Ok, I'm back all of you, I rewrote this chapter because I was very
dissatisfied with the last one. So, let's do a retry. This IS different,
though she ends up in the same place.
Ok, that was not something you saw everyday. No, I don't think anyone has ever seen anything, anything remotely like that before. In fact, you could say it was disturbing.
I am not the adventure type girl, no, nor am I brave. But who could resist curiosity?
My saucer sized eyes gazed at the toilet, and I stepped forward to examine it further.
It was glowing. Oh yes, that's exactly what I said, glowing. And there was a purple substance oozing through the sides.
If that wasn't enough to freak me out, then it was the sounds emitting from the hole inside. It sounded like someone was whining, like someone was stuck in there.
I know this may sound so stupid but. . . . . . . "Hey, anyone in there? Hello?"
"Who are you talking to young lady? This is the men's bathroom."
Talk about jumping out of your skin. A clammy hand embraced my shoulder and I turned around and screamed.
Poor guy, went deaf I'm sure.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Hagen. It's just that, this, this toilet, I mean, look at it!"
And he did. "Yes and?" he questioned giving me a very puzzled stare.
I cast him an irritated look. Turning and pointing, I chimed, "THAT!"
Although, I had no idea exactly what I was supposed to be pointing at.
"Yes Holly, a cheap porcelain toilet, one of many that aren't getting cleaned enough might I add."
"But . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
"Now now Kagome, I'm glad that you are so excited with cleaning toilets," Please insert a very nasty look from me right here, "but might I remind you that I TOLD YOU A HALF HOUR AGO THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO CLEAN THE BATHROOM DOWNSTAIRS."
I blinked several times from his tuna fish breath being shot in my face. "Ugh, yeah, it's just that. . . . . . . . . ."
I really couldn't tell him that I saw a glowing toilet wit purple ooze and that was whining. They'd reserve a straight jacket and my own personal ward in the mental institution for sure.
"It's just what? Hm? Eh? That's what I thought. There are about a million people who'd love to have your job, and you even take some of the classes, I don't complain!"
I did open my mouth to protest, but the tuna smelt sooo bad. . . . . .
"You are lucky! Please, remind yourself of that next time you decide not to scrub a toilet spotless, or completely disobey orders. And if I have one more problem this week, you are going on a very long vacation, in fact, extended for so long, you won't need to come back!"
He must have been having a very bad day, and he didn't need sarcasm from me, but it hadn't exactly been a great day for me either. "Oh, do I get paid too?"
He was glowering right about now. If I was ever afraid of being kicked from my job, it was now. And did have my bills to pay. So I made up, by being blonde, no offense intended.
"Cause you know, I'd hate to go on vacation and get paid, it'd feel so much like stealing and I don't know." "No no, it's ok, don't cry Holly."
Ok, I admit I started to cry. It wasn't real, but the guy that was once a steaming purple had dwindled to a pale peach by the time he "calmed" me down.
"Th. . . . . .Thank you sir. I pr...promise not to fail you again. I am just having a really hard day. The death of my grandmother," Yeah, she died a long time ago, but it was the only excuse along with, "and my bills going unpaid because of my mother's insurance, I just don't know what to do sir."
It was a shame I hadn't become an actress, I think I could convince anyone I would have made a better Rose in the movie Titanic than Kate could ever had, but oh well.
"It's no problem Kagome. I understand. And since you are working so hard, even on days like today, really helps me see what a wonderful worker you are. How about a raise? Would that help you out a bit?"
If I still hadn't been trying to fool him, I would have jumped for joy. A raise AND getting out of trouble all in one day, it was just incredible.
"Yes sir," I sniffed, "it would help out a lot, but I don't think. . . . . . ."
"Nonsense! Stop by my office today and we will discuss it."
And with that he turned on his heel and vanished from the bathroom.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1. . . . . . . . "Oh yeah! A raise! Wahoo! Oh my gosh, a raise!"
The toilet gurgled again. "And you!" I turned nastily to the toilet; "You almost got me in the psycho ward today!"
And yet once again, it amazed me how quickly things could change.
The toilet was once again glowing in all it's glory and ooze. Then I saw a flicker of silver.
