Douce Dépendouce

Chapter 9

I didn't know how long I had been out, or even if I had been at all. I didn't know if all my memories were combined into one, but everything felt still. No more sounds of the world demolishing, no sounds of life, nothing; just complete silence.

I slowly lifted my head up, looking around at the damage. It was completely dark know. The only light was a few Pandoric stones which had very little energy. All the plants and animals were gone, providing that there was no life. The paths were mostly gone, and if they weren't, they were about to. Pandora had losts its life; the colour, the energy, the magic, anything that it had was gone. It was just lifeless.

I slowly stood up, dusting off myself as I did so. I then stepped forward, continuing to look around. It was almost painful to look at. Everything was gone, and showed no signs of coming back. My eyes drifted up above, not even being able to see anything except for darkness. The temperature had dropped even more now, colder than it had been before. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering lightly as I continued to walk around. I flinched lightly when I rubbed my arms, the memory of my hand coming back to me. I swallowed, walking over to one of the last stones of energy, picking it up and holding it in my hands. It was the only way that could guide me back, or get me closer to where the others may be. I tried to remember where the others were, but my mind was thick and the symptoms had returned. I squeezed my eyes shut as the pounding in my head made its way back in, still continuing on.

As I walked, I tried to ignore the pain and burning feeling that beated me down. I knew that Pandora was having its side effects now, and later the sickness would come. That made me more anxious to find the others and to get back to Jorvik. I swallowed deeply as I continued on, now noticing a silhouette only a few miles ahead. At first, a small spark of hope formed in my chest as it got closer, hoping that it was Linda or Alex. As it did, I felt that hope leave, the silhouette giving a more wider and muscular shape.

It was him.

I felt myself stop dead, watching as he neared, his face slowly coming into view. I looked at his eyes and then his sickening smirk; he looked exactly how I remembered him. His eyes refused to look away from me and made my heart beat faster, panic entering my blood as he stopped in front of me, outstretching his hand. He did so as a way for me to take it, then gesturing it around him after a bit. I followed his hand as he did so, not wanting to have to look at him.

"You've done exactly what you planned on doing, am I right?" He spoke, his tone filled with anger, but yet, in an attempt to be soothing.

I looked at him, seeing his smirk grow at my expression. His voice made me break out into a sweat and made my breathing intensify. I begged for my legs to work, but they simply were locked, they wouldn't move. No matter how hard I tried, they refused to budge. He then took a step closer, causing me to step back. In surprise at my movement, I attempted to run, but yet fail.

"What's with the distressed look? You did complete your goal," he continued.

Hearing him speak in such a way made the pain in my head hurt more. It was to the point now where I felt everything was closing me in.

"You'll be here for much longer than you may think, you need to get used to your surroundings and atmosphere," he spoke, soon standing over me as I was forced to look at him. "If you hadn't destroyed them maybe you would have enjoyed them more."

He said the last bit in a smirk and only became worse when I shook my head. I couldn't bring myself to speak, or run, I could do anything. It was like I was trapped, just like in my dream.

After a minute, I felt him reach his hand out, about to grab my chin before a sudden struck of lightning came, bringing us apart. I frantically looked up, seeing Alex running towards me. She struck out another shot towards him as she came closer to me, quickly grabbing me by my arm and dragging me along. It took me a minute to catch my feet as I ran with her, feeling her grip tighten as we darted in a new direction. Every part of me felt relief, she was still here. I didn't even know how she had found me, or even seen me for that matter, I had just wanted to get away. As we ran, I felt her start to slow, soon seeing a pile of runes up ahead. They were piled upon each other, making a protective barrier. As she slowed, I felt her push me lightly forward, letting me sit down. As I did so, I looked up at her, seeing her join my side. We sat there a moment, trying to catch our breaths before Alex spoke,