Post by Eden Morgan on Apr 10, 2014 17:14:08 GMT -5
Eden Morgan moves through her apartment like a whirlwind, gathering various items and tossing them into a gymbag. For someone who makes very little noise as she moves, it's still enough to cause Ryan Hanneman to toss down the remote control with a sigh.
“You're training again?” he asks, a disbelieving tone to his voice. When she doesn't answer, he shakes his head and gets to his feet, stretching his lanky, well-built frame before meandering down the hall to her bedroom. He leans against the doorway, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and placing the end of one between his lips, his dirty blonde hair hanging in his face. He tosses it back, digging in his pockets for a lighter.
“You know you can take a day off once in a while, huh?” he asks, lips clenching the unlit cigarette tightly. Eden finally glances at him and then goes back to whatever it is she's looking for.
“Did you say something?” she asks absently, Ryan rolling his eyes and finally pulling the lighter out. Eden crosses the room in front of him, reaching out and snatching the cigarette from his lips without even looking at him.
“No cigarettes in the apartment. How many times do I have to tell you?” she grumbles, tossing the cigarette back at him and hitting him in the chest with it. Ryan catches it and gives her a half smile, drawing her back with an arm draped lazily around her shoulders.
“Come on, Edie. You've been bustin' your ass enough. I know you're upset about what happened at Synergy--”
She tries to shrug his arm away, Ryan dropping all his weight on her shoulders to make it impossible. She glares at him instead.
“You don't know anything.”
Ryan smirks at her.
“Oh, I don't? I know you're more upset than you're letting anyone know. Not that you've spoken to anyone but me and Zale. And if you talk to him as much as you talk to me, you may as well be one of those silent fuckin' monks. Come on, Edie, skip the training for one day, let's get some pizza and beer and I'll even be nice and let you pick some movies. Or we'll go out to a bar and bust some motherfucker up. Your call. You won't get a better offer,” he says with a winning grin. Eden shakes her head.
“I need to train,” she says, finally throwing his arm off her, Ryan sighing heavily. He blocks the doorway as she tries to move by him, Eden finally looking up at him, Ryan's face serious.
“Look, bad shit happens, but that's fucking life. You gotta learn to deal with it better, Edie, or this shit life's gonna eat you alive.”
Eden stares up at him, giving no reaction to his words.
“Can I go?”
Ryan shakes his head, grabbing Eden in a headlock and ruffling her hair before letting her go.
“Fine, carry your ass, but I'm not taking no for an answer. When you get back we're having pizza, beer, and movies. Or ass-kicking. You better decide which while you're gone or it might be yours,” he calls as she walks out of the apartment, the door closing behind her.
“One thing you really need to remember when going into that ring with Wallace- he's going to try to use your emotions against you. He'll try to play them. Don't let him. Once you cross through those ropes, you set your mind to destroying him unquestioningly. It sends a message to him as well as the other Puppet Masters. Hastings thinks he got the better bargain with you in the ring. I believe he made an egregious error.”
Eden barely listens to her mentor speak as she concentrates on the man across the ring from her, her sparring partner for the day. This one had been much more of a challenge than the past few had been, and she greatly appreciated that. Concentrating on him made everything else in her mind quieten, even if just for a little while. Colin seemed to sense her mood and so he had said nothing when she had increased her training. A couple of hours in his gym every few days had turned into several hours each day. If tonight was like the past few, he would tell her to go home when he saw the signs of strain wearing on her. And she would, without argument. He would watch with concern as she simply nodded and packed up her gear, thanked him for his time, and left. She would get home, fend off Ryan's attempts to get her to do something “fun”, hop in the shower, and then crash into her bed, hoping she was too tired to dream.
So far, it had worked.
Distantly, Eden hears a door close, focusing far too intently on her opponent to turn to see who the newcomer is. But then a sudden, slow clap starts, completely throwing her off and the next thing she knows she's on her back, looking up at the lights on the ceiling.
“You're not welcome here. Get out or you will be removed,” Colin says gruffly, drawing her attention. She rolls over onto her stomach, looking in the direction the applause had come from to find Jet Somers standing there in the gym, his hands still held before him as he watches her closely. Their eyes meet for the barest of moments before he looks to Colin, clasping his hands before him, his expression mocking.
“I need to speak with Eden,” he says, ignoring Colin's previous statements. Colin glares at him and then turns to Eden. She nods, Colin turning back to Jet.
“The second she doesn't want you here, you will leave without comment. Is that clear?”
Jet smirks at Colin, shaking his head as Eden climbs through the ropes to stand before him.
“Yeah, whatever you say.”
Jet redirects his attention back to her, his expression giving nothing away.
“Is there somewhere we can go that's more private?”
Colin extends a hand toward the empty room connected to his office.
“I'll be in my office, should I be needed,” he says, more for Eden's benefit. Jet starts to protest, Eden turning to him.
“Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of Colin as well.”
“Well isn't that just fine and dandy. Always with a protector, aren't you, Edie?” Jet bites out, his tone clipped. Eden doesn't react to his statement, Colin giving him a final warning look before Jet and Eden move off into the other room, Colin entering his office and taking a seat at his desk.
Eden leans against the far wall, her arms crossed in front of her, Jet watching her, his dark eyes unreadable.
“You wanted to talk, yet you're not saying anything. So talk,” Eden presses him, looking away. Jet remains silent for a few moments more before speaking, never taking his eyes off of her.
“Congratulations.”
Eden freezes in place, looking at Jet in surprise.
“I was expecting a lot of things. That wasn't one of them. Dare I ask what you're congratulating me for?”
"You're finally showing a bit of the domination we had all come to expect last year," he acquiesces. He allows a bit of a smile as he leans on the back of Colin's chair with both hands, "I was beginning to think it was gone for good."
Eden watches him warily, focusing on the placement of his hands before looking up at his face again.
“Nothing's ever gone for good. Things have a habit of coming back to bite you when you least expect it. But you didn't come here to congratulate me and praise any returned dominance you see. Why don't you get to the real reason you're here? You've never been one to beat around the bush before, don't start now on my account,” she says straightening, her spine stiff.
His grip tightens on the back of the chair momentarily, but he relaxes them, forcing the smile to remain on his face.
"Why do you see a threat in me?" Jet ponders "You've always trusted me before. Are you so quick to throw yourself into the victim role? I'm not out to get you, no matter what you might think.”