"Oh my god! My bracelet! Oh my! But how did it get in there?"
That was just eerie and confusing. And not only that, but the fact that I had to get it out made my head swim. But, I left the boys bathroom in search of something long enough to grab it.
Somehow, I ended up back at my closet. Which, to my surprise, was open, and someone was inside.
"Ah the culprit. But who has my key, or code?"
I made my way over, and I was going to give whomever it was a piece of my mind. Just because I didn't clean the bathrooms everyday didn't mean they could knick off all my supplies. Besides, if I ran out, I'd have to buy my own until the school gave up money to pay for new ones, which was every two months.
But, the weird thing was, I wasn't too concerned about it my closet, or the cleaning supplies.
I was more concerned about that toilet. Why had it gone away like that? I was sure I saw it, positive. And my bracelet for that matter, how did it get in there?
Maybe, maybe there was something in that cigarette. Knew I should have quit a long time ago.
I peeked into the closet, and I saw a tall sleek figure rummaging through my cabinets, obviously looking for something. I leaned against the door, watching them go about their business.
A tiny smirk made it's way across my face. I caught them. Finally, the figure paused, reaching in for what looked like my purse, which I had tried to hide very well, oh well, better spot next time.
Why the heck would anyone steal something from a janitor who had no money, when they had enough money to get him or her into Julliard? Rage started to pulse through my veins at the thought.
"HEY!" I shouted loud, and felt great pleasure as I watched them jump out of their skin. "What the heck do you think you are doing?!"
Jade turned around, much to my surprise, holding one hand out like she was waving, and the other hand behind her back. "Kagome, um, hi there."
"Give it to me." I pointed to her hidden hand. "You need to cut this out. What the heck do you think your doing?"
She looked very sad, and guilty too. It was the second thing she had stolen, or at least tried to steal from me this month.
Slowly, she set my purse on the countertop behind her, and walked out. "Sorry Kagome. I'm, I'm just so sorry."
"Yeah, sure. Oh, and just because you think we are "friends," don't think I won't go to the principle about this."
She turned around so fast; I barely had time to catch her look of horror. "No, please, I wasn't really going to take it, just borrow it, so I could look at your license and find out where you live so I could send you a birthday present! I swear!"
I licked my lips in pain. "Oh? Well, one, my birthday was three months ago, and you came to the party dimwit. And even if you were just "borrowing my purse, maybe that's what you did with my boyfriend eh?
She looked slightly pale. "I told you, it was an accident, we were both drunk, and you went home early, I didn't know! And like I said, I was going to borrow your purse."
"Is that what you did with my boyfriend too? Just borrow him for the night? You freaking wench, get out of my face. Don't think I won't tell Mr. Hagen what you did! OUT!"
She left, running, crying out in loud sobs. God did I hate her. I watched her disappear down the hall, punching the wall hard in my anger.
I was so tired. How could she come off like that? She was just like my father. Like that one time he took my allowance money I had saved up for a year, working so hard to keep it in my little pink wallet. He "borrowed it" one day, saying he needed it very much to go out and get a haircut and suit for this job he said he was going to apply to, and he would pay me back. I was so desperate for him to get a job so mom wouldn't have to work, so I believed him. Later that day, I came home from school early because I was sick, and caught my dad smoking cocaine with a couple of his street friends.
He never did pay me back.
So I guess that's why I find it hard to believe anyone these days.
Shuffling through the closet cabinets, I look desperately for anything, until my hand fell upon something useful.
Running, I paced up the stairs and into the bathroom. I made it to the stall and started to open the door.
"It's her! Shh!"
Now things were starting to get weird. Who was in there now? Who knew about me?
I opened the door in full force. It slammed so hard that it bounced and shut again. And that was ok because, I needed a double take.
As soon as it opened again, I saw it. A head. No, two heads. Talking to one another inside the toilet, like only their heads could have fit.
One of them turned to me. "Milady, your bracelet, you left it here."
I was not going to talk to a toilet. I just wasn't going to.
But sure enough, the toilet head was right. There on the edge of the seat was my silver bracelet, dripping wet with purple ooze.
