Darkness surrounded the crumbling headspace, and light beamed down the middle of the dilapidated abode. Faint voices whispered within the light, and all that was required to see or hear was complete concentration. This was normal for them, and anyone who held the light knew that someone was always watching. However, not every conversation was caught, and that was certainly the case for Barry, who had recently found out that Dennis made a significant mistake.
"I can't believe you didn't go to the police. You've probably put us in even more danger." Barry's anger was directed mostly at Dennis, but he managed to keep his voice steady.
Although Yugen did bear some responsibility, she's the one who was vulnerable. For this reason, Barry felt Dennis should've made different decisions. But Dennis disagreed, he was there to see the carnage in her apartment, whereas he only saw mere glimpses because he couldn't handle the sight of it all. Dennis would never admit it, but he himself could barely handle it. God forbid Kevin had been the one to witness it all. He thought about the way she handled herself; she killed a man with a stiletto heel, and possibly injured another. Then she tortured a man for information; the beast was pleased upon hearing this, for he knew her brokenness was the source of her ruthlessness.
"You don't know what I know about her," was all Dennis had to say to rub it in his face.
Barry, of course, saw past this. "What do you expect her to do Dennis? Just hide out at the zoo forever? If her family doesn't find her, the cops will, and she'd be in trouble either way."
"She'll have him."
This confused Barry, and then it clicked. He sighed, "is this about the beast?"
Dennis said nothing, he just stared down at Barry with his arms crossed over his chest. He was a colossal form against the slender, extroverted blonde that was not only half his size, but also half his age.
"Ok, look, I can't give you light Dennis. I can't have you manipulating Yugen in her state of mind. It won't do her any good, and it won't do US any good." With that, Barry walked off. They were in the safety of their home, so he decided to give Kevin the light.
"Don't worry about him, Dennis. He doesn't understand how extraordinary we are, but you do, just as you understand Yugen more than he ever will," Patricia reassured Dennis in her gentle, motherly tone.
Beyond the headspace, Kevin and Yugen spent the night together once Barry got off work. Although Yugen felt uneasy about the idea, Kevin wanted to go for a walk. The evening was brisk, and the sun was descending in the west. Yugen tried to hide her nervousness, but Kevin was sensitive, he knew there was something on her mind. However, he didn't want to push her to talk about it. He had heard things in the ether, and had seen horrific images that had him unsure if they were real or not. They sat on top of a picnic table, and they snuggled close to each other's bodies.
"It's almost Christmas," Yugen murmured softly.
"It's almost your birthday," Kevin replied, matching her tone.
Yugen looked up at him, her eyes lighting up. "You remembered!"
Kevin leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Of course I did. You got any plans?"
Yugen took a deep breath. "No, I haven't really thought about it. Honestly, I kinda forgot."
Kevin tilted his head. "Why did you remember Christmas, then?"
A gentle smile spread across Yugen's face as she gazed into the distance. "cause that's when we met."
Kevin chuckled, the sound warm and affectionate. "You're so corny."
"Shut up!" she laughed, playfully tickling his side.
"You know, I can tell something's bothering you. It's about your family, isn't it?" Kevin observed.
To Yugen's surprise, she felt a fleeting pang of resentment. She wondered how he knew so much when he spent most of his time sleeping. She then remembered he held many of the emotions and memories associated with the abuse, much like Dennis did. It was incredible that Kevin and Dennis experienced so much together, and yet, they were polar opposites.
"Yeah," she admitted.
"We didn't have to go out. We could've just stayed in," Kevin suggested gently.
"I know, but I can't hide away forever. Plus, it's been a while since I've been outside," Yugen replied, feeling a twinge of self-doubt.
"I wish I could be braver," Kevin confessed.
"You can be," Yugen assured him, offering a supportive smile.
They sat in silence for a moment, with their arms wrapped around each other. Kevin's mind began to wonder; he thought about how life would be now if things were different, and they had been dealt a different hand.
