❧ Lost in the Dark

[luministimods]

[A soft rhythmical chiming can be heard from Filippo's pocket. All conversations halt as he holds up a hand to pull out his CAT device, switching an alarm off.]

Ahh, time's up. [He turns to everyone, clapping his hands once in front of him.] Well. This has been lovely, and I believe everyone who is willing to let bygones be bygones is ready. [All of like...one person] You know...I'm glad we had this chat. We should have had it sooner.

Oh well. Can't live in the past.

[All of a sudden, there is a flash of light and those who weren't by Lab #4 or had left will suddenly find themselves with the others--but no one is by Lab #4 anymore. Filippo stares for a moment before stamping his foot and shouting] No! No, this isn't how it was supposed to go! Ferran? Ferran! [He glowers, but his expression quickly turns to fear again as he hastily pulls out the yellow device to teleport away--but it falls from his hand, clattering to the ground. Before him stands Nathan, who has simply reappeared again--and he looks pissed.] Look...it's nothing personal, okay? [He starts to back away, stumbling into the lab.] I had to knock you out somehow and he's never told me if tranquilizers work on your kind! I would have used those inste--

Where are they, Resarci? I'm not in the mood for any of your doubletalk or lies. I've had to listen to enough of your shit and his for far too long!

[Color flares in Filippo's cheeks] I don't know either! If I did, I wouldn't have been yelling at him.

[Nathan lunges forward, grabbing Filippo's suit lapels.] What were you planning to do before, then? Don't think for a second that they believed you were going to send them home.

[Filippo tries to pry his suit away, but the grip on it is too tight] If they did, then I have some tubs of elbowgrease I can sell them too.

Where were they going?! [Nathan's hold shifts closer to Filippo's neck, cutting his air supply.]

[Filippo's face slowly starts to change colors, his voice hoarse as he tries to speak] F-Ferran's been preparing to move everyone to a different universe to continue his playtime with them. All I had to do was lure them to this lab and open the way to Lab #5.

[Nathan relaxes his grip a little.] We were trying to find that lab anyway! All you had to do was just wait for us to get there on our own. Why interfere?

Because he needed to discredit you even more. Why should they trust you implicitly when you still haven't told them everything? When you've failed to save them so many times? When--

Enough! I'm taking you into custody and you're coming with me right now. We need to find them.

And you think I'm going to just help you?

Yes. [He removes a pair of special handcuffs from his pocket, cuffing one over Filippo's wrist--and then his own.] Yes, I do.

[As for what happened to the otherworlders...]


Plot Details: Lost in the Dark

Right now, the otherworlders are stuck in a dark, dark place. They can't see a thing, nothing whatsoever. No special abilities, technology, not a single thing, can light their way. If they walk around, they'll eventually walk into a metal wall, and if they turn right around, they'll meet another. They can only go in one of two directions, and which way they go is up to each individual. And using abilities to get to one place from another is ill-advised; after all, where is the end destination? How far is it to one end versus the other?

And...they won't be alone. In a sense.

As they walk, they'll hear various sounds. Like something in the distance is following them (or waiting up ahead). Light shuffling, scraping of nails against the walls, someone beating rhythmically on the walls or something else... Let your character's imagination run wild. What sort of things would scare them in the dark? What makes the little hairs on the back of their neck stand on end?

To add to that, every now and then, a cool breeze will blow at them from one direction--and only one direction--so the choice really becomes: do you head towards it, or away from it? What lies for them at either end?

Also as they walk/run/jog/speedwalk/skip/prance/hop, they'll occasionally hear voices. Sometimes it may be echoes from their friends, but other times...who knows. Just know I'll be tagging in with the mod account to give these little tidbits, so yet again, track your threads if you've partnered up with someone!

Now, that leads me to how we're doing this. I'm leaving most of the creepy things up to you to mess with your characters how you'd like. Mostly. I'll throw in a few curveballs myself, as well as give you nice mile markers to let you know if you're close/far/etc.

I'm also splitting this entry up into those who choose to go towards the wind, and those who go away from it. (As well as an OOC comment in case you have questions/want to snag people for teaming up.) Choose how you will, and if you change your mind, you can turn around and go the other way. Just hop into the other thread and go from there! Don't be afraid to pick. Pick how you think your character would think and not just to be contrary to others.

If...by any chance, there are characters who get way too overwhelmed by the darkness and weird things and it gets to the point where you can't tag with them, let me know. I don't think it'll happen, but just in case it or something similar happens, I want to have this out there for you guys.

This plot has no end date. It'll keep going until one end is reached.

