#also i nearly fainted yesterday so i got to stay home and i binged find us alive

[koszmarnybudyn]

Kayne drawing because i really like him also some other malevolent doodles because i wanted to explore some designs:

[writingmilo]

Talking - Maya and Rowan (OCs)

Okay, so this is a thing involving @honestlyitsjustkenna, @goldenoceanaart, @ashphoenix06, @samariah-keeper and @thelunarmasquerade

also tagging my main @normallyemma so you know it’s me if you couldn’t guess

I had fun with this one, and it’s pretty important for Maya...

“Maya, it’s Rowan. I’m a bit worried, you’ve been gone all day, and it’s getting dark. Please, just send me a text or something when you get this.”

“Maya, it’s me again, I’m really starting to worry now, please just give me ring to let me know you’re okay? Love you.”

“Maya, where the hell are you? It’s nearly two a.m. and you’re not home. I’m out of my mind, just please let me know you’re safe, call me, text me, anything.”

The first three voicemails weren’t too bad, but as Maya clicked through them, a knot of dread began in her stomach. How could she have forgotten to tell Rowan where she was going? She was such a bad sister, Rowan was going to be so angry. They must be out of their mind with worry, especially after mum and dad and everything that had been happening with Anti recently.

Her phone vibrated in her hand, and the screen changed to Rowan’s profile picture. “Shit. What do I tell her?” She looked at Oceana, Willow and Sammie who were stood either side of her. They both shrugged, and Oce looked worried. She knew a little about Rowan, Maya had told her bits since they first met.

“No time like the present kiddo,” Sammie forced a smile at Maya, before walking towards the door. Oce followed, mouthing a good luck and giving her two thumbs up. With no way left to avoid it, Maya’s thumb slid to the right. “Hey, Ro,” even though Rowan couldn’t see her, she still looked sheepishly to the floor.

“Where the hell were you? Where the hell are you? You’ve been gone for over twenty-four hours, I’ve been out of my mind!” Maya heard a faint sob from over the line. “But you’re okay? Are you okay? God you’re not are you, do you need me to come and get you?”

“Ro, calm down, please, you’re gonna hurt yourself. I’m fine, not a scratch on me.” She heard the breathing calm down a little as she grimaced at her scratched-up arms. “I promise you I am fine. I’m staying with a friend tonight, they needed some help with something.”

“Okay, but you could’ve at least let me know you weren’t coming home. I’ve been up all night worried sick.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I was working for too long and I must’ve passed out from exhaustion. I’m sorry, I just got really... involved in what was happening.”

“Okay. Will you want me to come and pick you up later?” Maya had been asked this question before. It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah, later. I’m at Oceana’s house.”

“You know I know you really well, right?”

“Yeah? So?” Brow crumpled, Maya looked at the doorframe where Oce had just appeared.

“So, I know when you’re mad at me.”

“Huh?” She stared at Oce who was mouthing something at her.

“Look, I get it, I was young once too. If you don’t want to go, I’ll come pick you up, take you home where you can pack a bag, get changed and come back. As long as you let me know when you’re coming home after that.” Maya, though still slightly confused as to what had prompted this, was thankful. She didn’t want to leave Kenna, even if she thought she was imposing on the family.

“Okie, thanks Ro, love you.” She hung up the phone and turned to Oce, who was still in the doorway.

“So, how did it go?” She grinned smugly, the first time Maya had seen her smile in any form for a while.

“A: fuck you, B: fuck you, C: —”

“Yeah, I get the picture, fuck you too. Anyways, what did they say?”

“They said they would come pick me up so I can go home and get some stuff and get changed. They said I could come back though after if I wanted. If it’s okay with you and your mum?” Maya feigned nonchalance to hide her hope. She really didn’t want to impose.

“I’ll check, but I would like you to come back.”

“Okay, I’ll text Ro, let her know to come get me.”

“Chill, I’ll check with mum.”

***

“Hey May, can I come in?” After Maya hummed a yes, Rowan’s head appeared around the door, before the rest of them followed. “You nearly ready to go?”

“Yeah, just finishing up.” She walked to her wardrobe and pulled out a yellow button down. “Yes or no?”

