*HEEEEEYYYYYYYYY GUUUUUUUUYYYYYYSSSSSS. ISH ANOTHA UPDATE OF TEH CRUEL AND BLUZ.

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QUESTIONS!!:
-What would past you think of present you? (Past me would be terrified of present me. She would raise the cross, mang.)
-For all of you otakus and weeaboos out there, what was your first ever anime?! (I think it might've been Bleach. It's been a loooooong time since then.)

ENJOI TEH CHAPTER EVRY1. (I swear I'm clean.) LaWl.*

Stay Creepy, My Friends!~

Chapter 31

I sniffled and clutched my blanket as I stared at the wall. "I can't believe it..," I murmured sadly and wiped my tearing eyes. I felt utterly speechless and I couldn't comprehend anything right now. "It's over...," I whimpered then sniffled again. My emotions were running wild and I looked at my phone which lay in front of me. "It can't be...," I sobbed slightly and finally my feelings were too much for me to contain and I burst into a wreak of emotions. "Where is season four?!" I exclaimed, "They can't just end it like that!! No, my babies!! My ship!! There's so many questions left unanswered! Does he go to college? What happened to the twins?! WAS HIS UNCLE REALLY DEAD?!? AAAGGHHHH!!!"

I fell across the bed and whined loudly. "This destroyed me," I grumbled and rolled out of bed. "I'm going downstairs to wallow in ice cream," I murmured to myself and stepped out of my room to sulk down the hall and to the stairs. When I made it to the kitchen, I fished out a mug from the cup cabinet and set it on the island counter, along with an ice cream scooper that I pulled from the utensils drawer. I got the tub of ice cream from the freezer and set it down on the counter. "I'm so done with life," I grumbled as I popped the top open and stabbed the scooper into the Neapolitan sweetness. Then I filled the mug with more ice cream than I should eat and put the tub away. "So done," I muttered again as I grabbed a spoon, stabbed my ice cream and ate some chocolate and vanilla together. "Just done," I mumbled past my ice cream.

As I drowned myself in ice cream, I heard the front door open and close. One of my parents must be back from work. I stuck my spoon into the ice cream and left it on the counter to walk out of he kitchen and greet my mother or father. "Okaerinasai," (Welcome home) I chimed happily once I was on the foyer. To my surprise though, instead of one of my parents, I saw...Jack? "What are you doing here," I asked him. I stared at him strangely, not because I didn't expect him (I didn't at all) but because he was wearing a suit. "And why are you dressed like that," I added and motioned to his attire.

He stepped forward and suddenly brought out a blue rose from his coat pocket. I stared at the sweet scented flower and grabbed it gingerly. "Um, Jack," I started and he held out a white gloved hand for me to take. I took it and he suddenly twirled me around. When I stopped, he pulled me close to him and I was pressed against his chest. My heart pounded. "What's going on," I murmured.

"Don't worry," he said, "you'll be fine. You're with me, after all."

"I still don't understand the whole suit thing-."

He twirled me again and I yelped with surprise and giggled a bit with glee. I'll admit that this was fun. "Seriously, the suit is a little too much," I chuckled, "You're too fancy for my shorts and baggy T-shirt."

"Well, let's match then," he said and spun me once again, though he gently let go this time. I slowed and giggled as dizziness hit me for a few seconds. I had this strange feeling though and I looked down at myself. I was...wearing a dress..? "How did this-?"

My surroundings blurred as I twirled and was wrapped into Jack's embrace. "Would you like to trivia dance again," he suggested. I smiled and nodded. Jack step-danced with me and my dress flowed gracefully with my movement, and I felt amazingly light and free. Jack asked, "How many times does the human heart beat per minute?"

I knew this one at the top of my head and I grinned a confident grin. "For adults eighteen years or older, the heart rate is between sixty or one-hundred. For people ages six to fifteen, the normal heart rate is seventy and one-hundred. Usually younger people have faster heart rates than older people!"

"It's nice to hear that you know that so specifically," he complimented, "but do you know my heart rate?"

I thought for a bit but I knew there would be no way for me to know unless I checked with a device. "I don't know," I said.

"Well," he started, "I would estimate it's between sixty and one-hundred, but when I'm around you, it can't help but reach supersonic speed."

