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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 17, 2012 14:14:27 GMT -4
Vash was kneeling beside Kale, soaked to the skin as he watched his brother claw his way back to life. Kale was coughing up water, and Vash winced every time. "Are you alright?" he whispered once he was just gasping. Kale turned to him, wiping his hair out of his eyes with a shaking hand so that he could look at his brother. He blinked at him a few times, as though he was trying to work out what he had said. "I'm alive," he said simply, but the words came out sounding like a question. "You almost weren't," Vash whispered. "Taru saved you." Kale turned to Taru, his vision still flickering. "Thank you," he said. "That's two people who have saved your life," Vash pointed out, his voice monotone. "Briar and Taru. And that's the third time you've almost died in front of me. I haven't even counted the amount of times that you've gotten yourself hurt in this world, not caring about how much it hurts Briar to heal you or how much it hurts me to see you like this. You're supposed to be strong, Kay, and to keep yourself safe... so stop trying to kill yourself!" Kale could only stare at Vash, the world still spinning and everything still confusing, barely hearing him but wondering where all of this had come from. Someone was telling Vash to calm down, but Kale didn't know who. "Stop getting hurt," Vash whispered, fingers clenching into fists. "Just stop. I don't know if I could take losing you, or almost losing you again, and I hate it." Vash stormed off, leaving Kale lying on the shore and looking after him in confusion. As Kale watched his shadow disappear he caught sight of a larger, looming shadow not too far away. The shadow of a tower.
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Post by Cedar on Sept 18, 2012 2:48:22 GMT -4
Taru nodded in reply to Kale's thanks, but his attention had turned to Vash, storming off away from the group. He stood and started after him, stumbling across the rocks. Vash was clearly upset, and Taru didn't want him wandering too far away from the group when they didn't know if this place was safe or not. Catching up to Vash, he laid a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Vash... I understand, okay? I know what it's like to have an older brother who keeps endangering himself, who you keep nearly losing... I know how rough it is."
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 18, 2012 12:34:17 GMT -4
"It's not just that," Vash said to Taru, sitting down on the rocks and keeping his eyes away from him. "He's not just putting himself in danger. Do you know what he does? He leaves in the middle of the night, when I can't say goodbye, and doesn't come back for days. He doesn't even radio me to let me know he's alive. And he's been doing that ever since I was seven." A bitter smile tugged on his lips. He realised that he had never been given to chance to say anything like this to Kale, or to anyone else who would have listened. No one would understand him - they would just tell him the exact same thing. The excuses that he didn't care to hear any more. "Sometimes he doesn't even look for me when he gets back. Sometimes he just goes straight to a pub, or worse, and I'm left behind to worry about him. And more than once it's been Jacques that's brought him home, stinking and barely remembering his own name... let alone mine." He paused and said his next words in a whisper, needing to say them but ashamed to even think them. "Sometimes, when I'm about to fall asleep and I'm alone, or with Emily and Jacques, and he's not there... I get so angry that I wish he won't be there when I wake up. Sometimes I'm disappointed when he is. I know that I shouldn't think that, that he cares about me, but how can I stop? How can they use Dad's death as justification for how distant he is when I'm going through the exact same thing? He's never there for me anymore... it's like... it's like he just gave up on everything. Here, in this world, he has a purpose. But what about when we get back? What if he goes back to the way he was? Jacques is dead, so he can't drag Kay back. What if he gives up on everything again?"
Vash closed his eyes, still not looking towards Taru but knowing that he was still there. "I can't just leave him to it. I can't. Even though he's an idiot, and a murderer, and he puts himself in danger for stupid, pathetic reasons... he's still my brother. He's still the only family I have, even though I still have Emily. And when I was little, he was my whole world. He's the entire reason that I make things." He smiled then, and it wasn't bitter at all. "I still remember the look on his face when I showed him the very first thing I made... with Dad's help, of course. He was so proud of me, telling me how clever I was and how amazing it looked, and I gave it to him to keep. He's been acting like himself a little more when he's been here - the Kay that he used to be and I hardly remember. He's been nice to Oryn and Briar when he's usually horrible to everyone... so maybe he's changing. But... I just don't know."
He looked up at Taru. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have said any of that, especially because you've probably been through more than I have. I just... I just needed to say it. Sorry," he repeated.
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Post by Cedar on Sept 19, 2012 3:03:51 GMT -4
"You don't have to apologise, Vash. We've been through different things, but similar in some ways; Oryn left me half-dead and went to murder someone in revenge and vanish for four years. But I think... I barely know Kale, or his history... but it's obvious he cares about you. And people can change. Oryn did. Whether Kale is changing or not, I can't know, but I know he can. Nothing excuses what he's done, but if he is changing... he can get better." Taru trailed off, not sure he had said anything that might help Vash. He glanced back over at the shore to ensure that the others were alright, and saw Oryn standing on the shore, gesturing for them to come back. Taru waved at him, then turned back to Vash for a moment. "And if he is changing... try not to hold his past against him too much. Who someone was need not shadow who they are. We should get back to the group now, though; I doubt this place is safe."
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 19, 2012 4:49:36 GMT -4
Vash nodded to Taru. "I'll try," he said, "but it's hard to forget. Thank you for listening, though. Not many people would." He stood up and followed Taru back to the others. Kale was standing up now, even though he still looked shaky, and Vash smiled at him awkwardly. "Sorry for shouting at you," he said. "I didn't mean to." Kale just waved him off, smiling at him tightly. "It's alright." Vash turned to the others, shifting uncomfortably. "Is... is everyone alright? I'm sorry for walking off and holding everyone back, but if we're all alright can we go to the tower now? The sooner we get the Good Being back to its body the sooner we can go home..." He glanced towards the tower looming over them, its tip stroking the sky, and steeled himself. They needed to set this thing free, and get it back to its body. They needed to protect this world, and return to their own. And, for the first time since he had arrived in this world, going home seemed less of a fantasy and more of a reality.
