Cloudytale AU

Chapter 3 - Ashley's Heartache

Alex wakes up and stretches.

"Good morning." He hears Lilly say and turns to look at her. She appears to be looking through a bookshelf that's in their room. "How'd you sleep?" She asks.

"Pretty alright, I woke up to a slice of pie, so that was nice." Alex answers and joins Lilly in looking through the bookshelf.

"Lots of history books, whoever used to own this room was probably a big history fan. Look, 'The War of Humans and Monsters'." Lilly picks up a book.

"I hate history." Alex rants. "Like, it's just stuff from the past. Why would I care about what Hitler's brother's step-sister's aunt's great-grandmother's dog's favourite type of cheese is?? It's so dumb."

Lilly laughs. "I like history, I think it's pretty interesting."

"Okay, well you can be a nerd all you want for now, I'm going to talk to Ashley." Alex walks out of the room.

"See ya." Lilly sits on the bed and reads the book.

Alex walks into Ashley's living room. Ashley is sitting in a chair, reading a book.

"Oh, you're up already? I just wanted to let you know how glad I am that you two are staying here. Forgive me, but I never bothered to ask for your names." Ashley looks up from her book.

"Oh, my name is Alex and hers is Lilly. I'm fourteen and she's thirteen, turning fourteen in a few months." Alex answers.

"Ah, very nice! What is it that you wanted?" Ashley looks at Alex with a smile.

"Oh... Um... I was just, uh, wondering when Lilly and I could go home...?" Alex asks timidly.

"Ah..." Ashley puts down her book. "I see..."

"D-did I say something wrong...?" Alex says quietly.

Ashley looks at him with a pained smile. "Follow me, my child."

Alex follows Ashley downstairs, into her basement.

Ashley kneels down to his height. (They're not short, she's just tall) "Listen, my child... I understand if you want to leave, but it is far too dangerous out there... I am only protecting you by keeping you here. We can have a nice life together." She rushes over to the door.

"But... What about our lives on the surface? We have real families we need to go back to!" Alex yells after her.

"This door is the gateway to the rest of the underground. I am going to destroy it. Please go to your room, now." Ashley says with her back turned. She summons a fireball.

"I... I can't let you do that." Alex works up the courage to speak.

"You want to leave so badly? Hmph. You are just like the others. Then... prove yourself. Prove to me you are strong enough to survive..."

*Ashley blocks the way!

"Ashley, please! I don't want to fight you!" Alex tries to talk to her, but she is too busy FIGHTing to hear...

*Ironically, talking doesn't seem to be the solution to this.

"..." Ashley summons multiple fireballs and fires them at Alex. He dodges a few but gets hit by one.