Helpline 4
#4 of Helpline
The Helpline Chapter 4 By Kendo Kawabata Songstress
The crowd in the arena was hushed, only the tense music amplified from the speakers was heard. a few whispered, hoping that their favourite was to be picked that night, as the culmination of several long weeks had finally come to them. The talent show, known as 'Perform It', had a stellar opening as thousands had audtioned for the show, but only less then a hundred had actually performed for the judges. The producers did have to cut back on the crap after all, it was a reality show, and they needed ratings, not filler. Some of the performances had been spectacular, a true showcase of the peoples talents. Ranging from fire jugglers that lit up the stage, stand up comedians that left the audience in stitches, to dance numbers so complicted that many though ankles would be broken. The best of the best had truly come out for this season. And then there were the others. Those that made people wonder how they got there. Bland unicyclists who juggled, puppeteers who forgot their lines, garage bands that were so off key playing cover songs that some members of the audience actually demanded refunds. But that seemed to be the formula for such a show. Push in the best talent and let some of the drivel filter through, so that when the final show appeared, there was always going to be baited breath. "And the winner, tonight, of 'Perform It', out of the five remaining contestants..." the host of the show, a stringy looking rabbit in a cheap suit spoke into a microphone, holding an envelope in his hand. He deliberately drew it out, making the audience wait with bated breath so long they almost passed out. And behind him was the talent that were waiting for their moment, the moment that they would be crowned the winner. The prize was a million dollar contract that would help start them on their own careers, and each one wanted it just as badly as the others. The first contestant was an elderly lion who played the violin. Since the first moment he had stood up on stage, his beautiful strings had the audience hooked. Every song had triggered the emotions of the audience, bringing many to tears, even the judges had to admit that the instrument was almost alive. The second contestant was another elderly, a vixen, who startled everyone from the moment she appeared. dressed in a revealing dress, impossibly high heels and a fragile body, she outdid herself every week. Every dance routine, every step every twist and movement, shocked the audience, for the actions of her body should have been impossible for someone of her age, yet she danced like a woman in her prime that had never left. The third contestant was much younger, a young male wolf and a ventriloquists puppet. The puppet was just a raggedy andy doll, and the two had the audience almost dying with laughter. They argued, they sang, they bickered like a married couple, lyrics and insults flying so fast that the judges were convinced that the puppet was its own person. The fourth contestant was a group of dancers, a range of kids from children to teenagers, who performed behind a white screen. each dance represented a song, and each song wowed the audience as they saw the lyrics literally come alive. Their last routine had recieved a standing ovation, and it had lasted the longest out of the entire season. The final contestant? a teenage siamese cat, the girl had gotten through by singing cover songs that had been done a hundred times before. singing along to whatever song was most popular at the time, her acts had become slowly more outrageous by each passing routine. She had the voice of a singer to be sure, but it was her onstage antics and revealing attire that had many guessing she would become the next Miley. "The season winner, of 'Perform It', is....." the bunny said as he made a deliberate show of slowly opening up the envelope. Behind him, the contestants waited, fidgeting with their hands together, most with their heads bowed, each one with a heart that was racing. "And the winner is....." the bunny said as he pulled out the envelope. If someone had shouted out 'Say it already' from the audience, no-one would have shamed him. What should have taken moments had been dragged out longer then it should have. Then the bunny raised the microphone and shouted so loudly it shocked everyone. "Corrinne Light everyone, Corrinne Light has won'' the bunny screamed as the cover singer, Corrinne, covvered her mouth with her hands as her eyes went wide. Confetti started to rain down from the rafters almost at once as several stage fireworks exploded around them. As the judges stood up to applaud, behind them the audience screamed. every teenage boy and girl had stood up from their seats and were screaming along with each other, many sitting audience members had to cover their ears from the deafening cries. The host went over and pulled Corrinne into a hug as she openly sobbed, happy to have won the contest and recieve a contract to further her singing. The judges stood and appluaded, smiles on their faces as they gave the winner a well deserved round of applause. The other contests were immediately forgotten as they stood back, each trying to hide the shock and disapointment of the outcome on their faces. A couple of the younger children from the dance group were unable to hold back and began to cry on stage, needing to be comforted by their older partners. The others stood as confetti rained down on them, covering them like multicoloured snow. They exchanged glances with each other, each one with a force smile on their face as they clapped half heartedly, but they all were thinking the exact same thing. 'Her?' Each one of them had a talent, something that had brought them to the finals over everyone else that had participated. And yet, somehow, the audience had voted for a girl barely out of her teens who sung popular music and dressed like a pimps bottom bitch? As Corrinne stood there, overcome with emotion as the audience and the judges applauded her, the spotlight forever on her, the already forgotten contestants knew they would hear about Corinne Light for longer then they would have liked. And they would always be reminded that they had come so close, only to lose to someone like her.
One year later....
"The time has come, to get online. Show me yours and I'll show you mine. Strip you down, it's time to share. My legs are all expose and bare." Corrinne was dancing on the stage of the studio, surrounded by male back up dancers. She twirled her hips around, her barely fitting dress shifting against her creamy skin. Her skirt was nothing more then a belt and a few pieces of material that hung down like strings. The backup dancers were no better dressed, wearing tight black latex pants that left very little to the imagination on their thin lithe bodies. They danced energetically to match the girls movements as best they could in order to keep up with her. "Take a picture, I don't bite. Hashtag selfie, we do it all night. Lean back and spread your cheeks, I'll lick you all night like a bag of sweets." Corrinne sung into the microphone off the side of her face, her long hair cascading down her shoulders and across the front of her chest. Her breasts had grown in the last year, surgery rumours abound. And they looked like they were about to pop out of the barely restricting top that was holding them in. She continued to sing, the lyrics of her song slowly and steadily growing more and more sexually explicit with each line and verse that came out of her mouth. The dancers behind her looked as disinterested in the dance as they were able to be, seemingly only going through the motions. The band looked disgusted as they played, the musicians secretly wishing that they could stop with what they were doing. Although they played without problem and were able to keep up with the song with no problems of their own, their facial expressions all said the exact same thing. "This. Is. BULLSHIT." Corrinne and the rest of the dancers stumbled, the song cutting out halfway through one of the lines as her voice trailed off. The dancers all prayed to whatever deity they believed in in thanks that they didn't have to continue as they all took several steps backwards, hoping ot get out of sight. The girl looked around in surprise and shock that someone had blatanlty interupted the practice performance, as she looked left and right, trying to find someone to blame. She didn't have very long to wait as someone walked from the sound and audio booth from behind the audience seats, shouting loudly his anger. "What the fuck is this bullshit? No, no don't tell me" the male shouted as he stomped down the empty aisle towards his set. "This is what they call music nowadays, is it? This utter, utter bullshit is called music? Seriously?" he shouted. He was a very handsome and mature lion in an immaculately tailored suit. A perfected sculpted and brushed back mane adorned his head, full of so much hair gel that it looked permanently wet. His name, was Pridestar Blake, and he was the host of the talk show, 'Pridestars Persona'. It