Song: When You Were Young by The Killers
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Day 5

Sonja's p.o.v.

"Stop. Crying."

"Sonj I can't help it..."

"Yes you can! Stop being sad you miserable shit!"

"It's not like I can flip a damn switch and go back to being happy! I murdered someone Sonja!"

"Tom and Jordan both forgave you! And you gave a truck load of blood so they could have another baby! You shouldn't be sad!"

Tucker is bumming me the hell out. I've been trapped in his stupid dojo looking at his stupid sad face all day long for a stupid month and a half. He needs to get over it. Laying in bed for weeks and drinking beer while listening to sad songs isn't healthy for anyone. I don't usually confront him like this but god I'm so sick of standing by and watching him die.

"What happened huh? You were getting better a few weeks ago and then you just went down hill again. Why did you stop getting better? I've been trying everything to make you happy. I cook you three meals a day, I cuddle you in bed, we play board games, we have sex! I mean it's not good sex but it's sex! What more do I need to do?"

"It's not what you need to do...I appreciate all the things you do for me." He went to take another drink from his beer, but I ripped it away from him and slammed it down on the dresser.

"Stop drinking your stupid beer and tell me what happened! Now!"

"You won't believe me! You'll think I've gone insane!"

"No I won't! Just tell me Tucker!"

"I'm hearing voices! They tell me I'm a screw up and that I'm nothing but a shit boyfriend and I'll never amount to anything. I told Tom and he told me about this Botan guy who like feeds on mortal insanity and all that shit, and that he's probably attacking me...he said not to listen to it but everything this guy is saying is true! I'm a screw up and I'm terrible to you but god I love you so damn much and I just want to be good for you so we can have a family one day and I'll actually be able to say I'm proud of something that's mine..." His voice was shaking so much. He turned over to the other side of the bed when he finished his confession. He doesn't want me to see him cry...

I sighed and sat down next to him. "Tucker...why didn't you tell me?"

"Because your opinion means the freaking world to me and I don't want you to think I'm crazy..."

I rolled my eyes. "You stupid salt shaker. You're such a bitchy girl..." I hugged him.

"But I'm your bitch Sonja...I love you."

"I love you too. Don't listen to this weird Butan guy. You're great." I kissed him on the cheek, and it left a bit of lipstick of his face.

"It's Botan, and yeah. I guess I am great if I managed to get you. I'll try to stop being a wimp."

"You promise you'll take more showers? Because you smell dank."

He laughed and turned back to me. "Yeah I'll take more showers. Now gimme a kiss beautiful." He puckered his lips.

"Yeah um no kisses until you shower. I'm not kidding, you smell danker than dank."

~

Day 6

Wags p.o.v.

"One rose, three botania flowers, five pumpkin seeds..." I dropped them all in the pot and watched the steam rise. Oh this smells nice. Almost like cinnamon. She smelled like cinnamon sometimes...

No! Stop being foolish and finish the potion! No time to think about petty feelings.

"An egg, one cup of grass, a stick..." I tossed those in. Now I just need a bit of lavender and some-

Knock knock knock

Damn it I was almost finished. I brushed my hands off on a towel and jogged to the door to open it. It was most likely Jordan or Tom wanting the barrier spell I promised them. I opened the door, and my smile instantly vanished.

Her long lavender hair was pulled back into a braid, her dark purple sweater dress matched perfectly with her beautiful locks. I still remember what she was wearing when I saw them. A short black dress that reached just above her knees. I will never be able to rid that scene from my head, the scene that broke my heart into a million pieces.

"Hi Waggles." She sounded hoarse, as if she had been crying earlier. I didn't care. I cried for ages when I saw her with him.
"Hello. What do you want?" I swallowed at the lump forming in my throat. I have to look like I'm not falling apart.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. And Stevie is sorry as well. I had no right to do that to you."
"You didn't. Is that all you have to say?" Is that all you have to say for killing me? Ripping my heart out? Destroying me?

"No...I wanted to say that I love you. It was a moment of weakness and...and I didn't mean any of it. And if there's anything I can do to get you to forgive me, I will do it."

She's lying. She loves Steve. She just wants us both and she can't have that.

"Martha dear. You love Steve. You don't love me. If you had loved me, you wouldn't have done that. You have known Steve for years, correct?"

She nodded, her eyes watering immensely. I wanted to hold her and tell her I loved her, but that would solve nothing.

"Well then, who do you think you love more? Me, someone you've only known for a year? Or Steve, who you've known for the entirety of your life?"

