By Blood Connected

By Blood Connected
A Fanfiction by Vir M.
Chapter 13:
“Goodbye”
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I walked to French slowly, feet on auto-pilot. I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular, just felt myself become lost in the stillness as the flat rubber heels of my converse made smacking sounds against the hard wood flooring. I pushed open the door to Madame Faust’s classroom and stepped inside.

The cheerful interior was occupied by only three people: Madame Faust, a senior I wasn’t familiar with, and Ami. I headed over in Ami’s general direction.

“Hey.” I said, lowering myself into a desk next to her. She jumped.

“Oh, hi Jira!” She looked rather nervous.

“What’s up?” I asked, concerned. She slumped forward in her seat.

“Mom wants to pull me out of school.”

“What?!”

“I know, I know!” She cried, burying her face in her hands. “That Slasher maniac everyone’s talking about– he’s killed thirteen people! The police– they’re clueless! She doesn’t think its safe for me here anymore!” Her shoulders began to tremble with the force of her pent-up desperation. I launched upwards out of my seat and slipped my arms around her.

“Shhh, baby, it’s okay.” I said, attempting to comfort her. “You’re not goin’ anywhere, alright?”

“Oh, Jira...” she said brokenly, then began to sob. “She wants me to withdraw at the end of this semester!”

The bell rang, signaling the start of classes. Madame Faust walked over to us as student’s streamed into the room.

“Is everything all right here?” She asked in her pretty, accented voice.

“Family trouble.” I said over Ami’s blonde head. “Would you mind if she and I sat in the hallway for a little while... at least until she calms down?”

“Go right ahead, you two.” She said, concerned. “Should I call anyone...?” She looked uncertain.

“We’ll be fine.” I said assuredly, then lead Ami from the classroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It took her awhile to calm herself. When she was sufficiently in control of her emotions, I got her to explain the entire situation to me: her mother, concerned by the recent rash of killings, was going to pull Ami out of J L Tyler’s come spring. Naturally, I was pissed.

“She can’t do that!” I raged, eyes on fire. “It’s TOTALLY not fair!”

“I know, Jira.” Ami said miserably, knees pulled to her chest as if she was hiding behind them. “I’m sorry...”

“Don’t you dare apologize.” I snapped. “It isn’t your fault.” I glared up at the ceiling.

“I can probably talk her out of it.” She said, though half-heartedly. “I usually can.”

I ran my fingers through my bangs, fluffing them into messy waves. I then shook my head from side to side to clear them from my eyes. “You’re right about that, at least.” I grumbled. “I just pray you can. I couldn’t survive without you, Ami.”

Then the bell rang.

“Shit!” I swore. “We were out here all class!” Ami slumped again.

“I’m so sorry, Jira, I–“

“Don’t wanna hear it.” I said simply. “I got out of class, didn’t I?” She managed a hesitant smile as I helped her to her feet.

“That’s just like you...”

We got our bags out of the classroom and headed off to our shared computer science course, blending in with the rest of the students as they milled about the hallways. We had to yell over the veritable roar of sound produced by our peers.

“What do Karen’s parents think about the whole Slasher thing?” I yelled.

“I’m not sure.” Ami said loudly, though I could still barely hear her despite her rising volume. “I only got the call from mom late last night, and I haven’t seen Karen yet today.”

“Oh!” I exclaimed. “I woulda thought–“

I suddenly stopped dead in the middle of the hallway, despite the oncoming stream of students.

I suddenly felt trapped, trapped yet somehow exposed, feeling nothing but the animalistic sensation of utter--

Fear!

I was all at once afraid, though of what I couldn’t say. Terror crashed down on me, sudden and undeniable, washing over me in a sickening wave. The skin on the back of my hands and neck began to crawl as the eeriest feeling of dread stole over my psyche. I fell to my knees in the middle of that crowded corridor, head swimming, vision blurred, breath coming in hard, short gasps as the terror took hold.

//There is no logical reason for me to feel this way.\ I thought as I felt the cold wooden flooring beneath my cold, sweating palms. No reason whatsoever. This sudden, complete and total fear that erupted so unexpectedly had come from nowhere, and there was nothing here to be afraid of.

