《No Such Thing》 Nowhere ¡°Is it too late?¡± Her thoughts raced Watching the flickering scenery rush past as she darted down the old dirt road. The sky clouded and the stars winked away Pitter pat Ratta tat Pitter pat Ratta tat New shoes tattered and scuffed with mud that dripped and caked her skin. ¡°It¡¯s too late¡­too late...¡± her thoughts raced, heart catching in her chest. Trip Stumble Splash Scraped knees against the grime and gravel. Resting in the warm comforting mud. Frozen and waiting For the sound of powerful hooves driving into the muck For the shouts of men¡¯s voices Distant now¡­but soon ¡°Shut your eyes tight,¡± she choked back her panic, ¡°wish it all away, pretend that you¡¯re not here, pretend that your family is---¡° A whisper hushes through her mental cries, ¡°You!¡± It demands, faint but growing stronger, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Not answering, it¡¯s normal to hear voices in your head when you¡¯re distressed.¡± Eyes still shut ¡°Wishing and pretending¡± it snarked, ¡°doesn¡¯t get you anywhere you know.¡± ¡°I know¡­I know that, but¡­¡± ¡°Are you waiting for them? Do you want them to find you here, pathetic, weak, covered in that awful smell?¡± ¡°No, no I don¡¯t want that.¡± Eyes open, and through the rain she saw them charging, a shadowed speck against the waterfall of night and grey. ¡°THEN RUN!¡± Lifting her feet, she darted blindly forward into the night, Still wishing Still waiting Her feet pounded against the ground ¡°Keep running¡­¡± It hissed, her new imaginary friend, ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± While the only thing she could think was ¡°Why?¡± That old clich¨¦ ¡°Why did this happen? What did I do to make God hate me so much!¡± Laughter melted softly within the rain as she felt her body jerk to a halt. Eyes fell downward A sheer drop, off the edge of a cliff where the road so conveniently stopped. ¡°Let me tell you something, Girl.¡± The voice continued, as she looked back panic tracing her features. Angry shouts and gunfire followed by the heavy charge of horses. ¡°In this world.¡± She looked back towards the fall. The cool glass surface of the lake was shattered in the chaos of the storm. The wind seemed to carry her, urge her towards it. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing.¡± Feet slipped Arms outstretched ¡°As God.¡± The wind swept beneath her As if she could fly Body Tossed and twisted A rag-doll brought magically to life by the wind Breaking the glass surface of the water below, already disturbed by the rain. Under the surface and in the silence she watched the nighttime clouds twist and ripple through the shaking pane. The stars blurred And------- This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°What is it?¡± Came the rasping hush of an unfamiliar voice ¡°A human, you moron, isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± ¡°Really?¡± The voices tittered and cackled with a sound that reminded of things that scuttled and hushed at night. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one up close before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s like saying you¡¯ve never been to Somewhere!¡± There was a pause ¡°You mean----¡° ¡°So what! I¡¯m not the only Nothing who hasn¡¯t been Somewhere!¡± ¡°---- right you know, most haven¡¯t been to a place at any time. Other than ----- and a few others¡­.¡± A soft sigh ¡°There just isn¡¯t much need for Nothing in Somewhere.¡± The blood began to flow through her once more as her breath caught in her lungs. ¡°Shhhh, it¡¯s moving!¡± ¡°What do we do?¡± ¡°Shush!¡± Her eyes flew open, darting, waiting to take in the sight of whatever---- Nothing There was----wait ¡°Hello!¡± She called, what she took in was----was grey sitting in silence. Her gaze continued to wander over what was before her: A blank room With blank walls And she sat on¡­ A bed? Not quite, it seemed to be a piece of shade that was a little higher than the rest of the flat color around it. There were a few windows inside what could only be described as a room but wasn¡¯t. ¡°Hello?