Chapter 5: Remember Me, Think of Me
It looks like there is another look-alike of Chris. But there was
a difference where he was average height and looked timid. His platinum blonde
hair that shimmered in the sun rays however it wasn’t white, there was a pale
yellow tint to him. He wore a black, high-collared jacket with a zipper. Over
this, he wore another jacket, this one unzipped and white, with several black
block designs and a gray hem on the end of each sleeve. This jacket's collar
was red and pleated and folded back. The legs of his pants were beige with
several of what looked like buttons on the hem that appeared to attach the legs
to the rest of the cloth, which were dark-colored. This boy didn’t watch where
he was going and bumped into Chris and Gloria, where they were dazed to see
this boy was familiar to them. “Jesse?” asked Chris with amazement. The boy
smiled at him as he greeted the two, “Chris, Gloria!” He called. “Hi, how are
you?” inquired Gloria. Jesse beamed with pride, “It’s good to see you guys, I
miss you!” He said. Jesse was a lost cause as he had traumatic amnesia of his
life that only Chris and Gloria know, after Jem told them about it when they
were children. Jesse’s father was in the military as he was recruited in the
war. The thing is, military recruiters always try and lure in young men and
women by telling them the positives of signing up, but never really tell them
the negatives and all responsibilities that come with it. Understating the
responsibilities of the military then following it up with the incentive of
money is a trick that usually works on many youth. Many recruits get that
first shock of being in the military now when they are sent off to boot camp.
There they are suddenly faced with a series of strict rules and guidelines that
they weren’t used to, but they must adhere to otherwise they cannot
proceed. During training soldiers are taught different chants and cadences
to sing as they do their runs. During boot camp recruits aren’t allowed to
do too much so many times they are stuck bored doing nothing. In their boredom
they get to know one another better and build bonds as they learn to fight
together. Many go into the military with the idea that they’ll gain
respect and love from people back home. Often soldiers will come back –
sometimes even during the war – and have a different perspective than when they
started. Military training includes brainwashing and obedience. Soldiers
are taught to do anything for their country and for the greater good without
question or thought. Young Jesse witnessed his father breaking down and going
insane, even in front of his mother. Then, there was the suicide of his father
that shocked Jesse and his mind shattered as he pretend that it didn’t happen
but if anyone says that in front of him, he’ll have a mental breakdown! Chris
and Gloria had to be careful not to set Jesse off and have a good day about it.
Since they run into one another; Chris, Gloria, and Jesse did some sight-seeing
around the conurbation. In the field of rainbow panorama; the work is a
tinted-glass circle that allows visitors to walk through the colors of the
spectrum while taking in a panoramic view of the city. The three friends were
amazed to see the metropolis in a different light. Afterwards; Chris, Gloria, and Jesse were
walking down the street as they talked & laughed with one another just like
the childhood friends they were. “Wow! That was amazing!” Jesse sighed. Chris
smiled, pleased with the day he had: “Feels like good times.” He retorted.
Gloria looked at Jesse, “So, do you remember anything of these good times?” She
questioned. Jesse shrugged, “Ah. Yeah, always do.” He said. Just then, a little
girl came up to Jesse and handed him the letter. “Sir, I have something for
you.” A little girl said, she gives it to Jesse. Jesse was surprised, “For me?”
He asked. The little girl smiled at him, “This nice young lady wanted me to
give this to you.” She said. Jesse smiled at the girl and took it but when he
read it, he read the letter that surprised him. “Who is it from?” asked Chris. “Who
wrote it?” Gloria inquired. Jesse shrugged with a daze expression, “I have no
idea, it’s anonymous.” He answered. The letter says, “Come down the rabbit hole
of my palace, join in all the madness of a tea party and white roses are
painted red.” The next minute, Jesse woke up in an opera house and was shocked
as he stood up in horror. “Where the hell am I?” Jesse asked, looking around.
He seemed terrified by this. “I gotta get out of here!” But then, he heard a
voice that said, “You’re not going anyway my darling…” Jesse looked around
frantically, “Who are you?” He called out. The voice called out in sultry-like
voice: “I am your beloved; I believe you know me so well.” Jesse made his way
while he solved puzzles and finding clues but he was startled around to hear
creaks and doors opening & closing, he thought someone was here. “Why did
you leave me, sweetheart?” The voice echoed. Jesse became disturbed by this
girl. “Who was that girl?” He wondered. As he appeared in the room, he saw a
mirror but jumped back when he saw someone in the room. The figure was in a
dark cloak and its face was concealed. “Ah, you’ve arrived! Bring me one of my
missing items, a green bottle. With absinthe potion.” Greeted the figure. Jesse
searched around and found a green bottle in the dining room. The figure seized
the bottle of green absinthe, startling Jesse in the process. “My past life was
a tragedy, darling…See for yourself.” She said as she showed Jesse a vision in
his mind of the past: In her life as an abused victim; Stephanie was first to
witness her mother Clementine was drugged and drained as Boser appeared before
his wife and forced himself upon her. He ripped her clothes and was inside
her....The others didn't help; they thought she was crazy so they all laughed
at her. Stephanie, Adreena, and Henrietta were forced to watch. Things got
worse when that awful hurricane and Stephanie was looking for her sister
however she was shocked to find the remains of her sister was her feet which
had the magic shoes. Stephanie was in anguish however she decided to get her favorite
teacher, Mr. Leighton, for help. When Stephanie got to the university, she saw
the lights in Mr. Leighton's office was off so she went in and turned them on.
