Hush, Hush: Chapter 26 (Part 1)
ZeldaQueen: ...I just want through this chapter as fast as possible. Now
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
Chapter 26 (Part 1)
ZeldaQueen: Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay with this chapter. It's just....this chapter. I hate it. I hate it very much. It is creepy and leaves a horrible taste in my mouth and I want it to die in a fire. If we hadn't had that bit with Patch chasing Nora around the motel room, I'd say this chapter is the most disgusting and depraved point in the story. Actually, in some ways it is even worse. So...please make sure there are no sharp implements within reach while reading this.
Right.
Nora arrives at the movie theater, and apparently it's very crowded because it's Sunday and just before Spring Break. Oh look, a time reference! I will be honest, ladies and gentlemen, I completely forgot what time of year it was. When Nora was in Portland, I thought it was October or November. It wasn't until I looked over my sporking notes for the first chapter and saw that this is all supposed to be in April. Anyway, Nora spends this entire time being paranoid that Dabria will snatch her up or something. I really don't know. Dabria is so pointless and has such a faint presence in this story, I honestly don't care about her. We all know she's not going to succeed in killing Nora, if only because there are three more books in this horrible series.
And then Nora spouts off what will give us a taste of the creepy to come
"Of course, deep inside, I knew Dabria wasn't my biggest worry. Sooner or later Patch was going to figure out I wasn't at Delphic. Based on past experience, I didn't have any illusions about being able to hide long term from him. He would find me. And then I'd be forced to confront him with the question I was dreading. More specifically, I dreaded his answer. Because there was a shadow of doubt at the back of my mind, whispering that Dabria had been telling the truth about what it would take for Patch to get a human body"
ZeldaQueen: I really have nothing to say to that. That's just sickening. Do you know what that sounds like? It sounds like Nora is scared that Patch will beat her for disobeying his orders and going places he does not approve, and that no matter how far or long she runs from him, he will track her down and teach her a lesson
ZeldaQueen: Thank you so very much for that, Fitzpatrick. That's exactly what this story needed, especially after that incredibly creepy dominating "I can kill you if I wanted to, and I'm going to put you in your place for seeing things I didn't want you to see" scene in the motel.
And I'm not touching the bit about Nora seriously thinking that Patch might be planning to sacrifice her for a human body. It's going to be something of a running theme for this chapter, and I don't want to keep repeating myself. So, I shall save it!
Nora then starts going on about how she's at the movie theater and is checking the show times, because of course that's much more engrossing and worthy of attention than the fact that your boyfriend might be planning to murder you. Priorities!
Yep, I'm saving my rants for later in the chapter.
For some random reason, Nora decides to go in to see a movie herself. I mean, I know she's looking for Vee, but she just spontaneously does this. We get no insight into her thought process and have no idea why she makes this decision. Seriously Fitzpatrick, you can't do this in first person narration. I know that it's clunky to write down every single thing passing through the protagonist's head, but I'd imagine that motivations for doing tasks is important! Even just having her think "I couldn't see Vee, Elliot, or Jules in the lobby, so I went to purchase a ticket. Maybe, just maybe, I could find them inside one of the theaters".
Anyway, Nora asks for a ticket to see The Sacrifice, because I guess if it's good enough for one ham-fisted, overly symbolik usage, it's good enough for two in Fitzpatrick's book. Nora tosses a lot of loose change and small bills at the girl taking tickets, and we get a very pointless bit where Nora identifies the girl as someone she vaguely knows from school, "She was a senior, and I was pretty sure her name was Kaylie or Kylie". This is the first and only time we see Kaylie or Kylie, so I fail to see how important it is to name her. Anyway, Kaylie or Kylie bitches Nora out for paying like that, telling her to use a credit card next time. Meanwhile, everyone in the line starts getting pissed with Nora as well. Um, was she paying entirely in pennies? The average ticket price in the United States when this book was published was seven dollars and fifty cents. Even if Nora only paid in one dollar bills and nickles, it shouldn't take that long to count it all up.