was one of the most popular talk shows to be shown against the timeslots that carried the evening news, and it was one of the biggest rivals they had. Millions tuned in every night to see his show, purely for the fact that it was completely politically incorrect. Blake told it as it was, without ever holding back, or caring about the reactions of his audience. And that kind of attitude was what set him apart from the other talk show hosts, who used writers and spell checkers and legalised people to triple check their scripts to make sure it was all correct and unable to offend anyone. Blake didn't use a script. He just said what was on his mind. "How the fuck, did you manage to sell three albums in the last year. Seriously, THREE ALBUMS?" Blake shouted as he walked up to the set. He was easily heads above Corrinne and everyone else, and his anger and disgust was evident. "Singing shit like that, you sold three albums?" "You can't talk to me like that"Corrinne said, visibly appalled that she was being talked to like she was some disobediant little toddler caught stealing cookies. "I sold three albums in the last year because I have the talent to do so" she said. "and you invited me on your show to perform my latest single" she said as she tore the headset from her head. "You cannot walk up to me and tell me my music is crap. I have over half a million followers on social media who can prove to you my music is good" she said firmly as she glared the taller lion in the eyes. Blakes producer, a skinny vixen in a smart business dress, and his assitant, a young looking male bull who was carrying about a dozen clip boards in his arms, both stood silently behind their boss. They knew better then to argue with him when he got angry, but the look they gave Corrine was not a look that spoke of their admiration to her guys. It was a look of pity because she had no idea she was digging herself into a grave. "So fucking what?" Blake said matter of factly, making sure to pronounce each word loudly and clearly so that the girl had no ability to mishear what he was saying. "I don't care if you have a million or just your parents backing you up. No amount of social media fans can tell me that your music is anything but shit to my ears" he said. Corrines mouth opened wide in shock and it took her a moment to get herself back in order. "You...you asked me on your show to promote my latest single" she said. "You asked me, and I'm here. You wanted me on this show to sing" she said. "I didn't ask you" Blake said sharply. "My producer didn't, didn't you claire?" he said as he looked over at the now scared vixen. "Y-Yes, Yes I did" Claire stammered. She hated it when her boss got angry. "And why the hell did you bring her here?" Blake demanded. "Because....she's trying to ...promote her latest...single..."Claire said. "Now, what's the name of the album, and her new so called single, Terrence?" Blake demanded as he looked at his assistant. The young bull struggled with the clipboards of information before he found one that he was looking for. "Um.. it's called 'Nightcam' on the album 'Dirty Bedroom' " he said in a small voice to his boss, who didn't look imressed. "That has got to be the worst single on the worst album by possibly the worst singer I have heard, and I've had to put up with Bieber on this show" Blake said. "And I honestly thought that little whiney girl was an annoyance" he said. "It's called, Art" Corrinne said sharply. Although the lion was much bigger, the young girl had developed much of a diva attitude in her past year, coming a long way from the simple girl she had once been. She didn't like it when people talked down to her, after all, she was a singer now. And she knew what she was talking about. "It's called Crap" Blake said. "You, do not deserve to be on my show in the spotlight" he said as he turned to Claire. "Claire, push her on to the end credits" He said sharply. "We have two live performance slots to fill in by tonight. I don't care who the hell you get, just as long as its better then this bitch" he said as he proceeded to walk away. "Yes sir, right away" Claire said as she bowed slightly, trying to keep on his good side. Terrence nodded as well as he hurried after him, fumbling with the clipboards and wishing for once his boss allowed him to make use of his tablet during work. "Who the hell does he think he is?" Corrinne demanded as she suddenly rounded on Claire. "He, happens to not only be the host of this show, but he's also my boss" Claire said as she suddenly stood up straight with a rather impressive tone of voice towards the 'guest' that was addressing her. "And anything he says on this show, goes. So show him some respect, or you might just get booted off the show entirely" she said firmly. "Excuse me?" Corrinne said, a look of shock across her face. "You invited me on this show to perform. You cannot just ...boot me off because you're not a fan" she said. "The only reason I thought to hire you, is because your agent begged me to, as no-one else would" Claire said as she narrowed her eyes at the girl. "and quite frankly, I can see why. The only reason you are famous, is because you won a pointless talent show. And this, is how the real world works" she said to her. "I am famous because I have talent" Corrinne said. "ask any of my media followers" she demanded as she planted her foot on the ground in an angry huff. Claire did not look impressed. "Your media followers are probably a bunch of fifteen year old boys who follow their hormones, not their sense of taste" Claire said. "now go back to your dressing room and wait till we call you" she said as she pulled a phone out of her pocket and began to dial a number. "You cannot treat me like this, I am a star" Corrinne said sharply. "You're a brat, and there are a million of those out there" Claire said as she pulled the phone to her ear. "Mark, for the love of god, please tell me there is someone out there with talent we can bring on the show" she said as she turned around and walked away. "Blakes thrown a tantrum cause this flavour of the month is terrible..." Corinne just stared after her, a shocked look on her face as she found herself quite alone on the set of the stage. The dancers were already gone, having slinked away during the argument and the musicians were packing up their instruments. "I do not deserve this" Corrinne shouted at no-one in particular as she stomped off towards her dressing room, bristling with anger.
"I have someone" Claire shouted as she burst into Blakes dressing room. The lion was sitting at his chair, the make up artist adressing his face with a delicate brush. Blake had his eyes closed as the goose was gently using the brush against his eyes to remove any trace of bags. "Well, they better be good" Blake said without turning his head. "Please tell me they are above the legal age" he said flatly, sounding unimpressed. "It's Jacinta Long" Claire said, excitement in her voice. Blake opened his eyes and sat up in his chair, almost shocking the goose off balance as he turned to stare at Claire with a very rare look of dibelief on his face. "You...got her?" he said, sounding quite dumbfounded. "I spoke to Mark, he made a few phone calls and he found out from her agent, that Jacinta is looking to get on a show to promote a new album" Claire said. Blake stood up and brushed the goose aside as he stepped up to Claire. "Jacinta Long has not made an album in over twenty years" he said, a look of disbelief on his face. "It's apparenlty a brand new album, all new songs. No covers" Claire said to him. "She wants to perform a couple of the new singles on a talk show, and so far, no-one has accepted" she said. "Get her" Blake said, a look of slowly building rage appearing on his face. "I don't care what the hell we have to do, book her NOW" he almost shouted. "It's already done" Claire said as she took a step back from her boss. She was glad to see him deflate from his temper the moment that she had said that. "She is willing to do the performance, and all she asks is that she is the only one to perform on the show. She really wants to sell this" she said. "That bitch out there, she gets bumped to the credits" Blake said immediately. "The other guest stars we have, they can stay the same, but Jacinta gets top billing and the spotlight. Lets make this show all about her" he said, and Claire was surprised to see that he was actually getting excited. "We'll move Corinne out of the dressing room" Claire said. "Throw her in the janitors closet for all I care. And get the janitors to clean that dressing room from top to bottom. I want fresh flowers, fresh water, chocolates, whatever the hell she wants. Make this woman feel like the diva that she deserves to be" he ordered. "Consider it done" Claire said as Blake sat back in the make up chair. "And tell that assistant of mine to get me a goddam Cuppachino" he said to her. "and if he gets me one with more then five words in the name he better deliver it with his junk tucked behind his ass like a chick" Blake said firmly. "At once" Claire said, somehow managing to suppress a smile.
