Disclaimer: I don't own the W.I.T.C.H. series. Nor do I own the copyrighted materials mentioned by Silverio.
New Bad Girl in Town: Observations of a TDB
Chapter 3
Despite the obviously friendly atmosphere, Will was finding it hard to say much as these girls were making her nervous. Cornelia, the blonde girl, made her particularly nervous as she was the only one who didn't even try to act nice. She simply kept glaring at the redhead with a look of hostility.
"So Will, tell us more about yourself." Hay Lin chirped change the topic of their conversation hoping to learn about their new friend. Will shifted uncomfortably in her seat, still unsure of what to say. What could she say that she was a recovering drug addict and alcoholic? That she was a whore who had done things she wasn't proud of just for a chance to score her next hit? Sure she was a truly trying to change, but it could never change what she was.
"Who cares about her?" Cornelia all but growled drawing attention away from Will. Will was relieved that she would have to say anything about her past, for the time being. "Has anyone noticed strange things going on around me lately?"
"Oh no, the conversation has drifted away from little Miss Prom Queen, whatever shall we do?" Irma sneered shooting an angry look at the blonde.
"Shove it, Irma." Cornelia said putting her palms on the table and pushing herself up to lean over it getting into the brunette's face.
"Back off, Corny." Irma said pushing herself up to meet the blonde's glare at eye level.
"Don't call me Corny!" Cornelia screeched as she clawed at the table in anger.
"Girls, settle down." Yan Lin said as she walked back in, diffusing the situation between the girls who fell back into their seats. "I have a story that I wish to share with you all."
"Grandma, I'm sure that my friends aren't interested in one of you old fairy tales." Hay Lin whined embarrassed that her grandmother was treating their get together like story time.
Will looked at the woman and wondered what it must be like to have someone, a mother that was interested enough in her and her friend to share stories and advice. Though she'd never know herself since her mother was in worse that she was. Sure Susan may not be a drug addict, but she drank far more than Will and had no shame over how she acted toward men as she seduced them for money, favors, or just for the pleasure of it.
"But this is a special story that I believe will have a special meaning for each of you girls." Yan Lin smiled as she poked the air beside her, creating ripples from her fingertip that filled the room with an image that surrounded them like a hologram. The image was of a beautiful planet, in a beautiful solar system that was clearly not of earth. "The universe, in which we live, is composed of many worlds including the Earth. Long ago the worlds lived in harmony with one another thanks to the help of protectors known as Guardians. But then, a powerful evil began to take root in the Kingdom of Meridian on the world of Metamoor. It had been peaceful, until the corrupt Prince Phobos murdered his own parents in a bid for power. However his sister, the true and rightful heir to the throne was hidden away before he could do away with her as well."
"At the Center of Infinity a decision was made, the Oracle and his followers raised a powerful veil to keep this evil from spreading to other worlds." The girl watched as the planet was covered with strange thorny vines and a purple haze. "This protected our universe but it also separated our worlds preventing travel between other worlds as well."
"Wha-what the hell is going on?" Will asked with a shaky voice at the sight before her.
"I'm getting to that child." Yan Lin said kindly at the redhead, calming her nerves. "The veil has begun to weaken and tears have are starting to form, creating portals that evil may use to spread to our world and eventually others. The time has come for a new generation of protectors to rise up, to close these tears, mend them and stop any evil from leaking through.""
"So what, these warriors," Irma said with a smirk and making air quotes, "Are suppose to mend veil, by what, sewing it shut?"
"No child." Yan Lin laughed with a small smile as the illusion fade. She then pull out a small jeweled necklace from a box. "You will use this, the Heart of Candracar, and with it and it's Keeper, the five of you will transform into Guardians, and use elemental powers much stronger than the abilities that you girls have already discovered. Irma, you have been given control of the element of water."
Irma's eyes widened in surprise hearing what she said, wondering how the old woman could know her secret. Choosing not to hide it Irma pulled her straw from her drink and created a floating trail of soda in the air.
