Rise Up (Stray Kids Seo Changbin)

14

Janey's Story

A month had passed since Lincoln had found Janey in her Russian cabin. At the time, they spent up to three weeks camping out there until Linc finally persuaded her to return to the Society.

Needless to say, Nicholas didn't seem the slightest bit amused when she came stumbling back into the Main Society Headquarters, arm wrapped securely around Lincoln's waist as he did the same for her shoulder. Kyla and Cassidy, on the other hand, couldn't help but squeal at the sight.

"So, is it official?" Kyla pulled Janey aside, eyes scanning hers for an answer. "Are you and Linc actually a couple now?"

Janey couldn't help but glance back at the boy who still had his sapphire eyes fixated on her despite conversing with Nicholas. He shot her a sight smile before glancing at the ground in embarrassment, cheeks reddening.

This interaction, unfortunately, was not missed by Kyla, Cassidy or Nicholas.

"I guess you could say that... Truth be told, I would say we are in more of a 'it's complicated' relationship. We never formally started dating but I mean, we act like we are."

Cue more squeals from the girls who immediately wrapped their team-mate in a warm hug. It had been months since her last conversation with these girls, let alone an interaction.

Janey allowed herself to melt into a hug, a smile growing on her face as she did so. She missed these girls, this environment, this job more than words could even begin to explain and yet now she was back. The least she should be is happy. She should be dragging the girls out into the Buenos Aires sun and driving for hours and hours until Nicholas has to drag them back. She should take them down old roads they used to venture in and ponder on 'the old days'. She should take them to the beach where they'll fall asleep beneath the blazing sun and wake up at dusk to watch the sun descend behind the waters.

But why was there a pit in Janey's heart instead? Like a whisper reminding her of what she knew about these girls, reminding her that they weren't all they seemed, in fact, they were nowhere close. She knew too much and knew they knew that. She was her own and only ally in the Society at this stage. Who knew what these girls she once considered her best friends would do to her if ever she went out alone with them? Who knew if their previous intentions were ever good? And what about now that she knew their deepest secrets? Could she trust them?

"I bet you girls have a lot of catching up to do," Nicholas chimed into the conversation with a blatantly forced smile. "But before that, Dave over here and I have some talking to do so it will have to wait. If you are ready, Dave. We can talk now. In my office."

The look in his eyes told her she had no choice. They had to talk and now, for that matter. And Janey felt terrible when she felt a wave of relief course through her body upon leaving Cassidy and Kyla's presence.

The journey to his office was awfully silent and the tension between the two of them stood as strong and firm as a brick wall. Nicholas often stole glances at her before scoffing slightly but would instantly ignore her if she asked what it was about.

"Are you just going to pretend you weren't acting like a predator throughout the trip here?" Janey blurted as soon as thye entered his office. Closing the door behind her, Nicholas sent her a surprised look.

"Predator? No, no. I was just... Thinking..."

"About what? Because you seemed as though you wanted to rip me to shreds!"

"And if I do?"

That clearly took her aback, forcing her eyes to widen in surprise.

"You want to kill me?" she questioned.

He glanced up at her and sighed, "I told you specifically, Dave. Do not come back. And yet here you are stumbling through the Main Society Headquarters as though it's your home. So maybe yes, I do want to kill you, save you from the months of suffering leading up to your inevitable death."

"What do you mean 'as though it's my home'?" she asked, obviously offended. "The Society is my home."

He derived, so loud it echoed off the walls, before he glared at her.

"Maybe once upon a time, Dave, but that was long ago. I heard of the library you burnt down -- we all have -- and I do not doubt for a moment you burnt in down because of all the information you gathered up. You know aspects of the Society even I don't know and have seen images yourself. So I know you will believe me when I say you have no business here. Forget the blood oath, you are no longer a Society member."

"But they don't know what I know... You don't know what I know."

"True, very true indeed but I believe you know more than everyone here is willing for you to know about them. You take your knowledge as child's play, Dave. You see it as just another story, another myth. You are one of the smartest members if the Society I have ever met so listen carefully when I say stop lying to yourself. Don't do it. Everything you have read happened. Even the most gruesome of events. All of it happened. And, unfortunately for you, history often repeats itself. Don't let yourself be the one it's repeated on."