Black And White

Chapter 4

Howie's shoulder whacked the floor of the pitch black room first when he was violently thrown against the ground.
"You're back."
He felt a hand grab his and pull him up, "Uhh- I guess. Yeah."
"Where's Curt?"
Howie reached up to rub his head as the man guided him out of the room. It was Xander, he realised.
"He- Oh!" His eyes widened as he remembered what was happening, "Okay, so, Curt is still in the black and white with Uncle Wiley, who isn't actually called that and we need to kill someone called Linda Monroe. That's all I can remember, that portal was ... violent."
"Yeah, spent months trying to fix that. Nothing worked. And what did you say this person's name was?"
"Linda Monroe, Wiggly's prophet, I think?"
"Okay." Xander sat behind his desk and gestured for Howie to sit across from him. "And what did you say about Wiley?"
"Oh- All I know is Agent Mega knew him and Uncle Wiley was an alias."
Xander looked at him darkly, "Do you remember any more? What did he look like?"
"Dark hair, black trousers, brown jacket? Not like he did in the ads."
"Brown jacket?" Xander stared hard at Howie.
"I-I think so?"
"Oh shit. We need to find this Linda and kill her. Now." Xander leapt up, throwing Howie a gun and taking one for himself.

Owen emitted a dim glow as he lead Curt through the darkness until they approached a wheel similar to the one on the portal.
"Can you get the door, love?" Owen asked as he pulled a rope from his bag.
"Uh-" Curt spun the wheel round and hauled the door open, throwing a hand against his eyes as he swivelled away from the blindingly bright white light.
"Sorry. Should've warned you about that." Owen tied a rope to a hook next to the door before confidently striding through.
"What are we doing?"
"Keep a hold of the rope at all times and follow me. You adjust to the light pretty quickly."
"Why the rope?"
"So that we don't get lost. You don't know this place at all and I live in the black. I'm pretty much programmed to have trouble finding my way about in the white."
"Um- Right. Okay" Curt stammered as he tentatively held onto the rope.
"What is it, love?" Owen looked at Curt, eyebrows raised as he unravelled the rest of the rope and tied a knot at the end.
"What?"
"Oh, come on. I can tell you want to say something. What is it?"
"Sorry- I just- How are you glowing?"
Owen laughed, "It's crucial to find ways to adapt to this place. This was just my way. Wiggly taught me how to do it."
"Could you do that on earth?"
"I can. However, when we're out I'm not 100% sure. We shall see." He smiled optimistically and pulled the door closed behind them, allowing the rope to keep it jammed open slightly.
"How do you get used to the brightness in here?"
"Just give it a minute."
They stepped forward, each with a hand on the rope and Curt kept his other arm above his head as if blocking sunlight. Except the light was far brighter than he sun appears from earth and was coming at them from all angles.
"Whoa-" Owen and Curt sad in unison as they flinched at the light sharply raising even more.
"Hello," A voice spoke softly as the glow slowly abated, "What is one of Wiggly's helpers doing in this part of the black and white?"
     A woman with sparkling white hair stepped out of the haze and looked at the two men, her eyes kind yet stern.
     "We're trying to stop Wiggly's plan." Owen stared at her in awe.
     She grinned and raised an eyebrow, "And free yourself?"
     Owen looked down awkwardly, "I guess."
     "Well, I think I can help with that, Mr Carvour."
     Owen's eyes were gaping as he kept his eyes fixed on the woman.
     "That's right. I know who you are. And I know what you plan to do. You should be warned, it won't come at no cost."
     "Owen, what's she talking about?" Curt tore his eyes away from her and looked at Owen, who had a guilty look in his eyes.
     "I know. I'm willing to pay the price."
     "No, no, what is the price?"
     Everything was silent until the woman cleared her throat and spoke, "Owen cannot leave the black and white as a full person unless somebody takes his place. He can, however, leave without having somebody to replace him if he leaves a part of himself."
     "Owen-"
     He produced a chain from his pocket, "This."
     "But that's-"
     "The only thing I have left from my parents since they disowned me."
     "Are you aware that if you leave that, it will get lost in the black and white and they'll forget who you are? You'll have to live with the burden of knowing who they are whilst they forget you."
     "So it's a win-win, then."
     Curt stared a him. "Owen, you can't be serious-"
     "I'm deadly serious, Curt. And there's nothing you can do to change my mind."
     Curt just nodded, knowing nothing he could ever say would convince him not to do it.
     "Now, we should really get started before we run out of time. Shall we?" The woman gestured for the two to follow her, "Oh, I'm Webby, by the way."