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask! Also, please indicate in your thread if you want to wait for a buddy or to go it alone and tag with me in the mod account (or Ten or Wash)!

Enjoy, everyone ♥

Comments

Hawk - Sophie

[desertdaggers]

[The abruptness of the transition to darkness startles Hawk, and he strains his eyes trying to catch sight of anything before bringing one hand up to try to manipulate the energy around it into producing light. After a few minutes of it not working, he drops his hand, frowning. He's been in the dark, before, but a complete darkness like this, that nothing can light up… it's not something he could really put past this place, but it's worrying.]

Hello? [He listens for any echoes, trying to tell what's around him from the sounds that come back. They can't all have been separated, right?] Anyone there? Fuu? Kon? Sophie? Jamie?

[fortune_sought]

Hawk! Hawk, is that you? [Sophie can't help sounding frightened. the complete lack of light is unnerving, and for a moment she thought she might be completely alone]

I'm going to walk toward your voice. [she starts moving even as she says she's going to; she doesn't want to lose track of him] Can you hear me?

[desertdaggers]

Sophie! [There's definite relief in his voice, and he relaxes a little.] Yes, I can hear you. I'm glad we didn't all get separated… this is enough trouble as it is. Even in the Dark Cave there was a little bit of light!

[fortune_sought]

Stay where you are, please! [she picks up her pace, hurrying over toward the source of his voice] Hawk? [she reaches out--and her hand finds his arm. she relaxes, sighing in relief]

[and she nods in eager agreement at his comment] Yes, it's impossible! But of course I'm not carrying a candle. We'll have to find the way outside.

[desertdaggers]

Of course. [He reaches out to touch her arm, just to be sure.]

Mm. I can't seem to raise any light, either… [The breeze is starting to come through, though, and Hawk turns towards it.] We might find something going this way.

[fortune_sought]

[she frowns at that] Should you be able to out of nothing? [she thought those sorts of spells mostly required something to get them started, but then again, she doesn't know that much about it]

[she feels both the breeze and his movement and nods again] Yes, it must be coming from outside. But let's be certain we aren't separated. [she fumbles, taking his hand in hers if he'll let her]

[desertdaggers]

It's mostly manipulating the energy around us to generate what I want. I'd need something to keep it going- energy, or something to burn- but I can't get even a flash, right now. [He gestures, flicking the wrist not touching her, with no result.]

Of course. [He lets her, and goes so far as to squeeze her hand before moving.] I'm sure we could find each other again, but… it's easier if we don't have to.

[fortune_sought]

[sourly] Then it must be this town again.

[assuming they're still in the town, of course. that thought makes her shiver, but she's comforted by the feeling of Hawk's hand in hers] Yes. Let's see what we can find. [and she starts forward toward the wind]

[luministimods]

[As they start to move, both of them will hear the sound of someone breathing near one of their ears, the words, "You will never escape him," said in a harsh whisper.

Moments later, they'll both hear something else echoed back to them:]

Please Daddy, you can't mean it! Why would you think such terribly torturous thoughts?

I...have long thought about it, my dear. Ever since he hid us here. Doesn't it make sense? He has known the solution to all this from the start, but yet he has been trying to do everything but what he must. So...we should do it for him.

[desertdaggers]

[As if things weren't unsettling enough. Hawk's shoulders rise, and he glances around uncomfortably- but there doesn't seem to be anyone else actually there.

His hold on Sophie's hand tightens a little when that bit of conversation comes back to them.]

…it sounds like we don't have much time.

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie stiffens, the hair rising on the back of her neck at that whispered statement. but her eyes widen at the familiar voices]

Verita! Verita, are you here? ...Mayor?

[desertdaggers]

[He wonders- are Verita and the Mayor here, or are the two of them simply being allowed to hear this? He takes a step forward, head turning from side to side, listening intently.]

Call out if you can hear us!

[fortune_sought]

[when a long moment has passed with no response, Sophie frowns, coming to the same conclusion. but she tries one more time:] Verita!

[after another long pause, she turns to where she thinks Hawk must be] Do you think that was a CAT broadcast? Is someone watching us here?

[and even after all the time she's spent in this town as the object of someone else's amusement, the idea of a watching presence in the dark still sends a chill down her spine]

It's...probably best that we keep moving.

[desertdaggers]

Probably. I doubt they're here with us. [He's assuming it was Ferran who's sent them here, and it sounded as though Verita and Caligin were talking about Nathan.] I can't imagine they're seeing much, unless they've got something we don't. [He manages a wry grin, and nods.]

