Chapter 15: A Devil's Proposition
I couldn't believe what I was about to face next. He was a devil, hiding behind the face of man. An evil monster who lusted for me and will stop at nothing to have me.
What does he see in me that makes him possessed to have me? To me, I should be nothing to him. But to him, he sees me as a prize to be won.
I refuse to accept it. I won't become the devil's bride! But when a devil gives you a proposition, you either have two choices…
Accept the proposition or watch the ones you see who are innocent suffer before you.
November 25, 2018
Time: Yet To Be Known
As the royal carriage continued on it's way to the castle, two individuals remained silent while sitting there. Ratigan had a smile on his face as he was satisfied in capturing Anna, and he didn't take his eyes off her while they continued on their trip to his castle.
Speaking of Anna, she was curled up and her head leaning on the side of the window from the carriage, mixed emotions were filled in her head. For her sadness, she couldn't believe what happened just now. No matter how many times she wanted to deny it, the fact was she failed again in another family. This was happening all over again when it happened to The Flaversham's, but this was different, instead of a parent being captured...the parent was murdered under a false charge before the child's eyes as the child was forcibly taken away to share a father's fate.
This wasn't right at all! Francine only wanted to have a better life for both herself and for her son, Phillip. She doubted that she would join the resistance. Francine only wanted to live in their territory as she would've asked them to save her husband, George. She didn't deserve to die! All she ever wanted was to escape this hell that Ratigan created. But now, how the hell is Phillip going to tell his father that his mother, George's beloved wife...was killed? This was too heartbreaking even after she became fast friends to them. At the same time, she was feeling both anger and hatred towards Ratigan. How dare he do this to them! He had no right to do this to an innocent family! Better yet, how many more families has he made to suffer? She didn't want to answer that question as she didn't want to know about that. Still, if only she could've done something sooner when she learned about that watch.
Speaking about the watch, after Anna had already curled up, she felt the watch in the pocket of her coat, right where Ratigan left it without even knowing. If only she could've used it to save Francine and Phillip, maybe things would've been different. But after rethinking this very carefully, she knew that Ratigan would've stopped her. She couldn't figure out how he was able to do it or what kind of power that he possessed that not even she was aware of. The bottom-line was that no matter what different scenario she would play in her head, each one would end in failure. It was like a chain, each of them resulting in Ratigan winning and her leading to another failure. She knew that Ratigan won this round and even knew that he was right about one thing, she cannot escape from him. However, she knew that whenever the opportunity arose, she was going to make a run for it.
Anna uncurls herself as she sees a gate, but could make out the guards due to the curtain outside. Taking a peek underneath the curtain, she notices a guard that they were passing by, wearing some kind of armor.
As the royal carriage pulled up near the entrance of the castle, Royal Guards came as they stood apart from one another and Fredrick came down off the front of the carriage, then unlocked the door as Ratigan came out first while offering his hand to Anna. She didn't take it as Anna came down by herself without his help while keeping her gaze downwards, but Ratigan paid it no heed as he knew that sooner or later she'll learn her place.
While he led her to the steps of the castle, with Fredrick right beside him, and the guards behind Anna to prevent her from attempting to escape. But it wasn't like she was attempting to. In fact, even if she did try to run, Ratigan would just catch her again without the help of the Royal Guards. As Anna was being led, she kept her eyes at absolute attention to know everything until she had a plan of escape. While they were looking, she saw a majestic castle with a single tower. That tower was undoubtedly the clocktower. When they were inside, it felt even more majestic with white marble everywhere, red curtains draped here and there at the main hall with a red carpet they were walking on, and chandeliers that hung above the ceiling.
Ratigan takes his grey hooded cloak off and hands it to Fredrick who took it obediently, revealing a black uniform with silver trimming, then sends him off to wherever he should go until he was needed again. The trek took about several minutes, with Anna carefully memorizing each turn, then finally ended as Ratigan brought them to a room as he opened the door. The room held a single window with its curtains already drawn, a bed that was big enough for two, a drawer with a mirror, and a table with two chairs that had a chess board and pieces already placed, much to Anna's confusion as to why that was there.
Ratigan waved off the guards to leave them as they had left the room, leaving both their king and the girl alone. He went to a chair and sat down, then said to Anna, "Care to join me in a little game of chess, my dear?"
Anna's eyes narrowed at this. What the hell was he trying to pull? First he lets Francine die and Phillip be sent to the workhouses with his father, takes her away to this castle, and now he wants to play chess with her. "Screw you, asshole!" She seethed as she turned her back on him while keeping her fists clenched tight at the sides. She wanted to stand there and wait until he left the room, then climb into that bed and curl up until her thoughts were cleared and then try to figure out a way to get out of here.
"Now, now." Ratigan sighed as he slightly disliked her attitude. "There's no need for you to get upset and be rude. After all…" Anna's ears perked up when she heard something move. "I am being generous to you."
Before she knew it, she was swept off her feet by the chair and was carried towards the table, grabbing the arms of it as she was screaming until she came to a stop in front of Ratigan, where he laughed slightly from her surprised face. Anna was breathing while trying to calm down her heart after nearly leaping from her throat, she couldn't figure out how the hell this chair moved just now. She looks down to find out how or why this chair moved somehow, but much to her shock...there was nothing. No wheels or controls, it felt like it just had a mind of its own.
"I know that you're confused and have a lot of questions." Anna looked at him and was about to say something to him, but he stopped her by raising a hand and saying, "Ah, ah, don't speak! If you want to know, all you have to do is just play a simple game with me and we can discuss as we play. If you do not want to play, then you can sit there and be silent until I grow tired and leave this room, which of course I hold all the answers that you seek and it will be a while before you can get your chance to ask me all you want to know. Oh, one other thing though, don't try to make a run for it, even after I leave if we didn't play our little game. My guards are already posted at the door, and even if you did try to get past them." He leans forward slightly. "I have already told you cannot escape from me." He leans back on his chair and crosses his arms. "So what will it be, my dear?"
