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Post by esmeralda on Mar 14, 2009 15:24:58 GMT -5
"How do you know my name? I never told you who I am. I could tell you I was charmed, but I would be lying. And it is not nice to lie."
Esmeralda looked over at Ratigan. The name suited him. He really looked like a rat. And from what he said to her, he behaved like a rat as well. She shut her eyes in frustration, and her voice was pained as she spoke. Still she was calm as always.
"Basil really hates me. You gain nothing by kidnapping me to get to him. He won't even care if I'm gone. I mean less than nothing to him."
She looked calmly over at Ratigan. She could still remember the way Basil looked at her when he was still in love with her. Once more her heart twinged in pain. Even if she knew that Basil probably hated her now, and that would not be strange the way she had treated him, a tiny part of her loved him still. It was that part that now decided that no matter how much torture that was waiting for her, she would never assist this rat in his plans to destroy Basil.
Don't worry, Basil. I will never let you down. No matter what happens.
Esmeralda listened to Ratigan's words. One part of her silently hoped that what he said about Basil hiding his true feelings for her were true. The other part of her was almost certain that he hated her. She heard Ratigan's words, and felt her heart twinge in fear of Basil's life. She couldn't let this rat destroy him. She studied the rat, thousand thoughts racing through her mind, as she tried to find something to say, that could help Basil.
"What makes you think I am so innocent? Obviously I was cruel enough to break a man's heart. What makes you think Basil would risk to have his afternoon destroyed searching for me?"
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Post by Basil on Mar 14, 2009 15:37:33 GMT -5
<<May I say that your Victorian dialogue is superb :) >>
"Have you a revolver with you?" Basil asked, continuing his search and making something of a mess in the process. "I daresay you will need it."
"As to the identity of the lady in question, I have no idea. And you know I abhor guessing."
"Now, we must be off to the Haunted Mansion at once. It is certainly a trap, but there is nothing else for it."
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Post by Dr. David Q. Dawson on Mar 14, 2009 15:41:30 GMT -5
(*beams* I read a lot)
"Great Scott!" Dawson muttered, gently pushing Basil aside and lifting his revolver out of a sock. "Right here, old boy," he said with a sigh. "Let me see...fully loaded, and I have extra bullets."
Checking the revolver once more, Dawson stuffed it in his pocket and grabbed his medical bag. He might need it if Ratigan was involved.
"Then I say we get there now before that deuced rat causes any harm to the girl."
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Post by Professor Ratigan on Mar 14, 2009 15:54:24 GMT -5
Ratigan knew he was being lied to. This girl honestly thought she could dissuade him from his perfect scheme? He knew better. Basil would come, if only to stop him.
As Esmeralda continued, his temper began to get the better of him.
"You think you can outwit me?" Ratigan bellowed, his eyes blazing red. "You believe you can protect him? You fool, isn't it clear to you? You may believe he hates you, but he hates me even more! He will come here just to stop me! It doesn't matter his reasoning for coming, either way, Basil is mine!"
Ratigan took a deep breath, reining in his temper. He pulled out his pocket watch, chuckling as he checked the time.
"At any rate, you and I have some time to kill before he arrives." Ratigan said, the egotistical gentleman back in place. "I know much more about you than your name. As you can see, I know all about your history with Basil, as well as your friendship with the human named Elisa Maza."
Ratigan pretended to get chocked up again. "The way you tried to turn her into a gargoyle to help her be with her true love... It was so very touching. It's too bad that the spell didn't work. And now she has to walk this earth trapped between two worlds."
His gaze turned sinister. "And speaking of true love, I know of yours, as well. A young lion named Kovu, if I am not mistaken."
The room began to chill, and Ratigan chuckled as the spirits entered, drawn by the harsh memories he was bringing back.
"Well, let's leave you with these... *sniff* tearful memories, shall we?" Ratigan cackled as he slammed the door, leaving Esmeralda alone with the evil spirits. They would force her to relive the memories she fought so hard to escape. By the time Basil did arrive, Esmeralda would be broken and alone, living out the rest of time as a lonely spirit.
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Post by Basil on Mar 14, 2009 16:13:50 GMT -5
Basil would've liked to bring Toby along on the case, but the poor hound was simply not up to it, after his recent injuries. Although he might be willing, he would only do more harm than good.
Therefore, the two mice made for the mansion on foot. The place looked quite eerie in the twilight, squatting at the end of the long bricked drive.
