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 Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:19 pm
TASK 1
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Kaje arrived at the shrine, ready to receive the task he was bound to complete, but when he saw that one of the statues appeared to be missing, he paused, perplexed. Upon closer inspection of the empty pedestal, he frowned, examining the words inscribed.
Created...
Before...
Replicated...
What had she created? What had happened? What did she replicate?
The voice startled him, and he spun around, eyes widening slightly at who it was. The goddess...
He stared at the object in her hand, wondering what it was. And those wires...
Why did all these things seem nostalgic?
When she had handed him a bag with a key, he merely stared at it, wondering what to do. A gift?
He did as he was told, seemingly more confused when it appeared to be empty, which turned to an expression of worry as the goddess continued speaking, handing him a pair of scissors. What did he need this for? The heart? How exactly was he supposed to bring something like this back?
But the goddesses' words were absolute. If he wished to know more about who he was, or what happened to his memories, he had to do this.
As he stepped through, and was greeted with 3 doors, his frown deepened.
Had the goddess told her which door to step through? Which one was he supposed to choose?
Each seemed to beckon to him, stirring different emotions inside him, but the third one...
Though it evoked a sense of sadness, terror, fear... there was also familiarity, something about that symbol just seemed to beckon to him, and so, with trepidation, he stepped through the 3rd door.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 11:22 pm
The silence was almost overbearing, but he took it in stride, the objective clear in his mind.
Retrieve the heart.
His footsteps seemed to echo the thuds in the distance, and though he tensed slightly at the whispers, he didn't let them phase him. He didn't know that name, though he might have once. The point was, he didn't know it now.
The moment the door shut and darkness surrounded him, it was then he hesitated, hand stretching out, using them as a guide as he fumbled around. Surprisingly, he hadn't hit anything, and continued walking, each step slow, as his arms were in front of him, awaiting an obstacle.
Even with the precaution, he still managed to bump into it, flinching slightly as the crate echoed a hollow thump, followed by a thud. And then another. And another.
He shifted his stance, letting touch guide his senses as fingers ran over the surface, up the side. When his hand reached the top, his hand brushed against something odd, and he flinched, jumping back slightly as he saw the bare outlines of the strange object, bathed in a sickly red.
What was this?
His own core seemed to pulse in rhythm to the thuds, though slightly more agitated, and with trepidation, he stepped forward again, watching the object sway back and forth, oddly seeming to resemble...
He didn't know how, or why, but for some reason, he found himself reaching out, grabbing it with both his hands, breath catching as the thumping seemed to stop.
His hands trailed up the arm, until it came in contact with something else, soft, yet firm.
As he pushed down on it, he heard it again.
Thump.
Felt it.
Thump thump
Fear. Hesitation. Guilt. Doubt.
His bag was still empty, but here, this must have been...
thump thump thump
Did he really have to?
Yes. He must.
Swallowing nervously, he took the scissors, and began extracting the heart, hesitating every once in a while as the tool met resistance, and he himself seemed to question his actions.Yet the farther he went, the less hesitation, and the quicker he worked, pushing conscience aside as he finally managed to pry it free and stuff it into his bag, ignoring the sights and side, and more than anything, ready to leave.
Suddenly, the arm grabbed him, screaming out a name. Cold. Terrifying. Chilling.
JAKE!!
He froze, eyes wide as the face of someone familiar, yet not appeared before him. A name formed on his lips.
"... Catherine?"
As the heart was pried out, something played out in his mind. An image of him, everything around him was... bright. It hurt his eyes. But then she was smiling down at him, a hand stroking his face tenderly. She spoke words, but he didn't understand them, but... he felt them. They were... warm. Kind. There was no malevolence in those eyes, and he felt... he felt he could trust her.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 11:42 pm
As soon as the memory appeared, it faded, and he blinked, realizing he should be going. He hadn't gone far when the texture of the floor began to change, feeling slick and slippery. He hesitated when he heard a sloshing sound and footsteps behind him, and he spun around, trying to locate the source of the sound. There was nothing.
Frowning, he decided to continue on, flinching as the water around him got deeper. Colder. The sound was back, louder. A voice.
"Please give it back."
He spun around once more, trying to figure out where that voice was coming from, but... nothing.
Deciding to continue progressing, he did so, until the water completely surrounded him, halting his movement. It seemed he would have to-
"Please give me back my-"
A gasp as something grabbed him, pushing him down, and he struggled, trying to fight against it, trying to breathe.
He was drowning. Sinking. He couldn't breathe.
Goddess, why are you doing this to me?