Eden smiles quickly and looks away, shaking her head.
“You're really something else, Jet,” she continues to shake her head as she looks back at him. “You fly all the way here to talk to me, and when I ask you why you turn it around to where I see you as a threat? So now, I have to wonder... should I see you as a threat? Was that a warning? Or should I continue to see you as I already do?”
He raises an eyebrow, "The problem is, I'm not sure how you see me anymore. Threat? Annoyance? Unfortunate mistake? I flew out here because I wanted to clear the air before your visit this weekend. Now, do me a favor and don't stand there with a question on your face that you already know the answer to. Something's changed between us, and I don't like the tension that's there now. What can I do to end it?"
Silence stretches between them, Eden staring hard at the man she had once considered to be her only family. She presses her lips together before speaking.
“When you... and my brother... and Jez made your.. plans... did you ever think you weren't doing the right thing? That you should just let it all die? It had been years and yet you three decided to resurrect like it just happened the day before. Did you ever stop and consider what would happen? And... don't misunderstand, this is the most important question, Jet,” she breathes, her voice low in an attempt to keep it from shaking, “did you ever think about telling me what was going on?”
His grip tightens once again as the smile fades. He closes his eyes and mutters "every minute," but barely loud enough for her to hear.
"This again..." he shakes his head, "If at any time you think it was easy to throw people who trusted my sister and her friends off the roof of a building, if you think it was fun to call my own sister the names that I spit at her, if you think it was a great idea to release a psychopath from prison... if you think it felt like the right thing to kidnap and terrorize two children I love more than life itself, then you've grossly misunderstood my character."
Her expression suddenly turns venomous, Eden pulling away from the wall and closing the space between them rapidly as she comes to stand a few feet away from Jet, the chair separating them.
“What, you want me to pity you for those things, those things you chose to do? You could have stopped at any time, or just not done it at all, but you did it. You went right along with it. No one forced you to do it but yourself. So save the pity party and you can drop that holier than thou tone in your voice because I'm the last person you get to use it on.”
Jet snarls as he slings the chair hard to the left, putting a finger inches from her nose.
"And that is precisely why she didn't let me tell you," he roars, "because we'd have had to deal with you trying to talk us out of it at every turn. Dragon would still be lost to the world, and we'd all still be dealing with the nightmares and insecurity he spawned. Am I'm proud of what we did? No. Am I convinced we did what we had to? Yes."
He drops his finger and turns around slamming his palms on a waist high bookshelf hard enough to cause all the contents of it to jump.
"And no one is asking for your pity," he growls.
Eden's fists clench at her sides, her anger rising.
“You did what you had to. And what about the rest of us, the ones that were just cannon fodder, the ones who were used? You all act like I shouldn't have a problem with this, that I should just understand and accept what you did, but I can't! I can't, and you know why? Because for an entire year, while you spewed all those hateful things at Jez and listened to her say them about you and to you, you still knew that deep down you had a sister and she loved you. And she knew she had a brother who loved her enough to go through hell to help the nightmares stop. What did I have?!” she steps closer, her eyes wild and wide, her movements frantic.
“What did I have, Jet?! For me, all of last year was real. Everything my brother did, the ones I considered my family... it was real,” she finishes, stepping back, calming somewhat. Jet starts to speak up and she shakes her head, her eyes filling with tears.
“I was alone. I belonged nowhere. And I thought I did, but it was a lie.”
Jet pauses, considering her words. His mouth is a thin line. He's torn between defending the actions that he was a part of, and knowing that he wanted to let her in on it.
"You couldn't know, Edie," he tries to begin again his voice gentle, "not just because we were afraid you''d try to put a stop to it, but for your own protection. You see how Dragon treats Mark simply because Mark knew, but he's spared you. Those of us in on the scheme knew the risks, and we accepted them. We knew we'd each be putting a huge target on ourselves, but we did it for Jezebel. It was worth it to us. You get to walk around and avail yourself of it. You think we used you as cannon fodder, I say we offered ourselves up as cannon fodder, and kept you from having to be a part of something despicable."
“Justify it however you want to, Jet, but you and I both know that what it all comes down to is you had a choice in all of this, you knew what you were getting into and I had no clue. I walked into all of this blind and you, who was supposed to be my friend, my family, you let me. You didn't just let me, you encouraged me. And then when it all comes out, I'm supposed to be okay with it because I have everyone back. It was all a game, surprise!” she says mockingly, turning her back on Jet and then turning back around.
“None of you lost anything in that year, Jet. Be honest. What did you lose? You have your alliance with the DMW, you have your family, you have Travis. They stuck with you through it all, your co-conspirators. And me? Supposedly I have all of you... but when it comes down to it, I don't really have any of you. Do I?” she stares intently at him, knowing her speech would likely anger him. And that was okay. She wanted his anger. Needed it.
"You're concerned with who lost what?" Jet's brow furrows, "What did you lose, exactly? You've come away with an alliance with DMW, PMN, Axiom, Puppet Masters... as you went to each protector and cried your victimized cry, you found your way into each and every faction and managed to get a few bodyguards out of each one. The only problem is,you're too busy having your own little pity party to realize you're just as manipulative as the rest of us, Eden MORGAN. And why, because you weren't in on the secret? My god, as much as I love and respect you, when I hear you pout over not knowing the surprise beforehand, it's everything I can do not to scream in your face to grow up. I love you like a sister, Edie, but it's not always about you."
Eden recoils in disbelief.
“It's never about me! It's always about Jez or Dragon or something that happened years ago that no one even cares about anymore! You tell me to get over it and move on, but what do you tell Jez? It's okay, we'll take care of it? It doesn't matter who gets in our way, you'll get what you need? And what did I lose, Jet? Really, you can ask me that?!” she practically screams, the tears coursing down her cheeks unheeded now.
“I lost my family! I lost my brother, my sister-in-law, people who have been like a family to me my whole life, I lost them! Every one of you used me and none of you seem to give a damn about it. It was for the greater good. And then, when it all came out... I lost my adopted family. You and Travis. In one night I got my memory back and found out everything I remembered was a lie. Do you have any idea how that feels?! No, of course you don't, because you knew the whole goddamned time,” she snarls at him, her eyes flashing.
