Post by The Anarchist on Oct 15, 2016 9:06:09 GMT -5
“And STILL International Champion...”
The pirate walked the plank. His quest for golden treasure left him an empty handed fool by matches end. The sound of 1, 2, 3, dashing the supposed momentum he had and cementing the title he walked in with: challenger. Temptation led you astray, outsider. Your insatiable need for lust revealed your true colors. You’re a sinner, High Tide. And we all know what happens to them.
THEY BURN!
By the hands of PCW’s Lord and Savior and my followers. To be quite fair to your failure, you gave the same fight that the crashing waves of her mother’s ocean does against your ship. I expected nothing less than maximum effort from a former champion. But. We took you out.
...And then we took out your little friend. Wasp thought it wise to put himself in the face of danger, in the way storm chasers do in the path of an oncoming tornado. His annoyance was dealt with when the Rumble transpired. Dispatched him like I did you, Tide. Like I dispatched you at Trauma 199. We are not above the use of violence…
Right, Kelli? Oh my dear, sweet, precious Dollface. How nice it was to make your acquaintance again. And again. And again. Every time I brought the chair down on your spine, I imagined it being the kill shot that would break your spine. You should have stayed buried in your tomb. What a pity that your knight in shining armor didn’t leap to your rescue when he had the chance. Of course, seeing as I FINALLY got my hands on him during the action, he decided that I wasn’t worth crossing any longer.
Smart move, Nathan. But we are far from being done with you. Far from being done with Kelli. Far from being done with your teammates, the runner-up and Deadly Rumble winner. I wonder if the outcome would have differed with Dollface’s participation? Too bad we’ll never know. Alas, Trauma will bring together two teams of five for an all out war.
Are you ready boys and girls? Grimm, Murdoc, Sadistic, Alexa and myself sure as hell are.
DAY
The chime of the shop door opening jingles as Absinthe patrons come in and out of the local hardware shop, Hacksaw’s. It wasn’t large in scope, but carried the general items one would hope to find for their needs. The shop’s owner was an older gentlemen of sixty-four years. He was a friendly face around town and one that could easily pass for someone’s Grandfather. He treated every customer with kindness and warmth, a sentiment no doubt returned regardless of age. That really was how things worked in Absinthe, a small town where everybody knew your name. Trouble was virtually unheard of, but that wasn’t to say it didn’t exist.
Morning had bustled with activity and then tapered as the day wore on. The shop keeper was currently at the register going over the days’ receipts, when the familiar chime echoed the entrance of another soul. Or in this case, souls. The door stayed open for more than ten seconds, and from the owner’s vantage point, he couldn’t see who was responsible. Pushing his glasses back up his face, he walks around the wooden counter to peer at the door.
The culprit was Lazarus, one of Salvation’s newest. The large man pressed his back against the door, practically engulfing the glass with the shop’s name in gold. He was dressed in black, almost as if he had just returned from attending a funeral, with a gaze as cold as a winter’s night. He never gave a second of courtesy towards the shopkeeper. He had been instructed to hold the door and do nothing else. One by one, the others marched in. Their steps were mechanical, movements rigid. All dressed in the same color. Unlike Lazarus, they did make eye contact. Narrow eyed, but contact just the same. Lylyth smirked as she walked by, taking her place in the order as they stood facing the door. A partial motion outside was seen by the shopkeeper, which ushered in the stocky Lazarus. Step by heavy step, he pressed by, walking to the second row of followers.
The keeper looked confused, but not alarmed. Sure, they looked different than the people he usually saw, but he wasn’t about to change his approach now.
“Good afternoon, folks. May I help you find something?”
There was no response given. Just eyes that stared a hole through him as if he never even existed. He cautiously moved closer and asked again, punctuating with a kind smile in hopes of breaking the ice. The result was the same. Just as he was about to leave them be, faint footsteps from a distance was heard. Soon they grew louder, closer. The followers oddly parted like the red sea and turned their focus down the aisles of the store shelves.
Seromine had arrived. He walked by, holding a box of thick nails in his hand. Stopping his stride, he turns his head around to face Jarvis. Whatever he told him was enough for him to break rank and go in search of something. While that went on, Seromine moved to the counter to pay for his purchase. It was at this time, Destiny came from the front. She closes the door after herself and gives the slightest of nods to her husband. Seromine motions with his eyes before focusing back on the keeper.
“Interesting bunch you have there, mister. If I may ask, y’all aren’t from around here are you?”
Seromine grinned, “No. I guess we aren’t. Or at least most of us aren’t.”
