[IC] The dark heart +18 mature/viloence/language

[Airalin]

I wandered around my home, reduced to a mere phantom. The cook, Amanda, Erica - none of them could see me. Though the cook worked, the kitchen was missing all of its characteristic sounds, from the clanging of pots and pans to the alarm that went off when the oven's timer had expired. I was completely helpless, and the only way out was to get Vivian to store the necklace away - Vivian, who had once been terrified by it, who was probably even more afraid after what it had done to her. Could she do it? Did I have the heart to even ask it of her?

I kept my distance from the room my body was stored in. When I drew too near, the pain quickly overwhelmed me. Perhaps I would be like this for the rest of my life. The thought entailed a strange combination of emotions - there was sorrow, yes, and overwhelming loneliness, but also a touch of relief. At least here I would have the peace and quiet I had always wanted, the comfort of knowing nothing would hurt me. Surely it would be content to take my body - perhaps it would even get me killed, and finish the job I had started. Whatever I had seen in that necklace had appeared demonic, which only made sense, I supposed. Demons were the sort of creatures who thrived on suffering.

Eventually, my aimless searching brought me to an obscure study. Trying to read was pointless - my vision was too blurred, and I wouldn't even be able to move the books - but I was alone, and would likely remain that way here. So I stayed, mulling over my tragic past, the things that had brought me here. It seemed there would be no healing for me, but at least there was a certain comfort in solitude.

[Markofkri]

The day turned to night it brought new experience's to the house and to your soul. You walked down the hall investigating the rest of the house you found a basement that you didn't even know you had. In the basement you had a wine cellar and the utility basics water heater and a sauna that was hidden behind a wall of boxes. There were more books that you couldn't read. They were stacked in the corner with more boxes. you had more champagne bottles on racks against the wall. You heard a sound. Giggling. Coming from the far corner near the furnace. You weren't dead but not alive either. This was uncharted territory. The giggling you heard for so long the thought of the sound having an explanation drew you dangerously close to the to the source.

giggling

[Airalin]

I couldn't resist the urge to slowly approach the giggling noise in the corner of the basement, expecting to find Jaime. In this world of silence, it only made sense for me to be able to hear one of my ghostly companions. So I was surprised - a little bit scared, even - when I saw a girl sitting on the floor, head buried between her knees.

Why could I hear her? This was unprecedented - I crept closer, hoping to glean some information from the encounter. "Hello?" I asked, curious to see whether I could be heard, maybe even seen, myself. If so, was it possible that this girl was Vivian?

[Markofkri]

The giggling continued. As you slowly moved closer to the figure in the corner the Sothing grabs your hand from the side a small girl puts one of your into the hole to the left of her temple. The feeling is lost but the memory flashes into your mind of the pain and suffering she witnessed of her older sister and the room she was locked in with out food forcing her to try to bind to the necklace only near death for malnutrition did she receive release from a large caliber hand gun.

She figure in the corner speaks. "You thought of only yourself never knew that there were others who had there lives cut short like my little sister in order to make me a necklace candidate. how they butchered a little girl to make her suffer. and when the necklace couldn't reach her they shot her and paved the basement floor. There are dozens of souls in this house that all suffered but were not as lucky as you."

unfortunate

[Airalin]

I jerked backward, freeing my hand of the girl's grasp and wiping it off on my dress. In one swift motion, I turned around heading back for the stairs. There was no reason for me to listen to these voices, voices that condemned me for being scarred and bitter after all the suffering I had been through. They were just trying to hurt me all the more by making me hate myself more than I already did! But I would not let them. So I dashed up the stairs, not looking back.

Swiftly, I made my way toward Vivian's room with the intention of telling her to remove the necklace and lock it away in the vault. I wasn't certain of exactly what time it was, but if she remained awake, I would simply wait until she succumbed to slumber. Within minutes, I had waked right through the door of her room. But how did I enter her dream? "Vivian?" I asked tentatively as I approached.

