Concerns

That's how we ended up sneaking into Christopher's abandoned room at 11:00 pm, we waited for everyone to be dead asleep before tip-toeing to his room.

*CREAK*

"He should have oiled this door before leaving." Kristen grumbled as he pushed the door opened. Everywhere was dark as we stalked our way into his room.

"It's too dark in here."

"Where on earth is the switch?"

*CLICK*

I blinked rapidly as my eyes adjusted to sudden brightness in the room. There wasn't anything special in the room, it was painted neon red with a travel board above Christopher's bedroom, his study table looked dusty as there were cobwebs at the corners.

"What. Is. That?" I asked mortified as I pointed to an empty glass case with several dead bugs inside.

"Christopher had a pet spider. I suspect it was called Montey or was it Peter. Nah it was called-" Kristen debated but I lost interest as I saw something peeking out of the drawers.

"Kristen." I called.

"Or it was Morty right? Or was it Bill?"

"Kristen!"

"Nooo, his name was Gary!"

*WHACK*

"Ow, what was that for?!" Kristen demanded as he rubbed his red cheek. I rolled my eyes in annoyance at his oblivious attitude.

"If you're looking for your brain keep rolling." Kristen sneered.

"You're annoying!" I groaned.

"I got it from you!" Kristen retorted.

"I am not annoying!" I fumed feeling my blood boil as I stomped towards him.

"All short people are." Kristen replied as he looked down on me, my jaw clenched as I balled my fists.

"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't punch you. Right. Now." I threatened through gritted teeth, Kristen's lips curved into a smirk his eyes shining with amusement.

"Who's going to let you?" He chuckled.

"Who's going to stop me?" I demanded as I swung my fist aiming for his face.

"Me." Kristen replied as his palm encircled my fist as he pushed me to a wall and twisted my arm to my back, trapping me between the wall and his body.

"See I stopped-" Kristen remarked before grunting in pain as my head connected with his.

"Fucking hell..." Kristen growled as he glared at me, his hand on his forehead as he shot daggers at me through gritted teeth, his other hand balled by his side. A very satisfying sight if you ask me.

"Not my fault your head is delicate, probably making up for the lack of brains." I grinned.

"You're not funny." Kristen grumbled. "Why did you even hit me in the first place?" He asked, his head cocked to the side as his sour expression shifted.

"There was something peeping out of one of the drawers." I explained as I pointed to an open drawer. We slowly approached it as the clock's ticking seemed to get louder as we got closer to the drawer.

*TICK*

*TICK*

*HISS*

I actually screamed as a black thing jumped out of the drawer. Kristen caught it before his eyes widened in excitement.

"Morty!" Kristen exclaimed in excitement and yet disbelief at the little spider in his hands. "What? The original Kristen loved this spider and my aunt loved spiders." Kristen explained as he took in my weirded out expression.

"There's something else inside." Kristen said as he approached the drawer. "Hold Morty for me."

"There is no way I'm holding that thing." I argued but Kristen shoved Morty into my hand as he removed a transparent zip bag with pink tablets inside with a label taped on it.

"MDMA?" I asked as my eyebrows arched up.

"We need to talk to Patrick." Kristen said, his eyes darkened as his mouth twitched.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One week later:

"Did you find any clue?" No greeting or pleasantries, just straight to business. Patrick was in a simple cashmere vest, his white shirt sleeves rolled up as he checked the time on his silver watch.

We decided to meet at the library as Patrick was looking for "writing material"

Kristen placed the zip bag on the table with the tablets inside. Patrick's eyes widened by a fraction as his brows furrowed.

"What is MDMA?" I whispered as my fingers idly played with the golden chain on my neck.

"MDMA is the fancier name for ecstasy." Patrick drawled out as if he was discussing the weather. "And it's the illegal drug that Christopher uses to cope with stress and his anxiety. It doesn't help by the way." Patrick added.

"How long has he been using it?" Kristen asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he drummed his fingers against the table earning him a warning glance from the librarian.

"I honestly don't know. I found out like five months ago." Patrick replied as his fingers wrapped around the silver locket on his neck. "I don't think I'll ever be able to forget how he looked that day when I found out." Patrick confessed as he swallowed hard, his voice slightly breaking, his gaze lowered into his book as if he was recalling a bad memory.

[FLASHBACK, Patrick's POV]

"So how about Friday, we can catch up on everything over a drink or two." Gwendolyn's voice chirped through the phone.

"Shouldn't the Merriweather heiress be thinking about the jewellery empire she would be inheriting soon?" I teased as I put some books down, this month has been going fine. Tomorrow is my sister's twenty-seventh birthday, I'm almost done with the my book's unedited manuscript and Gwendolyn was finally able to clear up her schedule for us to meet.

"You say it like I'm the only person inheriting a multimillionaire dollar company now am I, Fortress Security?" She joked.

I laughed before sitting on the couch as I picked one of the books on the wooden round table to read, this is perfect. Books and me.

