GUYS.

GUYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS -AH.

I HAVE THE MOST FABULOUS NEWS YOU WILL EVER HEAR IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

ridleypearson is following my tumbLRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*dying*

OMG I CAN'T EVEN

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLELUIA

THIS CHAPTER:
SONG CONNECTIONS: SILENT CHAPTER. There's nothing that can fit this insane thing I'm about to write. I'm preparing for civil unrest, you guys. BARRICADE THE HOUSE! *starts throwing poptarts against the door* *catluver3 wheeree are youu*

SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW: BALARGALARGH. I forgot to thank mah sister Jessie (we're both Andrew Garfield Fairlies…) for beta-ing last chappie. It was, like, really late at night (it was 7:00 pm) and I was all like "WHOO-AAAA JESSIES HELP MEH" and she's all like "OKAY BUT ANDREW'S STILL MINE!" Tanks! :P

PLEEEAAASEEE REEEAAAD: Elle and I are spreading the KK pride. How? Shouting "DARK PASSAGE IS NEAR" into everyone's ears. Wanna do the same? All ya gotta do is put "DARK PASSAGE IS NEAR" on your profiles/stories/everywhere you can possibly think of. The word's gonna spread like wildfire once it hits social network sites. Put it on your t-shirts, on your dashboards, ON YOUR DOGS (no honestly lulu's done that), SPREEEAAAD THE WORD. C'MON. LET'S MAKE KINGDOM KEEPERS A THING. LIKE, A REAL THING. MAKE EEEVERYONE KNOW THE NAME OF THE GREATEST HEROES OF OUR GENERATION. (I have a tumblr dedicated to this project: darkpassageisnear. tumblr. c o m )

i suggest we stick to the shadows
chapter nine: laughter in the shadows

We've began to cross under arches in dark escape. Still, no sign of anything remotely close to movement.

I jerk back suddenly every few minutes, swearing I sense something behind me. Time after time, I realize it's just nerves out of control.

The architecture around us portrays a fantastical world, with whimsical shingled roofs and vines against the faded blues and reds. Not so much full of outside attractions rather than shops and eateries.

Maybeck slows his pace so he meets mine. The Keepers are dispersed in front and in back of us, apparently on our way to the other side of Fantasyland.

I'm still jarred by his comment earlier, his sudden protection. It makes my face feel red, but I'm able to calm my excitement before he speaks.

"So, Shortie, what's with the whole disappear for five minutes before you actually blink thing?" he asks, gesturing his arms during his definition of my flashes.

"Long story."

"I like stories."

I never really remember my dreams…that might change it
On the outside
Leap, prancer, dance for joy
Illa diversis

"What does Kristine mean?"

"Follower. What does Terrence mean?"

"I don't know." I laugh. "Probably…leader," he smirks.

We're both silent after our laughter, smiling with crimson faces. "Follower, hmm," he mutters. "So, you believe in nature and all that?"

"Sorry?" I ask, not exactly sure what that meant.

"Nature. You think it's got something to do with everything?"

"Well, naturally—" I stop, seeing his reaction and scrunching up my nose at his grin, "I think it's got a power over the world, and such. I mean, not over everything, I know that…the trees, the wind, the, well, everything...it just doesn't seem incidental."

I wait for that to sink in. "There's just…a...a magic about it."

"Interesting," he nods. "You have deep talks all the time?"

"Oh, yeah, totally. Every Friday," I beamed.

Something about his expression told me he wanted something else.

"Haha." he finally remarks.

"You know, I like you, Shortie. You're tough and all. You don't make too much noise. Not that I hate noise—"

"Yeah, you make it," I add.

"You just…you just need to look out. I mean, watch out for yourself."

Inside, everything twists up, my head buzzing out of control, sparks flying uncontrollably, all the while my outside showing nothing but an agreeable nod. I knew, I had to know he was nicely telling me to be more aware. Maybe the other six sent him over to say this because he hadn't burnt a bridge with me yet.

But his warning honestly and truthfully felt like his own.

One part of me wanted to explain to him everything about how I can't stop it. And the other part…appreciated his concern, found it dear and…sincere.

"And we are gonna find her," he adds.

I inhale through my teeth. "I keep on hearing that same thing, over and over again, constantly, and yet—"

"Well, we just got started. Give us time to circle the park once," he jokes.

His humor lightens things, but nothing can fill that void, still inside me, with no sign of fading. Yes, it had only been hours—three, I guess at most, and that was a stretch—and yet, my whole life seemed to be taking place that night. It felt so present, so real, happening right now—unforgiving, yes, but regrettable?

I couldn't answer that question now, especially with all of these new feelings coursing through me, their drive pulsing.

And now, with his words…I was left wondering the real meaning.

All I could do was comply when he waves me over to the main of the group, remarking I wasn't fast enough and they'd leave me for the dust of I didn't pick up the pace.

So I do, glancing over to him time to time, and he does so to me.

Review? Concrit is accepted and appreciated, ask away, yadda yadda yadda.

Jus' sayin'. I just stretched to the limit of my me-fanons. I WILL DO NO MORE.

*whispers*

...krisbeck…