A/N: Okay, I was originally going to post Chapter 5 and Chapter 4 all together in Chapter four, but realizing I had over 3,000 words in typing, I decided that this could stand alone(Lol, Wow, 3300 words exactly! So sweet!). I know, it's long but what can I do? I was bored at work lol. Okay, read and enjoy! Refer to Disclaimer 1 on my profile.
W.I.T.C.H.: Dead Memories
"A Forgotten Memory"
Stepping forth from the swirling vortex of blue light, the Guardians entered a jungle like area. Strange calls came from the birds that could be found no where on earth. Even the plant life was different, alien. This was truly Meridian and the Guardians had stepped away from the comforts of their homes into this strange world.
"Well, let's get going. If we are going to make it back home on time we need to hurry." Will said tapping her wrist as if she had a watch on. Nodding their heads in agreement, the Guardians set off hopefully towards a rebel camp.
"I don't think I will ever get used to this place." Hay Lin said doing lazy loops above them ensuring that there would be no traps or patrols from Phobos' troops catching them. She had taken off right after they had come through the portal.
"Hey, at least you don't have to walk in this muck." Cornelia said gesturing to the mud that persisted through out the jungle area.
"Ah, is Corny all muddy?" Irma said in an innocent sweet voice.
"Shut it water brains. I'm not Corny!" Cornelia retorted.
"Who's going to make me?" Irma replied in earnest sticking her tongue out at Cornelia.
"All right you two. Knock it off." Will said shaking her head. "Now is defiantly not the time for this."
The two Guardians fell silent and remained so for the rest of the walk to the camp. Taranee looked at the exotic flowers that they passed by. Some of them were big and purple with red dots, while others had white and yellow running down the petals.
"Beautiful aren't they?" Taranee said to Will. Just then one of the plants shot out what looked like a tongue and grabbed a passing bird pulling it back in.
"And deadly apparently." Will said watching it, a shudder crawling down her back.
Hay Lin who had been mostly silent for most of the trip called down to them, "Hey guys, I think were here!" She swooped by landing as several men stepped from the undergrowth out into the open.
"Caleb will be most pleased to see you!" One of the men said excitedly. They both were dressed in shaggy clothes that needed to be repaired badly. Their hair was unkempt but trimmed to a short length. Their faces conveyed how tired they were, but the men's eyes shown brightly as they greeted the Guardians.
"I am Josh, and this here is Berg. We have been expecting you for some time. Come, come! This way!" The other one who had not talked yet said. He gestured towards where they both had emerged from. They then set off towards the camp.
"They sure are a scraggily bunch," Irma whispered to the other Guardians.
"When you think about it Irma, they can't help it. They have little or no food, hardly any worthwhile shelter, and no money to go out and buy stuff." Taranee said offering an explanation.
"We should bring them something!" Hay Lin said excitedly. "Wouldn't that work?"
"I don't think so," Will said looking at the backs of their guides. "There are a lot of them, and only five of us."
"Still, we are the Guardians of the veil. Maybe we could raid the castle for supplies?" Cornelia suggested.
"We'll work something out. I am sure Caleb would like the help in securing supplies though," Will said nodding in agreement with Cornelia. They may have had their differences, but Will and Cornelia could agree on some things.
"Here we are!" The one named Josh said gesturing to a clearing with many tents set up. In the middle there was a big fire going and where a lot of people were gathered around it. Berg led the way through the maze of tents to the center.
"Wow, there is a lot of people here." Irma commented as they passed by men, women, and children who ran around the new comers.
"Yes there is," Josh said looking back at them. "We are in the process of relocating them to the Infinite City. So far we have moved most of them. The rest of the people you see are all that is left of the rebel forces above ground. We plan on moving them tomorrow. Caleb is at the communal fire discussing the move with some of the men right now."
As they approached they heard voices in heated discussion, though they could not make it out until they got much closer.
"… think we should do that Caleb! It would leave our flank open to attack! We are moving Women and children for crying out loud, not attacking Phobos!" One man shouted.
"I understand your arguments Quail, but we are few of men and we need them scouting ahead for patrols. If Phobos discovers the move, he will surely discover the Infinite city where the rest of the people are. Besides, we won't need men to guard the flank if we move around patrols that scouts find." Caleb said holding his hand up to stop further argument. Looking past Quail his demeanor changed when he saw the Guardians being lead by Josh and Berg.
"Everyone look! The Guardians are here." Caleb said pointing at the group approaching. The current argument was forgotten as everyone looked around at the five girls approaching the group. Caleb rushed forward to greet them. "I see Josh and Berg helped you find your way."
"Yes, and they showed us around the camp." Will said gesturing to the city of tents surrounding them.
"Ah yes, we were just discussing that. I am glad you came by for a visit. We have many things to discuss." Caleb said shooing people out of the way so the Guardians would have a place to sit around the fire, which was looking very inviting as it began to ward away the coming night.
"We heard," Said Irma grinning at the youthful face of Caleb. Caleb had brown eyes and hair, which was trimmed short. He was wearing a beige shirt with brown pants, brown boots, brown gloves, and you guessed it, a brown trench coat. At his side in a sheath was a sword with a dented guard and a dull metal shine to it.
