[color=gray][center][sub]A [@BrutalBx], [@LovelyComplex], & [@metanoia] Collaboration Featuring: [b][color=c85d84]Vivia Belmonte[/color][/b], [b][color=gold]ReyRey Gonzales[/color][/b], [b][color=e62020]Jade Taylor[/color][/b], [b][color=D3D3D3]Charlie Decker[/color][/b], & [color=FF1395][b]Allison Davies[/b][/color] [/sub] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210712/e92ca3aeb4c6a0ce690751e349409216.png[/img] [b]____________________________________________________________________________________________[/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/ngPcwx0.png[/img] [b]____________________________________________________________________________________________[/b] [/center] [indent]This was not how ReyRey had intended to spend his evening; explaining to a bunch of wannabe detectives a sordid night in his past but that’s how it was supposed to be. He led the group that had assembled on the front lawn of his party house and brought them into the garden where there were a few derelict looking picnic benches. At the rear of it all was a shed that had been burned out; no doubt to cover tracks. That was, for all intents and purposes the scene of a crime. [color=gold]“Take a seat, young’uns. It’s story time.”[/color] As the amassed group begrudgingly complied, the tension in the air was real. ReyRey was no joke. He was someone to be feared and irregardless of the bravado shown by some of the gang, there was no denying the twin feelings of anxiety and uncertainty that their current situation had birthed. Rey could just as easily have his minions like Prof and Sonny emerge from the shadows, gun them all down and bury them in the very garden they now sat in. Who would know? Who could stop it? There was more to this story, more twists, more turns, more hard truths no doubt. Where would it all end? [color=gold]“First off, I’m not the guy behind the letters. I’ve been getting them, same as you and then some”[/color] R2 pulled one of those damn Polaroids from the back pocket of his jeans and threw it onto one of the tables. This image was far clearer than the one found in Francis Callahan’s locker. It was still the party but the lights had been turned on and in the centre of it all was Allison, lying on her back in the bathroom, her green and white skirt had fallen up her leg to expose her bloomers. Thick white foam was billowing from her mouth and blood pouring from her nose. This was it. This was the moment that innocence died. And there besides her was ReyRey Gonzalez. On his knees, crying. [color=gold]“None of you were supposed to be there that night. There wasn’t even supposed to be a party…”[/color][/indent] [hr] [b]Afternoon - Edenridge, MA. December 4th 2016[/b] [indent]It was a great day for business. Whenever there was any kind of athletic event in Eden, the town was always a buzz. It was something that everyone looked forward to and it just changed the atmosphere to something of positivity, even in Southie. It took Rey back to his own school days which weren’t really that long ago. He remembered game days vividly, as a former standout on the wrestling team he was always one to receive the adulation of the masses and it felt so, damn, good. It was through that avenue that he met a certain person, one who evokes a certain feeling when thought about. With everyone in a good mood and looking to celebrate a sure fire victory against the Pinehurst Pinheads, El Hijo del Rey knew that people would be looking to score and he was the man that had everything that they could ever want. No matter the score tonight, people would migrate back to Eden and probably to Southie since that’s where all the good parties were and he would be waiting; a serpent on every corner ready to strike and make some cold hard cash. Sitting on his burner phone, ReyRey began to arrange everything. Moving the pieces of the board like a chess master, he began placing dealers at the hotspots, he was making sure every base was covered. School had let out, so there was no doubt that the town was getting ready to make the short drive to Pinehurst. Most shops and businesses would be empty, meaning the inmates would truly control the asylum tonight. Alerted by the opening of a door, R2 reached down to his side. A gun was never far away; in his line of work he had to be prepared to take someone out at the drop of a dime. This was especially true in recent times as the Fear Gorta seemed to get braver and more bold with every passing day. [color=gold]“Who’s there?”[/color] Rolling her eyes, Vivia closed the door behind her and sarcastically mocked, [color=c85d84]“You’d think by now you would know your girlfriend’s voice.”