Chapter 6 | Rendezvous and Realizations

"No one can escape their past. The sins we've committed and the sadness we've caused, no matter how far we run, it looms in wait, for the day when we are forced to face it. "

-Pheonix Wright, Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney-Dual Destination

• • •

"What kind of sick and twisted people play video games in the morning? How do you even have so much of energy?" Mallory yawned, sitting on the couch next to Ben with a plate of eggs and bacon.

"What? Game over? What the hell, Mel?!?" Ben shrieked glaring at his best friend. "Why'd you distract me, huh?"

Jacob grinned sadistically and pointed his finger at him, "Aha, loser!"

Ben crossed his arms and threw the controller at Jake who catched it with a smirk.

"And to answer your question little sister, we have energy because, unlike some people, we don't watch Netflix till three in the morning. There's this thing called, sleeping. You should try it sometime, it's fun."

"Movies till three? Aha! You little rebel," Ben winked and looked at her proudly.

Mallory smiled weakly. She had never been a night owl. Even amidst the modern generation of mobile devices, she hardly ever woke past midnight. But it was only a few days ago, when she found out that staying awake till the point of exhaustion ensured a dreamless sleep. And whilst it only meant getting rest for four hours, she couldn't bring herself to complain for the nightmares were worse.

"Now I see why you look like a zombie these days," Ben chuckled. "Does your mom know?"

"Not yet," Jake said. "But she will know soon. I am going to tell her if she won't."

"Jacob Millington, you will do no such thing or else..." Mallory began in warning tone.

"Or else?" Jake quirked his eyebrow seemingly amused.

"Or else I would tell mom, your secret."

"That's what I am asking. What secret?" Jake asked promptly looking right in her eyes.

"You know which one," his sister lied unconvincingly.

"My dear sister, quit bluffing. We both know that you don't know anything. Nothing. Zilch. Nada," he remarked, dramatically blowing at his nails.

"I will tell her...uh," she began falling short of words.

She tried to think hard to come up with anything, absolutely any dirt on his brother. She tried to rake her brain inwardly cursing herself for not knowing her own brother's secrets. Everyone needed to know there siblings dirty secrets; how else could you blackmail them in the time of peril?

"I will tell her about the camping trip you went to this Sunday," she said rather vaguely.

"What about that trip?" his smile fell rather quickly. "What do you know? How do you know?"

Mallory couldn't contain the beaming smile on her face. She felt like a tarot card reader who had just aimed a blind shot at her client. Only, blackmailing her brother had another level of satisfaction.

With a smirk, she continued, "What do I know? Well, let me think."

She placed her hand on her chin making an elaborate action of thinking, "What do I know? I know everything, Jacob. Every. Single. Thing."

"Harry told you? Didn't he?" Jake interrogated, horrified. "That bastard, I swear I am gonna kill him."

"He sure did," she smiled mischievously as she took a sip of her orange juice and wondered why was he was so afraid. She actually wanted to know what had happened. But she concealed her curiousity well.

"I swear, Melly. I didn't know. Harry said it's just a camping trip. I had no idea about the party. And I didn't even do it, I didn't do anything. If I had any idea it was a rainbow party..."

"You went to a Rainbow Party?!?" Mallory almost spat the orange juice.

"Oh, my god. Y--You didn't know? You tricked me into telling you. Oh! Damn it..." Jake said, flabbergasted, he got up pulling his hair. The game controller lying on his lap fell to the ground with a faint thud.

"I can use this against you for years to come. Thank you so much, Jacob Millington," she laughed, getting up. Placing her plate on the table, she said, "By the way, when you are done swimming in self loathing, it's your turn to do dishes."

And with that started moving towards the front door, leaving her brother gaping. She turned back to see Ben staring at her brother who looked like he could die of shame.

"So you really went to a rainbow party?" Ben dreamily questioned his best friend's brother.

Jake nodded, embarrassed.

"And you did all that stuff..."

"No. Ugh! It's gross. I could never do that," Jake asserted.

"Yeah, of course. Whatever you say." Ben grinned.

"Aren't you getting late for school?" Jake queried, annoyed, while Ben continued to stare admiringly at him, as if he expected him to spill some divine secrets.

