The Eye Of Mort / Part One

I used to think turtles were awesome, but now I don’t. Somehow throughout my life seeing such amazing creatures wander around gave me such amazement. Now, I see them as just creatures and when you hear my story you won't like them either. 1

It happened on a small farm out in a village where I used to live. It always seemed pleasant and happy, mostly because it was always sunny and surrounded by family. We had lived there for almost six years, since my eldest brother was born. I was the youngest in my family, the tomgirl, the fighter and the escape artist. Though the large house had two stories, the height couldn't keep me from climbing down and running off into the dark forests. Places I was forbidden to go, places where magic existed and where fear grew hungry in the night. In a world full of terror and horror there's always one place that is peaceful. To me the world of my family was terror, that was my horror. The cool, sweet song of the dark forest was my peace. 2

Did I have a dark heart? Possibly. 3

Was I always this cold? Never. 4

My parents had made me so. The constant chattering about my sisters and brothers, how well they were doing, where they were going with their lives and then me, poor little me... the child who couldn't write well, spell well or even learn well. To them I was the child with the least talent, the less heart or the worst mind. I wasn't loved by them, I was tolerated. Was this all true? You'll have to believe me, if you'd lived it you would know. 5

In the dark I felt like myself, I could be however I wanted do whatever I wanted. My blonde hair could just dim down to a dark brown, like my families hair. My eyes, bright blue, would turn black with the night. I would be the same here, normal. 6

I would leave my house and run into the woods, my short pants brushing against the leaves, my blonde hair floating in the wind. I had secrets, things I didn't want people to know... yet. Soon I would reveal them, soon they would know what is was to fear me. To see me coming from a distance of cold, dark ash. 7

This forest had no name, it was just land and nothing more. To me, however, someone very special lived within these hollow trees, this thick, dark air. Who was that? Well, it would be Mort. Such a weak name I know, but Mort was more powerful than he looked. When I was little I found him, as odd as it was I caught him in the middle of a kill. He had caught an enemy warrior and was plunging his sword deep into his heart when I first met him. I hid behind the bushes watched him as he let his ghastly beast devour the human corpse. This was the reason I hated turtles. You see, Mort was a Toad Charmer, a man of swamp and lake. His toads and turtles were huge and obeyed his every word. Unlike the sweet little swimmers we see in our country lakes, these turtles of his were killers and meat eaters, and they liked human for breakfast. If Mort had not fallen in love with me I'm sure that I would have been dessert. Mort was handsome, a strong chin, sweet facial features.. very feminine looking but still strong. His black hair swept across his eyes and fell in layers around his chin. His eyes, green as jade, were empowering to me. I felt safe with Mort, loved even; but as much as Mort loved me he resented showing it. I think he felt guilty because he never aged and he was almost three hundred years old and I was only seventeen. Perhaps apart of him disapproved of his actions, his affections for me; but then why did he continue to train me? Why did he keep me around? Was it for love? I couldn't quite be sure, but that day I ran away into the forest for my training was the day I despised Turtles, forever. 8

“Masori, you're late.” chuckled Mort. 9

“I know,” I said, breathless.10

“Well, are you ready?” he asked annoyed. 11

“More ready than I'll ever be..” I sighed. 12

He looked at me rather oddly, as if to say “You'll never guess what's coming next.” My eyes searched his body, his clothes were the same, his hair, the same, everything about him was identical as it always was. What was the surprise? What had changed? 13

“Today you fight Mikamaru, he will decide whether you are done with your training or not. Be wary, my love, for Mikamaru is poisonous, and though you know my feelings I may not be able to bring you back if you sink too deeply.” 14

His words hit me like ice, a feeling I knew all too well. He was serious too, never had he called me “My Love” this was indeed a bad situation. Doubts and regrets suddenly warped my mind. 15

Run, run, run! shouted my thoughts, but my legs stood completely still. I had taken a defensive position and was readying myself for what might be the toughest battle yet. 16

“Ready?” Mort asked, crossing his arms. 17

“Yes..” I whispered, barely audible to a human. 18

From across the clearing came an enormous turtle, dark green and tattooed with symbols and ancient words. His shell was polished and shined in the sunlight which peeked through the trees. 19

