EDIT: Changed some things because I realized I made some mistakes that needs to be changed for future chapters.
Alrighty, here's the first chapter :D I finished AC Forsaken a long time, and damn it's a good book :P I planned to base it on the book, but that was before I knew the book was Haytham's story, so instead I'll just usse the book as a guideline to write this story, since I haven't finish playing the game yet -.-;
Yeah, I apologize for any historical inaccuracy...
Mind that there are SPOILERS FROM AC FORSAKEN AND THE GAME
oh, and please note that English isn't my first language, and therefore I will make lots of grammar and spelling mistakes :P
Other then that, have fun reading :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Charlie Allen
Chapter I
In the end, she took me further and further into the forest and would have escaped were it not for a piece of bad fortune. She tripped on a tree root, stumbled, fell, and I was upon her at once, not to attack, to come to her aid, and I held up a hand, breathing hard as I managed to say, "Me. Haytham. I. Come. In. Peace."
She looked at me as though she hadn't understood a word I'd said. I felt the beginnings of a panic. Maybe I'd been wrong about her in the cart. Maybe she couldn't speak English at all.
oOoOoOo
I woke up with a sudden jolt and immediately sat up straight on my bed.
Okay, let me correct that, it wasn't my bed I woke up in. It was a complete unknown and unfamiliar bed. Still a bit disoriented, I looked around. I was in a room. And it was dark. But that was only because it was night time and the lights were off.
Carefully I slipped out of the heavy blankets and got out of the bed, with the result that I almost broke down onto the floor. My legs felt like they had run a marathon. Quickly I hold onto the bed post and sat down again, letting a hand ran through my hair. Now that I was fully awake, I realized I had a small headache. Barely anything, but still annoying. Like, someone was inside my head and knocking against my skull.
I closed my eyes and massaged my head, trying to think straight again. Alright, how the hell did I got here? I thought hard. I was… packing some stuff into my bag and got out of the house… but then I sat down on and read something… a book. And suddenly everything went hazy and crazy. Oh, not to forgot that I blacked out too.
I opened my eyes and blinked few times. There was a sudden white flash and I saw quick snapshots of a man chasing after a woman. The man was dressed pretty old-fashioned, and the woman looked like a Native American. Just as quickly it appeared, the images disappeared.
… Uh, okay…
I tried to stand up again, slowly and carefully, making sure not to repeat what just happened few minutes ago. This time, I could stand normally without falling flat on my nose. Well, it's a progress. I quickly walked toward the window and looked out. The moon shone brightly, almost lighten up everything. I could make out a forest, and something that looked like a horse stall. Scrunching my nose, I tried to remember whether there was a farm near from where I lived or not.
Turning around I silently walked to the door and pulled down the handle, carefully opening it, praying that I wouldn't make any loud creaking noises. I didn't know what I was so careful. Perhaps it has got something to do with the fact that I'm currently in a stranger's house, and I don't want the owner find out that I'm awake now.
I stepped into the hallway. There were some other doors. I saw some stairs and walked toward it, but then stopped midway. There was a weak light coming from downstairs, and people's voices could be heard. I stood at the same spot for a while, pondering about my next move. Should I o downstairs and met those people? What if they are some kidnappers? Maybe it's better if I go back to sleep and wait until tomorrow morning.
Yeah, I should do that. I'm not ready to meet new people now. Just when I was ready to turn around and silently stalk back to the room, I heard someone saying "I'll go and rest now." And then the creaking sound of wooden stairs could be heard, signalizing that someone was coming up. I started to panic and frantically looked around. Option one would be just staying here and wait until he comes up, option two would be running back and lock the door, but I fear I'd make far too much noises. I'm not a stealthy person. Option one is it then.
A boy (or young man?) came into my view. He let out a yawn and scratched his cheek. He stood at the end of the staircase, ready to continue walking, if he hadn't seen that strange girl aka me in the middle of the hallway.
