Jeff took Belle out of his locker looking with a slightly guilty face. It had only as been a few minutes, but it didn't take away that he just shut her inside. "They're gone Belle..." he said. "Come on, let's..." Let's what? Just carry on like everything was normal? What exactly was he trying to pretend?
Then he saw something that made his skin crawl. It.. it was Ricky. In broad night-time, just.. standing there. What was that freak doing here! He was going to call attention to Belle!
Ricky looked noticing him. He approached carefully. Jeff placed his hand protectively on his inside pocket, giving away Belle's presence to the other clockwork- though it was painfully obvious he was hiding 'something' there, just by the curious ticking sound.
"What... what the hell you doing here! You fre-" Jeff then bit his lip. She still knew his secret...
Ricky shrugged. "My friends are here," she said simply.
Such a simple sentiment... made Jeff wince inside. It was one he could instantly understand. It broke into his heart, stabbing him, yet he showed no reaction. She had friends here... Jeff did not. "Just say away from us." he said in the end, though it lacked emphasis.
Crowds were already developing around Ricky, as everyone wanted to look at her. Some of the braver ones even touched her- which made him feel a little wary and even protective of Rick- Urgh!
What was he thinking! Jeff scoffed. Damn it. Well, of course Ricky would come to where all the ordinary people were. One more popular 'girl' to deal with. At least it was a girl who slapped him for the right- er... right reasons.
Jeff went to his desk, taking out his papers, and other things. They had slipped in Belle's assignment to the drop box near the staff room. He hoped to God they wouldn't get caught. They just needed Belle to go up one more grade.
"Can I like- come out now?" asked Belle from his pocket
Jeff sighed. Well, with Ricky distracting the freak seekers, he saw no harm in it. "Yeah, okay..." He placed her on his desk gently.
Belle looked at his sad eyes, a haunted face on what was otherwise quite an attractive visage. The little clockwork girl wasn't sure what to say... so she just stood there, patiently- until someone noticed her.
"Hey what's this!" Said one male student. Jeff couldn't recall his name. But they went to the same classes. The interaction was making other people notice.
Jeff Immediately grabbed Belle. "It's... mine," he said.
"What's it do? Some new toy? It must have cost a fortune." The student persisted.
"More then you will ever know," Said Jeff meaning it.
Hillary glanced over. "Hey- isn't that a doll of that new changed student?"
At that point, everyone rushed over. "It moves! It's alive! It moves it's head!"
"Um.. hello," said Belle sheepishly. She wasn't sure what to say as so many faces descended above her, looking. It made her feel really weird.
Jeff groaned. So much for keeping it secret. He grabbed Belle before anyone else could get near her, and ran down the corridor.
"Hey!" Said Belle. "I- I was only talking to them."
"I don't want them hurting you." He said as he turned another corner. He found some privacy in an empty classroom, and placed her on the table before closing the door to it. "God Belle! Ricky is one thing at least she's big enough to fight if she had to- but you're just..."
"Just..." asked Belle sadly, waiting for him to say it.
" you're too small... Belle," he said.
The little clockwork girl nodded glancing down at herself. "Yeah... I know. And... I gotta tell you I've been like- thinking. Um.."
"Thinking about what?" Jeff asked.
Belle ticked, as her eyes glanced leftwards. "This... This... just ain't fair to you. So... I'm... I'm gonna break up with you. You.. should go find someone else now" she said quickly.
"WHAT?" Jeff turned to her and slammed his hand on the table, enough so that Belle actually fell down on the mini-shockwave. "No! Now you're being stupid! Really stupid you Dumb-"
"Razor..." Belle said softly. She didn't react angrily to his words. She wasn't sure if she would have before but.. right now, she couldn't. "It's... for the best."
"No it isn't! I love you damn it!"
"S-so do I.. that's why I'm breaking up-"
"No... No damn you no!" Said Jeff angrily. Was she just like everyone else in the end? Just to take advantage of him... she used him... she never really loved him. Looking at her though- he reacted the only way he could think of. He did not want to lose her. He'll try it. He had no choice! Even without the key he would try. "I order you to be my girlfriend!" Putting everything he had into the 'command'.
Belle stiffened a little. Even without the key, there was a compulsion to obey.. and this was already quite strong, as Belle did not want to hurt Razor. She... she could feel her will, for as little as it was, already breaking. "...O-O-Okay..." She whispered, her ticking going furiously fast now.
Jeff gasped... Oh God... what... did he do? No... this.. this is a good thing. Yes!
Lilly felt very embarrassed at 'the talk' of her older brother. She wanted to take back her question, but it had been said. She asked if she was in some way... well... okay to look at? Was that really such a bad question to ask? Of course her brother simply told her that she was far too young right now to worry about that.
So at what age was she supposed to worry?
