45. Fiction

The walk back home wasn't one that I could call pleasing. No, it was entirely opposit of that. I had left the house with a childishly angry and stubborn Alex, frustrated at the fact that I had turned his hair color from purple to silver. Now I was coming alone, all alone, just my thundering heart and raging mind as my company.

I was pissed at everything around me. Even the terrible dull grey sky that had changed color with the swing of my mood. The grass beneath my feet had turned orange, crisp like crackers.

I was angry as Hell, at myself for being so blinded and angry at Alex for lying to me and playing with my trust. I was angry at everything I passed, starting with Lucifer the son of a Houndess, if there's even a word like that, to start this whole mess. The only thing that kept me sane from burning into flames was one emotion, and I had no idea why I was feeling it.

I was missing Alex.

The guy was a real pain in the ass, not a very good person for company. But he had his reasons. I like the foolish girl I was, was longing for that friendship, for feeling that delight of having someone of my own age after so long. I was just missing him so much.

But that didn't mean I wasn't angry. I was a raging fury ready to burst out.

"Cilia! There you are! Good Lord I have been worried sick- And please shut your cats big hungry mouth! He's been like that ever since I called you!" Julia shrieked as I stepped into the house, turning my attention to Tan who had been roaring and growling this whole time. I had been listening to his roars even before stepping into the thresh hold.

"Sleep." I commanded calmly and in an instant, Tan had lulled back to sleep right on the rug. My mind had gone hazy for a while, stopping the dizziness from lulling me to sleep as well. Our connection could be scary at times.

Once Tan was sound asleep, Jason stepped out of his study, looking at the two of us with an expressionless face. He had never been this void of emotions after I became a part of this whole "family thingy". But now, looking him like that made me realize how much shit I had brought us into. I might as well be branded a traitor or something.

"Cilia. Julia. In my office. Now." Julia looked at me sympathetically, but followed Jason nonetheless. I masked my emotions with a blank expression, having had learnt that from two of the best blank face ,people. following Julia.

One, Jason himself.

Two, my former lover from Heathens who I never broke up with.

Julia and I took our seats in the leather couch opposit each other, while Jason took the centre one, to my right and Julia's left. For a long time, no one spoke, until Jason finally said, "Proceed."

"Alex... he is not the guardian of Sav7 as he claimed to be. He's the Guardian of Fiction from Pheonix Entertainment." Julia stated, all the while looking at me as if her words were only meant for me to hear. I didn't look at her though, I kept my face forward, looking what was behind her head, my face still void of emotions. It was Jason who spoke up.

"Yes I'm sure we are all aware of that already. What next?"

"He lied to Cilia. He lied to all of us."

The very unwanted silence had fallen, making me wish more than anything to just get over with all this. Of course he had lied! I already knew that! But the main question was how?

"How come he lied to us? I mean it's fine with Cilia, but how about you Julia? Guardian magic can't work on Deity's... right?" Jason asked, looking from Julia to me.

"No, it doesn't. That's why he didn't use it on me. He used it on Cilia, and made Cilia tell us his story, knowing we would believe her." Julia stated and I couldn't help but get more confused, and so was Jason.

"But how? I thought his ability was telekinesis, how can he do something like that?" Jason questioned, shock evident in his voice. Only then did the puzzle pieces click in together for me.

"Hypnosis." I finally said, my eyes darkening as the duo turned to stare at me.

"Say what?"

"Hypnosis. One of the other ability that comes with telekinesis. If you can control any states of matter with telekinesis, you can control a persons thoughts in your hand with Hypnosis. I just realized that now. I had no idea he had that power until a few hours ago, when he used it to help me... never mind."

Julia and Jason remained silent as they took my information in. I could feel their heart rate increase the slightest before Julia asked, "So he played with your thoughts, and made you believe that he is the Guardian of Sav7, instead of Fiction?"

"Yes. But that still doesn't explain why every other thing he said must be branded a lie!"

"And that still doesn't explains why you came home alone and not with Alex. Where is that fellow by the way?" Jason asked, looking straight at me.

