|Kim|

I regretted betraying Chris with my everything, but I had to do everything to protect my brother and felt that the Defence Union couldn't do enough, especially after Jessie approached me and threatened to kill him.

One of the reasons I hang out with Michael a lot, was because he was one of the little people that also regretted joining the dark side. We didn't have a choice, though; Jessie kept threatening our families.

Michael did everything to protect Kyle and I did everything to protect Jack. Everything we did was to protect our little brothers, which is another thing we had in common.

Jasmine wasn't as bad, at first. She always tried to stick up for us, but Jessie had her ways. She terrified everyone. She always had that sick smile on her face and that evil glint in her eyes. She was nothing like the girl I went to school with.

She eventually managed to change Jasmine for the worst. Jessie had that effect on people. Everyone that had worked with them for a while, could sense the evil taking over as if it was contagious.

I believed it was. Even if that wasn't the case, Jessie was so full of evil that I wouldn't be surprised if it dripped from her on the floor and found its way to the rest of us.

I can't argue that joining the dark side had its perks; our loved ones would be safe and if anyone from the outsiders hurt us, they would be punished. The bad news is that by punishment, they meant death.

Apart from that, we lived in a cave. A cave surrounded by the most poisonous flower in the country. Yeah, the same flower Jasmine used to kill Chelsea Chief.

Guess where the hideout is yet? Well, if you haven't, you might wanna review the few chapters before Jessie's revealing that she's alive. I've given you enough clues to last a lifetime (even though a lifetime around here isn't that long, as you might have noticed).

Right after Chelsea died and Jasmine carved her message on the door, we returned to the hideout. Jessie only took us along to "discipline" us. She had noticed we weren't happy with the changes that had taken place.

I was a coward, and I don't mean it as an insult to myself. It was my fate and I didn't even know what type of coward I was. I was most probably the traitor kind and I hated that. If only I had realised my mistake earlier...

At first it seemed that Jasmine was in charge and she was pretty lenient. Jessie ran things on the background. Everyone but her girlfriend was aware of it, but we knew better than to make her angry. For a traitor herself, she was pretty hard on others of her kind.

But who am I  to judge, right?

Anyway, at first Jasmine did her best. It was clear she had her motives, that she had values and that she planned everything to the detail. Things started to change when Jessie started meddling with all that. She revealed herself when the others searched Jasmine's house, she killed Felicia and did lots of other stuff that weren't part of the plan.

Jasmine started to act a little more cruelly after that, but it was obvious that she felt guilty about it. I could see the look in her eyes and I recognised it from every time I looked in the mirror.

Jessie started to run things a bit more obviously. Jasmine caught up, but didn't say anything to her. I guess she just loved her too much.

It didn't take long for the rest of us to see who the real boss was. Jessie was... not as gentle. She threatened people into joining her, she scared people and even did things that no one had agreed to. She brought everyone down, and it was clear she did the same thing to her girlfriend.

This relationship was abusive, we all knew it, but we were also cowards. We didn't do anything. Jessie scared the hell out of us.

It was as if she was emotionless. She killed and returned with a smile on her face. She felt no remorse. She crushed Jasmine and looked happy with her actions.

When we signed up to join them, we didn't know what she had in store for us all.

She forced me and Michael to witness Chelsea's death, the death of an innocent person, because she believed we were weak. She kept a close eye on us at all times, because she thought we were the most likely to switch sides again.

She knew exactly what she was doing when she brought us along that night. She knew exactly how to crush our spirits and thoughts of leaving.

Michael had already tried to escape once. She threatened Kyle. That was the day Jasmine turned into a lesser version of Jessie. She finally broke her. If Jasmine had fought a little longer... But I don't blame her. We were all terrified of her girlfriend.

Stories went around about why Jasmine chose to give in to the dark side. They said she was abused by her parents. Maybe that's why she didn't want to disappoint Jessie; she thought that Jessie loved her back. She thought that if she did things "right", that she would finally be in a healthy relationship. That she would be happy.

She didn't know how wrong she was. Jessie Shane didn't care about anyone.

«I can't take this anymore. I want to go home.» I whispered at Michael one day.

«Keep it down, do you want her to hear you?» he hissed.

«I just... I miss my brother. He probably thinks I'm a monster.» I shook my head.

«That makes two of us...» he sighed.

«What if we try to persuade Jasmine to let us go?» I suggested.

«Haven't you been paying attention? Jasmine's long gone by now. We've lost all our chances.» he replied. I didn't want to believe it, but it was true.

«What are you two talking about?» Jessie snuck up behind us with a sick smile.

«Uh... Nothing.» I rushed.

