What have I done... (open)

[issac sterling]

Pain was the first thing Issac realized. Dark, searing pain from his palm up to his shoulder and chest. It throbbed in time to his heart, which was beating loud in his ears like a hammer. Where was he? Thoughts seemed to sluggishly pull themselves from somewhere deep within his mind and it was hard to pin them down before another took it's place. He was cold, and he realized after a few moments that he was on the floor. Cold stone pressed against his face, but in some way he felt he needed it, had to have it to keep him from falling into the darkness around him. Thick billowing darkness pressed in on him from all directions. Faintly he was aware that his breathing, slow and steady as if he was sleeping. Was he sleeping? No he could feel things around him and the ever increasing clarity of his thoughts proved to him he was indeed not asleep. Issac's eyes opened slowly, stars popping around his vision. He blinked, trying to make his eyes work and became aware of a throbbing in the back of his head. why did his body hurt? Where was he? Suddenly Issac was aware of his limbs, tingling and throbbing outstretched from his body. He moved his fingers gingerly, pins and needles greeting every inch. Moving his hands below him he pushed raising his body and moving his legs underneath him, each one feeling like cement. Issac's vision cleared and he noticed his hands in the dim light of the room. In his left hand, he clutched his wand, the other was empty all but for a large ring on his middle finger. It was silver, inlaid with markings Issac couldn't make out. It was old, he could tell the ruby was clear and unblemished but the silver was tarnished and needed cleaning. Issac's eyes lingered on the ring for a moment before the thought came to him that men, especially those who were single didn't wear rings. Sitting up he held his hand out in front of him and went to pull the ugly little thing off his finger. He stopped midway, no this was his ring and he loved it. the thought of taking off made his insides burn, he wanted to keep it more than anything in the world and nobody could tell him otherwise.

Looking up Issac took in the room around him. It was cold, dark and had the sense it was underground. No lights existed, but a faint blue emanated from somewhere behind him. The room was octagonal, and each wall was smooth and looked to be made of marble. Veins of color wove around the stone in subtle lines of grey on white. In the center was a pedestal of the same white marble. On the floor next to the pedestal was a small wooden box open and crimson silk spilt like blood from inside. Issac picked the box up. It was old, worn smooth by the years. A thin chain lay on the floor next to where the box had been. Issac had never seen the box before, but it looked as if the ring he wore once resided in the ominous container. Markings, something Issac couldn't read, were burned into the wood. The shapes looked like something from ancient runes class. Issac stood shakily, tucking the small box under his robes. Standing, something in Issac's chest clenched into a cold grip on his heart. He had no idea where he was or why. Issac closed his eyes trying to remember what he was doing in a place like this. He tried to remember what he had for breakfast, or even what day it was but nothing came to mind. The last thing he could remember was sitting in potions watching as his cauldron bubbled. He had failed that lesson, but he couldn't remember what day that was either or how long ago. He turned, a door to the chamber was open leading to a long dark hallway.

Issac took a step forward and pain wracked his limbs. He stumbled and caught himself on the doorway. Torches lit themselves as he stumbled into the hall. He felt like he had drank too much of the fire whiskey his dad had let him try once. the floor seemed to want to keep him from walking. He slowly made his way down the hall keeping a hand on the cool stone as he went. It felt like hours before Issac came to another door. He groaned as another long hallway met him. three times he came to a door, and three times he was met with another hallway. As he walked the floor seemed to tilt upwards. his legs burned with the effort until finally he came to the end of the hallway. the usual door was no longer, but a ladder was in it's place. Pausing to catch his breath he climbed. reaching up his hands met wood and he pushed. the wooden door lifted and light stung his eyes. Above him a suit of armor creaked as he pulled himself out and onto the cool floor. His feet cleared the trap door and he looked back. The old wood of the door shimmered and faded as the door sunk into the floor to be replaced bu nothing but smooth stone. The suit of armor slid soundlessly over where the door had been and Issac was no longer sure he had actually climbed out of it. Standing he looked around. He didn't recognize where he was, but the musty smell of the halls had been replaced with fresh air and the faint smell of food. His stomach clenched, he was starving. His legs still felt like sand, but he made his way forward, the only way he knew. As he trudged upwards his mind once again tried to remember what and where he was. He remembered leaving the marble room, but how did he end up there in the first place. Before he knew it he was onto the main level of the school, and finally he had some idea of where he was. He had come out near the entrance to the Slytherin common room. From there he could find the main hall, and something to eat. Glancing down Issac caught sight of the ring once more. Why was he still wearing this stupid thing. His face flushed as he realized someone might see him wearing it. He reached for the ugly ruby and silver ring and stopped. this was the best ring he had ever seen and everyone should see him wearing it, but none of them would touch it or they would get cursed so bad. He shoved his hands in his pockets and huffed towards the main hall. Breakfast was just starting and he melted inside out of relief. Turning he headed for the spots of green where the slytherins sat. Stopping he put his head in his hands, how could he forget what house he was in? turning on the spot and flushing as red as the ring he headed for the yellow of hufflepuff. He found an empty spot and reached for some toast.