"Taranee, I recall you had a fear of fire do you not?" Yan Lin asked placing a candle before the dark girl. Taranee tentatively raised a finger toward the candle when a small ball of fire appeared and shot forward, missing the candle and hitting the table centerpiece. Irma quickly waved her hand in a haphazard manner the soda in her glass to shot up into the air and douse the flame and much of the table with it.
"My little Hay Lin, I am so proud to know that will carry the mantel of the Guardian of Air that I once held in my youth." Yan Lin held out a folded Chinese paper lantern. Hay Lin took a deep breath and blow a stream of air that fill up the lantern, expanding it to it's proper form and made it float into the air.
"And Cornelia, to you is the power of the very earth itself and all of its flora." Yan Lin then placed a small withered flower before the blonde. Cornelia waved her hand over the plant, causing it to grow several inches and bloom beautifully again before the pot in was in broke open as its roots grew even bigger that the flower itself.
"In time you girl will gain full control of you powers, hopefully." Yan Lin encouraged in a voice that was not quite as confident as she wanted to sound.
"And finally, last but not least…" Yan Lin said as she held the Heart of Candracar out allowing it to float out of her grasp. The Heart floated around the table in front of each girl before stopping by Will where it looped its necklace over Will's head and around her neck. "Will, you shall be the Keeper of the Heart, leader of the Guardians."
"No. You're wrong, you have the wrong girl." Will said with tears gathering in her eyes. How could she be have been chosen to be one of these protectors, a Guardian much less their leader? Didn't Yan Lin know who she was? What she was? "This has to be some kind of mistake…I'm not worthy… I'm not even close to being worthy."
Tears began to fall as she fumbled with the Heart, trying to remove the necklace that she felt was only mocking her. I was supposed to go to someone who could protect people, someone who was important and special, someone who was everything she wasn't. She was just a worthless piece of trash that no one wanted no matter how hard she tried to change her self. The only reason she even bothered to try was for the chance to show up her mother and maybe earn some respect from her, perhaps some proof that she loved her.
"You are worthy child." Yan Lin said resting hand on the redhead's shoulders trying to comfort her, "The Heart has ways of looking into a person's heart, and would not have chosen you unless you were the most worthy of souls. Only in your hands will the heart unite you girls with the source of you powers and unlock your guardian forms." Irma and Hay Lin moved to Will's sides and hugged her and rest their hands upon hers. Taranee nervously moved closer and join her hand with her friends. Cornelia just sat there unsure of what to do as she looked skeptically at Will.
"You know, you shouldn't say such awful things about our new friend." Irma growled with an angrily at Will. Will looked up in fright at what she said only to see the friendly look on the brunette's face. It took her a few seconds to realize that not had Irma been joking about being angry at her, but had called their friend. Though Will knew they wouldn't be if they ever learned everything that she did.
Irma then leaned in for a closer hug and whispered into her ear, "I know everything in your reports Will, I sneaked into my dad's records and read them. I'm sorry if I invaded your privacy but it's not going to scare me away. I still want to be your friend and I'll keep this a secret from the other if you want. But I won't let you push me away."
"Wh-what?" Will asked upset that this girl had invaded her privacy, but surprised that she didn't seem to care about her past. Did she really want to be friends with her?
"You heard me missy." Irma said pulling away and grinned at Will. "We're going to be friends no matter what you do."
Will smiled back. Maybe this was real, and maybe she finally had a real friend.
"Wow, isn't this a sweet occasion. Didn't I tell you, you'd find a real friend if you gave people a chance? Bet you're glad you didn't settle for an ass like me?" Everyone turned to the door to find a stranger standing there.
"What are you doing here? How did you get in here?" Yan Lin questioned upset that someone may have learned the secrets she had intended only for the girls.
"Me?" Silver responded, "I'm just eavesdropping, okay spying actually but that's hardly important. I just couldn't resist saying how glad I am that things have been started out so well with you girls. And while I am at it I'd like to thank you Ms. Lin for that informative exposition of the situation that the girl are now apart of, it would have taken quite some time to piece together all that info through more conventional investigations."
"Who are you?" Yan Lin asked. "Who are you spying for? Are you and agent of Phobos?"
