FALLING UP
Kai leaned against one of the walls of the library, his eyes scanning over the hundreds of books before him but never settling on one. All of them were written in a foreign language, one that looked like scribbles upon the pages. A fire burned in the hearth of the room, warming his chilled flesh. It was night again. He had gone through a whole day of being in this strange world with that odd boy.
Oddly enough, Zeo was busily alphabetizing all the books in the grand library, meaning that he probably could read the writing or was just trying to pass the time. Kai sighed, staring at the tangled appendages of the carnivorous plant. Zeo called it, 'the creeping evil,' but Kai thought the name too childish and never used it. Whatever it maybe called, he wanted it gone so he could find a way home and soon.
"Hey, Kai. Could you please help me?" Zeo's voice asked the other side of the room.
"With what?" Kai pushed against the wall and leaned forward, seeing Zeo standing on the top of the ladder, trying to place a book in a slot too tall for his short reach.
"I can't reach it." He stated, struggling to maintain his balance. "You're a lot taller than me. Maybe you can."
Kai crossed his arm. He wasn't in the mood to help the boy, or do anything besides think of a way out for that matter. "Can't you just put it somewhere else?"
"No, this is where it goes. I have to put everything where it belongs."
"Why?"
Zeo paused for a moment and said, "I want to. No one told me to. I just felt like it."
Kai hadn't asked if anyone told him to, so the phoenix's suspicions grew as they had been since yesterday. The boy was obviously keeping something from him. Even though Kai himself was harboring secrets, the personality of the boy was like an open book. Except one chapter had been ripped out by someone and though he rather wouldn't admit it, Kai wanted to read it...badly.
"Fine." Kai sighed and climbed up the extremely tall ladder without effort. Zeo handed him the book and moved to the very edge of the ladder head, always careful not even to brush against Kai. The bluenette easily put the book back in its place. "Anything else?"
Zeo nodded and gave him another. "It goes over there." Farther to the right, but still accessible, only thing was that Zeo was in his way. He'd have to be practically all over the boy to put the book back. The boy probably planned it to happen that way for the stupidest grin consumed his face and Zeo was trying desperately to hide it.
"Could you move?"
"Without touching you I can't and you don't want me to touch you. I promised I wouldn't."
"Then you can put it away yourself!" Angrily Kai threw the book at him. The force of it caused Zeo to lose his balance and fall off the ladder. Without thinking, Kai reached out after the boy, hoping to catch him but he was too late. With terror, he watched Zeo dive towards the carpeted floor. Shutting his eyes, Kai couldn't bear to watch the impact and waited to hear the sickening thud that would hail the young boy's finish.
None came.
Peeking open an eye he saw Zeo standing right in front of him on the ladder, where he had been before. The boy raised a slender eyebrow at him and gave him the book again. "So, are you going to put it up there or not?"
Kai nearly fell off the ladder himself. Hadn't he just been falling to his doom? "How is this possible?" He asked. "Aren't you supposed to be dead or seriously injured?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Well, then how did you get back up here?"
"I just did." Zeo sighed, exasperated. "If you're not going to put it back, then I will." His sea green eyes glowed brightly just like they did when Kai had first met him and the book floated up to its slot as if on invisible strings.
Kai glared at the boy. "What's your deal?"
"I have not the slightest clue what you are talking about." As Kai looked at him, it dawned on him that Zeo was a bit different now. He was talking less like a three-year old and his voice wasn't as giddy. He seemed to be quite serious, as if he was Zeo's alter ego.
"You are too weird. I am out of here." Kai soared down the ladder with Zeo right behind him. At the bottom he waited for the boy to land and looked into his eyes. They had changed back to normal and were filled with trepidation.
"Please, I've asked you so many times, don't leave, so please don't leave me. I beg of you." The boy went down on his knees and clasped his hands tightly together. "Please, don't go. If you do, we'll both be dead. You, at the clutches of the creeping evil and I'll die of loneliness. Please." Tears were beginning to form in his eyes and Kai balled his hands into fist.
"Quit acting like such a baby!" Kai ordered, reaching his limit with the boy's childish antics. "Grow up because I'm no babysitter!" He stormed out of the room with Zeo crawling after him. Kai whirled around. "I'm not leaving, not yet anyway. And if you don't want me to, then go away! If you don't, I will leave." He marched up the stairs to his room, locked the door, and pulled at his hair. That kid is so annoying. He's even worst than Tyson! If he listened to what I said about touching, then maybe he will leave me alone. That'd be a relief. He's no help while I'm trying to find a way out.
