(Chapter 7 – White Rabbit)

In a single moment, my entire world had been shattered into a million pieces. The cause of my parents' tragic "accident" had finally come to light, though it had not at all been my expectation.

Never once did I imagine that my best friend would betray me as he did. Then again, never once did I imagine that he would even be back in my life. The result of his actions proved to be more damaging than he realized – at least I would like to thing. I had lost my family. Not only this, but the amount of loved ones I had in my life was dwindling to a very tiny number; at the time, I only had my maternal grandparents for support.

However, they gave me more love than my own mother and father ever did. My relationship with my parents was…strained, at best. They provided, but I was usually left to my own devices. Sometimes, I even felt that they were against me, as every teenager feels on occasion. But these thoughts were for a legitimate reason, though I was unaware and refused to believe at the time.

Despite this, I wanted them in my life – and Ruben had robbed me of that.

"Is this what you wanted?!" I screamed to the sky. "You couldn't stand to suffer alone, so you take everything away from me too?!"

Sunflower stalks flew in all directions as I hacked my scythe through them. The sky above was growing darker, the roll of thunder boomed in the distance as a violent storm was setting in. Lightning flashed, illuminating the deep gray clouds.

"I-I trusted you, and you betrayed me. You're no better than Jimenez!"

Whack

The storm was approaching at an even faster rate. Lightning struck the ground not too far away from where I stood; however, I could not make myself move. I kept slashing and demolishing until I finally collapsed onto the soil.

"God, Ruben…"

Realizing the name that left my lips, I fumed. My nostrils flared, breathing growing heavier. Balled fists tightened, knuckles turning white.

"No…No, you were right. You're not Ruben….Not anymore," I spat through gritted teeth. Despite my solitude, I was quite sure that he would be able to hear me. At this, I turned my eyes to the sky. "I don't know who you are anymore….What did they call you? Ruvik?" I wiped away the remaining tears and sniffed.

"This is the last time I cry for you, Ruvik."

In resolution, I rose to my feet, prepared to hide out in the barn until the storm passed. I was done with that man, ready to tell it to his face if the need arose. His return had brought nothing but pain. To know that he was the one responsible for it all left me sick. I wished I had never known him. I cursed the very day that I met that boy in the sunflower field. Why fate had led me there that day, I will never know. But at that moment, I would have given anything to erase him from my memory.

I placed my hand scythe back into my pocket. My eyes took one last glance toward the field of sunflowers; only a few stalks were broken compared to the vast sea before me. At this, I huffed; I had no desire to see another sunflower for the rest of my life. Raking my fingers through my disheveled, scarlet hair in an attempt to detangle the matted locks, I walked toward the double doors of my hideout.

However, my plans were dashed in an instant. The ground began to tremble beneath me. The barn and everything that accompanied it shook, creaking and groaning as dust seemed to fall upwards into the sky. Farm equipment and tools that lay scattered all joined in the jumbled rhythm.

I was sent flying; the laws of gravity completely defied as I felt myself falling into the sky. Screaming, I closed my eyes and covered my head as I awaited my imminent fall to my death. The world around me spun; trees whizzed by as I went flying sideways and upside down. In an instant, I slammed onto the dirt with a heavy thud. Wincing at the pain of landing on several tiny rocks on my back, I let out a weak cry. I attempted to get back on my feet, feeling my legs give way beneath me. The flight had messed with my equilibrium; to my dismay, as I stood I found myself falling right back down again. I groaned and retried, this time with slightly more success. As the world settled, I realized where I had been sent.

The house was two-story, old, and decrepit. Once white paint now faded and chipped in areas. Moss and vines grew on the exterior, blanketing the rotted wood in a sheet of dark green and dull brown. Panes of glass within the windows were cracked, some completely shattered. The once blue shutters slowly flapped open and closed with the force of the wind. Wind chimes on the front porch rang with an echoic, jumbled melody of sounds, further adding to the home's foreboding appearance. The rocking chair squeaked as it slowly rocked back and forth as if some unseen person occupied it. Squeals and howls echoed from inside, while the orange flicker of a fire exposed the shadowed figures of the haunted that dwelled within.

This was once my home.

