I'm back! Yes, I know it seem's that I've abandoned this fic, and I almost did, until I had a nice long talk with my besest friend Hooper, and he made me return to it. So here I am! Yay!
Disclaimer- Whoohoo! Everybody LOVES the disclaimer! This is the part where we get to tell how little we own... And how the boys are nowhere near being ours... But not for me! Me and Sprite own all 'a 'em!! Muahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Shouts-
Snooza- Bonkers, haha, I like that. Ima go BONKERS!!! I'm still waiting for you to -do- something... Thanks for the review!
Jinx- Allergic to chocolate? Man! That's really gotta kinda suck! Well, how bout I give ya vanilla 'stead? That work? Hope so. Thanks!
Frenchy- I usta have a Lodger named Frenchy! That makes us like, sisters! Erm, yeah. Thanks fer the review!
Smudge- Haha, thanks! I'm glad ya like it all that much! It's hard to keep writing it... It gets boring to me... Eh, I'll get over it.
Destria- I know whatcha mean, cheek! I can relate to her too. Haha, I can relate to my own character... coincidence? I THINK NOT! Muahaha...
Spark- SHAAAAAHHH!!!! Uh, sorry. I was in the mood fer a shah. 'Scuse me. *ahem* Thanks fer the review cheek.
Methos- Ah! I totally forgot 'bout Blink! How could I do that?!? *smacks Mushy action figure across head* Shorry cheek! I'll try to put him in more. Glad you like it though!
Fire- YOU WERE RIGHT!!!!!!! Haha, go Fire! Pat yerself on the back, cheek!
Vixen- Thanks cheek! I'm really glad you like it! I'll read yer story fo' sho' cheek!
Spook- Thanks! I'm so happy, I get new people popping in to read all the time...!!!
Petals- Ooooh, everybody loves suspense. Actually, I don't. But then, I do. Cha.
Katz- Rocky Rocks! Muahahahahaha!!!! Erm, yeah. Glad you likey!
Miracle- Thank you so much! I appreciate it. Vaboom!
*tosses flourless chocolate cake about* *one vanilla piece for Jinx*
So... *points finger in the air* onward!
-L'Amo-
Kloppman stared at Benna a little bit longer. Finally, he straightened up, walking out from behind his desk to stand next to her.
"You know what the chances are, righ'? I mean, a' you bein' that same goil?" Benna looked confused. Why was it so hard to believe it could be her? She -had- already time traveled, what could get stranger... Wait, he didn't know that yet!
"I'm from 2003!" Benna blurted out, unable to control herself. Kloppman looked at her as if she was crazy.
"Yer what?" he asked, feeling her forehead. She shook him off, looking him directly in the eye.
"I... am from... the future." 'Man, that -must- sound weird...' Kloppman bit his lower lip, getting somewhat scared with all her crazy talk.
"Benna... it's not funny ta joke 'bout somethin' like that..." Benna looked at him with begging eyes.
"Kloppman, listen to me." Kloppman waited, looking her in the eye. "I am not lying to you. I was walking to school... well, sorta... In the year of 2003, and I passed a building I'd never seen before, boarded up and dingy looking..." She looked around the lodging house quickly. "...And all of a sudden I heard voices, voices I've been hearing in dreams I've had since I was ten... I looked around, and for some really strange reason, everything was frozen in place, and I could only hear those voices... Kloppman, it was me. Me and Whitey, when I was ten." She looked at Kloppman, who was focusing his attention to the floor. Something clicked. "You know something, don't you? You know more than you told me." He looked up, eyes puffy from stress. Benna placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "Kloppman, please, tell me what you know. Everything." Kloppman sighed.
