| Prolouge A dream is something that is not real. Illusion, a span of your imagination when you go to sleep and enter the land of dreams. But what happens when something happens. When the realm of dream and reality blur, when nothing looks to be what it seems. When do dreams become reality? Hi, my name is Anita. I am a normal girl, just entering my senior years in high school. I lead a very normal and boring life. So boring that I've become wholy obsessed with japanese animation. I have very normal friends. My group. Everything in my life is normal and boring. Nothing great or spectacular thing happens in my life. Nope. Which is why I started writing. Incredible and UNbelieveable stories with the characters in my favourite animes, that scorch the whole range of human emotion. I do it to add flavour to life. Little did I know just how far my imagination spanned. It was the start of our senior year, or year 12. Everyone were anxious nervous wrecks, including me. Of course to handle this stress, I had the marvellous idea of writing a story including me and my friends. I really haven't wrote anything like it before. Usually I stick to my anime genre, where the weird and gravity defying things happen, that can't POSSIBLY happen in real life. My fantasy world. Now, some of my friends have attempted to write stories about us too, especially Jasmeen, who's creative mind tends to think weird situations for all of us. Mostly everyone ends up dying in one story or another of hers. Entertaining nevertheless. She's shorter than me. Yes, I had to add that in as I'm always teased about my height. This is because my friends mostly tower above me. Especially Jocelyn and her metre long hair, the tallest of our group. I've been known think up the plots of my stories in my dreams. It's because I get almost no sleep, and instead think about the story I'm writing, conjouring up the images in rapid sequence. As dreams are entertaining, writing them down make good stories. It was the same with this one. I dreamed it. And that where it all started. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "What's that?" Jocelyn peered over my shoulder at the notebook in my hand. Her mouth full of chicken, lettuce and mayo sandwich, what she ALWAYS eats. "Another story." I say absentmindedly. "What about?" Chomp goes the sandwich. "Us." Eunice, or Necie as she prefers, looked up. Immediately the notebook goes flying from my hands into hers. "HEY!!!" I try my best to wrench it back, except that now 5 people were crowding around it. Necie, Tara, Jocelyn, Jasmeen and Kimmy peered intently at the notebook. I could tell their eyes were reading as their pupils flited around in their sockets. "Some people." I mutter. Cathy looks up from her cards to shout a "HA!" at me. Yes, I said cards. We are the saddest group in our school as we have NOTHING to do at lunchtimes, so we play cards. Mostly Nandini, card obsesser, Ester, keeper of the cards, Vickie, OTHER keeper of the cards, and Cathy, card player extreme. Sad, aren't we? "YOU GUYS DO REALISE THAT WE HAVE A TEST AFTER THIS!!!" Over to the left we have Catherine, Alisha, Bibi, Jennifer and Angelina, our resident worry warts. Y'know, the people that go crazy over tests, and chant "Oh my gosh" Gosh, as they cannot use God's name in vain, like me, an atheist, who can, or the very common, "I'm going to FAIIIILLLL!!!!", wail, wail. Actually, I should join them, but the bliss of writing is ignorance. Even tests. I AM NOT NERVOUS. But I AM GOING TO FAIL. "GIVE ME THAT BACK!!!" I wrench the notebook back with vengence, wapping Necie on the head for good measure. I got a KILLER kick in my shins in return of course. Remind me not to do that again. There was a collective "OI!!! I WAS READING THAT!!!" "Frightfully rude." Necie said in her mocking British accent. Actually, she's Chinese like me. Like most of the people in my group, except for a few. Jocelyn is one of them. "Hey Lady, that sounds good, write more." Strange language called Jocelynian. She's Syrian by the way. Arabic. Chestnut coloured, REAALLY long hair, THICK lashes that I envy and pale skin. One of my best friends. "Getting interested are we?" I say back. She just answers by reading over my shoulder again. I'll take that as a yes. Just as I put my pen down on to paper the bell rings. I make angry hand motions. Catherine, Alisha and Angelina scream together and trudge up the steps to the hall where we would be doing our test. Maybe I should've studied.... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In my story, I am called Alita, my alter ego, and my preferred pet name. Since I don't like using real names in my stories, like Jasmeen's, I decided to use everyone's alter ego. This also would be easier if I publish these stories some day...in the...very...distant future. I made everyone as they would want to be. Mostly. My fantasy world was magical world. A world of magic, good and evil, incredible human feats, and even more incredible NON human feats. But it was one thing that I found out later, that authors never know what will happen in their stories. There would be no fun in writing them otherwise. It was that uncertainty that made it interesting. And it was with that uncertainty I went to bed that night. After saying goodnight to my posters of course. And I woke in another world. A world I had created. CHAPTER 