Shadow-Dancer: We're Not So Different [ALTERNATE UNIVERSE VERSION]

Chapter 17: Got a Secret. Can You Keep It?

Becca's POV

I walked down the hall and heard a series of giggles, like when someone tries to do an evil laugh, but it comes out as more of an anime girlish laugh. I assumed that Anti was out and about and it came from him. I hurried into my room without looking into any of the other rooms. I've learned from experience to not bother a demon while they're plotting. Okay, if you really must know, Ob had to literally save my life. It was how I found out about Bill's plan to murder Will. I did try to warn him, but as we all know, I was too late.

I threw my backpack onto the bed and pulled out my phone. Before I could help it, a small smile crept onto my face. Lily had given me her number. Without me having to ask. I tried to reason that it was probably just because we were becoming good friends, and we were working on a project together, and she gave it to me after I had told her that my parents were dead, so it might have been out of pity, but Ob blew a hole in all of that.

"Wow, you are blind!" she said. "You seriously can't see it, can you?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"It is so obvious that she has a crush on you. Or, at least, is starting to form feelings. And it's because she's starting to feel the bond."

"That's even crazier than when you suggested that we stalk Alex's boyfriend to make sure that he was 'good enough for her'. Besides, how do you know she isn't straight?"

"..."

"Ob?"

"Okay, if I tell you, promise you won't be mad?"

"Aren't you the one who told me to never make promises that I can't keep?!"

"Just promise, okay?"

"Alright, jeez I promise. Now what did you do?"

"So l kinda looked into her mind..."

"Ob!"

"I swear it was just a peek! I was just heading over there to hang out with Turq, but curiosity got the better of me! Anyways, I did see that Lily is bi. Heck, she even had a girlfriend before she dated that scumbag that barely passes as a human being."

"Okay... so she's bi. That doesn't mean that I'm going to go after her. Yet, anyway."

"Why not?"

"You're not the only one that notices things. She's still trying to get her ex off of her back. That break-up could not have ended well. If I try to make a move, it could make things worse for her."

"So l take control one night, sneak over to his house with a sharp object..."

"Ob! For the last time, killing people can't be your plan A!"

"I'm sorry if it's the most effective way to deal with the problem! Besides, didn't you see his eyes? Bill's clearly using him as a puppet! And that makes him a threat, not just to Lily, but to everyone!"

"You've got a point there. Look, I'm going to give her some time. Even if her Bill-possessed ex wasn't a factor we only met a few days ago. Maybe in a year or two..."

Author: Bill-possessed?

Becca: Just...

Ob: Roll with it.

"Years?!"

"I'm in it for the long game, hon. If I want to go steady with Lily, I don't want to rush her into anything. I want her to be comfortable with letting her walls down around me. There are probably some things about her that she isn't comfortable with telling me yet, so I've got to respect her privacy in that regard. Besides, I have bigger problems on my mind."

"Like what?"

"Food! It's almost seven o'clock, and I need dinner."

I walked out of my room and made for the kitchen. I made myself a sandwich and grabbed a container of Pringles.

After I ate, I saw a flash of green light come out of Jack's recording room. Every fiber of my being, even Ob, said it was a bad idea, but curiosity got the best of me and I went to check it out.

Anti was standing in the middle of the room, pulsing with neon green energy. I didn't go into the room, but I couldn't seem to look away from the light either. I'm not sure how much time passed, but it felt like hours.

All of a sudden something changed in Anti's posture. He quickly grew tense, and then went completely limp. Red light seeped into the green. It began to focus on a point in the room and swirl around until it became a portal. A shadowy figure appeared, but before he came out, there was a bright flash, and then darkness.

I woke up on my bed, Anti sitting down next to me. He looked like he just ran a marathon, but he kept his impish smile as he spoke.

"Sorry about the whole knockin' ya out thing," he started. "I honestly didn't mean ta do that. A friend of mine was stayin' in Ireland fer a while, an' wanted some help movin' his... more valuable items. Odds are ya won't see him, so don't worry about it." Anti never looked me in the eyes as he spoke, and his hands were clawing at his thighs. I didn't need Ob to tell me that he was lying.

I decided that since he had just knocked me
unconscious, or maybe my mind was still groggy enough that I wasn't thinking clearly, I would play along.

"It's no problem," I said. "I've been through worse."

"Good," Anti replied. He began to leave, but when he got to the door, he turned around. "One more thing. Jack doesn't know what happened, an' I want ta keep it that way. If you or Ob tell him, well, you won't like what happens." His mouth curled into a psychotic smile as he walked out. It didn't take long for Ob to say what we were both thinking

"We're telling Jack," she said.

"Definitely," I said. "But how?"

"I might know a way."

Author: Anti's up to something!

Becca: And don't forget to absolutely mash that star!

Ob: And while you're at it, recommend this story to as many of your friends as you can.

Author: The song up top is "Safe And Sound" by Different Heaven.

Lyrics:

Fill me up
With your smile
Like the sunshine brings the light
Fill me up
With a flame
I will let you win this game
Take me up when I'm down
Cause with you I'm safe and sound

I'm safe and sound
I'm safe and sound
I'm safe and sound
I'm safe and sound
Bring bring bring that beat back!

Ooh yes!

Fill me up
With your smile
Like the sunshine brings the light
Fill me up
With a flame
I will let you win this game
Take me up when I'm down
Cause with you I'm safe and sound

I'm safe and sound
I'm safe and sound
I'm safe and sound
I'm safe and sound
Bring bring bring that beat back!