HPC

Greg Campbell 6ls13bs01

 

WOOD

 

-|=-Part 1-=|-

          "What good is life without means to live, or means to enjoy it?  What is life without dignity, worth and feeling?  It is a hollow shell, a worthless result..." I stopped reading.  "Such boring stuff.  I spose this guy's gonna tell us to eat our vegetables and brush after every meal.  What do you think, Cor?"

          "Well, this guy DOES have a point.  Without entertainment, would you want to live?"  His eyes shifted into a gaze of interrogation.

          "Well, no, but..."

          "This is what he's saying.  I suppose you didn't finish reading your assignment for today either, Jake."

          I just frowned.

          "That's a yes, Jake.  I know you well enough to know that look."

          "Alright, so what happened while I was sleeping?"

          "In The Crucible?  Oh, loads of interesting things, Jake.  Maybe not to you, but to someone who can appreciate fine literature!"

          "I can appreciate it a lot better when I'm not coughing every third word from the dust!"

          "That's just an excuse, Jake."

          "And a damn good one, I say!"

          Corey ignored that last comment.  "Let's just get to class."

I sighed and followed him.  It wasn't that I don't read, it's that I tend to read things that benefit me in the wrong way.  Like a month ago when I did a report on the body for Health class, I found an article in some doctor-medicine manual or something and it said teens weren't getting enough sleep, so I decided yesterday was a good time to start.  Maybe 16 hours was a bit too much.  Then again, don't doctors realize that our friends, parents, jobs, work and 11PM shows prevent us from resting ourselves as much as we should?  I mean, sleeping's good and all, but there ain't anythin' like the feeling of live TV at 2AM when you're on a caffeine high and have a test third hour that morning.  Or when it's a choice between a once-in-a-week party over by Trent Mulligan's house on a Thursday or Social Studies- it's a hard decision, but my education isn't THAT important, right?  I mean, I learned everything I REALLY needed to know in grade school.  At least that's what my mother, friends and some guy on AOL named JerkyChicken987652 told me.  Oh yeah, I was telling a story.  I do that sometimes, go off and ramb...I'm doing it again.  The story?  Yeah, I'll tell it.  Lemme remember where I was.  It was somewhere around....got it!

          So I went into class within the last 3 seconds as usual.  It's funny how I'm never late when I'm the last one in class, but get someone with a bad case of prune juice in a bathroom somewhere and I'll be late by 5 minutes trying to fix the hole in their pants.  But, that isn't very important now.

          I hurried into my seat, 5th row from the door, second one back.  It was a nice room- a stained cedar interior, (or was it pine?) white pine desks, an ash chalkboard border and eraser case and a heavy stainless steel door painted white, but showing flakes of brown and orange under.  (I'd learned this while "studying" for my driving test.  Amazing how great door locks can be.)  The floor was a nice oak-looking cut and the celling was made out of...

          "Jake Camthrin!"

          I heard my name and quickly looked like I was paying attention to everything that went on in the last, uh, epoch.

          "Jake, I'm warning you to pay attention!"

          "Yeah, craphole," I thought, but I just smiled and calmly           retorted, "Yes, sir."

          Mr. Grapf looked away and went back to his erasing the chalkboard.  I grinned briefly, rolled my eyes, then went back to pretending to pay attention.  That didn't last long, however.

          "Jake, tell the class how Giles Corey responded to the Salem           trials!"

          "By, uh.."  My mouth hung slightly open while my eyes stared at him, eyebrows locked and mind seemed to freeze.  "By...dying?"

          "I am not amused, Jake.  I could tell from your tone of voice that was an UNeducated guess.  However, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself.  HOW did he die?"

          I thought I read about this somewhere.  My mind went into overdrive; it seemed like my will to not work died of fright after peeing its pants and spontaneously combusting.  I looked around without moving my head: Chalk; no, beard or hair; no; metal object; no.  It felt like his dark, hairy face was guiding me.  Hmm...  Wooden pointer stick; no, pencil; hmm, warmer.  Just then I looked at the end of the wooden pointer stick and saw a marble tip.  I decided to try this; I'd heard of being stoned to death in old times without the use of drugs.  I gathered my demeanor, or maybe just put on a confident tone and face.  "Being stoned to death, sir" is what I exited an immeasurable time later.

          "Correct, Jake."

          I saw his stern face start to twist into somewhat of a grin.  This wasn't looking good.  Two odda three ain't bad sometimes, but this is Grapf we're talking about!

          "And just WHAT did he call for before he was killed?"

          My brain was exhausted and I wanted to get this over.  It probably meant detention, but that's a place that doesn't seem to bother me much, and besides, it'd give the class a good laugh.  They hadn't had one in at least a day, but the story on how I got the rat on the ceiling to scare Suzy Anderson is one of my most-guarded secrets.

"He called for his pipe, a bong, some dancin' music, a cab, love, peace, and most importantly..."

          "Wrong, Jake!  The..."

          "ALE AND WHORES!" I shouted.  Hell, if I'm gonna suffer in detention, I may as well "make memories while young".

          It seemed Grapf anticipated my move, but went along with it anyway.  I don't know why he didn't stop it.  Maybe he likes to have students embarass themselves.  In any case, I was ordered to detention, with an escort.  Corey, being one not to laugh hysterically at my outburst, as well as being a friend decided to volunteer.  Sometimes it helps to befriend those not like yourself.

          We walked slowly down the hall.  Light was coming in from the right side above the brown brick wall and blinded me.  Corey started conversation.

          "Why, Jake, why?"

          "I think you know why, Corey.  I was gonna go to detention for not paying A-ttention, so I decided to make something fun for the class."

Corey shrugged and sighed.  "But, but..."  He stopped, as if he wasn't ready for what he was about to say.  "Why 'ale and whores'?  Why shout it?"

          "Look, it's probably not something your 'serious and responsible' brain could handle, Cor.  I just did it because it felt good and because it was better than going out peacefully."

          "Yeah, but it would've only been an hour if you hadn't..."

          "So?  An hour, a day, it doesn't matter.  I've been there enough to know that detention isn't anything serious."

          "What about your future, Jake?  These go on your permanen...."

          "Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I don't think any employer 30 years from now will much care that I shouted 'ale and whores' to the class, especially if I'm going for a bar job."

          Corey just shrugged and sighed again.  "Well, here's your sentencing, Jake.  I'm going back to class; if you need anything, you can't get it."

          "That's the spirit!  You're finally learning that you don't needa be stern all da time!"

          Corey just gave me my ticket and turned away.  I proceeded into the detention room, my "second home, if it weren't for the lack of bathroom and morals" said the detention master.  I gave her the ticket and proceeded to the bookshelf to grab me some sleeping material.  Normally I don't read the books, but I felt a bit bad about not reading The Crucible, so I decided to start flipping.  I grabbed the dark leather cover by its top corner and started perusing.  I stopped when I saw a section entitled "THEORIES OF NOSTRADAMUS".  I tried figuring out the name, but I realized it'd be easier to call him Notre Dame.  Or Quasimoto.  Or Nozzy.  I started reading some really heavy stuff, so I turned the page to see if I could get anything more out of it.  There was something about a leader dying with a note that he predicted JFK's death in 1964.  I thought it was 61, but I didn't challenge it.  I kept flipping the pages until I got to the next section.  The title was in some odd script font that was translated by someone in blue pen underneath to read "Endarire's Musings".  His name was complicated enough, so he had to be wise.  "Alright, End, let's see what you're bullshitting your way into fame with..."  I really didn't mean that, it was just nice to vent some frustration from being sent here.  "Again I'm reading something weird at an odd time.  Eh, whatever" I whispered, but not to myself had anyone been in a half inch of my voice.  There was something underlined in blue pen on the first page.  I decided that if someone else thought it was a good idea, I might as well.  I had no idea where to start.

          "It has been said that history repeats itself.  I see it differently,                                    as an hourglass.  It starts at the fullest end; be it whole or not,                                    then proceeds to the most radical point.  From there, it                                    expands back to its original state of volume, often violently."

I sighed.  "Why the hell can't they just say it directly?  Anyone can add a few words to a point to seem more intelligent!" I quietly wondered, complained and groaned.  I gave up on that thought after exactly 2.9 seconds, enough so that it got into my brain, but also enough so that it was quickly rerouted to my colon.

I quickly scanned the next few pages, looking for highlights.  Everything seemed like "This is how you must live or die!" to me, though the tone was very serene.  About 15 seconds later, I found something else marked.  This wasn't a 3 or 4 line commandment, but something else.  Was it more of Nozzy's stuff?  It sure looked like it.

 

          "As I have stated in my past writings, my 'hourglass theory' seems to hold true to the state of Earth's society.  Ancient human tribes and even the ones with the 'red skin', ones they call "Indians", believed in something spiritual.  With that spirit power, or 'magick', their lives were peaceful, with the men only fighting to survive.  However, somehow, the ancient people lost their shamanistic roots, perhaps by invaders, and the arts were practiced in secret, or never again.  In the case of the Indians, Europeans and other easterners invaded the land and the culture, forcing out the belief in spirits and in the belief of money.  However, it has been stated that 'All good things must end', and for us, near the midpoint of the predicted technology age, generations after will be the ones to see the violent end and return.  I predict that when the time is right, something will cause this 'magick' to reemerge and technology to fall.  How this will happen is uncertain, even in my vast mind, but it seems that either the magick will seek the user or vice versa, and from there, Earth will be reborn."

          I was officially freaked out after this.  "Magick"?  "Users"?  "Violent end and return"?  This was definitely not sounding good.  What if something horrifying was done with this?  What power does this magick have?  What if...?  Maybe, maybe, just maybe I was dreaming.  I punched myself in the jaw; ow!  No.  Maybe I misread it; I read it again.  The words didn't change.  My hopes that something was off didn't happen, but something in me knew I was doing something self-defeating.  I tried to sleep after this, but I couldn't.  Something was seriously bothering me about this predicted end of civilization.  It didn't matter that Nozzy had been wrong 1000 times, but that he was right once.  Then again, and again, and again.  So if he was right, who's to say that End wasn't?  Definitely not me, and I wasn't one that wanted to find out.  Really.

 

-|=-Part 2-=|-

But, what about the admins?  Who put this here?  Why did I read it?  I don't know.  (And if you say something like 'because it's part of the plot' I'm gonna advise you to stop talking during movies.)  Damnit, I had so much to ask but noone to answer!  If I were alone I'd scream, but I gave up on that, seeing as the detention master was at her desk.  Instead, I just sat still, held my breath and closed my eyes.  I counted to ten and released my breath with nervous calmness, then proceeded to rest my chin in the book's fold and look straight ahead.  There was a green papered board on the wall in front of me with a white pine frame that was nailed onto a dark brown wooden wall.  This place didn't seem to be a good shelter if someone decided to drop a match.  Nah, I wasn't that mean.  Besides, I'm a comedian, not a crook, and it wouldn't be funny.  I felt tired, worrying tends to put a stop to yer high energy reserves, so I closed my eyes.  I heard something coming from the 2-way radio on her desk, but ignored it.  Was just probably some kid with spitballs or a foodfight warning.  I'd been in here for just about everything that someone could be in here for, and, well, I was running out of reasons.

That thought soon was out of my head as I sat there in the desk.  Suddenly a new thought came along: "Get out while you can!"  I'm not sure what sparked it, but it seemed to be the part of me that was damn sick of being here in cooperation with the part of me that was curious about why the detention master had been called out.  Feeling that it would be plain stupid to miss this opportunity, I got out of my chair, grabbed the book and left.  Maybe it would have been better if I hadn't grabbed it, but, oh well.  I headed to the nearest bathroom; it was like I was being guided, if only by my bladder.  I figured that after this incident was done, I'd just go back to class or detention and that would be it.  But, seeing as this story doesn't end here or after I investigate, and because of the subtle foreshadowing mentioned before, there's much more to go.

I looked at myself in the large wall mirror behind the sink.  Normally, I'd say something like "Man, I'm lookin' good!", but this wasn't the time for that.  I washed my hands, rinsed my face, used a stall then left.

I hadn't realized how hot it was outside, not having a thermometer in the whole school, but I went back toward the detention room and I felt it getting hotter.  "The furnace malfunction or something?" I said to myself, not expecting a reply, and not getting one, either.  Something was awry.  And I don't mean "wary", which is a something with the same letters in a different order.  I could feel the heat mounting and my sweat glands being told they'd better wake up soon.  I smelled something; it was like baking coal with the oven door open.  Around then my brain gathered the facts- it was getting hotter the closer I went in, there was a smell of something burning and suddenly a gray haze came from that direction.  It was like a cannon going off; 3, 2, 1...FIRE!  "Damnit, there's a fire!" I let out.  I tried to imagine how it happened, but my survivalist instincts took over and employed my legs to give it all they could and run madly out.  Looking back over my left shoulder after I had gotten out of the building, I saw the far end ablaze then something hit like a frozen boulder to my back.  "Damnit, they're gonna think I did this!"  That feeling made me sank even lower, but with everything that had happened, it was pretty much ignored.  Around then I heard the sound of fire engines coming and people running for their lives out of the school.  I knew what I had to do, I had to hide.  I scanned the area around me- there were several poles on the schoolyard nearby, but they wouldn't hide me against the oncoming wave of people pouring out of the school.  There were some trees behind that, but still only basic cover.  Then I looked to my right, an old shed or some other structure over a fence.  If I could just make it...

My brain said to my feet, "Feet, if you want to live, you will run, and you will run like you were a college track star."  And my feet replied, "Alright, alright already!"  My brain came back with, "You better know what you're doing!" as I started for the old wooden fence.  My feet just gave a proverbial shrug and kept going until I was over the fence and in the shed.  Another thing struck around then- I could only hide here so long, someone would be looking for me.  But then again, judging from the shape this shack was in, it didn't seem like people came by here often.

The brown book made itself known again as I regained feeling in my arms.  "Well, this certainly seems like a shitty situation- I spend my high school life trying to be a good man, trying to be a comedian, trying to be funny, and it got me detention after detention.  Now I've been made a scapegoat, a voodoo doll victim for whoever wants to harm me.  I ran because of this, I ran for survival.  I wasn't gonna live long with my head on a stick, and this fire makes me look guiltier than ever.  Damnit."  I stopped a moment and screamed silently.  Something in me wanted to cry, but something wiser held it in, which was good enough for me.  I heard voices from somewhere- the shack had numerous holes in it to let sound in- and they were talking.  The voices sounded light and girly.

"Brenda, I, I, I... I just can't believe it!  Who would do such a thing?"  Her tone was one of anger, confusion and sadness.

"I don't know.  I don't know anyone that mean...."  She paused and I held my breath.  By now, I was barely breathing and I sat crouched on the cold, dark floor.

"Maybe it was that Jake kid" I heard the first say.  Now I really was in trouble if they suspected me!  I stayed like this for some time, listening.  After the girls' voices stopped, I heard the sound of water being sprayed on the dying flames.  I recalled how I felt after reading the prediction in the book I was holding- I was freaked out, but just a little scared.  Now, I was frightened for all my life!  I couldn't help but feel that way.  Awhile later, the sound of the fire engines leaving had passed and I was feeling cold.  I was dressed for summer, but this place was odd in some way I couldn't describe.  I looked around for something I could warm myself with, and found an old white and blue blanket under the table by the door.  Cautiously I reached for it, focusing all my will on being quiet, and touched it with the tips of my right hand fingers then cautiously grabbed hold of it and brought it toward me.  Covering myself with it, I looked around.

The place reminded me of the cabin in Huckleberry Finn right before Huck was considered dead and the thought of being dead hadn't seriously occurred to me before now.  I knew lynching was against the law, but "People will do as they please" said the book I was holding.

What seemed like a day later, but was probably closer to 5 minutes, was my next group of thoughts: Where could I go after what I had been blamed for?  I couldn't go to school, that was for certain and I knew I couldn't go home- my parents would probably NEVER believe me.  Corey's place didn't seem like a place I could go either; he'd gotten me out of jams before, but after this I doubted that even he would defend me.  Wait a minute, maybe I could stop off at home to get some stuff at least.  If I wasn't staying in this shack, there would be a trillion places for me to hide in the world.  This thought brought a smile to my face.  "I'm not sure how I'm gonna make it, but I will!"

My statement was soon challenged- I heard footsteps outside.  I didn't know or care who it was, but I realized that I had to quickly hide.  The sound of the steps came closer, slowly, and my adrenaline picked up.  I frantically searched for a dark place or somewhere I could safely hide or just run away from everything.  My body was at this moment as awake as I could remember feeling it; but then again, I didn't much care about what happened before today.  I knew that bias and reputation were powerful enemies.  My brain seemed to check off a list at hyper speed- not under the table, not out the window across from the door, not in the fireplace, not the closet...  Now I was hysteric.  "Where else can I go?!" I let out.  I crawled under the table toward a doorway.  I didn't try to absorb my surroundings, they just seemed to come to me.

My brain went off with another checklist; cupboard, no, not in the sink, not the ironing board closet...  I heard voices from outside.  I tried to ignore them and let myself focus, but I couldn't handle the stress; if I didn't find something soon, I KNEW that I might die!

"Johnny, this looks suspicious.  Get Blank and bring 'im 'ere.  Don't break anything, we don't know if that kid's here."

If I had the will, the time and even half the stress, I might cry; hell, I would cry, but I was more interested in self-preservation.  Everywhere seemed like such an obvious place for someone to hide, but then I got the idea; the stove.  That was it, that was it, I would hide in the stove!  Something told me it wasn't safe to try it, and I believed it, but I squelched that part of me now; I wouldn't be safe in a minute if they got to me.

The voices outside started again, but this time I didn't understand what they said; I just focused on getting my body into the small white metal can.

I pulled the door back easily; its hinges seemed to be remarkably unrusted from time, but I didn't care about that.  I forced myself into the black pit that might just save me.  I got as far as putting my head in when logic came knocking; "You won't fit head-first!"  I heeded this, having little choice if I wanted to stay unfound, so I quickly pulled myself out and "threw" myself in, legs first, then shut the door behind me.  The door seemed to close with amazing force; I sighed quietly and heard the voices again.

"We have an order to find the kid...  Who're you?"  It sounded like the police.  Damn, if the police were involved, then it made it that much worse!

"C'mon, tell me.  I'm an officer of the law."  That did it, the police were after him!

The tone seemed nervous even before I heard it.  "Sir, uh, Corey Simmons, sir!"

"You know the kid?"

I anticipated Corey's next move.  He was gonna break.

"Nnnnuuuhhh...yeahIknowhim."  He tried to resist, but he's just too honest!  Some guy said that "Honest men have nothing to fear from the law."  To that, I say "Try being blamed for burning a school!"

"Where's he?"

"I...I dunno."  He seemed to calm down, maybe he realized something.  "He didn't tell me anything."

"Alright boy, we're gonna take ya down to the station fer questioning.  Blank, eh, escort him to the car.  I'm gonna check this place out."

My mind stopped, my heart raced and I couldn't move.  My eyes closed as a reflex action and I breathed slowly and quietly.  I heard the door squeak open slowly then fall to the floor- the hinges rusted off I figured.  The slow, heavy steps coming from the patrolman's boots were like quiet explosions as my heart ran wildly.  I could barely breathe in the cramped space, not just because of an oxygen lack.  Maybe it was that combined with my waning energy supply that helped make me understand some things.

 

-|=-Part 3-=|-

It was odd at first- I opened my eyes and saw black all around with just a few semblances of light.  I felt exhausted, I had worried myself to a state of fatigue.  The sounds of the policeman's boots seemed to fade away and I closed my eyes in the pitch pit.

