Danielle's POV
Once the Captain got back to her feet, she led me further into the forest. She didn't say anything, but it looked like she knew what to do. After a while, I noticed that the sound of running water was getting closer and closer. Then I realized what the sound that had been tugging at the back of my mind was, the rustle of table clothe with the width of 3 and half feet and length of 13 feet. Not a few seconds later, we could smell the distinct smell of cakes, tea, fish, and…chips?
Why, chips? I thought. I look up to the Captain who had been silent this whole time, " Hey, Captain…where…"
She stops. " We are here." To any normal person, her voice would seem monotone, but I could detect the sound of displeasure and edge.
I looked ahead of the Captain, even with eyes like mine, it is clear to see. There, in front of us, was a wooden door. Just a wooden door, anything beyond it was forest. It looks normal except for the fact that it was standing on its own. Not weird at all…
" Private Danielle…" she continues.
" Yes, ma'am," she turns to me. Her expression was stoic, but I knew she was uneasy.
" Ask anything you want and assess anything you can. You don't have to have an objective, or better yet, don't have one at all. She will see that and try to divert you at every given chance. She will toy with you with every chance you give her. She loves playing mind games…" The Captain eyes seemed to wonder off behind me, " Don't let her get to you."
They way she said that was slow and seemed like she wasn't talking to me, but as if to reassure herself. She faces forward and walks through the door. I followed her.
With my first steps inside the door, and I couldn't almost believe what I was seeing. Right in front of me, there was a wide field with bright colored grass and crystalized flowers of every possible and impossible color spread out at random. Green colored bushes seemed as more spares as the flowers, but one each of them had at least a dozen butterflies, a few dragonflies, and at least one hummingbird, zipping from the flowers rested on one bush to the next bush of flowers. I go over to the nearest bush and saw that the bush wasn't full. It had a large dip with water half way to the top, sort of like a cup. I scrunch my eyes to see that the water wasn't still, but in it were small little golden fish.
" Private…" says an impatient voice.
I stand up and walk over to the Captain.
" Sorry," I apologize.
" No need," She steps on a golden stepping-stone. Once I had a clearer look, I saw gold stones heading to…I couldn't see that far.
" Follow the yellow stone road," the Captain mumbles.
It wasn't long until I could see the back of the… what would you call it… 'room'? The back was a tall cliff, the shape of a semi-circle, which trees continue the circle. Wait…what? I turned around. Behind me, now I could clearly see that this 'room' was circular, and the trees and cliff was its wall.
" Keep up, Private!" shouted the Captain.
As I caught up, something in the Captain's voice betrayed your blank expression.
" Captain…" I realize " You have been here before." It wasn't a question.
" Yes, the first time, I was like you. The flowers, plants, animals, opposite running waterfall…"
" I knew it!" I said a little too excitedly, "sorry…" I look down sheepishly.
" No, it is alright " she went on, " It is all so beautiful, but I know none of it real. It is just another one of her mind games. She puts on a show of her power, and realistic it all seems, but it isn't real. Just remember that. Whatever she shows you or tells you isn't real."
I look up again. "You are really scared of her, aren't you?"
She doesn't say anything, but raises her hand a points ahead of us. " There is where we are headed."
The Captain's finger points at what looks like a huge willow tree and behind it is the upstream waterfall. The waterfall seems at of place, though. Whitish-blue against a hard dirt brown, but I still liked it. Water running up is different from it falling. It is more hushed, but sweet sounding. It wasn't hard and rough like when water collides with the ground, almost as if it was natural moving upstream.
We soon came to where the Captain was pointing. I could see the expected set table and smell of food was intense. It wasn't until then I remembered I didn't eat breakfast this morning. My stomach rumbled a little louder than I would have like it to.
A small river separated us from the hill on which the table and willow tree rested. The river's water is still and seemed to circle around the hill into the waterfall. We easily jump over it and march up the hill. Once we got on top, we saw our 'host'.
" Welcome!" she exclaimed with arms open wide. She's on top of the table, right smack in the middle. But she doesn't even mind, even while she lifts up a side of her dress, walks to the edge of the table, jumps off, and skip/runs right towards us. She was wearing a white dress with golden lacing. The dress came to her ankles, where she wore no shoe, and had short sleeves that hung just under her shoulders. She wore a golden chocker that had a red rose attached to it, placing it right under her cheek.