Yeah. The sooner we're out of here, the better. [The complete darkness is unnerving- he can't think of another time when it's lasted more than a few moments- and he's not sure whether he's imagining the sounds of something scratching against the ground or not. He starts moving forwards cautiously, his hand still tight on hers.]

[fortune_sought]

No... But does that mean there's a CAT nearby? [she frowns, though she follows his lead and resumes their slow movement forward] What direction did the message come from? Could you tell?

[luministimods]

[The voices, unfortunately, don't seem to have heard Sophie or Hawk, but when they come again, they sound like they are simply all around the pair.]

No... No, no, no, no! Please! You can't leave me alone. Not...not after...after Mom...

You won't be alone. I've made sure of it. Nathan will make it so once that man is dealt with.

[Once the voices fade away, everything will get eerily quiet--and in a couple steps, they may trip over a small gap in the ground. If they do, and if they feel around for it, it'll feel uniform and as metallic as the ground they're on. It doesn't vary or give way if pushed or anything.]

[desertdaggers]

It makes sense. I'll try. [but the echoing makes that a little tricky, and then when it seems like it's coming from all around them, it's impossible to tell from that, and he shakes his head, biting his lip. Part of that's worry, too, about what Caligin's doing, and so he's not expecting the gap in the ground and trips, letting go of Sophie's hand to try and break his fall.]

Ah!

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie is just as startled by Caligin's declaration. she opens her mouth to say something--and trips as well, crying out first in surprise, and then mild pain when she hits the hard ground]

[thankfully, it isn't enough of a fall to do more than scrape one of her knees. she sits up immediately, reaching a hand out to feel for whatever it is she's just tripped over. but she heard Hawk cry out, too, so she asks worriedly:] Hawk? Are you all right?

[desertdaggers]

I'm fine! [His hands are a little banged up, maybe, but the worst of it is to his pride, really.] A little embarrassed, but I imagine something would've happened sooner or later. What about you? [He reaches out, trying to find her hand again.]

[fortune_sought]

I'm all right. [she reaches out--finding his arm, actually, but that works well enough] What do you think the mayor meant to do? Or what he did, I suppose, if that was a recording... [the worry is evident in her tone]

[desertdaggers]

Good. [he relaxes a little, his other hand on the ground, trying to feel out a little of the space around them.] It sounded as though he meant to take care of Ferran somehow… Maybe he was trying to use himself as a distraction to draw Ferran out. [He's not certain that's it, though it definitely sounded like self-sacrifice of some kind.]

[luministimods]

[As Hawk feels around, he'll eventually feel something cool and metallic raised on the ground. Upon further inspection, he'll feel a round disc secured to the floor (lucky they didn't trip over this as well). The disc is nearly half a foot tall and is pretty wide. There's also a nice dent dividing the disc in half down its diameter, but nothing happens when it's touched.]

[And almost in answer to their questions and musings, the voices return one last time:]

Y-You'd do that again? No, oh god, no. It wouldn't be the same, not without you! Deep down in the very depths of my depressed, doleful heart, I'd know it wasn't my fabulous and fun father. It'd be...him again. A shadow... Just give them more time!

Verita...

Please... Daddy, please...

...All right. One more hour, and then I'll sever that man's ties to this universe myself if they can't stop him.

[Once their voices fade away, so do any last remaining noises plaguing Sophie and Hawk. For a few moments, they'll just have their beating hearts and noises the other makes to listen to.

When they're done inspecting the disc, they'll notice and feel a change in the air; something that makes their skin crawl involuntarily and the little hairs on their neck stand up on end. And they'll be able to hear the echoing voices of the others for the first time.

Something has kept them purposefully isolated from one another. They'll be able to hear the others talking amongst themselves and reacting to things only they can hear. Some are nearer than the rest, but soon they'll all be together again, for the end finally approaches.]

[fortune_sought]

I suppose that's--

[but Sophie cuts off as the voices resume. she's silent for a long moment then, waiting--hoping--for more. finally, she says:] I believe that's our answer. I do hope this is only just happening... [because from the sound of what the Mayor had to say, they might be too late otherwise]

[it's at that point that she feels the change in the air, and her eyes widen] Hawk! Do you hear that? [raising her voice, she calls:] Hello! Who's out there?

[desertdaggers]

I do, too. [because knowing about it, and not being able to do anything… that would be horrible.]

Yeah. Everyone's okay, then. [He goes quiet, listening for where the others are.]

[fortune_sought]

Yes...I hope so.

[she keeps the comment soft, not wanting to miss a single voice as she listens for the response of the others as well]