Warmth spread over my face as I flashed a bashful smile. Jack continued his questions and asked, "Did you know that you're the most beautiful thing in existence?"

"N-No," I murmured coyly.

"Did you also know that your lips are the sweetest things," Jack asked, leaning in next to my head. I couldn't answer as I was so caught up in his energy and words. Suddenly, the blue masked man dropped me into a smooth dip and I gasped with excitement. Jack whispered in a low and sultry voice and asked, "What can I do to make my beautiful Blue turn red hot with lust?"

I could feel myself quake and I had this strong urge to yank the mask off and take his lips right there. But I knew better and I only stayed in Jack's arms as I swooned. Oh, this is a nice trivia dance.

Jack pulled me back to my feet and held me close to his body. He gently raised my glasses and covered my eyes with his gloved hands. Then, he told me, "I also want to know if you prefer the dance floor, or the bedroom..?" I squeaked and bit my lip. When Jack removed his hands, I found myself in my room. I blinked with confusion and looked down at myself to see I was back in my baggy T-shirt and shorts. I was also straddling Jack's waist as I loomed over him on my bed. He wasn't in the suit anymore and was only wearing his black jeans and black muscle shirt. My blush increased and I shrunk away. This is embarrassing...!

I was about to get off of him when he held my hips with strong yet gentle hands and I shivered. "Don't be so stiff," he said to me in a smooth voice and it made me melt with delight. I relaxed some and watched as his hands caressed my arms until they reached my own and he laced his fingers between mine. He squeezed softly and I smiled sheepishly as I did the same. His hands were not gloved anymore so I could feel how strong and warm they were. His gray skin is so beautiful. I couldn't help but fascinate over his exposed collarbone, broad shoulders and lean, muscular arms. So beautiful.

Jack let go of one of my hands and raised it to my face, tracing his fingers across my cheek and running them through my chestnut brown hair. He gently pulled me down to meet with his head and he whispered, "I have one more question for you."

"What is it," I say, almost breathlessly.

He tightened his grip on me with a benign nature and asked, "Do you want me?"

I nodded and pressed my free hand against his sinewy chest. "I want you," I admitted and felt terribly confound afterwards. I feel like a weirdo admitting it so quickly and clearly like that. He held my chin and his thumb brushed lightly against my bottom lip, making me anticipate. "Then," Jack started, "you shall have me." My heart fluttered with excitement as he raised his mask, though only up to his lips, and leaned into my neck. I stared wide eyed at the bedsheets and blushed as I felt him kiss and suck on my skin. Oh my god...! I could hear him whisper my name into my ear and I couldn't help but give in to him completely. I must've gotten so lost in his words because his voice was starting to waver and fade out.

The next thing I knew I was being shaken awake by Craig and Kayla. I blinked away my sleep and lifted my head from my school desk. The two of them were giving me these strange looks and I smiled. "What's going on," I asked and they suddenly started laughing. I shifted my gaze between them and waited for them to calm down. Everyone else in the classroom stared at our table and I chuckled nervously. Once Craig and Kayla calmed down, Craig wiped his eyes and said, "Ah, that was great."

Kayla giggled and said, "You were out, Ao."

"Yeah, and you had this creepy smile on your face while you were sleeping," Craig snickered.

"You were also giggling like a weirdo," Kayla chuckled, "It was like 'hur, hur, hur'."

Craig burst into laughter again and covered his face as he pounded his fist on the desk. Kayla joined him and I frowned at the two of them. "Whatever, guys," I muttered past a pout.

"What were you dreaming about," Kayla asked me. A blush came over my cheeks and I tried to suppress my thoughts. Craig gasped and leaned in really, really close to me, and he told me, "Oooooh, did Blue Boo have a dirty dream?"

"NO," I exclaimed a little too loudly and a little too sudden.

"Oh my gosh," Kayla sang and leaned in too, "Who was in your dream? Oh! Was it that soccer goalie from my last practice? He had a real nice body."

"No," I said.

"What about the first chair saxophone in jazz-band," Craig asked, "He's pretty handsome!"

"No," I repeated.

"Oh," Kayla said, "what about that substitute teacher for Algebra Two a few days ago? He's got really nice eyes and the most charming smile."