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Post by Jane on Sept 19, 2012 5:22:27 GMT -4
Almost as one, the group rose to its feet and started up the beach towards the tower up ahead. Briar looked up, craning her neck in order to look at the high tower, far above her. It looked almost like its tip was touching the clouds. Was it possible for a building to reach the sky? This one certainly looked like it did.
The sky itself was grey overhead, threatening of rain, and more bad weather. How glad Briar was that they weren't in the boats any more. Water and storms weren't a good mix. She shuddered slightly, looking ahead to Kale. He'd so nearly died, the closest of anyone in this group. She was glad he hadn't died, though she doubted he knew that.
As they got closer and closer to the tower, it looked more and more forbidding. The stone walls were joined together so perfectly that there wasn't even a crack to show where one block ended and the next began. And the door, when they found it, was made of wood, so weathered that it was nearly the same shade of grey as the walls.
A huge ring handle was set into the door, rusty, but still thick and strong. As was the door when Lia pushed it open. A blast of stale air shot out to meet them, wrinkling up Briar's nose. Oh that smelt awful. She took her last deep breath of fresh air, and then followed the others into the tower.
It was grey inside too, the seamless stone just as seamless on the inside as it was on the outside. The floor was made of stone too, but it wasn't quite so featureless as the walls. On every flag of the floor were painted symbols in red paint. Briar had no idea what they meant, but she was pretty sure that they didn't mean anything good.
"This place is pretty creepy," Lia remarked. "I'm glad we're not going to be in here long. Someone might want to prop the door open so that-"
But it was too late, the door swung shut with a bang, leaving them in total darkness. Or near total darkness, for the red symbols on the floor glowed faintly in the darkness, adding to the eerie feel of the whole place. This was not a safe place, that much Briar knew. And she knew something else too. The Creature was in this place too.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 19, 2012 12:09:57 GMT -4
Vash gagged as soon as the horrible smell reached his nose, and Kale frowned as he wrinkled his nose. As the door slammed shut Kale immediately grabbed Vash's hand, making sure that his brother was there, and looked around to make sure the others were there. The red markings on the floor were glowing, and Kale stayed by the door where none of the symbols were. The Creature's voice suddenly echoed all around. If you think I'll just let you find the Other... "We've survived everything you've put us through," Kale called, his voice echoing around the tower. "We've stayed together when you tried to drive us apart. You're not going to stop us now." The Creature laughed, the sound of it cutting through the air. Step forward, then. Do you dare risk my wrath?
Kale was about to, but then he remembered Vash's outburst earlier. He glanced at the flagstones cautiously before looking down at Vash. What's wrong? What happened to the reckless disregard for your life? Have you discovered that risking other people is far more rewarding? Anger roared up inside him, and he stepped forward before Vash dragged him back. "Don't," he said. "It's trying to get you to go forward, go alone. Split us up. But you can't let it. If we get seperated now-" "I won't," he said, glaring at the nothingness above the glowing flagstones. "But we can't all cling to the wall. We should all move on at once... so that no one is risking themselves." He held Vash's hand and the hand of the person closest to him. Briar. "Is everyone ready?" Waiting for everyone to nod, they stepped forward in a line, as a group. After they took one step the Creature began to laugh. Which stone is the trap? the Creature practically sang, laughing all the while. Who have you condemned in your place, Kale? Kale ground his teeth together in irritation but stepped forwards anyway, the others stepping with him. Kale stepped onto the first red flagstone, and nothing happened to him. But all of a sudden there was a flash of light in the corner of his eye, a blinding red light... and a sudden scream. He turned towards the sound, freezing on the spot, and realised that two of them had disappeared, vanished without a trace. Their names were on his lips, but before he could speak them a cruel laugh ripped through the air, silencing him. A laugh that belonged to the Creature... but was spoken through the voice of someone else.
It's Oryn, he realised. That thing has Oryn... "Let's play a game, shall we?" the Creature's voice said, grinning at them through Oryn's face. "I've taken two others to seperate parts of the tower. They both have the possibility to find where the Other is hidden. But whether or not they ever escape, or have the opportunity to see the light of day again is down to what you people do right here, right now." There was a malevolent glow in Oryn's eyes. "This is the last act, and I wish to make it memorable." He stepped away from the group, producing a dagger out of thin air and rolling it over his fingers. He strolled across the glowing flagstones, standing in front of the staircase on the other side. "Only those with powerful magic can use the power of a name," he told them, "so I don't know how much you want to depend on that particular tactic." "What's the game?" Kale demanded. 'Oryn' smirked. "Try to save one," he said, tossing the knife to the ground where it came to rest at the others' feet. "If you save Oryn, then the others are trapped, never to escape. However, if you kill him... then you get to choose who lives. Group decision, everyone!" He laughed again. "But don't keep me waiting."
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Post by Jane on Sept 20, 2012 5:32:04 GMT -4
Briar blinked in surprise. One moment she'd been standing next to Kale, holding his hand. And the next she was alone in the complete dark. There weren't even any glowing red symbols on the floor to break up the darkness. The blackness was complete, as was the silence.
Her hands groped through the dark, reaching out in the hopes of finding anything solid. Her fingers brushed against something slimy and she let out a squeak of horror, pulling her hand back with a rush. What was that? Her hands were trembling. Whatever it was, it didn't feel good. But it was solid. Taking a deep breath, she reached out and touched it again.
