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THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 26
Claudia's words rumbled in her ears like dire prophecies about her immediate future. She did not want to become a garden bed for the Black Hellebore.The gurgling sound got closer and closer as she cautiously stepped forward, until finally a suffocatingly sweet smell hit her nose, somehow subtly familiar. But she did not have time to think about where she could breathe this cloying sweetness. Two barite flashes flashed in front of her and ... she was on fire.Stone walls. My work hangs along the walls. High ceiling. Wooden floors. Desktop with many blanks and my tools. My house. And my house is on fire! My whole life's work is on fire! My masks, blanks, everything melts and turns into nothing right before our eyes, and the flame becomes more and more violent. I am trapped. Burning wooden beams will soon collapse on me, and I am locked up, all around is fire, the heat of which is already melting me. We need to run, but where? The flame is blinding, disorienting, and the rapidly burning
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 27
There was no chance that some familiar nightmare would visit me that night. Alas, the new horrors took a liking to me in the first place, pushing their "colleagues".Fire. The panic that has shackled me does not allow me to move, for the first time nothing tightens my wrists, but this will hardly help me get out of the second floor of my burning house. Everything I love is on fire here. Everything that I live by turns into nothing before my eyes, and the fire is already coming close to me."Get out, gotta get out!" - I think in panic, but where to go if the fire is everywhere?Window? Where is the stairs to the first floor? How to protect yourself from fire? How not to suffocate in the smoke?!The flames are only getting fiercer. And the smoke corrodes the eyes and breaks the lungs, making it difficult to carry out the plan for one's own salvation. Without looking at the road, I move somewhere, feeling the heat everywhere. The realization beats in my head that if the windows burst, th
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 28
A hot, like a hot coal, hand, with a lightning movement, put into her palm a flask-flask familiar with every irregularity, the loss of which she discovered the night before. Complete and already open. A flash of crazy hope drove them away, dissatisfied with such impudence , only for a moment, but this moment was enough to drink everything from the flask in one gulp, and, pressing it to his chest, finally fall to the floor of the Circus, rolling onto his back.- One! she croaked, feeling her body trembling in convulsions begin to freeze.- Two! The right arm began to feel numb.- Three! - Precious oxygen quickly flew into the lungs with a promise that the struggle is not over, but life goes on.However, such a promise on the thatched floor of the dark tent of the Devil's Circus sounded like a mockery. Nightmare memories that haunt her every night that she chose not to tell Claudia about. Nocturnal animals that even after ten months will not miss their chance to tear her body into pate.
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 29
"Devil!" Bad suspicions began to form as she shook her head.“It helped drive them away. I didn’t ask,” she murmured to the growing beating of her heart, her eyes wide with horror.“Idiot, what stopped me from asking?!”“Perhaps this tincture by itself can ward off… Them , but it has one extra ingredient added to it. Black Frostbite. Now, Alice, you better tell the truth! - the voice of the Man did not tolerate objections, but the girl was not going to rebel and nodded stifledly. At what point did you start having nightmares? Unusual nightmares.- I ... Where are you from ... - Fox squeaked, feeling herself losing ground under her feet.“If you pretend you don’t know what I’m asking about, I’ll make you look me in the eyes!” he threatened in a velvety voice, moving from the chair closer to her to the sofa. — What will you see?- Don't, I'll tell you! I see the flame ! Alice buried herself in her cloak almost to the very eyebrows, as if this could save her. “It all started on the secon
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 30
The city is no better. The fire seemed to have torn off their false guises from the townspeople. Once all the doors were open for me, I was greeted with smiles, thanked for the work, they promised patronage ... now the doors are closed. Nobody smiles. An ugly cripple without a craft. Nobody wants to deal with ugliness, another thing is a beautiful face, fame spanning several cities, wealth and honorable skill. The human soul shows itself to be a rotten, fetid substance. The world is ugly, people are even uglier.“Enough, please, stop! I can not take it anymore!" I can't stand it, trying to get out of this despair. All the pain, all the anger, all of his life goes through me, making me feel absolutely everything, like I'm a naked nerve. My fingers feel it again, but only for a moment, and then the torture session returns. Painfully. Too painful. I try to escape from these memories, but in vain."Please, I want back!"“You've gone too deep. You will have to see everything to return. Be
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 31
“This is like a dream,” a strange veil begins to tighten my head, but the pressure on my unfortunate scar drives it away.My workshop awaits me in my tent. All burnt tools. Everything that was previously devoured by fire is waiting for me. The cloyingly sweet smell of Black Hellebore wafts through the workshop. A small bouquet is on the table. It's time to create. Create masks. Special masks.I know what to do and I know how to do it. Rub the flower on the inside of the mask. Choose an image that suits the inner ugliness of a person. It is worth putting on a mask, and a person will forget himself. They will merge with the mask, and even the body will change shape. And when the last memories dissolve, there will be no turning back.— Alice?"I remember. I remember who I am! - starts buzzing in my head. My words are only partly true. I'm starting to forget.- Now…Annette's friend is transformed into a spider-like monster by the power of a curse, spreading fear and obsession among young
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 32
“Don’t misunderstand me,” the Man’s eyes sparkled demonically, “I have nothing against people who ooze with fetid vices to suffer. But even for me , this method of reprisal is too cruel.— Good Samaritan! Lis couldn't resist. - And bury them as fertilizer? Also a gesture of mercy?“There is no mercy in this city, and I haven’t seen it in the outside world either!” Your patroness is a perfect example of this. She poisons assistants so as not to risk her own life! - only from this slight wave of his rage, Fox pressed into the back of the sofa, squeezing his temples with tension. “The dead need to go somewhere. And from such Hellebore-saturated bodies, flowers grow better, more often, and the effect of them is much stronger.- How many were there? the voice trembled.- More than fifty. Of course, not everyone was poisoned by Hellebore to that extent. Some, like you, calmly drank "magic teas". They were especially fun ! - from these words, the insides of the Foxes made a small somersault.
