Will of Siders chapter 5

~Chapter Five~
The Other Side







Derek and Emery stood there quietly for a moment, watching as Robby stood there in shock, not even blinking, probably not even breathing as she held Sam tight to her chest. Derek had to admit that it was kind of fun being on this end of it--but in the beginning, he'd been on the receiving end and it hadn't been fun at all. Emery gave him a look and then shrugged. Derek jerked his head at Robby, signaling for him to say something. Emery looked at her, a faint smile twitching on his lips. "I didn't think it would happen this way," he said, his voice sincere even though he looked amused at the expression on Robby's face, "but welcome, Robby."

Robby just stared. "W-What?"

"Welcome to the Other Side." The way the words rolled off of Emery's tongue had chills slithering through Derek's spine. They were ominous and good-humored all at once--a feat only Emery seemed to be able to accomplish. Robby just kept staring at them without looking away or blinking. Derek wondered when it would dawn on her that her eyes were burning from lack of blinking. Shaking his head, he nudged Emery's shoulder.

"So what happened?" he asked, remembering Emery's warning in the park, how he'd said for Robby to leave and how he'd been in pain. A shiver ran through Emery's spine, causing Derek to frown.

"Crono," Emery murmured, bowing his head. "He…I think he's close. Not far. We need to get Robby somewhere safe and not out in the open." He moved forward and grabbed Robby's arm. "C'mon, frozen girl."

"This is so cool!" Sam said, wriggling free of his sister's hold a he looked around in amazement. The red sky above them burned hotly with the fiery sun. Dark shadows were cast along the ground.

Robby snapped out of her little trance and shot a frantic look from Emery to Derek and then back again. "W-What happened? Where are we? What's going on? Oh my God, where are we?" she asked, panicking as she clawed at Emery, trying to break his hold. Emery released her and stepped back, frowning, before he glanced at Derek.

Derek stepped forward. "Now is not the time for questions--can we please just move? I hate it when there's only two of us. A new kid and her little brother don't help any."

Emery gave Derek a sympathetic look while Robby glared at him. "It's not like I wanted to come here, you jerk!" she snapped angrily. "I don't even know where we are or how this is possible! I just want to go home!" She reached out for Sam's arm and pulled him close. He was looking around in wonder, clearly pleased.

"This is awesome!" Sam put in helpfully.

"You wouldn't be here if you had left like we told you to!" Derek snapped back at Robby, narrowing his eyes. Anger flowed through him. He wasn't exactly sure why, but there was just something about Robby that annoyed him and made him want to growl at her. She seemed nice enough and he wasn't sure what it was…but he couldn't help how he felt.

"Don't tell me what to do! I was just wondering what was going on! Forgive me for worrying about someone when they clutch their head so desperately!" she yelled back as Sam sighed and frowned at her, lightly touching her arm as though to calm her.

Anger burned inside of Derek intensely. It almost sounded like she was insinuating that it was Emery's fault, or maybe that was just Derek, he wasn't sure. Either way, it angered him. "You leave him out of this," he growled at Robby. "You don't know anything! It's not his fault!"

Emery grabbed Derek's arm slightly. "Uh, dude, I really don't think now is the time to-" he started, but Derek shook him off, still glaring at Robby.

"Well it's not my fault either!" Robby yelled back at Derek, keeping her eyes narrowed as well. Sam kept a hold on her arm as though trying to get to her stop shouting while Emery attempted to do the same with Derek. Derek felt his friend's hand clamp down warmly on his shoulder.

"Guys, c'mon-" Emery tried again.

"You're the one who wouldn't leave!" Derek snapped back, ignoring his friend. He felt more than heard Emery sigh heavily next to him.

"Hey, don't yell at my sister," Sam finally growled, glaring at Derek as he took a step forward so that he was between him and Robby. "She was just worried! Why are you so freaking mad? How about instead of arguing, you tell us what's going on?"

Derek narrowed his eyes at the younger guy. "You shouldn't be here either! And don't tell me what to do!"

"Only I get to do that," Emery said with a smile and a nod. Derek knew, on some level, that his friend was only trying to diffuse the tension gathering between everyone. On some level, it did help. Derek took in a deep breath and released it slowly, trying to calm himself even though he wasn't even entirely sure why he was so angry in the first place.

