Good To You

This is personally, I think, the best song by
Marianas Trench (featuring Kate Voegele):

"Everyone's around, no words are coming now

And I can't find my breath, Can we just say the rest with no sound?

And I know this isn't enough, I still don't measure up

I know I'm not prepared; sorry is never there when you need it

And I do want you to know

I'll hold you up above everyone

And I do want you to know

I think you'd be good to me

And I'd be so good to you

I would

I thought I saw a sign somewhere between the lines

But maybe it's me, maybe I only see what I want

I still have your letter, just got caught between

Someone I just invented, who I really am and who I've become

And I do want you to know

I'll hold you up above everyone

And I do want you to know

I think you'd be good to me

And I'd be so good to you

I would

And I do want you to know

I'll hold you up above everyone

And I do want you to know

I think you'd be good to me

And I'd be so good to you

I'd be good to you

I'd be good to you

I'd be good to you

I'd be so good to you...

I'd be so good to you..."

☺

Analysis of Croc Dream?

This was the beast I dreamt of

So, in the dream I was just opening the front door of my house to walk out - and ended up seeing this huge beast right outside. Freaked out I tried to close the door on it but it just kept pushing back... I managed to close it and caught a glimpse of my surroundings - the living room walls were made up of entirely glass, like the window-wall-things you get in shopping malls. (And this is not how my living room actually looks like) and outside I remember seeing a grassy place with ponds (this is also not how the outside of my house is like). But anyway, the croc had moved somewhere else around the outside of my house at this point, and my mom, my sister and I managed to escape to our car and drove away – except we got to this cross junction, (which doesn’t exist right outside the gates of my house) and in the middle of the junction, right at the centre was a sign which said something along the lines of, "Residents nowadays pay RM3000 for a crocodile to keep in their backyard"... I think it was meant to be a fashionable thing or something – whatever. Anyway, I don’t remember the middle bit, but I remember afterwards my dad came in the dream, and he was driving us back home – and our house didn’t even look like my house now – it was a hut, in the middle of this almost resort thing, with a jungle theme, and there was this pool right out at the front where this crocodile was in - the crocodile was HUGE I’m telling you – but anyway there were these men surrounding the croc trying to control it and get it out because apparently the croc we bought hadn’t been trained, and therefore was wild and dangerous... and one man fell into the pool and the croc tore him up to pieces, and there was blood everywhere and I could hear that man screaming.... it was really... bloodcurdling...

So.... the analysis:

"To see a crocodile in your dream, symbolizes treachery, deceit, and hidden instincts. It may be a signal for you to take a new perspective on a situation. It may also represent your ability to move between the material world of waking life and the emotional, repressed world of the unconscious. Alternatively, the crocodile represents healing powers and qualities. A crocodile also suggests that you are thick-skinned or insensitive.

To dream that you are running away from the crocodile (which was what I was doing), indicates that you are unwilling to confront some painful and disturbing aspect of your unconscious. There is some potentially destructive emotion that you are refusing to acknowledge and owning up to."

And the blood...

"It is the life-giving, vital part of our physiology and it may symbolize our strengths and weaknesses and our physical and mental health. If you are currently experiencing a very difficult time in your life, you may have dreams with bloody and frightening images.



To see blood flowing from a wound, physical ailments and worry. Bad business caused from disastrous dealings with foreign combines"

That's something to think about...

Zamzar

I have a lot of songs I want to download, but I don't want to pay for them. There's just too many TO pay for. A friend showed me this website which is F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C for downloading music for free. It's not like any of those crap-download-music-for-free sites where it takes forever to find a song, and most of the time you can't find that specific song you want. Nor is it one of those sites that just slows your computer down to the point I start banging things around in frustration... I know there must be a lot of music sites out there that are pretty good for downloading music for free, and if you know any, you can laugh at me BUT I LOVE THIS SITE.

http://www.zamzar.com/

So, if you don't know any good sites to download free music from, try this site. Just use youtube to find the song you want.

Ta :)

Write on the hill - Where did it come from?

My old school, Fortismere is directly on top of a hill. It is one of the best top 20 schools in the UK. It has a little motto, "Write on the hill." Clever isn't it? Because the school is right on the hill, and we are writing on the hill. Anyway...

This is just the entrance to North Wing. There are two wings, South and North wings. And the school is... massive. I remember my mom describing it "as big as a University." Which is true. There are two massive fields, an astro, a tennis court, two gyms (One in South, and the other in North), a netball court and a basketball court in between the two wings. South wing is 4 floors high, with a bridge linking to a science block which is next to it. (Easy transport, eh...) A canteen nearby, and a concrete space which we call a playground, but really isn't, because we have benches to eat out lunch, not swings and slides, (well... considering it is a secondary school).

