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The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Upon hearing Leila's lengthy reply to his inquiry, in which she had included the information gathered from her observation on the Nowhereian they had questioned, Hakuren felt impressed by the perfection, with which she had counted all of the gestures of Mrs. Anaisiuol during the dialogue with her. Indeed, his prediction concerning the young girl was correct. Albeit taciturn in most cases, she possessed an ability to notice every little detail by using her natural silence to blend in with the surroundings, as if she were a shadow, and, if given the necessary time to remain in that state, could engulf more and more pixels from the picture before her, storing all she had gathered as encryption codes deep withing the crevices of the maze we call the human brain. A person as thin as air, unnoticeable by the average beings of any existence, was an asset, which could provide quite the income if placed in the correct location at the correct time. The young man felt pleased by the answer, although there was little he could use it for. It was enough to know how proficient his companion was at picking the small pieces, which the common folk would not think twice to pay any mind to.
"We should piece a puzzle together sometime." the lad tossed that comment in the air, as if he had not heard what his acquaintance had said.
Puzzle games were a sweet little pastime he enjoyed, yet rarely indulged in. There were other activities which piqued his interest far more than that wordless game of logic, however, the student found it quite stimulating and rewarding. In the process of piecing the elements together, one's thought process must rapidly create connections and decisions, whilst the eyes must be forced to bare witness to a meaningless mass, which appears illogical at first glance. This stimulates the brain, perhaps even irritates it, and places two plates in front of us. One may chose to leave the game or continue struggling to find the parts that fit together. Regardless of the choice made, the time spent in front of a puzzle trains the mind and provides a healthy food for its dining table.
Taking into consideration the type of person this solemn girl was, Hakuren assumed a puzzle would be appropriate for a bonding game. Already having noticed the potential she had hidden within her, he made a mental note to attempt a closer knit relationship. There were more examinations he intended to perform, but having her 'scan' from time to time in certain areas back in their world would provide him with the various intel he loved to gather and sell. Of course, without knowing her background and standing, he could not make a complete plan, yet using that little eye ability of hers would at least offer another detailed view of the world.

"About what you noticed during her speech, it seems that Mrs. Anaisiuol lied to us eighteen times. Fortunately, there wasn't any such movement during the important moments. She wasn't completely stiff either, so at least she didn't give us false information about the past batch, the cave and the siren." he spoke whilst walking, now in connection with the topic at hand. "Time here is a bit irrelevant, if not completely meaningless, but I recon we spent a good portion at the gator's home. Lets just pick a house to infiltrate and be done here." Although he felt like asking around more villagers, their first visit seemed a bit prolonged and he did not intent to hold anyone back. After searching a house they would probably pick at random, he intended to meet up with his other two partners in crime, Leon and Mado, and head for the caves. If nothing came up there, they would simply head back and sniff a few more corners. "In the meantime, why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?" the young man suggested with a friendly smile as he and Leila strolled down the dusty road. "I'm not going to brag about it, if that is what you're worried about." It was clear to him she wasn't, but common courtesy required that phrase.

Leila (post is below) said
”Noelle. Leila Noelle. Seventeen years old. Daughter of Joseph and Zora Noelle. 317 Westbourne Avenue.”

It took the lass quite awhile to reply, judging by the distance they had walked. This did not surprise the young man a bit. From the many occasions he had had the privilege to be part of her company he had noticed there was always a delay before any sort of response was given. Once more, a quite typical note of her character appeared to be giving brief answers, with the exceptions always existing, of course. Yet he found her retort displeasing. It was far too limited, far too shallow. There was the chance of this person being socially awkward and that possibility just seemed to gain more points and heading towards level Fact in the lad's ladder. This was bothersome to a certain extent, yet also proved to be an advantage, for him at least.
"I'm not an office worker here." Hakuren chuckled it off. "I meant to ask it in another way. Like "What do you like?", "What do you do?","What's it like where you live?" and stuff like that. For instance, I like meeting new people, talking with friends and going around the city. By myself I like listening to music, reading the news, going around the Internet. Normal pastimes like that. I'm a psychology student, so naturally I have a taste for information connected with it." It was a short, little and quite incomplete description of himself, yet he hoped this would lead the girl towards the right direction. "Now, what about you?" he smiled as always.

[This space here will/might be edited, depending on Four's(aka John's) reply]

They continued down the path, taking several twists and turns as they inspected buildings from the outside. Many alleyways they walked across and many windows they looked through, yet nothing managed to catch their eye. Abandoned, ruined, most houses were too dangerous to even come close to. From what could be seen through the stained filthy glass plates and the many cracks within them, the homes had an eaten floor and rarely a piece of furniture inside. It reminded Hakuren of an old custom in the human world. After a house got positively lifeless, a person or two might just accidentally find themselves inside and just by chance take, say, a chair or a table, maybe even a bookcase or a TV set if they're lucky. No doubt some of the locals had the same habit of 'getting lost'. Seeing as the atmosphere was so damp, it created bad results for the wooden roofs, a great number of which had already crumbled down upon the interior they once protected. Climbing up another small set of moldy stairs, the duo found themselves upon a level, from which they could clearly see the take. Light glided atop its surface, as if it were a silver brush, combing through the wild hair of a sea princess. A lovely sight it was, a bright flower in a dead forest.

"Say, Leila-san." Hakuren spoke out of the blue. "If you have a nest with four eggs, where the mother had begun incubating after the last one arrived, and one hatched early, how many eggs would there be left in the nest?" And odd little question, on an odd little day, in an odd little village.

Leila said
"Three."

Her answer came quicker than the last. It proved only that she did not have throwout knowledge on biology and maybe hadn't thought much of the inquiry. The green-blue-eyed lad himself knew it was a rather ridiculous question to ask, yet he had hoped only a bit that she could answer correctly. This didn't cause her to drop in his eyes. It simply proved her knowledge did not extend as far as one of the possibilities suggested, rendering it completely useless.
"Wrong answer." he told her. "If incubation began after the last one arrived, all the eggs received the same amount of heat, meaning that they should all hatch at the same time. If one hatches earliest than the rest, at a time it is not supposed to, it means it's a parasite, like the cuckoo bird. The chick will then push the rest out. So, there will be no more eggs in the nest."
If he was with someone eyes, he would have never even dared to speak in that manner or at least not so early on in their relationship. He simply found that talking in that mannerism would be an easier way for his companion to understand the message.
[It's very likely that I will completely change this birdy section. I just have to get online at the same time as Four. -_-"]

