Hello again. *looks at all the unrecognising faces in confusion* Oh come on! It's only been *checks 'last update' date* three weeks! OK, that is pretty bad… *looks offended* but for me, you have to admit, that's pretty good! *gets no response* FINE. *huffs* be like that. *sticks out tongue* ;) I must warn you, though, that this chapter came to me under highly strange and random circumstances. *campfire suddenly appears* It was a dark and stormy night… and I was listening to a mixture of Evanescence, Linkin Park and a pinch of t.a.T.u on the side, and for anyone who knows the songs of the two former, they're quite rocky, depressing songs. With lyrics about death, betrayal and that weird feeling when you're 'in between'… so I hold these songs entirely responsible for this atrocity I am soon to inflict on you. Them and the candy sticks.
TO MY REVIEWERS: *throws out arms* My darlings you've been wonderful! Thanks to kagome-leostargirl, sweeydeath02, Po-chan, bookwurm (you found it? the cannibalism fic? *wrinkles nose* ain't it sick? *grins wickedly* I'll have your strips for this Short! *watches with a sadistic glee as reviewer runs for the loo*), Spectra16, Ever, mei leng (for both reviewing and checking as it happens – EVERY DAY? Come on mei, that's a bit extreme. Anyway, you volunteered to be my beta.), Maiden Genius, Samantha, PAH/R (I'm addressing that issue below, and for the LAST time ;)), Blue (OOC stands for 'out of character'. The 'ness' is kinda me making it my own random word…), crazygirly007, gina (clever girly for guessing BK IS the eye by chapter 5!! *applauds*), Cilantra, artylover108, becca, and EMQU. *hugs poor unsuspecting bunch* You're so lovely…
A/N: *looks very stern* OK people. Let's go over this one more time. In full, with good grammar and limited screaming. *takes a deep breath* Romance Issues. It's a thorny, thorny subject. So we shall address it pairing by pairing.
Holly/Root: This fic is not intended or written as an H/R story. In fact it is a story free from pairings (accept with original characters), though there was implied interest between minor characters earlier on, but under the influence of alcohol. However, I do realise that for some, the situation would seem perfect. Therefore, if you feel the fic would be more interesting/better with that, feel free to interpret it in your own way. I'm a great believer in free interpretation. If you wanna see a relationship, then who am I to stop you? Go ahead. Just please don't expect me to write it 'cos it ain't gonna happen. And for all those who are repulsed by the idea… you shouldn't have a problem should you? *grin* This ain't H/R..
Holly/Trouble: Another much debated point. I state again, this fic is not written or intended as an H/T. However, as it was previously, if you dig that 'ship and you want to believe that Hol and Trubs act the way they do 'cos they fancy each other, you are more than welcome to. It's your choice. *crosses arms over chest* fics are what you make them, people. I'm just saying this one is not going to be overtly like that.
*sigh* That's better. Shall we drop the subject now? *winks* Oh, and one last thing about romance… I am thoroughly ashamed to say there is some in this chapter. *shudders* I couldn't help it! Little green things took over the keyboard! So yes, you have been warned. It doesn't amount to too much and it's all memories anyway. Just so you know to look away at the right moments…
*****
A roomful of fairies watched with a sense of morbid curiosity as the pictures bloomed on the screen. A few glanced at Captain Short to measure her reaction; she knelt, head hung, eyes tightly shut, her mouth twisted in pain, both mental and emotional. Trouble Kelp, Julius Root and Foaly where among the few, each worried about her in their own separate ways. Some took a less concerned opinion. Several of the male council members found her behaviour to be weak and cowardly, already considering a review of her position in the unlikely event any of them survived.
Captain Short, however, was in no position to care at that particular moment. Her mind was being slowly torn to shreds by the fairy she was possibly least prepared to deal with and there seemed to be nothing she could do to stop him. Add to that the fact that her most personal and private thoughts, feelings and experiences were being ruthlessly exposed to a group of near-strangers and you had a pretty big distraction.
