The Rostical Users - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Old Lady: "Oh hello there, young man. You have such shiny brown hair, we are opening now." *She smiled.*

  Lance: "I'm sorry, I don't go for grannies."

  Old Lady: "My my, such full of life aren't you? My name is Madora, and welcome to my shop."

  Lance: "Uh OK.... Can I come in then?"

  Madora: "Sorry?" *She placed her hand around her ear, referring to the way Lance spoke to her.*

  Lance: "Gah-" *He paused and sighed.* "P-Please." *He awkwardly grunted and rolled his eyes.*

  Madora: "Of course." *She smiled and slowly walked inside the tent.*

  Lance: *He closely followed Madora, as he glanced around the store.* (Wow look at all this stuff, she has like bangles, rings, even headbands? I've never seen any stuff that looks like this before.)

  Madora: "I'll be a moment, so let me know if you want to purchase anything."

  Lance: "Ah yea, wateva." *He watched Madora disappear in a stock room at the back.*

  *Sounds of clocks clicking could be heard inside the tent.*

  Lance: (Wow-) *He staggered up to a table and stared at a metallic boomerang.* (I've got a whole room full of similar stuff, but nothing like this.)

  *A white light flickered in the corner of Lance's left eye.*

  Lance: (What was that?) *He walked around the table and inspected the origin of the light.*

  *Dust floated past Lance's face, as he slowly approached a table.*

  Lance: *He picked up a stone, as it was the only item on the table.* (Hmm it looks like a crystal, it's faded purple but. Why did it shine-?)

  *The dust slightly shined, as it floated past the stone.*

  Lance: (I don't know why, but something is telling me to get it.) *He gently placed the crystal back on the table and glanced around for Madora, causing the stone to shine again.*

  Madora: *She instantly stopped shuffling through papers and looked up with a shocked face.* (For a moment, I thought I felt Neurons?)

  Lance: "H-Huh?" *He looked down at the table and noticed numerous hieroglyphic drawings, which faded across the table.* "Kool!"

  Madora: "Oh dear-" (I must be getting tired.)

  Lance: *He quickly picked up the stone and shouted.* "Hey old lady I want this, hurry it up or I will just leave."

  Madora: *She quickly returned from the back and walked towards Lance.* "Oh? So what have you picked young one?"

  Lance: "This?"

  Madora: *She noticed the stone, causing her to stare at it with shock and disbelief.* "Oh my, you?!"

  Lance: *He gave Madora a feral look.* "Umm, do you want some time to yourself or somethin'?"

  Madora: "Sorry, you seemed like the type who would take their time. The stone, it contains all the Astragons."

  Lance: "Astragongs? Aye?"

  Madora: *She covered her mouth and coughed to clear her throat.* "I said, so is this all you want?"

  Lance: "Yea wateva, I just want this one." *He stared at the stone, as if he held his own heart in his hand.*

  Madora: *She awkwardly hesitated, as she stared at Lance and the stone.* "Of course." *She pressed items on the register and looked up at Lance.* "I was told that whoever purchases certain items here. I am to tell them a special riddle, depending on the item of choice." *Her voice became serious.*

  Lance: *He ignored her, as he was fixated on the stone.* "Oh OK, sure let's hear it, granny." *He moved the stone up and down.*

  Madora: *She sighed at Lance's child-like attitude.* "Well this item's riddle says-"

  Lance: "Get to it."

  Madora: "The heart of an outsider's love will purify the poison with the last shine of light dispersing all of evil's last hope."

  Lance: "Ah what the eff!? Maybe I got too excited."

  Madora: "Sorry-?"

  Lance: "Love will purify the light dispersing evil? This seems like bullshit, here is the money, I'm outta here." *He threw the money onto the counter and made a hasty exit.*

  Madora: "Thanks for coming." *She stood behind the counter and smiled as Lance left.*

  Lance: *He angrily stormed across the park.* (The nerve of that old fart, taking me for a fool!)

