Props to my girl Joristha. She's the best as well as the third author of this story. Thank God for this girl cause she is always there for me especially during my Writer's Block. This Chapter is from her. Hope you like it. I sure did. _______________________________________________ Chapter 17 Prom Night "Prom night finally. I've waited for this for so long. The chance of happiness I can obtain but for one night. I feel my heart bursting with excitement. I'm in a conundrum all the same." Penelope says, her eyes wide behind her glasses. "What?" "Just...you. You spoke English. Like English English. Like needs to be interpreted with a note book and pencil type." says Melody, laughing. "It's strange. You sound so at home with it. Like you've know it all your life." "Penn. You've had many a chance over the cen..." Rya starts. "Guys! Make me beautiful. Pronto." Screams Patricia running in with an arm load of bags. "Don't stand there watching. Help me!" "Okay." Is the collective chorus. "Let's make you boodiful." Hair, make-up and fourteen dresses later Patricia is ready. "Great. Now we have less than two hours to prepare ourselves. Thanks Pat." Rya snarks. Penn is silent, a distant look in her eyes. "Pen?" "I wait in silence. I wait with fear. Ours is a dark affair. I know your voice. I know you care. But nothing is stronger than man's prejudice. Man's fear." Penelope mutters. "Tears wash us. God help us. Find love again. Mankind. Find love again. For love is stronger than all." Rya sighed. "Sweetheart. Hey there. Penn. Don't worry." Penelope blinks slowly. "Huh? Worry about what? Guys?" The other girls watch her unsure. Pat breaks first. "You just started spouting poetry. You don't remember?" Penn snorts. "Heh. Is that hairspray of yours getting to you?" She looks at them all in turn. "Ok. Has it been affecting all of you then?" The girls share a look but continue with their dressing
Btw, how does someone get their period in preschool? ewe last time I checked I understood it wasn't possible considering the child would still be under physical development.
Chapter 18 The Prom Pat sat back, her mind replaying the events of the night especially the boss's look. He was telling them to guard the girl with their lives. Hopefully he already knew about them picking up their dates in the limo. Hopefully this minor detail didn't affect everything too much. Penelope sat opposite Pat muttering, though unintelligibly. The events of the night filtering through her mind. 'Keep her safe. Keep them safe. Don't let her see. Don't them see her.' Rya sat next to Melody hearing her excited chatter but not really listening. Mainly she was off about that confounded boy. Mason? She couldn't remember. But there was an undercurrent in the air that something was to change. Something was going to disrupt the normalcy. The balance. Hopefully it won't be too harmful or harsh for that matter. "Do you think he'll like it? The dress I mean?" Melody prattled nervously. "The shoes? My hair? Everything?" "All he needs to be concerned with is the person in the dress." Pat said smirking. "Girls? Is there anyone else to swing by?" Daren, the limo's driver asked. "Yes. Our dates. I will give you the address." Penelope said leaning forward. Rya snickered. Her date. Jeez. Jeff. Also known as 'The Lady Killer'. Yeah right. She knew his flip side too. Melody had so much to know about...everything. "Here we are ladies. Should I sound the horn to get their attention or will one of you go on up to the door and ring the bell?" Daren asked. "I'll go up." Pat piped up. She dashed from the limo and up to the door, with a certain grace and speed that was unknown of her. Four inch heels with that movement? Wow. Somewhat unheard of. She glided up the stairs and poised her hand to knock and almost hit Benji in the face. "Whoa! Sorry Benny. Are y'all ready? C'mon. We gotta go." "Wait a bit. I'll get Lance and Jeff." he said in his extremely soft voice. As he turned around he walked squarely into Lance. "Oof. Well I guess you know that the girls are here with our transportation. I'll go get Jeff and Toby then." "No need to get me. I'm already here." Toby announced with a flourish. "I'll get Jeff if you want. " "No. I'll get Jeff." Lance said smirking. "Jeffrey! Hey Jeffrey! Let's go man. Our dates are here." "Keep your tux on 'mom'. I'll be down in a minute." Jeff shouted back. He had to make sure he was... irresistible. Hair neat, tailored suit and shoes shone. Yeah. He