[/color] By the way the middle Belmonte child held herself, she was not here for a good fuck. She was one of the few people that tested her boundaries with the serpent king. Whether it was the mafia blood coursing through her veins or her addiction to nothing he sold but everything he was, Vivia had a problem and she was glaring at it. As her gray purse dangled at her side, she wore a dainty white dress under her light pink hooded overcoat. Her lips were red, just like her best friend’s always were. The expression written on her face showed a hint of anger, but also that she was up to something, which would undoubtedly lead to an argument. For once, she was holding her tongue, which isn’t something a Belmonte woman does often. Without asking for an invite, she took off her coat and placed it on the rack, all the while keeping her purse nice and close to her. [color=c85d84]“I’m allowed to check on you, so here I am. Checking on you. How’s [i]my man[/i]?”[/color] Turning on her heel to face him, she beamed at R2, continuing to drag out the purpose of her visit, intentionally. He knew this smile well, it was flirtatious yet vindictive. It was far from genuine, yet still appealing to the eye. If it wasn’t for his hold on her, who knows what trouble Vivia would get herself into. She was a she-devil disguised as an angel and became unhinged when she was attached to something. In this case scenario, she was completely devoted to the most dangerous man in town. For better or for worse, Reyrey was her addiction. ReyRey had played this game too many times to count. In a lot of ways he regretted ever dipping his toe in the infinity pool that was Vivia Belmonte’s; why? Because there were bloodthirsty sharks hidden in the water. She had caused him so many problems that it had started giving him migraines but he just couldn’t quit her. As much of a walking daddy issue as the girl was, she always came back and she saw the man behind the persona, as much of it as he was willing to share at least. He couldn’t really remember how they had even started. Normally he wouldn’t go for high school girls but Vivia in that little uniform was dynamite and so were all her friends. He wished the cheerleaders in his school days looked that damn good. Taking his hand off of his gun, he returned his attention to his phone and began texting once again. [color=gold]“So what’s up that tight little ass today, mi amore?”[/color] R2 didn’t even look at her. Typical. Dodging her question with a question. On top of that, he knew how to press the right buttons to get her riled up. She hated being treated like second rate and there he was glued to his phone choosing work over her. [color=c85d84]“I don’t know. You tell me.”[/color] Breaking the distance between them, deeply gazing at him with her hazel eyes, perturbed at how easy he can brush her aside, Viv probed, [color=c85d84]“Hiding something from me?”[/color] [color=gold]“Of course I am!”[/color] He shook his head as if his answer should surprise her. [color=gold]“I run the biggest drug op this side of Boston. I know people and I know things. Why would I not hide shit from you? I love you babe but you’ve got a mouth like a leaky fucking sink.”[/color] He finished sending a text before putting his phone down and leaning back against the sofa, hand over his chocolate eyes. This was exhausting. Viv was like a dog with a bone and he knew it. Whatever was stuck in her craw, they were going to talk about it at that moment. She wouldn’t just sit on it or let it lie. She just had to talk, talk, talk. [color=gold]“So, I’ll ask again. What’s up babe?”[/color] [color=c85d84]“Oh-my-fucking-god. You know damn right I wasn’t talking about your [i]business[/i].”[/color] As much as Viv wanted to continue this dance, she knew he wasn’t going to budge until she spoke her peace, so instead of saying anything immediately she went into her purse and pulled out a ziplock bag with a small black lace thong and tossed it on his lap. [color=c85d84]“Explain that, mi corazón, or should I even call you that anymore?”[/color] At this point, Viv threw her purse across the room and growled, [color=c85d84]“Who’s the bitch, asswipe?!”[/color] [color=gold]“Allison.”[/color] He said bluntly. It was not a one time thing and it certainly wasn’t a new thing. Allison had been coming to ReyRey for around a year. It all started after one of he and Viv’s tremendous rows. He went to drown his sorrows at the Sin and who should turn up but the Queen of Edenridge High looking to score some coke. Apparently her boyfriend was hooking up with another guy, her brother had been shipped off to camp and her mom was being a super bitch or whatever. Plus by some amazement Viv had also pissed her off. Needless to say, one thing led to another multiple times and has done ever since. Allison always regretted it. Rey really didn’t give a fuck. [color=gold]“She likes to come over for coke and cunnilingus when her boyfriend is busy blowing the varsity squad.”