Survivor | Sidney X Gender Neutral Reader (Parts 4-END)
You move in with your uncle Stu, who is -unbeknownst to you- one half of the ghost face killer.
What will you do when you find out? Join him? or borrow some of Sidney's courage and fight?
***This story and it's characters are based loosely on the first scream movie.***
***TW: this story contains graphic depictions of violence, gore and mild sexual content and is not suitable for young readers.***
Part 4
I kneel into a sprinting position, ready to run for my life.
Stu and Billy approach the closet, both of them grabbing a door.
My lungs feel tight, but I can't allow myself to panic.
They both throw the doors open with a bang- as if signaling the race to start- I run between the two, taking them completely off guard.
The thing is, though... I'm no track star. As I dart down the hallway my socks slip on the hardwood floor and I tumble down the stairs. My back hits the bottom floor and I shout in agony as a pain shoots up my spine.
I glance up at the top of the steps, the two stand there looking down at me. The hunting knife gleams as Billy turns it around in his hand. Stu has a pained expression, as if my betrayal had genuinely hurt his feelings.
I have no time to waste. In spite of the pain in my back I push myself up, praying that the adrenaline that rushed through my veins would help to numb the ache.
I scurry for the front door of the house, almost running comepletely into it in my panic. Of course, it's locked.
As I fumble with the deadbolt Stu lunges at me and I swiftly dodge him by rolling against the wall. I dash toward the phone but Billy was already there, guarding the reciever.
Stu and Billy stand on either side of the island, completely blocking my path. I have never felt such a paralyzing fear in my life.
I reach into a drawer behind me, pulling out a large pair of poultry shears.
"Come near me and ill cut your fucking dicks off." I open and close the scissors threateningly.
"Calm down, calm down!" Stu puts his palms up infront of him in defense. "I- we really don't want to hurt you."
"Yeah, right." I hiss. "I'm not as innocent and gullible as you might think. I can be totally unhinged."
"I really mean it." Stu sighs. "Just put down the scissors."
"I'll put these down when he puts down the knife!" I point at Billy, who still gripped the hunting knife tightly.
Stu shoots Billy a concerned glance and Billy grins, sliding the knife across the island counter toward me.
I pick it up and pretend to shove it back into the drawer with the scissors, but instead slide in discreetly into my back pocket.
"I knew I liked you." Billy chuckles. "Not only are you fucking hot but you've got the spunk to match."
"I told you to stop taking about them like that, It makes me uncomfortable." Stu groans.
"So what is your plan, huh?" I furrow my brows. "What are you going to do with me now that I know your dirty little secret."
"That's really up to you." Billy smiles. "You can keep your pretty pie hole shut, or we can kill you. Your choice."
"Please don't make me hurt you." Stu pleads. "I'll do it if I have to, but please don't make me do it."
My thoughts race. What should I do?
"So, if I give you my word that I'll keep your secret..." I bite my lip. "You really won't hurt me?"
"No, we won't! Right dude?" Stu looks in Billy's direction.
"I don't know..." Billy rubs his chin. "Will your word be enough?"
"What else do you want from me?" I spat.
"I think you could be a great asset." He grins.
"Your thinking they could help us with our plan?" Stu chimes in and Billy nods.
"I'm not going to kill anybody!" I shout.
"You don't have to do any of the actual killing, just help us out." Stu adds.
If I can figure out a way to report them before they can hurt anybody else I should be alright.
"Alright... I'll do it." I exhale.
"Perfect!" Stu claps excitedly. "This is going to be fun!"
The joy in his voice leaves a lump in my throat. He was not always this way... since when had he gotten so sick?
"Shit." Billy grumbles, glancing at the clock on the wall. "I've got to get home before dad notices I'm gone."
"That's cool. I'll fill them in on our plans." Stu finally approaches me, patting me on the back.
"Alright. I'll see you at school tomorrow." Billy leaves the house in a rush and only me and Stu remain.
I can't describe the way I am feeling. I am not necessarily afraid of Stu, but knowing there is a dangerous side of him that I am unaware of makes me nauseous.
I suddenly remeber what Sidney had said in the hallway... "it took me off guard. When you think you know somebody...you don't."
I've never heard more true words.
"So, here's how it's going to go down." Stu grins.
"Can you explain tomorrow?" I interrupt him, laying a hand on my forehead. "I'm still not feeling well, I'd like to go to bed."
"Okay..." He pouts. "I guess you have been through a lot of shock today."
"Good night, Stu." I try to act normally, as if it were any ordinary night.
"Goodnight." He replies.
I drag my feet up to my room and lock the door. I sigh, pulling the hunting knife from my pocket and examining its blade. It still had dried blood on it, as well as my own.
How many lives had been taken with this knife? So far 3 that I am aware of... but could there be more?
I open my sock drawer, shoving the knife underneath everything. Perhaps I can give it to the police as evidence... I just have to find the courage.
My heart has yet to slow. I need to calm down if I'm going to sleep through the night. I don't feel like being a zombie at school tomorrow.
The landline that lay on my bedside table catches my attention and I gravitate toward it. Before I am even aware of what I am doing I had already flipped through the phone book and dialed Sidney's number.
What am I doing? It's so late... I'm probably waking her up.
"Hello?" I hear her sweet voice though the reciever.
"H-hey...it's me..." I stutter as tears begin to roll down my cheeks, my emotions had finally begun to set in.
"Are you crying?" I can hear the concern in her tone. "What's wrong? Are you thinking about what you saw again?"
"Y-yes..." I lie. At this point I feel as if seeing the principals insides were the least of my worries.
"It's alright- you'll be alright." She reassures me.
"Have you taken your medication?" She asks.
"No..." I reach into my pocket, pulling out the small orange bottle and reading it's label.
"You should take one." I picture her sitting beside me as I lay in my bed, just like when I was in the hospital.
"I can talk to you until you dose off... how does that sound?" She continues.
"That would be nice." I smile. She really is kind.
I hold the phone between my cheek and my shoulder as I twist open the bottle and pick out a tablet, placing it under my tongue.
"So, the other day you said you like ghost and dirty dancing right?" She tries to make conversation.
My heart flutters just knowing that she really had be listening, although I didn't think she was.
"Yes, I love those movies."
"What other movies do you like?" She asks with genuine interest.
"My favorite movie of all time is Grease." I giggle. "I can sing all of the songs word for word."
"Ah, that's a classic. I love John Travolta."
"We should watch it together some time." The words leave my mouth before I am able to think. How embarassing...
"That would be awesome." She laughs. "How about tomorrow after school?"
My heart stops in my chest and I suddenly forget how to breath.
"Sounds... perfect." I struggle to find the words.
We continue to talk for a while about our different interests. It was a very welcome distraction.
I could literally have kept the conversation going all night, she was so easy to talk to and a perfect rest for my weary heart.
But alas, it was not long before my medication had kicked in and I had drifted off into a deep slumber.
Part 5
In spite of the throbbing pain that still ached in my back I practically float my way to school this morning.
Although Stu chose to fill me in on the gruesome details of their pre planned party massacre over breakfast nothing could break my stride today.
"You've got a pep in your step this morning." He laughs and I skip my way through the hallway.
"I'm just in a good mood, is all." I think about how I am supposed to watch a movie with Sidney after school today and my thoughts cannot stray to anything else. This school day will not pass fast enough.
I feel somebody tug at my arm, pulling me roughly into the lockers. It was Billy.
"Your eyes are sparkling today. Whats got you so chipper?" He grins.
"Nothing. What do you want?" I groan.
"I think their needs to be a change in our plans."
"Why?" Stu asks.
"Sidney's father is leaving town tomorrow. It needs to happen tonight." Billy sighs.
"That's alright, I'll just let everybody kn-"
"NO! It can't happen tonight." I snap, interrupting Stu mid sentence.
"Why not?" Billy glares. His grip tightens on my arm which he still held.
"I-i have plans..." I stutter.
"Then cancel them." He says matter-of-factly.
"I don't want to. I'm really looking forward to it..." I look down at the linoleum floor.
"You can reschedule for another day." Stu tries to cheer me up. "This is really important, you know."
I can't reschedule. Part of Billy and Stu's plan was to kill Sidney... so their will be no other day.
I had planned to actually warn Sidney tonight after we finished watching the movie, but now I'm not going to get the opportunity to do that. I really don't know what to do, I don't want her to get hurt.
"You've got to smarten up or the plan is going to change." Billy growled. "You've got to cooperate if you want to be a survivor."
His threatening tone sent a shiver through my bones. I know that he means it.
"Okay... okay." I frown. I desperately need to change my approach.
"I'm going to class now." I jerk my arm out of Billy's grasp and push my way past Stu. Whatever world they are living in I do not want to be a part of it.
***
After class I meet up with Sidney at the water fountain, her smile shines like a beacon of light on this gloomy day.
"We should head to the store and pick up some movie snacks." She suggests, clear excitement in her voice.
"Yeah... about that." I hold onto my chest, my heart aches at the thought of letting her down."Stu decided to change the date of his part for tonight."
"Then we can ditch." She grins.
"Unfortunately its not that simple for me..." I sigh. "But i think you should."
"Why?" She tips her head in confusion.
"I..." I stumble to think of the proper excuse. "Billy is going to be there. Won't that be awkward? Since you broke up the way you did."
"It will be..." her eyes drift down to her feet. "But since you will be there, I don't mind."
I can suddenly feel all of the blood rush to my cheeks.
"We can have our movie night another time." She smiles. "For now, let's just enjoy ourselves at the party."
I try to speak- to warn her- but the sound does not escape my lips. I am suddenly speechless, like a dark force had its hands around my throat.
"See you later!" She gets up and walks away, I try desperately to grab onto her arm- to stop her- but I can't. I am completely frozen with fear.
***
On the way home from school I run into a few hardware stores, picking up everything I feel I will need for the night. Bear spray, a folding knife, anything I could use to discreetly protect myself.
I know I should be using my free time to run to the police, but something had washed over me. A feeling of cocky bravery that I had never felt before.
Plus, I have no concrete proof besides my word. Billy and Stu had probably already disposed of the evidence I had found in Stu's room. With the exception of the bloody hunting knife, which still lay in the bottom of my clothing drawer with my DNA on it.
I know if I told on them they would not hesitate to throw me under the bus- saying that I helped or that I knew all along and kept their secret- and that knife would only sway the police in favor of their lies.
I couldn't take any chances. I had to deal with this on my own.
When I arrived home it had already started to get dark, it got dark really early this time of year.
People had already started to pile into the house, the party had started already without me. My legs feel weak and I feel nauseous as I step inside.
I walk into the living room, Stu sits there with a group of friends. Everybody is talking and laughing with beers in their hands. It seems that I am the only one not enjoying myself, but little do they know that this night may be their last.
I do a subtle head count... where are Tatum, Billy and Sidney? I tangle my fingers together, praying that they had not arrived yet.
I walk quickly through the house, doing an inspection of the bottom floor. Where are they?
My last stop is the garage, perhaps they are grabbing another beer?
I walk through and I immediately notice a pool of blood on the concrete. As I contemplate who's it may be I feel a peck on my cheek and wipe it with my finger... more blood?
I look up to its source and above me, hanging lifeless from the open garage door was Tatum- her body broken in half.
I swallow the vomit that had risen in my throat. I know Stu is a killer but there was still a part of me in the back of my mind that didn't want to believe it... but this moment had completely solidified it for me. He needs to be stopped, they both do.
I felt guilty leaving her there like that... she was so nice... but I didn't have time to worry about her pride right now. I had more lives to save.
I run back to the living room, tapping Stu lightly on his shoulder.
"Where's Billy?" I whisper in his ear from behind the couch.
He turns to face me, a grin in his face.
"He's upstairs, apologizing to Sidney." He winks as he speaks and my stomach turns. We both know that was a lie.
I walk nonchalantly out of the room as to not attract any attention then quietly sprint up the stairs.
I can't let him hurt her. All of my life I have been surrounded by a cruel coolness that I cannot describe. Not hate, but not love either. But Sidney- although I have not known her long- was like a ray of sunshine in my bleak existence. Her comforting warmth never failed to melt my frozen heart.
Ive got to save her... no, i need to...even if it costs me my life... because now that I've met her, I don't know how I could live a life without her.
Part 6 (END)
I tip toe through the hallway and notice that my grandparents room door had been shut.
My hands shake as I reach for the door knob, I can't let fear overtake me now... this is too important.
I hold my breath and swing open the door. Sidney lays on the bed, Billy straddling her body.
"Get... off of her." I speak through clenched teeth.
"What's the matter? You jealous?" Billy grinned. "You want to join in?"
"What I want is for you to get the fuck off of her." I spat.
His expression falls cold with the realization that I was not playing around, I was no longer going along with their evil plan.
He stands up and I brace myself, ready to attack.
Sidney sits up, looking at me with a mixture of concern and confusion.
"Come at me bitch." I taunt him as I slide my hand into my pocket.
He lunges at me, punching me across my jaw. I fall against the wall and Sidney shouts.
He grabs me by my hair and pulls me toward him but I pull the small can of bear spray out of my pocket, aiming for his eyes.
"FUCK!" He cries. Rubbing his eyes clean with his white shirt.
"We've got to get out of here!" I grab Sidney by her arm, dragging her off of the bed.
"What's going on!?" She asks in desperation.
"I'll explain later we just have to go!"
I swing open the bedroom door and standing outside is the 'ghostface'... I forgot this was the part of the plan where Stu would pretend to stab Billy as the killer. Shit. Shit. Shit.
He steps toward me threateningly, he wore a mask so my spray would serve no purpose.
I panic and without hesitation I use my free hand to grab a lamp off of the dresser and smash it across the side of his head.
He becomes unconsious and his body falls limply to the floor. Billy reaches toward me and I step over Stus body, running out into the hallway with Sidney still in tow.
I run down into the living room where everybody had been gathered.
"Everybody leave! You're all in danger!" I scream, spitting blood as I do so. Apparently Billy had punched some of my teeth loose.
To my suprise everybody gets hyped up, laughing and clapping in enjoyment.
"This is so cool!" Somebody cheers.
"I bet you guys planned this to scare us... but it looks so real." Another girl points to my mouth.
"That's because it is real!" I plead. "Now everybody LEAVE!"
They still don't believe me.
I glace up to see Billy approaching the top of the steps with tears in his eyes. Stu was not long behind him with the mask pulled off of his bloody face.
I pull Sidney into the kitchen, locking the door behind me. I grab the reciever and dial the police.
"Please tell me what's going on!?" Sidney begs. "I want to help you."
"Billy and Stu are the killers. They killed your mom. They planned this whole party to kill everybody- including you- and frame your father for it." I quickly sum it up as a lady answers the phone.
"What, why!?" Sidneys eyes widen.
"If you don't believe me, check the pantry!" I point.
Sidney opens the closet and her jaw drops. Her father falls at her feet, gagged and tied tightly in a thick rope.
I can hear screaming and gun shots from the living room and somebody's foot ramming into the kitchen door.
"We need officers at 261 Turner Lane IMMIDATELY!"
The door bursts open and Stu and Billy run in, their clothing soaked in blood that was not their own.
I drop the phone and Me and Sidney back into the kitchen counter, our arms wrapped around each other for support.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Billy roars. "You could have been a survivor but you made the wrong decision."
"You know I don't want to do this to you... but you gave me no choice." Stu cries, holding a gun between his two hand and pointing it toward me.
"Please don't kill me." I try to talk him down. "I know you don't want to... I love you, just like a brother. You know that."
He swallow, hesitating to pull the trigger.
"Do it Stu. Their lying... if they really loved you they wouldn't have betrayed you like this." Billy hisses.
"Shut up! He wasn't always this way. I bet you are the real reason he's like this." I retort.
"Is that really what it is? Peer pressure?" Sidney chimes in.
Stu drops the gun, a painful expression on his face.
"No... it's not." He bites his lip.
"Please, tell me the truth..." I beg.
"The truth is... i did it for love." Stu chokes on his words. "I wanted to do everything he asked me to do... because I love him."
My heart stops, I can understand that feeling... the feeling of falling for somebody so hard that you would be willing to do anything for them... I guess that weakness runs through the family.
Billy snatches the gun up off of the floor, giving Stu a disgusted look.
"That's sick. You really think I would ever love you?" Billy gagged. "Thats disgusting. Your nothing but a pawn in my game of chess."
As Billy spoke he put the gun up to Stus ear, pulling the trigger and shooting him through his skull.
Stu's brain matter splatters across the white walls and I scream in agony, falling onto my knees on the floor. I'm going to pass out.
Sidney keeps her arms wrapped around me, squeezing me tightly.
"You're a psychopath!" I scream at Billy. "You deserve to burn in hell!"
"Who are you to talk, huh? Your just as bad as I am." He chuckles. "Dont you realise how many people died tonight because of you?"
"I'm nothing like you!"
"Sure you arnt." He smiles. "You know... we could make a really good team- we could kill Sidney right now... finish the plan!"
"No! Never!" I bawl.
"That wasn't a suggestion... that was a demand." He spat, aiming the gun at Sidney and pulling the trigger.
But it shot a blank.
"FUCK! That dumbass used all of the bullets in the living room." Billy tossed the gun across the counter. "I'll have to do it the old fashioned way."
He jumps at Sidney and I yell, but he stops before he is able to strangle her. His body falls onto her shoulder and he starts to cough up blood.
She pushes him off and he falls onto his back, sticking out of his chest was the folding blade I had in my pocket.
"My knife..." I blink in astonishment.
"You're not the only one with a trick up your sleeve." She grins.
As Billy takes his last gargled breath we hear a bang at the front door... the police are here...
***
Me and Sidney sit together on the curb while the paramedics lift countless bodies from the house.
It's raining and a kind police officer had laid a blanket across our shoulders. I shiver with the cold.
"How are you feeling?" Sidney asks as she uses a tissue to wipe the blood clean from my mouth.
"Just peachy." Sidney smiles at my words, recognizing my sarcasm.
I see the paramedics carry Stu and Billy's bodies through the front door and all of my emotions come bubbling to the surface.
Tears trickle down my cheeks and I hope that they are disguised by the rain that streamed down my face.
"It's okay... it's all over now." Sidney soothes me, gently rubbing circles into my back. "Nobody will get hurt anymore."
Her dark eyes were full of determination, again she had totally bewitched me. I could not deny her words.
Even in the darkness she looked so lovely, the way the red and blue lights bounced off of her skin had me in a trance.
Although now probably was not the most appropriate time- this experience has taught me that any moment could be my last...I had to tell her how I felt.
Before I am able to open my mouth to speak, my lips are sealed shut.
She had leaned in- pressing her pillowy lips against mine in a soft, passionate kiss.
Survivor | Sidney X Gender Neutral Reader (Parts 1-3)
***parts 4-end available on my page!***
You move in with your uncle Stu, who is -unbeknownst to you- one half of the ghost face killer.
What will you do when you find out? Join him? or borrow some of Sidney's courage and fight?
***This story and it's characters are based loosely on the first scream movie.***
***TW: this story contains graphic depictions of violence, gore and mild sexual content and is not suitable for young readers.***
Part 1
I rummage through my things, scrambling to get everything ready.
Today was my first day at Woodsboro highschool. I've never went to a new school before- and I'm not doing it now by choice.
My families house burned down recently... I lost everything, I basically have to start all over- like my last life didn't exist... it's a hard feeling to describe.
The only belongings I have left are what I had kept at my grandparents house, which is where I am staying until my parents are able to find another home in Woodsboro.
I hear a rhythmic rap at my room door.
"All ready?" I hear the familiar voice of Stu on the other side of the door.
I am the child of Stu's older sister Leslie- making Stu my uncle although we are the same age. I've always seen him as more of a brother than anything, but he loves to tease me about it.
"One minute!" I toss my supplies into my backpack and throw it over my shoulder.
I give myself one last looking over in the mirror. My hair was curly and a dirty blonde color. I kept it out of my face with a colorful bandana to match my tie-died crop top. I paired it with a pair of low rise bell bottoms and some white tennis shoes.
I swing open the door and as I go to walk out Stu leans on the door frame infront of me, blocking my path.
"What?"
"You're really going out dressed like that?" His eyes travel down to my stomach that peeked out of my top.
"Yes. I'm in highschool Stu, I'm aloud to show my belly button." I roll my eyes and duck under his arm. He shakes his head in disapproval as he follows me out the door.
When we arrive at school we are met by Tatum, she is Stu's girlfriend. I've met her quite a few times already as she comes over to the house often. It's nice to say I atleast I know one other person besides Stu.
"So are you excited?" Tatum asks me as Stu wraps an arm around her shoulders.
"About what?" I ask.
"You know, about starting at a new school!" She smiles.
"Ah, not really." I shrug. "School is not really my forte. Plus the thought of having to catch up with everybody makes me sick."
"I don't mean like that." She giggles. " arnt you excited to make new friends? Maybe meet somebody? Huh?"
"They'll make friends in no time." Stu grins. "Their just like me. Fun, loveable, attractive..."
"Careful, I can see your ego growing." I poke him in his side.
When we get inside I immediatly head to the office to grab my schedule and make my way to my classroom.
***
Stu and Tatum meet up with me after classes. Together we go to the fountain.
On its ledge sat a small group. A beautiful girl, leaning on her a scrawny guy with dark greasy hair and next to them-but also at a distance- another guy with lighter brown hair and very pretty blue eyes.
"Hey guys! This is my little nibling I was telling you about." Stu pats me on the head and I cross my arms.
"Little? Your literally a month older then me."
I introduce myself and the others do the same back. Sidney, her boyfriend Billy and Randy.
They take a seat and I plank myself down between Stu and Sidney.
"So, Liking Woodsboro so far?" Randy makes conversation with me, he was very sweet and gave off a very comforting vibe.
"I don't know, it seems nice on the surface but there is something about this place that feels a little off. I don't know why." I pride myself on being a good judge of character and I am usually right... I guess you could say I've got a strong intuition?
"Perhaps it's because everybody's feeling on edge about the murder."
"Murder?" I blink.
"Leslie didn't tell you?" Stu laughs. "Typical."
"So what happened?" They've peaked my curiosity.
"Last night somebody murdered a girl- Casey Becker- and her boyfriend-Steve Orth." Randy explains. "The police have no clue who could have done it, so everybody is on edge not knowing who it could be... it could really be anybody."
"Even you." He jokes, smirking and raising his brows.
"Why would it be me?" I question.
"Well, Stu said that you came to town yesterday... that same night they were murdered. Coincidence?"
"It's impossible for it to be her" Stu chimes in. "They were comepletely gutted amd hollowed out. Only a real man could do something like that."
"A woman could kill somebody!" Tatum retorts and the three of them argue.
I rub my forehead in disgust as Stu explains how to gut somebody in graphic detail, this isn't really the topic of conversation I had expected.
"Don't mind them, their horror movie nerds." Billy speaks up, noticing my discomfort.
"You don't have to tell me. I know how tasteless Stu can be." I shake my head and he grins.
"If your not into scary movies, what do you like?" Billy continues the conversation.
"I'm more of a dirty dancing-ghost type of person."
"A Patrick Swayze fan?" He chuckles.
"Fan is an understatement." I laugh. "Romance movies in general are more up my alley."
I look at Sidney, she's stares blankly at the ground as if she is absorbing everything that is being said.
"What about you?" I ask her, trying to insert her into the conversation. I wouldn't want her to think I was making a move on her boyfriend.
"Oh yeah, i like those too." She replies as I snap her out of her trance.
Suddenly a voice bellows over the speakers, it's the principal. He gives a warning about arriving home safely.
Stu jumps up from the fountain, grabbing me by my wrist.
As I stand up I notice Billy give me a looking over, unbeknownst to Sidney. It sort of makes me uncomfortable and I duck slightly behind Stu.
"Come on, let's go home." He grins. "If any killer tries to come at you he'll have to get through me!"
"I'll go-" Stu pretends to punch and kick, making funny sound effects as he does so. "Your guts are safe with me!"
He pokes me in my stomach and I shoot him a dissatisfied glare.
I wave goodbye to the others as we walk off of school grounds.
That evening my grandparents announced that they would be going out of town. My parents had plans to go as well, in their words they needed a 'break from all of the stress.' But actively chose to leave me in it.
I didn't fussy the idea of me and Stu being left alone with a killer on the loose, but Stu was absolutely ecstatic. He was already making plans to hold a house party.
"I don't think thats a great idea." I explain my concern but he seems unphased.
"We can drink beer and watch horror movies!" He rubs his hands together in excitement.
"We don't know who the killer is, you could literally be inviting them into our home." I shudder at the thought.
"What if we already have?" He chuckles and my eyes widen.
"Just screwin with ya." He pats me on the back and lets out a hearty laugh.
I punch him in his arm. He really is simple minded.
He gets up from the couch, grabbing his backpack and heading toward the door.
"Where are you going all of a sudden?" I ask.
"I forgot that I promised Billy we'd hang out today. I'll be back in a few."
"Alright." I nod. Slumping down into the cushions and flicking through the channels on the television.
Part 2
At school the next day the whole atmosphere felt different... lighter.
People were gathered in small cliques, laughing, gossiping...
One of them grabs me by my shoulder, pulling me aside.
"Have you heard?" She squeaks excitedly. "They caught the killer!"
"What, really?" I feel a weight lift off of my shoulders, perhaps being home alone won't be so bad after all.
"Yeah." Another girl chimes in, eager to spread the rumor. "and you won't guess who it is!"
"Who?"
"Billy Loomis!" She whispers.
"What!?" I'm taken aback. He did seem sort of off, but I still didn't imagine it.
"Sidney was threatened by the killer last night...moments after Billy climbs through her window with a burner phone. Pretty creepy huh." She wraps her arms around herself, shivering slightly. "The police took him in."
That's odd... i scratch my head as I recall Stu saying he was supposed to hang out with Billy last night. Billy wasn't with him- but with Sidney... yet Stu was gone for hours. My thoughts race. I'll have to question him about it when we get home.
Something catches the girls' attention and I quickly follow their gaze. Sidney walks down the hall, her head down. People whisper and call cruel words in her direction as she passes. She must feel awful.
"Hey, i bet Sidney is a killer too!" A boy speaks loudly. "It would only make sense to throw your accomplice under the bus to protect yourself."
I see a pained expression cross her face and I instinctively run toward the guy, giving him a powerful whack across the face with my math textbook.
"What the fuck was that for?" He cries as his nose begins to bleed.
"Mind your own damn business." I hiss.
"And if anybody else wants to open their stupid mouths they can feel my wrath too. I used to take karate back in my home town." I shout through the hall threateningly.
The subject of conversation quickly shifts from Sidney to the fact that I am a total lunatic, which wouldn't be completely false.
"You didn't have to do that." Sidney speaks softly, finally looking up from the floor.
"But I appreciate it nonetheless." She smiles slightly.
"Anytime." I smirk. "So... how are you feeling, like really?"
I wrap an arm around her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"It really took me off guard." She sighs. "When you think you know somebody... you don't."
"I can only imagine the feeling." I bite my lip. "But you really did a good thing by turning Billy in. Most people wouldn't have the courage to betray their loved one like that."
"Youre a good person that cares about the wellbeing of others. I've only just met you but I can see that." I speak from the heart and she smiles warmly.
She really is beautiful. Her dark hair and striking brown eyes contrast perfectly with her clear, pale skin. I smack myself on my cheeks, desperate to rid myself of my intrusive thoughts... now really isn't the time.
A teacher approaches us, an angry kick in her step. Following behind her like a stray dog was the boy I had hit earlier, a wad of bloody tissue up his nose.
"This school does not tolerate violence amongst its students." She lectures me. "Go to the principals office. Now."
I groan. Snitches get stitches.
"I'll see you later Sid." I give her one last pat on the back before heading toward the principals office.
***
The secretary sits at her desk, flipping through a large stack of duotangs.
"I-" I try to speak but the secretary interrupts me abruptly.
"The teacher already called ahead. Follow me." She stands, motioning me ahead with her hand.
She tries to open the door but it is locked.
"That's strange... he never locks his door." She mumbles.
"Excuse me sir, I have a student that needs to see you." She knocks on the frosted glass and waits a moment, but recieves no response.
"Sir?" He still doesn't answer.
She pulls a set of keys out of the pocket of her blazer, unlocking the door and cautiously pushing it open.
The moment the door cracks I am hit in the face by a pungent metallic scent. The secretary notices it too and wrinkles her nose.
We step inside, the principal has his head cradled in his arms as if he were taking a nap on his desk.
"Sir, are you alright?" The secretary pushes him up by his shoulder and suddenly his body falls limply back into the office chair. His face was pale and lifeless.
We are both mortified as we notice his white button up had been stained red from the multiple stab wounds in his chest. Upon further inspection we also notice that his stomach had be sliced open and his organs pooled out into his lap and onto the floor by his feet.
The last thing I can remeber after that moment is the secretary's blood curdling scream for help as the world closes in on me.
***
When I come to I am laying in a doctors office, surround by police officers. My heart races as the morbid scene repeats itself in my mind.
I begin to feel even more Ill as I relay my experience to the police. They had officer Dewy do the questioning, since he was Tatum's brother they thought it would make me feel a little more at ease. It didn't.
"How are you doing?" Sidney sits down on the bed beside me, taking my hand in hers.
"Just peachy." I smile sarcastically.
"I'm sorry." She furrows her brows in frustration.
"What for?"
"It's my fault you got into trouble... if you didn't have to go to the office you-"
"Stop right there." I interject. "I chose to bash that guys nose in and I'm dealing with the consequences."
"But there is one thing that really has me stumped..." I quickly put the pieces together.
"What is it?"
"I thought they caught the killer... so how was he able to hurt anybody else?"
"We're not exactly sure..." Dewy exhales. "Not only was Billy in jail when the attack happened, but we checked all of his call records and he has been cleared and released."
Then the killer is still out there? I swallow the lump that had formed in my throat.
"I want to go home." I whine.
"Are you sure you're alright to leave?" Sidney asks, concern in her eyes. "The doctor said they would hold you until tomorrow morning."
"No... I'm fine, just a little shaken up. I'd rather lay in my own bed."
"Alright." Dewy smiles. "I'll let the doctor know."
He gets up, making his way out into the hallway.
It was just me and Sidney left in the room. As her hands cupped mine I could feel a comforting warmth travel though my body. It was an indescribable feeling of safety and reassurance that I didn't want to let go of.
"Dont worry, whoever this killer is... he'll pay for what hes done." Her dark eyes were full of strength and determination I couldn't help but believe every word that she said.
"you can go." The doctor speaks as head Dewy enter the room.
"but take these, they will calm your nerves and hopefully help you sleep through the night." He passes me a small orange bottle. "Dissolve them under your tongue."
"thank you." I nod.
"ill give you a ride home." Dewy offers.
"Where's Stu?" I ask.
"He went on ahead, something about catching up on an assignment." Sidney sighs.
"Alright." I get up, finally releasing Sidney's grip on my fingers.
"You know, if you need to talk I'm only a phone call away." She smiles.
My heart flutters in my chest. Her genuine concern is touching, a feeling I was not used to. Although I love my family they could always be somewhat cold... even Stu, who I was the closest with usually lent a blind eye to my feelings.
"Thanks Sid, I feel a lot better now."
Part 3
I step out of the police car into an empty driveway. My family had already left town. They probably hadn't even heard about what had happened to me that day.
I go inside and quietly shut the door behind me. It was getting late and I didn't want to interrupt Stu's studies...
I go into the kitchen and make my way to the phone. I should really call my parents and tell them what happened. If they find out from somebody else they are sure to be pissed.
When I pick up the receiver I can hear Stu's voice on the other end. Assignment my ass. I hold my breath as I bring the phone up to my ear. I know I shouldn't eavesdrop but curiosity has always been a weakness of mine.
"Are you sure it's safe to talk on this phone?" I hear Billy's voice.
"Yes dude, the fam's out of town. Nibling's at the hospital for the night. Were good." Stu replies.
"why didn't you just call me on your burner phone?"
Why would they need a burner phone to speak? what do they plan on talking about? now I definitely have to listen.
"Cuz... I may or may not have lost it, okay?" Stu groans.
"you're lucky I'm still talking to you after you almost got my ass locked up." Billy spat. "You're lucky I didn't rat you out."
Rat him out...? for what?
"And I'll be forever grateful." Stu chuckles. "But get this, I got a plan for our next hit."
"I don't feel comfortable talking about this over the phone. Let's meet up at our usual spot. "
"okie doke. Be there in a minute." Stu hangs up the phone.
I hear his door open upstairs and I quickly duck behind the counter as I hear Stu sprint down the stairs and out the door.
I wait a few moments to ensure that he is actually gone and slowly make my way up the stairs. Stu's behaviour has been strange since I moved in with him... and Billy, although proven innocent, gives me a strange feeling in my stomach.
Against my better judgement I decide to sneak into Stu's room, I need to know what he could be hiding. I start to sift through his belongings, desperate to find something that doesn't belong.
I pull open his drawers. All of his clothing was thrown haphazardly into it. I resist the urge to fold it neatly, I can't let him know I'm doing this.
While I was sat on the floor I notice a box underneath his bed. I lay onto my stomach and use my arms to slide myself underneath. I sneeze with the embarrassing amount of dust under his mattress and pull a dirty sock out of my hair. Nasty.
I grab onto the box and scoot myself back out. I brush myself clean and kneel beside the box.
As I lift the lid I am not surprised to see that it is full of photos of topless women. Ugh, how tasteless. I rub my forehead. I could really just stop here and let it go... but that wasn't me. I couldn't possibly let my questions go unanswered.
I pick out all of the explicit photos and lay them to the side. Underneath them all laid a gray backpack, the same one I saw Stu wearing that night he was going to 'hang with Billy'. Why would he hide it like this?
Inside was a mass of black fabric. I reach in to pull it out and something sharp slices my hand across my palm.
"Ow! what the heck was that?" I shout audibly.
I flip the backpack upside down onto the floor and out falls a black robe. I unfold it to reveal a white halloween mask, a pair of gloves and a hunting knife that had been wrapped inside.
