When duty calls1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck52y4Rrjp
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvxb4kbDrq
"Why are you crying Lu? Shouldn't I be the one freaking out, not you?" Ricky asked with concern on his face but obviously trying to lighten the situation, very unsuccessfully.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdnYpK2j1m
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdJV8b4qTM
I tried sniffing up the last of the tears and put on a brave face, also very unsuccessfully. "I think you need to sit down for this one."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfUOcT4lgx
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXgLiSXTsm
Reluctantly he finally sat down and I began to explain all the pieces of information I had gathered since Mattie's death. "It started last night when I got home and crashed. The weirdest dream ever, there was this old guy and this amazing library an-"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGwU1fEkPz
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g4op98waV
"You really like libraries." Ricky smirked, obviously a little more relaxed that he was getting some explanation.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWbqdwUYeU
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfSMlHKtpT
"Yes I do, but shh, that's not the point. So this annoying old guy-"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L54f051q8
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqw6Eez45b
"Why is he annoying?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36F0oKQBXh
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoK5dTbDnt
I just frowned to keep my irritation in place with being interrupted all the time. "Don't worry you'll get to meet him."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0D1T4hLub
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFxNsrOnD9
His shoulders slumped and he gave me a pout. "You know I don't like old people... They talk too much."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjRqtMltdl
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqlFfdz5By
"Yeah well they're not the only ones. Shh I want to finish my story please, if you don't mind." 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchCAj31XQu
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jQz5GeE4y
He sat up straight again and gave me his full attention. "So this old guy, Esperar, makes me the leader of the group I mentioned earlier of Quinto círculo. Honestly it sounds more like a cult than anything else, but yeah, he gave me the book you saw earlier. I also didn't know how to open it and it kept disappearing and reappearing when ever it felt like it. Today I left you guys at lunch so suddenly 'cos Markus wanted to talk to me an-"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOghQdETJf
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5ABR7teaN
"Oh my God! Like THE Markus? Markus o'Conner?" Ricky suddenly turning into a fan girl before my eyes.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcP2eOBkYm
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTQlNN1GNy
"Yes. Tall, dark and handsome wanted to talk to me. Interrupt me again and I swear I'm going to punch you." 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaGhhuYjPr
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMowjxAA8bF
Ricky acted all offended but there was a hint of a smile on his face. "So anyway! He was totally hitting on me." I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLbRM2V2zB
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OPCCL8A7O
"Shut up!" Ricky obviously enjoying the gossip and trying to be funny with his antics.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTQ5b3K233
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUDrGVaNi2
"Although before you go crazy, I'm still not sure if he was just messing with me or not. And when I started snapping out of the whole "OMG Markus is talking to me' I started storming off."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4atXkPTb1
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4txikV9dI0
"Why so defensive Lu? Maybe he really digs you."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzVsuje8um
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpfxCGivFn
"He was with Mattie the night she died, that's why I was so defensive." I blurted with an expressionless face.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IlDR5fJQG
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08dqW0BdBp
Ricky just gaped at me waiting for me to continue. When I didn't he did. "What? How? Why? How is he so sure?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4UCxC4zNQ
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxIHIJn0JO
"Long story short she wasn't supposed to die, I was." I felt my skin prickle as I said those words myself. repeating them in my head didn't help it all. I was supposed to have been killed, not Mattie.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69JRufYyhI
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZRrptfLxI
This was obviously starting to get too much for Ricky. His eyes welled up and the tears threatened to spill over. "Lucy... If that was you..."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvGTpd6IyI
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf1RCUTOSN
I tried to reassure him with a smile. "But I didn't Ricks, It's going to be fine." Even I didn't believe that last part. When I saw that Ricky was still about to burst into tears, I just pulled him into a hug.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVBVCd1old
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbetoO14gdb
That seemed to have done the trick. "Okay." He took a deep breath. "Please continue." And he sat back down to listen to the next bit of my horror story.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUWn4iOjpr
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhphis1SQY5
"So." Trying to get my bearings straight was proving to be quite a challenge. "As I was storming away he tried grabbing my hand to pull me back, and just like you and I earlier, ZAP, and I got a pattern too." Lifting my hand to show Ricky my decorated palm.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOXWe8Gr4o
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKfRnvQugc
"Woah! That's so cool!" Ricky had gone from totally depressed to childlike wonder in under a minute.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiydi6Ysj3
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8OOikCkYS
"It is, isn't it." I replied, matching his smile. "So Markus got the idea that it would unlock our books an-"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIVnw6aM62
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5MTHA0CZQ
"Okay wait, now that I heard that properly. Markus is part of this too?" 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudjohF9ejk
