Chapter 22 Witnessing Different Types Of Bullying

We all gathered in the commons where Mavis stood at a podium with Jack by her side. Jack was the only one who wanted to run so I guess either way Jack is finally going to get what he's always wanted. I could see he was nervous since he was chewing on his cheek and tapping his leg but I knew he was freaking out for no reason. Everything was going to turn out fine.

"Ladies and gentle-Insurgents, as you all are aware, the head of our base was the most recent victim of this freezing epidemic. With this being said, it is time we choose a new leader..." She looked at Jack and smiled before turning her attention back to the crowd. "If anyone wishes to run opposed to Jack then please step up now."

There was a couple murmurs throughout the crowd that made me nervous but Kyle quickly told everyone to shut up which made me smile.

'You've got this, Jack.'

Mavis waited a moment before nodding, "Well alright then. I suppose our next leader-"

"Is the McCash sibling that should've died!" Someone shouted.

I felt the wind knocked out of me as laughter erupted from the crowd and more hollering filled the air.

"How is Jack supposed to protect us?" A girl said next to me which made me jump away from her.

"Why do people keep freezing?" Another shouted.

"Jack couldn't save his own sister. He was loyal to a society of killers more then he was to his own flesh and blood!"

Jasmine groaned and I watched her ball her fists.

"Cool out, Jas," Kyle warned.

She shook her head, "They better shut their mouths before they all get an ass beating. I swear-"

I looked at Jack who stood there completely drained of color and rigidly still.

I could hear Mavis frantically shouting over the crowd asking for everyone to stop but the roads of the angry mob were much louder.

My heart broke for him.

"Jack doesn't have the stomach like Eveline did!"

"We don't need another leader going crazy!"

"He didn't win then, no way in hell he's winning now."

"Jack was the one that should have died, not her! He killed her!"

I gasped, "God that's not true! How can any of you just say that-"

Kyle grabbed my shoulder and moved me backwards and out of the crowd but I struggled trying to see if Jack had moved too. "No we can't just leave him up there while everyone says such horrible things-"

"Mavis will get him off okay, we can't have them suddenly screaming about how you're suddenly here," Jasmine pushed me forward. "We can only prepare for the Jack we're about to see once he gets back to his room."

I let out a cry, "I told him he could do it. I said it would be alright-"

"There was no way in hell that would turn out alright," Jasmine said into my ear.

-

Mavis opened the door and Jack came storming in, slamming the door behind him.

I flinched at the noise and stood up, "Jack-" I screamed when he threw one of his cracked picture frames into the garage door on the opposite side of his room with a shrill, splintering crack.

He was crying out as he threw things off his shelf, ripping his own chain off his neck and throwing it against the wall.

I immediately went for the rings when I heard the sound of him wailing, crying at the top of his lungs.

I turned back toward him and saw him covering his own eyes with his wrists, his mouth open and lips quivering.

Mavis approached him but he swatted her away, immediately forcing his hand back to his eyes.

Jasmine took Mavis' hand and Mavis immediately hugged her, both with distraught looks on their eyes.

It must be hard to be around the brother of a leader you admired for their role and as a friend. I heard plenty of great things about Eveline and everyone always spoke highly of her, highly enough to mock her broken brother. Seeing Jack ridiculed and constantly in pain over the family he's lost but only bring up hard memories for the rest of them too.

I took a deep breath and went back to where I heard the rings crash and got down on the floor to look for them as he continued to cry. These weren't things he wanted to lose, I know that.

I found the chain and a ring that had a hand and a cube above it etched into the thick silver metal. I put the ring around my finger and looked under his nightstand to see the second ring shimmering underneath it.

Thank god that was easy.

I pulled out the second ring and set them both on his nightstand.

I went up behind Jack who now had the front of his body against the wall and placed my hand gently on his back.

"Ayla get away from him," Jasmine spat but I ignored her and felt the the heartbeat thumping erratically in his chest.

Jack took a deep breath and slid his hands down his face. "I'm sorry," He whispered.

He turned around, his back towards the wall and faced his friends, "I... I'm sorry guys..." He wiped his nose and eyes with his usual black long sleeve.

"It's okay man," Kyle nodded slowly. "We all lose it from time to time."

"And what they were saying to you wasn't cool. Or true." This was probably the nicest thing I've ever heard Jasmine say.

