A new chapter is now up! Enjoy the fear and remember to review!
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 3:45 P.M. (Deserted Island: Lighthouse)
Carlos' POV
Please…Please…Please! I can't take it anymore My Savior! He's…He's still alive isn't he. Oh please don't! Don't let him live my dear Lord!
I feel the warm air of Carly's cooking brush against my face as I stare at the tiled ground of the clean, white kitchen. I'm sitting on of the leather chair in the kitchen and I almost feel like passing out. I'm so tired…but I can't sleep. God has allowed the demon boy to live…he has…is he trying to test me? Madre says that God always has trials for you in order to see in your faith is strong. Is this a trial? If it is, then what am I supposed to do to pass it?
I feel tears brim in my eyes as I think about the demon boy. I hate him…he's evil…he's the spawn of Satan! I saw! I saw the evil he committed! I saw what he did to Kevin!
"Kevin!" I heard him scream. I was wandering through the woods…I was scared, but I didn't know where Logie, Kenny or Jamie were. I saw Beck and Kevin though. I saw everything.
"Kevin! Kevin!" and then…then he pulled the nasty axe from him. Blood…so much blood! B-Blood everywhere. Poor Kevin. God allowed the demon boy to take him. Why? The red skin…the sharp teeth…the crazed look in his eyes…he looked so evil. Satan was working through him. Mi madre lo sabe todo acerca de los demonios (My mom knows everything about demons).
He must die. He has to die. He'll hurt them if he doesn't. He'll…He'll come after me next! Come after my friends!
"Carlos? You saw what I did huh?" Beck is probably saying that right now! "Guess you'll have to be the first to go then huh?"
No…No! They…I told Kendall but he- he didn't believe me. None of them do. None of them saw what I saw! None of them…
Please…my dear God and almighty savior! Do whatever you can to make sure the demon boy does not live. My helmet can't protect me this time…It always protected me every since I was a niño pequeño (little kid). Now it can't…only God can save me now, but is he really testing me? Is he trying to challenge me like mi mama says?
He can't be. The demon boy was shot! I saw him last night! He was shot! S-So much blood. Red…Red everywhere. God? Can you vanquish him? Please…
He mustn't live. He can't!
James POV
Carly keeps dancing around while mixing the finishing ingredients with the spaghetti and meatballs. Cat is bouncing around with her as well, singing every single lyric of the song, Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast as if they'd sung it a million times before. Actually…this is Cat's Pearpod…of course she would know every lyric. James…stupid…just stupid.
As I wander around the tidy kitchen I spot Carlos sitting there with tears in his eyes. His sweet innocent eyes…they're so beautiful- GAH! I have got to stop doing that. I just can't though. He's so cute. I don't know what it is about him though…is it his shining personality? His innocence which makes him seem like a little kid in a teenage body? Or is it everything?
Hm…it doesn't matter. He's not into guys anyway. No one is…only me. Even I can't believe that. Just a month ago I came out to my parents…just a lousy month ago, and guess what they did? They screamed and yelled at me like I was some filthy animal.
"How can you say that!?" I remember screaming at my dad who was sitting at the dinner table in tears. "How…you're supposed to love me. No matter what."
"Not if you're a disgusting fag! I will not have a gay filthy son!" my dad spat while slamming his fists into the oak wood dining table causing everything on it to jump in the air for a quick second. "Hmph, just in a month's time and you'll be crawling with AIDS no doubt!" My plate of peas shakes from my father's fist on the table, but I don't really notice that.
All I notice is what he just called me…a Fag.
I've never been called that before. Never, but here I am in my own house and my dad is the first one to say it to me. I was terrified to tell them about my secret to be honest. I wanted to just crawl into a hole and die instead, but this guy at my school named Dak encouraged me. He's actually the only other gay guy at my school that I know of.
He's in class 2-J and is a star on the swim team. He's pretty hot too…he was actually my first kiss believe it or not. I mean I have kissed girls and stuff, but when I kissed him it felt real. It felt special. I even believed that he would be the one person I would be with. He helped me come to terms with who I really was…he was the only one I ever told before my parents. No one knew (God forbid). Not Kendall even…until a few weeks later. It was a Saturday night and we were in the middle of watching some Disney movie…I think it Tarzan…ugh, like it matters.
"Uh, Kendall," I spoke with a nervous sound in my voice as I sat shyly on his living room couch. The TV screen bathing us with a bright light while all the other lights were turned off.
"Yeah," he answered quickly while fixing his eyes on the TV; invested in the scene where Tarzan is in the middle of fighting the jaguar.
"Um…what…what would you do if…if I were to date another guy? You know…take him to the prom or something."
"What?"
"J-Just answer," I order softly with a heated feeling in my cheeks.
"I guess…I guess I would be happy for you," he answers in a slow yet confused tone as if he's unsure. "I would support you and always be there for you. Wait…James. Are you really-"
"Yes!" I blurted like an idiot before slowly gazing over at the television screen to find Tarzan beating his chest triumphantly after defeating the leering creature of the jungle. The awkward silence is killing me…why won't he say something!? All he's doing is looking at me with a weird smirk. I hate when he freaking does that!
"I should have known," he sighs before turning his head back around; placing his hand in a bowl of popcorn. What did he say? He knew? How?
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I know. You've always been a little…let's just call it flamboyant and leave it at that James."
Flamboyant? Wait, what does flamboyant even mean? Gah! Who cares! "Just make sure you introduce me to your boyfriend okay?" he gives me a warm grin before hopping up next to me and draping his arm around me in order to bring me in for a hug as we face the TV. "I would date you, but I kind of think you deserve someone better."
"Shut up," I laugh in embarrassment while he nudges my side.
He's always been there for me…always. My parents. Never.
