Chapter 4: What happened Last Night?
Who the hell opened my window? My eyes are barely open, but the sun somehow found its way into them, shining away any lingering hint of sleep. A blurry figure stood fidgeting with items on my desk. Hearing me, the figure turns around revealing Nikki's familiar face. Exhaling with relief, I sit up. I'm in bed...
"You're okay!" My friend exclaimed and threw her arms around me. I hugged her back confused.
"What happened? Why are you here?"
"You missed classes today. I wanted to make sure you didn't get sick." an innocent smile followed her words.
"Oh." I raise my hand to touch my head, but pull away at contact. It feels bruised. Nikki noticed and frowned.
"I found you on the ground." she said in a low serious voice. "What were you doing last night?"
"I'd like to know too." I said looking out the window. No more words were spoken. neither of us knew what happened so we didn't anything to say.
A knock at the door sounded. Nikki answered, letting in Mary and Jazz. They bounced up to me informing me on everything that happened during classes today. Nikki hung around near the end of my bed eyeing something on my desk. I turn my focus back to the chattering girls before me.
"Seriously Courtney you should have been there!" Jazz said with a slight shade of red on her cheeks. Mary chimed in "Yeah, there were new students!"
"From around here?" I ask her.
"Kinda.. Well, there's a girl and her twin brothers. She said that when they were young their parents took them away from Wizard City, but the three came back on their own when they were" she paused. "abandoned."
"Oh." Probably the stupidest thing to say. I try to leave the uneasy topic. "What school?"
Jazz decides to take a turn gossiping "I know the girl is Storm. Her name is Taryn. She said her brothers are Fire and Ice." She thinks a moment then continues talking, gradually increasing her speed. "I don't get it 'cause that's three different schools derived from the two parent schools. But anyway, isn't it kinda funny that the twins are opposites? I thought it was funny. You know what's not funny? How gorgeous the fire twin is!" Mary nudged Jazz in the ribs. She moves away from Mary. "Hey- he's hot! No pun intended."
I laughed with them. Nikki slowly joined the conversation and began sharing things she knew about the new students. It was a relaxing time, however there was a lingering feeling of uneasiness.
Chapter 5: Almost there...
The past few days have been quite normal. My dorm still feels uneasy at times. I don't think I'll ever know why or how I ended up getting hit in the head...
Classes are okay too. The new students were just as my friends said they were. Taryn was really talkative for someone with her background (parents abandoning them, remember?) The twins kept to themselves for the most part. Jazz was right though. Not only was the fire school twin 'hot', all three had stunning appearances.
Now that the level cap has increased to 70, Dworgan has been prepping all the level 68 death students for Dr. Von's Monster, the new spell. It was really boring for those who didn't need to learn it, so at the lunch break I decided I'd ditch the rest of the day. It's not like I'm learning anything yet.
I slipped out of Nightside and stumbled through the water. I continued on toward Unicorn Way. No one goes to Unicorn Way when they ditch. I'll be safe there.
It was easy getting in because the guards were trading posts and the one who usually stands by the gate to Unicorn Way had left. I go in. Hmm. Even the usual guard who stands in front of Unicorn park wasn't there...
No one is here. Not the Pvp guy or Diego, or the merchant.
Pushing the fact away, I walk to the little river in Unicorn Park. Quickly, I notice there is another student there. A boy with blue hair and looks to be from the School of Ice (as anyone would assume) wearing my favorite style of WC clothing: Elegant. He was sitting across the river with his knees pulled up to his chest.
My maternal side kicks in and my heart longs to see if he's alright. Acting on that, I noisily and clumsily attempt to cross the river. He watches me. By the time I had fallen over three times in the same spot, amusement had painted a smile on his lips and he got up to help me.
I see his face is flushed.
"Thanks" I say once we are situated. He only nods shyly sending blue hair over his face. Trying to avoid awkward silences, I attempt to start a conversation.
"So, er, you, I mean, w-what are you doing here?"
"Same thing you're doing. Ditching." he mumbled avoiding eye contact.
"Oh, cool. Um, I'm Courtney-"
"I'm not looking for any friendships." Damn. Wasn't he grinning just a moment ago? The boy gets up to leave. With a sudden wave of courage I grab his hand before he can go anywhere.
He paused and glared at me. For the first time I saw his eyes. They are are very light shade of blue. An unnatural kind of color. I can tell he's not blind, but they could be mistaken for that.
Once we made eye contact, he snatched his hand away from my grip.
"What do you want from me?"
Slightly offended, I murmur "I want to know your name"
He glares at me more. "Dakota Frostheart. I thought you knew who I was?"
"No. Why should I?" I return with a hostile tone.
"Doesn't everyone know the new students?"
"I'm not everyone." He's the Ice twin?
