Chapter 11 - Gray Hills
Ah spring. A time of growth, life, and midterms. Luckily I have some extra time right now so I have some time to write chapters. Hopefully in bulk. So this chapter was a lot of fun to learn because it is going back to just Marco and Star for a lot of it, and it is starting to unveil the underlying stories behind everything. Also, I am going to say this now that there are a few chapters out, but I was you guys to start thinking about what actually caused the war, because there is an actual reason that I have dropped hints for previously, and it will eventually tie into the story in a major way. So if you are getting any ideas feel free to put your comments on it in the reviews. I may or may not address them, however there will be no spoilers for the story so you don't have to worry about it. I want to keep it a mystery!
REVIEWS!
Mikael0000 - I'm glad to see others have been blessed with the pleasure of Bob Ross. Also, thanks!
synnworld - Yeah. the book of spells and her wand are both in her backpack. Pretty much all they have on them as of this moment is their clothes.
Guest Sorta - Well, if I didn't end it like that what would keep you coming back :P. Also I want you to think between chapters about whatever happens at the end because things aren't always as they seem.
Disclaimer - I don't own SVTFOE
Star stared in disbelief. "No, that can't be right. Why would he be one of them. He's too nice."
"Star, the reason we are in here right now is because of him. The second I mentioned him, their leader pulled a gun on me and called in his men. Then they started accusing me of being a murderer."
"That doesn't mean that he is one." Star refused to believe that the charming young man who had saved them and spent days with them was a bad guy. Why would he have saved them from the men when they had help him captive.
"Star, they called me one of his lackeys. That means that he isn't just one of them, but he is in charge, at least to some extent." Marco had that look on his face. The one Star had become accustomed to in the past months. His face scrunched up, his voice got deeper, and his eyes lost their normal warmth. It meant he was serious.
Star looked away from him, walked to the corner and sat, head between her knees, looking at the floor. After all this time, she thought that they had found someone they could actually trust. Instead he was just like every other person they had encountered.
"Star, I know that you don't want to believe it, but he was using us. I don't know for what. Maybe for security until he could get back to his gang. He could have also been leaving a trail for them to follow us and when they caught up capture us and steal our stuff or worse." Marco shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to Star. He had seen a lot of things before they left the city, and kept to himself. If Star knew how bad people really were, she may have just shut down completely. Marco still didn't know how she retained the energy she still had.
Star looked up to Marco and he saw tears forming in her eyes. He put his arms out and she leaned into his chest, sobbing softly. Marco patted her back and stroked her hair to calm her. "It's just, I thought we found someone we could actually trust." She said between sobs.
"You know Star, we've made it through so much. At first I didn't think we would make it out of the city. After we lost everyone else I couldn't keep going. Remember that?"
Stars sobs slowed to a sniffle and she leaned away from Marco to look him in the eyes. "Yeah. You wanted me to leave you behind."
"That's right, but you kept me going. Whenever I've felt down you've helped me back on my feet and that made me realize that we only need each other. And, well maybe Glossaryck."
When Glossaryck's name was mentioned, Stars eyes widened. "Where is Glossaryck!"
Marco did the same when he realized when he had last seen him. "When I last saw him he was heading off with…. Wallace." Fearing the worst for their small blue friend, Marco was brought out of his thinking when a new round of sobs assaulted his now wet hoodie. "Hey Star, don't be upset. This is Glossaryck we are talking about. I'm sure if he is even with Wallace anymore, he could handle him. Besides, he is probably tracking us right now." Marcos words had little effect on Stars mood, so he resorted to his backup. He started to hum. Softly at first, but eventually Star could hear the vibrations deep in his chest. The tune relaxed her, and eventually she hummed along to one of the few songs she actually knows. The song played at the Blood Moon Ball.
The two hummed together for a few moments. Soon, Star put her arms around Marcos chest, and closed her eyes. Resting her head on his shoulder and sitting in his lap she listened to the rhythm he made, following along closely. Sadly, the tune soon ended, and they both sighed simultaneously. "Marco?"
"Yeah Star?"
"Thanks." They sat like that for a few seconds before a voice interrupted them from outside their cell.
"Cute." A tall skinny man was standing outside the cell, a shotgun slung on his back and keys on a belt loop around his waist. "Get up you two, it's time for your to move to your real cell."
"Our real cell?" Marco asked, standing up to confront the man.
"Didn't think you were staying here did you? There's not even a bed in there." The man unlocked and opened the door. "Come on, and grab your packs too. We took your weapons but you can keep everything else with you." Theman turned around and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey Doc! Where did you put the kids' packs?"
A muffled yell came from the end of the corridor. "Behind my desk, third cabinet from the left."
"Ain't that the uh, special cabinet?"
There was a slight pause before the doctor responded with a simple answer. "Yes."
The tall man glanced back at Star and Marco, who had just emerged from the cell, and started walking towards the cabinet.
