Dorothy: The Darker Side of OZ v5

by Scott Stanford

  19

  In the morning Dorothy wakes, springing from the bed and making her way through the house as she calls, ‘Hello, Scarecrow!’

  With no answer, not even from her hosts she goes downstairs and her friends slowly follow behind, moving into the kitchen, then the living room. Again she calls, ‘Scarecrow!’ to hear nothing, and without a sign of the elderly couple. Then she looks to the small couch the old man sat on last night, curious where he is. Moving toward it she looks at a small doll on the seat, its white porcelain face cracked and scarred with black stains as it reminds her of the one in the guest room. With her eyes still focused she hears a, ‘Hello!’ from outside and moves quickly to the kitchen, opening the front door to see a small green shed beside the house.

  Without hesitation she runs to it, recognising the voice as she swings the door open to see Scarecrow smiling back at her. With his thin mouth open wide he bursts, ‘They fixed me last night but left me in the shed, it was good I had this,’ fidgeting with his necklace as Dorothy takes his hand. Assertively she voices, ‘We’re leaving!’ walking past the house to see a thick black cross painted on the door, unaware of it last night as she quickly turns around, facing the village behind them. Looking out to the green buildings they seem less threatening in the sunlight, though the macabre black cross is painted on most of the doors, and few are bare. Curious, but not enough to stay Dorothy moves quickly and her friends follow, the tin-man cautious as they pass through the village, hoping it’s not where Undesirables dwell.

  Soon, with the village far behind them the group look out at the vast Emerald city as it glistens in the sun, and their eyes follow the road of yellow bricks, ending at a vast jade wall. They walk along the road as the sweet scent of fresh grass environs them, and Dorothy notices a gate in the great wall surrounding the city. Covered in green diamonds Scarecrow coos at their amazing glare, though the sceptical girl looks above the wall, even higher than the green thatched roofs. She stares at the wizard’s horrific castle, standing on a thick graveyard hill as she sees the tombs and resting places clearly from outside the wall.

  Walking to the large emerald gate, almost unable to believe that the yellow road has come to an end Dorothy turns around and looks behind her with mild relief. She smiles awkwardly, telling herself she’s closer to home, and amazed she’s made it this far thinks of all she’s had to pass through. Then looking to the gate its diamond studded locks unbolt as if by magic, and it swings open without a sound. Smiling at such a sight the scarecrow says, ‘How pretty, I want one’, as even the cowardly lion almost smiles, his fear entwined with excitement whilst the tin-man stands without care, waiting for a heart. Taking a deep breath Dorothy walks through the gate first and the others follow, finding themselves in a box room gleaming with emeralds as a man no taller than a munchkin stands in front of them. Amused by the emerald clothes he’s wearing, even the light green tint to his skin Dorothy tries not to laugh at the thought of him reminding her of a child in a cheap Martians costume. Yet despite how amusing he may appear to the young girl the man raises a hand to the group, asking very sternly, ‘Business or pleasure?’ Unsure what to say Dorothy gently mouths, ‘Excuse me?’ as the guard mutters under his breath, ‘Damn tourists,’ before loudly inquiring, ‘What do you want in the Emerald city?’

  ‘To see the wizard,’ Dorothy replies meekly as the guard squints, pushing effortlessly:

  ‘No-one has asked to see the wizard in years and I doubt you will be allowed in the castle…’

  Determined to get inside the girl bluntly presses, ‘Please, it’s urgent!’ as the guard nods his head:

  ‘Very well, but I am ordered to warn you; if you are to waste the wizard’s time you will be punished by methods he deems fit, and suffer the likelihood that after your admittance you may not be allowed to leave the city. These are the rules for those seeking an audience with the wizard, do you accept?’

  Dorothy looks to her friends for guidance, finding herself in control of their fate as they stare blankly and she faces the guardsman, confirming, ‘Yes, we accept.’ She follows with a shy, ‘Is he a good man?’ as her imagination turns grim at the thought of a wizard who would trap people within his city. ‘He is, and a wise ruler,’ the Guardsman continues, ‘though to those who are not honest, and disobey his will he is cruel and…I should not say.’ The girl’s curiosity aches, pleading, ‘Please, say!’ but the guard feels nervous, rubbing a cloth over his sweating brow as he leads the guests to a large machine:

  ‘P, please, this way. This is a phoropter; you must place your head on the rest and look into the lenses. The brightness of the city will blind you if you do not have your eyes scanned, but after you have you’ll see that everything inside is a magnificent green.’