"Fog's coming in," observed Basil, thinking of London for a moment. "I wish it would come in a bit sooner, as it might aid us to enter the place unseen. As it is, we have little choice but to walk in through the front door."
"Doubtless we are being observed even now."
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Post by esmeralda on Mar 14, 2009 16:21:01 GMT -5
Esmeralda knew that Ratigan had discovered her lies, and she cursed silently under her breath. She was determined to not give in to his evil scheme. She did not wish to see Basil in danger. She struggled in her ropes, but she was tied around her wrists and ankles, and her wrists were tied around her back. She could of course try to find something sharp to file up the knot with, but it would take long time. Would she be in time to stop Ratigan from harming Basil?
She smiled when she noticed that Ratigan had a temper. So had she, but she could control hers when she had to. She quickly decided that Ratigan's temper could be used against him. Her voice was calm, almost ironic when she replied.
"Basil is yours? Wow, he didn't seem like that kind of man...."
She chuckled with laughter and clucked her tongue.
"Jealousy is such an ugly thing...."
She watched him as he took out his pocket watch, listening to his words.
"You and I have some time to kill? Geez, I wonder what Basil will say to that? Is he as jealous as you are?"
By the mentioning of Elisa and Kovu, Esmeralda's heart twinged in pain.
No! I can't let anything happen to them! Sweet little Elisa, so happy in her love for Goliath. And my beloved Kovu! How will he react when he finds out I am gone? Will he finally be happy with Kiara, forgetting I ever existed?
She kept her face emotionless, and replied to Ratigan in a calm voice.
"I've never heard of them."
She hoped that by her denial of their existence, at least they would be left alone, out of reach for this rat. Finally he left the room and slammed the door, and Esmeralda was alone. Or was she? The room felt chilly, and an evil chuckling laughter could be heard from the darkest realms of the house. Esmeralda's face paled, and she struggled in her ropes once more.
"Oh, dear lord. No!" She whispered. "Not him! Anyone but him!"
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Post by Dr. David Q. Dawson on Mar 14, 2009 20:19:49 GMT -5
"Knowing Ratigan?" Dawson commented as he inspected his revolver one last time. "We've doubtless been observed since you got the note. Possibly earlier. But I was never one for deductive reasoning, as you know."
Spotting the mansion ahead, Dawson shuddered slightly at the sight of it. It was far too eerie and unpleasant. Whatever girl was being held there was in a most unwelcome situation, and the inner soldier burned to jump into action.
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Post by Basil on Mar 14, 2009 20:40:50 GMT -5
Basil squared his shoulders and marched purposely to the front door. If he had to face Ratigan, there was no one he preferred at his side than the stout-hearted doctor.
Although he appeared to be focused only on the goal, his eyes darted everywhere, seeking out traps, ambushes and other dangers, searching for a clue that would point him in the proper direction.
Reaching the entrance, the detective halted for a moment.
"Observe these footmarks, Dawson. A great many mice have passed through here not so long ago. And they appear, unless I am very much in error, to have dragged in a rather heavy burden."
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Post by Dr. David Q. Dawson on Mar 14, 2009 21:03:44 GMT -5
Dawson look down at the indicated footprints and nodded. He could see the footprints well enough, but he couldn't see the evidence that they had been holding a burden. He left things like that to Basil.
"Ah," he said with a shrug. "I see. Perhaps the large burden is the girl in question?" he suggested. "I believe we will need to hurry if we want to get her out of here soon."
Clicking the hammer on his gun back into place, the doctor glared down at the footprints. This was the sort of thing that had made him want to serve with Basil, preventing situations like this.
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Post by Professor Ratigan on Mar 15, 2009 12:29:56 GMT -5
Ratigan paced angrily outside the room. He knew what the gypsy girl was insinuating with those comments of hers, and he didn't like it. Imagine, someone like him... The very idea!
Looking out the window, he noticed Basil and Dawson approaching. Pulling out his watch, he checked the time. "Most impressive, Basil. I wasn't expecting you for another half hour at least."
A grim smile of satisfaction spread across his face as he listened to the evil laughter inside the other room.
"Poor dear child." Ratigan sighed. "Oh, I just don't think she'll recover from this."
~~As Ghosts~~
The evil spirits swirled around the ceiling, focused on the girl bound on the floor. Her painful memories were theirs to read, to feel, and to take advantage of. One spirit swooped down on her, taking the form of Kovu.
"I don't want to be with you, Esmeralda." The spirit said in Kovu's voice, devoid of emotion. "Kiara and I are going to start a pride, where we can be happy together."
