The Forum Fan-Fic

[mashuga31]

Chapter 2: Regret

Mashuga sat beside Neil's hospital bed for four long hours before the old man's eyes finally flicked open. "Mashuga? Where are we?" He asked with surprise, looking around the white room. Taking a moment to think about his answer, Mashuga replied "You had an accident last night... don't you remember?"

[nickgreyden]

"No I don..." Neil began, then then a look of horror crossed his face. "Thompson" he growled in as he face turned from horror to anger. He looked at Mashuga. "Did he touch you?" Neil asked, urgency, in his voice.
"Did he what?"
"Did he touch you boy?"
"Who?"
"ANYONE!"
Thinking back, Mashuga remembered the gentle yet firm hand of the paramedic as he eased him out of the way and the way the officer placed his hand on his shoulder as he lead him to the ambulence. "I... I think he paramedic and the police officer did." Mashuga answered in a whisper. Without warning Neil grabbed the boy with one hand, and slammed his other through Mashuga's chest. I knot of fear swelled instantly into Mashuga's throat silencing the scream he wished could be free, but surprisingly, there was no pain. Looking down he saw Neil's arm twist this way and that. Suddenly, his forearm tightened into one corded knot of muscle and he slid his hand out of the frightened adolescent. Within his grip was the most disgusting thing he had ever seen in his life. Not giving the young one time to vomit, Neil seized his arm jumped out of bed and said "We have to get out of here now!"

[mashuga31]

Neil dragged Mashuga out of the room and into the white hall of the Hospital. "We can't go out the front door, it would be too obvious," He said, looking for an alternate route. Spotting a window at the end of a long corridor, Neil started to run with Mashuga close behind. Barreling through the glass the pair found themselves on a roof. Neil started to walk towards the edge of the building when Mashuga stopped him. "What... was that?" He asked, completely out of breath.

[nickgreyden]

With only a glance, Neil threw Mashuga on his back and leaped from the hospital roof. Though not the top of the building, the tiered roof was more than 15 stories up and Mashuga gripped the old man's neck in a death hold for his final moments on earth. Knowing the end to be near, he silently wished for more time when a bright light flashed invading the blackness behind his eyelids. He felt their desent veer from a sneer drop to a swing to a leveled... flight? Cracking his eyelids knowing that by this time death had either been obtained or adverted, he found himself holding the neck of Neil, though Neil had mysteriously sprouted golden wings. They weren't of any substantial substance but appeared to be nothing but golden light radiating from his back and yet working as normal wings would. For some reason they left a short glittery trail before the falling light would disappear. His brain overloaded from what he was sure was some kind of dream he instantly found it odd that Neil's wings would leave a trail. When his mind finally came to him a few seconds later that it was, in fact, odd for Neil to have wings he promptly lost his grip on reality, on consciousness, and, consequently, on Neil.

[mashuga31]

His eyes closed as the world faded around him. He was falling down to the pavement. The resistance of the atmosphere cause his hair to whip furiously at his face, but he couldn't feel it. He didn't know he was falling and he didn't know about what had happened next. Before Neil could so much as swoop down to save him, he was gone. A gray flash through the air and nothing else.

[kevinguy247]

But Mashuga didn't hit the ground. Of all the billion things that seemed to happen in that moment, impact was inexplicably absent. There was a fluttering whir, a shadow in front of the morning sun for just a moment, a jolt, and Mashuga was safe again for the moment, in the arms of his friend. He looked up to see the familiar face and find some comfort. But comfort was something he wouldn't know for quite some time. Instead of the old man supporting him, the police officer he had spoken to before, sporting a pair of silvery wings was carrying the frightened and confused young boy. "Listen up, kid, and listen good. I'm only going to tell you this once..."

[mashuga31]

Mashuga was only half conscious but he was sure he knew what he was seeing. This man was different from any other human being, or Neil for that matter. His wings were dark and eroded. Their arcs were held up by thin bones making him look like some form of a bat. He no longer wore his police uniform, but nevertheless Mashuga could still recognize him. Instead the officer wore a leather jacket and denim pants. Embroidered on the front pocket of his jacket were the words 'Nick Greyden,' which Mashuga recognized as a hard rock band from his city. "... But all of that only leads up to one thing," The strange man said, apparently finishing up. "Our world is going to end."

[kevinguy247]

Mashuga could only think in sound bytes at the moment, "...Put... Put me down, please." The police officer obliged with a grunt and lowered the young boy into a corn field, grown tall by now. Mashuga lived nowhere near a farm. He could only wonder just how far he'd been carried in his stupor. But with his feet firmly on the ground, he began to operate once again. He cold stared his rescuer and said, "I think you should explain this again."