I saw the fire burning in the school from the outside, it was clearer than any video screen.  I saw a red glow from the hall before I retreated.  I saw the people running from their class in panic, trying to get to safety.  Then I saw myself in this stove, hiding like a fish from a seagull.  Around then I opened my eyes and heard the voices again.

"...Tore apart the closet, the fireplace, the ironing board cabinet and searched around the house.  He ain't here.  Let's go, Blank."

I wanted to shout in happiness, but I didn't; I was at a loss for words.  They hadn't checked the stove, or if they had, they couldn't get it open.  This was incredible!

Sounds of boots were gone from the house.  I heard voices, faint voices, from outside the house.  It sounded like they were leaving and I heard car tires screeching; if the circumstances would allow, I'd be giddy right now.

My body was becoming stiff and numb- I hadda leave this stove!  Reading had told me to "Remain calm in times of danger", so I followed this advice.  I pushed at the stove door with my elbow, but the door didn't budge.  "Maybe it just needs more force" I thought.  With that, I jammed my left elbow against the metal door and felt a warm, blunt pain fill my left arm.  The door didn't budge and I was losing my cool.  It seemed foolish to attempt to bash it down using only my elbows and that wasn't working.  I had to find another way out of here!

I tried to look up, but could only look ahead into the blackened iron frame of the stove.  Either behind or in front of me, and behind was out; I gathered as much strength as I could and punched the panel in front of me with both fists.  I winced from the pain but saw some light come from the lower right corner of the panel.  Struggling to get my adrenaline rush back, I pounded the metal that kept me from my freedom again; more light appeared from the bottom of the strip.  I groaned in pain and breathed more heavily, but was strong.  I persisted to punch the panel for my third hit; as I felt the impact from the blow, my eyes widened, ignoring the pain.  My cage was about a quarter open and I felt my knuckles going raw.  "Continue this and you'll be bleeding" I thought, but I realized my body was more important than my hands right now.  Pain was shooting through my veins, but I could ignore it for awhile longer.  Feeling adrenaline wash over me again, I punched with my remaining true might at the panel, and watched with excitement as the great sunlight shown through about half the opening.  I knew I couldn't take much more of this brutality on my fists, the pain was getting to be unbearable.  "One more punch, one more punch, that's all it'll take."  My adrenaline seemed to consume me and blind me with rage as I wound back in my small space and came forward with what felt like the force of a jackhammer.  The rusty tin can was conquered.

For awhile, I sat breathing heavily, hunched over in the small space.  The sunlight, oh glorious sunlight came through where the wood on the back wall was rotted away.  The whole building was just one big disaster waitin' to happen, so I decided leaving would be in order.

Pulling myself with my fading adrenaline high out of the stove, I managed to get far enough out to where I could use my legs.  Listening for anyone nearby and not hearing anyone, I kicked the wall out and sent the ancient boards flying.  Cautiously, I edged myself out of the stove, grabbing onto the place where the panel had been attached to at the bottom and pulling my aching and tired body to freedom and taking the book with me.

I smiled a glorious smile and breathed deeply the refreshing air as I let go of the leather-bound tome.  Then I stretched and thought about my next destination; I could go home, but the long walk with my bloody hands could arouse much suspicion.  I had to get the blood off else I could be taken for a murderer and I certainly didn't want that.  I looked around- I hadn't taken into account where I was when I entered the shack, being in immediate danger.  From what I saw, I was a little beyond the edge of school property and by the time on my watch, it was going on 4:30; I didn't think I was trapped that long.  Hastily, I tried to remember a nearby public place where I could wash myself and not seem out of place.  The Black Cauldron coffee shop was ruled out, as was every restaurant and fast food joint I could think of- all were preparing for the dinnertime rush and having a kid run through there with bloodied hands made him all the more memorable.  Well, there was Megan Red's electronics with bathrooms by the entrance, but that was too far a trip on foot for me to get home by 5.  The only thing close enough was Dresdel Park, about four blocks from here.  I could run there, run home and get some stuff packed before 5 when ma was likely to come home.

My mind was set, I was off to Dresdel.  I made sure to take the long way- most schoolmates don't use Elward Avenue, Ackean Way or Kace Street so my course was plotted.  I would go to Elward, turn right at the second intersection, follow Ackean to the end, turn left onto Kace and be by the pavilion.  There I could wash up and beat my parents home.

I picked up the book and put it in my right hand, then realized it was a bad idea, being a bit painful.  I moved it to under my right arm, made sure it was secure, then followed my path.  I turned right at Elward onto Ackean alright and even Kace was fine, but there was some explaining to do when I reached the pavilion bathroom.

"It's you.  I never would have thought.  Jake, you surprise me."

I tried ignoring him and went to wash my hands.

"You don't know me, Jake, but I know you.  And I know the truth."

The water was running, but I was paying more attention to this guy.  Still, I didn't look at him or say anything; it'd be rude to interrupt the ramblings of a madman.

"Don't think you can just ignore me, Jake."

If I hadn't been through the stove episode, I might be scared.  Now, I was just getting annoyed.  Whoever this was, they were pissin' me off.  I decided to step in and start talking.

"Yer right, I don't know who you are and it ain't like you need to be the Pope to know who I am."  I paused a moment and thought more.  "Now, I don't want any more trouble than necessary.  Stop with the cryptic-sounding messages- you aren't Freddy Kruger, he died in the movies and just let me be.  I haven't disturbed you any, and I'm in a hurry."  I figured that would stop his incessant annoying while I turned off the faucet and went to grab a towel.

"You don't understand, Jake..."  His voice trailed off with my apathy.

I decided to dry myself and leave.  I walked out the door, past the cryptically annoying man in black.

"We'll be seeing you again, Jake." I heard him let out as I walked out the door, not facing him.

I did my parent-who-has-seen-it-all-but-their-kid-demands-their-attention impression.  "Yeah, whatever" was all I whispered before I got to the door.  I heard an odd sound, somewhat like an engine revving and a plane taking off come from behind me.  I wanted to react, but I felt startled and unable to move.  Curiously, I looked back and he was gone.  Mentally noting this, I left with book under my arm and headed toward home.  And after that, I wasn't sure where I'd end up, but I had a feeling it was gonna be a LONG trip.

 

-|=-Part 4-=|-

I rounded the corner and got onto my house lot, it was 4:42 according to my watch.  I didn't have much time to eat and pack for my journey.  Some would call me a runaway; then again, they had their problems to deal with.

The color of my house was best described as "white...ish".  I'm not an artist and I haven't read enough to know what the "official" term for that is, but that wasn't my main concern right now.  With book in hand, or rather, under my arm, I went across the lawn and up the steps.  I got to the top of the stairs and grabbed the doorknob- it wouldn't turn.  On a normal day, I might panic for being late, but after all I'd been through, it didn't bother me much.  Looking right, I noticed the dark blue mailbox and recalled my mother's words:  "Young man, if you ever need to get into the house when I'm not home, look for the key in there.  Now get upstairs and wash yourself!"  I opened the mailbox, felt around, and pulled out an old silvery key.  Not thinking much about being quiet, I opened the locks, pulled the handle then thought about returning the key.  I didn't know if I'd be back, but I figured I'd better leave it if I needed it, but not in the mailbox.  I went down the stairs, found a crack in the cement that the key would fit into, inserted it then went back up the stairs and with that, I was home.

There were so many times I would breathe a sigh of relief or otherwise celebrate when getting past the peeling white wooden doorway; birthdays, Fridays and days I got my report card and realized that I was gettin' paid.  However, today being a Thursday, months past my birthday and me with a low cash supply and the police on my trail, the feeling of happiness never came.  What I got instead was a feeling of urgency.  I ran straight ahead to the closet and set the book down before opening the door then poked around.  "C'mon, c'mon!" I said to myself, and seemed to machete my way through the jungle of coats, ties, formal hats and stuff that doesn't go well on a fugitive.  I needed a container; my backpack was at school and I sure as Hell wasn't headin' that way if I could help it.  I found coathangers and hat boxes- not very handy in my situation.  The best I could come up with was a navy fleece jacket with some pockets.  It wasn't much, but I wasn't trying to haul the world with me.

I picked up the old book, closed the door and headed toward the kitchen to get fed.  I thought of the simplest things I could make and eat and decided that my despite my not wanting to take a nutrition center with me, I hadda take somethin'.

I hurriedly put some bread in the toaster and briefly thought about the setting; definitely not "charcoal" or "burnt black" and I wasn't sure if "bronze" was out, so I put it somewhere between "warm bread" and "use a higher setting to put some heat on it!".

I looked around and grabbed whatever was convenient, not messy and that wouldn't spoil easily-apple, crackers, fruit snacks, beef jerky and some juice boxes fir barely into the fleece's outer pockets.  Man, my jacket was gettin' heavy!  I hurriedly packed in the breathed-on-warm bread and ran upstairs cautiously with "toast" in left and book in right.  I got to the upstairs landing when I heard voices outside.  It was a gamble to run out in the open and make it to my room before they came in, one I didn't take and am sorry for; after all that happened today, I just wanted to go somewhere and hide then sleep awhile.

I stuffed the bread in my mouth and forcefully set the book down to my left where it wouldn't be seen.  I dove onto the landing (well, quickly laid on the think blue carpet) and waited.  The voices continued for maybe a minute, I didn't dare move to look at my watch, but about 20 seconds in, I thought "I knew I shoulda risked it!".  Too late now.

The voices stopped outside and my panic seemed to snap quickly back into action, despite frantic efforts.  "Do they realize I'm here?  Can they hear my breathing?  What are they saying?" I thought, but in vain.  Fear struck like a crippling blow to my chest with a hammer.

I heard the door open quickly and heard the sound of heels, mother was home.  I was used to this, well, not hunched on the floor fearing for my life, but the idea of my mother interrupting my fun.  I could crawl across the landing, up the steps and get into my room, but my fear seemed to be set on full blast and I couldn't bring myself to chance anything unnecessary.

The door slammed.  I tried to calm my fears by thinking, "She's done this before, she's done this before..." but nothing clicked.  My mother part groaned, part screamed.  If my fright wasn't anchoring me to this carpet, I might've jumped!  "Bad day at work.  Boss denied me a raise, I lost the Burbank account, the mailman said there was a problem so the bills will be late AGAIN..." she seemed to fume from the mouth.

"Thanks, ma.  If it helps, I'm being hunted for burning a school.  By the way, I didn't need to know, ma, your face is enough.  Now shut it!" I thought out of amusement.  She went on while I continued my freak out and silent mockery of her.

"Some guy in a blue van cut me off..." by now she was in the kitchen, I heard the sound of heels on the linoleum floor.  I had yet another thing to avoid, but I was again interrupted by her loud voice.  "And I just spilled coffee on myself!  Aah!"

It was around now that I recalled the phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn."  I wanted to play a few games of football with the guy who came up with this, he was damn right.  I was considering just staying here for another few minutes until...there it was.  Ma, in her rage, split open the trash bag.  This would take awhile.  Still, I breathed very quietly and slid across the floor, up the rest of the stairs and tiptoed the rest of the hall into my room, turned the handle with a seemingly unnatural quietness, stealthily moved in and closed the door that made a pin drop seem like a shout.

 

-|=-Part 5-=|-

Alright, I was in, and I had to move quickly.  Ma would almost certainly be after me and crossing her would be painfully close to an emotional impaling.  My fear turned to adrenaline and I was quietly moving with haste around my room, thinking of things to take.  I had food, and I knew I needed a container.  Right now I was so sorry I put off cleaning my room, but there wasn't time for it now.  I put the book on my bed then searched frantically on the floor among the strewings of old papers, aged food, photos and other material I deemed "junk".  I started foraging under my bed; the first thing my hand reached felt like plastic.  I brought it to my view and saw that it was an old trigonometry binder.  "There's something I'll never need again."  I shoved it back in, smiled and quickly resumed searching.  Something found my grasp as I hit something sharp on the bed; I winced and almost instantly regained control of my volume and squelched it.  Pulling it out, I realized that this was an old cap I wasn't sure why I kept.  I glanced it over; green, maybe it'd help me hide.  I threw it on the bed and decided to lie down and do some eye searching.

I got down and looked in the shades of my past; I hadn't done much worth keeping track of.  Maybe I'd return after this whole thing was over and sort this junk out.  Then again, I put of cleaning my room for weeks, so it didn't seem likely.

I stuck my head under the bed and put my watch in front of me then pressed the light.  I silently thanked my mother for this old birthday gift then realized what was happening.  I looked around and moved some things.  Somewhere in this pit of time I found a really old backpack, one from my grade school days.  I was desperate and it was available, so I took it.

I had food and a place to store stuff.  I transferred all the non-packaged food into the old blue backpack.  "Now, what else?" I thought.  I looked around and saw various posters and other room decorations.  There was an orange sign "Men At Work".  Work...money!  I needed money.  My wallet was on the dresser and I put it in my inner jacket pocket.  Dresser...clothes!  I needed something to change into.  I knew that there were 3 types of clothes that could help me right now- day clothes, dark clothes and that army patch stuff.  The pack wasn't very small or notably large, so I could take maybe 2 changes- a day and dark suit.  I opened the drawers and looked for plain things to fit both descriptions.  Not really caring about fashion and working with a time bomb of a situation, i just grabbed whatever was near the top.  What I found was a white shirt with "Award Winner" on it in black on the back, some teal and black shorts with that thing that looks like a reverse Big Dipper on them, some plain blue shorts and a black shirt with blue and purple writing, "Two Thumbs Up, WAY Up!" and some jeans which fit anywhere.  "Clothes set." I thought to myself.  "Clothes, food, money...  What else?"  I was heading toward the window when I thought of something.  "A note!  It'll give me an excuse not to be here!"  I went to my TV and looked on it- the Cup O Pens was missing!  I stepped toward the window and heard a "crunch".  The carpet muffled it to barely audible, conveniently enough.  I moved off it and looked down- a pencil snapped in half.  The point was fairly blunt, but it looked good enough.  I used part of an old paper and put the note on my bed.

 

"Ma-

Went to Corey's.  Be back before bed."

 

That'd keep her away for hours, but it seemed wrong.  I shoved this paper under my bed and got another paper.  I changed "before bed" to "later".  I hope that'd keep her away long enough.  I looked around, thinking about anything else I was missing.  The book!  I didn't know why I'd need it, but in things I've read and watched, people take things then find uses for 'em later.  Maybe that'd happen with me.

I took the tome, shoved it into the pack not caring much about damage, zipped it hastily then opened the window.

Looking back at my room, I thought of some lines people had said or written as parting lines.  There was that musical thing with the partings in different language, Shakespeare's "Parting is such sweet sorrow" and even "Hasta la Viesta, baby."  I just said to myself, "Eh, well, maybe I'll be back."

 

-|=-Part 6-=|-

There's an odd thing about distances, they never seem the amount that they are.  Speaking of which, I misjudged the fall out my window by, oh, a lot.  I'll spare most the details of the story and just say that I probably shouldn't've tried to down that bread so fast on the landing.  I was feeling a bit queasy now, along with having sore and tired legs.  My knuckles were bruised and my palms were scraped from the fall, too.  I thought it was best to just let to let my wounds heal a bit.

The adrenaline mask was fading.  Fatigue was setting in, and I knew I had to fight it if I wasn't gonna be found.

I licked my scraped hands; ick!  Dirty, but better than cement to land on.  I blew on them after spitting the dirt taste out to cool them.  It was a nice feeling, but I was losing strength.

I looked ahead, I looked up.  I asked myself why I was even doing this.  "Why do this, Jake?  Running's just more trouble!"  I answered with confidence, "Because....because....because I'm sick of all this!  I don' wanna be yelled at or sent to detention to fry any more.  Society doesn't like me and I don' like it.  We don' get along, so we're better off..."  Around this time I snapped out of my self-debate.

I heard the crackle of flames through an open window.  Just then I felt the heat of being in the burning school and the confusion and fear.  Then it all passed in an instant, and my mind was made clearer.  The scream was definitely my mother's and from what I heard on the landing, her bad day had just gotten worse.  She'd started to cook something then something else happened and the pan was burning.  It seemed logical enough, then the choice gripped me.

Should I go back and try to help?  I actually thought about this for awhile, amazingly enough, but I'd won my argument with me and the answer was obvious.  Hell no.  I'd read about criminals who got second thoughts about their activities and tried to 'do right'.  They always got caught and when I was doing something, up there at #1, tied with "Don't get hurt as much as possible!" was "Don't get caught!!"

My legs would have to take me to wherever I was going next in any condition, and I recalled the force of the #1 rules.  I eased myself forward, went around the side of the house where my mother wouldn't see me from the kitchen in her panic, then started walking.

I walked without much purpose, but I thought about where I could go.  I looked at my watch- 5:26.  That sure hadn't taken long and I wasn't sure what I was gonna do.

I made a mental list of possible places and their danger levels.  Corey's, medium.  He'd prolly believed I didn't do it, but his parents were protective.  I didn't know if they'd be home.  School, hell no!  Not after the fire.  I'd just been home and that wasn't a welcome place either.  Damnit, I didn't know where to go!  I headed back toward Dresdel thinking about life in general.  Maybe this was one of those lessons.  Maybe I'd be better off running and coming back.  Maybe...  I was interrupted when I looked up and saw the round end of a gun pointing in my face.

I was frankly sick of this shit.  There's only so many abuses I can take in one day, hell, one life, and I thought I was WAY over my limit!

The gun seemed to speak to me with a mean tone, Then I realized someone was behind the trigger.  I thought about the worst that could happen; I could be the end of humanity and embarass it forever.  Then I thought about the reasonable worst thing that could happen; I could die and have my money stolen.  If there's an afterlife that requires cash reserves and I happened to get thrown into it, I'd be screwed.

The gun shook.  "Yer money er yer life!" I heard.  I looked up to see the man in black with the typical ski mask and black getup.  He seemed like a novice at this from what I read.  Most modern criminals didn't use the old highwayman line.  Wasn't it enough to wear the mugger's garb?  I also noticed that I'd gotten to Dresdel, which explained a bit why I was being mugged.  Parks are places where people can relax and enjoy the scenery until they find their next victim.

"I said yer money er yer life!" the man shouted as the gun waved nervously in his hands.  I actually stopped to think about this.  If I gave him my money, I'd be screwed.  If I didn't, he'd prolly kill me.  The only chance I had of living and not being screwed was to plan myself out.  I felt my stomach again; I was on the verge of sickness.

"This is yer last warning!" he shouted.  With that, I brought my plan into action. 

I started coughing convincingly.  "Mister, I'm si..." and on "sick", I did better than I thought.  I actually puked on the guy's shoes.  Disgusting, I know, but things just worked out that way.

I could see the confusion in his eyes, metaphorically.  The gun was put down, he looked down and stared in amazement and confusion for a moment.  He looked up and ran toward the pavilion, I could tell he was new at this.  However, he wouldn't new for long if I didn't run my little ass odda there, so I did.

 

-|=-Part 7-=|-

The sun was setting and a mellow mix of orange, gold, yellow, blue, white and pink were there.  However, I wasn't paying attention.  What I focused on was that the sun was setting and my watch time, 7:23.  There was a forest marking the city limits and I hoped I'd get there by 8. I was getting hungry and since I had enough money left for awhile, I decided to stop at a convenience shop and have my money supply get a beating rather than at a grocer and my body get a beating.  I hadn't seen any posters and I wasn't considered 'missing' yet; I'd heard on TV before that I hadda be gone a day before that could happen, which made my escape that more urgent.

I looked around the intersection; there were some cars, not very many because of Thursday.  There were people, too.  None of them suspected that the guy in blue wearing a backpack would be connected to 2 fires, at least I thought I was responsible in part for that second one.  There were buildings, mainly old ones.  Their cries for attention had been ignored by their tenants, sorta like me in a way.  I was renting a space in society I didn't want and didn't use as much as possible.  My idea was to avoid it as long as possible; it was like doing 'mind filler' homework, you just want to get it done as soon as possible.

