Thank you for the reviews! Let's hope the story will be as good as the first chapter. I'll try and update regularly, but I can't promise anything. Sometimes my imagination goes down the drain! Enjoy the next chapter!
He couldn't believe this was actually happening. Riddle was pulling him in, like a fish on a hook. At first he flat out refused to place even one step closer to that cursed diary. But when his head nearly exploded, with unbearable pain, he reluctantly walked back to his aunt's and uncle's house.
"Where do you think you're going?" Asked Aunt Petunia as soon as he came inside. "Come back down!"
He ignored her. First he needed to set things straight with Riddle, then he would do his chores, knowing all the well what a mad house this would become, if he didn't.
What the hell do you want?
The decision he made last night, was foolish, he realized that now. There was no way he could thrust Riddle. Even the simplest of conversation could get you in a whole lot of trouble.
I just wanted to make sure you uphold your promise.
His promise? Riddle forced him to come back and open the diary just to have another chat? In the middle of the day? He felt so frustrated he wanted to close the book again and just leave Riddle to suffocate in his own schemes. But that would mean the headache would return.
I have nothing to say to you anymore Riddle.
In seriously doubt that. You could tell me all about yourself.
In your dreams!
As if he was that stupid! Telling that bastard all about himself meant pouring his very being in that diary.
I'm sure that can be arranged.
What? Riddle was going to arrange what? The tingling feeling in his abdomen got stronger again. His hand started to tremble. He felt so tired. Even holding the quill in his hand seemed to be such an effort. His eyelids were heavy, slowly closing. What was happening? First his vision got a bit hazy, only to turn black seconds later.
When Harry opened his eyes, nothing changed. He was in complete and utter darkness. There was nothing there, not even a surface to sit upon. He was floating in the darkness. Even when he tried to move, nothing seemed to change. There was no wind, nor a soft breeze.
"Hallo?" He tried, hoping there was someone there, anyone. Somewhere he expected an echo of his own voice, but even that didn't happen. This was weird and fighting.
"Hallo Harry." A soft whisper, somewhere in the darkness. Riddle. Somehow the Slytherin heir crawled in his head again. "Does the darkness frighten you, Golden boy?"
"No." His answer came to quick, he knew that.
"Oh, but it does." The voice was like silk, to soft and to smooth. "I know it does Harry, you can't lie to me. Imagine living in this darkness for half a century. And then, when you finally see the light again, a glimpse of life, some boy comes along and crashes all your hopes."
"Is that what this is about? Vengeance?" The first chance he got, he would throw the book away, burn it even and never speak of it again. Then he would be rid of Riddle and his twisted mind games.
"Vengeance? Of course not. It is however a nice addition to torment you a bit in the process." Slowly the darkness started to fade. Shades of white and grey appeared. His feet hit something solid, causing him to fall down on his hands and knees.
He slowly looked up, to the figure standing in front of him now. He recognized the elder boy immediately. Dark hair, almost as black as his own. High cheekbones and dark blueish grey eyes. They looked a lot alike, he and Riddle. The biggest difference was the skin-tone. Whilst he had a more tanned tone, due to being outside so much, Riddle skin was pale. A lot of girls would think Tom Riddle to be handsome. Too bad he had such a twisted personality.
"If it's not vengeance, what then?" Harry asked, getting back on his feet.
"If I tell you that, I would have to kill." The Slytherin heir answered, a smirk on his face.
A shiver ran down Harry's spine. The look in Riddle's eyes was that of a predator, ready to attack his prey at first sign of weakness. The elder walked around him surveying him. Those dark eyes missed nothing.
"Where are we?" He asked, just to break the deafening silence. He followed Riddle with his eyes, ready the curse him, should he need to.
"We are in my dreams, just like you said."
"Huh?"
"Try speaking in full sentences and using actual words. All those other sounds, that are coming out of your mouth, sounds fatuous." The elder boy stopped, right in front of him. "As for you question. I recall you saying 'In your dreams', so that is exactly where I took you."
"This is one of your dreams?" He blinked. How boring. It was neither a good dream, nor a nightmare. In fact it contained nothing. Only black and white, and the grey shades between them. "It's sort of boring, isn't it? I mean, where is your imagination? That a crazed psychopath like you doesn't have any nightmares, I understand. But even you want to accomplice something, don't you?"
