Chapter 6: The White Room
Harry and Matilda followed behind the group, talking about little things and laughing. Harry thought that this summer would be dull and lifeless but Matilda had some talent to bring out the laughter in him. Then again, he didn't think that he would be a wizard in a group of other super powered hermits who fought for their lives and others in different worlds.
Jesse walked closely next to Jake and looked around cautiously, to see if there was any other yellow-toothed man that wondered why kids were wandering.
Buffy looked on the doors. "Bathroom. Room. Room. Room. Laundry room. Supplies..." The group went to the end of the dark hall to see The White Room on their left. "Here it is." Jesse reached for the doorknob and turned. It didn't budge. Jesse tried again.
"With all the powerful kids here, we can't open a doorknob-?" Jack yelled impatiently and finished his sentence with his large vocabulary of foul language.
Buffy pushed forward and turned the doorknob so that the door broke open. "Got it." The group entered curiously.
Buffy blinked several times. She knew why it was called the white room. She squinted to see that everything in the room was white, the walls, the tables and chairs. A strong scent of vanilla lingered in the white air, and did not travel outside the room.
"I thought when you go blind, its all darkness!" Jesse commented.
Jake felt around the walls for any light switches but found no bumps on the walls. They were as smooth as paper.
A few figures of blackness entered the room from another door. Buffy opened her eyes wider to see that it was Scrauss and a tall, thin woman.
"You will get use to it," Scrauss assured them. "Sit."
"Where?" Harry asked, wiping his glasses several times.
"On the chairs, dumb ass!" Jack said.
"Yeah, Harry, over here," Jake said in a calmer tone. In a few seconds, they found their seats. The chairs were almost camouflaged, except for the black sewn lining.
"Welcome, welcome," Scrauss said. "We have much to discuss."
"How long are we going to be on this boat?" Jesse asked.
"You will know in a moment," Scrauss said. "Is everyone here?"
"Yes," They all replied.
"All right then," Scrauss backed away from the table. "Alma?"
The tall woman stepped up. Harry almost gasped because of the size and color of the woman's eyes. They were large and narrow, like a cat's, but had a hue of purplish blue. She stood with good posture, her hand resting on the table and her glittering black nails tapped against the table. She looked upon them with high cheekbones and a pointed nose, in formal business outfit.
"I am Alma. I worked and helped create this ship, which was made to do many more things then an ordinary sailing ship," Alma's tone was brogue but light and she somehow caused the room to be silent as she spoke. "I hope you've had an enjoyable time so far. We have a short distance to go. By tonight you will be camping out on your first destination."
"Will it be as bright as this place?" Jack blurted.
Alma gave him a look but said nothing. Jack stirred.
"The main room of the Factory at your final destination will be as bright as this." Alma said. "The trip can be short, if we work together and fast. You will stay with several people of several species who have offered room."
"Species?" Jack whispered.
"Problems?"
"No," Jack answered weakly and looked at the woman with suspicion.
"Your mission is to get to the factory, and find the Room of Supremacy, a room that contains bottles of the worlds power. You are the only persons who can open this door, with the power that you all possess. Questions?"
The room stayed silent.
"Your job is to break the box on a table in the center of the room. There are dreamcatchers guarding this factory, so working together is a must. They do not hold the powers you do but they will find a way. That is why we must work quickly. Their tactics right now are unknown, for our spies have not returned with details. You will be followed through this trip with Scrauss, myself, and other members of this ship who offer to join. Questions?"
Buffy raised her hand. "Spies?"
"Yes," Alma said. She looked at her, not knowing any other answer to give.
Jake raised his hand. "Who set this all up? Who gathered us all together, who planned this trip and are you all people a part of a group also?"
Alma blinked. "A group we are in, but it is not your concern. We used our powers to gather this up and collect you. We planned the trip."
Matilda raised her hand. "How did you find us all?"
"All right," Scrauss said coming in closer. "Nothing more, nothing more. For the rest of the day, you will all return to your rooms and write an entry in your journal."
"What?" Jack exclaimed. "Why?"
"It will help you keep track and clear your mind," Scrauss explained shortly. "Afterwards you are to take out a sword from the chest and practice sword fighting and other skills."
Buffy had a memory of the last time she had used a sword. It was against someone she loved.
"You may return to your rooms if there are no further topics."
***
"I think, with a swish like this- you can point your enemies sword down to their feet," Jesse said and practiced it with Jake. It had not succeeded.
"I don't see why some of us have to use a sword," Harry said, who was fighting Matilda. Harry had some experience with a sword, but Matilda had some how managed- without any experience at all- to beat him half the time.
"I know, but we might need it at times," Jake answered.
Jack growled at his sudden loss towards Buffy. "You got me that time. Again?"
