Title: Today, I Saw The Fence Author: Puck Email: Mish_S_Mail@yahoo.com Spoilers: FG NW Ratings: 15 Disclaimers: FG & NW are LJS's. Summary: The battle is over, the Night World has won, we never found the fourth wild power. **Author's Note** This story is weird, hard to follow and sometimes confusing. The characters do not follow a rational story line from LJS's novels, it's just a dream I had that I HAVE to write..enjoy.. I don't remember much about who I am, I only remember dimly that my family was rich, and I was one who walked the other side of the fence. The Fence. Now that is where all of this stems from. I was standing in the courtyard one day, looking out at the school I used to attend when I realized, I didn't even notice the fence anymore. And maybe that was the problem. If we all saw that we were penned in like cattle, controlled by this horrible fence, then we would say no. We simply wouldn't accept what they were doing to us. Today I saw the fence, and had a terrible creeping feeling that I had been over it, and would be over it again. Why? Because today, I saw the fence. "Hey! You!" A harsh male voice called from behind me. I turned, and saw hair as red as Baccheas' wine, eyes the color of mahogany and an expression so angry, I was scared. He saw me too, then, my face, and his eyes widened. Self consciously, I adjusted the scarf around my neck, tugging at the ends and looked at him. "Me?" I whispered timidly. He was only as tall as me, but his shoulders were broad, his stance was spread and he gave the impression of height. His all black guard uniform, however, was the scariest thing about him. "Yes, you," he said, more gently this time. "What's your name?" His stance eased and he moved closer in. Looking at the ground, I hesitated and moved a step back. "I don't know sir, I can't remember anything..." I looked up swiftly and saw pity flash through his eyes, "A lethe victim, eh? Well, I heard we had an 'amnesiac' here, I guess I just haven't seen you before. You look like someone I used to know." He turned, then stopped and faced me again, "Don't go over that fence. Don't even look like you're thinking about it." Then he walked off. I had the distinct feeling I'd met him somewhere before, but brushed it off. He was a guard, one of my terrible oppressors. It was impossible we'd ever met. Shaking my head, I turned to start back inside, when a memory hit me. A little girl in the hall way looking at a beautiful nursemaid. The girl had pretty blonde hair, done up in pigtails and wore an expensive silk robe. She was human, though even in that time the human's were in cages. She looked up at the nursemaid and asked, "Will you give me a bath?" She liked the nursemaid's baths because the nurse put sweet smelling herbs and flowers in the water. The nursemaid smiled and consented, taking the little girl into the bathroom. The memory faded, and shaking my head, I went inside. The building was made up of five rooms, a giant communal bathroom, where the humans washed and so forth, a giant communal bedroom, where the humans slept and three regular rooms where the humans could wander around, trying to keep amused. Guards were posted in all of those rooms. "- where the Night World has a border. He can't come in here, and they can't go in there. After Lady Michelle, I can see why they'd both stay out of each other's way." Someone was talking around the corner, in the bathroom where we actually have no guard. "But your sure he will let us pass?" Another voice asked. Something was rustling, and I stopped, listening to the conversation. "Yes. He told us in Lady Michelle's name he will take all who can make it there." A pause. "It's sad really, he loved her so much and couldn't save her." "Who?" I asked, coming around the corner. The voices had belonged to Reagan and Jessica, both in their early thirties, with children. "You scared me," Jessica finally said. "Who has land bordering this that the Night World cannot touch?" I asked again. "The Demon Lord who helped Lady Michelle in her crusade to destroy the Night World and free the humans and Circle Daybreak members," Reagan filled in. Jessica frowned at her, but turned back toward me. "Yes. Circle Daybreak would have been our last hope, but after the Lady Michelle died, they were executed as well. The Demon Lord couldn't do anything to save them. So, out of grief, he struck a deal with the Night World. They lied though, and the Demon Lord has been giving us a safe haven ever since." Jessica's voice wavered. She had a child to think about, whereas I was alone. I didn't know for sure, but I had that feeling. "The last of Michelle's resistance is meeting to rejoin the Demon Lord and come up with a plan to bring down the Night World. We want to go with them, let our children grow up free," Reagan added. I wanted to go too, I was ruined for this kind of life now. I knew we were imprisoned and when I looked outside, I would forever see only the silver chinks. "Can I go?" I asked. They smiled gently, the sad smile of a parent who can't help their child. "If you can get out, they are meeting outside the city to cross No Man's Land," Jessica said. "We can't help you, we have to think about our own children." "I hope we see you on the other side," Reagan said, edging around me and out of the room. "Yeah, the other side," I muttered. Instantly a picture of the other side formed in my