The Ink Family Legacy: Generation 5, Chapter 9 Part 1
Er...hi? XD
As to where I've been, read here!
But yes, it's finally time to visit the Inks again. And, since it's been so very long, let's recap what happened last chapter!
(Do we even remember who everyone is...?)
While Abel was away doing band related things, Amélie's odd habits got progressively worse! It got to a point where Kira had to just let things go, as her vampire sister-in-law would always come home eventually.
Jude was the picture perfect big brother to his twin sisters! He was so well behaved that his parents allowed him to come to a party where he met one Tobias Hooke and his daughter, Pearl. Tobias saw in Jude what his parents didn't - a craving for power.
Not long after, Alex Ink was born, growing up to look just like a dark haired Jin! Jude did not take very well to his new brother, which came as a shock to the rest of the family.
Amélie became a young adult and seemed to calm down in someways, but still would have outbursts where she'd go missing for days, worrying Abel sick.
September and Sophia became children and found themselves the owner of one imaginary friend, who've they've named Sen! With Sophie's insanity and Temmy's cowardice, things are bound to only get crazier.
And that's all there really is to say on the matter! Let's begin, shall we?
--- --- --- --- ---
Missed a chapter this gen?
| 5.1a | 5.1b | 5.1c | 5.1d |
| 5.2a | 5.2b | 5.2c | 5.3a |
| 5.3b | 5.3c | 5.4a | 5.4b |
| 5.4c | 5.4d | 5.4e | 5.5a |
| 5.5b | 5.5c | 5.5d | 5.6a |
| 5.6b | 5.6c | 5.6d | 5.7a |
| 5.7b | 5.7c | 5.8a | 5.8b |
| 5.8c |
Missed more than that?
| Archives |
--- --- --- --- ---
"Amy."
Lyle's voice broke the near perfect silence. Even though it was the usual chaos just inside the house, out here on the deck it was so, so quiet.
"You're not falling asleep are you?" he chuckled. "Didn't you say these were your 'prime hours' or whatever?"
"No, I'm just thinking." Amy murmured in reply.
"Oh, big surprise there! Ames, if you thought anymore your brain might literally melt."
His tone was joking, but there was a shadow of sincerity in his expression. Sometimes Amélie felt so far away. Even though she was with him, her eyes were always focused on something else, far in the distance.
So he did all he could to bring her back down to earth.
"Amy, hello? We're supposed to be on a date here. If you want to stargaze, that's cool, but can we at least do it together?"
Amy blinked, her eyes focusing on him for the first time. Good.
"Ah, sorry! You're right. I'm being terrible, aren't I?"
"Not terrible, no." Lyle said, kissing her as she sat up. "Just a little distant. You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Amélie smiled against his lips but divulged nothing. "Want to use the telescope? I bet we could see Jupiter much better that way."
There wasn't a whole lot to see from the backyard (it was all country roads back there), but they found it fun nonetheless.
"See anyone sneaking out?"
"Not yet...oh! Ha ha, Lyle, look!"
"Ha ha ha! What makes him think he could wear that?!"
"I know right? The mayor of Riverview is into some weird stuff!"
The two of them dissolved into giggling, earning an odd stare from Kira on the other side of the window. Perhaps...perhaps it's best to leave some things unexplored.
"Okay, but seriously, let's leave the poor guy alone." Amy laughed after she caught her breath.
"Alright, alright. Wanna sit back down?"
Amy really did cherish this time with Lyle.
But somewhere, needling away at the back of her mind, was a familiar voice.
"This won't last."
Sometimes she thought it was Anne's voice. Sometimes it sounded like her own.
"Hey, Amy. I know that you prefer the night and all, but do you think we could try a day date sometime?"
Amélie exhaled, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. After a second with her eyes closed, she smiled at him. "That sounds lovely."
"But let's enjoy this for now, okay?"
--- --- --- --- ---
"Amy! Hey, over here!"
