The Gates chapter 2

Here is chapter 2 of the Gates! Now things should be getting a little clearer or interesting in this one but who knows for sure.

Benny: You should know. It's your story.

Maybe but sometimes a story can take a voice of its own. So I'll reply to a couple comments.

tigerlover101- Yeah, the Gates and its prequel/companion the Purgatory are both based on the Ed, Edd n Eddy cartoon theory.

vaporwave babe- I'm glad you're excited. I aim to please everyone.

Benny: That's the biggest understatement I've ever heard in my life.

I doubt it, Benny. Now let's get this chapter started!

The four children and the angel suddenly materialized in a flash of white light in the middle of a cul-de-sac with several homes on each side of the street. The cul-de-sac appeared like any other ordinary American suburb. However, there was a meager eerie feel in the area. It wasn't frightening but it still managed to unconsciously send chills down a person's back.

Jonny looked at a small green house with a wooden roof and said "That's our house, Plank! I don't remember leaving it, though."

Zachary responded with "When you five left your homes, you must have somehow gone through the Stream into the overworld. It does happen but it's mostly rare. The last time I've seen it happen…"

Zachary let his response hang off as he looked somewhat uncomfortably at his hands. Nazz and Eddward, in particular, felt uncomfortable and mildly awkward as a result of this action. Jonny, Rolf and Ed seemed unaffected and in Ed's case, curious at Zachary's response.

Ed asked "Mister Zachary, what's the Stream?"

Zachary answered "Well, Ed, the Stream is the gap between this place and Earth. In other words, it's like a train station or airport. People pass through it but the Stream is also a world in itself. I've rarely ventured into or through it over the years."

Nazz asked "So why did we all end up here?"

Zachary replied "You all ended up here due to one event or another that occurred prior to or during your deaths. I can't actually tell you any more than that, I'm afraid."

Eddward looked around the cul-de-sac and said "This feels peculiar. I feel like there's something or someone missing in all of this."

Rolf replied "I agree with Hat-wearing-Ed-boy. There is a space as wide as Nana's old bull here."

A young boy of about 13 years of age slowly walked out into the cul-de-sac from his home. The boy had black hair and brown eyes. He wore a yellow long-sleeved cotton dress shirt and long black pants with ankle socks and leather shoes.

The boy said "What's going on here?"

Zachary answered "Just a simple return back here. Eduardo Johnson, I presume?"

Eduardo's eyes narrowed as he responded with "The name's Eddy. Only person that calls me Eduardo are teachers and my folks."

Eddy continued "How do you know my name anyway? Are you a copper?"

Zachary answered "No, I'm an angel, actually. I know your name the same way I know theirs."

Eddward replied "What Mr. Zachary is trying to say is that we are unfortunately deceased and this is apparently a sort of residency until we could ascend to Heaven. I have a hard time believing so but what I've seen thus far says otherwise partially."

Eddy's eyes then widened as he took a step backwards in what appeared to be shock. His mouth almost opened wide before Eddy quickly regained his composure.

Eddy said "There's no way that I'm dead. I'm 13 and I'll be at Peach Creek High School next fall."

Eddward replied "I'm supposed to be at Peach Creek High School this fall. I was supposed to be part of the class of 2002."

Eddy's eyebrows rose before he responded with "Class of 2002? Maybe for you but for me, I'm gonna be part of the class of 1945."

Zachary said "The year, boys, is actually 2015. I hope that would be more than enough proof to satisfy your skepticism, Eddy."

Eddy replied "I guess so. But if that's true, then how do we get out of here?"

Zachary said in a low tone "I'm afraid you don't. Eddward left out a detail that I admittedly forgot to say myself. This world is a sort of holding cell in between Earth, Heaven, the Stream and Hell. That's why most angels including myself refer to it as the Abyss."

Ed said "It is really quiet. I think my sister, Sarah's here too. We've been almost always together."

Zachary responded with "I hope for your sake, Ed that she isn't actually here."

Nazz replied "Yeah, dude, this place is starting to give me the creeps with everything we've heard."