It seemed to be the wall, though it was horrible and slimy, covered with some sort of a substance that Briar really didn't want to know what was. Trailing her fingers along the wall, she followed it one hand reaching out in front of her to make sure she didn't walk straight into something.
Her fingers brushed across something cold and round. At once she stopped, feeling it more closely. A door handle for sure. She twisted it and pulled on the door, but it wouldn't move. Then she pushed. Again it didn't move. She seemed to be shut in and locked up. All part of the Creature's plan to keep them away from the Good Creature no doubt.
Who knew what the Creature was doing to the others? Briar didn't even want to imagine it. If only there was something she could do to help them. But from here everything seemed hopeless. She couldn't do anything, locked up here as she was.
Or was there? She might be able to call it here, keep it distracted from the others. If she could do that, maybe they'd have a chance to find the Good Creature. She thought of the Master, and then knew what she was going to do.
"Heres, I know you're here." She waited, hoping for a reply.
You called, healer? the reply came. Now Briar felt the cold dread that announced the Creature's presence. Are you enjoying your accommodation, or is it not scary enough for you? I could add rats if you like, or worse, if that doesn't work.
Briar took a deep breath, clenching her fists. She could do this. She could keep it talking. "How on earth did you manage to get the other Being locked up?"
Inside she thought over and over again, 'Please hurry Kale. Please, please hurry.'
'Oryn' stood between the group and the doorway, surveying the group and playing with the dagger in his hands. "I haven't got all day," he said. "Which will you save, Oryn, or your other friends? Or at least one of your other friends. This place can be so lethal you know-"
He froze, eye fixed, staring straight ahead, like he was a statue. It was strange, and creepy. However the room didn't feel like the Creature was inside it at the moment. Maybe they could get to the stairs after all without killing Oryn.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 20, 2012 12:27:14 GMT -4
Kale stared as 'Oryn' suddenly froze, chancing a glance behind him in case some otherwordly being had captured it's attention. Nothing was there. "He's frozen..." Vash whispered, squeezing Kale's hand tighter as he stared at Oryn. "It's... it's almost as though it's left." Kale glanced at the staircase, his eyes flickering over to Oryn every so often. What if they went up the stairs just as the Creature returned? What if it sealed up the staircase, trapping them all? He could try to distract it, try to keep its attention... but he didn't want to stay behind. He owed it to Oryn to look after Taru, who had also disappeared, and he needed to protect Briar. She had saved him so many times... he owed it to her at the very least.
"Lia," he said in a low voice, hoping that it wouldn't snap 'Oryn' out of his trance. "Stay here, and distract Oryn if he wakes up. Don't make a choice, and don't kill him. No matter what, don't kill him. We'll all get out of here alive." He hoped that she accepted, and immediately lifted Vash. His arms protested, as did Vash himself, but he didn't relent. "If I trip a trap, we're not getting seperated," he said quietly. "Wait until we get to the staircase, then I'll put you down." Vash frowned but stayed silent. Ever since Oryn had frozen, the glowing of the flagstones had faded and all but disappeared. No traps sprung into life as he walked, through a wave of fear overcame him when he passed Oryn. He put Vash back down as soon as his foot touched the first step, and he nodded back to Lia. He trusted her to protect them.
At the top of the stairs, there were two corridors. Vash tugged on Kale's arm, and Kale glanced down at him. "We should split up," he said quietly. "Just for now. Do... do you still have your radio?" Kale reached into his pocket, but stopped himself as he remembered the water, and the near-drowning. "Did you make it waterproof?" Vash cracked a smile, withdrawing a tiny radio from his own pocket. "We'll have to see, won't we? But any sound at all, even static, will be a signal. OK? If any noise comes out of your radio, that means that I've found a door. We open all doors together, and when the other makes contact that's when we open it. Alright? So that we can save them at the same time and we don't play the game." Kale nodded in agreement. Vash began to turn away, but Kale hugged him before he could. "Stay safe, Vash." He returned the hug. "You too, Kay." They smiled at one another and departed down the two seperate corridors.
Vash immediately noticed how the light faded, leaving him in an ever-increasing blanket of darkness as he walked, and the silence surrounding him only appeared to be growing more powerful. He kept one hand on the wall, and he quickly reached a door. He lifted the radio and whispered Kale's name, slightly unnerved by how he couldn't even see it in front of him, and waited for the response. There was silence for a few moments, but sure enough the mangled crackle of a response cut through the air. He reached for the doorknob and turned it. "Taru? Briar?"
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Post by Jane on Sept 21, 2012 1:48:01 GMT -4
Lia watched Kale and Vash disappear through the gloom before turning her attention back to Oryn. It was weird the way he was just standing there, stiff as a post, not blinking, hardly breathing. It was like the Creature had just forgotten he existed. Well, he didn't seem to be much danger at the moment.
Watch him, keep him distracted if he wakes up, and don't make a choice, that's what Kale had said. Lia could manage that, she was pretty sure. In the meantime, while Oryn wasn't doing more than just standing there, she'd sit down and have a rest.
The Creature had been pouring out it's wicked deeds for what seemed like forever. It's voice was filled with pride, delight, and a horrifying sort of relish as it recounted terrible stories of lives it had ruined, disasters it had caused, and especially of the capture of the Good Being. Briar wanted to cover her ears with her hands, to curl into a ball and hide from the horrors recounted.
But she couldn't. She had to keep the Creature distracted. Honestly, she wasn't sure why it was still here talking, forgetting about the others. But it seemed to be a vain sort of Creature, who loved to boast. A fatal flaw, she hoped. While it was talking, hopefully the others were going to free the Good Being, or coming to find her. She wished she was unselfish enough to hope that they'd go for the Good Being first, but she knew that all she really wanted was to be found and set free.
