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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 21:02:59 GMT
Eldon disappeared in to the trees after Willow. I couldn't see either of them as circled the trees in a desperate search to find them. I heard Eldon laugh and I ventured toward the sound of of his laughter. He laughed again, sounding closer this time. I looked up to see that he was staring down at me laughing at my concern. I jumped to the closest branch to me and pulled myself up without thinking. As I got closer I noticed Willow dangling from a branch above me. Eldon laughed at my expression as I saw her. I was furious. How can he just stand there laughing when Willow was hanging on for her life.
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Post by Willow Zeaira on May 29, 2009 21:09:29 GMT
I swung myself back and forwards, until I landed my legs on the branch, pulling myself up. I lost my grip again, and fell back to my previous position. I felt fire on my wrist: Eldon. he hoisted me up, and for a second I thought he was about to kiss me. He appeared to change his mind, though, smiling instead and letting go of my wrist. I turned in time to see Chad reach the branch we were standing on, looking furious.
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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 21:23:39 GMT
I couldn't hold back my anger. It was playing all around me. Eldon laughed quietly to himself. "Chill!" he chuckled. I smiled politely back at him, finding no humor in the words he spoke. My smile soon turned into a smirk as I punched him full force on the nose. He almost fell off the wide branch. Almost. Willow looked at me horror stuck. I shot her an apologetic look and turned my focus back to Eldon, trying not to smile at the amount of deep red blood flowing from his nose.
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Post by Willow Zeaira on May 29, 2009 21:32:43 GMT
I gasped as Chad's fist came into contact with Eldon's nose. This was not my Chad. Ignoring his smirk, I pushed past him hard and went to Eldon, gently examining his injury with my dainty soft hands. Without facing Chad, I said, "Chadwick, take us back," and it was more of an order than a request, "Now. Wingless or no Wingless." The first being the most likely, as I carefully removed the blood from Eldons face.
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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 21:38:14 GMT
"Willow" I tried to reason "It's too dangerous. I'm not risking it." She ignored me completely, only paying attention to the never ending stream of blood flowing from Eldon's nose. "Chadwick. Bring us back now" she said through the skin of her teeth. Eldon laughed lightly at that. "What if I refuse to do so?" I challenged.
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Post by Willow Zeaira on May 29, 2009 21:42:56 GMT
I turned then, grabbing the front of Chadwick's shirt in my fist. "Then I'll make you take us back, Chaddy Boy." All was quiet. Eldon didn't even smile. But Chad didn't back down, and even though I knew I'd never win him in a fight, I'd fight him anyway. But he wouldn't fight me back, he wouldn't hurt me, which would make things physically easier for me. Mentally... Not so much.
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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 21:50:57 GMT
He grabbed my shirt in her fist and threatened me. I was surprised when Eldon didn't laugh, he didn't even smile. Willow was ready for a fight, so was I. Although I would never physically hurt her, I knew my resisting to fight would make what she was about to do even harder for her.
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Post by Willow Zeaira on May 29, 2009 21:54:59 GMT
"Take us back." "No." I locked my jaw and clenched my fist, but did not raise it. Unusual for me. Had it been anyone but Chadwick Catkin they would already have a broken jaw and be stumbling to the ground. But sadly, it was Chadwick in front of me. "Don't make me, Chad..." I half-pleaded, half-warned.
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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 22:06:22 GMT
"Don't make me" she pleaded. I hate seeing her so distraught. "I'm not making you do anything" I smiled down at her. She was struggling to decide what to do. "Chad take us back" she said again trying to delay her decision. "Not until I'm sure it safe" I sighed hoping she would just give up before she did something that she would regret.
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Post by Willow Zeaira on May 29, 2009 22:14:49 GMT
"I'm not sorry," I muttered, and before he could react I smashed my fist into his jaw. He stumbled and fell, unconscious. The whole forest went black. I heard Eldon calling me, but I could not see him. I dropped my fist, and hissed, "Don't move." I could hear something below us. A sort of hissing, something moving through the long grass around the forest. I realized with dread we were inside Chad's nightmare. Or... memory? Chad's father was shouting at him, roaring, and a young Chadwick bravely shouting back.
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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 22:21:53 GMT
"I'm sorry" Willow muttered as she hit me full force in the jaw, pushing me off the tall branch. I didn't realize I was falling until the pain of landing startled me. At first I felt only excruciating pain, and then I felt nothing. nothing but nothing. I could hear from a distance the familiar roar of my father. I closed my eyes trying to get away from that awful memory, only to fall into a deeper numbness.
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Post by Willow Zeaira on May 29, 2009 22:31:31 GMT
I blocked my ears, blocked out the dreadful noise of their argument. "It's that bloody Zeaira girl, isn't it? Isn't it?!" "She's just my job!" "That all, eh? You've gone soft, boy!" "I'm not a child!" "You're not a man, either!" Tears fell down my cheeks, but their words pierced my block. "Leave Willow out of this!" A much younger Chad screamed at his towering father. "Thought she was nothing but a job to you, eh, boy?" "Make them stop..." I whimpered, burying my head into my knees. "No, you can't--" "Can't I? Who's going to stop me, boy?" "I won't let you hurt her!" "Make them stop," I pleaded again. "You bloody coward!" "Please!" I sobbed. "Dad? DAD!" A slamming door. No reply to Chadwicks desperate calls for his father. No relief from the pain.
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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 22:52:43 GMT
No matter how much I tried I could not drown out my fathers hateful words. "You bloody coward." The mention of that word always brings back that painful memory from so many years ago. "You coward." Those words rang loudly and clearly in my head, that was until I heard a pain filled cry. "Stop" Willow begged, her voice strained.
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Post by Willow Zeaira on May 29, 2009 22:56:00 GMT
I couldn't take it. It was awful, and I needed to end it. I let myself fall backwards. Strong, hot hands caught me; fire against my skin. Eldon held me close to him, trying and failing to calm me. But I had forgotten how to speak. All I could do was repeat the words, "My fault... It's all my fault..."
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Post by Chad Catkin on May 29, 2009 23:03:30 GMT
I heard Willow crying, though I couldn't make out what she was saying. I sounded like she was pleading desperately for something. I hated hearing her sound like this. I desperately wanted to comfort her, but I was unable to find her in what seemed like a dark black sea of nothingness. "Willow" I tried to cry, only to find that I couldn't talk, the dark water around me filling my lungs with water with every breath I longed to take.
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