[IC] Darkness Below

[Kirah]

Tessa Green

The first thought to pass through her mind was, "I'm late." Her eyes sprung open. The ceiling above her was steel, cold. She breathed in softly through her nose not daring to move at first as she tried to think about how she got where she was. Fear slid its way through her limbs and her mind worked into overdrive. Where am I? The girl dug back trying to remember the last thing she had done.

Nothing.

There was absolutely nothing. She could not place where she was, where she had been. Her heart beat a bit faster. She was obviously laying on a bed, it was soft, and covered in warm blankets. She lay on top of the blankets, fully dressed. She wore a thin wind breaker over a thicker cable knit sweater. She wore jeans, and a pair of black tennis, the no slip kind baristas use. Unsure of how she knew that the girl sat up. Dark hair swung into view. Most of her hair was tucked back and under a cap that matched her sweater. Other than that she had no adornments. No jewelry, though that felt weird, as if she should be wearing a necklace.

The girl glanced around the room. It was bare, minus the bed she had been sitting on, and a simple coffee table next to a large overstuffed chair. On the coffee table was a school composition book with a blue Bic pen on top of it. At the foot of the bed was a stuffed bear. It was threadbare, and ancient. Probably one of the first bears every made. There was a red ribbon tied around its neck. The ribbon was brand new. Sewed into the ribbon was a name: Tessa Green. She took a deep breath, catching the dusty smell of the bear. I'm Tessa Green.

Tessa, because there was no doubt in her mind that that was her name, stood up. Next the bear had been a small hard case. She unzipped it curious as to what it held. She almost dropped it when she saw the needle, and the vial. Her heart pounded with fear, more than she had when she had realized how lost she was. This vial was important. Very important. Tessa wasn't sure how so, but she knew that it being here was...off. Not that this whole situation wasn't off. Actually very much so off. Everything was wrong.

Tessa picked the bear back up, after closing the case and replacing it at the foot of the bed. Her fingers ran along the seam on the back, it had recently been re-sewn. Unlike the rest of the thread on the bear it was still white instead of yellow. Tessa pulled at the string slightly, curious, too curious. Tessa was a curious person - Curiosity killed the cat. The thought made her pause, but the thread was already mostly undone. She could see something off white in the stuffing. Tessa pulled at the stuffing a bit until the odd white thing was more visible. She dropped the bear as she realized what the item was. Her heart was in her throat. "Oh my God that's a rib." She choked on the words, as vomit tried to escape.

"Let me out of here!" Tessa yelled at the room. She was on her feet and pressing against the walls. Panic fully set into her now. Her eyes burned with tears threatening to fall, but not actually falling. It took her a while to calm down. She sat down in the chair, as far away from the bear as she could get. Her throat still burned from the bile. Tessa wrapped the wind breaker around her. As she did she realized that there was something in the pocket. Out of her left jacket pocket Tessa found a cloth bag with a complete set of dice. She wasn't sure how she knew it was a complete set. The writing on the dice, other than the numbers, was gibberish. She replaced the dice back into the bag. She knew what each of the dice was called, without counting the sides. There was the d20, the two d10s that were used for percentage checks, a d4, two d6, a d8 and the nearly useless d12.

Wondering if she had more stuff in her pockets Tessa emptied them. In her left jean pocket she found a card, bent and slightly blue from the color transfer of her pants. The card was an Ace of Spades, that caused Tessa to think The card of death. The shape of the spade was made from a raven with its wings up. There was a small diamond cut out of the card. Tessa couldn't think as to why that would be there.

In her front right jean pocket was a mostly empty packet of matches. The packet was dark blue except for a yellow stamp, of whatever manufacture made it, or place sold it. Tessa had no idea what it meant other than a thought that pineapples were a symbol of hospitality in some cultures.

In her other jacket pocket was an old photo. It was of a girl, maybe 8, sitting on someone's lap. The adult's face was burned away.

