- 3 years later -
For Shelby and her new found cat-friend, Declan. Time dragged on very slowly in a world where the moon looked like a bleeding heart. What had started out as an ordinary day in a place she would call home, soon became chaos and her life was flipped upside down. As far as Shelby knew, she could not see a way to leave the world she was trapped in. Shelby wondered why Sebastian was angry all the time and took his anger out on her and what had Harriet done also, he and Rain were clearly punishing her for Harriet's actions. But none the less it was Harriet's own choice regarding what she did with her own life and Shelby in no way, influenced that.
Harriet was grumpy all time and made it known her strong distaste for her current living situation and lack of real human connection. But regardless though now, it is what is, and if you make the best of a bad situation so she patched and fixed up the estate she was found as it needed some work and developed some hobbies, she could do in the meantime to keep herself occupied and thoughts elsewhere.
She recently got into gardening and worked on a farm that was out the back of the estate, having grown up with weeds as no one was attending to it. Their life together was the same mundane pattern day after day, but there was small detail she had left out... She wasn't alone with just Declan. A man named James was inhabiting her body and she couldn't push him out no matter how hard she tried. For the most part, he let Shelby live her life, but when he wanted to use her body, she didn't dare refuse. She had no idea who was and why he wanted her body, but he just did. He wouldn't answer questions, but was fairly passive towards her in return for allowing him to share her body and for some reason, it seemed like he despised Declan, always scolding him whenever he could and now, she was lying on her bed in the room she explored upstairs with an Ensuite. James told her it belonged to her now, just that one room. But he remained the soul owner of every other room in the Estate.
He must have lived here at one point, but he never confirmed this. Shelby heard muttering, silent arguing and she turned her head to see James, standing there, but he was hiding beneath a dark cloak that covered every inch of his body and he was scolding Declan again. She sat up angry, fire burning within her. "Hey! Can you not treat my friend badly?! Please..."
And then James turned to look at her, red eyes burning through the darkness inside his cloak. Shelby panicked and sunk down so he turned away from her and clicked his fingers. Shelby fell unconscious in seconds and she fell back down on the bed, her hand hit the serial killer mask, speckled with fake blood on her bedside table that it fell to the floor.
James crossed his arms and glared angrily at Declan who stopped cowering and stood strongly on all fours. "You're so pathetic Declan. You can't stop me and no one and I mean no one is coming to help you, Prudence or Elsie. I lessened your powers, forced you to transform into a mere cat and took me with you into one of the parallel's as I needed a loyal servant, killed your sister, the 4th Angel who's supposed to remain Human and not supposed to exist prior to being us being allocated, but oh well. It's not too unusual and the Core decided she was perfect so it is what it is, so she couldn't awaken too and stop me.
She's now out of the picture and Prudence, I left comatose floating in the void that I reduced our core world to and as for me? I won't be stopped. The Core hasn't stripped me of my powers, they haven't removed the control panel from us so clearly, they don't care about us. I'm free to do whatever I want and our core world is in ruins, yes, but as long as all our parallels are still functioning, this will never be over till all of them die just like I bring our core world down to literal bedrock and then to nothingness, what is called the void.
I look forward to that day, to see who or how many of us are in control, pulling levers that we don't see till we complete our lifetimes. While we may not all remember, I'm seeing more and flashes coming through and I want them to continue!"
Declan hisses at James and James swiftly kicks him to the floor. He lets out a weak mew and staggers to stand again, a slight cut starting to bleed amongst his fur. "Spare me your judgement, I don't care." James growls and then Declan looks to Shelby. James's angry expression turns to a twisted smile. "Oh, now I remember! We're copies in every parallel of our main world, of our true selves. It's like a new beginning again and again. I've been hopping between them and now I remember. Shelby, she's rather cute, isn't she? While I'm not into girls like her usually, I won't deny her beauty. You've hopping worlds too in order to stop me and save her as many times as it takes from me or her own pain and demons.