¡± She called, She could have sworn¡­voices¡­but---- Moving through an outline of white, out onto a decimated street that was blurry and empty like a watercolor. Around her were old and tumbling buildings, remnants of a city now crashed away into nothing but a wavy outline and a vague concept of what might have been a city. It¡¯s outline traced with smatterings of white and glass, And beneath the buildings and casting shadows crawled the creeping black. Drip Drop The only sound Drip Drip Patter Drop The soft and unknown splash that rang throughout the echo world Scuttle Shudder Those voices! She looked around and called, ¡°Hello!¡± Once more nothing answered, however, not without voice---- ¡°I told you it would hear!¡± The long anticipated voice rasped with frustration while another cried weakly ¡°Sorry¡­I can¡¯t help but want to get up close!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already seen it! Now be quiet you---!¡± ¡°Excuse me!¡± Her own voice cried, lonely, and ringing, ¡°But I would like for you to know I¡¯m not an It!¡± The voice didn¡¯t answer, instead only the soft and fleeting sound of a whooshing run was all that was offered. One familiar cackle stayed behind, ¡°Oh really, if you¡¯re not an it, than what are you?¡± When she fell---it was ¡°I¡¯m human!¡± Nothing that spoke to her, ¡°Laughable, people are Its, simply because they have names doesn¡¯t make them any less an It.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m an it!¡± A childish retort ¡°Than what are you?¡± A soft laugh, that seemed to cause the faint shadows of shape to grow, ¡°Nothing.¡± # In the silence she stared down a crooked road that marked a path through the vague and broken city. At the end of the road she saw a man. A tall Grey Man, who wore grey tatters, a thin man with a thin face and sunken eyes. Tap Tap Went the cane his pale hands clung to. Tappity Tap Rat Rat Ratta tat tat A waiting and impatient noise that rang until she took a step upon the path. He was waiting for her. She heard that Nothings whisper after her, the small shades at the corner of her eyes fluttered away from the road and away from the Grey Man. The Girl wound her way across the t w i s t e d city where he towered before her. When she saw his face. The one she had seen from so far away, winking at her, was gone. The Grey Man¡¯s body stood rock still, patient and voiceless. ¡°Hello?¡± She rang and static answered, bouncing and tumbling off the ruins of the Nowhere city. The hypnotic tapping of the Grey Man¡¯s cane had stopped almost as soon as she had gotten close and now was a faceless statue. How had she seen the face before? Was she dizzy? Was she crazy? The Girl thought, looking into the void of his expression, standing on the tips of her toes, ¡°What is he?¡± To get a closer look at what she was sure was only a trick of her mind and not nearly anything alive when------ The blankness ripped like flesh made water. She gasped and jumped back as a mouth rolled into place grinning. ¡°It¡¯s not nice to stare,¡± came the rasping smile when two large eyes rippled to the surface of the skin pool. They BUGGED and twisted opened wide and washed of color. A sense of fear surged through her as she backed slowly, maybe if her steps were small enough, he wouldn¡¯t chase her and let her slip away. The Grey man stalked towards her and she caved, sprinting from him. ¡°Now little girl.¡± His crippled voice tutted as he reached one long and stretching arm to catch her around the scruff of her neck, ¡°You can¡¯t run away from every scary thing you see.¡± Arm bent so she was at eye-level with the bizarre man, lost in his too large gaze, ¡°The scaries always catch up,¡± She shuddered at his words, ¡°eventually.¡± He soothed, before his mouth sank beneath his skin only to be replaced by a new grin, this time wide and thin. The Girl tried to speak, but only mousy squeaks scampered from her mouth, ¡°W---were you---w¡ªwaiting for me?¡± His eyes spun with glee, ¡°Of course, and do you know why?¡± She shook her head, his grip loosened on her scuff, ¡°To send you on your most wonderful----¡° He dropped her ¡°Journey.