I wonder if mom was ever in this position and just laughed her ass off like this. I wonder if she was that badass once. Just laughed her ass off in the face of some sick asshole who had no idea what was coming for them. I wonder if she ever just hung from the ceiling like me and knew it didn't matter because this asshole or bitch in this case was gonna get their ass handed to them soon as she got free. I wonder if I'm handling it as good as she did. I wonder if she could see me, if she'd be proud.
I wonder if mother ever…naw, never mind. Mother is mother. She wouldn't find herself in this situation. She wouldn't have allowed it, right? And even if somehow she did…well she's too smart and too strong to be overtaken right? Ha. That's Sean. That's Charlie. That's probably even mama's boy Ethan. Yeah, they take after her. Yeah, they wouldn't be caught. Oh well,
Guess it's a good thing I take after mom.
I look up to find her in front of me, cold drill tip pressed to my chest, just beside my heart. Her head still cocked, eyes running over my face as if she's tryna figure some shit out. "Need an invitation?"
…nobody…
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Lauren's POV
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"Lauren." The sound of my name pulling me to a stop, my hand falling from the handle of the car door. "Lauren, I'm sorry."
Against better judgement, I look toward her lingering in the doorway. "It's fine."
"It's not. Look I just…I'm messed up right now. And I don't know how to deal with it. I can't even explain it."
"You can try."
"I can't."
Stepping away from the car, arms folding over my chest. "Why not?"
"Because then…it makes it real."
"I'm sorry Bo, but whether or not you talk about it, it's already real."
"Lauren."
"It's real enough to affect your healing. To affect your parenting. To affect our marriage. You want to throw into my face that I'm not physically here right now, but how quickly you forget that I've been trying to get you to talk to me for the longest time."
"I kissed Dyson."
"I'm sorry?" My eyebrow raising in confusion, almost amusement at how many memories those words bring back.
"When I was out, after the last blast. I don't know how to explain it, where I was or what it was, but he was there…well it wasn't him, it was me." Shaking her head, she takes a step onto the porch. "I can't even explain why. It was like I wasn't me, but that's a cop out because I was me. You know?"
"You're upset with yourself because in a comatose state you kissed a version of yourself that looked like Dyson?"
"Don't patronize me Lauren." She sighs, looking away from me.
"I just wanted to be clear." Hand running through my hair, trying not to acknowledge the amusement in that statement. "I'm sorry my love, I'm listening."
"You think it's funny?"
"No."
"You do, I can't believe you're not bothered by it? I'm up there, stewing and feeling guilty and you think it's funny."
"I'm sorry Bo, really. Just…look, if that's one of the things really bothering you, then just let it go. I forgive you."
"Why is this so…funny to you?"
"It's not funny. It's just, my love…it happened after being blown up…multiple times. You said yourself it wasn't really him, it was you. If I considered what you do to yourself as cheating, well then we'd be divorced already."
"Lauren, dammit this is serious." She walks to the edge, my smile fading.
"Bo, I get that it is to you, I do. And I truly mean this from the bottom of my heart, I forgive you. You have nothing to be guilty about. You have nothing to feel bad about. I understand and I am okay with this. I know that this isn't the only thing bothering you, but you can definitely cross this from the list."
"There was a time when this would have ruined your day."
"Before you were my wife and we had a family and a life together…and he was alive?" I nod, slightly taken back by her attitude. "Yes. My love, just because I'm not upset about this doesn't mean I don't care."
"Just go to work."
"Bo, I'm trying to understand what's happening."
"Yeah, well when I figure it out I'll let you know." She spins around, stomping back into the house making sure to slam the door for effect.
"Jesus."
Note to self: Make time for dinner tonight.
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Victoria's POV
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"Oh good, you're awake. I need an opinion."
Shaking my head, as if that's gonna clear away the cloudy feeling. Ninety-four times. I need to find some other shit to count. Clenching my fists I try to lift my body up some, the feeling from my arms beginning to return. Bloody tears clearing from my vision, she standing by the door, trying to look at her distorted reflection in wall. At least she has clothes on. Kinda looks like she jacked some shit from mom's closet, well, what I remember her closet being when I was little. Leather…lots of leather.
"Would you fuck me?" She looks over at me. "I'd fuck me."
"You…are…about ninety-seven fruit loops short of a box of a hundred." I snort a chuckle, memory of Aunt K telling me that shit the first time I bungee jumped without a cord, broke my hands in nineteen places but that shit was epic. Me lying in bed, parents yelling their asses off, Aunt K beside me not saying shit then bam. Soon as they walk out, hits me with that gem.
"That didn't answer my question."
"No, Dani…Danielle…Elle…Ella…Princess Leia…whatever the fuck you wanna go by today, I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole and a ton of bleach. Taking away the fact you look like a walking STD…I'm not into the family love like that."
