Chapter four is up! I want to thank everyone for all of the support that they have given me so far. I am hoping that I will be able to complete this story by the end of summer. Please enjoy.


Silent Thunder

Arc II

Chapter 4: New Horrors

Ringo sat comfortably on a fallen tree that rested along the side of the road. It had been three days since the incident with the plant mage and she was tired from walking. She moved slightly, getting comfortable against the hard bark of the dead tree. The wind was blowing gently, moving the loose shirt she wore. After losing her clothing in the previous town, Ringo had managed to find the exact same clothing at the next town. Though there were difficulties with her no wanting to go into the town and her being naked and Laxus getting frustrated at her once again.

Said man was now standing behind her, leaning against another tree with his arms crossed and eyes closed. Though Ringo had been the one to ask for a break, mostly due to her wearing sandals that were very uncomfortable to walk long distances in, he too was resting. Ringo let out a small sigh and stretched as she sat. She ran a few fingers through her hair and frowned. It had been a long time since she last took a bath and she really needed one. She looked back at Laxus.

"Is there a river around here?" she asked him. Laxus opened his eyes.

"I don't know." He said, standing up straight.

Ringo frowned and stood up. "I need a bath." She admitted, starting to walk. Laxus followed behind her. Though he didn't admit it aloud, he too wanted one.

Ringo trudged a bit, before lifting her head up. Though she had only walked a few feet, the sound of a small current reached her ears. She smiled and looked at Laxus. "I hear a river!" she explained. "Let's go there."

She grabbed his hand with both of hers and pulled slightly to get him to go with her idea. Though a bit annoyed at her being pushy, Laxus did nothing more than brush her hands off and gesture for her to lead the way. Ringo didn't mind when Laxus pushed her hand away, just simply turned around and quickly walked towards the sound.

After several kilometers of walking, they came to a row of bushes and trees. On the other side of it was a clear river. Ringo bounded to the edge which was rocky and could see the bottom of the river. The bottom was nothing bit rocks, much like the shore and just a few fish swam through it. From where she stood, Ringo estimated the water to be two or so feet in depth and twenty across. She put her tanned fingers in the water, feeling how cool it was despite the afternoon sun. She stood up and waved at Laxus who was standing at the bushes.

"I'll go first." She told him. Laxus gave her a curt nod, turned around and sat behind the bushes where he couldn't see her.

Ringo smiled and began to take her clothes off. She laid them across the sun warmed rocks, putting a few bigger stones on them so they didn't blow away. Once she was done, she let down her hair, having it reach just past her knees. After taking her clothes off, Ringo quickly slipped into the cold water, shiver as it pooled around her. She sat near the edge but deep enough that the water reached her shoulders as she crouched. Ringo couldn't swim and didn't want to risk going to the center where it could possibly be deeper. Taking a deep breath, she dunked under the surface to get her hair wet and came up immediately. She shook her head and wiped the water away from her eyes the best she could.

Ringo turned on her stomach and reached for her bag. She grabbed some soap from it and poured the gel into her hands. She moved her hands quickly to her head, trying not to lose any of the large amounts of gel she had to use for her long hair. Moving her hands, Ringo created a nice lather of the blue coloured gel, turning it white and covering her in soap. She stood up, the water reaching only to her knees now and started scrubbing her body along with her hair.

Ringo was careful when cleaning, making sure that every inch of her hair was cleaned as well as her own body. Once she was down, she sat down, letting the small rush of water wash away most of the water on her skin. She leaned against the bank and lifted her leg above the surface, feeling the bit of weight from the water that had soaked in. She started rubbing her legs with the soap. Afterwards, Ringo dunked under the water and worked hard to get the soap out of her hair.

Once she managed to do so, Ringo rinsed her hair out once more and reached for the towel that was in her bag. She carefully wrapped it around her body and begun to wring out her hair. A thick stream of water poured from the very tip of her hair, splashing on the rocks and turning them a darker shade of brown. Ringo wrung her hair out multiple times before deciding that it wasn't going to get any drier.

Ringo took her towel off her waist and started to dry her skin the best she could. Afterwards, she pulled on her clothes, feeling her still wet hair soak the back of them. With a sigh, Ringo started to dry her hair as she went to the bushes where Laxus was still sitting. She leaned over the bush and smiled. "I'm done." She said, stepping around the bush.