"N-No," I said, growing uncomfortable.

"There's the photographer from the yearbook club," Craig suggested, "He's shy and doesn't talk much but he's the cutest little cupcake, like, my god. He could top ice cream sundaes because he's so damn sweet."

"Not him," I muttered.

Kayla waved her hands in the air and said excitedly, "What about the blonde guy from dance class? The tall one that always wears nice clothes? Oh my gosh, have you seen him move?! That boy can gyrate!"

"He's got the ass for it too," Craig added with a brash grin, "It's gotta be him. I'd dream about him, too. No one can resist the booty."

"Praise the booty," Kayla exclaimed and raised her hands in the air. Everyone turned and stared at us and I hid my face to avoid anyone suspecting I have any part of this.

"N-No, guys I'm not dreaming about those people," I grumbled.

Kayla and Craig stared at me for a bit until my cheerleader friend gasped loudly and said, "Did you dream about a girl?!?"

"Oh my goodness," Craig said and held a hand to his mouth with melodramatic intent. I stared wide eyed at them and blushed insanely. Before I could protest, Kayla blurted out, "Is there something you're not telling us?!"

"What? No, I-."

Craig swooned dramatically and said, "Why must my precious Blue Boo keep such daunting things from me?"

"Craig, I just-."

"It's okay, Ao," Kayla assured me but I only frowned. She gave me a smile and patted Craig's shoulder. "You and Craig can be gay together."

"O-M-G," Craig exclaimed and held my hands, "G-B-Fs!!! Gay buddies forever!! My dream has come true!!"

I yanked my hands out of his and slapped them away as I exclaimed, "I'm not gay, you dingus!"

"Damn," Craig muttered and snapped his fingers.

"You tried," Kayla comforted him and patted his arm sweetly.

I fiddled with one of my braids and said, "I wasn't dreaming about anyone, okay?"

"Then what did you dream about," Craig asked. I bit my lip and started coming up with a lie to say. I can't tell them that I dreamt about Jack. Craig has barely heard of him and Kayla doesn't even know he really exists yet. What should I say that sounds like something I'd say?

"I-I dreamt about," I started slowly, "uh, about...an...anime guy!!!" Craig and Kayla gave me looks and I smiled stupidly. Craig squinted his eyes and asked, "Which one?" Crap!

"Uh, uh," I stammered, "it was...the sexy one."

"Which sexy one," Kayla asked.

"The one that gets all the ladies," I answered.

"So, like, every hot anime guy in existence," Craig said.

I shifted my eyes. "Yeah."

"Geez, Ao," Craig sighed. I only shrugged in response. Thankfully, the teacher saved me from enduring the conversation any further as she asked us to work on another worksheet together in our groups. Everyone was in groups of three and Kayla, Craig and I were a group. The teacher handed us the worksheets and I stared down at mine, already evaluating my answers.

"Hey, Ao," Craig started. I raised my gaze to meet his bronze brown eyes. "You've been acting a bit strange lately," he started, "is something the matter?"

I stared at him for a few moments before putting on a smile and lying, "No everything's okay. I've just been practicing my violin more rigorously, is all." Craig kept looking at me and trying to figure out what was wrong but when he could find nothing he just gave me a smile and started writing on his worksheet.

I wish practicing was the case. To be truthful, I haven't been at my best. I don't mean academically or socially. When it comes to the thoughts crossing my mind and the impact they have on me, that's a different story. It's been a week since I returned from the trip with Jeff. Ben has been giving me updates on Elizabeth's condition and all he ever has to say is the same thing: she's still knocked out. Knowing that I was partly the cause of her situation, I feel guilty. Especially since Jeff still hasn't been all there ever since Elizabeth's return. It pains me to know that he's waiting and wondering over what will happen when she wakes up. I feel like he wants her to come to but then I feel like he's afraid to confront her. I would be too. There's also the ordeal of my seeing Elizabeth's gruesome experience. I've had nightmares about the same scenes over and over, and by now the image of her bleeding arm and the smell of burning flesh have become so familiar to me that I could remember every detail. From the number of blood drops that spill to the pitch of Elizabeth's screaming. And those hands. I still don't know who they belong to and their presence unnerves me. It seems that with every dream they grow paler and bloodier than the last. What tops the whole thing off is Sam's silence.