Once they had settled the matter, Leila and Hakuren came upon a house, which caught the green-blue-eyed boy's attention. Apparently still in relatively good shape, it was a two-story building, on the walls of which blue paint faintly remained. Two chairs were positioned in front of a small fountain in the backyard, which lacked water, yet had become the residence of many small colourful members of the Nowhereian flora, whilst at the front was a small rotten white fence, which could easily be stepped over. A doughnut weather vane was at the very peak and pointed eagerly towards the lake as the wind blew towards it. What was eye-catching about this house was not only its better condition in comparison to its neighbors, but also the remarkable painted windows on the second floor, from which the light jumped, reflected in various colours. The front door was cracked open and let out a high screech once pushed to the side. Not a single soul in sight. No a breath to be heard. The sign on the door read "Mathema Family", who had not been around for awhile. The youngster recalled Mrs. Anaisiuol mentioning a man called Mr. Mathema, who had been known as one of the few eccentric individuals in town and Yonder's Professor. According to the crocodile madam, he had been a very handsome young man. With good looks and a brilliant mind, the only reason why all the village girls did not go head over heals for him was due to his strange mannerism, which he owed to his upbringing in the bustling city of Babuna. Still, as a young fish in a fishy place, the lonely female hearts still gazed in awe at him. He had been a charmer, the Mrs had insisted and spoke of his departure with great sadness, yet did not explain it in detail. It was one of those times when she touched her nose.
"Lets pay Mr. Mathema a visit, shall we?" Hakuren said and headed for the house.
Knocking on the door politely, he allowed an "okairi" to escape his lips and echo through the empty hallway. There was a long purple carpet beneath their feet with yellow stripes at the very end and numerous rips and holes. Every step taken created an irritable noise as the wood squeaked. No one had given it the honor of walking upon it for a very long time, thus it was giving its warm welcome, like a chirping little chick. The corridor branched out into three separate parts. To the left was the kitchen, to the right was the living room and straight ahead was the bathroom, or so it said at the very beginning, where a map had been pinned to the wall, like a valuable art piece. The black-blue-haired lad headed right. Entering the living room, he found himself in front of a wide open space, with light entering through the big tall windows. Books and sheets of paper, too many to count, were littered all over the floor, a consequence of the strong winds, which had most likely blown and shaken the bookcases, which now stood, for the most part, empty at one side of the room. A couch with a few chairs and ottomans were located not too far away from a pink polka dot piano, which most likely served an entertaining purpose for the guests. Above the musical instrument, on the wall behind it, was a painting. More precisely put, a portrait, and what a portrait it was. The human was at a loss of words. The figure portrayed was a tall, elegantly dressed man in a yellow suit. A blue-striped orange tie was tied around his neck and his shoes were a bright cherry colour. But his attire was beyond the point. That face. It could simply stun you in place. Nowhere was filled with many bizarre creatures, yet very few would imagine one could be as peculiar as Mr. Mathema. The man's head was nothing more than a big square root symbol, under which were located anime-like eyes, nose and mouth. The expression he was painted with was a slight smirk, which gave off the player vibe. Hakuren did not know whether he should have laughed at the sight or simply allow himself to remain in the disturbed state he was in after the first glance. He liked math, he really did, but to see the incarnation of it was, although not surprising, very very disturbing. There was always some sort of logic he found in Nowherians, but this being he could not fathom. How and what was a square root supposed to eat? Tree roots? Bad homework? From the portrait it was visible that the rest of his body was with human proportions, without any unnecessary extras, and bore ink black skin. He was truly a one of a kind character, this Mr. Mathema. It made the youngster wish he'd actually gotten to talk to him and not that old crock. Passing the initial state of disturbance, the boy cracked his usual smile.
"I'd hate to be in his class." he commented before turning around.
Curved wooden stairs, which looked promising, lead upwards towards the second floor.
"I'm going up. If I don't come back in five minutes...Oh, wait, time doesn't exist here. Well, scream if there's anything out of the ordinary." he told Leila. There was that little fact that everything in this house was probably out of the ordinary, but he didn't mind making the comment as such. Ever since the train ride and the first party, most of the elements of Nowhere he didn't consider extraordinary at all. The constant randomness of Nowhere had such an effect on him.

Having set foot on the upper story, Hakuren walked through a hallway of paintings, most of which were portraits of the Professor with different expressions and in different poses. It was one ridiculous moment after the next. What the home spoke about its lord was that he was a narcissist in full bloom, with a taste for colourful and beautiful artworks. The window frames were marvelously carved with a flower pattern. Wood-works could also be found on walls and doors. The carpets bore the delightful chaos of expressionism and the candle-holders were miniature statues of different creatures. Some were ice-cream cones with eyes and cat ears and tails, others were three-headed giraffes with long braided manes. After a walk through this peculiar museum, the lad held to a stop at a door, behind which he presumed were the master's quarters, as the rest were either rooms for tea or entertainment, or bedrooms for guests, which the human had entered and scanned, yet found nothing of notable importance.
The confines of the mentioned last living space were as expected of this rococo interior. The walls and ceiling were rich in decoration and artworks. Whilst many constellations were drawn above, accompanied by the creatures from the legends they connected with; below, on the sides, were paintings of a different character. They were simple strokes of paint on the walls, curving and twirling lines, which changed colour if you were to follow them along. It was far more humble than the self-centered gallery or the other sheets in the living room, like the one which revealed the everyday life of bread men working on the field under the hot summer sun, their surface bearing several cracks caused by the pangs of the blistering rays. The bedroom of Mr. Mathema was lacking in appeal, compared to the rest of his home, yet the gigantic double canopy bed slightly made up for it.
Weak light entered through the painted windows, the transparent curtains allowing it to pass and break down into the many colours of the spectrum. It was a wonderful sight, but the young man had not come to bare witness to something as simple as that. Waltzing through the room, he made his way to the personal writing desk of the landlord. Checking every nook and cranny, he could not find anything, other than some books about local flora and fauna, writing materials, empty envelopes and unused post stamps. This displeased the youngster quite. He had not searched a couple of rooms and traveled all this way, just to go back empty-handed. There had to be something more. Grabbing the piece of furniture, he pulled it forwards and to the side. Indeed, at the back of it there was another compartment, a small closet. Inside he found a notebook, shabby, its cover curling upwards, covered by dust. Nature had taken its tole on the little object. Flicking through the pages of the newly found item, it proved itself to be the diary of the head of the household, dating back to the first day he arrived in Yonder. Albeit Hakuren did not read everything word by word, he took note of a couple of facts as he went towards the end. One those facts was that ten Newt Years had come and gone for Mr. Mathema in Yonder. Unfortunately, the human kind the author mentioned as revolting and unsightly creatures, ones so filthy and absurd, he did not wish to come close to them. This could not help determine the precise age of the book, because the professor had left the village not too long after the witch hunt or so the gator had said. The further ahead he read, the shorter the entries got and the style changed along with them. The finely crafted letters became rash and sometimes even unreadable. Descriptiveness was replaced by blunt briefness. Gradually, it became less and less recognizable. This peculiar change of heart was explained in the very last chapter the square root wrote.

