foolishwren | 70. [DREAM/DREAM/DREAM/DREAM]

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70. [DREAM/DREAM/DREAM/DREAM]

_{[So while the rest of Johto alternately panics, cries, or rushes around trying to capture as many of the soulstealing insects as possible, there are dozens of souls floating around in that dream limbo, drifting in and out of each other's slumbering thoughts and visions. Whether it's nightmarish flashbacks or just those dreams where you're at school taking a really hard test, and then Dracula shows up, and then everybody's naked ... anything is possible when it comes to what people see in their sleep.]

[But what appears in the darkness in this particular spot in the spaceless, shifting mass of dreaming souls... is a door.]

[It's old, and covered with boards and bolts, rusted near-through in some places. The lock is broken-- mangled and half-melted and wrenched out of the keyhole. The only thing on it that doesn't look ancient is a scrap of torn notebook-paper that's taped up on it at roughly eye-level. It reads only a single phrase:]}

Fear of blood tends to create fear for the flesh.

_{[More importantly, though... the door is ajar. Through the gap come the scents of rust and metal-- and something organic, fleshy-- and a low, deep hum of industrial machinery. It's not a door that anyone in their right mind would want to go through. ... But for anyone who may have stumbled this far into the dreams of their fellow lost souls, either in flight from some other nightmare or just pure, wandering curiosity... there's just no other place to go but through the door.]}

_{[Go on. Open it. After all.... it's only a dream.]}

[ooc: SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG, GUYS. Thanks for being patient! If you commented on that planning post, there's something spooky planned for your character to do here so please feel free to tag or not tag as it pleases you!]

~*~

[ooc: This is the IC post for what was announced over here! Even if you didn't comment there, feel free to participate! I'm still happy to whip up Silent Hill scenarios for folks!]

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[This... was a bad idea. But it was the only option he had.

He had already spent the majority of his time in this dream world hopping from nightmare to nightmare to... strange stuffed animal infested playground searching for a way out. So far, his searches had proved fruitless, but he somehow knew that if he kept looking he'd find an exit in a dream world somewhere. So when he somehow stumbled up this creepy door that obviously lead to some place unsavory, he knew he had to push his way forward, no matter how many reservations he had.

With a deep breath to steel himself, he reached out to nudge the door open even more, wide enough for him to enter... well. Whatever this place was supposed to be]

_{[... Yeah. Yeah, it really was.]

[But in the long run... things had to get darker before they could get lighter, right?]

[The door comes open slowly. It's heavy, and for good reason-- caught under its edge is a small, straggly mess of wwaterlogged junk-- weeds, old garbage, netting... and sewage. It drags across the floor along with the door with a disgusting squelch, leaving a slimy smear behind it. It stinks. ... And so does the world beyond the door.]

[A soft, blue-green light licks up the curving walls of the tunnel that stretches out before Kaito-- reflections from the gurgling water that's flowing through it. Is he-- ... yes. Kaito is in a sewer.]

[... And it smells like one, too. :(]}

[Kaito wrinkles his nose as the items are squished underneath the door, and for a moment he hesitates. The place he's about to enter is going to be far from pleasant... maybe he should just turn around and find a different dream to search.

But then... what if the exit was in this one? He'd miss it, all because he was a little squeamish. Like hell he was going to let that happen. With another breath he enters the room, glancing around at his surroundings and quirking both eyebrows when he realizes what they mean.

A sewer, huh... ew.

This is gross :( Still, he presses forward, but not before lifting a hand to his nose]

Who the heck would dream about a sewer... Yeesh.

_{[A VERY GOOD QUESTION, KAITO... A VERY GOOD QUESTION.]

[Get used to the smell, though... all the cologne and perfume in the world wouldn't be able to dispel reek down here. The most anyone could hope for would be that sort of nasty combo flowery-toilet smell that public restrooms get when a staff member is sent in to spray air freshener all over the place after the lunchtime rush.]

[Fortunately, there are small walking-intended ledges on either side of the canal-- unless he feels like taking a swim (for... some reason), he won't have to do any wading. At least not here.]