North Wing is much smaller. It is only two floors, and attached to the building is another canteen. Directly in front of the North wing building is the dance studio (the size of a gym). In the middle is another so called "playground" where guys usually play football or basketball during lunchtimes.

I feel proud of going to this school, because it is so far the best school I've ever been to (considering I've been to about 6 different schools). :)

Views :)

I just thought I'd show off some photos I took a while ago overtime

I think this one is my favourite, most definetely. Sunset in Langkawi :)

Sunset in Sheringham, Norfolk

Another one in Sheringham

A nice one with some sort of a canopy overhead, in Langkawi

The shore in Langkawi

I just absolutely love this - can you see the pregnant lady? Our tour giude pointed it out to us. The water is fantastic

A lane at a hotel in Langkawi

The view at a lake

The clouds for some reason look almost fake...

Just thought I'd post this one up too :) This was taken in Poland

The view from my old bedroom window in London :)

This is also my favourite - the winter view from my old bedroom window in London :) I love how I can actually compare the two :P

If only he could walk on water

Moore

Saved the life of a kid having a sudden asthma attack in the pool - he isn't even a lifeguard. Too bad I haven't got a photo of him hauling the kid out.

Lifesaver

MerCarry my McCarry

One name: McCarry

Here's another one

 

Yes he does try to hide his face a lot, I think this photo explains why :)

McCarry = my running-away-to-live-in-the-jungle-after-we-fail-exams-buddy

Go chica

Get banana

Hey monkey

Get funky

Swing along Tarzan

That's our back-up plan if all else fails, which I'm sure won't, but a back-up plan is always a good thing to have - just in case.

Living On The Hill... [MUSWELL HILL]

A small town - Muswell Hill

So, I was out in the broadway, with a digital camera. I must've looked like a tourist when in fact I lived on this very hill.

And so... quoting the saying, "First impressions are not always right..." This church is not a church... in fact it is the local English pub, O'Neil! I only just found out the day I went to explore Muswell Hill Boradway... and to think I knew this place quite well from living here for about five years...

This is the view from the top of the hill... It was a very sunny day, so the view was pretty cool I thought... it was more impressive when I was there, than on this photo

Never really looked at the houses properly... and now I noticed that they all look like steps going down as the hill goes down... intriguing...

I never noticed the shops as much before... look, that's our car, right outside of that Clinton's stationary and gifts shop - that blue coloured one. I should keep my eyes open for anything else I haven't yet noticed which would usually be right in front of my nose... I reckon I should get into Photography.

I Got You

"Ain’t falling a part, or bitter

Let’s be bigger than that and remember

The cooling outdoor when you’re all alone

We’ll go on surviving

No drama, no need for a show

Just wanna say

I got you

Go ahead and say goodbye

I’ll be alright

Go ahead and make me cry

I’ll be alright

And when you need a place to run to

For better for worse

I got you"

Leona Lewis. Her new album speaks to me. (Yes I am back into blogging after a whole year of disappearing).

"So we take it each moment our love grows

I see it, you see it,

What we have is made of gold

We're so filled with meaning,

Nothing can make us shallow.

So I hold it, and you hold it

The promise of tomorrow.

When we make love its overwhelming

I just touch the heavens.

You're an angel, you're an angel

And I said this world, this world

Could leave us anyday

But my love for you, it will never go away"

I used to not appreciate her songs, as her voice annoyed me, but when a friend lent me her CD i was surprised how overwhelmed I got from listening to just the first song which made me listen to the others. I guess her previous album hadn't been so good.

"Even though I

Never met you

I still miss you

I can see you in my dreams

And I hope that

When you read this

Just maybe you'll remember me"

I'm not quite sure why that one got to me.

But enough of the lyrics, my point is, I recommend those who dislike Leona Lewis because of 'Bleeding Love' to take a chance and listen to her new CD, "Echo". This new album had been one of the few albums and songs that inspired me further in writing my novel which is the first of a series of four..

There is an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in which I am writing a novel for it - I'm actually halfway through it, considering I had about half a year so far to do it. The qualification ends around April, and I don't think I'd be able to complete the whole thing. So I'd be submitting the incomplete novel, and continueing it anyway for my own interests.