"what...? why...?" I murmur as I unzip the front pocket with my bloodied hand, I hadn't realized how much I had been bleeding.
Inside the pocket was some type of device. I hold down the button on its side.
"What is this?" As I speak the machine repeats my voice back to me in a deep, raspy tone. It's a voice changer.
My hands start to shake as I quickly come to the realization.
A disguise... a weapon... an alibi... Stu couldn't really be... the killer? and Billy his accomplice?
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming.
I panic and quickly stuff everything back into the box and slide it underneath his bed once again.
I can hear a couple of sets of footsteps walking up the stairs toward me and I run into the closet, softly sliding the doors closed behind me.
"Since it's going to be my party ill have to make an appearance." Stu speaks as he and Billy enter the room. I watch them through the small gaps in the closet door.
"So I'll move in first while you distract the guests." Billy adds.
"Exactly." Stu grins. "Then, part way through the party we switch. That way you'll make an appearance as well and I can have a bit of fun."
"But how are we going to frame Sidney's father for this. That is the main point."
"I haven't thought that far yet." Stu scratches his head.
"We'll have to kidnap him beforehand. He needs to be at the scene of the crime when everything goes down." Billy adds.
"I got a closet downstairs we can shove him in."
"Perfect. Nobody will believe his word against ours, the only survivors." Billy smiles genuinely and it sends a shiver down my spine.
My heart feels as if it is going to burst out of my chest as I watch Stu reach underneath his bed and pull out the box.
I hold my breath as Billy slowly approaches the closet, his head hanging down toward the floor.
"My stuff!" Stu shouts. " It's not how I left it!"
"I know why..." Billy grins as he glares through the hair in his face.
"Why?" Stu asks in shock.
Billy looks toward me as he points to a trail of blood splatter that lead into the closet.
Love Sick / (yandere) Mickey Altieri X OC (Parts 5-END)
***TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains themes that some may find offensive/triggering, such as alcohol and drug use, physical and sexual assault, death, self harm, suicide, violence and gore. Read at your own risk.***
Act V
As I enter the dorm and make my way up to my room I pull my keys out of my pocket, it was a lot later than I expected.
I try to be as quiet as possible as to not wake my roommate.
I slowly slide into the room, gently closing and locking the door behind me. I round the small corner to go to the bathroom and...
*CRASH*
I get hit in the face with a blunt glass object that shatters in my face. I fall onto my hands and knees and blood rushes down from my forehead into my eye.
"What the hell!?" I scream.
I look up, my roommate stands above me with with the neck of a broken vase in her hand.
She looks rough. Her makeup ran down her face and he hair is disscheveled. She was shivering like a chihuahua.
"I'm sorry! I panicked!"
"Why are you so on edge?" I ask as I pick myself up off of the floor, using the wall as support. My head was spinning.
"I got a call, Lila!" Tears began to stream down her face. "From the killer!"
"Isn't he in jail?" I use the sleeve of my shirt to wipe the blood from my eye. "He probably just called you from there to mess with you."
"You don't know that!" She grabs onto both of my arms, shaking me violently. "What if he isn't the real killer!? What if there's more than one like before!?"
Her shaking makes me sick, I push her away with my free arm.
"You'll be alright. Now go to bed." I groan.
"Only if you stay with me. Don't leave my side, okay!?" She begs.
I nod and she hesitantly crawls under the covers, not even bothering to change.
I grab a pair of pj's from my drawer and get dressed in the bathroom. I check myself in the mirror, I had a deep slit through my eyebrow.
I use a damp facecloth to clean my face and cover the wound in a large knee-sized bandaid. Then crawl into bed.
I struggle to sleep that night, listening to the mournful whimpers of my roommate as she cries in fear.
***
I miss most of my classes, I ended up sleeping in.
Once I did get up I made my way straight to the nurses office, my wound had bled through my bandaid and stained my pillow case.
My roommate had planned to tag along with me but fortunately i had convinced her that the killer wouldn't attack her in a crowd. We know from the murder at the Stab screening that was not true, but she took the bait anyway.
I flinched as the nurse squeezed my wound together with glue.
"I'm going to need to give you a couple of stitches... because it's right on the brow bone the glue probably won't be enough."
She pulls out a sterile needle and thread and I resist the urge to pull away as she sews my wound shut.
"Youre good to go." She wipes it clean with an alcohol swab.
"Thanks..." I sigh and make my way to the next class. I really didn't feel like it. My head still throbbed.
"Hey, Lila! Where've you been?" Randy waves as him and the others run up to me in the hallway.
"Woah, are you alright?" Derek asks, referring to the stitches in my eyebrow.
"No, I got ambushed by my roommate last night." I grumble. "She got a call from 'the killer' and now she's losing her shit."
"What?" Sidney blinks. "She's being targeted? I thought he was in jail?"
"I don't know... I really don't want to think about it right now, I've got a lot going on in my head." I push my hair infront of my wound, trying to hide it.
"I think it looks badass." Randy grins. "You look like a super villan."
"Thanks." I say with obvious sarcasm.
We all walk to class together, sitting in our respective seats.
As the teacher gets his papers prepaired I feel a pencil poke my shoulder blade.
I turn my head, it's Mickey. I haven't spoken to him since last night.
He uses his pencil to poke his eyebrow, asking what had happening without saying any words.
The teacher speaks and I look back toward the front of the class, I really didn't feel like talking to him right now.
Although I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy last night the images I had seen on his camera still play through my mind like a slide show. I couldn't help but feel tension between us.
The teacher goes around collecting our scripts. I notice my roommate pull hers out- she sat in the seat beside me- and I cannot believe my eyes.
It was my script. You know, the one I had lost.
I cannot focus through the class, my heart raced. I had to confront her.
After the bell rings for lunch break I catch her out in the cafeteria, my teeth gritting in frustration.
"You stole my script." I hiss.
"What are you talking about?" She plays dumb.
"The script that I spent hours writing. The one that I thought I had lost." I growl. "How dare you!"
"You passed in another script, so what's the big deal?" She puts her hands on her hips.
"The big deal is I poured my heart and soul into it!" I raise my voice. "And you're going to get the credit for it."
She looks unphased by my anger which just frustrates me more.
"I hope the killer does get you!" I spat. "You deserve it you fucking bimbo!"
At this point everybodies eyes are on us. I hadn't realized how heated I had actually gotten.
"Get away from me, freak." She backs away, running into the crowd of students.
I was not a freak when she thought she was going to die last night.
My forehead pangs and I rest a hand on it. I need to calm down.
"Everybody mind your own business." Mickey approaches me, shouting at the crowd. "Go away."
The students start to dissipate and I let out an exhausted sigh.
"She really stole your script?" his face was full of sorrow.
I nod.
He wraps his arms around me as an attempt to comfort me but it just makes me more tense.
"Lila." He says my name in almost a whisper, it sends a shiver down my spine. "I know now is probably not the time... but there's something I want to talk to you about."
"There's something I want to talk to you about too..." I keep my head against his chest, I can't bear to make eye contact right now.
"What is it?" He lets me out of his embrace, still keeping his hands around my arms.
"Y-you go first." A knot forms in my throat and I chicken out.
"I really enjoy spending time with you..." He looks down and smiles. "And I'd like to be more than just friends with you."
My lungs tighten and I lose my breath. I feel light headed.
"I can't... we can't..." I stutter trying to find the right words.
His face immediately falls cold. His expression a mixture of anger and sadness. I've yet to see his eyes look so lifeless.
"What?... why not?" He asks under his breath.
"I don't really want to talk about it right now." I pull away from his grip, I can't bring myself to explain.
I hear him mumble something along the lines of 'I'll make you change your mind.' As I walk away.
I sit at the lunch table with the others in my usual spot. Mickey sits beside me in his as well. I can feel his eyes burning a hole through the side of my head.
"Did you hear the rumors?" Derek asks.
"No, what now?"
"The police checked their call records, there was no call made from the jail to your dorm room."
"So either the person who called wasn't actually the killer, or they arrested the wrong man." Randy chimes in. "Or there's more than one like last time. Kinda creepy to think, huh?"
"I think you should be careful, Lila." Sidney adds. "It seems like the killer may target you next."
"I'm not afraid of some asshole in a cheap halloween costume." I shake my head.
"You should be." Mickey suddenly speaks up, almost sounding threatening. It catches me off guard.
"She doesn't have to be afraid, the two most important horror movie rules are that the gays and the virgins always survive." Randy teases.
"How many times do I have to say I'm not gay." I groan.
"Buuut... you are a virgin." Randy grins.
I scoop up some mashed potato on my plastic spoon, using it as a catapult. The potato sticks to the side of Randy's face.
"Shut up, dipshit."
He laughs, wiping his cheek clean with his sleeve.
"You never know, that could change in the sequel." Mickey states.
"This isn't a movie, guys." Hallie butts in. "This is real life."
"It could be a movie some day." Mickey grins.
Act VI
The rest of the week went normally. No fights, no deaths, just quiet. I got to spend a lot more time with my friends. It was nice, maybe too nice?
The phone rings in my dorm room and I hesitantly pick it up.
"Hello...?"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" my father shouts into the reciever. I almost have a heart attack.
"Thanks..." I exhale.
"I can't believe my baby girl is growing up so fast." I hear him sniff. "It feels like it was only yesterday I was changing your diapers."
"I know, I know." I roll my eyes. I hate when my dad gets all emotional like this.
"I sent your gift in the mail, hopefully it got there in time. Let me know, okay?"
"I will."
We talk for a few minutes before saying our goodbyes.
I run down to the student center to check my mail box. There were a few slips in it.
I take them to the counter and the lady passes me out an envelope and a large, nicely wrapped box. It was surprisingly light.
As I walk through the hall I can hear random students shout birthday wishes when noticing the large box in my arms.
I just nod my head and smile. I really hate birthdays. None of them are my friends, I know all of their words are hollow.
I go outside and sit on the edge of the water fountain. I'm not one for gifts either, especially opening them infront of people. I never know if my reaction is enough.
The first was a regular brown mailing envelope. It was covered in scribbles, hearts, balloons. It was definatly my father's work.
I tear it open, it's a 'Green Day' band tee. They are my favorite. I will definatly get some good wear out of this.
I unfold the shirt to get a better look at the logo and something falls out onto the ground.
It's a switchblade. I pick it up and flick out the blade. The last time I called my father I was telling him about all of the murders that occurred, he told me how if I really wanted to stay in college I needed to learn to protect myself.
I pick up the other box, using the blade to cut it open, it was really sharp. I click the blade back into place and shove it into my bra.
The other box was filled with a mess of pink fabric. I hate pink... this is definatly from my mother and her creepy husband.
I lay the box on the ground and pull everything out. It's a modest, frilly, knee length dress. Ew. There was also a jewelry box. I open it and there is a necklace inside with a cross pendant and a small Bible. Still trying to shove their religion down my throat I see.
"That's so pretty!" I hear a voice shout. Its Hallie, Sidney walking by her side.
It was definatly her taste.
"Here, take it!" I toss the dress at her and she catches it.
"Seriously?" She blinks in astonishment.
"Yes. I think my soul would leave my body if I wore that much pink."
Sidney laughs, like me she is more fond of darker colors.
They sit on the fountain on either side of me. Hallie hugs into the dress like she has just struck gold.
"I'll have to wear this on my date." She smiles.
"Ooo, you've got a date?" I tease. "Who's the lucky man?"
"Mickey!" She shouts excitedly and my stomach does a back flip.
I want so badly to tell her what I know, but we arnt really the closest. I don't want to overstep any boundaries.
"How long...have you been together?" I swallow the lump in my throat.
"Just since this morning." She flattens out the dress in her lap, running her fingers along the ruffles. "We're going out for dinner, I'm really excited."
"That's good..." I mutter.
"That reminds me!" Sidney interjects. "I was going to ask you if you could meet me later. I'd like to talk."
"Why, is something up?" I shoot her a look of concern.
"No-no. How does 4pm in the theatre classroom sound?"
"Sounds good."
"Perfect." She jumps to her feet and Hallie does as well.
"I have to go get ready, I'll talk to you later." Hallie speaks.
"I'm helping her." Sidney grins and they both run away.
That was odd.
I pull the tshirt my father had given me over the tank top I had been wearing. I take the necklace and Bible and shove them into my pocket. Mom will definatly expect me to be wearing it when we see each other again. As far as the dress goes, I'll just tell her somebody stole it.
I hang around my room most of the day, drawing in my sketchbook and listening to some music.
When 4pm rolls around I rush toward the theatre classroom to meet Sidney. I wonder what she has to say?
When I get there I notice through the window in the door that the lights were off... she did say 4 right?
As I open the door I reach into my top, pulling out my blade. I really don't feel like being ambushed again.
Suddenly the lights flick on and I'm surrounded by loud voices shouting 'Happy Birthday!'.
I almost drop with the fright, everybody's eyes widen- especially Sidney's- who stood only inches away from the blade.
"Hey, put the knife away!" Randy throws his arms into the air. "Youre alright!"
"Im sorry." I sigh, shoving it back into my top. "I just lost an eyebrow and I don't feel like losing another one."
I take a second to examine my surroundings. The classroom was cutely decorated with balloons, streamers, and a home-made banner.
"You didn't have to do all of this for me."
"Of course we did!" Sidney smiles.
"And it gets better!" Randy wraps an arm around my back, leading me to a make-shift table made by pushing a bunch of desks together. Ontop was a cake and a small pile of gifts.
For the first time in a while I feel genuinely happy.
"Cut the cake!" Hallie grins, handing me a knife and some paper plates, she wore that godawful dress.
I slide the knife into the cake, it's vanilla- my favorite. I lay a piece out onto a plate.
"Crumbs! Crumbs! Crumbs!" Derek chants. "What's the name of your crush?"
"Arnt we a little old for that?" I laugh.
"You just don't want to say who it is!"
"No, I don't have one!" I cross my arms.
"I bet he's in this room!" Derek teases.
"It's me, isn't it?" Randy shoots me a cheeky smile and my face becomes flushed.
"Is not."
"Is too."
I take the paper plate in my hand, squishing the piece of cake into Randy's face.
I take my finger and wipe the icing off of his nose, sticking it into my mouth.
"Mmm. Butter cream." I joke and he digs his fist into the cake, shoving a handful into my face.
Derek bursts into laughter and Randy takes the leftover cake in his hand and shoves it into his face. Than Derek takes some and shoves it into Sidney's. We laugh and scream as it becomes a full on cake war.
Once the cake had be fully mutilated the four of us clean ourselves up, tears of laughter rolling down out faces as we scrape the icing off of our hands and faces with paper towels.
"You should open your presents next!" Hallie suggests, she hadn't participated in the food fight. She's sort of a stick in the mud.
I notice Mickey had his hand wrapped delicately around her waist, he was very quiet through all of this. Was he trying to make me jealous? I shake it off.
"Alright!" I wiggle my fingers. "Which one first?"
The first one I pick up had Sidney and Derek's names on it. It was a collection of tapes for my Walkman with all of my favorite bands. Nirvana, AC/DC, Alice in Chains.
"I love them! How'd you know what I like?"
"We have similar tastes." Sidney chuckles.
I pick up one from Mickey and Hallie and open it. It's a disposeable camera and a small album.
"Now you can take some photos of your college experience and keep them forever." Hallie grins.
"Thats so sweet. Thank you guys!"
"Now mine!" Randy picks up a gift and passes it to me.
It's a copy of 'Halloween' on VHS.
"It's the first horror movie we watched together, remember?" He smiles.
"I do..." I giggle. "I had to stay over the night because you were too scared to sleep alone."
"We don't talk about that."
I notice there was one more gift on the table. That's odd, I've already gotten a gift from everybody.
"Who is this one from?" I point to the large box, beautifully wrapped in metallic paper.
"There's no name on it, but there is a card with your name on it." Sidney picks up the card, opening it to read the inside. She had a bewildered expression on her face.
"What does it say?" I ask curiously.
Sidney reads it aloud.
"Darling. Light, of my life. I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just going to bash your brains in."
The flicker of happiness I had felt turns to stomach sickness.
"That's a quote from 'The Shining'!" Randy points out.
"What's inside?" Derek asks and I hesitate to open it.
I try to pick it up and it's surprisingly heavy. The cardboard is soft, is it wet?
When I raise the box from the table the bottom gives way.
And out rolls a severed head. The head of my roommate.
Her blonde hair was almost completely stained in red, her skull bashed in. Gravity causes her brain matter to spread out onto the desk.
Everybody around me starts to scream and I feel my legs lose their strength.
I want so badly to speak but I've lost my voice. All I can do is run. I leave the room as quickly as my legs can take me, leaving the others behind.
Who... who is doing this to me?
Act VII
I lay in my dorm, staring at the empty bed on the other side of the room. I feel numb.
I remeber how I had shouted at my roommate in the cafeteria, how I had told her I hoped the killer would get her. I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for her death.
As Sidney had said whoever is doing this is targeting me in particular, but I can't understand why. I've never done anything to anybody.
I've kept to myself for the last week or so, quietly going to my classes and avoiding socialization. I thought if I stayed away from everybody, maybe nobody else would get hurt.
I hear a quiet tap at my door. I wrap my pillow around my head, I refuse to answer it.
But they are persistent.
I get up and hesitantly open the door, peeking through a small crack. It's Sidney and Hallie.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"We're here to take you out shopping!" Hallie grins.
"I'd prefer not." I groan.
"You haven't been yourself lately. I think it's time you have some fun." Sidney pushes my door open. "Now get dressed!"
I step back and they barge their way into my room.
"You can't let this person control your life, Lila." Sidney lays a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"You're right..." I clench my fists. "Alright! I'm going to have fun today!"
"That's more like it!" Hallie claps in excitement.
I quickly pull on a tshirt, a pair of overall shorts and some doc martens before heading out the door.
***
I flip through the clothes on the rack. There wasn't much to peak my interest, but I did pick up a couple of pairs of skinny jeans- you can never have too many pairs.
Sidney didn't have much luck either, but somehow Hallie managed to find an armful. Sweaters, skirts, dresses, tops, all in soft pastel colors.
There were two dressing rooms, one was locked.
"You can go first, Hallie."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, you have the most stuff." Sidney agrees. "We'll wait our turn."
"Okay!" She runs excitedly into the booth, locking the door behind her.
"So Lila..." Sidney looks at me with concern. "How are you holding up... like really?"
"I'm alright I guess..." I sigh.
"I've been in similar shoes, you know you can always talk to me right?"
"I know..." I smile. "Thanks Sid."
She wraps an arm around me, pulling me into a side hug.
"Hey, you dressed yet? We wanna see." She shouts to Hallie.
She doesn't answer, but I can hear her shuffling inside of the stall.
I look up at Sidney, she makes me feel so comfortable... so protected. Like a big sister.
"Actually, there is something I need to get off my chest." I speak up.
"What is it?"
Before I am able to speak Sidneys mouth falls agape. I follow her gaze, fresh blood pools out from under the dressing room Hallie was in.
"Hallie! HALLIE!" Sidney screams, banging on the door in a panic. "I can't get in its locked!"
"Move!" I shout and Sidney steps aside from the door.
I get a running start and use my boot to kick in the door like they do in the movies. It works and the door flies open.
Standing there was the Ghostface killer, Hallie's body lay lifeless at his feet. Her body twitched as blood gushed from a slit in her neck.
He steps over her body and Sidney and I share a mortified glance before running for our lives.
"Let's split up!" She calls before running in the opposite direction as me. She looked so determined, she's delt with this on more than one occasion.
I glance over my shoulder, the killer had completely ignored Sidney and kept on my tail.
He gained on me quickly. My lungs burn, I've never realized how unfit I am until this very moment. I should have participated more in gym class.
I've got to lose him. I run past a large display of boxes stacked on a dolly. I run a circle around it before pushing it over in the killers path.
He trips, frantically pushing the boxes out of his way as he stand back up.
I get a bit of a lead and use this opportunity to hide. If I run any longer I'm going to pass out.
I slide in between some clothes on one of the sale racks like children do to hide from their parents.
I see the killers boots walk slowly back and forth infront of the rack.
I cover my mouth, trying desperately to slow my breaths...if anything I would give myself away.
"Liiilllaaa~" I hear his raspy voice and the hair stands up on the back of my neck.
"I just want to see you~ I know you've been avoiding me since your birthday." He continues. "It was what you wanted, wasn't it?"
I already felt terrible enough as it was but he had just confirmed my worst fear. My roommates death was my fault.
I hear his metal blade scrape against the clothes on the rack. Sweat runs down my face.
I squeeze my chest, my heart feels like it is going to burst.
"Am I getting warmer?"
I remeber the blade I still kept in my bra. I quietly remove it, but when I deploy the blade it makes a soft 'click' sound.
"Got you, bitch!"
The killer growls and stabs his knife into the clothing, stabbing just shy of my head. The edge of the blade slices my cheekbone.
I take my switchblade and swiftly force it into his wrist. He drops his weapon and pulls back. I pick up his knife off of the floor and run to the stores exit.
When I get outside I am surrounded by police vehicles. Sidney stands with them.
She runs to me and pulls me into a hug.
"I'm so glad you're alright. I was worried." She sighs in relief.
"I was worried about you too."
***
In the end, the police still didn't catch the killer. The mall was large and they didn't have enough men to search every rack of every store.
Classes had just ended, I go outside for some fresh air and I notice Mickey sitting alone under a tree, fiddling with his camcorder. He looks upset.
I haven't really spoken to him, but I still can't help but feel bad... he was with Hallie after all.
I quietly approach him, sitting next to him in the grass. He feels my presence and looks up from his camera.
"Hey." I smile sheepishly.
"Hey..." His eyes look sad.
"I'm really sorry about Hallie." I rest a hand on his back.
"It's not a big deal..." He mumbles. "I wasn't really attached to her anyway."
"Then what's wrong?" I ask.
"Why have you been avoiding me?" He frowns. "Ever since I confessed to you you've been distant, is there a reason?"
I look down at the camcorder in his hands. How do I say this in a way that doesn't sound terrible?
"It's fucking Randy, isn't it?" He spat, his mood changed so suddenly.
"What?" His bluntness took me off guard.
"You love Randy, don't you? That's why you won't be with me."
"I wouldn't say that..."
"You don't have to." He growls. "I can see it. The way you look at him, it pisses me off."
"That's not it!" I argue.
"Than what? You going to tell me?" He snaps. "Or are you just going to run away and avoid me again?"
"The real reason..." My frustration finally bubbled its way to the surface. I didn't feel like being gentle anymore.
"The real reason is because your a creep!" I hiss.
He looks dumbfounded.
"I'm no idiot, Mickey." I continue. "I saw all of the photos on your camera. I know you've been stalking me!"
"That's a harsh way of putting it." He bites his lip.
"When you see something beautiful, don't you want to capture it too? To immortalize it forever?" He smiles. "I'm creating a legacy. Our legacy."
No matter what way you spin it, it still made me uneasy.
I get up and turn to walk away but he grabs onto my arm.
"You don't get it do you?" His face darkens.
I try to pull my arm away and his grip tightens. He tugs forcefully on my arm and I fall down on my knees, it actually hurt.
"I dated that obnoxious bitch a whole week to get your attention. You looked at me once." He whispered. "If you had just noticed me... gave me what I wanted... perhaps she would still be alive."
A knot forms in my stomach. I can feel my body start to shake.
Was he...?
I look at his arm that held the camcorder. His wrist was wrapped in a large bandage. The same place I had stabbed...
The killer.
I am paralyzed by fear. What do I do...
I try to scream and he pulls me into a kiss. I pull away but he still has a firm grip on my arm.
He puts a hand on my jaw, running his thumb across my lips.
"Im not ready to get caught yet, so if you scream...or dare to tell anybody..." I can feel his breath on my ear.
"I will kill you and everybody you've ever loved."
Act VIII
I feel his hand run delicately through my hair, his breath on the back of my neck.
Ever since that day we fought under the large oak tree, we've been 'together'. After what I had found out I didnt see a way to refuse his proposal.
He stayed in my dorm room with me- although it was not allowed- he occupied my roommate's empty side of the room.
I took for granted that he would stay there...on that side of the room, but somehow over the last few days he's made his way into my bed.
It was a small bed, not made for two. I slept with my back against his chest.
"You smell so good." He whispers, running his face along the crook in my neck.
"When you stayed in my dorm room that night, when we watched movies together... I can remeber your perfume on my blanket. I slept with it until the scent faded."
I don't know wether to take that as creepy or endearing. At this point I've started to get used to his unusual comments.
I push myself up and crawl over him, my body had started to ache, I couldn't lay down any longer.
I watch as he turns over and stretches. I would be lying if I said he didn't treat me well. Flowers, gifts, random acts of kindness... in any other circumstance it would love every minute of it.
But I knew it was only a farce. He made it quite clear that if I stepped out of line, I would be punished.
What that meant... I was not prepaired to find out.
I step into the shower and put my head down-resting my arms on the wall and letting the hot water run through my hair and down my back.
It was nice. I hadn't realized how tense I was lately, it was a constant thing and my muscles were weary.
I hear the door click and look up. I can see Mickey removing his clothing though the frosted curtain.
I stand up straight and push my wet hair out of my face. I close my eyes and let the water run down my chest.
I hear him push the curtain aside and step in. His fingers move across my shoulder blades, pushing all of my wet hair over my left shoulder.
His lips press against my neck and he gently nibbles at my flesh. I involuntarily shiver and it makes him giggle.
"You know..." He whispers into my ear. "Every good horror movie has a shower scene."
"This could be ours." He moans and I can feel something cold against my back.
The coolness travels up my back, sending a shiver down my spine. I look back over my shoulder, it's... a knife.
My eyes widen and I forget how to breath. He runs the edge of the blade across my skin, it stings as it lightly scratches the surface.
He wraps an arm around my waist, turning me around to face him. I lean against the shower wall as he runs the tip of the blade across my chest.
"M-mickey..." I try to express my discomfort but I struggle to speak.
I try to move and the blade pierces me in my sternum.
"Oops." He grins.
A small stream of blood trickles down my torso. He catches it with his fingers, staring into my eyes as he licks them clean.
It makes my stomach roll.
I hear the quiet ring of the phone in my room. That's my way out.
"I have to go get that."
"Right now?" He sighs.
"Yes. It might be one of my parents."
I quickly jump out of the shower, wrapping myself in a towel and running for the phone. I really didn't care who it was.
"Hello?"
"Is this Lila?"
"Yes?"
The voice on the other end of the phone was familiar. It was the same raspy voice of the Ghostface killer... but Mickey was in the shower?
"I'm going to kill you."
"Who is this?" I'm confused.
"I'm the killer... and you will be my next victim."
"Why?"
"Stop asking so many questions. Arnt you afraid?"
"I don't know how to feel anymore. I'm surprised I can feel anything honestly." I groan.
"I'm not your fucking therapist." They snap. "I had plans for Mickey and you've been nothing but a distraction."
Wait so theres two killers? Like last time?
"Unless you're going to help me kill Si-" I cut them off.
"Sorry, somebody's beeping in. I'll pass on the message."
"Don't you dare hang up on me you fucking bit-"
Beep.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Lila!" It's Randy.
"Hey, what's up?" I can't help but smile. His voice is exactly what I need right now.
"You know that copy of halloween I gave you for your birthday? I was wondering if you wanted to watch it together, like old times."
"Sure, I'd love that." I grin and Mickey walks out of the bathroom, I change my facial expression real quick.
"Alright, see you later!"
"Okay, bye!" I hang up.
"Who was it?" Mickey asks, looking through his things for a clean shirt.
"It was Ghostface. I'm going to die next." I shrug.
"Shit, Debbie..." He rubs his face with his palm. "I forgot I owed her a favor."
"So you have a partner?"
"Yes." He raises a brow. "But why did you seem so excited about getting threatened?"
Crap, he noticed.
"I just thought it was funny, thats all."
He gives me a strange look and pulls on some clothing.
"I should go do that today."
He approaches me and gives me a peck on the forehead.
"Next time im going too fast, instead of running away just tell me... alright?"
I nod, technically I didn't lie but for some odd reason I still feel guilty.
***
Randy lays across the bed on his stomach and I sit beside him pretzel style with a bowl of popcorn in my lap.
It gets to the jump-scare where Bob hangs from the doorway and Randy jumps up into a sitting position, knocking the popcorn everywhere. I burst into laughter to the point where my ribs hurt.
There is a knock at the door and he jumps to answer it. I try to shovel the popcorn back into the bowl, catching my breath.
Suddenly Randy reels backward, falling onto the floor... his shirt stained red with blood.
"Police-" is all he can mutter before coughing up a scary amount of blood.
I rush to the phone, attempting to dial 911.
"How dare you!"
I turn to see Mickey in the doorway, in one hand a knife smeared with Randy's blood, the other laid limp at his side- his shoulder peppered with bullet holes.
A voice speaks through the reciever, but all I can do is drop the phone scream in response as I watch Mickey fall onto Randy's body- Violently stabbing him repeatedly in the chest.
Blood splatters everywhere and tears roll down my cheeks. My legs feel weak and I sink down onto the floor, hugging into my knees for support.
The paralyzing fear I feel cannot be put into words as Mickey glares up at me, still straddling Randy's lifeless corpse.
"I've been so good to you and this is how you treat me?" He hissed.
He pushes himself back up to his feet with his good arm.
"This is great... this is fucking great." He hits his head in frustration. I've never seen him so unhinged.
"First I get my arm blown to pieces by Sidney-fucking-Prescot because I killed her stupid boyfriend." He growls. "Who called the police by the way, so I'm fucked."
"Then, when I run back to my girlfriend for some emotional support she's with another man." He rants.
He slowly approaches me and I curl up against the desk, making myself as small as possible.
"But it's alright now. I have a plan." He kneels to my level. "I'm going to blame it all on the Stab movies, my argument will do well in court so I won't have to serve much time."
He points the knife toward me and I flinch.
"Originally I was going to wait for you..." He sighs. "But this just proves that you wouldn't wait for me."
"The thought of you with somebody else while I'm locked up... it makes me sick." He shakes his head.
"Remeber what you said when we were writing your script? The best ending is not a happy one, but one that the audience does not expect."
He slowly pushes the tip of the blade into my chest and I reflexively grab onto it with both of my hands, pushing against him.
"If I can't have you, nobody can." He whispers, a content smile on his face.
I push with all of my strength but the blade sinks deeper and deeper into my ribs. I struggle to breath as it cuts into my lung.
Is this really how it ends?
The Final Act (IX)
I can't die here. I refuse.
I take one of my hands off of the knife and grab Mickey's wounded shoulder, forcing my thumb into one of the bullet holes.
He screams and pulls away, letting go of the knife. I keep my grip on it, tearing it from my chest.
As I remove it I find it harder to breath as the air leaks from my lung. I wrap an arm around my torso, desperate for it to stop.
"Don't be difficult, Lila." He sighs. "This is what's best."
I point the blade toward him in defense and he holds out his hand for me to pass it over. I think not.
I wave the knife around violently, slashing his outreached wrist.
He yells profanities at me as blood spurts excessively from his arm, I think I hit the sweet spot.
He swings at me with his bloodied arm, punching me across the face. My jaw aches but my grip on the blade does not falter.
He wraps his hand around my throat, I can't afford to lose the last bit of oxygen I have left.
I thrust the knife into his stomach, twisting it.
His grip on me weakens and I use this opportunity to remove the knife and stab him again multiple times.
His body falls limp onto me. His pupils dilate as he falls in and out of consciousness.
I push him off and he rolls onto his back beside me.
"I...still...love... you..." He mutters I'm between coughs of blood.
I watch as the soul leaves his eyes and his head falls lifeless.
I smile with relief, wiping away my tears with my bloodied sleeve.
It's all over.
I lay on the floor beside him, curling up into a tight ball. My lungs struggling to keep me alive.
And slowly, everything fades to black.
***
I wake up in a white room, surrounded by buzzing machinery. I'm in a hospital.
"Oh, Miss Dupres! You're finally awake." A doctor smiles beside me.
"What... happened?" I ask in desperation.
"Well when the police arrived you were unconcious and hardly breathing, but the paramedics managed to get you here in time." He frowns. "Unfortunately your friends weren't that lucky."
"You only suffered from a single stab wound to your chest." He continued. "We stitched you up and used a needle to remove the excess air from your chest cavity so your lung could expand properly."
"You should be okay to leave now." His voice sounds positive, but the frown does not leave his face.
I sit myself up and a police officer enters the room.
"Lila Dupres." The police officer sighs. "You are under arrest."
He walks toward me with a pair of cuffs and my jaw falls open.
"You have a right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in a court of law."
He motions for me to stand up a I do so. He cuffs my hands behind my back.
"What are the charges?" I blink in astonishment.
"Murder in the first degree." He lists off a list of the people that Mickey and his accomplice had killed. "Cici Cooper... Randy Meeks... Derek Feldmen... Mickey Altieri..."
I can't believe my ears. I am getting prosecuted for the Windsor College massacre.
"But I didn't do it!" I plead.
"You are innocent until proven guilty." The cop chuckles. "But right now it's not looking good for you."
I was doomed from the start.
Sidney fought with me in court- which I was extremely grateful for- but It did not change my fate.
All of the deaths were linked to me somehow, and blaming somebody else for the murders only made me look more suspicious.
The only thing that saved me was that the crime scenes of the previous murders did not contain any of my fingerprints, hair, any type of DNA to link me to the crimes.
But I was still sentenced to 25 to life with a chance of release.
****
The whole court hearing had been televised and was plastered all over every news station, newspaper, and magazine. Just as Mickey had wanted.
The only bit of satisfaction I get out of laying in this cold cell in knowing that all of the 'glory' that Mickey had wanted, I had taken that away from him. He didn't deserve it.
It worked out exactly as he had planned. I was interviewed about my experience for the next Stab movie... but I had swung a whole different narrative.
In my story, Mickey was just a helpless victim at the wrong place at the wrong time.
