Chapter III: Dark Dreams
Hello, again, GX fans! Wow! We're amazed yet again at the sheer amount of reviews we're getting. That's pretty cool, and we thank all of you that have reviewed. Now before we get to the story, we'd like to address an anonymous review that was less than cordial.
The allegation of sexism doesn't make sense to us. If it is because of Miss Fontaine's suggested treatment, we believe the reader has clearly missed the point of what is going on. The girls are seeing the school counselor after the summer they had; that's a given. But therapy is not quick enough for four young women who are clearly getting physically ill. Even with medication, these girls need something immediate to help them through this. And having their fiancés near them is a healthy way of coping with the trauma. The young women have been unconsciously keeping their friends and family away, when they should be having them close. So what Miss Fontaine is suggesting is a bit unorthodox, but actually good.
A second question was raised by LunarEclipse31 about Annie's intake of caffeine. Annie's previous heart condition, which was fortunately dealt with in "Nightmare Resurrection" and was a major recurring problem in "Summer Love, Summer Fears" was not triggered by caffeinated products. She is fortunate in that regard, that she can enjoy coffee, chocolate or tea. Thanks for all the questions, everyone! So onto the story!
Last time on "Yu-Gi-Oh GX: Darkness Falls": Jaden, Sy, Tyson and Bastion discovered that their fiancées had been having nightmares due to the events of the summer. Miss Fontaine decided that the best course of action to help the young women was to let their fiancés stay with them. But how will other people react to this? Read on!
Usual disclaimer: We don't own GX, but we own our OCs. We also don't own Weetabix, Vegemite or Violet Crumble.
As his fiancée slept, Jaden dialed Atticus Rhodes' extension number. 'He'll want to be up here and so will Chazz,' he thought.
Atticus had been relaxing in his room, sitting on his bed and practicing with his ukulele when the phone rang. He reached over and picked it up, setting the instrument aside. "Hello! Atticus talkin'!!"
"Hey, Atticus...it's Jaden...I'm up in Annie's room..."
Atticus blinked in surprise. "Annie's room? What are ya doin' up there??"
"Well, all the girls are up here...Atticus, something's wrong...Have you noticed how tired Lex has been lately?" the younger teen asked.
Atticus turned serious almost instantly when Jaden said something was wrong. "Yeah...but what's going on??"
"They're all sound asleep up here in Annie and Violet's suite. Miss Fontaine had to sedate them all last night...they've been waking up screaming the last few nights... They didn't tell us…" Jaden couldn't keep the pain out of his voice.
The oldest Rhodes brother's eyes widened. "Oh no... Didn't the counseling help?" The girls had seen counselors while they were in the hospital and in the weeks leading up to their return to school. The counselors had talked them through their fears and their nervousness, and helped Violet, Alexis, Rosa and Annie control their thoughts in the event of nightmares. 'If they had nightmares then,' Atticus thought, 'they were able to control them. And the school counselors have been talking to them too… Lexi, why can't I do better at protecting you?!'
Jaden sighed. "Not enough. They've talked it out, but… I guess they're still dealing with stuff and the counselor can't help with this part. I mean, they all look really sick," he explained, looking at his fiancée's pale features. Her usually creamy skin looked the color of curdled milk, accentuating the dark circles under her closed eyes.
"Is there any way to help them?" Atticus asked.
"Well...uh..." Jaden was glad Atticus couldn't see him flushing. "Atticus...Miss Fontaine has an idea...and it means...I'm moving into Obelisk, and so are Bastion and Tyson..."
Atticus blinked again in surprise. "Well, that's cool and all, but can I ask how that's gonna help??" he asked, very puzzled at this.
"Well...we move in with the girls..." Despite what had happened in the summer, Jaden now had a vision of an enraged Atticus and Chazz coming up and throttling him until he was unconscious. 'Okay, that's probably not going to happen,' he thought, 'but then again…maybe it could…' He sweat-dropped, unable to get the picture out of his head…
In Jaden's imagination… "SLACKER! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Chazz shouted, his face red as he ran after Jaden.