Nora makes an unfunny joke about cleaning her piggy bank out, and I really don't care. Nora asks if Kaylie or Kylie saw Vee at all, and Kaylie or Kylie is extremely bitchy, telling Nora that it's a busy night and she can't remember everyone who came for a movie. I personally would have asked if Nora honestly expected me to know every single person in the high school, especially since Vee is in a different grade and apparently wouldn't know this girl from any classes or clubs.
If I might pause here for a minute, am I the only one who noticed how unbelievably nasty the various people who have waited on Nora have been? The waitress at the diner, the guy running the motel, the security guard at the library, and now this chick. Yes, I know people who do jobs like selling tickets at the movie theater aren't always in the best of moods especially on long nights, but all of these people are like that! Is this some mysterious world where customer service standards aren't upheld? Or did Fitzpatrick have a really bad experience with a waitress and was permanently soured to everyone in the service industry? It's almost as bad as Stephenie Meyer thinking that all salespeople kiss ass just because a customer has a shiny credit card.
So yeah, Nora goes to the theater the movie is showing in, and apparently it's a ridiculously small theater, with only two screens. And yes, I am aware that there are movie theaters that small, but a few seconds on Google shows us that right now, the Coldwater Cinemas is showing no less than ten movies right now. Even if Fitzpatrick just ignored real life (which she probably did), how is just two movie theaters going to make any money? I wasn't aware that the town was particularly small, and apparently people come crowding in there. How do they handle big crowds with two theaters???
*sigh* In any case, Nora checks out both theaters and, of course, does not find Vee. And so our Intrepid Heroine, with her friend in danger and her boyfriend possibly out for her blood, makes a daring move. She sits down in one of the theaters and starts watching the movie and collecting her thoughts.
Our Heroine, ladies and gentlemen.
We get a very brief bit of wangsting over how stressed she is from learning about Nephilim and fallen angels and whatnot, and if this were a better-written story, I could buy that she's having a bit of a breakdown. Given how Nora is a complete idiot? I don't feel generous.
Anyway, Nora is checking her phone for missed calls when we get...oh Christ, it's creepy time!
"I was tucking the phone in my pocket when a carton of popcorn materialized beside me.
'Hungry?' asked a voice from just over my shoulder. The voice was quiet and not especially happy. I tried to keep my breathing calm. 'Stand up and walk out of the theater,' Patch said. 'I'll be right behind you.'
I didn't move.
'Walk out,' he repeated. 'We need to talk.'
'About how you need to sacrifice me to get a human body?' I asked, my tone light, my insides feeling leaden.
'That might be cute if you thought it was true.'
'I do think it's true!' Sort of. But the same thought kept returning-if Patch wanted to kill me, why hadn't he already?"
ZeldaQueen: Well, this is a lovely prelude to what is to come? What's the creepiest part about this?
- That the creepy bastard just appears behind her as calm as you please, complete with a quipt that sounds like something Freddy Kruger would say?
- That Patch's little "Walk out of here and I'll follow you" piece sounds exactly like what a guy would say to a hostage that he's holding a gun or knife to the ribs of?
- That Nora instantly starts getting terrified as soon as he shows up, even though we're supposed to believe that he is in True Love with her and will never hurt her?
- All of the above?
And as for Nora's constant bit about "Well if he wanted to kill me, why hasn't he done it already?", I have a reason. We will hear it in a minute.
Anyway, there's apparently just one couple in this theater besides Nora and Patch, even though we were told that it was a very busy night and that there are only two theaters. The guy starts hissing for Nora to shut up. Patch seizes the opportunity to outright tell Nora "Walk out, or I'll carry you out".
*blinks*
*stares*
ZeldaQueen: NORA. RUN. RUN AS FAR AND AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM THIS PERSON.
I'm serious, what is that? "Walk or I'll carry you"? THE UNHOLY FUCK?
