Arise: Chapter 12: Uninvited

Chapter 12: Uninvited

(Ana's POV, 2 years ago...)

You can push me away

I can take it

I can make you a promise

and break it

We know the way it goes by now

Running off just to see

If I chase you

I pretend I know how to replace you

Still we get tangled up somehow

Hear it thunder

And I wonder

How long can I hang on

I'm caught in the storm

I'm caught in the rain

I'm caught in the rush that hides this pain

I'm ready to drown

But it's coming down

But I feel so alive

Just let me go

Just walk away

If you love someone

you never let them stay

caught in the storm

I flinch at the sound of footsteps. Surely, it must just be Mick. 

"Mick, baby, you're early. I was just warming up." 

"Oh, I'm no Mick. I just wanted to warn you, stay away from whoever Mary Thunder is, you hear me?" He shocks me, his voice slippery and tough. 

"Who the hell are you? Get away from me!" 

But maybe he has a point. Can I even trust her? 

He slid the gun out of his pocket, easing the shiny metal towards me.

"Stay away from Mary."



I knelt to the ground, stunned.

"Please, don't shoot. I'll do as you wish, but please. Don't."

"Oh I have no wish in murdering. I just came to warn you, that's all. I still need protection, though."

He grinned, his light brown eyes shining through.

I need to leave this room. I can't stand his glare.

I get up, running towards the glass door on the opposite wall.

The elevator. It's at the door behind him.

"Where are you going, sweet cheeks? Not running to Mary, are you?" He comes towards me, pushing me away from the door, emotionless.

His foot braced against my stomach, a small grunt pushing out through my gritted teeth.

He pushes me to the floor, ripping his arm back into a fist, almost choking me with his free hand.

"Give in, Ana. Things will only get tougher."

I get my ground back, flipping him over, both hands gripped onto his tight neck.

"Oh, don't you worry about a thing."

We stand up, whipping off each other as I reach to block his fist.

"You should have known better. I'm trained, you see."

I manage to steal the power, elbowing him in the face, reaching to block his punch.

"Enough..." He begins, almost gasping for air.

I let him go, stepping away as he straightens himself out.

"Sorry about that."

"It's fine, my dear. I'm just glad you stopped before you knocked me out."

I laughed, smiling. We stood facing away, even though we managed to continue chatting.

"I..uh-"

"No, um I'll-"

The awkwardness fills our conversation. I can barely think of anything to say.

"Uhm, while you're here, can you help me...practice dancing?"

"Oh, uh...sure, I guess." He moved in closer, slipping his had against my legs.

"I never caught your name." I spoke, his hands reaching to hold my back from the ground.

"That's 'cause I never gave it, my dear."

I slipped into the next position, my feet planted on the wooden floor, my body twisting into a arch.

"It's Cole. Short for Colby."

"Ana. Short for...well, it really isn't." He chuckled, nearly dropping me against the cold floor.

.

We both stand, stretching. "Thanks. I wonder what's taking Mick."

"Yeah, I actually enjoyed that far more than the fight. Goodbye, Ana."

And just like that, I thought he would be gone.

But it wasn't the end. He reached for my back, sliding his hand for stability.

And he did the unthinkable.

Kissed me.

"Uh...I...uh.."

Speechless. Shocked, more so.

But I kissed him back, like all of the fighting never mattered.

Like Mick somehow didn't matter.

"Ana, I feel like I've waited for someone like you my whole life, and you look perfect for me."

"Cole, I can't. I have mick, you know that."

"But he never needs to know."

Somehow, that calmed me. That made me forget Mick completely, made me wonder if Mick was worth it. At all.

"Goodbye, Cole."

I ran for the bathroom, busting to go.

Something about him made all of this better.

Something cleaned away the pain, like tomorrow will be okay.

He whipped out his phone, calling someone.

"Hello? I'm sorry. I can't go through with it. What? You're firing me? Because I didn't kill the blasted girl? You kill her. I don't give a crap."

He hung up, sighing.

"Ana!"

"Ana!"

