AN: I'm honestly quite surprised that more of you didn't complain about the lateness of this update. I've been dealing with a bit more than normal lately, the first of which is a broken hand. So yeah, typing takes a long time... and it's moderately painful. But yeah, sorry about that. The next update will be on time (the 14 of December). Also, I'm sorry for the fact that this chapter is a hell of a lot shorter than it should be. I might add some stuff in sometime in the future... after my hand heals. I should have just updated the chapter on the fourteenth seeing as my hand hurt too much to get too much more finished. Feels a bit like a cop out chapter. Hope it was worth it.
8.) Stolen Voices
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.
- Edgar Allan Poe
BERYL
"It's a pity it didn't work. That would have simplified things." Kunzite commented as he leaned back in his seat, we still hadn't heard back from the men who had ventured into the Lunar palace. It was safe to assume that the mission had failed.
"It's that damn Martian. Fucking bitch." Jadeite swore, looking over at me. His gaze was judgemental. I knew he didn't agree with my stance on her.
"Please refrain from calling her that Jadeite. I would still very much like to see her join our side." I said curtly. He opened his mouth to continue with his tirade, I cut him off quickly. "We don't need to kill them. Any of them. That's not our primary objective. If we can I'd like to get through this with minimal bloodshed. Only the Queen and Princess need to be removed from the equation."
He met my gaze rebelliously.
"We both know she's the cause of the mission's failure. She knows what we're up to and she's..." Jadeite replied, rising to his feet, his voice steadily climbing in volume. I got to my feet as well.
"I have already spoken to you about this Jadeite." I snapped, feeling my temper with him grow short. He was trying my nerves lately. "You are not to touch them. Now get out of my sight."
Jadeite cursed under his breath as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"You sure about this?" Kunzite asked from where he was lounging in his seat. I turned my back on him, looking out through the window.
"Yes. Positive. Hopefully the rest of our plan goes more smoothly. Is everything on track?"
Kunzite smiled.
"One hundred percent."
?
I slowly ascended the dais, keeping my eyes focused on the ground. As I approached, I dipped my fingers in the black clay. One last glare of sunlight hit my eyes before it disappeared over the horizon. I glanced at the man waiting beside the altar. He nodded. I raised the clay mixture to my face, smearing a line across my eyelids and down my forehead. I lowered my hand back to the clay, gathering a bit more about my fingers before tracing a line across my heart.
I looked back to the man, he gestured for me to step forward. Carefully I approached the raised altar, stepping up on the last raised tier.
A strong smelling smoke clouded the air as if encased by an invisible wall. I breathed in the fumes as I entered, feeling a distracting level of calm wash over me.
I felt connected to everything. I was being embraced by everything powerful about the world, my body was no longer my own. My surroundings throbbed around me, pulsating with a sick parody of a heartbeat. A sickening sense of disorientation swirled about me.
I stumbled to my knees, suddenly feeling as though I was stepping out of my body. I reached out, grasping at the tendrils of darkness that were reaching out towards me. I closed my eyes, waiting for the shadow to engulf me. There were noises around me that I couldn't quite place, like whispers in the night.
They had explained the basics to me. It was a religious purification meant to cleanse the body, mind, and soul. It was supposed to be the enlightenment. A spiritual awakening.
Stunning clarity hit me. And that was all I needed. I was willing to devote my existence to them. I was theirs. Entirely. It was far too easy to succumb to the power they held.
REI
I came out of the vision harshly, reality grating against my mind with a startling re-occurrence of pain. I let a soft groan escape my lips as I fought to make it to my feet, my hand leaving a smear of blood along the wall behind me.
I stumbled back into the bathroom, well aware of the fact I had lost a lot of blood, the light headed feeling I was experiencing told me that much. I ignored the shards of glass scattered across the bathroom as I pulled open the cupboard under the sink, retrieving a roll of bandages. I moved from the bathroom to my main quarters as I unrolled the gauze.
I seated myself upon the lush bed, which had remained relatively unused since my arrival on the Moon. Looking down at my knuckles revealed torn skin and the smallest glimpse of white bone, both illuminated by the shine of lamplight on blood and embedded glass. I gritted my teeth as I reached down, plucking the glass shards from my hand. The pain that followed their removal was distant, almost fascinating in the way it was disconnected from the forefront of my awareness. I was numb.