¡± She tumbled NOBODY The empty city and the man full of faces fell away Her eyes sprang open to a sudden world of noise. Cars whizzed by while horses cantered down the busy cobblestones and there were---- People! They laughed, spoke, cried, shouted, actual people and not Nothings at all! She was relieved to see them, hear them. Only something wasn¡¯t quite right. Only each and every person wore the very same black hat with their heads turned down. Only they all marched to the same hum-drum pace in the same direction. Only their very human noises all sounded like disingenuous echoes. They suffocated the walkway. All caught up within the torrent of blind, automatic movement. Soon, she too rushed with them filled with a strange sense of purpose and hurry that came from nothing at all. She walked their quick and empty walk. Passing a woman along the way the Girl reached to tug at her hand, snapping from the tunnel vision and edging into curiosity, ¡°Miss, excuse me...¡± Miss jerked away as if the girl hadn¡¯t spoken, her tug nothing more than a pinch. A man with his face buried in newsprint rolled by. This time, she tore from the walkway completely and ran to him, ¡°Sir can you tell me where I---¡° Sir bustled past paying a never-no-mind. Well, maybe if she tried this on---- Surely this man would--- Perhaps this woman could--- But each time was the same, not a glance was spared her way. Only the determined march forward remained, leaving her behind in the endless streets. Her shoulders heaved forward and the questions cantered through her brain like a noisy worry parade. Where was she? What was she going to do? How did she get here? How was she going to get out of here? Who are the people and the voices and the Grey Man who promised her a journey before dropping her into a pit of confusion? She wanted to be home. Memories rolled in like a vivid fog. She missed her father Tick and her rabbit, Jeffery, Tock and the smell of her grandmother¡¯s perfume, Tick playing in her clothes, Tock in the kitchen, Tick in the garden with her father. Tock She hoped the Jeffery was okay, the last time she saw him was in the cupboard, her father put him in there with her before the men----hadn¡¯t he? ¡°Girl---¡° A drifting voice woke her. How long had she been walking? She looked up, drowsy. A man stood still against the onward throng, his hair tied back as loose strands wisped around his neck like soft, gold threads. He was very different from the Grey Man; for example, he had a face, a consistent one at least. Cautiously, she moved opposite the mass, dodging and stepping over those who plodded, in her attempt to reach him. He smiled at her. Though he stood in plain sight, she couldn¡¯t seem to hang onto his appearance. It seemed to fall away like water slipping between her grasping eyes. He reached for her. Those around him parted, like the sea in a bible story, afraid to touch him. She reached back. He asked, ¡°Are You Lost?¡± words dripping, ¡°Yes,¡± she answered. Compared to him, her words were rocks. ¡°How did you come to find this place?¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. She tried to take his offered hand, but he quickly pulled it back as she came near. ¡°I don''t know, where is this place?¡± ¡°Some where.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand, of course we¡¯re somewhere, I mean---¡° ¡°Walk.¡± He urged, turning from her. She hesitated , ¡°Who are you? ¡°Mr. Nemo.¡± His form seemed to waver and drop. ¡°Do---¡° she paused before asking the question, of course he wouldn¡¯t, but then again the Grey Man knew so maybe, ¡°do you know why I¡¯m here?¡± He stopped, motioning with a gloved hand for her to follow. She balked at him, hesitating, following a strange wispy man in a strange solid place didn¡¯t seem like a good idea. ¡°Why should I come with you?¡± His little, comforting smile fell, ¡°Is there something else more preferable to do?¡± She thought for a moment, weighing her options. For a second she thought she heard a snickering in the back of her head. Finally she settled, ¡°No.¡± A fluid turn of his sharp polished shoes as he continued to move in the opposite direction, away from the people in the crowd. ¡°Were you waiting for me too?¡± She asked as he walked. The Girl tried to keep up at his heels. He would vanish and appear again and again. ¡°In a way yes.¡± He answered, ¡°Let me--- explain.¡± He stopped, this time in a more final way, an irritated voice scoffed in the back of her head, ¡°make up your mind, coming or going!