Both men look towards the group as Destiny leads Noire by the hand. “Does she look familiar to you?”
The shopkeeper squints. Looking up and down at the former teacher, his mind is hard at work in trying to jog a faded memory. She no longer resembled the vibrant woman he may have once known. In place was a figure of pallor. Noire hisses and is lead back to where she had previously been standing. Destiny turns and shakes her head with a tilt. The keeper ruffles his salt and pepper hair, “No, I can’t say she does. It probably would do her some good to get some sun. She looks awfully pale.”
Silence.
“Hm. That’s funny. I was just about to say the same thing about you...”
“Beg your pardon?”
“What? Oh. I was thinking out loud. You’ll have to forgive me, the journey has been long.”
The keeper belly laughed and waved off the reply. Seromine smiles at this, but loses it just as fast as it appeared. His purchase gets ringed up, while he looks to his followers from the corner of his eyes.
“Will that be all for you today?”
The question pulled his attention back to making contact. Seromine clasps his hands together as if he were praying, a code that the others followed in unison. With his head bowed, Seromine whispers, “Those...and the hammer.”
Having not heard what was said, the shopkeeper leans in.
“What’s that?”
Seromine’s head lifts, the green from his eyes darkening. His arms stretched out and his posture became more threatening. “I said those...and the hammer!”
Before he knew what hit him, the keeper’s head was hit from behind with the object. Jarvis was instructed to continue by the single word, “Again!” as another blow crashed down on bone with impact. A groan escaped as blood pooled out of the wound. The followers who had been emotionless, were now emitting cheer. Seromine during the assault had taken the time to flip the store’s sign from OPEN to CLOSED while Jarvis pulls the weighted body towards the group. Like a colony of ants, they hoist him in the air and haul him away. Seromine has since turned off the lights and cleaned things up to make it appear as if nothing transpired.
“Absinthe will soon learn that evil has come to roost, my love. I know our anniversary was last week, but...”
Destiny puts an index finger to her husband’s lips, cooing with a shh before switching to her lips instead. The kiss was brief, but passionate. Afterwards she leans into his ear and whispers, “The gift means a lot to me. We’ll celebrate tonight with the girls. In fact, it’ll be my gift to you.”
The couple leave with everyone soon after. The shop meanwhile is left to plunge into uninhabited darkness.
NIGHT
A dismembered slab of charred meat became the centerpiece on the oak table. Fitted inside of the mouth was a black apple, plucked fresh from the orchards that dot the southern end of the property. They hugged behind the barn and house, and while not the maze the groves were, brought their own brand of spooky once the moon rose. Speaking of the groves, blood orange ring slices were cooked where eyes once sat in sockets. A nail for each was sure to keep them pressed from falling. The remaining eight nails found themselves driven into the hands and feet, two per, to keep the display where it was. Fourteen chairs lined around the table, white candles lit the light inside of the barn.
One thing casted was a curious trophy on the wall. Caked in wax was the very chair Seromine had used on Kelli Starr at Deadly Intentions. Next to it hung the International Title, the plates of which had recently been polished for an extra shine. The gold glistened in the glow. Suddenly the barn doors creak open. As had been the case in Absinthe, Lazarus stood guard. The robed followers slowly walk in one by one and find where they are assigned to sit. The big man follows as Seromine and Destiny enter soon after, leading dazed children inside.
They as well were given animal masks to wear on this most important of occasions. Kristen wears a Raccoon. Autumn is wearing a Fox. Nancy is a Cat and Lydia is a Mouse. They weren’t dazed from anything harmful like a drug; No, they were dazed because they had been woken up in the dead of night for this. The followers watch as the parents seat them close to where they will be...
While also having their wrists bound to the rests to make sure they won’t get up and run. With all of the guests now present, Seromine closes the door and joins his wife at the head of the table.
“Brothers. Sisters. Destiny and myself would like to thank each and every one of you for being here tonight. Sixteen years ago, we took our vows. Unlike so many fakes in the Earth realm, we take them very, very seriously. Over the course of time, we were blessed with four beautiful children.”
Destiny attempts to wake them up gently as Seromine watches on.
“Four beautiful children who we feel can spread our message to their generation. But that’s not all, brothers and sisters. I have been in contact with...him. Assured that we will be the benefactors of what grows from the seeds...”
Destiny has gained success in stirring the children. Kristen is the first to really be able to zero in on where she is, but her sisters soon follow. Frightened by the followers is nothing compared to the fear of seeing what’s sprawled on the table. But they haven’t a chance to get an audible scream. The children’s masks were affixed with a gag to prevent it.
