Disclaimer: Same old same old, what you don't recognize belongs to me, otherwise, its all Misty's work.
A.N Since I got some reviews and they all seemed to like this odd style of mine, I decided to continue with it. Hope y'all like it.
Chapter Two: Alone
I'm almost too big for this. I thought to myself, lightly grabbing at the branches as I walked on the sturdy limb. To old and two big, Bad devil remarked. I shut him into the back of my brain; devils were next to useless anyway. I "calmly" walked the last two steps by doing split jumps and cursed the heavy brace that held my leg steady. I slid into Mari's open window. That was one odd thing about her; she always had her window, and her screen open, good for me, and right now, bad for her.
I glanced around the empty room, my eyes brushing over the meticulous floor, and neat bed, then peeked under it and grinned. Clothes were shoved under it, and old books were collecting dust on the floor. No matter how much her parents pushed her to be perfect, there was always that old Mari quality there somewhere. I skimmed over the room one more time and shrugged. I could have sworn I'd heard crying. That was the only reason I would have come here anyway and Mari doesn't usually cry. In fact, she known for her smiling face, and enthusiastic manner. It was only recently that the pressure was breaking her down. But that was what I was here for, to be a perfect and lovable clown.
I sank down on the bed and shuffled under it until I pulled the hard lump that was digging into my behind out from under the covers. A book, very typical. I gazed at the cover and threw it aside. I had no time for books, books were for smart people. Not that I wasn't smart of anything, but I needed action, especially after the surgery that had rendered my knee unactive in sports for 6 months. Of course, it was a year after the fact, but I still had to where the brace for sports, other then *cough* kicking sports, since I wasn't good at it anyway. I glanced down at my knee; the brace was on now since I'd just come home from soccer practice. I was used to it now anyway.
I stayed perfectly silent for a minute, and that's a record for me! I bounced a little on the bed, but since the bed didn't creak it still counted. I could hear voices, and I got out of the room and tried to creep down the stairs. Key word, try. The stairs creaked and as much as I felt the urge to kick them I held it back. Stairs had feelings too you know.
Downstairs Mari and her parents were in the back room. I stared at them for a minute, not sure of what to do, and feeling very guilty for creeping around her house at night. What was I doing anyway? I started, as I realized my surroundings. I'd never done this before; if Mari's parents caught me, I would never be trusted again. I started to back away when I heard my name.
"-she's not a good influence on you Mari. She's hardly serious, and she doesn't know real hard work." I stopped and seethed silently. Me not a good influence? Are you kidding? But then I reluctantly acknowledged that she was right, I was a clown, and I didn't work too hard. Still though, my anger came bursting back. What right did she have to say that? I came back to the present when I heard Mari's response.
"She's my best friend Mom. We get along, she makes me laugh. It's fun." Yay! I mentally patted myself on the back. I did make her laugh and I was fun to be around! I started to feel cheerier already, but the next sentence blew my soaring spirits right back down to earth.
"Your study's are more important than your friends." What?!? I was important… I am very important. What type of mother was she thinking I'm not important? She was always so polite and thoughtful around us, what was happening now? This was odd, very odd. I glanced into the room again.
"I don't have to study if I don't want to." The telltale Mari grin was fading rapidly. " I don't know what you push me so hard for anyway." I could feel a sneeze coming and I slapped my hand over my face. GO AWAY SNEEZE! Of course, sneezes don't obey my wishes. Aa-cho! All heads snapped in my direction and I shank back into the shadows. Bad call Abby. Very bad call. I was in for it now. I was going to be grounded forever.
Mari's father came towards me quickly. His face was confused and filled with anger, but I didn't feel that it was directed at me.
"Mari, why didn't you tell me you were having a sleepover." My eyes shined with renewed hope at that statement. Of course! A sleepover. I darted my eyes towards Mari, willing her to understand what I wanted her to say. But she didn't. She was too shocked to say anything. She just shook her head mutely. Her father reached a hand towards me, and the mother squeaked out a warning.
"Phil, your hands!" But it was too late. His hands gripped my skin, but not hard enough to justify the dull pain that filled my arm and traveled to the rest of my body. I glanced down and saw my hand was going transparent and gave out an agonized scream. I could see flashing lights wink before my eyes and the room was spinning. I was turning into a ghost! What in the seven worlds was happening?
