Chapter 5

AN: Here is the newest chapter. I apologise if it's absolutely terrible. Feel free to let me know what you think in a review.

On Earth, something peculiar was happening. All the shadows appeared to be merging together to form one massive shadow. From this shadow, a hand was fashioned followed by the other hand, legs and torso quickly following. Eventually a head was also formed. The newly-created human turned around and slowly opened their eyes...

"Ah, this is the life!" Toby sighed, flopping onto the sofa, completely relaxed. Wrapped within his embrace was Jessica, who was smiling up at him.

"You can say that again!" Nick agreed, opening a can of lemonade. The four friends chinked their cans together in a toast.

" What film are we watching again?" Lucas asked as he and Nick settled onto the other sofa, armed with drinks and popcorn.

"The Mist." Nick replied, holding up the DVD cover. They all looked toward the TV as the film began. "It's supposed to be a really good film, apparently."

Within an hour of the film's opening, poor Jessica had spent the majority of the film still wrapped in Toby's arms. She then, unluckily, looked up at the wrong moment and saw a man being ripped apart by an octopus-like creature. Jessica blanched, looking really ill. Toby noticed this and hugged her in a comforting gesture. In response, she leant her head against his shoulder and they continued to watch the film.

Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. They all groaned in unison. "I'll get it," Toby said, sounding irritated. "It's probably Paula Pinkney with her latest theory about us. Wanna bet she thinks we're actually radioactive shapeshifters?"

He walked toward the door and yanked it open. "Not now, P-" His voice died away as he saw the mirage in front of him. A girl, one of flawless beauty, stood in front of him. She had ebony-black hair which cascaded down her back in gentle curls, contrasting sharply against her ivory-white skin. Her eyes were onyx-black and particularly entrancing. Toby couldn't take his eyes off her and he didn't want to.

"You're not Paula," he gasped, breathlessly. "Who are you, exactly?"

"Someone you will know better than anyone. First of all, you will forget your feelings for the Lord of the Air. You will then introduce me as your girlfriend. You will love no one else except me. Do you understand?" Her onyx eyes glowed as she spoke.

Toby, completely defenceless against mental attacks after the whole situation with Obscurio's soul, was powerless to do anything but agree. The girl then smiled and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Suddenly the door opened, revealing Jessica who stood with a shocked look on her face. "How could you?" She sobs, before pushing past them and fleeing up the stairs, unable to understand why Toby had done this to her. Had their love meant nothing to him?

The girl stood smirking as Nick and Lucas came rushing in. Toby was shaking his head, looking confused. The girl's hypnosis on him seemed to have broken. "Uh, guys, what's going on?" Toby asked.

"You tell us. For a start, who's this and why is Jessica upset?" Lucas asked, gesturing to the girl.

"I was just leaving," she said sourly, before sweeping out of the house dramatically. They all watched her leave, Nick and Lucas with confusion, Toby with great relief.

"So who was she?" Nick pressed his older brother for details.

"Dunno," Toby replied, frowning. "She never told me her name, and if she did, I honestly can't remember what it was. Anyway, you said Jessica was upset. How come?"

Nick and Lucas exchanged glances. "We thought you'd know." Lucas admitted. "What were you doing when Jessica opened the door?"

Toby racked his brains, struggling to remember. Then all of a sudden, he gasped, "Whoa! I can't believe she saw that!" Turning to Nick and Lucas, he elaborated, "That girl was kissing me. Jessica must've walked in on us. What have I done?" He sounded completely distraught.

"I'll talk to her." Nick said, heading up the stairs as Toby put his face in his hands and wept bitterly for the love he had lost.

Nick took a deep breath before knocking on Jessica's door. "Go away!" She yells, her voice cracking at the end as she starts crying again. Being the Lord of Earth in Gorm, Nick was easily able to prise the door open.

She looked an absolute mess. Her normally shining sky-blue eyes were dull and red-rimmed. Silvery tears adorned her cheeks. Nick's heart ached for her.

"If you're the messenger, I don't want to hear it." Jessica said firmly.

"Trust me, you'll want to hear this." Nick said. "Just let me explain everything then you can be as angry as you like."

Jessica folded her arms over her chest and sat down, an obvious indication for him to begin.

"That girl hypnotised Toby. He doesn't have a clue how it happened. The kiss, I mean. But it was all her. Come on, Jess, do you honestly think Toby would let anything or anyone stop him from ever loving you? I've never seen him the way he is right now. He hates himself because he thinks you hate him, and I hate seeing you two miserable."

Jessica kept silent. "Well, just think about it." Nick said as he left the room, wondering whether Toby and Jessica's love could be saved this time.

Meanwhile Lucas was trying (emphasis on the word "trying") to cheer up Toby who felt like he had ruined everything.

"Look, it's not the end of the world." Lucas tried to reason.

"Yes it is!" Toby snapped angrily. "The only girl I've ever loved and will ever love hates me and I can't even blame her after what I did!"

"Well, did you kiss that girl back?" Lucas asked, genuinely curious.

Toby paused as he thought about it "N-No. I didn't."

Lucas sighed exasperatedly. "Well then, that means it wasn't your fault! Look, Toby, she's held a torch for you for years. A love like that doesn't just burn out after one mistake, no matter how small."

Toby frowned as Lucas left the room. He had absolutely no clue what to do.

Lucas and Nick sat in the living room. They both knew it was a mere matter of time before either Toby or Jessica's curiosity got too powerful for them to ignore.

Jessica laid on her bed, deep in thought. Deep in her heart, she knew that Nick was right. Toby would never willingly do anything to hurt her. She had to do something before she lost him forever. Her decision made, she opened the door and began to venture down the stairs in search for him.

Toby sat in the hallway. He knew that Lucas was right but it didn't stop him from feeling like he deserved everything he got. Still, he felt the need to explain himself to her. His mind made up, he started to climb up the stairs to find her.

As Jessica was going down, she practically collided with someone coming up the stairs. She shifted uncomfortably when she saw it was Toby. "C-Can we talk please?" He asks her and she nods. They walk into Toby's room so they can't be overheard.

"I'm sorry!"they both cry at the same time.

"I never meant to hurt you, Jess! I'd rather die than ever willingly hurt you." Toby says, looking at her and nowhere else.

"I know. She hypnotised you. That's why I could never hate you, even if I tried. I love you too much, Toby. I always have and I always will."

"I love you too. I may not be the perfect guy but I'll love you through everything life decides to throw at us." Toby and Jessica embraced, their love for each other stronger than ever.

"Hmm. I wonder if that girl was sent to try and break us apart." Jessica mused thoughtfully.

"Well, she can try as hard as she likes but nothing could ever stop me from loving you." Toby said firmly.

Outside the house, the girl loitered. "I will not fail my mission, Master." She vowed, melting into the shadows as the sun slowly began to set.