Matthieu stood in the foundation where his house used to stand. It had been a year or two since he'd left mysterious, or at least that's how it must have seemed to everyone who knew him. The house before him was little more than rubble with some defiant walls creaking in the freakish wind. The ruin lay about his feet in tumbling piles. Lifting his hand to his face, he wiped at a slice in his cheek, smearing the blood. His hand fell to his side, releasing a droplet of his life fluid. It delicately cascaded to the ground and splattered haphazardly.
Something inside Matthieu snapped.
When the next volley of spells arched his way he ducked behind teetering wall and slipped the off the glove concealing his left arm. The wind pulled at him, causing a dull throb to pulse in the bones of his arm. His pursuer bolted around the last of his refuge, dagger in hand, spell on his lips. Matthieu's features twisted into a sneer as he used his advantageous position to push upward at the man. His bone fingers splayed and found purchase on the man's face. He stopped in his tracks, stunned by the contact.
The dagger clattered on the ground from the man's seized hand. His muscles are contracting and causing his limp to retract. Matthieu pressed harder until the man's functions ceased. He slunk to the ground in a lifeless heap. Matthieu hadn't realized the speed his heart was going until that thud resonated in his ears. He went stiff himself, the heat exiting him, leaving him cold and shaking. The sweat dripped off his nose and he snapped to backing away from the body in a panic. He hadn't meant to. He didn't want it to happen. He turned over a part of wall and let go the contents of his stomach.
The cold sweat dried over his skin as he sat there, catatonic.
Something inside Matthieu snapped.
When the next volley of spells arched his way he ducked behind teetering wall and slipped the off the glove concealing his left arm. The wind pulled at him, causing a dull throb to pulse in the bones of his arm. His pursuer bolted around the last of his refuge, dagger in hand, spell on his lips. Matthieu's features twisted into a sneer as he used his advantageous position to push upward at the man. His bone fingers splayed and found purchase on the man's face. He stopped in his tracks, stunned by the contact.
The dagger clattered on the ground from the man's seized hand. His muscles are contracting and causing his limp to retract. Matthieu pressed harder until the man's functions ceased. He slunk to the ground in a lifeless heap. Matthieu hadn't realized the speed his heart was going until that thud resonated in his ears. He went stiff himself, the heat exiting him, leaving him cold and shaking. The sweat dripped off his nose and he snapped to backing away from the body in a panic. He hadn't meant to. He didn't want it to happen. He turned over a part of wall and let go the contents of his stomach.
The cold sweat dried over his skin as he sat there, catatonic.
There was a deadly silence throughout the room. So silent one could go mad listening to their own blood pulsing in their ears if it lasted any longer then a few minutes. Though not before long there was a faint hum. If anything else had been happening in the room one would be sure to miss it; but the sound began to grow. Louder and louder until it had turned into an irritating static that couldn't be ignored. The room began to pulse with an eery darkness that gathered itself in a sphere several feet from the once living man. As the sphere grew so did the noise until a phenomenal force seemed to rip through space and time itself.
Out from the swirling vortex that had recently formed stepped a figure cloaked in shadows. Though the features were difficult to make out from the dark light that poured from the void behind it, it was clear that this creature was not of this earth. Thin avian feet touched the ground with such delicacy it seemed as if they were floating just above it's surface. Turning it's head it focused its florescent green eyes on the body before it. With several swift steps it made it's way to the lifeless body. It was only after the figure had stepped far enough from the void that it's intentions were made clear.
In taloned hands the figure carried a scythe. The handle that held the blade seemed as long as the figure was tall and resembled petrified wood that had been twisted by an unnatural force. With a quick sweep of the blade the figure thrust the scythe up and through the body of the man. One may have looked away to shield their eyes from gore, though oddly enough, the blade shed no blood. The man's body lie perfectly intact without a scrape on him, though once the figure lifted the scythe it was made clear that it did not miss. Stuck to the edge of the blade was a misty orb, no bigger than a baseball. It streamed a long tail of white transparent fog as the figure lifted it up to it's face; illuminating her features.
Out from the swirling vortex that had recently formed stepped a figure cloaked in shadows. Though the features were difficult to make out from the dark light that poured from the void behind it, it was clear that this creature was not of this earth. Thin avian feet touched the ground with such delicacy it seemed as if they were floating just above it's surface. Turning it's head it focused its florescent green eyes on the body before it. With several swift steps it made it's way to the lifeless body. It was only after the figure had stepped far enough from the void that it's intentions were made clear.
In taloned hands the figure carried a scythe. The handle that held the blade seemed as long as the figure was tall and resembled petrified wood that had been twisted by an unnatural force. With a quick sweep of the blade the figure thrust the scythe up and through the body of the man. One may have looked away to shield their eyes from gore, though oddly enough, the blade shed no blood. The man's body lie perfectly intact without a scrape on him, though once the figure lifted the scythe it was made clear that it did not miss. Stuck to the edge of the blade was a misty orb, no bigger than a baseball. It streamed a long tail of white transparent fog as the figure lifted it up to it's face; illuminating her features.
The reaper had just lifted its prize from the dead man. Matthieu was so in a vortex of guilt that the weight of his stupor blinded him. The entire scene transpired before he realized what his glazed eyes were seeing.
It was her.
He spent countless days traversing dimensions, desperately clutching at clues, snippets of a promise that he might once again see her. And here she was. And there she goes---
"Wait!" Matthieu sprung to his feet, his bone arm outstretched to reach the woman who had been just about to re-enter her portal. The thud in his chest was nearly audible, his heart was so over-worked. His words caused her steps to falter just long enough for him to reach out to her elbow, his skeletal finger entwining about the joint.
It was her.
He spent countless days traversing dimensions, desperately clutching at clues, snippets of a promise that he might once again see her. And here she was. And there she goes---
"Wait!" Matthieu sprung to his feet, his bone arm outstretched to reach the woman who had been just about to re-enter her portal. The thud in his chest was nearly audible, his heart was so over-worked. His words caused her steps to falter just long enough for him to reach out to her elbow, his skeletal finger entwining about the joint.
Her step faltered just a few feet from the portal. For a split second she almost dripped her scythe from the shock of hearing another voice. Perhaps her imagination was playing tricks on her. There was no way someone living could have seen her, the dark magic of her scythe prevented it. Though, as soon as she had just convinced herself of this she felt something against her skin. Cold and lifeless fingers closed themselves against the gaunt flesh of her arm. The feeling was unmistakable. Someone had grabbed her!
In a flash of black feathers she whipped around to see who had touched her. Ruffling her feathers, the grip on her scythe loosened and she dropped the weapon to the ground. Her green eyes widened in shock and she took a fumbled step backwards only to find the strength in her legs abandon her and leave her collapsed on the floor.
How had this young man seen her, much less touch her with out succumbing to an instantaneous demise? She found herself in a state of shock. None of this was supposed to happen, none of this had EVER happened. Alacoque found herself in such disbelief that she didn't hear the sound behind her.
Her portal was closing. Loud static ripped through the air and a gust of wind sent her feathers and white-blonde curls in every direction. Placing a hand down to support herself she soon realized her scythe was missing. Whipping around to face the portal she saw her scythe get sucked back into the portal, her assignment still attached to it's bade. SHe wanted to scramble to her feet to fallow after it, but she found that she was unable to move. Shock had gotten the best of her and she watched helplessly as the portal closed before her eyes, trapping her in this dimension.
Alacoque turned around slowly, still collapsed with her avian feet beneath her. Lifting her gaze she looked to see her distraction.
In a flash of black feathers she whipped around to see who had touched her. Ruffling her feathers, the grip on her scythe loosened and she dropped the weapon to the ground. Her green eyes widened in shock and she took a fumbled step backwards only to find the strength in her legs abandon her and leave her collapsed on the floor.