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Post by Cedar on Sept 22, 2012 2:03:48 GMT -4
Taru was suddenly plunged into utter darkness, and after a moment of shock he managed to regain some sense. He called out for the others, but heard no reply. So he was alone in this pit of darkness... the thought afforded no comfort, especially since he knew that the Creature had possessed Oryn somehow. He knew that...thing...was not his brother, yet he had no idea where, or in what object, Oryn was actually being kept. Yet he may as well try to figure out where he was being kept, Taru decided, or at least something about this place of blackness.
Hands outstretched, Taru slowly stepped forward, feeling for some sort of wall that would give him and idea about his surroundings. Instead he tripped over something in the dark, and stumbled forward with hands grasping reflexively for something to steady himself with. His hand hit something solid. A wall. Cautiously, and mindful of the debris that seemed to be cluttering the ground, Taru made his way along the wall, one hand pressed to its surface. He couldn't recognise whatever the wall was made of; from what he could tell, it was a series of smooth slats, slender and lined up vertically next to each other to form an impenetrable barrier. The room was circular, Taru decided as he continued around, or at least near enough. Eventually his probing fingers hit upon something that felt like a door handle, and he tried to pull it open, with no success. Locked, then. He was not surprised, but disappointed nonetheless. Well, if he was to be locked in here, he may as well try to see his surroundings.
Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a smooth stone--almost perfectly spherical and, had it been possible to see it in this darkness, of a pure, undiluted white. Oryn had found it one day when they were children, and had let Taru keep it. Because of its properties, and because it had been his only connection to his lost brother, Taru carried the stone with him. Now, he rubbed it between his hands, trying to warm it. As it heated, it began to give off a glow, casting a circle of white light. Seeing his surroundings for the first time, Taru immediately regretted doing so. The walls were constructed of leg bones, lined up next to each other, and other bones--skulls mostly--littered the ground. At a glance, Taru recognised them as human, and shuddered involuntary, drawing back against the wooden door, the only place devoid of human skeletal remains. He pocketed the stone, plunging himself back into darkness, yet the black was far worse than before, because his imagination filled in the void with depictions of the now-revealed mysteries that lay there. He was trembling now, shaking with shock from what he had seen. He hated and feared this prison of bones; he wanted nothing more than to escape. But he was trapped. He buried his head in his arms, desperate tears finding their way, against his will, down his face.
Oryn had found himself encircled by smooth white walls, almost blinding to look at. He had initially panicked, but when he realised what had happened despair and anger took over. The Creature must have taken his body, stolen it, and he felt a grim defiance against its power, hating its abilities deeply. Yet... would he be released? He knew not, and had a sneaking suspicion that it was unlikely. And, for once, he felt genuinely afraid--a deep, penetrating fear that cut to the very core of his being.
He heard someone laughing, and looked up sharply. Wow...how pathetic. Trapped. The one who so cherished freedom, too. And the best part? Your companions have to choose between saving you and saving Taru. Just so you realise the full gravity of your situation. Not that there is anything you can do about it. The Creature's voice faded, yet its words still echoed in Oryn's mind. There was nothing he could do. He was utterly and completely helpless to protect his brother, and it was the worst pain imaginable.
Withdrawing from Oryn, the Creature re-entered his body, bringing it to motion once more. 'Oryn' glanced around, then smiled wickedly. It appeared that Kale and Vash had tried to cheat their way out of playing his game. That was not permissible. He would have to go stop them. But there was, first, the small matter of Lia, who had doubtless been assigned to the protection of Oryn's body. He strolled over to her, procuring a knife out of mid-air. "So, Lia. You really want to try holding me back without hurting this body? Which is more important?" Smiling slyly, he pointed the knife at his own chest, taking a few steps back so he was well out of Lia's reach. "If you try to restrain or pursue me, Oryn dies. I will be finding Kale and Vash now. You may want to stay here if you value your life."
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Post by Jane on Sept 22, 2012 2:43:03 GMT -4
Lia froze, halfway through rising. This was definitely a problem. What was she supposed to do now? She had her orders, don't kill him, don't make a choice. What was a girl to do when she was faced with the same choice as the group had been, but without the liberty of doing anything?
She forced her shoulders into a shrug. "Kill him if you want. What makes you think I actually care about him? What makes you think I care about anyone here? Do you think I'd mind if you killed them all? Go on, do it and see how little I care for anything you do."
"Oryn" looked a bit taken aback at this, but seemed to gather himself together quickly. "You've travelled with these people. You've saved Kale's life more than once. I think you care about them more than you say."
"Seriously? I only saved Kale because he was a means to get out of here. We've made it to the tower. Someone here's going to send me home. Why should I care if he dies now?" Lia moved round the room slightly, creeping ever so carefully towards the stairs. "You know me well enough to know that I've never really cared for this group."
"I think you're bluffing-"
Lia interrupted him by springing for the knife, her hands closing around the blade, yanking the hilt out of "Oryn's" hands. The blade cut into her palms, and red blood flowed out, accompanied by searing pain. But she hand the knife, and she was in front of the stairs. And now she proceeded to knock Oryn down with a punch to the head, leaving the imprint of a red fist in blood on his forehead. She could hold him for a little, but, by way he was getting straight back up and coming at her again, she knew it couldn't be for long. AAll she could think of now was, hurry guys, hurry.
