Come One, Come All

Ashlyn

I was tired and things weren't going well. Hell had seriously broke lose on us all. How could we know if we were safe? How could we really know someone hadn't messed with Emily's wires?

I washed off my exotic, cat like make-up. I was frightened. Something that rarely happened. What would happen to us all? This was my only home. I was an orphan, this was where I belonged. What would happen if things went...badly? Who would take care of Alli and the other tigers?

I bit my lip. I needed to stop asking myself questions like that. Emily would never let that happen. Ever. She loved this place more than anyone else here.

<<Don't let this die. Sorry it's so short!>>

Drina~

Tap! Tap!

It wasn't the first thing I wanted-needed-to hear this late at night. Someone was at the trailer door. I glanced at Emily who was asleep in the bunk below me.

Tap! Tap! There it was again. Geez, you'd think the person would get a hint that no one was coming.

"Emily," I whispered. No movement. "Ugh, thanks, Emily..." of course she couldn't hear my exasperated groan, which made me even more grouchy. I slid out of my bunk and rubbed the sleepys out of my eyes, almost tripping over my long pajama pants.

Tap! Tap!

"I'm coming, I'm Coming! Hold your horses!" I groaned, making sure not to wake anyone up. My feet urgently stumbled to the visitor. I was so not a good person to wake up from a sound sleep.

Tap! Tap- I swung the door open.

"Who the hell-"

"Hello, Dana." I knew exactly who it was and instinct told me to slam the solid alluminum door shut, right in Gabriel's sly face. He stopped me though, lodging his foot in the small face. It wouldn't budge so I gave up with a sigh, looking (more like glaring) at him.

"It's Drina and what the hell could you possibly want?" My voice was shrill.

He reached for a lock of my brunette hair and twirled it coyly."I simply came by to see how dear Emily was holding up?" His eyes met my firey gaze and he didnt' even flinch- like most men would have.

"Really?" Sarcasm dripped from the word. A slow breeze swept in through the doorway as a pause took place. The campfire was in clear view behind him, in the night, obviously people were still partying it up. Flames licked the air.

"Really." he replied after giving me the why-would-I-ever-lie look. Many reasons, I thought.

"Well, she's fine so you can leave now," I tried to push the door shut again. No good. It was Saturday and we didn't even perform again till Monday. So it confused me to why he'd even care if she was alright. Then I remembered. He had a sick little crush on her.

"I'm afraid I'd need to see that to believe it," He shoved right past me, shutting the door as he passed, and plumped down onto our only couch.

"Excuse me!" I hissed, still keeping volume in check. I couldn't tell if my bitterness came from jealousy, annoyance, or maybe both. But why should I care?

"You know, the polite thing to do would be to offer me a drink." Gabriel stated, wrenching me out of an odd reverie.

What was even more odd was the fact I had a crush on this sick, older, crule, sarcastic man that was clearly infatuated with my step sister, Emily. If I thought he was at all sick and twisted, I should come up with a new word for me.

"Get it yourself"

"Oh, now that would be rude," He chuckled playing with a piece of unraveled thread in the cushion. I had to smile at that. As if he didn't already know that barging in here wasn't rude.

Someone groaned in the room down the small hall and Gabriel glanced at me.

*I know it's really long but I.....I don't really know. I just hope it's okay. And I was kinda hoping Doc and Drina could hook up?**

Anton

Anton sat down by the fire pit, glowering into it. Gabriel...how dare he kiss Emily. The thought was repulsive, not only because Gabriel was so much older than Emily, but because Anton had known Emily for nine years now, and knew that she had done nothing to receive such terrible treatment from fate.

Anton was convinced at this stage that Emily's wires had been sabotaged today. Could Gabriel have been behind it? He was certainly crazy enough to do something like that, and he could have known that Emily would be resourceful enough to survive. But...somehow it didn't quite fit together. Why would Gabriel put her in danger, when he was apparently so attracted to her?

But if not Gabriel, then who? Anton sighed, closing his eyes. That was the truly important matter here. Not that Gabriel had kissed Emily, but that someone had tried to kill her, or at least seriously injure her. Maybe it was good that Gabriel had kissed her - hating him would take her mind off her accident, at least for a little while.

He slammed his fist on the log beside him. No! I refuse to believe that him kissing her was a good thing!

Why? Some other part of him asked, I just came up with a perfectly logical reason why it would be alright...but I don't want to accept it. Why? He shook the thought away. It was a terrible thing, no good could come of it.

"It's done and over." Emily had said. But Anton didn't think that was quite right. No, Gabriel was just getting started with all that.

