Hey everyone! Thanks to all my readers and reviewers...your wonderful feedback helps more than you'll ever know!
I love writing this story, but I have to ask: is it original enough? Have I started it out well enough to set the foundation for a good, likable story? Please, let me know! Even if you dont like it, criticism (the good, constructive kind) is appreciated!
Thanks, and enjoy!
NOTE: I'm sorry for not doing this to begin with (some of you must be pretty confused about what the heck i'm doing), but I decided to change our heroine's name just a tad. It's now Amaya, instead of Ayama. I don't really have a real concrete reason for changing the name...i just personally liked Amaya better (it means night rain, what's not to like about it??) than Ayama, and it was easier to type and was the name i had when i first thought up this story.
Again, sorry for not posting this when i first updated, hope this clears things up!
:D
Chapter 3
Amaya and Ruki quickly ran down the streets, ducking behind buildings as large, bizarre looking creatures marched past, their loud voices filling the air that was filled with the tempting scent of spiced meats and vegetables.
Ruki looked around, and then pointed to a bowl of white rice that was left unattended, somewhat separate from the other plates of food. She looked up at her sister, who looked around once more before nodding.
The two of them quickly dashed out from behind the wall, and leapt forward to grab a handful of the hot cooked rice before running away, ignoring the yells that were issued from the shopkeeper behind them.
Amaya didn't stop running until they were a few blocks away, and the two of them leaned against a wall, gasping for breath.
"Alright, eating this should prevent us from disappearing, right? I still can't believe I'm relying on a bedtime story to keep us alive…I must be going crazy."
Ruki didn't answer, and quickly shoved the steaming rice into her mouth, chewing hurriedly and swallowing with noisy gulps. Amaya watched with wary eyes as her younger sister pulled out of the wristband, and the teen sighed with relief when Ruki remained solid. Amaya hastened to consume the rice in her hand, and after swallowing she slipped off the bracelet and handed it back to Ruki.
"Where did you get that thing again?"
"Mom gave it to me…she said it was a protection charm or something…" Ruki said, plucking at the bright purple bracelet that glinted in the firelight. Amaya sighed, and decided not to stress herself out even more by wondering where her mother had gotten a magical bracelet. She had more important matters to attend to, like, staying alive. And finding out how to get back home. That was pretty important too.
"Okay, now we'll make our way to the bridge, so stay close to me."
"Amaya, calm down! Nothing's going to hurt us…"
Amaya rolled her eyes at her sister, ignoring her as she quickly walked down the road and towards the bright glow of the bathhouse torches that lined the ancient bridge. The air was cool against her skin, and she wiped her sweaty palms against the dark blue fabric of her jean-shorts before reaching back to grab for Ruki's hand. Ruki's hand was cool and dry, and Amaya wanted to strangle her when she felt her younger sister's hand squeeze gently, trying to comfort her.
Ruki didn't seem afraid at all, which was a bit unnerving, seeing as she was the one who had been so nervous about traveling here in the first place. Now though, she was calm, silently smirking at Amaya's panicked tone. Ruki had always been unusually mature for her age, but with that maturity came an arrogance that sometimes –scratch that, always – got on Amaya's nerves.
The two girls reached the bridge, and hid behind a small bush, leaning forward to peek at the crowd that sluggishly passed them as they made their way to the bathhouse. Amaya gasped at the creatures that were so inhuman that she had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
Small creatures that were egg shaped and covered in fluffy yellow down waddled gaudily past, chattering in voices that sounded just like the clucks of a chicken. A few women glided past the frogs that were greeting the guests, their eyes as large as Amaya's fist, with no pupils, leaving instead blank black voids that were almost as eerie and unsettling as their hands, which were webbed and translucent, like something left in water for too long. There were many cloaked guests who had masks for faces, dark cloth covering the rest of their bodies, and other beast-like creatures that had long hair that was twined into tight coils, their bulgy eyes a dark green-yellow color, with sharp teeth that protruded from their lips.
Amaya leaned back so she was hidden, and took several large breaths.
"Alright, take a big breath, and whatever happens, do not take a breath until we reach the little door, okay? If it doesn't work, or something goes wrong, make a break for it."
"Okay." Ruki whispered, and the two of them took a deep breath, and stepped out onto the bridge. The voices of the incoming guests made the air around them seem too warm, almost suffocating.
Amaya kept her breath in as she slowly made her way through the creatures, being careful not to touch any of them. It seemed to be working, no one glanced their way or seemed to be aware of them at all, not even the menacing looking beasts whose eyes stared directly at Amaya for a moment before turning away, unaware that they had just stared at a human girl.
Gravely voices spoke close to Amaya's ear, from one of the beasts.
"I hope that that dragon and the witch have this place under control, you remember what happened last time?"
"Yes…that was quite a display…"
Time seemed to slow down to a painful crawl as Amaya walked, and she felt the strangest prickling in her scalp, as if eyes were constantly watching her, yet when she turned to look, there was no one.
"Welcome, sirs, and we hope that you enjoy your stay here." A plump group of geishas said respectfully, simultaneously bowing to a group of lizard-men dressed in elaborate robes, whose long scarlet tongues periodically flicked out to taste the air.
Ruki was close behind her, and Amaya felt her air supply fading fast, and searched frantically for the little door.
She found it after a moment, and grabbed Ruki's hand, pulling her towards the door that was a few feet high and barely two feet wide. Ruki was turning purple, and Amaya pushed her through hurriedly, managing to squeeze in right after her and slamming it shut before anyone noticed. The two sisters gasped for breath, listening for any yells of alarm, any sign that the bathhouse guests or staff gave their presence any notice.
