*MAGGIE*

Self-Revelation

Maggie sighed quietly and snuggled deeper into her sleeping bag, starring up at the in the darkness hidden ceiling. Only quiet puffs of air, streaming out of the sleeping bodies around her, stirred the silence consistently.

Like expected the party had been horrible. At least for her. Nerve-wracking, really. And the worst part? It wasn't over! Why did there have to be a sleep over?

At least Lena wasn't sleeping next to Bianca. It had been enough that Bianca had sat on the floor leaned against the couch while Lena sat on the couch behind her stroking her hair, shoulders and neck way too often. In her condition, Bianca should have been the one sitting on the couch anyway. But it didn't seem like she cared. Maggie did though.

Well, now Bianca lay on the folded out couch. With Babe. The two pregnant girls naturally getting first dibs on the only sleeping furniture in the empty house while the rest of them lay around them on the floor.

She felt Jamie turn next to her. He shifted closer, huddling against her side. His nose bumped against her jaw, his breath warming her skin. Maggie smiled and patted his head, her fingers running through blond fluffy hair. She was sworn to secrecy that he was the biggest cuddler in the world.

She loved him really. Just not that way. Or why was that damn skin crawling longing running through her, craving to be the one lying next to the sweet brunette on the couch? She used to be.

Soon she never would have the opportunity again. Bianca had her own house. Bianca would spend more and more time away from her. She would be more and more with Lena. Alone. The life she knew slipped through her fingers. Her world was changing and she couldn't do anything to stop it.

With a tear in her eye, she finally drifted into sleep.

The air was sticky and it was hard to breath with the high humidity hanging in the air. She had to get out of the rising sun. The jungle surrounding her wouldn't do. And anyway she had to get into that temple. The artifact had to be inside.

She quickly skipped over the worn pale-golden sandstone slabs, plants overgrowing them here and there.

The majestic temple which towered over her came nearer and soon she reached the ruinous stairs which led inside.

She climbed them up, sweat trickling down her face.

A piercing shriek of an exotic bird cut through the air, making her jerk in surprise.

She turned around, shielding her eyes with her palm from the sun while she scanned the clearing behind her.

She had to hurry. She was not the only one wanting the golden trophy.

Casting a last glance over her shoulder, she tugged at the collar of her shirt, pulling it up to wipe her sweaty face on the khaki fabric before entering the temple.

Slowly and carefully she tiptoed through the inside of the temple. It was cool and the further she got inside the cooler and shadier it was. That was okay, though, coming from the heat outside. It was pleasant really.

Only the unknown bothered her, but it was worth it. She just had to mind her steps. The terrain she trod was dangerous. There were many traps in this old structure which many others before her had succumbed to. But she wouldn't fall for them. She would persist and in the end prevail. She learned more and more it was about patience. She just had to find the right moment to push forward into the heart of the temple.

As she climbed through a whole into a small passage whispers reached her ears.

"Go."

"Go."

"Go."

Her body suddenly craved for affection.

"She's coming."

"Go."

"She'll take it away."

Rustling of strips of paper came to her ear. It got louder and a cheer echoed through the walls.

Her breath hitched in fear. She dashed through the passage, landing in the trophy room of her high school. She looked around, Frankie's face was staring at her from the team picture of the softball squad. The figure on the picture began to smile as if having waited on her and pointed behind her.

She turned, following her twin's finger. There in the middle of the room it was. On a pedestal stood the big golden cup she had longed for. It was beautiful. Precious. A little figurine sat on the top, dancing, twirling around her own axis.

She smiled watching her spin like in trance. She wanted to go and hold the trophy in her arms. Call it her own. But she could just stare. Mesmerized. She didn't want to touch and break it.

The hair on her neck began to tickle and it stood up, a shudder running down her spine. The room darkened and there was that rustling again.

Shake. Shake. Rustle. Rustle.

Double doors got pushed open, the neon light shining in from the hallway suddenly being the only one brightening the room. It was blinding really.

A black silhouette appeared in the door frame, the light shining into her eyes making it hard to identify the person.

Tall. A skirt. Short hair. A pompom in each hand.

It was the cheerleader. She came to take the trophy.

She looked at the golden cup standing on the pedestal between them and suddenly realized that it was a cheerleading trophy. But she was no cheerleader. Even if she wanted to, she was not qualified to get it.

The cheerleader stepped nearer, and with shock she recognized her as being Lena.

Purposefully Lena strode to the twinkling prize in the middle of the room and the only thing she could do was watch like looking in through a window on something she could never have.

Lena reached out for the trophy.

Her eyes widened as the cheerleader's fingertips brushed the golden cup and it began to transform into a woman. The cup's body stretched, arms and legs springing from its sides. The top shifted into a sweet heart shaped face, long dark brown hair sprouting on its crown. At last the golden color paled into a creamy white tone.

Bianca.

Her heart hammered painful in her chest as she watched Lena pick Bianca up from the pedestal.

Suddenly the ground began to shake, stones broke from the ceiling, raining down on them. It had to be one of the traps. The temple was falling apart. She watched the cheerleader carry Bianca away, running from the danger and running from her.

She couldn't let her get away. She sprinted after them, weaving her way through ruinous halls and passageways, dirt and stones falling down on her. But she was too slow. She only could watch the cheerleader fly away in a helicopter, her prize safe.

Or so she thought until lightening stroke, crashing into the helicopter's rotor, sending it down, two figures jumping outside.

She was outside of the temple again. The high humidity was killing her. She barely was able to breath in the heat though the wild jungle enclosed her, shielding her from the evening sun. But she had to go on. She could not let her down. She had to save her. Alone she would be engulfed by the darkness.

Lena had tried to flee, but her helicopter had crashed. Once again they both were on the search while Bianca was lost in the jungle.

But she had to get to her first. She had to get her this time. If she would let the cheerleader get to her she would die in her hands. Lena couldn't take care of Bianca like she could. Lena wasn't good enough either. She would ruin her. She would hurt her. She had in the past. Bianca was her everything. No one could take her away from her. Especially not Lena.

Her ears perked up as she heard a crack in the woods. Was it her competition?

A deadly silence settled around her, her senses on high alert as suddenly everything became clear.

She reached for the holsters strapped to her hips and thighs, her fingers brushing over the cold handles of her double guns.

Kill the Cheerleader, Save your World.

A mischievous smile curled up her sleeping form's lips.