Generated Word of the day: Bait

___

Jesse watched with a smile on her face as Radar tried to hold and read from a bundle of papers and letters at the same time, trying his very best not to drop them in his food.

"Oh, and then we received this letter..." Radar said, trying to slip one out of the back of the heap. He lost his grip on the papers and they slipped from his hands, cascading onto the floor.

Radar's face flushed hot in embarrassment for a second as he quickly got up from his chair, dropping to his knees and trying to pick them all back up. Chuckling under her breath, Jesse got up as well, kneeling down to help him pick the papers up.

"Listen, Radar, why don't you take things a little slower?" She suggested, handing him back the papers she had picked up, before returning to her seat. "I invited you here for dinner after all, not work."

"Right, right, of course, sorry Jesse." Radar said, chuckling nervously, before sitting back down his chair and putting his stack of papers beside his plate.

As they continued to eat, Jesse couldn't help but noticing that Radar would occasionally glance at the pile and open his mouth like he's about to launch into another wild conversation. He'd stop himself however, falling silent and continuing to eat. Jesse occasionally had to stop herself from giggling at this.

She was glad she invited Radar over for dinner that evening. After defeating the Admin and once again saying goodbye to all her friends, this would've been Jesse's first night alone. She was very happy to have Radar join her at the dinner table.

"I have to ask.." Radar said after a short while, poking at his salad with his fork. "Do you think things will.. I don't know. Go back to normal again?"

"Honestly, I don't think things were ever be exactly the way they were, Radar." Jesse said, leaning her elbows on the table. "We all changed a lot."

A part of her wanted to add "and we're no longer all together" but she kept that bit to herself. Whether it was for Radar's sake or her own, she wasn't even sure.

"Is the change a good thing, or a bad thing?" Radar asked cautiously.

"Change isn't always good, but it's never avoidable." Jesse explained, tracing the wooden grid of the table with her finger as she spoke. "I try not to think of change as positive or negative. It's just a part of life that we have to accept."

"You sound so wise when you talk like that, you know." Radar replied.

Jesse just chuckled, shaking her head at Radar. She didn't really have a chance to say anything as a low rumble of thunder sounded outside.

"Sounds like it's going to rain." She said, craning her neck to look out of the window.

"I should probably go then, if I want to get home before it hits." Radar said reluctantly, his face falling. "I really wish we could've talked some more, I haven't gone over half of the letters!"

Jesse glanced back over at the window, realising Radar was right. But she really wasn't looking forward to the emptiness of the Order hall, afraid that it might just allow the loneliness to sink in.

"Why don't you stay here the night?" Jesse asked, turning her gaze back to Radar. "There is literally four empty bedrooms in this house, I don't see why not?"

"You sure Jesse?" Radar asked, seemingly trying to hide the eagerness in his voice. "I won't be intruding?"

"Not at all." Jesse said, breaking into a grin. "It'll be nice!"

-------------------------

A loud crack of thunder ripped Jesse from her sleep. She sat up slightly in bed, rubbing her eyes. Outside it was pouring violently, the trees swaying in the wind and causing odd silhouettes behind her curtains.

A sleepy smile spread across Jesse's face, as she absolutely adored rain. More than anything, she wanted to bury herself back beneath the covers, listening to the rain while she slept.

Annoyingly however, she found her throat dry. Sighing softly, Jesse slipped her legs off the bed, the wooden floor cold beneath her bare feet. She tried hard not to step on any wooden boards that would creak as she walked to the bathroom.

Jesse let the cold water run into her hand, thirstily drinking from it. She stiffened slightly when she heard what sounded like footsteps. Jesse glanced over her shoulder, but she couldn't see anything in the dark.

"Radar?" She whispered loudly, closing the tap and wiping her mouth on her hand. She stepped out of the bathroom, looking down the hallway. It appeared to be completely empty.

For a second Jesse thought she was just imagining things, about to walk back to her room. Then all of a sudden she heard it again. Muffled footsteps, followed by the creak of a plank beneath a person's weight.

"OK, no way I imagined that."

Jesse softly tip-toed over to the room Radar was sleeping in, to see if he was awake. He was the only person in the house besides her after all. Sure enough, his bedroom door was wide open.

"Radar?" Jesse asked softly, peering inside. She was surprised to find the room completely empty.

Where the hell was Radar? She had literally just been in the bathroom, he couldn't be there?

"Radar?" Jesse called out, a little louder this time. Her voice sounded small as it echoed around the hallway.

Jesse couldn't help but feel worried now. She swiftly walked down the hallway, down the stairs. The living room was completely empty, the clock on the wall showing 02:10.

