Chapter 5: Warnings

Betilla let out a small yawn and fluttered her wings as she rose out of her bed. She got up, and stretched her arms and legs a little bit. She had barely gotten any sleep that night because she had been talking with the Magician... what hey they discussed? She felt it was important. The limbless being! She was supposed to watch over to make sure the Magician's plan followed through! How could she have fallen asleep? Why, she had only planned to rest for a small time, but things had obviously turned horribly wrong. She had lost track of time.

Before she knew it, she was out of her dwelling, treading above the wet grass, covered in the morning's water. She surprised herself with the ambition she had as she went out in search of the being. At first, she went directly to the dwelling in which the being was staying, but when she arrived, she found nothing but some tussled sheets on the bed. She exited, passing many dwellings in a great speed. She knew where she must go next – Ly's dwelling. He could very well be with her. But when she entered through the door, she found only Tily and Ly, sitting on the floor with their backs to the door. At first she didn't notice because she was too focused on finding the lost being, but Tily was wrapping Ly's wrists with a bandage – Ly was hurt.

"Ow! Not that tight!" Ly exclaimed.

"Sorry – I'm doing the best I can do!" Tily retorted.

"Ly, Tily, what has happened? And where is the being?" the girls turned their heads when they heard Betilla's voice behind them.

"Oh, Betilla! I didn't hear you come in!" Tily said standing up, the bandage she was using still in her hands.

"Betilla, will you help me with the bandage?" Ly asked. "Tily's doing a crummy job." Tily stuck out her tongue, but Ly merely rolled her eyes.

Betilla nodded her head, put the worry behind her for a moment, and crouched down next to Ly. As she continued wrapping Ly's wrists she asked, "Ly, where is the being? Was he not with you?"

"He was with me…" Ly responded. "And we had talked. But then something happened – I don't remember what. I-It's all foggy."

Betilla finished wrapping her wrists and got back up. She began looking around the room for any clues of what might have happened. She looked on the bed – nothing. She looked by the window – nothing. She looked on the desk – hold on, what was this?

"Betilla picked up the peculiar envelope on the desk. It was sealed with red wax, with the initials "J.D." engraved on it. "Ly, is this yours?"

Ly got up and looked at it carefully. "I've never seen it before," she responded.

"Let me see! Come on – let me see!" Tily exclaimed, but Betilla was already carefully opening the envelope. Inside, was a letter inside with its edges burnt. She began to read the contents aloud:

"Dear concerned reader, as you may have already discovered, your little limbless friend is gone. I have taken him, for he may prove more valuable to me and my… services. I wouldn't count on seeing him again. After all – you are just fairies. Signed… Jasper Dark?" Betilla read those last words in horror. She couldn't believe it – Mr. Dark had taken him! How had he known about him? He had barely been in the care of the fairies. She had to do something – but what? What could she do?

"Who's Jasker Barnk?" Tily asked.

"Ly was about to correct her for Betilla's sake, but Betilla had already exited the dwelling, heading off to deal with the problem.

After what seemed like an eternity, Rayman heard footsteps once again. This time, he did not expect for an escape. The footsteps he heard were the same he'd heard before. Soon, the dark room was illuminated as Mr. Dark entered with his lantern. The light cast frightening shadows on the wall.

"Why, hello my little limbless guest –" Mr. Dark started.

"It's Rayman," he said, with a snarl in his voice.

"So you've picked out a name for yourself, have you? I'm not very surprised at your selection. It isn't very original," he criticized. "But no matter. On to the next event of the hour. I suppose you'd like to know a bit more about your parents."

"Rayman's eyes got big and he swallowed hard. He tried not to show his eagerness, but some of it still shown through. "I-I guess I should know, I mean, if you really think you should tell me," he said, his eyes deceivingly trailing off.

"Oh, stop trying to hide you're interest!" he ridiculed. "I'm going to tell you no matter your response – unless, of course, you decide to cook me with your rays." Rayman shook his head, not planning on telling him about his decision. Mr. Dark continued, "Your parents are alive. In my opinion, they have it pretty good."

"But how about in their opinion?" Rayman interjected. He didn't really believe they were ok – why would Mr. Dark have so readily told him about his parents?

"Well, I wouldn't know that, now would I?" Mr. Dark retorted with a forced grin on his face. "The truth is, they want you dead. They've hired me to do the dirty work."

"You're lying! You careless clod! Why would anyone's parents want their own children dead?" Rayman exclaimed. His parents couldn't really want him, could they? "Why would you be so willing to tell me, anyways?"

"Well, I thought you should know – it will add to the agony you feel inside as you die." Mr. Dark said, his yellow eyes glaring at him, mocking him.

"But Rayman refused to believe it. "If you really are supposed to kill me, why don't you just get it over with?"

"Ahem," Mr. Dark stated. "Look down."

Rayman hadn't noticed the murky water at his feet, slowly rising – once and awhile, moving as if containing life. This water held secrets. Secrets kept by dead things.

"I prefer a torturous death instead of an instant kill for my victims," Mr. Dark continued. "Have you seen the water move every now and then?" Rayman was about to shake his head, but Mr. Dark didn't wait for a response. "I couldn't very well let the water have all the fun - there are tiny life forms in there, slowly devising a plan. I like to call them my little pain instruments. They call themselves Argus. They travel in large groups. Before you pass out from lack of air in the water, they latch onto your skin. They are extremely skilled in determining when their victims are ready. Soon, they begin to chew – slow and hard. It WILL be very painful. The gargled screams of my victims have been heard miles and miles away." He paused, and let this sink in for the "Ray Man."

Rayman gulped. He was in shock. He could do nothing. He would die a slow and painful death. He couldn't believe his future had already been so quickly planned – and he didn't even know who he was!

"Well," Mr. Dark finished. "My footwear is getting wet. Sleep tight – don't let the Argus bite!" With that, he briskly left the room, laughing deviously. The room soon became dark, and the laughter faded. Rayman sat motionless as the sound of heavy machinery came about and punctured the deadly silence.