"Yer right. I do know more." He looked up at Benna. "Benna, a real powerful man was afteh you. It was ya fautha." Benna's throat went dry. "You left ya family, well, ya fautha an' brotha that is, when you was about six. They was awful, awful men. They hurt ya. When Whitey found ya, you told him everything. He couldn't stand a small, defenseless little goil bein' treated like that, so he took ya home wid' 'im. Then ya two came 'ere. I, bein' tha owner, had ta know 'bout ya hist'ry. Whitey told me. Then when you was ten, ya fautha found ya 'ere, 'e took ya back. No one knew what happened to ya afteh dat." His eyes glistened slightly, looking at Benna. "But youse ok. An youse grown up so beautiful... An Hell, ya came back from de futah!" Kloppman forced a laugh. Benna still looked skeptical.
"But, how'd I get to the future? I mean, that's something that's never been proven possible... Why was I different?" Kloppman shrugged.
"I think you should find Whitey. Maybe there was more ya told 'im." Benna stared at the floor. How was she going to fins Whitey? No one else had been able to in five years. Kloppman read her mind on that one. "When 'e left, 'e gave me a few clues as ta where 'e was goin'. Ta find you." Benna stared at him expectantly. "'E went to a place where tha sun never shines. Where the pigeons won't neveh nest, an' the rat's like ta call 'ome." Benna nodded, understanding. "Now, I ain't sayin' he'll still be there, but hey, maybe it'll give ya some answers." For a brief second, Benna smiled. It seemed as if all her years of wondering were going to be answered, in the sewer. Then her smile vanished. The sewer? The New York City sewer?
"Kloppman, what was I doing in a sewer?" He shrugged, as clueless as she was.
"Ya fautha was crazy. Mean an' crazy. Now what you was doin' down in de seweh is beyon' me. Yer the only one who's able ta answer that." She nodded. 'I gotta get my memory back... It seems like the only thing that's gonna help.'
With one last nod and smile to Kloppman, Benna headed out the door of the Lodging House and began walking down the street, her mind racing. 'So, I need to go to the sewer... Wait, the New York City sewer is miles upon miles long!' She made a frustrated grunt, causing a few people on the street to turn and stare. She ignored them, and continued aimlessly down the street. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't even hear Sprite when she called her name.
"Benna! Hey, Benna!" Sprite jogged over to her with a smile. "Where you headin'?" she asked. Benna sighed and shook her head.
"Dunno. Sewer," she said monotonously. Sprite made a face.
"The sewer? Why ya goin' there?" Benna made another frustrated grunt, not in the mood to talk.
"Look, I got some business I gotta work out– but myself." Sprite took a step back in surprise. "So if you don't mind, would you leave me alone?" She couldn't stop it from coming out of her mouth. She was just so preoccupied at the moment, she didn't need Sprite hovering over her shoulder. But, she didn't mean to be that rude. Sprite raised her eyebrows.
"Fine. I'll leave ya to it. Sorry fer tryin' ta be nice." With that, she turned on her heel, whipping her hair as she did so, and stormed off. 'Oh well,' Benna thought, 'at least I don't have to worry about her anymore...'
A while later Benna looked around and, without even realizing it, was halfway across a bridge. She didn't stop, but kept up her pace as she crossed. Then she got angry with herself. "Uh, why didn't I ask Kloppman for more information?! What am I suppose to do with "you were in the sewer"?! Ughh!!!" She stopped walking and pulled at her hair hard, angrier than Hell. "Give me a sign, will you?!? Tell me what to do!!" she shouted at the sky. She hadn't been expecting an answer, and jumped when she got one.
"Yer ta stop rippin' yer hair off ya head, that's what yer suppose ta do." Benna wheeled around quickly, dropping her hands to her sides. The voice was sly and cool, and came from the side of the bridge. Then she spotted the person, a boy around her age, leaning against the railing of the bridge. She'd passed him and never even noticed. The boy stood from his position and stepped out in front of her, out of the shadows. Benna gasped slightly when she saw him clearly. He had the most piercingly bluish-green eyes she'd ever seen. His face looked slightly concerned, though he was wearing a grin. "Whatcha pullin' out ya hair fer, huh?" he asked her, cocking a brow. Benna sighed and shrugged.
