((Although this doesn't entirely belong in this section, I dislike subforums; where it is suppose to go. Still, I did create a world in a sense, so... :D))




"Earn Dréor, my friends." A faceless figure stood before you, and several other figures. You couldn't make out them out. Even their bodies were simple gray forums. Around you, other figures floated past, as if unaware of your presence. The man before you continued. "For the Scots, ###### must die." His movements were so real, so perfect. But this couldn't be reality. Reality had cars, not gray blobs talking about killing something, or someone.
Everywhere you could see, strange white strands of code floated about. A three here, maybe a ten over there. You could just barely catch numbers floating about.
Then, came the pain. An almost hot, head-splitting pain. It came without warning, and left just as quickly. The other figures about you seemed to have not noticed your sudden torture. Then, it hit again. And again. Like a man with a hammer, the pain repetitively hit you, over and over, faster and faster, until it was completely constant.
"God, damn it! Pull them out! Albet, they'll die at this rate." A male voice, somewhat soothing in its panic tone, suddenly rose above the pain. Ah, the pain. You couldn't think of anything else. The pain was all you knew, and as far as you were concerned, all you would know.
"Alright, alright! I swear to god though, James. If we get put behind schedule, I'll be sure to let Vidic know it was all your fault." An old irritated man's voice now echoed through the pain. Whereas the first voice helped slightly with its soothing sound, this one added to the pain.
"I would suppose that their ancestors had a dramatic experience at this point. Hm, must be what is preventing them from jumping in, right?" Now a female's voice, sounding a bit snotty, ripped into your mind. Who were these people? What was going on? Well, they're your new family.

____

Bright light. In my face. This was all Ryan Stones could think of, as he came to consciousness. A strange, glass looking visor moved across his face. Ryan panicked, flailing his arms, and attempting to move the visor object which was inches from his face. But before his hands even got close to it, the glass object disappeared into the side of what he was laying on. Come to think of it, what was he laying on? The man sat up, rubbing his head, and with interested eyes, examined the thing he lay on. It was gray, or maybe a very light blue. Made of plastic, maybe, yet somehow more comfortable. It sat on a glass floor, through which wires and other electronics were thrown about in what looked like an endless abyss. It probably wasn't, but the blueish fog that covered everything a couple feet down made it seem like it was. Now, enough of his new bed. What of his surroundings?
Pillars with red lights on them dotted the somewhat small room. Beneath the red lights sat little holes, that Ryan guessed were cameras. To his right was two doors; next to one was a glass window, showing what appeared to be a family room. Minus the family, and bigger. The walls were metal, with many more cameras. A couch and a TV, with a single coffee table, is all Ryan could see in the other room.
Two double doors were on the far wall, and the otherwise rectangular room had an office that sloped upwards with small stairs, extending from the middle of the long side of the room; opposite of the two doors. The walls of the office area, and that entire side of the room, were covered in huge glass panels. Each corner of the room had a platform, slightly higher then the floor. And the wall of each corner was covered in computers and servers.
three other beds, which were identical to the one Ryan sat on, were also in the room. They met in an X like patter, each red rest sitting towards the middle. A small empty square filled the middle of the "X". Well, not completely empty. A man stood there, smiling at Stones. Come to think of it, there was an old man at a desk, and a lady walking about the room, examining the computers, and taking notes. On top of that, there were people laying on the other "beds".
"Hello, Ryan Stones." The man smiled at Ryan. He wore a lab-coat, and held an object that looked similar to a laptop computer. Actually, Ryan was wearing white too. "Where am I?" He slowly got off the "bed", looking curiously at the man in a lab-coat. "Why, your at Abstergo! Greatest company in the world!" The old man at the office area had spoken. He stood, smiling. "And you are now our prisoner. Along with the rest of you." He smiled. It was an odd smile.
"Mr. Smith, please don't make them freak out." The first man sighed, rubbing his temples. Freak out? Hell, of course I'm going to freak out! Ryan could feel his body tensing up, as he looked about wildly for an escape. Jump out one of the windows to certain doom? Try to overpower all three? What if the other three, who were awake and looking just as confused as him, a part of this "Abstergo"?
"Now now, Mr. Stones. Relax, and lay back down on the Animus, won't you?" The old man smiled, ignoring the younger man. "The hell? Relax? Animus? What the fuck are you all talking about? What's going on?!" Ryan's voice rose with each question. Life now sucked.

