Dedication to H Max Marius, for the amazing ideas. That was certainly interesting to read! Sorry if I haven't replied to reviews, my email isn't working and I'm not sure how to do it on I'm a little computer illiterate. Heh heh…
'Thoughts in single quotes'. Flashbacks in italicsCarte Blanche represents a break, or change of scene (as I can't get the breaks to work properly).

Note: Flashback and thought styles edited, as H Max Marius pointed out it was hard to read. Thanks for the suggestion, dude!


Chapter 2

The stars shone down upon the small town of Finchley, occasionally obscured by passing clouds. A chilling breeze made its way through the streets, working its way into cracks in an attempt to chill the town's occupants. The effort appeared futile, until it found one open window and jumped at the chance to enter the home, stealing the warmth from the air inside and wrapping itself around the child in the room. He had already been subjected to the same treatment for most of the night, but he refused to get up and close the window – he was glad for the numb feeling the breeze brought him. It gave him something to think about other than the problem he had with his sister.

Edmund reached for the clock beside his bed, sighing. He hadn't slept in the three nights since they had returned home and the effects of his insomnia were catching up on him. Finding that it was still an ungodly hour, he turned over and groaned.

'Why can't it just be morning?' He grumbled mentally. He had discovered that by keeping himself busy, he could avoid thinking at all – playing football, searching for scraps of bombs, doing chores…

Carte Blanche

"We're going to Camden, so we'll be gone for the day," Helen Pevensie said distractedly, as she flattened down her skirt. She wasn't entirely sure why she'd picked out that particular one, as it never sat quite right. "Do be sure to look after you brother and sisters, will you Peter?"

The oldest child nodded, slightly concerned. He'd been at odds with his brother for a few days and was concerned by the prospect of being left alone with him and the girls. Sighing mentally, he gave his mother a weak smile, who returned it with a kind, knowing gaze. She turned to Lucy and gave her a hug, promising her a new hair ribbon before the sound of a horn blared through the house. Anthony Pevensie wanted his wife to get in the car before he had to come back with the umbrella and was growing frustrated. Didn't she think the children were old enough to be alone for a few hours?

Helen rolled her eyes.

"Always impatient," she muttered under her breath, patting Susan on the head before running out of the door, fixing her hat. Edmund, who had been hiding on the staircase, made his way down and glared at the door.

'Thanks, mother dearest,' he thought sarcastically. It hurt him that neither parent had said goodbye, even though they were only out for the day, but he ignored the pain by fixing a scowl on his face and making a sandwich in the kitchen. Just as he finished making his meal, Peter entered and took it from him, placing it in a cupboard out of the smaller child's reach.

"You've only eaten breakfast an hour ago," Peter scolded. Edmund glared.

"I'm a growing boy."

Peter ignored the ironic retort (Peter often used the same sentence to get Edmund to eat his vegetables. Needless to say, it never worked).

"We're going to the park for a while. Will you be coming with us?" he asked instead.

Edmund considered the offer for a moment. Spend a couple of hours in the house by himself, allowing him to do whatever he wanted, or waste it by going with his siblings and being miserable?

"I'm good," he replied after a while. The blonde brother shrugged then returned to the living room to round up his wayward sisters.

Edmund broke into a huge grin when he saw Lucy close the front gate. He had the house all to himself! Oh, the things he could do! Read Susan's diary, hide Lucy's favourite teddy bear, play with the magnificent tin soldier Peter had received for his 13th birthday…

Edmund thought of many a nasty trick to play on his siblings, along with more pleasant and normal tasks, but he soon realised that many of his tricks were not worth the punishment he would receive, and all his other games required more than one person.

Grumbling under his breath, he went to his room and flung himself onto his bed. After a few minutes of fighting with his bed-sheet for space supremacy (the sheet won), he let out a little growl and slipped onto the floor. He eyed his bedroom in distaste. He'd gotten his own room when his father decided Peter needed to focus on his studies without the distraction of his brother, but as a result Edmund now lived in what closely resembled a bog. Books were strewn over the hard-board floor, mixed with miniature soldiers, animals and various articles of clothing. An empty box of Turkish Delight peeked out from beneath his bed, which was surrounded by outrageously large dust balls and three kinds of mould. An unidentifiable object was hidden beneath his school satchel in one corner of his room, though Edmund often suspected that it was, in fact, the football he had lost in a quarry a few months ago and Peter may have jumped into wet cement to regain.

Edmund didn't really like living in filth or being told off by his mother. He was simply too busy picking on Lucy or going out with his friends (which resulted in picking on other small children).

"Right then," he muttered, rolling his sleeves up. "Where does Mother keep the soap?"