I headed across the intersection under the rainbow winds.  There was an old man about my height with gray and white hair, large glasses and a proportionally large head wearing a gray coat.  He croaked, "Excuse me son, do you have the time?"

Feeling bad over what happened at home, I decided to help this guy out.  "7:29, sir" I told him after looking at my watch.

"Thank y' son."  The old man walked away, but I didn't focus on him as I went straight ahead.

I felt myself lucky that the forest entrance I was heading to was on a low crime sector; mainly middle and high class, though it seemed like the tenants hadn't learned how to maintain their homes properly and were too proud to hire someone.

I kept going, looking at each intersection for cars and possible places to stop, Megan Red's seemed like the only place I could recall.  I hadn't walked to it before, but I recalled the street name it was on and I was on it, Notent Avenue and something.  The 'walk' sign was blinking so I hurried across the intersection.  I looked down the street and didn't see any noticeable red buildings.  I headed this direction for a block and saw "Pamcrel Street" on the sign.  Looking around, I wondered who came up with these names.  They seemed original, but there was also something good to be said about "Johnson Drive".  Then again, "Johnson Drive" could exist in 100 million towns, but I knew of only one "Pamcrel Street."

There was a sign on the block after Pamcrel that said "STREET ENDS"; alright, I was going the wrong way on a gut feeling.  I turned around cautiously and noticed brown-haired fairly young man in black behind me.  Not wanting to deal with pride, I asked him, "Scuse me, know where Megan Red's is, the convenience store?"

He stopped reading and turned to face me.  I felt...spooked and a bit started when he replied for some reason.  "On the corner of Notent and Chnie."

"Erm, thanks," I said hesitantly as I walked away quickly.

Maybe that startled feeling was justified, it could've been an undercover cop, but something in me didn't buy it.  He looked too young and too...artsy I think it is, to be a cop.  I hadn't gone out of state or done a felony so the FBI wasn't in this one.  I just ignored it and went on.

"7:42" to quote my watch.  I did some mental figuring after I got to the next block, Pamcrel.  Chnie was a horizontal street and Notent was a vertical one on a map I'd seen.  Checking the intersection for cars and finding none, I went across.  Chnie was about 4 blocks up from where Notent ended, maybe 6.  Anyway, I knew that I'd find it if I kept going straight and following the signs.

My legs cried for relief, but calling a cab was too expensive and timely and a bus was the risk of the century for me.  A park bench then, that was it.  Decisions, decisions and this was a tough one.  I could either rest a bit and risk getting to Megan Red's late, which meant navigating in the dark or I could try to cope with it a little while longer.  Easy choice, after my run-in with that mugger in Dresdel I knew I wasn't gonna let something like that happen to me again.

I was past the intersection where I'd helped that gray guy now.  My mind didn't seem to care about the distance, just powering my body to get there.  Never a track star or a cross country boy, but not in such bad shape that I couldn't handle walking/running a few miles in gym.

I looked up at the sky and noticed the colors giving way to a total dark blue.  Navy?  Cyan?  Really dark blue?  I wasn't sure of the name of it.  In any case, as it got closer to that color, I got slowly nearer to leaving this place.

A street sign helped snap me out of my color daze.  This wasn't Chnie, but I saw a red building near the end of the next block.  "This could be it!" I mouthed and smiled.

The next minutes until I got to Megan Red's were a blur.  All I recall was that I thought that being in a city among thousands or millions doesn't help in making you feel closer to people.

I decided to head to the guy's room.  I was loaded and my backpack presented a problem, besides, my legs were sore and a toilet could help.  Opening the door without much thought, I looked into the tiled drainage room; it was empty as I'd hoped.  I headed toward the stall and pulled it; it didn't budge.  I checked for feet and saw none.  I even risked getting on the floor and looking up through the open area below the stall.  Noone.  Odd to lock an empty stall.  I wasn't gonna let something as simple as a stall stop me.  I figured that there were 3 ways out without going through a wall; over, under and down the toilet.  They were also the same ways in, conveniently enough.  I took off my backpack and slid it under, put myself flat on the floor, grabbed the toilet base and pulled myself under with my weak strength.  I was glad that convenience stores, or at least Megan Red's, charged high prices.  The money put toward bathroom scrubbing was well worth paying 25% to 50% more, at least in my case.

I'll skip the details of what I did on the toilet; just like the army: "Don't ask, don't tell."  I grabbed my pack after finishing and flushing then put it down again.  Most people don't carry containers into stores unless they intend to rob 'em.  I didn't want any more suspicion on me than now, which was much in my view.  I set it in the corner then went to the stall door.  I saw a note which read:

 

"Dear sirs,

Our stall doors have been giving us problems lately.  Please keep them closed at all times.

Thanks, Megan."

 

Taking something too literally can cause harm, you know.  I'd contemplate that thought later. 

I went into the store area, the sliding glass doors and a standard, "Someone's coming, hide the illegal stuff!" tone was heard.  I went to the snack aisle closest to the counter and got a small bag of chips and a soda. I took out my wallet and focused on not acting suspiciously.  I waved the counter teller and said "Hi!" as I put the items down and got the money to pay for them.

"You seem cheery," the cashier girl said with a hint in her voice that she wanted to get off shift as soon as possible.

"Nah, just relieved that it's Thursday night and tomorrah's Friday."  It was only a partial truth, come tomorrow, I'd have even more worries, but I just said it with elegant calmness.  I wasn't above a little lie, but in this situation, I prolly was already plummeting toward the realm of big lies.

"Yeah, that'll be a relief," she seemed to utter, disinterested.  "Well, here you go," she continued with a similar disinterest.  "Have a nice night" she seemed to mumble.  I just turned away and headed for the bathroom with a small, interested smile.

 

-|=-Part 8-=|-

Still holding the stuff, I went into the bathroom.  I hadn't heard anyone when I was in the store section and surely enough, noone in the men's room either.  I slid my purchases under the stall, put my wallet back in the breast pocket and enjoyed a snack on the toilet, pants up.  My stomach was relieved to have something but fear to burn.  I tried eating slowly, but that had about as much success as an honest president.  My hunger turned voracious as I downed the bag's contents in about 3 swallows.  I drank the soda like a man finding water in a desert; as much as fast as I could.  That went down in 4 swallows.  I hadn't had enough, but I had to be cautious.  Better to be hungry than found.  Besides, I had more reserve food.

I got down and was ready to slide my pack under the stall again when I heard noises outside the bathroom.  This time I acted with more curiosity than fear, my body being unwilling to take any more after putting its metaphorical foot down.  The voices moved into the bathroom, I heard the tile making them echo.  It sounded like 2 male voices and I moved to sitting on the toilet, holding my pack.

Having been through "How Not To Be Noticed 101" today, I just breathed softly and slowly while they talked.

"The boss didn't like your running away Dan.  He says yer gonna be on tonight's job."

"What could I've done?  This kid -puked- on me!"

I just smiled.

"Ya coulda got 'im first.  Dan, yer a great fighter, but there're some things ya gotta learn about standin' up ta people!"

"Like what?"

"Ya can't just run away if somethin' bad happens.  Dan, ya gotta get guts!"

My smile faded.

"Yeah.  So what's this job tonight?"

"The Spartans've been hittin' us hard lately.  We gotta get back at 'em harder!"

"What's the plan?"

I could sense the guy telling Dan the plan grin.

"We raid their hideout!"

"That's it?"

"No.  We're gonna burn it after, make 'em pay!"

I kept a stiff lip as guilt tried to invade.  I heard something like muffled laughter, the kind gotten by vengeance.  They said no more and the door shut quietly.  "Damnit, why?" I shouted under my breath, angrily.  I gave up on the answer after a few minutes.

Sliding my pack ahead of me, I went back under the stall.  To quote my watch, "8:03."

"Fires, 3 fires," I mumbled to myself as I walked out the shop.  I turned and saw the sunset fading; the purple was getting bluer and blacker and there wasn't anything hitting it.  Time to escape town before mass trouble interfered was growing shorter, so I just thought logically.  May as well go straight, so I did.  However, it seems the straightest path is the one of most resistance.

I got within 2 blocks of the driveway.  As great as nature is, somehow technology must be made part of it.  In this case, motor vehicle access.  I'm not sure if I saw right, but I seemed to see a policeman holding a dog on a leash by the entrance.  So much for my grand, nonexistent scheme to ride out.  I also noticed that there were far fewer people on the streets past 8 and after dark, well, you prolly know that most people who are outside past 9 on a Thursday are criminal, driving or/and drunk.

My mind seemed obsessed, at least persistent.  "Flame, fire, maybe those are clues," I further mumbled.  Well, the front was out, but there was almost an alternate way.  Read Huck Finn if'n ya don' b'lieve m'.  It seemed like there were the easy and hard ways.  The easy way said to give up this adventure while the hard way came at the easy way with a lance to the chest and a very sharp sword to the head, then as a finishing touch, a "boink" where hard's metaphorical fingers poked easy's proverbial eyes and laughed its shapeless body to invisible pieces.

I headed south along the street I was on, whatever the name was.  I looked toward the forest entrance occasionally trying to calculate distance from the main drive.  I looked again after going a block; there was a burning steel drum.  Reason beat all else with 10:1 odds: "Fires attract attention."

I kept going.  "Fires, 3 fires that I was responsible for..."  Guilt didn't want to stay quiet any longer.  Was a gamble, but I had to get into the forest ASAP else I may turn out KRSP.

At the next block, I looked and saw nothing.  There were no people around and it seemed like I was repelling them.  People didn't look out their windows at night anymore; well, I'm somewhat glad for that.  I made another, final inspection.  Still nothing as an alarm....

I gunned it.  My heart, mind and legs seem to collaborate to finance this burst.  I sprinted with whatever energy I could use....

I stopped short of the forest entrance, gasping for breath.  Well, I'd found the catch, and my fatigue.  Amazing how numb it gets when you try suppressing it.  I seemed to limp into the forest under bed of stars.  I found a nice patch of fairly soft ground with some leaves on it.  My body seemed to have an impulse action to fall.  My arms seemed to liberate themselves and cover me in leaves before I went out.

 

-|=-Part 9-=|-

There were noises.  However, I was too busy sleeping to hear them.  What really got me was when a small, sharp gray rock met with my humany head.  Either that or the sun's glaring right into my eyes.

I didn't know what time it was and didn't care either.  It looked fairly early and I wasn't disturbed that sleep duration, so I felt pretty good.

Then yesterday hit me.  I didn't recall everything, but "Fire, shame, stove, mother, run now!" was my thought of the day.  I realized the meaning of my locale; I'd managed to hide and sleep in a forest, covered by leaves for a dirt nap and wake up in mostly a piece and not be disturbed by anything.

I felt my left arm.  Rather, I didn't feel my left arm.  It was too numb.

My curiosity prodded me with a force less than 1/8th that of the rock, but I was in the mood to receive so I looked at my watch.  Besides being lightly dusted with well, dust and dirt, it looked fine.  However, after about a minute of my body doing a diagnosis, my mind said "functional enough" and let me at 'em.  I blew off last night then looked at it.  "00:00:00" to quote my watch.  I didn't know what was happening, and despite my efforts, I was prolly gonna find out.

The rest of my body was online with whatever energy it had from my sleep.  It seemed like I hadn't been at it long, I could smell the scent of morning.  Well, at least I thought I could.

I stretched, yawned and scratched various parts that were itching.  With that accomplished, I managed to stand.

I looked around and saw trees.  Yep, there were many trees, alright.  Trees, leaves, sky, ground, rocks.  That was about it.  That, coupled with my body's energy debts told me to find a nice tree to climb and get paying.  However, my body came back with, "But he's never climbed a tree before!"  This could be a problem.

I walked slowly ahead toward the third-nearest tree.  My head seemed to be throbbing internally and my neck just wanted to stay in one place.  I looked up, this was a tree, a really high tree.  What did I see?  Many leaves.

Climbing trees is one of those things that they talked about on 50s TV shows yet I'd never heard of anyone doing it since.  Well, thinking about how someone might do it, I jumped and wrapped my arms around the tree.  Then I slid down.  I thought I was missing someth-my legs, I hadda use my legs.  They weren't in the mood to move; I didn't try again.

"So much for that skill," I humorously defeated.  My legs put their feet down and told me that they needed more energy, otherwise they really would have put my feet down, so I sat.

I looked up at everything.  I hadn't really noticed how quickly clouds moved, they just seemed to be figured in terms of hours or days for speed on the weather.  Clouds didn't have a school to burn down, a mother to worry or an indefinite place to escape to.  That reminded me of relief- there'd be people searching at malls, movie theatres, arcades, fun parks, video stores and novelty shops.  I wouldn't be in any.  I was in the least likely place a kid could be when evading school, nature.  I opened my backpack and my stomach seemed to come to life at that moment.  I realized I hadn't eaten since that snack yesterday and my last meal was lunch almost a day ago.  I hastily and fiercely went for the bottom of the pack and grabbed 2 apples, pulling them out as if they were kamikaze pilots flying toward my mouth.  I held one in my left hand and ate like a starved man, which I almost was by my judgments.  I hadn't eaten in much in almost a day, that was good enough.  My stomach groaned and seemed to open wide.  I'd never eaten an apple this fast before and my mind told me to slow down before I got sick again.  Conveniently, my adrenaline seemed to be cooperating more with my mind, so that's what happened.  When I finished it, it was about an inch chrysalis with the ends bitten off.  I learned long ago that apple seeds were poison so I did my best to spread 'em across the forest floor if they got in my mouth.

The second apple I ate more cautiously, I didn't want it to go to waste.  Indigestion was preventable and I didn't want more of my body fighting.  I looked back in my pack- the leather tome that had brought me here seemed to stare at me.  Maybe it was that I hadn't eaten well in so long combined with my fatigue, but I thought I saw something on the front start to glow red.  It was like a small glass dome eye, but I didn't care much.  I decided that I may as well read more about what seemed to get me here while I ate.

I skipped over Nozzy's section, he didn't seem very helpful anymore.  "End, c'mon man, help me out!" I talked into the wind.  Skimming the book wasn't easy, you had to read just about everything on a quote to find its meaning.  A short time later, I found one that seemed relevant.  "The journey is often more important than the destination."  That seemed to work for me, I'd been through much so far and I had no clear idea on where I was goin'.  Maybe that's my thought of the day.

I finished the rest of my apple quickly and closed the book.  I felt the eye that I thought was glowing before, nuttin'.  It was just a faint orangish red, but I was still gonna pay attention to it.  I'd known too many stories where someone just ignored clue after clue when they seemed out of place.  "Just know you're being watched," I whispered to it with a smile.

I put the book in my back then zipped it and wrapped the apple cores in leaves.  I wasn't gettin' As in school but I sure was glad I wasn't.  Too much memorizing of stuff you won't need in a week tends to prevent stuff you'll need, like stealth tactics, from entering your black matter, or some color.

I looked around, noone in sight.  I had a plan, but all I'd added to it was "Run away and don't be found."  I needed a place, a goal of somewhere to go or something to do.

I got up then stood.  "Man that was fast!" I whispered.

 

-|=-Part 10-=|-

I wasn't sure what was happening, they weren't running and they definitely didn't look like undercover cops.  Girls, 2 girls were in front of me in the forest and were traveling right.  I stood still and watched.  They said nothing and walked synchronized and slowly in the same direction, maybe one large step every 2 seconds.  I watched a short while longer until after they were out of sight.

Obvious questions like "Who, when, why, where, how, what?" were suppressed by the less obvious "Screw the questions and let's go!"  I was eager to have a goal, or at least something to do while hiding besides eating, sleeping, reading and butting my head on trees.

I went straight until I found the path they went on.  This trail was one of the forest's official trails, it was paved and had large, faded tire tracks of dirt on cracked cement.  I looked around yet again and realized that I shouldn't be this paranoid.  Still, I didn't see anyone, so that was good.  I walked ahead in the eerie calm.

I wondered what class was like without me, probably my teachers' best day and just another for the students.  My mother I wasn't sure about, she just seemed to live the professional life and go about her business.  Those thugs from the bathroom?  "Screw 'em.  I hope they're caught if I'm not!" I thought.

About now I realized that I hadn't gotten out much since my age was in the single digits.  I couldn't recall the last time I was in the forest, but that didn't bother me much.  I thought about it and after a few seconds, I realized that I was fairly bored of this journey already and I hadn't been gone a day.  Then I thought of the explaining I'd be doing; that kept me going.

Behind me, I heard the sound of something faint coming toward me, I quickly got off the trail and hid with my back to a tree and me about perpendickly to the walk.  I didn't know what perpendickly was or if I was thinking of the right word, but I was still out of the view of anyone who wasn't runnin' off the trail to look for me.  The sound of leather on pavement got closer and my fear just took a day off and let curiosity have its chance.

I looked toward the trail.  There were 2 girls, but I didn't see their faces in time before they passed my view.  One was dressed in light blue, about my height with short black hair.  The other was dressed in pink with bright yellow hair.  It shouldn't be called blonde, blonde isn't an English color.  And "red" hair is orange, thank you very much.

They'd walked ahead to a place where the path split.  I watched from my post that they got to the break, turned toward their respective path directions then continued to walk slowly and synchronized.  I let them pass from view before trying to follow.

My stomach seemed to have processed the apples and wanted more to do.  I gave in, I didn't know what'd be happenin' next.  I set my pack down, unzipped it and felt for some beef jerky.  I took a stick out, unwrapped it and took a bite.  My face trembled at its spice and I blinked a few times in disbelief.  That would hold me for awhile.

I put the wrapper in my pack, went to the break and did a 50/50 chance thing without flipping a coin.  My right hand was blue and my left was pink.  I did something like a bicep curl, only waving my hands and locking my elbows, whatever hand hit me first would be the path to follow.

Pink.  And that was the color I anticipated my cheek would be around now, I'd hit it hard enough.

The trail didn't last long until there was another split.  Each side had a sign to it this time.  "<<To Cruland Pass-Camthrin Trail>>"  Guess which one I picked.

 

-|=-Part 11-=|-

Lookin' back now, maybe I should have gone another way, but I defend my decision because the other trails could've been worse.  I could've been on wunna those and said, "Lions and Tigers and Bears, what bad sports teams," or "and me without my gun," etc.  But I didn't, what I found was far more plot advancing.

My body debated on how to follow this trail.  Fast would mean losing my stealthyish cover, cautiously would mean safer and slower and blindfolded would mean I'd need to get one.

It was a grand experiment in speed.  My brain and body bickered constantly on what to do, so I didn't prevent them and just went along.  The end result was varying lengths of haste, caution then 'why am I doing this?', whatever that word is.

I took a stand.  Rather, I was decisive; there were no stands to be stolen in this area.  I decided to cautiously, no sense in having my feet shout and give me away.

I looked around during my walk, there was a mysterious and eerie silence.  Nothing specific seemed out of place- there was the dirt-leaf-old-broken-and-barely-there cement path below me, plenty of forest around and forage above, I think.  Maybe that was foil, I didn't think about it long.  However, it seemed odd that ever since that girl went out of sight I didn't hear any noises I didn't make.

There was another thing that seemed out of place.  I wasn't a nature expert, but I had a feeling that there shouldn't be trees growing progressively toward me as I walked or a yellow/gold color spanning my view.  Then again, there are places the government wants you to drive to if you're in a car crash.  Stupidity works in both ways, I think.

I looked around more.  Nuttin' much different about this step than the last 30.  I felt like a break, well that is to say that I was in a mood to rest.  I haven't heard any breaks relay their feelings to anyone, so I'm unsure.