It....stopped. The pain. It had actually stopped. Wait? When had it begun? Jason couldn't tell. Time had become abstract, his mind hard to focus. A bright light flashed in his eyes and he awoke with a start, nearly bashing his head on the screen that flitted out of his way. "Ahh, damn that burns," the college student exclaimed shading his eyes from the intense light. He sat for a moment, blinking to adjust his eyes. The teen took in his surroundings with more than a little anxiety. "What happened?" he asked aloud, not seeming to be talking to anyone in-particular. Everything was white in the room, and the light still left an orange blob in his eyes. The kind you get from staring at the sun too long. He put his face in his hand and tried to remember what had happened. Oh right, I was abduct by those weirdos in ski masks. Jason's memory slowly began to make its way back to him.
Jason rose from the metal "bed" like surface he was lying on and looked around. Now he noticed he was not alone wherever he was. A man in a white lab coat was talking to another guy who looked like he had just woken up too. There were three other beds in the room. He guessed the empty one belonged to the guy yelling at the man in the lab coat. The other was still filling by someone else. Jason looked across the room at the guy sitting behind the desk. He held a sinister smile on his face that Jason didn't like. Then he noticed the woman walking around the room. What was she doing, taking notes? Notes on what? Them maybe?
"What the hell, where is this and why am I here?" Jason threw the question into the room at everyone. One of them would have the answer if they all didn't. The man behind the desk just continued to smile at him. "This is Aberstergo. As for the reason your here...hehehe....well you'll find out. Let's just say you poke your nose around to much into things that don't concern you. Or maybe they do seeing as your here," the man explained. Or did he? His strange explanation just seemed to raise more questions in Jason's mind. He still didn't know why he was here, but it seemed to have something to do with his research into his family history according to this man. "You people aren't making any sense," Jason muttered.

Drake lay on his back, his head pounding like his brain was trying to escape from his skull through his forehead. "Where am I and why does my head hurt so much?" He muttered.All of those images must have been a dream. That was too weird to be reality. As Drake tried to sit up he head butted a arched ethereal aced screen over his eyes. "Ow, mother fu... ok, now I am getting irritated." Drake slid down along the metal waved plate he was laying on and sat up, his hand resting on his forehead. Where was this place and how did he get here. The last thing Drake remembered was going into the bathroom before his final and then seeing three men in suits. That was the last thing he saw then there where the gray blob that were talking to him, then he felt the pain, then he hit his head. Now he was here, What on earth was going on.
He turned his head to see a woman standing beside him. "Who the hell are you and where the hell am I?"
The look at Drake with an air of smugness as he began explaining. "You are in the research division in one of the main offices of Abstergo. You have been brought here because you have something that we require, just like the others. The device you were in is called an animus, a device used for examining and displaying genetic memory."
"Genetic memory?"
"Yes, the memories of your ancestors are stored in your DNA. The animus reads that and displays it. Think of it as how birds know where to fly when the seasons change even if they have never been there before."
"That is just animal instinct."
"Now you are arguing semantics. Whatever you want to call it, it is invaluable to Abstergo because your ancestors hold very valuable information. We are using you and the others to find what we want so please get back in the animus so that we can get back to work."
"Are you kidding me? My head is screaming and I am starving. So excuse my language but..."
Drake was quickly interrupted. "You seem to be mistaken, that was not a suggestion. You can either get back into the animus by your own free will or we will induce a come and continue our work, the choice is yours."
Drake knew the woman wasn't bluffing as he smug expression turned into a scowl. "Alright, but I doubt I can be any help with my head hurting like this." The woman sighed and walked away, he face looking very anoyed as her white lab coat moved as she walked, showing Drake her name tag and her ID. Hmm... Issa Scothern, interesting name.

