This is my first fanfiction so please go easy on it. If you like the story I'll keep chapters coming. If not keep it to yourself, please don't hate on it. If you find any errors, whether it be spelling, grammar or anything else please just let me know. I've been reading many of the fanfictions on this site but I just wanted to add my own to them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Underland Chronicles or any of the characters, save the ones that I will be adding. Both the Underland Chronicles and the characters within belong to Suzanne Collins.
-Ssi
Gregor steadied himself as the Halflander child barreled into him with a tackling hug. He slowly returned the hug but was still trying to understand what he was seeing.
"Hazard, what're you doing here?" Gregor asked the most important question of the many scrambled in his head.
"I was- well, we were…" Upon seeing Gregor's friends, Hazard didn't seem to know where to start.
Mrs. Cormaci decided to intervene, "how about we move this little party inside?" she said as she ushered Gregor and his friends into her small apartment.
Mrs. Cormaci smiled at Zoey and Kyle as the group sat around the living room. "So who might your friends be, Gregor?"
"Hi, I'm Zoey," the girl introduced herself then motioned to the boy on her left.
"Kyle, sup?" the boy waved awkwardly.
"So Hazard, I'm guessing you don't live around here?" Zoey asked.
Hazard looked at Gregor uncertainly. Gregor very subtly shook his head. "Uh, what would give you that thought?"
"Well the fact that Gregor was surprised to see you was one sign, the other being you don't really look like you get much sun, so I'm guessing you come from a very cloudy place," Zoey reasoned.
Mrs. Cormaci glanced at Gregor and quickly covered up for them, "Hazard is my nephew, he's from Seattle. Just visiting for a couple of days while my baby brother attends to other matters." Mrs. Cormaci gave the group a warm smile, "would anyone like some chocolate peanut butter brownies? Neither of you are allergic right? I've got some in the oven."
"Um, yeah sure." Zoey chipped up.
"Sounds good," Kyle added.
"Well then Hazard why don't you show Gregor's friend that new game you've been playing?" Mrs. Cormaci asked then turned to Gregor, "Gregor would you mind helping this old bird with the brownies?"
"Yeah, of course. Coming!" Gregor found his voice as he stood to follow his old neighbor into her kitchen.
When they were alone in the kitchen Mrs. Cormaci's voice dropped to a whisper, "It's great to see you Gregor, but I kind of wish you had let me know ahead of time."
"Wish I had now too, but I don't actually have your number." Gregor responded, "But seriously what is Hazard doing up here?"
"It's a long story Gregor; Regalia's peace started going downhill last year from what I can tell." Mrs. Cormaci explained "Luxa wasn't very specific in the last couple letters."
"Wait, you've been passing notes back in forth with Luxa?" Gregor asked in disbelief, "Why didn't you send me a letter or let me know?"
Mrs. Cormaci looked a little miffed, "I've been trying to for nearly three years now, every time I sent you a letter the response I get back from your mother summed up to 'stop trying to contact my son'!"
"She did what?" Gregor's voice became raised.
Zoey's head came peeking out from around the doorway, "Gregor? Everything alright? Would you two like help?"
"No sweetie but thank you, we'll be out in a minute," Mrs. Cormaci responded and watched as Zoey left the room. Once Zoey was out of earshot she continued, "Yes, your mother wouldn't let me get so much as a 'hello' to you. Luxa was trying to contact you to ask, but after someone tried to assassinate her and Hazard she was forced to ask me instead to house him until things calm down."
Gregor's head was still spinning from finding out Hazard was in the Overland so this news was too much. He leaned against the counter. "She got desperate enough to send Hazard up here?" Gregor took a deep breath. "How long ago was this?"
Mrs. Cormaci avoided Gregor's eye contact. "Nearly a month ago, I was expecting updates but that was the last I heard from her."
"Gregor, where are you going?" Zoey asked as he sprinted out the door and down the hallways. Zoey and Kyle tried to follow him but when rounding the first corner they realized he was already gone.
Gregor sprinted down the stairs flight after flight until he got to the basement. Swinging the door open, Gregor glanced around the laundry room to check if anyone was there. Seeing that it was empty, Gregor ran over to the grate that led to the Underland. He kneeled down in front of the grate and jumped…
Except his legs never moved…
He couldn't jump. If he jumped he would fall. If he fell Ares wouldn't catch him. If Ares didn't catch him he would have a long fall and a short stop. If Gregor jumped he would be dead before he could help anyone. But that's not right, Gregor thought. If he fell the currents would slow his fall.
Gregor knew he wasn't in danger of dying. He could hear the currents; if he fell he would simply land softly at the bottom. He wouldn't be scratched or bruised at all. But he couldn't bring himself to jump. In almost all of his nightmares Gregor would fall, and that stayed with him. He couldn't will his body to leap forward into the gaping hole.
