The Awakening

[along came mary]

OOC: This is a journey that currently is leading off into the unknown, stemming from a flight of fancy. Roles may open up in the future, but as for now this is a closed thread for myself and truth purveyor. Please reserve any comments or complaints to private messages or email. Thanks for reading!

* * *

I woke shivering. I am cold; so very, very cold. My first conscious thought. My eyes fluttered open, blinking repeatedly in confusion. The room was black, completely and utterly black. My eyes were wide open yet I was blind. I struggled to my feet on the hard floor, my limbs heavy, near numb with cold. I faltered, nearly falling back to the floor as I stood. I gripped my head with both hands, pausing for a moment to let my lightheadedness settle. “Where.. where am I?” The words rang through the stillness, amplifying the all-encompassing emptiness. My own words echoed back to haunt me. A mind numbing fear welled up inside of me like that of a damn near bursting.

I stumbled forward throwing my hands out, grabbing out blindly at something… anything… yet found nothing. I could feel a scream building in the back of my throat. I swallowed it away grimacing as bile, fear’s bitter aftertaste, stung my throat. No. No, I can’t scream. I’ll be heard. For some reason unbeknownst to me that thought terrified me. I can’t scream. I can’t scream. I must not scream. I chanted the words, whispering them aloud to lighten the suffocating darkness.

I continued forward keeping my trembling hands out in front of me. I touched something solid – cool, damp, smooth. A wall! Left or Right? I couldn’t see anything, much less anything to give me a clue as to which direction to take. Left, I decided impulsively. I walked beside the wall with trepidation, my fingertips dancing along its surface as I eased each bare foot along side it tentatively. The silence was nearly as overwhelming as the pitch black; I could literally hear my heart pound in my ears. Stay calm. Calm. Calm. Calm. Fuck calm! I need to get OUT! Rage momentarily overcame my fear as I pounded a fist futilely against the wall. Much to my shock, the wall gave. More so, old rusted hinges gave, rattling loudly as my fist pound against the door. It was a rough wooden door by the feel of it. My fingertips skipped along its surface, searching for the latch.

The latch! Yes! My heart leap as my hands circled around the rough rusted metal. Although my victory was short-lived, it didn’t budge. A piteous whimper escaped as icy fingers of fear gripped my heart yet again. “Noooo! No-no-no-no-no…” The cadence of my cry became my mantra, lending me a fragile grip on my sanity. I threw all my weight first toward the latch then against it as rough spiky shards of rust dug into my delicate palm. I welcomed the sharp sting. The pain kept me focused, kept my fear for the moment at bay. I kept working the latch, feeling it give a little with each tug. Forward, then back, forward, then back… Finally! I cried out, tears welling in my eyes as the latch swung free. I threw the door back with eager bloodied hands, stumbling over the door jam.

I squinted. The darkness was lighter here. Still dark, but not the terrifying pitch blackness of the room beyond. It was a tunnel, a cave of sorts. With my hands outstretched I could reach either side. I stumbled forward, pushing myself off each wall alternately. A small sliver of pale light was visible ahead. I needed no coaxing. I quickened my pace, my legs gaining strength with each hurried step.

I spilled through the cave opening into the woods beyond, moonlight spilling through the trees. I was dazzled for a second by its brightness, yet I never paused in my flight. I crashed blindly through the woods, careless in my haste and mindless of the difficulty or direction. Fear overrode every rational thought. I was focused on one thing, and one thought only – To get away.

 

[truthpurveyor]

“NO…NO…Go back!” I growled at her intrusion “I don’t want you here!”

The woman’s eyes opened unseeing and I staggered back from the raw fear and confusion in them as she rose to her feet..

