ProxyInc

The House of Powers

Amara 'Mara Nguyen

Location: Room seven Mayuri's room

"D-don't... W-worry about it... U-um, y-yeah, you can g-get some water... " Mayuri said as she stood to the side a little.

Goodness, all of this felt so surreal as Mara stepped passed the girl. She couldn't shake off the leaden weight that hung around her shoulders. It took her everything in her not to just lay down quietly and stay there but that would be admitting defeat. There was a young girl here, a fact Mara silently cursed as she turned the handle on the faucet, who knows who else they had taken. Or the reason why. A surge of anger boiled in the pit of her stomach as Mara looked into the mirror for the first time. Looking back at her was someone she didn't recognize. There was sorrow and emptiness that poured from her dark blue eyes. Her lip was swollen and angry with dark blood caked down her chin. Normally the white wash of her hair was bouncy and soft but now; it just looked matted and in disarray. She tore her eyes away from the picture in front of her not wanting to look at it any longer.

This was not the Mara she knew but then again, how would she know? How was she supposed to react? There was a swirl of emotions that battled within her and in the end all it did was leave her feeling empty and shell shocked.

Scooping the cold water in her hands she drank it greedily. The fire that once burned in the back of her throat soothed it's angry roar. She needed that. A nervous energy now buzzed in the back of her head as a thousand questions assualted her but first thing was first. Mara scooped another handful of water and splashed it against her face. With gentle motions she scrubbed away the crusted blood and washed away the smeared makeup that trailed beneath her eyes. Wetting her fingers she dragged it through her hair; pulling at tangles and breaking the knots that had formed.

She looked back at herself; there she was. Still pale and exhausted looking but there was the girl she knew. A spark had returned to her and while there was nothing to do about the bruises or her busted lip it was still a start. Shutting off the water she stepped back into Mayuri's room only to find the little girl settled on her bed; picking at her jacket with anxious fingers. Mara let out a soft sigh, "Thank you, Mayuri," she gave the girl a small half smile, "I really needed that... this whole thing. Well, I'm pretty sure you know." Her voice had found it's strength again though the tone still whispered with a certain harshness. She figured it'd go away in a few days. Along with the rest of her wounds but for now it was a start.

Taking a hesitant step towards her, Mara shifted nervously on the balls of her feet. "There's quite a few others out there...I'm not sure how many but," she trailed off before clearing her throat, "How are you feeling?" She wanted to change the subject. Mayuri was clearly as anxious as she was though as Mara took a closer look at her she was relieved to see that she seemed unharmed. Physically at least. She wanted to do something for her. Like she would do when her little sister had a hard day at school. A memory bubbled to the surface of the two of them swinging by the lake. Lillith's face shining for the first time as her cheeks scrunched up the way all small children's do; until they lose the baby fat. An unbidden smile formed on her lips as the mirth of her littlest sisters laughter bounced freely in her head. Mara would do anything to hear her laugh again. To see them again and with that the smile faded as quickly as it came.

She made a silent promise to herself. She'd get out of here and she'd take Mayrui out of here too.

@vocab

The House of Powers

Amara 'Mara' Nguyen

Location: Room 7 Mayuri's room

The young girl stood before her; her expression similar to that of deer caught in the headlights. There was a pregnant pause of apprehension between the two of them as Mara's anxiety shot up.

"U-um... F-fine..?" the girl stuttered.

"Wh-who... A-are you..? Wh-where are we..?!"

Her voice shook with the same anxiety that Mara felt in her own chest. She had no idea what was going on either and in that; Mara found some solidarity. She would have to push her own worries and fears back for the moment. "I-I'm... M-Mayuri..." the girl stuttered out next. Mara offered her a small smile while her body softened; "Hello, Mayuri. I'm Amara but everyone calls m-" her body was suddenly overtaken by a coughing fit. Her throat was on fire as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Turning away from the girl; she tried to cover her face as it twisted in pain until it the fit subsided and she could compose herself.