She looked almost amused until the last part. Level of fight surprising myself. She must have given me my tiny dose of her chi when I was out. Just enough to make sure I keep on kicking. After all, what fun is a torture bag if it can't scream a little? She takes a few steps toward me, jaw clenched and I'm sure she's about to lose it, but she just stands there.
"Do you care to repeat that?"
"I know who you are." I let my head fall back, getting a bit dizzy. "You're my sister."
"Clever girl. What gave it away?"
"Nothing." Tilting my head, I let it rest against my arm for support. "Look at me, it's a little cliché, but I'm the rebel in the family."
"Huh."
"My parents used to tell us this long ass, badass story. Long story short, older I got, got curious. Wanted to know what these people looked like. Little sneaking around and what do ya know, we got another sibling."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it. Made sense. Something always seemed off. Charlie and Ethan. Me and Mikey. Sean and….? Details of the stories always were off. Blah blah blah."
"Well I was hoping for a bit more reaction to the reveal here."
"Sorry, you aren't as unique as you make yourself out to be."
"Hm." She sounds just like mother in that moment, it's crazy. "You think you know me, because you found some pictures?"
"Some pictures? Ha, I read your looney bin files. They were hilarious." I laugh, and I can tell she's pissed now. Pissed like she might rip my throat out, but at this point, what the fuck ever. "Always good for a laugh. Honestly at first I was a lil' pissed we had this whole secret sister no one told us about but then I read that shit and…damn."
"Silence."
"Silence? What are you doing an impression of mother?"
"Silence." She snaps, within arm's reach in the blink of an eye. "It's not nice to make fun of people."
"It's not nice to go on multiple mass murder sprees because mommy just doesn't love you the way you want either." Her hand grabs my throat, nails digging into my skin. This might be it. The white in her eyes quickly swallowed by blackness and a part of me wants to scream out for my parents. But this other part of me…this part that keeps telling me I'm my mom's daughter, says man the fuck up.
"You know nothing about my mother."
"I know you hate to share." I push against her hold, breath hitching. "But she's our mother. She has five other children she does love."
The sound of the alarm on her phone seems to snap something in her, the blackness in her eyes shrinking until I'm staring into normal eyes. Her hand falling to her side as she steps away from me. "I'm aware, I'm going to introduce myself tonight."
"Mom is gonna kick your ass."
"In all your reading, you must have missed the part she hasn't won against me once."
"Must have missed that…" That can't be true. "Was a bit busy laughing at the pathetic excuses of yours for being a sicko. Blah blah blah blame my parents…blah blah blah…I was so unloved…"
"You're very lucky child, that I have a dinner date with sis."
"Charlie would never fall for your bullshit."
"Is that why she broke up with her girlfriend for me? Is that why we kissed the other night? Is that why she's invited me home to meet her parents?"
What….?
They're having dinner parties…? Yeah, definitely only been here twenty-four hours…maybe thirty-six…Mikey might have held out snitching on me. Yeah…they'll be coming soon. Ha. She gonna get her ass kicked. Mom is gonna kick her ass. She leans forward, hands on either side of my cheeks, holding me still as she leans in, lips pressed excruciatingly hard against mine.
"See you soon sis." She promises.
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Lauren's POV
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"I'm here. I'm here." I say, slightly breathless storming into the dining room, nearly running into Bo who's pouring wine in presumably her and my glasses.
"Cutting it a little close."
"Yes, yes." My hand resting on the small of her back, leaning against her shoulder. Her head turning just enough to give me a quick peck on the lips. "I promised you I'd be here, I'm here."
"Thank you."
"Nice to see the claws retracted." I laugh, taking a seat at the head of the table earning an odd look. "We're having company my love, it's better to be official for this."
"It's a dinner with a child, not a diplomat."
"A child we know nothing about. She could be a child of diplomats. She could be…something."
"Paranoid much?"
"Jesus Bo, here, take the seat." I start to stand as she sits in the chair to my right.
"No. No. It's fine."
"No. No. Take it."
"No."
"Are you two fighting again?" Michael asks, glancing up from his phone as he walks in.
"We aren't fighting."
"What do you mean again?" She asks over me.
"We have ears and you two don't whisper argue as quietly as you think."
"Smart butt." She laughs.
"Where is Victoria?"
"She's um," Taking the seat to the left of me, he looks up from his phone. "At a friend's."
"Again?"
"Yeah, it's one of those hot and heavy flings. It's disgusting the details I'm getting."
"That's so disturbing." I can feel my features scrunch as I take a drink, earning a laugh from Bo.
"They don't cover this part in how to raise teenage sucubi."
"Is that really a book?" He asks.
"Familiarize yourself with humor and sarcasm." Ethan right on time walks in, answering for us.
"Go familiarize yourself with hand."
"Boys."
"Can we be civil please?" Charlie snaps from the doorway. She looks so nervous, awe that's adorable and new. "Please don't embarrass me."
