Chapter Fifteen - Can't Fall Asleep

Hey guys! That's right, I'm updating Little Black Star twice in a day (at least, trying to, although this update may get finished tomorrow which would be today when it gets finished and updated, if that makes any sense). I've been outlining what I want to do - although I haven't outlined to the end of the story - and actually wrote it down so it wasn't all in my head a few days ago. Now that I have, I'm extra inspired to write this story! ^-^ Hopefully this update won't disappoint, although it may just make you guys want another update even more. xD

Evx : I know, poor Mina has gone through so much already. And her struggle isn't even over yet! Ah, no, Evx, you need to do your essay! cx But I'm glad that this update was good enough to make you stop what you were doing to read it, even if the essay is probably more important. X3 And haha, I'm glad Temple is so hateable. He's actually quite fun to write. He probably does deserve to die, especially for hurting Mina, but then we would have even less villains! And hopefully this chapter is coming soon enough for you!

Now, shall we continue with this story? I'm dying to find out what you guys will think of what's coming up!

He sighs, "Now now, this deal is both beneficial to you and to me, dear. You see, I want out of this stupid book, and I'm fully aware that you are supposed to find the exit, or die trying. And I'm sure you will. Now, if you allow me to follow you and exit the Grimorie as well, I will leave you alone. You'll never have to see my charming face again." He grins. "Now do you understand why this is beneficial to you? Once you're out, you'll never have to deal with me again." I highly doubt he'll actually uphold his side of the bargain though. "If you agree, you don't have to do anything. Simply breathe."

I know why he uses that, because it'll mean I have to agree. I briefly consider holding my breathe and killing myself in order to not agree, because at this point even death might be better than continuing with this stupid curse that has made my life even crappier than it was. But then I think about the fact that that gives Temple, Ever, and Prince Teague-Jared the satisfaction of winning. Not to mention in means Nix died for nothing. Slowly, I take a breathe, and then let out.

"I know you'd agree." He sounds way too cheery. It makes me sick. "Now, there is one more thing." I flinch as he clips something around my neck. "It's a necklace of sorts. You could also call it a collar." He takes too much glee in saying that too. I'm not an animal. "You see, I need to make sure that I'm close enough to get to the exit. This will ensure that. The farther away you are from me, the tighter it gets. Not only that, but it also will begin to burn. It wouldn't be a very pleasant experience, I'm sure."

All of that is definitely code for 'If you were going to try and back out of this deal by ditching me, think twice, because you'll likely die - or at least be hurt - in the process till you give up.'

"I don't think that's really necessar-" I begin, reaching up for my neck to try and pull it off, glancing down to see that it is gold.

I can hear the grin in his voice. "Don't worry, it is." After a pause that makes it seem like he's remembering something - but is probably only there for dramatic effect - he adds, "Oh, I almost forgot. Only the person who put it on you can take it off."

Crap.

Mina's Point of View

I ditched Temple as soon as possible. We set up camp in the woods to sleep after walking for awhile, and once I faked going to sleep he went to sleep super quickly. It was then that I crept away, and once I assumed I was out of hearing range, I ran. Honestly, it was too simple, and I wasn't even breathing all that hard. However, after at least an hour - probably even longer - things started to go down hill.

Firstly? I was exhausted. I hadn't slept in what, two days? Unless you count being knocked out as going to sleep, and I don't. Not to mention the little necklace thing Temple put around my neck tightened ever so slightly, so I barely noticed it as it's still rather loose. The only reason I realized it started working is because it warmed up, and seeing as I was beginning to sweat, that made it even worse.

After two more hours of flat out running, I give up, falling asleep against a tree. I never knew how Temple found me so easily before, but I'm hoping he can't do that again. Falling asleep, however, was my worst idea ever, because my reoccurring nightmare has another part for me to see, and this time, it's brought some new friends.

Suddenly, air bursts in as I find myself in a room that seems to be made of gold, although there's practically nothing in it. There's a golden throne in the middle though, and someone is sitting in it. I can't see who though. I walk around slowly, and when I see who it is, I gasp.

"Miss me, love?" Templestiltskin stands up, dressed in gold like he was when I met him before.

