Chapter 12 (HauntedThangs)

Bolin sighed, squeezing Rachel's hand softly, the couple was heading towards their 'starting point', as they had challenged Natalie and Mako, and Tess and Jet to the annual 'Couples Race' in the Haunted Castle of Ember Island.

Most couples never made it through without ringing their little pager thing and quitting, it was said to be rather terrifying.

Which brings us back to Bolin's sigh. 'Why did I agree to this? I hate haunted houses.' Bolin thought miserably, but one look at Rachel's excited face silenced all complaints. She looked so eager, how could Bolin turn her down now? He sighed on last time, resigning himself to his fate as they entered their starting room.

Jet grinned, watching as his girlfriend hopped from foot to foot. She was very competitive when she wanted to be, and when it came to races she seemed to really want to be.

Tess turned to look at him, "Jet are you focusing? I want to win so I can remind Natalie and Rachel who's the baddest bitch."

Jet laughed, looking into her sweet brown eyes and wondering how she could ever be the baddest bitch, "Alright babe, whatever you say."

'I'm so ready to win, Jet and I are gonna kill at this!' Tess thought in excitement

'I can't wait for her to get scared and leap in my arms.' Jet thought, a sly grin sliding onto his face as he pictured aforementioned scene, snaking a hand around Tess's waist.

Mako rolled his eyes for what felt like the millionth time that night, before wrapping his arms around his girlfriend, Natalie, and humming for a moment to soothe her, "Why did you agree to this if you're so afraid of it?" Mako asked, laughing when she puffed a small wisp of smoke up at him, the sound vibrating through his chest and causing her to smile.

"You know I can't say no to a challenge like this. I gotta try it." She said, pouting.

Mako rolled his eyes for the millionth and 1st time, before smiling and kissing her forehead gently, "Well, this should be funny for me to watch at least."

"You'll protect me though won't you?"

"Yeah, maybe. I guess."

Three loud beeps, all in rapid succession, sounded from each groups' pager, signaling the beginning of the race.

Rachel laughed, clapping her hands in excitement, "C'mon, let's go."

Bolin raised a curious eyebrow as Rachel dragged him down a hall leading god knows where, "I thought you were afraid of the dark?" He questioned, pondering her motivation.

"Yeah, but Natalie, Tess, and I all put in 50 bucks for the winner. I want another 100 dollars. I could use some new clothes." Rachel replied eagerly, "Now come on, all we have to do is get out of here first and we win!" She finished, taking a sharp left and jerking Bolin along behind her.

Tess marched along confidently, Jet trailing behind her a few feet, hands in his pockets, 'This isn't quite what I thought it'd be…' Jet thought, feeling slightly put off.

"I think we should go right, what do you think Jet?" Tess asked, snapping Jet out of his stupor.

"Uh, yeah, right sounds good to me." Jet answered, shrugging.

"Sounds good to me? Sounds good to me?" Tess hissed, whipping around to face Jet, "Get 'cha head in the game Jet."

"I gotta get my head in the game?"

"You gotta get 'cha, get your head in the game. I have money and bragging rights resting upon our victory. If we win, you will be rewarded I promise, so let's go win." Tess said, grabbing Jet's shirt and pulling him down to her eye level.

Jet swallowed, his eyes widening slightly, "Uh, ye- yes ma'am."

Mako raised a judgmental eyebrow, "So you bet we would get out first?" He said slowly.

"Yep."

"But you don't actually care if we win…?"

"No."

"I, hmmm..." Mako replied, cutting off his own reply with a pleasured hum, leaning against the stone wall Natalie had him trapped against, as she pressed soft kisses right below his ear.

"Nope, I just thought it would be fun if we went into a scary castle."

"And you weren't scared. You just wanted to be close to me?" Mako questioned, eyes shut as he grinned, "Aww, if you wanna hold hands you can just ask."

Natalie frowned, pulling her lips off his neck to give him a 'look', "You know, we can just go through the castle. I can just earn 100 bucks and be just as happy." She snapped, stepping back further cocking her head and putting a hand on her hip.

Mako pouted, wrapping his arms around her waist and spinning them so that Natalie's back was against the wall, she put up no resistance but her face remained peeved, "Aww, don't be that way babe." Mako whined, emphasizing babe. He grinned obnoxiously, pressing gentle kisses all over her face.

Natalie rolled her eyes, "You are really cruising for a bruising aren't you mister? You know I hate when you call me babe. You. Know."

Mako chuckled, finally reaching her pouty lips with his, "I know I know. I like to bother you. I owe you hours of bothering. You know that, babe."

Natalie sighed, 'I'm rubbing off in the wrong way."

"So, haunted castles are pretty… hot. Huh?" Jet questioned, obviously hinting at something.

"No, it's pretty cool in here I think." Tess replied, smiling.

Jet sighed, "No I mean the atmosphere, its-"

"CREEPY RIGHT?" Tess exclaimed, "Thank Agni that I'm not afraid of this kinda stuff."

Jet sighed, realizing that this was going nowhere but out of the castle.

"Rachel?" Bolin called out nervously, the pair had gotten separated in a maze of mirrors.

"Rachel, are you there?" He yelled, walking slowly down the corridor the mirror maze had left him at.

"Well, shit." Bolin muttered, speeding up, "I lost Rachel, and now I'm lost."

"Shithole."

"Bolin?" Rachel said quietly, looking around for her boyfriend.

She had emerged on what seemed to be an upper level, she looked out the window, it seemed to be the third floor. She turned back to the hallway, the mirror room door had disappeared.