"Ana!"

He kept calling my name, his voice reflecting off the walls and into the bathroom stall.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Watching you. You're no longer safe now. You made the wrong love affair...brother."

~~~~~~

(Present Day)

Dinner. A family affair where everyone sits to eat. Not to be disturbed or interrupted.

A time of peace and endless laughter.

Dinner. A simple occasion where everyone shares the happiness and the sorrows of the day.

A place for shedding light.

"So, Lena, you told me earlier you had children. Where are they?"

"Sylvia, that's a story I wish never was born. They were taken from me when I murdered their father, and with my criminal record on hand, the police refuse I ever see them again."

"Little Georgie and Sara. Such cute children, I'm so sorry Lena." I responded, an image flashing through my mind. I saw their photo once, when Lena snuck it in. Little Georgie will be three next year. Sara will be seven. I couldn't imagine losing my children.

We were low on dining chairs, so those two had to sit at the counter.

Oh, and did I mention we were eating green salad. No, I'm not having indigestion, I'm just choking on a crouton.

"Why make something so hard in a salad? I thought these salads were supposed to be easy to chew."

"Mostly. But you don't want to eat the salad of the blood-reds. Jeez, that gives you pains. In both your stomach and your heart."

It wasn't long before most finished their salad, everyone jumping up to wash their dishes.

"Thank you for that, Kriss. That was lovely."

"No worries, Aya."

She stood up, swiping the plates up in front of us, moving towards the dishwasher.

"Do you need any help, Kriss?"

"I'm fine." Just as she finished, the doorbell rang.

"Seriously, at this hour?" It was 7:00. It wasn't too late, but I get what she was getting at.

It's not as early as someone would hope. But nether the less, she continued to open the door.

"What?"

"Please, help me. Whoa, Kriss, you've changed...back."

"Who the hell are you and why are you dressed for Halloween early?"

She called for Sylvia, frowning and complaining.

"What the hell are you doing here, Talutah?"

"I need your help. Badly. We may have had rough battles, my dear, but this mission will benefit the both of us. I need you, all of you, to look at me as the side you need to choose."

Her eyes glistened under the stars, the glowing red orbs flashing under the light.

Unhuman like.

"You think we believe you? You went full-throttle on my friends, you poisoned us with your sad lies and then you ruined her life! She doesn't remember you, are you happy again?"

"You think you know what's best for us? Believe me, you're just a lowlife blood-sucker. You mean nothing to us."

"Have fun, as you slowly die, one by one. There's a reason you were invited to that ball. You were, are, on their target list, and if you for once think you're safe now, you obviously are mistaken."

I know she's right. We are on their list.

I'm their main target, after all.

"Talutah, why would anyone want to kill us? Stumped you, didn't I?"

Her eyes moved to watch him, their piercing crimson colour burning into his soul.

"Get out, Talutah."

"But I'm begging you. I can't afford to watch you die. I may be a conniving villain, but I still have my heart. Being a villain doesn't mean you lose all that means good."

I see some sorrow in her eyes, almost as if she's lost too much.

I'll have to help her. I need to guarantee my safety.

"Fine, but this is for us, not you."

"I'm coming." Whoever we're working against, it's my mission to murder them.

Or at least hide from their misery.

"I'm not. I'd rather stay here with Kriss. But please, Meg, go."

"Okay, I will." That's like Meg. Her adventurous spirit always awakens to the belly of the dragon.

"I'm in, you may need at least one guy there if there's something tough in the way."

"Uh, I'm feeling sick. I think I'm gonna puke."

Uh oh.

But we have more important matters to deal with.

~~~~~~

(Talutah's POV)

Here we are. A white building. White walls.

"It's just lucky no-one changed into black. This place is white central, my dears."

"Aren't you worried about yourself then, queenie?" Talutah scoffs, sighing.

"Don't worry, love. No-one bothers with this place often."

Cody looked towards the building, frightened. Somehow, I thought he would faint right there, but he straightened up, speaking confidently under his breath.

"Let's get this over with."