He still hasn't said a word to me, even after my many attempts to get him to, which involved a lot more pleading than persuading. I feel like I'm in isolation, even if I'm in the middle of a bustling crowd. He hasn't moved anything and he doesn't give off any feeling. Sometimes I wonder if I still have him. The thought of never hearing his voice again always makes tears prickle my eyes. I also have dreams about that moment at the nightclub where things went wrong and the place was trashed. The more I think about it the more I'm certain that I really saw him. Well, somewhat. But, I saw him and I felt his touch, I actually felt him. The fact that it happened makes me long for him to speak up again and give me answers or comfort me. I miss his lullabies too and whenever I wake up in the middle of the night, panting and shaking from a bad dream, I hope for his voice but I'm only greeted with the same silence. Despite all of this though some good things have come out of the trip.

Jack. He's been around over the week and I'm happy for his company. He doesn't talk much and he's grown acquainted with the lounge room which holds a large number of books. He likes to skim through them and I've noticed that he likes to feel the pages. I find it adorable that he does that. What I've noticed though is that he asks me to read aloud more than he reads to himself. He likes to sit and listen to me while I read off of science books and history books and sometimes even the dictionary. I've noticed that he doesn't go for the fictional books, which doesn't bother me but I'm still curious as to why. I haven't asked him yet. Jack also helps me with my homework and he likes to listen to me practice my violin. Though I always grow a bit sad whenever he has to leave because one of my parents comes back, but I always have the next day to look forward to.

"So, Ao," Kayla started as we finished up the worksheet together, "your birthday is coming up in four months. What do you want to do for your sweet sixteenth, huh?"

I smiled and answered, "I'm not even sure that I'll have one of those parties. I might just invite you two and Xavier to some fancy dinner with me and my parents."

"Better than nothing," Craig commented and I agreed.

"I'll figure something out," I said with a light chuckle. Geez, with all that's been going on and with school, I forgot that I would be sixteen soon. I wanted to do something special but not huge like a Sweet Sixteen party. My parents could afford it but I'm not looking to invite a lot of people. I once had a party at the age of thirteen that consisted of Craig, Kayla, a few girls from the cheerleading team that she and I were friendly with, a few friends from my mother's work and a few more friends from TIRACorp that father invited, and as for Xavier things weren't leveled between him and Craig yet. To be honest, it felt more like a business party than my thirteenth birthday. I still had fun but that was mostly with Craig and Kayla and the other girls. So, I'm not looking for a big party, even if I am turning a special age. I don't want to invite anyone who I don't know very well and waste their time. I'll leave things to be mellow.

"Well, whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it'll be amazing," Craig remarked and I smiled at his kind support. I'm sure it will.

...

The school library was quiet with very few students reading or working at the computers, the smell of camomile in the air to relax whoever walked in. Ah, libraries are so enchanting! Nothing but books to pull you into a different life and a different world, to enjoy the escape from reality and unwind. I want to search for a book to check out and read but I was busy at one of the computers, typing up a book report for English class. I kept myself busy by focusing on the words I wanted to say, getting lost within the sound of my fingers rapidly pressing keys. When I came to a block, I stopped and rested my chin on my hand. I thought about what words to say next to make the report formal. While I was staring off into space, my eyes caught the TV screen hanging off of the wall, just above a bookshelf. There were other TVs in here, about four, and all of them showed different channels, all of them being educational of course. The one which was closest to me was presenting a national news program. I stared the screen and figured out what the subject was about, since the TV volume was too low for me to hear a discussion. Something about politics. I sighed.

There hasn't been any word of "Scapegrace" on the news since Jeff, Ben and I found her, which is a good thing. All progression of marked symbols have stopped now but that doesn't mean that people aren't still curious about it. People wonder about the meaning of the symbol and why it has been so widespread. I've even overheard students talking about it, some say it's a gang sign, others say it's art, but if only they knew the real meaning. An image of it all over my skin, flitting from spot to spot came to mind and I brushed it off as best as I could. I looked down at my hands and wondered. Why me? Why do I have it? Jeff said there's supposed to be one proxy, only one, yet Elizabeth and I share the same role. The scarlet hue of the simple symbol frightens me and I'm always paranoid about it acting up again, burning my skin and bringing me pain like it did the first night I discovered it. That symbol was also what made me view Elizabeth's experience, when I touched her wrist, as I have figured out over the week. A lot of things are connected to it and I can't help but pray that a mistake was made and that I shouldn't be directly involved with it. I haven't found a reason to believe that I am, yet there hasn't been a reason to say I'm not.

