When duty calls1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fB7Q9hMVY
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"Why are you crying Lu? Shouldn't I be the one freaking out, not you?" Ricky asked with concern on his face but obviously trying to lighten the situation, very unsuccessfully.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJI9PptVV3
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I tried sniffing up the last of the tears and put on a brave face, also very unsuccessfully. "I think you need to sit down for this one."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtXoyTpZ6s
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Reluctantly he finally sat down and I began to explain all the pieces of information I had gathered since Mattie's death. "It started last night when I got home and crashed. The weirdest dream ever, there was this old guy and this amazing library an-"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaZ4h1T88l
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0zwk4vUyQ
"You really like libraries." Ricky smirked, obviously a little more relaxed that he was getting some explanation.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBPg4SaERb
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRsNMSgTSW
"Yes I do, but shh, that's not the point. So this annoying old guy-"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Jy40Kl0l
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfyuW2h0kJ
"Why is he annoying?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFJutCxFdN
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg7jfdzGSL
I just frowned to keep my irritation in place with being interrupted all the time. "Don't worry you'll get to meet him."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsAuF7O1uL
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGQEmG02tb
His shoulders slumped and he gave me a pout. "You know I don't like old people... They talk too much."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY74H5Hwwmz
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0Ep5ewm8w
"Yeah well they're not the only ones. Shh I want to finish my story please, if you don't mind." 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkAOh9SlHx
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JHFsQpGX0
He sat up straight again and gave me his full attention. "So this old guy, Esperar, makes me the leader of the group I mentioned earlier of Quinto círculo. Honestly it sounds more like a cult than anything else, but yeah, he gave me the book you saw earlier. I also didn't know how to open it and it kept disappearing and reappearing when ever it felt like it. Today I left you guys at lunch so suddenly 'cos Markus wanted to talk to me an-"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G3ONeFUbL
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD0DvJUjYM
"Oh my God! Like THE Markus? Markus o'Conner?" Ricky suddenly turning into a fan girl before my eyes.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXVzbTgfQ7
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOy49zogYR
"Yes. Tall, dark and handsome wanted to talk to me. Interrupt me again and I swear I'm going to punch you." 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkN1W97oF8
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUfh8hswb8
Ricky acted all offended but there was a hint of a smile on his face. "So anyway! He was totally hitting on me." I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy9U8Q7nqr
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyYIxE2M2j
"Shut up!" Ricky obviously enjoying the gossip and trying to be funny with his antics.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsKuZWbxby
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4KJku5CdF
"Although before you go crazy, I'm still not sure if he was just messing with me or not. And when I started snapping out of the whole "OMG Markus is talking to me' I started storming off."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFbqPqxlGB
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1idP1zeFr
"Why so defensive Lu? Maybe he really digs you."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiGgnZge6T
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoNPpTiZVR
"He was with Mattie the night she died, that's why I was so defensive." I blurted with an expressionless face.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcxiSyF81f
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeBzC7qlig
Ricky just gaped at me waiting for me to continue. When I didn't he did. "What? How? Why? How is he so sure?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ9bGfPh0K
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuxga1UecX
"Long story short she wasn't supposed to die, I was." I felt my skin prickle as I said those words myself. repeating them in my head didn't help it all. I was supposed to have been killed, not Mattie.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M67AXc1sA
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CY4ajkhvA
This was obviously starting to get too much for Ricky. His eyes welled up and the tears threatened to spill over. "Lucy... If that was you..."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqYle45oMB
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pb8P3xvOv
I tried to reassure him with a smile. "But I didn't Ricks, It's going to be fine." Even I didn't believe that last part. When I saw that Ricky was still about to burst into tears, I just pulled him into a hug.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJUqtZprmY
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGe9AFXllC
That seemed to have done the trick. "Okay." He took a deep breath. "Please continue." And he sat back down to listen to the next bit of my horror story.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFLpFeugnL
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnXFThYanW
"So." Trying to get my bearings straight was proving to be quite a challenge. "As I was storming away he tried grabbing my hand to pull me back, and just like you and I earlier, ZAP, and I got a pattern too." Lifting my hand to show Ricky my decorated palm.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvYGESWBJh
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeELu3oa2V
"Woah! That's so cool!" Ricky had gone from totally depressed to childlike wonder in under a minute.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhPrRAmZTA
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg35scHWTGa
"It is, isn't it." I replied, matching his smile. "So Markus got the idea that it would unlock our books an-"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi939pwoea7
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MDGC22XlM
