Disclaimer: I do not own the Darkest Powers Series.

Chapter Six -

Derek escorted me into the house and down the hall until we were in what I could only assume to be the Living room, with a black leather "L" shaped couch across from a television and adjacent to a loveseat.

"Sit here. I'll be back." Derek murmured as he sat me down on the couch and disappeared again into the hallway.

For a moment I was confused and wasn't sure what to do, but once I realized the couch was comfortable, I started to drift off.

Once I knew Chloe was asleep, I started to look for Tori. I knew she was home, and that she would want to know about what happened. Liz was her friend and she was better with this sort of thing anyway. Plus she was the one who would be calling Liz. I had figured Chloe would end up sleeping anyway, after what she'd been through there was no way she wouldn't be sleeping as soon as she was comfortable, plus, when she woke up she would want to know what the hell had happened to her and Liz.

Knowing Tori, there was only one of two places she could be. Not hearing her in the kitchen, that left her bedroom.

Turning away from Chloe I headed further down the hall and to the staircase, knowing that if I was loud enough, hopefully Tori would hear me coming and not freak the fuck out when I showed up knocking on her door. With a sigh I recognized that Tori was most likely going to freak out with me showing up at her door anyway.

While contemplating exactly how to approach this whole situation with Tori, I continued on to her door upstairs and around the corner, only to find myself hesitating. If Liz really was dead and this was hoe Tori found out, she'd probably blame me. Not that that was a big deal or would even make me upset, it'd just be a pain in the ass to deal with. Especially if she decided to bring it up a lot. She most likely would, which, in turn, would be incredibly annoying.

It was Liz though.

She was a nice girl. Is. She is a nice girl. She was the reason behind Tori acting civil these past few years. That was someone I'd definitely miss, even if I barely knew her.

Sighing, I knew if I knocked on Tori's door I'd need to be prepared for the worst case scenario, and know that no matter how this turned out Tori would be pissed. And, if Liz really was dead, Tori would be a complete and total mess.

Tori was necessary for this to work out though. Chloe needed to know either way, for her own sanity. Anyone would need to know after what she'd seen in that auditorium. If Liz really was dead though, then what I had already concluded to be true would be proven for everyone else. And if so, then Chloe needed to know. Tori was the first step though.

So, first things first.

Surprisingly, Tori seemed to be in a civil mood tonight, that wouldn't last though. Not after telling her Chloe Saunders was asleep in our living room and that said girl thought Liz, her best and pretty much only friend, to be dead. Nope. That would definitely make things awkward. For sure. Fuck.

Ok. Maybe I should have thought this through more…

Tori had let me in her room with a curt "Enter" and was set up at her computer, surrounded by pop cans of various kinds and several bags of ships and candies. Surprisingly, the rest of her room was in a similar state. Both her and Simon were like this. Their work scattered across the room, as if it constantly being on their mind wasn't enough, they had to live in it too. I thought it was funny, mostly because both Dad and I were neat freaks. Well I guess Dad's room was messy too…That's not the point though.

"What up, dork?"

I hesitated. If I responded snarkily, like usual, I'd likely regret it later, but if I didn't, she'd notice that something was up, inevitably leading to all the steaming metaphorical shit hitting the large and brooding metaphorical fan.

"Not much."

Fuck.

Nice job, fuck-knob.

Ugh.

"Alright. What's wrong and what do you need now?" Tori swiveled her chair around so she was facing away from her computer screen, I couldn't see but it was likely covered in her programming codes.

"Well…" my eyes scanned her walls, hoping to happen upon an answer from there. However, her bright and cheery yellow walls, besides the confusion they brought of actually being the color of her walls, gave me nothing.

"You should come downstairs."

Feeling awkward and deciding that that was sufficient enough, I turned around and headed back to Chloe, leaving a bitching and moaning Victoria behind me.

Walking on into the living room where Chloe was sleeping on the couch, I hesitated, unsure if I should go in. Maybe Chloe would rather have Tori deal with this now; it's probably for the best.

Seriously? That's the better alternative?

…Ugh.

I glanced in between Chloe and the hallway, uncertain what I should do, but before I could decide, I could hear Tori coming up behind me.

