by R. Mason
“I’m also a teenager,” The boy took a step forwards, his hands casually tucked into his jean pockets, “Savaged by a wolf. I saw my article. It was,” Leon considered his words for a moment, laughing, “Interesting.”
“They never said a name,” Dylan shook his head, “I should’ve known when you refused to help. You with her the entire time.”
“She offered a better deal.” Leon tilted his head the same way he had on the field, and Dylan reacted the same way. He so quickly went from the care free, kind boy, to a ball of anger. Amethyst couldn’t deny that he had grown on her.
“Why are you here?” Amethyst crossed her arms, “Where’s Kamini? Where’s Faye?”
“Okay let’s knock that back two questions. I have a short attention span and you’re boring,” The boy tapped his chin in mock thought, “I’m here to negotiate.”
Every time Amethyst blinked, all she could see was Faye, bloodied up and beaten somewhere dark and dangerous. Her hands were shaking at her sides. Taking in a deep breath, Amethyst told herself to calm down. Throughout her life, she never gave people the satisfaction of knowing they got to her. Even when she was being bullied at the beginning of high school, she never cried. Not until she got home. The key to defeating bullies is to hold your head high and tell them they can’t hurt you.
She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, the others were looking at her expectantly.
“What do you want?” She said to Leon, not sparing Dylan or Harper a glance.
“Oh,” Leon smiled, “I definitely expected more of a fight from you. Ready to give up already?”
Amethyst’s vision started to swim, but she didn’t show it on her face, keeping it carefully blank.
“What do you want?” She said it slowly, rolling the words off her tongue and hoping they hit home as the threat they were. No more playing around. If she could’ve kept it to herself, sorted it on her own, done anything to get rid of Kamini in a non-confrontational way, she would have. Now, though- now they had taken Faye. It wasn’t a game anymore.
“You’ve probably guessed it by now,” Leon tilted his head, “I mean, I don’t see the appeal, but Kamini is hard to talk to when she gets in one of her moods.”
“Get to the point.” Dylan snapped.
“She wants Amethyst,” Leon directed it at Dylan now, and his gaze would’ve made anyone crumble beneath it, but Dylan stood strong, meeting it with equal force, “In the most,” Leon laughed slightly, “Primitive way.”
“You’re joking,” Amethyst scoffed, breaking her neutral façade.
Her neck itched, but she refused to scratch it. The way Kamini said her name, drawled it like it belonged to her, like Amethyst belonged to her. It was so possessive, so confident, and it made Amethyst’s skin crawl just thinking about it. If there was one thing that got to her, it was predators, in every sense of the word. She watched as Leon smiled. He looked knowing and smug. Amethyst wanted to scratch the smile off his face.
“Kamini doesn’t joke,” Leon rolled his eyes, “I mean, I should know. I tried to make a comment on her obsession with you and she nearly ripped my throat out.”
“If only she had,” Harper looked the boy up and down in distaste.
“Woah,” Leon held his hands out in front of him, “We’ve only just met, and you already want me dead?” He said sarcastically, “Whatever happened to not shooting the messenger?”
“What about shooting the smarmy dick?” Harper took a step forward, but stopped when Amethyst put a hand up.
“Just-” Amethyst cursed her own voice for sounding so weak- “Tell me how to get Faye back.”
“I can’t,” For the first time, Leon didn’t have a smug grin on his face, but it quickly came back, “Plus, why would I? It’s entertaining to watch you squirm.”
“I’m not squirming,” Amethyst shook her head, “Just tell me where Faye is. There’s three of us, and one of you.”
“Is there?” Leon gestured around them, and eyes glowed in the darkness, “You really think it’s just me? Just because Kamini is busy doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to come unprepared. I know you, Amethyst,” His smile faded away, “I’ve seen all there is to see, watching you for the last month. You’re transparent. Your weaknesses, your wants, your needs,” Leon looked her up and down, “Your immediate reactions to danger,” He tutted, “Why are you so quick to go on the attack, when you don’t even know your own strength? You know nothing about being a werewolf. Nothing. Stop acting tough when you’re just a little girl.”