"Okay wait, now that I heard that properly. Markus is part of this too?" 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJZtt0UiX8
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95nyoPxv6N
"If you weren't in shock I would seriously hit you right now." I said while giving him the death stare, but he just egging on the topic.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0uebRrqHA
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiejSaVH99a
"What's his picture? What's the topic of his book?" He went quiet suddenly, obviously in deep thought. "What's your topic?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBns0gNeV9
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs901Un5yWU
"Markus has a purple eye, almost Egyptian in design, and it's charm, glamour and deception. Mine is-"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSLLU48lZ1
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Ricky started laughing uncontrollably. "That's so feminine, bet he's taking it rough."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepzCZU7GNP
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3HvczbdJZ
I smacked him on the arm and he gave a small yelp. "Hey! What was that for?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlrQNqRLTK
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxbPMhU8cG
"I warned you about interrupting me."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGBQTSV0CP
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9GlfyJgac
"Oops, sorry!" He said with a sweet smile and a totally fake innocent look.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxMunD14YA
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpu5NIM0bK
"So as I was trying to say. Mine is power and control. and to answer you on your interruption, he actually likes it. Not that I'm surprised, he does love the spotlight."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwJayjkO3g
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPaqPekNw0
"And you love him" Ricky added with under his breath and a smirk on his face.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGYzVZaOlp
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFLy0HPvG2
"Eugh, you're so annoying." And smacked him again. 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhzO9TTg9N
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw1ruE2QUp
"So mine is empathy and telepathy, what kind of specialty is that?" He asked while retrieving our bowls of almost melted ice cream and passing mine over. 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSdWyBC7Of
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"That's where you actually have to read Ricky." I said with a snort, slurping at the semi liquid in my bowl.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm36PN1t2j
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"Gross much?" Ricky pretending to be grossed out.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaU4Van4U0
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"Shut up, you were going to do it too."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqxfyzkYlN
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"So true." He said with a grin and matched my slurping. We burst into laughter, enjoying the effect we had on each other to make a situation better or at least bearable.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhAeJgM4pt
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NyBPIQYeJ
"So how about skimming through it and let's see what you can do." I prompted, trying to distract from me trying my abilities.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow7B0IMhS1
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaW1xIOPUH
"Okay just give me a sec." While he read I slurped down my ice cream and began licking out the bowl. It's not attractive, but it's criminal to leave behind any evidence of the chocolate goodness.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK3gi7FCiy
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZRH6FvB4z
As I was about to try steal Ricky's bowl and eat his remaining ice cream he looked up at me with a weird expression on his face. Before I could ask him what he was thinking a sudden wave of hysteria washed over me. I was frozen in place by fear, but fear of what I couldn't tell. Before I could start screaming a wave of calm came over me, almost as if I was high in a way, feeling the hysteria float away on a cloud of happy thoughts.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk8SIkPvEN
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRWvGZGhPK
And then I was back to normal. "Woah. That was quite a trip. What just happened?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZF3jvGsJe
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Ricky took his time finding the right words. "What did you just experience?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ySHoMJ7w
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZz8uyl1eg
"I just started freaking out for no reason, and then I felt like a hippie. Just mellow." 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWjCBi9Z65
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPWc2jU3kj
Ricky sat back with astonishment on his face. "What? What what what?" I nagged trying to get something out of him.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZeD1PylOT
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNychriQSoq
"I made you feel that." He said more as a statement and less like a question.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aZlBEkk5T
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kmv6uxTfC
"How?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3ypY3efh3
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5BgN2VjOv
"I don't know I just..." It looked like he was trying to convince himself of what he had just done. "Thought it."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqEYtkVgV1
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlyhVCEL3v
I just stared at him, dumbfounded. "You just... thought it?" 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdAdQCVMkl
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"Yeah, I pictured you fearing for your life, and then I saw you freaking out and I wanted you to calm down immediately. So I imagined what you would be like if you were on a trip."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z8GC9NssK
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqkXy0GEAO
"You made me high? Do you realise how wrong that sounds?" 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiSM6kXTfI
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRd76fZNtK
Ricky started laughing and I couldn't help but join in on the giggles. "So now I know what they mean by the empathy part of this... Skill of mine. Now let's try out the telepathy. Think of something." And he closed his eyes.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WdBjTFkns