"Do you ever wonder what life would be like if we were normal?" Kevin asked, making Yugen chuckle.
"Well, first off, we probably would've never met. I'd be a spoiled rich girl that never had to work a day in her life. And I'd probably be a soccer mom by now." Yugen said, smiling up at Kevin.
Kevin smiled back, but his eyes glistened with sadness, "I think my dad would still be around."
Yugen's curiosity piqued, no one, not even Kevin has mentioned his dad before.
"Did he leave?"
"He just disappeared, no one really knows what happened to him. I think Dennis tried to track him down, but I don't think he ever found anything." Kevin explained.
The conversation ended when Yugen noticed a black car stop a few feet from the park, and a dark-skinned woman with a bob cut stepped out, leaning against her vehicle. She crossed her arms over her chest, gazing expectantly at the couple. Leaves rustled around them, and the swings grated as the wind groaned. The air was chilly and foreboding; Yugen's breath staggered as she stared at the woman across the park.
"Do you know her?" Kevin asked, his voice edged with curiosity.
The woman placed her hands on her hips, shifting her blazer just enough to reveal a gleaming silver police badge on her belt.
"No, but she knows me, and you," Yugen replied, anxiety creeping into her voice as her eyes remained locked on hers.
"Are we in some kind of trouble?" Kevin's fear began to surface as the officer started walking towards them.
"Stay here," Yugen said, placing a reassuring hand on his thigh before standing up to meet the approaching officer.
"Yugen, wait—" Kevin started to call for Yugen.
Kevin glanced to his right; Dennis stood by Kevin, a strong and towering figure that he had known since he was only three. His shirt and pants were crisp and clean, and his face was stern and fatherly. His image was so clear and so real to Kevin, as he sat next to him on the picnic table.
"Give me the light, Kevin. It's not safe." Dennis stated firmly.
Kevin didn't want to go back to the dark, he wanted to stay in the light with Yugen. But as Dennis sat there waiting for him to leave, Hedwig and Patricia began to approach him as well. Their appearance was menacing and intimidating. Even a small child like Hedwig seemed to assert an air of authority and dominance over him.
Shudder! Switch! Gone!
Dennis glowered at Yugen from a distance, frustrated by her recklessness. He observed the scene, noting that no one was being arrested, but the conversation between Yugen and the officer was clearly serious. He needed to approach the two women without drawing suspicion. Rising slowly from the picnic table, he cautiously made his way over, trying to appear casual.
"Kaya Willow Cruz, I'm officer Grant." the cop stopped walking and placed a hand on her hip, "where've you been?"
Yugen flinched at the name she no longer identified with. "It's complicated. And please, don't call me that."
The cop ignored her request and kept talking. "You have a trail of bodies in your path. You wanna tell me what that's about?" She watched Yugen shift uncomfortably at the question.
Shalita Grant is an ambitious police officer who had dreamt of becoming a detective since she was 13. She grew up poor, and was raised by a single mother who struggled with addiction. She grew up with the insecurity of being a cliche; a black girl raised by a junkie mother in a low income neighborhood. It sounded harsh and overly self critical, but somehow, it made her who she was today. She worked her way through college, survived homelessness, and now she was a cop, a highly respected one at that. She worked with a state investigative agency, specializing in major crimes that were often complex and spanned multiple jurisdictions. She'd been investigating the Cruz family for a few years now, and she knew that Isabella's daughter had been living in Philadelphia for about four years. She also knew that they had tracked her down; her job was to find out why.
"It's uh—" Yugen tried to find the words once more.
"Complicated." Officer Grant finished for her.
Shalita followed Yugen's eyes as a black van crept by and rolled down its windows. Two white men, one with dark hair and the other blonde, slowly drove past and stared Yugen down. The officer had an uneasy feeling, and based on the demeanor of the women in front of her, she wasn't all too comfortable either.