“Oh good evening, my lovelies! Don’t be alarmed, your mother and I are here. Now. What you see is a necessary sacrifice. The strangers seated around the table are who you’ll come to know as your Aunts and Uncles. I had hoped to ease you into this over time, but...well...”
Seromine looks at Destiny.
“Your mother bestowed this for our anniversary! This will all be over soon and I promise, you’ll feel nothing at all. So, my love. Whenever you are ready.”
Destiny moves away for a moment, returning with a sharp instrument in her hand as she leans between her children to sever their restraints. Her mask gets partially lifted so she may kiss each on their head. “Girls, you will be sent into the Orchard of The Forbidden Trees. We’ll join you after you’ve started, so you have nothing to be afraid of. Ok? Kristen, make sure you keep everyone together.”
Destiny looks towards her husband and gives a nod. Seromine then motions for his followers to lead the children outside and around to the eerie location. Understandably frightened, resistance has quickly begun. Undeterred, the group moves them two rows in before setting them free and exiting. Once the trees detect the unfamiliar presences, they start to take a life of their own. It felt like the trees were moving in closer and closer…
So they ran. Deep into the heart with only the illusion of their parents voices to guide them through. But the girls abruptly screeched to a halt. Their faces distorted with wide eyed terror as the masks they wore split open and peeled off. Before them came auras of malevolence. A trio to be exact. A mass of black floated around the trees. The sickening sounds of bones connecting at the joints ripped through the orchard. Loud wailing supplanted the noise. The spirits were beginning to return to form. Skeletal feet rooted into the earth as their bodies doubled into the ground. Blood oozed from the trees and into the figures, revitalizing their organs and decayed flesh.
The tattered robes flittered with a ghostly wisp as the bodies filled out. One by one as their strength returned, came the excavation of dirty animal masks consisting of a Zebra, Kangaroo and Eagle to conceal their faces. With reanimation completed, laments turned into chilling laughter. The malevolent spirits rose, levitating off the ground, their sights locked on the four children. By this time, Salvation had marched onto the scene. Their candles served as the guiding light. A standoff was underway before Seromine approached, ignoring his petrified children. He gave a curious glance over his shoulder, and then faced towards the women in front of him, unconcerned about the slight pupil dilation of his offspring.
The Elder Mothers had risen.
Respects were paid.
The pirate walked the plank. His quest for golden treasure left him an empty handed fool by matches end. The sound of 1, 2, 3, dashing the supposed momentum he had and cementing the title he walked in with: challenger. Temptation led you astray, outsider. Your insatiable need for lust revealed your true colors. You’re a sinner, High Tide. And we all know what happens to them.
THEY BURN!
By the hands of PCW’s Lord and Savior and my followers. To be quite fair to your failure, you gave the same fight that the crashing waves of her mother’s ocean does against your ship. I expected nothing less than maximum effort from a former champion. But. We took you out.
...And then we took out your little friend. Wasp thought it wise to put himself in the face of danger, in the way storm chasers do in the path of an oncoming tornado. His annoyance was dealt with when the Rumble transpired. Dispatched him like I did you, Tide. Like I dispatched you at Trauma 199. We are not above the use of violence…
Right, Kelli? Oh my dear, sweet, precious Dollface. How nice it was to make your acquaintance again. And again. And again. Every time I brought the chair down on your spine, I imagined it being the kill shot that would break your spine. You should have stayed buried in your tomb. What a pity that your knight in shining armor didn’t leap to your rescue when he had the chance. Of course, seeing as I FINALLY got my hands on him during the action, he decided that I wasn’t worth crossing any longer.
Smart move, Nathan. But we are far from being done with you. Far from being done with Kelli. Far from being done with your teammates, the runner-up and Deadly Rumble winner. I wonder if the outcome would have differed with Dollface’s participation? Too bad we’ll never know. Alas, Trauma will bring together two teams of five for an all out war.
Are you ready boys and girls? Grimm, Murdoc, Sadistic, Alexa and myself sure as hell are.
DAY
The chime of the shop door opening jingles as Absinthe patrons come in and out of the local hardware shop, Hacksaw’s. It wasn’t large in scope, but carried the general items one would hope to find for their needs. The shop’s owner was an older gentlemen of sixty-four years. He was a friendly face around town and one that could easily pass for someone’s Grandfather. He treated every customer with kindness and warmth, a sentiment no doubt returned regardless of age. That really was how things worked in Absinthe, a small town where everybody knew your name. Trouble was virtually unheard of, but that wasn’t to say it didn’t exist.