It brought me great pleasure knowing I had gone against his wishes.
Perhaps he would come back to haunt me for it, but I didn't care. I have nothing left to do but be petty.
You're the daughter of the local librarian with a seemingly dull life. But your family holds a deadly secret, one that the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow desires. Will you help him on his journey?
***This story contains mainly fluff, and is appropriate for all readers. There are only some minor mentions of blood.***
***I do not own or claim the rights to the "Pirates of The Caribbean" franchise or its characters. This is a fan fiction, as such only the story is of my own creation along with some original characters that i have added.***
Chapter 1: A Strange Encounter
"One..."
Clink.
"Two..."
Clink.
"Three..."
The shillings land into the palm of my hand as the man counts them aloud.
"Thank you... Give your father my regards."
"I will!" I smile and wave as I run towards a narrow alleyway.
I slip through and onto the next street, running trough the mass of people that pass and making my way to the old library.
As I open the door, I take in the familiar aroma that surrounds me. The scent of musty books and damp furniture. The air was stale but it was comforting to me, it was my home.
"Father, I'm back!" I holler. I work alongside my father in the old library that had been passed through my family for many centuries.
This place was my life. I ate, slept and grew in this place. I made my way to the back of the building. We had two small bedrooms, a kitchen and my father's workspace, separated from the public by a dark curtain.
"I'll be out in a moment." My father replies.
I grab a random book from one of the shelves and fall into an old arm chair. Dust flies up into the air and I fan it away with my free hand.
I examine the book, running my index finger along it's well worn spine. How many times have I read this one? I spent most of my days as a child reading all of the books we had collected. If somebody asked for a book I knew exactly where is was and what is was about.
I quickly flip through its pages, sinking into the chair. Why is my life so lack lustre? I sigh.
"Are you finished the delivery?" My father spoke as he pushed the curtain aside with his walking stick.
"Mmhm." I nodded.
My father was not just any old librarian. Along with this building we also inherited many life times worth of secrets, magical secrets... if you believe in such things.
He scuffs his way to the window, sitting on its sill. His long, frizzy locks shone in the sunlight like steel wool. His face looked tired and weather beaten.
"Did Mr. Wains' medicine serve him well?" He asked, not looking in my direction.
"Yes, he's making a full recovery." He nodded in approval of my words. My father was a witch. Any ailment in the book, he had a cure for it. It was amazing. But sadly he was forced to work under the table, as all our ancestors were, because in Port Royal there was only one punishment for witchcraft. Death.
My thoughts where interrupted by the creek of the front door. A customer.
"Good day, I was looking for a book.... By the name of 'The Birds of Connor's Cove'".
My father gently pushes himself off of the window's sill and motions with his head for the man to follow. They both go into the back, behind the curtain.
There was no such book....It was code for requesting my father's 'other services'. Only a handful of people know this, for safety reasons of course.
I feel a sharp pain in my spine, at this point I had completely slumped into the chair. I stand and stretch my limbs, supporting myself on the sill where my father hand just sat. I wonder what had been going trough his mind as I stare into my reflection in the dusty glass.
My hair was pale blonde, pulled back into a messy bun that sat low on my head. My facial features were soft and round and my eyes were a striking blue, just like my mother's as my father had always told me. I wrap my fingers around the coin shaped pendant that hung around my neck and lose myself in thought.
....
Until suddenly I catch a glimpse of movement in the corner of my eye and lean forward to get a closer look. There was a man crawling underneath my window, his head on a swivel. I force the window open with both hands and the bang of the wood causes him to jump to his feet.
"What in god's name!" I exclaim. "What are you doing?"
He scratches the top of his head as if trying to find an answer.
"I'm looking for the library! You wouldn't know where that could be, do you?"
"Your here..." I answer reluctantly. "but why are you being so sneaky about it?"
"Well you see, love... my 'kind' aren't the most popular around these parts." He wore his hair in dreads, tied back by a red bandanna across his forehead. Various charms hang from it. He strokes his braided beard and grins as he speaks. His silver teeth shine bright against his sun kissed skin.
"Ah.. a pirate." I mutter. Many pirates come looking for my father but they usually try to appear a little more.... inconspicuous.
"Not just any pirate! I am the Captain Jack Sparrow!" He holds out his arms as if revealing a prize. "I'm sure you've heard of me?" He said it with determination yet it still came out as a question.
"I've heard some not-so-great things from the pirates that pass through." I recall.
"So you have heard of me!" He squawks excitedly.
"So what do you want?" I exhale, already tired of this interaction.
"I need some 'special' help...if you know what I mean?" He waves his fingers at the word 'special' and I roll my eyes.
"Whats the password?"
"Theres a password!?" His eyes widen.
I scoff and walk away, arms crossed. I look over my shoulder when I hear a thud, he had climbed through the window.
"We have a door you know."
"I know, but what fun is that?" He chucked as he brushed off his soiled brown jacket and readjusted his belt.
I turn toward him, arms still crossed."If you don't know the code I'm going to have to ask you to leave." I seethed.
He approached me, leaning forward so that our faces were only inches apart. "I am on a very important mission that requires your assistance. You can help me willingly, or..." I hear a click and feel the head of a pistol against the base of my chin. "We can do it the hard way, savvy?"
I clench my jaw, I refuse to show weakness. I look into his dark eyes, trying to read into his expression, trying to figure out if his intensions are genuine.
I can't risk my families safety...
What should I do...?
Chapter 2: The Guardian
"Get away from her!" I hear my father shout as he opens the curtain.
The customer slips past and races out the door.
I glance over at him and he twists the top off of his walking stick, revealing a hidden dagger.
"You know it's not smart to bring a knife to a gun fight." The captain snickers.
"What do you want so bad as to threaten my daughter like this?" My father snaps back.
I feel the pistols shaft trace its way from my chin, down my neck and pressing into my chest.
"You have something of great importance to me...Have you ever heard of the "Grimoire of Oceanus'?" I squirm and he wraps an arm around my shoulders, his grip firm.
"I don't know what you are referring to..." My fathers hands fall to his side and his face turns pale.
"Your expression tells me otherwise, mate."
I have read every book in this library front to back, Why have I never heard of this?
I watch my fathers gaze move from me, to Jack, and back to me again. He sighs and slides his dagger back into its sheath.
"Come." He says, sounding defeated.
Father shuffles behind the curtain and Jack puts his gun back into its holster as he pushes me along, arm still laying across my back. I glare in his direction, the stupid grin that crossed his face really pissed me off....
We enter my fathers workspace. I didn't com in here often, as he was usually with a client and I wouldn't dare interrupt. It was a small room, no more than 6 feet on either side. The walls were lined off with shelves upon shelves of dusty jars and vials containing everything from herbs to bones and other things that I could not identify. Mobiles of rocks and driftwood are suspended from the ceiling, twisting freely in the air.
My father opens up a drawer to reveal a chest, which he drops onto the small round table in the centre of the room with a loud thump.
"What is that?" I think aloud.
"I have been keeping this secret from you, but I think it is about time you learn." He reaches into the sleeve of his kaftan, pulling out a small key and opening the chest. "For generations your family has guarded this book. It was your mothers job...once she passed I took on the obligation. It was meant to be yours, but you were too young to take on the responsibility."
He turns the chest toward me and I pick up the book. I run my hands along the intricate filigree on its leather cover. It's stunning.
"Arn't you going to open it?" I feel Jacks breath on my neck as he looks over my shoulder. Way to ruin such a beautiful moment.
I lay the book gently onto the table, it felt as if it could crumble in my hands without proper care. I flip trough its pages, examining all of the hand written notes and elaborate sketches it contained. The pencil had faded with time.
"What information are you looking for?" My father scowls.
"I'm looking for this..." He reaches around me, flipping a few pages back.
"Amphitrite's Ring." I read the page. "Given to Amphitrite by Poseidon on their wedding day, this ring allows its wearer to control the sea, its tides and all of its creatures..."
The sketch on this page was of a ring encrusted in mother of pearl with a large chunk of abalone shell in its centre.
"I don't think it would suit you." I utter mockingly.
"Im not trying to make a fashion statement, love." He looks towards the sky, smiling as he daydreams. "Just imagine all of the magnificent treasures I could possess with power like that. I would be the most fearsome pirate to ever sail the seas."
He looks down and our eyes meet. "And you'll be there to enjoy it with me." He smirks.
"What are you on about!?" I take a step back in awe of his words.
"There is a part that you neglected to read." He points to a sentence in the book and reads it for all to hear."The ring is contained in a cave, which can only be accessed by the kin of Amphitrite herself."
He puts his hands on his hips, looking pleased. "That means you."
"I refuse to go anywhere with you!" I spat.
"Perhaps that's what's best." My father intervened.
I turn toward him, struggling to speak. "W-what are you saying!"
He steps toward me, laying a loving hand on my shoulder.
"This man has made it clear that he will not be leaving without this ring. Whatever is in this book will never be worth jeopardizing your life for." He turns toward Jack. "But you must promise that no harm will come to her, you need her alive after all."
Jack nods, rubbing his hands together in pure excitement.
"You will have the time of your life, I can assure you!" He leans toward me once again. "A break from this mundane life is exactly what you need!"
I groan. "Fine, but I am going to lay down some rules."
He tips his head, his curiosity aroused.
"First being," I put both my hands on his chest, pushing him away from me. "personal space."
He cackles at my disgust....What the hell have I gotten into?
Chapter 3: Tortuga
I stand on the edge of the dock watching the waves as they gently roll in, my stomach rolling in unison.
"Arn't you coming?" Jack shouts as he sits in a very underwhelming dinghy.
"I don't do water ok!" I clutch the old book in my arms. "And why are traveling in that piece of junk anyway! Where is your ship, Captain?"
"Don't you think the locals would notice a pirates ship at their dock?" He waves for me to come. "The pearl is with me first mate, we're to meet him and sail to Tortuga to round up a crew."
I sigh and step out over the dock. He extends a hand to me but my fear impedes me from unlocking the book from my clutch. I sit across form him and he pulls out a compass.
"To Tortuga!" He exclaims.
I glance at the compass, it doesn't even point north. I groan as he begins to paddle, watching as Port Royal gradually shrinks in size, disappearing into a cloak of sea fog.
I close my eyes, desperately trying to take my focus off of the the waves that push against the side of the dinghy and its back and forth sway.
"Why is it that you don't like the sea? Seeings as you grew up on a port and all." Jack inquires.
"Why do you care?" I open my eyes once again.
"I'm just trying to make conversation, lass."I finally loosen my grip on the book, laying it delicately on my lap.
"One of my earliest memories I can remember was my father taking me to the beach." I trace the stitching of my dress as I recall. "He urged me to try going for a swim, and I did. As a child you are so eager to try new things that your mind doesn't way the consequences."
I look up and our eyes meet. "All I can remember after that was feeling the most excruciating pain I have ever felt. My skin felt like fire and my lungs like they were going to burst." I continued. To my surprise, he was listening quite intensely."Then I woke up on the beach, my father cradling me in his arms. I can remember the tears streaming down his chin so vividly. He promised to never take me near the ocean again."
"Ah..." He stopped rowing, laying the oars across his legs. "The sea can be daunting but once you get a taste of the adventure it brings then you will grow to love it. When it gets too tough to bear just close your eyes and pretend it's all a bad dream. That's how I get by."
Most of his words rang hollow but this time they were much softer. My heart slowed. He managed to calm my nerves, although just for a moment.
"Why did you stop rowing?" I question.
"Look." He points to the horizon, the sun had begun to set.
The view was crystal clear, I watched as stunning streaks of pink and orange bounced and sparkled along the oceans waves like a colourful cloud of fireworks. It was almost tranquil, nothing could be heard but the smooth sound of the water and the captains quiet breaths.I felt like I was in a trance, like time had stopped completely.
Until I was dragged back into reality by a sudden flash of green that filled the sky as the sun's peak had hit the horizon.
"What was that?" I break the silence as the last hint of light fades from the sky.
"I am all too familiar... but that's a story for another time." He chuckles. "You're quite lucky, many men go their whole life without seeing it."
He sets fire to a lantern that illuminates the dinghy, It reveals a slight grin on his face.I let a smile slip, I wonder what other magical moments I will experience on this escapade.....
***
"Captain!"I'm awoken by the sound of a man shouting. When did I fall to sleep?
"Gibbs!" Jack hollers back. "Give us a hand, would you!?"
The man known as 'Gibbs' heaves a rope ladder down over the side of the ships. As Jack hops onto the ladder I take a moment to absorb the sheer size of the ship. I have never been this close to one. Its tattered black sails flutter in the wind.
Jack holds onto the rungs with one hand, extending the other towards me. I instinctively pass him the book. He snickers and proceeds to climb. I take a deep breath and climb behind him, holding on like my life depends on it and fighting the urge to look down.
When I get to the top Gibbs grabs me by both arms and pulls me over the side and onto the deck.
"Up you go." He mutters.
I stand up and try to walk but I fall to one side, he catches me and stands me upright.
"Are you alright lass?" He asks, concerned.
"Yeah... just kind of light headed." I lean on the mast, trying to compose myself.
He pulls a flask from the loop in his belt, popping its cork.
"How about a bit of rum to calm your nerves?"
"No thank you. I don't drink." I politely decline his offer.
"You have not lived!" Jack interrupts.
"I'll be alright." I smile at Gibbs and he smiles back.
He walks with jack to the wheel of the ship, chatting like old friends.....At this point I was a lot more comfortable with my sea legs, I was able to walk in a straight line at least. I sat on a crate cutting into an apple with the knife that my father had given me before I left. I kept it in a sheath strapped to my thigh. I take it and cut a large slit into the side of my dress for easy access before sliding it back into its holder. I don't know when I may need it in a pinch.
I feel the ship come to a halt.
"Tortuga?" I ask as I see Gibbs walk up beside me.
"Aye." He replies.
The three of us disembark and the men lead me to a tavern. It's sign read 'The Faithful Bride'.
As we enter I am taken aback by the nauseating stench of alcohol, cigar smoke and BO.
"Why are we here again?" I squeak, trying not to inhale the godawful scent.
Jack and Gibbs set off in their separate directions, completely ignoring my question. They had a small stage where a band was playing a jig. I sat at the bar to bide my time. I hear a thud as the man sitting next to me falls into his glass, rum trickling down onto my lap. Great, now I smell like I belong here.
The bartender passes me the grimy rag he used to wipe the dishes and I dab at my skirt.I turn around in my chair, I can see Gibbs giving some type of speech to a group of sad looking pirates. On the other side of the tavern I spot Jack, a woman on each arm and an empty bottle in his hand. I roll my eyes. I can see who really carries the ship.
I'm approached by a scraggly looking man.
"Hello beautiful~" He says in a sing-song tone.
He smelt like a farm animal and looked as if water had not touched his face in months. I pretend not to hear him and he persists.
"What is your price?" He leans against the bar, entering my personal bubble.
"You could never afford it." I snap.
He pulls a bag from his pocket, tossing it into my hands. Gold coins fall onto my thighs.
"I will make it well worth your time."I retch at the thought.
He attempts to put an arm around my waist and I grab onto it, twisting it forcibly behind his back. He screams in agony.
"I AM NOT A WHORE!" I yell as I push him to the floor.The tavern falls silent and everyones eyes are on me.
Suddenly I'm surrounded by the sound of smashing glass, everyone breaks out into a fight. Pushing each other into tables and throwing food for no reason whatsoever.
I crawl across the floor, avoiding all of the ruckus.I finally make my way to the outside and take in a large breath of fresh air as I stand.
I notice that I still had the bag of shillings in my hand, I shove them into my top... perhaps I will make a good pirate, I giggle.
Chapter 4: Why is The Rum gone?
"You've started quite the ruckus, haven't you love?"
I turn to see Jack, rum in his hand and both women still in tow.
"Who is she?" One lady squawks, slapping Jack across his face.
"She's nobody... Just the key to my treasure." He says nonchalantly, his words beginning to slur.
"I bet you say that to all the women!" The other growls, striking Jack on the other side of his face. "Lets go."
The ladies leave arm in arm, giving us a disgusted look as they pass.
"I meant that literally! ...not figuratively...?" Jack hollers behind them.
"I didn't deserve that..." he turns to me, a hand on his cheek.
*SMACK.*
I hit him with all of my might, he loses his balance and almost falls over.
"What was that for!?" He snaps.
"That was for Gibbs! How dare you make him do the dirty work while you down a bottle of rum!"
"Two actually..." he swirls the bottle in his hand as he interrupts me. "This is number three."
"That is not something to brag about!" I hiss. "No wonder you don't have a crew! You treat everybody like pig shit!"
His eyes widen and he clutches his sternum as if my words had taken his breath away.
"Who hurt you?" He asks in a condescending tone.
I shoot him a nasty glare and stomp my way toward the pearl.
What is this feeling? This painful ache in my chest?
....
I lay against the rail of the ship, resting my head on my palms as I watch the waves. The sea sick feeling has finally begun to pass, although my fear of being eaten by the tides is still strong.
I can hear the crew's footsteps behind me as they scramble to keep the ship on its course. I hear some footsteps approach me.
"You doing alright, lass?" I hear Gibb's voice beside me.
"Have you ever considered a mutiny?" I sigh.
"Many-a times. I actually succeeded once..." he chuckles.
"Then why are you here?" I look at him, confused. "Is there really any good in him?"
"Plenty, he just doesn't like to show it."
"Really...?" I recall the evening we had watched the sun set together.
"I wouldn't be back here if there wasn't." He gave me a loving pat on the back, it made me smile.
We both look out at the water for a moment, taking in the crisp sea air.
Until...
"WHY IS THE RUM GONE!?"
We turn to see Jack on the quarter deck, shaking an empty bottle of rum into his mouth.
"WHY IS THE RUM ALWAYS GONE!?" He shouts, falling over and into the helm.
The whole ship begins to tip on its side, the crew shouts as they slide from port to starboard. I hold onto the railing like my life depends on it. Gibb's climbs across the railing, making his way toward Jack.
"Oops, my bad!" Jack attempts to stand up and falls in the other direction, grabbing at the wheel for support and tossing the ship and its crew in the other direction.
As the ship tips on its other side it almost keels over causing me to lose my grip and slide across the slimy deck. I scream as my back slams against the railing on the opposite side and I am thrown over the edge of the ship.
My biggest fear had come to pass.
As soon as my body hits the surface of the water it almost goes into shock at its bitter coolness. I try to scream for help but swallow the salt water. As my body begins to sink to the sea floor I can see the faint sunlight that shone through the surface begin to fade.
Starting at the tips of my fingers and toes I feel an excruciating pain... that same fiery burn I felt all those years ago. It travels up my limbs and feels as if I were being stabbed by a thousand blades. My lungs get tighter with every second, my eyes going in and out of darkness.
Am I... dying?
The pain in my legs is so severe that they almost feel numb. I can't swim but now i can't even try to attempt to kick myself to the surface.
I close my eyes and except my fate... nothing can be done for me anymore. This time I am not in the shallow waters of the beach on Port Royal.
This is where my pirate journey ends.
This is the start of an eternity in Davy Jones' locker.
Chapter 5: A Whole new World
My back touches the ocean floor and suddenly I begin to feel again.
I'm... still alive?
I slowly open my eyes, I am still surrounded by the darkness of the sea, but everything looks clearer.
I see a fish swim just shy of my forehead and a reach to touch it, it curls around my fingers and swims away without fear.
I sit myself up and notice my legs... they're gone. In their place a long tail with red scales that have a magnificent multichome shift, shining yellow and purple with my movement. It had beautiful cascading fins on the bottom and sides like that of a beta fish.
I am both stunned and amazed at the same time... I remember father telling me I was a descendant of Amphitrite, but I would have never imagined a moment like this.
I lay a hand on my chest, I could breath as clearly now as I could on the surface. I notice that the scales of my tail covered my entire torso, fading back into human skin just below my arms.
The dress I once wore lay tattered beside me. The knife that I wore on my thigh had wedged itself into a rock. How do I get it?
I kick, the only movement I feel I can do, and to my shock it effortlessly propels me through the water. I can swim!
I feel like king Arthur as I tug the knife from the stone. Then start to swim upward toward the surface.
Everyone has probably already left without me. The pirate code states they any man that falls behind is to be left behind. In this case, that man was me.
...
As I swim closer to the light I notice that the pearl had not moved, I sigh in relief and swim up to the side of the ship, my head finally above water.
How am I supposed to get up? They hadn't let down the ladder.
I attempt to call for help but quickly stop as I am interrupted by voices that can be heard on the ship.
"What are your plans now, Captain? The key to our treasure is gone. We no longer have a reason to travel."
"I don't know..." I hear Jack reply.
"It's been a whole day Captain, we can't just stay here, we need a heading!"
A Day...!? Had I really been down there that long?
"She's not coming back, mate." I hear Gibbs' sorry voice.
"HEY!" I decide to intervene. "I'M DOWN HERE!"
"I can't... her voice still haunts me." Jack shivers.
"Why I can hear her too?" Gibbs questions.
"You can!?" Jack exclaims. "She is back! But she is not of the living! She has come to torment me for my sins!"
"IF I WHERE DEAD, I WOULD HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THEN SPEND ETERNITY TORMENTING YOU!" I retort.
Jack shouts at the sound of my voice again, and I see Gibbs' head hang over the side of the ship.
"Lads! We have our heading!" He yells happily, tossing me down a ladder.
"WHAT? HOW?" Jack's head peak out over the rail as he hollers.
I hold onto the ladder tightly and use my arms to haul my body weight out of the water, then sit myself on one of its rungs. I don't have the strength to pull myself up.
"Lend me a hand!?" I look up at the men, Gibbs begins to pull me up on the ladder with the help of a couple of crewsmen, Jack still gawks at me, flabbergasted. His face pale and his eyes wide.
I look down and realize that I still had a tail. It's colours even more vibrant in the direct sunlight.
The men grab me by each of my arms and pull me over the side, sitting me down on the deck.
Everyone fell quiet and all eyes were on me, I felt like a sideshow attraction.
"See! I told you all hope was not lost!" Jack broke the silence. "It's a Captain's intuition!"
I roll my eyes and my body begins to sting once again, I look down and notice that my scales had begun to transform back into my usual ivory skin. My legs started to form and separate infront of my eyes.
I quickly realize... my clothes! I gasp and instinctively cross my legs and cover my breasts.
Jack notices and whips off his long jacket, tossing it over me. "gotta protect your modesty!"
"Show's over men, back to your posts." Gibbs shoos the crowd away, I can hear some disappointed sighs and it makes me shiver.
"Come, come." Jack waves for me to follow him.
I stumble a bit when I stand, almost forgetting how to walk for a moment. I slide the jacket around and put my arms into it, holding it closed in the front.
Should I be trusting him right now? I wonder.
....
Jack takes me to his cabin and shuts the door behind me.
I give him a look and he grins, he should know not to try anything stupid with me.
He opens an old trunk in the corner.
"Take your pick."
He steps aside and I notice there are a few dresses piled messily inside.
"The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow has a feminine side?" I mock jokingly.
"No no no! You've got the wrong idea." He stutters. "They were left here by an acquaintance of mine..."
"Mmhm." I sift through the clothing, coming across an embroidered handkerchief. I recognize the monogram. It belongs to Elizabeth Sawn.
"How do you know the swan family?" I question, then recall. "Ah- I remeber! I knew you looked familiar..."
"Of course I do! As you said I am the infammm-... dearly loved Captain Jack Sparrow!"
"I was in the crowd, me and father went to watch you hang."
He was noticibly taken aback by my words.
"Well the whole town was talking about it! I had to see what all the ruckus was about."
I pull out a beautifully beaded dress, it was a dark blue with a built in corset and ruffled bell sleeves.
"Honestly, I think people need to find a better form of entertainment... like books." I turn and hold up the dress toward him. "Can I get a bit of privacy to change?"
"What did you say?" He played dumb.
"At least turn around."
He did as I said and turned his back to me. I cautiously removed his jacket.
"I've been meaning to have a talk with you." He spoke with his hands, although he was still back on.
"About what?" I ask, spreading the dress onto the floor and stepping into it.
"The other day... I can't really remeber much of it..." He crossed his arms. "but the part of you striking me and yelling in my face, I remeber that well."
"It was well deserved." I pull the sleeves over my arms and try to tie the laces but I fail. "A little help, please?"
He turns around to face me and I put my back toward him.
He starts to lace up the corset on my back. "I'm much better at taking these off then putting them on." He chuckles.
"Why did I deserve it? Gibbs is used to my antics." He continues. "You are the only one with a problem."
"I have a problem!?" I gasp as he pulls tightly and begins to tie a knot. "You are the one causing all the problems."
He ties the ribbon off into a bow.
"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?"
I do a 360, fuming. "No I don't understand." I hiss.
"I think you're having trouble dealing with your feelings, love."
He spoke in a soft tone yet his words cut through me like a blade.
I remeber the tightness in my chest as I left Tortuga.
How do I feel...?
Chapter 6: Friend or Foe
The floor shakes violently beneath my feet. Jack stumbles and falls backward. I instinctively reach out my arms to catch him.
I Hold him in a dip position, as if we had just finished salsa dancing.
"They say I'm quite the catch!" He grins up at me.
I let go and his body falls with a hard thud. I step over him and rush toward the deck to see what had happened.
As I step out of the doorway I feel a swift tug at my arm, Jack had pulled me tightly into his chest. Before I had a chance to process what had just happened a cannonball flies just shy of my head.
"What in the world...?" I mutter.
His grip was warm and I could hear his heart beat gradually increasing. I wish I could stay here, in this moment in time. But the sound of more cannonballs colliding with the sides of the ship forces me to realize the gravity of the situation.
"Stop blowing holes in me ship!" Jack shouts, releasing me and running to port. Frantically waving his arms in the air.
There is another ship sailing parallel to the pearl, the gap between the two gradually closing.
"Captain! The gun powder's wet!" Gibb's hollers.
The crew are in a panicked frenzy, racing around the ship and grabbing everything and anything to defend themselves.
Enemy pirates begin to swing on ropes from one ship to the other and planks are laid out across both ships and some run across.
I turn to run back into the captains quarters but I lose my sight. There's something on my face!
I scream and bat my hands at my head. My foot gets tanged in a net that lay on the deck and I crash into a crate of apples.
A sharp pain races through my skull and I yelp. I tear the object off of my face...it's a... monkey?
It makes an almost mocking sound, as if laughing at me. I growl and lob it across the ship like a softball.
I'm surrounded by the sound of grunting men and the clinking of metal swords.
I try to get up and feel a warmth travel down my neck. I place a hand on the area and examine my fingers, I'm bleeding?
"I wouldn't move if I were you."
I look up to see an unnerving looking man. His hair was long and stringy, he wore a large hat with a feather stuck in its brim. The dreaded monkey sat on his shoulder.
He hobbles toward me, his peg leg knocking against the broken fragments of wood that surround me.
"Hector!" Jack rushes over. "Old friend... How have you been?"
The man known as Hector scowls in Jacks direction.
"Why fight when we can negotiate?" Jack continues. "What is it you're looking for?"
"There will be no negotiation." He snaps. "You know what I want."
Jack plays dumb, as usual.
"I'm taking me ship back!" He spat. "Get'em boys!"
Hector's crew begin picking up Jack's men and tying their hands behind their backs. A couple of men grab me by both of my arms and tie me to the foremast. Jack is tied along with me, his back against mine.
Hector approaches me, examining my face.
"A wench in the crew..." He tilts his head in thought.
"I'm NOT a wench!" I hiss.
"Then what is your purpose?"
"I'm..!" I go to tell him about the journey we are on, but I can feel Jack squeeze my hand and I catch myself.
"I'm a live in witch doctor." I reply, trying to stay calm.
"Ah... then you may prove quite useful to me." He smiles, revealing a mouth full of decaying teeth. "My name is Barbossa. Captain Barbossa. And I welcome you to my crew, doctor."
He turns to leave and I grimace. He walks toward the Captain quarters with his hands behind his back, barking orders at the crew.
...
I groan, the back of my bloody head still throbbing.
I feel something brush gently against my buttocks, I look down and notice Jack's hand.
"What are you doing!?" I shriek.
"Shhh..." Jack silences me. "Lift your skirt."
I reluctantly tug at my skirt on that side, balling it up into my hand.
He runs his hand up and down my thigh and it makes me shiver.
"What are you crazy!?" I shout under my breath.
"Crazy people don't know they're crazy. I know I'm crazy therefore I'm not crazy." I can feel him slide the knife out of the sheath on my leg. "Isn't that crazy?"
My embarrassment causes the blood to flow to my cheeks. He turns the knife over in his hand and begins to saw at the rope that held us together.
I try to cut the tension with a question.
"Why does Barbossa claim this is his ship?"
"It's a long and boring story. It's not important." He avoided the question.
As the rope begins to come loose we are once again approached by Barbossa, Jack shoves the knife into his back pocket as the rope falls to our feet.
"Where did you get this?" He holds up my father's book and my eyes widen.
"What. That old thing?" Jack chuckles. "It's just a book of old myths I stole from the library."
"I'm no idiot, Sparrow." Barbossa sighs. "How did you get your hands on the Grimoire of Oceanus?"
He carefully opens the book to the page which had been marked by a ribbon.
"The ring of Amphitrite. Is that what you're after?"
"Never heard of it." Jack shrugs.
"If it is..." Hector points at the map that had been scribbled onto the page. "You're going in the wrong direction."
"You can read that!?" Jack says, surprised.
"You can't!?" I retort. "Then where have we been going!?"
"I've just been following my compass."
"You mean the one that doesn't even point north!?" I shoot him a deathly glare.
Barbossa turns to his crew. "Men! Turn the ship around! We have our next escapade!"
He turns back to me and Jack and holds out his arm, the monkey jumps down from the shrouds and onto him.
It's carrying a bandana and hands it to him.
"Thank you, Jack." He says nonchalantly and I look at him confused.
"The monkey's name is Jack." He laughs.
"Clever." I accidentally say my thought aloud and Captain Jack shoots me a disapproving glance.
Hector scuffs towards me, putting his hands around my shoulders. My body tenses in fear and I feel him tenderly wrap the bandana around my bleeding head, tying it at the nape of my neck. It had been damp with something that stung on my wound.
"Wouldn't want you bleeding out on me. I may need your assistance." He gives me a friendly pat on the arm and I give him a thankful smile.
"Here." He pulls a flash from his belt and hands it to me. "For the pain."
I pop the cork. It's rum.
"Onward to shipwreck cove!" Hector yells as he walks toward the wheel of the ship.
I sit myself down on the deck, I'm feeling lightheaded.
I've never drank in my life, and I hadn't planned to, but if it could calm the throbbing in my skull then it was worth a try.
I take a large gulp, its sweet and slightly earthy, But the pleasantness only lasted a second before it burns it's way down my esophagus like a stream of molten lava. It makes me cough.
"Too strong?" I hear jack giggle as he sits beside me.
I hold the flask toward him and he grabs it, taking a swig.
"Shipwreck Cove... why didn't I think of that?" He speaks to himself.
"What do you mean?"
"There was a riddle on the map... it read 'The man you seek is at the core of a mass of vessels washed ashore'." He ran his fingers along his beard. "It never occurred to me to check Shipwreck Cove."
"Why is it called Shipwreck Cove?" I inquire.
"You'll see. We pirates aren't the most keen when it comes to naming things." Jack replies as he takes another swig and passes the flask back to me.
I swirl the rum round in the flask, deep in thought.
Onward to Shipwreck Cove...
Chapter 7: The Mermaid’s Song
I lay a hand on my cheek, my face is flushed. I guess I'm not good at holding my alcohol.
The ship breaks through a curtain of fog and I see it... Shipwreck Cove.
I know it is our destination because as Jack had said, it's name was pretty self explanatory.
The island itself could not be seen because it had been completely covered in a wall of old vessels, or what was left of them. It was remarkable. How could so many men meet their demise in the exact same place?
The pearl comes to a halt and Jack and Barbossa disembark and I follow. We stand together at the base of the mountain of wreckage.
"So how are we supposed to get to the 'core', as the riddle said." I enquire and startle Barbossa, he looks at me confused as to why I came along.
"We climb." Jack replies as he points upward. "We should find an entry point further up."
And that is exactly what we do, climb.
I realize how unfit I am as I huff and puff and I haul myself up by grabbing onto any wooden planks and tattered sails I can reach. Jack climbs just above me and Barbossa below. I can hear him struggling more than I am.
"Are you going to be alright?" I ask between breaths, looking down in his direction.
"Yeah." Jack adds. "Seeings your down a leg and all."
"I'm fine." Hector growls. "You're just wanting to get the treasure for yourself."
Still looking down in Barbossa's direction I go to make a step and I feel my foot break through the rotting wood. I scream and brace myself to fall but Jack had grabbed me by the arm. How did he know I was going to fall... was he watching me?
He pulls me out of the hole and holds me around my waist as to prevent me from slipping again.
He looks down into the hole I had made. "I think we've found it!"
I lean to look as well and I can feel his grip tighten around me. Beyond the hole you could see grass and sand, the first spot of actual island I have seen since arriving.
Barbossa climbs up and down through the hole, I contemplate how I am supposed to get down from above without breaking my neck.
"Ready lass?" Jack looks at me with a grin.
"For wh-" before I could finish my question Jack picks me up bridal style and jumps down through the hole.
I shout and grab him by the collar of his shirt, we land in pile of dry palm leaves that lay on the sand.
He lays me back on my feet and laughs at my shook up expression. I cross my arms in disapproval.
"The man you're looking for's at the core..." I can hear Barbossa repeating the riddle to himself.
We look around through the darkness, my eyes can only see the shadows of the ships above us. The sudden fear that the mountain may collapse washes over me.
"Over here!" Jack hollers.
I turn in the direction of his voice and I can see a small fire had been lit. I make my way toward it and as I approach I can see the figure of a dirty, disheveled man sitting on a log beside it.