The screen showed a series of briefly appearing images. Moments from the early days of Carmen's relationship with Basil flickered by like a demented clip-show. Holly being introduced to Basil, a spark passing between their eyes; Holly averting her gaze as the couple kissed, feelings painting the figures green and red; Basil catching her eye across a room, bucketfuls of ice crashing into her stomach; Carmen talking to her about him, Holly hiding the emotions that raged inside her but flashed so angrily and persistently in the pixels; Carmen and Basil disappearing hand in hand into their bedroom, while Holly tried to keep it together, distract herself, stop thinking about it; times when he was so close, yet so out of reach; the gut-wrenching, all-consuming need to be near him; the misery of knowing what she was feeling was wrong and twisted that stained her life with guilt; the dread that Carmen or Basil would find out and she would lose them forever; the precautions and little games she played to avoid the feelings and him.
The screen cut to a scene in the flat Holly and Carmen had shared, where he then lived with them. The door flew open and Holly trooped in dejectedly, dumping her bag on the floor and flopping onto their sagging sofa without bothering to greet anyone who happened to be in the immediate vicinity. She sat slumped, eyes closed, for several minutes until a mug of steaming liquid was pushed into her hand. Yawning, she sat up.
"Thanks, Car." she murmured, before realising who had actually provided the beverage. "Oh, sorry Baz. I'm a bit out of it today…"
Basil grinned, lowering himself down next to her. "As I can see. Bad day?"
Holly nodded, taking a large swallow. She suddenly realised where and who she was with. In the flat with him. Seemingly alone. "Where's Carmen?" she asked casually, praying she was just in the bath or something.
Basil grimaced. "She had to work late at the restaurant. Tonight was especially busy for them."
Holly simply nodded, not having the energy for more. Somehow, the tea was draining all the will power right out of her. It was probably the heat. She tensed slightly, uneasy and thrilled at the same time at him being so close. He seemed to sense the tension, and removed the drink from her hands, placing it on the low table before them.
"Come here." he said, grinning. Holly carefully arranged her face into a sceptical half-smile, one eyebrow raised, trying to calm her racing heart. "No, really, come on. I'll give you one of my special massages."
Holly's brain started to scream warnings at her, but she was too tired to hear them. "A special massage, eh? And to what would I owe that honour?"
"I can see you need it. Anyway, there's nothing else to do, save watching re-runs. Besides, you need to learn to let people do things for you every now and then."
She grumbled half-heartedly and sat forward, leaning on the arm of the sofa. Basil flexed his fingers, and started work on the knotted muscles in her shoulders. The tension began to flow from her body in a warm stream, and Holly sank further down into the cushion, starting to fall asleep. Carmen always had said he had a magic touch…
Suddenly, he stopped, and Holly sat up to find his face so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her cheek. He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips to her mouth.
Holly was so shocked that at first she didn't even realise she had been kissed. When the truth hit her, she jumped to her feet, backing away from him. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked helplessly from a safe distance. Basil got up and followed her, a determined look in his eyes. Holly barely registered her back hitting the wall as she tried to get away. There was nowhere else to go. He reached up slowly, fingers skipping along her cheek and over her lips. Holly's breath started to come in ragged bursts, and her eyes closed for a moment. Forcing herself to fight what was happening, she opened her eyes and shook her head. "No. It's not fair on Carmen. She loves you, she really does. I can't do this to her. She'd never - "
Holly was prevented from speaking by his mouth on hers once more. Her treacherous lips responded, kissing back, and for a single moment, her heart seemed to soar somewhere in the stratosphere. Basil released her, stepping back slightly to give her room to breathe. Holly could do nothing but stand there, gasping gently, staring at him.
Captain Short had by now gone a shade of red never before seen by mortal eyes. In addition to the embarrassment there was also the sensation of having her heart dug out with a blunt spoon. The emotional pain that she had tried so desperately, and largely succeeded, to forget hit her again like a tonne of bricks. Against her will, her eyes began to fill, and one tear slid slowly down her nose.
