Hey guys, been awhile, hasn't it? This chapter took a while cause I just couldn't figure out what to do for it. I spent so long just trying to figure out what path I wanted to take. I eventually got to the point where I just said "screw it" and I let the story go wherever it went. What came out...was alot different then what I was planning, but I actually kinda like it! To those who don't care about either Rona or Connor, and are just here to read about Orianna, I hear ya. I'm the same way with writing this story, but even so, I don't feel like I should neglect these characters. I want to give everyone really good development in this story. So hopefully you guys can give this chapter a shot, and tell me what you think. THANKS! :D
Chapter 5: Broken Memories
(This Chapter is told from the POV of Connor)
When I stepped through the portal, my body felt like it was being twisted and turned in several directions. I had gone through this thing before, and this isn't what it was supposed to feel like. My body ached as I began to merge through the other side. I felt my legs strain as I took my first step. With a groan, I pulled the rest of my body through, and collapsed on the other side.
"What…*pant*...the heck was that?" I said, trying to catch my breath.
I looked up, only to have my eyes meet with an unfamiliar view. I was surrounded by a forest. Trees on every side of me. Now, i'm no expert on this kinda stuff, but I'm pretty sure that this WASN'T the capital.
I soon felt a cold draft hit my skin. I instinctively looked down at my body, only to realize that my armor was gone. Instead, I was wearing a tattered tunic, and leather boots. I would guess that the portal must have somehow dematerialized my armor, and never rematerialized it. The most confusing part was the fact that I wasn't even wearing this outfit under it, so why was I wearing it now? Since when could this portal magically change my clothes?
I took a moment to find my bearings. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I had to figure out a way out of here, and fast. For all I knew, the Deathmage could've already destroyed the town by now. My heart sunk as I let that thought into my head. I quickly shook it out when I knew that that kind of thinking wouldn't help the situation.
"Hello, is anyone out there!?" I yelled. I knew this wasn't the most tactful strategy, but I wasn't at liberty to be very tactful right now.
After waiting about a minute with no response, I started walking. Nowhere in particular, just walking. There was no point in running when I had no idea where I was going. Plus, if I was going in the wrong direction, then that'd make things worse.
I kept a wary eye of my surrounding. Taking note of every tree I came across, as to avoid getting turned around. My Dad always told me that If I ever get lost in the forest, just to picture every tree as a naked woman. That way I wouldn't forget them. I'm ashamed to say that that strategy worked way too well.
After walking for what seemed like an eternity, I stopped to try my hand at calling out again. My Dad always said that if you get lost, and you're alone, make sure to let any ladies around know that you're single and looking! Well, that's how he put it anyway.
"HELLOOOO, CAN ANYONE HEAR ME!?" I yelled again, much louder than before.
I waited again for about a minute with no response. I sighed as I started back on my way, but I didn't take a single step before I was stopped by something hard, smacking me in the back of the head. I winced in pain, grabbing the spot where the object hit.
"Hey, who threw that?" I shouted out.
I threw my body around in every direction, trying to find the culprit. I instinctively reached for my sword, only to be reminded that I was no longer in my suit. My weapon was gone too. If this was a bandit of some kind, then I had no means to protect myself aside from my fists. I readied myself for another attack.
Without a second thought, out of the corner of my eye, I saw another small object flying towards me. Thankfully I was ready this time, and caught the thing in mid air. I grit my teeth in pain again. Catching something barehanded like this probably wasn't the best idea. I opened my throbbing palm to see nothing more than a rock.
"Are you...afraid?" Came the voice of a child.
With a shock, I threw my head around, towards where the voice came from. Are you telling me a kid threw this? Well, it was safe to say that I was much less worried now. I let my arms relax to my side.
"No, not particularly. Should I be?" I asked.
I waited for a bit before I heard the sound of leaves and grass being rustled. The outlines of a little boy slowly started to come into view. His unkempt hair looked like it hadn't been washed in months. His pants were ripped and torn. He had only one shoe, on his right foot, and no shirt. In his hand he held a slingshot. That explained why the rocks hurt so bad. The strangest thing of all though...I felt like I knew this kid.
