Eighteenth piece of the broken cage : Friends are family. Keep that in mind

Blue eyes sharpened by the way everyone tensed upon hearing the bell ring.

Diana looked over at her and moved abruptly to her side near the kitchen and scooped her small body up in her stiff arms as her golden gaze fell over Jody who was now standing and glaring harshly at the door .her ice cream stick forgot on a coffee table and looked up at her holder's face to see that Diana had gone pale and was squishing her to her chest.

" Diana go to Julia's room and lock the door behind you"

Jody's voice wasn't goofy anymore and Sandy had heard that tone enough times to know that it promised nothing good Diana hadn't heard it though therefore she had been shot was written er her face

" Jody I'm human Whoever there is won't cause me any harm. You go there, I'll check the door

Sandy was amazed by the strong bravery that she stood up to Jody but it wasn't like her sister would back down

" I appreciate your strong behavior but I promised everyone to keep you guys safe so go to that room! "

Diana huffed a breath as she replied.

" If you're hurt and down, then how are you going to help us? "

There was a fire in her eyes and Sandy knew she was right. The BH or whoever it was, wouldn't hurt humans. they were ordered to keep them safe while the monsters needed to be killed

Sandy shuttered as she suddenly heard the screams of years ago full-time gaze followed her sister's as she kept looking from the door to Diana and back. finally, she let a tired sigh escape fr her lips just when the door rang again.

Sandy felt her heart slow down when she heard the familiar voice of Clark came from behind the wooden door.

" can you guys let us in already ?! some of us can't stand! "

Jody jumped in action as she ran to the door just as Diana was slowly lowering her back to the solid ground. the door was opened by a nervous Jody as she yanked the wood wide open there outside of the place stood no other than Clark who was carrying a whining Jayson on his back Tia was standing a few feet away from them as she shook her blond head from what looked to be a disappointment, not that she wasn't right. Jay was an expert at disappointing people

"My back hurts, my legs hurt my head hurt my fucking hair hurts my goddamn entire body hurts and _

" We get it. you kept saying it the entire ride. "

Jay let out a muffled sound as he rested his head on the back of the black man's head

Jody let her shoulders down as she glared at the people at her door. her black tank top was resting comfortably on her chest and the way her jeans hugged her lean legs made her appear even more intimidating.

" The things I have to do for you.... set his ass on the couch. "

Clark nodded as he walked past the black-haired girl close by Tia who was gripping the blanket on Jay's shivering form. her hands were shaking and there were cuts all over her body her skin was red from cold air and her breath seemed to be forced. and she was silent ...witch was never a good sign when it came to Tia.

the man placed her brother on the couch with a great deal of care as to not hurt him. Diana was standing a few feet away from the man as she helped Tia to sit on a chair in the kitchen. her body moving gracefully around the cabinets to find bandages as the look on her pensive eyes were be moving even harder. Jody was helping Jay so lay back on the soft pink pillows she had brought from her room just as Clark was trying to get his sneakers off of his feet.

Jayson let out a hiss when Jody brushed one of the deep cuts on his forearm. Clark looked at him worriedly as Jody stepped away to go look for a bag of needles so that she could stitch his cuts.

the black man eyed the boy before him his entire arms were covered with black veins and his throat looked like a had that same mark from years ago the same one that he hated on his skin. the same one they had tattooed on their o make him realize that a mark doesn't declare who you are Clark was thanking God that Jayson was weak enough not to be able to see his neck.

Jay put his aching head back on the pillows as he tried to take deep breaths so that his body would stop refusing comfort. the soft fabric of the sofa was not helping him feel better. he could feel Clark's concerned gaze all over him, exposing him as if Jay didn't know himself that the state of his figure wasn't bad. he tried to ignore his piercing brown eyes as he looked over to his left . on the kitchen was Diana who has busied herself by tending to Tia.

her curly hair was over her shoulders in a ponytail as her hands slowly moved to clean the tiny cuts on Tia's hurting neck. they were muttering things under their breaths as their heads were close together. his sassy side was screaming at him to say something so that others would get angry and hopefully leave him alone

Jayson didn't where to go he wasn't allowed in his father's home unless it was with Jody or William. his stepmother was the only person who seemed to see him as who he was

a freak

Jay let out a small chuckle that drew so much unwanted attention, he laughed though. it was like a joke. his whole life was a joke

a brown hand ran through his sweat-clapped hair making his white forehead expose to the house he turned his head away from the kitchen to gaze at the blank wall Clark pressed his lips together as he massaged the boy's crow feather hair.