" It is so nice to see you, and on time as usual " She says to the Captain as if she didn't put a gun to the Captain's head a few minutes ago, " and you brought a guest. It is very nice for you to come " She says as if we haven't met, " It would be best if we get started. Your other three friends are here, and I am sure they are tired of waiting." She gestures to the three other men that came with us. Two of them where were sitting at the far end side and the other was sitting one chair away from the end chair.
Did she get them too? But how did they get here before us? Why didn't I hear them? My head was spinning like crazy. The British girl seemed to notice. She grabs my hand and pulls me to the table.
" I will answer any of you questions, but first you must eat. You haven't eaten anything today." She winked at me.
" How…" I start.
" Tea first, questions later " she interrupts. The end of the table was backed into the twisting trunk of the willow tree. She sits me in the chair right nearest to her edge seat, " Captain Broschette, you regular seat." She motions to the left nearest to her place, and the Captain sits down calmly. As I sat, I could feel the blue table clothe hovering right above my shoes. In front of me was a china place set. The plates and cups were neat a tan with golden rims. I look at the assortment of food. Cakes, fish, and chips, that was all. I pick up my teacup and see my tea was already poured into it.
" You like it, don't you?" says the girl, plate full of the chips. She picks up a few and pops them in her mouth.
" Like what?"
" The Earl Gray that is in your cup " she says matter fact, "that is your favorite tea."
I nod, pick up the cup, place it to my mouth. The tea was defiantly Earl Gray, with sugar sprinkled in it. Just how I liked it.
" Captain Broschette, please do tell how you got the rank of Captain," she turns to the Captain, " it is such an interesting story, even much so because of your peculiar race. A mixture of human and slitheen wasn't it. I sometimes wonder how that worked out " she laughs, but pauses for a few seconds, " Such a long time ago…" She faces forward and tilts her head to the side, staring into space.
" Umm… miss," I said, not knowing what to call her.
She snapped her head to me, " Captain…" she speed up, " I knew a Captain once. He was quite the good-looking and would hit on anything that had a body. He was like a brother to me," she chuckled, " The story of how he turned up as just a head is sad, but funny. It started on another Christmas in London, where…"
" Bad Wolf…"
" Oh my!" the girl blurts, " Look at the time! Tea is already started and there is a person missing!" She points to the empty chair at the far-left.
" He is late. Always too late," she grumbles. She slouches, with one hand lifting up her head, quite irritated.
" Bad Wolf!"
The girl slowly turns her head to the man next to me. From what I remember his name was Jason.
" Bad Wolf " Jason cleared his throat, " I think it is about time we start with the questioning. The tea and cake is lovely, but we have an objective…"
" Objective…" she says slowly, " Well, of course…" She leans back and lets her head rest on the head of the chair, looking up. She flicks her wrist and all the food and tea disappeared. The blue table clothe remained.
" All right, then," Jason took charge, but I could see the other two men getting prepared. The Captain stayed silent, " I will start with the questions we usually start with."
" Why bother. I gave you the answers already. All you need to do is think," the girl, who, I guess, was named Bad Wolf, spat. Her head was still facing up.
" Yes, well, we will keep asking until you give us a straight answer," says the guy at the far right. I think is name is Ryan.
Bad Wolf rolled her eyes, "Fine."
" Ok, where were you born?" asks Jason.
" Within my mother, even though I came before her." Bad Wolf replies, rolling her eyes again.
" Right," says Ryan, " When were you born."
" At the beginning and at the end. All places in the middle, and nowhere where I don't exist." At the same time, she simultaneously lifted her arm and pointed to different direction with her hand.
" Give us a straight answer, dammit!" yells the far left man, David. His face was pure red, and his hands are clenched.
The Bad Wolf snaps her head back and looks at David. Her express was wild, her leering grin wide, blonde hair covering one golden eye, while the other glowed with excitement, " Temper, temper, little David. Mama never liked it. Isn't that the reason why she put you in that big bad house."
" Why you!" shouts David, standing up.
" Third lieutenant David, hold you tongue and sit down!" barks the Captain. Everything turns silent, and everyone except Bad Wolf looks at her. Bad Wolf was instead looking at me. Her face not as wild as before, but her uncovered eye looked as if she wanted to eat me. No, not even. Her stare was of a person who wanted to devoir your whole existence, and something in me knew that she could do it too.