I sat back on my heels, and folded my arms. I wasn't sure whether or not I should feel threatened. The child hesitantly started to load another stone into his slingshot. I saw a look of desperation in his eyes. It was a look...I knew all too well.
"H-hey now, no need to resort to that. I'm not your enemy, ok?" I reprimanded.
The little boy seemed to pay me no heed, as he proceeded to pull the sling back. I gave a big sigh, lowering my arms to my side. I guess my only option at this point was to prove that I wasn't a threat by taking a few hits. If I did that without attempting to fight back, then that was sure to convince him.
After about 10 seconds of waiting for the shot, the look in the kids eyes began to change. Now, he had the look of curiosity about him. I guess he wasn't used to people just accepting pain so willingly.
"Why...you not angry?" The kid asked.
That response alone already told so much about this kid. Angry...hearing something like that tells me that he must of been raised in a bad home to assume I'd be angry for him attacking me out of the blue. A Dad that has the temper of a bull, and is just as violent...yeah, I really knew that all too well. I let a smile color my face.
"Hey, I'd be cautious too if a strange man came walking into my home unannounced. You must be really brave to stand up to an adult like me. It's admirable." I answered.
The boy slowly started to lower the slingshot. I guess what I said must of atleast somewhat convinced him. His eyes still held the same curious expression.
My body flinched a bit as I remembered what happened to me, and where I was. I didn't have time to stand around and talk. I got down on my knees, attempting to get to the kids level. He instinctively took a few steps back.
"By the way, do you mind telling me where I am? I kinda got separated from my companion." I asked.
I watched for a while as the child just stared me down, studying me. I soon felt a cold chill run down my spine. I shivered my body a slight bit. The atmosphere around me started to feel like it was closing in on itself. The light started to fade as well. Was it already this close to night time? How long was I in that portal for?
"Wow, the weather sure changed fast." I said, rubbing my bare arms.
Soon after, I felt the wind start to pick up too. All that came to mind was a storm. There must of been one coming, and it was coming fast. I looked back to the child, and was surprised by what I saw.
He still stood there...staring at me in a daze, as if nothing was happening around him. The wind blew his matted hair back and forth, but he stood solid. It was almost like I was looking at a statue.
"Hey, kid, you gotta get out of here! Go find some shelter, I will-"
"SILENCE!"
After the boy said that, I saw his face change. A menacing smile came over his face. His eyes grew dark, and demeaning. A cold shiver ran down my spine, and this time it wasn't because of the weather. It was like I was looking at the face of a demon.
"TELL ME CONNOR, ARE YOU AFRAID NOW!? YOU'VE FORGOTTEN, HAVEN'T YOU!?" The boy said in a shrill and terrifying voice.
I could feel my body become stiff. How...how did he know my name? What was going on here!? I could feel drops of sweat run down my face. It had been a long time since I felt this much fear. I attempted to straighten my body out, only barely being able to.
"What...who...I don't know what you're talking about! Forget what?" I asked, my voice shaking.
My whole body jumped after I heard the crack of thunder. Rain, poured out of the sky, drenching me from head to toe within seconds. The wind furiously shook the trees back and forth. Leaves flew all around me. It was like I was being sucked into a tornado.
I staggered to my feet. I planted myself hard on the ground as to try and avoid being knocked over by the wind. The leaves smacked against my face and body. You'd think those tiny little things wouldn't hurt, but they sure did here. I got my bearings, trying to take in what was going on around me.
It was painfully obvious to me now that the place I was in, wasn't real. Everything I was seeing was just a figment of my imagination. Magic like this, where you controlled the weather, wasn't possible in the real world. Not even a Deathmage could pull off feats like this. The only place where magic like this could take place...was in a Nightmare.
"So...tell me...who are you really?" I asked, still trying to keep my balance. Once I realized that none of this was actually happening, it became a lot easier to think straight.
The child's face turned even more demonic than before. Sparks started to shoot out from his body. His eyes began to glow a bright red. I could feel the atmosphere's pressure begin to increase. My body became heavier by the second. I clenched my fists and stood strong.
"Who...am I? I AM THE MEMORY THAT YOU HAVE FORCED YOURSELF TO FORGET! I AM ALL YOUR MISERY THAT YOU CAST AWAY! I...AM...YOU!" The demon boy answered.