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLPPN2pykx
Something. I did a little mental laugh, but before I could say anything Ricky perked up. "No, don't be a smart ass, think of something else."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ6OmlpHHE
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"Ricky I didn't say anything." Ricky looked up at me with wide eyes.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDJb55Z0og
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjb5Vi2OjU
Can you hear this? Ricky nodded.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhapzhTfGwj
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlanTtQ9iD
What about this? Ricky nodded again, this time with a smile.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabe06H1Ge4
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkip6ZdpIuv
And this? Ricky just gave me a look. "Okay you can stop now."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDPbJBmBLp
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWPJXGtX5v
But this is so much fun! I thought with a huge smile on my face.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8MxilUiIs
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Can you imagine what I'm feeling?1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTadqQxtlX
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I could practically feel my jaw hit the ground. "Did you just send a mental message to me?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qhb0SxAff
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiaDO7Z6pc
"I think I did." Ricky seeming amused with his new abilities.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvC46iZa7H
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSMoB0pI5v
"This is too cool. I wonder what the other's abilities will be." I couldn't contain my curiosity.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ewKNSTr2v
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"Other's? I thought there was only Markus apart from us." 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklQ6yzgo0r
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"Circle of five. There are only three of us at the moment." I said suddenly sifting mentally through a list of people that I could think of being part of all this madness.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8xZ375yjY
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal42ufa3kj
"How do you know how to find them?" 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0Iqrnb51r
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I pushed him out the way to get to his computer and searched the site I found the information on Peligro. As Ricky read his face went solemn. "I can see why you started crying earlier." And finished off the reading. "So it says people close to you, people you have made a bond with from early in life and are the same age as you." 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB9Ox57MMH
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNBMClOA8k
He went into deep thought, stroking at an imaginary beard subconsciously. "You do you realise you have no beard, right ?" I mumbled with slight amusement. "Hmm?" Came his reply, obviously to fixated on his own thoughts to have heard me. "Nothing, don't worry." I said with a smirk.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ukL7UGkaF
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ417N0qm6Fi
"Ariana, Joey, James." Now it was my turn to look confused. "What?" 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBLM8Uw1IY
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeI5YpL30X
"That's your only other friends you have." Ricky still stroking his chin, gradually accompanied by a creeping smile. "Not much of a socialite, are we?" I just glared at him and his hands shot up in mock surrender as he burst into laughter.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiAVW8DYLe
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"Okay Ricky, you can stop now, it's time to get serious." I said gruffly to get the conversation on the right track again. Ricky tried to compose himself, sneaky tears still running down his cheek and his body shaking slightly but at least he was tryig to stay quiet. "So between the three of them, two are my next.... victims." I said the word like it left a bitter after taste. "For lack of a better word." I quickly added as he gave me a funny look at my comment. "So who do you think they are?" Trying to avert the responsibility for a moment. "Only you will know this one Lu." He said with a reassuring smile. 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W5hvvtKqJ
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I took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and let it out in one big sigh, allowing the responsibility to encompass me once again. "As much as it pains me, Ariana must be a definite candidate, she's like the sister I always wanted, she's the closest person to me." Ricky sending a throat clearing noise in my direction. "After you of course." I said with a grin, a scoff in reply from him. "But that's where I get stuck... Joey irritates me to no extent possible and James is just there. Actually come to think of it, he's just there because Ariana has had a crush on him since way back when. He's never really been a friend as per say."1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCem6kRsymN
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Ricky started fidgeting in his seat and I knew something was bothering him. "Spill it." I said in a stern, but lovingly way. 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnYRxiIyPG
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He pulled out his phone and started messaging someone. "Mind letting me in on the secret Sherlock?" Ricky kept quiet until he was finished, putting his phone away and looking up at me at the same time. "Just trust me on this one, okay?"1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtYsD2guMD
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I could feel it, like a thick blanket of tension in the room, almost suffocating. I wasn't sure if it was my emotions or the emotions Ricky were feeling that was being projected, but I felt like now wasn't the right time to ask questions.1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzclrmqNwGr
1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1QjM7ZLWm
"Okay." I said, trying to keep eye contact with him to try read the situation further. "How long until they get here?" 1073Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8CRCxZ2sf
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