 
Hopefully I'd have time to update this blog, and I'm thinking of posting something up once every week, maybe every Fridays - so keep an eye on this blog :)

Bringing nowhere somewhere

Hey hill-billies,

Just to leave a post to answer anyone's questions about the "My trip... to nowhere" story posted in this blog. Well, I've written the whole story as a book, and I'm not intending to post anymore chapters online, so if anyone is interested, just email me, and I can send you the finished story :)

Thanks!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL

Wishing all my blog readers a happy New Year, and may all your New Year's resolutions be fulfilled. I have seven resolutions at the moment and I have my mind set on working towards achieving them preferably before halfway of 2009, as the things i have to do has to be done by then...

But anyway, it is the year of the Ox, in case there is anyone interested to know, hehe.

Have a fantastic New Year all ;)

My Trip... To Nowhere - Chapter Twenty-One

“To think that you lot are so close to escaping…” My Other-Half said, with his arms folded across his chest, and one foot tapping the ground slowly, almost rhythmically.

I clenched my fists. There were too many of them to fight off. I glanced over at Rio. His facial expression was stony, but determined. I looked back at the clones. How many more of them are out there? There is no way we could get out of this.

“I suggest you come with us quietly, with no objection.” My Other-Half said slowly, his eyes locked onto mine, as if calculating me. “Or you will regret it.”

In the corner of my eye I saw a few heads whip around to look at me. I could feel my cheeks warming up, and was grateful that it was dark, so no one could see. I felt Nicky's eyes burn a hole through me, and I was not able to return her gaze. I turned to look at Rio, at the same time he turned to look at me. In the light of the flames from the torch, his eyes seemed to gleam with intelligence. I studied his expression carefully.

“Well?” My Other-Half said almost impatiently. His voice seemed distance as I thought about it.

Rio nodded at me, with no facial expression. I looked away. There was no way Rio would give away how he was feeling. Then I caught a glance of the flame-lit torch. I threw a glance at Rio and saw a very, very slight smile.

“Fine,” I said in a low voice.

“What?” Nicky said out loud, clearly shocked. I couldn’t look at her.

“You’re giving up already?” she asked me.

Please. I silently prayed. Just go along with this.

“Tom-”

“Nicky, be quiet.” Rio said calmly, in a low voice.

“But-”

“Please, Nicky.” I said quietly.
My Other-Half smiled. He smiled mockingly, and said, “Oh… how very cute.”

I glared at him, as he continued, smirking, “I’ll make sure you two will be in separate cells.”

There was a pause as me and him glared at each other. I felt so small. Like I was the prey – like we all were the prey, and him alone was the hunter. The hunter who had his prey ready on his plate, holding a fork and prodding each of us, prodding me the hardest, not eating us just yet, but will be very soon. We were all powerless against him.

He cocked his head onto one side, and said, “Take them.”

He stood where he was, and watched as the clones – one for each of us – bound our hands with rope. I did not attempt to struggle, and neither did Rio. But Nicky managed to elbow the clone binding her in the ribs. He winced, but took a firmer grip on her arm, bending it far back. Her face contorted with pain, but she let no noise escape her lips. She looked up at me. There was a moment where our eyes met. I was about to smile reassuringly at her, but she lowered her eyes to the ground and looked away. Downhearted, I looked away to see my Other-Half studying me. His eyes bore into mine, as if trying to read my thoughts, but I stared back, cold and defiant.

He nodded in satisfaction when the clones were finished with binding us. He turned and began to walk away, leading the way. The clone guarding Rio pushed him forwards, so him and Rio walked ahead of us prisoners. Richard’s guard shoved him forwards to walk about two metres behind him. Everyone else was forced to walk ahead of me, apart from Nicky. I glanced back to see her walking behind me.

So then, we walked, in a line, in this tunnel, with only a few flame-lit torches being held at the front, and the back. The clone guarding me and Rio were also holding torches.





TO BE CONTINUED...

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Twenty

I spun around, cracking my neck as I did.

Rio stood up suddenly.

Nicky and Allison gasped.

It was dark from where the voice came from.

We couldn’t see anyone.

“Who's there?” Rio demanded.

I slowly got up to my feet, and my mind started racing. Did the voice sound familiar?

More footsteps.

Footsteps getting closer.

A figure appeared, getting closer.

Behind him, a few others.

As he came nearer we had a full view of him.

I gaped at him.

“Good to see you again… Tom.” He smiled at me.

I stared in disgust and anger at him.

I can't believe it… I had completely forgotten about him. We were so into looking out for Rio’s Other-Half, but now… mine came along.

I glanced behind him. He had several others behind him.

I stepped back to stand beside Rio, and looked at him. He was looking at me, clearly with the same question, “What now?”

I felt helpless. To be surrounded by these other clones… and yet to be so near to escaping…

I looked around at Allison and Richard. I saw fear.
I glanced at Nicky and rested my gaze on her. She looked up at me. In her eyes I did not see defeat… she looked at me in confidence… as if she knew I would come up with something.

