Missing
Chapter Eleven: The Last Victorian Scream
She released his arm, liberating him to the mercy of an air that nipped harder at his pink skin. With a deafening boom the massive front doors to the oversized Gothic cathedral crashed open, inward. The redhead strode inside with defiance, snow now exploding in behind her, and Timmy hunched over at her heels. People stared, wide eyed, silent. They not only pointed at Vicky, they also took note of the boy pacing up to her side.
"Y-you mean there is one, and here? Vicky?" the youth put forth, not quite sure what to make of her revelation; and for good reason fearful of all the recognition he was receiving.
"Sort of here, yes," she stated simply, "But never mind that now, to get it we first have to face off with someone else," they passed through another set of heavy ornate doors, which had burst inward for their continued trail blazing, "I didn't think we would get to this subject so soon, you know. But now I can't think to do anything else. What a night of surprises."
"Wait, if it isn't here then what is? I mean, why show me off now when we were just hi-"
"Damn it twerp, what did I tell you about stupid questions?" she scratched at the back of her head in frustration, stared angrily at him, then puffed out a rather gnashing sigh, "Fine, I'll make it simple. Out there you are wanted because I didn't have anything officially changed yet. In here, however, they know better. You'll see soon enough, come on."
Further and further they walked, deep into the building's monstrous innards. Vicky seemed to think using the elevator was pointless. Not that he complained though, the last time he had been on that jolt educing contraption he had feared for his life. Still, there were far too many stairs for his liking. Wherever they went people ducked out of their way. All that could be heard where whispers and foot steps, their foot steps.
At last they came before an ordinary, indescriptive iron grate elevator. Timmy took note of the lack of people in this vicinity before speaking his mind, "We went up all those stairs to use an elevator?"
"A special elevator," she pressed a button on the wall and the grates grinded open, "You see, none of the other elevators stop on this particular floor, nor can they reach the floor we are about to travel down to," she ushered him inside before stepping lightly to the operating buttons with in, "And it can only be operated by me. You are about to see a place that only I have seen, Timmy. Please stay calm… if you can."
A smile danced about her lips as she ordered the elevator down. The grates closed with a clang and the decent began. This was much more pleasant a ride than the last metal box hosted, though he had to admit the atmosphere did tickled the back of his neck with an eerie flush. Down, down, down. They must have traveled well past the foundations of the gargantuan building by now, yet still on they went. Not until Timmy was about to ask how much farther did a small bell chime and the grates reopened. Glad for any reason to evacuate a puny enclosed space with Vicky, he trotted out and stretched.
He had begun to wonder what time it was when a light struck the pair from above. After a few hard blinks Timmy could see that it wasn't just one light, but many falling down upon a long stretched out path before them. Vicky took his hand in hers and began moving forward.
"Since I know you are just brimming with questions," Vicky said to the boy, "I'll explain a little more," they were heading toward something small and far off, apparently at the end of this hidden road, "I lied earlier about what I was doing when I left today. Well, more like I didn't tell you the entire story. I came here, as you might have guessed by now. I had my suspicions about one of the gods but wanted to confirm my thoughts with another mind, one I thought I could trust; my own from this time, the Overlord."
She smiled and paused for dramatic emphasis, but seeing that Timmy just gawked at her, she scoffed some and continued in an annoyed tone, "But she found me to be a threat and wanted to do away with me. Well, I couldn't have that, so I challenged her. I wagered her kingdom and right to rule for the power over time. We dueled, fiercely, but I have all and more of her knowledge of battle, and a younger body to hold it. Though it wasn't easy, I came out on top and ripped the command chip out of her wrist."
Timmy was now wide eyed. This explained the real reason why Tootie's discovery of him didn't trouble his captor. And her sudden seeming forgiveness of his brash attitude with her this morning. She had forgotten all about it until he said something! "So… you killed yourself?"
"I was going to, yeah. But seeing as it was me, I decided to give her some mercy. A last meal, which she has already devoured, and also a final request; can you guess what that last one was?"
Timmy had to think long and hard on her question. They passed under many lights before he came up with something he was sure she wouldn't dislike, "Did she want to see me?"
She stared at Timmy, almost dumbfounded, obviously not expecting him to answer her with that. A distant forlorn gargled sound from up ahead, which unsettled whatever confidence the young man had just gained, had to be issued before she would say anything again, "What?... Oh wow, you're right on the mark. How did you figure that out?" She looked positively shocked!
