Richie: ...Hana, do you even know what time it is?
Hana: As of this A/N with characters? Erm...2:42AM.
Allen: ...
Lavi: Hoo, boy. Han, I dunno 'bout you, but I'm gonna hit the damn hay!
Hana: What do you think I've been trying to do these last few hours? -sighs- Sadly, I'm wide awake...so I figured I'd be productive and just post the new chapter already.
Allen: -sighs- Hanashi doesn't own D. Gray-man.
Lavi: -crosses his arms- Only Ri-Ri here is really her OC...-yawns- Alright, rabbit out. -leaves-
... ... ... ...
+ - Night 25 – A game of High Stakes - +
"Lenalee! Chaoji!" Lavi shouted when the duo had been trapped in a large die.
"What do you think you're doing, Road?" I demanded.
"W-We're alright, Lavi! Richie! We just can't get out!" Lenalee called out.
"Yeah!"
"Lavi…I'm sorry…"
"Master Exorcist…"
"Okay Noah girl. 'Road' was it?" Lavi solemnly said. "Here's the deal. If Richie and I win, you let them go."
"Okay~ Sure!" Road said her grin never leaving her face. The next thing I knew, I felt as though my soul were separated from my being, and all around me was becoming darker, and darker…and then blackness soon took over.
I looked around my surroundings, confused. I've been to Road's Dream before…but this time felt different. Below me was a checkerboard floor, but I couldn't see Lavi anywhere. "What the hell?"
"I never said you'd be playing the same exact game, Richelle." Road said in a teasing manner. "I thought I would do only the Junior Bookman, but then I thought, what secrets could she be hiding?"
"Show yourself!" I ordered.
"Both of you are going to have to escape…if you escape from this place, you win. Now, Begin~!"
I turned to where I heard her voice, seeing a Road-like blob coming from the floor. I poked her with my talon, not enough to cause damage, but I felt as though it wouldn't had mattered regardless. "This feels different from the last time you brought me into this realm."
"Are you sure you really want to have a little chat when, so much is on the line, Richelle? Your opponent is coming soon~"
"Opponent?" Wasn't I fighting Road?
"That would be me." That voice…my eyes widened, and faster than a cheetah could sprint, I turned to face…myself.
"But that's…me…" Long brunette hair was braided in a loose braid, which in turn was wrapped into a neat but messy bun. The clothes were those I'd worn the day I had been attacked by that Akuma. I clenched my teeth, and took a stance, the tails behind me spread, and the balls of fire formed upon each tail.. "GO! Raposa de fogo!" I called out, but before I could land a hit…Raposa vanished. "Wh-what?"
"It wouldn't have worked…only your spirit is here. You've felt it just moments ago, have you not? There's no Innocence in this realm."
"So, you manipulated the space around my spiritual being."
"Oh~ so right! I'm the only one who can do that without using the Ark…because I can connect the world of Dreams with the real world…I'm the sheep in Noah's dreams…and now you're the sheep in mine!" Laughter seemed to fill the space, and I was thrown once again into the darkness of oblivion.
(* - *)
Everything was a blur at first. And then I heard someone calling my name. "Richelle! Richelle!" I paid it no mind, for I was getting my bearings…when had I been pulled into the pallor? "RICHELLE!"
I gasped, looking directly at the woman who called my name. Carol. The woman who was my guardian, and tutor…who was…who was…wait… "Why am I here?"
"Is it not obvious? You're here because I have someone of great importance coming to meet you this evening."
"No…no, that's wrong…this is…ROAD!" I called out, standing.
"Richelle, proper young ladies do not—"
"Go on random outbursts?" I guessed, glaring at the middle-aged woman before me. Carol Vandenberg, with her too tight bun of graying black hair, and too high eyebrows. Her skin was pale, hallow, as though she were a creature of the undead. She stood tall as any prim and proper woman her age, but her deep-set dark blue eyes told another story of her character. She stood tall for her age, perhaps two heads taller than I was. Her crooked nose flared from my interruption, and I felt the satisfaction of being able to talk back to her after years of silence and despair under her wing.
"I thought I had raised you better than that." Vandenberg glared.
"So, you've read my memories? That's so lame, Road!" I said, though in reality I was feeling as though a panic attack was about to hit me. "I'm going to go back to them! To Allen, Lena…everyone!"
"Back to the people who 'welcomed you with open arms', was it?" My only working eye pinpointed the other me quickly, finding her in what was my literal blind spot.
