A/N: Oh my goodness! X3 Thank you guys again, DanMat6288, BabyAngel22, NetusVersatus, sightswiftlifter, and the Leander for the encouraging reviews! X//3 And thank you, YukuTiszuki, Orkidee, and Sashie for reviewing me over DA! (Well... Sashie on iscribble XD) Geez, you people are awesome!
And of course, thank you Rosecloud and Wolfytails for checking this out as well! X3
Oh and before I forget, thank you so much, Tekirai-chan for the realistic review! X3 You caught me right before I was about to upload this X3 I appreciate all the good and the criticism you put into your review, it will only help my writing get better and better as time goes on! When I get the time, I do plan on editing my past parts, for I know that there are a few errors that passed my eyes that people had notified me about! Most of all, thanks so much for enjoying it so far! X3
(sigh) Alright, I finally got this done. XP Anyways, this is another chapter I've been meaning to write, mainly for... you'll just have to get there! XD All I can say is that... something happens. 8E Actually, a lot of things happen... oh well XD There's a lot of foreshadowing going on in this chapter. Another thing is that Jeff actually discovers... or suspects something unordinary about himself! XP
Alrighty, well without further ado, I hope you enjoy this chapter! 8D
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It was cold. That was the first thing I thought when my father and I first stepped into Winters. I wasn't welcome in this new, strange realm. I was used to the comforting rays the sun gave me at home. Our home... the one we left once she left us...
I attempted to reach for my father's hand for the dozenth time, but he didn't pay any mind. Exiting the air port, my father ordered a limo. I was kind of excited at first about the limo, but when we started driving up the tall snow covered mountains, I became nervous. It was still dark; the towering trees hid the lingering shadows in the forest that I knew were out to get me.
The car slowed as we reached a round-about that led to a giant gate guarding a mansion it seemed. Was this our new home? It looked so miserable. My father stepped out of the car and got my luggage from the trunk. When he opened my door, I was surprised to only see one suit case. My father silently ushered me out of the car, and grabbed my luggage. We entered the big and scary house.
"Yes, we do have a reservation for Jeffery Andounuts" The man at the counter said leaning over the counter and smiling at me sincerely. At the height I was at, I could only see the nose hairs that stuck out of his nostrils.
"Welcome to Snow Woods elementary Boarding School you lucky young man. You're one of the youngest we've had. You're very special to have such a brilliant man for a father, so it's an honor to host you for a while..." He snickered at me. Boarding school? I was only four years old. I was so lost, where was I? Why was I here? What was a boarding school, and why was I going to one? Wasn't dad going to take care of me?
But when I turned around, he was already gone...
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The Universe Will Die Without You
Chapter 12 The Man of Mani Mani
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This couldn't be happening...
There was just no way...
Everything was everywhere. The equipment was scattered, the beds were a mess, and Pokey's flowers littered the floor. It was already hitting dark, and I felt the unwelcoming cold wind giving me the shivers. But I didn't pay any mind... I had been in a state of shock. I was sure I had done so for the trillionth time, but I kept scanning my eyes wildly around the room, even for a hint; for a sign of Ness close by...
He was gone... did someone kidnap him? Where's he now? Why now, why ever... I clenched my forehead.
"This can't be happening... no...no..." I stuttered to myself. I momentarily spotted my bag on the floor, contents spilling out. I rushed to my things in which I was surprised that nothing was stolen. When I put the strap around my shoulder, I froze.
"Are you Jeff?" I heard the nurse say behind me. I spun around quickly.
"Wha- what happened?!" I asked in panic. I hated the look the nurse gave me as she frowned.
"Well... we don't quite know... why there was a violent crowd looking for him, but he left before anything happened. He asked us where you were, and we told him that we didn't know, so he started begging us to let him go. He said he needed to look for you right away. He seemed very worry-some while he said so..." She replied. He left before anything obscure happened? Why was he in a rush to find me? I growled in frustration.
"Why did you people tell him that I left?!" I kept myself from roaring her, though she still flinched in response.
"Well... what else were we to-"
"Do you know where he was heading when he left?!" I asked. However, the nurse shook her head.
"I'm sorry, he didn't tell us any of that kind of information," She replied with sorrow. I cringed, drifting my eyes to the flower littered floor.
"Can you describe the group that was trying to get to him?" I asked, feeling my voice lower in volume. The nurse 'hmmed' to herself.
"Well they were a peculiar group... some of them seemed to be affiliated with magic it seemed, though some of the others looked like serious body guards," She said as I took the words in with shock and realization.
Was Demetri working for Pokey this entire time? I took another look at the room as we were interrupted by a cleanup crew. I nodded to the nurse.
"Thank you for telling me all you know," I told her before I was off again. Walking through the halls, I passed by multiple people, including police force. When I was downstairs, I was stopped by someone putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey young sir, may I ask you a question," He asked me. I raised eyebrow.
"Quickly please; I'm in a hurry," I told him. When he held up a picture, I held in my breath as best as I could.
"Do you recognize the sketch of this young man?" He asked holding up a well drawn picture of Ness. I tried my best to keep a straight face.
"No... I'm sorry, I don't recognize him," I told police officer sighed as I started walking off.
"Well if you do see him, please contact us immediately, it's an urgent manner that he's found," He said. I paced out of the hospital. I wanted to assume that the police was searching him down for safety reasons. But still...
Why did they have such an accurate sketch of him?
---
The streets seemed to be extra crowded in some streets, and others were completely empty that night; why was beyond me. This was stupid, how was I going to find him in such a big crowd, nonetheless in a huge city? Everything seemingly spun around me, including the lights, the different people. It didn't help my migraine, and it only started to make me feel sick to my stomach.
I eventually walked down a quiet street, as I felt myself stumble on my feet. Clenching a nearby wall, I kept myself from clashing to the ground. I had no idea where I was headed, or where exactly I was in the first place. I needed a tactic... a plan. I sighed, running my fingers though my hair. That's when I heard it...
A ring. The sound of a cell ring. It was nearby... so nearby... so ridiculously loud that it was actually coming from my bag. I fumbled with my bag, and opened it, and there it was...
Ness's receiver phone, I thought. I picked it up without a second thought, and pressed the talk button.
"Ness?!" I practically spat into the phone. There was a small pause.