Yes, I see it!" Laughs James, raising his hands high. "You're in love with a Human. You saw her one day and told yourself, you'd save every copy of her as long as it takes and when you save her a final time, she'd be dragged into the Law of Cycles automatically right to the Core that were inside of and would have the knowledge of all your attempts to be with her.
Wow, look at you and I thought I was the bad guy, ha! I may be a fallen Angel, but you're also becoming one. I don't think the Core will think much of your actions. You've abused them to save her time and time again. It's manipulative what you're doing to that girl.
Well, then. Let's see how much I can make her suffer. I won't give you the chance to save her again." Smirks James and then Declan uses every last bit of energy he has for that day to speak a Human sentence. "We're not alone here. Help's been sent, just in different ways as not every case of a fallen Angel is the same. Some mortal, some Angel's themselves, you will see.
They're always watching." And then Declan closes his mouth, resorting back to a vocabulary consisting entirely of: 'Meow' and 'Mew.'
Then a far of sound of a stick breaking beneath a foot is heard. James's head whips up and he sees it, the far-off glimpse that there isn't just one new person here in their world, Shelby. But instead, six additional people.
Declan smirks and let's a tooth show as James proceeds to start raging. This is more than he planned on.
---
"I can't believe you'd do that to me, Dan! It wasn't a funny joke! And now we're stuck where-ever here, is! Shit gone wrong due to us not listening enough because we goof off in Solayo's class and worse of all, we don't have someone who's experienced at Magic more than us with us and we fizzled our powers somehow so that's just great!" Yells Libby at the top of her voice towards her on and off boyfriend, Dan. He just tries to hold back a laugh and wipes tears from his eyes while shaking his raven hair with a blue fringe aside out of his eyes so he can see.
"Hey, hey! Play fast or go home, Libby. You started the prank war and you know that I don't go easy on someone just because they beg me too." Retorts Dan.
"And we can't go home, can we?! You're such an idiot for playing around with that object shaped like a sphere in Solayo's class. He was kind enough to teach us all something new even though he held some information back and do you know what you did? You ignored his: 'No touching' rule! He had a flipping sign set up on a stand because it's true some of us can't be trusted!
You're like a little boy!" Libby shouts back.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, stop you guys! Arguing whose fault, it is that this started the situation won't help us, get back home." Their class-mate, Nari but's in with.
"Uh, yes! Nari's right... And Libby, hand over Solayo's artifact. I don't think you or Dan should be handling it so I and Nari will hold onto it for safe-keeping till you both act your age." Add's on, Nari's best friend, classmate and relative, Josh.
"Well! I say it's two powerful for some babies and I think you both should just hand it over. Don't ya think babe?" Sniggers the class bully who got whisked away alongside them all, Brax, undressing Libby with his eyes.
"Brax, that's disgusting! What the hell?!" Libby mumbles in shock.
"Yeah, that's too far man! Outright disgusting. Why would you say that to her?" Questions Dan, looking at Libby's face that's full of disgust.
All five classmates, spend the next five minutes arguing with eachother over who should have ownership of the enchanted artifact that belongs to Solayo for safekeeping.
"I say it should be mine! to hold on! Argues Libby towards Dan.
"Yeah, and you wouldn't have made it through your coursework if I didn't help you! I pretty much helped your cheat. You were afraid of failing and didn't have the guts to ask Solayo for help. So, you're just a fraud and know little about anything actually!" Dan fires back at Libby's attempted reasoning.
"Dan! Leave Libby alone. Libby, don't badger, Dan!" Says Nari's who was quite done with both their drama.
"Ugh, fine!" Grumbles Dan and Libby say together in agreement on what Nari said.
"There we go! All good now. We can be friends and classmates again." She add's on.
After that, Josh interjects into the conversation. "I'm tired! My feet hurt and I'm hungry... Can we stop and pitch camp somewhere? Pleaseee?!"
"Aww, Josh. Come here!" Squeals Nari who's picking Josh up in a hug and shaking him from side to side. He's being squished to death by the minute.