I stretched a bit as I sat, I hadn't in awhile and I was feeling sore.  My stomach begged incessantly, er, I think.  I just heard that word somewhere.  Anyway, its begging was annoying and I didn't want to argue.  I slid out of my pack's straps, unzipped it about 68% of the way then stopped.  I thought I'd heard something.  I didn't dismiss it, but kept on unzipping.  There was another faint sound from the distance.  I didn't know what was happening, but it was definitely something.  However, I just looked into my pack.  I hadn't read anywhere or heard anything on what to do if you're sitting in a forest with a pack unzipped when you hear odd hissing noises from the distance after following a girl in pink when you're running away from a school fire.  Or something similar.  In any case, I felt for some food and got crackers and beef jerky.  I put the jerky back, I'd had enough spice for one day and I hadda conserve food.  Feeling for a juice, I looked at the crackers.

They were fairly ordinary peanut butter and cracker crackers.  It was bad to have 'em without a drink because they didn't digest easily.  Crackers, especially salted with peanut butter, are the driest food manufactured.  Eh, well, 300 cals are 300 cals and I wasn't gonna pass up another snack.  On another thought, I knew this wasn't gonna be enough.  Better to fill up now and see what was later than to eat very little and not get to later.  I felt for that jerky and another apple, was prolly around lunch and it was definitely lunch somewhere.  Having 24 time zones is a convenience when you want an excuse to do something.

I sat and enjoyed my little snack.  I ate slowly because it may digest better that way.  Also I was about ready to do something from boredom, so I made a game out of patiently eating.  I gave up on that after my third cracker and decided to read a bit more.  Setting my food down, I grabbed the book from my pack.  I got an odd thought around then; was my book inflating?  I smiled and laughed briefly at the idea.  Recallin' what happened last time, I looked at the cover.  Still no light or anything to make it seem magical or very mysterious.  I flipped to the last page, I'm impatient and curious like that.  There was a note or something on it.  Maybe it was a clue from End.  I just smiled and shrugged at the thought as I read.

 

"Reader, I am on my last legs as I convey this knowledge to you."  (Nope, nuttin' weird yet.)  "Within this tome are facts beyond belief of many; it is a final wish that this is stressed.  Because of this, you are likely to be part of things only imagined before, things helpful, wondrous, detrimental and dangerous.  Your reading this page confirms your desire for these things and within your life, great change shall come to pass."  (Gettin' a bit freaky, but he can't do anything.)  "I do not tell all, for I know it not, though I anticipate the reaction of the many if I did."  (What?)  "Stranger, I know you are more than you think you are, it is easy to doubt, and many will do so."  (I quietly imagined Mr. Grapf in front of me then flipped him 3 ways.  He was prolly a card carrying member of society.)  "Each human is a catalyst; if used correctly, they will be propelled toward greatness.  Through knowledge, time and good deeds, all will be revealed."  (Eh, maybe.)

 

                                 "-Endarire Elward"

 

Well, he certainly had a lot to say, he filled up half a book!  Well, I didn't check on the exact amount, but he was wise enough, I think.  I read through parts of his section again, nothing very striking.  By now I'd finished my snack and was ready to go on toward whatever 'destiny' faced me.  Heh, this guy was rubbin' off on me.

I closed the book and the red eye came to life.  Err, scratch that.  It just started glowing; it didn't demand food, rights or love.  I'm rambling again, pardon me.

Anyway, I looked at the front cover.  Maybe I gazed or stared, but my attention was on it.  The red dome was glowing.  This time I didn't panic or get scared, I was just a bit confused and surprised.

I added 'started' to that list when I heard leaves crunching in the background.  Someone was slowly coming toward me and I didn't wanna be in their way.

 

-|=-Part 12-=|-

Who-whatever was coming seemed to be at it slowly.  Leaves crunched in the background, but the noisemaker was mute otherwise.  Some feeling set in, maybe despair, and it took control.  I didn't know if there's a way to train emotions so they won't come on at a certain time, but this definitely seemed like a bad time.

I'd become the frightened little man again.  I wanted to protest and shout, "I'm not scared, I'm not afraid!", but there were 2 major problems.  First, shouting wasn't good for my situation.  Second, it'd prolly come out, "I'm not afraid, I...I...crap, I am!"

My eyes closed and I curled up.  I didn't know what was coming at me.  Corey?  Naw, he ain' one to skip for any reason.  Police?  Still not likely, police tend not to go so slowly on their pursuit.  The girls were the only likely suspects, but I didn't know what they'd do.

My mind seemed to be operating at a fast speed.  Yesterday seemed to break and recoil the events into now.  I saw the students laughing at my outburst, the old tome on the bookshelf, the flames, the run, the stove, another run home, the feel of my bloodied hands, packing for the trip, jumping out the window, the cooking fire, getting lost in the streets, the Megan Red's scenario, the flaming steel barrel and my falling into the ditch.  Well, just the first nanoseconds of the fall, I think I was asleep before I hit the ground.  Yep, yesterday overtook me a moment but then the scene changed.  I felt...peaceful and calm instead of dreadful and panicked.  Whatever happened, I wasn't sure, I just went with it.

          The light seemed to flicker on.  Now I saw dark stone and earthen tunnels... and fire.  Flames that seemed to fall from the sky and scorch the ground.  Whatever it was, I wanted to avoid it as much as my little ass could run.  First kuzza the past things related to the heat and embers.  Second, because bathing in lava is a near-definite way to get dead, fast.  Whatever this was, this seemed like a hot trail.  I noted it then left the thought to be buried below more important things, like running faster than they did.

          The forest didn't open before me in any dromantic manner.  (I think that's the right word.)  Was more like getting the sense of waking up and realizing I was drooling on my homework.  I knew my task; I hadda find a small area with enough food, water and protection to last until...well, a damn long time.  Either 'til death or capture.  Or massive boredom.

          I stood.  I got my pack in order and secured and carried on thinking.  Maybe, maybe I could survive in the wilderness, like that Brian kid, or the Survivor conspirators!  Maybe, maybe...  Aw hell, it wasn't like I'd even been camping before.  First job: find food.  Job two: wa...  I stopped.

          "Jake.  I'm waiting for you, Jake..."  I knew I didn't say that.  I heard it from somewhere around me.  My chances of finding the source of the voice were remarkably good; this seemed like a voice that didn't give up easily.

          "Come here, Jake."  The voice continued its calm, eerie and beckoning tone.  Just like I thought.

          "I won't fight, Jake."  I was feeling so certain that I shouldn't be following it that I did.  One of those weird things about human nature, I think.  Then again, so was love.  And direction.  And self-preservation.  I seemed to be losing 3-zip.

          Some things stand out in our minds years after they happen.  Some things you label important enough to put your all into.  Some things....  Some things you just screw up massively and seriously regret.  Guess what came next.

 

-|=-Part 13-=|-

          Nevermind, that's what this next paragraph is for.  And the rest of the story.

          I recall now that one thing I remember Grapf ever getting stuck in my head was the quote, "Youth is blind, but able."  I think that was an April day right before I went unconscious.  Trent had one of his great parties the last night and I had WAY too much to drink.  My bladder seemed like the most worked part of my body those 6-7 hours when I should have been sleeping.  Man, just because there are 70 liter bottles of Fizz in a spot where you can guard them easily doesn't mean you should try to drink 'em all.  Or 69.

          But back in story land, things weren't going so well for me.  I believe I was where I heard that voice that seemed creepy, that seemed familiar....

          I followed the voice that seemed creepy, seemed familiar in one of those...ways.  Somewhere in my body mass was something with a bullhorn announcing, "Don't do it, Jake!  Don't do it, don't do..  Aw, c'mon you dumb shit!  Don' be so damn gullible!"  Et cetera, et cetera.

          I continued straight ahead.  It wasn't like I COULDN'T go straight.  Any way you head, you head straight.  Even zigzagging is straight in front of you a direction for awhile.  But in reference from my last resting point, I went about 10 steps right and 3 minutes forward.

          Speaking of which, I looked at my watch.  Still 00:00:00in' me like it had the right to.  That reminded me of some titled "Mystery Spots" where odd things happened.  I heard of one where things were magnetized differently; maybe this was it.

          I looked around yet again.  I felt someone's smile trying to claw its way in.  Well, pound or otherwise forcefully enter.  So I read the dictionary some times to look up new swear words.  That doesn't make me any worse than you.

          I didn't look back; one thing I learned is that when you feel like someone's watching you, they probably ARE watching you.  The best things to do are either ignore it or act a fool and admit that they're there.  I'd had enough of pranks until I got back for at least 30 minutes, so I just acted more casual.

          But I did look to the side.  On my right I saw a river.  Was maybe 10 feet across and wasn't very fast.  I got one of those feelings again; it told me to stay out of the water.  Adding 'wet' to the already long list of my problems wasn't a perog...purga...important point.  On my left, well, more trees, brush and foresty stuff.  I looked again, examining more this time.  Between the bits of forest was something black.  It hadn't moved; 'bear' was off the list and again, police tend not to stick 3 feet out of the ground.

          I went towards it.  Everything went against this.  I wished I had a coin to flip.

          Then I realized the coin would have shown tails and I would have gone in anyway.  Don't act like you wouldn't have.

          I stepped into the mouth of the cave.  The walls seemed to echo.  "Well done, Jake..."

          Whoever it was certainly had a fortune invested in audio projection systems.

 

STONE

 

-|=-Part 14-=|-

          I slipped.  Rather, I entered and got sucked into the darkness, literally.  If I could manage it, I would have used my watch light to reveal the slickness of the path I was on.  However, I just seemed to fall into black.

          Around then I got the feeling that this was a really bad idea.  What were my clues?  First, the voice.  Second, the cave.  Third, my system screaming itself apart to warn me; and I didn't listen.  If they could, they'd prolly do an eye-shot with the nearest gun.

          Then the Creep A system came on.  "Thank you, Jake."  I smirked and mentally gave the voice my longest fingers.  I stood up; well, I got about half way and decided to try a different approach.  If I couldn't get up leaning back, then I'd get up leaning forward, and kneeling to start.

          I slowly rolled forward onto my knees, the cold just barely penetrating my body.  I had the feeling this was gonna take a lot longer than I thought.  I got on my knees and leaned forward, hands in front of me.  They touched the cave path and slid forward almost instantly.  "Man that sucks."  I didn't want to let go of my pack; it was too damn dark to see and losing just about everything I had would make me seriously consider going with it.  That being stated, I went back to my dilemma.

          I knew my hands were out of this, they wouldn't help.  I had an idea; maybe I could use my pack to steady myself and stand.  Feeling behind me and finding the path, I cautiously removed my Survivalist Bag O' Misc. and put it behind me.  It didn't slide, oddly enough.  Banging it around into a different position wouldn't be wise I thought, I didn't want it flying off the path and into some lake or volcano somewhere.  Slowly, I moved the pack from the back to in front of me.  I put it down with my hand near the straps; I didn't hear it move.  Good enough for me.  My hands were firmly on top of the pack, pushing it down for stability.  I put my right foot forward and felt it start to tremble a bit.  While I was thinking, the cold musta gotten into me more.  My foot didn't slip, but felt secure and decisively in place.  I slowly shifted my weight to a standing position and grabbed the pack, slowly bending down a bit.  I put it on with a slow sigh, I felt relieved.

          "You amuse me Jake."  The attempt to spook me was just getting annoying.  Unfortunately, it sounded like it was deeper in the cave and I wasn't gonna try to follow it.  At least not without light.  I stepped once toward the exit and fell.  I wasn't able to catch myself with my hands, but landed on my stomach.  My hands didn't feel slick, cold stone, but something...plastic?  It didn't seem right.  Then again...

          Someone, I think it was one of those TV priests said, "Ask, and ye shall receive."  Maybe...  I didn't want to think about it.  I just held my breath as I brought it toward me.  The light of the cave mouth, coupled with my Amazing Powers Of Touch™ were enough to identify this thing as a flashlight.  Finding a button and pressing it revealed it was a working flashlight.  Something told me this was planted here for my use.  Then again, it was probably the same thing that told me to drink all that soda at Trent's party.

          Well, the forest seemed to be exhausted as a place for me to stay, I doubt anyone would find me in this cave.  Then again, I doubted my ability to find other exits, but I heard of caves being connected and having many ways out.  It's amazin' what you can learn on TV.  And from books.  And magazines.  And video games, despite most old people considering them something to blame the world's bad things on.

          I had my cue; the flashlight, the slick path on this way out and the voice calling me.  I was still behind, 3-zip.

          Standing was no ordeal this time, most my body was on a spot not very slick.  I just pulled my hands toward me and used them to help lift me up, aware of the flashlight.  I turned away from the cave mouth then pushed the power button on the flashlight, it went on then flickered often.  I wasn't sure what the flicker was, a signal or just low power.  I had been wrong before, but I went with low power.

          The cold was getting to me and I knew I needed more clothing; the only improvement I had was jeans.  It was dark enough and in a right spot never to be noticed, so I decided to change on the path.

          Sparing the minor details, I managed to use the flashlight in aiding my endeavor, my word of the day.  Before closing up the backpack, I noticed the tome's red glow from the eye.  I'd do something, but it wasn't worth the effort to get panicky now.  There was something else I noticed about the light; a blue eye flickering on one of the front cover edges.  I noted this, put the book in my pack and went on.  I wasn't sure what it meant and it wasn't actively trying to kill me, so it wasn't of high concern.  Besides, I wasn't in the mood to worry about it.

          I walked on blindly, though I had a flashlight and watch light.  I was being led now by my fear, curiosity and tauntings of that annoying voice.

          It was cold, but it never seemed piercing; the climate was fairly stable.  I shivered and breathed hotly on some shivery and numbing parts occasionally, but nothing major.

          I'll skip most the boring part and get on with the plot.  It isn't like you want to read 40 pages of how I walked through a dark cave that was boring even for me, unless you really ARE that stupid.  Or desperate.

          There isn't much to say about walking in a cave, hundreds of feet underground being cold, hungry, thirsty, tired, afraid and bored.  Add annoyed because of the voices and sore all around and you'll be pretty close to how I felt then.

          It seemed like several hours since I woke and at least 30 minutes of being in the cave.  I'd eaten somewhere along the way, I'm not even sure what I grabbed or if I'd tasted it.  I also peed somewhere off the path.  I figured that I was doing enough damage by just being in here; a little more wouldn't be that big a deal.  Eh, well, that wasn't important.  Pure escape wasn't either; it ain't like the police were gonna look for me here as their first priority.

          I heard rumbling sounds in the distance.  I looked around with my flashlight on impulse.  It wasn't like I was gonna find a quake maker within 30 feet of me.

          I continued awhile, listening.  Well, not really listening.  My brain seemed to be focused on being dazed while the rest of me protested.  That wasn't much important either.

          I was startled in the sense of "I shoulda seen it coming but I was too busy elsewhere" when I heard another rumbling.  This time it seemed closer.  I wasn't moved by it, but I looked around again.  Nothin' of importance.  However, I pledged to myself that I wasn't just be idle again.  I started counting the seconds in whisper.

          A minute I stood in the second rumble spot waiting for something.  I figured that I wasn't gonna be surprised again.  And after a minute, I just started moving on, still counting.  I was at three minutes and nothing was happening.  I got to 5 and decided it wasn't worth the effort.

          A short time after, maybe 10 seconds, I heard another noise,  this was water dripping slowly.  Hearing it at 1:43AM on a Wednesday isn't very pleasant and it seems like a screech, but now it seemed like a calm background noise.  Another odd thing is that it only sounded twice- I was till for both times.  I resumed my counting and walking.

          For a minute, there was an eerie stillness, kinda like when the teacher's grading your test and you're in the room, trying not to panic.  (Hey, I got a 40% and that was my best test grade yet in Chemistry.  Booyah!)  For another few minutes I stopped counting and thought about my situation.  I was hundreds of feet underground with no real direction or goal other than playing keep away with my body and the cops.  I was also cold, hungry, wet, etc., and hoped for something exciting to happen.  Like it was gonna in this cave.  I soon tried to retra...get back that statement when I realized that I asked for something and followed those girls into this place.  I wanted something exciting to happen that didn't put me in more danger.  I got my answer soon enough.

          About seven seconds after this, I felt like I was being watched.  Added to my ever-growing list of pains, complaints, etc and I was feeling pretty miserable.  The feeling seemed to bump up after a minute of walking and I didn't want it.  I ran through the cave, the fading flashlight's blinking in front of me, despite my body's picketing.  I didn't think during the run, except about getting away from my problems and especially this stalked feeling.  My brain started getting other thoughts and my concentration seemed to slip.  This was, of course, setup for my tripping.

          I landed arms first, but they slid on the slick surface, letting my head come down and land face cheek-first on the chilling, wet stone. My hands naturally felt this coming and went down to try to break my fall, despite their condition.

          I shivered as I tried to recover and stand.  Using the bulb end of the flashlight, I helped prop myself up into a stand.  Physically, nothing more was broken or cracked, but I felt defeated.  I was getting to where I couldn't...wait, I WAS to the point where my pride was gone; I'd become a renegade and runaway.  That feeling seemed to make the other feelings seem anted.  Maybe dogged, ants are really small.

          I shook myself off; I was wet and cold from the damp stone and the air in the cave.  I was at the point where if I could, I'd confess to rape if it meant stability and hospitality.  Then I was really low, but I tried to 'rise above the pain'.  I decided to just keep walking.

          The low feeling was replaced with a strengthened watched feeling.  Well, if they were watching me, I wasn't gonna do anything stupid-like, such as flip someone or start break dancing.  Even if they weren't, I wasn't gonna do it; I just didn't feel like it.

          Around the time I finished with those thoughts, my flashlight flickered and went out completely.  I considered it smashing it on my knee and throwing it somewhere into the black, but I wasn't very angry and I didn't have energy to just waste.  Instead, I put it in my right pocket and used my watch light.

          Well, the watch light wasn't nearly as good; my right hand was stuck in this awkward position and I couldn't use my left for much.  I wouldn't need this for long, I kept walking and came to a tunnel with what seemed to be two hyphens of white light about my head height.  I walked forward toward it, the lights seemed not to move or change in intensity or amount as I neared them, or throw any light.  Strange, but then again, in this age where info is so accessible, little comes as a surprise to the jaded TV Idiot.

          The feeling of being watched never faded or waned after finding the Horizontal Punctuation Mark Of Light!™ (patent pending).  Again, I'd made some bad choices, but I thought following the light was another one.  I soon learned another lesson.

          I walked quickly toward the light, eager to investigate.  I got to around, oh, 4 feet from it.  (There's more, keep reading.)  I stepped and then I...didn't.  It seemed like I fell forever and a way from that, but I landed on more cold, hard ground.  I recall actually waving in the dark.  Heh, maybe I was delirious then, but I was conscious enough to know that I yelled.  "Help, please, anyone!"  I learned something from lookin' back on this; "Anyone" includes all those people you DON'T want around.  I'm not sure if that reached my brain before I passed out.

 

-|=-Part 15-=|-

          I heard something, I felt something.  Yeah, yeah, I know that's vague, but bear with me.  Anyway, this is what ensuede.  I think that's it.

          I opened my eyes and stood in the darkness.  There seemed to be an odd light around me; I could see myself in the black.  I pressed my watch light button, nothing.  I walked forward; I oddly didn't seem hungry, thirsty, tired, watched, etc.  I wondered why then filed that with my last Chemistry assignment under terms of importance.  Then the weird(er) things started to happen; a wooden desk seemed to materialize and a light brown wooden hammer seemed to swirl onto a front corner of it and land with handle facing opposite.  A man with a curly white and gray wig and with a black robe rose out of the floor behind the desk.  He took the hammer in his left hand and meanly glared at me; I just stared back.  The judge pulled back his gaze, still looking and seemed to groan/whisper, "Wretch...wretch..."  He and the desk moved to my right and I turned.  "I was gonna go easy on ya, boy, but ya left me no choice!  Get him!"  I felt like something was behind me and was met with handcuffs tight on my wrists.

