Beyond The Tribe - alternative and parallel stories by the fans

Blaze

Episode Sixty One

Danni tried to creep quietly back to her room but she felt as thought there was a big, luminous neon sign above her head saying ‘I’m cheating on Bray.’ Worse still, on the way up the stairs she met Tai-san. You didn’t have to be anyone special to see something was up."Danni?”
Danni’s eyes wavered, trying to avoid contact. ‘Hi Tai-san!’ she said cheerfully, ‘How’s things?’But she hardly waited for a reply.
Tai-san called after her, ‘Hey Danni! Bray was looking for you.’ A shudder ran through her body, she couldn’t see him just now, she had to give it time. Danni arrived in her room, ready to collapse onto the bed and cry. As she got nearer her room a strange smell hit her nose. Was it burning? What?! She rushed into the room, half expecting to see Bray being dragged out of some flames. Seth was there sitting on the bed having a cigarette.
‘Seth?’
‘Yeah?’ he saw her staring strangely at what he was holding in his hand. ‘Oh this, bit of a blast from the past isn’t it. I hope you don’t mind me smoking in here, I went ahead and ignored the Mall’s ‘Welcome to smoke-free shopping area’ signs.’ He held out his hand and offered it to her.
‘No, thanks, I don’t smoke. I didn’t know you did.’
He laughed, ‘Danni, do you honestly know anyone who smokes any more?’
‘I suppose not, where did you get them?’
‘On the market, they cost me an arm and a leg.’
That made Danni curious, ‘So…um… what did you trade to get them?’
Exactly the right question, Seth squirmed. ‘Look, I just felt a craving OK?’
Danni didn’t go any further, she breathed in the smoke, it was such a strange smell after all this time.
Seth got up and made to leave, ‘Danni, I was just in there to give you a message, Bray wants to see you. You’re not up to anything now are you?’
She was trapped. She shrugged, ‘OK.’
‘Sure, and don’t tell anyone about this yeah?’ he said, holding up the cigarette and then stubbing it out on the inside of the doorframe.
‘I won’t need to. You, I mean we, reek of it.’
‘Oh well, never mind I just don’t like the idea of having to share them.’ It came out like a joke but Seth meant every word of it. ‘And about Bray, he’s pushing himself too hard at the moment, see if you can get him to stay in bed for a bit longer and stop rushing around like a mad thing. Is he always like this?’
Danni nodded, ‘Sure is.’
Seth kept quiet, if Danni knew what lengths he’d gone to to get this half-full packet he could be in trouble. But he needed them, that’s what he told himself, everything, Ebony, Danni, Bray, Lex, was getting on top if him This was why he wasn’t in a tribe; he hated having to cope with other people.

Episode Sixty Two

‘Danni!’ Bray’s face lit up and hers fell. She corrected it quickly and moved forward to hug him. ‘Danni?’ he said more suspiciously. ‘You smell…’
‘Yeah, I know. Ask no questions, get told no lies,’ she said wearily.
Bray laughed, ‘Well OK, since you put it like that. I missed you last night - you were going to come up and see me.’
Seth coughed in the background, ‘um… I’m going now bye! Hey Danni, remember what I said!’
‘Which bit of it?’ she called after him.
‘All of it!’ he called from around the corner.
She turned back to Bray who had a mystified look on his face. ‘Don’t ask.’
‘Fine. I trust you. Danni, I just want to say thank you.’
‘What for?’ she said uneasily.
‘For sticking by me through this. Seth says my skin's all but healed on my face, well as healed as its gonna get. The bandages will be coming off soon…' It was Danni’s turn to comment but her guilt was throttling her. ‘…and anyway, I was just warning you in advance.’
‘Warning me?’
‘Yeah, I mean it’ll be fairly horrific, you realise that.’
What could Danni say to that? ‘It um.. doesn’t matter, you know that.’
Bray saw her uneasiness and wasn’t sure how to read it. ‘Anyway, I’ve missed you,’ he smiled, ‘and I was thinking…’
‘Oh God, look at the time. I promised I’d talk to.. um… one of the work parties. I’ve gotta go.’
‘Wait, Danni! What about?’
‘I’ll report back later. Take it easy yeah?’ And she left the room.