"So that's where you're hiding." I grimaced.
"Face the facts, you don't belong in their world. You're a noble's daughter before anything else."
"Noble's daughter? Sure, that may have been who I used to be, but not anymore." I argued. "I'm not that weakling debutant anymore…I'm an Exorcist! That's who I am!"
"You sound so sure of yourself." Carol's rasping voice stated with a sneer. "However, they are below you. You only want to believe you belong with them. That is not your world. It is theirs. You belong with those of higher status. Where you're taken care of."
"And be the lamb that's led to slaughter, am I right?" I scoffed.
"I thought we were friends…sisters…" A new voice speaks out, and I gasp, turning on a dime to face Lenalee…she had no expressions on her face…or rather…no face at all… "We always treated you like family…"
"Do you enjoy pretending to fit in with us?" Komui's voice sounded, and I turned to face the man I called my oldest brother.
"N-no…I've never pretended…" I backed away, only to back into someone else.
"Are we all just blank faces you can forget when you're through playing with us?" Lavi's voice said from behind me. I shook my head, and dashed forward, only to crash into someone else, who placed their hands on my shoulders.
"You treat us like fools." I looked up half expecting to actually see Kanda's face, but I was met with the same blank space as everyone else. "You don't belong with us."
"L-Let me go…th-this isn't real…this isn't real…THIS ISN'T REAL!" I don't know where it came from, but a knife had appeared in my hand. I attacked the fake Kanda first, only to gasp in fear when a pained face suddenly appeared.
"I see…we're disposable in this way to you."
"No…this isn't real…I'm in the Ark…I'm with Lavi, Allen, Lena…Chaoji…that's where I am…I'm not really here…" I wasn't here…none of this was real…it was all Road. Road was messing with my mind. I had to block everything out…I had to get back to the real world…I had to fight. My eyes closed, I held the hilt of the knife in a death grip, and with the speed I'd acquired over the two years I'd been an Exorcist, I ran at the crowd that had materialized.
Reever, Johnny, Tupp…
I slayed them…my heart clenched.
Finders, Scientists…so many people…
My family, my true family that welcomed me with open arms…I felt tears threatening to fall. I could hear their screams, I could hear them calling for me…but I knew these weren't the people I love. They weren't real…they were all waiting for me to get back to them.
But they felt so real. Many times as I took each fake down to there was always resistance with my weapon. Bone, tissue, muscle…
Krory, Chaoji…
I could feel each wound I was inflicting. I could feel their blood on my hands, arms, everywhere. Was I really in Road's Dream? This was all too real to be a dream…this was a night terror. A very lucid one at that.
Despite how many who had fallen into the growing river of blood, the voices around me never ceased.
I stopped in my tracks. I could hear the sloshing of a thick liquid of sorts as my rush was beginning to wane. I realized how heavy the smell of blood was around me. It was nauseating, I could still hear everyone calling me, trying to plead with me to stop. I refused to open my eyes, as I just knew it would only waver my resolve to find my way out.
"Richie?" Allen…that was Allen's voice. "I was surprised you 'saw' me…the day I almost died. Why didn't you come to my aid if you knew? Aren't I your little brother?"
"Shortcake…?" My eyes opened, but it as a big mistake on my part.
"A shame…he's your weakness, right?" Allen's form screamed before slumping forward lifelessly as the very familiar claws of Raposa pierced their way through his torso, shredding him, from the center out. He fell to the ground completely void of the warmth and light he carried, his blood joining the gore that decorated the river I had created.
"W-what did you…n-no…Sh-Shortcake…no…"
I was panicking. Fearful of the nightmare I just couldn't awaken from.
"Richelle…aren't we friends? Family?" Lenalee's voice called out. I shut my eyes, shaking my head frantically.
The words stung. "Lena…I love everyone in the Order…but none of you here are real."
"You say you never were weak, Richelle." Carol mused. "But I think it's time your true self to be shown.
"Richie…we are real, we are here…you just have to open your eyes!"
I so badly wanted to believe the doppelgänger's words. To open my eyes, and see my family there, wanting to comfort me from this hell Road had put me through.
"I-I…I'm sorry…" I could feel the tears falling from their ducts. Clear saltine and bloody red, but no pain of my Innocence eye was notable. "But I need to get back…back to the real you…"
"Tsk, tsk. So, you say. Rather than face up to the life planned out so carefully for you, you instead run away. The cowardly thing to do…perhaps your so-called friends can make you see reason."