"Uhh... no not really, this is Apple Kid," Apple Kid replied. I groaned inwardly.
"What do you want?!" I growled.
"Okay, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down. Now, I can only assume that this if Jeff I'm speaking to, am I right?" He asked me. I raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but why do you care? I'm in a hurry right-"
"Jeff, please hear me out, I know where Ness is," He finally said. I paused and thought for a moment. At first I was happy he mentioned that, but wasn't there a possibility that this wasn't Apple Kid that Ness had spoken to back in Threed? What if this was a trap of some sort?
"You know what's ironic? I received a letter the other day..." Pokey spoke in my memories.
"Isn't there a possibility that either you aren't Apple Kid, or that Pokey and Monotoli is listening into our conversation at this very moment?" I asked him. Apple Kid 'hmmed.'
"I don't that would be possible. I designed the receiver phone myself. It may be the most limited phone to date, but it's the most secure. Besides, it would be beyond illegal for the mayor of Fourside to listen into personal phone conversations, especially ones that don't share the same area code as the city does. There would be major governmental issues involved, and even if he really wanted to, he wouldn't want to get caught. And besides, only Ness's father and I know the number to that particular receiver phone. Believe me Jeff, I understand what's going on there, so please, just calm yourself," He explained. I had to admit... it made sense in a way. I couldn't believe myself, but I could only trust that he was right. I didn't realize how horrified I sounded until I spoke.
"Please... you have to tell me where Ness is," I begged.
"Okay, okay... He should be somewhere around that new department store... somewhere around there..." He told me. The department store? Why would he go there? Wasn't that dangerously close to the Monotoli building?! I was on my way instantly.
"Do you know when he departed there?" I asked
"About an hour ago, I believe..." He replied. Ness must have planned this all out. Somehow, he had to have gotten contact with Apple Kid, and snuck the receiver phone into my bag before he left in hopes that I would notice, and go find him.
"And you're sure that he said he'd be around the department store?" I double checked.
"Yes Jeff, I'm 98 percent sure that he said he'd be around the department store.
"Did he tell you why he was doing so?" I asked.
"Not really. He just said he was sick of waiting in the hospital, and he wanted to find you as soon as possible," He replied. I grumbled to myself angrily. Stupid Ness doesn't realize the danger we're in right now...
"However... you're just like the rest of us... Keep getting yourself involved in this... I will kill you..." Pokey spoke into my mind.
My migraine was well back into a full blown headache.
---
"You sound exhausted, Jeff," Apple Kid spoke on the other line.
"I'm not exhausted," I replied stubbornly.
"Then can you please stop breathing heavily into the phone? It's starting to bug me while I work," He replied. I sighed.
"Okay, fine, maybe I'm a little out of breath. I'm only trying to find my friend as soon as I can. I'm sure you can deal with it," I told him. There was a moment of silence. Now it seemed as if he was trying to have a normal conversation. The nerve of him.
"You know Jeff? I've always wanted to meet your father; I'm his biggest fan," He told me. I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Is that so?" I asked cringing to myself as he kept blabbering in his annoying voice.
"Oh yes! I've studied everything that he's ever invented and is good at. I think maybe that our-" I hung up the phone.
"Shut the fuck up," I muttered irately at the phone; stuffing it in my pocket.
---
I eventually made my way onto another rather quiet street. Still, I was nowhere near the department store, and Demetri's men could have already discovered him by then. I started to worry; what if I was too late? He wouldn't let himself get into any deep trouble, would he? I started to pick my feet up in a jog. The downfall was that my feet didn't take me very far as I stopped in exhaustion. My eyes spotted a yellow car from afar. I thought it was strange that its headlights weren't on, but it didn't stop me from realizing that it was a taxi. I would make it become my temporary savior. I waved my arms above my head maniacally. The taxi started to speed up, as if the driver wanted to avoid me. I growled in frustration as I saw the car speed right past me. Though it was in a matter of moments when I held my breath.
The taxi seemed to rush to a sharp stop. It was then that the car took a sharp 'U' turn and started to speed down the road again. I wasn't sure what kind of reckless driver was in control at the time, but I thought the faster, the better. It was when the taxi sped madly on the sidewalk, still heading towards me that my eyes widened in fear. I dove out of the way just in time for it to speed madly down past where I would have been slaughtered on the spot. My chest became heavy as I tried rushing back to my feet.
"What the fuck is wrong with whoever's driving that damn car?!" It flipped around again, and roared its engine. I took a look into the front seats and came to a shocking conclusion.
The driver's seat was completely empty. My mind went temporarily blank as the taxi roared again. Still, the street we were on was completely empty besides the two of us. How the hell was I supposed to stand up to a freaking car?! The car pressed on its own gas, and was heading towards me like an angry bull locked onto its prey.
Holly shit, I thought. Before it hit me, I dodged out of the way, and ran the opposite direction. I couldn't fight it head on, but I thought to myself, I either had to be fast enough to get out of its sight and range, or I had to outsmart it somehow. How the heck was I supposed to outsmart an object?! I thought to myself as I tripped onto the ground. I yelped, and sat up immediately to find the taxi charging towards me again. I rolled over swiftly; I could feel the swift movement of the car passing by right behind my back. I shivered at the thought of me staying put. I rushed up onto my feet again, and saw the car ram into a corner post box, knocking it down completely. I rushed to the right of the intersection, making my way down a different road.
I felt my chest swelling from the lack of oxygen; for I wasn't used to so much running in the first place. It was hard to tell from the distant roaring of the taxi, but I could have sworn that I heard the receiver phone ringing in my pocket again. I took the time again, to dodge out of the car's way, and started running in the opposite direction; which would have to force the taxi to shift into reverse just to turn around and hunt me down again. Just why was a taxi trying to kill me anyways?! I fumbled with my pocket as I ran as fast as I could; my heart beat rapidly. I pressed the talk button, and half yelled, half panted into the phone.
"Apple Kid?!" I yelled.
"Yep, it's me, Ap-"
"Why the hell are you calling me again?!" I yelled into the phone as I rushed around another corner. I was sure the taxi was trying to tail me as best as it could. Though I thought, it was bound to catch up again.