was ready. Sauntering down the stairs he walked into the view of four very agitated people. "Sure took your time, 'Lady Killer'. Hopefully we'll reach in time to have a dance or two." Pat sneered. "I'm sure Rya is bursting with excitement to be slayed by the famous 'Killer'. Let's go,boys." Sweeping away, Pat returned to the car and waited for the boys to finish locking up the doors and fix what ever little points that went awry in their outfits. Two minutes later the boys entered with a pleasant "Good Evening" as greeting. Pat visibly rolled her eyes as Melody and Penny shyly returned the greeting. But under the intense scrutiny of Benji she felt herself blush too. He was...aesthetically pleasing she could admit. Rya scoffed at Jeff. Geez. Could he be any creepier? Leering at her so obviously. Couldn't he behave? "I can. I just don't want too." He said still staring. "You said it aloud so don't fret." Rya flinched. Daren turned. "Everyone in?" They answered in the affirmative. "Alright then. Let's go." Daren checked the road and then quickly drove to the highway. The dance was taking place in a resort call "La Guardia De Playa". He could get them there before the dance got into full swing. It was set to start at 8. It was now a quarter to the hour. They might reach in a half hour depending on traffic.
Chapter 19 -Part 1 La Guardia De Playa The group sat in silence waiting to reach the dance. They were late. A minor accident, flat tire and a shortcut later they finally reached the location. Sighing, they all made to come out before Toby sat them all back. "We'll come out first. Since you all are our dates we have to be ya know...gentlemen. So let's go guys." Pushing them out the boys lined up awaiting the respective date to alight from the car. Melody left with Lance. Toby with Penelope. Pat with Benjamin. Bringing up the rear was Rya and Jeff but not without a few harsh words volleyed by the pair. "Can you two stop bickering for once? Please? Thanks." Pat asked snappily. Rya and Jeff looked at one another in slight agreement but the tension still hung in the air between them. Shrugging off the moment, the couples walk hand in hand to the doors of the building. The gents walk forward and present the tickets while the ladies chatter amongst themselves commenting on the idea of the interior of building. Whimsical. Old branches, dried shells and coconuts adorned the walls with bits of sea glass. It was beautiful. The artificial lighting made one feel as though they were underwater. The girls were broken our of their trance by the return of their dates. Holding their hands they walked into the ballroom and were transported into a world so different from their own. Different time periods had clashed making a love child of those greatest eras right there in the ballroom. Victorian. Renaissance. Even a part of the sixties made it in. It was beautiful. But what made it somewhat shocking was the masks. They were wearing actual masks. The make-up the girls wore did look mask like but what about the boys? They didn't have any. "You boys need masks?" Mr Earles, the science asked. "Yes. Thank you." Benji answered ever so softly over the soft classical music playing. For an instant he could have been considered as shouting. The kids were milling about on the dancefloor waiting for the volume to be raised and a song from the 21st century to play. The party hadn't picked up yet even though it was almost half eight. Mr Earles led them to the table where the masks were set up. "Had this prepared for all those who didn't get one ya see. Choose your favorite." Lance stepped over and picked a plain white mask that covered the horizontal half of his face, Toby chose a gold one that covered the right side, Benjamin a black and red one that covered the left and Jeff a black full covering mask that only had holes for his mouth and eyes. The boys, content with their choices returned to their dates and led them to the sitting area across the dance floor. They could feel all eyes on them as they glided (Melody and Lance, Penny and Toby, Pat and Benji), walked (Rya) and strutted (Jeff), across the floor. Ensuring that their dates were properly settled, the boys decided to get refreshments for them. The boys each carried their dates favorite snack and drink to the table. Toby had found out earlier that Penny loved sweets and savories. Taking a dish he loaded it up with every type he found on the table except the beef and pork