JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS, ROBIN FLEW AWAY! THE BATMOBILE LOST A WHEEL AND THE JOKER GOT AWAY!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY LOVELY, AWESOME SAUCE READERS!
Crystal collapsed on her bunk in the initiates' dormitory, exhausted and sore from the strenuous training Lucy-Jo was putting her through. Over the past three days, she had been made to run ten miles in the morning- really early in the morning- followed by a quick, light breakfast of porridge (yuck) and then weapons training. There, she learnt to throw knifes, axes, spears and fight with swords and several other weapons she couldn't name. It was amazing she could lift some of them. Following a cold shower and lunch, she was put up against other initiates or some of the lesser trained and newer Assassins in hand-to-hand combat. Her bruises had bruises. This would continue until dinner- meat and vegetables with an assortment of side dishes- and then she would be made to walk five miles to the nearest water reserve, fill two large buckets and drag them all the way back, whatever the weather. The buckets had to be at least three quarters full when she returned otherwise she would have to go again and again until she bought back sufficient amounts of water.
She was asleep before her head hit the pillow, knowing that she would only have a few precious hours to catch up on sleep before she was rudely awoken at five in the morning to be ready by half past.
In her dream, she saw Alvie sat at a metal table on a metal chair with metal cuffs holding his hands shoulder width apart and to the table. He was sickly pale and gaunt, his fearful wide eyes fixed on the white board in front of him in sheer terror. A man in a white lab coat was pacing about angrily in front of him, demanding something Crystal couldn't hear- it was like listening to someone while deep underwater. Whatever he was saying was terrifying the life out of Alvie and every time the man hit the white board with the pointer stick, Alvie flinched.
Crystal moved around the table, but it was slow, heavy work. To her, it was like trudging through a bog or a marsh, but she made it and stood in front of Alvie, noticing the thick layer of bruises coating his arms, neck and face.
The man sighed irritably and slammed the pointer stick down on the table, making Alvie jump. He told Alvie something through gritted teeth and stormed out. Crystal moved to wear he had been standing and peered into Alvie's eyes. For a second, he stared over her shoulder and then- snap- his eyes were on hers, suddenly losing all that fear and anxiety, appearing dark and angry.
Then that look disappeared as well and he was pleading her. She had no idea how he could see her, feeling as light as air other than when she moved. Her only way of describing her new state of existence would be ghostly.
But she was absolutely certain he could see her.
Just to make sure though…
"Can… can you see me?" She breathed, reaching out with a shaking hand. He gave the slightest of nods and she felt tears of relief well in her eyes. "I'm… I'm so sorry…" Tears tumbled down her cheeks, now a mixture of her previous relief and shame. "I never wanted… there was-"
"Under the ice..." He interrupted. His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long while, but it was probably more to do with the bruises around his throat. "Tell Dad… under the ice…" Crystal made to touch his cheek, run a hand through his hair- anything to reassure him- but she noticed her hand flicker and start to fade. She tried not to panic, convincing herself she was waking up. She could hear someone shouting at the back of her head, alarms.
"I'll come back." She promised.
The next thing she knew, she was awake in her bed, one of Lucy-Jo's friends- not an Assassin, a medic- about to prod her awake. She saw Lucy-Jo shouting at one of the initiates about being a 'lazy ass' and that they should move it or else.
Crystal shakily got to her feet. "L-Lucy-Jo!" She called. The Assassin looked round and Crystal saw a coffee in her hand. Lucy-Jo clearly wasn't a morning person either.
"Wut?" She asked irritably.
"Where's Percy?"
"Uh, bunkin' with Joel, I think." She frowned. "Why?" Crystal padded over to Lucy-Jo and quietly told her what she had dreamed. "Ugh, fine. Get dressed. Maria will take ya to the techie bunker, but ya catchin' up on the ten mile run. No skivin'." Crystal nodded, hurrying back to her bunk. "I mean it!" Lucy-Jo called after her. She turned to the other initiates. "I want ya all at the front gate in fifteen minutes. If I have ta come back in 'n' get you, there will be broken bones." The initiates scrambled to get ready and there was none of that teasing-wake-up-now chit chat.
Lucy-Jo motioned to the medic that had tried to wake Crystal up- Maria- who dutifully nodded. She was of average height and athletic with chestnut hair and warm blue eyes. Her petite frame and elfish features could pass as attractive to some people.
"I'll be outside." She told Crystal. "Be ready quickly. Joel starts work at eight and there is no distracting him."
"But-"
"He tries to get everyone around him involved."
"Oh." Maria nodded and left.
Percy was still asleep when Crystal arrived at the techie bunker. The bunkers were just kitted out large caravans, wires stringing from one to the next. There had to be twenty or more of these set in three and a half rows. It was difficult to see the sky through the thick tangle of wires and cables, all weather-proof obviously. Maria pointed out various generators. If the Keepers fort was to ever lose power, the techies would be perfectly happy in their powered and warm habitat.
Annabeth was awake, thankfully, and was the only one who could wake Percy without some form of retaliation or defiance.
"Seaweed Brain, get up. It's urgent."
"Ugh, fine."
"You need coffee." Joel commented, swivelling in his chair, reclining and casually sipping coffee. He resembled one of those villains who turned in the swivel chair- 'I have been expecting you'. Just, not so fat or smartly suited with a cat or dog. Just Joel in his casual jeans and T-shirt with his beloved coffee and his trademark welcoming smile.
"Coffee would be nice." Percy agreed, sitting up and trying to flatten his even more unruly hair.
"I know." Joel's smile turned cheeky. "Unfortunately for you, I don't share." Percy shot him an unimpressed look, but Joel just laughed and turned to Crystal. "What's the matter anyway? L.J doesn't let initiates go unless it's major, super important." Crystal sighed and then explained again.
"Under the ice?"
"Oy, son of Poseidon." Joel pointed out. "Get your sister and trot off."
"Trot off?"
"Go away. On your bike. Bog off. Bugger off. Get out of my sight. Whatever you want."
"You're mad."
"Madness is just part of my amazing personality. Now to business. Where's that Leon guy?"
"Leo." Annabeth corrected.
"Leon."
"You're getting his name wrong on purpose, aren't you?" Maria laughed.
"No!" Joel protested, clearly lying. "Maybe…" He added quietly. "Anywho, did you find out whereabouts Alvie's being kept?" Joel asked Crystal.
"No." Her shoulders drooped in defeat. Percy hummed thoughtfully.
"Oh, I know!" He said, smiling after a minute. "Alvie, you clever sod."
"What?" Annabeth marvelled. Percy grinned and some silent conversation flitted between them. "Oh yeah! Can you still do that?"
"Yes." Percy replied, miffed and acting offended. Annabeth hit his arm and Percy's grin returned.
"Hold on," Joel demanded, making a 'T' with his hands. "What the hell are you on about?"
"Well, Joel," Percy's smile faded into a proud one, "I can track anything and anyone while under water. It's this mental tick thing and if I really focus, I can find what I want."
"Sunken treasures?" Joel asked. Percy nodded. "Shipwrecks?" Another nod. "Spongebob Squarepants?" Percy pulled a face, sulking.
"No. Sea sponges are so tiny; I wouldn't even know he was there."
"Look for the pineapple." Joel smiled. Percy gave a lopsided grin.
"Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you're a Seaweed Brain."
And that is all I have for tonight. Sorry it's not much, but if I don't go to sleep, Santa won't visit! (Joking, joking, I'm sixteen. No more Santa for me).
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!
(Oh, who can name all eight reindeer WITHOUT GOOGLE OR ANY OTHER SEARCH ENGINE)?