Seconds passed where none of us said anything. I took those short seconds to quickly make a mental description of his appearance (a habit I picked up from watching too much BBC Sherlock. Beside, you'll never when it will become useful). The guy was tall, and had a tanned skin. Italian or maybe Hispanic. He was wearing clothes that resembled those of a Native American. His hair was shoulder long, I couldn't identify his hair color, because it was too dark.
Where were the light switch?
I'm sure that we would have stood there for a whole day, having a staring contest, if it wasn't for that man downstairs who interrupted the silence for us.
"What are you standing there? You should rest; tomorrow will be a hard day!"
The boy snapped out of his thoughts and replied: "Achilles, the girl is awake!"
Right, so the man's name is Achilles.
"Then bring her down!" 'Achilles' said.
He came over to me and said: "You heard what the old man said. Let's go." And gently grabbed my arm.
Me, being the cranky person I am, don't really like to be touched by some strangers, quickly snatched my arm away from his grip and took a step back, glaring at him slightly.
Surprise passed over his face, and he took a step toward me, while I did the exact opposite. Getting a bit annoyed with me, he let out a frustrated sigh and waited for me to follow him. Which I never did. I stayed there where I was. I didn't know why though. Maybe it was because I was having a bit fun teasing him. Or simply because I don't trust him.
The boy took a deep breath and then pointed at himself. "Me. Ratonhnhaké:ton." Insert WTF-face "I. Bring. You. Down. To. Achilles." He pointed at the stairs.
I didn't respond, too occupied with thinking how to pronounce his name. I have heard lots of exotic and hard pronounce-able names before, but this just beats everything.
"Do. You. Speak. English?" The boy asked, looking worried now.
"Pardon?" I said, his voice bringing me back to reality. Seeing his really concerned face now, Ra-something probably really things I don't understand English. "Sorry, reflex. I mean, yeah, I speak English. Perfectly. Been learning it since third grade."
Now he looked confused, but didn't say anything. Instead he asked me again to follow him. The nearer we got to the light, the more I felt like making a dash for it. I started to look for a possible escape way and spotted a big door, which basically screamed 'freedom' at me. In emergency case I'll just break a window.
The boy (I have long given up pronouncing his name) led me to a room with a huge long table. I'm taking a wild guess that this is the dining room. And elder man was sitting on a chair, waiting for us to approach him. Seeing the fire lit lantern on the table, it made me wonder why they didn't just turn on the light. But when I let my eyes wander around the room, I realized that there wasn't anything that looked like a normal lamp. Just a candle holder, hanging down from the ceiling, the rope threatening to snap at any moment. Don't you think that this is a bit old fashioned? Ah well, I supposed there are still people who are into those kind of stuff.
"Took you two long enough." The man complained and pointed to the seat opposite from him, motioning me to sit down, which I did. The boy took the seat next to me.
There was a light feeling in my stomach. In a bad way, of course. Like those moments before you have to go on stage, performing some stupid act. The feeling simply makes you want to run and hide away from the rest of the world.
At first the three of us sat there in silence. The man looked at me with criticizing eyes, like he was trying to identify me. I felt like I should avoid his gaze. So I lowered my head and looked at my lap.
"Well," he started "where should we begin?"
I lifted up my head and looked at him. He expected me to say something, but I simply shrugged my shoulders timidly, not saying anything.
"What's your name?" The guy next to me asked instead.
I have thought about giving them a fake name, but then decided against it. Sooner or later they'll find out it's not my real name and I'd rather not look stupid in front of them.
"Allen." I introduced myself "Charlie Allen."
"Charlie Allen…" He repeated my name to himself, testing the sound of it for the first time.
"My name's Achilles Davenport." Achilles said and nodded toward the boy "And that's Connor."
I thought it was Rat-something. Oh well, I don't mind the name Connor. It's way easier to pronounce and remember.
I finally dared to ask the question I was dying to ask: "Uhm, not trying to sound rude or anything, but… Where am I?"