I looked away and to my Other-Half. He grinned jeeringly at me.

I will not let Nicky or the rest down.

I have to come up with something.

Fast.


TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere.... - Chapter Nineteen

I stifled a gasp.

No… that can’t be… this must be his Other-Half…

“I’ve got some matches, where are you?”

But… didn’t I knock him out?

“Tom?” this time someone else said it.

I could feel my heart pounding so hard, and I did not dare to breathe. I prayed for Nicky and Josh to stay asleep, or if they woke up, to not move or make a sound.

Suddenly, someone tripped, and fell over me.

“Ow!” she went.

“Oof!” I went.

“Found him!” she went.

“Quiet Allison!”

“Whats going on?” I heard Nicky say in the dark.

“Oh, so you’re here too.” said a relieved voice.

“Rio?” Nicky said. Her voice sounded shocked.

“Tom, where are you? We’ve got matches to light the torch.” Rio said.

“Is it really you?” I managed to ask.

“Of course.” I could picture him smiling slightly in the dark.

“But how…?”

“I’ll explain once there's light.” He said firmly.

I stood up, holding the torch. “I’m… here.” I said.

I heard shuffles, and then I heard the strike of the match. I saw Rio’s face as he lit the torch I held.

The tunnel-like passageway was at once lit with the torch.

“But how did you –” I started.

“I thought you were –” Nicky started.

Rio held one hand up. “I’ll explain. Then you guys will.”

Josh sat up, and looked at us blearily. “Wazzgoinon?” He mumbled.

“How about we all sit together?” Rio said.

I nodded numbly and went to sit opposite Nicky, and he went to sit next to her. I looked around and saw Allison and Richard joining us. He grinned at me when he saw me looking at him, and I looked away at Rio expectedly.

“We – Allison, Richard and I – were caught by my Other-Half, and we were imprisoned.”

I nodded.

“Richard and Allison were knocked out by the guards who surrounded us. We fought to get away, but we were outnumbered. We were dragged into a room, and we were locked in.”

“Then how did you get away?” I asked.

Rio smiled his small smile. “When Richard and Allison finally came around, we planned to somehow trick one of the guards who would usually come in to check on us to let us out. We complained that we needed to stretch out legs because we were so stiff.”

I raised an eyebrow.

Richard chuckled. “Yeah, it was a lame excuse, but hey he fell for it.”

“So we were let out, then we imprisoned that guard into the cell we were locked in.”

I smiled to myself. We had done this before.

“And when we walked out of the room, we walked into another room…” he frowned slightly, and said, “…where we found our Other-Halves sprawled on the floor, knocked out cold.” He looked at me.

I grinned. “Yeah, that was us. We were caught too by your Other-Half, and unfortunately Richard’s and Allison’s Other-Halves were with him.”

“Interesting battle” Rio said, smiling.

I shrugged. “We managed to get away, and steal the keys off your Other-Half.” I glanced over at Nicky who was smiling at me.

“You should have seen him,” she said.

Rio grinned at me. “So then we made out of the room, and… well, ended up finding you guys.”

We all sat together in silence for a few seconds, smiling at each other in relief. I suddenly felt safer. We had Rio back. And Richard. And Allison. We were all back together. But then -

“A very interesting story you got there… Rio”


TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere... - Chapter Eighteen

“More toast, Tom?”

“No thanks, mom”

“How about some cereal?”

“No thanks.”

That’s my mom; always giving me a heavy breakfast every morning before school. It was so bright and so lovely here, with the sun pouring in through the windows, and I could even hear birds twittering outside. My little brother, Darren, knocked over his cereal bowl. I smiled. I missed this… then I thought to myself, ‘miss this?’ I frowned. Something happened… something happened that made me miss all this. What had happened? My mind seemed so… blank. I tried to think, but everytime a thought crosses my mind, it disappears. It felt so weird. I reached my hand out to pick up my glass of juice. The sunlight fell across the kitchen table, and as I held my glass of juice I didn’t feel the warmth of the sunlight. But I didn’t think much of it. I sipped it, and then put the glass of juice down. Strange… I looked at it. It tasted like… nothing. I glanced around at everyone. They all looked slightly blurred. So… unreal. I rubbed my eyes.

“Tom”

I looked up at mom. But she was busy buttering her toast.

“Tom!”

I looked at dad. He was deep into his newspaper. I glanced at Darren. No… it wasn’t any of them who spoke.

“Wake up!”