But afraid I was, and there was no way to get around that, no matter how illogical the statement seemed. Logic had nothing to do with it. I was dimly conscious of Ami hovering worriedly around me as a gap shifted in the large crowd, leaving me alone and untouched in the center of the walkway. My mind was completely devoid of everything except the fear as I fell forward onto the cold, wood floor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I awoke, I was lying on my back in the infirmary, staring up into the anxious faces of the head nurse (whose name I did not know), Ami, Karen, and a set of harsh fluorescent lights.

“Jira?” Ami whispered, voice frightened. “Are you okay?”

I sat up with a groan, bringing a hand to my head.

“What...?” I mumbled. The nurse promptly bustled over and forced me back into a prone position.

“Don’t get up.” She said, voice clear and authoritative. “You’ve been out for nearly an hour.”

“An hour...” I repeated, settling back into the pillows. “Did I...?” Then I remembered: the noisy hallway, the press of the student body, the animalistic, mind numbing fear. “Oh, God...”

“Shh.” Ami murmured comfortingly. Karen looked at me gravely.

“What happened, Jira?” Her voice was set, I could tell she wouldn’t let up until she found an answer.

I glanced around to make sure no one would over hear, then motioned for Ami and Karen to pull the privacy-curtains surrounding my bed around us to prevent an eavesdroppers from having easy access.

“Well...” I began. I then filled them on what I remembered: the sensation of being trapped yet utterly exposed, the pound of the adrenaline commanding me to flee, the rush of nauseating terror. They listened wide-eyed. When I finished, Karen let out a long, low whistle.

“It sounds like–“ She began, but then fell silent as we heard the commotion coming from the infirmary’s entrance.

There was first the bang of a door being violently thrown open, the stomp of heavy feet, then the sounds of the nurse’s cries of indignation.

“You can’t just–!” I heard the head exclaim as the curtains surrounding us were wrenched apart.

It was Aeneid.

He was standing stock still, feet apart, leather-gloved hands fisted tightly in the curtains, eyes wild. When his gaze fell on me, he hurriedly released the curtains and in a flash was standing over my bed, next to Ami. The nurse was standing behind him, obviously furious.

“Only two visitors at a time!” She seethed. “Even if you ARE a teacher!” Aeneid glanced back at the raging nurse, then spoke:

“Can she walk?” The nurse looked taken aback.

“What–?”

“I said: ‘Can she walk?’” Aeneid’s glare was cold, and the nurse practically cowered.

“I-it’s advisable that she doesn’t for the time being, but--” Aeneid silenced her with a look.

“Thank you, ma’am.” He then turned back to me.

It happened in about a span of three seconds: Aeneid slipped one arm behind my knees and the other behind my back, then lifted me off of the sick bed in one fluid motion. I didn’t realize what was happening until we were half-way to the door.

“PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW, DAMMIT!” I did my best to glare up at him, and attempted to wriggle out of his hold. He simply held onto me tighter, crushing me into his chest. I could practically feel him grit his teeth and scowl.

“No.” His voice was completely flat. Then the nurse spoke up:

“What in heaven’s name do you think you’re doing?!” Though I couldn’t see her from my position, I could almost feel her radiating anger. “You can’t just–“

“I’m taking her home.” Aeneid snapped impatiently, pausing at the hospital wing’s entrance. “You said it yourself: she can’t walk, so I’m carrying her.” He glared at her, and, judging by the timbre of her voice when she spoke her next words, seemed to wilt.

“Make sure she says inactive.” She said, defeated. “And get’s plenty of bed rest, as well as a solid, square meal.”

“I will.” He said, nodding. Then he walked out, carrying me with him in those amazingly strong arms.

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As soon as we were out in the hallway, I began to yell at him: a steady stream of curses that would have made a sailor blush. Uncharacteristically, he made no comment on my use of coarse language.


We were halfway down the corridor when I heard two sets of footsteps running down the hallway towards us. I tried to crane my head over Aeneid’s broad shoulder to see who they belonged to, but he must have though I was trying make another escape attempt because he latched on to me more tightly than ever.