1 ~ The deadly team I was in pain. Strange, it wasn't the usual bedcramps I had from sleeping on my beloved stool. My fuzzy mind slowly commanded my eyes to open. Strange, I was tired. Considering I had just awoken, that seemed wrong somehow. My arm reached on reflex to slam down my alarm... and met air. I frowned, squinting through the darkness. Shapes loomed in my room. Unfamilar ones. I jolted awake, snapping upright. A sharp sting of pain in my side made me cry out in pain. Light streamed into the room. I realised to my horror, that it was in fact a tent. A familiar figure walked in. I gasped. A long brown hair was bound into a top knot with an intricate twist, deadly looking dagger needles protruding from the design. She was clad in what looked like armour, in the shape of black leather. It consisted of a black skirt of sorts, pleated so it allowed plenty of movement, black hose was under that, topped by soft leather boots. Her chest was covered with a form fitting, two strapped leather top. I could only see this in the bright sunshine streaming from outside. "You okay?" She asked, her voice VERY familiar. I just stared. Leaning closer, my eyes widened as I saw her eyes. They were violet. "J-J-Jocelyn?" I stammer. Her lips frowned. "Alita, you know very well my name is Liathano, and I doubt a shadow wound in your side can muddle your head." I blink. "L-Liathano?" Shadow!? It was the name of Jocelyn's alter ego. And SHE had called me Alita. My head felt light. Jocelyn, no, Liathano frowned again, this time worriedly. "Do you need water?" I felt the dryness of my throat and nodded slightly. She then went ahead and gave me A PIG SKIN CONTAINER! I stared some more. Finally, she tilted the container, pouring strange tasting water through my dry lips. Once my thirst was quenched, she sat back on the other cot in the tent. "Do you think you're up to it to go tonight? The job has to be done TONIGHT." Liathano said in a soft commanding tone. A worried demand. Just like Jocelyn would. "Job?" I ask, trying to get my bearings. I looked down. And did a double take. Oh my GOD!!! I had BIG BREASTS!!! I cupped them just to make sure. I didn't really had big ones normally, my mother always said they would grow in. My family isn't really known for big breasts either. The other girl...no, woman looked at me weirdly. "Is there a reason why you're fondling yourself? Kinda early in the morning..." She trailed off, smiling mischeviously. Any moment I would expect a Muahahaha, just like Jocelyn would do. She didn't. Instead, I blushed, and dropped my hands. They felt past leather. I blinked rapidly. I was wearing LEATHER?!?! Apparantely. Black leather pants. Black boots, black leather tank top. Eek. I must have been staring at myself for too long as the Jocelyn's alter ego stood up. "Gather what you need. Breakfast is outside." And walked out, leaving the tent in darkness once more. I search my mind. It was whirling. I was inside one of my stories. FICTION. Great hyperventilating breaths were in due. The person outside thought I was Alita Battle Angel, assassin extraordinaire, my character in a story when, I was...well, me. But that meant that I was in a story, which is not possible. Uh uh. I pinched myself hard. DAMN that hurt! It was real. Wait a sec, job? The woman said a job right? I went through what I had written that day, and drew a blank. I had only managed Alita and Liathano's discriptions, which was why Jocelyn liked it. But first, I had to clear this up. From that pinch, I didn't want to know if dying here, meant dying in reality, which, would be really bad for my health. As I stepped out of the tent, I nearly yelped in surprise. Far off in the distance was the looming shape of a black castle shaped like a giant oval covered in dark flickering flames. Around me was endless forests, sunlight streaming through dense foilage into the clearing we were in. In front of me sat Liathano, building a fire. That hair was awfully close to that smoke... "Um..." I figeted. She looked up. "Hungry?" She held up what looked like rat on a stick. Hey, what can I say, I'm not picky. Plus, I WAS hungry. "I'm not Alita Battle Angel." I blurt all at once, pieces of rat on stick flying out of my mouth. Liathano just looked at me weirdly. She put a hand on my forehead. "Hm...doesn't look like you're mentally deranged..." I shook myself of her touch. "No, I'm not Alita. My name is Anita Downs and I..." I trailed off as she started laughing. "WHAT!?!" I shout indignantly. "Pulease. Alita, I know for a fact that's from one of those stories you write. Did you lose too much blood or something?" She said between guffles. I frown. So Alita writes stories too? Of...ME?! If that isn't strange I don't know what is. "I can prove it! Ask me anything!" I yell. Liathano quietened. "Stop it woman, this is no time for jokes. We have to move out soon before dark when her power is strongest." She was serious. And I was in deep shit. "But I'm not JOKING!!! I am not Alita Battle Angel!!!" I argued. Suddenly a dagger was coming STRAIGHT towards me. *MOVE IDIOT!!!* I dodged, the reaction from the voice thundering in my head. The dagger whipped past my shoulder, while I fell on my face in the dirt. Liathano 'hmphed', standing and picked up the dagger. I had a hand to my thudding heart, eyes wide. