Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 6, 2009 4:58:07 GMT -5
Aramis screamed, burying his face into Ian's shoulder. His body trembled violently, "Couldn't stop it... couldn't help... Could only watch... Had to watch!"
He whimpered again, crying and shaking his head. "Make them stop... Make them stop hurting them, please make them stop... Can't help, can't stop them... have to watch! Make them stop...!"
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 6, 2009 14:03:42 GMT -5
Istvan was white and shaking violently at the words coming from the computer, but he tried to comfort Aramis all the same. "It's okay... we're going to get out of here. No one's going to hurt you anymore. We'll protect you." He tried to make his words ring with more confidence than he felt, for his own sake as much as the others'.
He looked at Paula, waiting for her commands. Or a reaction. Or anything.
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Post by ianharris on Dec 6, 2009 20:34:45 GMT -5
Ian stared in shock and horror at the screen. The voice sent chills up his spine, but he resisted the urge to shiver, as he didn't want to hit Aramis too hard. Ian's curiosity - damn curiosity - welled up. He needed to know who this person was and how they were able to say those things.
"...who are you?" He asked in a shaky voice.
The computer laughed. "I am the judge of all that is unholy. I'm also a self-proclaimed sadist. Bit like your Woman in White, except not an evil scary bitch. I do like watching the little mage boy writhe, though. Did you enjoy watching your friends die, little boy? Did you find pleasure in watching them be sucked dry? I bet you did. Filthy freak of nature. Hey, I have an idea. I think I'll call the police and get you caught red-handed at the scene of the crime. Or not. Will I or won't I? Hmmm..."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 6, 2009 20:44:45 GMT -5
Aramis shivered, closing his eyes tightly and curling up into a tight ball. "Wanted to help... wanted to heal them, I did... I tried..."
He looked up at Ian appealingly, tears pouring down his face. "You believe me, don't you? I just wanted to help them and I couldn't... I tried... Oh God, I just wanted to help them, I did!"
Covering his face with his hands, he remained in a tight ball, crying. The bruises and cuts on his skin slowly started to heal, though it did nothing for his trembling. He shook his head rapidly, his long hair falling about his face and shoulders. "Didn't watch, couldn't watch... had to listen... couldn't block it out, had to listen. Wanted to help, did! Let me go, let me out, please!"
Aramis stood quickly and ran for a door, fighting with it as he struggled to remember how to open them.
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 6, 2009 21:09:18 GMT -5
Istvan rushed to Aramis' side, gently pulling him away from the door before he could hurt himself and hugging the younger boy gently. "It's alright, Aramis, we're going to get you out of here. You're going to be fine." He looked into Aramis' tear-filled eyes -- they were a curious shade of dark purple -- and dried his tears gently. "Shhh. It's okay..."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 6, 2009 21:36:47 GMT -5
Aramis looked at him, trembling. Blinking, he swallowed weakly. "D-do you promise?" he asked softly. He was still shaking, tears still sliding down his face. Sniffing, he wiped his face dry on his sleeve. His eyes flickered toward the computer screen and he shuddered violently, rubbing frantically at his elbows as he turned away from the screen again. He shook his head rapidly again, biting his lip.
He let himself fall to the ground, pressing his chin against his chest. They hadn't allowed him a razor, or even enough of a knife to cut his bread with, and he scratched at it, his eyes closed tightly. "Please let me out..."
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 8, 2009 18:48:51 GMT -5
"Oh, this is rich." The voice laughed. "Much better than I expected. You deserve an award. Beautiful performance. Not quite worthy of an oscar, though. For that you'll have to spiral into a life of depression and self-loathing. Which, as you're under the age of twenty-five, you'll probably wind up doing anyway."
Paula approached the computer. "What do you want?"
"Hmmm... good question, Detective Harris. I want to create a perfect world. To do that, I need to eliminate the misfits and mutants. Those who don't fit into my vision of a new world order will be... eliminated. These men, the dead ones... they thought to exploit the freaks, to gain an easy profit. How very misguided of them. The freaks cannot be reasoned with or used. They are a blight. They must be destroyed."
"I've seen people like you before." Paula snarled. "They never win."
"That is usually the case. However, this time, I think I'll change things up. I like being different. So I think I'm going to win. And, as cliche as it sounds, there's not a damn thing you can do about it."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 8, 2009 19:50:59 GMT -5
Korlian sat in a corner, holding his arm tightly. A stray bullet when he'd first attacked had found its way into his upper arm and had enough iron to hurt. He wasn't in agony... yet... Listening to the man, he rolled his eyes.
"Oh, yeah, you sound sane. Destroy magic and everyone involved with it. That's going to work well. Are you going to open a candy shop afterward? No 'perfect world' is complete without a sugar rush," he snorted, looking at the wound in his arm. It wouldn't stop bleeding and it hurt and poor Aramis was obviously distressed by this guy... And the fool had no idea just how many people had tried the very same thing. Korlian could remember more people than this man had ever seen in his life.