I shook my head, trying not to focus on that which would pull me into an endless spiral... which was nothing more than a demonstration of my deficiencies. I tightly wrapped my hand with the gauze, trying to push aside the agony I felt as the fabric brushed against my open wounds.
Slowly I rose, knowing that I had injured more than my hand tonight. I peeled my shirt away from my skin in a single motion, hoping that speed with which I tore it from the injury would lessen the pain that would follow. As it was, my knees nearly gave out from under me. I reached out, steadying myself against the wall. I turned slightly letting my forehead rested against the cold wall, I focused on the coolness against my skin, doing my best to stay conscious.
My head pounded, flickers of pain still dancing around my peripherals as I did my best to breath in and out. I fumbled for the bandages again, keeping a steady hand as I wrapped the injuries carefully.
Once that was done, I pulled on a clean shirt and left the room, wandering the empty halls into the small hours of the morning.
As dawn approached, I walked into the common room only to find Setsuna standing by the window, looking lost in thought. I paused, unsure of whether or not she would mind my intrusion. Many people here didn't much care for me. Just as I was about to back out of the room Setsuna turned to me.
SETSUNA
"Metallia explained it to me. How you give the illusion that you have no control over the world, when you really have all the control. You control the course of the future while acting as though you don't."
Her hand ran up my arm, I looked up, meeting her eyes warily. I watched as she opened her mouth, continuing on with what she was saying. Her voice and words were enticing, pulling me ever deeper into a place I could not be.
"You made all the choices, all the hard decisions." She stated, her voice lowering as if feeling we were doing something private. I did my best not to give into the whispering quality her voice held. Seduction laced her words like a toxin, entrancing me as what was left unsaid danced between us.
"It doesn't matter what one you choose because you're only picking the world you currently reside in. All the possibilities occur at once until the choice is made. They are both living and dead... This holds true for you as well, except that you're aware of all other realities. You're constantly living, dying, and deceased at every moment in time. You experience your own death every second of every day. And very rarely do you experience any form of happiness." There was a pause where Beryl drew in another breath, I watched her lips part with a kind of fascination. The curve of her jaw, the slightest flexing of her hand upon my arm. A gentle invitation to join her in a world where I would no longer be alone.
"You have a chance to live in a reality which would make you happy. I can give you that. You don't have to be alone." Beryl whispered, I knew what would happen next but I could hardly pull out of the intoxication now. Her lips met mine in a subtle kiss only for the briefest of moments. She knew it would be enough to capture me.
We eased apart, our actions fluid, almost dance-like in their precision. A scripted parting of ways.
With that, I opened my eyes, feeling all too trapped in the past. I shouldn't have been caught up in the fantasy Beryl had created in my mind. I needed to escape the thought of her for a time. I rose from the chair I had been seated on, hoping to find something to distract myself from the temptation I faced. I was doing wrong by visiting the past where Beryl waited for me. I had wanted nothing more than to go with her when she had offered a reprieve from the loneliness. I was so distracted I almost didn't notice the other presence enter the room. I closed my eyes. Rei. She was right on time. I looked over, meeting her gaze.
"I hope I didn't intrude." She muttered, looking ready to turn around and leave. I shook my head, gesturing for her to come closer. We had much to talk about and such a short window in which to do it.
"You can't intrude when it's supposed to happen." I told her, following the script. Surprise flickered through Rei's eyes, she exhaled softly before stepping closer.
"They mentioned you were challenging to talk to." She commented. I smiled.
"Well, they would, wouldn't they?" I replied. "Of course, words don't mean much to them most of the time so they aren't the easiest to communicate with either."
Rei chuckled.
"They aren't. We get along fine though." There was a pause. I waited as time ticked through the lapse in conversation. Rei had to be the one to break it.
"So I was supposed to meet you here?" Rei asked. I shrugged.
"It all depends really. This was the outcome that was supposed to happen though. From here on things get a little less clear. The paths are less defined."
Rei nodded.
"I know you're not supposed to give too much away about the future... but can you explain something to me?" Rei asked, sounding wary. I nodded, knowing that she understood what my role in the world was. I was a witness, only allowed to intervene when absolutely necessary... and even then I had to deal with the consequences.
She was my opposite. She was given glimpses of possible futures and was allowed to act, where I saw the whole picture and was tied to inaction. I took a breath, waiting for the next phase of our conversation.
