"You want me Bowser?? Come and get me!!" he screamed.
Koopa leaned over a control center and frowned upon hearing Luigi's challenge.
"He's not afraid," he muttered to his assistant MagiKoopa Kamek. The little turtle just nodded once.
"Then we will make him afraid again."
"Come on! Kill me! Bring it on!!" [Whoa, whoa, hold the phone…I'm suicidal?!?]
Well, why not? *shrugs* Everyone has their bad days.
[But I don't wanna die!]
(*still watching TV* Ah, Suck it up, Weegy. Oh! Come on! The Steelers went right past ya!)
Bowser's sudden voice made Luigi shiver. "On the contrary, my friend. I can't do that."
"Why not?" he screeched. "No ghetto enough for me??"
"You're not supposed to die here. And this isn't your real room, besides. Yours will come." Once I figure out what it is, he pondered.
Luigi's face contorted in horror. What did he mean by room? "What kind of sick sadistic freak ARE you??" he shouted. No answer, save for the low rumble and scrape of the wall, which he had almost forgotten about.
Five feet, four feet….he wished that he'd at least pass out. He had searched the whole room over twenty times before and there was no escape.
Two feet….one foot. He turned to look down the narrow alley that the walls formed, bracing himself. He felt his air being pressed out of him, like a rolling pin on bread. The walls didn't stop. The pressure was greater this time. Luigi frowned, panicked, counting on waking up in the nick of time like he had done before. But he was still asleep, and the pressing wall took his breath away, as if squeezing it out of his lungs.
"No," he groaned breathlessly, his voice squeaking. Luigi was in agony, and he felt for sure he was going to pop. Finally, something did.
CRACK.
Just as he screamed in pain, a loud ringing reverberated in his head and he came rushing back.
Mario jumped up, scared stiff and turned off the alarm clock. He heard a sobbing groan and saw Luigi lying on the floor. He had fallen from the armchair, and was now gritting his teeth, eyes shut tight. His fore arms were raised, his elbows rested on the floor, but they were stayed in mid air uselessly like he was afraid to touch himself.
"Weegy, what's wrong?" Mario hopped off the bed and knelt by his brother.
"Can't breathe…it hurts." His breath was shallow and came in nervous gasps.
"All right, just calm down. Where does it hurt?"
The younger Mario wordlessly pointed to his lower chest, and his older brother gently put his hand on the spot, carefully probing.
"Owe!" Luigi yelped breathlessly. He cursed, tears squeezed from his eyes.
"It's broken!" said Mario in shock. "Your rib is…broken."
Luigi cursed again, searching for Mario through his watery eyes. "Don't move," the elder commanded.
Don't worry, I won't, Luigi thought.
"I'm going to call the doctor…"
"No…don't go," he pleaded, whispering.
"Luigi, I have to get the doctor."
"Where, where is Peach?"
"Shoot, we forgot her. She's still sleeping." Mario did a double take. "Shoot! She's still sleeping!" He ran to her side and gently shook her. "Peach…Peach, come on. Wake up. Come on…Princess," he pleased, voice rising higher with every word. "Peach please, wake up!" She never stirred. She didn't say a word. "No, Peach!"
Luigi was trying to steady his breathing, blinking away the dizzying pain. What's going on?
Mario, seething from anger but recovered from his fright, left Peach's side mutely and knelt by Luigi again.
"Whas goin' on?" the younger plumber managed.
"We….she's still asleep. She…won't wake up this time."
"M-mar, Mario-"
"Shh, save your energy."
Energy for what? To go through this ordeal all over again? Not worth it. But Luigi obeyed, biting his lip as Mario left the room. He shut the door behind him, leaning on it, exhausted. No one's rib could break by falling from a chair! he thought. Then he looked down at his hand. It was caked with blood. He cursed nervously, rubbing his hand on the leg of his overalls. The realization of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks.
Our dreams control us in real life.
+*taps Robin on the shoulder* Ahem…Why am I comatose?!?+
*in a really really sour mood* Stuff it, you oversized Barbie-ball.
::She advances with fingers like menacing claws, but Luigi intervenes.::
[*sweatdrop* What's your problem, Robin Lee? *braver now* Too mean to put me out of my misery?]
You can stuff it too, Jolly Green Giant.
::He advances as well, pounding his fist into one hand, but Mario intervenes.::
(*sweatdrop* Come on, just tell us what's wrong. You've been a jerk to us, both in story and out.)
Ah, go suck eggs, Fat Albert.
All ::sweatdrops, advancing at once.::
*notices this and makes a face* I guess……..I went too far? *gets up and runs, screaming* Soooooooo-rrryyyyyy!!
Peach was to remain in her bed, under close watch of the Mushroom doctors, who didn't know what to make of it and not having a clue as to why she couldn't be roused.
Luigi's chest was bandaged and was stricken to his bed as well. Of course, he couldn't possibly follow these instructions, and kept trying to sneak out----mphf!
…………….
::Luigi ties Robin Lee's hands behind her, who is seated in a chair. Mario has finished tying her feet together, and the author rolls her eyes disdainfully, a fruit shoved in her mouth.::
[So you think I'm immature, do you? Make me an irresponsible baby, will you?]
(See now? We can get along if we really try!)
Mm mph-mph fmph mm mph mmm!
(What was that? You don't like Granny Smith apples?)
+Sorry. *casually takes apple out of her mouth* I couldn't hear you.+
*shouting* I said, you had better let me out, or-hey-mph!
