Short Stories
In The Madness |
(Alice in Wonderland) | Lyric Video Dark Folk Music by Azophiel
Disturbed - I Will
Not Break [Official Video]
Video Description
Roy finds himself through the looking glass, coming face-to-face with someone very familiar and a mad scientist.
Content Warnings
Mentions of and implied (animal) experimentation, parental neglect and abuse, mention of murder, one instance of swearing.
Script
Through the Looking Glass and Into the Claws of Chaos [Lore] [Found Family]
Sounds of low chatter in the antique store with light, classical music
in background.
Narrator: We find Roy, on this quiet and rainy Sunday, with a dear friend out
and about, shopping.
Listener:
Thanks again for helping me.
Roy: “Yeah, I’m always happy to help. I can’t say I’ve ever gone antiquing
before, so this is fun!”
Narrator: The antique shop was filled with all sorts of treasures for those
curious and brave enough to venture through. The smell of wood and polish clung
to the air as classical music played somewhere in the back, near the register.
Roy: “What kind of mirror did your aunt want again?”
Listener:
Uh, something hand-held from the 1720s. Rococo.
Roy: “Hmmm, Rococo, huh? Maybe we should ask the owner since I wouldn’t
know Rococo from… Victorian.”
Listener:
But looking is half the fun!
Roy: “Yeah, I know what I said. Alright, if we don’t find anything that
looks Rococo after, say, an hour, we’ll ask, okay? [Listener nods] “So,
do you know how to recognize that style from the others?”
Listener:
Look for natural motifs, like fish and other marine decorations. And curved
asymmetric ornamentation.
Roy: “Okay, marine decorations and curved asymmetric ornamentation. I will
do my best!”
Narrator: The pair took their time, appreciating the history they were walking
through and holding in their hands. They examined pieces, considering more than
just a gift for dear Auntie.
Roy: [Rummages in box] “Oh, this looks cool… [looks up when
Listener gasps, calling to Roy] Find something?”
Narrator: His friend called out to him, pointing in horror at the full-length mirror
behind Roy, but he was not fast enough. The black, clawed hand emerged from the
depths of the glass, took hold of Roy’s shirt collar and pulled him through as
he cried out—
Roy: “Aaaahhh!”
Narrator: …and vanished!
------Scene Change-------
Roy [struggling in captor’s grip]: “Let… [grunts] go of me! [grunts]
Who are you!? What do you want!?”
Unknown Assailant laughs as he holds and drags Roy.
Narrator: Despite Roy’s efforts and questions, his assailant held him in an iron
grip, pulling him towards a large metal cage perfect for any Roy-sized humans.
The open door was like a yawning maw to his doom that Roy cannot avoid. His unknown
Assailant pushed Roy into the cage—
Roy [falls into cage]: “Oof.”
Narrator: …and locked it. Roy got to his feet and looked at his unknown
assailant with all the fury he could muster, but it was immediately replaced
with a cold and startling incomprehension.
Roy: “Y-You… y-you’re… me…”
Narrator: Roy took in the smug being standing before him. The same height and
build, the same face and hair cut, the same purple-pink eyes, except the rabbit
ears have been replaced with wolf ears. They had the same earrings and star, somehow.
This not-quite doppelgänger brushed his black hair from his eyes as he sneered,
revealing a sharp set of teeth. His hands were covered in a thick black fur
with purple claws. It was like looking at a goth-punk version of himself
dressed in purple and black alt fashion.
Roy [shaky and a little scared]: “Please, tell me what’s happening.”
Three: “She’ll come for
you soon.” [Walks away]
Narrator: Roy’s eyes followed the wolf, taking in his surroundings. Beyond the
bars, Roy saw the room as a cross between a scientist’s lab and a witch’s
kitchen, from bubbling beakers, a centrifuge, and thermal cycler to dried herbs
hanging from the ceiling with old tomes scattered around small cauldrons. The
wolf disappeared up a set of stairs as Roy’s eyes laid upon a large cauldron,
about the size that could hold a human, set over a simmering fire. Shelves of
potions and tonics stand beyond it.
Sounds of approaching rapid footsteps descending stairs.