"Got a lot on my mind," she said, as she turned and continued down the bridge. She could hear him begin walking, following her, and then looked to see him right next to her on her right. She grunted again. 'How come these people can't just leave me alone?'
"Yer not gonna jump, righ'?" the boy asked her. Benna stopped walking, looking at the boy.
"What the Hell are you talking about?" she asked, her face mangled in frustrated puzzlement. The boy smirked slightly and pointed to the water over the side of the bridge.
"I mean, yer not gonna jump into the watah, are ya?" he asked, almost jokingly. Benna sighed.
"No, I'm not gonna jump into the water, are you happy?" she asked, then turned and began walking again. He kept up alongside her.
"Yeah, I am, cause I din' wanna hafta jump in afteh ya. That's some cold watah, that is." She looked again at the boy, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this.
"Well you can sleep easy tonight knowing that I'm just dandy. Now if you don't mind..." she said, walking still further. Damn, this was a long bridge.
"I will. But I was also kinda hopin' I'd getta be a hero. So, ya know, if ya still wanna jump..." Benna gave a 'you're joking' snort.
"No, I'm fine on dry land, thank you." she snapped, picking up her pace.
"Well, that's ok. Dry land's good, I guess. I mean, there's a lot ya can do on dry land. Fer one thing–"
"–Look, is there some reason why you insist on bothering me?" Benna said, a little bit louder than she'd meant to. The boy didn't flinch or look angry, on the contrary, his grin grew wider.
"Yer Benna, ain't cha?" Benna stopped walking, looking at the boy. For a brief second, she felt as though she knew him, had met him before, but that feeling went away as quickly as it came.
"And who're you?" she asked, not taking her eyes off of him. He was doing the same with her, though more casually.
"Spot Conlon," he said, holding out his hand. Benna looked it over slightly, then shook it, pulling away quickly.
"How is it you know who I am?" she asked him. His smile grew still wider.
"I know more than jus' who ya are. I now all aboutcha," he said cooly, as though it was something one heard every day.
"What do you know?" Benna asked, growing a little nervous.
"I know ev'ythin'. I know you was saved from a broken home and a 'busive fautha. I know ya came to the 'Hattan Lodgin' House when you was 6. I know ya got taken back from ya fautha when you was 10." He was about to go on, but Benna interrupted him.
"How do you know all that? The only people who know all that 'sides me is Kloppman and Whitey Halloway–"
"–Whitey's las' name isn' Halloway," Spot said blankly, the smile suddenly vanishing from his face. Benna stared at him.
"Yes it is, Kloppman said it was, that's what he told him it was–"
"No, it ain't. That's what 'e told ev'yone it was. 'Cause 'e hated his fautha and 'is fautha's last naem. His real name was Daniel Conlon." Benna stared at the boy. Was he telling the truth? She had no idea. Hell, she had only -just- found out she had a father and brother.
"What... So... He's your brother?" she asked Spot, still a bit confused. Spot nodded slowly. Benna's face lit up. Maybe, if he was telling the truth, she could find him! "Do you know where he is?" she asked fast, excited. Spot looked at the ground, then back up at her. He shook his head, just as slowly as he had when he nodded. Benna's face fell. There goes her only shot. She bit her lip in frustration. "Well, thanks for your help, but if you don't mind, I got a sewer to get back to–" she said angrily, walking off again, but Spot grabbed her arm and cut her off.
"–But I know how we can find 'im," he said, turning her around so that she was facing him again. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment. Benna felt lost as she did so, as though the world had yet again stopped around her... "Are ya with me?" he said, breaking her of the trance. Benna thought it over for a second, then looked back into his eyes, and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm with you." Spot nodded, gaining his smile.
"Great. Let's go."
---
YAY!!! I feel so happy, I LOVE this chapter! It was a lot of fun to write. It was such a dramatic change in everything, duntcha think? Hehe, yeah. I'm so glad I decided to keep this one going! Can't say much for my others... *shifty eyes* I'm tryin'.
