Topic: Breaking Chains

Katt Batten

Date: 2010-05-24 05:44 EST
Dreamless dorm, ticking clock
I walk away from the soundless room
Windless night, moonlight melts
My ghostly shadow to the lukewarm gloom
Nightly dance of bleeding swords
Reminds me that I still live
I will burn my dread
I once ran away from the god of fear
And he chained me to despair

Burn my dread

I'll break the chain
And run till I see the sunlight again
I'll lift my face and run to the sunlight

Voiceless town, tapping feet
I clench my fists in pockets tight
Far in mist a tower awaits
Like a merciless tomb, devouring moonlight

Clockwork maze end unknown
In frozen time a staircase stands
Shadows crawl on bloodstained floor
I rush straight ahead with a sword in hands
Cold touch of my trembling gun
I close my eyes to hear you breathe
I will burn my dread

This time I'll grapple down that god of fear
And throw him into hell's fire

Burn my dread

I'll shrug the pain
And run till I see the sunlight again

Oh I will run burning all regret and dread
And I will face the sun with pride of the living

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The night moon hanged high in the sky, casting looming shadows over a dark setting. A castle of sorts by the structure and it's halls filled with many a people. Within the mass of what could of been a courtyard there was a small x-structure which a tiny frame was held to by means of tightened rope and shackles. The sound of cracking whip meeting flesh broke the night air. It was no ordinary whip that would tear through flesh in such a gory mess. The kiss of metal to young flesh sent crimson to splash the air and fall to the ground below. Not just the back would the bladed whip kiss but coil to other parts to the hanging form. Arms, chest, stomach.. Any place it could curl to once unleashed it did.

On the handle end of the whip stood a towering figure, close to seven feet. Chiseled features half clouded by silvery hair. A beautiful man if there ever was if it were. Blue eyes were colder then any ice could be and the sinister smirk that displayed on his thin lips showed that he enjoyed the task at hand.

The crack whipped and a cry spilled into the night finally. Female broken into submission. The blank look haunting green eyes nearly eclipsed the frailty of such a youth. Some horrors forever shattered her mind stated quite clearly in the frightening shimmer that burned deep within her gaze. Hair fell in snarl of dirty locks around fragile features. Milky flesh smudged with dirt, blood, and callous bruises that cover nearly every inch of her body.

Suddenly the whip ceased and the youth slumped, held only by the bindings that kept her so close to the wooden structure. Blood spilled from her freely and pain howled over her entire being. It was there she was left...

Morning crept forth and the first spray of light met the pallid figure that seemed for the most part unconscious. Fingers coiled suddenly to dark, vital caked strains and forced the youth's head back more. Blood filled her mouth. Disgusting and old in taste it made her choke as it overfilled and seeped down from the corner of her lips. A hand stroked sharply across her cheek soundly for daring cough up such a precious gift as the blood. Head leaned to the side she remained in the submissive position even as wounds rapidly began to heal themselves. Hair once more grabbed to hold her head high while her limbs were released from their binds.

She found herself shoved to the ground, landing atop a set of ragged clothing and a sword. Sluggishly and without word or order she slowly stood, swaying slightly but only for a moment. The clothes were adored, clinging to her far too slender self. Sword strapped into position.

As the tall man turned she followed in step after him. Without a word and limbs loose at her side. A shadow in his step.

..Silent ...

His steps echoed in the halls when hers did not. As if he were there alone. Out of the blue he raised a hand and pointed a single finger to a nearby slave who was walking her way down the hall ahead, a jug of water between her hands.

Silence would be broken without warning by the jug of water hit the ground, shattering and spilling it's liquid. The wave washed up on the youth's feet as the sister slave's body landed to the ground. Lifeless. A few feet away her head would land in a sickly splat. There was nothing within those eyes for what she had done on the silent command. Sword swashed the air a single time to dismiss the blood from the freshly honed blade. A flick of the wrist sent the blade singing back into it's home.

The man simply walked on by with an approved smirk nestled on his lips. As he passed the youth turned in step and simply took step after him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When one's life is bound for years upon years upon nothing but pain and suffering, mentally shattered by those who wish nothing more then to use and dispose of you... Was there a return from that?

One could only hope to shed such dark, tight shackles..

Sleep was far from easy to accept when wounds of old were being forced into full bloom, spilling blood as if it were nothing more then water falling from an overfilled hold. From top to bottom scars were reopened, made into new so that they could be healed. Slave scars disappearing without trace under the Light Workings of the Matilda. Zenny's skilled hands worked feverishly to chase the Sister's work.

