|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:11 pm
Aryn's Journey: Day 1
Still feeling as though he was in search of something, Aryn returned to the shrine, hoping one, or any of the goddesses' could provide and answer for him. However, when he reached the room he was surprised to find that one of the three pedestals that had been occupied was vacant.
Wait. Statues didn't just get up and leave... could they?
Evidently they could. Unless, someone stole her? No no. He doubted that and besides, someone was bound to have seen it happen if it had. So maybe she did just go out for a stroll?
...
That too seemed a little.. yeah.
Regardless of what he thought about the missing statue, he still hoped to find answers here and so rather than just leave again, he approached her pedestal; reading the gold plaque at its base.
"The Goddess, wrought with Paranoia, created--was that part scratched out?" He scratched at the plaque a little, before he continued. "Her last and final project before--what again? It was then that she discovered how to replicate..."
"Or so it goes."
With a surprised yelp, Aryn spun around to see the goddess standing before him. In her hand was an instrument of some sort, which gave off a strange yellow glow. However, his attention was soon re-directed to the bag he was handed.
"What is.."
"Go on," She urged, her crooked, but hopeful smile making him feel a little uncomfortable. "open it up. I have a gift for you."
But not wanting to anger or disappoint her, he obeyed, opening the bag.
There was nothing.
"Umm.."
"Oh." Her hand clenching and unclenching made him wonder if she was upset or worried. "A small error. It's okay, I can fix this." She assured. However, her intense stare made him shrink back a little. "With your help, I can fix this. Could you fetch me more parts? I stored them in my special labs but it's getting a little cluttered down there. Just look for the chests, they should be inside. I don't need everything it holds, just the heart."
"Heart?" He repeated, confused, but took the scissors regardless.
"That should do the trick. Just the heart. They don't need theirs after all,"
"They? Who doesn--" He stopped when her expression changed. She looked almost sad...
"...they didn't quite make it."
He didn't bother to ask any further. He had been instructed to go collect a heart and so he would. It shouldn't be that bad. She had already assured him that the owner of the heart no longer needed it anyways.
He tried to return the smile she gave and turned to exit the shrine once again. Only this time through the thin opening of the box. It was dark though and every now and then he could hear it. The steady 'thunk thunk' noise. Who or what made those noises, however, was unknown to him. But it didn't matter. He had a task and he would complete it.
He stepped inside.
When he did, the first thing he noticed was the three doors. Each of which bared a sigil and a single word.
He approached the first, admiring the soft glow of the pumpkin. It gave off a simple, ambient vibe. Perhaps not quite the one he was looking for? The next was harsher in appearance and bore a red scar--no. A swirl like marking? Whatever it was it gave off a feeling of a strange, unnerving vibe. The third... The third made him nervous. While its appearance wasn't all that threatening, he might have even thought it was neat the way the branches of the yellow tree spread out. However, the malice and terror coming from it made a chill run up his spine.
Which should he pick..?
Would the kinder, more gentle looking path be better? The one in Between maybe..?
His gaze lingered on the third.
Would a difficult one give him more answers? Nothing was ever easy. So perhaps by enduring the terror he could find the things he needed to know. The things he was searching for...
Swallowing hard, he pushed the door open.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 9:24 pm
It was silent inside. Dead silent. That was, with the exception of the steady thuds he continued to hear. Just what was that anyways? Further off, he could hear something else. Whispering... Someone was whispering a name, over and over... But who's name was it? It wasn't his... No. He was Aryn. But as strange as it was... it was familiar. That name. Like he ought to know it somehow.
Shaking his head, Aryn stepped forward, jumping a little when the door slammed shut behind him. Which, upon further inspection was shut tight. He wouldn't be getting out that way...
"Wonderful." Was he trapped here now? Alone in the dark?
He shuddered at the thought, but moved forward, stumbling along as he wandered blindly through the darkness. But as he walked, the hallway he had been following along was changing. Shaping it self with each step he made. Almost as though it was leading him along. It wasn't until he bumped into something and created a loud 'thump' noise that he stopped.
The sound was hollow. Was this perhaps the chest the goddess had spoken of?
Thud.
Curious, Aryn moved to feel around it. But it blocked his way.
Thud.
With closer inspection, Aryn noticed that the top of the crate was open and poking out the top was a strange shape, which was much too large to fit in the crate. Not only that, but it was completely coated in a sickly red.
Thud.
Stepping closer revealed that the shape sticking out resembled and arm; swaying back and forth. Without thinking or knowing why, Aryn seized hold of it.
The sound stopped.