mind. Blue waters, the color of jewels, white sand sparkling in the golden sun. Freedom. Families. I had to go. I don't remember why the Night World is so special, I only remember them being more scared of us than we were of them. I remember someone saying that the human spirit can move mountains when united. I felt a frown slide across my lips. No, that wasn't right. The humans were afraid now, they had no leader. This whole line of thinking was hurting my head, so I decided to stop and pursue something else. Like how exactly I was going to get out and find my freedom. The air outside was crisp and cool, smelling of something that stirred old memories. Three guards were outside this time. Apparently someone got wind of the last ditch escape and they decided not to take any chances. So I sat outside, looking lost in thought and biding my time for the guards to leave. The grass was springy and crisp. I remembered this place, next to the school I used to attend. This used to be a daycare for young kids. The alarm sounded and the guards raced into the building. Someone was trying to escape from the front. Brave, but stupid. This was MY chance, now. Running, I leapt up on the fence as the others ran in the building to see that the commotion was. The climb was tall, about ten feet, and when I jumped down, pain shot through my ankles. But I was over and running into the school before anyone could stop me. I knew the school and entered in through the gym. The locker room was to my left and I turned sharply and stopped outside the door, listening for voices. No one. Opening the door gently, I stepped in. No one ever locked their lockers when I went here, and they still didn't. Good for me. Stepping toward one of the open lockers, I pulled out a gym uniform, blue cloth shorts and a blue turtle neck and a gray shirt with blue writing on it, Miami Prep. Stripping off my own clothes, I pulled those on. Then I pulled out blue socks and an expensive pair of cheer leading shoes and put them on. A gym bag was in the open locker next to this one and I grabbed it, stuffing my old clothes into it. The name embroidered on the bag was odd, Arachnea. A spider or something. Lotion and a silver barrette with a spider on it were in that locker, I grabbed them, smoothing the lotion on and took the barrette and the bag over to the counter. A curling iron was plugged in and on next to the mirrored, on the counter. I went to work on my hair and hoped no one would remember my face. The cheer leading shoes made no sound on the marble floor as I raced through the school. I could leave through the main exit and make it the four blocks to no man's land. The only inhabited land left in the world was the East Coast of America. Most everything and everybody else had been annihilated during the fight with the dark powers. The wild powers had tried their best to fend off the darkness, but eventually failed. The dark power destroyed much of what the wild powers had not destroyed. And somehow, this coast was left in tact. I've heard the story so many different ways from different people, it all just sort of jumbles in my head. I forced myself to slow to a walk as I exited the building. I suppose it was after school, though I don't really know what time it is. I don't even remember what time school ended, only that it did and I couldn't wait. The steps to the building were large and I was happy when I stepped off the last one. "Excuse me?" A voice said from behind me. I turned, fighting to keep a cool demeanor. "Yes?" I asked carelessly, as though I had nothing to hide and this was merely a bother that I tolerated. "Can I please have your name?" It was a school official. One of the guards that stood on the outside and made sure no humans got in. "Arachnea," I replied as though he should know. He considered for a moment, then saw the embroidery on the bag and nodded, "Well Miss, we have had an escape from the human compound are simply warning everyone to be on the lookout. If you see a human, call for the Night World Security, they are posted all around here. Your help is appreciated to maintain a higher standard of living." Nodding, I turned and walked off in the direction of No Man's Land. Everyone knows where that is, because it's just a giant swamp with gators in it and death. Now though, I feel even that would be better than living in a pen. Because of my outfit, I blended in with the crowd as I walked along. Just a Miami Prep cheerleader coming home late from practice, nothing to see here folks, move along. Unless one of them actually put out a probe and felt my mind. Then I'd be discovered. The human escapees were lined up along the edge of the swamp, near the tree line. I could see the gators in the swamp from here and wondered how we would make it through. From the sides, though, I could also see the Night World Guard lined up along the bank behind the humans. Not very many, perhaps some humans would escape. They jumped up, and the humans saw, running toward the swamp, crashing into the gator infested water. I dropped the bag with my clothes and started running with them. Ducking here and dodging there I myself jumped into the swamp and sloshed through the ooze, around the gators and saw the others clambering to shore. The shore was like I remember, white sand. The trees thinned back and I was pulled out onto shore. Shells littered the beach here, and I looked