The Captain cleared her throat and looks at Jason, " Continue."
Jason nods, " Alright, let's make this simple. Who or what are you?"
Bad Wolf looks at Jason, but her face is completely blank, " Three times you came here, and of this fourth time, I will tell you once again. I am many things, but what I am not is apart of you. I stand outside of you, of all of you. I am a wonderer, but I being with held. Part of me is missing, and I want it back, but I can't have it without losing myself. I have picked up a hitchhiker, who I can't be without. To fill one whole, I must get rid of myself." Her blank grin turned into a distorted smirk. "What I am, First Lieutenant Jason, son of the house of Ares, a lost young boy, who ran away only at the age of thirteen, because old daddy was a bloody tyrant, and who knew he would be assassinated that year. You were glad weren't you? You were glad that bloody murderer got what he deserved, just because someone strange man tells you that person who killed your poor mum, was indeed in fact..."
" THAT IS ENOUGH!" yells Ryan. He is standing up, his face all red.
The Bad Wolf's eyes traveled from Jason to Ryan, " Protecting your boyfriend. How sweet, considering the hideous feud between both of your families."
" I said, SHUT UP!" Ryan bangs the table with his fist.
" Ryan," Jason says calmly. Ryan looks at him. Ryan was on the verge of tears. Jason stands up and takes him into a hug, " I am o.k, really. It is fine; we already knew she knows about us. Don't cry and be strong,"
Ryan nods and Jason lets him go. They both sit back down. All the while, Bad Wolf looks bored, David looks like…David, Captain is blank as ever, and I am shocked. How could she have known all that about them? This was only there fourth meeting, right?
" Please, continue," Jason says.
Not looking interested anymore, Bad Wolf replies shortly, " In short, I am lost."
Jason nods.
" I hope you got all that, you're going to need it." She says, looking at Ryan.
Ryan nods and holds up a tape recorder.
" Alright, I guess it is time that you lea…" Bad Wolf starts getting up.
Wait! I have so many questions! I thought, so I had to stop her.
" Why blue?" I ask quickly. Everyone turn their heads to me.
" Wait?" The Bad Wolf voice raised. She seemed angry, but her voice was portraying something else.
" I mean why is the table clothe blue? That is a funny color for a tea party." I giggle nervously.
Bad Wolf stares at me, wonder in her eyes. Then she bursts with a whole hearty laugh; her tongue in between her teeth. She sits down.
" Very observant aren't you, sliverling. So human, so deceiving. You are a wonder." She laughs again.
" Well, why?" I try again. I didn't get much from her, and I was determined to do what I was sent for.
She looks at me. Her expression completely sane. No wild smile, no piercing eyes. Her lips pressed together, as if trying to decide something. " Fine, I will answer your questions, but on one condition. For your leave, you and I must play a little game."
" No" the Captain finally speaks, " She will ask the questions, but I will play your game There is no way I am letting you ensnare this child..."
" You got to play three times, already, and I am afraid this will be the last time we play this game," Bad Wolf interrupts. She slows her speech just a little, " You got your turn. Play nice and let someone else try. Or else… " Her eyes seemed to glow just a little bit brighter.
The Captain turns away.
" Good," she turns to me, her eyes returning back to normal, " I am all yours."
" O.k. Well, why blue? Is it your favorite color or something?" I start. I try to sound all happy, so that my terror doesn't shine through.
She smiles kindly, a respond to my almost to happy peppiness, " It is part of fond memories I have gained. They are not mine, but they belong to me all the same."
" What sort of memories?"
" Of a mad man in a box " Her smile and voice grew a little sad, " traveling everywhere he could think of."
I grinned, " Did you love him?"
She blushed, " Next…"
I laugh. She just looks down.
" I am guessing you like chips?"
" Well… yes" she thought, " I guess I do. I don't usually eat, but I like them."
" What is your dream job," David gave me a questioning look, " Or something…"
She glares at David and he stops looking at me.
" Well, I never thought about it, but I thought I would always travel. I don't want to become something ordinary, but I did dream of becoming a Smith. I do like Tylers though. I know very well that they are quite the spunkiest of people. I am a Tyler after all."
"Oh," I nod. " Would you rather swim or run?"
" Defiantly run," she laughs again.
" Are you super smart or something?"
" What do you mean?" Her expression was confused.
I think I see. I think.