"For now, yes," Ben replied hungrily on his way out, "But I will be back. Soon. Very soon."

• • •

"You expect me to sit on that?" Mallory looked at her best friend hopelessly.

"Sure!" Ben said. "It's new, it's shiny and you love motorcycles."

"I used to. Not now!"

"Oh, stop being such a baby! Where's the adventurous girl I knew?"

"Puberty killed her," she giggled.

"Look, your mom's car is wrecked. She took your brother's car. So your only option is this," Ben reminded her, pointing at the dangerous looking machine. "Or walk all the way?"

"Alright, creep. But I get to drive."

"And I would sit behind you?" Ben asked whilst his eyes widened.

"Sure. Is there a problem?" She raised her eyebrow.

"Girls sit behind," he stated like it was a well rehearsed universal fact.

"That..." she said, "is the most sexist thing I have ever heard."

"I am not a sexist," he scoffed, "You know what? Here, go drive. Just make sure that I don't reach school in a coffin," he grumbled in a sulky tone.

"Winner smiles, Loser whines." Mallory beamed while she grabbed the keys off his outstretched palm.

She buckled the helmet under her chin and then turned the ignition by twisting the key. It took her a couple minutes to maintain balance, but then she rode effortlessly. Within minutes she was at the parking lot with Ben slumped behind her, pouting.

"Wow, I still remember," she remarked, unbuckling the helmet.

Ben rolled his eyes at that, "Of course you do, babe. You were taught by the best."

While Ben was getting his books from his locker, Mallory began telling him about the Sunday incident. Since Monday, Ben had been out on a small beach trip with his Gran while Mallory had been sick. Finally three days later, they could talk. But before she could even begin, they were interrupted by someone.

"Dude, where have you been?" Luke queried as he punched Ben's shoulder.

"Busy," Ben said snapping his locker shut.

"So, just because you have a girlfriend now means you can forget your best friend?"

"Best friend?" Ben scoffed. "Besides, this troll here is most certainly not my girlfriend."

Mallory glared at Ben, "Troll, me? Babe, go get your eyesight checked. I am a specimen of pure beauty," she told him while flipping her hair backwards.

"Oh, I am so glad you made that clear Ben," Luke winked turning towards her, "So Mallory..." He began, running his hands through his blonde hair to look seductive. "Did it hurt when you fell off the heaven?"

For a minute Mallory blinked at him and then all of a sudden she burst out laughing.

"I don't know about that, but I bet it hurt like a bitch when she climbed out of hell," Ben remarked throwing his head back and laughing out loud too.

"I had no idea guys still used that," Mallory said, finally controlling her laughter.

Luke narrowed his eyes as his face bore a faux hurt expression, "You people are mean," He pouted then laughed. "Anyway, Ben, why don't you bring her to the party?"

"What party?" Mallory quirked her eyebrow while Ben violently shook his head, trying to tell his friend to shut up.

Luke gave him a weird look and then blatantly ignoring him, he continued, "It's a party some college guys are throwing."

"Luke, aren't you getting late for your basketball practice?" Ben interrupted.

Mallory gave Ben a dirty look whilst he desperately tried to shoo Luke away. Something was fishy; she could tell by her best friend's frantic attempts to change the topic. It sparked her curiousity. And so, she decided to get to the bottom of it.

"So, if it's a college party, how come you people are going?" Mallory asked nonchalantly, trying not to come across as inquisitive.

"A few kids' siblings invited them. And you know how it is, before you realise what is happening, the entire school wants to come. So you in?" Luke asked leaning a bit towards her. She felt that it was a failed attempt at looking cool.

"Is there gonna be booze?" Mallory asked, her eyes narrowing substantially at her best friend standing in her proximity.

Ben grunted under his breath, his shoulder slumped, "Here goes my fun party."

"Do I see a bad girl here?" Luke smirked, not picking up the tone. "Of course there's gonna be booze. What's a party without alcohol? In fact not just exotic whiskey and beer, there will be pot too," he professed rather proudly. Then he added in a hushed tone, "And don't tell anyone that I said this, but they're also supplying marijuana."