"Does that mean we can't tell baby Charlie stories?" Bo asks, earning the meanest of looks.
"What about pre-teen Charlie stories?" Ethan asks.
Unable to help himself, Michael jumps in. "What about the story how you thought you were being stalked by an invisible flying squirrel that only came out at night but it turned out it was just your sock stuck to the fan? That shit was hilarious!"
"I hate you all. Except surprisingly mother at the moment."
"Awe, that's sweet dear." I bring my glass to my lips, glancing at Bo who is already glancing at me trying not to laugh.
"Get it out now, I want something that resembles a real family tonight."
"Exactly how do you think that's going to happen when three are missing and two are dead?" Ethan ask dryly. Remaining smiles and laughs quickly silenced. "Sorry, I just look around and sure Ria is off screwing whoever she can bring into a bed, but Aunt Kenzi? Sean? Mila? Father Travino? I mean, I wasn't the only one who lost these people right?" He looks around, his eyes ending up on me.
"Way to remind us jackass." Michael snaps.
"Enough." I say, eyes on the table. Counting silently to ten to keep myself from saying 'I told you so' in any respect to my wife who already looks to be kicking herself. "Your sister's friend got you and your aunt home that night, this family, your mom and I owe her a debt that cannot be repaid for this. Charlie wants to bring her friend here for a quick dinner for us to say thank you, it isn't too much to ask. So you will take an hour off of your busy schedules to be the polite and caring brothers I know you can be."
In union they let out, "Yes mother",
"Thank you." Charlie forces a smile, almost shocked as if I have never taken her side before.
Before she, or any of us can attempt small talk the doorbell rings and Charlie transitions from appreciative to panic in two seconds flat. It's nearly hilarious, if I could manage to find my sense of humor as of late. She holds up her hands as if telling us to stay, or maybe it's her way of telling herself to calm down. Either way she does it before storming off to the door. I wonder if we should have brought in servers. Though that would allow everyone to know I'm not at home finally getting some rest, I'm actually at home hosting a dinner party.
Yes, no servers were the right choice. I nod to myself, earning the cutest of looks from Bo. Flashing a smile, I take another drink, glancing between the boys, neither one particularly over their exchange. God, I wish there was a manual on raising children. Maybe by the next set we'll have it down. Or at the very least the set after them, yes we should definitely have it down by then. Chuckling to myself, I reach for the wine, Bo flashing a smile as instead she pours it for me.
"So chivalrous."
She laughs, taking a drink "I prefer gallant."
"Gallant you say?"
"Are you doing that word of the day calendar?" Michael laughs, looking up from his phone.
"No! I actually do know what some words mean."
"What does kakorrhaphiophobia mean then?" Ethan snaps, once again adding tension to the situation. Reminder to self: Pull him aside after dinner.
"I said I knew some words buttmunch, not all words."
"Buttmunch?" My eyebrow raising.
"Like that?"
"You're ridiculous." I can't help smiling, nudging her leg underneath the table with mine.
"Family," Charlie's voice brings our attention to the doorway where she stands as if guarding her new friend. "Behave." She mouths, before stepping in. "This is…"
"Danielle," The voice registers before the image of her does as she steps from behind the wall. "My family usually calls me Dani though."
"I thought we were going with Elle?" Michael says under his breath, but I don't really hear his words. I don't hear much of anything in fact. My eyes moving over every inch I can see of her as if I'm expecting her to change.
Charlie goes to speak, only to have Dani's hand go to her shoulder. "I got it from here Kiddo, uh…no, no mom." She warns, Bo having started to stand seeming coming to an understanding of our situation before I have. "Stay right there." Dani's hand sliding up Charlie's shoulder to the back of her neck.
"Did she say…did you say mom?" Michael drops his phone on the table, looking between us for an answer.
"Dani, what's…?"
"Shh, Kiddo, time for the adults to speak now."
"Let her go." Bo warns, hand inching closer to the knife on the table. It's a butter knife but to be fair I've see her do more damage with far less. "Now."
"Mother, do you have nothing to say?"
My lips part, but I have no words. I have a voice, I just don't have the words. Instead I shake my head, looking between a bewildered Charlie to my confused boys. Bo's fingertips on the knife now. My foot kicking hers, my head shaking. Bo had a challenge with Dani even when she was a hundred percent, but now? She wouldn't make it to them before Charlie's body hit the ground. "Hello."
"Well…that's unoriginal, but I'll take it." She shrugs. "So…where's the rest of the family?"
"Like you don't know." Bo's words through a clenched jaw.
"Temper, temper. It's not smart." She slightly jerks Charlie toward her. "It's not smart to blame me for things I had no part in either. Believe it or not, I am rather well behaved as of late. Been just kind of chilling. Getting to know my sisters. We've had a good time lately, huh?" She jerks her again, tears welling in Charlie's eyes.
"Please, stop that. You're scaring her."