"Oh special cabinet. Hear that Marco our bags are in the special cabinet. What's the special cabinet?" Star asked, looking at the tall man.
"Uhhh..." His eyes darted around, looking for an answer, before responding, "Nothing you have to worry about."
Star frowned at this answer, and when the man went to open the door, she tried to peer inside, but she was disappointed when all she saw were stacks of magazines. She leaned back to Marco and started whispering. "I don't get what's so special. It's just a bunch of magazines with what looks like ladies on the front."
Marcos face turned a slight shade of red, while he tried to think of a Star friendly way to explain. "Well Star, they are uh, special magazines for guys."
Star was about to inquire further, but to Marco's relief their packs were placed in front of them. "There, now let's get going if you have everything." Star and Marco followed their escort as he started to walk down the hall Marco had been dragged down earlier. "So, what's you're story? I know you were with Wallace but what about before that?"
Marco decided to answer the man's question, seeing nothing better to do. "Well, we started down in L.A. and left the city as quickly as possible. It was a mess. Half the city was on fire, the other half already destroyed. Gangs took over blocks and people started to get sick. We were still there at that time, with a group of friends. The trouble really started when food became scarce after a few weeks."
Star cut in. "I never knew people could be so cruel."
Marco knew that Star didn't like to relive those weeks, and neither did he, but it would be best if at least some people here knew their story so that they could maybe or at least get them out of there. "When we eventually got out of the city it was just us two, and we've been heading north ever since. We met a few groups out there. Some good, some bad, but we've mostly avoided other people."
"How did you end up with Wallace?"
"Well, we had seen some bad guys in the area, a few days south of here on foot, and I think they were following us. We heard a fighting in a town we had just left, so we ran. About a day later I noticed the smell."
The man turned to Marco and smirked as they neared a set of double doors with light shining through the windows. "What smell?"
"Well, it smelt like Maple Syrup. It came and went, and I was sure that we were being followed. Then we wake up one day and it's all I can smell. Next thing I know I'm staring down the barrel of a shotgun." As they passed through the doors, Marco noticed the weather had let up. It was nighttime, and there were still dark clouds in the sky, but there was no wind. Marco saw something float past his eye. A small grey flake. "Is it snowing?"
"No, it's ash." Going down a few steps, they passed by several lamp posts still with power, and a few trash can fires. The street was now empty save for a few men patrolling the streets with assorted weapons. "I'm curious how you got out of your situation, most people who meet the wrong end of his gun don't survive."
"Well, he said he wanted to talk, so he lowered his weapon."
Star intervened, knowing Marco would be modest. "After he lowered his weapon, Marco kicked his butt!"
"Actually I kicked his face."
The man laughed ahead of them. "You kicked him in the face? That's hilarious. Wallace and his guys have been harassing us for weeks now, and all that it takes is a good kick to take him down."
"Well, anyways we tied him to a tree and eventually he woke up and started telling us this made up story about him and his friends and how they were attacked. Eventually, two guys, who I now know were his friends came out of the forest and attacked us."
"Ah, so he set you two up for an ambush?" The man guessed.
Star replied this time. "I don't think so."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well, Marco was about to be stabbed when Wallace saved him, and then ran away with us." Although Star could hardly see the man's face in the darkness, she could see the surprise plastered all over it. "When we woke up the next day I thought he had gone to get his group, because he was missing, but then I just found him in the forest playing a song." Star sighed, thinking over everything that had happened in the few days since they met Wallace. "It just doesn't make sense that he would be a bad guy."
Their escort spoke up, deciding to give his opinion. "Well, where is he now? Because if he was with you then he would be here right now."
"We had split up to look for stuff when you people arrived. He was down at the beach checking out the water and why it was black, while we went inside. That's when your guys showed up and put us in the truck." Marco replied, unsure how to feel about Wallace after the conversation. On one hand, these people swore up and down that he was a bad guy. That he had been raiding them and killed people. On the other he had come into their camp to talk. He saved them, and could have left multiple times if his people were following them.
Marco's thoughts were interrupted when they stopped outside a small building across from where the truck had stopped. Outside stood the man with the swollen eye. "Evening." Their escort greeted.
"Hey Rob, you going to stay this time and play some cards with me an' the boys?"
"Sorry man, Sylvia is waiting for me at home, so I gotta get back to her. Make sure these kids get good treatment, they've been through a lot."
When their escort, Rob, said this, the tall man got angry. "That one," he said, pointing at Marco, "Gave me a lot of trouble. He gave me this eye, and fought like a mule."
Rob laughed at this, before putting his hand on the other man's shoulder. "Remember, you owe me"
"Fine, but you had better come by tomorrow." Rob agreed before wishing Star and Marco luck and walking away into the darkness. They turned to the large man behind them before he sighed. "Cme on, let's get inside. It's getting cold out here."