"You're such an ass," Robby said, glaring at Derek. "I can't believe I thought you were friendly!" She shook her head stubbornly as though she had been completely wrong about everything.

Derek opened his mouth to growl something back at her but was stopped by Emery's hand, which gracefully landed directly over his mouth. Emery chuckled nervously. "Please don't lick my hand." He looked at Robby and rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Look, whatever you two are really arguing about, you can pick it up later. Right now, it's not safe out in the open. Crono could arrive at any minute and I for one am not in the mood for a fight. You two can kill each other later." He looked back at Derek. "Is it safe to remove my hand or are you going to continue shouting at her?"

Derek shook his head and sighed. Emery nodded and pulled his hand back.

"Now, all of you need to be quiet and follow me." He narrowed his mahogany eyes when Robby looked like she wanted to say something. "Don't argue, please. My head is already hurting and now is not the time for any of this. C'mon." He turned and started walking.

Derek obediently followed after him, sending glares toward Sam and Robby as they followed after them, obviously not wanting to be left alone. "He started it," Sam muttered, glaring back at Derek.

"Shut the hell up you little-" Derek started angrily, spinning toward them.

"Shut up!" Emery snapped, glaring dangerous at the three of them. Derek swallowed because it wasn't often Emery grew angry, but when he did, it certainly was effective. "I am so sick of you guys arguing! Now is definitely not the time, so all of you be quiet and follow me!" He sent a last glare at the three of them before he turned on his heel and began walking away. Derek hung his head low, ashamed, and followed after him. Robby and Sam silently walked behind him, looking more confused than ever before.

"So…" Robby spoke up after a moment. "Who is Crono?"

Emery sighed. "Not now. Later."

Derek grunted and they were all encased in silence--an unnatural, still silence that shouldn't have been there in the first place. The red sky was aglow with an angry fire, casting dark shadows slithering across the ground. It took Derek a moment to realized that no, those weren't shadows.

"Shit! Emery!" he growled, looking at his friend.

Emery released a curse under his breath and looked at Robby and Sam. "Things are going to get really confusing really fast," he said quickly. "I need you trust me. Can you do that?"

"I…I don't…yeah," Robby stuttered with great confusion, a bit of fear in her eyes due to the fact that Emery sounded completely serious. She frowned deeply. "What's going on?"

Emery shook his head. "Derek, get Robby and Sam out of here and--"

"I'm not leaving," Derek cut in, immediately shaking his head. He wasn't leaving Emery to fight alone--no way. Best friends didn't do that. "We can keep them safe with us."

"I don't--"

"They'll be safer with us. I'm not going anywhere," Derek said firmly, crossing his arms so as to put an end to this conversation.

Emery glared at him. "I'm in charge. You do as I say." His voice was flat and Derek felt himself waver as his arms uncrossed and fell to his sides. He bit down hard on his lower lip, wanting to argue, but if he did, Emery would just make it an order…

And he couldn't disobey an order, no matter how much he wanted to.

"Em…" He could feel his resolve wavering. It looked like he didn't really have any say in the matter.

"Derek. I mean it."

"Em--"

"I'm serious. Now."

Derek narrowed his eyes. "Be careful," he growled before he snatched Robby's arm and began running, leading the two of them away from where Emery stood waiting.

'Be careful, you idiot,' Derek thought as he ran.


*        *        *        *        *


Rubyn was pissed. No, he was beyond pissed. Emery and Derek should have been here. Emery had thought someone was watching him and that he would meet them at the park, so where was he? And Derek had walked away from the traffic jam to meet him. Rubyn and the others were standing in the park, waiting, and he was tired. His feet were hurting and he ached for sleep, growing more irritated by the minute. Okay, maybe he wasn't really pissed…but he was worried. Emery was his friend. So was Derek. And it wasn't like it was easy for him to make friends, what with the way he hated anyone new and everything.

Shyloh was sitting on the ground between Cherish and Salem, who looked half-asleep. Luckily, the park empty like it always was…one of the perks of meeting at an abandoned, run-down park. "So what's taking them so long?" Shyloh asked as he glanced up at where Rubyn was pacing, his green eyes tired.

"No idea," Rubyn said with a sigh, combing his fingers through his dark brown hair.