She was in her room, and she had her telescope out. News of this strange black moon above Earth had spread like wild fire on the news. It was hard to make out in the night sky though, so not everyone could just notice it- but may do in the day. Looking at the eyepiece, there was something so familiar about it. She wasn't sure why, it certainly didn't seem plausible- but it made her twin tails stand on end. She took out a stronger lens, and attached it to the eyepiece to get a closer look. What was very curious to her, was the strange 'haze' where space and the dark moon met. It was a huge contrast to Earth's normal moon.
"What are you," she whispered. It filled her with awe, in as much as it did dread. As it probably did everyone who might see a new heavenly body in the sky. Lilly wasn't sure quite what to make of it yet- only that it... seemed to be watching her. If she probed deeper she realised that feeling was.. unwelcome in some way. It didn't feel natural- Not one bit.
She wanted to ask her father about it but he was busy in some conference, evaluating if this new development was going to hurt them. The little girl sighed... she knew her father loved her but... why couldn't he spend more time with her? He was always just so busy. Busy... trying to help people.
"Maybe tha's where I get it from," she thought. Lilly realised... she liked helping people. Her father dedicated his entire life towards guarding humanity in frontier medicine. That's why she wanted to be like him- in both lives, past and present. But that life came with sacrifice towards time to his family, his friends... did his father actually have any friends besides those he worked with? She couldn't recall any. Still he seemed happy with his life. They... they had each other.
The squirrel girl wondered if Jenny knew how lucky she was, to be able to do something about the strange events when all she could do was... hit it with a stick.
'worked so far though', she thought idly. How was an ordinary person supposed to help? An ordinary child? It would take years before she grew up again, years of living and learning things all over again... and even then, there was no guarantee she could learn magic. Magic that- for now was the province of the few... the few chosen. Unlike technology, which was so ubiquitous, and accessible to anyone.
She could do as her father and work with technology... but... why do that, when something so new and exciting as real magic existed in the world now? Even if it looked impossible...
Lilly read her books for her classes tomorrow. It was going to be another difficult day, but she was determined to succeed. This time... she was going to devote all her energy into learning everything she could.
She was... extraordinarily determined.
Julian was starting to get used to this. Each window in the inky darkness, showed a single person in different times, different places... this was how the Enemy observed reality, and it was quite an adjustment to him. What intrigued him was what happened in between the windows, in the shadows at the edge of defined realities. Shrouded in darkness, were strange ethereal bodies that were like images of himself. It was like a dark fun-house mirror, everything twisted and turning slightly out of sync. He didn't have a body of his own really if he thought about it- but he wanted to think he did, because... it was unsettling to not have one. The enemy found his mindset... unusual in that. It was one more thing to learn about this existence. Julian didn't like how impersonal this interaction was though, as someone who liked to feel the thrill. Still there was a 'kind of' thrill to watch things at a distance.
He had conversed and merged with the strange entities in their combined collective. The Nebulous, Multitude, the Enemy, the Enigma, the last remainder... so many names they were called. Julian did not give them a name, as he wasn't sure quite what they were either. What was more curious was how detailed they tried to work out things in the human world from a non-material perspective. They had no concept beyond the definitions they had been ascribed to themselves by humans. They lacked imagination and understanding of anything basic. So Julian sought to teach them. Teach them his Truth.
"The living are either prey, or predators," he said. "That's the nature of our reality." It was basic enough for anyone to understand. It applied to all species. Humans regarded themselves as the dominating, greatest predators of the world... in a way one could extend that to non-living things. Black holes consumed reality as predators... it was a basic principle.
Explain this
Julian grinned, and so explained. The Enemy had never felt such exhilaration at his teachings. He gave them insight into the nature of balance in the world, and the nobility of seeking domination in the simple hunt- indeed in order to affect anything, they had to be hunters. He showed them how their desire was perfectly reasonable to this... even if they did not understand the specifics, they were already part of that in some way.
We are Predators of the Numbers, they said in agreement. Finally they understood.
"Heh, close enough," said Julian shrugging. "I would have thought you wanted to go for something with real meat though."
They guard your world. You will find them.
Julian gave a vague nod but he needed more information. "Hey now... you guys are cool I get your needs... but as a moon, I ain't going to find the numbers any time fast. Earth is... big."
We have eternity
"Well I don't! Even if I did- that's too long. I have to teach you more about being predators. First of all, know your enemy... learn about them..." What he needed was a material form to work with.
We have performed meticulous analysis on their nature. It... does not conform to our understanding of a number.
what do you know about them? These... numbers." Honestly what were they?
Images appeared before Julian. Shadowy pictures, unknown identities... but definitely all girls... children.... magic girls? Julian laughed. "Oh give me a break... this is your pray? You guys suck!"
Explain.
Julian rubbed his head. "A predator is defined by the prey." Honestly, this was stupid. Really stupid.
There was a pause as they considered this. There is truth to this statement.