"Just take it, we wanted to return it to you."
I edged my way towards the toilet. You ever heard of the saying "Curiosity killed the cat?" Yeah well, it got the best of me.
I reached forward, and grabbed the bracelet.
"Thanks darling! You just bought our ticket back to our world!"
I looked at the bracelet. It started glowing. Fear of what was happening caused me to drop the bracelet, but I couldn't, and the purple ooze wrapped around my hand like glue, gluing the bracelet to my hand.
The purple goop lifted itself out of the toilet, engulfing my body in it. I saw the two men's heads start lifting out of the toilet, along with their bodies.
"Now here's a rhyme that will pay to learn," said the first head.
"To go back home, you'll start to yearn," said the second.
"Like hell, the yearning will start to burn."
"But you were chosen for us in turn."
Meanwhile the goop had completely covered my body and was working it's way slowly to my head, almost if it was waiting for me to finish hearing the rhyme.
"You won't come back, until the deed is done."
"We couldn't do it, couldn't free the sun."
"You try, please, and release us all."
"If not, grab a trinket from this world, and take another soul."
"But you will be mauled when you get back, because curses are like a poisoness bowl."
"So here, if you can win, if you end up wanting what is opposite to us. You are released without much fuss. Just a symbol of ever founded trust."
And that was it. That was the last of the poem, because the next words didn't rhyme, but scared the crap out of me.
"See if you can figure it out sister, because we sure can't. Good luck, you'll need it if you ever want to get back."
And that was the last word I heard before the goop covered my head entirely.
Possessed goop. I told you it would be a bad day.
I felt this rushing suddenly, like someone had lassoed me and was pulling me forward with the rope tied to a flying jet. My insides were being pulled out. That's how if felt anyway.
I blanked out for quite some time, I think. But, abruptly feeling a cold liquid around my body, my eyes opened. I twisted my mouth for air, but I'll I sucked in was water. I swam to what I thought was the way towards air.
As soon as I hit the surface I took a deep refreshing gulp of oxygen. I looked around, and didn't like what I saw at all. In the middle of the lake, in the middle of a world, and not quite sure of anything but...............
I was definitely not in Kansas anymore.
Ok, that was not something you saw everyday. No, I don't think anyone has ever seen anything, anything remotely like that before. In fact, you could say it was disturbing.
I am not the adventure type girl, no, nor am I brave. But who could resist curiosity?
My saucer sized eyes gazed at the toilet, and I stepped forward to examine it further.
It was glowing. Oh yes, that's exactly what I said, glowing. And there was a purple substance oozing through the sides.
If that wasn't enough to freak me out, then it was the sounds emitting from the hole inside. It sounded like someone was whining, like someone was stuck in there.
I know this may sound so stupid but. . . . . . . "Hey, anyone in there? Hello?"
"Who are you talking to young lady? This is the men's bathroom."
Talk about jumping out of your skin. A clammy hand embraced my shoulder and I turned around and screamed.
Poor guy, went deaf I'm sure.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Hagen. It's just that, this, this toilet, I mean, look at it!"
And he did. "Yes and?" he questioned giving me a very puzzled stare.
I cast him an irritated look. Turning and pointing, I chimed, "THAT!"
Although, I had no idea exactly what I was supposed to be pointing at.
"Yes Holly, a cheap porcelain toilet, one of many that aren't getting cleaned enough might I add."
"But . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
"Now now Kagome, I'm glad that you are so excited with cleaning toilets," Please insert a very nasty look from me right here, "but might I remind you that I TOLD YOU A HALF HOUR AGO THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO CLEAN THE BATHROOM DOWNSTAIRS."
I blinked several times from his tuna fish breath being shot in my face. "Ugh, yeah, it's just that. . . . . . . . . ."
I really couldn't tell him that I saw a glowing toilet wit purple ooze and that was whining. They'd reserve a straight jacket and my own personal ward in the mental institution for sure.
"It's just what? Hm? Eh? That's what I thought. There are about a million people who'd love to have your job, and you even take some of the classes, I don't complain!"
I did open my mouth to protest, but the tuna smelt sooo bad. . . . . .
