Thanks to Mirani...I hope I spelled that right, I realised I made a geographical error in the last chapter. Thanks for that mention by the way. So sorry for that but I really wasn't thinking that accurately by the looks of it. Thanks for the review as well. As for Domino's family, they'll be mentioned again because it still isn't clear why she left home in the first place and it is a key moment in her life.
To anyone who has realised, I have deleted my other Code Lyoko fics. Personally, the reason I did is because they just aren't that good, in fact they're probably terrible and I'd rather put stories on here that reflect me now rather than when I started and let's be completely honest, I had a lot to learn and I had to grow up as well. It's fair to say I probably still do but just not as much.
If anyone wants to know what Domino looks like, I'll give a description here. She has short blonde hair, green eyes, moon pale white skin and she is just about the same height as Aelita. Domino normally wears a pair of boy shorts and a short T-shirt.
Chapter Six is based on episode four which is the whole thing with the diary. I've added a few extra things in there for Domino around it. Something is shown about Domino hence the chapter name being 'Fear Factor' and it isn't going to be that recurring or a massive revelation but it will come up again. The ending does hint to some small changes in her though.
So I'll stop there and let you read on. Review plese either good or bad. I hope to hear what you think. I don't own anything from Code Lyoko apart from the OCs created for this particular story and others that I have written over the years
Enjoy!
Chapter Six: Fear Factor
'7:00 am, the usual morning line-up'. I make my bed and get dressed so I can go down to the lunchroom and get something to eat. I'm only going to get a crossiant and some hot chocolate. I should get down there quick or Odd will eat everything in sight.
Odd has to eat the most amount of food than anyone else I have ever met in my life. It's enough to put me off my own food. I lost count of how much food that he had got through in a short timeframe. Ulrich isn't coming down because he had to look for something. I'm not entirely sure what it is but the others don't really know either.
"Eight slices of toast and three bananas, not bad huh?" Odd says.
That needs no answer. I shake my head in disbelief but not surprised as that is typical Odd. Jeremie doesn't respond either but is focused more on the book he is reading.
"Are you missing gym again, Jeremie?" I ask.
"Yep, it gives me time to work on Aelita's materlisation." Jeremie confirms.
Jeremie cuts gym class all the time but I can't get away with that as much as him. It may be because I cut more than just the one class and Jeremie is a overly-gifted student so I think the teachers are more leniant on him than me who is above average but not excellent.
The three of us meet Yumi in the courtyard when she arrives for school. There's still no sigh of Ulrich which is strange. Normally, Ulrich is before the rest of us. It isn't hard to see why because we all know that they like each other but neither of them have admitted it to each other. I don't know why because it is obvious.
"Hey, it's Ulrich." Yumi spots.
"What's he doing with the Ice Queen?" I wonder.
We turn around seeing Ulrich and Sissi sitting on the steps at the door of the lunchroom. There is something definitely wrong with this picture. Ulrich can't stand her like the rest of us so what is going on? We're all even more surprised by the two of them acting like...well, a very uncomfortable couple from Ulrich's perspective.
It doesn't stop there either. Ulrich is even sitting next to Sissi during math class. This is definitely not normal and we all can see that. Although I think Odd is slightly enjoying this because it's making Herve jealous which admittely is normally good to see.
"I'm seeing things. Ulrich and Sissi, that's weird." Odd echoes.
After class is over, Odd literally drags Sissi away from Ulrich much to his relief but questions still need to be answered. Jeremie and I wait behind the wall as we need some answers. As much as I don't want to be involved, Ulrich wouldn't be bothering with Sissi unless she had something over him which eventually leads back to us.
"Do you want to explain what is wrong with this picture?" I ask.
Odd's keeping Sissi busy for as long as he can in the arches. We have to make this quick because Sissi won't tolerate Odd for long.
"Okay,here goes. I'm in a jam,big time. For years, I've been keeping a diary." Ulrich starts.
"A what?" Jeremie asks.
"A diary! Sissi found it and now she's blackmailing me, I have to go out with her. If she thinks, she can win me over that way, she's wrong."
"In this diary, did you write about Xana and Lyoko or Domino?" Jeremie asked.
"Yeah, I don't know what to do."
So I have to be involved now, I'm still grateful that Ulrich at this point doesn't know that much about me. Although, what is written in that diary still reveals things about me that no-one else can know. Lyoko is something important that should stay hidden but at the most even if it was found out, it will be shut down. As for me, it would be a whole different story.
"Don't worry, Ulrich. While you guys are at the pool, Yumi and I will have a look around, we'll find your diary."
I would have stayed behind but I'm still on a warning and being on the radar means I can't take chances. The warning will go at some point but not for a few more weeks. While boarding the bus, Jim stands like he's king but only of the gym.
"Look at this, Odd. This bus is modern, electric and powerful too." Jim boasts sounding too confident.
"Modern and powerful, huh? I bet this crate goes as fast as a snail."Odd responds.
I giggle under my breath because knowing Jim's luck, Odd is probably right about the speed of this thing. Ulrich is still playing pretences with Sissi whilst Odd and I keep on hoping that Yumi will find that diary.
