I wanted to try a little something different for this flashback chapter. Lyrics to 'Defying Gravity' are from the Broadway musical Wicked. I altered them slightly to fit the characters and situation. It is an excellent song, so definitely look it up on YouTube.
The OC Eleanor is (c) Aranori, and is being used with permission.
"Elmo... what- what's happened to you? What's going on?" Eleanor asked slowly. Aside from obvious concern and confusion, there was a definite hint of fear in her voice that she mentally attempted to deny, however weak or futile. This was her dearest friend, who she loved and trusted with all her heart. How could she possibly be afraid of him?
It wasn't so much the bizarre get-up, nor the horribly uncharacteristic afro-style hair, but those *eyes*. Eyes which lacked all reason and sanity. Beady, glinting, wild eyes which held no real focus, unnervingly inconsistent, even though they stared directly at her.
This wasn't her Elmo. It couldn't be the same individual with whom she had developed a strong relationship for so many months now, one of mutual comfort and encouragement in their otherwise-disheartening lives. The one with whom she had made plans to go to the Senior Prom, a true milestone for them together, which would undoubtedly prove to be memorable and significant on a far deeper level than for most of their fellow students.
She had been in high spirits all week, since he had worked up the courage to ask her, and had spent all that time- up to and including that very evening- preparing for this. Now, as she stood there in her teal-green gown outside the school, where she had gone to meet him when he failed to pick her up at her place- highly strange and unnerving in itself- she felt, for the first time, that this was a complete stranger.
"Hello, Eleanor," he had greeted her in response to the gasp that intially flew from her mouth, having seemed to creep up behind her out of nowhere. He wore a grin that bore none of his usual warmth and innocence, but one that marked a truly deranged individual, and it sent icy chills to pierce the center of her heart. "Are you ready for a truly electrifying night?"
To her prior questions, he said shrewdly, "Oh, I suppose I have changed a bit. But for the better, don't you think, my dear?" A high-pitched cackle, like nothing he had ever uttered before, escaped him.
"Are you ok?" she asked faintly, devastated. But it wasn't until he snapped his fingers, and a spark of blue current emitted from them, that the horror sank in.
"Never better!" he rasped, casually playing with the electricity with as little ease as a child might creatively control a toy of some sort.
Without warning, it formed into a large glowing ball of energy and he hurled it directly at a flashy car in the parking lot, several feet away, which Eleanor immediately recognized- as did everybody in school- as Hamm String's. A split second after, only ashes remained.
"I'm a pretty good shot, huh?" he said airily, blowing the excess smoke from his fingertip. "Been practicing. Such a shame 'ol Porky wasn't inside, though. Oh, well; I'll be frying his bacon soon anyway. Him and that little slut of his." Ignoring the strangled sound that came from Eleanor, he cried, throwing his hands into the air, "And why stop there? I'll make the entire student body tremble at my power... and then destroy them all, too!"
There was only silent shock and horror for response.
Elmo looked at her quizzically. "Eleanor, what's the matter? Why are you trembling?You- you don't honestly believe, for a second, that I would dream of hurting you...?" His expression slowly mirrored hers, and he reached out for her.
Eleanor wrenched away from his touch. "You think I can be sure of that? The Elmo I know- once knew- would never dream of harming a fly!" She shook her head wildly, and continued to back away. "What is this, Elmo? What's happened to you?"
Elmo followed her, his face now registering hurt. "Eleanor, don't you see? Something truly, unexplainably incredible has happened to me! This is what I've always dreamed of! For the first time in my life, I have the ability to thwart my oppressors- our oppressors! Eleanor, I'm doing this for yourself just as much as me, if not more! Too long have we suffered all our lives at the hands of others! Now, we can finally have our vengeance! We'll make them pay, every last one of them, see that they don't live to regret how they hurt us! This is our chance!" His very body beamed as he spoke excitedly, as though he were a living hundred-watt bulb. "They say the meek shall inherit, and you know the Good Book doesn't lie!"
"So, that's your answer? You would lower yourself to- to-" She swallowed visibly. "Murder? In cold blood? No remorse?"
"Remorse?" Elmo exclaimed, looking both amused and outraged. "Show me the one who ever showed us any remorse or mercy, and I'll do the same unto him!" He sneered. "No! This is the only way. I admit- as a scientist, one dedicated only to stone-cold logic, the notion of fate and divine intervention should hold no sway over me, but science has also taught me to adhere to the facts; that by elimination of the impossible, whatever remains- however improbable- is nothing but the truth! Don't you see? It was not merely through some freak chance that I was granted this power. This is my destiny!"
He grinned wickedly, glancing toward the building. "And speaking of elimination..."
"You're crazy, Elmo Sputterspark! I don't know who you are anymore!" She took a deep breath, tightly choking back a sob. "And you have to be stopped, for the sake of everybody including you!"
"NO!" Elmo screamed. It happened in a literal flash, and the female rat was immediately struck backward onto the pavement.
"ELEANOR!" Elmo rushed to her side, and carefully began to check her pulse. He was relieved to see that she had merely been stunned, and had somehow not even been knocked unconscious. "Thank God, thank God," he murmured frantically, upon learning that her vital sings were stable. "Oh, Eleanor, how could you? How could I have anticipated such a whim? I couldn't live with myself if I- if you- oh, sweet Edison, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"
He reached out to help her to her feet, but Eleanor shrieked, "Don't touch me! You freak! You monster!"