Eddy asked "I think the big question is what we are going to do now that we're here? We're stuck here unless we can do something. I can but I don't know about you bunch of crumbs."

Rolf answered "Crumbs? What are these crumbs you speak of, fancy-Ed-boy?"

Eddward replied "I don't think there is anything we can do, Eddy apart from trying to do the best we can in these circumstances."

Eddy snorted and responded with "Easy for you to say, Sockhead. I'm dead, poor and my family's probably relaxing up in some other place like Heaven while I'm stuck in a lifelong nightmare with no friends, no girls, nothing."

Jonny replied "This sounds like something we could solve, right, Plank?" as he looked at the smiling piece of wood.

Eddy said "I could help you two. You know, for a price." with a grin having appeared on his face.

Jonny stuck his hands into the pockets of his hands and replied "You got a deal, pal!" before he stuck his hand for Eddy to shake.

Eddy shook it as Eddward and Zachary looked on in surprise. Ed appeared confused while Nazz and Rolf looked indifferent. Eddy looked around the cul-de-sac before he noticed that the cul-de-sac led into a larger area.

Eddy asked "Hey, fluffy wings, how big is this place? It's almost like a town."

Zachary answered "My name is Zachary, Eddy. The cul-de-sac itself isn't that large but the realm also includes a nearby forest and river along with the surrounding community and a trailer park."

Eddward interrupted with a curious look on his face as he said "Excuse me, Mr. Zachary but if I understand correctly, the cul-de-sac doesn't include any other areas but is an area in itself."

Zachary nodded and stated "Yes, Eddward, it is."

The conversation was interrupted shortly after by a shout of "Ed!"

Ed replied loudly "Sarah! Where are you?"

Sarah said "I'm over here, you big lump."

Sarah appeared to be about 11 or 12. She had red hair and green eyes which was actually the opposite of Ed's appearance. She wore a light blue dress with ballet flats and she also had a red hair band. Her arms were crossed and she had a scowl on her face.

Eddy asked "That's your sister, Ed? She's a loud, little shrimp, isn't she?"

Sarah answered "Yeah, I'm his sister and who are you calling a shrimp?"

Nazz said "Hey, can everybody just chill out? Things aren't going well but that doesn't mean we should put each other down."

Sarah's eyes narrowed as she replied "Who are you?"

Nazz responded calmly with "I'm Nazz. Nice to meet you."

Sarah said curtly "I'm Sarah." before she turned her attention back to Ed.

Sarah said angrily "You're supposed to be watching me, Ed! Mom said so and if you don't do what I say, I'll tell on you." before a sinister smile appeared on her face.

Ed looked sad but didn't divulge to his sister the reason as he merely replied "Yes, Sarah."

Nazz looked behind Sarah and asked "Who's that?"

The person Nazz had seen behind Sarah was a small, very slim boy of 11 years of age. The boy had curly blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a blue shirt under a red jacket and jeans with a pair of worn Converse sneakers. He looked pale to the point of being sickly.

Sarah nodded her head back in that direction and answered "That's Jimmy. He's my new friend and he's 11."

Jimmy looked up nervously and said lowly and quietly "Hi."

Ed smiled widely and responded with "Hiya, neighbor! I'm Ed!"

Eddward said "Greetings Jimmy. I'm Eddward."

A young man of about 14 years of age appeared not far from where Nazz and Rolf were. He had red hair and green eyes and wore a red cap backwards on his head. He wore a green T-shirt and jeans with a pair of Jordans.

The boy said "Hey. What's going on here?"

Eddy replied "Just a small thing, kid. Nothing for you to worry about."

The boy's eyes narrowed as he responded with "It's my business, shorty. Now who do you think you are?"

Eddy smirked and said "I'm Eddy. Who are you?"

The boy replied "I'm Kevin Lanston, dork. Biggest rebel in all of Peach Creek."

Eddy's eyebrows rose as he prepared to make a verbal comeback. But Zachary glared at him so Eddy ceased and settled for glaring at Kevin.