Swallowing, Amethyst finally allowed herself to clench her fists. The thing was, she knew she wasn’t quick to attack. She ran. Even when anger bubbled inside her, ready to overflow, she always ran before she even had the chance to let it out. That’s all she had been doing for years now, running. Running from her feelings, running from her powers, running from her problems. It didn’t take a genius to work that out.
“If you knew me so well,” Amethyst let her anger seep out, “You would know that there is nothing I wouldn’t do to get my friend back.”
It felt bitter in her mouth, to call Faye that. Honestly, it had never felt right. In this situation, though, she had no idea what else to call her.
“Exactly,” Leon seemed like he saw right through her, and he probably did, “That’s why I told Kamini to take her. Like I said, you’re transparent.”
She looked to her side, and saw that Dylan suddenly looked distraught, and guilty, but she didn’t have time to think about it.
“Okay,” Amethyst pursed her lips. She didn’t dare look over to Dylan or Harper again, sure they could probably see through her now too. It wasn’t a secret anymore. She loved Faye, with all her heart. It was only a matter of time before everyone knew, “Okay. What do I do?”
“Amethyst,” Dylan could have been looking at her worriedly, in disgust, or angrily, but she wouldn’t know. She couldn’t look, “He’s just trying to get to you. You don’t have to do anything he says.”
“You said you’re here to negotiate,” Amethyst ignored him and spoke to Leon instead, “Let’s negotiate.”
“I think I’m going to like you,” Leon pointed at her, “You’ve got attitude.”
“Get on with it, Leon.” Dylan’s hand was on her arm now, and it felt like an anchor. She needed it. It felt like the world was about to fall away from beneath her and swallow her whole. These feelings were dangerous, she knew. Honestly, it was terrifying how much Amethyst would do for Faye. It was limitless. Anything that Leon would say now, Amethyst knew she’d do, and Leon knew it too.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to be holed up in a warehouse on the other side of town,” Leon started, all business now, amusement nowhere to be seen in his eyes, “You’re going to go there, and never come back. You’ll be one of us, and we will let Faye go.”
“I don’t get to see her,” Amethyst didn’t phrase it like a question, because it wasn’t, not really. They would never let her see Faye again. That had to be Kamini’s plan.
“No,” Leon said, and it almost sounded apologetic, “None of them, ever again.”
“Prove to me that she’s safe.”
“Knew you’d say that,” Leon smirked, pulling out his phone. He pressed a few buttons and Amethyst shivered, hating how confident he was in this. He’d been watching her for a month, is what he said. Only a month and he already knew Amethyst inside out. To say she felt exposed would be an understatement. She felt flayed out, her insides left out on display.
“Ammie?” Faye’s voice came from the phone, and Amethyst fell to her knees, all her strength leaving her at once. The phone was thrown in front of her and she scrambled to pick it up, holding it like it was the most precious thing in the world.
“Faye?”
“I’m here!” Faye’s voice was high and panicked, and the tear had escaped before Amethyst could stop it.
“Oh, my God,” Amethyst sobbed, “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you know where you are?”
�
��Slow your roll, Ace,” Faye laughed sadly, “I’ve got a few bumps and bruises. I’m fine, really. I can’t tell you where I am. There are other people here.”
“Shit,” Amethyst rubbed a hand over her face. Here, on the phone with the girl she loved, the world slipped away. She wasn’t on the floor in a forest, getting her knees wet. The kidnapper and two people she had only really known for a few days weren’t watching her. No, it was just Amethyst and Faye, like it always had been.
“Are you okay?”
“No,” Amethyst sniffed, “I’m going to keep you safe, Faye. Whatever it takes, I promise.”
“Okay,” Faye took in a shaky breath, “I trust you.”
“God,” Amethyst bowed her head, “This is so screwed up.”
