((I'm assuming that this takes place in a fairly modern setting, but it wasn't very clear in the intro. . . Let me know if I've made a mistake, please? Also, I'm curious; what type of climate/terrain are they in? I apologize if my writing is a bit rusty; it's been years since I last participated in an RP! So happy to be back, though. cat_razz ))
Shakti was keeled over, hands on her knees, trying not to retch into the bushes. She had accidentally stepped in a nasty bit of roadkill on her morning walk, lost in thought as per usual. The smell made her gag; she couldn't even stand cooked meat! She placed one hand against the stone wall of the building outside of which she had had her little mishap. Trying to breathe through her mouth, Shakti steadied herself and opened her eyes. 'Deep breaths, love.' Mother's voice echoed in her mind. She straightened up and absently brushed her hair behind her ear, although it bounced back to place anyway. The sickly sweet scent of decayed flesh flooded Shakti's nose, and, desperate to escape it, she stumbled clumsily into the strange building. It didn't take long for her eyes to adjust.
"How peculiar," said the twenty-two year old child, but the silence swallowed her words whole. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone -- or something -- was watching her. That horrible carrion stench snaked across the threshold of the room (which appeared to be a deceitfully tiny waiting room of sorts) and into Shakti's nose. Clapping a hand to her mouth, she practically leapt into the hallway, which seemed to have been waiting for her as it gave a hushed sigh of contentment when she entered. The place definitely had a supernatural air about it. 'It's just a feeling, nothing more.' Shakti reminded herself. She couldn't help but wonder if anyone else had heard her. . . Oh, well. Too late to turn back now.
"What's this?" Twin clouds of fog puffed from her mouth, one for each word. "An adventure, presenting itself to me? My, my. . ." Oddly, the girl felt comforted by the misty air. Her tone had been sarcastic, yet Shakti's streak of curiosity was shadowing any hesitation to further explore her new surroundings. Extending both of her arms to her sides, the pretty Euro-African found she could easily brush both palms against both walls. She started trailing off down the hallway, noticing the distinct sound of muffled words at what seemed to be the end of it. So determined was she that Shakti didn't notice the door until she bumped her head on it.
The noise had definitely become louder; she wasn't even paying attention by that time, for a welcome scent was registering in her mind at that moment. The doorknob was in her hand before she was aware of the action. Relying on muscle memory, Shakti twisted the cold metal metal knob and stepped inside. She caught her breath. The room was not empty. Her Mona Lisa smile emerging, the strange girl inquired, "Is that coffee I smell?"