"Shit," I hissed, and turned around in time to see her expression as she came around the corner and saw that Chloe was on the couch.

"What in the fuck Derek?!" I winced, that was a nice and loud screech. "Why is she here?" she hissed, obviously realizing that we didn't need Chloe waking up right now.

"That's a lot of explaining."

Tori made a frustrated sound half way between a screech and a growl.

"Basically, I need you to take care of this by calling Liz."

"I don't see how the fuck calling Liz will make the thing on the couch go away you sack of shit." Tori's voice was cold, her eyes narrowed, but her face was neutral.

Well fan-fucking-tastic.

Didn't expect her to dislike her, huh.

I could feel change itching at me underneath my skin. There was a challenge in her voice, and it was in a wolf's, well, my nature to silence those kinds of challenges quickly. I tensed my muscles and ran my hand through my hair, trying to take an edge off my frustration.

Inhaling deeply, I turned back to Tori, hoping that I had calmed down enough. "Please." I looked her in the eye, hoping she would see that this was necessary and that there was no way that this could not be handled.

Tori shook her head and started down the hallway.

"Fine! But I'm not going to like it!" she called from over her shoulder.

"I never expected you to." I mumbled, stepping into the room so I could sit and wait for Chloe to get up.

"Chloe? Chloe where are you?"

I think I've had this dream before…

"Chloe dear, you need to come out now so we can work all this out, ok?"

Who's voice it that?

"Chloe, dammit, just get out here and cooperate!"

What? What's going on where am I?

"Chloe!"

"Wh-

-at?!"

I sat up quickly, gasping for breath. Gripping the couch underneath me, I realized that I was still at Derek's house and in the living room. So that part had been real at least…

"Chloe?"

My head shot up automatically, eyes locking with Derek's bright frightfully green ones. "Are you ok?" I nodded, realizing that Derek was kneeling in front of me and feeling incredibly awkward because of it.

Derek backed up and took a seat in the loveseat while I tried to sort out my thoughts on the couch. This was all so strange. Had I imagined that whole thing of Liz being dead? Am I delusional? I hope so…

"Liz is dead."

I jumped up from the couch and turned around. "Wh-what d-do you m-mean?"

Tori stared back at me, her face blank and eyes hollow.

"I mean Liz is fucking dead."

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Derek bulk. He hadn't expected this apparently. To be honest neither had I, I was expecting to find out I was crazy from a stranger. How was this even possible? She had to be joking. A sick joke, but a joke none the less. There was no way that this was true.

"Stop it! You're lying!" I could feel tears prickling at my eyes, begging to spill over and stream down my face.

"Do you seriously think I would joke about something like this?" Tori's voice cracked, unshed tears swelling in her eyes. "Derek, what the fuck is this all about?" Tori gulped, turning her attention to Derek and slightly changing the subject.

Derek rubbed the back of his neck, obviously frustrated and wanting out of this situation.

"We should wait for Dad, he'll explain this better an-"

"Don't you dare try to shove this off to Kit! You answer my damn questions now! You're the one who made me call!"

My head started to swim. He had Tori call. Oh jeez. Well, there's no way she doesn't hate me now. They were friends too; Tori wouldn't just say that Liz was dead. Plus, it didn't sound like Derek had told her why to call either. Wait, he had her call because of what I saw. I saw Liz die in front of me and then she was gone. Liz is dead. Liz is really dead.

I fell to my knees, and before I knew it, Derek was there, right next to me.

"She's really dead. What I saw…Oh god. D-derek! I-I s-sa-saw!"

"Shh…" Derek mumbled, trying to be comforting and rubbing circles into my back. "Can we talk about this later Tori, please?" Derek hissed, the threat idly there in his voice, it wasn't an actual threat, but it was there, lingering in the background.

I didn't hear Tori say anything, but from the creaks the floor boards made, I assumed she had left.

A few moments passed, but it felt like a life time. Then Derek stood, but I felt him more than heard. And not even felt as in how he moved, as in his presence. It was strange, but I barely had enough time to let that thought settle before Derek was talking to me again.

"I'm s-sorry Derek, what w-were you saying? I'm j-just…" I sighed, I didn't know how to communicate this at all.