THE MYSTERY CITY CHAPTER 33
After a night in Brantford, meeting Them , riding the waves of The Man's memory, accepting the existence of witches, realizing the betrayal of the only ally in the city, and even desperately trying to become a weirdo, this was the moment that the Foxes' cup of endurance overflowed. With a loud scream, she managed to escape from the hands of the Man. Resoundingly hitting her back on the floor, she freed herself from the cocoon of her cloak, crawled behind the sofa and hid behind the high back like a child. Once again, her antics made the Man freeze in place in surprise.“What… what was that?! - continuing to hide from him, Alice asked angrily, breathing heavily and almost breaking into a scream."Witches, sorcerers... go to your Hogwarts and leave normal people alone!"Did my face scare you ? The man took a step towards her. "The ugliness didn't scare you!" - One more step. “She offered to make you a weirdo!” A step, and only a sofa separated them. And you calmly admitted the presence
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- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 131
Over the years, I have long understood that the provision of choice is only a play of his own composition. Man really likes the behavior of his toys in those moments when they think that they still have freedom, but in fact he has been pulling all the strings for a long time. Everything will be just the way he wants. And these "certain conditions" will be fulfilled by me regardless of what I say or do.- The very first thing - together forever, my dear! A blanket falls off my shoulders. His cloak flies to the floor.- Easy! I smile, straightening the buttons on my vest.- And the second, - his hand, bypassing pajamas, moves along the spine, causing pleasant goosebumps, - to the King and Queen ...- Oh no!" ...should..."- No, no, no!- ...to be husband and wife!- Somehow without me! - I try to get out, does not allow.Several years have passed since Kenny's opaque hint, and each time this intriguer, in any case, specified the nearest date of that very day. Over time, Man began to th
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 130
For a month, Lis loaded herself with work and new projects so that the breaks between activities were only for sleep. She even preferred to eat food on the go, which could not but worry her friends. But it was easier that way. She did not ignore the support of her brother and the company, and almost every November evening she called to her gatherings with or without an overnight stay. It was more difficult with the nightmares, which instantly returned without the Man. Bypassing the subsequent revival in Brantford, but just as disgustingly detailed. Nights without their King literally became torture.- Would you like to visit me today? - suggested the Fox, locking the doors, although the very idea that someone would break into her cafe in her City caused hysterical laughter.“Actually, we wanted to invite everyone to our place today, Kenny will again liberate modest Wendy,” Trisha smiled, “but if you yearn for the Man, then we can organize gatherings with you!”“I miss you madly,” the
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 129
"Month of the Unknown. What if another Four comes along and challenges him and destroys him? Or will the old one gather and, shaking her gray hair, avenge her ruined lives? Or will he find himself another young sweetheart? – the last thought harassed more than others.She had no doubts about the ability of her King to foresee all possible outcomes and become invulnerable for a month with full replenishment from the Circus. As well as how greedy for his mysterious image of girls of all possible ages. And if she could tolerate the townspeople, realizing that they were of little interest to the Man, and if they wished, they would simply go to dinner for the ghouls, then the events of Saintfor ...“All his women are from this Devil City, come to think of it. Even me! she thought displeasedly, looking through the audience from behind the scenes, in search of a potential weirdo with whom the Circus would go on tour completely full. - Devil! Am I like Persephone? Will I strangle any one for
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 128
The door bell chimed cheerfully, letting in strangers.– Welcome to Nightingale City! Lis smiled.The city whispered to the girl behind the counter that the customers weren't local. But no hint was needed. It was enough to see their faces. All new people have anxiety, loss and hopelessness in their eyes. Like all guests of the city, they are confused by how exactly they ended up at the doors of the themed cafe. But they couldn't get in. The one who can is not yet born. The trinity of young people is slightly older than Alice herself.– We are glad to welcome guests of the city in our cafe “Alice in the Land of Teas¹”!She politely invited those who entered to sit down at the bar counter, into which the counter passed.Let me offer you tea. For guests of the city, absolutely free! – warning their refusal, she added.“Thank you,” one of them said in a trembling voice, “Miss…- In our small state, you can call me Alice! she winked with a smile on duty as she prepared welcome tea for them
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 127
The man sincerely grinned, gently unhooked the pale girlish fingers, dragging Lis forward to hug her from behind. Feeling the familiar warmth in her shoulder blades, enveloping her with a mute promise of protection, she closed her eyes in bliss.- Unusual. Very nice variety!Today the townspeople have outdone themselves! In a good way! she chuckled. – I think this day has become a pleasant change for everyone!“And for you, my singing queen?”“You have hearing like a bat?” she wondered, adding, “Kenny and his brother decided to have a therapy session to get rid of their sad thoughts through public humiliation. By the way, effective, although I could do without it. Holidays are great medicine in and of themselves. And I prefer to sing only to a narrow circle of the elite." Chosen, you mean? - Alice's words thrown as an excuse for timidity were very flattering.Will life be much more boring now? the girl asked, smiling when a scarlet maple leaf fell on her face in a gust of night wind.