"And plus, we can do more than drinking." Gwendolyn added, her voice innocent but if you've known her for awhile you can detect the suggestiveness in her voice.

"Are you flirting with me Gwen?" I purred as I put the book down. I can read it later.

"Don't all girlfriends do that?" Gwendolyn mused, her voice sounding undeniably silky and smooth.

"Even over the phone, you're insufferable." I admitted, chuckling as she giggled. A comforting silence followed afterwards before I heard her take a sharp intake of breath.

"I know I say this a lot over texts but, I miss you so much." Gwendolyn confessed, her voice raw with emotion.

I felt my heart skip a beat at those words, it sounded better when she says it.

"I miss you too Lotus." I replied, my cheeks hurt from how much I was grinning.

"You never told me why you call me Lotus." Gwendolyn said, "My hair is definitely not white."

"You really want to know over the phone? Why not on Friday?" I asked even though I was smirking. She let out a frustrated groan.

"Oh c'mon please!" She begged, "Don't keep with in suspense!"

"Friday is two days from now, c'mon Lotus. Can't you wait?" I joked as I stared through the windows at the empty dark road, if my mother saw the neighbourhood I was living in she'd beg my father to give me a bodyguard. Advantages of living alone, all I did was tell my parents was that my neighbourhood is pretty safe. Even though I picked there because of the crime rate there.

"Noooo, you've been calling me that since high school, tell me now and you can pick every activity we'll do on Friday." Gwendolyn playfully whined.

"Tempting offer but I'm good." I replied as I scratched my chin.

"Please." She tried again taking an innocent tone.

"Ok.... I call you Lotus because...." I began but paused for a dramatic pause, I could practically feel her gears turning. "Because you're one of the most elegant people I've ever met. And I don't mean in prim manners, expensive dresses or any luxurious thing. You're elegant because you're you and I wouldn't have it any other way Gwen." I confessed, a small smile tugging my lips.

"Patrick..... that's so romantic." Gwendolyn gushed, I swear I heard her giggle. "And cheesy but mostly romantic. Bet me, by Friday I'll have an equally romantic nickname for you!" She chirpped excitedly.

"Yea? I'll be waiting Lotus. See you Friday." I said.

"See you!" Gwendolyn replied as she barely hid her excitement before ending the call.

I hummed as I relaxed on the couch thinking about our date, I'm so happy that none of my friends were here to hear me or I'd never hear the end of it. Especially if it was from Christopher.

Now were was that book I was planning to read.

*KNOCK*

I froze as I reached for the book, it's 11:50pm and I wasn't expecting anybody. I slowly got up as I picked a gun from one of my drawers.

"Who is- Christopher?!" I exclaimed as my eyes widened upon seeing him when I opened the door, his hair was messy as a rosy hue of red coloured his cheeks, his eyes were glossy as he fell on me.

"Patrick?" Christopher said.

"Hmm?" Was all I replied as I was trying to understand the situation I was in.

"You smell like shit." Christopher said as he buried his face in the crook of my neck. Asshole.

"Christopher." I called as he wrapped his arms around me.

"Yeah?" His reply muffled as his face was still buried in my neck.

"Fuck. You." I said before hitting his head, he only grunted in response.

"I would have had I been gay." He replied before getting off me, there was a tiny tint of green on his face. "Can I use your restroom? I don't feel good." He asked, I stared at him as my head tilted to the side. He came to my house at 11:50pm just to use my restroom, I think not. I nodded my head as I pointed upstairs.

"The restroom is upstairs." I said but Christopher had already dashed upstairs before the last word left my lips.

"Rude." I grumbled before sitting on the couch as I began reading but the violent sounds of vomiting coming from upstairs abruptly ended my reading session.

"Christopher, is everything alright?" I asked, as a sense of unease crept in. Was he sick? Why didn't he go to his place.

I opened the restroom to see him crouched by the toilet, his black hair stuck to his face as he gripped the toilet before another violent throw up came again, his frame shuddering from its impact.

"Alright, take it easy." I soothed as I held his hair as he threw up again. After I was sure he was done I let go of his hair as he staggered towards the sink to wash his face.

"Sorry." Christopher apologized, his eyes red as he staggered.

"Are you sick? Should I send you home?" I asked, Christopher's eyes widened as he shook his head aggressively.

"I'm good. Just feeling a little hot." Christopher assured before nearly collapsing onto the ground had I not caught him.

"No you're not. You're burning up. I should call your dad to pick you up." I said, I felt Christopher's body tense as his eyes narrowed at me. His brows creased.

"Patrick, don't call anyone from my house. Don't even call Zhao Mei, please. I don't want them to know." Christopher said, his voice sounding icy.

Why is he acting strange today? He always tells Zhao Mei everything and when he normally fights with his stepmom he always goes there.

"You're sick. I'm calling Mei." I said before going downstairs for my phone, I heard Christopher's boots bang against the stairs as he descended.

"You're not calling her." Christopher said.