What she saw was a horrifying scene of Mr. Leighton's corpse, his own nape was
red and there was a puddle of that awful color on the floor! Stephanie flee the
scene, crying and struggling for breath! However, she bumped into Brandon which
she wish she didn't because she must look like a crying mess. But she managed
to tell Brandon what had happened and they talked for awhile in a garden where
they confess their love for one another. But then, they were discovered by the
guards as Stephanie escaped while Brandon was being lead away to be beaten to
death. Stephanie was in a panic as she tries to use a spell to save him however
she heard a crunch sound of bones as well as a sickening sound of flesh ripped
apart. Stephanie screamed, "BRANDON!!!!!" Soon, Stephanie learns that
her father had murdered her loved ones and was shocked that she never knew her
father could be that abusive! It wasn't until she was grown into a young lady
when she found comments about her that read: "Stephanie is a selfish bitch
who is going to get what she deserves; she is a pathetic little good girl who
should die friendless and alone!" Stephanie is shocked as she doesn't know
what is going on. She learns that she is competing with a new girl who is much
more prettier. In walked in Marie Lewis, mysterious and gorgeous while also
nice. Too nice. She has an hourglass figure. Stephanie doesn’t completely fit
this mould she doesn’t feel valued in society. She resembled a thin model with
no extra weight; Stephanie realizes she will never quite live up to the
unrealistic image of Marie. Stephanie is jealous of Marie because she looks beautiful
and is attracting the guy of her dreams, Blake, and she’s ashamed of admitting
her enviousness. Stephanie cannot help but have a desire as she wants
everything that Marie has so that Marie will come to her. She wants to figure
out why Blake seduce other women and not her. She wants to drown herself in the
women’s perfume because she believes that Sergei is attracted to her for the
way she smells and is causing her pain. "I wish I was her. Why do you love
her and not me?" She thought while watching Marie with Blake. She feels
the same emotions of restlessness that is usually linked with having a crush on
someone. In this case, she can’t sleep or get peace for a different reason:
Blake is rebuffing her feelings by being with Marie. Stephanie doesn’t need
Blake's company to enjoy herself tonight, and she’s also convincing him and
herself that she will not need him in her life again. Tonight, her goal is to
erase her troubles and enjoy herself with Marie. On her night out she’s gonna
come across a brand new guy that will make her completely forget about her
troubles with her current lover. Everyone’s gonna be talking about this night
and how she’s completely obliterating the memory of the guy that’s messed with
her by having a fun night with her girls, and hooking up with new guys. He had
it coming, though, he knew that the day would come where she would get up,
leave, and do it on her own. She pushes the buttons even more to express that
she’s had enough, and that she’s doing perfectly fine without him in her life.
She’ll be fine without the guy trying to bother her and ruin her evening, she’s
got her girls and that’s what matters. However; something changes as she didn’t
expect it to happen and it wasn’t her idea but because she was so drunk, it
gave her the confidence to kiss a girl and not feel awkward about it.
Basically, Stephanie was probably drunk, and is therefore confused with what
she should do. It is hard for her to just kiss boys. It seems the traditional
view of orientation being a fixed trait was mostly determined through research
conducted on men. Girls, on the other hand, seem to have a fluid orientation,
falling in and out of love with both genders over a lifetime — thus being
magical while her kissing a girl and liking it is actually quite the norm, and
really is no big deal. She just wanted to try to get a taste of how it feels
like to kiss a girl. Stephanie also worries that her boyfriend won’t take this
issue up quite seriously allegedly labeling her. However, it was a dream and
Marie was amused to hear it. But Stephanie is going to pursue her desires over
what logic and reason are advising her to do. The feeling of commitment that
the person in this song is experiencing when faced with this sudden decision as
good emotions that also come along with the constricting ones – perhaps going
along with the love she feels for Blake. Stephanie has come to terms that Blake
doesn’t love her and never will. She questions why she continues to fool
herself into thinking this person will love her and to thinking that this
relationship would work out in her favor. Stephanie doesn’t want to hear the
excuses Blake has however she isn’t ignorant to her lover’s lies and doesn’t
see the point of what he’s saying. She’s generally hurt by the things he has
said to her. This is more of she fell in love with Blake and he’s saying that
they’ll always still be friends. She criticizes her significant other’s pride
and cowardice, which prevents him from ending the relationship. Stephanie is in
denial and doesn’t want to put the relationship to an end. She knows that both
her and Blake won’t end it, so suggest that they pretend everything is going
well. It’s just that Blake cannot commit to her and only ever wants her when he
is drunk or when they have contact. She doesn’t feel as if she completes him.