  Madora: (Well after several years of waiting-) *She paused with a smile.* (It seems it finally will begin-)

  Lance: *He frowned child-like and stopped.* "No, I'm gonna complain!"

  Madora: (If things don't go the way they are foretold. The land will end up like this place.)

  Lance: "Ya know, you shouldn't mess with customers-" *He angrily turned around and noticed her tent was no longer there.*

  Man: *He read the newspaper on a park bench and noticed Lance, staring at the vacant space with a dumbfounded look.* (Kids these days get weirder and weirder.)

  Lance: (What? It's not there?!)

  *Sweat dripped down Lance's forehead, causing him to flick it off with his finger.*

  Lance: (It's freaking hot it must be the weather-)

  Man: *He stared at Lance walk across the park with an emotionless face.* (Weirder and weirder.) *He shook his head and continued to read the newspaper.*

  Lance: (I better hurry up and get to work before Ashton has another pointless sook.) *The air in the distance appeared to warp, due to the hot weather.*

  ----------

  *Lance stood outside Fast Food Enterprise and sighed, before opening the door.*

  Lance: *He stepped inside and instantly felt cool air brush past him.* (That's better.) *He noticed Ashton standing with his arms folded and his face filled with disappointment.* (He doesn't look happy-)

  Ashton: "Lance! I will not accept this." *He stormed across the dining room and up to Lance.* "I was made to look like a fool in front of Tyler and Twortz."

  Lance: "Why does it matter?" *He spoke as if he didn't care.*

 

  Ashton: "It matters because I'm the one who suggested promoting you. I really don't know why you are my best friend sometimes!"

  Lance: *He picked up several napkins to wipe the sweat off his face.* "So wat, I ain't gonna get promoted?"

  Ashton: *He sighed and looked away.* "Lance-"

  Lance: "Well?"

  Ashton: "Well luckily for you Twortz said, since you are our best worker Ashton, I will let this no show slide. If he wants this position let him know that myself and a few other employees will be here tonight. We will begin the assessment then."

  Lance: "OK-"

  Ashton: "You are so lucky."

  Lance: "I'm sorry, Ashton."

  Ashton: "One of these days I won't forgive you.. What flaming fudge were you doing anyway? I was calling non-stop?"

  Lance: "Ah, I, umm? Overslept. I'm sorry, man.... And thanks for sticking up for me." *He threw the napkins in the bin.*

  Ashton: *He sighed and adjusted his belt.* "If you don't turn up tonight I won't forgive you." *His voice was stern and his face filled with seriousness.*

  Lance: "Yea, I will."

  Ashton: "Well I have rosters to do so I'll be on the computer all day. Come back at around nine thirty?"

  Lance: "Yea kool, I'll see you then."

  *Ashton nodded his head and quietly walked back behind the counter to the office. Lance turned around and walked to the door.*

  Lance: (Oh no-) *He stopped and sighed, realising he had to walk all the way back to his house in the heat. He opened the door and hot air engulfed him.*

  Tyler: *He eavesdropped on Lance and Ashton's conversation, as he spied through a display cabinet.* (Why is Lance Ashton's best friend?)

  Lance: (I suppose this is karma.) *He sighed and braced himself, as he took a few steps outside.*

  Tyler: (He always hinders Ashton's performance....)

  ----------

  Lance: *He slammed open the front door and slouched with a red sweaty face.* "Is anyone home!?"

  *Silence filled the house, causing Lance to sigh.*

  Lance: *He took one step at a time, as if it was a chore to move his legs.* (Too hot, tired-)

  *Lance flicked a switch on the wall, activating the roof
fan before stumbling up to his bed.*

  Lance: (Sleep, TV, eat?) *Before he made a decision he dozed off, exhausted.*

  ----------

  *A man yelled down the street, causing Lance to gasp into a dark room from his nap. Lance struggled to get out of bed and grunted, as he tried to manoeuvre around the pitch black room.*

  Lance: *He managed to turn on the light and noticed the clock.* "Oh man." *He cracked his back and scratched his head.* "Eight thirty two." (Just under an hour to get ready and walk there.) *He opened the door, which made a faint squeak sound.*

  *Something vibrated in his pocket, which caused him to pull out the stone.*

  Lance: (Weird?) *He went to the laundry and picked up the clothes.* (Looks like I'm wearing what I wore on Monday.)