[Unfortunately, although the tunnel he's in meets a 'T' junction about twenty meters forward or so, neither path seems to lead uphill or towards light... this place looks very easy to get lost in... and he's liable to be wandering for awhile before there's any sign of life apart from the constant drip-drip-dripping of the water.]

[When that sign does appear, it's at a junction of tunnels ... and it's hard to tell exactly where it's coming from. There's an echoing sound... and for the first time, it's not the gurgle of water or the shifting of some underwater gate or pulley. It's an animalian sound-- a squall. Not unlike the sound of a baby bear. ... But what the everloving hell would a bear be doing in a sewer?]}

[As the noise echos across the caverns of the sewers, Kaito comes to a stop, lifting his head and straining his ears in an attempt to figure out which tunnel the noise is coming from. It would be better to go through the opposite one, he thinks... who knows what is down here?

And that growling... uh, gurgling... whatever it was... didn't sound like something he wanted to run into alone.

No matter how hard he tries, though, it's impossible to figure out which tunnel the noise is coming out of, and Kaito lets out a frustrated sigh (which also echos)]

Gotta count on my luck to get me out of here, huh... [He mumbles it to himself, before turning on his heel and taking the left pathway. Let's just hope it was the right choice...]

_{[Echoey places kind of suck for this very reason. It's hard to tell where anything's coming from.]

[The left tunnel yields more of the same in terms of scenery (honestly, sewers? Not that exciting), but the air seems to be growing a little thicker... more wet. As a matter of fact, the further he goes, the mistier it seems to get-- steam rising off the surface of the water. Such a thing is natural, but that doesn't stop it from being annoying, and reducing visibility by a fair amount, especially straight ahead... but hey, at least he's headed away from whatever was making those weird noises, right?]

[... Well, the sudden, honky bleat that sounds abruptly somewhere on the path ahead would beg to differ... in fact, it's a hell of a lot closer than it was before. But at least it doesn't sound... too threatening?]}

[... well. His attempts to go in the opposite direction of the thing didn't really work. He stops in his tracks, a deep frown cutting through his expression. He glances behind him for a moment, back into the dark chasms of the tunnel he just came through, debating on the merits of turning around...

What good would that do, though? It's not like he knows where the heck the right tunnel would've led in comparison to the left tunnel. If he keeps second guessing himself, then he won't get anywhere.

Besides. The sound doesn't sound... threatening, at least? With his jaw set, he reaches into his pockets, fingers closing around his card gun. Thank goodness dream world let him keep this...

With that finished, he presses forward hesitantly, carefully, tense and alert]

_{[The fog is thick and white by this point-- but fortunately, whatever it is that's ahead of him does not seem to be interested in using the impenetrable mist as cover for an attack.]

[In fact, he'll see it long before it rears its head clearly, stumbling awkwardly towards him through the fog. It's little more than a bleary shape at first-- fairly short, too-- maybe it's a person? ... A child?]

[... And then it finally blunders into view, mewling piteously.]}

[... OKAY YEAH. That idea he had about turning around? Probably not such a bad idea after all! He has no idea what that is, but it doesn't look friendly, so uh. He is going to be turning on his heel and leaving now, though not without watching that thing over his shoulder as he does so.

H-he doesn't want any surprise attacks from behind]

_{[But Kaito it loves youuuuuuuu... :(]

[... but no, seriously, he's got the right idea. At the very least, it doesn't seem particularly fast, although it blunders along after him pathetically, making its weird squalling noises-- though through what is anyone's guess. Is that hole in the middle of its otherwise-featureless face a mouth or an eye? Presumably Kaito's not too interested in sticking around to find out, though, and really, who would blame him? Who would blame anybody?]

[He'll be able to ditch the clumsy creature with ease-- even a brisk walking pace is enough to put some decent space between it and him, but ... the problem with looking over your shoulder is that there might be a missed detail or two waiting in front of you.]

