The Chronicles of Andrainea: Darkness Falls

I could hear the soft clicking noises of things turning on and off as I laid there slowly losing consciousness. I could feel myself slipping slowly, ever slowly, down into that rabbit hole of darkness. I could feel the madness consuming me and I could almost pretend I was Alice in Wonderland.

I felt and saw strange things while I was spiraling ever down. Like that clock that ticked and tocked backwards or the dog with the lazy cat grin. Images spiraled all around me and I could do nothing but lay there and watch.

"I think... the doctor spoke to me." I whispered softly to myself and heard a rumbling, manic laughter echo in the darkness.

"Of course you did my pet. Who else would speak to us other than the doctor?"

"Us?"

I was confused. Surely there is not two of me. I am almost positive I am me or is it the other way around? Thoughts became more befuddled as I tried to ponder what the meaning of us meant. My mind felt like it was stuffed with cotton and I couldn't hardly comprehend what was going on.

Maybe I should ask the voice?

No sooner than I thought those words I heard the soft laughter again. It was almost pleasant if it was for the twisted way it sang out its little bubbles of noise. I tried to shudder, but found I could not move. I felt panic as I heard the voice speak to me again.

"Ah, you are wondering about us my dear? Do not worry your pretty little head. I am you and you are me. We are one and the same. Soon. Very soon you shall know my name or I should say... your name."

"My name?" I asked the voice in confusion.

Yet, all I heard was more laughter. That damnable laughter. Why couldn't it do anything but laugh and give me vague answers? I began to hate the sound of that laugh and I felt the burning desire to snuff that noise deep away.

"Aw, now. That is no way to behave. I assure you, the time is near to learn your name. It is there. Just reach out and grasp it my dear."

I heard her speak to me again and I just wanted to curl up into a ball and snuff out the noise. Why won't she be quiet? Why must she torture me so? I wanted away from the voice, but I had no control over my limbs. So, I just laid there glaring into the rich, deep darkness with all my hatred. I wanted nothing to do with the voice inside my head.

I could hear the voice sigh and slowly she came into the light. I gasped at what I saw. I saw me, but not me. She looked like me with that long dark, brown hair and those dark mysterious eyes, but at the same time there was a cruel lift to her lips and a sharpness to those very twin like eyes. That could not be me. No way in hell was that me.

Some how I found my voice and let the woman before me know my distaste.

"You are not me. You do not even look like me. Who are you? Why can't I move?" I screamed at the woman before me as I watched her slowly grin gently at me.

"Dearest little me. You must understand this is you. Rather, what you will become. It will be soon. You know it to be true. I know you feel it down to the very marrow of your bones."

I did not want to believe her. I did not want to become her. She was just to evil and vile looking. I did not want to be her or think like her. I wanted to be me and the me I knew was not her. I was gentle, kind, and could be a bitch. Okay, maybe a little crazy as well, but I am nothing like her. I tried to move my head. To shake it in denial at her words, but I still could not move.

"Easy. No need to panic. It would seem the doctor has immobilized us. At least the physical you any way."

I saw her grin as I felt my chest constrict. I knew "The Doctor" would pray upon my weakness and I fought with all I had to regain control. To get back into the light and stop "HIM" from doing anything to me. I didn't want to be tested on no more.

I could feel the rage rolling around in my stomach hotly and I felt like I was going to burst at the seams. I began to shake as I felt my very bones rattle with the effort to awaken. I could hear my gasping breaths as I began screaming with all I had. I had to wake up.

I began to chant sotfly to myself, "Must wake up. Must wake up.... must wake... up."

I kept chanting while I watched the other me just grin twistedly at my efforts. I wanted to tell her to go to hell and stay there, but I had to concentrate on waking up. I had to get out of this "rabbit hole" I was in. I no longer desired to be Alice. I wanted to be back in reality and instead of this unreality. I was tired of the voice and her manic ways.

Slowly, I felt my mind begin to give and I felt the spiraling sensation move in the other direction. The other me just grinned broadly and I heard her speak once more.

"That is it. That is it! Show him who is boss. Now say your name! SAY IT!"

I heard her scream at me I as finally began the rapid spiraling back into the conscious reality that was my world. My life. As I was moving rapidly forward, I could almost feel a rush of wind across my body and through my hair. As if I was really in another world and being thrust back into my own.

I also felt a hot yearning to say something rather important. Yet, at the moment I could not remember what it was. I think it was a name? Was it a name? No. It could not be that. That was so minuscule a thing to say. I have no name.

I felt that burning sensation again and it was hotter now. As if it was telling me that a name was important and yet, I begged to differ. The more I denied what ever it wanted me to say, the hotter the sensation got. I could actually feel a burning sensation on my backside and could almost hear the crackling of flames from behind me.

I gasped as I heard the voice one last time. The voice was faint. Barely a whisper in my ear.

"Say your.... name... damn it! The... name... now."

The words were choppy at best, but had a profound effect on me. I felt the desire. No the need. To have a name at last. A name that would bring fear to those I hate and warmth to those I loved. A name that would say, "I rule over all". It was on my lips. I could feel the syllables forming on my dry, parched lips.

Then I was yanked out of the darkness and was plunged out into the light. I took in a deep gasping breath and then screamed for all that I was worth. I could hear it echoing off the walls as I heard the panicked noises of the guards just outside my reach. I could hear them screaming for "binding bracelets".

Finally, I regained myself and forced myself into a calmer state. Slowly lifted my head and glared at "HIM". I slowly I softly grinned in "HIS" direction. Almost in a manically way before I spoke.

"My name is Andrainea."

I saw the shock in "HIS" eyes before he quickly hide the emotion away and I knew I had the upper hand. Finally, after all this time I had the knowledge to win this game of minds and wills. I knew what I had to do to be free and it all began with a name.


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Author's Note:

So those who are reading this won't get confused. Andrainea is pretty much having a conversation with herself.

Old self = italics
New self = bold
Old self thinking to self = bold + italics

I hope that will clear up some of the confusion you guys might have about this chapter.