An instant after he said that, lightning came down and struck the child. I was taken back in shock as I heard the blood curdling screams from the child. It caused the hair on my back to stand up. The boy's body began to glow bright as the lightning coursed through his body.
Without hesitation, I ran as fast as I could to the boys side. I didn't let myself think, or else I probably wouldn't of done anything. I threw my hands on the boy's shoulders and began to shake him.
"Hey, snap out of i-erghraaAAAAHHHH!"
Seconds after I touched the child, the electrical current made it's way through my skin. I screamed in pain as my body started to convulse. I dropped to my knees, unable to let go of the boy. A feeling of deja vu began to came over me. Even while I was in so much pain, my mind still seemed to remember a feeling like this.
I managed to open my eyes slightly. I looked up at the demon child too see his glowing red eyes now glaring down at me. Then...I saw tears...tears started to roll down his face. The red from his eyes turned back to a regular blue. His face turned back to that of a human.
"Please...don't forget me" The boy said.
Suddenly, the world around me...just...vanished. The boy that I was holding faded away into the darkness. I felt my body be relieved from the electrical shock. In an instant...I was sitting in complete nothingness.
Everywhere around me was pitch black. The ground that I sat on still felt like grass, but I wasn't so sure if it really was that. It was like the void opened up and swallowed me whole. I wanted to stand back up on my feet, but my legs just wouldn't respond to me. I'm guessing the shock from the lightning must of disabled them. Really hope it wasn't permanent.
I began to go over all the other parts of my body to see if they still functioned well. Thankfully, it seemed like my legs were the only thing that the lightning paralyzed. But what was I supposed to do now? Where was I for that matter? Was I still in that world? Was I actually swallowed by the void? So many questions filled up inside my head, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't get answers to them.
I placed my hands on the ground in front of me and began to drag myself along. I didn't know where I was going, nor did I know if there was even any place to go, but anything was better than just sitting in one place for hours.
It didn't take long before my hands touched something hard. I only had to feel around the object a little before I figured out what it was. It was a root. I followed the root up, letting my hands graze along the bark of a tree. Even though I couldn't see it, I could still feel it was there.
Was I still in that world then? Did everything just become really dark? What kind of magic could do something like this? I mean, if it was even magic at all. Maybe I was still in the portal, and this was some sort of...weird...loophole or something. Was something like that even possible? Could I do anything else besides ask questions at this point?
I grunted as I tried to move my legs again, using the tree to try and brace myself. They were able to move this time, but no where near enough to stand. I fell back down on my knees. Well, atleast this told me that the damage wasn't permanent. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't walk again.
My body shivered as a I felt a cold breeze run down my back. I threw my head around in shock. My eyes met with the same darkness I had been looking at for a while now. Was that just the wind? It didn't feel like a normal breeze. It was almost like someone was breathing down my neck.
I almost jumped out of my skin when I started to hear voices softly echo out of the dark. They came from all around me. My heart started to beat so fast, I thought it would burst outta my chest. At first, I couldn't make out what the voices were saying, but after they got louder I could finally start to make it out.
"The cursed child is among us."
"No, stay away demon!"
"How is it he lives?"
"Kill him! be rid of this monster!"
Were just a few things that they were saying.
I felt my body tremble. I could barely move, it was like I was glued to where I sat. My hands clenched the grass in between my fingers. Drops of sweat starting to drip off of my face.
"Who...are you people? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!?" I yelled out into the darkness.
As I said that, the voices suddenly stopped. The same silence as before filled the void. I sensed no presence around me, yet it still felt like I was being watched. I gritted my teeth. It seemed like I was just waiting here for my inevitable death to happen. There was nothing I could do, I felt so helpless.
My heart skipped a beat, as I felt an image start to form in front of me. It was hard to tell, but it looked like the image of a child. I was really hoping it wasn't the same one from before. The image started to walk slowly closer to me, becoming a little more clear with every step.
"Hello, who's there?" I asked.
After a while, I could finally make out that the child was a little girl. She wore a beautiful, pink dress. Her long blonde hair laid flat down her back. From what I could tell, she looked like a princess. A big smile filled her face as she walked towards me.