Corinne was sitting in her dressing room, her phone in her hands as she reclined on her seat, the glaring lights surrounding the mirrors in front of her turned on full brightness. Her fingers were moving across the screen at a fantastical speed as she drummed out her frustrations to her media followers. They were already responding, the topic of her not being in the main event on a very popular talk show was trending viral. Messages and posts were flooding in to offer their support of her plight, many requesting the show being cancelled or the host hit by a car for daring to disrespect their idol. Corinne smiled as she saw the posts of support flood her way, and she was so engrossed her own popularity that she jumped up in shock as the dressing room door was uncerimoniously slammed open. "Get her things and move them outside" Claire said as she suddenly barged her way in, followed by two stage hands and the janitor. "I want everything of hers outside and dumped near the crews tables at once" she said as she directed the stage hands. "What the hell is going on here?" Corinne demanded as she stood up. "Hey, don't touch that" she snapped as one of the stage hands grabbed her dress bag and tossed it through the door. "You, I want this room spotless. Our star is arriving in one hour, I want this place scrubbed and air freshened. I have flowers arriving in twenty minutes, and I need this place clean like a surgeons mask" Claire said to the janitor. The donkey nodded as he let them clear the room first. "What the hell? I'm your star" Corinne shouted at Claire as the stage hands made quick work of clearing her things from the dressing room. "No, your not. You've been replaced" Claire said sharply. "Get her out" she said. The two stage hands then grabbed one of Corinnes arms each and promptly marched her from the room. "What the hell? You can't treat me like this, I'm the star here" Corinne shouted as she was dumped beside her things, which had been thrown across the floor of the studio hallway. "You can take your things and set them over there" Claire said as she pointed to a long table that was set with table snacks and a large urn of instant coffee. "You are not the star anymore, we have a replacement coming in and we don't want you annoying her" she said. "I'm performing tonight, that makes me the star" Corinne sai angrily. "You can't treat me like this" she said. "You have been bumped to perform on the credits. You're not a star" Claire said as the donkey emerged and wheeled his cleaning trolley towards the door. "You're just filler, and you're not even good filler at that" she said. "You can't treat me like this" Corinne said angrily. "This is the real world sweetie" Claire said firmly. "Get used to it" she said as she turned and began to walk away. Corinne just stared at her as she felt herself sink into a nearby chair, her phone buzzing with more texts and posts headed her way. This could not be happening to her. Not to a star like her.
"Alright, places everyone, she is here" Claire called out as everyone on set began to scramble into place, standing on the edges of the talk show set like they were perched in a guard of honour. "About time, I was starting to get nervous" Blake said as he one again straightened his already straightened tie. No-one had ever seen him this nervous before. And this man once had the current President on his talk show and had called him a twat to his face without breaking eye contact. "I want this to go as smooth as possible, no fuckups. This woman deserves the best" he said. Only Corinne hadn't moved. She had sat in her chair beside her discarded things while the stage hands and crew members had walked past her to get finger food from the snack table. She hadn't even updated her status in almost an hour. "What the hell is all the fuss about anyway" she thought angrily from her seat as she watched everyone scramble around, apparenlty trying to impress this new star, whoever it was. They hadn't scrambled for her when she arrived. The studio doors then opened and everyone snapped to attention as a female then entered through the door. She was followed by two males behind her, obviously her assistants or something. Corinnes first though, was the woman was old. She was a cougar, and an old one at that. She had to have been ancient, possibly in her seventies. She had a very thin looking figure, with dark grey streaked hair that swept past her shoulders. Her figure was lost in an impossibly large fur coat, that shone in a way that only real fur possibly can. "Madame Long, I cannot believe, that I am finally meeting you in person" Blake said as he stepped forward and offered his hand. She took it with a smile, very large rings adorning her fingers. "I've always wanted to, believe me" he said. "The pleasure is mine" Jacinta said. For an old woman, she had a very clear and defined voice. "I do have to thank you for allowing me on your show. I was disapointed when so many others showed no interest" she said. "Trust me, they did not know how to show you respect" Blake said as he even went so far as he bend forward and kiss her hand. "I will admit, I grew up on your music. My mother had your first album on a vinyl LP, and she refused to ever through out her turntable" he said. Perhaps your mother would be happy with an autograph then" Jacinta siad with a smile as she withdrew her hand. "My first album though, was released nearly fifty years ago. I must have been what...barely nineteen at the time?" she said. "My mother would die happy if she got your autograph" Blake said with a smile to her. One of Jacintas assistants stepped forward, a somewhat younger but still mature wolf with a rather large build. "We would like to get started with rehearsals right away" he said. "I trust your band is sufficient?" he asked. "Travis, dont be so forward" Jacinta said with a smile as she turned to the other helped, this one young enough to be her grandson, a buck in a smart looking suit. "Could you take my coat please?" she asked. He nodded as he began to remove the heavy fur coat. "Our band is ready and willing to play anything you want. They just need the sheet music and they'll be ready to start playing" Claire said. Travis nodded as he opened up his briefcase and handed her several sheets of music, which she took. "Perhaps a test run, to check the accoustics?" Jacinta suggested. She indeed had a very thin figure. She wore a vintage looking powder blue dress suit, something that looked like it had been in fashion decades ago. Somehow, it seemed to suit her. "That can be arranged, this way please Madame Long" Blake said as he gestured with his hand towards the stage. Jacinta nodded as she began to follow him. "Her dressing room please?" said Travis, looking impatient. "Right this way" Claire said to him as she began to walk. "I'm sorry that we're in a rush, but we didn't expect you to actually accept our offer. I was afraid Ms Long was going to be a relic by this time" Travis admitted as he followed. "Blake insisted that we accept, he was adament. And it was no trouble" Claire said as they walkedp ast the snack table and past Corinne. "We had nothing to fill the slots anyway" she said. Corinne glared at them from where she was sitting, but they didn't even look her way as they approached the dressing room. She said nothing for several moments as she saw the door close behind them before she stood up. She dropped her phone on the table and started to walk her way towards the stage, where Blake was busy helping this new star person find her place to start singing. "There's no way this old bitch could sing better then me" Corinne said as she found an empty seat on the front row. "There's no way, this is all hype. It's just hype and garbage" she said as she sat with her arms crossed. "Alright, places everyone, this is just a test run, but I want it perfect" Blake said as he sat himself in his regal looking chair behind his equally eager looking desk. "Right, when your ready" he said. Corinne watched with a scowl on her face as the musicians started up, bringing the music up loud as they started to play. Several chords passed, almost a full verse of music before Jacinta opened her mouth. "I....I wish you could swim" she sang. Corinne was surprised by how loud and clearly she was singing, till she realised the woman wasn't even using a microphone. "Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim" she sang as she gently swung her arms back and forth. "This is pathetic, what is this crap" Corinne said as she found herself smirking. "Though Nothing, nothing will keep us together." Jacintas jewellry sparkled gently when she moved, moving herself with grace on the spot. Her voice was very clear and carried well across the set. Corinne raised an eybrow, her smirk getting bigger. "We can beat them, for ever and ever" Jacinta continued, gently moving her body in time to the music. "Oh we can be heroes, just for one day." "No-ones going to enjoy this crap" Corinne said as she gave a sneering chuckle as she looked around where she was sitting, expecting people to be covering their ears or making faces at the stupid lyrics. But Corinne was shocked to see that everyone was looking straight at Jacinta with smiles on their faces, looks of surprise and approval as they gazed at her with obvious adoration. "I....I will be king. And you, you will be queen. Though nothing, will drive them away...." Jacinta continued as she raised her arms slightly, her voice starting to get more powerful in volume. "We can be heroes, just for one day. We can be us" she sang as she lowered her arms. "Just for one day." Blake looked like he was about to cry as he watched her, completely transfixed as he watched someone he had grown up listening to perform just a few feet away from him. "You... you can't be serious" Corinne said as she stood up. "They're....htey're buying this?" she said, looking on in shock as she saw that everyone within earshot was paying attention. She stood up in a huff as she gave Jacinta the biggest, most evil and hate filled glare that she could possibly pull off. But, Jacinta didn't even look her way as she continued to sing. "I...I can remember. Standing, by the wall. And the guns shot above our head" she continued to sing as she moved her arms, jewellery sparkling in the light. Corinne then turned and stomped away, hands balled into fists as she stormed off in a rage, doing everything she could to stop herself from screaming. She pased claier and Jacintas assistants, who didn't even look her way as she walked past. It was like all anyone could hear, was that horrible annoying singing from that old crone. Corinne picked up her phone and brought up her media page and began to furiously start typing. 'Bitch replacement sings like a troll. How dare they do this to me, so sorry fans. Boss of show is a specist" she typed furiously. Once the post had been sent, she held her phone up and snapped a picture of Jacinta, then proceeded to post the image on her page. "Skeleton in a suit. They replaced me with a corpse. Sings like a banshee" she typed in, adding in several hash tags of rather horrible criticisms along for emphasis. She had just pressed send when something on the table caught her eye. It was a golden coloured piece of paper about the shape of a pamphlet. It had seven black arrows printed on it, with a simple message. It read 'We exist to help'. She picked it up, noticing how the paper glistened like it was made of actual gold. She turned it over and saw there was no other information, aside from a number that she didn't recognise. "And we kiss, as though nothing could fall. And the shame, was on the other side." Jacintas voice continued to ring against the back of the studio, the strong voice carrying so far and clear for someone her age. It just infuriated Corinne even furhter as she picked up her phone. "Well, why not?" she said to herself as she typed in the number and brought it to her ear. Three rings echoed in her ears before someone picked up. "Hello. And welcome to the Helpline" said a calm male voice on the other end of the phone. "Thank you for calling us Corinne." "What?" she said in surprise. "Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever. Then we could be heroes, just for one day." "Please hold on as we connect you through to your appointment. Our services are now open to you. Thank you for calling us" the voice said before the phone suddenly went silent. It didn't disconnect, but it felt like whoever was on the other end had simply vanished.