I swallowed, before finally replying. "He... Alex... suddenly got all riled up and... and ran away... atleast that's what it looked like. We were just staring at a Billboard of Fiction when he got all worked up, saying nonsense like I knew it all along and I lured him in to hurt them and that I was a monster... bla bla. I had no idea what any of it meant, until right now. It all makes sense now."

I looked down at my lap, unable to bring myself to look at the duo who were atually staring at me.

"But why lie? Why make yourself the guardian of Sav7?" Jason asked, his attention diverting to Julia from me.

Julia sighed, rubbing her temples as if frustrated at the story she was to tell us.

"You... might not like what I'm about to tell you." She finally said, still not looking at us. "I think we can take our chances." Is all I said.

Julia sighed again before starting the story with great difficulty.

"Alex was a SilverSpoon Entertainment trainee, like he told you Cilia. He was to debut in Sav7, along with the other boys who today form the real Sav7. Unfortunately for him, there had been a misunderstanding between him and his Entertainment. They thought Alex was backstabbing them by trying to debut in a band from Pheonix Entertainment. Crazy, I know, they thought he wasn't interested because Sav7 had a very low chance of getting famous. So they dismissed him without even letting him know. And the day he wanted to make things clear was the day he died in the elevator accident, just like he told you Cilia."

A long long silence followed after that, even when Julia stopped talking. We were all too stunned to even utter a word, my mask now completely gone and replaced with that of surprise. I could barely believe it. Alex had told me his story and I believed it. Because it was so true, so much like my own, that I didn't bother digging deeper. Because Alex had played with my mind, and made me believe in what he wanted me to believe in.

And yet, why am I not pissed at him?

"Why? Why would his Entertainment think his was backstabbing them? Even better, why was he in Pheonix Entertainment every time, when he was from SilverSpoon Enyertainment?" Jason asked, looking at Julia for answers, but it was me who replied. The answer was in the tip of my tongue.

"For Fiction."

"Beg your pardon?"

I sighed before looking at Jason in the eyes. "He went there every time for Fiction. He was a die heart fan before he died. Just like I was a fan of Heathens. And when he died, he became the guardian of Fiction, just like I became for Heathens. It all makes sense now. But the main question is, what do we do now?"

I looked from Julia to Jason, searching for an answer, but they looked as lost as me. Alex had run off to God only knew where, and now, we had no idea what to do. I thought I was one step ahead at finding guardians. Looks like I'm back in square one.

Then it clicked to me. Alex's last words.

"I shouldn't have waited. I should have ended them the day I had my chance."

What...what did he mean? By any chance...he wasn't thinking to...

Oh my God!

"Guys?" I called out but just then, something else happened. Jason's head snapped behind him, his eyes wide but confused and alert as he slowly stood from where he sat. He stared out into the distance, Julia and I following behind.

"Reaper?" Julia called out, but Jason only raised a hand to silence her. Without warning, Jason flew out of the room, invisible.

"Reaper!" Julia shrieked and followed after Jason. Not sure of what to do, I followed suit.

Once I was out and in the cold breeze, I found Jason already soaring forward and higher in the sky. Another blue dot made it clear that Julia was giving pursuit. I was the only one left behind.

I had no idea what happened, or why Jason had run off like that. I wanted to tell them what Alex's real intentions were. I wanted to let them know what he plans to do. But seeing Jason run away like that was making my heart thunder in my chest. Without another thought, I followed behind.

Julia and Jason's speed was limited, but given my specialty, I could increase my speed and in no time, I was flying beside Jason, trying to get a better look at his face.

"Reaper what's wrong?" I screamed, forcing myself to be heard through the heavy wind that carried my voice away. Jason didn't reply, and now, I didn't need an answer. Looking down, I realized were we were headed. It was Jason's workplace. Were he brought lost souls and helped them walk to the after life.

The same place I visited one year ago, almost condemning myself to the after life. The place were my fate as a Guardian was chosen. I had never stepped foot in this place ever since. And now, here I was.

Jason landed down with grace, Julia and I doing the same. Once our feet touched the ground, we wasted no time rushing inside as Jason burst opened the doors, looking frantically around.

"Reaper what are you doing? Why did you fly all the way here to- What's that?" Julia asked, looking at the bundle that Jason now had in his hands.