¡± He looked at her, dark eyes studying her just a little too long, as though they saw something about her she couldn¡¯t. He smiled again, but this one held nostalgia close to it, like she was an old friend he¡¯d finally seen after a long, long time. ¡°You know how in stories there is always someone to restore order to their worlds? ¡°I suppose. Like lost princes and heroes who come home and things like that?¡± ¡°yes things like that.¡± He snatched her hand, dragging her through the masses that slowly faded with each step until there was nothing but an empty street and soon not even that. ¡°It¡¯s warm,¡± she thought, much more than she expected of such a wispy thing. She wondered why he snatched it away before. As he lead her away from the Endless City, they came upon a wall of white. She stopped, allowing her hand to fall from him as she up up stared and and onward into forever. The white choked her, paralyzed her and it seemed, gazed at her, actually looking and waiting and not just-- ¡°What is that?¡± She whispered, as if It could hear her. ¡°M I S T¡± Nemo replied, ¡°Only The Mist.¡± He stepped into the silence of it, ¡°Come¡­¡± He was vanishing into it. She panicked ¡°Musn¡¯t get¡± She didn¡¯t want to be--- ¡°left behind.¡± Not here, not with It staring and not with Nothing, not again, not after--- The Girl plunged clumsily after him, into the blankness. It swirled, shifted, soft wisps, breaking, joining, together in an endless turn of fog. The world beneath the Girl and Nemo was white as paper, while in the world above the grey spun with limitless time that never changed. They moved in silence for what felt like hours and days until impatience ripped at her skirts. ¡°Where are we?¡± She asked. The vanishing man placed a finger to his lips, ¡°Shhh, IT could be listening.¡± She looked around, leaned over and mouthed, ¡°It?¡± A quiet nod as her voice fell. After a time, the white cleared and before her A House emerged Climbing p U Past the mists to a place she couldn¡¯t see, maybe even past the grey. The cloud sea parted around it___clear___untouched against the blank backdrop. The House opened its doors, knowing they were there, swinging wide. She haplessly grinned, relieved to see a house that wasn¡¯t hers and to be away from confusion. Houses were never THAT complicated. They climbed the steps, Mr. Nemo¡¯s red coat creating interesting shadows and folds. ¡°That¡¯s odd¡­¡± she thought ¡°What¡¯s odd?¡± the nagging voice in her head replied ¡°I never noticed his red coat before.¡± The voice snarked, ¡°Look at you, finally being observant.¡± She peered into the house, just in case, inside was a crackling fireplace that created no smoke, only heat. Lush wine rugs spilled out across the floor along with plush chairs and sofas. Books decorated the walls that seemed to end against the ceiling but in reality soared higher. Thinning and reaching up past the small crack where floor met wall In the center sat an iron stair that spiraled up to each level of the house. The door shut behind him ¡°Where---¡± She started, an upteenth question for the upteenth time. ¡°Where is a difficult question,¡± a final answer, ¡°because Where is always changing.¡± THE HOUSE The Girl made herself comfortable before the fireplace. The flame warmed and waved at her while she listened to the drifting voice of Mr. Nemo, ¡° I apologize for the Nothings, it¡¯s not very often a human arrives here.¡± He sighed, as if tired of making words, slumping in one of his chairs as one leg folded over the other, pushing his fingers together. She shifted, she was tired too, ¡°So, that¡¯s what those annoying voices were,¡± she thought. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why I¡¯m here.¡± She blurted, almost indignant. Nemo smiled at her tone, ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t mean to be rude. ¡° He stood, ¡°This way.