Estylwen

Iris Ascendis

In today's experiment of telling a backstory backwards...

@ERode I can also appreciate how Otis is the only one currently questioning Wingram authority.

Iris Ascendis

Ciara Ventura

Wingram Academy, Girls' Dorm
@Nanaya @Psyker Landshark @Sifr

---

~*~

Running in tattered socks, the cold winter ground biting her feet. Disturbing howls of deranged caretakers, neighbors, calling out from behind her.

~*~

"Hey, you okay?"

Ciara took another step into the room, careful to keep her face neutral. She rubbed at her eyes one last time, mumbling in response to Hildegunde. "It's nothing I can't handle..."

Iraleth looked up from her bed. "I have to know, Ciara. Just say you aren't an Umbralist in truth, and we can call this off."

~*~

Sock-covered toes digging into the snow-covered ground, tiny hands balled into fists, trembling. The dull thuds of rocks rolling at her feet. Another soared and hit its mark, leaving a gash on her forehead, causing her to cry out in pain.

~*~

If Iraleth had physically slapped her, Ciara's face wouldn't have been much different. Distressed, hard eyes and hot cheeks hinting at boiling blood.

It was always her fate, wasn't it? She couldn't escape her own shadow. As Iraleth shared all the reasons why Umbralists deserved a quick and merciful death, she found her own temper rising. Again.

The rage she had held back for years was primed and ready to go. The one fatal accusation that caretakers, potential friends, her parents, always made. The accusation that had destroyed her life several times over. She couldn't bear the word 'Umbralist'; it made her boil so much from within.

Could she make Iraleth understand? They both seemed to share similar tragic tales. Perhaps... perhaps the light would understand why the Hunger craved for it, why the Hunger did what it did.

But, just as she was about to speak and say something she would regret, a presence engulfed her.

"They'll kill you if you tell them the truth, you know."

~*~

Hunger finally dulled, staring down at the ashen remains of the plant life that once flourished. Her red Hunger eyes turned to the approaching torchlight.

"They've seen. It's too late. Run. They'll kill you if they catch you."

Her shoes, wet from stepping into the marsh, were removed.

"What are you doing? Run!"

Her thought was confident. "They won't hurt me."

A near-fatal mistake. This would be the last she didn't listen to the Voices.

~*~

The low-yet-high raspy voice. Terrifying in its limitless presence. The anger that had shown on her face was instantly snuffed out, replaced with fear.

In an instant, she was back on the battlefield, running for her life through the corridors of the school's main building. Claws, gripping her tight, from a place in which she had no defense.

Her lips purposefully pursed, knowing better than to dare speak at a time like this.

"We've always known this, haven't we? Those like us can never fraternize with those like them."

The fear was soon replaced by comfort. Did she dare take comfort in this Voice? It was by far the most lethal, most powerful of all the Voices in her mind. So far, it had led her true, but how long would that last? How long until it asked something of her that she couldn't give, that she wouldn't cross the line for?

Even if she wanted to debate it, the tension in her muscles was already releasing, her heart rate slowing down. Tried and true habits weren't something she could shake, and she was used to taking comfort in and listening to her Voices.

"Time will progress apace... huh?" She thought softly. The Voice had been right then, and she was certain it was right now.

The comfortable sedation of 'calm,' like the numbing sensation of an anesthetic, was already clouding her mind. Slowly but surely, she lost the will to speak entirely. It took all her concentration to place her pillow and blanket on her bed, and stumble into her messy haven for rest.

Her eyes glanced at Iraleth as she lay there, too exhausted, too 'calm' to move. She blinked once, before darkness drew its curtain over the light's glowing face.

"Then... a fight it is..."

Iris Ascendis

Yoooo.

(I immediately thought of Otis. It's a good power move.)

Iris Ascendis

Yet again, I'm so excited to post. I should have a response up later today.

The Dark Beyond

Hehe, thanks for the heads up! The updates look great!

The Dark Beyond

Yesss, new post is up! :)

The Dark Beyond

HiveMind Underwater Research Facility, Abandoned Maintenance Rails

@Lexisheeps, @WhiteAngel25

---

"GROOOOWWWWWGHHHHHHHHH!"

The metallic screeching reached its peak as explosions ricocheted off the worn, dusted walls of the maintenance rails. As the last of the music faded into the distance, the air was filled with smoke and gun power, the remains of smoldering war. Drones lay haphazardly on the ground, some shattered like broken dolls, while others still tried to move, digital eyes flickering in and out of a conscious state.

And the source of the metallic screech was front and centre of the warfare - the Beast. The red shield it had summoned was cracked, and its glowing eye fluttered, unable to maintain the hologram due to the raucous onslaught of music, fire, and explosions.

Von Galoes stood there, wincing as if he had been physically struck, watching as the fire and grenades rained hellfire on his drones. His hologram, like petals falling from a peach tree, slowly scattered, his form diminishing. Before scattering, he gazed at Thierry, Nick, and his crew, Von's face still holding onto a wicked expression.

"So, you finally figured it out, hm? Then perhaps I'll see you at the depths. Be warned, much has changed since the lower pits of the old facility were sealed off."

His gaze locked on to Subject #3, and he gave her a lethal glare. "When I find you, Subject #3, feeling the cold grip of my fingers around your neck will be the least of your troubles."

Subject #3 visibly stiffened at this, hiding behind Stella and whimpering.

Satisfied, Von Galloes' face turned to Stells, who was singed a bit from protecting Subject #3. His eyes slightly softened as he spoke in a voice that approached disturbingly sweet. "Your mother would be so proud."

The last of the petals fell, and the hologram disappeared, the room returning to a moderate level of lighting. The Beast seemed to whimper and retreat back into the depths of the maintenance rails, taking the vents as an escape route and quickly disappearing from sight.

Subject #3 seemed to relax a bit as Stella hugged her, returning the embrace. She could feel the empty hollowness around her throat. The phantom weight. The marks the collar had left behind were the only remnant of the lock over her voice. She was finally free to speak her mind.

Her eyes widened with realization, then she started up at Stella with gratitude. "You... you've freed me. You've saved me."

"You all... saved me." She said, slowly standing as she glanced up at Nick and his team. She looked at the defeated enemies in the room, the remnants of the bomb that had been around her neck, and her eyes welled up with tears. She hurriedly tried to wipe them, bowing slightly to avoid their gaze.

"Th-thank you..." She whispered.

The door to the side was blown off its hinges, revealing flickering lights of the sealed part of the old facility. It had been a secret project between associates of The Louvre and The Ethereum, a testament to ancient powers and the desire to uncover the secrets buried here below the sea.

If Thierry had old schematics of the sealed-off facility, he would find much of it had remained the same. However, booby traps set in place by HiveMind would make much of it near impossible or highly risky to traverse. They would come across hallways filled with old contraptions, outdated dark energy devices, like containers and enhancers, plus miniature TRUMPET monitors to locate trace amounts of dark energy with pinpoint accuracy.

Observing these TRUMPET monitors would reveal a significant energy source deeper in the sealed part of the facility, leading to the real site where dark energy was present, observable, and influential on its environment. The tapestry for an archaeologist to take foot and discover the source and intrigues of this strange, strange energy, how it affected people throughout time, and what that meant for Nick and Stella.

The Dark Beyond

Fiiiiire. What a fire round!

I'll have a post up tomorrow! :)

The Dark Beyond

Yesss, I'm loving the story so far. :)

Iris Ascendis

@Psyker Landshark Fire post.

I think that means it's the end of another epic round.