As she walks (open)

[jess4ever]

Rachel walked down the corridors of the magestic school, running her hand along the cool wall. This day had been hideous. First she had gotten into a fight with this dreadful girl who wasn't worth her time, and clearly an idiot, and then she had received a letter from her parents saying they were coming home a month later than planned. She narrowed her eyes. After all she had been through, they thought leaving her was a great solution? Typical. But, as a Mason, she'd get even eventually. Rachel wasn't one to forgive and forget.

As she walked down the long hall she couldn't help but wondering what her parents were doing. Were they thinking about what she thought about them staying? She knew that of course they would be. She just hoped they felt suitably guilty. Rachel wondered if the girl she had fought with felt guilty. She hadn't ruined Rachel's day; the fight had been a welcome distraction, and Rachel had of course won, but Rachel hoped she was crippled with guilt about insulting her. Rachel didn't like being insulted.

Suddenly she stopped. A student was approaching. Rachel thought she recognised the person, but it was impossible to place them in such a big school. Wondering if she should talk to them or not, she figured she had nothing else to do, and if the student was stupid, she could just leave them.
"Hi there," she greeted.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Dixie hadn't spoken to Adam in awhile, she had just returned to Hogwarts for a couple of nights and then would be attending the New Years party. Dixie sighed and ran her fingers through her long brown hair as she made her way through the corridors. She didn't know where she wanted to go. She was a free spirit, let to wander the corridors until she picks a destination. Her heeled suede boots carried her across the stone flooring, her eyes were straight ahead. Nothing was crossing her gaze, nothing was worthy enough to be seen. Dixie was in a rare mood, it was one of those days where she felt she was a Queen and people should be aware of it. For the past few weeks, she had been happy and quite nice but only to one person. Only to Adam. In such a short time, Adam had become her whole world and that was kind of scary.

Dixie crossed her arms over her chest and continued to walk down the corridors, her black beaded necklace swaying as much as it could. There was only the clicking sound of her heels, that was until some girl greeted her. Dixie stopped walking, her arms dropping to her sides. Her eyes riddled with confusion, but it slowly faded into agitation, "Hi."

[jess4ever]

Rachel raised her eyebrows at the girl's agitation. Didn't she know who she was talking to? Perhaps she was older, but that was no excuse for acting like Rachel's friendliness was something that was given away freely. If this girl thought she was too good for Rachel, she had another thing coming. Rachel looked her up and down. The girl was a Slytherin, and at least three or four years older. She had long brown hair, while rather plain, was pretty in its own way. Her appearance was acceptable, but her attitute wasn't.

Rachel decided that unless the girl apologised immediately, she was going to have a lot of fun tormenting her. Smiling brightly, Rachel walked closer.
"I'm Rachel Mason. Pleased to meet you."

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Dixie raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. She could see the arrogance on this girl’s face, and immediately knew she was just another rich brat who thought the world revolved around her. This girl was in for a rude awakening come her fifth and sixth year. When the girl said she was pleased to meet Dixie and introduced herself as Rachel Mason. “It’s a pleasure, I’m sure.” She muttered though with smooth elegance. Dixie looked down at the girl with a small smirk on her lips, “I’m Dixie Holden.” She said as an introduction. She knew what was going through this girl’s mind. She knew that she was thinking just because Dixie was older, just because she had more years of experience, she still wasn’t worthy of her. And perhaps that were true, but also, perhaps it were not. See, Dixie had been the same way when she was younger and naïve. She grew up and soon began to realize the whole world didn’t revolve around her but there were people who did have their world centered on her. And after awhile, that grew boring and Dixie wanted out.

“Look, uh, not to be rude or anything but I didn’t have chatting with a third year or somewhat on my agenda for today.” Dixie watched the girl with curiosity. How much did this girl actually thing she knew and how much did she actually believe was real about her life? Dixie wondered if the girl would ever grow up or if she would be pathetic always.