Professor Mathema said
Hello, dear wonderful self.

Today I write in rush once more. It has been long since I last wrote within this treasury of mine thoughts. Many events have taken place in the fair village of Yonder. One too many to count and of a caliber, perhaps, higher than even I, the brightest light of enlightenment in this forsaken corner of the beautiful Nowhere, could predict.

It was during an evening not long ago that they drowned her, the dastardly woman I have refrained from mentioning in a descriptive manner within this pure book. She, who was the witch of this town, has met her final judgement and has been sent to the depths of the lake. Her companions shared her fate. I was among the many spectators of this sight. A dreadful event it was, filthy and vile like her soul. She screamed, yet no one dared to listen. Pitchforks and hatchets and many more were raised up in the sky, as if there was not a judgement to be passed down, but a revolution to be made. It was an extraordinary occasion to bare witness to.
That woman had created much hassles and troubles for the humble villagers. She had turned into a hotdog and tempted many men into following her. Fortunately, I did not stoop so low as to drop my jaw at the look of such creature, who, despite beautiful in its curves and ketchup, could be seen through when looking at its eyes. Those two pits of horrifying evil. They were windows to the abyss. I caught wind of this trickery and was quick to escape the witch's clutches, yet not the same could be said for many of my neighbors. After finally crossing the line when a rainfall of peanuts came down on us, rather than the usual skittles, the uprising began and the flames within the simple folk burned like that of a soldier, ready to fight for his people. It was tremendous...How beautiful this hunt was...
That woman met her sorry demise. Yet...It seems I must face further turmoil because of her. I, who was among the few who did not bend their knee, not once, now have been cursed by that witch. Many Nowhereians have been drowning in the lake. Rumors speak of a siren's song. The witch's song. It is a curse. A curse, I say! I now face a terrible future here. A positively bleak one. Many of my companions in Yonder do not look at me with a good eye. I, who have always been different from them, who brought the light of knowledge in this ignorant town, now must bear the arrows of their suspicion. Recently, a rock broke my window, thrown by an unknown limb. I have also felt like someone has been watching me. A village acquaintance hinted at me the other day. It is clear. They are suspicious of me. Because I am different. Because I am fashionable. Because I am beautiful. Because I know more than they ever will. They shall never amount to anything greater than me. They shall never stand on or above my level. I see now. My attempts to be the sun of Yonder have reached their bitter end. I must escape from here. Quickly. Before I meet the same watery demise as that witch. I must save the beauty. I must save myself. I have to stop. I must fall asleep now. Tomorrow. Once I awaken. I must assemble all my things and hurry out. There will be a caravan at the town's square. With a bag in one hand and an umbrella in the other. I must abandon this place. I hope this beautiful house will forgive me. I made it into what it stands today. Such a lovely thing. Fear not, Jizzabell. I shall come once more, when all of the villagers are gone, when the siren dies from not having anyone else to kill. I shall come again and together we shall shine with out beauty. Now let us sleep. Thank you for protecting me from the rain once more.

'What a narcissistic fool.' Hakuren thought when he finished reading the last entry. 'He probably went on a long wet business trip. Then again, the gator would have noted his death, since she obviously had had a thing for him when she was young. Well, doesn't really matter, since the place is positively abandoned. Now, where was I...Oh, yes.'

A few heartbeats later, a noise, similar to a gigantic elephant walking and causing an earthquake, could be heard downstairs coming from the upper floor. The youngster had gotten the idea that, since he had found a diary in a closet behind a writing desk, it wouldn't hurt to check other possible hiding places. Thus he had proceeded with turning and shifting different pieces of furniture, such as closets, libraries and cabinets. Of course, they fell on their very own and he had nothing to do with the matter. It was fortunate that he had opened the window to get some fresh air, otherwise he would have drowned, this time in a sea of dust. If Mr. Mathema could see his house at that time, he would have been horror-stuck. The human had turned everything he could upside-down, everything that wasn't too heavy at least. The beds were far too troublesome to even get to budge, but he did take the liberty of using a broom he found to check below them. In the loud noisy search for clues, the black-blue-haired boy, who now had the shine of filthy silver all over him due to the dust, stumbled upon a couple of indecent pictures and papers, which were a pleasant sight, yet he did not fancy taking them along with him and left them at random places. Other than those, there was not a single hint. This irritated him a bit, but decided that getting worked up over it wasn't worth it. In fact, he found it refreshing to have done some damage. It was his warm-up for the caves. Having discovered nothing new, the lad headed downstairs, the journal of the professor in hand.

'"Leila~ Find anything interesting~?" Hakuren called out as he went down step by step, the wood creaking beneath him. "I found the landlord's diary, but there was nothing of particular significance inside. We should wrap up here and find the other two, unless you have something else you want to do." He always had ideas when a girl was involved, but wasn't particularly turned on, since his curiosity was currently directed elsewhere.

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

.....1 in the morning....I have no idea....what I just wrote in the IC

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

With Leon having left to play his role in the first act of the play, Hakuren and Leila both headed forwards across the street, towards the first house.
It was neither grand, nor glorious. The wood, from which the walls were made of, had several patches of mold, which bore bizarre colours, such as pink, ginger and blue, and holes both big and small, in some of which a cork could be seen. The chimney was nothing more than a few pipes suck together and had tilted rather dangerously to the side, yet the residents had not removed it, either because they were too preoccupied or because it posed no threat to them. Sounds of footsteps and loud mumbling could be heard from inside, the voices rather unclear and harsh.
The young man in the midnight green coat gave the girl behind him one final glance over his shoulder, before he pulled out the black notebook from the inside pocket of his upper cloth and opened it. Within was the lace, the bookmark, which instantly slid towards his fingertips and formed a black pencil in his hand. Wearing a friendly smile on his face, the youngster politely knocked on the door once. There was no answer. Whatever was stirring from inside became quiet and not a single sound was let out, until the human knocked once more, adding a "Hello? Is anyone home?"

"Waddaya vant?" came a reply as soon as the dver was opened.

The one who came to answer his call was quite the figure to behold. It was a chameleon standing on two legs, dressed in a red and white striped shirt and military pants. Eyes huge and staring in different directions, what was most peculiar about this creature was the fact that at the end of its long tail was a lamp quite literally glued to it. Judging by the Nowherian's voice, it was a man and was certainly disturbed by this sudden visit.