Cornelia thought he looked beautiful. He of course surprised her when they first met, because he was the man from her dreams. Elyon had even given her a sketch of him one day, a sketch that she kept in her journal. Cornelia dreamt of going back to Meridian every opportunity she could get, not because of the exotic wildlife or the beautiful flowers, but for Caleb.
"Ah well, as you can see, we need to move a lot of people to the Infinite city, yet we do not have the man power to accomplish this task. We are stretched so thin that we are having trouble just patrolling around the camp. Possibly you could help us?" Caleb said with hope in his eyes.
"Yes, we would love to help. We came here in fact to see how everything was going and help if you needed it." Will said gazing at Caleb. Will wanted to look away from Caleb, but she couldn't. It was almost as if she were in a trance. It was the way Caleb was catching the light from the fire and the look on his face. From the depths of her consciousness rose a single thought, as if by its own command.
"Kill him. If you ever see this man, kill him." Something snapped in Will and she dove directly at Caleb. Caleb was taken by surprise and fell backwards as Will hit him square in the jaw. In the next instance her hands were around his throat choking him.
"Will! What are you doing?" Screamed Cornelia voicing the thoughts of the other guardians as they dived in after her.
All Will could say was, "Die damn it! Die you bastard!" The next moment she felt hands tugging her away from Caleb. She kicked and screamed punching blindly around her as she tried to get back to Caleb. More hands grabbed onto her and held her back.
"WILL! What are you doing?" Cornelia screamed again into Will's face blocking her view from Caleb. The will to fight left Will as she hung limply. Looking around dazed, a memory surfaced, one suppressed and buried beneath many layers.
Flashback
"Will, we are proud of you. You are one of the few students who has pulled through this program. You are proof that the work here has not gone to waste and that it really works." A man in black suit said to Will.
She was standing at Parade Rest with her legs spread to shoulder width, her hands clasped behind her back. She looked straight ahead, her eyes not moving. In fact, someone could wave a hand in front of her face and she wouldn't even blink.
The man paced in front of her smoking his cigarette. Will couldn't see his face though. It always was in the shadows, as if the shadows followed him around. The smoke curled upwards from the glowing tip of the cigarette as it burned. "Eyes, Do you see this picture? This is Shepard Moore."
Will looked at him, then at the picture he was holding up and replied, "Yes sir." Looking at it she could see that it was a picture of a man, no, wait that wasn't it. It was more of a boy in his mid twenties.
"This man must be killed on sight Will. It matters not if your identity is discovered. Kill him. If you ever see this man, kill him." Will studied the picture before it began to fade. Everything around her began to fade. She could feel herself fading. But from the blackness that consumed her a voice called out to her.
End Flashback
"Will! Answer me! Why did you try to kill Caleb?" A voice said to her. She remembered the voice. It belonged to a face, a pale face with blue eyes and blond hair. Will was sure the face had a name. "What is it?" Will thought, then it came to her.
"C-Cornelia? Is that you?" Will said her eyes fluttering open. She was greeted by the sight of a very angry Cornelia and frightened Guardians. There were other people around her that she didn't recognize. She realized that she was lying down and that she had a headache. "Where am I? What happened?"
"Will! Don't you remember? You attacked Caleb!" Hay Lin said with a look of fear in her eyes. "You were trying to strangle him!" The other Guardians nodded in agreement with Hay Lin. Will only shook her head bringing a wave of dizziness to her.
"Why do I have… Wait, I tried to kill Caleb?" Will said the words Hay Lin had said finally clicking in her head. "I-I don't remember anything. I was sitting by the fire, and then I woke up with everyone around me!"
"You went totally Bezerko! You just dove right at him Will!" Irma said looking at Will reaffirming what Hay Lin had said.
"We had to wrestle you off of him. You even hit some of us!" Taranee said holding her side. She looked concerned at Will, who had been her best friend since meeting each other. "You really hit hard Will."
"I d-don't remember any of it!" Will sobbed, tears coming to her eyes. "My head hurts! Make it stop!" Will moaned her hands gripping her head as the head ache grew.
The Guardians were in shock at what just happened. Taranee put a hand on her shoulder trying to comfort Will to no avail. Withdrawing from the sobbing Will they all consulted each other.
"How is Caleb Cornelia? Hay Lin asked.
"He will be okay, other than a sore jaw and neck." Cornelia said holding herself.
"This is fishy. Why would Will attack Caleb? And then not remember it?" Irma said looking over her shoulder at the crowd that surrounded Will.
"I really don't know. Have you guys noticed anything going on in-between Will and Caleb? Those words Will said were harsh when she attacked him." Taranee said in response to Irma's question. They all shook their heads no as they continued to talk in the huddle they had formed.
"Maybe school? Or some thing like that? Will has been under a lot of pressure to get her Math grades up. Maybe she just snapped?" Hay Lin suggested.
Taranee immediately refuted it saying, "Nah, I don't think math would do that to Will. She just plain blitzed out on Caleb."
