Giving Fantasia: The Taking Fantasia Sequel

Chapter 78: Never Come Back

Chapter 78: Never Come Back

Wendy never forgot the way Jim looked at her.

Betrayed. Beyond recognition.

Somewhere in the background Peter was screaming. Ariel was trying to stop him, but her movements were obscured. Jim and Wendy were caught in a separate universe, connected by the bond they'd formed as children.

They held a single gaze.

He asked for the truth without speaking.

She confessed without a word.

Their friendship unraveled as Jim pulled away. He staggered, tripping on a broken promise to stay best friends forever. It was harrowing. Wendy could almost see her knife in his back.

Wendy reached. Peter's outburst intensified as she touched his shoulder. "Jim – "

"YOU HEAR THAT?!" Peter screamed. "WE'RE ENGAGED! WENDY AND I ARE ENGAGED! What the Hell did you think I was doing at the Wishing Star that night?! I was looking for a diamond for her ENGAGEMENT RING! WENDY AND I ARE ENGAGED!"

Jim threw Wendy's hand.

"Since when? Before or after you got her naked?"

"Jim!" Wendy repeated, only to be brutally dismissed. As Ariel intercepted  her with Peter's bathrobe, Wendy begged. "Jim please just listen! I can explain –"

"I can explain!" Peter snarled, wiping his mouth. A trail of bloody saliva followed. "Wendy and I have been engaged for SIX YEARS! SIX! I proposed right after The Battle to Take Fantasia and BIG SURPRISE – SHE SAID YES! WE ARE ENGAGED!"

Jim spun, facing Wendy. "Is this true?"

"You didn't know?" Peter laughed. It was acidic. It was cruel. It was smug and fierce. "Ha! HA! You didn't know! She didn't tell you! Well sucks to be JUST the best friend, huh Jim dear?"

"Best friend my – "

Ariel stabbed her trident before Jim could finish. She yelled furiously at him, squeezing Wendy to emphasize the silent rebuke. Jim countered with a lethal, inhuman noise before returning to Peter.

"Fine! You're engaged – she gets what she deserves! So instead of trashing her before you go fuck  some Skyworld tramp – "

"Jim!" Wendy shouted.

Jim shouted louder. "Why don't you marry her?"

"That is actually a great question!" Peter jabbed at Wendy. "How about you ask her? Your EX BEST FRIEND?! Maybe THIS TIME she'll tell you!"

"You son of a – !"

"Stop it!" Wendy struggled against Ariel, bathrobe slipping over her shoulders. Ariel was mouthing, pleading Wendy to withhold but her warnings were ignored. "Stop it both of you! Jim I'm sorry it just happened –"

"You're sorry?" Peter recoiled, absolutely revolted. "It just happened? I ask to marry you and you're sorry because it just happened?"

"That's not what I said!" Wendy objected, tears welling. The lights dimmed. Her eyes flickered black. "That's not what I meant, you know that I –"

"Then what did you mean?" Peter demanded. "Or is 'I love you Peter' translation for 'I love Jim?'"

"WHAT?" Wendy shrieked, completely stunned. Jim had reacted similarly, but Wendy overpowered his rage. "WHAT? How can you – you – WHAT?!"

"We heard you!" Peter barked. Blood smattered his lips as Ariel advanced. "Ariel and I heard you the other night! Remember? That night you caught them having sex? The night you FREAKED?! Ariel and I were outside the window, we HEARD IT ALL!"

Peter plowed through Ariel. "SO why don't you want them sleeping together, Wendy? HUH? Why'd your panties get all in a twist? Wish Rat Tail wanted yours instead of Ariel's?"

"You fucking --!"" Jim yelled over Wendy. "You are dead I am going to kill – !"

Ariel shoved Peter before Jim could strike. Incensed, Peter attacked Ariel with arguments. Dynamite blew from his lungs with each accusation.

"Why not Ariel? YOU HEARD! Why do you think Jim doesn't want me touching Wendy, huh? Why the big deal? I proposed, I want her – SO WHY DOES HE CARE? Why does he come here and rip us apart? Why does he punch me INSTEAD OF ERIC? THINK ABOUT THAT ARIEL?! THINK ABOUT THAT?!"

Wildly, Peter gestured. "They live together!"

"Peter!" Wendy sprinted. Jim grabbed but she wrenched away. "Peter stop – "

"They live ONE room apart!"

"Peter!"

"They are probably fucking each other every night!"

"STOP IT!" Wendy sobbed, hitting Peter's chest. "STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!"

Peter seized her face and screamed. "THEN WHY WON'T YOU MARRY ME?"

The moment ruptured. The detonation left a scar in Time.

Ariel slammed her trident. Electricity gnawed through each guardian, overthrowing their bodies with violent currents. But Ariel's onslaught only paused their battle; it did not eradicate. The hatred spread, sinking into their souls.

"Ariel –" Grotesquely bent, Jim stumbled to Ariel as she fled. "Ariel wait – "

Ariel struck Jim with her trident, forcing him back. Catching the shaft, Jim pulled as Ariel clenched her stomach, pointed, mouthed, and cried in silence.

Jim watched. His eyes flicked, reading her lips.

Suddenly he roared. "That's not true! I do! You KNOW I do! Don't listen to him! DON'T! Ariel – !"

A police siren fired outside, startling Jim long enough for Ariel to escape.

Blindly, Wendy followed. She pushed upright, faltered for the door –

Then Peter grabbed.

"Don't!" Fist entirely around her arm he yanked. "Get back here!"

Jim stopped, halfway out the door. "Get your hands off –"

"He wants a reason to be mad?!" Peter hurled Wendy onto the bed. Clawing her slip he growled. "Then we'll give him a reason to be mad!"

"Son of a bitch!" Jim leapt, arm locked around Peter's throat. Wendy buckled, falling from the bed and running sightlessly as Peter screamed.

"FINE! GO ON! GO! BUT ONCE YOU LEAVE – IT'S OVER! ONCE YOU LEAVE YOU CAN NEVER COME BACK! DO YOU HEAR ME?! NEVER!"

Wendy ran, crying uncontrollably as Peter and Jim exploded.

If they killed each other, she didn't care.