She steps towards the path, her heels clicking onto the tiles as she hits it, her hair swaying under the cool night breeze. Water splashes from the fountains.

There it is. A small white flat building. Nothing more.

It looked only big enough for one room. "You expect to find answers in this one room?"

"The room shocks you. The man shocks you. You can't look at the outside and believe you know the inside."

We finally enter, the cold wind whipping around as the heavy white doors slam onto their hinges. 

"This may look like a simple office, but I promise you're lying to yourself."

Her voice wrapped itself around my throat, squeezing me, a python in need of spilling blood.

"Has anyone ever told you that you reminded them of a python?"

"Calm down, Ana. The vampire feeds off our hate."

"Can we get this over with? Ana, Cody, Talutah, Meg, let's go!"

I smiled as Meg walked towards one of the half-walls.

"I'll stay up here. Provided there is another room, that is."

The four of us moved towards a hallway at the back, hidden behind two walls.

"You can never know what someplace is hiding until you turn the corner." Cody mumbled, walking beside Sylvia.

Talutah steps down the stairs, her lifeless body almost sliding against the stairs.

"Might as well follow the snake. Lead us to our ultimate death."

"Ana, ladies first."

"Well, Sylvia is more of a lady than me, so Slyv?"

Sylvia follows the queen into the starch white basement.

Cody and I aren't too far behind, really.

"Wow, this place smells too...clean. And far too white. What the hell is this place anyway?" Sylvia mumbles, cracking her knuckles in the silence.  

"This...this is the boss's lair."

"I have so many memories to share."

~~~~~

(Years ago..)

Things were much simple back then.

No blood spilling, no terror fights, no flights of ravens stalking my every move.

I was simply Talutah Ochoa still.

"Zacchaeus! Zacchaeus! I have something to tell you."

The room fills with a hollowed silence, the only sound the clicking of my heels against the clean white tiles.

I look towards the painting hanging at the end of the hall. Splashes of blue and grey cascade over the canvas, spinning and twirling into zigs and zags. 

"Please, Zacchaeus, are you okay?" Usually he was quick to answer, snapping upright and smiling, wide mouthed. 

Today he said nothing. He did nothing. 

"Sir? Is everything alright?" He finally perched up, frowning. 

"There's no need to tell me anything, my love. You lied to me, that is all it is. You said you trusted me and you allowed me to love you. But you fell into another's arms. And you trust me to believe I can just accept that and keep my eyes on you?" 

"I failed you, didn't I master?" 

"I thought he was worth it, I thought you were ready to toss me away. You must think me a fool." I sink to the floor, holding back a flood of tears. 

"Talutah, not only did you offend me, but you hurt my heart. The day I met you, you fell into my arms and I thought we had something. Now you think you can ditch me for some American suitor." 

"This isn't like our home world, Zacc. He treated me like any other, minus my glowing eyes and pointed ears. I never thought someone would actually care for me after...him." A tear slips past my nose, ticking my pale skin. 

"I know how you miss...him. But that isn't a reason to find potential replacements in modern day America." 

My teeth shine through my partially opened mouth, shocked. 

Upset. 

"I'm so sorry, Zacchaeus. I never meant to hurt you, but I wanted to feel free for once." 

He pulled me into a warm hug, his skin always seemingly warm.

"Is this place always this boiling hot?" A line of sweat fell over my back, showing under the lace of my dress. 

"No, why? Oh, god the air conditioning must be playing up again. I'll call Manny in tomorrow." 

He releases me, as I walk towards his front door. 

At least I wan't imagining the heat.

It's as I hit the corner when I hear the door click open. It's not Zac.

Someone else must be in here. Sure enough, they won't be in need of small talk. 

They never are. 

Two average height people step out of the storage room, smiling. 

"Missed us yet?" The woman, her raven black hair falling in curls over her tanned shoulders. 

"Ah. Ivy and Devin.What are you fine murderers doing in my humble abode?" 

"Devin, please deal with the girl. I'll deal with the Big Bad Boss. Is that what they call you now?" The raven haired one, I assume must be Ivy, spoke, her voice fragile yet hostile. 

"Okay, on it." 

I hear the footsteps behind me, his soft feet making as little sound as they could. 

"Oh my, Talutah. Haven't you grown?" Devin. I suppose.

"How the hell do you know me, fool? I would remember meeting someone as straightforward as you." He chuckled, stepping closer. 

"So, Ivy darling, shall I ask again?" His pupils fall lifeless inside of his eyes, their dark brown colour dimming.  

"Oh my, Zacchaeus, you don't seem to realize this, do you? You ruined everything. Why should I bother aiding you?" Ivy fluttered her eyelids, smirking. 

"Watch your mouth, or should I clean it out like I used to?" 

"Don't you think for once that you can threaten me! I don't work for you anymore, remember?" 

"You never truly worked for me, though. You just waited to take me down. I always looked down on you for that." He furrowed his eyebrows, biting his cheek. 

"I'm beginning to consider everything I did for you over and over. You never gave back to me, but I helped you get so far. Maybe I should turn the heater up a couple more notches and burn you right back into hell, where you must have really been born. You think that's assault." 

"Nope. This is assault." And he slaps her face, her frown slipping under the hatred and his hand. 

"I never want to see you or him ever again, you hear me? The last place I want to see you is hell." 

"So, you admit you'll be joining me. Well, I can't wait to see you there...brother." 

Brother? They can't be. Surely. 

