The Secrets We Keep: A Choni Story

Chapter 13

At school                                                                                                                   

Cheryl's POV

I wondered when Toni was going to be at Thistlehouse if she was going to be there when I got there or after. I was snapped out of my thoughts when the bell rang. I was the first one out of the class, I practically ran out of the building. I was about to pull out my phone to call Toni when I was grabbed and pulled to the side. I turned around to see an unknown person. I was about to scream when he put a chloroform soaked cloth over my mouth. I tried as hard as I could to not breathe in the fumes but in the end, I was going to pass out from the lack of oxygen or the chloroform so I gave in. In an instant, my body became heavy and my legs weak. That was when everything went black.

Toni's trailer

Toni's POV

I was getting ready to go to Thistlehouse, I was putting on my Serpent jacket when my phone rang. I expected it to be Cheryl to ask when I was coming but it was Jesse's number.

"What do you want, Jesse?" I asked.

"Times up," he said.

"Time for what?" I asked confused.

"Your three days to choose what you wanted are up," he explained.

I had forgotten that the conversation ever happened. "Oh, um I want to stay as a fledgling," I replied.

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," he said.

"And?" I asked.

"I decided to get some leverage. Now you're going to listen to me very carefully, Toni. I have your girlfriend and if you don't bite someone I'll kill her," he said.

"I need proof you have her," I said masking the panic in my voice.

He sent me a picture and I looked at it. It was definitely Cheryl, she looked so scared.

"Is that proof enough for you?" he asked.

"Yes, but I can't just grab someone and bite them," I said.

"I've already dealt with that, I have someone for you to bite, come to the La Bonne Nuit, or whatever this place is called, tell anybody and she dies," he threatened.

"Okay, okay I'll be there in 15 but please don't hurt her," I pleaded.

"Clocks ticking," he said before hanging up.

I ran to a Church and got some holy water and poured it into a water gun I found. I spilt a little and it burnt my hand but I didn't care. I put that in the band of my boxers. I made sure I had my switchblade and got on my bike and rode as fast as I could to Pop's.

I practically burst into Pop's all the heads turned to me. I ignored all the eyes on me and went straight down to La Bonne Nuit. I scanned the room and spotted Cheryl. I was about to run over to her when Jesse appeared in front of me.

"Hey, babe," he smirked.

"Don't call me that," I pushed past him and ran over to Cheryl. "Hey, are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I asked.

"No, no I'm fine, now that you're here," she smiled.

"Now I told you there would be consequences for your actions, Toni," Jesse said.

"You know him?!" Cheryl asked shocked.

"Unfortunately, this is my ex-boyfriend Jesse," I explained.

"So now I figured out a way to get you to do what I want, be who I want you to be, who you were meant to be, who you were meant to be with," he rambled.

"As long as she leaves unharmed," I said firmly.

"Of course, of course," he replied.

"So who do I need to bite?" I asked.

"Bite?" Cheryl asked, confused.

I forgot that I hadn't told Cheryl the truth about me.

"So you haven't told her?" he taunted.

"Told me what?" Cheryl asked. I could hear the anger growing in her voice.

"Why would I tell her when you killed the last people who knew?!" I yelled.

"Tell me what, Toni?!" Cheryl shouted.

I took a deep breath and told Cheryl everything. I told her about when Jesse bit me, how he killed my friends, how he told me to befriend her, and what I was. When I finished she just stared at me blankly.

"Cheryl, please say something," I pleaded.

"So, us, everything between us didn't mean anything?" she asked, throwing her promise ring at me.

"No. Cheryl, I love you, that is real. I was crushing on you before he told me to be friends with you, I would have tried to befriend you anyway," I said, taking her hands in mine.

"That's bull and you know it, Toni," she said.

"Cheryl, I've never loved anyone as much as I love you," I said truthfully.

I tried to put the ring back on her finger but she moved her hand away.

"Toni, when I'm with you I feel like I can tell you anything, I thought you felt the same but I was obviously wrong, just like I was wrong when I thought you loved me," she started to cry.

"Cheryl, please don't cry, I wanted to tell you so many times, but the fear of losing you overwhelmed me, you have to believe me," I begged.

"I believed you so many times and look where it got me," she sighed.

I cupped Cheryl's face and looked her in the eyes, "Cheryl Blossom I love you, I don't know what I can do to convince you," I said.

"So, this is nice and all, but time is ticking," Jesse interrupted pulling me away from Cheryl.

"Jesse, please don't hurt her," I pleaded.

"Toni, you know that fledglings can't heal right?" he asked.

"Um, yeah," I responded.

"Good," he said menacingly.

He walked over to Cheryl.

"Jesse, what are you doing?" I asked trying to grab him but I was restrained by two larger men, "Jesse, I swear to God, I will break every bone in your body!" I yelled trying to get free of the men's hold to no avail.

"It'll be my pleasure," he replied.

"Jesse, Jesse, listen to me you can break my soul, take my life away, beat me, hurt me, even kill me, but for the love of God, Jesse don't touch her," I begged.

"That was a nice speech and all but you know my option is better," he responded.

"Jesse you said she would leave unharmed!" I yelled.

"Well that's going to be down to you, my love," he grinned evilly.

He pulled a knife out of his pocket and plunged it into her stomach.