((Ziggy, I'd rather you didn't quote whole sections of the actual game. Please n' thanks.))
"Now, Mr. Stones. No need to get angry." The old guy that the other guy called Albet, grinned. "The Animus is an amazing machine, that can read your DNA, simply put. Now lay down." Albet grinned again; a malicious smile. "Mr. Fellman, if you'd do the same too, that'd be wonderful." The unnamed man, in the center of the room, chuckled to himself and shook his head.
Ryan didn't budge. "You can give me some answers right now, before I break your old head in, Albet." Ryan stressed the name, taunting him. The old scientist frowned. "My assistant here, James, will explain it to you, along with Mr. Fellman and Mr. Cross. Now lay down, Mr. Stones." Albet mimicked Ryan with a childish sneer, sitting back behind his desk.
Ryan frowned. He turned to look at the others, before doing as he was told and laying down. The strange glass visor slid back up, covering his face. The words "ABSTERGO" appeared, unmoving."James, or whatever the hell your name is, if I die, I'll be sure to haunt you until you follow suite." His voice was frustrated, annoyed. Filled with honest threat. But his mind was the opposite. Fear and worry jumped from one thought to the other, entwining the wrinkles in his brain with doubt. What are these people doing? Read my DNA? What, do they want to clone me?
Ryan's thoughts were broken with a kind male voice. "Relax, all of you. Here, let me explain it with visual aid." The glass visor suddenly changed from ABSTERGO, to a video. It showed a DNA strand, twisting upwards. "This is a strand of DNA," James continued. Duh. "And this," a specific part of the strand highlighted itself, and the camera zoomed in on it, with a theatrical feel. "Is a the memories of several ancestors. All of their lives, right there." Ryan frowned, confused. "I don't believe it. Besides, what does this have to do with us?" From her voice, Ryan could tell Issa was enjoying herself. "Instinct in an animal. It doesn't just happen, Stones. It's all from what their ancestors learned." Albet continued on for her. "Every though, every word, every action. Each is saved in one's DNA. Each is accessible, with the Animus, that is. It transforms your ancestor's memories into a visual, and interactive world. Can't you idiots understand that?"
James voice was smiling. "Don't mind Albet. He has a chunk of the world on his shoulders. Now, incase your wondering what we need you all for, we need your ancestors memories. And-" "Abup bup bup bup! That's enough, James. Need to know only" Albet interrupted him, a warning in his voice. It sounded like they had discussed the subject before.
"Of course, Albet. Now then, let's plunge you all in." James didn't seemed at all intimidated; just that same happy tone. "You all are going back to 1598; Shakespeare's time. Relax. We have work to do."

_ _ _ _

The screen faded before your eyes. Actually, everything did. Jame continued on, explaining something about making your mind more synched before they could extract what they needed from all of you. You couldn't quite make it out, as everything began to fade into a gray mist. Suddenly, your eyes flashed open. You stood on an old style marketplace in London, with two other people standing with you. It was high noon, and you were dressed in clothing you had seen in old painting. You were at the end of the sixteenth century. ((Note that your ancestor is now the age of 18. They'll be wearing comfortable, poor clothes that many of the laboring class would wear.))
Like I said, relax. Let the Animus read your DNA, and finish setting everything up. Look for a man named John Webster. That's what your ancestors were doing at this time.

_ _ _ _

John Webster. John John John John; John. Why did that sound familiar? Ryan shook his head. Judging by the date, it was probably just some random poet or other from the time period. As long as he didn't think too deeply about this, maybe he could just ride the train until it stopped.
The market place was busy. From meat stalls to fish, crops, tools, and who knows what else, shop owners boomed out to the crowd, attempting to gain customer's attention. As for the others of his "group", Ryan made sure to memorize each of their faces. "Rhinna! So great to see you." What? I didn't say that. At least, I don't think so. Before Ryan knew what was happening, he moved towards the woman, extending a hand in greeting. "Collis and I here were just beginning to wonder if you'd show up." Ryan, or Ryan's body's voice, sounded playful and happy. "I thought that maybe you figured you were too old to listen to poems, eh?" Ryan's body nudge the other person he stood with, Collis. "I wonder where >>Possible third RPer<< is, though... But come! Let's go find John." Ryan's new body had on tight leather chaps, and a large poofy white shirt. He wore no gloves, and had on simple leather shoes.
The one talking is Ryan Stone's ancestor, Vick Harvard Martel. The woman is Jason Fellman's ancestor, Rhianna Arelli Curow. Jason was the tall guy with black hair; next to Ryan's Animus. Drake Cross' is the other man, Collis Godard. Drake was the guy with white hair. Don't worry about your restricted movements; you'll be able move freely once the conversation is over.