"I'm sorry about that," she whispered as she shot Mayuri an apologetic look, "My throats a little horse but um, I'm Mara." With tear blurred eyes she swept it around the room; it was identical to her own. Clean, bright and with no hint of any personal touch. Absentmindedly she wrapped her bruised arms around her chest, "I don't know where we are...I'm sorry." The last part came out as a harsh whisper. She wished she had answers for her. Hell, even for herself. She wished she could say everything was fine. That the worst was over and soon everyone would be on their way home but she couldn't lie. Not even to herself. They'd have to face this head on.

Mara realized she had trailed off in thought and blushed, "Sorry, I- I didn't mean to barge in here. I forgot what room I came out of and
then there," she paused to cough again, "Um, there are others in the hall and shouting. Anyway, I'm sorry." In her rambling she had noticed the door behind Mayuri. 'A bathroom!' The rooms had bathrooms! A fact she would've known had she not ran out of her room as soon as she could walk. "Um, would you mind if I get some water from your sink?" Her hands went to her throat as she shot Mayuri a sheepish look. It was an odd request but it was either that or go hunting for her room- among a dozen rooms that all looked the same. She was really mentally kicking her own butt for not paying attention before barging out of her room. On the other hand it would seem the ruckus in the hall had died down. Well, at least no one was shouting at least. Mara wasn't ready to dip back into the fray out there though it was probably inevitable. She just wanted a moment to breathe and collect her wits.

@Vocab

The House of Powers

They poured into the hallway. One after the other; kids. Boys and girls her age just standing looking baffled and in various states of disarray.

Everything seemed to drain away as if the very air had gone out of the hall. Mara blinked as she took in the scene around her as everyone froze in place.'Oh..' her mind numbly muttered as the reality set in but as soon as the pieces clicked the world popped back into play. And when she meant popped it literally popped as a boy appeared literally out of thin air.

She managed a startled cry as suddenly the hallway exploded in chaos as a girl kicked at the boy. Strings of foreign language echoed in the hall as Mara felt her heart leap back into her throat and firmly lodge there. Why were they speaking...whatever it was they were speaking? Russian? She wasn't sure; she wasn't fluent in any language other than English. What if she was in another country? Who knows how long she was out? Her eyes wildly darted around until they settled on a sign written in English. For some reason it offered her a bit of small comfort. Pushing off from the wall Mara hesitated; what was she to do? Part of her wanted to interject at the two screaming as she would do with her siblings but what if they didn't understand her?

In her hesitation another boy the hall rushed forward, "Hey, calm down!" He said, trying to put some distance between them. Part of her felt relived he had stepped in. At least someone was willing to to put a stop to it. "You speak English?" He asked. Her brows arched slightly as she waited for an answer. If everyone could find at least a common tongue things might go a little smoother. Suddenly her attention shifted as another boy passed her. Seemingly nonplussed by the chaos that had erupted around them. Shooting him a curious glace as he carefully picked his way around the throng of people and slipped around the corner, 'Okay, not weird at all.'

"I'm... My name is Irina."

'Ah, shit.' She had missed something. The smaller girl seemed to know English though her accent was thick. By this point she felt rattled. The constant ebb and flow of adrenaline had left her feeling shaken. Her throat burned as she tried to swallow. She needed something to drink. Mara shifted backwards looking at the numbers on the doors. Which room was hers again? Shoot. She had been so wrapped up in shock she didn't pay attention to what room she had emerged from. 'Seven?' The door wasn't too far from where she was and the door still stood slightly ajar. At this point she wasn't fully sure she cared if it was the right or the wrong room as she more or less stumbled in.

'Oh..' her mind mumbled what she could not as she came face to face with a young girl. She didn't look to be more than ten and with tears in her eyes Mara felt her heart lurch. The faces of her siblings flashed before her. How will they fair without her? She could feel tears burn in her eyes but quickly blinked them away, "Are you OK?"

Her voice was stronger but still harsh. She didn't want to frighten the girl though she was sure she wasn't exactly pleasant to look at. Nervously she ran her fingers through her hair; peeling off the matted pieces that had dried to her forehead. Yeah, she was definitely a little rough looking.

