NaNo Day 3

Current word count: 4,286 (I haven't written yet today)

Here's the next part of chapter 2 for anyone who's still interested. Enjoy!

"On with you, then." Corten gave him a light shove into the darkness.

Through the darkness was more like it. Kale experienced a brief flash of it before his feet hit the ground in a densely wooded area shaded with almost pastel greens and browns. The trees looked chalky, but the grass beneath his feet was soft as if there were springs below the turf.

He saw a break in the trees and slowly walked through it. There was a path that continued for a little while, winding tightly and almost fully enclosed with thick leaves, branches, and vines. Kale almost had to bend over to stay on it. After a few minutes of walking at a less-than-brisk pace, he glanced backwards and saw that Corten was following closely, surely keeping an eye on me, Kale thought. The next step he took led him around a corner to a clearing in the woods. There, he saw standing in a semi-circle were the five men, all with their hands clasped behind their backs. I need to come up with a group nickname for these guys if they’re gonna be around. Dream Team? Not even close. I’ll come up with something.

Kale nodded at the men, and only Alexander nodded back with a brief smile. The rest looked at their feet. No one spoke. Corten simply completed the circle the men had begun to form and clasped his hands as well. Kale paced around the small clearing waiting for something to happen. He was used to the strange locations at this point, which was shocking enough as he thought about the short amount of time that had passed since he met these men. What was more shocking was when they began to retreat, looking at him one final time before turning back toward the trees and walking away until they were no longer visible in the thick brush.

Soon Corten was the only one of the men still with Kale. He began to follow the path of Kale’s pacing, mirroring his actions unintentionally as they circled the small patch of previously untouched grass. They continued like this for what seemed like an hour until Corten stopped walking all of a sudden. They both spoke at once—

“Shouldn’t we leave, too?”

“It’s time for me to go.”

They looked at each other from where they stood, Corten’s hands put behind his back once more and Kale’s head turning in confusion.

“Why are you going?” Kale questioned, again.

“You really do ask a lot of questions.”

“I just want to know what’s going on!”

“We have all told you—you will find out in time. For now, I must go. You will stay here, and we’ll be back in the morning.”

“In the MORNING? And WHERE do you think you will be going?”

“Stop asking questions! I have told you this countless times and I will NOT say it AGAIN.” Silence fell. They stood several feet from each other breathing heavily. “Now,” Corten continued with a large breath. “Here is what will happen. I will walk away. You will not attempt to follow me out of the woods. You will remain here, preferably in the clearing, though—trust me—I understand if you stray. Do what you need to do, and we will come back in the morning.”

“You have no power over me. You barely know me.”

“I know you better than yourself, Kale.” It was the first time Corten had used Kale’s name in a long time. The shock passed quickly, however. “I just find it so amusing sometimes to watch you try to be a man. I mean, all things considered.”

“What is THAT supposed to mean?”

“You’re not a man, Kale. You’re not even human.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“This is your life now.”

“What is?”

“You’ll have to find that out… Alone. We cannot go with you, just like no one went with us. Think of it as a type of hazing.”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry. I wish I could tell you, but even I know it’s easier this way. I’ll see you on the other side. My advice: don’t run. You better come back with your shield, or on it, as they say.”

Corten walked away, glancing back once to throw out a small salute and a sympathetic smirk. Kale stood in the clearing and gaped at Corten’s back until he disappeared between the trees.

“So you’re just gonna LEAVE ME HERE?” he shouted. There was no response from the solemn forest. Kale continued to stare as he sank to his knees and allowed his bottom lip to quiver. Less than a day before, none of this had happened. He had known his life better than anyone. Now, dropped in the middle of what couldn’t possibly be a normal forest, based on Corten’s warning, he had no idea where he was, what he was, or what he was expected to do. He had the feeling something was about to happen, and he could only hope it would help him answer some of those questions he dared to ask at the basement closet poker game.