"Hello there, lad." Barbossa speaks but the man does not look up.
"Yes, hello good sir!" Jack walks up beside him and attempts to give him a pat on the shoulder but his hand phases through it.
He looks at his hand, it is covered in some type of unidentifiable goo. He sticks out his tongue in disgust and tries to shake his hand clean.
"Can you hear us?" I speak and he finally raises his head to look at me.
His face was decaying and covered in barnacles on one side, his expression looked desperate. My heart skips a beat, I've never seen anything like this before.
"We really need your help." I continue, trying to overlook the jarring sight.
"M-my love..." he mutters under his breath. "Sing for me once more..."
"Oh yes, that is the second part of the riddle!" Barbossa intervenes. "Sing a shanty loud and strong, give him peace with a mermaid's song."
"Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me
We pillage, we plunder we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho!"
Jack sings cheerfully, But the man does not react.
"Not you're taste in music?" Jack sighs.
"No, you imbecile. The riddle said a mermaids song." Barbossa clears his throat and begins to sing.
"It was a Friday morn when we set sail
And we were not far from the land
When our captain, he spied a fishy mermaid
With a comb and a glass in her hand."
The man did not move, still staring at me with desperation.
"Ah... I know that song..." I begin to sing.
"Oh the ocean waves do roll
And the stormy winds do blow
And we poor sailors are skipping at the top
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below
While the landlubbers lie down below!"
The man closes his eyes, a smile crosses his face. He slowly sways as he listens to me sing.
"Ah I get it now... a mermaid's song." Jack grins at me. "As in a mermaid must sing it."
Barbossa's eyes widen at Jacks remark, but I try to ignore it and finish the song.
"Then three times around spun our gallant ship
And three times around spun she
Three times around spun our gallant ship
And she sank to the bottom of the sea..."
As the last few lyrics leave my lips the man stands up and approaches me, still smiling.
He reaches out and takes my hand, his skin was wet and cold.
"Caroline... my love." He speaks to me, as if it were not actually me he were speaking to. "It's been so long since I've heard you sing... I thought I'd never hear it again."
He takes my hand and rests it on his chest.
"They all told me that falling for you was a mistake... but I know you didn't mean to kill me..." his words were grim but his expression was still full of joy. "I knew you'd come back and sing to me once more... now I may Rest In Peace."
As he spoke he forced my hand into his chest. A black substance began to run down his shirt like blood, the inside of his chest was slimy and all I wanted was to pull away in disgust but his grip was strong.
My fingertips hit something hard.
"Take it... it's yours." The man closed his eyes as I wrapped my hand around the hard object in his chest.
He lets go of my arm and I yank at it with all of my might, tearing it free from his chest.
I look at the object in my hand... his heart... it continued to beat in my palm.
It was no ordinary human heart, though. It shone with a bright, almost blinding, golden light.
I look at his face once again, he looked content. But his body had begun to melt into a pool of black sludge. I step backwards to avoid stepping in it and I hold back a gag.
"Love really does vex all men." Jack comments.
"That's the light that we need!" Barbossa cheers and I look at him, confused.
"The book states that the passage to the cave that holds the treasure can only be revealed with a special light." He answers my thoughts.
"Well does somebody want to hold the light?" I shake off some of the sludge that ran down my forearm. "Because I'm going to vomit."
Jack laughs and hesitantly takes the heart from my hand, but as it leaves my palm it slowly stops beating and it's glow fades.
"I guess you're stuck with it, you were his love after all." Jack smirked.
I groan and take it back, using its light to find our way back to the hole where we had come from.
"How are we supposed to get back up there?" It was at least another five feet above me.
"You can stand on my shoulders and climb up, then haul me up." Jack kneels down for me.
"Well..." I cross my arms. "You better promise not to look up my skirt."
"I'm a man of my word." He lifts one side of his mouth into a smile. "I don't make promises I can't keep."
Although I don't find his joke funny, he definitely does.
"I'll go up first." He stands up and motions to Barbossa. "Hector, give me a lift would ya?"
Before Barbossa had a chance to decline Jack had already used him as a stepping stool.
He jumps up onto the surface then turns around and reaches back down into the hole, extending a hand.
Barbossa goes to take it and Jack wags his finger at him.
"No, no. Ladies first!" Jack teases.
I take him by the arm with the hand that had not held the heart and he drags me up from the hole. I look up at the sky, it had gotten dark at this point.
Jack stands up, pulling me up along with him.
"Off we go!" He starts to walk away.
I look into the hole that had fallen completely black without the hearts light.
"What about Captain Barbossa?"
"Yes, Jack. What about me!?" I hear his voice echo from the black hole.
"Sorry mate!" Jack shouts down into the darkness. "A man that falls behind is left behind!"
He locks arms with me and pulls me away from the hole, I can hear Barbossa's screams in the distance as we climb down toward the ship.
"This isn't right." I run my fingers along the bandana on my head. I can't help It feel bad, he helped me.
"A lot of things I do arn't right." Jack helps me step down off of the last ship. "But that's what it is to be a pirate."
I sigh and give him a disapproving glance, he continues.
"We act on selfish impulse. We do what we want to do because we want to do it." He squeezes my hand. "One day you will understand that freedom, and you won't be able to resist."
He lays a hand on my cheek, pushing the hair that peeked through my bandana aside with his thumb.
"This treasure is mine and I will get it no matter the cost."
Chapter 8: Sirens Grotto
"Where's the captain?" One of the crewmen asks as we board the ship.
Jack just grins in response and Gibbs nodds his head.
"Finally got your revenge, huh Captain?"
"Yes... he will always remeber this day as they day he almost decieved Captain Jack Sparrow!" Jack replies with a wink and his crew laughs. "I am once again captain of the pearl! Now get back to your posts and set sail!"
"Revenge... for what?" I furrow my brows.
"I'll never forget the day he stole my ship with a mutiny and left me marooned on an island." He put his hands on his hips. "It was daunting experience but of course I persevered."
I frown and he raises an eyebrow in confusion.
"You don't seem impressed?" He adds. "Would you like to hear the story of my great escape?"
"No..." I sigh.
"My tremendous intuitive sense of the female creature informs me that you are troubled." He lays a hand on my shoulder. "A shilling for your thoughts?"
"You jeopardize a man's life for your own selfish desires..." I cross my arms. "I was just beginning to think you had some good in you, but this just solidifies the fact that you are a terrible person."
"I told you love, it's a pirate thing." He shrugs off my words and I can feel tears begin to well up in my eyes.
"I bet if you didn't need me anymore you'd leave me in that hole too." I try to fight them back, my throat feeling tight. "So how should I expect this to end? You use me then take the ring and dump me somewhere... or better yet maybe you can just kill me."
The confidence in Jack's stance had faded and his eyes become sad like a puppy that had just been scolded.
I cannot hold the tears back any longer and they stream down my face like a broken dam.
"I want to go home... I want my father and my books... I want my lack Lustre life back." I squeeze my chest with my hand. "You said I couldnt understand how i feel... but now I do... and I don't like it."
I examine Jacks face though the blurriness of my tears. Why do I feel like this? One minute my heart races with excitement and I can imagine spending my life sailing by his side. The next I am snapped back to reality by his constant red flags.
"I don't know how to say this..." He breaks eye contact and removes his hand from my shoulder. "I dont have much of a way with words." He fiddles with the sleeves of his shirt.
"But..." He continues. "You won't have to worry about any of that."
"How do you I know you mean that?" I hiss.
"Because I told you, I am a man of my word. I don't make promises I can't keep."
"So that is a promise?" I wipe the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand.
"Yes. I promise to never leave you." He looks back up at me, his face sincere.
He acts as if he were going to say more, but he chokes on his own words.
"Captain, where to next?" Gibbs approaches us.
Jack shakes his head, as if to rid himself of his emotions. "We have to head west toward the Siren's grotto."
"Sirens!?" One of the crewsmen shouts.
"Yes, it is the only way to get to the hidden cave." Jack turns to face all of the men. "You'll just have to brace yourselves. Don't allow yourself to fall victim to their charms."
"Siren's don't affect women, do they?" I ask, slightly worried.
"No." Gibbs answers. "Their powers have no effects on women or men that are already in love."
I exhale in relief as the crew scatters and Jack walks up to the helm. I look out at the water, thinking about how I would sail myself home if all of the men on this ship were to be taken.
Hmm... Captain of my own ship. That wouldn't be entirely bad. I could be a good, selfless pirate. Like a Robin Hood of sorts. I giggle at the thought.
....
A blood curdling screech can be heard in the distance. I notice Jack holding a spyglass up to his eye. There had been an awkward silence between us the whole trip.
"Sirens?" I try to make conversation.
"Aye." He replies, handing me the spyglass.
I look through it, there is a cave in the distance. It's entrance is surrounded by what look to be beautiful women... but I quickly notice that the bottom halves of their bodies were that of large birds. It was estonishing. I have seen so many things on this adventure that I had only believed before to be fiction.
I notice one of the creatures head turns and as it notices the ship approaching it shreiks as if to alarm the others.
They flap their wings and push themselves off of the rocks, flying in our direction.
I collapse the spyglass into itself and before I had a chance to speak they had already begun to swarm in circles around the ship, like a cloud of bees.
I see the crew begin to panic and Jack bawls. "Don't let them get to you! Sail as if nothing is happening. We have to get through that cave!"
The air is suddenly filled with what sounds like music. But it is a song unlike anything I had ever heard. It had no rhythm or lyrics, but still wrang in my ears like an orchestra.
As the wind carried the tune through the crew they started to abandon their posts, standing still and thoughtless as if there were in a trance.
I watched as one of the sirens swooped down through their air and effortlessly picked up one of the men like a hawk catching a fish.
"What do we do!?" I scream as more men are taken into the air and thrown overboard into the water.
Jack doesn't answer my question, I look over at him and he is staring off into space.
"Jack! ...Jack!" I panic and shake him by his arm.
"I'm alright, love." His voice was quiet. "Just trying to focus... if I steer the ship wrong now we could hit the walls of the cave."
"So you're not affected...?" I blink in astonishment.
"No... I guess not."
I think about what Gibbs had said earlier... the only ones unaffected by the siren's powers are women or men that are in love.
Is there somebody that Jack loves...? I want to ask but I hear a thump on the deck behind us. I turn to see a siren, they are much larger looking up close then they are on the far away rocks. It stands at atleast seven feet.
I turn to Jack, his focus still unbroken. What do I do!?
I go to reach for the knife on my leg but realize that Jack had taken it earlier.
I notice he had a pistol shoved into the front of his belt, that would seemingly be a lot more useful then a knife in this situation.
Without even asking I take it and aim it at the large bird. I have never shot a gun before.
I fire at it and it launches itself towards me, swaying back and forth to dodge the bullets.
My hap hazard shooting had lead to the gun running out of ammunition. The gap between me and the creature was closing quickly and I brace myself for an attack.
Suddenly the creature falls to the ground just a foot away from my feet. It makes a gargling sound and a pool of blood begins to form around it. It's throat had been slit.
I turned to see Jack with a bloodied sword in his hand, he had let go of the helm.
He quickly turns back to grab the wheel but the ship has already started to scrape against the wall of the cave. He steers the ship away from the rocks but I can tell that some damage had been done to the hull because the ship had sunk slightly as it filled with water.
About half of the men had been taken from the ship when we finally pass through the back entrance of the cave and back into the open sunlight.
As we sail away the deathly cries of the sirens and their victims become distant. The remaining crew sigh in relief, but also lay their hands on their hearts for the men they had lost.
I watch Jack remove his hat and place it on his chest for a moment before putting it back onto his head.
"Thank you, Jack."
He turns his head to look at me when I speak.
"I'm sorry about your ship." I really did feel sorry, I know how much he loves it.
"It's just a ship, mate."
I was taken aback.
" I thought your ship meant the world to you."
"Wherever we want to go, we go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails. That's what a ship needs." He looks away from me and back toward the horizon. "But what a ship is... what the Black Pearl really is... is freedom."
I follow his eyes to the sky, there was not a cloud to be seen.
"Freedom..." I repeat to myself.
What a beautiful thing.
Chapter 9: Stirrings
"HEY! C'mere!"
Jack is shouting from the lower deck, waving his hand at me with a silly grin on his face.
I wonder what now? I pull up the tail of my dress and walk down the steps.
He points to a row of glass bottles lined up on the railing of the ship.
"What's this?" I'm confused by his excitement.
"I'm going to teach you to shoot, mate!" He laughs. "Next time we fight I don't want to have to worry about myself, or one of the poor saps on me crew, gettin our heads blown off."
"I was not that bad." I huff and cross my arms.
He reaches into the front of his belt and pulls out his pistol, holding it out toward me.
"Oh yes..." His voice teasing. "And next time you reach into my pants like that, at least give me a warning first."
My cheeks feel hot as I snatch the gun from his hand.
"I wouldn't test a lady with a weapon." I retort.
"If it is me you're aiming at, I won't have to worry about getting hit anyway."
I hold the pistol in one hand, it's quite heavy for its size. I point at the bottle and pull the trigger but the kickback of the gun causes the bullet to shoot into the air.
I try again. This time holding the pistol with both hands and gripping it with all of the strength in my arms.
This time when I shoot the bullet hits just short of the bottle and ricochets off of the wooden railing. I sigh in defeat.
"Here." I feel Jack's hands rest on my shoulders and he pulls them back gently. "Stand up straight."
He traces his hands down my arms and repositions my elbows.
He holds the pistol, his hands ontop of mine. His skin was rough and callused.
"You need to follow the barrel with your eyes, savvy?" He presses his face against mine, the scruff on his chin scratched my cheek. "It helps if you close one eye."
My heart races with our closeness. I follow his gaze and aim the pistol, he pushes my finger into the trigger and the glass bottle explodes into million small shards.
"Now..." He lets go and steps back. "Show me how it's done."
I use my muscle memory to repeat the stance I had held before. Closing my eye and aiming with the barrel.
I pull the trigger and the top half of the glass bottle bursts, the bottom rolls off of the railing and onto the deck.
"Ooo... a head shot!" Jack says enthusiastically, sounding almost juvenile. "Aim for the heart this time."
I side step infront of the next bottle, adjusting my stance. I hold my breath, aiming the head of the pistol at the center of the bottle.
I shoot and the bottle shatters perfectly.
"Yes!" I cheer, throwing my arms into the air.
Jack claps for me. "You'll be a great pirate yet."
I turn to face him, feeling playful. "I'm going to be the best pirate."
"Oh really?" He giggles.
"Yes. I'm going to be like Robin Hood. I'm going to steal from other pirates and give back to the people." I smirk and point the pistol at him. "One of them being you!"
He reaches up and grabs the shaft of the pistol, pointing it up into the air.
"You think your a match for the Captain Jack Sparrow!?"
"Yep. I'm going to commandeer the pearl, and you're going to be part of my crew."
He leans in close, our faces an inch apart. He looks deep into my eyes, I can almost feel him staring into my soul.
"I'd like to see you try." He whispers. I can feel the warmth of his breath on my lips and my heart skips a beat.
He is about to close the gap between us but I panic and accidentally pull the pistols trigger, the bullet flies straight into the air and Jack jumps back with a fright.
I smile nervously and pass him back the pistol, perhaps it's best if I don't hold it.
***
I watch Jack standing up at the helm, he shakes his compass in frustration. I don't know why he even tries to use it.
"What's on yer mind?" Gibbs approaches me. "I notice you do a lot of thinkin."
I place a hand on my cheek, trying to figure out a way to put it into words.
"Jack... he was not affected by the sirens."
"Ahh..." Gibbs grins. "Your wondering who it is that Jack fancies?"
"I guess you could say that."
"It must be Angelica." He says matter of factly.
"Who is that?" My curiosity grows, along with a tinge of jealousy.
"Her and Jack were together for a while... but I don't even know what to call them anymore... I don't think he does either." He looks in Jack's direction.
I tip my head in confusion, urging him to continue.
"One minute it is food and candle light and romance..." He shakes his head. "The next minute they are butting heads and Jack is marooning her on an island."
"That seems to be a common theme with him." I groan.
"Honestly I think the main reason he has so much trouble finding and keeping a relationship is his avoidance of his feelings... or 'stirrings' as he calls them."
Gibbs motions to his hand. "You see that ring that Jack wears on his finger? ... the one with the purple stone?"
I nod. "What about it?"
"He gave that to Angelica long ago... but she pawned it off for some information." He exhaled. "He says it didn't bother him but it's obvious that it did, or he wouldn't have stolen it back."
"Why would she do that? If she loved him so much?" I question.
"Because she was a pirate, as he is. All they did was lie and cheat each other. I guess they are a little too much alike."
"Ah... I see." I nod my head, trying to shake off the ache I felt in my heart. Of course he loves someone else. Why did I think I was so special? I'm just the daughter of an old librarian, to a pirate there is nothing appealing about that.
Jack is still fiddling with his compass, he licks his finger and sticks it up into the air to feel the winds direction. I excuse myself from Gibbs and grab the grimoire from the Captain's cabin. I need a distraction. There must be another clue as to which direction we need to go.
I scan the page with my finger, trying to decifer the cryptic writing.
"Follow your heart and its light will reveal,
A magical cave, hidden with a seal."
Okay... we have the heart, but where do we even begin to look?
I read further down the page. There are dots scattered around the page, connected by intricate lines.
"Follow the path with stones that span it,
To find a heart with veins of granite."
I pull out Jacks spyglass that I had shoved into my corset earlier that day and use it to look across the water.
A path of stones... I walk up onto the upper deck to get a better look at the sea. The path leads to a rock, so they should be by the shore.
I examine the coastline with the spyglass until... Ah ha!
I spot a zig zag of pointed rocks leading toward a cliff.
"Figure out anything?" Jack asks as he lays an arm on my shoulder. I remove the spyglass from my eye and look down at his hand. The ring with the purple stone shone brilliantly in the sunlight.
I'm conflicted. I want so badly for this journey to end. To get the treasure and be done with this. But I also want to continue sailing. The thought of not being on the water, To being back in the old library reading the same dusty books over and over bored me.
"There..." I point toward the cliff. "That is the path we have to follow."
Jack grins and changes the course of the ship.
"Aye Aye, Captain."
Chapter 10: A Mermaid’s Kiss
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot!
Stand up me hearties, yo ho!
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot!
Stand up me hearties, yo ho!"
Jack sings gleefully. The boat sways as he steers it back and forth between the sharp rocks, only their shadows visible in the oncoming darkness.
"Sing with me!" He cheers. "I'd like nothing more then to hear your beautiful voice again!"
I can't help but smile, his happiness was contagious.
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!
We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack!
Stand up me hearties, yo ho!
Maraud and embezzle and even highjack!
Stand up me hearties, yo ho!"
I sing along.
He takes a hand off of the wheel and wraps it around my waist, swaying me back and forth with the ship.
"This is the most fun I've had in a while." I grin.
"Do you know what would make it even more fun?"
"What?" I'm genuinely curious.
"Rum!" He grins and I shake my head. Of course. I can't help but laugh.
"Can i ask you something?" I decide to take advantage of this good mood he is in.
"Shoot!" He smirks.
"Who is Angelica...?"
I look at him and he knits his brows in thought.
"Just an old acquaintance of mine." He says nonchalantly.
"Do you still love her?" I ask bluntly.
He turns me to face him, his hand still around my waist.
"No." He scans my face with his eyes as he speaks, as if to gage my expression.
"Do you really mean that?" I thought i would frustrate him with the intrusive questioning but his face remained soft.
"Yes, I was not sure before but now I'm certain." He nods, reassuring himself.
"How?"
"Well...a wise man once said..." He looks up into the starry sky, as if recalling something. "If you love two people at the same time, choose the second... Because if you really loved the first one, you wouldn't have fallen for the second."
My heart stops momentarily. My lungs feel tight.
"And who is the second...?" I manage to speak.
"I'm not drunk enough for that conversation..." He grins.
"Oh look! What's that!?" He quickly changes the subject, taking his arm off of me and pointing toward the cliff.
There is a large bolder protruding from its front. It was covered in veins of white granite, from a distance it really did look like a human heart.
There was no entrance to be seen. Ah, the sailors heart! I run and grab it, I had put it in an empty lantern so I would not have to physically touch it to use it light.
Jack brings the front of the ship as closely as possible to the cliff. I lean over the bow and hold the light toward it.
As the golden light bounces off of the stone it becomes clear and wavy, like running water.
I reach out my hand but I feel nothing, the stone had disappeared.
I pull the light away out of curiosity and it turns back to stone. I run my hand along it, feeling it's rough coolness.
Wow...
I look back toward Jack and he nods. I shine the light toward the stone again and it clears the way. The ships inches forward and through the opening that the light had revealed, just as the riddle said.
The inside of the cave is breathtaking. Scattered all across the rocks were large clusters of quartz crystal that shone with a bright gold light as the heart did.
It was so bright that I would have never known it was dark outside if I hadn't just been out there.
The ship sails into a clearing. Surrounding the water there were flat rocks buried with all types of treasure. Gems, jewelry, coins, chalices. Anything a pirate could ever dream of.
Jack and I, along with the crew disembark and begin to sift through the gold.
I watch the men fill their pockets as they push through everything. It is quite tempting. If I grab enough me and father could live very comfortably.
I smack myself on the cheeks and try to snap out of it. These pirate's really are rubbing off on me.
"How are we supposed to find a ring in here, it'll be like finding a needle in a haystack." I groan.
"There must be another clue in the book..." Jack thinks aloud.
"I'll go and get it."
As I walk to the pearl we hear a loud splash and I turn toward it.
One of the crewsmen is flailing violently in the water, screaming for his life. He desperately tries to get a grip on the rocks but the loose coins make it almost impossible.
A few of the men run to the edge to help but they are too late as his head is submerged underwater.
"What happened!?" I shout.
The water is ridiculously deep, about five feet of rock is visible then it fades into a bottomless black pit.
One of the men gets down on all fours and leans over the edge to get a better look into the darkness.
Suddenly, a set of hands shoots up from the water and grabs him by each side of his head, pulling him forcefully into the water before he has a chance to scream.
The other man that stood next to him is tripped by another set of hands and dragged into the water by his ankles. His cries turn to gargles as he is fully submerged.
"There's something in the water! Stay away from the edge!" Jack hollers, but as he does so he is also snatched by the ankles.
He manages to tell me to "run!" Before being dragged into the depths.
I look at the ship, is this the moment I've been waiting for... to sail away with this ship and live my pirate fantasy?
No... I can't... the thought of Jack meeting such a cruel demise made my heart ache. I need to do something.
I unlace my corset and pull my dress up over my head. I run and dive into the water in nothing but my undergarments.
My clothes tear and that painful burning sensation washes over me as my body begins to morph. Although, it was not half as painful this time. Perhaps I'm getting used to it.
I use my tail to propel myself into the black hole that lie below, there must be a bottom.
Surprisingly I am able to see through the darkness, everything has a green tint but looks clear.
When I get to the bottom I see the bodies of the men that had suffocated earlier being dragged away by... mermaids?
They look just like me. But I didn't have time to process the situation because I notice Jack is thrashing around in the water, a mermaid has a firm hold on his feet.
I swim toward her and strike her head with my tail. She lets go and I grab onto Jack, his body looks tired from the fight. His skin looks pale... he can't breath!
I pull him toward the surface by his underarms. I feel sick to my stomach, am I going to make it in time!?
My path is blocked by a group of angry mermaids, one of which is still holding the spot I had stricken.
I feel Jack slowly put his arms around my neck with the little strength he had left.
What is he...?
He pulls me toward him and our lips meet.
I am taken by surprise, but he kisses me so tenderly I cannot help but kiss him back.
It's like time had stopped completely.
...and suddenly I am the one that cannot breath.
Chapter 11: Amphitrite’s Ring
Jack pulls away, taking in a large breath of air. He can now breath as well as I can.
I look at him in shock and he just laughs at my naivety.
A sudden screech rings through the water, I look up to see the mermaids that block our path had become feral. Their eyes were pale and piercing, their mouths gaping with intimidatingly sharp fangs.
My heart sank as they propel themselves toward us. What can I do?
One of them claws at me, her long nails cutting me across the chest like a sharpened blade. It quickly became obvious that the only options I had were fight... or die.
She attempts to slash me again and I reflexively grab her by her wrists. A horrifying amount of blood floats from my chest and clouds my vision. We spin through the water like a couple of ballroom dancers as I wrestle for my life.
I howl in agony as another comes up from underneath me and shreds my tail fin. I kick her face with all of my force and she sinks to the bottom.
The one I had been wrestling with begins to lose the strength in her hands, her face falling pale. I see more blood float by and notice she had been stabbed through her abdomen. I let go of her wrists and her body sinks also, revealing Jack behind her with a bloodied sword in his hand.
A strong smell crosses my nose, it smells absolutely delectable. Like a well seasoned steak. I look around to find the source of the smell until I realize it was, in fact, Jack that smelt so sweet.
He was covered in gashes on his arms, legs and chest. The blood that pooled around him made my mouth water.
What is wrong with me!?
I put my hand on my face to suffocate the smell but pull away in horror as I realize that I also had fangs.
I am not a monster! I refuse to go feral.
I desperately examine my surroundings, all of the mermaids had fallen into the sand. Some were dead, some still gripping to life.
Next to the carnage I notice a small tunnel. Inside the tunnel is an old looking chest, covered in coral and barnacles. On its front was a crest, it resembled one of the symbols that was engraved onto the cover of the grimoire. This is what we've been searching for.
I look toward Jack and he had already began to swim toward the chest. I grab his arm and motion for him to go to the surface. He shakes his head in disapproval and pulls me toward the cave.
He tries to pry open the lid but it does not budge. He hacks away some of the barnacles to reveal a large and oddly shaped key hole.
He wraps his arms around his chest, he's is still bleeding out. I can tell from his somber expression that pain he feels is overcome by the feeling of disappointment.
I stare at the tears in his chest, running my fingers along the ones on my own. Was this all for nothing?
I notice the dagger that my father had given me still sticks out of Jack's back pocket. The filagree on its handle matching that of the weathered chest.
I reach into his pocket and he shoots me a bewildered look.
I examine the dagger, it was about the side of the key hole. It's worth a shot!
I slide the dagger into the hole, it fits like a glove. It takes a bit of force to turn it as the mechanism had been encrusted with a thick layer of scum. The chests heavy lid releases itself and Jack helps me to lift it.
Inside, atop a nest of kelp, lay a large black oyster. I remove the dagger from the chest and use it to ply open the shell.
I'm in awe. The ring was much more beautiful in person than in the poorly drawn sketches in the grimoire. I turn to Jack and our eyes meet, he had a proud smile on his face. I motion toward the surface again and he nods his head this time.
I lift the oyster out of the chest and suddenly the cave begins to violently tremble.
A tentacle bursts through the bottom of the chest and coils itself around my arm. I pull but I am unable to break loose, the more I fight the firmer its grip gets.
The sand begins to divide and a massive octopus rises from the earth. It thrashes it tentacles in every direction, causing the rock that surrounds us to crumble.
The path leading out of the small cave begins to shrink in size, if any more stone falls we are going to be trapped.
Jack uses his sword to chop off the octopus' tentacle that held my arm. He swims ahead and I follow, but I don't get far.
A tentacle wraps tightly around my waist, another around my neck. I let out an eery mermaid shriek and Jack does a 360. I throw the oyster with my free hand before I am caught in an entanglement of tentacles, pulling me deeper into the cave.
The last thing I see is the look of distress on Jack's face as the path between us is blocked by an avalanche of rock.
The octopus drags me toward it through the sand. It's face an emotionless void. I grit my teeth. This dumb thing will not be the death of me.
I look at my hands, my fingers were webbed and my nails like knives. I dig them into its tentacles and its hold slackens. I tear and claw at its flesh and it flounders in pain.
It finally lets go after swatting me into the cave's wall. A sharp pain shoots up my spine and I roll into the sand.
I land on something hard and I push the sand aside to reveal the sword that Jack had used earlier. The octopus launches itself at me and I do the same. This ends now.
I push myself off of the ground, dodging the octopus' attack and swimming above its head. I grasp the swords handle with both of my hands and with all of my body's strength skewer its brain with the blade.
Its tentacles fall and it twitches a little before sinking into the sand for the last time.
I look at myself, I am covered in a mix of sand, the octopus' blue blood and my own. I sigh in relief, feeling a tinge of pride.
My thoughts are interrupted by what sounds like an explosion. I look up toward the sound and the rock above me falls. I push myself toward the wall of the cave to avoid getting knocked out and the octopus' corpse is completely covered by stone.
Everything becomes bright and I notice that I can see the blinding gold light of the crystals shining above. An escape!
I swim toward the light and break through the surface. I see the crew on the Black Pearl unloading their canons. Jack made it... my heart is full again.
"Need a hand?" Gibb's stands above me.
I take his hands and he pulls me up and out of the water.
"Here, you'll need this!" He passes me the dress and corset I had taken off earlier.
I thank him and pull it over my head as my tail dissipates. He helps me stand and regain my bearings before boarding the ship once again.
"Where's Jack?" I inquire.
"He's in his cabin..." Gibb's says weakly. "He's not doing the best of it."
I rush toward the Captain's quarters and barge in through the door.
Jack lays on his bed, gritting his teeth in anguish while putting pressure on his wounds with a cloth.
I sit beside him and his eyes light up when he sees me.
"Your... alright." He struggles to speak, coughing up blood as he does so.
"Don't say anything!" I panic. "Here, let me help!"
I take some of the rags that lay on his lap and wet them with a bottle of rum that he had been drinking on his beside table.
"Lift your arms if you can."
He does just that and I remove his vest and shirt. I take the wet rags and try to clean some of the sand from the lesions on his chest.
He tenses and holds his breath. He looks like he is going to pass out.
"Come on, you're The Captain Jack Sparrow! You've survived worse than this!" I joke to try and distract him and he grins.
"I gotta say, that was quick thinking. I had no clue I could make people breath like that." I take a clean rag and tie it around his torso as tightly as I can.
"...neither did I..." He whispers.
I look into his eyes, not sure if I had heard him correctly.
"I thought... I thought I was going to die down there." He continues between breaths. "That's why... I kissed you."
Chapter 12: When One Journey Ends, Another Begins
"Your okay now... your going to be okay." I finished wrapping Jack's wounds and wipe his face with a cool cloth.
"Im... feeling good..." He takes another large swig of his rum and his face relaxes, the alcohol is starting to take affect.
"Rest up now..." I pull the sheet up over him and as I stand up I can already hear him snoring. I hold in a giggle.
I walk up to an old looking mirror that stood against the wall. I can see the reflection of the gash on my chest, it had already begun to heal... perhaps another mermaid quirk?
I can see Jack behind me, sprawled out across the bed with his rum still in hand.
Beside the mirror was a desk, it was covered in all types of papers and maps. I run my fingers across all of the intricate lines of the page. How he cannot read but still be able to decipher all of this is beyond me.
Laid atop of one of the maps was his compass, it was quite nice looking although it was useless. I pick it up and open it, the needle spins violently and suddenly stops, pointing toward Jack. I really don't understand it.
I walk out to the deck, the ship hadn't moved. we will probably stay in this cave until morning since there are no longer any threats.
The deck was empty, not a soul in sight. Everyone must be gone to sleep.
I look down at the compass one again and it is stopped in the direction of Jack's cabin. Directions don't chance like that. I sigh and snap it closed, shoving it into my corset.
Im not particularly tired, but I decide to join the crew below and catch some sleep.
***
I can suddenly feel a tightness on my chest, like there had been a weight on it. Am I having night terrors? I try to move my arms and they move with little effort, so why can't I breath?
I open my eyes and -sat on my chest- staring back at me was the dreaded monkey.
"Get off of me!" I flick it off with the back of my hand.
"What is your obsession with trying to suffocate me?" I give the little monkey a lecture as I roll out of the hammock.
I could hear all of the other crew members running across the deck above me. I look out a port hole and notice that the ship had been on the open water again. I guess you need a mermaid to get into the cave, but not to get out.
The monkey climbs onto my shoulder as i make my way to the upper deck, I go to shrug it off but I see the innocence on its face and leave it be.
"Did you find the answer you were looking for?"
I hear a voice behind me, it was Jack, standing at the helm.
"what do you mean?"
"When i got up this morning I noticed my compass was missing." He grinned. "It has the power to tell you what you desire most."
I pull the compass from my top, can it really do that?
"So, what did it say?" he teased. "why dont you open it?"
I think about how the needle kept pointing to jack and i feel flushed. I pass it back to him.
"So... where we headed Captian?" I quickly change the subject.
"Back to Port Royal." He pulls the spyglass from his face, smiling at me.
"You're taking me back!?" I shout and it scares the monkey, he jumps off of my shoulder and runs away.
He nods in response and it annoys me.
"You've got your ring so now you're just going to dump me off?" I put my hands on my hips.
Jack lowers his head, as if trying to look for the right words.
"I don't have the ring... it's gone."
"What do you mean gone!?" I furrow my brows at him and he shoots me a soft expression.
"When the cave was collapsing and you threw me the ring... it got crushed by the rock and shattered."
"Shattered!?" My jaw drops in shock.
"Yes... it was only made out of shell, love. It was very fragile."
I grit my teeth as tears well up in my eyes.
"So all of this was for nothing!?" My voice cracks. "Because of my own stupidity!?"
"Calm down." He rests a hand on my shoulder. "It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal!? How can you say that!?"
"I can say that because... this journey with you has helped me to realize what is truly important to me."
"But..." I try to intervene but he continues.
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." He smiles, his metal teeth shining in the sunlight.
"But... if you're not mad with me... then why are you sending me home?" I ask, confused.
"Because I feel it is the right thing to do." He removes his hand from my shoulder and puts it back onto the wheel. "You said that you miss home and your father. A pirate's life is not for everybody, it's very dangerous."
I do miss those things, but at this point I can't picture myself doing anything else with anybody else. I like it here, on the water... with Jack.
