There's another chapter. Who's surprised?
me.
Thanks to those who followed and favourited and whatever else.
Special thanks to DorkyMonster707 for giving me a direction to go in.
Reviews are appreciated.
-0-
When Ms. Green had told Lucy they would be going into town, she was ecstatic. Her mother had told her all about the joys of shopping; trying clothes on, walking away quietly when they were too expensive, then buying them anyway. To Lucy it sounded fairly normal.
Now that she was walking around in the stuffy shopping centre, she found she didn't enjoy the experience as much as she would have liked too. She was positive, though, that it had something to do with the fact that she was still handcuffed to Jellal.
Ms. Green had said that Lucy would need to buy clothes, which was easier said than done. Because her right, dominant, hand had been immobilised for the past week, Lucy found it particularly difficult to try on shirts.
Or wear them for that matter.
Sleeveless dresses had become her favourite choice. But, as Ms. Green had so politely reminded her, winter was approaching. Which meant that dresses were not going to be suitable to wear.
Which meant Lucy was stuck with Jellal's constant commentary.
While Lucy was only able to try one sleeve on, Erza had been the kindest person she had ever known. Despite the fact that Jellal's hand flopped uselessly when she wore the clothes, she still managed to try on as much as possible.
"You look like a rejected clown." She looked down at the red long-sleeved shirt, her right arm sticking out of the neck hole. She sighed.
"Maybe I do, Jellal. But," She said slowly, arching her neck against the fabric. "Does it look like I care about your opinion?"
"I'm just saying what everyone is thinking." He smirked.
She looked at Erza for reassurance. The redhead stayed silent, even having the audacity to look away. "Erza…"
"You'd look fine, it's just," Erza paused, "your arm."
"Well why don't both of you go and voice your complaints to Ms. Green."
Lucy huffed and retreated into the change room. She picked her blue sundress off the floor and hastily put it over her head, slapping Jellal's hand along the way. She stormed out of the small cubicle, dragging Jellal away.
"Let's go."
They were in the car, her and Jellal in the very back. She kept her eyes forward, tapping her fingers horrendously on the drink holder. Jellal was stealing glances at her and she did the best she could to ignore him. She stared at the back of Ms. Green's head, not sparing him a glance. Her tapping increased. "Spit it out."
He looked away from her, staring at the road instead. He seemed contemplative, his right hand scratching behind his ear ever so often. She turned to him emotionlessly, watching him run his tongue over his teeth.
"Christmas is comin', bud."
He glared at her before staring straight ahead again.
"Look if we're gonna keep going in this same cycle–"
"Are you OK?" he asked, still not looking at her. She stared at him mouth agape, not in shock, but in disgust and disappointment.
Lucy rolled her eyes, "Oh, gee, what do you think, kiddo?"
He turned to her glaring. "The one time I try to be nice–"
"Oh, yeah, you're doin' a great job. I can't wait until you meet your wife!" she yelled, "Good thing Erza's already used to your bullshit." She didn't realise the silence of the car. "That's if your marriage lasts more than three days!"
"At least I'll be married!" he yelled back.
"Oh, and I won't?" she asked just as harshly.
"No! No one will ever want to marry someone like you!"
"And what's that supposed to mean, smart guy?"
"You're too dumb to understand!"
"I think I might just shock you!"
"I think you won't." Lucy glared,
"Stop changing the subject, I wanna know!"
Jellal's face was red, his eyes wide, he honestly, to Lucy, looked like he was about to explode. "Would you stop with all the beating around the bush, it's really annoying."
"No one likes you!" he yelled, she clamped her mouth shut.
She pushed him too far.
"How in the world do you expect someone to love you?"
Ms. Green slammed on the breaks.
Lucy stared at Jellal as though he had stabbed her. Her eyes watered.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" The silence in the car made Lucy's stomach churn. "I'M SICK OF THIS ANGER BETWEEN YOU BOTH! I understand that you might not particularly like each other, BUT, that DOES NOT mean I will accept the arguments!"
"She started it!" Lucy scoffed, glaring at Jellal, her tears seeming to vanish.
"How did I start it?"
"You provoked me!" Jellal yelled.
"You provoked ME in the store!"
Ms. Green mumbled something, shaking her head, looking like she was about to actually cry. They quietened again. "Get out." she said.
"What?"
"Get out of my car." She was calm, which Lucy found much more terrifying. "Get out of my car. Right. Now."
When she and Jellal managed to get out of the seven-seater they stood on the side of the road, staring at Ms. Green guiltily.
"I will be back tomorrow." Jellal gaped at her. Lucy's eyes were wide. "You are both going to be around each other for a while." she said slowly. She pushed softly on the accelerator. "Learn to appreciate each other."
Then Ms. Green sped away. Lucy stared at the spot the car was, the dirt still settling.
"Did she just…" Jellal trailed off. She nodded slowly.
That night was particularly cold. Lucy and Jellal had managed to create a small bed of various leaves. An attempt at a fire was futile, and their efforts rewarded them with nothing but coughing fits. They were laying on the ground, close enough that their wrists weren't pulled painfully, but still not touching.
Lucy was staring at the sky, it was cloudy and dark, and there was only a brief light where the moon was. She wasn't sure if Jellal had fallen asleep, she didn't check; she didn't care. The wind was torturous and loud, practically howling, she knew she wasn't going to be sleeping.
Her eyes would shut briefly before she peeled them back open. She stared at the sky, still searching for stars.
Her eyes drifted close once more.
The Black Witch held her mother around the shoulders, smiling sweetly.
Lucy sat still, her piercing, green eyes rooting her to her spot.
The knife in The Black Witch's hand glinted in the light, pressing softly against her mother's throat.