[Markofkri]

"No not quite." You were shoved out of her room. Through the door he stepped into the hall. With one eye as a dark black hole was Christian. "I waited by her side after they wheeled you in here. I knew you would seek out your friend for comfort. You will never see her. You are going to stay in hell house with me!" *scary face* You took everything from me and to think I tried to help you! Now I have all the time I need to get you for shoving that knife in me! I had a life!" As he hit you, the pain you would normally feel was replaced by something more like a migraine times ten.

As he assaulted you the pain grew worse then he screamed an you saw Jamie holding him. "Run." Her mouth made no sound but you didn't need an invitation. You got to your feet and reentered the room Vivian was asleep on the bed and also standing in the room. She turned to face you and cried. "I am sorry for all the pain I caused you."

[Airalin]

Despite the horrific pain I was in, I took advantage of Jamie's distraction and bolted into Vivian's room, terrified that Christian would follow me at any moment. When Vivian apologized to me, I frantically spoke over her. "It's okay, Vivian," I said, "But in order to go back to my body, I need you to do me a favor. Take the necklace off of me and lock it away in grandmother's safe again. We never should have taken it out! Being a spirit like this is so scary, I was just attacked by Christian and I'm in incredible pain, so, please, save me!

She was probably more afraid of the necklace than ever after what it had done to her, but I needed Vivian's help more than anything... if she hadn't convinced me to take it out of the safe, none of this would have happened at all!

[Markofkri]

"The necklace? No if I touch it. I had to have skin graphs. I can't feel 70% of my face. The whole family hates me for not helping them. If I take it off you could die and then I'm on the street. I can't. Please." She starts to cry. "Please I'll take care of you. We can be safe here. there is no one left to fight us everyone is fighting over wills and insurance policies by the time you wake up it will be Christmas."

She walks to the window to look out at the blurred landscape. "Amanda's here. She came over so quickly after you took those pills. I think she hates me. She didn't come see me when I was near death. No one did. I sat in a hospital for months with no one. I had tubes and more pain then I could bear, but I knew you would come."

"You didn't did you? You took those pills. Why? I needed you. Almost six months and now you come to me in a dream and just tell me what to do. I thought about dying, about being free of all that pain. I thought you would come to me. I thought you cared! Do you know after four months of morphine for pain management I had to detox. Do you have any idea what that feels like? I thought I'll get better and someone will see me. No one saw me! No one!" She wipes away the tears and smiled. "Give me one reason why I should give a damn about you. Tell me all the reasons you had for leaving me." Vivian walks toward you folded her arms. She smiled. "Who knows maybe I'll forgive you for being a selfish bitch."

[Airalin]

Everyone had been calling me selfish lately - and maybe I was - but Vivian had little room to talk. Nonetheless, I made no move to yell. She was my only hope of getting out of here.

"Maybe I did it because of how guilty I felt about what happened to you. I couldn't sleep, Vivian... I should never have let you touch that necklace. But I did, even though I knew it would probably hurt me... and for the first time, it made me suffer in a way that didn't fade. So I decided to die. It may have been selfish, but it was no more so than your decision to use the necklace to kill so many people."

My eyes locked on to hers. "I understand if you hate me. But you need to put that necklace back in the safe, or at least have Amanda do it, not for my sake, but for yours. My body will wake up either way - the only question is whether it will be controlled by me or by the demon from inside the necklace. However crazy I might be, at least I cared enough about you to feel so guilty I felt I needed to die. The demon would not be so benevolent."

[Markofkri]

Vivian stood there and thought for a moment. "Even if this wasn't a dream. I could talk to Amanda in removing the necklace. I would still need the safe combination." She repeated it a few times. She laid down where the image on the bed was. "I'll get Amanda to do it first thing when I wake. I'm sorry I yelled. I just..." She disappeared.