Before Tessa could contemplate the photo any further the sound of gears caught her attention. The room had no windows or doors, but now there was a hole in the wall. A few people were moving down the hallway immediately outside her room. She joined them curious about what was going on. The people stopped in front of a huge window looking out and down, or maybe it was really up, at a planet. Tessa's eyes widened, she was in space. How had she gotten there? Or was this fake? Was this really a window? Had she been taken by aliens? Or was something else going on here?

Everyone around her was mumbling surprised, and fearful, just like her. No one knew what was going on.

[Whirlwind]

Cricket Westley

A sharp gasp sliced the still air like a knife. Her sea blue eyes had opened with a start, blinking and looking up at a stark white ceiling. Her lips were parted in the aftermath of her intake of breath, and she could feel her heart rapidly racing from inside her. Closing her lips and swallowing, licking her dry lips and realizing she must have slept with her mouth open, she swallowed again to wet her throat. Strands of brown hair were clouding her vision, and she brushed them aside before sitting up. As she did, she looked down at herself. She appeared to be wearing black yoga pants, her legs twisted up in white covers, and her shirt was an off the shoulder, slouchy tan sweatshirt. She looked at her hands, turning them over and over. These were her hands? She frowned heavily, quickly looking up at her surroundings. Wait… where was she? Who was she?

Tossing the covers aside like a horse kicking sand before a gallop, she leapt from her bed and raced to the mirror in the room, seemingly connected to the dresser. She tried peering at herself through the words, seeing tanned, freckled skin, dark hair with a few high lights, blue grey eyes, and thin lips pulled across her white teeth. Frowning, she didn’t recognize herself at all. She took a step back, eyes narrowed, and read the words scrawled on the mirror in what appeared to be lipstick. I refuse to give up!!! it said. She blinked a few times, slowing coming to terms with the fact that she must be familiar with all this, but a head injury perhaps? Amnesia? Hmm…

She began exploring her room, finding the teddy with her name, Cricket Westley, and a picture of a baby on her dresser. She lifted her shirt to see fresh stretchmarks, pink and shaped like lightning crisscrossing her stomach and confirming to her that this was her child. She couldn’t even remember his name… A camera next to it, which she began snapping with, and a postcard tucked under the teddy. The sunsets I’ve seen since being here can’t compare to your beauty. I miss you. Xoxo She felt a stirring in her chest. A longing. But she had no idea who or what for. Sighing, she set the camera and postcard down, rubbing her temples and beginning to pull out all the dresser drawers, search under the mattress, trying to figure out anything else. She was interrupted by a sound like gears, turning and seeing her door open. She’d been so focused on the contents of her room she hadn’t even bothered with the door. But now she took a step towards it, barefoot and feeling the chill of the hallway floor as she looked around at others leaving their rooms. They all looked as equally confused as she did, so she frowned and just continued to look about, corralled into a room where she crossed her arms defensively, still thinking and trying to understand. Trying to remember, while looking out at a planet beyond the window. Longing hit her again, but she was still confused as to why. Was she kidnapped? Was she supposed to be up here?

[Dragonbud]

Eleanor "Ellie" Ruby

A loud, extended, yawn broke through the silence of the room. Ellie lazily sat up, stretching her arms above her head as she woke up. The first thing Ellie noticed was how comfortable she was. She was laying in a plushy bed, tucked under many layers of warm blankets. She looked down at the thick quilts, a smile spreading lazily across her face. She joyfully traced the patterns on the blankets, designs that looked as if they had been mismatched together to form a pattern. Ellie looked calmly around the room, and for some reason she did not feel at all panicked. Ellie knew this wasn't her room or her home, and yet she felt as if she was safe.

Ellie untangled herself from the cocoon of blankets, already feeling the warmth shed off of her. Once Ellie was away from the bed she looked herself over, a bit confused by her attire. She was wearing a loose fitting tee-shirt and board shorts, an outfit that seemed fitting for someone who lived a laid back lifestyle in a tropical environment. She wasn't even wearing any shoes or socks. Ellie let out an involuntary shiver, wrapping her arms around herself. If worse came to worse she could just wrap the blanket around herself like a cape.

