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~it'srose xoxo


Chapter 17: Unexpected

Friday night, everyone arrived at Vic's house around 7. They were all pretty excited for their game of manhunt. (Hide and seek in the dark.) Everyone was all decked out in black so it would be harder to see anyone. They played this game a lot back in middle school and to this day, or night, they still found it enjoyable.

Vic's house was perfect for this game since he lived on a small lake out in the country. He had a little dock out by the lake and woods that were pretty spooky. They always ran out into the woods years ago and promised themselves that one day, they'd build a tree house at their favorite tree.

Their favorite tree was a huge HUGE oak one and was right in the very center of the woods. They had all carved their names into it when they were in sixth grade. It's always been a sweet memory to look back on whenever they visited the big tree.

"Alright," Vic started as the group sat out on his backyard deck, "My folks will be home in about four Hours so we have that much time to play. Now that we all have cellphones, it'll be much easier splitting up and not getting lost." When he said this, everyone looked at Gar.

"Whaaaaat...I'm never good with directions..." He moaned.

"We know." Rachel added. Everyone laughed.

Vic spoke again, "The people who are it will always be a couple. So me and Karen will go first."

"What! You're just saying that so you can have alone time!" Wally yelled while making kissy faces. Karen smacked him on the head and he quieted down.

"If anyone is lost or in trouble or something, text me or Kar. The safe spot is the big oak tree."

Everyone nodded and readied themselves to take off into the woods. When Vic was positive there were no questions, they headed into the dark woods.

When they reached the big oak tree, Vic and Karen turned to them. "Okay, we'll count to one hundred." Said Karen. Once the couple turned to face the tree, everyone took off in different directions. Hopefully this game turned out as fun as they hoped it to be.

TT

Gar ended up with Rachel, Wally, and Jenny in their own little hiding spot. They sat down behind a few bushes and decided to make small talk to kill some time.

"Do you think they'll find us?" Asked Wally a little too loudly.

Jenny hit him on the arm. "Quit talking so loud and try won't!"

He rubbed his arm and scoffed at his girlfriend. "You're a little too rough Jen."

"That's what she said!" Gar added. The two boys burst out in laughter as Rachel and Jenny shook their heads. They truly did feel sorry for their idiotic selves sometimes.

"This game is dumb. I could be finishing my book right now." Said Rachel blandly. She flicked a bug off her shoulder and sniffed.

"I know. It's freezing out here!" Jenny whispered. She rubbed her hands together and Wally wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey Rachel are you cold?" Gar asked the monotone.

"No."

"Welll if you are then-

"Don't finish that sentence."

Gar shrunk back and smiled sheepishly. He then checked his phone. It was 7: 23 and they'd been sitting there for a good five minutes.

Just then there was a sound of leaves crunching. Gar and the rest of them huddled closer together and tried to stay quiet. For some reason, every time Wally and Gar had to stay quiet, they always wanted to laugh. So they were trying to fight back bits of laughter in fear of getting caught. Jenny and Rachel shook their heads in disappointment.

Rachel couldn't take it anymore and she stood up giving away their spot. "Alright. I give up. Sorry Vic, Karen. I-"

She stopped mid sentence as Wally, Gar, and Jenny looked at her in confusion. Rachel's face never looked like this. Her face was paler and was filled with some sort of emotion. An emotion no one ever Witnessed on Rachel Roth.

Fear.

"Rae..." Gar said. She didn't sat anything. She just stared ahead, frozen with fear. "Rachel what's wrong?"

Gar stood up and grabbed her arm. When he turned to look at what she was staring at, he froze with fear as well. Soon, Jenny and Wally stood up. The four teens just stood there, scared and slightly confused.

Right there in front of them was a gigantic creature made of all stone. He had red eyes and was very square. He was a Cinderblock.

TT

"Jade." Roy tried matching Jade's walking pace as she kept getting ahead of him. "When are you going to talk to me? You can't keep this up forever you know."

Jade stopped and looked at him. He stopped with her and Toni and Alain passed them. "I can and I will. You still haven't changed." She replied.

She began walking again and he caught up with her-again. "Can't we just try and work this out?"

"I think you guys should. I hate seeing you this way mates." Toni added as she and Alain still walked ahead.

