A/N: Hey there, everyone! I'm really sorry for the delay on this chapter! Finishing up the grading period at school's been hectic for the past few weeks, but things should be back to normal now, the past two weekends havekept me away from my notebook and computer,and plus I wanted to make thischapter a bit longer. And before going onto the chapter, I wanna say some things to a few reviewers:
-----
Lilly Belladonna Took:
First of all, I really wanna thank you for taking the time to write out that review. I love recieving long ones like that, so that they tell me more about what's good/bad about my stories, and why. Now that you tell me, Victor does seem selfish in this story, and I knew that was going to be one of the problems. I tried to make it so it wouldn't seem that way, but I didn't wanna make Victor insanely depressed over leaving Victoria, you know? I know he should feel awful about her, as well as Emily, and I guess I should have wrote more detail in about that situation. And the thing about Emily going to heaven... in my opinion, in this movie's world, there is no heaven or hell. Just that when you die, you go to the Land of the Dead, and that's that. I know there's been a bit of debate on the land of the dead only being for those with unfinished business, but as mentioned in chapter four, Mayhew had ended up in the land of the dead, and he had had no unfinished business that we knew of. That's what leads me to believe that in this movie, the land of the dead's the only place to be, so Victor wanting her to be there wouldn't really be seflish if he knew there was no heaven. And even if there was, Victor would still want Emily to be in the land of the dead in some part of him. I think it's just that thing with being in love with someone, when you want everything, but nothing at the same time. XD I dunno if that makes any sense.
Uhm... that said, I must thank you again for that review. It gave me some insight on what I should add on future chapters. And I'm glad you think this story isn't too horrible XD. And also, thanks for the compliments on some of the little tidbits from previous chapters.
-----
Gracefuldead56:
XD I just wanna say I love your enthusiasm. Kinda like me when I run into a story I really like, review on each chapter all excitedly n' such. Thanks for taking the time out to leave a review on each chapter as you went, I appreciate it
-----
And a quickie thanks to Benji's Riot Gurl for informing me on the new Corpse Bride section. I probably would've continued posting in the misc. movies section for quite a while if you hadn't let me know.
-----
Just so you guys know, I won't be starting a reviewer's corner thing. I really do love all you guys who review, I'd be lost with out you! But when people put those at the end of chapters, I always think there's more to read, when it actually just cuts off and goes forever on with replies to reviews. I don't wanna get you guys's hopes up on a longer chapter, when really it isn't ;; But in all seriousness, the increase in reviews as of late has really made me smile, and all the more eager to keep on writing chapters
-----
Disclaimer: see chapter one.
----
--------
------------
"Though We Walk Through the Valley"
Chapter 6 - "I'm Here"
------------
--------
----
"Are the rumors true? Is he really here?"
"Is it him, is it him!"
"No, it couldn't be –,"
"It's true! I see him, I'd recognize that boy anywhere!"
"Everyone, PLEASE be quiet!"
Many different voices were floating around, making his head hurt. Victor moaned and slowly lifted his eyelids open. Everything was a blur at first, what looked like the reflection of something in a puddle after someone stepped in it, and slowly coming back into form.
Victor blinked and raised a hand to his head. His face contorted lightly in pain, and upon reopening his eyes, he saw only a dark ceiling. A candle, or soft oil lamp burned softly from the other side of the room somewhere. He couldn't see it, only the gentle golden-yellow glow casting onto the ceiling. It might've been a cozy sight, but the constant shouting and loud talking from behind him ruined it.
"SILENCE!" bellowed a gruff voice. Victor jumped at the sudden outburst, and apparently hadn't been the only one caught off guard by it. All of the voices ceased immediately, and silence rung throughout the room.
"I know this is a shock," said the same voice, and now that it was calmer, Victor realized that he had heard that voice before… "But you all have to leave. You're causing far too much of a racket, and I've just finally been able to get Miss Emily to sleep. She hasn't rested in days."
A soft murmur began amongst the voices, and victor's senses snapped back into full function. His drowsiness and headache suddenly gone, he shot upward from his lying position, immediately looking to where the voices had been coming from. He watched the backs of fifteen or so people walking down a flight of stairs, and right at the top of the stairs watching them leave was a skeleton, hunched over wearily, peering through a pair of ancient half-moon spectacles. A few long strands of hair hung from his chin, remnants of a beard.
Victor recognized him right away.
