The wrose of thorns

sequel to the rise of wrose










Pandora's perspective
Pandora's Illusion Sequel
Chapter 1

I sat in a diner in the middle of nowhere with my second cup of coffee and a note with everything I needed to convince Jason that I was there to help if all went well maybe the future Jason and Paul would be heading back to their time. Paul sat at the counter disguised by me, eating what appeared to be his second burger and fries. Apparently flying me there took a lot of energy. Jason had already returned to the apartment to keep Josh in the loop as well as avoid a time catastrophe where Jason meets himself. 

That annoying diner bell sounds and I look up from my table to see a dishevelled younger Jason walk in. He looked more like a zombie than a human obviously losing his wife quite recently. As he looks around for a table I wave him over trying to look harmless. Jason frowns and I can see Paul's shoulders tense but Jason just shrugs then half collapses into the booth across the old laminated table from me.

“What?” Jason asks.
“I'm Jessie and I'm here to help,” I respond sipping my coffee (trying to look a little bad-ass).
“With?” he asked, well the bad ass thing clearly didn't work.
“Cara, you actually sent me,” I tried my best to look convincing which I guess should have been easy as I was genuinely here to help. I think it's a bit like when a cop car passes you in traffic you want to look innocent even if you genuinely are.

The waitress bounced over all chirpy and happy but soon after Jason had ordered his coffee and surprising large meal even the waitress had started to deflate a little. Safe to say his mood was contagious. She soon came back with Jason's coffee and he wrapped his hands around it to feel the warmth.

“Look I understand that you are currently in a huge mess,” I said as Jason glared up at me. “Understatement of the year I know but seriously you and Paul sent me to help you. I'm really sorry this has happened but I know you can use my help and I know others that can be of assistance too.”

Jason sighed and murmured something along the lines of hating time travel I nodded but kept quiet this Jason was very different from the one I had been spending time with. Maybe it was Cara's influence or even Paul's. He seemed  to be a mess without them.

“You told me she needed to be there,” I tried to get the conversation going again after the waitress slammed his food down onto the table. He nodded and shovelled food into his mouth.

“No offence but future me sounds like an idiot even if she does need help controlling her powers she doesn't need to be there,” Jason seemed to pause and think back on something then shake his head I decided not to press as it was not something the Jason I knew had clearly told me so it was irrelevant.

“Well we haven't known each other too long but Paul definitely seems smarter,” I said trying to lighten the mood and watched on as Jason paled instead.
“Yeah so smart it's his fault she’s gone. He was supposed to watch out for her but he didn't,” he shoved his plate away and practically growled like a dog at me.

Well Crap I thought Jason clearly left out that important detail.
“Somehow you two got over that because in the future your friends again,” I tried being nice. Jason's reply was to glare at me over his coffee. I turned to where Paul sat hidden at the counter and he at least had the dignity to look ashamed even if it was entirely unhelpful.
“I don't have time for this and neither do you,” I growled back leaving my number on a napkin, as I passed Paul I let him know to follow in case my illusion broke.

I stood outside furious, I wondered why I even the guys from the past when clearly they were going to be of no use let alone the fact that this Jason apparently didn't even want my help. I stared off into the distance trying to figure out just how contagious Jason's mood had been when the diner door opened.

“I'm sorry,” Jason mumbled in my general direction. I turned to face him just raising an eyebrow.
“i don't know if you noticed but nowadays there arent many people willing to help each other let alone someone like me these days,” He shuffled closer.

“I'm an abnormal as I'm sure you know if you've really met me before or later, whatever,” Jason said waving his arms slightly.
“I'm not normal either dumb ass,” I said crossing my arms, Jason appeared stunned. “You and I have already had this conversation I just forgot for you it hasn't actually happened yet. But if your willing to get Paul and wait to hear from me I will trust you enough to tell you everything.”

“Why do we need him?” Jason went on offensive mode again.
“Because your unbearable without him,” I practically growled back. Wether Jason agreed or not I don't know because he took off and climbed into a beat up old rust bucket and drove off without another word.

Paul chose that time to exit the diner smiling broadly and honestly making me want to slap him.
“Now that's the real Alice, before you were only hardly Alice,” he smirked.
“i think you quoted that wrong but aren't we late for an important date?” I almost laughed he must have known me better than I realised to know what to say then.

“You wouldn't happen to be my second in command or something in the future I just kick started would you ?” I asked informing him of my realisation.
“Trust me it's not you who needs me in the future,” Paul chuckled as he picked me up and started to ascend. I screamed and also realised I very much hated flying.













Chapter 2

I leaned on my kitchen counter nearly two hours later tapping my nails next to where my phone lay on the surface. Jason was some how no where to be seen and Paul was in the large bathroom near the now stocked guest rooms cleaning up after the flight.

