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    • Insider2000
      Insider2000
      last edited by
      Insider2000
      spiral
      Insider2000
      spiral

      If I do any writing, this is most likely where I will post it.

      My first bit for the bi-writing project will be two unrelated chapters. One, I've written for October's writing project here on APForums, and the other that's new.

      Both are basically one shots/concepts for my villains and their personalities.

      Chapter: "The Show Must Go On"

      ! Chapter: "The Show Must Go On"
      Puppeteer Villain Trial
      ! Children rushed to the center of town. An old but large shack in the middle of a rural African town stood quietly. The only person who ever really walked into the shack was the town elder. He generally walked in with food, and then stepped out empty handed. Rumor had it, anyone else that walked into that hut would never be seen again. However, there is something more.
      ! The children piled up behind the shack. Behind it, a somewhat large but dark window on the hut caught their attention. They watched patiently and began to huddle around as if they were waiting for something to happen.
      ! Suddenly, a wooden puppet popped up from the window. "Hello, children." The puppet spoke with a jolly and silly voice. "How has your day been?" The children responded with various answer. "Now, now! Not all at once! Little old Chuckie can only take so much!" The children giggled.
      ! Another puppet appeared. She had a girlish figure and a red dress. Her name was Carrie. "But Chuckie! I'm sure these kids had a great day, today! Like me! Today, I caught my very first fish with my papa!"
      ! "That's very nice, Carrie!" Chuckie proceeded to yak, but behind him, another puppet appeared. He seemed soaked and old. Not as pleasant as the other two. His name was Jason. Jason slowly moved towards Chuckie. Chuckie suddenly felt a presence behind him. The puppet turned and screamed in fear, "AAAAAAAAAAAGGH!!!". The children laughed. "OH! Jason! You scared me!"
      ! Jason moved back a bit, and didn't say anything. Carrie tilted her head. "It's okay Jason. You don't have to be shy." Jason immediately ran away. "Aw, Jason come back." The kids looked for Jason curiously.
      ! Chuckie sighed. "Jason scares me sometimes."
      ! "Why? Jason is our friend!"
      ! "Yeah, but he's always so quiet and weird."
      ! Carrie tapped Chuckie on the shoulder. "And you're always loud and obnoxious!" The kids laughed loudly.
      ! "Oh yeah! Well you're always such a know it all!"
      ! Carrie nodded. "Yeah, but we're still friends, right?"
      ! "Yeah! That's true!" Chuckie twiddled his little hands. "Okay, maybe I was a little mean to Jason."
      ! Carrie turned towards the kids. "And Jason is our friend right!?" The kids called in agreement. "That's right! Just because you don't understand someone doesn't make them bad! Unless they're Professor Freddy!"
      ! A tall and strange puppet appeared. "Hello kids! Do any of you want to come with me? I'm going to a fun place!" The kids started to hiss.
      ! "NO!" Carrie somehow stomped her foot. The puppeteer seems to have a strange control over his puppets. "I don't go with strangers unless my mommy tells me otherwise! Don't make me call my mommy!"
      ! "NO! Not Mother Angela!" The kids started to giggle as if they knew what was coming.
      ! Suddenly, a puppet resembling a muscular woman came to stage. Angela proceeded to scream at Professor Freddy. "Are you trying to take my baby!"
      ! "Madam! No! I'm just trying to…."
      ! "TAKE THIS!" Angela punched Professor Freddy, sending him flying across the stage. He screamed all the way. The children laughed wildly.
      ! Chuckie turned to the crowd. "Wait a minute. If I'm correct, I heard it's someone's birthday today!" The kids hushed and all looked at one girl.
      ! Carrie spoke out. "That's right! Would Salsa please come to the front of the stage!" A young girl rushed toward the puppets with a huge smile on her face. "Hello Salsa!"
      ! Salsa smiled. "Hello Chuckie and Carrie!"
      ! Chuckie started bouncing. "Boy do we have a present for you!" Behind the curtains, a shambling figure slowly limped toward a shelf. He grabbed something from it and let a string grab it from above. Chuckie continued. "And now, here it is!"
      ! In the center of the stage, a small, cloth doll resembling a smiling cat slowly lowered down to the stage. Salsa grabbed it and proceeded to hug it. "A panther? My favorite! How did you know?"
      ! Carrie laughed. "Heh heh. That's cause I know everything." The kids giggled. "Now, who wants to..~" Carrie's sentence was cut short by gunfire. Citizens began running across town. Children were grabbed by their parents as everyone sought shelter. Salsa turned towards the puppets and waved goodbye as she was carried away by her father. The puppets waved back.
      ! People huddled in the houses surrounding the puppeteer's hut. Despite the chaos, the puppets stayed on stage. Chatting with one another. As they continued to talk, the source of the gun fire came into view.
      ! A small band of raiders marched into the town. Five to be exact. Each armed to the teeth with machine guns, pistols, and machetes. They fired bullets into the sky, as to scare the people away. They moved towards the town center, where both the granaries and the puppeteer's hut both stood.
      ! The leader of the bunch, a middle aged man wearing silver rimmed glasses spoke up, "As of now, we are guests to your kind and humble village. I welcome myself. I am Kenneth Oliver." He took off his sunglasses. His dark skin gave contrasted to his piercing bright eyes. He gave a hospitable stare. "As guests, we demand food. My men have been wandering for days."
      ! People huddled in fear. Parents clutched their children closely. The village elder did not watch the raiders with fear, but quietly watched the puppets moving around. It was as if he were waiting for something to happen.
      ! "We will be taking your food. Both for now and extra for our trip home." The leader gave a crude smile. "We're going to be needing some help carrying our supplies, so we'll take some of your children." The villagers started to whisper to each other in fear.
      ! One of the raiders leaned over and spoke into the leader's ear. The leader smiled. "And we'll be taking five women of our choice with us as well."
      ! Suddenly, Chuckie spoke up. "Aww, but won't the men feel left out?"
      ! Kenneth turned, raised his eyebrow, and laughed. "What is this shit? A puppet?"
      ! "Sir. I asked you a question."
      ! Kenneth immediately pulled out his pistol and shot Chuckie. Carrie immediately turned to Chuckie. "Oh my! You shot Chuckie! That wasn't very nice!"
      ! Chuckie immediately got up. He had a hole through his wooden skull. "I'm okay, everyone!" Kenneth shot the puppet again.
      ! Carrie turned toward Kenneth. "You're a jerk!" Kenneth proceeds to shoot Carrie. Kenneth laughs. As Kenneth put his gun away, another puppet came up.
      ! "Idiot!" Kenneth immediately raised his gun and shot that puppet. Upon shooting that one, two more appeared. "IDIOT!" Both puppets spoke with different voices. He shot both. Suddenly, the stage started to flood with puppets. Dozens of them. All of them chanted, "Idiot!" as if they were singing a song. Kenneth lowered his gun with annoyance.
      ! "Hey!" He turned to his men. "Go in there, and kill whatever piece of shit is doing that!" Two men slowly marched into the hut. They kicked down the front door and immediately barged in. Kenneth turned his attention toward the villagers.
      ! The village elder tilted his face down and gave a small prayer. In his words, he did not fear the fate of his people, but the fate of those two raiders. Kenneth continued speaking, "Now then..." Before he could say anything else, gunshots were inside the hut. Kenneth turned toward the hut with a smile. However, the gunshots were joined with the screaming of both men. Eventually, the gunshots stopped and both men stopped screaming.
      ! Kenneth waved his other two men to follow him to the shack. He knew something was wrong. Both men followed. All three stood at the front door. Kenneth's two lackeys moved ahead and stood in the doorway. Suddenly, wires shot across the room and grabbed both men. They fired their guns, which were quickly pulled away by the wires. Kenneth's men were dragged into the abyss of the shack.
      ! Kenneth grabbed a flashlight and looked deep inside. No one was there. The area behind the stage was empty. Not even a puppet. Kenneth readied his pistol with flashlight at hand and slowly entered the shack. The villagers knew he would never return.
      ! Kenneth called out to his men, but no one responded. As he wandered, he stopped at a strange shelf. On the shelf sat four dolls. One doll, a girly one with bright pink hair, sat peacefully surrounded by flowers. It was as if the doll was continuously cleaned and taken care of. One shelf down, a blue doll resembling some sort of creature. Little care was taken of it, but it was still somewhat clean.
      ! The shelf below had a red doll, similar to the one above. However, the doll was in pieces. Its left arm was gone, and half of its face was missing. But then the bottom shelf had the scariest case. A doll covered in stitches. Several daggers surrounded the doll. It was as if someone would continuously stab the doll, but sews back shut. Most of the doll was hard to identify, except the dolls face and hair. It seemed like a blonde woman. Kenneth couldn't tell from so much dirt.
      ! Kenneth immediately turned around. He could see a red light in the form of a small dot across the room. The dot slowly turned larger, as if something was approaching him. He lifted the flashlight toward the dot. Kenneth could get a small glimpse of the creature. All he could really see was his teeth, bare without skin or mouth. Before he could see anything else, the flashlight was pulled away by a collection of strings.
      ! Kenneth aimed his pistol and shot directly toward the creature. The bullet pierced the creature’s skull, but the creature moved on. Before Kenneth could take another shot, the strange wires than grabbed the gun from his hand. The wires carried the gun, turned it towards Kenneth, and shot one of his kneecaps. Kenneth fell to the ground.
      ! The creature quietly spoke. "If I could die, I would have killed myself long ago." Wires grabbed Kenneth, pushing him forward. The wires forced him to sit on a chair in the middle of the room. The creature stood behind him, forcing him never to turn around to see his face. He made Kenneth focus on a stage in the opposite side of the room. Lights shined on the stage.
      ! His four men stood, being supported by wires. All four of them were dead. Their eyes, rolled back from their struggle. Bruises around their neck from being strangled. Blood pouring from their mouths, and yet their mouths could move. They could move as if they were alive, because the wires, all pouring out from the back of the creature...the puppeteer, were using their corpses as puppets themselves.
      ! The corpses danced all together in perfect synch. Jazz music poured from a nearby record player. The puppeteer laughed to himself. "Such a wonderful show, isn't it?"
      ! Kenneth shook in horror. "What have you done?" The puppeteer put his boney hand on Kenneth's shoulder. "What kind of monster are you!?"
      ! "I'm a monster created by men like you. You showed me no mercy, so why should I show any of you sympathy." The puppeteer used his wires to bring Chuckie forward.
      ! Chuckie spoke to Kenneth. "You stripped him of dignity in life, why should any of you have it in death?"
      ! Carrie was carried over and spoke as well, "These people struggle everyday just to try to survive, and you come here expecting me to allow you to just take whatever you want?"
      ! The puppeteer used his wires to grab a doll. The doll from the bottom of the shelf. The wires carried the doll next to the puppeteer. "What's that mother?" Kenneth could get a small glance of the doll, covered in stitches and now with a new dagger in it. "You don't want me to kill him?"
      ! The corpses of Kenneth's men fell to the ground. The wires abandoned every puppet in the room, except the puppeteer's 'mother'. The room fell silent. "You turned me into this....horrible monster....I was your science experiment. I was your creation. I was your greatest project... And none of those were because I was your son! It was all your pathetic brilliance of bringing the dead back to life." The wires started to crush the doll. "Mother...the dead....should stay dead."
      ! The wires immediately began to strangle Kenneth. "Kenneth...tell my mother what I said...tell her in the deepest pit of Hell." The puppeteer held his 'mother' at hand. "I have no intentions of seeing you any time soon, mother. I've sent a messenger for you." Kenneth struggled and slowly started to fade. "Unlike you, I have people I need to protect. I cannot abandon them." A sudden snap ended that sentence. The snap of a neck.
      ! The front door of the shack slowly opened. Salsa, the birthday girl, slowly walked in. In an instant, the puppeteer covered the corpses in cloth, killed the lights, and hid in the shadows. He used a few wires to lift Chuckie. Chuckie slowly floated toward Salsa. "Salsa? What are you doing in here? It's your birthday! You should be outside having fun!"
      ! Salsa tried to look behind Chuckie, but Carrie joined to block her view. "Go outside and have fun. You deserve it." Salsa turned and started to leave. She stopped suddenly, and turned back. The puppets still floated there, smiling. Waiting for her to leave. Salsa started to walk away, until she noticed a doll on the floor. The doll from the top shelf. The pink haired girly doll.
      ! Salsa picked her up. Chuckie and Carrie flew back into darkness. Wires moved rapidly and grabbed something else. Slowly, a faceless and colorless puppet floated forward. "Can I have my doll back?" The puppet reached its arms out.
      ! Salsa turned toward the puppet. "Who is she?"
      ! The faceless doll replied, "She's my sister. And I love her very much."
      ! Salsa put the doll on the floor and slowly left the shack. The door quietly closed behind her. The puppeteer returned his puppets and dolls to their proper place. He lifted the corpses and used wires lifting meat cleavers to chop them up. He prepared a pot for the meal. He knew the elder didn't need to supply him with meat for the next few weeks now. He had enough meat prepared.
      ! While preparing dinner, he quietly sat at small work shop. Using his only arm, he lifted a note stating a date, the name of a child, and a type of toy. "Three days from now....Kyle....he wants a toy elephant". Wires poured from his back and started building the birthday present. He stood up and sat in his favorite chair, where he'd ponder what tomorrow's puppet show will be about. A few wires quietly repaired Chuckie and Carrie from the gunshots.
      ! While working, wires lifted the doll of his sister. He brought towards his hand. "Sister...this is the only way I can redeem myself. I was supposed to be there for you...but look what I've become..." Wires put the doll back.
      ! "I'm so sorry...You can never see me like this..." He slowly nodded off to sleep. Though in deep slumber, his wires continued to work at normal speed. He didn't want to stop protecting these people. He didn't want the show to end. He didn't want the curtain to fall.
      ! The show must go on.

