[center]Tabitha, too, had requested food somewhere along the way. Ellard seemed intent on lingering near her, though he walked a bit ahead, and she was intent on lingering near Tristan. She was tired. Her feet had started aching, somewhere along the Long Walk; but they were heading in the right direction. [color=FF7F50][i]About time, too.[/i][/color] Silverbrook had fallen behind them and a large tower had come into view. When she first saw it, dread had pressed into her navel and spread sharp fingers through her guts. Tension was high, at least for her. [color=FF7F50][i]Everyone seems kinda fucked up, right now, anyway.[/i][/color] One person in particular. [color=FF7F50][i]Koda, I talked to him on the tracks. Ignored him when he asked me to help Michael.[/i][/color]

 [color=FF7F50]"Ellard,"[/color] that earned a turn of the boy's head and all of his attention, [color=FF7F50]"s'about time ya start tellin' us what we need to know."[/color] Tabitha had her arms folded over her stomach, cradling herself in hopes of dispelling the ill feelings that seemed to be lingering in and ahead of her. [color=FF7F50]"Pretty sure that big fuckin' thing is where he stays, right? Ya ever been inside?"[/color] Ellard shook his head, and she gave a slight nod of understanding. [color=FF7F50]"Ok, so what [i]do[/i] ya know about that place?"[/color] She pointed at it, for emphasis. 

 Against the waning sunlight, the tower was an adumbral spike; an oddly uneven silhouette that seemed to waver and give little wiggles in the distance. From where they stood, they could see that the spire rose from a squat complex. Tabitha tried to take it all in, but the details were hazy. [color=FF7F50][i]We gotta get closer.[/i][/color] She wasn't sure what banter had taken place, during their walk. The harlequin had hardly spoken a word, unless it was to Tristan or Ellard. Even then it was short and uncharacteristically reserved. Though, from time to time, she found herself quietly giggling. While she wouldn't say it, Tabitha Calvicante was scared. She had done her best to remain distracted, in her own head, thinking of pleasant things; even if those, too, reminded her of home and Rani and Lane and her mother. Will crossed her mind, several times. 

 [color=c4df9b]"I know that he isn't like an angel or monster, I've seen those before,"[/color]  Ellard spoke loudly enough for the entire group to hear, though his voice sounded uneven; like it might crack, [color=c4df9b]"He's something else. When he came to town, it was on a festival night."[/color] [color=FF7F50][i]How many fuckin' festivals did those guys have?[/i][/color] [color=c4df9b]"Me, my mother and my sister were here with a caravan. The people in Silverbrook weren't like...like they are now, when we arrived."[/color] Tabitha watched his shoulders drop. She cast a glance at Tristan, then slowly away; letting her gaze flitter over the others. [color=c4df9b]"It started happening the night we got there. A few people said they heard whispers. Others said they heard laughter."[/color] The boy's eyes drifted skyward, his head tilting back. [color=c4df9b]"We stayed the night. Everyone had the same dream. I...I don't know if I'd call it a [i]nightmare[/i], but it was certainly strange."[/color]

 Tabitha didn't interject, but she was curious. She already knew that Magician was influencing minds; that much was obvious. [color=FF7F50][i]Seems like there's more to it, though. Wonder just what the fuck that thing is up to.[/i][/color] Taking her hands from her stomach, she let one linger at her side while the other toyed with the hat-tendrils coiled around her throat. Her eyes roamed, again, to Tristan. Her mouth half opened, then slowly closed; a smile in place of words unspoken. [color=FF7F50][i]Now ain't the time to be runnin' my mouth. I should be listenin'.[/i][/color] Again, they drifted away. To Anni, to Ascot, to Zino, to Stormy, to Mike, to Oedipus, then back to Ellard. 

 [color=c4df9b]"Some of the townfolk decided..."[/color] He tensed, slightly shaking his head and looking at the group, [color=c4df9b]"that a lady who had traveled with us, some kind of mystic, was responsible. They...in the morning they..."[/color] Tabitha lifted an eyebrow, letting her fingers fall away from soft fabric, [color=c4df9b]"They drowned her. [i]That's[/i] when he appeared."[/color] A visible shiver ran through the boy. [color=c4df9b]"He looks like something out of a fever dream. He was taller than any man, at least any I had ever seen. He wore a mask of white and gold, without holes for eyes, and an open robe of red. He was...like a corpse. Rotten wrappings covered almost everything. His voice was like...like parchment being torn."[/color] She tried to envision it, but wasn't sure the thing that came to mind was anywhere close. 

