Standing at the entrance to the tunnel, Bridgette used an incantation to call forth a glimmering yellow flame that would serve as a light source in the tar-black dark, flame that sprouted from between her gloved fingers like nothing. The sound of the scream had led her here…to a dank, horrible place that--- be she a fool to admit it ---Bridgette herself feared even more than she feared what laid beyond town limits.
For this was the tunnel that led down into the Underground.
Wretched be the child foolish enough to run there.
And horrid be the Headmistress who had been too slow to stop her.
The woman swallowed, nulling over a frightened lump in her throat….She turned and scanned the area, across the street at the empty store fronts, the reflections on their glass windows playing tricks with the unseen light. Then she turned and looked both ways down the unused street….nothing….It was true. The child wasn’t up here….she had truly gone down into the tunnel.
“No one can blame you for walking away
But too much protection
no love rejection.
Life can be easy
it's not always well
Don't tell me truth hurts
little girl
'cause it hurts like hell,” Bridgette sung slowly, each word parting from her lips with the utmost care. Orphin and the other Prefects she had a Link with would be able to hear her, but she didn't care. They might as well know that she was feeling uneasy and scared.
Sighing, she held up the flame in front of her and began to walk down into the tunnel. Each stair was narrow, concrete, the two walls on each side wet with leaking water and crawling with undesirable algae and a few tiny parasites. Down, down, down, further and further she went…
“But down in the underground you'll find someone true
Down in the underground
a land serene and crystal.
It's only forever
not long at all.”
"Let's see....well, it's not in there...." Aike said this as she 'pushed' the boy's ribcage back into place......leaving untold cartilage and muscle ripped and several of the ribs themselves askew......earlier, she had ripped the ribcage open and searched through the top half of his insides before coming to the slow-witted conclusion that it wasn't up there. As the last bone popped back into what she considered a normal place, blood spurted from some random organ she had punctured and compromised in her hasty mess, splattering wildly across her face and uniform. She took in a breath, stepping back from the table and shaking her head. "......Ewwwww, Doctor, you didn't say I'd get it on me...." she complained...."I wasn't that bad at the cutting, was I?" Aike eyed Nero, or, since she could not see his face, tried to. Then, in an unbelievably rapid change in emotion she shrugged, smiling. This was just a game. Right. Right? Just a game. She should relax. No need to get all worked up. She walked back to the table and started on the other half of her procedure. "You know, when Aike wants to feel good, she sings too. Just like you did, Doctor. But sometimes....she forgets how it goes. She sings it, but somehow she knows it's not the right words....." The wolf thought about it for awhile, working slower now, then finally decided that it was all right if she sang. No-one should care if she sang...not if it made her feel better.
"....anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did
Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain
children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more
when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her
someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream
stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)
one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was
all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.
Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain."