TToG:Prolouge Pt2 The Pub

I go out of the place I was in, and find myself in a huge area.


"Alright, I made it out of that clearing...maybe there's a village somewhere nearby?"

I go northeast until I see a small town. Excelent.

"Oh wow...this village is so small. But...it's the only place for miles.
I should ask around and see just where I am...and how to get back!"

I think i should save... Saved....

I go east until I see a girl running around. I run after her, and finnaly catches up to her...

She turns around.

"Hi! I'm not supposed to talk to strangers!"

She gets ready to run off again.

"Oh! I'm sorry, but I'm lost, do you know where I can find
someone to talk to?" I quickly ask.

She thinks a bit, then she answers:

"Um...You should ask in that big building with the sign!
They might know!
Bye Stranger!"

I look after her, running around, and smiles a bit.

"Well...it's as good a lead as any...I really do need to find a way back.
Or at least a decent pair of shoes...strange, the ground is awfully clean around here...

I turn against the building the little girl talked about. Over the door it is a sign. It says: "Pub".
Well, I should go in, I suppose....

The room is filled with awfully high music. Ugh! I try talking to the one playing the piano. He
won't even look away from the piano! How rude!

I try talking to one of the sailors... He won't turn away...
he's entranced just like the others! Strange...

I walk to a man with a strange hat...
It looks like the hats we are given when we graduate from our training...

"What are you doing here? I've never seen you before..
are you an Outsider?!" He says.

What does he mean?

"Um...I'm not sure...I'm not from around here if that's what you mean..."

He looks at me as if I were some kind of weird creature...What's going on?

"An Outsider...it's been a very long time...hm, well
I know what I need to do. Good day."

He says, and walks out from the pub. How strange.

I walk up to the other side of the table, where some kind of sailor is.
"Excuse me! Excuse me, sir? Can i ask you a question?" I ask.
He keeps looking at the stage, but looks a bit at me and says:
"Ask quickly, I'm quite busy at the moment. If I don't keep an eye on the men
they may rush the stage again...and the last thing we need is being banned!"

"Oh I'm sorry, listen my name is Lyra
and I'm lost. Can you tell me where I am?" I ask

He looks a bit alarmed.

"An Outsider! Oh it's been such a long time...
mmm, yes..."

Why does everyone keep calling me that? This is a bit scary...

"Erm...well that's what everyone keeps calling me, but-" I begin, but get's interupted.

"Relax...you've found where you belong. Yes..soon you'll understand.
They always find the Outsiders. Just stay and relax." he says.

"I uh..." I say.

I want to run out of the Pub and never look back..but for some reason the longer I stay
in the pulsing lights, the harder it is to consider leaving.

I want to leave but...for some reason I just can't make my feet cross the threshold!

I might well do as he says...relax...

I go to the barkeeper.

He looks at me and grins in a way that gives me the creeps!.

"Welcome..this is Knismesis Pub..you look like an outsider...heheh...We don't get
a lot of your kind around here. Why don't I give you a drink, on the house?"

"Um...I don't know if I should..."I say.

He grins even wider.

"Oh, I insist."

I don't want the drink, but as he slides it to me, the lights flashing around me
seem to compel me to take a sip. A sip quickly turns into a gulp, and soon I've downed
the entire beverage. I feel... lightheaded and bubbly.

The world is flashing by...flashing...flashing...

"That's better, enjoy yourself. They'll be by to collect you soon. Heheh!" he says.

Collect...What does he mean...?

"Oh...okay..."I say.

"Why don't you go talk to my friend in the bunny ears?
She might let you be part of the show...in fact, I know she will!" He says.

I grin and nod, the room spinning around me.
What harm could it be to join in the show?
Everyone else seems to think it's the greatest thing ever...

As everything goes by, I walk up on stage, and talks to the closest one.

"Hey cutie...ooh, I don't think I've seen you around before. Are you an...Outsider?" She asks.

I sway from side to side, moving to the beat of the music. With a lopsided grin, I
slowly nod. The dancer giggles, and grabs my hand,
leaning close and giving me a soft kiss on the nose.

"Ooh, I think I know who gets to be the star today!
Would you like to be in the show?"

With a grin, I nod and the dancer giggles. She takes my hand as the music begins to die down.

"Ladies and gentleman! It's time for the show to begin! Take your seats and watch closely!" She says.