Drake looked over at 4 other men in the room, two sitting on the devices like him. The man behind the desk was speaking but not loud enough for him to hear. The only words he heard were to lay down. He wasn't sure what to do but he figured it was better to just go with the flow as long as he wasn't being hurt. After waiting for his head to stop hurting so much, Drake layed back down and let the visor come over his eyes as he listened to James. The video in front of him displayed a strand of DNA that had been dissected and had certain pieces highlighted to make them glow. One piece that was at the end began glowing red, which he deduced was what they were wanting. As he looked at the other piece that was glowing blue, the entire screen began glowing and Drake could only see a bright light until it began fading.

~~~~~~~~~~

Drake looked around, seeing what looked like England, but much older, but not quite as old as the Renaissance. It was like the Elizabethan era. He looked over at a dirty glass window and saw his face, looking slightly different with blonde hair instead of the usual white. His clothes were also very different. He was wearing a white shirt with a brown vest over it. He was also wearing a dark blue jacket that almost reached his feet. He had no clue what was going on or why his appearance had suddenly changed. "Rhinna! So great to see you. Collis and I here were just beginning to wonder if you'd show up. I thought that maybe you figured you were too old to listen to poems, eh? I wonder where >>Possible third RPer<< is, though... But come! Let's go find John." As he felt something nudge his ribs he turned to see two other people next to him. One was a man with a white poofy shirt and brown leather pants, very similar to his own garb. The person approaching them was a woman with black hair. He quickly deduced that it was the man talking and he must be Collis, a name that sounded somewhat familiar."
"What do you mean Collis and I? I believe you were the one who was anxious for her to get here." Drake replied teasingly. This was strange. Drake didn't say anything but his body did. "As for ######, if they don't get here soon then I am gonna assume that they aren't coming." This was the strangest thing Drake had ever experienced. It was like he was watching a movie from the first person view of one of the actors.

Jason sighed and lay back on the metal bed, the screen sliding up over his head again. He watched the visual of the DNA and listened to James's explanation. So this part is my ancestors memories. What could they do with my ancestors memories. Then the DNA strand faded and was replaced by a white light. "Your all going back to 1598; Shakespeare's time. Relax. We have work to do." he heard James say as the screen flashed brightly and then faded.

---

When at last he could see again the scene had changed. He was standing in an old market place. Jason extended a hand to the man in front of him who exclaimed, "Rhianna! So great to see you. Collis and I here were just beginning to wonder if you'd show up. I thought that maybe you figured you were too old to listen to poems, eh? I wonder where >>Possible third RPer<< is, though... But come! Let's go find John." But wait, that was strange. His hand was too slender to be his, and why was the man calling him Rhianna? The one talking is Ryan Stone's ancestor, Vick Harvard Martel. The woman is Jason Fellman's ancestor, Rhianna Arelli Curow. Jason was the tall guy with black hair; next to Ryan's Animus. Drake Cross' is the other man, Collis Godard. Drake was the guy with white hair. Don't worry about your restricted movements; you'll be able move freely once the conversation is over. he heard James's voice explain. The man in front of him nudged his companion Collis. "What do you mean Collis and I? I believe you were the one who was anxious for her to get here." Drake replied teasingly. As for ######, if they don't get here soon then I am gonna assume that they aren't coming." Rhianna raised a hand to Vick's head, "Are you alright Vick? Your face is turning awfully red," she asked in a concerned voice. Oh damn, I'm a chick. Why the hell did they pick this ancestor. This has got to be the strangest thing I've ever been through. Jason caught a glimpse of himself in the window behind Vick and Collis. Rhianna wore a long red dress with a pair of red earrings and white stockings. Well at least she doesn't look half bad. Ah, what am I thinking? I'm now complimenting myself...or well my ancestor.

"Ah, Collis. I was merely curious if she would still be childish enough to hang around some men like ourselves!" Ryan, or rather Vick, laughed. "Rhianna, it is hot out. Perhaps I am growing faint?" The man half faked collapsing, catching himself at the the last moment, and laughed again. "You two read too deeply into the small actions." The feeling of no control was an odd and frightening one.
Suddenly, Ryan could move freely. No more forced talking, no more random jesters. Vick/Ryan flexed his hand, staring at it curiously. Moving up his arm, he began to examine his new body. "Who is this John guy we gotta find? Actually, I don't even see why I should be helping with this." Vick muttered, plucking at his big shirt. It was pretty hot out.