Anna knew that Ratigan made a valid point, he held all the answers that she needed to know, and if he wanted her to play just a simple game of chess so she could get her answers, then so be it. With that, she scooted her chair up and asked, "Who's going first?"
"Excellent!" Ratigan beamed. "I knew you would see things my way. I'll let you have the first move since I am being a gentlemouse, of course."
Yeah, more like a gentle but evil rat is more like it. Anna thought sarcastically. She then moved her pawn piece and said, "Alright, here's my first question. What the hell have you done to this world?"
"Isn't it obvious, my dear." Ratigan answered as he too moved his pawn piece. "I have managed to merge worlds and have rewritten history in my own image."
Their game of chess kept on going with neither side losing a piece. "I'm well aware of that." Anna manages to take Ratigan's black pawn as she is using the white pieces. "What I really mean is what you've done to my kind."
"Ah, yes, of course," Ratigan manages to take Anna's white pawn. "The obvious reason within the question as to what I've done to the world." He giggles slightly with amusement as she gets him there. With a smug grin, he answered, "I did say humans were such dainty creatures and are no better than animals. So, I made them what they are based on their persona, of course." Anna's eyes glared at him and her left hand tightened into a fist as it was hidden from his eyes while Ratigan continued, "However, despite their...dainty, primitive, slow-minded nature, they possess the power of knowledge which is extremely useful to both myself and others." He sighed while nodding. "Still, it's a shame that such power is wasted on foolish actions which would drive one to the brink of destruction. They never realize that there is an old saying 'knowledge is power' and whoever holds the power are the ones in control." He chuckled as he used his rook piece to take Anna's pawn. "However, anyone who holds the knowledge of power, will stand at the pinnacle, and I alone will stand at that pinnacle. I alone will even hold onto that leash to every single human who has become an animal, and crack the whip to those who are not."
Anna was confused by that last part he said, though her face didn't show it. Nevertheless, she couldn't take anymore of this bullshit from him as she angrily knocked away all the chess pieces with her arm, just before Ratigan was going to take her rook piece with his bishop as she didn't give a damn anymore about this game, she stood up from her chair and shouts while simplifying her mouse body, "THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU COULD DO THIS TO ME OR ANYONE OF MY KIND YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
"Now, now." Ratigan calmly said to her. "There's no need for you to get upset and start shouting. After all…" He picks up the rook and places it along with the other pieces that he got from Anna while playing the game, which somehow...mysteriously came back on the table. "...we are still playing while having our chat, of course."
Anna looks at the chess board, only to be completely shocked at what she saw before her...The pieces were all back to where they were, as if they were never knocked away before. She closed her eyes and nodded her head while rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things, but it remained unchanged. "B-But how did-"
"Ah, ah, ah!" Ratigan interrupted while bringing a single finger to silence her. "Sit down and continue the game as we agreed."
Anna sat down and quickly moved her piece, just to be sure it was real and she wasn't imagining it. While Ratigan moved his own piece, he watched Anna as she was confused and muttered while moving her arm to simplify, "Stood up, knocked all the pieces, and they were on the floor. So how…" She looked under the table to be sure that all the pieces were still on the floor, much to confuse her even more, the pieces weren't there. Ratigan clears his throat while waving his hand under the table, making her sit up as she looks at him while he smiles at her slightly and says, "I can tell you're wondering why the pieces are back on the board and not on the floor. Am I right?"
Anna quickly nods her head yes.
"Well, allow me to demonstrate."
She watched as Ratigan brought his hands over the board, then moved them. Her eyes widened as she was shocked once again while a slight gasp escaped her muzzle and became agaped at what she saw…
All the chess pieces that were recently moved and others that were taken from both sides while playing the game, were each moved here and there while neither of them touched the pieces as all of them were put back at the beginning positions, almost like someone threw the rewind switch and wanted both players to start all over. Then as he moved his hands on top of the other, all the pieces were moving back once again to their original positions, like someone hitting the fast forward button as the game should resume to where they left off.
Anna couldn't believe what she saw, but it happened right there before her. She picks up a pawn piece and waves underneath it, then looks at the bottom to make sure there was some kind of magnet so Ratigan would try and fool her...but there wasn't. "But...how…" Ratigan chuckles slightly with amusement while Anna places the pawn piece back to where it was. She still couldn't believe it, but knowing Ratigan...could it be. "Was that...was that telekinesis?"
"I can assure you it's not telekinesis. That, my dear, was the power of time and space."
"But how?" Anna said with confusion while moving a piece as she and Ratigan continued the game. "I mean, you didn't even use the watch unless...unless you still have it?"
"Why of course," Ratigan smiled while being a little impressed that Anna managed to take his queen piece with her knight. He reaches within his uniform and pulls out the watch while dangling it by it's chain. However, much to Anna's surprise, the watch wasn't platinum like before. Unlike the watch that was given to her by Ratigan and had that gear symbol, his appeared the same as before when she first used it at Basil's world.
"I don't get it. Why is it not platinum like before?"
"Oh this? That was nothing more than a one-time deal." He places the silver watch back in his uniform. "But you will see it again soon enough." He noticed that confused look as she didn't understand what he meant by that. Deciding to change the topic, he says to her, "However, I can tell that you're wondering why I was able to perform time and space without the power of the watch." He taps the side of his head. "I did say my mind will become one."