" stop thinking. "

a lazy smile stretched on his too pale lips his bloody teeth making his already bruised skin seem ten times worse, Jay brought his good hand up to get Clark's comforting fingers off of his head

" sure thing sir . what would you prefer next ? that I stop my heartbeat? "

Clark let out a long-suffering sigh. he looked down at the boy before sitting next to him on the couch. sometimes Jay was just too insufferable Clark clapped his hands together as he exhaled his breath.

" what now? "

Clark looked over at Jayson . he wanted to sigh again

" you gotta hide ...like Tia, Julia and so many more Gifteds out there. "

Jay let out a tired laugh as he said

" can't I just surround myself up? prison isn't as bad as you think they give a nice place to sleep and there are peop_

" Haha...so funny. now sit your ass I'm gonna switch you

Clark let out a small laugh as Jody roughly dragged Jayson up to a sitting position. the glare on her pale face was masking her apprehensiveness e she was thought to her index and thumb were gripping the small piece of metal tightly as she is a quiet voice told Jayson to brace himself.

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Diana slowly as to not hurt her friend wrapped the white sheet around Tia's cuts. the blond woman clenched her jaw tightly so that she wouldn't make a sound. Diana had stitched her deep cuts as soon as possible when Jody was finding a new, clean needle for the other injured person who was on the couch

She swallowed as she tried to keep her eyes focused on Tia and the cuts rather than the lax, unfocused oceans that we overwrite then

Diana was still struggling to keep calm when even for a single second she thought about the fact that Jay had helped her and had put her to sleep. she tried to stop thinking about Adrian who was now in greater danger. she wanted to tell her_ his friends that they needed to save her brother. they couldn't just leave him to his death God knows what the queen will do to her poor brother who hadn't seen daylight for five years and now that he was out...Diana shook her head as her gaze fell over to Tia's that was looking at her with worried eyes.

" are you okay? "

" I should be asking you that. "

Tia smiled as she flexed her hands to see if they hurt anymore. the smirk she gave to Diana's beating heart was the clue that Tia was going to be okay

" OW! GIRL THAT HURTS ! "

" stop moving around then"

two pairs of golden and icy eyes moved to the scene in the living room.

there was Clark who was trying his best to not laugh, as he was holding a Jayson who had a horrified look on his pale and bruised face.

" yo ....that's very long..."

" that's what she said ."

" I mean the NEEDLE ! "

" What did you think I meant ? "

" Jody...you...uh"

" what ?! can't a girl say it's a long needle ?! "

" just stick that shit in ..."

" it goes through you know ...."

Clark's shoulders were shaking as he tried to hide his grin on his elbow.

Diana looked at Tia who was watching them with a happy smile she had never seen on her face before

I wonder if they all had been like this ...did Adrian laugh with them?

there was something more to them than meet the eye. they didn't just have a bond.. .they were a family. they took each other's back.

Diana was stepping away from the table to turn around when she saw Sandy and Julia enter the crowded room.

" Should I start praying? "

" with your cuts Jayson you should go to church more often. "

" oh sweet lord Jesus .....fuck! slow down! "

Jody leaned back from her brother to glare harshly. the long needle was bloody in between her fingers" are you giving birth Jayson ? "

the boy on the couch gave a toothy smile as he tried to sit straight.

" if this is what women have to through then yes. congratulations it's a girl! "

Jody rolled her eyes as she stuck in again. making the boy under her yowl in pain.