"CHAZZ! I'M TRYING TO HELP!" Jaden shouted, pleading for clemency, even as he ran for the woods much like the Road Runner. However, Atticus joined in the chase and the scene ended much like The Simpsons, with the two Rhodes brothers playing the part of Homer Simpson, strangling Jaden as Bart. Out of his imagination Jaden knew such a scenario was unlikely, but he still couldn't help but worry.
Atticus's jaw dropped. "W-What??"
"Yeah...we'd have the same sleeping arrangements we did this summer. Since they didn't have nightmares while we were with them," Jaden explained. "Atticus, it might work, because if the counseling isn't doing it and medication won't, then this might. And I promise you I'll be good to Alexis."
Atticus was a little shocked, but was all right with it so long as it helped his sister and the other girls. "Well...okay. Have you told Chazz yet?"
"No... Is he hanging around with you by any chance?" the Slifer asked, hoping to get this over with in one shot.
"Nope. Just me here...oh, can I come up and check on Lexi??" Atticus asked hopefully.
"Yeah...I'm sure that's okay! Let me ask Miss Fontaine..." He did and she approved. "Just meet up with Jesse and the guys at Dorothy's in 15 minutes, okay?"
"Uh, okay. I'll see you in a little while, Jay. And be sure to call and tell Chazz!"
"Okay! Thanks, Atticus! See you in a bit!" With that, Atticus hung up, and went to get ready before heading to Dorothy's. Jaden swallowed as he hung up. This next call wouldn't be easy.
"Hello, you've reached The Chazz," Chazz Rhodes greeted, sprawled on the big couch in his dorm room, dressed in his new bright red blazer. Chazz had decided toward the end of the summer that wearing red wasn't a bad thing, so he'd finally gotten fitted for the blazer of the dorm he belonged to.
"Hi, Chazz," Jaden greeted back.
"Hey, Slacker," the other teen returned in a brotherly teasing tone.
"Chazz...meet your brother at Dorothy's in 15 minutes, okay? You need to follow him up to Violet and Annie's room. Lex is up here and so are the others."
"Huh?" Chazz asked, sitting up abruptly.
"Chazz...they're not feeling good..."
"WHAT? What's wrong with my sister?"
"She hasn't really been..."
"Sleeping well? Yeah, she's been looking like a zombie...Is she okay?" Chazz had noticed yesterday how Alexis had been leaning against a wall, her eyes closed. He hadn't chosen to confront her, but had figured she was having an off day. 'Why didn't I say something?' he thought to himself angrily.
"She's on heavy meds so she'll sleep...just get up here and we'll fill you in," Jaden assured his future brother-in-law.
"Okay...see you in a bit!" They hung up and Chazz ran from Slifer all the way to Dorothy's. He made it to the snack shop with five minutes to spare. "I...hope...I'm not late," he puffed.
"Yo, bro!" Atticus greeted, poking his head around the corner of the hall. He'd been standing outside, waiting for his brother
"Hey...big...bro...what's wrong...with Lexi?" Chazz puffed. "Hey...guys," he greeted the four students from the other academies who had just arrived and were standing behind Atticus. Atticus blinked, glancing over his shoulder to see the four exchange students standing behind him. He yelped in surprise and jumped back, practically tackling Chazz in the process.
Jesse blinked. "What are you two doin' here?" he asked.
"Jaden called me and said to meet you guys," Chazz answered, finally catching his breath.
"They're probably going to check on the girls, mate. But we have to get those snacks first," Jim stated in explanation.
"Snacks?" Chazz asked.
"Yeah...Miss Fontaine's treating us!" Adrian explained with a slight grin. "We're also supposed to pick up Bastion, Tyson, Sy and Jaden's pajamas. They're staying over in the girls' room tonight..."
"Do you two know anything the guys like from here?" Jesse asked.
"Jaden eats everything, Jesse," Chazz groaned. "And Bastion...he likes the filled rice balls. Tyson likes just about everything and Syrus...he hates anything with spinach in it..."
"He hates spinach?" Axel asked. "No wonder he's so small..."
"No...He's small but he's gotten bigger," Adrian said calmly.