"Who? Oh that patricidal dude that took over that kingdom." Silver replied, "Naw, I'm more of an observing third party. I suppose you could say I'm spying for my dad but really once my reports gets archived I doubt anyone will actually read them. As for whom I am…"
"Silver." Will said as he looked at her, directing everyone's toward her. "Silver did you… did you know about this? Did you know about all this stuff, the guardians, and Ms. Lin and these girls?"
"Well no, I didn't see the guardian thing coming. That really has me disappointed in myself." Silver began rambling and pacing before the girls, "I can't believe I didn't realize that this was a champion system. I mean I get here, sense five targets with elevated power levels and energy signatures distinctly different from the rest of the people in the world; all five of you are in the same town, your all girls."
"Honestly, how did I not see you were part of a champion system? It's so obvious that you're all magical girls. I mean I've seen enough champion systems to recognize them, Power Rangers, Ronin Warriors, the Charmed Ones, the Knights of Tir Na Nog, the Avatar, the Mighty One, the Dragon Booster, even the Sailor Scouts that my parents told me about. All pre-established systems where individuals fill in the roles to "champion" their world and protect it from evil."
"Wait, what were we talking about?" Silver snapped out of his rant with a confused look on his face. "Oh right, now I remember. No, I didn't know about this stuff Will, but really I should have. There were enough clues for me to have at least suspected this."
"You still haven't explained who you are and why you were spying on us." Yan Lin demanded.
"Will already told you my name and I already said I'm a third party to all this." Silver pointed out. "As for why I'm spying, you might as well ask me what the meaning of life is, what's the purpose if it all. I mean why bother spying on you girls? Not like I can really use the information. I'm not allowed to do anything that may drastically affect the world on a global scale."
"But if you want an answer here's the best I can offer…" Silver opened his mouth then shut it with another confused look on his face. His eyes darted around the room as he seemed to contemplate what he was going to say until he final anwered. "Boredom I guess."
"That's not an answer!" Yan Lin said as the girl fell flat at the underwhelming statement.
"Sorry, I had a better answer on the tip of my tongue but I lost it. It's just, we're freaking bored. I mean we're not heroes, we're not villains, and we're not allowed to be politicians or world leaders or the like. We just move from world to world finding people of significances and analyzing why they're so important. People like the girls here, why were they chosen, how will they affect the world, and how will the experience affect them? Seeing the answers unfold through their adventure is the closest thing to entertainment we have. Aside from TV and video games and books, movies, equations, fighting, training, invent… what I mean is this occupies more of our mind and our time than anything else."
"I don't believe you." Yan Lin replied, "You said you move through different worlds, but ever since the veil was raised no one has been able to travel between the worlds. How could move from one world to another with veil up."
Silver stood there with a deadpan look on his face. He then reached out beside himself and grasped the air, turning his hand as though he was turning the knob of a door. A void appears before everyone as he pulled on a once invisible doorknob. There Silver stood holding open a door that had not been there a moment before, its hinge connected to the edge of a door-shaped opening in the air leading into a soft glowing blue void that seemed empty except for an identical door a few feet from the threshold.
Everyone was stunned at the sight, even Yan Lin who could not believe that a portal could have opened up in her own home with such ease. Carefully she inspected the doorway and poked her head in to see for herself that it was real. Looking around the void seemed to expand forever in all directions, including down as there didn't seem to be a floor. To the sides she saw that the only things that occupied this place were two rows of doors, like a hallway, except that it lacked walls and that they extended further than she could see in both directions.
"What is this?" Yan Lin asked as she stepped away from the door before Silver slammed it shut.
"This is our dimensional corridor." Silver explained, "It's how we can move from place to place, world to world, dimension to dimension. I didn't even know about the veil since it didn't hinder me in the slightest when I arrived here." Silver's face turn to one of concern as he began to look around as though he expected to find some sight of the veil tearing open. "But to be honest I find it rather alarming that the dimensional boundaries are so weak that you need the veil to reinforce the walls between the worlds. I've been to dimensional sets where portals could be opened by magic, science, natural and supernatural phenomenon, but I never heard of portals opening just because it's backup support started failing. Seriously, with boundaries this flimsy how does this multi-verse not collapse on itself like a house of cards? Honestly, I'd be pissing myself if I weren't reassured by the fact that if that shit were to go down I'd just leave for a more stable universe."
