Hello people and welcome back! So, I got great feedback last chapter, so I guess you guys like this so far. A few of you took a shot at the question last chapter, but none of you got it. You won't find out the answer this chapter either so the question well be the same. The title is a huge hint, by the way. Well, I guess I'll see you guys after the chapter!

Bis Bald!
-Tytonic

Disclaimer: I do not own The Underland Chronicles, nor do I claim to. I do, however, hold rights over the characters and plot I create.

Gregor and the War of Severance

Chapter 2: Picture

Lillie and Gage, while excited, could not help but notice how Gregor had tensed. How the light had left his eyes, as if he had become devoid of all emotions. It was almost as if he was damming a river of emotions, closing himself up.
Almost as if something he had forced himself to forget, was re-emerging.

-O-

Gregor's entire body tensed as those words registered in his mind. They were going to New York. The place were he had made both the happiest and most macabre memories of his existence.
As the weight of it began to set in, visions began to flash across his vision. Horrible memories that he had tried his best to forget about.

The wind whistled around Gregor as he and Ares twisted towards the bane, taking advantage of a small opening. Within seconds, the bane's foreleg was in front of Gregor. Plunging his sword into the soft flash, Gregor felt satisfaction wash over him.
However, the feeling was short lived, as Gregor realized the situation they were in.
"Get out!" He cried. "Get out, Ares!"
Everything slowed down as the bane caught Ares's wing, and whipped him around so they were face to face. Take could not tear his eyes away as the bane sunk his teeth into Ares's neck.
"Ares!" He cried. "No!"

Snapping back to his senses, Gregor felt a wave of sickness wash over him. He felt his chest tighten up. Feeling horrible, he dropped his head into his hands, willing the sickness away. Feeling slightly better, he looked up only to see Lillie and Gage both looking at him in worry. This was the last this he saw, before his world fell into darkness.

~Gage~

Gage's eyes widened with surprise as Gregor collapsed, hitting his head on the corner if the desk, and continuing towards the floor. Every head in the room snapped towards the resounding crash, as Gregor's body hit the floor.

While several people, including Gage and Lillie, rushed to help him, the school delinquent, Dylan, and his friends began to laugh. The teacher immediately shut them up, but their grins were still evident.

Hearing this, Gage wanted very badly to beat the shit out of them right then and there. However, Gregor took priority.

Picking him up as best he could, he began to carry Gregor to the nurse. Nobody in the classroom attempted to stop him, knowing exactly what he was doing. Lillie helped, holding Gregor's other side. Despite her small build, she was more than capable of holding Gregor up. At the age of sixteen, Gregor was only five foot three, and fairly skinny.

Despite this, Gage knew better than to underestimate him. On several occasions, he had seen Gregor's inhuman reflexes and speed. He could only imagine what Gregor done to acquire such speed. Whatever is was, he got the feeling that it wasn't pleasant.

Gage sighed with relief as he entered the nurses office, and laid Gregor down on one of the beds. Once he made sure he was down properly, he sank back into one of the chairs to wait, as the nurse began to inspect Gregor. Lillie did the same soon after.

Gage and Lillie simultaneously let out sighs of relief as the nurse told them that Gregor was okay. He showed no signs of sickness or previous injury. Once Gage told her about Gregor's look right before passing out, she nodded in understanding.

"Ahh yes, that explains it. It is possible for somebody to pass out due to emotional distress. He will be fine, and should wake up soon. In fact, I would not be surprised if he woke up right now." She explained.

Knowing that they couldn't spend their day watching over Gregor, Gage and Lillie took their leave. They went back to homeroom to gather their book, and straight to their first class.

It was only in science class when Gregor returned. He walked into the room, a sullen look on his face, attempting to ignore the stares of others. It came as no surprise to Gage that everybody knew about the "incident" with Gregor. Word travels fast in high school.

Gregor sat down next to Gage and took out his notebook. They were currently taking notes on a few pages in the science book.

Gage turned to Gregor. "Gregor, what exactly happened? Are you okay?"

Gregor did not turn to look at him. "I'm fine. Just got a little dizzy is all."

"Gregor, we know you better than that. Whats wrong? Why won't you tell us?" Lille Said, worry lacing her voice.

Gregor sighed in defeat. He knew they would not leave him alone unless he said something. "I just. . . Remembered something, okay? I really don't want to talk about it."

Gage was about to press on, but stopped as Lillie shook her head. They shouldn't pry. However, he knew Lillie was thinking the same thing he was.

What type of memory causes you to pass out? What exactly is Gregor hiding from us?

Gage had always known that Gregor was hiding something. From the picture he always has with him, to the claw necklace he always holds, to the scars that he had barley caught glances of, something was up.

Letting out a sigh, Gage turned back to his science book and continued taking notes.

~Gregor~

Gregor sighed in relief as he walked out of the science room. While his dad was a science teacher, he himself disliked science. Or rather, most science. He took a keen interest in Geography.

They stopped at their lockers and put all of their books away. Soon after, they walked to lunch. The entire time, Gregor was deep in thought.

Thank god they didn't pry. I really don't want to explain everything to them. Then again, we've been friends for quite a while. . . Maybe I should tell them. I mean, what type of friend am I, keeping such a large secret away from them?

He sighed.

I want to tell them. . . I want somebody to talk to about all of this. But I can't tell them. They would think I'm crazy. . . They might even distance themselves from me.

This train of thought left Gregor's head as they entered the cafeteria. The smell of food filled his nose. Not very good food, but food nonetheless.

Sitting down at their table, they began to talk about the upcoming field trip. Gregor managed to push the memories away this time.