I felt myself being shaken. I closed my eyes, and I felt I was leaning against something cold and hard. I did not want to lose the image of eating breakfast with my family. I groaned, and jerked awake. I opened my eyes.

I was back at the dim tunnel-like passageway. At once I felt cold, and stiff. It took me a while to remember where and why I was here. I blinked, and looked at Josh who was in front of me.

“Finally,” he said. “Here,” and he handed me the torch. “It's your turn to keep watch.”

I tried to get up to a proper sitting position. My back was so stiff after lying against the hard and cold wall. The image of eating breakfast with my family was still intact in my mind. I slowly stood up, and stretched. My neck clicked, and I stifled a groan. My body felt so stiff. I turned to see Nicky in a sitting position with her back leaning against the wall. She looked so pale. I bent over and touched her arm. And she was cold. I hesitated, then I took my jumper off, leaving my t-shirt on which was underneath. I draped it over Nicky, and made my way to the opposite wall with the burning torch in one hand. I settled down opposite Nicky and Josh, who lay asleep.

I sat.

And I thought.

I looked over at Nicky.

What seemed to be hours passed by.

Something rustled in the dark.

I froze.

I pricked my ears, and started to listen carefully.

Footsteps.

Light, cautious footsteps coming closer.

I blew out the torch in my hand.

I waited.

“Gee… that was very clever of you Tom. Now how are we supposed to see in the dark?”



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Seventeen

It was a long and restless journey to… where? I had no clue where to go, and I had no idea what to expect when we get there. But I did know that we have to escape. Escape. The word escape had crossed my mind so many times. It now seems to mean nothing. I shook my head, trying to rid my thoughts.

We carried on walking; walking through this long, dim passageway, lit with not many burning torches on the walls. Josh took one and held it, making it easier for us to see where we were going. I was supporting Nicky, who was limping slightly. Josh walked by her other side. We were quiet, most of the time, apart from times when one of us would say, “It’s so dim here.” Or, “I wish I was home.” Don’t we all wish we were home…

My mind seemed numb as we walked. I noticed the grey walls… the plain grey stone walls. I even noticed the cracks and missing tiles on the floor. I took them all in numbly. Then, Nicky slumped over me.

“Tom.” She said; her voice was low. I looked at her. I noticed she looked very tired, and was in a bit of pain.

I stopped walking and held her. Josh paused, a little way ahead.

“Tom, we need to rest.” She whispered.

“We can't” I said softly. “We have to go on. Who knows, they could catch up to us anytime.”

“Who's ‘they’?” Nicky asked softly. I noticed her eyes were half-closed, and she leaned more against me.

“The bad people who locked us here, Nicky.” I explained gently. I tried to hoist her back up, but suddenly her body was heavy, now that she was not supporting herself. Then her eyes widened slightly.

“The people who took my brother…” she murmured, her voice trailing off.

I paused.

I waited.

I thought.

“Nicky…” I said softly.

“My brother.” She whispered, and I saw a tear drop from her cheek.

Then it clicked.

“Rio… is your brother.”

She didn’t say anything, but buried her head against my shoulder. I heard her cry. I looked up at Josh bewilderedly. I had never been in a position where a girl cries on me, and now I am in one, I didn’t know what to do. I held her whilst she cried, patting her back every now and again. It seemed a long time, till Josh said,

“Nicky’s right. We should rest for a bit.”

I looked up at him.

“One of should keep watch while the two sleep.” He looked at me. “I’ll keep watch first.”

I was relieved. All of a sudden, it felt my legs were heavy. I made my way to the side of a wall, and sat down, with Nicky beside me. She leaned against me.

“Everything's going to be alright.” I whispered.

At least, I hoped.



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere... - Chapter Sixteen

“Tom! Tom, are you OK?” I heard Nicky ask me urgently.

I grunted something unintelligent. I stood up straight, facing Rio’s Other-Half.

“So what’s the plan now?” I heard someone say in my ear. I turned my head slightly to see Josh.

I glanced past Rio’s Other-Half’s shoulder. The door was just a few metres away. I remembered it was locked. I glanced at Rio’s Other-Half and saw they key dangling from a chain from his pocket. I nodded to the door’s direction.

“But it’s locked.” Josh hissed in my ear.

“That’s why I’m going for Rio’s Other-Half.” I hissed back.

I felt Nicky come to my other side.

I was still aware that Richard, Allison and Rio were edging closer.

“I’ll go for Allison.” Nicky said.

“That leaves Richard to me then…” Josh said.

I took a step forward, away from them two. The Other-Halves were standing opposite us, blocking our only chance of escape. I faced Rio’s Other-Half. I looked to my right to see Josh facing Richards Other-Half, and I glanced to my right to see Nicky facing Allison’s Other-Half.