[Another squall rings out ahead. Directly ahead. Another one of the creatures is wobbling its way towards him, its cold-looking marbled skin shiny and wet even in the low light... and beyond it, there's movement. More of them-- in the water. They're clambering up onto the raised walkway, with more of those plaintive, almost babylike noises. Some of them aren't really making it-- just sort of hopping and falling back into the water. It would almost be cute, if they were like... ducklings or something, and not ... deformed tadpole-fish things with legs.]}

[Sh... okay, this wasn't good. Kaito stops in his tracks as another strange... thing appears in front of him, eyes growing wide and entire body tensing in surprise and disgust. Here, he lets out an irritated (and somewhat worried) curse, glancing back over his shoulder again to see if the one he had bee running from was still approaching. If there are only two of them, he should be able to get out of here no problem...

Except then he notices the swarm of them clambering out of the water through the fog and darkness, and that nearly make his heart stop. What the hell--?!

Where the hell are all of these things coming from?! Kaito takes a step back from the larger group of... things in front of him, sliding his card gun out of his pocket as he does so, finger flexing dangerously over the trigger. He grits his teeth, gaze darting across his surroundings frantically, searching for an exit. There is no way he's going anywhere near the water, not when they look like they wouldn't hesitate to drag him underneath. And there is no way he's going to go toward the bigger group of them-- he doesn't want to test his luck.

He can only hope that the single one behind him is still alone. He could use his card gun to knock it over... and hopefully bolt for safety.

He turns around and starts in a brisk walk down the direction he had originally been going toward, glancing over his shoulder every so often to make sure he's leaving the things behind, but still keeping his eyes in front. His card gun is lifted at the level of his eye, ready to fire when necessary, and his heart is already pounding loudly in his ears.

This is weird... a bit freaky, even. But he can make it out unscathed... he thinks]

_{[The one ahead of him is still alone-- thankfully. Its previously-solitary cries, of course, are now added to by the rest of the ensemble behind him. In the echoey sewer, it just makes for a hideously loud cacophony of infant-like squalls.]

[The one he's got the gun aimed at doesn't seem to care-- or maybe it doesn't even know-- that he's got a weapon. It continues to blunder straight towards him, making its guttural bleating noises. If the path were wider, he could probably run around it... but the little ledge is so narrow that there wouldn't really be anywhere to go but the water, where more of those things may still be lurking...]

[Either way, he'll have to make a decision. Seemingly excited by the fact that he was coming back towards it, the one directly ahead starts to speed up...]}

[By now, his breath is coming in quick, ragged gasps, both because he's running and because he is just a little freaked out at the moment, though thankfully not enough that his judgment is impaired.

Once he's within firing range of the sole... thing in front of him (but not so close as to put himself in immediate peril) he aims his gun downward. The exploding sound of his card gun firing echoes throughout the caverns, and he sends two cards flying straight at the creature's feet. After practicing so much with firearms, his aim was good... and he could only home the cards would strike and send the weird thing tumbling to the ground. At least then it would stop running after him, and he could probably jump over it and bolt to safety...]

_{[KaBLAM, bullseye. These creatures seemed clumsy and slow-witted-- it probably couldn't have avoided the shots of it tried. The cards strike home, their edges slicing the apparently-tender skin on what passed for ankles on the strange beast. Crying out, it unceremoniously topples onto the pathway with a wet thud, dark blood oozing slowly from the cuts on its ankles like syrup that's been in the fridge awhile.]

[It's not a big creature to begin with, so Kaito should have no trouble clearing it when he jumps-- but as he passes over, the thing is already lurching back to its feet, and perhaps accidentally, may thwack straight into him in the process, with a force surprising of something so clumsy and frail-looking.]}

[Kaito doesn't stop running, darting forward until he is good to clear the strange creature with a jump--

-- but unfortunately, he miscalculates how fast the creature was able to climb to his feet. It manages to smack straight into him mid-jump with a sickening squishing noise, causing him to yelp out in surprise and lurch forward, crashing head first (well... arms first, he managed to lift them up to break his fall) into the concrete walkway (thankfully landing with the strange creature behind him and the clear sewer tunnel in front).

His landing might have been upset, but Kaito was never the type to lose his footing without recovering, and while on the ground he spins around quickly to face the creature, holding his gun up and ready to fire if it was planning on approaching him again. His elbows and forearms are scraped and bloody, chest heaving with each breath he takes, and he quickly scrambles away from the thing while simultaneously trying to pull himself onto his feet.