"From an outside view, how does the future look as it progresses through time?" Rei asked. Each time I witnessed this conversation, I was astounded by the level of thought that went into this question. It was the moment in which her past shone through, bringing to the forefront all those years being raised to be mindful of her surroundings. To contemplate the mechanics that governed life. I looked towards Rei, phrasing the answer as I always did.
"There are predetermined time lines, each stemming from a greater branch of fate. As we get farther along the tree other possible futures disappear. We pass them by so to speak, choosing one outcome over another."
There was silence in which Rei just watched me. There was a calm about her that worried me. From some of the futures I'd seen this was the moment in which she would snap. All her rage and anger at the world would explode outward and she would make a defining choice. However that outburst never came.
It always worried me when I saw her quiet and accepting of my words. It was a very crucial turning point, on one hand we had a series of outcomes that were meant to be... on the other, there were outcomes that weren't meant to be. I could never tell what branch we were on until it was almost too late. Rei had always been an enigma, her powers an anomaly. She would always be a variable in any equation. They all were... but Rei did it in an almost undefinable way, as if her actions weren't always her own. I expected that had something to do with Minako. But that was just a theory.
"And we've passed by the branch that allows us to live." Rei stated, sounding dejected. I shook my head softly.
"No, you've just passed by the branch that allows the continuation of the Moon Kingdom." I told her. The choice that had doomed the Moon Kingdom had occurred ago. Now all we had left to find out was how big the death toll would be in the final defeat.
"How do you handle it? Seeing the future and not being able to change it? I've tried to change it but... they don't listen. This whole time we've been getting closer to our doom and I can't do anything about it. How do you handle not being able to change things?" Rei asked, sitting next to me. Her fist had tightened, thin lines of blood showing through the bandages. I didn't ask. I didn't need to.
"I am allowed to alter things insomuch as I can push you all towards one branch or another. I can even pick a different line if worst comes to worst... It just means making some sacrifices. Whether it's my life or yours is entirely up to me."
"I was asking how you can handle that choice. How do you handle knowing? How do you just sit there and take it? Exist without existing? Our lives mean nothing. How do you handle that?"
"Rei. I don't handle it. At least not particularly well. I just... don't stay dead like the rest of you. I have to come back."
"You mean...?" Rei asked, her voice trailing off. She couldn't bring herself to say it. I nodded, unable to meet her eyes. We were both gauging the others' reaction without actually looking at each other.
"Yes. Multiple times in fact. Each time hoping that I'll be welcomed through the gates." I admitted with a sigh, not meeting her eyes. Knowing that this conversation was coming and having to have this conversation were two entirely different things.
"When?" Rei asked. It seemed she was concerned for me. Her question could have been intrusive but in this case it was liberating. I had never spoken of this before. With Rei here I didn't have to carry the burden alone.
"The most recent was..." I shook my head. She would know what I meant. It was after Serentity. I gave a small smile, a sad smile. Rei watched on, waiting for me to continue as she knew I needed to.
"Things were good for a time. Or rather, they were as good as I could allow them to get..." My voice trailed off, betraying the longing within me.
"Beryl." Rei whispered softly. Realizing what I was now talking about. She sucked in a breath, as if realizing the emotions running through me.
"But I can't allow myself to be..." I started to say. She shook her head, cutting me off.
"Setsuna. For what it's worth... I think you should choose the course of events that would make you happiest in the long run. Whether or not that means picking Beryl... well, you'd know the outcome better than I. You shouldn't have to worry about us. You deserve to be happy. I'm fairly certain the others would agree with me... other than the fact that would mean agreeing with me." Rei told me, a slight smirk crossing her face. I could see the pain hidden behind the smile though. She needed someone to reach out and heal those wounds. I longed to do it... even though it was not my job to do.
Her words made me smile though. I was feeling lighter than I had in years. It was as if I had been absolved of my fears. Of my sins. I looked over to Rei who seemed to be deep in thought. Her eyes met mine briefly before she looked away from me, seeming to focus on something else entirely.
"What you were saying is... we can still change things, right? We just need to do things differently?" Rei asked. I nodded, knowing that this was something I was allowed to share with her. It's not like this bit of information would actually change anything in the long run. Rei gave a sharp nod before leaning back against the table. She seemed different, as if she had given up on something.
REI
"We can still change things, right? We just need to do things differently?" I asked, not meeting Setsuna's eyes. She nodded.
