REMNANT

Chapter One - Dang it.

Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep

He groaned…no, c'mon now, that wasn't fair, it couldn't be time already…nooo…

Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep

Nope, he refused to accept it. It was…still 2:00 A.M, yeah, that was it. It had to be. He must have simply set the alarm clock wrong. Yeah, that had to be it. He took comfort in the fact that it wasn't really time to get up, sighing in contentment and grinning, a trace amount of drool evident on his cheek and pillow. It was just…so comfortable…yes, sleep was good…oh, sleep was very good…

Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep

Mmmm, the pillow was so warm and nice…like a marshmallow burning in his mouth. Erm, well, that wasn't really the best way to put it, but…it was nice…

Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep, Beeeep

"FREAKIN'…BEEP!" He yelled out, eyes still closed, as he refused to get out of bed for anything at the moment.

The beeping continued, seemingly undaunted by his harsh words. He moaned groggily and slipped further under the covers, as if they would protect him from the menace that lurked outside of his warm sanctuary.

It continued to beep, and as the seconds ticked by, he grew very agitated. Finally, after a good couple minutes, he threw the covers to the side angrily, stomped out of his bed, and walked over to where the alarm clock was. He punched it head-on, which didn't seem to do anything but send it spiraling across the room and into the wall with a crash. As it slid down the wall and landed on the ground, it was STILL beeping.

"Jeremy? What's going on in there?" A voice sounded from beyond his door, and he took a moment to respond, still groggy.

"Go back to bed, Mom, it's only 2, I'm…sorry for waking you…up, yeah…"

The voice was silent for a moment before replying. "It's 7:00, Jeremy. Not 2:00."

The revelation seemed to effect him more strongly than it would have effected someone else. "Are…are you sure, mom? You're not just saying it? Is it…really?" He asked, his voice shaking.

"Why would I lie to you about this? Anyway, it's time for you to start getting ready, you have school in 40 minutes now."

Jeremy slumped on to his knees, looking down at his hands. It…it was time after all…and he was enjoying his sleep…oh, his peaceful sleep…

He suddenly turned to eye the alarm clock, the source of his misery, with hatred glowing darkly in his eyes.

"YOU…." He spoke, clenching his teeth with anger as he pointed dangerously at the alarm clock. It stopped beeping at that precise moment, which seemed strange enough, though he simply grinned arrogantly.

"Teach YOU to mess with me…stupid alarm clock…maybe that punch to the face knocked some sense into you, hmmm? Ha ha ha, loser…what a stupid alarm clock…" He continued to insult the inanimate object for a good minute or so, completely unaware that he was not alone.

"Hello there, Jeremy." Came a voice from behind. Jeremy froze, not turning around to face the voice.

"Alarm clock…?" He asked in a whisper, eyes wide. Oh no…he had pushed it too far this time around…now, he had done it…he had gone and angered the alarm clock…

"Listen, I'm sorry for punching you…it won't ever happen again, I swear…" He pleaded nervously.

"I'm not an alarm clock, if you would just turn around and…"

"GOT YOOOOU!!!"

Jeremy turned around swiftly and pointed a triumphant finger at the source of the voice, which turned out to be a rather petite man with pointed whiskers and what seemed to be rabbit ears. His victorious expression remained for a moment longer before he came to the realization that this was not the alarm clock, as he had suspected.

"Who are you?!"

"Jeremy? What's taking you? Hurry up and come out of there, you still have to take a shower and eat before school, it's already 7:10…"

"I know mom, I know, I'm just…I'm just rubbing my ankle, I'll be out in a minute. Yeah…mmmm, I love rubbing my ankle." He replied. There was silence outside for a moment, before he heard his mother walk away, confused.

"I too enjoy rubbing my ankle." The minuscule man spoke up solemnly, bowing his head in appreciation. "It is quite enlightening, is it not?"

"Listen here, you…thingamjig, I dunno what you are and frankly, I…want to know." Jeremy finished awkwardly, hesitating before continuing.

"Did the alarm clock send you?"

"No, no, don't worry, the alarm clock won't pull anything…yet. Isn't that right…clock?" He asked, in one of those sweet-yet-threatening type of voices. The alarm clock, which, might I remind you, is an alarm clock, and therefore an inanimate object, remained still. After a moment, the man nodded.

"Good. Yeah, he won't try anything." Jeremy nodded with a sigh of relief.

"Anyway…you're probably wondering what I am." This had already been clarified a moment ago, but Jeremy nodded fervently.

"My name is…" He seemed to hesitate for a brief moment before continuing. "Arnold. I have a message for you."

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The room was completely white, so white that…well, it's not really the easiest thing to describe. Just imagine white…and some more white…and stuff. Yeah, it was just plain white. In the middle of the very white room was a long table, like the types of tables businessman gathered around to speak business. You know what I'm talking about, right? Well yeah, it was one of those.

On either side of the long, steel table, were 5 high chairs, and in each chair a person resided. Though it was impossible to ascertain the details of their features…they concealed their identity behind the duck suit each one was wearing.

"Everything seems to be going to plan. I say we proceed with the next step." One of the duck-suit-wearing men…or whatever it could have been…began, it's voice deep and husky. "There's no reason we shouldn't. We could have done so before…that's just my opinion."

Another one of the ducks spoke up, this one with a higher-pitched voice. "Well, I would agree with you, but we had to make that fool think he was in charge, remember?" The duck nodded. "Otherwise, he would have long ago grown suspicious of us and investigated, and that's something we simply mustn't have, do you not agree?"

One of the…things, who seemed to be a bit on the fat side as his chicken suit was far wider than any of the others, slammed his palm against the table angrily, causing everyone to stare at him. He didn't say anything, but his palm remained there. The others continued the discussion, undaunted.

"Actually…" Began another duck, "I was thinking it might be beneficial to continue our current course. We can't afford any mistakes, not after how far we've come. And now that he's almost completely blind to discovering anything that might jeopardize our organization…I say we wait until we're absolutely certain." Most of the other ducks nodded.

"It is decided, then…" An elderly sounding duck spoke, who sat in the highest chair at the front of the table. All of the others immediately went silent. However this duck was, he seemed to be the leader.

"We shall wait…and when the time comes, we shall strike. At long last…"

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"Sooo…what's this message?" Jeremy asked again. The odd-looking man had been pacing around in circles for the last five minutes, and Jeremy was growing rather impatient. He said he had a message…so why didn't he just spill it?

"Okay…" But at that particular moment, an explosion was heard outside.

HEH HEH HEH…TO BE CONTINUED!!!