Jeremie: Part 2

"Jer, you do realize that if we don't call the police or something and tell them about Yumi that we could get in huge trouble if they find out that we didn't call, right?" Odd asked as Jeremie typed furiously on the computer in front of him.

"Odd, why don't you go back up to entrance and call them? I'll talk to Jeremie. Just call when you get done calling them, so that we know when to shut off the elevator, alright?" Aelita asked, looking from Odd to Jeremie and back.

Odd sighed and went towards the elevator, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to hold it in, Princess. We don't need you going into a state like Jeremie. I know you're upset. I have to act like this, because I have to keep the two of you sane. So, don't hold it in."

Aelita watched as he walked off, the unshed tears stinging at the corners of her eyes, but as soon as she turned toward Jeremie again she brushed them away and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "Jeremie, you didn't fail anyone. Xana's just gotten stronger and smarter, it seems."

"She's dead, Aelita. If I had been more vigilant with things and not let Ulrich's strange behavior slide like I did then maybe she would still be here. This isn't fair. She didn't have to die…." Jeremie said, his voice getting to more and more of a whisper as he spoke.

"Look at me, Jeremie. This isn't your fault. None of us saw this coming. If it's one person's fault then it's all of our faults. There is no way that I'm going to allow you to take all the blame if you insist on placing blame. None of us gave a second thought to Ulrich's strange behavior and we don't know for sure that it was him anyway. When I got here he wasn't even here and I doubt you saw him either. Don't beat yourself up, you have no reason to."

"Aelita, through everything Yumi's seemed like an older sister to me…. Think about it…. If I'd never found Lyoko-"

"Then you would have never met me or even became friends with Ulrich, Odd, and Yumi. You and I both know that the best thing for both of us is that you found the supercomputer and were able to do the materialization process. If you hadn't then things would have been pretty bad for you anyways. Don't focus on all the bad that's come out of this. Yumi was a strong person and I doubt that she died without giving a fight. Plus, you know that she would have done anything for us. Did you ever think that maybe it was her choice to be killed so that she could save us? Or that she decided to be killed, risking her own life, so we had a chance to do something?"

Odd stood away from Yumi and William feeling helpless. The older boy was racked with sobs, crying out for Yumi. He hadn't even been able to bring himself to call the police yet.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner, Yumi…." William whispered, trying to gather himself back together.

It didn't take long for Odd to decide to approach the ebony haired teen and place a shaky hand on his shoulder. "William?"

The older teen turned to him, wiping the tears from his eyes quickly and feigning a smile; clearly thinking that Odd wasn't there the whole time.

"Aelita came by and asked me to call the police to let them know what's up. Do you want to call instead?" Odd asked, removing his hand from the other boy.

"Yeah, I can do it. Then you, Aelita, and Jeremie should head back to the school. They're going to go crazy with all of you not being there," he told him as he pulled out his phone.

"One of the Einsteins has to be here to lock the elevator so that if the police try it they can't get down to the computer lab. So only two of us can go back and it'll be Aelita and me if anyone does go back," Odd told him moving away and calling Aelita to update her on what was going on while William called the police.

Ulrich stared up at the ceiling of the room he shared with Odd Della Robbia.

That was a job well done. Our next target is the blond genius. He needs to be eliminated before he figures anything else out and brainwashes you again. Understood?

Understood, sir. Should I keep a watch on them first and act as if things are normal between us or just ignore them?

Keep acting as if things are normal, because until Jeremie is eliminated you acting abnormally to them would arouse suspicion.

I don't remember being friends with them, but you say we were and they act like it. Why is that?

I repressed some of the more… useless memories of yours that you no longer need. You do remember that you willingly agreed to help me, right?

That's not something easily forgotten.

Someone knocked loudly on his door and he opened it to be met with Jim's face. "Why aren't you with the rest of them? Where are the rest of them?"

"My friends? I don't know. They all ditched me to do something else. Which they've been doing a lot lately. Weird, huh? Anyway, classes are over so you have no reason to be bugging me. I was sick earlier today so I stayed in here. You can ask Odd. He'll tell you. Anyway, I have make-up work to do, so if you don't mind?" Ulrich asked, before going to shut the door.

Jim just stood there dumbfounded.

Ulrich laid back down on his bed, going back to staring at the ceiling. He felt the presence of his master leave him.

Is what I'm doing right? As far as I know they never did anything to me to deserve to be killed. Why do I have to kill them, then?

A/N: So Ulrich's not fully under Xana's control, but you'll see as this moves forward. =3

Read and review (please review. =( )!

~MoonlitxAngel