"Am I?" She tilts her head to see Charlie's face. "Oh no baby girl." She leans in, kissing her cheek. "I'm not going to hurt you, I just have to make a point to Bo. She never behaves properly, but believe me I don't want to hurt you. I've more or less enjoyed these past weeks."
"Weeks?"
"Oh yeah mother, I've been around for weeks. For the world's most hated person, no one seemingly notices me. Kinda weird."
"Things haven't changed." Bo antagonizes.
"Now, now just because I don't want to hurt my sister here doesn't me I won't rip her head clean off and paint these nice walls with a couple of pints of O-neg."
"Mom…" Charlie's voice cracks, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"Mom." Michael grabs the ledge of the table, almost as if he's trying to keep himself in his seat.
"What do you want?"
"I told you, I wanted to see my family. I didn't go through painstaking work these past weeks for nothing."
"That's all?"
"That's it." She shrugs like a child would.
"Then let Charlie go, we will talk."
"Uh, yeah gonna have to decline on that one. See I do that then Weeble-wobbles over there is gonna get a little froggy and I'm not here for that."
"She won't." I glance at Bo who is giving me the 'hell I won't' look. "She won't do anything."
"Maybe, maybe not…I think it's best though if I err on the side of caution. See baby sis tested my patience today and I'm not in a great mood. I really wouldn't have the patience not to rip mom's heart from her chest. Don't think that would win my bros over too much."
"You wish."
"Oh no Mikey boy, I can rip her heart from her chest before she even took a step. In fact I could rip Charlie's and yours and Ethan's all before mom ever got out of her chair. See, I heard that they used to like to tell you a scary bedtime story, well sweeties, I'm the boogeyman and I can promise you, whatever watered down version of me they painted, it is nothing compared to what I was." Her eyes meet mine, smirk curving her lips. "To what I've become."
"What do you want?"
"I already answered that Bo, I just wanted to see the family. Shame we're missing so many. That was real sad what happened to Father Travino, crucified…really?"
"You?" Ethan nearly snarls, almost standing.
"Me? No. See if I was to do it, I would have really crucified him. Like…really really…not bullshited it with some ropes. And btw…where was the third? I mean they were going for it, the whole spit in your face…had to have a third. Clearly those rebel humans, which again btw I can handle for you."
"We're just supposed to believe that wasn't you?"
"Why yes Bo, you are because poorly thought out shit aside…I'm good now. Well…goodish. I'm all sad all those people died. I almost teared up and everything. And I haven't killed anyone in a good….twenty-two hours. I mean I am really committed to this shit."
"Danielle, enough." I snap, mind finally beginning to catch up with her words. "Where is Victoria?"
"Why don't you ever call her Ria? I been wondering that. EVERYONE calls her Ria. Why not you?"
"Answer me."
"She's fine."
"Where's my sister?" Michael can't help himself, jumping up but Dani unlike Charlie doesn't flinch. "Where?"
"Give me an answer mother, and I'll answer."
"I don't know."
"Bullshit."
"I don't know, I just prefer Victoria, I gave her the name."
"Are you sure it's not because she reminds you of me? A less hot version of me?" She laughs. "Because I think that's what it is. I think she got a little older and started looking a little like me and you got a bit put off."
"Enough of this…" Bo warns, nearly out of her chair now.
"You know I really didn't want anything other than to say hi, but okay."
She smirks and I know that smirk, it's the one that's been etched into my mind. I know something is coming now and there's nothing I can do to stop it. It's all so amusing and horrible at the same time how our abilities alter perception. For my boys I know what happens takes place in a matter of a second. Just a blink. I know for Bo, well I'm not really sure. Maybe she can see it more than them…maybe not. Me on the other hand, the world slows, which is ironic since it's all happening so fast.
Charlie flies into the wall. Ethan's head slammed against the table. Chair kicked into Michael's stomach all within a heartbeat. She bypasses Bo entirely, at my side as I've managed to stand. One hand gripping the back of my head, the other gripping that butter knife Bo had been toying with. Dull cry of pain distant as I feel the tip of the knife scrape against my heart. Her eye peering into mine and she's so…calm.
And fast.
"Now for the mentally challenged, unless you want to find out if mother can live without a heart…I'd chill the fuck out,"
"Danielle…" Her name a whisper, my hands grabbing her wrists and unexplainably there's this part of me that is genuinely…shocked. Of all the destruction and horror that is…us, she's never done this. Never gone this far…with me.
"Shhh." She whispers. "I really didn't want this…I mean I had some things to say but…I saw you sitting there and I just…I really just wanted to see everyone and maybe have dinner you know. But here we find ourselves…" Her words one long breath, one whisper as her eyes never leave mine. I hear their voices in the back, inaudible words but all that exists in this moment is her and I…and the searing pain of the blade scraping against my heart. "It hurts doesn't it? Our positions were reversed once… do you remember? Your hand wrapped around my heart. You felt it slow and that betrayal I felt…do you feel that now?"