"Our connection got broken, so I called you again. Like I was saying before, I'm your father's-"
"I don't give a damn about my father, alright?!" I yelled, feeling my breath run out before I could completely finish my sentence.
"Oh... alright. Well how's your search? Any signs so far?"
Oh, it's going swell, how about that?!" I told him as I jumped out of the car's path. I looked around me madly for a sign. When I saw another small street out of the taxi's way, I sprinted again.
"You sound exhausted Jeff, you alright? Is Ness okay? How come you're so angry sounding whenever you speak to me?" He asked me. I growled.
"You wanna know how I am?! I feel scared as a fucking wet cat and I'm out of breath like a deflated balloon, that's how I feel!" I ranted with the breath I had left.
"Oh... well that's not very good," He spoke casually. I gritted my teeth and took in a deep breath though my nostrils.
"You're not helping at all, you know that?!" I yelled.
"Oh..." He spoke warily in the phone. It was when I decided to dodge again, that the phone flew out of my hand. God damn it. I swiftly got to my feet again, feeling my knees nearly giving way. The car took a sharp U turn. Without thinking, I rushed again, down a different lane, which happened to be in fact a dead end. I panted, eyes wider than the time Pokey had told me his little secret. I could hear the engine swiftly approaching me from behind. My heart raced, and I started to panic. Such a cliche scenario.
I was really going to die here, wasn't I? No... no, I couldn't die, not yet. I may have deserved to die, but there was so much I still needed to know. There was so much I felt as if I needed to do, even if it didn't make sense. I had to help save the world, didn't I? I had to make sure that Tony was alright. I had to win Paula back safe and sound...
...I had to find and protect Ness as best as I could in his condition. I don't know how it happened, but I did it so fast, and I felt as if I pictured it all in my head, moments before it even happened. The roaring of the engine became so loud at the time.
Somehow, I had managed to swiftly pace around the car, just barely a second before it hit me, and while it smashed into the dead end, I managed to open the driver's door, and tried taking control of the wheel once I was inside. What was odd was that the car was still in motion; it should have malfunctioned from the severe impact of the crash. Without me having any control, it shifted into reverse, and sped out of the alleyway. When we were out, it started to swerve uncontrollably, I assumed to knock me out of the vehicle somehow. I held my strong grip on the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white, and my arms rotating uncontrollably and uncomfortably. I forced the wheel in the opposite direction in attempt to get the car in control. It felt like hours as we wrestled over control, but when the car swerved into a tree, I was able to make my move as I turned the wheel with all my might. I was in control now, I thought, even though more than half of me was in panic. I attempted to drive the car down the same alley way we were in, and once we made it, I slammed my foot on the gas. I knew my idea was crazy and suicidal, but I couldn't think of a better option. I screamed and closed my eyes, hearing the engine roaring before I slammed into the wall. My senses went black for a while...
---
My head felt as if someone cracked it open with a hammer when I finally opened my eyes again. I groaned as I brought my hand to my forehead, feeling my glasses barely hanging off my nose. Adjusting them, I examined where I was. I couldn't think straight right away, but I knew I was still sitting in the taxi that now seemed lifeless. It was dead silent. I closed my eyes, in attempt to slowly get back to earth.
Just what happened? There was no way; why did I live? The car was so deadly close that an average person wouldn't have had the time to dodge. I should have died... just like all those years ago. Yet here I was, in aching pain, but still alive, and breathing. Was it luck, for purpose or was it punishment? I looked at my hands with new thoughts, and a shaky breath.
Was I not a normal human either? It didn't make any sense; I never saw Paula or Ness pull off something like that... My eyes drifted to my watch, which read 11:30 pm. My eyes widened.
Ness was still alone in this huge city, I suddenly thought. I slammed the door open with my foot, grabbed my bag, and half walked, half limped my way out of the alley. Just where was I? I looked around me; none of the street lights were on in this section. When I looked into the sky, it seemed cloudy, as if it was about to rain. While I walked, and scanned the area, my eyes landed on the receiver phone again. I picked it up, and noticed that it was still on. I wasn't sure why, but I spoke into it.
"Hello?" I asked. I heard snoring on the other line.
"Hello?" I tried again, but I was only greeted by another loud obnoxious snore. I rolled my eyes, and hung up the phone. I could only trust that the location he told me was the correct one. I was on my way; walking as swiftly as my body could manage. I hoped so bad that there weren't any other abnormal ravaging cars out to kill me. Most of all, I could only hope that Ness was still alright...
---
When I saw the Monotoli building in the distance, I knew I was approaching the department store. The same place where Ness and I got our first taste of what was yet to come, I guessed. What made me somewhat more paranoid was that the area I was venturing though wasn't clean, or fresh. I was in the slums, and more people were out than I had hoped for. Ness wasn't in this ghetto, was he? I thought to myself as I examined the multiple graffiti symbols sprayed on the walls. The place was unwelcoming... at least to me.
I could feel people looking at me from every corner. I just hoped that none of them were people like Demetri... like Pokey Minch. It started to rain, and I felt more mentally lost and worn down than ever. I finally hit a big and long brick wall, decorated with even more graffiti, or murals that were in decipherable and had made no sense whatsoever. The planted trees and patches of grasses attempted to bring life, but its efforts were in vein. Though it was strange... the more I walked along this wall, more unwelcome I felt, and it was more than just the illegible words on the bricks, there was something... something not visible, but I started to feel it, not only in my bones but deep in my soul. I didn't realize how lost I really was in my thoughts, until I actually bumped into someone. The person stopped, and gave me a skeptical look.
"I'm sorry," I told him. The man sighed.
"It's alright." He replied. I nodded silently as I turned to walk off again, but the man's voice brought me to a halt.
"I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, but doesn't this wall give off an eerie feeling, like you don't belong?" He asked. I slowly nodded. How ironic was that. The man shrugged.
"I always stroll by here to figure out why. I think there's something beyond the wall further down, though I'm not quite sure, but after a while, I realized one thing: This isn't my place. Maybe it's not your place either. Just be careful where you go, but keep searching; you'll find your place someday," He said before walking away. His words mesmerized me, like the man that sold me the daisies.
"Hey," I said. The man stopped, and looked at me again.