"I didn't tear a heart from a dead man's chest, fight a pack of feral mermaids, and kill a giant octopus all by myself to be told 'it's too dangerous!' for me." I wipe the tears from my eyes with my sleeve. "My pirate journey is only just starting!"
I can see relief wash over him, as if that was exactly what he wanted to hear.
"So you want to stay a pirate?" He asks.
"Yes."
"Forever?"
"Forever." I state with a sternness in my voice.
"In that case..." He reaches into his pocket. "There is something I'd like to ask you."
To my utter shock he gets down on one knee, pulling a ring from his pocket.
"Would you, dear, do me the honor of being my bride and sailing the seven seas with me until the end of eternity?" He holds the stolen ring with the purple stone toward me, the one he had given Angelica before.
All I can do is stand in bewilderment. I can hardly speak.
"Yes... I would love nothing more!" I spew the words out.
His eyes light up as he slides the ring onto my finger, kissing the back of my hand.
I don't even give him a chance to stand completely before I pull him into a tight hug.
"Oww!" He yelps, still not completely healed. "Easy on the goods, love!"
I laugh and loosen up my grip. He runs his fingers through my hair.
"I love you..." He mutters before wrapping his hands around my cheeks and pulling me into a passionate kiss.
***this fanfic is mainly fluff, so there is no sexual content if you are of young age, but there are talks of drug abuse, suicide, violence, gore, etc. That some may find triggering. So please read at your own risk.***
Chapter Thirteen: Caught In The Moment
Any normal day I might be able to convince myself I could outrun a wolf, but these weren't any ordinary wolves. They were hybrids. They had the strength and speed of werewolves and vampires combined.
Luckily Tyler had granted me a head start, but it was only a matter of time before they were at my heels.
I could hear the pitter-patter of their footsteps through the trees behind me. They were closing in.
My lungs burn and my heart rises to my throat. I feel as if I am going to throw up.
One of the wolves jumps out of nowhere blocking my path, I stop dead in my tracks.
I am surrounded. I try to look for a way out but they circle me like a shiver of hungry sharks.
One lunges at me without warning and I grab a stick off of the ground, shoving it into its jaw. It bites the stick in half effortlessly.
Another comes from behind, wrapping its jaw around the back of my ankle. I feel the ligaments tear and I fall to the ground, screaming in agony.
I can no longer see the light of the moon as I am engulfed by ravenous wolves. I flail around, smacking, kicking and pushing them away from me, I will not go down without a fight.
The world begins to close in on me, I can feel myself losing my bearings. What the? The nauseous feeling begins to rise in my throat once again. My legs become weak and I struggle to fight back. I was perfectly fine moments ago?
I think back to the glass of wine Klaus had given me. He drugged me. Bastard.
Suddenly the wolves cease, I can hear high pitched cries as they let go of my limbs.
"Morgan! Morgan!" I hear somebody shout.
Its Bonnie, she holds out her hands toward the wolves and they writhe in pain. She release them from whatever magical hold she has on them and they scatter.
My eyelids feel heavy and my body becomes unsteady. She wraps her arms around me.
"Stay with me!" She yells into my ear.
"I'm alright, I'm alright!" I groan. "Just a little woozy."
"Sorry, I thought you were bleeding out."
"What?" I look down at my body, they had really done a number on me. "I don't feel it."
She reaches into her bag, pulling out a glass bottle and popping the cork.
"Here, drink!" She holds it up to my mouth.
It's a gross, thick texture and it tastes metallic in my mouth. It runs down my chin, between its grotesque flavour and the already nauseated feeling in my stomach I can't bring myself to swallow it.
"Come on Morgan! Don't die on me!" She shakes me and I force myself to down it.
As I do the lesions on my arms and legs begin to heal infront of my eyes. Within minutes my skin is restored to its pale smoothness.
"...How?" I ask in astonishment. "What in the world was that?"
"Vampire blood." Bonnie grins.
That's nasty, but also impressive.
"I'm glad I found you in time." She lets out a relieved sigh.
"How exactly did you find me?" I'm curious.
"When i did the spell earier I binded us, so that if you were in danger I could find you." She shrugs. "I didn't tell you because you said you wanted to do this on your own."
"Well I'm glad you did..." I pull her into a tight hug. "Thank you so much, you saved my life."
She hugs me back, the moon reflects so clearly in her dark brown eyes.
"I really appreciate everything you do for-" I don't even finish before I feel her lips press against mine.
They were warm and soft and tasted sweet like vanilla chapstick.
Our arms are still entangled in each other as I lay on the ground, I am unable to move.
She slowly pulls away, her face flushed. I am too stunned to speak.
She clenches her jaw, realizing the gravity of what she had just done.
"Let's get you home." She mutters.
I try to get up but my legs are still weak, she helps me to stand.
She drives us back to my house, I squeeze out one last 'thanks' Before stumbling inside.
I reach into the cabinet and pull out a bottle of vodka, pouring myself up a shot. I need to forget this night.
I thought I could do something but in the end I probably just aggrevated Klaus even more.
I down the shot and flop down into a kitchen chair. I go to pour myself another shot but decide just to drink it straight from the bottle. It's one of those nights.
Damon walks through the front door, tossing his jacket onto the coat rack.
"Woah, what happened?" He blinks in bewilderment at the sight of me, I had forgotten to change out of my torn ball gown and blood soaked tennis shoes.
"Damon..." I quickly change the subject. "I think it's time for a break."
"What!?" His face turns pale. "Are you breaking up with me!?"
"No, no!" I snap. "Not that kind of break!"
I try to stand up, my legs still wavering from the drugs I had been exposed to earlier.
"We need a break from all of this murderer business..." I lean on his chest for support. "We need to focus more on us."
He takes the vodka bottle from my hand and lays it on the table, he probably thinks I'm drunk but I am not even close to being drunk enough to tell him what happened tonight.
"You're right." He smiles, rubbing his hands up and down my back. "Tomorrow is Stefan's birthday, Elena and Caroline are planning a party for him at the Mystic Grill, we should go."
"I can't, I'm working tomorrow."
"Don't worry..." He rests his head ontop of mine. "I'll take care of that."
I chuckle and look up at him. My heart was full of dread but his smile had the ability to wash all of my sorrows away.
"I love you." He pecks me on my forehead.
"I love you too." I whisper.
Chapter Fourteen: The Hunter’s Curse
I get up and jump into the shower as I do every morning. But this morning is different...
As I lather my arms with soap I notice something on my shoulder. My skin was embossed with strange black markings. I trace the lines with my finger, they travel up my bicep and across my collar bone, ending in a circle on my chest. Where in the world did they come from? Is it something to do with last night?
"Hey, mind if I hop in?" I hear Damon's voice on the other side of the curtain.
"I was just getting out." I panic, grabbing a towel off of the rack and tossing it over my shoulder.
"You're no fun." Damon chuckles, stepping into the shower as I step out.
I run to my drawer, digging out the first shirt I can find and pulling it over my head. I need to talk to Bonnie about this, perhaps it has something to do with one of her spells?
***
We enter the Mystic Grill. Music is playing, everybody is laughing and the atmosphere is bright.
"Where have you been?" Caroline skips toward us. "We thought you weren't coming!"
"What?" I blink. "I thought we were arriving early."
I shoot Damon a disapproving look, he told me the wrong time.
"Yeah, sorry for being late." Damon grins. "I was just enjoy a couple of extra minutes of 'not being here'."
He tosses the gift we had picked up onto an empty table. Stefan approaches us, shaking his head.
"Happy birthday Stefan!" I cheer, clapping my palms together.
"Thank you, Morgan." He smiles. I envy how he looks like a Hollywood star with zero effort.
"Yeah, what she said!" Damon gives him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Now, when's the real party going to start?" Damon teases.
"I like it like this. Just quiet, spending time with my small group of friends. This is what I want." Stefan's words are genuine but Damon just rolls his eyes in response.
"I'm going to need a lot of alcohol to get through this." He gives me a loving squeeze before heading toward the bar.
"Im-"
"Don't apologize." Stefan interrupts me. "I know what he's like."
We both laugh.
"Just enjoy yourself." He smiles before making his way over to Elena who sat waiting for him at the bar.
I look around, Bonnie stands by herself against the wall. I look over at her and she shoots me a tight-lipped smile, no doubt feeling guilty.
"Hey Morgan I gotta tell you something!" Caroline chimes in, I had forgot she was beside me.
"What?" I didn't really care to know, I was too desperate for answers.
"I've been going out with this guy for a while, he's so perfect." She swooned. "Like, I'm talking dreamiest of dreamy. And he's meeting me here today so I can finally introduce him to you guys."
"That's nice." I nod. "Let me know when he gets here."
I brush her off and make my way toward Bonnie. I can hear her huff behind me. I really was not in the mood for gossip.
"We need to talk." I whisper.
"We do..." Bonnie sighs.
"I'm sorry... about last night." She continues. "I really overstepped some boundaries and I haven't stopped thinking about it since."
"Yeah, yeah. It's alright-" I bite my lip. "I kind of have something a little more important to fret about right now."
"What is it?"
"Come." I anxiously run to the bathroom and she follows.
I look to make sure there is nobody in the stalls.
"Do you think anybody can hear us from here?"
"Probably not with the music and all." She looks at me with concern. "What's up?"
I pull my blouse up over my head. Her face becomes flushed. She instantly notices the markings on my chest.
"I woke up with this this morning, what is it!?" I panic.
She examines the design closely.
"Have you heard of a 'hunters mark'?" She asks.
"A what?"
"A hunters mark." She explains. "They appear on the bodies of supernatural vampire hunters."
I fill her in on everything that happened last night, as well as what Klaus had told me, about my father being a hunter and how it runs through my family.
"Ah, so that is why he is after you." She rubs her chin with her hand.
"What is why?" I inquire. "What does my father hunting him have to do with me?"
"There is this thing called 'the hunters curse'.When the shaman used their magic to create the supernatural hunters they created this curse, basically as a last resort." She explains. "If the hunter is killed by the hunted then the hunter's soul will come back from the dead and haunt the vampire until they fall into insanity and off themselves."
"That's dark." I cringe.
"Yeah, I guess Klaus is being haunted by your father's soul." She sighs. "Which is probably why he wants to hurt you, as a last-ditch effort for revenge."
"That makes sense..." I grab onto my arm. "But it still doesn't explain this mark."
"Your father is dead, so it means you are the next in line to become a vampire hunter."
"But why is it only showing up now?" I groan. "My father's been gone a while."
"You said you stabbed Klaus last night, perhaps that's what caused it- Your first time fighting a vampire." Bonnie suggests.
I look at my markings once more in the bathroom mirror before pulling my top back over my head. Am I really that special? It's exciting to know that I am not just the mundane human I had always thought myself to be, but it is also frightening to know that I have such a responsibility weighing on my shoulders.
We leave the bathroom together, the others are exactly where we left them. We walk up to the bar and Damon gives me an odd look.
"Why do girls always do that?" He asks.
"What?" I furrow my brows.
"Use the bathroom together, it's weird."
Oh, he noticed... I just laugh it off.
He gives me a kiss. I can taste the bourbon on his lips. It's sweet and smokey with a hint of vanilla. My mind cant help but wander to the memory of how Bonnie's chapstick tasted.
I quickly pull away, trying to clear my mind before he is able to read it.
The bells ring as somebody enters the bar. Instinctively I look to see who it is and my heart falls into my stomach.
It's Klaus. I start to feel sick, clinging tightly onto Damon's shirt.
Caroline pulls him into a loving embrace and his smile sends a shiver down my spine. I regret not listening to Caroline's story earlier.
They approach us and the others at the bar.
"Everybody... this is my boyfriend, Klaus!" Caroline beams and Bonnie shoots me a knowing glance.
Everybody introduces themselves.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all, you seem like lovely people." Klaus piles on the charm but I know now that all of his words are hollow.
"I can't wait until the time comes that I can call you my friends as well." He continues.
Damon sticks his tongue out like he is going to gag at the sentiment.
"What was that for?" Klaus notices Damon's disgusted expression.
"I'm not a fan of getting my ass kissed." Damon snickered.
"Would you prefer if I kicked it?" Klaus threatened, stepping toward us.
"You can't hurt me." Damon brags.
"I dont plan to...Not physically anyway..." Klaus grinned.
I pat Damon on the chest, desperate to get him to shut up.
"I feel sick, I want to go home." I plead and he doesn't heed me.
"I'd advise you to listen to your girlfriend." Klaus whispered. "Perhaps if you did she wouldn't be spending the night with somebody else."
"What are you talking about!?" Damon spat in his face.
"Don't you know where Morgan was last night? Or did you not bother to ask?" Klaus crossed his arms.
"She was with me... or did she not tell you that?" He continues. "Communication is key to any relationship, you know."
Damon clenches his teeth and sputters in rage. He grabs Klaus by his throat. Caroline screams and Stefan tries desperately to separate the two.
"Don't shoot the messenger, mate." Klaus struggles to speak. Why is he not fighting back?
"I've always believed in killing the messenger, you know why?" Damon's eyes begin to darken. "Because it sends a message."
Klaus looks toward me, an evil smile crosses his face. What do I do?
I can't let him hurt Damon.
Chapter fifteen: the Humanity Switch
"Damon, stop!" I scream. "Let me explain!"
"Don't worry, I'll make it quick. Then you'll have all the time in the world to explain." Damon hisses.
I use my small physique to my advantage and slide myself between the two.
"I mean it Damon! Stop!" I plead and he finally lets go.Klaus falls to the floor and Caroline runs to his aid.
"We need to talk... but I need you to calm down first." I grab his face in my palms, trying to soothe him.
"Please, Morgan." The darkness in his eyes begins to fade. "Show me."
I close my eyes, trying to recall the events of the last few days as they had happened, starting with my meeting with Klaus at the bar and ending with... I cut myself off. I can't show him what happened next.
"Finish what you started, Morgan." He stares deep into my eyes and I can feel my free will slipping away. He's compelling me. He promised he never would.
My train of thought continues without my permission, playing through the part where Bonnie and I had kissed.His eyes widen and his jaw becomes tense. He pulls his face forcefully from my hands.
"It's not what it looks like..."
"It's exactly what it looks like." Damon spat.
"And what is that?" Klaus intercepts as he stands up from his position on the floor.
"My girlfriend betrayed me by going on a dangerous escapade without telling me..." Damon clenches his fists. "And by best friend betrayed me by making a pass at my girlfriend."
"Ding, ding! Give the man a prize!" Klaus chuckles.
"Nobody needs your stupid commentary, Klaus." Bonnie butts in.
The whites of Damon's eyes begin to blacken and veins start to form around them. It's similar to the time before when he was mad at Stefan, but also very different.This time there was no soul behind his eyes. Like the small fire inside him had been extinguished.
"Damon..." His lifeless expression frightens me. "Are you okay...?"
He looks at me and all I can see is blood lust. He looks as if he could tear me to shreds at any moment.
"Morgan, run." Stefan stands infront of me.
"What!? Why!?" I blink. "I know Damon wouldn't hurt me."
"He would now..." Stefan warns. "Because he just turned his humanity off."
Damon suddenly lunges toward Stefan and they fight it out, throwing each other across the bar, into tables, and growling like wild animals.I run out of the bar as quickly as I can, hailing a taxi so I do not have to take Damon's car home.
When I finally get home I notice a package at my door, it's the vampire hunting supplies I had ordered from Amazon. They arnt lying when they say you can get literally anything on there.
I had originally bought them out of precaution but now that I know about the hunters mark- and the fact that there are a couple of very dangerous vampires out to kill me- I know I will put them to good use.
I lay everything out onto the table. Traquilizer darts filled with vervain and vervain soaked rope, a crossbow and some wooden stakes. This should do me for now.
I am unable to sleep that night. Not only am I in fear for my life but the few times I did doze off my nightmares had decided to resurface, a sort of sick blessing when you're trying to stay awake.I lay in my bed, crossbow in hand.
To my suprise the night passed by quietly.I get changed and make myself a cup of tea, I hadn't been drinking it the same lately- which is why Damon was able to compell me against my will. I cannot take any more chances.
I decide to drink my tea out on the porch, the sun is just beginning to rise and id like to watch it. I take one of the vervain filled needles and shove it into my pocket, just to be safe.
As I open the door, my heart skips a beat. Laying across my door mat, in my wicker chairs and hanging from the railing were the dead bodies of people i could not identify. Their flesh was mutilated to a point where they almost looked inhuman. Their blood stained the white paint. My porch had been turned into a crime scene.
I gasp, almost spilling my hot drink.
"What the hell!?" I scream.
"What? You don't like it?" I hear a familiar voice.
Damon slowly walks up the steps toward me. My heart starts to beat through my chest.
"I made it just for you." He grins in a way that makes me feel uneasy. He is definitely not himself.
As he slowly approaches me I back toward my door.He pretends he is going to jump at me and it startles me. He finds it extremely funny, but I don't.
"What's the matter, Miss vampire hunter?" He raises his eyebrows. "Are you afraid?"
He gets less then a foot away from me and I panic, throwing my tea into his face.He covers his eyes and hisses as I run inside and lock the door behind me.
My lungs ache as I gasp for air. I lay back onto the door as an attempt to calm myself down but that is short lived.
Suddenly Damon's fist flies through the wooden door, just shy of my head.
"Here's Johnny!" He jokes.
I scream and he uses his hand to unlock the door. I run toward the living room and he is not long behind me.I run and hide behind the entertainment center. He grabs it and tosses it across the room like it is weightless.
"I'm going to suck you dry." He threatens. "And I'm going to enjoy every moment of it."
He lunges at me and I roll across the floor to dodge it. I start grabbing the old porcelain figurines that line my bookshelves and pelting him with them. Blood runs down his forehead but he seems unphased.
I crawl across the floor and pick up a piece of the wooden entertainment center that had shattered and hold it toward him threateningly.
"Oo, you going to kill me!?" He chuckles. "You don't have the guts!"
He takes the piece of wood, pressing it against his chest.
"C'mon. Do it. I dare you." He grins.
My hand shakes and tears begin to trickle down my cheeks. I can't do it... I love him.
I lose all of the strength in my arm and it falls limp to my side. I can't.
He pins me down onto the floor, putting all of his weight into my torso. I punch him in his face but he barely flinched, using his hand to re-adjust his jaw.
He bites into my neck, but it was not like that time in the woods. It was a lot more aggressive.
I cry in agony as he tears away at my throat. My screams turn to gargles as my esophagus begins to fill with blood.
I use my last breath to uninvite him from my home. A magical force pulls him through the front door, but his grip on me doesn't loosen and I end up flying out into the driveway with him.
I am no longer able to speak, i desperately reach for the vervain in my pocket and stab the needle into his back. He pulls away growling and then losing consciousness, falling onto my chest.
I choke on my own blood and cough it up, the ground begins to spin around me.
As my blood flows out of my neck and pools in my hair I slowly fade into nothingness.
Is this how it feels to die?
Chapter Sixteen: Eternity
I open my eyes, I am laying in my own bed.
I'm... alive?
I look around, for some reason everything looked clearer then it ever had before. I could see smaller details that never would have been visible to my naked eye.
Not only was my eyesight heightened, but all of my other senses were too...
I could feel every fiber of my bed sheets against my skin and I could hear the footsteps of multiple people quietly walking across the floor below, each of them having their own unique scent as well.
"I...I can't be..." I mutter, standing myself up and running to the mirror that hung on my door in what seemed like a flash.
I didn't think my skin could get any more pale then it was. I looked sick, my eyes were dark and my complexion grey.
How is this possible?
I remeber the bottle of vampire blood that Bonnie had shoved down my throat. I wonder who's blood it was?
But my fight is not over yet, I still have the potential to die.
In order to complete the transition I must drink the blood of a human. If I don't, I will starve to death and die permanently.
I really didn't want to die, yet I also couldnt fathom the though of drinking blood to survive. I weigh the pros and cons in my head. I should have plenty of time to make up my mind.
I change my clothing, it only look me a few seconds. I hadn't even realized how fast I had been going until I accidentally knocked over the lamp on my bedside table when I pulled the drawer open.
I make my way down stairs, all of the others are crowded in my kitchen.
"Oh Morgan! Your finally awake!" Caroline cheers.
"How do you feel?" Elena asks.
"Weird..." I scratch my head. "What happened?"
"We came over this morning to check on you and we found you and Damon in the driveway." Bonnie speaks up.
"Where is Damon?" I enquire.
"We used the vervain rope you had left on the table to tie him up in the basement." Stefan answers.
"You what? Why?"
"If there's any chance of getting his humanity back, I think you could do it." Stefan smiles. "He just needs a little encouragement when he comes to."
My stomach aches as hunger begins to set in. But it is unlike any hunger pains I've ever had before, it was absolutely excruciating.
I wrap my arms around my stomach to try and ease the pangs.
"We've got to get you something to eat." Caroline scratches her chin.
"I don't know if I want anything to eat..." I sigh, I don't have much to live for anyway... what's the point?
The only purpose I have in life is to live out my father's legacy, as a vampire that hunts other vampires? That doesn't seem right.
Suddenly I hear something stirring under my feet, followed by a string of angry cuss words. I guess Damon is awake.
I should go talk to him...
I open up the hatch in my floor and make my way down to my unfinished basement. It was dark, damp, and musty.
I reach up and pull the string on the light bulb above me, I can now see.
Damon sits with his back against the wall, struggling as the vervain rope burns through his wrists and neck.
"Morgan... your alive?" I see a small flicker of hope in his eyes, but it is short lived. "That's unfortunate."
I sit down on the cold concrete floor a foot or so out of his reach, this seems to annoy him.
"What do you want?" He groans.
"I just wanted to say goodbye." I fiddle with my thumbs.
"Where are you going?" He laughs.
"I don't know, I guess I'll find out when the time comes..." I look up at him and he gives me a confused look.
"I don't want to be a vampire, Damon." Tears begin to well up in my eyes. "I'm going to let myself die."
I can see his eyes soften once again, but they quickly turn back into annoyance.
"So what?" He spat.
"So.." I get up on my hands and knees, crawling toward him.
"I just didn't want to go without telling you one last time..." I struggle to find the words.
"I love you, Damon Salvatore." The tears begins to stream down my cheeks. "And I always will."
I kiss him passionately.
At first his lips were tight and unwilling, but slowly they reciprocated my passion.
I lay a hand on his cheek, it was wet.
I pull away and notice he was crying. All of the life had crept back into his glassy eyes. His soul had returned.
"Morgan..." He clenches his jaw. "You can't... I can't..."
"I can't let you go." He chokes on his words.
I look down, I feel extreme guilt for what I've put him through the last few days.
"One of the most important things to you was your right to choose..." I swallow my tears. "This is my choice, please respect it."
I quickly untie his ropes and before he is able to grab me I rush out of the house. This vampire speed is quite useful.
I run, but I don't know where I'm going. I stop abruptly when a sweet smell crosses my nose. It's a lady jogging.
I can hear the blood pulsating through her veins. The only way I can describe its smell is like your favorite food in the world, being freshly prepaid infront of you. It smelt absolutely delectable.
I shake my head and smack my cheeks, desperate to snap myself out of my hysteria.
"You're alive, huh?" I heard a familiar voice approach me from behind. It's Klaus.
"I wanted to kill you...but i was hoping by setting Damon off at the bar the other day he would do it for me." He complains. "I guess if you want something done well you must do it yourself."
"He did kill me, you asshat!" I punch him across his face with my newfound vampire strength and it knocks him over.
"So have you decided to stay a vampire?" He asks as he picks himself up off the ground. "Or are you going to let yourself die and haunt Damon for the rest of his life?"
Wait... the hunters curse... I forgot about that.
If I let myself die, Damon will be tormented by my soul until he eventually kills himself. I can't let that happen.
I clench my fists, glancing at the joggers back as she passes me by. The wind blows through her ponytail and I can smell her sweetness once again.
"I've changed my mind..." I grit my teeth with determination. "I'm going to become a vampire..."
"A vampire that hunts vampires..." I continue. "And I will finish what my father started...I will not rest until you are dead."
He grins smugly and I ignore it, I cannot resist any longer. Before I can blink an eye I am standing infront of the jogger. She runs into me and falls backward onto her bottom.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you there!" She apologizes.
"No..." I pin her down onto the pavement. "I am the one who is sorry..."
She squirms and kicks her legs as I dig my teeth deep into her neck. Her blood runs down my throat like liquid gold, I have never tasted anything so amazing in my entire life.
I hadn't intended to kill her, but I couldn't stop myself until the flow of blood had ceased. I had completely sucked her dry.
My anxiety kicks in and I begin to panic, I've never killed anybody before.
I get up, Klaus was no longer there. He had used that opportunity to run. But as I said, I will find him, and I will kill him.
I tower over the ladies lifeless corpse and I start to cry once again. What do I do?
"It's okay... it always happens your first time."
I turn to see Damon. His wrists and neck had healed.
He extends his arms toward me and I run into them, crying into his chest.
"I know you told me to respect your decision..." He spoke into my hair as he soothed me. "But I had to come and at least try to convince you otherwise."
I look up at him and he blesses me with his signature smile.
"I'm glad you changed your mind, even if it was out of spite." He laughs.
"Oh, you heard that?"
"Yep."
"It wasn't just that..." I exhale. "I didn't want you to be affected by the hunters curse."
"Yeah... that would suck." He shrugs. "But if anybody was going to haunt me I'm glad it'd be you."
He jokes and a laugh escapes from my lips.
"So you're not mad at me anymore?"
"No... of course not." He smirks. "And I can't blame Bonnie either, your hot. If you were her girlfriend I probably would have done the same thing."
His jests calm he pounding in my chest.
He moves his hands from my arms to my face, cupping my cheeks in his palms.
"I love you, Morgan. And I will always love you, no matter what..." He kisses me, whispering into my lips.
***this fanfic is mainly fluff, so there is no sexual content if you are of young age, but there are talks of drug abuse, suicide, violence, gore, etc. That some may find triggering. So please read at your own risk.***
Chapter Nine: Love At First Sight
I try to focus on the movie but my mind is still stuck in the past. Tears stream down my cheeks and I wipe them away with the sleeve of my sweater.
I hear a soft knock at my door. Now is not the time. I wrap the granny-square afghan that lay on the back of my couch around my head and try to ignore it.
A minute or so passes and they knock again. Ugh.
I lay my mother's urn on the coffee table and make my way to the door, dragging the afghan behind me.
"Who is it?" I shout through the door.
"I'd like to talk to you about our lord and savior Jesus christ."
I know that voice. I open the door, it's Damon.
"You know, some people find jokes like that offensive." I chuckle.
"I think it's funny." He looks me up and down. "You look rough."
"Thanks." I smile sarcastically. "I was wallowing in my own self-pity."
"Yeah, about that..." He reaches behind his back, pulling out a large bouquet of orange calla lilies.
"I'm really sorry for yelling at you the other day. I had really hoped the day would have went better." He holds the bouquet toward me and I take it, running my fingers along the flowers petals.
"I saw them at the flower shop on the way over and thought about you." He grinned. "The color reminded me of your beautiful hair."
"So... can you forgive me?" He put his palms together, pleading.
"I suppose so." I smile. "I'm going to put these in some water."
I walk toward the kitchen, leaving the door open for him but he doesn't follow.
"What's the matter?" I ask.
"I can't come in." He stands at the threshold of my door.
"Why not?" I look at him, confused.
"Vampires can't enter a person's home unless they are invited in."
"Your bullshitting me." I laugh.
"I'm serious!" He tries to walk in, but is pushed back as if there were an invisible wall. "Invite me in."
"Alright..." I grin. "Damon, would you please come in?"
He bows slightly, finally entering the door and closing it behind him.
I grab a vase from the kitchen cupboard and fill it with water.
"So, can you like... uninvite people?" I ask as I unwrap the lilies and place them in the vase.
"Yes, you can." Damon answers as he examines my belongings.
I'll keep that in mind.
"I haven't seen one of these in a minute." He picks at the old transistor radio that sat on my countertop.
"So, how old are you anyway?"
"178." He replies non-chalantly.
Wow, that is so amazing. I think for a moment and burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?"
"I just pictured you trying to rock a mullet." I giggle.
"Trying? Oh baby I did." He winks at me and I almost bust a gut.
I wonder if there are any pictures floating around? I would pay good money to see that.
I feel a lot better now.
He looks in my fridge, it was completely empty beside the casserole that Caroline had brought me about a week ago. I had been eating it straight from the dish to avoid having to do any dishes, it was one of the perks of living alone.
"That's pretty sad." He chuckles. "You don't cook?"
"I do, but I just haven't felt like it..." I cross my arms. "And I really don't feel like getting roasted, either."
"Alright, alright." He closes the fridge door, making his way to the living room. He really knows how to make himself comfortable, doesn't he?
When I walk in he is already sat on the couch. I go and sit beside him, he looks a little sad.
"So, are you ready to talk?" I ask him, mildly concerned.
"I suppose so..." He knits his brows, looking down at his knees.
I rest a reassuring hand on his arm and it is as if the flood gates just opened.
"Back in 1864 me and Stefan were shot by our abusive father..." He sighs. "Both of us had vampire blood in our system when we died."
"So is that how you turned?" I'm genuinely curious.
"Not exactly..." He exhales. "In order to complete the transition you have to drink human blood."
Ahh... I see... so it's a process. I thought you just bite somebody and it happens, like in the movies.
"I didn't want to become what I am... I wanted to just die and be done with my life." He continued. "But Stefan couldn't except that... he took away my right to choose."
I thought about their altercation at the bar. Of course he would be mad... having to deal with that decision every day must really hurt.
"I really don't want to kill people... most of the time." He scoffs. "I knew that killing Vicki was wrong, and I tried to fix it the only way I know how. But it just came back to kick my ass, everything I do always does."
"I'm a terrible person..." He rests his head on my shoulder. "Arnt I?"
"No..." I run my fingers through his dark hair. I'm not the best at making people feel better, but I try.
I glance over at my mother's urn that lay still on the coffee table. I can't help but think about all of the deaths in this town as of late.
"If I ask you something... will you tell me the truth?"
He nods.
"Did you kill Carol Lockwood?"
"I did..."
"Why?"
"When I get really angry sometimes my humanity turns off and I don't really have much impulse control..." He sighs. "She just kept throwing herself at me, and I was just not in the mood to flirt that night. That didn't stop her from pursuing me though... so I just snapped."
I could see her doing that, but it was still a hard pill to swallow.
"I have another question..." I clench my jaw.
"Shoot."
"Did you... kill my mother?"
His eyes widen.
"No... of course not."
"Are you really being honest?" My heart races, it was all beginning to click in my mind.
"I'm no Saint, but I'm not that cruel, Morgan." He pushes himself up, looking me in my eyes. His face full of despair. "How could you even think that?"
"Well..." I start to feel annoyed. "I did find my mother dead in a ditch not even 10 minutes after you stormed out of the bar wanting to 'blow off some steam'."
"I did kill somebody that night... I was furious..." He grabs me by my arm, pleading. "But it wasn't your mother, I promise! Cross my heart."
"How could you say that? You didn't even know who my mother was."
"I did, actually." He bites his lip. "Just hear me out."
"Alright, but make it convincing." I cross my arms.
"So when I had first arrived in town I went to the hospital to steal some blood bags."
"You stole from the hospital!?" I butt in.
"Yes- it was a whole ordeal- but that's not the point." He glazes over the subject. "So when I glamoured my way into the hospital there was a code white, do you remeber? Your mother was fighting with nurses after a suicide attempt at the hospital."
My heart skips a beat, I remeber quite well. They held her because the ambulance had been called after she seized out in the lineup at the corner store while trying to buy smokes.
Once she started to sober up she kept trying to run away but they kept her locked in her room... So she broke the window and tried to jump out. They had to move her to a different ward, but not without a fight.
"Obviously I was curious as to what was going on so I went to see... I saw you pacing outside your mother's room." He lays a hand on my cheek. "You looked tired and your face was full of fear but you still took my breath away. I wanted to taste you but my consience wouldnt allow it, which is out of character for me."
"So... I know this sounds creepy but..." He snickers. "I followed you... for a while. I wanted so badly to approach you but i couldnt, so I watched you go back and forth between the hospital, home, and the bar for months."
Months. Thats nuts. My whole life was being observed and I didn't have a clue.
"So yes... I know who your mother was and I know the hardships you went through." He runs his thumb along my cheek. "So please know I mean it when I say I wouldn't do that to you."
I lay my hand ontop of his, cradling my cheek. I'm speechless, but I can't help but believe him.
If not him... then who?
"I don't know..." He answers my thoughts. "But if it means so much to you, I will find out."
"Thank you..." I close my eyes, trying to process all of the new information that I had just absorbed.
Then suddenly...
I feel his lips press gently against mine.
Chapter Ten: Hunted
I lean into the kiss. Something about it felt so right, like a fire had lit in my heart.
I pull away, quietly gasping for air. I kind of forgot how the breath for a minute.
He smiles at me and I feel butterflies form in my stomach.
I hear a sudden knock at my door. I turn to look out the window, the sun had already set... who would be here this late?
I give Damon a confused look as I get up off of the sofa. He follows as I walk cautiously to the door.
I peek through the sidelite, there is nobody there. I open the door and notice there is a small, beautifully wrapped gift on my doorstep. I pick it up and close the door behind me.
"Who's it from?" Damon asks curiously.
"I don't know..." I pick up the tag, it reads "from your secret admirer."
"Seems I'm not the only one falling victim to your charms." He laughs. "Open it!"
I slowly untie the delicate ribbon. Sliding the top off of the gift box and immediately dropping it onto the floor with a blood curdling scream.
A human heart rolls out of the box onto the carpet. What the hell!?
"Thats sick! Who would do that!?" I shout. I begin to feel nauseous.
Damon kneels down by the box, pulling out a blood soaked letter and unfolding it. He furrows his brows as he reads it, crumbling it up and tossing it.
"What did it say!?" I pick it up off of the floor.
"I don't think you should..." Damon tries to stop me but I pull away, flattening it out onto the counter.