Her lips trembled as she tried to form words. "I-I don't know Waggles. I am so very confused. I love you but there is still a part of me that loves Stevie as well. I don't know what to do." She sniffled and hastily wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

"Think on it longer and tell me your decision when you are positively sure it's right. But I will be happy in whatever decision you choose Martha. I will still follow you and be your champion." I smiled warmly at her. She smiled too.

"You are so very kind Waggles. I must look like a wench to you, hurting you so many times. I am terrible." A small sob escaped her lips, and I shushed her.

"You are not. You are confused. Don't cry, it won't help anything. I have learned that. Go home and rest. Think about what you want and then think about what you need. Give me a call when you reach your decison." I gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

"Thank you James." She hugged me. I missed her scent, that mixture of cinnamon and lavender. I wish I could hold her forever.

But not even I can have that good of luck.

~

Day 7

Mots p.o.v.

"Mot you need to leave this bed."
"How about no?" Dia needs to get off my back. I'm sulking and that requires time.

"I won't accept no as an answer. I am worried for you, you haven't left your house in a very long time. Won't you go outside for awhile?"

"Dia I don't want to go outside. I just want to lay here." My bed seems to be the only thing that can comfort me right now anyway. Who needs hugs when you have blankets? They're just as good.

"Mot...please for me, go outside? And eat something, something that will fill you up. Not these retched apples. They do nothing for you." He was talking about the huge stash of apples I had hidden under my bed. I've just been snacking on those lately when I get hungry. You don't even wanna know what I do when I have to piss. Dia gets so mad when I do it he sounds like he's choking. It's hilarious.

I scoffed. "Haven't you ever heard an apple a day keeps the doctor away?"

"That saying was made up from a couple of idiots who were dirt poor and could only afford apples to eat. Mot eat something good. Please."

"Dia be quiet. I'm tryin' to sleep." I pulled the covers over my head so I wouldn't have to hear him anymore.

"You've been sleeping all week! Get up and start acting like a proper champion again!" He yelled.

I rolled my eyes. "Why don't you go ask corpse breath to do your deeds? I'm sure he'll be happy to do them. That is if he's not making out with Mr. Butts." Jordan hasn't showed up to training in a few days, so I guess he's just giving up on getting strong. I knew he was gonna quit right from the start.

"Syndi and Glitter lap have fled town. Would you like to know why Mot? Because while you've been laying in this bed for the last few days doing absolutely nothing, Botan Akemi has been attacking the other champions."

My eye snapped open. "Botan. Where have I heard that name?" It sounded familiar. I knew it represented something hella bad, but I couldn't remember.

"I told you of my father before, didn't I? Well that's him. And he's been causing pure hell throughout this town all week and I'm afraid he's attacking you too."

Botan Akemi! I did hear that before! It was so long ago though, before I got Alyssa. I asked Dia about his parents and then he started talking about Botan and how evil he was. Wait. I thought he was dead?

"Didn't you say he was dead? And why do you think he's attacking me? I feel fine." I think I would know if something was attacking me.

"He is attacking your mind Mot. You weren't like this a few weeks ago. You were happy. And now all that is plaguing your thoughts is Alyssa. Why do you think you are thinking of her now?"

Huh. I didn't actually think about that. Oh shit this guys attacking my mind.

"Dia what the hell do I do? I don't want this bastard attacking me!"
"Get out of bed and eat something healthy. Help the other champions with their struggles against Botan. Poor Glitter lap and Syndi are terrified to even step foot in their home again. He was threatening their child."

Aw shit. Now I feel bad. I was dissing them both when they're getting chased by a madman out of their own home. That's gotta suck.

I sighed and pulled the covers off. "Alright. I'll go help corpse breaths family and then that other guy that looks like Jeriah. Oh yeah, where is corpse breath?"

"They are all inside the wizards compound. It seems to be the only place where Botan can't get in. But um...be careful Mot...I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you." I could hear the jerk smirking.

"Save the emotional slop Dia, you're gonna make me cry. Really." I wiped a fake tear away.
~

Night 7

Jordan's p.o.v.

"Shh...you're okay. It's gonna be okay," Tom whispered. He was petting my hair and rocking me back and forth in his arms.

"No it's not it's not okay nothing is ever okay..." The words sounded wheezy and clumped together, barely understandable. It's not like I could help it though, I couldn't breathe. I had a night terror. I haven't had a night terror in so long. Tonight I broke the luck streak. My head just couldn't resist showing me the horrible memory of the bunny blood splattered all over our bedroom. It made my throat restrict itself just thinking about it.

"What was it about? Do you want to tell me?" I could feel the hum of his chest every time he talked. It was a nice feeling against my throbbing head.

"Rosie's b-bunnies...the b-blood..." Oh my god there was so much blood. Did Tom get rid of it all? He couldn't have. It was everywhere. It stained our blankets and the curtains and the walls...