Yan Lin took a seat dealing with the shock of what stood before her.
"What are you?" Yan Lin asked, "Are you an inter-dimensional being? I thought the tonga beasts were the last of them before going extinct."
"Tonga beasts? What the heck is that?" Silver asked with an amused grin, "Never mind I'll look into that later. No, I'm not an inter-dimensional being, good guess though, close actually, I would even say that was accurate. But no, not the answer I'm looking for. I'm a few steps above that. Inter-dimensional just travel through dimensions through available means like open portals. I'm a trans-dimensional being; I am a means of travel through the dimensions. My corridor allows me to transcend the dimensions, hence why the veil is meaningless to me."
"So now that the intros out of the way any of you have any questions?" Silver asked looking to the girls. "No? Well I guess I'll just be on my way, I'll be seeing ya." Silver turned to the door.
"Wait!" Will called out, "Silver, even if you didn't know about us being guardians, you knew something was going to happen. You did know about the girls, and you didn't say anything. Why didn't you warn me?"
Silver turned to face her, "Like you would have believed me. I told you, you were special. That you stood at the heart of something important. You didn't take me seriously. Now I'm just waiting to see what that something really is, just like you. I intend to find out why you were chosen to be the "Keeper", and I will. So don't complain about having no warning. Just cowboy up and deal with it."
Will lowered her head feeling like a child that had just been scolded. She didn't feel special, not special enough to be a leader. She couldn't believe that now she was being watched by some… "alien"? Someone that expected her to protect the world.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Irma spoke up, "Just "deal with it"? That's all you have to say to her? You not the only one who think she's special."
Will looked up to Irma who defended her once again.
"Can't you see that this is upsetting her? This was crazy enough before you showed. If you were going to spy on us anyway why bother telling us?
"Oh yeah," Silver said, "I had intend to watch you in secret, blend into the background while staying close by. But I ended up…" Silver looked over to Will, "compromising myself. I lost my anonymity, my ability to be ignored as another face in the crowd."
Will looked over to Silver and knew what he meant by losing his "anonymity". He intended to watch them as a classmate, that's why he enrolled into their school. After saving her, she'd never, not notice that he was nearby watching them.
"So, screw the cloak and dagger stuff I figured I'd be more up front with you girls. Sorry if I'm not going to coddle any of you. The reality is you girl are going to face real dangers, and the sooner you get over the excitement and wonder of your powers and the fear and doubt of you duties the sooner you'll deal the situation. I just wanted you girls to know, what ever happens, no matter how impossible things get, the fact that you girls were chosen to be guardians means you can do what no one else in this world can do. And I'm sure you'll all succeed in your duties."
Again Silver turned to leave but stopped at Will's voice, "Silver, I don't care why you want to spy on us. I want you to leave us alone. I don't ever want to see you again."
Silver looked at her over his shoulder with a smirk, "That like what, the third or fourth time you've told me that today? Heh heh heh."
Silver laughed as he walked out of the room. Yan Lin stood up and followed after him but as she got to the door, she found no sign of him. Looking in to the dining area with waiters and waitresses rush about helping customers oblivious of anyone that may have rushed out of the private room she had just exited.
She returned to the girls who were talking about everything that had just happened. Cornelia trying to cast doubt on the on situation and saying that the crazy stories they heard were just that. Hay Lin ranted about how exciting it would be to be heroes. Taranee agreed with Cornelia, hoping it was all just a joke. Irma joined Hay Lin in the excitement but tried to get Will join in and encourage her into being their leader.
"Come on, let's go try out the guardian thing." Hay Lin chirped hoping Will would be up to giving it a try.
"Actually lets try it tomorrow, it's getting late." Irma sighed as she noticed the time on the clock on the wall. "My dad will be here soon to pick me up. Come on Will, we'll give you a lift home."