"Again," Buffy said, who was enjoying this more then anyone. She swung her sword and Jack stopped it.
"I think your getting too much enjoyment out of this," Jesse said. "I'm beat. We've been practicing for hours."
"I didn't notice," Harry said, putting his sword back in the chest. Matilda did the same across the room.
"Yeah okay. We've practiced enough for one day. I think we will be on land soon." Jake said and he saw that Jack and Buffy were still in action. In a louder voice he said, "I think we will be on land soon."
Buffy pointed the sword to Jack's neck. Jack looked at her with great intensity, as sweat tricked. Buffy smiled. "Okay. I'm done."
Just had Jake suspected, they were informed by one of the sailors that they'd be on land in five minutes. They were asked to pack everything that was in their chest into bags that could be carried through a jungle.
The group stood on the dock and was anxious to get on land. When they finally reached it, they strolled off contentedly into the jungle environment. Jack looked around and was reminded of a part of his past he tried so hard to forget.
"We have some trails to walk and we will end in a small cabin somewhere in this forest. We must be there before dark," Another woman said, who was wearing clothes of a jungle explorer. "My name is Jana, speak if you have questions, drink sparingly."
Matilda and Harry exchanged glances.
"Where's Scrauss?" Buffy had to ask. "And the rest?"
Jana pushed back strands of her dirty blond hair, to keep it away from her eyes, which had several wrinkles under them. "They are still on the boat and will not join us on our walk. Come now."
The group followed the strange woman reluctantly through the tangles of trees and bushes. Jack looked around, the memories now getting to his head, and Jack had a strong desire to race out of the jungle as fast as possible.
"Something wrong?" Harry said to Jack. Jack looked at Harry and Matilda, whom stared back.
"No," Jack said disgustingly. "Nothing." When Harry and Matilda looked away, Jack put a hand on his sword. If there was something ready to kill, he wanted to be ready to do the same.
Buffy walked over broken branches, besides Jake and Jesse. She turned to Jake. "I wonder why Scrauss won't walk with us. If there's a shortcut that he and some others might be taking, I'd like to take that path."
"If, perchance, there was a shortcut Scrauss was taking, he should have his reasons for not bringing us along." Jake answered slowly, while ducking under a twisted tree.
"Should?" Buffy realized, and when Jake looked at her, the corners of her lips slowly pointed upward.
"Also, could you picture such a British ancient man like that avoiding tangles and trees?" Jesse added, cleaning his fingernails.
Jake and Buffy laughed. "No," They said together.
"We should be nearby..." Jana said after what seemed like endless walk through a messy jungle. "There should be some smoke from the burning campfire... I can't smell it... won't one of you check?"
"Check how?" Jack spat. Matilda moved farther away from him.
"Some of us don't lack supernatural abilities," Buffy told him. Jack glared.
"I could... morph into a bird and fly up above the forest," Jake suggested.
"See," Buffy said. Jana nodded, and Jake began stripping down to his tightest clothes he was wearing.
Though Buffy had seen a lot of repulsive things in her lifetime, she turned her face gently. Her ears still heard the shrinking, displacing and movement of the bones. Jack watched the entire thing and whispered under his breath.
Soon, Jake was up and above them all as a peregrine falcon, scanning the place for smoke. They must have been nearby because in seconds Jake was on the ground and morphing back. When he was fully human he answered, "Nearby. We're going north so its more west and its about two- three- miles away."
"Excellent job!" Jana said. "I am contented to have such a powerful group. Follow me now, smoke should be smelt soon."
Jake smiled and they followed Jana to an even thicker area. Jack groaned and muttered behind Jake, Jesse and Buffy, while Harry and Matilda walked behind them, making sure not to prick their skin.
"This is getting stupid," Matilda said and finally moved her eyes, which caused loose branches and leaves to blow off to the side to make a clearer path.
"It's getting a bit dark too," Harry said taking out his wand. "*Lumos.*" A light came out from the tip of his wand.
"Cool," Matilda said and Jack didn't bother to say quietly, "showoff."
They walked the three miles, drinking from time to time and finally the smell of smoke and even the whiffs of it lingered around the group. Jana pushed through a leafy bush and the group followed. Jack stepped on flat, dirt, and felt no more bark and leaves scratching his face. A lighted wood hut lay before them, and a large campfire smoked soothingly into the sky. Jack smelt some kind of meat, and his stomach growled loudly.
"Well, you all must be hungry or tired," Jana said. "I'd advise you to eat some and then sleep, so we can get an early start in the morning."
Buffy turned her head towards the lighted hut and saw Scrauss talking inertly with Alma. Jake noticed.
"Either he found a shortcut, or he has some supernatural things of his own," Buffy said in a low voice to Jake.
Jana stood nearby them and let her hair down over her ears.
*****
I'm really sorry for the long updates, I promise to write more quickly.