... and push the the thought that he actually touched it out of his mind because holy shit that was gross.]

_{[It's cold and clammy. Like touching raw, refrigerated chicken. Have fun remembering that texture for the rest of your life.]

[The spill unfortunately costs him dearly-- although the critters aren't terribly fast, they're moving en masse-- and they're not stopping. Any cards fired at the one stumbling upright will likely take it out again, but the oncoming herd soon trample straight over their fallen brethren, as though not even knowing it's there. It's sort of startling how much distance those things can cover if one hesitates for even a moment...]}

[THANKS FOR THAT UGH]

Shit--!

[The curse echoes across the walls as he finally manages to catch his footing, leaping up as fast as he can and firing right at the creature he had knocked down earlier. He doesn't stop there, not with an entire hoard stomping over the one he knocked over right at him, and his breath catches in his throat as they approach, far too close for his comfort, before he fires again, trying to slow as many of them down as he can.

... but he knows that won't be enough, not with the sheer volume of them, and once a few shots are fired, but before any of them can actually reach him, he whips around and darts in the opposite direction, trying to put as much distance between him and those things as he can.

Persistent little bastards...]

_{[The shots topple a few more of them, but like people in a crowded theater where someone just yelled 'FIRE!', the others seem to think nothing of scrambling straight over the fallen ones. But fortunately, now that the path is clear, he can run his heart out.]

[It's not like they're fast, after all-- .... oh. well wait a second. Is that a great big grate across the entire tunnel up ahead...?]

[... Yep. Yep, it's a great big grate. Not even a limber fellow like Kaito can fit through those little gaps-- ... but there's something else, once he reaches it-- a small opening, it looks like-- set in the opposite side of the tunnel. It's not very big, but... he could make it through if he tried.]}

[A grate. A grate, blocking his escape at the worst possible moment. Kaito lets out a few more surprised and panicked curses as he skids to a stop, nearly crashing into the metal barrier in the process. He reaches out with his free hand to grab the cool bars and give them a good, hard shake, and when it doesn't budge, he whips around to face his pursuers again, sweat already beginning to run down his temple.

... they were still approaching, like a hoard of hungry predators, and if he stood here, he probably wasn't going to be living through this dream much longer. His heart is pounding in his throat, blood and adrenaline rushing through his ears. There had to be a way out of this, there just had to be. This couldn't be the end, he refused to go out like this, attacked by a mob of disgusting, naked things --

And as though it was a beacon of light in the middle of a dark alleyway, his gaze is drawn toward the tunnel across the water, suddenly and inexplicably. He thinks it's large enough for him to pass through, but he'd have to get closer to see. The only problem is the water separating him from the only viable escape option. The very same water teeming with slimy creatures from god knows where.

He didn't want to risk being pulled under. But hell, it's not like he had much of a choice, did he?

Without hesitation, he whips away from his pursuers and takes a running leap at the chasm, trying to clear as much of the smelly sewer water as he could to minimize how much he had to slosh through himself. Unfortunately, his jump isn't powerful due to how narrow the walkway is, and it's only enough to get him about halfway across before he lands splashing in the disgusting sewer river.

Gross...

There wasn't any time to think about that now. He quickly splashes his way across to the other side of the tunnel, shooting at any creatures who might try to come near him as he does so, hopefully keeping them at bay long enough for him to reach the tunnel and duck inside... to safety]

Edited 2011-06-26 08:56 (UTC)

_{[Don't worry, Kaito, it's not the end. Because it's not okay yet. If it's not okay, it's not the end.]

[But all the same, those strange beasts are still clambering towards him like an army of deformed amphibians. They honestly don't seem to have sharp teeth or claws, or even mouths for that matter, but if the WHACK that single one trying to get to its feet gave him was any indication, they packed some punch and probably wouldn't be very pleasant to get trampled under... which was absolutely what would happen if he stayed where he was, which thankfully was not what was happening.]