*grabs a mic* And, once again... *ahem*
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE TO THOSE THAT REVIEW!!! WHOOHOO, IT'S BACK!!!
Disclaimer- Whoohoo! Everybody LOVES the disclaimer! This is the part where we get to tell how little we own... And how the boys are nowhere near being ours... But not for me! Me and Sprite own all 'a 'em!! Muahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Shouts-
Snooza- Bonkers, haha, I like that. Ima go BONKERS!!! I'm still waiting for you to -do- something... Thanks for the review!
Jinx- Allergic to chocolate? Man! That's really gotta kinda suck! Well, how bout I give ya vanilla 'stead? That work? Hope so. Thanks!
Frenchy- I usta have a Lodger named Frenchy! That makes us like, sisters! Erm, yeah. Thanks fer the review!
Smudge- Haha, thanks! I'm glad ya like it all that much! It's hard to keep writing it... It gets boring to me... Eh, I'll get over it.
Destria- I know whatcha mean, cheek! I can relate to her too. Haha, I can relate to my own character... coincidence? I THINK NOT! Muahaha...
Spark- SHAAAAAHHH!!!! Uh, sorry. I was in the mood fer a shah. 'Scuse me. *ahem* Thanks fer the review cheek.
Methos- Ah! I totally forgot 'bout Blink! How could I do that?!? *smacks Mushy action figure across head* Shorry cheek! I'll try to put him in more. Glad you like it though!
Fire- YOU WERE RIGHT!!!!!!! Haha, go Fire! Pat yerself on the back, cheek!
Vixen- Thanks cheek! I'm really glad you like it! I'll read yer story fo' sho' cheek!
Spook- Thanks! I'm so happy, I get new people popping in to read all the time...!!!
Petals- Ooooh, everybody loves suspense. Actually, I don't. But then, I do. Cha.
Katz- Rocky Rocks! Muahahahahaha!!!! Erm, yeah. Glad you likey!
Miracle- Thank you so much! I appreciate it. Vaboom!
*tosses flourless chocolate cake about* *one vanilla piece for Jinx*
So... *points finger in the air* onward!
-L'Amo-
Kloppman stared at Benna a little bit longer. Finally, he straightened up, walking out from behind his desk to stand next to her.
"You know what the chances are, righ'? I mean, a' you bein' that same goil?" Benna looked confused. Why was it so hard to believe it could be her? She -had- already time traveled, what could get stranger... Wait, he didn't know that yet!
"I'm from 2003!" Benna blurted out, unable to control herself. Kloppman looked at her as if she was crazy.
"Yer what?" he asked, feeling her forehead. She shook him off, looking him directly in the eye.
"I... am from... the future." 'Man, that -must- sound weird...' Kloppman bit his lower lip, getting somewhat scared with all her crazy talk.
"Benna... it's not funny ta joke 'bout somethin' like that..." Benna looked at him with begging eyes.
"Kloppman, listen to me." Kloppman waited, looking her in the eye. "I am not lying to you. I was walking to school... well, sorta... In the year of 2003, and I passed a building I'd never seen before, boarded up and dingy looking..." She looked around the lodging house quickly. "...And all of a sudden I heard voices, voices I've been hearing in dreams I've had since I was ten... I looked around, and for some really strange reason, everything was frozen in place, and I could only hear those voices... Kloppman, it was me. Me and Whitey, when I was ten." She looked at Kloppman, who was focusing his attention to the floor. Something clicked. "You know something, don't you? You know more than you told me." He looked up, eyes puffy from stress. Benna placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "Kloppman, please, tell me what you know. Everything." Kloppman sighed.
"Yer right. I do know more." He looked up at Benna. "Benna, a real powerful man was afteh you. It was ya fautha." Benna's throat went dry. "You left ya family, well, ya fautha an' brotha that is, when you was about six. They was awful, awful men. They hurt ya. When Whitey found ya, you told him everything. He couldn't stand a small, defenseless little goil bein' treated like that, so he took ya home wid' 'im. Then ya two came 'ere. I, bein' tha owner, had ta know 'bout ya hist'ry. Whitey told me. Then when you was ten, ya fautha found ya 'ere, 'e took ya back. No one knew what happened to ya afteh dat." His eyes glistened slightly, looking at Benna. "But youse ok. An youse grown up so beautiful... An Hell, ya came back from de futah!" Kloppman forced a laugh. Benna still looked skeptical.