Jesse peeked her head into the kitchen, to find it empty as well. Her heartbeat started to quicken slightly as she realised she's covered just about every logical place Radar could have gone. Where was he at this hour?

"Radar!" Jesse called out again as she walked back through the living room, down the hallway that lead to the main entrance. The last place she could think of to look was her personal office, just beside the main door. Why Radar would want to go there at two in the morning was beyond her, but she still decided to check.

However, the moment Jesse stepped into the hallway that lead to the front door, her breath caught in her throat. Damp, cold wind blew onto her arms, the front door wide open. Jesse was frozen to the spot, absolutely horrified.

She couldn't image for what possible reason Radar would want to go outside, but even if he did, how? He doesn't even have a key to the front door! Did he really take hers out of her room? She doubt it.

"Radar!" Jesse called out, coming to her senses. She ran to the door, glancing up and down the front yard, sheets of rain showering down from the dark sky. Was Radar actually outside in this weather?

Without thinking, Jesse was out the door, running till she was standing in the middle of the road. It didn't take a full minute for her hair and pyjamas to get absolutely drenched.

"Radar!" Jesse called out desperately, her voice getting lost in the wind. "Radar!"

Jesse turned around on the spot a few times, her eyes desperately trying to see through the heavy rain. Her teeth was already chattering her body shaking like a leaf.

Then she spotted it – lying on the road, barely visibly through all the mud, some sort of cloth. Jesse jogged over, bending down and picking it up. She gasped, nearly dropping the object as she realised it was in fact Radar's jacket. Only then did Jesse realise, the muddy bit of road where she stood appeared disturbed. It looked like two people had practically had a wrestling match right there on the spot.

Jesse panicked, looking back up. She tried calling out Radar's name again, but her voice was trembling from the cold, her breathing jagged.

Then, without even thinking, she began to run. The muddy road had long streaks across it, like somebody was dragged through the mud. Jesse knew this road all to well, as it lead straight out of Beacontown.

"Radar!" Jesse called again as she burst through the gates, now staring at the vast mass of forest in front of her.

The first thing to catch Jesse's attention was a light, glowing faintly between the trees. It looked like torch, probably protected from the rain by the thick leaves from the dark oak trees.

Jesse wrapped her arms around herself, clutching her elbows. She was shaking violently from the cold by now, her clothes thoroughly soaked. Carefully, she started advancing towards the light.

"Radar?" She called out cautiously, suddenly feeling afraid.

No replies came. Jesse gulped, pushing her soaking wet hair out of her face and slowly walking in between the trees.

What she saw made her heart skip a beat.

Radar was there, alright. He was tied tightly to one of the trees, his hands cuffed behind his back. A piece of cloth wrapped around his mouth to prevent him making any sounds. He was streaked with mud, soaking wet and shivering cold. But his eyes were wide and fearful, and they seemed to grow at the sight of Jesse.

"Radar, what happened?" Jesse gasped, breaking into a jog and heading right for him.

Radar's eyes widened and he desperately shook his head, trying to pull free. Jesse stopped about a metre from him, confused as to what he was trying to tell her.

"And just like that, you have a fallen right into a my trap."

Jesse took a step back, hearing the familiar voice. She looked around anxiously, searching for the owner.

A fire stepped out from the bushes, dressed in a black rain-coat that was pulled low over their face. They stopped right in front of Radar.

The thing that caught Jesse's attention, was the gleaming silver knife he held in his hand, the light from the torch reflecting off the sharp blade. She took a timid step back.

"Who are you?"

"Forgotten me already, have you Jesse?" The person asked from beneath their cloak. "And to think, it hasn't been that long.. since you took everything I had, from me."

Jesse took another step back, her eyes narrowing. Could it be...?

The person pulled back their hood, their eyes blazing with rage, their red hair wet.

"Romeo?" Jesse asked, taking another step back, slowly edging away. "I.. I thought you were returning to the underneath, I thought... I thought you wanted to redeem yourself?"

Romeo threw his head back, laughing darkly. It was a sound that made Jesse shudder.

"You foolish, naïve girl! Of course you believed that!"

"It was all a lie..." Jesse whispered. "I gave you a second chance and now... now you're back to kill me?"

Romeo brought the knife closer to Radar, cutting loose the ropes that held him in place with a swift motion.

"I propose a simply deal, Jesse. Your life, for your intern's."

Jesse slowly started to shake her head, taking another step back. Romeo's eyes narrowed in a dark scowl.

"It's either you, or him... Jesse. Come closer, hands behind your back. Once you're in my grasp, I'll let him go."

Radar shook his head again, choking out a muffled "no" through the cloth in his mouth. But Jesse couldn't possibly let Romeo kill Radar...