"Lauren." Bo's voice snaps me to reality. Eyes leaving Dani, glancing at Bo and the boys all ready to attack…all so loyal. They wouldn't get to her in time. "Lauren."
"Answer me." She pushes the knife in a bit more, my hold on her wrist ineffective. "Tell me, is the betrayal worse?"
"Danielle face me! I'm who you want to kill. Me!"
"Answer me mother, even after everything…does it hurt to know I'm capable of doing this…to you?"
"Lauren dammit!"
My right hand dropping from her wrist to grab the back of her head as I pull her in, left hand still gripping her wrist as the blade cuts deeper. Her eyes narrowing in confusion. My heartrate beginning to slow. Lips pressed to her ear over her hair, I whisper the answer to longs for.
One swift push back and she through the wall, narrowly missing Bo. Left hand on my stomach, right hand pulling the butter knife out. Dani staring up at me from the ground through this considerably large hole in my relatively newly painted wall. Amusement and confusion riddling her features I had nearly forgotten…as much as I could.
"You've gotten stronger…" Dropping the knife to the floor, I take a step forward. Heartrate already beginning to return to normal. "Coincidently, so have I."
"Damn…" She laughs starting to stand up, Bo going to move forward. My hand on her shoulder holding her in place. "Guess this is gonna be a different type of fun." Continuous laughter seemingly disappearing as she's out of sight before another breath is drawn.
"What are you doing?" Bo jerks away. "I could have…"
"We need to track her."
"What are we waiting for?" Michael asks, helping Charlie up, blood running down from her nose. "Lets go!"
"Don't be ridiculous. Did you see her…we would be a liability." Ethan jumps in as the voice of reason.
The children's voices blending into one as they yell over one another, but it's Bo's silence that is louder anything else. She stares me down and I swear we've stepped back into a few decades earlier. She judging me. Judging me for not killing Dani. Judging me for being the object of her…affection. Judging me as if I wanted this. Judging me as if I've been lying to her.
"Go to your aunts, run there." Bo orders, eyes never leaving mine. "When you get there, call your brother and have him meet you."
"Bo, you should stay."
"Sounds so familiar."
.
Victoria's POV
.
…goodnight stars…
I have this memory of us, all of us laying on the grass staring up at this big empty sky…just a blanket of blackness. Stars don't really exist much for us anymore…but we're out there and it was a completely shit day. All of us bickering and fighting, even our parents. Somehow we all make our way out there, blankets everywhere. Trivi and Aunt K arguing philosophy. Mikey and Ethan wrestling. Charlie with her nose in some book. Me ogling Zel and Soren. Sean and Mila fussing. Just noise, so much noise. Shit on all accounts. The reason we're out there nowhere to be found. Rain in the air, drops slowly beginning to drop. The whole night a damn wash.
Tempers erupting, rain beginning to fall. All of us starting to get up. Soren's voice cutting through everything, "Look!" We fall into this silence, and it's like a freeze frame. All of us looking up at the sky as this once in a lifetime thing happens. A shooting star racing through the sky and its just a few seconds. A few seconds but it's amazing. The rain begins to free fall, but we all stay looking up at the sky because for the first time in half of our short lives, we see stars. Actual stars and mother can't explain why, but we do.
Rain free falls and stars quickly fade but it's one of the most amazing moments in our life. Mikey pushes Ethan and he pushes back and then Zel and Soren join in, the four of them chasing each other. Aunt Keniz and Trivi laughing their asses off. Soren scooping me up and throwing me into the tussle. Mother laughs, telling mom to go ahead as she joins.
It's funny the things you start to remember at the end…
…goodnight air…
One of the best moments of life drifting out of reach as my lungs feel like their crumbling within. I can't breathe. I can't think. I can't do anything other than try to reach out for this moment. This moment that I hadn't thought about in years. I can't breathe and all I can focus on is this moment. Mother really laughing, one of the last times I really heard her genuinely laugh. Mom all smiles. I never realized how much the little things mean.
,,,it's funny how you get this feeling where you know it's the end…
…goodnight noises…everywhere…
The memory like everything else slips away, no longer do I struggle to breathe. I don't struggle for anything anymore.
..it's all so funny…in the saddest of ways.
Goodnight…nobody…
.
Lauren's POV
.
"I can't believe you left this place standing."
"What?" I look over at Bo as she takes a sharp turn. "I can't believe you're pretending you didn't know."
She scoffs. "Always my fault."
"What are you doing?"
"What?"
"Bo, seriously what are you doing?"
"I just can't believe you left this place of all places standing."
"The building and location was sound Bo. I wanted to make the best of a bad situation. I transformed the place into a training facility for the Guardians."
"Maybe you just wanted a place to remember her."
"Jesus Bo." I look out of the window, falling silent.
.
Victoria's POV
.