"You haven't lost a fucking thing!" Jet kicks the edge of the desk, the wood squealing as it scoots a few feet across the floor, "You chose to make all this about you. It's never about me, do you know how fucking childish you sound? Oh, poor Eden didn't know the secret, so she decided she lost everyone! You want truth? You don't know every little thing about Jez, about your brother, or about me. You don't know the depths of the depravity we have inside us, the lengths we're willing to go to get what we need."
Jet begins stalking around the room, smacking objects from their careful perches.
"You don't know all our dirty little secrets, the things we've done. Did you react this way when Travis told you what I kept from you about Melanie? No! What makes one psychopathic secret worse than the other, huh? Do you just pick and choose the ones that suit your own personal pity? Are you honestly jealous of Jez? You're upset because she went through a trauma that damaged her psychologically, and her family felt the right thing to do was to help her come to terms with it years after it has continued to haunt her? I can play that game, too, Edie. Why isn't Chaos getting this side of you? He was in on it. Why is Mark worthy of your pity? He knew all along. You think the three of us masterminded this whole thing, and these people just fell obediently in line? Travis blew up Atlanta. Chad burned New Orleans to the ground. Where's the blame in your eyes when you look at them?"
She starts to say something, Jet holding up a hand.
“No, it doesn't matter. You've made up your mind that the fault lies with Jez, Cypress, and myself. You made up your mind that we lost you. Well I've made up my mind, and I say that it's bullshit. Stand up and take your place with us, because as much as you like pointing fingers, you should be examining yourself in the mirror. You're just like us, but you're not going to manipulate me into thinking I'm in the wrong if, after we're done, Jez can sleep at night."
Jet pauses, his chest heaving, his shoulders moving up and down as he struggles to compose himself as Eden watches him silently.
"You claim to have believed in the family before you 'woke up,'" his voice has calmed, no longer an accusing roar, "but put one of your own in her place. Someone like Mark. Wouldn't you go to any length to help him? Wouldn't you offer up the greatest sacrifice in order to get him back? Didn't you?"
Sometime during Jet's tirade, Eden's face starts to close down, the tears still leaving glistening track marks down her skin, more automatic than anything else.
“I did. But I offered myself because that's all I have to give. And all I'm comfortable with giving. As hard as I try... I'm just not one of you. And I'm not sure that's a bad thing,” she pauses for a moment before continuing on. “I'd say you've made your point. I won't bother you about any of this again,” she says softly, turning away from him, stopping halfway.
“I have just one more question. Will you answer it?”
Jet runs a hand down his face, stretching the skin as his weary eyes close.
"Of course I will."
A ghost of a smile flits across her lips, not quite reaching her eyes.
“Come on now, Jet. It's not that painful. Just one little question,” she says, the smile slipping away, her expression blank again, blue eyes watching him closely, “With everything you've said to me tonight... and you've said quite a bit... was there ever a point when you considered just saying you were sorry? See, you thought what I was upset about was not knowing. And that's true, that hurt, but not because I didn't know. I won't go back into that, because if you don't understand by now you never will. No, Jet. What bothers me the most... is none of you... not you, not Jez, not Cypress, not Chaos, Travis, no one... has offered even the first apology. Something as simple and humane as that. Anything. It hasn't even occurred to any of you, has it?”
"What sort of sorry would you believe, Edie?" Jet seems truly troubled by her question, "An apology is not so simple, as you make it out to be. I'm sorry for a lot of things, and if I thought it would do any good, I would give you that apology. I would take back the loss you feel at learning the secret. I'd take back the hell of losing your memory. I'd take back the loss of trust, the feeling that you have no family to belong to, the humiliation you feel because you think you're the butt of some unfunny joke."
"Unfortunately, saying sorry means I'm sorry that Mickey Dragon is here," Jet's jaw sets, "It means I don't think I can pay the price for Jez's peace of mind, or that the price we've paid wasn't worth it. For those things, I can't say I'm sorry."
Eden swallows against a lump in her throat, turning her back on him before he can see the tears fill her eyes again.
“All you had to do was say 'no',” she whispers, not saying another word as she walks out of the room, not even stopping to pick up her gym bag. Colin gets to his feet, looking between her retreating figure and Jet's stiff one, his eyes narrowed. The door to the gym opens and then slams shut as Eden walks out into the night, Colin crossing over to stand before Jet.
“If I thought it would do any good, I would flatten you right here, right now, if I thought it would bring her any peace. But it won't. You're either an idiot or an unfeeling bully, at this point I'm not sure which, though I'm leaning toward bully.”
"If I thought it would do any good, I'd let you," Jet mutters, not taking his eyes off the still vibrating door. He turns toward Colin, probably the first time he's ever looked at one of Dirge's employees with anything but contempt. Instead, his look is hollow, almost desperate, "The problem with trying to do Edie any good is that all of us, the two of us included, keeps thinking we know what's best for her. In that regard..."
He turns back toward the door, shaking his head.
"We're all idiots."
Colin watches as Jet walks away, his deep voice booming out.
“Where are you going?”
Jet doesn't turn around, just keeps walking.
"I may not know what's best for her," he calls back over his shoulder, "but I care enough not to let her walk away that hurt. Especially when I'm the one who hurt her. I know you won't believe that, but if you really do care for her, you know I'm right."
Colin scowls and starts forward, following Jet.
“And what are you going to do when you find her other than hurt her more? No. Leave her be. You've done enough tonight.”
Jet stops, his hand on the push bar of the door. He turns halfway back.
"Look, I don't intend to say anything else to her," Jet assures him, "whatever misunderstanding there is between us, I haven't figured out how to get around it yet. But she's distraught, impulsive, and feeling alone. I only want to make sure she makes it home ok, and I'll back off for now."
Seeing that Colin doesn't intend to let it go, he adds;
"Look, I know you don't like me, and I damn sure don't like you. Despite that, I've come to realize that you have her best interests at heart. You might be the only one in Elite Enterprises who really does. I'm honestly not trying to antagonize you here, but if you're the great judge of character that everyone says you are, you can look me in the face and know that I'm not lying. Matter of fact, if you want, come with me. Help me protect her, just so that she gets home safe."
Colin pauses for a moment before speaking again.
“Even if you do care about her, you've shoveled enough dirt on top of her to bury your relationship and the only reason you're doing it is because your ego was bruised. Yes. I'm going with you. Simply because I don't want you alone with her again.” He looks back into the main part of the gym, calling to a man setting up weights in the back.