"Wow, you took your time, huh? The movie's gonna start!"
Yes, against Amélie's better reasoning, she decided to go on a day date with Lyle. After all, like Anne, she was a vampire that needn't fear the sun.
"Sorry." she replied. "I normally watch the kids during this time, so I had to drop them off with their grandfather."
"Ha! Can he even handle the four of them?"
"Well, they're very well behaved. Even Sophie listens to Luke."
"To be fair, if you would've been on time, I would've been late! I was picking something out for you."
"Oh?"
"Would it have anything to do with the bouquet you're not-so-artfully hiding behind your back?"
"...dammit."
"Tsk tsk Lyle!" Amy laughed, clucking her tongue. "You should know by now that you can't hide things from me."
Lyle rolled his eyes and dramatically presented the roses anyway. "Roses for my rose, Amélie dear."
"Rose, huh?" Amy giggled. "How very Shakespearean of you."
"I try."
"Now, are you ready to see Breaking Dawn Part Two?"
"...you're kidding."
"Ha ha! Of course I am, that's stupid. Let's see The Hunger Games or something."
"Dinner and a movie" is par for the course, which always made Amy feel slightly awkward. It was a very nice restaurant, and she was sure the food here was excellent. Too bad it all tasted like sand to her.
"Are you sure you don't want anything, Ames? This isn't a diet thing, is it? Because you're body's totally rockin' as it is, as I've oft testified."
"You know, I'm pretty sure Abel told you to stop saying that."
"Hey, what he can't hear can't bother him. But my point stands. You can't be okay with those silly juice cartons."
Amy smiled again, almost tensely. "It's okay. I'm only ever thirsty anyway."
Lyle frowned at her odd expression. "Are you thirsty now?"
She kept smiling. He didn't miss the spark of panic that danced in her eyes.
The dinner passed without further incident, so Lyle and Amy found themselves sitting calmly by the river, watching the sunset.
"Really? You're gonna sit all the way over there?" Lyle teased.
"It's a bit safer." she half-teased back.
"Ah, I'm up for a little danger. C'mere."
"After all," he chuckled as she slid closer. "I still risk kissing you with your rare genetic disease fangs."
"Yes, you've proven yourself quite a daredevil with that." Amy admitted. "Even if you've suffered for it."
"Totally worth it."
"And worth risking again, if you catch my drift."
"Lyle, your 'drift' could push a sailboat around the equator with all that subtlety."
"Fine! Wanna make out?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Amélie liked to laugh like everything was just fine. Like they were just any two kids in love.
If only things were that simple.
In a flash, Amélie was up and away from him. Whenever she felt even the slightest indication that her instincts were getting away from her, she ran.
"A-Amy! What is it? Did I do something wrong?"
"No." Her voice came out much more curt than she meant it to be. "I...I just need some air."
"Amy, please, if something's wrong, just tell me!" Lyle pleaded. "I'm tired of you hiding things all the time!"
He took a step closer, noting with a thrill of fear the way her every muscle tightened.
"Amy -"
Again, she moved disconcertingly fast. Too fast for him to track for sure - he startled when he felt her hand on his face.
"...A-Amélie?"
Her expression was blank.
But then, for a fleeting second, she smiled.
And that's where his memory ended, seared into a clean cut.
--- --- ---
"Ugh..."
Everything was fuzzy.
Amélie absentmindedly touched the side of her mouth, where she felt something trickling down. Her fingers came away red.
And then everything snapped clear.
"L-Lyle?" she whispered brokenly, crawling over to him. "Lyle?!"
His sides moved up and down rhythmically. Relief flooded her in a sick swoop - she almost buckled to the ground and started crying.
As if he were made of glass, Amélie gently moved Lyle. He looked like he could have been sleeping, dozing off while watching the stars.
No one that passed by could have guessed that this fragile, tightly wound girl next to him nearly ended his life.