Consciousness began to fade as the figure bore its hazy eyes at him, flashing teeth.
"Give me back my heart."
--------------------
Before he could take another step, she had reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"Where do you think you're going?"
He stiffened.
Why was she making this so hard?
"Where do you think?" he scoffed.
"There's nothing for you out there."
"How would you know?"
"Jake. I found you nearly beaten to death on the streets. That kinda tells me what kind of life you'll be going back to if I let you leave."
"So? It doesn't concern you."
"Jake!"
----------------------
He gasped, struggling to breathe as their grip on him tightened.
Was this why they were trying to kill him? Was it because he hadn't listened to her? But from that memory, hadn't she been trying to prevent that? So why... why was she doing this now...
He was sinking deeper and deeper, struggles becoming weaker.
No... p-please, I don't want to die... Catherine, please...
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 11:42 pm
N-no, he couldn't die here. He had to complete the task. He had to earn the blessings, and become a ruler of this world. Perhaps then, he would know what he did wrong. Perhaps then, he would figure out how to make it up to them. But for now...
Fear overpowering anything else, along with the desire to survive, Kaje plunged the scissors into the figure's chest, flinching as he heard it shriek, and... disappear.
The water was gone, and he was coughing, liquid spilling from his mouth.
As light poured in from the door, he realized he could finally leave.
Casting a final glance behind him, his breath caught as he saw the figure glaring at him, hands holding the pair of scissors. He squeezed his eyes shut, and with a heavy breath, turned and prepared to leave.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry.
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 12:15 pm
TASK 2
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""You cannot escape forever."
He knew that, she didn't need to tell him, but still, he gritted his teeth, fists clenched as she looked down at him
""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?"
He'd been told by another, hadn't he? That he was weak. Did that mean he would be eaten? That he would be the prey?
A frown, and he looked up to see that she was now circling him, sizing him up. What was going through that mind of hers?
His question seemed to have been answered when she pressed a small jeweled dagger into his hand. He was to prove himself, show that he was worthy. He watched as the blade changed colour, mind already made up.
It was a command from the goddess anyways, a command he could not refuse. And so, he would show her, show her that he deserved to be the hunter, not the hunted.
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:21 pm
When he woke up, it was... cold. Bright. Which was strange, as... wasn't he wide awake just a moment ago? When had he fallen asleep? His eyes half-squinted, he tried to get up, noticing that the surface beneath him was hard, but elevated. So he hadn't been sleeping on a bed, or floor, but... a table? He knocked on it, hearing an heavy hollow ringing, and frowned. Metal?
It was much too bright in here, and that sound. He winched, hands clasped over his ears as he tried to block out the ringing. With time, his eyes slowly adjusted, and he could open them a bit more to survey his surroundings... which wasn't much. Completely empty. At least there was a door.. and... it appared to be unlocked, which was a start.
To his dismay, the outside was just as bright, but... it wasn't like he was going to get anywhere just staying inside the room, and so he left, and hadn't gone more than a few steps when-
thud
The sound made him jump, and he spun around, but found that the door to the room was still open. If that wasn't the door, then...
He hesitated, then backtracked, peeking into the room to see if anything changed. Nothing. With a sigh, he turned back and started heading down the hallway, when he heard it again. Closer.
Thud
Hesitating, he turned once more, a confused expression when there was nothing. The door was still open. This was so strange. Just as he was about to turn back around, he heard it again. Even closer.
THUD
By now, he was quite paranoid, but knew it was nothing. So just what-
If it was possible to die of fright, he would have done so, right there and then. He paled considerably, though considering he was already a grey shade at first, the little colour he showed was almost gone. Just... where... where had they come from? What-
His blood ran cold as he heard their footsteps, growing heavy, denser. There was a new sound, a screeching sound, and it was then he saw them carrying something. Were those... scissors? Where had he-
Thud. Screech. Thud. Screech.
Adrenaline finally kicked in, and he spun around, running as fast as he could, as fast as his legs allowed, as fast as his heart was able to provide his body with the energy it needed to move. His heartbeart thundered in his ear, the only thing he could hear now. He needed to get out. He needed to escape. If he didn't...
They were going to kill him.
He was going to die.
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[A.V.] rolled 1 4-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-4)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:22 pm
The door. There was a door. THANK GODDESS PLEASE LET IT BE-
-locked.
His breathing was erratic now, chest heaving and falling at an abnormal pace.
Think think think think there had to be a way out, there had to-
His hand brushed against something raised, making him jump, but as he turned, other hand resting on his chest, as if telling his heart to calm down, to consider the situation, he saw that there was something on the door. Numbers? A number pad?