"Good morning. We-" the lad began, but was cut off quickly.
"Bah, vhat's so good about it? Nothin'. Nothin' at all. Naw hurry it up, yall. I don't vant to vaste this stupid life on yous." the villager told him with a rugged, irritated tone.
"We're here by orders of the Queen of Nowhere to do a survey regarding living conditions in Yonder." Hakuren explained, unfazed by the other's harshness.
"A servey. Vat vill you do? Serve me some grub? I'm a picky eater, ya know. Mostly flies and them multileggid critters are my thang, but no sawse and them fatty stuffings and such. Can't disappoint the Missis, ya know."
"No, this survey involves us asking questions about your life and how you feel like when living here."
"Bah! Petty talk! Git outa 'ere, ya fish. I vant no part'a' dis nonesenshialaticallness or vatever them fancy-pants merinjays call it!"
With that the door was banged shut right in front of them, a cloud of dust being blown in the two's faces. For some reason, Hakuren was still smiling, although now it was more like one of those annoyed "I'm going to get you for this" side grins. Several moments of silence passed on that porch and, just when the duo was about to pack up and leave, a loud monstrous roar was heard from within the house. It was as if a tremendous beast had just been woken from its slumber, its eyes bloody from lack of rest and fangs shining in the light like the fine surface of a new blade. Something was broken and something fell, accompanied by pleas, apologies and screams of terror only a little girl could make. This was so sudden that the humans stayed pinned on their positions, as if lightning had struck them in place. Only a heartbeat later, the door opened once more and someone far different appeared before them.
A crocodile taller than the door itself, also standing on its hind legs, wearing a pink dress and slippers, was smiling with a mouth with a full set of razor-sharp teeth, hands clasped together in front of it.
"Palease excusé my husband's awfully rude behavior. The poor thing's exhausted from all the hard work at the light house during tha nighté. The time's are thought 'n' all. Now dearies, don't be shy~ Come right in~" It spoke with a womanly meow in its voice, hinting that it was female.
"Much obliged, ma'am."

---

The time spent at the Anaisiuol family's home was a delight compared to walking down the empty streets. Mrs Anaisiuol treated her guests kindly with herbal tea, which Hakuren found oddly similar to the lake water he had tasted when he had gone 'swimming' the other day, and biscuits of various flavor, most of which were either different kinds of meat or 'fruit'. The crocodile chatted endlessly about her family life, so much it felt as though the humans were not there to do a survey, but her autobiography. From the time of her great great great uncle Loui to the present day, she knew all the gossip and all the murmurings, all the affairs and all the filth of the locals. She didn't hesitate one bit in the never-ending chain of words, not even when mentioning past humans, whom she only described through the rumors and fantasies Yonderers had created and the preposterous conclusions they had made of them and their world all on their very own, without ever coming into true contact with those outer-worldly beings. Her blabbering made the entire structure that was their unstable house shake as if there was an earthquake and it was a miracle that Mr. Anaisiuol continued sleeping, most likely due to the fact he had gotten used to it after living for years with his big-jawed wife. Hakuren only fueled this bubbling machine by asking her questions and faking astonishment and curiosity. It would be untrue to state that he was not interested in hearing the story of the town, but the many side-notes and additional information the crock packed into this giant sandwich was too big of a bite to swallow with a straight face. Still, he continued forwards. This woman was far too easy to get talking and only needed a few hints before steering into the right direction. Once they somehow came on the topic concerning the caves, she mentioned that old folk used to hold a festival there or nearby in their day, but the tradition had been long forgotten, along with all the reasons why it was created in the first place. In addition, she told them about uncleanly whisperings of who did who when at the caves and who was the result of that happening, as well as how they lived and got to face the truth and all the little dramas of those stories. At one point, the young man actually thought this would be the best TV program for elderly people. "Teatime with the crocodile. You'll never guess what's below the water". If she was in their world, she might as well become famous.

The true phenomenon occurred when the Mrs actually allowed them to leave. They had to stop several times along the way. Once at the door of the living room, twice in the hallway, once in front of the shoes and at the front door. By the time they were finished, the young man could hear the sound of a television, which had lost contact, in his head.
"You darlings watch out now~! Don't wana get into Mr. Esel's way~! Remember, don't try Mrs. Hwyaden's cooking! Don't believe Mrs. llwynog! The old fox is always drunk! Oh, and don't forget to stop by Mr. Doberman! He's a good man, he doesn't bite!" Mrs. Anaisiuol said at the door, along with a couple of more wishes about staying warm and closed the door.
"And this is why I rarely visit my grandmother." Hakuren sighed with a smile. "Well, after hearing all about the "Great adventures of Chad Eboric Anaisiuol" and Mrs. Ilwynog's cooking, I think we learned quite a few tasty things."
Of course, he didn't mean all of that nonsensical chatter. Between her long soapy tales about her ancestors and other villagers of the past, the gator had truly given them valuable information. She had mentioned the past batches, only clearly remembering the members of the last, yet only by gender and appearance. The caves were surrounded by mystery and myth, but among the many rumors there was bound to be a grain of truth. Regarding the siren, the crocodile had not spoken in great detail, mainly because she herself had not participated in the act that was the witch hunt, yet her mouth seeped story after story as to why the drowned woman was considered a witch. She had put a spell on the man she loved. She had poisoned a rival. She had killed by simply speaking. She had turned into a hotdog. Sang strange songs. Talked to thin air. Ran off on her own. Slept with shadows. Chanted in an incoherent language. Almost all of them had no evidence to back them up except the mass belief of the townsfolk. At her only venom was spit, but the Mrs also hissed from time to time at the Mayor's address, concerning his egoistic corrupt nature. Interestingly enough, individuals she was fond of speaking of were Brandy, Two Thirds and Songbird. Once she learned they were with the humans, she quickly wrote down on a sheet of moss a list of items she wished to order. Apparently, she was a great admirer of all three, especially of Two Thirds, in whose shop she had dreamed of entering ever since she was a wee lass, yet had never had the opportunity to do so. Other important information she had provided regarded some areas in Nowhere, as well as some important figures within them.

Having written down notes in his notebook, Hakuren now quickly shut and placed it back in the inside pocket of his coat. Strolling down the street without an exact destination in mind, he listened carefully for any sound that might give away Leon and Mado's location.
"I found the sweets far better than the tea. And you?" the youngster attempted to initiate a conversation with his partner in crime, who was currently following him.

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

With a final warning and encouragement from Serenade, the black hare, the group set out on foot. Hakuren did not consider what had been pointed out by Leon as a flaw in his plan. Considering the location, size and state of the town, the young man figured that the locals did not have a liking for outsiders, let alone being inquired by them, thus whoever had the bad fortune of becoming their target would rather answer questions than ask them. However, he did not bother replying either. The bunny girl's answer was satisfactory. The faster things were done, the better.