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" She turned and smiled at me. "If you are not Alita, you wouldn't have been able to dodge that. " I open my mouth, "AH!!! Not another word of who you aren't when you are who you are." I stare back blankly. Did anyone else get that? "Huh?" She laughed. "I have no idea what I just said either. Come on. I'll get the horses and help you pack up camp." Her face turned serious. "We have a job to do." And she walked off. I stare at the the tree in front of me. Suddenly I whirl around and peer cautiously. Someone had told me to move when that dagger came at me. And that voice...it sounded familiar. It sounded like...like it was inside my mind, which was utter nonsense as no one could... I'm a character in my own story. What the hell am I talking about!?! Feeling stupid, I thought at myself. //Hello?// *About time genius.* I stumbled, startled at the answer. That voice in my head...it was...ME!!! "Who are you!?!" I say aloud, then realised what I did and thought it instead. *I'm the person who you drove out of her body IDIOT!!!* Did I really sound like that? I frowned. //Are you...Alita?// *No shit genius.* //Er...so this is YOUR body?// I ask, getting used to thinking what I want to say. *What DO YOU THINK!?!* I wince at the mental loudness. //I guess you want it back right?// I asked sheepishly. Her answer surprised me. *Actually, no.* //No?// The voice sounded...tired...almost, weary. *Look, I need the rest. When I want it back, you will KNOW. For now, just think of me as your special guide Anita. Before you say it, yes, I know all about you. I went in your memories. We're alike you and I.* I was about to say 'that was because I created you' but the voice cut me off. *Get moving girl! We have a job to do!!!* //JOB!?! Wait, you don't mean...// *Just because you're in my body doesn't mean I'm going to miss out on the loot once I get it back. Get going. Liathano is coming with the horses.* //HORSES!?! I CAN'T RIDE A HORSE!// My only answer was an amused laugh. Great, my alter ego had my demented sense of humor as well. Damn. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Er...J-Liathano, what exactly is this job?" I held onto the horse for dear life as we trotted down a trail. The other woman looked at me. *Didn't I go over this already!?* I wince. //So I forgot!!!// I felt the mental eyeroll. Liathano chuckled. "You know very well." "Um..tell me again. Just to humor me." I say awkardly, my knuckles white from gripping the reins of the black stallion I rode. She sighed. "Fine. You know the two forces of Opposites right?" I shook my head. *Light and Shadow idiot.* My mental friend added in annoyance. I changed the motion to a nod. "Light and Shadow, right." "Since they took over Blackstar, what was, until recently, Earth, everything was thrown back to the olden days without the handling of technology." Liathano continued. I nod. "Our job is to assassinate one of those opposites." *And get enough gold to retire on* I stared blankly. "How do we do that? We can't exactly kill light and shadow can we?" Liathano gave me a weird look, before shrugging. "You really are forgetful. We have to kill Harlequinn and Opal. Light and Shadow." "You lost me." I have to KILL someone!?! Wait...Opal...Harlequinn. I gasped. //Necie...Tara...// *WHO?* Liathano continued, a grim line formed by her lips. "They control Blackstar now." My mind was whirling. //BACK UP!!! I HAVE TO KILL MY FRIENDS!?!// *No, you have to kill one of those bitches to get the loot. It's that simple. If you want the goody too shoes way, you will be saving Blackstar in the process, end their reign of terror, blah blah blah.* //I CAN'T KILL MY FRIENDS!!!// Liathano's voice cut through my thoughts. "We're here." I suddenly took in my surroundings, with a slack jaw. Infront of me was a towering pair of double doors, one made in black marble, the other in white. Light and Shadow. Beyond that was the looming shape of an oval...no, an Opal. It was black as night, with white, red and blue flames seemingly running along it's exterior, like lightning. The top of the opal stood a small tower, swirling from the opal and spreading into a wide claw. Lightning crackled above it, and an eerie sense of wrongness. "Hell." Liathano whispered, what I somehow knew was the name of this place. I turned to her to see her nod, and dismount. I followed her example. "It's now or never." Gracefully, unlike the Jocelyn I knew, she suddenly twirled, hands moving in circular motions. *Listen, I'm going to tell your body what to do to get this to work.* //TO GET WHAT TO WORK!?!// As soon as I thought that, Liathano had cupped her hands infront of her. "FIRE....BALL!!!" My eyes nearly buldged out of my sockets as flames leapt from her bare hands and ran forth to the door, turning the marble red. Before I knew it, my hands waved a pattern in the air, one that seared in the air in blue mists. My hands cupped themselves like Liathano's. My mouth moved against my will. "ICE BEAM!!!" Cold blasts of what I knew was something way colder than it seemed shot at the door, instantly encasing it in a solid block of ice. In perfect sync, my body and Liathano moved forward, delivering a grounding punch in the double doors. And to my utter shock, the hard marble cracked, before breaking down with a gigantic crash on the other side. Alita chuckled mentally. *Cool, ain't it? No pun intended of course.