He looked down at the handle, noticing that it said Passcode required. So he needed a password? Where would he find it? Did he know it? How was he supposed to-
Thud. Screech. Thud. Screech.
Fear overcoming rationality, he ran, and stumbled. The passcode, the passcode! It had to be here, anywhere, anything! Maybe... maybe the door wasn't even locked. Yes! Maybe he hadn't tried opening it properly.
And so he placed both hands on the handle, pushing, pulling, trying to make it budge, but to no avail.
please please please please
"It's so easy to destroy things, to take away, to kill... but to protect something? It's so much harder."
"Can't you see that all of this is wrong?"
"What are you doing all this for? Answer me!"
"Aren't you... afraid?"
Afraid? Of COURSE he was afraid. And doing what, running away? He was going to die if he DIDN'T run away, since they were the one going to kill him This was absurd! What were they even talking about? He just wanted to get out.
Distance Remaining: 45
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[A.V.] rolled 1 4-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-4)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:41 pm
Very quickly he established two things:
1. The door was very much locked.
2. No amount of tugging would open it.
Oh, he supposed there was a third.
3. If he didn't get out soon, he would most likely end up dead.
That last one terrified him.
And so, rather than frantically tugging on the handle, knowing nothing would happen, he started to look around, searching, trying to see if he could find any clue to the number pad.
Something red had caught his eye, and frantically, he reached for it.
This was... completely useless! What was he supposed to do with letters?! There were only numbers, so this wasn't the passcode. But... what if, maybe, it was a hint? Augh, he didn't have time to think about this right now!
Distance Remaining: 40
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[A.V.] rolled 1 4-sided dice:
1
Total: 1 (1-4)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:42 pm
Something, something.
There HAD to be something that could help him. ANYTHING!
A weapon? Another slip of paper?
He froze as his vision blurred, a memory taking hold of him.
There was laughter, and warmth. No, a warm smell? The kitchen was overflowing with a sweet and warm scent, and the woman hummed as she stirred the mixture, pausing as she checked the temperature, adding a bit of this and that into the pot, tasting it, and smiled.
He peered over her shoulder, wondering what all the pots and pans were for, and when she wasn't looking, attempted to dip his finger into the mixing bowl.
There was a resound smack, and he winced, rubbing his hand as she chided him, waving the mixing spoon at him. It wasn't ready she said, he'd get sick from eating that, she said. But then she smiled, reaching for a pair of scissors on the table on the table and handed it to him, saying that if he wasn't busy, he could go out and find something nice to put into the vase.
He gasped as the memory was over, panting.
What... was that? Was that... the person who was pursuing him? But how could such a pleasant memory come from something so terrifying?
"If you're not careful, ... hurt... harm..."
"Burn... dangerous..."
"Life... it's only temporary... by tomorrow...gone..."
He froze, remembering.
He had to get out. He had to get out. NOW.
Distance Remaining: 35
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[A.V.] rolled 1 4-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-4)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:43 pm
He was running out of time.
With each step, the figure came closer, the scissors, that screeching sound. He had to find a away to get out.
Though he had rationalized this already, he still tried again, pulling on the handle in vain, pounding on the door. Screaming. Someone. ANYONE. Please... please help him...
"Do you remember the time when... I can't believe you did that!"
"It's a miracle you're still alive. Next time that happens, you're as good as dead."
"There are no second chances in this world. Not in this life."
He didn't understand, didn't want to.
He screwed up, that much he knew, but what did he screw up? Why couldn't they let it be?
Distance Remaining: 30
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[A.V.] rolled 1 4-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-4)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:46 pm
Eyes shut, he took several deep breaths.
Ok, calm down. Breathe. Think.
He found part of a clue which was better than nothing, but it was not what he needed. Perhaps there was something else, something to help him make sense of it. All he needed to was-
It was then he spotted it, and he wasted no time clambering over to it, snatching it up as his eyes glossed over it quickly.
This... this was... YES he could work with this. He would get out, he would-
With shaky hands, he held the two sheets, making sure he did this right. And then, raising one hand, pausing so that the trembling would finally stop, or diminish enough for him to enter the code correctly, he pressed the numbers 0, 2, 4, 5, hoping desperately he had done this right. If this was one of those doors that only took the first answer entered, and if it wasn't right...
He didn't need to worry as the door suddenly slid opened, and he dashed out, not daring to breathe, not daring to look back even once.