The house shook like a shiver. You hear roaring and screaming. The sound of all the wood in the house being put under enormous pressure echoed everywhere. Then suddenly it was over. As you walked out of the room Christian was hanging onto the floor being pulled by some unknown force. He eventually lost and was sucked down the hall. From where you stood you could see him being pulled into Elizabeth's room which had a green glow. You cautiously walked toward your room to see yourself. As you lowered your self onto your body you awoke to the electrical shocks keeping your muscles from atrophying. There was Vivian Amanda Nathan and Erica. They all looked at you in disbelief. You were shocked again.

[Airalin]

I flinched as electricity jolted me. "I'm awake, stop that!" I muttered, rubbing my eyes. My limbs felt heavy - who knew how long I had been confined to this bed? Simply pushing myself into a sitting position was an ordeal that required the full extent of my physical strength.

I looked away from the people gathered around me, unable to meet their eyes. My attempt at dying had failed, and I already knew how one of them felt about it - the others likely had similar opinions. I was selfish, evil, or whatever else. I didn't want to hear it! Even though my attempt had failed, I had done what I felt was necessary. They shouldn't blame me for that!

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked, still staring at the blankets over my legs. My body ached, as if from residual suffering inflicted by the demon. Could I be certain that it wasn't possessing me somehow, even now?

[Markofkri]

"Seven months." Amanda said, she looks at you in disbelief. The nurse turns off the muscle machine, disconnects the tubes from your nose and arms. Checking you vitals before turning off your monitors and the screens.

"Happy belated birthday." Erica said trying to smile. You were starving literally. You noticed between the atrophy and the bed rest you had a few bed sores and you lost forty pounds. Your nails were trimmed short and so was your hair for easier cleaning. You were in a diaper. It was time for a change. Vivian didn't look at you. Her arms wrapped around her chest and biting her lip. They all just stood there in mass confusion.

[Airalin]

For a moment, I stared blanket at my hand. So thin... I had been skinny in the first place, but now, I...

"Someone bring me some food, please," I said, absently running my fingers through my hair. Except... my hair was gone. It had been cut short, and no longer even fell to my shoulders.

I glared at Amanda and Erica. That hair had been so pretty... how long would it take to get it all back?

Everyone around me was judging me while I was in the most undignified position I'd been in in years! It was enough to make me want to die all over again! But here, there was nothing I could do. I couldn't even walk. Why hadn't they just let me die>

"Just... send in whoever is in charge of taking care of me, and everyone else go away," I said, my voice faint, tears trickling down my cheeks. This was so humiliating! I didn't want to be seen like this... why did I have to survive all those pills...?

[Markofkri]

"We are all here." Amanda said. "All your meds will remain taken intravenously to avoid repeats. Now that you are awake we can begin giving you solid food slowly so its not a shock to your system. On your wrist is a panic button to call the nurse. You will also begin receiving therapy twice a week. You will be restrained to the property via monitoring bracelet. Upon turning twenty one you can hang yourself. For now I want you to know we care about you. Eva will reach adulthood one way or the other."

The nurse injects the tube taped to your arm. You don't feel so bad. Everyone gives you the pity look as they walk out around your ankle is a small black band with a metal box. You got up to use the rest room and change. The clothes hung off you like you were a supermodel. you step outside your room and barely make it to the dinning table most people take there food and leave. The people that stay are Amanda and Nathan.

"I'm going to give you one last chance to pull it together. as per the doctors if you cant remain calm then you will be put back in the padded room until your next birthday. Had I thought your mental health was tied so munch into that necklace I would of never helped you get it back. You're never going to see that damn thing again. I had Nathan hide it. Now you can focus on getting better." Amanda gets up from the table and her and Nathan leave you to eat.

[Airalin]

No more necklace again. Well, that was for the best, provided Nathan actually did hide it. For all I knew, he could be using it for his own gains. But even if that was the case, there was nothing I could do to stop him.

Once again, I was a prisoner in my own home. If I wasn't on my best behavior, I was to be locked away again. What a pain!