Suddenly, I heard a cry from Josh. Distracted, I turned to look at him to see Richard charging to him. Josh was charging back at him. I turned back to look at Rio’s Other-Half to see just in time his fist aiming for my head. I ducked. He swung his other fist to me and I dodged that.

“You can’t run!” he snarled, and stepped towards me.

I eyed the key dangling from his pocket. I heard a shriek, and turned to look at my right. Rio’s Other-Half, also distracted, turned too. We watched Allison skid across the floor, hitting a pile of boxes which toppled over her, and Nicky walking towards her with a livid face.

“What did you say about him?” she said to Allison, her voice very low just below the freezing point.

Allison struggled to get up, but spat back at Nicky, “Did you not hear me, pretty-girl…” she looked up at Nicky’s face. “… I said he was a good for nothi -”

But this was enough for Nicky, for she threw herself on Allison. I suddenly became conscious to the fact that Rio’s Other-Half was very close. I glanced at his pocket through the corner of my eye and saw the key dangling from the chain. My hand was just inches away from it. I slowly reached out for it, but I felt his hand grasp my neck. His face was inches from mines, and he was smiling menacingly. He tightened his grip.

“You have one last chance now… Tom.” He said; his voice almost a whisper. “You either come with us… or –”

“Never” I gasped.

“Very well.” He said, and gripped tighter.

I struggled to get free, to breathe. My eyes swivelled past Rio’s Other-Half’s head and saw Richard kicking Josh on the floor, and to see Allison yanking Nicky’s hair. I have to… have to get away…

I was now gasping. It felt like my eyes were going to pop out of my head any second now. His hand gripped tighter around my neck. My hand groped desperately around for something. Anything. Anything to hit Rio’s Other-Half with. I couldn’t find anything. I was pinned to the wall. Just when I thought I was going to lose it, it suddenly clicked to me. Rio’s Other-Half is a guy, right?

I raised my knee up violently, praying that I hit the right spot. He cried out, and let go of me, leaving my air-space free. I gulped for air, and staggered onto some other pile of boxes. I turned to see Rio’s Other-Half crouching on the floor. He looked up for me to see his face contorted with pain.

“You bastard.” He groaned. I looked around. I saw a nearby pile of boxes near Rio’s Other-Half. I lunged towards him, and tackled him onto the floor. He tried to push me away, but he was weak from my very special attack. (Hehe) I pinned him onto the floor, and reached for the key. I yanked it off the chain that dangled from his pocket.

“No!” he cried out, and started to reach for it.

My other hand clenched into a fist and I clouted him on the head. He fell back, and groaned again. I quickly got up to the nearby pile of boxes, and pushed them over. Rio’s Other-Half watched helplessly as they slowly fell on him. I heard a strangled cry as they toppled over him, covering every inch of his body.

Satisfied, I turned with a deep breath to look at what Nicky and Josh had gotten up to.

Allison was on the floor, seemingly unconscious, and Richard was nowhere to be seen, probably under a pile of boxes as well. Nicky looked weak sitting on the floor, and Josh stood beside her, with a grin.

“Nice move.” He said to me.

Nicky looked up, and attempted to smile, “Yeah, sweet.”

I looked at them, “You were watching me?” I asked bewilderedly.

“Well… yeah. I mean, I was finished with Richard.” Josh said, still grinning moronically.

I gaped at him. “You could’ve at least helped me there; he was chocking me to death.”

He shrugged. “I came to Nicky’s rescue… Allison had her on the floor.”

“I was fine” Nicky said. She made to get up from the floor, and nearly fell over. Josh steadied her as I made my way to her.

“You OK?” I asked.

Nicky nodded. I saw her face twist in pain as she stood up. She made to take a step forward, but nearly buckled if I wasn’t next to her supporting her. I put her arm around my shoulder and helped her walk towards the door.

“I think I’ve sprained my ankle.” She said as I took the key to unlock the door.

She was stating the obvious, and I smiled very slightly, and said, “You think?”



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip To Nowhere... Chapter Fifteen

I heard Nicky gasp in astonishment. Josh was gaping at Rio’s Other-Half. I kept my gaze locked on Rio. I didn’t realize how hard my fists were clenched until now.

“But… but Rio wouldn’t let himself get caught… it's impossible.” Nicky spluttered.

Rio’s Other-Half merely smiled. Then it dawned to me. No, Rio couldn’t have… “What have you done to him?” I demanded again, this time more threateningly, stepping closer. My hands were shaking slightly. No way could they have…

“No…” Nicky said, as she understood what I was trying to find out. “You… didn’t?”