Kai calmed himself and lied down on the soft mattress of his bed, staring up at the ceiling. For the first time, he noticed that this ceiling was different from the other one. Instead of being plain and white, covered by small bumps of plaster, this ceiling was covered with a giant mural: half of it was a world of sunshine, filled with the laughter of children, unicorns, and happiness; the other was darkness, pure evil, with tombstones covering the land, and red eyes piercing through the gloom.
Kai sat up. The world on his right was just like his dreams, the reason why he was here in the first place. Chills ran through him and he controlled his trembling. Now that he had noticed it, he couldn't possibly sleep in a room with his nightmares hovering above him. Zeo, though, had told him to stay here, and if that boy planned on screaming again tonight, he wanted to stay put. Yet those piercing eyes would allow him no peaceful rest.
He left his room and searched the hall for another one more suitable. Looking through every door, he found the other rooms identical to the one he had first been in, meaning that they would let Zeo's cries disturb him for the night. The only rooms left were Zeo's and the one the boy had told him to sleep in.
Making sure no one was looking, Kai tried Zeo's door again. Still locked. He backed down the hallway and entered the room he had been in. He lied back down on the bed and glowered at the right side of the ceiling. "If you try anything funny while I'm sleeping, you'll pay."
Faintly, the sound of soft laughter rang in his ears. Bravely, he ignored it, placed a pillow over his head, and gently drifted into the arms of Sleep, hoping to be blessed with a pleasant dream or none at all.
Instead, Sleep dropped and cursed him terribly.
*******************************
In a field of daisies he lied beneath the sunny sky, smiling at the warmth surrounding him. He could feel happiness in the air, joy flowing through the ground. The world was carefree and wonderful. He couldn't help but smile. Soon his smile faded, for dark clouds loomed ominously in the distance, coming closer with each passing second. Fear encased the land and the all contentment was crushed underfoot, replaced by darkest night. Screams carried by the wind howled around him, the earth trembled under his feet, thunder clapped overhead as if enjoying the show of fear. Suddenly, the ground opened up beneath him and swallowed him up.
Amongst rising tombstones, he lied beneath the darkened sky, being drenched by the pouring rain. A cloud of darkness surrounded him and held him close. He felt the warmth of another person, as he was pressed harder against it. He could even feel a heartbeat. He wrapped his arms around the unseen person, glad to have at least someone to comfort him.
"There, there," the person consoled, "It's going to be all right now."
The back of Kai's mind pricked at the sound of its voice. It was quiet and spoken barely above a whisper. As he realized this, the flesh he was embraced fell away, replaced by shadows. The warmth turned to ice underneath his fingertips and the beating heart ceased. He tried to pull away, but the figure held onto him tightly. Fingers ran through his bangs and hands caressed his cheeks.
"Oh," the figure moaned in pleasure. "Finally, after waiting so long, you're finally in my arms at last, my dear." Dark hands cupped his face and brought it forward towards the figure's devious grin. Jerking quickly away, Kai escaped the grasp and ensued the wrath of the dark personage.
"Don't resist. There's no way you can."
Kai backed away and ran into a wall. With each stride, the figure drew ever nearer. Searching for someway to escape, he frantically looked around but found none. His breath quickened as the figure was almost upon him. Images flashed through his head of what might happen. He closed his eyes and prayed fervently for salvage.
A green light shone down on him from above and the figure cried out in pain, covering its blood red eyes. Kai felt himself being lifted up and out of the dreary world. The figure ran and tried to make a grab for him, but Kai kicked its hand away.
"You belong to me." The figure hissed, disappearing into the gloom. "You're mine. Remember that, my dear. Remember it always...Kai."
*******************************
He opened his eyes and stared up into the face of Zeo.
The boy looked scared. "I'm sorry. I know I was supposed to leave you alone, but I knew something bad was happening. I couldn't let you suffer like that. I won't do it again. Promise." He headed towards the door. "I'll be going now."
"Wait."
The boy stopped and bit his lip.
Kai let out a long sigh. "It's all right. If anything like this happens again, which it most likely will, feel free to come in here and wake me up. I'd rather you annoy me than to play out bad dreams."
In his happiness, Zeo forgot all about his promise and jumped onto the bed, wrapping Kai a huge hug. The latter felt a wave of fear run through him, remembering his embrace with the figure of darkness in his dream. Remembering how it had felt so real, as if it had really happened. He pried Zeo off and rubbed his shoulders in uneasiness. Putting on his stone mask, he told Zeo to get out of his room, which the boy immediately obeyed, apologizing repetitively on the way out that he was sorry for breaking his promise and that would never to it again.
"Honest."
"Just get out." Kai waved him away and sat alone in the quiet of the room. As the night became darker and the air in the room grew colder, he started to wish he hadn't sent Zeo away so soon.
