𝐒𝐩𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 ✭ TS...

"What do those friends of yours look like?" Cyra wondered after walking for a while.

"Why?"

"Just wondering." She shrugged. "So, what do they look like?"

"Uhm, Minho has black hair that's always styled with much gel, strong arms, and is Asian," I explained. "Then there's Newt. He's blonde, definitely taller than Rye, kind of a baby face, and he's British."

"So Newt and Minho." Cyra nodded. "And this Thomas kid?"

"Same height as Minho, brown hair, some moles, always wears a blue t-shirt, and asks a lot of questions." I paused. "And there's Frypan-."

"Frypan?" They asked in unison.

"Don't insult Frypan," I ordered. "He's dark-skinned, very kind looking because he is, and short buzzed hair. Winston. His hair is dark and longer than Fry's, and has a recognizable face."

I almost chuckled at the fact I knew exactly how to describe Minho and Newt, but it was harder to describe Winston, using the right words. Yet the dark feeling was still there.. the hands, but I hid it.

"There was another boy with them but I didn't know him. The girl is named Teresa, very pretty, with bright eyes, dark hair, and some freckles." I summarized. "That was it."

~

"This is so boring," Rye whined as Cyra walked a few feet away from us again. "Can you tell me some things that happened in that maze of yours?"

I sighed, trying hard to remember something funny. A good memory. "A friend and I once changed Newt's shampoo with animal piss and klunk."

It hurt to pronounce Chuck's name, so I didn't. I wasn't ready yet.

He laughed out loud. "But what's 'Klunk', though?"

"Means shit or crap." I shrugged. "We have all types of words."

"What else happened?" Rye wondered.

"I rolled over the ground with Minho," I admitted. "He bickered a lot with others, which was quite funny."

"Seems cool." He commented.

I scoffed. "Sometimes, yeah, but being there was horrible."

"Why then?"

"You should really meet Thomas sometime," I replied, ignoring his question.

"Twisting around the questions again, huh?" Rye raised his eyebrows. "But it's okay. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to tell."

I shook my head. "No, I'll tell you some things." I paused. "So I was a spy-."

"Now that's straight to the point." Rye interrupted, seeming a little impressed.

"Yeah." I chuckled lightly, but fake. "Got these tasks I needed to complete and if I didn't, there would be consequences."

His face darkened. "That's awful."

"It is." I shrugged. "But it's over now." Quickly I sped up my pace and tried to hide the tears in my eyes, which I wondered why even started to form. I only spoke one single sentence about the spy thing and immediately cried again!

"I don't think you should let go of it that easily." Rye jogged after me. "I mean, it's nice to forget everything that happened, but it's not good if you go around keeping all this in you and not talking about it."

"I used to do that with Minho and Newt." I snapped, getting upset. "And you're kind of bugging me to open up to you now."

Rye sniffed. "I didn't mean it like that. But I'm saying you could talk to me or Cyra, though she doesn't give the best advice, but you look quite upset."

"Well, I am upset." I never stopped walking at a fast speed, crossing my arms.

"Still about the spy thing?" He questioned.

"No." I sighed.

"Then what?"

"None of your business." I snapped another time, the hands pushing deeper into my skin. I shivered in response and wished so badly to wash them off.

"You're right," Rye admitted. He sped up so much he was able to walk next to me again.. a little too close for my... territory, as Chuck would've called it.

I took a few steps away from him.
"Why do you keep doing that?" He looked at me, eyes full of confusion. "If you don't want me to walk next to you just tell me, alright?"

I nodded quickly. "You can walk next to me, but not too close."

"Okay." Rye obeyed. "Why's that actually? Do you really think I have the Flare? 'Cause I'm immune. Or do you have this kind of phobia for people?"

"I don't," I responded coldly. "It's nothing."

He didn't seem very convinced, but nodded and kept walking. "How far away, Cyr?"

"Don't call me that, you idiot!" She yelled. "I think we'll get there tomorrow morning!"

Rye sighed. "What a lovely sister I have."

"At least you have one," I replied. "It's better than being all alone."

"The Cranks keep company."

Cyra turned around again. "He's getting comfortable with you, Jane! Be ready!"

I frowned and looked at Rye, who grinned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"

"She says I make stupid comments." Rye dramatically explained.

"And you ask stupid questions which I all have to answer," I added.

"Oh dear god, is our Sleeping Beauty having a tough time answering my questions?" He fake gasped.

"I see what she means now." I chuckled at his sudden change of mood.

"Maybe you're just a very interesting and secret person." Rye lowered his voice slightly.

"Nice try, Rye! But your flirt skills aren't working out!" Cyra shouted.

"No one said they didn't work! And besides, let me do my thing! It's funny and I don't do it to actually make Jane fall in love with me! Just for fun!"

"Nice hobby you have there then. Flirting." I sighed.

"It's a lifestyle." He gave me a crooked smile.

~

"Guys?" Cyra questioned once we lay down for the last night of sleep before we arrived at the mountains. "I think we need to keep watch and take turns."

"Why? We never did that before." Rye answered, frowning a bit.