Suddenly, a chill passed through Corinne as the air around back stage shifted, like a giant bubble had burst and a ripple had pulsed through reality around her. She blinked just once as the pulse went through her, both body and soul and then she realised that she was no longer in the back of the studio.
"Welcome to The Helpline. Tea?"
Corinne found herself sitting in a white seat in front of a mosaic patterned patio table. On the table was a perfectly laden table setting. In front of her lay a white floral teacup on a saucer with a silver spoon resting on a plate next to it. A large floral pot sat in the middle of the table, with a three tiered cake stand beside it. Beautiful tea cakes, each perfectly designed sat on the stand, looking mouthwatering.
Across the table sat a doe with deep red hair that was tied back in a ponytail. It curled around her neck and dropped off her shoulder, reaching her elbow. She wore a black dress with white sleeves and a white collar. It looked like something that had once been in a museum. She had surprisingly green eyes that were fixed on her in a warm manner.
Corrinne took a moment to look around and she found that the table was in the middle of a circular platform, which itself was in the middle of a huge square pond. The edges of the pond were raised up, the corners spouting a tall round brick column covered in small green streaks of moss. Green grass extended beyond the pond, meeting high hedges that towered above them. The sky was light up in the dying light of the day, evening having set in.
"What...what the hell just happened?" Corinne demanded as she looked at the doe. She took another look around and noticed that, to her right, was a large sprawling grey manor house. It had an old look to it, like it had appeared out of a historical site. She couldn't see inside the house, as the windows were all shut.
"You are at The Helpline" said the doe with a smile as she reached forward, her long lacy cuffs brushing over the table as she picked up the teapot. "Please sit up, your appointment has started" she said with a smile. "My name is Carrie." "My appointment? What the hell are you talking about?" Corinne demanded. "Did you kidnap me?" she demanded. "You're not here to ask those kind of questions." Carrie said as she slowly poured a rich tea into her teacup, a rich aroma of roses filling the air. "You're here because you need help. You don't need to ask questions such as that. There are more important things to discuss" she said. "Oh, I am so going to post about you" Corinne said as she smirked. "First I get pushed back for some old fossil, and now some creepy chick is offering me tea" she said as she reached for her phone. But it wasn't in her hand. She quickly looked around, but it wasn't on the table or anywhere she could see. "We don't do posts" Carrie said calmy as she selected a cake. It was a squat black chocolate cupcake with a spiral of whipped cream and adorned with a strawberry cut into the shape of a rose. "Nor do we do social media" she continued calmly. "What are you, like from the middle ages or something?" she said. "that would explain the outfit. What are you, from the thirties?" she asks. "If you must know, I'm older then you think" Carrie said calmly as she picked up her teacup. "But that is not what's important. We are here to offer you help. If you don't want it, we can send you back and you can simply deal with singing on the credits of a talk show" she said as she took a sip. "You...you can help with that?" Corinne asked. "We can help with many things in many different ways" Carrie said as she put her teacup down. "Tell me, what is the trouble that is plaguing you?" she asked. "I have to do this show" Corinne said to her. "I won a competition last year, and it was a good one. I got first place and I got a contract with my agent. I've released two albums, and now my agents decides that if I dont sell my third album well enogh, he's dropping me." "Please continue" Carrie said as she picked up the teapot and began to pour tea into Corinnes cup. "It's like I'm being forgotten. I have talent, and lots of it" Corinne said. "But, its like no-one understands or cares. The host of the show, he thinks my music sucks" she continued. "and now he's handing over the spotlight to some old ancient bitch wearing a dead animal who sings like an old horse" she said. "I need to perform tonight" she said. "The performance will help you enough?" Carrie asked as she picked up her spoon and carefully cut it into her cake. "It will. It'll help sell my album, but I can't sell it if I don't sing and perform and show people I deserve being in the spotlight" she said. "I can't go back to being a nobody. That doesn't happen to famous people. And it's not going to happen to someone like me who deserves being famous" she said. Carrie said nothing as she put down her spoon and looked at Corinne for a few silent moments before she slipped her hand under the table. She then slid her hand forward and passed a small black lacquered box towards her. "I believe that we can help you" Carrie said as she sat back. "Please accept this."
"What is this?" Corinne asked as she reached forward and took the small box, taking it into her hands as she looked down at it. It looked old. Antique old. She carefully opened the lid. Inside was a small black pendant in the shape of a scarab beetle, on a chain made of fine gold.
"Our services are very special here" Carrie said. "The help that you want, may not be what you need. And the help that you need, may not be what you want. But the help that we deliver, is the help that's best" Carrie said to her with a pleasant smile.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, some kind of dumb riddle?" Corinne asked as she looked down at the pendant. It took her a moment to realise that it was actually made of glass, and it wasn't black. The contents were swirling around inside, like a tiny storm waiting to be released.
"It means, that when the time comes that you want our help, simply break the pendant and say 'I wish for help', and we will give it to you. The help may be small, or large. It all depends on the circumstances when you ask for our help" Carrie explained.
"And you'll remove that old bitch for free? You so deserve a good post" Corinne said with a grin as she took the pendant in her hands. The small glass felt very cold against her fingers. Like she was holding a small block of ice.
"We do not require a price" Carrie said with a smile. "Other establishments may require cash, personal services, sacrifices, one soul in exchange for another, that kind of thing. We don't require such things here. Our services are completely free" she said.
"If there was a price to pay, it is that you have to live with the consequences" Carrie said to her. "The help that you are given, cannot be stopped. Nor can it be taken back. So, when you wish for our help, please ensure that you are ready for it" she said with a smile.