Jesse scratched his head. "So...rice balls, nothing with spinach, and we can just pick the rest? Well that sure sounds easy enough," he replied as they entered.
"Hi, Dorothy!" Atticus greeted.
"Hello, boys, what can I get you?" the plump happy woman asked, straightening her glasses.
"Uh, this is gonna be a heapin' order, Miss Dorothy. Miss Fontaine said to put it on her account. We'll take an order of rice balls, some sandwiches, popcorn, cheese puffs, and some cookies, please," Jesse explained, sweat-dropping a bit at the large order.
"Let me guess...Jaden's involved?" she asked, smiling at Jesse and the other boys.
"How'd you know, Miss Dorothy?" Chazz, Axel and Adrian asked, stunned.
"I've watched Jaden for over two years now...I know him very well," she answered with a warm smile.
"Well, see, the girls haven't been feeling well lately. They haven't been able to get much sleep because of nightmares, so the guys are gonna stay with them," Atticus explained.
"Oh, goodness. Annie's been drinking a lot of my lattes to stay awake in all of her classes. Alexis has been drinking a lot of green tea, and Rosa and Violet have been drinking hot chocolate like it's water. They're all looking like they haven't gotten any sleep at all...But Bastion, Tyson, Syrus and Jaden are staying with them tonight?" the card shack/snack shop owner asked.
"Yeah," Adrian said. "The girls are all taking a heavy medication so they'll sleep."
"That's why we're takin' them some snacks, and their pajamas," added Jesse.
"Oh, that's good. Jim, honey, I got something for Shirley and for you, too, okay?" she said, handing the Australian boy a big package.
Jim blinked in surprise, and Shirley growled curiously from her place on Jim's back. "What's this, Dorothy?" he asked.
"Did a little checking on what Shirley might like for treats. And I checked with South Academy for snacks for you. You're such a nice boy and you've been so nice to our animals, I thought you should have a little something. There are some pig trotters, sausages and fish snacks for Shirley and Vegemite, Weetabix and Violet Crumble for you," Dorothy said.
Jim grinned. "Thanks, Miss Dorothy. I'm sure Shirley and I will enjoy what you got for us. It wasn't necessary, but we're glad you got that for us," he replied gratefully.
"No problem, Jim. You boys all take care of yourselves. And make sure those four boys rest too," she instructed in a very motherly way.
"We will, Dorothy! Thanks again!!" Atticus replied with a grin as they left.
"So, Atticus, Jaden said they were staying tonight...Is anything else going to happen?" Chazz asked, worried. The young men walked out of the main school building and into the late afternoon sunshine.
"I think he mentioned something about them moving into the Obelisk dorms to be closer to the girls," Atticus replied as they headed down the dirt path.
"Into Obelisk?!" Chazz yelped.
"Yeah, to help make sure they sleep well," Axel explained.
"Yeah. What's wrong with that, Chazz?" Jesse asked, looking at the Slifer, extremely puzzled.
"Nothing! It's just...all of them?!"
Jim blinked. "Well, yes, mate. They all need to be there for their Sheilas," he replied.
"Oh, okay...Man...Slifer won't be the same..."
"Well, we can always visit them at Obelisk, bro," reminded Atticus.
"I used to live there...remember?"
Atticus nodded. "Yeah, you told me."
"And now Jaden's moving up...finally...and I'm still in there," Chazz sighed.
Atticus frowned, thinking that Chazz was envious. "Bro, it's for a good reason. Besides, Slifer can't be all that bad..."
Chazz groaned, and what he said next would surprise his big brother. "Yeah yeah yeah...well...I can't believe I'm saying this..."
"Saying what?"
"That I didn't mind being in Slifer as long as Jaden was there," Chazz groaned again. "He always had everybody around him...and everybody's happier when he's down there..."
By now they were making their way through the Obelisk dorms, and Jesse placed a hand on Chazz's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry, Chazz! I'll still be hanging out there!!"