Thinking about symbols, my mind wandered to Jack. It's been a while since it happened, but I remembered the day when I saw that Ouroboros symbol on his back. Then I remembered the moment that I touched it and was sent into another experience. It was scary seeing my hands, not my hands, being consumed by gray skin and hearing myself, not myself at all, screaming and pleading for help. I thought about Jack's hands, about his gray skin and I knew that I saw his experience, what he went through as a young boy. There is no doubt that it was him. Those two people that I saw, the man and woman, must have been his parents. A "family curse" they called it, a "skin disorder" they said. What sort of disorder is that? I might have to ask my mother or father about something like that. Thinking about Jack's parents, I remembered something else Jeff told me. Jeff said that Jack was homeless for a while. He didn't look homeless in that vision I saw. He had a house, a clean bed, parents. So what happened? Maybe when I see Jack, I'll ask him about it. Then I realized how insensitive and brash that idea was and so I decided against it. Maybe if I can touch the symbol again, I'll receive another vision. Question is, how am I going to do that? Jack would have to be shirtless for me to - oh my. Without noticing, a blush made its way to my cheeks and I tried to think about something else.

The Ouroboros symbol. The proxy symbol. Friggin' symbols. They seem to be something I react to. Why? Asking myself so many questions is getting really tiring. I wish I could just get an answer, just one, and maybe I'll be relieved of some of my pressure. Since I couldn't think for my book report anymore, I opened up the Internet and searched up the Ouroboros symbol. I forgot what it meant so maybe if I check it out I'll be able to understand Jack or his past a little more.

Creation out of destruction. Life out of death. The cyclic Nature of the Universe. Eating its own tail to sustain life. An eternal cycle of renewal. Natural life. Fusion of the opposites. The transcendence of duality. Signifying eternity and the Soul of the World. Resurrection. Rebirth. Release and Liberation. So many meanings. All of them made it hard to associate with Jack. I sighed and held my head in my hands. My brain feels fried.

"Does Sheba need a nice, relaxing massage," I heard someone purr and I froze in my spot. I shot my head up and came nose to nose with a smirking Ben. I screamed out loud and interrupted the peaceful quiet of the library. Ben was coming from the computer I was using, and I stared horrified at him. Quick to react, I slapped my hands on his head and shoved him back into the computer screen. He groaned, "Hey what the fu-!"

"Shush," I hissed quietly and whirled my head around to see if anyone was watching. Too little people and no sort of attention towards me. I can't take chances though. Ben was fighting me but I kept pushing him back. "Come on, let me out," he grumbled. My efforts won and he was shoved back into the screen, sending it into a discolored pixels. The screen was normal but Ben was able to talk through the speakers. "Aw, come on Sheba, let me out!"

"Hush," I scolded and sat back down in my seat. I checked the area again to see if anyone was watching and then leaned in close to the computer. "Why are you here," I whispered.

"I came to see you," his voice buzzed through the speakers.

"I'm in the middle of school," I said, "Please go! You'll get seen and then people will freak out!"

"I just want to tell you to come with me," he said, "Jeff sent me for you and he wants me to take you to a hideout of his."

"Why," I asked.

"He wants to discuss the plan of finding Elizabeth's kidnappers," Ben answered. I stared at the computer screen. "Why me," I murmured, "I don't understand. Why do you guys want my help? I'm just a teenager."

"Yeah, a teenager with an invisible, little helper, who is also the proxy." Ben remarked.

I frowned. "I'm not the proxy," I protested.

"You have the symbol."

"That doesn't mean anything," I grumbled, "I-It's a mistake!"

"The energy of the proxy never makes a mistake," Ben said, "It chooses who will be its vessel. It's predestined."

"It's. A. Mistake," I said clearly.