          The judge returned, but as a monolectronic...wait, HUGE man; maybe 12 feet tall.  He was on my right again and again he rasped.  "You have gone without punishment long enough, Jake.  You are responsible for burning of a school, grief of your mother, disruption of class, destruction of property, attacking a mugger, failing to notify police of a crime and most importantly...." My rage was building.  I didn't need this guy pushing me around, telling me what to do.  He had no fuckin' idea of the emotional stress I was through!  He continued, "Running to avoid persecution."  His head moved around the space right, one word at a time.  "How... do... you... plead?!"

          "INNOCENT!" I screamed as I clenched my right fist in front of my chest.  Hey, this guy didn't seem like one to want to reduce my sentence if I said guilty.  It also made for a nice dramatic effect. I felt my hands being pulled behind me, but no cuffs; just restraint.  I couldn't break free, even with my drastic efforts.  The judge seemed to smile and turn away; his figure dropped into the floor, the hammer spiraled back, probably from where it came, and the desk seemed to shatter without sound.  All this time I was held by those hands I couldn't see, but just assumed were there.

          It seemed like I was walking forward toward....something, I didn't know what.  A stone jail cell with metal bars seemed to pop up from some direction.  I heard the sound of a door being thrown aside and I was pushed and thrown into it, onto my stomach.  The door slammed shut with a loud echo.

 

-|=-Part 16-=|-

          I seemed to faze in and out of consciousness.  I heard things in the background, but in my state, they weren't priorities.  Besides, they weren't clear and I didn't want to try to recall 'em now.

          I felt tired and stiff.  If I felt anyway else, the emotions weren't making a big fuss to present themselves.

          My muscles seemed to want out of this position, and I wasn't in the mood to squabble.  At least I think so.  Just say "argue", it doesn't create messes.  Err, anyway...  I seemed to stretch without anything moving, I managed to alert the rest of my body that it would soon be called on, but the parts didn't seem to care.

          I slowly moved onto my chest, arms in front of me.  The stone was cold and hard on my exposed hands, but I was fairly numb.  I sent a signal to my right leg that it was worktime and it obeyed after some effort.  I shook it a bit and carefully brought it toward the rest of my upper body with the rest of my upper body being shocked into a low level of alertness.  My left came next to meet my right.  It was quick and uneventful.  Elbows and arms were next; I brought them at once toward my chest.  I eased myself into a kneeling position, breathed and focused on standing.  I rocked back, put my arms behind me and cautiously rose.  I breathed, relieved to be up, yawned without moving my arms and hesitantly, I opened my eyes.

          It was...it was just like the dream!  Well, the idea was there.  I was in a stone cell with dull metal bars.  These weren't rusted, but they weren't reflective-shiny either.  Light came from some flourescent-like thingy on the w...

          "Congratulations on awaking."  This startled me; it wasn't the annoying wannabe eerie voice, but it sounded like someone serious meant it.

          I spun on impulse.  "Uhh, thanks....I think."  I noticed a man who looked short from my angle in a green outfit; well, white and limey green at least.  Maybe a sport coat.

          "It is no matter, I had just watched you.  You managed without my assistance."  The man just looked into my eyes as he said it.

          "I think you know the questions, the whole 'What happened?  Where are we?' deal."

          "Well, we are currently in an underground holding cell.  You were found and captured then brought here.  Soon you shall be sent for interrogation."

          "What?  Err..."

          "They shall question and attempt to extract all useful knowledge from you; despite your willingness."

          "Please rephrase that," I asked in a kind and high voice.

          "They'll try to break you."

          "What would they want with ME?"

          "I know not; they have their reasons.  You happened to venture onto their territory and they found you."

          "I think I get it."  I felt something on my shoulders.  My pack!  "And my pack?"

          "You'll get to keep it until they summon you.  After that, they decide."

          "I just realized that I don't know your name...  Hmm, is 'Green' OK?"

          "Certainly, as you wish, Jake."

          I didn't even bother asking.  "I heard them talking about you," was a good enough reply.

          "One more thing."

          "Ask, Jake."

          "Make it two.  One, why was I taken?  They could've just stripped me of my stuff and left me to die somewhere."

          "Apparently, someone likes you.  Two?"

          "Yeah...  What about you?  Why are you here?"

          "They have some dealings with me as well.  It seems we are in similar circumstances."  He turned away for a bit, perhaps to check the hallway for guards.

          I decided to sit, given the break in the conversation.  I thought a bit.  "Any advice for when they take me?"

          "Be strong, Jake."  I didn't flinch at this remark, I just looked Green in the eyes with some amount of hope.

          "Green..."

          "Yes, Jake?"

          "Thanks."

 

-|=-Part 17-=|-

          It was like death, I had to go sometime.  And it happened to be right after lunch, or whatever meal grey pudding was.  I was hungry so I ate it.  And I downed whatever food from my pack I could grab and stomach.  It was a great feeling to be energized after what seemed like 2 days on the run.

          Green and I didn't talk after the pudding came.  I didn't want to imagine what it was made of, but it didn't seem to taste like anything familiar.  Chalk up 'Cave Prisons' as one of the worst places to eat, along with airlines, hospitals, school and, about 98% of the time, home when ma's cooking.  Especially if she's excited.  Or stressed.  Or nervous.

          I didn't see the guards' faces, just that they wore all black, maybe latex body suits.  The idea of condom guards was sickening, perverted and screwy, but funny enough to make me hold my face in a smile for several seconds.  They also didn't speak, but rather just opened the cell door and I stood and went along.  I just went slightly faster than them, not knowing where or wanting to find out what if I started lagging.

          The compound (well, it wasn't normal cave anymore) was made of black stone floors, and white stone walls with grey stripes.  I didn't look at the ceiling, I might slow and get prodded.  I kept getting the feeling that any punishment the school could give me would be MUCH better than what I was about to face.  Then again, I'd seen cop shows on TV, so I had some prep.

          Doors, or at least breaks in the wall, seemed to flash by and be overlooked with all the white and grey of the walls.  Oh well, it wasn't like I was gonna need 'em now.  Speaking of which, there was a doubledoor in front of me with a black frame.  The rest was black, probably from the inside.  I didn't like it from the outside and I felt suddenly nervous.  Logic seemed to save me this time; "Jake, you've been through 2 days of torment and you've seen enough TV to know what they do.  Relax, Jake!"  I gave in to the voice and stopped; a guard behind me moved to the front, then opened the door.  He seemed to disappear inside before me; I was thrown into the black and I held my breath.

          The guards just left and I stood there for some reason.  The place felt big, really big, and it was cold.  I'd experienced cold in the cave, but this seemed colder, like I was under an air vent set to Painful Frostbite.  It kept me alert, though.  I turned to look behind me, there was no light.  Probably just a cheap shade for atmosp...

          "Hello, Jake."  The annoying voice was at it again.  I said nothing and waited.  "It is so nice to have you, Jake."  I ignored it as much as possible.  "Thank you for finding your way, Jake.  You are expected."

          If this guy (I assumed it to be male because of its low tone, I hadn't heard any girl voice like it) was trying to comfort me, he was doing it in the wrong manner.  My idea of comfort isn't being dragged through 2 days of torment into someone's captivity.  Then again, I read the dictionary.  You decide.

          "It seems you are well prepared, Jake."  If only he'd just shut up, maybe we could get somewhere.  "Patience, the time will come, Jake."  I didn't ask how he figured that one out, maybe after he stopped loving his voice, some real thoughts occurred.

          "Has he brought it?"  A different voice came from the distance.  I was so relieved, I sighed impatiently.  This voice was lighter and about 5 times faster getting words out than wannabe creepy guy (WCG ™).

          "We shall see...  We must...interrogate."

          I was at the point where I wanted to slap WCG if he didn't shut up with that voice.  However, not being able to see him was a major disadvantage.

          I saw a red light flare on from around where I heard the new guy's voice.  Well, I figured that since I didn't have anything else to go by here, the second voice would be Red.  Or light.  Or Red Light.  Or Red Light, Green Light.  Or just Red after mentally rambling.

          The light seemed like a laser beam, but I felt it go across my face, then my body.  I wasn't sure what it meant, but it didn't hurt, even to look at.  Weirder things had happened.  "I think he does."

          "Then we shall start, Jake."  WCG seemed to be speaking from behind me now.  This was another thing I didn't care much about, I figured he had enough time if he walked fast to get behind me before saying his line.

          "Why, Jake?"  Many things came to me at once.  Besides the obvious, "Gimme more detail!" I had things like, "Safety, self-preservation, my future..."

          "Why did you run, Jake?"  I tried to think and get a definite ans...

          "Was it...fear?"   Well, I didn't want get punished.  So in a sense, yeah.

          I didn't say anything, WCG went on.  I was believing that he just wanted to hear his voice.  "Hmm...  I sense that was it, fear.  Fear, Jake."

          I wasn't buying this guy's attempt to be creepy at all.  I yawned.  I stretched.  I cracked my knuckles and scratched my back.

          "It seems you are not wanting to be afraid, Jake.  Very well, Jake.  We will show you fear..."  His voice trailed off and I blinked.  I stared.  I saw what looked like my mother; she was crying.  In the background, it looked like my house with the door bashed in.  Ma looked like she was in pain; someone came toward her.  It was a thief in black with a fireman's ax.  He kicked her in the face, then the groin.  He took firm hold of his ax and got her square in the spine, then lopped off her head.  Blood gushed over the gray bedroom fuzzy carpet and the burglar just stood there and watched.  He seemed to SMILE and laugh at what he'd done.  The scene ended there.  It seemed like something from a Stephen King novel from what I heard, I never read any once I found out how thick they were.

          That just left me confused and disturbed.  Fear didn't seem to enter into the emotion pool, ever.  I grew tired of this.  "I'm not sure what you're trying to do, but can we please get on with this interrogation?"  For that, I used a questioning and disbelieving tone.

          "We will ask the questions, Jake.  Since it seems you are so interested in them, we shall ask them, Jake."

          That was better.  At least WCG said he'd ask questions instead of making me feel like I was watching some cheap horror film.

          "Where is the tome, Jake?"  So he knew about Endy's work.  At least that proved he wasn't one of those evil guys who was always disciplining minions.  From what I'd felt from him so far, he didn't seem good.  I doubt anyone good speaks that slowly.

          "I got it...  What's so special?"  I gave up on trying to remain quiet and defensive.  I was getting impatient and their "We ain't movin'!" attitude wasn't helpin'.   Besides, I knew there was a catch; baddies tend to ask for something in hopes that whoever has it is too stupid to realize what's gonna happen if they give it up.

          "It is...not of your concern, Jake."  Well, that was strike two.  One more and I'd be convinced this thing was the Weird Thingy of Ultimate Power ™.  "...Unless you wish to live."  Strike three!  Something told me there was something about this book that I didn't know about but I'd know eventually if someone activated it.  Either way I was screwed; I'd either die and have the book stolen or give up the book with the hopes of getting it back and living.  I decided to gamble.

          "Yeah, yeah, take it."  A frown went along with my unwilling reply.  I was screwed either way.

          "You are wise, Jake."  I felt a sudden blast of cold air and my pack fall off.  Well, there went dinner.  WCG seemed content and Red took the floor.

          "Alright, boy, what do you know about the Brotherhood of Tier Dow?"  His voice seemed southerny and like a drill sergeant I saw on TV.

          "Just the name and that for only about 6 seconds."

          The light shone in my left eye and I felt paralyzed by the cold, or something.

          "What about the Crossed?"

          "Same."

          The light went to my other eye, then down my cheek.  I didn't know what he was doing, but it certainly got me confused and a bit aggrevated.

          "This boy's worthless."  Well, so much for my self-esteem.

          "Not quite.  I can find a use for him..."  WCG acted like I wasn't in front of him.  Or in the same room.  Whatever they wanted me for wasn't good either; it was prolly slave labor somewhere.  Maybe making voice boxes to sound like WCG.  I smiled at that, then felt a piercing into my back.  Alright, I was confused AND in pain.  Well, cold, tired, a long way from home, etc, etc and you get the idea of what it was like to be me at that moment.

          The pain receded, err, scrap that.  I was able to move without feeling like I was backstabbed.  I looked around the room and saw only black except for Red's light.  I felt like I was in the center of a massive darkened stadium, or a dome.  This seemed too big for a traditional rectangularish room.

          I had the odd feeling Red and WCG smiled or/and grinned in unison at their thought.  What was it gonna be, slave labor, death, torture, some odd traditional trial?  Maybe I'd get off with dressing like a ballerina with badly done lipstick and silver paint on my skin.  Nah, I'd seen too much TV to get something like that.  Villains tended to be cruel, harsh, egotistical, overpowering and extremely rambling and procrastiantionish.  There was a movie about that, I think.

          "You are dismissed, Jake."

 

-|=-Part 18-=|-

          Err...  It wasn't supposed to happen like this, right?  Just get a word from some creepyish guy and I get to leave minus a few things?  Something was going on and I knew I hadda get that book back, if only for tradition's sake.  Like anyone would believe me if I told them.

          The guards came and I was escorted back to my cell.  The door was open and Green was gone; I didn't know what happened, but I wanted things to turn out well for him.  At least he wouldn't go screaming to the police; it wasn't like they'd investigate.  But free to go?  This -definitely- didn't seem right.

          Another odd feeling came from the Department of Warning, 7F.  I was alive now, but there were no guarantees beyond this cave base.  I could be shot a step outside of here and never be found again.  That didn't seem good.

          The guards left in the direction they brought me toward my 'former' cell.  I wasn't ready to abandon it yet, things seemed, well, WRONG.  I took this opportunity to use the jail toilet, even people in stories do this, y' know.  After my brief break, I took another opportunity to start trying to find the exit, just in case.  I had the feeling we were not gonna get along and that I'd need a quick escape.  I left my cell and looked around the immediate area- no guards or cams or other security devices.  I felt a bit relieved and then even more suspicious; it was unvilliany to leave prisoners as dangerous as, well, any prisoners unattended.  I ignored the possibility of hidden security, seeing as I hadn't heard of any in spy movies.  Well, except for cams mounted in suitcases and various body parts, but those weren't anywhere close that I'd seen.

          I looked left; it seemed good enough that the exit would be away from the chilly black dome.  This hall was just an ordinary looking one with maybe 20 feet left before another intersection.  I walked fast and cautiously; being in my type of situation tends to help.  At the end I looked left again and was startled by what I saw.  Hold yer breath, cross yer toes and brace yerself, here...it...COMES!!...  An exit sign.  A glowing red exit sign over a roughly-hewn (go find a dictionary if you think that's the wrong word) hole in the wall, leading to the cave outside.  I felt...disappointed.  Not that I wanted a 5-foot thick titanium door with proximity autoguns surrounding it, but an exit sign?  Man, these guys WERE dangerous, they wouldn't even bring in an interior decorator.  Or an architect.  Or a carpenter.  Whatever one handles those types of things.

          After that little incident, I scanned for security; nothing.  I was beginning to feel like I was just a delivery boy that the boss wanted to play with.  Well, they didn't know that after what brought me here, I...was...not...in...a...mood...to...be...play..aww, screw it, you get the point.

          However, my system did another check.  Maybe it was the adrenaline, but the results came back as: Pissed.  Something told me that this whole running away thing was for those guys' amusement and rather than be humble and take it like a religious fanatic, I was gonna fight back.  Getting drunk, angry and armed was an old human tradition.  After I found some alcohol and a suitable weapon, I'd be 2 out of the 3.  Not that I liked beer or wanted people to drink it, I just thought it went well with the moment.

          The moment passed.  Well, all moments do, but this was significant because I realized where I was, in the underground complex less than 90 feet from a doorway out and I was gonna risk my alleged freedom to regain that tome because of an instinctal feeling that it was super powerful and the right thing to do.  Sounds like the basis of a novel to me.  And besides, I'm a good guy.  Some of the time.

 

-|=-Part 19-=|-

          I could have gone back.  Maybe I should have, but I'd already lost that fight to myself around twice before, I wasn't trying to keep count.

          I proceeded down the hallway into hostile territory.  Well, it wasn't naturally hostile, there weren't any really mean marble tiles or anything, but you get the point.  I went slowly down the hallway, this one seemed to last several hundred feet.  I peeked around and found nothin' really important, just some empty alcoves and garbage cans.  Wait a minute, I could use those!  Just hop into a seemingly empty can and hide in a dark alcove!  Err, something like that.  Maybe just skip the whole can thing and curl in a dark area.  That sounded right.

          Speaking of which, I was gonna test it soon.  I heard footsteps coming from down the hall in my direction.  I easily stepped back a bit and into one of those places I thought about before, without the garbage can.  I just sat and waited for the noise to fade.

          It did, in about 12 seconds.  I noticed something across from me, it looked like another exit, but without the glowing sign.  It was a bit hard to notice from my light level, but it seemed like a hole into space.  Not knowing where the guns or my pack were, I went in.

          Inside, it was small.  Not the broom closet-like space, but nothing like the oblivion dome I was in earlier.  Heh, that sounded good, "oblivion dome". Eh, well, whatever.

          I did more of my looking, and I may as well describe what I saw.  The walls, black.  And the floor.  And the entrance.  The ceiling was white, which threw me off, but then again....  I'll stop that.  I also noticed a gray metal cage on a table to my left, empty.  Whatever was inside couldn't be very big.  Could it be that WCG kept a pet lizard?  I didn't want to think about it, I was already in trouble.

          I just walked out the do...opening; I didn't expect any trouble or find any.  I looked right and didn't see or hear anything that would summon trouble.  I walked cautiously the next few feet, I think my fear glands were recovering from their lunch horatious, err, break.  The walk until the end of the hall, I felt like I was being watched again.  Memories of trying to find my way in the dark came back to me and it was like reliving a funeral; long and boring, though you should be feeling something else.

          My fear went back into hibernation as I went along.  I turned right at the next intersection and found me another hallway.  Yawn.  However, there was a little area cut out on the right side about 20 feet down that looked important.  I moved cautiously, wait, I didn't.  I just sorta lunged there.  Alright, I got to the break in the wall and that was the important part.

          There was a keypad there with the digits.  When there are things like this, there also should be doors nearby.  I went out of this area and looked down the hall, but didn't see any door-like thingies.  I made a note of that and turned right and the end of this hallway.  So far I hadn't seen anything in the terms of bathroom, cafeteria or kitchen, and I had a feeling they were nowhere to be found on this base.  Then again, I didn't know how big this place was and I was only on my 4th hallway.

          Speaking of fours, there were 4 breaks in this hall on my left.  I decided that examining them all would be of help, maybe, so I went in order.  The first break revealed a bathroom, apparently I was wrong about this place.  It was even lined with tan tiles and wallpaper.  I quickly left and checked out the second break.  This looked like a janitorial closet with cleaner-like chemical containers. (How's that for...er...what's that word where there are many of the same non vowels that start the word in a row?  That's appropriate here.)  There were also mop, bucket and boom, err, broom.  Boom would be if I tried mixing that stuff on the shelf.  I didn't even smile at that one, chemistry explosions tend to be less fun than they sound.  I left that one fast, I had better things to do with my time, but the third one break seemed definitely interesting.