¡± The fire winked goodbye stair. winding He lead her up the Warm iron began to feel cold the farther they moved. The First Floor To the side and over the railing light wavered in a soft and shining blue, ¡°Like we¡¯re underwater,¡± she mused and from the corner of her eye, she caught the soft silhouettes of slippery, shaping things when---- The Second Floor was piled with books that vanished____________________________________and reappeared. They shuffled around with a life of their own when---she could have sworn she saw some type of horrible hardcover pounce from a shadowy bookshelf, dragging a small paperback flapping and wailing into its wooden depths. She cringed, the books were life-like... and predatory. Nemo chuckled, ¡°you¡¯ll have to forgive that. It¡¯s natural selection, a dime store novel has no chance against a classic. They usually get eaten alive.¡± ¡°I never knew books could do that!¡± the horror traced her voice. ¡°I can tell,¡± he snided, ¡°there is going to be a lot you never knew.¡± The Third Floor trailed up and they hesitated before a trap door. ¡°Girl.¡± She called herself to attention. ¡°These next few floors you must close your eyes and not open them for any reason.¡± His voice seemed more solid, standing beneath the door his hair was thicker, face more detailed. She could see the lines against his thin face, the slight unevenness of his teeth, his eyes were dark and... ¡°empty¡± The startled thought popped into her head. ¡°Why can¡¯t I open them?¡± Her curiosity spurred her from the unnerving thought. ¡°Have you ever experienced a non-existence?¡± The deep pits of his eyes rolled towards her, the soothing, drifting presence was gone ¡°No.¡± ¡°Nemo is something that should not be,¡± hissed the voice inside her head. ¡°Would you like to?¡± Stagnant eyes stuck to her. ¡°No.¡± She wished they would peel themselves away, they seemed to search inside her, invasive, desperate. ¡°Then keep your eyes shut and follow the rail.¡± Relief washed over her when he turned away. #Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Her hands kept to the rail; however, she couldn¡¯t hear the steps of Mr. Nemo anymore. Her own clanged upon the iron steps. ¡°I would be careful if I were you.¡± The voice in her head chimed. Its voice was different than her usual monologue, more annoying, but it seemed stuck to her ever since she fell. ¡°I know,¡± it was exasperating, ¡°he¡¯s a stranger.¡± ¡°Oh-ho! Then I suppose then you alsoKNOWwhere we¡¯re all going from here?¡± ¡°No, of course not I---¡° ¡°Good.¡± It settled into a fitful silence. She would appreciate it, but if it knew something--- ¡°Could you tell me? It would help a lot if I knew what to do from here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that.¡± If the voice had a nose, it would be up in the air so high a bird might fly in it. ¡°Why not?¡± The frustrated sigh echoed across her mind, ¡°Fine, but I¡¯ll only say this. Things are about to get quite complex for you in a little bit, so stay sharp and---¡° ¡°That¡¯s not even a hint!¡± She thought, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t noticed, it¡¯s already complex in the silliest way!¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s part of the fun, I suppose.¡± ¡°What? It is not---can¡¯t you just---Hello?¡± A strange space was left inside her head where the voice had once been. ¡°Hello?¡± She stamped in her own frustration, ¡°YOU CAN¡¯T JUST LEAVE!¡± ¡°Why are you shouting?¡± Rang a very tangible voice in her ears. She clapped her hands over her mouth, she didn¡¯t want him to think SHE was crazy. Then again, she supposed that in this¡­Wherever They Were, talking to yourself was most likely a totally normal turn of events. ¡°N---nothing.¡± She thought she heard Mr. Nemo mutter under his breath, ¡°That¡¯s the spirit¡± but she couldn¡¯t be sure. Her gaze followed his when she realized, they were on the very top of the tower that shot its way past the mists. Nemo guided her to the edge, ¡°Look down.¡± Her eyes f e l l She saw the winding street, the elevated grey on the echoes of crumbled concrete, ¡°that was where...¡° she thought. ¡°That¡± Nemo confirmed, ¡°Nowhere, capital ¡®N¡¯.¡± His voice had a bite that traced the word: Nowhere # From the top of the tower, she could see the twisting paths- all of them empty. As if, in that small space, the world had been tossed into silence. She looked up at Nemo, ¡°Nowhere?¡± ¡°This is the reason you¡¯re here.¡± Her eyes traced across the impossible world. She didn¡¯t want this, didn¡¯t want wherever she was and... ¡°I don¡¯t WANT to be here!