The mind is fragile and being trapped in your own mind can break you. Memories locked away to keep the body safe from destroying itself can easily be unlocked with sights, sounds, places, and things. The mind could break a person into a million pieces and leave the body cold on the floor with a bottle and razor or even a needle in the arm. The mind could trap you in itself rendering you helpless to your own torment. The mind can also take you to a better place. The mind can create a world where pain doesn't exists and you control everything there. The mind can save you...kill you...Protect you.



“The mind is endless. You put me in a dark solitary cell, and to you that's the end, to me it's the beginning, it's the universe in there, there's a world in there, and I'm free.” -Charles Manson




It was time to put my idea to the test. Blair needed to be found before Ashba decided it was time to begin the war. I just had this feeling, this intuition, that wherever Ashba was Blair would be nearby. So, who was the closest thing to Ashba right now? Who is the only person who knows where he is or can get in touch with him? Nerobell. He was trying to live through her, he was in her mind...She was the key to him.

I made my way to Teakin's only to be denied entry at first. Teakin was still trying her best to fight Ashba off but was losing the battle. I waited outside of the room to hear Nero screaming once again. Teakin walked out of the room a few moments later wiping blood from her arms. She found me sitting with my back against the wall. I was lost in my thoughts, trying to prepare myself for the task I was about to do.

She's not improved...

I looked up at Teakin, my back pressed against the wall still. I didn't say a word, there really was nothing to say.

I put her to sleep but I don't think it is doing much good. She can't get out of Ashba's nightmare...She's giving up.

I looked away from Teakin and focused my gaze on the wall in front of me. Now was the time to put my plan to action. I pushed my back away from the wall and stood on my feet. Walking past Teakin, I walked into the room to a gruesome sight. Nero was bleeding from her wrists and Teakin had tried to bandage them. Cut's covered Nero's pale face causing her to look more like Regan MacNeil than my sister. Teakin tried to stop me from entering the room but It didn't work.

Mandii, she's been fighting ever since you left.

I walked over to her bedside and dropped to my knees. She seemed so peaceful but I knew the war raging in her mind. Tears formed in my eyes but I fought them back until they went away. I placed my hand on Nero's face feeling the indents in her skin. I looked over to Teakin and spoke in a hushed tone.

Put me in her mind.

I don't think-

She's the last person linking us to Ashba. If she...When she gives up, it'll be too late to communicate and find out where he is or what he is doing. I need to go inside her mind. Please Teakin, you and I both know she isn't going to fight much longer. Please...Don't let her pain be in vain...Put me inside of her mind.

And if you get trapped and she gives up?

I looked over at Nero and smiled, a laugh caught in my throat.

I have to try something.

If we lose you, if you can't get out, Ashba is going to kill everyone.

If I don't do this he's just going to find another mind to take over, maybe even mine. It doesn't matter at this point. What matters is I have to find out where Blair is and I think she's with Ashba. I need some way to confirm it and this is the only way.

Fine, but I don't know if I'm strong enough to pull you out of her mind. This is still such an intricate process that-

Just do it Teakin.

Teakin placed a hand on Nero's head then on mine. I gripped Nero's hand in my own before my eyes suddenly closed and I felt my body fall to the floor, but I could still feel the cold chill of Nero's hand.

When the feelings faded away, when my mind rested, my eyes woke to the hell Nero was currently in. A woman was being pulled apart, chains wrapped around her ankles and wrists. She screamed and pleaded for her life but before I could reach her, her sink had ripped and her screams fell on silent ears. I had to hold back the need to vomit by turning away from the sight of her entrails hanging from her body and dropping to the floor. It was at this time I saw Nero, cold and naked chained to the wall and covered in blood. Her head hung, her body limp. I ran over to her and lifted her head with my hands.

Nero, please wake up.

Teakin is doing a good job, but not good enough.

Rage, anger, and heat ran benthe my skin to the sound of Ashba's voice.

Even in her own mind she is sleeping. Teakin is strong, smart. She knows she can keep this up for only so long before Nerobell-

Don't say her name.

The words came from gritted teeth. The rage in my voice even scared myself as I turned my head to the side. Me eyes shifted from their natural color to a deep blood red, a color I'd never known they could turn.

If you say her name...One more fucking time...I will rip your goddamn tongue out and shove it down your throat before ripping out your vocal cords.

He laughed. He laughed at Nero, my threat, and me. He knew he had control here and I didn't. He thought it was funny to watch his daughter, his flesh and blood, being tormented. He took sick pleasure in the fact that he was the dictator for us both.