"Nari, you're squeezing the life out of me!" Proclaims Josh.
"Roarrrrrrrrr!"
"Uhh, guys!" Yells Dan and Libby at the same time from something away in fright. Dan pulls out a tree branch he acquired earlier while Libby does the same. Nari places Josh down to see what's scaring everyone else.
They don't see anything.
"It's okay, Josh. I'll investigate, but considering we can't see anything, it was probably just some wildlife." Says Nari, stepping forward, also armed with a tree-branch when they see a blotchy shape of what looks like slime slipping through the trees towards them and then the most putrid smell ever hits their nose. Brax yells out something along the lines of them, needing to run.
"He's right, we should. Let's just run for it!" Shouts Dan and Libby together. Dan has his arms wrapped around Libby, wanting to protect her.
"And where do we hide?" Cries Josh. "Does anyone see any nearby caves?" Asks Nari who despite all odd's is keeping her tree-branch out, prepared to fight the monster to save everyone if she has too...
"I don't see any! Ahhh!" Cry's Josh, seeing the monster approach, closer towards them
"We could climb a tree if absolutely need be! Suggests Libby. "That could work! As a short-term solution anyway to guarantee our survival anyway..." Responds Dan.
"I don't know how to climb!" Brax tells them. The monster is joined by other monsters that they pretty much form a hoard that they all become backed with nowhere to go.
"We're going to die! Libby, I love you! I love you! I've had a crush on you since we were in Kindergarten and I know we fight sometimes when dating and then break it off and get back to together, but I wish I could have had a chance to marry you and grow old with you!" Dan let's slip from his mouth in fright.
Nari, Josh, Brax and Libby stare at him in shock. "Uhh..." They all trail off when they're interrupted. "Hey! What are you all doing down there?! I'll toss you a rope!" Yells an unfamiliar voice. It's male for sure though.
All five members turn around to see a man standing on a small cliff above them. He throws down a rope for them and they all climb up it to get away from the monsters. "He's Human..." Whispers Josh to Nari who gives him a small nod, then shushes him. When everyone else finishes, reaching the top. The tell stranger introduces himself as, Carter.
"Hey, thanks for saving us!" Smiles Libby, jumping from foot to foot.
"I'm just glad I'm not food!" Cry's Josh. Nari slips her arm around Josh again and ruffles his hair. "You're okay, Josh. We're all here with you."
"Yeah, thanks. Appreciate it..." Mumbles Dan rather flatly while rolling his eyes. He shoots some death glares at the new guy. Dan mutters under his breath. "Stupid new guy! Thinks he is some hero and that Libby would like it."
"Eh?" Mumbles Brax. "Nothing, nothing! Responds Dan.
"So... What are you all out here?" Carter questions. "We could ask you why you are out here too!" Snaps Dan. "You're a stranger too. We don't even know you!"
"If I didn't give a damn about other people, I would not have bothered saving all you assess, but hey! If you're that ungrateful and unwilling to accept me, then please feel free to jump down the rope and face the monster hoard again." Cater says angrily back towards Dan.
Libby pushes Dan aside, her dyed pink, longer than usual plaits fluttering with the slightest movement she makes. "I'm sorry! Were all a little steamed. I apologize for his behaviour. Him and I were having a little argument before..."
"I could hear." Carter responds.
"Why you out here?" Asks Nari. "I live here. The city I'm from is half a day's walk though so I won't be returning there tonight. I was going to camp and then head home in the morning.
I was out adventuring." Carter responds.
Everyone is silent.
"By the way, it gets dark here real early so you all may want to find shelter, before worse comes out to play." Carter states
"Ah, no! Cry's Josh again who's now hugging Nari's leg. "Come on, let's just all find shelter. I know a bridge we can go along that avoids most monsters." Carters mentions while leading the rest of the group down a path that goes up the hill a fair bit till, they make it to a bridge above the passageway they were just on which is now a long way down below.