  Dorothy looks at the machine, its teal metal structure reminding her of something she’d often seen when having her eyes tested back home. Going first she places her head against the rest, looking into the lenses as the guardsman presses a button at the back of the machine. Rapidly a bright light temporarily blinds her and she feels something press against her eyes before moving away, squinting and rubbing at them furiously. Next the tin-man places his head against the machine, followed by the scared lion as Dorothy holds his paw to comfort him. Finally Scarecrow approaches the phoropter, asking, ‘I have buttons, it won’t hurt my buttons will it?’ The guardsman shakes his head, and as Scarecrow places himself into the machine he fiddles with odd dials, poking at cogs as he queries, ‘What’s this? What’s this?’ Quickly pressing the button the guardsman hears the scarecrow glisten, ‘Oh my!’ as he moves from the phoropter to feel his sight slowly coming back into focus.

  As they all stand ready to enter the city the guardsman takes a gold key, chained to his armour as he places it into a green gate. Opening one lock, then another Dorothy watches him, feeling at the small black key around her neck as she wonders how it will help her get back home. Opening the fifth and final lock the guardsman swings the gate open, and the Emerald city of Oz waits before them.

  The scarecrow taps his buttons with amazement and Dorothy looks out to the emerald streets, blinking energetically, wondering what the flash of light could have possibly done to her eyes. Still she looks out at the cobbled streets, houses built with green marble and their roofs either thatched or laid with cracked slate. At first Dorothy imagined the city to be beautiful, but now inside it seems old, dirty and poor, despite the sparkling green emeralds. The guardsman directs, ‘Walk straight to the graveyard hill, you’ll be expected,’ and as the visitors step onto a crooked street the large gate closes, locking them inside.

  Walking slowly along the streets Dorothy looks up to the sky, tinted an odd green as her eyes drift to the residents of the city. Not at all like she expected they’re dressed in green, their skin tanned with it and they bustle along the streets; some pushing others out of the way, and stealing things from their pockets as Dorothy clenches tightly to Toto, feeling him in the small bag. Watching the peculiar people the girl’s eyes widen as she looks amongst the crowd, noticing that some of the men, women, and even children wear wooden masks. Most of them walk around normally, but others stumble along the pavement or sit on the floor, with no eyeholes cut into their masks as they beg blindly. Approaching one of the men Dorothy asks, ‘Excuse me, why are people wearing masks?’ and he snaps vigorously, shaking a metal can at her, ‘How would I know I’m blind, refused to have my eyes fixed, now look at me. Any change?’ Quickly ushering her away from the man, Scarecrow points to shop windows showing Dorothy green lemonade and candy as he smiles, but she’s not interested.

  As they continue to walk through the city, the cowardly lion treads carefully as the people point at him, some hiding away as he approaches them, whilst others watch with threatening glares. He moves close to Dorothy as the tin-man walks behind them all, and Scarecrow holds the girl’s hand, looking out at the new odd sights with a grin. Though Dorothy doesn’t smile, she thinks of the city; the old houses and dark emerald
alleyways, the crowds like animals and the dank smell. It reminds her of history class, the plague of London and she watches as people move away from them, the masses parting as she wonders if it’s because of the lion.

  With her curiosity building, the reason for the masks still a mystery Dorothy approaches a woman, asking, ‘Excuse me, why do you wear a mask?’ The lady’s voice shuffles frailly, ‘Because I disobeyed the wizard, though he only scarred my face, how kind he is.’ Pointing out to the crowds, dozens of them wearing thick wooden masks the young girl enquires, ‘All of these have been punished by the wizard?’ and the woman replies, ‘Yes, and he has used his magic to weld masks to our face’s so no-one can see our scars.’ Dorothy’s horror cuts deep and she asks, ‘What did you do to deserve this?’ as the woman shakes, ‘I crept into his throne-room and saw his face.’