The ground shook, and Kale jumped to his feet. Just as he was about to find a place to duck and cover, a machete sped to the ground beside him, narrowly missing his left foot. It did not startle him one bit. There was sureness in the way he bent down and gripped the handle. Returning to an upright position with the weapon in hand, the shaking ceased. Kale looked around, wondering where he could be. He no longer believed he was on the third floor of an apartment building.

He wasn’t even sure he was in the real world anymore. It felt like hours, but it was only a minute between the end of the shaking and the trees around him starting to collapse. One by one, they began to fall into the clearing. It was easy enough for Kale to avoid them until there were enough stacked on top of each other that he could hide underneath them.

Maybe I play too many video games, he thought, questioning the instinct that told him to do these things and kept him from what he thought was the end of everything. I don’t even know what’s going on here. What if I can’t survive until the morning? Will I never know what or where I am? And why?

A few minutes passed after the last tree had fallen, and Kale began to climb out from under the branches. When he was on top of the pile, he could see to all sides, but after a hundred yards or so of fallen trees, there was nothing but blank whiteness. It was supposed to be dark outside. Kale checked his watch, which was ticking at its normal speed toward 9 p.m.

This does not look like 9 p.m.

The entire sky was white as well. The only color anywhere around besides Kale’s clothing was in the bland trees lying beneath his feet, and whatever he saw beginning to crawl out from between them 20 yards or so to his right. It was not human. It was not small. It was possibly not anything he’d ever seen before. Not that that would be unusual. I’m seeing a lot of new things lately.

Kale judged that the creature was about three feet tall and a few more long. It somewhat resembled a lion, but it was mane-less, and its body moved like a lizard. Golden fur moved with the invisible wind. It approached Kale slowly, as if ready to pounce on prey. He held his ground for a moment, watching the thing almost slither toward him. It moved fluidly from one tree to another, up and down like water over hills and into valleys.

Suspicion grew in Kale’s mind with every step the creature took. By the time it was several yards away, it was moving much quicker, and Kale was reminded almost too late of Corten’s words.

Don’t run.

NaNo Day 2

Current word count: 3,791
Here's the first part of Chapter 2 for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

Chapter Two

Two days later, Kale once again found himself in Corten’s company. They had run into each other strolling through a park and decided to have lunch. Neither was in a great hurry, Kale being occupation-less and Corten being who-knows-what when it came to his daily activities. Kale was frequently glad his parents had left him enough inheritance to not require an immediate transition from high school to college. Instead, he spent lazy summer days tracing paths through Torman City and getting to know his surroundings as well as possible, including every café and restaurant he came across. He was not sure of his long-term aspirations, but he never wanted much to be a known entity. He was perfectly content without a job, family, or too many friends surrounding him. Those things meant pressure, and Kale did his best to stay away from pressure.

He was curious about Corten, though. The man had practically dropped into his life without warning one day on the bus. Corten seemed intent on getting to know Kale, as if he had a mission of sorts, yet Kale did not view him as the type to pressure, so he allowed it. They were friends within a few days. Kale had all the time in the world to do as he pleased, and Corten seemed to always be free, so they met for meals a few times and a basement closet poker game once—that mysterious night blended into Kale’s mind as normal almost too quickly for his liking. He felt like he was part of a movie, and until he stopped enjoying the strangeness and unpredictability, he would continue to go along with the games of his new acquaintances.

“Where are we eating today?” Corten asked.

“There’s a burger I want to try at a place around the corner.”

“Alright.”

“Do you work? At all?”

“Work? Do I have a job?”

“Yes, a job. Do you have a job?”

“Yes. Of course I have a job.”

“Um. What is it?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You never seem to be busy. Ever.”

“I work different hours than most people.”

“What, like night shift?”

“Something like that.”