I hastily ate my food, eager to regain all the strength I could so I would be able to walk without worrying about falling flat on my face and having that misinterpreted as an attempted suicide or something nonsensical like that. I was on my own - no one seemed to really want anything to do with me anymore, especially not Vivian. After all that had happened between us, I couldn't really blame her. I was more comfortable without her around, too.

I demanded that the chef bring me seconds, and would have asked for thirds if I hadn't already felt stuffed to the brim. I was going to give myself stretch marks if I tried to regain my strength this quickly - but what did that matter? No one would ever want to be with a crazy girl like me anyway. I had lost all the trust of the people around me simply because I had wanted to die. I was surprised I wasn't being accompanied by a guard at all times.

[Markofkri]

Chief brought more food and drink. The solid food in the stomach was a good feeling. You learned a few things from observing your surroundings. It was late November. The sun was out but the snow on the ground made everything a pristine white view. The cover was over the pool and the dish was off the roof of the pool house. It was empty. It was weird not seeing the guards. The cars were left as you had indirectly purchased them. The house was quiet.

[Airalin]

Apparently, my guards' contract was up, and I was more or less unprotected from the outside world. I found that I didn't really care much. Slowly, I made my way back to my room; it was high time I start wearing my own clothing. Unfortunately, I would have to resist the urge to pry the box off of my ankle - I would probably be locked away again if I did something like that. I scowled; the sooner I became 21 and gained my own freedom, the better.

I changed into a dark skirt and tanktop and put a few dark anklets on my bare ankle to make the stupid box stand out a bit less. There was really nothing much to do around here, so I decided to return to the living room and watch some TV; who knew how much the world had changed since I had fallen into my coma?

When I arrived in the living room, I curled up on the couch and navigated to the first news channel I could find.

[Markofkri]

The first channel had weather. It was going to be sunny but low in the 30's for most of the week. The new was replaced by the financial market showing a drop in confidence due in part from the death of two financial giants (Family members) The CEO's died by natural causes. A senior partner from the law offices of Lauder, Malcome, and Shwab had passes creating a power vacuum in the firm. An American mother and father died on a ski slope in the Swiss alps after a cable broke in a lift. They are survived by a daughter. A car was found off a side street down town. The vehicle belonged to the C.O. of the corporation overseeing the diamond export of the Mistly family. In other new...

[Airalin]

Even seven months after their deaths, my family members were still making the news. That figured; they were greedy, scrupulous people who built businesses around themselves in the hopes of getting richer and richer. If the news was still covering this, it seemed nothing more interesting had happened while I was asleep. That was for the best, I supposed.

Before long, it was lunch time, and I hastily made my way to the dining room, eager to regain as much strength as I could. Besides, food was just about the only thing worth my time in this house. Perhaps I should buy some video games or something - with my whole family gone, there was no one to tell me I couldn't play them all the time. It wasn't like I would have any responsibilities until I was 21, anyway.

[Markofkri]

The days gave way to weeks the looks lessened and the medication changed. Taking the edge off most of the things that had annoyed you. At first the counseling was a joke the two of you stared at each other and eventually you began the session by telling him how he was wasting his time and that nothing would change.

"You are reasonably defiant. The only thing I can do for you is offer suggestions to better construct the way in which you view things. The fact that you have been exposed to all this trauma and not had any counseling makes me a little sick to be honest. honesty is the road we must take because lies have holes and a structure with holes fails eventually." He slides the file to you. "Here is all i know and all the notes every doctor has ever written on you. They tell a story of a person who was used from day one. I have spoken to all the people in the house and the picture gets darker. There is only one way to undo this. You have to move forward. Yes it was brutal and senseless and it happened for no reason but you are alive and this is what matters. You have to say it. Say I am alive." We will end the session when you are ready I am here at the behest of your caregiver but as a care giver I honestly don't care. I don't care about anything in a file or the person with money. I care about the oath I took. To do no harm. I will do all that I can to heal you. That Eva, is what i do. the money is a side effect."