The first thing in the room to catch Ellie's attention was the vase full of flowers. They were not just any flowers, but Ellie's favorite kind of flowers. Or so she was guessing. Sunflowers. She smiled, picking the vase off the floor, and took a deep sniff of the flowers. It made her feel oddly nostalgic and calm. Next to the bed she had awoken in was a map of constellations, much to Ellie's delight as she was easily able to understand what was on the chart itself. As Ellie climbed back onto the bed, in order to get a closer look at the chart, she felt something tucked under the blankets.

After rummaging around for a moment she hooked her fingers around something smooth and cold. After retracting her hand and opening up her fingers to see what was resting in her palm, Ellie couldn't help but gasp when she saw what she was holding. In fact she was so shocked she accidentally dropped the newly found ring onto the floor where it fell with a deafening clang. Ellie quickly dropped to her knees, frantically picking up the ring and slipping it onto her ring finger. Even once it was back where it belonged Ellie's heart still felt like it was going a hundred beats a minute.

After taking a few moments to calm down Ellie stood back up, examining the rest of her room. The next object Ellie discovered were a pair of thread scissors, cheekily shaped like a bird. They were semi hidden under the edge of her bed. She happily slipped them into her pocket, feeling as if they were meant to stay with her. The teddy bear sitting in the corner filled Ellie with a similar joy, so she moved them closer to the sunflowers. The final object Ellie discovered filled her with sudden and unending emotions. After lifting up her pillow she found a picture of two women, one of which she could easily identify as herself. But the more she tired to identify the other women the more she felt a horrible, deep, sadness. She eventually tucked the picture back under the pillow as a few tears slipped down her face.

As Ellie dried her face she heard the sound of gears turning. She looked up from her cupped hands to see a door where there wasn't one before. Curiosity getting the better of her, Ellie quickly jumped up, wanting to explore. She looked around at the others, who looked equally confused, but Ellie felt no fear. This was just another adventure.

[gogojakeo]

Stíofán ó Conaill

Stíofán slowly woke up, and opened his eyes slowly. It was quiet, almost too quiet, as if something was missing, however, Stíofán did not know what, though. He opened his eyes groggily, and reached instinctively to his bed side table for his glasses. However, they weren't there. I must have put them in a different place last night, he thought, in Irish. He moved the duvet off of him,and got out of the bed.

Firstly, Stíofán noticed that the room was completely plain. This seemed weird, but he wasn't bothered by it. He looked around, and noticed a picture frame on the chest of drawers. He walked over to it, and tried to focus on it, but couldn't. completely, due to his missing glasses. He looked closely at it, and saw that there was two men, one who couldn't be any older than himself. They both had ginger hair and pale skin, but he couldn't think that either were familiar. Then he realised, as he saw his reflection in the plastic of the frame that protected the picture. The shorter one was him, he couldn't believe what had happened. How did I... forget myself!? he asked himself. He dropped the photo as he saw a pocket watch. He looked inside, and saw a picture, of him, with another pale skinned boy, but this time, he couldn't have been much more than 15 or 16. With tears beginning to form at the corner of his eyes, he put the pocked watch pack down. He grabbed the photo, and flung in against the wall. His face was red with anger and he couldn't believe he didn't know anything about himself. He realised that he didn't even know his own name. He saw am Irish flag, and a teddy bear, next to it, which had a shamrock on it. Stíofán could make out a ribbon, but he didn't know what it said. Stíofán walked up to it, and read the name 'Stíofán ó Conaill'. That must be me, he thought. He was about to throw the bear against the wall, but heard gears as a hole appeared in the wall behind him. He walked out, and joined the congregation of people.

[McHaggis]

He woke with a dopey grin on his face, smiling as if he'd been the centre of attention in a huge crowd all chanting his name – but for what? It didn't matter, ultimately; a dream was just that, a dream, but real life should always take priority and he would have to lift his head up off the pillow at some point. It was when he rolled around, stubbornly keeping his eyes closed, that an uncharacteristic frown crossed his face and in return, a feeling that something was wrong and bad and different filled his heart.

