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Queraline Chp 23

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Chapter 23

A Failure to Understand

It was between sobs and sharp breaths that Querl explained what had happened. How the little door had been sealed during the day but at night lead to another world with an Other Mother and the duplicates of everyone he's met here. How the door was revealed to be real this afternoon when he had went to lock it but the world had turned dark, the Other Mother capturing the souls of children and holding them there and how the Other Mother had used the doll to spy on him to try to lure him into staying.

The effort it took to tell Clark how Querl had abandoned the ghost children and the Other Clark and Other Lyle almost made Querl's sobbing return to its starting point but Clark's hand gently rubbing over his back kept Querl secure enough to calm into sniffles. As his mind returned to proper working order he remembered Clark's powers and wondered if he could help in the rescue mission.

"Wow," Clark said after a bit, still stroking over Querl's back. "That sounds like a dozy of a dream."

Almost as soon as the words were out of Clark's mouth, Querl pulled back to look at his face, "What?"

"Well I guess it would be more of a nightmare," Clark amended, as if that made anything better.

"I am not some child who cries from nightmares," Querl simultaneously pushed Clark away and stood, wiping at his face. He was now too angry to cry.

"Come on Querl," Clark stood as well, trying to be reasonable. "It's understandable that you'd dream about your Mom since you never knew her-"

"And how do you know that?" Querl demanded, knowing that while it was obvious Imra and Garth were not his parents how their living situation came to be was not something widely broadcasted.

"Ah, those Coluan Officials told Pa when Garth applied to work at the farm and rent your apartment," admitted Clark, "He didn't tell me until after we met though."

Even worlds away and free from the orphanage, Querl couldn't escape Colu's influence in his life. What else did those officials tell the Kents? Did Clark only associate with him because he felt sorry for the boy not only abandoned by his mother but ditched on a different planet by his government as an experiment?

All of these thoughts only made Querl madder. Worse yet the same thoughts also made his stomach churn unpleasantly.

When Querl didn't say anything further Clark cleared his throat, "Um, if you don't mind could I get that doll back? It belonged to the boy that disappeared-"

"Of course it was," Querl almost snapped but sighed instead. He didn't have the energy to be angry anymore or convince Clark anything involving the door and the Other Mother was real. His energy was best used to convince Imra and Garth and even if they didn't believe him at first he was sure they would at least humor him. "Come in on, I'll go get it."

Clark started to say how he really wasn't allowed in the Pink Palace but Querl had stopped listening. He went to his room where he last saw the doll but it wasn't where he left it. He checked all around the room, under the bed and even in the bench that opened by his window but couldn't find it.

After checking his school bag and a few places Querl thought Garth might have moved the doll to be annoying, Querl returned downstairs but Clark was not in the entryway anymore. Assuming that Clark wouldn't just leave he checked the kitchen and bathroom, a heavy feeling forming in his stomach when Querl did not find Clark there.

It did not take much longer for Querl to find Clark in the living room, looking at the little door. The older boy had one arm crossed against his stomach, supporting his other arm as the attached hand propped up his chin. His finger was tapping against his lower lip at Clark kneeled down to be at the same level as the door.

At first Querl hoped that maybe Clark was reconsidering what Querl had told him. Maybe Clark could conclude that Querl wasn't the type to have such strange nightmares and believe they were real so much that it made Querl react the way he did.

Those thoughts, however, were put on hold when Querl saw Clark stop tapping his finger against his lip and reach down to unlock the door.

10/28/13

I've probably watched Coraline 100 or more times in the last 2 months trying to get this story done which has lead to me being very sick of it and a grow a strong desire to stop while I still like it. Sadly this means I probably won't be finishing this story this Halloween.

I'll pick up the story again when I stop seeing button eyes in my dreams.

First Chapter: priestessofnox.deviantart.com/…
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Next Chapter: Queraline Chp 24

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Yu-Gi-Ah's avatar
Curse you cliffhanger! Bad Clark , bad. Sad to hear you won't be able to finish this for Halloween but it's understandable everyone needs a break every now and then ^_^ I hope you have a fun and Happy Halloween.