Anna pondered at this for a second...then her eyes widened as it hit her while something connected. She knew it would be impossible, but to Ratigan, he made the impossible possible. "Oh my God! You don't mean you-"
"Yes, indeed my dear, you catch on quickly." He leans back on his chair while smiling and folding his hands in front of him. "What you see before you, is a merged version of myself of the two Ratigan's you recently met before my transgression of the new world I made."
Once again, Anna couldn't believe it, but the answer was right there before her. It was bad enough that he managed to merge her world with his. To even think...no, even imagine that he would pull something such as this, it was impossible. As I already said, Ratigan made the impossible possible happen.
"Besides my intelligence, increasing a bit," Ratigan continued. "My powers over time and space have literally doubled. So I guess you can say, I can use only a fraction of my power without fully using it with the power of the watch." He brings out his fingers, ready to snap them. "And with a simple snap of my fingers..." He snapped his fingers as he vanished, making Anna gasp as she had a surprised look once again. "I can control all of time and space."
Anna watched as Ratigan's piece moved without him touching it, then she looked all around the room to find, but he wasn't there, it was like he just disappeared. "Go ahead, my dear," Anna gasped again as she heard his voice but didn't seem to see him. "Make your move." She moved her piece...then felt a hand on her shoulder as she yelped and looked at Ratigan's smiling face as he chuckled at her. "Impressive, isn't it?" He moves away from her chair. "With only a simple fraction of this power." He vanished, but reappeared instantly as his back was leaning against the dresser and his arms were crossed. "I can appear anywhere I want." He then became a blur as he was dashing here and there in the room. "Move at such speeds while controlling everything around me." He simplified that as the two chairs and table lifted up, making Anna gasp for the third time as she grabbed a hold of the arms of the chair. Knowing that he won't stop until she makes her move, after Ratigan already made his move, she moves another piece, taking away Ratigan's knight with her queen.
As the chairs and table were gently put down, Ratigan reappeared as he was sitting down on his chair. "And with power such as this…" His rook piece took Anna's bishop, then he formed it into a fist with that same bishop as it cracked. "I can crush a man's bones to dust." He opened his palm as he showed Anna the broken-up piece of the bishop. Then as he was wiggling his fingers, the broken-up bishop began to reform as it stood up on his hand. "I can even reverse time to my liking." The bishop floated as it landed on top of Ratigan's first finger while slowly starting to turn. "So in short…" He makes the bishop frontflip, before catching it with only three fingers. "I am a master of time and space, with the power literally in the palm of my hands."
When Anna learned that Ratigan can turn back time...the anger within her swelled. Taking her eyes away from him for the moment, she moved her piece, then said in a calm but wavering tone, "If you can turn back time...then bring her back."
"Hm?" Ratigan cocked an eyebrow while being confused at what she said. "Excuse me?"
"You heard what I said," she looked at Ratigan while her face slowly became scornful. "Bring. Francine. Back."
"Ah, yes, the kidnapper and rebel you mean." Ratigan smiled as he moved his piece. "I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, I can only travel back in time either a few seconds or a few hours. Any attempts to alter someone's fate, except for my own, will result in my world being damaged. Which of course if anyone who dies cannot be brought back to life."
Out of sheer anger while sadness filled her heart after knowing that Ratigan will never bring Francine back, she once again knocked away all the chess pieces, this time with both arms as the chess board fell to the floor while Ratigan sighed and having an unamused look from Anna's behavior, and stood up from her chair again shouting, "SHE NEVER KIDNAPPED ME, I WAS PLANNING ON LEAVING WITH HER! FRANCINE WASN'T PLANNING ON BEING A REBEL, SHE JUST WANTED TO LIVE IN THEIR TERRITORY 'CAUSE SHE WANTED TO ESCAPE FROM THIS HELL YOU CREATED FOR THEM!" No longer holding the dam of tears, she sobs as she collapses on the chair, just as the chessboard and pieces she knocked were back on the table, and buries her face with both of her hands. "How could you do this to them? First you take George away from them, punishing them both for something they never did, then you murder Francine and condemn an innocent little child to the workhouses. Why did you do it?"
"Because I am the king, I can do whatever I want whenever I want."
Taking her hands away and looking at Ratigan with a tear-stained furry face while glaring at him and saying, "Well if you were half the man Basil was then maybe you-"
"I WILL NOT..." Ratigan snapped as he became angry from hearing that name and stood up from his chair while backslapping Anna, which didn't seem to affect her as he looked at him without taking her glaring look away. "HEAR YOU SAY THAT NAME! NEVER SPEAK THAT NAME AGAIN!" He sighs as he calms down his nerves and sits back down. "The only thing I want in my world is complete obedience, if it means creating a sea of blood in the process, then so be it. After all, a king must make sacrifices, of course."
"Then why are you doing this to me? Is it out of revenge for what I did to you?"
Ratigan tilted his head slightly with confusion.
"Just admit it, your just doing this just to torture me. So why are you wasting your time when you can just kill me right here and now, besides wanting to marry me. You know damn well that you don't know jack-shit about me."
Ratigan chuckles slightly...then bursted in a fit of laughter. "Those are very interesting things you said, my dear. However, as for what you said about not knowing you, it's quite the contrary…" He leans forward while smiling. "I know everything about you the moment I laid eyes on you from your world."
Anna's eyes widened from both shock and confusion. "What do you mean by that?"
"Continue the game by making your move and I will reveal it to you."
She slams her fists on the table, causing the chess pieces to shake as she stands up from her chair for the third time. "No! No more games! I want to know the truth, right now!"
Growing impatient with her attitude, Ratigan's eyes narrowed as he said with a low-tone voice, "Sit down!"
Anna yelped as she was jerked back to the chair, making it rock slightly until it stopped, then her arm was thrusted forward against her own free will above the chess pieces as she clutched her own arm, but it felt like Ratigan held a tight grip to her even if he was sitting down in front of her without even touching that arm.