"Oh, Marijuana? Really? That's just great," Mallory feigned enthusiasm, "I'll definitely let you know if I am up for it."

"Cool. You do that," he winked yet again. "Anyway, I am getting late for basketball practice. I should go. See you around."

"Yeah, now he is getting late," Ben rolled his eyes.

"Sweetheart, you are in so much trouble," Mallory bore a sickly-sweet smile as she turned towards her best friend.

"And I am so dead," Ben whispered to himself, dejected.

• • •

(Late that evening)

The meeting place resembled the conference hall of a business organization than a meeting place for some high profiled criminals. While, the room was usually quite bright, but that day it's ambience was dim. The reason being they had a rather secretive guest who chaired the emergency meeting called by one of the members.

Right in the middle of the room was a long Mahogany table around which chairs were placed opposite to each other. The ten members from the 'inner circle' and the head who had concealed their identity by covering their face with a hood were the only participants of the urgent meeting.

For a few moments, the room was filled with the sounds of shoes against the the wooden floor as the members entered the room. Closely followed the noise of chairs scraping the ground and then there was silence as everyone was seated.

"May I begin?" Queried a tattooed man.

His leader nodded timidly.

Getting a green signal, he began, "She is back. The girl we have been looking for is back."

"What?" the hooded figure asked, a little taken aback.

"Yes, boss. Mallory Millington's back," confirmed a man with long hair.

The leader of the group leaned back in the chair whilst silence ensued as the crowd tried to anticipate their master's reaction. Everyone held their breath not knowing what to do meanwhile their boss dwelled over the unforeseen news.

Suddenly, a loud, sadistic laughter charged the atmosphere. "Oh, she's back? Our little princess is back, huh?" the boss inquired, laughing. "Now, that is some good news."

There were collective sighs as the tattooed one asked. "So, what's the plan?"

"The plan, my faithful people, is to welcome her properly," The leader explained, "So let's plan a magnificent welcome for her. Shall we?"

• • •

"How much more time do you need?" he whispered in the phone with gritted teeth.

"Have patience. We are preparing the team!"

"We are losing time." He said more to himself than the person on the phone. "I think I should -- "

"I know what you are thinking, son. But don't do anything that you would regret later. There are more than twenty people guarding that building. And you cannot -- "

"Oh, I am not in the mood to listen what I can't do!" He almost shouted, but then recomposed himself. "I will tell you what I can do."

"Listen to me, C--"

"No, you listen to me, sir. I found this trap door. Okay? It's unguarded, and I am pretty sure it leads to the basement of the building."

"Pretty sure are two words that aren't good enough for our profession." The man at the other end of the line reminded him.

"But it's good enough for me."

"Shut up, you fool! You'd only be doing them a favor by alerting them. They would change the safe house again!" The man shouted in the phone.

If only the boy had heard him out that day!

"Listen to me, son. You are sixteen. You are just a kid, for god's sake. Why can't you understand? You know nothing. Just because you know how to aim and fire a gun doesn't mean you can take down an entire gang!" The man's rough voice was rather desperate. "Please don't do something stupid."

"I am not going to take them down. I won't even try it. I would just go inside to keep her safe till you people come."

"Son, I know you are distraught. I know how you feel. It's just that if she made it this long, there's no reason why she won't be alright for the next couple of days. Come here. I'll let you help with the rescue operation," he suggested.

The boy didn't believe his lie for one minute. Even though the commander always thought of him as efficient, even though the teenage boy was much more capable and skilled than the twenty year old burly masses of flesh they trained at the academy, there was no way they would use 'a kid', in such a dangerous mission.

"A COUPLE OF DAYS?!?"

The man regretted what he had said in haste.

"Look, C--" he began, only to be cut off as the phone disconnected.

Furious, the young man crawled towards the trap door and made his way inside the building. He drew out his .45 millimeter gun and held it in his hand. Since the outer perimeter was very secure, he hadn't expected more than one or two guards. But the corridor was absolutely empty.

He couldn't believe his luck. Maybe it was over confidence on their part, but it worked well for him. Apparently those people thought no one could penetrate the secure entrance, which was why they had left the rooms unguarded. 'Big mistake,' he thought, licking his lips to moisten them.

