Yeah let's keep the train going! Wooooo! Plot and stuff! Enjoy peeps.
[1st Person POV: Garret]
I woke with a gasp and shudder, feeling like the life was being drained out of me. It was like a cold hand clutched my heart and squeezed. Then it was over and it was shadows again. Finally after an eternity I came around fully, worn and exhausted. It was grim wherever we were and the light was blotted out by menacing clouds. With a deep breath I tried to move only to find my limbs barely worked and screamed in protest to add on top. Groaning softly I instead lifted my head some and searched for Adelia, beginning to panic when I couldn't find her.
The shadows seemed to drown out everything as I searched. With a grunt I turned over onto my stomach and wearily rose to my knees. My staff was nowhere to be seen and soon I began to recognize the place I was in. Brass cages and dark walls all came back as I rested there on the floor. It was Pitch's old lair, a place I'd been to too many times for my liking. However, things had changed in the short period of time that the boogie man had not been here. Somehow it was dramatically colder, my breath making small clouds. The walls seem to have grown even darker, a hue of red added to them. Lastly, the silence was unnerving. I felt so alone and yet like I was being watched.
Groggy and sore I forced myself to my feet. I needed to find Adelia, my staff, and a way out. Remembering what had happened would be nice too but that can wait. For now I would focus on the basic things. I shook my head slightly and began quietly sneaking through the morose cavern, trying to keep myself warm. Soon I stumbled into a hallway, blinking my eyes to adjust to the velvety blackness that encompassed it.
Slow and exhausted I slinked along, bits of what happened in the forest coming back to me. It was foggy but I remember finding Adelia and patching things up with her. We were so happy and about to head back to the Cloud Palace. Then…I'm not sure. Something occurred but for the life of me I can't recall it. These memory problems are getting out of hand. Seriously. And Tooth knew! Tooth knew so much. Why didn't she say anything? Who was the one that made her stay quiet? Ugh, that'll have to wait too.
As I was lost in thought I bumped into a door, smacking my hip on the knob. Holding back a curse I felt around in the shadows until I found it again. Nervously I turned it, doing all I could to be as silent as the grave. With the softest of clicks it was open and I went in after taking a deep breath to calm down. What I found behind the old worn wood was something I would never forget.
Upon first entering the room I saw what could only be described as a graveyard of a sorts. There were tombstones and well graves. However, there were open holes in the ground with cadavers inside. Flies buzzed around as the stench wafted through the stale air. In fear and disgust I hobbled across the area whilst trying not to look any of the corpses in the eyes. Yet things only grew more terrible.
From the ground rose half decayed fingers, brushing against my legs and bare feet. The trees were composed of skeletons bounded together while the dirt was soon covered in ashes. I broke out into a strained sprint, tripping and dragging myself back up off the floor as I ran. Terrified with my stomach in too many knots to count I reached the other side of the room and hastily yanked open the door. Once it was open I flew through into the next room, slamming the door shut behind me.
Breathing heavily I leaned against the door and tried to collect myself. I was cut short as the pitch black room suddenly lit up to a painfully bright white. I shouted as my eyes burned and I turned away. A moment later I gazed upon this new space, heart racing in worried anticipation. What I saw was the polar opposite of the previous. Everything was white and smelled like it had been scrubbed down with hand sanitizer. Besides the door on the opposing side of the room there was nothing.
Cautiously I went forward, ready for the world to change on me in an instance. Right as I started to calm though there came a dreadfully familiar scream of pain. It was Adelia and without a moment's hesitation I ran to the other side of the room, following her cries. In a snap I was at the door and I could see through the small window that she was behind it. Shouting to her that I was going to help her I turned the knob but found it locked. Panicking I tried breaking it down, heart tearing in agony as she called out to me. I felt the heat behind the door and heard the crackle of flames as I continued to try and bash through. But it was useless; the door would not give way. That didn't stop me from ramming into it until I heard a loud snap in my shoulder.
With a shout of anger and sorrow I slid to the floor, tears burning my eyes. I could hear her on the other side, weeping as the fire grew in heat. As I sat there soft footsteps approached me from the other door. They were familiar and I didn't bother to look up. Kuroi came up close, crouching down next to me. His icy hand wiped away some of my tears as I turned my face even further from him.
"Why are you doing this? Why not just kill us? Isn't that what you want? To destroy the light so you can put the world back into darkness." I muttered, exhausted and beyond confused.
"Oh dear Guardian you know that even if I kill you and her all my problems won't be solved. You two are nothing but well-tempered pawns that I made. You are what will help me catch the larger game. How I'll lure out what will truly hinder me." He smoothly explained, brushing the hair from my eyes.
Horrified I asked, "What are you talking about? What game? We're not your pawns; you barely know us!"
"Oh dear. Garret I have known who you and Adelia were and would be for a long time. Who do you think put the thought to kill the both of you in such ways into that man's head sooooo long ago? Who hid you from Pitch and most of the others, like you lived in the shadow of them. Kept your dear love out of mind and sight until now? I knew WiS would have a soft spot for the Guardian of Summer. I knew everything that would happen, even you turning Pitch away from my control. My plans have been in the makings for centuries."
"…You're lying. You couldn't have known that. It's impossible."
"No it is not. Not when you take the life out of others and keep it for yourself. All the knowledge of the dead Guardians has been mine for quite some time. And the new Guardian of Life will be added to my collection right before you and your lovely lady are. Then I shall take the sun and moon and all shall be dark and dead." He said with a grin.
"Guardian of Life? Now you're making things up. There isn't one genius."
"Not until today. It's alright that you don't believe me though. You will when his corpse is at your feet. He's heading here right now to save you both and oh how he will fail. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go prepare for him. Wouldn't want him to fall in unannounced." That said the figure of death stood up and walked away, leaving through the door on the far wall.
After a moment's thought it dawned on me who he was talking about. I paused my breath caught in my throat. Of all of the people out there surely he hadn't been picked for such a job. He already was a Guardian last time I had seen him. Autumn was the last person I would imagine being the Guardian of Life. Why now too? Wouldn't this kind of thing have been decided a long time ago? Oh gosh there are so many questions I have and no answers. It was only when a voice called to me from behind the door that I snapped back to the world.
"Garret what's happening?" Adelia asked in a strained and hoarse voice.
"We need to get out of here somehow. All of this, everything, has been part of this huge grand scheme that Kuroi has. You and I are nothing but bait for the Guardian of Life. It's all we have been since the very start." I told her sadly, feeling used and empty.
"What? What does that even mean?"
"Kuroi planned everything including our deaths. He knew everything that would happen and planned it all out. Now he's using us as bait to lure in the Guardian of Life…. He said that it was Autumn who was chosen."
"Him? But why him? Of everyone out there Autumn is the least likely." She replied, just as confused.
"I know but now his life is in danger and if we don't do something Kuroi will kill him, us, and then WiS and the Man in the Moon. We have to get out of here Adelia."
"…How? All that's around me is fire. The only way out would be the door but it's locked. And Kuroi has your staff and mine." She said, despair seeping through her words.
I stopped for a moment and then said to her through the door, "Well I guess we'll have to use our imagination. We can't let him win,"
Ugh it's late. Anyway woo hoo! Plot and stuff. Bleh I'm sleepy.