"This place is freaking amazing!" Libby announces. "Thanks, Libby. Glad you appreciate it. It's hard to adjust to at first, but once you get used to living here, some of the strange occurrences stop bothering you. Thing's used to be normal apparently, but then changed shortly before I was born so strange is normal for me."
"So, what's strange for you?" Snickers Nari. "My morning newspapers not being delivered." Carter answers, expression serious.
"Brax approves." Brax speaks up, not listening to the conversation as he looks around.
"Uh... Glad you do?" Carter answers, in a bit of shock. "It's nice, but I am in favour of finding a place to wait the night out till morning." Says Nari with Josh really clinging to her now, scared.
"Were almost there. And here we are! Look." Points Carter. "A mansion?!" Yells the rest of the group. "Yep. Discovered it a few weeks back, but I've been too busy to explore it. We can stay there tonight." Smiles Carter, pushing his goggles up, off his face to sit on his head.
"In that mansion?" Dan questions with suspicion. "Yep, it's okay. You're all armed with tree-branches and I have a machete knife in my backpack so let's go in!" Carter responds to Dan's question.
They all walk up to the mansion. Carter pushes open the doors, finding them open with little effort and they all fine in with Dan closing the doors behind them. "Sweet place!" Dan announces. "It is, very old. Just looking at the rustic and timely aged aesthetics." Replies Brax. "Ooh, me like this place." Brax says enthusiastically.
"That's great.... I'm glad your pleased, but don't go touching anything in case of... I don't know!" Carter tells them all before leaning close to Nari. "Is he always a little off?"
She nods. "Class bully, we rarely engage with him..."
"Ghosts?!?!" Cry's Josh, which steals Nari and Carters attention back. "Yes... Ghosts!" Libby laughs and extending her hand out to touch Josh and Dan with the tips. She has long finger nails that are rather sharp. "Ah!" They both scream, not liking the sensation on the back of their necks. "Not funny, Libby! Knock it off!" Grumps Nari.
"All right, stop it. All of you. Each go find a room to claim as yours or something and we will regroup in the morning. I'll show you the way back to my city." Carter says while walking off. Soon after this everyone departs their own separate waysexcept for Nari and Josh who always stick together.
---
Brax
"All a bunch of stuck ups, I say!" Mumbles Brax to himself as he walks down a corridor. "Guess I'll pick a room for the night. The biggest and most luxurious one!" He grins till he comes to a door at the end of a corridor.
Ooh, maybe there will be a ensuite! This Mansion is fancy as F, so it'd need to have additional luxurious add on's, I'd imagine. He thinks to himself. I noticed I had come to the end of the corridor. At the end of the corridor is a nice big arching window I can look out of, that shows off the world outside. It's a magnificent from here as they're on a mountain..
He turns to the right, pushing open the door nearest to me which was the last room of the hall. It opened into a semi big room, but was quite small too actually, but the interior looked rather expensive.
Fancy bed, ornate desk and table, large bookshelf, ensuite, medium sized cupboard and an arm- chair sofa and a cat bed. Wait! Cat bed?!
"Meow!" I turn my head to see a cat, staring up at me from the floor. Stupid cat! I mutter pushing it out of my way with my foot. I walk over to the ensuite, but before entering, I throw my shirt on the arm chair and then head to shower as I stink. After a good 15 minutes, I exit the ensuite and head out into the main room. As step out, I'm shocked to see a girl standing near the bed, holding my shirt that I had left on the armchair. The stupid cat is on the bed.
"How could this have gotten here? It's not mine..." She whispers. I stay still, just observing her. She has long red hair with purple streaks and has just a T-shirt with a cardigan and some legging's on and a simple pair of slippers. I notice some clothes hanging up in the wardrobe. They must belong to her. A pair of boots are located inside the cupboard as well. A beanie is on a shelf in the cupboard too.
I look back at the girl and notice a pair of glasses on the night stand. Great, just great! This is her room I picked. Wait... Did Carter know someone lives here? Wait, could he have a partner, friend, or sibling who had a scouted on ahead? Is this girl, his girlfriend or wife? I decide I might as well stop staring and ask her, thus make my presence known.