Josh had called earlier to say he wouldn't be back but that wasn't what was making me anxious. Had I said enough to the young Jason to make him call was the thought that haunted me. What if he'd never agree to it. The most annoying part was the only person who could answer my questions wasn't bloody well here. Knowing to Jason's was starting to give me another headache.

I rubbed my hands across my eyes in frustration. The doorbell rang and honestly made me jump a mile. Clearly my nerves were making me less cautious because I pulled open the door and was surprised to see Gavin the neighbours kid standing at the door.

“Can I help you?” I asked in bewilderment.
“Your like me aren't you?” he asked his shoes.
“Not exactly but what's wrong?” I asked noting that his eyes were red from crying.
“Mum and Dad didn't hear me come in so they didn't know I was listening,”he mumbled.
“How about you come in and sit down kid,” I felt sympathetic even though I had no idea why he had come to me.

Gavin nodded and sat down on the armchair closest to the fire and shuffled his feet as he stared at his hands now clasped resting on his knees this short  brown curly hair falling into his eyes. 
“What did they say to upset you?” I asked shutting the door and sat down across from him making sure the tissues were near at hand.

“Everyone knows they fight, you must know if your like me,” Gavin stuttered.
“Yeah I had a feeling.”
“Well I was … they never told me but apparently mum...she had another son. They've been together since they were kids but apparently mum met someone else,” Gavin scrambled for words.
“I see,” I frowned but kept my tone even. I couldn't help but wonder why this was my problem still.

“Jason, your friend, he told me to sneak back in today and listen then come to you,” Gavin locked eyes with me then and I couldn't help but feel like the little empath read me like a book.

“What else did you hear?” I asked my curiousity starting to peak.
“Mum's other son got caught. He's like me, mum said she's always liked unusual men so they pass on the gene but dads completely normal just like mum she swears I'm my dads son though. She says it's not her fault that her sons are so weird that it's there fathers but now my brother, I guess, has been caught he's … he's in there,” Gavin fell to pieces at the end his little shoulders shaking as he wept. I move the tissues to the arm of his chair without a word, guys have always been weird about acknowledging that they are crying.

“Is that what you wanted to tell me?” I asked standing in front of the fire facing him. In almost a blink of an eye Gavin was attached to my waist crying uncontrollably. He was hunched because even at his young age (I wasn't sure of the exact number) he shouldn't have only come up to my waist when I was only five foot three. I ran my fingers through his hair as I hugged him back.

“Please help him, your so strong and so is Jason and Paul, please help him and don't let that other man help. The one with grey eyes, he's empty,” I nodded feebly and the kid bolted for the front door without another word making sure to take the tissues with him.

Josh stood at the doorway just as Gavin flung the door open. The kid actually ducked and weaved around Josh as he stood there shocked, Gavin was in the elevator before I even had a chance to breathe. Jason popped into our time next to Josh in the next moment.

“Looks like you have some competition,” Jason chuckled playfully shoving Josh. Josh still appearing to be in shock stood perfectly still his grey eyes locking on mine. I shivered one word echoing through EMPTY.


*****

“So who is he?” I asked Jason soon after.
“Someone you need trust me, you will know it when you meet him,” Jason smirked.
“So not only do I have to rescue Josh, Specks and your wife I now need to find a man I have never even met before, that I remind you I just got guilt tripped into saving. I'm starting to think I'd be better off just burning the place down,” I grumbled finally walking away from the fire place.
“You've honestly had worse ideas,” Paul laughed. He had joined us after Josh's shock had worn off and he had yelled some meaningless threat at Jason.

“So what else is on my to-do list, let's see hair cut break into Pandora and save the world maybe do some groceries or even a tattoo , what do you think of Bow before the saviour?” I asked sarcastically. 
“Not poetic enough for you,” Josh smiled. I suppressed another shiver trying to decode what Gavin could have meant by empty. As Gavin was an empath I hoped he just meant that Josh was in control of his emotions but I never got the chance to ask him. I had been inside Josh's nightmares surely I would know if he was empty that and the fact that he could be moody as hell. As if he saw my thoughts Josh cam and wrapped his arms around me and I breathed in his cologne something woody but sweet.

“Jason,” Josh started, “ I understand that the world has top change but everyone seems to be relying on Jessie to do all of this and she is only one small girl.”

A huge crack resounded through the room as the back of Josh's head hit the tiled floor, I'd like to say that I’d been responsible but Paul held me with one arm and the other arm raised to hit Josh again.