      Chapter: "Destiny of the Pet"

      ! Chapter: "Destiny of the Pet"
      The Chosen Ones Trial
      ! Her surroundings were grey. A pale mirror of reality, fractured by chaos of Him. She had to find him. Ridley would save her from this nightmare, but purgatory has no direction. Natasha hid inside an empty swimming pool. She could hear Carrion outside, flapping her massive wings as she searched the roof of the school. Natasha climbed out the pool, and ran straight for the nearest door.
      ! The school hallway was empty, as it should be. Only the dead would linger these halls, and no dead soul would even consider getting close to Him. Her wet, bare feet allowed for quiet movement, and her plain and white, summer dress kept her hidden amongst the grey.
      ! Countless doors gave her countless options, but the she knew that she wasn't alone. She could hear the scrapping of Exodus, scrapping his metallic needle legs against the floor as he walked. She rushed into a nearby locker room, just as Exodus' horrid, horse like face peered into the room.
      ! Natasha was greeted with tears of a familiar creature. Carol sat quietly on a locker room bench, to mourn. Carol held her baby tightly, crying while the baby remained silent. Natasha walked across the locker room, knowing Carol would not touch her. Carol is not of the Chosen Ones. She is an specter created by the human fear of loss. Should any living or dead soul cross Carol's path, she would relentlessly scratch them into pieces. And God help whatever poor soul gets too close to Carol's baby. Luckily for Natasha, she is neither dead or alive. Carol has no interest.
      ! She stepped quietly into the next room, the gymnasium. She was only greeted by the room's massive size and intense silence. Natasha had attempted to escape before. She could never get far enough from the Chosen Ones, especially when He knows where she is at all times. It is unknown whether He lets her escape for His own entertainment or simply neglects her.
      ! Natasha sat in the center of the gym and cradled her eyes with her hands. "Ridley. Where are you?" Her meek voice left no echo. "I need you. I don't want to do this anymore!" She started to cry. There was no hope in her escape, and she knew it. Her tears, however, were interrupted by the sound of a violin being played. She froze, afraid to look. All at once, she could hear the sound of voices, rapidly chatting. She immediately darted her eyes to her surroundings. Everything had changed.
      ! No longer a gymnasium, the room she stood in shined of bright gold. Standing around her, beautiful men and women danced and laughed happily. She spun, as the room and the ambiance swallowed her sorrow. She knew it was a lie, but it was a wonderful, beautiful lie. She ran around the ballroom, laughing with the people she passed. The chandeliers spun with her eyes, and the music waltzed the crowd into a stupor. It was ecstasy.
      ! The crowd froze, as a triumphant horn blared to prepare the stage. Everyone turned toward the stage. The room began to flood with feathers. Divine and glowing feathers flew across the room like snow. She smiled as tears shined her eyes. The crowd scattered, and left her in the center of the ballroom. A man walked toward the center of the stage. He was beautiful. His long white hair framed his perfect face. His faint eyes looked as if he were in tears, despite the contrary. His faint smile expressed his joyful return to his true love. Ridley lifted his arm out to the ballroom, with his hand reaching for Natasha.
      ! Natasha watched with amazement. Could it be that she had finally found freedom? Had Ridley finally found her? She knew it was a lie, but believed it was the truth. She lifted her arm to reach for Ridley. Before taking a step, she felt an arm grab her shoulder. Natasha turned.
      ! A young man held her shoulder firmly. Short and messy brown hair rested on his scalp, and a mask of endless gold hid his face. She could only see his eyes. His worried, pain filled eyes gave her warning. She knew he was right. Everything was a lie. It was too perfect to ever be real. The young man noticed her stare of pain. With an understanding stare, he let go of her shoulder. She turned back to Ridley. He still stood there, smiling.
      ! Natasha, no longer smiling, walked towards her love. She knew what was going to happen. It didn't feel real. She grasped Ridley's hand. It felt like his hand. She kissed his lips. It felt like his kiss. He whispered into her ear. It felt like his voice. Natasha hugged her lover, and he proceed to return the hug. Once their embrace connected, Ridley's wings sprouted from his back. The millions of divine feathers began wrapping around the two and their embrace. For two seconds, she felt safe.
      ! In an instance, he vanished. The millions of feather covering them fell to the floor and the surroundings returned to the familiar, bleak gym. The feathers drifted off. She knew He created that image. She looked around, assuming that either He or the Chosen Ones were waiting inside with her. No one was in plain sight.
      ! However, a drip of water fell from the ceiling. Natasha looked up. Trinculo hung on the ceiling pipes. He stared down at her with his sadistic smile and red irises. He started laughing uncontrollably, summoning the other Chosen Ones to the gym with his laughter. Trinculo swung himself on the different pipes of the gym and got himself onto solid ground. He didn't chase after Natasha, who stood in the middle of the feather pile, defeated. Instead, he sat on the floor and proceeded to clap with his feet and laugh at her failure.
      ! Exodus slammed the gym door open and proceeded to let out his horrible neigh. He charged at Natasha, screeching on the floor as he ran, and proceeded to whip her. With every strike, he forced Natasha to stare into his horrible, wide and empty eyes. However, his attack was cut short when a window smashed open inside the gym. Carrion slammed into the window and got inside the gym.
      ! Exodus stepped away as Carrion swiftly landed in front of Natasha. "Did you think you would escape?"
      ! Natasha did not speak.
      ! "Must I eat your eyes for you to see your own stupidity? You belong to us, Natasha." Carrion placed her right talon on Natasha's throat. Natasha still would not speak. Annoyed, Carrion tightened her grip. Natasha shook, feeling herself suffocating. She would not die, so such a death did not phase her.
      ! Trinculo's laughter continued the entire time, until he noticed a familiar sight. And there He stood. Uriel. His red armor bleeding fear. His faceless helmet staring at Natasha. "Carrion. Please. I need to speak with my pet."
      ! Carrion turned toward her master, and moved away from Natasha. Exodus bowed in fear. Trinculo stopped laughing.
      ! Uriel approached Natasha. "My love. Do you realize how much I love you?"
      ! Natasha would not respond.
      ! "I don't do this because I hate you. Don't you understand Natasha? You are my favorite toy." Uriel dragged His sharp gauntlet across Natasha's cheek. "Anyone else would wish for such treatment from me."
      ! Trinculo laughed. Uriel turned His head toward Trinculo, stopping his laughter. Uriel turned back to his pet. "Don't you understand? I remove your bones so I can watch you struggle to move away from the insect swarm. I remove your eyes and watch you wander a maze of fire without sight. I remove your voice and listen to your silent screams as I feed you to Styx." Natasha cringes at her memory of being eaten by that hound, countless times.
      ! "You are special my child, and thus, you deserve special placement amongst the suffering." He caresses her hair gently. "The angels and demons of Heaven and Hell are lost. They search for their God they never knew, and yet, don't even realize that God is waiting to arise anew, here in Purgatory. Pathetic fools."
      ! Natasha finally spoke. "But the Creator created even you."
      ! "Don't preach me of creators, pet." He grabbed her small head between His gauntlets. "Your Creator placed you in this situation. Your faith lies in nothingness and a being who will never come for you, Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. We are all abandoned, pet. Understand this now, and you'll soon accept me as God."
      ! Small footsteps echoed throughout the room. Uriel turned at the sound. "Belia? Are you in here?"
      ! Belia lowered her veil, disposing her cloak. She could be seen by all. Her skin, covered in black, rotten spot, hides her true, unmatched beauty. She quickly rushed toward Uriel, and hugged his waist. "Uriel. I did what you told me to!" She groped his armor closely, embracing it to fulfill her lust. "It seems the demon of Hell have interest in some young boy."
      ! "Belia. Do not interrupt me."
