x. footprints in the snow
all_unwritten
prompt: footprints in the snow.
So.. same piece, but this chapter is not John POV. I need to widen out anyways.
I have no idea where any of this is from/nor for that matter all the details of where it's going.
In truth? I'm not so sure I want to post this- it's rough like the rest but this one I didn't like nearly as much. I'm posting anyways because I promised myself I would and everybody's gotta start somewhere.
and because we all know it would die the death of a thousand unfinished fics lying on my hard drive if I didn't post it now.
So then... part three I suppose. This chapter isn't Sparky, per se, but it wishes it were.
Elizabeth couldn't be sure whether she was dreaming or if this was another simulation. They seemed to blend together with disturbing frequency lately. A flat plain stretched out in front of her, as far as she could see and for miles around. And there was nothing. She shivered, suddenly realizing how impossibly cold it felt, finally noticed the angry looking clouds above her that seemed to threaten snow at any moment. In that moment it felt as if there was nothing, no breath, no movement, no life. Only the movement of the snowflakes that started falling rapidly, increasing with each passing second and covering the unnaturally bare ground quickly. Pushing back the fear that was rapidly rising in the back of her mind, Elizabeth looked around again, finally noticing a set of footprints in the snow. They were brand new and yet there was no one around her, she was sure of it. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if any moment now she'd feel the spike of pain in her head that always signalled another session of "reprogramming". And yet no matter how hard they tried and how much they proped, so far they hadn't accomplished much except giving her a propensity for some truly nasty migraines. Still though, she didn't know how much more she could take- the ever present feeling of exhaustion grew every time they tried
They'd never be able to take away her curiosity- among other things- and if she were being honest with herself she knew the decision to follow the footprints had been made as soon as she saw them. Anything was better than just standing here.
The silence stretched out all around her, punctuated by soft footsteps and her breathing. Elizabeth wasn't quite sure how long she'd been walking when she looked up ahead of her and realized she wasn't alone after all. Ahead of her, a shadowy figure stood waiting, beckoning for her to come closer. It seemed to take forever to get there, only to realize that when she did she still couldn't see who it was. But it was warm here, warm enough that the snow was melted in a circle all around. Another shiver, a mix of shock and a twinge of fear.
"Who are you?"
Her voice didn't sound like it was hers.
The person slipped off the cloak, revealing a woman's face, creased with confusion and a little worry.
"You don't know me?"
Elizabeth studied the stranger's face more carefully and decided that there was something decidedly familiar about the woman, though what it was she couldn't tell. She had dark blond hair and a face that made Elizabeth think she spent a lot of time smiling. Even when she frowned there was a light in the constantly changing hazel eyes that was almost mischievious. Honestly it was rather puzzling.
"No, I don't know you... I'm getting the impression I should though."
The woman abruptly changed gears, appearing to have come to a decision rather quickly.
"Well, no matter- we'll deal with that some other time."
She started walking in the direction Elizabeth had been going, waiting for her to join her as they kept moving.
"Some other time." Elizabeth glanced over, starting to worry that the replicators were taking a toll on her. She started to say something else when she was interrupted.
"Yes, some other time, it doesn't matter right now. And no, you're not going crazy."
"How did you...? Nevermind. Where are we going?"
The woman smiled for the first time, an impish look in her eyes when Elizabeth did a double take.
"Your first question would take far too long to answer. The second is easier; we are going to where you have always been."
"But that doesn't make any--"
"I know, but it will soon. I have to go now, just keep walking- it isn't far from here."
The woman turned away, starting off in a different direction as the snowstorm kicked up again.
"Wait. Who are you?" Elizabeth asked, a firm look in her eyes that brooked no argument.
The woman only grinned at her.
"I'm Celia of course. Goodbye Elizabeth. Remember, whatever you do- keep walking."
And then she was gone.
The footprints remained and Elizabeth kept walking.
Off in the distance, some sort of structure was coming into view, and she quickened her pace. She was within a few dozen feet of her goal when she opened her eyes and woke up.
http://community.livejournal.com/all_unwritten/37573.html?thread=1054149#t1054149
prompt: footprints in the snow.