"... Have you seen a boy around my age? He has black hair, sometimes he wears a red cap and a blue and yellow stripped shirt," I said. The man raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not sure about the details, but I think I remember a strange young boy by himself sitting somewhere along this wall. He'd be further down if he's still there, but other than that, I'm very sorry. Let's both hope that you'll find him soon," He told me before he was off again. I frowned to myself as I departed my own way.
The wall was longer than I thought. I passed by a money beggar, and a creepy man that looked to be a drug dealer, but I kept my eyes from them, only to try and search for a sign, any sign of Ness. I could see the wall curve around, and the department store was not too far away either. The end of the wall had the most writing on it; though it was kind of hard to tell with the three trees in the way. When I finally reached it however, and scanned my eyes, I froze.
The strange feeling was back, stronger than ever, and had urged me to leave. But the sight of a young boy, sitting with his knees drawn to his chest and his face buried kept my feet planted. The back pack that sat next to him was definitely... I paced up to him; the rain started to become more noticeable. My heart started to pound as I stood in front of the lonely boy.
"... Ness?" I asked with a low quiet voice. Ness's shoulders twitched when I said his name. However, he didn't lift his face from his knees.
"... Ness, please say something, it's me Jeff..." I said, feeling my voice crack. I hadn't spoken to him since before I spoke to Pokey. I awaited his reply eagerly, though he kept himself silent for a little longer. I let off a sigh. It was faint, but I could have sworn that he muttered something in his knees.
"... You left me..." I thought I heard him say. I didn't know how to respond; I couldn't possibly tell him that I went to speak to Pokey by myself, could I?
"I..." I couldn't form words on my lips. Ness turned his head to look to his left. I frowned at this. Though I was happy that he managed to leave before anything obscure happened at the hospital, it didn't stop my moment of anger.
"Look. I went to get some fresh air, alright? There wasn't any reason why you had to wander out of the hospital like that, especially in the critical condition you're in right now," I spoke to him semi harshly. He squeezed his knees tighter again. I became mad at this gesture.
"Ness, I was worried sick about where you would have gone to, do you realize that when I returned to the hospital, your room was trashed?! I searched about half of the damn city for you, and it was only thanks to Apple Kid that I was able to find you in this bizarre location!" I explained. Ness shivered from my spurt of anger, and shook his head; face still buried.
"I mean, what would happen if you were ever caught, or got in danger if you were by yourself, or-"
"Go ahead; yell at me, and tell me how I'm wrong, and you're right," He said back stubbornly. I frowned angrily.
"I never meant it like that, alright?!" I told him. There was a pause between us; the rain and distant thunder replaced the awkward silence.
"... Why did you leave me...?" He spoke with a different emotion. I had no idea what to say from then on. That was all he needed to say to counteract my words. If I was there by the hospital, maybe he'd be alright, and I would have done something to prevent anything from happening. I frowned in self pity.
"Ness, we need to get you back to the hospital..." I told him. Ness shook his head violently.
"I don't wanna go back there; I don't feel safe there. I feel safe sitting right here..." He told me. I gave him a skeptical look.
"What are you talking about? This area of town is in the same critical condition as you're in, and it's on the outskirts of the slums. How could you possibly feel safe here, nonetheless you're only a few blocks away from the Monotoli building!" I told him. Ness shook his head. There was that moment of pause again.
"You don't understand... what this place means to me," He spoke in a hushed tone. Thought provoking words; I thought back to what the man recently told me. It was neither his place nor mine. Was there a possibility that this was Ness's place?"
Were we near one of his sanctuary locations?
"... Beyond this wall, I'm sure of it. I'll be there someday..." He said. I was silent at first, but eventually sighed in defeat. I walked besides him on that wall, and sat next to him, letting off a hefty sigh, and bringing my elbows to rest on my knees. I didn't know how long we sat there in the rain next to each other; Ness still didn't have the nerve to look at me for some reason. He didn't need to be the one that felt so; I should have been the one to be ashamed to look.
"I'm sorry... Ness..." I heard myself say to him in a quiet tone filled with sympathy and fear. I could never understand how he felt at that moment; it was strange, because I had never witnessed Ness acting this way before. When I finally looked over to him, he looked back at me with tired dull eyes that didn't stand out in the rain one bit. My pants were beginning to get wet, so I was sure it was going to leave an embarrassing stain. I tried looking at him for as long as I could, until I broke the eye contact. I drifted my eyes in the opposite direction; hearing the sky roar in the distance as I did so.
"... I wanna go home," He whined quietly. I brought my sight back to him again.
"... I miss my dog, my bed, by base ball card collection... Tracy... I miss Mom... so much..." He sounded scared, dragging his knees to his chin. "This is stupid... why am I even out here, when I can't even bare to live miles away from home? I'll never grow up..." I furrowed my eyebrows, looking in the distance.
"I miss my school in the same way. Sometimes I can't even bear it, and I feel completely lost. Sometimes, I imagine him... and my friends laughing and smiling. It may not be enough, and it may sound silly, but it's enough to get me back up on my feet again. But in the moments and times when I'm lost, and I can't find my way, I remember that I'm not the only one. Like you told me earlier today... we'll be lost together, right?" I said looking at him smiling softly. Ness looked somewhat bewildered when I spoke. However, it was replaced again with his depressing dull eyes.
"My side still hurts, and it's sort of hard for me to move..." He explained. I frowned at his response.
"But I don't wanna go to the hospital... I get anxious, and it's lonely there..." I thought for a moment.
"Do you want to head back to the hostel then? I'll help you crutch there..." I offered. It took a little bit for him to respond, but he eventually nodded. I just hoped that heading to the hostel was a good decision. I just hoped that Demetri's group wasn't there still.
"Just... let me stay here for a little while longer... overall I feel safer here, but you're right, we need to get out of this rain," He said. So we waited; for at least five more minutes in silence. I managed to pull out his red and blue cap from his bag, and set it on his head. He flashed his eyes towards mine. I flashed him a soft cheeky smile.
"You may want this till we get there," I told him. He nodded without smiling, which made me loose mine as well. I didn't think he'd be forgiving me that night.
"Alright... let's go, I guess," He spoke softly. I nodded, and stood up, not realizing that my joints and muscles still ached from the incident from the taxi. I groaned from the reaction.