All it said was 'you are next.' With a photograph of... my father... blood gushing out of his chest. My legs start to feel weak and I slowly sink onto the floor, my back sliding down the wall.
I hide my face in my knees trying desperately not to have another mental breakdown.
I hear Damon dispose of everything before crouching to my level.
"I don't know who is doing all of this to you, but I won't rest until they get the death they deserve."
I nod and use the doorknob to pull myself back up.
"I feel dizzy." I groan.
"You should go lay down..." Damon helps me up the stairs and I flop myself into bed.
"Hey, if it's not too much to ask..." I look up at him. "Could you stay the night?"
"So all it takes is a kiss, huh?" He jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
"You know it's not like that, asshole." I chuckle. "I'm not going to be able to sleep knowing there may be somebody after me."
"Can I sing a lullaby or tuck you in or something?" He teases.
"Well I wouldn't mind a cup of tea. I have one every night, it helps me fall asleep."
"Alright." He grins, making his way down to the kitchen.
I lay in my bed, staring up at the white ceiling. Why would anybody hate me this much? What did I ever do to deserve all of this? Nothing. All I've done my whole life is survive and even that is becoming a struggle.
"FUCK!"
I hear Damon shout from downstairs.
"What's the matter!?" I holler back, my heart skips a beat.
"God damn vervain tea!" He bellows. "What kind of psychopath drinks this shit!?"
I break out into laughter and he appears in my room with a cup and saucer.
"It knocks me out." I take the cup and bring it to my lips. "Also, it keeps the vampires away."
"Fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me." He sighs.
I stare down at the liquid in my cup. Was this all connected? This tea was oddly specific-yet my father made it for me every night as a kid, was he protecting me? Did he know about vampires all along?
I hear my bed creek and notice Damon laying beside me, ontop of the covers. It felt odd but at the same time it felt a lot more secure then having him sleep in my mother's room next door.
I lay my cup onto my bedside table and sink down into my pillow. I close my eyes.
I need to toughen up. I need to find my inner strength. All of the things that have been happening in my life as of late could not possibly be a coincidence. Everything is connected and it all comes back to my father.
What is the real reason he left all those years ago? Was he being threatened, or chased? Was it to protect me and mom?
And who is this person-or vampire that is after him and his family? And why?
Although my thoughts are going a mile a minute, it is not long before the tea kicks in and I drift off into sleep.
***
I curl up on my couch, I am young again.
'Beauty and The Beast' plays on the old box TV. My parents sit on either side of me, their arms around me in a warm embrace, just as I remeber it.
It gets to my favorite part, the part where Belle and the beast are dancing together to 'tale as old as time.'
As they swing across the ballroom the song subtly changes, the sound becoming distorted. The TV starts to glitch and I crawl across the floor for a better look. Perhaps the VHS tape was broken?
Suddenly the Beast takes his claws and tears Belle's head clean off, then proceeds to eat her flesh.
I scream and turn toward my parents, they are no longer alive and happy, but instead their corpses lay rotting on either side of the sofa.
I cry for help and tears start to stream down my cheeks. I am an adult once again.
It's a nightmare. I try to wake up but I can't, I'm trapped.
The scene starts to become even more grotesque as my parent's bodies start to decay at a quicker rate, their limbs breaking off onto the floor.
I run toward the front door of the house. I need to get out of here, I can't take anymore!
I swing open the door and run outside... and suddenly, I am in a different place.
I walk out into an open field, the sun was bright and its warmth caressed my skin. I blink and suddenly the field is full of bright orange calla lilies, like the ones Damon had brought me. Their aroma fills the air and soothes me.
I see small animals like deer and rabbits frolicking through the flowers. I look down at myself and I am wearing the most beautiful white gown I have ever seen.
"Are you alright?"
I turn to see Damon, standing in the field with me.
"I saw you crying in your sleep, so I figured you were having a nightmare." He approaches me, taking me by my hands. "So I thought I'd help."
"You can control my dreams?" I blink in bewilderment.
"Yes... vampires have the power of dream manipulation." He smiles.
"Thank you." The tension in my chest relaxes.
A soft melody can be heard through the breeze. I lean on him, resting my head on his shoulder and we slowly sway with the music.
That is where I stay for the rest of the night.
Chapter Eleven: Truth
I slowly open my eyes, that was the best sleep I've had in a very long time.
I stretch and roll over, Damon is no longer beside me. He must have gone home.
I crawl out of bed and jump into the shower, feeling well rested and ready for the day.
As I walk down the stairs I am hit with the aroma if freshly fried eggs. I follow the scent into the kitchen.
"What is this?" I speak aloud.
There was a plate of breakfast set up on the table with a note besides it.
It read:
"Good morning sleeping beauty, I noticed your casserole was starting to grow some fuzz on it so I figured I'd make you a real meal for once. ~Damon"
Since that day it became a regular thing for Damon to stay the night. We saw each other almost every day, and eventually our relationship became official.
When he was not with me he was out trying to find out what he could about the person who had a bounty on my head. He even got Stefan in on the hunt, along with a few others.
I just tried to live my life as normal- or at least as normal as I could.
I still went back and forth to work, but instead of walking home alone Damon had lent me his Camaro Convertable to drive. It definitely turned some heads the first time I pulled up to the sketchy dive bar in it.
I also started working on myself more. The time I spent alone at the house I would do research through books and the internet, finding out all I could about vampires and the other supernatural creatures that roam the earth.
I even practiced some fighting and self defense techniques, and to my surprise it was almost natural to me. Whatever came at me I was prepared to take it on. I refuse to be that weak little girl that vomits at the sight if blood. I want to fight.... for my fallen family.
I flick through the channels on the flat-screen TV. The bar was extremely quiet tonight and I refused to watch sports any longer. I was counting down the minutes until my shift ended.
The door bell rings and a couple enter. It is Tyler Lockwood and a man I've never seen before.
They sit to the bar as I walk over to the other side.
"What can I get you?" I ask as I examine Tyler's company.
He was a handsome man, with light brown hair and some scruffy stubble on his chin.
"Good evening, Dear." His voice was sweet with a British accent. "A Rum and coke if you would?"
I could probably listen to him speak all night.
"I'll just have a beer, Morgan." Tyler adds.
I crack open the beer and slide it across the bar, then mix the Cuba libra.
"Tyler was telling me about you." The man says as I lay the glass infront of him.
"Though...He neglected to mention how stunning you are." He grinned, taking a sip of his drink.
"You can hold the flattery." I chuckle.
"Im being sincere." He holds a hand toward me. "My name is Klaus, it is a pleasure to meet you."
I take his hand and he shakes it. I look over at Tyler, his stance is cool but his eyes look panicked.
Whoever this Klaus guy was, he was nothing like the company Tyler would usually keep. He was kind and quiet and talked to me as if we had known each other our whole lives. I thoroughly enjoyed his presence.
"So your a Beckford, correct?" Klaus asks.
"Yes, I am... why?"
"Our families have known each other a very long time." He swirls the ice around in his glass.
"Really?"
"Yes, your father and I were acquaintances." He furrows his brows.
"But he never mentioned having a daughter, how odd." He laughs and I'm confused. Did I miss the joke?
"How long have you known him?" I inquire.
"About 12 years, give or take."
My father left us 12 years ago... I need to find out more. This man could be the key to getting all of the answers I have been searching for.
"Can you tell me about him?"
"I would..." He glances down at his watch."But it is closing time for you, and i have somewhere to be."
"Please!" I fold my hands together. "I need to know."
"Well, if it is that important to you..." He stands up taking some money out of his pocket for the drink, as well as a large tip. "Perhaps we can chat about it another time?"
He picks up a pen off of the counter, scribbling an address onto one of the bills.
"Meet me here tomorrow night and we'll talk."
I read the address on the bill, it's in the next town over. He better not be bullshitting me. I fold it and shove it into my bra.
He says goodbye as he walks out of the bar. Tyler follows him like a lost puppy, shooting me one last worried glance before leaving the bar.
I clean and lock up, walking out to the car.
The moon is full, it's a clear star-less night. I can hear wolves howling in the distance. It makes me feel uneasy, I hop into the car and drive home as fast as I can.
When I walk into the house, I can hear music playing from my room upstairs.
As I follow the sound I recognize it as 'Personal Jesus' by Depeche Mode.
What in the world?
I peek around the corner, Damon is dancing around my room in nothing but a towel.
"Hey Momo, what's up?" He notices me, taking me by my hands and swaying with me.
"Are you drunk?" I blink in bewilderment.
"Perfectly sober."
"Then why in the world are you dancing around naked at 2am?"
"I got bored waiting on you to come home..." He grins. "Plus, I'm in a really good mood."
"Why? Did you find out something?"
"No..." He turns off the music, shaking his wet hair like a dog. "Buuut..."
He leans on the doorway as I go into the bathroom to remove my makeup.
"I dug that bloody letter out of the trash and got Bonnie to do a locator spell on it."
"And?" I quickly change into my pj's.
"It didn't lead us to the killer bit it did lead us to your father's body!" He grins. "I got it cremated and put in a nice little urn next to your mother."
"That's really sweet." I give him a kiss. "Thank you."
I lay in the bed and he goes into the bathroom to dry his hair.
I pull the bill out of my bra, looking over the address. I can't tell Damon, if I do he'll surely want to follow me. This is something I must do on my own.
Perhaps I'll get Bonnie to help me, I may have been practicing my fighting skills but I am still only human. I need some type of protection. I'll go see her tomorrow.
Damon walks back in and I quickly shove the bill into the beside drawer.
"So did anything eventful happen at work today?" He asks before laying down and wrapping an arm around me.
"No..." I lie. "Same old- same old."
"Very good..." He sighs. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Chapter Twelve: Hybrids
I had decided to sleep in, I hadn't slept so well in years as I had been lately. Having somebody you love by your side truly does help.
It was a bright and beautiful afternoon. I pull in a lacey white top and a pink tennis skirt, as well as some white tennis shoes to match. Cute and comfortable.
I run out the door without having breakfast, i need to go see Bonnie.
I decide to pick up some coffee on the way, I wonder what she drinks?
I grab a couple of lattes- you can't go wrong with those- and make my way over to her place.
I knock at the door and it doesn't take her long to answer.
"Oh hey Morgan! Damon left a while ago."
"I'm actually here to see you! And i brought coffee!" I smile and she gives me a bewildered look.
"Come in." She steps aside and I enter her apartment.
"So what's up?" She asks as she takes a latte from my hand.
"I have a favor to ask..." I sit down on the foot of her bed. "But you can't tell Damon about it..."
She sits down on the bed beside me and my heart can't help but flutter. She is stunning- her dark hair and rich skin catch the light so beautifully- it makes me wonder why Damon chose me.
"You know he's my best friend right?" She bites her lip. "I don't know if I could keep something from him like that."
"It would mean the world to me... please?" I pout.
"Alright... what is it?"
"So I met this guy at the bar last night..."
"Woah-" She interjects.
"Not like that." I chuckle. "He claimed to know my father and agreed to talk to me about him."
"But he wanted to meet me at a different place. He was very sweet but something about him was off." I continue. "So I'd like some type of protection when I go to see him tonight."
"And you're not telling Damon, why?" She tilts her head.
"It's just something I feel like I should do on my own..." I sigh. "And I know if he finds out he'll follow me wether I want him to or not."
"That's true." She nods. "Alright, I'll cast a protection spell."
She gets me to lay down and surrounds me with black candles, one on either side of me and one by my head and feet. She then proceeds to connect the candles with what looks like sand.
"What is that?"
"It's black salt, it's a combination of ashes and salt and it's good for protection." She smiles, pleased that I am genuinely interested.
"I'd love to be able to do stuff like this, I've been reading up about it and its so cool!"
"Witchcraft is in my bloodline, but it can also be taught. Perhaps I can teach you a few things?"
"That would be awesome!" I wiggle with excitement and she laughs.
"In return, though, you got to show me how to play guitar! There's this guy I want to impress."
"Ooo~" I tease. "Alright! Deal!"
She lays a clear crystal on my chest.
"OK, now close your eyes!"
I do so and she starts to speak in a language I don't understand, I think it is what they call light language in the books.
I feel a warm static-like shock travel from the center of my chest where the crystal lay and slowly move out towards my limbs. It only lasts a few seconds.
"Done! You can get up now."
I sit up and catch the crystal as it rolls off of my chest.
"Keep that crystal close, if it breaks so does your shield." She warns.
"Thank you so much!" I pull her into a tight hug and it takes her by suprise.
I was afraid that the night wouldn't come fast enough, but the time went quickly as I spent the day talking to Bonnie. She was so easy to talk to and it was nice to have a woman to speak to for a change.
She filled me in on everything that had gone on during their hunt for the murderer. Like how Elena and Caroline were both vampires now- they had both died with Damon's blood in their systems- and how she met and fell for a man named Enzo in the process.
Damon hadn't told me any of that. Its usually because we only see each other in passing lately. I need to tell him to take a break, maybe we can plan a day together. According to Bonnie it's been really frustrating for him not finding anything more, and when he gets angry somebody always has to pay for it. I couldn't even count the number of people he had killed during Bonnie's story on one hand.
I look at the time, the sun is starting to set.
"Hopefully this all ends tonight..." I sigh.
Bonnie wishes me luck as I leave. I had decided to walk over.
I clutch the crystal in my palms, I hadn't walked alone at night in a while but I should be safe... as long as I don't stumble across any more dead bodies.
The address took me to what looked to be a large entertainment venue. I read the numbers on the front of the building, it's correct.
I hesitantly make my way inside, the building is silent besides the chattering of a crowd that can be heard behind a closed door. I peek my head inside, it is a ballroom.
Couples prance around the dance floor while others stand at the sidelines sipping wine and chatting with each other.
"You're not going to come in?" Klaus's tender voice catches me off guard.
"I would but I'm severely underdressed." I chuckle.
"Here, Change into this." He pulls a box out from under his arm. "I'll meet you inside."
I'm confused but I comply. I slip into the women's bathroom and quickly change. Inside the box was a dress and a pair of strapped heels.
I give myself a looking over in the mirror. The dress was extremely tight fitting around my hips and covered in sequins with a blue-to-green shift. Matched with my firey red hair I looked as if I belonged on a live action little mermaid.
I scrutinize the pair of heeled sandals. They have laces and buckles that run up to the knee. They look like a pain in the ass to take on and off, so I toss them aside with my other clothing, the dress covers my feet anyway.
As I make my way back to the ballroom I contemplate how odd of a setting this is for conversation. This better not just be a ruse to ask me out. I'll be pissed.
Klaus stands with a couple of wine glasses in his hands, and I approach him he holds one toward me.
I take and bring it to my mouth, it was extremely bitter. I pucker my lips, I am not a wine person.
"You look absolutely beautiful." He grins.
"Thanks." I reply curtly. He chuckles at my rudeness.
"So you really want to know about your father?" He asks, leaning against the wall and shooting me a look of intrigue.
"Yes, that's why I'm here..." I emphasize my words, that is the only reason I'm here.
"Let me break it down for you in a way you can understand." He matches my saucy attitude.
"Your father comes from a long line of vampire hunters. The Beckford's are well known for their skill."
My eyes widen. My father realy was trying to protect me from vampires my whole life.
"Around 12 years ago he became an official member of the 'Brotherhood of the Five'." He continues. "They are a group of supernaturally gifted vampire hunters."
"And how do you know all of this?" I inquire. Did my father really leave my family to join a group of vampire hunters?
"I know because the group had been trying to hunt down my family for years." He sighs. "We are 'the original' vampires, and therefore the strongest of our kind."
Strongest of our kind. Those words make me sick to my stomach. I've seen and felt how strong vampires can be, but this man in front of me was one- if not the- strongest of them all?
I clutch my handbag. I had slipped my protection crystal into it earlier.
"Your father had an interest in me in particular." He downs the last mouthful of wine in his glass. "Because I am the first ever hybrid."
Hybrid... the word sounded familiar. I think back to the books I had read. A hybrid is a creature who is half werewolf-half vampire.
"He hunted me down for years, trying desperately to kill me." He smiled. "But in the end, he lost."
Anger bubbles in my chest and I unconsciously grab him by his tie.
"It was you who killed my father, wasn't it?" I hiss.
He laughs in response and it aggravates me even more.
"I will kill you..." I spat. "Even if it's the last thing I ever do.
"What a naive little girl." He suddenly wraps his hand around my throat, pulling my face close to his.
"Do you see everybody in this room?" He snickers. "They are all hybrids of my creation... try anything and they will tear you to shreds."
"Let... me go..." I struggle to speak as his grip on my esophagus tightens and he lifts my body up off of the floor.
I instinctively take the wine glass in my hand and smash the top on a nearby window sill. I grasp the stem of the glass and force it into Klaus's abdomen.
He lets me go and I fall to the floor, landing on my tail bone. He growls, twisting the glass from his stomach.
"Cheeky one, arnt you?" His expression becomes dark.
He snaps his fingers and the whole room falls into a deafening silence.
Everybody turns to face us and my heart stops.
"Kill her."
The words barely leave his lips before all of the people in the ballroom begin to tear out of their clothing, morphing into wolves infront of my eyes.
Why did I do that!? I'm such an idiot! I don't have time to beat myself up before the animals lunge toward me bearing teeth.
I scramble to get up off of the floor and somebody stands between me and the mob. It's Tyler.
"W-what are you...?"
"Morgan, RUN!" He shouts before turning into a wolf by my feet. Tyler is a hybrid!? I cant afford to process my shock.
All of the exits were blocked so I end up throwing myself through the window beside me. The glass stings my skin as I roll on the ground. I do not waste any time getting up again as I can see the wolves squeeze through the hole I had made in the glass.
The tightness of the fitted dress around my thighs made it difficult to run. I dig my nails into the seam and tear the fabric apart to allow myself more leg room. Luckily when I had gotten changed earlier I had kept my white sneakers on, so running is almost effortless. I've learnt a lot since my last 'vampire-in-the-woods' encounter.
My handbag was weighing me down, I need to toss it. I open it to remove the crystal but to my horror, it is broken. I must have landed in it when I rolled out the window.
I feel like my soul has left my body when i realize...i'm as good as dead.
***this fanfic is mainly fluff, so there is no sexual content if you are of young age, but there are talks of drug abuse, suicide, violence, gore, etc. That some may find triggering. So please read at your own risk.***
Chapter Five: Vampires
I brace myself but the pain only lasts a second. He pulls away from me quickly in a violent coughing fit.
"...vervain..." He chokes.
Vervain... I think about the tea I had earlier, one of its main ingredients was vervain for its sedative properties.
"What... a bitch..." He holds his throat in agony.
I take this moment of weakness as an opportunity to run for my life.
I hobble and limp as I run, my ankle still throbbed but the adrenaline that rushed through my veins helped me to endure it.
I don't even know which way I'm supposed to be going... I just need to get as far away as possible.
After running for a few minutes I stop and take a breather. Between all of the blood I was losing from my throat and the pain in my foot I felt as if I could pass out at any moment.
I lean myself back against a tree, or what I thought was a tree, until I hear a whisper in my ear.
"I gave you a head start but you still weren't much of a challenge... disappointing."
I try to run again but he wraps his arms under my armpits.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't end you right now?"
"Let me go!" I squirm. "If I'm not back to the cabin the others will come looking for me!"
"When? In the morning when they sober up?" He chuckles.
"Actually..." He loosens his grip. "I will let you go."
I pull away and turn to face him, he's smiling mischievously.
"Run back to your cabin and let everybody know that vampires exist." He laughs. "Just see who believes you."
Vampires.... vampires! I need to go warn the others!
I start to walk.
"Wrong direction, genius." He grabs me by my shoulder and turns me around.
Thats embarassing... maybe I should have just let him kill me.
It didn't take me long to get back to the cabin, if I had screamed loud enough they probably would have heard me.
There was no longer anybody on the deck, they must have gone inside.
I open the door and do a head count. Caroline, Bonnie, and Matt are laying back on the couch.
"Where are Stephan an Elena?" I ask in a panic.
"Oh Morgan, you're back." Bonnie smiles.
"Where'd you go?" Matt enquires.
"Where's Stephan and Elena!?" I repeat myself.
"Chill, they just went to bed together... What happened to your neck?" Caroline looks confused.
I don't even answer her question before storming into the bedroom. Stephan and Elena sat on the edge of the bed, absorbed in a passionate kiss.
"Get away from her, you monster!" My shouting frightens them.
"What are you saying?" Stephan asks. He notices the wound on my neck and his face falls pale.
"Don't act dumb. I know what you are!" I pull him up off of the bed by his shirt collar. I am small, but piss me off and I'll destroy you.
"Morgan, calm down. Let's talk about this." Stephan's eyes look desperate. "Where did you go? What happened?"
"You know what happened!" I hiss. "Damon happened..."
His eyes widen.
"That is your brother's name, isn't it? The person you were calling in the street?" I start to see red.
"Morgan..." Elena stands up. "Just breathe... allow him to explain."
"I can't just breathe...I...I..." suddenly my sight starts to close in around me and my ears begin to ring.
I feel Stephan catch me as I fall to my knees and I black out.
***
I wake up in a quiet, white room. Where... am I?
The walls were completely empty aside from a window and television. I look up to see an entanglement of cords above my head and a heart monitor that was clipped to my finger. I'm in a hospital.
I reach up to feel my neck, it had cotton taped to it and my ankle had been bandaged. Someone must have called an ambulance after I passed out.
I hear to door creek open. It was Stephan.
"Thank god you're awake." He walks over and sits on the bed beside me. "I've been waiting... I owe you an explanation."
"That you do..." I cross my arms.
He sighs, resting a hand on my arm.
"As you know, me and Damon are vampires..." He squeezes me reassuringly. "But we are not the same."
"What do you mean?" I dont understand how. They both had that same demonic look it their eyes. Like savage animals.
"First of all, I should let you know that we can read minds." He chuckles. "And I am not a demon or a savage animal."
"I knew it!" I exclaim.
"Vampires need blood to survive... but not necessarily human blood." He continues. "I get all of my blood from wild animals, I haven't had human blood in years."
"So if vampires can survive on animal blood, why would any of them hurt humans?" I'm genuinely curious.
"Animal blood isn't as 'good' for vampires as human blood... vampires that drink human blood are a lot more powerful then one's who don't."
"Then why don't you drink human blood? Is it a moral thing?"
"Yes, I guess you could say that." He nods. "Also, it's easy for a vampire to lose their humanity."
I tilt my head in confusion and he explains.
"If a vampire loses their humanity they no longer look at people as people, just as food... in your words, like a savage animal." He grins.
"All I want is to fit into human society. To meet people and make friends and act like a normal person... or as normal as I can be... because I'm desperate to keep that humanity. That's what makes me and Damon different, and that's why I want nothing to do with him." He lets go of my arm. "Any more questions?"
"What other cool stuff can you do? You know, besides reading minds and stuff."
It was scary to find out that something as dangerous and unknown as vampires roam the earth but it was also very interesting to know that the worlds possibilities could be so limitless.
"Let me think..." He rubs his chin. "We can run super fast, have super human strength, and can glamor- or control people by looking into their eyes."
"That's sounds pretty rad." I can't help but think of how amazing that would be.
"There are a lot of downsides to being a vampire too, though. Aside from the whole blood drinking part we also have a lot of weaknesses."
"Like vervain?"
He is taken aback by my small sliver of knowledge.
"How do you know that?" He raises an eyebrow.
"When Damon tried to eat me in the woods he started to choke and mentioned vervain. Then I remembered I had vervain in the tea I had earlier." I sigh. "If I had had alcohol like I planned originally I would have been screwed up the wazoo. But that incident on the road really scared me, I didn't want to impaire myself."
"I was wondering how you made it out alive, Damon is very powerful."
"But it wasn't necessarily the vervain that saved me, it just gave me a second chance... He caught me again afterward and decided to let me go."
"Just to screw with me..." He furrows his brows in thought.
"What is all of that about anyway? He mentioned something about 'an eternity of suffering?'" I can't help but ask.
"I think I've said enough for tonight..." He sighs and gets up. "You rest up for the remainder of the night, the doctor said you should be good to leave in the morning."
And with that being said he leaves.
I really hope I didn't upset him. I didn't mean to pry so much but I can't help but be intrigued.
I wonder if I'll be able to rest with all of this newfound knowledge... I close my eyes once again and to my suprise I do just that.
Chapter Six: Easy Money
I was finally home again.
Somebody had brought my luggage up from the cabin and laid it in my porch for me.
The last thing I expected on my mini vacation was to end up in the hospital. I'm just not meant to catch a break.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket and I pull it out to check it.
It's a text from my manager.
"Hey Morgan, I know it's your day off but one of the girls quit and we're slammed. Im not working the bar alone. I need you here ASAP."
I roll my eyes. I can't stand her.
"Alright. Be there in a few."
As much as I'd like to tell her to screw off I've already missed a few days of work and I can't afford to let any more shifts go.
I carefully make my way up the stairs- my ankle was still kind of janky. I take a quick shower and throw on my uniform before heading to work.
She was right, the bar was packed. I notice there is a row of motorcycles parked in the front lot. Oh joy.
Sometimes we'll get a group of bikers or truckers visit the bar for a cheap drink and it is always a terrible time. They treat you like shit and never leave a tip. The thought makes me want to vomit.
I walk in to my manager frantically handing out drinks. It looks good on her. She loved to boss others around but never did any of the dirty work.
"Morgan, thank God you're here. I can't take much more." She hands me the drink that she had partially mixed. "I need a cigarette."
She pushes past me, heading out the back door. Her smoke breaks were always painfully long.
"Hey! Anybody work here or what?" A man shouts.
I pull on my apron and start to serve all of the men at the bar one by one. I was quick and I always handled a crowd well, although I hated every minute of it.
As I serve the last beer my manager comes back from her break, how convenient for her. I walk back behind the bar and lean on it, desperate to give my ankle a spell.
"Morgan, you get paid to work not laze around." My manager crosses her arms.
"But I've got everybody served." I retort.
"That doesn't mean there's no work to do. Sweep or clean the counter tops, there is always something to do." She heads toward her office. "Now that its slowing down I'm going to go do some paperwork. Keep busy, I'll be watching."
I pick up a cloth and start cleaning some glasses. I would love nothing more then to slap her in her stupid face right now.
"Then why don't you do it?"
I hear a voice at the bar beside me, to my shock- it was Damon once again.
I heart skipped a beat. Who does he think he is showing his face infront of me after what he did?
"Stay out of my head." I know now for a fact he can read my mind and that makes me angry. "What are you even doing here!?"
"I just decided to stop by for another glass of bourbon." He grins.
"That's bullshit."
"Alright, alright." He chuckles. "I came to see you."
"You came, you saw, now you leave." I growl.
He completely ignores me.
"Seeings as your here and not in a padded room im assuming last night went well?" He smirks.
"You've got balls showing your face around here after trying to..." I whisper. "Kill me."
"Well, now that the vervain is out of your system I figured I'd finish the job." He grabs me by my arm. "Right here, right now."
"You wouldn't dare hurt me in public. This bar is packed."
"Sweetheart, I'm not worried about witnesses... every lowlife in this bar could drop like a fly if I felt like it."
I pull my arm away.
"Don't you have any other girls to torture? Why me?" I hiss.
"I could have any woman i want..." He rests his chin on his hands. "But something about getting under your skin brings me an immense amount of pleasure."
I grip tightly onto the glass in my hand, debating whether or not I should crack it over his head.
"Stop talking to your boyfriend, your on the clock and there are people that need refills." My manager comes out from her office and snaps at me.
"He's not my boyfriend!"I grit my teeth.
"Yes, I'm not." Damon chimes in. "But I am a very dissatisfied customer. Are you the manager?"
"Yes I am." She puts her hands on her hips, approaching us. "What seems to be the problem?"
Damon stands up and leans across the bar, staring intently into her eyes.
"What's you're name, Mrs. Manager?" He asks, not breaking eye contact.
"Liza." She answers. She looks almost in a zombie-like state.
"Well, dear Liza..." Damon continues. "I think you should work the bar alone tonight."
"I can't-" before she is able to finish speaking Damon puts a finger up to his lips and she immediately shuts up. I notice had has a ring with a blue stone on it like the one Stephan wore.
"Yes you can, and you will." He grins. "Because your cute little bartender is leaving with me."
"No way!" I step in. "I can't afford to lose another shift. If I'm behind on anymore rent I'm going to lose my house."
Damon picks up my tip cup and lays it infront of my manager.
"All of the money you make tonight will go in this cup, understand?"
She nods in approval and my jaw drops.
"Perfect!" He finally breaks eye contact and my manager rushes to man the bar. It was outstanding, but also pretty scary.
"Come!" He spoke to me like a dog. How irritating.
"Why should I go anywhere with you?"
"Well, you can come willingly or I'll make you as I did your manager. Your choice." He smirks and extends a hand toward me.
I groan and take it.
"Fine, but you better not try anything stupid. I have vervain on me and I'm not afraid to use it."
"Ooo, I'm so scared." He giggles and drags me out of the bar.
"What is your deal anyway?" I inquire as we walk down the sidewalk.
"When you've been alive for so long your life gets a little... boring..." He shrugs. "You gotta figure out some way to spice it up."
"Why don't you just pick up a hobby like a normal person." I cross my arms.
"That's lame." He changes the subject. "So what do you like to do besides work?"
I'm unsure of what to say, his interest in me takes me off guard.
"I don't know... I like to read sometimes."
"What do you read, anything good?"
"Not really." I love reading fantasy novels, they have always been an escape for me. My favorite being the 'Twilight' Series by Stephanie Meyer.
"You like Twilight?" He bursts into laughter.
"I told you to stay out of my head!" All of my blood rushes to my cheeks and I feel like jumping into traffic.
"Those books are total BS. They make vampires sound like pansies."
"I think the're good!" I retort.
"Ah, you must be one of those 'hopeless romantics'." He uses finger quotes as he speaks.
"I have standards, that's all." I huff.
"Do I meet those standards?" He looks at me and I furrow my brows.
"Obviously not."
"Hmm..." he scratches his chin. "I guess I'll have to change that."
We fall silent for a second and something comes to mind.
"So why are you and Stephan able to walk out in the sunlight?"
He seems lost in thought but my question brings him back into the moment.
"What, am I not sparkling enough for you?" He jokes and I frown.
"I'm serious. I want to know."
He smiles, my interest seems to excite him.
"In short, we can't." He sighs. "If we go out into the sunlight without a special item -enchanted by a witch- we would burst into flames in a second."
Enchanted item...
"It's the rings, isn't it?"
He is surprised by my bluntness.
"How'd you know?"
"Well both you and Stephan wear one, and you've made it quite obvious that they arnt friendship rings."
"You're pretty keen." He teases."Most women I meet are too blinded by my devilish good looks to notice such small things."
"Mmhm." I nod sarcasticly.
"So where are we going anyway?" I can't help but ask.
"I dont know yet." He tilts his head in thought. "Perhaps we can get something to eat, I know you like food."
"What do you mean by that?" I snort.
"Well I did watch you devour a whole pie in seconds."
"You saw that!?"
"Yep. I went to the picnic to bug Stephan but I ended up staying for the show."
My face becomes flushed once again and I cover my cheeks with my hands.
"I know the perfect place."
He looks down at my injured ankle, I must have been walking to slow for his liking.
"Let's go!" He wraps an arm around my waist and we are gone before I am able to blink.
Chapter Seven: Mystic Grill
I open my eyes and we are already there... 'The Mystic Grill'.
In spite of it being such a popular hang out in town I've never been there before. Mainly because I was too chicken to go in and eat by myself.
Damon gives me a pat on the back and I notice I had been gripping tightly onto his jacket. He grins as I let go and straighten it out for him. Why I'm so awkward I'll never know.
I take in my surroundings as we go inside. It was nothing spectacular but also a huge step up from the dump I work in. It was quiet, we were the only ones here... which was odd but It was a Sunday afternoon.
Damon picks out a booth in the corner and we sit. Vicki walks out of the back and hands us menus. I read through it carefully.
I get a weird feeling and glace over the top of my menu, Damon is staring at me.
"Arnt you going to order anything? Or can you not eat... like, human food?" I try to distract from the uneasiness I felt.
"Obviously!" He laughs. "I just know what I want."
I don't really understand how that works and I try to put two and two together in my mind when I am interrupted by Vicki once again.
"So, what will it be?" She asks.
"I'll have the usual." Damon says and she nods.
"What about you?" She looks in my direction.
"Ummm..." I hadn't really made up my mind. "Suprise me. I'm not picky."
She scribbles something down onto her notepad and walks back onto the kitchen.
"So..." I try to break the tension. "How long are you planning on staying in Mystic Falls?"
"Indefinatly." He replies matter-of-factly.
"So you've decided to stay?" I scoff. "I'm sure Stefan will appreciate that."
"He doesn't have much of a say in it." He leans back, resting his arms on the back of the booth. "By rights his house is also mine, and he couldn't kick me out if he wanted to. He's not strong enough."
I want to ask why he and Stefan are always butting heads but I remeber Stefan's reaction at the hospital and decide to leave it alone.
Vicki comes back, laying our drinks infront of us and walking into the back again. I examine my glass.
Is this?... I sniff it. It is. It's an old fashioned. I wrinkle my nose.
"What's wrong?" Damon chuckles.
"Isn't it a bit early for bourbon?" I don't think my stomach could take it, I haven't even had breakfast. But I guess I did ask for a suprise.
"Thats mine." He laughs, taking the glass of soda infront of him and switching it.
Ugh, he must have a strong stomach... of course he does... he eats people for Christ's sake. I had almost forgot.
Vicki brings out the food. Infront of me she lays a burger and a basket of fries. Damon has a small, extremely undercooked looking sirloin steak with a salad.
I take a bite, it's one of the best burgers I've had. I watch Damon cut into his with a fork and knife, he looks much more civil then I do.
"How is it?" He asks before shoving his fork into his mouth.