“I know,” Faye’s voice had gained a calmness, and Amethyst closed her eyes, trying to let it envelop her, “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Yeah,” Amethyst lied, “Yeah, you will. Promise.”
“Ammie, I-” The line cut off.
“Faye?” Amethyst knew it was useless, but tried speaking anyway, “Faye? Are you there?”
“Sorry,” Leon took the phone from her grasp, “That’s all the time we have.”
Hearing Faye’s voice had broken her. Gravity seemed to have tripled, and when Dylan tried to help her up, she stayed on the ground, all energy having leaked into it.
“Amethyst,” Dylan’s voice was close, but foggy, “Come on, you need to get up.”
All Amethyst could do was shake her head. That was the last conversation she and Faye were ever going to have, and she didn’t even say she loved her. She didn’t even say goodbye. The last thing she would ever say to Faye was a lie. A stupid, goddamn lie that Faye would always remember and always hate her for.
“See you tomorrow,” Leon’s voice was foggy too, like it was coming through a faulty radio. Amethyst felt, rather than saw him leave. The air grew colder and she could only hear three heartbeats. Her own, Dylan’s, and Harper’s. When they first arrived, Amethyst could only think of Faye, and hadn’t even considered listening for heartbeats. She had no inkling that there were more than the four of them there.
Now her mind was empty.
“Come on,” Dylan’s hand was on her arm again, but this time it wasn’t welcome. Amethyst didn’t have the energy to shake him off, “We need to go.”
His voice was so gentle and understanding that it made Amethyst want to cry. She didn’t. Instead, she got up. That’s all she could do now.
“Thank you,” Amethyst said blankly, “For coming with me.”
“We wanted to,” Dylan replied.
“We’re here if you need us.”
“Just-” Amethyst rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands- “Take me home.”
She didn’t see the look Harper and Dylan shared, but knew that she wouldn’t be alone tonight.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The drive home was silent. Harper and Dylan were sat in the front, and kept looking at each other as if they wanted to say something, but neither of them did. There was no way out of this, and they all knew it. They had no idea where Faye was, no idea what Kamini’s weaknesses were. They didn’t even know where she was right now. Amethyst was going to have to go with them.
The thought of what Kamini would do to her once she had her made Amethyst want to curl up in a ball and never come out again. This was her life now. This was what she had to get used to.
“Thanks,” Amethyst climbed out of the backseat, and wasn’t surprised when both Harper and Dylan got out of the car too, “You don’t have to-”
“We want to,” Dylan said, and Harper nodded in agreement.
“You shouldn’t be alone tonight,” Amethyst met Harper’s eyes, and tried to smile. It must’ve turned out as more of a grimace though, because he didn’t smile back.
“Let’s see what my mum has to say about that,” Amethyst could imagine her face now, the shocked raise of her eyebrows at the idea of two boys being in Amethyst’s room all night. Rida would probably die before letting that happen. It was worth a try.
The house was silent when they walked in. Amethyst put her key back in her pocket and peeked into the living room to see if her mum was still up.
Rida was there, asleep on the sofa, still in her uniform from work. It must’ve been later than Amethyst thought. She glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece.
00:21
No wonder her mum had fallen asleep. She was usually in bed by ten when she’d had the early shift. Judging by the fact that she was still in her uniform, there must’ve been more to do than she thought.
“Wait here,” Amethyst whispered to the boys, who were quietly slipping off their shoes. They both nodded in reply as she tiptoed up to the sofa.
Rida was snoring softly, her hands under her head as she slept on her side. Her shirt was rumpled and untucked slightly. Next to her, there was a half empty cup of coffee. She must have tried to wait up for Amethyst, and fallen asleep anyway. Gently, Amethyst tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and leant forward to kiss her forehead.
“Mph,” Rida stirred slightly, and Amethyst stroked a thumb over her ear, which always sent her back to sleep. The only reason she knew that was because apparently, it was the same for Amethyst. Her mum used to do it when she was younger, to lull Amethyst to sleep when she was having trouble.
