[center][color=lightblue][h2][s]The Man, The Myth, The Legend[/s][/h2][/color]
[color=gray][h1]The Nightmare Child[/h1][/color]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/HJ54cTR.png[/img]

[hider=Hide Me pls]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1-w8N1BLpM[/youtube]
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It didn't take very long. Buluc's tightened grasp easily squeezed Nick into slumbered unconsciousness. Buluc might as well been squeezing on a tube of toothpaste, with Nick's head being the lid. [i]How[/i]? How had everything gone so sour, so fast? Was one of the last things Nick consciously pondered as he struggled against the Mayan war deity.

If Cossette had listened carefully through all the noise, or read his lips, she would have heard a faint, "[i]Run[/i]." Nick was fully aware of his inability to protect her at this point, and a certain lack of generalized self preservation, despite best efforts. The realization was that his idiocy was currently getting him killed, and he hoped against all odds that Cosette would learn from his mistakes. But then again, Nick [i]also [/i]realized that Cosette was a de Villiers...

[i]Dammit[/i], Thierry.

At one point, Cosette's screaming turned into Nova's. A brief thought crossed his mind as he zoomed in and out of a waking state. [i]I'm lucky to still be alive at this point.[/i] The yelling turned into an explosion? Check. Then more yelling? Check. Then Von Galloes' cackle? Check, check, and [i]check[/i]. The feeling that Von had been behind this whole thing had been with him from the beginning, but was heavily incapacitated, thus unable to react beyond the occasional exhaled slow blink. 

With one last shaky inhale, Nick was out cold. Or was he?

Questioningly, Nick easily got to his feet,[color=gray] "This is a simulation." He said as he twirled around on his heels, "It has to be, but where the fuck am I?" He'd been whispering to himself as he steadily walked down the darkened hallway. Doors to his left, a waiting room to his right. An empty hospital. He knew this place? It felt heavily familiar, but he couldn't remember why.

The lights above were unsettling to say the least. Their brightness lingered awkwardly with a faint humming sound... Where the hell was everybody?
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The voice was slightly monotoned, as if he was bored... or maybe merely mimicking human speech after having freshly learned it, "So we meet again, Von. Do you ever miss the real world? Surely, living in these simulations can't be healthy." But his demeanor was off, and would feel slightly amiss to those who knew Nick personally.

The girls had already yelled and said their angered piece, but Nick seemed uneager to join in. A dead give away that this [i]wasn't[/i] the real Nick. Nor did he aim for his guns. "I admit that these games you play are quite intricate, Von, but I come with a message of sorts."

A certain smirk played across his lips, "[i]Fear [/i]your own shadow." Before Nick's body collapsed like a ragdoll. The shadow had used Nick like a puppet, but had meant the young man no harm.

An inhaled gasp as Nick pulled himself upright. Much slower than before, more in tune with the grimacing pain. He felt odd, but not just because he'd been Buluc's play thing. The sensation felt tingly, sugar coated with a massive migraine. He rubbed at his forehead gently, trying to soak in the bullshit scenario he'd got caught up in. He'd felt this way once before and mumbled to himself, "[i]The Hollow. [/i]Damn."

The girls seemed to be okay, much to Nick's relief at seeing Nova, Jay, and Anna. But what about... ? Stumbled around on his knees to her, before patting at her limp body, "Cosy! Cosy, stay with me!" Realizing the situation was just as shitty as ever, Nick placed his hands on his hips with a sigh. Inhaled, catching his breath to a normal rhythm again. An idea rattled around his mind, and knew it was an idea that he'd probably kick himself for later.

"Von, let's make a deal." Nick looked up at Von, stoicism danced across his expression to hide an otherwise pleading tone of voice, "You hired me on a year and a half ago, to do some digging for stuff found with TRUMPET. Just..." He sighed heavily while looking to the girls, then back to Cosy, "Let me do my damn job."

Under calmer situations, Nick would have asked to let the girls go, without hesitation... but the realization that he needed [i]their [/i][i]expertise[/i], their [i]help[/i], was rather overwhelming at this point. They were all in over their heads, but Nick couldn't help but think Von was as well.

[color=gray]Remember me.[/color]