      ! "But Master. Raphael has spoken to the humans in person!" Belia stressed, out loud to herself. "I saw it myself, I…" Uriel threw her across the gym.
      ! "What did you say?" Uriel turned her attention toward Belia. "Why would a demon, let alone the current Satan, speak to the human race?"
      ! Natasha neglected the discussion and immediately rushed toward a nearby fire exit. Uriel knew of her escape, but made no attempt to stop her. Before any of his minions attempted to chase her, Uriel ordered them to come to him.
      ! All Natasha could do was run. There was no hope in her steps, but she ran. As she ran, she could hear the screams of the dead. She managed to run outside of Uriel's influence and managed to find the dead humans of the world trying to find their way to Heaven or Hell. They could not see Natasha, but Natasha had no intentions to confront them.
      ! Her relentless running led her to a massive church. The architecture brought fear to her soul. The massive windows made the building look like it were made of ice. She sought shelter inside, no matter how pointless it was.
      ! She had never been inside a church before. The sight of a statue of Jesus Christ crucified startled her. She gazed at the statue in fear and awe. She didn't understand who has was, but she felt sympathy for him. "We still haven't figured out who sent him." An unfamiliar voice spoke up in the room.
      ! Natasha turned in fear. A voluptuous woman stood, staring triumphantly at the statue. Her seductive make-up and clothing made Natasha realize she was speaking to a succubus. "You're....a demon. Why are you here?"
      ! "Not even the angels of Heaven were able to explain Jesus Christ. None of them sent him. Same goes for many powerful religious symbols of the human race. This era of humanity has most certainly been interesting."
      ! "Are you saying that the Creator had a hand in forging the human race's religion?"
      ! The succubus flashed her eyelashes. "Child. The Creator had a hand on this planet, and we didn't even know. We are so blind to say that the Creator does not exist, and yet, he stands around us and watches us."
      ! "So....he is real?"
      ! The succubus gave a concerned look. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." She changed pose. "I am Lilith. You are Uriel's pet, yes?"
      ! "How did you..."
      ! "Hush. Time is short, and I must give you a message." Lilith put her hand on Natasha's shoulder. "I need you to have faith. Many of Uriel's minions were created and made into the monster they are because they believed in him. Do not believe him. He speaks nonsense and lies!"
      ! "Are you trying to destroy him? Please help me escape! I can't take this anymore!"
      ! "Listen to me. I can't help you escape at the moment. But, I need you to serve a purpose." Lilith reached into her pocket and retrieved a music box. Opening the box, the box played a soft and kind song. "I need you to remember this song."
      ! "That's it? How will that help me at all?"
      ! "Hush! Take the box with you, and listen to it whenever you can." Lilith gave her the music box. Natasha tried to take the box, but Lillith tightened her grip. Natasha looked at Lilith in the eyes. "Do everything he says, but believe nothing. Listen to this music box as often as you can, and realize who you're true allies are. Only then will Ridley come for you."
      ! "What! You know about Ridley?" Lilith suddenly faded to dust. "No! Don't leave me!" The room was quiet again. She was alone. Frustrated, she didn't understand what the music box accomplished. However, in the first time in centuries, she felt hope. She had a possible chance to break free. She opened the music box. The song continued to play, as the tiny dancer spun inside. She smiled and felt at peace.
      ! Uriel's footsteps echoed the church, but Natasha made no movement. "Who were you talking to, my pet?"
      ! Natasha looked up. "Jesus Christ." She pointed to the statue.
      ! "He has no interest in you. You're not human." He walked toward Natasha. "I need you to do something for me, my pet." Uriel noticed the music box. "Where did you get that?"
      ! "I found it here. On this bench." She closed it. She felt fear, as she felt Uriel's cold stare. "Can I hold onto it? Please?"
      ! "Why keep such a useless trinket?"
      ! "Master, I will happily do whatever you wish of me and give my entire faith to you, if you let me keep this music box."
      ! "Why would have any interested in......Very well. You may keep the music box." Uriel placed His hand on her cheek. "But first, can you smile for me?"
      ! Natasha gave a beautiful smile. Her hope and freedom shined behind that smile.
      ! "You're smile is divine my pet." He suddenly grabbed her jaw. "I wish you smiled more often."
      ! "What is it you wish of me, master?"
      ! Uriel looked deeply into her smile. He grabbed her jaw, and forced her to make a bigger smile. "You've just given me an idea for a new army, and a plan."
      ! Natasha could sense the other Chosen Ones surrounding the church. Carrion's wings flapped around the church. She had nowhere to run, but now, no reason to run. In her hand lied her possible freedom. Hope had been revived, and the beginning of a new war has begun.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ChesCa
        ChesCa
        last edited by
        ChesCa
        spiral
        ChesCa
        spiral

        I've already commented on the Show Must Go On, so here's my thoughts on the other one:
        [hide]
        I like the quick and speedy introduction of the cast of characters here. The only downside is that there isn't TOO much description, but you give us enough to make a basic mental picture and fill in the rest.
        I also like how the plot doesn't stop moving, but everything is still in action. As for the plot itself, I'm intrigued.
        I look forward to more from you. 😄[/hide]

        Insider2000 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Insider2000
          Insider2000 @ChesCa
          @ChesCa last edited by
          Insider2000
          spiral
          Insider2000
          spiral

          Yeah, I admit to kind of ignoring my description for each creature, but I did that on purpose to an extent. I want purgatory and the abominations of purgatory to be an existence of one's own mind. Anyone in purgatory would witness their greatest fears, and each experience is unique to each person.

          So the description of each monster is somewhat left for you to figure out. Although, Trinculo and Carrion didn't have enough description. However, I can give a full description of how I see each of these creatures.

          Either way, this would definitely not be the last time a reader would see of any of these characters. Especially Uriel and Carrion.

          Also, Natasha looks completely human with long, curly brown hair.

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          • Jazzy Jinx
            Jazzy Jinx
            last edited by
            Jazzy Jinx
            spiral
            Jazzy Jinx
            spiral

            Fuck you, Insider. Fuck you for being so good at writing.

            ! Of the two, the first one was definitely my favorite. I feel like the first one moves at a perfect pace and vividly paints a picture whereas the second one could have stood slowing down a bit. And as rushed and panicked as the second one's atmosphere should be, I felt like we could have spent more time building into the tension with slower pacing. Also, I can understand that you wanted to leave it up to the reader as to what the demons looked like in the second one but it's still good to provide a sturdier base to attach personalities to. Finally, the second suffered from a few grammar errors unlike the first one.
            ! The first story was amazing. And the second story is still very much above average. Of the two, if you were to spend any time editing for improvement, I'd spend it on the second one and even then, the editing is minor. I very much look forward to seeing more work by you. You deserve to be the winner of the first bi-weekly.~

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            • Insider2000
              Insider2000
              last edited by
              Insider2000
              spiral
              Insider2000
              spiral

              Thanks, Kenny. Next deadline, I'll hopefully be able to join.

              I wasn't able to reach the next deadline cause of college, but at the same time, I just didn't like the direction my story was going. I dropped it entirely, but I might pick it back up when I'm in the mood for it. I'm torn between that story and a new one, so we'll see what happens.

              And again, I'm still okay for judging.