Kale gave up. Maybe it was too soon or it was some top secret government thing. That would make sense considering the events that transpired a few nights before. There was quiet as they entered the restaurant and sat down at a booth. They ordered, and the food was served, and still they didn’t speak to each other. Kale felt odd—he knew nothing about this man. The man knew nothing about him. They ate. The burgers were perfectly adequate. They paid, stood, and left, walking back the way they had come. It was a monotonous walk, steps aligned and breeze blowing the same warmth of the day before. Corten’s mind was brewing with something; it was obvious on his face. Kale was overwhelmed by curiosity, but held back his thoughts. He was still hesitant to ask too many questions. He seemed to be quite bad at it as a whole.

There were very few words exchanged as they eventually parted ways at the start of the sky’s darkening and headed to their respective places of residence. Kale wanted to know more. He was not sure what, but he wanted to know something.

In time, the voice in his head told him. You will understand more than you wish to, in time.

--

Kale stepped again into the hallway that had once been covered with tarp. It was now clear of any excess plastic, and Kale was surprised to discover that there were other doors in the hall. He assumed the darkroom had been the only one on the floor. Corten and Enya followed him inside, and Corten closed the door. Kale continued down the hall, but Enya grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back.

"We're not going there this time. The darkroom will wait a little longer for your second entrance." Enya did not explain further, but Kale was accepting of the information he did receive.

"Where are we going, then?" Kale asked.

"The backwood." Corten spoke as he guided Kale with a hand against his sholder to the second door on the right, almost opposite the turn that led to the darkroom.

"Wait, I thought Kenton was the backwood."

"Kenton is a backwood, yes. But that is not his full occupation. We are taking you to his namesake. The backwood." Kale tried to turn the doorknob to no avail.

"Why is this locked?"

"What did I say about questions?"

"Learn to ask better ones or don't ask them at all."

"Very good, youngling. It is not locked, you are simply not able to open it at the moment."

"Okay, so you open it."

"Perhaps you should avoid demands as much as questions. They do not suit you well." Corten did open the door, however, and another darkness was on the other side, but it was not the same quiet, hopeless darkness of the darkroom. Kale decided not to ask why it looked exactly the same but felt different.

"On with you, then." Corten gave him a light shove into the darkness.

Announcing.... NaNoWriMo 2012!

This story came out of nowhere, and I have no idea where it's going from here. I have the second half of chapter 2 written as well, bringing me up to a word count of 2,588 as of the publishing of this post. I will probably write more tonight so I am ahead for the weekend.

Anyway. I stole a character name from last year's NaNo, but he is not the same person whatsoever. I am incredibly proud of this story already, and I hope others may come to enjoy it as much as I am so far. Here's the introduction and the first chapter. Enjoy!

Intro

It would not have been a big deal at all to just tell Kale he should have left a long time ago, but Corten couldn’t bring himself to do it. When the others in the group suggested going to the darkroom, Kale obviously didn’t know what he was getting into. It was too late, anyway, and Kale was going to be a part of this eventually. He may as well start to understand.

The rest of the world kept spinning while Corten and the rest of the group walked down the short hallway that had been recently covered with a large tarp from top to bottom, including the ceiling and floor. They stepped in silence, leaving room for the crinkling plastic to drag with their reluctant feet. Turning the only corner, all five of the unfamiliar men stepped aside, narrowing the path of the hallway, and looked to Kale. Kale looked to Corten with a wide but suspicious gaze, and Corten nodded forward. He then led the way to the door and opened it inward to reveal a darkness Kale had never before experienced. It was not just void of light, but of happiness and sound as well. Without a word or breath, Kale passed through the doorway and was immediately engulfed in the darkness. Only a foot or two within the room, he could no longer see the men or the hallway he remembered leaving behind. He could only see the unending, unsympathetic darkness.