Rida didn’t deserve this. She had already lost her husband to the greed for money, and now she was going to lose her child too.
“Bye, mum,” Amethyst whispered, “Uhibbuki.”
Hesitant to walk away, Amethyst slowly got to her feet and watched Rida sleep for a few moments longer. Looking up, she saw Harper and Dylan quietly talking to each other in the porch, and went over to them.
“Come on,” She said, “My room’s upstairs.”
“I guessed,” Dylan shrugged with a smile, and Amethyst found it in herself to smile back, if only slightly.
She led the way upstairs, and grabbed some spare blankets from the cupboard on the landing. She threw them at the boys then went to her bedroom. It was silent as they changed, not looking at each other. Amethyst got into her pyjamas numbly, thinking about how only a few days ago, she was doing this with Faye. So much had changed between then and now.
“Night,” Amethyst whispered into the darkness as she crawled under the covers. Neither Dylan nor Harper replied, but their presence made her feel automatically safer. It wasn’t so bad with them here. If she were on her own, she just knew that she would’ve done something stupid. She didn’t know what, but something would have happened.
It was obvious that she wasn’t going to sleep, but she closed her eyes anyway. All she saw was black, and she tried to focus on her breathing rather than thoughts that could overwhelm her.
She tried to picture Faye, happy and carefree, the way she was just a couple of days ago, but every image turned bloody. Faye’s smile curled into a pained grimace. Her pale hands turned purple and red. Her bright blue eyes grew dim and swollen. The cries escaped her before she could stop them, and wouldn’t stop flowing. Crying silently had become second nature to her, and she turned her face into the pillow that was stained with enough tears for a lifetime. She took in a long, shaky breath, and turned over to look at the boys on the floor.
Dylan looked sound asleep, his eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks from the light coming in through the window. He looked trouble free, the opposite of how Amethyst felt. Her eyes drifted to Harper, who was awake, looking at Dylan with conflicting emotions flicking over his face. He looked guilty, somehow, and it didn’t surprise Amethyst. Situations like this made you realise how precious the people around you really were.
Maybe he was thinking about all the ignored texts, all the times he bailed on meeting up with his best friend, and all the harsh words that could have been exchanged between them. He must’ve heard something because suddenly his eyes flicked up, and he saw Amethyst watching him. She quickly looked away and turned over.
There was shuffling behind her, then someone touched her shoulder.
“Come outside,” Harper’s voice was hushed, and his breath touched Amethyst’s neck. She automatically followed when he left the room.
They both walked silently, trying to be as quiet as possible. The backdoor creaked slightly as Harper opened it, and Amethyst risked a glance behind her to make sure her mum was still asleep. A snore came from the sofa and her shoulders relaxed.
It was around the time of the morning where all the streetlights went off, and Amethyst could not have been more thankful. The garden was almost pitch black except for the faint moonlight. Tilting her head back, Amethyst could see more stars than when the lights were on. The clusters were beautiful. It gave her some peace to know that they would be the same wherever she was.
No matter what city or country, every night, she would be looking at the same stars as everyone she would be leaving behind.
“You can’t do this.”
“What?” Amethyst looked back down to see Harper stood in front of her, a fire in his eyes that she was unfamiliar with. He looked determined, and angry.
“You can’t just give up like this,” Harper shook his head, “Just because they took Faye? It’s one person, over your entire life.”
“She is my entire life,” Amethyst replied immediately, without hesitation, “You have no idea-”
“Yes, I do,” Harper hissed, “Do you have any idea what I would do for Dylan? He’s my everything. I don’t know how I would be if he was-” He shook himself- “Stop being a martyr. How can you even know if they’re going to keep their word?”
“Why wouldn’t they?”
“Because they’re-” Harper waved his hands, grasping for words- “Evil! They’re the bad guys, and you’re the good guy. You don’t just roll over.”