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Post by ianharris on Dec 8, 2009 21:30:11 GMT -5
Ian couldn't move. His whole body seemed paralyzed in fear. This voice... what it was saying... it was the Woman in White all over again. Her spirit of hatred and prejudice lingered still, it seemed.
"Oh, you brought the fae boy along with you." The voice purred. "How wonderful. How old are you now, seven? Perhaps you would like a candy bar? Maybe the good detective and her minions can take you to the park and you can swing on the swing set. Do you like to swing, little boy? Or how about sliding down the slide? You'll play nicely with the other children, won't you? Of course you won't. You're incapable of playing well with others."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 8, 2009 22:07:10 GMT -5
"Aww, it thinks it has teeth," Korlian chuckled. "Wait until the adult ones come in, then maybe you can play with the big boys."
He kept looking at his arm, wondering if he could get the bullet out with his fingers. Sighing, he stood carefully and moved to stand by the still trembling mage. He leaned over, speaking softly for Aramis' ears alone. "You'll be okay. We'll get you out of this."
Patting Aramis' shoulder carefully, and sighing when he flinched, Korlian looked at the screen. "I play better than you do. At least my opponents know who and what I am. At least, as far as they need to. I don't need to resort to cheap tricks to scare them."
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 9, 2009 8:54:44 GMT -5
"And yet you parade around as a little boy, when I and at least one other person in that room know otherwise. Interesting. You'll be fun to play with, self-deluding hypocrite that you are. I wonder how long you'll last in an iron cage. Or better... I think I'll serve you soup in an iron bowl with and iron spoon. Oh, that would be loads of fun, don't you think? I'd just love watching you squirm in hunger and pain."
The voice yawned. "Well, as fun as this all is, the police will be at your location in about a minute, so I really must run. Enjoy my games. You'll be watching them from prison. Farewell... for now." The screen went black, and sirens could be hear in the distance.
Paula snapped into action at once. "Hurry! Ian, Istvan, grab Aramis and let's go! We can still get out the back door before the police arrive!" She bolted for the door, motioning for the others to follow her.
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Post by ianharris on Dec 9, 2009 8:56:38 GMT -5
Ian's paralysis vanished at once. He rushed forward, putting his arm under Aramis' to support him. "Can you run?" He asked quickly, moving the younger mage towards the door.
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 9, 2009 12:04:18 GMT -5
Aramis shivered and nodded, forcing himself to focus on getting out of this horrible place. He could continue to be tramatized later, after they were safe.
Or maybe this had snapped him back to reality enough he could stay there. Aramis certainly hoped so. Well, there was one really good way to insure that. So long as they didn't try to send him home... That idea made him shudder again and stumble as he hit the door, nearly tripping but regaining his footing quickly as he ran. At least let me take a shower and shave before I have to tell you what happened...
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 9, 2009 12:24:08 GMT -5
Korlian rolled his eyes at the threats, though internally they made him squirm. That bastard knew entirely too much. He also probably knew that Korlian's current form was far from his own choice. Shaking his head to return to the present, he followed the others, still holding his arm tightly enough to stop the blood. Running would be pointless if he left a blood trail. Especially blood as odd as his.
Idly, as he ran, Korlian wondered if his blood would do anything odd to a vampire. After all, mages were still human... maybe his blood would be a poison or something.
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 9, 2009 15:51:58 GMT -5
Istvan ran alonside the others, trying to ignore the smell of blood coming from Korlian's wound; he could practically taste it as he panted for breath. He had far more important things to focus on right now. Like getting out of here alive.
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 10, 2009 3:20:59 GMT -5
Paula led the way, through twisting hallways and the sea of dead bodies. They made it out the door and into the car just as the first police cars pulled around the corner. Paula threw the car into drive and sped off, praying that the police would not follow them. By some stroke of luck, Paula managed to drive away just as the cops were approaching the building.
Once safely away from the building, Paula was able to breathe a sigh of relief. She was also able to process some of what she had seen and heard in the building. Hopefully, by the time she made it back to the hotel with her passengers, she would be able to make a little more sense of what she had just witnessed.
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 10, 2009 4:03:06 GMT -5
- - -
Aramis leaned against the wall, letting his hair cover his face. He really didn't want to talk about what had happened. No, he wanted to shower, and shave, and change his clothes and then find somewhere he could get a job to pay for somewhere to stay until school and the fare to get there. And put this entire thing behind him. What the voice said came to him and he shuddered. To kill every mage, werewolf... all magical beings... and the man already knew of him.
Aramis shivered violently, rubbing his arms. Stupid tee-shirt. His parents couldn't have caught him the night he wore long sleeves. No, they have to sell him in short sleeves so he had to look at the damn holes in his arms. At least his magic would close those up without scars... it was already beginning to, but it had been very strained with keeping him alive the past month and a half.. His face was still discolored with bruises... most of his skin was. He was going to get so many questions he really didn't want to answer.