Ben gave out a sigh, making the speakers buzz, and he said, "Whatever you say, Sheba. Will you come with me?"

"Not now," I whined, "I can't miss the rest of my classes...! I'll meet you somewhere after school."

"Fine. Meet me at the local park, then," he commanded. Without my agreement, he fled and the speakers gave off this soft, high pitched buzz. I sighed, saved my book report onto my personal flash drive and then turned the computer off. This might be a long day.

...

When school ends, I catch a bus to the local park. The drive took about ten minutes, long enough for me to build up concern and paranoia for what will happen when I see Jeff and Elizabeth again. I tried to brush it off but it lingered still, and not even the calming sound of the bus's whirring machinery could ease my nerves. The park came into view and the driver halted the vehicle to a soft stop by the front entrance. "Here you are," he called to me and I got up from my seat. I walked down the aisle, said my thanks to the man and stepped off of the bus. I stood outside on the curb for a while and heard the bus doors hiss to a close and caught the sounds of the tires crunching gravel and asphalt as it cruised away. I took in a deep breath and walked through the park entrance. People walked or jogged, and children laughed and played on the playgrounds. A picnic area was only full of a few people chatting and eating, and I'm guessing there'd be more during the weekend. Birds chirped over head in the trees and the songs of crickets echoed along with them. For the time that I walked along the gravel path, I felt a bit content. I saw a lake up ahead and watched as little kids greeted the waddling ducks with bread and fascination. I usually don't go to the park but judging by how everything is here, I should start. Just as I was growing accustomed to the park, a was snapped out of my trance when someone picked me up off of my feet and spun me around. I yelped and the world around me whirled until my stranger set me down. I was dizzy for a few moments and then looked up to see Ben in his illusion. "What was that for," I murmured as I adjusted my slipping glasses. Ben shrugged and said, "I just wanted to hold your luscious figure for a blissful moment. What a moment it was!"

"Yeah, well if you wanted to keep a low profile around here you just gave yourself away," I said, glancing at the people who turned to see the source of the scream. Ben smirked and gave an easy-going laugh. "Don't worry, we're fine," he said and I believed him. "Walk with me," he said and motioned me forward. We walked alongside each other along the gravel path and listened to the park for a few moments. Ben suddenly started walking backwards and said, "So, what goes on in the wonderful world of Sheba? Jeff told me about what happened when you two got back to your house. Is Jack off his rag yet or nah?"

I managed a grin at Ben's remark and rolled my eyes. "He's fine," I answered, "He was just worried."

"I heard you told him off like a badass," Ben chuckled with a devious grin. I smiled and said, "I didn't tell him off. It was more of a fierce scolding."

"Whether it was a scolding or trash talk, you made Jacky Boy speechless," Ben said, "Jeff was pretty dumbfounded, too."

"Yeah, well, Jacky Boy won't be acting out again anytime soon, I'm sure of it," I commented.

"Oooh," Ben sang, "Someone's a bit dominant, eh?"

"Nope, I'm just a woman," I jested and Ben cackled with amusement.

"Well, if I were Jack, I would never lash out in front of you," he said with a gallant nature, and then gave me a mischievous smirk, "Though I wouldn't mind you being a little domina-."

He tripped and fell over in a heap.

I snorted and covered my mouth from a full blown laugh. "Be careful there, Casanova," I joked. Ben stood up to his feet and brushed off the dirt from his clothes. He gave me an elvish grin and said, "Is that my pet name now? I like it!" I tried to protest but Ben wrapped his arm around my shoulders and waved his hand across the sky, announcing, "Sheba and Casanova! The duo that everyone wishes they wanted and dreams they were! We can be the best partnership since Sherlock and Watson!"

"Oh what joy," I said and he laughed again. We walked a little ways into the park until Ben pulled me aside and said, "We should get going. I know a quick and easy way to get to the hideout."

"Okay, then, let's get going," I said.

He chuckled half-heartedly and scratched his head as he said, "The thing is, you know how I teleport, right? Well, it's hard for me to take someone with me."

"Oh?"

"But," he exclaimed, "there is a simple thing that you can do that'll make me able to take you along!"

"What is it?"