Narrator: A mixed-race demiwoman hurriedly appeared in the lab, a flurrying of
long black hair following her. Dressed in a stunning black and red battle
outfit and a white lab coat, her yellow and red eyes were all alight at the
sight of Roy in her cage.
Michaela [fangirling]: “Roy! Roy! I finally have
you! Oh, this is wonderful, fantastic! The things I can do now!”
Roy [nervously]: “Ha ha, um, who are you and what is this all
about?”
Michaela [resumes a professional demeanor, clearing her
throat]: “I’m Dr. Laws, and I had been searching for a subject to clone
when I came across you. You, mister, are quite the challenge!”
Narrator: During her introduction, Roy’s assailant descended the stairs at a
nonchalant pace and stood nearby, arms crossed in a sulk.
Roy: “So, he’s my clone?”
Michaela [waves hand dismissively]: “No, no, no, no,
no, no! He was meant to be your clone, but that batch got… uh… fucked up,
shall we say. Just ignore Three or Roy-Wolf, whatever you want to call him,
doesn’t matter.”
Narrator: Roy couldn’t help but notice the wolf’s ears go flat as he looked away
with shame.
Roy: “I still don’t understand. Why clone me?”
Michaela: “Like I said, I couldn’t find the right test
subject. But when I learned about you, drinking from the Cup of Dusk, I knew
you were the one.”
Roy: “How do you know about—”[gasps].
Narrator: As Dr. Laws moved about her lab, giving her villain monologue, Roy saw
a locked display case with a familiar foamy rabbit and the Cup of Dusk he had
drunk from over a year ago.
Michaela: “I won’t spill all the tea—oops, I mean, coffee.
[giggles] Suffice to say, I learned about your story and got my hands on
this cutie. The Cup had your DNA and remnants of the drink, which I was able to
replicate. And abracadabra, I was on my way to cloning you.”
Roy [threateningly]: “You let it go right now or so help me…”
Michaela [laughing]: “You are adorable, Roy! I’ve
waited so long for this!”
Roy: “You’re insane! Instead of cloning me, you could be helping the world
by cloning endangered animals or clone plants to stop global warming. But
this!? Cloning me isn’t going to do anything. What’s the point?”
Three [under breath]:
“There isn’t one.”
Michaela [turns to a counter and starts angrily grinding
herbs in a mortar] “‘What’s the point?’ he asks. The point is, it all
started with some stupid girl making up some stupid name. I got
tired of being known only as “Little Red Riding Hood” or some variation. [stops
grinding and faces Roy (Bun)] I decided to live up to my name, to have
people know my real name! I am Michaela, and I am like a God!!! [laughs
maniacally] So, I escaped to your world, Roy, and saw the “magic” of
science! I got a degree in biotechnology and chemical engineering with a
specialization in synthetic biology, and I will succeed in cloning you.
I’ve come so close! [walks over and gestures to Three] As you can see,
Three has your genetic makeup and is just as strong as you are now. I had to
increase the dose of strength in my spell for that. I managed to get it right and
he hasn’t collapsed into a puddle after all these months, not like the first
two experiments. But given how [sighs furiously] troublesome the
magic has been, I’m not taking any more chances. That’s where you come in. The
magic still needs work, so if I need anything, you’re here to provide me with
more DNA samples, so I can make this next experiment my last.” [turns to Three] Now, Three, stand guard and do not let him
out. I have to go out and stock up on supplies.”
Narrator: As the doctor left her lab on Cloud Nine, Three sighed and walked over
to the display case, unlocking it—to Roy’s surprise. The teacup bunny flitted
about the room happily. Three sat down on the floor and watched, bored and
hopeless.
Roy: “You freed it. Why are you just sitting there? Open the cage and we
can all get out of here!”
Three [growling]:
“Don’t talk to me. If I had my way, I’d kill you.”
Roy: “What!? We don’t even know each other.”
Three: “I’ve been alive
for only six months and I’ve heard enough about you. She’s just obsessed
with you because you happened to be the “perfect test subject.” [sighs in a
low growl] I’m so sick of you.”
Roy: “You’ve… been alive for only six months? How are you able to speak
like a full-grown adult?”
