Hybrid Theory: A [Linkin Park] Spinoff.

The Untitled.

Voices.
"This is total bullshit, Joe. Why are we protecting her against three men who probably have no idea where she even is?"
"Rob. You heard Chester. Marino and his cronies won't stop until Eren is either back in the system, or six feet under."
"Yeah. I heard what he said."
Joe's voice. Cold, calculating.
"You said you wanted a chance at redemption, correct?"
Rob. Defensive.
"Yes. But when I said that, I didn't mean going along with her little mental breakdown game."

I groan softly, my mouth dry,"J-joe? Rob?"
Joe's voice, soft.
"What's wrong, Eren?"
I open my eyes,"What happened?"
Rob clears his throat,"Look at your right arm."
I slowly look at my arm, feeling the bus slow to a halt.
Chester's voice from the living room.
"Joe, Rob, come here."
I swallow down a shudder as I hear the sound of two pistols being racked, followed by the sounds of Joe and Rob running into the living room.
Voices.
"Who are you, and how did you catch us?"
Russian, frantic, fearful.
"Please. I'm looking for Erenya. I'm running from the law. You have to help me."
Chester's voice, followed by the sounds of shuffling feet.
"Alex. She's in her bunk, and what the FUCK DO YOU MEAN BY RUNNING FROM THE LAW!?"
The voice, this time in English.
"My mother and father were deported about a month ago. I was on a trip with some friends at the time. I was caught once. I escaped. I figured that if I could find the seven of you, that I'd have a chance at survival. Now, may I please see Eren?"

By this time, I'm out of my bunk and pulling my boots on.
The door clicks open to reveal a boy with matted brown hair, tired green eyes, torn cargo shorts and a faded and worn Linkin Park shirt.
The boy rushes over to me, his lips moving in frantic Russian, "Erenya! I was so worried that I'd lost you!"
I stammer, suddenly self-conscious about how broad my shoulders are, and exactly how tall I am, making the boy look short and stocky,"A-alex?"
The boy throws his arms around me,"Erenya! I've missed you so much!"
I smile, slowly adjusting to the concept that Alex escaped deportation,"I..missed you too."
Alex kisses me, his hands finding the back of my white muscle t-shirt.
I stand there, waves of excitement and anticipation surging through me.
Alex lets go, his green eyes riddled with suspicion,"You taste different. Why?"
Chester's voice in my head.
Don't tell him.
I close my eyes, I can't just lie to him. He'll figure it out sooner or later that the taste in my mouth is from you.
Well, say something!
I close my eyes, "Alex. I've had a cold. That taste was from the medicine."
Alex looks at me, clearly not buying my lie,"You suck at lying, Eren."
I sigh,"Okay. You really want to know why that's like that?"
"Yeah. That's kind of why I asked."
I sigh, squaring my shoulders against a blow that will never fall, "Alex, back when I first heard that you were deported, I lost all sense of myself. And Chester was the only one who knew what that felt like. I'm sorry. If I had known that you were still in the country, I wouldn't have fucked up the way I did."
Alex looks at me for a moment, then his gaze turns to Chester, a wide grin on his face,"Hey. I'm glad you were there for her. I prayed day in and day out that there would be someone who could take her fear and pain, and throw it away until I found her."
I look down at the bloody remains of Chester's grey t-shirt tied around my right forearm,"Alex. I'm sorry. I hate to show you this, but...." I untie the strip of fabric, letting it fall to the floor.
Chester cringes.
Alex stands there looking at me as if someone shot his cat right in front of him,"E-erenya. Why?"
I close my eyes,"Because, Alex. I had flashbacks that wouldn't leave me alone."
Suddenly, three voices fill my head.
"The boy is her weakness."
"We previously thought that the vocalist was, but we were wrong."
"Marino, Benton, we keep using our data recorders, and she's going to find us, you idiots!"

I shake off a sudden sick feeling,"Alex. You need a shower. There's a pair of shorts in my duffle bag. You can wear them and whatever shirt you want."
Alex stammers,"I'm not going through your bag. I won't."
I shake my head,"Alex. The only thing that's in my bag is my pain pills, some memories of my dad and I, and my ring."
Chester face-palms, his voice a soft growl,"You idiot! He's going to think that there's something else between us!"
I spin on my heel and scramble towards my bag, just to be tackled by Alex.
Alex's voice in my ear, his Russian thick and menacing.
"Who gave you the ring?"
I close my eyes, reverting back into my mute state.
"Who gave you the ring!?"
Mike speaks up,"I did. You have an issue with it, you can take it up with me. But I warn you, if you try and hurt Eren, and I will become your worst nightmare. Capiche??"
Alex stammers and stands up,"Y-yessir. I understand."
I roll onto my back, forcing air into my lungs, my eyes stinging with tears.
Chester walks over to me,"You alright?"
I force myself into a sitting position,"Y-yeah. I'm fine. Help me up, please."
He takes my hand, pulling me to my feet.
I throw my arms around Chester's waist, tears streaming heavily down my cheeks,"Chester. I'm scared. Still..."
He wraps his arms around me, his voice soft,"Hey. I'll kill all three of them before they can even scratch you."
I shake my head,"No. Not them. That's not why I'm scared."
"What is it then?"
I bury my head in his chest, Alex.
WHAT!?
I'm afraid that Alex will become overly possessive. He's done this once before.