I looked down. He stood thinking.
"If that's all you want I'm go-" Dakota was interrupted by a guard who angrily barreled over to us.
"YOU THERE! GOOD FOR NOTHING DELINQUENTS!" He cursed at us and took us by our sleeves. "Skipping class?! You ought to be expelled! How can the people of Wizard City feel comfortable trusting the spiral to kids like you?"
The large man tore us from the ground and walked toward Headmaster Ambrose's Office dragging us behind him. I glanced at Dakota. His face is a light shade of crimson. I laugh aloud at how small he looks compared to the guard. He frowns at me, but it slowly fades into the shy smile he'd shown me earlier.
I feel the grip on my sleeve tighten before the large brute decided I should be thrown on the ground in front of him.
I don't move for a moment. A trusted Wizard City guard throwing a student on the ground is shocking. He even looks proud of himself. The man got a hold of my hair and pulled up. It hurt like hell, so as he yanked at my head, I moved around accordingly to help take away some of the pain. He growled in delight and glared at me.
"Don't look so shocked Miss. Deathwhisper. You know what happened." He took a hold of my arm and jolted onward.
He left us outside Ambrose's office and went in alone. Dakota and I sat in a rather mocking silence. I wonder what possessed that guard to throw me on the ground for laughing.
After some time, we are called into the Headmaster's office. Both of us go in with our heads down. Skipping class is something I don't normally do, and when I DO skip, I'm careful to not get caught.
We are sentenced to detention for a week. Not too bad, but it's going on record. Once our fate is decided, I am sent out of the office. Dakota was told to stay.
Instead of leaving, I hide by the office door to eavesdrop.
My ears strain to translate Ambrose's mumbling: "Your punishment will not be any better just because you are a new student..." I roll my eyes. Ugh. Typical teacher talk. He goes on "I understand your condition and situation, however skipping classes is not the answer."
Dakota speaks up "No. You do not know what is like in my position." A rather bold statement for a seemingly shy boy. Ambrose sighs loudly.
"That is true, but it is also not the point. Before you go, I have received a letter addressed to you." I hear papers shuffle. "It is from Bestia Headquarters. I believe they are trying to track your progress. An agent was here earlier checking in on your siblings while you skipped class."
What the hell is Bestia?
I stop listening and run outside Headmaster's office. Dakota is being tracked?
The door opens behind me and my new acquaintance leaves the building.
"You're still here?" He gives me a cold look.
"Uh, yeah.." I look away. He sure is moody.
I turn away from him. Dakota doesn't speak to me again and walks into Ravenwood, probably going to his dorm. I head that way too.
....
Later in my dorm, a wave coolness swallows me as I lay in bed unable to sleep. In spite of that, I get up and wander around my small living space. The rose... That gold rose was still on my desk, softly illuminating a small chunk of Onyx. I grab it expecting it to the the one with the letter P etched in the side, but it is not. It is a very misshapen gem with a distinct letter E carved on a more smooth region.
PE..?
Once again, my head feeling like it's going to explode so I go back to my inviting bed. With so many questions keeping my mind wired, I find I cannot sleep.
Who is Dakota Frostheart exactly? What is Bestia and how/why do they know Dakota and his siblings? What is with the Onyx? and the remaining question: Who knocked me unconscious the other day?
Chapter 6: Without Light
Lately I've been paranoid someone is watching me. I even spent the night with Nikki, because my dorm been becoming more and more odd and unsafe.
Two nights ago I woke with a swelling bump on my forehead and my door was open. The night before, I found a note taped to my window. It was raining, so the ink was messed up and only a few letters were legible.
I had to go back this morning to get ready for class. Nikki said she'd come with me, so I won't be alone (thank goodness).
We arrive at my door ten minutes before classes begin.
To my dismay The key doesn't turn. I fiddle with it for a while and quickly realize it's not stuck, the lock is different!
"Corny, just turn it" Nikki looks at me like I'm doing something wrong.
"It won't turn!" I insist.
"Let me try." She tries to open the door, and a moment later faces me. "It won't open."
"Yeah... What should we do?"
"Let's tell Mr. Lincoln. Maybe he can get us in?"
"It's too late, classes start in 2 minutes."
"Then, we'll tell him later."
"Okay..."
...
I look at the sky and wait by the dormitory entrance. Nikki said she'd be here...
The sun indicates it's nearing the evening. I start to open the door to the dorm building, but pause. I turn and find that brute of a guard standing at the entrance of Ravenwood. He's staring at me...
Creeped out, I rush into the dormitory lobby and go up to my room even though I can't get in.