"It's really good." I catch myself speaking with my mouth full and cover it with my hand, he just grins at me.
As I finish the last bite of my food the jukebox plays its last song and the bar falls silent. Damon is still eating.
"I'm going to put on some music, any requests?" I stand up from the table.
"Any Nirvana?"
I nod and make my way over to the jukebox. I reach into my apron and grab a couple of coins to buy some credits.
I flip through the songs, eventually settling on 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. I can't help but dance-or at least try to- and sing along. I love music. Sometimes Ill sing and play my father's old Gibson when I'm home alone.
"Was not expecting dinner with a show." He giggles and I continue, feeding into it.
I pretend as if I am singing infront of a crowd... that is a dream of mine, To preform infront of people with my old guitar.
"With the lights out, it's less dangerous!
Here we are now, entertain us!
I feel stupid and contagious!
Here we are now, entertain us!~"
Damon pushes his plate aside and gets up from the table, joining me on the small dance floor.
We get lost in the music. Laughing and dancing together in the empty bar. It was like time had stopped, like we were the only two people on earth.
He wraps his hands around my waist and we sway together. He leans in and our foreheads touch. I can't help but get lost in his blue eyes.
He starts to close the gap between us until...
"AHHHH!"
We hear a scream from the kitchen and run to check it out.
As we swing open the door we see Vicki drenched in blood and shaking like a leaf. At her feet lay the cook, blood gushing from his neck.
My face falls pale and I begin to feel nauseous. My burger starts to toss in my stomach.
"I killed him, Damon! I didn't mean to! I couldn't control myself!" She grabs Damon in desperation.
"Stop freaking out!" Damon snaps at her.
My mind suddenly shifts to the memory of my mother's bloody corpse laying in the ditch. I throw up all of my dinner into a nearby trashcan.
"Damn it Vicki!" Damon growls. "Pull yourself together and clean this shit up!"
He pulls me out of the trash and leads me out of the kitchen, sitting me down onto a bar stool. I lay my head on the cool marble bar, trying desperately not to pass out.
Damon goes behind the bar, pouring me up a glass of ginger ale. I take it from him and try to force it down.
"I knew I shouldn't have came... I knew it." I whine.
I hear the chime of the door bell and somebody walks into the restaurant. Its Stefan and Elena.
They immediately notice us at the bar.
"What's going on here?" Stefan asks as they approach us.
"She just had a few too many drinks. It's fine." Damon lies through his teeth.
Stefan gives him a death glare.
"I thought I told you to leave her alone." He whispers angrily across the counter.
"It's not fair!" Damon whispers back. "You can be with Elena, but when I like somebody it's a whole ordeal!"
Wait... he likes me? He has quite the way of showing it.
Vicki suddenly runs out of the kitchen in a panic.
"I don't know where to put the body! It won't fit in the walk in!"
The others stand in shock at the horrific scene.
"Vicki!?" Elena chimes in. "I thought you were dead!?"
Dead? I hadn't heard about Vicki dying.
"Yes Damon. I thought she was dead." Stefan hisses.
"She was... but I gave her the gift of a new life. You can't hound me for that."
"You can't just sire anybody Damon! She obviously can't control herself."
Sire... what does that mean?
"When a vampire turns somebody they form a 'sire bond' with their creator." Stefan answers my thoughts. "Basically making a slave."
"She's fiiinnee." Damon shrugs. "One mistake is not enough to condemn somebody."
"I don't deserve to live!" Vicki starts to cry. "I'm a savage!"
She proceeds to list off the number of people she had killed in the last day on both hands and Damon's face falls cold.
"Please... kill me." She begs, a desperate look in her eyes.
Without hesitation Stefan picks up a bar stool, snapping off one of its legs. He then proceeds to stab her through the heart.
She gasps and her skin begins to turn gray. She falls to the floor with a loud thump. I hold my breath, why am I constantly surrounded by death lately?
Everybody seems to know so much about this vampire thing while I am still in the dark. So far I've learned that their weaknesses are vervain and stabbing in the heart. I make a mental note incase the need to defend myself ever arises.
"Why did you do that!?" Damon shouts.
"Because, Damon, not everybody likes being a monster like us." Stephan retorts. "They should have the right to choose."
"Where was that attitude centuries ago, huh?" Damon punches Stefan across his face. "You didn't give me the right to choose!"
Damon grits his teeth, grabbing me forcefully by the arm.
"Let's get out of here." He drags me out of the bar in a rage.
I wonder... is that why he hates Stefan so much?
Chapter Eight: Reminisce
Damon grits his teeth, I can see the whites of his eyes darken.
"Go home." His voice is firm, he doesn't look at me when he speaks.
"What? Why?" I step infront of him. "What's the matter?"
"I'm pissed off!" He hisses, clenching his fists.
"You need to calm down..." I squeeze his hands reassuringly. "If you wanna talk about it, maybe you'll feel better?"
"There is nothing to talk about!" He pulls his hands away forcefully. "Now go home. Before I do something I'm going to regret."
Blue veins begin to form around his eyes like before... but this time it was different.
He is angry. When I looked into his eyes I didn't see the same person I saw minutes before. It frightens me. Is this what it looks like to lose your humanity?
"GO!"
This time i listen and run.
***
It's been days since that moment. I hadn't seen Damon since. It was odd, I was kind of getting used to him bugging me.
My mind cant help but wander as i sit in the waiting room of the funeral home. I recieved a phone call this afternoon to pick up my mother's ashes.
I didn't bother to have a funeral of any type. I cleaned out my bank account just getting her cremated and nobody would come to her funeral anyway... everybody always looked down on her.
I take my mother's urn in both arms, it was a lot heavier then I had expected. On the way out I pass though a room full of caskets.
"Hey, Morgan!" I hear a familiar voice.
It's Tyler Lockwood. I groan. We had dated for a few months but I broke up with him a couple of weeks ago. We were nothing alike and He was always so pushy, even though we were together it made me uncomfortable.
He looks at the urn in my arms.
"I heard about your mother... I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks..." I sigh. "So what brings you here, of all places?"
"My mother died the other day..." He bit his lip. "Another animal attack..."
"Oh... I'm sorry."
"Yeah..." He snickers. "I guess now we have something in common."
Ah, what a tasteless joke.
"I should get going." I turn to leave, already tired of this conversation.
"That looks heavy. Here, let me help you." He tries to take the urn from my arms but I step away.
"I'm good."
"Well... at least let me give you a ride home. It wont be easy walking home with that."
As much as I loathed the thought I agreed. He was right, I would die if I fell and broke it on the way home. Plus, I'd look like more of a looney than I already am.
He opens the door for me and I get into the passenger seat, laying the urn on my lap.
The car ride was quiet. I look down at my feet the whole time, I didn't want to look at him some type of way and give him the wrong idea.
"Morgan..." He breaks the silence. "I know we're not on the best terms, but you know I care about you right?"
"Yeah I guess..." I finally look up. Was he actually being sincere?
"Why?" I can't help but to ask.
"I heard some rumors going around that you've been hanging out with Damon Salvatore."
"Not really. He came to see me at the bar a couple of times and we went out to eat..." I furrow my brows. "Why does that concern you anyway? Do i need your permission to see other people?"
"It's not that your seeing other people Morgan, its the fact that it's Damon that concerns me."
"Why, exactly?" I snap.
"Because..." He parks the car in my driveway, turning to face me. His facial expression was serious.
"Because I know he's a vampire... and I know he killed my mother."
My jaw falls open. I think back to the rage in Damon's eyes the last time I had seen him. I don't like the thought of it but I know it's very likely.
"How do you know for sure?" I ask.
"One minute I saw my mother talking to him, the next she was dead. It's pretty obvious." There was a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
"I don't want to lose you too, Morgan." He pleads. "Please... stay away from him... promise me?"
My mind starts to race. I don't know how to feel. Should I be afraid? Is Tyler right? I don't know what to say.
"Thanks for the ride." Is all I can muster.
I can hear him pull out of the driveway as I enter the house. I look down at the urn in my hands and all of my emotions come bubbling to the surface. Just when I think I have healed I want to cry for my mother once again. She was not the best mother but at least she would have listened.
I lay the urn down on the coffee table and dig through the VHS tapes in my old TV stand. When I was little- when my family was normal- we would always sit and watch movies together.
My mother was one of the sweetest, most selfless people you could ever meet. That was until my father walked out on us when I was 9 years old. She started drinking more... then eventually the alcohol was not enough and she started doing drugs. Her body got so used to it that she was so busy trying to chase that high that she forgot that anybody or anything else existed in this world... including me.
It is hard to lose a loved one... but it is even harder when you watch them slowly deteriorate infront of your eyes.
I pick out 'Beauty and The Beast' and slide it into the VCR. It was my favorite, I had always wanted to be princess Belle when I grew up.
I chuckle at my stupid childhood ambitions and slump back onto the sofa. I pick up my mother's urn and cradle it in my arms as I watch the dated box TV.
My house was like a time capsule. The floral wallpaper, popcorn ceiling and my grandmother's musty sofa... nothing had changed since that day my father left.
I wonder-where ever he is- if he ever thinks about me? Or maybe he's dead? Perhaps he and my mother are together on the other side.
I sigh. What has my life come to? Am I seriously loosing my mind?
Parts 1-4 of my fanfiction. (Look on my page for parts 5-16)
Synopsis:
Morgan Beckford had it all...Her hair a firey red, her eyes a jade green, and her body that of a super model. What more could a girl in her 20s desire? Post-secondary education? A normal family? A job that doesn't make you want to kill yourself after every shift? All she ever wanted was an escape, a way out of the darkness that surrounded her. Until one day she was approached by a handsome stranger and she realized...he is exactly what she had been searching for.
***this fanfic is mainly fluff, so there is no sexual content if you are of young age, but there are talks of drug abuse, suicide, violence, gore, etc. That some may find triggering. So please read at your own risk.***
***This fanfic is based loosely on the Vampire Diaries show/books, but does not follow the same storyline. Although it uses the shows characters (none of which I claim the rights to), besides Morgan and her family, which are a product of my own creation.***
I'm not the greatest writer, but I hope you enjoy joy nonetheless ❤
Chapter 1: Alone
"Hey red, my glass is empty!" The drunken man bangs his glass against the bar.
I work at a small dive bar in Mystic Falls. I absolutely dispise my job. The only people that come here are low-life drunkards.
I sigh and slide another glass across the bar, I really should have cut him off 3 drinks ago but im desperate for money and he tips well.
I glance at the time, the clock reads "1:30am". The end of my shift was drawing near, the bar closed at 2:00am.
I hate working so many late nights, but I need the hours and nobody else wants the shifts. Most of my co-workers had families to run home to; kids, parents, significant others.
Me... I have only my mother, although I am more of a mother to her than the other way around. She is a "woman of the night" and an addict. If she was not passed out on the couch when I got home in the morning, she was blowing up my phone with calls and text messages asking for money.
The thought of what I would have to face when I got home crossed my mind and I pour myself up a shot.
Perhaps I'll get a hotel room, I really don't want to deal tonight. I ponder the idea.
"Fuck my life..." I groan before taking the shot.
"You're not supposed to drink on the job, you know." I hear a joking voice.
A man with dark hair and striking blue eyes sits at the bar infront of me. There is no way I could have missed him, but I swear he was not there a second ago.
I shake it off.
"If you were me you'd drink too." I chuckle. "What can I get you to drink? A beer?"
"Your finest bourbon, please." He grins.
I look through the open bottles that line the back counter, there was none. Probably because I've never had anybody ask for it before.
I find a bottle of cheap bourbon in the back of the cupboard. He gives me a repulsed look as I wipe the dust from the bottle before cracking it open.
"Aged to perfection." I make a sarcastic remark before pouring it into a glass and laying it infront of him. What else did he expect in a shit hole like this?
He swirls it around in the glass before downing it.
"Want another?" I ask.
"What, are you trying to poison me?" He snickers. "That is the worst thing I have ever tasted."
"Well, obviously you didn't walk into a place like this expecting top tier service." I take his glass and lay it into the sink. He was well kept and nicely dressed in a fitted leather jacket. He stuck out like a sore thumb amongst all of the run down regulars that sat across the bar.
"So what brings you here?" I was genuinely curious.
"I decided to drop into town to visit my brother, we haven't seen each other in years." He has a mischievous look in his eye.
"But he didn't appreciate it at all- just kicked me out..." He continued. "Teenagers, am I right?"
It was funny to me, he looked almost pleased at his brother's dismissal.
"Who is your brother, perhaps I know him?" I don't socialize much, but I have lived in this town my whole life.
"Stephan Salvatore."
"Ah, yeah I know of him." I mainly know what I've hear from Caroline, we know each other well because of the countless times her mother -the sheriff- has dragged my high mother home. She really loves to talk, even though I've been out of school for 3 years now she makes sure to fill me in on all of the petty drama.
"But I haven't heard anything about him having a brother." I tilt my head in thought.
"Typical." He scoffs. "There are a lot of things he neglects to tell people."
The clock chimes as it hits 2:00am, people leave an some are escorted out as I make the last call.
He gets up, looking tiffed.
"I need to go blow off some steam." He bites his lip. "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again."
I nod and he shoots me a wave as he leaves. I realize I forgot to ask his name. I'll have to ask Caroline.
I wipe down the bar and clean the dishes. I shut off all of the lights before checking all of the doors and locking up.
I only live down the street so I always walk home, between bills and rent I could only dream of affording a vehicle.
I pull a small can of pepper spray from my purse. There have been reports all over the news the last couple of days about people dying or being hospitalized because of violent animal attacks, and I am not prepared to be one of them.
I feel a coolness run down my cheek, it is beginning to rain. I stop and pull the hood of my jacket up over my head. As I do so an uneasy feeling washes over me, like I am being watched from behind.
I look around, nothing. I listen carefully to every step I make. I am alone, But I am unable to shake the feeling that I am not.
My house is at the end of the street but it feels like I'm not getting any closer. Once it creeps into sight I start to run, attempting to close the gap faster.
Until I trip, landing on my hands and knees. The flats that I had worn to work were not meant for running in.
I rub my hands together to remove any gravel that had scuffed them. I turn over my palms, they looked dark in the moonlight.
I pull my phone out of my purse and use its flashlight to examine my hands... they are covered in blood! I know I didn't fall that hard.
I use the light to look down at the pavement and, to my utter shock, I had been kneeling in a puddle of blood.
I scream and jump to my feet. Who's blood was this!? I look up toward my house, it was only minutes away. I want so badly to just run the rest of the way home, go to bed and pretend this hadn't happened. But I have too much of a conscience for that, if my loved one had been attacked I would want to know.
Beside the puddle of blood there were marks as if the body had been dragged into the ditch, what kind of animal is strong enough to do that? I follow the path of blood and step down into the hole, I can see the silhouette of a person laying at the bottom of it.
The last thing I imagined I'd be doing tonight is seeing a dead body for the first time. My heart races and I hold my breath.
As I dial the number of the police department I shine my flashlight onto the corpses face, and staring back at me -pale and lifeless...
My mother.
"Mystic Falls Sheriff's department, what is your emergency?"
I try to speak, but no words leave my lips.
My mother's face was distressed, as if her final moments were a struggle. Blood pooled in her hair as it gushed from the large gash in her neck.
"Hello?"
Tears begin to roll down my chin and I gasp for air.
"Elizabeth...? It's Morgan... my mom...has been attacked by an animal."
"Where are you?"
"Just down the street... from home." It took me a moment to answer, I was having trouble collecting my thoughts.
"We'll be right there."
The phone hangs up and I rest a hand on my mother's cold cheek.
"I know we fought a lot. And I know I always called you a nuisance and said i wished you were dead...But I didn't expect you to go this way..." I whisper. "I thought you would just fall asleep and not wake up...peacefully... not like this."
Minutes later I see the red and blue lights reflect in my mother's glassy eyes. The police had arrived.
And the realization hit me...
Now I have no one... I'm all alone.
Chapter 2: Mourning
My alarm rings and I sit up in my bed. I was unable to sleep at all last night. The painful memory of sitting in the rain watching as the paramedics carried my mother away in a white bag, haunts me still.
I wrap my arms around my legs, pulling my knees into my chest. I glance at my cellphone that lay on my nightstand, still stained with blood. I was told I would get a call when the autopsy was complete, but I knew that knowing my mother's cause of death would not bring her back to me.
I had an unread text message, it was from my boss. I pick up my phone and open it.
"Morgan, I just heard what happened to your mother. You have my condolences. Don't worry about coming into work today, I've got you covered."
I sigh. I appreciate the sentiment, but I can't afford to miss a day of work. It just makes me more anxious.
I toss the phone across my bed. My pink sheets had been soiled with mud and smears of blood. I felt so crappy last night I didn't even bother to shower before crawling into bed. I should do that now, I need to relax.
I tear the comforter off of my bed and shove it into the washing machine before making my way to the bathroom, I want to erase every trace of that dreadful night.
I remove my musty uniform and step into the shower. My body still held a chill from standing in cool rain, I could feel the tension leaving my muscles as the hot water runs down over my skin.
I watch the murky water trickle down the drain and lose myself in thought.
I've always taken care of myself, so I should be fine on my own. The only thing that has changed is I don't have to care for my mother anymore, if you think about it...it's a relief... a weight off my shoulders... it's kind of a blessing in disguise, isn't it?
I smack myself on my cheeks, snapping myself back into the present. It's cruel of me to think that way.
I finish up and step out, wrapping myself in a towel. As i dry and style my hair and apply my usual winged eyeliner I inspect my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a firey ginger and my eyes a sage green. My skin was milky and almost translucent, smooth like a porcelain doll. My father left when I was a little girl but I can remeber he had the same red hair and pale skin.
My green eyes... I can thank my mother for those. As that thought crosses my mind so does the image of my mother's glassy, lifeless eyes.
I turn away from the mirror in horror and dig through the clothing in my dresser. What should I wear today?
I pick out a ruched off-the-shoulder top with a pink floral print and some high wasted skinny jeans. I pull on some tan coloured booties to complete the outfit. I pose in the long mirror that hung on the back of my bedroom door and give myself a nod of approval. Cute.
As I make my way down the stairs my doorbell rings. I peek through the sidelite to see who it was. It was Caroline. She notices me and waves with a silly grin.
I groan and open the door.
"Good morning Morgan! How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing alright." I shrug.
"I brought you a casserole!" She hands me a glass dish wrapped in foil.
Ah...Funeral potatoes. Just what I wanted to eat for the next week.
"Thank you." I smile weakly.
"I also came to ask you something!" She clasps her hands together, her smile broadening.
"There is a town picnic going on later, me and my friends are going! You should come too!" She continues.
"-Oh, no it's fine. I wouldn't want to intrude." I cut her off. The last thing I want is a pity invite.
"No you wouldn't be! Not at all!" She frowns. "Please!"
"Alright." I exhale in defeat and she bounces giddily.
"Perfect! Ill text you the deets!" She waves as she steps off of the porch.
I close the door behind her with my foot and lay the casserole in the refrigerator. What in the world am I supposed to do at a picnic with a bunch of highschoolers? Chaperone?
I read about the picnic in the newspaper the other day. There will be live music and food and socializing... not really my thing... besides the food, I could eat like a horse.
I hear the washing machine shut off upstairs and I remove my sheets. They looked practically new. I make my way out onto the back porch and hang them out onto the line to dry. It was a nice day, the breeze was warm and the sun peeked through the clouds. A lot different from the bitterness of the night before.
As I hang the last sheet I can feel my phone vibrating in my back pocket, i take its out to check it. It's the coroner. I hold my breath and put the phone up to my ear.
"H-hello?"
"Hello Miss. Beckford. We've completed your mother's autopsy."
"And...?" I clench my jaw.
"The lesions on her body match those of the other people that have passed recently. She was attacked by the same animal."
Even though it was exactly what I had expected to hear, it still shocked me.
"Oddly the animal went straight for the jugular vein. It did a lot of damage, so she likely bled out quickly. Within minutes."
I swallow, I was beginning to feel nauseous.
"Thank you...bye." I choke on the words as I hang up.
I don't understand... all of these deaths...the're so similar but they cannot find the animal responsible.
I stare at my phone, trying to put all of the pieces together when I recieve a text from Caroline.
"We're on our way to the park now, come on over when you get the chance!"
I should probably head on over. This may be the distraction that I need right now.
***
The park was full of life. People sit to picnic tables and on blankets in the grass. Voices can be heard making cheery conversation in every direction. A band plays country music on a small make-shift stage decorated in balloons and streamers.
As I walk through the crowd I look around for a familiar face. I notice people are staring at me and whispering gossip back-and-forth to each other.
When your mother is the town druggie you get used to being the center of attention but this time it was different.
"Hey Morgan! Over here~!" Caroline shouts in a sing-song voice.
I see her and her friends sat in a circle on the ground, I walk over to join them.
I scan their faces, there was Elena Gilbert and Bonnie Bennet- I've met them before, they were Caroline's best friends. Beside them was Mat Donovan, I've met him as well since his sister and my mother both shared the same 'illness'.
Beside him a strange face, but a very good looking face I might add. He had brown hair, dark eyes and a strong jawline. I've never seen him before, i should introduce myself.
Before I could speak- as if he had read my mind-he introduces himself first.
"My name is Stephan, Stephan Salvatore." He smiles, his teeth perfectly in line.
"My name is Morgan." I reply as I sit beside him.
"That is a unique name... are you perhaps named after the artist? Or the actor?" His eyes light up with curiosity.
"The Rum, actually." I chuckle.
He laughs as if I were telling a joke but I was 100 percent serious.
"I heard about last night... I'm very sorry for your loss." He rests a hand on my arm. "I know how it feels to lose a mother... if you need anything, I'm here."
"Thank you." I grin. "That means a lot."
I look down at his hand, he had a ring with a blue stone on his finger.
"So, how is work going?" Caroline intervenes, a tinge of jealousy in her voice
"Same old-same old." I sigh. "Same place-Same drunks-same cheap booze."
"Although-" I catch myself. "I did meet your brother, Stephan."
"You have a brother?" Caroline's eyes widen.
"When!?" Stephan snaps, completely ignoring Caroline. His smile turns into concern.
"Last night. He came in just before close." I rub my chin. "I never got his name though, what is it?"
Stephan quickly stands up, clenching his fists.
"Sorry... I have to go." He furrows his brows. "It was nice meeting you, Morgan, even for a moment."
He left in a bit of a panic. Why the sudden change in attitude?
"Wh-what was that about?" I scratch my head.
"I don't know..." Bonnie replies. "He's been acting really weird since the animal attacks started."
"I guess he is just on edge." Elena adds. "His brother seems to be a sore spot for him."
"I wouldn't worry about it." Matt opens a picnic basket, pulling out a pie and some plates. "Let's just enjoy the picnic."
Everybody grabs a plate as Caroline cuts into the pie.
Cherry, my favorite.
Chapter Three: Always Watching
I finish the last bite of my pie, laying my pate onto the ground beside me. It was really good, just the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness but I couldn't really enjoy it.
I kept getting this uneasy feeling; the same feeling I felt last night, of being watched. I look around but I am no longer being stared at by others...my 15 seconds of fame were over. So why couldn't I shake this feeling?
The cheerful country music is interrupted a screech of the microphone. Everybody stops what they are doing and looks toward the stage.
"The town council would like to thank everybody for coming to this event on this beautiful day." Elizabeth spoke into the mic and everyone listened intently.
"We've got a plethora of festivities planned for today, the first being..." as she speaks a couple of men lay out a table onto the stage. "An eating contest!"
The men begin to stack sandwiches, pies, and hot dogs onto the table.
"Any volunteers?" Elizabeth asks and the crowd falls silent.
"Whoever wins gets a weekend stay at a beautiful cabin in the woods. Fully equipped with a hot tub and a breathtaking view!" Elizabeth speaks like she is on the price is right. "Curtosy of the Lockwood family! Any takers?"
"Oh my God! We need that!" Caroline claps excitedly. "We can get some booze, chill in the hot tub, it'll be so much fun!"
"Which one of us would compete?" Elena speaks.
"What about Matt? He's a big guy." Bonnie answers.
"I think Morgan should." Matt grins at me and I shoot him a look of bewilderment.
"Why me!?"
"Well..." He laughs. "You totally devoured that piece if pie, what's a few more?"
I look down at our plates, confused. Mine was empty while the others had only taken a few fork-fulls of theirs. I can feel the blood rise to my cheeks, I'm such a glutton.
"And I bet you wouldn't gain a pound. That's not fair!" Caroline chimes in.
I see Vicki Donnovan -Matt's sister- make her way up to the stage. She probably wants to win the prize so her and her friends can go get high.
I think for a moment... I could probably take her.
"Fine." I stand up. "I'll do it!"
A vacation would benefit me right now, another moment alone in my house and I'll fall into insanity.
I make my way up onto the stage, sitting at the long table beside Vicki. I examine the heap of food infront of me... I'm probably going to regret this.
"Three... two... one... GO!" Elizabeth starts a timer and I see Vicki in the corner of my eye cramming her cheeks full of hot dogs.
I do the same. I see Elena, Bonnie, Matt and Caroline cheering me on from below as I struggle to chew. There must be a faster way.
I take one of the pies and dig into it with my hands, shoveling it into my mouth. Globs of pie filling run down my chin and arms, I'm really making a spectacle of myself.
The timer has almost run out, and that uneasy feeling washes over me once again. A large crow pitches onto one of the streamers that decorate the stage. It stares at me intently, I can't help but feel uncomfortable.
*BRRIINNGG!*
"Time is up!" Elizabeth shouts. "Let's tally the scores!"
A couple of men come and begin the count the amount of food I had left over but I cannot take my eyes off of the strange bird. It met my gaze, unwavering.
"Aaannndd the winner is...!" Elizabeth pauses before lifting me by my wrist. "Morgan!"
The crowd claps and I shake the mess from my hands. Somebody hands me a towel and I wipe myself clean as I head back down to the blanket where I sat.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Bonnie exclaims.
"You almost lost it though, what happened to you at the last minute?" Matt enquires.
"I was just distracted. Did you see that crow?"
"No?"
"It kept staring at me, it made me feel really weird." I glance back up at the stage and the bird is gone.
"It probably just wanted what you were eating." Matt reassures me.
"Ooo~ I can't wait! Morgan!" Caroline grabs me by my shoulder. "You're in charge of the booze, since your the only one of age and all."
"Alright." I sigh.
"We should ask Stephan to come too!" Elena suggests.
"That's a good idea! Ill ask him!" Caroline's eyes light up.
"It's settled then." I smile genuinely for the first time in days. "We'll leave tonight."
***
I toss my suitcase onto the floor, planning my outfits for the next couple of days on my bed. I fold them neatly and stuff them inside my bag.
I take out a separate duffel bag and fill it with the few cases of beer that I had picked up from the gas station as I walked home from the picnic earlier that day. I'm not much of a beer drinker, so I shove a couple bottles of cheap vodka my mother had in the cupboard in there as well.
I hear a car horn outside of my window. I take a bag in each hand and run out the door. Parked in my driveway was a beautiful red Porsche, it was antique but in immaculate condition.
The trunk pops and I lay my bags inside, I notice the car only rides two people. I open the door and get in.
"Where are the others?" I ask Stephan, who sat in the driver's seat.
"The're riding with Caroline, there wasn't enough room for all of us in the one car."
"Ahh... makes sense." I nod.
I bet Caroline is having an aneurysm right now, knowing that she could have been alone with Stephan if I had a vehicle.
"This is a beautiful car." I run my fingers along the dash.
"It's been passed down through my family. It means the world to me." He replies, keeping his eyes on the road.
"I can tell... it's very well taken care of."
Of course it was given to him, there is no way a boy his age could afford such an expensive vehicle.
"So you just moved here recently?" I try to keep conversation.
"Yes, I lived here a while ago but my family was a military family. We moved around a lot."
I catch the word "was" and want to ask more, but remeber how he mentioned that he had also lost a mother and decide not to pry.
"Are you alright?" He interrupts my train of thought with a sudden question. "Nothing weird has happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, I'm just worried about you."
I stopped breathing for a moment. why would he be worried about me?
"I'm just worried about your mental health, with everything that's happened to you recently." He answered me before I had the chance to speak. He has done that a couple of times now.
"No... I'm alright."
"Are you sure?" He turns to look at me, I can see the genuine concern in his eyes.
"Yes. I'm sure..." I smile. "I really appreciate you asking, though."
He is so sweet. Good looks and the personality to match, I can understand why he is so popular.
He directs his eyes back toward the road and suddenly... bang!
The car swerves off of the edge of the pavement, my heart races.
"What just happened!?"
I follow Stephan's gaze and I see the silhouette of a person standing on the yellow line.
Stephan opens the door and I go to get out as well but he grabs me by the arm.
"Stay in the car..."
"But.."
"Morgan.." He pleads. "I need you to stay in the car... and lock the doors when I get out, understand?"
I nod. I didn't really but I listened anyway.
Stephan exits the car and I lock the door behind him, what is going on?
The person that stood in the road was now gone. I see Stephan shouting something into the air.
I roll down the window a crack, listening carefully to what Stephan is saying.
"Damon... Damon I know it's you!" He hollers. "Stop messing around!"
Damon... who is that?
I see a shadow in my peripheral vision and before I get a chance to turn my head the window shatters.
I scream at the top of my lungs and Stephan is at the door in almost an instant. In a panic I unlock the door for him and he gets inside.
The tires make a deafening screech as he drives away at an alarming speed.
What the hell?
Chapter Four: Cabin In The Woods
The next few minutes were complete silence. I could probably hear a tree fall in the woods if I listened hard enough.
I wanted to say something but I was unsure of what to say, I was still traumatized.
Stephan kept his eyes facing away from me the whole time, tightly clenching his jaw.
When we finally get to the cabin the others had already arrived.
"What took you so long?" Matt asks as he carries the girls luggage into the cabin.
"Everything is fine, we just went off the road." Stephan speaks for the both of us.
"Your hurt." Elena points to my arm.
I hadn't noticed my right arm was peppered with small shards of glass.
"Shoot..." I wipe away some of the blood that dripped down my forearm.
"Oh god! We got to get you wrapped up!" Caroline places an arm around my back and pushes me up onto the porch and the others follow.
I turn to glace back at Stephan and notice that his face was not normal. The whites of his eyes had turned red and blue veins had begun to form around them.
He notices my gaze and looks away, pretending to rub his eyes with his hands. I start to feel sick, something strange is going on and I don't know what it is... but I'm going to find out.
Caroline sits me down on the couch and Elena runs out of the bathroom with a first-aid kit.
"Guys, it's not that serious." I chuckle.
Bonnie gets some tweezers from the first aid kit and picks the glass from my arm. It didn't hurt that bad but it's was not all sunshine and roses either.
She wipes my arm clean with an alcohol towelette and wraps it in bandage.
"There, good as new!" She pats me on my leg, pleased with herself.
"Now... time to calm your nerves!" Caroline had already sifted through my alcohol bag.
She passes the beers around, everybody takes one but when she holds one in my direction I can't help but decline.
"No thanks... I'm good." I shake my head.
"Why not!? You got to loosen up a bit!" Caroline whines.
As I said before, there is something dangerous going on and I can't allow myself to let my guard down.
"It's ok, I'm the oldest so I should watch out for you guys." The sick feeling rises in my stomach once again. "You guys enjoy yourselves."
"Alright..." she groans. "Suit yourself."
***
Its only a matter of time before one beer turns to two, turns to three.
Caroline, Matt and Bonnie had stripped down to their undergarments and hopped into the hot tub. Stephan and Elena laughed together, leaning against the rail of the deck. They looked so cute together.
I decide to pour myself up a cup of tea. There was a special tea that my father always gave me as a child to help me sleep, you know... before he left me. I always keep a couple of bags in my purse incase I need something to calm my nerves... and I well needed it tonight.
I sit on an adirondack chair and sip on my tea as I watch the others. The night air fell cool, making the warmth of my drink so much more enjoyable. The sky was clear but not a single star could be seen in it, Just the moon shining brightly in its full glory.
My eyes start to feel heavy, this tea really works... That- and the fact that I haven't slept in the last 48 hours.
I lay my empty teacup on the small glass patio table and scratch at the bandage on my arm, I know I shouldn't but everybody is too dunk to notice.
My eyes burn and I slowly begin to doze off until I am jolted awake by a raspy 'caw' in my ear. I look toward the source of the sound only to see a dreaded crow perched on a tree just a few feet away.
It looks like the same bird that watched me at the picnic but it couldn't be, could it?
No... I shake my head. All crows look basically the same, I'm just over thinking it.
I ignore it and continue to pick at the bandage on my arm, falling back into sleep. Perhaps i should head to bed, although sleeping under the stars could be ni-*CAW*
The bird interrupts my train of thought.
"Shut up!" I holler at it and its replies by being louder and more consistent with its racket.
I push myself up out of my slump and head toward the stairs.
"Mmmorgan?" Caroline's words slur. "Wh...where are you going?"
"Not far..." I growl. "There is a bird I need to kill."
"Alright... have fun." She lowers herself into the hot tub, not really heeding what I had said.
I walk around the deck toward the tree and grab a stone on the way.
"Get lost!" I fling the rock at it with all of my might and it flies off of the branch, perching itself onto the ground by my feet nonchalantly.
I pull my foot back to kick it and it takes off towards the trees, almost urging me to follow it.
I look up at the others, they hadn't even noticed my absence. They won't notice if I'm gone for a few extra minutes... the curiosity gets the best of me and I follow the bird into the forest.
***
The laughter fades as I get deeper within the trees. The warmth of my tea had begun to fade and I shiver with the chill.
I'm lead to a clearing and suddenly the crow makes a sharp upward turn, flying up above the trees and out of sight.
"Stupid bird... I followed you for no reason." I wrap myself into a hug, bracing myself from the cold.
I turn back in the direction I came from but the cabin is no longer in view. I'm lost.
"Damn it!" I moan. "Leave it to me."