          I got into there and found nothing very special about the walls, or the ceiling or the room design.  (Though they looked pretty much like what I saw in that cage room.)  What got me was that there was a HUGE cage against the left wall.  This wasn't your pet lizard size; this was about 20 feet high.  Now I knew why there were such high ceilings in most this place.  And that I didn't want to meet this for any reward I knew of, or could imagine.  If someone said, "Here, Jake, take this truckload of pure gold bars, diamonds and pearls.  Oh, you gotta get in a 20 foot cage with some really big animal first, though," I wouldn't accept it, but I'd at least consider it.  But right here, right now with no bribe?  Simple.  HELL NO!!!  Sorry, I didn't mean to shout your face off.  Getting back to the story, though...

          The cage had me staring in awe.  Whatever was in there was probably named "Bubba" or "Pounder" or "Finest Obliterator".  Or "Pinky".  Strange how the strongest things can get the weakest names.  I recovered from this and turned around.  I realized that a guard was getting closer, quick, and would get to me in maybe 3 seconds.  My heart that was jump-started from the cage started running on all cylinders and overcame my calm mind.  The first thing I thought of was to scream, but my body moved me away and out of the way before I could get that out.  I breathed heavily then held it a bit.  I'd certainly got relaxed in the last day and I didn't know what was going on.  Maybe I was getting stronger, maybe I was preparing for something.  Maybe some fire was going on a mile up and their dog needed a stunt double.

          Well, I was lucky.  I'd been really lucky so far in not getting caught (except by WCG), yet going out of my way for it.  I'd starved myself since I set out and was in more hiding places than someone obsessed with the game.  I heard about how strong belief can influence things.  They say that if you don't believe in yerself somewhere, you won't get anywhere.  I wasn't sure if I was in either sense, but I certainly was getting places of negotiable (I think) want to be in.  And I was certainly getting by, if only by accident and luck.  Heh, if I could get so far in 2 days, I thought I could definitely get farther.

          Then again, I really only wanted to get out of this base because I didn't know what they were gonna do to me, but from what I'd gotten from books, games and TV, it wasn't gonna be pleasant.

          I recovered from this thinking binge and got some sense back into my eyes.  I was in a large room, maybe a hall, and it had a cage about 20 feet high.  I was escaping, but mainly trying to find my stuff, in an underground cave base.  Today I met a guy I called Green and we talked a bit.  Then there was the interrogation in the oblivion dome and my 'dismissal' which didn't sound like one.  Then I went around and found the exit sign and some other things in this base.  I figured I was due for a few more events before I left base, all this snooping and prowling made me wonder if this place had ANY electronic security.

          I got to the opening in the passage and listened for guards, none were near.  I stuck my head out and didn't find any watching equipment and turned left into the last break in this hall.  It was somewhat wide, maybe 3 people with bodies facing the exit across with a bit of room to spare, but only about 7 feet tall.  The hall was dim, it had light coming into it from the hall, but it wasn't as black as the floor and I could see a bit in front of me.  Hall light wasn't letting me see the black, so I held my watch light button.  Fear kicked in again and within about 5 seconds, it was justified.          Guards?  Well, certainly looked so.  They had the black latexy suit, boots, goggles and the curly, frizzy hair.  But they all looked ahead, or down.  They didn't seem to be alive, but I certainly didn't wanna touch 'em!  I'd hearda too many bad things happening when someone was snooping around and bumped the wrong thing accidentally.  Fear took a short break while confusion and intrigue took over.

          It seemed like they were robot guards made to look human.  Certainly fooled me.  Lemme see...  Bots don't need food, water, sleep or bandages; they do fine with the occasional oil change and lube job.  They also tend to be stronger and more obedient than humans, and lack things like second-thoughts, instinct and tiny bladders.  Robo slaves; I never thought I'd live to see it.  Then again, I didn't think I'd pass Chemistry either, but a D- is a D-.

          I had enough of this, I was a bit scared as it was and I didn't wanna raise the alert level.  Unfortunately, I didn't look, and I didn't need to.

 

-|=-Part 20-=|-

          "Hello, Jake."

          I didn't turn around, I knew that voice anywhere.  WCG had just gotten less 'wannabe'.

          "Lost, Jake?"

          In the sense of finding the exit, it should be right at this next intersection then left after that hall.  In the sense of almost anything else, bingo!  Fear realized its cue and came back.  It didn't miss anything, despite being about 4 paragraphs late.

          "It seems you are trespassing, Jake."

          I didn't say anything, it wasn't like I could give an answer to please him.

          "I tried being nice, Jake."

          Maybe if he found me and brought ice cream.          Niceness isn't capturing people and taking their stuff. 

          "Now, it seems that I will not be so nice, Jake."

          I felt fear trying to push parts of my body into new positions while my body protested and pushed back.  I fell forward.

          "You amuse me, Jake.  Perhaps that is what you'll do, Jake."

          Fear didn't want me to get up and make a fool of me.  Then again, I was already a fool and I climbed to my knees.  I seemed to feel his sadistic smile on my back as I slowly rose.  I heard steps during this time and turned around once I got to my knees; WCG had left my view.

          I felt screwed.  I...amuse him?  It'd make sense then, the long 2 days of getting here and one small, little, TINY error and BOOM, I become his toy.  I didn't know what kind of entertainment he wanted me involved with.  I recalled what I thought about the ballerina suit in the dome; that seemed...wrong.  Jester style?  That also seemed too childish and basic.  Be his remote?  Umm....  Whatever it was, I didn't want to think about it.

          I heard the sound of machines powering up behind me.  Well, they're the guards, ready to take me to my cell.  I may as well go, I've been caught.  At least I think so.

          And I was, and it sucked.

 

-|=-Part 21-=|-

          I sat in my cell, thinking.  It was so STUPID of me to try and find out more on this base, and I lost my freedom for it.  I hadn't felt this down since I fell (hah hah hah), but in the manner of sadness and such, I don' think I was ever this bad.  In manners you'd prolly understand, this is like having a 12 in Blackjack, doubling down and getting a Jack.  Both seemed like they were safe bets that went really, really wrong.  Or another example: Throwing a party when yer parents are away for the next days and having them come home to a mess, even if they didn't specifically mention that they were banned or if they came home early.

          I sighed.  I sat.  I thought.  Maybe if I knew then how the Thinker statue looked, I woulda tried for that position, but it wasn't helpful.  I thought about what kind of entertainment they wanted me for.  WCG didn't seem like the type to want embarrassing entertainment, just ones that made the tortured feel and look bad.  Assuming he was behind this situation and assuming he helped me in my running away, I felt like such a fool for playing into him.  Yet, and yet, there was a comfort in knowing where I was going.  It was one of those odd things, like getting married.  Sure, from what I heard, you'd prolly never be happy again after the first year (my informants are TV, radio, music, movies and mags) but there was comfort in...stability, I think.

          Thoughts collided into my thinking inbox and formed enough matter to reach my brain.  No, that wasn't what I was gonna take.  Even if I WAS being dragged along like a drunken, naked man in a jungle (you figure that part out), I STILL managed to do all the escaping myself.  It wasn't WCG who shoved me into a stove, scavenged my house for supplies, found a book in my school's detention room, ran through a forest, stumbled into a cave or got caught by security from a base that shouldn't be there.  No, -I- did it, and I'm damn proud.

          Man, I really DO have a twisted view on things.  Maybe I could beat this.  Green's words came back to me.  "Be strong, Jake."  Hmm, well, it was nice knowing I had a friend somewhere, even if he turned out to be in 8 pieces all over the Milky Way.  ...I just got that thought somewhere.

          So, a checklist.  I thought about what seemed to be this guy's style of punishment.

Cute fuzzy stuff.  No.

Embarrassment.  Not likely.

Annoyance.  Maybe, but getting closer.

Torture.  Probably.

Playing with victims.  Knockout.

 

        It seemed that his preferred method of torment was playing with me, apparently he didn't take kindly when I didn't go along with his 'dismissal' bit.  Well, I'm getting to know him, if only in the sense that he's one mean, screwy, wannabe badass.  And I do mean that in a negative way.

          Playing with victims it seems.  Think...  I thought back to the fires; they didn't seem to help.  They just seemed to light the way for me to escape, or maybe they were just signs for me to get out.  Maybe they were a trail.  Now, they seemed worthless.  What else?  Well, there was the split in the road and those girls...naw, they didn't seem right, either.  What else?  The gang, the mugger?  Still nothing.  Home, my room, closet, blanket, fleece jacket, food, starvation?  Wrong, still zip from that.  Chance.  Not....wait, maybe something.  It seemed like this whole journey was chance (and a game) after I picked up that book.  After I yelled "ALE AND WHORES!", after I guessed an answer.  It seemed like I was getting somewhere, though more details weren't com...

          Then something hit me.  Well, it seemed to shin...pop...seem important.  The Cruicible.  Giles Corey.  Stone.  Tip of Grapf's pointer.  Wait, that seemed too far.  Stone.  Giles Corey again.  The Cruicible.  Well, I HAD read some of the notes on it, I just didn't want to admit that I'm not all trickster.  Then again, I didn't need to, I was in this situation.  Crucy again.  Witch trials.  Court.  Legal disputes.  Legal battles.  Fights.  Fights!  It was a runaway thought train 8/10ths of a mile long and a guess with no support in the sense of proof, but it was something, and I had only me to rely on now.  So a fight, eh?  Well, it was one of humanity's oldest methods and it certainly worked.  It was a problem-solving approach; hit, bash, punch, smite, swing, slash, slice, scratch, smash, ram, gouge, pummel, tord, crunch, kick, poke, burn, shoot, crash and bludgeon something enough times and there won't be enough problem left to worry about.  I wondered what the battlefield would be like.  Maybe a tropical beach at dawn.

          With that, I felt confident, maybe even cocky that I knew what was going on, but deep inside me somewhere, doubt was building.  It tried to put it to me gently, in terms I understood.  It told me that my so-called 'discovery' was just like finding out that I'd be getting an assignment in 3 days, maybe 2.  In other words, it wasn't very helpful.  It told me I didn't know what the fight would be with, when, where or how to move, it was just a feeling that it was coming.  My response?  Nothing, considering I wasn't paying attention by the time it had finished its lecture.

 

-|=-Part 22-=|-

          Again, I felt something.  There was white light in front of me; I stood up and walked slowly toward it.  I looked around and saw only white, in front of me anyway.  The area I was in was black.  Black and white, eh?  Well, that was an old term, but one I hadn't heard used.  I think.  I walked toward the white, it seemed like I went an extremely long distance that I managed in about 10 steps.  I was on the border between them, a straight line.  There was black on my side for however long or far and white on that side for prolly the same amount.  I stood over the border, right side on black, left on white.  I looked around again and saw no more that I had before, just a different angle.  I turned around so left was on black and white on, err, right on white.  I looked around.  Nothing.  I waved my arms, screamed, jumped angrily on the border...  Silence.  No echo, no wind, no reply.  It seemed like I couldn't hear myself breathe if I tried.  I walked toward the white and away from the border; each step I looked around and may've held my breath.  I turned around, the border was fading, but the black was still slightly visible in the distance.  I felt like running, I felt like crying, I felt like SOMETHING, but I stood there, waiting.  I walked forward now, it seemed like the border would be far behind me if I looked back, but I didn't.  The wise don't look back, the wise just go.  Err, wait.  Was that me?  It really didn't seem that way.  Wasn't I just a trickster, a boy living on gambling and fun and humor?  Wait, why am I speaking in the past?  I'm in this now!  Something in my mind buckled, and I went.

          I turned around and ran toward the border, not even enough volume to hear the sounds of my feet running across this...thing.  I suddenly stopped once I saw the border about halfway from my sight.  The border seemed to flash; a giant red-orange drop fell from what seemed like the ceiling.  I ran as fast as I could towards it and it hit before I could get under.  I heard gurgling and felt something moving under me.  Fear seemed to continue its...idleness?...wait, that didn't seem right.  Fear just stayed where it was and curiosity came.  The ground's mumblin' stopped and there was a brief sparkle, then a wave of red flew up from the ground and made a wall.  Confusion was now controllin' this.  I heard a sound behind me and stepped toward it, it was like a rock skipping.  I turned around, then I heard a voice.

          "You are not wise, Jake."  WCG came out of the blood wall, seeming to grin.  "Jake... Jake... Jake... Jake..."  He nodded then looked into my eyes, a _ for a mouth.  His glare seemed piercing and I couldn't move.  "You are so easy, Jake.  I had you all this time, Jake.  You are nothing, Jake, and I shall win!"

          He disappeared, and I could move, but that only helped in letting me fall over.  The ground shook and a gray stone tablet rise from under me, followed by metal bars from 4 sides and another gray stone tablet from above.  They clanged together loudly.  I was stuck in a cage, again.  Man...

          I heard another voice, but I couldn't hear its speaker.  "Be strong, Jake."

 

-|=-Part 23-=|-

          I wasn't given the choice of waking before I was stuck in a cage and dragged off by the guards to the arena, I just managed to fit well enough so it was a quiet job.  Nothing throbbed, but everything protested.  My body knew my odds better than m' brain, oish.  The picketers were scared away when reality came, armed with shotguns, tear gas and alcohol.

          I knew that I was awake, but I didn't feel it; I wasn't energized and I felt a bit sore.  Never trust baddies to fight fairly.  Or by any common rules.

          I could feel my body again which seemed like a good sign.  I shook off my neck stiffness, got to a stand then opened my eyes.  I was in a cage alright, just like last time after I woke.  This one had wheels and was much smaller.  I could fit, it seemed 7 feet high and about 4 feet across.  And no, it wasn't 2D.

          The guards remained mouthly silent and just moved the cage toward wherever I was going.  It seemed like an awf'ly lon' way, but I wasn't in charge here.  No use trying to do something heroic, like slap the guards and jump through the bars.  The most heroic thing I planned to do was run.  Not just any ol' runnin', I'd run like I had hundreds of angry deer about to ram my ass; there was no natural wind down here and Hell didn't seem to move.  However, deer could RUN and the thought of being rammed...  I'll try to stop rambling.

          I just whistled while I waited, it wasn't like I was gonna be massively entertained on the way.  I thought about the encounter more; a tropical dawn beach didn't seem like an appropriate setting.  What seemed big, grand, tacky and bloodlusted?  I strained m' lil' brain tryin' ta think.  What seemed like the ultimate place to fight?  Modern, no.  This guy didn't seem like one to be interested much in new things.  Hmm...  The Globe arena?  Naw, that'd be too shaky.  A bone bridge over lava?  Tacky, old and overdone, but I had a feeling he wanted to have the effect of watchers.  Hmm...  Maybe something with the seating of the Globe and the danger of the bone bridge.  Holodome 3?  No, too modern, I shoulda ruled that one out already.  Same with Smash Studios's set.  Where, where, where?  An alley during a riot and tornado?  Didn't seem cliche enough.  C'mon, think...  What seems like the ULTIMATE place to challenge someone to 1v1 combat?  I was doing the finger rolling/tapping thing on the bottom of the cage.  Umm...  C'mon, I know this one.  I looked at the bottom of my cage; gray stone.  Stones.  Bricks.  Pavement.  Roads.  Famous roads.  Yellow brick roads.  Scarecrows.  Erm, too far I think.  Yellow brick roads again.  Famous roads.  Travel on roads.  Travel.  Pass.  Roam.  Rome!  Roman emperors.  Caesar.  Sala...no.  Caesar again.  Wars.  Battle.  Blood.  Combat.  War calls.  Call... coliseum!  Man, I'm good when I try.  So, a coliseum battle; nothin' like the sound of thousands of fans shouting, yelling, screaming, puking and telling you to just kill the other guy.  Two points down, thousands more to go.  It seemed like a good start.

          I looked up and saw the oblivion dome, concentratin' can really take a lotta yer focus.  Then again, this wasn't gonna be an easy fight, so maybe focusin' was the best thing for me to do.

          "Welcome, Jake.  It has been decided."  Going with what I had, I assumed the battlefield and that we'd be fighting.  "You are a quick one, Jake, but will you survive?"

          I waited for a bit after this, but I didn't hear, "Insert coins to start, insert coins to continue."  I realized that my joking manner would prolly get me killed, so I gathered what I could and stood.

          I smiled, the cold air of the dome greeted me and I felt like I was gonna win.  "I am ready!"

          I heard a whisper that seemed to recognize my tone.  "You amuse me, Jake."

 

-|=-Part 24-=|-

          The dome seemed to drizzle, and I don't mean onto the floor.  It changed from the oblivion dome slowly into...well, hey, hey!  Yep, the colly was our battleground.  I was still in a dressing room and my cage door was open.  I quickly got odda there, it might...it snapped shut after I left.  I looked around, this place was mostly dark, the only light came from torches and small slits over 10 feet up.  The room was also fairly small and made of dark gray/black stone walls.  Noone else was around, but it seemed like it.  I heard the sound of a HUGE number of fans outside.  I looked down, I was still in my old dress; around me were various armors on a rack.  The left had just a loincloth, then a robe, leather jerkin, full body leather suit, breastplate, chainmail, full body chain then full plate.  Considering that speed and moveability were major factors, full chain and plate were out.  I heard they were good for protection, but made you walk like you were in a tin can.  Or a tin can, I'm not sure.  Leather seemed nice, but it had almost no protection.  Same with things less than it.  So, by default, I guess I got the chain.  No witty comment to end the paragraph.

          I grabbed the armor, the rest disappeared.  Eh, well, figures.  No second chances.  Anyway, the chain wasn't very heavy to hold, but offered fairly high moveability and maybe even some protection.

          I looked right, there were the weapons, just about everything I'd imagined an arena fight having as a weapon was here.  There were daggers, throwing knives, stars, a mace, flail, wood staff, metal staff, maul, lance, claws, metal knuckles and feet, numchucks (whatever), a scythe, club, katana, hatchet, battle axe, 2 handed sword, broadsword, shortsword and longsword.  Yep, if it wasn't invented after 1000AD, it seemed to be here.  What to choose, what to choose?  I tried imagining myself in each of the weapons.  Jake the thief?  Ninja?  Random soldier #542?  I was getting an idea...

          I thought about how I'd do with each of the weapons, considering range, weight, attack speed and power.  Daggers I had no experience with, they were out, as were the other throwing weapons.  Maces were nice when they hit right, as were most the weapons, but I needed something sturdy, strong and fairly light.  Oh, and preferably something I wouldn't accidentally hit myself with.  Staffs seemed out of place, mauls were too heavy, lances were only good at the end, claws were too pokey, metal knuckles and feet were too short ranged, chucks were a bit hard to control from what I heard, scythes too, clubs wouldn't be able to get through heavy armor, hadn't heard anything about katanas, but they didn't seem newbie friendly, the axes required 2 hands, the bigass sword seemed too heavy and the shortsword was, well, short.  Longs and broads remained.  I took long, it was longer.

          I touched the handle of the longsword, clearly marked by a metal plaque with "Longsword" over it and it vanished.  I looked and felt around; the holder was on my right side.  I grabbed it and tried gripping it with 2 hands, but there wasn't much room, I only got 1 hand on.  I decided that now would be a good time to go find an exit, there was some fightin' to do.

          I continued down the fairly dark and glarey tunnel, the armor on me fitting well and the sword to my right in its sword holding thingy.  Light soon appeared from in front of me as I rounded a corner.  Well, I hoped I'd win.  Then again, I was starting to tremble and about ready to pee my pants.

 

-|=-Part 25-=|-

          Light.  Sound.  Rush.  Me.  WCG.  Colosseum.  Combat.  With those, my mind was more than well-filled with what to do.  I just hadda think about what I was doing.  I waited near the end of the way and practiced swinging a few times, the sword slid odda my right hand the first time and nearly smashed on a wall the third.  Maybe if I...that didn't work.  I decided that I'd grip the sword for whatever I could and not let go if possible.  Things were coming to me like I'd done this before.  I didn't ignore 'em, I just let 'em come.  A left to right was a slice, up to down was a chop, a slight poke was a jab, a diagonal move was a slash, a lean forward and attack was a thrust, holding it and thrusting down was a stab and a jump chop was a divide.  Another thought came to me; games.  Think games.  This was just a video game.  I'd played enough with swordplay that I had some idea what I was doin'.