"No…SHUT UP! I'M NOT A COWARD!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, turning behind me, and lunging my knife into whoever was behind me. This felt…wrong.
"Rich…ie…?" My eyes snapped opened, first seeing my knife imbedded into fabric and flesh. My heart was racing, as my breathing picked up its pace.
"No…" from the swelling blood dripping unto the blade, I looked up, and rather than seeing the faceless being, was a look of hurt, betrayal…sorrow. "Lenalee! No! I-I didn't mean it!"
I backed away, releasing my only source of protection in the other girl's chest. The older girl placed her hands along the blade, caressing it with gentle hands. "Is this…how we are to you?"
"No…"
"Are we so beneath you…you would dispose of us when you were through playing us for fools?" She extracted the knife from her being, holding it up, examining the tainted blade.
"N-No…I-I…"
"Yes! That's brilliant, Richelle! You are above this trash! You aren't meant for their world. Dispose of them! Throw them away like the rubbish they really are!"
"NO!"
"Just look, Richelle!"
And I did. What I had then saw was far worse than hell.
Those I had slain, those who should've been down, had risen from the ground. At some point in the hallucination, the hallway had become flooded in murky water…tainted red from their blood. Their blood, which I had spilled. Which filled the air. My skirts and the petticoat were bloodied as well, from either the people I had hurt, to what was absorbed from the floor.
Of everyone making their way towards me…Allen's form, I could see remained still. "Oh my god…"
I backed up, the urge to vomit was strong, as the decaying forms of all my loved ones slowly limped, dragged, or slowly creeped towards me.
It shouldn't end like this…how do I get out of here? My brain was running at a thousand kilometers a second…what was I missing?
I took another few steps back, only to bump into someone. I couldn't escape in time, for their arm had me pinned to their form, whilst a blade pressed against the flesh just under my jaw. "Ka-Kanda…?"
"I should've left you to die." He muttered in my ear. I could feel blood soaking the dress I was wearing from behind. His blood. "But yet, I saved your pathetic life, despite everything. What the fuck made you so special? Should I find out? After all, is not the job of a noble daughter to someday produce an heir?"
It took me a moment to realize what his words meant. "You…you wouldn't do it!" I quickly shouted out. "You wouldn't because—!"
"Because you trust me?" Fake Kanda mused. "Che. I'm a man with carnal desires, like anyone else. Upbringings be damned to hell."
I had never in the time I've known him, been afraid of Kanda. But the not-so-subtle implications of his less-than-honorable statement, had me struggling to get away. I was limited with movement with the blade facing my neck. "L-LET ME GO!"
"But isn't it what you desire?" I hear myself ask. "After all that is why you pick fights with him…but perhaps your little game has infected his heart more than you realize…perhaps even before the game begun."
"YOU'RE WRONG!"
"But I'm right. I'm right, because I'm you…and when you die, I'll just take over, and become the real you."
"You're who I was…not who I am!" I argued. There had to be some way to get out of this hell. Something I missed, something I didn't catch before… "We weren't happy with the life we had! A doll! We were nothing more than a doll to them!"
Doll…? A doll. It hit me when I saw the fake Allen's form still came to my line of sight once more. That…that had to be it!
The other me laughed, grinning inhumanely from ear to ear, "But aren't we still such a being? We're a doll to the Order, we're just not kept on a shelf to be admired like we used to be. It won't matter regardless. I'll kill you here and now, and take over as the real you."
"Ha…kill me? I'm not gonna die so easily." I understood it now. I wasn't meant to die. Not physically…
"Is that a challenge?" Other me queried. "It's too bad you lose, now isn't it?"
"Time to sleep, Richelle~" Someone cooed, and before I realized it, my body was wracked in pain as blade after blade penetrated my form. I coughed up blood, as each steely blade left my gut, and the sword's blade, that had in fact cut my neck, retreated. I fell to the floor, I was beginning to lose my consciousness.
I coughed out crimson, my vision was feeling hazy. "Kn-knew you'd be th-the end of me…" I joked dryly.
Please…let this work…Everything faded to black.
There was no way to know how much time had passed when I came to. I cracked open an eye, staring up at the other me. "You're up?"
I couldn't speak.
"You won't be here much longer. I've taken your body. Seems you couldn't win lady Road's game after all. So pathetic."
I grunted, though the simple action wasn't so simple with a slit in my throat. Even if this wasn't real, it still very much hurt like hell.
