-Ian's POV-
Well... I didn't want it to happen, but at this point, it must. My sunglasses came off for once in my life. And my alter ego took over.
"This'll be fun."

-Sky's POV-
The rain kept coming, and after 3 days, it shows absolutely no sign of letting up. Ian comes into the kitchen to get breakfast, and I notice something about his energy. It's more relaxed than usual, and yet, it's not at the same time. He seems more hyper, with more to talk about, but he also has a deep calm to him, setting me on edge.
"Ian? You okay, man?" "Oh, I'm fine. Thank you for asking, Sky." That doesn't sound like Ian... "Are you sure man? I don't think that's you." "Oh it's not. I appreciate the recognition. I'm not exactly Ian. I'm his alter ego. Name is still Ian, but I like stuff that Ian doesn't."
"Like what?" "Toxicology. Ian's a baker. Did you know that? Doubtful. Ian is too drawn back." "He seems fine to me. He helps Jason." "Jason is nothing. He can do better." "Excuse me? Jason is very important."
"Sure. How?" "He helps with figuring out the Wither's curse. The extent of the curse. How far it can go in a child like him." "Oh that's so helpful. What's he gonna do next? Explode? That would be awesome." "That would be sad. How dare you want that! It's rude."
"So what? It's not like I care. And if he helps so much, why'd you lock him up?" "He can do damage, and I can't let him get that frustrated. It'll hurt him." "Nice tactic then. Let him get frustrated in the cell instead." "He agreed to go down if it came down to it. It's for the safety of everyone." "Then it's useless. Who cares about the idiots out there? They ruined your life." I flinched.
"How do you know?" "Sky. I'm not an idiot. I can hear it in your voice. You hesitate." "That's because I'm used to saying players. Not people. It's just how I was taught." "Liar. It bothers you. I'm really not an idiot, Skybrine. I know your secret." He got close to me, and I looked down and away even though I couldn't see him.
"It killed you to go back. That day when you were five? Remember how they tried to kill you? Remember how your mother's father tried so hard to kill you? Your own grandfather?" "Stop. I won't take this from you. Fuck off." It shook me to the core to hear those words from him. "Very well, but remember this conversation. I'll be back to finish it properly. And it will end with you in tears."
He left the room. I leaned on the counter, and breathed. Ian had said things I had wished to forget. I'd started to forget, but Ian resurfaced every part of that nightmare memory.
Quietly, I made my way to my room, and laid there, confused and shell shocked. I could faintly hear Ty and Anthony talking down below, but didn't bother with it. I heard footsteps, and someone walked in my room. A voice I recognized rang in my ears.
Brice asked, "Are you okay?" "No, Brice. I'm not." "What's wrong?" "Ian has an alter ego. Did you know that?" "I didn't. But what did he do?"
"He resurfaced a memory I wanted to forget so badly." "Do you mind telling me? To vent out?" "Sure. It's a long and painful memory to remember though." "I don't mind."
"Well, the year after my mom died, I had already turned five. So I wanted to go and see the town, like how they'd repaired it and stuff. So I went down after I told my dad. I got there, and noticed a bunch of people bustling around happily. One saw me, and freaked.
I was little, so I didn't understand. I sat stood there, watching. The man didn't see a point to walking away, so he grabbed my wrist. He dragged me to the town square, where hundreds of people were. He held me up.
He yelled, "This is a demon! If we had guards, we could keep demons out! This is dishonorable to our leader to let this monster through!" Several of the citizens paid attention, and jeered at me. It saddened me.
But the man wouldn't let me flee. He kept a terrible, tight grip on my wrist. I tried desperately to wriggle free, but he refused. Someone stepped forward out of the crowd, and it nearly made me cry. He looked like my mom.
It broke my heart to see a gun in his hand. He wanted to kill me on the spot. He even aimed the gun straight to my head. It was my grandfather, and I didn't have a clue. He got so close to killing me, and my dad came.
He struck lightning down on the crowd, and scattered the people. A few died from the strike. I fled the town, and vowed to myself I'd never go back voluntarily. I was only forced to go so I could try and find Jason. I hated myself for going back. It scared me.
But I will always try to forget, never to succeed."
"Well that sucks. Are you okay with it?" "Hell no. I hate having to remember. I despise being cursed to remember. It kills me. Physically and mentally." "Sky, there are things you have to move past. And as hard and painful as it is, you must." "Brice. I've tried. It's impossible."
"Really? What did you say when you were little? About walking without a guide?" "Impossible." "And that was blown past. Nothing is impossible. Some things take years, and decades to pass, but nothing is impossible."
"Fine. But it's one of those things that take decades to pass. It's legitimately been a decade and a half, and it hasn't passed. Mainly because people or other memories resurface it."
"Well, these things happen. And we just have to wrap it up and pack it away. It just depends on how well you pack it. If it just sits in the center of the floor, of course it'll bug you. If it's packed tightly in a pile or something, it'll stay away. Pack it well this time."
"Brice?" "Yeah?" "What if I can't? What if I don't have space to pack it away properly?" "Then throw it away. Or crush it in somewhere. Just some place it will never get back to you."

