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: HOME

[handpuppets]

[ just a little worrisome, yes. ]

They impale their prey on thorns or spikes, I guess. That's where the nickname comes from.

[ she looks away. ]

I'm glad I met you. But I think it's time for you to go.

She's waiting.

Re: HOME

[calmthefoxdown]

Mm... alright. But just remember, you can belong here too, if you want.

[ Putting the portrait in a standing position on the counter. ]

Avante would approve.

Re: HOME

[handpuppets]

I'm just what could have been, but—

I'll try.

[ she smiles, and the next time you blink, she's gone, and you're holding the plate. the chopsticks are now laid to the side. ]

Re: HOME

[calmthefoxdown]

[ ... It would be rude not to eat the food, so he will do that before moving on. ]

Re: HOME

[handpuppets]

[ like Shrike's cooking, it's not a masterpiece, but it's pretty good.

...it's also very spicy. ]

Re: HOME

[calmthefoxdown]

[ Wren why. ]

Re: HOME

[handpuppets]

[ "[name] why" asks the boy who puts wasabi in muffins for giggles, ]