Morning had bustled with activity and then tapered as the day wore on. The shop keeper was currently at the register going over the days’ receipts, when the familiar chime echoed the entrance of another soul. Or in this case, souls. The door stayed open for more than ten seconds, and from the owner’s vantage point, he couldn’t see who was responsible. Pushing his glasses back up his face, he walks around the wooden counter to peer at the door.
The culprit was Lazarus, one of Salvation’s newest. The large man pressed his back against the door, practically engulfing the glass with the shop’s name in gold. He was dressed in black, almost as if he had just returned from attending a funeral, with a gaze as cold as a winter’s night. He never gave a second of courtesy towards the shopkeeper. He had been instructed to hold the door and do nothing else. One by one, the others marched in. Their steps were mechanical, movements rigid. All dressed in the same color. Unlike Lazarus, they did make eye contact. Narrow eyed, but contact just the same. Lylyth smirked as she walked by, taking her place in the order as they stood facing the door. A partial motion outside was seen by the shopkeeper, which ushered in the stocky Lazarus. Step by heavy step, he pressed by, walking to the second row of followers.
The keeper looked confused, but not alarmed. Sure, they looked different than the people he usually saw, but he wasn’t about to change his approach now.
“Good afternoon, folks. May I help you find something?”
There was no response given. Just eyes that stared a hole through him as if he never even existed. He cautiously moved closer and asked again, punctuating with a kind smile in hopes of breaking the ice. The result was the same. Just as he was about to leave them be, faint footsteps from a distance was heard. Soon they grew louder, closer. The followers oddly parted like the red sea and turned their focus down the aisles of the store shelves.
Seromine had arrived. He walked by, holding a box of thick nails in his hand. Stopping his stride, he turns his head around to face Jarvis. Whatever he told him was enough for him to break rank and go in search of something. While that went on, Seromine moved to the counter to pay for his purchase. It was at this time, Destiny came from the front. She closes the door after herself and gives the slightest of nods to her husband. Seromine motions with his eyes before focusing back on the keeper.
“Interesting bunch you have there, mister. If I may ask, y’all aren’t from around here are you?”
Seromine grinned, “No. I guess we aren’t. Or at least most of us aren’t.”
Both men look towards the group as Destiny leads Noire by the hand. “Does she look familiar to you?”
The shopkeeper squints. Looking up and down at the former teacher, his mind is hard at work in trying to jog a faded memory. She no longer resembled the vibrant woman he may have once known. In place was a figure of pallor. Noire hisses and is lead back to where she had previously been standing. Destiny turns and shakes her head with a tilt. The keeper ruffles his salt and pepper hair, “No, I can’t say she does. It probably would do her some good to get some sun. She looks awfully pale.”
Silence.
“Hm. That’s funny. I was just about to say the same thing about you...”
“Beg your pardon?”
“What? Oh. I was thinking out loud. You’ll have to forgive me, the journey has been long.”
The keeper belly laughed and waved off the reply. Seromine smiles at this, but loses it just as fast as it appeared. His purchase gets ringed up, while he looks to his followers from the corner of his eyes.
“Will that be all for you today?”
The question pulled his attention back to making contact. Seromine clasps his hands together as if he were praying, a code that the others followed in unison. With his head bowed, Seromine whispers, “Those...and the hammer.”
Having not heard what was said, the shopkeeper leans in.
“What’s that?”
Seromine’s head lifts, the green from his eyes darkening. His arms stretched out and his posture became more threatening. “I said those...and the hammer!”
Before he knew what hit him, the keeper’s head was hit from behind with the object. Jarvis was instructed to continue by the single word, “Again!” as another blow crashed down on bone with impact. A groan escaped as blood pooled out of the wound. The followers who had been emotionless, were now emitting cheer. Seromine during the assault had taken the time to flip the store’s sign from OPEN to CLOSED while Jarvis pulls the weighted body towards the group. Like a colony of ants, they hoist him in the air and haul him away. Seromine has since turned off the lights and cleaned things up to make it appear as if nothing transpired.
“Absinthe will soon learn that evil has come to roost, my love. I know our anniversary was last week, but...”
Destiny puts an index finger to her husband’s lips, cooing with a shh before switching to her lips instead. The kiss was brief, but passionate. Afterwards she leans into his ear and whispers, “The gift means a lot to me. We’ll celebrate tonight with the girls. In fact, it’ll be my gift to you.”
The couple leave with everyone soon after. The shop meanwhile is left to plunge into uninhabited darkness.