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              • Insider2000
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                • Insider2000
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                  Reflections of Sin
                  PART-1

                  ! "We've finally got the bastard." Officer Christine Cyrus tied up her long white hair. "I'm calling our arrival."
                  ! Officer Kurt Prodigy nodded as he drove. "I think the town will sleep better after today." Their car sped past a red light with sirens blare.
                  ! Miami was never the type of place Christine ever thought of living in. She was never one for beaches or hot weather. But Miami had its sinners. And every wrist she slapped made her feel closer and closer to redemption.
                  ! "This is Officer Cyrus! Prodigy and I are on our way to hotel. Do not pursuit. Repeat! Do not pursuit!"
                  ! Kurt sighed. "Always have to be the hero, Christine?" It didn't bother him, as much as it did worry him.
                  ! "I'm sorry. Anyone else, and I'd let everyone else join. But I can risk losing any of you. Not for this creep, anyway." She spoke back into the radio. "Are we sure Billy Walter is in this dump?"
                  ! Chief Doakes Burton spoke on the other line. "Our witness described a man with Billy's exact features. Facial scar and all. The witness saw Billy closing the trunk of his car. He swears he saw a woman inside the trunk."
                  ! "Fuck! Chief, let me…"
                  ! "I'll think about it, Cyrus. How far are you?"
                  ! Kurt spoke up. "We're almost there. Chief. How are we doing this? Silent or loud?"
                  ! "Silent, Kurt. If you're close, turn off your sirens. We don't need Billy knowing we're here just yet." Billy had never left any of his victims alive. There was no doubt that if Billy knew he was cornered, his new victim would share a similar fate.
                  ! "Roger." Kurt immediately killed the sirens. A small sight of five police cars pilling up around an old hotel came into view. Their car rolled in silently.
                  ! Christine slipped out of the car immediately. She was ready for the worst.
                  ! Chief Burton turned his eyes towards her. Chief was a short man. Dark skin with piercing eyes. Christine always called him the ultimate bullshit detector. It was a title he honestly enjoyed. "Christine, I know you want in there, but we have to plan out the situation."
                  ! Christine nodded. "I know. That's fine."
                  ! Kurt pat her on the back. "Listen. We can't use you as our meat shield all the time. We have to get paid for something, you know." He was most kidding, but Christine didn't find it funny. She wanted to be their meat shield. She wanted to take all their pain and leave it for herself. "How many entrances does this place have?"
                  ! Christine examined the hotel. Broken windows were covered by large sheets of plastic. The place was a wreck and reports stated that it was to be demolished in five months. The hotel stood seven stories tall. "...What the..." For a quick moment, Christine swore she could see a face staring through the window. It didn't resemble Billy. In fact, it was a very pale face. The only visible feature she could identify was a large, disturbing smile. Teeth protruding like in hysteria. The person moved away in an instant.
                  ! Kurt readied his gun. "Christine. You and me are entering the building from the back with a few others. You with me?" Christine was still watching the window. "You alright?"
                  ! Christine nodded. "Yeah. Sorry."
                  ! "Don't freak me out like that." Kurt was a good friend of Christine. They dated for a short time, but private complications broke them up. However, they are the closet of friends and partners. Kurt, age 29, was sharpest shooters known in the crew. He was a very good looking man. Curly auburn hair. Piercing blue eyes. He often reminded Christine of her brother, only far more mature.
                  ! "Kurt. I'm fine." She rubbed her eyes. "Chief. We need move."
                  ! "I know, Christine. We're waiting on two more officers."
                  ! Christine felt the urge to bust into the hotel on her own. She knew it would make things worse, but the anxiety was killing her.
                  ! Kurt got a quick glance as the hotel's front door. The door had a large window, allowing sight of the inside, but the window was covered with plastic like the others. Kurt tilted his head. Something was running towards the door from the inside! "Guys! Something's coming!" Officers turned towards the door and readied their pistols. As everyone turned, they could see the figure as well. It was running in a frantic and horrifying way, as if it were in a panic. The figure stumbled, but had clear direction aiming towards the front door. Everyone prepared for the worst.
                  ! The door slammed open. A young woman covered in tears and blood shot out of the door. She froze like a deer in headlights and screamed. She fell to the floor in fear of being shot.
                  ! Chief called out to the crowd. "Weapons down! Weapons down!"
                  ! Kurt ran to the woman. She fit the only description the witness could give of her: blonde hair. "It's alright. We're here to help you!" Kurt picked her up. She flailed her arms in a slight panic, but not out of resistance. She was afraid of being touched. Kurt let go. The woman curled up into a fetal position.
                  ! "Thank you......thank you....." She reached out for Kurt. Her shoulder bled from a massive wound. She was clearly holding onto her exposed abdomen, which clearly had several small cuts. As she looked up towards Kurt, he could get a glimpse of several cuts drawn across her face and blood smeared across her lips.
                  ! "We need a medic!" Kurt turned toward the woman. "You'll be alright. Just hang on." She nodded. She was slowly recovering from her hysteria.
                  ! "Chief!" Christine turned toward Burton. Burton sighed, but then nodded. It was time. Christine, a woman appearing to be in her late thirties, was a private woman. She would often tell people that she was born in Maine. Her parents, living in an old house by a fishing dock. Even her white hair, she dyed because she loved the color white. These were lies. No one knew the true Christine, except her brother. Her fellow officers knew some of her secrets. They knew her real name, which was never Christine. They knew a little of her family. But most importantly, they knew her darkest secret.
                  ! Kurt turned his head toward Christine. "Just be careful!" She opened the front door and stepped in.
                  ! TO BE CONTINUED

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                  • ChesCa
                    ChesCa
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                    Oh my, is that a Doakes homage I see?~
                    About the story itself: Can't really say anything except it's a really good hook. At worst, it feels like we just got to a commercial break instead of the end of an episode.
                    Glad to see you're still keeping your skills in shape.

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                    • Insider2000
                      Insider2000 @ChesCa
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                      @Cuddles:

                      Oh my, is that a Doakes homage I see?~

                      wink

                      If you take notice, I never mention 'Doakes' as his name again, even in the future parts of this series. I like making homages with minor characters. I don't do it TOO often, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I enjoyed it.

                      About the story itself: Can't really say anything except it's a really good hook. At worst, it feels like we just got to a commercial break instead of the end of an episode.
                      Glad to see you're still keeping your skills in shape.

                      I'll admit that that is most likely the chapter's biggest weakness.

                      As I mentioned in the Bi-Weekly Thread, I've written the entire series out already. This is one-fourth of it. I though it would be wrong to submit a 36000 character submission, while several only submitted 5000.

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                      • trappedolphin
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                        hey Grandma! 😄 I like this, characters seem interesting and like Cuddles said, it's a great (well he said really good but I think it's great) hook! I did spot a couple of spelling/grammatical errors here and there though, but nothing that disrupts the story too much. 🙂

                        Handsome man save me from the monsters.

                        Avatar credits to rcerione

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                        • Insider2000
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                          Sorry about that. I try to keep my spelling errors low. I type my stuff on Notepad, so I don't really have a spell checker besides myself.

                          I hate that I had to make the chapter a hook. I have the next one ready and everything. Ugh! It's fine, I'll post the next one when I get out of my last final exam Wednesday.

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                          • Jazzy Jinx
                            Jazzy Jinx
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                            Jazzy Jinx
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                            There should be a spell check for the "Quick Reply" and "Advanced Reply" boxes. Though if you haven't installed it already, you may need to.

                            Or you could use firefox.

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                            • Insider2000
                              Insider2000
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                              I use Google Chrome, and it does have a spell check. I can't really speak for 'The Show Must Go On' or 'Destiny of the Pet' as I didn't edit those all that much, but I DID try Google Chrome. I most likely missed some.

                              Next time, I'll have more time to edit.

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                                Reflections of Sin
                                PART-2

                                PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE READING THIS CHAPTER:
                                1. The following chapter has some disturbing and horror elements, so if you're not comfortable with those ties, just giving a heads up.
                                2. I HIGHLY recommend hearing this song at least once just so you can understand something in the chapter. If you already know the song, there will be no need.

                                Enjoy.

                                ! –--
                                Alone, Christine readied her gun and flashlight. The room was empty, but not silent. Somewhere in the old hotel, she could hear a radio playing.
                                ! I've got you…under my skin!
                                I've got you...deep in the heart of me!
                                So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me...

                                ! "Frank Sinatra?" Christine whispered under her breath. The song echoed throughout the hotel. As she approached the sound, she noticed it was actually several floors up. She gazed up and could see the several floors above her. She could see the balcony of each floor on the heightened ceiling above her. The old place looked like it could have been a real jewel of a place for its time. Standing amongst her were old dining tables, covered in plastic and web. It looked as if people had abandoned this place without so much as a second glance.
                                ! –-------------------------------------
                                ! Outside, Chief rubbed the sweat off his forehead. "God dammit, Christine. You better keep your head up!"
                                ! "Chief!" Kurt approached him.
                                ! "How's the girl?"
                                ! "She's being bandaged up. Medic's got it covered for now. But an ambulance is on its way."
                                ! "Be sure to get some answers out of her before it does."
                                ! Kurt nodded. "So....Chief. What's up with this old place?"
                                ! "You mean the Saint Uriel Hotel? Did you ever hear about the Seventh Floor Suicide?" Kurt declined. "In 1993, this place did pretty well for itself. I remember coming here once or twice. They had a few issues with some thugs hanging around the dumpsters. Used to drive me crazy." Chief checked on the front door of the hotel, and then looked back toward Kurt. "Then one day...bunch of cultists come over to the hotel. They buy out all the rooms on the seventh floor. Next morning? A maid walks in one of the rooms. A woman, lying face down in bed, covered in blood. Not a pretty sight."
                                ! "Wait. So what happened?"
                                ! "Sick fucks decided to kill themselves in their rooms. Thought it would allow a demon to awaken from beneath the hotel or something. Every room on the seventh floor had a dead body. Same cuts. Same body positions. Same symbols on the way. After that?" Chief laughed. "Ain't no one of any decent sanity going to step foot in this place? Sure, the mess was cleaned up, but the place closed down out of fear. And here we are."
                                ! "Christ..." Kurt looked up towards the window Christine was previously staring at. "Do you think there's anything wrong with the hotel?"
                                ! "I would generally doubt it, but...after the Chrysler Building incident, I don't know what to believe."
                                ! Kurt remembered the news reports of the Chrysler Building. YouTube still had footage of the horrible abominations people had encountered inside. The possibility of a repeat shook Kurt with fear. "I'm going in after her."
                                ! "The hell you are!" Chief turned toward him. "Before you even consider that, I recommend you talk to our witness! If you want to help our star player, then help her with a little bit of info."
                                ! "Right. Sorry Chief."
                                ! -------------------------
                                ! Christine found the stairs to the hotel. The music was continuously playing.
                                ! I would sacrifice anything, come what might…
                                For the sake, of having you near...
                                In spite of a warning voice...
                                that comes in the night and repeats...
                                How it yells in my ear!

