"Mabel, Candy and I want to talk to you. Bring Pacifica." I read the text on my screen, the glow bright and prominent in the darkness of night.
I look down at Pacifica, seeing her look up at me with a face of interest. But I can see the hurt and innocence.
I never realized how innocent she is.. The brokenness I can see in her eyes. The pain she's held in.
The childlike innocence. The sparkle of hope that she has for us.
The twinkle in her eyes.
She picks her head up off of my legs. "Is something wrong?"
"Grenda says her and Candy want to talk to us.."
"Oh.." She looks down slightly.
The pain I can feel for her.
The longing to be loved I can see in her expression.
"I won't let them talk about you like they did earlier."
"Why did she tell you so late.. We'll- I'll get in trouble.."
"If you get in trouble, I get in trouble with you." I say as I gently grab her hand in attempts to comfort her.
She lets out a small sigh, looking down at our hands. She looks back up at me. "Yeah," she starts, "let's do it." She says quietly.
"Are you sure?" I question.
"Yeah.. I trust you.. If you have faith in them then.. I will too."
A smile comes through with hearing her say that. "Thank you, Pacifica." I say, kissing her gently.
"Where?" I type on my phone, sending it to Grenda.
"Come outside." I soon get back.
I grab Pacifica's hand, squeezing it gently. "You ready?"
She looks at me.
Fear in her eyes. Fragile. She's so much more fragile than anyone could believe. More than she would like to believe.
She gives me a gentle smile as she nods slightly.
We go outside, hand in hand.
"I can barely see anything.." Pacifica says as she wraps her arm around my arm, pulling me closer.
"Candy? Grenda?" I call out.
Nothing.
"Uhm Grenda told me to-" I'm interrupted by large hands grabbing my face, someone else pulling Pacifica away from me.
"MABEL-!"
Pacifica's mouth is quickly covored by someone hidden by the darkness.
I try to yell, but their hand is too strong.
I bite their hand, causing them to quickly pull away. "AUGH!" They yell. Shock overcomes me. Grenda. But I don't let knowing who it is distract me.
As soon as I'm free, I run in Pacifica's direction. "Let. HER. GO!" I yell as I grab Pacifica's hand, pulling her away from who I now assume is Candy.
"Mabel wait!" I hear Candy.
"NO!" I'm angry. I'm never angry. But they've made me angry.
"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE PACIFICA AND I ALONE?! WHY CAN'T YOU ACCEPT SHE'S CHANGED?! THAT-.. That we love eachother. She's different. She's willing to accept me being friends with you two. But you two won't accept her!"
I grab Pacifica's hand. "Come on if they can't accept us then we don't need them anyway." We walk towards her front door.
"Wait! Please! Hear us out!" Grenda adds.
"Last time I heard you out you made Pacifica run out and cry! How can you tell me to hear you out when you won't even hear me out?"
"We're sorry," Candy starts, "we just.. We're not used to this." Grenda finishes.
I look over at Pacifica, hurt is all I can see.
"Do you..?"
She looks back at me, her gaze softening upon looking at me.
"No matter what they say, you'll stay with me, right?"
Tears form in her eyes as she says that, she looks down slightly.
The fear of being left.
"Pacifica look at me." I say quietly, my voice soft. I grab her hand, gently placing my other hand on her face, cupping her cheek.
She doesn't look at me.
"Please look at me." I move my hand under her chin, gently pulling her to look at me.
Tears roll down her face. She quickly wraps her arms around me tightly. "Please don't leave me, Mabel." She says quietly into my ear. "I promise, I won't leave you."
I pull away, still holding her. I reach up, wiping the tears that roll down her red cheeks.
A small smile comes onto her lips.
All the pain in her eyes.
She'll never be okay.
"Are you willing to give them a chance?"
Pacifica looks away from me. "I already did.."
"They never gave you a chance."
"Then why should I give them another one?"
"Please?" I grab her hands, looking into her eyes.
She looks back at me, a saddened expression on her face. "You have so much faith in them.. When they obviously won't accept us.."
"You don't know that.." I say as I move a strand of hair out of her face.
"I.." She starts, letting out a sigh, "Fine.. Only because you want to give them another chance.."
A smile comes onto my face with hearing that.
"Candy, Grenda," I call out, "we'll hear you out. Just one thing. You have to hear us out too."
Nothing.
"Candy? Grenda? Did you leave?"
There's rustling in the bushes.
"Guys? Come on. This isn't funny."
"M-maybe we-we should go inside." Pacifica sounds scared.
"B-but-" before I can continue, a shapeshifting monster jumps out of the bushes.
"I thought we killed that thing!"
Pacifica looks at me shocked. "You know what that is?!"
I grab Pacifica's hand. "Just- come on!"
My hand's on the door handle, when Pacifica's hand is pulled away from mine, hearing her scream my name.
"PACIFICA!" I reach for her, just missing her hand. I chase after the shapeshifters, trying to get her back.
Everything goes black.