"Elder Gutneckt!" he called to him, suddenly feeling relieved. He had really made it into the Land of the Dead. Even though he wasn't entirely sure on how he had gotten there, he was nonetheless elated that he had. The old skeleton turned slowly to look at him, and adjusted his glasses.
"Ah, you're awake," he stated, beginning to make his way over to the musty old couch Victor was lying upon. He fixed himself into a sitting position, and smoothed his tie and jacket down. "Sorry about that," the Elder continued. "When someone new enters this land, dead or alive, you can feel it. So when everyone came to see who you were and greet you, then saw it was you, well… needless to say it caused quite a bit of excitement."
Victor nodded sheepishly, suddenly feeling a bit timid for his fame in the Land of the Dead. It didn't surprise him, but it was still embarrassing.
"How did I get down here anyway?" The dark haired man inquired. All he could remember was kneeling at the base of Emily's tree in the forest, and… Emily! Elder Gutneckt had just mentioned her to the crowd of people!
Before the Elder could answer his first question, Victor hurriedly said, "Wait! Emily… where is she? Can I see her? Is she doing all right? I –," He ceased his run of questions as the skeleton rose a single bony finger, signaling for him to stop.
"She's resting at the moment, in the other room. I'm actually surprised she wasn't woken up by all of that noise," he told him. The old skeleton began scratching at his skull, something Victor figured as a nervous reaction. "And that's the part of the reason you're down here."
Victor looked at him, confused. Elder Gutneckt continued, his voice somber. "You see my boy, when someone in the Land of the Living tries to speak to someone who has passed away, like in prayers, or while visiting a gravesite?"
Victor nodded.
"Those words are actually heard by that person who is down here. Also, since I am the one in charge down here, I can hear them as well, but only if I am in close proximity of said person." The Elder began walking up the tower of old books that lead to his podium. "I had just been putting Miss Emily to sleep when you began calling for her, and very loudly at that." He adjusted his glasses almost accusingly at the living man below him. Victor felt himself grow red in embarrassment.
"And since the one in the Land of the Living, ninety-nine percent of the time doesn't hear the reply, the only way I could quiet you down was to bring you here."
Victor tugged nervously at his tie, feeling as if he were a big brother who had woken up the new baby. "I apologize, Elder Gutneckt. If I'd have known… I'm sorry," he spoke timidly.
The old skeleton smiled though, and waved his hand in a forgiving gesture. "It's fine, dear boy." His other hand didn't cease it's scratching, however, which most likely meant there was still something to be spoken about. And just as Victor realized this, as if on cue, Elder Gutneckt face fell somber once again.
"As for your inquiry on her condition…" Victor felt his heartbeat pick up speed, and his brows furrowed in concern. "I'm sorry to say that she hasn't been doing her best, even though she has been getting better recently."
Victor hung his head. He didn't know whether to be angry with himself, or relieved that she was, at the very least, doing better.
"It's strange, though," the Elder said. Victor looked up to see him still scratching at his head.
"It seems to me that this whole ordeal with you has affected her much more than when she first arrived here. I'll never forget that night, you know. It was already three years ago, but it seems like it was just last week. She had appeared down here, thoroughly frantic. It had taken a while to calm her down enough for her to tell us anything, and it took even longer for her to realize what had happened to her. It was understandable though, but we hardly ever get murder victims in these parts. Victor looked on at the Elder skeleton, very interested in the story. "She was, of course, distraught upon realizing that the man she loved was the one who had killed her. For the longest time, she barely spoke, slept, ate… anything. Over a short amount of time though, she recovered quite remarkably."
Elder Gutneckt finished up writing something in an old book, and snapped it shut with a loud bang. He waved his hand to clear the cloud of dust that had erupted around him, and made his way back down the stairs of books.
"Now, however, she does speak to everyone quite normally, acting quite normally, but the pain she hides behind her voice, the sadness glazed over in her eyes… far stronger than three years ago. Oh my boy, I do apologize. Please don't by any means feel as if I am accusing you or anything." He had hurriedly stated the last part as the look on Victor's face had changed to an expression of utter horror. The Elder's quick words had softened his expression a tiny bit, but the immense feeling o guilt that lurked within him only grew tenfold.
Elder Gutneckt had completed his journey down the books, and now stood still, looking on at the young man before him.
"Victor?"
He looked down at the skeleton, apprehension filling his eyes.
May I ask why it was that you were calling to her in the first place?"