Jason didn't reply, and a part of me wanted him not to. I kind of had an idea what it would be. For I had seen a bundle like that once before.

The day I was going to be condemned. The day Jason took me away from Heathens and I almost sipped the tea of oblivion when the same card showed up.

Death cards.

"They are death cards." Jason finally stated, confirming my fears. If any of us were scared or shocked, we held it in pretty good. For no ones face showed any hint of emotions. Julia was the first to speak.

"What are death cards doing here? Surely you-"

"They weren't there before." Jason cut in, his eyes trained on the cards in his hand. "I came here because I recieved a signal. These are late death cards. Deaths that weren't foretold by the Deity's. That only means one thing."

My heart hammered in my chest as the doubts I had been having cleared out. I knew exactly why the cards had shown up. "It's one of us."

All heads turned towards me, but I couldn't look at them. I could barely breath. "It's one like us. A Guardian. That's why the Deity's couldnt forsee it. He's making a big grave mistake. He's going to kill them."

"Who?"

"Alex of course! He said me he shouldn't have waited! That he should have finished them the day he first came! Sav7! He's going to kill them!" I bursted out, unable to hold back the flood of emotions coursing through me.

All of it was so much...so much to bear. Julia stared at me in disbelieve, but I just buried my face, looking at the ground, not bothering to look up as Jason fumbled with the cards, reading the names of each one.

"Joseph Cooper, Peter Davis, Robin Brooke, are these the ones?" Jason asked as he read three out if the six cards, looking at me for confirmation.

"Yes." I whispered, unable to trust my voice. Jason sighed, rubbing his temple in utter frustration. I had never felt more ashamed at myself.

"I'm sorry." I said slowly, but the duo had heard me.

"It's not your fault. You didn't know what he was upto. He was using his powers on you, you couldn't have known. Don't beat yourself up for it. We will find a way to fix this." Julia said softly, her hand coming to rest on my shoulders in a comforting way.

Before I can argue any further, Jason cut it. "She's right, Cilia. It's not your fault. What happened has happened, you were only out for the best. But what I don't agree with Julia is, how in the name of the Heaven's are we going to fix this? If Alex actually kills Sav7, then that will make him a vengeful spirit, and the fact that he's now immortal will eventually turn him into a demon. What are we going to do about this?"

Jason's words had a shiver running down my spine. I had done this. I had made him immortal, and now if we failed in saving him, he will turn into a demon. The very thought of it made me shudder.

No. I wouldn't let that happen. Not on my watch. Alex might have tricked me and decieved me, but he was the first person who I had befriended apart from idols and Deitys. After Heathens forgot about me, he was the only one I most felt human with and not a Guardian with responsibilities. He was my friend, and I wasn't willing to let anything bad happen to him, no matter the cost.

"We will save him." I said, with firm determination, Julia and Jason staring at me as if to say 'Do continue'. So I did. "We will save him together. The three of us. But we will need backup."

The duo looked from one to another, trying to decipher my words as if I had spoken in riddles. After a while, Jason was the first to break the ice. "Backup? What kind of backup?"

I took the the cards from Jason's hands before examining them myself. Sav7. They were Alex's friends. But they were ignorant enough to believe in such a misunderstanding. They were selfish to turn on their own friend. But that didn't mean they deserved death, not like this. They will have their just punishment one day, but that day was not today. Alex doesn't have to become a demon to teach them their lesson. There's always another way, and Alex needed to know it.

"Simple. I just have to pay a visit to Pheonix Entertainment."

-------------

Pheonix Entertainment's new building was a master piece, I will say that. But the quarter's given to Fiction was just... I'm speechless. Built in glass from floor to roof, The Fiction member's rooms looked like they were glass boxes suspended in mid air. It was just beautiful, but the only problem was, it looked like they had no privacy to themselves. Anyone could see them. Anyone literally.

I had already entered their dorm, where I found them sprawled on the couch of their living room. Being the invisible ghost I was, they could not see me. So I had used some of the time to observe The most famous girl group in this world. And it was hilarious.

"Clara that's my cookie! Give that back!" Screamed Jenna as she walked out of another room which I guessed was the kitchen, shooting daggers at Clara who had the last Cookie in her hand, suspened in air as if she was just about to take a bite.

