The lord of Clover tower was currently bored and hiding from work and his aide in the dream realm. However, he had to be somewhat cautious about all the things that lingered in the darkness and that were no longer under his control.
It had been a while since the incubus Nightmare Gottschalk had lost control over the nightmares reign in the dream realm, and he still had no clue why or how. The only thing he knew was that it had happened after that storm that came and erased everyone's memories of undefined period of time before it. Now that seemed so long ago. How long had it been since the incident happened? Months? a year?
He sighed. It was foolish to bother and count the passage of time in Wonderland unless there was a foreigner... or unless that foreigner's game was a weird as the current.
Alice's game, once so simple to follow, had now become a web of dark roads that had no true ending. He was sure that she would end up with the Mafia head, Blood Dupre, but it seemed that particular ending was never going to come to pass with Alice's current thoughts. ...But there was also something weird about all that. Blood Dupre was probably more than likely aware of Alice's indecisions, so why hadn't he offered the foreigner his connector? The promise of love and stability that she needed? The one thing that would seal the end of the game.
And why was her game going on so strong? It weighed on all the player's clocks with a pressure so unbearable ... The unnatural desire to reach and capture that beating heart felt so overwhelming and desperate. It had become so hard to quelch... Yet, whenever Alice was around, it wasn't as if the desire to win the game pulled the players towards her... How odd.
These had been strange times and he would like to make them end so that their lives would flow forward once Alice had chosen, but meanwhile there was nothing to do but to play the game.
He sighed when he felt something uncommon rounding the dream realm. It was like a bubble in the chaotic space of the realm, and it was somewhat familiar, so he went to check and enter the weird new space. It was a lengthy white nothingness and it didn't felt like a dream. More like the mind from a person in comma. He didn't recall anything like it, yet he felt a sense of deja-vu from it. This was actually scaring him, so he tried creating a more comfortable environment, an illusion of a background, a nicer setting. But he found that he couldn't. Just like with the nightmares, he had no control in this place. Unlike the nightmares, this felt controlled... intended.
Before he could try to manipulate the place again, the opening he had come through disappeared into nothingness, and from out of nowhere, in a cascading mist of numbers and symbols, the space opened to let shadows to crawl in and commence forming a dark humanoid figure of indistinguishable features, surrounded by tendrils and shreds of moving darkness that made Nightmare's skin shiver.
Focusing on the other parts of the dream, he tried to escape but failed and remained locked in the space with nowhere to go. This surprised him. Not only he was unable to act here, but he was also unable to get out. This shocking and scary situation made him lose the second he would have needed to avoid the tendrils of darkness that extended from the creature's shadow towards him, and latched around his body holding him tight and unmoving in the air.
He tried manipulating the space and again and failed once more. His panic level raised and he tried using brute force, which he didn't have, and only caused the tendrils to tighten around him. There was no escape.
The figure began walking towards him and he saw that it had solidified into a human form that wore a full armored suit that merged with the shadows that dripped like flame tongues or mist from it. A hood covered the persons head and tick goggles and some sort of gas mask obstructed the vision of the person's face.
"Who are you and what do you want?" As cliche as it sounded, he had to ask those questions.
The person stood in front of him, and with a mechanically distorted voice, the words came out, not from where the mouth should be, but from around the neck of the armor.
"Hello "test subject 'Nightmare' and welcome to the: "Virtual enrichment test chamber and meeting room dream interface projection", I inform you that in this "Virtual test meeting "in the recently generated "Virtual enrichment test chamber and meeting room dream interface projection " , as you have tested, you possess no powers or any control. And I am not required or inclined to disclose the detailed info regarding such occurrences."
"What?"- Nightmare had not understand all that, but the voice and the words had been disturbingly familiar. -"Do I know you?" - His clock felt that it was so. He twisted around in the tendrils, blood threatening to escape his mouth at the increasing pressure over his body. Whomever this person was, he, or she, was no taking chances or considerations. -"What's doing this? How are you keeping me here?"
The figure chuckled.- "Does it matter?... Not to you surely. Not to anyone really."-The voice was artificial, metallic, almost as if it was played on some kind of machine. The figure shrugged his or her shoulders.-"I didn't create this 'Virtual enrichment test chamber and meeting room dream interface projection' just to partake in a lengthy conversation with you. So let's get down to the point, Nightmare. A new foreigner is need and you 'Caterpillar. Lord of Clover' are going to bring one."