“I need to leave for a little while, would you mind watching the place for me, Tre'?”
“I got it, go on,” he calls back, waving Colin off as he and Jet exit the building, heading in the direction of Eden's apartment.
He isn't sorry. None of them are. He can't even see why he should be. Why I'm so hurt by what happened. He was supposed to be my best friend. Like a brother. But he doesn't know me at all, even after all this time and everything we've been through. There's nothing there.
Eden stumbles up the stairs, focusing on the door to her apartment through eyes brimming with unshed tears. She sniffles as she draws her keys out, inserting them in the door, her attention suddenly drawn to a plain white envelope attached to the door. She pulls it down, turning it over to see if either side had any writing on it, her keys swinging gently from the lock. She blinks rapidly, trying to clear her eyes, her vision swimming as she tears into the envelope, bringing out a card that matches the envelope, only with some generic Spring-type flowers printed on the front. She frowns, opening the card to find the words “When you're going through hell, keep going. -Winston Churchill.” printed inside in beautiful calligraphy. But nothing had been signed to it. Eden makes a face, closing the card and looking on the back and then turning it over and over again, looking for some writing on it anywhere, but nothing. She shrugs, reaching back for her keys and turning them in the lock, swinging the door open and entering her apartment.
She closes the door behind her, tossing her keys in the direction of the kitchen counter, hearing them slide across the surface even in the dark.
Dark. Why is it so dark?
It's then that she notices the complete and utter silence surrounding her, almost oppressive given her current mood.
“Ryan?” she calls out, sighing when she gets no response. He had probably gone out to get the promised pizza and beer. And that actually sounded pretty good right now. Her hand slides along the wall until she finds the light switch to the kitchen, flipping it on. Only one of the lights actually comes on, the other having burned out several days ago. She had been bugging Ryan to change it since then, but she could see she would have to do it herse--
Movement in the living room catches her eye, a shadowy figure moving just slightly out of the corner of her eye. The hair at the back of her neck stands on end, an icy chill rushing up her spine. She turns to the dark form crouched there against the tall windows, only then noticing what the darkness had hidden.
The card she had still been gripping in her fingers drops to the floor.
Jet slowly climbs the stairs to Eden's apartment, Colin right behind him. They had made their journey in silence, both grimfaced, their thoughts entirely their own. Jet exhales slowly and tiredly, suddenly stopping as he comes to Eden's floor, watching her door warily.
“Something's not right, I know you don't believe me, but something's off,” he says, holding a hand up before Colin, the bigger man already looking all around, his entire demeanor alert and tense.
“I know. I've felt it for a while now,” he growls, pushing Jet's hand out of the way as he storms over to Eden's door, shoving it wide. It bangs against the wall, the light from the hallway brighter than the light from within.
“Edie?” Jet calls out, Colin's eyes darting around as he listens intently. They step into the apartment warily, Colin looking down at the white card dropped on the floor. He bends to pick it up, Jet grasping his arm as he stands.
“My god,” Jet whispers, Colin's attention immediately focused in the same direction the other man's ashen-faced stare was glued.
Ryan Hanneman's brutally ravaged body hangs from the ceiling of the apartment, the drawn shades of the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him framing him. A sliver of light comes through them, illuminating him from the back, almost bathing him in a halo of light. His arms... or what was left of them... extend out from either side of him in a Jesus Christ pose, his head drooping down to rest against his chest.
There was so much blood. So much that was broken and twisted...
Eden kneels awkwardly on the floor just inside the living room, as if she had crawled there and could get no further. Her eyes fill completely with tears before spilling down her cheeks, the cycle continuous as she breathes raggedly, a horrified look on her face, unable to look away. Just when her mind seemed to make sense of one thing, it changed, or she noticed something else. She couldn't focus on the body... not Ryan, not Ryan, not Ryan, a body, just a body... as a whole... just sections.
His dirty blonde hair, hanging lank, covered in dirt and blood and... other things.
The increased length in stubble on his chin, evidence that he had been trying to grow his beard out again.
The complete and utter ruin that was his chest and midsection... except for the pristine DMW cut that had been draped around him.
The pockets of his torn and tattered jeans were turned inside out. Why she noticed something like that she didn't know. But it was there, glaring at her.
His hips, twisted. But those pockets, inside out.
His legs... parts of them no longer there...
“Eden,” Jet squats down next to her, trying to pull her in against him, turn her away from what she was seeing. She jerks away violently, causing Jet to jump, as she crawls backward away from him, planting her back against the wall.
“No! Don't touch me, just... leave me alone!” she screams at him, the tears coming fast and furious now. Her breath comes in gasps, her eyes wide and panicked. Jet watches her in alarm, moving over to her again, Eden drawing her legs up to her chest and shoving herself up the wall, her eyes turning back to stare at the scene before the windows again. Colin shoves past Jet, holding his hands out before him.
“Eden, you need to come with me. You don't need to see this. Come here,” he says, reaching forward slowly, his voice cajoling but firm. Eden finally breaks her stare, turning to look Jet straight in the eyes, Jet recoiling at what he sees there.
“You caused this. All of you,” she says, her voice broken and devoid of all emotion, face completely shutting down to an uncomfortable blank coldness. Colin grasps her shoulders, pulling her in to him. He buries her face against him, Eden turning to the side as she continues to stare at Jet, the look accusing. Jet's jaw tightens, a movement catching his attention before he can respond. It's then they notice the dark lump lying beneath what was once Ryan Hanneman.
Shackled to the dead body is the living, breathing, yet starved and beaten body of Mark Reznik. Jet rushes over to the other man.
“Mark,” he says, touching the other man's shoulder, unsurprised when Mark flinches away.
“Keys... counter,” he manages to get out of lips that are badly cracked, deep bloody furrows evidence of his dehydration status and the abuses he had endured. Jet moves over to the counter, snatching up two small keys and strides back across the room, feeling Eden's uncomfortable gaze on him the whole time. He makes quick work of the shackle, pulling Mark away from the swaying body, lifting him over his shoulders.
“I can get him to a hospital faster than the ambulance can get here,” he says as he starts to walk from the apartment, leaving the door wide open.
“Might want to call the police... and take care of your broken bird,” Jet intones grimly before disappearing completely, leaving Colin standing there holding Eden, her gaze drifting back to Ryan Hanneman's badly mangled form.