+ *pops the apple back in her mouth, shrugging* She ain't ready yet. What do you think, Mario?+
(Nope, What do you think, Luigi?)
[ *dripping with sarcasm* Not a chance.]
*screams as best as one can with in apple in ones mouth* Mmmmmmmm!!!!!
…….........
Okay. That was weird. Luigi couldn't sleep that night, and he was grateful. Grateful for the blinding pain that coursed through his body whenever he moved, for the pain that kept his eyes from growing drowsy. He knew he'd have no problem not dozing tonight.
Mario walked into his room late, around twelve, and looked weary, like he had aged about ten years. He sat in a chair on the other side of Luigi, sighing.
"Anything new?" asked Luigi softly. Mario just shook his head. He didn't look up from the floor, and Luigi saw he was struggling to stay in control of his emotions. "She won't wake up?"
Another shake of the head.
"She will, Mario," continued Luigi with such anger that his older brother almost believed him. He stood up.
"It's late, I'm going--" He paused, seeing the look of terror on Luigi's face. "Or I could stay with you?" "We can't go to sleep, Mario. We just can't. We gotta keep each other accountable until we figure this thing out."
Mario nodded, smiling a little. "It's all right. We'll stay up all night if we have to."
And that's what they did…….or tried to do. Mario had fallen asleep in the chair next to Luigi, who was dozing, mumbling.
"No, no Mario, don't leave me…you can't..."
Mario plastered himself to the inside of his closet door. It was silent in the old house, and it almost chilled him more. More than hearing the same laughter that came from the stairs only moments before.
He stifled a whimper, trying to figure out what his plan was. And apparently, he thought, I could really use one. He closed his eyes then opened them quickly, to shut out the memory of his parent's dead bodies. He had seen them as a boy, and could have very well been killed if the murderer hadn't split town. He sighed shakily and opened the door very softly. His bedroom door was still locked, (or so he thought!) and the room held an eerie, unearthly glow.
He tiptoed towards his bedside table, hoping to find his Cub Scout pocket knife. Instead his hand rested on his lucky rabbit's foot, stained an unnatural shade of blue. Grinning nervously, he took it in one hand and caressed it lightly, the soft fur feeling grimy with a boy's grime. Then he squeezed it tightly in his hand, breathing deeply.
He came upon the same picture he saw the first night. Of the woman, with the baby…
"Mama," he whispered softly, trying to envision her alive and well. His clouding eyes were averted to the baby. "Wait, that's not me," he frowned. Flipping the photograph over, he barely made out the date and the words underneath:
Mom & Luigi
"Luigi!" Mario said to himself. "I have to find him. He'll get killed too--"
"No he won't," interrupted Bowser. "Because you're the only one here. You and our little murdering friend." He chuckled to himself.
Mario couldn't answer, but he swallowed hard, trying to make his mouth not so dry.
"My my, how you've changed, plumber. You don't look yourself, but you're still so familiar…"
"What?" he demanded. "I feel fine! Just like my normal self." He felt himself with his hands, as if to make sure. He didn't feel any different at all.
"Certainly you must feel like your younger self," taunted Bowser. "Go see."
Mario noticed for the first time, the small mirror on his clothes dresser, and he ran to it, staring in awe, voice catching in his throat. He was his younger self, his eight year old self. He was a lot shorter, and thinner too. He felt his face in awe. I don't feel different, but I sure look it. His curly dark hair had a barely noticeable cowlick in the back, and his thin, pallid face stared back at him like a ghost from the past.
"Wow, Mario. You look better than ever. Maybe you can have a chance with the Princess now. I hear she goes for younger men." Bowser snickered to himself.
"You leave her alone Bowser!" the plumber shouted at the ceiling. "You leave us all alone, or so help me, you'll--"
"You'll what? Please, tell me! Before you die too." Mario heard the laughing start again. It reminded him of the Joker from the Batman movie. He ran inside the closet, clutching his little rabbit's foot and maneuvering around hangers and clothes. He held his breath, eyes streaked with terror when his unlocked bedroom door was kicked open with a heavy boot.
Footsteps, cursing, and the same sinister laugh. Mario waited and prayed, fingering his childhood talisman, hoping it would actually bring him luck this time.
The closet door was swung open suddenly, and he felt the cold tip of a pistol push into his forehead.
"No fair," grinned a vicious voice. "You never told me we were playing 'hide and go seek'." Mario stood motionless, frozen, teeth chattering slightly, then he squeezed his eyes shut when the man cocked the gun, slowly, taking his time.
A whoosh of air, and Mario felt everything around him disappear. He opened cautious eyes, not daring to breathe. The man was gone, the gun was gone, the rabbits foot, the closet, his room….the entire house was missing. Instead, he stood alone in a concrete room with a large, wooden door at one end.
He breathed a shaky sigh of relief, then ran for the door.
"That's it. I'm outta here…" He skidded to a stop when the door swung open right in front of him, and Bowser's hulking form blocked the exit. Mario gulped, for once in his life actually afraid of the giant turtle. Bowser chuckled deviously.
"Going somewhere?"
Author's Notes: Geez, I been updating more than I shold. But hey, its the summer, I can do whatever the H-E-double-hockey-sticks I want, right? RIGHT?
Sigh......Anyways, anyone else cursed BESIDES Koji an' me? It's getting worse now, my eye has been twitching for a week. O_o I'm thinking of upping the rating on this. Anyone think it needs to go higher?