I looked down sharply, a little surprised that she had answered. I leaned back against the table, feeling a little weak on my feet. I knew that we just had to do things differently, the only problem was that I had no idea how exactly I would have to act to change things. If I was supposed to act off Setsuna's advice, then I would be acting the way I was expected to. On the other hand maybe Setsuna only told me because she knew I would come to that conclusion and refuse to act on her advice. I turned my back.
I was ready to give up. I had no right meddling in the fate of the worlds, I wasn't a royal. Perhaps my fate should simply differ from the others.
The only thing I knew for certain from Setsuna's words was that I was supposed to be involved in the future in someway or another. Inaction seemed the best course of action at the moment. I would see how things went from that.
I glanced to Setsuna.
"Thanks for the talk. It's given me a lot to think about." I told her, leaving the common room. I needed open air, room to breath and collect my thoughts.
AMI
As dawn was breaking over the horizon I rose early, hoping to catch Rei before she became preoccupied with other things. Last night I had failed to locate her and I was slightly concerned, I had hoped to talk to her about the monsters. That had gotten me thinking though, we were all so preoccupied by the chaos that had followed it's arrival that Rei had managed to slip under the radar.
I had to admit I was worried. I couldn't remember what exactly had gone on last night but I had a nagging feeling that Rei knew more about it than anyone. She had first hand knowledge about the monster, that and I had a feeling something had happened to her.
I rounded the corner, catching sight of Rei walking down the corridor ahead of me. I picked up my pace. She glanced over her shoulder, coming to a stop to wait for me.
"Morning." She greeted. "Sleep well?"
"Fairly well." I replied. "I was actually more concerned about you."
"Hmm?"
"Well..." I started, then paused as I caught sight of her hand. It was tightly wrapped with bandages. I frowned.
"What happened to your hand? That didn't happen to you while you fought that monster, did it?"
Rei glanced to me.
"No. It didn't. It happened... after." Rei said, I could sense there was a story but she wasn't going to share it. I nodded.
"Do you want me to take a look at it?" I offered, hoping she would accept.
"I think I got it taken care of. Thank you." Rei responded. "You were looking for me though, anything important?"
"I just wanted to talk to you about that thing that attacked us." I told her, hoping she would be a little more open about this topic.
"Looking for answers?" She asked, a knowing expression on her face. I nodded.
"What can you tell me about it?" I questioned.
"Not much. I was more worried about killing it than learning much about it." It was an answer I was expecting.
"So there's nothing you can tell me about it?" I asked. Rei frowned, looking like she wanted to tell me something.
"I could only tell you my impressions of it." She replied. I motioned for her to continue.
"It's not of this world." She replied. I was about to point out that we already knew that but I stopped myself. She wouldn't have been pointing this out if it wasn't important. "I was raised in a faith that believes in multiple states of being and multiple worlds that these beings inhabit."
I nodded, so far I understood what she was saying.
"The Bonehunters believe in the gods... a belief that your people abandoned long ago. These gods exist in a different realm than us. A spiritual realm I guess you could say. At least according to the teachings I was brought up with."
"And you think that thing is..."
"From what I could tell, yes. It was a spiritual being. It was living but didn't die when I attacked it with 'mortal' weapons. The powers I drew upon are god given, elemental in nature. The weapons forged through mortal means wouldn't harm it. At least not effectively."
"A spiritual being?"
Rei frowned.
"That's just the feeling I got from it. It felt like... a soul that had been given a physical form."
"I'm not following."
"Let me put it this way. Humans are physical beings given souls or spirits. I think these entities are souls that have been ripped from the body and given from of their own. Whatever form that may be. I expect there are more surprises in our future. If I am correct then there is a vacant body out there that corresponds to the soul I killed."
"And you got all that from fighting that thing?" I asked. Rei hesitated again.
"Mostly."
"What do you mean 'mostly'?"
Rei shook her head.
"I can't explain it." She told me. I nodded.
"It has something to do with the Bonehunters, doesn't it? That's why you can't talk about it."
"Kind of. I'm not sure exactly what happens, how I obtain this knowledge, but I do. One bit of advice though, these things, whatever they are, won't injure us in any typical manner. Spiritual based beings interact with the physical realm in unpredictable ways. We should avoid all contact with them if possible."
I nodded, watching as Rei turned and walked away. I sighed. Some how, talking to her made things more complicated than anything.
