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 Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:11 pm
"The others? You mean, the other inhabitants? The doctors? Julian, you can't possibly-"
As Emerwyn looked in concern at Julian's wounds, she saw the glint of silver in his pocket.
Without a second thought, she reached her hand out to retrieve the mechanical device from his pocket.
It's no use talking to him in this state, but-
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:18 pm
"No, no, the...the others...I...."
As Emerwyn tried to pull the watch from his pocket, he gave an awkward yelp - his hand shooting forward to wrap around her wrist.
He stared at it, his smile strangely tight-lipped.
And he kept staring at it.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:20 pm
"Julian," Emerwyn gave a nervous laugh.
Last time this happened, Julian wanted his pocketwatch to be fixed.
"Let me help you."
She was getting very nervous. His hand was bony, and clammy. It was oddly tight around her wrist.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:25 pm
"...I...I can't...I...."
He was getting nervous, too, somewhere in the back of his mind. His hand seemed to have a mind of its own, and it was starting to scare him.
His grip tightened a bit.
He opened his mouth to say something about it, with obvious effort.
JULIAN, HUSH. Trust in me, remember? Or they'll get to you again....
"...They'll...get me...again?" His eyes darted off somewhere to the left, then back to his hand.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:30 pm
Emerwyn's wrist was beginning to hurt, and her heart was beating faster.
Julian spoke, but not to her.
"Julian!" Cheshire's not here, but he's controlling him from the inside. Things had gotten far more serious.
"Julian, I'm sorry. Anything I might have done... It's my fault. I'm sorry." She meant it. Her hand started turning slightly red, and had grown tingly.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:37 pm
"...Y-you didn't do anything...wh-what are you talking about...?"
He glanced down at his hand, wondering dimly why he couldn't move it. He placed his other hand around his own wrist, tugging feebly at it and unable to get it to budge. Fear was starting to penetrate the fog.
"...Cheshire...h-help me...." His voice shook behind his glazed-over smile. He looked at Emerwyn, repeating himself.
"...Help me...."
But was that second repetition meant for Cheshire...or for her?
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:44 pm
Emerwyn shared the frightened look with Julian. She didn't know what to do when she heard him plea.
Cheshire wasn't going to help him. Cheshire was doing this.
All thoughts of Ian, and her own illness tossed aside, she placed her hand over Julian's still-controlled hand.
"Physical force isn't going to work." He knows that I won't back down.
Panic grew higher and higher within her.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:53 pm
...Let me teach her a lesson, if you please. Alice's sister shouldn't be spoiling things so soon.
"...But...but...I...." For a moment, there was a glimpse of thought behind the haze. He gave Emerwyn a desperate look.
'I'm sorry.'
LET ME.
With an awkward jolt, his head lashed backward. It lolled forward again, a painfully blank look on his face. No one was home.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:59 pm
Emerwyn actually screamed.
"NO! NO! JULIAN!!!"
She tugged desparatly, trying to release her hand from the dead grip.
"JULIAN, COME BACK!!"
She grabbed her arm, still pulling in vain.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:05 pm
Cheshire was trying some scare tactics.
He didn't take control - but he did speak through the expressionless facade. It was hideously monotone.
"...Physical force won't work, you say? I don't enjoy it as much as you might think, but I'll bet I could use it to teach you a thing or two...."
His eyes weren't focused. The pocketwatch kept glinting from his pocket.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:10 pm
The face was unreadable. It wasn't Cheshire - but it wasn't Julian either.
The threat, though.
Emerwyn's eyes went wide with fear.
She HAD to get that pocketwatch.
Her other hand darted out quickly. No doubt, a feeble attempt.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:28 pm
But he let go.
"Go on. Try it."
His hand rose to hover over his own throat. "I didn't say anything about hurting you, now did I?"
He wrapped his fingers around his thin neck lightly.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:32 pm
This was worse. Her own pain, she was willing to bear. She'd felt enough of it before.
But, Julian. That was a dirty trick, and He knew it would work.
Both of Emerwyn's hands pulled back, one hand gently massaging her injured wrist.
"Please," Emerwyn said softly, her voice trembling. "Don't."
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:07 pm
"TELL ME, then...."
The blank look in his eyes was awful.
"...Why don't you trust me? Clearly, Julian DOES...."
Another awkward jerk of his limbs. His back arched briefly before relaxing again. His legs twitched.
"...Why are you filling him with lies?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:14 pm
"L-lies?" Emerwyn tried to keep her voice calm, to keep from cracking.
"Julian does not trust you. You frighten him into listening to you. He listens to you because he has no other choice."
She drew in a shuddered breath. She didn't know how long she could hold on. She stared into those blank eyes; they were worse than Cheshire's bright eyes.
"You know he can be strong. You won't let him discover this for himself, because then - then he wouldn't need you."
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