out to see what lay beyond. Water gleamed like sapphires in the golden sunlight. Sun, the sun was shining here, and there didn't seem to be any shadows or darkness. Droves of people, all ages, swam in the water or played on the shore and this paradise seemed to go on forever in all directions, except back, where the Night World was pacing and leaving, unable to cross the swamp. The rest of the humans were about a hundred yards form here and many people were running along the narrow, sandy walk. I strode slowly, picking up shells and soaking in the sun. An interesting shell caught my eye, it was rectangular with rounded edges and seemed to be more of a fossil than a shell. Reaching down I picked it up and turned it over in my hand. It wasn't a fossil, it was a marking. No, not a marking. A rune. Nauthiz, the rune of...protection? Another rune was a few feet ahead of it, Dagaz, a catalyst for change. A few feet ahead of that was a box, something I recognized from my past and knew how to use. Picking it from the sand, I brushed specks off it and turned it over in my hands. A few people were looking at me curiously as I moved to where the beach path was wider and a rock overlooked the ocean. Sitting there, I opened the little door of the box to reveal another box inside. Turning it over and over in my hand I made sure no writing was on it before I replaced it in the bigger box. "Who am I?" I asked the box. Inside, something flashed, and I knew the answer was there. Carefully, I pulled down the door and reached a hand inside. The box was warm and solid. Grasping it, I drew out the object and looked at it. My past was there, and suddenly, I could remember. A group of people, very grim and very sad, grimy and unkempt were on the first square. They seemed to be watching something. I remember what they were watching. My death. My delicate neck snapping in the hands of the Night People. My friends being forced to watch so the rebellion would be quashed. And we would have surely won. Turning the square again, I saw my parents, the ones I was sacrificing my lives for, being murdered. The Night Worlders hacked them to bits before my eyes, and all I could do was watch and cry and scream, knowing my death was in vain and would be the destruction of the rebellion. Another square, my little brother, another square, my love who's life should have ended as my own heart ceased beating. Another square, my resurrection from this hallowed ground, unknowing of my name, taking only the name Lady. Pictures of people long gone, A.J, the guard where I was kept after I traveled back. Silent tears streamed down my cheeks as memories came back, like water through a busted dam. Placing the cube gently back in it's box, I asked my second question. "Can I still defeat them?" My voice was choked with the sobs and my breath hitched as the tears came faster. A group was growing around me, but the box did not flash this time. Damn, the box couldn't tell what hadn't been written, and I'd wasted a question. Taking a deep breath, I asked the most important question, the name on my lips causing greater hitches in my breath. "Is Julian still alive?" If my love, my Julian was strong and had somehow beaten a soulmate link strong enough to bring death to a pair, then I could survive as well and all would not be lost. The box flashed dully. But at least it flashed. Unhooking the trap door, I pulled out the smaller block and let the the bigger one fall to the sand at my feet. My mouth dropped and my heart beat faster as I turned the cube over and over in my fingers, unable to comprehend. Runes, thousands of tiny runes were covering the small square. "NO!" I screamed, body shaking with angry sobs. "Not this, they cannot deny me this... I gave up my life..." Sinking to my knees in the warm sand, I sobbed helplessly, crying so hard it felt like pieces of my heart being yanked from my eyes. A dark shadow fell across me. Remembering to breath, I looked at the shoes before me through swollen eyes. "Welcome to a Safe Haven..." The voice murmured. It was familiar, as were the night black shoes nearly touching my knees, a contrast with the shadow and white sand. Moving my glance up, I took in dull black leather pants, a simple black t-shirt and a necklace, more like a medallion. It was the sun and moon, though they were interconnected, one unable to form without the other. They looked like two separate necklaces, the sun done in gold and the moon in platinum, but her wore them as one. Finally, my eyes fell on his face, and his widened a bit in recognition. Mine widened all the way, there was no mistaking the blue eyes, nor the title of Demon King. "Julian..." I whispered. "How did you..." he began than shook his head. "That name was an eternity ago..." A frown creased my brow and bent my lips, an eternity? But I had only died last year or so... "Julian," I breathed, sobs of minutes ago long forgotten. "It's me...don't you remember?" Sadly, Julian shook his head..."You look... familiar, but that was a long time ago..." "I'm Lady Michelle, you have to remember..." My voice bordered on tears once again. If he had survived my death, I had found him again, only for him to not remember... His face hardened, "Don't speak of that again, I am still Lord here and can throw you back to the wolves." The air was thick with silence and watching eyes. "I can prove it, return to me my half