I start to walk. If I wander around enough I should find my way back... hopefully.
I hear a cracking in the woods and stop immediately in my tracks. I had almost forgotten about all of the animal attack as of late... and about my mother's death.
The sound of rustling leaves begins to follow me and I start to run. The pressure in my chest feels like my heart is going to explode. My lungs ache with every breath.
The heel of my boot gets caught in the root of a tree and I fall to my knees. Tears stream down my face. I can't die like this!
I tug at my boot and it comes loose. I try to stand but a pain shoots up my leg and I wince. Fuck.
I hear the creature approach me from behind and I pick up a stick to defend myself. I swing the stick violently as I turn around to face it.
My mouth falls open, in the moonlight I can see that it is not an animal but in fact... Stephan's brother?
He had caught the stick in his hand before I had the chance to whack him with it.
"Wh-wha-wha..." I can't form a sentence. What is he doing out here? In the middle of nowhere?
"Wh-wha-wha" he mocks me, a childish grin on his face.
He stoops down to my level, the stark blueness of his eyes is both beautiful and haunting in the darkness.
"I'm mainly here to mess with Stephan." He laughs, answering my thoughts. "I promised him an eternity of suffering and I am a man of my word."
"Buuut..." He continues. "I figured I'd treat myself in the process... i deserve it."
I cant describe the way i feel right now. It was a mixture of shock and bewilderment.
He grabs me by my arm, pressing his face against my bandages.
"You smell so goooood..." He leans his face toward mine and I scoot back to open the gap. "I hear red heads taste spicy... like that cinnamon candy you get in a box... what's it called?"
"Red Hots." Of course the first words I can get out are irrelevant.
"Yes! I love those!"
Then it hits me, taste!? He's talking about eating me!?
"Get away from me! You're a psycho!" I scream.
"All of the best people are." He didn't seem phased at all by my panic.
He grabs me by both of my shoulders, I try to squirm but I am unable to move. I look into his eyes as the whites begin to fade to red. Veins travel down his cheeks and he opens his jaw to reveal two long, sharp canine teeth.
I remeber what Stephan's face looked like and I suddenly put all of the pieces together.
He bites into my neck and my body tenses. It hurts like a bitch.
Animal attacks... but not animals... people that eat people... what are they? No wonder the police couldn't figure it out...
Parts 1-4 of my (ongoing) fan fiction. It is completely written in first-person because in this case the OC, Lila, is you. Im not the best writer but i hope you enjoy it, nonetheless.
Synopsis:
Lila Dupres is a long time resident of Woodsboro and a survivor of the Woodsboro massacres. After graduating high school she takes residence at Windsor College, determined to get a degree in theatre so she may follow her dreams of becoming a horror movie makeup artist/prop maker.
But it is only a matter of time before the slasher follows her, wedging a knife into her plans.
Will she live to graduate?
(Based loosely on the events of Scream 1+2)
***TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains themes that some may find offensive/triggering, such as alcohol and drug use, physical and sexual assault, death, self harm, suicide, violence and gore. Read at your own risk.***
***I do not claim any rights to the scream franchise or any of its characters. This is a fanfiction, so it does include characters and a story line of my own creation.***
Cover:
Act I
I kick the door of the trailer open with my foot and the sickly scent of weed hits me like a brick wall. I could never get used to it.
Arms full of grocery bags, I make my way to the kitchen area and drop them onto the cupboard with a bang.
My father sits up from his position on the couch, a joint between his lips.
"Ah Lila, Baby! You're back." He grins. "What's for dinner tonight?"
"Stir-fry rice." I reply in a monotone voice, pulling the ingredients from the paper bags.
"My favorite!" He pats himself on the stomach, slumping back down onto the couch.
I pull a pan out of the drawer and pour the rice into it, I bought the pre-cooked stuff because I really hadn't felt like boiling it tonight.
I always cooked for my father, not only did i refuse to eat the blackened food he always prepaired, but it gave me something to do during the day. I didnt really have many friends here in Woodsboro and I haven't gone out much since all of the killings had occurred a couple of years back.
The only reason I was making his favorite today was because I felt guilty. I had some very hard news to break and I thought it best to do it over a enjoyable meal- my father's heart is in his stomach, after all.
As I stir the bagged vegetables into the mix I stare at the small box television in the living room. My father was watching Psycho, his favorite horror film who's name I got from the main protagonist. He was a huge horror fan.
Surrounded by his favorite things, this would make the perfect opportunity to break the news.
I slide the finished Stir-fry onto some paper plates- I really didn't feel like doing dishes today- and carrying them to the couch.
My dad happily takes a plate, snuffing out his joint and using his round stomach as a table to eat. This is how most of our evenings went.
I lay my plate on my lap, turning my food over with a plastic fork. I examine my father, trying to gage his mood. He was a big man, with long stringy black hair and a disscheveled beard to match. He kept it out of his face with a paisley bandana tied around his forehead.
"Is something the matter, baby?" My father shoots me a look of concern.
"There is something I really need to talk to you about..." I mutter as I shove a forkfull of food in my mouth.
"What is it? You know you can tell me anything..." He sits up straight, laying his plate of food on the small make-shift coffee table.
"Are you gay? Because you know I'll love you either way right?" He lays a reassuring hand my on shoulder.
"No-no... that's not it..." I shake my head.
I look into his eyes, they are slightly blood shot but I know he is listening intently.
"I'm leaving..." I hold my breath, waiting for his reaction.
"What? Why? Where?" My father bombards me with questions.
"You know how I was saving up for college but I couldn't afford it?" I bite my lip. "Well mom agreed to put me through. I'll have to live on campus."
"Of course!" He rolled his eyes. "Your mother always has to step in a one-up me. I'll always be a failure of a parent."
My mother and father were separated. For years it was a constant battle between the two on who I had preferred to live with. It was always my father, because my mom was too much of a priss for me to handle. All she cared about was appearances and money- which she has a lot of. Whereas my father had always accepted me as I am and I could never ask for anything more.
Plus, I couldn't stand my mother's new husband. Just the thought of him sent a shiver up my spine.
"No, your not!" I wrap my arms around him in a tight hug. "You're not a perfect parent, but you've done more for me then she ever will."
Tears begin to roll down my father's cheeks and I wipe them away with my fingers.
"Do it..." He smiles. "Go make something of yourself, don't let me hold you back..."
"I dont want you to end up a dead-beat like me... playing guitar at a shitty dive bar down the road." He kisses my forehead. "You wanted to major in theatre arts right? So you can become a makeup artist and prop designer?"
I nod my head, he really does listen.
"Then go do it and rock it. You're going to blow through those classes like a piece of cake." He points to the movie that played on the television. "Any one day you're artwork will be on the big screen and I'll be able to look up and say: 'see that badass monster? My baby girl made that'."
As he speaks I can feel tears well up in my eyes. This was not the devastated reaction I had expected.
"But will you be okay... without me?" I ask.
"Probably not- but I'll manage." He jokes, letting me out of his embrace.
"I love you dad." I smile.
"I love you too." He smiles back at me. "Now go pack your things!"
He gives me a loving pat on the back as I run excitedly toward my room.
I dont have many things to pack, my room was extremely small containing only enough room for a twin sized bed and a small high boy dresser.
I pack my clothes as well as my sketchbooks into a large duffel bag. I was always drawing any chance that I got, doodling different character and prop design ideas- usually horror related ones- they were the most fun to draw because i could let my imagination run wild. Plus, when a character is meant to be ugly the design is a lot more forgiving of your mistakes.
I change into my pj's and jump into bed early, barely able to sleep with the excitement. Tomorrow, I'm off to college!
***
I look at myself in the small bathroom mirror as I brush my teeth. My hair was black like my father's, parted down the side with a blonde money piece I had dyed myself. My skin was pale and I wore my usual makeup look- a grungy black smokey eye and some dark red lipstick.
For clothing I picked out some torn skinny jeans, converse, a holey band t-shirt, a couple of studded belts on my waist and a red plaid button up on top. This was usually my go-to look. Causal but still kind of punky.
My toast pops in the kitchen and I run out to grab it, throwing my duffel bag over my shoulder on the way. As I shove it into my mouth I can hear the taxi outside blowing its horn. I give my dad one final goodbye hug and rush into the taxi.
Windsor college, here I come!
***
The driver shakes me awake, I had fallen to sleep on the way. I thank him and pay before stepping out of the taxi.
The school was huge and surrounded by students all crowding into the entrance. Words cannot describe my enthusiasm. I loved school as it were- I guess you could call me a bit of a nerd- but now going to school for something I was interested in made it so much more enjoyable.
I run to catch up to the crowd and suddenly I hear a voice call out from behind me.
"Hey Lila! What's up!?"
I turn to see who it was, the duffel bag on my shoulder swung and almost knocked a boy off of his feet. I apologized profusely before realizing it was-in fact- Randy Meeks that had called out to me.
He approaches me, Sidney Prescott by his side. He was one of my only friends in Woodsboro, we always had a heated debate every time I would run to the video store to rent another horror movie for my father for the thousandth time. Sometimes we would hang out after school for movie marathons, but our relationship became distant after the Woodsboro massacre. I went outside a lot less once I had graduated highschool.
He pulls me into a tight hug and once he lets go Sidney jumps in for one as well.
"We're going to be going to the same college, that's awesome!" Sidney grins.
"It is!" I clap my hands together. "It makes me feel a lot less nervous to see some familiar faces."
Randy grins, wrapping an arm around mine and Sidneys shoulders. They lead me to the office to get my room key.
"You should go get settled into your dorm, class starts at 8!"
I glance down at my watch, it's 7:40am. I only have 20 minutes. I panic, shouting 'see you later!' Before running like a maniac through the halls. I the last thing I want to do is make a bad impression on my first day.
I run with a bit of a hobble, the large bag weighing down my left shoulder. As I'm about to run out the entrance I run into somebody, almost knocking them over once again.
The impact causes the zipper to burst on my over filled bag and my belongings fall out and slide across the linoleum floor.
"Oh my God! Shit! I'm so sorry!" I apologize for the second time in the last half hour.
I fall to my knees and start haphazardly shoving everything back into my bag. The guy I had hit kneels to my level. He had warm brown hair and dark eyes.
"It's alright. Do you need a hand?" He smiles, his teeth perfectly in line. I would be lying if I said he wasn't attractive.
"No-no it's fine, I got it!" I shove the last thing into my bag before jumping to my feet once again.
"I gotta go!" I shout before turning around on my heels and running in the direction of my dormitory.
When I get to my room I toss my bag onto the unoccupied bed. The other half of the room was organized and cutely decorated. In between both beds was a communal computer and desk that separated our spaces.
I dig into my bag for my pencils and composition books before running back where I had started to attend class.
Act II
Unfortunately I hadnt made it in time. My teacher was not pleased but hopefully I can make up for my tardiness through my work.
I plank myself down in the only empty seat at the front of the class. I could feel everybodies eyes burning holes into the back of my skull.
"Everybody, this is Lila Dupres." The teacher speaks up. "She is our newest student."
I hear unenthusiastic 'hello's from the students around me.
"Before we were rudely interrupted-" the teacher shoots me a angry glare. "We were talking about how what happened in the theatre was a direct result of the movie itself."
"What happened?" I speak before raising my hand.
The teacher shakes his head and Randy speaks up.
"There were two murders at the screening of Stab last night. Maureen Evans and Phil Stevens."
My heart sinks into my stomach.
"Movies are not responsible for our actions. Bottom line." A pretty blonde haired girl chimes in, I later found out her name was Cici.
"Its a classic case of life, imitating art, imitating life." Someone retorts. It's the guy I had run into in the hallway earlier.
The students continue arguing back and forth between each other, the teacher stepping in now and then to highlight a particular point.
I hadnt had much of a chance to process the murders, so the way that they spoke about the deaths so non-chalantly made me a little anxious.
***
I kept quiet for the rest of my classes, scribbling down notes as the teacher said to do so until the bell rings, signaling the start of lunch break.
I grab a tray in the cafeteria. The place was packed. I frantically look around for a place to sit.
"Hey, Lila! Over here!" I hear Randy's voice as he waves me over.
He points to a seat at the end of the table and I sit. There was a couple of people at the table I did not recognize from any of my classes.
"So this is Hallie." Randy points to a beautiful black girl that sat beside him, then begins to introduce everybody around the table.
"This is Derek, Sidney's lover." He teases as he points to a broadly built guy with dark hair.
"Well, you know Sidney of course." He laughs.
"And this is-" before Randy is able to finish the guy butts in.
"Mickey- Mickey Altieri." He introduces himself. It's the boy from my class I had run into earlier that day. He extends his hand over the table and I shake it.
"It's nice to meet you all." I smile, shoveling a fork full of my mashed potatoes into my mouth. It was extremely bland.
"So Randy said you like scary movies?" Mickey tries to make conversation and I nod.
"She's named after the character from Psycho, isn't that cool?" Randy intercepts. "Her father is a horror lover as well."
Mickey smiles, wrinkles forming around his eyes.
"So what's your favorite?" He asks.
"Definately 'A Nightmare on Elm Street.'" My eyes light up, any excuse to talk about that movie gets me pumped. He notices this and keeps the conversation going.
"Which one?" He grins.
For the rest of lunch period we talk horror with the occasional comment from Randy. I throughly enjoy it.
As I throw away my trash and get up to leave, he grabs me by the arm.
"There's a party tonight, are you going?" He asks enthusiastically.
"Oh no, probably not." I sigh. "Today is only my first day, I dont really know anybody here."
"I think you should, it's a great way to meet people." He grins. "And I'll be there... it'll be fun."
"Hmm..." I bite the inside of my cheek. "Alright."
He gives me all of the details and leaves with a smug expression.
***
After classes are over I head back to my dorm room to get my homework done, party or not I was not slacking on my grades.
When I get back my roommate is there, I hadn't met her yet. She sits at the desk, scratching something down in her notebook.
"Hey, my name is Lila." I introduce myself and she peers up at me.
Her hair was platinum blonde and pin straight. She wore a skimpy tank top with her belly button showing and a short tennis skirt.
She gives me a look of disgust, her eyes rolling back in her head.
"Of course I'm stuck with you." She groans. What a bitch.
She goes back to writing, completely ignoring me.
"Do you mind if I use the desk?" I ask politely.
"Are you blind? I'm using it." She spat.
"Yes but I need to use the computer, can't you write somewhere else?"
She snaps her textbook closed, shoving it under her shoulder and jumping to her feet.
"Whatever. I didn't want to be here with you anyway." She leaves in a huff.
What is her problem? I shake my head and sit down to the desk, the seat was still warm. I turn on the computer and begin to type, I had to write a movie script for film class.
As I finish the last couple of paragraphs the sun ducks underneath the horizon and my room is only filled with the light of the computer monitor. I almost forgot I had a party to attend.
I turn on the lights and turn off the computer, making sure to save my project so all of my progress would not be lost. I spent way too much time planning every detail to lose it.
I change my outfit, putting on a slim fit purple velvet dress with spaghetti straps. I swap my dark lipstick for some gloss and roll some scented body glitter across my collarbone. I pull on some strappy heels for a final touch. I'm about to be the hottest girl at that party.
I exit my dorm and try to recall the name of the sorority house I was going to. All of them had names with strange Greek letters... beta-zeta-omega-lambda... I couldn't remeber.
The breeze was cool and crisp for an August night. I listen carefully for the sound of people or music, but all I can hear is the sound of my heels clicking against the pavement.
Alpha-delta-gamma... ok, this is starting to piss me off now.
I see a shadowy black figure move in the corner of my eye. Perhaps they are leaving the party?
"Hey!" I shout into the air. "Can you help me!?"
The figure turns toward me and my heart stops. Somebody was dressed up in a Ghostface costume. When they saw me they immediately started running into the trees.
I walk in the direction that the costumed person had come from- and sure enough, it lead me right to the party. It was probably some drunk trying to play a sick prank.
The place was filled with flashing disco lights and smoke. People dance together, grinding against each other-drinks in hand. I have to shimmy past a couple making out in the doorway to get to the beer table.
I pop the can and bring it to my lips. I have a problem holding my alcohol, so I don't drink often... but it was a Friday night and I didn't have classes tomorrow... so why the hell not?
'Mr. Vain' By Culture Beat booms on the speakers. I absolutely love this song. I make my way to the dance floor, swaying my hips to the beat.
I dance with my beer in the air, enjoying myself.
Suddenly I feel somebody's arms snake around my waist. I look up over my shoulder, it's a guy from my class who's name I cannot remember. His dark hair- slicked with gel- falls infront of his face as he sways along with me to the music.
As the song changes I turn myself around. His arms move from my waist down onto my hips and we continue to sway. He leans forward, pressing his cheek against mine.
"How about we get out of this place, hmm?" He whispers in my ear. I can smell the alcohol on his breath.
"No thanks. I'm not done dancing yet." I bluntly reject him. He was really good looking but one night stands just arnt my thing.
He doesn't take no for an answer, his hands make their way up the back of my skirt. I shove him away by his chest.
"Stop!" I snap.
"What's the matter? Not a fan of PDA? We can find somewhere more private."
He leans toward me again and I smack him across his face.
"What the fuck!?" He growls. "What's wrong with you!?"
"Youre disgusting. Get out of my sight." I cross my arms.
"Fat bitch. Your lucky anybody even considered sleeping with you."
I'm not fat, but I'm not small either. I'm sort of in the middle- which makes it difficult to shop for clothes.
Regardless, I know my worth.
"Yeah, yeah. Kiss my ass dipshit." I hiss. "Go find another girl to assault."
He gives me a repulsed look before storming off.
I sigh, shaking my can of beer, it was empty. I was not even close to being drunk enough to deal with this shit. That means it's time for another.
I turn to head toward the beer table once again and I run into somebodys chest. It was Mickey.
"You really like running into me, don't you?" He grins as I readjust my nose ring.
"Apparently."
He has a beer in each hand, extending one toward me. I gladly take it.
"I saw you smack the soul out of that dude. What happened?" He laughs.
"He got a little too handsy." I popped the can, taking a sip. "He deserved it."
"He definitely deserved it." He chuckles.
"Do you want to dance?" He jokes. "I promise to keep my hands to myself."
I grin and the song switches to 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' by Wham!. I take him by the hand and pull him out to the center of the dance floor.
We twist together to the music. I start to lip sync along, using my beer can as a microphone. He bursts into laughter, clapping with the beat.
It's the most fun I've had in a while... but it is short lived.
Somebody shouts something into the crowd and everybody starts running from the building in a panic.
"What's going on?" I look around in bewilderment.
"I don't know..." He furrows his brows. "But if everybody is getting out of here we probably should too."
He takes me by the hand and leads me through the crowd. I am getting pushed and shoved from every direction, I press myself as closely as I can into Mickey's back to avoid some of the blow.
When we get outside I take a step back, the fresh air was nice on my flushed face.
"Cici's dead!" Somebody shouts.
"What?" My heart rises into my throat.
"She was just murdered- stabbed and thrown off the balcony of her sorority." Somebody answers my question.
It's happening again... I thought all of this murder stuff was behind me. First the massacre in Woodsboro, now here. Death just likes to follow me around.
I remeber the costumed person I had met earlier, was I really face to face with the killer?
"Lila, are you alright?"
"Huh...?"
"You look like you're going to be sick." Mickey looks at me with concern.
He was right. Between the anxious knots in my stomach and the alcohol I had just downed, I wanted to vomit.
In spite of the news and the fear that surrounded us, he seemed rather calm. Am I just over reacting? Or is he just not normal?
He helped me back to my dorm, I didn't feel safe walking alone and my legs were beginning to feel unsteady.
We part ways at the door and I stumble up to my room. Throwing myself down onto my bed.
I close my eyes. Perhaps I'll wake up tomorrow and realize that this part of the night was all a bad dream. That no murder had actually occurred and the college grounds are perfectly safe.
Right?
Act III
I frighten myself in the mirror this morning. Last nights smokey eye had migrated across my face and my hair had found its way into my lipgloss.
I jump into the shower and clean myself up, I still feel sick but that is no reason to look like a hot mess. I redo my makeup and put on my usual plaid shirt-skinny jean combo.
I make my way down to the cafeteria, grabbing a plate full of cheese scrambled eggs and bacon. Grease is exactly what I need right now.
The eggs were just as bland as the potatoes I had the day before, I'm going to starve in this place.
I knaw at the overcooked bacon, forcing it down my throat with some orange juice. Ugh.
I scrape my tray into the garbage and almost drop it as I hear a blood curdling scream from the kitchen.
I- along with some other students that were in the cafeteria- rush into the back to see what is wrong.
The lunch lady stands in shock by the walk in cooler.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
As I open the door of the cooler something rolls out onto my foot. I look down, it's a severed head with a butchers knife in its skull.
I panic and kick it off of my shoe. It rolls over and reveals it's face to be that of the guy that harassed me at the party last night. His skin was blue from the cold.
I probably shouldn't have looked but curiosity had gotten the best of me. I peek inside the walk in and the boys body lay lifeless against the shelving. He had been cut across his stomach, his intestines spilling out onto his lap. The word 'PIG' had been carved into his chest with a kitchen knife.
I throw up my breakfast into a nearby trashcan, so much for that.
The other students run around frantically in a panic as the lunch lady dials 911.
***
It is not long before the police arrive. They sit me down at one of the lunch tables as they tape off the crime scene.
"Hello, Lila." An officer sits across from me, offering me another plate of breakfast and glass of juice. " I have a few questions."
I stare at the plate and I cannot even fathom trying to eat it. The sausages on the plate make me think of the organs I had just witnessed and I almost puke again.
"Tell me everything that you know." The officer requests.
I tell him exactly what had happened, and more... perhaps too much. I tell him about what had happened at the party last night.
"So your telling me, you have a motive?" The officer raises a brow and my face falls pale.
"What do you mean!?"
"Well isnt it funny how he ended up dead after assaulting you last night, and you just happened to be one of the first people to find his body?"
I start to feel light headed, I could hear my pulse in my ears. Why me? Why me!?
"Your off the hook for now while I question the others, but your still a prime suspect. Do not try to run away or anything stupid." He gives me one last warning before moving to the next table.
I take the glass of oj and walk outside, I need some fresh air. I sit at a bench underneath a tree. Maybe I should have just stayed in Woodsboro.
I feel the bench move beside me, it's Randy.
"Hey Lila, I just heard what happened." He frowns. "Are you doing alright?"
"Just peachy." I sigh, staring down at the juice in my hand.
He wraps an arm around my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze.
"It'll be alright. You'll be alright." He smiles. "I lived through the Woodsboro massacre first hand, and I'm doing great."
"Yeah... but you weren't the prime suspect." I groan, laying my head onto his shoulder.
"Everybodies a suspect in a murder case, you should know that by now." He jokes.
Tears start to run down my cheeks, I didn't even feel them coming but I can't control it.
"I won't survive in jail, Randy." I sniff. "I'm too soft."
I hear a rustling sound behind us, then a voice.
"What's going on?" Mickey shows up out of nowhere, sitting on the bench on the other side of me.
I hadn't heard him approach, where did he come from?
"Lila's a murderer." Randy jokes.
"Shut up Randy! Thats not funny!" I use the back of my hand to wipe away my tears. They were stained black with my eyeliner.
I notice Mickey had a small silver camcorder in his hand, what is he recording?
"Why would they think it was you?" He blinks in astonishment.
"Because apparently I have a motive." I take the last sip of my orange juice, crumbling the cup up in my hands. "It's not fair."
He looks me in my eyes, laying his free hand ontop of mine.
"You'll be fine..." He smiles. "I'm sure of it."
He speaks with so much confidence that I almost believe him. But how can he be so sure?
As if on cue the police walk out of the building with another student in cuffs. The sheriff approaches us at the bench.
"Miss. Dupres, I apologize if I scared you earlier. We've just made an arrest, you're in the clear." He smiles.
"That's his roommate..." Randy points out. "How do you know it's him?"
"We found a ball of hair in the victims fist, matching the hair of his roommate. We also found this when doing a search of their dorm room."
The sheriff holds up a bloodied Ghostface mask and my jaw falls open.
"The blood on this mask also matches that of Casey- or Cici. So we know both of the killings were linked." He tucks the mask under his arm.
"You kids be safe now, alright?" He tips his hat. "And thank you so much for your cooperation, Lila."
The sheriff walks away, hopping into his police car and driving away with the criminal.
"See, you got worried for nothing." Mickey smiles warmly, his hand still ontop of mine.
"Yeah, I didn't doubt you one bit." Randy jests and I dig my elbow into his side.
"I'm still probably never going to get the image of that out of my head. That was grody." I close my eyes, rubbing my forehead as if it would release my memories.
"You watch a lot of horror movies, shouldnt you be accustomed to it?" Mickey asks.
"Seeing it in person is a lot different then in the movies. You wouldn't know." Randy answers him.
"I guess I wouldn't." He bites his lip.
"Hey, Lila." He quickly changes the subject. "Have you written you script for class yet?"
"Yep! It's all done!" I smile from ear to ear. "And its sure to knock the teacher's socks off."
"I'd love to read it." He grins. "If you'd let me."
"Sure!" I sit up from the bench. "I gotta go to my dorm room anyway, I'm starving and I've got a bag of doritos with my name on it."
Mickey laughs and stands up with me but Randy stays seated.
"Don't you want to read it too?"
He looks at me, then over my shoulder at Mickey and then back at me again.
"Maybe some other time..." His voice sounds strained. "I gotta start writing my own today."
"Alright..." I was slightly disappointed.
***
When we get into my dorm room I pull my bag of chips out of my drawer, ploping down into the desk chair.
Mickey sits down on the edge of my bed. He notices my stack of sketchbooks piled up on the floor, I haven't had a chance to pack my things away yet. He picks one up and flicks through the pages.
"Wow..." His eyes widen. "You're really talented, you know that?"
He stops at a particular drawing of a man sitting atop of a pile of body parts that lay below the floorboards.
"What's this one?" He inquires.
"I was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's 'Tell-Tale Heart'. Have you read it?"
"No, what's it about?" He looks genuinely interested.
"It's about a man that murders somebody and hides the body under the floorboards." I explain. "The writer is basically trying to prove their sanity to the reader while simultaneously losing it."
"He is haunted by the guilt and eventually confesses to the police, showing them where the body was hidden."
"But why go through the trouble of hiding it? He would have been better off just confessing from the start, perhaps he wouldn't have lost his mind." Mickey flicks through more of the pages as he speaks.
I shrug, shoving a handful of chips into my mouth.
"Oh...and you're also a fan of ghostface?" He refers to a page covered in sketches of the killer.
"Fan is not the proper word." I turn toward the computer. "I just doodled those while I was watching the news a while back."
"I really like them..." He chuckles. "Could I have this page?"
"Fill your boots." I laugh as I scroll through the files on my desktop.
I hear him gently tear the page out of my sketchbook, laying it back into the pile on the floor.
"That's weird..." I knit my brows.
"What?" He asks, getting up and leaning into the computer to get a better look.
"It's gone!" I panic. "My script is gone! But I know I saved it!"
I scroll up and down through the files multiple times, it's nowhere to be found.
My arms fall limp to my side. I let out a mournful groan before slamming my head down onto the desk.
"It's alright. It's not due until Monday, you've got another day or so to write another one." I can feel the warmth of his hand resting on my back.
"Dude, I have the memory of a goldfish! I can't even remeber half of what I wrote." I shake my head. "I basically have to start from scratch."
"That's ok too." His voice is suddenly much closer to my ear. "I'll help you write it."
I raise my head, his face is only inches away from mine.
"I can't ask you to do that, you've got to worry about your own." I blow.
"I've already got it finished and printed." He chuckles.
I really should have done that too, but I was too concerned with that stupid party. I said I wouldn't allow it to affect my school work but I guess that backfired. That is happening a lot lately.
"Alright... if you really don't mind?"
He sits back down on my bed, up by my pillow so that he has a clear view on the computer monitor.
"Of course not."
Act IV
We work late into the night. To my suprise he was actually quite smart.
Staring at the screen for so long causes a dryness in my eyes that makes it difficult to blink.
Mickey had made himself quite comfortable in my room, laying across my bed on his stomach and watching me type.
"So what kind of ending you thinking?" He poses a question.
"I don't know... as much as I want a happy ending, that's what's expected." I rub my chin. "I want something different that'll take the audience by suprise."
He nods, approving of my idea.
"Maybe-" He is interrupted by the lound bang of my room door swinging open.
My roommate barges in, frustratedly throwing her purse onto her bed. She wore a skimpy plaid two piece set, like somebody from 'Clueless'.
She looks over at us, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"Whats your problem now?" I let my annoyance slip.
"Arnt you gay?" She gives Mickey a looking over before looking back in my direction.
"Why does everybody think that?"
"You give off the vibe." She says matter-of-factly.
"Plus, that dude that they found dead this morning was going around the party last night telling everybody you wouldn't fuck him cuz youre a lesbian." She talks in between chewing her gum, it irritates the hell out of me.
"It's really none of your business." I grumble.
"I'm going to change into my pjs, your creepy ass boyfriend better be gone when I come out." She speaks as if Mickey isn't even there, closing the bathroom door behind her.
"What a bitch." He sits up.
"Yep." I clench my fists. "I've only been staying with her for a couple of days but the urge to smother her in her sleep is immense."
He finds my threats extremely amusing, shooting me a cheeky grin.
"I better get going." He jokes. "They said you weren't the murderer but I don't want to take any chances."
I give him a sarcastic look as he gets up from the bed.
"I really appreciate your help today, i think this one is even better than the last." I get up as well, walking him to the door. "I don't know how to thank you enough."
"Well, there is one way." His eyes are full of intent. "Hang out with me again tomorrow? Ive got a TV in my room, we can watch some movies."
His smile is so perfect, I couldn't say no if I tried.
"Sounds good." I nod.
***
I knock at Mickey's dorm room door, I was a little early because I had decided to run to the convenience store for some snacks beforehand and didn't take as long as I had suspected.
His roommate answers.
"Oh hey, Mickey said you were coming. But he's not here right now."
"Oh, that's fine, I'm a bit early. I'll come back later." I turn to walk away and he stops me.
"You can come on in if you want to. I'm on my way out the door but he's been gone a while so he shouldn't be much longer." He steps aside, motioning for me to enter.
"Make yourself at home." He waves goodbye before shutting the door behind me.
The room had the exact same layout as mine, the only difference is that there was a television mounted on the wall. I could tell which side of the room belonged to who because one side had sports memorabilia and photos of half naked women scattered across the walls, while the other was plastered in horror movie posters.
I lay my shopping bag of snacks down onto the desk and sit down on Mickey's bed.
I quickly jump back up to my feet as I feel something hard underneath me, it's the silver camcorder that he was carrying around the other day.
I grab it then sit back down, flipping open the screen on the side. I wonder if he would be mad if I was a little nosey?
I turn it on and scroll through the files. They started off seemingly normal- animals, flowers, the sunset... but as I scroll I come across a video with a black screen.
I click play and all that can be heard is shuffling... then suddenly a scream and a gun shot. Then the video ends.
What the? I scroll through some more photos before finding another dark video. I click play and it's is hard to make out what is happening.
The camera zooms and my heart sinks into my stomach.
It was me, in my purple velvet dress walking around aimlessly in the dark.
A shiver runs down my spine.
Then it cuts to inside the party. It plays through the whole scene of me dancing with the guy, then hitting him in his face and the video stops.
The next few photos are of me doing various things at different angles on different days, unbeknownst to me.
The camera starts to shake in my hands, I can't watch anymore.
The reality of the situation sets in and my heart feels like it is going to burst. I have to get out of here.
I panic and put the camcorder back where I had found it, straightening out the blanket on the bed.
I run to the door but before I can grab the knob I hear somebody fumbling with their keys on the outside.
Shit.shit.shit!
I jump backwards as he swings open the door and we come face to face.
"Oh, Lila you're here early." He grins.
"Y-yeah... your roommate let me in." I try not to stutter but I'm finding it difficult to breathe.
He shuts the door, holding a stack of movies under his arm.
"I couldn't decide which movie to pick, so I grabbed a bunch." He chuckles, spreading them out onto the desk.
"Which one?" He asks.
I don't answer. I can't, the words won't leave my mouth. He looks at me with concern, resting a hand on my arm.
"Hey, are you alright?" He blinks. "Your shaking... do you need a blanket?"
I want so badly just to run away, to leave. But he is a lot larger than I am and I don't know what he is capable of.
"I am a little cold." I lie through my teeth.
He tells me to sit and I cooperate, I don't plan on arguing. He gets a throw blanket from the closet and gently drapes it around my shoulders.
"How about we watch 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', you said it was your favorite."
"Ok." Is all I can muster.
He slides the VHS into the TV then motions for me to move over. I scoot myself to the side and he lays the snacks I had purchased between us before sitting down on the bed beside me. Being wedged between him and the wall made me slightly uneasy.
I sink into the headboard, cocooning myself into the blanket. I'll be alright, just enjoy the movie...
Eventually it gets to the part where Glen gets pulled through the bed. A smiles slips across my face.
"Is this your favorite part?" Mickey speaks up and it frightens me. Had he been watching me?
"Any part with Johnny Depp in it is my favorite part." I chuckle.
"Ah, I see how it is." He laughs. "Can't blame you though."
My heart finally begins to slow. Mickey is so sweet, their must be an explanation for what I saw. I'll have to ask... I just have to figure out how to bring it up.
After the movie ends he slips the next one into the VCR. I tear open a bag of popcorn and he reaches a hand into it, his other one making its way across my back.
As the last movie comes to and end and the credits roll our gazes meet. His dark eyes sparkle with the reflection of the television.
"You know, I really enjoy your company." He whispers, leaning in as he speaks.
"That's nice..." I reply awkwardly, I know that probably wasn't the most appropriate response.
It doesn't seem to phase him as he closes the gap between us, his lips pressing firmly against mine. My body tenses, I dont know how to react.
He wraps one of his arms around my waist, his other hand brushes gently against my neck.