"I want you out of here by tomorrow! Do you understand me?!" my dad screams at me with the veins in his muscular neck popping up like ridged mountain tops. I can feel my eyes welling up with tears as I stand at the foot of the marble staircase looking up at him.
"Dad…you can't," I whimper pathetically as my mom gives me a look of sympathy; her jewelry glistening in the dim lighting of our home.
"The hell I can't! Get your sick ass out of my house! God! What would God think of the pervert you're becoming James Neil Diamond! You're a disgrace to our family! I hope I never have to look at you again!"
I couldn't believe it…my own father hates me. Why? Because I love someone who doesn't happen to be a 'girl'! Well guess what? He got what he wanted! He'll probably never see me again…He got his wish.
I feel a tear roll down my cheek as the smell of the delicious meal drifts into my nostrils. I immediately brush it away like a pesky fly and smile broadly. I hate looking weak…Especially at times like these.
I walk over to Carlos with a smile on my face as I place my hand on his shoulder. He's just so perfect…
"Carlos?" I whisper softly which causes him to jump in his spot in the chair like a frightened puppy. His eyes gradually gaze into mine and I can't help but notice how pure they look. Wide and…damn it James! Focus! "You look so pale. Are you sure you're still feeling alright buddy?"
Carlos gives a hesitant nod like a small four year old and gives me a weak smile. "I'm fine James, promise."
"Are you sure," I give him a wink which causes him to giggle and his body eases from underneath my touch. "Don't worry 'Litos. After we all eat you'll feel as good as new. Get some of that sexy color back in your cheeks…"
You idiot! I feel my cheeks burn as he looks at me in confusion. Carly even gives me a look from her place at the pot that's mixed with amusement and weirdness. "I-I uh…anyways…oh man! It's so hot in here! You guys feel that? Always…so hot."
Real smooth…
"James is right!" Cat bubbly laughs with her tiny form dressed up in her cheer uniform. I don't know why, but she felt like changing into it for some reason. She's weird…end of story, but we love her. I mean who doesn't besides the people who well…hate her. "We'll all be okay Carlos! Really! You saw Zander. Kacey too! It's so crazy!" she speaks with a series of dreamy giggles leaving her lips. "They'll be checking in on us every now and then and to top it all off…we've got Beck upstairs! We're definitely gonna be saved! Really!"
I feel Carlos shudder from underneath my fingers as if a chill went through him after Cat said Beck's name. He's probably still hung up on him…did Beck really kill Kevin anyway? I mean Carlos was there and for all we know Beck could be playing. Nah, there's no way.
"I'm on board with that," Carly laughs from the pot as she stirs in a few more meatballs she found in the meat supply in a freezer down in the basement. "Carlos! Did you even see Zander when he rescued Beck last night? God…he was something else."
"Please, you have to help him. I'm not playing just…please."
"Yeah!" Cat chimes back in with a look of awe on her face as she speaks. "He was uber cool! He whooped Felix's butt with a sticky thing! And Felix had a mean gun!"
Cat gasped with awe as she ran around the room reenacting the fight scene while making sound effects and making her hand into the shape of a gun. "Boom Boom! Bang! Swoosh!"
"Oh God," Carly sighed with an exasperated smile. "Anywho, he's said that there are others too Carlos. Like Tori and that Katniss girl who transferred. It's like a cute little army," Carly chided with a sweet smile on her caring face.
"Sure…I guess you're right Carly," Carlos gives her a weak smile. What happened to his usual goofy Garcia smile?
"Carly's more than right Carlos! This is totally perfecto!" Cat cheers while hopping on the leather chair across the room with her flowing red hair swaying wildly around her petite body. "C'mon…Six cute boys for the price of one. I like the sound of that."
Cat! Oh man…so feisty. Who would have thought it? Obviously not me, but…why do I keep making myself look so dumb?!
"Cat…what did I say about making boys seem like objects?" Carly scolds with a motherly tone to her voice. Cat only pouts with her bottom lip sticking out in shame as she sinks down into the chair.
"That it's really rude and boys don't like it," she answered with a pouty baby voice. Yep, Cat is definitely weird…
Carly's POV
I can't believe Cat can be so boy crazy at a time like this. Oh well, that's Cat for you…
"Ignore her Carlos. She always can be a little boy obsessed," I giggle with a nurturing look on my face. I guess I'm always like that. A mom in training is what my brother Spencer calls it, but how can I not be when he always sets everything on fire in our apartment? Jeez, sometimes it feels like I should just go from thirteen to thirty like Jennifer Garner did.
I even had to be the mom when it came to Sam and Freddie. Always breaking up fights and ending their stupid arguments. Now I'm just alone. No more fights or arguments just…silence. I know Kendall said that we would only let in people we could really trust so of course I had to go out and find Freddie and Sam. I just had to.
I finally did, but…but they. I feel a few tears come to my eyes as I think back on the horrendous moment.
"Please. If I'm gonna die I want you to be the one I spend my last few seconds with,"
"Okay."
"Together."
"Forever."
Why them? If I just told them who I was…they wouldn't have jumped. They thought I was playing so…I still don't understand. They were always at each other's throats over the years, but when they finally realized their love for each other…it was like nothing could tear them apart.
Sam…she was smiling. They both were actually. I never saw them so happy…it was like wherever they were going was someplace special and dear to them, and the fact that she brought that purse along. Oh God. I feel more tears come up as I think about it. She wouldn't shut up about it whenever we talked.
Now I have to live. I have to live for them…
"Carlos! You really can trust us okay? Beck will definitely help us through," I confidently speak from the stove causing James and Cat to both cheer in agreement. We'll definitely make it out…I just know it.