She doesn’t want to know the truth because she’s tried for this relationship
and can’t let go of what they may have once had. She strives for perfection and
will not accept anything less. She is very bitter and feels she can’t let go of
the relationship and her need for perfection as she realized this was a bad
decision. She regrets breaking up and misses being part of the relationship.
Stephanie was upset with her partner, but feels she overreacted by breaking up.
She now wants to move on and forget about the breakup, but can’t let go of what
has happened. She wants more and more so she doesn’t feel sad. She doesn’t want
materialistic goods; she wants something from the heart. She wants love. For a
far unexplained reason, Stephanie has been purged from a relationship that she
is emotionally seized to. However, she’s wasted her time trying to be in a
relationship with someone she simply cannot have. She feels stupid for
investing so much time in an unrequited love, and now she’s fragile, she fears
of being hurt again. She’s finally starting to give up on her task at hand, she
wishes to become unnoticeable. Instead of her having to deal with herself,
she’s passing it to her children. She realizes the destruction she has created,
and just wants to be far from it. She wants to give affection to the person,
but she gives too much. This happens with so many people that other people even
say that she’s clingy. Even though she likes the attention, she does not have
feelings for him anymore. Sometimes people are scared when they’re alone. She
understands that it seems selfish of her to ask for another night with him
since she was the one who broke their relationship off. Stephanie is searching
for a reason to keep coming back to this guy. She gives lame excuses that she’s
bored with him, but yet she still keeps coming around. As if she’s lying.
Stephanie broke up with him, so she’s not really looking for a man to hold on
to, she could’ve had him—but yet she can’t stay away. Even though she broke up
with her lover, she wants him to hold her through the night and to help her get
over him. This results in her doing this several times over a longer period of
time, breaking up in the mornings and getting together in the evening,
indulging in an evil, never-ending circle. However; Blake was black-balled
because of his association with her and he quit training her! While Stephanie
is with her overprotective friend name Caroline; Caroline doesn’t reassure
Stephanie when she is frightened but instead reinforces her fears and puts some
of her own into her in order to make sure she will come running to her when
threatened so she can protect her. Her paranoia and over-protectiveness is only
damaging Stephanie’s self esteem and social skills, making her think she needs
her approval for everything. Her mother attempts to police her whereabouts on
what she says or does as Stephanie becomes afraid to be vulnerable with other
people in part because of her mother putting her fears into her. All the things
she was deprived of while being sheltered from the world. Stephanie didn’t feel
like herself trying to maintain her past innocent image and this has robbed her
of herself up until this point. She drastically changed her image, and was
introducing a new look of herself, who is more mature, almost a woman, but at
the same time much sexier. Being sheltered prevented her from understanding who
she was and what she wanted. She prefers to make mistakes and figure things out
on her own than to feel restricted by authorities her whole life. Her mother is
telling her how she should about what image to present to the public. She
doesn’t feel the image she’s presenting is actually what she’s like though and
wants to truly be herself now. Stephanie has decided that now is the time for
her to get the things she’s been deprived of while being sheltered. Stephanie
is sick of her overprotective mother, she is sick at how Caroline is
suffocating her emotionally and left her out of anger! That's when Stephanie
discovers that Caroline is in the hospital for attempting to take her own life
a few weeks ago and goes to see her. In these past weeks, Caroline has been
using it for so long that she has started believing that this mask is the real
her. The pain that she feels, as she tries to convince whereas if she tries to
touch them, in the sense she tries to meddle with her persona, she feels the
bitter pain of it being so badly broken now. Her persona wants to make her
believe that what she is going through is fake, and when she has gone through
it all she will then understand that it wasn’t real. She’s wondering if people
would love her looks or her actual personality. She’s in love with Blake but
they knew that a relationship between them couldn’t work well, so he had to
leave. But, she’s not able to let him go. She’s tormented by thoughts of him
every day, and she knows she’s being childish by holding onto his memory this
long, but she feels she needs to have him with her until the memories leave by
themselves. Her emotional wounds won’t get better, and it hurts so bad
emotionally that she thinks she can physically feel it, and that there’s too
much time that she’s put into this thing that it’s unable to be erased. She and
this guy were very close, and losing him was like losing a part of her. Time
can’t erase the wounds of her loss, and she doesn’t know it but she’s opening
the wounds by holding on to him. She loved him very much, and cared deeply
about him. Then, he left her, and she became nothing. She never realized how
much she needed him until the day he left, and she can’t stop wanting him back,
her mind is slowly slipping into insanity. His presence, his grace, how he made
her feel, made him her whole world. She’s then taken apart after he’s gone,
with only shattered memories of the past times they had, to hold on to!