I rub my head, still feeling a bit unsteady. As I look up,
I notice the other waitresses coming toward me.
While the first beams at the crowd, the newcomers grab me
and gently lead me to the chair against the wall
Still dizzy, I only watch in amazement as they tie my wrists to the arms of the chair
and tie my ankles to the stool in front of it.
I blink, confused at just what they intend to do with me. What kind of show is this?

"It's time for a very special treat! Our show today is called..."Tickle the Outsider!"" She says.

"Wait..what? Tickle? M-me?" I say.

Now I'm scared!

"That's right! Let's find out just how ticklish the cute Outsider is!" She continues.

No!

I squirm, suddenly wide awake, as the waitress come closer.
With a mischievous grin she lightly scratches her nail up my helpless bare foot.
Still a tad drunk, I let out a startled giggle the instant the digit touches my soft sole.
The crowd grows wilder, sitting on the edge of their seats.
The waitress to my left giggles and leans in, parting my tattered shirt
and gently trailing a finger across my now exposed belly.
I squeal and wiggle in my seat, but the ropes hold strong. The last waitress,
wearing the same predatory grin as the others, reaches out and drags a fingernail
down my bare thigh. The roar of the crowd drowns out my panicked laugh.

"Ooh, we've got a live one, folks! Now let's really make this Outsider squeal!" She says.

No please!

"No wait! Don't tickle me!" I shout.

The waitresses ignore me, and the crowd seems to love my begging.
Now three sets of devious claws descend on my helpless body.
The first waitress spiders her fingers up and down the soles
of my frantically wiggling feet,
chasing my flexing toes and digging into the spaces between them.
The waitress on my left kneads my belly with a virtuous patience
and determination. Every squeeze exactly the same strength as the last,
moving in an unreadable pattern across my quaking belly. The third waitress
grins viciously as she attacks my thighs. raking her fingernails up and down the helpless
flesh, she giggles along with every twitch and jerk, laughing out loud as I
bounce my legs fruitlessly. I squeeze my eyes shut and thrash back and forth, my hair flying
and tears starting to form in my eyes. It seems no matter what I say or do,
the tickling only gets worse.

This is torture!

"NO! HAHAHAH! STHAHAHAP! PLEEHEHEHASE
PLEASHEHEHAAHAHAH! STAHAHAHP! NOOHO MOHOHORE!"

But my pleas do nothing but make the crowd even more excited!
And every cry for mercy only further invigorates the tickling spirit
of my tormentors. They redouble their efforts, tickling my arches in fast,
light strokes, poking and prodding my quivering belly button,
and squeezing and scratching my bouncing knees!

"I CHAHAAHN'T TAKAHAHAHATAKE ANEEHEH
ANY MORE! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Please...someone...help...

The room begins spinning, the throbbing,
pulsing lights start to mix together.
My head sways from side to side, and my laughter seems disconnected to my body.
All seems lost until...

???:"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" A strong voice roars.

The crowd goes silent and the waitresses stops abruptly,
turning to face the newcomers.

Puh...oh...

"Oh thank God... thank God...." I say.

???:"Quiet, Outsider! You! Tell me what is the meaning of this?" The man says.

The waitress:"C-Captain...it was... well you see..this..this is an Outsider!
It was time for our show and-" She begins.

Captain:"You filthy gluttons make me sick.
The law states that all Outsiders are to be reported
to the Guard immediately! I will be having an investigation
of this establishment later." the Captain says.

She looks at him in fright.

"C-CAPTAIN! You...You can't!" She says.

He looks at her in a strict way.

"Can't I? I will see you this evening at the Prison.
You'll learn exactly what I can and cannot do." He says.

She gets even more frightened

"No! Please Captain! Please no...n..."

She falls silent as the captain eyes her with a fiery glare.
I swallow hard when that glare is turned to me.
He marches forward, shoving the waitress out of the way.

"Outsider, speak your name, now!" Captain says.

This is so scary! Why am being hated like that?

"I...m-my name is Lyra..." I stutter.

He looks like he is thinking.

"Hn, that's an odd name. Regardless, you will come with me at once." He says.

"S-sir! I'm lost, and I want to leave but, I don't know where I am! Could you just..."
I begin.

"You will come with me, do you understand?" Captain says.

"Y...yes sir..." I stutter.

As he drags me out of the Pub, and into a strange building past some guards,
I begin wondering about everything rushing throught my head...

What is going on here?

Why is everyone calling me an Outsider?

Why am I a kind of enemy?

Will I ever get out safe?

Or get home again?