"I though about what Tootie had told me today. Vicky, um, I mean she was looking for me and killed people when they didn't have answers. I think I must have still been on her mind," for some reason answering her honestly made him feel first-rate, though if that was because her efforts were paying off, or just that he was a good kid still, he didn't know.
"Huh, I didn't consider that… Ah well, this just proves how much you have developed! Cool, I was starting to worry that you had become untreatable. You always are full of surprises, aren't ya twerp?" She let go of his hand and nudged him on his arm, rather too roughly, but he understood that she was praising him so he didn't complain.
Even though he was able to piece together in their conversation what they were heading to, the sight was not any less miserable to Timmy's eyes. There she hung, limp, knees on the ground and arms slung up high, the once great leader of the so-called free nations of the world, Overlord Victoria. All decorations had been torn off of her military attire, the hat was missing, and her hair was in shambles. He could see dry blood stained sharply down her right arm, which was missing a sleeve. With a pang in his heart he realized that he felt sorry for her, chained up in a state to which he had not too long ago been in himself. Those chains… Hold on a second!
"Vicky!" the boy whispered in shock, "Are those my living chains?!"
The younger Vicky cooed in her laughter, "That's right, I bet it makes you happy to see me all restrained like this, rather than you, huh?"
No, it didn't make him happy at all. In fact, though by all accounts he should be leaping with joy, this made him feel quite sick. "I don't understand," he said as the bound up woman began to stir, probably because of their voices, "Even if she found you out, why do all this? She is you too, isn't she?"
"Not anymore, no; though we react and think in much the same ways, I'm the better version. I realized after defeating this old version of myself that I didn't need consolation about the Gods. You tend to realize a lot of funny things once you conquer yourself, Timmy, I might have you do it one day."
He did not look forward to such a prospect, to say the least. However, all thoughts of what it would be like to do battle with a future version of himself seemed to drift away when the fallen dictator spoke, her voice weak and battered, but some of her spirit still remaining, "Timmy… I hear you…"
There, his heart was being a dumb ass again, wanting him to feel sorry and even comfort this monstrous woman. He cringed as she began speaking; her words separated by long, shallow breaths, lifting her head slightly she whispered, "It's hard to see… can you… come closer?" Her eyes were blackened, bruised, and red rimmed. Welts, probably from scratches by the look of them, had formed over her left cheek.
Timmy looked to his warden for guidance on what to do now. Not because he wanted her commands to follow, but rather he was avoidant of a beating. She gestured for him to go over to the shackled ruined mess, and he obeyed.
"You really are him… right?" Victoria had tears running down her face, what had Vicky done to break this over powered woman so? "Look at you… so handsome, so sweet. I… I knew you were real. I had thought that I had gone mad… No one else seemed to remember you being there… You remember? The party?..."
"Yes," Timmy confirmed, this feeling at the bottom of his stomach was new to him, unidentifiable and painful.
"I wanted to know before I died… But now I do… I spent years obsessing… I think I fell in love with you, with the idea of you… I hated you and loved you… I hated that I loved you… Do I sound stupid?"
"A little, yeah," he laughed, why had he laughed? Why had it sounded so sad?
She laughed in that same sad way, "I know I must… I made a huge mistake, could you ever forgive me? I should have never… if I only knew how beautiful you would grow up to be… It hurts… Timmy, it hurts…"
"I'm sorry," He didn't know what else he could say, what else he could do. Even though she was hardly making any sense, it still felt important to listen to every word she had to say.
"It's not your fault… not really… I missed you, Timmy… I had the whole world, but it meant nothing… I had no one to share it with… How come?..."
"How come what?" His voice almost cracked. He was shivering now, slightly.
"How come it was you? That I couldn't… couldn't stop thinking about you?..."
"I don't know…" he felt horrible for not having any answers.
"I said I must have loved you… but I never… never knew what love was like… No one ever really loved me… I think…. I must have felt you could have, somehow… So stupid…"
"No, it's not stupid," She needed more than just his lack of commitment in answers, she was dying! "It's never stupid to want to be loved. Its human nature, no matter how much we try to hide it sometimes."
"We, huh?... I like hearing you say that… We… you and me… Can I ask you something?... Just one final request?..."
"What is it?"