Memories of him are slowly driving her insane. Images of him haunt her, and she
hears his voice in her mind. She can’t help needing him, but she is desperately
trying to hang on to what she has left of her sanity. She knows that their
relationship had been a bad idea from the beginning, and she’d had to protect
him from his fears, and she never got anything back, but she unwittingly gave
all of herself to him. And now that he’s gone, she can’t live knowing that he’s
not here. It wasn't until Stephanie is shocked by more hateful letter as she
went to confess to Caroline, who was in the hospital, and told her: "I
know you hate me, but we were best friends once and I need you to read this. I
think I'm in serious trouble and there's nothing you can do, but I need you to
read this so you understand. I know we haven't talked in awhile. It's been
forever, but what happened to you wasn't my fault. At least it wasn't entirely
my fault. I know everyone thinks it was, but I would never do anything to hurt
you." Caroline looked at her with a glare, "You betray me..."
She said. Stephanie looked down, "I know...I'm so sorry." She
admitted. That's when the unexpected happens: She has cut herself, and is bleeding
while screaming: "You're perfect! I'm not! You've become obsessed with the
spotlight are now simply the puppets of others, the fool everybody laughs
at!" Stephanie is horrified and ran off! She arrives at home and she is
paranoid of her stalkers has stopped outside her house. So she’s locking the
door and not looking back because she’s scared. She’s getting changed —
undressing in the dark and not letting them see her, hiding from them. They’ll
never know the way that what they’ve said has freaked her out and made her
paranoid. She can’t believe they’d try and get her to do the things they want
her to do, which is whatever the stalker’s demands are. They’re haunting her in
her dreams and she’s terrified. They’ve all got her. She can’t sleep, because
then she’ll experience these nightmares. They think she belongs to them.
They’ve got her cornered, so just come out and get it over. She paid the price
for choosing a sensational life of phenomenal and vigor. No one wants to be
stalked or harassed! The people watching her might want to intrude but can
people really see her? She fears anyone calling her at all. Everyone could be
watching! Everyone is a suspect! She fears of being watched by authorities. The
feeling persists, she has too much time on her hands and she spends it alone.
Perhaps it’s a bad dream or she’s tired and is experiencing sleep
hallucination. And yet whatever she does can be seen by everyone. And the
people she loves are those that she fears and her life no longer belongs to
her! Stephanie wished she was a blonde in her teen years, she thinks that she
was robbed of the ideal teenage girl’s dream; popular, surrounded by boys,
always going to parties or hanging out with her friends. She wants to go back
in time to waste her life as a teenager. She wants to make mistakes, and worry
about petty things, and rebel just because she can. She is depressed, she
doesn't want to go out or deal with the world. She wants the drama and carnage
that come with being a stereotypical teenager, and naturally, she also wants to
eat rich, fattening desserts all day. She knows that the happy and carefree
teen doesn’t exist, but that’s exactly what she wanted to be. She faked it all
throughout her teen years, yet she wishes she hadn’t been so innocent and
transparent. Stephanie wants to be nice and virginal because, to everyone else
that seems more desirable than being an easy harlot with promiscuous behavior.
She wants back her chastity, and the empowerment it gives because she feels so
empty. She wants to get hammered, she wishes she wasn’t so careful and that she
did those immature things. She wants passion and violence, but she also enjoys
the simple things. Stephanie feels like she’s destroyed her chance to have her
simple moments and she'll hate herself for it. She has that high school loser
feeling bad about herself, but also feels like she’s a narcissist! She was
incredibly disoriented, having found that being a teen was actually a really
confusing ordeal. She was supposed to be testing her limits, she was supposed
to be happy, going out there and making a fool of herself while she was still
an adolescent. But instead, she stayed sensible and has made a fool of herself
in the future. Now, she regrets wasting so many years of her life not doing fun
things. Youth, in general is supposed to be a carefree time. Full of friends,
happiness. But since Stephanie never really had any of this, and spent all of
her time worrying and hating herself she never experienced much joy in her
short adolescence. Stephanie wishes people looked up to her when she was a
teenager. She wished everyone liked her and gave her respect. She wanted to be
invited to all the coolest parties. She wishes she was actually interested in
trying to be Prom Queen in high-school. Stephanie is used to this sort of
thing, having to cling to her drugs or dolls or such to make it through life.