Before Will could protest Irma grabbed her and practically pulled out of her seat and toward the front door.
"We'll see you two tomorrow." Hay Lin said waving at them. Taranee nodded in agreement while Cornelia only glared at her again, though not nearly as hard as she had when Will first arrived.
"Right, see you guys tomorrow!" Irma called back as she led Will out the front door. Will had struggled a little to break free from Irma's grip but gave up as it was time to leave anyway. So much had happened over the last hour that she hardly reacted to the sight of the police car waiting for her driving by the man she had suspected was Irma's father.
"Hey Dad, can we give Will a ride home?" Irma asked her father.
"Sure. Uh, what happened to your shoes? Tom asked looking toward the passenger window and noticing Will's bare feet.
"That's none of your business. I can just walk home, okay." Will huffed crossing her arms.
"Not without shoes you won't. Come on, get in." Tom said.
Will was about to tell him off when she felt herself being pushed into the back seat of the car by Irma who followed her in and closed the door.
Will sighed as she just scooted over to the window and looked out of it for the drive home. Officer Lair already knew where she lived as he had been there just yesterday was she and her mother where moving in. They had first meet weeks before in Fadden Hills, after her mother first made the decision to move to Heatherfield. Since her old parole officer couldn't very well follow them to another city he introduced them to Office Lair who would be taking over after their move.
Will sat quietly as sitting in the back of a police car wasn't something new for the redhead. Although riding in one with a friend was a pleasant change. Still she was uncomfortable being driven by the man who, only a few hours ago, had stood in Mrs. Knickerbocker's office ready to arrest her for false charges. She refused to trust that asshole for being another pretender acting like he care about what happened to her. Irma on the other hand seemed truly sincere about wanting to be her friend. As hard as it was for Will to admit, even to herself, she needed a friend after every thing she'd been through.
"So did you girls have fun?" Tom asked trying to break the silence that had started since their drive started.
"It was great dad, I even made a new best friend!" Irma said smiling over to Will.
"B-Best friend?" Will questioned looking over the brunette in surprise. She new that Irma was the joker of the group. It's something she really liked about her so far. But this wasn't something to joke about; it wasn't funny for her to lead her on like this. "Please don't joke about me like that. I know that no one really give a damn about me."
"That's not true, Will. I'm sure they people who truly care for you." Tom said looking at the girls through the rearview mirror. He watched Irma inched to Will trying to comfort her. "Even if there weren't, there's always God."
"That's a joke." Will said before she leaned her head against the window and whispered, "Hell, my whole life is the biggest joke ever."
Both Lairs heard her word and shared a sad look through the mirror. Irma finally moved hip to hip with Will and gently took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"Will, I know jokes and believe me you life is no joke." Irma said after finally getting her attention and looking her in the eyes. "I told you already, I'm your friend whether you want me to be or not."
Will didn't know what to say when Irma pulled her into a hug, but it was clear what she had to do. She didn't want to drag Irma into her pathetic life, she didn't deserve that. Just like Will didn't deserve the Heart, which she had tucked in her hand and quickly stuffed into Irma's purse while she was distracted, believing that Irma would make a better Keeper.
"We're here." Tom said stopping the car in front of Will's run down looking apartment building. Will pulled away from Irma as she climbed out of the car, giving the brunette a sad smile as she was thought how this might be the last time she would ever see her. It wouldn't be from Irma's lack of try as she was persistent, but because Will was thinking about just giving up. Tonight she was shown a wonderful world with friends, people who cared about her and believed in her. A world she knew she would never fit in or live up to. Having given up on such a beautiful life, did she really want to continue living her old life?
"I'll see you tomorrow, Will." Irma said as Will climbed out of the car.
"Sure." Will said with a strained smile. She shut the door and walked away from the car dreading the night with her mother even though she wasn't sure if she would even last that long.
"Irma, check your purse and see if anything is missing." Tom said as he watched Will walk away with the car still parked. He could see the look in his daughter's eyes and hated to do this, but if Will did take something it would be better for Irma to learn sooner than later.