"Perhaps it would be better if we discussed this at the station, your boyfriend is welcome to come along." the cop acknowledged the man that approached.
"Is she being arrested?" Dennis asked with suspicion.
"No, but based on that van that just creeped by, I figured the station would be safer." the officer responded.
Dennis and Yugen looked at each other, then back at the cop. They weren't sure about her, but they both knew it wasn't safe to be this out in the open. Yugen's van was back at the zoo, and the black van was going in that direction. It wouldn't have been safe to walk back, their best option was to leave with the cop.
Officer Grant talked to Kevin and Yugen one at a time, but her focus was mostly on Yugen. She knew that Mr. Crumb would know very little, but she needed to make sure their stories matched up when it came to the dead men.
"Mr. Crumb, let's start with the events leading up to the discovery of the bodies in the van. Can you tell me what happened? And where?"
Dennis crossed his arms over his chest defensively, "I was with Yugen at the time. We were walking to our car outside the Mutter Museum when these men attacked us. I tried to protect her."
Officer Grant eyed Kevin suspiciously. She could tell by his demeanor that he already had a lot of secrets, and that could potentially be dangerous. "And did you recognize any of these men?"
"No, they were strangers. I had never seen them before."
Officer Grant nodded before asking, "Did you notice anything unusual about them or their vehicle?"
Dennis paused before answering, "they seemed… desperate. Their van was old, beat-up. I'm guessing they were traffickers."
"And what about the scene in Yugen's apartment? And why did you guys not call the cops?"
Dennis shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "Yugen's apartment was trashed, there was blood everywhere, and a dead goat was in the middle of her bed. Three men attacked us, one of them got away. We didn't call the police because we had both gone through something traumatic. When we got home we were exhausted and covered in blood, so we showered and went to bed."
"So you forgot?" She asked.
"Yes, we forgot."
Officer Grant listened closely, and she had suspected law enforcement having involvement in her family's cult. Not for the religious affiliation—of course—money was the main driver here. The blood and the money surrounding the Cruz family ran deep, and the more Shalita dug the weirder things seemed to get. She needed to know just how deeply the corruption went, but that was something to figure out later. Right now, she was getting closer to the truth one small step at a time.
"Did you kill the men in her apartment to protect her?"
Shalita could see that Kevin was visibly uncomfortable with the question, "Mr. Crumb, I assure you that I'm not after you or Yugen. I know it was self defense, I just need to know the truth."
"I'm not answering any more questions without a lawyer." Dennis' statement burned with acidity.
The officer sighed inaudibly, not wanting to make her frustration obvious, "alright, please send Yugen in."
Yugen sat in the chair just outside the room; they made eye contact for only a moment, and she could see the worry in Dennis' eyes as she walked past him and into the interrogation room.
"Miss Cruz—"
"McAvoy, Yugen McAvoy, I haven't been Kaya Cruz for a long time, Ms. Grant."
"Right, I apologize. Ms. McAvoy, I need you to walk me through what happened the day you were kidnapped and what you found in your apartment." Shalita interlaced her fingers on the table in front of them.
Yugen took a deep breath, "I was with Kevin at the Mutter Museum when it happened. These men just appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me. I fought back, but I had been drinking and they overpowered me."
"And what happened in the van? How did you manage to escape?"
Yugen glanced down at her lap before answering, "I don't remember much. Everything happened so fast. One moment, they were holding me down, and the next, some man in a green poncho was helping me out of the back."
Shalita noted that Yugen had been drinking, so it was possible that she blacked out during the ordeal. She also noticed that Yugen had a broken wrist, but what stuck out in the conversation was the man in the green poncho. She had heard about him—the green guard. Apparently, he protected the city from evil doers. It was possible that he was the one who killed the men in the van, but her research never suggested that he had the ability to make people's brains melt out of their skulls. She needed to find out more about that, but right now she just wanted basic facts. She needed to protect Yugen, gain her trust, and take her family down.
"What about your apartment? Can you describe what you found when you returned?"