Carlos' POV
Carly doesn't understand…none of them understand the demon boy's sin! None of them see what he has done. "Maybe you guys are right," I laugh…I need to have them believe that I'm not crazy. They'll hate me if I'm crazy. They'll trust Beck and throw me out and he'll…he'll kill them all! I know…I saw him kill before!
"Of course we're right," James beamed while giving me a bright smile. He's always so nice to me…Jamie's always been there for me. All of them have. I can't let the demon boy hurt them. I must stop him…I must fulfill God's deeds. Or maybe I don't have to. Maybe God has already listened to my prayers and he's working thanks to my faith.
So much blood coming from the demon boy…God will provide. Even demon boys need blood to live. Yes…he'll die. Like the bible says, "Even the demons know of him, but shudder whenever they hear his name."
With God on my side, the demon boy won't be able to survive. It's in our Savior's hands now. God can vanquish him…Until then I'll have to join in. I have to make it look like I believe…make it look like I'm not crazy so they don't hate me. "When aren't you right Jamie!" I laugh…play along. "We can trust Beck! I know we can. Not everyone is as bad as they seem…"
God will provide…
"That's the spirit Litos! Now…back to fixing up that delicious meal!" James breathed the fantastic aroma into his nose while rubbing his hands together in an excited manner. "What do you need me to do Carly?"
"Oh…well James if you could just set the table that would be great. I'll get the drinks in a minute," Carly gave her order in a soft tone as she smiled up at the six-foot tall boy.
"You got it," he replied while giving a salute to her with a laugh before moving off to the bright white cupboards where the plates were kept. Cat bounced off of the chair with a wide smile on her adorable face as she tugged on the sleeve of Carly's jean jacket with an impatient look.
"What about me? What can I do?" she whined with a bored look on her baby face.
"You can sit at the table and color. Remember that purple lion you were working on yesterday?"
"Boo! I wanted to help," the little red head pouted with her arms folded over her chest in defiance.
"Cat…" Carly sternly spoke with a cross look on her face which weirdly resembled any mom's. All Cat did was stick her pink tongue out at her and stomped away with an upset series of mutters leaving her lips.
Soon after, I hear a chorus of echoing steps filling the room coming from the spiral steps. We all stop what we're doing at that very moment and look at the open arch-like doorway that leads to the steps with arched brows. I see Kendall emerge from the doorway with a broad smile on his face as he folds his arms in pride. Everyone is literally staring at him in suspense on what has become of…him.
Please let him be dead…please let him be dead!
"He's up! Beck's up and he's going to be okay! Looks like Logan's medical practice paid off!" he laughed while clapping his hands together as if he was rejoicing. How can he!? No! He-He can't still be alive! God's will! It's always the sure way!
"He's up!" James gasps with a wide smile as he sets a few plates on the clothed table and speeds over to Kendall with a pumped fist. "Are you sure? You actually talked to him Ken'?"
"You bet. Woke up with an empty stomach…guess all of us boys can't get enough of our food," Kendall spoke with a laugh after placing his hand on James' shoulder. No…How can they be so happy? H-He's evil!
I watch Carly swing her arms around a giddy little Cat with a relieved smile on her face as they share in the 'good' news. "Thank God," she sighed with a relieved smile on her face as Cat nodded in agreement.
"Ditto!" the silly red head cheered with a wide smile on her face.
"So," a voice laughs from the doorway causing us all to look over at once to see Logan standing there with a shy grin on his rain drenched face. "Beck's up?"
He walks in with that scary looking machine gun clutched close to his heaving chest while his shoes squelch from the rain soaked into them. His violet cardigan is buttoned up to his chest and his white t-shirt is sticking his pale skin.
"Yeah…and it's all thanks to you Logan," Kendall winks with a sense of admiration causing everyone to nod in agreement. Logan just smiled bashfully and walked over to a small round table in the corner of the room leaving a trail of sparkling footsteps. "It was nothing…just glad I got to finally test my knowledge."
Kendall and James gave him a warm smile as Carly scurried back over to her pot with a look of frantic worry on her nurturing face. "Ah! Looks like the spaghetti is almost done! Logan can you give me a hand?"
"Oh, s-sure!" he stammered with wide eyes after placing his weapon down on the small table along with the rest of the weapons. Carly's Glock pistol…James' weapon, a set of darts…Cat's weapon, a syringe filled with rat poison that looks like light blue water…and my weapon, a lousy skewer. We even have Sam and Freddie's weapons there also after their bags washed ashore last night. Sam's was a sock filled with freeze dried butter and Freddie's was a pair of brass knuckles. Butter? That seems a little stupid. How can that hurt you anyways?
I watch Logan rush over to Carly's side in order to help her put the finishing touches on her awesome meal. Hm, they actually look like a couple whenever they stand next to each other like that. Like a married couple…
I have to come up with something…I have to save them!
Logan's POV
I stand there still trembling from the cold rain I had to endure for over an hour. The only thing that keeps me somewhat comforted is the warmth that tingles off my ice cold skin from the simmering pot in front of me. I watch Carly scurry to the cupboard in order to retrieve some herbs and spices for her delectable dish. Her black hair swerving around and over shoulder as she does so. "Logan! Keep on stirring okay…thicken it up!" she orders with a cheery voice.
"O-Okay," I babble like a complete fool before taking hold of the large wooden spoon with my icy, pale fingers and begin to stir. The smoke from the food floats out of the pot like a current of temptation. It reminds me of my mom's cooking…oh dude, her home cooked meals were the best. She would always make the best meatloaf and the cakes she would bake are to die for!
She's also an A+ mom for sure. She raised me on her own ever since my dad lost his fight with cancer thirteen years ago. It was hard, but she always had a smile on her face. Always a smile instead of a sad face. She always held me in her arms whenever I got scared or lonely and would say to me, "As long as you have me and I have you…we have nothing be upset about."