Harry took a step back when he saw the flash of red in the Slytherin heir's otherwise dark eyes. Apparently he stepped on Riddle's toes. When the elder came closer, he drew his wand, ready to defend himself. But the wand disappeared out of his hand, crumbling into dust. When he looked up, Riddle stood before him, wand aimed at his chest.
"Maybe I should lock you up in a cage of your own. Locked in your own mind, with only the darkness as your company. Maybe then you will understand." In spite of the seriousness of the threat, the words were spoken soft, without any hint of malice. Even the dark dangerous look in Riddle's eyes was gone.
He swallowed, not all that comfortable without his wand. If Riddle decided to curse him, there was nothing he could do about it. But nothing happened. The Slytherin heir just stepped back, now playing with his wand. "Don't worry, Golden boy. I'm not going to curse you. Not yet anyway. For now I need you. And Alas you need me." The older boy smirked again.
"And why is that?" Harry crossed his arms. His words sounded stronger then he felt. He was uncomfortable, nervous.
"Because you will be stuck in this place if I don't assist you."
It was like someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water over his head. If not for Riddle he would be stuck here forever. That was something he didn't want. Wandering these shades of grey for the rest of his days, that just sounded horrific.
This was exactly the kind of reaction Riddle expected. He walked straight in a trap. If he wanted to get out of here, there was something he needed to do for the Slytherin heir, he just knew that. To the elder boy this was all a game. If he wanted to win this game, he had to play it. There was no other choice. It was that or submitting to whatever Riddle wanted and probably forfeiting his own live.
"What do you want?"
"A promise."
"Again, what do you want."
The Slytherin heir smirked yet again. "I want you to promise me that you will visit me each and every day, for at least half an hour, no exceptions. You will then talk to me about everything that is going on in the world. Especially about my, like you put it so nicely, 'hideous older version'. In return I will let you out of my dream and promise I will never lock you in here again, unless you break your own promise. Then, of course, I will drag you back and make sure you will never leave this place, ever."
"Fifteen minutes."
"It is not up for negotiation. These are my terms. If you don't agree, be my guest and spend an eternity here, with me."
This was a nightmare, no worse. This was absolute hell.
During the conversation, the boy had paled considerably. Harry was like an open book with his emotions. A storm of emotions swirled through his eyes. He was even able to read Harry's thoughts just by looking at his features. Anger. Confusion. Disbelieve. Shock. Fear.
After that a rave look locked in place. Foolish little Gryffindor. Bravery would not save him from the game he was playing. The boy would learn that soon enough.
"Seeing how it's not up for negotiation, I've no other choice. I accept." The golden boy held out his hand, in order to seal the agreement, but he did not take it. This promise was magical.
"'I promise' will do fine." He stated. If it could be helped, he would not touch anyone. Ever since he was little he hated human touch. Humans did it for all the wrong reasons, groping him with their filthy hands. It was despicable.
"I promise." The Gryffindor Golden boy said flatly. He could feel the magic taking effect. A new tread wrapped around his arms, binding the other to him even more. The first stage of his plan was complete now. Soon enough the boy would be checkmate. He would capture the kind of the light-side and make him his own. His puppet, to do with what he pleased.
"Now get me the bloody hell out of here."
"Language Harry!" he said yet again. Didn't the boy have any manners? It was rude to swear so much. "If you feel the need to pronounce yourself more expressive, there are other words to do so."
"Shut up. It's your fault I'm so angry in the first place."
He smirked. "It may be my fault, but who are you angry with? Me? Or perhaps yourself? They were not my words that dragged you in this. You decided to play this game, when you opened that diary yesterday."
Horror filled the boy's eyes. How easy it was to manipulate such a young mind into believing whatever he wanted him to believe. Or so he thought. The look in Harry's eyes changed again, restoring his Gryffindor stubbornness. Defiance filled those killing curse green eyes.
"Like hell it is. It's your bloody fault, I'm angry with you."
He sighed. It was going to be hard to trained his new-found toy to do exactly what he wanted the boy to do. First step: Teach the boy some manners. The swearing and cutting sentences short were just childish. The boy could be so much better than the light-side's pet. Maybe he would show harry what he could be. But first things first.
"I will see you later Harry." Was all he replied, before sending the boy back to his own mind and world. As soon as the golden boy was gone, the darkness and solitude returned. He did not expect harry to speak with him immediately. He would probably have to wait until the next day. Oh well, after spending fifty years alone, what was another day?
00:14 (Belgium, GTM+1, Am for those who wonder.) I just really wanted to finish this chapter today. I hope you like where I'm going with this!