Laxus had been sitting with his back to the river, legs crossed and arms as well. His eyes were closed and jaw hard, as if he was concentrating on some deep thought. When Ringo told him that she was done, he glanced up at her. Seeing her dressed and still drying her hair, Laxus stood up. Leaving his cloak and bag behind, he simply took a towel and his own soap with him.

Ringo sat down where Laxus had been sitting, her back to the river as he had. She kept her headphones close to her as she dried her hair which was still very much wet. With her headphones off, Ringo was a bit tense, hearing things at a level that could not be perceived by normal human ears. Her ears ring with the buzzing of insects, the wind in the leaves and the gentle splashing of water from Laxus taking his bath. Soon the pounding in her ears became too much and even with her hair still wet, she put the headphones on, sighing in relief when the noise dulled.

Several minutes passed with Ringo simply sitting behind the bush, wandering when Laxus would be done. She waited patiently for her companion to finish, not wanting to disturb him. However, not five minutes had passed when the sounds of angry footsteps and yelling reached Ringo's ears. She sat up straight and looked around but then realized that the yelling was right behind her.

Forgetting all about Laxus taking a bath, Ringo looked over the bush, seeing the new stranger, as well as a completely naked Laxus. Well, his butt anyway. Once Ringo realized that Laxus wasn't dressed yet but had noticed her watching, she raised her hands. "Oopsies." She laughed half heartedly. "Sorry." Slowly Ringo turned around her made it obvious that she was covering her eyes.

Laxus said nothing, simply dried off and got dressed, half ignoring the man who was currently yelling at him about bathing in his river. Hear him pull his clothes on, Ringo risked a peak and noticed that he was dressed. She quickly got her things and brought them over to him, giving the blonde another apology. She then remembered the guy who was staring at them, angry that they were still ignoring him.

"Is something wrong?" She asked him nonchalantly.

A vein burst in his forehead as Laxus accepted his things from Ringo. "You damn teenagers are skinny dipping in my river, that's my problem!" he shouted, accusing them of things they didn't do.

"I'm not a teenager." Ringo said, ignoring the second part.

"Same." Laxus said. He glanced down at Ringo, not too surprised to hear that she was not a teen. Though a bit childish, there was something about her that made her older.

"It doesn't matter how old you are, it is indecent!" the man continued to argue. "What would people think if they saw two kids, naked in my river? I am an influential man."

Ringo frowned and looked the man over. He was tall but still shorter than Laxus with black hair that was combed and gelled neatly. He wore a purple dress shirt, black pants and a gold embroidered black trench coat. Jeweled encrusted buttons and cuff clips were on the jacket and his pants. He gave an aura of self-importance but still showed wrinkles of age.

"Sorry." Ringo said with a kind smile. "We just wanted to take a bath since we haven't had one in a while."

The man's face calmed down upon hearing the words. He immediately suspected the worse and his face grew to pity. "Are you children homeless?" he asked.

Ringo shook her head. "Just traveling." She said.

"Well I must welcome you to stay at my mansion." He said with a smile. "As an apology for accusing you of wrong doings. Oh yes, my name is John."

Ringo's face lit up, oblivious to any intentions that the man had and instantly agreed. Laxus stared at the man, suspicious but deciding not to question it. Ringo was right on board and he knew very well that the woman's opinion was not to easily changed. The man led them to a fair sized carriage that held two black horses in the front. The man opened the door and smiled at Ringo and Laxus.

"Watch your step." He said. "My home is a distance away."

Ringo's eyes lit up at the carriage. She walked around it, taking the vehicle in. It was a dark wood, simple yet elegant with faded gold and red trim. The horses were solid black, their manes and tails groomed and cut to perfection. Their harnesses were of dark leather and encrusted with blood red jewels. The interior was a rich wine fabric, soft to the touch and roomy with a curtain across the door and window.

Ringo took the first step in it and glanced at Laxus. The man was staring at the carriage with a bit of hesitation. She was confused with his expression and reached for his upper arm, tugging at it slightly. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Laxus looked at Ringo as soon as her cold hands touched his arm. His mouth was drawn tight and he took a step to the carriage. His pride refused to tell them the main reason for feeling uneasy.