"Are you alright?" He asked me. I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I told him as I picked up his bag, and tossed it over my shoulder. Ness used the wall for support, as I awkwardly helped him up with his free hand. He seemed to wobble at first as he leaned back on the wall.
"Alright... let's go..." He said quietly. I nodded. It turned out that this his was very awkward for the both of us, especially when we started to walk away slowly, shoulder to shoulder; neither of us daring to make any sort of physical contact. However, when we stepped onto the sidewalk, Ness lost a bit of his balance and had almost threw me off as well. Instead of falling back down on our faces, we happened to grab onto each other, almost for dear life. In a couple of seconds, we caught our balance again. However, it seemed as if neither of us wanted to let go as we started to walk again not for the sake of closeness, but the fact that we didn't want to take any nasty tumbles. When we started to walk passed that dreaded Monotoli building I was just in a few hours ago, Ness stopped us.
"Do you hear that?" He asked. I listened as best I could through the rain. It took a while, but I noticed it. It was a familiar tune, faint, but real. When I realized what it was, I nearly slapped my hand over my eyes.
"You've got to be kidding me..." I spoke angrily as the cameraman floated down from the dark cloudy sky.
"It's twelve in the morning!" I ranted out loud. However, he ignored my words, and started rambling. Both of us growled in frustration, and shot our eyes away in opposite directions. What made the scenario especially embarrassing was that both of us were still in physical contact.
"Picturestakeninstantaneously ,I'maphotographicgeniusifIdosaysomyself!! Get ready to make some instant memories! Ready? Say... FUZZY PICKLES!!" When I brought up my middle finger, so did Ness, as we glared at the camera man angrily. We were temporarily blind.
"WOW! What a GREAT PHOTOGRAPH!! It will ALWAYS bring back the FONDEST of MEMORIES!!" He sang happily as he flew back up to his blimp in the sky. Ness snorted.
"Sometimes, I really think he's a pedophile," Ness said. I snorted in response.
"Oh god, let's hope not," I chuckled as we made our way again; alone together in the middle of the night.
---
When we entered the hostel again, we embraced the little heat that was offered to our drenching skin. The same man was at the counter, but asleep. When we walked up, he woke up. Nonetheless, he looked shocked to see us.
"Jeez, it's twelve in the morning! You two are sopping wet! Uhh... wasn't there a young girl with you two as well?" He asked us. At first we fumbled with the question, until I came up with the best lie I could on the spot.
"You see, she was lost, and we were able to find her mother yesterday, so she's safe with her now," I winced with my lie. I didn't care what she told me in my dreams, she wasn't safe. The man nodded slowly.
"Alright... so I can only guess you two need a place to stay during the night, am I right? Here's your key... and please, feel free to take some fresh sheets and towels up there too," He said pointing to the clean white pile of towels in the corner. We both nodded, and took what he offered, and headed up to our room.
However, after we walked up the first flight of stairs, we were already out of breath. Ness nearly gasped when he spoke.
"Let's take the elevator instead," He said. I nodded as we both walked inside to stand patiently as we would be carried up to our desired floor. There was another awkward silence between us. It just didn't seem the same without Paula... It was ironic when Ness spoke.
"I wonder how Paula is doing right now..." Ness asked. I sighed.
"Just hope that she's better off than we are," I replied. Ness nodded silently as the elevator doors opened up. With that, we headed to our room.
The room was just the way we left it, my blanket folded neatly while Ness's was crumbled and scrunched up. I took off my glasses, and shook my hair around. I was a mess, I thought. But so was Ness, I presumed. Ness sighed.
"I'm so tired... but I'm hungry more than anything..." He said, grabbing a towel and rubbed his hair with it. Come to think of it... so was I.
"Do you have anything edible left in your bag?" I asked. Ness shook his head.
"Nah..." He replied almost sheepishly.
"We'll see what they have together," I said, grabbing a towel.
---
Apparently Demetri's group was absent in the hostel so far. Thank goodness, I thought as we rummaged through the fridge. All there was were a couple of bottles of water, and a bitten apple in the fridge. On the pantry, there was only a half empty bag of potato chips and a box of cereal. Nonetheless, we shamelessly claimed everything except the bitten apple. Ness took off his hat, and set it on the counter to shake his hair loose, and run his towel though it.
"I ache all over..." He said. I nodded.
"So do I... just not as bad as you I bet," I replied. Ness 'hmmed' in response. I frowned.
"How's that gash in your side healing?" I asked. Ness yawned, and lifted part of his shirt to examine it.
"I'm not sure... it's sore, but it's not gushing out anything. I'll be sure to heal it up in the morning," He explained, as we started to depart from the kitchen.
"That's good," I said, almost too quietly. Both of us forgot about Ness's red cap on the counter.
---
Apparently we were too tired to speak to each other, but at the same time we could not sleep. It was times like these I figured I'd work on some personal projects. I dug out my supplies as I heard Ness crunching on a couple of chips while lying down, and staring off into space. It was during this calm, yet somewhat depressing silence that the receiver phone went off again.
"Oh... you still have the phone, do you?" Ness asked.
"Yeah, I wouldn't have found you without it, thanks," I said as I answered the phone.
"Hello?" I assumed that this had to be either Apple Kid, but when the voice on the other line spoke he didn't sound anything like him. I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Hey, is this right? May I speak to Jeff?" He asked. I was slow at responding.
"... This is him," I spoke warily into the phone.
"Jeff Andonuts, right?"
"Yeah..." When he spoke again, I thought my head was going to explode.
"Hey bad boy, I finally tracked you down!" Oh my god...
"MAXWELL, IS THAT YOU?!" I practically jumped up in the air. I was sure Ness flinched from my sudden spurt of energy.
"Hah, you bet your ass it is," Maxwell replied. I was speechless... how the hell did he get a hold of me?!
"Wha- how did you?!" I was out of words. Maxwell laughed on the other line.
"Apple Kid? We were college buds back in the day; I'm just surprised that I never told you! He was always the smarter one though," He told me. "Anyhow, enough of that, I wanna know what you're up to, bad boy, did you meet him?" He said, almost in a darker tone. I was silent at first as I cast my eyes towards Ness, who looked back at me with eyebrows perked.
"Hold on for a second," I told him.
"I'll be right back Ness, I'm going to let you sleep. I'll be just at the end of the hallway if you need anything, okay?" I told him. Ness nodded almost sleepily.
