Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Forbidden Game story or characters.
Ancestor's POV
"Where have you been?" I yelled. "Sorry. It took us a little while to get her to not run." The small female shadow man retorted. "Us? Why did you need help? You should be punished just for that!" I argued. "Someone give me the rune stave! This girl needs to learn what happens when you don't take orders!" I wasn't going to let her get away with this. This is the eleventh time that she needed help from Xavier. If she needs this much help then I shouldn't bother with her anymore. "Please wait Great Ancestor! I came along on my own free will. I decided I would help, though it seems as though she didn't need it. I was being a pest and decided that I would come along." The boy pleaded.
"Well than why are you carrying that girl? Could she not keep hold of her?" I glowered at him. That pesky Annie wasn't worth his excuses. "I didn't expect her to have enough skill to keep hold of her, so I decided to carry her here. Letting her walk would've led to her running away after all." I scoffed. "Don't be so arrogant."
Another shadow man carried the rune stave to me. I motioned for him to stop. "Fine. She won't be punished this time since it was your doing. You on the other hand will be punished, though we wont erase you, you will get what's coming to you. As your punishment you will go to the fair grounds. Await the harsh measurements we will take on you there. You may go." He bowed slightly before turning to leave. "But, leave her here." After pausing Xavier dropped the girl and exited the room. Annie went to follow. "And just where do you think you're going? You stay." She slouched. "Can't I leave. This is sooo boring! I just want to go out for a little while." She grinned. What a nuisance. "No. You're staying here, or do you want to disobey orders? The rune stave is still here, and your friend is gone. I could mark you out without any trouble. You wouldn't be able to wriggle your way out of this one."
She frowned. "I can't disobey you. I'd die. So fine. I'll stay and be bored to death. Better than dying because my name got marked off a piece of wood. That's just pathetic." She whined. How annoying.
"So you're Julie. What a awfully wretched name. We should do something about that. Give you a different name."
"Well thanks for the compliment you psychopathic freaking unicorn." She said referring to the horn sticking out of the back of my head. "Insolence. We will have to do something about that. For now I have to inform you of something."
"Yes. Something indeed."
"Something it is."
"You will be one of us."
"A shadow man you see."
"Silence!" I shouted above the rest. "I will be the one to speak. Now be quiet!" They left it at that.
"You will learn the ways of the Shadow Men. You will be our ally. All you must do is obey our orders." She scorned. "Listen to you? Why should I? You don't scare me! You may be grotesque but that doesn't matter! You're just some kidnapping freaks!" We laughed.
" 'Freaks' she says!"
"She said 'Freaks'!"
"What a funny word to describe us with. We aren't ordinary. We know. Though you aren't either. So why not join us in our abnormalities? Sounds like a good deal. Doesn't it?"
"A good deal that is." I agreed. "So why not take it." I extended my shriveled, furry hand towards her. She just stared.
"No."
We kept silent. "Should I rephrase my statement? I said no. Why should I? Because you'll kill me if I don't? Well go ahead! I dare you! Kill me! Just remember that I can protect myself since I'm a witch." She provoked us. "You wouldn't be able to touch us. You can't even use your powers yet. Can you?" She blinked. "Now, do you wish to disobey us to a higher level of ignorance?" Glaring she stomped her foot. She only clutched her book tighter as she spoke the words, "Ignorance only comes to those foolish! Those fools make their way in life with their ignorance. Only fools can come at things like you and not be afraid, reckless, yet still live. So I will relish in my foolishness and continue against you who call us fools ignorant!" Some rose before I signaled for them to calm.
"Alright. Be persistent in this. In that case, you may carry yourself and your foolishness to the fair grounds." Others just joined in my idea. A genius idea it was. She would have no idea until she entered. Once that occurred, she would surely choose to join us over living in there for eternity.
"Lead her away Annie. You should know full well where it is. Or will you need Xavier's assistance this time as well?" I taunted the small shadow man. "I'm fine on my own!" Hollering this at us as she turned her back to us in a disrespectful manner. "Let's go, girl." She grabbed the witch's upper arm and left.
As the two left the room went in an uproar.
"How dare she say those things!"
"Those things she said! How dare she!"
"Though the fair grounds will teach her a lesson."
