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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 12, 2008 15:33:01 GMT -5
::Head Doctor of the Dollet Mental clinic, Dr. Irie is approached by nurse Miyo Takano::
Takano: Doctor, patient 11A has been secured and is being prepped for sedation.
Dr, Irie: ::nods:: Good. You know the orders. She's not to be harmed, but she will have to be watched round the clock.
Takano: Understood. Our drugs have become a little more sophisticated since sorceresses are becoming a little more common among our patients. They should prevent her from using her magic... If you don't mind my asking, who was she anyway?
Dr. Irie: According to miss Blakeney, she was a member of that group that the demon witch Natalia formed.
Takano: ::shocked:: You mean the Coven? So they've been stopped.
Dr. Irie: ::adjusts his glasses:: Sounds like it.
::Stares in threw the two way mirror into the room of patient 11A. Her black leather clothes have been replaced by a simple white uniform that all the patients wear. She on a small wooden stool, facing away from the window with downcast eyes. The scales on her arms are visible now that her gloves are gone::
Dr. Irie: This one was Echidna. Before the war, she was Rena Williams. She was experimented on by Adel loyalists. But it doesn't look like her mind was able to take whatever they did to her. She's always been in a delicate mental state, and picked up signs of sadism, as well as an advanced form of obsessive compulsive disorder. This time around it manifested in a creation of hers. A monster she used to lead the charge on Esthar that she called Typhon. However, Miss Blakeney herself apprehended her and had her restrained. Afterwards, she watched her creation destroyed in front of her. Apparently afterwards her mind was completely shattered.
::He looks back into the room to find the sad shell of a woman stroking something in her arms absentmindedly. He tries to get a better look only to find empty air in her hands::
Echidna: Her hair... she had such beautiful hair. It's okay my pretty. Don't be sad. I'll fix it. I'll fix it.
::Takano looks in and sighs::
Takano: Can anything be done, or is she beyond all hope?
Dr. Irie: I'd say that the chances of her sanity returning are slim to none, but Miss Blakeney gave us specific instructions to never stop trying. Best we can do right now though is keep her comfortable.
Takano: Blakeney... you mean the witch's surrogate?
Echidna: I'll fix it. I can fix it... and when I do... you'll be perfect again.
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Post by Situation on Aug 12, 2008 20:40:55 GMT -5
At some point during the night, Echidna is startled awake by a presence in her cell. There's a odd feeling weighing in the air, it feels stale and out of place. There's no sounds, say for her own breathing. Then, there from a dark corner beside the door, comes a voice. It's low and raspy, nearly detached from whatever source it emanates from.
Don't be afraid, mad one. I intend you no harm, for I am just part of your dreams.
The source of the voice glides forward into the beam of artifical light that penetrates through the tiny window of the cell. The entity that invades her space is hidden beneath a cloak, its, face and body covered down to the floor.
Don't be alarmed, but I must break through the cloud of your madness to ask and answer questions I have. Do you wish for the ounce of sanity you possess to be reunited in your sorry shell? Can you answer me that?
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 12, 2008 20:55:37 GMT -5
::Echidna's face remains placid, not even lifting her eyes to see her visitor::
Echidna: A shell? Yes, a shell. A shell would protect her. A hard shell. Nothing's too good for you dearest.
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Post by Situation on Aug 12, 2008 21:38:22 GMT -5
The madness certainly has clouded you, let my hand break through the haze.
The strange entity approaches Echidna and reaches out to her. It's hand becomes visible, a wiry gray talon with sharp dagger like claws. The entity glides beside her and places its menacing hand upon her head, gliding its wiry fingers through her ragged hair. Then beside her, with its hand over his head, he slowly slides his fingers down her forehead and stops with a finger over each eye.
I shall return to you a moment of your mind for the fruit that dwells inside.
Like the strike of a snake, the finger fangs pierce into Enchidna's eyes. Tunneling into her skull like worms, yet there is no pain even as the fingers connect with her brain.
"Has the fog lifted, mad one? Can you see the knowledge I seek through the haze or does the madness still strangle your fragile cocoon?"
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 12, 2008 22:19:38 GMT -5
::For the first time since the battle, Echidna laughs her usual shrill cackle::
Echidna: If I'm the mad one, why do you come to me for answers? Speak to a mad one, and all you have is more questions. Am I really the crazy one? Or is everyone else?
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Post by Situation on Aug 12, 2008 22:37:24 GMT -5
"In a mad world, only the mad are sane and the truly mad ones refuse to believe the truly sane."
Replies the creature as it adjusts its fingers in her eyes. Echidna can feel the creatures hand adjusting carefully over her forehead
"But I come for simple questions that I can no longer answer with relative ease... shall we begin? The Amethyst Sorceress, the one for who has forsaken you to a empty existence, who was her slayer?"
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 12, 2008 22:58:29 GMT -5
::Echidna chuckles again::
Ecidna: Haven't you heard the stories? Friend became enemy and enemy was slain by friend. There are no friends in her world. Only tragedy that has no end.