Yugen's voice shook as she answered, "it was destroyed. Furniture overturned, things broken everywhere. And on my bed… there was a dead goat. It was… terrifying."
Yugens mind flashed with the horrific images of what happened in her apartment, and her eyes welled up with tears. She wiped away a single tear that slid down her cheek as the officer asked the next question.
"Yugen, do you know what your family wants from you? Why would they go through all this?"
Yugen hesitated to answer, she'd likely sound crazy if she told the whole truth, and she feared they would lock her up and throw away the key. "I—I don't really know. I know they want something from me, something I have. I'm not sure what that is though."
Officer Grant knew this was a lie. "Do you feel safe right now? Is there anything more you can tell me?"
Yugen shook her head as more tears began to fall. "I don't know if I'll ever feel safe again. I just want this nightmare to end."
Officer Grant felt sympathy for this woman as she watched her start to fray, "I'm here to help, Yugen. We'll do everything we can to ensure your safety. I'll go ahead and let you go. Thank you for your cooperation."
They both stood from their seats, and officer Grant pulled out a business card and held it between two fingers, "please, don't hesitate to reach out. I mean it when I say I'm here to help."
Yugen took the card and walked out, staring at the floor. She rubbed her hands over her arms in an attempt to self soothe, and Dennis placed a hand on her low back to nudge her out the door. Shalita watched them as they walked hastily toward the train station; Yugen was a vulnerable woman at the mercy of a man that made her stomach twist with unease.
Dennis kept a firm hand on Yugen's lower back as they hurried toward the train station. They moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd with purpose. Yugen glanced at Dennis, noticing his perturbed expression.
"Where's Kevin?" she whispered.
"I don't want him out and about like this," he replied, eyes straight ahead.
"I still want to go to Harry's World to talk to Carlen."
"We'll do that another day," his voice was stiff as he steered her onto the train.
Yugen wanted to argue, but Dennis shot her a look that silenced her instantly. What the fuck is his problem? she fumed internally. They sat next to each other in silence on the train, not exchanging a single glance. Dennis's posture was closed off, and Yugen found herself longing for the tension to end.
She finally got a reprieve when they made it back to the zoo, but Dennis was practically dragging her down to the barracks and she was yelling at him to stop. The zoo was already closed, and there was no one around to hear her yelling at him. She yelped when he threw her against the lockers, holding her against the cold metal as his fingers dug into her shoulders.
"Why would you let Kevin out like that?" Dennis shook her as he asked the question.
Yugen refused to answer him with the way he was manhandling her. She didn't mind this behavior in the bedroom, but outside not only scared her, but it also pissed her off.
"Get your hands off of me and I'll tell you." She said, looking him fearlessly in the eyes.
Dennis' expression softened, right along with his grip. He let go of her shoulders and waited for her to answer.
"He wanted to go for a walk," Yugen replied.
This seemed to agitate him as he let out an audible sigh, rubbing his hand over his head. "Yugen, you should know better than to put Kevin in harm's way."
"Would it be less harmful to tell him he's not allowed to go outside with me?"
"Probably, yeah." Dennis stated, his face serious.
However, Yugen thought this was unacceptable. Neither her nor Kevin should be trapped down here like the other animals at the zoo.
"Dennis, that's crazy! We can't just—"
"Are you completely unaware of the danger that you're in? That WE'RE in?!" He cut her off, raising his voice at her.
Her voice trembled, his face mere inches from hers."Yeah, a lot more than you think."
"And that's why you should've known better." His voice was deep and stern, and Yugen felt as if she was shrinking beneath his gaze.
"I thought if anything happened you would immediately step in." Tears fell from her eyes as she explained her logic.
Dennis realized this wasn't unreasonable, and his resolve softened a bit. He backed off, giving her some space as he took a deep breath. He had developed feelings for her over the past week, it would hurt him if she were afraid of him.
