Tori was hyperventilating, her body paralyzed with terror. She hid behind a thick tree. The woods behind the shopping mall were deeper than expected. Crouched under the shadow of the gargantuan arbor, Tori tugged at her hair, biting her lip and rocking herself back and forth. She had never been more scared in her life than right now.
It was like she had been running and hiding forever. Tori could scarcely remember anything that happened prior. It was just like that nightmare from the other time at Jade's house. But something was different this time.
Tori knew that she should have woken up by now. She always snapped out of it when the nightmare got too intense. But nothing happened.
It was like she couldn't escape.
The scary man's cackling and the spine-tingling rubbing of the metal fingers had died down for a while. But Tori remained on edge, anticipating hearing the beckoning of certain doom.
Something about this forest was strange but oddly comforting. Everywhere she looked, no matter how much she ran, it seemed like it just kept going. There were trees everywhere. Slowly, she was convincing herself that she had indeed gave that creep the slip.
He almost got her once though. She examined her wrists; they were black and blue from when he held her down. He grimaced at the sight of her. Tori thought she was going to be sick when the madman licked her face, complimenting how sweet she tasted. For a second there, she thought she was going to die. There was no doubt in her mind. Then, suddenly, she was whisked away from him and in these woods.
Whatever was going on, Tori was confident this was a nightmare. And she was far from in control. And she needed to wake up soon.
Doctor Phelps studied the unconscious Latina's wrists, puzzled.
"You're sure nobody else came in this room?" the man asked Jade.
She folded her arms, "No one! Besides, who the hell would want to hurt her?"
"Well, miss, even if Tori here wasn't comatose; these wounds were certainly NOT self-inflicted." He pointed to Tori's arms and Tracy looked closer. Being a child of abuse and being around others in similar situations, she had to agree with the doctor. "See the markings? Clearly they were done by somebody in front of her, probably trying to hold her down."
"But that's ludicrous," Tracy retorted. "Who would..."
"I know," a familiar voice grabbed Jade's attention. They all looked and standing in the doorway was Beck Oliver of all people.
"What are you doing here?" Jade barked at the Canadian.
"Who's he?" Tracy asked.
"Nobody," Jade lifted her head up high. "Just an ex-boyfriend."
Tracy turned to Jade. "But I thought you were..."
"It was eighth grade; I was...confused."
"Son," the doctor adjusted his glasses. "You said may know who could have done this?"
Beck nodded, "I might. See, Tori and Jade have been known to...not get along."
Jade's eyes widened with hellfire aimed directly at Beck.
"If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting," Tracy warned.
"And who are you?" Beck asked Tracy.
"If you must know," she sneered. "I am Jade's older sister."
Beck squinted. "I didn't know she had a sister."
"You don't know much do you, wonder-boy?" Tracy folded her arms, smirking.
Beck cleared his throat. "Lookit, I didn't come here to be insulted. I was just trying to shed some light on..."
"BULLSHIT!" Jade held up her hand. "You're just being bitter, as usual."
"What do you mean?" Tracy asked.
"I broke up with Beck because I was having feelings for Tori and I decided it wasn't fair for him, so I tried to do the right thing. Problem was he tried to rebound on Tori, not realizing she was the one I wanted to be with. So he got humiliated twice that day. I felt bad for him and I regretted it but I moved on. He hadn't."
"Hey, Tracy" Beck addressed the blonde. "Did your darling little sis tell you about when she first met Tori? How she poured coffee on her head? Or how about the time she faked a fight so that Tori would get detention? This was my favorite. Tori was in the hospital giving blood and Jade here stole it to keep her at the hospital to stop her from playing the lead in a show."
"That's ridiculous!" Tracy barked. She turned to Jade whose face was downcast. "Really? You did that shit? And they said I was a bad kid," she chuckled.
"Again," Jade's voice broke. "I regret what I have done and I think I did my best to make it up to her so far."
Tracy put her arm around Jade, bringing her close. "I know, kiddo" Tracy kissed her on the head. "We all make mistakes."
"Please leave," Jade commanded Beck, teary-eyed.
"Tori is my friend, too..."
"I think she just told you to leave" Tracy interjected. "I suggest you do."
Beck sighed and turned to leave.
Tracy looked at the doctor. "Hey, listen; that guy was barking up the wrong tree. I saw these two last night," Tracy lifted Jade's head up. "She wouldn't do anything to someone she cared about. Trust me, I know the type."
"Okay," he responded. "Now, I have to go and do my rounds. Doctor Chapman will be along later to check up on Tori."
"Thanks," Tracy told him.
"Thank you" Jade added.
Later that day Cat, Robbie and Andre returned with balloons, cards and other "get well" gear.
"How's she holding up?" Robbie asked.
Jade sighed. "She hasn't gone anywhere." Even Jade West was too emotionally and physically exhausted to be sarcastic.
Cat froze at the sight of Tori's wrists. "What happened?" she pointed.
"Those?" Jade asked. "I don't know. Hey, did you guys see anything weird. Anybody acting strange?"
The three of them shook their heads. Jade huffed in frustration.
"I saw Beck's car leaving," Andre said. "He came to visit?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"I don't know what got into him," Cat shrugged. "He used to be cool; now he's just a big jerk."
Jade saw that Trina was awake and went over to her.
"How you doing?" she asked.
Trina winced in pain. "I'll live. Look, I know we've haven't gotten along before but I really do appreciate you staying with Tori." She noticed Jade was wearing the same clothes. "You stayed all night?"
Jade nodded.
Trina smiled, "Thank you."
"Beck came by earlier," Jade said.
"Where is he?" Trina asked excitedly.
"I sent him packing."
Trina looked offended "Oh, Why?"
"I don't know why you waste your time trying to win him over. He's a complete douche these days."
Trina sighed and pouted.
"Don't worry," Jade patted Trina's leg. "You'll figure it out one day and I'll be there to say I told you so."
Trina stuck her tongue out. Jade smiled and pulled out a pair of her favorite scissors.
"Do that again and I'm keeping it."
About an hour later, Tracy returned with some food for the gang from a nearby burger joint. Everybody was hesitant about the hospital food.
"Thanks," Trina said while sipping a milkshake. "Who are you, by the way?"
"Oh, right" Tracy extended her hand. "Name's Tracy; I'm Jade's sister."
Trina shut her eyes and groaned. "Man, how long was I asleep?"
Tori's heart monitor was spiking, sending out loud beeps. A light flashed in the hallway as doctors and nurses rushed in to assist her.
"What's going on?" Jade asked, scared.
"Just everyone stand back. Her pulse is racing like crazy."
Jade covered her mouth, watching a long cut form on the outside of her thigh. Her eyes practically sprang out of her head.
One of the nurses produced a syringe. "This should calm her down."
"Do it," the doctor ordered.
In that really long minute, the beeps got quieter and fewer in-between.
"That's better," the doctor remarked.
"Tracy," Jade nudged her sister.
She leaned in close "What is it?"
"I just saw something. It's...not possible."
"What?" Tracy pressed.
"I just saw Tori get a cut...out of nowhere. Like an invisible knife or someth-"
Tracy grabbed Jade by the shoulders and almost shook her silly.
"You're sure?" the blonde asked the brunette.
"I wouldn't believe it either but I know it happened because I fucking saw it." Her tone was deathly serious.
The sisters looked at the helpless girl in the bed.
"She's in trouble," Jade said. "I can feel it."
"Jade." Tracy swallowed before continuing. "Come with me; where we can talk privately. There's something you need to know."