"I want you… to kiss me…" his heart stopped, "But… But only if you want to… I want at least one good thing to… to come my way with out… stealing it…"
Timmy looked to Vicky again, who was only stared on with vague interest, and then back to the dying Victoria. He was at a loss for words, for thoughts. All he had now were notions. He wanted to somehow ease this poor creature's suffering, but he also feared it, and what it would do to him if he got too close. Finally it was his caring that won over his fears, and he moved close.
Her chains seemed to slacken, and she embraced him, held him close, cried on him, nearly smothering him. He could hear the true nature of her breathing now, rasping and weak, growing weaker. Her heart beat was losing strength, not how a heart should sound. Strange noises her innards made. This was wholly different from the other deaths he knew. It was slow, happening, and inevitable. It mattered not that this woman was a terror, only that her life was ending, and no one but him in the entire world cared.
Her hand on his cheek, soft, cold, needing and wanting. He looked up into her eyes, so pink, so full of tears, her last tears. It wasn't hard, knowing that she needed him, truly needed it to be him. He wanted to help her. He smiled as his hand came up and cupped her face; she closed her eyes, their lips pressed. Soft… wet… warm… cold… Pressure, harder, needing, wanting, loving, savoring. He followed her leads, gave himself over to her, willingly. What did it matter? She couldn't hurt him. She had to break for breath, both of them did.
The chains released, she fell into him, and he had to support her weight. Gently he laid her to the ground, she never let go of him. He looked around only to find Vicky had disappeared, hidden by her belt no doubt. But this seemed more fitting, so he did not worry. She brought him close again, kissing him, he kissing her back. It was heartbreaking to know what her tears mingled with their lips meant, but then again they might be happy ones now.
They seemed to lay there for hours. Kissing, touching, her telling him how much she loved him. He didn't mind that her hands explored and groped every inch of his body, it was just the way she was. She needed to know he was real, that this was real. Eventually her kisses slowed. Her hands found homes supporting his head and grasping his hip. Her breathing dwindled, her heart beat became time-consuming. Time came to pass that she just held him, falling apart.
It was as if she had fallen asleep with him in her arms. Her face looked calm, serine, at peace. If Vicky was pretty as a youth, then she was absolutely beautiful in the full bloom of woman hood. He didn't want to leave her, but he knew he couldn't rest with the dead forever. Separating himself from her limp form, he stood, turned to the far away elevator, and left her.
The walk back to the iron grates might have been miles. Inside the clanging metal box was Vicky, leaning up against the side wall, arms crossed and eyes shut, she spoke when he had stepped inside, "So, she's dead?"
"Yes…"
"Did you make love to her?"
"No…"
"You're a sweet kid, Timmy," she said nothing else and pressed the button signaling their ascent.
He didn't care where she brought him. Up and then out of the elevator, climbing more seemingly endless steps, traveling through another lift machine. Through halls of sullen people and scared faces, but their fear was directed toward Timmy, rather than Vicky. Though what this meant he didn't care much for at the moment. At last she opened a great wooden door set and ushered Timmy inside.
"This will be our new home, I fortified it with all the necessary aspects, so we are safe here," Vicky had lead him into what could only be the bed chamber of the recently deceased. It was massive, portraits and statues all around. Maps of the world, a giant globe, a bar, couches, shelves, thousands of books, and most impressive of all, the largest four poster and curtained bed Timmy had ever seen in his life!
"Her room?" he questioned with a defeated quality.
"You disapprove?"
"It just… seems disrespectful is all."
"Naw, it is my room too, remember?"
"I suppose…"
She wrapped and arm around his shoulders and brought him in close to her, "If it helps any she wanted me to take good care of you. It seems like the entire world is against me when it comes to you, even myself. But don't terribly mind, though, because now I'm the boss here too."
"Vicky?..."
"Yeah?"
"Can we change the subject? Please?"
"Daww, what's the matter? Don't tell me watching my older self die has gotten to you!"
"It's just… I felt so responsible, like I owed her so much," Vicky was now leading him to the bed, the thing was he felt so exhausted now he didn't mind, "But because it was her… was you… I let it happen. I didn't scream for help or beg you to save her. And now I feel so empty inside, like I should have tried. I didn't want her to die, so why? I know I should have wanted it but I didn't!" She had placed him down on the cushy mattress, it felt marvelous to his tired bones, "I watched her die, slowly… slowly…"
"That just means you are starting to see death the way I do. No human really wants death to happen, it reminds us all of our own mortality. But every so often someone like me comes along who can deal with it. You want people to die for you, but not to watch them die. Not really watch them the way you just did. It's easy to kill someone when you feel separated. Toss them off a building or hurl stones at them, sure, why not, it's not truly direct. But to give a woman what she needs to die, that's different. This death isn't just on my hands, it's also on yours."
