Tomorrow, I’ll have been here an entire week. I know I’ve read something about solitary confinement having an adverse effect on people, but it isn’t really solitary if there’s a disembodied voice talking to you every now and then. Perhaps that’s the only thing staving off madness.
I wonder what would happen if I refused to continue reading the book. Sure, it isn’t an amazing read, but it’s bearable, and even okay in some parts…but I’m curious. Maybe the voice—er, the owner of the voice—would punish me with another hit. I examine my ribs; there’s a definite bruise there. Perhaps I should wait for it to heal.
Now I am fiddling with the Rubik’s cube, waiting to be called on.
“It is time to continue your test. Please proceed into the library.”
Well…now or never.
“I don’t really want to.”
“Please proceed into the library.”
Should I push it?
“No thank you,” I say to the ceiling.
“I will take measures against you if you do not comply.”
I shouldn’t go any further. I have a feeling the voice is more than capable of turning me into a blob of carbon.
“Okay.”
— — —
Chapter 5: Awakening
: “What’s this, anyway? It’s kinda cute…”
: “Squee!”
: “Awwwwwwwwwww!” 
“Lemme just pet you—”
Explosion: [WTF]
: “OW OW OW IT BURNS — what’s this on my palm? Did you claw me? Thanks a lot, dumb dragon.”
: 
—
: “Kay, I built you a house in a tree. Live in it.”
:
: “Don’t look at me like that!”
: 
: “What did I just tell you?”
—
One growing-up montage later…
—
: “You know what, you’re getting too big. I better tell my family before they start noticing the dragon tracks, giant dung piles, and all the missing sheep.”
: [munch munch]
: “Yeah. HEY, RORAN!”
: [mindspeak] Eragon Eragoooon!
: “What the strudel?”
— — —
One face of the Rubik’s cube is almost entirely blue, but the rest of the faces are just a jumble. Time to begin again.
— — —
When I woke up this morning, I had a terrible ache in my lower back. It still persists, even though I’m trying to distract myself from the pain by working on the Rubik’s cube. It’s nothing but an exercise in futility now—I get the feeling I’m not the type to do logic puzzles. That, and my back refuses to leave me alone, making it extremely difficult to focus on something other how much I want some ibuprofen. Standing up straight hurts now.
It’s been one week, but it feels like it’s been a month. I haven’t seen another human being in an entire week. Only the voice, the Rubik’s cube, and Eragon.
The voice calls me to the library again. I can’t even begin to explain how much I don’t want to read the stupid book right now…but it can’t be helped. I don’t need any more bruises.
— — —
Chapter 6: Tea for Two
: “Brom, Brom, Brom!”
: “What do you want? I’m trying to be nostalgic for my dragon-riding days.”
: “Can you tell me about Dragon Riders? I heard they’re really cool and stuff and my asking doesn’t have anything to do with the dragon I’m hiding in the forest right now.”
: 
“Ooooo-kay…well, a long time ago they were really powerful. Mostly because dragons are ageless and awesome. Like dwarves and elves. Speaking of elves, they’re called fair folk because they’re sexy, and they came from a distant land on silver ships.”
: “Hey, that sounds like—”
: “Shut the fuck up. Anyhow, elves used to be real assholes. Then the dragons and the elves fought. Then there was a treaty. Then there were Dragon Riders. Then Galbatorix went mad and killed everyone. Dragon-riding changes a man. Makes his ears pointy.”
: “Umm, okay. Sounds cool. So where do orcs come from?”
: “Urgals.”
: “Whatever.”
: “They followed the elves. They’re just that rude.”
: “Cool.”
: “Did you know your name is an elven name?”
: “AWESOME” 
: “If you happen to find a dragon, you should name it Saphira.”
: “‘Kay weirdo, bye now!”
Kitty: 
— — —
I think I’ll nap again. There’s no ibuprofen here.
MegaB on 17 January 2009, 08:00 said:
“…called fair folk because they’re sexy, and they came from a distant land on silver ships.”
: “Hey, that sounds like—”
: “Shut the fuck up.”
THAT was classic!
You still haven’t lost your touch Kitty!
OverlordDan on 17 January 2009, 08:25 said:
This series is made of win.
Please never stop X)
Hedwig Widrig on 17 January 2009, 11:45 said:
Seeing a new one of these has become the highlight of my day.
Cricket on 17 January 2009, 11:52 said:
Awesome job, Kitty. Keep it up.
SlyShy on 17 January 2009, 13:08 said:
Brom sure does talk a lot, doesn’t he?
Kevin on 17 January 2009, 13:31 said:
Of course he does – he’s Exposition Man.
Boyish Hero: “Say, exposition man, how does (insert world detail here) work?”
EM: “Grumble, grumble… kids these days. Well, boyish hero, you’d better get comfortable. We’re going to be here a while.”
Virgil on 17 January 2009, 13:49 said:
Good stuff.
Jeni on 17 January 2009, 21:57 said:
I don’t want these to ever end. <3
Addie on 17 January 2009, 22:23 said:
So the jollity goes on!
Priceless work, Kitty. ;)
Imp on 17 January 2009, 22:28 said:
“Dragon-riding changes a man. Makes his ears pointy.”
Yay. =)
This is absolutely brilliant. Good work.
Rand on 18 January 2009, 18:17 said:
“Umm, okay. Sounds cool. So where do orcs come from?” “Urgals.” “Whatever.”
Best part.
Lewer95 on 23 January 2009, 07:59 said:
“…called fair folk because they’re sexy, and they came from a distant land on silver ships.”
: “Hey, that sounds like—”
: “Shut the fuck up.”
i couldnt stop laughing. another win for the series.
fffan on 4 February 2010, 07:19 said:
psst. whenever i get stuck on a rubix cube (after 2 minutes) i always take off the stickers and restick them on the right places or i dismantle the cube and remantle (is that a word?) it in the right place. just a hint