Perhaps it had been the source of the 'thudding' he had been hearing... Either way, Aryn felt around the arm, searching for--well, something and ignored the slick feeling of the red that coated it. But--something was wedged inside. In fact, it was taking up the majority of the space. Not only that, but as he pressed against it and felt around, he found that it was soft and pliant--a soft texture and yet, firm beneath. Reaching closer, Aryn heard something.
Thump-thump.
A heart..? The heart the goddess spoke of? It was just as she said.
Thump-thump.
But it was... beating a steady red, but it was buried deep within the flesh. How could he extract it like this?
Thump-thump.
He felt the bag at his side. Empty and light.
No, he couldn't give up now. He had to find a way to retrieve the heart. Waiting around wasn't going to solve anything and the more he waited, the more the world seemed to close in on him. He could barely see anything and besides the heart, it was dead silent. It was terrifying here.
Watching the steady beat of the heart, Aryn place a hand upon the flesh, just over the beating heart, while his free hand searched for something. His scissors. Feeling them, he pulled them out of the bag and moved them over the heart before finally, he dug in.
It was difficult, to say the least. The scissors worked away, but the strange rubbery feeling was difficult to cut away and occasionally they slid, 'causing even more red to spread across the surface. However he continued to work, sighing as the strange texture finally peeled and ripped. Slowly, but surely, he was creating a hole towards the heart. A few minutes more and he reached inside, sure he had finally reached something. However when he pulled his hand out, he could hear and feel a 'gushing' noise poor out from the opening he created. He shoved the scissors deeper inside. There was something else there. Thinner though and stretchy and pulsating with life of its own as it inflated and deflated as a pair. He snipped away at the stringy bits connecting to them, but the heart was still snagged. It wasn't until he worked away at it more and grabbed at it with both hands to push the cavity open further that the contents slid out in a heavy 'slosh' and land with a 'thunk' onto the bottom of the crate.
Only the heart remained.
Thump-thump.
As if in one final protest, the heart gave one final beat before he started to pull at it. However when he did, the owner of the heart screamed a name and grabbed hold of his arms; digging their nails in like knives.
"Ryan!
Someone called again. The name he had heard when he entered through the door. Who was it? And who was 'Ryan?'
"Ryan I told you, you can't just go wandering off on your own without an adult. Your parents will kill me if something happened to you when I wasn't looking." A hand reached out to him, the face blurred by the light. But to his surprise he reached back. It felt warmer. "Come on lets go back before anyone finds out your gone."
And just like that, the memory vanished and he found that he was still caught in the grips of the figure.
It was terrifying. So cold and chilling that Aryn was shaking. But as fast as it grabbed hold of him, it went limp again, releasing its hold on him. Aryn, not willing to risk a show like that again tore the heart free. Gripping it firmly in his hands before he placed it into his bag, wondering what it was that he just saw.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:40 am
With the heart safely tucked away in the bag, Aryn continued to look for a way back out. However with each step he took, the more he began to notice how the floor was both slick and sticky. Stretching a little with the weight of each foot fall. It was changing. He walked faster, but in spite of his efforts he came across a dead end.
Slosh.
Something was behind him.
Aryn froze as the sloshing turned to footsteps. But when he turned to look, breath caught his throat, he found nothing there.
He continued to walk. But as he did, he couldn't help notice how the water rose with each step. Deeper. Colder.
Slosh.
It was back again. Louder than before.
"Please give it back."
What?
He turned to look. But like before, nothing was there.
Feeling the urgency to keep moving, Aryn continued. However even now the water climbed and kept climbing until he was neck deep.
Not this way. He would drown here. He had to go back. He had to find another way out.
"Please give me back my-"
A sudden sense of alarm, followed by sheer panic took over as something--someone seized him; dragging him down beneath the surface of the water.
It was painful! He couldn't breath!
Allowing his fear to take control, Aryn thrashed and kicked at the figure. But even with his efforts, the figure's grip remained firm. If anything, it tightened and dragged him deeper into the darkness. He was fading he realized. His existence slowly growing weaker by the second. The attacker was looking at him. His eyes cold, grey and glassy as he bared his teeth at him. Determined to make him disappear.
He was scared! It was Cold, dark, and he was alone--he was scared!
"Get out of here!"
it was the voice from before. Only this time, the warmth was gone. Replaced entirely by panic and anger. Anger at him? No... Something else.
"Ryan, I told you to run! RUN!"
Run!
As if the order had given directly to him, Aryn's eyes snapped open and glared defiantly back at the figure holding him down.
"Give me back my heart."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:01 am
It was clear at this point. It was kill or be killed. There was no choice. He didn't want to die here. He had to exist for the goddesses and their blessings. He had to exist!
With new found strength driven from the memory and the desire to live, Aryn grabbed the scissors; the only weapon he had, and plunged it deep within the figure.
Immediately it released him. Shrieking before finally, it vanished.
