THE PICTURE OF YOU -rafe cameron-

086; the guestroom

Everything stood still, JJ dropped his flashlight to the floor upon seeing his little sister laying limply in John B's arms. The heavy flashlight hit the old floorboards in the dark living room with a thud. Sarah jumped slightly upon hearing it. JJ's lips parted as he remained still for a second, somewhat shocked and surprised. He then managed to move his feet, hurrying over towards John B to grab Myra. "What the hell is wrong with her?" he asked, squinting his eyes in the dimly lit room. "She's uhm..." John B trailed, unsure what to say as JJ grabbed a hold of Myra's face, turning her head towards him. "She was at a party with me" Sarah intervened quickly, taking a few steps forwards, "so she's drunk, I'm sorry... you can blame me, it's all my fault". JJ turned to look at Sarah, a hint of disappointment upon his face. Thankfully Myra had her eyes closed, so JJ couldn't see how blown out her pupils were. Her usually so bright and beautiful blue eyes. It was a relief to both Sarah and John B, the both of them knew that it would've crushed JJ. "John B was nice enough to come and pick us up, we were just gonna tuck her into bed and let her sleep it off" Sarah added. JJ nodded his head swiftly, turning his attention back towards his sister. "Let me do it" he urged, lifting her from out of John B's arms. John let her go, knowing that this was important to JJ. His guilt for not being particularly involved in his sister's life lately had been growing stronger, but now it had hit its high. Seeing her like this made him realize that he really should start trying more, that he had to. It had just been so much lately with their dad and the chaos that surrounded the treasure hunt. He had a hard time letting her in, even though he wanted to. His compulsive need to keep her out of harms way was stronger, but obviously he had failed.

JJ carried Myra through the dark home towards the guest bedroom at the back. John B and Sarah were quick to follow. On their way Sarah stopped for a second to pick up the flashlight, leaving it on as she directed the bright beam of light down towards the floor. They watched as JJ laid Myra down on the bed that he had previously been sleeping in, pulling the covers over her. She stirred a little, a few inaudible mutters leaving her lips. JJ sat on the edge of the bed looking at his sister, unsure what he was supposed to say or do. He couldn't be mad at her, he himself had been drunk like this countless of times. He hadn't been there for her. He was more so angry at himself for not being able to stop it. He sighed, turning his gaze towards Sarah and John B that were standing by the door. John B had his arms crossed over his chest and his right shoulder leaned up against the doorframe. Sarah stood by him, the flashlight still in her hand. "It's gonna be fine JJ" John B uttered, recognizing the look of defeat upon his friend's face. He had seen that very same look many times before. "I know" JJ mumbled, scooting back until he was leaning against the old bed frame. A moment of silence fell upon the room. John B wanted to be honest with JJ about everything that he knew, about this whole mess, but he held his tongue. It didn't feel right, but he knew that now was not the time to let it spill. Instead he stood still, his arms remaining crossed over his chest. Sarah soon handed him the flashlight as Myra stirred again. "Let me braid her hair" Sarah breathed as she tiptoed through the room. JJ and John B watched as she sat down on the edge of the bed right next to Myra, gently placing her fingers in her messy blonde hair. Sarah had managed to get all the leaves and twigs out before, thankfully, so only knots remained. Myra stirred a little more as Sarah carefully dragged her fingers through her hair, trying to undo as many knots as she could without having a hairbrush. Myra blinked her eyes, opening them ever so slightly in the dark room. Sarah silently prayed that it was too dark for JJ to see his sister's eyes. "S-Sarah?" Myra croaked. Her voice was a little raspy and she sounded confused as she looked around. "Yeah" Sarah hummed, trying to calm Myra down, "shh, lay down and rest"

Myra didn't hear Sarah, not fully at least. Her whole body itched and as she gazed around in the darkness she couldn't make out where she was, just that she had moved places. She wasn't sure when or how it had happened, it was just a black hole. It terrified Myra. It made her lose even more sense of time and space, making a desperate kind of panic settle within her chest, pressing down at it like a heavy boot. "Where are we?" Myra asked, feeling Sarah's nails scrape gently against her scalp. "Shh" Sarah urged again, once more trying to calm Myra down but it wasn't working. Myra mumbled again, this time a few inaudible words. It was hard to string a sentence along. It was like all common sense had left her body along with every ability she had ever learnt. Talking, seeing, standing, walking, navigating. They were all gone. "Sarah, where are we?" Myra repeated herself, still stuck in some kind of delirious state. "We're at the chateau Myra, it's fine, everything is alright" Sarah assured her, "you're alright". But what about Rafe? That was the only thought that crossed Myra's mind. Over and over again, it wouldn't leave. She wondered, she almost obsessed over it. She was unable to let it go. She looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of him but all she saw was darkness. If she was at the chateau, then where is he? Myra doubted that he would come here, Sarah wouldn't have wanted him to anyways. How did she even get here? What had happened? "But Sarah..." Myra trailed, her throat sore and her lungs feeling as dry as sand. "Let's just go to sleep now Myra, come on, close your eyes again" Sarah spoke as she gathered all of Myra's blonde hair into her hands to braid it. Myra couldn't settle down enough to fall asleep, not after she had just passed out and lost a whole chunk of her memories. Sarah didn't seem to understand. "Wait" Myra croaked out, blinking her blue eyes, "how did I get here?". Sarah looked down at Myra and then up at John B. Myra's gaze followed Sarah's, seeing the tall boy with the chocolate brown curls standing by the door with a flashlight in his right hand. "John B picked us up" Sarah informed Myra, to which he nodded once. Myra could barely see him, he was too far away and her vision still was quite blurry. Besides, she was starting to feel quite nauseous again.