"Go ahead," He said almost in a monotone manner. I frowned at first, but I offered a soft smile.
"I'll be back... I promise," I told him, as I walked out of the room. When I ventured down to the other end of the hallway, I brought the phone to my ear.
"Are you still there?" I asked.
"Nah, I'm in the restroom now. I was talking to you in my science room before," He replied. I snickered to myself.
"Still as obnoxious as you always were I see," I said. I heard Maxwell grunt on the other line in response.
"And you're still out, kicking some ass I presume? Tell me, I'm dying to know, have you gotten into any trouble with the cops yet?" He asked. I raised my eyebrow.
"No, not really," I replied. Maxwell laughed again.
"Alright, I guess we should get a little more serious now. So tell me... did you meet him?" I winced at his question. My frown turned into gritting of the teeth.
"Yeah..." I replied with a snarl. Maxwell 'hmmed' on the other line.
"He didn't acknowledge me at all... I don't think he would have recognized me if I didn't hint him on..."
"What did he do?" He asked. In all honesty, I really didn't know.
"He really didn't do anything... he helped me reach my companions with his strange invention..." I replied. Maxwell gasped.
"Did you fly in his sky runner?!" He replied with new excitement in his voice. I rolled my eyes, and fell silent.
"Alright alright, we'll stop talking about your father. So... who are you with now?" He asked. I looked down to my feet.
"Right now, I'm with a boy my age... his name is Ness," I told him. Maxwell replied with another grunt.
"Just the two of you right now?"
"Yeah... pretty much," I replied. Maxwell snickered.
"I'm sure Tony would be jealous if he found out. Don't worry, I won't tell him that you're traveling with others, especially kids around your age group," He replied. When he mentioned Tony into the conversation, traces of Pokey's words flashed back in my memory.
"Ahh yes! Now I remember... his name was Tony." Pokey spoke in my mind. I brought my hand to my forehead.
"Maxwell, you need to check on Tony right now... it's very urgent," I told him. There was a small pause.
"Why? You didn't put him into any trouble, did you?" He asked. Fuck... it wasn't that...
"Would you just check for me, please?" I asked seriously. Maxwell replied with a negative sound.
"As much as I would love to help you out, I can't do so at this hour, only if it's an emergency. But I'm pretty positive that Tony's alright; he wasn't sick at all today in class, and he even smiled today," He explained. I growled in frustration.
"You don't understand! This is an emergency, so please, can you-"
"JEFF!!!"
My eyes widened in horror as I heard Ness scream my name from the distance. It sent shivers down my spine, I had never heard Ness sound so scared in my life. I immediately hung up the phone, and dashed to our room, in which Ness was absent from when I reached it. I started to panic as I dashed my way to the last place we were in; the kitchen.
When I bolted into the room, I froze when I spotted Ness. I was appalled to find him petrified, against the back wall, cornered by Demetri, and two of his snickering friends. It was enough to fuel the burning fire inside of me.
"Get the fuck away from him!" I yelled walking swiftly up to them, and pushing them aside, to grab Ness's wrist. However, Demetri swatted me away forcefully with a huff. I almost tumbled to the floor. It was then that his two friends grabbed my arms forcefully to keep me locked into place.
"You should really learn not to intrude into other's business, Einstein," He snickered keeping dangerously close to Ness. I snarled at him.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US IN THE FIRST PLACE?! AND WHY HAVE YOU KEPT YOUR EYE ON NESS ALL THIS TIME?!" I roared at him angrily. I was sure that Ness had never seen me this angry, ever. Demetri flashed me his golden tooth in a disgusting fashion.
"Huh, I don't need you, of course. However... Ness here would be some perfect assistance to me and my needs," He said flashing his leering eyes down to him. Ness looked to be in a state of shock as he pushed himself into the back counter. The way that Demetri leaned over Ness left me shaking. Demetri cupped his chin.
"Let him go... let us-" My voice had shaken up, but it didn't matter. One of the goons that gripped me covered my mouth tightly.
"Just shut up, and watch the magic," He replied as he seemingly gazed into Ness's eyes. Ness looked away timidly, squinting his eyes. I tried fighting their grip, but it was no use as the other wrapped an arm around my throat forcefully. He wouldn't do that... not around me, he woudn't...
"Look into my eyes," He said, shaking Ness's head around until he obeyed. When Ness looked up at the magician; I was surprised to find no tears when he did so, but he still looked petrified.
Pokey really did scar him... didn't he? There was a tense silence in the room.
"Your eyes are something I've never seen before... there's a mysterious beauty in them. I can usually figure entities out; just by gazing into their eyes, but yours... it's as if I'm staring into the Milky Way... Tell me, what do you see when you gaze into mine?" He asked. Ness was silent.
"I..." It was shocking how calm Demetri seemed to be all the sudden.
"Please tell the truth... you can say they're disgusting, or anything... I need to know," He told him calmly. Ness winced as Demetri ran his thumb across his chin. There was a silence in the room. I felt their grips loosening on me, just slightly, and my mouth had been uncovered. Ness's eyes opened up slightly.
"What do you see?"
"... You're not human..." He finally said. My eyes widened. I saw the edge of his mouth curve up into a wicked smile.
"Tell me, you know what's causing the mayhem in this city, don't you?" He asked. Ness bit his bottom lip.
"The... Mani Mani statue...?" He asked. Demetri grinned again.
"I'm its rightful owner after all," He finally said. My eyes widened.
"You're are a part of what's going on, aren't you?!" I asked irately. Except, I didn't realize it was such a bad idea to speak up until one of his goons kicked me forcefully in the gut. I fell onto my forearms, choking and hacking from the pain that exploded in my stomach. Ness gasped.
"Please don't hurt him," Ness asked.
"Don't get distracted, and we won't hurt him again," Demetri replied. There was a moment of silence. Yet again, I felt completely useless...
"You... you're the Mani Mani statue's owner?" Ness asked. Demetri frowned down at me.
"The Mani Mani statue is more than an object. It is a part of myself that I cannot let go. I was petrified when it was taken from me that terrible day. It's been stolen by many; greed filling their souls once they harness it. Do you know why the Mani Mani statue keeps changing locations?" He asked.