How had this young man seen her, much less touch her with out succumbing to an instantaneous demise? She found herself in a state of shock. None of this was supposed to happen, none of this had EVER happened. Alacoque found herself in such disbelief that she didn't hear the sound behind her.
Her portal was closing. Loud static ripped through the air and a gust of wind sent her feathers and white-blonde curls in every direction. Placing a hand down to support herself she soon realized her scythe was missing. Whipping around to face the portal she saw her scythe get sucked back into the portal, her assignment still attached to it's bade. SHe wanted to scramble to her feet to fallow after it, but she found that she was unable to move. Shock had gotten the best of her and she watched helplessly as the portal closed before her eyes, trapping her in this dimension.
Alacoque turned around slowly, still collapsed with her avian feet beneath her. Lifting her gaze she looked to see her distraction.
Matthieu wiped his hair out of his face with his free hand. He dare not let go of her arm, less he find out she was just an illusion.
"I---I---..." He shuffled over on his knees until he was right up next to her. "It's you, you're here, I can't believe it, it's really you!" He stammered on his free hand gesturing wildly with every proclamation. He, of course, did not register the horrified look on her face. "I've searched all over this world and other worlds, EVERY WORLD! I've been trying to find you, study you, find out what makes you work..." His look became distracted and the fevered speech ended abruptly as his bone hand released. He hadn't noticed the constant ache in it had alleviated when in contact with the Reaper. He was busy gently handling some of her feathers and shuffling around her, still on his knees and kicking up clouds of dirt and debris to get a good look at her at different angles.
He mumbled under his breath to himself during the entire inspection, taking mental notes which he now stopped to write in the journal he had strapped to his side. The pencil ran across the page frantically making citations, doodles and questions he meant to ask but had to get them out before he forgot. He was so in a fluster he had almost forgot the most important thing---
He raced on his knees again to the Reaper again, grabbing up one of her talloned hands and letting fall the journal in a flurry of pages. "What is your name?" His expression was both pleading and urgent and perhaps a hint of desperate.
"I---I---..." He shuffled over on his knees until he was right up next to her. "It's you, you're here, I can't believe it, it's really you!" He stammered on his free hand gesturing wildly with every proclamation. He, of course, did not register the horrified look on her face. "I've searched all over this world and other worlds, EVERY WORLD! I've been trying to find you, study you, find out what makes you work..." His look became distracted and the fevered speech ended abruptly as his bone hand released. He hadn't noticed the constant ache in it had alleviated when in contact with the Reaper. He was busy gently handling some of her feathers and shuffling around her, still on his knees and kicking up clouds of dirt and debris to get a good look at her at different angles.
He mumbled under his breath to himself during the entire inspection, taking mental notes which he now stopped to write in the journal he had strapped to his side. The pencil ran across the page frantically making citations, doodles and questions he meant to ask but had to get them out before he forgot. He was so in a fluster he had almost forgot the most important thing---
He raced on his knees again to the Reaper again, grabbing up one of her talloned hands and letting fall the journal in a flurry of pages. "What is your name?" His expression was both pleading and urgent and perhaps a hint of desperate.
Alacoque found herself unable to speak. So many thoughts raced through her mind at once she started to feel dizzy with stress. Who was this odd young man and HOW was he able to touch her without dyeing? Never in her life had she been able to come in physical contact with another person without killing them. But this man before her seemed to have no issue with that as he scurried around her; examining her feathers and occasionally brushing against her skin. This sensation was strange to her and she found herself cringe away from him out of habit.
Then it hit her. She was stuck! No reaping assignment had ever gone this awry and she couldn't recall any lesson that covered this topic. Her teacher would be furious with her! She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
Then, all of a sudden an odd feeling swept over her. The man before her had gathered one of her hands into his. Alacoque blinked her feathered lashes several times and focused her attention onto this hands clasped around her own. She heard him say something but her ears couldn't register his voice. She felt as if her mind was in a fog and her head was floating away from her body. Her green eyes focused onto his face before her vision began to blur. She was able to get out a meek "W-what?" before falling backwards onto the floor; black wings stretched out beneath her.
Then it hit her. She was stuck! No reaping assignment had ever gone this awry and she couldn't recall any lesson that covered this topic. Her teacher would be furious with her! She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
Then, all of a sudden an odd feeling swept over her. The man before her had gathered one of her hands into his. Alacoque blinked her feathered lashes several times and focused her attention onto this hands clasped around her own. She heard him say something but her ears couldn't register his voice. She felt as if her mind was in a fog and her head was floating away from her body. Her green eyes focused onto his face before her vision began to blur. She was able to get out a meek "W-what?" before falling backwards onto the floor; black wings stretched out beneath her.
"Whaaaaat." He said dreamily to himself before realizing that was not her name aaaand she had just collapsed. Frantic he had done something to her, Matthieu gave her a delicate shake... And then a more violent one when she didn't respond to the first. He was getting into a panic now. He'd wasted so much time to find her and now he broke her!
He pushed his hair out of his face habitually and looked around him. The ruined skeleton of the house stood precariously around them. The walls were still crumbling, pipes shot water and steam at odd directions as they were bent from their placements and the floor was littered with blood, broken tiles and torn carpets. He looked further; his house was the only one around. That was a good thing because the world he orignated from was not used to things like magic; especially not such destructive magic as what destroyed this building.
He sighed outwardly, the exhalation of breath took the energy he had left with it into the open air. He felt the weight of all that transpired then. The dimension-hopping, the chase, the fight, the...murder... the discovery of his dreams... All the simultaneous emotions drained him as he played them all back. He felt cold each time the dead man's face showed in his mind.
Something crashed behind him. He had more pursuers to contend with, apparently. Before he could see what was making the noise he decided it was time to hop again. It would drain him, maybe to the point of unconciousness but he couldn't protect his discovery here, not like this. He didn't want to kill again.
He reached for his flesh wrist, to a scarab bracer he wore. He moved the beatle's wings at a certain degree and pushed down. A portal began to open near him and he struggled to his feet, lifting the avian being next to him. He had to put forth more effort than he could afford to lift her, despite her slight frame. He was so not cut for this role. The noises behind him were getting closer.
About to step through the portal, woman slung over his shoulder, which was quite awkward with her wings, he realized he was missing something. "MY HAT!" He hadn't realized he'd lost it in the fight! Placing the bird woman delicately to the ground he raced through the reckage to find it. There, on top of one of the last walls standing, his hat hung stuck to a broken pipe.
The noises were getting ever closer as he jumped futily upward for the fedora. There was nothing to climb on to get an advantage and his fingers just brushed the brim when he took a leap. He continued on with a growing sense of panic equivilant to the growing sound of crunching. He managed to get the hat just as the noise became so close and violent he could feel it in his chest.
With more agility than he knew he owned, Matthieu leapt the distance to his unconcious Reaper, scooped her to his body and fell bodily through the rift in time and space.
He pushed his hair out of his face habitually and looked around him. The ruined skeleton of the house stood precariously around them. The walls were still crumbling, pipes shot water and steam at odd directions as they were bent from their placements and the floor was littered with blood, broken tiles and torn carpets. He looked further; his house was the only one around. That was a good thing because the world he orignated from was not used to things like magic; especially not such destructive magic as what destroyed this building.
He sighed outwardly, the exhalation of breath took the energy he had left with it into the open air. He felt the weight of all that transpired then. The dimension-hopping, the chase, the fight, the...murder... the discovery of his dreams... All the simultaneous emotions drained him as he played them all back. He felt cold each time the dead man's face showed in his mind.
Something crashed behind him. He had more pursuers to contend with, apparently. Before he could see what was making the noise he decided it was time to hop again. It would drain him, maybe to the point of unconciousness but he couldn't protect his discovery here, not like this. He didn't want to kill again.
He reached for his flesh wrist, to a scarab bracer he wore. He moved the beatle's wings at a certain degree and pushed down. A portal began to open near him and he struggled to his feet, lifting the avian being next to him. He had to put forth more effort than he could afford to lift her, despite her slight frame. He was so not cut for this role. The noises behind him were getting closer.