"You!" I back up, but the walls of this room have suddenly come much closer, and the throne has disappeared. "Jared got rid of you!"

"So you hoped." He reaches out with an ungloved hand, touching the strand of hair he touched before. It turns to gold, and I cry out in pain, because this time it hurts. Actually, it doesn't just hurt. It burns. "But I'm afraid it will take a lot more than that to get rid of me."

Then, he touches my face. It feels like all of me is on fire, and slowly I find that I can move less and less. It's getting hard to breathe, and when I do, it hurts. I want to cry out, but I can't move my lips at all. My silent screaming fills my own ears, but no one else's.

And then, like everything else so far, the scene slips away, to be replaced with the lunch room at school. However, it looks like something you'd see in a horror game. The lights are mainly off, although there are a few flicking on and off here and there. The eerie silence fills the entire room, and it's almost suffocating. There's not a person in sight. I walk around the room, touching each table and frowning.

"Going somewhere, Grimes?" I turn around to be faced with none other but Savannah.

Except, she's not her typical 'Savannah looking' self. Her golden hair is a mess of tangles, looking more like a rat's nest than a brat's stunning hair. Her sapphire-colored eyes seem almost void of emotion. But what takes the cake is the deranged smile on her face. That just makes the whole 'creepy factor' go up from one hundred to a million.

"W-What's it to you?" The quiver in my voice causes me to back up a step, but Savannah just steps closer.

I can see now that she's closer that her mascara is running down her face, and her lipstick is a darkish purple that almost makes her lips look bruised. The creepy factor is climbing upwards. That's not to mention the cut above her left eye that I can now see. What on earth happened?

"Nothing." I frown when she says this. What? "Seeing as you won't be."

"Why do you say tha-" I don't get a chance to finish, because she punches me in the face, and it sends me spiraling through the wall.

I flip around multiple times, landing on my knees and hearing a thicken crunch. I let out a cry of pain, and the ground slowly disappears around me till I'm standing on a little piece of land floating in darkness. A small stick juts out, and then I see a hand is clinging on to that stick. I lean down to see a girl with dead eyes staring back at me, but I can't identify any color on her.

She croaks out in a voice I can't identify but I know I've heard before, "Help me, Mina, please!"

I reach my hand out towards her. "Here, take my hand!"

It's too late though. She loses her grip, slipping backwards, and her hand barely misses mine. I lean downwards, trying to reach her, but she drifts away. I blink, and then she's clinging to the branch, and my hand is hanging down for her to grab. She takes it, but I don't save her this time either.

"You're gonna pay for what you did. I want you to bow." Then, she let's go of the branch, pulling me down with her.

I shut my eyes as the darkness whips past, and the girl releases my hand, seeming to pull away. I keep plummeting downwards, wind rushing past me and whipping my hair all around, until it stops. I open my eyes as my feet collide with solid ground, and groan in pain. A figure flickers in and out of my vision in front of me, looking a bit like a girl who doesn't seem much older than me. Every now and then a few other girls appear in my vision, but she's the only one that's constantly flickering.

"You're getting closer." I can tell she whispers the words and I shouldn't be able to hear them, but I manage to anyways and they are left to echo in my head.

I sit up straight, gasping as I do. I can tell I've barely gotten any sleep, and I don't feel much more rested. But I have to go. I stand up on wobbly legs, left to try and figure out what that dream meant. Everything I've had happen in my dreams seem to be coming true, so those must mean something. But what?

You're getting closer. That's what that girl whispered. But what is that supposed to mean? And who was she, or the other girl that fell? How is Savannah playing for this? And why am I still getting warned about Templestiltskin?

Sorry that that chapter is a bit shorter, but I wanted to get this dream update out there so you guys could ponder what's going on. I promise, some answers will be coming next chapter! Plus, next chapter will be longer. c;

Please review if you read this and enjoyed it, and would like to see more! If you guys have any suspicions as to what the answers to Mina's questions were at the end of the chapter, feel free to leave those in a review! I love hearing your suspicions, reactions, and ideas.

See ya next time!

~ Dagger