Manifest
Chapter 16 of 17
TheDeepEndWhen I awoke, my head was pounding again. I slipped a hand through my hair to press my fingers to my skull and looked next to me. Nixon was sleeping sitting up. I smiled slightly and moved to him, lowering my head onto his chest, and wrapped my free arm around his stomach.
He grunted in response to my touch but didn’t wake.
My thoughts drifted as I listened to his heartbeat, slow and even, and came to stop at my mom. Anyone who had known the situation, aside from the two of us, my controllable best friend, and the bastards who took her, would think I didn’t care about getting her back.
“Stop worrying,” Nixon mumbled and rolled over. “Go back to sleep.”
I frowned and had a sudden thought. I sat up and hooked my left leg over his middle and sat on his side. He groaned and turned his head, his eyes taking in the position I was in. When he smirked and reached to grip the back of my head to bring my mouth closer to his, I blinked.
“You’re picking a funny time to go shy,” Nixon whispered, his breath sliding across my cheeks. “Please don’t worry. We’ll save them.”
And he kissed me, his lips soft and warm against my own. When his tongue prodded my mouth open, I parted my lips all too willingly. I heard him chuckle softly through the kiss as his fingers twisted in my hair and his hands gripped my hips, his fingers slipping under my shirt.
As my ears picked up the sound of my own appreciative growl, I smirked and shoved my hands between his back and the pillow, my fingers kneading at his muscles. When he groaned, I pulled back.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. I avoided his gaze and stared at the bathroom door instead. I felt him move slightly but I refused to look at him.
“Look at me.”
His voice was husky, and I shivered as his fingers slid under my chin, cradling my jaw in his hand. Finally, I turned my head; my eyes took in a sight that made my heart skip a few beats. I bit my lip.
It’s just your hormones, I told myself as I stared at him.
He was holding his shirt and grinning at me like he had in the shower before. I shook my head, trying to make that image dissolve.
“It’s not going to go away just because you want it to,” he said as he glanced at me. He smiled and moved until he was right in front of me. Then he took my hand and placed it on his chest. “Can you feel it?” he whispered, tilting his head.
His heartbeat seemed to speed up when his lips fell against my neck, his mouth working to assault my pulse point. He was able to pull me onto his lap without breaking contact and carefully slid the straps of my tank top down.
“I’ve already seen you naked,” he reminded me, his breath floating across my skin.
I shuddered at the memory and nodded.
He hooked his fingers into the belt loops on my jeans and pulled me closer still until my forehead was resting against his and I could see his eyes, warm and calm.
“Don’t remind me,” I said. “It was not my finest hour.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Nixon said, shaking his head. “I’m the one who’s probably going to hell for that little move.”
“You’re going to hell either way,” I told him.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve seen the kind of people who are going there, and they definitely do deserve it. I think the Devil has a special seat for Evan, though, and his minions.”
“You don’t think he was working alone to brainwash Jade?” I asked, sliding off him.
He understood my actions; however, his eyes betrayed him. He tried not to look too disappointed as he put his shirt back on and pushed his hair behind his ears.
“Oh no,” he explained, “I think he’s perfectly capable of that little act. What I don’t see as his work is the whole kidnapping bit. There’s no way he could have orchestrated such a big plan by himself. He had help.”
“That girl?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I fixed my top while he thought about the answer he was going to give me.
“Abigail,” he corrected. At my confused look, he said, “I did some research. I needed to know what we’re up against.”
“You mean what I’m up against.”
He smiled and shook his head. “I thought you were giving up? What made you change your mind?”
“She’s my mother,” I said, staring at him. “If anything happened, I’d be responsible.”
“What about Jade?” he asked.
I miss you. I can’t believe you were weak enough to let one person do this to you. If something happens to you, too, I’ll never forgive myself.
“You’re probably the most courageous person I’ve ever met,” said Nixon, “even if you overreact too much.” He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
I laughed softly. “I’m not a person, remember? I’m a thing.”
He looked at me, looked like he wanted to say something, so I nodded for him to go ahead. It was okay. Whatever he had to tell me, I wasn’t going to get upset.
“You’re human, Casey. You’re just not yourself.” He flinched, expecting me to blow up again.