options. He remembered her saying that she didn't eat those. Taking some of the punch in one of the provided glasses he made his way back to the table. Relinquishing the dish and the drink he returned to the table to get his own. Penelope sat blushing, enjoying the gentlemanly behavior of Toby. The girls looked at her face, silently snickering. Feeling watched, she turned to them. "What? Is there something wrong?" The girls laughed openly. "Is there something on my face then?" "Yes!" They answered. Frowning, she was just about to brush the offending material off her face when the girls laughed a bit harder. "What?" "Its love." Pat gasped out. "Pardon?" Penny asked wondrously. "Love. That's what's on your face sweetheart. You like him." Melody stated, extremely sure. "I should know. I have that face around Lance too." Shortly after saying that the boys returned, sitting next to their dates. They all ate and drank in silence. The boys removed the used glassware and returned it to wash tables. Taking two glasses of punch with him, the boys returned to the table. The dancing had picked up by this time and bodies were jammed together on the floor. Finishing their drinks, the couples stood. Taking the hands of their dates, the walked onto the dance floor. The techno beat had everyone moving, even the chaperones. Lance held Melody's hand twirling and swaying with her. Jeff and Rya swayed stiffly next to one another. Pat coaxed Benji to dance. Toby and Penny held hands and swayed. When the song set had ended every one moved to the refreshment table. All the while, while dancing, Rya felt eyes on her. They were boring into her. But no matter how much she looked, she could never find the perpetrator. Who ever it was must be new. Stretching her hand to get a glass for herself, a glass is thrust into her line of sight. Jeff stood there holding the glass, a small smile on his face. "Consider it a white flag of sorts." "Alright." Rya sipped the contents of the glass enjoying the flavor and coolness of the drink. Was this the same punch? It tasted so good. She kept drinking until the glass was empty. And then things got awkward. A young man came over and asked her to dance. She willingly agreed. Jeff stood there, glaring menacingly at the retreating couple. For a second Rya thought... But it couldn't be. Was that the REAL Jeff she just saw? Rya and the young man danced. The waltz of all things. But there was something familiar about it. Him. It felt like... She knew him from somewhere. Scanning the room for one of the girls she saw Penny looking livid. She was staring murderously at someone. Jaycee Draper. And Toby? No. This can't be happening. Pat and Benji were still dancing something heavy going on between them in their conversation. Just then a page flew past. Oh no. Melody came over her eyes scared. "I can't find Lance. Where is he? Where's Lance?" Melody hissed, the strange musical edge to her voice. Stumbling away she went in search of him. 'Something is wrong.' She thinks. Another piece of paper whizzed past. Penny. Looking towards Penelope Rya cringed at what she saw. The pages started crawling toward her. Toby still had that annoying Draper girl draped over him. Toby looked to out of sorts to care. Slowly the confetti pieces moved up into the air. Pushing her hand out in a inconspicuous gesture Rya prevented the small pieces to rip the girl to shreds. 'Writer!' Rya heard. 'Sanguine Writer. Come to me.' Penny...no... Papercut...was calling Blood Writer. 'No!' She called to Papercut's weapon. 'Remain.' Penny looked at her, her eyes covered with the blood red lenses of her goggles, the gold edging contrasting violently. 'Let me!' She heard in a hiss. 'Let me!' 'No!' she answered firmly. 'Its a trick of your mind. Don't fall under it. What would that do to Toby?' Penny stopped. Her eyes were back to normal but brimming with tears. 'He doesn't care for me.' Resigned, Penn walks out unseen by any one else. Rya politely extricates herself from the young man's grasp and follows Penelope outside. Penny sits in an alcove her shoulders shaking violently. "I've never been considered as one of the good looking ones. I know I'm altered but this thing keeps dredging up all of my nightmares." "Let's take walk, hm?" Rya suggests. As they walk she relates some of her own quirks the drink unearthed. "He feels so familiar. I think I know him." Penny opens her mouth to respond when she starts muttering again a far off look in her eyes.