"Well, what ever it is, we need to get Will home." Cornelia said looking around at her fellow Guardians.
"What are we going to do tomorrow about the Rebel's move? They need our help!" Irma asked continuing to look at the crowd that had gathered around the crying Will.
"That's in the morning Irma. We can deal with it later. What matters now is getting Will back home." Hay Lin said. "Come on, let's go." They broke the huddle they were in and walked over to Will whose sobs had died down to a whimpering.
"Will, This Taranee, We are going to take you home. Is that alright?" Taranee asked Will, who only nodded. She continued to feel the pounding of the headache on her skull and just wanted it to stop.
"How are we going to move her? I don't think she will be able to walk." Taranee said questioningly.
"I think I have an Idea," Cornelia said stretching her hands out to the ground. Green specs of magic flowed from her hand and onto the ground where Will was. Vines grew from the earth and proceeded to stretch around Will. The hardened and formed a stretcher of some sort.
"There, I think that will do." Cornelia said looking at the other Guardians for approval. The all nodded in agreement as a rebel stepped forth and gave them a blanket.
"I believe she can use this. She'll need it." The woman said presenting it to Irma, who was a little shocked, but quickly recovered. She had expected the rebels to be hostile right after Will had attacked their leader Caleb.
"Uh, thank you…" Irma said trying to think of something to say. "We will, uh, get this back to you when we can." She then turned around and started to put it on Will. Taranee helped her and looked up and around at the crowd looking for Caleb.
"Cornelia, why don't you go tell Caleb what we are doing." Taranee said giving up. "He must be at his tent or something…" Taranee thought.
"Alright, I'll be back really quick." Cornelia said already wandering off to find him. A rebel offered to help her find him and she gladly accepted. Taranee, Hay Lin, and Irma only had to wait a few minutes before Cornelia returned.
"So, what did he say?" Irma asked as soon as she rejoined them.
"Oh, he said that he hoped Will got better, and that he hoped to see us tomorrow." Cornelia said not looking at the other Guardians. Irma just shrugged as they lifted the stretcher made out of vines with Will on it. Will had quieted down a bit while they had been waiting for Cornelia to return. Just outside of the tents they ran into Josh and Berg.
"We will take you back to the portal," Josh said gesturing to the little path out of the encampment. Berg nodded in agreement as they began to pick their way through the undergrowth. The Guardians followed at a slower pace since they had to carry Will.
Fifteen minutes later they were back with the blue swirling portal and said their goodbyes to Josh and Berg.
"We hope that she gets better." Josh said glancing around nervously. He hated magic, and was really jittery about the portal.
"We do to. Good luck, and hopefully we will see you in the morning," Hay Lin said to them switching the arm that was holding the stretcher with her free one.
"Yes, hopefully we will see you there." Berg said calmly as if nothing had happened. He knew Josh was nervous around magic and was enjoying his discomfort.
With the goodbyes said the Guardians stepped through the portal and ended back up in the junk yard. Setting the vine stretcher down they all sat down on piled pieces of cars and refrigerators.
"So, umm, are we just going to leave the portal open?" Taranee asked voicing the question that everyone knew the answer to.
"No, we can't. To much of a risk that Cedric or Phobos might come through. We have to close it." Hay Lin said with decisiveness.
"Well, who is going to do it then?" Irma asked the next obvious question. "And are we just going to walk around like this? I don't know about your parents, but mine will want to know why I have wings all of a sudden."
"Will can't do it, so I suppose one of us will have to." Cornelia said looking around at the others, pulling her blond hair back behind her head.
"I will do it." Taranee said looking around at the others for disapproval, but met none. Nodding her head once, she approached Will and took off the Hear of Kandrakar from around her neck. Holding it out to the Portal she thought about it closing. In response the Heart glowed a bright pink before the portal closed in a gust of wind. Next she held it out and thought about returning to her normal self. Again the Heart glowed a bright pink and Taranee could feel her self change back. It was like loosing a nice warm fuzzy blanket from around her.
Pocketing the Heart, she looked around expectantly at the others. "Well, I don't think we can take her home on that stretcher. People might wonder where we got a stretcher made of vines from."
"Yea, I think we should carry Will back to her apartment from here." Cornelia said nodding in agreement.
"Alright, let's do this." Irma said stooping beside Will in her blue jeans and brown coat. Hay Lin did the same and the picked Will up and put her on their shoulders. Will only groaned lightly, but put some weight on her feet to help Hay Lin and Irma.
They walked out of the Junk yard and towards Will's apartment complex. They changed out once someone got tired allowing the other one to rest. Finally they got to the apartment complex, but weren't expecting what they found.
Cops galore littered the parking lot holding people back. There was a KBCV News Truck from Channel 9 with a reporter talking steadily into a microphone. And there being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher was Will's mom.
"Oh god, what happened here?" Taranee said voicing the question all the Guardians had.
A/N: Alright! Congrats! You made it through the 4th chapter! I knew you could! lol. Anyways, I decided to stop with them arriving at the apartment since I already had so much down. Review please, and tune in next time to find out what happens next in this gripping thriller! (Really, is it a gripping thriller?)