A bet's a bet (Amnesia SL)

[DoS Archive]

From: shivblade@aol.com (SHIV BLADE)
Date: 02 Jun 1999 20:07:51 EDT

The bet was made. The duel was fought. Phil had lost. That was what let Alex to where he was. Everyone had left, except the serving boys. The Annex to the Arena was empty, except for all the mess that littered the place. Bottles of beer, glasses, Yukon Jack, Whiskey shots, and Cigarette butts. It all added up to one thing, a very messy place.

“I have to clean all this?” Alex was speaking more to himself. He hadn’t realized how much he had actually lost this bet. Al sat at one of the tables, feet propped up just watching Alex spin around. Marcus was behind the bar, his elbows propped upon it as he leaned forward looking to Hubbie. He sat on the stairs, leaning back enjoying the fact he didn’t have to do the work this night.

“Ya sure ya don’t want any help?” Marcus asked him, more cause he felt sorry for him than anything. “We wont tell Mrs. Starfare.”

“Who?... ahh Jona... Naw.. you kids go home. I made the fools bet, ill make my own bed now.” He was looking all over trying to figure out where he would start with all this mess. Marcus just tossed down the dirty rag, and the three serving boys just stood up and walked to the door. Alex could hear a snicker or two, and could only smile. Hell this was funny. He had to admit. He watched the kids leave, and the door shut. His body slumped down, but
he knew what he had to do. So, Alex started... He walked over and grabbed several of the bottles, and placed them in the trash. He let out a brief sigh, and then just continued on, knowing it was the only way this place would get done.

Several hours had past now, and he had put a small dent in the work to be done. All the bottles had been thrown out, the trash picked up. What was left now was al the dish washing. All those glasses that needed to be cleaned. The floors needed to be swept. Again the sigh escaped out. Was this ever going to end? He dropped his ragged and walked out to one of the rings. He had watched most of the duels fought within the last two days. He had to
admit, he was very impressed with the winner of the tournament, What was her name?.. Captain?... Copy?.. Kappy... yeah that what everyone called her. She wasn’t to bad for a chick. Hell he had been impressed at how well most women could fight around here. Never had he seen anything like this. Alex stood in the ring where the final cut had been scored. He knelt down, and then turned his body over so that he could sit within the ring. He had been
working for awhile so it was okay for him to take a break. His mind wandered over the past events of the last couple of months he had been here. He had to admit the last week had been a strange one. The voices he had starting hearing while he slept, had now started while he was awake. He found comfort in challenging for the Opal Firestar. Almost like something within him had driven him to do so. Yeah.. everything was going just fine for him. He
closed his eyes for only a brief moment, a brief moment that lead him into Sleep.

Alex stood within the ring, looking out at a Man he had never seen before in all his life. Nothing else was there. Yet, it felt liek there were others. He looked hard, and only saw images. There were others, but only this man was in plain sight. He found himself walking over to him, as the man regarded him with a blank stare.

“Dal,” he offered a nod.

“Avery,” the return was made. “You fought well tonight.”

He smiled. He had just lost something.. a ring. He could feel the sarcasm in this mans voice. “Not well enough I suppose. But, I continue my promise to you Lord. I will not offer my challenge this cycle.”

“A man of honor you are, even as our views conflict.”

“I made a promise to you, and to myself that I would challenge for Overlord. So when the Cycle ends, I will come. If you are not here anymore, I will still come. The promise is that strong to myself.”

“I look forward to it Avery.” With that they both turned away. Each man with there own inner smile. He had made the promise. He was going to challenge. Nothing was going to stop him. As he took several more steps he only found himself submerged in nothing. Everything was gone.

[DoS Archive]

From: shivblade@aol.com (SHIV BLADE)
Date: 02 Jun 1999 20:11:39 EDT

“You have done well.... “

“What in the name of the Gods?” Alex opened his eyes, and yet saw nothing. The annex was gone. He spun around to try and find the voice. It came from nowhere, yet everywhere. He looked down and found nothing below him. He was just there... In the dark.

“You will soon get the fire back. And we will control it once again. And soon we will have the power I have wanted for a long time.”

Alex only stared out, until he saw something move. The body came into being and he quickly dropped to his knees. “What the ....” He stood there. Well not him, it couldn’t be him. But it was. It was as if he was staring straight into a mirror. “Who?.. Wha...”

“Now now Alex.. You must know me.. I am Avery. Avery Shiv Blade. I am you. You are me. And you are Alex.” Avery smiled at him. Alex was bereft of power. He could only sit there and look out.

“What Trick is this?” It was all he could do to speak. This was Avery. The Avery he had heard of?

“No Trick Alex. Well... let me rephrase that. For you see, I am not here. I am inside of you. This...” He swept his hands around... “This is what lies between you conscious and unconscious state. Your thoughts so to speak. It was all I could to get here. You see... You only exist because of me. Amnesia Alex.. you are what I think I am. Unfortunately I have yet to think of a way to bring myself back.”

“No...no. I am Alex. I have always been Alex... I have lived a full past. I know of the Water city from which I grew up. I know of the School I was sent to train at. I know of all this. I have memories.”

“You have made up memories, Nothing more. Tell me Alex.. How is that you got those scars?” Alex stared blankly at him. How did he know about the scars. No one knew about them. Umm... it was an accident.”

“Bah... you have no idea. You have no idea of the pain I suffered. Why I am who I am. Your time is short Alex. I am going to come back.” Avery turned around and left. With no other words.... he just left.

Alex tried to soak it in. What the hell had just happened? He closed his eyes trying to think, and once again fell into the darkness.



Alex awoke in the Annex. His eyes turned around looking out. Yes it was the Annex. He blinked several times trying to figure out what had just happened. What had just happened?.... He couldn’t remember. He only had one thought present... OverLord. ::He got up on his feet, and looked at the place, as his mouth dropped open. It was clean. No more Glasses, and the floor had been Swept. All was done. How long was he out for?... He looked to the clock.
Four Hours!!.. What had happened? Had someone come in and taken care of the mess. Had they seen him? Now he was in a frantic mess. He knew that sometimes he talked in his sleep. What had he said. What had they heard. Was someone here? He looked for any answer, and he found it. A glass. A glass that wasn’t there before. Sitting right on the bar. Someone had came in to clean this. He didn’t know who, and this only scared him more. He ran to the door,
and pushed through it, wanting to leave this place. He mumbled as he reached the street.....

“All this from a stupid Bet.....”