"Well fuck." Rachel muttered, starting to nervously jog down the hall towards a different door, "I gotta get out of heeere. And then I have to get someone to find Bolin, fuck, fuck, fuuuck."

"You know, I really like the dark." Tess said thoughtfully

Jet perked up slightly, sensing a chance to get what he came here for, "Oh? I love the dark. You can do so many things in it…." He trailed off suggestively.

Tess smiled, a wicked gleam in her eyes, "Yeah, like sneak around and make sandwiches, or listen to music, or, like, sleep."

Jet visibly deflated again, "Yep. Sleep is so great. And music. And se… nevermind."

Tess furrowed her brow, "You ok? We need to bE IN TOP CONDITION TO WIN." She finished strongly.

"But, can't you just, like feel your way there." Jet muttered more to himself than her.

"We must be the most nimble." Tess replied very seriously, trekking ahead.

"Hmmmm, tell me again just how great I am?" Natalie murmured, grinning against Mako's bare chest as she slowly made her way down.

"You're the most beautiful and charming person I know, and you're a total babe." Mako spoke softly.

Natalie stopped, her hands in the middle of unbuttoning his pants, "Did you just say babe again. Really. Really. I'm about to suck your dick."

Mako rolled his eyes, "Oh spirits, I was joking." He groaned.

Natalie frowned, but continued her current task.

The couple continued their current 'activities', completely oblivious to Bolin's noisy entrance, whom was calling out to see if anyone was there.

"Oh, Mako, Natali-IIIIEEEEEEEEEE. HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY FUCKING SHIT." Bolin screamed, whipping around and bolting as fast as he could in the opposite direction.

Natalie watched Bolin run off in silence as Mako rushed to pull up his pants, "Bo, wait we-… Well fuck."

Natalie looked up at Mako shrugging in sympathy, before bursting out into a fit of laughter, collapsing back on the floor as she laughed, tears forming in her eyes.

"Yeah, haha very funny." Mako muttered under his breath.

Natalie stood up, finally recovering from her bout of laughter, "C'mon, why don't we take this, over there?" Natalie said, practically purring, although it was obvious from her expression she was barely containing her laughter. Mako huffed, but allowed himself to be led into the room.

"AHAHA! WE DID IT. I WON. I ALWAYS WIN. I AM THE WINNER. I AM NUMBER ONE." Tess yelled doing her victory dance in a circle as Jet stood off to the side, looking rather frustrated.

"So… what do I get? What is my prize?" Jet questioned, remembering her promise.

Tess blinked, before moving closer and pecking him on the nose, "Mwah, there you go!" She exclaimed, before continuing her dance

Tess continued her celebration for a few moments, before suddenly Rachel burst out of the castle.

"I LOST BOLIN FAHK. GUYS YOU GOTTA HELP ME FIND HIM!" Rachel yelled as she ran towards the pair.

"Whoa, easy girl." Jet said, grabbing her shoulders to calm her, "Bolin is probably fine, give him some time to get out on his own, and, just, take a deep breath."

"He's alone in the dark." Rachel whimpered

After about 20 minutes passed, Bolin did indeed find his own way out. Running and screaming something about burning.

Rachel quickly paid Tess her 50 dollars, and she and Bolin left to go cuddle and talk about kittens and things that aren't sucky.

Tess and Jet waited patiently waited for Natalie and Mako to make it out.

Finally, two hours after Bolin fled the castle, Natalie and Mako emerged, looking rather pleased with themselves.

Tess turned to Jet and whispered "They were totally doing the sexual things in there, I can tell I have a sense about those kinds of things. They were totally giving off the vibes when we were about to enter the castle, I'm very observant you know, I can pick up on even the most subtle hints" she gave a sly smile to Jet and turned to the approaching couple. Jet's eye twitched as he thought 'really, REALLY! THEY were giving off 'THE VIBES', can sense those kinds of things she says'.

As Natalie came closer Tess grinned, "PAY UP BITCH." She exclaimed, holding her hands out.

Natalie just shrugged and forked up 50 dollars.

"HA. I WON. What NOW. Bragging rights are miiine!" Tess exclaimed as she turned and headed off towards her car.

Jet frowned, narrowing his eyes at Natalie and Mako, both of them just grinning sheepishly as they headed to Mako's motorcycle.

Jet stopped Natalie, "Natalie, I need you to help me." Jet said after a long awkward staring contest.

"What do you need, buttercup?" Natalie replied cheerily.

"Well…." Jet trailed off, pausing before explaining his problem.

"So, why did you call me into your room in the middle of the night?" Tess asked, looking at Natalie curiously.

"We need to talk." Natalie said solemnly.

"What ab-"

"Sex baby."

"Wat." Tess said, backing up slightly with suspicion

"LETS TALK ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS, AND THE BAD THINGS THAT M-"

"NATALIE." Mako hollered from his bed, "Stop. Please, stop." He finished, burying his face into his pillow.

Natalie gave an over exaggerated frown, "Well, anyways, we need to talk about your sex life."

"Why." Tess asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Well, I'm concerned about Jet's mental health, he wants you bad. Look, guys really like it when you use your tongue to-"

"I don't wanna hear about your sexual exploitey things, or your advice or anything." Tess said stuttering on her words while standing and turning to flee.

"Tess, wait, no you can, like, join if you think that will help, don't, leave, I, oh ok. See you tomorrow." Natalie said, watching Tess's quick retreat.

"What are you doing?" Mako groaned from his pillow.

"Sorry, just trying to enjoy life."

"Go the fuck to sleep babe."