[jess4ever]

"That's not a very nice thing to say," Rachel said, smiling.
"Surely I am not that beneath you that you cannot talk to me for a few minutes," she purred. She was having a blast. The girl seemed to think that she was above Rachel in some way, whether because she was older, or more "mature", but Rachel was determined to milk this for all it was worth. She knew Dixie wouldn't stay very long, her dislike of Rachel apparent on her face, but Rachel didn't care. As long as she was here, she was going to have fun.
"So, Dixie, tell me about yourself. Have any brothers or sisters? A boyfriend?" She asked, raising her eyebrow cheekly. The more uncomfortable Dixie became, the better.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Dixie rolled her eyes upward as if to ask God for mercy, “No, pet, I don’t think you’re beneath me. I just don’t have the time to talk to anyone at the moment. I have places to be and more important people to see.” This Rachel girl seemed to think she was toying with Dixie and all she really was doing was annoying her and making her late for her sketching. Her eyes looked back at the young girls as she started to ask questions. Dixie sighed and crossed her arms across her chest again, “Fine. I’ll humor you. Hopefully then you’ll go away. I have one sister, Mackenzie, and a step-brother, Trevor. As for a boyfriend, no, I do not have a boyfriend. However, I do have a really good friend who is a boy.”

She raised an eyebrow slightly. This girl seemed to think that she could play with Dixie and get under her skin. Dixie had more collect than that. After all, she was a Queen of Slytherin and… sadly but usefully… she was schizophrenic. If she really wanted this girl to buzz off she could just start talking to herself. Dixie pressed her hand to her forehead lightly and decided that will be used as a last resort. “Is there anything else you need to know, pet? Or can I go?”

[jess4ever]

Rachel watched as Dixie pressed a hand to her forehead.
"You're quite boring then, aren't you?" She chirped. In fact, this whole conversation was boring. There was no use toying with people if they didn't have anything to say. And this Dixie girl had nothing to say. Raising her eyebrows, she decided to continue being annoying. She didn't care if Dixie didn't like her; she just wanted some entertainment.

"No, you can't go yeeetttt! I want to know all about your "friend" that's a boy! Is he cute? Hmmm. I have a friend that's a boy who's cute. But I don't really like him. He's kind of, well, annoying. And he's quite mean, too. I hate mean people. Do you hate mean people?" Rachel flashed a big grin and tossed her hair back ditzily. Even if Dixie left now it would be worth it- her frustration alone from before was funny.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Dixie laughed, "If only you knew the half of it, you wouldn't be calling me boring." Dixie's smile dimmed a bit, but she still held a smirk on her face. Really, this girl was kind of sad and Dixie pitied her. Here she was, asking questions of Dixie and hasn't offered any information about herself. Her home life must not be acceptable to her then. Oh, poor baby. If Dixie really wanted to make her cry, she could. She had that kind of power. She didn't like to hand it out though. She was reasonable. Dixie sighed and changed her gaze from Rachel to the window. A bird flew by and Dixie watched the sky for a moment. At least, until an annoying voice pulled her back. What I would kill for Kurr to reappear at this moment. "What is there to know? Yeah, Adam's good looking. Once you hit the age of sixteen you tend to drop the word 'cute' from your vocabulary unless you're using it to describe an animal or outfit."

"And if this friend of yours is annoying, I think you two would make a perfect match. As for hating mean people, I guess I hate those who use their meanness as if it were a toy or a weapon." Dixie raised an eyebrow at Rachel and waited for anything more.

[jess4ever]

Rachel smirked when she heard Dixie's retorts. She loved getting under people's skin, and it seemed like she was really getting under Dixie's skin. Any assumptions Dixie was making, Rachel was embracing - one day she would prove that having her as an enemy was a very, very bad idea. Any power Dixie had, Rachel had double, but she wasn't about to relinquish that information to Dixie just then. Rachel wanted Dixie to think she was just another stupid girl, who had nothing special about her.

Rachel was quite bored today.

"I suppose maybe we would make a good couple. I mean, he's not in our house or anything, and he's mean, but he has a lot of other stuff going for him. You know, he's quite rich. I'm rich too. Are you rich?" She asked, grinning inwardly.
"Oh, and when people use their meanness for bad as toys or weapons, it makes me angry. Who do they think they are?!" She asked indignantly, enjoying every second.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Dixie froze when she said he wasn't in Slytherin. "Oh, no, pet that's a very bad idea. Never date anyone outside of Slytherin, ever. You can get permanently shunned. And one day the Dark Lord will rise again and he will hunt you down for being a traitor." Dixie didn't follow the Dark Lord, however, Rachel didn't know that. When Pam got remarried, Dixie wasn't forced to follow the Dark Lord. At least Hank did one thing right. Dixie sighed as Rachel asked her if she were rich. "Yes, of course. But I don't go around and brag it to people. You never want to make people feel like they're unworthy. Soon they might gang up on you. Then you wouldn't have anywhere to hide that pretty face of yours." Dixie had learned a lot over the years, and this girl was going about being a Slytherin completely wrong. But sometimes, people had to learn things the hard way. Dixie completely ignored the girl's comment about being mean and using it for a toy or whatnot. She obviously didn't catch that Dixie was aiming that at her.