  *Kairi and Luna were in a conversation, as Lance made his way to the shower.*

  Lance: *He stripped off and turned on the shower.* (Ah what a boring day, seriously.) *He placed the stone on the sink and he stared at himself in the mirror.* (I have such a weird feeling. I've never felt like this before.)

  Kairi: *She knocked on the door.* "Are you okay in there, hun?"

  Lance: "Wateva, go away." *He stepped into the shower.*

  Kairi: "Okay."

  Luna: "I'm freakin' serious, all these lights spiralled out of the door."

  Kairi: "Shh, it's okay." *She walked up to Luna and hugged her.*

  Lance: *He turned the shower off and looked at himself in the mirror, as it slowly fogged up. He quietly stood on the spot, as Madora's voice echoed in his head.* (The heart of an outsider's love will purify the poison with the last shine of light dispersing all of evil's last hope.)

  *Cheers could be heard outside, which filled Lance with excitement.*

  Lance: *He chuckled and shook his head.* (Stupid crazy old fart.) *As he changed, he gazed upon the stone with a guilty face.* (I will show Ashton the cool crystal.. I will tell him the truth about the no show.) *He opened the door and walked down the hallway.*

  Kairi: "Where are you going?" *She spoke in a curious tone.*

  Lance: "I'm off to work." *He walked past her.*

  Kairi: "I thought it was your day off?"

  *Lance ignored her and slammed the front door, as he jogged his way to work.*

  Kairi: *She sighed and went into the bathroom.* (He is twenty one and he still writes on the mirror?) *She sighed again and reached for a cloth.*

  *Firework-like rumbles echoed outside, followed by cheers of excitement.*

  Kairi: *She started to wipe off the hieroglyphs on the fogged up mirror.* (Wait a minute.. These glyphs!?!) *She gasped and stepped back.*

  Luna: *She heard Kairi gasp, which caused her to mute the TV.* "Wat's wrong?"

  Lance: (Hah, I see it.) *He noticed the roof of his work, causing him to jog faster.*

  *Excitement filled the atmosphere, as if it was a holiday at Dee Highs. There were posters, bulletins, news stands, radio adverts, mostly all media outlets, advertising the arrival of Sceldrant's Comet.*

  Lance: *He walked past a group of kids holding glow sticks and shirts with the words 'Sceldrant's Comet' on them.* (The store's closed a little early tonight-)

  Guy: "Yeah! I'm Sceldrant's Comet!" *He spun in circles pretending to be a plane.*

  Lance: *He let himself into the store through the back door and walked into the break room to find everyone in multiple conversations.* "Wow, everyone's lookin' all fancy, it feels like we're going out or somethin'."

  Tyler: *He turned around and stared at Lance with disgust.* "You're so immature, Lance."

  Lance: "You're like, so immature, Lance." *He pretended to be an idiot, as he mimicked Tyler.*

  Tyler: *He rolled his eyes and scratched several pimples on his face.* "Idiots say what."

  Lance: "Wat did you say, your highness?!" *Sweat dripped off his face and on to the floor.*

  Tyler: "Eww, is that what someone looks like if they don't have their driver's licence?" *He raised his nose and stormed out of the room.*

  Lance: "I need to find the right drivin' school!" *He yelled out, as he watched Tyler walk away.*

  Rachael: *She snickered.* "So anyway, how have you been, Lance?" *She walked up to him.* "I haven't worked with you in ages."

  Lance: "I'm off the floor, gettin' trained up to be your boss." *He poked out his tongue.*

  Rachael: *She rolled her eyes and silently left the room.* (I don't know what Ashton sees in that fool.) *She grunted, as she climbed up a ladder to the roof.*

  Twortz: *She left the manager's office and walked past the break room, noticing Lance.* "Oh, Lance!" *She sounded surprised.* "Too bad you weren't able to make it today."