Her back was the worse of the case. She couldn't admit it without shame that she had been afraid of the procedure to rid herself of her past and the scars that came with it. Even if she couldn't get rid of the ones that worked her memory at least she could the ones that were more visible to the eyes around her.

She never seen her body whole. She wasn't sure to expect when she woke. If she woke. She would wake, right? She was in capable hands, as Mayu had said. She left herself to those capable hands, hoping that she would wake without much trouble to those attempted to aid her.

But her and hope..

..didn't exactly seem to mix well...

Toby Aradam

Date: 2010-05-25 05:31 EST
He had woken up to his room feeling..muggy. His eyelids peeled open, he pitched the thin covers away from his body and rolled over.

It wasn't even light outside yet..and it was this warm..?

There was a folded up, yellow piece of paper on the floor.. Someone must have shoved it under the door. Maybe that's what the knock had been about.. He hadn't wanted to get up, or answer the person he heard several hours ago.

"Mmph.." He pushed from from the bed, his pillowcase and sheet sticking to him as he did..swung his legs to the ground. He wouldn't be able to go back to sleep..

It only took half a step to reach the paper. He leaned down to grab it..unfolded it to read.

Toby,

Your friend Katt is asleep in my old office, you should remember the way, and I think that you should be the one to be there when she wakes.

Also, I need to warn you to be prepared for what you see. Her appearance may come as quite a shock, but whatever you do, do not panic. The bandages and wraps look worse than they really are.

~ Matilda

He vaulted from his room and pitched himself into a sprint.

******

The next thing he knew, he was leaning against the open doorframe..Sister Matilda's note crumpled in his hand. He fought to calm the thudding in his chest and his quickened breaths. He only remembered jumping down the flights of stairs and running through the halls because his ankles hurt..

He slid into the room, nudging the door shut with his heel. He didn't know what Sister Matilda had meant.. She looked just fine.. If a little weird because she was on a cot under an ugly grey blanket.

He slowly stepped around the edges of the cot. At least it was cooler down here.. He wadded up the note and shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans. If he remembered right, there was stuff to drink in the icebox on the bookshelf.. He went to it and pulled a bottle of water from one of the small shelves.

Sitting in the desk chair hadn't worked..neither did sitting on the couch, or the window seat.. Finally, he opted to settle right next to the cot..his legs tucked up against his chest. He leaned a little to pull the colorful scarf off of her pile of clothes..bringing it up to his mouth and nose..

It smelled..nice.. He wrapped it around his neck..pulling on it so it was securely in place.

Sister Matilda said to be here.. He didn't have anything else to do. He was sure he wouldn't leave even if he did.

He leaned back into the couch..and waited..

Katt Batten

Date: 2010-05-26 19:25 EST
In dazzling, shining moments we were together
I spent them without realizing how precious they were
Now, to remember them fondly I will embrace the feeling
You were right there with me
Always
You were smiling there beside me
Even if I lose you
I'll get you back
I will never leave you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Heyyyy!" His excited voice grabbed her attention and she stopped in mid bite. Sitting next to her the bright haired boy was busy stuffing his face. He peered at her curiously then flashed a wide smile that was almost contagious by nature.

"You are going to make yourself sick eating like that." she informed him of the very unimportant information.

How many days had she spent in this boy's company? Why did he sit and talk to her as if she were a normal person?

He didn't treat her like everyone else did.

How many days had they just been sitting in the hall, eating and talking. She already knew several things about him and he knew plenty of her. She never had anyone listen to her before. Then again she couldn't really talk.

What was the strange bubbling sensation he made her feel?

He was rambling on about something, arms thrown out so fast that pieces of the chicken he was eating went flying. He had an extremely excited look on his face that made his eyes glow. He had...pretty eyes...

The more he talked the more excited he got and soon enough the bubbling sensation rose to the point that it burst. It came from her lips in a merry laughter. She had never really laughed before. Sure she had faked laughter but this.. It felt different...

"You are so cute." she stated softly without realizing. Even if it was a state of obviousness.

He stopped suddenly and peered at her curiously. "You think so?"

She nodded several times and leaned to kiss his cheek. "Uh huh. And you have really pretty eyes too."

He squeaked and leaned back but was quick to smile. Rubbing the back of his neck he muttered something she didn't quite catch.

Settling back they resumed talking, sharing stories of each other. As the hours grew darker she noticed him closer. Back to the couch and his cheek soon on her shoulder in lean he gave a sigh. The subject was of his parents. His demeanor changed so deeply she noticed. He was sad. Crying. Her arm twitched, not knowing what to do.

