XP I AM SOOOOOOOO SORRY! I KNOW THAT I AM LONG OVERDUE FOR A REAL CHAPTER, BUT BETWEEN SCHOOL WORK, WRITER'S BLOCK AND OTHER CRAP, I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME FOR WRITING. THIS CHAPTER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WAY LONGER, BUT I'M SPENDING THIS WEEKEND CATCHING UP ON HOMEWORK AND PREPARING COSTUMES FOR THE ANIME CON I'M SPENDING NEXT WEEKEND AT (WE'RE GOING AS THE CAST OF IB!) SO I'VE SPLIT THIS CHAPTER OFF AT WHAT I HAD SO FAR.
I KNOW THIS ISN'T MUCH, BUT I PROMISE TO GET THE REST DOWN AS SOON AS I CAN! PLUS, FOR BEING SO PATIENT WITH ME, I'VE ADDED A SHORT PIECE FROM MY ONE OF MY UPCOMING STORIES.
Ch. 28: The Plot (Part 1)
P.O.V: Daniel
C.J smiled meekly from her spot on the bed at me as I sat in a chair by the desk. "So…you've been around the whole time." I nodded, "Yup." She bit her lip, "…And that includes…." I nodded, "Every single stupid and dangerous thing you've ever done that made me want to smack you? Yup. Like that time you took on those guys in the ally to save that dog."
C.J stifled giggles while looking slightly guilty. I smiled, "I've also seen all the great, brave things you've done. I'm really proud of you C.J." C.J blushed harshly and hid her face.
"Now, that said, I want you to know that I'm keeping an eye on one-eye." C.J laughed a little nervously. "Well, it's nice to know that you don't outright disapprove." I shrugged, "I wouldn't go that…far….?"
I stiffened, feeling something…odd. And familiar. C.J immediately picked up on my change of posture. "…What is it?" I gave her a wave of my hand, "…I think I know. You go ahead to bed, I need to check this out.
C.J nodded and pulled the covers over herself, clicking off the lamp as I turned to leave. "Nii-san?" I paused and looked back, "Yeah?" She hesitated for a moment, "…Just…be careful, ok?"
P.O.V: Zoe
I'm…here again. But…it's not completely dark anymore. I'm in a dusty room, with charred floor boards and furniture. When I looked up, I could see a strange, huge three quarter moon that glowed with an eerie green light coming through the large gaps in the ceiling, cold stars in the black and blank sky blinking at me.
When I looked around the room, my green eyes locked with dark ones. My mouth fell open, "…Nerd?!" She looked at me, also surprised. "Zoe! We're here…together…." I nodded, not sure what to say, when I sensed a presence behind me.
"Son of a…now what?!" We both turned to see Daniel coming into the strange room from seemingly nowhere. His eyes widened at the sight of us here as well. "…Well fan-f******-tastic. What's going on now?"
…I know he's technically 23, but it's very odd to watch an 11 year old swearing like the Warden Joker…or like C.J.
I jumped and turned as a voice came out of the corner of the room, "I'm here to tell you." Sitting at a small table covered in ragged tapestry was a woman…I think. She looked…dried out. Almost like a mummy. She raised her hand and beckoned the three of us closer.
I gulped, but scooted closer. I was a bit creeped out, but…not afraid. Perhaps it was the air around this woman…or maybe it was that Daniel walked right on up to her without a trace of fear. What am I thinking; he's dead! Of course he's not afraid….
Daniel sat criss cross on the ground, looking up at the woman, and rested his chin in his hand, "Let me guess; it's time?" The creature in the chair nodded and looked at Zoe and I as we sat next to Daniel. "…Daniel…Jade…," it rasped.
The boy looked down, looking guilty, "…I know…I failed." It shook its head, "No matter. Jade was a wild card from the beginning. If this was the path she must take, then so be it. Her fate is in her own hands now." She pointed at the blond, "But she will need help to make that choice. That's your job…yours and one other." He frowned, "…Who? And what'll happen to Jade?"
It shook its head, "I'm not sure who. And Jade's fate…I can foresee two outcomes…one of redemption and one of damnation." I gulped, "…And what about us? Why did you…bring us here?" Nerd wrinkled her nose, "Better yet, how? Why only bring us here now?"
It sighed, "I have much to explain…this is a world in between the dream and Wonderland; a sort of Limbo." She gestured to the ghost boy, "You are already dead. You could come here whenever you wished; had you known how." Looking back at Nerd and I, "But you two…you're alive. I had to take…certain measures to bring you here." I swallowed, "…The dreams? And the insomnia?" It…she, nodded before pressing on.
Nerd leaned forward, "And exactly who are you?"
She rubbed her sunken temples, looking as though she were trying to concentrate, "…I have long forgotten my name. Too many faces and names have come and gone to remember…I think it started with a…S…." I swallowed, "You said Daniel could come here if he wanted to…and that this was Limbo…are you…?" S nodded, "Yes. I'm long dead."