“Paul he meant no harm,” Jason sighed heavily.
“Little piece of condescending shit doesn't deserve to be near her,” Paul muttered, I still don't know if he knew I could hear him. Josh brushed himself off as he stood. I glared up at Paul.
“This little girl doesn't need protection from anyone,” I said shoving Paul away. Josh saw fit to a least look ashamed then.

“I may not have asked for this extra pressure but my goal has always been to bring Pandora down. I wont bitch about a little extra help even if it comes as a hindrance but pretending I'm not capable of doing this is just going to piss me off,” I rubbed my arms to scrub the anger off before saying, “if anything I feel more sorry for Gavin then I do myself. At least I'm capable of doing something where he's not. He has to beg a near stranger to help.”

“If I could have found another way I would have but we really do need Gavin's brother,” Jason held his hands open as if he could show how helpless he was.
“The worst part is I know I decided all this, even if it wasn't yet or in this timeline but somehow future me knew I could do this,” I sighed and ran my fingers through the end of my ponytail.
“It's still a lot for you to take on without much notice, if they really are telling the truth,” Josh bared his teeth at Jason as he spoke, like a feral dog.

“What do you even have to do besides bitch?” Paul yelled at Josh.
“Oh I see how it is when I bite the dust in the future it's you who warms her bed is it?” Josh advanced on Paul. I shot Josh in the foot. Literally. 
“Aaah what the hell?” Josh staggered.

“Oh its a blank you giant idiot, like a agent doesn't know the difference,” I slammed my bedroom door shut not even saying another word. The blank probably felt more like a paint-ball pellet than a bullet but at that stage I wouldn't have cared less if I had live ammunition in the chamber.

I paced my room for awhile and even did push ups to run off the steam. Jason somehow turned up after I gave up I rolled onto my back on the floor staring at the ceiling when I noticed him sitting cross legged on my bed. He must have time jumped there because my door was definitely locked.

“Josh was wrong,” Jason said quietly.
“About?” I asked flinging an arm over my eyes.
“Well most of it, but I meant Paul, he's just your friend nothing more, you're close with all of us and you turn to Paul for advice occasionally even if you don't listen to it. Paul respects you so much and I finally decided to tell him everything that happened or happens soon, safe to say it doesn’t go well and Paul isn't handling it well especially Josh getting in your way right now,” Jason said in the most serious tone I had heard him use.

“Why doesn't Paul already know?” I asked looking up at him. 
“Oh past me doesn't call you. Paul and I haven't actually done this part yet but you tell me everything when we do finally start working together,” Jason said matter of factly.
“So why did I have to meet you today?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Well you promised to help then you will and then I trust you,” Jason grinned.

“You were a prick today by the way,” I laughed feeling better.
“And you seemed like a stuck up bitch,” he laughed to and rain started to fall.




















Chapter 3

I stretched out in my bed and yawned I was in no hurry today. I had curled up in bed watching old movies and hiding from my strange flatmates. Paul had brought me food at some stage and apologised for acting weird but I just thanked him for the food which I wolfed down before falling into a deep sleep.

I don't know what happened with Josh but when Paul had brought me food it was apparent Josh was long gone. Maybe he had gone home or to have Doc heal his bruise or wounded pride same thing. I still felt angry so I had no remorse or guilt.

I soon clambered out of bed and checked my reflection I swear my green eyes had changed shades but shook the idea off and headed for the shower I ran my favourite leisure setting and enjoyed the warmth as I tried to scrub the word empty from my body as if I had scrawled it all over me in attempts to work it out. Then came the thought of Josh in the shower and that was enough to chase me out.

I dressed quickly in warm jeans boots and shirt all varying shades of black. I added my usual shoulder holster and gun making sure I replaced the first round with another blank (just incase anymore big feet got in my way). 

The house was strangely quiet a note on the fridge declaring Jason and Paul had gone out was the only hint I could find. As I wondered where they had found the paper I poured myself some fresh coffee and munched on a juicy green apple. After my lunchtime snack I decided I felt like going for a walk and check on Specks, I hadn't since getting back.

*****

“How's my favourite fugitive?” Specks giggles as I walk in.
“Over worked,” I reply with a smile.
“Well if you can manage to not shoot my only other friend I'd be grateful,” Specks smirks.
“if he can watch his issues,” I sigh.

Speck's grey hair had taken a more white appearance making the twelve year old look more like he had a bad dye job than aging now. The scars that ran across his dark skin looking faded as well.
“I replaced your jacket with a suit it should resist slow moving knives and scalpels now as well as gun shots and burns. Though if you get stabbed hard enough the suit will end up in the wound so I've reinforced certain areas to make it less likely, as long as your measurements are still the same,” he smiled over the new toy he was tinkering with.

