The Strange Tale Of Ayla Jae

Chapter Nineteen - A Glimmer Of Youth In Revolt

"You know him?" Daren nearly shouts.

I can barely form the words, but with my mouth agape, I try to answer.

"It's just a...a memory. I don't remember why, but I was with you." I say, my voice only tremoring a little. "We were in some building. I was crying. And you almost left me there!"

With each word, my sudden anger rises, and I stomp toward him. I feel the awkward catch of Chloe's hand pretending to stop me. On the edge of my eyesight, Elin follows suit. They're hollow gestures, but I'm not sure what's going to happen. I definitely don't know what I'm doing.

"Wait, what do you mean, Ayla? Is he-." Elin asks, unsure.

"No," Chloe jumps in, "no he's not. Neither one." She says resolutely.

They both suspect what I expect them too. Neither of them have actually seen the people who trashed my way stay home, invaded The Glitch Room, and just chased us out of Elin's place.

"Well then, you better tell us what you both really want, because you're both are seriously sketch right now. Even if I don't get you, this girl," Elin steps over and sternly grips my shoulder, "can definitely crack you down."

I'm too distracted to shrug Elin off.

"So," she finishes, "Who are you?"

I let her question sit instead of piling on. Honestly, I'm losing focus.

"Boy, I knew you'd attract some ferocious friends, but these heathens are just...adorable." Maverik says. He chuckles just a bit, which confuses the mess out of me.

"Why are you here?!" I shout, stepping toward him again. It's an action I suddenly regret, but I have to commit to the bit even if it's childish. After all, I have no reason to trust most people by this point. Man, he looks just how I pictured in my memory only clearer. I feel...I don't know how I feel.

"Hey, hey, killer. We'll tell you, of course! No evil will here, right-."

Chloe juts forward, and he stutters awkwardly.

"Ri...Right, Jasper?" Maverik eyes dart around us as sort of holds his hands up. He looks just off kilter. Maybe, there's something about us that's throwing him off. I mean I'm trying, but we're not that intimidating.

"Show me your gun." Chloe says with an intense anger I haven't seen before. All games aside, we fall silent. My chest tightens when I realize that Chloe has quickly revealed her own method of self-defense, now sitting uncomfortably but tightly in her left hand.

"Hey..." Maverik says. We all hear a click.

"I want to know if you just tried to kill one of us. I saw someone. Your height. Your build. Show me your gun." Chloe repeats. My mind is almost snapped clear by the tenacity coming off of her.

Maverik doesn't say anything, and Chloe stays still. After a second, he slides the edge of jacket open and shows what he's carrying. We all stand waiting for Chloe to confirm if he really is one of the d-bags who just tried to gun one of us down.

"Self-defense. I can empty and toss it away if ya like." He says calmly.

None of us break the tension, but Chloe nods. Without skipping a beat, his weapon is disassembled on the floor.

"Unless you both can prove who you are and exactly why you deserve to be here, you will disappear." Chloe says with as much sternness as I assume she can give right now. I look at her face more closely. It strikes me hard to see mist around her eyes. "We're not playing these games anymore. None of us. None of us want this."