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(A post this long, shall never happen again ^^;. )

Ani kept opening door after endless door and walking through corridor after twisting corridor. He tried keeping count but had to give up somewhere after opening the sixty eight corridor. It was all becoming dizzying, he grumbled to himself, and not a little frightening. Right after opening door number forty five he caught from the corner of his eye, the fleeting walk of a shadow. Or perhaps it was just his imagination.

"Well onward, seeing as I've gotten myself too muddled up to remember the path I took here in the first place."

Ani sighed and stopped for a moment, leaning back against the wood paneled wall to regain his breath. He shut his eyes against another powerful rumble from his traitorous anatomy and shook his head. "Those pitiful mewling sounds you are making won't help the situation, so it's best you be quiet and let me hear myself think." One thing was clear by now; whoever constructed this labyrinth was a sadist. And that makes me a slave to pain, I suppose, he thought to himself, pushing off the wall with another resigned sigh. Ani had barely gone five paces when a sudden sound made him freeze, not as much from it's suddenness as from how out of place it was in this setting. He'd barely finished that thought when it came again; a high pitched and giddy sound that rang from wall to wall, and it took him a moment to realize, it was the sound of a child laughing. However there was a lilting ring to it right at the highest point that sent an unexplainable chill running down his spine.

He paused for another few moments but as suddenly as it had come, the phenomenon had also gone. The chill slowly dissipated and he took a few tentative steps forward. Nothing. He waited a little, and then continued in his journey, nevertheless keeping a mindful ear for that eerie sound. A few corridors later and Ani noticed that his path was getting progressively darker. It wasn't from an absence of light though; more of an increased presence of darkness. A puzzling and alarming situation but he had no choice but to go on. Soon he found the source of the miasma; cut right into the end of his labyrinth was a door. It was entirely unlike all the others he'd opened so far. The surface of the door gleamed and rippled like the depths of a deep lake, illuminating it's diamond handle with inner light. Swallowing his fear, Ani grasped it and pushed, stumbling into the room beyond.

The first thing he noticed was the smell; a faint and yet lingering bittersweet scent of roses. It was sparsely illuminated and cooler than the corridor-

"Took you long enough."

He jerked toward the husky drawl and gasped; it was him. No, it couldn't be him. The figure was sprawled over a couch but even that lazy stance bespoke of grace and elegance that was...regal. It was the first thing that popped in his mind, and then the vague impression that he ought to be bowing or at least, kneeling. He was dressed from top to bottom in pure white- white pants, a long sleeved shirt, atop which was a silky waist coat, adorned by a silver watch shaped like a heart. He wasn't looking at Ani, his eyes were festooned on something up on the dark shrouded ceiling, and the latter found himself involuntarily looking up. It was contrived, because at that moment he on the couch rose to his feet with the flexibility of a cat. He was taller, slimmer but looked no older than Ani, yet he instinctively knew He was stronger, and very much wiser. Their eyes met and Ani found himself peering over the edge of a bottomless schism.

He gestured to his left, toward the formally appointed setting on the round table and smiled faintly. "Isn't it fitting that we come full circle?" There was a flicker of something in his eyes, something wild and dangerous, and Ani took a step back. "W-where am I?" He shrugged waved airily, "Oh nowhere, every where...here." He touched Ani's heart and chuckled. "I have been waiting for a while you know...it's all I can do after all, wait." There was that flicker in his eye again and he leaned against the couch, staring at Ani from between lowered eyelashes.

"Waiting and waiting and waiting...and for what? For you."

There was an incredible amount of disgust and disdain packed into that word, and Ani faltered. "W-why?" But it was the wrong thing to say; He jerked off the couch faster than the eye could see and slammed him into the wall, the rage in his eyes making him look ugly. "Why? You dare ask me Why? You half thing- you less than a thing! You who opened the door to her and stood back like the dithering fool you are while she purloined everything! And all for what?" He glared at the round table once more and let go of Ani, sneering as though he'd come in contact with something dirty.