“That’s it” I encouraged her silently “GO AWAY”….But instead of turning towards the direction I wanted her to go she staggered past me, leaving me no choice but to follow…

“It’s cold…and lonely here, YOU don’t want to be in this place” I mouthed at her unhearing eyes, trying to catch up to her as she felt her way down MY path…

“That’ll stop her” I consoled myself as she staggered up to the gate…

But instead of discouraging her it only enraged her…and she began to beat upon MY gate with the strength of a MADWOMAN…

“Wh…what are you doing? YOU don’t want to go past that gate!” I cried out to her and then moaned as she threw her weight at it a final time…springing the latch….and rushing thru the now open portal…looking over her shoulder as if she suddenly knew I was behind her…

“The cavern is your last chance…if you can only see what lies within it” I told her without hope, knowing her determination now…and watching it carry her thru the cave blindly…

She scrambled up the sandy path and into the pale moonlight that I knew would be there…it was always close by…never ending…and rushed into the trees as I stood at the entrance…following her headlong flight….

“I don’t want to follow you” I spoke into the wind that streamed thru her hair as she ran, turning with frightened eyes to look in terror behind her “But if I don’t…you’ll be trampling thru MY world for an eternity…and I’ll never find any peace…”

Step by slow step I began to move…not in the same, unplanned path that she followed…but in a shorter more direct path that I knew well.

She will end up there, I knew…All paths lead to that place…there is NO other way…

 

[along came mary]

I broke through the woods into a clearing. My bare feet were near numb from the cold, thankfully so in fact as abrasions and nicks littered the soles of my feet from the carpet of decaying pine needles and branches that covered the forest floor. I backed up to lean against the trunk of a small maple tree, stumbling as I did so and landing against it with a soft oomph. I grimaced as the rough bark pressed painfully through the thin cotton of my gown. My lungs ached from the exertion of my flight, tiny puffs of mist visible with each exhalation into the chilly air.

Where am I?!

I glanced around, lending a wary eye to the tree line and clearing. The moon was full and illuminated the area in an almost eerie phosphorescent glow. The clearing was dissected in half by a small stream. My numb toes gave testament to the temperature of the water it contained, having splashed through it a couple of hundred yards back.

There was nothing that I recognized. Nothing piqued my memory and try as I might I could not for the life of me remember anything before waking in that horrible, dark, dank room. I shuttered involuntary at the thought and wrapped my arms around myself in an effort to ward off the chill that had seeming seeped into my bones.

The grounds were well maintained. Lush green grass spread across the clearing, speckled here and there with a smattering of wildflowers and flowering shrubs. A rather large leafy oak tree stood solitary close to the center of the clearing, perched majestically upon a small knoll. The brook nearly encircled it; leaving only a small grassy pathway that one could take to avoid crossing the stream.

Gingerly, I walked toward it, my eyes wide and wary; forever darting glances back over my shoulder. I saw nothing suspicious. The night was alive though. The sweet chirp of crickets, the gentle throaty croaks of small frogs resting streamside, and not to ignore the occasional soft hoot of an owl in the distance. The soft gentle musical cascade of the rushing water grew more prominent as I approached. The soothing sounds calmed my jittery nerves and I could feel my tension ease from my aching muscles.

Opposite from the path up to the knoll I found an old weathered bench. Draped across the back was some sort of discarded throw. Chilled as I was, I gave little thought as I snatched it up and tossed it over my frozen shoulders. A shawl! It was a beautiful moss green silk shawl, embroidered with intricate weaving of spring flowers and butterflies in flight. I regretted that someone had misplaced something so beautiful, but selfishly was thankful to whoever had left it as I drew it more firmly around me. Removing the scarf had revealed something interesting although. Along the back of the seat of the bench appeared to be an engraving. I ran a hand along the smooth surface of the wood as I grateful sank down upon in. My fingertips traced along a worn script engraving as I squinted to make it out in the shade of the looming oak.

Came but for friendship, and took away love.
RS & AH


Ah, how very romantic, I thought aloud. RS & AH? The initials quirked no memories or struck even the tiniest cord of familiarity. I gazed out mournfully at the beautiful, although alien, landscape. I had no idea what to do next, let alone where to go. I was most assuredly and effectively lost. Not to mention aching and exhausted. Deciding that this was a safest place as any, I stretched out on my side along the worn wooden bench, my head pillowed in the crook of my folded arm. I wrapped the procured scarf around me as best I could for warmth and attempted to rest a little at least, if not sleep until dawn broke.