Diana raised an eyebrow ... couldn't possibly hurt that much.

what caught her attention the most though. was the dark veins on his arms and the big mark on his throat that was slowly fading away. the troubled look on Julia and Tia's faces weren't helping. she half wanted to ask what it meant because it was the same tattoo that everyone seemed to have.

the sword that had a snake wrapped around it as a crow rested on top of its handle.

Jody stood up fastly as she gathered her stuff. Clark let go of Jay's shaking shoulders Sandy had gone to her brother's side and was snuggling under his woolen blanket. Julia was going near them as well. Diana looked at Tia who easily grabbed her arm and led her to the living room.

" you should change. "

Jody was observing her brother and as her gaze fell over his sweaty clothes she made a disgusted face.

" to what exactly? "

" I have some of your clothes with me. get those off I'll be back. "

with that Jody left them to get Jayson a t-shirt. Clark and Julia were helping him get his bloody black clothing out and as it came off of him, Diana couldn't look away.

his entire frame was black and purple. deep scars danced in his figure as long, small some brown and some white scars ran a marathon on his back and chest. on his left breast where his heart should've been, was a mark as if it has been carved into his flesh. it was the same tattoo as shape. a rusted sword with a snake wrapped around it as a crow rested on top of it. his ribs were countable as his skinny but strong frame leaned on Clark's chest

Diana suddenly felt a bang of guilt on her body. he was injured and had to be exhausted and cold from the snow. so the needles had to hurt much more than necessary.

his oceans were drying as it became dull. there was no longer an annoying smirk or a teasing smirk. he was tired and entirely drowned

Sandy was gripping his hand as her similar blue gaze locked on her brother's face. Julia was stroking his sweaty hair. Tia who she would've sworn a few months ago that she would never do this was sitting near him and had been pinching his good cheek Clark, had his head cradled on the crook of his neck. his hand wrapped tightly around him as if he was trying to protect him from harm.

Jody came back with a green hoody that had the written letters on it.

bookworm

" Jody it's WILL' S ! "

" you guys are the same size....."

" it reads Bookworm. "

" well, t it for his birthday. "

Diana couldn't help but laugh along with them as Jayson pouted. Tia smirked and grabbed the hoody from Jody's hands.

" well birthday boy, time to wear it. "

Diana stopped as a deep frown sat on her face when was the last time she had laughed? ....

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they were all in the living room. Clark had put Jayson on Jody's bed to rest as he had gotten a slight fever and couldn't move around himself.

Clark was sitting straight as Julia had insisted that he let her draw his face. Clark had recently gotten rid of his stubble and Julia had liked it so much that she had tried to draw his face.

Jody was eating ice cream again and she was leaning comfortably on top of Tia who was lying face down on the couch.

Sandy was sleeping with Jayson. she had just refused to let go of her brother. Diana could relate to her She wanted her brother with her as well.

Diana couldn't decide if she should tell them that she had heard that her brother was going to get executed. she nibbled on her thumb a little as she gazed out of the window to the snowy streets were no other apartments. it was the abounded side of the new york that she had never seen before. the lights of the city from far away but the deep veins were here too . they were now dull though. as if their main source was no longer alive.

Diana shut her eyes as tight as she could. no, Adrian was their friend as well and if they were this close to a bastard like Jay then they had to be on good grounds with Adrian too. ...right?

Tia is on my side ....I'm sure of that...them ...

" G_guys....I.....there's. .. uh. Adrian ...."

" Diana if something is bothering you, you can tell us. we're your friends right ? "

her heart stopped beating. she looked straight into Clark's brown eyes.

we're you, friends ...

friends ...

" you....are? "

Tia looked up from her place on the couch as Jody rolled over her.

" We aren't? "

Diana looked over at all of them looked at Julia's smiling face, at Clark's patient Eyes Tia's knowing gaze, and Jody's coal, loving orbs

" you.....are....my friends....you are ."

" Yupe! so tell us what's the problem "

friends ... I can tell them ....friends are family. that's what Adrian used to say ... right?