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(XX.)

Dedicated to: @Asamikasa. You encourage me to keep writing with your genuine feedback. Thanks.

*****
"There is no greater pain or punishment than memory."
  -- Victoria Aveyard, Queen Song.

What a day, Jess sighed as she threw herself on the bed covers.

She'd gotten home that evening before Mike and Cody had. Zoe had given her a questioning look, but she'd simply replied with a shrug. When the boys arrived, the questions had been fired vocally, one after the other.

"How did you find them, Jessica?"

"How did you know where they'd be?"

"What did you do?"

"Who was holding Cody up?"

"Where was he?"

"Where did you see Mike?"

Both Phyllis and Zoe had hounded her for answers. She'd only spoken minutes after they'd calmed down.

"If you want your answers, ask them. I wasn't the one who was kidnapped, and I wasn't the one looking for my son in a psy--" She'd stopped herself, realising that she'd almost said something she didn't want to. "Just ask them."

Surprisingly, Marilyn had approached her. "I'm guessing you had something to do with this," she'd seethed in her ear. "If you knew where to find them."

Jess had shot her a very scalding glare. "Not only are you a piece of scum, but an idiot, too." An open hand aimed for her cheek but she caught it with her left hand. "Mind what you touch. I don't mingle with filth." She dropped her hand with a look of disgust on her face, and strutted away.

Jess still hadn't reached her room. Instead, she'd been stopped by Cody at the hallway upstairs.

"I thought you're sleeping." She gave him a wary look as he pulled her by the hand into his room.

"I just wanted to get away from all the noise and questions. Mom worries too much when she's upset." He plopped down onto the bed and waited for her to do the same.

Instead, she crossed her arms and gave him a mean look. "We're done with cuddling and stuff. That I hugged you today doesn't mean we'll keep doing that."

He blinked at her. "I'm only ten. Why pick a fight with me?"

She shrugged. "Not picking a fight. I don't like you. Or anyone below the age of twelve."

"You don't like me because my dad married your mom." He swiped a finger under his nose. "I know. I get it." He sighed at the weird look on her face. "I may be ten, but I'm not dumb."

"So... why did you bring me here?" She straightened her stance, feeling a little awkward under his concerned gaze. He was looking at her like a doctor about to give bad news to his patient.

Cody fiddled with the material of his pyjamas bottoms. "I... I..." He took a deep breath with his eyes closed, for a moment. Then, he reopened them. "You're in danger, Jess. I don't know how much of it, but you're no longer safe. You just have to know that and be more careful."

"Shouldn't I be telling you that?" She sighed deeply and swung her arms at her sides. Finally, she sat on the bed. "Is that what that... person told you?"

He looked away, to his window on the right. For a few seconds, he was silent, Jess thought he'd rudely say nothing.

"You know what?" She jumped to her feet, already irritated. "I'll just hea--"

"Yes."

"Huh?"

"Yes." He faced her again. "He told me."