"Play the game and you will learn the truth as we agreed."
Knowing that she will not be able to release her arm from him, she did what he said as she moved her rook piece, seeing that she had somewhat control of her arm while Ratigan's power kept it's grip on her, preventing her from misbehaving in front of him.
"Now then, to answer your questions," Ratigan resumes playing while keeping his power focused on Anna's arm. "The things you said about me, about torturing or just killing you, that's in between half-true and not true. I have no intention of laying a hand on you, unless you give me a reason to, and I don't intend to damage my prize. Although, that wouldn't go for my third version...that's if things were different, of course."
Anna was confused by that last part. "What do you mean by that?"
"Think," Ratigan tapped the side of his head with his finger. "I did tell you about alternative worlds, have I not?"
Anna thought about what Ratigan said for a minute...then it hit her as something made sense. "Are you saying that the one that I went against...was just a different version of yourself?"
"Precisely, my dear! Although, I'm sure that you've seen him go through an excruciating ordeal. But now that his transformation is complete, he's become a bit like me in many ways so he could follow the grand plan. A plan in which only I would know and that it would live on through infamy...No, through eternity!" He laughs a bit at this, then calms himself by clearing his throat. "Despite all that, this also gives me an advantage to know you a bit more. Speaking about that…" He smiles at her as he explains, "I know that you're a talented artist and a wonderful singer, even around karaoke night when you and your friends go to that favorite restaurant you hang out in. But it's such a shame that you stopped going there...because you suffered a horrible tragedy you experienced four years ago back in your own world."
Anna had a very shocked expression on her face. "What the hell do you mean by that?"
His smile hadn't left. "Let's just say, I know about your friends and each of their names, starting with that man with the old coat." He brings his fist under his chin as he was in thought. "What was his name again? ...Oh, yes, Mathew, but you and your friends called him Mat, a private investigator who works in a business in helping the law."
When Ratigan said that name...her eyes widened as she remembered playing checkers with him at a library as he wasn't working today with her other friends watching.
"There was also a dark-haired lad along with that girl. I believe their names were...Jack and Ashley, I presume?"
Her memories flashed as she saw Ashley while they were at the mall as Anna had already left work. She saw her friend try on some new clothes that she recently bought and looked absolutely great on those clothes. Then her memories flashed again as she was back in her favorite restaurant, the favorite meeting place where she and her friends went as she and Jack were singing on the stage while having a good time.
"There was also another girl that you recently befriended a while back...Madison, if I presume correctly?"
Her memories flashed as she saw Madison curled-up in a ball while sitting down on a bench, then placed a hand on her shoulder. Her memories flashed again as she saw Jack and Madison dancing while they were back at their favorite restaurant, watching them have a good time while Madison was happy.
As Ratigan and Anna continued their game, she didn't hear anything from Ratigan as he was talking to her, but could only see him mouthing out the words. Her memories flashed as she sees Jack being riddled with bullets and collapses on the floor dead, then sees her friend Ashley get shot in the heart and head, also dead. Another flash came as she saw a young man closer to her age as he was pointing a pistol at her, he was mouthing out the words that she couldn't hear, but knew what he was telling her. While he kept his pistol at her, ready to pull the trigger...she couldn't help but close her eyes and shout, "STOP!"
She felt her arm drop as she was freed from Ratigan's control. She took a few but slow shaky breaths as she was trying to calm down her heart. Looking up slowly at Ratigan, she was trying to fight back the tears that were once again about to fall as her eyes looked angry as she said through clenched teeth, "Don't you dare...Don't you dare ever say their names ever again."
Looking hurt, Ratigan frowns at her and says, "Ah, did I somehow hit a hurtful nerve?" His frown changed to a small smirk as he giggled slightly, then his eyes looked at the chessboard. "Well, it seems we'll call our game a draw."
Anna looked at the chessboard, much to her surprise since she wasn't paying any attention, there were the two king pieces at the center, neither moving to reach the checkmate.
"And right on time too," Ratigan looked at the window as it was nighttime outside. He stood up while walking away and said to her, "It was fun, we should do this again sometime." He opened the door, but before he left, he added, "Oh, yes, before I forget, tomorrow night there's going to be a celebration to commemorate the new queen who will stand by my side. I would suggest conceding to the marriage before then as I would hate to see all that planning go to waste." He turns to face her. "Another thing, don't try at any attempts to escape, 'cause I hold the cards to something that'll make you understand that I always get what I want in the end. Till then, sweet dreams, my dear."
With that he closed the door, leaving Anna alone as she buried her head with her arms on the table and started sobbing, no longer could she hold the dam of tears once again as she experienced memories that she wanted to forget as they were too painful to even be remembered. However, little did she know while Ratigan didn't notice, a silhouette of a bat managed to find where Anna was as it fluttered and flew off while making sure nobody noticed as it was heading off somewhere.
About an hour had passed since Anna remained a prisoner inside the room where Ratigan left her at. So far, after already drying her tears, she was in her thoughts, trying to come up with some way to escape from this place. However, something was bugging her. She was wondering how the hell would Ratigan know about her friends and about what happened four years ago back in the previous world before this? The answer was pretty obvious, Ratigan had that watch that allowed him to have all the time in the world to know her, and on top of that, he was able to disguise himself as a human. So why hadn't she even noticed him while he was spying on her?
Putting that aside for the time being, she went back to her thoughts of an escape plan while she was pacing and swinging her watch by its chain. Thinking about the watch, she stops pacing while pulling the watch back to her hand by its chain and looks at it. Thinking back when Ratigan demonstrated its power to her...an idea formed. She looked around the room, but noticed something at the window as she went towards it. Bending down, she noticed a small crack that had already formed, probably because one of those chess pieces hit the window when she knocked away the pieces. Looking at the chair, she went to it and picked it up, feeling the slight weight but could tell it wouldn't have enough force. However...a smile came from her muzzle when she saw the table.