NIGHT
A dismembered slab of charred meat became the centerpiece on the oak table. Fitted inside of the mouth was a black apple, plucked fresh from the orchards that dot the southern end of the property. They hugged behind the barn and house, and while not the maze the groves were, brought their own brand of spooky once the moon rose. Speaking of the groves, blood orange ring slices were cooked where eyes once sat in sockets. A nail for each was sure to keep them pressed from falling. The remaining eight nails found themselves driven into the hands and feet, two per, to keep the display where it was. Fourteen chairs lined around the table, white candles lit the light inside of the barn.
One thing casted was a curious trophy on the wall. Caked in wax was the very chair Seromine had used on Kelli Starr at Deadly Intentions. Next to it hung the International Title, the plates of which had recently been polished for an extra shine. The gold glistened in the glow. Suddenly the barn doors creak open. As had been the case in Absinthe, Lazarus stood guard. The robed followers slowly walk in one by one and find where they are assigned to sit. The big man follows as Seromine and Destiny enter soon after, leading dazed children inside.
They as well were given animal masks to wear on this most important of occasions. Kristen wears a Raccoon. Autumn is wearing a Fox. Nancy is a Cat and Lydia is a Mouse. They weren’t dazed from anything harmful like a drug; No, they were dazed because they had been woken up in the dead of night for this. The followers watch as the parents seat them close to where they will be...
While also having their wrists bound to the rests to make sure they won’t get up and run. With all of the guests now present, Seromine closes the door and joins his wife at the head of the table.
“Brothers. Sisters. Destiny and myself would like to thank each and every one of you for being here tonight. Sixteen years ago, we took our vows. Unlike so many fakes in the Earth realm, we take them very, very seriously. Over the course of time, we were blessed with four beautiful children.”
Destiny attempts to wake them up gently as Seromine watches on.
“Four beautiful children who we feel can spread our message to their generation. But that’s not all, brothers and sisters. I have been in contact with...him. Assured that we will be the benefactors of what grows from the seeds...”
Destiny has gained success in stirring the children. Kristen is the first to really be able to zero in on where she is, but her sisters soon follow. Frightened by the followers is nothing compared to the fear of seeing what’s sprawled on the table. But they haven’t a chance to get an audible scream. The children’s masks were affixed with a gag to prevent it.
“Oh good evening, my lovelies! Don’t be alarmed, your mother and I are here. Now. What you see is a necessary sacrifice. The strangers seated around the table are who you’ll come to know as your Aunts and Uncles. I had hoped to ease you into this over time, but...well...”
Seromine looks at Destiny.
“Your mother bestowed this for our anniversary! This will all be over soon and I promise, you’ll feel nothing at all. So, my love. Whenever you are ready.”
Destiny moves away for a moment, returning with a sharp instrument in her hand as she leans between her children to sever their restraints. Her mask gets partially lifted so she may kiss each on their head. “Girls, you will be sent into the Orchard of The Forbidden Trees. We’ll join you after you’ve started, so you have nothing to be afraid of. Ok? Kristen, make sure you keep everyone together.”
Destiny looks towards her husband and gives a nod. Seromine then motions for his followers to lead the children outside and around to the eerie location. Understandably frightened, resistance has quickly begun. Undeterred, the group moves them two rows in before setting them free and exiting. Once the trees detect the unfamiliar presences, they start to take a life of their own. It felt like the trees were moving in closer and closer…
So they ran. Deep into the heart with only the illusion of their parents voices to guide them through. But the girls abruptly screeched to a halt. Their faces distorted with wide eyed terror as the masks they wore split open and peeled off. Before them came auras of malevolence. A trio to be exact. A mass of black floated around the trees. The sickening sounds of bones connecting at the joints ripped through the orchard. Loud wailing supplanted the noise. The spirits were beginning to return to form. Skeletal feet rooted into the earth as their bodies doubled into the ground. Blood oozed from the trees and into the figures, revitalizing their organs and decayed flesh.
The tattered robes flittered with a ghostly wisp as the bodies filled out. One by one as their strength returned, came the excavation of dirty animal masks consisting of a Zebra, Kangaroo and Eagle to conceal their faces. With reanimation completed, laments turned into chilling laughter. The malevolent spirits rose, levitating off the ground, their sights locked on the four children. By this time, Salvation had marched onto the scene. Their candles served as the guiding light. A standoff was underway before Seromine approached, ignoring his petrified children. He gave a curious glance over his shoulder, and then faced towards the women in front of him, unconcerned about the slight pupil dilation of his offspring.
The Elder Mothers had risen.
Respects were paid.