Kapitel 13: Chapter 12: Confession
< Fred's POV >
As I gazed towards the moonless sky above me, only grief consumed my soul delighted at its midnight snack.
"Its hopeless," I murmured to myself.
After my various outbursts of anger and resentments, I scurried out the room, afraid to look back at her... at him. I was so relieved that finally Gloria had begun to trust me again, just like old times, but now that I had shattered it all... it's all gonna be over.
I sat on the fountain, aimless and overwhelmed. It must have been excruciatingly painful to die the way that he did.
"I wish it would all just go away!" I shouted without a soul in sight, my voice drifting back and forth in empty space. Just like their owner, all these feelings were numb and had no clue where to go.
"I've had enough!" seeing the reflection of my weary face casted on the fountain, I spoke to it, "I went to the pub, almost passed out, got up on gambling, tried to hook up with a prostitute... what's next?"
In disbelief, I questioned myself over and over, but the pain wouldn't go... the guilt, rage and the thought of that disgusting guy (Vel), never disappeared!
"Urgh!!" I moaned in agony.
I had tried to pounce into the fountain water not too long ago. My only thoughts were on how to drown myself in that shallow water... However, as fate would have it, only my brown pants were soaked in water and had the funny smell of iron.
I had hit my head on a piece of brick, when I slipped, trying to stand up. Somehow I began to come to my senses a little at a time as I got up on my feet.
I could feel warm blood trickling down my forehead and over my nose and under my chin. I spit out the bitter red blood drops that had entered my mouth.
"Disgusting!"
I realized that there wasn't going to be a "cooling off" for me tonight. My ambivalent emotions were greater for me, compared to my physical welfare, at the time. Suddenly, the churning in my stomach made it clear how stupid I was... I burst out, my mouth wide open, coughing and vomiting beside the fountain.
The ground beside the fountain was dry and hard with dust sprawling around. I felt like I was being choked by somebody, struggling and almost dying from lack of oxygen!
I pulled my head upwards before I could suffer more damage. In the end, I coughed some more and fell on my back onto the barren ground. Thankfully, the fountain was right beside me to clean up my outfit.
...
My clothes smelled like skunk and my fingers twirled around each other, fighting the lock that wouldn't accept my room keys. After various failed attempts, the sucker, finally surrendered to my persistence!
As I opened the door, my eyes lifted upward, towards the ceiling. As I tried squinting my eyes to view whatever was making those buzzing sounds in the dark room, a gang of mosquitoes gathered around me. They were trying to desperately get close to me. I tried to defend myself, but the door suddenly shut by itself, out of nowhere as perpetual darkness eventually took over.
I stared at the ghostly figure in front of me. Pale white as a sheet and... did it even have legs?!
I stuttered trying to pronounce, "Ah... eh.. akk..."
Ever since coming here, this was the second time I had ever felt terrified. Then!
I could hear some squeaky footsteps coming my way... I gulped down my saliva, whole.
"What were the words...? Oh no..." my mind froze, unable to recall. All the spells I'd learnt before. Nothing came to mind.
Surely, ghosts didn't exist, right?
I closed my eyes the moment I saw a thin smile that was forged on that white head. This was the worst sign possible if it was a horror movie!
I gasped hard and felt cold sweat streaming down my neck. My dirty shirt from before contained an even nastier scent... but why would the ghost care? In fact, it's not my problem to clean it up anymore, since I'll die anyway...
"Please get away," I heard it say with an awfully familiar tone.
The darkness, thank heavens, covered between the phantom and I. Quick as a flash, I closed my eyes again. I pondered to myself on how this would eventually end up.
"Seriously, whatever you want to say, speak up." It ordered me.
I pushed it aside since the ghost took way too long to kill me. Then I turned and flipped on the light switch. The whole room lit up, my sight all clear from all this nauseous doom and gloom... T
Yet, I didn't dare turn around or move anywhere!
I stood still like a fuc*ing statue!!
My legs were shaking and the woods from the floor were literally grabbing hold of my feet. I wanted to resist, but what if there was quicksand underneath...? I was alone! What could I do to defeat a GHOST anyway!?
I recalled what father had taught me long ago. I was eight at the time.
He had told me that in this world, there were various supernatural powers that were always n constant motion. Individually, some were as great as the Heavens, while others were mediocre and stabilized themselves in groups. Humans, dragons, goblins, ghosts, demons, ghouls, beasts etc.
"Amongst humans, son," Father would repeat several times during spars and magic trainings, "there are always two forces: Good and Evil. But, as you grow, you will see that we are divided by more than these two features. Elementalists, Mages, Controllers, or just simple non-elementals."
Just as I was contemplating, a hand grabbed tight on my shoulder. The left side was cold and I began to inch my head towards the right.