Outside the room, the two guards continued to remain at their posts until their king said otherwise, which will probably be in the morning when he comes back for his woman.
...CRASH! The guards immediately ran inside the room after hearing the sound of glass breaking. They noticed a hole in the window as they looked down and noticed a table falling. Unfortunately for them, they didn't notice a flash of light from underneath the bed as a blur dashed out of the room.
Anna's plan had worked, now all she had to do was get to the entrance of the castle, break down the gate, then she was home-free as she needed to get the hell out of Kingsland. As she remembered each direction Ratigan led her, she was running down the stairs, but lost her balance as she tripped. Instead of rolling and hitting the steps in the process...she just flew past them as she landed and rolled on the floor. Having a confused look, she could've swore that must've imagined that, but she didn't have time to think for the moment.
Continuing to run until she made it to the entrance hall, there were more steps to take. However, looking back to what just happened recently, she wanted to try something, but hoped she wouldn't regret it. So backing up and getting into a good running position, she ran and jumped, only to gasp at what was happening now before her…
She was flying past the steps! Anna could feel air beneath her boots as she flew, it felt like there was no gravity like you were an astronaut in open space. As the floor was coming below her, she barely managed to keep her balance just as she landed but was lucky enough not to fall and land on her face. Turning around to the steps that she jumped from, her eyes widened with awe as she muttered, "Wow." At least now she could add that to the list of powers when using the power of time and space.
Going back into a run, she made it to the entrance as she excitedly said, "Yes!" She opens the door, only for the handle to suddenly jerk from her hand and the door slamming as she yelped and jumped back. Her ears picked up the sound of a couple of tsk, making her eyes turn to the side as she looked and saw Ratigan, his silver watch opened as he was looking at the time and had already stopped wiggling his finger at her. "Nice try, my dear," Ratigan said to her. "Don't think that I wouldn't have anticipated you attempting to escape." He closed the lid of the watch. "Still, it was a good record at only just a minute in attempting to escape."
Anna wasn't going to go down without a fight as she pressed the left button, hoping to slow down time and hit him hard, instead there was a flash of light as she was now in a different room. "What the…" She knows that she hit the left button. What confused her even more was that it was now morning. She looks at the watch, but instead looks at her hand as she gasped, seeing that the watch she had was gone. Patting down her pockets to see if the watch was left in there, she heard slight chuckling behind her as she turned around and saw Ratigan, who had the platinum watch with the gear symbol swinging by its chain as he smiled at her and said, "Haven't I already told you? I'm a master of time and space."
She grunts as she charges at him, only for Ratigan to react quicker as he closes the door and locks it, just as her body collides with it. She bangs the door twice with her fists while Ratigan left as he laughed. "Damn it!" Anna bangs the door again. She was so close! Freedom was almost there in her grasp! Now what was she gonna do? Without that watch, she was completely useless and was now at Ratigan's mercy.
Dong, Anna gasped and saw a grandfather clock that was chiming at ten o'clock. She sighed as she went towards a window and looked outside, trying to figure out how it became morning so fast. That answer was really obvious, Ratigan managed to speed-up time as it was now November 26. But the question was why exactly?
As Anna sat there in that spot for at least thirty minutes, her ears heard the sound of a door being unlocked as she turned her attention towards it. When it opened, two Royal Guards came as one of them said, "His Majesty wishes to see you, follow us."
Anna obediently does so, but once again little anyone even noticed or realized, a bat was hiding in the shadows as it was sent back to keep an eye out for Anna whenever she was moved.
Ratigan was at the balcony near the great hall where a wonderful fountain was at the center with a Royal Guard next to him that had a whistle hanging around his neck. He hears the sound of footsteps as he turns around, seeing Anna and two other guards as she asks him, "What do you want?"
He waves his hand and answers, "See for yourself, my dear."
Anna goes to the edge of the balcony and looks down, only for her to see a gathering of children. Some of them were little while others looked to be teenagers around thirteen or fourteen. Gathering around these children were Royal Guards, but these people wore armor, the same ones she saw from their feet, which meant that these guards must be the elite kind of sort as they wore masked helmets. However, her eyes widened when she saw a familiar face within the crowd of children…
She wore light-brown rags while a blue patch was sewn on the skirt. Despite not having her red ribbon tied to the right-side of her ear, Anna knew who that face was…
It was Olivia, she was here! But why? Anna thought that she might've been with the resistance, safely hidden with her father Hiram, but that was completely dashed when she saw her with the crowd of children. However, something very strange happened...she felt a shock in her head as she grunted slightly while rubbing the side of her head. What became even more strange, it felt like she was being drawn to something, and it was very faint.
As her eyes darted here and there, she saw somebody standing out from the rest as this one looked to be an adult, who made its way from the crowd of kids as it was looking above. She squinted her eyes and noticed this one to be a woman as she too was dressed in rags, but she couldn't make out her face, due to the shawl she had around it. Then all the sudden...her vision flashed as she was now below and was looking at the balcony. She blinked her eyes and wondered what happened just now. Putting that aside, she looked at Ratigan and said, "What the hell is all this about?"
Ratigan only gave her a smile, then he looked at the Royal Guard next to him and nodded.
The Royal Guard took his whistle and blew it. Anna looked back below as she watched as one of those armored Royal Guards took a teenage Golden Retriever, who struggled against him while she couldn't make out what all the kids were saying, not even that woman who tried to stop him was held back by two armored Royal Guards. "What're they doing to him?" She asked, but once again received no answer from Ratigan while she continued to watch.