As I approach the hallway I live on, the light flickers off leaving me and two other girls (who walked in behind me) in the dark. They turn to each other and whisper frantically. I continue the far too familiar way to the dirty room I live in- or used to live in. A soft gold light is shining out into the hallway from my room and get brighter as I come closer. I hear some loud shuffling, then silence.
The door flings open, suddenly letting me into my pitch black room. I sigh. I have seen way too many scary movies to know I shouldn't go in without light. I turn around, but something won't let me- I feel two hands on my waist pulling me into the dark. As I open my mouth to cry out, rope is shoved forcefully in and around my mouth. I frantically look around for the culprit, but my eyes are not used to the increasing darkness. My hand are forced behind me and bound with material that feels like cloth. Next my legs are tied together; Around my thighs and at my ankles. Who ever has me certainly doesn't want me to move.
This feels like a nightmare...
Something lifts the sad pile that I am and hurls me into a corner. I lay helplessly on the gritty ground, still blindly looking around.
"Now that I have you stationary," a very deep voice rumbles next to me, "You won't interfere with our project." My dorm lights flicker on. Now I see, not only am I being held captive, so is Nikki. That's why she wasn't at the dormitory entrance. Wait- what the frack are we gonna mess up? What's this plan he has? She was bound up just like me, but instead of rope in her mouth, she had cloth. The man with the gruff voice is revealed as well. He's an unsightly man with poor hygiene, but fair muscles definately enough to carry two girls.
I fidget with the rope around my mouth until the corners of my mouth are bloody. The deep voiced perpetrator laughs at my struggle. Nikki starts to sob through the material in her mouth. He turned to her and kicked her torso. I jumped and squirmed a bit closer to her. Seriously?!
A muffled scream squeaks out of my best friend.
Just as I reach her, my vision goes black. My eyes are open, but it looks as though the lights have gone off. A girl with the whitest skin now faces me. This girl looks into me deeply with eyes that hold all the colors of the rainbow. This is the girl from my dream!
She speaks and this time, not in another language: "Be brave, this is not the end. Be wary, the beginning has long passed us. Be ruthless," she pauses and her colorful eyes go black. "A path of blood awaits." I try to stay and ask what this prophecy has to do with me, but the blackness is fading and I can once again see my dorm. It was almost as if i got a Spirit Message, but she's not a spirit.
Finally my sight is clear- But wait. I am standing... and.. the vision came to me while sitting down... I look around. The man who kidnapped Nikki and I is on the floor now and he is bound just like we had been. I turn to my friend, who is standing next to me.
"What happened?" I ask. Her eyes widen.
"You mean you don't know?!" She half screams at me.
"N-No!!!"
"It looked like you were being controlled. You broke the rope like it was nothing and took that man down." She stared at me in wonder.
"Oh... that must have looked to awesome!" My once dreary mood is now much more light hearted. The person on the ground shifts making me and Nikki jump nearly a foot in the air. As I regain my dignity, I go and grab him by the hair and force him to look at me.
"Who do you work for?!" I demand. This bum better talk.
"Shuddup, kid..."
"Hah!" It's very amusing how just a few moments ago he was standing over me, and now it is I over him. And now he has the nerve to call me kid. The prophecy rings in my head. "Be brave, this is not the end. Be wary, the beginning has long passed us. Be ruthless, A path of blood awaits."
Ruthless, eh? I can do that.
I kick him like he had kicked Nikki. "Don't be stupid. Tell me now."
The dirty man looks at me for a few moments. I glare down at him.
"Ravenwood Maintenance and..." he mumbled some gibberish sounds. I frown and raise one eye brow. I must have looked freaking scary, because his eyes got wider and he quickly said "Bestia."
Okay, again, what the hell is Bestia? I turn to Nikki, who's got the same question on her mind.
"How would me and my friend ruin whatever this "Bestia" has planned?" My voice is firm. The man squirmed like a bug.
"Interference with Test Subject number 00667..." he whispered sounding small. Despite that, He looks up and adds "I only took you're friend because she was associated with you, brat."
Interference, huh? And what a mean guy. Knowing Nikki went throught this because of me is just awful.
I turn to my friend.
"What do we do with him?" I never thought of what would happen to this guy when we left. I don't want to leave him in my dorm.
"Call for help? Maybe the Wizard City guards can help." she suggested.
"Oh. Good idea!" I pause. We look at each other "You wanna go get someone?" I push.
"Ah! Right, right. I'll be right back."
...
15 minutes later, Nikki returned returned with Headmaster Ambrose. I stood shocked for a moment, but the depth of our situation hit me. We were kidnapped. Probably the shortest kidnapping ever, but it still counts, right?
In a perfect world, Ambrose would have come along with GOOD guards. But nooo, he showed up with the brute-guard. The same one that threw me on the ground, and was staring at me earlier. It was really creepy having him here in my dorm.