"Because... it keeps getting stolen?" Ness asked. Demetri sighed.
"It would be logical if that were true, but the truth is that no one can control the evil inhabited within the statue. No one except me of course," He spoke as he cornered Ness again.
"It is a statue... that brings out the evil of every human being. But you and I... we can see passed it, can't we...?" He asked Demetri asked. Ness fell silent, and slowly shook his head.
"I'm not sure who owns it now... but with your help, I can find it, and take back what is rightfully mine," He said before snickering to himself. I managed to look up at them again. Ness's eyebrows furrowed.
"No... I can't help you. I'm sorry," He replied. Demetri frowned.
"And why not?" He asked. Ness looked timid again.
"I'm not afraid to say that I don't like the look in your eyes. The Mani Mani statue must be destroyed. I won't help you find it just so you can claim it back as your own," Ness said. There was a tense silence in the room. I could see Demetri ball up his fists.
"You don't understand... let me clarify, that you will help me get it back," Demetri threatened. I was about to make another move until I got kicked in the ribs. I fell onto the floor, gasping for air; my glasses fell out of line.
"No... I won't help you," Ness simply stated again. I struggled up until I was grabbed by the throat again. Demetri snarled.
"You will help me!" He snarled.
"I won't."
"I WILL KILL YOUR FRIEND IF YOU DON'T HELP ME, YOU GOT THAT?!" He threatened. There was silence in the room. My heart started to pound. Ness and I exchanged glances; the fear in his eyes was real; I was sure I expressed the same thing. Ness looked back up to Demetri, who frankly seemed shaken up as well. Ness's eyes widened.
"Do you know where Paula is?" Ness asked. It was at this precise moment that someone bolted into the room. It happened to be the man that ran the counter downstairs.
"I heard some yelling up here, and I figured you three were up to no good. Put the kid down, and get out of this building. We don't offer beds to self righteous freaks like you," He said; voice shaking, and holding out what looked to be a bottle of pepper spray and a cell phone. Demetri grinned.
"And just what do you plan to do with that?" He asked tauntingly.
"I'll call the police if you don't get out of here right now," He said timidly. Demetri seemed to angrily ponder about, taking another look at Ness. It seemed like moments; minutes until he finally made his turn.
"You have not seen the last of me..." He spoke before a certain smoke exploded in the room. All of us coughed until the smoke resided. When the air was clear again, Demetri was nowhere in sight. However, his goons still had their paws on me. The man pointed his pepper spray at them.
"You two, get out, now!" He ordered, as they dashed away like chickens without a second thought. When all was clear, Ness swore under his breath, and fell to his knees. I attempted to get up as I physically wrestled the new pain in my mid section. I was sure that they were going to leave a couple of nasty bruises. We were both silent, sitting on the checkered floor. My eyes found Ness's cap sitting on the floor in the distance.
"You two going to be alright?" The man asked us. I didn't turn my head, but I heard Ness moments later speak up.
"Yes... we'll be alright thank you..." Ness replied.
"Alright... you guys win this night over for free, so don't expect a bill in the morning," He said as he walked out of the room. Well that was nice of him, I thought. We were both silent; neither of us could speak. We were frankly too shaken up to do a thing.
"... Jeff?..." He finally asked me. I looked at him, I wasn't sure what I was expressing, but Ness obviously didn't like it. Ness looked away from me. I let off a strangled sigh, and attempted to get to my feet. I was so exhausted, but not sleepy, I thought.
"Let's get back into our room," I finally said. Ness slowly nodded, and helped himself up, picking up his hat along the way.
This was going to be a long night...
---
I was in so much pain, but it hurt to lie down, thanks to the pain in my ribs and stomach. So instead, all I could do was mess with my props, and figure something out in the time being. I wanted to fix my laser gun that had stopped working while we went against the spook in the department store. From the mere silence, I could have sworn that Ness had fallen asleep. It had been an hour since the incident with Demetri. The things he shared with us that night left me somewhat dumbstruck. He explained things, but at the same time, he left a huge gap of possibilities. Was he good or bad? Did he have anything to do with Pokey Minch? Monotoli? Paula? What exactly did Ness see in Demetri, and why did it make him ask about Paula Polestar? But most of all...
... What did Demetri see when he gazed into his eyes?
"Jeff...?" Ness spoke softly. Though he spoke quietly, it still startled me enough to flinch.
"Huh?" I grunted.
"... It's late, what are you doing up?" He asked me. I sighed, but I was unresponsive. I wasn't sure at the time why I didn't want to speak to him; I guess it was because I was too tired for words. I must have sent the wrong message to Ness in response. When Ness spoke again, he sounded nervous.
"... Are you mad at me...?" He asked. I turned my head to face him in surprised, my eyes were open, but they felt like collapsing any moment.
"... Wha-?" I replied. Ness sat on the edge of his bed and he fumbled with his fingers.
"I... I figured that they were gone, and I forgot my hat in the kitchen, so I went to retrieve it. That's when they tried cornering me..." He spoke. I furrowed my eyebrows. He kept his eyes from mine.
"... I'm really sorry... this is all my fault..." He said. Ness had started shivering now, and it wasn't natural. He was only fourteen... and he's already been through so much more crap than I probably would ever go through.
"...What did you do to him?" I asked Pokey.
"I was his best friend for many years... I've memorized every inch of him that I could. You could compare me with a scientist in that sense... always searching for the answers you can grasp..."
"What did you do to him?!" I growled in hostility.
"Well... not enough to steal his virginity, but definitely enough to take part of his innocence as my own," Pokey replied cockily in my memories.
I hated looking at him like this, but what could I offer to turn that frown upside down?
"No... it's not your fault," I told him. Ness finally looked at me, I caught him by surprise. Though for some reason, it still looked like he wanted to cry.
"We're both disgusting, aren't we?" Pokey said again in my mind.
"You shouldn't feel threatened every waking moment of your life. You should be growing up like a regular kid should, and be living contently with your family. You did nothing wrong... nothing is your fault," I stated to him before I tried putting my mind back to my mechanics. It was hard though, for Ness was still silently watching me. It was sort of irritating in a sense. Ness must have slid off the bed to join me on the floor, though I wasn't sure what he would do or say. My back was facing him at the time
"But... nothing's your fault either..." He told me. Lies...