At first, he wanted to hide away from it, pull the blanket over his head and cry – but... it just wasn't comfortable any more. The feeling of dull relaxation with no obligations to fulfil and a 'lie in' disappeared. Replacing it was fear: who was he? That thought alone was enough for him to pull himself up, eyes peering into the steel room. It was unfamilliar, just like his own body.

“What the...” he wondered to himself, taking in his zany surroundings. Handcuffs and a choker hanging from his bedpost? A bear – one with a gift tag, addressed to Logan Vallance – was that his name? Logan supposed it must be, even with the nonsense message underneath. A tub of white slime that stained his skin white when he spread it over his hand. A tapestry bearing the Vallance name but without his own on it. Curious...

Logan had just barely opened a hefty wooden box to reveal an ornate deck of cards when the wall slid open, revealing a group of people gathering outside. Were they like him, lost? He didn't feel particularly inclined to leave – there was still more to investigate – but nevertheless he did step into the hallway. A bright looming planet shone out in front of him, and he gulped.

[Kirah]

Tessa Green

The gathered people stare down at the planet, or is it up at the planet? Spacial differences being subjective in space that is unclear. As they watch, Tessa having pressed forward to see the planet to where she could touch the glass if she desired, the planet lights up. It looks as if all the lights on the planet are turned on simultaneously and then the light spreads. A part of Tessa knows exactly what that means, another part tries to deny it.

Just as suddenly as the lights came on, it is all gone. The planet shows no lights now. A shiver runs down Tessa's spine. Those around her sound panicked. One lady starts hyperventilating, she collapses to the ground and begs a god that is not listening for mercy. Tessa wonders "Is this not a mercy, we are alive on this... space station, and not below on the planet that is gone." A young man tries to comfort the crying woman, but she is inconsolable.

Tessa glances around the gathered people, hoping for a face that triggers something. There is of course nothing. Maybe that is even more of a mercy. The faces of loved ones are unrecognized in the gathered crowd, her heart twists, that means they were on the planet. Tessa spins around and touches the glass. It is cool and unyielding, though being released into space now would be no mercy.

She's just about to say something when a PA system crackles on. The voice over the PA is distinctly male, but there is a very robotic and monotone quality to it.

"Please follow the yellow lights." The bright stark white lights dimmed and on the floor yellow runner lights illuminated a path. One man starts shouting.

"No! Screw you. Where are we? What is going on?" Tessa can hear the fear that she is feeling in his voice.

"Disobedience will be punished." The voice said with no inflection. The man stared up at the ceiling hunting for the source. Tessa found herself following the lights. Some others she noticed did as well, but a few people stood with the man.

"Hell no. We want answers." The man said, those who had joined him nodded. There was no response from the voice at least not at first. Then the handful of people were gone. Just like that in the blink of an eye and a loud crack as air rushed to fill the space their bodies had once filled. Tessa couldn't breath as she watched those around her react. In an oddly automatic move she put her hands on the top of her head and started taking deep breaths. What is this place?

[Whirlwind]

Cricket moved slowly through stiff, shocked bodies as the planet before them lit and then was doused, dark and cold. She gritted her teeth in fear, eyes looking for answers that were nowhere around. People began to panic, but she just looked as if she had a great sense of loss about her. For some reason, it felt horrible that the round glowing orb in space was now no longer. She tore her hurt eyes away from the window to look at others. No one looked familiar. No little babies like the one from the picture she had. She swallowed hard and jumped a bit when the crackling started over the intercoms, a voice telling them to follow the yellow lights. She hesitated, but started to follow a group of people headed in that direction. She continuously looked back at the group that was ‘disobeying’ until they were gone, sending her into alarm.

She saw a girl next to her who appeared to be a few years younger put her hands on her head and seem to start hyperventilating, or panicking at the very least. Cricket jogged to the girl and put her hands on her wrists, moving the girl’s hands from her head. Her own eyes were frightened, but she smiled reassuringly, trying to comfort the other woman. ”Don’t worry. Whatever is happening, we wouldn’t still be alive if we were wanted dead. It’ll be alright,” she said softly, gently moving to lead the girl with everyone who was now following the yellow lights, not wanting to find out how or why the others disappeared.