"I should never have given you life- you who are nothing but a whim, a mere thought- I have had so long to think and wait." He leaned closer and traced an idle finger over Ani's cheek, eyes now faraway and distant. "Look at you, a rag tag patchwork of thoughts and memories that you do not even understand, much less own." His fingers caressed a lock of Ani's hair- it was much shorter than his- and he made a dismissive sound. "You are a mere flicker, a clod of dirt on the ground...you are nothing." Ani pulled bck from the dreamy haze forming around him and snapped, "And you? Lost in every where and nowhere, just who are you?" His question lingered in incredulous silence for a moment, and then He laughed. It was high and ringing, piercing to the ears and heart, and abrupt. He leaned closer, pushing Ani completely into the wall, and whispered in his ear. "I am you...or rather, you are me! The one sliver of my consciousness that escaped her betrayal, my puppet on a string."

Ani felt himself turn into ice because for some reason, his words rang true. "Of course you've always known that you are less than others...burdened, lessened, never quite feeling in control of your actions...did you really think you possessed that which makes you, well so damned confusing?" He leaned back and cradled Ani's face in his hands, like one would hold a young child. "My marionette, and yet I am shackled to the very string I hold." Right on cue, an iron chain appeared over his right wrist. "Still, I can pull and I can wait...patience was something I didn't have then but I do now."

He smiled benignly and began fussing with Ani's tie, smoothening out his waist coat and straightening his collar.

"Now you have a little task to finish; she started this but we shall have the last laugh...because, I have this." He pointed to the silver heart and winked playfully.
"Your time is fast running short; thoughts just aren't supposed to weigh so heavily, and soon you will begin to lose it. Hold on dearest, and I just might grant your wish."

He pushed Ani back toward the door and flicked his shackled wrist dismissively, flopping back unto the couch to assume his regal pose.
Ani swallowed and shook his head, quailing from everything he'd seen and now knew, and distantly wondering how he knew it was all true.
"Lose, lose what?"

He looked up and raised an eyebrow, as though it should be very apparent.
"Lose what? Why Hatter, your sanity of course!"
And then he was gone.

Ani blinked into the bright light and took a step forward, only to sink to the ground as his knees gave away.

Elsewhere-

Rain drummed gently on the metal shell that encased a particularly silent young man. The Steam Hare he rode standing alone in front a deserted town. He held his breath every time he thought he saw movement. His mind was playing tricks on him. Tricks that made his road weary hand hover over the controls of the gun mounted on the machine's right arm. He prayed as he watched the town. He prayed that the dead had given up their claim, that they had passed on to a better place, that they had found something that resembled peace. He however knew that their was no peace to be found at the merciless hands of nightmares. He took a step toward the town. His metal foot sinking into the muddy ground. He took another step, heedless of the dark shapes his mind percieved as real. Gathering his courage, he strode boldly into the deserted town. He swallowed his the fear he felt everytime his vision passed over corpses. He tasted bile in the back of his throat. He held on to the small glimmer of hope that all the images of hell he had seen in his life had failed to rob him of. Their may be survivors, he told himself. And he tried desperately to believe that.

Fiasco shielded his eyes from the bright sun. "Cat?"

The Cat sat in the grass watching Fiasco. "Of course it's me."

Fiasco felt the weight of the blades that hung from his hand. "How long have I been gone?"

"Three days." He spoke with no emotion. "Your friends must hurry. Their is danger near by."

Fiasco slowly walked towards the Cat. Pooled at the Cat's feet was a leather belt with tools hanging form it. "Khyn and Tracey haven't come out yet?"

The Cat's head shook from side to side. "Not as of yet. A rabbit made this for you." His head motioned to the tool belt. "You'll find that it's missing some tools, He felt that the amount you had was too heavy. He only included the tools that had multiple uses or were adjustible. It also convienently has room for your newly aquired weapons."

Fiasco picked up the belt. Not only did it strap to his waist, but it included suspenders. "Thank him for me, would you?"

The Cat nodded his head. "Of course. If your friends don't hurry, I'll have to send you ahead of them."

Fiasco shook his head. "I've endured hell, Cat. I need rest. My mind has become fragile from the ordeal that you placed me in."