[The water is cold and rank, reeking of ammonia and other smells best left unmentioned, but though it soaks partway up his torso, at least it's shallow enough that he can make his way to the little escape route without slipping under. A couple of times he may brush against something cold and slimy in the water-- but his nimbleness will carry him past them without incident, although a series of plops and splashes behind him will confirm beyond doubt that the beasts are still in pursuit.]

[The hole in the side of the canal is small, but definitely man-made-- it belches water that seems a LITTLE fresher than what he's wading through, but not by much-- and once he's inside, the current running around his wrists, knees, and ankles is weak enough that it doesn't put him in danger of slipping right back out the way he came.]

[The bleats of the creatures soon sound around the mouth of the hole, but although they're small enough to get in, they... don't... seem to be succeeding very well at it. Note to monsters: if you tried going in ONE BY ONE, you could probably do it. Climbing all over each other and trying to get in five at a time? NOT THE RIGHT STRATEGY.]}

[He bites his tongue to keep himself from yelling out in surprise as he brushes against those slimy things in the water, knowing that he has to keep his cool as he makes his escape... or else. Once he's out of the water, he dives for that hole without a second thought, barely acknowledging the water that was gently flowing from it and into the sewers. He was lucky-- it was large enough for him to fit inside, albeit a bit cramped, and despite the fact that he's soaked and smelly, he worms his way through, leaving the disgusting bleats of those strange creatures behind.

He knows better than to breathe easily just yet.

The tunnel is cramped, but there's enough room for him to glance over his shoulder in order to see if any of those things are following him. Thankfully... it doesn't seem that way, especially since they're dumb enough to crowd about the entrance. Still... just in case one happens to sneak through, he alternates between glancing behind him and keeping his eyes on the trail in front of him, just in case he needs to use his card gun to shoot more of them down]

_{[Sure enough, between the fired cards and the fact that they seem to have the collective mental capacity of a jelly bean, Kaito will soon find himself leaving the horde behind as they crowd around the entrance to the hole, crying out and trampling each other.]

[It might be dark, smelly, and completely uncertain as to where this leads, but... at least it's safe. For now.]

[The tunnel does seem to be going upwards, at least... there's no guarantee that it goes to the surface, but hope is better than nothing. Unfortunately, he'll probably be wriggling slowly upwards for a good long while before he encounters anything... but eventually-- eventually!-- a dim light starts to filter in from somewhere ahead. Light from the surface! ... Or, well, maybe-- wherever the original source is, it still seems awfully far off-- but it's something!]

[The more IMMEDIATE source, of course, is something he'll find when he reaches a level spot in the tunnel-- and a fork in the metaphorical road. The light is coming from a grate (ANOTHER one...)-- beyond which the tunnel continues to slope upwards, towards a far-off bright opening. The OTHER path is a semi-steep drop just like the one he just climbed up-- the water coursing through the grate rushes down both the downhill inclines.]

[The grate, though still an obstacle... looks rusty as hell. He could probably kick some of it loose if he tries!]}

[He allows his heartbeat to return to normal once he's positive those strange things aren't following him anymore... but as the tunnel stretches on and on before him with seemingly no end in sight, he begins to wonder if he had just leaped out of the frying pan and right into the fire.

His back and neck are cramped by the time that light begins to shine through the darkness, and he feels himself reflexively let out a relief sigh. Choosing a path at the fork isn't difficult-- if he just climbed up from the sewers to get here, then the downward incline probably led right back to them.

He approaches the grate, frowning as he peers at the bars, but taking note of that rust. It's cramped, but he manages to shift until he's on his back and able to aim a powerful kick at the rusted bars. Freedom looks like it's so close...]

_{[SUCCESS! A couple of kicks causes the old, rusty metal to crumble and patter into the water-- it'll be a tight squeeze through, and he might accumulate a few scrapes in the process, but he'll be able to get through.]

[The sound of the grate breaking is screechy and echoes up and down the three tunnels like nails on a chalkboard.... bouncing a few times before fading out.]

[... But then there's another sound... coming from the second downhill tunnel.]}

... Hello? ... Is someone up there?

_{[... A voice. A hoarse, male voice.]}

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