As the girl got closer, she became more and more clear to me. So much so that I finally recognized who she was. My eyes grew wide with shock. I'd of probably collapsed to the ground if I wasn't already sitting.
The girl got within 10 feet of me before she stopped. She gave me a curtsy before sitting down on the ground with me. I stared into her deep blue eyes, finding it hard to believe who it was I was staring at. My mouth shook as I tried to find the words to say.
"R-...Rona...is that...is that you?" I asked.
The little girl giggled with delight at the sound of her name. She placed her hands on the ground, just like I did, and nodded her head frantically. I instinctively brought my hands to my face, and rubbed my eyes hard, looking back at the child to make sure that I wasn't really seeing things.
"But...how?...How are you here...why are you...ughh, I'm so confused." I said, scratching the back of my head in frustration.
The girl returned back the same confused look that I had. With a grunt, she threw her hands up in the air, and planted her face on the ground. She looked like an ostrich trying to bury her head. I had no idea what she was trying to say by doing that.
"Uhhh…are you okay?" I asked.
The princess proceeded to roll around on the ground for a while before picking herself back up. She looked at me with a huge smile on her face. Her now matted hair all tangled down her back. I couldn't help but return a smile.
"Well, you're definitely as rambunctious as Rona was. Hey, can you speak?" I asked curiously.
The girl seemed to completely ignore my question. I watched as her attention got pulled away by something next to her. Her eyes grew big with excitement. She reached down and grabbed it from the darkness. She cupped whatever the thing was in her hands.
"Hey, what've you got there?" I asked.
The child laughed joyously as she held out her hands to me. I was pretty confused at first. I looked to the girl, then to her hands, and back.
"What, you want me to take it?" I wondered.
The little girl nodded her head frantically again. I was pretty hesitant to take it. I slowly reached my hand out to hers. The girl placed her cupped hands in mine and opened them. I felt a warm, slimy creature start moving around on my palm.
Once the girl moved her hands, I saw the little frog that she had placed in mine. The thing was tiny. It had to of been a baby. It just sat there, looking at me with it's big eyes.
A warm feeling came over me. I remember, Rona and me used to always go frog hunting. I could never get any of my friends to go, because they all found frogs gross. Go figure, right? Then Rona came along. When she first met me, the very first thing she did was drop a frog on my hair. I laughed after picturing that. The frog responded with a croak.
I looked up to the little girl. She seemed very pleased with my response. She rocked back and forth on her knees, humming a familiar toon with a smirk on her face. It was almost like I was a kid again. If it wasn't for the darkness surrounding me, I might have been able to believe that.
"Do you remember now?" A voice said in my head.
My body shook as the shrill voice echoed in my mind. I looked to the girl, half expecting it to be her that said that due to what happened before. She still had the same smile on her face from before as she had gone back to rolling around on the ground. It definitely wasn't her.
"If you refuse to see, then I will make you see" The voice said again.
In an instant, a bright light flashed in front of my eyes. I instinctively covered them. I felt the atmosphere around me change. My body shivered from a heavy breeze that blew over my skin. However, that cold breeze quickly became warmer. So warm, that it felt like it would burn me.
I eventually opened my eyes, only to wish I had left them closed. The area around me had changed to a courtyard. The girl was nowhere to be seen. In front of me stood a massive building. Flames engulfed the entire structure, and everything around it.
In a panic, I threw my body off the ground, forgetting that my legs had been disabled. I wobbled a bit, trying to get my bearings. I guess they had recovered enough to stand, though I'm pretty sure I was in no condition to do anything besides a slow walk.
I looked back to the burning building in front of me. Was this real? At this point I couldn't tell anymore. It definitely felt real enough, as the heat started to scorch my skin. I backed away from the flames to avoid being burned alive.
I wanted to believe that this was dream. A horrible nightmare of somekind. That way I'd actually have an explanation for what was going on here. I quickly eyed my surroundings. Everything else all seemed to be fairly normal. The darkness had completely dispersed.
My attention was grabbed when I saw a door of the building get busted open. Out walked two men, clad in rogue armor. My eyes grew wide when I saw them. It was almost like I had seen them before. I mean, not them in particular, but those kind of people.
As the men walked out of the burning building, I saw that they dragged along something on the ground. Once I saw what it was, my heart seemed to almost stop.