The young girl sighed as she obeyed her father and opened it up and started digging through it before gasping. Tom turned to face his daughter worried that he had unfortunately been right and she had found the proof. Instead he saw Irma pull out a beautiful piece of costume jewelry, which gleamed as though it was a real crystal.
"Hay Lin's grandmother gave this to Will as a special gift. She must have stuck it in my purse." Irma said showing it to her father before opening the car door. "I'm going to take it to Will real quick."
"I'll come with you." Tom said as he felt the relief of being wrong. He could see that Irma was already rather attached to the redhead, the way she was close to Hay Lin and her other friends. If Will managed to open up a little, she would end up being another member of their group.
The two entered the building and climbed the stairs up to Will's apartment. They stopped by the door to their apartment hearing the sounds of screaming coming from the other side. One of the voices clearly belonged to Will.
"IT JUST KILLS YOU THAT YOU RAISE ME TO BE A PIECE OF SHIT, DOESN'T IT?" Will screamed, "A WHORE JUST LIKE YOU!"
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK BACK TO ME LIKE THAT. I DON'T GO OUT SCREWING A BUNCH OF STRANGE GUYS FOR MY NEXT HIT!" A woman screamed back.
"NO, YOU JUST DO IT FOR THE HELL OF IT!" Will responded; just before a loud slap was hear by the two standing outside the door. Tom had enough and began banging his fist on the door.
"WHAT?" Answered a woman, with long disheveled black hair, as she flung open the door. The smell of alcohol was evident on her breath as she stood in a worn dirty nightshirt. She wavered a little as her eyes widened as she recognized who was at the door. "O-Officer Lair, what are you doing here?"
"I dropped you daughter off a minute ago but found that she had forgotten something in my car." Tom answered with an upset tone in her voice.
"H-Hi, Mrs. Vandom." Irma said as she looked past her to see Will looking at her in shock with a red mark forming on the redhead's cheek. Irma mouthed the words, "Are you okay?" to Will who nodded sadly.
"Oh." Susan said with anger in her voice, "So what kind of trouble is she in now?"
"None… She was just spending time with my daughter and her friends tonight." Tom said, confused as to why she presumed that Will would be in trouble since in only drove home and didn't even escort her to the door. Her lack of concern was strange, but she seemed to be expecting Will to be in trouble. Then Tom realized something that might explain why she expects such a problem.
"Excuse me Ms. Vandom, did you get my message today about Will being innocent of the incident at school today?" The look of shock and remorse on her face answered Tom's question, as she stood there unable to form a sentence.
"Can I please talk to Will for a minute?" Tom asked looking passed Susan to the redhead.
"Sure." Susan said numbly as she backed away from the door allowing Will to walk by.
"You forgot this in the car." Irma said taking Will's hand and making the redhead take the jewel.
"Will, I want you to come with us." Tom said soft, "I'm going to call child services."
"Wh-What? No, you can't!" Will said as anxiety got overcame her.
"Will, I can't leave you her, not if she going to hit you again." Tom said shaking his head sadly.
"She's never hit me before…I…" Will said as she lightly touched the red mark on her cheek. "I… I was out of line, I shouldn't have said that. Anyway I won't go, and if you call them then… I… I'll deny everything! She may not be much, but she still the only family I have!"
"Will…" Tom sighed.
"Don't call them, please." Will begged.
"We only want to help Will." Irma said hugging the shaking redhead. Will struggled to break free but she submitted to her hold. It had been so long since anyone had held her like this, if felt nice to be hugged like a friend. Will liked the idea that Irma really did care for her.
"Okay Will, if you're sure about this. But I will be checking up on you from now on aside from our scheduled parole meetings, and I won't be calling ahead." Tom warned.
"But Dad!" Irma said with concern.
"Irma… If Will refuses to testify there would be very little I could do for her. Besides I don't think Susan normally hits her, it was perhaps the heat of the moment over what they said to one another. Still, I don't like that she hit you Will." Tom said upset looking at Will's red cheek.
"Look, I'm fine so don't worry." Will sighed, "I'm just really tired and need to go to bed."
