EMBERS : the umbrella academy [2] [COMPLETE]

II

     CARLA SAT ON A TREE STUMP, legs crossed beneath her, a small crowd of Destiny's Children gathered around, listening intently.

     "Everyone is special in their own way," she started, "We make each other strong."

     The cult members looked up at her earnestly, clinging on to every word she said.

     "We're not the same, we're different in a good way," Carla told them, "Together's where we belong."

     "Together," a woman near the front repeated.

Carla smiled at her, "We're all in this together- Diego!"

     The man was approaching them, and she hesitantly bowed at the cult before hopping off the tree stump and greeting him.

     "Were you just quoting High School Musical?"

     "They were pestering me for some words of wisdom and I panicked!" Carla paused, "Why are you here?"

     "Five's got us a way out," he told her, "In the alley at two."

     "Two?" Carla spluttered, "As in two today?"

     Diego nodded.

     "I need to say goodbye to Marie and Quentin," she muttered.

     "Yeah, yeah, sure," he nodded, "Just be there in time."

     "'Course," she nodded, about to leave, before hesitating, "Do I want to ask how you knew I was quoting High School Musical?"

     "Not a word," he raised a finger to point at her threateningly, but Carla just offered him a shit-eating grin and twirled on her heel, flouncing off.

     During the journey to Wilson Manor, Carla found herself growing sadder at the thought of having to leave Marie and Quentin.

     The couple truly held a special place in her heart, and although she knew the time would come eventually, she had no idea how soon. She had under an hour to say her goodbyes then meet the others in the alleyway.

     When she walked up the stairs, Carla paused when seeing the door cracked open slightly.

     "Hello?"

     She slowly pushed open the door, the wood smooth and polished against her hand.

     All she got in reply was a long silence.

     "Lucy?" Carla called, "Jerry? Martin?"

     For none of them to reply was beyond strange, and dread settled in Carla's stomach, heavy and making bile rise to her throat.

     "Hello?"

     Silence.

     Feeling terror start to fill her, she hurried to the kitchen, glancing inside, and feeling more desperate as she realised it was also empty.

     "Marie?" She darted into the dining room, "Quentin?"

     Carla ran down the hall, hair flying behind her and she entered the living room, stumbling to a stop, the world crashing down around her.

     She screamed, bloodcurdling and raw and heart-achingly full of pain.

     In the middle of the living room were the bodies of Quentin and Marie, their throats slit into gaping smiles that seemed to laugh at Carla's horror.

     Marie's platinum hair was matted with blood, her ruby lips parted in a surprised gasp, eyes glazed and unfocused on the area above her, her fishnet clad hand clasping onto Quentin's in the space between their bodies.