"I already had so much fun with your…ah, 'little brother', was it? He's so desperate to get you and that red-head back" I realized that I actually could see what was going on outside my mind in that moment. It wasn't crystal clear, but I could see it…I was in the air, readying a new attack, it was aimed right at Allen. My foxfire…
It was painful, but I had my target in sight. I slowly, with much determination, dragged myself towards the head of white hair before me, my knife poised to kill.
"Ra…posa…st-stop…" I coughed out, and I could just feel myself, my physical self begin to stop, a confusion expression certainly on my face. "You're…the pathetic one…" I grumbled. "We were lonely…even when mother and father were alive…we were still very lonely…"
"Why is the final blow…?" The other me gasped, before turning completely around. "Wait, you're…?!"
"Sorry, Road…but I win." I said with a grin as I stabbed 'Allen' through the remains of 'his' chest.
"How…?" Road's voice sounded through the fake Allen's form. "You both figured it out quite quickly…"
"Don't…underestimate us…" I grimaced. "Yes…I lived the…high life…but that wasn't a life…I was happy with…my friends…are my family now…"
Road's voice was in disbelief. "You…intentionally hurt yourself with that man's blade."
"Heh…it's least surprising…" I admitted. "I piss that guy…off pleanty of times…this is one of the most…reckless BS I've done…
"I'm a girl of my word…looks like you and the Junior Bookman win." The scene dissolved around me, and I sigh contented.
"Why?" I hear the voice of a fourteen-year-old me. The me that first entered the Black Order. Her dress was tattered, hair a mess. A familiar sight to my memories. "Why did you trust him to not slice your head clean of when you made such a foolish move to slit your own throat like that?"
"Because…he's the most trustworthy sonnova bitch I know…" I admitted, I was getting tired though…I think I deserved a nap after this trying experience. "I already knew…he really wouldn't kill me off…intentionally."
…by it's that…'re…lo…wi…him…
In my half comatose state, I couldn't fully hear what was being said, but nothing could be comprehended as I closed my eyes, regardless.
(* - *)
Only to open them feeling my whole body was hit by a horse-drawn carriage. "RICHIE!"
"Not so loud, Shortcake…my head is killing me…" I muttered, as I sat up. Looking around I blinked in confusion. "What's with all this?"
"Uh…" Lavi mused, looking at what I could only describe to be the remains of fire that had frozen. "Long story, really…"
"I'm really beat up, aren't I?" I took note that I had small burns on my arms…nothing serious, but I knew I would need to find aloe somewhere…
"You got pulled into Road's ability too, are you okay?" Allen asked, the worry clear in his silver eyes.
I gave a weak chuckle, "I wouldn't want to do it again if that's what you mean." I sat up, groaning. "Ugh…my everything hurts…didn't I lose my consciousness over there?" I pointed to the remains of what had once been a table, my eyes finally took in Allen's appearance, to be honest, even if I did have a vague idea of what happened towards the end of the fight, everything else was a bit…unrecallable. "You look worse for wear…but so does he…" I turned my attention to the slumped form of Tyki Mikk. I remained silent for a moment before looking to the two males before me. "So…what exactly happened while I was playing with Road?"
"You…don't remember anything?" Lavi asked, surprised.
"What I do remember is seeing hazy images from the outside world." I admitted, "But I think it was near the end of that battle."
"Listen, we'll just explain what happened later. Right now, we got—" whatever it was he was about to say, was interrupted by laughter I could only describe as insane. All of us were quick to look towards Road, who in her current state looked like a burned-up corpse.
"Holy hell…"
Her attention turned to us, and I was sure that if she still had her full face, there'd of been a grin to match her laugh. "Al…len…" She became dust the moment she said his name.
"What was that just now?" Chaoji asked.
Lenalee was silent, and beside me I could hear Lavi whispering something to Allen, but was promptly elbowed for it.
"I didn't do anything, please don't say weird things." Allen said.
"Lena, are you and Chaoji okay?"
"A-ah! W-w-we're fine!" Chaoji was the one to answer. "D-definitely fine!"
"Why are you stuttering?" I queried. Lenalee cleared her throat, and pointed to my uniform. Confused, I looked down, seeing that my shirt was barely a shirt anymore. I lost my jacket at some point, and I felt thankful for the fact I had just enough fabric to hide anything that shouldn't be seen by the opposite sex…which reminded me… "Lavi~?"
"Huh? Erm, R-Ri, w-what's with that look?"