"But Laila said you didn't want it! And Cilia said I could have it!" Clara whined, making me stifle a laugh although they couldn't here me anyway. I looked at Laila and Cilia, who were trying their best to hold their own laughter in. Jenna only glared harder. "Since when did you take orders from others?"

Clara whined, but reluctantly handed Jenna the last cookie as the other two finally bursted out laughing. Clara glared at them, but before any more dispute could start, I took that as my cue to step in and reveal my presence.

Making myself visible, I coughed, alerting them. The first to notice me released a terrible skriek, which I presumed was Laila.

"Aaaaahhhhh!!! Who are you! Where did you come from? And how did you get in?" The four hid behind Cilia, the eldest member and also the one who shared the same name as me, who placed a protective hand over each of the member, pushing them behind her.

I guess this explains why Alex was so stunned to hear my name for the first time. 

I couldn't help but feel embarrassed, feeling the blush creep into my cheeks. I had dreamt so much about meeting them, but never like this. So humiliating. But I tried my best to keep a straight face.

"Call the security..." Someone murmured, which I later found out to be Clara. It kind of hurt me, considering Clara was my bias and hearing something like that from your bias wasn't very spirit lifting. I raised a hand before Jenna could follow her orders.

"There will be no need for that. My name is Cilia... Cilia Carpenter. I come here bearing news about Alex. I mean no harm." Cilia stared at me for a long time than the others, making my cool demeanor almost fade. She must have been surprised to hear my name. But the first to speak was Rosé.

"Alex! Ho-how do you know him? Who are you? Are you here to take him?" Clara tried to sound brave, stepping forward but I could see the fear in her eyes for her Guardian, and the care she held for him. Before I can even explain myself, Laila butted in, stepping forward aswell.

"You won't take him anywere! Not without facing us first! Do you understand?" A pang of guilt and pain seared in me, and I didn't know if it was because of the accusations, or because their love for their Guardian reminded me so much of Heathens.

My boys...how much I missed them. Seeing Fiction so protective over their guardian...makes me remember the time when Jason had come to take me. The look of realization in their eyes. Victor following after me. His tear stained cheeks cold against my skin. That look of helplessness when I had started to disappear...

I heaved in a deep breath, my eyes stinging from incoming tears which I couldn't let out now. I had a task in hand. "Like I said, I'm not here to harm you guys. I'm Alex's friend, and a Guardian like him. I came here to warn you all. Alex is in danger."

Four gasps escaped four beautiful mouths as my words sunk in. Cilia covered her mouth with her palm, but the shock was still evident. "What do you mean, In danger? Where is he?" Cilia asked, looking at me dead in the eyes.

"He plans on killing someone. I'm afraid they are his past band mates, Sav7. He plans to avenge his death."

"That's not possible! Alex would never do that! We know him!" Jenna exclaimed, her face filled with horror. It hurted me to break it to them, but I had to.

"Alex wasn't all that he showed to you, trust me, he decieved me as well. And I'm acquainted with the Deity of time and a Grim Reaper. So I had it confirmed. I'm... I'm so sorry." I said, my head dropping down as I stared at the floor. No one said anything for a long time, and I feared I must have scared them. Was this a bad idea? Please not.

"It's...it's okay." Came the timid voice of Clara. Looking up, I found them looking at me, a small smile at the corner of Clara lips. "Yeah. It's not your fault, Guardian." Cilia followed, smiling at me as well.

Too taken aback at there sudden kindness, I had no idea what to say or do, so I just nodded, my lips pursed into a thin smile. The four girls shrugged there shoulders, before finally relaxing and coming to eaze. Jenna looked at me, that determined look every fan knows back in her face.

"So what do we do? I mean, you wouldn't come tell us if you didn't need something?" I nodded, regaining my voice back.

"I need to go save Alex, but it's going to be tough. Because of which, I need you guys help. That is, if you guys want..."

The four chuckled, before each of them gave there answers.

"Why the hell not?"

"Wow! Cool!"

"I'm game!"

"Guardian adventure! Awesome!"

Yeah... not so sure about that.