You couldn't save Jason, you tried so hard and fought with everything you had, but in the end, you weren't good enough. Why do you think it will be any different with Nerobell?

I said...

I rose to my feet and let the rage take over. I felt the blood lust, I felt the Siren and only the Siren as I clenched my fists. I couldn't hold it back, I wanted him dead, I wanted his blood on my hands...I wanted him to suffer.

If you said her name again...

I turned, my hair draping over my face and a sadistic smile showing through.

I'm going to rip your vocal cords out of your goddamn throat you worthless piece of shit!!

I lunged at Ashba and knocked him on his back. I dug my nails into his throat but before I could rip away he gripped my hand tightly and pulled it out. With only his hand he forced my body into the air. My back hit the same wall Nero was chained too and a loud crack echoed in Nero's mind. My body fell to the floor with a thud and laid motionless.

You have one last chance Mandii, you are lucky I am a patient man. Help me or I will kill Nerobell once again, I will make you relive Jason's death, I will kill each and every Siren, and I will send you to hell where you belong.

Maniacal laughing escaped my mouth as I pulled myself up from the ground with one arm. I used the same arm to pop my opposite arm back into socket. My back made sickly popping noises as it contorted and reshaped to normal. I smiled up at Ashba, talons drawn.

If I'm going to hell...I'm taking your sorry ass with me!

I lunged once again but before I could make contact with his body I felt his hands on my head. He applied pressure and whistling a sweet Siren serenade forcing me to listen. My eyes felt heavy and my body felt cold. When his song was done, my body fell to the ground.

Allow me to show you what I can give you and what I can take away.

Ashba placed his hand on my forehead and my eyes grew big. Any white drained and was replaced with black as he entered my mind.

I opened my eyes to Jason. My body jolted up from the bed scaring Jason slightly.

Jason?

You were having one hell of a dream. You kept talking about something called a Siren.

Is this real?

Yes, it’s real.

Mommy!

Marcus’s voice rang out from the doorway and Sage stood in front of him. Sage ran up to the bed and jumped on my lap before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

Did you have a good nap?

Nap?...No, this can't be real...

What can't be real mommy?

Marcus walked over to the bed and pulled Sage off my lap. He placed Sage on the ground and put his hand on my forehead, testing to see if it was radiating heat.

You don't feel like you have a fever.

I can't get fevers.

I know you're big into cleaning Manders but just because mom told us that cleanliness is godliness doesn't mean-

Wait, mom? She never said that. When did you start calling our mother mom anyway? When did Marcus decided he was actually going to give a shit about me or sage?

Marcus covered Sage’s ears and gave me a discouraging look.

She said it all the time. It was the only way she could get us to clean our room. Are you feeling ok? You’ve never cussed in front of Sage before.

Seriously Mandii, what is wrong with you?

I shook my head and leaned back on the headboard of a large bed.

This can’t be happening.

Daddy? What’s wrong with mommy?

Marcus got down on a knee and looked Sage in the eyes.

Nothing sweety, mommy isn’t feeling well. Why don’t you go play with Dunken outside?

Dunken? Wait, you have Dunken?

Yes? Max and I-

Max? You’re back with her?

Jason looked at Marcus confused.

They’ve been married for years now.

Jason? Married?

I couldn't feel the heat, the heat from the Siren. I felt...I was human...

Manders, are you-

No I’m not ok. This is wrong, everything's wrong! You're dead! Marcus is an abusive bastard and Sage-

I cut myself off when I saw a small bassinet sitting across the room. It was yellow with lace that covered the ends of it. Inside was a sleeping brown haird baby.

Where is Nero?....No….

A voice echoed in my head.

I can give you this, isn't this what you wanted?

No!

I could hear the concern in everyone's voice before my eyes rolled into the back of my head. I woke up again, this time in a hospital bed.

What the...

I was in a mental institution strapped to a bed.

Get me out of here, Ashba!

A doctor with black hair and deep green eyes stepped forward with a clipboard in his hand. He shook his head from side to side before lowering a thick black pair of glasses from his face.

I thought you were getting better. I thought we were making some serious improvements here Ms.Tanner

That’s not my name! Who are you?! Where is Ashba? He knows about Sage, I have to get out of here and-

It's fine Aria, there is no Ashba.

Aria?

My voice was a gasp tone and terror covered every tip of my body.

My name isn't Aria, it's Mandii.

Mandii is this personality you came up with to cope with the death of your brother, Jason. Do you remember how he died?