Jade rolled we eyes and kept walking, arms crossed. "Roy, I love you. I really do." A spark of hope and excitement flashed in Roy's eyes. "But you don't understand how much it hurts to see the person you love, change into a different person."

Roy's face slumped. He really had her Jade...he mentally kicked himself and promised to somehow make her his again. "I know...and I'm sorry." He took her hand in his as they were walking. "Please, just give me another chance."

A long silence engulfed the four teens. Jade steed at their interlocked hands and memories of her And Roy when they were together came rushing back to her head. She felt tears sting in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she slipped her hand out of his, "but..I just can't. Not until you prove to me that you're the old Roy. The one I know and love for who he really is." She began walking ahead of not only him but also Toni and Roy.

Roy sighed in frustration. He just wanted his angel back. Alain turned around to his depressed cousin and said, "Just give her time dude."

"Or show her you are the old Roy." Toni added.

Roy pondered their advice for a bit. He like Toni's advice more. Not just because she was a girl but also because it was what Jade wanted.

All of a sudden there was an ear piercing scream that sounded. It made the three teens jump and Roy immediately ran to where the scream was, knowing it was Jade's.

when he reached his not far destination, he knelt down next to Jade who had fallen on her butt in fear. But Roy himself shrank back in fear. There, about ten feet away, stood a tall black figure with four red eyes and no mouth or nose. It looked like one of the ghosts on PAC man except bigger, scarier, and darker. Plus the figure's eyes were much smaller and more like slits. Lets just say it was pretty scary.

Toni and Alain quickly caught up with them and Roy fumbled aimlessly in his pocket for his phone. The figure just stood there-or floated- and stared creepily at them. Roy quickly dialed Vic's number and he picked up on the third ring.

"V-Vic," he stuttered not taking his eyes off of the monster, "we have a serious problem."

TT

Kori and Richard walked quietly and stealthily next to each other. Kori giggled quietly and Richard looked over at her curiously.

"What are you laughing about?"

She laughed again and just stopped walking. He smiled and stopped next to her. "I don't know...it's just funny. This game, ya know? How we use to be so...so out there with this game." She started walking again.

"What do you mean?" Asked Richard confusingly. He walked next to her and slipped his hands in his pockets.

"I don't know...I just miss being young and carefree..." She trailed off. He didn't say anything but in his head, he agreed.

Kori then pondered the thought of talking to Richard about the whole phone ordeal. She figured now was a good time since they were alone and had nothing to talk about.

"Hey Richard," She started and he looked over at her, "remember how you asked if I had feelings for you?"

He slowly nodded his head as if he knew where this was going. Kori stopped and stared at him. Her green eyes were barely visible in the darkness. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what she was about to say next. "I do have feelings for you."

Richard stared at her in shock. But his gaze softened and he took her hands in his. "I know..."

"Wait what?" She asked. She was obviously confused and didn't think she heard him right.

"I know you do." He looked away, shame written all over his face. "Look, the other night on the phone, I heard everything...I was just a little surprised and slightly scared."

She was a little hurt that he lied to her and wondered why he did. "Why did you lie then? And what were you afraid of?"

"Kori, I've had feelings for you since the third grade. But were best friends. I was afraid it would ruin our friendship...afraid of trying something new...afraid of losing you."

She stared at him in disbelief. Then she felt tears sting in her eyes. "You don't have to be scared," she placed her hands on his cold cheeks, "I'm here...and you have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment."

He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. She nuzzled her head in his broad shoulder. Everything was so perfect. This moment, right now, was perfect. Finally, the truth has been let out and maybe, just maybe, they could finally be together.

"Isn't that sweet."

Kori and Richard whipped there heads around to the sound the snide comment. Richard immediately stood in front if Kori protectively. His face turned in a look if pure venom and disgust.

"What the hell are you doing here." Richard demanded. Kori was confused and fear was shown in her eyes. She clung to Richard's arm tightly and he vowed he wouldn't let this horrible villain touch her.

"That's no way to treat an old friend, kid." The guy said in a sarcastic tone.

"You are no friend of mine," Richard clenched his fists and suddenly wondered how this past villain even knew who he was and where he was, "Red X."