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 Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:28 pm
"He trusts me...."
His hand clenched around his throat.
"He trusts me...and you're not going to change that. YOU CANNOT WAKE HIM UP. HE IS NOT ALICE."
The hand that wasn't at his throat sunk claws into his thigh.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:35 pm
"NO!!"
Emerwyn lunged forward, grabbing Julian's hand from his thigh, and with her other, grabbed the hand at his throat.
She tried to pry them off.
And, she didn't know where it came from, why on earth she said it, but Emerwyn also cried out, "Wake up, Alice!!!!"
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:42 pm
...Alice...?
About then, Julian started screaming. He couldn't control his hands - and most disturbingly, he smiled through the pain, writhing against his own grip and Emerwyn's at the same time.
As he struggled and spasmed, the watch worked its way out of his pocket, landing atop a couple of leaves. Cheshire apparently didn't notice this.
The whole thing was twisted and wrong. A broken Wonderland.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:50 pm
Emerwyn struggled, not speaking any more. Her own words frightened her.
Something glinted in the corner of her eye. She kept her hands where they were, but she had to see what it was.
Yes - the pocketwatch!
Now, if she could only...
Her hands released quicky, in hopes that it would shock Julian's hands free... or were they Cheshire's?
She reached down quickly, grabbing the watch.
A cold sweat broke over her. But she smiled triumphantly.
But, I still have to get it on him.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:02 pm
He paused in his manic movements for a moment - gasping for breath. But then the break didn't last long - he was writhing again, running claws across his chest and arms.
Tears of pain coursed down his face.
"...I t-told you...." He screamed again, arching his back and....
...Forcing his arms to his sides...sinking his claws into the dirt?
...Away from his face and neck....
"NOW!"
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:07 pm
Emerwyn lunged forward once more, not entirely sure which voice was speaking to her. She just knew that the time was right.
She held the chain open, reaching out for his face... ...
please...
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:08 am
The voice hadn't been Julian...nor had it been Cheshire. Through the distortions of struggling and screaming, it had been strangely clear and calm.
He actually moved to snap at her hand with his sharp teeth - but his head snapped back down. He struggled as if something was holding him still, bleeding and screaming and tearing at the dirt and fallen leaves.
There it was again, just briefly.
"HURRY!"
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:24 pm
Emerwyn didn't understand, but she had to press on. Somehow, this new voice had calmed her, made her more confident. She had to get the chain around his neck.
Her hands moved up, away from the snarling, distorted face, and she made contact with his head.
The chain began to pass over his head... It was going to work...
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:33 pm
...And it did. If she could just clasp it and wind it....
The dirt and blood under his claws were caking up, making his fingertips sting and smart. A fresh swipe across his cheek bleed generously, staining the white skin to a sickly red.
He was still acting as if he were held down - chest and back straining to move.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:38 pm
Emerwyn was breaking out into a heavy sweat. Though she wasn't moving much, there was a huge physical strain on her to hold her own against the multiple forces acting from Julian's body.
She fumbled desperately with the clasp, her arms close around his face, rubbing against his fresh cut.
Finally, she felt a click! Emerwyn kept her arms around Julian's neck, trying to hold him in place while she braced herself to wind the watch. What would happen if she let go?
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:48 pm
Julian was shaking - quite violently. Emerwyn might notice he had stopped screaming...and that his lips were moving nonstop. Talking to himself? But it was too hard to make out - too quiet.
His arms gave a bizarre jerk - claws digging into the ground. It was almost like the hands were trying to hold the rest of the arms down. His tail lashed.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:52 pm
The lack of movement - it was unnerving. Emerwyn didn't know whether or not to put her guard down, whether or not to move to the watch...
She closed her eyes, breathed deep.
Okay.
Slowly, ever so slowly, Emerwyn's arms moved back, still maintaining contact with Julian's face and neck, running gently against his flesh. They were soft with her newly growing fur.
Her hands reached the watch. She took it gently into her hands.
And, ever so softly, she whispered, "It's okay, Jule, not much longer..."
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:07 pm
His eyes shut very lightly as she ran her arms across his face, wiping away some of the blood and tears. His awkward jerking motions were apparently tiring him out - or perhaps he was just slipping.
Snatches of what he was saying were now audible....
"...One, two...through...Vorpal...snicker-snack...." His voice was terse. "...Left...dead...left it...dead...."
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:12 pm
At first, Emerwyn thought that she was calming Julian, and that the words he muttered were comforting ones. But, upon straining her ears, she heard snatches of the morbid lines of The Jabberwocky and she shuddered.
Best get this done.
She wound up the watch with delicate fingers. It was just like last time. Just like last time. Nice and easy. Now, now he'll be okay again...
Even the tone of her own thoughts were not convincing.
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:18 pm
The ticking pounded in his ears, forcing back the rhythm of his movements. After a few moments, Julian fell still....
...Very still.
He lay bleeding, silent and unmoving. He was breathing, at least...but otherwise, he didn't look good. His dark hair was clinging to his bloody face, one of the claws on his right hand torn out into the dirt.
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