A little girl with matted blonde hair, and a burned, pink dress.
"RONA, NO!" I yelled.
Right after I said that, I felt a sharp pain in my head. I grabbed my skull, and squeezed it as hard as I could. I could feel memories flowing into my mind. The burning structure, I knew what it was. Those men, I knew who they were. Everything that I had seen today, all of it, I knew.
I screamed as pain filled my body. Not physical, but emotional pain. This...this is what they want me to remember. I forced myself to be rid of these memories long ago. Rona...she was the one that erased them for me. Erased the pain that I felt back then. Erased all the terrible mistakes that I made. I wanted more then anything to forget!
The sound of men yelling, and cheering could be heard around. I hesitantly lifted my head up to see a hundred men all around me. They had their swords lifted high in aspiration towards me.
I watched in agony as the two men dragging the girl threw her body in front of me. The battered princess lay motionless on the ground. Blood stained her ripped clothes. The men started cheering louder, clashing their swords together.
"KILL HER! KILL HER!" they all shouted.
Tears rolled down my eyes. No...this couldn't be real. It had to be a lie. I tried to move my body, but I couldn't. I couldn't move at all. It was like I had been taken control of. This isn't me...THIS IS NOT ME!
The two men that had carried the girl, lifted out a blade in their hands, gesturing for me to take it. I wanted to refuse, I had to, but my body moved on it's own. I pickup up the sword, and lifted it into the air.
"Do it Connor! Put an end to the Carmont family name! Become the leader you were born to be!" One of the men said.
I felt my breath get locked up in my lungs. I wanted to cry out, but I couldn't make a sound. I wanted to take the girl and run away, just like before, but I couldn't. I screamed on the inside as I continued to lift up the sword above the girl.
My body paused for a moment when I saw the child lift up her head slowly. Her beaten and bruised face revealed itself to me. Her eyes met with mine. What I saw in them was what scared me more than anything. Emptiness...true, emptiness showed in her expression. It was the look of someone who had lost everything. The look of someone who had absolutely nothing left to live for anymore. Just like the look she had back then.
No, I couldn't let this happen. Not again. I had to stop...I had to stop...I had to…
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!" I screamed.
I felt my body loosen. The area around me began to grow dark, just like before. I let the sword drop from my hands. All of the men around me started vanishing into the void. In an instant, I was once again surrounded by darkness.
My body stood stiff for a while. It wasn't until I looked down and saw the little girl still laying there, that I finally moved. I knelt down next to the child, ignoring the pain in my legs. I lifted her off the ground and laid her on my arms. Her frail and damaged body looked like it would almost break from my hold.
"Rona...Rona, please, can you hear me?" I asked desperately.
I watched as the little girl shuffled around for a bit before finally opening her eyes again. Her gaze met with mine. Even now, she still had the same empty look in her emotions. I forced myself to give her a smile.
"Hey, it's alright now. You're safe." I said.
Rona continued to stare at me with her blank eyes. I wasn't even sure if she was looking at me anymore. The girl lifted up her hands to my face, and placed her palm on my nose. A meek smile gradually took over the child's mouth.
"...H...hey...Connor…"
Within an instant after the girl said that, she vanished into thin air. I was left holding my arm out for no one. I wanted to yell out, to cry out in distress, but I somehow knew that this would happen. I let my arms relax to my side.
"There, now that that's all settled, shall we get down to business?" The same voice from before echoed in my head.
I had had enough. Enough of this world, enough of these lies, I WAS ENDING THIS NOW! I threw my body up in a rage, throwing my fist to the darkened sky.
"I'M DONE WITH YOUR GAMES! What do you really want from me?" I demanded.
The voice started to laugh. I clenched my fist in anger.
"What do I really want? Well, that's simple really. I want to finish what you never did back then...I need you...to kill Ronalia Carmont."
Thanks for sticking till the end guys! For everyone that stayed, I want to let you know that I'm going to be making a facebook page for this story. Mainly because I want the people that are really into this fanfic, to be able to keep up to date, and know whether or not I'm still writing and how I'm doing on the story. As well as start doing some artwork for it. I know I won't get much, if any, at the start, but I just feel like "Why the heck not!" Can't hurt, right?
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