                                ! Christine was getting closer to the music. The stairs were badly damaged. Age had not treated the place well. Several rats ran across as she reached the second floor, but it didn't phase her.
                                ! Don't you know you fool…
                                There ain't no chance to win...

                                ! Christine started rushing up to the third floor. She could tell that's where the music was coming from. It was driving her crazy.
                                ! Why not use your mentality!
                                Wake up, step up to reality!

                                ! Christine turned toward the sound. She felt the possibility of the music being a trap, but she knew she would be able to handle anything Billy had ready for her.
                                ! Anytime time I do…
                                Just the thought of you makes me stop...
                                Before I begin...

                                ! A hotel room door was wide open. It was clearly coming from that room. Christine had her pistol and flashlight ready.
                                ! Because I've got you…
                                ! She pressed her back against the wall, beside the open door.
                                ! …..Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...

                                ! The song started to repeat. She darted and aimed her gun inside.
                                ! Empty. Nothing but an old record player, repeating the same sound.
                                ! …..Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...
                                .....Under my...

                                ! Christine raised the needle. Silence. "Thank god…"
                                ! "Christine..." Kurt's voice spoke softly through her radio. Christine turned toward the room door, making sure no one was coming in in back of her.
                                ! "Kurt. What is it?"
                                ! "There's something you gotta know! Our little lady...the one Billy did a number on."
                                ! "Yeah? What about her?"
                                ! "She said there was someone else in the hotel."
                                ! Christine paused. "Another victim?"
                                ! "I don't think so. Before the ambulance took her off, I was able to get a few things. This person appeared out of no where. Fell from the ceiling she said and attacked Billy."
                                ! "So, he saved her?"
                                ! "That's what she says, but not after stabbing Billy several times, before dragging him off somewhere. She was chained to the wall, and eventually, the guy came back for her and broke the chains. Otherwise, she just ran the out of the place without looking back."
                                ! "Smart girl. Do you think we're dealing with a vigilante?"
                                ! "I don't think so. The description she gave of the guy gave me the creeps. Deformed. Pale. Smiling." Kurt stuttered for a moment. "His arms and legs...spider-like?"
                                ! "What the fuck? Are you sure she wasn't speaking out of her stress?"
                                ! "I don't know. Christine, if there IS something in there...Screw it! I'm coming in!"
                                ! "No! I've got this. I can't risk losing any of you!"
                                ! "But I can't...." Kurt paused.
                                ! "Kurt. You know there is no reason to worry about me. You know what I am. I..." Christine froze. A gentle clang of metal sounded on the floors above and startled her. "Kurt...Did she mention what floor?"
                                ! "She was pretty winded, so definitely one of the upper ones. My bet? The seventh."
                                ! "Alright. I'll be back with Billy."
                                ! Kurt didn't respond for a second. "Christine. One last thing."
                                ! "Yeah?"
                                ! "Just remember that....there are worse things in this world than death."
                                ! Christine closed her eyes in pain. She knew that fact all too well. "Kurt...I'll be fine."
                                ! "Be careful. Kurt out." The radio went silent.
                                ! Christine was alone again. She felt it was better that way. Before she could continue, she noticed something beside the old record player. "A card?" She read it closely.
                                ! My master always chooses the appropriate music for the evening.
                                -Lacheln

                                ! "Lacheln?" She turned the card over. She jumped back in fear. A picture of a smile. The same smile of the man peering through the window. It was the exact same smile. No difference.
                                ! Christine tossed the card, and rushed toward the stairs. Whoever this vigilante was, he knew Christine was in the hotel. I didn't matter to her. She charged up the stairs. She checked the fourth floor as she passed. Silent. Nothing unusual. As she ran up towards the fifth floor, she came across more cards. Dozens of them scattered across the stairs. They had no writing on them, but they did have the signature smile. She neglected them and moved on.
                                ! Fifth floor started showing signs of bloody footsteps and a blood trail. The feet were directed down the stairs, and the trail followed those feet. They were of Billy's failed victim. Christine moved on.
                                ! The sixth floor slowed her down. Against the wall, someone had written a sign in some sort of paint.
                                ! A maid is requested at 704!
                                ! "Room 704…" Christine rushed up towards the seventh floor. She examined the area.
                                ! The blood trail from the young woman before led straight to room 708. And Room 704 was quietly waiting. "Which room..." Another metallic slam made her jump. "Listen...whatever you're trying to do... Billy isn't worth it! Please. Just come out! I won't hurt you! We'll handle Billy, and you can get out of here."
                                ! The floor remained silent. She ignored the previous sign and walked straight for room 708. The door was jammed, but old enough to bust down. A quick and easy slam cleared the way. But what she walked into was a familiar yet painful sight. The room was altered. Billy set up chains on the wall, to hold her down. Shreds of her clothing were spread out throughout the room. It was like the many rooms Billy left behind before, but many differences remained. No body. His tray of knives, tipped over. And the blood. "How can there be this much blood? She was cut up pretty badly, but nothing this bad." The walls and ceiling were drenched in blood. Billy always killed his victims after having his fun, but he never would make this much of a mess. "Could this be Billy's?".
                                ! But the corner of her eye, she felt someone staring at her. A small glimpse of a face could be seen through the bathroom door. Gun at hand, she approached the door without hesitation.
                                ! "My.....God."
                                ! Billy's face was motionless. The scar over his lip was recognizable. His worn face, somewhat hard to make out, but matched descriptions. For months, the crew wanted to find this man and slam cuffs right on his wrists. And here he was. His face staring right at Christine. His face, with a frozen expression. His face removed from his head and nailed onto the wall of a hotel bathroom like some form of painting. It aggravated Christine, as well as frightened her. "I was supposed to..." Christine stepped forward and looked into the bathtub. Flesh. Blood. The very skin Billy lived in.
                                ! "God dammit!" Christine called in on her radio. "This is Christine! I've found Billy!" She coughed in disgust. "The vigilante.....he skinned him!"
                                ! Chief responded. "What! Have you found his body?"
                                ! "No. Just the scraps of his flesh. His face is nailed on the wall." She was having trouble breathing. "How long ago was this called in? How did this vigilante manage to do this in such little time?"
                                ! Kurt spoke up. "Rose mentioned that Billy was screaming for most of the time she was running from the place."
                                ! "Who?"
                                ! "Sorry. Rose was her name. The girl who escaped." Kurt continued. "She mentioned that about halfway down the stairs, Billy stopped screaming. Chances are, our vigilante didn't waste much time killing and skinning him. And he probably knew we were here."
                                ! "That's not what I mean. I can believe he managed to do this to Billy in the time we've been here, but...the music..."
                                ! "What music?"
                                ! The conversation was interrupted by an unexpected slam. A door seemed to have slammed open outside in the 7th floor hall. "Kurt...I call you back."
                                ! Christine ran towards the sound. Room 704 was wide open. Without a thought, Christine charged right in.
                                ! The room was somewhat normal. Nothing turned over. "Come on out!" Everything was decaying, but nothing out of the ordinary. It was suite with two beds and a large window allowing sight of a pretty decent view. It was clearly one of the most expensive rooms. "We can talk this out." She walked slowly into the room, until her focus was forced onto a familiar sight. Another card. She snatched it off the room's desk. The smile greeted her yet again. The card was stained in blood. It was still wet. She immediately turned the card over.
                                ! I'm under the bed.

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                                • ChesCa
                                  ChesCa
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                                  ChesCa
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                                  Normally, I don't think a combination of Silent Hill/Cop Stories would work, but you made it happen.
                                  You made a villain and atmosphere capable of even intimidating someone with a gun in her hand while hunting down a serial killer.
                                  Only advice is revisit this later for any changes you want to make.

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                                  • Insider2000
                                    Insider2000 @ChesCa
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                                    @Cuddles:

                                    Normally, I don't think a combination of Silent Hill/Cop Stories would work, but you made it happen.
                                    You made a villain and atmosphere capable of even intimidating someone with a gun in her hand while hunting down a serial killer.
                                    Only advice is revisit this later for any changes you want to make.

                                    Wow, thanks.

                                    When I wrote this, I was far more channeling a mixture of Bioshock (repeating soundtrack, heh, but Lacheln and his master do that on purpose) and Condemned, but there is always a lot of Silent Hill in me. Honestly, I've always feared cop stories. In cases of Silent Hill, your supposed to be running. Sure, there will be cases where the protagonist has to fight, but if there's a chance to escape, they take it. A cop has to PURPOSELY pursue, and that frightens me. Granted, most cases aren't like Christine (and I mean that in many ways actually). Often times, it's multiple cops, but even in numbers, the supernatural could overwhelm them.

                                    I enjoy Lacheln. Writing him now, and I feel like he deserves more that what I have planned for him. It's giving me an idea, actually.

                                    EDIT: If there is anything I regret with this entire story, it's making Kurt look like a liability, when he is anything but. Unfortunately, the situation both him and Christine are in, he's forced to be one.

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                                    • Insider2000
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                                      Reflections of Sin
                                      PART 3

                                      PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING BEFORE READING THIS CHAPTER:
                                      I highly recommend you read the previous two chapters of this story.