“Jira!” I looked up at Aeneid as Ami’s familiar voice drifted towards us.

“Lemme talk to Ami!” I all but bellowed. He gave me a sharp, biting look.

“Fine!” He growled, then stood me on my feet, though he did not relinquish his vice-like grip on my upper arms. “One minute, then I’m getting you home.”

By this point, Ami and Karen had caught up to us.

“Jira!” Ami panted. “What about your school books?”

“We’ll go get them!” Gasped an equally winded Karen. “Meet us at the gates in ten minutes!” I looked to Aeneid for permission.

“Fine.” He eventually grumbled. “Go get them. We’ll be waiting.” He promptly swept me back up into his arms. “Ten minutes!” He called over his shoulder at them as his long stride ate up ground. I didn’t say another word until he set me down again, this time on a bench right outside the building.

“Wait here.” He ordered, then whirled and jogged quickly away. I watched his retreating back for a moment, then leaned my head into my hands and closed my eyes. When I opened them again about one minute later, the sleek black car was idling in front of me, and Aeneid was stepping out of the driver’s door. He approached me, then gently lifted me and placed me in the back seat of the car with surprising carefulness. I offered no resistance this time, and I could almost feel his tangible surprise. He shut the back door behind me, then got into the car and drove it towards the gate.

~~~~~~~~

Ami and Karen were already there, clutching my things. Aeneid jumped out of the car, walked around to my side, opened my door, and stood back. I tried to get out, but he reached a hand inside to stop me, so I just sat as Ami and Karen handed me my things.

“Guys.” I said. “Thanks.” They grinned at me.

“Don’t sweat it!” Said Ami cheerfully.

“Seriously.” Karen added. “Just concentrate on feeling better, okay?”

I took in the sight of their smiling faces sadly, suddenly struck by the strongest sense of foreboding.

“Guys,” I rasped. “Gimme a hug.”

Ami and Karen looked at me for a moment.

“Are you okay?” Ami asked, not moving. Karen looked similarly concerned.

“I’m... fine.” I said hesitantly. “Just... I dunno... somebody just walked over my grave, is all..” I looked up at them sheepishly through my bangs.

Then the two of them, almost in unison, launched themselves into the body of the car, bear-hugging me tightly. When they pulled away, I felt like something was being ripped forcibly out of my chest.

“I’ll see you, guys.” I said solemnly. “I love you two to pieces, you know that, right?” They nodded.

“We love you, too.” They said it at the same time, looked at each other in surprise, then crossed their arms in mock anger.

“Copy-cat.” Ami scowled. Karen stuck her tongue out at her.


“Get to class.” Said flat, neutral voice.

The three of us, lost in our own little world, jumped. We had forgotten Aeneid.

“Now!” He snarled, suddenly angry. Ami and Karen gave me one long look, waved, then scampered off, frightened of Aeneid. As I watched the two of them go, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. Then I whispered what would unwittingly be my last word to the two of them, the last word I would ever say to the two most important people in my life:

“Goodbye.”
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AUTHOR TIME
Ha ha ha! I showed this chapter to a friend of mine who looked at the title and freaked out. She thought that ‘Goodbye’ meant that this was the last chapter or something... and there are MANY MORE TO COME, mark my words!

I’ve got the entire storyline mapped out for this fic, I just have to flesh it all out, if you were wondering.... I also recently began planning the main points of this thing’s sequel. Yes, there will be a sequel. Exciting, neh?

Sad chapter, this one. The next chapter is the turning point of the story. Don’t miss it!
What was the fear thing all about, you ask? HA HA HA read next time and find out, mortals!
I’m having all together too much fun with this story. Next chapter, we get some ANSWERS!!! YEAH!!! I have such fun composing dialogue for Vergil, my word...

I love reviews, so drop me a line or a personal email, anytime! I do so love getting messages of any sort.

VIR M is the sole creator of JIRA and JL TYLER’S, AMI, KAREN, and all OC’s in this story.
CAPCOM is the proud owner of VERGIL, SON OF SPARDA.