My head pounded like a drum beating against my skull, I opened my eyes seeing darkness it was still night time. Groaning loudly at the thundering headache I viciously tore at my forehead as I got into a sitting pose. With wandering eyes I shot a glare at what seemed to be an illuminated digital clock on a black side table, the time read four in the morning. Blinking a few more times my brain was sent into full gear, where was I, and how did I get here? A shiver was sent up my spine as I realized this was not my room.
I breathed deeply to stay calm and squinted my eyes to peer around the room. It was too dark, I couldn't see anything but the red glare of the clock that mocked my foolishness. Slowly pulling myself out of the covers I stared down at myself in my lacy black night gown, well I obviously changed. This didn't sit well with me, I was drawing a blank I didn't remember anything. Panicking I stepped forward into the shadows, unable to make out the floor I tripped forward making a loud thump against a cold floor solid flooring. Squealing I hold my head once more a pain growing bigger, a sound of footsteps nears me and my heart jumps.
"It's a little early to be stumbling around" A familiar voice called in a soft way.
With a migraine so huge I couldn't recognize it, who was it, that voice so smooth and malicious. After a few meager minutes of moaning on the ground I finally realized, it was Lysandre. My stomach churned into sickness, what did I do? I curled into a defensive ball against what seemed to be the corner of the room. I hadn't had such a bad migraine since the day Lysandre gave me that medication. My eyes shut tight, Lysandre you malicious snake, what did you do?
A grasp was laid onto my wrist and I flinched, how could he see any better? Not wanting to say anything I shut my mouth clenching my teeth. However in an odd sense I could already feel his eyes tearing through me. In my mind I focused on the headache rather than my undying hatred and sense of betrayal.
"Calm down, don't be so tense" His voice seemed to echo in my brain.
I whispered in a cruel voice, "How can I be calm? Last thing I remember I was outside, hanging out with friends!"
"You went to bed with me" The man's voice was smooth but mocking, "You seriously don't remember a thing?"
I swallowed my nausea and replied, "I don't remember the such, I was tired. Why in the world would I do something like that?"
"Hm, maybe you should be asking yourself that?" Lysandre continued quietly, "It's rather amusing that you have repressed feelings for me, maybe you blocked everything out because you don't want to admit you're in love with me."
"No, no, no!" I hissed silently, "I would never say those things that's not true!"
"What a shame, we'd make such an adorable couple" His voice burned like acid in my ears, "I will keep quiet about this, however I want something in return."
"Why would I need YOU to keep quiet!" I scowled back at him fighting my wrists away from his grip.
The man moved close to my ear and whispered softly, "No one knows anything, imagine what Vicki would think? Perhaps you'd want to cause a rift in the group? Destroy the peace, causing the original plan to go back into place."
I shuttered lightly, as much as I hated it he was correct. He's sly and would purposely use this kind of thing to his advantage. The worst however hit me, Vicki thinking I'd done something so stupid what would she do? I couldn't sacrifice my best friend.
Attempting to stay calm I sighed, "What do you want?"
"I want a place here, I want to take a few things back from my home for perhaps research..." He replied darkly.
I hissed back in nervous anger, "You're rotten! How could you pretend to care so much and trick me?"
"It is you who let your guard down, have you forgotten who I am? Don't blame me for your mistakes!" Lysandre backfired raising his voice slightly, his patience obviously wearing thin.
A tear trickled down my cheek burning through my soul. I should have known better than to trust them, any of them. Curled even closer to the wall I opened my eyes to see Lysandre crouched down to my level with icy blue eyes clawing at mine. Beyond him the sun was beginning to rise, casting light through the windows. I squinted with hatred at him, hot tear drops dripping past my cheeks. His stare returned seemed slightly distraught and raged, what was he thinking?
"Why are you crying? Stop it" He spoke once more in an impatient tone.
I sobbed with disappointed mumbles, "I trusted you... I trusted you..."
Hearing these murmured cries he turned his head away avoiding eye contact. I glared at him ferociously, but he continued to avoid me, his eyes glistening slightly. Did he feel guilty? A light popped into my head for a moment, there's something I'm not catching here. Poking around with this theory I pretended to be in more pain than usual with my migraine. I wanted to provoke a reaction.
"Do you agree to my terms?" He hesitated staring off at the window.
"Yes..." I sobbed holding my head with exaggerated groans of discomfort.
Lysandre reluctantly moved back peering into my eyes, "That's good... Are you alright you look like you're about to pass out?"
"Spare the humility, I'm getting out of here I don't want you to ever even talk to me again" I lied with menace hoping to flip his trick back on him, "You don't speak to me, you don't look at me!"
"Don't be so hasty, you wouldn't want to make them suspicious would you?" He played back at me in the same tone.
Yet again he was right, that would be incredibly suspicious. I cursed at myself silently rising to my feet, I ignored the snide remarks walking out the door. Lysandre proceeded to shadow me, it seems there's something off. Without hesitation I faked a fall in weakness, but instead of landing on the ground I was caught. The red haired male stared wide eyed holding at my waste carefully. So I wasn't wrong, he wasn't a monster and he cared but he's playing a trick. This entire scenario didn't add up, he was playing the role of the bad guy to manipulate me.
Lightly stepping back from him I tilted my head. This man was an evil mastermind that apparently saves a girl from a fall, AFTER he got what he wanted. Intrigued I continued playing helpless, limping to the bathroom across the black hallways.
"Stop, that's enough you're not well you're going to hurt yourself!" Lysandre scowled infuriated with my stubborn attitude.
"Why do YOU care?" I hissed back at him holding onto a rail.