 

[truthpurveyor]

I stood over her sleeping form and tried to control myself...holding back the memories that always came to me when I was in this place....

"And took away love" The phrase ended as I traced the initials I had carved in the bench that I had proposed to her on...and had been refused to my chagrin, and my aching heart...

"You were a hard one to convince, Annette" I said softly as I kissed my fingers and returned them to her initials "But it was worth the effort"

*She was the one that I didn't let get away, though it took a few attempts before she gave in. And became my wife* I fondly recalled

Placing my hand on her shoulder I shook it, gently at first, then more insistently, telling her....

"You need to give me back her shawl...I need to have it for when she returns"

The figure beneath me slowly stirred then came to life sitting up and stretching.

“She has the same eyes and hair” I exclaimed to myself as I saw her face for the first time…”But it couldn’t be, she’s been gone over 20 years. Still…”

“Annette, is that you?” I queried softly, unsure. Annette… Haynes?”

 

[along came mary]

I woke just enough to feel the weight of someone’s hand upon my shoulder. Words were spoken although I refused to acknowledge them. I pulled the shawl a bit tighter around me, reveling in the meager warmth it offered as I wrapped sleep back around me.

The voice was insistent though, as was the hand shaking my shoulder. I woke slowly, a bit dazed and confused, blinking up at the dark form lurking above me.

Memories of the past few hours flooded my consciousness. My heart leapt in fear as a ragged scream tore from my throat. I scrambled off of the bench, scampering behind it so as to put it and a few feet between the stranger and myself.

“The shawl.” He said, “I have need of it for when she returns.”

I merely blinked at him, my mind awash with terrifying images of being locked yet again in the dark dank room. Unconsciously I pulled the shawl tighter around me in an attempt to shield myself from his piercing gaze.

“The shawl.” He repeated calmly, motioning toward me with a wave of his hand, yet remained where he stood.

“Where am I?” I questioned, my voice no more than a soft whisper on the breeze. I slid the shawl from my shoulders, shivering as the cool night air took advantage of the removal of my paltry armor.

“My garden.” He replied gruffly. “Bring me the shawl.”

I responded to the note of command in his voice without question and stepped forward from beneath the shadows of the tree, hand-clutched shawl outstretched. The hint of irritation on his ruggedly handsome face and spark of anger in his dark eyes melded to an expression of shocked recognition.

“Annette? Annette… Haynes?” He questioned. I never even saw his hand shoot out let alone had time to react. Next thing I knew, his hand had encircled my wrist and he was pulling me towards him and further into the soft moonlight.

I dropped the shawl with a startled cry, the nails of my free hand clawing at the fingers encircling my wrist trying to free myself from his vice-like grip.

“No! Please… please let me go.” I cried, tugging futilely, my eyes wild with panic. “I’m not who you think I am. I’m not Annette. I’m Michelle. Michelle Phelps. I’m lost. I don’t know where I am or how I got here. Please…” I pleaded, “Please let go.”

 

[truthpurveyor]

"No...No you're NOT" I emphasized the words as I released her and bent to pick up HER shawl, brushing it off and neatly folding it before I placed it on the bench in it's proper place.

"You're not my Anne...But What ARE you doing here? In our garden?"

I stood back and looked at the diminuitive figure that trembled before me, the differences were slight...ever so slight that time had blurred my memory of the one I waited for, and a sob escaped my throat at the thought of it.

"You need to leave...So I will be able to greet her...when she returns" I told this woman, "Michelle"? Was that the name she used for herself?

I sat on the bench beside Anne's shawl...slowly, suddenly aware of how tired I was...but still resolved to wait...for her...forever....

"I'm sorry, At first I thought you were someone else" I apologized in a hushed tone, trying to hide my dissapointment as I looked up at her.