"Listen Fred," the voice called my name in a familiarly demanding way, "you can easily be executed for your behaviour and stench at the moment, got it?"
"Wha-?" I flinched to take a peek behind me, shocked.
To my horror, it was Charles!
"I, I-I," I tried to come up with some logical answer, but, "I thought you were not... you?"
"Really? That's your excuse?" Charles seriously asked me, his thin eyebrows pointing upwards in disbelief and his arms crossed in front of him, "Forget about it. It's not why I'm here... to scare you, I mean."
I blushed in embarrassment.
"You... how... why... you!!" was all I could manage.
"I never knew you would be afraid of 'ghosts'..." Charles paused to look me straight in the eye, "but if don't man up, you might never get a girl in this life, either."
"Oh really?" He hit my sore spot, "Then you'll be glad to know that I can always cancel yours."
"I beg to differ. However," Charles smacked his lips with a crooked smile, "royals are hardest to deal with when you become their obstacles. Didn't you know that? Besides, you should always be prepared," he suggested, waving his hands for the wooden hands beneath me, to release me, "I'm slowly catching close to the throne... and to THEM as well."
< Charles's POV >
Bluffing like I did, I stared at him, suspiciously. His eyebrows twitched, but he stayed silent. All I needed to know was his statement. Only hoping that he would eventually panic and confess.
"So?" Fred stated, his voice slightly off key, "Isn't that good news?"
"..."
I stood there with a smirk and still silent. My heart beat fastened.
"What will you say...?" I thought to myself,.
"Tell me, Fred, what is really going on..." I requested him.
And after the long pause that lasted for more than a minute, he finally spoke.
"I can protect my family if that is what you feel too difficult to do..." he confidently spoke as if his whole body was drained of alcohol.
"But Gloria won't forgive you." he went on, "But if you can still protect them... then don't let go. As a big brother to another."
I was stupefied. This was not the outcome I had in mind at all!
"Oh, yeah, sure." I said, disappointed at my failure, "I'll leave... tomorrow we go after breakfast, okay?"
"Yeah, Good night." he replied to me with a bright smile that was most likely fake.
That was it. I left the room and closed the door. It was nearly dawn and my mind was already drifting somewhere else. I yawned, thinking about his peculiar behaviors and stretched my arms.
"Just a little more push." I said to myself, calm and confident, "I'm almost there."
< Gloria's POV >
I yawned and leaned over on my second pillow, unable to recollect the wonderful dreams I had. Everything was a blur as opposed to the glints of sunlight dabbing on my face. The chill of dawn was breathtaking, I'd heard, but sadly as of yet... never seen.
I shut my eyes lazily. It had been a long long day yesterday and a much longer night to boot. In despair of being unable to fall asleep once again, I yawned miserably, but a knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Is it the maid?" I asked casually.
"No, it's me," I heard Fred's voice.
"Wait there," I said, lifting up my blankets and putting on the sandals.
I opened the door. He stared at me lifting up his eyebrows.
"You just woke up?"
"Yeah," I let out a dry cough.
"Stop," Fred told me as he leaned closer to my face.
He gently patted his right hand over my forehead. His eyes looking towards me in suspicion.
"Were you training again?" he asked me.
"What?" I asked back in confusion.
"How come you have a light case of fever?"
"I was tired and thanks to you and your friend last night, I couldn't get a wink of sleep!" I blamed him, pointing my index finger.
"What have you heard?" Fred questioned me with nervousness.
"Apart from you being drunk and leaving my room followed by the guest..." I paused, "Did something...?"
"Wha-" Fred made an interesting face, pale as snow, " Not really..."
"..."
There was no believing him anyway. For a moment I thought he had seen a ghost with the expression he was making. But that's impossible... hopefully.
"Anyways," Fred went on with his babbling as he casually entered my room a second time without permission, "His Highness, Dad and I are going out. Wanna join?"
"Hell yeah!" I enthusiastically replied.
"Okay." Fred sat on my bed, innocently.
"Okay." I hinted him to leave.
"Okay." he repeated, not taking any action.
"Dude, get outta my room!" I finally told him in annoyance.
"Why?" Fred questioned.
In an instant, I felt my cheeks flush red in half embarrassment, half anger. I used my telekinesis ability to throw him out of the room.
"Idiot," I sighed, thinking to myself. "Since I'm a girl now, can't he take a hint that I might actually require some privacy of my own...? Even I haven't adjusted looking at my body yet!"
"Oh and don't forget to take your medicine!" He bombarded on the door and yelled.
"Thanks MOM!" I yelled back at him, loudly as possible.
The banging stopped and soon enough, so did all these nagging frustrations. At the back of my mind, I finally understood what girls meant when they said, "My afternoon's all ruined..."