"Look, I know you love Kevin. I love him too, but he's very weak and he doesn't have reflexes like I do. You're going to have to be more careful."
Yugen could see how concerned Dennis was. He was, afterall, Kevin's protector; the very first. Unlike the others, Dennis had no backstory. He simply was and has always been with Kevin, and he didn't have a life before him. At least, not one he can remember.
"Ok." Was all she could muster, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
Dennis nodded, a wave of relief swept over him. "Let's go home."
Barry had tried to get a peek at what was going on in the light, but someone had put up a block between the alters and the outer world. He didn't think much of this, it was normal for Kevin to do that when he wanted to be alone. But Barry didn't mind this, for it gave Kevin autonomy and responsibility over his own life and the system functioned better that way. Barry left to his private quarters within the headspace, unaware that the horde had intimidated Kevin out of the light.
Barry was back in the light by morning. As he was getting ready for work, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming feeling of fear and urgency, feelings that he knew weren't his own. Something had happened, and he wondered if Yugen or Kevin would be honest with him about it. He carried this with him all day; his shoulders felt heavy, and by the end of the day they were aching. Yugen, thankfully, was an absolute gem. She immediately noticed his discomfort, and massaged his back for about twenty minutes before dinner. She never struck him as the housewife type, but he was certainly enjoying the treatment. Barry didn't want to fight with her, and after the day he had, he really needed the night to end on a positive note. Regardless, he still had to discuss what was going on. He waited until dinner, getting a few bites in before asking any questions.
"Babe, did something happen yesterday?"
Yugen appeared shocked at the question, but then swallowed her food and answered, "um yeah, we uh—we talked to the cops yesterday."
"Kevin talked to the cops?" Barry found the very idea unbelievable.
"No, Dennis fronted for that."
Barry felt like he had a brick thrown at his head—how did he get the light when he told him that he couldn't? That was his job, his purpose for existing. If he couldn't do that, what was he here for? Did something change? Was someone stealing the light when he wasn't aware? He forced himself to snap out of it, and took a sip of water before Yugen noticed his near-meltdown. Even though he was worried that this would negatively affect her, this wasn't her responsibility at the moment.
"How did that go?" He asked.
"Well, no one got arrested, so that's a plus." Her response was dry and emotionless.
Yugen didn't make eye contact when she responded, which was jarring for Barry; she sounded way too much like Dennis. She'd never been so distant with him, which was concerning to say the least. He loved Yugen more than he had ever loved anyone, and he was worried the situation was creating a wedge between them. To Barry's relief, she could sense the tension in the air, and she could sense Barry's pain due to her disconnect.
Yugen took a deep breath, poking at her food, "as far as I know, neither of us are in trouble. The cop I talked to seemed like she wanted to help."
Barry was relieved that she was opening up and making eye contact. "That's great! Maybe we could join the witness protection program. Get new names—mine would be…Elliot Caldwell."
A smile crept over Yugen's face, "Elliot Caldwell! Are you serious?" She laughed.
"Well, what name would you choose?" He asked with his friendly, comforting smile.
"I like my name, besides I already changed it once." She said, taking a sip of her water.
"You could take my last name." Barry said, taking a bite of his food.
"Yugen Caldwell…eh I don't know!" she replied jokingly.
"Oh come on! What kinda name is Yugen McAvoy? Yugen is Japanese and McAvoy is like—Scottish or whatever." Barry joked, relishing her beautiful smile and happy the night was ending on a lighter note.
The rest of the week went by normally; nothing traumatic or out-of-the-ordinary occurred, or so it seemed that way. Barry went to work, then went home and had dinner. However, he did have enough free time to spend with Yugen, or for one of the others to be in the light. Funny enough, during his lunch break, he felt as if he was losing time. And yet, he would find himself with half eaten food in front of him, or throwing away trash at a cafe that he never remembered going to. Today, he found himself in a ball pit at a McDonalds with a half eaten chicken nugget in his mouth, wondering what the hell was going on. He decided who got the light, but someone had to have been stealing it when he wasn't aware.