Passing through the grove of dead trees, the lifeless shells of leaves rustling on the dry mud ground, the quartet made its way into Yonder. There was always something peculiar about the "south side". Be it city, town, village or ghetto, it lurked and swam through those warm waters of the dust-ridden air, watching, listening and waiting. At and for what, well, no one could say for certain. Differing and yet the same, this bizarre essence engulfed the surroundings. Standing tall and full of miniature holes, the cabins within these parts were closer to each other. Gradually, the neighborhood formed and the streets became smaller and smaller. Strolling away from what appeared to have been or currently was the main road, the band went through several alleys and up a couple of stairs. Unsurprisingly, the landscape was not entirely flat or at least the founders had not allowed it to remain as such. The area was situated atop hills, albeit the shift from one level to another was not all that sudden. This was intentionally created, in order for the town to not become submerged by water, if the lake should ever rise. The stone steps were cracked and spotted with a variety of moss and moist-loving flora, the colour of which ranged from blue to ginger. On those sides of the buildings directed towards the lake one could ofttimes spot wondrous plants clinging onto the walls, as if they were sticking out on purpose, from their stems hanging long rope-like braids, at the end of which were colourful bells. It was notable to remark that the mentioned walls did, in fact, have windows, but most had been sealed long ago with whatever the dwellers inside could find. The reason for this was all too clear.
On their journey through the village, the humans did not spot a single pedestrian, even when they hit the shady streets and purposely went in a slower pace under the cover of the darkness of objects. The homes they passed were abandoned, not a sign of life left on their property. Only the structures remained as a reminder of what this place had been and what tragic fate countless of lives had faced. Windows broken and letting in the wind, which lightly blew the torn curtains and made some doors creak and bang against their frames. The sound of the six feet currently walking together were perhaps a sound the area had not heard in a long while. The number of limbs was such, due to the fact that Mado, apparently the most eager of them all, had run off ahead, knife in hand, like a warrior heading into battle. Fortunately, she had slowed down and come around, being more like the side-line wolf in a pack, a scout listening and ready for action not too far away from the core. Leila had taken to the back of the now assembled trio, whilst Leon was walking close to Hakuren, both boys smiling lightly, thinking about their very own topics, which, in fact, were not miles apart. It was slightly amusing to observe how similar they were as they waltzed through the streets. Hands in their pockets, wearing relaxed expressions, with an easy-going atmosphere around them, it was as if they were two palls out on a stroll to meet their girls at the corner. The only difference was that, whilst the younger was preparing his lines for the upcoming play, the older was busily scanning the houses they passed with his eyes. From time to time, they came to a stop to "window-shop", yet continued nonetheless. Nothing seemed worth the while to barge in and mug, yet they were just entering the tighter parts of "the south", so there would be plenty of opportunities ahead of them.



As he walked forward, the black-blue-haired lad felt something poke him. Turning only his head at first, he noticed it was actually Leila, which was odd, if we were to consider how distant she preferred to be. A sweet loveable puppy she was in Dissonance's eyes, one which did not whine, nor complain about a thing. And now it looked up at him, with its big eyes searching for answers, but a snail was still a snail, thus she lacked most of the emotion a little pup would have. The lass spoke her question aloud:
“What...” she began, “do you think the Siren’s song might actually be?”
Now holding to a stop, Hakuren turned a bit towards her. The answer was lengthy, he would have liked to debate on it verbally all day, but their current schedule did not allow such distractions. This being said, he knew he would have to cut it short as much as possible.
"There are many ways to answer that question. It all depends on the type of book you wish to read. During his interrogation, the mayor mentioned that our objective is not of a physical kind, meaning that it's not an object. If we were to follow the whimsical tales of happy endings, obtaining the siren's song would mean that we should convince the siren at the bottom of the lake to stop her misdeeds and sing her story to us. Or punish those who accused her of being a witch and find the true cause of the ill rumor. Maybe even turn her back into a human." he told her with his everlasting smile. "However, if we were to look at another genre, "The Siren's Song" might as well be the truth behind a serial killer or an experiment of a mad scientist. It could be a message, a promise or even a ghost. Although we still can't be sure what we're looking for, the way to find it should be clear. Think of it as this: You are told to find the person with 'cold feet' in a room of people. You wouldn't go touching everybody's feet now, would you, especially if everybody's wearing shoes? Because having 'cold feet' means to be scared or nervous." Turning his attention away for a moment, he noticed some sort of movement in a house nearby and a quiet echoing of voices. Inhabitants. "Well, it's not wise to try making conclusions just yet." he sighed "Lets see what we can dig up from this place and then head for the caves." The young man walked forward and stopped at the corner before looking back at Leila and Leon "Leon, me and Leila will be hitting the first house with locals across the street. I'm sure Mado should be nearby, so go and find her, will you? She's easy to spot, don't worry. Just listen for sounds of terror and watch out for panties being waived in the wind. We're no longer in the periphery of town, so there are plenty of prospective houses. I trust you know what to look for."

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Oh, another sapling. What will it be this time, I wonder XD

Guys, I know I've been somewhat inactive and late and I'm sorry about that =< It was great in the past, when I constantly posted both in the OOC and in IC, but times change. I'll be on thorns until the 9th of March and my activity will be mediocre perhaps until the end of April. After that, it's highly possible that my activity will increase dramatically XD May is a month full of celebrations, which means days off and June is pretty much for all those late marks we have to get, which won't be a huge problem at all. After that is summer vacation, when there will be plenty of spare time =3 Hope we can keep this up until we make a full year.
Does anyone remember when the role-play's birthday is?

Also, I'll try getting my old routine back X3
Music Night with Headphones presents: a trip through the night sky

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Once the announcement was over, the humans began separating into their appointed groups and heading out towards their scheduled areas. Hakuren was quite pleased when he was informed about being given the position of group leader. His team consisted of Leon, Leila and Mado.
'The newbie, the snail and the unstable murderer-wanna-be..Well, it's not necessarily a loss.' he thought.

The areas Group Two was meant to investigate were the south side of the town of Yonder and the caves, located within a close distance of the village. As the appointed head of their merry band, the young man in the midnight green coat quickly measured and weighed the possibilities.
Albeit there was no additional information given to them, other than their location, the caves sounded promising at first thought. If any indecent procedure had to be carried out at some point of time, a secluded space would be splendid. A place where no one could hear, where no one could thoroughly search. Perhaps they were frightening enough to repulse previous investigators, if such had ever existed in the first place. Yet the black hare did mention a local detective, thus leading to the conclusion that there must have been some research done before their arrival. Once more, a fact had been hidden from the humans and not a single person had questioned if work had ever been done on the case in the past. It was no surprise to Hakuren that something had been left unsaid, after all, they were all still very young chess pieces in the game. Skipping pages would never provide you with the full flavor of the book, in fact, it only dulls out its taste and dims the sense of the story told. Thus allow yourself to be tricked and deceived by the play of words. The ending is all the same, what differs is the experience.
In any case, the caves had to be put on hold. If they resembled the geographical structures on Earth with the same name, the ground that would have to be covered inside them was far greater than the one in town. Not to mention there was a great risk of traps and accidents involving sound. Considering the magical activity in the area, a simple echo could likely bring them to their demise. Additionally, there was always something peculiar in "the south side". Regardless of the cluster, be it a bustling city or a small village, there was always something fishy stirring in the pot in the south side and it wasn't the mayor's family.