My eyes open to surprise, I no longer find myself suspended in the air but rather tied to a chair. Ankles and wrists tied to the arms and legs. Skin on all raw and bleeding but finally my shoulders are no longer being torn apart. She must have given me my shot of chi. She leans against the door, staring at me only something seems off. She doesn't seem in the mood to blabber or in the mood to torture, this is new.
"Dinner not go well?"
"It went fine." She sounds like a child, she sounds like Charlie when she's PMSing. "Great."
"Yeah? Mother welcome you back with open arms?" Laughing, I laxly pull at the restraints.
"Jealous?"
"Um, no. That's your weirdo fetish."
"Everyone pokes fun at what they don't understand." Her heart isn't in this, she hasn't even moved. "I've spent a fair amount of time watching you sis, you and the rest and while you and Michael do a pale imitation of me, you long for mother's attention. It's funny, all any of us ever wanted was for her to love us."
Smirking, head falling forward. "There's a pretty big difference."
Suddenly she seems slightly intrigued. "Is there?"
"Yep." Nodding, drawing in a semi painful breath I look up to meet her gaze. "Mother actually loves us."
"Excuse me?"
"You keep on pathetically chasing after mother, despite how much she runs. How much she tries to hide from you. How many time she tries to kill you?"
Closing the distance between us, her hand wrapped over my mouth. "It would be a shame to have to rip your tongue out. I more or less promised mother you were okay."
Taking a breath, as if losing interest she steps away. Shrugging she begins walking over to the ipod on the table laying amongst all her toys. My breath hitching as flashes of our previous time together string together more or less preparing me for what comes next. A beat starts and it's different from the one she's kept on repeat for us. I guess a new position deserves a new song.
"Dani…"
"Miss. Up-To-Date, in all your reading on me," She looks over her shoulder at me. "Did you ever read about the last time me and our mother had a run in?" I shake my head. "It was pretty fun. I had her tied to a chair, just like that. We had a little fun too." She laughs, turning the volume slightly up. "This song was playing too."
.
(((-You want to estimate-The distance that it takes-To find a lover lover-)))
.
"Sounds…riveting."
"It was. Had her girlfriend tied up and tortured. She wasn't as fun as you though." She laughs. "Had Dyson and Hale's coffins there too. Man, Bo's face when she realized who they were."
"Why do you hate her so much?"
"Thought you read up on me?" Laughing, she smiles at me almost…flirting. Gross. "Thought you knew all there was to know about me?"
"I know enough."
"You know nothing…Jon Snow." She starts laughing, genuinely as if it was the most hilarious joke in the world. "You know that show right? I know it's old, but I think I've seen it still circulating. A reboot or something?"
"Yeah…I know it." I'm really tied to a damn chair having a convo about a show from a decades ago. Sisterly bonding is never what I hoped for. "Can I ask something…without fear of being tortured?"
"Hm…I'm feeling whimsical. Why not. One question, full immunity."
Twisting my ankles against the tape the best I can without drawing her attention. "Is it a choice to not have a personality of your own or…?"
"W-what?"
"I read every file and I've seen you…you use movies and shows and impersonate people. Your…psycho bit isn't even you. Like are you even really this psycho or do you just…fake it until you make it."
She's silent for a moment, amusement gone. "Art imitates life."
"In your case, it's life imitates art."
"Careful."
"Right…sorry. Sorry." My eyes dropping to my right wrist, blood leaking everywhere. "Just trying to understand."
"You're beginning to remind me of Sean." She grabs a scalpel. "Can't stand that mama boy."
"Always found that interesting."
She snaps. "What?"
"You created this whole narrative you never quite let go of about Sean having this weird relationship but you're really the one who does."
"My relationship is misunderstood. There are…factors."
I nod, chuckling. "Right."
"There were."
"Ye-yeah." Unusual wave of pain ripping through my calves. "I know all about that."
"Do you?"
"I do. Whole sob story. Blah blah blah…succubi side of yourself kicked in at a bad time…blah blah blah."
"I don't like repeating myself," The tip of the blade pushed into the side of her leg. I've struck a nerve. "Be careful sis."
"Sorry…sis." Fists clenching.
Jaw clenching she starts to pace and then pace some more. Slowly beginning to mumble to herself, blade digging further into her leg, a small droplet trail of blood in her path. Every couple of seconds she glances at me, anger more and more evident. "What? What? Say it. Say what you have to say."
"Nothing."
"Say it!" Her eyes change, her pace halting.
"It's pathetic. You're pathetic. Hiding behind timing. Like seriously, bitch do you know how many people have walked in on or heard their parents having sex? Or vice versa. Do you know how many developed a mass murdering, mommy worshiping complex from it? I personally only know one."
"Sharing time is over."
"Sorry. Sorry. Just like…do you know how many times me and my siblings have walked in on our parents? Gotta tell you, never thought damn I need to get me one of them."
"Quiet."