Mr. Stones. You will do as we tell you, or we can simply drug you, carry about our work, and then toss your body into a trash heap when we're finished. Understand? Albet's threatening voice came through all of their ears. Vick grumbled, stretching his new arms. "Well at least my ancestor was pretty fit..."
Ryan's Ancestor glanced over to Jason's. "Well at least I didn't get stuck in a girl's body like you, eh?" He laughed, nodding to the two of them. "Now, how are we going to find this John guy? Just ask around until someone tells us?"
The marketplace was absolutely packed. Everyone in the entire city seemed to be there. A few guards stood around, not seeming to be paying much attention to the crowd. However, two guards appeared to be harassing a merchant. "Maybe we should ask some guards...?" Vick wondered aloud. "Then again, I suppose we could ask around until the whole market knows us..."

_ _ _ _

One guard, slightly smaller then the other and with a large beard, poked at the merchant's chest. "This food must be poisoned! Just look at that meat!" He nodded, grinning to his partner. The merchant fumbled with the meat he pointed to, examining it. "B-but, there can't be anything wrong with it! The pig wasn't ill; I checked all of the meat twice this morning!" The first guard slammed his armored fist on the table, shifting around various food and meat. The merchant struggled to catch anything that fell. "Ha! Lies. Clearly you are trying to sell these good people rancid meat!" The guard spat in the face of the poor merchant, who could do nothing. The second guard snorted, laughing. With his big arms, he grabbed a bowl of apples, then flipped the table. "We'll have to inspect your wares. We'll take it upon ourselves to make sure it isn't rancid." The bigger guard leaned in very closely to the merchant. "Aren't we so brave?" The merchant, however, had had enough. His expression changed from fear to anger, as he poked at the big guard's chest. "No! You just want the food for yourself, without paying for it! You and your friend should go! Now!" The poor man didn't even have time to flinch as a leather gauntlet flew into his face, easily breaking his nose, and sending him stumbling backwards, into another merchant. "You wish to die, peasant? Then come! Taste death." The smaller man pulled out a knife, grinning at the bleeding man.

Jason/Rhianna crossed her arms, "Well I guess it could be worse. A rare chance to see the other side of life perhaps?" Rhianna took in her surroundings. It could take forever to find someone in this crowded market. "Did he say John Webster? As in Webster's Dictionary John Webster?" Rhianna asked. She noticed the commotion with the guard and the merchant. "Maybe we should move on. I don't want to take the chance of getting caught up in that," Rhianna gestured towards ensuing fight. "It seems the guards aren't very friendly either. I doubt we'll get any information from them." It was going to take a lot of adjusting to get used to this. The balance in this body was all off. Jason was naturally agile from his athletic days in high school, but this body had extra wait in places he wasn't used to. Not to mention the outfit Rhianna was wearing was hard to move in. How the hell do women do it?

Drake, or Collis, whichever one he was, they were watching as Vick/Ryan fell backwards, only to catch himself. "Enough joking around, let's go find John, I guess ##### is not coming." Drake felt his hands suddenly flex when Drake made them. He popped his knuckles and he jaw just to make sure he had movement of his body and what he said. "Sweet, this was getting kind of weird. I guess we gotta go find this John guy, whoever the hell he is." Just as he took a closer look at Rhianna, he realized that one of the guy must be feeling very uncomfortable in a woman's body. "That has got to be an interesting experience."
Just as Drake was about to open his mouth, Ryan said something first, "Who is this John guy we gotta find? Actually, I don't even see why I should be helping with this." Then Ryan began messing with his ridiculous looking shirt. "Well at least my ancestor was pretty fit... Well at least I didn't get stuck in a girl's body like you, eh? Now, how are we going to find this John guy? Just ask around until someone tells us? Maybe we should ask some guards...? Then again, I suppose we could ask around until the whole market knows us..."
Rhianna then replied to him. "Well I guess it could be worse. A rare chance to see the other side of life perhaps? Did he say John Webster? As in Webster's Dictionary John Webster? Maybe we should move on. I don't want to take the chance of getting caught up in that. It seems the guards aren't very friendly either. I doubt we'll get any information from them."