"You are lucky! Please, remind yourself of that next time you decide not to scrub a toilet spotless, or completely disobey orders. And if I have one more problem this week, you are going on a very long vacation, in fact, extended for so long, you won't need to come back!"
He must have been having a very bad day, and he didn't need sarcasm from me, but it hadn't exactly been a great day for me either. "Oh, do I get paid too?"
He was glowering right about now. If I was ever afraid of being kicked from my job, it was now. And did have my bills to pay. So I made up, by being blonde, no offense intended.
"Cause you know, I'd hate to go on vacation and get paid, it'd feel so much like stealing and I don't know." "No no, it's ok, don't cry Holly."
Ok, I admit I started to cry. It wasn't real, but the guy that was once a steaming purple had dwindled to a pale peach by the time he "calmed" me down.
"Th. . . . . .Thank you sir. I pr...promise not to fail you again. I am just having a really hard day. The death of my grandmother," Yeah, she died a long time ago, but it was the only excuse along with, "and my bills going unpaid because of my mother's insurance, I just don't know what to do sir."
It was a shame I hadn't become an actress, I think I could convince anyone I would have made a better Rose in the movie Titanic than Kate could ever had, but oh well.
"It's no problem Kagome. I understand. And since you are working so hard, even on days like today, really helps me see what a wonderful worker you are. How about a raise? Would that help you out a bit?"
If I still hadn't been trying to fool him, I would have jumped for joy. A raise AND getting out of trouble all in one day, it was just incredible.
"Yes sir," I sniffed, "it would help out a lot, but I don't think. . . . . . ."
"Nonsense! Stop by my office today and we will discuss it."
And with that he turned on his heel and vanished from the bathroom.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1. . . . . . . . "Oh yeah! A raise! Wahoo! Oh my gosh, a raise!"
The toilet gurgled again. "And you!" I turned nastily to the toilet; "You almost got me in the psycho ward today!"
And yet once again, it amazed me how quickly things could change.
The toilet was once again glowing in all it's glory and ooze. Then I saw a flicker of silver.
"Oh my god! My bracelet! Oh my! But how did it get in there?"
That was just eerie and confusing. And not only that, but the fact that I had to get it out made my head swim. But, I left the boys bathroom in search of something long enough to grab it.
Somehow, I ended up back at my closet. Which, to my surprise, was open, and someone was inside.
"Ah the culprit. But who has my key, or code?"
I made my way over, and I was going to give whomever it was a piece of my mind. Just because I didn't clean the bathrooms everyday didn't mean they could knick off all my supplies. Besides, if I ran out, I'd have to buy my own until the school gave up money to pay for new ones, which was every two months.
But, the weird thing was, I wasn't too concerned about it my closet, or the cleaning supplies.
I was more concerned about that toilet. Why had it gone away like that? I was sure I saw it, positive. And my bracelet for that matter, how did it get in there?
Maybe, maybe there was something in that cigarette. Knew I should have quit a long time ago.
I peeked into the closet, and I saw a tall sleek figure rummaging through my cabinets, obviously looking for something. I leaned against the door, watching them go about their business.
A tiny smirk made it's way across my face. I caught them. Finally, the figure paused, reaching in for what looked like my purse, which I had tried to hide very well, oh well, better spot next time.
Why the heck would anyone steal something from a janitor who had no money, when they had enough money to get him or her into Julliard? Rage started to pulse through my veins at the thought.
"HEY!" I shouted loud, and felt great pleasure as I watched them jump out of their skin. "What the heck do you think you are doing?!"
Jade turned around, much to my surprise, holding one hand out like she was waving, and the other hand behind her back. "Kagome, um, hi there."
"Give it to me." I pointed to her hidden hand. "You need to cut this out. What the heck do you think your doing?"
She looked very sad, and guilty too. It was the second thing she had stolen, or at least tried to steal from me this month.
Slowly, she set my purse on the countertop behind her, and walked out. "Sorry Kagome. I'm, I'm just so sorry."
"Yeah, sure. Oh, and just because you think we are "friends," don't think I won't go to the principle about this."