The dragon skin suit sat on the table nearest me as if he had expected my visit as if reading my mind he simply smirked at me. I picked it up and felt the weight it was clearly made just for me.

“I don't think Jason would look any good in it besides he's too busy with the case that forced him off holiday time,” Specks clearly knew this was news to me. I frowned as I nearly dropped the suit in shock.
“Oh you didn't know, goodie! Bet you can't guess who he's chasing,” Specks urged seeming more like a kid then he had the whole time I'd known him.
“Jason?” 
“Oh your no fun,” Specks pouted.
“Crap. What's he going to do?” I ask.
“Well he can't take the future one so he's chasing the one you met yesterday,” Specks explained
“How?” I started to notice something weird.
“With guns I assume,” Specks now seemed bored.
“No, what I meant was how did you know I met Jason yesterday?” My knuckles clenched around the suit I was still holding.

“Josh must have mentioned it.”
“He doesn't know that Specks,” I growled.
“Yes because Jason only talks to you,” Speck's sarcasm was evident and whilst it was a viable excuse it really didn't sit right. I thanked him for the cat suit looking armour and left him to his gadgets.

I thought I would wander around a little like the day I had met Specks. In the elevator I automatically pressed the button for Josh's office floor. The doors opened to the plain looking floor with office cubicles scattered everywhere and offices with glass walls and large windows around the edges of the cubicles.

Agents walked around with paper files and fancy looking electronic tablets with what looked like even more cases. I wondered if I was in any of those files. Slipping invisible I walked among them reading over their shoulders or listening into their conversations apparently some secretary was having an affair with a few agents not all male. That's when I saw her. She was impossible to miss because everyone was dressed in black and white with the occasional colourful tie she was in a pink blouse.

She stood in her office behind the glass wall next to her open door. She had an air of importance about her despite the fact that she was about my age red hair and had matched the pink blouse with a poke-dot purple skirt and white shirt. She looked like a quirky librarian glasses and all. She waved an agent in by waving at him with long pink nails flashing. I decided to follow. She moved behind the desk as the agent and I entered.

“So Harper update on the thingy we have that lab rat making please darling?” She gushed fluttering her eyelashes at him.
“He believes the device is finished yesterday and is perfect for the teleporter in holding we tested it and it seems up to code Molly,” Harper frowned.

“Ooh lovely, I'm sure our guest is very appreciative of that and the company?” Miss Pink asked.
“Well we have got him neutralising her ability to escape as part of the deal to stop letting Specks play with him. So Specks agreed not to install a tracker on either of them Madam,” Harper said he looked like half the agents in here nothing special.
“Good thank you darling and I told you it's Molly,” She waved him out of her office as I shifted through the new information. The teleporter had to be Jason's wife.

I ran to the elevator careful not to knock anyone though I think a green fuzzy agent felt me rushing past. I came to a halt and noticed Josh was in his office, might be fun to surprise him, I thought to myself. I knocked on the door and when he opened it I slid inside he shut it soon after when he saw no one there. Josh frowned and sat back at his desk when I was just about to reveal I was there his phone rang.

“Josh,” He answered. I didn't hear the reply but Josh put it on speaker so I could hear every word that followed, whether he knew it or not.
“You were saying,” Josh urged as he started to draw aimlessly on a piece of paper in front of him.
“I understand that the assignment with our mutual friend is getting a bit personal,” Specks voice echoed through the room.
“If she's dumb enough to give me her heart that's her fault,”Josh replied callously.
“Those implanted memories worked a little too well I take it,” Specks grumbled.
“Who knows maybe it's just my charm,” Josh grinned.
“Look your something I made in the lab a clone for fuck sake. Something cloned from a dead boy she thought she loved when she was little just like that friend of hers we had you two kill. The head of Pandora has asked for us not to harm her in anyway,” Specks growled once more.

At this stage I was damn near hyperventilating but I stood still and listened on as a tone ran through the phone line that sounded like someone trying to dial.
“Only capture her when she tries to break-in with Jason and Paul so we can have the complete set,” Josh said as his eyes glazed over and his personality seemed to drain away. His rough drawing left forgotten.
“Are the listening devices correctly placed?” Specks asked.
“Yes sir.”
“And the explosives fail safe?” Specks questioned the zombie in front of me.
“Yes sir.”

I was shaking now. A clone. Empty. It all fitted everything I had seen in Josh's mind had been planted now I knew why he was so easy to manipulate. That's why Gavin had said he was empty, that's why Jason and Paul didn't know him. He wasn't real.

