FoM: Interlude I

Hmm, I don't really know what to say about this one. It's surprisingly short, only one page in Microsoft Word and just two words short of 500. It foreshadows a bit, and reveals Miss Yet Unknown Protagonist's possible future relationship with Allen.

No reviews yet. Aww. :( One fave, sure, but come on guys.

So for those who actually care, here's the original Prologue I wrote... until I scrapped it and just went for Mr. Archivist instead. :)

The sky bled that day.

The sun was a deep scarlet that has never been seen before, weeping as its rays caressed a silent battlefield. A strong wind stirred the dust into tiny sandstorms, blurring the forms of ally and enemy alike. Bodies littered the ground, blood pouring so abundantly that one was practically wading in it. But there was no one left to do so.

Every night I visit that place. Every night I lie there, all but dead, my eyes staring hollowly at the bleeding sky.

Waiting for the end.

And so the end has come, albeit a little later than expected. I thank God that I was given this much time, time that was not mine to keep. I was never truly part of this world, no matter what bonds, fates or destinies brought and kept me here. I always knew my time would be brief. The fact that I've been here this long is already a miracle to me.

I leave this Memory in this world as a record; a completely biased, emotional record. Even as the Bookmen write their accurate stories of black and white (and if you don't do it right I will come after you, you stupid rabbit), I write to show the shades of gray, the humanity in the ink, and how there is no such thing as the real good and bad side in a war.

And so that someone will remember that behind the ink on paper there were people, good, honest people fighting in this silent, secret war – the helpful Finders, the cheerful, caring scientists, the loyal, loving Exorcists… and yes, even the capricious Noahs.

So as I leave this world, I leave this Memory in capable hands, along with my last prayer: the reason I fought, and still keep on fighting…

I pray for their happiness… 

Junior was not happy.

Just this morning he and his master had arrived in London, surrounded by a swirl of white snow. Out of that white rose hazy, gray buildings, hundreds of people bustling along the streets and the newly-invented – what d’you call them again? Right – automobiles rumbling down the roads. Upon hearing the noisy babble of swear words and British accents, something had stirred within the young boy, making him feel an odd sense of comfort. (But he’d never even been to London before!)

Of course his Master had to ruin his day by throwing him into a room, locking him up, and disappearing without a trace. Okay, so maybe the old man had told him to stay put. Maybe he had been a bit too curious and followed him out the inn. But that still didn’t give him a reason to lock him up like that!

Outside the snow fell with a gentleness that seemed to mock his fury. His scowl deepened. With a loud huff, he turned away from the window.

WHAM!

Junior nearly fell off his seat in surprise. He could hear his Master banging about in the room outside his. If he kept this up the neighbors might complain and the innkeeper would kick them out. But from what he could hear, reason wasn’t something that would reach his normally calm Master today.

BAM!

He cringed as he heard a battalion of swear words pour from the older man’s mouth. Something about a woman… it was hard to tell, seeing as he was currently growling a mix of over 27 languages. Had he gone to meet someone?

There was a final slam before all was silence again. Slowly, oh so slowly, Junior opened his door and stuck his head out. He looked to the side where the door leading to his Master’s room was. It was closed. He would get nothing out of there.

Carefully he eased his way into the living room of their tiny suite. The place was a mess. A satchel lay in the corner, slumped against the wall. A ragged, dirty cloak lay forlornly on the previously pillow-filled sofa, now without anything to keep the poor brown cloth company. The pillows seemed to have decided that leaning against the walls on the floor was a better place to be than the sofa.

His eyes wandered over to the small table and stopped. A book sat innocently on top, looking like a calm island in the eye of a storm. He gingerly waded through the papers strewn everywhere and sat on the sofa, studying the book that he was sure was not with them yesterday. It looked ordinary enough, with a simple border design on the cover and a single word stamped on the faded dark leather.

“’Memory’…” he muttered. Curiosity getting the better of him, he reached out and lifted the book, careful not to damage it. It was heavier than it looked, and he gave a little grunt before settling it on his lap. Poor thing’s been through a lot, he observed, running his fingers along the scratches and burns all over it. 

Funny enough, upon closer inspection, the cover did not feel like leather at all. In fact, it felt more like… “Metal?” he said incredulously. Who on earth would publish a book covered in metal? This thing is just getting weirder and weirder. Before he even thought of it, his hands had already opened the book.

It flopped open, like something once alive but now long dead. Yellowish dog-eared pages greeted him. He flipped through the pages, scanning through pictures and text, before opening the book to the first page.

“A letter…?” An odd way to start a book. Adjusting his position on the sofa, he began to read. Destiny, records, blah blah blah… but wait, it mentioned Bookmen! He read until the end, but did not see any reference to the clan again. Impatient, he flipped through the following pages. 

Slowly his frown grew. 

Aaand it ends there. :) In case you're curious the 'Master' is 'Lavi', AKA Bookman, and I imagined the woman he met with as Lenalee. Junior... well... it's a secret. Muhahahahaha!

The next chapter is not yet typewritten, but I already have a draft. It will be more delayed than the first though, because I have advanced summer classes starting on Tuesday and I still have a oneshot I need to write for a friend. Add to that the many distractions summer holds... Well, let's just hope some people review before I finish or I will be quite disheartened. :(

Until next time,
Belle