Author's note: Moving on with the make-over. Let's do this! I really hope you guys can forgive me if I don´t follow the film from side to side. Anyway, I´ll be away for the summer so I am leaving you in a hot spot to wander. Hehehehe! But fear not cuz I´ll update as soon as possible.
I do not own the M.R characters but I do own the rest.
2. Where
Day breaks and Florence walks down the stairs. With surprise, she finds Dougal hiding under the table. He looks very scared and that is not normal. He's grumpy and a little self-centered, but never like this. How did this happened?
"What exactly are you doing there?" Florence kneels to be at his same height. Dougal seems relieved to see her, but that doesn't explain what is happening.
"Uh, well, I. You are not going to believe it" he gulps hard.
"Try me" the dog remains silent. "Dougal is all right. Just tell me, why are you so afraid?" She sits down near him.
"OK, well. I was sleeping peacefully tonight, when suddenly I woke up in the middle of the night cuz the wind had opened the window. I went to closed it and saw that the lights of the factory were shining. You know that place. Nobody has been there for ages. The truth is, that someone was inside. I thought at first it was all a dream, so I thought it wasn't important. I closed the window and walked there, hoping that I would woke up in the end. I walked all the way up and... Then..." his ears are shaking like crazy.
"Then what?" Florence frown slightly.
"You are not believing me"
"Dougal, please go on." she gives out a soft smile.
"I... I went up to the factory. And then I heard a voice."
"A voice?
"Ah ha. A woman´s voice. It gave me the creeps. It said over and over again. Blue is beautiful... Blue is the color... And then, I saw two eyes looking at me, glancing in such a way that I realized that I was in danger. I tried to wake up. But, I was awake already! All was real! I ran down all the hill and hid in here. Oh, Florence. I am so scared. What if there is something in the factory up to no good?" Dougal rubs against her, trying to find comfort.
Florence is about to say that all was a bad dream when she remembers the cold gust, the appearance of Zebedee before going to bed. What if something of Dougal´s vision is real? What if all really happened? She has to be sure. But first, she must calm him down. Then maybe, talking with Zebedee might be useful.
"Dougal, is all right. Nothing has harmed you. I am here. We are both here. If you want, I can make some cake and we will talk with Mr. Rusty or Zebedee later on" that makes him smile.
"Thanks, Florence. I think that´ll do. But the factory..."
"There is nothing we can do about it. And if there is something inside, we best stay away from it" she caresses him gently and that does the trick.
"Good idea" they eat together a fruit cake and head for the Roundabout where Mr. Rusty is having a look at his beloved carousel. Looks like something is going on. "Is there something wrong?"
"No, no. Ehm, have you two sleep well?" asks the old man.
"Yes, in a way. What is wrong with the roundabout?" Florence doesn't understand.
"See it for yourself, my dear." Says the old man. They both are amazed to see someone or something sleeping on top of one of the wooden horses. A cat. A blue cat. Dougal growls. He hates cats.
"Dougal. Hush!" orders the girl.
"But..." They both see it wake up and stare at them. The dog gulps. Those eyes! He has seen them before. "Florence please, we must run him out of time while we still can" Dougal is now certain, they are all in trouble.
"What are you talking about?" she looks at him.
"Good morning." Says the feline.
"Good morning. Who are you?" answers Florence.
"Ouh, I am just a cat passing by. Last night I saw your beautiful town and decided to stay for some time" the cat moves his tail softly.
"That is great. You are more than welcome" the girl sees no danger in this newcomer.
"Thank you" the stranger purrs but not for long. The dog is coming hot.
"You are not staying!" Dougal barks at him and chases him until the cat reaches the safety of Florence´s arms. "He was in the factory last night! He was! I saw him!"
"Dougal, please!" Florence holds the cat tight.
"He WAS!" the dog pleas.
"What is he talking about?" the old man is not getting a thing.
"Dougal saw lights in the old factory and someone inside" explains the girl, calming the feline in his arms.
"But that place is empty." Mr. Rusty says.
"Your dog is just making up a story." The cat purrs and jumps to the ground. "Anyway, I am going for a walk to see this wonderful place. If you need me, just ask for Buxton and I´ll be delighted to help you." He leaves. Florence glances at Dougal who walks away quite mad. The girl looks down and sits on a bench.
"I have never seen him so angry at me" the child whispers and the operator of the roundabout sits with her.
"Is all right. He will understand in the end. What is that story about the factory?" The girl tells him all Dougal said. "I see. Well, for now, there is nothing we can do. But those words about blue... For now, stay away from that place."
"I will. Thanks Mr. Rusty" she decides to go see Ermintrude.
"You are welcome" he watches her walk away. After some time, Zebedee arrives at the plaza. "Ah, good morning, Zeb."
"Morning. I have just noticed that Dougal is very angry" the springer has also noticed the girl's discomfort.
"Well..." He tells him the whole thing. "The factory has been empty for years but Florence never tells lies."
"..." Zebedee remains silent until a sharp pain runs down his left arm where Zeebad hit him on the ice cliff. Again, that feeling and getting stronger. Maybe what Dougal saw is just a little part of something much worst. But, what does it have to do with that cat? He must make sure. The pain is quite big but he manages to hide it from Mr. Rusty until a voice rings in his head. One he knows pretty well.
"You feel it too. Something has arrived and has no good intentions" it can only be one person.
"Zeebad. What do you know about this?" asks Zebedee.
"Think it through, spring boy. The voice, this cat. The feeling. Something wants this magic, our power" they talk by telepathy. "And who knows if it not wants that little girl you are protecting so dearly"
"Stop it!" demands the magician.
"Worried about little Florence?" the blue springer taunts him.
"..." Zebedee rubs the side of his head with his fingertips. "If I fall, you fall with me. You know this as well as I do"
"Yes, yes. But I am curious about how are you going to save your friends. Those pathetic worms" apparently, Zeebad hasn't grasp the magnitude of the situation.
"Blue... Blue... That color, the voice... What if..." the thought makes Zeb shudder.
"You are not suggesting what I am thinking, are you?" the winter springer frowns.
"I am" Zebedee is dead serious.
"If it is, then let me out. I will get rid of that leech" roars Zeebad.
"You had your chance. And I have no reasons to set you free"
"Maybe not, for now. But we both know that she wants this place, she wants us. And this time, she is not turning back" Zebedee shivers at these words. "You are powerless against her and that little girl you like so much, will be her way to you" The pain bangs through his head and the magician opens his eyes. Mr. Rusty is very concerned, holding him in his arms.
"... I'm ok" Zeb rubs his temples.
"Are you sure? You..." his friends helps him stand right.
"Nothing a good laugh cannot mend. Oh, and can I ask something from you?" He bounces to the old man.
"Of course." Rusty sees Zebedee glance at the roundabout and maybe something in the distance but remains silent.
"Take good care of Florence. If something happens, please watch over her."
"I will." He nods and watches him disappear in a haze of colors.
XXXXX
Florence is almost at her friend´s house when she feels watched. She turns around and sees two green eyes that smile. Then the girls notices it is a beautiful white fox that grins at her.
"You scared me."
"..." It sits down and cleans one of its paws. Florence looks at it. The fox smiles and runs towards a side of the road. Strange, it seems to be waiting for her. The girl follows it until they reach a little hill. The grass is all gone and is covered with strange looking blue flowers. How bizarre!
"They are pretty but why is there no grass beneath them?" The animal looks at the factory before disappearing. Maybe Dougal was right, but does it have to do something with the cat? "Zebedee..."
Answers, answers.
For now, you´ll have to wait.
Reviews are more than welcome.
Next stop: Blue Shade