          I stepped outside and the sound of the crowd was intense.  Then again, I didn't care and it seemed to go down.  I noticed the center, it was set up as a large square with stone pillars on the outside corners.  I got into position on one side of the square and saw WCG come in from his dressing room.  He seemed to say, "This...shall...be...fun...Jake," but it didn't seem like he wanted me to hear it.  He reached his side near the center of his side and I heard a bell.  This seemed like the start of the match.

          I heard music, it sounded like a battle song.  It wasn't one I'd heard before, but it was enough to get me in the mood, and I felt ready as ever to, in the words of many wrestlers, have him "Bring it!"

          I blinked and saw WCG moving.  I moved, too.  We moved and played Circles, watching and waiting for someone to attack.  Seconds, 10 seconds, 40 seconds, 80 seconds, no attack.  I kept moving and thought that he should start going around now.  Suddenly, I stepped left to avoid his oncoming thrust.  At least he wasn't pretending that he didn't want me dead.  We circled again and I noticed he was holding some kind of blade, I realized that I should get my weapon up and I did.

          The circling ended and I jumped toward him, trying to fake him out and it worked for just a second.  I slashed and got the top of his trenchcoat before jumping back.  He didn't do anything noticeable to retaliate.  I started focusing and remembering all that I'd learned from gaming.  Before I could think more, he rushed forward, chopping.  I barely stepped right in time, and my left pinky was cut.  I thrusted toward his neck, but he easily deflected  it with his sword.  I was knocked off balance a bit and stepped back a few steps.  He sliced and got my ribcage before I could try to block.  I fell onto my right shoulder, I quickly sat up as he got near.  He seemed like he wanted to get me through the neck or the heart, but I was content to give him the title of "Kneebiter".  He charged forward, trying to get me in my sitting position, but I sliced at his left leg and hit the ankle.  He stopped and made a face like he was seriously angry.  I pushed myself up as fast as I could, but I only got to my knees before he kicked dirt into my eyes with his good foot.  I got to a standing position, feeling hurt and pissed that he'd do something like that.  I managed to get the dust out of my eyes as I heard something and was bashed on my left shoulder.  I tottered a bit and struggled for footing, but I got it.  It seemed like quickness would win me this fi...I jumped to avoid his low blow and countered with a slice to his left arm.  I think I got him with a powerful strike, the coat was torn and blood gushed from it.  Maybe another strike or two around...ow!  Damnit, I got a thrust to my left knee.  I strained my neck muscles in trying to keep everything in.  I breathed big and gave out a yell as I jabbed his right hand.  Something told me this was bad.  He grinned.  "Jake."  He did that again, grinning wider and speaking louder.  Fear built in me as I felt nervous and unsure what to do.  I just stood there.  He shouted.  "JAKE!!!" and I fell back onto my left hand.  My knee seemed to throb and I struggled to sit.  He just watched as I slowly stood and seemed to scan me.  I stood, about 6 feet away and he charged at me, frenzied.  Chop, slash, slice, chop, jab, jab, thrust, all while I barely parried or dodged most of them.  He managed to jab me in the right ear, it nicked it and got me a slight headache, a bit of blood and a bit dizzy.  He thrusted again just as I was about to slice at his chest.  It caught his hand and the top of a finger flew off, followed by his sword.  This was it, this was my chance!  If I timed it and did everything right, I'd prolly win.  If I missed, he'd have time to recover and get that sword, maybe even pin me.  I did the first thing I thought of, I tried dividing.  He easily sidestepped most of it, but lost a small part of his right hand's side.  I tried thrusting at his good knee and missed, but stopped myself before a full thrust and turned it into a slice.  Direct hit!        He fell to his knees, like in a pushup position and he looked up at me.  I didn't notice, I just felt victory.  Then something hit me.  It seemed like this was going too well, WCG was on his knees.  Was it a trick?  Was he...faking it?  I dreaded the thou...  I snapped out of it, WCG was in front of me, standing, sword in hand.  He stepped back, smiling.

          "Strike, strike, strike..."  He kept chanting and getting louder, I just wanted to shut him up and win this match.  He stood still and stopped, then stared at me.  His words seemed to echo through me, "Strike."  I stepped back, ran at him and jumped, bringing my sword down on his head.  WCG faded..?

          His body turned red, then fleshed out.  "Oh, shit."

          He smiled, grinned, then started to make some motion with his sword.  Fear grew to put it mildly, and I stepped back without focusing on where I was going.  He finally swung his sword like he was cloaking something with air and...shit!  I felt a strong wind come from his swipes and I was pushed against a pillar.  The wind kicked up dust and bombarded me with it in my exposed knee and face.  I easily closed my eyes, but the sand tormented my other wound.  The wind stopped and he walked toward me, slowly.  I...I...what the fuck happened?  Did he just blow me into the pillar?  Uhh...  Whatever it was, he was coming toward me, act fast, act fast!  Umm...

          Fear seemed to turn to rage.  He had to right to blast me, or whatever he did, but then again...  This felt hopele...  I got jabbed in the stomach with the point of a sword and felt my insides bleeding.  This wasn't how it was spozeta end!  Damnit, damnit, I need help!

          "Be strong, Jake."  I seemed to feel it more than hear it.

          Ting!  I heard the sound of a sword hit the pillar.  Green's words seemed right, if I wasn't strong, I wasn't gonna win.  Still, my heart rushed and the pain was there.

          I ducked the next slice for my head and got at his bad leg again.  I thought there was still hope for me.  I heard something, like Green's voice was making other words.

          "....Mind...  Think..."  I wasn't sure what it was, but...a clean hop over his blade.  I cleared the slice and slashed for his right shoulder and seemed to do an unbelievable amount of damage for someone in my condition.  I saw blood start to spill out from the top of his chest on the right side and he hunched over a bit to hold it with his left arm.  "...Win.... Control...." Green's voice was louder now, but I was more focused on what WCG would be coming back at me with.

          He breathed heavily, grinning.  "Heh.... heh.... heh...."  I felt he was about to use one of his freaky hand power moves and he was gonna give it all he got.

          "Jake, use your mind; think, you can win if you believe you can control the situation!"  Fear or something let the words in.  Well, he helped me in the past, and since I was up against what seemed like my death, I wasn't gonna ignore him.

          I stared into WCG's figure, he seemed like he was trying to make me stay in this spot.  I had an idea which fit my trickster style very well.  I'd like to point out that "screw offs" aren't always dummies.

          His hands were glowing, his face was grinning, his feet were running, his sword was cutting air, I was standing.  I knew he was gonna try to do something funky with that sword, but I...

          I fell to the ground, there was about 3 feet to go between his feet and mine.  He was going at such a speed he couldn't stop, and I smiled.  I was on my back, head up slightly and I kicked him, I got his feet.  He fell forward with the force of someone whose pride's just been shaken, stirred, buried, unburied, stomped on then thrown in the nearest trash compactor.  Or ocean.  He landed chest-first onto my blade, though I'm not exactly sure where.

          There's another thing about Rome I realized sometime today, losing soldiers tended to not live very long.  I decided I wouldn't break tradition.

          "Jake...  Jake..."  The voice couldn't maintain its meanness, it became a wheeze by the third letter.  He was within my grasp, and it seemed like the audience noticed.  The melody changed from one of horns, flutes and those things you hit with sticks to an obvious drum beat.  The pace was hastening and I sure wasn't gonna miss this blood and metal opportunity.  "Strike, Jake..."  I learned from last time, I wasn't gonna make this guy any meaner.  However, I WAS gonna have fun with him, for a little while.  Revenge doesn't make things right, it makes people feel better.

          "No, I ain't that stupid.  However, I'd like to tell you that I, Jake Camthrin, do NOT like being fucked with!  You played with me for 3 days and that's too damn long.  Now, I HAD considered being nice, but the way you've played me voids your warranty, sends you to jail without passing Go and just pisses me off."  I thought about Green's newest words a bit more.  "I read somewhere to never tempt a good man when yer down."

          "Tell me... Jake..."

          "I will, but first, a little experiment."  I looked at him, smiled, concentrated and snapped my fingers.  Just as I thought, he was kneeling, leaning back.  Hmm, so I WAS in control with this dome.  There was something I'd been wanting to do.  The sword slashed up-left to where his arm connected.  "Where..."  It sliced across his chest...  "Is..."  ...Down-left to make things symmetrical... "The..."  I snapped and pulled the sword out, having it hover around WCG in case he had something mean planned.  "Book?"

          "Table..."  He was wheezing, almost dead by my guessing.

          I knew where it was, I just wanted him to feel 3 days of torment compressed into maybe an hour.  I snapped and healed myself, I didn't know what was gonna happen after the dome shut down.

          Now, I was probably at my most vengeful moment.  I closed my eyes, bowed down my head and thought about how I wanted to finish this; I got the answer almost immediately.

          "I can't do anything to get the last 3 days of my life back, but there's something I can do... NOW!"  I snapped.  The sword appeared in my hand and I was able to grip it with both.  I stepped back and charged him, then prepared for a divide.  I jumped and felt something in me want to focus; I let it.  It lifted me off the ground, 3, 5, maybe 7 feet, then I let go.  I came down with what seemed like thunder cracking, moved the sword down, below me and successfully cleaved his head in two, right down the center.

          I stepped back and snapped.  The drums suddenly stopped, no music came to replace it.  The sky turned orange then a dark, bloodish red.  "Arrow slash."  Where the sword had cut glowed white."  "The arrow points to where you're goin'."  The white turned to orange.  "Down."  I snapped; the pieces exploded, the sky and scene turned to the coliseum on a warm, sunny day.

          Games saved my life.  To all those parents, teachers, adults, religioners, and those with the power who say that such things are a waste, I have a message.  "Screw you."

          I'm a wicked, wicked boy.

 

-|=-Part 26-=|-

          I heard a victory fanfare and I just smiled.  Since I was in the mood...  I snapped, a video screen came down in front of me, blue with white borders and text.

(V Westminster, 18 \/)

**JAKE CAMHTRIN HAS WON THE BATTLE!!**

JAKE GAINS 9,999 EXPERIENCE POINTS.

JAKE HAS GAINED A LEVEL!

JAKE HAS LEARNED A NEW ABILITY, "SHOWOFF".

NO MONEY FOUND NEARBY.

NO ITEMS OBTAINED IN THE AREA.

ADVICE FOR THIS LEVEL- "BELIEVE IN YOURSELF."

<MESSAGE BOX>

 ]CLOSE[  REPEAT

          I chose close, it wasn't people much cared about the stuff enough in there to repeat it.

          The scenery changed back to a dimly lit oblivion dome.  My clothing was back to normal, no wounds remained and the swords puffed out like smoke.  There was a spotlight on WCG, I just saw him disappear then the light fade out.  Maybe that's what happens to people that die in this thing, I didn't want to find out.

          I hurried into the hall, finding the door wasn't an ordeal.  "Table," he said, but I knew it somehow.  Maybe the effects of the dome allowed for that, I dunno.  I ran down the hall and entered the last door on the left.  Right there on the table was my pack and the book next to it.  I had a feeling that this was fairly safe, so I stuffed the book into my pack, grabbed the last cereal bar, gulped it, shoved the wrapper in, zipped it and put it on.  I walked out of the room cautiously and the alarm sounded, unless the buzzing and blue lights were a sign someone was doin' the laundry.

          I ran for every damn thing I was worth toward that glowing EXIT sign.  I passed guards that were just noticing me with incredible speed, and their systems weren't designed for tricksters.  Maybe their weapons all ran on Windoze, I never felt like getting close to one.

          I rounded the corner where my cell was.  Two guards turned to face me as I caught my breath a sec.  "Sorry boys, I'm in a bit of a rush."  They shot something that looked like a thick laser toward me from their arms.  It was greenish.  "Thanks for the gum sticks, but I gotta get goin'.  No time to chew!"

          They moved in to block the passage, this wasn't a problem considering the average baddy's cronie is never designed to be able to take on their master and win.  In this case, I wondered what that guy was thinkin'.

          I ran toward them, dodging their, ooh, now yer only -5- feet away from me, err, shots. I was in the mood for a game and these guys were excellent entertainment, but I wanted to have my share of the fun.  I got to them, punched them where their stomach would be, faced them toward each other and ran off down the hallway, smiling all the way.

          I got to the end of the hall, turned left and noticed one of those lighting things like I found in my cell.  It wasn't attached and since I realized my flashlight was out, I grabbed it, threw my flashlight at the nearest guard and walked out into the black.

 

-|=-Part 27-=|-

          It was nice knowing that base was behind me, though I hoped for every paycheck I'd get until I was 29 that I'd never go back there for any reason.  Ever.

          My adrenaline faded pretty soon after ditching them.  Well, that was another situation I got out of by my trickstering, but I wasn't safe yet.  It wasn't like the exit sign pointed to food, home or a nice auditorium where I could tell my story.  There are some times when we all wish we had cameras; they tend to be our best moments.

          So, caves.  Not much I can say about caves except that they're dark, cool and rocked.  And old.  Basically, pretty boring unless yer really into them, and I don't mean in the location sense.

          I traveled for awhile using the light to help, I wasn't really sure how long.  The idea of "don't care" hobbled, or at least stumbled after it.

          I held the light in front of me like a - or \ torch.  I thought about my oblivion dome victory.  To me, there are 3 main types; those that happen and people make no big deal about them.  Boring!  Then those that are fought hard (sometimes) and barely won, at least those are a bit more interesting.  My fave, the flashy one.  It isn't enough to beat your opponent, you need to play with or/and humiliate them too.  WCG seemed to believe in this for most the fight.  Why else'd he use summin' like dat?  I ignored the idea of it being "incredibly effective" and kept walking.

          The cave; darkness, boredom.  I walked, brisly without any old guys nearby.  Err, I think so, just take it that I walked fast, I wanted to get out of this.

          Black lined the walls and took over wherever the light wasn't.  It was a fairly smooth go, as if this area'd been used often.  I had the suspicion that something wasn't right and a trap was near.  Eh, well, better to think about it when I wasn't hungry.

          I sat on the damp stone path, it kina felt like I was sitting on the outside of a sweaty glass.  Unzipping the pack was easy, just like last time.  It seemed like the baddies didn't bother with anything fancy to lock it.  Even if they did, I could still punch a hole in it, I think.  Maybe I'd need scissors or a pointy stick, but I could.  Err, anyway, I peered into the pack, the book was glowing still. The red dome wasn't, just 2 of the blue ones.  What'd they do to this?  It seemed strange that there'd be LESS lights on now.  Usually devices of really big power were turned on when ALL the lights were on, levers pulled and cops paid off.  I wasn't sure what to do, normally I'd just think "screw it" and move on, but this was definitely strange.  Something came back at me that noone around here would believe it or me to be something much, so I gave up on it after a few minutes.

          Hunger came back, cruelly.  I snapped odda the "what if" deal and thought about gettin' fed.  Man, saving the world from an annoying voice'll really drain ya.  I felt around then realized I had the light.  One banana left and a whole lotsa junk.  (I told ya this was a small pack.)  I wasn't gonna leave a banana there with so much trash around, so I just sucked out the good part from it and put the yellow back.  That done, I zipped the pack, got in on m' back again and thought about finding an exit.  And a trashcan.

          Again I got taken from m' thoughts.  There seemed to be something ahead on my right; I got closer.  It didn't LOOK lethal or dangerous, but what's there to say about a purple crystal formation on yer right side?  Just that.  I didn't want to take anything, I was low on room already and it wasn't like there was a man in a booth shouting, "Sell me yer purple crystals hya!"  I left it, but thought something useful might happen.

          I walked about another minute toward my left.  The path went that way so I was in favor of going left.  Then I stopped, not because I could, but because there was little reason to ram a stone wall.  I felt like kicking it, but then I remembered a time I kicked a dresser and hurt my foot, then got angry and kicked again.  I think you see what I'm getting at.

          There was something to get odda here, maybe move the wall, make a ladder appear, summon a helicopter...  I examined the wall with my light, it sure looked like a wall to me.  It also seemed solid, hard and real solid.  Maybe solid enough that it was one piece.  And if that was so, it was made.  Maybe.  It isn't like I was awake for most of science, but I learned that rocks usually have cracks.  And are very rough.  I felt the door, it was rough but it wasn't sharp.  Made?  Prolly by someone human, and not very long ago.  I didn't see any levers or buttons or keyholes in it or nearby, this seemed like a (non)logic(al) puzzle.

          It wasn't like I LIKED these types of games, they mostly seemed like slideshows and badly done movies shoved together, but then there are people who buy anything.  So, let's see, what are my 'pieces' that seem like they'd work?  I got the wall/door, cave, light, backpack, me, path...  Well, I was part of it, but I wasn't a piece like the door was, I didn't stay still and...well, maybe I was.  The cave just stayed in place, ain't much I could do about it.  Backpack?  Just clothes, that book and junk in der and it wasn't like the path was frantic to help.  I need the light to get around, so that's just part of me.  Hmm...  So, there's the wall/door and me.  Summin's missin'.  Oh yeah, and those crystals....

          Kicking yerself for being stupid isn't a good idea, it tends to make you MORE stupid.  (See the thing about the dresser before.)  Well, they WERE out of place.  I had the parts, but I needed to make 'em fit to make the skateboard instead of a sausage factory.  I walked back on the path to 'em and looked around.  Nuttin' convenient nearby to hint me.  If it was a choice of either winning like I did or getting a hint, I'd gladly take the victory, ain't like the hint'd be a guaranteed help.  ("Die not, else rot.")

          I got close in with 'em and tried lookin' at 'em with the light, this didn't help.  I tried banging, nope.  Blowing on them?  Err, nuttin'.  Talking?  Dancing?  Singing?  All nos.

          Frustration was gettin' to me and I didn't like it.  I stepped back and breathed deeply.  What else was there?  I doubt sitting on 'em or hurting me would've helped.  I didn't wanna risk cutting open my pack either.  Things like this had solutions that were like the last thing ya thoughta.  What was sensible that I hadn't done?  Shoot it?  Suck it?  (I dreaded that thought.)  Whatever, if I was gonna be trapped in this cave hall then I was gonna let the crystals know about it!  I banged my right fist against the top of the nearest one.  OW!  OW, OW, OW!  I held my breath while doing what I could to shut up and not scream.  There was also the issue of breathing and I managed to realize that I should be doing it after about 10 seconds.

          Sucking my right hand's hurt part, I wasn't gonna give up.  Hell, I'd MAKE room for these things, they'd be nice to have as a burial gift at this rate.  Well, there was the issue of getting feeling back in my right hand, but I...damn, I hadda stop.  The wait seemed painful, very much.  I didn't know if I was being followed and it was onna those things I didn't wanna find out right now.  Fear didn't hit, but worry and panic were right there to take its place. 

          I gave up on the sucking part, I think I was bleeding, I didn't check with the light.  The crystals just seemed to mock me and taunt me.  I was panicked, but I was more pissed.  I got hold of a crystal and starting pulling.  I heard something like a cracking, but nothing was coming out.  Even bleeding I was stronger right handed.  I switched the light to my left hand and grabbed onto it for whatever I could, then pulled for the little bit that was left.  More cracking, but it didn't budge.  A 2 handed job?  Seemed like it.

          I set the light down by my feet and used my watch light to find the purple annoyance.  In the dark, I grabbed it and pulled.  My right hand hurt like my leg during the match, but I was more into getting this and hopefully getting out.  I pulled... I pulled...  I pulled...  I let go.  My arms were getting tired and sore and I was losing hope.  There WERE 2 others I could hold onto, a relief.  I felt my wound again, it wasn't bleeding; a minor relief, but it woulda been better if I hadn't been hurt. 