Danni could hardly believe it, ‘Why can’t you smoke in your own room?!’
Seth looked up, ‘Because its not my room, its Bray’s room and when he has it back he doesn’t want it reeking of smoke.’
Danni couldn’t believe it, ‘What?!’ she laughed, ‘What about my room?!’
‘Yeah, but you don’t mind do you?’
She sighed, ‘No, I suppose not.’
‘Anyway, what are you doing? Have you finished with Bray already?’
‘What?!’ said Danni, a look of panic flooding her face.
‘Sorry, not ‘finished’, have you finished visiting him?’
‘Yeah, I just remembered I’ve got a work party to visit.’
‘What are you doing in here then?’
‘Getting something to write with,’ she said defiantly, picking up a clipboard and pencil off a small table. She started to walk out of the room.
‘Danni?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Is everything OK between you and Bray?’
She turned and shot him a smile, ‘You know it is Seth.’

Episode Sixty Three

Salene came in to find Ebony and see if she was going for supper yet.Ebony was lying on the bed, tears running down her face. ‘Oh Ebony, what’s the matter?’ asked a concerned Salene, convinced it must be pretty serious if Ebony was in this state.
Ebony saw her and for a moment her mind raced. What should she do? She decided it would always be useful to have a sympathy vote to justify her future actions so she might as well play it up. That way it made her feel as though she was acting it all and it wasn’t true, but it was. ‘I went to see Bray,’ she sniffed. ‘I see what you mean, he won’t believe any of us Salene, we’re all in the same boat.’
Salene sat down on the bed and put an arm around her.
‘He was saying that I’d been lying and spreading rumours and stuff.’
‘I’ve had it up to here with him, he has no right to do this to any of us.’
‘Don’t blame him,’ said Ebony quietly, ‘It’s not him.’

Danni was out late and it was dusk when she turned and decided to make her way back. It was good to be out and have time to think, time to clear her head. She didn’t love Bray anymore, she knew that, all she needed was a way to let him down gently. The work parties were going fine, there was hardly anything to report, thank god, that meant less of a meeting with Bray. She could hardly believe her eyes as she was approaching the Mall; there was Lex going along another road.
‘Lex!!’ She ran and threw her arms around him.
‘Easy, tiger, we don’t want anyone to see do we?’
She kissed him, ‘I don’t care.’
Lex disentangled himself, ‘Yes you do.’
She stopped, ‘Lex, I’m going to tell him.’
‘Who? Oh Bray. Right,’ he said unenthusiastically.
‘What?’
‘What did you expect me to say?’
‘How about, “yes, good idea, Danni”?’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘That’s OK, where are we going?’
Lex smiled, ‘We?’
‘You’re not getting rid of me that easily!’
‘OK, fine, a little bar I know.’
‘Great, I haven’t been out in ages.’

Back at the Mall it was suppertime. There was only a few people there, Jack Ellie and Dal where working on some computer problem and Lex and Danni were ‘out’.
Bray came into the café. ‘Anyone seen Danni?’
‘That’s strange,’ said Alice pointedly, not caring if anyone heard, ‘Lex’s isn’t here too.’
Bray turned to her, ‘I know where Danni’s gone I’m just wondering if she’s back yet.’
Alice just raised her eyebrows, saying ‘yeah, right’ without opening her mouth.
Then Salene walked in, she caught sight of Bray. ‘What have you done to Ebony?’
‘Nothing,’ said Bray, not wanting the fight that Salene did.
‘Why is she crying then?’
Bray laughed, ‘Ebony? Crying?’
‘How can you be so heartless?’
‘That’s funny, isn’t that usually what people call Ebony?’
Alice stood up. ‘I’m not gonna sit here and listen to this. Come on Salene, we’re going.’
Salene liked nothing more and Patsy and Chloe instinctively got up too.
‘Do you all really hate Danni this much?’ called Bray after them.
‘No Bray, its you,’ said Patsy, stating the obvious.