Corinne was about say something when she looked up and felt a pulse in the air, like a giant bubble had been broken. She blinked, and suddenly she found herself back at the snack table in the studio. The air felt slightly funny, like a static cling for several seconds before everything felt normal enough. "We're nothing, and nothing will help us. Maybe we're lying, then you better not stay." "What the hell?" Corinne said as she turned around. Did anyone notice her absence? Everyone was still looking at Jacinta as she continued to sing. Did....did no-one notice at all? "But we could be safer, just for one day" Jacinta sang out as she lowered her arms and the music died down and stopped. Blake was the first one to stand up and applaud as the rest of the crew followed suit. Corinne looked down at the pendant in her hand, feeling how cold the glass was as she was tempted to break the thing right there and then. How dare everyone applaud that old fossil and not her? She looked up as she saw Jacinta head her way towards the dressing room. Corinne thought for a moment, then followed. She'd give the bitch a chance, then it would be her fault if this helpline killed her off. Jacinta was sitting in the chair, surrounded by huge bouqeuts of flowers. The dressing room was almost overpowered with the smell of fresh cut flowers as Corinne walked in. She scowled slightly, seeing the box of expensive chocolates sitting on the bench. They hdadn't made that big of a fuss to her. "Can I help you?" Jessica asked as she reached up and removed her heavy looking neckalce. The damn thing was covered with so many diamonds it even sounded heavy when it was put down. "Yes, you can" Corinne said. "you took my spot. I want it back. Please, give me the performances tonight" she said firmly. "i was told that they had nothing tonight, they only had the end performance allocated" Jacinta said as she removed the heavy looking rings on her fingers. She reached into a red carpet bag and withdrew a small bottle of moisturising cream. "And I don't think I can tell the host what to do, he was very kind to allow me on in such short notice" she said. "He had me for the main performances tonight" Corinne said firmly. "and you waltzed in here and took them. I want them back. I want you gone so I can perform, like I deserve to" she said. "Sweetheart, I'm not in charge" Jacinta said as she rubbed cream onto her hand. "All I did, was ask for a chance, and the host very kindly gave it to me. If he bumped you back, then you obviously didn't impress him very much. That's not my fault" she said simply. "You're an old fossil that has no right singing tonight' Corinne said sharply. "I deserve to be on the show, not you. Why dont you go back to whatever nursing home you crawled out of and let the real talent shine" she said angrily. Jacinta said nothing as she finished rubbing the cream on her fingers before she stood up slowly and turned to face the younger vixen. The cougar did not look in the least bit intimidated by the outburst. "I have been in this business for over fifty years. I have released a total of seven albums, each one attaining either gold, platinum or both status" she said calmly. "I retired twenty years ago, because I believed that I was done and I wanted to go out happy. Recently, I realised that I wasn't ready to retire, and I still have enough left in me to continue while I have the chance." "I have been around long enough to gain the experience to know talent when I see it" She said as she took a step forward. "I also have the talent, and the success to back it up when I need to. You, are a girl who went on stage, sang karaoke with a bunch of songs that have been sung to the point of overkill, and flashed your panties onstage. Yes, I watched your performance. Personally, I was hoping the shadow dancers would win" she said as she stepped up to Corinne. "You are not a singer, nor are you a diva. You are nothing more, then a mini celebrity with no talent who's fifteen minutes of fame have run out. If you had any good grace, you would have worked harder to ensure you had something genuine. Instead, you chose to sing explicit material and strut yourself around like an honest to god slut on stage, and now the world is sick of you. Why don't' you do the world a favour, and simply fade out of existence, you talentless little skank" she said firmly with venom in her voice. Corinne had absolutely nothing to retort back with as Jacinta then proceeded to sit back down and pull out a make up case, as if nothing had even happened. Corinne couldn't even talk as she slipped out of the door. She was trembling all over, fury and rage making her body shake. She had never been spoken to like that before, and there was no way she was going to let that old bitch get away with it. She brought the pendant up in her hand and was about to break it when she saw the buck assistant walk up and put a large jug of iced water on the snack table. He pulled a ringing phone from his pocket and turned away, speaking into it. Corinne looked over and saw the janitors trolley sitting where he had left it, all the chemical bottles out in the open. She looked over at the buck, where he was several steps away from the table. No-one else was even looking at it. "Fuck them, I don't need them" Corinne said. "Can't have a big performance if your in the hospital" she thought to herself as she gave the trolley a quick once over, then picked up a bottle of heavy duty drain cleaner. The kind in a big white bottle and warning signs all over it in bright red that was easily avoidable to her. A good splash of cleaner went noticed into the jug as she put the bottle back and stepped away out of sight. The water didn't even change, it just rose in volume, looking as innocent as it ever did. Corrinne had a wickedly evil grin on her face, as she sat herself back down in her chair. Just in time too, as the buck walked up and picked up the pitcher, being none the wiser. "Enjoy bitch" Corrinne said as she picked up her phone from where it sat on the table and crossed her legs, starting to update her status again on her media pages, smiling to the amount of posts of support and the amount of death threats to the people on the show. She was smiling as she waited, still smiling a few moments later when she heard the startled cries of someone gagging and retching in the dressing room. She was still smiling when the buck assistant charged out, a splash of blood across his shirt as he hurriedly ran looking for help. Corinne smiled as she finished updating her status as shouting began to erupt around her. She finished typgin in her status, finishing it with ''Looks like I get the spotlight after all #Iamthequeen" and closed her phone.
"What do you mean you're not doing it?'' Corinne shouted at Blake, who had just informed her, once the ambulance had finally rolled off and the police had finished their investigation, that the show was going to be cancelled for the night. And they would be showing one of their more popular re-runs instead. "The police officers said that Jacinta has been poisoned'' Blake informed her as he stood beside his desk. His tie was undone, the top buttons of his shirt opened. He looked sweaty and irritated, definately not the best he had looked in a while. ''And we have to clear the stage for the night so they can do a thorough investigation. And since both my star act is in emergency and the police have closed down the studio, my hands are tied." "You...you can't be serious'' Corinne said, a look of horror and shock written on her face. "You're the damn boss of the show, you have to do something. You can't just cancell like that" she said firmly. "I am serious'' Blake said to her. "the shows cancelled tonight. no point in doing it'' he said as he wiped down his face with his hankerchief. "I can't just tell the police to postpone their investigation, this is something serious that has happened" he said. "but....but what about my career? this was supposed to be the shot in the arm my career needed to keep it going" corinne said as anger flashed in front of her face. "You can't just cancel on me after you tried to push me out of the show. You cannot be that unfair. Just do the show anyway. Lock them out" she protested. "I really couldn't care about your career at hte moment, someone I idolise happens to be in emergency'' Blake said as he tucked his hankercheif in his pocket. ''Plus, your career wouldn't have benefited from being on my show anyway'' he said. "You didnt have much of one from what I've seen" he said. ''But you can still do the show, you have me to perform, like you were supposed to'' Corrinne said in agner. ''before that stupid bitch showed up and ruined everything. Just do the show, please" Corrinne said as she grabbed Blake by the arm and tugged on it to get his attention. "I can really make it worth your while" she said, putting on a seductive smile as she curled her very exposed leg around his. "You put the show on, and i'll let you take me right on your desk when your done. We can even pretend we have an audience" she said as she very blatantly moved her hand towards his pants. With a look of absolute disgust on his face, Blake shoved her off him with a swipe of his arm. She was pushed back, actually landing on her barely covered ass as he hurriedly brushed himself off like he was trying to brush mud of his clothing. "You have absolutely no shame, do you?" he said, the look of disgust still on his face. "You think you can proposition me, in my own studio? I may not be married, but I have standards, and you fall far below them" he snarled at her. "You... you can't say no to me. No-one has ever said no to me" Corrinne snarled back at him as she stood up in a huff. "You have no idea what you are missing out on." ''Corrinne, please get this through your head'' Blake said as he turned to look at her. ''Even if i was desperate, after seeing how you perform, there is no way i would alow you on camera, period'' he said. "Especially after the way you have been acting all night, and especially after just now. I made it a personal choice to never allow a whore on stage, and i'm not breaking my rules now" he said. ''But....but I'm a star'' Corrinne said. "I'm...I'm the most followed celebrity on social media right now. I've won awards, I have albums out. I've reached the top ten with most of my singles. You can't just let my career die like this without giving me a chance" she said. ''No, your a contest winner, and a very poor one at that'' Blake said to her as he looked down at her. ''a real star has talent. They have morals and ethics, and they think of their fans as more then just numbers. A real star in the music industry, can write a song that moves your emotions and makes you believe in the message that it brings." "A contest winner has popularity. They have no actual talent of their own, and sing cover songs of mainstream garbage that doesn't mean anything. And they do stupid, crazy shit like dressing like hookers or twerking on live television. And more often then not, they are actual whores, because that's what they have to do when their popularity runs out. And popularity runs out faster then talent, of which you have none of each'' he said. "You have done nothing further then what every other reality show winner has done when they sing. You have done nothing new or nothing special. Nothing you have done, gives you the right to think of yourself as special. And I will repeat myself yet again, because your head is so thick you can't understand me. The show is cancelled, and I do not care about your pathetic career." "Now, kindly leave my studio. And let me give you one little bit of advice. Start over. Actually write a good song that takes you longer then five minutes. Come back with a new look, a new attitude and a fucking better sense of music, and maybe, just maybe, I'll give you an audition" he snapped at her.