It was unobserved, however, as all the fairies in the room were concentrating furiously on the screen, some partly against their will. Kobalde had anticipated a few of the more noble ones would look away, so he had placed a simple mind-control in their heads: now, whenever they looked elsewhere, they were drawn back irresistibly to the plasma images. She wasn't getting out of this that easily.
Basil smiled gently at her. "Oh, Holly. Haven't you realised? It's not Carmen I love, it was never Carmen. It was always you. Do you remember, when we first met at that fast-food place, that something that passed between us? I knew then. I think you did too."
The figures had by this point lost all resemblance of their original colour. The turmoil of emotions Holly had experienced swamped the scene, angry hues of red, purple, green, yellow, blue, black and blindingly bright white dancing and leaping around them, painting monsters and angels in the air.
As Holly seemed to have lost all motor functions, Basil leaned forward and cupped her chin in his hand. "I love you, Holly Short." he whispered, and kissed her again, more gently this time. Holly allowed herself to get lost in the moment for a while before pulling away, and retreating into her room, locking the door behind her. Basil seemed to understand as he didn't follow or try to talk to her.
Another tear made its lonely way down Holly's scarlet cheek. From the outside, she was the picture of defeat, slumped and hopeless, tormented and helpless against the force that held her. But inside, she seethed. Her subconscious mind had far from given in. Instead, it plotted and schemed somewhere under the surface of Kobalde's perception, testing weaknesses, developing strategies. It was biding its time, waiting for the chance to strike. For strike it would.
Holly sat on her bed and let her head drop into her hands. D'Arvit, she thought, D'Arvit D'Arvit D'Arvit. What have you done, you stupid girl? She leaned onto her pillow, curling her legs under her until her knees touched her chin. She was in a mess, that was for sure.
Her mind recorded her lying for an hour like that, going over all the options, the guilty ramblings and the sweet, sweet memory of it. The different thoughts jostled for audible space, talking over the top of each other. Tell Carmen, No, don't tell her, Run away with him, How could you, you traitor, He's incred-, ITS WRONG, SO SO WRONG, Run away by yourself, Leave the flat and both of them, Leave Haven, move to Atlantis, Stay and carry on as normal, Stay and be with him without Carmen knowing, Fake your own death, Kill yourself, Kill him, Kill Carmen, KILL THE FREAK WHO INVENTED FEELINGS, Curl up in a corner and wait for it to all go away again, How will you live with yourself, you're repulsive, He loves me! He loves me not, he's lying, D'Arvit, why is life so complicated?
Kobalde almost chuckled. This was entertainment alright.
A few days passed in a blur. Fragments of conversations and situations melded together to form a general impression of the guilt and panic. Only a dream escaped the chaos; a nightmare Holly had had two days after it had happened.
She was standing on nothing, surrounded by black nothing, in a world with nothing save two fairies. To her right stood Carmen; to her left stood Basil. They were both calling to her, beckoning her to come as they moved away from her. Holly shouted for them to wait, but they just shook their heads and called harder. Holly stood for a moment, not sure which way to go, then started to run after Carmen. Carmen began to move faster, and Holly saw she would never reach her, so turned around and started after Basil. But he was too far away now, and she wouldn't be able to catch up. She turned back to Carmen, but she was so far away by then that Holly could barely hear her shout. She listened hard, and the buzz separated into words.
"Why Holly? I'm all you have."
"Carmen, wait!" Holly screamed after her, but her best friend just shook her head sadly and grew smaller.
Someone was speaking behind her. Holly spun to see Basil was shouting something too.
"But Holly, I loved you! I'd have given you everything! Why didn't you see that?"