This isn’t anything new to her; she goes down into oblivion and is done with
everything. There is something missing in her life, she feels the void while
hanging with all her fake friends. She’s being friends with identities that she
doesn’t relate to at all. Even she puts on a mask that conceals her true self,
adding to the sense of mystery. This could be the low point in her life. Her
depression, her hopelessness. She takes green tablets for the morning, blue
capsules in the afternoon and yellow gel-caps in the evening. Just to give
herself some peace but with all these pills; they cannot make her happy and she
gets rid of them. Everything from her is not fine, she hallucinates as she
could hear those hurtful words again: "Stephanie is a selfish bitch who is
going to get what she deserves, she is a pathetic little good girl who should
die friendless and alone!" She looked around her apartment where she can
see there is nothing but saw herself as somebody different, someone more
beautiful and perfect but it was nothing like her. More like Marie, who was
laughing and talking with Sergei. Stephanie shouted: "What the hell are
you doing with him?!" But she turned to her and said, "What does it
look like you pathetic, good girl? I'm here with your boyfriend. You think
anybody's gonna love you, you're disgusting. Nobody wants to be around a
selfish, friendless bitch." Marie and Blake laughed at her, and then
Stephanie could hear more laughter as she couldn't see where it was coming
from. "What's going on?" She thought with a panic. The laughter died
down where Caroline is hugging her as she whispers to her daughter, "I
won't let them hurt you sweetheart. You are my good girl. You don't need friends,
you don't have to put on an act to please others." Stephanie tried to pull
away however Caroline won't let go and Stephanie pushed her away as she
shouted, "I AM NOT YOUR SWEETHEART!!!!!" Just then, she is arrested
and is brought before Caroline, who is a judge, as she condemns Stephanie for
selfishness and hurting people who loved her, and then sentences her to be
exposed by stripping her clothes off. Stephanie covered herself but gasped at
how her body is branded with words on her skin: "LIAR", "TRAITOR",
"THIEF", "SELFLESS BITCH", "PATHETIC",
"FRIENDLESS", and "ALONE". People chanting: "STEPHANIE
REDFORD IS A LIAR!!!! STEPHANIE IS A TRAITOR!!! STEPHANIE IS A THIEF!!!!
STEPHANIE IS A SELFLESS BITCH!!!!!" STEPHANIE IS PATHETIC!!!!! STEPHANIE
IS A FRIENDLESS LONER!!!!"" She saw Blake, Caroline, and Marie also
chanting as she covered her ears. And she screamed, "LEAVE ME BE---I DON'T
DESERVE THIS!!!" And she runs out screaming. She runs while she tries to
escape her delusions which were she saw that wasn’t real: Being replaced, being
dumped, being smothered too much, and being betrayed. Nobody else could see the
branded words on her skin. She felt paranoid, delusional and then she was later
discovered by authorities where she slept near an alley way as she being guided
away. She lied there motionless in that room of the facility. And she died on
the inside.
Jesse shivered at the
sight as she saw the figure was gone but he heard her voice again. “The world
showed no compassion to me! And you won’t make that mistake to me!” The figure
proclaims, “I am your Angel, come to me my angel.” Jesse wandered through this
nightmare as he wondered about this mysterious figure while he try to search
over the room to find a way out of here and looked at the map of the building
as he managed to find the way out through the garden. The dark cloaked figure
surprised Jesse once again, “I see you made it, bring me a red rose with a
black ribbon. It’s another one of my items.” Said the figure. Jesse found the
rose with a black ribbon tied onto its stem in the room that represented the
powder room and Jesse brought the rose to the figure. The figure took the rose,
once again alarming poor Jesse as she said: “Remember Chris…Do you remember
when we first met?” She waved the rose while Jesse thought in his mind, “Another
vision?” He saw that it was the first time that Chris meets Stephanie.
Stephanie was Gloria’s neighbor and classmate but Gloria has a fear towards her
however after witnessing Chris being nice to the stammering yet grateful Stephanie,
who was shy around this mysterious boy. Gloria was touched as she decided to be
nice to Stephanie, the two girls became friends as Gloria finds out that
Stephanie was living in a nightmare household with her abusive father. Her
father name Boser abused her, Stephanie’s mother Clementine and Stephanie’s
sisters, Henrietta & Adreena. Gloria and Chris became the only friends to
Stephanie but it wasn’t until Stephanie was moving away from Tilbury Town to an
unknown town she doesn’t know. Chris and Gloria promise to write to her as they
would never forget her! Gloria found solace and comfort in Chris since her
older brother Jem has seemingly neglected her, but the one thing Gloria and Jem
cannot stand is their foster guardian name Tunek Pryor. There was something
creepy about this guy; he is secreted yet introverted workaholic! He was
a brawny man but a coward, speaks in a flattering tone when he speaks to
others—mostly to Gloria. Tunek has a speech impediment of stuttering and
hunched in his position. His voice is softy however it can be dark, menacing
when he is angered or stress! Tunek always locked Gloria in the tower where he
watches her from a hidden camera. He has a sick, forbidden infatuation on her
that is eerie and disturbed. Fortunately, Gloria became clever by drugging
Tunek’s food and puts him to sleep however Gloria always felt shutdown from her
brother however he looks at Chris as a brother figure, a friend, and she
becomes enamored with him. Little did she know that Chris is bewitched for Gloria
as he is willing to protect her no matter the cost was! Years later; Gloria is