And oh, surprise, surprise, Nora is an idiot who is offended by that, but not frightened in the least. Nora, this guy has repeatedly proven that he (A) can easily overpower you and (B) clearly does not respect your wishes. RUN.
The guy continues to tell Nora to be quiet, and Nora tells him to be angry with Patch, not her. And considering how Patch is clearly trying to drag her off and seems to want to kill her, she's being remarkably calm about this entire thing! The creepy calm is decidedly not helped when she tells the guy to bring security to arrest Patch because "he wants to kill me". Nora, darling, SHOW A BIT MORE EMOTION ABOUT THIS! I BELIEVE FEAR IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE RIGHT ABOUT NOW!
The guy's girlfriend chimes in at this point and begins bitching at Nora to shut up and that no one is there. Suddenly, Nora realizes what's going on
"'You're making them think they can't see you, aren't you?' I said to Patch, awed by his power even as I despised his use of it"
ZeldaQueen: Awed by his power.
She is awed by his power.
She is awed by his ABILITY TO DOMINATE AND THREATEN HER WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING CAUGHT AND GETTING HIT WITH REPRECUSSIONS FOR IT! SHE IS AWED THAT HE CAN ENABLE HIMSELF TO STALK AND FRIGHTEN HER AND POTENTIALLY HARM HER.
FUCKING A -
ZeldaQueen: On another non-explosive note, I'd like to point out exactly what Patch is doing. He is effectively cutting off all forms of escape for Nora. He is making it impossible for her to go to anyone else for help. This is absolutely chilling. It just drives home how sick and twisted this guy is. No matter how much Nora may want to, no matter how far or how fast she goes, no matter who she goes to for help, he will always be there, mindraping everyone into not knowing he's around. And that can include Nora, because she's not immune. She can not escape from this person.
And that's not even touching on the fact that he could easily have visited Nora without the mind rape and calmly and nonthreateningly asked for a word with her in private. Heck, he could have mindraped the other people in the room to not notice Nora or himself, and thus let them talk freely right there. Instead, he chose to approach her in a manner which not only prevented her from going for help, but which also completely discredited her and made her look like a crazy wimmunz who should not be taken seriously. What an absolutely winner.
The guy tries to bribe Nora with his Coke to get her to be quiet, and I must have a spite fic here, or else I'll lose my mind
"I ignored the guy and went back to staring at the screen. I ignored Patch as well, though I could sense him behind me. I dug my nails into the arms of my seat. If he thought he was going to force me to leave here, he had another thought coming.
'Nora,' said Patch, in a sing-song voice. 'Time to go!'
'God damn it, leave me alone!' I snapped, not caring if the couple behind me got pissed.
'Oy, do you mind? We're trying to watch the movie!'
'Look, I told you it's not my fault!' I said, turning around furiously in my seat. 'It's his - oh.'
The guy and the girl were gone, probably freaked out by my seemingly talking to thin air. There was another couple behind me that I hadn't noticed before. The guy was pale, with dark, shaggy hair. The girl had curly hair and was wearing a grey sweater of some sort. The guy had a carton of popcorn he was munching on, while the girl was snuggled next to him. They were staring at me, him annoyed and her curiously, but then...their eyes slid over to Patch.
'I wasn't talking to you,' said the man, glancing back at me. He returned his attention to Patch 'Hey, tall, dark, and creepy, mind leaving the girl alone?'
A murderous look flashed across Patch's face, but he quickly smoothed it over with a smile, one that pretty much said Ignore me, or I'll shank you. 'I'm sorry to disturb you,' he said. 'Just a spat, we were going.'
He grabbed me by the upper arm and tried to pull me out of my seat. 'What the hell? Get off!' I shouted, trying to pull free. No matter how hard I tried though, I couldn't break his grip.
The woman jumped to her feet, a look of absolute disgust on her face. A second later my arm was free, but I hardly noticed. I was too busy staring as Patch went flying ass over tincups across the theater.
'I don't think she's ready to go, hot stuff,' said the woman.
Patch was on his feet in a second. 'How did you -?'