[mashuga31]

The man laughed loudly. It was a deep booming laugh that seemed to echo in the field around him. His voice grew even deeper still. "I told you what you need to know." He said, his expression growing almost to a menacing level. "But I will tell you this part one more time. When we call for you, you will answer." With that said his tone reversed enough to sound convincing. "Now, we celebrate!" Mashuga could not be more confused than he was right then. He could only stare at the strange winged man and couldn't help but wonder what became of Neil.

[nickgreyden]

Others drifted in from the corn field. On first glance, nondescript persons of every race and age; but as they inched closer in a slow cadence he saw the difference. No scars, no marks, no tattoos. There was not one piercing save for the single earring per ear of the women. The wore the same nondescript clothing. Nothing too poor, nothing to fashion intensive. It was as if the mind was suppose to wash over them. They began a low throaty hum, then an odd harmonizing. The walking cadence turned into a sway and as the voices changed to the lyrical chanting, the sways turned into to separate moves then jerks then dances all their own.

Mashuga couldn't fight through the gray haze in his mind. He couldn't think. He tired but couldn't talk. Nothing was as it should have been. Everything was just wrong. The last thing he remembered he had dropped to his knees vomiting before the world turned black again.

(yea yea, I was going somewhere so I took 2 paragraphs. DEAL WITH IT :-) )

[mashuga31]

(Lol, you can put two paragraphs. I put that in the first post )

Neil sat perched atop a cathedral, going over his thoughts. He had let an innocent boy be taken away. How could he have let this happen? Even though he knew Mashuga wasn't an ordinary boy, Neil couldn't help but worry. If he was correct, and judging by that streak of gray he probably was, Mashuga had been captured by another clan. Knowing which one would be impossible given only what he had seen, but he could be sure of one thing: Mashuga was safe for now. Clans aren't renown for harming humans, however some are known to recruit them.

With this last thought in mind, Neil stood and walked the ridge of the catheral's roof all the way to the end. He closed his eyes and let his body fall. Refreshing wind blew onto his exposed chest and arms. When he opened them again he was in flight, soaring above the city into the vast countryside beyond.

[kevinguy247]

"I don't understand what it is that you're so worked up about!" A young, thoroughly beautiful man with shining blond hair was pouring tea out of an expensive looking designer kettle into a mug for Neil, who shifted in the awkward, nouveau riche stools at the bar. The whole kitchen, the whole mansion gleamed with a cleanliness and order that the old man hadn't seen in ages. "That's always been your problem, Neil." The blonde man told him, matter of fact, "You've never appreciated what you've GOT! I mean look at you! You've never appreciated this gift you've been given! Look at you!" He seemed to really wish to make a point of Neil's appearance. "You think all those wrinkles and scars mean that you're one of them, who you inexplicably envy so much? It doesn't mean that!" He dropped a teabag in the two mugs and passed one to Neil, "All it means is that you're losing touch with what makes us what we are! It's ridiculous!" Neil put up his hand and said, "Please, my friend. I came to you for help, not a lecture!"

[nickgreyden]

The man, looked around his kitchen and sighed before returning his gaze to Neil. His excitement subsided he spoke again. "Come, my friend, let us carry this conversation to the terrace". Placing his hand on a small circular dish and forcing a bit of essence into it, it slowly lifted. He placed the kettle on it with several items, lifted his own cup and led Neil to the terrace overlooking a beautiful countryside with the plate floating casually behind. Sitting in an ornate chair and sipping mildly at his tea, he returned to the conversation. "My friend, we've known each other for years now. The gods have seen fit to bless us with part of their power and we have been more than human for quite some time. You have never truly accepted the gift and instead remained in the shackles of the past." Neil started to protest but the man raised his hand. "No, no. I'll not lecture you further, I am merely stating the obvious. You are too attached to those beneath us, Neil. The world has been given to us. We are now it's shepherds and I guess as such we must occasionally act in kindness to individuals." He finished his cup of tea and tapped the kettle. Neil felt harmonic use of like essence being focused into the kettle as it tipped forward slightly refilling his cup before returning to the plate. The man took another sip. "So what would you have me do"?

Neil sat his cup down on the table looking into the eyes of his friend. "Thank you, Edmond", he said, though he desperately wished his friend more compassion.