He placed an innocent smile on his face and leaned forward, chirping next to my head, "You have to give me a kiss on the cheek." I gave him this look and he shrugged. "Isn't there another way," I asked, hoping for a better option. Immediately, he shook his head and said, "That's the only way for me to do it. It's a bit strange but it's the only thing that seems to work! It's like an intimate connection thing. Watch this."

He grabbed onto my hand and his image began to flicker, though I was left untouched. He let go and said, "See? I can't do it. I'm sure you wouldn't want to walk all of the way to the hideout. It'd be rude for me to have you go through that, anyway." I frowned at him and felt my cheeks flush as Ben gave me wide smile. His eyes don't say that he's lying but it sounds so ridiculous. I sighed, looked around at our surroundings and stepped closer towards him. He smirked and cocked an eyebrow as he leaned over and presented the side of his face to me. I grumbled under my breath as I built the will to lean in. "Are you sure there's nothing else I can do," I whined.

"No, I'm afraid not," Ben said. He tapped his cheek, signaling me to kiss it. I sucked in a deep breath, exhaled and pressed my lips against his pale skin. This better work or I swear-!

A warm energy compressed my body and my head buzzed to the point of a slight ache. Tingling shots ran along my limbs and to the tip of my fingers and toes and lingered there. Everything felt strange and I almost felt like I would crumble from the pressure of the effects. Suddenly it went as soon as it came and the next thing I knew I was falling over and onto the ground. I groaned as I propped myself up on one elbow. My legs felt like they were asleep and my head felt like there were cotton balls stuffed inside. "That wasn't so bad, now was it," Ben chimed happily. I groaned more in response. Ben helped me back up onto my wobbly legs and helped me walk. "My head feels weird," I murmured feebly and gently pressed two fingers to my temple. Ben chuckled and said, "That's just a side effect of you traveling through a pocket of time and space in a form of nothing but separated particles. It'll go away!"

"How come you're not feeling weird," I asked him.

"Well, for one you're human and you're not fit to endure that kind of trick," he answered. I whined and let out a heavy sigh.

Up ahead, there was a quiet, lonely little shack of a home. Weeds covered the front yard, what is supposed to be a yard, and the exterior of the house looked faded after years of weather and of being forgotten. It was hard to tell where we were but I knew we were somewhere out in the countryside, where isolated houses thrived. This one was especially isolated. "Let's head inside," Ben said and we walked up to the rickety wooden porch. Ben stepped up with ease but I was unsure of the weak looking boards of wood near to rotting. I slowly placed my foot down and put my weight on it. When things seemed to be fine, I fully stepped onto the porch and met with Ben again.

He opened the front door and it creaked and cried from old age. "Go on in," Ben said and gestured inside. With some hesitance, I stepped through the doorway and was met with the smell of musky air. The door closed shut behind me and Ben walked past me, towards a hallway off to the left. I followed him and the cracks along the ceiling made me feel uneasy. Ben stood in front of an open entryway and knocked on the doorframe. I peeked inside and found Jeff, who was resting on an old twin bed. He looked utterly drained. From the trip? From stress? "Yo, how's my White Bitch doin'," Ben asked, both jokingly and with concern. Jeff groaned and turned away from the blonde man. "I feel like shit," Jeff groaned into a flat pillow. I walked in and stood at the foot of the bed, while Ben loomed over Jeff's side.

"Your injuries should already be healed up," Ben stated and leaned against the wall. Jeff didn't answer. Within the brief silence, I cleared my throat and said my greetings. Jeff lifted his head up from the pillow and glanced over his shoulder. He turned himself over and sat up, and in that moment he looked brittle. "Hey, Blueberry," he mumbled hoarsely. He turned to Ben and said, "Thanks for bringing her here."

"No prob," Ben said and casually saluted to his friend. Jeff got up from the bed and popped his back and it was a loud unsettling crack. He ran a pale hand through his already tussled hair and sighed strongly. "Come with me," he told me and brushed past me and out into the hall. I followed behind him and watched him open up a door across the hall. Before I walked in, Jeff turned to me with a gloom in his black eyes. "Please," he said, "don't touch her.." I knew what he meant.