It would have been so simple to do. Effortless.
"Oh god."
"Make it stop make it stop make it stop make it stop make it stop..."
She was a broken loop, the end of a record.
"I could've killed him."
"I almost did."
"Is this what I really am, then?"
"I...I need to get out of here before it's too late."
--- --- --- --- ---
Lyle was home. Returned to his roommate with a shaky excuse of 'drank too much and fell asleep'. If they noticed the bandage on his neck, they didn't say.
Then, after scrubbing the blood off hard enough to make her skin peel, Amy returned home.
And there he was, like she knew he'd be.
Awake at six in the morning, worried sick.
She hated that look on his face. Abel desperately wanted to save her, to keep his little sister safe from the world.
Too bad he couldn't keep her from tearing from the inside out.
She unlocked the gate and was instantly greeted by Abel running towards her.
"Amy! Oh thank god, there you are!"
"Are you okay?! What's wrong?! Where have you been?!"
Always the same questions. She would usually pull out the same three answers: Yes. Nothing. Nowhere.
But today she couldn't muster up the strength to lie. She hoped that if she stayed quiet long enough, he'd drop the matter long enough for her to regain that strength.
But then Abel paused, looking at her strangely.
"Amélie. You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Ouch. Straight to the heart.
"Y-yeah?"
"Tell me then. Honestly. Did you...did you drink someone's blood?"
His blunt accuracy made her startle out of his grip. And she was angry - irrationally so, she knew - but more at herself than him. And irrational anger begets irrational answers.
"That's none of your business, Abel. Stay out of it."
Abel replied, very evenly.
"You don't mean that."
Tears flooded her eyes. Of course. Of course Abel would find a way.
"I don't. I don't! Abel, I messed up. I really did!"
"It's okay, Amy. No one's blaming you."
"It doesn't matter!" she wanted to scream. "I blame myself."
But instead, she clung to her brother like he was the only thing holding her up. And damn it, he held her like he knew that.
Ever since she was a child, the only one that could make her feel safe was Abel. He had been barely eighteen, yet to her he seemed perfect. Perfect and safe and able to handle anything she would go through.
And she knew that wasn't fair to him.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Mmm."
Her head was clearer, at least. And now that she was calm, she hoped she could present her case a little clearer.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Abel asked gently.
"No. Not yet. But there is something else I'd like to talk about."
Amélie slumped over, cradling her head in one hand.
"Abel, I need to leave."
"You...want to move out? I think there are some apartments downtown..."
"No Abel. I need to leave Riverview. I need to get far away from here."
"W-wait. Wait a minute! Amy, you're tired. How about you sleep on it and -"
"I won't change my mind."
"Is...is it something I did? Please, Amy, we can change whatever you want! I told you that you could live with me your whole life, remember?"
"Abel, don't do this to me. Please. I...I don't think I'll ever get any better if I stay here. And then I'll do something I can never take back."
Abel remained quiet for a long while. "You think going away will make you happier?"
"It's not really about that. You, Rhyme, Noah, Seth, Sparrow...you all love me too much. You tell me that I'm fine just the way I am. But honestly? I'm not. I think this is the only way to...come to terms with everything, I guess."
He couldn't formulate a good response to that.
Maybe she was right. Maybe he and everyone else had been so desperate to keep her stable that they shot down anything she tried to change. They always told her it was okay. It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, over and over.
He wondered now if that was only hurting her.
--- --- --- --- ---
News of Amélie's imminent departure spread fast amongst the family. And, as expected, it didn't go over well.
"Amy, cut it out. Listen to me! I don't know where you got it into your head that you need to leave, but honestly? The rest of the world isn't all that great."
"I'm not naive, Kira. I know it's not going to be as comfortable as home. That's why I need to go."
Kira didn't let up though. "You really think this is the way to do it?! Decide to leave and then get out within the week?! Fuck that. Calm down and plan. You don't have anywhere to go! You don't have a job set up, hell, you don't even really know where you're going."