"Come back!" Holly shrieked, spinning again and again as she watched the two people who were most important to her disappear into the distance. She sank down to the invisible and ground and began to sob. "I'm sorry." she whispered. "I'm so, so sorry." The darkness swallowed them and she was left alone. "No." she breathed, and the black started to eat away at her, claiming her feet, then her knees, then her thighs, her waist, her chest, her neck, pouring into her mouth and nose, blinding her and finally submersing her completely.
Holly jerked awake, bolting upright in bed. She was breathing hard, her palms were clammy and her cheeks were wet with tears. Someone was hammering on her door. She pulled herself together and called for them to come in. Carmen burst into the room, hair mussed from sleep.
Seeing the look on Holly's face, she padded over and sat on the bed. "Are you OK?" she asked gently. Holly shuddered and managed a nod. Carmen held out her arms. "Come here." She held her silently and when Holly's breathing eventually calmed, she released her.
"Thanks Car." muttered Holly gratefully. "Bad dream, that's all."
"Care to share? I heard you sobbing and screaming all the way from our room."
Holly looked away. "I – um, I dunno. I'd rather not talk about it, if that's OK."
Carmen nodded. "Say no more. Sometimes you just can't share things." She tucked a lock of hair that had fallen into her eyes behind Holly's ear. "You'll be alright now?" Holly nodded. Carmen got out up and walked to the door, shutting it quietly behind her.
"Thank you." Holly whispered to her back before the memory dissolved into another fragment.
Captain Short's subconscious had seen its chance. It pounced on the memory of the dream and found it to be slightly different from the others. Dreams are made up of what's real and what's not, hovering somewhere between fantasy and reality, causing them to be unstable. They could be adapted, changed, even planted. Yes, whispered her subliminal awareness, you didn't think of everything, did you Mr. Kobalde. You're going to regret that.
And slowly, carefully, it began to weave a dream into the fabric of memory.
*****
The days leading up to the meeting in the market, and then the events that actually happened there appeared on the screen in varying stages of detail. The note Basil had slipped Holly, her and Carmen turning up at roughly the same time and the sinking feeling that had filled her as she saw her best friend. She had known what was happening, but she had tried to tell herself it wasn't.
Basil grinned. There was something nasty in it, though at the time Holly hadn't been able to put her finger on what. In her memory, however, it spoke as clearly as words.
"Carmen. Holly. So nice of you to come." he said, speaking unusually loudly. The other fairies in the area were beginning to turn and watch.
Carmen gave him a curious look. "What's wrong, Baz? You sound weird."
Basil's mouth twisted, and he nodded. "We need to talk. The three of us." His voice had risen to almost a shout. More people turned around, sensing in his tone that something interesting was going to happen.
Carmen looked from him to Holly. "What's going on. Holly?"
Holly, however, wasn't listening to her. She was staring at Basil in horror, eyes growing wide. She was shaking her head gently, and she had begun to tremble ever so slightly. "No, no don't." she breathed. "Please. Not here. Not like this."
Carmen glanced at her friend, looking slightly sick. "Holly. Holly, what's happening?"
Basil sighed melodramatically. "I'm afraid Holly's been a naughty girl, Car." He shook his head sadly. "You see, she hasn't been entirely loyal towards you." He turned to Holly, and a sadistic glint appeared in his look. "Have you, Holly?" He tutted as one might to a naughty child. "It's a despicable thing you did, to kiss your best friend's boyfriend, the friend that had always been there for you." He laughed cruelly. "And then you were stupid enough to believe that I loved you, not her. You're pathetic."
Carmen had gone very pale, and her features had frozen in shock. "Is this true?" she whispered, searching Holly's face for the lie she wished it was. Holly bit her lip and forced herself to look at her. Carmen gasped. "It is."
"I'm so sorry, Carmen, I - "
"How could you?" she snarled. "I trusted you, I thought… I…" She had to stop. Holly stepped towards her, looking entirely desperate.
"Carmen, please, it was only one - "
Basil snorted. "Oh come on, Holly. At least tell the truth now. It was slightly more than 'one kiss'."