"I've never spoken to anyone who has the power to intrude on dreams like this," He said, no longer trying to fight with his body. "I would surely remember that."
"I'm not intruding and this is not a dream. It's a Virtual enrichment test chamber and meeting room dream interface projection. It's not the first time you've been in a place like this either...and don't try to brag with me Nightmare." The figure said when it saw his mouth open. to retord. "There are a lot of stuff you and everyone else in Wonderland forgot." The figure pauses for a moment as if thinking before saying. "Don't mind me. Not in dreams nor out of them. The only thing you should mind is bringing in a new foreigner."
With a sudden burst of energy he said. "And why should I do that? Alice's game has not properly ended, bringing in a new foreigner would only lead to unforeseen consequences."
The figure laughed with a hint of cruelty, the voice suddenly taking on a more female tone, almost as if it was breaking through the mechanical aspect of the figure "So you say Alice's game hasn't ended? he,he. What you think it's irrelevant. You WILL bring a new foreigner. And nor you, nor any role holder shall interfere with her until the current game is finished."
The darkness released him with an audible crackle and the felt to the non existing floor,while the back of his hand seemed to burn so badly as if it was acid eating away at his flesh. Glancing down at the appendage he saw a mark that signals an oath by his role. One that he must comply. It was part of the rules. He couldn't deny it.
"Alright." The darkness retreated back onto the person and coiled around the strangest form and disappeared into the fabrics of the armored clothes. "I'll let you go then."
Taking a deep breath his mind wandered to the dream realm and he tried to take himself there,to a place of security and assurances, a place that was all his own. Finally, he managed to connect a portal of bright light and energy that opened with a light sound that reminded him of a bag of marbles hitting a hard surface all at once.
"So you're going away so fast?" The figure said." Scatter away, you cowardly worm."
Fear crawled down his spine at the authority and confidence within the voice and at the unnatural shadows that the person had manipulated. However there was still his own authority, the authority to take control of the dreams and the flow of foreigners. This simple thought gave him a moment of empowerment. "Who are you really?"
The person was silent for a moment, once again seeming to think before turning around; the tendrils moving with the fluid movement like a mantle behind the figure."It's not in my plans to establish any form of contact with you again, nor would you recognize my identity even I revealed it. So it doesn't matter, si? Run back to your tower and bring forth a new foreigner."
As soon as the words were said, the air around them crackled and it seemed to fold in on itself. The person and tendrils disappeared while the white space creased at the edges and folded down as if it was some kind of origami paper. Not giving himself a second, he went straight through the portal and back into his precious dream realm, his thoughts turbulent and overwhelming. Heaving, he leaned forward and blood spilled from his lips; the metallic taste making his back tingle and his throat gag causing another round of blood.
When his fit was over, he straightened up and pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing his lips with the soft material. When he was done he folded it up and put it back into his vest pocket. He didn't like this at all, but regardless of his likes or dislikes, it was time to fetch a foreigner.
Not too long after, a figure appeared, alone and unconscious, over a lonesome street. It had just snowed and a white coat covered part of the urban environment of the territory.
Shannon was half awake and almost unable to feel anything from the cold. She barely noticed someone saying something in an alarmed tone and shaking her gently. She struggled to open her eyes, getting a glimpse of blurry white, before they slide shut again as she lost consciousness. When she woke up again she is seated in a tub with warm water, still wearing her clothes and very cold.
She looked around for a moment noticing that she was in a bathroom. It was small and had white tiling and walls. Even the toilet and bathtub she was in was a painfully clean white. Then some movement caught her vision; someone was kneeling down next to her and holding a pile of clothes and fluffy and soft towels over in a way that accidentally covered his face.
"Here you are, Miss. I'm so glad that you are alright. You could have died out there in the snow."
Shannon's eyes took on him for a moment, he was a young man with a happy and relieved tone in his voice. She took the fabrics from him and he turned around to search for something in a cabinets.
Giving her his back he continued talking "Just give me a minute miss foreigner. I know I have some pills here or something... but I think you should get out of those wet clothes first. Don't worry. I wont look."