“Danje Ka, Child.” he cackled, his dialect I didn't understand nor heard of. He spoke with a deep rasp in his voice, and dug his claws into the ground as he walked forward. To the contrary his speed was amazing, he appeared behind me almost instantly. Waving his huge paw out towards me, slashing into the nearby trees. His sheer force brought them down into a row and left a dust cloud behind. I jumped across the branches above and ducked in the dark. I needed time to assess the situation, what were his abilities? Could he use magic? These were the things I didn't know. I jumped down bringing out my sai's and pulling them into a guarding position before me. I slashed at Mikamaru with all my strength, I put all my speed into my attacks. To my demise none of my attacks made contact, they were dodged and blocked. He swiped at me a couple more times, I knew I couldn't let his claws touch me. They could be poisoned, and if they were I was a goner. I used a wind spell I was familiar with and used it to my advantage. I let it pick me up and glide me onto his back. My sword reached his throat, but before I could deliver a blow I was being smashed into a nearby tree. My breath left me and I gasped for air. I landed sideways onto the ground, the sickening sound of my bones cracking sent chills up and down my spine. The pain was horrifying, but still I stood and faced my enemy. I waited a moment for my breath to return, then I attacked again this time using sure footing and going to the side and around. I attacked with the same speed as before, I couldn't let him see my weaknesses. He fought me for a few more minutes, had I known then what I know now I would have bowed out before it was over. Sadly, I possessed no particle of hindsight and in my dodging and blocking he surprised me. I wave of ash gray air floated around me, it smelled like sulfer but tasted like iron. My body began to shake and shiver, my head throbbed while my fingers went numb. He had poisoned me, and now I was slowly drifting off into the abyss. I don't know how long I was out, but I do know that the whole time I was regretting ever liking turtles. Especially since this one turned out to be such a maniac. 20

I woke up two days later bandages on me and head pounding. Mort, god rest his soul, was asleep in a chair by my bed. His odd behavior was beginning to worry me. He had never shown that he cared, at all, his only clue to his love for me was the smiles and he lone rose his left in my window. 21

“Mort?” I said softly, my throat a little sore. 22

He roused a moment, then drifted back to sleep. 23

I sat up, feeling no pain and no dizziness. I wrote a letter explaining my actions and why, dressed and left. I wandered for awhile, stopping in some small villages for a night then moving on. I always felt like I was being watched though. I would turn to look and see no one, but I felt this warm feeling brush past me. It was eerie and scary at times. It was only months later that I saw it for the first time, a bright blue eye hovering in the sky. 24

“Mort?” I whispered.25

The eye was his, familiar as I could see the specks of green in it. However, something was different... the eye carried about it an angry feeling. I guess he should have been angry, I left so quickly and without even saying goodbye. 26

“Mort?” I said my voice louder, more confident. 27

The eye blinked and I felt a shift in the world, everything suddenly became muted, brownish in color until finally turning gray. The people around me moved so slow, I thought I must have been moving very fast. As I looking around me I noticed a figure forming behind me. As I turned I could see Mort's familiar face, his eyebrows formed into a sneer. 28

“Where am I?” I asked suddenly. 29

“In my world, of dark and light; the rules of earth don't apply here. Your mind is here, your body is not.” he said, his voice a dead tone. 30

My heart quickened, I feared his next words. What would he say? 31

“This world will be yours from now on, forever and ever. You can never go back or move forward in time. You will watch the world around you move as slow as a second at a time. Your age will creep upon you, each heartbeat will be so slow that you'll barely catch each breath. This is the punishment for abandoning me, for leaving me when I cared for you most.” 32

I attempted to argue but he disappeared before I could say anything. 33

So, now do you see why I hate turtles, my former lover and life itself? Why I am so cold hearted, why I fear men and the world? Now you understand. For years, I think, I spent in that world just watching the world go by slowly. The ache of my legs and my body was agony for all those years. My body aged, and I watched as each cell turned and become deformed into the old hag which now resides in this world. How to escape? I know not of a way, only Mort knew and I'm sure he's long dead and gone now. I have no idea where I am, where I've been or who walks around me. I just know that I've lost my mind and have wasted very little time tell you this tale. 34

But wait, this is not the end. No, my journey does not end here. This is only the beginning.