[varalidaine]

Mashuga woke up lying in soft bed. The sun had shined it's way in through the crack of a window curtain and threatened to blind him, so he closed his eyes again and listened for the familiar sounds of his mother making her usual hangover cure. The dream the night before had been a weird one, but it had been only a dream, and MAshuga could not tell if he was glad of this, or disappointed. IT had all felt so real.. Then he heard something open his door and rest on the end of his bed. Slowly, he opened his eye and looked at the large, wing-less figure that had decided to sit beside his feet. The sun was still too bright for him to see clearly, but his vision gradually adapted to the light and he could see a pair of bright, dark brown eyes staring at him.

HE was unsure if he could call this beauty a person. SHe was too perfect. Her eyes were so kind, and her lips so soft, her hair was long and full, and unnaturally dark. She had an angled face, but not pointy and ugly like those models he'd seen on T.V. She was something other than human, of this he was sure. A rush of excitement filled him as he stared at this creature watching him. His dream had not been a dream, had it? Mashuga suddenly started to feel light headed, and realized he'd forgotten to breath. THen she spoke.. "Oh dear, my husband was right.. You must be extremely open minded to be able to see me so well. My name is Angeline." And she offered Mashuga one soft, white hand to shake.

[mashuga31]

He looked around the room and noticed it wasn't his bedroom. In fact, he could hardly call it a room. The wallpaper was peeling and portions of the wall were exposed. Mold grew on the ceiling and in areas of the carpet. A wide square was cut out of the wall where a window should be. Glorious rays of light poured into the old bedroom. Suddenly Mashuga knew what had happened was real. "Where is that police officer?" He asked quickly. "Frank's away right now," she replied "He let me watch over you last night," She said, glancing down, "But don't worry, I wasn't too rough." Mashuga grew bright red, utterly speechless.

[kevinguy247]

Mashuga noticed his work clothes were gone. He was now wearing the same nondescript garments of the performers he had seen earlier. He put his hand to his head and noticed his hair had been cut short. He remembered hearing about cults on the news. People who would all dress in the same outfit and perform mass suicides. They must be recruiting him. The news had neglected to mention any flying people. Besides his clothes and his hair though, Mashuga noticed one other thing absent from his mind at the moment: fear. He felt wholly safe and comfortable here with Angeline. She smiled softly as he turned his neck back to her and asked, "What are you?"

[Benyamin]

Angeline frowned and looked at the door. Mashuga sensed her mood quickly change from concerned to business-like.
"Come. If you are feeling alright, I would like you to meet another Griffin."
She got up and walked out of the room. Mashuga, who was strangely feeling fine, jumped out of his bed and tried to keep up with the being's brisk walk.
"A griffin? Is that what you are? Isn't that a mythical creature?", stumbled Mashuga.
The woman smiled, amused. "Your questions will be answered by Edmond. For now, try to observe what you can about your surroundings. It is good practice for what will come later."

[mashuga31]

Taking some note of her advice, Mashuga began looking around. The hallway they were walking down was worse off than the room. The floorboards in some spots had been cracked or broken leaving nothing but a gaping black hole into the basement below. Entire portions of wall were gone, some holes being large enough to walk through into a different room. He followed Angeline into a small kitchen which, compared to the rest of the house was pretty well kept. She opened a small screened door and beckoned for him to come outside.

It was a beautiful day, and the sunshine gleamed on the fields around him, making them glow a bright gold. In the distance he could hear tractors plowing and the faint sound of farm animals. Mashuga had been standing in the same spot for what seemed like hours, taking in the sights. Noticing that Angeline wasn't with him anymore he decided that she had grown impatient and then proceeded to look around for her.

[kevinguy247]

At this point, Mashuga saw that he wasn't alone. Among the waving yellow fields that surrounded the house, people milled about with big wicker baskets. They rambled about, smiles on their faces that glowed like the sun above them. Some whistled or sang or hummed as they picked vegetables from the fields or wild flowers. Nothing seemed to be tended or kept by the happy gatherers. Everything was just there, like by the grace of God. Mana for the children. And it seemed truly, they were all children.

He felt he was watching through a cool, glimmering, reflective film, like he was watching the scene through an aquarium wall. He realized he recognized every single one of the faces. Not only from the night before, but it seemed to him that each of them had visited him in a dream once, floating to and from his vision, imparting little pieces of wisdom to him that were just as quickly forgotten with the dawn. They were beautiful. An elegant, gentle hand rested on his shoulder. He turned and saw Angeline with a basket in her hand, offering it to him, "Come, help us! My friend will coming soon. He'll have many questions for you!"

[Benyamin]

just to let you know, i think the story so far is awesome