Episode 8: Plain Truth

“Ready?” asked the Vampiress.

They were all suited up to go to the Castle. Stideous had rubbed on some bird feathers, giant’s saliva and his own old clothes to Gina, Oliver, Theresa and Chase.

“It’s to cover your smell. When we’re travelling, they will only smell birds, giants and Stideous,” explained Tara.

Gina walked over to Chase eventhough she knew he would keep ignoring her, she tried her best to stay positive.

“Be careful Chase. See you there,” said Gina.

It was a dangerous road ahead. Troubles could come after them along the way. The vampires had their robes on. The Vampiress’ robe was black, Tara’s was white, Jocelyn was yellow and Emilia’s was brown. The robes had appeared to be larger than they seemed to be. The vampires covered themselves and the youngsters within their robes and murmured some spell before they went travelling through space.

It was raining, which made their journey harder. Tara was travelling in her own storm with Gina in her protection. Yvonne was riding her dark cloud with Chase. Jocelyn was standing on sands with Oliver while Emilia used water as her transportation with Theresa.

Both of Emilia and Jocelyn took the lower side of Earth while Yvonne and Tara took the upper side. All four of them couldn’t possible used the same mean at the same time or they would attract enemies.

“It wasn’t her fault,” said the Vampiress.

It wasn’t as noisy as the others on the clouds with the Vampiress. She didn’t have to scream so Chase would hear her.

“I know but-”

“From my observation, her feelings are true. Don’t you forget, I can read emotions.”

Chase went silent for the first time. He knew deep down inside he wanted to believe Gina wasn’t lying but it was too good to be true.

“What does she see in me? I’ve been asking about that question ever since we’ve got together, you know. It doesn’t seem right at all. Look at Oliver, he’s way better than me.”

“She had always believed in you. She saw you for what you are.”

Not far from the duo, Gina and Tara were talking about the same thing.

“He’s never going to believe me.”

“We vampires hold on to this phrase strong in our belief, ‘actions speak louder than words.’ If you can’t make him believe through your words, then show him your feelings then.”

“I know he thinks he doesn’t suit me but that’s not true at all.”

“Have a little faith in him. He’s just overwhelmed with all that’s happened.”

Leaving their home was the hardest thing to do. The Sunny Suburb was the place where they grew up. They passed by their school and each said goodbye. The girls wept over it but the boys held up their emotions inside.

“Goodbye school,” bid Theresa.

“Goodbye friends,” bid Oliver.

“Goodbye home,” bid Gina.

“Goodbye Sunny Suburb,” bid Chase.

***

In a dark cell underground, it was dark and vicious. Two middle-aged couple were chained to the wall. They were smacked, kicked and slammed hard by their torturers. The man had dark hair, just like Chase. His eyes were frozen grey. The women on the other hand had brown hair and steel blue eyes like the ocean.

The woman was stripped naked. One of the torturers stepped forward and destroyed any dignity left in her. She screamed as he took advantage of her. She begged them to stop but the harder she pleaded, the crueller they became. The man had no energy left to even try to stop them. He himself was being tortured. Life was being sucked out of him, slowly and painfully.

To his left, his wife cried hysterically as the torturer took a plunge in her neck. The torturer was a vampire. He sucked and drained the last drop of blood in her. She was gasping for air.

“Tell us! Where is he?” asked the torturer.

The woman spat on the torturer’s face.

“You’ve chosen death!”

He ended her life instantly.

“Noooo!” cried Chase.

He was sweating. It was all a dream. Everyone was staring at him, wondering what had he seen.

“What did you see?” asked Tara.

He told them what he saw in his dream. Tara and Yvonne looked at each other. They feared it would happen someday and it already has.

“It wasn’t just a dream right?” Chase asked.

“They were your parents,” revealed the Vampiress.

“My parents?”

Chase had just witnessed how his parents were tortured and died in the hands of the Resistance Clan. They died of protecting him. And he used to think they were selfish for leaving him be. He felt like someone had just kicked him in the stomach. His chest was throbbing with pain and all optimism had left him cold. He looked helplessly at Gina. She held him tight as he broke down on her shoulders.

***

“Thanks,” uttered Chase.

He pretended to be fine when everyone knew hatred took control the best of him. Lately, he was always gloomy, moody and angry. He didn’t say much and during dinner earlier, he didn’t even touch his food. He stared at the food with a murderous look.

The Vampiress was very concerned. She knew how anger could consume a pure heart. Right now, there was nothing left in Chase’s heart except for all the bad things in this world.

“We need to shake him up,” said Oliver.

“His eyes are filled with flames of fury,” added Tara.

“If nothing is done, his heart will turn dark and he might become one of them,” Yvonne added.

Everyone in the room knew by making false hopes, they would only make things worse. And the current environment wasn’t helping either. The Castle was dead. Here, the sun weren’t shining, the clouds are dark and the winds are heavy. No one could figure how to cheer Chase up.

