Loyalty (discontinued)

Serpents

"People will die, and there's no way you can ever be ready for it. Me, Dean, we won't be around forever. You just need to be ready for whatever comes next." Siddiq said calmly, rubbing my back with one hand.

We were sitting on the edge of a cliff. I wasn't so sure why he had brought me here to talk about this. Maybe it was the unnerving cliff side we were sitting on. Maybe it was the pretty sunset, staring directly at us. Or maybe it was the unsteady movement of the trees behind us. I couldn't tell. But it was an important lesson to learn that he taught me that day. One that I wouldn't forget. One I would have to use sooner rather than the preferred, later.

~<~<~<~

We made it to Deans office, standing before the door.

"Go ahead, knock" Ace said softly.

I looked from him to the door handle, deciding it would be okay if Ace was with me. I knocked firmly, following my movements by cautiously opening the door.

"Well hello Jorge, Ace." Ace sent a nod in Deans direction at the sound of his name.

"What do you need?" He continued.

"Jorge would like to show you his knife work"
Ace spoke for me. I looked expectantly between the two, not really sure of what to do.

"Okay then, let's see it." Dean gestured toward the sharp object in my hands.

I moved towards Dean where he sat in his chair with his feet set upon the top of the desk. I displayed before him the knife, delicately holding it in my hands. He took it gingerly from my grip, twiddling it in his own fingers.

"Very nice." He said slowly, drawing out the nice.

"Okay well if that's all then off you go." He said with a sharp smirk on his face. I nodded and headed towards the door, Ace following behind me.

"Thank you sir" he said swiftly before closing the door behind us. He caught up with me as I walked down the hall.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked concerned, turning me to face him. A scowl lied on my face.

"What's wrong?" He repeated his question.

"Just forget it" I said quietly, beginning to turn away but he turned me back roughly.

"No, tell me what is wrong Jorge, please. What happened?"

"Dean didn't seem very pleased with my work."

"Don't be silly, of course he was. He was probably just busy, that's all."

"No, he was clearly displeased with it. I could hear it in his tone!" I increased my volume, becoming angrier by the second.

"Jorge, come on. You're reaching here."

"No I'm not! Ugh, just leave me alone." I ripped my arms out of his grip, sending him a sour face before walking quickly back down the hall.

I found myself outside of the house, roaming the gardens. However even after nearly an hour, I was still fuming. The more I thought about it, the more guilty I felt. Truthfully, I didn't have any good reason to lash out on Ace. He had only always tried to help me. I don't really know what got into me. And I'm sure that Dean not being proud of my stupid knife work wasn't the actual cause of my outburst. And if I am being honest, I'm not sure what was.

I sat on a bench, playing with a flower I had picked, and trying to find words for when I next encountered Ace. But no words I could think of seemed right. I had disappointed him. I sighed put my face in my hands.

~

I headed back to the house as it started getting dark. I had spent my time away, simply sitting on that bench for hours, thinking. It definitely helped clear my mind, and I was ready to go in there and apologize to Ace.

I walked up the stairs with a pep in my step. As I reached the top I heard a blood curdling scream. I knew the voice as Lilith. I ran inside as fast as I could, trying to find her. I finally found her in the living room on her knees. Someone was laying on the ground on their back in front of her. She was holding their head in her lap as she sobbed.

I moved closer to see who it was. I felt my eyes widen as they filled with tears and my hands went to cover my mouth. Out of the corners of my eyes I saw Dean and Henry run into the room as well, both running to Lilith's side. Dean breathed heavy as he tried to process what had happened.

Lilith sat there with tears running down her face as she smoothed back Aces hair, avoiding touching the apparent gunshot in the middle of his forehead. She sobbed again and moved her head down to his, resting her forehead on his.

Henry looked to me with confusion, Dean copying his actions.

"What happened?" Henry asked in a shaky voice.

Lilith picked her head up, revealing the newfound spot of blood now on her own forehead.

"One of The Salvagers came in through the g-garden door, and di-id th-this" she sniffled, "They we're gone when I found him" she sobbed again and Dean rubbed her back softly, shaking his head in disbelief.

They came in through the garden. I was out in the garden that whole time. I could have stopped them, but instead I was sat on that bench wallowing in self pity. I could have saved him. And even worse? My last words to him were in vain. How could I live with that?

My breathing became fast and shallow, my hands shaking violently as I covered my mouth.

Its all my fault. It's all my fault. It's all MY fault.

Everyone turned to me as my breathing stayed labored and tears blurred my vision. Dean got up and reached for me, attempting to calm my manic state.

"Jorge.."

"No!" I screamed, pushing his hands away.

"Jorge-"

"No! NO!" I turned away and ran up the stairs.

"Jorge!!"

I ran all the way up to my room. I closed and locked the door, putting my back against it and falling to the floor. I pulled my legs to my chest and buried my head in my knees. I could have fucking stopped them. I could have. But I didn't. It's my fault. It's all my fault. Tears fell harshly from my eyes, and I sobbed and sobbed. I sat there for what felt like hours until

I finally forced myself up. I made my feet take me to my bathroom.

I looked at myself in the mirror, with my red puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. My breath was still shallow.

The Salvagers...

I decided. It was them. They are the reason Ace is dead.

And I'm gonna kill that fucking boy if it's the last thing I do.

~<~<~<~

HOLA. Sorry I haven't updated, it's been a rough couple days. Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. Sorry it was so chaotic and unorganized.

April 25, 2020.
Word count: 1189