[color=FF7F50][i]A mask, though, huh? Sounds like this shit's kind of a big deal. We all got Masks, he got a mask. Fuck.[/i][/color]

 She sighed, quietly. Ellard was fighting down his terror, again. Tabitha admired that about the kid. He was brave enough to face his fears. It made her feel a little inadequate, though. Now her eyes were locked on the Magician's abode. It had been steadily growing larger, as they walked. She could pick out little details; like the spikes that jutted outward from the top of the spire. [color=FF7F50][i]Looks like some kinda evil flower.[/i][/color] Or, at least, that was the best way she could think to comprehend it. Her pace was slowing, aching tracing along her arches and up her calves. Despite how used she was to walking, running and climbing, this trek was turning out to be murder. As she mulled that over, another small giggle escaped her. Tabitha put a hand to her mouth, her eyes dropping. [color=FF7F50][i]What the fuck is wrong with me...[/i][/color]

[color=c4df9b]"He told us that we would be punished for that woman's death,"[/color] Anger crept into his words, [color=c4df9b]"[i]all of us[/i]. That's when it started. He threw his arms out, wide, and we were changed. I remember it well, now. I could hear his voice in my head, hundreds of his words, all at once wrapping around my thoughts and...and as it stopped, I stopped being...being [i]me[/i]."[/color] Tabitha felt a chill, at that. The thought of it added to her own growing fear.  [color=c4df9b]"We all stopped being us. Festivals started happening every other day. People would celebrate and someone would be chosen to walk this path to his keep. My mother, my sister...he seemed to be choosing the outsiders. I think..."[/color] Tabitha's stomach knotted up, she had a feeling she knew what was coming. 

[color=FF7F50][i]Poor kid. M'glad we gotcha outta there. But now, aren't we just takin' ya right to him? That's kind of fucked up.[/i][/color] 

 [color=c4df9b]"I think I was going to be next."[/color] Ellard spoke with dread, but he seemed to be steeling himself. [color=c4df9b]"If that's the truth, I want to know why! It's why I wanted to come along with you! I want to know what happened to my mother and sister!"[/color] He exhaled deeply, his hands curling into tight fists. [color=c4df9b]"H-He has powers, I've seen him do strange things. Aside from what happened to the people in the village. I've seen him create things from the dirt, that looked like people; that could move and even [i]talk[/i] like people. Fire that circled around him like snakes. I don't know what else he can do, but I'm sure it's a lot...and I'm sure it's all terrible."[/color]

 Ellard fell quiet, after that; turning to give a brief look to Tabitha. Neither of them were smiling, but their eyes met. He seemed more comfortable around the group. Tabitha was a little thankful for that; it meant that she wasn't his sole caretaker. He had become something of a shared responsibility, in her mind. Though, what Zino said earlier was probably true. Bringing Ellard along was a bad idea. 

[color=FF7F50][i]We probably shoulda just sent him the other way. Would be safer, for sure. Then again, he coulda died on the path. The Long Walk? I can see why they'd fuckin' call it that. What's death even mean, anymore, anyway? I mean, fuck, we all died. Look how bad that turned out![/i][/color]

 Tabitha giggled, then lightly slapped herself; quiet so she didn't interrupt or draw attention beyond what might already be on her. Really, her heart was sinking. Others in the group had exhibited their gifted abilities. Some used them constantly. [color=FF7F50][i]I've got nothin'. I can't do nothin' except run my mouth.[/i][/color] She still felt the strange [i]something[/i] in and around her. It was dull, rght now.  Much less than it had been when she had walked alongside Stormy. [color=FF7F50]"Like static, or a dream ya can't remember..."[/color] It was a whisper, Tabitha holding her hand out; her purple and green sleeve falling a little over her extended fingers. That, too, was funny; for some reason. Tabitha focused on it, imagining that she was drawing the part of it she felt outside inward. 

[color=FF7F50][i]There ain't nothin' there. She was fuckin' with me. I just want to be able to [b]do[/b] somethin'! This shit ain't right! Throw me in a fuckin' clown suit and leave me to die in some other fucked up world?! I'll fuckin' show you! I'll fuckin' show you, Magician, all of them! Everyone! Don't fuck with me! Don't fuck with me! Don't you [b]dare[/b] try to fuckin' pull this shit on me! I trusted you! I believed what you said about this place! I stepped on those fuckin' tracks so I could [b]kill[/b] you! I stepped on those tracks so my-[/i][/color]

 Her heart skipped a beat and her thoughts faltered; a realization of the truth too much to articulate, even in her head.  She lowered her hand, frowning. Tabitha couldn't look at any of them. [color=FF7F50][i]I ain't worthless. I ain't.[/i][/color] So, instead, her eyes became glued to her feet. Wrapped in the same stocking that covered most of her legs. One step followed another, as they inched ever closer to Magician's ominous abode. She felt her stomach and throat tense. The sun was close to setting and they still had a way to go.[/center]