She is all I have now…but when she got diagnosed with breast cancer when I was seven I almost fell apart. I couldn't lose her. Not like my dad. I remember her being hospitalized for horrendous treatment…bedridden like a dying animal. It killed me. Seeing her like that every time I would come visit…it just killed me.
I always snuck out of my grandmother's house every night to go visit her also. I would swing by the store at freaking midnight just so I could buy her flowers with the change I've been saving up in my piggy bank. I thought that if I gave her all the love I had, she would be cured. I always thought that and I still believe that.
I remember back in the third grade in the beginning of June, we all had to do something very evident. That means easy if you didn't know…sorry, bad habit. I always feel the need to try and be smart whenever I can. Ha, lame huh? I mean Kendall's got the leadership skills, James' got the muscles and looks and Carlos has the innocence that could make anyone feel the need to baby him. Me? I've got the brains.
Anyways, where was I? Oh! The evi- I mean...easy assignment in third grade. Yeah, well in class that day we all had to try and make a card for our dads for father's day. I remember looking around and seeing ever other kid drawing their dad with huge smiles.
"My daddy will love this!"
"When he sees my card, he'll give me the biggest hug ever!"
"My daddy loves me so much."
Yeah…it hurt every time I would hear these phrases and I would try to relate, but I just couldn't. My dad didn't give me hugs anymore. He was never going to see the card I made him. And how do I know he still loves me? I don't… I hated father's day. I hated it with a burning passion.
I saw Kendall sitting at his desk with his pale blonde hair combed to the side thanks to his mom of course. His superman t-shirt shined from the morning sunlight that seeped in through the windows around the room. His hands moving vigorously as he drew his dad with five crayons in each hand. I only sat there at my desk without a clue of what to do. My face rested in the palm of my small hand as a blue crayon was tightly clutched in my other. I see Jameson my right drawing his dad with his sandy brown hair almost covering his deep brown eyes. A nicely drawn man wearing an extravagant tuxedo. Even James has a dad that loves him…
"Carlos?" I hear Kendall speak as he comes striding up to my desk while talking with the bubbly little Hispanic boy at his side. Kendall was examining the picture Carlos had drawn with an arched brow while smiling in amusement. "You know we were supposed to draw our dads right?"
"Yep! And that's what I did!" Carlos cheered with his eyes gleaming like an over excited puppy. James came strolling up as well with his picture held close to his chest as he grinned proudly to all of us.
"I did too," James beamed as he stood right next to Carlos and gave the small boy a comforting smile. "Don't worry Carlos. I think your picture is really cool! My daddy's gonna love mine when I show it to him."
"Guys," Kendall laughed as he placed his tiny pale hand on his hip with his emerald green eyes gazing at our two friends a.k.a major goofballs. "I still don't get the picture."
Carlos only sighed in impatience as he smiled as wide as he could before explaining. "Don't you see Kenny? My daddy told me that he fights crime! How cool is that? He's a super hero! That's why I drew him like superman!" Carlos giggled before climbing up onto my desk causing me to gasp nervously. What do you expect? Who just CLIMBS onto a table? "My mom says my daddy is the strongest! That's why! He's the biggest superhero ever!" Carlos gleefully shouts while punching the air as if he's in some super hero comic strip with the sound effects and everything.
"Carlos! Get off that table right this instant!" our teacher screeches with worry as she circulates the room in order to assist my other classmates. Carlos only turned a shade of pink in response and jumped off the desk with a thud.
"Sorry Ms. Adams," he murmured in humiliation while fiddling with his thumbs shamefully.
"What about you Logan? Did you make a card?" James chirped with a wide smile revealing his perfect white teeth. How does he get his teeth so perfect? Oh yeah…his dad's a dentist. That explains it.
"I don't know how," I sighed as I stared at the blank piece of lined notebook paper on my wooden desk. I felt tears emerge in my innocent brown eyes as I think of him. What's the point of even making one?
"Logie? What's wrong?" Carlos whispered as he scurried over to me with a worried look on his childish face. I saw Kendall and James giving me sympathetic looks as well.
"It's just…I don't have a daddy anymore. How am I supposed to make him a card if he never ever sees it?"
"I know! You could mail it to Santa this year and he could go up to Heaven on his sleigh and give it to your daddy! Maybe you can even get a puppy for being a good boy!" Carlos suggested with a joyful look as he let out a series of excited giggles. Of course…that's Carlos all over.
"Or," Kendall began while placing his hand onto Carlos' jumpy back and pulls the lovable boy into a one armed hug. "We can make it and send it up with a balloon," Kendall suggests with a confident smirk as he glances at us in order to see our reactions.
"I think it's a great idea," James gasped with his bright green tank top glowing from the sun's rays.
"Psh! What a bunch of dorks!" one of the burly boys in our class with a nasty looking grin snorted while stepping up to us with one of his menacing friends. "Everyone here knows your dad is dead Lo-dork!"
I feel my eyes shake as I feel sadness welling up within me every time he speaks. Why do I have to be so weak? So thin skinned? "Yeah! I bet the only reason he died was to finally get away from you!" the other one sneers at me before they both burst into a fit of laughter. I can feel tear drops rolling out of the corners of my eyes and down my fair skinned cheeks. I even begin to sob a bit as James and Kendall begin to glare at the two boys with putrid stares. I even saw Kendall's fists clench and tighten…Kendall is always like that. He always has to be the 'Protector'.
"Heh! Just like his mom! Bet she's dying now to get away from him too! I would too if I had a pathetic loser like you as a kid!"
"Enough!" Ms. Adams scolded while rushing over to us with her hair pulled back in a tight bun to reveal her formed face. "That will be enough of that or I'll have to send you the principal's office Jacob!"