Chapter One

Kale stepped a little too quickly into the room and looked around. There were six men present, one of them being Corten, the only familiar face in the small crowd. It was a small room, almost like a closet. There was hardly space to get up and down from your seat. Cards were spread around the table, but they were not the normal playing cards you would see at a basement poker game, and this was not a basement. The men all lifted their heads in unison when Kale entered the room. None spoke, but Corten rose from his seat to offer it to Kale. Kale sat down cautiously.

Corten's hands found Kale's shoulders and squeezed them lightly. They had only met a few days before, but Kale was suddenly a part of this basement closet poker game. Deciding whether this was a good idea or not was no longer an option. He was here. He was seated. And his only exit was blocked off by a man only slightly older and very unfamiliar. None of the men looked at him after Corten stood up. They were focused on the cards. Kale thought one might have moved without being touched, but he blew it off as a stray breath someone took.

The man to his right grabbed a blue card from across the table and held it up, as if to show it off to the group. The man it had previously been in front of nodded, and glanced at Kale before standing next to Corten. It was intimidating, this unknown man hovering over him, but Corten's hands were still rested on his shoulders. The man holding the blue card turned to Kale, also.

"Do you know why you are here?" he asked.

"Am I supposed to? You asked if I wanted to see the darkroom; I said yes." Kale answered.

"Why did you want to?"

"I don't know. What should I have said?"

"You answer a lot of questions with questions."

"Well, maybe I want answers."

"If you want answers, you must ask much better questions, youngling." Corten chimed in, placing his hands back by his sides and walking around what little of the table he could. "But because I sympathize with the youth, I believe we should answer some of the questions he has asked." Corten addressed the rest of the group.

"Why am I a youth? You're only 20 yourself." Kale stated.

Corten did not answer his question. Instead he asked, "Why are you all so resistant to him? He knows nothing, yet you treat him as an enemy. He walks into this hellhole blindly, probably having suspicions of its possible dangers, and you disrespect his willingness?"

"They haven't said anything..."

"Quiet. This may concern you, but it is not your matter to question. Enya was right. You need to resist your desire to know, and let us teach you." So Enya was his name. At least one of the men was opened up a little more. That left four, but four was a number Kale didn't have any large desire to deal with at the moment.

"Just one more thing."

"No."

"But I--"

"I said NO." Kale had risen from his seat and Corten was now towering over him with a hand around the collar of his shirt. "You are NOT to ask any more questions. I apologize for my sudden brashness, but you need to remain quiet now. Trust me." Kale was instantly reluctant to trust the unfamiliar man and had opened his mouth to speak, but closed it after glancing into Corten's eyes. They seemed to be filled with white fire.

He let go of Kale and straightened his shirt, then stepped away. Kale was immobile for a short moment's time. Corten opened the door and stepped out into the endless darkroom. Kale wondered how they could see in that horrible black fluff. It gave off such a tingled feeling as he walked through it that he wondered if it was just darkness, or something more. Definitely something more, he thought. There was an emptiness in the room after the door closed behind Corten, and all the men returned their gazes to Kale. Enya spoke again, startling Kale.

"So. We got off on the wrong foot. As you may have picked up, I am Enya. I am a presenter. You'll know what that means soon enough."

"And I'm Kenton, the lefty." Everyone laughed. "Okay, that's my nickname. I am a backwood. Same thing Enya said--you'll understand soon."

"I will be called Blake, for the time being. However, I tend not to have a name to most… people. And I won’t even bother telling you what I am right now. I add the common disclaimer of my friends.”

“This makes absolutely no s—” Kale began.

“AND I AM ROTHDRAK, SUN OF ENYA,” another one of the dark-haired men said with a deep, booming voice.

“Wait, how are you his son? You don’t look older than 25.” Kale observed.

“Not his son, youngling. His sun.” Kenton said, motioning toward the ceiling. “Like, the one in the sky.”

“That makes even less sense.”

“I can imagine,” Enya stated. “But you will understand. I promise you that. And please ignore Roth. He gets excited when we do introductions. It doesn’t happen often.”