About to step through the portal, woman slung over his shoulder, which was quite awkward with her wings, he realized he was missing something. "MY HAT!" He hadn't realized he'd lost it in the fight! Placing the bird woman delicately to the ground he raced through the reckage to find it. There, on top of one of the last walls standing, his hat hung stuck to a broken pipe.
The noises were getting ever closer as he jumped futily upward for the fedora. There was nothing to climb on to get an advantage and his fingers just brushed the brim when he took a leap. He continued on with a growing sense of panic equivilant to the growing sound of crunching. He managed to get the hat just as the noise became so close and violent he could feel it in his chest.
With more agility than he knew he owned, Matthieu leapt the distance to his unconcious Reaper, scooped her to his body and fell bodily through the rift in time and space.
Nothing but blackness surrounded Alacoque. She tried to open her eyes but the effort gave no change of surrounding. Where was she? What had happened? She was trying to place everything together in the deep empty blackness that she had found herself in. It all happened so quickly. What had gone wrong? She remembered talking with the other reapers she knew just a few minutes ago. She remembered getting her assignment, waiting for her cue to travel through the spinning portal, reaching her mark and collecting the soul, just as planned. Just like all the other times and THIS time was especially memorable because she only had to swing her scythe once to collect it; this made her feel good. Satisfied. But what's this? A voice? She remembered the sensation of someone touching her. How odd. There was no way something like that could have happened. A face? She tried to remember the details. They were scrambled in here memory. No...no. There was no way...
"You screwed up again, Allie!"
Alacoque cringed. A sharp shiver ran through her body as the harsh voice echoed around her in circles. She tried to swallow back her emotions but she found her throat had gone dry. She looked around frantically for the source of the voice.
Laughter. Hallow and mocking came from every angle. "You're so pathetic! You let the littlest things distract you and now you've lost your scythe!" Alacoque sat up to cover her ears, but the voice persisted. Violent and booming in her ears.
"Stop it..." was all she managed to get out as she found herself rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped around her sunken torso. She lifted her head in the blackness and saw them. Two glowing green eyes pierced through her body like daggers. She wanted to scream but her breath escaped her as two scaled hands shot through the blackness and grabbed her by the wrists; pinning her to the ground. She couldn't move, almost as if she had gone catatonic while still fully aware of her surroundings. She focused her eyes on her captor. "No....please don't....not again..." her breath came out in whimpers and she felt her eyes swell up with moisture.
The figure loomed over her, it's brilliant green eyes blazing with hatred and violence. With a swift wave of it's talons it slashed through the fabric of Alacoque's dress, exposing the pale flesh of her stomach. She tried to plead again, tried to beg the figure not to continue, but it was already too late. Her voice was gone and she watched helplessly as the figure's sharp talons tore through her midsection. Pain seized through her body and she felt the warmth of her blood pour out and pool around her body. She closed her eyes. She wanted to scream! "Stop it!" was all she could think! SHe felt the talons bite into the flesh of her arms, her legs, her throat. She couldn't breath! NO! Stop it! She shut her eyes tight and willed her body to fight back with every ounce of strength she had left. Shaking her head she unlocked the last store of energy she had and grabbed the figure's arm in her own taloned hands and with the remanding ounces of strength, she fought for her freedom.
She shot up, pushing a heavy force off of her and letting out a scream. She opened her eyes, her heart racing and felt a cold sweat trickle down the side of her face. The horrible eyes were gone. Where was she? She looked down at her stomach. Everything was intact. Breathing a mile a minute she looked around herself nervously. Where was she? The air around her felt warm and bright sunlight penetrated the tiniest breaks in the leaves of the tree above her. She would have heard the sound of it's leaves rustling but all she could hear was the sound of her own heart throbbing, her breath gasping. She turned her head and saw a person next to her. It was him! The same man she saw before she blacked out! Her eyes widened and she gave a started jump, setting her nerves on fire again.
"You screwed up again, Allie!"
Alacoque cringed. A sharp shiver ran through her body as the harsh voice echoed around her in circles. She tried to swallow back her emotions but she found her throat had gone dry. She looked around frantically for the source of the voice.
Laughter. Hallow and mocking came from every angle. "You're so pathetic! You let the littlest things distract you and now you've lost your scythe!" Alacoque sat up to cover her ears, but the voice persisted. Violent and booming in her ears.
"Stop it..." was all she managed to get out as she found herself rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped around her sunken torso. She lifted her head in the blackness and saw them. Two glowing green eyes pierced through her body like daggers. She wanted to scream but her breath escaped her as two scaled hands shot through the blackness and grabbed her by the wrists; pinning her to the ground. She couldn't move, almost as if she had gone catatonic while still fully aware of her surroundings. She focused her eyes on her captor. "No....please don't....not again..." her breath came out in whimpers and she felt her eyes swell up with moisture.
The figure loomed over her, it's brilliant green eyes blazing with hatred and violence. With a swift wave of it's talons it slashed through the fabric of Alacoque's dress, exposing the pale flesh of her stomach. She tried to plead again, tried to beg the figure not to continue, but it was already too late. Her voice was gone and she watched helplessly as the figure's sharp talons tore through her midsection. Pain seized through her body and she felt the warmth of her blood pour out and pool around her body. She closed her eyes. She wanted to scream! "Stop it!" was all she could think! SHe felt the talons bite into the flesh of her arms, her legs, her throat. She couldn't breath! NO! Stop it! She shut her eyes tight and willed her body to fight back with every ounce of strength she had left. Shaking her head she unlocked the last store of energy she had and grabbed the figure's arm in her own taloned hands and with the remanding ounces of strength, she fought for her freedom.
She shot up, pushing a heavy force off of her and letting out a scream. She opened her eyes, her heart racing and felt a cold sweat trickle down the side of her face. The horrible eyes were gone. Where was she? She looked down at her stomach. Everything was intact. Breathing a mile a minute she looked around herself nervously. Where was she? The air around her felt warm and bright sunlight penetrated the tiniest breaks in the leaves of the tree above her. She would have heard the sound of it's leaves rustling but all she could hear was the sound of her own heart throbbing, her breath gasping. She turned her head and saw a person next to her. It was him! The same man she saw before she blacked out! Her eyes widened and she gave a started jump, setting her nerves on fire again.
Matthieu's head was hazy, heavy and he was quite sure that the world was spinning without him. It was definitely too soon to jump again. He had unmistakably landed in the Nexus, as that was the only way to travel dimensions. What he wasn't sure of was how close he was to the actual tower.
He tried to move, his body splayed on the ground as he spun to land on the bottom of the human pile. It felt as if he was under sand; he could move a little at a time but as soon as he tried to exert too much effort unseen weight pushed down on him. He gave into the pressure in his head and sleep over took him.
It was a good half hour before Alacoque woke from her nightmare. Around her she could see a forest, or more of a jungle. It was a mess of trees knit together by vines and branches, so thick in places the canopy obscured the sun. However, if she turned around she could also see a beautiful and gigantic tower. It was made of countless floors, each separated by an ornate design in the stonework. This place was crawling with life forms. From big to small, to wide and thin, anthropomorphic to homo sapian based; the diversity in and around the Tower was staggering. Beings bustled in and out, up and down displaying many strange and unique traits.
Among them, however, was one familiar life form. They seemed to be blue glowing men. Or at least they wanted the eye to think they were men. If one stared at them for too long they lost focus and were forced to turn away. These forms were littered amongst the crowds, directing and chauffeuring; supposedly being guides.
Next to her, a noise crackled in the air. Something almost electric sounding. Something similar to the noise that chased them through the rift.
He tried to move, his body splayed on the ground as he spun to land on the bottom of the human pile. It felt as if he was under sand; he could move a little at a time but as soon as he tried to exert too much effort unseen weight pushed down on him. He gave into the pressure in his head and sleep over took him.
