The Away Box
Entering the building, it was as if one was entering a great asylum of which was just hit by a massive outbreak of admittance due to a natural disaster. There were some people sitting around looking hurt, while there were others looking strangely transparent and slowly hovering along the corridors and the rooms, as if looking for something.
"Oh Lord, have mercy." exclaims Mother Goose. "Are they..."
"Yes, She's already extinguished some of us. Sometimes, they come back. Sometimes they don't." utters Ego. " I believe Conscience was one of the lucky ones who did. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Trust and Faith."
"Dear old Faith, I really liked Faith." says Conscience.
"I'm surprised She hasn't come for you again, Consy." expressed a tall dark figure standing against the wall with a hideous smile. Large shackles could be seen broken into the arms and the legs. A tired looking unsuccessful attempt to unchain the right shackle was also visible.
"Hello, Guilt. I see you have been well." says Mother Goose
"Of course, my dear. How else would dear old Consy here survive another fall if wasn't for me? I believe I have been useful, and if it wasn't for Ego, Trust would have been in her gardens pruning her rose bushes, isn't that right, Ego old friend?"
"Is that true Ego?" Mother Goose asks with a frown no one will ever forget.
"Necessary steps had to be taken. Trust was at fault for leading us to a resolution at the expense of many others! I merely saved the rest of us from becoming like Love. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, does it not, Guilt? But of course, I never expected you to be able to make that decision, not even for yourself!" argues Ego.
"Trust and Hope were the only ones keeping the lot of us from being extinguished! If She didn't get to us, we would have faded out ourselves without them! And with Trust gone, we have failed to find Hope's whereabouts!" spat Guilt.
"Hope lives, for now. But I cannot guarantee Hope's existence for much longer." Ego mentions without a pause.
Guilt then rushes forward and striking Ego in the face as both fall into a struggle.
Conscience screams.
"Children! Stop this at once!" screams Mother Goose.
Conscience held Guilt back while Naughtiness helped Ego up.
"I do not need your help, woman." says Ego as he pulls his arm away from Naught.
" That's enough, Ego! Your despicable struggle with Guilt will have to wait. I want to know what has happened to Love, immediately!" orders Mother Goose.
Just then, a strong cold gush of wind blasted along the corridor. Everyone had to crouch down to prevent falling over while covering their faces from protection from flying objects.
"What in God's name is happening now?!" yells Mother Goose at the top of her voice
"It's HER!" yells Guilt.
The strong wind turned into a squall which lasted for a short while before subsiding completely. Leaving the place in a mess of objects and people. It was then made obvious that Work was missing.
" Looks like She needed Work," noticed Ego. "or perhaps not."
"You better pray Work is not extinguished, Ego" threatens Guilt.
"Not everything is my fault, you know. But don't worry, Work was probably just called away. He'll be back in the ab." explains Ego.
" Now before the two of you go off into one of your insufferable scuffles, we should head to where Love is. I need to speak with Love urgently, before any of you gets called away or, God-forbid, extinguished!" exclaims Mother Goose while tidying her hair and dress.
"Why don't Naught lead the way this time?" says Ego with a sneaky smirk.
"Yes, let us go Naught. Come now, dear. I don't have all day!" says Mother Goose.
Naught wipes the hesitantly worried look on her face and proceeds without a word.
To be continued.