[word count=1218]

[caitlin m mcmanus]

The morning had come and Caitlin was not prepared for it. "Go away sun!!!!" Her whine was the last one as she was late getting up. Not too late, just the last girl in her dorm. With a sigh she rolled out of bed and let her pale bare feet hit the cold floor. The chill shot through her toes and she hopped around to her trunk to dig out her clothes. Raking out her red hair with her fingers, Caitlin stuck her feet into her shoes and continued to rub her eyes as she entered the common room. Most people had already left as she watched the O'Mara girl dart out of the room shouting something about chocolate pudding and sprinkles and something else that Caitlin assumed would give her cavities just for thinking about them. Never the less, with a yawn, Caitlin wandered to the hall and off to breakfast.

It took little effort to actually make it to a chair and start piling on food. She was never one to not like food and was always very pleased when it was served. Pulling forward a bowl and some grits she pilled on biscuits and eggs and an orange and plate of hash browns and two rashers of bacon, and to top it off, a cup of tea. She certainly knew what she liked. She was sitting mostly alone with a copy of the paper under her plate when a boy sat himself across from her. A few moments passed as she blinked at him and watched him pull up some toast.

She watched him for a while as he helped himself to the breakfast. He was Issac Sterling. They were in the same year and had mostly the same classes. She knew his name and knew of him. But she didn't know him. Caitlin believed you didn't actually KNOW a person until you actually talked to them more than once or twice and had actual conversations with them. That was after all why they called it "getting to know each other." But she did know him well enough to tell something was off. He seemed out of sync with himself. Maybe he'd been hexed on the way here? Perhaps he fell on some stairs. She'd done that before it was no fun. The thing she noticed next was what really set her mind in turn to ask questions.

He was wearing a large silver and ruby ring on his finger. It was very pretty and she found herself staring at it for a little while as he ate. Was that a design or writing? She couldn't tell without having a closer look. Blinking a little she realized she'd only been staring not eating or making it look like she WASN'T staring. With a little shake she looked down at her bowl and dipped the spoon into the mushy grits a few times over and watched the way it moved as she bit into a biscuit.

Her bluey green eyes glanced back up long enough to see him glancing at the ring now and then. She watched his face intently and puzzled over what could possibly be making him seem so off. "Ya okay there mate?" She picked up a clean empty cup and poured some nice warm tea for him and passed it his way. It was the nice thing to do when someone wasn't right. "I mean.. Are ya feelin' right?" Caitlin's eyes were locked onto his waiting for him to speak. If he was going to throw up or something...she wanted to be out of the line of fire. And a bit of her really did care if the boy was okay.

Word Count: 637! Not quite your 1218... but it'll do? LOL!
Outfit: Click me!
Comments: Yay for first posts with characters!!!!!

[issac sterling]

it took a moment for Issac to realize someone was talking to him. His stomach was growling madly and he felt like he was going to be sick. The toast on his plate was good, as always but it looked unappetizing at the moment. A cup of tea seemed to appear in front of him and he looked up. "Oh thanks" He said softly as he chewed some toast trying to make it go down without a fight. Looking up he saw the girl who had been talking to him. He didn't recall her face, but how he had to know her if she was in his house. "Um" He said, his brain working as fast as it could to figure out who she was. The effort of it was too much at the moment and he broke. "Who are you again? I don't mean to be rude but...I'm sorry I just don't remember." Issac could feel the heat on his face as he asked her. His eyes drifted down to his plate and the toast with a bite out of it. His stomach hated him, it couldn't make up it's mind if it wanted to be hungry or sick. "sorry I don't feel so good, and I had kind of a bad night, not much sleep you see." Issac decided it would be better if he just stopped talking right then and now.