Allowing his gaze to flow freely from one face to another, the green-blue-eyed lad examined his group with a light smile on his face.
The new arrival, Leon, was still a simple sketch. Whether he had the potential to bloom in the full glory of colour was yet uncertain. However, he appeared relatively sane and held a placid disposition, which mean he would likely take the role of the right-hand man.
Leila, on the other hand, was still as silent as ever, carrying her shell without the slightest thought of bothering to speak up or display her viewpoint. However, it was notable that she had, for the first time since their meeting, cracked a smile. It had been when the lass replied to the youngster's question and, although it had been a simple one syllable, still held some worth, for she had shown emotion. A cultivated flower, no, a cultivated snail. What kind of creature that could be and why on earth would someone shelter it from the world were irrelevant questions. The title simply fitted her well.
And, of course, the last, but not the least, was Mado. A troublesome girl, who knew Japanese, she had caused plenty of mayhem for both guides and ordinary residents of Nowhere. With a murderous killing intent, she dreamt of wiping the kaonashi from the face of every world or at least that was what could be deducted from her usual murmuring. This dotting child would most likely bring about most of the misfortune in their search for clues or simply be the irritating torn in their side. Still, she had her uses and even a torn could become a vital weapon in the long run.
You would have to be both blind and deaf to not realize how disastrous this lovely compilation of individuals could be. Having the "stabby girl", as Cello had put it, as a member was a clear indicator of unfortunate events. Yet, towards whom that misfortune would be directed was another matter and the leader intended to have it work in his favor.

"Alright, we'll be heading for the south part of Yonder. Best take care of the small fries first." Hakuren sighed, once both Serenade and Jasper's group had departed. "The plan is simple. We'll go through the streets by trying to keep a low profile. Not that humans can really lay low in Nowhere, but we can still sneak around the back alleys. What we have to do is check the houses. The empty ones we'll raid if we find needed. If there's no hint of them offering a clue, we'll just leave them be. When it comes to the inhabited ones, we'll knock on their doors and ask for clues. However, there's no point in doing that if we just freak the residents out. Once we notice someone is living inside a house, two of us will go and knock on the front door, seeing as more numbers is usually depicted as frightening. Don't tell them what we're really after. Just say we've been sent by the Queen to do a survey on the living conditions. They'll unconsciously drop something at some point." he told his team-mates his plan. Leon probably handled conversations well, whilst Leila could come in as back-up if necessary. Mado was the big question mark in the equation. "Leon" he addressed the greenest of them, smiling as always. "We'll be the sweet-talkers. Don't slip up or we might lose a vital piece." He then turned to the pale girl "Leila, you'll be expected to keep track of all the information while the conversation's flowing. Look of any signs, verbal and movement-wise." It was always handy to have another pair of eyes on the look-out and with the lass having an existence almost as thin as air, she would attract less attention. "Mado-chan, kiite." it was time for the final role to be set "You'll be our hawk. While a pair is talking, you'll be scanning the next house. Don't break in until we're certain it's worth the bother." There was no way for him to be certain that they would listen, at least not for the unstable girl. Yet they all had one thing in common. They all wanted this nonsense of a case to be over for their own reasons. Getting the job done was the easiest route to the exit. "If all goes well, we'll be done before lunch. I wonder if they serve sushi here...or vocal cords." he was referencing Mado's earlier suggestion, which he had heard, but pretended not to. "So, any objections?" was his last question before giving the microphone to the rest of his group.

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Once their stomachs were full, the group headed out for the day. They passed the docks, where the water quietly splashed against the shore, murky and unwelcoming. Neither fog, nor mist could be seen in the perimeter, for the ghostly white covers had retreated for the forest's depths. Having nothing to do there, the travelers continued forward until they reached an open field. Barren, windy, the grass beneath their feet was yellow and dead. They were all alone in the midst of nothing. For several moments, all stood still, until both Serenade and Dissonance began waving their hands and calling out with cupped hands around their mouths. Soon enough, Harper joined in the greeting. The newcomers were arriving. As expected, Cello had chosen to be fashionably late. Leading the two humans who were meant to join the main group, he was like a proud general, marching through a conquered town, head held high, smiling from ear to ear. Whilst the nobodies went onto exchanging cheerful greetings and information, Hakuren walked forward, in order to introduce himself. The black-blue-haired boy had observed each of the newbies carefully as they had approached.

The first one to reveal his identity was a young man of an age around that of Harper's and his own. As he strode across the hushing soulless sea, his gait had been balanced, strong and firm, his legs bending neither towards each other, nor too much to the side, revealing that the walker had an earthbound and steadfast state of mind, at least to the green-blue eyes, which scanned him thoroughly. A notable piece of his attire was the set of earrings, composed of only two feathers, with one on each ear. Such an accessory was quite common for the tender gender in the human world and rarely did the masculine side take a liking to such decorative items, yet it was not unheard of. Homosexuals, who did not wish to be the dominant partner in their relationship, ofttimes wore flashing outfits and jewelry, however, it would be foolish to make a statement based only on the orientation of the individual. The overall attire of the youngster at hand was rather inordinate, considering the person's age. With a perfectly ironed suit, bent collar and properly fastened tie, his overall appearance suggested a high standing in society. Combining this with the attributes gathered for his movements implied that he was most likely raised in a circle of executive officers, important officials and the like. His introduction only confirmed this statement. Albeit his name did not reveal it, Leon Elliot, the slight bow he made hinted at an eastern upbringing. Using a polite manner of speech and smiling in a friendly manner, it was obvious he wished to make a good first impression.
'How cute. An actual 'newbie'.' Hakuren thought, whilst Harper introduced both himself and the rest of their jolly gang.