She blinked for a moment before clutching the cold yet smooth sides of the tub. "Ms. Foreigner? Why're you calling me that, Kid?"
"I'm not a kid miss. I'm seventeen. And you are a foreigner in this world. It's weird that we get a third one while a game is going on. I don't think it ever happened. But she said it would, and it did. " He said apparently quite content while rummaging in the drawers close to the door.
"Seventeen? Sounds like a kid to me." She huffed and pulled herself up, the effort making her body throb and she staggered, almost falling face first into the warm water.
"And how old might you be miss? you don't look much older than me miss... err…"
"Shannon, name's Shannon."She said as she slowly managed to get one leg over the side of the tub. "And I'm twenty. "
He crouched over the lower cabinet door to look for something else. "Well, Miss Shannon. Then I'll introduce myself, Luke Amore Motto Savini. A pleasure to meet you. ..err... sorry if I'm nossy. But do you know where you are?"
"Amore?" She turned to stare at his back. "Seriously?"
The guy stiffed for a moment "Luke, please... Miss Shannon... Have you met anyone else in Wonderland?
She thought about it for a minute then shook her head. "I remember being in the snow...Then waking up here." She brought the rest of her body out the tub then proceeded to struggle out of her jeans. "What's up with the weird names here? Amore, Wonderland? I'm half expecting something like Tootsie Roll Palace."
"Luke , please..." He sighed and kept his back to her while she changed clothes. "And yeah, territories have names like that. There is the Clock tower, the hatter's mansion... Right now you are in Clover tower's territory. In the country of Clover... in the world called 'Wonderland... I know that this might seem weird, but it is so. And my name is not weird. It's just unusual. Just call me Luke."
"Whatever, Luke." She said his name in a solemn and respectful tone as she kept the towel on somewhat and put the underclothes on."How did I end up here? Last I checked I went to that bar off main street…"
Then, from down the stairs, came an angry voice that interrupted her
"Amore! There's water everywhere, you damn kid! You're cleaning it right away!"
Luke groaned and facepalmed. "Give me a second, Shannon" - He then moved towards the door and opened it to slightly step outside, never looking behind to keep his promise of privacy. "SHUT UP AMADORE! We have a wet foreigner in the house! So I'll clean later!"- He waved at her still not looking back."Don't 's just my brother. Marcus Amadore Motto Savinni."
A shout from downstairs answered him- "Stop avoiding chores AMORE! Come down and clean this mess immediately or I'm going up to bring you down and force you to do it!"
Luke shouted back in response-"Told you I can't AMADORE! We have a guest! A 'FOREIGNER' guest!"
"THAT'S IT! I'm going up to bring you down AMORE!"
Shannon did her best to keep her laughter at bay, still clinging to the towel."Oh dear, you two are a mess."
"Wait! Damn it, Amadore!" Luke then almost turned back to the girl but stopped and let his head remain hidden behind the door. He now sounded a bit rushed "Miss Shannon. Before my overly dramatic brother comes up, I will tell you. In this world there are two kinds of people, the role holders and the faceless. Role holders are few but powerful and cruel people that rule and enforce the rules of this world. Everyone else, the faceless are just replaceable pieces in the game. We are people without importance, and as 'faceless' describes, we are not important enough to have eyes or much of a personal face."
"And you're telling me this because…"- Shannon raised an eyebrow not understanding what this little tale was supposed to mean.
"Miss Shannon... you are in another world"
"Are you fucking kidding me, Kid?"She said, pausing completely in her actions to stare at the boy's wiry back.
"No really. This world...!"
Luke couldn't finish his sentence. He was interrupted when the door barged open and someone came pushing Luke inside the room and causing him to turn around and finally look at Shannon.
"Now Amore, you will go down and...!" The man who had opened the door so rashly was in around his mid twenties, but the most distinguishable feature was the lack of eyes on his face. It wasn't as if they had been ripped out, sewn or anything. They simply weren't there. Neither in the man's face or in Luke's.
The girl's eyes widened and she took a step back, bumping into the tub in the process. "Your eyes…T-they're not in your face…"
Here we go, a work made with another write. Say thanks to Chaos-Dark-Lord, if it weren't for her this wouldn't have left my cluttered brain.