Slowly that arm pushed out from under him and wrapped around his shoulder. Pulling him to her side so that he could lean more. And he did. Face in her shoulder he cried, sobbing out things about his parents that she..couldn't really comprehend. She never knew her own or the emotional effect that came with having parents. He asked her about her own parents and as she answered she noticed that he had all but cried himself to sleep.

He was hanging onto consciousness by a thread. He would be informed, as if it was nothing more then information, that her parents had left her to be destroyed by the wilderness. He didn't really react past a 'oh' which she realized came with the fact that he had fallen asleep completely. Turning her head she watched him slumber, clinging onto her arm like it were a lifeline.

He was watched for a number of hours as he snored the night away. He was...a puzzle to her. He mumbled in his sleep, tightening his grasp on her arm. Her lips twitched and curled a touch. It came without being forced and faked. She blinked and raised her free hand up to her face. Perplexed by the fact the smile showed up out of nowhere. It was a real smile. It grew a bit as her hand lowered and she shifted just enough to place her cheek next to the boy's hair. She didn't mind being a pillow for him.

Such closeness she had her first full draw of his scent. He smelled earthly. As if he spent a lot of time in the outdoors. Eyes closed to allow sleep to over take her.

How many days did they stay in the hall? Repeating a nearly full cycle of things. Laughter. Smiles. Exchange of information about each other? He called her friend.

...he was her first...

Her limbs twitched and a small sigh came out from her lips. The fingers near her neck curled and relaxed several times over. She didn't want to wake up yet but she was slowly being drawn from that dream state. Her body ached terribly. She could barely moved her arm.

What happened?

Katt Batten

Date: 2010-05-27 17:49 EST
Memento Mori~
Remember that you are mortal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Waking up to Toby being there was not something she was expecting and after being informed by him that it was Sister Matilda's doing she found herself puzzled by the reason. She remembered that the sister said she would be pleasantly surprised when next she saw them. And Zenny had winked. Had the two women planned for him to be there or did was it something else?

And why him...? She didn't want him to see her like that. She could only imagine what went through his mind when he saw the bandages. Well. He did sort of tell her. He thought she got herself into trouble...Again.

As if she really got into trouble on purpose. Pff.

Why didn't you tell me you were going.. I would've been here sooner..

Why..did it sound like he wanted to be there..? Normally things like that would have him fleeing.

Those thoughts were muddled away by the simple fact that the scars were gone. She had to check for herself and did. The ones at her neck..gone. And as Toby assisted her with removing the bandages at her arm she could see those too were gone. Something else was brought swiftly to her attention. She felt his touch a lot more vividly then she ever had before. With the scars gone maybe her nerves were fixed as well? She didn't know but it felt...nice. Nicer then it should of...

He assisted with a number of bandages. Arms. Legs. Her back. She could actually..feel it. The warm touch of his hand as he brushed in order to test her skin. Truly what had done was more then just a miracle to her..

With assistance she made her way to a washroom that he seemed to know of. Even the soon to be had bath was a dream. A sensation that most people took for granted as that soft caress of water. Soaking in the tub even for the short time she had. A touch of bliss..

Even if it was a sluggish bliss. What could one expect after such an extreme amount of blood loss?

After the bath and stepping through the door designed she saw the room that he had been staying. She felt like she was on sacred ground and shouldn't be there. Despite his words.

She could...just pretend she didn't know...

Clothes felt different too. One of his muscle shirts, which hugged her tighter then she was use to, was worn with the shorts she had gone to the church in.

She didn't want to be there. Not his 'secret place'. This little room was his hide away from the world. That ...included her. It was a little downing but nothing she couldn't accept. Even if he tried to say otherwise she simply had a feeling he didn't quite mean it. Besides..he was safe there. He shouldn't have to leave to find another 'secret place'. So yeah..she started to take her leave of the place. He lead the way..

I'm not mad that you know, Katt.. If I had to pick one of my friends to know about it, I would've picked you..

Yeah right.

Barely out into the hall and a bang drew both of their attentions. Which meant stopped her from reaching out to him like she wanted. He was already bolting ahead. She couldn't quite keep up. She was far too weak to. It didn't take long till she was at his side tho, listening to the barking curses.

Of all the people she had witnessed, Selene was on the top ranking idiots there was in Katt's book. Hearing the vampiress, in the church, cursing, made her facepalm. How idiotic was it that she came into a church!? And apparently..brought trouble with her. A place of sanctuary and safety. She willingly brought what Katt thought was, at first, a hunter.

Far from it.

The creature that followed at first made her think....Yoma. White skin..freaky mouth.

She was completely fine with it eating Selene. Get rid of her..