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorlSH1oszp
"If you weren't in shock I would seriously hit you right now." I said while giving him the death stare, but he just egging on the topic.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U5nIL0Y9G
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVc8KpfKQR
"What's his picture? What's the topic of his book?" He went quiet suddenly, obviously in deep thought. "What's your topic?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3sTxXb3u6
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQGiE3NBlM
"Markus has a purple eye, almost Egyptian in design, and it's charm, glamour and deception. Mine is-"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1beth4e0Ov
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRXfNeAwta
Ricky started laughing uncontrollably. "That's so feminine, bet he's taking it rough."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI1XNIv6Ix
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CIgodliA4
I smacked him on the arm and he gave a small yelp. "Hey! What was that for?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJUGnpcX3Y
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9rYxVBKGJ
"I warned you about interrupting me."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ypMoc8oYq
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNFbQr76Uq
"Oops, sorry!" He said with a sweet smile and a totally fake innocent look.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OFv2ulFKA
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdRUURS76d
"So as I was trying to say. Mine is power and control. and to answer you on your interruption, he actually likes it. Not that I'm surprised, he does love the spotlight."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveUwMf9eUq
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIOoPm6fdh
"And you love him" Ricky added with under his breath and a smirk on his face.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4pGQOBiSZ
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8CbT8qTUi
"Eugh, you're so annoying." And smacked him again. 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RzBAjV0L6
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD793ckbhj
"So mine is empathy and telepathy, what kind of specialty is that?" He asked while retrieving our bowls of almost melted ice cream and passing mine over. 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VmDttF5Ao
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DSoudNTDw
"That's where you actually have to read Ricky." I said with a snort, slurping at the semi liquid in my bowl.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuc4e2YtoE
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYh3al2te8
"Gross much?" Ricky pretending to be grossed out.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6XnQXzKiT
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMNPsQydkd
"Shut up, you were going to do it too."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSztAfAQlo
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMVs3UuTIe
"So true." He said with a grin and matched my slurping. We burst into laughter, enjoying the effect we had on each other to make a situation better or at least bearable.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoUNtkQELx
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuoJlQ1MLA
"So how about skimming through it and let's see what you can do." I prompted, trying to distract from me trying my abilities.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3h1fOXvgf
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE1FhRpnmf
"Okay just give me a sec." While he read I slurped down my ice cream and began licking out the bowl. It's not attractive, but it's criminal to leave behind any evidence of the chocolate goodness.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfushT5IecG
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqw3Vh0IpU
As I was about to try steal Ricky's bowl and eat his remaining ice cream he looked up at me with a weird expression on his face. Before I could ask him what he was thinking a sudden wave of hysteria washed over me. I was frozen in place by fear, but fear of what I couldn't tell. Before I could start screaming a wave of calm came over me, almost as if I was high in a way, feeling the hysteria float away on a cloud of happy thoughts.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwxWNfnvlk
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXkUBoU3K9
And then I was back to normal. "Woah. That was quite a trip. What just happened?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLq87cjgNi
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc861Gc9MEC
Ricky took his time finding the right words. "What did you just experience?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ4AgoItZx
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2zZiNpQ3c
"I just started freaking out for no reason, and then I felt like a hippie. Just mellow." 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtnlTolqoZ
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9Gb5LVSuB
Ricky sat back with astonishment on his face. "What? What what what?" I nagged trying to get something out of him.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlggptWyesy
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dJ9tAiHIE
"I made you feel that." He said more as a statement and less like a question.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdFAvhds2p
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhUyPziRQi
"How?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXUk717y0G
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlxEkfbAMr
"I don't know I just..." It looked like he was trying to convince himself of what he had just done. "Thought it."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0qw7ea679
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpdSt40edH
I just stared at him, dumbfounded. "You just... thought it?" 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi68Psv4p1
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A1MXT3hIX
"Yeah, I pictured you fearing for your life, and then I saw you freaking out and I wanted you to calm down immediately. So I imagined what you would be like if you were on a trip."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfJlQyrn3S
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o6ebGu7L9
"You made me high? Do you realise how wrong that sounds?" 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoincOCQiC7
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4COjZhBtwR
Ricky started laughing and I couldn't help but join in on the giggles. "So now I know what they mean by the empathy part of this... Skill of mine. Now let's try out the telepathy. Think of something." And he closed his eyes.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k6nSPIbFn