Victor felt a bit embarrassed at first, knowing for sure that the Elder must've suspected something. How he had been slow on asking the question told Victor so. Still though, he began to tell him the story of how he had felt Emily's presence come into him at her burial site. He had left out the reason why he had ended up there in the first place, much too embarrassed to tell anyone that he wished to return to Emily.
When he was finished with his story, Elder Gutneckt simply nodded.
"That has been known to happen. It's actually what everyone would call a ghost, briefly coming into contact with the dead in whatever way."
Victor didn't reply to this, and looked away from the old skeleton before him. He knew that Elder Gutneckt knew there was more to his story; he was much too wise to not know. Still though, Victor wouldn't say anything on the subject… the pain of having to tell Victoria still lingered quite strongly within him… the pain of knowing that she was hurt one thousand times worse.
"Can I…" Victor bit his lip before finishing. He wanted to ask; he really did, but still felt ashamed of himself for the whole situation. Maybe he shouldn't… he should really just ask the Elder to send him back to the Land of the Living, and forget everythi –,
"See her?"
Victor's gaze snapped back over to the Elder, eyes wide. He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt afraid. Maybe because this was even further proof of Victor's reason for being in the forest. Or perhaps it was just the childish fear of not being allowed something asked for.
Elder Gutneckt turned around and walked over to one of the towering bookshelves. Victor watched him, not having the slightest idea on what he was doing. The Elder seemed to be looking for something on the shelf, his one hand quickly scanning across the book spines. After a few moments, his hand came to an abrupt stop in front of a rather large, dark red book. He placed his hand on the top of it, pulled it out halfway, and then slid it back into place. Victor then looked on as Elder Gutneckt took a few steps back, and the bookshelf slowly divided into two separate ones, revealing a doorway in the middle.
Victor gaped at the dark doorway as if it were something magical. He really shouldn't be surprised, with how odd everything was down there, but still… it wasn't so much of how the door had been hidden there, but more of what he knew lay beyond that doorway.
The night at the chapel… the last time he had seen Emily had only been a month ago, give or take a few days. This Victor knew. But that day he had spent with her had been the longest in his life, and the most wonderful. That day, he had learned so many things… and having spent only a few weeks apart from those things might as well had been an eternity. And now he was back in the place that he longed to be in… and about to see the person he longed to see.
Emily…
Victor glanced at Elder Gutneckt for a moment, almost as if to make sure it was okay for him to proceed toward the dark room. The old skeleton nodded at him, and Victor looked back at the door. His heart was pounding within his chest, so loud that he thought for sure Elder Gutneckt could hear it. He took an inaudible breath, and began walking toward the space between the two bookshelves.
He placed his hand upon the wooden doorframe, his long, pale fingers brushing against small cracks in the wood. Now that he was directly in front of the room's entrance, it didn't seem so entirely dark and longer. There was actually a soft blue-ish glow about the room. He looked all around it at first, but his gaze came upon the four-poster bed on the left side of the room.
Black netting flowed downward from the vast canopy that almost touched the ceiling. Spiral shaped posts held it up, and attached themselves to the lower part of the bed, and the entire thing was a brilliant light cerulean. Despite the fact that it was quite noticeable how old the bed actually was, it was definitely a piece of artwork.
And resting upon its blue sheets was a bride, her long hair sprawled upon the moth-eaten pillow, as well as her shoulders and arms, and the long train of her dress hung from the other side of the mattress. She lay on her side, facing the doorway, her one arm tucked underneath her head, the other resting limply across her abdomen.
Remembering to breathe, Victor took his first few steps into the room nervously, and during his entire trek over to the bedside, his eyes never left her. He didn't think he could ever look away from her.
He stood right beside the bed now, inches away from her. He looked at her with desperate eyes, unable to believe that she was actually there before him. And for a little while, all he could was look. He was petrified that if he tried to do anything else at that moment, he would wake up in his bed back home.
"Victor…"
Victor nearly fell backwards, the sound catching him well off guard. He quickly looked down at Emily, knowing his name had come from her. Though it had been just one word, he recognized her voice. Her eyes remained closed, though her mouth hung slightly open now. Victor went down to his knees so that he was now at her level. His gaze turned sad, now knowing that she called out to him in her sleep, and for what must have felt just as long as it had felt to Victor, he wasn't there to answer.
"Well now I am," he whispered to her still form. Now unafraid of what might happen, Victor slowly reached out a hand, and gently brushed back stray hair from her face.
"I'm here now… Emily."