                                      ! Christine jumped in fear and stood on one of the two beds. She aimed her gun, switching her focus between both. Her heart raced. Her hands shook violently. She slowly crouched down onto the mattress. Dust bounced off into her face as she slowly knelled. She lowered her view on the bed across from her. She tried looking underneath from her angle. She couldn't get a very good view, but she could see enough. She stood back up and turned. If he was underneath one of the two beds, she was standing on that very one.
                                      ! Before she could peek under, something finally caught her eye. A hand. An arm spread out from underneath. Christine jumped and shot the arm. It was the first shot she fired. It made the hotel even more unsettling. Far worse was the fact that the arm she shot didn't even react to the shot.
                                      ! "…Billy?" The arm was bare. Muscle and tendon bathed the twisted arm. Christine reached down and pulled the arm. She pulled a body out from under. A skinned corpse. Billy. But his face was masked with a cardboard sheet. Painted on this sheet was a smile. The same smile.
                                      ! "Lust. Sin of the flesh." An unfamiliar voice entered the room. "Those who seek to steal the thrill of the flesh shall loose their own."
                                      ! Christine immediately turned toward the voice. The bathroom door slowly opened. He breathed violently.
                                      ! "Billy Walter. Killed thirteen. Raped six. Defiled innocence. Destroyed hope. Consumed fear." His throat choked his voice.
                                      ! "Put your hands where I can see them." The vigilante came into view. His appearance. His anatomy. His existence. Impossible. His height forced him to duck under the bathroom door. His legs, jointed in bizarre areas, forcing a twisted and weakened waltz. His arms, longer than his legs, touched everything they could as if they were the only thing helping him stand. His face covered by a mask with nothing but a smile. His skin, white and decayed, left behind a trail of water with each step. His body covered in knives stabbed into him. His deformed arm slowly reached towards his own body and removed one of the knives.
                                      ! Christine stepped back in horror. The abomination readied two blades. "Officer...I can smell your sin." He breathed in. His breath was clogged by phlegm and mucus. But as he breathed out, his breath was as clean as the wind. "Gluttony? Greed? Sloth? It appears you are free from these sins. Impressive."
                                      ! "What are you talking about?"
                                      ! Lacheln sniffed again. "Lust... I'm surprised. You're not one for lust. What's the matter? You don't like men?"
                                      ! "I'm not like Billy!"
                                      ! "Irrelevant!" He sniffed one last time. "Ah! There we are. I can sense it within you." He walked slowly towards her. He sniffed. "Envy..." He breathed in more, letting his mucus flow. His voice grew stronger. "Pride..." He froze, and took a small and gentle sniff. He began laughing. "WRATH!" His hysterical laughter differed from his raspy voice. "My my, officer. Such fury in your soul! You reek of it!"
                                      ! "I...I..."
                                      ! "But I sense a realm of redemption." Lacheln tilted his head in a bizarre angle. "I can see why. You've wronged so many people in your life. Like....Alex?"
                                      ! Christine's blood ran cold. "Don't you dare mention that name! You have no right to even speak of him!"
                                      ! "But...the smells I'm sensing..." Lacheln turned his head in confusion. "What....are you?"
                                      ! "I am Officer Christine Cyrus. And your coming with me."
                                      ! Lacheln laughed, and in one swift motion, rushed past Christine with a knife. In a single slash, he chopped off her left hand. She screamed in agony, as her gun fell along with her hand. She watched her hand fall...
                                      ! As it landed on the ground, it shattered. Before impact, it shattered into a thousand pieces of glass. Lacheln turned. "What?" Christine lifted her handless wrist toward her face. As expected, glass proceeded to protrude from her wrist. The glass grew, making a strange scratching noise, as it began to form the shape of a new hand. The mirror like glass of her hand allowed her to see her tired and worn face.
                                      ! Lacheln laughed. "Oh my! This is just too hilarious!" His laughter echoed as Christine's new formed glass hand flashed and turned into flesh. Her hand was regenerated. She immediately picked up her gun, turned toward the abomination, and shot him square in the forehead. Lacheln shot backwards. He was silent for a second, but immediately started laughing.
                                      ! "What the hell is so funny?"
                                      ! Lacheln raised his claw like hand and dug his nails into his bullet wound. As he pulled out the bullet, nothing but dust pour out of the wound. "Officer. I apologize. You are nothing like Billy." He tossed the bullet aside. "But you are everything like me."
                                      ! Christine dropped her gun aside and readied her nightstick. She charged in and swung a blow to his skull. Lacheln flew to the side from the impact and through the wall. It forced him back outside, into the 7th floor hall. "Such strength!" Lacheln laughed as he jumped up toward the ceiling. His arms and legs latched on like a spider, and he proceeded to crawl away.
                                      ! Christine gave chase. For a small second, she was catching up. But immediately, Lacheln started crawling over the balcony of the hotel's main hall and out of Christine's reach. "No, you don't!" She pulled out her tazer and fired it across the balcony. It directly hit him. He laughed as he was electrocuted. The shock forced him to let go of the ceiling and fall seven stories down the hotel. Christine just knew he would survive the fall. As he fell, she jumped off the balcony after him. He fell directly into a table, stunning him for a moment. She crashed directly into solid ground, causing her entire body to shatter into glass. Thousands of shards of glasses scattered across the hotel lobby. The glass then began to meet in the center of the impact. In a matter of second, the glass began to reconnect and began to grow into the shape of a human being. In a flash, Christine was reborn.
                                      ! She always forced herself to be the meat shield. Every injury she sustained, she could feel all the pain of it. But no matter what, she would immediately recover. Physical pain meant nothing to her. She took the pain as a form of redemption. Everything she did in the past. Her crimes. If she spent the rest of her life hunting criminals... If she accepted any form of pain that came her way... If this punishment could possibly lead her to redemption, she would gladly accept it.
                                      ! "Get up!" Christine walked toward Lacheln.
                                      ! "You....are just like me." Lacheln coughed. "You're not from this world." He sat up. "Tell me. You're from the 24th realm of the human race, yes?"
                                      ! ".....I wouldn't know. I don't understand this theory of 'realms' that have been going around, but if I could tell you anything, I was once a knight of the Vasilian Kingdom. That was before everything started."
                                      ! Lacheln blurted out in shock. "Vasilian King~ HAHAHAHAHAHA!" His laughter shrieked loudly. "Oh....Oh my! Then you're the Fourth Knight of the Apocalypse!" Lacheln's laughter continued.
                                      ! Christine stood in shame. "And you would know this, how?"
                                      ! "Officer...PLEASE! No one survived the Apocalypse of the 24th Realm. The only possible survivors were the Knights of Apocalypse themselves!"
                                      ! Christine shook in agony. He was right. "What Realm is this?"
                                      ! Lacheln coughed. "The 26th Realm."
                                      ! Christine vaguely remembered being a part of a second Apocalypse before entering this Realm. "Oh God! So then the 25th Realm was..."
                                      ! "The 25th Realm hardly had anyone alive when the Apocalypse took place. I'm not surprised you don't remember it." Lacheln readied his knives. "But this Realm...there are too many arrogant souls here."
                                      ! "What?"
                                      ! "There are only two more souls remaining. I just have to find them, and then this whole world is going.....bye-bye." Lacheln cackled.
                                      ! Christine's heart jumped. "The Apocalypse is going to happen here?!?" She couldn't bare it. She was already forced to kill the people of her country. Now, she will forced to slaughter the human race again!
                                      ! "Oh...It should have happened a long time ago. World War II. Enslavement. This world has been LONG overdue!" Lacheln laughed. "But the ritual is almost complete. The right of humanity's end should have never been given to Heaven and Hell."
                                      ! Christine fear turned to anger. Burton... Kurt... Everyone she's ever saved in this Realm. "It can't be all for nothing..." She spoke under her breath. She couldn't bare losing the people she loved again. She couldn't bare being forced to kill them again.
                                      ! "Christine!" Kurt busted in through the front door.
                                      ! Christine turned in horror. "Kurt! NO!"
                                      ! Lacheln turned toward Kurt. "Now him...I can tell he isn't like you!" He charged toward Kurt with two knives at hand.
                                      ! Kurt readied his gun. "What the hell is that!?!"
                                      ! Christine's fury bleed out through her screams. "I'VE LOST ENOUGH FRIENDS!" At that sudden instant, something shot out of the ground in between Kurt and Lacheln. It intercepted Lacheln's charge. Lacheln stared in wonder.
                                      ! "The Sword of Wrath! You really are the Fourth Knight of the Apocalypse! The Blind Judge of Blades!"
                                      ! The sword lived and moved on its own. It shook violently, with a rusted, red blade. In mid-air, the sword spun, but froze with it's blade directed at Lacheln. The sword immediately launched itself into Lacheln's chest, sending him backwards and impaling him against the wall.
                                      ! Another sword burst forth from beside Christine. Christine grabbed hold of it. 25 years of training could easily be seen with her stance. She walked toward the impaled Lacheln. The Sword of Wrath flew backwards and hid behind Christine.
                                      ! "I am Lady Prism Marrow! The Fourteenth Paladin of the Vasilian Chariot!"
                                      ! Lacheln laughed. "Like that honest means anything. Your kingdom is gone, paladin. Along with it's people."
                                      ! "Silence!" She pointed her golden blade toward Lacheln throat. "Mother... Father... Alex! The people of the Vasilian Kingdom! They may have died, but their spirits live on within me! And I will not force the people of this realm to follow a similar fate!"
                                      ! "It's hardly your choice, Prism." Lacheln spoke with a calm tone. "The human race will never reach such purity, as Heaven and Hell think they will. They will die, and be replaced, just every other time."
                                      ! Christine...Prism shook in fear, but kept the blade steady. Her anger and fear forced her into weakness. "...Why did they choose me?"
                                      ! "Who?"
                                      ! "I don't know who. Why was I chosen to be a Knight of the Apocalypse. I was happy with my life. Why couldn't they let me die with the others?"
                                      ! Lacheln laughed. "You honestly think I'd know that. All I know is that after 25 Realms and their Apocalypse, someone wanted four new knights. Beyond that, I've got nothing."
                                      ! Prism lowered her blade. She felt defeated. It was going to happen again, and soon, she would lose control. "Kurt....Get as many handcuffs as you can."
                                      ! Kurt, though disturbed, nodded and turned toward the entrance. Lacheln laughed, and threw a knife in Kurt's direction!
                                      ! "KURT!"
                                      ! Kurt turned, nightstick at hand. With perfect motion, he deflected the knife with his nightstick.
                                      ! Lacheln coughed. "The....crap?"
                                      ! Kurt picked up the knife. "You didn't catch me off guard THIS time." He stabbed the wall, leaving the knife behind, and marched out the door.
                                      ! Lacheln turned toward Prism. "Interesting. What realm is HE from?"
                                      ! "This one. He's just....special." Wrath shook violently behind Prism. "Where are the other Knights? One of them is my brother. Where are they?"
                                      ! Lacheln shook his head. "I have no idea, paladin. It's not my job to keep track of any of you."