"Okay, meet us at the Silver Dragon tomorrow after school." Irma said as Will reached for the door.
"Y-yeah sure, I'll think about it." Will sighed, "Good night you two."
Will sighed as she shut the door, she couldn't believe that those had brought the Heart back to her. Why had they even bothered going out of their way like that for her? She really wanted to believe that Irma had insisted because she truly cared. If that were the case, however, it wouldn't be for very much longer. Not when she finally got to know her personally and saw her as the piece of trash that she was. Everyone would abandon her, her "friends", her "boyfriend", her father and even her mother had abandoned her in her own way.
"Where did you get that?" Susan demanded pointing to the necklace that Will was slipping around her neck. "Or should I ask, who did you screw to get it?"
"I'm going to bed." Will sighed, trying to hide the hurt of her mother's accusation hold a mask of indifference. But when Will reached her room she just couldn't hold but any longer. "And F.Y.I., Hay Lin's grandmother gave it to me, cause she thinks that I'm special! So don't you dare even think about selling it for booze or I break your fucking hand Mother!"
"How dare you!" Susan snarled as Will slammed the door and locked it, before leaning back against it and sliding to the floor where she pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in them, as tears started falling once. She ignored her mother ranting and raving as she pounded on the other side of the door. Will quietly sobbed as she wished for her old mother back, the one who Will loved with all her heart and had love her as much in return. That mother seemed to be nothing but a fading memory, replaced by the drunk who struck her minutes ago.
On the ledge of the build across the street from Will's apartment, sat Silverio wearing a pair of blue wraparound sunglasses despite the fact that it was nighttime. Tapping the part of the shades under his temple, they softly beeped as he adjusted the image being displayed inside of lens in front of his left eye. His glasses provided a live audio/video surveillance feed of the Vandom's living room where Silver watched Susan marched out before the display shifted to a hallway video. As she reached Will's locked door the A/V surveillance cut off as Silver focused on a window.
A few more taps and the shades magnified the image of the window and cleared up the blurry pictured. This process repeated several more times until Silver could clearly see Will sitting against her door. Moving his fingers from his shades to an ear bud he began listening to one of the audio only surveillance bug he had set up in the bedrooms and bathroom, the only conscientious action he took to respect their privacy. From his ear bud he heard the soft cries of Will as her mother banged on the door demanding to be let in.
As he watched and listened to the scene Silver wondered what he should do. What could he do to actually help Will out during this disturbing moment? He had wanted to confront her during their fight, especially after Susan slapped Will but held back partly due to the presence of Officer Lair.
"I'd only piss her off" Silver sighed in a defeated tone. He realized that he'd been lost in thought when he finally noticed that Will's cries were now soft sniffling and that Susan's screams were gone. A couple of taps and Silver heard the sounds of soft breathing and the creaks of someone turning in bed trying to get comfortable. Switching audio back to Will's room Silver continued to watch her hoping that she'd recovered from the stress she had just endured.
Minutes later Will finally stood up wiping tears from her eyes and mucus from her nose. Walk over to a dresser by her bed she pull out a large shirt and tossed in on to her bed. She then grabbed the hem of her shirt and began to pull it off.
"Oooooookay," Silver said whipping the shades from his face, standing up and facing away from the apartment slightly panicked from what he almost saw. That's enough surveillance here; I'll just… check on the other girls, maybe review the filtered surveillance for their homes and get a couple hours rest for tomorrow.
Silver walked along the rooftop until he reached the edge and seem to lightly jump off, only to practically sail over to the next roof. As he reached the next edge Silver stopped cold. He's eyes darted side to side as though he'd seen something. He then turned around and began looking in all directions trying not to miss a single detail of his surroundings.
"Where is it coming from?' Silver asked himself out loud. "Is someone there? It's not my imagination right? Wait… this felling… is it, killing intent? No… it's similar but definitely different. What is that I'm…" Silver's eyes went wide with a shocked realization.
Quickly Silver dashed backed the way he came and bound from the roofs edge and landed right where he started. Turning toward Will's window Silver stepped onto the ledge and prepared to jump only to freeze once again. He wasn't wearing his shades, but with the fear of his realization adrenaline was pumping through his system, and beyond a basic physical boost it had enhanced his eyes to the point that he could see Will far more clearly than his shades would have allowed.