Three [rolls eyes]: “That’s where the magic comes in, idiot. Michaela
didn’t want to have a Frankenstein’s Monster on her hands, so she had to add
those details into the spells. She sucks at magic, by the way. She had to get a
professional to ward the windows and doors, as well as catch the little one.”
Narrator: Roy watched the teacup bunny walk across the counters and zigzag
through the hanging herbs.
Roy: “You know, it doesn’t have to be like this. You could leave… couldn’t
you?”
Three: “Nope. I’m
completely dependent upon her. She is my mom, after all. [mumbles]
Even if she doesn’t want to acknowledge it.”
Roy: “Look, she may be your, well, Creator or Mother, but there is such a
thing as “found family.” They’re one you choose because they’re your people,
your home. [pauses for a response but gets silence] You could come with
me. I’d help you.”
Three [snorts derisively]: “Ha! I’m not falling for that. You just want
me to help you escape. You don’t mean that.”
Roy: “I do mean it! I have friends who depend on me and I them. I
was helping a friend at that antiques store you kidnapped me from. It’s their
aunt’s birthday, and we were looking for a gift. I have other friends, too. There’s
Shia—he’s a bun like me—and ENVI is a sheep, there’s ironmouse… I know quite a
few animal people. I even run a café, so you’d be able to meet all kinds of
people every day, [dangles the carrot teasingly] even wolves.”
Three [shakes head,
unconvinced]: “You’re so full of it.”
Roy [pauses]: “Hey, can I ask… how did you end up as a wolf if she
was trying to clone me?”
Three [sighing]:
“She said she was still thinking about a nightmare she’d had. Couldn’t shake
it, so it got into her magic. You know, intent and all that. [lowers voice
in sadness] Apparently, when she was a kid… her grandmother was eaten by
one.”
Roy [shocked]: “Oh! Oh, my goodness. I understand her nickname, now.
Geez. That’s…That’s awful. Is that why she’s dismissive of you?”
Three: “Yep. I’m just a
reminder of her trauma. And failure.”
Narrator: The teacup bunny floated down to Three as if sensing he needed
comfort. Roy could see how much pain Three was in as Three gazed down at his
arms. He held the teacup bunny with the same care as if it were his pet.
Roy: “If you came with me, you’d be accepted as you are. As my cousin, if
you wanted.”
Three [voice cracking]: “Wha-at?”
Roy: “It’d be nice to have another cousin, I think. You could meet them,
too.”
Three [wavering]: “S-Stop. You…you don’t mean that.”
Roy: “I do. I really do. You deserve a life, Three, your own life. You
deserve love, and to be loved by people who care about your well-being. You
deserve happiness, to pursue your own interests. [pauses] You deserve your
own name.”
Three [tearing up]: “I-I’ve always wanted… my own name.”
Roy [kindly]: “And I’ll help you get it and everything else I
mentioned. Whatever you want. I promise.”
Narrator: In between shaky breaths, Three took a moment to think about it,
picturing his dream life. Then, he got his feet and the teacup bunny floated
around him.
Three [hopeful]: “Yes! Let’s do it!”
Narrator: Three took out his keys and unlocked the cage, hands shaking in
excitement.
Roy: “Thank you. Thank you so much! But now, the other problem is,
even if we all get out of here, Dr. Laws is going to be after us. Are there any
sort of authorities we can call to arrest her or get her some professional
help?”
Three: “Well, when she
gets back, this little one can use its magic to tie her up and then, we can
tell the royal guards and bring them back to show them the lab.”
Roy: “Okay, [asks the teacup bunny] Are you good with that?”
Narrator: The teacup bunny sat on Three’s shoulder and nodded.
Roy: “Great. Are you with me… cuz?”
Three: “I’m with you,
cuz.”
Narrator: For the second time in his existence, Three smiled at the dawning of his new life, a little fearful at the prospect of disappointment again, but still hopeful. And Roy was grateful to not only have been there to help the Cup of Dusk as it had been there for him, but to have gained a new friend and family member. Who knew what sort of adventures lay ahead?
Saoirse
left the path and weaved between this tree and that, laying a gentle hand on
them as she passed. A raven sat on a branch and greeted her with a croaking
call. Saoirse gave a small hello, wary of the conflicting Celtic beliefs about
ravens. She thought it best to, at least, be polite.
