Chapter: The Red-Eyed Stranger
She floated in the dark expanse, not really dreaming, not really waking. She had long since lost her curiosity, fear, and confusion. She could not move, save her eyes, which led to her wondering two questions, if she was actually using her eyes, and if she was dead. Part of her said she was dead, another that her eyes were closed, and one that she was alive and watching the static world around her. This mental debate had long since left her bored.
She was just about to begin remembering, that was painful, since it reminded her body of the flames that had consumed her, when she realized she was not alone. A tall, pale man had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He was tall, slender, with pointy ears, a bald head, and red irises.
"Hello my dear," he said with a bow, "I see you have some glimmerings of reason."
She regarded the strange fellow, who was dressed smartly in a black suit, white undershirt, and black tie that she was sure was a clip-on. "Mhmm."
"Quite boring in here, isn't it?" He gestured, waving his left arm with a flourish. She attempted a shrug, surprised when she actually did move. "Well," he said with a chuckle, "what if I said I could free you from this place?"
"Oh?" She was apprehensive, since the last time she had tried to escape, she had been burned. To death she had once believed, which seemed a little silly since she was certainly alive.
"Yes. All you have to do is agree to a deal." He pulled a strange pocket watch, one which was gold, "Ah, it appears the teens that survived that particular Hell have come in contact with the denizens of the Bordered Lands."
"Ummm, what?" He looked up as if he had forgotten she was there, "Oops, sorry. I forgot to tell you about the deal. It's simple, you help me, and I help you."
"Help you with what?" She was getting annoyed at his vagueness. "Why my dear, help me with saving the world of course." He waved his hand behind him, a rectangle of white appearing in the bleak, dark world. "Do we have a deal?"
She shrugged again, "Sure beats staying here. And I'll finally be able to see the outside world, with snow and ice cream and all of that wonderful stuff!" As she followed him to the "doorway", she asked, "What was your name again?"
He smiled, answering as they stepped across the threshold, "Why my dear Mary, I am Onigawara Ogre…"
~Huehuehuehue. Allusions to the future my friends, and to another fic. Huehuehuehuehue…
So, how was it?
And so we go!