'Annie! Mitchell! Can you believe what they charge for popcorn here?' Patch was cut off as another man stepped into the theater, a drink and small popcorn at hand. 'And if you ask for butter, they glare at you and - what's going on here?' He looked from Patch to the woman - Annie - and back. 'Annie, did you lose control again?'
'No,' said Annie, tossing her head. 'That was on purpose.'
'Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy,' said the dark-haired man - Mitchell - as he chewed on more popcorn.
'Who are you people?' roared Patch, his patience at an end. 'How come you can see me?'
I cringed. He was going to do something. Make a scene. Hurt them. I knew it. 'It's alright,' I said, starting to get out of my seat. 'I'm going! They have nothing to do with this!'
'No, no, you stay where you're at,' said Annie.
'Right,' said Mitchell. 'Let's get this over with. I want to go back to this very stupid movie. I am a vampire. George here is a werewolf.'
'Just announce it to the world, why don't you!' cried George, and I'm sure he would have thrown up his hands if they had been empty.
'And Annie here is a ghost,' said Mitchell, ignoring George's outburst. 'That's us. Now if I was to guess what you are...hmm. I've never seen one before, but Herrick did mention it. You smell very...well, 'airy' was how Herrick put it.'
'Really?' George sniffed. 'I caught a wiff of that, but thought it was his detergent.'
Patch sneered. 'What are you getting at?'
'You're an angel,' said Mitchell bluntly.
'A what?' asked George, nearly dropping his popcorn.
'I would have pegged him as a bastard,' muttered Annie.
'And I'd also say you're a fallen angel, given that I'm not bothered by you're presence,' Mitchell continued on. 'Well, more bothered than I would be normally by an asshole like yourself.'
'Nora come on! We're leaving,' snapped Patch, grabbing my arm. He tried to yank me towards the door, while I dub my heels into the ground. A second later and a head jerk from Annie and Patch was on the floor again.
'Good God, does he treat you like this often?' asked George.
'Only on days ending in the letter 'Y'.'
'And hold on, you said he's a fallen angel? As in a demon?' asked George, turning to Mitchell.
'Precisely.' It was hard to tell in the darkness of the theater, but I swear something changed in Mitchell's eyes. I couldn't look very hard though, because Patch was on his feet again, trying to drag me away.
'Oh my bloody hell, give it up!' snapped Annie.
George beat her to the punch though. Within seconds, he was down the aisle and socked Patch right in the kisser. It didn't hurt Patch, but he was knocked backwards and was clearly stunned.
'Good thing it's a full moon in two days,' I heard Annie whisper to Mitchell.
'Right,' said Mitchell. 'Annie, George, why don't you show...'
'Nora,' I said.
' - Nora the lovely concession stand.'
'Fantastic. Right this way,' said George, leading me up the aisle and through the door. Annie trotted out behind us. I glanced over my shoulder as I left. Mitchell was advancing slowly towards Patch, making a terrifying hissing sound. As the door swung shut behind me, I could have sworn I saw him lunge for Patch's throat."
ZeldaQueen: Oh man, now that is catharsis! And if anyone wonders why Nora can see Annie, either pretend that it's because Nora is part Nephilim, or that it's one of the earlier seasons, when everyone could see her.
Anyway, of course that spite fic never happens. Instead, Nora obediently gets up and leaves the theater, with Patch breathing down her neck along the way. Yes, really. Fitzpatrick even writes him as being "unsettlingly close, not quite touching", and you can not convince me that she was not listening to the theme from Jaws when she wrote this.
And Nora. Nora, the alleged Havard-bound girl. Nora, who is walking off with this guy of her own free will, without making the slightest effort to defy or escape him. Nora. You are a dumbass.
And the spite fic made things run a bit too long, so we will stop here. Part two should be up soon. And no, the fact that this is the only chapter beside Chapter Twenty-Three to be a two-parter is not a good omen. Why do you ask?
