High On Mushrooms

Part Five: Prepare to Die, Sucker

*About seven months ago...

Jay snatched something from Chess's pocket as he walked by them, not going unnoticed.

"Give it back." Chess demanded, spinning on their heal and sticking out their hand.

Jay dangled the silver pocket watch he had snagged by its silver chain tauntingly; Carlos looked worriedly between him and Chess.

Chess tried to grab it, but Jay pulled it away, pushing their shoulder with his free hand. They stumbled back, pushed their sunglasses up their nose, and swung at Jay.

For once, to Chess's surprise, their fist connected with Jays jaw, red marks from their rings confirming to them that they hadn't imagined it.

Jay scoffed with a mixture of surprise and annoyance, throwing the pocket watch to Carlos-who almost dropped it-and grabbing Chess by the shirt.

Chess wrapped both their hands around Jay's as he lifted them slightly, making them go up on their toes.

Carlos flinched as Jay punched Chess square in the face, making their sunglasses fall to the ground, broken in half, then a second time, breaking Chess's already crooked nose.

"Why do you bother?" Jay spat, releasing Chess and pushing them back once again.

At this point, any onlookers had scurried away from the scene.

"Two times," Chess mumbled, whipping blood on their sleeve as it dripped down onto their chin.

"What?" Jay asked, bewildered-he was always surprised how quickly Chess changed a subject.

"Never mind," Chess answered, preparing to hit Jay again.

Carlos watched nervously; Chess couldn't beat Jay in a fight, yet they always refused to give up until Jay forced them. It was painful to watch.

"It's the second time you've broken their nose," Carlos said absentmindedly.

"You could at least spread it around," Chess remarked, trying again to punch Jay, the taller boy catching their wrist.

Jay twisted their arm behind their back, making them double over and yell in pain as he contorted their shoulder, blood pooling on the floor in front of them as it dripping from their face.

Chess tried to ignore the pain shooting up their arm and tingling at their nose, hearing Carlos yelling at Jay that they should catch up with Mal and Evie. The last thing they could remember was Jay asking, "How about a broken arm?"

Chess jumped slightly as someone nocked on the door to their strange home they shared with their dad. They were home alone, and decided to look out a window before answering it.

Carlos stood outside, looking distraught. His eyes went wide as Chess opened the door with their less dominant hand; their nose was bandaged, looking red and puffy, blood staining their face, popped blood vessels all over their skin from straining against Jay. Their right arm was stiff at their side, no clear indication of bandages peaking through. They didn't have their sunglasses, either, so Carlos could see their misty, irritated eyes.

When Carlos didn't say anything, Chess grabbed his arm and dragged him inside.

"I-I brought this for you," Carlos said, holding out the pocket watch Jay had stolen.

"Thanks," Chess said-they were trying to sound casual, but Carlos could tell it meant a lot that he brought it back.

Chess was a pretty good lier, but they weren't a master at hiding their emotions. Not yet, at least; Carlos believed they would just keep getting better at it.

"Why don't you stop?" Carlos questioned, unable to stop himself, "Jay beats the absolute shit out if you and you just keep going! Why not just walk away?"

"They bully you, why don't you just walk away?" Chess asked in return, raising an eyebrow at Carlos before breaking eye contact to stare at the boys shoulder.

"I'm used to it," Carlos mumbled, looking down before a sudden burst of anger came over him, "I used to sleep in a closet! I wake up screaming because I have nightmares about my mother! At least with them I can get away from her!"

"You can stay with me!" Chess said, exasperated, as this wasn't the first time they'd offered this alternative, "I've already asked my dad and he wouldn't mind at all!"

Carlos was close to tears, clenching his fists as his hands shook, "I can't. I can't just run away."

"We live on an Island with a barrier around it! You can't go far!" Chess yelled, throwing out their good arm, the silver pocket watch still clutched in their hand.

Carlos backed up a step, getting nervous at Chess raising their voice.

Chess quickly noticed this, feeling horrible for forgetting to control their tone, "I'm sorry," they said quickly.

"You don't have to apologize," Carlos murmured, grabbing his elbow.

"Yes, I do," Chess insisted, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"I have to get back, I don't want Jay to come looking for me." Carlos said weakly, walking gently toward the door.

"Thanks again," Chess said lightly, holding up the pocket watch.

"No problem," Carlos said with a small smile, reaching for the doorknob.

Before Carlos closed the door, Chess called after him, making the white-haired boy pause.

"Please, just think about it," Chess requested, taking a slow step closer.

Carlos smiled but looked down, leaving without another word. Chess locked the door behind him with a sigh, leaning against the wall and running their thumb along the surface of the pocket watch.

But when Chess popped it open, they where surprised to see a small peace of paper fall out onto the floor. They hesitantly picked it up, unfolding it to see a note that Carlos was most definitely unaware he was passing on.

It read,

Stay the fuck away from Carlos,
Mary Jane.

Even if Chess hadn't recognized Mal's handwriting, they would've known it was her note; she was the only one in the group who still used their dead-name.