Salem's eyes were narrowed. Rubyn frowned at her, a little concerned. Not because her eyes were narrowed--she glared so much he wouldn't be surprised if she glared in her sleep--but because of the way her head was tilted, as though she were listening to something.

"What is it?" Shyloh asked, obviously noticing the same thing.

"Shh," Cherish said immediately, as though she knew, "she's thinking."

Sometimes those two amazed him. "Anything yet?" he asked Salem.

"I see something very dark," Salem said in a monotonous, eerie voice that sent chills running through Rubyn's spine, as it often did when she spoke in such a way. "Emery and Derek…and others…in trouble. Crono." She blinked and looked at them with a frown. "We have to go, now."

Rubyn nodded, expression grim.

"See you on the Other Side," Cherish commented as she stood, brushing grass and dirt from her pants.


*        *        *        *        *


Emery had to admit that this wasn't the best time for something like this. Robby and Sam shouldn't have been here at all--they weren't like him and Derek, right? Or the others. Emery wasn't in the mood to be here anyway--usually he loved it, even if it was dangerous, because he loved the thrill. Even so, it didn't appear to be so fun today. Maybe it was because he was already feeling a little drained, his headache beginning to return, and with it the threat of blacking out once more. Maybe it was because he'd had to use rank with Derek. Maybe it was because of the way Robby had looked at him, as though he were crazy or something. Maybe it was a combination of all of the above, he didn't know.

But one thing was for certain--he was not pleased.

The dark shadows were moving closer, slithering toward him. He held his ground, though, willing to do this if it meant keeping Derek, Robby, and Sam safe, at least for the time being. A malignant, eerie laugh from the distance had shivers tearing through him. He hated that voice. Always had, it seemed to him. Or maybe not. Maybe he used to like it, long ago…maybe it had even been friendly.

One thing was for sure--Crono wasn't alone. If Marouq was with him, Emery wasn't sure what would happen. He wasn't so sure he could face Marouq after he found out the truth two years ago.

"Look at me, child. Gaze upon my face." Marouq was arrogant and smug as he grabbed a handful of Emery's hair and lifted his head upward so that he was looking him directly in the eye, no longer wearing his notorious mask of darkness. Emery's eyes, though swollen and blackened they were from the beating he'd just endured, widened and a hoarse whisper escaped him…

He quickly shook the thoughts from his head, his heart racing in his chest and making him feel dizzy. A part of him wanted to run and get the hell out of there while the getting was good, but another part of him refused to budge. He was going to face this head-on.

Or so he told himself.


*        *        *        *        *


Derek, Robby and Sam stopped at the entrance to a broken-down building. Bricks were falling over on the sides and the interior looked like a tornado had rammed through it--or at least that was what it looked like for Robby. Biting down on her lower lip, she tried to make sense of everything that had happened thus far. The sky was red and not blue. There didn't appear to be any grass anywhere, just dirt and possibly concrete around the buildings. She could see snow coating the tips of the mountains far off in the distance, and what looked like a bit of green somewhere near them. Maybe there was grass here after all. She was so confused, though. Where was 'here', anyway? They had come here suddenly, without warning, and she didn't know how. They had moved without actually moving, if that made any sense. What did it mean?

"What the hell is going on?" Robby asked, narrowing her eyes at Derek as Sam stood next to her. Her anger was momentarily gone, mostly due to the fact that she really wanted answers and felt overly uneasy and confused. The blonde shook his head, staring out of the doorway in the direction they'd come, as though searching for a sign. Suddenly he went stiff and Robby startled. "What's wrong? What's going on?"

"Marouq…" Derek whispered, as though frozen in fear. Robby wasn't sure why, but the name struck fear in her as well. Her entire body went still and her heart raced wildly in her chest, as though desperately searching for a way to break free and run off without her. She pulled Sam toward her. "He's here…with Crono…oh no."

"W-What do you mean?" Robby questioned. "Who are they?"

"Trouble," Derek replied curtly, closing his eyes as he rested his head against the doorframe in regret and what looked like guilt. "And I left Emery alone with them."


*        *        *        *        *


Crono appeared on the horizon before Marouq did. Emery wasn't surprised--the bastard liked to take his sweet time and make the apprehension and anticipation that much worse for Emery. Crono was pretty tall, towering over Emery even before he stopped in front of him a few yards away, his wicked, twisted smirk already plastered on his unforgiving, amused face. His dark brown hair was almost as dark as his brown eyes, which appeared like the very black pit people feared. Emery had to admit that it was unsettling. Crono's expression was twisted into something Emery couldn't describe, a cruel lilt of the lips and narrowed eyes.