I felt like I was going to be sick. I started crying hysterically my whole body shaking illusions keeping me hidden from sight or hearing I screamed in agony as I felt like my chest imploded. It hurt physically seeing Josh there empty was his name even Josh or did he have a designation like a robot and what's worse Specks had sent him. Someone I thought was like a brother to me the whole time I screamed again at the thought. I felt myself breaking as my mind ran through every kiss and touch and the quiet moments in the night where I had run my fingers through Josh's hair and he had kissed places I now wanted to burn. That thing had touched me, made love to me promised me things and then I realised as I curled up on his office floor how good it would be to be that empty.

Josh and Specks wound up there conversation and I moved out of the way into a corner Josh exited his office as my phone rang his personality apparently switched back on. Listening devices meant I had to be careful what I said.

“Hello,” I said my voice coming out cracked.
“We're here,” Came Jason's voice.
“The apartment?” I asked.
“The fire alarm went off the whole building was evacuated, leave your phone where it is and meet us in basement level 5 say nothing else,” Paul said calmly.















Chapter 4
I stood in the elevator headed to meet Jason and Paul. I had my head against the cool metal wall hoping it would fight off the hot flush that threatened to make me lose my breakfast. As the doors opened to the basement and I had my gun ready as two agents smiled at me and I could feel a tingle of my own power so I stripped it back until the agents disappeared, Jason and Paul stood in their place with a bag that was full of my favourite toys.

I changed into the dragon skin armour I had been holding and suited up using as many weapons I could carry as some sort of security blanket. Gun's and blades barely weighing me down as I strapped them to my waist wrists thighs and even ankles I put my boots on and stood with the guys. I rolled my shoulders and forced a smile back to match Jason's.

“Did I know it was today?” I asked them.
“No actually were a couple days earlier then we expected I wonder what changed the timeline,” Jason mused.
“We were told to wait till the day you left the coffee cup next to the sink rather then in the dishwasher,” Paul explained.
“Because that means I was in a hurry?” I asked him.
“No clue, honestly sometimes you give us cryptic clues just for fun,” Jason shoulder bumped me as we faced the elevator.
“Time to go hunting rabbits,” Paul entered first and hit Speck's floor.

“All aboard,” Jason said following him. My favourite gun in my right hand and the two men I hoped I could trust in front of me, who wouldn't get issues after the day I'd had. My emotions had switched off and a quite dark mood came over me as I stepped in the elevator.

A random thought popped into my head so I sang it out loud.
Run rabbit 
Run rabbit, run run run
Don't give the farmer his fun fun fun
He'll get by without his rabbit pie
Run Rabbit 
Run Rabbit, run run run
The doors opened slowly.








Chapter 5
The white hospital walls unnerved me for the first time in a long time. Jason and Paul had rigged the elevator and stairs so no one would be interrupting us or walking into the line of fire.
“Cara is kept close to Speck's so he could work on a stabalizer for her powers it should be either on her or in his lab,” Jason had explained.

With a death grip on my gun I exited the elevator. Whilst Jason and Paul had talked the talk now that the time had come Jason had gone serious and quiet and Paul looked as pale as a ghost his scar on his nose from where he had once broken standing out more than ever.

I had already shrouded us in an illusion in case Specks was watching the little bastard deserved no warnings. I opened the door to his lab and nearly stood stock still as I noticed he was not alone if it had not been for Paul shoving me forward I would have lost my nerve then. 

Molly aka Miss Pink stood at one end of the room whilst her talon like nails drummed impatiently the table she stood leaning on. Josh stood besides her blankly clearly having been switched off like he had up stairs. Specks was boasting about how far Josh had gotten with me when I snapped and dropped the illusion. 

“Knock knock,” I chuckled gun raised with both hands. Molly squeaked, Specks even jumped slightly and Josh seemed to snap back to life at the sound of my voice, he smiled at me sweetly as if all was fine and I felt sick to my stomach. My heart almost felt like it broke all over again.

“So who exactly is in charge here?” Jason asked sounding more like Paul with a bored tone to his voice.
“Clearly that would be me,” Specks eyes darkened as he spoke.
“Of the labs or the whole building?” Jason questioned.
“Oh no, more like a third of Pandora at the very least,” Specks smirked.

Something must have triggered Josh because before I could block him he was out the lab through a back door, running at full pace as far as I could tell through the glass panels.
“I'm more of a secretary,” Miss Pink squeaked trying to shrink in on herself.
“Shut up,” Specks ordered as he slapped her which was impressive with her six inch heels making her tower over him. I raised my gun and shot at a canister to her right. She squeaked once more before she dropped to the ground in a faint.

“I think that was a little unnecessary, she appears to have soiled herself in my laboratory,” Specks glowered at me.
“First round was a blank, I need the real ammo more,” I said not phased about his precious floor.
“I can give you everything you ever wanted and this is how you treat me like some lab rat that has to be put down?” Specks roared his voice no longer suiting his small stature.