Onward to: Chapter 26 (Part 2)
Back to: Chapter 24
Return to to: Table of Contents
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
Chapter 26 (Part 1)
ZeldaQueen: Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay with this chapter. It's just....this chapter. I hate it. I hate it very much. It is creepy and leaves a horrible taste in my mouth and I want it to die in a fire. If we hadn't had that bit with Patch chasing Nora around the motel room, I'd say this chapter is the most disgusting and depraved point in the story. Actually, in some ways it is even worse. So...please make sure there are no sharp implements within reach while reading this.
Right.
Nora arrives at the movie theater, and apparently it's very crowded because it's Sunday and just before Spring Break. Oh look, a time reference! I will be honest, ladies and gentlemen, I completely forgot what time of year it was. When Nora was in Portland, I thought it was October or November. It wasn't until I looked over my sporking notes for the first chapter and saw that this is all supposed to be in April. Anyway, Nora spends this entire time being paranoid that Dabria will snatch her up or something. I really don't know. Dabria is so pointless and has such a faint presence in this story, I honestly don't care about her. We all know she's not going to succeed in killing Nora, if only because there are three more books in this horrible series.
And then Nora spouts off what will give us a taste of the creepy to come
"Of course, deep inside, I knew Dabria wasn't my biggest worry. Sooner or later Patch was going to figure out I wasn't at Delphic. Based on past experience, I didn't have any illusions about being able to hide long term from him. He would find me. And then I'd be forced to confront him with the question I was dreading. More specifically, I dreaded his answer. Because there was a shadow of doubt at the back of my mind, whispering that Dabria had been telling the truth about what it would take for Patch to get a human body"
ZeldaQueen: I really have nothing to say to that. That's just sickening. Do you know what that sounds like? It sounds like Nora is scared that Patch will beat her for disobeying his orders and going places he does not approve, and that no matter how far or long she runs from him, he will track her down and teach her a lesson
ZeldaQueen: Thank you so very much for that, Fitzpatrick. That's exactly what this story needed, especially after that incredibly creepy dominating "I can kill you if I wanted to, and I'm going to put you in your place for seeing things I didn't want you to see" scene in the motel.
And I'm not touching the bit about Nora seriously thinking that Patch might be planning to sacrifice her for a human body. It's going to be something of a running theme for this chapter, and I don't want to keep repeating myself. So, I shall save it!
Nora then starts going on about how she's at the movie theater and is checking the show times, because of course that's much more engrossing and worthy of attention than the fact that your boyfriend might be planning to murder you. Priorities!
Yep, I'm saving my rants for later in the chapter.
For some random reason, Nora decides to go in to see a movie herself. I mean, I know she's looking for Vee, but she just spontaneously does this. We get no insight into her thought process and have no idea why she makes this decision. Seriously Fitzpatrick, you can't do this in first person narration. I know that it's clunky to write down every single thing passing through the protagonist's head, but I'd imagine that motivations for doing tasks is important! Even just having her think "I couldn't see Vee, Elliot, or Jules in the lobby, so I went to purchase a ticket. Maybe, just maybe, I could find them inside one of the theaters".
Anyway, Nora asks for a ticket to see The Sacrifice, because I guess if it's good enough for one ham-fisted, overly symbolik usage, it's good enough for two in Fitzpatrick's book. Nora tosses a lot of loose change and small bills at the girl taking tickets, and we get a very pointless bit where Nora identifies the girl as someone she vaguely knows from school, "She was a senior, and I was pretty sure her name was Kaylie or Kylie". This is the first and only time we see Kaylie or Kylie, so I fail to see how important it is to name her. Anyway, Kaylie or Kylie bitches Nora out for paying like that, telling her to use a credit card next time. Meanwhile, everyone in the line starts getting pissed with Nora as well. Um, was she paying entirely in pennies? The average ticket price in the United States when this book was published was seven dollars and fifty cents. Even if Nora only paid in one dollar bills and nickles, it shouldn't take that long to count it all up.
