Jazmee27 
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A small sound brought me back to the present. One of the boys had stopped walking and was sobbing so hard it looked like he’d fall over. I caught the other boy’s eye briefly as he turned away from his brother as if fighting for control. It was then that I realized, with a start, that the two prisoners were identical twins. I stared, unable to fathomhow I could have missed such an obvious detail.
There was a flurry of activity, and my attention was held by the leader of the Assembly.I’d seen other demons before—one didn’t live where I did and NOT see Them—but this one had to be the ugliest I’d ever seen. I can’t even describe the horrific monstrosity I saw before us, all horns and scales, and something else which I couldn’t identify but I felt I should have been able to. Ten times more hideous and more terrifying than any dragon or mythical beast I’d ever read about or heard of. “You will move into position,” it roared at the boys, “and stop that confounded noise!”I turned my gaze on the prisoners. The one with the tortured expression had turned so that one of his handsrested upon his twin’s shoulder. It looked uncomfortable, and I winced inwardly. The other boy took a few shaky breaths and glanced up, his crystal blue eyes red-rimmed. Slowly, he took the remaining steps necessary, closely followed by his brother, and then just stood there. Everything present held its collective breath. We all knew what was coming, but not necessarily what would be said.
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Reply #1521. Jul 01 12, 4:31 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
Another demon, this one more humanlike, cleared its throat and spoke in a soft, lilting voice. “Since Scenorian law states we must charge these individuals before executing them—“ Several in the crowd of onlookers gasped, and I wondered why. What had they expected?
I kept my eyes fixed, not on the demon pronouncing the charges, but on the prisoners. The one who’d been crying earlier was trembling all over, somehow managing not to make a sound. His twin appeared to be holding his breath, his whole body rigid and his expression hard. Could it be that he knew what the “charges” would be? As I watched, his gaze again shifted to me, and he nodded ever so slightly. A shiver coursed through me at the realization that these two boys still had their Powers intact. How were the Dark intending to do this?
The demon announcing the Tribunal’s verdict paused for dramatic effect, then intoned, “we find Orseviyto and Orehlio Ordevahran guilty of the crime of Impersonation, that is of disguising themselves as officers of the Light.” Sure you do, I thought dryly, but I kept my thoughts under tight shields so that none of the Assembly could hear them. The wrong person reading my mind could turn ME over to the Tribunal for the same cruel fate that befell these boys.
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Reply #1522. Jul 01 12, 4:33 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
Again, my eyes sought out the condemned young men. Both were just standing there, rigid as statues, neither one crying nor shaking. It was as if they were dead already, and seeing them like that caused something to break inside me. I’d never met them before today, or at least I didn’t think so. Yet, something about their plight touched my heart and made my blood boil. Before I could think through the consequences of my actions, I stepped forward and faced the Tribunal leaders. “You mention our law,” I began in a strong voice, “and yet—“ I paused to collect my thoughts, then plunged ahead. “Scenoria is well known for being the “kingdom of justice,” but what I see here today is a travesty in the guise of justice. What you see here before you aren’t impostors, just two young boys unfairly accused by their enemies.”
“Yeah,” spat the head demon, the real ugly one, “and what would YOU know about it?”
“I know that our kingdom’s law has been turned on its head,” I snapped back, “has been manipulated by those in a position of power. These young men, for whatever reason, are seen as threats, and therefore are deemed unworthy of one more second of life.” |
Reply #1523. Jul 01 12, 4:35 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
“What’s to prevent us from arresting YOU,” asked the spokesman demon, the quiet one.
“Absolutely nothing that I’m aware of,” I replied.
“Wrong,” a voice rang out, and I twisted my head around to see who had spoken. It was another humanlike demon, with some physical features quite similar to my own. “He is protected by me and the rest of my unit. Prosecute him, and you’re on your own.”
I watched, open-mouthed, as the Lead Demon shook his head frantically. “I apologize for any misunderstanding,” the Spokesman said, “for we didn’t know there was a relationship between you.”
Who was this guy, I wondered, and how should I proceed now?
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Reply #1524. Jul 01 12, 4:36 PM
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Jazmee27
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MODIFIED DRAFT TWELVE TO BECOME DRAFT FIVE
DRAFT THIRTEEN IS:
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One of the most serious crimes known to the Universe is called Impersonation. In other words, it’s when a demon disguises itself as one of the Light. [WHY DOES THAT SOUND SO FAMILIAR? OH, YEAH, APPARENTLY I'M REUSING LINES.] Most cases of Universal Justice are performed in England, in this School building. The dungeons they have are heavily reinforced so criminals, once in, cannot get back out.