There was nothing except for the constant sound of frogs greeting guests and customers murmuring and laughing with each other. Ruki and Amaya breathed a sigh of relief, slapping relieved high fives.
"Now we make our way to the boiler room…"
Ruki whimpered. "Not the scary flight of stairs!"
Amaya snorted. "You're not frightened of those spirits back there, but you're afraid of some old stairs?"
"Yes!"
"Jeez…"
Amaya looked around the small garden, seeing the muted glow of the bathhouse interior through the sliding screen doors, and motioned for Ruki to crawl after her silently. Both of them made their way anxiously across the small lawn and towards the small metal door on the opposite side, which would hopefully lead them to the stairway.
Amaya's ears caught the faint yells that were audible though the thin screen, and saw dark shadows racing back and forth behind the doors.
"Where are the seaweed-oil tokens? We've got a few river nymphs that need a intense revitalization soak!"
"Ask Lin, I saw her talking to the foreman a few minutes ago."
"Ever since Lin became the head of the bath staff, she's constantly disappearing! What's the trouble in staying in sight for more than a minute or two?"
Amaya frowned, and looked back at Ruki quizzically. They both mouthed in bewilderment.
Seaweed oil?
Could this place get any more confusing?
Ruki nudged her sister and pointed to the small metal door that was attached to a small brick wall, with the handle worn from use. Amaya shook her head, and whispered.
"I think that the door is a little farther into the garden, remember? It wasn't metal either, it was wood."
"I'm almost positive that this is the one!"
"No, Ruki–"
But Ruki was already pulling it open, and Amaya leapt towards her to grab her ankle, but instead accidentally bumped her in the back, sending Ruki tumbling down into the dark hole that gaped behind the door. The girl's screams were soon lost in the darkness, and Amaya quickly ran to the entrance, cupping her hands around her mouth to call her name.
"Ruki!" Amaya yelled, peering into the tunnel, and cursing loudly when there was no answer. She sent a fleeting prayer to the heavens, and lightly jumped down into the tunnel, holding her breath at the disgusting stench of garbage that seemed to permeate the air around her.
She was sliding in a large and gross feeling tunnel, so quickly that her eyes watered. There was small cracks in the sides of the tunnel, and through them bright light filtered, showing Amaya glimpses of rooms. Bright steamy baths situated all around the massive first floor, with customers chatting and soaking in comfort. Servants ran everywhere, yelling out orders and requests that were issued by customers.
Then it was darkness again, and Amaya suddenly felt herself colliding with something warm and solid. She was too heavy to remain motionless as the small figure was doing, and so they were sent flying down the tunnel once more.
"Amaya?!"
Amaya clutched at the small girl who she couldn't see in the darkness. "Ruki!"
"Where are we going?"
"I think that this is the garbage chute…"
Ruki gasped, and Amaya would've glared at her if it weren't pointless, seeing as it was pitch-black in the chute. They toppled on top of each other as they entered a sharp curve in the pipe, and Ruki's elbow slammed into Amaya's cheek, making her yelp in pain and annoyance.
"That's why you listen to me when I say not to open something!"
"I'm sorry! I thought that–"
"Well your thinking sucks!"
"Hey, at least I'm not scared of my own shadow when things get weird like this!"
Amaya recoiled, and growled harshly. "Scared? Who's the one who went crying to Mom because she saw a spider in the grass? Oh, wait, I remember! It was you!"
"It was a big spider!"
"It was tiny!"
If Ruki had been about to reply – Amaya could tell in the darkness – a creaking and snapping sound abruptly cut her off. Then, suddenly, the metal beneath Ruki curved and twisted away from Amaya, and she was torn from her sister's grasp.
"Ruki!"
Ruki screamed, her voice loud and piercing in Amaya, and Amaya felt her fingertips brush against Ruki's shirt before her own pipe twisted away, and her little sister was sliding away, her voice echoing in the tight space of the pipe.
"Amaaaaaayyyyaaaaaa!"
"No, Ruki!" Amaya yelled as her sister's voice faded away, and scrambled to stop herself, but the pipe was too slippery, and all she managed to do was spin herself around in a frantic circle. She heard loud voices beneath her, and she was about to yell for help when her flailing foot hit a loose plate of metal that made up the pipe, and she was sent crashing backward as her foot kicked the large piece away.
Amaya was falling, her arms and legs trying to maintain a hold on the pipe as she found that there was nothing solid beneath the pipe. But she lost her grip, and fell with an ear-splitting crash on a large mahogany desk, scattering all of the papers and sending jewels flying everywhere. The wood groaned, and split in two, falling to its side on either side of a thoroughly dazed Amaya.
Amaya felt bruised beyond repair, and she groaned as she sat up, rubbing her poor back with shaking fingers. Small and glittering gemstones of amber clung to her hair, along with pieces of torn and shredded paper. Something sharp was jabbing her in the side, and when she turned to investigate found that it was a large and expensive quill. She was sitting partially on the destroyed desk, partially on a thick carpet. She looked around, blinking rapidly to clear her head, and found two pairs of eyes watching her.
Two pairs of eyes.
One pair was large and greedy, wide with surprise at the unexpected interruption, bulging from the powdered and wrinkled face it resided in.
The other pair was almond shaped, perfectly composed, a color that could not be classified as just green…that was too specific. They were every shade of green imaginable. Shades of impossibly vibrant emerald, jade, and olive glittered within those eyes as they stared at the human girl.