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[A.V.] rolled 1 4-sided dice:
3
Total: 3 (1-4)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 3:50 pm
His breathing was ragged, he continued running, never looking back, knowing that the moment he did, his resolve would falter. He heard it calling him, taunting him. He heard snipping sounds, perhaps the sound of tree branches, or something else. He didn't know. He didn't want to know.
They were calling out to him, saying something about giving back their heart. What heart? What were they talking about? And why did they want HIS heart in return?
Reaching a bridge, he paused, panting. There was no time to wait. He had to cross it, or die trying. Either way, if he stayed here, he was as good as dead.
Taking a deep breath, he rushed across, never looking down, always forward. He felt some of the boards give way and the bridge sway, but he had made it, he had-
Before he his foot had left the bridge, the wind whipped up, making it sway, and he clung on, begging that he didn't fall, that he-
His breath caught as a hang grabbed his shoulder, something sharp pressing into his back. He was running again, as fast as he could, never looking back, never hesitating.
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[A.V.] rolled 1 6-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-6)
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Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 3:51 pm
And then there was a house, but that was it. There was no more running. He couldn't keep running forever. His heart was already at its limit, his arms, his legs... all of him felt numb and sore, and he couldn't continue.
Was he going to die here? After everything, that was all he could do. He was the hunted. He was the prey. In the end, this was all he amounted up to. A coward, a failure.
There was a glow, startling him, and for a moment, he thought the figure had caught up. But no, it was... coming from... his hand? He looked down to see the dagger, the one given by the goddess, was now glowing a bright red. Had he been holding this the whole time?
A voice echoed in his head. A familiar one. The goddess.
Hunt or be hunted. Prey or preyed.
Now or never.
He swallowed nervously, gripping the dagger tightly in his hands.
No, he wasn't going to run away anymore. He was going to prove that he would not be the hunted.
No. This time, he was the hunter.
Hearing the screeching sound, he spun around, dagger raised.
--------------------------------
"CATHERINE!"
He rushed to her side.
"Catherine, what's going-"
He paused, staring at his hand. She was bleeding.
"J-Jake..."
She laid a hand on his shoulder.
"G-get out of here, now..."
"WHAT? What are you-"
Hearing a click, he turned around, only to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
Bang.
---------------------------
His eyes were closed, panting, arms still raised. Was he...
Slowly, he opened his eyes, breath catching as he saw that his dagger was plunged into the figure, the rusted scissors mere inches from his own heart. Out of shock, he let go, and the figure fell over, dissipating. Only when the dagger hit the ground with a clatter, did he jolt, a sharp gasp leaving his mouth. He... he had won...He was... was safe now. If so... why did he feel such sorrow? Why did he feel so guilty?
Still trembling, he bent down to pick up the dagger, noticing it seeming to glow a brighter red. The moment he did so, he heard doors opening, beckoning to him. His task was done. He had won.
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Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 5:36 pm
TASK 3
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He looked around, not knowing quite where she wanted him to sit, but when she offered him the contents of her trey, he paused, staring at the tray, hesitant. It wasn't a command, so perhaps, it was alright for him to not take one? He didn't know why he didn't want to, but he didn't have long to debate it as the goddess was already talking again, and he turned his attention towards her.
Others? Oh, did she mean the other goddesses? Well, they had asked him to do something... but... he couldn't remember what. Was it something bad? Something good? How come he couldn't remember at all?
His core fluttered when she said she loved him, and merely stared as she asked if he loved her back. Love? What did she-
The more she talked, the less sense she seemed to make, but this time, it seemed more of a request than an offer. He probably couldn't, and shouldn't turn this down. And so with a sigh, he headed towards the direction she beckoned to, already dreading what he would find.
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Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 6:36 pm
Arriving at the table, he paused, taking a moment to listen to the music. What was... this feeling? Had he heard this somewhere before? And those voices...
He blinked as he felt something touch him, and looked around to see that strange white things were... falling from the sky? What was this? He looked up, seeing more falling, and reached out with a hand, trying to take hold of one. Though, the moment his hand touched it, it was gone, and he blinked in surprise. Taking a few steps forward, he tried once more, then paused when he heard a soft crunching sound.
Beneath him... it was the same strange white stuff. And, were those his footprints? Rather than dwell on this though, he turned, seeing two jars on the table. These were...
Though the pink one exuded pleasant feelings, the blue one... he felt it pulling him towards it, as if waiting, searching, longing for someone.
Before he could even think about what he was doing, he found himself reaching towards the blue pot.
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![[A.V.]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/8d/f2/221070ca3ff28d_flip.png?t=1546143856_6.00_11&pl=15)
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