It was like a flash of lightning when it happened…Kendall let out a cry of anger before lunging forward with his fist balled tightly which made it look as red as an apple. He slammed it right into the boy's hideous face causing the idiot's eyes to go wide in shock before he collapsed to the ground. Everyone in our class went dead quiet as Kendall toppled onto the boy and kept pounding his face in as if he'd been taken over by some crazed animal.
"Kendall! Kendall Knight! Dear God!" Ms. Adams shrieked as she stared down at the two boys as if they were pesky mice causing her to throw her hands up in fright. James looked at me with a large smile before looking back at the fight and jumping right into it…then Carlos gave off his famous goofy smile before patting his helmet two times for good luck and barreled into the brawl. Everyone began crowding around the incredible scene with cheers as my three best friends took on the group of bullies. All to protect me, but sometimes…I gotta find new friends.
"I must say," our principal sighs with an exasperated look as he stares us all down. This isn't our first time here let me tell you. I certainly am not the cause of it anyway. "The little scene you four pulled in class today really got everyone worked up."
"It's not our fault though! Those mean kids were picking on Logie!" Kendall spoke up confidently as he leaps from his chair to defend us. "They started it!"
"I understand that Kendall, but that didn't give you permission to punch him the face now did it?" he sighs while rubbing the bridge of his nose as if he were exhausted. I would be too if I had to deal with this kind thing all day.
"No sir," Kendall sighs in defeat while looking down at his shoes with an annoyed look on his bandaged face.
"We promise that it won't happen again," James grins with a perfect smile while pulling out a shiny black comb to perfect his tousled hair. "If you want my mommy can pay you…you know. Call it even."
Our principal soon changes his expression into an amused look before nodding his towards the door. "Go on back to class boys."
We all rush for the doors while Carlos laughs with a great deal of optimism. As we begin walking down the empty, carpeted hallway, Carlos began stretching his arms out to make them resemble plane wings. "CH-CHING! Plane wings are now deployed!" he laughed cheerfully before running off down the hall. We all just looked at him with confused expressions before asking, "Carlos? What are you doing?"
"Sh! No talking! I'm an airplane now and airplanes can't talk sillies!"
"What a weirdo," I mutter with a sheepish smile on my face as we all head back to class. He is a weirdo…but that's what makes him special. It's just that his dyslexia is always making him think otherwise.
I look into the steaming pot of spaghetti that seems to force my tongue to water against my will. I then feel a light tap on my shoulder and see that it's only the sweet Carly Shay with a bucket full of ingredients as she gives me a smile. "What's all that for?"
"Duh," she giggles "It's for the spaghetti you dork. Now how about…oh! What about a little bit of starch? You know…thicken it up a bit more. It still looks a little soupy."
I look around the room with my mouth open in order to answer her question and notice James and Kendall are both gone...they must be in the sitting room talking. "Uh sure! Why not just toss in everything. I might even add a special ingredient of my own," I laugh as I think about my signature spice. Paprika. It's all thanks to James and his crazy cooking skills…he taught me some pointers over the summer last year. I hope he's holding up alright.
"Yay! Tasty!" I hear Cat say as she dips a fork into the pot with her eyes fixed on the tomato sauce tainted noodles that give off a delicious scent. She soon twirls the noodles around her fork's tip and hastily brings it to her mouth like a girl anxiously eating an ice cream cone. "Mmmmm! So tasty Carly! Oh my God. You have to be the best cook ever! If this was a cooking competition…I bet my nickels that you would win."
"Thanks Cat, but…you have to wait like everyone else okay?" Carly arches her brow like a scolding mother as she looks at the red head. A stringy noodle is hanging out of her mouth as she stares at Carly in disbelief with wide chocolate brown eyes and sucks the noodle in before sighing with a nod.
"Okay."
"Atta girl," Carly sweetly giggles while Cat skips back to her seat at the table. Her coloring book resting near the edge on the table cloth that is as white as snow. This alliance is definitely going to work. Kendall has never led us astray…he always knows what to do. I look back over to the pot and begin putting in various ingredients along with Carly causing the aroma to sweeten in a way.
Cat's POV
Those meanies! I'm so hungry! My tummy won't stop growling at me and it's making me sad…
Let's see, purple tiger so now I'll do a red panda! Yay! Coloring!
I hope my big brother is okay. The doctors say he will be soon, but I already know he's fine. They think he's nutty in the old noggin' so they locked him up tight in a crazy people hospital for all the weird people. He's not crazy though. He's just…different. Like me. I'm different. I always have been different from other kids.
When I was little I was always considered the strangest girl in class. I even have the badge to prove it, but I don't think my mommy and daddy liked it very much. They always made me feel like I was different. Not strange different. More like crazy and nasty different. My brother was too…but that's just who we are. I don't know why I act the way I do, and sometimes I wish I could just be a normal girl like my mom says she wished she had. She never wanted a weirdo like me for a daughter.
Ever since I was four, my mommy would beat me. It hurt really bad. She would always use daddy's belts to beat me whenever I didn't do my chores. Whenever I came home late because I was hanging out with friends she would beat me twice as hard. That left red stingy marks though. I never liked that all.
She beat my brother too. She would use pots and pans for him though, not belts. He always was bleeding at the end of it and he always cried. Both of us always cried…they were the biggest meanies ever. My daddy would burn me with his cigarettes sometimes when he was in a bad mood and my mommy would hold me down so that I couldn't run away. He even carved words into my arm whenever he drank too much after he was done working. All the tears and all the pain…it's so gloomy.
He even banged my brother's head with an ash tray a long time ago just because my big bro' didn't take out the trash when he was supposed to. My brother would bleed all the time and they just laughed…I don't know why they laughed. It wasn't funny was it? It was mean!