"Mine?..." He wasn't questioning her verdict, just wanting to know why. And she told him while delicately removing all the clothing from him that would be uncomfortable to sleep in.
"Yes, yours," she took a deep, calming breath, "She was going to stay alive through sheer will power. She wanted to see you so bad, that not even death could get in her way. I granted her last wish, and delivered you. But your presence removed her ability to struggle; she at last calmed and allowed her body to give in. You brought her peace in your presence, and this permitted her to accept her death. I know you wanted to change subjects, but I think this is important for you to understand." She new dressed down to just her form fitting under garments and crawled next to him, lights dimming away as she curled her arms around him.
He let her do whatever she wanted, he felt so drained and depressed now so what did it matter? His eyes grew heavy and his head felt heavy. Her scent was just like Victoria's and he drifted into sleep imagining he was in the older woman's arms instead.
"You seem sad, Timmy," what instrument sounded as if it was both a harp and a violin?
"I am sad… but also I know I shouldn't be."
"It has been many years since I have seen sadness. How come you are here when you are not believing in all things and no things at the same time?"
"I don't know… but I think Vicky knows."
"I do know!" Vicky's voice boomed from behind, loud and dominant; so full of her brash certainty.
"Ah, Vicky, welcome to the Astral," Presence greeted in his warm, musical voice, "I have not known such states surprise in a very long time. For some reason your mind is closed to me, you hold secrets, or perhaps revelations. Please, speak. I wish to know how the two of you have reached me while in an inappropriate state of mind."
"You already know the answer to that one," Vicky scoffed, yet she did not seem disrespectful. Timmy found the way he perceived reality in this state so strange.
"Do I? Then you have an answer for me?" Why did Presence now want answers? This was not the proper order he was accustomed to.
"I'll get to that, but first I have been wondering something…" She was looking around. On his previous visits to the Astral Timmy did not even think to take in the scenery, but as he followed Vicky's lead he noticed just how breathtaking the surroundings were. The sky was filled with stars that somehow flowed effortlessly with the gentle moving waters all about them. They seemed to be on an island of sorts, covered in lush green vegetation. In the center stood a massive ancient Grecian white marble building, which reflected each individual star in all its glory. Surrounding the island was a thick, concentration of air that seemed to rub against itself in curtains, distorting the reality around it.
"Please, I have anything but qualms for the both of you. My, such curious creatures, and yet so familiar," Presence had a way of making all situations pleasant.
"You call this place the astral, but it once went by another name, correct?" Vicky asked with calm strides.
"It has had many names, which are you curious about?"
"The first name, the rightful name; it was called the Adobe in ancient Greece, correct?"
"Many life times of both mortals and immortals ago, yes."
"And this has been your home ever since that christening?"
"Indefinitely,"
"Then you are Morpheus, the God of Dreams."
Though there was no body to see, Timmy could feel that Presence was smiling. He felt a sense of shock and awe. But above all other emotions, he felt concern. Concern for Vicky's ability to be right more often than wrong, and a sinking concern for Presence, whom he had come to consider as a friend.
"I am afraid that I am no longer deserving of the title of God. I am simply of dreams."
"Do you prefer to be called Morpheus or Presence?" How strange it was to hear Vicky being so respectful of another being. Though Timmy supposed that if she would show such reverence it would be toward one of her Gods.
"I prefer only that which my guests do," well, at least Timmy wouldn't feel bad if he kept on calling this being Presence.
"Alright then, now to answer your question before; I believe it was you who wanted to see us. From the accounts I know about you, Morpheus, it was in your nature to show up in the dreams of great heroes. Well, I am supposing it was your will that have been able to pull the two of us by your side so frequently.
"You see, I am on a quest to find and revive all of the ancient gods. And Timmy here is my student, my companion. Am I correct in assuming that you have never before been so frequented by mortal dreamers since the days you were a God?"
"That would be correct," Presence hummed delightfully, "how curious."