Episode Sixty Four

Danni got out of the bed quietly so as not to wake Lex. She checked her watch, it was late, there would be no one around. She thought it was best to get back to her room now rather than in the morning when Alice came to wake Lex. He’d understand. She crept back across the Mall and up the steps. But there was still a light on, her heart stopped; it was Bray’s room. She quietly move towards her room but she couldn’t help listening to the voices inside. Seth was there as usual.
‘What am I going to do, Seth?’ He laughed, ‘Don’t worry about it, they’ll come round. Once they realise what Ebony’s up to.’
‘Yeah, I hope so. Go on, then, do it.’
Danni, outside the door was tempted to crane her neck to see what was going on. The was some muffled moving and no talking, Danni was blazing with curiosity.
‘What d’you think?’ Bray asked wearily.
‘I hate to tell you but its not pretty. I think it looks, hard, yeah it says ‘don’t mess with me’.’
‘God, it must be awful.’
‘Nice image though.’
‘That’s not the kind of image I really wanna go for. Its more Ebony’s style.’
‘Well I dunno, I’m sure there’s role reversal going on here. I mean Ebony crying? And Bray being the bad guy? On second thoughts, I wouldn’t mind burning Ebony.’
‘Don’t say it!’
‘What?’
‘Oh, I though you were gonna say witch.’
‘Nope, that was definitely you,’ laughed Seth, ‘Look I’ve gotta go to bed now, and I’m not meant to be keeping you up late. And don’t worry about Danni, look I’ll check she’s in bed on the way back.’
Danni ran.
The night was hell for her. She didn’t fall asleep even for a moment, she wasn’t even thinking about Bray. She’d try and think about Bray and what she was going to do but then she caught herself smiling and thinking of Lex.

Salene was tossing and turning too. Finally Ryan sat up and, exasperated, said, ‘Salene! What is it?’
‘What?!’ she called rather annoyed, ‘Oh sorry. Its just this Bray thing. I’m angry.’
‘Still?’ he said, now she’s finally stopped moving he could feel himself gently drifting off to sleep.
Salene sat up. ‘Yeah, still. I don’t know what’s happened to him. On second thoughts. Yes I do. Its Seth. I mean… Ryan? Ryan?!’
But all she got in reply was the sound of gentle snoozing.

‘Bray?’
His face lit up as he caught sight of Danni’s silhouette illuminated by the faint light glow coming from outside. ‘What are you doing here? Its past…’ he checked his watch, ‘its past two!’
‘I know. I’m sorry. Look, I had to speak to you.’
Bray laughed. ‘That’s fine, come and sit down, I’ll light a candle.’ He heaved himself painfully out of bed and rummaged in the semi-darkness to find a candle and a lighter.
She sat nervously on the end of the bed. He lit a candle and used it to light a few others on a candle stand in the corner of the room. He was aware of the cold air against his face for the first time in about a month, his head felt light with out the strapping but still. What would Danni think? He could hardly feel bad if she wasn’t disgusted but still…
Danni was watching him anyway. He was still lighting candles, she had to say it, she had to say it before something stopped her. ‘Bray.’
‘Yeah, hang on.’
‘Bray, I’ve got something to tell you. Not tell, I mean just to say.’
He laughed, ‘Is there a difference?’
‘I suppose not it’s just, just…’
Bray moved round the other side of the bed and sat next to her, carefully to line up the good side of his face next to Danni. If he kept a profile, she might not notice… ‘I’ve got something to say too.’
‘You have?’ Danni wasn’t looking at him anyway, she couldn’t bring herself to. Instead her eyes were firmly lowered, ‘Please, can I go first?’
‘Sure, after you.’
Danni knew she had to just say it. There was no way out of it. ‘Bray, I don’t love you anymore.’
He half laughed, was this a joke?
She dared to raise her eyes and she turned to look at him. ‘No Bray, I mean it and I don’t want to…’ her eyes rested on that side of his face.
The folds and tears threw strange shadows across his already twisted and distorted face. She’d not seen this before, and section of hair above his left eye was completely missing with only smooth skin in its place.
He turned towards her eyes resting in horror on his face. ‘Gorgeous isn’t it?’ he said smiling.
Her eyes flicked from his face to his eyes. ‘Oh Bray, I’m…’
‘You’re what? You're sorry?!” he shouted, getting up from beside her.
‘Bray, please don’t!’
‘Oh but why not Danni? After all it TRUSTED you!!!! IS it Lex? Tell me that?’
Danni could barely raise her eyes to his face. ‘No’ she lied quietly.
Bray moved forward and grabbed her by the arm, forced her to look up. ‘Is it? TELL ME!’ Danni began to feel the tears running down her face. ‘Or am I just too disgusting to look at!’
‘No Bray, its not that! I swear!”
‘You know something, I don’t believe you! Am I allowed to do that Danni? Because after all, you HAVE lied to me, so why the hell should I believe anything you say!’
He leant against the doorframe, turned away from her. Danni moved gently towards him and laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.’
He spun round, ‘It’s a bit late for that don’t you think? After all, maybe you should have told me when you first slept with Lex!’
Danni shook her head. ‘I’ve never,' but that wasn’t true, she held her ground, ‘I have NEVER cheated on you. Lex is just a friend! I promise you!’
‘Shut up Danni! There’s not even a point in you saying this!’
People began appearing on the balcony outside, woken by the noise. The arrived in panic, ready for action, but none of them wanted to do anything, the only thing they could do was to watch in horror.