"Yeah, I know. But last night Cranks were nearby, I woke up by their yelps and stuff. They didn't do anything, but what if they do and we're all asleep? We can't defend ourselves."

"She has a point," Rye admitted. "I'll go keep watch first. You two girls go to sleep."

"You sure?" I turned to him. "If you're tired, I could-."

"Just rest, Jane." He laughed. Nervously I chuckled, scared to have another dream, but fell asleep anyways.

~

And indeed, it happened again. I was trapped in my own dream, feeling what my father did to me exactly. There was a blurred voice as I got pushed down on my stomach, my dad behind me.

"Jane." It was more of a whisper, but soon the calls of my name got louder. "Wake up."

When I felt my body get shaken by someone, my eyes shot open, staring right into a pair of blue ones. Rye. I sat straight up

He sighed in relief. "Are you okay?"

I swallowed, thinking about the dream. "No." I looked down in shame.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He started whispering. "It seemed pretty intense."

"What did I do?" I stammered. The tears burned in my eyes and so badly I wished to cry into someone's shoulders again. Newt's. But he wasn't there, and I didn't want any physical touch either way, though I wondered if I would act the same with Newt and Minho. Maybe they were different to touch for me, since I liked them and was very comfortable around them.

"Cried a bit, mumbled some words, and let out some yelps," Rye explained. "Was it a nightmare?

I kept my head pointed at the sand. "More of a memory from when I was a kid."

I didn't add anything else and for a few seconds, Rye was silent.

"Can you please tell me what happened, Jane? I'm worried and want to help. Please." He begged after a minute.

I took a deep breath, realizing it might be relieving to finally tell someone. After the days I spent with Rye, I knew I could trust him.

"It was about my father." My lower lips started to tremble already. "I was about ten years old.. and he-he pushed me down on my stomach. I couldn't move and I-." I took another deep breath, hating how weak it sounded to stammer as some tears fell.

"It's okay." Rye's voice was soothing. "Take your time."

I swallowed again. "He touched me and at some point, forced me to get rid of.. of."
I didn't know why it was so hard for me to say it out loud, but couldn't, so just motioned at my clothes.
"And then he- well.." I sobbed, the tears streaming by now. "And I felt it. I felt all of it and I still do."

With a face full of disbelief, Rye stared at me, taken aback. "Is that why you moved away from me?"

"Yeah." I wiped my cheeks, yet it didn't help. "But I know you're not like him or those boys at the pub, though still I just can't.. let someone touch me."

"Woah- at the pub?" His eyes widened. "It happened before?"

"Not as bad as my dad." I let out a cry. "They dragged me in there, drugged me, and then started touching me. But a friend of mine saved me and it's all over now, so-."

"Do you think that just because it was in the past and you were helped, it doesn't matter?" Rye interrupted.

I cleared my throat. "I'm only bothering people if I tell them and it's my own fault after all. I shouldn't have sat with them at dinner, opened the door when they knocked, or taken the drink."

Rye's face grew with horror. "And do you also think that if you hadn't sat with them at dinner, they wouldn't have done that, Jane?"

I shrugged. "Maybe."

"Obviously you didn't want any of it, so it's not your fault." He started. "I think it's clear you also didn't want to sit with them at dinner.. and the knock on the door.. how the hell could you know it was them?"

More tears filled my eyes as Rye called out all reasons.
"It's really not your fault. Believe me." He sounded serious about his case.

I sniffed and wiped some tears away.
"I needed that." I nervously laughed.

He chuckled a bit, but soon turned serious. "Go lay back down." He softly ordered while he lay down on his back himself.

I obeyed and lay down next to Rye, about two feet space between us.

"Look." He pointed at the dark sky above us. Dozens of stars lit up, looking beautiful. Some were big, some small. I smiled as I admired them.

"It's beautiful." I gasped at the sight.

Rye turned his head toward me. "I got a nickname better than Sleeping Beauty."

"What is it?" I whispered.

"Star." He replied. "If you don't like it, I won't use it, but it's comfortable to have a nickname for everyone, you know?"

"You can call me that." I blushed, cheeks heating up.

"Alright." He breathed.

Then suddenly, his hand touched mine. My chest tightened, my eyes widened, and my mouth opened to say something, but no sound came out. I didn't get a flashback, though I wasn't comfortable either. I froze in my place.

"Please relax, Jane." He whispered. "I don't want to scare you or make you uncomfortable... I'm trying to get you back used to it."

My breathing hitched and I realized how easily Rye understood the situation and even helped me with it right away. He had a good heart.

Slowly my chest moved up and down slower again, but my eyes kept wide open.
Rye nodded from my side. "See?"

I hummed and took his hand back, trying to gather some confidence. I wanted to hug Minho and Newt when we met again, after all! It would go better with some practice.

"Is this okay?" Rye wondered. The worry and pity were clearly hearable in his voice.

"I think it is," I said, never taking my almost closing eyes off the stars. "Thank you, Rye."

He wanted to reply but got interrupted. I shot straight up, our hands leaving each other.

"Was that-." I gasped.

"Thunder."