Saoirse stood on the creaky bridge
where the current below was strong and thunderous. With a toss of her hand,
Saoirse dropped a maple leaf into the stream. She gazed down into the depths
and mused about how the leaf was pulled along, unknowing of its fate.
She heard
the call again, “Seeer-shaaaa... Seeer-shaaa...”
She abruptly
turned to where she had just come. There was no denying it came from the forest;
for several days now, she had heard it.
But who was calling for her?
Saoirse
knew she had best be on her way if she was to be on time for school. She didn’t
want her mother finding out that she was late because then, Saoirse would have
to admit to being in the forest—a place she was forbidden to go by herself. With
one last deep breath, she headed to school.
* * *
Everyone
spoke of the murdered boy. It had been several days since the incident in the
forest, but gossip continued to be whispered by the staff and children. It echoed
throughout the halls and out on the playground, like the twittering of birds.
Saoirse
heard all kinds of stories and didn’t know what to believe. All she knew was that
she missed Ireland, wishing her step-mother hadn’t moved them to America. Most
of all, Saoirse knew she couldn’t give up her new home, the forest.
* * *
That night,
Saoirse awoke in a cold sweat from ghoulish nightmares. Images of howling
wolves, banshees and the Dullahan preyed upon her mind, and she understood why.
She could hear the call from the forest echoing in her room. Sitting up in her
bed, she heard the wind’s moans rattling the panes, “Seeer-shaaaa...”
Approaching
the window, she saw the entrance to the forest far up the road. Still shaking from
the nightmares, Saoirse crept out of the house and ventured into the forest,
the cries growing louder until she was finally inside her leafy sanctuary again.
Searching
for some sign, Saoirse made her way to the center of the dark forest, and asked
in her small seven-year-old voice, “What d’ya need of me, then?
Something grabbed her ankles, causing her to fall
back. A pair of skeletal hands clawed out of the ground, trying to reach her.
Another set popped out before her and another. Soon, there were dozens of them.
Saoirse watched in cold fear as the zombies broke out of their dirt prison and
staggered towards her. She stumbled to her feet, turning to run, but was caught
by one of them, their arms wrapping around her.
“Ssshhhhhh.
It’s alright. Ssshhhhhh. We’re not going to hurt you.”
The wind’s
whispers soothed her. She saw that a dark-haired boy held her.
“My name is Adahy.”
“Wha-What d’ya want of me?” Saoirse
asked, nervously looking back at the surrounding zombies.
Adahy let her go, “They need another
guardian to stop these murders. Someone who will protect the forest from bad
people. They chose me as their guardian, but I need help. Please, will you help
us?”
Saoirse looked at the zombies,
noticing the different ages and genders. Some leaned towards her, putting their hands together in prayer as they bowed
their heads. It saddened her to see her forest was a cemetery of serial
killings, “I-I don’t know what I can do.”
“Just love the forest as you
always have. I will show you the rest.”
“But, my step-mum…”
“You don’t have to ever go back,
Saoirse,” It was as if Adahy could see into her soul and see how miserable
she was. He raised his arms, “Is this not home to you?”
Saoirse’s eyes watered, “Aye, t’is.”
Adahy offered his hand, smiling, “Then,
come with me. I will make you ageless and give you powers, so you can tend to
your home with me.”
She smiled, taking his hand. He
didn’t know how much his gesture meant to her.
The zombies returned to their
unmarked graves, and the earth was undisturbed again.
Something lightly brushed her cheek,
and Saoirse saw it was a large oak tree touching her with one of its branches.
“The forest is happy. It thanks
you.”
Saoirse may have been from the
Emerald Isle, but she never imagined experiencing magic first-hand.
“You will be given an animal
form, just as I have,” Adahy explained, “I chose the raven. What do you
choose?”
Saoirse thought, looking down at
her red coat and boots, “A red wolf.”
Smiling, they left the heart of the
forest, disappearing together into the leaves and the wind where they danced
and guarded their beloved forest.
© Samantha Murphy (aka TheRedWolf/TheOnlyRedWolf)
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