Harry and Matilda followed behind the group, talking about little things and laughing. Harry thought that this summer would be dull and lifeless but Matilda had some talent to bring out the laughter in him. Then again, he didn't think that he would be a wizard in a group of other super powered hermits who fought for their lives and others in different worlds.
Jesse walked closely next to Jake and looked around cautiously, to see if there was any other yellow-toothed man that wondered why kids were wandering.
Buffy looked on the doors. "Bathroom. Room. Room. Room. Laundry room. Supplies..." The group went to the end of the dark hall to see The White Room on their left. "Here it is." Jesse reached for the doorknob and turned. It didn't budge. Jesse tried again.
"With all the powerful kids here, we can't open a doorknob-?" Jack yelled impatiently and finished his sentence with his large vocabulary of foul language.
Buffy pushed forward and turned the doorknob so that the door broke open. "Got it." The group entered curiously.
Buffy blinked several times. She knew why it was called the white room. She squinted to see that everything in the room was white, the walls, the tables and chairs. A strong scent of vanilla lingered in the white air, and did not travel outside the room.
"I thought when you go blind, its all darkness!" Jesse commented.
Jake felt around the walls for any light switches but found no bumps on the walls. They were as smooth as paper.
A few figures of blackness entered the room from another door. Buffy opened her eyes wider to see that it was Scrauss and a tall, thin woman.
"You will get use to it," Scrauss assured them. "Sit."
"Where?" Harry asked, wiping his glasses several times.
"On the chairs, dumb ass!" Jack said.
"Yeah, Harry, over here," Jake said in a calmer tone. In a few seconds, they found their seats. The chairs were almost camouflaged, except for the black sewn lining.
"Welcome, welcome," Scrauss said. "We have much to discuss."
"How long are we going to be on this boat?" Jesse asked.
"You will know in a moment," Scrauss said. "Is everyone here?"
"Yes," They all replied.
"All right then," Scrauss backed away from the table. "Alma?"
The tall woman stepped up. Harry almost gasped because of the size and color of the woman's eyes. They were large and narrow, like a cat's, but had a hue of purplish blue. She stood with good posture, her hand resting on the table and her glittering black nails tapped against the table. She looked upon them with high cheekbones and a pointed nose, in formal business outfit.
"I am Alma. I worked and helped create this ship, which was made to do many more things then an ordinary sailing ship," Alma's tone was brogue but light and she somehow caused the room to be silent as she spoke. "I hope you've had an enjoyable time so far. We have a short distance to go. By tonight you will be camping out on your first destination."
"Will it be as bright as this place?" Jack blurted.
Alma gave him a look but said nothing. Jack stirred.
"The main room of the Factory at your final destination will be as bright as this." Alma said. "The trip can be short, if we work together and fast. You will stay with several people of several species who have offered room."
"Species?" Jack whispered.
"Problems?"
"No," Jack answered weakly and looked at the woman with suspicion.
"Your mission is to get to the factory, and find the Room of Supremacy, a room that contains bottles of the worlds power. You are the only persons who can open this door, with the power that you all possess. Questions?"
The room stayed silent.
"Your job is to break the box on a table in the center of the room. There are dreamcatchers guarding this factory, so working together is a must. They do not hold the powers you do but they will find a way. That is why we must work quickly. Their tactics right now are unknown, for our spies have not returned with details. You will be followed through this trip with Scrauss, myself, and other members of this ship who offer to join. Questions?"
Buffy raised her hand. "Spies?"
"Yes," Alma said. She looked at her, not knowing any other answer to give.
Jake raised his hand. "Who set this all up? Who gathered us all together, who planned this trip and are you all people a part of a group also?"
Alma blinked. "A group we are in, but it is not your concern. We used our powers to gather this up and collect you. We planned the trip."
Matilda raised her hand. "How did you find us all?"
"All right," Scrauss said coming in closer. "Nothing more, nothing more. For the rest of the day, you will all return to your rooms and write an entry in your journal."
"What?" Jack exclaimed. "Why?"
"It will help you keep track and clear your mind," Scrauss explained shortly. "Afterwards you are to take out a sword from the chest and practice sword fighting and other skills."
Buffy had a memory of the last time she had used a sword. It was against someone she loved.
"You may return to your rooms if there are no further topics."
***
"I think, with a swish like this- you can point your enemies sword down to their feet," Jesse said and practiced it with Jake. It had not succeeded.
"I don't see why some of us have to use a sword," Harry said, who was fighting Matilda. Harry had some experience with a sword, but Matilda had some how managed- without any experience at all- to beat him half the time.
"I know, but we might need it at times," Jake answered.
Jack growled at his sudden loss towards Buffy. "You got me that time. Again?"
"Again," Buffy said, who was enjoying this more then anyone. She swung her sword and Jack stopped it.