[/color] [color=c85d84]“Shut up, Reyrey.”[/color] Viv glowered in disdain. No matter how truthful he was being, the barbie doll refused to believe any of it. This was her best friend he was talking about and while she knew about Allison’s need for a good fix, she would not tolerate him spewing lies that he slept with her. If that was true, then he was telling her right now to her face that Allison was better than her. She already dealt with that at school, she didn’t need that added grief from the guy that said he loved her. [color=c85d84]“Well if this is the game you want to play.”[/color] Viv walked around the couch to get her purse and pulled out her phone, [color=c85d84]“I have plenty of guys waiting on call to fuck me. You’re lucky I even saved myself for you!”[/color] Appalled at his audacity, she scrolled through her contacts and found one of her classmates, Luke Barlowe. [color=c85d84]“Since you’re going to do what you want, I’m going to do the same. Have fun with your new side piece because we’re done.”[/color] At this point, Viv was already making her way to the door, retrieving her things and writing a text to this varsity jock that had been waiting on her with bated breath. She was pretty sure he was madly in love with her since grade school. [color=gold]“I’ll see you tonight, Mi corazón.”[/color] He called out to her before grabbing his phone again. [i]Fuck it.[/i] He thought to himself. He didn’t need this shit today. It was one of the busiest days of the year and Vivi was on one of her shit on the world days. He texted Allison telling her to bring the party to 13 Carlisle after the game. Vivia wanted to play games. Nobody was better than ReyRey. Nobody.[/indent] [hr] [b]The Party - Edenridge, MA. December 4th 2016[/b] [indent]ReyRey, hearing a ruckus downstairs (or at least a more obvious one) he pulled on his jeans and vest before hurrying out of the bedroom. Allison too redressed herself before eyeing up the bag on the bedside table. Her head was already fuzzy and the sweats were starting to set in. She reached for a glass of water but was overcome by a feeling of dread. The image of Francis & Russ. Her mother, Vinny. Vivia. It was all too much. Charlie’s words echoed in her mind like a call in a theatre [color=D3D3D3]“I don’t think it’s safe”[/color] Her hand moved to the left and she grabbed the bag, storming off to the bathroom. She noted an off color to the powder but she really didn’t care. She lined up the drugs and rolled up a dollar bill. Her eyes were puffy and red and all she could think about was just how much her life seemed to have just stopped. In the annals of Americana it was true what they always said: the popular girl does peak in high school. With every line that she began to snort, Ally could hear the whispers in the halls of how she would never make it out of high school alive. What talent did she have? She wasn’t bright. Her boyfriend had been living a lie and she had perpetuated it across the community. Her brother was a waste of space who wouldn’t amount to anything just like her, how could he? Allison was not a good template to model oneself after. She had betrayed her best friend and then there was her mother, in the pocket of the Angels, the Serpents and who knows who else? As the final line entered her system; Allison began to feel her throat burn and her chest tighten. She glanced at her face in the bathroom mirror and was appalled at the sight. Everyone always told her how beautiful she was; [i]”look at you now”[/i] she thought to herself. The urge to vomit was overwhelming but the sunflower held it in. She gripped the bathroom counter tightly as the room began to spin like the Merry go round at the park. All of a sudden something akin to a bolt of lightning struck Allison’s heart and she dropped to her knees, hitting her forehead on the rim of the toilet. Unable to control herself, she began to vomit but as she opened her eyes, she began to panic. Ally was not throwing up sick, it was foam and blood. Her head began to throb even more as she pulled herself to her feet and dragged herself out of the bathroom. [color=FF1395]“Rey?!”[/color] She called out between spurts of bloody coughs. [color=FF1395]“REY?! ANYONE?!”