"No…don't do this to me," I whispered, feeling myself grow weak at the sight. After everything that I had just been through, the last thing I needed was to revisit the site of more of my childhood trauma.

A soft mumble began to pierce the veil of my clouded mind. Its familiarity took me from my fazed state, returning me to the present before I could sink deeper into misery. As I turned my gaze all around, searching for the source, I was met with a white form in the distance. He knelt near the base of a tree, hands placed above his head in defense.

"Leslie!" I cried upon seeing him. Without hesitation, I dashed to the boy's side. "Thank God, you're okay," I sighed in relief. If not for being who he was, I was tempted to hug him; if I did, he would try to escape from my embrace.

His huddled form continued to sway, hands wringing together in anxiety. A whimper escaped his lips before he pointed toward the direction of the house that I had just ventured inside. His ice-colored eyes betrayed his exhaustion despite their gaze of trepidation at the earth below. "Inside," he whispered in a mantra, aiming finger quivering.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, eyes widening in concern. My head dashed back toward my former home, hoping to discover the source of his current worry. I studied the doorway, blackened by the dark of night; it seemed still despite Leslie's words.

"The haunted? I can take care of it, Leslie. I promise not to let them get to you." I gently placed a hand on his shoulder, which turned out to be a wrong move entirely. He cowered from my touch, crying out as I touched him as if he were burned alive.

Retracting my hand, I felt a pang of hurt at his reaction. In a normal setting, he was not bothered by my contact. A wave of sadness overcame me as I studied him. He was too far gone; this world was stealing away the little amount of progress we at Beacon had made with him over the years. I bit my lip, fighting back the urge to cry.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Leslie. I-I'm one of the good guys, remember?" I could feel myself crumbling, but continued to fight back against the weight of my emotions.

He began to mumble again, though it was quite hard to understand from his frantic tone. "Stay calm, Leslie. Stay calm, Leslie." His nails began to dig forcefully into his skull, hands straining in a contorted grip. "Stay calm, Leslie. Stay calm, Leslie."

"Leslie, honey, you're going to hurt yourself," I pleaded, attempting to calm him without touch. As a final resort, I reached out to him again. This time, to my surprise, he seemed unfazed. With this encouragement, I reached toward his head, trying to pry his fingers from his scalp.

He stopped.

With his sudden ceasing, I paused in my efforts. My grip gave slack, and he removed his hands without my help, placing them at his sides. He turned to face me, fear completely lost from his cerulean irises; instead, they were replaced with hollow darkness. I blinked, hardly recognizing him.

He gripped my hand, causing my eyes to widen. As it tightened, I whimpered.

"Leslie, you're hurting me," I begged in an almost squeak.

His eyes narrowed as if angered by my words. His lips pulled into a dissatisfied frown, emanating his internal emotions. With this, he released me, allowing me to cradle my aching hand. I hissed in pain, surprised by his strength. Soon I began to calm, and I returned to my attempts to soothe him yet again. "Sweetie, please tell me what's going on. Why are you acting this way?"

He rose to his feet, standing straighter than his normal stance, albeit slightly hunched. Blue eyes shifted from mine toward the direction of my house. I stood, waving my hand to get his attention. "Leslie?"

To my surprise, he walked away, his form moving toward my home. As he passed by, he brushed against my shoulder, sending a chill up my spine. I could only watch as he walked. The way he held himself…that look in his eyes…it was so familiar.

I called to him, but he chose to ignore me. Attempting to follow him, I marched in his direction. Upon hearing my footfalls crunch atop the dried leaves, he stopped. His sudden move caused me to copy his action. I was afraid - afraid of him. This was so unlike the timid man that I had grown to know over the years; the one that I felt so protective over.

Strands of his stark blond, almost white, hair danced in the gentle breeze. Everything around us became eerily quiet. "Leslie?" I asked in an almost whisper.

With this, he turned his head, without moving his body, toward the sound of my voice. He seemed to linger, as if debating his next action, then returned it to his forward-facing position. With calculated steps, he continued forward, then disappeared.

I blanched, thinking that I had finally lost my mind.

A/N: Extra chapter add-in.

As a birthday present from myself (even though it is my birthday) to y'all, I give you a new chapter!