“Jessie someone needs to go after Josh we've got the rat,” Paul growled the last word in Speck's direction. 
“Where is the teleporter?” I asks Specks looking down the barrel of my gun ignoring Paul for the vital Information.
“I think you'll find Josh has already beat you there,” Specks gestured at the doors Josh had exited.
“This is what she needs now go,” Jason threw a small silver watch almost a feminine match to his to me and I ran.
*****
Paul's Perspective
With Jessie gone I could now think straight. Jason had told me to send her away as going after Josh would be hard enough but killing Specks in his childlike form would certainly break her. Jason and I had done extensive research and found that Specks was older then he appeared having testing altered his growth and he was known to lie about it. 

“Paul and Jason pleasure to finally meet you,” the smug rodent said bowing. My glock was already up but I hadn't noticed Specks had grabbed knives during his bow till one was hurtling through the air at us. Out of instict I grabbed Jason and slammed him to the ground before the knife struck a computer screen that had been behind where Jason had been standing.

I grabbed a nearby metal waste basket and lobbed it over the desk that separated us. The desk had storage in it otherwise I would have just shot his knee caps. I heard Specks cry out in pain and shock at the metal bin clanged. That was a good sign so Jason and I sprung up and both fired at where Specks had risen to throw another knife.

He grinned at us as blood blossomed from his chest. 
“You didn't think it would be that easy,” Specks panted making me hopefully that I had at least nicked a lung. He threw another knife Jason in his shock only just moved enough so it hit his shoulder rather than his heart.








Chapter 6
Jessie's Perspective
I ran down the hall way opening one door at a time slamming each one that appeared empty my cursing growing louder and filthier as I went from room to room along what seemed like an endless corridor. I spotted a set of double doors that gave me hope my gun still in my right hand as I swung the door open standing off to the side as a bullet flew through the air and lodged in the wall opposite the doors.

“How rude Honey,” I called in.
“Sorry Baby Girl, it's nothing personal,” Josh's voice travelled out.
The hell it isn't, I thought. I made an illusion of me walk into the room gun raised in defeat.
“Can't we just talk about this Honey?” My illusion begged. Two more shots rang out as I made my illusion react to them collapsing in a pool of illusion blood I heard Josh's sigh of relief.

“That wasn't so hard now was it?” Josh asked, I heard sobbing then, a woman's. As Josh bent down to check my illusions pulse I walked in and placed my gun to his temple.
“Now that's just not playing fair Baby Girl,” he raised his grey eyes to me and dropped his gun. “You won't harm an unarmed man would you?” I back handed him with the gun releasing the dead illusion of me as he fell to the floor unconscious.

***** 
Paul's Perspective
“You guys should come work for me,” Specks called over the wide metal desk. I shifted my weight and Jason winked at me as he dissappeared before my eyes.
“Mother Fucker!” Specks exclaimed as Jason reappeared and yanked him up by his throat. I shot for him straight in the heart whilst Jason stood off to the side. Specks clawed at Jason's hands still and I decided it was time to give up on the guns.

“Paul come grab a knife whilst I pin him,” Jason had clearly decided the same. Jason slammed the kid shaped man down on the desk as I pulled the knife out of the screen. They were more like oversized scalpels then kitchen knives but as I stepped up to the table and locked eyes with Jason, I knew there was only one way to make sure this rat stayed dead.

I ran the knife along his neck amazed at how sharp the knife was as the skin split easily below it blood coated the table and Jason's hand not to mention the unconscious filthy woman on the floor as I noticed the watch Jason now wore on a bench and pocketed it. Jason looked on in glee.
“That's for my wife you little bitch.”
*****
Jessie's Perspective
The girl who had been sobbing had amped it up to full blown hysteria now her short black hair now soaked and plastered to her head with sweat and tears the glass cell practically empty. Except for her and she was huddled in a corner as far away from me as she could get. I'd calm her in a second first I had to deal with the lab reject laying on the floor. As long as I didn't think of him as … well Him I'd be fine I decided.

His lack of consciousness left the bond weaker and I realised since I had entered the room I had felt my power waning. I remembered the conversation I had heard Molly have upstairs with the random agent.

“I need you to stop cancelling my power, I'm only here to help,” I said to the cell next to me I hadn't noticed that had somehow been eclipsed with darkness even though the whole floor had white bright hospital lighting. A shadow moved within and my power came back like a fresh breath of air. 
“Thank you,” I stammered.