Briar was aware the moment the Creature left the room. It's presence leaving was like a breath of fresh air. But the horrors it had told her still lingered in her mind. What she'd heard couldn't be unheard, and what she had heard was burnt into her mind, tormenting her already. Now she curled into a ball, burying her face in her hands. She had no courage or bravery now. She was just a frightened girl in a dark room, who had failed in her task.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 22, 2012 3:53:55 GMT -4
The room Kale opened was empty. He slammed the door shut immediately and hurried on to the next one, keeping his hands on the wall. He held no fear of the dark, but the unbreakable darkness was growing more and more sinister the further he stepped into it. His hand brushed another door after what felt like an eternity, and he reached for the doorknob when he heard a crash from downstairs. He froze, realising with dread that the Creature must have repossessed Oryn's body. He turned the doorknob without contacting Vash, panic rising within him when it was locked. Think of the raids, he reminded himself. Keep calm, collected. He pounded on the wood of the door, and heard someone move inside. He reached for his gun, his hand touching the radio as he did so. He raised the radio and spoke into it, telling Vash that he had found someone even though he wasn't sure that he heard, and pointed the gun at the door, where he hoped the lock was. "Step back," he shouted, and immediately flinched when he heard heavy footsteps on the stairs. The Creature was coming for them. He closed his eyes and fired the gun anyway, praying that the sound would lure the Creature towards him instead of Vash despite the cold fear filling him. What had the Creature done to Lia in order to get past? How furious would it be with them for trying to get out of the game? The deafening roar of the gunshot rang through the air, and Kale shoved the door open before it had even died. Something small ran past him, but he tried his hardest to ignore it. "Briar? Taru? Quickly, we need to hurry."
Vash heard the crash, and he heard the gunshot. He couldn't stop the whimper of fear that escaped him, and he immediately scrambled to open the door that he had found. He could swear that he heard footsteps, but they faded quickly as he turned the doorknob and found it locked. He searched the door for a lock, hoping that he had a lockpick on him. Kale didn't know about his lockpicks, but there was no need for him to. Vash had never used them on anything but his front door, and had been planning to give them to Kale as a present before everything had gotten in the way. He put it in the lock, moved it, and heard a small click. He reached for the doorknob and turned it, grinning as it opened. "Taru? Briar?" There was a gentle light in the room, but he had to blink a few times to adjust to that alone. He made out the glowing stone, and Taru's silhouette. "Come on, we have to go before-" Vash suddenly went rigid, his words dying as he gasped. He didn't look away from Taru's horrified face, still unable to comprehend what was happening. But then he felt the closed fist against his back, driving the blade deeper, and he cried out. 'Oryn' tutted. "You cheated." Vash couldn't speak. He collapsed in a heap as the corridor was filled with light, and 'Oryn' roughly pushed him aside with a foot as he made his way over to Taru. "Well, well, brother. It seems as though Kale and Vash don't want to play. But you can still make a choice." Vash was staring forward, his vision flickering, and he realised that the door he was facing was ajar. A door that the Creature hadn't seen. And, in the tiny crack that he was facing, he could see a foot. The body... "Tell me Taru... which one of us shall die today?"
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Post by Jane on Sept 22, 2012 4:36:15 GMT -4
Briar blinked as light filled the room, unburying her face from her hands. Kale stood in the doorway, silhuetted against the light. Brushing away a couple of stray tears that clung to her cheeks, she pulled herself to her feet and headed for the door, desperate to get out.
Once out, she turned to Kale to thank him. But the words died on her lips as she suddenly heard a voice crying out in pain. "Something's wrong," she said, hurrying towards the source of the noise.
She came out of the passage to find some stairs in front of her. To one side there was annother passage, and, crawlling up the stairs, came Lia. She was streaked with blood, and didn't seem to be abke to stand, but she was crawlling up determindly. Briar rushed down the stairs to meet her, touching her on the shoulder.
"What happened?" Briar asked.
"The Creature, it attack. It got past me. I...I couldn't stop it." Lia dropped her eyes to the stairs. "I failed."
"You did your best," Briar said softly. "You did well Lia."
Lia raised her eyes again. "You have to go. The Creature's going to find Vash and Taru. You have to stop it. I'll be fine. Go."
Briar leapt to her feet and hurried up the other passage. She passed one door, open. Then, there, up ahead was another door, and a pair of feet sticking out. Vash's feet. Briar reached the door and gasped. Vash lay in the ground, not moving, and with a knife sticking out of his back. And, standing in the middle of the room, was "Oryn."
"Nice of you to join me again Brair. And Kale also. How does it feel Kale, to watch yor brother die?" The Creature pulled Oryn's lips up in a grin. "You tricked me once. You shan't trick me again. Make your choice. Who lives, and who dies?"
Briar took a deep breath. "I make the choice. And I chose that you shall go. Heres, I command you to leave Oryn."
For a moment it seemed that nothing had happened. Had Briar done something wrong? But then Oryn crumoled to the ground, as lifeless as Vash. Was he dead, or was he still alive? He hardly seemed to be alive, but his consciousness would be stored somewhere. He should be safe for a moment of two.
But Vash still lay on the ground, a knife sticking out of his back, and blood seeping through his clothes. Briar dropped to her knees beside him, closed her eyes, and checked for a life song. It was just there, though every moment it was slipping further away. She had to help him now, or he'd die.
