A/N: Apologies for the long time it took for this update. Work has been…most annoying.
Comments: Yes, please. They'd be most appreciated.
Bone White Butterfly: In reply to your question, John and Alvia are childhood friends, hence the familiarity.
Full Circle:
Chapter Two
By the time they reached the gates of Wayne Manor, it was almost evening.
The gates were locked and didn't swing wildly and creak. The building itself which stood aloof and distant at the top of the hill looked ancient, not spooky. That disappointed Alvia, who was expecting something creepier. After all, it was an old place, she said.
"Should we go in?" John's voice was quiet with more than awe.
"What do you think?" Alvia rolled her eyes and smacked his back. "We came all the way here, got stuck in traffic, dealt with a dreg librarian…" She moved towards the gate, checking out its rusted bars that seemed only to enhance the grandeur of its design.
John stopped beside her. "Fine." He grabbed a bar lightly and tested the gate with a few tugs. It didn't move. "Mm…" He tugged harder, and finally pulled it forcefully, breaking the already-weakened lock.
"Lucky you didn't pull the whole gate out," Alvia muttered.
He didn't answer, just started up the winding hill. On foot.
"You're not going to drive up there?"
"What for? We came here to see the Manor, right? Then let's explore every bit we can. Stop complaining, Alvia," John called back, stopping to examine a patch of wild grass.
"Fine."
The way up held nothing spectacular, not even for John, and they hurried along, mindful of the impending gloom of evening.
The Manor was, somehow, less old than they had expected it to look, when they finally reached it. The walls were weather-beaten, but not crumbling. Weeds grew abundantly about, forming a sort of crown so that it was as if the Manor grew out of the land itself.
"Wonder if there's still light."
"No one's paid the bills for years, girl."
"Place like this ought to have a backup generator. I mean, even the poorest of us have that now…kinda."
John shrugged, and tested the door. It was unlocked, and this time, the hinges gave a long squeal from long disuse.
It was evident as soon as they entered that the abandonment of Wayne Manor hadn't been planned: none of the stuff in the hallway had been covered or wrapped up. And as they went slightly deeper and reached the living hall, their guess was confirmed: nothing had been moved at all. Even the glasses and plates that seemed unused hadn't been put away. Broken pieces of china littered a table, and there was a slightly darker stain there that hinted of neglect.
"Wow. Seems like people wanted this place forgotten in a hurry."
"Um hm."
"I think we better hurry up. Sun's setting and we didn't bring any light." Alvia moved forward, past the living hall, turning into another room of sorts. "Meet back here in an hour or something!"
"Yeah, okay."
John took the stairs to the second level.
The hallway leading outside was filled with a soft golden glow, infused with dust particles floating about. The lengthened shadows and diffused edges seemed a testament of the Manor's state before its occupants left it to decay.
"Let's go before the light's all gone." John was subdued, almost depressed.
Alvia tilted her head at him, her dark eyes scrutinizing. "You're not very happy about this part of your history being so neglected, are you?"
"No."
She didn't push further, just took his hand and led the way out.
"Hey, wait. Wait." John tugged his friend to a stop, and pointed to the grandfather clock that stood alone at one stretch of the wall.
Sunlight slit through the space in-between its back and the wall, broken only by four hinges that kept it secured. The clock seemed to tilt forward, as if it wasn't quite placed firmly on the ground.
Without waiting for an agreement, Alvia tugged at the it. The hinges didn't hold, and the whole clock fell forward, startling John into leaping for his friend and pushing them both out of danger.
He shot her a look, then turned his attention to the reinforced-steel door that had been hidden behind the clock. "Think it's locked?"
Alvia shrugged. "Um, try it?"
John pushed against the door, its cool surface matted with many scratches and scars, criss-crossing randomly. It refused to move.
"Heavy stuff." She joined him and they both placed their weight and strength against the door, pushing inwards until both of them were panting with the exertion. "Um, do you think it opens outwards instead?"
"I think so. Slag, we're such idiots."
They searched around for some handle or latch, and found a small one near the top of the door. Alvia pulled it and the door swung outwards easily. "Outwards, heh."
"No light."
"Find a switch or something."
They felt about, patting their palms against the walls hidden in darkness. The surface was uneven and cool, but dry.
John found the switch two steps down and flicked it. The lights flickered on and threw the darkness into shadows, and the sudden harshness of light and dark accentuated the vastness of the cave they found themselves staring at.
"Like, whoa."
"Uh, there's a computer down here?"
"Who were they?" Alvia cast John a look, like he should know. "It's like a whole operating unit here or something."
John descended the steps quickly, almost tripping a few times. He went to the computer first, it being the largest object in the cave, lined up against a cave wall and standing at about ten feet high. He tried a few keys but didn't expect it to work. It didn't.
He jumped when another flood of lights turned themselves on along with the whirring of a…generator?
"Um, sorry. I turned it on." Alvia laughed and shrugged. Then she pointed to his right. "Oh wow…big coin."
"You sound retarded." He laughed as well before turning. "Yeah, huge."
They spent a few minutes just gazing at the coin, before Alvia poked John and said to try the computer. However, the crumbling and frayed power cable dashed their hopes.
Before they could search around for any spares, gentle fluttering above them freaked John out, and he pulled Alvia up towards the stone flight of stairs, up them, and into the main corridor again.
"Damn, I don't like bats."
"So what do we do about this…cave? I really want to know what's in that computer." Alvia led the way out of the Manor, thinking. "You know…we could ask Shea for help…"
John was hesitant. "Yeeaaahhh…I guess…let's go now. I'll call her when I reach home."
"Yeah, okay." She cast one more look back as they walked out, noting the long shadows that seem to speak of the Manor's fall into darkness.
"What do you think, Max?"
"Think what, Matt?" Max sighed and shook her head. "Sorry. Just…still kinda shell-shocked, you know?"
Matt McGinnis played with the almost-empty teacup, clattering it on the table. Without warning, he lifted the cup and smashed it down, spilling the liquid all over, splattering himself with it.
"Hey, chill, kid." Max shifted positions and ruffled the younger man's hair half-heartedly: it wasn't as if she was going whoopy-do, either.
"Like, Terry, just…gone?"
Max couldn't say anything. What was there to say anyway? That Terry would be happier up there? And if there ever was an 'up there,' someone better made sure Terry got in, or she would so kick their asses.
"C'mon, kid, let's just go. I think coming back here isn't going to be nice." She tugged his arm till he rose.
"I hate this place. Never knew why Ter loved staying here so much."
Max sighed and muttered, "Maybe 'cause it was his home."