Nora makes an unfunny joke about cleaning her piggy bank out, and I really don't care. Nora asks if Kaylie or Kylie saw Vee at all, and Kaylie or Kylie is extremely bitchy, telling Nora that it's a busy night and she can't remember everyone who came for a movie. I personally would have asked if Nora honestly expected me to know every single person in the high school, especially since Vee is in a different grade and apparently wouldn't know this girl from any classes or clubs.
If I might pause here for a minute, am I the only one who noticed how unbelievably nasty the various people who have waited on Nora have been? The waitress at the diner, the guy running the motel, the security guard at the library, and now this chick. Yes, I know people who do jobs like selling tickets at the movie theater aren't always in the best of moods especially on long nights, but all of these people are like that! Is this some mysterious world where customer service standards aren't upheld? Or did Fitzpatrick have a really bad experience with a waitress and was permanently soured to everyone in the service industry? It's almost as bad as Stephenie Meyer thinking that all salespeople kiss ass just because a customer has a shiny credit card.
So yeah, Nora goes to the theater the movie is showing in, and apparently it's a ridiculously small theater, with only two screens. And yes, I am aware that there are movie theaters that small, but a few seconds on Google shows us that right now, the Coldwater Cinemas is showing no less than ten movies right now. Even if Fitzpatrick just ignored real life (which she probably did), how is just two movie theaters going to make any money? I wasn't aware that the town was particularly small, and apparently people come crowding in there. How do they handle big crowds with two theaters???
*sigh* In any case, Nora checks out both theaters and, of course, does not find Vee. And so our Intrepid Heroine, with her friend in danger and her boyfriend possibly out for her blood, makes a daring move. She sits down in one of the theaters and starts watching the movie and collecting her thoughts.
Our Heroine, ladies and gentlemen.
We get a very brief bit of wangsting over how stressed she is from learning about Nephilim and fallen angels and whatnot, and if this were a better-written story, I could buy that she's having a bit of a breakdown. Given how Nora is a complete idiot? I don't feel generous.
Anyway, Nora is checking her phone for missed calls when we get...oh Christ, it's creepy time!
"I was tucking the phone in my pocket when a carton of popcorn materialized beside me.
'Hungry?' asked a voice from just over my shoulder. The voice was quiet and not especially happy. I tried to keep my breathing calm. 'Stand up and walk out of the theater,' Patch said. 'I'll be right behind you.'
I didn't move.
'Walk out,' he repeated. 'We need to talk.'
'About how you need to sacrifice me to get a human body?' I asked, my tone light, my insides feeling leaden.
'That might be cute if you thought it was true.'
'I do think it's true!' Sort of. But the same thought kept returning-if Patch wanted to kill me, why hadn't he already?"
ZeldaQueen: Well, this is a lovely prelude to what is to come? What's the creepiest part about this?
- That the creepy bastard just appears behind her as calm as you please, complete with a quipt that sounds like something Freddy Kruger would say?
- That Patch's little "Walk out of here and I'll follow you" piece sounds exactly like what a guy would say to a hostage that he's holding a gun or knife to the ribs of?
- That Nora instantly starts getting terrified as soon as he shows up, even though we're supposed to believe that he is in True Love with her and will never hurt her?
- All of the above?
And as for Nora's constant bit about "Well if he wanted to kill me, why hasn't he done it already?", I have a reason. We will hear it in a minute.
Anyway, there's apparently just one couple in this theater besides Nora and Patch, even though we were told that it was a very busy night and that there are only two theaters. The guy starts hissing for Nora to shut up. Patch seizes the opportunity to outright tell Nora "Walk out, or I'll carry you out".
*blinks*
*stares*
ZeldaQueen: NORA. RUN. RUN AS FAR AND AS FAST AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM THIS PERSON.
I'm serious, what is that? "Walk or I'll carry you"? THE UNHOLY FUCK?
And oh, surprise, surprise, Nora is an idiot who is offended by that, but not frightened in the least. Nora, this guy has repeatedly proven that he (A) can easily overpower you and (B) clearly does not respect your wishes. RUN.