I sighed, shaking my head before turning back and going to find the other person who had been on my mind.
MAKOTO
There was a soft knock on my door, I rose from my seat with a smile on my face. I swung the door open, grinning as I saw Ami.
"You ready?" She asked.
I nodded, grabbing my spear from beside the door.
"Ready to at least give it a try. I've been going insane sitting around all day." I told her. She smiled at me.
"Just remember to take it easy. Don't push yourself if anything hurts." She cautioned.
I followed her out to the training grounds as we made idle conversation. As we approached the grounds Ami paused.
"Why don't you like Rei?" Ami asked as I gingerly moved my arm. I was going to try sparring today but it looked like that wasn't going to happen. Each time I moved, my ribs ached. Ami was watching me with a curious gaze, I couldn't tell if she was assessing my health or simply waiting for my answer.
"It's not her." I replied, watching as her expression changed. She looked slightly sceptical of my answer. I set aside my weapon, knowing that I probably shouldn't push myself. "I hate what she stands for. People have no right to kill each other."
"Not even in self defence?" She prompted, obviously trying to make me see sense. This was one matter that wasn't up for negotiation though.
"That wasn't self defence. That was murder." I replied. A small frown was beginning to form on her face.
"It was execution." She corrected.
"Same difference." I retorted. She rolled her eyes. That wasn't a reaction I saw from her often.
"What is your problem here? If it's not her... then what is it?" Ami demanded.
"I said it's what she stands for. Isn't that enough for you?" I asked, exasperated.
"No." Ami replied firmly, a slight scowl apparent on her features.
"Why?" I pressed, hoping she would explain further.
"Because I don't understand!" She responded. I finally got where she was coming from. I sighed. I could tell that this was something that needed to be worked out before we could go any further. I nodded, gesturing for Ami to sit.
Once we had both seated ourselves at the edge of the training grounds I began to talk.
"On Jupiter there is no competition for resources with other humans. We are never placed in direct opposition of one another so there is no reason for us to every see one another as an enemy. Rei.. she embodies everything I've never come across." I took a deep breath.
"What I'm trying to say is that I may have a firm grasp on the mechanics of battle but that's only been gained through fighting animals, through hunting. We are pitted against the environment and have to band together with our family and tribe in order to survive." I paused, trying to figure out how to properly explain this. I felt like I wasn't doing a good job so far. "Even during the clan meet we don't lose that camaraderie with the others, even though our group includes less familiar clans or tribes. I consider everyone on my planet as family, as something worth protecting from the dangers of our world. I don't believe we have the right to kill another human being... no matter the circumstances. I know it's naive of me but I don't believe we should kill one another."
Ami was quiet for a long time before she looked over at me.
"If there were more people like you... there wouldn't be a reason to wage war. The only problem with it is... not all planets can be like Jupiter. On Mars, they don't have the luxury of plentiful resources. People have to compete with one another."
"I know that. It's just... part of me doesn't want to accept it. Rei, she embodies everything I'm unaccustomed to. They kill each other, they shed the others' blood as if they aren't family. As if the other life means nothing to them. And I can't accept that, at least not right now." There was silence, I couldn't bring myself to look Ami in the eyes.
"Did... did that make it more understandable for you?" I asked her, hoping beyond hope that she would be able to see it my way. I just wanted her to be on the same page as me. I would talk for hours with her if it would give us more common ground.
Ami nodded.
"I still think you should try and look past that though. Rei isn't what she represents to you."
NEREID
"So I hear you and my daughter are quarrelling." I said, still watching Rei from the door way. Her head jerked up as she finally took notice of me. She rose to her feet, a sign of respect I'd grown accustomed to over the years. I entered the room, taking the seat beside Rei. She sat back down, looking over at me.
"It's good to see you Nereid." Rei greeted, her words did not reach her eyes however. I did my best to ignore that for now.
"It's good to see you as well." I replied, my eyes registering her injuries. I was used to seeing her battered and bruise... that didn't make it any easier to bear. If anything, that made it harder. "Though honestly... I expected to find you in better condition now that you were away from Mars."
"Things don't always go the way you plan." Rei commented, looking distant.
"So what's this about you fighting with Michiru?" I asked, deciding to get right down to business. Rei glanced up.
"And who did you hear that from?" Rei asked in a confrontational tone, though I sensed it was more defensive than anything. I smiled.
