This chapter will sort of show a different side of Once-ler you probably have never seen before. In my head, post Thneed Once-ler (or Greed-ler) was sort of a bad boy,you'll see the sort of things he did...

Chapter Five: Someone

- Once-ler POV -

After having my daily hikes cut short by that girl by the name of Marilyn I returned home. My servants took my suit and cleaned it meanwhile I stayed in my room wearing a simple white shirt and black pants. I didn't felt like playing music, plus I think I may have broken a few fingers going down that hill. So I just lay in my office, again. I hardly went anywhere in my house other than to my room. I didn't know why I wanted a big house in the first place. Maybe I just went crazy biggering anything I touch. I was like King Midas, but instead of turning what I touched into gold, I biggered them.

So to pass my time I just smoked a cigar. I also drunk alcohol. I smoked and drunk my sadness away. I know it wasn't healthy but I stopped caring long ago.

I was always alone. My servants avoided me. They avoided me because they were scared of me. They were scared I might fire them, hurt them, or even kill them. Of course I would never kill a human being, but I did kill the forrest, didn't I?

I went over a photo album I had. There was pictures of the first Thneed I mad. Pictures of my family and Mrs. Funce-ler. And then there was my favorite. A picture of me, Melvin, Pipsqueak and The Lorax. I wonder where they went to. Did the animals find a new habitat to live in? Are they even alive? Was The Lorax with them? I guess I will never know. I wanted to die for that.

I went to sleep, drunk and crying. But before closing my eyes I started to think. Not on the animal or The Lorax, but of Marilyn. For the first time I think about someone else. I wondered if anyone had told her who I really am. Would she hate me? Would she think I'm a monster? I wanted to see her again. I wanted to know who she was and what she thought. I suddenly became tired of being alone. I wanted to be with someone who wouldn't judge me or like me for my money and fame. I wanted someone to look at me as the human I really am.

Chapter Five (1/2): The Second Meeting

Marilyn looked beautiful wearing a plain white buttoned blouse and a yellow knee-lenght pleated skirt. She wore her green flats with wihite stockings and a matching green scarf. The one she wore yesterday was dirty so Norma had to lend Marilyn hers. Her golden blonde hair was made into a french braid that barely went pass her shoulders. A curly lock of hair fell over Marilyn's face. Marilyn was always simple, she never wore make up or jewelry and never over dressed either. She was naturally beautiful but despite her good looks she had never overcome her shyness.

The golden curly blonde hair and blue eyes ran in her father's side of her family. Her mother had brown wavy hair and hazel green eyes that Marilyn's little brothers, James and Spencer, inherited. So for the most part Marilyn looked more like her father. Her father was a loving man and was looking for a job in town. Unfortunately it proved to be hard. There was no jobs to be found but the family kept hoping and praying that he would find one.

While her father was out looking for work and Marilyn's mother bathed her two younger brothers, Marilyn went to the valley. This time she didn't have to walk. Norma let her borrow her bicycle and she got there in less than half an hour.

This time she did not went to explore but instead to find The Once-ler. But once she got to the valley, she regreted coming. What was she suppose to say? How did she know he would even be here? While roaming the spooky place her mind kept conflicting. One side told her to leave but the other kept telling her to keep riding. She rode slowly pass the tree-cutting machines and found herself where she had met Once-ler yesterday. She sat there thinking what to say when she saw him. She wished she would've thought this through a little more before she came.

Meanwhile, Marilyn wasn't the only one looking for someone in the valley. The Once-ler, although he didn't admitted to himself, was hoping she would be there. Looking handsome in his green suit he walked around looking for any sign of a young girl. He was another fool. He didn't know what to say when he saw her either. So he walked around rehearsing a conversation in his head.

Marilyn sat on a tree stump looking down at her feet humming a song. The longer she sat there, the more scared she became. She was surrounded by smoke and darkness. It all felt like a scary movie. She was a young lady all by herself. What can possibly go wrong?

As Marilyn looked around she saw a strange figure in the darkness, tall and lean, slowly approach her. She was frightened. For a moment she was paralyzed. She didn't know if it was a trick of her imagination. But as the unknowned figure moved closer Marilyn she let out a loud scream. Without looking back she began running leaving Norma's bike behind.

The Once-ler was secretly happy that he found Marilyn but once she began screaming and running away, he was puzzled. Without thinking he ran after Marilyn. She was halfway up the hill.

"Hey!" he called after her but she just screamed. Ugh, women The Once-ler thought. The girl was fast but The Once-ler had long legs for an advantage. He almost catched up to her but she ducked while The Once-ler almost ran into and ax from the machines he invented to cut the trees.

Marily kept runnig. Her shoes were filled with mud and her hair a mess but she just kept running. Out of nowhere she fell, slipping down a cliff. She tried getting hold of the dirt but she just kept slidding on her belly as if it where a slide. When the ride was over she was so dizzy and hurt she couldn't get up.

Once The Once-ler manage to find his way out of the ax maze he found Marilyn at the bottom of the cliff where a river once was.

"Oh no..." he slid down on his side and put Marilyn's head on his lap.

"What should I do? What should I do?" he said nervous. What if she was dead? Was it his fault? He was relieved when Marilyn let out a soft moan and slowly opened her eyes. Her face had dirt and scratches, some from yesterday and some fresh from today.

Her shirt was completely brown now and her skirt was torn and dirty. Her whole body was bruised and covered with dirt and scratches.

"Ummm... are you okay?" The Once-ler said inspecting her arms and face.

"Huh?..." was all she said.

He helped her sit up.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch" she complained. Once-ler kept apologizing everytime she let out any sound of pain.

"Why were you running away?" The Once-ler asked. Was she also scared of him? Marilyn connected the dots together.

So he was the figure I saw... "Sorry I thought you were some alien or something a-and I was scared so I-" she hissed in pain "panicked and ran." she finished her sentence. Once-ler smiled, that was the dumbest thing he ever saw a person do.

"What were you doing here again?" he asked. "You weren't walking your dog again, were you?" Marilyn blushed and looked away again. She was doomed.

"I was... um... exploring" she said foolishly. Hopefully he didn't know she was lying.

"And you? What were you doing anyway?" it was her turn to ask now. Once-ler couldn't admit to her he was hoping she'd be here and he also couldn't tell her what he did everyday out here.

So instead he said "First, there is absolutely nothing to explore here. Second, that's confidential."

Rude Marilyn thought. "Well Mr. Once-ler," she said "I will be leaving then." She got up by herself and turned to walk away. She couldn't walk by herself and stumbled to the side but Once-ler caught hold of her. He couldn't let her go now. He had to talk to her, plus it was much too dangerous for her to go back to town alone in this condition.

"You can't walk back to town like that all by yourself, here let me help you." He put his right arm around her waist and with his left arm he wrapped and held her arm around his neck.

"Ummm where are you taking me?" Marilyn was a little uncomfortable but accepted his hospitality.

"To my home" he simply responded.

"Yes, a dark time passed over this land, but now

there is something like light."

-Dave Eggers, Zeitoun

Sooo, what did you think about this one? I know, I know. Too many people are getting hurt but I didn't want people to think Marilyn was like the perfect girl that always looked glamorous and all. This is sort of like a slapstick comedy story at times. I satrted school againg today and so I won't be writting as much but I haven't given up on the story. There is more good stuff to come in the next chapters...