But it's too late
To go back
I can see the darkness
Through the cracks
Daylight fading
I curse the breaking
The day is gone.
The day is gone.
- Noah Gundersen "Day is Gone"
“You're training again?” he asks, a disbelieving tone to his voice. When she doesn't answer, he shakes his head and gets to his feet, stretching his lanky, well-built frame before meandering down the hall to her bedroom. He leans against the doorway, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and placing the end of one between his lips, his dirty blonde hair hanging in his face. He tosses it back, digging in his pockets for a lighter.
“You know you can take a day off once in a while, huh?” he asks, lips clenching the unlit cigarette tightly. Eden finally glances at him and then goes back to whatever it is she's looking for.
“Did you say something?” she asks absently, Ryan rolling his eyes and finally pulling the lighter out. Eden crosses the room in front of him, reaching out and snatching the cigarette from his lips without even looking at him.
“No cigarettes in the apartment. How many times do I have to tell you?” she grumbles, tossing the cigarette back at him and hitting him in the chest with it. Ryan catches it and gives her a half smile, drawing her back with an arm draped lazily around her shoulders.
“Come on, Edie. You've been bustin' your ass enough. I know you're upset about what happened at Synergy--”
She tries to shrug his arm away, Ryan dropping all his weight on her shoulders to make it impossible. She glares at him instead.
“You don't know anything.”
Ryan smirks at her.
“Oh, I don't? I know you're more upset than you're letting anyone know. Not that you've spoken to anyone but me and Zale. And if you talk to him as much as you talk to me, you may as well be one of those silent fuckin' monks. Come on, Edie, skip the training for one day, let's get some pizza and beer and I'll even be nice and let you pick some movies. Or we'll go out to a bar and bust some motherfucker up. Your call. You won't get a better offer,” he says with a winning grin. Eden shakes her head.
“I need to train,” she says, finally throwing his arm off her, Ryan sighing heavily. He blocks the doorway as she tries to move by him, Eden finally looking up at him, Ryan's face serious.
“Look, bad shit happens, but that's fucking life. You gotta learn to deal with it better, Edie, or this shit life's gonna eat you alive.”
Eden stares up at him, giving no reaction to his words.
“Can I go?”
Ryan shakes his head, grabbing Eden in a headlock and ruffling her hair before letting her go.
“Fine, carry your ass, but I'm not taking no for an answer. When you get back we're having pizza, beer, and movies. Or ass-kicking. You better decide which while you're gone or it might be yours,” he calls as she walks out of the apartment, the door closing behind her.
“One thing you really need to remember when going into that ring with Wallace- he's going to try to use your emotions against you. He'll try to play them. Don't let him. Once you cross through those ropes, you set your mind to destroying him unquestioningly. It sends a message to him as well as the other Puppet Masters. Hastings thinks he got the better bargain with you in the ring. I believe he made an egregious error.”
Eden barely listens to her mentor speak as she concentrates on the man across the ring from her, her sparring partner for the day. This one had been much more of a challenge than the past few had been, and she greatly appreciated that. Concentrating on him made everything else in her mind quieten, even if just for a little while. Colin seemed to sense her mood and so he had said nothing when she had increased her training. A couple of hours in his gym every few days had turned into several hours each day. If tonight was like the past few, he would tell her to go home when he saw the signs of strain wearing on her. And she would, without argument. He would watch with concern as she simply nodded and packed up her gear, thanked him for his time, and left. She would get home, fend off Ryan's attempts to get her to do something “fun”, hop in the shower, and then crash into her bed, hoping she was too tired to dream.
So far, it had worked.
Distantly, Eden hears a door close, focusing far too intently on her opponent to turn to see who the newcomer is. But then a sudden, slow clap starts, completely throwing her off and the next thing she knows she's on her back, looking up at the lights on the ceiling.
“You're not welcome here. Get out or you will be removed,” Colin says gruffly, drawing her attention. She rolls over onto her stomach, looking in the direction the applause had come from to find Jet Somers standing there in the gym, his hands still held before him as he watches her closely. Their eyes meet for the barest of moments before he looks to Colin, clasping his hands before him, his expression mocking.
“I need to speak with Eden,” he says, ignoring Colin's previous statements. Colin glares at him and then turns to Eden. She nods, Colin turning back to Jet.
“The second she doesn't want you here, you will leave without comment. Is that clear?”
Jet smirks at Colin, shaking his head as Eden climbs through the ropes to stand before him.
“Yeah, whatever you say.”
Jet redirects his attention back to her, his expression giving nothing away.
“Is there somewhere we can go that's more private?”
Colin extends a hand toward the empty room connected to his office.
“I'll be in my office, should I be needed,” he says, more for Eden's benefit. Jet starts to protest, Eden turning to him.
“Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of Colin as well.”
“Well isn't that just fine and dandy. Always with a protector, aren't you, Edie?” Jet bites out, his tone clipped. Eden doesn't react to his statement, Colin giving him a final warning look before Jet and Eden move off into the other room, Colin entering his office and taking a seat at his desk.
Eden leans against the far wall, her arms crossed in front of her, Jet watching her, his dark eyes unreadable.
“You wanted to talk, yet you're not saying anything. So talk,” Eden presses him, looking away. Jet remains silent for a few moments more before speaking, never taking his eyes off of her.
“Congratulations.”
Eden freezes in place, looking at Jet in surprise.
“I was expecting a lot of things. That wasn't one of them. Dare I ask what you're congratulating me for?”
"You're finally showing a bit of the domination we had all come to expect last year," he acquiesces. He allows a bit of a smile as he leans on the back of Colin's chair with both hands, "I was beginning to think it was gone for good."
Eden watches him warily, focusing on the placement of his hands before looking up at his face again.
“Nothing's ever gone for good. Things have a habit of coming back to bite you when you least expect it. But you didn't come here to congratulate me and praise any returned dominance you see. Why don't you get to the real reason you're here? You've never been one to beat around the bush before, don't start now on my account,” she says straightening, her spine stiff.
His grip tightens on the back of the chair momentarily, but he relaxes them, forcing the smile to remain on his face.
"Why do you see a threat in me?" Jet ponders "You've always trusted me before. Are you so quick to throw yourself into the victim role? I'm not out to get you, no matter what you might think.”
Eden smiles quickly and looks away, shaking her head.