"That bottle of whiskey had better be in my office when I get in there" he muttered under his breath as he straightened his tie and walked away from the girl, not even giving her a backwards glance as he left her behind. Corrinne could feel the tears in her eyes as she felt her future start to actually crumble around her faster then she could comprehend. the one last chance she had to make her career skyrocket again had crashed around her. She had never been treated in such a way in the last two years, and all on the same day. Everyone had picked on her, called her the most unfair things, and had shot her down faster then a paper airplane. She suddenly felt naked and exposed, with a hollow feeling inside that was spreading throughout her body as she was left alone on the stage. And she felt the anger rise up too, the indescribable fury of being shot down. Shhe was a damn star, a recording artist, a damn number one single artist. People like her were nailed to the cross of civilisation, they weren't thrown down on the floor and stepped on by someones heel. She couldn't be treated like this by anyone, especially not some second rate talk show host. "You will pay for this, just like that bitch" she swore under her breath. "I shuold have used the bloody pendant thing on you, you rat bastard, instead of poisoning that old crone" she snarled, as she slammed her fists on the surface of the studios desk several times in anger as she vented her frustration loudly. "You. Fucking. Son. Of. A. Bitch" she shouted with each slam of her fists on the desks surface as she shouted and ranted loudly. The studios staff were all gone for the evening, Blake having been the last one to leave before she did. There was no-one around to hear her childish rants. Then it hit her. She still had the pendant in her bag. There was a way to fix this. They did call themselves the Helpline after all. So they would be able to help and make things better. "You're going to fix this for me" she said loudly as she stormed off the stage and down the side of the aisle towards the back of the studio where everything was. Her things were still laying beside the snack table, all the food and drinks either eaten or taken home. I'm going to fix this'' she said to herself as she stormed back to where her belonging lay against the food table. The dressing room was covered in police tape, the inside of the room picked apart by the police and the investigators. Everything inside had been bagged, tagged and removed, probably never to be seen again. The cleaners trolley nearby had been stripped down as well. The janitor had been taken in for questioning, as well as a number of the other staff. Not that she cared. "I'm going to fix this, i'll show them all'' Corrinne said as she pulled open her handbag and turned it upside down. the entire contents fell out of her purse haphazardly. Her phone, several bags of makeup and feminine hygiene products all fell out of the bag as they clattered across the surface, before the black glass pendant fell out with a soft clinking sound. "You can help me now. help me by making me a star again'' Corrinne said as she grabbed the pendant in her hand with a tight grip. "but you can start by showing that stupid host what real talent looks like. You clean up this mess and you give me what I deserve" she snapped out loud as she dropped the pendant on the ground. then thrust her foot down on it as hard as she could. The glass shattered. There was a howling noise, like a beast roaring. Then the power went out. She blinked several times, surprised at the sudden darkness that invaded her vision as she turned around, trying to make out anything that she could see. But the darkness was too thick for her to even see her own sparkly fingernails when she held up her hand to her face. "What's going on?" she said, she could barely hear her own voice, the darkness was so thick.
A lion stood in front of the square pond, standing in just a long tan robe that seemed somewhat too big for him, the edges reaching the grass at his feet. He had his eyes closed, his black mane cascading down his neck and across his grey shoulders. He seemed to be waiting for something as he stood there in the light of the setting sun.
"Sir, the request was made" said the voice of a black horse who stepped out of the open front door of the manor. He was wearing clothing made of pure white that were covered in various religious symbols. A high back collar reached up to his jawline. He was jet black black with a white stripe down the front of his face, his dark coloured mane curled over one side of his face, covering the right side of his head.
He held his white hands in front of him, almost in a praying position, black nails standing out against the white fur. The only eye that was visible was his left eye, and it shone in a rather otherworldy way.
"Shall we honour it Sir?" Carrie asked as she stepped up beside the rhino, her hands clasped in front of her as they both waited for the lion to respond. The lion said nothing for a moment before he opened his eyes. They were a deep sapphire blue and seemed to sparkle in the light.
"Connor. Carrie. It seems that she wants to have the mess cleaned up that she made. She expects to get what she deserves" the lion said without turning around. "We shall honour it." They both bowed their heads in response to him. "Mother, if you may" he said as he held his arms outstretched.
"Yes, Mentu-Hotep." An elderly and rather rotund lioness walked up, her hair greying and pulled back into a severe bun. She was grey like the lion, their age difference prominent. She was dressed head to toe in the black and white outfit of a Victorian maid. She gave the lion a scathing and deadly glare from behind as she took his robe in her hands and pulled them off his slender body.
He was revealed to be naked, his smooth grey and white fur covering his whole body as he calmed stepped onto the edge of the pond and began to walk forward. His feet touched the waters surface and it rippled softly, but he didn't sink into the water. Calmly, he walked forward towards the circular platform the tea setting now removed.
The water in the pond began to ripple and swirl toward the platform as it slowly flowed upwards like a river. The water poured upwards and started to climb up the lions body. He closed his eyes as the water swirled around him and completely covered him from head to toe. The water continued to flow around as it gradually took shape, forming a sphere of swirling water around him. And then, it slowly began to rise up into the air.
Carrie suddenly began to glow a bright red as her skin began to blister and boil. It was literally burned off her body as her skin flowed like a glowing magma. Her hair burst into fire and flowed around her neck as her clothes burned into ashes that fell to the ground, a figure of living fire.
Connor began to crack apart as his skin bulged and wormed around his body before it broke like an eggshell. His skin and clothes cracked away to reveal a figure made entirely of white hands that clung to one another, fingers and thumbs making out every detail of his body.
The water sphere suddenly shattered like ice, fractured pieces hanging in the air as the area around Mentu shimmered like oil on water. Images of sand and deserts, palm trees and ancient temples flew past as Mentu slowly lowered to the ground. It was as if millennia passed around him for a brief moment as he landed on his feet.