Anton stood up from beside the fire, deciding it would be best to go and see Emily - and make sure Gabriel wasn't trying to do the same.

He knocked on the door to Emily and Drina's trailer, "Drina? You in there? It's Anton, I want to talk with Emily."

I'll post soon. Sorry, I've been busy

Can someone sort of bring Ashlyn in. (: She's all lonely.

*Emily*

I froze at the sight of Gabriel in my living room. Why was he here? Didn't he know when we was not wanted?

I moved over to him and Drina, who was standing there, eyes wide, like she thought I would be mad at her.

My eye twitched slightly as I stood in front of Gabriel. I raised my finger to his face, took a deep breath, but couldn't think of anything to say. I stood there for a moment, my finger in his face, trying to think of something so bad, it would make any grown man cry.

I was about to say something else, but then I heard a knock on the door, and Anton's voice.

"Drina? You in there? It's Anton, I want to talk with Emily." he said loudly.

My shoulders hunched and I walked over to the door. I opened it and saw Anton standing there looking all determined, but when he saw Gabriel, his face fell, but then rose in anger. "What is he doing here?" he asked louder than before.

"Shh!" I said, and pushed him back so I could step out with him.

He opened his mouth to say something, but I shook my head and grabbed his arm to lead him away. I didn't want to talk about Gabriel right now. I really just didn't want to talk period.

I lead him to the fire pit. The coals were still glowing and the full moon was out, casting an eiry glow all around us. I sat him down on a log and leaned up against him. "I don't want to talk right now. Just... just hold me. Please, just hold me." I whispered.

He complied and wrapped his strong arms around me. I felt so safe with him. It reminded me of how I once felt with Daddy.

I don't know for sure how long we stayed like that, but finally, I pulled away. "I need to go back to bed." I said quietly.

"Okay." he replied.

"Thank you, Anton." I whispered.

He smiled softly and kissed my forehead. "I'm glad I could help."

With that, he walked back to his trailer and shut the door. I sighed and started to walk back to my trailer. I was looking at the ground and not paying attention until I ran into someone. Two large hands grabbed my upper arms and dragged me around until I was behind a tree. When I could finally look up, I saw Gabriel's angry storm blue eyes. "So, you've been whoring around under my nose all this time, have you?" he hissed at me, his breath reeking of smoke.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I snapped.

He shook me hard. "You and the Morath boy!" He said, louder this time.

"Anton and I are just friends!" I replied, feeling silly having to justify myself for doing nothing wrong.

"That's not what I saw." he said.

"Then what did you see?" I asked him, anger rising in me quickly.

"I know what I saw." he sneered.

"Well, I would damn well like to know to-"

"If you ever wish to see him here at the show again, you will not speak to him." he said, finality in his voice.

I froze. "What?"

"You won't talk to him, look at him, or even think of him. Do you understand?" he hissed in my ear.

I pulled back as far as I could. "What makes you think that I'll listen to you?" I snapped at him.

"Because I'll kill him if you do." he said simply.

I froze again. My insides turned cold. "You wouldn't, you-you cou-"

"I would, I can, and I will, if you don't listen to me and do as I say." he said, a smile of satisfaction on his face. I had no doubt that he would kill Anton. He was the kind of person to do that.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked so quietly, I wondered if he heard it.

He did. "Because you are mine, love." he said, just as quietly as I did.

Tears rolled down my face and I looked up at him. "Like you know anything about love." I spat.

So," he clapped his hands together. "What do you say? No talking to save your lover boy's life?"

He held out his hand. Deep down I knew that I was making a deal with the devil, but I grabbed his hand. He jerked me to him. "Say it." he hissed.

"I won't talk to Anton." I whispered, feeling completely and totally defeated.

"I think that this bargain needs to be sealed with a kiss." he said huskily.

I took a breath to say, "No!" but his mouth was on mine, fierce and hard, almost bruising. He kissed me fr what seemed like eternity, and then let me fall to the ground on my knees with a laugh. As he walked away, I heard him say, "I'm glad we had this little chat."

I put my hands to my face and wept, wondering what I had just done. I wept for so long and so hard that I didn't even hear someone come up behind me. A hand cautiously touched my shoulder, and I whirled around to see Ashlyn standing there. The look in her eyes told me that she had seen everything.

I opened my mouth to try and explain, but she held a hand up and knelt down beside me. "You don't need to explain, Em." she said softly. "I just thought that you might need a friend."

She put her arms around me and I fell into them and wept.


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Sorry it's so long. I just thought I would make up for lost time ****************************

Thanks! (:

Ashlyn

I didn't speak a word. I only comforted Emily. She needed it. I pursed my lips while she sobbed into my shoulder. What was I going to do? Emily was my freind and I couldn't stand to see her like this. No one would be able to. I needed to chat with Gabriel. To fix things.