Episode Sixty Five

‘But its true!” continued Danni, oblivious to the crowd of nervous people standing in their doorways. Her voice fell quieter and she gasped as she tried to stop the tears flowing down her face, ‘I never meant to hurt you.’
‘Well you FAILED on that front! Nice one Danni.’
‘And I know you don’t want to hear it now but…’
‘Damn well right!’
‘Bray, its not the face…’
He turned to face her and then moved closer inwards, he put a hand to her cheek to brush away her tears. ‘So I get it Danni, its just as soon as I’m, how shall I put it, out of action for a bit YOU decide you don’t love me anymore. How sweet!’
She stepped back from him, ‘No! it’s like that!’
‘What was it like then Danni? Was it good?’
Seth stepped across the corridor to Danni’s rescue. He put an arm on Bray’s shoulder, ‘Come on, get back to bed, you can think about it in the morning.’
Bray stopped when he realised who it was. Seth continued, ‘Come on.’ And he tried to lead Bray back to his room.
‘I get it. I get it all now. Well Seth, how are you?’
‘What?’
‘Have you finished LYING to me too?’
‘Look Bray, I didn't know. I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry? You’ve ruined everything! If it hadn’t have been for you I’d have trusted my friends,’ he said gesturing around at the crowd of people now gathered.
That was when it hit him, Seth felt like his head had been ripped off and his insides were spinning out of control. Another fit, he only had second to get out of there. ‘I didn’t know, I genuinely thought they were just friends. I didn’t think Lex would do this to you,’ he stuttered.
Bray was smiling now, Seth didn’t get it, and he was too panicked to anyway. ‘Well Danni, it seems we have a different version of events. What exactly is going on?’
‘Nothing. Look Seth wouldn’t know anyway, he’s been there!’
‘Been where?’
‘Can’t you just believe me! Trust me, even if its for the last time you ever do.’
The two of them didn't notice Seth supporting himself against the side of the balcony. There was no time, he tried to hang on but he could never control it.
‘Trust. You see I have a problem with that after you’ve lied to me, cheated on me and God know what else! And Seth, my reassuring friend, how nice of you to cover her back, make excuses for her, I see it all now.’
‘I’m.. I’m sorry.’ He collapsed on the floor and started fitting violently.
Ebony was watching from a distance, and she restrained a smile. This really wasn’t his night. The others were panicked, and confused but then Bray stood back, he’d seen fits before, Seth would get through it. Salene rushed up to help him.
‘Don’t touch him,’ said Bray coldly.
‘What?’ said Salene in disbelief.
‘I said. Don’t touch him.’
‘But look at him!’
‘Stay out of this!’
Salene looked at Seth’s face and then at Bray’s, slowly she took a step backwards. Bray was not to be crossed tonight.
Bray turned to the others. ‘And don’t anyone else lay a finger to help him, he doesn’t deserve it.’ He turned to go and saw Danni by the side of him. ‘Leave,’ he said levelly.
‘What? Where to?’
‘I don’t care. I never want to see you again.’And he walked back into his room.
Danni could hardly ignore the crowd of eyes fixed onto her, she turned to them savagely, ‘Get lost!’
They just shook their heads and walked back into their rooms. Danni stepped over Seth, almost oblivious of what she was doing and walked down the stairs to Lex’s room.
Only Ebony remained in the shadows. Slowly she approached Seth, and looked down at him. It was easier to hate him when he was like this.

Episodes 66-70
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