[jess4ever]

Rachel widened her eyes in mock surprise when Dixie mentioned the Dark Lord, and not dating outside Slytherin House.
"Oh, dear, I had no idea!" She cooed. Of course she knew. Did that stop her from doing anything? Absolutely not. She didn't care about things that far away. And she had to smother a snicker when Dixie didn't mention anything about being mean.
"Oh, and I'll stop bragging about my wealth. How inconsiderate of me. When there are people who can't afford food or shelter, I have no right to talk about how rich I am." She said, nodding her head seriously. Rachel was thoroughly enjoying herself. Dixie was reacting just the way she wanted her to, not seeming to realise that everything Rachel said was intentionally idiotic. It seemed Dixie was the one who had a lot to learn.

"But I do appreciate your compliment. I don't really think I'm that pretty. My mummy is, but I don't quite think I match her," she said, pretending to be coy. Rachel knew quite well how beautiful she was, and she was never afraid of telling everybody.
"You're quite beautiful though. So, tell me more about your sister. I don't have a sister. Or a brother. Only child. Only little Mason in my family," she said, pouting.

Rachel was enjoying herself thoroughly. This was an excellent remedy to her awful day before. She just hoped Dixie continued to underestimate her. Because Rachel was smarter than anybody gave her credit for. And she knew exactly what being a Slytherin meant.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

Dixie raised an eyebrow at the girl, "Are you thirteen or four?" She asked, annoyance very noticable on her face. "Honestly, some people that were let into Slytherin." Dix, remember a time when you were just like her... don't let her get too under your nerves. Pohregniv whispered with a silky voice. Dixie smirked, "I'm not." She leaned against the wall, starting to fall into Kurr. Only she didn't fight it this time. She welcomed it. She welcomed the deepening black and laughter of Reyvinthey. A peaceful smile appeared on her face as she continued to fall. The only connection that was there to Earth was the incessant jabber of Rachel. Dixie hadn't been in Kurr in months. It had rebuilt itself, oddly enough, without her help. Welcome back, Dix. We have missed you. See? I was not lying. Kurr is healed. Dixie looked up, her head crowned in white daisies and her body clothed in a pure white dress. The Government stood in front of her, alll looking royal.

On Earth, in the corridor where that insolent and pathetic girl stood, Dixie had her eyes closed and was leaning against the wall a still smile on her face. Only she wasn't really there. She was in Kurr. Nothing that the girl could say would bring her back or agitate her. The Government stood and looked through the portal to Earth. Kilteniv, the God of humility, was laughing at the pathetic girl standing in front of them. Are all humans this pathetic? He asked Dixie. Dixie smiled and shook her long mane of hair, "No, just those who believe they are better than their superiors." Together they laughed.

((So, about this, if you haven't read any of Dixie's post.. I really feel bad. I saw an open post and thought it would be the best place to have her relapse. However, I ask you not to have Rachel know anything because that would be very unrealistic. Whatever way you want her to respond, go ahead. I'm pretty sure Dixie will be out for awhile though, sorry.))

[jess4ever]

((no that's fine - Rachel will respond, but don't worry, it won't be unrealistically. And it's OK if you're out for a while you're good to stay in conversation for so long! haha))

Rachel stared at Dixie, who had just closed her eyes, and leaned against the wall will a small smile on her face.
"Um...Dixie?" She asked in confusion, her voice returning to normal, all cutsiness and coyness gone in an instant.
"Are you alright? If you are, please speak to me. You're starting to scare me," she said nervously. What was she doing? After one last shot at Rachel, she seemed to have gone somewhere else, and Rachel was scared. She looked happy, but Rachel still felt a rush of unease.
"Please, Dixie, say something. Come back. I can't...I don't know what to do," she said, her voice rising.
"Is anybody out there? I need some help!" She called out nervously. She was beginning to panic. She didn't think that Dixie was possessed, but all the same she was just standing there. Rachel didn't know if she was OK, or needed help, or what she would do in this state. Rachel wondered briefly if Dixie could hurt her, but then banished the thought. Not now, don't think that now. But her heart kept racing, and sweat was beginning to form on her forehead. She brushed it away impatiently. She couldn't deal with a panic attack now. Dixie may need her help.