[/color] There was no response; her screams drowned out by the pounding music that filled the rooms of the derelict house. Allison looked once more at her reflection, hanging in the air around her was a black cloud, a shroud with hands ready to drag her to hell. She stumbled forward towards the dresser but her feet gave way and she fell backwards into the bathroom. Her eyes had welled up with more tears, she could feel the blood pooling beneath her skull and as she stared up at the light, her vision began to darken. Allison reached up towards it but her strength had left her. [color=FF1395]”I don’t want to die...”[/color] Charlie looked at Jade with a look of fear in his face. [color=D3D3D3]”Jade, what the fuck do I do?!”[/color] The tall boy put his hands behind his head and kicked a large chunk of dirt across the garden and into a canoodling couple on the corner. [color=D3D3D3]”I’m pretty sure all those drugs are fucked and I just gave some to the queen of the goddamn town! Oh fuck!”[/color] [color=e62020]“First thing you’re going to do is calm down, okay?”[/color] That wasn’t a question that left Jade’s heavy red lipstick-covered lips, but a highly-encouraged suggestion that was followed by Jade’s usual stern glare from her raccoon eyes. She understood that the situation was fucked. Jade knew that the queen herself getting drugs in general was bad. And she knew if anyone found out what happened, they were both screwed. Jade refocused her attention from the gravity of the situation to back on Charlie. [color=e62020]“Does anyone else know?”[/color] Jade found herself asking Charlie point-blank, a sense of partial dread in her voice. She looked at Charlie’s absent gaze and snapped in front of his face. [color=e62020]“[b][i]Charlie![/i][/b] Does anyone know about the drugs?”[/color] Jade had an idea, as vague as it was, if anyone else found out. So she had to make sure the only ones who knew were the two of them. Charlie tried to run through the day's events in his head, piling his thoughts together and trying to work out who knew what. [color=D3D3D3]“Everyone. Jade I’ve sold so much shit today. There isn’t a kid in this town that doesn’t know I was dealing today.”[/color] The boy placed his hands upon his head and exhaled deeply, as if blowing fire from his lungs. [color=D3D3D3]“Somebody messed with that shit, JT. I went to take a piss, came back and everything was mixed and messed up. I sell another ounce and bodies will be hitting the floor.”[/color] As she tried to understand the extent of what Charlie was saying, the only thing that Jade could think about was making sure that Charlie was going to be okay. Everyone else who might’ve taken the drugs, if they were smart, wouldn’t snort it all in one go. Jade didn’t pretend to know [i]everything[/i] about it, but she had some faith that they were semi-responsible partygoers. Inside the house, Vivia Belmonte was on a rampage and she honestly didn’t care if any of her siblings saw her and told their father she was starting shit. In this moment of time, she didn’t even care if her family knew she was fucking ReyRey Gonzales. Lucky for her, Natalia was nowhere to be found and neither was Danny. When she saw her boyfriend coming down the stairs, noting how his pants were unbuttoned and how generally [i]sloppy[/i] he looked, Viv gritted her teeth, [color=c85d84]“The bitch is upstairs, isn’t she?”[/color] Some random stranger placed their hand on her arm to calm her down, baffled at the way she was talking to R2. Slapping his nasty hand off of her, the she-devil hissed, [color=c85d84]“Touch me again and I’ll slit your throat.”[/color] There was an accumulation of frustration that led to this point. With R2 not picking up her calls or answering her texts and her making an empty threat that she would sleep with someone that wasn’t him, Viv was angry. Angry at him. Angry at the world. But most of all, angry at herself. For being caught up with a good for nothing piece of shit like the man standing in front of her. [color=gold]“I’m really not in the mood for your shit, mami.”[/color] ReyRey blocked the stairs with his large frame and eyed the stranger that had tried to touch Vivi. As innocent as it may have been, she was still [i]his[/i] property; no one was to lay a finger on her except for him. [color=gold]“Which bitch might you be referring to, Vivi? Huh? Only bitch upstairs is the one in the photo on my dresser…oh wait that’s you right?”[/color] He really didn’t want to air out his stuff in public but he was high on his own supply and the Belmonte girl had pissed him off something fierce. [color=gold]”You wanna go upstairs Vivi? Go right ahead. You’ll find people fighting and fucking in every room, pretty sure your girl Allison is up there too and not with Francis.”