The armored Royal Guards tore the back of the teenagers shirt, then one of them came forward with a piece of rope. However, the moment it unfurled...Anna gasped as it wasn't rope...but a whip as the armored Royal Guard brought it back. CRACK! The teenager screamed in pain as the whip made contact with his back, and the armored Royal Guard did it again. "No! Stop it!" Anna yelled as she took off in a run, hoping to get outside to put a stop to this, but was stopped by Ratigan as he grabbed her.
While she struggled as he kept his arm wrapped around her waist and his hand at her chin, he brought her to the edge of the balcony as he ensured to keep her eyes planted at this scene while saying to her, "Look! Look at it! This is what happens if you ignore my warning!"
Anna was forced to watch as the armored Royal Guard continued to whip that poor boy whose legs had already given out from the pain, but was still held up by his arms. The children were held back by the other armored Royal Guards including that woman, they were shouting and struggling to make them stop torturing that innocent creature. She shut her eyes tight as she didn't want to see it anymore and said, "Please stop! Make it stop!"
Ratigan looks at the Royal Guard next to him and nods. The Royal Guard took his whistle and blew it again, signaling the armored Royal Guard who had the whip to stop and the other two who still had the boy to drop him to the ground as his back bled from the whippings he received. Anna saw the armored Royal Guards disperse as the woman was freed as she quickly ran to the downed boy while the other children began to gather around, but couldn't get her chance to see whose face that was as she was taking off her shawl as she was dragged back inside by Ratigan, then was shoved forward as she nearly lost her balance.
Looking at Ratigan with a very angry face, she shouts, "YOU BASTARD!" She charges at Ratigan, but her arms become spread out as she is held back by Ratigan's power. She wanted to desperately be free from this so she could beat the living crap out of him after what he did. How dare he do that to that boy! He was just an innocent creature who had no right to be whipped like that!
"Now, now, my dear," Ratigan calmly said. "At least now you understand what will happen if you try to escape from me again. However, there still leaves the part about your conceding to the marriage." He brought his hand to her chin as he made her look up at him. "So what will it be, my dear?"
Anna spits at his face. "There's your answer! You can go straight to hell!"
Ratigan sighs as he takes his handkerchief from out of his uniform and starts dabbing the spit off of his face. "You know, my dear, I can be rather persuasive, of course. After all, besides having all the children…" He smiles at her. "I have one special child you know all-too well."
Anna's eyes widened. "You...you don't mean…"
"Yes," he goes around her until he is behind her. "The one child you've grown so fond of…" He then went to her ear and whispered, "Little Olivia Flaversham." Anna gasped as he went back in front of her while keeping his back to her, then he placed his hands behind and smiled. "In fact, I would rather spend many a sleepless night if something unfortunate would befall her along with the rest of the children."
"You...you wouldn't!"
Seeing that he had already pried her weakness, he chuckled slightly and said, "Oh, would I?" He waved his hand as Anna was freed from his power as she dropped to the floor on her hands and knees.
"No…" Anna nods while denying what he said, then he looks at him. "No, I don't believe you, you're lying!"
Ratigan laughs as he turns to face her. "Really now. Do you honestly think that I am? Then you must be kidding yourself!" He starts to laugh again, then the three Royal Guards start to join-in the laughter. "What're you laughing at?" He said to the three Royal Guards with a hard tone. The three Royal Guards ceased their laughter while getting out of his way as he began to sing, "Don't make me laugh!" He laughs as his three Royal Guards join-in. "Don't make me laugh!" As they were laughing again, Anna tried to crawl away, but was caught by the three Royal Guards as they stood her up and brought her over to Ratigan. "My funny friend," He bows to Anna. "Don't make me bend in half!" He then got in front of her until he was in her space. "Don't be a card, my dear," he brought the back of his hand as it touched Anna's, letting it rub against it slightly, then kissed the back of his own hand and brushed his hair with the front of it. "Don't mess with me!" He goes to Anna, making her back up. "Don't make me laugh so hard that I begin to ache!"
Anna squeaked as she landed on a chair, due to Ratigan using his powers to bring it to the Royal Guards as they placed it behind her. She had a surprised look while the lights changed to light-blue as they pushed her chair, making her yelp slightly while Ratigan used his powers to make it go forward like a hockey puck on an ice ring. "Don't make me laugh!" The Royal Guards laughed while one of them ran forward to stop the chair that Anna was on. "Don't pull my leg!" The Royal Guards laughed again while that one guard who had Anna's chair pushed her forward to Ratigan, who stopped it as she was facing him. "May I suggest you would do best to beg!" He took her arms as he made her stand up. "If you say 'No', Miss, if you refuse." He used his powers as he made her twirl around towards the Royal Guards, then raised her arm up as they bend back while having happy looks as she twirls back to Ratigan. "This is your notice that I refuse to lose."
Ratigan takes her by the arm while placing his hand by her waist as he uses his powers to make Anna place her hand by his waist as he starts to dance with her. Now, Anna wasn't really much of a dancer. In fact, she was pretty lousy at this, but with Ratigan using his powers on her, he used her like a puppet on strings to make her look like she was a professional at this while the lights changed to a multitude of colors of orange, pink, purple, and green.
Say "Yes", my love, and go with a winner
Believe me that would be wiser
He twirls her as he makes one of her legs stick up, then dips her as that same leg rose up. "Say 'No', poor dove," Anna yelps slightly as Ratigan tosses her into the air, making her spin like a top as he catches her and had both of her arms, then he leads her to a window while the lights changed to a sinister red as he twirls her and makes her look at the children, who were being led by the armored Royal Guards while that woman was carrying the boy by her back, "and you can watch these children suffer!" He placed her arm by her back, then twirls her again while catching her arm and twirling her for the third time as he resumed dancing with her. "And Olivia's going to be the start! A-ha-ha-ha!"