"I...I appreciate your concern -"
"Concern?! I'm far beyond concerned. Abel and I can't sleep. I'm out of my mind with worry that you'll end up in some godforsaken ditch somewhere!"
"Amy...I know I'm just your sister-in-law. But damn it, I've lived with you since you were seven. I took you to school. I made you soup when you were sick. We had tea parties. I've gone to every one of your art shows and your parent teacher conferences. I did your hair and make up for prom. And through it all, I've always thought of you as the little sister I never got to have. Do you think, after all that, I would be okay with this?"
"I didn't know you felt that way."
"But you're not changing your mind, are you?"
"I'm sorry, Kira. But, if it's any consolation...I've always thought of myself as having three sisters."
It wasn't any easier breaking the news to the kids.
"...so that's the story. It's not that I'll never see you guys again! I'm just going to see the world."
"Amy, you can't leave us!" Sophie complained immediately. "Who's going to check under my bed for space hedgehogs now>?!"
"You promised that you'd teach me how to paint watercolors." September protested softly.
"I can't believe this!" Jude grumbled. "I thought we were a team, Amy!"
"I'm so sorry." Amélie offered sincerely. "Believe me when I say I'll miss you all so, so much."
It was hard for them to understand. As they were still so young, they never really noticed anything wrong with Amy. She was eccentric, sure, but she was their aunt and they loved her. That she would leave after being there their whole lives was unfathomable.
But they were resilient. Amélie hoped that, before long, missing her would stop hurting.
"Amy, Amy! Bag pack!"
"That's right Alex! I do have everything packed. You're such a smart boy."
Alex smiled shyly, clearly pleased.
"You probably won't even remember me, will you?" she murmured.
Alex looked up at her, puzzled. "Amy go away?"
"For a while, yeah."
"Oh. Then see you soon!"
Amélie smiled sadly and cradled her nephew a little closer.
"Your 'soon' and my 'soon' are a bit different, buddy."
--- --- --- --- ---
Bags packed, goodbyes said.
Amélie had bus tickets to a far away city, the farthest she could get on this bus line. Where she would go from there, she didn't know.
Abel had given her a lot of money and begged her to call. To let him know that she at least had a place to stay and food to eat. She cracked a weak vampire joke, but he didn't smile.
She hoped she was strong enough to stay away until she was better. If she came back before then, she would probably never be able to leave again.
"So that's it then?"
Ah. A confrontation she was hoping to avoid.
"You're just going to leave without even saying goodbye?"
Amélie was clearly distressed but didn't say anything. She didn't think she could trust herself to speak without this turning into a spectacle.
"Amy, I thought we loved each other! I loved you, at least. I understand that there's something going on with you that you don't want to talk about, but you couldn't at least ask if I wanted to come with you? I'd drop everything and follow you, you know."
"...do you mean that?"
"What?"
"Would you follow me? Go far away from everyone you've ever known? I don't even know where I'm going, really."
"Amy, I'd follow you to the ends of the earth."
"Would you follow me even further than that?"
"Er, follow you further than is humanly possible?"
She walked forward and placed a hand on the side of his face, startling him. He felt an odd sense of deja vu, but couldn't quite place where this had ever happened to him before.
"Yes. Farther than is humanly possible."
"Well, if you're willing to put up with me, yeah." Lyle admitted. "Is this...is this kind of a marriage proposal thing?"
"Something like that."
--- --- --- --- ---
This part ended up being all about Amélie, ha ha! And now she's gone. The spares can't stay forever!
Coincidentally, none of the kids call Amy "Aunt Amélie" or whatever is because Amy is only ten years older than Jude. She never seemed very aunt-like to them! But Rhyme/Isis/Diana/Sparrow all get the 'Aunt So-and-So' treatment. [But this is something that no one cares about but me...]
To continue reading about the Inks minus Amy, head to Part Two!