Dream as if you'll forever
Live as if you'll die tomorrow
Well, guys. I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long. Perhaps maybe I can finally try to finish this story. I had been grounded. Also, I don't write just for the heckuvit, I write because I love it and because I want to get better. Reviews are very very helpful.
The Game
The Survivors: Anyone who didn't beg to die, those who are trying to survive, those who enjoy their set task, and those who are too strong to be killed.
The Dead: not enough
The Control: is wavering
The Minds: are dying
The Game: is lethal
The Power: is too much for one body to handle
"Take me away, please take me away. I want you to save me… Take me away, kill me, rape me, mutilate me, just get me out of here. Take me away, please take me away…" Adrian huddled in a corner rocking slowly back and forth, her knees drawn up to her chest. Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes, despite all efforts to stop them. She knew she looked like one of the people that lived in an asylum, rocking back and forth with her forehead on her knees. Maybe this was what going crazy felt like. Going crazy… Maybe she was insane. Insane… That might be a good thing. Crazy people don't feel pain, do they? They do things like try to commit suicide repeatedly , and "fly" off cliffs. Someone touched her shoulder. She shied away like a wounded horse. "Leave me alone Milkweed, I don't know anymore stories,"
"No I won't, and yes, you do," Adrian closed her eyes. Just what she needed, a battle of wills with Dalamar. "Adrian, just listen…I'll make a deal with you," Dalamar found the end of his patience with this girl. No matter what happened, she remained a mystery to him. And he knew she was powerful. She was never one of those that died. Dalamar watched from a distance everything that went on. But he never found himself in any of the Gladiatorial matches. This did not sit well, he felt Chaos had something else planned. And he trusted his instincts. Dalamar just wanted to be ready when Chaos sprung his plan from its hatching ground. Something else had been nagging at him. Like one of those doubts that just keeps eating away until it's believed.
Everything came down to Adrian, the more Dalamar thought about this the more he believed she was the key, and something else told him, Chaos didn't know either. Because if Chaos knew, Adrian would not be this free.
"Shoot, I'll hear you out," The dark elf crouched in front of Adrian. She lifted her mud-brown eyes to meet his, which were hard, and unreadable. Shivers flew down her spine, she turned away so he wouldn't see that tears that stained her face. Not that he hadn't seen them already. A calloused hand gripped her chin and tilted it to face him. He was too close for comfort. She could feel the heat from his body.
"You tell me about you, everything-,"
"No deal, not happening,"
"Just hear me out-,"
"No!" He placed a hand over her mouth. She glared at him, biting his palm. Dalamar let go. His face twisted into an ugly grimace. On his palm appeared droplets of blood in the shape of bite marks.
"Fine. Have it your way. Retreat into your little corner of insanity. After all, only the weak would give up that easily," Dalamar struck a nerve. Adrian let out a hissing breath.
"How did you guess? You don't know what I'm thinking. Even Chaos can't get inside my head. If he could-," She stopped abruptly. A ghost of a smile crossed the dark elf's face. Adrian said too much. She clenched her fists, only one person ever managed to make her so angry on a moments notice. And of course, it had to be one of the people she was stuck with.
"I'll hear out the rest of your proposal," she admitted defeat.
And then the voice came back. It boomed inside Adrian's head, like an anvil. Maniacal and mocking, Chaos called. He had been treating his "pets" well lightly. Healing their wounds, telling them nicely to fight to the death. Yeah, it was real great.
"There has been a sudden change of plans. Please note the fallowing. You will all assemble at the gladiatorial arena in Istar tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the real fun begins."
Dalamar tucked his head between his knees. His head split with Chaos's physical and mental voice. Elven ears were no advantage now. Milkweed jumped up and down in the far corner of the cell waving a cornhusk doll.
"You, you… You meanie! That hurts! How would you like it if I yelled in your ears, huh? Not so tough then, I bet!" The kender ranted on.
Sighs of relief echoed when the voice receded.
"That's his plan then. He's gotten bored with normal fighting. He wants to see something more twisted. I trust he'll come up with something. Besides, he wants to punish his children, and this isn't exactly having the desired effect," Dalamar muttered to himself. Adrian strained her ears to hear the dark elf, but to no avail. Not that it would have helped her at all anyway.
The Fallowing Day:
The ragtag group of mortals stood dejectedly in the same huge hallway where they first met Chislev. This time the Goddess was waiting for them. She wrung her hands silently pain filling her eyes. Beside her another god appeared. She shied visibly away. The god disgusted the gentle woman. Prince of Lies, Hiddukel was the god of evil business practice, damned spirits, slavery, greed and betrayal ect. He trades in souls, and it is said that he could barter with Takhisis and come out ahead. His robes were blood red, in the spirit of the event.
"Hiddukel, father sent you?..." Chislev gulped.
"Yes, so be quiet dear sister. Whilst I explain the ropes to this bunch of idiots," she nodded, and beckoned for silence. It fell immediately.
"My name is Hiddukel. I have very little need to introduce myself, since many of you don't care," the god's voice rand through the silent alley. "You may call me "lord". That said, let me be the first to welcome you to our little competition. Courtesy of yours truly and Father Chaos. You're attentive," he glanced around at the confused faces, locking eyes with Dalamar. "Very good," he whispered.
"An attentive group is an efficient one. As impressions go, very good," the god continued. "Keep this up and we can spare any… Unpleasantness down the line,"
Adrian shook her head, confused. Is this guy for real? Is he talking about some kind of game? Reality, why rear your ugly head now?
"So, I think you'll fine the next few days… Interesting, to say that much. Some among you might even "get off on it", to use the vernacular. It's all a matter of personal preference. Some opt for foolhardy courage, some deliberate caution. Still others, craven cowardess," Hiddukel walked between the rows of Gladiators standing at attention. Species did not matter to him. His hand grazed over Adrian's breast lightly. She stoically looked ahead. Dalamar noticed this action, he grinned inwardly, the god just might be a woman chaser. "There are stoic loners and those who fine their strength in numbers. I would advise against that except as a temporary necessity. Yes…" Hiddukel lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. "Friends, I'm sorry to say, will become a liability… trust, fragile. Not that you ever trusted each other anyway,"
If Hiddukel expected a stunned and awed audience he didn't get one. These people were far more used to To The Death fights then anticipated. But this one would be different. Hiddukel himself helped design this game… He considered it inescapably mind blowing, his masterpiece. He continued with renewed vigor.
"Yes, sanity even more fragile, if you haven't lost it already." Suddenly a human voice broke into Hiddukel's spiel.
"And you expect us to care?" Everyone turned to see a tall brazen looking warrior. His clenched fists were enough to give away his desire, to strangle to trickster god.
"Ah… I never said it would be easy. All of you compete until the winner is determined. Survival of the fittest… Or so we'd like to believe." A smile spread across the God's face. "Kill or be killed. Do unto others… Just be sure you make it stick. And yes, I am afraid I have to tell you. This time it will stick."
If you would like an update, to give constructive criticism, or to make any kind of comment, please review.
Lady of Light: I guess last I updated you were a Dragonlance newbie. Well, welcome to the world! Hope you like this chappie.
Wraith Queen: thanks for your faith. Here's more for ya. Btw: I'm not a Raistlin hater, but I certainly don't like the bastard. Also, have you noticed that if you type Raistlin in Microsoft word spell-check comes up with "waistline".
Forget Yesterday: *waves flag. Thanks! Dal rocks my world!
Lori: a really appreciate that fact that you said I write well. It made me feel great, (also rather inspired to keep up this story).