Taking grasp of my arm he retorted, "You're my key into a world I want to cultivate, if you die I won't have it!"
"AHAH! I got you!" I twisted back staring through him, "You know very well a minor scratch or flu won't kill someone. That means you care! Which also means nothing actually happened last night."
"That's a really ridiculous assumption!" The man scoffed with a shaky voice.
"You take me for a such a fool, don't underestimate me I saw through you!" I proceeded with a wide smile, "If someone really does care they wouldn't do something to destroy the bridge with whom they care about. That means you are playing bad guy to get what you want out of me!"
Lysandre stared back with frustration, he backed away slightly while narrowing his gaze. After a few minutes of silence he grinned slyly, letting out an amused chuckle. His face displayed the 'you got me' reaction, it was too bad he didn't choose someone more naive. Closing in on me he cornered me against the wall.
"Well, well, well faking sick are we?" Lysandre snickered quietly, "I was so sure I had you, but I guess you're more intelligent than I thought. I see my influence is rubbing off on you though..."
I dodged under his arms, "Actually my head still hurts I was just exaggerating. Anyway I'm getting breakfast see you later!"
As I trotted down the stairs with triumph I heard a distant sigh, "Damn"
******
"Good morning Vicki!" I yelped cheerfully with a warm cup of tea.
In a T-Shirt and pajama pants she grumbled rubbing her eyes, if I wasn't up hours earlier I would have been the same though. She stumbled into the kitchen throwing some toast into the toaster. She glared deeply at me with squinted brown eyes. When the toast popped she buttered the top and sat down next to me at the large black dining table.
"You're awful happy this morning..." Vicki yawned getting ready to eat her toast.
"I was up early to an odd surprise, I think I cracked Lysandre!" I replied with an excited chime.
She gazed at me with wide eyes, "YOU DIDN'T SLEEP WITH HIM DID YOU?"
"NO!" I screamed with laughter, "Why would you even say that!"
"You fell asleep on the couch last night and he offered to take you to your room" She explained after a bite of the crunchy toast, "It's just really weird that's all, I mean you were dead asleep though. KNOCKED OUT!"
"He actually tried to trick me into thinking that, but I figured out so it's all good" I confirmed with her and she nodded with a mouthful of food.
Taking a sip of my tea I heard an echo of screaming come from upstairs. Vicki and I diverted our attention to watch the winding staircase with wonder. Another screech howled down the hallway, we exchanged confused glances but continued to eat and watch the stairs.
"SOMEONE MAKE IT STOP!" Archie screamed running downstairs with Colress' laptop.
He crashed into the table throwing the white computer down onto the surface. Vicki and I stopped eating for a little while to watch as he glared at us with nervous puppy eyes. Wondering why he was so hysterical I pulled the laptop to me and watched the screen. A video of a beached whale was displayed on YouTube, I wondered how he got there. Glancing down at the comments I noticed one from his account that who knows how he managed to make. The comment read, 'THIS IS Y I EXPAND THE OCEAN' I chuckled at the comment but hid my giggling as I knew things like this were more serious.
"What are you doing watching this video?" I asked politely as Vicki also read the comment hiding her laughter.
He flopped down into the chair and began to spill, "I was watching a bunch of stuff with the ocean because Colress showed me earlier. BUT THEN, this was there and I watched it, AND NOW everyone is being rude on the internet so I used caps lock and I tried to fight them but they're all being really annoying!"
I sighed closing the laptop gently, "Archie, don't ever go on the internet again. EVER."
His eyes were darkened from bags drooping underneath them. Planting his head on the table he groaned loudly, he must have been up all night. I got up and patted him lightly on the back, he was passionate, aggressive, but incredibly impulsive, this wasn't something he should have been doing. From across the table Vicki shrugged and continued to eat her bread, she wasn't going to console him because he annoyed her so much.
"Listen this planet is fragile, and life is fragile. Things are going to happen and there's lots of people doing things to help the ocean animals. People on the internet are just trying to provoke you, just ignore it" I explained to him gently.
"Maxie replied to my comment too!" He scowled in defense.
Placing my hand in my palm I sighed, "What did he say?"
"The coward said he be much better than me! He also made fun of my spelling and called me dumb! OH YEAH and that the ocean sucks! I'm gunna kill him!" The man slammed his fists down with a red face.
Vicki burst out into laughter from the situation as Maxie trotted down the stairs passing by Archie. The two locked eyes almost imedietly, this wasn't going to go well. I quickly hopped between them before anything could happen, Archie's fists were raised as Maxie mocked him with a sly smirk.
"Okay first, Maxie you shouldn't make fun of beached whales it's a real problem and you hurt Archie's feelings. Second, Archie don't ever go on the internet ever again!" I yelled.
The two crossed their arms like children, "Fine."
Before anyone could have another word to say a loud clunk came from upstairs proceeded by what sounded like fighting. Vicki knowing very well that this was probably something really dumb just sighed walking her plate to the silver sink. She locked gazes with me and shook her head. The fighting got louder, it sounded like Ghetsis and Lysandre. Taking a few moments I finally realized, Lysandre must have provoked him again. A crash was followed, and then an immense silence.
My gut churned with fear, what were they doing? Fearful of waiting for the silence to past I sneaked to the bottom of the staircase. About to climb up I was stopped at the first step from a booming voice.
The voice was none other than Giovanni and he was more than furious, "ENOUGH!"
This was not going to end well...
******
END CHAPTER
Authors Note: It's been awhile huh? This chapter is a little silly, so I hope you liked it! As usual I'm open to critiques and such, so feel free to tell me what you like and don't like!