" I mean, how are you able to know all these things about us, even though you haven't met us before?" My voice squeaked at the end. I knew this was going to be horrible.
" Oh, I see," The Bad Wolf's face grew dark again, " You want to know how I know things about people, even the stuff they keep, looked up in a small chest with silver chains tied to it, under their beds. When they don't know what is in the first place, and are too scared to open it."
" What…" My eyes widen. How did she know about…?
" Well, let me tell you, Private Danielle." She leaned across the table, just close enough for me to hear her, " You should be scared. For that thing inside your box will change your whole life, and the lives of many others. If this is one of the universes I think we are in, once you open that box, you will be replaced and the wolf shall gobble you up. Putting an end do your life, once and for all."
I jump out of my seat and right to the ground. She was still staring at me. Just then I felt something. Something inside being grabbed and pulled right out of my body.
Then a bell started to toll.
DONG…
DONG…
DONG…
DONG…
Bad Wolf looks up in the sky.
" It is that late, already," she whispers.
My ears where ringing, and I couldn't tell where the bell was coming from. I was too scared. If she knew about the past others, did she know about their futures, as well. What was that feeling? I am going to die?
" I am sorry" she looks back at me, " but we don't have anymore time left. We need to play the game now."
"O.k," I nod, chocking on the words, " Wwee…we shall…continue," I stop. Two stop fingers pull my chin up. Her face is so close to mine.
She shook her head and smile, " I am sorry, but this will be the last time, any of you will come to this place."
" What do you mean?" David gets up, " we are scheduled for tomorrow."
Everyone else, except Bad Wolf and I, gets up, as well.
" You won't come back," she says again, but a little more sternly. She
" Why not?" says David, his voice was a little calmer.
" Stop," says the Captain, " we are under orders, to leave immediately after the second bell tolls. It is from Master Control."
Everyone stays quite.
Bad wolf places one hand on my forehead, while leaving the other two fingers at my chin.
" This game shall be easy, since we are out of time. I want you to say my name,"
" Bad Wolf?" I say slowly.
She chuckles. " No, my other name. Close your eyes. Imagine you're down a hallway, with a million of doors on each side. Those are your memories. Close any doors that you don't want me to see."
I closed my eyes, and suddenly appear in a long hallway. Each side had doors, as far as I could see. These are my memoires, right…
I hear someone chuckle.
" I see you don't want me to see anything…" Bad Wolf's voice echoed.
I look around, but no one is there.
" I am speaking from the outside. Follow my instructions carefully. Alright, think of the time from you crossed the creek and to the moment I touched you chin. Have it behind a door, and call for it."
I closed my eyes (weird, because I was closing my eyes, inside my head). I remember the upstream river and the soft, gentle touch of the Bad Wolf's fingers. I open my eyes again and there is a door in front of me.
" Good. Now, here is the game," Bad Wolf's voice had sort of glee, " Pick two things from this memory. They are my name. Once you find them, the game will be over, and you can go home."
I open the door and walk through. In front of my the select scene plays out. Starting from the moment the Bad Wolf jumps welcomes us.
" Hey," I look around, " How do I know what two things."
There was no response.
" Bad Wolf," I call. No response, " BAD WOLF!"
All was quite except for the playing scene.
Alright, I thought, pick two things that could be her name. Well, how will I do that? She couldn't have given me a hint or…
"…but I did dream of becoming a Smith. I do like Tylers though. I know very well that they are quite the spunkiest of people…" repeats the memory Bad Wolf.
I turn around, and run to the memory table. Wait…
The memory Bad Wolf turns to me.
" I am a Tyler after all…"
The Bad Wolf looks back at the memory me.
How did that happen? It was as if she was talking directly to me. No, wait she was. My mind was racing like crazy. O.k slow down. What did she say? "I am a Tyler…" Wait… that is what she meant. She was talking about her other self. So her other self is a Tyler. Tyler sounds like a last name. Next to find her first…
Then I saw it. A faint shining glow coming from memory Bad Wolf. The glow rested on her neck near the rose… rose… Rose! That was it. The name was Rose Tyler.
Everything went white. I looked around and nothing. Everything was just pure white. Suddenly a golden blur was coming from a distance. It soon got closer and closer, appearing right in front of me. I squinted my eyes and saw the brightness actually had a figure. It was a wolf. A golden wolf standing right in front of me. What was going on? The golden wolf smiled and jumped at me. Everything turned black.
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