Grasping the slippery knife, she pulled it out and dropped it on the floor. Then, opening her moutn, she began to sing. She didn't know how long she sang for, but by the time she finished, she was exhausted. However, Vash was alive, and that was what mattered.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 22, 2012 8:36:01 GMT -4
Kale couldn't stop staring at where Vash lay, even after Briar had healed him. It was so incredibly wrong, seeing Vash in pain, and it filled him with complete and utter fury that he had to get out, even though Vash was beginning to sit up, beginning to look around. Holding in that anger and refusing to pick up that bloody knife was the hardest thing he had ever done. Go on, the Creature whispered to him over the rage, Finish what you started. Vash was looking at him, but his eyes were glassy. "I found it," Vash said, his voice weak as he gestured to a room down the corridor. "I think it's body is in there..." Kale nodded tightly, the fury in him still too powerful for him to think of thanking Briar for what she had done, and he turned away from the others towards the room that held the body. He didn't look back once, not even when he heard Vash calling him back. Oryn's naught but a shell, trapped as you were, and you still leave him, the Creature said proudly. Don't you remember the fear, the terror? Should I remind you? "Shut up," he snarled. His voice was nothing but a animalistic growl as he fought his rage. Briar is on the verge of collapse, the Creature continued gleefully. Lia is lying half dead on the stairs. Taru witnessed his brother attacking yours. And you leave them all to obey me. What does that say about your morals? Kale paused, his hand lying on the wooden door, ready to push it open. "How... how do you re-enter the body?" He could practically hear the smirk in the Creature's voice. Simply free the body from it's shackles and order me inside. Kale paused, frowning. He could hear Vash calling his name from down the corridor, but he ignored it. "You said that it takes powerful magic," he said slowly. "It may kill me." Do you really want to live after what you've done?
Kale shoved the door open, and saw the silhouette of the body that the Creature had so craved sitting chained and abandoned opposite him. Beside it was a vase, glowing faintly, that immediately drew his eyes. He didn't even have to think - he knew that the Good Being was sealed inside there. Touch it and I'll kill you on the spot. The anger was still singing in his veins, but he didn't touch it. Not yet. He'd make the last act memorable. He unchained the body, and prepared the words in his mind loudly as his fingers reached for his gun. He could hear the Creature laughing in his mind, too caught up in its victorious glee to notice him. "Heres," Kale spoke, struggling to keep his own voice from falling into the same victorious sneer that the Creature had so adored, "I command you-" he could hear Vash's voice, and not just his, begging him to stop- "-to go to hell." Before the final word had passed his lips Kale fired the gun, and the single bullet flew straight into the vase, smashing it into a million pieces and filling the room with light.
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Post by Jane on Sept 23, 2012 4:21:27 GMT -4
Briar was exhausted. She barely noticed Kale leaving the room. But they hadn't released Oryn yet. She had to help him before she could rest. But where would the Creature have put him? When Kale had been possessed, he'd been put inside his brother's special locket. Could Heres have done something like that here? But what could Oryn be trapped in?
Her eye fell on the glowing white stone cradled in Taru's hands. Could he be in there? She dragged herself to Taru's side, touching the stone in his hands. Almost at once she heard Oryn's song, pushing against the edges of the stone, like it was too small to contain him properly. She thought for a moment. When Kale had been freed they'd opened the locket. But there wasn't a way to open the stone.
She'd have to help him break free. Which meant singing his life song. And, when she was this tired, singing his life song could mean she would be lost in the music forever. She didn't want that. Could Oryn wait until she was rested? Surely he wouldn't die while trapped in the stone?
A gunshot rang out. Briar's heart pounded. Something was wrong, very wrong. She couldn't help, but maybe Oryn could. She had to help him, no matter what. Closing her eyes, she plunged into the life song. She'd free him somehow. The life song was the key, though as of yet she didn't know how she could help. But she'd try.
It was easy to find the missing strands of music, the strands that connected Oryn to his body. She sang like she'd never sung before, repairing that music, pouring her heart and soul into the song. He had to be freed. And so she sang.
The music was pulling her in. The song was strong, but Briar was weak. Dimly she felt that the song was healed. Oryn should be ok now. But she didn't have the strength to leave the song. It swirled round her in a dizzying pattern, drawing her further and further into the harmony. This was it, she wouldn't get out this time. No one here knew to touch her and anchor her to the world. She was going to die.
Lia dragged herself down the passageway, alerted to danger by voices and gunshots. She stopped at the open door, to find Oryn collapsed on the ground, Taru next to him, Vash sitting by the door, and Briar crumpled on the ground, growing gradually more and more transparent.
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Post by Cedar on Sept 23, 2012 11:51:01 GMT -4
Taru could see Briar growing increasingly transparent, and while he longed to rush to his brother's side, he knew that Briar was in mortal danger. Gripping her shoulders as he had the last time she had entered this state, he shook her--hard--while calling out her name. Once he was certain she had snapped back to reality, he left her and scrambled over to Oryn, who was lying on his back breathing in ragged gasps. "Oryn?" Taru's voice was desperate. "Can you hear me?" Oryn nodded weakly, trying to focus in on Taru, who was crouched over him. He still couldn't quite take in that he was out of that prison, back in the real world. He felt so weak, too; he doubted he could stand on his own yet. But the sound of a gunshot shattered the air, and he knew it meant Kale and Vash probably needed help. He struggled to stand, but fell back to his hands and knees, gasping. "Taru... help me up." It pained Taru to see his brother this weak, and he wanted to tell Oryn to rest, but he knew they had to see what was happening. He helped Oryn to his feet, and let his brother lean on him. Taru caught sight of Lia by the door, bleeding heavily. At Oryn's nod, he went over to her, leaving Oryn to lean against the door frame, and tried to staunch the bleeding. Several minutes later, assured she would be all right, he went back to Oryn, who was staring at Lia's wounds, his gaze haunted. "I did that, didn't I?" he whispered. Taru shook his head. "The Creature did that. Oryn, it's not your fault. Come on." They made their way down the passageway as swiftly as Oryn's condition would allow, reaching, at long last, the room where Kale and Vash were. Oryn saw the light dispersed throughout the room, the gun in Kale's hand, the body... "That's the Good Being's conscious," he murmured. "How do we get it in the body?" Taru examined the light. "We probably have to command it in, using its Name..." Oryn closed his eyes wearily for a moment. "We don't know its Name," he sighed, before glancing around the group. "Guesses?"