                                      ! The officers scattered as they watched the disturbing creature, handcuffed with ten different handcuffs, laughed and cursed all the way to the back of Kurt's vehicle. Everyone, even the Chief, were terrified. Christine threw Lacheln into the backseat. He was tied up enough to not be able to move his strange limbs much at all.
                                      ! Chief approached Christine. "What the hell is that thing?"
                                      ! Christine sighed. "I have no idea. But I have a lot of questions for him." Christine walked toward the passenger seat of Kurt's car. "Chief. I'm going to deal with him for a little while. Billy's body is in room 704."
                                      ! "Christine, wait!"
                                      ! She ignored him, and closed the passenger door. Kurt started the ignition. "You do realize he's going to chew our asses later."
                                      ! "He's going to chew our asses for taking an 8 foot abomination under custody?" Lacheln laughed at Christine's remark, but Christine immediately slammed her night stick onto the backseat's chain window. "Shut up, or I swear to god, I will beat you senseless!" Lacheln silently giggled.
                                      ! "I think he likes you." Kurt tried to pass a joke to calm his fear. It failed. Feeling like his arm was being twisted, he asked the question that he'd been dying to ask. "So...what's with this...Knight of the Apocalypse thing?"
                                      ! Christine remained silent. She looked out the window in fear. She knew she had to speak to him, but...what would she say? "Kurt...can we talk about it later."
                                      ! The car was silent. This was the first time Kurt or anyone in the force knew about Christine's true purpose. They knew of her powers. But this new information chilled Kurt to the bone. And in the midst of this silence...
                                      ! "She's going to kill everyone..." Lacheln whisper, and then started laughing.
                                      ! "Kurt! Stop the car!" Kurt stopped the car. Christine immediately got out of the car, pulled out her nightstick, and got into the backseat with Lacheln. She proceeded to beat him.
                                      ! Kurt drove on, toward the station. Lacheln's cries of pain would generally be the kind of thing that would make Kurt laugh. Kurt wasn't laughing. He was afraid of abomination in the backseat, and he was afraid of his partner.

                                      FYI, there WILL be a Part 4. And that will be the final part of this story.

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                                      • ChesCa
                                        ChesCa
                                        last edited by
                                        ChesCa
                                        spiral
                                        ChesCa
                                        spiral

                                        The only complaint I have (aside from some spellchecking you could use) is the overuse of the word bed in the first part of the story.
                                        Seriously, I love this tale, but it really did get annoying.
                                        Everything else was pretty much perfect: Christine dropping to the floor like a boss almost seemed cinematic, and Lacheln character is perfectly creepy and yet kind of charismatic.
                                        And I love Kurt as the badass normal guy.
                                        I can't wait to see how this plot about the apocalypse and the backstory behind it plays out.

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                                        • Insider2000
                                          Insider2000 @ChesCa
                                          @ChesCa last edited by
                                          Insider2000
                                          spiral
                                          Insider2000
                                          spiral

                                          @Cuddles:

                                          The only complaint I have (aside from some spellchecking you could use) is the overuse of the word bed in the first part of the story.
                                          Seriously, I love this tale, but it really did get annoying.
                                          Everything else was pretty much perfect: Christine dropping to the floor like a boss almost seemed cinematic, and Lacheln character is perfectly creepy and yet kind of charismatic.
                                          And I love Kurt as the badass normal guy.
                                          I can't wait to see how this plot about the apocalypse and the backstory behind it plays out.

                                          Duly noted about the bed part. Heh. Didn't even realize.

                                          I have to say, I've really expanded on Prism/Christine. I actually came up with her in high school. She never had the 'regenerate as glass' powers as she does now, but she did have her sword powers. Improvement, in my opinion, as the other Knights have similar yet different powers, and for a while, she was kind of the lamest of the four. Changed that.

                                          This project has actually changed quite a few things for me:
                                          -The direction certain ideas and stories were SUPPOSED to head have now changed, giving me more options and directions.
                                          -I've expanded on Lacheln and changed him from a sympathetic victim to…...this. Trust me, it's better that way. I already have at least one 'sympathetic victim' villain.
                                          -It's made me realize that I need to retcon a character...ENTIRELY FROM EXISTENCE. Crazy, I know.

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                                          • Insider2000
                                            Insider2000
                                            last edited by
                                            Insider2000
                                            spiral
                                            Insider2000
                                            spiral

                                            Wow, I haven't posted here for over a month!

                                            I was eating lunch today, and "Under My Skin" was on the radio. Immediately thought of Reflections of Sin. Part 4 is done, but I don't want to release it JUST yet. I will, I swear, but I have two projects that I'm clinging onto that I don't want to release until I feel completely comfortable with them. I already had to rewrite all of Part 4 out of the fear that it was too dramatic or cliche.

                                            But, I shall try to get it out before the end of next week.

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                                            • Insider2000
                                              Insider2000
                                              last edited by
                                              Insider2000
                                              spiral
                                              Insider2000
                                              spiral

                                              Alright, it's done. The final chapter of 'Reflections of Sin'! Yaaaay!

                                              Not as action packed as three, and not scary at all.

                                              Reflections of Sin
                                              PART 4
                                              -I HIGHLY recommend you read the first three parts. Everything will seem a bit confusing if you don't. You might be able to manage, but I don't recommend it.

                                              ! "Why? Why us?" Victoria cried in pain!
                                              ! "It's not my decision." The woman in black gave a sorrow filled stare.
                                              ! "Everyone? You're going to make us kill everyone!?!" Kent had never screamed like that before. His cool and calm persona was shattered at the thought.
                                              ! Prism turned toward her younger brother. He was crying. He didn't say a word, but his tears were endless. Prism looked back towards the woman in black. "Please…don't make us do this! Choose someone else!"
                                              ! The mysterious woman sighed. She closed her eyes quietly, and as they opened, tears poured out. "I'll never force you to do this again! I swear!" Her strong voice lost grip, as she began to pour her emotions in anguish. "We'll end this. We'll fight the Heavens if we must!"
                                              ! "You said you were a succubus?" Prism's brother, Askari, finally spoke up. "Then you're from Hell." His voice was gentle, but confused. "Why are you so concerned for us? Shouldn't you want our demise?"
                                              ! The woman couldn't answer. She felt as thought a chain were pulling on her neck, forcing her to obey. Her eyes burned as she stated her final words. "I'm so sorry. I am so...so sorry." She breathed violently. "I swear, you won't end up like the last four! I swear! I'll save you! We'll save you!" The sky slowly shifted to blood red. "A war is starting. Know that we fight for you. We fight for your freedom. My name is Nova, and I will never abandon you!"
                                              ! The four began to slowly lose control. The Apocalypse had begun.