The second person to join their merry band was a young girl by the name of Ace, who made quite the impression on the young man. Examining her from top to bottom, he deducted that both her top and her bottom were very suitable. So far, only the sky pirate girls had had chests of a pleasing size, thus the arrival of this new addition to the family was welcomed warmly. Her cheerful attitude felt like a beam of the sun's warm rays, her innocence shining along the way. It was a delight to have such an element again. The boy in the midnight green coat, which was unzipped, revealing his blue shirt underneath it, was reminded of another lass with a similar personality, who had once been part of their batch, yet he couldn't recall her name. Only her image remained. An exuberant girl with a conductor's hat, who had stormed into the lobby at the very start of their journey. It was a fun memory to recall. From back then, the humans who survived were only him, Harper, Jasper and Leila. The ones who were lost from their original group were the old fart, named Eric, the mentioned girl and Rhonda. In the process of accepting new members, they had lost all but two, Iro and Mado. Emily, Elliot, Numair and another man, whom he could not label with a name, had vanished forever. Of course, there was a possibility they were all still alive and well, but Hakuren wasn't that much of an optimist. None of the 'misplaced' humans were mentioned again by the Nowhereians, thus it was logical to conclude, at least for the ones who were on the Shakespearian, that they were dead. It wasn't an easy bite to swallow for all who had known them. Songbird and Serenade were apparently still feeling the sting of loss. But dreading over the past was meaningless. No matter how many tears are cried, the dead shall never rise. It was a hard fact, but necessary, in order for life to continue on it's infinite circular path.

"So...What is this investigating about?" Ace asked.
"Did you guys hear about the living list?" Riddle replied with a question, as he fumbled with the collar of his shirt. His original clothes were hanging out to dry and he was in a white shirt, jeans and shoes. Harper was pretty plain, that was one thing people could say about him. "The second item on the list is a Siren's song...I think we have to find it." Digging into his bag, he later held out the list towards Ace and Leon. The number one item, Essence of a Chaotic star, had been crossed out from the list. Harper turned to look at Hakuren, Mado,Leila and Jasper even, hoping one of them would help explain the situation in a nonthreatening way.

Harper's efforts to start the conversation were worthy of phrase, knowing how timid he himself ofttimes was. Although he had the courage to initiate it, he couldn't keep up for long and sough aid from his companions. Hakuren made a mental note to compliment him on his attempt to create a white lie and partaking in this form of social interaction, but he'd leave it for later.
"The "Living list" is like a scavenger hunt list." the young man began with an explanation, in case the newcomers hadn't heard what the list itself was. He was smiling, as always. "We have to collect all the items listed. Every time we get one, another appears. That's the sort of game we were brought here for." he put it simply as that, albeit he knew there was a far better theory as to why they were forced to enroll in this circus. "The investigation we're all participating in is about the newest treasure we have to find: the "Siren's song". Since it's a melody, it's not of a physical matter, so we can't actually catch it. However, if we don't cling onto the noun "song", the entire thing might be a metaphor for something else." he told them one of the versions he had considered. "Well, we can't draw conclusions just yet. We arrived just yesterday, after all, so we don't know as much as we need. For now, the only information we have is that there was once a witch hunt in this town. A woman was accused of witchcraft and drowned in the lake. Ever since then, people have been committing suicide unconsciously by sleepwalking into the lake." his gaze traveled to the waters, which were visible in the distance. "If you want to take a nap, in each ear put a tap." he rhymed playfully. Harper was probably burning next to him right about now and he knew it. Telling the newbies the truth straight on without a drop of remorse was most likely considered heartless or cruel, but Hakuren did not agree. If they weren't told about the deadly song, they wouldn't plug their ears before falling asleep, which would increase their chances of becoming victims even before they finished their first mission. However you looked at it, there was no way to sugarcoat the incident and hiding it was not in their best interest. If they were going to pull through this ordeal, they had to become close friends, most likely as close as family, in terms of information exchange. They couldn't have secrets from one another, at least not secrets of this kind. "There's no real danger if you don't doze off without earplugs, so no worries." he told them, still smiling whilst looking at his comrades with those two green-blue eyes. "From what we all heard, Cello went with Diss-chan to search for clues from the past when the witch hunt was still active. That'll probably be our main source of evidence, but since we're all here, we might as well search this abandoned place. Maybe if we find the victim's house, we'll discover something interesting. As for what the "Siren's song" might actually be..." he gazed at Leila "Any bright ideas?". The girl had said barely nothing, but considering the air around her, she was most likely knowledgeable and had had an opinion of her own.

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

The morning passed rather quickly as the company awoke and quickly set in motion their irregularly regular day. Light continued to infiltrate through the windows, yet dusty snow could no longer be seen fluttering about. There was a pleasant mood to be found downstairs as humans went down to have breakfast. The atmosphere was light and easy, not a trace to be seen of yesterday's tension. A change in the overall appearance of the ground floor was apparent, for the lovely guides had taken upon themselves the task of cleaning up and creating a suitable dwelling space, where one could think without choking twice in one minute from the layers of filth floating in the air.

Dissonance was full of energy, her exuberant chitter-chatter flooding the ears of anyone both in the same and neighboring room. Her counterpart, however, did not seem merry, in fact, exhaustion was written all over her face, but she did her best to pull off the "responsible adult" act proficiently. The previously extravagant hobo nobody, whom you might have assumed had some sort of connection with Salvador Dali, had now acquired a more casual appearance and was stirring hastily in the kitchen. Wearing a simple woolen sweater and jeans, Songbird looked like a normal albino opening cans and calling it quits. Speaking of white-headed klutzes, Jasper was her usual self. Sniffing around like a bloodhound, the lass seemed to be particularly interested in the happenings within the kitchen, which in turn piqued Hakuren's curiosity, but he refrained from making a sudden entrance there. With his blue shirt buttoned properly and a scarf loosely hanging around his neck, the young man held his folded coat in one hand as he gave the girl a sunny "Good morning". His mannerism had not changed much, if not at all, since the very beginning of their journey, yet his companion was a different topic. Harper was somewhat shaky, his complexion a bit pale and his voice, which normally quivered because of timidness, had a prominent note of depression creeping its way in when he greeted the mysophobe. Although he would have liked making a comment on the lighting and the youngster's "sunshine" mood, the green-blue-eyed lad kept it to himself when Jasper went and hugged Harper without a drop of hesitation, something a normal germophobe would think twice about. He didn't, however, hide neither the smile, nor the small puff of air that came out through his nostrils. Cold times warmed cold hearts and harsh situations drove living beings to seek the natural security of the herd. Thus he wasn't surprised how close his two comrades had become. Knowing how benignant Riddle was, he probably already considered the group his family. It was sweet of him to believe this, if he did, of course. Closeness always brought the heart and soul a feeling to belong, a feeling of security and strength. This wasn't foreign to Hakuren either, for he too had once felt how important being in a group was, one which he became part of in less than a week's time, just like the current situation in Nowhere. But the him in the past was different to the him in the present. Sweden's chill was far, locked away in the abyss that was his mind, the memory only being allowed to surface in moments of melancholy, anniversaries and the like. Looking away from the 'couple's bonding scene, the young man glanced over his shoulder and allowed his gaze to climb up the stairs. Still no sign of the puppy, which didn't know how to bark. She had been sleeping rather soundly, but the white hare would most likely not leave her in that position for too long.
"Lets hurry it up, doves." was the only thing he uttered behind his back as he walked off towards the dining room.
Breakfast was quick, yet delightful. While Jasper somehow managed to cope with wolfing down dish after dish and talk to the Nowhereians in a friendly manner, Hakuren gossiped with Dissonance and, as a joke, decided to ask her the age-old question humanity has been pondering on: "Why is a raven like a writing desk?". Riddle was still a bit shaken and Mado didn't even attempt to begin a conversation with anyone. It's notable to remark that one member of their golly band was absent. Iro had, unfortunately, come down with a cold, which had tied him down to the bed. Unable to move a muscle, the magician would not accompany them in their search for clues.