escaping from Tunek after slipping a heavy drug in his beverage. She lied in
the field of daisies, where she plucked the petals off the flower and daydreams
to herself. Gloria has grown into a gorgeous young lady: She was average height
with fuller long, waist length red-auburn hair that was in a ponytail. Her eyes
were a light brown; she has a slender yet curvaceous figure and statuesque-like
legs. She wore a V neck light blue dress that reached her knees, ankle shoes
and socks. As she lied in the pastures; Gloria knew people live by a one quote
and place idols high on a pedestal as these idols were people who would die a
horrible death. But Gloria wants to live her life; she wants to enjoy it rather
than being cooped up by Tunek. She is done with his creepy antics, she finds
out that he has peeping on her and learns about the cameras. She wants to have
fun! She may as well as find adventure out there. She knows life is valuable so
Gloria desires to see other places outside her comfort zone! Gloria is ready to
face whatever happens in her life, she loves somebody she deeply cares for
which is Chris. Chris was her childhood sweet, she thinks so but she wasn’t
sure if Chris felt the same way about her. Gloria doesn’t care about of
anyone’s criticism about her; she will escape her isolation through a fantasy
she created inside her mind where nobody knows about. It’s a wonderful life in
the fantasy, the one she created inside her mind to escape the cruel world. She
knows a place inside her head that nobody else knows about! There are bright
and joyful things that surround Gloria! In this small area of a town, she is
inspired to see the world. Like the stories she heard as a child. She knows she
can do things with a brave confidence upon her and she has gifts as well as
talents that inspire people. It’s silly to think fantasy protect others however
she’s the happiest one in her dream world where she has the existence she
always wanted. All her problems vanish on sight, she sees things around her
that isn’t being put to good use and the thought of giving up everything she
wanted was a scary thought indeed! Around her is a sham, where her brother
never interacts of her and she finds out what a creep Tunek with an illicit
adoration-esque obsession for Gloria. As a child; Gloria never lived in reality
as she spends time dreaming, that make-believe land! She looked up to be people
who revealed to have sad lives. Gloria tunes out of reality, she would have fun
in the dreams at night of self-created flight of the imagination than the cold
light of day. Folks in this aspirational, doomed place would become soul-less
but those who kept a smile upon their face are actually depressed on the
inside! Though they never show it, Gloria knew it however she could never
understood it. Her reverie was interrupted by a horn’s loud sound; Gloria
realized it came from afar and rises up as she hurried away! Today, it was the
anniversary ceremony for the Messiah of the Subterranean. Gloria got up and
hurried off where she found a throng amongst the temple’s pews filled with
people. She looked around, she walk down and found Chris who glance away.
Gloria approached him as she found a wrapped up gift for her, she glanced back
at Chris as he had a shy smile on his face. Gloria mirrors her own bashful grin
and took her seat beside him. The ceremony begins once of those words from the
minister with his speech: “In the midst of the ocean lies a hero that slays the
sea devils who petrify us all. That’s when the Messiah of the Subterranean for
his gallant bravery was here to protect us all. Christian McLeary, our dear boy
we give you our gratitude!” Everyone cheered in unison but Chris rolled his
eyes and he barely smiled at this. Once the minister finished; Chris gets up
while everyone is occupied to come up to the minister. Gloria noticed, “Chris,
what’s wrong?” She asked softly. This surprised Gloria as she said: “The
ceremony is almost over.” She mumbled. “I’m tired of this crap; it bores the
hell out of me.” Chris replied quietly. Gloria couldn’t anything as she watched
him go. By the time he left; the ceremony was over but Gloria follows Chris
without being seen. She witnesses him from afar as he sat on a tree stump and talking
to himself. “So people once told me that something’s wrong with me? So what if
I left? I really don’t understand sometimes, how can someone like me be honored
as a hero?” He scoffs, “‘Messiah’? Please! Here I collect artifacts from other
places I never been to. I was never there so what do I know what it’s like out
there? I’ve amassed muself of a stock of crap from places I never went to
presently. My only desire is to go and see these places I never seen! Just to
explore outside my comfort zone.” Hearing the word ‘comfort zone’ made Gloria
creep a little closer, Chris didn’t notice as he was proceeding to have more
conversations with himself. “People should know that we don’t do a lot when you
wake up in the same town every day, there must be a place to experience things
in a different light. I want to know what it’s like; maybe there are people out
there who are tired of ordinary life. I wish for things that need to be
uncovered.” Gloria begin to show concern, she feels the same way for Chris because
she wants to explore places outside Tilbury Town! However, she slipped and fell
on her knees clumsily. Chris turned and saw her, “Gloria?” He called out.
Gloria scrambled to her knees in nervousness. She looked very mortified with a
blushing red face. Gloria brushed the dirt from her knees, “Chris—hi.” She
squeaked out. Chris had a small but crooked smirk on his face, “Did the
minister sent you for me?” He asked with sarcasm in his voice. “No, I came here
by myself. I mean, I was concern for you to leave so unexpectedly like that.”
