Fall Is Beautiful

Season 3, Chapter 7: Ghost Town

We finally arrived at their destination a few hours later. Jafar wasn't getting any better, so we had to be quick. The base full of memories I didn't want to remember. Why? Well, this was my old home before the virus broke out. I remembered the road that led to the school, I recognized my street name, ST MARY DR, and eventually I came across my old house.

"Sinbad, we have to keep going-" Adrien stopped when he saw the look in my eyes. He turned and looked at the two story house, now broken down and rotting- probably. I took a shaky step forward, remembering the last time I was here. Memories rushed through my mind.

"DAD! STOP!"
...
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?"
...
"Go outside, kids- now!"

It was haunting to my soul, but I had to know. I just had to know. My parents... did they still live here? Did anyone still live in this base? I stepped through the creaking doorway, to find that the furniture inside the house was still where it always had been. Some of my homework pages were still littering the kitchen table, and one of Jafar's stuffed animals still laid on the ground where our father had thrown it. Speaking of my brother, he was starting to stir a little on my back, and I laid him down on the couch, putting the back of my hand to his forehead. Adrien was suddenly behind me, and I sighed.

"He's starting to get a fever. He should rest here for a while." There was a scoff behind me.

"We're so close to getting help, we can't stop now." I stood up, turning to face Adrien, after pulling off my jacket and laying it on my stirring brother.

"Are we even sure there are people still here? What if you led us here just for Jafar to die? We can't risk his life anymore. What if you go out there and find someone or something to help him." I suggested. Adrien, although nodding, didn't seem too convinced.

"But how can I be sure you won't just take off with him, huh? You can't expect me to be so oblivious to the fact that you suck up to him!"

"I'd never do that. If there's a chance someone can help him, I won't take him."

"Uh-huh. Sure. I bet you thought the same thing when you left him on the side of the road- or when you left him in the car during a blizzard!" I could feel my nostrils flare with anger at that. No way would i let him say this to me. I slapped him across the face, hard.

"You have no idea how much I've suffered for him! I've thrown away my whole childhood to keep him safe! And the one moment I mess up the whole world acts like I'm a villain! EVERYONE SEES ME AS A VILLAIN because I have emotions, because I am a person. I care for my brother as much as you, but that gives you no right to assume that I'm such a bad person that I'd not care for others or myself- OR EVEN MY BROTHER." Adrien stood there, holding his cheek, staring up at me. He seemed shocked, which was expected. I'd never yelled like that before at someone that wasn't my family. It felt... kind of nice to let that off. Then, without another word, Adrien turned and walked out of the house. I sighed, sitting down on my fathers old armchair, rubbing my temples.

"You're not a bad guy." I perked my head up at hearing Jafar's voice, and saw him still laying down on the couch, but fully awake. I blinked, before realizing that he'd heard everything.

"You should be asleep." I murmured, standing up and leaning on the couches arm. Jafar hummed.

"Hard to do that when a certain someone is yelling at the top of their lungs about being seen as a villain." Why am I getting picked on by my little brother? I flicked his nose, chuckling softly. Then, the mood downed as I felt a sinking guilt rise into my stomach. Although I had yelled at Adrien, he had been right. I had treated Jafar horribly, even if I didn't mean to.