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 23, 2012 13:37:17 GMT -4
Kale frowned, trying to think of a name while ignoring the Creature's ferocious screams. He kept glancing towards Oryn, knowing that he would be feeling weak and guilty after his experience but not knowing if what he could do to help. Obey me! the Creature screamed. Command me into the body, before it's too late! Kale wondered why the Creature hadn't attacked them yet, but he couldn't think clearly over the Creature's roar. He barely heard Vash when he spoke.
"Ireth..." "What?" Kale demanded, surprised by the sudden silence that overcame everything. "It's Name," Vash elaborated, looking at Kale as though it was obvious. "It's Name is Ireth." "How do you know?" Kale asked, not at all trusting the strange tone in Vash's voice. "How do you know it isn't a curse that the Creature has placed in your head?" "I can feel it," Vash said. "It's Name is Ireth and it wants to be back in it's body again." Kale glanced at the body, then at the glowing fragments of light lingering in the air. The powerful magic... no one was ready to use it. Everyone was exhausted from physical struggles... He let out a sigh. "I'll do it," he said. He took a step forward. "Ireth..." The Creature had started shouting again, but he tried to ignore it, "I command you to enter your body." As soon as the words passed Kale's lips he felt suddenly weak, falling back and leaning heavily on the wall. The Creature let out a ferocious scream, and everyone in the room cringed. But, at the same time, the light filling the room suddenly began spinning and converging into one glowing orb, which flew into the abandoned body with a sudden jolt. The body's mouth moved, but it took a few seconds for the sound to reach them. "Thank you."
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Post by Jane on Sept 24, 2012 1:02:51 GMT -4
Briar was only dimly aware that she was out of the life song. The music still echoed in her ears. Even thinking felt to be too much. Certainly lifting her eyelids was. She was alive, and for that she was vaguely thankful. But she didn't have the strength to do any more.
Lia followed Oryn and Taru to the room containing the body of the Good Being. Her hands hurt, but thanks to Taru they weren't bleeding any more. Vash and Kale between them got the spirit of the Creature back into it's body, in mysterious ways Lia really couldn't understand. But she didn't understand one thing. They might finally be able to leave, and go back home.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 24, 2012 14:54:19 GMT -4
Ireth got to his feet slowly, still adjusting to his return to his body, and looked at the others. He shuddered once and Vash moved over to him, worry in his gaze. "Thank you all," he said with a weak smile, "for your patience and kindness and bravery in the face of the trials Heres has put you through. You have my sincerest apologies for being dragged away from your homes by him, and being unprotected from everything that occurred since." "Can..." Vash asked quietly, unable to look away from Ireth, "can we go home now?" Ireth smiled and nodded. Vash grinned and laughed, overcome with joy at the prospect of returning to his world. He turned to Oryn and Taru, his eyes shining. "You can go back with us!" he said. "If you still want to, of course..." Kale suddenly realised that Briar wasn't with them. He moved towards the door without looking to Ireth, stumbling as he did so. "You're looking for Briar?" Ireth guessed. "Be careful. Heres might still be lingering around. I will protect you all as well as I can, but I'm still weak." Kale nodded and left the room, moving as fast as he could even though he was still weak. He still couldn't quite accept that it was over - that the Creature would no longer hurt them and that they would actually be going back to their worlds. But he had to find Briar, and make sure she got home safely. "Briar?"
Vash watched Kale go, turning to Oryn and Taru expectantly. "So...?" he said, his eyes shining with hope. "What do you say?"
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Post by Jane on Sept 27, 2012 3:53:55 GMT -4
Briar pulled herself wearily into a sitting position. Her head throbbed and her hands shook, but these things would pass. She'd never come so close to her own death before, and the thought that she could have slipped through the black gates frightened her.
How long had she lain there, gathering enough strength to sit? What had she missed? Had her friends defeated Heres, or had Heres won? She didn't know, couldn't guess. But she did want to find out, for better or worse, what the outcome had been. Pushing on the floor with her hands, she started to heave herself to her feet.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 27, 2012 11:40:42 GMT -4
Kale saw a figure moving out of the corner of his eye, and he quickly realised that it was Briar. He moved over to her, saying her name, and smiled. She was alright, if not a little shaky. She would be fine, as would the rest of them. Everything would be alright. "Are you alright?" he asked gently, his hand on her arm. "The others are just through here. We managed to get the Good Being back into its body. We can all go home." He paused and looked at her closely, making sure that she was alright, when all of a sudden an idea hit him. He voiced it before he could change his mind. "You could come back with us! I can show you the sky cities, give you a proper tour of a proper airship... I can start repaying you for all of the times you've saved my life." His smile faded slightly. "But only if you want to - I mean, you probably have lots of people waiting for you in your own world... but what do you say?"
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Post by Jane on Sept 28, 2012 1:23:44 GMT -4
It was an enticing thought, going back with Kale and Vash, going to see the sky cities, and ride the great sky ships. Oryn and Taru were going back with Kale. Why couldn't she go too, see all the wonders of another world, so far from her own? She longed to say yes.
But there were people waiting for her at home. There was Mistress Rhosmari, and Master Thuman, her mother and sisters. Could she live with herself if she just up and abandoned them to worry and grieve over her forever? She knew the pain of losing someone. She couldn't inflict that upon anyone else.
"You don't need to repay me Kale," she said. "I'd be a poor healer if I didn't try to save you. And I wish I could accept your offer. I'd love to see the sky cities, and see your world. But there are people in my world who must be worried. I have to go back to my family, my friends, and my studies. I have to go back and learn to be a proper healer instead of a mere student. I wish I could go with you, but I can't. I have to go back to my own people."