@Vocab

The House of Powers

My first post is up. Hope it's ok. Trying to write with a headache proved to be a bit of a hindrance.

The House of Powers

'Wha-'

The word faded out before it could even form. Her thoughts felt thick and sluggish as it pushed against the heavy haze that occupied her mind. Where was she? Mara tried to roll onto her side but her body wouldn't comply. Instead she laid there struggling against the leaden weight that now made up her form. She sucked in a deep breath she wrenched her eyes open; wincing as the artificial light stabbed at her sensitive corneas. This wasn't her room. A thin line of panic cut across her chest and she could feel her breath hitch as adrenaline seeped into her veins. What happened? Where was she? With gritted teeth Mara forced herself up; her body groaning in agony. Everything felt raw. Her skin prickled against the touch of her dress; 'My dress...' She looked down at the once white frock now smudged with dirt and spatters of blood.
Blood.
Mara felt her stomach twist as memories flooded back in waves; she had been walking down the street,not too far off from her house when a van had pulled up beside her. Strangers weren't particularly threatening to her; in fact it was rather common for them to stop and ask for directions. The town was rather small but built with an excessive use of one-ways. What she hadn't expected was to see the doors slid open and hands reach out for her.

She could still feel them. Leather gloves that bit into her flesh.The pain that bloomed as her body had been thrown around carelessly and the gross sobbing that poured from her mouth as a needle bit into her neck.
An inhuman sound spilled from her lips as the memories battered against one another. She remembered. No words echoed in steely silence as she had screamed. Just rough hands that bound her limbs behind her body and then darkness as they slipped something over her head. Her stomach lurched as she glanced down at her arms; mottled with fading bruises.

She felt sick. Suddenly everything was entirely too vivid. Too real.
She tried to focus on anything but her thoughts as panic welled up in her throat. 'Why?', her mind cried over and over as if the answer lay somewhere within her subconscious. Mindlessly she went to lick her lips only to wince as pain jolted back at her. Tentative fingers brushed against the offending area; blood had crusted over and down her chin. The taste of blood swirled in her mouth. She must of busted it in the struggle but hadn't even noticed until now.

Mara eyed the room. It's clinical cleanliness gave it an air of a hospital room but with much less information. Her heartbeat drummed in her eras as she sat on the edge of her bed. The knot in her throat had lessened as panic began to ebb away. Had she already given into her situation? Admitted defeat? Or was this just shock? Either way, she was thankful for the moment of silence in her head. This wasn't something to be solved without thinking things through.

Click

In reality the sound was barely above a whisper but to her it crashed loudly in her ear drums. With a suspicious gaze she watched her door swing slightly ajar. 'Okay...' Freedom was not on the other side. Any rational person knew that but there it was; that annoying glimmer that throbbed in her chest. Mara slid off the edge of the bed as her knees buckled under her feet. Struggling to maintain her balance she set her teeth on edge and pushed forward.

Everything felt disjointed; as if someone had shoved her into someone else's body that was two times too big. Her steps were heavy and uneven but with each step it was almost like she was molding herself to fit. Fingertips brushed against the door and it responded back by gracefully swinging open. The hall beyond was stark white; cameras lined the upper molding to which she gave a curious glace. Peering out she spied two other people, both disheveled and seemed to posses the same bewildered look she was sure she mirrored.

Limping slowly Mara stepped outside; "Hello?" her voice came out harsh and muffled. Her tongue felt deadened behind her lips. Slumping against the wall; This was just too much.

@SheriffLlama @Jinxer

The House of Powers

Alright, baby is up and laundry is done. I'll start working on my intro post.

The House of Powers

I'll get to posting after nap time ends.

The House of Powers

I'm pretty excited to see everyone's intro post.

The House of Powers

@wolverbells I've seen CS's that had a whole filler image to surround the lovely glowing texts that wasn't complete without added shadows. I'm not even sure how they managed to figure out all that extra stuff but I'm old lol

Its all just a bit too much for me.

The House of Powers

I have a profile in Iwaku, usually its pictures of the character surrounded by really fancy borders and fluff.