"Little boy, I would have thought you would have learned by now…" Crono said, shaking his head with a malignant grin as his eyes landed on Emery. "But I guess you never do, huh?"

Emery shrugged. "I have a learning disability. Don't worry, I'm with the 'no kid gets left behind' program now, so I'm sure I'll learn soon enough." He wasn't sure what prompted him to mouth off to Crono, but he couldn't help it. It was like his defense mechanism while he struggled to think of what to do. "But wait…if I'm in the program…wow, where does that leave you? Poor Crono, did you get left behind?"

"Is that any way to speak to me?" Crono narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"I believe it is, yeah," Emery spat. "I think you actually deserve much worse, but maybe that's just me."

Crono's eyes narrowed and his hand shot out, wrapping viciously around Emery's neck, despite Emery's attempts at staggering backward to avoid such an attack. "Tell me, why are you still alive, you disgusting little termite?"

"Because you…don't have…the guts to kill me," Emery coughed, kicking Crono in the stomach. Crono released him and he stepped back, rubbing at his now-sore neck.

"You little--" Crono started, glaring murderously at him.

"That's quite enough," came a deep, gravelly voice from behind Crono. Emery froze, swallowing thickly as his eyes traveled toward the sound and landed on an even taller figure, dressed completely in black from head to toe. Their grim expression only made their crimson eyes all the darker and more sinister, as though they were the blood of sin itself. His black hair dipped into his eyes and was brushed away from the power of the wind blowing around him suddenly. Emery stepped back, cautious.

He knew what Marouq was capable of.

"Hello, Emery," Marouq spoke softly, his voice feigning innocence and kindness. "I thought I said never to return." He sighed and looked at Crono. sighed. "I tried being nice. Didn't I, Crono? You see what happens when I try to be nice? It's better to just be cruel."

"Yeah, it is," Crono quickly agreed, grinning wickedly. That guy always made Emery uneasy. There was just something not right about him, besides the obvious evil streak.

"Must you make this hard on yourself, young Fire Sider?" Marouq questioned, his face still mostly empty and void of emotion. Emery felt cold all over, his hair standing on end on his arms. His warning system was going full blast but it was too late, because Marouq was there and he'd just stood there and waited for him.

It was all he could do, though. He was going to do whatever it took to keep Derek, Robby, and Sam safe. That was his job.

"If you call me not wanting to hear what you have to say me making it hard, then yeah, I guess I have to make things hard on myself," Emery retorted with a glare.

"Do you wish for me to annihilate you here and now?" Marouq asked smugly.

Emery narrowed his eyes. "You're pretty smug for someone who wore a mask until two years ago. What's the matter? Afraid you're ugly?" he snipped. Maybe, considering the circumstances, that wasn't the best thing to say, but he had never been known for holding his tongue in situations like this. Certain people just got under his skin and Marouq was definitely one of them. He couldn't help it.

Marouq narrowed his eyes. "You should learn to listen to your elders when we tell you to stay out of the Other Side," he hissed angrily. Obviously Emery's comment had angered him.

"You think I'm gonna listen to you?" Emery said, and then scoffed. "Dream on, pal. I don't care who you are--"

His voice broke away when the air became thin and tainted. Coughing for much needed air, he watched as rivulets of darkness swarmed around him, bringing him to his knees as pain exploded in his head and shot through his entire body, mind, and soul. He didn't even have air enough or strength enough to release the scream that was bubbling up in his throat, making his lungs burn and his heart race unbelievably fast.

'Shit….' he thought to himself as the corners of his vision began to go dark. He could feel himself losing…his body giving in…his heart stuttering…pain…

'Get up!' a familiar, firm voice growled through his head. He forced the darkness back somewhat and struggled to remember who it was.

'Derek?' he thought with great confusion, his mind a whirlwind of fractured thoughts.

'Get up! Now!' Derek's voice snarled through his mind again.

This wasn't unusual, really--it was just that he could usually keep Derek out of his head. That was one of the quirks about being who he was--he was able to keep him out, unlike the nurse at school, the poor woman. Derek's abilities were usually for a purpose--usually to get what he wanted, like when he'd used it on the nurse--but this wasn't necessarily like that. He was just talking.