"Thanks Ashlyn," Emily said finally when she got her breath back. I smiled.

"Let me walk you back to your room," I whispered. "I'm sure Drina's sick with worry." She seemed to understand the unspoken statement. That I'm going to walk her back so she won't have to be alone in case she comes across Gabriel.

"Thanks," she said, giving me a watery smile. I helped her up off the ground and we started walking.

I stopped at her bedroom door and held her back. She gave me a confused expression but I only shook my head. I needed to know that Gabriel wasn't in here.

I stepped inside her room and looked around.

"Looking for someone?" A voice asked, perhaps a little amused.

"Ahm, yes. Have you seen Emily?" I asked Gabriel, trying to keep the tremors out of my voice.

"I know she's with you Ashlyn," he smiled. Then he raised his voice. "C'mon in Emily."

Emily took a few shaky steps and stood next to me. I put my arm around her waist and steadied myself.

"I was actually just staying the night with her. Something about her having terrible nightmares," I said, daring him to contradict me. Gabriel smiled.

"Alright Ashlyn. Take care of yourself, then," he said. There was something off in his voice. Was he threatening me? "Goodnight Emily."

Gabriel left and closed the door behind him. I sighed and tryied to keep my knees from wobbling. This had been a terrible night.

Drina~ *I'm sorry this is so long, I promise I'll shorten them*

Everything was happening so fast. First Emily appears in the living room, shocked to see Gabriel (I personally thought she would be mad at me), and then the words "Drina? You in there? It's Anton, I want to talk with Emily," had rung out. Anton really did have a way with timing.

Before I could've said anything Emily had practically bolted for the door forcing Anton to follow her somewhere out in the night, leaving me alone with Gabriel.

I knew, just knew, that Emily needed time with Anton, maybe to explain her situation or just to finally relax from all the drama. So I had tried, I had tried so hard to keep Gabriel locked in the house. Just the look in his eyes, rage, hate, lust, when Emily left, had made my insides go numb, though.

"Why that little cheat!" He screeched, harsh and outraged. My heart beat fast, everyone knew that Gabriel wasn't to be messed with in a good mood, but he was definitely in a terrible state of mind and here I was. I could scream for mother, who was in the other room. The thought crossed my mind, but I didn’t want her to get hurt.

"She's not a cheat! You're crazy if you ever thought she belonged to you!" My voice cracked, “You’re crazy and weird an-and sleazy....." I stumbled for words as he began to rise from the couch. Every step he took towards me was absolutely terrifying and instinct told me to run.

"What did you say?" He grinned, eyes intent on me. Gabriel was amused. Amused at me and my horrible attempt at an insult. He sauntered towards me, or to the door at least, I was the only thing that stood blocking his way. I wouldn't let him get to Emily, not tonight.

"I um.....s-said...that...," I couldn't speak. Men always made me lose focus, but this, this situation was just sad. Especially with this man! My body was frozen in place. "Please don't hurt her....please..."I begged, my eyes barely meeting his. Gabriel was right in front of me now. I could feel his breathe on my face.

"Move."

"Gabriel, you have to promise-" My voice was still pathetic even to my own ears.

"MOVE!"

I jumped, stunned, and Gabriel grabbed me by my shoulders, ready to wrestle me to the ground. I had to think fast. Thoughts were racing through my mind. What the hell do I do now?!
The only thing I could think of was terrible and gross, but just might stall him, giving Emily a few more minutes. Before he could pull his tightening grip away I stood on tip-toe, grasping a chunk of his shirt in my palms, and tugged him towards me.

Our lips met. His were stiff and firm, but cooperative, while mine were tight. I knew he would pull away soon, I had to do more. Emily. Emily. Just do it for Emily!A tear welled up in my eye and I gasped as he kissed me back. I can't do it... The tear rolled down my cheek. It was almost as if he had lost himself in some imaginary world before pulling himself back together and wrenching his mouth away from mine.

"You little whore!" His hand came down across my face...hard. My balance was lost and I found myself on the floor, facing the trailer door. My face stung as the room began to spin. Tears started falling and the night breeze kissed my face. I realized Gabriel was gone and he’d left the door open.

I couldn’t, wouldn’t be here when Emily got home. I just couldn’t face her, knowing Gabriel would say or do something and it would be my fault was too much. My feet carried my off the floor and out the door with haste. I had no idea where I was heading but I couldn’t stay.

**and the mystery continues. Bum bum bum (scarry tune)**