"Heroes?" Timmy blurted out.
"Yes Timmy, heroes," Vicky answered, then addressed the golden voice again, "Do you have, or I should say, can you form a body for us to see? One pertaining to our forms as we appear here?"
"I do not know any longer. Over time my physical body faded away as I lost faith. Every sentient being dreams, and then some pray upon their dreams, so I did not disappear as my brethren did. I find that existing inside of a body tends to be draining. A form needs matter, even if it is the matter of dreams, and the formation of any matter is extremely taxing. But if you believe I can, I'm sure it is possible."
"I do," Vicky stated simply.
With their wonder as his stimulate, a body formed before them. It was as theirs was, naked but inconsequential. He was the resemblance of a handsomely built full grown human male, skin slightly darker than Timmy's, and hair so very long. This hair seemed to be made up of the shimmering star fabric which mingled in all things about, only concentrated infinitely into countless flows of flawless thin strands. Then there were his eyes, which too were pools of this star span substance.
"I knew it!" Vicky seemed to shout.
"It would seem so," Presence laughed, then turned to Timmy, "The belief from just the two of you have created for me a body once again. Tell me, since your mind remains closed to mine, who else of my family have you found?"
"N-not me," Timmy stammered, in awe of this being's pure beauty, "Vicky is the one… who…"
The re-enriched God then turned back to Vicky and stepped forward, "Please, I wish to know,"
"Just Cupid, but he was the first and with his information I was able to find you. I also have developed a way, a sort of system to find more. And since you seem to have so many answers, I think with your help I can find many more," Vicky looked like she was in ecstasy just showing off her plan. But Timmy noted that she might also be falling in love this being's sheer magnificence.
"Ah, Cupid, young loving Cupid. Yes he is a symbol of affection these days, is he not? Though not faith, I'm sure he is able to thrive like I have, probably better."
"He does," Vicky confirmed, "He lives in the world of Fairies now, and can still use his bow and arrow to make two people fall in love."
"He was always fond of the Fae. This comes as no surprise, but rather a bit of happy news. But he has never thought to visit me? I wonder why this is."
"Probably because he is not aware of you, but I'll tell him though, so don't worry."
"Please do, both of you, as soon as possible."
"Both of us?!" Vicky looked to Timmy, a sudden fear and disapproval filling her eyes.
"If you are in fact heroes as you claim to be, then yes, together."
"But… well, you see-"
"I want to!" Timmy blurted out, not out of a sudden understanding, but because he knew that if Presence was here then Vicky would honor and obey whatever he wished.
"Timmy," Vicky hissed with urgency, "you aren't ready yet, I can't promise-"
"I want to see Cupid," the boy shot back, "he's a friend of mine and I haven't seen him in years."
"You know damn right you can't see him yet!"
"Why can he not see Cupid yet?" Presence inquired with genuine friendliness.
"Because if I bring him to Fairy World then I am basically telling Anti-Cosmo that he is ready to join our side; but if he suspects otherwise then Timmy can kiss all of his new found freedoms goodbye. Timmy, listen to me, we can't get to Fairy World with out the use of magic, and right now our only source is my Cosmo and my Wanda. I think they would notice you tagging along to go say hi to Cupid."
"You did!" Timmy countered.
"Yes, because they trust me. I'm allowed to wander about both of the Fairy Worlds unchecked. You, however, are supposed to be under harsh reeducation until I am ready to present you before Cosmo, who will test you himself. The answer is no. I'm sorry, Morpheus, but in order to revive all of the Gods I can not risk letting Anti-Cosmo find out about my plan. He wants to rule over all three worlds, not be subject to the gods."
And on top of all that, Timmy guessed there was next to no chance that Vicky would lend him the time belt.
"I see," Presence mused, "then it can not be helped. Timmy, I'm afraid seeing Cupid and your god parents will have to wait. Trust in Vicky, and remember all I have told you."
"Wait!" Timmy shouted, but could already feel the world around him begin to shift, "Isn't there some way?"
"Vicky," Presence seemed to find talking to the redhead now more important than answering the youngest one's question, "Do what you feel is right, you indeed have all of the qualities we as Gods found fruitarian in our heroes. I will be here for both of you when you need me."
The world shook, darkened, and faded away. There was only darkness, and then Vicky too dissolved. Light, flying, moving into place. His eyes opened, he was awake once again.