Carmen just shook her head and turned away. The scene flashed with red and orange flames. Actions speak louder than words.
But Basil wasn't finished yet. Oh no. The crowd that had gathered wanted more, and he was happy to give it to them. "Holly's not the only stupid one, Carmen." he continued. She turned to look at him, a mixture of disgust and pain on her face. "You've been completely blind these last few months. Did you honestly think I cared about you for anything other than sex? Did you honestly think I could love you?" He smirked. "I've been using you, Carmen."
It was too much for her. Carmen, who had until then been standing there, shaking, turned and ran, pushing through the crowds. Holly started after her, but her way was blocked by the closing ranks of the spectators. The looks they gave her burned her like acid; the disgust, the sneers, the repulsion. Holly's throat constricted, and she swung round and walked away in the other direction, choking on unshed tears. This time she was not stopped – instead, she stumbled from them, never looking back at Basil. The only thought in her head was to find Carmen, but after a blurred and confused hour, she decided to go home. The street dissolved into the flat, and Holly sank onto the sofa to wait for her friend to return.
Captain Short had begun to rock backwards and forwards, tears streaming freely down her cheeks. Her tongue tasted blood as she bit her lip to keep sobs from escaping. That had been the worst part of the whole twisted experience, seeing him do that to Carmen, having him do that to her. If her emotional control hadn't been shattered she could have simply borne it with a pained expression, but it was still in pieces. It was building itself slowly back up, but it would take a few days until it was at full strength again. Providing she lived that long.
Trouble glanced at her sadly before his gaze was dragged back to the screen. He wished fervently there was something he, anyone, could do, but there was nothing. No one could help her now but herself.
The screen swirled with black as Holly waited and waited. Eventually, the door opened, and she jumped to her feet.
"Carmen. Are you OK?"
Carmen just brushed past her, ignoring her. She disappeared into her room, slamming the door behind her. Holly had seen the tears on her face.
She approached the room, knocking gently. "Can I get you anything? Tea, coffee, water? Do you want something to - "
"Just piss off, Holly." Came Carmen's voice through the wood. "I don't want your help, your sympathy, or anything from you. I don't want to hear your voice, see you face or even say your name. So just piss off."
Holly hung her head and bit her lip. "Carmen, I'm sor - "
The door flung open. "How dare you?" she screamed. "You can't just expect this to go away, for me to forgive you, just like that! You betrayed my trust, and I don't know if I'll ever trust you again. I don't know how you could…" She stopped, tears dissolving her words. "I-I can't - " She gave up and began to sob uncontrollably. Holly moved towards her, but she took a step back. "Don't touch me." she snarled, and retreated back to her room.
The countless times Carmen had screamed, countless tears that were cried, and the countless apologies blurred and rippled on the screen. Holly was met with rejection every time, but she kept trying, hour after hour, day after day.
Eventually it was just too much for Carmen. Holly was standing before her, saying those two words and she just cracked. She slapped her as hard as she could across the face.
Holly's head jerked to the side, and when she looked back at Carmen her eyes were full of tears. But her gaze was steady and determined, and suddenly Carmen must have realised. She just stared at her, then broke down.
"Oh God, Holly I'm so sorry."
Holly forced a smile. "Hey, it's OK."
Carmen stepped into her arms, and they stood for a while, holding each other. Carmen eventually pulled back.
She chuckled softly. "How did we let some guy do this to us?"
Holly grinned. "Beats me." Her tone became serious again. "I really am sorry, Car."
Her friend nodded. "I know. Don't worry anymore. I forgive you." She sighed. "I think I forgave you as soon as I saw your face after he told me. I just couldn't admit it. Can you forgive me?"
Holly gave her a look. "Don't be daft. There's nothing to forgive. We've got to get through this together." Carmen nodded. Holly wiped her cheeks with a gentle thumb. "Come on. Let's order a pizza and watch some junk T.V."