"Uhh, hey there, girly." I say rather boldly. The girl's head snaps in my direction and she turns around. She looks stunned. "Uh, sup?" I try. "James?" She asks me. "Uh, no! Name's, Brax..." I respond,
I put my hand out for a fist bump. She drops my shirt from her hands and starts stepping back, tripping which causes her to fall onto the bed behind her. The bed bounces a little. "Wait... Damn! You've got some nice fine legs." I say noticing her long, slender legs. She's well developed too. Her ass is well defined too, but I don't dare make this comment yet till I know who she is.
"Are you that Carters, chick who's outside?" I question her. She looks even more shocked now.
"There's more of you?!" She asks shocked.
"I take it, his not your boyfriend or something?"
"I-I've never had a-a partner before!" She stammers while looking at the cat on the bed. "Declan, what do I do? What do we do?!" She cries. "You're seriously asking a stupid cat for advice?" I speak.
Her shocked face changes to one of anger and she climbs to her feet.
"He's not a stupid cat! He's my best friend!" She yells. I roll my eyes. "Geez, I'll just go find another room and leave you to this one. You're acting like a freak. Pretty, but a freak! I snap while walking out. I put on my shirt she dropped back on as well.
"What'd you call me?!" I hear yell and her feet stomping on the ground. "Okay, I just made her mad so I step outside the room. "Look, I don't normally apologize, but I am really sorry for my comment just then and you probably don't like me invading your room." I tell her.
"I don't like that you are in my home. And neither do they though." She responds, her voice sounding dark all of a sudden.
"What?" I ask, but she only chuckles darkly and her eyes turn a darker shade.
"Well, someone belongs in a mental hospital, freak." I say, rolling my eyes. She walks towards me and I find that I need to leave. I step back till I am dangerously close to the arch window. "Ayy, watch it! I'll fall!" I speak. She keeps walking towards me. I sware her eyes getting darker.
She pulls out a shovel from nowhere. "Aye, aye, aye! No need for that!" I speak. She say's nothing and advances on me slowing raising it as her cat's following behind her. "You need to die." She speaks. I gulp at her statement. Her body is shaking and her eyes are getting darker now and squinty by the minute. The way she is now walking is rigid. She's acting like her muscles are stiff and made of concrete. I gulp again as I have nowhere to run. "Any last words?" She asks me.
"What's your name?" I ask her. "I'm James." She growls, but her voice comes out different... I take a long hard look at her. The scared girl I first met is gone now and replaced by this shovel wielding nut hut.
"Your real name, please." I ask as James is a boy's name. I see tears welling in her eyes as she advances on me which is odd. "Please?" I ask again. "Shelby... I'm sorry for what I'm about to do, but I have to do it. If I don't... He... He will instead..."
"Do what? Will someone hurt you?" I ask. She manages a sniffle and nods her head. I take a look at her and notice a bruises on her body and cut marks. "You need to die now, goodbye."
"Wait!" I yell, pulling out Solayo's artifact. I snatched it from Dan while he wasn't looking and let it roll across the floor to stop just infront of her. "Please don't hurt the others! They are good, kind, friendly people." I speak. "If you can give that back to Libby and Dan, I would be happy to die... Knowing I at least showed repentance for one of the thousands of bad things I've done over my lifetime!"
She nods her head and steps right up to me. I don't feel anything, but I see my clothing slowly changing colour. I'm bleeding. Her shovel that she's holding is now dripping and stained with... My... My blood! I feel the window behind me give away slowly and breaking. It's shattering under my weight. The glass from it embeds into my back.
I see the girl put the shovel away with a look of horror across her face. She runs into her room and comes outside, holding some clothes as she's drenched in my blood and her cat is perched on her shoulder. Funny.
She runs to a nearby wall and it opens somehow in which she runs inside, but not before picking up Solayo's artifact I dropped.
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