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Post by Situation on Aug 12, 2008 23:08:08 GMT -5
"There's no truth in the news and no news in the truth, whose to believe the word of stories and story tellers. No best go straight to the source."
The creature readjusts its fingers once more.
"You know of the little shifting one? The lamprey to the Amethyst Sorceress, she disappeared, reappeared and now is slowly fading from here. Where will she go, all alone? To the demon world or another, can you tell me this, mad one?"
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 12, 2008 23:16:25 GMT -5
::Even though his fingers are embedded in her eye sockets, the stranger can see her expression darken. She begins to snarl, and her strange forked tongue flicks in and out from between her lips::
Echidna: There is no place for the formless. Let her go. Let her die. I could care less. There are worse things in the home of her mother. Let them have her. Let her go. Let her die. She took what was mine. In this place she left me to rot. Let her go. Let her die. I care not.
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Post by Situation on Aug 12, 2008 23:26:41 GMT -5
"Ah... so the little one is your warden and she will flee to the otherside, how... disappointing. Then, perhaps you can tell me where the Hunter is? The tainted one, what's his story. Will he flee just as the formless will?"
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 12, 2008 23:38:06 GMT -5
::Echidna calms herself again::
Echidna: Tainted? Who in this is not tainted. I'm tainted, you're tainted, only difference is who will keep it, and who will leave it. But none can leave it. Not you or I or him.
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Post by Situation on Aug 12, 2008 23:58:32 GMT -5
A glimmer of white sparkles as a tiny speck of light reflects off the creatures teeth from the beam of artificial light that penetrates into the room.
"And what would you know of me? I am just a piece of you, trapped within your the cell of your mind. Nothing more, nothing less. I do not exist anymore then this dream exists. Yet my patience ebbs and I have miles to go before I sleep and the woods of your mind are dark and deep. So before I go, answer me this. Will all that has happened, happen again and again?"
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 13, 2008 0:14:06 GMT -5
Echidna: Who can say. So many have tried to stop it. But all that comes of it is more. And when one plague leaves, another rises, stronger than the last. All different faces, but to the same end.
::Her attitude diminishes again, and the stranger can feel tears of the mad woman trying to work their way around his fingers::
Echidna: She had such a pretty face. Till she destroyed it. The formless. Two faced wretch.
::She begins making strange noises, and the creature can't tell if it's her sobs, or her mad laughter::
Echidna: Die. I want her to die. I want her to watch them die. Just like she made me watch her die. Then I'll make her cry. And then she'll die.
::She reaches up and takes the stranger's wrist in her hands::
Echidna: Will you make her cry? Watch them die? Make her cry? Make her die?
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Post by Situation on Aug 13, 2008 10:57:45 GMT -5
The creature’s head turns, with its topaz eyes fixed in a black face staring down at the woman.
“I can only do as much as you let me do, or as little. Yet you’re trapped in here as am I, like a little caged bird… but you can sing. I want you to sing of me, let them know of me. With their belief in me, fear and uncertainty will grow. Then, soon, they’ll weep and lament.”
The creature flicks its hand away from Echidna face, her blood spilling on the ground as it’s flung from the creature’s fingers, making dull splats. In Echidna’s mind, there’s a profound flash of the creature, the image branding itself into her subconscious. The dark, tall form, its topaz eyes and gnarled talon hand standing against a dark background.
I’ll return on the breath of the wind. Until then, taa-taa, mad-one Rena.
Everything grows intensely dark and in the next moment, Echidna is awoken by a Miyo Takano doing her regular check. There are no signs of the intruder, not blood or injury.
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 13, 2008 17:37:00 GMT -5
::Takano notices Echidna awake with a start::
Takano: It's alright. It's just your routine dose.
::She pulls out the syringe, but Echidna doesn't even look at her. She smiles wickedly up at the ceiling and starts laughing madly::
Echidna: I'll sing. I'll sing! I'll sing for you my god! Make her die! Make her cry! If I sing you'll make her die!
::She starts thrashing madly on the bed as she laughs insanely to herself. Takano sighs and pushes the button just above her bed. Three men in sterile white uniforms burst in::
Takano: Restrain her.
::Two of the men grab Echidna's thrashing arms while the third holds down her ankles. Takano makes the injection, and in a few moments the convulsions stop, but Echidna still whispers to herself::
Echidna: I'll sing. I'll sing.
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Aug 15, 2008 3:02:45 GMT -5
::A few days after the incident, Dr. Irie is going over the case files with Nurse Takano::
Dr. Irie: Any improvement in patient 11A?
::Takano sighs and hands him the file::
Takano: See for yourself.
::In the file, aside from the usual paperwork, Dr. Irie finds some unusual and morbid little sketches, apparently drawn by Echindna. They all consist of someone being killed in a gruesome and inhumane way::
Takano: They're all different, each one a little more... creative than the last. But they all have one common element. The killer, and the victim. They're all of some cloaked figure morbidly killing a girl with wings. Sometimes she has black hair and black wings, other times she has red hair and feathered wings.