Recently, though, the Dark Assembly, or Tribunal, has begun trying cases. The body’s mostly, or entirely, made up of demons. Some on the Panel are from the Scenorian Criminal Organization, Cehrvanakavreyda, whose name means either “Darkness, be my friend” or “The Darkness is here to stay.” The other half of the Assembly is made up of Dark Hunters from the Universal Criminal Organization, Qatavoreya Univahris. Rarely are They at odds with their sister organization. But such was the case when the Gonzales twins were abducted from their dorms and tried before the Assembly.
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Reply #1525. Jul 01 12, 4:51 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
They were young, no more than nine or ten years old, with piercing blue eyes the shade of crystal. Both prisoners were chained together, with their hands bound tight against their sides. At first, it was a bit difficult to tell they were identical twins because the one refused to look at anything but his feet and slowed down the progress of the other. Whenever he did this, one of their captors would shout and threaten, and if it was deemed necessary would tug on the rope connecting the two prisoners. Several times, I watched as one or the other toppled off balance, then was pulled roughly upright by the nearest demon. Each time this happened, the unfortunate boy had one or two new bruises on his person, which bled steadily thereafter.
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Reply #1526. Jul 01 12, 4:52 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
So far as I understand it, the arguments the Tribunal used were that, in the words of the leader, “it’s not uncommon for demons to live alongside the Seekers of Truth and Justice. They can live for years without being detected, biding their time. They put on an air of innocence, and don’t do anything that might arouse suspicion.” Using such reasoning, anyone can be found to be “one of Them,” and no one is the wiser as to the true arguments for their elimination.
I have spent years collecting information pertaining to this case, and think that I have been successful. In the back of my mind, though, I know it may not be enough. I likely will have missed something important, as the Enemy have done Their damndest to ensure the full truth remains hidden.
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Reply #1527. Jul 01 12, 4:53 PM
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Jazmee27
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JUST GOT DONE MODIFYING THIRTEEN TO SIX
WIL COPY OVER DRAFTS FORTEEN THROUGH TWENTY ANOTHER DAY, as I want to do some more quizzes before calling it a night
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Reply #1528. Jul 01 12, 4:57 PM
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Jazmee27
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Time for some more:
DRAFT FOURTEEN
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The air buzzed as the electric current pulsed through the air, sending the young man to his knees. He landed on the hard floor with a thud like a lead weight, his body convulsing a few times before lying still. The breath had long fled his lungs, leaving him looking small and dejected indeed. His fellow prisoner was sitting by his head, his blue eyes fixed on his brother, hardly daring to breathe himself. “Please no,” he whispered brokenly. Almost without realizing it, he slid over until he was able to place his palm on the other boy’s chest. For a time, not a sound was to be heard in the tiny cell. |
Reply #1529. Jul 02 12, 6:46 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
Suddenly, the stillness was shattered by a sharp inhalation of breath. The electrocuted boy’s eyes flew open as his muscles jerked spasmodically. Without saying a word, his identical twin moved his hand from the boy’s chest to his hand.
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Reply #1530. Jul 02 12, 6:47 PM
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Jazmee27
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WORTH REVISITING? POSSIBLY; some modification first
DRAFT FIFTEEN NOW [I can easily tell those drafts I wrote on the same day, or close to it, because they seem to tell the same story with a few altered details]
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Reply #1531. Jul 02 12, 6:55 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
He didn’t see his identical twin fall because he was facing the door of the cell. He was trying to wrap his mind around the injustice of being held prisoner: of being dragged away from the School and made to endure various tortures until he thought he’d surely die. Then to find he was meant to live, and being transported with his brother yet again. Well, it was just so much to take in.
So that was why, when Ontario was electrocuted, Alonso was looking the other direction. He whirled around at his brother’s sharp intake of breath, and was horrified to see his brother’s body twitching from some sort of malevolent power. There was a faint humming or buzzing in the air, as is present wherever there’s a lot of electricity in the air.
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Reply #1532. Jul 02 12, 6:56 PM
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Jazmee27
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=======
Sensing movement to his left, where the door of their tiny prison was located, Alonso noted with shocked detachment the guard who entered. His appearance was like that of any Scenorian he’d seen going in and out that day. Yet, there was something different in the set of his jaw and the shape of his eyes that reminded Alonso more of his own people, the Qiryntians. That subtle difference set the guard apart physically from his captors, but there was also a sense of intense sadness coming from him, a feeling contrary to that of any of the others. They were all genuinely pleased the twins had been taken from their home. They rejoiced at every tiny drop of blood that fell from either of the prisoners. They kept on inflicting pain until the brothers could no longer hold back their cries of anguish.