I digested this explanation easier than anything he told me since we met. It sounded better to me than I could have hoped – I wasn’t me. I wasn’t the weird girl, the paranoid one, or the bitch. Scratch that last one.
“Who am I then?” I asked, blinking at him.
“You’re the reincarnation of―”
Before he could tell me, however, something that sounded like a bomb exploding shook the house. It was less than five minutes; then it stopped, and everything was quiet. I looked at the book shelf by my bed that had fallen, the books trapped underneath.
Nixon’s eyes narrowed and his jaw set.
I listened. I heard footsteps on the stairs. Then, without much warning, my bedroom door flew open and two figures walked in. One I knew too well; the other I didn’t have the slightest clue as to who he was.
“Jade, darling, look who I found hiding from us.”
Jade watched me. Her blue eyes glazed slightly; her lips pulled into a thin, cruel line. The other was a man. He was tall, with snow-white hair, honey-colored eyes, and a seemingly friendly smile.
“My apologies,” he addressed us with a nod. “I seem to have grown impatient and your house has suffered something terrible.”
“Who are you and what do you want?” I asked. My half blown up house could wait.
The man smiled and extended a hand to me. “My name is Noah, and what I want is you, little girl.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugged, reaching out to grab my hand. He held tight and concentrated; I could see his pupils dilating.
A ripple of black manifested in the center of the room and grew until it looked very much like a black hole. I reached behind me to take hold of Nixon before Noah flung me effortlessly into the mass of darkness.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Delude
17 Reviews | 9.35/10 Average
Anonymous
Nice. This is really getting interesting...
WRITE FASTER! Tiny snippets do not satify me!
Throw us a couple-a-thousand words!!
Author's Response: I have a lot more chapters done, it's just waiting for them to be submitted here that makes the wait longer.
Give me your email and I'll send the rest to you.
Anonymous
Interesting...
Casey is really handling this pretty good, which is surprising. But there is that hint that she has been 'prepared' for her coming-out party.
If only I could have played with my Mom's mind whenever I came home late, or brought a female friend home!
I sense some training coming on also!
Good work!
Author's Response: She does overreact a lot though. I would if this situation was presented. I don't think I would believe anything I was being told.
I hope you like the next few chapters. I'm introducing a new character soon :)
Anonymous
Beautiful.
This is going very well, and I'm really looking forward to the next chapter!
Great work!
Author's Response: Thanks very much.
I'm trying to not make this story too obvious, but it's already unraveling that way.
Anonymous
Nice.
Not cheap, uninteresting drabble, but a very emotionally deep, and realistic meeting of the minds by Nixon and Casey.
I like where this is going, and I'm glad it isn't obvious.
Good work!
Anonymous
Another good chapter!
One of my favorite lines:
“Don’t worry, I won’t ask for any weird sexual favors in return.”
Wasn't expecting that from Nixon. Actually, this story is starting to feel familiar...
Have you ever read a manga called 'Tag'?
Really intersted in what a 'Sweeper' is. Are you preparing to go down a supernatural sort of road?
Author's Response: I am going to go down that road :) Like it wasn't obvious.
No, I haven't. I've actually never heard of it. What is it about?
EdgeOfDark's response: Tag is about a girl who becomes best friends with mysterious girl, who makes her a target for humiliation, rape, and possible death. All of this revolves around cell phones, and the victims doing whatever the text tells them to do... otherwise they get killed.
One of the best I've ever read!
Author's Response: That sounds cool, aside from the rape part. Kind of reminds me of One Missed Call, only they get voicemails, they heard their voice, then they died.
It's weird. It's an Asian movie so yeah, lol
EdgeOfDark's response: Hey, how many more chapters do you have to go?
Author's Response: I don't know. I'm still hoping to not get Writer's Block like I have with other stories. Why do you ask? :D
EdgeOfDark's response: Very curious!
My stories are all outlined, and I know how many chapters there are, and how long they usually going to be. Yours feels 1/3 of the way done!
Author's Response: I just have to figure out things. I mean, I have the main plot, but I need more of a character development for some.
EdgeOfDark's response: Ah! So most of your work is tied up in character development! You do that very well by the way.
Have you peeked at one of mine?
Author's Response: Not yet. I'm sorry.