He...Ashba killed him.

No Aria, you two were playing near the river and Jason fell in. You couldn't save him.

No, that's...No! Stop calling me that!

My voice was panicked and my demeanor was childlike confusion.

Aria, baby, please listen to the doctor.

Mom?

You are safe sweety, there are no Sirens, no Ashba.

Get away from me!

I tried to pull my restraints off at the sight of my father. I tried to escape but I couldn't pull out the buckles on the restraints.

Don't touch me! Don't fucking touch me! I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill you for what you did to me! You’re supposed to be dead! Jeremy killed you!

What I did to you? Jeremy killed me, I-

My father looked over at the doctor and again, he shook his head.

She believes you raped her, you and a few friends. She also believes that she changed her name to Mandii Rider and that Jeremy saved her from you before setting your house ablaze.

He did! Jeremy...Where is Jeremy! He can tell you everything, he knows everything!

Hunny.

No! Get me out of here!

I pulled harder but the more I panicked, the more I yelled, the more the doctors inched toward a phone. I tried to bite at my father's hand as he tried to touch me and this was it, this is what made the doctor call for backup. A needle was shoved in my arm and I drifted into sleep.

I woke up, this time in a dark room. I could feel Ashba's presence behind me but I couldn't move or speak. I faced forward, in a baze. My body swayed and my mind raced with so many thoughts and emotions. His breath warmed the skin on my neck as he spoke.

I can give you everything you ever wanted.

Jason appeared with Sage under his hand.

Or, I can take you back. Back to before you got away from your parents. Back to a place you swore you would never go to again. Back to before you changed your name and made a life for yourself. I'll bring you back to who you really are, Aria. Take your pick.

Warm tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked at Jason and Sage. I wanted more than anything to have him back, I thought I was over his death but I would never be. I thought I could keep living for the both of us but it was getting so hard. I thought I could protect Sage but all I ever did was push my own daughter, my flesh and blood away from me. Maybe I was crazy, maybe all this really was inside of my head...Maybe-

What do you choose?

Manders, it's ok.

Jason?

My voice was low and raspy.

Jason!

Mommy, come with us.

Sage...Babygirl I-

Make your choice! Help me and be reunited with them or go against me and be trapped in your own mind for the rest of your immortal life!

I-

My voice cut out for a moment and my mind snapped back. Reality flooded me like a wave. I wasn’t crazy, I wasn’t insane. Aria Tanner was dead and gone, honestly, she never even existed. I was done being control by Ashba. I was sick of having him in my mind and in Nero’s.

You can't bring Jason back...You can't fix my relationship with Sage...You can't break my mind Ashba.

Watch me.

He whispered in my ear before I felt a sharp pain cross over my neck. Warm blood trickled from a large gash in my neck. I dropped to my knees and looked up at Ashba, his sick demonic smile burned into my mind.

I've already broken you, Mandii. You might have saved Nero with the poison on your nails trick but you couldn’t save yourself. Nero may not be my vessel, but Blair will be. I will live again and you, you’re going to hell.

Another sharp pain caused my blood to gush from my neck. I watched my blood cover the floor and Ashba's face before everything fades to black...


Mandii! Oh my god! Mandii! Someone! Help! Oh my god!

My chest felt warm as my eyes shot open to see Teakin's panic expression. She had tears in her eyes as she held my head in her lap. I noticed the blood, it was all over her shirt and face.

I have to apply pressure, keep your eyes open!

I gagged for breath but I couldn't fill my lungs with air. The taste of iron lingered in my mouth and throat as I tried to open my mouth to talk.

Don't say anything, you are losing a lot of blood, oh god...SOMEONE! HELP! Why aren’t you healing?

It was at this time I saw Nero, healed and awake. Teakin look up, shocked, her eyes filled with tears and her face covered in blood.

Mandii!

Put pressure on her wound, I have to find Serena or Amaryllis!

I felt Nero clench my neck as Teakin ran out of the room.

Keep your eyes open ok?

I barely had strength, I barely could feel anything now, but I managed to raise my hand and touch Nero's face. A smile stretched across my face realizing she was safe again.

You can't leave Mandii! Please! Just stay awake! We will fix this, just please don't leave me...

My hand fell, my body lost all warmth. The hardest thing I have ever had to do was live in this world and I could let it all go...I could leave this world knowing Nero was safe and Ashba was dealing with the poison I laced my talons with...I could be with Jason again and I wouldn't feel pain...I could finally be in peace...

To Be Continued.