[/color] His words were poisoned with venom and malice as he stepped aside and offered her the staircase. As he did so, a large thud came from one of the rooms; his room. With the sound of a large thud, Vivi’s eyes widened, still in complete denial that Reyrey was sleeping with Allison. Instead, her mind thought of other possibilities and women he could have in his room. He was offering her passage which meant he didn’t care enough to hide his dirty little secret. Still, her heart sunk at the reality of the possible truth. Not breaking face, refusing to show any sign of insecurity, she rolled her eyes at her boyfriend but indeed shut her trap. No matter how much fire Vivi had in her, R2 was always able to simmer her down by a simple look on his face. His words were cold and heartless, which reminded her that as much as she loved him, there were limits to his love for her. Sauntering upstairs, feeling the eyes of the party on her and R2, Vivi found herself facing his bedroom door. If she hesitated now, he would know she was coming to terms with how insignificant and weak she was to him. There was no way in hell she’d show that. She was a Belmonte at the end of the day and she could handle whatever bullshit life threw at her with iron and steel. Casually opening the door, she peered in, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of undergarments and women. When her eyes went to the floor, her heart dropped and everything she was thinking about before about R2 and his cheating went right out the window. [color=c85d84]“B-baby.”[/color] Vivi breathlessly muttered before running to the convulsing body of her best friend, [color=c85d84]“Baby!”[/color] Allison was gasping, losing air, her fingertips were blue, her lips were blue, her skin… clammy. Oh god no. Rey followed Viv into the room, fully expecting a war to erupt between the two friends; instead he found a sight that even struck him to silence. Allison was on the floor, blood pooled around her and her beautiful face smudged and tainted with all manner of unspeakables. His hand came up to cover his mouth as he took in the scene. She has said that something was off with the drugs, he didn’t believe her considering he cut them himself before they were sent out for sale. Hearing Vivia’s cry and the look on her face, it was enough to thaw ReyRey’s icy cold heart. He took a step forward and knelt down next to Vi and Ally: his eyes awash with growing tears. The clicking of a camera snapped him from his trance as he snapped his head towards the door and saw the photographer. Jumping back to his feet, R2 charged towards the child like a behemoth and pushed him hard against the hallway wall. [color=gold]“Burn those photos or so help me God I will murder you and your entire family. Get the fuck outta here.”[/color] He tossed the kid down the stairs like it was nothing and went back into the bedroom, closing the door behind him. This wasn’t the time or place for Vivi to break down. Allison needed her. Reyrey needed her. All those that loved Allison needed her. Swallowing her tears, stomaching the grotesque visual that was the Queen bee, Vivi took off her pink jacket and laid it on the pool of blood, while whispering, [color=c85d84]“Baby, it’s going to be okay. Can you still hear me?”[/color] Viv wasn’t one to dabble in hard drugs herself, but the moment she started dating R2 she wanted to be ready for anything since this was his kingdom. No one is ever ready for something like this, but she had to be. Quickly, she pulled out her phone and dialed 911, putting it on speaker. Putting her phone to the side, she first tried to wake up her friend, but she knew at this point they were too late. Allison Davis had lost all consciousness. Soon after, she grabbed Allison’s wrist to check for a pulse. She was no doctor but she could feel the life leaving her friend’s body, quickly. How long had she been like that? Panicking internally, Vivi didn’t know if she should turn her friend’s body over from choking first or perform chest compressions… still, she wanted to be safe and so she started with chest compressions, in hopes that she could get Allison’s heart pumping once more. As she did so a dispatcher answered. Her voice was shaky but she did her best to say the needed information: [color=c85d84]“Please come to 13 Carlisle Ave. My best friend… I think she stopped breathing. She’s no longer conscious. There’s blood and vomit everywhere.”[/color] She knew the mention of overdose or drugs would summon the police, along with EMS. She also knew that the police were barely a threat to the serpents since they had snakes working on the inside. Reformed or not, once a serpent always a serpent. With a calming yet serious voice, the dispatcher directed Vivi while asking standard questions. Shaking her head, as she gently turned her friend’s body to the side, laying her on her pink jacket, now stained in blood, Viv cried, [color=c85d84]“Please, we don’t have much time. Baby, wake up. I love you. I’ll always love you.”