He wore a wrapped corded blue belt around his waist that covered his lower torso, long strands of cloth made in red and gold flowed around his legs. A pair of golden sandals covered his feet, and ornate golden bands were wrapped around his biceps. A large ornate golden collar was wrapped around his neck and covered half of his chest.
Atop his head lay a golden headdress in the shape of a cobra, the head raised up with a ruby forked tongue poking out in an eternal hiss. Gilded chains hung from the headpiece and lay across his cheeks.
He turned to face Connor and Carrie, a long golden staff in his hand. Atop the staff was a large golden Ankh, the Egyptian cross with an oval on the top.
"Lets go and give her what she deserves" he said with a smile as he tapped the base of his staff on the podium, an unearthly gonging suddenly sounding that reverberated through their souls. He smiled to them both, and it was not a good smile.
The darkness didn't last too long, but Corrinne wasn't sure how much time had actually passed. She couldn't hear or see a thing anywhere, it was almost like she was swimming in the shadows, if there even were shadows. Then a light appeared down at the other end of the studio, where the stage was set. "What the hell?" Corrinne said as the light grew brighter as all the stage lights suddnely turned on one by one. the stage was set up with a lone microphone, surrounded by the musical instruments of the band. But there was no-one there on the stage. All the lights down by the seats were lit up, but all the seats were empty. Corrinne stepped away from the back of the studio and began to walk towards the seats. Her eyes gazed over all the seats, but there was nothing there. It was like the studio was set up for something, something that was supposed to start. Then the music began to play. The tone was eerie, almost ethereal. A set of drums and the eerie strings of a cello or a violin. Carrie turned her attention to the stage as the instruments played, but she couldn't see who was playing them. The lighting was so weird, all she could see was their hands. They were .... creepy. All she could make out were their hands, and they were so greyish white they almost glowed in the dim lighting. They must have been wearing gloves or something for them to stick out in the dark like that. "Are they wearing black suits or something? That is so two years ago" Corrinne said as she looked around, trying to see if someone was actually punking her or playing a joke. But again, all she could see in the dim light was nothing. Then someone stepped up to the microphone as the above light narrowed into a cone of light that surrounded the mic stand. The light almost parted like curtains to allow the figure to step into the light. A figure dressed in a black and white gown that looked like it belonged in a museum. It took a moment for Corrinne to realise that the person who had stepped up, was.... ''Carrie?'' Corrinne said in shock. "What the hell?" she said in shock and some surprise. Carrie however did not respond. She merely smiled as she took her place in front of the microphone. She took hold of it in her hand and then opened her mouth as the song started. "In the land, of gods and monsters, I was an angel'' she sang as she clung to the microphone in her hand, and Corrinne was shocked beyond belief to hear how musical the does voice really was. She had no idea beforehand that the doe could actually sing. "Living in the garden of evil..." "What the hell" Corrinne said as she looked around, expecting someone to stand there and tell her what the joke was. "What the hell is going on here?" she demanded. "Screwed up, scared, doing any thing that I needed.... " Carrie said as she raised her arms up above her. "Shining like a fiery beacon..." she sang as the lights suddenly turned and focused towards her, making her black and white dress start to shine. Almost like she was getting lit up. "Just what the hell is going on here?" Corrinne demnaded as she looked around again, hoping to see someone or anyone nearby that could explain the situation. But Carrie just continued to sing like she was paying no attention whatsoever to Corrinne. "You've got that medicine I need....fame liquor love, give it to me slowly..." she continued as she lowered her arms. Corrinne looked around and noticed then that people were in the audience, all of them watching intently to the performance. But due to the low lighting, Corrinne couldn't make out anyone. It was like they were all wearing black suits, and she couldn't even see their eyes. "Put your hands on my waist, do it softly...."Carrie said as she held herself around her waist, then raised her arms up like she was welcoming the light. "Me and God, we don't get along, so now I sing" she sang, a sudden rise in the music occurred. Just as a dark green mist began to flood around Carries feet and then swept over the stage onto the floor, where it began to sweep its way under the seats. The audience suddenly raised their hands in the air, each one carrying a flame in their fists and began to wave them back and forth in the air, but only the hands of the audience were visible waving back and forth. "No-ones gonna take my soul away....I'm living like Jim Morrison'' Carrie continued to sing as she moved her arms around her body as she held and released herself with each phrase that she sung. Carrie just continued to look around, trying to see anyone, in any matter of the sense, but all she saw was the people in the seats just wearing black and waving their gloved hands in the air. "Headed towards a messed up holiday...motels...free sprees...and I'm singing..." Carrie continued as Corrinne walked up to the nearest seat. "What the hell is..." she said as she grabbed at the guys black arm, but her hand just passed through the dark shape like it didn't exist. She let out a scream as the hand suddenly dropped onto the seat, the flame extinguishing like it didn't exist. "What the hell?" Corrinne said in shock as the hand suddenly sprang up like a giant spider and then crawled its way over the back of the seat and vanished. With a horror struck look on her face, Corrinne looked around and realised, the dark body shapes were just a figment of her eyesight. The hands waving in the air, were just hands. Just Hands. "Oh yeah, give it to me, this is heaven, what I truly want" Carrie said as she outstretched her hands towards the audience as they waved their hands back and forth, making the lights wave back and forth. "It's innocence lost.....Innocence lost" she said. Corrinne let out a scream of surprise as two grey hands suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her back into the seat behind her. More hands appeared, crawling out of the mist on the floor that ran up her legs and grabbed onto her flesh. She screamed again as the fingers dug into her legs and spread her legs against the "What the hell, let me go right now. I'm a diva, do not put your hands on me" she shouted as she struggled. "Get your hands off me you creepy ass spiders" she shouted as she continued to struggle, but the hands were much stronger then they appeared. "Is this some kind of sick joke? Get the hell off me" Corrinne screamed out loud as she struggled again, but she could barely move. More hands were starting to crawl out of the mist and started to grip onto her body, pinning her down all over. "If you don't mind, I'm trying to watch real talent here" said a firm voice beside her. A grey hand suddenly clamped itself around her mouth and held it firmly shut as she screamed into her mouth. Another hand clamped around her throat as another grabbed her head and pulled it back into place as she was secured into the seat. She could feel herself starting to cry out of fear as she breathed through her nose, panting hard as she whimpered. Corrinne tried to turn her head, but the hands kept her firmly in place as she could only end up moving her eyes to try and see. "When you talk it's like a movie and you're making me crazy...." Carrie sang as the song started up again, the green mist flowing around her feet. Corrinne saw that someone had appeared in the seat beside her, reclining back and completely at ease with the situation. It was a lion with sweeping black hair, dressed up in what looked like cerimonial egyptian clothing. he was sitting at ease, a long golden staff in his hand that lay across his lap. "It's amazing, how she has real talent. and it goes unnoticed, because attention hungry spoilt brats like you get treated like stars, and yet the real queens of the song get nothing'' the lion said as he kept his gaze on carrie on the stage. "It shouldn't, but it never fails to amaze me." "Cause life imitates art..." Carrie continued to sing, as a perverted face made out of hands appeared beside Corrines head, glaring at her with empty eye sockets as the girl was unable to do anything except whimper and continue tearing up. "She's better then you, isn't she?" the face said with an empty sounding voice. "are you going to poison her as well?" " If i get a little prettier, can i be your baby?" Carrie continued as a second face appeared on the opposite side of Corrinnes face. It too was made out of hands, but in a different formation from the first. "Do you think people will really think your better after you ruin the competition?" it asked her in the same hollow sounding voice. "Are you that desperate to put yourself forward?" "you tell me life isn't that hard..." Carrie said as