I poured every feeling emotion and broken piece of me into my power feeding it and nurturing it till I blasted it into that things head. His eyes flew open his hands slamming against his ears as he screamed and screamed. My anger, my pain and my memories fed the power as Jason eyes drained of their colour blood running down his cheeks. He started to choke on his scream as the blood ran from his ears.

I had shown him that same illusion of nothing. Perfect an absolute nothing just like I had lightly done the first time he screwed me over this time there was no escape, I used the illusion to make him feel like he was falling through the emptiness and he screamed with renewed vigour scratching at the ground till his nail beds bled. I stopped the fall so suddenly that he passed out again. Permanently deaf and blind he was as good as dead especially with his blood now painting the tiled floor.

I stole the thing formally known as Josh's key card from where it was clipped to his agent suit jacket and used it to open both cells. The woman I presumed was Cara only folded in on herself quieting down to a steady shaking sobbing in the corner of her cell. The shadow shifted in it's cell but made no attempt to escape both unsure of my intentions.

“For fuck sakes Jess, where are you?” I heard Paul shout.
“In here,” I yelled unsure of what to do next.
“Cara!” Jason yelled as he reached the door, he quickly launched himself into the woman's cell she reached out and pulled him in tight.
“Paul?” came a thick deep male voice from the dark cell.
“Well I'll be damned both in the same room, Hi Hayden,” Paul replied actually sighing in relief.
“Well in this place ya can never be sure,” Hayden replied a familiar accent showing through.

“Can we leave now?” Cara begged as Jason got her to climb on his back like a small monkey. Cara seemed unable to walk and Jason clearly didn't want to get separated from her it was then I noticed Jason's immense strength. 
“Yes,” I answered calmly noticing Cara's flinch as I spoke. 

I didn't see Hayden emerge but I heard him talking in the hall with Paul so he must have. Jason carried Cara out next as I went to follow I saw blood on Jason his or Cara's I did not know. I turned to Josh one last time in time to notice his eyes had some how healed and he was staring straight at me. There was a ringing in my ears and something tasted metallic on my tongue.

My legs gave out and so did my consciousness.
*****
Paul's Perspective
I heard the shot and raced back in the room. I saw Jessie on the ground blood started to pool beneath her. The husk that had been Jason sat in the middle of the room.
“What do I do now?” The thing asked me. It looked hollowed out now. Before I even had a chance to move Paul shot it straight between the eyes using Jason's gun.

“Jason, Cara we need to go now Jessie's hurt shes bleeding bad Hayden help me,” I ordered as Hayden touched the wound and the blood stopped. Hayden scooped her up as he nodded to me.
“We need you at point with the gun,” Hayden said as he carried Jessie like she weighed nothing. Jason came in and Cara reached out to touch Hayden so I grabbed hold too we didn't have time to waste.

I found the control in my pocket and hit the detonation button just as we blinked out of existence.










Chapter 7
Jessie's Perspective
Something was wrong, I could feel it. I kept wondering what I had been doing before I fell asleep. I heard talking an Irish accent, I surmised I must be at Doc's. Originally I'd been attacked by nightmares swarming faceless bodies together, now there was peaceful dreams.

A sandy island oasis filled my dreams. I would just sit on the sand watching the ocean. Sometimes a voice would break through and I'd writhe in pain and then everything would fade to black but I some how always found my way back to the beach.

I decided as I sat there after what felt like an eternity, enough dreaming it was time to wake up, so I ran into the ocean. As I crashed through the waves I broke through.

“She's a stubborn one this lass.” 
“Aye lad, always has been,” I recognised only Doc's voice
“I think she's waking up, I didn't catch her this time,” A stranger said.
“Best make yourself scarce then,” Doc replied.
“I told ya Da, she wont mind and I think she still needs me,”
“She's been through a lot and I will not have you shocking her, she needs rest still I'll send for you if I need ya boyo,” Doc said in a final tone.

“I'll be fine,” my voice cracked as I joined the conversation.
“Oh come on,” I heard shuffling and a door close. I opened my eyes and sat up gingerly. Besides feeling like I had a hangover I felt fine.

“You hit your head in all the commotion, just a concussion no permanent damage, simple fix really. Do you have any idea why you were out so long?” Doc hovered close with one hand braced on the door.

“Probably has something to do with how much energy I burnt through on Josh,” I replied my heart ached at his name and the pain poured down my cheeks as I started to cry.

“We'll I'll be damned and here I was think you had a heart of stone. Never saw ya cry after what happened with my lass but then again that was my fault,” Doc's eyes widened and he let go of the door. “Lad we need you in here after all,” Doc ordered.

“I told ya so,” came the reply.
“I know I was wrong thanks for rubbing salt in it,” Doc answered as I took the aspirin and drank the water Doc handed me. I cleaned up my face with tissues that stood on a table next to the bed.