So.. same piece, but this chapter is not John POV. I need to widen out anyways.
I have no idea where any of this is from/nor for that matter all the details of where it's going.
In truth? I'm not so sure I want to post this- it's rough like the rest but this one I didn't like nearly as much. I'm posting anyways because I promised myself I would and everybody's gotta start somewhere.
and because we all know it would die the death of a thousand unfinished fics lying on my hard drive if I didn't post it now.
So then... part three I suppose. This chapter isn't Sparky, per se, but it wishes it were.
Elizabeth couldn't be sure whether she was dreaming or if this was another simulation. They seemed to blend together with disturbing frequency lately. A flat plain stretched out in front of her, as far as she could see and for miles around. And there was nothing. She shivered, suddenly realizing how impossibly cold it felt, finally noticed the angry looking clouds above her that seemed to threaten snow at any moment. In that moment it felt as if there was nothing, no breath, no movement, no life. Only the movement of the snowflakes that started falling rapidly, increasing with each passing second and covering the unnaturally bare ground quickly. Pushing back the fear that was rapidly rising in the back of her mind, Elizabeth looked around again, finally noticing a set of footprints in the snow. They were brand new and yet there was no one around her, she was sure of it. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if any moment now she'd feel the spike of pain in her head that always signalled another session of "reprogramming". And yet no matter how hard they tried and how much they proped, so far they hadn't accomplished much except giving her a propensity for some truly nasty migraines. Still though, she didn't know how much more she could take- the ever present feeling of exhaustion grew every time they tried
They'd never be able to take away her curiosity- among other things- and if she were being honest with herself she knew the decision to follow the footprints had been made as soon as she saw them. Anything was better than just standing here.
The silence stretched out all around her, punctuated by soft footsteps and her breathing. Elizabeth wasn't quite sure how long she'd been walking when she looked up ahead of her and realized she wasn't alone after all. Ahead of her, a shadowy figure stood waiting, beckoning for her to come closer. It seemed to take forever to get there, only to realize that when she did she still couldn't see who it was. But it was warm here, warm enough that the snow was melted in a circle all around. Another shiver, a mix of shock and a twinge of fear.
"Who are you?"
Her voice didn't sound like it was hers.
The person slipped off the cloak, revealing a woman's face, creased with confusion and a little worry.
"You don't know me?"
Elizabeth studied the stranger's face more carefully and decided that there was something decidedly familiar about the woman, though what it was she couldn't tell. She had dark blond hair and a face that made Elizabeth think she spent a lot of time smiling. Even when she frowned there was a light in the constantly changing hazel eyes that was almost mischievious. Honestly it was rather puzzling.
"No, I don't know you... I'm getting the impression I should though."
The woman abruptly changed gears, appearing to have come to a decision rather quickly.
"Well, no matter- we'll deal with that some other time."
She started walking in the direction Elizabeth had been going, waiting for her to join her as they kept moving.
"Some other time." Elizabeth glanced over, starting to worry that the replicators were taking a toll on her. She started to say something else when she was interrupted.
"Yes, some other time, it doesn't matter right now. And no, you're not going crazy."
"How did you...? Nevermind. Where are we going?"
The woman smiled for the first time, an impish look in her eyes when Elizabeth did a double take.
"Your first question would take far too long to answer. The second is easier; we are going to where you have always been."
"But that doesn't make any--"
"I know, but it will soon. I have to go now, just keep walking- it isn't far from here."
The woman turned away, starting off in a different direction as the snowstorm kicked up again.
"Wait. Who are you?" Elizabeth asked, a firm look in her eyes that brooked no argument.
The woman only grinned at her.
"I'm Celia of course. Goodbye Elizabeth. Remember, whatever you do- keep walking."
And then she was gone.
The footprints remained and Elizabeth kept walking.
Off in the distance, some sort of structure was coming into view, and she quickened her pace. She was within a few dozen feet of her goal when she opened her eyes and woke up.
http://community.livejournal.com/all_unwritten/37573.html?thread=1054149#t1054149