“Whatever you say. Please continue. I don’t believe I’ve met…” Kale looked over toward the man sitting calmly on the opposite side of the table.

“Alexander,” the blond man offered. “Do not call me Alex. I don’t mean for that to sound like a threat, but it may as well be. It’s nice to finally make your acquaintance.”

“Yours as well.” There was a time of silence where the men looked awkwardly between each other and the ground. Corten chose that moment to reenter the space, jolting every occupant from their thoughts.

“Are we all ready now to proceed?” Corten asked. There was a murmured consensus, and Corten held the door open for the men as they shuffled one at a time into the darkroom. As Kale hesitantly approached the opening, Corten grabbed his upper arm and held him in place. That white fire had long disappeared, and he had a look of understanding. Corten seemed to almost smile as he nodded his head and led Kale into the room.

The darkness was almost familiar now. Perhaps it was the recency of his last visit to the room, but it was unnerving for Kale. He felt attached to the place since meeting the men who seemed to be its only inhabitants—can they be called that?

The light returned as Corten released Kale back into the hallway. None of the other five men were there. Kale wondered if they had left or if they remained in the darkroom to take care of some poker-esque card-related business. His question was answered as he turned the corner and saw them standing in a close group and talking to one another by the door at the other end of the hall. They did not stop speaking as Kale approached, but the tones of their voices changed and their browlines flattened out and they stood up straighter. They looked as if they were avoiding suspicion of a drug deal. Kale was not sure he was prepared to hear what they were saying in the first place, so he disregarded the uneasy feeling in his stomach.

“Wait one moment before you depart.” Kale heard Corten’s voice from behind him and stopped to turn around. He nodded once, and Corten disappeared again, back into the darkroom, Kale assumed. When he again approached the group of men, Kale was not sure how to greet them. They were not friends. He barely remembered their names. Enya, Alexander-doesn’t-like-to-be-called-Alex, Roth-I’m-a-fiery-ball-of-gas, Kensomthing, and mister-I-have-no-name-Blake, he recounted in his head as he glanced from one to the other.

They had all looked so similar at first observation while sitting around the table. But now, Kale could see the pin-width black tattoo-looking lines under Blake’s hair, the extra wrinkles around Enya’s eyes, and the smallness of Alexander’s nose. Alexander was also the only blond one of the group—Kale had noticed that immediately. The other four men had dark heads of hair, some with brownish tints in places and others pure jet-black. They were all so similar at a glance, and they all seemed perfectly content to ignore Kale as he observed their actions. He was sure he would know these men longer than a day, or they would not have bothered to introduce themselves and offer such assurances of his future understanding. He had almost begun to pick up on their conversation when Corten snuck up behind him and placed his hands back on Kale’s shoulders.

“Are you ready to go? I can take you back to your building.” Corten offered. Kale had forgotten that he was not the one who drove to the mysterious building and would have had significant trouble returning home.

“Sure. Thank you.” Corten opened the door, and Kale walked out onto the metal staircase where a warm breeze accosted his hair. He stomped unceremoniously down the two flights of stairs as if holding back all of his energy while inside the building. Reaching the alley, he let Corten walk slightly in front of him, leading the way to his car.

“You know, this is going to be a grand ol’ time once we get you used to things. There won’t be any more slouching around hallways or darkrooms. I know you’ll learn to enjoy it all.” Corten smiled as he walked to the driver’s side of the car. “And who knows—maybe you’ll find one of your own someday. I mean, I’m sure you will.”

Kale was sure he had no idea what Corten meant, but he replied confidently, “Yeah, I’m sure. It’ll be fun.” He sighed as he sat down and sank into the black leather upholstery.

Corten looked at him and smiled again before turning on the car and pulling away from the curb. There were no words exchanged as Kale was dropped off at the entrance to his apartment building, and as soon as he reached his room, he kicked off his shoes and dropped down onto the bed to sleep.