It was a good half hour before Alacoque woke from her nightmare. Around her she could see a forest, or more of a jungle. It was a mess of trees knit together by vines and branches, so thick in places the canopy obscured the sun. However, if she turned around she could also see a beautiful and gigantic tower. It was made of countless floors, each separated by an ornate design in the stonework. This place was crawling with life forms. From big to small, to wide and thin, anthropomorphic to homo sapian based; the diversity in and around the Tower was staggering. Beings bustled in and out, up and down displaying many strange and unique traits.
Among them, however, was one familiar life form. They seemed to be blue glowing men. Or at least they wanted the eye to think they were men. If one stared at them for too long they lost focus and were forced to turn away. These forms were littered amongst the crowds, directing and chauffeuring; supposedly being guides.
Next to her, a noise crackled in the air. Something almost electric sounding. Something similar to the noise that chased them through the rift.
Alacoque tried to catch her breath once she realized the man next to her was unconscious. There was something oddly familiar about him; she just couldn't put her finger on it. Her eyes searched his body to try and spark a memory. She never really paid any attention to what her assignments looked like. Why bother? All the souls she collected looked pretty much the same anyway; and she had been collecting a lot of souls lately. She had just graduated from once-weekly assignments to thrice-weekly! This put her right next to some of the more experienced reapers in Hell.
--Her mind was wondering again and she shook her head to try and focus her attention on the man next to her.
He was young. No older than 25. Dark hair, tanned skin... Thin...ish...Alacoque noticed a bit of muscle under his clothes and possibly in his arms..one of his arms...no. She sat up straight and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her avian hand. Upon closer inspection it was most certainly unmistakable. This man's left arm was nothing more than bone! It hit her. She HAD seen him before! Gathering herself onto her knees she knelt over him in fascination. Before her was the man who's soul she was assigned to take, though, due to an odd mix of magic and circumstance, she was forced to abandon the mission at the last second, leaving him with nothing more than a skeletal arm.
She had wondered what had happened to him. Picking up his book she opened it up to a page of notes and sketches. Skimming through the bits of writing she could make out she found herself focusing more on the sketches he had made. It was only a few pages later that her body jerked in shock as a sharp electric sound shot through the air. She felt her feathers stand on end. If only she hadn't lost her scythe she would have been able to create a new portal and travel back home!
Alacoque crouched low to the ground; something was coming her way! She had no idea what, but she knew it wasn't going to be friendly...
--Her mind was wondering again and she shook her head to try and focus her attention on the man next to her.
He was young. No older than 25. Dark hair, tanned skin... Thin...ish...Alacoque noticed a bit of muscle under his clothes and possibly in his arms..one of his arms...no. She sat up straight and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her avian hand. Upon closer inspection it was most certainly unmistakable. This man's left arm was nothing more than bone! It hit her. She HAD seen him before! Gathering herself onto her knees she knelt over him in fascination. Before her was the man who's soul she was assigned to take, though, due to an odd mix of magic and circumstance, she was forced to abandon the mission at the last second, leaving him with nothing more than a skeletal arm.
She had wondered what had happened to him. Picking up his book she opened it up to a page of notes and sketches. Skimming through the bits of writing she could make out she found herself focusing more on the sketches he had made. It was only a few pages later that her body jerked in shock as a sharp electric sound shot through the air. She felt her feathers stand on end. If only she hadn't lost her scythe she would have been able to create a new portal and travel back home!
Alacoque crouched low to the ground; something was coming her way! She had no idea what, but she knew it wasn't going to be friendly...
The crackling split the air to her right, resulting in another portal opening. The rift was glowing a nauseating blue color and shots of electricity seemed to bite at her from the edges. Through it, she could see the ruins of the house they were in previously, although now they were being consumed by a raging fire. The view was obscured then by a sentient shape unmistakable as a human.
The half that came through the rift was strictly human, however as his right side slid through after him, Alacoque could see something was different. The man's right arm was not solid, but made of an ethereal substance; a glowing blue matter. Like a liquid, the blue arm shimmered and waved, never breaking apart but in a constant motion like a tide.
He was fully through the rift hole now and as his second foot met with the ground, the blue arm shifted and bubbled and was suddenly a whip tearing through the air toward her. As the liquid light was about to make sinister contact with his scales, a force shoved her to the side.
Matthieu fought through his proverbial sand back into consciousness in time to throw his bulk in the way of the slashing man. His coat now wore a rip down the shoulder, but she shrugged it off as the man was making to strike again, this time with a more sinister cat-o-nine tails type morph. Matt turned to his prize and tugged at her arm with his boney one.
"We need to run! NOW!" he urged her to her feet and tried to make for the tower as the glowing man advanced, a wicked expression contorting his face.
The half that came through the rift was strictly human, however as his right side slid through after him, Alacoque could see something was different. The man's right arm was not solid, but made of an ethereal substance; a glowing blue matter. Like a liquid, the blue arm shimmered and waved, never breaking apart but in a constant motion like a tide.
He was fully through the rift hole now and as his second foot met with the ground, the blue arm shifted and bubbled and was suddenly a whip tearing through the air toward her. As the liquid light was about to make sinister contact with his scales, a force shoved her to the side.
Matthieu fought through his proverbial sand back into consciousness in time to throw his bulk in the way of the slashing man. His coat now wore a rip down the shoulder, but she shrugged it off as the man was making to strike again, this time with a more sinister cat-o-nine tails type morph. Matt turned to his prize and tugged at her arm with his boney one.
"We need to run! NOW!" he urged her to her feet and tried to make for the tower as the glowing man advanced, a wicked expression contorting his face.
Alacoque was unable to move for a short moment. She stared in disbelief as the man prepared his arm for the second strike. Shaking her head and blinking hard she came to her senses and hopped back a few feet before turning to run after Mattieu.
With light and agile strides she caught up to Mattieu in just a few moments. In any other circumstance she would have never been able to will her frail body to move as quickly as it did but was pure adrenaline keep her from falling behind. She had no idea what that thing was back there, all she knew was she had to get as far away from it as she possibly could. Gasping for breath she looked ahead for any break in the trees above her. Nothing, but the tower was drawing nearer with every step she took. She felt as if her heart would burst as she pressed on, leaving a trail of dead grass and wilted foliage in her wake.
Upon reaching the tower she sunk her talons into it's stone surface in attempt to keep from collapsing. Her lungs were on fire and her heart raced. Turning around to get a sense of how much time was on her side she managed to choke out a few words to Mattieu who wasn't far from her.
"What IS that?!"
With light and agile strides she caught up to Mattieu in just a few moments. In any other circumstance she would have never been able to will her frail body to move as quickly as it did but was pure adrenaline keep her from falling behind. She had no idea what that thing was back there, all she knew was she had to get as far away from it as she possibly could. Gasping for breath she looked ahead for any break in the trees above her. Nothing, but the tower was drawing nearer with every step she took. She felt as if her heart would burst as she pressed on, leaving a trail of dead grass and wilted foliage in her wake.
Upon reaching the tower she sunk her talons into it's stone surface in attempt to keep from collapsing. Her lungs were on fire and her heart raced. Turning around to get a sense of how much time was on her side she managed to choke out a few words to Mattieu who wasn't far from her.
"What IS that?!"
"No time," Matthieu spat as he raced past her and into the tower, grabbing her arm again as he passed. Her jerked her along and up the spiral staircase, crashing through patrons and hoppers alike. The blue spectral men moved out of the way in a harumphing manner. Some didn't have the time to react and either split apart and reformed, or were run through. If such were the case, they scattered like rain drops and reformed into a puddle which stood up once more unscathed.
Matt ran haphazardly his coat and journal flying about him as he dragged her further up. He finally stopped at an entrance that he didn't recognize and ran in to the alcove. It housed an ornately carved arch which had a net of misty air within it; another portal.