The next chapter will be up soon, and then you'll be all caught up :)
EdgeOfDark's response: *waits impatiently!* 
Anonymous
Okay, this is getting good, and you know, I'm hooked. I have a bad feeling Casey is in for trouble with this Nixon kid.
What are snake-bites?
Author's Response: Nixon's the good guy :)
Snake-bites: Two piercings just under the bottom lip: one on the left side and one on the right. They can be studs or rings, or even a combination of both.
Anonymous
Uh oh. This is not looking good.
At least she knows what kind of person Jade really is. Sucks how she found out however.
Great chapter! Where's the rest? ^_^
Author's Response: I should just get your email and send you the rest, considering you're the only one whose reading this story, haha.
EdgeOfDark's response:
Boy do I know THAT feeling!!
My jaw really hit the floor when one of my fics turned up as a 'Featured Fic' on TPP.
Originals hardly get the time they deserve anywhere, especially good ones like this. You're a pretty competent writer too, and I hope you keep at it.
I think Original Authors should really support each other. That being said, I'd really like to know what you think about some of my work too!
Author's Response: Oh, I've never had the thrill of knowing my stories were featured for anything.
There's only a few sites I'm apart of, like Mibba, which is a relatively good site as far as reviews and things go. You should try it out.
Anonymous
Wow. Very well done. I could see this so clearly in my mind's eye. You built the scene masterfully, and I found myself wanting more of this tale!
Excellent work!
Author's Response: :DD Thank you so much.
Anonymous
Oh no! Not another Mindwar: Marooned on Earth type of story!
Awww, gee. I was really hoping for something new and different.
That said, it was still writen well, and easy to read... and I liked it.
Author's Response: Casey's not an alien, if that's what you're getting at, lol. That would be too predictable.
EdgeOfDark's response: So what we've got here is a special sub-strain of Humans who play puppeteer with the Normals?
Author's Response: Somewhat. I don't want to give things away.
Finish it! I really like this and want to know where you go with it.
I like how the ticking clock upset her. That has come up in a lot of my stories and it was the basis of my first song. Very good writing!
“What?” I hissed, as I read the answer. “What the hell are you talking about?” I said to him, my voice a little louder than I intended.
Everyone turned in their seats to look at me.
“Miss Sullivan—”
Fuck.
------
That was hilarious. Makes me think of things I have written!
Anonymous
Wow.
One wants to get close to these characters but...
Poor Casey really doesn't give much thought to her future or much else it seems. Is Nixon going to be just as irreverent and aimless?
Author's Response: Nixon's probably the most important character, other than Casey, in this story.
EdgeOfDark's response: LOL!
No! Not irrelevant! irreverent!
Is Nixon going to be just as irreverent and aimless as Casey?
Author's Response: Oh, wow, lol, sorry.
He might be. I don't really have much of him thought of yet.
Anonymous
Very good: I like how Casey is tentatively sharing her thoughts and feelings with the reader. That’s something you do very well with your characters.
It’s a shame that she and her mother don’t have a better relationship. What heartache. They could really help one another if they both weren’t so emotionally selfish.
Nice chapter!
Author's Response: Things are just going to go downhill from here anyway, and Casey knows her mom wouldn't believe anything that's going to happen, so she kind of has no one to depend on.
Thank you for the review. The next chapter should be up soon.
Anonymous
Nice!
I like where you're going with this, and it feels totally authentic. Very good job of describing the environment and characters. It's getting interesting!
Author's Response: Thanks very much :)
Anonymous
Hmmm...
That is one crude, intolerant ("Who likes to sit in a small ass seat with some fat kid?"), smelly, lazy slob of a kid.
He seems like one of those people with two definitive sides; not Good or Evil, just Evil and Indifferent.
Needs a serious foot in the ass.
I can hardly wait to see him get torn to bits... He is going to get torn to bits, right?
Author's Response: Well, since the main character is a girl (I guess I should have specified and the name throws people off), I'd hope she's not tore to bits. But someone else gets torn, and they deserve it.
EdgeOfDark's response: Ah... So someone is responsible for the tourturous birth of Evil Casey and Indifferent Casey. Going to be interested in seeing what kind of Monster that is.
Author's Response: Oh, she's not really that bad. Just dislikes most people and is a bitch in the morning. There's far worse than her in this story :)