«What chances have you lost?» she seemed amused at our discomfort. We glanced at each other nervously. «I'm just messing with you two...» she laughed. We forced ourselves to laugh along with her. She blinked a couple times and then stared at us with her sweetest smile. «If you two plan to do anything I'll know and you will be punished. I'll leave the type of punishment to your imagination, but know this; I won't hesitate.» she replied. The smile never wavered.

She walked away from us.

«Maybe we should take this somewhere else. The walls here have ears.» I glanced at him. He shook his head.

«If we leave right after she's threatened us, it's gonna seem suspicious. Let's leave this talk for another time.»

«That's what you always say!» I hissed.

«I know, but for now, we gotta lay low. She's watching our every move like a hawk.» he glanced at Jessie, who was talking to Jasmine deeper in the cave. She caught our gaze and smirked.

«She creeps me out.» I muttered.

«She has that effect on everyone.» he replied.

The next day... I don't wanna talk about the next day, but I will anyway.

I was discussing the same thing with Michael. I just couldn't listen to him for once...

«I just wanna go home! I hate this...» I muttered. That's when one of the other recruits turned around and pointed at me.

«Traitor!» she yelled. Jessie came up to us.

«What is all this about?» she asked the recruit. I think her name was Gemma or something. I tried to hide my shaking hands.

«She spoke of going home. She said she hates this way of living.» Gemma smirked at me. I recognised her from school. She used to be one of the quiet kids. I used to be a really bad person in her life.

«Is that so? Kim, after all I warned you of yesterday, you still want to leave us?» Jessie looked offended.

«I--» I stuttered.

«I'm not mad at you, Kim. I understand what you're going through. Aren't you mad at Gemma for ratting you out, though?» Jessie shook her head.

«Uh...» I glanced at Gemma. She had started to lose her color.

«Because if I hate something more than traitors, it's rats.» she snapped at the girl. Gemma was as pale as it was humanly possible and was shaking violently. «Maybe you can teach her some respect. Push her out of the cave. Don't let her put on the gas mask.» she glared at her.

«What? But she'll die!» I protested. The cave was surrounded by Ivylore flowers. She would take one breath and drop dead in less than a minute.

«Yeah, but it will scare the rest of the rats away. It seems we have a pest problem around here.» Jessie shrugged.

«I can't do that, I'm not going to kill her!» I reasoned. Michael looked terrified.

«Then I guess you really are  a coward after all. Do you know what happens to cowards around here? Especially ones that plot against me?» she asked threateningly. She signalled two other recruits and they grasped Gemma and Michael.

They started marching towards the exit. She grabbed me from the arm and pulled me along. She had a firm grip on me, so I didn't bother to resist. I was horrified.

We reached the exit. The recruits pushed Gemma and Michael near the edge.

«You have ten seconds to choose who lives and who dies. That should teach you. If you don't choose in time... Well, they'll both die.» Jessie smirked.

«Please don't make me do this...» I begged.

«The real question is if you're gonna save a rat, or a coward. A traitor, or a friend.» she smiled. «Your time starts now.»

Time raced. Jessie's countdown didn't help.

«Five...»

«Kill me instead, just don't make me choose!» I rushed. Tears were streaming down my face. I was shaking in terror.

Michael was paler than usual. I had already betrayed his brother. He was my only friend. I couldn't choose him.

Was I selfish for that?

«Three...» Jessie smirked again.

«Gemma, I'm so sorry for everything I did back to school...» I apologised.

«One...» Jessie kept smiling.

«Gemma!» I gave in.

«Predictable.» Jessie rolled her eyes and casually pushed Gemma out of the cave.

For the first five seconds, Gemma stood there frozen, surrounded by the flowers. Then she started coughing violently. Soon she was coughing out blood.

Blood started dripping from her nose, her ears and her eyes. She started screaming.

Ten seconds later, she dropped on the floor and didn't move again.

Thirty four seconds. That's all it took for Gemma to die. I counted every single one of them. That number haunted me at night.

The guilt grew stronger day after day.

Soon, every thought of fighting back was crushed. Every slither of hope drained.

Jessie Shane knew exactly what she was doing. She knew exactly how to break people and she was proud of it.

A/N: What do you think of Kim now? Do you still hate her?

Maybe you don't, I don't know, but I'm sure you hate me. Poor Gemma... I initially thought of having Jessie push Michael, ignoring what Kim said, but I have other plans for him. He is needed later.

That's all for now. Don't expect a bonus Chapter for the 34 second long death of a one-chapter character. I'll see you again on Tuesday. 😊

-Riri<3
P.S.: Don't kill me yet.