Three Royal Guards: Hoo-hoo-hee-hee-hee! A-ha-ha-ha!
He lets Anna go as she tiredly stumbles after his power releases her for the moment, and manages to grab ahold of the shoulders of one of the Royal Guards while the lights had already changed from blue, to green, then yellow. She gasped as she backed away from them and turned around, only to see Ratigan right in front of her. "Get the picture?" Anna starts to back away from him. "Don't make me laugh!" He laughs a little. "Or slap my knee." He simplified that by slapping his knee while Anna tried to make a run for it, only for the Royal Guards to stop her as they shoved her, making her stumble and fall as Ratigan caught her. "I'm no hyena. So Anna, what'll it be?" He used his powers again as he made her twirl again, then did a one-two step jump. "Will you accept me and my proposal, or will you let the suffering begin?" He twirls her one last time as he dips her, making her arms cross at her chest. "You choose their fate, don't make me wait." The lights changed to red, then back to the original light-blue. "And my dear…" He picks her up and backflips her, making her squeak as they resume dancing. "Don't make me laugh!"
He laughed as there was a flash of light, Anna was thrown to the floor as she groaned while the lights returned to normal and was back in the same room she left in. "Remember, my dear," Ratigan said as he was at the door. "Their fate is in your hands!" With that he slams the door.
As Anna was alone, she sat up while wrapping her arms around herself and was lost in her thoughts. What was she going to do? If she tried another escape attempt, Ratigan will make those children suffer. If she refuses his offer to concede to the marriage by tonight, Ratigan will make those children suffer. The thought of seeing poor Olivia being whipped and screaming in pain would be too much for her to bear. She just couldn't bear to see it again after what happened to the boy.
Was there no hope for her to ever escape? She didn't want give-in to Ratigan's demand. She didn't want to be married to this...this monster!
...Must you forget?
Anna stood up as she looked around the room after hearing that distorted voice. If you do not give-in to his demand, you will-
Anna, don't listen! The feminine voice cut-off the distorted voice. You mustn't give-up! You can't let Ratigan-
Must you be reminded, The distorted voice cut-off the feminine voice, of what happened just now? Do you want to watch those children suffer?
Anna, Ratigan will only make them suffer more, even if you give-in to his demand. You know that there's got to be another way to-
Anna didn't want to hear those voices anymore as she covered her ears and muttered through clenched teeth while closing her eyes, "Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!" She starts breathing as she tries to calm herself.
...You cannot ignore me, I'm much closer than you think.
Anna's eyes opened when that distorted voice said that, even if she tried covering her ears she could still hear it. What did it mean by that? She looked around the room...only to gasp as she was looking at the mirror. "Oh my God!"
What she was staring at from the mirror...was a big black blot with red eyes as it was behind her, staring at her. She turns around, only to not find it as she looks back at the mirror. You know I speak the truth. If you do not listen you'll-
Anna, no matter what happens, do not listen to him!
Anna watched as she saw another blot, this time it was white while it appeared to be at the same size as her and had green eyes. However, this thing that had the feminine voice said it was a "him". Was it talking about the distorted voice?
She took a few shaky breaths as she went back a little. Anna, are you listening to me? Anna!
Out of pure shock, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fainted.
Anna was once again back in the darkness, now in her human form. But then...she began to hear something panting as it cried out in an all-too familiar voice, "Help!"
"Francine!"
She ran to where the direction was, going as fast as she could until she saw Francine, carrying Phillip while he had his arms wrapped around her neck. Then, there were gunshots as Francine collapsed and Phillip fell to the ground. Anna stopped as she gasped and watched Francine weakly look up at her and said, "Why did you do this to me?" She watches in complete horror as Francine shrivels up into a skeleton and fades away into the ashes.
"How could you!" Phillip said to her as he stood up. "Why did you let this happen?"
She watched as whips came and wrapped around Phillip as he was yanked into the darkness. "No!" she called out. She heard Ratigan's laughter as she turned and saw his silhouette, then looked as she saw the children gathered around with the armored Royal Guards, each of them carrying assault rifles. She looked back at Ratigan with a very angry look and said, "You bastard!"
Ratigan continues to laugh as he steps forward. However, his silhouette started to change as she gasped at what she saw…
She was seeing herself, in her mouse form as she was laughing.
"W...What…"
The mouse form of Anna ceases her laughing as she smiles at her and says, "You're no different than Ratigan."
She walks past her towards a door. "What're you doing?" She asked her mouse self.
The answer she gave to her was that same smile and this…"Enjoy the show." With that after already opening the door, she closes it with a slam.
The human Anna looked back at the armored Royal Guards, who cocked their assault rifles. She took off in a run as she hoped and tried to stop this from happening, but the more she tried to get to them, the further they got away from her reach.
"No…"
The armored Royal Guards point their assault rifles at the children.
"Nooo!" Anna reaches with her hand…
Before they had the chance to pull the trigger, the feminine voice yelled, "Anna, wake up!"
There was a flash of light and Anna sat up as she gasped as she was brought back to reality. She took a few deep breaths, then curled herself into a ball as she softly began to sob. Seeing that nightmare brought back some horrible thoughts from both yesterday and today. To make matters even worse, she was starting to see the worst case scenario of what Ratigan would do to those children. The thought of that was becoming really heart wrenching for her and she was starting to doubt ever having any hope of being free from this place.
...Then came three knocks on the door.
She turns her back on the door and says, "Go away Ratigan." She didn't want to deal with him. In fact, it wasn't even late yet, and she had yet to decide whether or not to take Ratigan's proposal.
...Then came a voice…"This isn't Ratigan. May I come in?"
Anna's ears perked up when she recognized that voice and quickly stood up as she faced the door. "Y...Yes please."