Nobody seemed to have heard her, and Rachel ran a few steps up the hall.
"Please, somebody help me! It's Dixie Holden - she's in a trance or something. I don't know what to do!" She shrieked, near hysteria.
"Please, sombody help me," she said, tears starting to fall.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack had been studying in the library and had just stepped out when she heard some girl screaming for help. She lifted her blonde head at the name Dixie Holden. "Oh, bloody hell!" She groaned as she shifted her shoulderbag and ran off in the direction the voice was coming from. When she reached the girl, Mack held onto her arm and caught her her breath, "Where is she? Damn it, girl! Where is my sister?" Mack stood there for a moment. It was no use. The girl was near hysterics. She started off down the hall and saw her older sister leaning against the wall. She dropped her shoulderbag and grabbed her sister's arm, pulling her down on the floor with her. Dixie's head lay in her lap with that serene smile still on her face. "C'mon. Dixie, it isn't real. None of it. Not any of it. C'mon. Come back to here. To this corridor with me. Come on." Mack stroked her sister's hair a moment and then finally slapped her.

"Wake up. C'mon! Wake up, dammit! Dixie if this is a stunt to get attention, I swear..." Mack looked up at the girl, "Stop crying! Tell me what happened. Did you say anything that might have made her relapse? How do you know my sister? Do you know anything about her condition?" Mack scowled. "No of course not. Dixie wouldn't tell anyone she didn't completely trust. And so far that's only Adam." She slapped Dixie again, this time harder. "Wake up!"

((Heh, needed Mack in here for this too. Sorry. ))

[jess4ever]

((no we needed someone else ))

Rachel couldn't breathe. She couldn't speak. All she heard was screams, and the only way to get rid of the hideous sound was to scream as well. She saw an older girl, who she presumed was Mack when she called Dixie her sister, and felt her grab Rachel's arm, but all she could do was point to Dixie. She watched, trying to calm down, as the girl grabbed Dixie's arm and pulled her down onto the floor, laying her head on her lap. Mack spoke to Dixie, and all Rachel could do was slump down onto the floor, covering her face with her hands.

Suddenly Mack was talking to her, and Rachel jerked her head up. Wiping her eyes, she tried to hear what Mack was saying.
"I was just talking to her...I...I think I asked her about her family. I said I was an only child. I think that's the last thing I said to her," she said, trying to breathe normally. She looked Mack in the eye and nodded slowly.
"Yes, that's definately the last thing I said to her. She didn't say anything about this. I didn't know what to do. She was just still and..." Rachel's heart was beginning to beat faster again. She closed her eyes and started shaking. She saw him possessed, and she heard herself screaming. She opened her eyes suddenly, wondering if she had screamed aloud again. Rachel tried to focus. This was about Dixie. All that mattered was her getting better.

She watched helplessly as Mack slapped Dixie again.
"Is there anything I can do?" Rachel asked, getting unsteadily to her feet.
"I can try and get Adam, maybe. She mentioned Adam. Or maybe I can get a wet cloth. Tell me what to do," she said, wiping away her tears. She had to make sure Dixie was OK. Especially if this was in any way Rachel's fault.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack sighed as the girl explained what had happened. She looked down at her sister and then decided she was safe, at least long enough to explain what went wrong to the girl. "Dixie is schizophrenic. She was institutionalized last year. While she was there she often disappeared inside herself. When her doctor asked her where she went, she simply said 'Kurr.' It took him forever to find out what Kurr was. She locks herself in this.... kingdom she made. When she was let out of Bethlem, the institute, she came back to school. I believe she's returned to Kurr. For the fist time in... months." Her blue eyes sparkled at the girl before she looked down at Dixie again. "I don't think you did anything. I think.... she just thought she needed to return."

When the girl asked her what she could do to help, even mentioned going to find Adam, Mack gave her a kind smile. "I think all we can do is wait. She'll wake up when she finds it's time. If it gets too late you can help me take her to the hospital wing, though." She smiled again and continued to stroke Dixie's hair. She had calmed down considerably. Patting the stone beside her, Mack motioned for the girl to sit beside her. "I'm Mackenzie, but call me Mack. You know, my sister doesn't give the time of day to most anyone. She must have seen something in you she liked. Don't take that for granted." Mack smiled again. "What's your name?"