Now, it was his turn to reel back in shock, his expression precisely matching hers when she had been hit. "What did you say?" he whispered, disbelief and agony present in his voice, trailing off into a raspy squeak.
"Do YOU understand now, Elmo? If you truly loved me, you wouldn't do this! Look at yourself, look at what you've become! This is not the Elmo I know and love! He would never conceive doing anything that would put me at risk! You're a danger to me, to yourself, and to everybody." She was openly crying now as she stared defiantly at him, her mascara streaming down her cheeks. "And I'll do anything to stop whatever has possessed you."
Elmo was silent for a long time after she delivered this earnest statement, which bore all the weight of a promise. He could see it in her eyes; she was every bit as determined as him.
What did this mean? What did this make her to him?
They were on different sides.
If he wasn't with her...
At last, he spoke again. "You would risk your life to stop me? You would put yourself in harm's way... for them? Knowing that I could never directly oppose you? You would do that to me?"
She did not answer.
"I don't... why... it's not- NO!" he suddenly screamed, his emotional and mental agony twisting together to form a truly frightening scene; despite herself, she could not bear to look into his face at that moment, a face that conveyed terrible madness and despair. He screamed at the top of his lungs, tore wildly at his hair, having fallen to his knees. All the while, a great orb of blue-and-yellow wholly enveloped him, seeming to consume him alive, almost threatening to explode at any second.
At last he stopped, harshly panting, his energy entirely spent for the time being. He slowly rose to his feet, and turned to face her. His face was unreadable, which frightened her even more.
"Elmo... why couldn't you have just stayed calm, instead of flying off the handle?" Eleanor exclaimed. "Then none of this would have happened, and we'd still be happy together, sharing the start of something truly special this very moment!" For, at this point, there seemed like very little hope for him. "Well, at least-
I hope you're happy!
I hope you're happy now!
I hope you're happy how
You've destroyed your life forever
I hope you think you're clever!"
"I hope you're happy, toots," Elmo snarled back.
"I hope you're happy, too
I hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition!"
They glared at each-other, before simultaneously crying,
"So, though I can't imagine how,
I hope you're happy
Right now!"
"Elmo. Listen to me. It's not too late. Please, let me help you," Eleanor pleaded.
"You can still graduate, go to college,
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted..."
"I know," Elmo said, his voice barely above a whisper. He had turned his back to her, and now he was facing her sadly.
"But I don't want it... no
I can't want it
Anymore.
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing,
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts,
Close my eyes and leap!
It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!"
"Can't I make you understand? You're having delusions of grandeur!"
Elmo ignored her and continued, his voice ringing with even greater determination:
"I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing life I guess I've lost
Well, if that's life,
It comes at much too high a cost!
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye,
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!"
He suddenly gripped her hands. "Eleanor- come with me!" he begged desperately. "Think of what we could do- together!
Unlimited
Together, we're unlimited
Together, we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been
Eleanor-
Dreams, the way we planned 'em..."
"If we work in tandem-" Eleanor murmured, slowly meeting his earnest gaze.
She found herself singing along with him, "-There's no fight we cannot win...
Just you and I
Defying gratify
With you and I
Defying gravity-
"They'll never bring us down," Elmo breathed, holding her close.
With her hand still in his, he began toward the school. "Well? Are you coming?"
She hesitated for what seemed indefinitely, losing herself more with each second within the tarnished windows to his soul which she could have sworn held a spark of old, forcing herself to deny the cruel force of wishful thinking.
But then, she found herself slowly pulling away from him. A deep crack formed in her heart at the unmistakable response that silently made its way across his features.
But she had to be strong.
"I do want us to be together, Elmo," she told him, struggling against her tears. "More than anything I've ever wanted in my entire life. But not like this.
I hope you're happy,
Now that you're choosing this."
With a shaky breath, Elmo finally managed to choke out,
"You, too
I hope life brings you bliss."
They said to each-other,
"I really hope you get it,
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy...
My friend."
Seconds later, a great bolt flew across the heavens, though there was no sign of rain to speak of. But a storm was brewing nonetheless, one beyond either of their control.
Elmo cried out, his fingertips sparking erratically,
"So, if you care to find me,
Look to the lighted sky!
As I have learned lately,
Everyone deserves a chance to fly!
And if I'm flying solo,
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me,
Take a message back from me-"
Now his entire form glowed with burning energy, as the sky continued to flash and crack overhead.
"Tell them how I'm
Defying gravity!
I'm flying high,
Defying gravity!
And soon I'll match them in renown!
And nobody in St. Canard,
No hero that there is or was,
Is ever gonna BRING ME DOWN!"
He thrust his hands in the air, appearing to seamlessly conduct the above element like music, cackling long and loudly into the night.
"I hope you're happy!" Eleanor called out to him above the noise, the remainder of her heart shattering as she backed away.
-"BRING-ME-DOWN!"
Eleanor turned and fled down the street, sobbing, the rolling echoes of his insane laughter and new craft haunting her with every step. It was a sound that would be forever etched into her memory and her dreams.
Elmo stared after her for a long time, then headed inside the school to attend to business.