Achilles answered, "You're in the Homestead Manor. Connor found you in the woods, unconscious, and brought you here." I was in the woods? "You've been asleep for a whole week."
"What?!" I screamed "A whole week?!" Jesus, what is Austin thinking right now?
"We thought you were never going to wake up." He continued, ignoring my outburst "Care to tell us what happened?"
I pressed my lips into a thin line and thought hard. What was I doing in a forest? Wait, I didn't even go into one…
"I was… Reading a book in front of my house. But that's it. Oh, I suddenly became dizzy and then… Fainted… I think…" I trailed off, realizing how stupid that actually sounded.
Both Connor and Achilles raised an eyebrow at what I said.
"So you fainted, while you were reading, and then somehow ended up in the woods?" Conner summed up, sounding skeptical.
"I ended up in this manor; because I'm to hundred-fifty percent sure I didn't take a stroll in a forest." I snapped at. Here I am, going back to my old self. Damn it feels good.
Before Connor could counter back something, Achilles quickly interrupted him: "Miss Allen, do you know what date it is today?"
I was a bit taken aback from this question, and wondered why he would ask that. But then I remember from all the TV watching that maybe Achilles wanted to see whether I have brain damage or not.
"Uhm, counting those seven days I was asleep in?" I asked.
The elder man nodded.
I used my fingers to add up the days, counting silently in my head, and then announced somewhat proudly: "Today is Sunday, the 8th December 2012."
Now both men were giving me really strange looks. It made me feel like I have done a math problem for third graders wrong.
"It's November 1773" Connor corrected me.
It was my turn to give him a strange look now.
"1773?" I repeated, obviously not believing a word he was saying "Do you honestly think I'm going to believe you?"
"Are you accusing me of being a liar?" Connor asked dangerously.
Well, duh. I opened my mouth to deliver an insult, when Achilles suddenly ordered Connor to go upstairs, saying that he should rest, because tomorrow 'hard training will be awaiting him'. I think he only wanted to get rid of the boy in hope that the two of us won't get into an argument.
Connor gave me a last glare, mumbled a 'Good Night' under his breath to Achilles and then finally went up the stairs. Meanwhile I thought about what could have happened to me. I was just reading a book. A simple book. And then blacked out. And –apparently- woke up in the fucking 18th century. The golden age of piracy, yay.
Hm, what if I'm actually still out, and in reality I'm laying on the staircase, asleep, while Austin has already taken photos for blackmail later? Maybe it's all just a weird dream.
"Yeah, it's just a dream." I tried to convince myself.
Achilles raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"This is just a dream." I repeated, a bit more confident this time "Because fainting and then suddenly waking up in the past is something that only happens in movies or fanfictions. Now all I have to do it to wake up." I explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world, which kind of was right now.
"Miss, I have no idea what a 'movie' or a 'fanfiction' is," Trust me, you DON'T want to read a fanfiction ",but I can assure you, you are not dreaming."
I thought about it and a second possibility popped into my head, which made me panic a little bit. What if I was…
Just as if he had read my mind, Achilles added: "And I can assure you, you're not dead."
Well, I certainly hope not. There are still a lot of things I want to do before I die. But then, why would they tell me I'm in year 1773? Unless they are trying to pull a prank, but somehow I highly doubted that. Those two didn't really look like someone who would do those kind of stuff.
I leaned back and ran both hands through my hair, making a frustrated sound. Maybe I should just play along, and see what happened. I'm still sure that this is a dream, and in dreams, if something happens, you simply play along, right? Right.
"Do you perhaps know what book it was you were reading?" Achilles suddenly asked.
I raised an eyebrow at that question. "Why would you want to know that?"
"Just answer the question, girl." He snapped at me impatiently "Do you remember it or not?"
"Yeah, it was…" I started, but then stopped midsentence, realizing that I have absolutely no idea what the book was called. Which is really weird, because usually I don't forget those kind of things, I clutched my hair and tried to remember. "Shit… What book was it?" I muttered to myself.