The water was gone now and Aryn rolled onto his stomach, coughing up the rest and grimacing at the foul black liquid. Light poured onto him now, streaming in from a door. The exit.
He was alive. He had won. He was safe.
However, free as he was, just as he was about to pass through the door, he thought he saw the same figure glaring back at him with hollow eyes. But not only that, he could have sworn he saw clutching the same scissors he used to stab it with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 2:12 am
Aryn's Journey: Day 2
"You cannot escape forever."
Aryn looked up at the goddess, while she looked down at him, her hand running over the scythe she held affectionately.
"You must face your Fears. Eat or be eaten. That is the way of it here. Were it another time... I wonder which one you would be?"
"How am I supposed to do or know that?" He asked. How would one face their fears when they didn't even really know what that fear was. Nor was he sure if he was the type to overcome things, or the sort to be devoured.
Without speaking, the goddess dropped from her perch and began circling him. "I wonder indeed. Perhaps we shall solve this little mystery? Take this." She handed a jeweled dagger to him, simple in design, but at the same time, curious.
"That should be more than enough, you will need to learn to fend for yourself, to take on your challenges and judge for yourself what it means to sacrifice. That is the only way you will become stronger, else you'll fall prey to someone greater still." As she spoke, Aryn couldn't help but notice how the blade rusted, turning a stained dark colour. A reminiscent of Ruin.
"You are ready."
Was he?
She moved her scythe, as if to gesture for him to move. "Go."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:32 am
Aryn awoke, eyes squinting in the bright light that shone down on him.
Where was he and how did he get here? Had he even fallen asleep? He didn't think so, so how..?
Sitting up, he placed his hand down on a cold hard surface. A table? A solid metal one at that, and the walls. How could something be so white? It was almost painful to look at in this lightning... Where was he?
Bzzzzttt
The hum of the lights was annoying. Like a constant buzz in his ears. Painful. Perhaps leaving the room would help.
Sliding off the table, Aryn took a few wobbly steps, using the wall to brace himself. Once he was sure he wasn't going to fall flat on his face, he reached for the door, turning the knob, surprised to find that it was unlocked.
However, even though he had left the room to escape the painful surroundings of the white walls and the extreme lighting, the hallway proved to be no different.
"You've got to be seriously kidding me." He placed a hand at his temple, before roughly pushing it through his hair, irritated. He wanted out of here. Now.
He took a step, determined to find a way out of here, when suddenly a loud 'bang' sounded from behind him. The door? He turned to look, but the door was still wide open. He looked inside, but again, nothing was there.
Perhaps he had been imagining it. Then again, after his last experience of strange noises, he wasn't so willing to ignore the possibility of something being there. So rather than carelessly run through the halls, he walked and kept a careful eye on his surroundings. Though no matter how much he walked, the halls never seemed to end. He was even beginning to give up hope when finally he spotted a door at the far end of the hall.
Finally!
Thud.
The sudden sound sent a chill up his spine. He looked, but again, nothing was there and the door was still wide open.
Thud.
Cautiously, Aryn turned--
--and froze.
Something--something was watching him--and approaching.
His heart froze.
It wasn't the thudding of its foot prints against the polished floor that seemed to hold him frozen in fear. But the sharp scraping noise of the rusted scissors in its hand.
Thud. Screech. Thud. Screech.
It was coming closer.
As it approached, Aryn could feel the chill claws closing in around his throat. It was then that terror overtook his body and he ran and kept running.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 1 4-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-4)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:38 am
Aryn ran and he ran hard. The figure was still behind him. chasing him. He had to get out of here, but how?
In the midst of his escape, he noticed something on the ground. Something white and--
Paper?
Without wasting time, he snatched up the scrap of paper and glanced over it.
A=0, B=1, C=2.
What did that even mean?
Distance: 35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 2 4-sided dice:
2, 1
Total: 3 (2-8)
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:43 am
Ignore this. I don't even--
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 1 4-sided dice:
1
Total: 1 (1-4)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:44 am
Aryn stopped, too panicked to think. He looked around, but what was a point there wasn't anything. Just white walls and those damned bright ligh--
His vision blurred and for a moment he thought he was going to feint. Maybe he had.
"Give me back my heart."
The cold water closed in around him, stealing his breath. Drowning him.
He didn't know this creature. What heart did it speak of? He didn't take anything.
"Give me back my heart."
"NO!" He snapped, waking from the memory. He was already running.
Distance: 30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 1 4-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-4)
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:51 am
He stumbled, kicking at the door.
He was desperate now. The figure was getting closer--but the door wouldn't budge.
"Did you think you could escape? All on your own? What a joke! You make a mess of whatever you touch--always getting in the way and getting them hurt in return. You're weak. Weak!"