Matthieu paused to inspect the archway and then ran headlong through the rift.
Matt ran haphazardly his coat and journal flying about him as he dragged her further up. He finally stopped at an entrance that he didn't recognize and ran in to the alcove. It housed an ornately carved arch which had a net of misty air within it; another portal.
Matthieu paused to inspect the archway and then ran headlong through the rift.
The long feathers streaming from Alacoque's temples flagged this way and that as the man from the portal burst forth from the forest; his arm a boiling whip of pure energy and magic. Turning her gaze to the portal she tried to swallow, but her mouth had gone dry. She could feel her heart still racing; ready to beat out of her chest. Everything was happening so fast and she began to feel dizzy.
"JUST JUMP ALREADY YOU STUPID FOOL!!" The voice in her head boomed as loudly as if it had been blasted from a loudspeaker right next to her and before she knew it an unseen force fought her body into the portal.
Static rang in her ears and everything around her lost focus. Objects and matter rushed past her while a heaviness collected in her chest. It was getting herder to breath, harder to see, to hear. Everything went dark. The static ceased. For a moment Alacoque wondered if she had died though this thought was quickly interrupted when her body collided into something hard, knocking the wind out of her.
Slowly, the vision returned to her eyes. It was dark, possibly nighttime where she was. Her head throbbed and her body ached immensely. Traveling through portals was not a simple walk through the park. It causes a lot of strain on the body and although she had been accustomed to them from reaping, no portal was the same. The ones she had traveled through were unlike any she had gone through before. Bringing a hand to her head she sat up to inspect her surroundings as the hearing returned to her ears.
A light drizzle hummed throughout the area and a thick fog obscured anything that was more than a few yards away. Though, Alacoque was sure she could make out the silhouettes of tree limbs, maybe a few boulders in the distance. The ground below her was damp and slimy and she quickly repositioned herself on the ground only to be struck with a terrible pain in her side. She cringed, grasping at her flank with her oversized hands. She took a deep breath in onto to choke on the smog around her. This place had an acrid oder that lingered in the nostrils. Coughing a few times to clear her lungs she heard the sound of footsteps. Many footsteps. Flagging the long feathers on her temples she soon realized she wasn't alone. Strange pairs of eyes glared at her through the fog glowing yellow and pail. They vanished and reappeared in every direction she looked taking slow heavy steps in the wet earth.
Alacoque felt her skin prickle and her feathers stood on end. Making a strained effort to get to her feet she hobbled over to what looked like a fence while trying to ignore the ever-growing pain in her side that caused her right leg to go stiff. As soon as she reached the gate she looked past the bars to see nothing more than marshland. Sighing she stepped back, preparing to hop the fence, though as soon as her eyes focused on the sky she realized something odd about the fence before her. It's bars not only ran high, but they bent inward and straight across the sky. Alacoque turned around and a heavy feeling sunk in her gut. She was in a cage! A giant, cold and wet cage. She felt herself sink to the ground, the pain in her side suddenly worsening. She shut her eyes tight and clenched her teeth. Letting out a scream of pain and frustration she slammed her talons to the ground and felt them pierce through something. Looking down she lifted her hand to reveal a hat, half soaked in mud and now adorned with several talon marks. It was that mans! Alacoque looked lifted her head to see if he night be near but her gaze wasn't met by his.
In front her in the mist were two circular glowing eyes. They stared straight at her coming closer in quickening heavy steps. A deep guttural grunt bellowed from the beast they belonged to; the shadow of it's body becoming clearer as it traveled through the fog. Alacoque felt her heart sink. Was this the punishment she faced for loosing her scythe? Backing towards the fence she stumbled over a body that lie beneath her and in an awkward attempt to right herself she felt familiar hands touch her. Opening her eyes she saw the face of her captor, who, in an attempt to right himself as well, had parted the flight feathers of her wing which was flopped over his head.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?"
"JUST JUMP ALREADY YOU STUPID FOOL!!" The voice in her head boomed as loudly as if it had been blasted from a loudspeaker right next to her and before she knew it an unseen force fought her body into the portal.
Static rang in her ears and everything around her lost focus. Objects and matter rushed past her while a heaviness collected in her chest. It was getting herder to breath, harder to see, to hear. Everything went dark. The static ceased. For a moment Alacoque wondered if she had died though this thought was quickly interrupted when her body collided into something hard, knocking the wind out of her.
Slowly, the vision returned to her eyes. It was dark, possibly nighttime where she was. Her head throbbed and her body ached immensely. Traveling through portals was not a simple walk through the park. It causes a lot of strain on the body and although she had been accustomed to them from reaping, no portal was the same. The ones she had traveled through were unlike any she had gone through before. Bringing a hand to her head she sat up to inspect her surroundings as the hearing returned to her ears.
A light drizzle hummed throughout the area and a thick fog obscured anything that was more than a few yards away. Though, Alacoque was sure she could make out the silhouettes of tree limbs, maybe a few boulders in the distance. The ground below her was damp and slimy and she quickly repositioned herself on the ground only to be struck with a terrible pain in her side. She cringed, grasping at her flank with her oversized hands. She took a deep breath in onto to choke on the smog around her. This place had an acrid oder that lingered in the nostrils. Coughing a few times to clear her lungs she heard the sound of footsteps. Many footsteps. Flagging the long feathers on her temples she soon realized she wasn't alone. Strange pairs of eyes glared at her through the fog glowing yellow and pail. They vanished and reappeared in every direction she looked taking slow heavy steps in the wet earth.
Alacoque felt her skin prickle and her feathers stood on end. Making a strained effort to get to her feet she hobbled over to what looked like a fence while trying to ignore the ever-growing pain in her side that caused her right leg to go stiff. As soon as she reached the gate she looked past the bars to see nothing more than marshland. Sighing she stepped back, preparing to hop the fence, though as soon as her eyes focused on the sky she realized something odd about the fence before her. It's bars not only ran high, but they bent inward and straight across the sky. Alacoque turned around and a heavy feeling sunk in her gut. She was in a cage! A giant, cold and wet cage. She felt herself sink to the ground, the pain in her side suddenly worsening. She shut her eyes tight and clenched her teeth. Letting out a scream of pain and frustration she slammed her talons to the ground and felt them pierce through something. Looking down she lifted her hand to reveal a hat, half soaked in mud and now adorned with several talon marks. It was that mans! Alacoque looked lifted her head to see if he night be near but her gaze wasn't met by his.
In front her in the mist were two circular glowing eyes. They stared straight at her coming closer in quickening heavy steps. A deep guttural grunt bellowed from the beast they belonged to; the shadow of it's body becoming clearer as it traveled through the fog. Alacoque felt her heart sink. Was this the punishment she faced for loosing her scythe? Backing towards the fence she stumbled over a body that lie beneath her and in an awkward attempt to right herself she felt familiar hands touch her. Opening her eyes she saw the face of her captor, who, in an attempt to right himself as well, had parted the flight feathers of her wing which was flopped over his head.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?"
It took Matthieu a good handful of minutes to figure out what was going on. He'd run too fast through the portal and forgot that sometimes they don't spit you out at ground level. He had taken a tumble to the ground where this thing must have scooped him up and dropped him in the cage. Then a scaly rough foot made contact with his face.
He parted the dark tide that swept over him to find Alacoque's stricken expression. Her mouth twisted before screeching, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?" Matthieu didn't understand why she was yelling and his brows came together in a frown.
Then something stepped out of the darkness, slowly so that the first thing to step into the cone of light was the creature's feet. AS the rest of its grotesque body came into view, Matt forget the woman's question entirely and was pushing himself to his feet in order to run away. His back met the metal of the cage and he let out a strangled yelp. He felt the shiver at the base of his spine shoot upward to the hairs on the back of his neck. The creature was getting entirely too close.