Derek just nodded. He seemed incredibly patient in comparison to how he's felt and been for the past forever. "OK, well, you see Chl– "

Derek and I both jumped from hearing a loud crash from somewhere upstairs.

Glancing in between me in the door way, Derek muttered a curse and jumped into action. He literally just leaped on up and out of the room. I could hear his hurried footsteps head down the hall and carry off into what must have been the upstairs.

There wasn't a doubt in my mind that Tori had done something. If I had been in my own home right now, I'd probably be breaking something too.

Sighing with what felt like the weight of the world on my shoulders, I turned to get a better look into the hall and wait for Derek to return. Leaning my chin on my raised hand, I couldn't help but feel out of place and wonder if my Aunt was worrying about me right now. Hoping she wasn't.

"Tori never has handled her anger well."

I seized up and rigidly turned back to face the loveseat.

"Wh-what?"

"She's always been a hot head, and has never really expressed her feelings in the best way."

I didn't respond after that, because there sat Liz. Her blood stains gone. Just Liz, with her blue jeans, white baby doll shirt, and adorable knit blue button-up sweater, her hair was even nicely done, just like it is when she's heading out for a party that she tries to convince me to go along with too.

For a moment, relief overwhelms me. I just hallucinated. None of that really ever even happened. Before I can stop myself, I'm sobbing and babbling about how sorry I am and how silly I feel. Liz just smiles the whole time through it, nodding her head like she does to show that she's listening intently and absorbing everything that's being said.

She's always been so good about this, knowing that when I say something, I need someone to hear it and acknowledge it, or it feels like it never happened. She's always understood so well. She's pretty much my only friend, and I hallucinated her death, in the auditorium. Where almost the entire drama club saw, and probably thought I was certifiable by now, but that was fine, because Liz was alive.

"Everything's going to be alright, Chloe, I promise," Liz 's smile softens, her eyes seem to sadden slightly, and she reaches for my hand, like she does all the time, to try an comfort me, only her hand passes through mine.

For a moment, Liz has the courtesy to look horrified before simply looking sad and disappointed, like she knew, but was still hoping that wouldn't happen.

My eyes squeeze shut. This can't be happening, this can't be real. Only it is real, when I open my eyes again, she's still the same, and her hand is still through mine. It's complete and total proof that something terrible has really happened to Liz.

I want to cry more, but can't.

"I'm so sorry, Chloe," Liz smiles sadly, and only she could make that seem tragically beautiful. I just nod because I don't know what to say. I don't even know what's happening or what's been happening for the past hour and a half.

Liz seems to decide that she has something to say, something to help both of us right now, because she always does, but her eyes go wide in panic.

She straightens and stares wide eyed straight ahead, and then she's tearing up.

"Liz? Liz. Liz! What is it? What's –"

"I'm so sorry, Chloe. I really am." Her voice is heartbreaking and so are her eyes when they connect with mine. Something awful is about to happen, she can feel it, and so can I.

And then it happens.

Liz is gone. She's not on the loveseat anymore, just gone. There's only me and the furniture, and I can't even hear Derek or Tori from upstairs.

I try to focus, try to figure out what's going on around here, but then I hear it, a quiet gurgling sound, like too much water trying to fit down drain, only it's not a drain when I turn around. It's Liz, and she's dying on the floor again. Blood spurting and pooling all around her.

For a second I think to call the police, but then I remember and drop to my knees and just try to staunch the bleeding again, because what else can I do. She's seizing and there's blood gushing between my fingers, and I can't do anything for her, because she's already dead.

I sit back on my heels when she looks dead, her eyes vacant just like they were before.

I stare at her for a moment, wondering what to do, if there is anything I can do, and then it's happening again.

"No. No. I can't do this. I c-can't ha-handle th-this."

So I let out a sob, and a scream. Only it isn't a wale like I had anticipated.

I scream for Derek. It feels like I screech it over and over a thousand times, but it's only twice, and suddenly he's there, scooping me up and crowding me with his presence, and I just cry, because I'm starting to understand.

I see dead people.

Author's Note:

Hello everyone! I am so sorry for the long overdue update! But here, have some Chlerek! Please forgive me! I really am trying to keep this up, I promise!

Any questions, concerns, or advice? REVIEW!