My brother always smiled at me though. He always tried to help me and protect me. We always smiled…we always were happy like clowns. But clowns have to be happy. Just like we have to be so that other people can be, but I don't feel the happiness at all. I feel sad. The worst punishment we got was that when we did something bad my mommy would lock us up in the hallway closet. It was so dark in there and scary…and she never let us out. We always stayed in there for days and she would never let us out to use the bathroom or to eat a good meal.
"I'm sorry Mommy! Please let me out! Please! I won't be bad anymore! I'm scared!' I cried making salty water come out of my eyes. I hate that taste…I taste it too much. "Please…I'm so hungry and…and I need to go potty!"
"No!" she screamed through the door while locking it with a key. "You've been a little brat today! You didn't finish some of the chores I gave you! Now you have to be punished!"
My brother was in a coma I think. My mommy hit him in the head with a frying pan after she realized we haven't finished our chores and locked me in the scary closet. I hate it in there…I never want to go back ever!
They hated us. They wanted better children but they got us instead. I don't know why they never wanted to love us…was it because I was bad? What did I do that was so bad? I don't understand.
"Why are you two so bad," my mommy would say through the door whenever my big bro' and me were locked in the closet. "Why can't you two understand how much grief you're causing me?"
"We're s-sorry," my big bro' would softly whisper as the sticky red stuff would come out of his head after she would hit him. His arms were hugging me close to his shivering body, but he felt real warm. Warm and safe. "So sorry m-mom."
"Why couldn't you two just be perfect little angels instead of…instead of…" she kept stopping but I never knew why. I could her start to cry on the other side of the door as she finished locking the wooden door with a jingly set of keys. "You hate me don't you? Is that it? You two hate your mommy?"
"N-No mommy…w-we love you-" I try to speak, but I'm so scared and the salty water won't stop coming out of my eyes!
"No! You both despise me…that's why you both are so bad. You both are bad so that I can suffer!"
"No. Wait mom!" my brother tries to yell but he's losing so much blood. So much red, sticky juice. It's like fruit punch. That's my fave drink!
"Your father doesn't want either of you…he hates both of you and so do I. Bad blood is what made you. You both…both are just mistakes! This isn't your home! Neither of you belong here!" she screams which is making me cry even harder.
She doesn't love me. She hates me. She never wanted me to be born.
I look down at my picture and see it again. I drew me and my brother crying like we used to covered in red juice. My mommy and daddy are towering over us like giants while yelling at us…I smash the red crayon against the paper as my eyes begin to fix on the picture and I feel like I'm changing. This happened before too. Sometimes I would just blank out and wake up and see the red juice on my hands. It happened when my dad died…I was a bad girl. They were bad too though. They needed to be punished.
I look at the colored picture one last time before putting the abused crayon down on the table. The red color is all over the page…and it reminds me of my mommy and daddy. I turn my head slowly over to the table that holds all of our weapons…now I get it. There's no escape. Just like at home…no escape. Crying and screaming only makes it worse and worse, but if you really want to escape and make it stop. You have to do what I did. Kill. Kill and it will all be over.
I look at Logan as he adds all these weird things to the spaghetti and Carly is prancing around the kitchen with a set of ceramic plates in her gentle hands. I have to kill them. I have to or…or they'll try and hurt me later. They'll kill me once it's only us left. They'll corner me because I'm the tiniest. I know they will. I don't like that at all. Uh-Uh! No way Jose! I won't be the victim anymore! No more red! No more red sticky juice for me!
I stare back over at the table of weapons that are sitting there in a teasing fashion like they're making fun of me. A gun…that's too loud! It'll hurt my ears. Knife's are messy and icky.
What can I use? Oh…maybe I can- I got it…my creepy weapon thing (a needle filled with blue stuff). Would that work? I see the metallic tip of it gleam in the gloomy light peeking it from the windows over the kitchen sink. It's perfect. I can…I can put it in the food! No one will know if I just stick it in when no one's looking and sit back down. I'll make sure not to eat it though because I don't want to have a tummy ache…everyone else will and then they'll be gone. No more pain for me. Yay!
I have to get to the needle first though. I slowly get up with a nice face so that they will think I'm being good and I begin to skip over to the sink. This is it! I won't have to worry about dying...then when I win I can go by myself to Disneyland! Fun! So much fun!
I sneak over to the small table hunched near the corner in the shadows of the kitchen and see…nothing? Where is it? The needle was here this morning. Did I put it some where? It's gone. I look all over the room wide eyes in order to catch just a glimpse of it, but it's nowhere to be found.
No!
"Cat?" I hear Carly's nice voice call out to me as she and Logan kept putting stuff in the pot as if they were a mommy and daddy. They look like they could be a mommy and daddy, but a lot nicer than mine. They don't hit or scream…they're nice and friendly. I snap out of my trance as I hear her voice once more and feel a little weird. It always happens though. I'll always turn into something else whenever something bad happens…like a different person.
"Yeah?" I sigh with a smile while skipping over to her in my cute uniform while my ponytail swings behind me like those hangy things in the big clocks.
"Could you get the drinks for me?" Carly asks while putting in a bit of pepper and the sauce is bubbling and hissing like it's mad or something. My mommy would hiss at me too. She was always mad at me.
"Sure thing," I sigh once again before turning on the heel of my baby pink flats and darting off towards the cupboards. Where did my needle go?
Kendall's POV
"So, you're sure you're alright," I ask James with a comforting tone as he stares at me with his vulnerable brown eyes. It's weird seeing a vulnerable side of James Diamond, but only I ever see it. He always tries to put on this brave face, but only I can tell when he needs to let it all out.