"We're going to play a game, Lucy." The Black Witch said. "Do you wanna play?"
Lucy shook her head, hypnotised.
"But I think you do," she creeped closer, without moving an inch. "After all you have the most important job."
Lucy shook her head.
"All you need to do," she whispered, "Is count back from ten."
Lucy couldn't control herself, she tried pinching herself, she scratched at her arm trying to wake. She tried screaming, but her voice started counting slowly, delaying the inevitable. She closed her eyes, yet she could still see.
"2," Her voice shook.
The Black Witch smiled, "Say goodbye, Lucy."
"1,"
The knife dug deep.
Lucy stared at the sky, tears rolling softly down her cheeks; she made no attempt to discard of them. She could hear Jellal's quiet mumbles and his soft snores, the heavy breath he would take, the deep exhale that followed.
It was oddly relaxing.
After time though, Jellal's calming sleep turned into something else. First he started twitching, it turned to pulling yanking her wrist painfully. She tugged it back, trying to relieve the pressure, only to add more. She hissed in pain, and was sure her skin had broken at the rather rough yank. Jellal settled some and she rolled back over; her right arm twisted under her in a strange position.
"…Er…za…No…" Lucy rolled back over. Jellal's face was pale, sweat clinging to his forehead and hair. Lucy's eyes widened as he started to convulse. His hands clenched and unclenched, he tugged harder on the handcuffs.
"Jellal." She whispered. Her mother had always warned her not to wake someone up from a nightmare, but Lucy couldn't watch him.
It was painful.
She knew they weren't on the friendliest of terms, but she didn't hate him. "Jellal," She shook his shoulder; he shook more. "Jellal, wakeup," she said more urgently, "It's just a dream."
He whimpered in pain. "…run…" he mumbled, eyebrows furrowing.
She grasped both of his shoulders, sitting up and hovering over him slightly. "Jellal!" she yelled, eyes watering. "WAKE UP!" her voice echoed throughout the trees. "IT'S JUST A DR–"
Her voice cut off and she stared into his eyes, his hand wrapped tightly around her throat. She gasped scratching and clawing at his hand. "…JE…Lal…!" His eyes gleamed ferociously, and for a second she just stared, her struggle futile.
And then he leg go; the only thing allowing them to touch was the handcuffs. She gasped, getting back the air he stole. She looked up, rubbing her throat, still gasping. She looked at Jellal; he was staring down at his hands; unbelieving.
"You OK?" she asked, heaving. She looked up, breathing deeply, opening her airways. She still managed to see him nod.
"You?" he asked.
"I've been better."
"…sorry."
Lucy stayed silent, staring at the all too familiar stars. Watching them dim ad brighten every few seconds. "…Do you want to talk about it."
Jellal lay back down, staring up. "Not really."
"Nightmare?" Lucy asked, laying down, both of their hands laying across their waists.
"You too?"
"Most nights." She tapped her fingers on the dirt lightly.
"Guess we're not so different after all." Jellal said.
"Sure seems that way." She whispered. She rolled onto her stomach, wincing when the handcuffs dug into her wrist. She pulled her arm up, twisting it so Jellal was still comfortable. Her wrist was bruised, cuts around the outside and inside of the joint. She squinted in the almost dark light.
"What are yours about?" Jellal whispered.
"What are yours about?" She asked back. Jellal was silent, and Lucy left him be, not expecting an answer anyway. She closed her eyes briefly.
"The Tower of Heaven." He said, his voice bitter, "The place they take unwanted kids."
He was looking up at the sky, his tattoo the only clear thing she could see. She gulped, her voice caught. "Every night I see my mother die." The words she spoke were raw and wounded, she practically felt Jellal's surprise. Jellal was silent, she supposed he was thinking of a reply.
She didn't need his pity.
"I don't remember mine."
Lucy blinked, nodding. "Blessing or a curse?"
"Who knows?"
The sun started to peak over the trees, casting eerie shadows on the dirt. The birds were soon chirping, flying madly, and Lucy just watched; mesmerised. "Do you believe in the different types of beauty?"
"What?" Jellal asked.
"The different types of beauty." She said again. "Breathtaking beauty, pure beauty, mysterious beauty." She looked at him, smiling sadly, "Dark beauty… unknown beauty." She stared at her wrist, looking intently at the cuts, "Tragic beauty?" she looked back at him
He frowned. "I guess so." Lucy nodded.
"I thought you might."
By the time the sun had fully risen and the birds and animals had calmed, Lucy and Jellal were sitting by the side of the road. They both had seemingly forgotten about the lack of warmth in the air and were now openly shivering. The occasional car would drive past, slowing slightly around the steep corners.
Lucy wasn't sure how long she had actually been sitting before Ms. Green's white mini-van came spluttering along the road. The old woman pulled over, her face grim. Simon was in the front seat, Erza in the back. Ms. Green stared them down. "Are you gettin' in?"
Lucy opened the sliding door, stepping up slightly and then crouching before she found her seat. Jellal sat next to her and Ms. Green started driving again. Lucy looked up; the old hag stared at her through the rear-view mirror.
"Is everything OK?" Lucy asked. Ms. Green pursed her lips.
"I gotta call yesterday." She started, "A man's interested in adopting two kiddies." Lucy's breath seemed to leave her.
"And…?" she said.
"You and Jellal will be meeting with him tomorrow."
So Lucy swore. Ms. Green's psycho. And Jellal and Lucy will be meeting a potential adopter.
Don't judge me.
Shtuff will actually start happening now. YAY!
Hope you enjoyed the chapter
Reviews are appreciated.
Until next time :)
~MyFictionalFantasy