The guy continues to tell Nora to be quiet, and Nora tells him to be angry with Patch, not her. And considering how Patch is clearly trying to drag her off and seems to want to kill her, she's being remarkably calm about this entire thing! The creepy calm is decidedly not helped when she tells the guy to bring security to arrest Patch because "he wants to kill me". Nora, darling, SHOW A BIT MORE EMOTION ABOUT THIS! I BELIEVE FEAR IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE RIGHT ABOUT NOW!
The guy's girlfriend chimes in at this point and begins bitching at Nora to shut up and that no one is there. Suddenly, Nora realizes what's going on
"'You're making them think they can't see you, aren't you?' I said to Patch, awed by his power even as I despised his use of it"
ZeldaQueen: Awed by his power.
She is awed by his power.
She is awed by his ABILITY TO DOMINATE AND THREATEN HER WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING CAUGHT AND GETTING HIT WITH REPRECUSSIONS FOR IT! SHE IS AWED THAT HE CAN ENABLE HIMSELF TO STALK AND FRIGHTEN HER AND POTENTIALLY HARM HER.
FUCKING A -
ZeldaQueen: On another non-explosive note, I'd like to point out exactly what Patch is doing. He is effectively cutting off all forms of escape for Nora. He is making it impossible for her to go to anyone else for help. This is absolutely chilling. It just drives home how sick and twisted this guy is. No matter how much Nora may want to, no matter how far or how fast she goes, no matter who she goes to for help, he will always be there, mindraping everyone into not knowing he's around. And that can include Nora, because she's not immune. She can not escape from this person.
And that's not even touching on the fact that he could easily have visited Nora without the mind rape and calmly and nonthreateningly asked for a word with her in private. Heck, he could have mindraped the other people in the room to not notice Nora or himself, and thus let them talk freely right there. Instead, he chose to approach her in a manner which not only prevented her from going for help, but which also completely discredited her and made her look like a crazy wimmunz who should not be taken seriously. What an absolutely winner.
The guy tries to bribe Nora with his Coke to get her to be quiet, and I must have a spite fic here, or else I'll lose my mind
"I ignored the guy and went back to staring at the screen. I ignored Patch as well, though I could sense him behind me. I dug my nails into the arms of my seat. If he thought he was going to force me to leave here, he had another thought coming.
'Nora,' said Patch, in a sing-song voice. 'Time to go!'
'God damn it, leave me alone!' I snapped, not caring if the couple behind me got pissed.
'Oy, do you mind? We're trying to watch the movie!'
'Look, I told you it's not my fault!' I said, turning around furiously in my seat. 'It's his - oh.'
The guy and the girl were gone, probably freaked out by my seemingly talking to thin air. There was another couple behind me that I hadn't noticed before. The guy was pale, with dark, shaggy hair. The girl had curly hair and was wearing a grey sweater of some sort. The guy had a carton of popcorn he was munching on, while the girl was snuggled next to him. They were staring at me, him annoyed and her curiously, but then...their eyes slid over to Patch.
'I wasn't talking to you,' said the man, glancing back at me. He returned his attention to Patch 'Hey, tall, dark, and creepy, mind leaving the girl alone?'
A murderous look flashed across Patch's face, but he quickly smoothed it over with a smile, one that pretty much said Ignore me, or I'll shank you. 'I'm sorry to disturb you,' he said. 'Just a spat, we were going.'
He grabbed me by the upper arm and tried to pull me out of my seat. 'What the hell? Get off!' I shouted, trying to pull free. No matter how hard I tried though, I couldn't break his grip.
The woman jumped to her feet, a look of absolute disgust on her face. A second later my arm was free, but I hardly noticed. I was too busy staring as Patch went flying ass over tincups across the theater.
'I don't think she's ready to go, hot stuff,' said the woman.
Patch was on his feet in a second. 'How did you -?'