Captain Short's subconscious mind pulled back, careful not to disturb its work and examined the new memory. It was a bit rough, but hopefully it would be enough to fool Kobalde. Now all it could do was wait and hope he fell into its little trap…
Days flew by, and only fragments of especially difficult or happy times appeared on the screen. One event stood out in detail, however.
Carmen and Holly were sitting on Carmen's bed going through the month's bills when Carmen suddenly stopped. Sensing something was wrong, Holly looked up at her to find her biting her lip and looking worried.
"Holly…" she stuttered. "I think… I think I'm late."
Holly's eyes widened. "What, late late?" Carmen nodded unhappily. "When were you due?"
"Two weeks ago."
Holly seemed to struggle with words. "Have you taken a test?"
Carmen shook her head. "I was too scared of the answer. I wanted to tell you first. What am I going to do if I am?"
Holly leaned forward and grasped her hands. "We'll get through it. The two of us. But we have to find out. Have you bought one yet?"
Carmen pulled a pregnancy test out of her pocket and waved it guiltily. "When I'm done, you have to look first, OK?"
Holly grinned. "Deal." She pointed at the door. "Now get out and do it." she said, winking at her.
A few moments later she returned, handing the test to Holly. She took it, holding it like a snake.
Carmen began to pace. "D'Arvit, I can't watch." she muttered and disappeared into the kitchen.
Holly took a deep breath and looked at the little read-out bar at the back. Blue for no, pink for yes. She closed her eyes. Pink.
"Do you know yet?" called Carmen's voice.
"Yes." replied Holly. "Get back in here."
Carmen came to the door, looking as though she was about to do a bungee-jump down a pressure chute. Terrified.
She saw the look on Holly's face and came and sat on the bed, burying her face in her hands. "D'Arvit." was all she said.
Holly rubbed her shoulders. "Try not to worry about it yet. We'll get through. We always have before."
Carmen began to sob. "What am I going to do, Holly? What am I going to tell him, my parents? I'm only seventy! I can't cope with a baby, I - "
Holly covered her mouth with her hand. "Stop it, Car." she said firmly. "There's no point getting worked up about it. Let's just think this through."
The memory dissolved. Strangely, Holly hadn't remembered the rest of the conversation. Instead, the screen showed a scene in a world of black. Another dream.
Holly and Basil were standing opposite each other, dressed in white robes. Holly had a long pole and was walking towards him with a dangerous look in her eyes.
"You bastard." she spat, taking a swipe at him. He dodged. "Do you even know what you've done? Do you even care about the mess you left?" Another swipe, closer this time. "I nearly lost everything because of you. My best friend, my home." She gritted her teeth and swung the pole towards him. "The man I thought I loved." She was so close now that her next swing would undoubtedly hit him. "And now, my job that I worked so hard to get."
Come on now, Kobalde, urged her subconscious mind. Smile for the birdie.
Basil was about to reply when he faltered, looking confused. The shapes of the two figures suddenly seemed to solidify. "This isn't - "
And that was when Holly struck. She brought the staff crashing into him, and he was sent flying, landing hard on his back.
Kobalde shuddered violently, and his face suddenly gained an expression of pain.
Holly threw the staff aside, and started after him as quickly as she could, pulling a huge sword from the folds of her robe as she went. In a movement so fast it was barely detectable, Basil stood before her, holding a sword of his own. Holly lunged and he blocked her easily, sending her staggering backwards. Holly twirled and slashed at his side, managing to nick the fabric, but no skin.
Basil's face twisted into a sneer, and he began to attack with vigour. Holly blocked, parried, ducked and dodged, avoiding the blade in a dance with death. She was weakening, as she'd known she would.
Basil seemed to enjoy it. His mouth spread into a cruel smirk as he set into her.
"So you thought you could trick me?" Lunge. "You silly little girl. You just signed your own death certificate." Stab.
Holly leapt aside again, and whirled to bring her blade crashing into his to block his overhead strike. "Get out of my damn head!" she shouted, heaving his blade away from her throat.