"But, how'd I get to the future? I mean, that's something that's never been proven possible... Why was I different?" Kloppman shrugged.
"I think you should find Whitey. Maybe there was more ya told 'im." Benna stared at the floor. How was she going to fins Whitey? No one else had been able to in five years. Kloppman read her mind on that one. "When 'e left, 'e gave me a few clues as ta where 'e was goin'. Ta find you." Benna stared at him expectantly. "'E went to a place where tha sun never shines. Where the pigeons won't neveh nest, an' the rat's like ta call 'ome." Benna nodded, understanding. "Now, I ain't sayin' he'll still be there, but hey, maybe it'll give ya some answers." For a brief second, Benna smiled. It seemed as if all her years of wondering were going to be answered, in the sewer. Then her smile vanished. The sewer? The New York City sewer?
"Kloppman, what was I doing in a sewer?" He shrugged, as clueless as she was.
"Ya fautha was crazy. Mean an' crazy. Now what you was doin' down in de seweh is beyon' me. Yer the only one who's able ta answer that." She nodded. 'I gotta get my memory back... It seems like the only thing that's gonna help.'
With one last nod and smile to Kloppman, Benna headed out the door of the Lodging House and began walking down the street, her mind racing. 'So, I need to go to the sewer... Wait, the New York City sewer is miles upon miles long!' She made a frustrated grunt, causing a few people on the street to turn and stare. She ignored them, and continued aimlessly down the street. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't even hear Sprite when she called her name.
"Benna! Hey, Benna!" Sprite jogged over to her with a smile. "Where you headin'?" she asked. Benna sighed and shook her head.
"Dunno. Sewer," she said monotonously. Sprite made a face.
"The sewer? Why ya goin' there?" Benna made another frustrated grunt, not in the mood to talk.
"Look, I got some business I gotta work out– but myself." Sprite took a step back in surprise. "So if you don't mind, would you leave me alone?" She couldn't stop it from coming out of her mouth. She was just so preoccupied at the moment, she didn't need Sprite hovering over her shoulder. But, she didn't mean to be that rude. Sprite raised her eyebrows.
"Fine. I'll leave ya to it. Sorry fer tryin' ta be nice." With that, she turned on her heel, whipping her hair as she did so, and stormed off. 'Oh well,' Benna thought, 'at least I don't have to worry about her anymore...'
A while later Benna looked around and, without even realizing it, was halfway across a bridge. She didn't stop, but kept up her pace as she crossed. Then she got angry with herself. "Uh, why didn't I ask Kloppman for more information?! What am I suppose to do with "you were in the sewer"?! Ughh!!!" She stopped walking and pulled at her hair hard, angrier than Hell. "Give me a sign, will you?!? Tell me what to do!!" she shouted at the sky. She hadn't been expecting an answer, and jumped when she got one.
"Yer ta stop rippin' yer hair off ya head, that's what yer suppose ta do." Benna wheeled around quickly, dropping her hands to her sides. The voice was sly and cool, and came from the side of the bridge. Then she spotted the person, a boy around her age, leaning against the railing of the bridge. She'd passed him and never even noticed. The boy stood from his position and stepped out in front of her, out of the shadows. Benna gasped slightly when she saw him clearly. He had the most piercingly bluish-green eyes she'd ever seen. His face looked slightly concerned, though he was wearing a grin. "Whatcha pullin' out ya hair fer, huh?" he asked her, cocking a brow. Benna sighed and shrugged.
"Got a lot on my mind," she said, as she turned and continued down the bridge. She could hear him begin walking, following her, and then looked to see him right next to her on her right. She grunted again. 'How come these people can't just leave me alone?'