“Let me talk to him,” Theresa volunteered.

They didn’t believe she could talk to him.

“I think I understand how he feels.”

They let her try. She saw his eyes were empty and dead, unlike before. He didn’t even smile. He never talked unless necessary. He was still as a statue. And he was heartless.

“Can I sit there?” she asked.

Chase was sitting right in front of the fire place. And like the burning fire, his anger was flaming too.

“Thanks for saving my life. I’ve realised I haven’t thanked you yet,” she started.

She took a seat next to him. He didn’t say a word. His eyes were focused on his heartache. Unlike Tara or Gina, Theresa had always talked straight to the point.

“I know how you feel.”

Chase wanted to protest but he remembered she had witnessed her family burnt down in their own house.

“When the Skeleton Man was dragging me, I thought that was it. I hope God had killed me at that time. But when I started giving up, you showed up. And you charged at him, empty handed.”

“What’s your point? That I was an idiot?”

“Well, you are an idiot. But, I thought to myself. If you were willing to fight to save my life, why shouldn’t I?”

It was actually awkward enough to be having a heart-to-heart conversation with Theresa, a person he had never talked to in his entire life but sharing a near-death experience made it okay.

“Think about it, our parents sacrificed their lives to protect us so we should work hard to protect ourselves too. We owe it to them. And to others too.”

Her eyes pointed to the rest. His heart sank. He was torn apart.

“I know you’re mad. But guess what? I am mad too. And so does everyone! But you can’t let that get the best of you. You can’t keep it to yourself. Don’t fall to that dark side.”

He scoffed. He thought she was just being ridiculous. The ‘dark side’? What a bull!

“What are you talking about?”

“Why do you think we have enemies? The Resistance Clan, it’s been about like what-forever? And they still hold grudges against us! Their hearts turned dark. And if you don’t do something about your anger, you’ll be just like them! At that time, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you!”

She got under his skin. He really felt like strangling her but he was upset because she was right. He can’t deny it. It was the truth.

***

Chase walked over to the assembling vampires. The Council was having a meeting with the Vampiress and her sisters but he didn’t care. He wanted answers and he deserved to know.

“What did Theresa mean by the ‘dark side’?” he asked.

“Does it mean I could become one of them?” he continued

The Vampiress seemed reluctant to answer his question. The men from the images of the bat were there too; all three of them. The Vampiress looked at the Council for approval and they nodded their heads.

“You should sit down,” she said.

But it was more like an order than a suggestion.

“Sit down or I’ll make you.”

He knew better than to argue. He pulled a chair and sat down.

“Mr. Verdict, we haven’t had the pleasure of a proper introduction. My name is Rousseau Colvit, but you can address me by my first name. The fat one is Mr. Bloody and the other is Mr. Sucker.”

They shook hands.

“He looks just like his parents,” Mr. Bloody blurted out.

“Wait, you know my parents?”

He looked at the Council.

“I’m sorry about your loss. But you should know that your parents were the bravest people I’ve ever met. They stood by their beliefs right until they died,” Mr. Rousseau consoled.

His heart was torn apart. It was like he’s hearing he was the reason his parents died.

“And what did they believe in?”

“They believed in you.”

“That’s ridiculous! How was that possible? How could have they know anything about me?”

“Because you are their son. Why do you think the other Clan wants to kill you the most?”

He shook his head.

“Why?”

“Charles Rousseau is the leader of the clan and also-my own father.”

“Your-father?”

He stopped. For the first time, he had a facial expression on his face. He seemed sad. Who wouldn’t be when your father was the villain?

“I know it seems very ironic of me. Everyone says I’m quite the opposite of him.”

He managed a chuckle.

“He might be the villain but he is still my father. No one knows him like I do. And I know that deep down inside he doesn’t want this anymore than we do but something is stopping him. You are the only one who can change his mind-with your heart.”

Mr. Rousseau pointed to Chase’s heart. It was beating slow and hard.

“Now, your family wasn’t chosen to lead this fight because they were powerful. It’s because they saw things others had failed to see, especially the clan.”

“Forgiveness,” corrected Mr. Rousseau.

Chase realised he was always angry at everyone and everything these days. He had always had heartache and the next thing he knows, he was punching the wall until he bleeds. But still the rage was still within him. The images of his parents being tortured flashed in his mind. Mr. Rousseau held Chase’s shoulders tight. His touch sucked a part of the anger in Chase’s heart.

“I know what they did to your parents was wrong and unforgivable but you can’t live in this rage.”

“So what? You expect me to forgive them just like that?!”

“I do not expect anything but the best from you. But I believe they intentionally showed you the images because they want to bring out the worst in you. So now, it is up to you to let them win by manipulating your emotions or take what they have given you and become stronger and wiser.”

Truth was never easy and sometimes it hurts. But that’s the best thing about it. Even if it eats you alive.

***