He still struggled mentally since those girls put his hand up their shirt, and the horde kept obsessing about the ones who haven't suffered. They even went so far as to say that Yugen would play a role, which had him fearing for her safety. He wanted to tell her this, but she had enough to worry about. And besides, where would she even go? He thought about paying for a hotel room for her, but he worried about what would happen to her if they weren't around, especially with all the people that were looking for her.
Yugen had been spending most of her time in the barracks, or at one of the eateries at the zoo. Her pet sitting business had fallen off, probably because of all the death that surrounded her that had been reported on the news. Yugen taught violin in other people's homes; that had fallen off as well. Fortunately, her etsy page had gotten more traffic and a few more sales. She had been getting messages from promoters who wanted her to play in different venues, but she didn't feel safe enough to put herself out there like that. She also had more social media followers expecting to learn more about the situation. She wanted to open up to the world and be a part of it again, but she feared the repercussions of such actions. So, she kept quiet and stayed hidden, allowing herself to become domesticated.
It was already November 15, which was Yugen's birthday; she wasn't sure if there was anything to celebrate. However, she did have Kevin and the others. She tried to be grateful, she wanted to be grateful, but life had changed so dramatically and she feared what would become of it. Barry's shift was over for the day, but he didn't come home until later. In fact, it was Dennis that had shown up around 7:30pm; he came in with flowers, a chocolate cake, and a bottle of red wine.
Yugen was at the sink washing dishes and putting the leftovers away when he walked in,
"hey uh, sorry we're late."
Yugen snapped the tupperware lid shut, then turned to look at Dennis, "what cha got there?" She asked.
He held out a beautiful bouquet of white calla lilies, red roses, orange spider protea, and draping purple amaranthus. The arrangement was unusual but beautiful; Yugen wondered to herself if Dennis had chosen the flowers.
She smirked at him as she held the bouquet to her nose, "they're beautiful. Did you pick them out?"
He chuckled, "Uh, I'm not gonna lie, Patricia did help. But it was my idea to get them."
"Was it also your idea to get the cake and the wine? You tryna get me drunk, Dennis?" She stated playfully, putting the flowers on the table.
He crossed his arms over his chest, cocking a brow at her, "like I would need to."
Yugen's mouth fell open and she laughed, "well, when you're right, you're right."
Dennis watched as she sauntered over to him; he uncrossed his arms, and she rubbed her hands over his chest. He swallowed hard as she began to unbutton his shirt, and his hands immediately went to her hips.
"Patricia wants to have a girls night with you."
"She can wait 30 minutes to an hour, can't she?" Yugen whispered in his ear, then left a trail of kisses down his neck.
"She's gonna have to." Dennis' voice was deep and masculine, making Yugen quiver.
"I know that me being on top would be triggering for you, but I was wondering," She got closer to his ear and whispered salaciously, "if you had your belt around my neck so you could reign me in as you please, would that make it easier on you?"
Dennis would've hated the idea, Kevin's mother had complete control when she abused him and he—as the protector—was always the one to placate her, especially after Kevin's dad left. But the way Yugen suggested it—he had to admit, it was appetizing. Kevin's mother was flabby and out of shape, but Yugen had a beautiful body. Her hips were wide, and her legs were beautifully toned. Although many parts of her body were deeply scarred, her golden beige skin was still soft and taut beneath his firm grasp. He was going to make her beg for release, and then make her thank him for allowing her to do so. If she failed to do what he said, he would get her on her hands and knees and spank her voluptuous ass until she was red and sore.
She would have to earn that cake and wine…
Afterwards, they both showered together and Dennis was the last one in and the first to step out. Due to his OCD, this was normal after intimacy. When Yugen walked into the kitchen, she saw two pieces of cake on a small plate, and Patricia pouring two glasses of wine. She was wearing her usual pleated skirt and shawl, along with her sensible heels.