"It's over now. No more blood. Rosie's fine and we are too. Botan can't hurt us here." His cool fingertips traced along my cheek lovingly. He's too good at calming me down.

I won't hesitate to snip those little threads you hang on to so dearly. You will never be safe.

I gripped onto Toms T-shirt tighter when the words flashed in my mind. I knew we weren't safe. We're never safe anymore.

"Hey ease up, okay? The wizards are right next door. He won't come around if they're here. Calm down." He rubbed my back softly as he spoke. He was rocking me to the rhythm of his heart. It was soothing. I wanted to go to sleep again, but I was terrified to. I knew the nightmares would come back.

"Tom I wanna go back home..." I sobbed. At least I could sleep at night in Jerry's tree without being worried about some evil attacking me. I miss the quietness of the little island. I miss being safe.

"We can't, it's not safe. And I don't think you'd want to see our bedroom again after what happened, right?"

"No not that home...Mianite. I miss Mianite. I miss the purges and the mountains and my tree. I wish we could just go home and leave this awful place..."

"Well didn't Gaines say he was trying to build a portal back home?"

"I don't talk to Gaines anymore...not after what happened with Ianita. I don't know if he's even still working on it..."

Frantic knocking made us both stop breathing. I looked at Tom and he looked at me. We were both terrified to open the front door now.

He moved to get up, but I grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. "No," I gasped.

"Sparklez if it was Botan he wouldn't knock. It's okay. Stay here, alright?" He got up again, but this time I didn't stop him. I watched in dread as he disappeared out of the room.

I waited for what seemed like forever. I couldn't hear anything because Tom had shut the door behind him when he left. Is he okay? Was it really Botan, and he just knocked so he could throw us off?

I wanted to get up and check on him, but I didn't want to leave Rosie. She was sleeping soundly in her crib. I woke her up earlier when I was screaming, and she just went back to sleep. I feel bad for her. She shouldn't have to endure this. She's just a baby.
Suddenly I heard footsteps. Slow footsteps inching down the hall, trying to be quiet. Oh god. No this can't be happening. It's Botan. He's here. He's gonna kill Rosie. I can't let this happen.

The door creaked open, and I backed up as far as I could against the bed frame. He killed Tom and were next. I couldn't protect my family, I was weak, I was-

"Jordan? Tom tells us you aren't feeling good. We made you some snacks if you'd like some?" The door creaked open further and Phil poked his head in. Oh thank god. It was the wizards.

"H-Hey Phil. I'd love a snack. Thank you." I dried away some of the tears that still lingered on my cheeks with the hem of my shirt. I must looked terrible to him.

Phil gasped and slapped a hand over his mouth. "Oh no! Don't cry, things will get better! Matty get in here, he's crying!"

I heard Matt gasp from behind him. "My baby, no!"

The two of them magically poofed on the bed and hugged me tightly. It happened so fast it sort of scared the crap out of me.

"Guys...I'm fine. It was just a night terror. It wasn't a big deal..." I felt like laughing. If they knew how much I cried, I think they'd have a heart attack.

"It is a big deal! It made you cry! Oh did Tom scare you with his silly end of the world talks? You shouldn't pay attention to him! He exaggerates immensely and most of those things aren't even true!" Phil petted me like I was a puppy.

"Exactly! You have nothing to be scared about! We will protect you from that stupid Botan..." Matt reassured me. He was petting me too, but he was a lot gentler than Phil. I couldn't help but smile. You can tell they aren't used to comforting humans.

"Watch those hands," I heard Tom warn. "He's still my husband." He was leaned against the door with a smirk on his face. He must think this is hilarious.

"Sorry!" Phil and Matt laughed nervously and moved their hands away from me. "But we did bring snacks! Do you like god apples?" Matt pulled a few shiny golden apples from his pocket like they were nothing.

I felt my jaw drop to the floor. God apples? The wizards can make God apples?!

"Hell yes we like god apples! You can poof those up? What the shit?" Tom took one from Matt and bit down on it. I watched his face light up with bliss.

"Careful, no more than a bite or two. I don't think these are necessarily good for mortals...I believe I heard Tom say once that if a human digests a full gold apple, they will disintegrate." Phil handed me one and I gladly took it. The last time I ate one of these...oh my god it felt amazing. I bit into it anxiously and waited for its affects.

I felt like every broken, bruised, battered part of me fixed itself in a matter of a second. Even the physiological parts. The bunny blood disappeared. Rosie's crying left my ears. Toms terrified eyes faded. I felt safe.

And that was the greatest feeling in the world to me.
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