He drew in a long breath as he reached for the first door towards his left. "Let's do this," he muttered to himself.

The moment he twisted the knob, he caught sight of something horrific. His stomach churned with a strong urge to vomit. In front of him, lying on the bed, was an unconscious girl with syringes and empty bottles scattered near her half naked body. Was she dead? He didn't have the courage to check.

One after another, he opened three more doors, greeted by the same sight again and again.

"I need to get back soon," he whispered to himself while his trembling fingers reached for the fourth door.

Tears pricked the corner of his eyes as they met a girl. She was different. She was younger, much younger than all the other girls. She looked like she was his age, maybe even younger. Her features were brutally battered, unlike the previous ones. And she was wide awake, completely conscious.

As he opened the door, she cowered away.

"Go away..." she muttered, sounding tired.

Her thin arms covered her half naked chest modestly and her blonde hair fell like a curtain over her frail face.

The boy stood in the door frame. If the previous sights were horrid, this was gruesome, cruel, inhumane even! He had a strong urge to go inside and console her. But seeing her, made his heart go wild; it was thumping erratically in his chest. Did this mean, that the one he came to save, might be in the same condition? He shuddered. It's not possible.

"It's going to be alright," he found himself saying, though his voice was barely a whisper. He was surprised she'd heard him.

The curtain of hair fell as she lifted her head. He could see her despondent eyes lit up for a moment, pleading with him.

"Help..." She put her entire strength in that one word.

"Don't worry," he assured her. "I would come back. I promise." Only he didn't come back; he couldn't.

Because, at that moment, he unintentionally stepped inside the door frame. Within seconds, sirens were blaring all around him. He cursed, realizing his mistake. He cursed his ignorance as he heard footsteps climbing the stairs, he hesitantly turned to look at the girl.

Her black eyes were filled with desperation. They were screaming at him. While he turned away, disappointment and sadness replaced the anguish. Little did he know those eyes would haunt him forever.

Andrew woke up to a constant banging at his bedroom door.

"Hey! What happened?" Drew called out.

I am okay, he wanted to say, but his throat was dry and constricted. Very slowly, he wiped off the beads of sweat from his forehead. With shaking hands, he unlocked the door. He felt a sense of déjà vû, half-expecting to see the same hollow eyes on the other side.

"Why were you screaming?" Drew asked.

"Bad dream."

"Why do you have so many nightmares?"

Because of you, Andrew almost spat but resisted the urge.

When he didn't receive an answer, he continued, "I guess I would go then. And -- like I always say, but you never listen -- go to a doctor."

Andrew shrugged.

Drew gave him a disapproving look and left him to sleep.

But, for Andrew, sleep wasn't easy that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he would see those helpless eyes. Did she make it out of that hellhole alive? He had found himself wondering that for years. Her anguish haunting him to the extent, that soon he was at the verge of a mental breakdown.

Suddenly, he shot up in his bed. The realization hit him like a physical blow. How had he not realized it sooner? The resemblance was uncanny. He couldn't believe it! Fate was a cruel thing!

For years, those eyes haunted him. Now he had finally met her again, only he'd been too self-absorbed, too busy to realize it.

Yet in the dead of night, he finally did. He realized why her black eyes seemed familiar. Because they belonged to the girl who had a way to get on his nerves; the girl who made him pull out his hair; the girl who blatantly lied that she didn't have any secrets. But, she did. She did, in fact, have a huge secret.

After all those terror-filled eyes did belong to no one other than Mallory Millington.

• • •

VOTE? Just tap that star! Go. Go. Go. :P

Hola people,

I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
What did you think about the dynamic between Jacob and Ben? How about Jake's secret? ;)

Also, the meeting of "high-profile" criminals. What was that, huh? Any guesses? Any predictions?

Did the like the nightmare that revealed a bit of Mallory's past? What happened to her? And what do you think of Andrew? How do you think is irrational actions affected her?

[ Sidenote: 1k reads?!? Woah. I certainly did not expect so much so early. Thank you so much! ]

Until next time.

-Ridhima ☺