Rio’s Other-Half looked straight into Nicky’s eyes and said quietly, “Rio… isn’t here anymore.”

It was like as if I had been punched in the face. A cold feeling of sickness rushed through me. I had only known Rio for a few hours… I stood limply, taking it in. Josh looked stunned. But Nicky - looked furious. I turned my head to glance at her, but as I did, she pushed pass me and flew a punch at Rio’s Other-Half’s face. He must have not been expecting it, for he did not duck in time. Nicky’s fist struck his cheek hard and he staggered back in shock. I gaped at Nicky. Nicky made to move towards Rio’s Other-Half, but I was too quick. I took hold of her waist and tried to pull her away. She was so tensed and her hair brushed against my face as she struggled to make me let go of her. I was surprised how strong she was. I felt her slowly slipping out of my grip as she struggled, yelling, “You bastards! You can't have killed him! You can't have killed Rio!” I put my arms around her waist, and firmly but gently pulled her away. I felt her body relax slightly. Once I was sure she wasn’t going to hit Rio’s Other Half-Again, I loosened my grip.

I glanced at Nicky’s face. Her eyes were narrowed and bright, brimming with tears of rage and aggravation, glaring at Rio’s Other-Half. Her lips were shaped in a snarling manner, her bottom lip was quivering slightly in fury, and she was shaking. I put a hand on her shoulder to soothe her. I looked up at Rio’s Other-Half to see him and Allison and Richard standing together, looking furious. I suddenly felt afraid. If they had killed Rio… then they will have no objection in doing the same to us.

“So…” Rio’s Other-Half hissed. I noticed his right cheek was scarlet. He took a slightly unsteady step forwards. “You will not come with us, then.”

I also took a step forwards. I did not know what else we can do to escape, but I knew that we still had to carry on trying – there was no giving up. So then, I said in a low voice, “No.”

“So be it.” he snarled, and in a quick motion he flung his fist to my face and I felt a hard blow on the side of my head, and cried out, as I staggered backwards, to the wall, head throbbing. I heard Nicky scream, and I tried to look up as stars began to pop out of nowhere. I saw his outlined figure coming towards me, fists still raised. I ducked, and I heard a crunch, as his fist made contact to the wall behind me. I made my way unsteadily to Josh. I felt someone put an arm around me, and tried to see who it was. I recognized Nicky’s touch. I blinked rapidly, and pulled away. I realized that Richard and Allison were crowding around us. I turned to see Rio’s Other-Half, standing with a bloody fist, looking at me with murderous eyes.




TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip.... To Nowhere - Chapter Fourteen

“I had a feeling that you were somewhere near.” Rio said, smiling pleasantly at me.

“What’s going on?” I demanded. “What did you mean when you said you were happy here? What did Allison mean when she said that it was all a mistake in thinking that we were being used? Aren't we meant to be escaping?”

Rio gave me one brief smile, and walked towards the door. He turned his back to me and took something out of his pocket. I heard a soft click. He had locked the door.

“I want to stay here. And so does Allison and Richard.” Rio said carefully, as he turned around to face me.
“But why?” Nicky asked.

“Can’t you see how awful this place is?” Josh asked.

I looked at Rio carefully. He was keeping his steady gaze on me as he walked nearer to us. There was something familiar in his behaviour.

“You guys don’t understand. It was all a mistake.” Richard said. There was something similar in Rio’s, Allison’s and Richards’s behaviour.

“What was?” Josh asked.

“When we thought that we were being used to make clones. To make a better version of us. All that isn’t true.” Allison said.

Silence...

“Then… explain all the white light. Explain the beeping noises I heard when I first came here… and… explain why I couldn’t move… and why I couldn’t open my eyes – had I been… drugged? If so… why?” I asked slowly, all the time keeping my eyes fixed on Rio.

He simply looked at me.

“Why do you want to stay at this… this place?” Nicky asked.

I couldn’t read Rio’s facial expression. But I could see that he was very calm…

“Yeah, dude, you can't just stay here.” Josh said.

In fact, Rio looked too calm… and so did Richard and Allison. Somehow, their expressions looked very familiar… His eyes I noticed looked very cold and seemed to have no feeling in them.

I suddenly realized. My mind flashed back to that luxurious room I was in before; the knock on the door; the person who came in; my… Other-Half, so –

“You –” I gasped, and took a step backwards. Why did I not realize before?

He smiled very slightly, and cocked his head to the side, “What is it, Tom?”

From the corner of my eye I saw Nicky frown in confusion at me.