Dr. Irie: Any indication on who they're supposed to be?
Takano: I asked her. The victim she refers to only as the Formless. From what I've gathered, that could either mean Miss Blakeney, who is a shapeshifter, or Eva Natsuki who from what I've heard is able to change from an angelic form to a demonic one. Both of them had a hand in killing Typhon. It's actually possible that in her mind the two of them have become a singular identity.
Dr. Irie: And the killer?
::He points to the figure shrouded in a dark cloak, with a barely visible muzzle of fangs and burning red eyes::
Takano: She claims that is her god. She says he visits her at night and promises to kill the Formless if she 'sings of him'.
Dr. Irie: So her vengeance fantasies manifest as this figure?
Takano: Well you don't think we have a phantom like that wandering our facilities do you?
Dr. Irie: Of course not... but this did come on quite suddenly. Manifestations of a fantasy usually take a little longer to develop. And from what I recall, this all started right after her seizure. If you could, I'd like it if you can discuss these a little more with her. Particularly these drawings.
Takano: I don't mind at all. I actually find my sessions with her quite... fascinating.
::Makes her exit, leaving Dr. Irie to contemplate those morbid drawings on his own::
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Post by Situation on Sept 5, 2008 0:28:04 GMT -5
-A night or two later-
On another dark and deary silent night, broken only by the occasional laughter or whimper of the condemned, the dark cloaked figure appears once more to Echindna. He approaches her, his gnarled claws caressing her softly before digging his fingers into her eyes once more.
"Oh mad one, hear me again and speak my praise. I have returned just as I promised and have you done as you were told? Did you sing for me? Do they know?"
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Post by Book of the Twilight on Sept 5, 2008 3:03:08 GMT -5
::Echidna smiles at the creature's touch at first, but when he speaks she begins to snarl, as though she were the animal between them::
Echidna: They don't believe. They know me mad, and don't believe. So it seems I'll never leave, or from sadness find reprieve. I sing all day, and I sing all night, and still they shun truth of your might.
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Post by Situation on Sept 6, 2008 16:27:43 GMT -5
"Let them doubt you for now, you know the truth and so soon shall others. The autumn harvest is nearing and then your cage will open and I shall spill forth with tidal force upon the physical world. I am your king, trust in my plans mad one. Just wait a little longer, then you can spread your wings but for now, never stop singing because soon a chorus will join with you."
Ripping out his fingers from her eyes, he quickly moves away from her and descends upon an adjacent wall. He preforms several quick slashes upon its surface, like a painter to canvas. He steps aside and upon the wall, drawn in Echidna's blood is an unusual symbol. Like a question mark making one part of its three branching arms, another line like a crook, and one long gash all extending out from a double circle in the center.
"This will be your power, my sign. Remember it well, because without it, you'll be lost just as I was. Farewell my little mad bird."
It grows dark for a brief moment and then the entity is gone.
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Post by Lillith on Sept 6, 2008 22:22:17 GMT -5
::The next morning, Nurse Takano guides an unexpected visitor to the cell of patient 11A::
Takano: Normally I'd insist that you come in here with protection.
::Lillith gives the blond nurse a sour look::
Well as Miss Blakeney told you, I am now in charge of all affairs regarding Rena Williams. And trust me,
::She holds up one hand, letting the electricity from her magic dance across her fingers::
I can handle myself.
::Takano frowns::
Takano: As you wish Miss Domani.
::Lillith lets herself in and sighs at the sight of the slumped over figure in the metal chair. She moves around the chair to kneel in front of her so they can see eye to eye. Echidna's eyes are glazed and focusing on something that isn't there, like she's looking past Lillith. In her lap is a worn and tattered little notebook with what appears to bite marks on its edges. More of those morbid little drawings are scratched all over its pages. She's not even looking at what she's drawing. Lillith puts her hands on her wrists to stop her furious scribbling::
Rena? Honey it's me. Remember?
::Echidna still doesn't look at her, but focuses on the question::
Echidna: Gwen? No... too sweet to be Gwen. Nyx? No... to much feeling. Cronus? No... to light of breath. Lady? No... Lady cares not for me anymore.
::Lillith sighs::
It's me, Lillith.
Echidna: ::brightens:: Lilly. Sweet little Lilly. Far from home she is. And where's your watchdog?
::Lillith ignores the jibe about Cronus, gently stroking the raven on her shoulder::
Echidna: ::hearing the raven:: Ah, there she is. So much smaller now.
Rena, I want you to think very hard. Could you just focus for a minute for me?
Echidna: Anything for sweet Lilly. She's the sweetest sister we have. She's Lady's favorite. Lady even said so.
::There's no malice in her voice when she says that, in fact it sounds more like an agreement::
Rena, they said that if you get better, they'd send you back with me, and I'd let you live at our old house. Remember? It's a school now. I use it to teach girls like us now. You could come with me and live there if you like. Does that sound good?
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