An owl screeched overhead and dropped a letter on his lap. A letter from his mom and dad, and he smiled. He took the letter and slid it into the folds of his robe. this was private, and he didn't want anyone reading over his shoulder. As his hand slid from inside his robes the ring snagged. Damn, he was still wearing it. However as soon as the thought of removing it crossed his mind, it was gone replaced by the longing to keep it forever and never let anyone see it. He put his hands on his lap and stared at his plate.

Suddenly a thought crept into his mind, lessons. He didn't even know what day it was, let alone what homework he had from last night, not that he could remember anything but the white marble room and the ring. He looked from side to side for anyone he recognized, but nobody jumped out at him. A thread of panic hit him and he took a deep breath. Maybe he could skip lessons today, he was feeling sick after all. Come to think of it he didn't have his school bag. What was I doing in the white room? why can't I remember anything. He clenched his fists under the table still staring at his toast, the will to eat all but gone from his mind.

477 words

[caitlin m mcmanus]

"C-Caitlin... McManus.... " Perhaps she hadn't made as much 0f a name for herself as she would have liked to think. Blinking a few time she stared at him and set her spoon down in her bowl. "We been in the same house in the same year fer.... five years now.... Ya must of hit yer head!" She smiled at him sweetly and watched him for a moment or two.
He was an odd sort. Looking around like he didn't know where he was or who he was. Leaning forward she held the inside of her wrist to his forehead. "Bit clammy. Ya gonna be right? I can walk ya back up ta yer rooms if ya want? " The boy looked a bit peckish and Caitlin was a little unsure if she wanted to be in his germ area.

Returning to her breakfast she looked down at the table and a glint from his ring caught her eye. What the heck did that thing say? She squinted at it a little as she chewed on a bit of bacon. "Where... Where did you get that? You don't normally see boys our age wearing something like that." That seemed a little forward of her but she simply had to ask. Caitlin was a very curious girl who couldn't keep her wonderings to herself half the time.

word count: ew 241.. oh well LOL

[issac sterling]

Issac looked at the girl and down at his ring. "Oh this...um, I don't really know." He grew confused. "Why it's mine." narrowing his eyes at her he stood quickly. He had no idea what had come over him, and the motion of standing so quick made his stomach leap into his throat. He gagged and fell back into his seat, almost falling back over the bench. "I'm... I'm sorry Caitlin, I'm not myself today. Um, can you tell the professors I won't be in class today, I think I may go to the hospital wing." Issac stood once again, slowly. He walked a few paces towards the big door.

The room spun violently only a few steps from the table. what the hell was wrong with him? Issac had always been good, a nice guy and never went out of his way to make trouble. It embarrassed him to be making a fool of himself in the great hall, and gladly most students had left the hall. Issac glanced over at the Slytherin tables. A few of them were pointing at him, talking behind their hands. Before he knew it something hard slapped him in the face, and sluggishly he realized it was the floor. The thought crossed his mind, how dare you hit me like that floor! But as soon as it had happened it was gone and Issac closed his eyes feeling the cold stone on his face. It felt good, and he wanted to lay there for the rest of the day. What had made him so sick? Something in the pumpkin juice this morning? No he felt crappy before breakfast. What had happened to him? Was it something in the white marble room? He didn't have any idea and the effort of thinking made him hate thinking even more.

315

[caitlin m mcmanus]

Caitlin watched him get defensive then plop back down and a bit of a confused expression played across her face. That was odd but she decided to try and not think about it. As he mentioned the professors Caitlin blinked. The next few moments happened fairly quickly as he hit the floor. "Issac!!!" Her hands went to her mouth as she looked at him laying sprawled out on the floor. Poor bloke really needed some help.

Jumping up from the table she knelt beside him. He was sure to be really embarrassed by this. Looking around she glared at the people laughing and snickering. "Quit yer laughin' or I'll be hexin' all of ya jus' da same!!!" Her tone was firm and angry as she put her arms under his and hauled him off the floor. A nearby Ravenclaw boy helped her steady him but she reassured him that she could handle it from there. Once they were in the hall she practically fell into the wall but got his arm around her shoulders and onto a staircase. She took his face in her hands as she leaned him against the railing while she waited for the stair case to change directions. "Issac?? Ya sure are a mess! Ya didn't even know it was Saturday!"


Pulling a piece of parchment from her bag she starting fanning him off to give him a little more air. Her gentle hand brushed back a strand of hair from his face and she smiled. Poor kid He would have fallen down the stairs if he weren't careful. It was a good thing she was here to help him along.