Responded Gloria. Chris just rolled his eyes, “I’m sick of doing this, every
friggin’ time! Every year, I’m treated like a hero! But I’m not…I don’t feel
like one.” He said. “Chris, it’s just a tradition, like a holiday. All of you.”
Gloria assured him. “I know, I just hate the same thing over and over again.
Maybe a change or something like an adventure.” Chris said. “Chris…” She
started to say but Chris interrupts, “I know, it sounds stupid.” Chris said.
“No, I was going to say…I know how you feel.” Gloria replied with another shy
grin. Chris looked at her in surprise, he then smiled back at her! That smile
grabbed Gloria by the heart! Chris may be a good person but there are times
where he was serious, cynical, distant, antisocial, and sardonic. He was always
a rebel and a lone wolf; arrogant yet cocky while casually mouthing off! He
doesn’t believe in religion as he could care less however out of respect for
Gloria and her brother he has to participate! Despite this, Gloria knew Chris
was a good guy and he has changed so much since they were kids. He has grown up
just like Gloria has. He was fairly taller than Gloria, but not gigantically
huge. His ashen/platinum blonde hair has gone snow white locks that shimmered
in the sun rays. He wore a black, long jack with a red zip up hooded vest under
his coat and a navy blue muscle shirt under it. He wore black pants with white
stripes, a belt buckle with a skull and bones, a coat clasp and coat buttons.
He wore a wristband as it has a black rose design on it. Gloria knew Chris has
no idea how beautiful he was, he was truly remarkable towards her and she loved
him for he was and for his flaws. Just then, unfamiliar voices made Gloria’s
head turned: “How much further?” A girl’s voice complained. “Will you relax?” A
guy’s voice said, “We’re almost there!” Chris noticed Gloria could hear
something. “What do you hear?” He asked. “I don’t know, I never heard of these
voices before….” Gloria remarked in a daze. She left to pursue the voices as Chris
followed after her, Gloria ran through the brushes of branches however she
might have run too fast because she walked off the ledge of a cliff and would
have fallen. It wasn’t until Chris came to her rescue; he caught her in his
arms. And in a flash instant, they both were able to land safely on the ground.
Gloria was amazed as she glances at Chris, she didn’t know Chris could do that!
Chris said to her, “Gloria…I promise you…No harm will come to you.” Chris and
Gloria look at each other in the eyes for a moment before pulling away. Both of
them were blushing like crazy! While they were walking; there was a commotion
at the marina and a young lady, she has a slender yet buxom that has blackish
brunette hair. She has matching eyes which looked stunning. The woman wore a
knee-length dress, faux fur, accessories, and shoes that looked expensive. But
Gloria knew who it was, “Stephanie…Can it be Stephanie?” She gasped. Chris was
shocked by the sight and catch up with the young lady, calling after her: “Wait,
miss!” The young lady turned to Chris with a dark glare, “Can I help you sir?”
She snapped. Chris cracked a smile, “Don’t you remember? I was brought into
Tilbury Town, how you were a clumsy little girl.” The young lady’s face
brightened up, “Chris McLeary! And Gloria Nossen!” She said. Stephanie embraced
them both and pulled away, “Oh! I’m so sorry, I just went on a long voyage and
I didn’t recognize you. Gloria, you look so pretty.” Stephanie said. She looked
at Chris, her face went hot. “Oh--! Chris, I can’t believe it’s you!” And she
embraced him, she shed tears of happiness. The three of them talk for a moment
until a figure approached her to tell her that they must be off somewhere;
Stephanie bid them a goodbye as she promised to have more time together.
“I’ve been watching over you, McLeary. You cannot hide from me
forever!” The figure’s voice said as this person disappeared. Jesse strolled
around as he decipher enigmas and he looked around for evidences. That voice
echoed over and over throughout the rooms: “Why did you leave me, Chris?!” and “You
will never escape me!” Jesse was freaked out by all this; he found the living
room and saw the figure on the couch which the living room was dimmed with some
lights. “You found me; there is another item I want you to find in this very
place. You must bring me a razor.” The figure replied. Jesse found the razor,
an old one used for shaving back in the old days, in the bathroom and brought
it back to the living room where the figure was still there. The figure grasps
the razor in hand and said after she startled Jesse, “My dear, sweet, lovely
beloved…Do you remember all the things I did? I did it for you…” For another
time, Jesse saw the memory in his mind: “It’s not them! They have nothing to do
with it! I’m the one you want, it’s me!” A voice called out. “What?” gasped
Chris. “Who is that?” whispered Gloria. The figure had her hands up as she
exclaimed, "It’s me!!! Up here!!! IT’S ME!!!!" She jumped from the
stones, took down the cult members and freed Chris and Gloria. In another
sequence; Sarah tries to get Chris’s attention with a seductive wink and a
little wave but Chris scoffs this off. The church is where the meeting took
place and Sarah voiced her own proposal to work with Chris but Jem replies back
that Chris works alone however Sarah accuses Gloria for being a prude. But the
chandelier that was hanging from above was about to crash onto Sarah! Everyone