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRwvFtirsy
Something. I did a little mental laugh, but before I could say anything Ricky perked up. "No, don't be a smart ass, think of something else."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91nsHto6jf
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaMAMhADnc
"Ricky I didn't say anything." Ricky looked up at me with wide eyes.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57RvwOsJFB
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlknZQjORBl
Can you hear this? Ricky nodded.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ODXzVDSyb
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEid5m8Q3PL
What about this? Ricky nodded again, this time with a smile.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ePp4l6wMZ
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPzWvO1IJP
And this? Ricky just gave me a look. "Okay you can stop now."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvAiDFPTOK
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwMRJ8KfBW
But this is so much fun! I thought with a huge smile on my face.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q3hcfhv3s
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfe4QmoRfO
Can you imagine what I'm feeling?1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6x4fjX7HV
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlDda0p17m
I could practically feel my jaw hit the ground. "Did you just send a mental message to me?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXCvcszgpM
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaHt5U00NW
"I think I did." Ricky seeming amused with his new abilities.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfW4Om7xrM
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3XpB92scG
"This is too cool. I wonder what the other's abilities will be." I couldn't contain my curiosity.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaybVRs6ygR
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD926NVuD5
"Other's? I thought there was only Markus apart from us." 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzCT1v4g3Y
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zcPqNKWca
"Circle of five. There are only three of us at the moment." I said suddenly sifting mentally through a list of people that I could think of being part of all this madness.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTmyeoQ9KK
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkZHsn125j
"How do you know how to find them?" 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaShyKXb3O
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvxJqaWDyp
I pushed him out the way to get to his computer and searched the site I found the information on Peligro. As Ricky read his face went solemn. "I can see why you started crying earlier." And finished off the reading. "So it says people close to you, people you have made a bond with from early in life and are the same age as you." 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX43oEfqkba
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRK3fXfCRh
He went into deep thought, stroking at an imaginary beard subconsciously. "You do you realise you have no beard, right ?" I mumbled with slight amusement. "Hmm?" Came his reply, obviously to fixated on his own thoughts to have heard me. "Nothing, don't worry." I said with a smirk.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVezNcgSgw
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqe6hCiyvu
"Ariana, Joey, James." Now it was my turn to look confused. "What?" 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHFIpMjsfZ
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHu0XUFIdo
"That's your only other friends you have." Ricky still stroking his chin, gradually accompanied by a creeping smile. "Not much of a socialite, are we?" I just glared at him and his hands shot up in mock surrender as he burst into laughter.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg0SeFEVLV
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHUEdlZXCx
"Okay Ricky, you can stop now, it's time to get serious." I said gruffly to get the conversation on the right track again. Ricky tried to compose himself, sneaky tears still running down his cheek and his body shaking slightly but at least he was tryig to stay quiet. "So between the three of them, two are my next.... victims." I said the word like it left a bitter after taste. "For lack of a better word." I quickly added as he gave me a funny look at my comment. "So who do you think they are?" Trying to avert the responsibility for a moment. "Only you will know this one Lu." He said with a reassuring smile. 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SfwYnJpF2
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DB7slNKBi
I took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and let it out in one big sigh, allowing the responsibility to encompass me once again. "As much as it pains me, Ariana must be a definite candidate, she's like the sister I always wanted, she's the closest person to me." Ricky sending a throat clearing noise in my direction. "After you of course." I said with a grin, a scoff in reply from him. "But that's where I get stuck... Joey irritates me to no extent possible and James is just there. Actually come to think of it, he's just there because Ariana has had a crush on him since way back when. He's never really been a friend as per say."1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfvYcQOcbk
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVuUf2snWc
Ricky started fidgeting in his seat and I knew something was bothering him. "Spill it." I said in a stern, but lovingly way. 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcTCvAE3O7
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTOMC4IqKr
He pulled out his phone and started messaging someone. "Mind letting me in on the secret Sherlock?" Ricky kept quiet until he was finished, putting his phone away and looking up at me at the same time. "Just trust me on this one, okay?"1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfwzKHzlPc
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2kVkpqVcw
I could feel it, like a thick blanket of tension in the room, almost suffocating. I wasn't sure if it was my emotions or the emotions Ricky were feeling that was being projected, but I felt like now wasn't the right time to ask questions.1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DgKUj4In1
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0PHIH87DC
"Okay." I said, trying to keep eye contact with him to try read the situation further. "How long until they get here?" 1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzDauPENnC
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1RI5NpQ7f
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu7DbB8u9Z
1148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduG6D96AH5
