Disappearances (14) : People are missing. Maybe they’re people you know, maybe you’ve just heard about it on the news. They’re just disappearing. In front of you one second, gone the next, sucked into some between-space. Into some hole that flickers out of sight once it’s swallowed them up. Maybe you got sucked in–right into a strange strange black expanse, with no access to anyone else or any exits. The pull would have been magnetic, almost unavoidable. Some might escape, but maybe you didn’t. Electronics don't work and characters cannot power down. There’s no way to reach the outside world. You might feel the sensation of creatures following you, you might run into obstacles or strange environments in the darkness. While you are in this strange location you may feel hungry but will not starve to death; you may feel tired but you will not need to sleep. Maybe you were lucky and got sucked in with someone. Maybe you’re trapped there and run into someone and team up. One thing is for sure, though–once you’re here, you can’t get out on your own.
For once Nessaela had been glad for the warmer days of summer. It meant that the days were getting longer and the weather was more geared to wanting to be outside. Although too much sun could be a disaster. With that in mind she had taken to waiting until the end of the day to take walks towards a nearby forested area near the lodgings that she shared with the other Vanguardians. These walks allowed the cadet to give herself the necessary means to relieve stress that might have accumulated throughout the day. She would allow herself the time to admire the different species of earth vegetation and the various fauna that would emerge at night but her secret love was to glance skywards. For somewhere up in the giant expanse of sky was Velencya. Oh she knew it wouldn't be visible at all but in her heart she knew that the artificial world was around ... somewhere.
Ever since the battle and subsequent travel to the Negaverse Nessa had wanted to stay low on the activity radar. She wasn't sure why this was but even under her glamoured appearance she was becoming more and more unsure about what she wanted to do. Had the right decisions been made at that battle? Had actions been noted? Figuring since nothing had been said she assumed it was an answer in the negative. Only Tenoch and Eso had been witness and they wouldn't have blown her cover.
Was it because her mind was elsewhere that Nessaela didn't see the tear in space in front of her? One minute the sounds of the forest had surrounded her and the fragrant scents of flowers had been sought out. But the next minute there was nothing. No sound, no light, no smells. There was nothing to indicate that she was anywhere that could be located. Nessaela for a moment was disoriented. There was no landmarks that she could use for reference points. Her rapid tapping of her comtech unit produced no assistance and she had to assume that if the comtech was down, then so to was her human guise. That was seemingly alright. For the most part she seemed to be alone in here. Had she heard any of her other comrades experiencing this? With a growing sense of alarm she actually couldn't recall having taken part in any recent conversations with her fellow cadets. Effectively she had been walling herself off from contact with others and hadn't even realized that she was doing so. For all that she was part of the Vanguard, she had seemingly found herself drifting apart from them. That would have to change. She knew what her mission had been from the start. Just because things had ended up as they had, it didn't give her the reason to "space out" and neglect things. There was a chance that others would notice her absence. maybe Tenoch for sure, but how long would it take for that realization to occur?
Shuffling forward into the darkness Nessaela allowed herself to move slowly. It wouldn't do anyone any good if she were to seriously injure herself in the process. Slow and steady would win the race of whatever this place was. As the cadet pushed onwards she couldn't help but muse about her situation. "Wonder if this place has been named? For my sanity, OZ will be succinct. Guess if that's the case, I'd be Dorothy?"
Nessaela had, on a whim, allowed herself to try a free trial of a streaming service and had viewed various movies in the one month period. While one month seemed like a short period of time she had binged movies and enjoyed them thoroughly. It was always interesting just to see what human ingenuity could wrangle out of one's imagination.
Her voice, soft at first and unsure, began the song of the munchkins from Oz as they persuaded Dorothy to "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" ... in this blackness she couldn't even tell if there was such a road to follow, or if it were even yellow, but at least the song would keep her mind from imagining the most horrific outcomes of this place. Wherever she was, she definitely wasn't in Destiny City anymore. That was for sure a one hundred percent given conclusion. Wasn't it?