Mavis smiled and took a step forward, "You are the perfect leader for this base in my mind, Jack. You're the only one who even wanted the position. In my eyes you still won."

He shook his head, "You should just do it Mavis. I'm not... no thank you."

She frowned and nodded, "You know I will listen to any of those smart ideas of yours."

"Hey guys!" Ethan shut the door behind him, "Oh the energy is not very good in here..."

I gasped.

Kyle balled his fists and marched towards him, he didn't even hesitate when he landed his first punch across Ethan's face and sent him spinning to the floor.

"Kyle stop it!" Jasmine yelled, immediately interfering.

She was going to get herself hurt, what could she possibly do to stop this? She's way smaller than Kyle and far more weak.

Kyle was landing painful blows, blood splattering on the walls and straining the wood beneath their feet. Both Jack and I looked away and I could hear him gagging beside me.

"How could you!" He bellowed.

Ethan was gasping and crying out, the rest of his body writhing beneath him.

I know what he did but I can't watch this happen.

"Stop!" I shrieked. "Kyle stop it you're going to kill him!"

Kyle stood up, breathing heavily. "You betrayed this base and you made me your enemy. Stand up and fight back you pussy!"

Ethan was groaning and gasping for air.

Jasmine put her hands on Kyle's head and he instantly fell over, crashing to the ground, asleep once again.

She tossed her hair back from her shoulder, "Men are always so dirty." She grabbed Ethan by the shirt and hoisted him up, "So, anything you want to admit to us, Ethan Wells? Or shall I send you to the brig so they pluck it right out of you instead?"

Ethan cried out, spitting blood all over Jasmine's face.

Which disturbingly enough made her giggle.

She swiped her arm over her face, "Well?"

"I- I don't even know what you're-" He gasped, "Talking about."

"Oh really?"

Jasmine tightened her grip, earning a yelp from Ethan. "I don't know! I said I don't know!"

"You know nothing about how Ayla's parents bodies just showed up at our doorstep?"

"I was there I did see it-"

"Then where were you yesterday? You weren't in your bed-"

"I was with a girl!"

I felt heat rise in my cheeks as Jasmine laughed, "Holy shit. This is so unbelievable that I almost fully believe it."

Ethan's lip was busted and oozing spit and blood, his nose leaking blood with a cut right above his nose bridge. Purple welts covered both his cheekbones and jawline and his left temple. Kyle didn't hold back.

"Then the only person left would've been the head..." Jack said softly.

Jasmine wiped her hands on her jeans, "Makes sense considering she also was asking undeads to join us."

"So... we don't think it's Ethan anymore?" I whispered.

Jack shook his head at me, "I don't think it's him either."

"Well if she's already gone then I guess there's no longer a spy right?"

Mavis sighed, "We don't fully know that. If it was her then it could be just one spy for the Insurgence that they lost."

Jasmine raised her hand, "Wait. What if this has no connection to the Insurgence at all? The Head had the address of Ayla's house because Jack and Ethan were already working for her parents so when Jack, Kyle and I went to her house to collect her we handed in the address to her in case something somehow went wrong."

I shuddered thinking about how she put my parents in that smiling prison. She didn't even bother to introduce herself to me.

"And we all know the head hated Ayla and wanted her gone so... what if she just did this and took the bodies here herself? She taunted Ayla with orphan jokes while still asking people to become Insurgents and join the rebellion. I don't think she would go out of her way to do that and actually betray the base."

"So it could've been just a tactic to make Ayla afraid and want to leave," Jack slowly nodded. "It makes sense. It makes more sense to me than Ethan."

Jasmine laughed, "Kyle is going to be so mad when he wakes up."

Mavis cut in, "But again we can't fully confirm that. Let's be cautious for a while and see if any more attempt at scaring or threatening Ayla happen and then we know for sure the mole is still here."

"In the mean time," Jack put his hand on my shoulder. "Ayla asked me if we can teach her how to defend herself."

Mavis smiled while Jasmine laughed, "Thats probably the smartest thing she has said here."

"What better teachers are there than the two of you?" Jack added on.

"I would love to!"

"This is gonna be good," Jasmine said lowly. "I'm looking forward to it. We start tomorrow."

My eyes widened, "Tomorrow?"

Her head slowly tilted to the side, "What does that not work with you?" She mocked me.

I slowly shrunk back down and shook my head, "Tomorrow then."