Kai leaned against one of the walls of the library, his eyes scanning over the hundreds of books before him but never settling on one. All of them were written in a foreign language, one that looked like scribbles upon the pages. A fire burned in the hearth of the room, warming his chilled flesh. It was night again. He had gone through a whole day of being in this strange world with that odd boy.
Oddly enough, Zeo was busily alphabetizing all the books in the grand library, meaning that he probably could read the writing or was just trying to pass the time. Kai sighed, staring at the tangled appendages of the carnivorous plant. Zeo called it, 'the creeping evil,' but Kai thought the name too childish and never used it. Whatever it maybe called, he wanted it gone so he could find a way home and soon.
"Hey, Kai. Could you please help me?" Zeo's voice asked the other side of the room.
"With what?" Kai pushed against the wall and leaned forward, seeing Zeo standing on the top of the ladder, trying to place a book in a slot too tall for his short reach.
"I can't reach it." He stated, struggling to maintain his balance. "You're a lot taller than me. Maybe you can."
Kai crossed his arm. He wasn't in the mood to help the boy, or do anything besides think of a way out for that matter. "Can't you just put it somewhere else?"
"No, this is where it goes. I have to put everything where it belongs."
"Why?"
Zeo paused for a moment and said, "I want to. No one told me to. I just felt like it."
Kai hadn't asked if anyone told him to, so the phoenix's suspicions grew as they had been since yesterday. The boy was obviously keeping something from him. Even though Kai himself was harboring secrets, the personality of the boy was like an open book. Except one chapter had been ripped out by someone and though he rather wouldn't admit it, Kai wanted to read it...badly.
"Fine." Kai sighed and climbed up the extremely tall ladder without effort. Zeo handed him the book and moved to the very edge of the ladder head, always careful not even to brush against Kai. The bluenette easily put the book back in its place. "Anything else?"
Zeo nodded and gave him another. "It goes over there." Farther to the right, but still accessible, only thing was that Zeo was in his way. He'd have to be practically all over the boy to put the book back. The boy probably planned it to happen that way for the stupidest grin consumed his face and Zeo was trying desperately to hide it.
"Could you move?"
"Without touching you I can't and you don't want me to touch you. I promised I wouldn't."
"Then you can put it away yourself!" Angrily Kai threw the book at him. The force of it caused Zeo to lose his balance and fall off the ladder. Without thinking, Kai reached out after the boy, hoping to catch him but he was too late. With terror, he watched Zeo dive towards the carpeted floor. Shutting his eyes, Kai couldn't bear to watch the impact and waited to hear the sickening thud that would hail the young boy's finish.
None came.
Peeking open an eye he saw Zeo standing right in front of him on the ladder, where he had been before. The boy raised a slender eyebrow at him and gave him the book again. "So, are you going to put it up there or not?"
Kai nearly fell off the ladder himself. Hadn't he just been falling to his doom? "How is this possible?" He asked. "Aren't you supposed to be dead or seriously injured?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Well, then how did you get back up here?"
"I just did." Zeo sighed, exasperated. "If you're not going to put it back, then I will." His sea green eyes glowed brightly just like they did when Kai had first met him and the book floated up to its slot as if on invisible strings.
Kai glared at the boy. "What's your deal?"
"I have not the slightest clue what you are talking about." As Kai looked at him, it dawned on him that Zeo was a bit different now. He was talking less like a three-year old and his voice wasn't as giddy. He seemed to be quite serious, as if he was Zeo's alter ego.
"You are too weird. I am out of here." Kai soared down the ladder with Zeo right behind him. At the bottom he waited for the boy to land and looked into his eyes. They had changed back to normal and were filled with trepidation.
"Please, I've asked you so many times, don't leave, so please don't leave me. I beg of you." The boy went down on his knees and clasped his hands tightly together. "Please, don't go. If you do, we'll both be dead. You, at the clutches of the creeping evil and I'll die of loneliness. Please." Tears were beginning to form in his eyes and Kai balled his hands into fist.
"Quit acting like such a baby!" Kai ordered, reaching his limit with the boy's childish antics. "Grow up because I'm no babysitter!" He stormed out of the room with Zeo crawling after him. Kai whirled around. "I'm not leaving, not yet anyway. And if you don't want me to, then go away! If you don't, I will leave." He marched up the stairs to his room, locked the door, and pulled at his hair. That kid is so annoying. He's even worst than Tyson! If he listened to what I said about touching, then maybe he will leave me alone. That'd be a relief. He's no help while I'm trying to find a way out.
