An adventure, this was going to be an adventure, and Ofelia could barely control her excitement as she descended down the steps into what had been called the Cove. She was still barefoot and now jacket-less, having returned the parka to the person she only called Circus Queen, and she shivered more with anticipation that actual fear or cold. Her partner was down here, whatever that meant, and a partner meant she would no longer be alone. Ofelia rather liked the idea of not being alone. The last time she'd have someone at her side was when she was younger, with her brother, and before he smacked her in the face and rendered her blind. It'd been an accident but he distanced himself from her none the less. Ofelia was tired of being alone.

There were weird tablets everywhere as she looked around, above her head and beneath her feet. They scattered all over the wall and Ofelia leaned close to a few, wondering just what they were. Was what she was looking for really in here? "Ah'm curious as ta what's gonna happen next? Maybe -"

OH. HELL. NO.

The words came from no where like a sudden burst, and Ofelia found herself hearing them in both her ears and her head. The flooded the area and her mind like someone turning the tap on into a sink, and their liquid nature seemed to flow around her with a cold and damp feelings. The three words had been barbed and icy, the emphasis on them very clear, and the young woman clamped her hands over her ears as she looked around.

There was nothing down here but tablets, nothing to suggest a reason for the voices. Was she just hearing things again, hadn't burning down the barn spared her from that? Why was she hearing them again? Ignoring that, why had the room suddenly gotten so small despite having seemed so vast before? Did it happen when the voice started? A cold wave of fear ran down Ofelia's spine as she trembled, her eyes nervously taking in the place around her. The walls were so far yet so close, why. . . why was she scared when she was alone?

It had to be the voice.

I know you can hear me. Your face practically lit up like a pervert at an animal show, you stupid simpleton. Why are you looking around, do you think I'm hiding from you to make this a game? You inbred hick, are you as stupid as you look?

The voice was coming from behind her, or above her, and Ofelia felt like just squatting down and making it go away. She was supposed to have cured it all by burning things down, why didn't it work? She was angry that her plans had failed her and she stood up, finding it funny that her anger was overtaking her fear of the stupid voice that was still insulting her in her head. The voices that had always scared her were laughing and inviting. This one was downright insulting.

What? Did I say something you couldn't comprehend, hick? I'm sorry, I'll try to use smaller words for your stupid little brain to understand. Come over here and I'll also try to speak slower.

The voice was close, so very close, and it didn't speak in the hollow whispers and whistles the taunters from before had. It was clear, crisp, and annoying as hell. Ofelia looked around, trying to find the source. She took a few steps and looked up and down, the voice mocking each step with a b*****d version of hot and cold.

Oh dear, not close enough. Are you even trying? or Getting warmer. Just kidding, retard. Turn your happy a** around and try again. I'd come to you but it seems as though I'm stuck until you figure out how to use your legs and eyes at the same time and reach me.

Ofelia paused and looked at the wall, suddenly well aware that something was coming from right behind her. It had always come from that point and the young woman walked over and placed a hand on a tablet, a strange shape spreading from beneath her fingers. "This is. . . .?"

Oh ********, you found me. Guess you're not as stu -

The voice ended as Ofelia punched her fist into the tablet as hard as she could, pleased with the sudden sound of breaking and a hiss. There was a whisper again and that cold chill, though no pain like she thought there might be from punching into solid rock. She looked at the blank spot and back to her knuckles, raising them up in the gloom to get a better look. Where these....brass knuckles? "Knuckledusters?"

As I was saying, dipshit, you found me. I'm yours, for better or worse, though I wish you'd hurry up and die. There has got to be someone better out there waiting for me, someone with different anatomy. The voice sighed, or rather, the knuckledusters attached to Ofelia's hands sighed. The voice was these, the voice of the weapon, and Ofelia nearly balked.

"Yer mah partner then? Ah was sent down here ta get a weapon?" That was not at all what she expected but Ofelia wasn't going to look a strange new gift in the proverbial mouth. How was this thing even talking? Was she going crazy?

What did you think you were getting? Wait, don't answer that. Just tell me your name, in your mind, and we'll get out of here.

"Mah name?" There was a loud YOU IDIOT coming from the weapon, and Ofelia tried again. Ah'm Ofelia Tanner, but since we're workin' tagether, call me Ofie.

I'd rather not. I'm going to call you Hick and you'll like it.

Ofelia didn't think she'd like it but there wasn't much of a choice there. She and this weapon were meant to be together, right? Or something....? And yer name is?

Call me Your Highness Rue.

Okay, Rue. The knuckledusters faded from Ofelia's hands with a sigh, appearing against her wrist as a rather fancy looking bracelet littered with little charms.