Drake silently walked away, over to the guards and the merchant. He picked up a small piece of meat and tore off a bite sized piece. The guards looked dumbfounded. He popped it into his mouth, chewing it throughly and swallowing it. He turned to the guards with a smile on his face. "I don't believe this meat is poisoned or has become rancid, there is no need for you to worry." He turned around and grabbed the merchant's hand, pulling him back to his feet. He then turned back to the guards. "Sir, there is no need for any further hostilities, the matter has been resolved peacefully so would you please sheath your blade?"

"Maybe we should move on. I don't want to take the chance of getting caught up in that," Rhianna gestured towards ensuing fight. "It seems the guards aren't very friendly either. I doubt we'll get any information from them." Ryan's ancestor nodded. "Agreed. Probably best to not make a name for ourselves already, eh?"
Drake, Collis, Number 3, that guy. Whatever he was called, had just pissed off the smaller guard. Vick walked quickly over, placing a hand on Collis' shoulder. "Come on. This isn't our business." The man turned on the first newcomer, the knife held readily at this hand. "What's this, now?" He sneered, looking Collis up and down. "Stealing this man's wares, are you?" The bigger guard grinned. "Heheheh. We should apprehend this thief, wouldn't you say?" The first guard nodded, grinning again at Collis. However, rather then try to grab him, the guard stabbed at Collis. The big guard, at the same time reached out to grab Drake's ancestor, trying to prevent him from dodging the attack.
Vick, on the other hand, wasn't too pleased with the two verses one. As the larger guard reached for Collis, Vick grabbed his arm, kicked his knee hard enough to break it, and punched the man in the face. The guard collapsed, unconscious. His assaulter, however, looked at his hands. How the hell did I do that? The guard's leg bent in an odd direction, in a way it wasn't suppose to. His face was bloodied, with a swollen cheek and a few teeth missing. The teeth actually were probably already missing, but it added to the effect.
A few other guards saw the commotion. Three more guards walked over, blades drawn. And to Vick, they didn't look like they wanted to play "Twenty questions: Unconscious guard version". Actually, they looked more like they wanted to cut something open. And considering that guard probably looks dead, they're probably going to try it... Ryan thought with a touch of fear.

Simultaneously as Ryan disposed of the bigger guard who was trying to grab him, Drake grabbed the guard's hand with the knife it and twisted it, bending his arm behind his back. The guard dropped the knife and screamed in pain. Drake stood behind him and whispered into his ear, "Now, you play nice with the merchants, ok?" The guard nodded as Drake bent his arm more. "Good." Drake then put his boot to the guard's back and kicked him face first into a stone wall, knocking him out. "Ouch, think I put a little too much force." He turned back to face Ryan. "Thanks for the help. He watched the guards with their swords drawn begin to approach them. "Well, we have two options. We stay and see what we can do unarmed, or we can run for our lives. I suggest the second one."

Oh great, these two really knew how to get into trouble. Rhianna walked up between them and noticed the approaching guards. "Please stop this," Rhianna pleaded with the guards. "Your supposed to be protectors of the people, yet your so eager for bloodshed. Could you not let this go? These two started the trouble to begin with." The three guards looked at each other and the middle one smiled. If that's what you could call it. Whatever it was she didn't like. "Well boys," the middle guard said to his companions. "It looks like we've got a wench that doesn't know her place. How about this, you come with us and we don't slaughter your boyfriends. Sound fair to you?" the middle guard asked. The guard on the left chuckled and smiled with a gleam in his eye. "Don't worry, we'll take real good care of you," he said in a mock reassuring tone. Rhianna didn't think these two had intentions to treat any body "real good." She looked up at Vick and then at Collis. "You two get out of here. I'll deal with these gentlemen," Jason heard himself say. What the hell was he doing? Jason's heart began to race. Or was it Rhianna's? It was probably both he decided, but Rhianna remained calm. "Well, looks like we av ourselves a taker boys," the middle guard said and the other two chuckled. This couldn't end good.

Drake smirked and looked down. "Sorry, not gonna run and leave you here." He popped his knuckles and bent down, picking up the knife that the unconscious guard had dropped. "It is just not how I was raised." He then noticed that a large suspended scaffolding was directly above where the guards where walking towards. He chuckled under his breath as he saw that it was held up buy a single rope. "If you don't come with us, I am gonna be forced to kill some of these guards, if not all of them." Drake had no clue if this would work but something in his mind wouldn't let him run like the rest of his mind was telling him. He held the knife with the blade, prepared to throw it.