'Annie! Mitchell! Can you believe what they charge for popcorn here?' Patch was cut off as another man stepped into the theater, a drink and small popcorn at hand. 'And if you ask for butter, they glare at you and - what's going on here?' He looked from Patch to the woman - Annie - and back. 'Annie, did you lose control again?'
'No,' said Annie, tossing her head. 'That was on purpose.'
'Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy,' said the dark-haired man - Mitchell - as he chewed on more popcorn.
'Who are you people?' roared Patch, his patience at an end. 'How come you can see me?'
I cringed. He was going to do something. Make a scene. Hurt them. I knew it. 'It's alright,' I said, starting to get out of my seat. 'I'm going! They have nothing to do with this!'
'No, no, you stay where you're at,' said Annie.
'Right,' said Mitchell. 'Let's get this over with. I want to go back to this very stupid movie. I am a vampire. George here is a werewolf.'
'Just announce it to the world, why don't you!' cried George, and I'm sure he would have thrown up his hands if they had been empty.
'And Annie here is a ghost,' said Mitchell, ignoring George's outburst. 'That's us. Now if I was to guess what you are...hmm. I've never seen one before, but Herrick did mention it. You smell very...well, 'airy' was how Herrick put it.'
'Really?' George sniffed. 'I caught a wiff of that, but thought it was his detergent.'
Patch sneered. 'What are you getting at?'
'You're an angel,' said Mitchell bluntly.
'A what?' asked George, nearly dropping his popcorn.
'I would have pegged him as a bastard,' muttered Annie.
'And I'd also say you're a fallen angel, given that I'm not bothered by you're presence,' Mitchell continued on. 'Well, more bothered than I would be normally by an asshole like yourself.'
'Nora come on! We're leaving,' snapped Patch, grabbing my arm. He tried to yank me towards the door, while I dub my heels into the ground. A second later and a head jerk from Annie and Patch was on the floor again.
'Good God, does he treat you like this often?' asked George.
'Only on days ending in the letter 'Y'.'
'And hold on, you said he's a fallen angel? As in a demon?' asked George, turning to Mitchell.
'Precisely.' It was hard to tell in the darkness of the theater, but I swear something changed in Mitchell's eyes. I couldn't look very hard though, because Patch was on his feet again, trying to drag me away.
'Oh my bloody hell, give it up!' snapped Annie.
George beat her to the punch though. Within seconds, he was down the aisle and socked Patch right in the kisser. It didn't hurt Patch, but he was knocked backwards and was clearly stunned.
'Good thing it's a full moon in two days,' I heard Annie whisper to Mitchell.
'Right,' said Mitchell. 'Annie, George, why don't you show...'
'Nora,' I said.
' - Nora the lovely concession stand.'
'Fantastic. Right this way,' said George, leading me up the aisle and through the door. Annie trotted out behind us. I glanced over my shoulder as I left. Mitchell was advancing slowly towards Patch, making a terrifying hissing sound. As the door swung shut behind me, I could have sworn I saw him lunge for Patch's throat."
ZeldaQueen: Oh man, now that is catharsis! And if anyone wonders why Nora can see Annie, either pretend that it's because Nora is part Nephilim, or that it's one of the earlier seasons, when everyone could see her.
Anyway, of course that spite fic never happens. Instead, Nora obediently gets up and leaves the theater, with Patch breathing down her neck along the way. Yes, really. Fitzpatrick even writes him as being "unsettlingly close, not quite touching", and you can not convince me that she was not listening to the theme from Jaws when she wrote this.
And Nora. Nora, the alleged Havard-bound girl. Nora, who is walking off with this guy of her own free will, without making the slightest effort to defy or escape him. Nora. You are a dumbass.
And the spite fic made things run a bit too long, so we will stop here. Part two should be up soon. And no, the fact that this is the only chapter beside Chapter Twenty-Three to be a two-parter is not a good omen. Why do you ask?
Onward to: Chapter 26 (Part 2)
Back to: Chapter 24
Return to to: Table of Contents