Carte Blanche

Peter, Susan and Lucy returned a few hours later, all rather muddy and laughing. It had been fun at the park, despite the sudden downpour of rain. None of them had paid attention to their parents when they had been talking about the weather – why would they?

"And the frog!" Lucy giggled, waving her hands wildly. She made a tripping gesture and laughed louder as she saw her brother turn red.

"It wasn't that funny…" Peter said, barely suppressing his own laughter.

"You're a dreadful liar, Peter," Susan added her own thoughts as she hung up her coat. "It really was a most spectacular dive into the puddle… I say, was the fireplace always that colour?"

The other two children turned to see what Susan was staring at and gasped. The living room was quite literally sparkling. The fireplace, formerly a black colour, similar to the soot that clogged up the chimney, was now a beautiful oak gleaming in the sunlight. The mantelpiece shined, polished to perfection, and even the broken glass in the photograph of their father was perfectly clean. The sofa had been moved back into place (as a tussle between Peter and Edmund for a beautiful toy car had moved it backwards the night before and no one had moved it to its original position). In short, the room looked brand new.

Lucy shrank into herself, clutching Susan's hand.

"You don't think Mum and Dad are home, do you? They'll be frightfully angry."

Susan's bewildered look vanished as she reassured her sister.

"Of course not, Lu. The car isn't out front. But, that means…"

Susan raised her head as her younger brother walked out of the kitchen, broom in hand and covered in dirt, staring at his siblings in shock.

"…Edmund cleaned the house?" Peter asked no one in particular. The three by the door watched Edmund, whose face was turning an interesting shade of purple.

Carte Blanche

Edmund had promptly snapped at his siblings for getting the front hall dirty again, and had also groused when they got the credit for cleaning the house (he didn't bother trying to tell his parents that he had done it – they'd never believe him anyway). He had then shut himself in his room and ignored the calls from his family for dinner.

Edmund continued to stare at the clock wistfully. His anger had subsided quickly, as it always did, leaving him feeling empty and afraid of himself. Each time his thoughts, his anger, lapsed, his mind wandered to the night he could have followed his sister into the wardrobe, but didn't.

'Why do I feel as though I've done something awful?'

Carte Blanche

Edmund had woken up with a desperate need to relieve his bladder, and had barely made it in time (not that he would admit that to anyone). Once he had finished up, he left the toilet and come across his sister, Lucy, walking the corridors with a candle. Curious, he decided to follow her. If nothing else, he would at least have another opportunity to rub her silliness in her face.

Edmund wrapped his flannel dressing gown tighter around his form, in an attempt to keep out the cold. While he was fond of the frosty side of nature, he found it to add to the eerie nature of the hallways and it scared him slightly.

After a short walk, Edmund found that Lucy had returned to the wardrobe room. Smiling to himself, he entered the room and made his way to the intimidating closet, formulating his plan of attack.

"Luuu-cy," he called softly, trying to scare her. He crept along the floor, hand slowly rising to meet the handle of the wardrobe, when a strange feeling ran down his spine. He paused, hand still hovering in mid-air, almost touching the golden doorknob. He knew, on some deeper level, that to open the door would change his life forever, and he wasn't prepared to take such a step.

He backed away quickly, almost running out of the room and nearly letting loose a scream as he bumped into something warm.

'Please, not a monster…'

Turning around quickly, he found himself face to face with Peter.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Edmund licked his dry lips, taking deep breaths to calm himself. How could he be silly enough to think it could have been a fiend?

"Just going to the bathroom."

"It's that way," Peter said, jerking his thumb backwards. The look of mild irritation had yet to leave his features. Edmund fought the urge to poke his tongue out.

"I must have gotten lost," he said, moving around Peter and making his way back to the bathroom. He heard Peter follow him a short way before taking the detour to their bedroom, and when Peter was out of earshot, Edmund let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. A patter of feet passed him and he heard Lucy yell something at Peter, the strange feeling returning in full force. His skin was covered in goose-bumps and his breathing became shallower.

Just what had he avoided when he ran away?

Carte Blanche

Edmund subconsciously pulled his covers up around him.

The first rays of the sun started to peak over the horizon, banishing the chills of the night. The frosty breeze retracted its hand from the room, releasing its grip on the child for the time being and leaving him to bask in the morning. In the distance, he could hear a blackbird sing a melodious song and allowed it to lull him to sleep.

After all, it was such a beautiful song.


Methinks this one dragged slightly, but it all needed to be said and it needed to be said now. So, it's established – Lucy has been to Narnia (twice), but none of the others have. Oh dear, what could it possibly mean? (evil grin)

Review?

Yours,

Straitjackit.