Andy

(Authors note: I already posted an update right before this one, so this is the second chapter in one night. Make sure you read that one first! <3)

That evening, me and my parents sat down for some well-needed bonding time and watched a movie together. Andy agreed to approach Ashley about our concerns when he returned, and luckily, about an hour after our conversation, he did. He seemed more mellow, as well... He felt more like the Ashley Andy had descibed to me in the very beginning.

They had gone upstairs for a while, while I spent some time with my parents. We watched The Wizard of Oz, and like Dorothy herself, I have been thrown into a strange world where nothing makes sense, and there are more rules than I could have imagined. Except, unlike Dorothy, I don't have a pair of ruby slippers to get me out of this nightmare.

Nightmare is the best word that I can use to describe this who scenario since this afternoon. I learned that there is far more to worry about than clones of my closest friends and family trying to off me... I now have to worry about invisible beings sneaking into my home in the cover of night, abducting my parents, and killing off Andy and Ashley, and maybe somewhere in the horrific scheme of things, it'd leave me alive to pick up the pieces of a life I was not meant to have... The result of playing with death too long, and tipping the scales of life by falling in love with someone physically unlovable.

When the credits started rolling, Dad got up with a groan and walked towards the kitchen to rinse the popcord bowl and to dispose of our pop cans, which left me and my Mother alone in the living room, listening to the cheerful ending tune of the film.

"Something wrong? You seem kinda keyed up?"

"Elizabeth offered for me to stay with her." I blurt out without thinking about the consequences too much. "Just until I finish school, so I don't have to readjust in California... I told her I'd ask you guys first." I purse my lips awkwardly... There's no easy way to tell your Mother that you don't want to go anywhere with her... And even though that's not the literal translation of my words, she'll undoubtedly twist my words and make a guilt trip out of the whole ordeal.

Confusion crosses her face. In her silence, she tucks a strand of light blonde hair behind her ear and tales a deep breath, "I mean... We hadn't even thought of that. I suppose if you wanted to..." She looks bewildered as she speaks, and I feel kinda bad for proposing the split of our family until next May. I would need them both in my life more than anything during this final year, but they would also need me, too...

"Well, how do you feel about it?" She asks instead of giving me a direct answer. It takes me by surprise... I can't remember the last time my parents asked what i wanted. This whole move, the relocation, and being forced to adapt to a new community would be hard as hell on all of us... But they had never asked what I thought of it.

"I don't know, to be honest..." I admit with a shrug. "California will be quite the adventure, and I want to be on it every step of the way with you guys... But school..." I take a deep breath. "It's taken me long enough to settle in here, let alone shipping myself off to the southern states for a fresh start. You guys get the final say, but I'd be open to staying if it's possible."

"Do you want me to talk to your Father about it?"

"If you wouldn't mind.. We're on strange terms right now, I don't want him to think that I want to stay behind to avoid you guys. That's not it at all... If school wasn't a factor, I'd go."

She laughs quietly, her mind getting off-track as she daydreams of what could be. "Huh, too bad you're not eighteen yet, otherwise you could just stay here at the house and we cold have the neighbors check in on you... Did you say you'd be staying with Elizabeth?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you smacked her last week?" She asks in confusion, "I don't know much about teen relationships, but most kids don't just kiss and makeup after something as traumatic and embarrassing as that happens in their friendship. What changed your mind?"

What did change my mind? It wasn't really Elizabeth or myself who volunteered to salvage the friendship, rather, I just stepped in because she was being abused by Reece... Except she won't admit it to anyone, much less herself.

"We just started talking in the hall the other day and agreed to meet up..." I tell her, then become confused.. "Wait, I already told you this."

She cocks her head to the side, "No, you didn't. What do you mean?"

"I told you the other night about me visiting Elizabeth... I was late home to dinner, because of it, remember?"

Her grey-blue eyes are blank as she stares at me, trying to summon a similar memory to mine, then she shakes her head. "I don't remember that."

Oh no...

"Well, can you at least remember my birthday?" I joke, watching her expression very carefully, waiting to see if it would work...

That blank expression stays on her face, and her smile grows eerie. "Ash, honey, you know I wouldn't forget that."

"I think I might have." I laugh nervously, looking down, playing up the stressed out, forgetful teen for a moment.

She laughs again, but simply refuses to say the date.

"When's my birthday, again? For memory's sake." I smile crookedly at her, and she's still grinning.

I was right...

I pull my crucifix charm from my jacket pocket, I hadn't had the chance to put it back on, yet. I tangle it in front of her, and watch a spark of fear flicker in her eyes, but she remains joyful and professional - something my mother would never do in a serious conversation like this.

The little golden cross spins in circles at the end of the chain, and her hazel eyes become fixed on it.

"Remember when you guys got this for me for my thirteenth birthday?" I ask her quietly, looking at the charm fondly. "You told me it would look after me and protect me from all evil... Turns out you were right."

I narrow my eyes a little, and grab the charm itself, pinching it between my fingers, admiring it fondly. "And you told me whenever I feel scared or worried, all I have to do is say this little prayer... And all my troubles will go away." I raise my eyebrows in wonder, and show her the cross again. "Do you remember the prayer?... It went like this... Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name... Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..." I pause and look at her, seeing that her hands are white knuckle tight on her knees, and she's taking long, exaggerated breaths.

"Don't you remember the rest?" I whisper in a taunting voice.

"N-No." She stutters, staring at the cross.

I raise my voice a fraction "And lead us not into temptation, but deliever us from evil. For thine in the kingdom. The power and the glory, for now and forever... Amen."

Her back arches against the couch cushions and she lets out a scream that only I can hear. Her fingers are stretched and strained, clawing at the arms of the couch to desperately escape the agony. I jump up and watch in numb terror as she peels back from herself, then curls into a little ball, and disappearing entirely.

"Rule number one..." I whisper to myself in a shaky voice. "A liar doesn't have all the answers."

"Are you okay?"

I turn around and my Mom, my real Mom, is leaning around the doorway of the living room, an eyebrow raised at me questioningly. I nod quickly. "I'm fine." I assure her quickly, struggling to pull off a tired, nonchalant attitude as I exit the living room and dart up the staircase to my room. I go straight for Ashley's room and sling his door open, and they're both there. Andy's sitting in the plush white chair by the window and Ashley is sitting leisurely on the bed, ankles crossed. It looks like they were having a pretty relaxing conversation until I showed up.

"We've got a problem." I breathe, looking at them both. It takes all I have to look at Ashley and to consider him an ally instead of a threat.

"What?" Andy asks in confusion, pushing himself up in his chair.

"They're already here."

Notes