she lifted her arms up again, and then the stage went dark. the only thing left were the lights of the lighters that glowed dimly in the darkness. and there was no sound to be heard. And then carrie was suddenly lit up as her skin began to glow. It glowed bright as it burned red, like a coal being set on fire. her skin glowed so brightly that she was able to light up the stage, brighter then the lights. She was literally on fire. And Carrie continued ot burn as the stage suddenly froze in place, the music cutting off midnote as the flames roared around the figure in the fire, her dress burning away and becoming ash as her skin melted and burned. The hands in the audience stopped waving about, the only thing moving was the flickering flames they held in their fists. The lion next to Corrinne suddenly vanished from beside her and reappeared in a blur in front of the stage. Carrie was still alight behind him, casting a shining flickering light around him that illuminated him in an otherwordly way. He grinned, in a very unfriednly way as he held his staff in his hand beside him. Corrinnes eyes darted from left to right as she found that she herself was now in a seat that was directly in front of him, with all the empty seats now lined up around her. The light from Carrie grew brighter, and she realised she was no longer in the studio. The mist covered a floor made out of black marble, and the lights illuminated far reaching walls and a disappearing ceiling that she could not see. Somehow, the studio had now become a temple, a black empty void of a temple that made her feel that she was closer to hell then she cared to believe. And all she could do, was whimper and cry. "You contacted us for help, which we were willing to provide. Do you know what we would have done for you, had you requested the help when you had the chance?" The lion said with a grin as he stared down at the terrified girl. "You would have watched the performance of Miss Jacinta, and you would have been moved." "So moved by her passion and talent, that you would have requested to singing a different song for your time on the credits. A cover of a song that once moved you when you first heard it. Your inspiration from Miss Jacinta would have made you cancell your current album, and you would have left the industy for a while, to take stock of what you have become." "When enough time had passed that you were all but a memory that nobody wanted to remember, you would have re-emerged with a new identity, a new image. And a new album. An album full of heartfelt genuine songs that you wrote yourself, that no-one would ever believe that someone as scandalous as you would have created." "And yet, your album would sell. Your singles would reach the number one spot every week for consecutive weeks. You would be signing your albums weekly, appearing on talk shows for months, even headlining many music awards, both local and international. Your heartfelt, emotional songs would have moved many and proved that you had the talent all along to push your career forward, instead of choosing what was easy to do." "And yet, you took it upon yourself to not only to take matters into your own hands and do it yourself, but you ruined the career of a genuine singing goddess. And for what? Songs that would even make background in pornographic movies sound halfway magical" Mentu said, his grin no longer on his face as he sneered down at the frightened girl, who could do nothing to defend herself. "So you wish for us to clean up your mess? To give you the help that you need? To give you what you deserve?" he said as he pointed the end of his staff towards her. "Did you really think we were going to help you after your despicable behaviour? Well, you are right. We are going to help. By giving you what you deserve" he said as the song resumed behind him. "Ammits gonna take your soul away, your living on borrowed time now" Carrie sang as the microphone melted and the stand smouldered from the intense heat of being so close to the fiery doe. "Heading towards a messed up kind of fate...blood, pain entrails will await you..." "Oh yeah, he's coming for you, this is justice, what we really want...." Carrie said as the music instruments around her suddenly ignited as well, the hands continuing to play the burning instruments as if the intense flames didn't bother them. "Your innocense lost..." Carrie said as the music on the stage continued to play, the instruments being strung until the very last note. "Your innocence lost..." she said as the instruments around her suddenly all died out, collapsing onto the stage in burning piles of rubble as the hands vanished into the smoke. "I am the morning and evening star. I command the sun to rise and the moon to fall. The waters of the Nile drown my enemies and the burning sands of Egypt scar those who wish wrong. I am the voice of my people, and the law of my kingdom. And I pass judgment upon you" Mentu said, his voice echoing around the tall temple.
"And that Judgment, is guilty".
For a moment, silence passed through the temple before a low growling was heard. Corrinne screamed into the hand around her mouth as the mist parted before her, revealing the black marble flooring was slowly sinking downwards, turning into marble steps that lead into a dark void where the light vanished. And moving up those steps was a horrible creature she had never seen before.
It had the head of a crocodile that was drooling around its razor sharp teeth. Its torso was that of a cheetah, heavily laden with muscles. And its hind quarters was the backside of a hippo. The beast was colossal, the size of a mountain bear. It snapped its huge jaws, a long slimey tongue licking across its sharp teeth as it focused its attention towards Corrinne. Mentu grinned as he pointed the end of his staff first at the beast, and then at the trapped girl who had nowhere to run from her fate. "Ammit. Feed" he ordered. Corrine was unable to scream as the huge monster suddenly pounced.
"Police are still on the search for Corrinne Light, failing reailty singer who is connected to the poisoning of legendary diva, Jacinta Long. Jacinta was found in her dressing room, having drunk from a pitcher filled with a mixture of water and heavy duty drain cleaner. Investigators believe that the act was a deliberate sabotage, as both songstress' were scheduled to perform on the hit talk show, Pridestars Persona." "Corrinne Light was reported missing after disappearing from the chat studio last week, just hours after the incident was reported by the talk show host, Blake Pridestar. Although intially investigators believed she had nothing to do with the incident, forensic analysis proved that Corrinne had a deliberate inclusion with the poisoning. "Police Officer Amanda Swan was unable to comment further on the investigation, as it is still ongoing." The image of the news reporter, a doberman in a sharp and precise suit with background images of the talk show behind him was suddenly replaced by footage of a female fennec in an officers uniform talking to a group of reporters. "We are treating this as an attempted murder, as there was enough poison in the water to have actually killed her. However, wether this was the intention of the perpetrator remains to be seen, as she has not been found, despite our best efforts. But when presented with the chance, reality star or not, we will bring her in and make her face justice for what she has done. The television was suddenly turned off as the Charles put the remote control down. The large screen television went dead, surrounded by vases overflowing with bouquets of flowers. Cards bearing well wishes were hung on stands on the walls around the living room. Charles had not been surprised by the amount of overwhelming support from the public, many of them being both old fans of her music, and many young ones who had heard of her since the incident and discovered her. "I think that's enough news for one day" he said as he turned towards Jacinta, who was behind him. She sat in the chair, wrapped securely in an overly thick dark red robe that looked far too big for her small frame. She had lost weight since being in hospital, looking smaller then ever. She did not say anything when he addressed her. She hadn't spoken since the incident, the doctors predicting she'd never speak again. "Don't worry, they'll find her" Charles said as he gently grabbed the handles of the chair and began to wheel her out of her living room towards the back porch of her home. She lived in a home with a view, filled with a life time of memories and memorabilia from her prime. But the home felt more like a museum dedicated to someone who had died. And it wasn't that far from the truth. Jacinta just sat there with her hands in her lap, staring off into space, her gaze vacant as she was wheeled through the doorway. Losing her voice had killed her that day, and it pained him to see that she had just gone like that, like her inner flame had been snuffed out. She didn't react to anything anymore, not even to the fact that he was now wearing a new gold chain around his neck. One that held a black glass pendant in the shape of a scarab. "Although, I'm sure she's paying for it right now, mother'' he said as he wheeled her outside so she could get some fresh air. He had asked for help, but they had insisted on saving his request for something else. He would give it time and see if she could recover on her own. If not, there was help for that.