I don't even know you! Don't talk about me as though you do!
Is what he wanted to say, but for some reason, the pain in his chest prevented him from speaking.
Distance: 25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 2 4-sided dice:
1, 3
Total: 4 (2-8)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:03 am
omg stop STOP
Ignore this omg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 1 4-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-4)
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:04 am
He was trapped here. The figure was approaching closer and he was trapped! How could he get out like this? The door wasn't budging, no matter how hard he hit it.
He was about to give up hope when he spotted a second slip of paper and without thinking, he ran and snatched it up.
A C E G.
Could this be..?
Pulling out the second piece, he looked over the two and quickly punched in the code--
0, 2, 4, 5
The door unlocked, sliding open. He didn't even hesitate. He just ran.
Distance: 20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 1 4-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-4)
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:20 am
Outside the grey trees were like a blessing. No longer was he trapped within those white halls and beneath those searing lights. He was finally free. He couldn't see the figure anymore. Nor could he hear the rusted scrape of the scissors. Perhaps the trees had hidden him from it? Perhaps it was--
Right there.
Aryn turned around for a split second and saw it. It was still chasing him, scissors in hand. There was no way around it, he had to keep running.
However has he ran, he could still hear the taunts, cold and unforgiving and slowly sapping his will to escape.
Why was it doing this to him?
Finally the trees came to an end and before him now was a long, creaky bridge. Which, if he hadn't been running for his life, he would have avoided entirely. But beggars can't be choosers.
He was half way across when the wind suddenly picked up, causing the bridge to rock and sway and suddenly claws dug into his shoulder and--
Pain!
Something bit into his back, piercing flesh.
He didn't dare look, however, he kept running as the rusty snips of the scissors got further and further away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OnionGrump rolled 1 6-sided dice:
5
Total: 5 (1-6)
|
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:37 am
Aryn reached the dead and skidded to a halt. He was about to turn around and check the building for any possible escape when he came face to face with the black figure.
Red.
Red was spilled everywhere, spreading and consuming the ground, and in the midst of the red laid a maimed figure. The remains of someone. No. Not just someone. Someone close was what the pain in his chest told him.
He took a step closer, but his knees gave out under him and he dropped to the ground.
This was his fault. If he hadn't--if he had only--
"Weak."
The figure's words repeated in his mind before suddenly a flash of red forced him awake.
The rusted dagger was glowing now, as if reacting to the haunted house.
Its now or never.
The goddess' words echoed in his head. But his mind was hazy with the memory and before he could even move to strike the figure, something dug into his chest. The blackened figure, now inches from his face. Its own empty and silent. Its hands reached towards him, one grabbing him by the head. He couldn't move. Between the fear and the sorrow, Aryn was paralyzed.
Thud, thud, thud.
His heart..?
"Don't worry," cooed the voice, "It only hurts once."
There was a loud snip and suddenly--pain! Just once and eventually that too disappeared. The figure, no longer restraining him was walking away. However, in his hand, opposite of the one with scissors, was something beating.
His heart.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:27 am
Aryn had selected the dark blue teapot. As much as he an attraction to each, something about the this one caught and held his attention. It was the right one. The only one.
Though the longer he stared, the more his vision began to shift and blur. His surroundings changing before his eyes.
"Ceres..."
One figure remained. Her form twisted and deformed, fused together with the very weapon she had fought alongside with, just moments before. Defeated and broken, she grew still now, her body slowly becoming encased in stone.
"What is wrong with everyone?" He demanded, as gauntlet covered hands coiling into fists.
Once already he had watched in failure as the other like her fell to the same fate. He had been unable to stop the attacks and now he had failed again. She too had fallen to the same fate, betrayed by her own kind.
Put an end to them, he had said.
"I can't do that!"
How could he? And how could they have so easily given up on Ceres and Bix? These were their allies--their friends! People who trained and fought along side them, risking their lives for the same causes they had, and yet... and yet they still gave up on them. Why? Why! Were they all so worthless, so easily replaced that they couldn't be bothered to save them? Were they really all just pawns, to be disposed of at their convenience?
Rage began to boil inside, overpowering the sorrow, watching helplessly as Ceres' body fully solidified. Her monstrous form forever captured in stone.
This wasn't what he signed up for! He killed monsters, enemies of mankind--NOT people! It was his job to fight, but it was also his job to protect. So why... Why had they been ordered to kill them? They hadn't exhausted all of their options yet. They hadn't even tried! Who was to say that they couldn't be saved? Who should decide when all hope was lost! Apparently one man could. Someone who was fully prepared to throw them all away.
Ryan fixed his on him. Rage having already consumed his thoughts and stopping all reason.
He'd kill him!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