~~~~

(Present Day)

"Please, don't touch anything. Anything. Unless I tell you to. The boss knows too much to keep his lair trap free." 

The others follow behind shortly after. 

Eager to follow, I suppose. 

"Ana, I'm trusting you in locating the threat. I don't mean a virus on the computer, more like in the real world. Someone wants to take us down, and I believe you know the most about them." 

She sits down, staring blankly at the screen.

"I don't exactly know that much." 

"Please, Ana. We need your help. Access his files, that should help. Search for anything of help, revolving around a threat of sorts." 

I watch her as she types in a few words into the search bar. Nothing of interest. 

But something more of interest clicks the side door open. 

"Oh, look who we have here." 

"Talutah, queen of the Blood-Reds. I thought I told you not to come down here." 

"Oh splendid. I thought I could smell desperation and the sickening smell of true love." I turn, facing towards him. His white jacket shins against the bright lights, his tattered jeans showing off some of his tanned skin.  

"Talutah, my dear, you look...rugged. Something seems off with you." 

"Oh, and I believe I can say the same about you. Falling in love ruined you." 

"Bringing a little girl to do you dirty work ruined you." 

"We both know how much you can't handle anything on your own."

I lunged at him, angry. Mad. Insane. 

"You're just a pathetic worshiper. I doubt you even know who you're dealing with." I wrap my hands around his throat, reaching to squeeze his temple. 

"Hey, Talutah, I think-Get off him!" I fall backwards, knocking him out of my grasp. 

"Talutah, he's not worth it. Let's go, I have enough proof." I rise to my feet, snickering in his direction.

"This fight isn't over, Colby. I'll see you again, pretty boy." 

"You keep your threats to your self. I don't need anyone's pity party." He rubs his neck, releasing the creases from the back. 

"Wait-Colby? Is that really you?" Ana frowns, biting the inside of her lip.

"Ana? I missed seeing you." 

"You cut your hair."

"Enough with the happy dappy love parade. I need to avenge Zacchaeus. I need to locate the threat."

We need to locate this killer before anyone else gets murdered by anyone but myself. 

"I hate to ruin your funeral mission, but who said anything about the Boss being dead?" 

"What the hell do you mean? I saw his lifeless body." 

"Right this way please." He lead us into a small bedroom, dropping himself onto the coach opposite the bed. 

"What the hell? You can't be serious?" 

There, sleeping like the angel he wishes he was in everyday life, slept The Boss himself. 

Breathing.

"Oh, I promise you darlings, he will be alive and healthy once more. But as for the other four of you down there, you better hold onto your horses. It's about to get wild."