It's gaping maw quivered with the growl in his throat and rivulets of spittle oozed out of its jowls. A droplet hit the ground and sizzled acidically. Matthieu's heart beat into his throat. He looked to the Reaper and then to the advancing creature and made a quick decision. His arm was still unsheathed and in a desperate move he pushed his bone hand toward the creature's face.
It, of course, bit down. Matt's reaction was going to be of pain... but the sensation in his arm was dull and far from agonizing. The creature lifted him and shook. He held on as best he could while be jarred. The skeletal arm bent and dug his hand into the creature's cheek to incapacitate it. However, the thing kept thrashing Matthieu about. He dug in harder taking a handful of the thing's skin. It seemed to slow a bit, almost in a dazed fashion; but it didn't pass out or even expire as he was hoping.
It was too big. He found that the larger the beast he tried to subdue this way, the longer it took. He didn't think he had that kind of time and held desperately to the creature's face as it tried to pry him off.
"You need to do something!" He called behind him in a thick voice. The thing threw its head back and Alacoque heard a sickening crack when Matthieu's body flew off and hit the darkness, and supposedly a part of the metal framing closing them in.
He parted the dark tide that swept over him to find Alacoque's stricken expression. Her mouth twisted before screeching, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?" Matthieu didn't understand why she was yelling and his brows came together in a frown.
Then something stepped out of the darkness, slowly so that the first thing to step into the cone of light was the creature's feet. AS the rest of its grotesque body came into view, Matt forget the woman's question entirely and was pushing himself to his feet in order to run away. His back met the metal of the cage and he let out a strangled yelp. He felt the shiver at the base of his spine shoot upward to the hairs on the back of his neck. The creature was getting entirely too close.
It's gaping maw quivered with the growl in his throat and rivulets of spittle oozed out of its jowls. A droplet hit the ground and sizzled acidically. Matthieu's heart beat into his throat. He looked to the Reaper and then to the advancing creature and made a quick decision. His arm was still unsheathed and in a desperate move he pushed his bone hand toward the creature's face.
It, of course, bit down. Matt's reaction was going to be of pain... but the sensation in his arm was dull and far from agonizing. The creature lifted him and shook. He held on as best he could while be jarred. The skeletal arm bent and dug his hand into the creature's cheek to incapacitate it. However, the thing kept thrashing Matthieu about. He dug in harder taking a handful of the thing's skin. It seemed to slow a bit, almost in a dazed fashion; but it didn't pass out or even expire as he was hoping.
It was too big. He found that the larger the beast he tried to subdue this way, the longer it took. He didn't think he had that kind of time and held desperately to the creature's face as it tried to pry him off.
"You need to do something!" He called behind him in a thick voice. The thing threw its head back and Alacoque heard a sickening crack when Matthieu's body flew off and hit the darkness, and supposedly a part of the metal framing closing them in.
Cringing backwards Alacoque's feathers stood on end as the creature turned it's enormous wooly head towards her and let out a a growl so deep she could feel it reverberate in her chest. The thing took a slow step towards her and lowered its tusks, preparing to charge her. Between the pain in her side and she fire in her chest she felt totally paralyzed. She didn't have the energy to attack, let alone run away. Averting her eyes she let out a sigh and allowed her mind wonder; maybe this would be quick. Feeling the shock-waves of the beasts heavy steps gallop towards her, she heard nothing but the thumping of her racing heart.
"YOU IDIOT!!! DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING?!" The harsh voice rang in her mind so loudly she thought her ears would bleed. Then out of nowhere, a jolt of energy surged through her body. Alacoque felt herself slip into a dream like state as the new energy encompassed her body. Lifting her gaze to face the beast Alacoque's pupils contracted to mere pin-holes and her lips split into a mocking sneer. As the beast approached at top speed Alacoque felt her body ready itself for attack. Spreading her wings she waited for just the right moment before thrusting them downward and flying over the charging giant. Before the huge beast had realized what she had done it ran head long into the bars of the cage, warping the bars and breaking a tusk. The creature reared it's head up and around violently, sending sprays of corrosive blood in all directions. Letting out a grunt of frustration the beast bellowed and stomped it's feet splashing the mud and grime below it's great girth.
Turning around swiftly in the air, Alacoque readied her talons and dove down onto the beasts back. Her talons sunk into it's thick hide and the beast let out a surprised grunt before making a sharp choking sound. The hot smog of breath that poured from it's mouth and nose ceased completely as it's entire body seemed to seize up in quick waves. With a final failed attempt to breath, the beast managed to choke out a few grunts before it's eyes rolled back and it's legs gave out from under it.
The beast's body lie lifeless on the cold ground, the soggy earth slowly giving way to it's great weight. Alacoque had released her talons from the creatures thick hide moments before it fell and now stood before it in a haggard daze. Her pupils slowly dilated back to their appropriate size and she blinked her eyes into focus.
"You didn't have to kill it...it was only defending it's territory..." Alacoque felt a shiver pass through her body, almost as if she knew what would come next. She felt her body jerk forward and before she knew it she was on her hands a knees staring at the wet ground and succumbing to the deafening voice in her head.
"Didn't HAVE TO?!" The voice was harsh and booming and caused her skin to prickle. "For ONCE I thought you would THANK me for doing you a favor! You're so unbelievably foolish! If I hadn't killed that thing it would have gotten you first! And then what!? It would have died anyway after touching you!"
"...I know...but..."
"SHUTUP!! Stop feeling sorry for this stupid hulk of an animal...how are we going to get out of here?"
Alacoque looked around, the rain had let up a bit and the fog was starting to clear. Brushing the wet curls from her skin with the tip if a talon she noticed something. Right where the beast had rammed the cage the bars had warped to give just enough room for her to squeeze out. Hopping over to the bars she was ready to make her escape when she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her. Turning around to see what was there she quickly realized she had turned to fast and a wave of dizziness swept over her. Shaking it off she scanned the area around her. She didn't see any other beasts, but she continued to hear the same sound, as if someone was there. --Of course! In her haste to get away she had almost forgotten about the man from before.
Hesitantly she made her way over to the bushes where his body lay. She still wasn't sure what to think of him; after all if was because of him that she was now in this mess. Maybe he knew how to get her out of it. It was a stretch, but just maybe he would know. Kneeling down next to his body she looked him over. He was still alive, though half unconscious his arms and legs stirred about as if he was in a bad dream. She noticed a bunch of scratches and a gash on his forehead though besides from that he seemed fine to her. Perhaps it was the broken branches beneath him that made that horrible cracking sound after he was flung. Whatever the cause, Alacoque stretched out a scaled hand and quickly pushed his shoulder. She felt so awkward touching people, even if it was over the sleeve of his shirt. After a few moments of waiting she decided to try again, this time pushing his shoulder a bit harder.
"Hey...HEY!!"
"YOU IDIOT!!! DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING?!" The harsh voice rang in her mind so loudly she thought her ears would bleed. Then out of nowhere, a jolt of energy surged through her body. Alacoque felt herself slip into a dream like state as the new energy encompassed her body. Lifting her gaze to face the beast Alacoque's pupils contracted to mere pin-holes and her lips split into a mocking sneer. As the beast approached at top speed Alacoque felt her body ready itself for attack. Spreading her wings she waited for just the right moment before thrusting them downward and flying over the charging giant. Before the huge beast had realized what she had done it ran head long into the bars of the cage, warping the bars and breaking a tusk. The creature reared it's head up and around violently, sending sprays of corrosive blood in all directions. Letting out a grunt of frustration the beast bellowed and stomped it's feet splashing the mud and grime below it's great girth.
Turning around swiftly in the air, Alacoque readied her talons and dove down onto the beasts back. Her talons sunk into it's thick hide and the beast let out a surprised grunt before making a sharp choking sound. The hot smog of breath that poured from it's mouth and nose ceased completely as it's entire body seemed to seize up in quick waves. With a final failed attempt to breath, the beast managed to choke out a few grunts before it's eyes rolled back and it's legs gave out from under it.
