Oblivion – Chapter Two: Trance

The ceiling spun in a mix of colors that it wasn't painted. It started fast but then slowed down and gradually sped up again. It kept doing the same thing over and over again making it extremely sickening to watch not to mention irritating. Lying on the floor Tino could barely stand it so he tried to focus his eyes, but it was to little avail as he merely slowed the ceiling down to a dull wobble. As Tino sat up it felt like all the weight of his head shifted to the back of his skull. A ringing echoed inside his ears and it made his head pulsate with an unbearable sensation that was unlike any form of pain he had ever known. Tino's mouth was exceptionally dry and tasted disgusting. Slowly, he stood stumbling a bit. As Tino gained his balance his stomach continued to churn making him feel even worse. He imagined that this was what a college student felt like waking up Saturday afternoon. Similarly Tino could not remember how he got on the floor or anything that had happened right before that. The last thing he could recall was coming home from the mall. He continued to scan his fluctuating room fighting back the urge to vomit all over himself. Then Tino's gaze fell on a spot of the room that stood still and held his attention fast. It was the poster he had bought at the mall. It was a safe haven for Tino's eyes and it drew him closer to make it the only thing to within his field of vision. As Tino approached his churning stomach and pulsating headache gradually faded away. The poster enveloped Tino in comfort much in the same way a child is comforted by the embrace of their mother.

A smile crept across Tino's face as he thanked himself for having bought the poster. "I knew there was a good reason for having this poster. It's the only thing of order in this crazy place. Thanks for staying cool, poster."

"You're welcome. I'm glad to help," a soft feminine voice replied.

Tino stood stunned. He would have swiveled his head side to side to see who had just said that, but he knew what awaited his eyes outside the poster.

So to satisfy his curiosity Tino called out, "Who said that? Is someone else here? I can't see, or I suppose I don't want to see."

"I said that. You aren't alone here. I'm right here," the voice replied again.

"What? Where?"

"Here. Directly in front of you. You're looking right at me," The voice said with a little laugh.

"Is this some type of joke? There is no one here. The only thing I'm looking at is my poster."

"Exactly. Hmmm, I guess this just confusing you. Here let me make things clear."

Then much to Tino's amazement the central woman of the poster stepped out onto his floor growing to life size in the process. Tino was speechless and could only point and make odd noises. The woman laughed at Tino's shock.

"I guess this is quite surprising, but let me introduce myself. I am Rena the leader of the Four Female Friends."

Tino shook his head a little and covered it with his hand.

"This doesn't make sense. I haven't had any of mom's seafood casserole in ages."

"This has nothing to do with your mom's food. It's all about you and what you want."

"What I want?" Tino asked quite incredulous.

"Yes, what you want. This is what you wanted after all whether you realize it or not," Rena said laying a hand on Tino's shoulder.

Tino let out a little squeak when she touched him. He looked up at her face and found himself growing lost in Rena's eyes. They were very distinct eyes since one was crimson while the other was a striking shade of yellow. Tino wobbled a bit but then his body slowly steadied and his eyes glazed over a little.

"Yeah, that's right. I brought you here, into my house, and into my room. Your lovely gaze is making it all come clear," Tino said uncharacteristically.

Rena giggled and Tino's eyes glazed a bit more.

"Could you do me a favor then?" the comic book heroine asked.

"Of course. Anything for you, my lady," Tino said.

"Would you mind dancing with me?"

"It would be my pleasure, my lady."

Tino took the lead and began dancing far better than he or any 12 year old boy, or any man for that matter, should ever dance.

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Ms. Tonitini walked down the hall to Tino's room. She had heard a thud earlier and figured it was best to investigate.

"Tino? Is everything okay?" she called while knocking on his door.

There was no reply. Ms. Tonitini put her ear to the door and she heard humming coming from inside. Slowly, she opened the door and found Tino laying the floor humming to himself while moving his arms and feet like he was dancing.

For once Ms. Tonitini was at a loss for an explanation of Tino's behavior. She figured it best to just let sleeping dogs lie or, in this case, let sleeping Tino dance. As she started to leave the room the poster hanging on the wall caught her eye.

"Hmm, that's a new poster. It must have been what Tino had in that bag earlier. A poster featuring just women, very attractive women, no less, well he is getting to that age. It might be time for "the talk". Maybe I should call Dixon for some help on this."

Ms. Tonitini glanced at the poster again. Something about it made her a bit wary of it.

"Those eyes…" Tino's Mom whispered to herself.

Much like her son, Ms. Tonitini became lost in the crimson and yellow eyes of the woman on the poster although her fixation differed in reason from Tino's. She thought the eyes were staring directly at her and that they were smug eyes.

"He's mine."

The words suddenly popped into Ms. Tonitini's head and then vanished. She shook her head and looked at the poster again. The smug eyes stared back at her.

"Hmmm, either I really need to stop making seafood casserole or my Mom-ness has spread to imaginary people as well now. I think this might require some back-up."

Tino's mom left her son's room ready to go to war with the poster if need be.

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"So you're telling me that Tino completely ditched playing new games at Funville?" Carver asked.

"Yep," Tish answered.

"And for no good reason?" Lor added.

"Yep."

"Well this doesn't sound good at all," Carver concluded.

The three friends stood outside of Funville as Tish filled in Lor and Carver on Tino's odd behavior. Though Tino acting odd was nothing new. It seemed that almost every other weekend something was wrong with Tino. The misadventures never ceased.

"Well, I guess there's only one thing to do. We've gotta help, Tino!" Lor proclaimed.

"Do we really have to? Don't you think Tino can handle himself for now? I mean if history has taught us anything it's that it will take the whole weekend to bring him back to normal," Tish moaned.

Carver scratched his head and looked back and forth between the two females. Generally their roles were reversed so the scene before him made little sense.

"Wait, Tish, you don't want to help Tino? Are you feeling okay?" Lor asked.

"I feel fine. It's just that, I mean, something is always happening to Tino. It's kind of exhausting really. I mean we've stuck with him through so many phobias and odd behavioral instances, but isn't enough enough?"

"I guess that's true, but we all have our own quirks that he helps us with so it's just right that we help with his quirks," Lor replied.

"Yeah I know, but it always feels like I'm spending the most time helping Tino. This time I'm just kinda tired of it. I'm sure Tino will get over whatever is afflicting him this time even if we don't rush to help him."

"I'm shocked Tish. I never expected this from you, definitely from Carver but not from you. But fine if you don't want to help Tino then we can do this without you. C'mon Carver let's go."

"Actually, I kinda agree with-"

"Carver, you're coming," Lor said firmly.

"Yes, ma'am."

Lor started walking in the direction of Tino's house with Carver lagging behind a bit as he looked back and forth between Lor and Tish still unsure if everything had really just transpired as he saw it.

Tish stayed out front of Funville and sighed a bit and then shrugged

"Well, it's their weekend to waste I guess. No more mothering for me though. It's time to look out for number one!" Tish said to thin air.

She sighed again and walked back towards her house.

End of Chapter Two

I know I usually make some mention about me taking really long between chapters in this part of the chapter but this time around I'm not gonna talk about it. Unless you want to count that sentence as me talking about it. Anyway, instead of apologizing for the delay in chapters I'll apologize for the chapter length since it is short. I apologize. The next few days should see me writing, though not on this story. So if you've been waiting for an update for my other story "Suitably Ill" then keep an eye out. And if you've been waiting for an update to "The Feeling: Rebirth" that's still comin' at some point in time. See ya next chapter or next story, whichever.