"Personally I think you just use it as an excuse."
"I said, sharing time is over!" She starts stomping toward me to only turn back around. Picking up the ipod again. "You're so curious about me and my mother, well let me show you how that night went." The song starting back over.
.
(((-You want to estimate-The distance that it takes-To find a lover lover-)))
.
The volume turning up loud enough I think my eardrums pop. She's completely been thrown now and I'm quickly regretting my dumb ass decision to push. She hits replay again, seemingly finding her groove as her hips begin to sway to the beat.
.
(((-You want to rectify-This mad look in my eyes-Then find your other lover-)))
.
Reaching me, her hand on both of my forearms, leaning down her nose nearly grazing against mine. My heart racing. Something is different in her. This might be it. This might be the time she finishes it. This is it.
.
(((-Come on let's rectify-This mad look in my eye-Come on yes let's discover-)))
.
"You should have paid attention just once to what mom had to say."
Her head tilts, going to ask 'what'.
Bo's Voice Over: One thing you have to remember is when up close
and personal, head-butting is your best weapon.
Cocking my head back, forehead into her nose she stumbles back, blood running down her face. Always use the forehead. Forehead to nose otherwise you'll hurt yourself. You need those seconds she said. Turns out, mom was right. She was also right about distraction. Always distract, go for the jugular if you need to bide time.
Bo's Voice Over: Being tied to a chair might seem bad, but honestly
It's the best thing given the situation.
Legs free, jerking my weight up unto my feet before throwing myself backward onto the floor. Chair breaking into several pieces. Mom was right. It hurts like a bitch, but can't focus on that now. Left arm coming away from the chair, right still partially attached. Wrapping my hand around it, spinning around on the floor, slamming the piece of wood into her knee. The blaring song starting back over as she falls to the floor.
Bo's Voice Over: There's a difference between honor in a fight
And self-preservation. You need to understand the difference.
Slamming the arm of the chair down into her face, it breaks. Shit. Attempt at a crawl failing, I lunge myself on top of her. Top of my body on hers. Left hand pressing down on her chest, right balled as I slam it into her face repeatedly. One…four…six…seven…ten. Maybe ten. It's enough I'm covered in her blood, her face hidden beneath a layer of blood. Her eyes closed and she isn't moving.
I can't breathe. I can't breathe. The sound of my heart screaming in my ears almost loud enough to drown out the music. Oh God...oh God. The feeling of her chest rising and falling beginning to gain strength. Oh fuck a duck. Now what? Frantically I look around. Discarded bodies…mourn later. Dried blood everywhere…dwell later. Tools…not strong enough to risk it.
Bo's Voice Over: The most important thing you will ever need to accept
Is that it is okay to run.
Pushing off of her chest, hopping over her I bolt to the door. Fiddling with the handle like some dumb blonde in a slasher flick. Takes three tries before I pull it open. The weight of the door almost pulling me with it as it flies open. As if a perfectly comical moment in the most fucked up of ways it all ties together when I turn around. Stepping into the hall I look back, song stopping and there's this dead silence. And even though I tell myself don't be stupid, in this moment my body feels an odd sense of relief. Then the punchline of the joke hits. The song begins again, base drop and her eyes open.
Sitting up almost robotic like, she tilts her head toward me with a smirk. Oh yeah, I'm fucked.
Pushing off of the wall I take off down the hall, dried blood on the bottom of my feet causing every couple of steps to stick slightly. The cold floor sending shivers up my spine. But all I can do is run. One hall and then the next. Left turn then a right. Right turn and then a left. But no stairs. No exit.
I can feel her gaining. I don't see her when I glance back but I can feel her…she's everywhere.
Bo's Voice Over: The second most important thing you will ever need
To accept is that it is okay to hide.
"You're faster than I expected." Her voice echoes off of the metal walls, and all I can think to myself is what the fucking hell is this place. "Stronger too."
Right turn…left turn…going in a damn circle…right turn…right turn…left.
"But you'd need to have mother's strength to take me." I hear her footsteps now, the heels of her boots making a distinct clicking. "And even then it's a tossup little sis."
Left…left…coming to the door of my once prison…made a giant ass circle….straight…straight…left turn…right.
"Fee fi fo fum…I smell the blood of…"
She trials off and I stop. I stop frozen in fear. Did she find me? I look around frantically. No. Did she hear something? Listening closely, I hear nothing. All the more afraid of the silence I take a quick right, pushing into the first door I see. A dark empty room, not ideal but maybe she won't look in here.
Bo's Voice Over: Once you accept these things,
I know you'll be okay.
She's silent but I hear her steps. Some things angered her or maybe thrown her off her game. She isn't playing now. I don't know how I know, but I do. Her steps…their different. They're heavier and faster. Not like we were playing some kind of fucked up version of hide and seek, but not like she's gonna finish this.
