Half Mad (Sequel to Half Bad)

Chapter 15

        Rose helped me with the ropes, Daniel and Megan holding down limbs that continued to twitch. We propped them against the tree, wrapping the rope around tightly before we ran out. I huffed, hoping it would be enough restraint before knotting it the best I could. Aiden sat to the side, looking a little more frightened than usual.

        We all stepped back just as Marcus's and Jessie's eyes opened simultaneously, looking their normal color instead of a haze that had been there earlier. Their first instinct, of course, was to look around before widening their eyes and attempting to break out of the binds.

        "What the..." Jessie trailed off, leaving me taking in a sharp breath. I hadn't seen him in so long, it was surreal to hear him speak. I wasn't sure how I felt at the moment.

        Marcus furrowed his eyebrows. "W-where are we? I thought we were in the aslyum and-"

        "Don't mention that wretched place," said Daniel before taking a long look at the two of them. "I'm still not sure which of you manipulated me more, honestly."

        I popped him in the side of the head. "We're trying to see if there's a part of them that knows something. Like... who they used to be, for example."

        I had managed to get Daniel up to speed with all the information Cecilia plowed Rose and I with. He seemed shocked at first, but then couldn't stop talking about me being related to the first ever witch. I couldn't help but to walk away from him then. I didn't have time for my ears to bleed from his squeals.

        "Right." He nodded, looking a little sheepish. "Sorry."

       I knelt down in front of Jessie, blocking the conflicted emotions as his gaze impossibly widened. Before I could speak, he did. "Oh my God, Harry..." His eyes flicked to Rose and guilt washed over him. "The last thing I remember is finding you both in the woods, but by the look on your faces... What did I do?"

        My heart sank as I struggled to find words. "Wait... the last thing you remember is finding us?"

        He nodded quickly, looking short of breath. "When I found out about Cecilia's plan, I was going to help you guys but then she... What did she make me do?" His voice had cracked.

        This was the Jessie from my childhood, the one that had been my best friend.

        Megan stepped in before relief could flood me. "How do we know he's not lying. What if this is part of her plan?"

        Rose groaned. "We can't do anything anymore without questioning all of it."

        Daniel gasped. "How do we know we're real?"

        Rolling my eyes, I punched him in the shoulder, leaving him whining like a two year old. "Did that feel real?"

        "Yeah, you meanie..."

        "Then we're real." I turned back to Jessie, his eyes still roaming everyone. "They're right, though. How can we trust you?"

        Jessie honestly looked clueless, almost hopeless. "I-I don't know, but I swear it, Harry. The very last thing I remember is finding you and Rose."

        I bit my bottom lip just as Marcus spoke, voice gruff and he cleared his throat. "He's telling the truth. Cecilia told me everything when she first caught you both. That's the last I remember."

        This caught my attention and I turned my glare on him. "So you remember attempting to kill your own flesh and blood multiple times?"