  Lance: "O-Oh hello, yea.." *He nervously chuckled and looked to each side.*

  *Melinda slid down the ladder and rushed into the room.*

  Twortz: *She faced Melinda with urgency.* "What's the rush, Melinda?"

  Melinda: "Come quick, guys! Mum said it will happen in ten minutes!" *She jumped up and down on the spot in excitement.*

  Twortz: "Ten minutes?" *She sounded excited, while keeping a professional-like expression.*

  Melinda: "I will see you both up there." *She turned off her phone and ran out of their sight.*

  Twortz: "We'll begin the management induction once all this comes to pass, understood?"

  Lance: "Yea, sure thing, Twotters."

  Twortz: "What?"

  Lance: "I said, we need new lockers."

  Twortz: "Let's go." *She coughed and faced the ladder.*

  Lance: "Yea!" *He rudely power walked in front of Twortz and climbed up the ladder first.*

  Twortz: *She climbed the ladder in thought.* (With this comet, it's going to be very busy tomorrow.)

  Lance: *He popped his head up and noticed Rachael looking through a telescope at the sky.* (Wow, the sky-) *He thought in a condescending tone, watching Melinda gloat about her mother to Rachael.* (Who cares-) *He noticed Ashton reading a book, as he waited for the comet.* "Oi."

  Ashton: "Good grief, it's Lance and Twortz!" *He put the book down, quickly helping Lance and Twortz up from the ladder.*

  Twortz: "Ah, thank you, Ashton."

  Ashton: *He smiled, watching Twortz brush dirt off her hands.* "Any time."

  Lance: *He took off his backpack, holding it in one hand.* "Well, I'm here."

  Ashton: "Thank you for coming, Lance."

  Lance: "Yea, it was nothin', aye." *He walked over to the ledge of the roof and unzipped the backpack, revealing a carton of eggs.* (Aha, you little shits are going to get it-)

  *Ashton nudged Lance, knocking the carton and eggs onto the ground.*

  Lance: "But-" *He looked down to his feet and stared at the cracked eggs with disappointment.*

  Ashton: "Unacceptable!"

  Lance: (Well there goes the fun.) *As he zipped up the bag, the stone shined in his face.* (Oh, the crystal-) "Hey, Ash."

  Ashton: "What is it?" *He walked over to Lance.*

  Lance: "Well-" *He paused, nervously sighing to himself.*

  Melinda: "Oh my gosh!-" *She spoke on her breath, staring at the sky in disbelief.*

  Lance: "Wat I really did today was-" *He was interrupted by loud screams and yells in the background.*

  Melinda: "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! You can see it in the far distance!"

  *Rachael and Melinda jumped up holding each other's hands in excitement.*

  Tyler: *He stared at the comet with his mouth open in amazement.* "..."

  Ashton: "Tell me after this, yeah?" *He gazed upon the red dot, as he walked up to Melinda.* "Excuse me? Do you mind if I take a look?"

  Lance: "Wateva." *He mumbled and folded his arms like a child.*

  Melinda: "Go ahead, that's why I brought it hehe."

  Ashton: *He closed one eye and looked through the telescope.* (Wow, I've never seen flames swirl like that.)

  Rachael: "Could I take a look please?"

  Ashton: "Sure-" *He smiled and stepped to the side.*

  Rac
hael: "Hehe, thanks." *She smirked and leant forward into the telescope.* "It's so pretty."

  Twortz: "Hmm?" *She looked up to the sky and stared at the dot.* "What's so special about a comet?"

  Rachael: "Take a look and see for yourself." *She moved her hands and presented the telescope to Twortz.*

  Twortz: "Okay, if you insist." *She stepped forward and looked through the telescope.*

  Melinda: "Well?"

  Ashton: "The fire is amazing, you agree with me?"

  Twortz: "The comet looks like it has markings on it, like pictures or drawings." *Her constant bored face changed into astonishment.*