I sighed and got ready. It was my favorite thing. To get ready to go to town. The joy of being one with the crowd and being a boy!
...
"You look dashing sweetheart!" Dad rushed to me and hugged me in his big muscular arms. It was sweaty and tight.
"...can't brea..." I tried to finish my sentence.
"Oops, sorry." Dad finally backed away letting me breath a little.
"How was breakfast?" a familiar voice asked me.
"It was quite lovely." I replied almost sarcastically.
That's when I noticed him... Charles was amazingly handsome, even in ordinary garments. He wore a dark blue hat that had green and yellow feathers stuck to it. His white shirt and brown vest made him look like a model!
"It's not the first time I'm visiting my town, you know." Charles chuckled as he saw me gape at him, dumbfounded.
"Well, look at who this is!" Fred shouted behind me.
"Doesn't she look like the son I never had?" Dad laughed as he said these lines.
The three of us just went along with his 'joke'. We knew how right he was, but not, at the same time.
"You've been great in disguises, I've heard." Charles winked at me.
"Heh," I nodded with pride, "So, any comments?"
"Cute!" Fred stated.
"Beautiful right?" Dad praised.
"Cool and unnoticeable." Charles remarked.
"Ironic," I thought with a bright smile plastered on my face, "I've got the soul of a guy, within a girl's body, who has to disguise herself as a guy for protection...?! How much more do I have to be humiliated for this world to be satisfied!!?"
"Here are both of your pocket changes," Dad exclaimed with great delight. This was normal for him. In contrast, we stood there embarrassed and head down. Neither Fred, nor I said a word.
"Here your share too, Charles!" Dad said with a broad smile.
"Thank you, sir." was what Charles addressed him.
"Is this a custom?" I whispered to Fred.
"Yeah, people don't call their 'in-laws' by any title or such, during informal get-togethers. It's either 'sir' or..." Fred couldn't finish.
"No need for such idiotic customs!" Dad loudly stated as he patted Charles on the back with heavy blows.
"I'll say." I agreed with my dad.
"See?" Dad praised me as he nodded at Charles, "Even my little Windy thinks so...! So why don't you just open up and call me father or dad!"
My jaw dropped. I blinked three times and unfortunately it was not a dream! This was real and possibly, a nightmare realized.
I turned to Fred, pointing hysterically at the dilemma. He sighed and nodded. Then he just stretched his arms out and went out the door.
Before I got the chance to say anything, Dad pushed me out of the door and then he came out with Charles, right behind him.
"Useless," I frowned upon my situation as I looked above me. The empty sky reflected my thoughts exactly.
...
"So handsome!"
"Your little brother?"
"Are you guys single?"
"Look, look..."
"You see them?"
I could very well hear their gossips and giggles. While my Dad was arguing with a street seller about buying the best present for his 'daughter', a.k.a my twin sister (me), Fred and Charles were chatting casually with the ladies.
It was more likely to emphasize the fact that Fred and Charles were hoarded by these ladies and bound to speak to them.
Each of those women were young and flashy. Even some married aunties were joking around as if they were teenagers. They flocked both of them and caged them within their 'crowd'. If Charles and Fred surrendered or ran away, then these wolves would eat them or chase them to the ends of the earth.
Indeed, for them, a quiet down town adventure seemed practically hopeless...
I stretched my tired bones from the boredom my body felt and concentrated somewhere else. I was free now anyway, so why not make the most of it?
I meticulously wandered my eyes, nose and ears on every detail. The street vendors, their merchandise, the fresh smell of the fruits and vegetables of this world, the baked smells from sweet shops, the sound of train whistle from a close distance away, and many more.
Before I could stop my curiosity, I had already somehow managed to slip away from my group members...
The red towers all over the Town Square were evidently buildings. About fourteen to thirteen floors each. However, what caught my interest most, was how these buildings were constructed.
One tower was connected to another tower on all four directions. A long bridge connected every building that was red in colour. They reminded me of the historical twin towers that were once built back on Earth!
The gap beneath the bridges were either filled with alleyways, or slums. A good place for getting away from the rain, I reckoned, or places too good for someone to disappear. The main streets were easily recognisable this way since there were no bridges built over the main streets.
Some buildings, though very rare, were yellow or orange in colour. However, as strange as it is, only the red ones were connected like a forest.
I attentively wavered my eyes all around, laughing to myself, or even pointing like an idiot. Everything seemed so ordinary... yet, so very very new to me. I had always viewed my surroundings from the windows of my home, back in Ador, or just glance here and there during the camping trips with dad.
But this was a brand new experience!
The street vendors curiously eyed me with great interest. I had obviously dressed like a street rat with low material clothing. So why was I looking at everywhere like a tourist?
They were just shooting me with weird glances as if I was a theif. A beggar... or some kind of fungus that was ruining their precious merchandise.