  Moving in closer the young girl pushes, ‘What did you see?’ to hear her whisper, ‘A head the size of a house, no body. How wonderful the wizard is.’ Dorothy snaps, bitterly roaring, ‘Wonderful! He sounds like a di…’ though the woman grabs her dress with a strong hand, pulling her in closer as she whispers with fear, ‘Careful, he can see everything.’ With her eyes looking up to a building the woman pushes Dorothy away, warning, ‘You’ll get me into trouble,’ before walking away.

  Stepping back, moving from the curb the young girl looks up at the building, her eyes focusing along the green bricks as she notices a discreet emerald box, occasionally flashing a small jade light.

  Walking through the cobbled streets the group reach the bottom of the graveyard hill, standing at its gate as a sharp thick metal fence circles the mound. Scared, the lion holds onto Dorothy’s dress, cowering, ‘I don’t want to go up there, I don’t need courage,’ whilst Tin-man’s unfazed, and the scarecrow smiles. His eyes peer over the small tombs, up the dirty track of fresh graves and along the green marble crucifixes and sarcophaguses as the oddities amuse him.

  Standing at the bottom of the grim graveyard Dorothy looks up the hill at the wizard’s castle. Her eyes look past the gravestones, creeping over the exposed skeletons and crawling along the dead ground. She’s terrified, the path ahead reminding her of a nightmare as she thinks of the only person who can send her home, a monster. Though having gone through so much already, and with nowhere else to go she’s ready to put her life in the hands of a dark stranger, as she stands shaking in the cold breeze of death, just a young girl in witch’s boots.

  20

  After persuading the cowardly lion to join them the travellers ascend the graveyard hill, and although it’s not too steep their journey is long. The tin-man pays no attention to the dead and ignores their resting places as he walks over the graves, his weight crushing odd bones as he treads over newly buried bodies.

  Dorothy walks behind him carefully, trying not to think of the bodies underneath her as skeletal arms stick out of the soil and she looks straight ahead to the castle. Meanwhile the lion treads very hesitantly, watching the ground ahead of him as he takes each step, trying to ignore the rotting dead and their horrific smell. Though the scarecrow treks with glee, his gangly legs taking him all over the graveyard as he points to one skeleton with, ‘That’s what I look like underneath,’ admiring the glisten of emerald statues and running a finger along the thin fences.

  Reaching the top, they look up to the castle as Dorothy feels a lump in her throat and hears Scarecrow coo behind her as the lion whimpers. Standing beside a row of dead trees Dorothy pushes through them, feeling their twigs cut at old wounds as a cold chill comes from the castle. She stares up at the gothic architecture, the solid green bricks and twisted spires before looking to the huge doors in front of her. Walking to the entrance the group look at the two guards either side, both in emerald armour and holding spears as one informs, ‘You’re here to see the wizard, I’ll tell him you’ve arrived!’

  Watching him open the large doors Dorothy tries to peer inside, seeing nothing but darkness as it closes and her heart races, finally here as she notices the other guard. His gaze lingers on her, sliding up and down her body as she barks, ‘Hey, keep looking at me like that and I’ll send you down the hill.’ Quickly he turns his head, looking out to the city below as Dorothy smirks.

  After waiting a little while the large doors open, creaking horridly as the guard rushes out of the castle, flustered and trying to catch his breath:

  ‘The…the wonderful wizard will grant you an audience, though he will only admit one of you into his castle each day. There are rooms set for you so you may rest, and you will be summoned when the wizard is ready for you.’

  Dorothy wants to argue the suggestion but knows no good will come of it. So she follows the guard’s orders as he commands, trying to assert himself after showing how scared he is of the wizard: ‘You are to leave the castle now, and servants will be waiting for you at the bottom of the hill.’

  Reaching the bottom after trudging along the graveyard again, Dorothy watches two men drop a body into an open grave as they look at her expressionless, their faces hidden behind thick wooden masks. Waiting for Dorothy, a woman dressed in green bows, her face pretty and unmasked as she greets, ‘If you’ll follow me ma’am, I’ll show you to your room.’ Ready to lead the young girl away from her friends the green woman continues: ‘You’ll each have to sleep in separate quarters, that is the wizard’s orders and you must not disobey them.’ Reluctantly Dorothy trails behind her guide, not wanting to tempt the wizard’s wrath as the tin-man groans, ‘I’ll find you!’ and she watches her friends get smaller in the distance.