"Yeah, I'm fine Kendall," he answers with a nod of the head as we sit on the plush couch in the other room.
"Your parents still ignoring you?"
"Yeah…They still won't accept me," I hear his voice shake as if he's about to cry. I hate hearing any of them cry. I actually hate the sound of crying in general. It makes me feel like I'm not doing my job right which kind of sucks. They all believe in me…I have to keep us together.
"Then screw them James," I speak with motivation as I place my hand on his shoulder. "I'm still here alright? You've still got me okay. Logan and Carlos are going to be there for you also. Who knows…maybe you and Car can get together when this is all over."
"WH-WHAT!? Kendall! He's…he's not like me," James whispers with a flustered smile as his cheeks turn hot pink. I already knew he had a little crush on Carlos even before he came out to me…I mean come on! It was beyond obvious.
"Hey Carlos. I-I like your jeans…they fit you perfectly."
Yeah…totally obvious. It doesn't matter though because they would actually make a cute couple. "Like it matters James. He hasn't had a girlfriend you know so maybe…you guys could maybe get well acquainted after we all escape together…I could totally be your best man bro."
"Hey! Why are we talking about marriage!?"
"What? Gay marriage is legal in New York isn't it?" I ask with my hands up in defense as James smiles again in humiliation as if he was spilling the secrets of his crush- oh wait…he is!
"I don't want to think about that. Not yet at least dude. Carlos is just…he's so different and- and he just makes me happy whenever I'm with him and-"
"Then tell him!" I whisper with excitement causing James to widen his eyes response as he whips his eyes all around him in order to make sure no one could hear us. All we hear is the continuous sound of simmering from the stove as well as Cat singing along to 'I Just Can't Wait to Be King' from the Lion King.
"I can't! What if he doesn't feel the same way?" James stares down at his lap pitifully like a disappointed little kid causing me to sigh in annoyance while shaking my head. He deserves love. James definitely deserves to finally be happy. After all the crap he's been through…God damn it. He needs to finally feel appreciated.
"He will…and even if he doesn't, he'll still love you like he always has. Carlos could never change the way he feels about you man. That's just who he is! Haha! Just like a lovable little puppy," I laugh whole heartedly causing James to break into a heartwarming smile.
"Hey! What about you? Are you still holding up okay from the whole…baby incident?" he asks me with a low tone of voice in order to keep the whole Me and Jo's baby stuff under wraps. It still hurts…even though it's been a year it still hurts.
"It still stings, but…I'll manage. Thanks Jamie. You'd make the perfect uncle though…all three of you would have made great uncles actually," I chuckle as I think about the entire ordeal. Four guys and a baby. Now that'll be a sight.
"You bet. I would totally help your little man with any fashion advice he's got and if it's a girl. I'm gay so obviously talking about boys wouldn't be an issue," James grins with a sparkle in his chestnut brown eyes causing me to let out a stifled laugh.
"You're something else James Diamond…" I sigh as I shake my head in amusement. All he does is grasp me with his arms and pull me in for a huge hug causing me to smile as if we were still kids.
"I love you Kendall…you're one of the best friends I've ever had," he says into my shoulder.
"Love you too James," I reply before we pull apart and I point to the three friendship bracelets on my wrist that resemble the colors of the rainbow. "Friends forever remember. All four of us. No matter what okay?"
He nods with a great sense of joy while showing me his bracelets as well. The one I made him still has that little blue stain on it from when I spilled some paint on the table. Boy was he upset…I stained his lucky white v-neck and ruined Logan's new calculator that fateful day. "Best friends forever," he beams before rising off the couch and pulling me up as well by the arm. "Now…about that plan?"
"Right! Here…I've go tell the others also. Rumor has it that the Katniss girl knows a way out."
"Katniss?" James gasps with a high pitched voice. "The scary transfer chick!"
"Yeah James, the scary transfer chick now come on."
Carlos' POV
I look over and see Kendall and James walking into the kitchen with proud grins as if they had just done something groundbreaking, but what's so groundbreaking about the demon boy surviving?
Logan looks over after he's added a handful of garlic and rushes over to the two tall boys with an eager look on his worried face. "So what now? Do we need to go up and talk to Beck? Should we question him or…or…"
Logie's gonna keel over if he keeps stressing out like this! His anxiety is going to go overboard if this keeps up. Kenny grasps Logan by the shoulders as gently as possible before telling him to breath slower in order to calm down and begins to speak with a great smile.
"No need…Beck told me everything I need to know. Supposedly, Tori and Katniss were with him before…you know. He told me that Katniss knows a way off this godforsaken island," as soon as he says those words everyone begins to smile with great excitement while cheering in an optimistic way. Carly and Cat begin jumping up and down with joined hands while Logan begin arching his brow in suspicion.
"Katniss? The girl who transferred here last year. We hardly know her! How are we supposed to trust her just like that?" he asks with his arms folded defensively causing James to roll his eyes as if he were speaking to his dad.
"C'mon Logie! This is the moment we've been waiting for! It's probably gonna be the only chance we'll have so I say we should take it," James states with a motivated tone to his voice while Carly joins in with an angelic smile. She's so nice.
"I'm totes in! Beck's always been trustworthy and if Tori's on board then I am too! Kacey even said that she believes Beck's plan should work! I say we join them," she cheers while placing her hands on her curved hips.
"Me too! Me too! I say we hook up and start trusting! United we stand! Yeah!" Cat cheers from her spot near the table while throwing her small hands in the air with a glass cup in each. They don't get it! None of them understand!
"Come on Logan…Everyone is in but you," Kendall sighs with a pleading look as if he's trying to convince his mom to buy him a new guitar. Yeah…Kendall is very convincing.