"Hey," Yugen greeted.
"Happy birthday, are you ready to celebrate?" Patricia asked, picking up her glass.
Yugen picked up her glass, clanking it with Patricia's, "definitely," she replied and they both took a sip.
They took the wine and their plates to the couch, and put on Practical Magic, which was Yugen's childhood favorite. They watched parts of the movie between conversation, and looking at baby pictures of Kevin.
"Oh my god he was such a cute baby!" Yugen gushed.
"He certainly was," Patricia turned the page, "oh, this one is my favorite."
She pointed at a picture of a man with glasses, light brown hair and a beard. Kevin had to have been about ten or eleven years old in the photo, and his grin was genuine and fearless. His smile was similar to the older man in the photo.
"Is that his dad?" Yugen asked, taking a sip of her wine.
"It sure is." Patricia smiled with fondness.
Yugen smirked, "he sure was handsome, I can see where Kevin gets his good looks from."
Patricia chuckled, "yes, Clarence Crumb was quite the looker." Patricia had a small smile on her face, before it quickly disappeared. "Kevin was devastated when…Penelope told him the news." She spat her name bitterly.
A picture of Kevin as a baby being held by Penelope was on the next page; she was much younger in the photo, and she was very beautiful. It was a shame that she was such a horrendous person.
Patricia continued, "Penelope was a housewife. I'm not sure what Clarence's profession was, but his work kept him away a bit. I think Kevin might've been too much for her, from what I've heard, he was a fussy child, and quite messy."
"Did she tell Kevin that his dad just left?"
"Yes. She told Kevin that he was the man of the house now, and then raped him for the first time. Thankfully, Dennis stepped in, which is part of how he became so—" Patricia paused for a moment, looking Yugen up and down, "how he is… And that's how I was born."
"I take it your role has been more uh, maternal?" Yugen asked, not wanting to make assumptions.
"Precisely. I sang to Kevin and the young ones when things got too tough, and I calmed Dennis down when things became…overwhelming."
Yugen and Patricia turned their attention back to the movie, finishing their glasses of wine and pouring another. You were always on my mind! You were always on my mind! The women on the screen sang as they got drunk on tequila, not yet aware of the phantom emerging from the rose bushes in which they had buried a body.
"You know, I've thought about it…and I think you're rather good for Dennis. You keep him distracted from certain…impulses." Patricia admitted.
"You mean watching young girls dance naked?"
Patricia nodded, "why do you like that?"
Yugen cocked a brow, "like what?"
"Getting slapped and choked? Is it dominance you enjoy submitting to?" Patricia noticed that Yugen was confused by her questions, "I only ask because I've never been touched like that before, but I've always been curious. If you're uncomfortable—"
Yugen cut her off, "No, it's ok." She took a moment to think about it, "it's different for everyone. With Dennis it's more about feeling safe."
"He is very good at that."
They smiled faintly at each other, then returned their attention back to the movie. Yugen realized that Practical Magic was about 19 years old; it didn't feel that long ago that she was watching late night movies with her mom, and she longed for the years when they actually liked each other. Who would she be, and how different would her life be if her mom hadn't turned on her. Nonetheless, she tried to hang on to the memories of her early childhood, and not the years that completely tarnished them.
It didn't feel that long ago that Yugen was traveling around with Sarah and JT, scourging the west coast with their loud, gritty punk music. She remembered the amazing sex between her and Sarah, especially when Morgana was fronting. Sarah, who's blonde hair was often dyed an array of colors, and her piercing eyes that often changed from light blue to dark brown. She was also curvy and fit, and she easily tossed Yugen around with her face buried between her legs.
JT was a marine, and was built like one too. He was tall and muscular, with short blonde hair and green eyes. She shivered as she remembered getting on her hands and knees with him behind her, and her face between his wife's legs. She missed being the eager sub within their universe, and mourned when she had to leave it. Time seemed to pass by so quickly, and so much has happened; everything was different, and yet somehow nothing has changed.