"I think your getting too much enjoyment out of this," Jesse said. "I'm beat. We've been practicing for hours."
"I didn't notice," Harry said, putting his sword back in the chest. Matilda did the same across the room.
"Yeah okay. We've practiced enough for one day. I think we will be on land soon." Jake said and he saw that Jack and Buffy were still in action. In a louder voice he said, "I think we will be on land soon."
Buffy pointed the sword to Jack's neck. Jack looked at her with great intensity, as sweat tricked. Buffy smiled. "Okay. I'm done."
Just had Jake suspected, they were informed by one of the sailors that they'd be on land in five minutes. They were asked to pack everything that was in their chest into bags that could be carried through a jungle.
The group stood on the dock and was anxious to get on land. When they finally reached it, they strolled off contentedly into the jungle environment. Jack looked around and was reminded of a part of his past he tried so hard to forget.
"We have some trails to walk and we will end in a small cabin somewhere in this forest. We must be there before dark," Another woman said, who was wearing clothes of a jungle explorer. "My name is Jana, speak if you have questions, drink sparingly."
Matilda and Harry exchanged glances.
"Where's Scrauss?" Buffy had to ask. "And the rest?"
Jana pushed back strands of her dirty blond hair, to keep it away from her eyes, which had several wrinkles under them. "They are still on the boat and will not join us on our walk. Come now."
The group followed the strange woman reluctantly through the tangles of trees and bushes. Jack looked around, the memories now getting to his head, and Jack had a strong desire to race out of the jungle as fast as possible.
"Something wrong?" Harry said to Jack. Jack looked at Harry and Matilda, whom stared back.
"No," Jack said disgustingly. "Nothing." When Harry and Matilda looked away, Jack put a hand on his sword. If there was something ready to kill, he wanted to be ready to do the same.
Buffy walked over broken branches, besides Jake and Jesse. She turned to Jake. "I wonder why Scrauss won't walk with us. If there's a shortcut that he and some others might be taking, I'd like to take that path."
"If, perchance, there was a shortcut Scrauss was taking, he should have his reasons for not bringing us along." Jake answered slowly, while ducking under a twisted tree.
"Should?" Buffy realized, and when Jake looked at her, the corners of her lips slowly pointed upward.
"Also, could you picture such a British ancient man like that avoiding tangles and trees?" Jesse added, cleaning his fingernails.
Jake and Buffy laughed. "No," They said together.
"We should be nearby..." Jana said after what seemed like endless walk through a messy jungle. "There should be some smoke from the burning campfire... I can't smell it... won't one of you check?"
"Check how?" Jack spat. Matilda moved farther away from him.
"Some of us don't lack supernatural abilities," Buffy told him. Jack glared.
"I could... morph into a bird and fly up above the forest," Jake suggested.
"See," Buffy said. Jana nodded, and Jake began stripping down to his tightest clothes he was wearing.
Though Buffy had seen a lot of repulsive things in her lifetime, she turned her face gently. Her ears still heard the shrinking, displacing and movement of the bones. Jack watched the entire thing and whispered under his breath.
Soon, Jake was up and above them all as a peregrine falcon, scanning the place for smoke. They must have been nearby because in seconds Jake was on the ground and morphing back. When he was fully human he answered, "Nearby. We're going north so its more west and its about two- three- miles away."
"Excellent job!" Jana said. "I am contented to have such a powerful group. Follow me now, smoke should be smelt soon."
Jake smiled and they followed Jana to an even thicker area. Jack groaned and muttered behind Jake, Jesse and Buffy, while Harry and Matilda walked behind them, making sure not to prick their skin.
"This is getting stupid," Matilda said and finally moved her eyes, which caused loose branches and leaves to blow off to the side to make a clearer path.
"It's getting a bit dark too," Harry said taking out his wand. "*Lumos.*" A light came out from the tip of his wand.
"Cool," Matilda said and Jack didn't bother to say quietly, "showoff."
They walked the three miles, drinking from time to time and finally the smell of smoke and even the whiffs of it lingered around the group. Jana pushed through a leafy bush and the group followed. Jack stepped on flat, dirt, and felt no more bark and leaves scratching his face. A lighted wood hut lay before them, and a large campfire smoked soothingly into the sky. Jack smelt some kind of meat, and his stomach growled loudly.
"Well, you all must be hungry or tired," Jana said. "I'd advise you to eat some and then sleep, so we can get an early start in the morning."
Buffy turned her head towards the lighted hut and saw Scrauss talking inertly with Alma. Jake noticed.
"Either he found a shortcut, or he has some supernatural things of his own," Buffy said in a low voice to Jake.
Jana stood nearby them and let her hair down over her ears.
*****
I'm really sorry for the long updates, I promise to write more quickly.