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Reply #1533. Jul 02 12, 6:58 PM
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Jazmee27
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THE GUARD IS SOMAHRI, BUT I HAVE TROUBLE FITTING HIM INTO THE STORY (coming up with what happens next)
I suppose all I can do is keep trying, and let the spirit lead where it may
Speaking of which, I didn't like that draft; let's see sixteen
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Reply #1534. Jul 02 12, 7:00 PM
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Jazmee27
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=======
The young man’s shoulders shook with uncontrollable sobs as he clutched his dying brother to him. “It wasn’t supposed to end like this,” he wailed brokenly.
Alonso lifted a shaky hand to quiet his twin. “Ontario,” he rasped, specks of blood pouring from deep gashes across his forehead and abdominal region, “don’t—“ He paused, unable to finish his thought, his muscles jerking spasmodically. After, he lay there, his crystal blue eyes staring and lifeless.
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Reply #1535. Jul 02 12, 7:02 PM
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Jazmee27
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UM... NO
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The surviving 9-year-old gave an inhuman cry, no longer able to feel the extreme grief that ripped through him, nor to hear the voice that taunted “so much for Prophecy”.
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Reply #1536. Jul 02 12, 7:03 PM
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Jazmee27
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OOPS, GOT A LOOK AT PART OF THAT LINE, AND I THINK I SEE THE INSPIRATION (maybe I *can* modify this)
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He woke up screaming, the bedsheets soaked with sweat. “Protector, no,“ he pleaded. Part of him knew it had been a nightmare, or a vision of things to come, while the rest of him remained locked in that hellish cell, his arms still wrapped around the limp form of his identical twin, aware of nothing save the fact that Alonso was dead, that he was never coming back, that They had taken his heart out of his chest and stitched it back together. He heard what sounded like far-off knocking, but ignored it. Nothing much mattered anymore. Again and again, he heard himself repeat the phrase, “Protector, no,” but it was just a bunch of words without substance. What reason had he to live with Alonso gone?
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Reply #1537. Jul 02 12, 7:05 PM
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Jazmee27
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I'M THINKING I CAN WORK WITH THAT
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Anastasia turned to her boyfriend, her brown eyes sparking with fury. “You need to go in there,” she told her boyfriend, “and assure him that you’re alive.” When Alonso mumbled something, she smacked him lightly on the arm. “Watch yourself,” she warned, her expression growing mischievous.
“While it is true he doesn’t respond when someone knocks at the door, the same won’t be true if you just walk in.”
“I can’t startle him like that,” the 9-year-old protested.
“Unless you have a better idea,” Anastasia stated, her eyes boring into his, “I’d suggest you risk it. We all know the Dark are fond of using such situations to their advantage—and that written Prophecy only gives us one version of events. Part of it may be set, but most details are bound to change based on the way we react to a certain situation.”
“One thing won’t change,” Anja added, “if you die the same is true of Ontario; likewise, if something bad happens to him then the Dark will have you both.” She paused, then said forcefully, “Both or none. That’s what the Prophecy says. No exceptions. Details can be altered, but the end result is the same. In order for Hope to survive, BOTH OF YOU MUST LIVE.”
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PREVAILING THEME, BUT NOT READY FOR WRITTEN VERSIONS YET
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Reply #1538. Jul 02 12, 7:07 PM
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Jazmee27
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DRAFT SEVENTEEN
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I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it was for those two young men to stand up there while the Assembly leader read out the charges. They stood with their backs straight and their crystal blue eyes fixed straight ahead. Their wrists were bound behind them, which must have made balance difficult, but not once did either of them utter a word of objection or complaint. They simply did the best they could.
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Reply #1539. Jul 02 12, 7:13 PM
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Jazmee27
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=======
The leader of the Scenorian Tribunal was a bull of a demon. I’ve seen some hideous demons in my time, but most don’t even come close to comparing with that monstrosity. He towered above the prisoners, gazing malevolently at each one before intoning the sentence in a ringing voice: “This Assembly finds identical twins Orseviyto and Orehlio Ordevahran guilty of the crime of Impersonation, of disguising themselves as the Light in order to infiltrate their ranks. The sentence for such an offense is immediate death.” He pulled out of his pocket a dagger, not unlike the kind used to vanquish evil for all eternity. I heard a gasp, and looked over to see that one of the prisoners had stiffened and was staring wide-eyed at the weapon in the leader’s hand. It was one of the few reactions I’d seen from the condemned young men, and it piqued my curiosity. |
Reply #1540. Jul 02 12, 7:15 PM
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