The Cult of Silence (Complete)

Chapter Three: Jared's Choice

"JARED!" Shannon wakes up, gasping and crying. The moment he sees the brilliant blue eyes, full of life and concern. He enfolds his little brother in his arms.

It is Jared's turn to comfort him, rubbing Shannon's back as he sobs.

Shannon meets Tomo's eyes, at that moment he understood why he didn't want to talk.

Jared is legitly scared by his brothers' state. Shannon's grip on him is similar to hanging on to something that you have the chance of losing.

Rubbing light circles on Shannon's back, "It's okay, it was just a dream."

All three shiver in response to that, either seen or felt by another none of them asks the question.

"Do you want to share? Getting it out may help." Jared says, still tightly enfolded in Shannon's arms. His bare shoulder is slick with tears, he makes no motion to try to move away before Shannon was ready to let him go.

Shannon breaks the hug at that, "Sorry, I can't share it with you." His voice is low and clouded in emotion. Using the palm of his hands the wipe away tears.

"Tomo then?" Jared asks, concerned not hurt by this.

Shannon looks at Jared, still haunted by what he saw in the dream. He couldn't avoid asking this, "Maybe, but sing please." he begs, he needs to completely erase the destroyed sounding voice from his memory.

This is a completely new request from Shannon, normally he would be at his drums, "What song?"

"Escape," Shannon says, feeling that those are the words that would summerise the dream he had.

Tomo at that perks up, still staying silent from his spot under the window. Of course, Shannon, Tomo thinks, those lyrics are indeed perfect. He is preparing to tell Shannon what he experienced at the restaurant.

Jared stands, running his hand through his hair. He stares out the window, getting the melody in his head. If there was any song of theirs that could sum up what is coming; this song is it, war is coming. Jared just didn't like the fact that Shannon and Tomo are going to be dragged into it. He knows that once he told them, if they believed him, they won't let him go in it alone.

"Time to escape. The clutches of a name. No, this is not a game. It's just the beginning. I don't believe in fate. But the bottom line, it's time to pay. You know you've got it coming. Coming..." Jared pauses before the punch line and it wasn't just him singing, "This is war!" Tomo and Shannon jump in at the last.

Tomo stands up and approaches Jared, who is standing there in a slumped posture. "How are we going to approach, Fights at Sunset?" Tomo asks, using Jared's own philosophy to give him courage in difficult times when things look bad or hard turn to the lyrics to set you free.

Jared exhales loudly and looks at Tomo, there is that glint in his eyes that allows Tomo to smile.

"It will be a combination of attack and calm," Jared says.

"Does that mean you have lyrics?" Tomo asks.

"Yes," Jared confirms.

"Did you dream tonight?" Shannon asks hopefully.

Jared shakes his head, "When I woke up to you mumbling, I was still in bed though." he says.

"That's a plus, how long was I mumbling before I woke up?"

"About ten to fifteen minutes." Jared looks to Tomo for confirmation.

"Yeah, about that before you woke up screaming Jared's name."