Every time when I thought back, there was only a blank spot about the book. It was like someone erased every memory of it. Somehow I felt like this book played a crucial part in this dream of mine. Did I start reading it? I think I did, the first page maybe. What was written on it? Something about 'I never really knew him'. But there was more, I'm sure of that.
Seeing that I most likely won't be able to give him a proper answer, Achilles stood up and said: "We shall continue this conversation tomorrow. It's late. Just go back to the room you woke up."
I nodded at what he said and followed him upstairs. But before I returned to the room, Achilles called for me again, saying that he's got something that belongs to me. I waited outside of his room, wondering what the belongings could be. Maybe it's a lightsable, or Loki's glowing Stick of Destiny, or better, a Keyblade! I thought about all those awesome weapons I could have in a dream, and how badass that would be. Disappointment replaces the previous exciting thoughts when I saw Achilles stepping out of his room and handed me a bag.
Well, not just any bag, it was my bag. The bag I used to pack some stuff into it, before I well, fell asleep. It felt packed, meaning that there were still some things inside it. Hm, maybe some useful devices, like the Marauder's Map, or Captain Jack Sparrow's compass.
I said my thanks and good night, and then walked back to the room I found myself in before. Not wanting to go to bed now I saw down on a window bench and opened the bag, to see if everything was there. Polaroid camera, refill polaroids, Wonka Chocolate Bar, chewing gum, iPod and headphones. Yep, everything's still there. Though I admit I was a tad bit disappointed that there weren't any magical stuff in it.
I checked my iPod and saw that it had full batteries. I was sure it only had half when I packed it, but oh well, this is a dream, so anything is possible. When I put my things back into the bag, I realized that there was still some other stuff. Curiously, I took them out and examined it under the moonlight. It was ballpoint pen and a simple black notebook, inside the pages were blank. I quickly browsed through it. A note slipped out of the pages. I hold it up and squeezed my eyes together, to see what was written on it.
Treasure your memories and hold them dear. Write them down so you shall never forget them. Your journey begins here.
Can I just point out that this note totally sounded like something straight form 'Kingdom Hearts'? Maybe I should just keep this journal in 358/2 days style. It's better than writing down 1773. Hate to admit it, but it also feels weird to write down 2012. It just looked so out of the place. And also, I was never really the diary type. I did try it a few times, but usually gave up after two and three entries. It made me uncomfortable to write down my feelings on a piece of paper, knowing that there is always a high chance someone could read them.
And what makes this note so sure that I won't give up on this journal? Fifty bucks says it's going to rot somewhere in a duty corner after a week. I put all the things back and listened to some music, before climbing into the bed, and snuggled the bedcover.
Even though I was supposedly asleep for seven days, I realized that I was still very tired, and soon drifted off.
oOoOoOo
"Why are you still not asleep?"
"I want to know what you two talked about, Achilles."
"This is not something we should discuss at this hour, Connor."
"I don't trust her."
"Neither do I. But the does seem a bit confused. Maybe she has got some memory loss."
"She could be dangerous."
"… I'll keep an eye on her."
"So will I."
"You go back to sleep now! Don't think I will go easy on you, just because you lacked some sleep!"
"… Good night, old man."
"Good night, Connor."
oOoOoOo
Day 7
At the end I did wrote something in this journal. A strange feeling, to keep a diary in a dream. Isn't it funny that I'm dreaming of the 18th century even though I was never a big fan of history? Achilles is the name of the owner of this manor and Connor is that dude who –apparently- found me in the woods. I think his real name was something else, but I can't pronounce it, let alone write it. I hope I'm going to wake up soon.
Man, its feels weird to be not writing about the Avengers and Jackie Walker :P
just wanna mention that while tiping this story, I got roped back into playing Kingdom Hearts 358/3 days, so I hope you mind that there will be some references to it...
Actually, a LOT of things in the story will contain references... (won't be long until I'll make a Loki reference OTL)
review please :D