She looked anxiously into Kale's face, hoping she wouldn't offend him with her clumsy apology and statement.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 28, 2012 11:44:48 GMT -4
Kale fought to stop his disappointment appearing on his face. "Of course," he said. "And I'm sure you'll become a great healer. You've saved me so many times... you'll help many people, I'm sure." He squeezed her hand, smiling at her. "I'll never forget what you've done for me... and I hope that one day we'll meet again. Though maybe under better circumstances." Keeping hold of her hand he began to tug her back towards the others. "We need to get back to the others... so Ireth can send us home."
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Post by Jane on Sept 29, 2012 0:00:27 GMT -4
Briar followed Kale into the room with the Good Being. She hadn't seen Ireth before now. But now he stood in the centre of the room, radiating calm and tranquillity. She just knew that he was the exact opposite of Heres, and she knew that he could send them home.
"If you are ready, I shall send you home now." Ireth stepped back, out of the room's centre. A glowing circle sprang up in the middle of the floor, big enough to hold two people at a time. "Who shall leave first, and to what land will you go?"
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Sept 29, 2012 4:56:25 GMT -4
Vash suddenly clutched Kale's hand, and the two of them glanced towards the portal. They were going to go back to their world, whether or not the others joined them. Kale moved over to Oryn and Taru, and clapped a hand on Oryn's shoulder as he grinned at him. "Whether or not you choose to follow us," he said, "Thank you for everything. And you, Taru. If you don't join us, we'll miss you." He pulled Oryn into a one-armed hug, and turned back to Briar. Vash watched him intently as he walked over to Briar, and smiled to himself when he saw Kale kiss her cheek. "We'll miss you too," he told her, genuinely smiling at her before he gave Lia a hug too. Ireth merely watched the display and when the pair of them approached the glowing circle he put his hand on Kale's shoulder. It was only when he turned to look at him that Ireth spoke. "To thank you for what you have done, I have reversed a few atrocities in your world," he said quietly. "The world you are returning to is not the same one you left." "What did you change?" Kale asked in a low voice. Ireth said something back quietly, and Kale's eyes widened just as a grin spread across his face. "Thank you," he said, and his voice was full of so much joy that Vash was taken aback. "Thank you so much!" "Kay?" Kale stooped a little so that he was on eye-level with Vash. "He reversed it, Vash," he said. "He reversed Liberty." Vash could only stare. "Does that mean...?" Kale nodded, tears of joy in his eyes. "We get to see Dad again." Vash hugged Ireth, thanking him over and over before Kale tugged him away and towards the ring of light. Waving and calling out one final goodbye, the light enveloped them and they disappeared from the world.
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Post by Jane on Sept 29, 2012 5:13:34 GMT -4
A tear ran down Briar's cheek as Kale and Vash disappeared into the glowing circle. Wherever their world was, they were obviously going to be happy, and she was glad of it. But at the same time she was sad. It was hard to know that she would never see them again, never talk with them, work for the same cause as them. She was happy, and sad at the same time. She was smiling, and crying too.
"Briar, are you ready?" Ireth's voice was emotionless.
She nodded, turning to hug Oryn and Taru suddenly. "I'll never forget you," she whispered. "Any of you." She placed her hand on Lia's arm and smiled at the cat girl. "Thank you for everything Lia."
Then she turned and walked towards the circle. Tears streamed from her eyes, but joy bubbled in her chest. She was going home, finally. She was going home.
Lia watched as Briar too disappeared. She nodded to Oryn and Taru. No hugging for the cat girl. "For humans, you are quite brave and strong. I shan't forget this, or you." Then she too strode towards the circle. No sadness for her, only a wild joy at finally leaving this place and going back to her beloved forest. Nothing would ever make her leave it again. She was going home.
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Post by Cedar on Sept 29, 2012 11:26:18 GMT -4
Oryn smiled slightly at his companions' farewells, then turned to Taru. "Where do you want to go?" Taru appeared uncertain. "I don't want to go back to Astarai, but... the rebellion... it's my duty, right? To keep working for freedom. I can't just abandon that, but..." his eyes met Oryn's suddenly. "Would you...?" He was suddenly unsure of whether Oryn could ever go back home with him, or what it would be like for him if he did. Oryn read the silent question in his brother's eyes. "If there's a rebellion, I perhaps will not be so hated as I would otherwise. But I would never be able to be truly home there. I forfeited that right long ago." Taru's uncertainty seemed to increase. He wanted his brother to be happy, wanted them both to be happy. "Our parents..." Oryn murmured. "What of them, if we don't go back?" Taru looked down. "Rebellions... have high casualty rates..." "We can't just let them think you're... oh." Taru nodded sadly and wrapped his arms around his brother. "It's been over a year. I should have told you before," he whispered. Oryn said nothing, but the Good Being finally stepped forward. "If it would aid you in your decision, I can tell you that the situation in Astarai will be considerably improved if you return there, or if you do not. The rebels will succeed." Taru smiled slightly. "Then..." he looked back up at Oryn. "I wouldn't mind going back with Vash and Kale. You deserve a new start." "I don't deserve one. But, I do think I need one." "In that case..." Taru turned back to the Good Being. "Can you send us back to Vash and Kale's world?" The Good Being nodded and smiled. "It is best this way, for you." He nodded at the brothers, and they strode over to the ring of light. Oryn paused before stepping through. "Thank you. For everything." The Good Being smiled. "And thank you, Oryn and Taru." Oryn looked over at Taru, who nodded. At that signal, they stepped through the ring of light. They knew little about the world they were entering, but they did know one thing. Here, there would be a new start, and a better one, and that was perhaps all they needed to know.
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