"I didn't ask for your permission." I replied.

"I'm not sick damnit!" Christopher yelled, his jaw clenched.

"Really? Then explain why you're burning up, just had a severe nausea issues and look like shit!" I yelled back, I could practically feel a vein throbbing while my phone cracked in response to how hard I was gripping it.

"It's ecstasy!" Christopher yelled again more loud before slumping on the couch. "I took ecstasy and didn't want to encounter my dad while it was affecting me." He choked out barely audible.

My phone dropped from my hand as I went still, my eyes widening as I stared at Christopher.

"Ecstasy." I whispered the word tasting bitter on my tongue. "You're lying right?" I asked as I observed Christopher more keenly, purple smudges under his eyes, his complexion a bit paler as he looked also a little skinnier than before.

Christopher shook his head before bowing it down.

"You're..... lying Christopher, I know you. You wouldn't take any drug." I said my voice sounding like I was trying to convince myself rather Christopher. "Christopher, you said..." Your mother died from an overdose. The words were at the tip of my tongue but I wasn't going to bring that in but guessing by how Christopher flinched he knew what I meant.

"Please don't tell my brothers." Christopher begged as he continued looking down, his body shaking slightly as I saw his lips quiver. "Please don't tell Zhao Mei either, or my dad. Please... Patrick.... please don't." Christopher pleaded as one tear slid down his face then another until he was crying silent tears. I sat by him as he cried.

"Hey, don't cry...." I said awkwardly as I patted his back, God I need to learn how to comfort people. "I'll try not to tell anyone either, but what happened?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowed. "How did you get the drug?"

"It was in my mother's room, I fought with my stepmom again and it happened." Christopher explained, "I kept taking it in when I got stressed out or after a fight with my stepmom. It made me happy for a while, then after that I'm back to myself. I started taking more than one tablet and..." Christopher trailed off but it was clear: he got addicted.

"How long have you been addicted?" I asked.

"I lost track." Christopher replied.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

[Jade's POV]

"I let him stay the night with me. As for how Zhao Mei figured I don't know." Patrick concluded as he took in some deep breaths.

"It really affected you right?" I asked.

"He's my best friend. Of course it affected me, I couldn't stop thinking about it for days." Patrick replied. I asked that question because during his narration, he kept taking in deep breaths as tears pricked the corners of his eyes.

"Did it affect your date?" Kristen inquired.

"No, that date rather kept my mind off him for a while." Patrick replied.

"So what does your girlfriend call you now?" I asked genuinely curious while trying to stir the topic to safer grounds. Even though Patrick has a chocolate brown skin I still saw the tips of his eyes go pink.

"Cosmo." He mumbled awkwardly.

"Oooh what does it mean?" I teased, Patrick smirked as he got up and took his things.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." He replied as he checked his time before turning serious again. "But ask Zhao Mei how she found out before doing anything else." He suggested before leaving.

At least we know who we'll be talking to next.

[Meanwhile... Outside the Game.]

[Third POV]

Xander clicked the pause button again and again. His green eyes concentrated on the video playing over and over again, he saw the Crimsonclaw he sent kill Jade and her friend but...

She didn't die.

She killed the Crimsonclaw.

But he saw her die, her throat was slit out opened.

Xander's lips curled into a wicked grin as he laughed.

"This will be interesting." Xander thought to himself.

"Xander, it's cold here and I'm bored to death." Hime whined on the couch her, dress in a mess on her body while her face looked flustered as a deep shade of red painted her cheeks. There were several bite marks on her neck and shoulders as she stared at him with glossy eyes.

"And what should I do?" Xander asked without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Come keep me company~" Hime purred.

"Later." Xander rejected as he exited the video playing before opening another screen.

"Then what should I do?" Hime whined again.

"Not my problem." Xander replied nonchalantly, Hime got up and left not before knocking Xander on his head. He only laughed in response to Hime's violent gesture.

"Anyways....." Xander said as soon as the doors closed. "You're early." He noted. "That's a good thing."

Out of the shadows emerged a man with blond thick hair styled in a wavy mullet.

His grey eyes seeming to illuminate dangerously in the dark through his glasses as he stared at Xander.

"What do I gain from this offer sir?" The man asked calmly as he stared at his watch.

"Nightshade, the most requested assassin in the criminal underworld." Xander noted. At least in the light novel Devil's Bounty. "How's Dawn?" Xander asked with mock sincerity.

"Dead and Deceased." The man replied coldly, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the mention of his lover's name. "But I'll make sure to let her know you said hi." He added mockingly.

"Felix Ryder. If you succeed in completing this quest. I'll help you find Dawn's killer, sounds good?" Xander offered.

Felix's body tensed as his eyes narrowed at Xander, he wanted to call it a bluff but this man literally appeared out of thin air in front of him an entire week ago and he taught him how to reach here. Tracking down Dawn's killer wouldn't be that hard for him.

"Name?" Felix asked in his professional voice.

"Jade Hiroto." Xander replied.