"Oh, lord," Chazz groaned. 'Just what I need… Southern Jaden,' he thought. Sure he loved Jaden like a brother now, but that didn't mean Chazz wanted to hang out with him or his Mississippi counterpart 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
"Now, bro, that's Zane's line." Atticus stated.
"He's not here, in case you haven't noticed," the younger Rhodes boy pointed out.
The 19-year-old Obelisk blinked. "Oh yeah. I guess you can say it, then. I mean, we need someone like Zane around to be all serious sometimes."
"I'm pretty serious," Adrian said with a smile. "That's what my friend Echo says. And she's right about a lot of stuff..." 'It's a good thing the adoption was never finalized. Otherwise, I'd be going to Hell,' he thought, thinking of the lovely young woman he'd been friends with and that the world thought was his sister.
"So am I," Axel said, perfectly straight-faced. He was a fairly serious young man, but did know how to have fun. And right now, it was fun to be the straight man.
"Oh, great," Chazz groaned. The young men chatted quietly as they made their way to the Obelisk dorm and into the building. They took the elevator, and then they were at Annie and Violet's room.
Jesse knocked. "Hey guys, we're back!" he called through the door.
Jaden came to the door. "Thanks, guys, for doing that. Hey, Chazz, Atticus...Lex probably won't be awake until tomorrow...Did you get my pajamas?"
"Yep. Got 'em all right here," Jesse grinned and held up a bag as they entered the room.
"Thanks, Jesse, Jim, Axel, Adrian. You guys rock! Atticus, did you and Chazz bring pajamas, too?" Jaden asked eagerly.
"Uh...I didn't. Did you, bro?" Atticus asked.
"Oh, crap, did I forget to mention that you guys could stay tonight, too, since you're family?" Jaden asked. Then in Annie's room, Annie stirred and cried out.
"Sy," she moaned softly.
Syrus was instantly by her side, taking her hand. "Annie? Can you hear me??" he asked.
"Don't," she whimpered, face flushed and brows furrowed, as if she were in pain. "Sy...please..."
Syrus's grip on her hand tightened. "Annie, it's okay...it's just a dream...I'm right here," he murmured, sitting on the bed next to her, trying to calm her.
"Don't jump in after me," she whimpered. "Just let me go..."
Syrus blinked. "Jump in...? Oh, Annie, I wish I knew what you were talking about..."
"Camula, please, don't hurt him," she moaned weakly, tears coming to the edges of her closed eyes.
His eyes widened. "C-Camula? You're..." And then Syrus remembered how Annie had been suspended over the river. "You're having a nightmare about...about if I lost..."
"NO, SY!!!" she screamed out as if being tortured. But even with the nightmare, she wasn't waking up.
Miss Fontaine was in the bedroom in an instant. "She shouldn't be like this," she murmured, checking Annie's pulse, relieved that at least the girl's heart rate wasn't going irregular again. She looked at Sy. "Syrus...do you have any idea of what's wrong?"
"I-I think she's having a nightmare about what would have happened if...if I lost the shadow duel with Camula," he explained, brushing Annie's bangs with his free hand.
"Oh my...it's bad if it's broken through this level of sedative...I can't do any higher than this," Miss Fontaine murmured, wishing there was more she could do than what was being done.
Syrus didn't know what to do, and then it happened again. "Leave me alone," Violet groaned, eyes clenched shut and fingers twitching.
Bastion, sitting on the other side of the bed, took his love's hand gently. "Violet, darling...It's a dream...I swear it isn't real, now," he murmured, knowing that she had Taniya and Mike to contend with in her nightmares.
Violet jerked away at the touch, flinching lightly. "Go away," she moaned, seemingly to Bastion but in reality to her nightmare.
"Violet...who's scaring you?" Bastion asked her, raising his voice, and hoping she heard him. "I'm here...Bastion's here..."
"BASTION!!!" she screamed, tears brimming at the edges of her closed eyes. She was shaking, clearly with terror at what was going on in the landscape of her dreams.
"I'm right here, love...I'm right here," Bastion murmured, gathering her into his arms. He hoped the physical contact would do something to help her calm down. By now, Syrus had tried the same method with Annie, and both girls seemed to relax a little.