"Yer not gonna jump, righ'?" the boy asked her. Benna stopped walking, looking at the boy.
"What the Hell are you talking about?" she asked, her face mangled in frustrated puzzlement. The boy smirked slightly and pointed to the water over the side of the bridge.
"I mean, yer not gonna jump into the watah, are ya?" he asked, almost jokingly. Benna sighed.
"No, I'm not gonna jump into the water, are you happy?" she asked, then turned and began walking again. He kept up alongside her.
"Yeah, I am, cause I din' wanna hafta jump in afteh ya. That's some cold watah, that is." She looked again at the boy, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this.
"Well you can sleep easy tonight knowing that I'm just dandy. Now if you don't mind..." she said, walking still further. Damn, this was a long bridge.
"I will. But I was also kinda hopin' I'd getta be a hero. So, ya know, if ya still wanna jump..." Benna gave a 'you're joking' snort.
"No, I'm fine on dry land, thank you." she snapped, picking up her pace.
"Well, that's ok. Dry land's good, I guess. I mean, there's a lot ya can do on dry land. Fer one thing–"
"–Look, is there some reason why you insist on bothering me?" Benna said, a little bit louder than she'd meant to. The boy didn't flinch or look angry, on the contrary, his grin grew wider.
"Yer Benna, ain't cha?" Benna stopped walking, looking at the boy. For a brief second, she felt as though she knew him, had met him before, but that feeling went away as quickly as it came.
"And who're you?" she asked, not taking her eyes off of him. He was doing the same with her, though more casually.
"Spot Conlon," he said, holding out his hand. Benna looked it over slightly, then shook it, pulling away quickly.
"How is it you know who I am?" she asked him. His smile grew still wider.
"I know more than jus' who ya are. I now all aboutcha," he said cooly, as though it was something one heard every day.
"What do you know?" Benna asked, growing a little nervous.
"I know ev'ythin'. I know you was saved from a broken home and a 'busive fautha. I know ya came to the 'Hattan Lodgin' House when you was 6. I know ya got taken back from ya fautha when you was 10." He was about to go on, but Benna interrupted him.
"How do you know all that? The only people who know all that 'sides me is Kloppman and Whitey Halloway–"
"–Whitey's las' name isn' Halloway," Spot said blankly, the smile suddenly vanishing from his face. Benna stared at him.
"Yes it is, Kloppman said it was, that's what he told him it was–"
"No, it ain't. That's what 'e told ev'yone it was. 'Cause 'e hated his fautha and 'is fautha's last naem. His real name was Daniel Conlon." Benna stared at the boy. Was he telling the truth? She had no idea. Hell, she had only -just- found out she had a father and brother.
"What... So... He's your brother?" she asked Spot, still a bit confused. Spot nodded slowly. Benna's face lit up. Maybe, if he was telling the truth, she could find him! "Do you know where he is?" she asked fast, excited. Spot looked at the ground, then back up at her. He shook his head, just as slowly as he had when he nodded. Benna's face fell. There goes her only shot. She bit her lip in frustration. "Well, thanks for your help, but if you don't mind, I got a sewer to get back to–" she said angrily, walking off again, but Spot grabbed her arm and cut her off.
"–But I know how we can find 'im," he said, turning her around so that she was facing him again. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment. Benna felt lost as she did so, as though the world had yet again stopped around her... "Are ya with me?" he said, breaking her of the trance. Benna thought it over for a second, then looked back into his eyes, and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm with you." Spot nodded, gaining his smile.
"Great. Let's go."
---
YAY!!! I feel so happy, I LOVE this chapter! It was a lot of fun to write. It was such a dramatic change in everything, duntcha think? Hehe, yeah. I'm so glad I decided to keep this one going! Can't say much for my others... *shifty eyes* I'm tryin'.
*grabs a mic* And, once again... *ahem*
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE TO THOSE THAT REVIEW!!! WHOOHOO, IT'S BACK!!!