I turned distressed eyes towards Mari's father and I could see his eyes were closed tightly shut. Mari backed away from me with frightened eyes and I really didn't blame her. I was frightened of myself.
"Molly, get Mari out of the room now!" Mari's dad's voice was tight, and I could here him muttering to himself under his breath. The spinning intensified and Mari's dad dropped my hand with a look of regretted. He spoke a few words to me that I couldn't hear and I was gone, alone in a void of complete darkness.
* * * * * * * *
"Ashanti, indene regatta mesa." I awoke to what seemed like a normal day at a crowded market. One problem or maybe two: First, I couldn't understand anything of what the people were saying and second, it looked like I walked into a performance of people dressed in old, very old, costumes. I stood up slowly and stumbled across the dirt path to a person sitting a few feet away. My head felt bruised and my right arm hurt like the dickens. I gasped sharply and looked down at my arm. I poked it with my other hand, and too my outmost relief it was solid, visible and real. The old woman sitting against the wall was old and gray, covered with wrinkles. She scowled at me but I ignore the look.
"What's happening?" I asked, having to shout over the excess of noise. The old woman furrowed her eyebrows and waved her hand to tell me to go away. She didn't want me anywhere near here. Having the first stroke of panic in me I rushed along the market place asking a random man a question.
"Wegata alingo igra?" The odd words came out of his mouth and I shook my head, if this was a play, I sure didn't know any of the lines and I wanted them, desperately.
"Give me the script!" I yelled, vainly trying to get the attention of people around me. "I want to know what's going on, somebody, help me, please!" On and on I ran around the market, glad now for the piece of plastic supporting my knee. All the people I asked look looked as if they saw people like me every day, and some looked at me with eyes that were filled with scorn.
I backed away in the panic now deeply ingrained in me. Never in my life had I been treated with scorn or bullied. I was just a regular girl, spastic at some times, but regular. I wasn't popular, I wasn't a geek, but I was known by almost everyone. Now I was dumped into a place where I knew none, and they all hated me. I wheeled around and ran in the opposite direction. But suddenly right before me a horse with a cart appeared and I stood stock frozen in place. The cart driver rammed on the reins making the horse throw its head back and made angry movements at me. I stood there numbly watching as the cart owner continued to yell at me.
Suddenly an arm pulled me out of the way and a girl stood looking at me curiously. She had shortish brown hair, with dirty rags for clothes, and mellow brown eyes. She pointed to herself.
"Kalia." My dulled mind picked up the fact that she was talking to me. All of my mother's precautions danced through my mind, one was never talk to a stranger. Well, scratch that. I thought sarcastically. I already blew that rule out the window and into a pond. It's probably floating around in some fat fishes stomach. Poor fish.
Another one was never tell somebody your name or where you live. I glanced around; I really don't think that that rule is needed either. I could tell everybody in this whole city where I live and still people wouldn't find me. I pointed to myself.
"Abby." She nodded and then skipped away, without looking back. It was as if after she looked at me close enough I wasn't worth his time. I felt my face burn for the umpteenth time, turned away, and finally looked around my surroundings. I had figured two things out as of now. One, this wasn't a play, and two; I was totally and completely lost.
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A.N: Ok, I'm guessing all you brilliant readers have picked up on the fact that Abby's now in Valdemar, and that Valdemarians speak something that isn't English. I know that Mercedes Lackey speaks English…. But if you think about it, Valdemar is a completely different country, and culture, and in my own weird mind, they speak a separate language. So there, you have it. Um, that's it.
Reviewer Thankies:
Star: Here's Valdemar for you! I haven't really got into any of the Valdemaric stuff though. Thanks for the reviews! I love reviews!
Andi G: She's just like you? Hmmm, what a coincidence. ;) Oh well… you wanted this chapter to get closer to the good parts aye? Now you know why some of the stuff you suggested wouldn't work. But thanx for the suggestions anyways! A tout a l'heure!
Snowfire the Kitsune: Nice name! What does Kitsune mean? Well, if your weird then me and my friends are weird. Either that or we're normal and the rest of the world isn't J lol. I actually did know that doctors prescribe ritilin, I don't know why though. Do you? Thanks for the review! Cheerio!