ETTING   OME   O   LFANDRA

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Anton's Journey chapter 6 - Guilty

 Far flung across the sands, Anton landed as he always did; hard. Tumbling head over heels, tooth over claw, he skidded to a halt, drawing blood as his back scraped along jagged stones on the beach surface. He ended up seeing the world upside down, his head resting between his legs. Through watery, sand-filled eyes, he saw that strange creature - the girl, the woman. It hardly seemed like she had moved an inch, but she had moved him alright. How could such a frail little thing hold such power? What strange manner of work was this? No flicker of emotion showed across her face. Not so much as a follicle moved. Yet he could feel the hate, the anger. The rage. It emanated out of those eyes, hard, cold green eyes. He tried to speak, but it was as if a cold hand was clamped across his throat. He tried to move, but it was as if a great weight was pressing down on him, pushing him into the sand.
 "Alice..." was the only word he croaked out.
 The cruel smile flickered across that face again, then was replaced by the mask of innocence. If Anton had the power to move, he would have shuddered then. He watched with wide eyes as she began to drift ever closer to him, before she moved aside out of his vision. All the while, Anton's mind was racing. Where had she gone now? Was this over? He could only hope.
 He was wrong.
 Pain flared across his back as a heeled boot slammed into him, causing him to roll over. Now as he lay paralysed on the sands, he was at least able to see the sky. Funny, it looked more agitated now, the black clouds swirling and clashing with more violence than ever before. He didn't have much time to admire the view however, as abruptly he was hoisted to his feet in front of Alice. The girl was strong.  Her face remained plain. No... wait. She wasn't lifting him. Nothing was... and yet something. It was all so confusing... he felt like he would faint.
 Light-headed, Anton hung in mid-air before her, dangling like a piece of meat on a hook.
 "Alice..." Anton tried to speak again, but it was of no avail. He remained mute. Alice however, did not.
 "Guilty." The voice was that of a child, sweet, innocent... yet tinged with an icy coldness so dark, so hideous, that it could have come from no child at all. Unnatural. "Guilty, guilty, guilty."
 He did not understand what was happening. He did not care. It was something so bizarre, so strange that it verged on the edge of being disturbing. Everything here was disturbing, he realised that now, but didn't have the sense to be disturbed. Maybe now was a good time to start.
 Circling round him as she spoke, she continued her monologue "It's a very nice day. I do hope it doesn't rain. You'd get all wet if it did, Mr.Wolf"
 It started raining. A trickle at first, a few spots landed on the end of his nose. Then he heavens opened and the downpour began. Fierce winds started pounding Anton as he dangled there. Alice looked as if she didn't even notice. Funny, she still looked perfectly dry.
 "In spite of it all...you're still here. Why are you still here? I don't want you here. Guilty, guilty, guilty." She wasn't making much sense, but Anton got the idea.
 "Enough of the riddles, I'll talk to you proper. If you can understand me that is, beast." That was the same word rabbit used. "I could have killed you by now you know. I would have enjoyed squeezing your insides until they burst, the blood on my hands. But you're different, aren't you? You're not from here, like me. You're quite strange you know. Very queer, indeed."
 Again, Anton wanted to speak, but was robbed of the power. Alice moved closer.
 "I'm not from here you know. I forget where I was from. But it doesn't matter, let me see you...I wonder where you could be from."
Anton was powerless as she slipped a cold hand inside of his shirt.
"What fine fur you have.  It would make a fine coat." She moved her hand higher to his chest. "You are a fine specimen. I wonder where you could be from..." Withdrawing her hand, she stood to admire him again. "You could amuse me, beast. I get bored sometimes. Do you like to play games?"
 Of course, Anton couldn't answer the question.
 "Good, good!" The cruel smile returned. "Now let me make the first move."  Anton watched in bemusement, then horror, as she made a fist with her hand. Then a giant fist like hers began to rise from the sands around him. It was made of sand, and moved with her every twitch. Reaching out with her own hand, the giant one copied her movements and did the same. It grabbed hold of Anton, crushing him in its grasp.
 "Give my regards to mouse!" She said, suddenly.
 Anton however had no time to think on this, as with one flick of her wrist, he was sent flying through the air inland, thrown by that very same hand. As the trees rushed up to greet him, he wondered whether his landing would yet again be a hard one.