Ready Or Not | ✔

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three - Threat

Monday, 20th July 2020

KRYSTALLIA

The papers threatened to fall from my hands as I reread the three words over and over again.

Dissociative identity disorder.

How long has he hidden this from me?

"Kris?"

He looked at me and held out his hand, "I'll explain everything."

I took his hand and he led me to the couch. I saw him throw a glare at Zach over his shoulder, before letting me sit on the couch. He sat beside me with a good foot of space between us.

"My name is Landon, the same age as Kris. He developed me because of an incident involving you."

He took a breath before continuing, "When you were born, your umbilical cord got wrapped around your neck, cutting off the oxygen. You...you were taken to surgery immediately and they did everything to save you. That's when Kris couldn't take it and split, developing me."

He looked down at his lap, "I watched you almost die. I bore the trauma and pain Kris couldn't take. From that day on, I would watch over you as your guardian. I was protective, just protective at first, until when our parents died."

He continued, "You were six and saw their dead bodies. Kris would back down whenever he saw large amounts of blood, due to that being one of the causes for the split, and I'd step up. Our parents' killer, Larry, Kris didn't kill him. I did.

"You went into such a depressed state, I went crazy. That day onwards, I became more protective, to the point it started to look like an obsession. But that wasn't even as crazy as your first wound.

"When you were stabbed, you lost so much blood and Kris fainted, bringing me up. The doctor said you needed a blood donor immediately. No one shared your blood type, O negative...except me. I donated my blood to save you.

"When you recovered and returned home, my protectiveness turned into obsession. My world and existence revolved around you. If I wasn't taking over the bloody side of gang work, I was watching over you."

He looked at me, silently asking if I had any questions. I bit my lip, "So you change when Kris sees blood?"

He nodded, "He takes over the business side of the gang since he can't look at blood without fainting."

I nodded and he continued, "I can view through Kris' eyes when he's in control, as he can with me. We share most memories, but some, we keep to ourselves."

"So he knows we're having this conversation?"

He nodded again, "I just want you to know, I'm doing all of this for your safety. I'm doing this because I love you. We love you."

I nodded and leaned in to hug him, "I love you too."

I felt him smile against my hair as he wrapped his arms around me, "Kitten."

"Landon."

He kissed my forehead softly with a smile.

***

"So this is Kris now?" I asked, sitting on the kitchen counter and he nodded, "How did you know?"

"Landon's right eye has a really slight twitch every few seconds. I know you too well to know you don't do that."

He patted me on the head softly, "Good observation skills, kitty."

A light bulb lit above my head, "And you call me kitty, but Landon calls me kitten. I always wondered why you called me both."

He raised his eyebrows in a little shock, "You're so smart."

"Because you raised me for a decade, of course," I gave him a smile and he smiled back, gently smoothening my hair. I got curious about something, "Does KT know?"

He nodded, "I told him last year. I wanted to tell you, but Landon and I, we agreed that we wanted our image to stay 'the perfect brother' forever."

"No one's perfect. You know that. And plus, no matter what happens, you're still my brother, I'll still love you."

He smiled and pecked my forehead, "I love you too."

I grinned and took a sip of Coke when-

Fuck me. That explosion will make me deaf.

I hopped off the counter and Kris gave me a no fucking way look. I shrugged and took a hidden gun from a drawer in the island, "I can help."

He looked at me before I noticed the slight twitch of his head, "Stay behind me at all times, kitten."

I nodded and followed Landon out of the kitchen. We walked into the foyer and saw the front doors off their hinges. One was in pieces on the marble stairs and the other was ruined on the floor.

I took a step beside but Landon stretched an arm out, blocking my way, "Don't even think about it, Krystal."

I pursed my lips and stayed behind him. The smoke at the door slowly cleared and our jaws dropped at the sight.

Mark...

Blood oozed from the side of his head as he was on his knees, panting from exhaustion. His shirt was sliced open and we could see his skin was cut, blood still dripping out.

Landon went to him as I called out to my AI. It flew down the compartment and came to me.

"Crystal Undead, change into a stretcher and send Mark to the medical wing."

The AI switched into a stretcher and Landon helped Mark onto it. We then followed them all the way to the doctor.

The door burst open with a doctor coming and leading the AI into the office. We followed and the doctor started cleaning up the wounds. He slipped the bloody shirt off of Mark's shoulders and our jaws dropped from what was on his torso.

There was an engraving, my best guess is with a knife.

DON'T THINK YOU'RE SAFE, KRYSTALLIA
I WILL END YOU

Landon read the words and his whole body boiled with anger. Out of fury, he punched the cabinet next to him and the medicines on top trembled and fell. I took a step back when his fist came in contact with the cabinet and he snapped his head to me.

His eyes softened when they landed on me and he took small steps towards me. He put his hand under my chin, lifting my head to face him, "Nothing's going to happen to you, kitten. I swear on my life, you'll forever be safe with me."

If it was me a few hours ago, I would've been weirded out. But now with Mark getting hurt and the death threat, I felt how serious Landon was with my safety.

And this time, I don't put my life on the edge of a cliff, but with him.

Them.

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