"What did you see?" I 'sweetly' asked. It took barely a second for him to stammer, and shake his head, swearing up and down he saw nothing he shouldn't have. I had tears in my shirt that were horizontal below my bust, and just above it. I was missing my left sleeve, and a little bit of my collar. But other than that, the form-fitting fabric was actually a welcome design choice in that moment.
There were a few rips and tears in my jeans, but for the most part, I seemed perfectly fine. Save for the new bumps, cuts, and bruises apparently. "I'd hope so.". I bluntly stated. "So, why didn't you say anything about my state of dress, Shortcake?"
"Erm…w-well…I didn't want to…um…"
"Allen was trying to be modest to your not-so-modest state of a dress, I think." Lavi helpfully replied. I rewarded him with a dirty look.
"Eep! How are you as scary as Yu right now?!"
"Shut up! Don't compare me to JerKanda, that's—"
"Richie, let's not pay Lavi any mind right now, he's just a dumb." The youngest in our group playfully chided me.
I snorted. "Alright, fair enough. I think we should—"
"Um…Allen?" We all looked to Lenalee who seemed worried, her expression showing that she had realized something we were all missing, "Road disappeared…wasn't her power maintaining the portal on top of the tower?"
"Th-the door?" I asked. Feeling myself pale. Chaoji, Allen, Lavi and I all looked at each other, before screaming as we realized what Road's defeat could've meant.
"Lavi! Through the hole in the roof!" Frantically demanded Allen. He was tugging and yanking at the red-headed male's Innocence, trying to get him to move quicker than he was.
"Okay already!" Lavi hissed in annoyance.
"Are you guys sure it's going to be okay even if the door's still there?" –Chaoji
"Lavi's Innocence is pretty dangerous, after all…" –Lenalee
"It'll be fine." I said. "I hope…"
"That's not very helpful at all." Lenalee and Chaoji deadpanned. I chuckled, and watched as Lavi used his hammer to reach the top floor above. What exactly caused that hole in the ceiling? I really wished my eye could 'see' the Noah…that'd of been super helpful…
The ground began to quake beneath our feet, debris began to fall from around us, and I worried about Lavi's safety at that point. "This place is starting to crumble too…" Chaoji noted. It would be great if the door's up there…"
"How's the bleeding, Chaoji?" Was that guy injured while I was out? I guessed that was the case…
"Allen…if there is a portal, will you be going through with us?" Lenalee's question had snapped me out of my reveries, and I looked to Allen and her in curiosity. "Or are you going to leave us and head back out there?"
"How'd you know?" He was surprised Lenalee had read him well…but it was definitely not what she wanted to hear.
"YOU IDIOT!" She scolded, promptly punching him.
"Geez you're more violent since you lost the use of your legs…"
"SHUT UP!"
"Wow…you really pissed off Lena…" I said, feeling a little scared of my own sister.
"Kanda and Krory must've gotten held up somewhere. I'm worried about my master too." He admitted, though rubbing his head. "I've gotta find them before the Ark disintegrates."
"Then I'll go with you!"
"No, that'll only complicate things."
"Complicate things?" I asked in disbelief. "C'mon, Shortcake—"
"I'm the most mobile one of us now."
What did he just say? He's the only mobile one?! Sure I wasn't in much better condition, but god dammit, I wasn't going to take that sitting down.
"I know what I'm asking his hard…but you have to listen to me."
"You're heartless, Allen…" Lenalee said, tears beggaring to all. "How can you smile like that? You know it would kill us to lose you…but you just smile…but…I knew what you were thinking, because I'd do the same thing…if I were in your position. I want us all…to go back home together."
"That's sweet. Really." I said, kneeling between the duo, "However~ there's one piece that's pissing me off." I promptly up slapped the back of Allen's head, outright glaring at him. "Like hell I'm leaving you to go anywhere, you little idiot!"
"Er…R-Richie?"
"You're in the best of shape of all of us? HA! I'm in better shape than you are right now."
"EH? No you're not, you're as beat up as I am!"
"Allen Walker. Whether you want me to or not, I'm going with you. There's two of them and only one of you. You're getting my help."
"A-ah…I guess I can't…argue…?" Well, he gave up that fight rather easily, didn't he?
"You bet your pretty penny you can't." I grumbled, before turning to face Lenalee, "Me going with him would ease your worries at least a little bit, right?"
I was rewarded with a crying smile, and an enthusiastic nod. "Y-yeah."