Once their stomachs were full, the group headed out for the day. They passed the docks, where the water quietly splashed against the shore, murky and unwelcoming. Neither fog, nor mist could be seen in the perimeter, for the ghostly white covers had retreated for the forest's depths. Having nothing to do there, the travelers continued forward until they reached an open field. Barren, windy, the grass beneath their feet was yellow and dead, they were all alone in the midst of nothing. For several moments, they all stood still, until both Serenade and Dissonance began waving their hands and calling out with cupped hands around their mouths. Soon Harper joined in the greeting. The newcomers were arriving. As expected, Cello had chosen to be fashionably late. Leading the two humans who were meant to join the main group, he was like a proud general, marching through a conquered town, head held high, smiling from ear to ear. Whilst the nobodies went onto exchanging cheerful greetings and information, Hakuren walked forward, in order to introduce himself. The black-blue-haired boy had observed each of the newbies carefully as they had approached them.
The first one to reveal his identity was a young man of an age around that of Harper's and his own. His bright eyes contrasted well to his dark brown hair, yet nothing...

(WIP ~~~!!! Have to go to bed T_T )

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

Hey guys. A quick note from me before I hit the hay. I've recently been preoccupied with school, so I couldn't really make a post in the last few days. However, I'll try my best to get home early and write something before Fox-chan gets the move-along post. Sorry for the delay. Real life tops the Internet. Hope you don't mind me dragging this, Fox-chan =<

The Midnight Train to Nowhere

The haze emitted from the flames of torches playfully danced above the heads of unknown figures, whilst the chants of low deep voices of both men and women alike reached the heavens bit by bit, echoing through the eons. A full moon, the graceful mistress of the night, had come to shine upon the shadows, dressed in a gown soaked in blood. Clouds painted in jet black ink floated through the sky, as if they were dragons, chasing after the stars, which twinkled and shined on the dark blue canvas that was the welkin. The water's surface was still for a moment and then became distorted. Ripples disturbed the lake's serenity, so crystal clear and splendid. Like a century-old music box, a song was gently carried by the wind to those who listened. Each note was slow and light. A sad melody it was. It spoke of agony and morning, of a voice unheard, of a side unseen. And then came a scream, one of pain and suffering. It pierced all with the emotion the barer felt, one of both deep sadness and flaming anger. As sudden as this attack was, it all vanished in the depths of darkness. The water became still once more and a mist of shadows began its slow waltz over the scenery. The curtain fell. The play came to its bitter ending. With that, all became silent and not a single sound was uttered.

Slowly his eyelids parted from one another and lifted upwards, revealing the condition of the wooden sealing. Cracked, drilled by unknown miniature creatures, with thin white threads that spread left and right, like highways across a barren plane, sometimes parting and dripping downwards, resembling the pale bony hands of an elderly woman, reaching out for her grandchild, in order to give it a nice big kiss. Light from a debatable source entered through the dirty barred windows, weakly illuminating the contents inside. Lifting himself to a sitting position, the young man's mouth slightly open as he inhaled silently, bits and pieces of dust floating undisturbed in the air. The atmosphere was calm and quiet, so much a needle could be heard as it hit the hard floor of the cabin. It would have been completely soundless if not for the soft breathing of those who peacefully slept under the white covers of their beds. Resting upon the top bunk of his own, Hakuren Zabluda was as if in a daze. Eyes somewhat clouded, he used his right hand to let his fingers run through his black-blue hair. For comfort's sake, he had removed the black band, which usually tied it together as it hid, tucked in beneath his clothing. Wearing a light blue shirt, which was unbuttoned until the middle, and hair going down his neck to a level slightly below that of his shoulders, the lad stood motionless whilst he sorted out the thoughts in his head. Lightly, a breath or two escaped through his lips, pushing away the particles, which glimmered through the staleness of the space around him. His expression was calm, lacking his usual friendly smile, and finally resembled that of a psychologist, of a person asking and answering questions concerning a world only he knew of. Several heartbeats were spent in this manner, until a crack in the ice broke the serenity of the moment. A smiled appeared on his face, yet it was not of the nature already mentioned. Perhaps, the most likely word befitting a description of it would be "sinister".
"So, shall we begin?" he asked no one in particular.
Pushing the last covers aside, the youngster moved and allowed his legs to hang, while his gaze quickly scanned the area around him. Dissonance's sleeping face was adorable, of course. This was most likely the only time she could be seen in such a dormant state and, even when she was not beaming with her sunshine attitude, her charm continued to brighten her image. Pulling his arms behind his back in order to stretch, Hakuren heard a crack and found it enough. Taking to the ladder, he took one step at a time, all the while observing the person, who slept in the bed below him. Her name was Leila, the girl who had been his companion, whilst the two of them had been dragged by the white hare practically everywhere. It was then that he realized how accurate the bunny lass's nickname for her actually was. She was curled up much like a small animal, the sheets covering her entire body and the back of her head, including her ears, an attempt to block the noise, no doubt.
"The harder the shell, the deeper the crack." he sighed as he dropped down on the floor to put on his shoes.
Not a single other person was awake. The young man went to the toilet, which was a room composed of only a hole in the ground and a rusty old sink with a white chunk of something that was meant to serve the role of a soap. Other than his bodily need, he made sure to wash both his hands and his mouth, albeit he didn't use the questionable detergent to do so. Afterwords he checked the black jeans he had left to dry on the bottom end of his bed, finding that not only were they no longer damp, but they also did not have a single hole or remnant of the accident on them. This was pleasing, for he didn't want to be left pantsless. Putting them on, he went to look out the window, only to see that the landscape was no different than what he last remembered of it. Bare trees with branches reaching upwards, like beggars pleading for a dime from ignorant passers by. The ground dark and dusty, not hinting at a single shred of life left in it. And the ever sneaky mist, creeping between the trunks. This was the type of place Yonder was. Haunted, corrupt, a corner of Nowhere that showed just how real a 'fantasy' world could be.
"Wake up, this is reality." he uttered quietly as he gazed over at Harper, who was still resting in his bed. That student had showed a rather flashy display of his youthful flame the other day, but Hakuren had the heart to forgive him. After all, it was only natural for a person of his age and kind to react to the current circumstances in such a manner.