“You're really something else, Jet,” she continues to shake her head as she looks back at him. “You fly all the way here to talk to me, and when I ask you why you turn it around to where I see you as a threat? So now, I have to wonder... should I see you as a threat? Was that a warning? Or should I continue to see you as I already do?”
He raises an eyebrow, "The problem is, I'm not sure how you see me anymore. Threat? Annoyance? Unfortunate mistake? I flew out here because I wanted to clear the air before your visit this weekend. Now, do me a favor and don't stand there with a question on your face that you already know the answer to. Something's changed between us, and I don't like the tension that's there now. What can I do to end it?"
Silence stretches between them, Eden staring hard at the man she had once considered to be her only family. She presses her lips together before speaking.
“When you... and my brother... and Jez made your.. plans... did you ever think you weren't doing the right thing? That you should just let it all die? It had been years and yet you three decided to resurrect like it just happened the day before. Did you ever stop and consider what would happen? And... don't misunderstand, this is the most important question, Jet,” she breathes, her voice low in an attempt to keep it from shaking, “did you ever think about telling me what was going on?”
His grip tightens once again as the smile fades. He closes his eyes and mutters "every minute," but barely loud enough for her to hear.
"This again..." he shakes his head, "If at any time you think it was easy to throw people who trusted my sister and her friends off the roof of a building, if you think it was fun to call my own sister the names that I spit at her, if you think it was a great idea to release a psychopath from prison... if you think it felt like the right thing to kidnap and terrorize two children I love more than life itself, then you've grossly misunderstood my character."
Her expression suddenly turns venomous, Eden pulling away from the wall and closing the space between them rapidly as she comes to stand a few feet away from Jet, the chair separating them.
“What, you want me to pity you for those things, those things you chose to do? You could have stopped at any time, or just not done it at all, but you did it. You went right along with it. No one forced you to do it but yourself. So save the pity party and you can drop that holier than thou tone in your voice because I'm the last person you get to use it on.”
Jet snarls as he slings the chair hard to the left, putting a finger inches from her nose.
"And that is precisely why she didn't let me tell you," he roars, "because we'd have had to deal with you trying to talk us out of it at every turn. Dragon would still be lost to the world, and we'd all still be dealing with the nightmares and insecurity he spawned. Am I'm proud of what we did? No. Am I convinced we did what we had to? Yes."
He drops his finger and turns around slamming his palms on a waist high bookshelf hard enough to cause all the contents of it to jump.
"And no one is asking for your pity," he growls.
Eden's fists clench at her sides, her anger rising.
“You did what you had to. And what about the rest of us, the ones that were just cannon fodder, the ones who were used? You all act like I shouldn't have a problem with this, that I should just understand and accept what you did, but I can't! I can't, and you know why? Because for an entire year, while you spewed all those hateful things at Jez and listened to her say them about you and to you, you still knew that deep down you had a sister and she loved you. And she knew she had a brother who loved her enough to go through hell to help the nightmares stop. What did I have?!” she steps closer, her eyes wild and wide, her movements frantic.
“What did I have, Jet?! For me, all of last year was real. Everything my brother did, the ones I considered my family... it was real,” she finishes, stepping back, calming somewhat. Jet starts to speak up and she shakes her head, her eyes filling with tears.
“I was alone. I belonged nowhere. And I thought I did, but it was a lie.”
Jet pauses, considering her words. His mouth is a thin line. He's torn between defending the actions that he was a part of, and knowing that he wanted to let her in on it.
"You couldn't know, Edie," he tries to begin again his voice gentle, "not just because we were afraid you''d try to put a stop to it, but for your own protection. You see how Dragon treats Mark simply because Mark knew, but he's spared you. Those of us in on the scheme knew the risks, and we accepted them. We knew we'd each be putting a huge target on ourselves, but we did it for Jezebel. It was worth it to us. You get to walk around and avail yourself of it. You think we used you as cannon fodder, I say we offered ourselves up as cannon fodder, and kept you from having to be a part of something despicable."
“Justify it however you want to, Jet, but you and I both know that what it all comes down to is you had a choice in all of this, you knew what you were getting into and I had no clue. I walked into all of this blind and you, who was supposed to be my friend, my family, you let me. You didn't just let me, you encouraged me. And then when it all comes out, I'm supposed to be okay with it because I have everyone back. It was all a game, surprise!” she says mockingly, turning her back on Jet and then turning back around.
“None of you lost anything in that year, Jet. Be honest. What did you lose? You have your alliance with the DMW, you have your family, you have Travis. They stuck with you through it all, your co-conspirators. And me? Supposedly I have all of you... but when it comes down to it, I don't really have any of you. Do I?” she stares intently at him, knowing her speech would likely anger him. And that was okay. She wanted his anger. Needed it.
"You're concerned with who lost what?" Jet's brow furrows, "What did you lose, exactly? You've come away with an alliance with DMW, PMN, Axiom, Puppet Masters... as you went to each protector and cried your victimized cry, you found your way into each and every faction and managed to get a few bodyguards out of each one. The only problem is,you're too busy having your own little pity party to realize you're just as manipulative as the rest of us, Eden MORGAN. And why, because you weren't in on the secret? My god, as much as I love and respect you, when I hear you pout over not knowing the surprise beforehand, it's everything I can do not to scream in your face to grow up. I love you like a sister, Edie, but it's not always about you."
Eden recoils in disbelief.
“It's never about me! It's always about Jez or Dragon or something that happened years ago that no one even cares about anymore! You tell me to get over it and move on, but what do you tell Jez? It's okay, we'll take care of it? It doesn't matter who gets in our way, you'll get what you need? And what did I lose, Jet? Really, you can ask me that?!” she practically screams, the tears coursing down her cheeks unheeded now.
“I lost my family! I lost my brother, my sister-in-law, people who have been like a family to me my whole life, I lost them! Every one of you used me and none of you seem to give a damn about it. It was for the greater good. And then, when it all came out... I lost my adopted family. You and Travis. In one night I got my memory back and found out everything I remembered was a lie. Do you have any idea how that feels?! No, of course you don't, because you knew the whole goddamned time,” she snarls at him, her eyes flashing.
"You haven't lost a fucking thing!" Jet kicks the edge of the desk, the wood squealing as it scoots a few feet across the floor, "You chose to make all this about you. It's never about me, do you know how fucking childish you sound? Oh, poor Eden didn't know the secret, so she decided she lost everyone! You want truth? You don't know every little thing about Jez, about your brother, or about me. You don't know the depths of the depravity we have inside us, the lengths we're willing to go to get what we need."
