The Truth

Chapter 23

-Jack-

Her smile lights up the room after I say the three words I've been wanting to say since I first met her. I reach over and brush a loose strand of hair out of her eyes.

"I have to say I saw this coming." We both jump as Blake comes from around the corner.

"How...how long have you been here?" Cindy mutters. He laughs humorlessly.

"Long enough." He looks terrible, much worse than I did after our fight. His face is swollen pretty much everywhere, and a variety of different colors. I can tell my poison did it's job very well. He winces when he walks since I kneed him in the groin.

"Listen, we can explain..." Cindy starts but he grabs her arm and shakes her like a doll.

"When I asked you out, you promised you'd be loyal! You promised you'd be faithful. You lying little bitch!" he pushes her and she slams into the bedside table. I jump up and stand in between them, my hands up.

"Stop, please. It was my fault. I started it, she is faithful to you." I say, praying that he didn't see our kiss. No such luck.

"So that's why she kissed you back." his voice is angrier than I've ever heard it before.

"Blake, she loves you. It was my fault. I kissed her first." He pushes me aside and I land on the bed.

"Please Blake, stop. Things between us haven't been working at all. You've become abusive and rude and violent. I've never seen this from you before and now I feel like I don't even know you." Cindy stands up and walks over to him. "We're over. I'm done with you, Blake. We're just going to get through tomorrow and then I'm done talking to you." She crosses her arms and with her head tilted to the side, she looks so cute.

"I agree." he says, and storms out of the room. Her eyes fill with tears and she sinks to the floor. I know nothing I could say would make her feel better, so I walk up to her and just let her cry on my shoulder.

-Cindy-

As much as I knew it was the right choice, breaking up with Blake was hard. I had been with him for so long, I felt like it was wrong to just give up on us. But then I think about the way he treated me and the way he treated Jack and I knew he wasn't the right guy for me. On top of all of this, Jack had told me he loved me and I hadn't answered. I'm sure he's probably anticipating some sort of answer at the moment, but I don't know what to say. I just broke up with my boyfriend of two and a half years, how am I supposed to move on so quickly?

All these thoughts run through my brain on replay, and I turn over in bed. The silence and darkness of the hotel room makes me want to scream, but I know I can't wake the boys. After Blake stormed out, Jack had comforted me for awhile until I said we should get to bed. A few minutes after we turned the lights out, Blake came back in quietly. Without a word he pushed Jack off the bed, startling him half to death. It would have been a little funny if it wasn't so mean. I offered Jack my bed so now he's fast asleep right next to me, which doesn't make Blake very happy.

I finally fall asleep, only to have a terrible, vivid nightmare.

I'm standing in a room, a prison cell, by the looks of it. I hear screaming in the background, and the sound of voices coming nearer. I look around. It's a filthy place, with a rusty old toilet, a sink with fungi growing inside, and a bed that looks so old it would probably collapse if a spider landed on it. The floor was coated with grime and dirt, and the walls had multiple drawings on them. I think I'm alone until I hear fast breathing coming from the corner by the toilet. I slowly walk over and see Jack. He's probably about 13 years old, but it's definitely him. He looks skinnier than usual, as if he hasn't eaten in a week.

"Jack?" I say, but he doesn't hear me. "Jack!" I scream, and jump up and down in front of him, waving my arms. He doesn't see me. Suddenly the door of the cell is opened and a horrible looking woman walks in. She's so tall that her head almost touches the ceiling. Her muscles bulge out of her shirt, making me think that it's a wonder it isn't torn yet. Her hair is pulled back in a greasy ponytail and her jeans and leather boots are covered in mud, like she was rolling around in it.

"Hello, Jack." She says in a deep, rumbling voice that could shake the earth. Jack whimpers in reply. "Oh don't worry. We won't hurt you if you cooperate." I look around her and notice that 'we' means her and two men standing by her side.

"I won't. I won't." Jack mutters. I'm not sure if he's talking to himself or to her.

"What a shame. You're an incredible wizard. Much better than any I've ever seen. What I find remarkable is that you haven't even been trained." she crosses her arms and walks to the bed. To my surprise, it doesn't collapse.

"So go find Cindy Chase. Maybe she'll join you. Isn't she supposed to be the most powerful witch or whatever?" he says, sounding much more defiant now.

"Well the problem with that is that Zarathos wants her killed on sight. I won't have a chance to interrogate her." she sounds bitter, as if the thought of not being able to torture someone angers her. Sick woman.

"I won't join you. Though I'm flattered you asked." Jack stands up shakily and tries to take a step but collapses again. The lady laughs.

"Oh honey, you're too weak to stand. Perhaps when I'm done with you you'll be too weak to live." She takes a step toward him and something tells me to look away. This isn't something I need to see. The screaming begins and I cover my ears. After what seems like hours, the lady leaves and I run over to Jack's broken body. I turn him over and feel like I'm going to cry and scream. Then, to my horror, his face and body slowly transforms until it's Jason lying there. He opens his eyes and takes my hand.

"Save me." he whispers, and I wake up.

"Cindy, are you okay?" Jack is sitting up next to me. My sheets are tangled and my pillow is on the floor. "I thought you were having a seizure." he places his hand over his heart like I scared him to death.

"I..I'm fine. It was just a nightmare." I say but even as I say it I know it isn't the truth. What I saw was a memory, Jack's memory. How did that happen? How was I able to mentally connect to such a personal memory? I realize I'm looking at Jack in horror and he's fidgeting with the blanket.

"What happened?" he asks softly and I shake my head, unable to take my eyes off of him.

"You went to Zarathos's place, didn't you? You were their prisoner." I don't know what made me say it but once I did, I couldn't stop. "They wanted you to join them and they tortured you for weeks until you escaped. That's why you were so reluctant to come with us." he closes his eyes and leans his head against the bed rest.

"Yes. They wanted my magic, but I wouldn't let them have me. I knew the difference between good and evil at that point and I wanted no part of it. They almost..." his voice broke and he shakes his head. "I don't want to talk about it Cindy. Please." I nod and take his hand.

"I'm here for you. I won't let anything happen to you ever again." I say and he sighs.

"That's a promise you won't be able to keep. But thank you. You're the only person to ever care for me and you don't know how that makes me feel." He lets go of my hand and I take a leap of faith. Leaning in, I kiss him. I feel his body relax as he kisses me back. He pulls away, his face still inches from mine, and studies me. His eyes stay locked on mine and his hands travel up and down my back.

"I love you." he mutters. I close my eyes, knowing he's waiting for an answer. The words come out before I can stop them.

"I love you too." He sighs in relief and lies down, letting me rest my head on his chest. He strokes my hair and I don't have any more nightmares.