of the medallion," I commanded. I knew he would give me the wrong half, or make me choose between the two halves myself. Just my knowing about the two halves surprised him. Slowly, with those pale deft fingers, he unhooked the clasp on the back of the medallion and handed me the half with the sun. "No," I said, pushing his hands away. "I said my half." Something was eating at the edge of my memory, something from even longer ago than Lady Michelle. Something about a sun... Julian swallowed audibly, "Please..." he whispered, and the blue in his eyes was delicate now, as though any false move would crack it. "We were given these along time ago...by someone, though it couldn't have been that long ago, because I'm only seventeen..." I trailed off. The memories here were fuzzy and I tried to make as much sense of them as I could. "The person who gave them to us was sad...something terrible had happened...the Night world had taken over. We used the power to drive them back, then they took my parents and I died to save them. But I came back, and we can stop them again." His hands grasped mine, pressing the moon half of the medallion into the palm of my hand. Julian's fingers smoothed over my hands. "You were so close to remembering everything that day... then you would have had the true power to defeat them, so they set us back a millennia by taking your life and with it your memory and hid you away in one of their camps..." Julian whispered, and removed his hands as I stared at the heavy crescent in my hands. "A millennia..." I whispered. "But that can't be, I'm only seventeen... what am I not remembering, Julian?" Silent tears were trailing down my cheeks. I knew the memories were back, shut away in my mind, but I couldn't get them out... I couldn't. Julian knelt in front of me, the knees of his leather pants touching my own naked knees. His hand found my shoulder, and the other held his half of the medallion next to my hands, resting on my knees, where my own half was cupped. "Only you can bring those memories back and truly cleanse the evil in this place; I can only help." Julian paused, unsure, then continued haltingly. "The night world and circle daybreak achieved true peace and in doing so, found the fourth wild power. The humans were the ones from the twilight, the end of mankind, to be one with the dark, the night world. They achieved balance, and the darkness let them live." "So?" I asked, enthralled. If they had achieved true peace, then why was it like Germany 1945 out there? "Before that, however, the night world came out and there was a slaughter. Many humans and many nightworlders died. This is the place sometimes called heaven and sometimes not. We have fought that eternal battle here, and unfortunately have been losing. New deaths give the other side new prisoners. And until we can cleanse the darkness, this place will forever be corrupt." Julian paused again after the lengthy monologue. "In short, Lady Michelle, your dead, and have been for over three thousand years." My mouth fell open, I couldn't help it. It all made sense, but I couldn't remember, though I was sure that was not my name. Until now, it had fit like a glove, now it merely felt like a too tight prom dress. "That isn't my name..." I whispered. Julian looked me in the eyes, startled. "What is your name?" He asked desperately, offering me his half of the medallion. "I don't remember..." The tears started again, he squeezed my shoulder, leaning forward slightly, urgently. "You have to remember...what is your name?" His eyes were wild and I thought hard. Sunshine? No. My parent's weren't hippies.. but someone else's' were.. Tiger? No, not nature buffs either... I had it... "Jenny," I breathed. "My name is Jenny Thornton." Crystal tears ran down Julian's cheeks as the halves of our medals levitated form our hands and came together in the air before us. "I have always loved you Jenny.." A bright golden light engulfed me, it looked like I was in the center of the sun. Light coursed through my veins and I was lifted to my feet. Colors like golden dawn painted my skin, honey gold brightened my hair and sparkling filigree flecked my eyes. The light faded and I remembered everything, including my reflection in the crystal blue waters. "Oh Jenny," Julian whispered, rising to meet me. "Julian... I missed you," I whispered back, rushing to meet his embrace. **** I don't know who Lady Michelle really was, I just know I made her up because I couldn't deal with my death. My purity had been powerful, even through that incarnation, but I was by far stronger as Jenny with Julian by my side. In seconds we cleansed the evil from this place, the place called heaven or the other side. No one besides Julian and I remember what it was before, and I know that's for the better. Not everyone here remembers who they are either, and sometimes that's for the better too. It's a big wide afterlife out there, much bigger than the tiny planet we inhabited, so I have yet to find Dee and the others. But that really doesn't seem to matter much, if they are here, than they are surely happy and if we are supposed to see them again, we will. This place isn't perfect, but as far as I know, it's the only afterlife there is, so I'll take it, and rejoice in the little things. Because, like life, you can't always get what you want, but you can be more than happy with what you have. The End