The door began to open...Anna felt like the happiest person ever as she recognized who this was, despite him wearing the Royal Guard uniform as it was none other than…"Dawson!" She lunges forward and gives him a big hug, who in turn hugs her back as he knew that she needed it. As they separated, she asked him, "What're you doing here and how are you able to recognize me?"
"There's no time to explain that." Dawson looks both ways before closing the door. "Listen to me, I need to tell you that you're going to leave this place tonight."
Anna felt like her heart would soar as she felt glad about wanting to leave this hellhole. "Then why are we even waiting for tonight, let's just go now."
She took his hand and was leading him to the door, but Dawson yanked his hand out from her while saying, "Nonono, too risky! If we leave now, Ratigan will surely know and my cover will be blown."
"So what do you think we should do, nothing?"
"I didn't say that." Dawson led her to a bed as she sat down. "Listen, I'm sure you already know that Ratigan is hosting a party tonight, and our plan is to move in once we have you so we could do the rest."
"Wait…'we'?"
"Yes, the resistance is already here in the city, and Basil has already volunteered to come get you tonight."
Anna never felt so happy to know that not only the resistance are coming to rescue her, but Basil as well. However, there is a question from her as she asked, "How is that going to happen tonight?"
Dawson sighs while closing his eyes and saying while nodding his head, "You're not going to like this, but believe me I don't like this either…" He opens his eyes and tells her, "When Ratigan comes through that door, you need to concede to the marriage."
"What!" Anna exclaimed as she couldn't believe this, even coming from him. "You don't expect me to go through with this?"
"Believe me, I don't want you to go through with this either. In fact, I don't understand why a monster like Ratigan would even want you to begin with. None of this doesn't make any sense. But the point is…" He sighs as he nods again. "There is no other choice. If we are to get close to you, then you have to play along if you want to be rescued."
Anna knew that Dawson was right, there was no other way of getting out of here unless she concedes to the marriage. It felt like to her that she would be walking into the devil's fire and be married to the devil himself. It felt like she had to just take the straightforward path to hell if she had any chance of being free. She knew that this was the only way now.
Seeing her distress, Dawson places a hand on her shoulder and says to her, "Listen, no matter what happens, we will get you out of this fiendish place. But try and stay strong until then, okay?"
Anna sighs as she nods her head.
"Alright, I have to go now."
As Dawson started to leave, Anna said to him, "Dawson, will I ever see you again?"
Dawson gave her a smile as he answered with a nod, "You can count on it."
As he opens the door, she then adds, "And tell Basil that I'll be waiting for him."
"I'll be sure to relay the message."
With that being said, he closes the door with a soft click as Anna was once again left alone in the room.
For the past several hours, Anna was bored out of her mind. So far, the only thing she did was walk around here and there at the room, sit down on the bed or lay there. There was really nothing for her to do to kill the time as the hours ticked by and twilight was starting to slowly set in. But as the time showed 6:30 at the grandfather clock, she was now sitting at the window sill, looking at the window. Then, the doors opened as she heard Ratigan say, "Hello, my dear." She heard his feet coming her way. "I trust you've had enough time to think?"
Anna sighs as she stands up and looks at him. "Yes."
"And…"
Anna knew she was going to regret this, but also knew she had no choice. If she was going to get out of here, then this is her chance. Basil, Dawson, and the members of the resistance won't make their move until she makes hers. So with that, she said to him eye-to-eye, "I will concede to the marriage for the children's sake."
"Excellent!" Ratigan beamed. "I always knew you were the smart one."
Ratigan takes her chin and starts bringing his lips towards hers, but Anna turns her face at the last second as he kisses her cheek. When he took his lips away from her cheek, he smiled and giggled while saying, "When we're married, try to be a bit more...submissive to me." He brought his lips towards her ear and whispered, "It's much more fun that way, my dear."
Anna gasped as she felt her rear being grabbed slightly while Ratigan chuckled slightly with delight. Her right hand formed into a tight fist as it shook, wanting to slug that rat for pulling a perverted stunt on her, but tried her damned hardest to hold herself back. Right now she needs to stay strong for the time being. By the time she sees Basil, she was going to kiss this hellish place goodbye as she was having her one-way ticket to both freedom, and on her way to The Freedom Lands.
What will happen to Anna now that she's conceded to the marriage? Will Basil get to her in time, or will she be married to the madman who holds the children hostage and will make them suffer if she doesn't do what she's told? Find out in the next chapter!
Anyway, the song you heard "Don't Make Me Laugh" just now was from the movie The Pebble and The Penguin, sung by Tim Curry who voice Drake. I don't own that song, but I did change the lyrics a little to make it more for Ratigan. Not to mention the dance scene from that movie inspired me to write this little scene. Nevertheless, I hoped you've enjoyed that.
Now then, time to answer some reviews:
Gotham317: Huh, I didn't know real rats were intelligent creatures. Anyway, Ratigan is a genius, after all he has been in Anna's World for 31 years. So I guess it's pretty much to say that after seeing a lot of futuristic things, it became natural for him. Even using computers became second-nature to him after adapting to it. Also, if you think that could've been Fidget...maybe you could be right, or better yet it could be another OC that I created. You'll have to see it to believe.
Lilgrimmapple: I'm very glad you like the story so far and the dark direction I'm taking for this story. Not to mention there's going to be a lot of other film references that's if you pay closer attention to each part of the story. Also, the questions that you asked about why Ratigan wants to marry her, Phillip, Fidget, and memories of an alternative life, you'll have to read the story to get your answers.
Guest: Those are pretty good interesting theories, but you'll have to read the story to find out if any of them are true or not. Also, I did leave tidbits of information of Anna's past throughout the story, but more about her past will be revealed as the story continues.