Think on the bright side. You're still alive, and you're thinking clearly now... mostly. Now... how can you get out of the questions you know are coming... And some new clothes without feeling guilty. Oh, give it up... damned if you do, damned if you don't. There's no way Professor Harris is going to let me even move without pinning me to the wall. So here it comes... Now to tell her that she's going to end up feeling responsible for me even if I tried to bail. He sighed, rubbing his forehead a little. Please let me shower first?
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 10, 2009 22:18:08 GMT -5
Paula sat in a chair at the desk in the hotel room, massaging her temples. The entire car ride had been awkwardly silent, but that was going to have to change now that they were back in Ian's hotel room.
"I'm going to break the silence here." She said, leaning back in the chair. "Aramis, we don't need to talk about what happened with those people. The police are in the lab and they'll bring anyone who's still alive in. You can shower, shave, and borrow some clothes. But you can do that in a minute."
"I think we have a more pressing issue, though. Mr. Voice-on-the-computer." Paula rested her hands in her lap. "How seriously do we need to take him? Assuming it's a him."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 10, 2009 22:27:16 GMT -5
"This person obviously made an effort to disguise his voice when he spoke to us," Istvan commented, shifting to a more comfortable position on one of the beds. "Why would any sane, harmless person do that, and then make such terrible threats? We've seen already that he seems as good as his word. It can't be coincidence that the police showed up exactly when he said they would. I think we should take this fairly seriously."
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Post by ianharris on Dec 10, 2009 23:00:27 GMT -5
Ian lay flat on his own bed, arms folded behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. The whole incident was more disturbing than he liked. It was supposed to be straightforward job, and then back to vacation. And now... now, things were getting complicated.
"I think he's proved that he has the means to do what he's threatening to do." He said carefully. "But if he wanted to just kill everybody, wouldn't he just... you know... do it? He had us at his mercy and all he did was call the cops on us. Whoever killed the harvesters and guards couldn't have been far away from us."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 11, 2009 2:04:20 GMT -5
"He's playing with us. Couldn't you tell just from what he was saying? He's playing with us like a cat plays with a mouse," Aramis shivered, rubbing his arms again. Please can I take the shower? Please? The last time I took a shower was over a month ago. The best I did to get clean since then was get sprayed with a firehose.
He remained against the wall with his arms crossed. His eyes moved around the room and he turned away at seeing his reflection. He looked just like his father with this beard. At least his father didn't have long hair. That would stay then. And his father had dark hair. I still look like him. Clean-shaven I don't look like either of them, but like this...
He scratched at his face, wishing he could just be rid of the damn thing already.
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 11, 2009 2:18:07 GMT -5
Korlian sat in the bathroom doorway, working at getting the bullet out of his arm. Aramis was understandably distracted, and so was everyone else. They'd roughly bandaged his arm in the car... and left the bullet in his arm. Not that he blamed them, but it was really really starting to hurt. At least it wasn't iron, or they would have had to carry him out of the building. He clenched his jaw as he missed with the tweezers again, slipping and stabbing himself in the arm. Mumbling curses under his breath, he tried again carefully and stabbed his muscle again. This time he couldn't stifle the slight cry of pain.
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 11, 2009 2:52:58 GMT -5
Paula stood, crossing to Korlian. A worried expression crossed her face. "Korlian, I don't think you should be attempting that yourself. Let me handle it... I've got more training than you."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 11, 2009 2:57:58 GMT -5
Korlian nodded, carefully hopping up on the sink counter so she didn't have to bend over as much. "Thank you. It really really hurts."
He rinsed off the tweezers and gave them to her, holding his arm carefully and biting his lip. This was still going to hurt, but at least she would have better luck getting the bullet out than he was. It almost felt like he was pushing it deeper. "It was just... you all have that important conversation, and I don't really have anything to add to it other than that voice kind of creeped even me out. He should not have known as much about me as he did."
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 11, 2009 4:10:42 GMT -5
"Hang on." Paula said, taking the tweezers from Korlian. "Don't talk." She focused very hard on the tiny hole in Korlian's skin.
"This is going to hurt." Paula said flatly, and plunged the tweezers into Korlian's skin. After a few seconds of careful digging, Paula located the bullet. Ignoring the blood flowing from the wound, she clamped hold and pulled the bullet free. Dropping both the bullet and the tweezers in the sink, Paula cracked the drain and turned the water on. She didn't want to accidentally send the bullet down the drain as she washed her hands. "You can keep that bullet. Merry Christmas." Drying her hands off, she returned to her chair.
"Korlian makes an excellent point, even if he doesn't know it. This person knows things only a person at Dunehelden would know." She wiped a resistant drop of blood from her finger. "Wendy Caldwell only went by the alias 'The Woman in White' inside of Dunehelden. Everywhere else, she was called 'The Lady in White', except for a few slip-ups when people accidentally call her 'The Woman in White'. What does that suggest to you? Anyone?"
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