Then out of the blue I realized something!
I took a huge gulp of my saliva and pondered. I looked all around me, but the scenery was the same, every time. "Why today!" I managed to shout out my concerns.
"Are you lost?" an unknown voice spoke from behind as a hand touched my left shoulder.
Quick as a flash, I twirled around in a complete 180, terrified.
"Not really," I replied with a stoned face, unable to react.
"I see," the lady snorted slightly.
She was a tall woman with her hair tucked away inside a bright reddish turban, dark skinned, snake-like green eyes and pearl like white teeth. As soon as I saw her I knew... mystery would be her middle name.
I tried to note down in my head exactly how I visualized this weird woman who was constantly gazing at me with a smile. Her eyes were glittering non-stop as if a thousand stars were inside each of them.
Even the outfit spoke for itself. A bright red robe with a violet cardigan or vest inside. She had these green stones around her neck that were mesmerising and the long silver earrings that followed until the tip of her shoulder. Various other rings, bracelets and trinkets were all over her.
Her voice was very polite and she seemed to be harmless. But I couldn't take the risk when she tried to invite me into her store, which was inside a tent.
I tried to back away with cold sweats and goosebumps all over my body. Suddenly, she grabbed hold of my arms and then in a low voice told me, "Ms. Gloria, you are destined for great things, my child..."
Her eyes widened and I could almost hear a hissing sound from her mouth.
Panicking and overwhelmed with terror, I did what most kids would do, screaming at her face to attract the busy crowd, then biting her hand as her grip loosened and then running away the moment she let go!
"Ahh...ah, ah... Aaaahhhh....!" I ran as fast as a rabbit. I skipped and jumped and dodged all obstacles, but I didn't stop. It was tough, but what was I supposed to do? What if she was coming after me?!
With a crash against something I finally fell off my feet. Sweat beads dripped all over me as if I had been drenched in cold, unwelcoming rain. I flinched my head to see who it was and the moment I realized... tears were flowing like rapid waterfalls...!
...
As I told the both of them my story after our separation, they remained silent, but shock clearly written all over their faces.
"You don't believe me, do you?" I asked with a crude smirk.
"It's- really- well..." Charles tried to console me.
"Its hard to say." Fred honestly replied.
He sat down beside me and rested his arms around my shoulders, "Why not directly take us to your mystery woman?"
I blankly gave him a look, "Whaaaaat?" though, I said practically nothing.
"..." Charles said nothing. So when I gazed towards him, he just nodded and replied, looking doubtful, "Why not."
I let out a grief filled sigh. It took about a minute or two to clear up my thoughts. But, I could still feel it, my heart's restlessness and fear.
__________
___
Up high, the sun smeared a wicked smile down on us, scorching heatwaves burning my body. The street was deserted and nobody was in sight for quite a distance. Fred and Charles were bickering by now.
When they had arrived here, they were not in much of a joyous mood for searching, so I slipped a little deeper into the alley hoping to find something valuable... and some shadow.
"...you think..." I heard Fred's voice, but only two words. They certainly sounded angry and distant.
"If... repent..." were the words I think, belonged to Charles, "hate to... blind..."
By now, I had already begun to ignore their half baked conversations, when all of a sudden I found a magazine.
"Fred!" I shrieked, "Fred, get your sorry ass down here!! Hurry!"
I heard steps coming towards me almost instantaneously. I could feel my eyes gleaming with joy as I handed to Fred my new discovery. This meant, I couldn't possibly be lying! Not with EVIDENCE!!
He saw the magazine and blinked. Fred even scrubbed his eyes in doubt and shock at the improbability! Then he told me to pinch him. So, I did without hesitation, as he yelped in agony.
"Not that hard!" Fred exclaimed.
"I don't get it... what is this?" Charles asked confused, staring at the magazine like it was rubbish.
"But this still makes no sense!" Fred tried to deny, "And even if you saw this creepy lady, how can you be so sure she was a fortune teller?!"
"Exactly." Charles agreed.
"Why can't you guys just believe me?" I questioned their lack of trust.
"Look, Glow," Fred gently spoke to me as he breathed out a little and pondered what to say, "we do trust you... but we can't deny the worldly facts..."
"Fortune tellers and such," Charles bent down to explain to me, "they don't exist in this world... they never did."
"Don't joke with me!" I exclaimed angrily, feeling my emotions rise and face flush.
"We aren't," Fred reassured me, "but we know that you haven't lied to us either..."
"But, but, but...!" I tried to stand firm in my opinion.
"Lets just call it a day," Fred stretched his arms up to the sky, "shall we?"
"I guess," I replied, feeling defeated, after a long long time.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
PeacePainter707
PeacePainter707 My dear readers, prepare yourselves. You're about to be blown away! (^_^)
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