screams, Sarah dodged it as she was freaking out by having a primadonna-like
fit! “It’s her, Halsey de la Temple!” Lulu whispered. Pastor Sammael Malone
tries to reassure Sarah but she is angry that nobody is doing anything to
prevent them from happening and leaves in a huff! Just then, Madame Sarita
approached with a message from the mysterious Halsey. “Oh for God’s sake! You
are all obsessed!” said Jem. “She says she welcomes you to her town that solely
belonged to her and church’s heirloom safe from harm.” Said Madame Sarita, “And
her salary is due.” Tunek glances at her in disbelief, “She has a salary?” He
asked. “Why yes, Pastor Malone pays her about one thousand, seven hundred and
ninety nine trillions of dollars.” Replied the madame. Tunek was outrage as he
seized the letter as he exclaimed: “One thousand, seven hundred and ninety nine
trillions of cash?!” Since Sarah had left; Madame Sarita offers Chris a chance
to look out for the mysterious Halsey, Chris was uncertain however Madame
Sarita has faith in him and Gloria has faith in Chris. That night, Chris was
waiting for Halsey until Jem came to ask if he was sure but Chris claims that
it wasn’t his choice. Jem then wish him luck. Gloria came and told him to be
careful, Chris promise he will but he gave her a crooked, small smirk when he
saw a pendant around her neck. It was of an angel with a lyre, it was the gift
from Chris she found at the ceremony. Gloria smiled bashfully and says to him,
“Good luck.” She left. Chris watched her go as he waited for Halsey. But after
he lingered for an hour or two; he was about to leave, he thinks that this Halsey
woman doesn’t exists. Just then, he heard an enticing voice: “Foolish girl, how
dare she bask in your glory?! Ignorance in her soul, that insolent yet brave
young debutant. Sharing in my triumph, tormenting your soul!” Chris rise up,
“Are you Halsey? Answer me! I know about you and I want to know if you’re real.
Please…” He said. The enticing voice was so sultry, “Christian McLeary, you
sound so flattering. All right then…” She then chants something that lured him:
“Will you come with me to my wonderland? Down the rabbit hole….” He felt
mesmerized as he followed her. Outside, Gloria pressed herself against the door
and tries to open the door but it was locked. “Who is that girl? Who is that in
there?” She banged on the door but alas, it was hopeless. Chris went down a
staircase and he is a dark room with one opening in the ceiling to allow
natural light to illuminate the well, the rest of the cistern is lit
artificially, so that visitors can see its ornate arches. The pillars are
reflected in an ever-present shallow layer of water on the cistern’s floor.
There, he faced a young lady who wore a ceramic mask with eyes in the
masquerade and painted red lips. She was in a black cloak. She wants Chris to
know what she would like to see good things and warns him about the cruel,
unfeeling light of the world out there. While this happened; Chris noticed a
curtain is covering one part, “What’s in here?” He asked. He walked over and
pulls it back, “No! Don’t!” Halsey cried. It was too late, Chris look and he
was shocked to see a mannequin of himself with his face that resembles him. The
mannequin came to life at him, Chris jump back and he faints but Halsey caught
him and carried him to a bedroom, she puts him in a canopy bed and kissed his
cheek. She went away after draping the curtain. Later, Chris woke up and left
the bedroom as he approached to Halsey who was tending the fire. He
accidentally pulled the blanket she was covered with but was stunned to see her
naked body covered in scars! Halsey screams, “DAMN YOU! YOU PRYING VIPER, IS
THIS WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE?! DAMN YOU, CURSED SON OF A BITCH!!! YOU LYING
DEMON!!!” She covered herself as she hid in an arm chair but she stopped
screaming as she said, “Stranger than you dreamt it, can you imagine the abuse
I suffered? You have no idea what life is about. There’s those fat cats driving
in their expensive cars and living in fancy lifestyles. People don’t care,
people won’t have no compassion for the likes of me or you. Can you even dream
the undying yet crazy stuff.” Chris’s horror became empathy, he felt sorry for
her and handed back the blanket. Halsey took it back and went away. Afterwards,
she was dressed as she came to Chris and said, “Come. Let us return to the
church. Those people who are in there will be missing you.” And so, off they
went back to the church. Later, Chris told them about Halsey and all that has
happened however he left out the parts of the mannequin and her naked body
covered in scars. David scares Gloria and Lulu as a cruel joke that Halsey would
probably kill but Madame Sarita admonished him with ominous words, “David, my
boy, hold your tongue…” She got back at him by scaring him with a knife and
impaled it next to him, making it look like she missed but the Madame smirked
saying: “Keep your weapon at the level of your eyes…She will burn with a heat
of her wrath.” She then left; David was catching his breath until he caught
Chris smirking at him while he snickered at his scared expression before
leaving. Weeks later; David got notes from Halsey as he was snubbed for being a
fool as he is unaware of Sarah’s infidelity. He didn’t want to believe it but
decides to find out.
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