I myself and Nerd were rather shocked by that, but Daniel nodded, "I figured as much. If it isn't too rude to ask, how'd you end up kicking the bucket?" S looked down at the ground, looking sad, "I think…a fire. Flames…they're one of the few things I remember about my life."
Daniel leaned in, "So…why haven't you…" he pointed up, "moved up yet?" The woman shrugged, "I'm not too sure myself anymore. There was a reason I was here…oh well. Now, my reason is different. The game must end. Forever."
I frowned, "End the game? For good? But…what would happen…?" S shrugged her bony shoulders, "I'm not sure. But it must be done, none the less." She beckoned us to stand and told us to look at the table top she was sitting at.
Though it didn't appear so from our spots on the floor, in the top of the table, a mirror was imbedded into the wood. The pale green light of the moon reflected coldly off it.
S waved her shriveled hand over the mirror and the image flickered, quickly becoming…what looked like a book. An ancient looking, but small leather book sat, gathering dust, in some dark place. "This," S said, "holds all the secrets of Wonderland." The image wavered again, quickly becoming a dusty looking box. "And this holds Wonderland."
Nerd's brow furrowed, "What? What does that mean?"
The images disappeared and D looked at us, "You shall know the truth of this world when the pieces come together. You must find these items and…well, you'll know what to do when the time comes."
I swallowed the anxiety rising in me and asked the question that had been gnawing at me, "S, what…what happens to us when the game is over?" I pointed to myself, "To us role holders, I mean? And the faceless. We only exist to be pawns in the game, so what would happen if it…ended?"
S shrugged and, noticing the distress that caused me, amended herself, "Do not fear Zoe. I know that this world is real enough now to not disappear when the game ends. Yes, it will not be the same. It will change, perhaps dramatically, but it will still exist."
I nodded, unsure if I understood. Change? How would it change?
S looked up at the eerie moon that seemed far too close and murmured, "And now the hunt begins."
I KNOW, THIS IS SHORT. I PROMISE TO GET MORE DONE AS SOON AS I CAN, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME! AS AN APOLOGY, I'VE ADDED A SORT OF SNEAK PEAK FROM MY UPCOMING STORY ULTIMA. PLEASE ENJOY.
THE SUMMARY: Wonderland is falling down, slowly but surely. Nightmare and Joker are the only ones to notice so far, and they know that there's only one way to stop it. Join Sontse, Diya, Fel, and Elie, four freaks of nature living in self imposed exile, in their race to save the wonderful world. But dark secrets lie at the source of their powers. Who will save them from themselves?
"GERONIMO!" Sontse screeched, her blazing hair streaming up like flame, as she cannonballed into the lake. I yelped as icy water splattered on my bare legs, "Sontse! Not so close please!" The red head's big, molten gold eyes flashed as she resurfaced. "If you didn't want to get wet, you should've stood further away Ellie~!" She grinned her vulpine grin and snickered as I stuck my tongue out at her.
Silvery white flashed as Sontse was smacked upside the head with a flourish. Felice's icy blue eyes bore a hole into Sontse's side, "She shouldn't have to. Now get out of my lake." Sontse grumbled as she climbed out of the water, shaking like a dog to remove excess water. Fell smiled and disappeared under the water once more.
I looked at the dripping redhead, "Would you like a towel?" She shook her head, "Nah, I've got this." She looked down at herself and breathed deep. The temperature grew warmer and I watched in fascination as steam rose from her hair, clothes and skin.
The grass crackled under her feet as the last of our foursome arrived. "You're doing better Sontse." We both looked up and smiled as Diya padded to us. Sontse grinned and chirped a thanks as Diya reached up and brushed some her raven hair out of her stormy eyes. "We should spar Sontse. It's been quite a while since we've been able." I nodded in agreement. It had been raining heavily for the past week, and all of us needed to get a little work out.
Already too pumped to answer, Sontse jumped into the sky, her gorgeous golden and red streaked (like lines and speckles of bejeweled blood) scales, shimmering in the sun as she took off, grinning widely as her matching tail trailed behind. Diya gave a tiny smile, "Always the eager beaver, isn't she?" She unfurled her large black and white molted wings as she took off after the dragon, loosing not a single feather.
I sighed as I watched them start to attack each other, a graceful and awesome performance high above. Might as well get to work. I've got a week's worth of herbs to find and I'll bet the rains did wonders. I looked down, kicked up a little dirt with my cloven hoof, and started out along the rolling fields, my long tufted tail trailing behind.
The cards are set, the players are in place, and the dye has been cast. The rules? Those are for later. For now, we'll just see how this game rolls….
WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO ADD DOWN HERE…SO…SEE YA IN THE NEXT PART. TT_TT I'M SO SORRY. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN A REVIEW.