"Haruka." I replied. Rei scowled and I fought back a smile. It seemed there was still some resentment between the two, it seemed they would forever be locked in a battle for Michiru's affections. Rei sighed as if sensing my thoughts.
"She shouldn't be worrying after me." Rei remarked. I glanced over in surprise. It seemed that there had been some progress in their relationship, though that only made me all the more wary. If she and Haruka were getting along, there could only be one reason for it. Rei had decided she shouldn't intrude on Michiru's life any longer.
I frowned.
"I did what needed to be done." Rei muttered, as if she knew I was about to question her.
I sighed, hoping that things wouldn't go wrong for Rei. If it had been left up to me, I would have changed the marriage agreement a long time ago. I would have changed it so Rei and Michiru ended up together, rather than Rei and Minako. I knew that this would be damaging to my own daughter's emotions and happiness but... Rei, she deserved some level of happiness. Or rather some level of life.
She had no security right now. With that Venusian girl there was no assured outcome, there was no guarantee that Rei would make it through the next couple of days alive. And it pained me to know that.
I knew that very well that I could be witnessing some of Rei's last hours on this world. She had never been guaranteed life, as all the others had. I knew full well that I may have to watch her be executed for no crime of her own, but for the crime of her father. If the Venusian refused to marry her, her father would
I loved her like a daughter and it would kill me to see her father murder her to cover up the crimes in his past.
"I'm sorry there's nothing more I can do for you." I whispered softly. Rei looked over.
"I don't blame you." Rei said. "It's no fault of yours."
"But I feel like it is."
Rei laughed softly, giving a soft smile. The expression didn't reach her eyes though.
"Nereid. You're the only reason I lived this long. You and your family have done more than enough for me."
ARTEMIS
I had only just risen when there was a loud insistent knocking on my door. I got up wearily, swinging open the door. On the other side stood Eros. I sighed.
"Come on in." I told him, stepping back. He looked to me, seeming amused.
"Luna keep you up late?" He asked with a smirk. I rolled my eyes. Venusians.
"It's none of you business what Luna and I did or did not get up to last night." I replied, knowing if I didn't get him off this topic immediately we would be here for hours. I mean, I liked Eros well enough but he was a bit too much to deal with this early in the morning.
"I have questions." Eros said, leaning against the pillar. He was studying me in a way that made me reminiscent of our youth.
"In regards to what, Eros?" I asked him. "Hopefully not more about my sex life."
Eros laughed softly before his expression became serious again.
"Rei." He stated clearly, his eyes demanding that I answer his questions. "She's not like most Martians, is she?"
"No." I replied simply. "She's not."
"What makes her different?" He questioned.
"Her upbringing, mostly." I told him, knowing that I was being slightly cryptic. "She was raised by a group who did not embrace the Martian norm, but rather tried to redefine it. They failed in that attempt, and in doing so, they were relegated to nothing more than a scapegoat in the grand scheme of things."
"She is extraordinary in some way?" Eros asked, although I sensed that it was more of a statement then it was a question.
"Yes." I replied, nodding. "She's extraordinary, she is exists well beyond the range of what we think Martians are capable of."
Eros' expression seemed to convey the fact that he already knew my words were true.
"She loves Minako." He commented, pushing himself off the pillar, walking across the room to the liquor cabinet, and pouring himself a drink. "I never thought them capable of acknowledging such a feeling but she... She not only realized it for what it was but she..."
He gave a tired sigh looking torn.
"She did not confront Minako with her emotions, she hid them away so as to spare Minako from any discomfort or unease."
I watched him sit down across from me. He looked increasingly uneasy.
"So what's the problem here then?" I asked.
"I don't know if that makes me fear her more or not."
I nodded in understanding. Whatever was happening between Rei and Minako was more dangerous than we had been expecting. But it was something that needed to be worked out between the two of them.
Whatever happened, I hoped that it would happen soon. Before somebody got hurt.
AN: Props to all those people who are willing to comment or discuss all the 'boring' stuff, such as POV sequencing, character development, and plot holes. You know who you are. Also, just remember that when reading my writing... don't be too quick to make judgements on characters or situations. Or remember that if you do, I'll make sure that you come to regret it. Just sayin'.
Once again: all reviews are appreciated. I'll answer any questions you have... or address your concerns as needed. And sorry for the short chapter. The world just isn't cooperating with me right now.