-Rob's POV-
I'd noticed a few months ago, but decided to let it slide. Preston had taken to wearing the queen's crown, and I didn't have the heart to tell him no. But Preston is like... the realest bae, so... Lachlan asked once about it, and I told him it just kinda happened. I also saw that Sky had somehow noticed it too, but he never asked.
Preston stayed in my room, and I didn't mind. I loved the company. It made me feel better. Several times a day, I'd fix Preston's cloak, because it would slip off his shoulders or something, and I'd fix it. One day, it fell completely off, and he tripped on it.
I caught him, and stood him upright. I fixed the cloak, and he hugged me tightly. Unexpectedly, he leaned over and pecked my cheek affectionately. I froze, happily bewildered into silence. He blushed and bounded up to our room.
I found my twelve year old counterpart in the room, terrified- sitting in the corner hugging his knees. "Preston? What's wrong?" He pointed a shaking hand to the space behind me. I turned to find a flash of red, and blackness consumed me. Pain was all I felt.
My eyes refocused to see stone brick walls, and Preston beside me. My head hurt terribly, and found open, bleeding gashes in Preston's arms and a deep flesh wound in his left leg. "Preston?" His voice wavered. "Yeah Robby?" "Are you okay?" "No... Help?"
I tore bits off our cloaks, and wrapped his arms and leg. "How does it feel now?" "Better... But it still hurts, Robby." "Okay, Preston. Relax. Breathe." He leaned into me.
I held him while he relaxed a bit, and when he could finally breathe normally again, I let go. A shadow appeared in front of us from the bars. It was on the other side, so it wasn't in the cell. A deep, angry voice echoed across the walls. It sent chills down my spine.
"Well, the Flower King." It snarled. "How pleasant to see you in a cage. It's been forever since I saw you. And who is this?" "Preston." "And why, may I ask, does he wear the queen's crown?" "Because he is. My mother is dead."
"Oh, quite a shame. But realize this, Flower King." The voice paused, and drew a breath. "I am the one who disposed of her." I felt blind rage and hate well up inside, and turned away. Preston pulled me into him.
"Oh but Flower King-" It taunted. "Your choice in queen is frowned upon, and will be dispersed." "I hate you! Preston will never leave!" "Oh, not willingly... But he will leave."
I suddenly felt Preston's grip on my shoulder tighten, and he held me closer. "Robby?" "Yeah?" "What do you mean by I'm a queen?" "The crown you're wearing is the queen's crown. I left it out for you to find on purpose. I couldn't figure out how to ask."
"Oh. I love you, Robby." "I love you too, Preston. Now we really need to get some sleep."

-Preston's POV-
Well, I guess I'm Rob's queen. I love it, and I love him. He deserves so much, and gets nothing. He gets plenty he doesn't want or need, but what he wants and needs is never given. Except by me and the other guys. We give what he needs.
He needed someone to care, someone to go to in a time of need. He never wanted or needed the crown to live his life. He actually told me he tried to refuse it, but was forced into it by his mom. But now, it pays to be forced.
Rob sits curled into my side, with my arm draped over him perfectly. He'd fallen asleep already, so I leaned my head against his, which lay on my shoulder. I rubbed his shoulder, because I felt his body rattle a little. He was clearly shaken by what the person had said though. He admitted to killing Rob's mom- straight to Rob's face, too!
But exhaustion caught up, and I fell into a deep sleep leaned against Rob. Tomorrow is another day.