Kai calmed himself and lied down on the soft mattress of his bed, staring up at the ceiling. For the first time, he noticed that this ceiling was different from the other one. Instead of being plain and white, covered by small bumps of plaster, this ceiling was covered with a giant mural: half of it was a world of sunshine, filled with the laughter of children, unicorns, and happiness; the other was darkness, pure evil, with tombstones covering the land, and red eyes piercing through the gloom.
Kai sat up. The world on his right was just like his dreams, the reason why he was here in the first place. Chills ran through him and he controlled his trembling. Now that he had noticed it, he couldn't possibly sleep in a room with his nightmares hovering above him. Zeo, though, had told him to stay here, and if that boy planned on screaming again tonight, he wanted to stay put. Yet those piercing eyes would allow him no peaceful rest.
He left his room and searched the hall for another one more suitable. Looking through every door, he found the other rooms identical to the one he had first been in, meaning that they would let Zeo's cries disturb him for the night. The only rooms left were Zeo's and the one the boy had told him to sleep in.
Making sure no one was looking, Kai tried Zeo's door again. Still locked. He backed down the hallway and entered the room he had been in. He lied back down on the bed and glowered at the right side of the ceiling. "If you try anything funny while I'm sleeping, you'll pay."
Faintly, the sound of soft laughter rang in his ears. Bravely, he ignored it, placed a pillow over his head, and gently drifted into the arms of Sleep, hoping to be blessed with a pleasant dream or none at all.
Instead, Sleep dropped and cursed him terribly.
*******************************
In a field of daisies he lied beneath the sunny sky, smiling at the warmth surrounding him. He could feel happiness in the air, joy flowing through the ground. The world was carefree and wonderful. He couldn't help but smile. Soon his smile faded, for dark clouds loomed ominously in the distance, coming closer with each passing second. Fear encased the land and the all contentment was crushed underfoot, replaced by darkest night. Screams carried by the wind howled around him, the earth trembled under his feet, thunder clapped overhead as if enjoying the show of fear. Suddenly, the ground opened up beneath him and swallowed him up.
Amongst rising tombstones, he lied beneath the darkened sky, being drenched by the pouring rain. A cloud of darkness surrounded him and held him close. He felt the warmth of another person, as he was pressed harder against it. He could even feel a heartbeat. He wrapped his arms around the unseen person, glad to have at least someone to comfort him.
"There, there," the person consoled, "It's going to be all right now."
The back of Kai's mind pricked at the sound of its voice. It was quiet and spoken barely above a whisper. As he realized this, the flesh he was embraced fell away, replaced by shadows. The warmth turned to ice underneath his fingertips and the beating heart ceased. He tried to pull away, but the figure held onto him tightly. Fingers ran through his bangs and hands caressed his cheeks.
"Oh," the figure moaned in pleasure. "Finally, after waiting so long, you're finally in my arms at last, my dear." Dark hands cupped his face and brought it forward towards the figure's devious grin. Jerking quickly away, Kai escaped the grasp and ensued the wrath of the dark personage.
"Don't resist. There's no way you can."
Kai backed away and ran into a wall. With each stride, the figure drew ever nearer. Searching for someway to escape, he frantically looked around but found none. His breath quickened as the figure was almost upon him. Images flashed through his head of what might happen. He closed his eyes and prayed fervently for salvage.
A green light shone down on him from above and the figure cried out in pain, covering its blood red eyes. Kai felt himself being lifted up and out of the dreary world. The figure ran and tried to make a grab for him, but Kai kicked its hand away.
"You belong to me." The figure hissed, disappearing into the gloom. "You're mine. Remember that, my dear. Remember it always...Kai."
*******************************
He opened his eyes and stared up into the face of Zeo.
The boy looked scared. "I'm sorry. I know I was supposed to leave you alone, but I knew something bad was happening. I couldn't let you suffer like that. I won't do it again. Promise." He headed towards the door. "I'll be going now."
"Wait."
The boy stopped and bit his lip.
Kai let out a long sigh. "It's all right. If anything like this happens again, which it most likely will, feel free to come in here and wake me up. I'd rather you annoy me than to play out bad dreams."
In his happiness, Zeo forgot all about his promise and jumped onto the bed, wrapping Kai a huge hug. The latter felt a wave of fear run through him, remembering his embrace with the figure of darkness in his dream. Remembering how it had felt so real, as if it had really happened. He pried Zeo off and rubbed his shoulders in uneasiness. Putting on his stone mask, he told Zeo to get out of his room, which the boy immediately obeyed, apologizing repetitively on the way out that he was sorry for breaking his promise and that would never to it again.
"Honest."
"Just get out." Kai waved him away and sat alone in the quiet of the room. As the night became darker and the air in the room grew colder, he started to wish he hadn't sent Zeo away so soon.