"What head?" he snarled, going for the unguarded side of her neck. Holly watched the metal slice through the air and her subconscious mind screamed one word.
"NOW!"
Suddenly she disappeared, to be replaced seconds later by a small, white rabbit. The rabbit back-flipped away, twirling again and again like a ballerina in the air. It landed gracefully on its long feet, ears streaming behind it. It grinned, spread its arms and bowed deeply.
Basil stared at it in shock, sword dropping to his side. The rabbit flashed him a cheesy grin.
That's it, thought Foaly, her mind's given up. It can't take the stress anymore. All over the ballroom, fairies were having similar thoughts. It would certainly seem that Holly had finally cracked…
The rabbit did a few more cartwheels before it came to a halt in the centre of the blackness. It pointed upwards and a spotlight suddenly appeared on it. It winked at Basil, and began to tap its foot on the ground.
It started to count in Holly's voice. "A one, a two, a one, two, three, HIT IT!" yelled the rabbit, pointing at a stereo that had appeared to its right to coincide with the last word.
A song burst from the speakers. After a moment, Basil recognised it as a human party record.
The rabbit started to do a step, turn, step, clap routine to the music, shouting above the noise. "Now, don't you all just stand there. Get up and dance!"
There was no longer any doubt in the LEP members' minds. She was off her trolley.
Words began over the music.
'Dale a tu cuerpo
Alegria Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa darle
Alegria y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo
Alegria Macarena
Eh, Macarena!'
The rabbit began to do the proper dance routine, throwing its arms out enthusiastically before it, paws down, then paws up. It brought its paws to its shoulders, arms crossed over it's chest, then to the sides of its head.
Basil still hadn't moved, staring at the creature before him. It was turning slowly round in a little circle, spinning ninety degrees when it reached the end of the sequence.
Holly's subconscious kept her conscious mind spinning, watching Kobalde like a hawk. Finally it judged his guard to be sufficiently down.
The rabbit leapt into the air, spinning until it faced Basil again. With one difference. As soon as it landed, it was no longer a rabbit. Holly stood in its place, a gun held in front of her, pointed at Basil's head. Her face was as serious as a nuclear winter.
Basil froze, eyes crossed slightly to look at the barrel aimed at his nose. He swallowed.
"That's right," said Holly coldly. "This is the end of the line. Now, I'll say this one more time." She grinned mirthlessly. "Get out. Of my head."
She pulled the trigger and a nanosecond later, the screen showed only static.
*****
Don't worry, you're not meant to fully understand what's happened/going on. *evil grin* All shall be revealed next chapter, my little nose-miners.
Phew, that was a long chapter. Sincere apologies again for the fluff (in more ways than one I guess… God, I'm just so darn funny… :D). And also sorry if it was entirely random. The bunny bit was intended to be random, but the rest wasn't, so apologies there. Hope you liked it. *sigh* Was not Holly out of character? Ah well. I really can't stand re-writing it now. *looks highly dramatic* What's done is done.
Next chapter should be up by 2056. I've just done my two-week mid-courses, then I have two weeks back at school and then I have two weeks on work experience (I get to work in a library! Hehe) when I get home later, but have less to do afterwards. Hmm. We shall have to see how that goes. There's one more chapter after this, then an epilogue *whoops* and then I will have completed my first-born, my baby, my first ever story which by then will probably be about a fifth of the size of the new Potter book! *clamps hand to mouth* Ah no, slime, speak not that name, speak not that name! (I feel the need to put the two series on opposite sides of my bookshelf – don't wanna wake up in the night with pages all over the floor, and ink everywhere…). *grins smugly* And then I have new fics planned… another big one like this and a little nine chapter one I think would be fun… *Vampire smile* I'll tell you about 'em after the epilogue… *cackle*
Anyway, thanks for coming here again (what drags you back I know not… not my engaging conversation, that's for sure…) and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!
Luv slime xxxx