70. [DREAM/DREAM/DREAM/DREAM]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[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:]</sub>

Fear of blood tends to create fear for the flesh.

<sub>[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.]</sub>

[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!]

Comments

[foolishwren]

<sub>[At first, it would almost seem to be nothing... the noise ceases eventually, plunging the hallway back into relative silence... but Bakura isn't alone anymore.]

[Nearby, something skitters audibly.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[oh crap. Now here's the question, skittering towards or away? And how big of a skitter? We talking rats or giant monster rats?

Wasn't like he could run with his burden. He wasn't going to leave someone behind even if they were KOed! Going to carefully shuffle away from the sound now. Just in case.]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Oh, it's coming towards, all right. In fact, it's very close. ... Right overhead.]

[A humanoid shape, barely visible in the darkness, crawling along the ceiling. ISN'T THIS FUN.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[First rule of D&D dungeon crawling: ALWAYS LOOK UP.

Well crap, that probably wasn’t good... Shift his hold on Heather slightly to pull out his knife, just in case. Hopefully it would just pass on by...

With his luck, that was highly unlikely, however...

Man. This was why he never played melee classes.]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Sorry, Bakura. Whatever it is, it knows you're there.]

[And you have something it wants.]

[Something it needs in fact... you're not gonna give it any trouble now, are you?]



[It pauses where the wall meets the ceiling to regard Bakura critically, despite the fact that its pale, warped face doesn't appear to have any eyes...]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[Ehehe...

Crap.

At least this one wasn't attacking... yet. And he sure as hell isn't going to make the first move! It might just go away he if stands real still... right?

And as long as they're both still, he's going to squint in the dark to peer back because when they aren't attacking, these things are pretty cool looking. Cryptic tattoos on this one. Neeeat~]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[It's not gonna go away.]

[With a strange, sinewy grace, it creeps down the side of the wall on leather-gloved hands. Something flickers by the back of its head-- a thin, snakelike tongue.]

[When it reaches the floor, it crouches briefly, before standing up all the way. It's not as monstrous as the huge, thrashing beast that had killed Heather... but it's not as human-looking as the nurse monster, either. What it is, however, is tall and imposing-- and utterly calm. There's an intelligence to this creature that was not present in either of the others.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[Huh.

Well, as long as it wasn't attacking, he didn't mind it being there. Even if it was a little confusing.

It almost felt like he was staring at one of the monsters in his deck... like Dark Necrofear, only without the metallic parts. And less of a face. Interesting.

There was a long moment's silence.]]

... can you speak?

[[because somehow he got the feeling he could at the very least be understood, even if it couldn't.]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[It understood, all right-- but there didn't appear to be anything for it to speak with. Although it also... didn't seem interested in speaking. Instead, it stepped forward. Despite the fact that it seemed more peaceful than the other monsters, there was still something... menacing about it.]

[Extending a long arm, it pointed with one of its leather-gloved hands, as well as it could with those odd, seemingly-fused fingers... it pointed at the corpse that Bakura was dragging.]

[That. It wants that.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[If there was one thing Bakura did not possess, it was that instinct where most people want to get away from strange menacing things. Possibly because he found the grotesque fascinating rather than horrifying. Possibly because he had such a low self worth that he didn't feel the need for self preservation. Or possibly that he was just an idiot. But either way, when the creature stepped forward, he just blinked curiously, following the point to look over at the KOed Heather.]]

She got hurt pretty badly by one of the monsters... [[explains, not letting him self think the K or D word yet.

Not quiet getting that it wants her yet, but at least the focus is acknowledged]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... If it was possible for something without a face to look long-suffering, it would have. There's no body language, no words to convey the aura of ".... Duh" that it's giving off-- it just somehow is.]

[It steps forward again, pointing at Heather once more, this time more impatiently.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[Bakura's used to getting that look that he can sense it easily. Whoops.

There's hesitation there because... well.. handing off someone to a total stranger... but he has no other options, really. He sure as heck can't help her.

So, with much reservation, he shifts slightly, moving Heather a bit closer so that the creature can see her. Or... whatever it wants to do.

He really hopes this isn't a bad idea... really hopes.]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[No, it's not a bad idea! ... Well, for Heather it isn't, anyway, despite all appearances.]

[Needless to say, that small window of opportunity is all the creature needs. With startling speed and strength, it thrusts its arms forward and literally yanks Heather out of Bakura's grasp, backing away a few steps with the body like a leopard might with the corpse of its prey.]

[But it... doesn't look like it's treating her like prey. In fact, unless Bakura makes a sudden move that forces it to act, it turns its attention to her, cradling her in one arm while investigating her thoroughly with the other. There isn't an ounce of life in her as it does so-- she just dangles like a ragdoll as it brushes the hair from her face, and strokes her stomach tenderly, probing here and there with its odd, fused fingers.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[Beyond startling pretty badly at the yank and stumbling slightly at it, Bakura just watches, feeling a bit lost at the entire situation.

The imagery is almost disturbingly solid, the creature acting much like a child tending its doll, just on a very large scale...]]

Can you help her...? [[asks very timidly.]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Despite what it looks like... the identity of this creature is not what Stanley might think.]

[As soon as it has ascertained that the stab wound through Heather's middle hadn't damaged something... important, it turns back to Bakura and sort of nods.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[There's a clear expression of relief in Bakura's face at that and he near sighs, tension releasing from his shoulder.]] I'm really glad to hear that! Did you need me to do anything?

Hahah I totally typed 'Stanley' instead of 'Bakura' in that last tag, that's embarrassing :I

[foolishwren]

<sub>[The creature nods again, in that strange, jittery fashion.]

[And then it beckons Bakura forward with the hand that's not holding Heather's body.]</sub>

I was wondering there a moment. :D No worries!

[shiromadoushi]

[[Bakura steps forward, a slight touch nervous (since really, there's always some sort of cost to pay for things like this, but he's never shied away from that before)]]

What do you need me to do?

[foolishwren]

<sub>[It doesn't answer.]

[Instead, faster than than the eye can follow, one of those lean, sinuous arms snaps out, the leather-gloved fingers clamping shut around Bakura's throat in an iron grip. Then it lifts... lifts him into the air, fingers tightening all the while. He is not like the Closer or the Nurse, randomly violent and aggressive. He has a job to do.]

[You see... Valtiel can't be entirely sure that you weren't the one who hurt Heather... or, even if you hadn't, if you hadn't snatched up her body for your own sick pleasure like that Stanley fellow would have done if he had even a ghost of a chance.]

[Stanley's already been taken care of, of course.]

[No hard feelings, buddy. Valtiel is just doing his job... anything to ensure the safety of the Mother and Daughter of God.]</sub>

[shiromadoushi]

[[Really, he should have expected that.

There's a small, choked sound as Bakura tries to gasp in, clawing desperately at the hand cutting off the airflow.

What was it with being inside games that always lead to him dying in an attempt to save someone else?]]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[There is no mercy in that faceless face.]

[The fist grows tighter and tighter... and as commonly happens when something is choking you to death, Bakura will find his vision going rapidly dark...]</sub>

What does it say about Bakura's live that I have fitting icons for this?

[shiromadoushi]

[[He's not sure if this hurts more or less than shattering his soul, but oh god, it hurts.

It's almost a mercy when the familiar darkness comes rushing in and he goes limp, giving into it. Only there's no Ring Spirit to come out and save him here, so his body, now abandoned, just dangles at the end of that grip.]]