Shrike's Heart (#3)

[idolpro]

The woman before you is beautiful—fair of features, with lovely golden skin and luxurious long black hair, petite. You have the immediate and distinct impression that she's just let go of your hand, and she steps back, and smiles.

It's not quite a happy smile.

"I'm sorry," she says. "There's just nothing I can do, as things are. But the way is there; it just needs to be lit."

You open your mouth—maybe to say something, or to express confusion—but you have to cough, and taste something metallic, spattering black blood onto the ground in front of you. Then you realize—blood seeps from opening wounds in your arms, your chest, your stomach, your face. It rims your eyes and trails from your nose and you feel like you're dissolving—

—and you fall through the ground like it's the surface of a lake, and go down, down, down.

> Wake Up

Comments

Re: THE BARRACKS

[calmthefoxdown]

[ fjdkslfds jumps when he realizes he's there. ]

Re: THE BARRACKS

[irregular]

Shit. Sorry.

[Gonna back off a bit.]

Re: THE BARRACKS

[calmthefoxdown]

Ah- no, sorry, just didn't expect anyone else nearby...

[ ... Handing over the letter to him. ]

Here, go ahead.

Re: THE BARRACKS

[irregular]

Huh.

[K is not a fast reader or particularly good at reading for subtext but this seems pretty obvious.]

Did Shrike write this...?

Wonder why she didn't sign it? Maybe it's not finished...

They better not want us to sign it for her. That'd just be weird.

Re: THE BARRACKS

[calmthefoxdown]

Mm, you can ask the voice probably for some advice...

[ Moving over to the writing supplies to write a letter. ]

Re: THE BARRACKS

[irregular]

Um--

[Does asking a group called THE NEVERBORN sound like a better or worse idea than taking it from whispery head voices?

[On the other hand: you did already stab someone.]

Okay. How do we get out of here without fucking everything up?

[Is that how we ask the Neverborn?]

Re: THE BARRACKS

[handpuppets]

[ You ASK THE NEVERBORN. They speak in rising whispers, that come to your ears only:

—we cannot ABIDE—this place, we cannot—

the sun comes too soon, too soon the burning dawn

ink spilled, blood spilled, feelings are only ephemeral without sacrifice, without conviction—

Anyway, they're HELPERS.

Actually kind of funny they mention the dawn coming soon since it seems like night is currently falling outside. Aren't you supposed to see the sun rise? ]

Re: THE BARRACKS

[irregular]

[such help very enlightenment wow]

Okay, new plan: let's not ask the Neverborn for anything ever again.

[What happens if I just try and leave the room.]

Re: THE BARRACKS

[handpuppets]

[ There's a single door; the handle opens. Outside night is falling quickly—faster than it normally would. Although it seems like you ought to be in a military camp, it actually seems like you're in a forest, of some kind, with barracks dotting between the trees.

also uh. hm. ]

Re: THE BARRACKS

[calmthefoxdown]

[ Shit, trying to write the letter he was working on faster. ]

[ Write a letter home... ]

[ Granny, hope you're in good health. I have a friend here, I think you'd like. She's gentle, but has been through a lot. I think you'd both get along though... I hope one day you could meet, so you can help her to find the peace I think she wishes she could find. I'll do my best to help her in the meantime. Please wish me luck in doing so, and help me in wishing her luck in finding peace. ]

[ He pauses for a moment before signing the name 'Samu' to the letter. ]