The beast's body lie lifeless on the cold ground, the soggy earth slowly giving way to it's great weight. Alacoque had released her talons from the creatures thick hide moments before it fell and now stood before it in a haggard daze. Her pupils slowly dilated back to their appropriate size and she blinked her eyes into focus.
"You didn't have to kill it...it was only defending it's territory..." Alacoque felt a shiver pass through her body, almost as if she knew what would come next. She felt her body jerk forward and before she knew it she was on her hands a knees staring at the wet ground and succumbing to the deafening voice in her head.
"Didn't HAVE TO?!" The voice was harsh and booming and caused her skin to prickle. "For ONCE I thought you would THANK me for doing you a favor! You're so unbelievably foolish! If I hadn't killed that thing it would have gotten you first! And then what!? It would have died anyway after touching you!"
"...I know...but..."
"SHUTUP!! Stop feeling sorry for this stupid hulk of an animal...how are we going to get out of here?"
Alacoque looked around, the rain had let up a bit and the fog was starting to clear. Brushing the wet curls from her skin with the tip if a talon she noticed something. Right where the beast had rammed the cage the bars had warped to give just enough room for her to squeeze out. Hopping over to the bars she was ready to make her escape when she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her. Turning around to see what was there she quickly realized she had turned to fast and a wave of dizziness swept over her. Shaking it off she scanned the area around her. She didn't see any other beasts, but she continued to hear the same sound, as if someone was there. --Of course! In her haste to get away she had almost forgotten about the man from before.
Hesitantly she made her way over to the bushes where his body lay. She still wasn't sure what to think of him; after all if was because of him that she was now in this mess. Maybe he knew how to get her out of it. It was a stretch, but just maybe he would know. Kneeling down next to his body she looked him over. He was still alive, though half unconscious his arms and legs stirred about as if he was in a bad dream. She noticed a bunch of scratches and a gash on his forehead though besides from that he seemed fine to her. Perhaps it was the broken branches beneath him that made that horrible cracking sound after he was flung. Whatever the cause, Alacoque stretched out a scaled hand and quickly pushed his shoulder. She felt so awkward touching people, even if it was over the sleeve of his shirt. After a few moments of waiting she decided to try again, this time pushing his shoulder a bit harder.
"Hey...HEY!!"
Matthieu felt his shoulder move in his dream. He was floating somewhere dark, and the surrounding air felt thick and wet. He thrashed in this void space but his body was still floating along limply. He felt his shoulder move again and the thickness around him dissipated.
He opened his eyes and blurrily looked around. His ears were slower then his vision and he saw the woman talking before he could register what she said. Her words finally permeated the smog of his brain and he jolted up, looking about wildly.
Seeing the corpse of the beast his heart beat slowed and he relaxed back to the ground to nurse the wicked headache he’d triggered. He looked to Alacoque again and groaned.
“What is your name?” He asked as he laid his skull on the ground, hands folded over his eyes. His tone was defeated and distant almost as if he didn’t expect an answer. To further drive that feeling he continued to talk before he got his answer. “We need to keep moving. I can’t get back to the Nexus for a while at least and I don’t even know if I can stand.”
He tried to and somehow, though his legs felt like jam, he stood. He picked through his pockets until he found the long leather glove he kept his bone arm under and fastened it up to his shoulder. He also sought out his journal, which was muddy here and there but nothing he wasn’t used to. He wiped the majority off and trapped it back to his person. Finally retrieving his bent and dirty hat, he gave its shape back and tossed it atop his head.
Assessing his surrounding, Matt found the same hole the reaper had and tried his luck at getting through. He could just barely make it if he forgot he had a nose and didn’t breathe at all while sliding through. He watched the bird woman silently and lithely push her frame through and follow him once he’d stepped a few feet away. The fog was still thick around them but had let through a glimmer of light in the distance. He steeled himself and began to walk toward it. The sky was a dank green color with mixed grey smog and darker shapes that had to be trees. He just hoped there was nothing else like the thing that had them captive lurking around.
Every few steps he covertly glanced over his shoulder to see whether or not she was still following him. His dark mood was dissolving in tandem with his headache and now he was hoping he might actually get her name.
He opened his eyes and blurrily looked around. His ears were slower then his vision and he saw the woman talking before he could register what she said. Her words finally permeated the smog of his brain and he jolted up, looking about wildly.
Seeing the corpse of the beast his heart beat slowed and he relaxed back to the ground to nurse the wicked headache he’d triggered. He looked to Alacoque again and groaned.
“What is your name?” He asked as he laid his skull on the ground, hands folded over his eyes. His tone was defeated and distant almost as if he didn’t expect an answer. To further drive that feeling he continued to talk before he got his answer. “We need to keep moving. I can’t get back to the Nexus for a while at least and I don’t even know if I can stand.”
He tried to and somehow, though his legs felt like jam, he stood. He picked through his pockets until he found the long leather glove he kept his bone arm under and fastened it up to his shoulder. He also sought out his journal, which was muddy here and there but nothing he wasn’t used to. He wiped the majority off and trapped it back to his person. Finally retrieving his bent and dirty hat, he gave its shape back and tossed it atop his head.
Assessing his surrounding, Matt found the same hole the reaper had and tried his luck at getting through. He could just barely make it if he forgot he had a nose and didn’t breathe at all while sliding through. He watched the bird woman silently and lithely push her frame through and follow him once he’d stepped a few feet away. The fog was still thick around them but had let through a glimmer of light in the distance. He steeled himself and began to walk toward it. The sky was a dank green color with mixed grey smog and darker shapes that had to be trees. He just hoped there was nothing else like the thing that had them captive lurking around.
Every few steps he covertly glanced over his shoulder to see whether or not she was still following him. His dark mood was dissolving in tandem with his headache and now he was hoping he might actually get her name.
Limping on about a yard behind him Alacoque's mind was a battlefield of thoughts. She still wasn't sure if she could trust this man, even though he seemed to be on her side she still had no idea who exactly he was and what else he might be capable of. Knowing that it was strictly forbidden to speak with humans she couldn't help but feel a sense of interest and curiosity due to her being able to touch him without consequence. Lifting a scaled hand to her chin she let her eyes study him again whenever his back was turned and quickly glanced away whenever he looked back. Several long minutes went by like this, until finally she gave in.
"...Alacoque..." The word barley escaped her lips and for a second she was content with the thought that he might not had heard her. But, as fate would have it he stopped in front of her ad turned his head to look at her with a baffled expression as if he was unsure if he had imagined it or not. Stopping in her tracks herself she glanced away for a moment and then forced her eyes to focus back on him.
"...Y-you...asked me what my name was...." averting her eyes again and shifting her weight shyly she swallowed and forced the rest of the words out. "...It's Alacoque...who are you?...and...what is this Nexus world you keep talking about?"
Feeling her heart race she felt the pain in her side start to return. Gritting her teeth she tried to ignore it, hoping she could stay focused long enough to hear it without doubling over in agony.
"...Alacoque..." The word barley escaped her lips and for a second she was content with the thought that he might not had heard her. But, as fate would have it he stopped in front of her ad turned his head to look at her with a baffled expression as if he was unsure if he had imagined it or not. Stopping in her tracks herself she glanced away for a moment and then forced her eyes to focus back on him.
"...Y-you...asked me what my name was...." averting her eyes again and shifting her weight shyly she swallowed and forced the rest of the words out. "...It's Alacoque...who are you?...and...what is this Nexus world you keep talking about?"
Feeling her heart race she felt the pain in her side start to return. Gritting her teeth she tried to ignore it, hoping she could stay focused long enough to hear it without doubling over in agony.
He watched her face work away the pain she was feeling and dumbly stared a few moments while her words sunk in. He felt invigorated at the sound of her voice. He was actually going to have a conversation with his savior. His feet forgot they were supposed to be moving and he came level to her; and then too close.