"A lesson she will learn at the fair grounds."
"Foolishness is ignorance."
"Ignorance is foolishness."
"No. Foolishness and Ignorance will never be the same." I joined.
"Ignorance and Foolishness forever apart?"
"What separates the two?"
"How do the two separate?"
"Foolishness leading to a path of success and ignorance leading to demise."
"Demise is what she shall gain."
"Gaining demise is what she'll do."
Laughter shattered through my head as we all laughed at this young witch and her ignorance.
Julie's POV
I only followed without struggle as she walked on. "So what exactly is so threatening about these 'fair grounds' they were talking about?" I gave air quotations. "Speaking of them, what are they?" She was silent. "Hey, are you ignoring me? Answer my questions. Hey!" I grabbed her shoulder, only to get thrown into a nearby wall.
"Don't touch me." She hissed. Her personality swiftly changed. "I don't have to answer your questions. You hear? You just need to sit back and let everyone else deal with this. Now be a good girl and shut up." She pushed away and left me to push myself off the wall. I could feel warm liquid trail down my spine. If I didn't know any better than my first thought would be blood. Little did I know that it was.
We entered a deserted place. It gave chills up my spine. I could only stare.
This place I'm guessing to be the fair grounds. In front of me was a ticket booth, ahead of that a pond. It seemed swampy almost. All around us was mist. Seeing far in front of us was a flat out no. This place is..."Awesome..." I thought aloud. Annie jerked her head towards me. "What? How on earth can you consider this dump 'awesome?'" As I turned in dizzy circles I explained. "I love things like this. All dark and mystifying. It's amazing. I always love a good thrill, and so far my weekend has been worth a whole life time of thrills. I don't think I could ever live life as a normal person. I imagine it to be way too boring." I spoke in awe. "Alright. Well then have fun." She waved as she walked away.
"What?"
"I'm gone. I was told to lead you here and that's what I did. See ya." She laughed walking calmly away. "Hey, wait!" I chased in her direction only to catch a glimpse of her before the mist reached my palm. I tripped over my own feet to my knees. My fist was thrown to the pavement, he other still miraculously keeping hold of the novel. "This was far from what I expected."
"My life was so normal and boring, without a single thing gone wrong. Now everything is a mess and I can't fix any of it. At least I know I'll never be bored." I glanced at my surroundings. "Who said fairs were just for little kids?" Standing I took a moment to decide where to go. "What better way then straight ahead?"
Xavier's POV
I watched her as she walked around aimlessly. 'Dumb witch...what is she supposed to do to help us? The only logical reason for her arriving here is because the woman that my elder brother, Julian, loved came here once as well. When the ancestors discovered she gave birth to a witch, they decided to force her here. I personally think we should just kill her quickly and get this over and done with. I can't fathom what they were thinking when choosing this...' I continued to follow as she walked. 'This...this odd girl." Speaking of odd, the girl didn't seem frightened in the least. She almost acted as if she...enjoyed it here. How? This place is Hell. Speaking of which, my 'punishment' should be getting here soon...
I swiftly located a nearby table and sat to await my oncoming doom. Maybe 'doom' was a little dramatic sounding, though with these devils, the word is an understatement.
Soon the girl's silhouette was out of my view. Nothing was left to preoccupy my sight, which may be gone soon due to the wrath the Ancestors may inflict upon me. Once, they beat me until they could see the meat beneath my skin. I wouldn't dare dismiss myself from the wood's camouflage for such a long period of time. The torture continued from the first time on. That first time...I hated it. From then on it became almost monotonous. Similar each time. Though as I grew older, they became less lenient with the actions I took. The main cause was to protect Annie from a similar pain as mine. Only few occasions would it be my own fault. Never did I once assume this when I was young, but the reason could also be the Ancestors just getting their kicks our of it. We Shadow men are such violent beings. It comes as a sixth sense to ourselves to become a violent beast. How it pains me to imagine Annie as one of those wretched creatures. Unfortunately, our blood doesn't allow otherwise. For centuries it has been this way and it will for many more and on. Repetition is something I hate. My molecule of a life is overridden by it though. Just my luck.
After what seemed as hours of nothing I became exhausted. My sight flickered from black to correct vision, and soon I was unable to open my eyes at all. Leaning back in a chair I felt relaxed and let myself drift into a rest...