"Then rest." the Cat said. "I'll wake you when your frineds are ready, or when I can no longer afford you the time."

Fiasco nodded his head and walked to the base of a nearby tree. The shade washed over him as he fell to his knees. He placed his equipment next to a root, pulled his shirt off, then used it as a pillow.

Fiasco dreamt of battle, of victory gained by loss. Corpses cold and lifeless at his feet. Crimson stained not only his blade, but the ground too was covered in gore. He didn't feel fear, only a slight sense of urgency. As if he were racing against some invisible clock. It's phantom hands ticked away the seconds as he stood there, lost in the thoughts of why. Before him was a bridge that spanned a limitless gap. Across it was Khyn in a desperate battle for her life against Siegard. Behind him was a tower of ebony containing at the very least, Tracy and a high volume of explosives. He knew that a choice need be made. He smoothly drew a revolving handgun from his hip with his off hand. He took aim at the black rabbit, but he held his shot. He couldn't hit Khyn, but he hadn't the time to waste. The phantom hands kept ticking. Lives were hanging in the balance. He heard Ani shout something nearby, but he couldn't make out the words. His ears rang from volleys of gunfire. Siegard layed Khyn's shoulder open. She was on the ground. A cloud of blood obscured Siegard's head as Fiasco's bullet decimated his skull. He turned and ran full tilt at the tower, but an explosion bathed him in flame.

Fiasco's eyes popped open. He was covered in sweat from the nightmarish delussions he suffered. He remained laying there. Not wanting the Cat to notice his labored breathing.

The Cat's eyebrows raised (Which is quite the feat for a cat). "Ammused?" He asked Traci. "You have time for a brief rest. We still have Khyn to wait for." Then, as if on cue, Khyn walked into view of the Cat. "And times up."

Fiasco had only been awake for a moment when he heard Khyn's startleing revalation. "Well young lady," He said jokeingly, "March yourself right back in their and give me at least another eight hours." He then closed his eyes.

"Highly unlikely the Tower will allow you entry. Youv'e already been inside. You couldn't have come out unless you passed." The Cat said matter of factly. He glanced to the doors, then back at Khyn. "Though your exit does appear to be a tad on the unorthadox side."

Fiasco sighed. "Which means no more sleep for me. False alarm Fiasco. Wake up." He remained on the ground with his eyes closed. "On second thought, lets wake up in shifts. Cat, you go first."

Khyn's eyebrows furrowed at Cat's words. If she'd been tested, why didn't she remember anything?! She looked over her shoulder towards the Tower as if seeking some kind of answer, yet none were forth-coming. Perhaps the others didn't remember... But what if they did?! What was her test?? She looked back to the others and saw Traci sit down. Rest?! Was there time for that?! Destiny was waiting, and she felt such urgency to be gone from the place... there was something important she needed to do.

"We really should get going soon, don't you think?" She asked of no one in particular.

Cat looked towards Khyn and shook it's head.

"No all of you should really get some sleep while you can. We have hard times before us and you need to be as rested as you can."

Khyn looked towards the other two teenagers and finally nodded slightly as she took in how exhausted Traci looked. Fiasco didn't look like he was anxious to be moving from his spot anytime soon. She walked over to the tree and sat down before it, leaning against it. The bark was rough against her back but she soon found a groove that seemed comfortable enough. She gave the others another glance before dutifully closing her eyes. Almost immediately the sound of the wind gently blowing through the tall grasses and the humming of insects lulled her into slumber.

(I now have internet access at my house here in California. Sorry for my leave of absence)

Fiasco didn't even hear Khyn. He was lost in dreams of conflict and resolve. He slept for two hours. It was glorious. He awoke fially to a change of temperature. He was covered in a fine layer of snow. He looked around to see his friends also asleep with covered in snow. He stood and brusshed himself off then woke Traci. "Time to get up Trace. It's snowing." He then woke Khyn. "What a lovely change of pace from the rain. Come on." He went back to where he had lain and dug around for his equipment. He stood up and put on his tool belt when it suddenly occured to him. "Where's the Cat?"