...
Once the ordeal was settled, I went to my favorite spot: the bench by the Death School. I guess I'm still nervous to be in my dorm alone. I wonder what my friends are doing...
Reality begins to fade into a dream, and suddenly all the question weighing down my mind have been lifted. I take in my new surroundings. I find that I am still sitting on the Ravenwood bench, but am now in a large field of beautiful gold flowers. Lush, green trees lined the meadow in a near perfect circle. On the opposite side of the field, stands the stunning angel with the pale blue hair and colorless eyes. He has with his back to me, looking up at the clear sky.
I begin approaching him. A sudden wave of lust washes over me. As I come up behind him, he stretches giant wings. Wings as white as his eyes that span about 10 feet total. They are perfect for an angel.
He turns to me and smiles. "Welcome" his melodious voice says.
I smile back, at a loss for words, completly srtuck by this boy's presence and stunning appearance. He takes my hands and toys with them idly. Just as I was getting used to this angel's touch, he tightens his grip and scoops me up.
The next thing I know, we are high up in the air, leaving the gold meadow, and going toward a charred land. A land that look like it was swallowed by flames.
I finally get myself to speak, " Wha-Wher-Why- uh?" Okay, so it's not legible, but he seemed to know what I was trying to say and hushed me. I am starting to get confused. We continue on and eventually land next to a tree that was eaten up by fire.
He put me down. The tree begins to grow over us. This seemingly dead tree. This tree that should be filled with life.
The boy goes up to the tree and carves initials into it- MY initials. He then takes my hand, uses the finger that has blackened with soot, draws something on my palm, and closes my fingers.
I reclaim my hand and uncurl my fingers, almost as if I am expecting to find something horrific. In my hand, he drew a heart. Now, his warm arms hold me, but just as quickly as they got there, they were gone and I am alone.
What used to be the tree swallowing me is now a dim cave.
The angel appears behind me and says "Do not be afraid to be alone. I'll be there with you. People die, but real love is forever." No longer able to control myself I shrink to the ground a sob as if the worst thing in the world just happened before me.
But something touched my shoulder. I jolt up and twist my head in every direction only to see I am not alone. Dakota is here.
As I take in the situation, I realize that not only was I sobbing in my dream, I was sobbing in real life. My face is wet and I probably look really stupid.
I turn away from the boy next to me. He'd probably be harsh about it anyway. As I turn away, he looks toward me. I start to wipe my lingering tears away and soon notice the soot heart still on my hand.
"Um, C-Courtney, are you okay?" Dakota asks shakily, sounding quite unsure about talking to me.
"Yeah, I'm fine." the words escape my lips quickly. Dakota leans closer trying to look at me. Geez. For having just met him the other day, he's become pretty direct. Irritataed, I stand up to go, but just as I had done to him at Unicorn Park, he reached out and got a hold of my hand.
I turn and face him. "What?" Tears resurface through my angry facade. The boy, looking 10 years wiser drew me into an embrace. Immediatly my mind recoiled, but my body remained.
Up until then, my brain was preoccupied with my dream. Now, what used to be my brain is now a mass of confused mind-jelly. As comforting as he is right now, I couldn't help but want to run away from Dakota.
But instead, my arms wrapped around him and we stood, bodies pressed together, under the shining moon. I don't know what he was thinking. I don't really care.
At least I'm not alone. I silently mused.
After many years of being too shy, too cowardly, someone has seen through the walls mentally built up around me- Even if it is just Dakota.
Still hugging, I begin to think about my friends; how I haven't seen Wolf and Austin, Jazz and Sophia, Victoria, Brittany and Mary in a while, how I hope Nikki is safe, how they never noticed the great barriers I have around my true self.
Finally, Dakota pulled back. I backed up a step once we parted. He didn't say anything, but turned around. The air around us heated and a red character comes out from behind the tree (right next to the bench). He goes up to dakota. Only when he gets close can I see that this is Dakota's twin- what's-his-face...
He looked furious. As they fiercely whispered, I got a chance to get a look at them together. It seems the only difference between the boys is thier hair. Dakota's is blue and medium length and his twin's is red and long.
After a moment, the one with red hair looks at me with similer blue eyes. He glares and appraoches me, but is careful to keep his distance.
"Stop seeing my brother and we won't have any problems." He tells me in a low voice. He begins to leave, but I speak up: "Why?"
"You'll be a nuisance."
He walked away. Dakota gave me a dry and emotionless look and followed his brother.
This doesn't make any sense! My existance is almost the equivelent of air. What is going to happen if I see Dakota? We become friends. Big Deal.
I wonder when this will go away. Suprisingly, I almost miss my dull wizarding life. At least THAT isn't so full of questions...
No comments:
Post a Comment