[jess4ever]

Rachel listened with wide eyes as Mack told her where Dixie was, and smiled at Mack's invitation and sat down next to her.
"Hi Mack, I'm Rachel Mason," Rachel said quietly. Her heart had started beating normally, and she was no longer shaking. Her fear had passed at last.
"But I don't think Dixie saw anything in me, to be honest. I was annoying her, and I think the only reason she stayed was because she thought I was pathetic," Rachel said honestly, brushing her hair back from her face. She hated it when people saw her in this state: raw and emotional. But she couldn't help it. The guards would come up eventually, but right now, she just had to trust Mack wouldn't abuse this trust.

"I'm glad she'll be OK, though. I was really scared. But this Kurr place - it is safe isn't it? She won't get hurt..." Rachel trailed off. She meant what she said, but another thought was running through her head. I won't get hurt, will I? But she kept her mouth closed. This girl probably thought she was a huge freak anyway. After her hysterics, she didn't expect to be treated normally for a while.
"Why does she do this?" She asked instead.
"Why does she have to return?" She hoped she didn't sound imputent, but she was curious. And anything to distract her from her churning stomach was good.

[Mackenzie Holden]

Mack smiled as Rachel introduced herself, "Pleasure to meet you." Then Rachel went on to say she was annoying Dix and the only reason Dix was staying was because she thought her pathetic. Mack's smile brightened, "Well, Rachel, if I know my sister... if she were truly annoyed she would have stalked off without even saying hello." Mack knew that all too well. Having lived with Dixie for fifteen, nearly sixteen, years. Rachel started to question about Kurr and Mack felt herself deflate. "Honestly, hun, I don't know. No one knows what Kurr really is like except Dixie. She never explained why she left Kurr for so long, but I think it turned out to be a very bad place. I'm sure she wouldn't have returned if it were still bad though." She sighed at the next part of the question, "Whether she'll be hurt or not... I can't answe. I am sure this is a huge set back to her mental stability, but... physically she should be fine."

Rachel kept asking questions and Mack tried her best not to get too annoyed. It wasn't the girl, it was the fact that Mack didn't know the answers to the questions. "Look, I don't know much about it. Dixie likes to keep to herself. Really.... really to herself. Honestly, the only person she even trusts a little bit, is... Adam. Some guy she met nearly a month ago knows more about my own sister than I do."

[jess4ever]

Rachel sat back and smiled. Maybe it wasn't her fault after all. She listened in silence as Mack answered her questions. Suddenly Rachel felt sorry for Mack. Not because she felt superior, but because she couldn't help her sister, and she couldn't protect her. And it must hurt that Dixie put such confidence in someone else. She felt so happy that Dixie would be physically alright. Mentally, she might need some help and love from her family, but she would get through.

"Thanks, Mack. For coming when I called. For everything. I really appreciate it," she said sincerely, turning to Mack.
"And I know Dixie does as well," she said, looking down at the girl, "you must really love her."

Suddenly Rachel wondered if something like this happened, who would come rushing. Her parents? Possibly. She knew they loved her, and tried to protect her, but the only people Rachel knew who were more self-centred than herself were her parents. They bought her love and forgiveness, and when she had needed them most, they hadn't been able to help her. The first time she had been screaming for help, begging them to save her, they had stood there, frozen. They didn't want anything to happen to them. Would her friends help her? Definately not her old friends - they were a sad pack of followers. Maybe her newer friends, Tempe, Anna or Ender. But the thought still haunted her. She had made so many enemies in her life, through her own doing, and she hadn't cared. But she hadn't made many true friends. And for the first time in her life, she was sad about it.

[Dixie Holden-Greene]

It's time for you to go back, Dix. Dixie shook her head as she continued to swing on the swing hanging from the large oak tree in Kurr. Yes. We'll get you again when it's time. Dixie sighed and stopped the swing with her feet dragging against the grass. When it stopped, she stood from the wood and looked down at the ground. She could feel Grenijughy, the God of Return, step down and hold out his blue hand. Slowly, she raised her own hand and softly pressed it against his palm. Kurr disappeared from her like sand through an hour glass that was broken. Dixie didn't open her eyes immediately, but she heard Rachel say Mack must really love Dixie. That meant Mack had.... Dixie groaned slightly and then opened her eyes. She turned on her side and then pushed herself up so her brown hair fell to the side and her eyes were pinpointed on Mack's blue ones, "No, pet, she doesn't love me. She just feels it's her sisterly duty to take care of me." Dixie groaned again and stood up, pushing at her skirt as if to rid it of dust.