I look down at myself, nearly no light but for the first time I look at my almost completely naked body covered in blood. So much dried blood. Smears new and old. Some she just missed when she did her cleaning of me and some too recent. It's in this moment it all starts to set in. Where I am. Who I'm hiding from. What has happened. All of the pain. It all starts coming back as her footsteps near.
Bo's Voice Over: Because despite popular belief any fight is seventy percent mental.
Twenty percent determination and ten percent skill.
You accept its okay to hide and to run, you learn when to.
You accept that you're always fighting for more than yourself, you use that as your drive.
And the skill?
She's right on top of me now. I hear her, feel her, hell I can smell her now. Leaning against the wall, head tilted I stare at the door and wait. Wait to die…
If my parents could see me now. The great Queen and the great warrior. They'd be embarrassed of this shit Ria. Look at you just standing here waiting to die. Or better yet, get tied back up and star in psycho sis' torture porn. That is an absolute great way to die. Can see the headlines now. Shit. Danielle the Psycho. Victoria the Pussy. And Charlotte… the legacy of the females in our family dependent on Charlie's permanent PMSing ass?
Taking a deep breathe, I nearly hop to the other side of the door. Back against the wall, fists balled.
The door flies open, my leg hiked up ready. The second the metal touches the bottom of my foot I kick right back out. Door slamming into her, enough force she's momentarily stuck between the frame of the wall the door. Her hands gripping the edge for balance, going to push it back open I don't give her a chance. Using what dwindling strength left I kick the door twice, her growl fearsome…but full of pain.
Bo's Voice Over: Well baby girl, you're my daughter.
Something tells me not to push my luck. Hiking my leg back going to kick the door again, she thinks she's got me. Psych bitch! She pushes the door forward with such force she loses her own footing. Door narrowly missing me, but it does. When I kick out, I get her chest. She's quick, grabbing my ankle before my foot can fall. Throwing my body weight at her, catching her off guard I bring my fist to her face enough that I lose count.
Somewhere in between the commotion she manages to throw me into the corner of the wall in hall. My body falling to the floor like a sack of potatoes, blood coming out of my mouth enough to scare me. No time for that now. Palms to the floor I push myself up, taking off running back down the hall, pulling open the next door I find.
Odd noise coming from myself in…relief as I find the stairs.
Nearly throwing myself down them, I make it down one flight and then the second. A scream escaping myself as she grabs my by the shoulders. My palms slamming into her shoulders knocking her down to the ground. My foot hiked back going for her face. A split second of clarity hitting me. It's not her…it's mom.
"Oh my God! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She looks up at me sort of stunned, sort of smiling and it's odd but we don't have time for that. She looks exhausted and in pain, we don't have time for that either now. "Mom." My voice a whisper as she stands and even though I tell myself to grab her hand and keep running, I don't.
I throw myself at her, arms wrapping around her as I feel myself starting to cry…or maybe I had been already.
"Shh. It's okay baby girl. I'm here. I'm here." She pulls back, hands cupping my cheeks. "I need you to get outside. Your mother is out there, she's looking for you."
"I can't."
"Just a little more. It's okay." She tries to pull away only to have me grab onto her arms.
"I can't! Mommy…"
"Hey." Snapping, she holds my face, thumbs brushing the tears from my cheeks. "Victoria Haley Alreyna. You mean to tell me that you've survived all of this…got yourself free and almost escaped all on your own…but now you can't make it a few more steps?"
"Mommy…?"
"You are my daughter and you are amazing." The sound of a door opening above us slightly pulling her attention as her eyes leave mine for a moment. "You are strong and smart and already a champion in my book baby girl. Now get your ass out there and protect your mother and the rest of our family."
"Wh-what about you?"
"Well," She smiles softly, hand on my back as she starts to push me behind herself, footsteps on the stairs growing louder. "I gotta make sure you're safe."
.
Lauren's POV
.
There is no joy greater than that your child brings you.
There is no disappointment greater than knowing you failed them.
And there is nothing more painful than knowing before it even happens that the choices you have to make will hurt them.
Standing in the exact same spot from so many years ago I stare at this same building, memories rushing back. With the memories, another person…another version of myself awakening. Words from that girl, Trini echoing in the back of my mind.
The door on the left side of the building opening. Dani stumbling out into the sort of gangway between this building and it's mirror. She's holding her side, frozen as she stares at me. The door in front of me opening, Victoria bolting from it. My eyes shifting between the two.
Go after Dani…leave Victoria alone.
Go to Victoria…let Dani run free.
Go after Dani to protect everyone…risk Victoria.
Go to Victoria…risk everyone else.
My eyes shifting to Victoria who stares curiously at me as her slow, uneven steps continue toward me. Choice made I close the distance between us in a heartbeat, my arms wrapped around her body as he knees give in. "I've got you." I whisper into her hair, letting her break. My eyes shifting to the gangway, Dani long gone, Bo running out from the door looking frantically for her.