Even after the bus sets off, we're not going that fast. Maybe Odd's comment about the speed of this bus was a little too accurate, there's something wrong here. Odd can tell as well so he decides to phone Jeremie about it.
"We are going at the top speed of two miles an hour." Odd states over the phone.
The driver himself doesn't even know what's wrong. Suddenly, the bus starts to take off going a lot faster. This is stating to have the signs of a Xana attack. Why is he attacking a bus though? It can't be good. It never is.
"What's wrong with this bus?" I ask.
"Darn, kid. I wish I knew." The driver responds just as lost as all of us.
"It was fine before you recharged the batteries." Ulrich realises.
Xana must have used that as charge to take control of the bus. We're not going to have an easy time of it if we're trapped on here. It's even worse for me. Both Ulrich and I decide to go for the go-between for Jeremie.
"We're in trouble, Xana has complete control of the bus." Ulrich told Jeremie.
"We're at the corner of Washington street and Franklin avenue." I add over my phone.
"Looks like we're in for a rough ride." Ulrich says.
"And Aelita is gonna need help on Lyoko." Odd responds.
"Only one of us need to go." I sigh unknowingly paniked.
"Then you go, we'll stay." Ulrich decides.
Odd opens the bus door and jumps out into the street. I hope I don't regret staying because I can feel my heart start to race already. I'm already regretting not going and it's only been a few seconds. The bus picks up more speed running through two cars and keeps on going to a location that I have no idea about. I let out a deep sigh feeling more and more trapped. I put my hand on my head feeling overwhelmed. I can't let it get the best of me.
"Are you okay, Domino?" Ulrich asks.
"I can manage Xana attacks but not this. It's unbeliveable really." I shake my head.
It's another cryptic message I just said but it isn't hard to work out why I'm flustered. In fact, it could be obvious. Then again, this is Ulrich and sometimes you have to spell out everything with him.
"I'm claustrophobic." I confess.
"Why did you stay then?" Ulrich asks.
"Only one of us needed to go like I said."
"You'll be fine, right?"
"Let's just say I'm trying to cope. Once that return in time happens, I'll be fine."
I know that feeling faint is a normal reaction when it comes to a phobia but being claustrophobic hasn't normally affected me this bad. It could be because this time there's a Xana attack happening and that does cause a lot of stress.
Jim has the so-called clever idea to cut the wires so the bus would power down and we can get out. I'm not confident that will work because Xana is clever and has always got a back-up plan. Jim poses falsely trimuphant at the success but the bus is still going as fast as before. I'm not surprised.
"We can't stop it." Jim notices.
"We have no choice. We've got to jump." The Driver decides.
He pushes the button to open the door but the door won't open. By cutting the power, we did Xana a favour as we can't get out and if two of us are dead, there will be less to worry about for him.
"Jim, Jeremie thinks we're heading straight for the petrol chemical plant." Ulrich reveals.
"You mind telling me how he knows that, huh?" Jim questions.
"Trust him, Jim. We'll explain it later." I say.
"Alright, fine." Jim agrees.
I hope I don't have to when that return to the past happens.
"Ulrich?" Sissi calls. "I'm sorry about your diary, it was wrong to take it. Is there anything I can do?"
She actually surprised me a little. Maybe there's more to the Ice Queen than meets the eye. It's just a cover, I suppose. We have something in common there in that sense. Ulrich seems to be just as surprised as me.
"Here. You can be the go-between for Jeremie and me." Ulrich says handing her his phone.
The bus is really starting to pick up the pace and Xana is guaranteed to get to the plant before Aelita can deactivate the tower. The return in time won't save us from death unfortunately. Jim smashes one of the massive windows open having the idea of jumping out.
"Maybe we should make a jump for it. It's better than the petrol chemical plant." Jim suggest.
Given my claustrophobia, I'm almost tempted by that option but then again, common sense seems to be more dominant in my decision making.
"At that speed, we wouldn't survive." I note.
We're going to arrive at the complex in fifteen minutes with a couple of squad cars coming after us because Xana is going over the speed limit unknown to them. I can see the complex in the distance. Hurry up, Aelita!
It's like Xana is playing darts and he's close to hitting the target. We zoom closer and closer to the plant and the bus busts right through the main gate heading to one of the massive chemical holders. I close my eyes as we are seconds away from hitting it! If there was anytime for a miracle, this be it!
The bus stops just...just before we hit anything. I take a hugh sigh of relief and see that white light consume everything. I've never been so grateful for a return to the past.
Odd, Jeremie and I wait in Ulrich's room. Yumi had found the diary among all the chaos that happened before. We were just waiting for Ulrich to get back here.
"I'm glad that attack is over." I sigh.
"Why? What happened on the bus?" Jeremie asks.
It's not very often I express that much relief over a Xana attack attempt being stopped. It isn't the worst thing to have a fear because everyone has them. It reminds me that I am a human being despite spending five years as a virtual one.
"It's a long story. You might find out some other time." I reply.
"That's an improvement." Odd notes.
"How so?" I ask.
"You didn't say 'classified'."
No, I didn't. Maybe...it could be...
Ulrich heads back nto the room with diary in hand much to our pleasure.