Gregor's mind was still spinning. Luxa had left Hazard in the Overland for a month without contact. Someone had already tried to assassinate her once. That's what Mrs. Cormaci had said, right? Not an act of war, she had said assassinate. Someone had gotten close enough to her and Hazard to kill them without a battle. What if they had attempted again? What if they had succe-
Gregor stopped his train of thought, he couldn't think like that. She had to be ok! But then why couldn't she have kept in contact with Hazard and Mrs. Cormaci? Gregor couldn't jump. He wanted to with all his heart and soul, but his body wouldn't let him.
Breathing deeply, Gregor stood up and started to walk back upstairs. "She's fine… "She'll be fine." Gregor told himself…
When Gregor walked back into the room he nearly ran into Zoey, who looked like she was about to kill him. "What was all that about?" She nearly yelled at him.
Gregor looked down, "sorry, just a small panic attack, I'm fine now."
"Small panic attack? Over what? What did you tell him?" Kyle questioned Mrs. Cormaci.
"It had nothing to do with her," Gregor defended his old neighbor. "I just freaked out over nothing. Promise." Gregor said.
Kyle looked like he was about to say more but Zoey spoke first. "Look I just got off the phone with my dad, it's already passed ten and he's not happy. He doesn't even want us walking around outside right now. Mrs. Cormaci offered that we could stay here tonight and go back to the hotel in the morning. If that's still alright with you?" She turned to Mrs. Cormaci to confirm.
"Yes dear, you're welcome to stay, there's two more beds in my sons' old room, if one of you doesn't mind sleeping on the couch?" Mrs. Cormaci said.
"That's fine, I can sleep on the couch." Gregor spoke up.
"Ha, as if, I'm not sleeping in the boy's room. I call the couch," Zoey sassed at Gregor.
After the group had calmed down they all sat around the living room and watched TV as they enjoyed Mrs. Cormaci's baking skills. As some black and white movie came on, Gregor felt himself slip out of consciousness.
"Why have you come here?" The man in the shadows said wearily.
"Who are you?" Gregor called out. "Where is here?"
The man ignored his questions. "Have you come to seek my counsel?"
"Your counsel for what?" Gregor asked.
"For the decision that now curses your mind," the man responded cryptically.
Gregor tried to follow. "Should I go back there?"
"Should you?" He responded.
"This is no help," Gregor shouted. "What do you want!?"
"I want to know if you seek the protection of your loved one's or if you seek revenge to those who try to harm them?" he responded.
"Only protection…" Gregor said quietly. "I do no harm," he said. "I do no more harm," Gregor corrected himself.
With that the man emerged from the shadows. Hamnet stood tall and strong in front of Gregor. In his arms he carried a body, but Gregor couldn't see who it was.
"You use my words, but we both know I couldn't keep that promise so why would a rager?" Hamnet lowered the body to the ground and laid it onto the cold stone surface. As Hamnet stood back up her head fell to the side and Gregor could see Luxa's glazed over eyes staring blankly towards him. Gregor was silent. "You're already too late, Gregor. She is merely your past. What is your future?"
Gregor's eyes shot open as he inhaled sharply. Looking around, Gregor realized he was still in Mrs. Cormaci's living room. He had fallen asleep during the movie. Apparently he wasn't the only one. Zoey's hair was pressed against his neck as she slept on his shoulder, and Hazard's head lay in Gregor's lap. Considering he was the one with problems sleeping, it seemed somewhat ironic that he seemed to be a halfway decent pillow. Gregor couldn't find Mrs. Cormaci or Kyle. They must be back in their rooms, he thought.
Gently, Gregor moved Zoey off of his shoulder and placed her against the armrest of the couch. He was happy that he hadn't waked her in the process. Gregor wasn't as lucky however with Hazard. When he tried to move the Halflander, the boy began to wake.
"Gregor?" Hazard croaked.
Gregor saw Hazard's eyes meet his in the darkened room. "I'm going back, I'm going to find Luxa. Whatever it takes, Hazard. That's a promise." He whispered to the child.
Hazard hugged Gregor, "Thank you.."
"Please tell Mrs. Cormaci in the morning, she'll think of something to tell Kyle and Zoey…" He told himself as much as he told Hazard.
The boy simply nodded in agreement.
Gregor stood up in the dark and moved over to the door. Gregor walked through the halls and down the stairs to the laundry room and directly to the grate. He listened for the currents. When he heard them whipping throughout the grate he closed his eyes.
"This is where I will think of you," Gregor heard Luxa's last words to him echo throughout his head; "You know where I will be." Gregor had the resolve to do what was needed.
Gregor the Overlander leapt.
That's a wrap on Chapter 8 guys and gals. I am SO sorry on how long that took me to upload, I did originally purposefully half-troll because of that cliffhanger. However I got caught up on an eight page paper for one of my classes due on Sunday and I'm in a tournament for Destiny(Xbox One) on Saturday so i needed to get everything in order for both of those before i could get this up. THANK YOU so much for your views and your reviews of my book, I'm incredibly surprised at how many I've gotten in under a month. So shout out to the 1000 views my story has gotten in it's first month of release. I'll get my next chapter up faster than this one took, I promise! Please rate and review. Any and all feedback is welcomed.
-Ssi