“Yes, but wear it tied over a vest or something.” Rowan always gave such good fashion advice.

“Cool, thanks Ro. Blue or black jeans?”

“Black, always black. Otherwise you’ll look like a primary school paint palette.” They smiled and Maya threw the shirt at them.

“Dude, really? Just ‘cos you didn’t get the red hair doesn’t mean you have to bully me about it.”

“I know,” Maya started to close the zip on her bag. “You got pyjamas?”

“Yep, I’m not completely useless you know!”

“Totally, What about toothbrush?”

“Yep.”

“Clean underwear? Spare shirt?”

“Yes and yes. Come on, I’ve got everything I need, I’ll only be half an hour away anyways.”

“I know, deodorant?”

“Ooh, no. Aw fuck, okay you right. I guess.”

“Told you I knew you better than you do.”

“Told you I knew you better than you do myeah myerrm. I’m Rowan and I know everything, myerrm!” Rowan threw a pillow from her bed, hitting her in the stomach. Maya laughed, crumpling over and collapsing onto the floor. Soon Rowan caught the bug, and they were both laughing hysterically.

Once they stopped, they sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

“May?”

“Yeah Ro?”

“What’s wrong, you seemed agitated before, and you’re never upset when you’re with Kenna and Oce?”

“Okay, well, you see,” she took a deep breath, she had to tell them, she couldn’t lie, “Kenna was taken by Anti. She made a deal, and we were rescuing her. We only managed to last night.”

“Shit. Well, okay then, do you want to talk about it?” Maya nodded.

“Well, yesterday, when I was in my room all day, I wasn’t doing homework or coursework, I was trying to crack a cipher that Anti set us. He said that if we could crack the cipher we could have Kenna back, but we only had forty-eight hours to do it. Then, I left in such a hurry because I cracked the cipher and I needed to go tell Oce so we could go and find her. I never even thought to leave a note because I was so worried about Kenna. It was pretty late by the time we found her, and it was so hard calming her down and comforting her. Eventually, she started to trust me enough to let me call Marvin to bring us back home, and according to Oce, I passed out pretty much as soon as we landed.”

“And you want to check on her. I’m sorry kiddo, how is she?” Rowan threw an arm round Maya’s shoulders, pulling her close.

“She’s alive. Marvin healed all her physical wounds, but she has pretty bad amnesia, and can’t remember any of us. I managed to get her to drink something last night, and when I spoke to her this morning, she said she ate something and slept a little. But she still looks pale. I’m worried about her, she is so jumpy and she keeps thinking we’re going to hurt her.” Tears were welling in Maya’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Kenna was okay, and Anti would never hurt her again.

“Okay. How are you feeling about everything? This must be tough for you too, you’ve known her for years.” Rowan stroked Maya’s hair as they spoke.

“I... I guess I’m scared.” She blinked the tears away, letting them roll silently down her cheeks. “What if she never remembers who we are? I mean, mum never did, did she? She came home, and we thought it was over, but it wasn’t. We thought it would get better, but it never did, and eventually he came, and he killed mum, and when dad tried to fight, he killed him too.

“Anti is so powerful, he plays by his own rules. How can any of us ever be safe again when he knows who we are? When he knows where we are? And now he knows Kenna, so she’ll never be safe again. And what if she wants to go back, what if he stays inside her head forever?”

“I know, kid, I know. You just have to trust Kenna, trust that she is fighting her way out.” Rowan rubbed her shoulder and stood up before extending a hand to Maya.

“Now then, you. Sort your face out and go back to your friends.” They hugged Maya tightly, and left the room.

 ***

“You sure you’ll be alright on your own Ro? You know Marv right, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you coming over as well.”

“No, no, I’ll be fine, there’s a few shows I fancy binging with song wine and a takeaway. Now go, and be careful when you’re walking.” They planted a kiss on her forehead, before pushing her out the door.”

On the walk to Kenna’s house, Maya was thinking about how powerful Anti was, how little he valued people, how truly evil he was. And all of the grief and hurt and fear from the past week that had been churning around inside her head slowly started solidifying into anger and hatred, which in turn, bred a plan.