As if things couldn't get any worse, it started again. "Annie...Jay," Alexis breathed, worry obvious in her tone.
Jaden was sitting in Violet's room where Alexis and Rosa lay. "Lex," he murmured. Chazz and Atticus sprinted into the bedroom to stand behind him.
"Sis?" Chazz called out, worry clear in his face, eyes and tone of voice.
"Lexi..?" Atticus whispered, as worried as his little brother.
Alexis gritted her teeth for a moment, hands clenching and unclenching. "No... Yubel... Leave him alone..."
"Yubel?" Jaden murmured. "Lex...she's not going to hurt us anymore," he called out to her, holding her wrist since her hands were tightly clenched.
But Alexis didn't seem to hear him. "No...no, stop... stop..."
"Alexis..." Jaden held her gently in his arms. "Babe," he murmured, hoping this would help her somehow. She relaxed a little, and of course it came as no surprise when Rosa spoke up.
"It...burns," the Spanish girl groaned in her native language, shivering.
"Rosa...darlin'," Tyson said in Spanish, gathering her close to him too.
Rosa tensed as if shocked, then relaxed a little. "No...don't take him," she quietly begged again.
"Spanish Rose...oh, darlin'," Tyson whispered again, wishing he could go into her head and beat back the nightmare form of Jose and that snake. Finally, all four girls seemed to relax back into their deep sleep, comforted by their loves' embraces.
"This is bad," Jaden groaned, looking at his future brothers-in-law as his fiancée slept in his arms.
"Yeah," Chazz added, looking worried.
Tyson sighed. "She was dreamin' of that night..." It still stung him that he hadn't been able to protect her, but as the child of a soldier, he knew there were some things that he couldn't protect Rosa from.
"Little sis," Atticus breathed, sadness filling his eyes.
In the other room, similar feelings were held by the other two boys. "Miss Fontaine, how could they be so bad that not even your sedative worked?" Syrus asked.
"The traumas they all faced this summer...it's just strong enough to break through is all I can think of," Miss Fontaine sighed.
"Do...Do you think it'll be like this for the rest of their lives?" the blue-haired boy asked fearfully.
"No, Syrus...sometimes it takes a while to get over these kinds of traumas...some longer than others. And they all faced death, abuse...a lot of things this summer. A lot of people would be worse off than them after facing all that. It's as if they've been through a war. The fact that they're even sane is a miracle. If you four boys hadn't stood by them, I don't know if they'd be okay now," the nurse explained. "It's why I think having you four with Alexis, Violet, Rosa and Annie may help them, even though it's an unusual tactic. You may each be able to help where the counseling and medicine haven't," Miss Fontaine concluded gently, laying a hand on Sy's shoulder.
Syrus looked sadly at Annie. "Annie...I'll be here until you wake up...I promise," he murmured again, brushing her bangs again.
"She knows, bro...she knows," Jaden said from where he was, still cuddling Alexis.
"Syrus...you were there for her...She knows you won't abandon her," Bastion added, keeping Violet close to him.
Sy nodded. "Violet, Alexis, and Rosa know you guys won't abandon them, either...."
"No, we wouldn't," they answered.
Meanwhile, none of them could see the eyes watching them from every shadow, every inch of darkness in the large room. Only their owner could hear its cackle, easily seeing the darkness in each of the humans' hearts. "Humans...filled with such darkness. Soon, they will be in the World of Darkness where they belong. It is impossible to avoid the inevitable. Soon this world will be cleansed as they give in to the Darkness," the creature hissed, voice once again audible to only its ears. Another shadowy figure stood behind it, hidden by the shadows with only his evil grin visible. It appeared that the girls and guys were not safe yet...
So it begins again… A new villain has reared its head and its name is Darkness. What will happen next for our gang? Of course, the faculty/staff council has to convene to discuss the sleeping arrangements and the potential ramifications of said arrangements. So next time, please stay tuned for "Awakening Decisions." So until then, please read, review and stay tuned for the next exciting installment of "Darkness Falls!" Thank you and happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it, and a blessed Passover/ Pesach to all of you of the Jewish faith!