"So, you guys going?" Lillie asked. "I know I am! I've never been to New York!"

Gregor spoke first, albeit his voice was lower than usual. "Yeah, I think I'm going. It's been forever since I was there."

"I'll go. I doubt my mom would let me skip it anyway." Gage added.

Within a few minutes, their table was called up, and they came back with lunch. Pizza, to be specific. Needless to say, it didn't last very long.

As Gregor stood up to take his tray back up, he heard a voice behind him.

"Have a nice nap, freak?"

He immediately matched the voice to it's owner, Dylan. He didn't really care about a few guys teasing him. He'd been through much worse. Ignoring him, Gregor continued to walk his tray up, unaware of what Dylan was picking up off of the ground.

As he walked back to his table, he froze in place as he saw what Dylan had in his hand. When did it fall out? He noticed him and looked up.

"Nice girlfriend you got here. I mean, she's perfect for you, with that freakish look and all."

~Mixed~

What Dylan had just said peaked Gage's interest. It confirmed what he had though. The picture, which Gregor always kept with him, was of a weird looking girl. Though, who exactly is she?

That thought was completely forgotten as he saw Gregor's face. His expression was blank, but his eyes were another story. They parked with rage. A very deep rage. Gage was afraid of what was going to happen.

"Give. It. Back." Gregor Growled though clenched teeth.

Dylan laughed. "A little mad, are we?"

Grinning, Dylan walked up to Gregor, and held out the photo. But just before Gregor could take it, Dylan withdrew his hand. Two pieces of paper floated to the ground moments later, preceded by a ripping noise.

Dylan Laughed once again, but stopped the second he saw Gregor's face. He instantly realized that he made a mistake. A really big mistake. This realization came in the form of a fist. To the face.

By now, the entire lunchroom was watching. Gregor, the guy that most people had hardly even heard of, had just punched Dylan in the face. Dylan, the school delinquent.

Dylan stumbled back a couple meters, holding his nose in pain. Large amounts of blood came out from between his fingers, but that didn't seem to bother him. He had taken hits before. He could stand it.

Regaining his balance, Dylan charged at Gregor. It was too fast to tell exactly how it happened, but Dylan face planted on the ground, while Gregor remained standing.

What the hell is this guys problem? He thought. It was just a ****ing picture!

Rolling over so that he was facing Gregor Dylan pulled something out of the inside of his sweatshirt. Everybody in the room froze.

"Nobody humiliates me, you bastard!" Dylan shouted, followed by an ear-shattering boom.

He grinned as the gun went off. Nobody, absolutely nobody, made him look bad.

His grin immediately died, as no body hit the floor. Did he miss? No, he hadn't missed. His shot had been spot on. Gregor had just anticipated the shot, and avoided it. Mostly.

There was no time to fire off a second shot, as Gregor's boot connected with his temple. He felt his entire world spin, and laid there helplessly as everything went black.

Gregor then jumped down onto Dylan, and punched him in the jaw several times. Grabbing Dylan's head, he prepared to smash it onto the ground beneath, but hardly managed to hold himself back. Had he gone through with it, it would have surely killed Dylan.

Standing back up, Gregor walked over to where the picture lay in pieces. Nobody failed to notice the thick stream of blood running down his left arm. It seems he had no entirely avoided the bullet. It had skinned him. Nothing serious, but painful nonetheless.

Reaching down, Gregor picked up both halves of the picture. He sighed as he saw the rip in the center, going right in-between him and Luxa. Standing back up, he ignored the yells of the teachers as he walked away.

One grabbed his arm, and yanked him around. He came face-to-face with his father. Of course, his father was a 12th grade science teacher, so he would be in the same building. He had probably come running when he heard the gunshot.

Gregor glared at him. Noticing the ripped picture in his hand, his father gave a barley noticeable nod, and let go of Gregor's arm. Gregor would have smiled, knowing his father understood, had he not been in such a mood.

Stepping out of the doors, he felt a warm breeze blow. Taking a deep breath of air, he broke out into a run. Running always helped to clear his mind.

He stopped by the town park, breathing heavily. Looking out over a pond, he took in his surroundings. Birds sang happily in the air, bugs chirped, and frogs croaked. It was a peaceful, serene moment.

Looking down at his hands, he saw that they were coated in blood.

This world isn't for me. I don't belong here. . . I belong there, below.

I belong in the Underland.

And that's a wrap on it! Personally, I like this chapter. Just so you guys know, I looked up the whole fainting thing before writing it. It is entirely possible to pass out from emotional distress. I mean, something like that flashback would be enough, right? Well, whatever. It fits.

So, I will try to keep to this schedule. Updating every Saturday, that it. Well. . . it's 7 minutes into Sunday right now, but you get my point.

So, I'll see you guys later, I guess.

Edit: Gregor had not moved on entirely in the first place, and the fact that he still carries Ares's claw and Luxa's picture with him proves that. He didn't move on, he just managed to accept his new life.

Question: How will Gregor end up in the Underland? C'mon, we all know it's going to happen.

Tytonic: So, how'd you like it?

Dylan: *Slumps to floor unconscious*

Tytonic: Well put. Gregor?

Gregor: *Glares at Tytonic*

Tytonic: Oh suck it up, it was just a picture. The real things much better anyway. I mean, your going to NewYork, right? We all know whats going to happen. You'll see her soon, dude.

Gregor: Wait, what?

Tytonic: Nothing, nothing.

Gregor: What. Did. You. Just. Say?

Tytonic: Nothing at all! See you later!

Bis bald!

-Tytonic