Another spirit swooped down, appearing as Elisa, her body bruised and bleeding, her wings broken.
"A mob attacked me." Elisa said, her voice full of pain and bitterness. "They called me a monster."
Next appeared Basil. The spirit didn't need to say anything. The pain in Basil's eyes that he tried to mask with a look of hatred was enough.
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Post by esmeralda on Mar 15, 2009 12:57:00 GMT -5
Esmeralda was struggling to break free. She felt the presence of something supernatural, and knew that the ghosts were present. She knew what ghosts had the power to do, and she was tied up, without any chance to defend herself. She felt the evil of this house, and her heart was pounding in her chest. She was alone, and afraid. To be surrounded by enemies, not knowing what to come, was frightening.
Kovu suddenly appeared in front of her. She tried to smile to him, but he looked at her, his face devoid of emotions. His words were the most cruel she could think of, and it broke her heart. She stood tall, even if the tears filled her eyes. Her voice was trembling with pain, but still she managed to answer him.
"I knew.... that this moment would come one day, Kovu. I-I wish you luck in your new life with Kiara. I hope you will be happy together...."
She turned her face away to hide the pain, and a tear trickled down her cheek. No torture Ratigan had planned for her, could compare with the torment in her own life. She never noticed Kovu leave, or that another spirit took Elisa's form in front of her.
Not before she heard Elisa's voice, did she look up, to find one of her best friends with broken wings, and a bruised and bleeding body. The sight broke her heart even more, and new tears fell from her eyes.
"Elisa? What happened? A mob? No! Not you! Anything but that! How can they attack an angel like you? If only they had taken me instead!"
A sob escaped her lips as new tears fell and blurred her vision. She didn't see the spirit leave. Then she felt the presence of another in the room, and looked up again, trembling in agony. Her eyes already showed sign of a wounded soul. What she saw was excruciating for her already tormented heart. The look in Basil's eyes as he looked at her in hatred broke down the rest of her will to fight, and shattered her heart completely.
Esmeralda sank down on her knees, completely broken. Her tiny shoulders were shaking, and the only sound that could be heard, was her heartbreaking sobs. She had lost everything she cared for. Now there was nothing left. Nothing but darkness.
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Post by Basil on Mar 15, 2009 16:30:55 GMT -5
Basil entered the house, every sense on the alert.
"Do you smell it? That particular tobacco is preferred by our adversary. He has been here."
Moving through the foyer without incident, he came to a hallway filled with doors. Which one lead to their quarry?
"Remember, Dawson, Ratigan wants me more than anything. It may fall to you to free the lady and get her to safety. She, whoever she may be, must be our primary concern."
Basil had complete confidence in his friend's courage, but he feared that concern for the detective might interfere with saving the yet-unknown victim.
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Post by Dr. David Q. Dawson on Mar 15, 2009 22:48:34 GMT -5
Dawson could indeed smell the tobacco. They were getting closer every moment. That was both bad an good news. It meant that they were that much closer to saving this poor girl, whoever she was, and it also meant that they were drawing nearer to their possible doom. While Dawson had faced death with Basil before, that did not make Dawson anymore comfortable with the fact.
"Courage, David," he murmured to himself. "Courage."
"Bu--but Basil!" Dawson protested. "I couldn't possibly leave you alone to face that fiend! Dash it all, Basil, we are partners and a soldier never leaves a man behind!"
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Post by Basil on Mar 16, 2009 17:33:40 GMT -5
Stout fellow. Basil knew he could always count on his friend, but duty must take precedence even over friendship.
He motioned for silence, gliding carefully past the closed doors, searching for the clue that would indicate which door they sought.
Stopping at last before one particular door, Basil whispered, "The scent of tobacco is strongest here. And," he continued, scanning the carpet with his magnifying glass, "it looks as if someone passed over this threshhold recently."
"We shall slip beneath the door, Dawson, and see what lies beyond."
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Post by Dr. David Q. Dawson on Mar 16, 2009 17:37:03 GMT -5
Slip...beneath the door. With Dawson's rather generous stomach? Basil must be out of his mind!
"Basil...I hate to contradict you, my good man, but...I don't think I can fit under the door," he said sheepishly. Moments such as this were far too embarrassing for the plump mouse. Life had been good to him in allowing him to grow so large, but it had been a cruel joke as well. He couldn't 'scurry' or 'slip' as easily as others of his rodent bretheren.
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