[/color] ReyRey had remained silent as Vivia dealt with the chaos around him. He did not have the words at that moment for anything that was happening. Not only was there a dead girl in the bedroom of one of his properties, it was Allison Davies. Vivia’s best friend, Edenridge’s golden girl and his DNA was literally everywhere. At best he would have to get his father to call in some favours and get this covered up as your run of the mill overdose. Yet something was niggling at him, something that had been said earlier, something about the drugs being tainted. It was then, a moment of clarity occurred. [color=gold]“Decker.”[/color] ReyRey damn near pulled the door off of its hinges as he called for everyone to get out of the house. He yelled absurdities and off color remarks, anything to force the partygoers to get out of there fast. Decky had sworn by Charlie. He had vouched for him. He can handle it. Hard Times is a good guy. [i]A good guy?[/i] then why on Earth was he mixing coke and heroine into fucking speedballs and giving them to high schoolers?! Entranced in a rage beyond all comparison R2 stormed down the stairs, through the living room and towards the back door. Charlie was going to answer for this crime. Jade took his hands, forcing him to not only squeeze them but to look at her. [color=e62020]“Eyes on me, okay?”[/color] Jade bit her lip, feeling her heart beating from the tension of what Charlie said. [color=e62020]“This isn’t your fault. In whatever worse case happens, that isn’t your fault. It’s..”[/color] She felt herself hesitate for a moment and shook her head, her hands squeezing Charlie’s as if to validate her resolve. [color=e62020]“The person who mixed this shit — they’re the ones to blame.”[/color] She understood what she was saying. If people died from this, Jade would keep it a secret. And maybe that was bad, but for better or worse, Jade Taylor was there for her friends. [color=e62020]“This is staying between us, alright? Tell me you understand!”[/color] He was doing his best to remain calm but the fear in Charlie was starting to build. Jade’s hands on his were a calming presence but they weren’t doing enough. His mind drifted to his happy place, anywhere where Poppy James was. Tonight was supposed to be [i]their[/i] night. He was going to tell her that she was his heart and the only thing keeping him from losing his mind in this cursed town they called home was her. He needed her. His Mom was getting worse which just so happened to coincide with Decky getting pinched by the police and his spit opening up on the corner; a void which an inexperienced Charlie offered to fill purely for the money. He regretted that decision wholeheartedly. [color=D3D3D3]“Tha…”[/color] Before the boy could continue, the back door of the house swung open, violently hitting the back wall of the house as a bleary eyed ReyRey emerged from the kitchen. The King Snake pushed past multiple partygoers knocking them to the floor as he marched towards Charlie and Jade. The look in his eye was not a pleasant one, it was something that Charlie couldn’t even begin to describe. For someone so adept at wordplay, he was speechless. ReyRey completely ignored Jade before grabbing Charlie by the throat and ramming him against the door of the shed. [color=gold]“What the fuck did you do? THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO HER?!!”[/color] His hiss was followed by a bark so loud that time itself stopped. He glared at Jade, as if daring her to even try something. [color=e62020]“Her?”[/color] She didn’t know if it was the thunderous boom that carried from Rey-Rey’s person, targeted at Charlie that paralyzed her or if it was that venomous glare that he shot at her. Jade had come to know him as a somewhat ill-mannered guy, who had a mouth but never made Jade feel...frightened. He was somebody that everyone in the Southside knew and especially someone her uncle often said was a guy that you could depend on. But maybe for the first time, Jade felt an actual terror crawl up her skin and spine, chills of the worst kind freezing her. [color=e62020]“Don’t..please..”[/color] She heard herself say, though it was lacking so much volume that it might as well be barely a whisper. Yanking open the shed, R2 threw Charlie inside and then climbed in himself before slamming the door shut. [color=D3D3D3]“Please, Rey what…”[/color] A loud grunt followed by a thud. [color=D3D3D3]“…i didn’t know….”[/color] More grunts and more smacking sounds followed by tears, palpable and real. The tears of a child… [/indent][/color]