The boy let out a scream as they continued to attack him. "Please! Stop! Please don't kill me!" He continued his shrill screams once noticing that his words made no effect. "You shouldn't disobey us. This time we won't be as hard on you, but at least you now know the consequences of your choices." Tears continued to stream down the child's face. His flesh felt as if it were in flames. The sting left behind from their offense was worse than he'd ever imagined. They continued to pull his arms and beat against his skin. He couldn't even open his eyes. There were too many tears for him to see. No doubt he wouldn't want to see this. His body soaked in blood and littered with bruises. He continued his sobs as the pain began to slow. Not only did he learn what it felt like to be in agonizing anguish, but it continued on throughout his years.
Awakening from my nightmare I panted for breath. Hatred overwhelmed me.
"Why...Why does it have to be this way?" I placed a hand over my face and the other gripped my chest. "I shouldn't be letting this continue on...but I can't do a single thing about it..." I despised myself for allowing this Hellish torment to continue. My existence should be worth more than this. Right? Though, if it was really worth more than this...then why does this continue? I suppose this proves my insignificance. This is the only sign I need to realize this. I still don't want to believe it though. To bad I can't believe in anything else. What is there to believe in? This is all I have. Nothing more.
"Are you ready for your punishment Xavier?" I froze. Taking a breath I answered.
"Yes."
Dee's POV
"Come on boys! You have to be better than that!" I hollered towards the kids. They weren't my kids of course. Heck no. These were just some kids who decided to join the karate class I teach. I know. I'm just that epic that I get to teach karate. No need for applause.
"That's right! Get him Timothy! Hey, you gotta hold up better than that Joshua! And you too-" A ringing from my cell stopped me mid-sentence. "Damn. Who is it this time?" I went to grab my cell and saw the caller ID. "Jenny!" Without a second thought I flipped open my phone and answered. "Hey, girl. It's been a while. What's up?"
"Julie...she...she's.." Jenny sounded as if she was bawling. "Whoa. Jenny calm down. Now what about Julie?" Jenny took in a breath on the other line. "Julie...she's been...me and Tom think she's been taken!" I stood swiftly. "She what!" The kids stopped what they were doing and stared. "Don't stop. Keep training!" The kids went back to work. "Well...Tom and I just got here. To my Grandfather's house...and...and that door...it was open Dee..." My eyes were wide.
I always wanted to talk to my old friends again at some point. To tell them that I've been doing good and to ask how their lives have been. This deal about my best friends kid getting taken was not what I wanted to hear.
"Okay Jenny. Just calm down. You're back in Pennsylvania, right? I'll get there as soon as possible. Kay? Have you go in touch with anyone else?" I ran while talking to Jenny. "Hey kids! Go home okay! I'll be gone for a few days so call your parents and leave! Okay?" I ran out with my things without even waiting for a response. "Lock the door Tim!" I threw Timothy the keys.
"No. Not yet. But please hurry Dee...I know we'll need your help..."
"I'm on my way! Don't move, 'kay?" I looked ahead. "Yo! Can someone give me a lift here? It's an emergency!" A taxi pulled over. "But your in California still. Right Dee?" I slammed my door shut. "Doesn't mean I can't come. Hey, drive! Mariposa street! Now! Go!"
"Dee, you live on my old street?" I calmed my breath. "Yeah, well, I like the neighborhood and some nice people live there. Not the point." I shook my head. "Audrey and Michael still live here so I'm gonna to get them too. Kay?" I could hear Tom in the background. "That's fine Dee! Just hurry it up!" Tom called. "Shut it Tom! I'm talkin' to Jenny!" I called back.
"Alright. Well I'll let you go. We're going to try to do what we can."
"What about your brother and Summer?" No one said a word. "I'll try to get in contact with them. See you Dee." She hung up. "But Jenny-! Dammit...Faster driver! Faster!" The driver looked annoyed, but still sped up. 'Dammit Jenny. Don't you know? Your brother...he's not in the best state right now...he can't be if he's in an insane asylum...'
Author's note: What's going on? What's going to happen to Xavier? What's going to happen to everyone else? And why is Zach in an Insane Asylum? Find out in the next chapter of 'Shadow Witch'