How did I not realize before? I thought to myself. Look what I had gotten us into now! If only I had remembered to duck back down, then the three of us would remain unseen! You fool, Tom!

“Something wrong… Tom?” Rio asked, his lips stretched in a sardonic smile.

“Where is the real Rio,” I demanded, taking a step forwards to face… his Other-Half.



TO BE CONTINUED…

My Trip... To Nowhere - Chapter Thirteen

We were all blinking rapidly. Bright white light was suddenly surrounding us, almost blinding us all. We stood there for quite a while, letting our eyes adjust to the sudden bright light, which was a huge contrast to the darkness.

“Man, this is bright.” I heard Josh say.

We were in a room, similar to the dungeons, except it had no cells. Just dull dark grey stone walls encircled us, and piles of boxes lay scattered on the floor. I was amazed that I hadn’t knocked into them earlier. I quickly scanned the place, in case of guards – or worse. I looked around at Josh and Nicky.

“You guys alright?” I asked.

They both nodded.

I was suddenly aware that we were all still holding hands, and I hastily let go of Nicky’s hand. I saw her blush slightly.

I glanced around the room again, and spotted a door. I made to move to it, but then I stopped dead in my tracks. Voices. Voices on the other side.

I whipped around to face Nicky and Josh.

“Hide” I hissed, and grabbed Nicky’s arm. I led her and Josh to a big pile of boxes to hide behind.

We were just in time, as the door opened. The three of us were crouching down. I glanced at Josh. He opened his mouth to whisper something to me but I put a finger on my lips, gesturing urgently for silence. I glanced over the box, and then ducked back down. Then froze. Huh? I looked back over the box. Rio? Then I ducked back down again. I looked at Nicky. She looked back at questioningly and I mouthed Rio’s name. Hers and Josh’s mouth fell open. They made to get up from their crouching position, but suddenly, I held them down. They looked at me in protest. I was suddenly unsure. I glanced back from behind the box, and then ducked back behind it. Rio wasn’t alone.

“Sir,”

The three of us jumped, and then remained squatting down behind the boxes.

“What?” we heard Rio say.

“We can’t find the rest… We’ve searched everywhere…” I’m guessing this was one of the guards.

There was a cold silence. Then,

“Well then, keep searching.” Rio said, with a hint of a warning.

“Yes sir.”

Then, footsteps. Footsteps walking away.

“Wait.”

“Yes sir?” said the guard, sounding uncertain.

“Have you found that other guard who seemingly got himself lost?”

“Er… Aye, do you mean Old Shorty sir?”

“Whatever his name is” Rio said, insensitively.

“Er… Yes sir, we did.” The guard said nervously. I could almost picture him looking anxious.

“Well?” Rio demanded.

“Well… Sir, you see, the prisoners… the prisoners had… imprisoned him in one of their cells.”

Ringing silence - and I did not dare to breathe. I began to think rapidly. Then,

“Very well, I shall see to him. Meanwhile… get the prisoners back. Find them. Bring them to me without harm. If I see a mere scratch on them…”

“But Sir,” the guard said, “Why? What does it matter if they are wounded or not?”

“Just do as I say.” Rio hissed.

There was a few seconds of silence, and then, the guard said, “Oh right. Of course, yes Sir.” Then, we heard footsteps as the guard walked away.

Nicky glanced at me, and I shook my head. Rio must still be in the room. Then, we heard the door open, and we stayed still again.

“Rio, we can’t find them.” Someone said. I recognized that voice. I glanced at Josh and Nicky to confirm who I thought it was – Richard.

“It’s like as if they disappeared.” said someone else. I also recognized that voice. This person must be Allison.

But whats going on? Why are the guards so friendly to them? Aren’t we meant to be on the run from them? Why are they looking for us?

There was a momentary silence, and then we heard Rio say, “Tom is very clever. He is quick on his feet and he thinks fast. Of course it will be difficult to find him. But to explain everything to him…”

“Explain what?” we heard Richard say, then, “Oof!” as I looked over the box to see Allison stamping on his foot.

“To explain that the guards really meant no harm, and that it was all a mistake in thinking that we are being used.” Allison said in a loud clear voice.

Her words rang in my mind. Nicky and Josh both looked shocked.

“I am happy here.” Rio said. And with those words, he turned his head slowly into my direction. I ducked back down quickly. Damn it! I had completely forgotten to duck back down! I looked at Josh and Nicky in panic. Then, suddenly a shadow loomed over us. We looked up to see Rio smiling at me. The three of us jumped back, and stood a few metres away from Rio, and Richard and Allison who joined his side.




TO BE CONTINUED…