          I used my light and found another one.  This one wasn't quite so big, but there wasn't much I could see with this light.  I tried grabbing it with both hands and pulling.  Alright, cracking!  Crackcrack...crack!crack...crackcrack!!...foom!...ow!  I hit the caving behind the crystal stand and would've fallen if it was farther away.  Well, I got one, I just hoped one'd be enough.

          The light was easy enough to find and get to, but my hand was throbbing.  Light in my left and the crystal in my left armpit.  It worked, I'm tellin' ya that it worked, but by now you shouldn't need convincing.  Erm, anyway, the walk to the end seemed to go by fast, I was getting sick of stone, REAL sick of it, but I'd manage if I got out of this soon.

          Alright, the wall was in front of me and I had a crystal.  I set the light down and tapped the wall with my hand, nuttin'.  I tried tapping the crystal, still nuttin'.  I tried tapping the crystal on the wall.  Zilch.  I wasn't in a good mood, I was talkin' to myself.  "Alright, wall, I'm sicka this shit.  I've been through more in 3 days than some people do in their lives, and if I don' get through I'm gonna smash this crystal on you!"  Rumbling, then a stop.  "Fine, be that way."  I grabbed the light, stepped back a few feet then set it down again.  I wasn't exactly sure where the center of the door was, but I wasn't carin' much more than me getting out, fast.

          I got the crystal from my armpit and held it strongly in both hands.  I made a mean face, lifted it over/behind my head and threw...  It thumped the stone wall then dropped to the ground.  All I could react was a weak "Huh?".

 

 

 

-|=-Part 28-=|-

          Well, it wasn't anything magnificent.  The crystal shattered after hitting the ground and the door moved to the left, out of my way.  I didn't even smile, I wasn't in the mood.  I didn't hurry through the door, I just sort of limped through.  Maybe it was some attempt to feel trickster again, whatever.  Anyway, I got through the door, the end of the hall, turned left and got outside before I heard the door close.  Maybe it was a door safety, like the annoying beeps and buzzes when you leave yer key in the ignition and open the door.  As good-natured as they are, they'd be better with a "I'm gonna be as reckless as I wanna be because there's always a heavy object to smash the window in with" setting.

          The exit, I was finally done with that tacky cave, the cliched capture deal and puzzles that seem like they were stolen from 987,652 Fun, Yet Annoying Things If You Happen To Be Crazy.  I could be that author, but I don' needa be; there are plenty more people who could collaborate and do it together, if they stopped being annoying.  Oh yeah, the story.  I've destroyed the flow of this paragraph, glad I have so many more I can use.

          So I was sayin' that I found the exit to the cave and got out.  It was a 'prismatic' (if my 4th grade Art teacher was here) sunset and 'palletable'; it had oranges, pinks, grays, reds, blues and the dried-out versions of these, too.  I happened to get an excellent view of this after a complex series of events involving a big gray rock, a low-hanging branch and some dirt on my chin.  (I'll leave the exact method to yer imagination.)

          Sunset, this meant that it was getting dark, it'd be cave time all over again, except with stars, trees and less scratchy ground.  It also meant that it was time for a self-check.  I was long past the duel's adril rush, becoming tired, hungry, thirsty and quite crabby, without the shells.  (Please pardon these ramblings, I'm trying not to comment on everything, but it's just... so... hard....)  I had no more food or water, my right hand was sore and I was getting to smell like something foul and old.  (I could hide this briefly with a shirt change if I hadda go into civilization.)  My pack had some clean shirts, dirty shorts, trash, money and the Unfortunate Token Of Adventures, End and Nozzy's book.  Well, may as well find someplace to eat, sleep, bathe and shave right after I...

          I stood up; my thought went on.  Well, after I find some place TO do that and after I find out where I am.  Not like it would matter, there are prolly innyinnyhillions of places to be when lost, besides the technical and groan-producing "here".  Alright, so I'm lost.  And I'm alone.  And I'm odda food.  And I escaped a base underground.  And I have people who want me.  And I'm tired.  And I'm rambling.   Basically, I was at a point between "desperate" and "screwed"; somewhere close to losing your swimsuit in the school pool while everyone's watching in a physical sense, not that it happened to me.

          Whatever happened, I thought it'd be better for me to sleep first before trying to locate civilization.  Finding a good sleep spot would be harder than my last forest sleep.  Since I didn't know very well (or at all) where I was going, I decided it'd be better to get away from this cave ASAFAP (as soon and fast as possible).

          I headed forward, light in my left hand.  I was more careful of low branches and other things now, my chin was worth more than a mistake.  I looked around often as I went on, it was nearly black/blue now and that ain't a sky I trust for safety.  I found a small area thick with trees, leaves and stones which I went through.  Well, partly, I never managed to get to the other side because of all the sharp sticks on the trees.  Hmm, if I couldn't get through this then I didn't think -anyone- could, so I decided to settle down for the night.  I moved away some rocks, stuck the light in my pack and fell into a nice sleep.  For awhile.

 

-|=-Part 29-=|-

          Sleep, you know what I'm talking about when I say the word.  The quiet, relaxing rest that makes you glad it's a necessity.  Now try to imagine NOT sleeping, that's prolly easy enough.  Imagine how I felt when I was awoken because of some noises after all I'd been through the past 3 days.  Add to that the factor of this being something you REALLY didn't wanna hear and you come out around where I was.

          I lay on the ground, tired but awake.  I think I slept something, but that wasn't helpin' me now.  I was angry, I woulda kicked a tree if I knew I wouldn't smash my toes on it.

          Noises came from somewhere in the distance.  Even being like I was, I recalled some bed scenes from movies and it sounded like 2 people were gonna choke any minute.  Or scream.

          So I had 2 main choi- SHUT UP!!-I could stay here where it was somewhat safe or I could-DIE ALREADY!-using the light and risk it.  Based on what I was hearing now, I felt the ur-GRRR!!-leave.

          Between headaches and wishing these people would stop, I sat, unzipped my pack, grabbed the light, zipped the pack, crawled out of the thick forest and into safe ear range.  Here I was protected from only the sound, and that wasn't good enough.  I hadda get away.

          I looked ahead at the light and recalling the last 3 days wasn't hard.  It was a long line of trickstering, though I wasn't in control of mosta it.  I'd also gotten this far from being careful, fast and suspicious; now I had the feeling my ability to laugh off things and take my journey as a series of confusions and cliches was ending.  Of course I didn't directly THINK these, the closest I came was a yawn.

          My eyes pulsed, throbbed, etc; my stomach felt empty and sickened and I wasn't in the mood for anything but sleep.  I'd heard WAY more than enough of the forest X cubed scene, but you knew that already.  It's kina late, sorry.

          I wasn't seeing well I thought.  There was a blackish haze in the area the light hit, maybe some rainy mist.  Sounds of one of the oldest worldly pasttimes were fading, but I was getting more and more away from the thick brush.  I turned left and saw what looked like a small outcropping of trees; eh, functional enough.  I wasn't very picky about where I slept, it was what was around me that mattered more.  To get an idea of what my mind was like then: "Trees... sleep... yawn."

          I stumbled forward into the outcropping and sat.  "Bit more... trees... sleep... yawn."  There was the sound of leaves moving, wood snapping and earth being patted as I moved some things around to make room to lie on.  I barely got the light into my pack and zipped it before I fell over.  "Erg... snore."

 

-|=-Part 30-=|-

          I felt something on my back, it seemed heavy.  I looked around and tried to move, it seemed like it didn't move.  I felt the pack and removed it, it was STILL there.  Oish, I couldn't see it and I couldn't get it off.  I managed to get into a stand, but moving was hard.  It felt like someone slipped a fat midget into my pack.  (Which didn't happen, there wouldn't be room.)  I looked right, over the trees.  There seemed to be a black river coming down from the mountains.  I went to investigate it, well, I got about 10 steps and felt too sore to move.  I sat, feeling confused.  Black river?  This really big weight?  Uhh...  That was about all I got to before I unzipped my pack and looked through.  Nothing that wasn't there yesterday before I went to sleep except more wear and age.  Something really strange was happening, and I wasn't sure what.  (Not that you needed to read that second half, or even the first of that sentence.  Authors really have a way of overdoing some phrases.)  I looked up and around the tree branches, there was a sun, there were clouds, there was blue occasionally.  Biting myself hurt, so something was happening.

          "Jake..."

          I didn't want to know, but I did.  This guy was worse than some rulers who kept going and going to some high exponent.  I felt the sudden urge to turn my head left.  I saw a bear, it was a brown bear, and it was coming toward me.  I struggled to get up, but couldn't.  I started crawling along the ground toward where I'd woken, but only got about 2 feet.  I turned toward the bear, it had a gun!...?  It was a pistol, and it seemed to know how to use it; it was shooting around where my head would be if I was a bit taller.  It stood back on 2 legs and shot into the air; I had a net dropped on me and couldn't get it off.  Dam-

 

-|=-Part 31-=|-

          Err...  I felt around, morning came without much of an ordeal.  The sky was blue, sunny and had some clouds in it.  My right hand still throbbed a bit, but it wasn't significant.

          Needs.  Food.  Pack.  Wait, ate the last banana.  Crap.  Stand.  Net.  Net?  Move net.  Good.  Stand.  Ow.  Sit.  Kneel.  Careful now.  Stand.  Phew.  Bladder.  Pee.  Tree.  (This went on for awhile, reentering thought process...)  ..od.  Find?  Buy?  Buy.  Town.  Where?  Somewhere.  Forward.  Look.  Town?  Town.  Money?  Money.  Good.  Drink?  No.  Town.  Bear?  No.  Phew.  River?  No.  Forward.  March.

          I saw a small town in the distance, further down on the hill.  It seemed like one you'd expect to see on a postcard; small, quiet and prolly real boring.  I had money and I wasn't in the mood to add to my criminal record, so I went toward it.  Things got in my head; what if they hearda me?  What if there was a reward poster and someone noticed it?  It seemed like I'd be runnin' hungry, or with whatever stuff I had.  What about my pack?  Havin' it on me'd prolly add to the suspicion, but leavin' it somewhere meant possibly losin' it.  Man, such tough decisions.

          Trees...  They'd make good pack hiding places.  Still, I wasn't very certain.  Anything could come through here and move it or steal it, and I'd be worse off then.  Without that tome to guard, I had no major reason to run away; back to boring normality.  (The major good thing about this runnin' away business is that I could cause trouble and laugh while I ran, fast and far away.)

          Oh, right, the problem.  I'd take it with me while I looked for a grocery or summin', preferably one with a backdoor open.

          Err, anyway, the walk down the hill wasn't very splendid, but it was quiet.  It was one of those quiets that seems...upsetting.  I felt a bit guilty, thoughts of what I'd done the past 4 days were creeping over me.  What, I hadn't done anything really wrong!  I was trying to be a survivor!  Man, shut up!

          I stopped fighting myself again and noticed I was on the edge of town.  I seemed to immurze myself in detail; all the buildings looked like they were made of white wood or brick, the roofs seemed dark and slightly wet, like there was rain recently.  There was a dirt path that seemed like the main road around here with connections to a highway right.  The way went over a small stone/steel arch bridge and wherever it went in 2 directions.  A bit off to the right and ahead  was a black wood sign with "Granfall" in yell...whi..yel...varying colors.  This place would either be my salvation or my grand fall.  Hah hah hah... no.

          I thought about the dream; what happened?  Was a bear coming, is WCG alive?  Maybe, but it didn't seem so.

          I sniffed the air, yeah, I remember, I should've changed by now.  Man, that was bad.  Eh, well, I'd just change next to this building... there we go.  I'm fresh as a crapped diaper in a room with insence! 

          I sat down next to the white wall and thought more.  What was happening back in normality?  Well, I'd have school now, maybe eaten lunch and been in Grapf's class or detention.  Today was Monday which meant a new subject, I wondered what it'd be.  He said we'd be getting into plays soon; Romeo and Juliet?  That story didn't seem right, I heard of people going to extreme lengths for love, but marrying only knowing eachother a DAY then killing yerself less than a week after?  Man, mistakes like that seemed part of human instinct.  If they weren't, why else would philosopher types say that history repeated?  Why would people run away if they had no idea of where they were going or what'd happen?  Why does every generation face similar problems as ones before them?  Why does society exist like it does?  What's the point of living if for decades you can't enjoy yer damn life?  Why do schools exist when the most helpful stuff is learned before 8th grade?  Why do schools try to make everything based off tests instead of measuring progress in another way?  Grades aren't fair and they're barely helpful past the first out-of-college jobs year, experience is what the companies are lookin' for.  Why have seatbelts on airplanes?  If yer gonna hit the ground at over 200 miles an hour, a thin strap to hold you down isn't something ya want.  Why run away without knowin' where yer going or how t' get there?  Why have people fought for centuries over religion when they're prolly just angering the guy?  If the Bible says God hates gays, why do so many people make it their responsibility insteada lettin' the Lawman handle it?  (And so on.)

          I can ask, but that doesn't mean I'll be answered.  I sighed, things seemed so much for me.  I pitifully combed my hair with my fingers and stood; hopefully there'll be food and I won't need to steal it.

 

-|=-Part 32-=|-

          Monday, that thought tends to put people into really bad moods, maybe even shock them.  Right now in my condition, Monday was a relief, but any day I after getting out of that base would be.  I wasn't a particularly "smart" man, not having finished a "proper" education, but I wouldn't be needin' it the next few weeks at the rate I was goin'.  "Formal education" seems to exist to get students well-hating academics without paying for college and make sure they discover most the ways on how to live in spite of it.  Well, enough with the school bashing, I had a feedin' to attend t'.

          So, getting the story straight, I'm a hiker that got lost in the woods and happened to find this lil' village.  Eh, fairly true and nearly all true if you consider lying only things y' state.  (I doubt you'd be so willin' to tell the world everything that happened so far.)

          Grocer, grocer, we're missin' one.  I'd been down the dirt path and saw just houses, a dentist's office, a car dealership, 7 public phones, 1 coffee house, 1 burger joint and 6 cats.  C'mon, I'm hu... oh, there it was.  It was a small brown building on the other end of Granfall on the bottom of a hill.  Nuttin' much else to say about it.  I was hungry and dizzy, but runnin'd prolly cause more suspicion.  I groaned quietly, patience won again.

          Well, it felt looked smaller from the distance.  (Anythin' in the distance looks smaller.)  It wasn't huge, but it wasn't really small; take yer pick on what that means.  I shrugged and entered.  The place was like most others I'd been in; the security camera when ya come in, checkers near the door (though only 4) and the whole 'white is everywhere' style.  Maybe it was me, but this felt a lot like home, err, not the 'house' home, but you can figure it out.  The feeling of being big started to shrink as I got in.  There were 4 checkers and 10 shelves, each only about 5 feet high and it seemed like most of 'em were near empty.  I'd just grab whatever seemed like it'd fit in m' pack (but I'd carry it) and wasn't canned.... which left me with 4 loaves of bread, 6 apples and 2 bottles of water.  The area didn't LOOK like a recent disaster, that may've been why, but this was a small town and I wasn't used to their ways.

          I headed for a checker and there was the obligatory line.  Even in small town country where this place prolly services about 400, there's a 3 person line at each checker stand.  Some things I just don't understand.  I sighed, shrugged and waited to be serviced.

          There were the usual magazines and candy in the 'impulse' section, I don' think anyone over 10 actually uses this.  It may be nice to flip through some lying magazine to see what people'll do for money while there's a long line, but I never saw anyone buy any.  I got odda thought mode and looked ahead; there was a woman in fronta me I didn't care about, then there was something that seemed familia...  That guy in frunna her, he had short white and gray hair and I noticed his shoulders, part of a white and green windbreaker.  Green here?  I wasn't sure, I wanted to shout out to him, to see if he was who I think he was, but I couldn't.  (Hopefully that's the last time I use a cliche love story technique.)  He turned to face the checker, I think it was him!  Damnit, I couldn't tell who it was and I couldn't shout to him without raising suspicion!  Maybe if I could get through the checking...  That seemed to be the only way.  Damnit, c'mon lady, the world's dependin' on this!  I started countin' in my head, a minute passed and she was still unloading, maybe she'd bought out most the store.  I think that's parta the idea that men buy what they came for and women just buy anything, especially if there's a sale.  Finally she was through, and it only took 2 minutes and 16 seconds!

          I dropped the stuff on the check belt and reached for my wallet, phew.  I'm glad I put that there.  The checking seemed to go really slowly, I wasn't sure what it was.  "Green" seemed to get through instantly and that woman in frunna me got pretty fast service, but this this seemed like someone was tryin' to make me wait.  31, 32, 33...  Alright, done, phew.  I got a bag, grabbed the stuff best I could and put it in there then I realized it.  Money, almost forgot to pay for this.  It'd really suck if I was dragged back home because I forgot to pay.  I got money from my wallet, handed it over, got m' change and bag and as unsuspiciously as I could, ran out.

 

-|=-Part 33-=|-

          "Green" was gone, he had about a 4 minute start.  Noone seemed to care about my pack, maybe they got a lotta hikers around here.  Maybe it was just kuz they were too busy; maybe kuz they didn't care.  I shrugged, sighed then climbed the hill behind the store.

Heh, this seemed like my traveling so far, biking uphill.  Maybe that was what was happening, I just cleared one hill and found another that I hadda struggle up.  Going downhill, I would fly, or something else functional enough.  I might go so fast that I'd be odda control and couldn't see what was comin' from all sides, but I hadn't seen much this whole trip.  My father told me to never accelerate when going downhill; I might get hit by something.  He was never in my situation.

          I think my flying was after I got through with that gladiation and I just enjoyed everything about winning.  Now, I was strugglin' to get up and to my next place.  I didn't doubt that I'd find trouble there of some kind.  There's the traditional meaning of 'trouble' as something dangerous, deadly and other 'd' words.  There's also my definition of trouble as 'annoyances'.  I tried using my brand of trouble, I tried being nice and I got screwed at school.  I tried being nice at the store too, and I get "Screwed 2".  Maybe if I wasn't so nice I wouldn't've gotten out so bad.  There are other things I wonder; what woulda happened if I stayed around school?  What if the police caught me?  What if those freaky techno-uniformed guardbots got me?  That didn't matter much now, I had other concerns.  Food?  I had enough to last me awhile.  Water, too.  Maybe money.  Several sets of clothes, and I didn't think I'd be minglin' much with, so I felt set.  And the book; yeah, I wasn't gonna forget that thing easily.  Unless I did something majorly troublesome (type 1) or/and stupid...  Err, scratch that.  Even MORE troublesome or/and stupid, I wasn't gonna be waving bye to this reality soon.

          I blinked and the world came back.  I was on the top of a hill, sitting on a bench with a trash can next to me and a tree behind me.  Amazin' what'll happen when yer whelmed by thought.  May as well trash m' trash and reload my pack.  Sparing the details of the pack's interior (or not; it smelled like crap, looked rotten and felt squishy, AKA: "tasty bits"), I emptied it into the bin left of me.  I was glad I had so many wrappers, they stopped a lotta the more squishy stuff from gettin' on my clothes or the book.  Getting the new stuff in was pretty easy and I packed the bread on the bottom.  Bread was flexible, bread was durable and it soaked up a lotta what leaked into the pack.  It was the Sponge of Bakery for over 2000 years™.  The apples went next, then the water.  Only one bottle could be crammed into the pack's space, but I had room in my jacket.  Not very exciting, folks, but it gets better.

          I looked left again toward the small city of Granfall, it was like looking into one of those famous paintings, only whoever made this wasn't collectin' a cover charge.