Janice: (sigh) This week sucked. Everything went wrong and my bff and I might not be talking for a while.

Legolas: How come?

Janice: Whole big story of how she ditched me and I'm pissed and we aren't talking for a while.

Frodo: -.-' You're helpful.

Janice: Gee, thanks. Sorry that this wasn't up over the past few days. I tried to post it up yesterday, but I woke up, like, 2:30 something and storms came. I couldn't get a good connection, so (tear).

thanks: alfalfa7 I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so sorry that I didn't notice your review until after I posted the last chapter. Please forgive me! ClumsyElf thank you for reviewing, well here's more for you! lotrelves, it was funny when Sarah was trying hard not to say anything

Shards of the Future

Chapter 11: The Shadows

A true friend is the most precious of all possessions and the one we take the least thought about acquiring.— La Rochefoucauld

Darkness. Ever realize how it suffocates and surrounds you, bringing you closer and closer to death? How it is able to wrap around you and not let go?

Well, for one thing, I'm not faring all too well here in the caves. Sure it's warmer than out on the mountains, but I still don't like the feeling of being kept in a cage. It feels like that, a cage. It's hard to breath, hard to see. I feel as though a mental breakdown may occur.

I'm keeping really close to the others and watching over my shoulder. I'm paranoid and I know it. I'm only sane because I have the others there…and Sarah's random punches to keep me alert.

The darkness has become lulling. I'm a sort of zombie here because of it. I walk and breath, but I'm in a trance-like state of mind. Some of the others are, so I might not be as bad as some of them.

"Gwen," Edan said. I blinked and shook my head.

"Yes?" I asked him in our ever familiar way.

"We are being watched."

"What do you think it is?"

"Gollum. He's harmless enough, but do not trust him. Just relax for now. If anything happens, do not forget what Gandalf has taught you; he is a good mentor and will help you if I cannot."

"'kay."

Glenys is writing again. She keeps a daily log and writes every detail. Elrond must have wanted her to be very specific. I feel better knowing it's her chronicling the adventure, the rest of us have the worst of script…excluding Frodo, who has the best, but he's the Ringbearer. He's vital to this adventure… mission… quest… thing… -y.

"Hey," I said, sitting next to my dark haired friend. She looked up at me from the book and smiled.

"Hey." she softly replied. Glenys was a quiet girl, easy to like. What little she said was always good to hear.

"What's up?"

"Day twenty. I'm not big on this, being Chronicler and all, but so far, nothing too horrible has happened."

"Really? It felt like we've been at this for months already."

"You exaggerate too much, Gwen."

"And you don't?"

"I used to. And then the gothic-emo thing started. God I hate posers."

"Sorry, I haven't been in the United States part of my life, fashion statements and such aren't so important."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"The U. S. sucks, that's what."

"Here we go again."

"People get a chance to vote and many don't even; there are countries out there who'd give everything to be like the U. S. when the system is flawed and so many people are disrespectful. I'd rather go back and like in…I don't know… Australia. I had ice cream for lunch fifteen times there, and I think twice for dinner. In other countries you don't have to worry about crimes as much, the U. S. is the worst with it, from what I've seen."

"You're too opinionated, Gwen."

"So are you."

"I don't speak my mind, though."

"Yeah, I know, I've seen your myspace page. Question, how many teens in our school don't have a myspace?"

"Three, I believe. Some share, from what I know."

"So… how long do you think it will take for us to get out of here?"

"Not sure, I hope not long. Maybe we should ask Sarah?"

"Maybe. She seems kind of out of it ever since we came here, did you notice?"

"Yeah, hope she's okay."

"Hope so, too."

Gandalf found a way for us to go even further in the dark, scar, horrible Tunnels of Death and Doom and Destruction. It got hotter as we went along. Were we nearing the earth's core? I hope not, we could die! …Or worse!

Gah, I need sleep! But it's hard to rest in this place when all you can think about is the moving shadows that keep following you and taunting you.

I've learned that swords are shiny and very, very sharp… and to never sneak up on Boromir. I really need sleep if I'm doing such stupid things.

So, we are ants marching, marching, matching along these tunnels I fear.

"Gwen, are you okay?" Merry asked.

"When we get a chance to sleep, I won't be easy to wake."

"When are you ever?" Pippin asked.

"I have no idea. I was hoping, back home, after I finished all that travelling, I'd be able to live a much more normal life. Guess my life is anything but normal." I smiled then, I don't know why, but I felt it was too gloomy. "But then, you have to take what life gives you. You have to do things for yourself and for others. Try new things and such." I'm starting to sound like my mom. She inspires people by her words and is really good at it… she's inspired me many times.

Chapter's song: A Never-Ending Dream (Story's Theme)

Artist: Cascada

Janice: When Gwen was talking about how bad the U. S. is, that was actually me typing my opinion. The government really is flawed and some laws are just idiotic. When you think about it, if some laws were changed, we wouldn't have as many problems. I like the freedom of speech thing, though… that stays. Drinking and smoking age should be lowered, because, 1.) look at other countries, they don't have as many problems; 2.) get rid of the many McDonalds, we'd have a lot fat kids (growing up in the now fattest city in the U. S. knocks a lot of sense into you); 3.) a lot of the illegal drugs here are legal in other countries, marijuana is a fine example; and 4.) your permit should be good for two or three years and driving age should go up to 18 (this is coming from a teen), after you have had thirty hours of driving time in (and have had your permit for a year) you should be able to drive around your town by yourself. The myspace thing is true, too. I know (in my school) we have maybe a small group of people who don't have a myspace, xanga or anything like them.

Legolas: Your America is strange.

Janice: Yea, I know, look who's running it? Anyway, sorry I didn't get this up yesterday, I had an emergency baby sitting job and then went out to the movies. Both Transformers and 1408 were good. The thing that sucked about Transformers was that you didn't get attached to any of the characters other than Bumblebee (I love him). 1408 was just good because the acting was perhaps the best I've seen from a movie based on a Steven King novel… And, lol, I have been to Australia. I had ice cream for lunch twice and tried alligator soup… it tasted like chicken. I also tried fish eyes, they were pretty good.

Frodo; That's... nice, Janice.

Janice: I would have made the chapter longer, except I couldn't think of anything else to add! I hate having a writer's block. If only the could perish... Yeah! Quotes are now back and there for the chapter! The next chapter should be up by Sunday after my work, as usual, unless something happens and I'm not able to get it up or finish it in time.