¡± She cried out, a sudden tantrum of realization as she slammed her fists into the hard ledge. She ground her teeth, thoughts surged, and slammed again, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask to be here¡± again ¡°I didn¡¯t ask to be alone,¡± again ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for them to chase me,¡± the sound of their horses echoed again ¡°I DIDN¡¯T ASK FOR MY FAMILY TO---¡± again ¡°Shhhhh¡± the voice soothed, ¡°not yet.¡± The encroaching wave of memories receded as the Girl grasped Mr. Nemo¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Just send me back,¡± she pleaded. He yanked back, a look of fear crossing his face at her outburst as he shook her off, ¡°It¡¯s not like you have a choice!¡± ¡°Why not!¡± She sniffed, he sighed, voice traced with pity, ¡°Because, you simple thing, you were brought here by will and will alone. Someone wanted you here and I can¡¯t send you back.¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t it you who----¡° ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. I was only the one that found you. Now, if you¡¯ve composed yourself, this way---¡° A brisk walk to the other side, where a widow¡¯s walk jutted out, as she began to spin her questions more frantically than before. ¡°Then why did you-¡± ¡°Because,¡± He said, looking out over the edge where Somewhere and Nowhere collided. A torrent of chaos swirled along the border where bowler hats twisted and Nothings wailed, ¡°Right now is a very dangerous time.¡± He finished Her eyes grew large as she took in the sight, ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Where realities collide; and more importantly for you, why no one can send you back. Your world is a mixture of all this.¡± He gestured towards the cacophony, ¡°Now that it¡¯s in conflict, where you¡¯re from doesn¡¯t exist.¡± She looked out over the border, she could see the tiny hats marching and nothing all at once; and in the middle, just past the narrow line where the opposites met was--- Somewhere Else. ¡°What is that place?¡± She asked, eyes falling to a world where things were constantly shifting. Occasionally, the world would disappear all together, then reappear in its own magnificence, fall apart and build again. Trees sprang from emptiness shaping into looming willows cracked with lightning withering blooming Multitudes of people swarmed and quickly vanished to make way for something new. ¡°A very dangerous reality, ¡° chewed Mr. Nemo, sour. ¡°It looks interesting,¡± she mused, ¡°who lives there?¡± ¡°A faceless man.¡± Her mind trailed to The Grey Man, everything about him in a constant state of upset just like--- ¡°To enter Somewhere Else is to trap yourself in your own consciousness with the reality called Mr. Noh.¡± He interrupted,she nodded quietly and followed Mr. Nemo as he opened the trap door at their feet, ¡°Remember that when you get there.¡± # Gingerly they headed back down the stairs. The new information flooded her mind. So this was her new world. It would have to be, unless¡­unless she could manage to make things right. What happened, she wondered, to make it all break like this? The familiar voice answered her, ¡°What held the realities together is gone.¡± ¡°What happened? Did someone take it?¡± ¡°Well, maybe. Regardless, it is very much missing.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s missing it can be found, right?¡± He mind was excited at the thought, its tone filled with a hopeful shine, maybe Mr. Nemo could even--- ¡°Wait, Girl, don¡¯t ask that---¡° ¡°Mr. Nemo!¡± she practically shouted, ¡°What if I found the thing that puts them back together?¡± Nemo paused at the foot of the stairs, ¡°Yes the missing piece.¡± His voice was drifting again and hard to grasp, but that didn¡¯t quell her excitement. ¡°If I find it I can go back!¡± ¡°Of course, but wouldn¡¯t it be dangerous, for such a young Girl.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think I can find it?¡± ¡°Do you know What It is?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Mr. Nemo sighed with relief, ¡°As I thought.¡± ¡°Do you know? Maybe if you---¡° ¡°Call it off, dear. It¡¯s a wonder you still exist at all.¡± When they reached the very bottom, she opened her eyes, only to see a giant dictionary rear its monstrous cover to devour a helpless classic.