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 126
Before the eyes of Alice, who was rapidly blushing with embarrassment, everyone who heard Andy's loud announcement, as well as everyone who knew one of them, pulled up to the small stage. Friends with hyenas' hysterical laughter pushed the girl onto the stage, taking away her bag and broom. The band members, meanwhile, descended from the stage, took large lanterns and, for the effect of bright spotlights, began to illuminate the girl from large spotlights.“Brother,” Lis sang with a wide smile of shock, “I hate you!” I'll go down from the stage - I'll kill!“Relax, Kiki,” Kenny winked at her, “consider it part of therapy. We treat despondency with public disgrace!- That's not how it works! - hissed the girl, getting a guitar in her hands. Correcting the instrument, she timidly turned to the crowd, expecting either a song from her, or ... she didn’t even want to think about the second. - Okay, hello people! You know, in my memory - this is the best holiday in our city! I'm right?The
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 125
- Why is Robin Hood not included in the support group? Andy asked, looking to ensure that the preparations were going at the right pace, but a boot flying in his direction made the guys step back from the tent one more step.- Don't peek! - the girls printed their will in unison.All three voices were clearly heard in the angry trill.– Because he performs the most important mission – guarding the entrance to the territory of the Circus! Pirate Roberts grunted, brushing off the broomstick.- And if there are no jokes?- If no joke, then with all his inclinations towards your sister, multiplied by his pathological inability to keep his mouth closed and his hands to himself ... think for yourself! Kenny answered in the tone of a mentor explaining something obvious. - Here they will pull out his arms and legs and change places, and deservedly so, and I will also assist!Three girls emerged from the tent. Sarah in a classic ghost costume and Trisha in the image of Rose Cotton paired with
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 124
The Man in the Mask himself found himself in a spiral of difficult questions. Does the King need a Queen after a complete and unconditional victory in the last chess game? As it turns out, more is needed. Which for the pragmatic part of his essence seemed strange. When the enemies stopped brightening up the dullness of loneliness, Alice's halo of "usefulness" almost completely melted away. And now that the Mask had no plans left for her, the Man's attitude towards the fragile little witch became even more reverent. As soon as all plans to conquer the city and eliminate the last coven were completed, the temporarily suppressed desire for the constant closeness of the Foxes returned. The fistula called "loneliness" did not poison his existence only with the full presence of his beast in his life. Her presence nearby, when only the body is close, and the soul is hidden in darkness, forced him to make a decision that was unexpected for him.The sun began to move towards the horizon when a
- THE MYSTERY CITY
CHAPTER 123
The morning of the last day of October, almost until breakfast, Lis spent in tears. The whole "raw period" Man did not leave her a single step. As in the case of her exhaustion after the first merger with the City, he could not influence the girl. All that was left was to watch helplessly. In the end, poured into the girl by hook or by crook, a transparent liquid with a cloyingly sweet and sour taste managed to stop the endless stream of tears. However, this author's sedative lasted only a couple of hours.Upon awakening, she wanted only one thing - to fall into a dream and not wake up for at least a week. However, the dream waved its tail and left the Fox, gloatingly endowing her consciousness with crystal vigor, with which it became impossible even to doze off. It was comforting that the tears had ended, and clarity appeared in my thoughts, albeit a sad one. Under the soothing roar of the Human's heart, she opened her eyes. Feeling the weightless movements of his fingers on her shou