Jet begins stalking around the room, smacking objects from their careful perches.
"You don't know all our dirty little secrets, the things we've done. Did you react this way when Travis told you what I kept from you about Melanie? No! What makes one psychopathic secret worse than the other, huh? Do you just pick and choose the ones that suit your own personal pity? Are you honestly jealous of Jez? You're upset because she went through a trauma that damaged her psychologically, and her family felt the right thing to do was to help her come to terms with it years after it has continued to haunt her? I can play that game, too, Edie. Why isn't Chaos getting this side of you? He was in on it. Why is Mark worthy of your pity? He knew all along. You think the three of us masterminded this whole thing, and these people just fell obediently in line? Travis blew up Atlanta. Chad burned New Orleans to the ground. Where's the blame in your eyes when you look at them?"
She starts to say something, Jet holding up a hand.
“No, it doesn't matter. You've made up your mind that the fault lies with Jez, Cypress, and myself. You made up your mind that we lost you. Well I've made up my mind, and I say that it's bullshit. Stand up and take your place with us, because as much as you like pointing fingers, you should be examining yourself in the mirror. You're just like us, but you're not going to manipulate me into thinking I'm in the wrong if, after we're done, Jez can sleep at night."
Jet pauses, his chest heaving, his shoulders moving up and down as he struggles to compose himself as Eden watches him silently.
"You claim to have believed in the family before you 'woke up,'" his voice has calmed, no longer an accusing roar, "but put one of your own in her place. Someone like Mark. Wouldn't you go to any length to help him? Wouldn't you offer up the greatest sacrifice in order to get him back? Didn't you?"
Sometime during Jet's tirade, Eden's face starts to close down, the tears still leaving glistening track marks down her skin, more automatic than anything else.
“I did. But I offered myself because that's all I have to give. And all I'm comfortable with giving. As hard as I try... I'm just not one of you. And I'm not sure that's a bad thing,” she pauses for a moment before continuing on. “I'd say you've made your point. I won't bother you about any of this again,” she says softly, turning away from him, stopping halfway.
“I have just one more question. Will you answer it?”
Jet runs a hand down his face, stretching the skin as his weary eyes close.
"Of course I will."
A ghost of a smile flits across her lips, not quite reaching her eyes.
“Come on now, Jet. It's not that painful. Just one little question,” she says, the smile slipping away, her expression blank again, blue eyes watching him closely, “With everything you've said to me tonight... and you've said quite a bit... was there ever a point when you considered just saying you were sorry? See, you thought what I was upset about was not knowing. And that's true, that hurt, but not because I didn't know. I won't go back into that, because if you don't understand by now you never will. No, Jet. What bothers me the most... is none of you... not you, not Jez, not Cypress, not Chaos, Travis, no one... has offered even the first apology. Something as simple and humane as that. Anything. It hasn't even occurred to any of you, has it?”
"What sort of sorry would you believe, Edie?" Jet seems truly troubled by her question, "An apology is not so simple, as you make it out to be. I'm sorry for a lot of things, and if I thought it would do any good, I would give you that apology. I would take back the loss you feel at learning the secret. I'd take back the hell of losing your memory. I'd take back the loss of trust, the feeling that you have no family to belong to, the humiliation you feel because you think you're the butt of some unfunny joke."
"Unfortunately, saying sorry means I'm sorry that Mickey Dragon is here," Jet's jaw sets, "It means I don't think I can pay the price for Jez's peace of mind, or that the price we've paid wasn't worth it. For those things, I can't say I'm sorry."
Eden swallows against a lump in her throat, turning her back on him before he can see the tears fill her eyes again.
“All you had to do was say 'no',” she whispers, not saying another word as she walks out of the room, not even stopping to pick up her gym bag. Colin gets to his feet, looking between her retreating figure and Jet's stiff one, his eyes narrowed. The door to the gym opens and then slams shut as Eden walks out into the night, Colin crossing over to stand before Jet.
“If I thought it would do any good, I would flatten you right here, right now, if I thought it would bring her any peace. But it won't. You're either an idiot or an unfeeling bully, at this point I'm not sure which, though I'm leaning toward bully.”
"If I thought it would do any good, I'd let you," Jet mutters, not taking his eyes off the still vibrating door. He turns toward Colin, probably the first time he's ever looked at one of Dirge's employees with anything but contempt. Instead, his look is hollow, almost desperate, "The problem with trying to do Edie any good is that all of us, the two of us included, keeps thinking we know what's best for her. In that regard..."
He turns back toward the door, shaking his head.
"We're all idiots."
Colin watches as Jet walks away, his deep voice booming out.
“Where are you going?”
Jet doesn't turn around, just keeps walking.
"I may not know what's best for her," he calls back over his shoulder, "but I care enough not to let her walk away that hurt. Especially when I'm the one who hurt her. I know you won't believe that, but if you really do care for her, you know I'm right."
Colin scowls and starts forward, following Jet.
“And what are you going to do when you find her other than hurt her more? No. Leave her be. You've done enough tonight.”
Jet stops, his hand on the push bar of the door. He turns halfway back.
"Look, I don't intend to say anything else to her," Jet assures him, "whatever misunderstanding there is between us, I haven't figured out how to get around it yet. But she's distraught, impulsive, and feeling alone. I only want to make sure she makes it home ok, and I'll back off for now."
Seeing that Colin doesn't intend to let it go, he adds;
"Look, I know you don't like me, and I damn sure don't like you. Despite that, I've come to realize that you have her best interests at heart. You might be the only one in Elite Enterprises who really does. I'm honestly not trying to antagonize you here, but if you're the great judge of character that everyone says you are, you can look me in the face and know that I'm not lying. Matter of fact, if you want, come with me. Help me protect her, just so that she gets home safe."
Colin pauses for a moment before speaking again.
“Even if you do care about her, you've shoveled enough dirt on top of her to bury your relationship and the only reason you're doing it is because your ego was bruised. Yes. I'm going with you. Simply because I don't want you alone with her again.” He looks back into the main part of the gym, calling to a man setting up weights in the back.
“I need to leave for a little while, would you mind watching the place for me, Tre'?”
“I got it, go on,” he calls back, waving Colin off as he and Jet exit the building, heading in the direction of Eden's apartment.