She turned around so fast; I barely had time to catch her look of horror. "No, please, I wasn't really going to take it, just borrow it, so I could look at your license and find out where you live so I could send you a birthday present! I swear!"
I licked my lips in pain. "Oh? Well, one, my birthday was three months ago, and you came to the party dimwit. And even if you were just "borrowing my purse, maybe that's what you did with my boyfriend eh?
She looked slightly pale. "I told you, it was an accident, we were both drunk, and you went home early, I didn't know! And like I said, I was going to borrow your purse."
"Is that what you did with my boyfriend too? Just borrow him for the night? You freaking wench, get out of my face. Don't think I won't tell Mr. Hagen what you did! OUT!"
She left, running, crying out in loud sobs. God did I hate her. I watched her disappear down the hall, punching the wall hard in my anger.
I was so tired. How could she come off like that? She was just like my father. Like that one time he took my allowance money I had saved up for a year, working so hard to keep it in my little pink wallet. He "borrowed it" one day, saying he needed it very much to go out and get a haircut and suit for this job he said he was going to apply to, and he would pay me back. I was so desperate for him to get a job so mom wouldn't have to work, so I believed him. Later that day, I came home from school early because I was sick, and caught my dad smoking cocaine with a couple of his street friends.
He never did pay me back.
So I guess that's why I find it hard to believe anyone these days.
Shuffling through the closet cabinets, I look desperately for anything, until my hand fell upon something useful.
Running, I paced up the stairs and into the bathroom. I made it to the stall and started to open the door.
"It's her! Shh!"
Now things were starting to get weird. Who was in there now? Who knew about me?
I opened the door in full force. It slammed so hard that it bounced and shut again. And that was ok because, I needed a double take.
As soon as it opened again, I saw it. A head. No, two heads. Talking to one another inside the toilet, like only their heads could have fit.
One of them turned to me. "Milady, your bracelet, you left it here."
I was not going to talk to a toilet. I just wasn't going to.
But sure enough, the toilet head was right. There on the edge of the seat was my silver bracelet, dripping wet with purple ooze.
"Just take it, we wanted to return it to you."
I edged my way towards the toilet. You ever heard of the saying "Curiosity killed the cat?" Yeah well, it got the best of me.
I reached forward, and grabbed the bracelet.
"Thanks darling! You just bought our ticket back to our world!"
I looked at the bracelet. It started glowing. Fear of what was happening caused me to drop the bracelet, but I couldn't, and the purple ooze wrapped around my hand like glue, gluing the bracelet to my hand.
The purple goop lifted itself out of the toilet, engulfing my body in it. I saw the two men's heads start lifting out of the toilet, along with their bodies.
"Now here's a rhyme that will pay to learn," said the first head.
"To go back home, you'll start to yearn," said the second.
"Like hell, the yearning will start to burn."
"But you were chosen for us in turn."
Meanwhile the goop had completely covered my body and was working it's way slowly to my head, almost if it was waiting for me to finish hearing the rhyme.
"You won't come back, until the deed is done."
"We couldn't do it, couldn't free the sun."
"You try, please, and release us all."
"If not, grab a trinket from this world, and take another soul."
"But you will be mauled when you get back, because curses are like a poisoness bowl."
"So here, if you can win, if you end up wanting what is opposite to us. You are released without much fuss. Just a symbol of ever founded trust."
And that was it. That was the last of the poem, because the next words didn't rhyme, but scared the crap out of me.
"See if you can figure it out sister, because we sure can't. Good luck, you'll need it if you ever want to get back."
And that was the last word I heard before the goop covered my head entirely.
Possessed goop. I told you it would be a bad day.
I felt this rushing suddenly, like someone had lassoed me and was pulling me forward with the rope tied to a flying jet. My insides were being pulled out. That's how if felt anyway.
I blanked out for quite some time, I think. But, abruptly feeling a cold liquid around my body, my eyes opened. I twisted my mouth for air, but I'll I sucked in was water. I swam to what I thought was the way towards air.
As soon as I hit the surface I took a deep refreshing gulp of oxygen. I looked around, and didn't like what I saw at all. In the middle of the lake, in the middle of a world, and not quite sure of anything but...............
I was definitely not in Kansas anymore.