Maybe not exactly the most friendly of thoughts but Selene simply rubbed her every wrong way there was. And within the time that it took for Toby to pull at her arm and tell her that Selene and this creature were not their business, that distaste grew into pure hatred. Hatred that grew..rapidly..

As she and Toby made their way out she felt a ping of terror shoot clear through her. She hadn't been paying attention at the banter between him and Selene. But the sound coming from him and the sicking sound of flesh being torn into quickly had her attention. The..creature..hurt Toby.

There was nothing in the vial. He seemingly couldn't use his yoki anymore. The ping quickly shot into full blown which she managed to mask behind rage. Rage she couldn't exactly empower.

Do you like my smile? It had asked while touching her cheek in what could of been easily mistaken to the outside world as a lovers caress.

Makes it easier to break your teeth. She had found herself answering in her mind.

Suddenly she heard Toby scream and there was this terrible pain in her chest. She had barely managed to pull on some well of strength to send a punch towards the creature, stopping it from reaching it's prize which apparently..was her heart..

It seemed enthralled by the challenge.

She could hear Selene taunting Toby. She wanted the hussy away from him but matters at hand left her unable to dropkick the girl. A rush of bright orange zipped by and she saw Toby attempt to ..tackle the thing. What was he thinking?! Things were happening far quicker then she wanted. Like..watching the world while you are the only thing in slow motion.

JUST RUN, YOU'RE FASTER, JUST GO!!

Did Toby really expect her to just..go? Before she even had time to respond or move the creature was already upon her. And biting into her shoulder. She felt white pain that made her eyes tear open. Why..was this so familiar? Why did it seem like..she was a favorite snack for so many creatures? She felt her mind scream when the chunk of flesh held onto by shark-like teeth suddenly pulled and tore away the skin.

It sucked...

All that hard work and pain ..

Only to have wounds so soon...

She felt dizzy. She didn't like it. She felt like..passing out. There was suddenly warmth warped around her. Familiar warmth. Protective. Safe. She just wanted to curl up in it and..sleep..

He was trying to escape with her. Trying to snatch her from danger and run. He was no longer as fast. No longer as strong. She apologized. She couldn't protect him like she had promised. She couldn't..do anything. Her chest ached with the rest of her.

The creature descended upon them without difficulty and far too fast. Before she even heard Toby tell her to take some of his blood. It would probably register later but what registered now was the fact she and the ground met roughly, rolling with Toby holding her close.

This couldn't be happening...

...Being so weak was frustrating...

.........Please.........

The feeling of the creature's foot on her while it pried Toby away with a hand. Holding him by the throat menacingly. Toby. NO! She felt her mind scream it when it lips couldn't. Please..no... She heard Toby land some feet away.

He was screaming. He was scared. The creature..was going to hurt him if she..didn't do something. She felt fingers crawling up her stomach and soon diving into the hole at her chest. Her eyes rotated back into her skull at the fiery pain.

......Give me the strength and courage to...keep my promise......

Toby was not going to like it. She..didn't care. She choked out, feeling the creature's hand attempt for her heart. She needed..to move.

Her body tore into Altian form so painful that her very spirit shuddered. Shadows embraced her as she moved out of harms way, leaving her image in the wake as the rest of the world slowed down to a near crawl. Her body howled in pain as she drew on strength that was not there. Pulling on the very fabric of her life. Shadow jumping to his side she watched as her own arms circled around Toby. Ghostly white against his tan.

He was screaming. Emptying his lungs. The look on his face made her want to hug him tightly. Protect him. She did exactly that. Drawing him into her arms and curling her wings forward she quickly jumped from the church. Not knowing where they were headed she just ran as fast as her limbs would carry her within the shadow plane.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she ..hoped..noone in the church would be harmed because of what happened. That she didn't provoke the creature into some ..rage.

Shadows tore from them and she landed back first into what she figured was loosely packed dirt. Sand.. She heard water somewhere. Couldn't see anything but her arms tightened best they could to reassure herself he was there.

As long as he was safe...that's all that had mattered to her. She could..rest knowing that.. he would be okay..The grip she had loosened even if she wanted to keep it. There was nothing left to her..

The warmth suddenly was gone from her person and the hand that had been settled against him fell lifelessly to her stomach. She could only hope that..the creature hadn't followed and yanked Toby away again. She could hope..for that...

Then again she and hope didn't see eye to eye on any occasion..

Breathing hurt and was a struggle in itself.

It was..okay to die.. to protect someone you care for...

...Right?

It was quiet. Peaceful and pleasant in a odd sort of way. She knew he would probably hit her if he knew.

..Heh..