Chapter 19- Part 2 "Battle cries, Battle cries, Ring out for me... For into battle I must go... Into the discordance to and fro... Wake me from slumber... Let my own eyes see... The battle field the battlefield... Lay bare for me." Rya watches her face closely waiting for some sort of break in consciousness when she starts again. "Music shriek aloud.... Your misery your grief.... For that is stolen away.... That which you seek.... The altered mind.... should be likened as a sly thief." With a small shake of her head, the far off look faded and Penn looked at Rya. "I remember." she whispered. "The words. I saw them. Felt them. Heard them. Spoke them. I was...them." "Shall we walk, dear?" Rya asked, gently, urging her along. "We lost Melody. Let's find her." The girls walked arm in arm, reliving days that were very familiar to them. Very authentic for Rya; semi realistic for Penelope. Enjoying the silence, the girls stepped gracefully. Pat ran out her heels clicking the cement. "Guys! Have any of y'all seen Mel? Benji and I saw that all of you just left." Pat continued the walk with the other girls, chattering about the punch and what could be in it. "Everyone was under it." The girls circled the perimeter not finding Melody. Turning around, they returned to the ballroom. Walking in they saw the kids still drinking the punch, still under the influence of the additive. They were swaying, laughing loudly. Even the teachers were under it. "They're all altered." Pat shrieked. Suddenly a boy tripped his glass spilling its contents on the girls. A light mist covered them and slowly dissipated. The altered effect started again dragging them under its power. Penny's temper flared, all the paper in the room alive with tension. Pat felt the need to burn rise. Rya could barely control them the need to leave consuming her. "Guys. We have to go." Rya gasped out. "Please. He's back. No!" The man walked over to her, his arms outstretched. 'Come to me, my dear.' He hissed. Rya stretched her arms toward him, power struggling under her fingertips. 'GET AWAY FROM ME!' she spat. Benji walked over his mouth clamped shut. He just stared at the girls, slightly unnerved. 'Where are they?' He asked. "Where are Melody and Lance? Where is Melody and Masky?' Melody stumbled through the crowd, her steps uneven, her sight blurred. She'd lost Lance. She had to find him. 'Lance!' she called. 'Where are you?' Tripping, she fell into an alcove hidden by the props for the Ming dynasty. Struggling, she slowly rose to her feet. Her stance similar to that of a newborn deer, she slowly raised her head and saw Lance wrapped around Marsha Delancy like she was a life line. She couldn't breathe. Her eyes stung. Her body fell again. She felt sick. A loud ringing started in her ears. Spots appeared in her vision. Opening her mouth she sucked in a breath and screamed. The paper flew around the hall. The unknown man was flung into the wall. Fire flared from a single "human" source. A knife sailed through the air hitting it's target in the arm. A young man watched silently, recording the chaos, was joined by his masked companion moments later. The scream lasted only a minute. And then. Silence. The entire room had bodies littered around it. All unconscious except for eight. Lance, Rya, Penn, Benji, Jeff ,Toby and Pat all looked around, the fog clearing. "Wh...what...ha..hap...happened?" Toby stuttered out, adrenaline coursing through him. "Penny? What was that?" Rya sat shaking, her eyes wide. "He's dead. He's not real. He's not real" she repeated to herself. Pat gasped. The fire. It burned. It almost killed again. It killed Mason. "I can't hurt anyone again. Please. Don't let it hurt anyone again." Jeff sat, anger edging his voice. "I never miss a target." Penny sobbed, the paint and mascara running down her cheeks. It looked like ink. "Don't. Don't fault me for being me. That's all I can be. Don't hate me." she whispered, more to herself than Toby. Benji looked at Lance, a frown visible on his face. 'What did you do huh? The boss will kill you.' The other boy slowly inclined his head. A gesture of 'I know' if Benji knew his gestures right. Gathering themselves they walk over to their ward. Gently lifting the unconscious girl they walk out of the ballroom, past the beautiful lobby and into the dark of the night into the waiting limousine. The clock struck twelve as the car silently left the area. Focussed on the young woman they were charged with none of them notice the young man dragging himself to the door and collapsing on the stairs, the wound in his arm bleeding slowly. "My...Ry..a..."
I've just now gotten the chance to catch up. This is getting better and better. (Don't listen to the rude people. I know your reasoning for continuing this, and what you want is what matters).