                                              ! –--------------------------------
                                              ! Christine woke up in shock. She felt her face and checked her surroundings in a crazed state. She was in the Miami Police Department. She had passed out on her desk.
                                              ! A large smile on the nearby television screen made her jump. "It's amazing! We're clearly in the future ladies and gentlemen!" The camera panned back, showing a strange mannequin with a smile on her face. It was alive.
                                              ! "What the hell are we watching here?" No one responded. They all kept watching. Christine continued to watch the show.
                                              ! "Azreal Industries is here with a demo of their latest invention!" The interviewer stood beside the mannequin. "Ladies and gentlemen, Jacob Azreal has brought us, Service Bots!" The strange mannequin turned her head toward Gale Springs.
                                              ! Jacob Azreal, dressed in a fine business suit, slowly walked toward his invention. The red, smiling robot stood obediently. "Sonya!"
                                              ! The robot responded. "Yes, Mr. Azreal?"
                                              ! Jacob pointed toward a table, covered in dirty dishes and spilled cups. "Would you kindly clean the table?"
                                              ! "Right away, Mr. Azreal!" Sonya rushed toward the dirty table and began cleaning.
                                              ! "Amazing! Simply amazing! Ladies and gentlemen, we are seeing the future, live on 'Good Day USA'!" Gale turned toward Jacob. "Mr. Azreal! Please tell us, when will this product be released to the public?"
                                              ! "We're still beta testing the product, but we hope within the year." Jacob gave a charming smile. Sonya was still working swiftly. "Our Service Bots will be happy to clean for you, and make sure their 'service is with a smile'!" Sonya stopped, and looked toward the camera. The massive smile inked onto the face of the robot glowed with mentioning of their slogan.
                                              ! Gale felt courageous. "Rumor has it that you gave away a prototype of your Service Bots. Is this true? Is the sampling of these prototypes part of the beta?"
                                              ! Christine sensed a feeling of aggravation from Jacob after that statement, but his face seemed to have fooled everyone else. "Yes. One of the best prototypes, Natasha! Perhaps you all know the lucky owner's name? A certain...Gold Prodigy!" People cheered and clapped at the sound of the name. "He saved my life during the Chrysler Building Incident. I would have died that day, but Gold...what a hero! I just had to give him one of my best prototypes! And from what I've heard, he's enjoyed her company!"
                                              ! "Gold? Gold Prodigy?" Christine stood up. "Isn't that Kurt's brother?"
                                              ! "Well I certainly hope that more than one person wasn't named 'Gold'! Yeesh!" Lacheln twisted and turned in his cell. "What horrible parent would name their child something so atrocious!"
                                              ! It was two weeks after the Uriel Hotel incident. The MPD kept Lacheln locked up and nearby, still handcuffed to ensure he doesn't escape. They removed his knives, but it seemed that his knives could actually regenerate from out of his body. Fearing he'd be a threat to officer, civilian, and prisoner alike, the MPD decided to hold onto him until they could figure out what to do with him.
                                              ! Christine turned toward the freak. "According to Kurt, Gold named himself. Gold is Kurt's adopted little brother. When Kurt's father found him at eight years old, he didn't have a name yet. He wanted to be called 'Gold'." Lacheln stared confused. "You asked. I just felt like answering." Christine was getting strangely comfortable with Lacheln's presence. He no longer felt like a threat.
                                              ! Lacheln cackled. "Strange child." He turned his focus to the television screen. His black, glossy eyes stared at Jacob. "Speaking of strange, where do I know him?"
                                              ! "It's Jacob Azreal. Azreal Industries CEO."
                                              ! "No. I got that from the interview." Lacheln slowly stood up, watching. "He feels...different."
                                              ! "Hello, Lacheln." Kurt knocked on his cell as he walked past the creature. "How you feeling today?"
                                              ! "Good, good. Going to kill you when I get out of this cell. Going to kill the last two souls that will trigger the Apocalypse and kill every last human in this Realm. Same shit, different day." Lacheln looked away. Suddenly, he returned his stare back to Kurt. "Oh! I ate a roach that crawled near by face, today! That was eventful!"
                                              ! "Lovely." Kurt stood next to Christine. "Hey. Just got back from the Chief's desk."
                                              ! "So what's the plan with our corpse friend, here?"
                                              ! "We're taking him by boat to Sanctum Island. We're visiting my brother."
                                              ! Christine tilted her head in surprise. "Gold?"
                                              ! Lacheln threw himself into the conversation. "How funny is that?! We were just talking about your 'retardedly' named brother!"
                                              ! Kurt ignored Lacheln. He had always been very close to his little brother, no matter how distant Kurt's siblings have all been forced to be for the careers. "My baby brother has been a pretty popular guy, lately."
                                              ! "Yeah." Christine thought for a moment. "I know he is the acclaimed 'hero' of the Chrysler Building Incident, but...he wasn't alone, right?"
                                              ! Kurt nodded. "That's why you have to come with me! Gold told me that before the Incident...he met some people." Kurt showed a picture of Gold, surrounded by several other people, on the streets of New York City. "Gold also told me that about half of these people aren't 'from this realm'."
                                              ! "What!" Christine snatched the photo. She scanned the people surrounding Gold, hoping that any one of them could be Victoria, Kent, or Askari. "Do you know any of their names?"
                                              ! Kurt sighed. "I don't have the list on me at the moment. But I know one for sure. Spoke with me even." He pointed his finger to a female figure on the photograph. She wore mostly black. "Her name is Nova."
                                              ! Christine jumped off her seat. "You!" She lost breath. At first, she feared the thought of another Apocalypse, but something seemed wrong. Nova...was smiling. "Why is she smiling?"
                                              ! "Do you know her?" Kurt laughed. "She's crazy. She kept snatching the phone from Gold's hand to talk to me." He rubbed his hair. "Kept telling me I had a sexy voice."
                                              ! Lacheln felt uneasy. He twisted and turned to the corner of his cell. "Nova? Damn! Master, there might be a hole in our plans!"
                                              ! "I met her the day of the Apocalypse of my realm."
                                              ! Kurt quickly shed his bubbly mood. "Oh...Then, is she bad news?"
                                              ! "I don't know." Christine held the photo close. She could see a faint sight of a man with red hair. "Askari?"
                                              ! "Who?"
                                              ! She lowered the photograph. "Kurt. I also have a little brother."
                                              ! Kurt raised his eyebrows. "You have family?"
                                              ! "Parents died in a fire when I was little girl. I never lied about that. But I had two little brothers." She pointed her finger to what could be her brother. "The oldest of the two is named Askari, the First Knight of the Apocalypse. And I think that's him."
                                              ! "Great! We have even more incentive for you to come!"
                                              ! Christine felt a shiver crawl down her spine. "I don't know if he wants to see me." She pushed the photo away. "I did....something horrible to him."
                                              ! "What brother would be upset to see his sister?"
                                              ! "You don't understand, Kurt..."
                                              ! "Does this have to do with Alex?"
                                              ! She stood at the sound of his name. "Where did you hear that name?"
                                              ! "You mentioned his name at the hotel, when you were dealing with Lacheln."
                                              ! She stood quietly. "That's my second brother." She couldn't continue.
                                              ! "And he..."
                                              ! She interrupted. ".....is not with us." Her throat irked in pain. "He wasn't chosen...to become a Knight of Apocalypse."
                                              ! Kurt connected the dots in his mind. "So then...he...was left behind?"
                                              ! "I wasn't forced to kill him." Christine shook in pain. "Askari was. And I watched every second of it! And I know Askari did to!"
                                              ! Kurt absorbed the moment. "So then...your brother killed him?"
                                              ! "My mind. My conscience! It was pushed to back of my skull, and something took control of my body." She gripped her head. "And I watched has my hands forced me to do some of the most ungodly things..."
                                              ! Kurt's fear grew. "So, then you were forced to kill everyone?" He tried to catch his breath. "Christine, none of that was your fau~"
                                              ! "I had to close my eyes! I couldn't close my ears, but I could close my eyes! I couldn't stop!" She rushed towards Lacheln cell. "Listen to me you piece of shit!" The officers in the MPD stopped and stared. Lacheln watched her. He was concealing a smile. Christine tried to threaten him, but she fell to her knees in misery. "It can't happen again..."
                                              ! Kurt lifted Christine. He held her shoulders, and forced her to focus on him. "Look at me!" Kurt was shaking in fear, but he managed to hide it. "We're not going to let it happen again. We're going to see my brother, and we're going to end this!"
                                              ! Christine let out a pain filled cry. "How? "
                                              ! "I don't know! But...maybe this Nova woman knows." Kurt tried to force a smile. "You're not going to get rid of me that easy."
                                              ! Chrstine didn't laugh. "...I lived on, believing that that world was behind me."
                                              ! The lack of laughter or irritation from the joke twisted his stomach into a knot. Where was her 'Why can't you take this more seriously?' or 'You got me there'. It dawned on him. She was afraid. She was finally, truly afraid.
                                              ! Kurt hugged her. His grip was unsteady. On one hand, he was afraid. Lacheln. The Chrysler Incident. The Apocalypse. It all frightened him. As a child, he was afraid of his own shadow. Becoming a cop, he hoped he could change that. But every job he did. Every lunatic he chased. Every blood splattered body he found. He was afraid.
                                              ! But his other hand shook out of betrayal. After all, he loved her. There was a time in which he thought he was going to be with her always. But that day in August ended that dream. With a pain filled heart, she outed herself.
                                              ! Fear. Rejection. Nothing but pain, and now, the one person who he knew was never afraid was shaken to the very core.
                                              ! "I need you." Kurt spoke in pain. "I need you to trust me! I need you to have faith, because I'm..." Scared. He pushed her away. "We're seeing my brother. Go home and start packing!"
                                              ! Christine didn't understand Kurt's sudden shift in mood, but she agreed. "I'll get ready as soon as I can."
                                              ! Kurt tried to regain his sense. "Right. Sorry."
                                              ! "Kurt. One thing, though."
                                              ! "What?"
                                              ! "I've exposed myself for who I really am. I can't live on a lie anymore." Christine sighed. "I need you to start calling me by my real name."
                                              ! "Prism?"
                                              ! "...Yeah." She nodded.
                                              ! Kurt was confused by her decision, but it was change that didn't bother him. "Got it. But what about the rest of the crew?"
                                              ! Christine...Prism looked towards the other officers. "There's a good chance I'm not coming back here for a long time. It's best if they just remember me as 'Christine'."
                                              ! Kurt's arm jerked at the sound of that. She quickly grabbed her things and started leaving. As Kurt watched her leave, Lacheln spoke to himself quietly in the corner. "Wrath and Envy. We're almost there, Master. We're almost there!"

                                              Some little notes (you don't have to read this, it's mostly some things I want to say about the story in whole):

                                              ! I have to say this was a great experience. Changed a lot of things I have planned. If anything, has convinced me that I need to write more.
                                              ! -While I did write part 1-4 entirely in one sitting, I actually trashed what was originally going to be part 4 and replaced it with what I have now. Parts 1-3 were all already written, but were edited, expanded, and improved. Part 4 is TOTALLY different now. Lacheln didn't even have a word of dialogue in the original scrap.
                                              ! -I'm not going to lie: it's bugging me calling Prism by Christine. In the series, Christine won't be her official name, and even if it were….I'd want to change it. I chose Christine because Prism was inspired by my oldest older sister, also named Christine. It's kind of complicated, but the name 'Christine' DOES suit her.
                                              ! -Kurt...Kurt...Kurt. My god, Kurt. I've had so much fun with him, in and out of this story, now. It's amazing how a character I came up with some how fit every single one of my plans like glove with such little effort. I like that, not just for Kurt's sake, but for any new character I create.
                                              ! -Lacheln. Originally, he was going to be named Grant, and he would be a sympathetic villain who would immediately fight alongside the heroes the moment his master killed his love interest, and then he'd be a side character working for a side character. Now? I feel like he's my fucking Joker equivalent, and I already have a villain partially inspired by the Joker! It's a shame he has such a minor role. .....I ought to change that.
                                              ! Can't think of anything else. If you guys have any questions, by all means.

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