I nodded in silent agreement and Jeff let me through. As soon as I walked in my eyes traveled to the still figure of Elizabeth on an old twin bed as well. Her eyes were closed, her arms folded in towards her chest and her legs were bent, putting her in a fetal position. She looked peaceful but I knew her mind must be swarming with haunting troubles. She lay on top of her metal arm so I was unable to see its advanced design and machinery work. This is the first time I've seen her since Jeff took me back home. I stared down at her fair toned face and at the black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and the pillow under her. It was only slightly but I could see the scarlet hue of the proxy symbol on her wrist. The memory of touching it and seeing that dreaded white flash sent shivers up my spine.

"Has she done anything," I asked as I stood at her bedside. Jeff sighed and answered, "All she's done is toss and turn. I don't know what your friend did, but it lasted."

"I'm really sorry about this," I mumbled.

"Don't worry about it," he said, "As long as she's not dying, everything is fine."

"When do you think she'll wake up," I questioned.

"Hopefully soon," Jeff responded.

I looked over at him and noticed his fingers twitching over the wedding ring necklace. He was staring down at the floor and I could sense the frustration and sadness consuming him. I wanted to say something that would make him feel better but I don't know him that well to know what to say. I'm sure that no matter what I say or do, he will still feel the same way, maybe until Elizabeth wakes up. "What do you plan to do when she comes to," I asked suddenly.

"We'll make sure her health is fine and then we'll interrogate her for information," Jeff said sternly. I nodded and stared back down at Elizabeth. Interrogation, huh? I can tell Jeff doesn't really want to do it although he knows he has to. Besides, not to be pessimistic about this situation, but what if Elizabeth doesn't wake up? Or she might not wake up for a long time and Jeff's intentions will be delayed? What then? I looked at Elizabeth's wrist, at her mark. I looked down at my hands as they trembled at the thought of something risky..

"Don't."

Jeff's voice snapped me back to reality. I turned to him and he gave me this knowing look. My emotions deflated at his decline. His gaze hardened and he said, "I don't want you to see any more grotesque things." Despite that he was only looking out for me, I felt defeated because I couldn't get the answers he wants in a speedier manner. Though, I was relieved that he cared that much. A part of me relaxed at the thought of not touching Elizabeth's symbol to see something more. I didn't want to see the whiteness and I didn't want to feel the experience of another human being. In a way, it is wrong and violating.

"We'll just be patient," Jeff muttered, "no matter how long it takes. Right now, it's our priority to make sure she stays alive and in our hands."

"Hey," Ben finally spoke up after his silence by the doorway, "I don't know if you've figured this out yet, but there's going to be some Corrupted around here, and as long as she stays, more will come."

"I know, that's what I'm worried about also," Jeff sighed. "We can't have any casualties."

"They'll come after Sheba too," Ben stated and I froze with fear.

They both looked at me and I felt myself shrink away at the pressure of their gazes. I finally returned their stares and asked, "Why would they come after me?"

"You're the proxy," Jeff answered nonchalantly. I quivered at the fact that he referred me as that. "I'm not," I said and he gave me this look of both being offended and surprised. I stood a little taller and stated more clearly, "I'm not the proxy. I don't have the mark on me like Elizabeth does."

Ben commented, "It showed up on your body at the club-."

"Well, it's not there anymore," I hissed. "It went away and I'm never going to let it come back."

"Why are you refusing so much," Jeff asked me.

I clenched my jaw and turned my head away from him. "Because it's all a mistake. You said it yourself, there is only supposed to be one proxy! It doesn't make any sense and I refuse to believe something that doesn't make sense."

"Listen, Sheba, we understand if you're scared-."

"I'm not scared," I stated firmly, "I just don't like this whole ordeal."

"Whether you like it or not, you're the proxy also," Jeff said, "and as much as it doesn't make sense to us either, we all still have to enforce your role."

"I have no role," I argued. "I'm no one special! I'm just a regular teenage girl that goes to school and works hard on her academics and has a loving family and an amazing group of friends and who has dreams of becoming this great musician to inspire and create! That's all I am! Nothing else! I'm not the proxy! I'm nothing like her!"

I pointed towards the unconscious Elizabeth with anger and fear boiling within me. Soon I grew to regret my actions.

Something hard and cold clamped around my wrist.

I turned.

I screamed.