"IT'S STILL HERE! HOLD ON THE HANDLE, AND I'LL PULL YOU GUYS UP!" Lavi's voice called from above. "Er…wait, LENALEE AND CHAOJI ARE INJURED, SO RICHIE AND ALLEN, YOU'LL HAVE TO CARRY THEM!
"Seriously?" I groaned. "So, who're you two gonna ride up with?" In the end, Allen helped Chaoji, while I assisted Lenalee. "We're ready, Lavi!" I called out.
"…Tyki Mikk…" I heard Allen mutter. I looked where he was looking, and pursed my lips. Allen had a merciful heart. I mentally stated as we were hoisted up.
"Hurry! We don't know when this door's gonna disappear!" Lavi warned us. "Huh? Allen?"
"I'm going to get Tyki Mikk and Lero." Allen said, invoking Crowned Clown once more.
"What?!" Lavi exclaimed, grabbing the younger by his shoulder, to stop him, "are you serious?!"
"Tyki Mikk's inner Noah is gone. He's human now. Besides, Lavi…when we first met on the train, he had human friends. They might be writing or him to come back! It wouldn't be fair to let him die here!"
"What the hell did I miss out on?!" I asked in disbelief.
Lavi sighed at the white-haired male's remark, "…I don't mind. But if the Order finds out you helped a Noah—"
"'Helped'? Didn't you kill him?" Chaoji said, a dark aura seemed to be enveloping him.
"…he's still alive."
"Why? They're in league with the Akuma! They killed Anita, and Mahoja and my shipmates…how could you? You helped…a Noah? YOU BETRAYED US!"
"What the hell is your problem, Han?" I demanded to know. "Allen would never kill another human. You should be thankful for what he's done up till now."
"If you helped one of them…you're my enemy!"
"Chaoji!"
"MY ENEMY! YOU'RE AN AKUMA TOO!" It all happened so suddenly. A massive wall of flames erupted through the floor where Chaoji and the door both stood. Just in the nick of time, Allen had shoved the venting male out of harm's way, only to get ensnared by what I could only describe to be…
"Tentacles?" I asked in disbelief. "No…ALLEN!"
"Dammit, he got dragged under!" Lavi ground out.
"Was that…Tyki Mikk?" Lenalee asked fearfully. "W-why?"
"That's why…you don't…want to help them." Chaoji solemnly stated, looking over the ledge where our comrade and friend was dragged through just moments prior. "Whatever their reasoning…they kill humans. They're demons."
My fists were clenched, and I stormed to Chaoji's side, clenching the collar of his shirt. "He just saved your sorry life, and you call him a traitor? Allen can't and won't ever hurt humans! You hear me you shit? If I hear you ever say anything like that about my little brother, then trust me, heads will be rolling."
"RICHIE!" Lavi had rushed to us, pulling me away from equally enraged man. "Calm down, it's alright…"
"Ha! Then you must be delusional if someone like him is even on your side." The Asian male sneered, "Even you helped that asshole."
"Like hell I knew he was a Noah at the time!" I bristled. "Don't you dare say I'm an enemy."
"You might as well be." He hissed. "You're going so far as to stand up for someone like him!"
"He's my brother." The warning was crystal clear, "My little brother whom I would put my life on the line for. Just like I would for anyone else that is family."
"Richie, that's enough." Lavi said, now tugging me from the male I was arguing from. I shrugged off his hold on me, and stormed towards the rift in the floor.
"Lavi, let's go." I demanded.
"Go?"
"If I stay here, I can't guarantee we'll not be short one guy should we make it out of here."
No sooner had I spoken, we heard the sound of an inhumane scream. "That doesn't sound good." Lavi said, looking down into the darkness below.
"Let's go. NOW." I ordered, invoking Raposa as I rushed towards the gaping hole in the floor, and jumped down. Lavi as close behind me.
What I saw…was perhaps the stuff of nightmares.
... ... ... ...
Well, if that wasn't an eventful chapter, than I don't know what is. Like mentioned, I'm having a tiny bit of trouble falling asleep, and I doubt I'm doing so any time soon. I'll just have to stay awake the rest of the...um...morning? And then the rest of the day from sunrise. If I'm still wide awake by ten...there's some Sleepy time Tea in the pantry with my name on it.
I often joke and say that R&R ain't for Rest and Relaxation...though tonight, I think it might need to x3 Leave a review and lemme know how I'm doing. Show this story some love by favoriting this work, and if you wanna stay updated with new chapters as they go live, you can always follow the story! That's all for now, so until next time, I'll see y'all again on...
Clean Slate!