Or growling. Whatever.

'Get. Up!'

So Emery stood on shaky legs, coughing and choking for breath. Before he even realized what he was really doing, he threw his head back and released a cry. The atmosphere around him turned blazing hot and the darkness was pushed away. His eyes were closed but even so, he could see the dancing flames through his closed eyelids.

It was time to kick some dark ass.


*        *        *        *        *


Derek released a small breath of relief when he felt Emery stand in his mind. For a brief moment, he had thought that his friend had given in. He broke the connection and released a shaky breath at the rush that swarmed through him because of the loss of contact, leaving him feeling cold and strangely detached. He couldn't usually make a connection with Emery but when he was able to do so, it was always very powerful--more so than with the others. He could feel Emery more.

He knew why, though. Emery was, as he said, in charge. He was supposed to be the man with the plan, head honcho, and all that jazz. Derek knew it took its toll on his friend, though. Robby was staring at him strangely, looking utterly lost and confused. Derek shook his head.

"Is everything okay?" Robby asked slowly, still holding Sam close.

"I just…" He released a slow breath. Connecting with someone so that they could hear your thoughts wasn't something that was to be taken lightly. It always left him feeling drained and weakened. Now he was exhausted and he had barely done anything. When had he become so weak? Or was it because he wasn't used to being able to speak to Emery via mind connection? "Everything will be explained later, okay? In the meantime, we need to stay here and keep quiet."

"Why?"

"We need to wait until help comes."

"Help?"

"So we can get home," Derek explained, and then sighed.

"Where are we?"

Derek paused. He supposed that was a question he could answer. "The Other Side."

"The other side, okay, fine, yeah that clears everything up…" Robby drawled as Sam shifted next to her, looking around still.

"No, you misunderstand me--I mean the Other Side. It's a place, not just some…saying or something, I don't know." He shook his head. "It's not…like…I don't know how to explain it." Mostly because he'd never had it explained to him--he had been one of the originals. He and Emery both. They had been brought into this together. There had been no explaining, only learning for themselves…

And he'd just left Emery to fight against Marouq and Crono both. What kind of a friend was he?

"I don't understand," Robby said, snapping Derek out of his thoughts. Derek sighed and shook his head.

"It will be explained later, okay?"

"Where's Emery?"

"I…" Derek broke off. "He's where we left him." The words tasted bitter in his mouth, as though to speak them were a betrayal to his closest friend.

"What's happening? Who is Crono? And…Merok?" Sam asked with confusion. At least none of them seemed like they were still in the mood to argue.

"Marouq," Derek corrected with a sigh as he rubbed at his temples. "They're…trouble, as I said before. They don't like us and we don't like them, let's just leave it at that for now. They're bad news."

"And…Emery is with them? Why?" Robby asked, frowning.

"He just is," Derek murmured. "Will you stop with the questions?" He felt guilty enough as it was. He didn't need Robby and Sam making it even worse. He was just about to say something more to them when someone entered through the opening. He jumped to his feet, ready and willing to fight if necessary. When he heard a familiar, weakened chuckle, his eyes went wide. "Emery?" he whispered.

"Don't sound so shocked," Emery replied, rubbing at his head. He was pale again, and Derek could tell he had a headache, and probably a bad one at that.

"Are you okay?" Derek asked, stepping forward worriedly.

"Fine. I'm fine. Just, um…yeah." He averted his gaze. "Marouq…"

"Shit, Em, I'm sorry," Derek said, gripping his friend's shoulder as though to offer what little support and comfort he could. Robby shook her head, confused.

"What? Sorry about what? What's going on?" she asked while Sam watched them.

"Oh, he's just afraid of us," came a cocky voice from the doorway behind Emery. They all three froze and looked back. Derek narrowed his eyes as Crono and Marouq entered the building, Marouq being his usual quiet self and Crono grinning from ear to ear like a malicious version of the Cheshire Cat. "Aren't you, Emery?"

"You sonuva--" Emery started, growling, but Derek's suddenly tightening grip on his shoulder stopped him. He settled for glaring.

"Now, now," Marouq said, sending chills down Derek's spine. "Emery, is that any way to speak to me? Your dearest father?"