Darker Days

Chapter 7

Zane and James are out on a mission.

"So, lover boy, how's your new love life going? I mean it's been three weeks." Noted James to Zane while they were out on a mission. Zane was scouting a few bushes away.

"Eh..-"

"Whoa, dude I thought you were into her. What happened to all that love?"

"It just- I can't try anymore with her. All she does is complain about Kimberly and myself"

"Ah!" James had pricked himself on a rose bush. "Well, why wouldn't she, bro? Kim's playing that chic game with you and you let her-"

"Yeah but I don't provoke her to continue either."

James frowned watching Zane continue scouting. He didn't know what was up, what was going through his friend's mind, why he was acting so strange. These thoughts lingered in his mind trying to put themselves together.
"Um, Zane, I'll be back" he waited for a response but all he got was a flick of the hand. He apparated back to the pod to consult with Artisa.

"Aarti? Artisa you home still?" James went to her room and knocked on the door gingerly. No response. ~Damn.~ He went to the lounge; no Aarti, only Jezreal completely engrossed in his game. He looked up hearing the lab door slide open.

"Hey James, mission done already?" Questioned Lance who had walked out with Dorian.

"Uh, no. I've been looking for Artisa; you guys know where she is?"

"Heh, I do-"

"Well tell me!"

"Hold on, James, you didn't let Dorian finish."

"It's good man. But this news isn't. Artisa is in Kimberly's room" stated Dorian as he leaned against the wall, obviously disgusted from saying so. James and Lance stared at him wide-eyed, both of which felt Jezreal's presence arise as he too was astonished by this information.

"Bro, tell me I didn't just pause my ultra boss battle for nothing" Jez commanded for both James and Lance who were frozen now.

"C'mon guys." Dorian started off for Kimberly's room. The boys followed.
"Now I found this out just about an hour after you and Zane left for that mission, James. I was gonna wait till you guys got back to tell him but at least now I have you three as witnesses"

"Well, I came looking for Aarti cuz Zane said she brings up Kim and him with that dumb game she plays with him to get to you. Things aren't goin' well and I wanted to get her side on it." James went on to explain in detail, how the conversation went in full. The group paused outside of Kimberly's door, astonished. Lance and Jez were quiet.

"Jez, Lance, guys," Dorian addressed to all three. "I get that you're concerned now about Artisa, but when I show you this, you'll wanna hate her." He opened a mutual pool so all four could see clearly through the wall to the two girls.

Lance spoke for the first time. "I don't see them"

"I d-d... Zane..." Whispered James wide-eyed, staring into the his portal. Dorian walked to the other side of the hall, disgusted much worse than earlier.

"Lance, bud.." Said Jezreal very calmly and quietly but still with a clear upset in his voice. "Look on the floor, behind the bed." Jez now joined Dorian on the other side of the hall. James sighed and closed his eyes as Lance did the same.

He said, "James, go back to Zane. Finish the mission, we'll be waiting for you guys in the lab."

"Alright" James went back to the feilds to assist a caught Zane from a tangled mess.