Julian nodded again. So... you tried to study your prey? What happened?" At this point a new image appeared. That of Lilly. The little squirrel girl... looking out her telescope- and looking directly at Julian. At him. He grunted angrily. "Well, this is definitely prey... I know her- eh.. him. Whatever."
Direct contact is harmful to the ones known as 'children'. It has been learned. She... became us.
"Oh? Like me?" asked Julian.
No... we are integrating. This one, subject: Lilly Gordon, turned us into her. We are no more there. We exist in only a few time fames of her existence. We became her.
Julian thought about that with some intrigue. So these beings made contact with an individual and.. some kind of strange interaction occurred. They either merged, or... get tossed out. It seemed children could not integrate with the Enemy... very curious. What happened to the girl Tiffany though? Also... That his old 'friend' Billy interacted with them was interesting, though as a kid (and a girl) he clearly missed out on being a god... what a pitiably creature. "Well, it seems I have a lot to teach you. Since you already picked this one as a study subject... lets mess with her, and I'll show you exactly how one 'hunts'.
Preparing
Lilly jumped out of her window, to her tree. She stared at the dark moon and the strange image she thought she could see. She felt so... fearful. Maybe she should call Jenny? But to tell her she was afraid of something sounded... well... embarrassingly girly. But why was it so familiar? She sniffed the air out of habit when the unknown greeted her eyes- but it did not help. She glanced down to the street... and... she remembered.
"Julian..." she said looking at the dark moon.
She had to call Jenny. She didn't know how she knew... but she could see him. His eyes- oh god his eyes! His eyes were on her!
The squirrel girl stared transfixed, as the huge orb in the sky blinked- with the realisation that she was also looking at him.
Naughty naughty Billy... watching things you shouldn't be...
Suddenly she felt something grab her tails, lifting up the girl as she winced in pain "Ah!" She screamed as she found herself hurtling up high at incredible speed. She twisted her body, correcting her balance, and landed softly on her garden.
A wolf-creature, large and hulking, stood on the grass staring at her. She recognised those eyes... her old gang-leader, Julian. Though technically, Julian 'wasn't here. Not physically. He was still inside the core of the moon, shrouded in layers of the enemy extending influence via their mechanisations. The experience to Julian was not unlike playing a video game, and the wolf-creature was his character. He even selected the various options for dialogue with but a wave of his 'hand' or thoughts. Feedback was discreet and impersonal, rendering a somewhat machine like quality to his motions- at least while he was learning.
Lilly could only mouth the impossible event that had happened. "H-How.."
The wolf creature looked quite amused as the little mortal squirrel tried to understand her predicament. "I made some new friends Billy," he said using Lilly's old name- the only name he actually knew to call her by. "I'm a god and you're... well... oh how can I put this... a little girl?"
Lilly fumed as she got up. This was bad... this was so bad, she didn't even have a word for it. She had to convince Julian that this 'power' was dangerous. "Julian, they ain't gonna help you. Their gonna destroy everythin'. They arn't makin' you a god! You're jus' a puppet to em! An.. an.. my name is Lilly!" She practically screeched that to him.
Julian just laughed. "The sad thing is, you had this chance too. But you just decided to get rid of them. Of course, you always were afraid to take a risk. Don't you see? That's why you are what you are. Just a little girl... always afraid. But... I got an offer for you, if you feel brave enough to take it." He said still smiling.
The squirrel girl blinked. "A... an offer?"
"I've seen a lot of your life through my new allies... however there is something they can't work out. The identity of the magic girls... you know one of them I- they think. Tell me who it is, and I let you go. Hell, you can even join my new gang... once we outfit you with a... more appropriate form. Wouldn't you like that? I could always use a minion... someone to spread the word."
Lilly blinked. Was Julian serious? Could he really do that? Or did the Enemy have this ability? Regardless, there was no way she could betray Jenny. "No! I ain't gonna say it! I ain't joinin' your gang. I ain't gonna hurt anyone!"
Julian groaned. "I really hoped it wouldn't go this way... really I didn't. But... you best start running. My allies desire a demonstration... on how one 'hunts'."
"H-huh?" The squirrel girl took a step back.
Julian started to split- he became two.. four... no six wolves, all looking at Lilly with hunger in their eyes, with dark shadows bleeding off their forms.
Tell us who the magic girl is...
"Never!" Lilly said defiantly but taking another step back. Instincts were kicking in... she knew she couldn't resist fleeing for much longer.
"You know, it's 'always' vermin season Billy..." the alpha wolf said grinning, licking its lips in anticipation. "You have 10 minutes to run. We wish to enjoy this hunt."
That was all it took. The girl ran.
Julian smiled. If this worked out right, Lilly could only run to one place... right to the magic girls. He'd have done this job in a single day, what the enemy was taking months to do- thanks to human ingenuity and imagination. Then, the enemy can do... whatever they wished, and he will gain his place among the stars...
a god...