* I couldn't say anything at the moment, my arm still raised. The looming opal seemed even bigger now. Dark towers in both black and white surrounded it like a mass of crystals. Ahead of us was a paved road of black marble. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?" I couldn't help but whisper. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ We ran through the black sterile corridors, breathing hard. Something felt wrong. If this WAS my story, dangerous minions of evil would be attacking us just about now. So where were they? *Don't get too cocky Amateur.* Alita chided at me. //Well you could've TOLD me I could do magic sooner!!!// *Pffft...Just remember what I told you in using those things.* I looked down at the twin daggers of ice in my hand. Strange that they didn't feel cold at all. Even more so was the fact I've been running for more than 2 hours at top speed and wasn't even tired yet. I was breathing heavily, but I should've been crawling across the floor by now. I hate running...but I may get to like it if I'm good at it... Liathano tapped me on my shoulder, catching my attention. Another door...well...sort of, it was more a wall of black and white flame, stood infront of us. I gulped nervously. This was probably the entrance to that spooky tower on top of the opal. And the most known fact about evil is...they like high places...makes it more melodramatic. //I'M NOT MADE FOR BATTLE!!!// The coward in me was tugging at my controls. *I am. Just do as I tell you.* Slowly I nod, gripping the twin daggers tightly. Liathano, her fire sword in hand stepped forward, raising it above her head. Her lips were set in a grim line. The Jocelyn I knew would never kill on purpose...unless it was a guy trying to rape her or something equally bad. It showed the differences between this woman and her. Like me and Alita. With a yell, she swung down at the wall of fire. "Fire..." "Stop." Liathano stopped midswing at the commanding voice. I gasped. No...it couldn't be. The flames suddenly just collasped in front of us. Beyond that, stood what I had feared. The room was open in the air, lightning crackling above it with menace. Sheer black curtains made of shadow hung in the air, rippling eeriely in the wind. Infront of these was a throne of black marble, spikes of red flaming from it's backing. She sat in that throne. A gown of pure shadow clung to her form, spreading over the floor like endless waves. Black hair was spread over her shoulders, concealing glowing eyes of red. Lips coloured black as well curved into a smile. "Welcome." I knew that voice too well. I also knew that tendency to show cleavage, especially in that gown. She looked up, Liathano and I took in breath at the glowing redness of those eyes, the exact opposite of what eyes should be. They were black with red pupils. But even with that change, I knew who it was. Necie. "I, am Opal. Opal of the Night." I could see Liathano grip her sword tighter. Gracefully, Opal stood, a cloak of black wrapping around her shoulders as she did. "Such rudeness." She spoke in that mocking British tone. "The team Vengeance, come to kill me have you?" //Vengence?// I asked silently. *What we are called. Vengeance is what I call me and Liathano.* I didn't move my eyes from the woman in black. Liathano growled. "Yes." Opal laughed. "Pathectic." She looked to her left. "Harley, we have guests." Suddenly, a blinding flash of light penetrated the darkness, spliting the room in two. Light and Shadow. A form of pure light appeared. Blonde hair spilling over her shoulders in the exact opposite of Opal's gown. The light to her darkness. A throne of light fazed into form behind her. Eyes of pure white with a small speck of blue as her pupil swivelled to us. //Shit.// Harlequinn was Tara. I took an unknowing step back. "Don't give up now Lady. We can take out one of them easy." Liathano hissed reassuraingly at me. *She means we can ONLY take out one.* //Great, just blow my hopes of living.// I snap back mentally. //Alita, why is Light fighting alongside Shadow? Aren't they supposed to be enemies?!// *No one knows. It just is. Harlequinn and Opal have always been together.* //Perhaps...they are friends.// Alita scoffed at that and remained silent. Opal looked back at us, smiling. "Why kill us? We have brought prosper to this world. Remade it, made it better, stronger. Yet you want to kill us to save our beloved Blackstar. Such rudeness I cannot abide." It was unerving to think of her as a friend. I glanced over to the form of light that had yet to speak. Something felt...off... Liathano grimanced, and raised her sword in an attack stance. "You little bitch." She hissed. "You remade the world alright. At the cost of billions of people! Billions DIED so you two could rule!!!" Opal smiled. "So?" I was a moment before I realised what she was going to do. "Jocelyn NO!!!" It was too late, she rushed at Opal, sword slashing downwards with a trail of fire. *You called her JOCELYN. Stop her you fool!!!* Once again, my body moved by its own will as I followed after her. Opal lifted a hand, black waves of power forming in her palm. "Fools." The casade of black energy came towards me, letting me feel the sheer icyness of the blast before it came. My heart thundered in my chest. And I awoke in my bed with a scream. To be continued... |