Will sat upon her bed, her left hand resting in her lap while her right hand was raised holding a small sharp razor blade. She fiddled with the blade in her hand trying to find the best way to hold without cutting her fingers, though nicking her fingers would soon be the least of her concerns.
Silver continued to watch, shaking in his position, but otherwise frozen. He watched and waited for the scene to play out as thoughts filled his head.
'What am I doing just standing here?' Silver thought was he watched anxiously. 'I should stop her right? RIGHT? But then this is her decision, I can't force to keep living if she really doesn't want to. No not everyone can bare the burden that has been placed on her shoulders. If she wants to take the easy way out I'm not the one to stop her. It's her choice right? But this world needs her, I can't let her abandon it like this. I should stop her right? RIGHT? Please someone tell me it's okay for me to stop her'"
…
"Damn it!" Silver said punching the roof's ledge right next to his foot, his body shook as cracks formed from the point of impact. "Why… why… why can't I ever do anything that matters?"
Will sat in her bed looking down at her hands, one held the razor blade from a pack she had stashed away. This wasn't the first time she'd been in this position, as she wondered if she could go through with it this time.
'Why shouldn't I do this?' Will thought. 'Everyone would be better off without me, right? My mother would be happy not having to raise me, and could continue her life of debauchery without hurting me or anyone. The world would be better without a whore like me getting in the way. The girls could find a better replacement for me as a guardian and a better Keeper.'
Will mind drifted to all the crap she'd been through today, the attack, nearly being arrested, her duty as a guardian, her fight with her mother, how she had struck her. Why should she live with all of this? Why bother enduring any more pain when she could just end her suffering now?
'Please don't go.' Hay Lin's voice echoed though Will's head. 'We were hoping to get to know.'
'I even made a new best friend' Irma's voice chimed in. 'You heard me missy. We're going to be friends no matter what you do'
"But I don't deserved friends like you." Will whispered. "You don't know what I really am, you don't want to be friend with a worthless girl like me."
'You are worthy child.' Yan Lin's voice offered, 'The Heart has ways of looking into a person's heart.'
'I know everything in your reports Will,' Irma's voice returned, 'but it's not going to scare me away. I still want to be your friend.'
"But why, would you even care?" Will questioned her thought, "Why should I even believe any of you would want to be my friend?"
'I told you, you were special. That you stood at the heart of something important.' Silver's voice intruded. 'I intend to find out why you were chosen to be the "Keeper', and I will.'
"I'm not special, I'm not." Will proclaimed, "I can't do this, I can't be what you all expect me to be."
'Just cowboy up and deal with it.'
Will sat there in the silent darkness of her room. She lowered the blade and sighed softly. After a few minutes she reached for the pack of razor blades and put away the blade she had and hid it back into her dresser again.
Silver watched as Will laid down to sleep in her bed. His vision began to blur as the adrenaline in his system began to run out. When it cleared, he could not see Will any more, just the apartment across the street. His muscles relaxed and he fell back breathing a sigh of relief.
"Okay, now she's pissing me off." Silver laid there amused at the idea that sensing this event and the anxiety it put him through was part of the universe's way of punishing him for being who he is.
A/N:
Well, this is the last of the rewrites. And now you know what TDB means.
If any of you are interested in learning more about Silverio, checkout the sidestory to this, Private Conversations.
From here on it's my own take on the series with W.V.'s idea on a unique Will.
Speaking of which W.V. actually said she enjoyed the first two chapters. How awesome is that!
It's probably going to lead to much longer gaps between updates but hopefully I will be able to continue this story.
This story has earn it's M rating by now with it's language, violence, and adult themes. No reason that shouldn't continue, as the next chapter should hold a new aspect of the M rating. Though I'm still on the fence about putting any sexual scenes in this story the next chapter may contain some nudity ;)
As always I'd appreciate it if you would Read and Review this chapter.
Update: Added the lines to separate the scenes.