Patricia shifted her body and rested her head in her hand so that she was facing Yugen; she looked her over, studying her physique with curiosity. She rested her back comfortably against the couch, and her legs were crossed gracefully over one another. Her curves were sensuous and delightful to look at, and her meek bosom and strong shoulders were the most appealing part of her; she felt tempted to reach out and touch her. Patricia could tell Yugen was lost in thought, and as if sensing the sexual tension, Yugen looked over at her with an unreadable expression.
Yugen sighed, "I can't believe I'm 33."
Yugen and Patricia laughed, sharing a moment of reflection on the passage of time and its impact. And yet, they tried to find humor and beauty in the years gone by. As the wine began to take effect, both women became more relaxed and open, the weight of nostalgia lifting slightly as they reveled in their self-discoveries and the short journey they had shared with each other. Patricia believed that this was destiny, perhaps even fate at hand.
"Time certainly does fly." Patricia added.
"That it does." Yugen stated, looking solemnly at her hands in her lap.
"You're not where you expected to be." Patricia stated, knowing that she wasn't happy.
"No. I expected it to be how it was before all this shit. I was having so much fun too." Yugen shook her head in disappointment, then took a sip of her wine.
Patricia brushed her fingers over Yugen's jawline, turning her head in her direction. "So much more is ahead of you, trust me. Things may never be the same, but they will get back to normal."
Although Patricia's words were comforting, Yugen couldn't help but wonder if there was something more going on. However, before she could question it, Patricia leaned over and kissed her. It wasn't a lusty, passion-filled kiss, it was gentle and curious. Despite the confusion hovering over them, the earth stopped moving and the world fell silent; nothing and no one else existed but them. As their lips parted, Yugen glanced at Patricia with a cocked brow.
Patricia swallowed hard, "oh my," she said, taking a deep breath.
"Why Patricia, I never knew." Yugen said, using humor to diffuse the tension.
Patricia scoffed, "don't tease me right now, I've never done that before."
Patricia adjusted her body so that she wasn't so close to Yugen; she leaned back against the couch, crossing her legs modestly.
"I'm sorry," was all Yugen could say.
"I've always been curious about what all the fuss was about." Patricia leaned forward to pick her wine glass off the table, then took a greedy swig.
Yugen was blown away, Patricia did not strike her as the type to be concerned about her sexuality.
"So what did you think?" She asked.
Patricia thought for a moment before responding, "kissing is…disgusting, but nice, like uh—" she held up her glass of wine and studied it for a moment, "like wine. It's unpleasant at first, but once you get used to it, it's delicious." She said, taking another sip.
Yugen laughed, then remembered Dennis mentioning a gift from Patricia. "Hey, Dennis mentioned that you got me a gift?"
"Ah, yes. Come, I'll show you." Patricia said, getting up from the couch.
The dress was stored safely in the closet, hanging on a rack wrapped in plastic with a box sitting on the top shelf. Patricia carefully removed the plastic, unveiling a short champagne-colored dress adorned with sparkling golden butterflies. The shoes matched the dress perfectly, featuring butterfly accents and crystal embellishments. As Yugen admired the ensemble, she couldn't help but wonder what special occasion Patricia had in mind.
"Not to sound ungrateful, but what's all this for?" She asked, gently running her fingers over the delicate material.
"Something life-changing is about to occur, I got you this dress for when we're ready to celebrate the occasion." Patricia responded.
A solemn look darkened Yugens face as she sat down on the bed, "I'm tired of life changing."
"In the end, it's for the best."
"What does that even mean? Is something going on?" Yugen's eyes were furrowed with concern, and fear tugged at her heartstrings, making her malleable and easy to persuade.
"You'll see," Patricia said, her eyes glinting with excitement and a proud smirk playing on her lips. Yugen didn't notice her enthusiasm; all she felt was a creeping sense of paranoia.
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