"I give myself in... you promise not to lay a finger on him?" She asked, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes.

"As long as he's a good boy and obediently runs off, as long as he doesn't interfere – I won't touch him."

Jesse took a deep, shaking breath. She didn't have a choice.

Slowly she walked forward, folding her hands behind her back like Romeo had instructed her to do. The moment she was standing beside him, he ripped the cloth out of Radar's mouth, shoving the intern forward into the mud.

Jesse flinched, feeling the knife now against her own throat. She glanced down, seeing Radar looked up at them with wide eyes.

"Go." She choked out, winching as the pressure against her throat increased. "Go!"

Radar didn't seem to need telling twice, forcing himself to his feet and running. Romeo's face lid up in a smirk, a cruel grin. He shoved Jesse against one of the dark oak trees, the knife still pressed to her throat.

"I may not have my powers any more." he said through gritted teeth. "But after what you did to me, I will kill you."

"Why?" Jesse breathed. "Why couldn't you just take this second chance... and use it?"

Romeo's eyes narrowed and he leaned in close to her.

"There's nothing left down there for me. You think I want to spend the rest of my days, cleaning up that dump? Ending you is my only wish."

Jesse couldn't speak as he increased the pressure on her throat, the blade threatening to cut through her skin. She closed her eyes, waiting for it all to end.

Then all of a sudden, Romeo's grip released as he was suddenly tugged away from Jesse. She fell to her knees, coughing and gasping for breath. Jesse looked up just in time to see Romeo and Radar stumbled to the ground, furiously wrestling each other.

Thinking quickly, Jesse leaped to her feet. She lunged herself forward, kicking Romeo square in the back just as he pinned Radar to the ground.

Jesse flung herself on top of the former admin, using all her strength to hold him down. She felt around the mud, her hand clasping around the knife.

Romeo struggled beneath Jesse, trying to snatch her hand that was pressing down on his back, cursing loudly. Without thinking, Jesse raised the knife and slammed it down.

Almost immediately, Romeo stopped struggling, the knife deeply impaled into the back of his neck. Jesse sat frozen, her hands clamped around the helm of blade that was now in her enemy's neck.

A sick feeling of shock settled over her as she came to the horrifying realization – she just killed him. Jesse stumbled back, her eyes wide, her blood-stained hands shaking violently.

Only then did she turned around, desperately looking for Radar, who was pinned to the ground by Romeo last she saw him.

Radar was lying on his back in the mud, his body shaking violently. In only seconds, Jesse could see rapidly spreading red stain across his T-shirt.

"No, no, no!" Jesse gasped, crawling over to Radar, realising she was too late – Romeo had stabbed him.

"Radar, hold on!" Jesse begged, immediately pressing her hands down on the stab wound, tears spilling down her face. "Just hold on! You're going to be OK!"

Radar looked up at Jesse, shaking violently. His eyes met hers and for a second, he smiled.

His eyes stayed on her, their colour fading as he breathed out one last time.

"No, Radar, please!" Jesse begged, shaking his body desperately.

She choked back sobs, desperately shaking him, trying everything she could.

"Somebody help me!" Jesse cried out, hugging his lifeless form to her chest. "Anybody! Please help me!"

But it was no use, there was nobody who could hear her, nobody who could help her. And even if there was, it was too late. Radar was gone.

"Please don't leave me." Jesse cried, resting her head on Radar's chest, praying to hear a heartbeat.

Rain continued to pour down on them, but Jesse didn't even feel the cold. The only thing she felt was pain.

It was all her fault. Radar died, and it was all because he was being used as bait.

___

That got really deep, really fast.

Originally, this whole attack from Romeo was going to be a dream, and Jesse was going to wake up at the end. I changed that.
Then it was supposed to end, with Radar running off and Jesse being pinned to a tree. I was going to end it there and leave her fate up to your imaginations.

But then I got this idea.

Honestly, the part that actually got to me, was Jesse crying out for somebody to help her. I have no idea why, but I could like hear it in my head and it broke my heart. 

I feel like I had so many cute, goofy one shots added into my whole challenge, but this month I'm just going all out with the feels xD 

I love it though.

Also, can I just mention that this challenge is actually easier for me than the previous one? The previous one from March, was meant to be easier because I already had the prompts beforehand. 
But like, we've already reached the 10th and I'm still having a blast. It's not hard, or challenging at all yet, I'm just enjoying myself. By the 10th of March I had already started struggling slightly XD

Honestly, if I didn't have school again next month I would've just done another one of these challenges. The moment I get another holiday, I'm doing more.

Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed today's one shot! I'll see you all tomorrow with whatever the word generator spits out next :D