"Fine…I'm in. I do want to get out of here and I'm dying to get back to my practice medical kit. Now if you don't mind," Logan gave off a smirk before waltzing over to the long dinig table and taking a seat in one of the wooden chairs to continue reading his boring book about Doctor's dreaming or something. "I have a book to finish."
"You've read that book like a thousand times!" James snapped with a pouty voice. James is always so adorable…I wonder why he doesn't have a girlfriend yet. He's really, really cute!
"That's still not enough! Now…reading!" Logan snaps back while pointing his finger into the air and quickly invests himself within his book.
"Wow. I actually thought this would be harder…I mean he convinced me, but-" Kendall began but Carly quickly cut him off with a giggle.
"You're a great convincer to you know. Why do you think you're the leader?"
"True," Kendall arches his eyebrow with a look of pride before laughing kindly.
"Hey guys? I think the spaghetti's about done," Logan chimes while keeping his eyes glued to the pages of his book. James immediately clasps his hands together while sniffing the air longingly and groans in satisfaction.
"It's about time. I'm beyond starving," he chuckles while walking over to table in order to take his seat, but before he does so he comes over to me and gives me his hand. "You coming Carlos?" he asks with a warm smile. Jamie has always been the nicest to me…I nod with a grin before taking his hand like those people whenever they get asked to dance. His hands are so soft and warm too. I see everyone begin to prep the table for dinner except for Carly who is hastily rushing over to the pot like an eager house wife. I have to stop the demon boy…I have to. This may be my only chance and God…he's counting on me.
"Carly!" I croak from my spot by the chair which isn't surprising. I haven't had that much to drink since yesterday…I feel everyone's eyes fall onto me from my sudden outburst which makes me feel like I'm in school again and the teacher has called on me. I hated it when that happened. I especially hated it when he asked me to read. "L-Let me get it…I can fix Beck's bowl. I want to help. I-I think I should contribute too you know?"
At first they all look at me strangely considering I never talked on my own since they found me, but soon smiles melt onto their faces as well as kind looks that make me feel at ease. "Sure Carlos. That would be a big help," she gives a cheery smile before brushing a strand of her black hair behind her pale ear.
"Wait?" Kendall laughs with a wide smile as he looks at me with a relieved look on his face; his green eyes filled with hope while he placed some plates on the table. "Does this mean you're okay with…with Beck now Carlos?"
"Of course he is," James responded with a 'duh' sort of tone to his voice. "Carlos definitely signs on! He's with us alright!"
"Y-Yeah!" I cheer with a shining smile. As I finally reach the pot of steaming spaghetti which gives off a toasty breath of hot air that smells so delicious it makes my stomach hurt out of longing for it. "I'm with you. Kenny knows what he's talking about! He's the leader so what he says goes!"
"That's the spirit Carlos!" Cat giggles with a dreamy tone as she dances around the room in a twirling manner. The Disney song, Poor Unfortunate Souls from Little Mermaid suddenly came on causing everyone to laugh and drink in the nostalgia. Carly and Cat immediately began singing Ursula's part in the beginning with low manly voices as they danced around the room making creepy faces at one another.
"Okay then," Kendall speaks with amusement before moving off towards the table in order to help James with his duties.
"Oh wait! Beck needs his bandages changed or his wounds will become infected! Alright…uh, has anyone seen the first aid kit I used? I'll administer some pain meds while I'm at it," Logan chirps while getting up from the table with a determined look on his face as his medical alter ego comes back to the surface.
"I think they're over there on top of the pantry!" Cat gasps while ceasing her dancing and grabbing Carly by the wrist causing her to giggle in amusement. "C'mon Carly! Give me a boost."
"You do realize I'm a teenage girl who can't even lift a bag of dog food if her life depended on it right?" she laughs with a sigh before James begin to shout like some demanding officer with his hands cupped around his mouth even though it wasn't really needed.
"Hold it! Whose turn is it on lookout? Hello! We need someone up there ASAP! Anyone up for it?"
"I'll do it. After we eat that is," Kendall offers with his eyes gleaming as the rain finally starts to stop; letting the glowing sun begin to peek through the ash colored clouds.
They don't see…It's all up to me now. The son of God. All up to me.
"James! I was gonna get that!" Cat whines as James leans over her tiny body and grabs the medical kit on top of the wooden pantry. He was over a foot taller than her and plus her arms were hardly that long also.
"You were? You and what ladder Ms. Valentine?" he smirks with a perfect smile that shines from the orange sun that is shining through the window panes over the polished kitchen sink and counter.
"Meanie," Cat mutters while snatching the medical kit from James' hands and rushes over to hand it to Logan. None of them see.
I put a heaping amount of spaghetti into a crispy corn taco shell that was wrapped in packaging and place it onto the ceramic plate before scooping out a few meatballs as well. I stare at it while a smile comes onto my face. God only helps those who helps themselves…It's up to me.
I hear everyone's happy voices surrounding me as I dig into my jean pocket until I find what I'm looking for. Everyone's too busy doing their own thing too even notice me so I don't have to worry. I loom over the plate with wide eyes as I bring my hand over to it and smile longingly at what I have. A needle filled with rat poison and the tip of it gleaming from the sunlight…God put me here for a reason, I see that now. Praise the Lord our father. I slowly stick the needle inside a meatball and press the pump of the syringe in order to fill it with the blue poisonous liquid. I soon do this to every meatball on the plate until there is only a third of it left…This shall kill the demon boy for sure.
15 Students Remaining
There you have it! What did you think about everyone's backstories (James' coming to terms with his sexuality? Logan and his mother's battle against cancer)? What about Cat's secret personality that no one knows about? What will happen with Carlos' plot to take Beck out? Find out in the next Chapter of the 61st Annual Battle Royale Competition! Please remember to review!