Ringo sat down across from the door and Laxus took the spot next to her. He gave her plenty of room and crossed his arms over his chest, closing his eyes. John sat down in the carriage, across from Ringo and closed the door. With a clap of his hands, the horses started to trot, tugging at the carriage lightly. Ringo glanced up at Laxus, hearing a small noise from his throat but his face remained calm.

"Please, tell me your names." John asked them, starting a friendly conversation.

"My name is Ringo Cloudminn." Ringo said with a smile. She raised her hand at Laxus who seemed to be refusing to answer. "This is Laxus Dreyar."

John's eyes flashed to Laxus quickly but looked back at Ringo. "So why are you two traveling?" he asked.

"Just because." Ringo said, not really sure how to answer it. She didn't know Laxus's reasons and talking about her own was an uncomfortable topic, especially to a stranger. "It's fun though."

"The same can be said about my home." John said, accepting Ringo's half hearted response. "My home has a dress code, however. But do not worry, I will provide you with the proper clothing."

Ringo cheered silently, completely forgetting what the last incident with new clothing had brought her too. She glanced up at Laxus again, hearing another sound from his throat but still saw no reaction on his face. She was a bit worried but decided to wait until they got off the carriage to question it.

After a half hour, the carriage finally stopped outside a large mansion. Along the way, Ringo had watched the dirt path and green plains turn to cobblestone and rows of trees that had been planted perfectly. She watched as flowered bushes and an iron gate opened wait to this brick mansion that gave off a strange feeling that left a pit in her stomach. Still, Ringo was amazed at the sheer size of the building.

John got off the carriage first and helped Ringo down the steps. Laxus followed close behind her. As John steered he carriage away, he sighed silently and took a deep breath. Ringo looked up at her traveling partner. "Do you get motion sickness?" she asked him bluntly. The noises that she had heard in his throat must have been from holding back.

Laxus looked at her and glanced away, his jaw tight. "Tell no one." He muttered and glanced up at the mansion. Ringo smiled at him, somehow satisfied to see this side of Laxus. She moved next to him, nudging his arm slightly.

"Don't worry, I have no one to tell." She said. "Which is why I'm telling you this: you have a nice butt."

She gave Laxus a toothy grin, her eyes closed and unable to see the expression he gave her. It was one of confusion and a bit of disbelief, his sharp eyes wider than normal and his brows raised. Ringo followed John to the mansion, not waiting for Laxus's response. The lightning mage couldn't even find words to say however, and simply followed, pushing what Ringo had told him to the back of his mind.

When they entered the mansion, it was empty. Not a single butler or maid greeted them. Despite the solid emptiness of the building, Ringo and Laxus could feel eyes on them, feel the presence of someone there that they could not see. Ringo brushed it off and followed John along the rich red carpet that led to a large, dark marble staircase.

"Feel free to stay here for a night or two." John told them. "But before then, allow me to bring you to your rooms where the appropriate clothing for my home can be found."

"Why do we have to wear 'appropriate' clothing?" Laxus asked, disliking the idea after the run in with Flora.

"My servants will not show themselves unless you do." John said. "They are quite strange that way."

Ringo giggled slightly at the idea of them only popping up around decently dressed people. "I'm open for new clothes." She said much to John's delight.

With those words, he led them up the large flight of stairs, their shoes clopping and clapping along the bare marble. Ringo kept looking around, her loose hair following her, getting in her way. She couldn't wait to put her hair up in the pigtails again.

John brought them to a long, empty hallway. The walls were a dark wood with a detailed floor trip. A floral pattern carpet rested in the center. There were no windows in the hall, simply doors after doors after doors. Each door had numbers carved into a gold nameplate that were so faded that Ringo could barely read them, though they were very much polished. Between the doors was either a painting or a sconce. The paintings all seemed to be original, the paint making obvious bumps.

The hallway was candle lit, the candles in high chandeliers and sconces but only gave minimal light. At the end, a dark whole with a few glowing orange lights was all that could be seen. As John passed the pictures, Ringo looked at them, finding all of them to be of a horror seen, macabre and bloody. The pit in her stomach started to emerge again as she saw the image but she quickly looked away. Other paintings depictured dolls with white eyes, pulling people down.