  Following her guide through the cobbled streets, and walking for at least ten minutes Dorothy stands in front of a house. It’s less decrepit than the others; with no cracks in the structure, broken windows or stones missing, even though it stands right beside the rest. Opening the entrance the guide walks into the house and Dorothy follows, closing the door behind her to breathe in perfumed air opposed to the stench of the streets. Showing her upstairs the guide walks quickly ahead and Dorothy follows her into a beautiful green bedroom, with flowers resting on the windowsill and a beautiful silk green bed awaiting her. Glancing at it with no care at all she asks, ‘Where are my friends?’ to which the woman smiles, ‘You’ll see them later, rest now,’ as she leaves a front door key and exits the room quickly. Giving a huff Dorothy looks to the beautifully carved green desk, a grand bookshelf and opens a cupboard to find it full of silk dresses, all an emerald green and the perfect size for her. Picking one up but dropping it to the floor with ease she realises how little she cares about the room and leaves abruptly, grabbing the key her guide left behind. Closing the door to the room and then locking the house, the young girl wonders why she’s been separated from her friends, and roams the city in search of them.

  As time goes by the green sky soon darkens and Dorothy doesn’t feel safe in the streets. Hopelessly she’d wandered down a cobbled path in the chance of finding her friends, then another, and another. Soon she rests besides a building to catch her breath, looking into green windows to see families fighting over food. With an odd smell in the air, one even stronger than the stench of the streets she follows it, reminding her of the poppy fields as she comes to a small house. Looking through the window she can’t see anyone inside, but notices a small door around the corner. She walks toward it, pushing it open slightly as the smell gets stronger.

  Hearing scattered laughter, unusual noises, she slowly takes a step down into the basement, then other as the voices get clearer, and even clearer again as she gets closer. At the bottom of the stairs she can hear their curious groans, peculiar sounds as she pokes her head around the corner to see a cold damp basement, with dozens of bodies lying still on the ground. With some holding long green pipes in their hands, Dorothy looks to a wall to see ‘Kill the memories’ carved into the green stone. As the bodies murmur amongst themselves and fidget in their sleep Dorothy makes her way back upstairs quietly, uncertain of what she’s found but sure that she may not want to f
ind out.

  At the top, still curious of what she’s seen Dorothy closes the door to walk along the cobbled pavement once more, feeling it’s time to go home even though she hadn’t found her friends.

  Memorising the now dark streets the young girl walks back to her house, afraid to go deeper into the city in case she gets lost. Making her way along an avenue, then turning another she hears distant sounds, muffled voices and cries coming from a dark emerald alleyway. Curious she walks toward it at first, though denies her inquisitiveness and instead continues along her street, spotting a woman on the corner who shouts, ‘Bit young aren’t you?’ Ignoring the woman Dorothy approaches her temporary home and opens the door, sure she’s being watched as she locks it quickly, running upstairs to bolt the bedroom door behind her too. Moving the bed and wedging it against the door she’s unable to sleep at first, though pulls Toto from his bag and holds him tightly, murmuring soft words to him for comfort as she slowly drifts off.

  Scared of what lurks in the streets at night Dorothy wakes occasionally, as her friends rest in pleasant rooms scattered through the city. The tin man stands looking out of his window all night, thinking of what he’ll do when he has a heart, and the scarecrow looks into his tangine necklace, lying awake as the lion sits behind a bolted door, scared of being alone.

  As morning comes, Dorothy hears a knock on the front door and makes her way downstairs, opening it to see the woman who guided her through the city. Looking at her she quickly asks, ‘Where are my friends?’ and the servant replies, ‘You’ll see them soon, but first the wizard wants to see you.’ With a sigh, unsure if she’s happy or nervous Dorothy nods her head and the woman informs, ‘You are to wear one of the green dresses in your wardrobe, the wizard would like it.’ The young girl quickly snaps, ‘No,’ and the servant looks amazed, ‘But you must, the wizard wants you to.’ Dorothy shakes her head with, ‘Not happening,’ as she shuffles her silver boots, ‘Is that a problem?’ The woman’s stunned, unsure of what to say so she simply finishes, ‘Very well, as you wish…come with me.’