[Kirah]

Tessa Green

Tessa nodded and took a deep breath. It sounded a little wheezy, but the air got through. "Yeah." She let the woman help her keep her balance as they walked down the hall. "I'm Tessa...I think." Tessa gave the woman a wary and slightly terrified smile.

As Cricket gave her own supposed name the group came to a large set of doors that slid open silently. On the other side was a room as bare as the rest of the rooms they had seen so far.

The PA cracked "Enter." Said the voice demanding. Tessa frowning followed several people into the room.

[McHaggis]

Logan barely moved as the man only a few metres away from him vanished into thin air, almost like magic. In fact, his breath caught in his throat as he stared at the empty space as if expecting a great reveal that it was all a trick. The whole situation seemed too surreal to him; amnesia, authoritarian voiceovers, cryptic gifts... A girl nearly hyperventilating a bit further away.

Yeah, he wasn't going anywhere near that. Something about fear and panic spreading like wildfire under the right situations. Mass hysteria. Assuming that the man had died... well, he didn't want to be the next one to be torn away from reality. That would be nasty. Carefully weaving around the shocked and prone bodies of those around him, he ended up moving to the front quickly enough to hear the PA system stutter on. "Enter."

Once he was entering the empty room, he noticed terrified-girl and another one trying to calm her down. His mouth opened and closed as if trying to think of the right words, but it was better not to risk it.

[gogojakeo]

Stíofán followed the rest of the group. Thankfully, he could see over many of them, and could see ahead. The protesting behind him stopped. He turned round, and couldn't see the people who were protesting anymore. This made Stíofán worried, and he started moving through the crowd faster. They approached a set of double doors, and the PA system said, "Enter." Stíofán obliged, not wanting to disappear like the last lot of people. Once inside, he noticed two girls, on completely scared, and another trying to comfort her.

[Kirah]

Once the last person was inside the room several clear walls dropped separating the crowd of people into smaller groups. The voice over the PA said, "Survive. There will be a bag to assist you." And then everything went black around the groups.

When light returned Stíofán, Cricket, Tessa and Logan along with two other people were standing on the roof of a building in full SWAT gear, just shy of the SWAT on the back of their flack jackets. Each of them had two guns, a hand gun and a rifle of shotgun.

Tessa, having caught her breath looks around and then at the gun in her hand. "What?" She looked up at the others fear flashing in her eyes. One of the other two people that were with the group was a dark skinned man in his mid 30's.

"Take a deep breath kid." Tessa nodded and did as he told her. "All right. I can make a few guesses as to what is happening here and none of them are good. I don't see any radios on us, so we're not police of some sort. That leads me down a whole other path of dark possibilities. Now I don't think I'm one to cross the law, so I'm going to say if we are doin' some sort of robbin' we're goin' to want to not do it. The voice only told us to survive right, well it's a lot easier survivin' when the law likes ya then when it don't. Let's see if we can find that bag the voice mentioned. My name's Kyle." He added as an after thought. "Or at least I think so."

"I'm Tessa." Tessa nodded and looked around to see if she could find this bag the voice mentioned.

[McHaggis]

Logan held his hand over his eyes at the sudden, surprising appearance of light, frowning slightly as something cool and black and metal touched his face. A gun – a rifle? – that looked more real than anything he'd ever seen before. He gulped involuntarily, stroking the trigger and his free hand instantly going near his belt. Another one there.

Since when had he had a belt? Since when had he been armed and armoured? He didn't even think about looking for the bag.

“What does 'survive' even mean? I don't–” Logan stopped suddenly, taking a breath. He stared at the man who seemed far more informed than anyone else. “I'm Logan. Logan Vallance. How did we get here?” The question was posed to everyone, but there was another interesting question that nagged the back of his mind. What was with the stress on the surname?

At least it sounded cool.