Project: Sunshine

25- First Kiss

If it wasn't Ella being a problem, Ash definitely took the cake.

"We seriously need a better way to restrict him. Or something." Angel muttered with crossed arms, Ash was tied up and I mean tied up.

He has passed out now, Phantom on the ground beside him, mumbling something to his unconscious body. Stella bit her lip softly as she stared at them, the others were talking about what to do. Stella noticed Toxin's eyes also being zeroed in on Ash and Phantom.

"It's weird having them around, hm?" Stella sparked up a conversation as she walked over to them. Toxin glanced at her, his arms were barely crossed.

"I guess." He shrugged, Stella stood directly beside him and looked at the two on the floor. "It's... Different."

"Yeah." Stella glanced away, I'm terrible at conversations. What am I doing?

"I trust them. Do you?" Toxin asked, Stella looked up at him.

"I do."

"Okay," Toxin let out a short breath before he turned away and walked down the steps to the basement.

"Okay." Stella blinked, Phantom untied Ash and lifted him onto his feet though he wasn't awake. He then picked him up and brought him down.

They trust each other, I trust Ash. I guess I could trust them.

"Go down there then?" Ella suggested. Stella was tempted but what stopped her was that Ella had suggested it.

Why? So you can lock us down there and kill us?

"No~ I do wanna know more about this Ash character. Hm?"

Stella didn't ask why, but she accepted the suggestion and walked to the basement. That's when the silent mumbles got louder.

"Yes... I know where he is." Toxin's voice began, and Stella blinked. Who?

"We need to do something." Stella heard Phantom say, she felt bad for eavesdropping but she crouched into the darkness of the staircase and listened. "I'm scared they'll eventually turn against him, it won't be long before he causes someone to grow suspicious of this house."

"I know... I'm not sure what to do." Toxin spoke, and Stella peeked around the corner. Ash's eyes were barely opening but he was awake and listening. "We can't just tell them where Pierce is, Angel acts like she wants to rip him to shreds limb by limb."

Wait, what?

"Pierce might be the only person who can help Ash," Phantom said, Stella's foot stepped down on the wrong board and it squeaked.

Stella stood up, she saw Phantom become a black figure before he flashed into nothing before she turned away. Stella went to go up the stairs but something grabbed her, their bodies hit and she fell.

She let out an 'oof' sound, she hissed when a board hit her gut. "Ouch-"

"Stella- don't tell them anything," Phantom said when he appeared to be normal, she struggled underneath his hold.

"Get off me!" She growled, there were steps coming towards the stairs.

"Whoa!" This was Cherri's voice, Phantom immediately got up when Cherri flicked the light on. "What is g-going on?"

Stella grunted as she got to her feet, "Stella, don't-"

"They know where Pierce is!" She yelled when Angel came into the frame.