Oz Victorious
Chapter Six: Another World
At last, the day had come; feeling his mother's hand on his shoulder, Freddie awoke from his dreams of Oz, and opened his eyes to the world. "Morning, angel," the woman warmly greeted her son. "Ready for your big day?"
"Yeah," Freddie yawned. "Thanks for waking me up, Mom."
"Addie's gonna meet you at school to help you set up," Ms. Benson informed the boy. "Good luck today, honey." Freddie smiled, and warmly embraced his mom. "iCarly's technical supervisor...you're going to do a great job."
"Thanks, Mom," the brunette boy mouthed, his throat starting to hurt. "I love you."
Putting together his equipment, the young man loaded up his cart, and headed down the sidewalk, bound for Ridgeway High. Above him, the sky was overcast and suited with an icy wind. Pulling down his sleeves, Freddie pushed alittle bit harder on his cart to make it up a small hill. A small cloud of dead leaves flew overhead, gently brushing the boy's head. Seeing the growing storm forming above him, the young man began walking faster, trying to reach shelter. "Come on, come one," he mouthed, beginning to grow desperate. Soon, the clouds began to twirl and warp together, forming a funnel. Lightning struck above the city, illuminating every single inch of the world. Looking up, Freddie saw the horrific sight, and started running. Ridgeway had tornado drills and protocols; the faculty would know what to do. "Not much further." His heart starting to pound, the young man charged ahead with all his might, nearly spilling some of his equipment. Thunder rolled and rumbled among the clouds like a hungry beast calling out for food. Sweat forming on his neck and forehead, Freddie clenched his teeth together, and bolted down the sidewalk. Images flashed through the young man's mind; lightning strikes, massive gusts of wind, trees losing their grip on the earth and flying in the savage wind.
Suddenly, the boy found himself kicking and trying desperately to remain on the ground. Looking down, Freddie saw his feet lifting off the sidewalk, despite his kicking and struggling. His hands locked onto the handle of the cart, the young brunette began screaming; hollering at what would surely be his demise. The winds were merciless as they tore the teenager away from his safe world, and into the clouds. I'm going to die! I'm gonna fall forever! It's all happening so fast! Mom, I love you! Addie, I'm sorry! No longer in control, Freddie began flailing his legs wildly, watching the world below him grow smaller and smaller; buildings becoming skylines becoming vague images below the claws of the dark clouds. Hollering with all his might, the young man felt himself hurtled at random, fueled by the power of the wind. Spinning, twirling, and flipping without control, the city soon disappeared into pure grayness. Cascading violently, Freddie witnessed the tops of skyscrapers, surrounding trees floating so close to the atmosphere, and then nothingness. Caught in a vortex, the boy witnessed a sandstorm; lifeless eyes molded into dry, thick clay; dead faces frozen while trying to scream for help. Sand mouths and eyes crumbled and blew away in the savage wind "Aaaahhh!" Freddie hollered, waving his arms with all his might. Soon, the sand sculptures faded away, turning into the horrid gray sky. Then, darkness consumed everything, and the torment faded into slumber...
Eleka nahmen nahmen. Tightening his eyes, the young man slowly forced himself back to consciousness. Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen. Eleka nahmen nahmen. Opening his eyes, Freddie saw darkness. Ah tum ah tum eleka nahmen. The darkness focused and developed into a blinding light. Squinting and groaning, the boy clenched his forehead, still recoiling from the storm. "Oh," Freddie groaned, wiping over his eyes and rising up into a seated position. Looking down, the boy found he was in a pool of lukewarm water. Strangely tall blades of grass and brilliant flowers kissing the air with large petals curving outward then inward like a pair of puckered lips. Weakly covering the area was a pair of palm trees that gave way for larger, exotically twisted oak trees. Looking to his right, the young man saw a black figure kneeling in the grass nearby, tending to something on the ground. "Excuse me," he called out to the strange being, all the while fighting an impact-caused headache. "Is the storm past?"
Rising from her concentration, the black-clothed figure shot its head towards the boy, flaring its arm out at the sides in a defensive position. In the light, Freddie could see the creature was a woman, colored a nearly emerald green, clothed with long, dark hair and a pointed black hat. Despite her unusual appearance, there was something about her; something beautiful, deep, and intelligent. "I thought you were dead," the woman snarled, her black nails brandished.
"No, I...I was caught in a storm," the young man recalled, rising out of the water. "Do you know what this place is?" Freddie looked around, astounded by all that surrounded him.
"I will burn you to the bone," the green figure sneered, slowly stepping closer to the boy, though hesitation existed in each step.
"What? Please, I don't know where I am," Freddie stuttered, his heart starting to pound as his mind began to race. "If you could just tell me what town this is...I can just..." The woman stopped several feet away from the water. "My name's Freddie Benson..."
Leaning forward, the witch examined the strange being before her. "You're not like the others," she declared, recalling the pain and agony her neighbors and fellow citizens caused her; all the things her friend and sister warned her of. "Get out of the water." Too wise to trust, the green figure studied the boy as he made his way out of the lake and onto a path of dirt. He's just like all the others. Kill him where he stands. "What are you?"
"I'm just a kid," the boy answered, putting his hands in the air. "W-who are you? I mean, what's your name?"
"Victoria," the green woman answered, looking down at the soggy creature. "Halt where you are."
"That's a pretty name," Freddie said, freezing in his steps. "You're beautiful...I mean, you're not like anyone I've ever seen before." Not even like Carly...
He's not worthy of your trust; no one is! Reduce him to ash. "Don't flatter me," Victoria ordered. "I can sense your lies."
"I'm not lying," the boy weakly defended himself. "I-I think there's something...breath-taking about you. I don't mean to sound shallow, but..."
"I know your kind," the woman interrupted, her voice harsh. Snapping her fist open, Victoria formed a ball of red fire. "Will you cry as your flesh burns?"
"Please...I'm not like those other people," Freddie nervously promised. "Look, I'm sorry I bothered you. If you let me go, I'll just take off." The young man slowly began to back away, not taking his eyes off the strange woman before him.
"Your path isn't like the others," Victoria said, halting the boy. "You're different...I see something in your eyes." Slowly, the woman approached her stranger, staring deeply into his hazel eyes. "Something...bold. Something beyond what I've ever seen in any creature. Dry yourself by the fire." Victoria threw down a ball of fire, igniting the grass in a concentrated spot. Not daring to lose eye contact, Freddie made his way over to the fire, and stared ringing out his clothing.
As night fell over the horizon, Victoria lay atop the boy, his eyes closed as his breath grew heavier. The sense of ecstasy burning in his body, Freddie wrapped his arms around the green woman, and pulled her closer. The fires burned on, licking the skies of the alien world.
Opening his eyes, Freddie saw the lights of sunrise slowly dawning in the darkness over the hills. Groaning, the young man lifted himself up, found himself completely alone, let out a sigh of defeat, and walked down the dirt path. Victoria... Squinting, the brunette boy noticed something familiar; his cart, still fully loaded. Letting a slight smile form on his face, the teenager grabbed the handle, and pushed his technical equipment down the path. I'm sorry, Addie...sorry I never met you at school. Biting his lip, Freddie continued on his way, hoping to find someone out in the night.