After a bit of walking and having Ringo successfully creeped out by the pictures, John stopped at a door. He pulled a ring of keys out of his pocket. The ring was old, rusted but the keys were shiny, has if they had just been polished. Without much hesitation, he found the right key and unlocked the door. Opening it, he looked at Laxus and gave the blonde a friendly smile. "This room is for you." He said.

Glancing at Ringo one last time, Laxus walked into the room. Once the larger man was far enough in, John closed the door and locked it. Ringo looked at him questionably but John just smiled. "It's a safety measure." He said, fooling the young woman. "This way, my dear."

Ringo followed John down the hall way more. She glanced back, unable to see the door in which Laxus had disappeared behind. When John stopped, Ringo was still looking behind her and bumped into him. The older man simply smiled and unlocked Ringo's own door. She walked through and heard the door close behind her but unlike with Laxus's door, she did not hear the click of the lock.

It confused her but before opening the door, Ringo spotted a dress that was lying on the bed in the room. Her mind completely forgot about the door as she went straight to it. Glancing around and seeing that there were no windows in her room, Ringo stripped and pulled the dress on. Near the bed was a full length mirror so she walked over to it. She smiled at herself in the mirror.

The dress was an off-white that was sleeveless, flowy and reached mid thigh in the front and a few inches longer in the back. A black corset covered her breast but still allowed for the top of the dress to show. The bottom was cut with two tails in the front, much like on a butler's coat. The long sleeves were black as well, tied at her upper arm by a blood red sash and were thick, covering her hands with a ruffled off-white fabric underneath. Along with the dress were dark purple socks that stopped at her thighs and knee high black boots. Placed in her still loose hair was a black headband with a white rose and around her neck was a black chocker with a matching cross. Ringo's pale blue headphones stood out like a sore thumb in his outfit.

She twirled in the dress slightly, loving the design but a bit dissatisfied with the colouring. Black was never a colour that she liked on herself but this time she was going to have to deal with it. Adjusting the clothing a bit, Ringo turned and walked to the bed, placing her clothes back in the bag.

It was then that she finally looked around the room. It was dark, much like the hallway with only a few candles lit on the dark wood bed stands that were placed either side of the iron framed bed. The sheets on the bed were a rich purple and a large red carpet was laid across the cold wood floor. A vanity with a dirty mirror and empty surface rested next to a wardrobe that when Ringo attempted to open, would not budge.

Finding nothing else in the room to interest her, Ringo walked to the door and opened it. She glanced around but saw no signs of John or Laxus. With a slight frown, she made her way down the hallway to Laxus's door to see if he was ready. As she walked, the hallway felt as if it was getting longer. A cold air hit Ringo from behind despite their being no windows. The flames on the candle didn't even flicker.

The hairs on Ringo's neck stood up and she turned around, feeling a stare. Seeing nothing and hearing nothing but her own heart pounding in her throat, Ringo turned back around and picked up her pace. She stopped when she reached Laxus's door, more amazed at her own ability to remember which door was his. Without any hesitation she knocked on door.

The sound of Laxus attempting to open the door could be heard but because John had locked it, he was unable to get it open. Hearing the man curse slightly on the other side of the door, Ringo stepped back, predicting him to break it down. As soon as she took a step back, the sounds of scuttling behind her came.

A heavy wind blew in the hallway, causing the candles to blow out and Ringo's hair to cover her face. As she attempted to move the thick locks out of her way, she noticed the beady white eyes, only a foot or two above the ground. Hundreds of them stared at her, causing her to back up against the cold door. She felt something brush against her bare legs and she quickly jumped to the side. When she did, she bumped into one of the things on the ground.

They had gotten closer.

And now that they had, Ringo could see what they were.

White eyed dolls, cracked and dirty, smiling and frowning with ripped clothing or no clothing at all. They were moving towards her, focused completely on her.

"Laxus, there are dolls." She said, hearing the man still try to get the door open. Despite the fear she felt, Ringo's voice was calm but demanding.

The dolls took a step closer, moving slowly, knowing that they had Ringo trapped. She felt them grab her legs, even through the leather boots she wore. The pressure they gave off was strong, a strength that these dolls should not have. She felt them tug at her, trying to pull her down to her knees.

But before they could, an arm reached out and dragged her into a room, closing the door behind her.


I do accept critiques and I would love any helpful tips. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.