“My name is Matthieu Vega, Alacoque.” He grabbed her talons in a hand shake as his dim tongue churned out her unfamiliar name. He was all smiles, his olive green eyes alight with the questions he’d always wanted to ask, the scenarios he’d wanted to play out. “The Nexus… Oh, the Nexus! That’s where we just were!”
His mind became full of explanations, curios he wanted to share, instances he could paint vividly with words. Unfortunately, all of these thoughts bottle-necked and he was just spouting nonsense. He registered the look of increasing confusion on her face and slowed his rant. He tried again.
“The Nexus is a words of pathways; dimensional pathways. It’s like the hub of portal-walkers. The Tower itself was created a long time ago, from what I’ve been told, by a group of immensely powerful wizards. They made those blue beings, which are actually a manifestation of Mana to guard and guide the travelers. They are quite neutral however and mainly interested in the preservation of the magic over the mortals…” He gestured as he was talking and glanced to her expression every few words to watch the cloud of confusion clear.
“This is how it works, put simply. Whenever a mortal moves through a dimension from one word to the next, a hole is created in the Nexus Tower. They cannot move to a new world directly, the Nexus acts as a connector. Like… old school phone operators who would have to connect you to the party you were trying to reach. If.. You get that reference… Well, I came there after I met you!”
His face split in a wide genuine smile. “Do you remember? That magicked orb was eating my flesh! And there you were, beautiful and mysterious and you just touched me, and the thing was stopped! You’re the only reason I am alive today, despite the missing parts… I can NEVER thank you enough!”
The turn of his explanation caused him to get closer as he got more worked up. He was now almost out of breath from excitement and speaking. He panted softly just inches from her face, his expression excited and eager.
“My name is Matthieu Vega, Alacoque.” He grabbed her talons in a hand shake as his dim tongue churned out her unfamiliar name. He was all smiles, his olive green eyes alight with the questions he’d always wanted to ask, the scenarios he’d wanted to play out. “The Nexus… Oh, the Nexus! That’s where we just were!”
His mind became full of explanations, curios he wanted to share, instances he could paint vividly with words. Unfortunately, all of these thoughts bottle-necked and he was just spouting nonsense. He registered the look of increasing confusion on her face and slowed his rant. He tried again.
“The Nexus is a words of pathways; dimensional pathways. It’s like the hub of portal-walkers. The Tower itself was created a long time ago, from what I’ve been told, by a group of immensely powerful wizards. They made those blue beings, which are actually a manifestation of Mana to guard and guide the travelers. They are quite neutral however and mainly interested in the preservation of the magic over the mortals…” He gestured as he was talking and glanced to her expression every few words to watch the cloud of confusion clear.
“This is how it works, put simply. Whenever a mortal moves through a dimension from one word to the next, a hole is created in the Nexus Tower. They cannot move to a new world directly, the Nexus acts as a connector. Like… old school phone operators who would have to connect you to the party you were trying to reach. If.. You get that reference… Well, I came there after I met you!”
His face split in a wide genuine smile. “Do you remember? That magicked orb was eating my flesh! And there you were, beautiful and mysterious and you just touched me, and the thing was stopped! You’re the only reason I am alive today, despite the missing parts… I can NEVER thank you enough!”
The turn of his explanation caused him to get closer as he got more worked up. He was now almost out of breath from excitement and speaking. He panted softly just inches from her face, his expression excited and eager.
Alacoque blinked and her bright green eyes could do no more than stare widely at Matt as he inched nearer and nearer to her as he spoke. "Me? His SAVIOR?" she thought to herself. There was no way she could bring herself to tell him the truth behind it; that her true intentions were to simply bring his soul to Hell. Though, weather she had decided to speak a word or not she found herself yet again unable to talk. The touch of his hands on hers was a strange feeling that she wasn't completely comfortable with. Gently pulling her scaled hand from his she swallowed and glanced away from his ever creeping stare, which was a little too close for confront by the time he was done speaking. With a small step backwards she was able to make it clear without insult that he was, in fact, too close and he finally backed off though still smiling as if his face was forever frozen that way.
"So..." Alacoque faltered and forced herself to look at him as she spoke. "...that would explain all the strange worlds we've been to...you're a dimensional traveler..." The long feathers behind her ears suddenly twitched and swiveled like streamers and the feathers on her wings began to stand on end. A horrible flash of memory from only a few hours ago surfaced in her mind and she suddenly found herself stricken with an unshakable fear. Shooting a frightened glance at Mattieu she clutched his gloved arm with her avian hand. "That man! W-with the magicked blue arm! Is he f-following us!?"
In reality, Alacoque didn't want an answer. That horrible nauseating blue power that emitted from that man's body was more powerful than she had ever seen. Glancing her gaze downward, Alacoque awaited the dreadful news though all that came was a deafening crash of thunder in place of Mattieu's voice. This did a number on Alacoque's already shot nerves and if she screamed, no one would have known due to the ringing in both of their ears.
Not long after the thunder the sky began to flood the soggy ground with unrelenting freezing rain. Though with the rain the fog bean to clear and Alacoque's keen eyes were able to spot out a possible shelter in the distance. The two made their way towards a hill that seemed to be surrounded by a circle of stones.
As they approached the hill, it was made clear that the objects they once thought were stones were actually small bounders that were arranged in an intricate semi-circle. Each bounder carried it's share of ruins and carvings, though most were warn away by the natural effects of rain and wind. A few yards from the semi-circle was a stone door about four and a half feet high and four feet wide. Whatever ruins written on the stone door were now illegible from weathering and both Alacoque and Matt hoped themselves it wasn't any sort of curse or warning. With a bit of effort Mattieu was able to push the stone door open and the two made their way inside, away from the unrelenting rain. Inside, all Alacoque could do was shiver and fluff her useless wet feathers in a pathetic attempt to keep warm. Sitting down on the dry earth floor she curled her arms around her legs and rest her forehead on her knees, hoping that the answer to her question was lost in the ruin's darkness.
"So..." Alacoque faltered and forced herself to look at him as she spoke. "...that would explain all the strange worlds we've been to...you're a dimensional traveler..." The long feathers behind her ears suddenly twitched and swiveled like streamers and the feathers on her wings began to stand on end. A horrible flash of memory from only a few hours ago surfaced in her mind and she suddenly found herself stricken with an unshakable fear. Shooting a frightened glance at Mattieu she clutched his gloved arm with her avian hand. "That man! W-with the magicked blue arm! Is he f-following us!?"
In reality, Alacoque didn't want an answer. That horrible nauseating blue power that emitted from that man's body was more powerful than she had ever seen. Glancing her gaze downward, Alacoque awaited the dreadful news though all that came was a deafening crash of thunder in place of Mattieu's voice. This did a number on Alacoque's already shot nerves and if she screamed, no one would have known due to the ringing in both of their ears.
Not long after the thunder the sky began to flood the soggy ground with unrelenting freezing rain. Though with the rain the fog bean to clear and Alacoque's keen eyes were able to spot out a possible shelter in the distance. The two made their way towards a hill that seemed to be surrounded by a circle of stones.
As they approached the hill, it was made clear that the objects they once thought were stones were actually small bounders that were arranged in an intricate semi-circle. Each bounder carried it's share of ruins and carvings, though most were warn away by the natural effects of rain and wind. A few yards from the semi-circle was a stone door about four and a half feet high and four feet wide. Whatever ruins written on the stone door were now illegible from weathering and both Alacoque and Matt hoped themselves it wasn't any sort of curse or warning. With a bit of effort Mattieu was able to push the stone door open and the two made their way inside, away from the unrelenting rain. Inside, all Alacoque could do was shiver and fluff her useless wet feathers in a pathetic attempt to keep warm. Sitting down on the dry earth floor she curled her arms around her legs and rest her forehead on her knees, hoping that the answer to her question was lost in the ruin's darkness.
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