Chapter 6: Logan Callister

The group landed in some kind of swamp where they somehow ended up getting separated. Dylan and Wren were together and Jill and Noah but there was no sign of Cassidy. The swamp was covered in an eerie layer of fog greatly reducing the visibility. Meanwhile in the castle the little girl warned Charles not only of where the group was but also of the man approaching them.

“Our screens don’t seem to work here. Could it be some sort of a glitch?” Noah asked.

“No, this shouldn’t be possible. Someone must be controlling these things.” Jill replied.

“You talk as if you know what’s going on. I won’t tell anyone don’t worry. I saw your face before we got here too. You really don’t like Sean Callister, do you?” Noah mentioned.

“It’s complicated but I love the soul that used to be there.” Jill replied.

“This might sound out of place since we don’t know each other but do you have any family? It’s just that I know where you live but beside you, I’ve never seen anyone else in or out of your house since school started last year.” Noah asked.

“I have a little sister but she’s away from me at the moment to keep her safe.” Jill replied.

Noah and Jill continued to talk about anything they could think of as they began to make their way through the fog. They would talk about the things they liked or the things they didn’t as their bond slowly grew into a possible friendship. Meanwhile Dylan and Wren weren’t in the same talking mood. 

“It’s not good to sit in silence, you know. Let’s talk about something?” Dylan asked.

“I’m good, thanks. Let’s just go find the others.” Wren replied.

“ok I guess we can just walk in awkward silence. I can work with silence.” Dylan said, trying hard to remain quiet. 

“Your humming is worse but so is forcing me to talk to you. What do you want from me? None of us wanted to be trapped here but at least I’ve had an actual bed so it’s not all bad. You on the other hand must be dying to get back to the real world to continue your lies.” Wren stated.

“I will have you know I am not a liar. I am actually strongly against lying and you think I don’t know you sleep in the junk-yard every night. It’s on the way to my house so I am literally riding my bike behind you enough of the way to know where you’re going.” Dylan retorted.

“So, you finally told Noah’s dad and your grandparents you two are only doing what they want while you’re in school?” Wren asked.

Wren had explained to Dylan that the whole school knew about him and Noah, even the teachers but no one ever mentioned it to their families. It was their secret to tell after all. Dylan gave out a big sigh before he explained how his grandparents were quite old and how much his dad’s music meant to them. He loved music himself and wanted to carry on but his grandparents saw an opportunity to hold on to their son and Dylan wasn’t going to say no so he joined the school band.

As for Noah, well his father only wants him to be his replacement. I guess getting over the injury that stopped your career only lasts until you have a son then you try and live your life through him. Wren was sympathetic for them and told Dylan he understood what it meant to hide things from people. He felt like he had to share something private too so he told Dylan his story. The one only he and Mrs Quill knew even about how he sleeps in the junk-yard because the stars make him feel close to his parents and he wasn’t ready to truly say goodbye. That’s when they both realised maybe they weren’t so different after all.

"Noah exists to be his dad, I exist to be my father and you exist as a shadow of a past you can't escape. Who knew we would be so alike?" Dylan said.

"Mrs Quill told me a story once about how broken fragments should stick together if they want to be made whole again. I think I'm starting to understand what she meant." Wren replied.

The four friends somehow managed to navigate the swamp and the fog to find each other but Cassidy was still missing. Charles appeared suddenly but he wasn’t completely there. He was glitching quite badly and his words were hard to make out but it seemed like he was telling them to run but from what and without Cassidy they weren’t willing to move.

Out of the corner of her eye Jill saw a rather peculiar bug but when she turned to get a good look at it, she knew it didn’t belong anywhere in this world. It kind of resembled a rosemary beetle but without the magnificent metallic green and purple stripes. This one was black with green stripes and it was as if it was flying and glitching at the same time. This was the moment Jill began to put the pieces together. This was not her world anymore. 

“Where’s Cassidy?” Noah asked.

“We thought she must have ended up with you?” Dylan asked.

“She’s right here, don't worry.” Came a familiar voice from behind.

Charles reappeared quickly sounding frantic but he was still glitching. Whatever he was trying to say wasn’t coming through but the fear on his face told them everything they needed to know. The only problem was Cassidy. They couldn’t run away and leave her here and where would they even run to anyway. As they slowly turned around, they saw Cassidy shaking and crying with Sean right behind her.

“What did you do to her!!” Jill yelled.

“I’m so sorry. I had no choice. I gave him the box.” Cassidy said, trembling.

“Once I destroy this thing everything will go exactly as planned. Let’s see how you like being trapped in here.” Sean said.

“Just give us Cassidy, you can’t need her anymore, right?” Dylan asked.

“I don’t but knowing you want her back makes me want to keep her. I’m sure I can find some use for her.” Sean said. 

Sean opened his hand and summoned another glitch bug similar to the one Jill had seen previously. The bug bit Cassidy on her arm and she instantly went quiet. Her eyes turned green and Sean removed the restraints he put on her. Whatever he did she was now under his control.

“What do you want exactly? You don’t need her so just let her go.” Jill pleaded.

“Oh, my dear sweet Jill, it's knowing that you want her that makes me want her so much more. I hope you enjoy rotting in here.” Sean replied with a devilish smile.

“Logan, I stopped you before and we will do it again. I will hunt you down again if I have to and this time, I’ll make sure you don’t survive!!” Jill yelled.