"What are you talking about?" I asked, almost irately as I reached for a nearby ruler.
"Well... it wasn't your fault that I went off by myself, away from the hospital..." I sighed.
"And it wasn't your fault for feeling at fault of leaving in the first place," I told him. I must have confused him with my choice of words, for he didn't say much more on the topic of fault.
"What are you working on?" He asked me. I sighed.
"I'm just trying to fix my laser gun... that's all," I told him.
"Oh..." He stopped in mid sentence. I wasn't sure if he was trying to say anything or not.
"Is there any way I can help?" He asked me. In all honesty, there was no way he could help me; this was complicated things and gimmicks that I had to be silent with in order for me to think straight. And the fact that Ness kept interrupting my thinking didn't help either. I grazed my hand around me in attempt to search for a certain screw driver I needed at that precise moment.
"Yeah... could you help me find my screw driver? It should have an orange handle..." I told him in a monotone voice. Ness grunted in response as I assumed he was searching himself. I double checked in my red tool case, but it was nowhere to be found. I didn't know how long it took until we actually found it. I was sure that I was the first to find it, which would have been typical. I saw the orange handle at the corner of my eye, and my hand darted out to immediately grab it...
... But instead of grabbing the screwdriver, I grabbed Ness's hand. We both flinched from the sudden contact as I immediately let go. We paused in front of each other. The silence grew between us. I finally broke the awkward ice by claiming my orange screw driver, letting off a shrill sigh in the process. "Thanks..." I barely said. It was silent between us as I continued with my work.
"I'm going to use the rest room and brush my teeth," Ness told me before slowly standing up to head on in. I didn't know why, but when I thought back at the incident, my heart skipped a beat. I didn't quite understand, why was I acting so quiet and withdrawn around him all the sudden? We were both guys with issues, right? I could only assume that Ness felt bad for me, especially after exploiting him about my past. I didn't understand...
How could anyone feel bad for me? My thoughts trailed to our conversation in the hospital room when I sobbed in front of him.
"...Even if I didn't want or need to hear it... you needed to say it, right?" Ness told me in my memories in the hospital, smiling faintly, but visibly.
My heart skipped another beat.
"So... Jeff... isn't he gorgeous?" My breath caught.
"What... who are you talking about?" I asked in a softer tone of voice.
"Why... Ness of course."
"I don't understand what you're talking about..."
"Oh... I'm pretty sure you know exactly what I'm talking about." Pokey rambled in my mind.
My heart skipped a beat.
"What's so funny?" I asked stubbornly back at the incident when I offered him the bundle of daisies.
"Hey... I can always return them if you don't like them!" I said. However, he still laughed. It wasn't even taunting... it was happy. He gathered the daisies together, and brought them to his nose. My features softened when he spoke.
"You really didn't have to, you know..." Ness spoke happily in my mind.
My heart skipped another beat.
"You're disgusting," Pokey told me with all honesty.
I heard the door open behind me; Ness must have been done in the restroom. I dared myself to turn around; to face him. When I did, he was just buttoning up his blue vertical pin striped pajama top.
"Well, I'm exhausted right now, so I think I'm going to go to sleep now," He said as he started to make his way towards his bunk; towards me. I was about to agree with him if it wasn't for the fact that he clumsily slipped on one of my scattered tools on the floor. It happened so fast... My eyes widened, as he took a nasty topple...
...while managing to push me down along with him. My back and stomach burst in pain from the head on collision after Ness had somehow managed to fall right on top of me. I hissed from my aching joints and bruises, both from the car crash and the kicks. Ness must have been too weak to move much, for he was still above me. My heart started to pound rapidly. When I was finally able to open my eyes, my glasses were somewhat out of line. I wasn't sure where Ness's head was located, but I got a good idea when he groaned and started to stir. I think both of us froze in time when Ness lifter his head over.
It was by accident, but it somehow happened. His nose barely grazed my own, and it was at this precise moment that our eyes went wide. My heart raced now, as his face; his lips were only millimeters away from my own. I could smell the mint of his toothpaste from his breath. I wasn't sure what my own breath smelt like, but neither of us moved, though I didn't think we of us could physically move on our own either. But despite all that... all that went through my mind at the time were his eyes...
Those mysterious eyes that I had always tried to avoid... My previous description of them was wrong, they weren't just blue, but they were a mere mixture of pure silver, and I could spot speckles of violet in them as well. They were a glow, and for once, I agreed with Demetri...
His eyes were like the Milky Way... and you could get lost in them forever...
"...Ness...?" I spoke awkwardly feeling my voice become heavy. Ness breathed onto my lips from a timid reaction to the entire senario which left me shivering; I had never been this close to anyone like this in my entire life... not with Tony... not with my own mother after I was born. My mind was starting to shatter. The added weight on my body was too much to bear at the moment; I needed to breathe.
"...You can... get off me now..." I told him. Ness nodded in response. However, he didn't move.
"I can't... it hurts..." He replied. I could only grunt slightly in response.
"I'll... help you... I guess..." I spoke awkwardly, shyly bringing my arms to his shoulders while my eyes squinted in pure embarrassment. We slowly rose clumsily together, I was sure that both of our bodies protested. When we finally were off the floor, I noticed how red Ness's face looked.
"Sorry... about that..." He uttered quietly, as he made his way back to the bed. I nodded silently in response, looking the other way. I wondered when his PSI abilities would return to him, maybe if he got a little more rest. We said nothing to each other for the rest of the night. I couldn't focus anymore, so I tried the same, and got under the covers of my own bunk bed. I felt so tired; and worn down. It was already nearing 3:00 in the morning. I didn't know how I would be able to greet the sunshine when I'd wake up...
And we still had to meet that Everdred in the morning...
I could only argue with myself in my thoughts. I blankly stared up at the top bunk, and attempted to read the writing that inhabited it without the aid of my glasses. The lack of clear sight probably created new words and phrases with the writing that was there. It reminded me of what Tony and I had to go through back in school...
"You're disgusting," Pokey kept repeating in my mind. I winced as I tried closing my eyes. Maybe I'd think of different thoughts if I tried hard enough.
However, the only things that came to my mind were Pokey's hurtful words and Ness's irises that I had tried oh so very hard to avoid...
...My heart never went back down to normal speed that night...