“Hello there,” I stared up in wonder at the owner of the voice. The man who had walked in was tall with a light build and wide shoulders and blonde hair but his skin looked like marble; pure white but with ripples of silver, black and blue running through it as if he was made of stone. His eyes a deep dark green which glared at me now as if daring me to comment or freak out at his appearance.

“So beautiful,” Escaped my mouth before I had a chance to think. His eyes softened and then he broke into a wide smile perfect white teeth flashing. 
“Well Jessie meet my son Hayden, from what the lads said you've met his half brother Gavin,” Doc gestured towards Hayden looking amused at my reaction and Hayden's.

“Hello Hayden, I think we almost met at the other place...” I trailed off and I groan as more of the memories of what happened rise to the surface. Josh's face dripping with blood as he stared at me.

“Aye we had more important things than introductions to do back there,” He chuckled sitting on the end of my bed. I stared at him curiously as I tried to stop the images that were surfacing in my mind.

“What happened after I got hurt?” I asked looking between Doc and Hayden.
“Best not to think about that just yet,” Hayden held out his hand towards me. I reached out and marvelled at the feel of his skin softer than silk but solid like stone. A warmth ran through me and I swear I could practically smell the ocean as the feeling washed over me.

I sighed and Hayden moved so I could lean into him.
“Hayden here has unique powers, on one hand he can cancel out powers or he can collect them for a short time and use them as he pleases. I think you'll find he found yours quite useful, though its limited to use on people he's in contact with because Hayden hasn't quite figured it out yet,” Doc chuckled.

“Actually there's a little bit of my brother Gavin's gift in this mix,” Hayden explained, “we spent a lot of time together when he was very little though he doesn't remember me, I can always use his power,” He smiled sadly.

“Thank you,” I smiled into his black shirt breathing in his sandalwood cologne. 
“No thank you. I was in hell they forced me to look like this with all their damned experiments,” I could tell from his tone he wasn't happy about it but as I looked up his eyes still held warmth.

“The others?” I asked.
“All patched up I swear,” Hayden said the door opening and then shutting.
“Don't worry Da's probably just gone to tell them your fine Jess,” He said my name with an unusual tone as if I was a long lost friend. Hayden shifted so we could sit up against the now raised back of the hospital style bed and he put his arm around me.

“ Can I still work through my emotions when you do this? I don't really want to have to hold your hand to function,”  I asked resting my head on his shoulder.
“I can let you go if ya like?” Hayden offered but I shook my head and fell back asleep in his arms.

*****
Cara was concerned, she'd never met me before and now Jason and her bestfriend Paul were both talking as if they idolised me. She missed her husband the rude grumpy guy she had to yell at to get her way. Jason was upbeat and it was if he had hope for once which she didn't mind but it just wasn't the Jason she was used to.

“Don't stress babe,” said Jason as he noticed her expression. 
“As soon as we've had a good talk with Jessie the version of us that your used to can switch places with us,” Paul could sense her unnerve too.
“Then what? I don't want to be stuck in this school hospital looking place for the rest of our lives,” Cara whined.

“I know your itching to get out of here and I'm sure we will very soon,” Jason's eyes softened as he pulled Cara from her chair to his lap. Holding her like he wasn't sure he would ever see her again. At least he still smelt like her Jason even if he was so different this was why she always hated it when he jumped time without her.
*****
Jessie's Perspective

I woke up with Hayden's arm around me, apparently he'd laid down at some stage and I had slept on his chest. I blinked up at his face as his chest shook with a deep chuckle. “Good afternoon sleepy head.” 
I smiled staring into his crystal blue eyes.

“Do you think I could brave the world enough to have a shower and what not?” I genuinely asked.
“I think you can do anything you put your mind to,” Hayden said tucking a stray hair behind my ear making me want to purr.

“I'm not usually this cuddly,” I said blushing remembering I had just met this man.
“I don't doubt that but your power calls to mine and being inside your head for two days I feel like I know ya,” Hayden's accent was yummy I wont lie.
“How did you make that beach?” I asked connecting the dots.
“Yeah I borrowed your power lass, but the beach was something I found in your head actually. You ever been there?” Hayden asked intently.

“No it's more like a fantasy safe place I came up with. I felt someone there were you in my head the whole time?” I sat up and looked down at the stunning creature before me. 

“Your power is extremely draining so I had to stay in your head to conserve power sorry,” He rubbed his eyes as he said it prove how tired he was. I nodded standing up next to the bed I could listen to him talk all day but I needed the little girls room.

Thankfully I had been to Doc's makeshift hospital before and I knew where to find it.

 

Tags: sad, scary, pain, hate,