He isn't sorry. None of them are. He can't even see why he should be. Why I'm so hurt by what happened. He was supposed to be my best friend. Like a brother. But he doesn't know me at all, even after all this time and everything we've been through. There's nothing there.
Eden stumbles up the stairs, focusing on the door to her apartment through eyes brimming with unshed tears. She sniffles as she draws her keys out, inserting them in the door, her attention suddenly drawn to a plain white envelope attached to the door. She pulls it down, turning it over to see if either side had any writing on it, her keys swinging gently from the lock. She blinks rapidly, trying to clear her eyes, her vision swimming as she tears into the envelope, bringing out a card that matches the envelope, only with some generic Spring-type flowers printed on the front. She frowns, opening the card to find the words “When you're going through hell, keep going. -Winston Churchill.” printed inside in beautiful calligraphy. But nothing had been signed to it. Eden makes a face, closing the card and looking on the back and then turning it over and over again, looking for some writing on it anywhere, but nothing. She shrugs, reaching back for her keys and turning them in the lock, swinging the door open and entering her apartment.
She closes the door behind her, tossing her keys in the direction of the kitchen counter, hearing them slide across the surface even in the dark.
Dark. Why is it so dark?
It's then that she notices the complete and utter silence surrounding her, almost oppressive given her current mood.
“Ryan?” she calls out, sighing when she gets no response. He had probably gone out to get the promised pizza and beer. And that actually sounded pretty good right now. Her hand slides along the wall until she finds the light switch to the kitchen, flipping it on. Only one of the lights actually comes on, the other having burned out several days ago. She had been bugging Ryan to change it since then, but she could see she would have to do it herse--
Movement in the living room catches her eye, a shadowy figure moving just slightly out of the corner of her eye. The hair at the back of her neck stands on end, an icy chill rushing up her spine. She turns to the dark form crouched there against the tall windows, only then noticing what the darkness had hidden.
The card she had still been gripping in her fingers drops to the floor.
Jet slowly climbs the stairs to Eden's apartment, Colin right behind him. They had made their journey in silence, both grimfaced, their thoughts entirely their own. Jet exhales slowly and tiredly, suddenly stopping as he comes to Eden's floor, watching her door warily.
“Something's not right, I know you don't believe me, but something's off,” he says, holding a hand up before Colin, the bigger man already looking all around, his entire demeanor alert and tense.
“I know. I've felt it for a while now,” he growls, pushing Jet's hand out of the way as he storms over to Eden's door, shoving it wide. It bangs against the wall, the light from the hallway brighter than the light from within.
“Edie?” Jet calls out, Colin's eyes darting around as he listens intently. They step into the apartment warily, Colin looking down at the white card dropped on the floor. He bends to pick it up, Jet grasping his arm as he stands.
“My god,” Jet whispers, Colin's attention immediately focused in the same direction the other man's ashen-faced stare was glued.
Ryan Hanneman's brutally ravaged body hangs from the ceiling of the apartment, the drawn shades of the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him framing him. A sliver of light comes through them, illuminating him from the back, almost bathing him in a halo of light. His arms... or what was left of them... extend out from either side of him in a Jesus Christ pose, his head drooping down to rest against his chest.
There was so much blood. So much that was broken and twisted...
Eden kneels awkwardly on the floor just inside the living room, as if she had crawled there and could get no further. Her eyes fill completely with tears before spilling down her cheeks, the cycle continuous as she breathes raggedly, a horrified look on her face, unable to look away. Just when her mind seemed to make sense of one thing, it changed, or she noticed something else. She couldn't focus on the body... not Ryan, not Ryan, not Ryan, a body, just a body... as a whole... just sections.
His dirty blonde hair, hanging lank, covered in dirt and blood and... other things.
The increased length in stubble on his chin, evidence that he had been trying to grow his beard out again.
The complete and utter ruin that was his chest and midsection... except for the pristine DMW cut that had been draped around him.
The pockets of his torn and tattered jeans were turned inside out. Why she noticed something like that she didn't know. But it was there, glaring at her.
His hips, twisted. But those pockets, inside out.
His legs... parts of them no longer there...
“Eden,” Jet squats down next to her, trying to pull her in against him, turn her away from what she was seeing. She jerks away violently, causing Jet to jump, as she crawls backward away from him, planting her back against the wall.
“No! Don't touch me, just... leave me alone!” she screams at him, the tears coming fast and furious now. Her breath comes in gasps, her eyes wide and panicked. Jet watches her in alarm, moving over to her again, Eden drawing her legs up to her chest and shoving herself up the wall, her eyes turning back to stare at the scene before the windows again. Colin shoves past Jet, holding his hands out before him.
“Eden, you need to come with me. You don't need to see this. Come here,” he says, reaching forward slowly, his voice cajoling but firm. Eden finally breaks her stare, turning to look Jet straight in the eyes, Jet recoiling at what he sees there.
“You caused this. All of you,” she says, her voice broken and devoid of all emotion, face completely shutting down to an uncomfortable blank coldness. Colin grasps her shoulders, pulling her in to him. He buries her face against him, Eden turning to the side as she continues to stare at Jet, the look accusing. Jet's jaw tightens, a movement catching his attention before he can respond. It's then they notice the dark lump lying beneath what was once Ryan Hanneman.
Shackled to the dead body is the living, breathing, yet starved and beaten body of Mark Reznik. Jet rushes over to the other man.
“Mark,” he says, touching the other man's shoulder, unsurprised when Mark flinches away.
“Keys... counter,” he manages to get out of lips that are badly cracked, deep bloody furrows evidence of his dehydration status and the abuses he had endured. Jet moves over to the counter, snatching up two small keys and strides back across the room, feeling Eden's uncomfortable gaze on him the whole time. He makes quick work of the shackle, pulling Mark away from the swaying body, lifting him over his shoulders.
“I can get him to a hospital faster than the ambulance can get here,” he says as he starts to walk from the apartment, leaving the door wide open.
“Might want to call the police... and take care of your broken bird,” Jet intones grimly before disappearing completely, leaving Colin standing there holding Eden, her gaze drifting back to Ryan Hanneman's badly mangled form.
But it's too late
To go back
I can see the darkness
Through the cracks
Daylight fading
I curse the breaking
The day is gone.
The day is gone.
- Noah Gundersen "Day is Gone"