Well then, it's been like, two...three...weeks since I last updated. Uh...wow.
Thank you all for the wonderful reviews.
And also, thanks to those viewers who have followed this story up until now.
Well, the story isn't done yet but, I just felt like thanking you guys because its the tenth chapter.
So...thanks! X)
Disclaimer-Congratulations! You have read the tenth disclaimer of the story! For those of you who actually read these things, here is a cookie.
Their words were made of silent gratitude; conversations of solemn echoes.
Victorique trembled in his arms. The tears that flowed from her eyes soiled his already ruined uniform.
Not wanting to interrupt the pregnant silence between them, Kujo started to rub the small of her back; trying to tell her (in actions instead of words) that everything was fine.
Muffled, ragged breathing caused by her choked sobs ensued. However, her river flow ceased to an end.
Kujo hesitantly let go; the loss of their shared warmth leaving him shivering in the bitter fortress.
Chain links clinked against one another as Victorique fumbled to fasten the accessory around her neck. Indicating that she would appreciate help for this difficult task, Victorique turned her back towards him.
The ringing of flimsy metal danced across the room as it became Kujo's turn to link the locket together.
"I-" their ears not having been used for quite some time, it was difficult to tell who had said this.
"Is...the Sun still out?" these hushed whispers couldn't be Kujo's.
Yet, said person didn't know what time of day it was-noon or dusk (for, dawn had already passed).
"Kujo...please...take me to where the Sun still shines," the boy was now certain that these vocalizations were escaping from Victorique's coral lips.
He stared at the ashen ceiling, lost in thought.
To take her to the Sun...where its rays of gentle warmth would caress her pallid cheeks; where her viridian eyes could finally see the world without the need of novels or portraits.
In a sense, her wish was also his.
Because-although he didn't understand why-Kujo knew that as long as her orbs even indicated the slightest hint of joy, then his world would be complete.
"Sure, Victorique," he answered.
The gentle breeze tickled her pale cheeks as the girl stared in wonder and amazement at the vibrant petals that flew by her.
A butterfly's wings hummed near her silver tresses while Victorique's bare feet traipsed across the fields of chartreuse beneath her.
Tilting her head up towards the sapphire sky, she unconsciously found herself sitting down on the emerald plains.
"Beautiful..." she whispered, gazing in awe at the sight of the cerulean blanket overhead. Her emeralds softened; her lips twitched as if attempting a smile.
Then, as her charcoal pupils met the Sun, her eyelids instinctively shut. Ever so slightly, the corners of her lips fell.
"I thought that it would be fine if I saw the Sun; that I had forgotten what had happened," Victorique murmured, "But still, I remember. The past is impossible to erase."
Kujo's hand reached out to console her. And yet, this was in vain.
Drawing back, he stared at his palm that was now speckled with dust.
His head turned back towards Victorique's direction and his mahogany eyes widened to the size of saucers.
In the area that he had made contact with her, small specks of gold were escaping from her silver locks.
"Let me tell you a story," her delicate voice escaped her trembling lips, weaving a tale unlike any other he had ever heard, "It may have happened quite some time ago yet, it does not start with 'Once Upon a Time' nor end with "Happily Ever After'.
"This story begins ten years ago; a time when I was a different person. It was a time before I was caged behind crumbling stones.
"If you ever asked my father, he would always say that he loved Maman from the bottom of his heart. And yet, one glance at Maman's face and all his words would fall apart into a web of intricately woven lies.
"Every night-" Kujo wanted to tell Victorique to stop; he wanted to kneel down and beg on his knees. It was more than obvious that this was drilling pain deep into her heart and mind. But, every word he tried to utter was caught in his throat; all his limbs were temporarily paralyzed, "-you could hear their screaming. Yet, they were not the passionate cries exchanged between lovers. No, they were something else entirely. It was as if Maman's yells and echoes were of pain and suffering. Father's...were indecipherable.
"But, even then, Maman would never show whatever agony she had had as the Moon was aglow. Instead, she would stay by my side. Maman would call my name; protect me from my fears and nightmares. Even now, I remember what she would always say to comfort me. Even now, that phrase gives me hope.
"I remember that day so clearly. Maman was brushing my hair as I sat in her lap. The door creaked and a man entered the room. This man was not one whom I recognized. However, my mother kindly invited the man to her side," Kujo stood there, captivated by her intriguing storytelling; forgetting the world surrounding him and only caring for her voice, "I had jumped when I saw him walk out of the shadows. The man, whom had introduced himself as Brian Roscoe, looked as if his hair was ablaze.
"Maman smiled and told me to play outside. I should have listened to her words. Because, even if I hadn't known it at that time, that was truly one of my last few days of freedom. Yet, instead, I had chosen to wait outside the door until they came back out. Maman and that man...never did.
"Dusk was approaching. Worried, I opened the door. Only the wind was there to welcome me. The window was somehow open; Maman and the stranger were both gone.
"I was speechless; I was alone. Maman, whom had always told me that 'I Was Her Soul', had left me. She had left me-her soul-bodiless; cursed to forever wander alone.
"My father arrived at the room. He, too, was speechless. Then, he turned to me-the quivering girl surrounded by a circle of wind.
"After a week of shock, he banished me to that tower until I would tell him what had happened. For, he believed that I had known what had transpired behind those doors-which I did. Once a month, he would come and ask me what happened. And once a month, I would always repeat the same answer. Even after she had left, I, Maman's soul, would never tell what had happened. Because, a soul is worthless without a body. I was not about to betray Maman for anything," Victorique coughed; her words that had previously flowed like honey had now been reduced to harsh whispers.
Slowly, her palm reached towards her head. Using her rough fingers, the girl combed her hair; ridding it of the dust and revealing its true color-gold.
"In that tower-" Victorique softly continued, "-I awaited for no one. In that prison, I sat lonely, yet unafraid. But still...still...there must be a shortcoming to everything. Gold...was mine.
"As days and nights passed, my hair like spun gold would taunt me. It shimmered and shined like the Sun that I had believed I would never see again. It's unwavering brilliance continued to remind me of what I had had...and what I had lost. Gold...in all its respledent glory...somehow haunted me. So, I collected the dust around me. I covered my hair in dust; a horrid attempt to forget the past.
"And then, in that moment, I had become a different person. I, who had once gone by a different name, had become Victorique. From then on, I was the prisoner Victorique. Because, from then on, I thought I would never remember the past I had buried in layers of dust. I thought that I would forget that I had once gone by the name of-"
"-Vikki," Kujo murmured. Victorique stared at him.
The boy blinked, wondering why he had said that. But, the more he thought of it, the more it made sense.
Vikki and Victorique both owned the same locket. They both had been fond of sweets. Their physical appearances were similar and their hair had been proven to be the same color. And, the first syllable of each name were the same.
Although, their personalities quite differed from each other. But, it was possible for change...wasn't it?
"Yes," Victorique rasped; eyes fluttering from confusion, "It is true. Ten years ago, I had gone by the name of Vikki."
And then, somehow, as those two stared at each other (trapped in yet another pregnant silence) a letter dropped near Victorique's feet.
I'm done! I'm done! Yaaaaaaaay!
Too bad school is starting. So now, it'll take me even longer to update! Boo...
Well, either way, this story should be done in about 3-4 chapters.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I hope you're not disappointed, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day/night/whatever-time-you're-reading-this-at.
I also hope her past here makes sense...
Reviews are very much appreciated.