Sorry for taking a while getting the first proper post down guys, I did want to get some sort of setting down as well as kind of get the ridiculous factor out of the way; even I laughed myself when I read Takahashi's name at the end of the last post!
That doesn't mean to say this is gonna be a morbid story or anyhting like that....in fact you know what forget the explaining, I'll just let you read!
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Chapter One: Hell Is Other PeopleA black, charred sandy floor marked where the molten sea had once been, once a wonder to behold; now the ground was simply laid to waste. A thick fog continuously rolled across what seemed to be a never ending plain of emptiness and choking smog filled the air; miles upon miles of death stretched out. Yet despite this unwelcoming something had chosen to be seated here.
They were humanoid in form, but certainly not human. The body looked more like an inbred of both human and bird, possibly a raven. Black feathers sprouted from various parts of the body, namely the shoulders and around the back. At one time the plumage may have filled the entire body looking thick and majestic, but now at least, the fleshy tones of the figures skin could be seen through the moulting. This did not seem to be a mere case of moulting though, as the body itself was starting to fall away and decay, the skin was so tightly rapped around its hosts body that the ribs could be clearly seen and threaten to break through the flesh.
The figure had raised one leg to its chest, its bird-like talons clawing at the rough earth ever so slightly. The other was simply rested on the floor with its shin pointing downwards, its owner resting their elbow against it while in-turn using their hand to rest their chin. Although a more accurate description may in fact have been “beak” rather than chin; like the rest of its body the face of this lone figure was misshapen and seemed to be withering away.
The beak, though contorted, was unmistakably twisted into a smile; a sinister smile that showed both and air of contempt and arrogance. Despite this, the deep sullen eyes told a very different story. They housed a sadness and honesty that was not befitting with the rest of their appearance, but even this attributed to the creatures hideous frame. The only signs of any life or activity came from the hand of the figure that was not rested upon its bill; a cycle of flicking the thumb, catching a coin, flicking the thumb, and so on.
The coin appeared to have two differently marked sides but was of an unfamiliar foreign currency, not that it appeared to matter. Its owner paid no attention to the outcome after each catch, instead staring into the fog and continuing to flick the coin into the air again and again. Despite its ancient appearance the tender did not break or hold any crack, nor did its current ill treatment appear to affect it in any way.
How long the figure had been sat out it the empty landscape could have been days, weeks or even longer, but seemingly without warning two more figures emerged from mist and approached the first. These too were contorted in their appearance but did not show any signs of illness or decay like their predecessor.
“I knew it,” said the first of the new figures snorting and turning to the other on his left. “You grate on me just by being here Nybbas.”
Nybbas ignored the appearance of these two shapes, or at least didn’t acknowledge with a response.
“This is another one of your little fads isn’t t? You get yourself a new hobby and you become obsessed. Well I don’t even want to know what it is this time, I’m sick of being sent out here to find you the same every single time.”
The speaker turned to leave but was stopped in their tracks as Nybbas spoke:
“It’s the second coming.” He said nonchalantly, continuing to flick his coin into the air.
There was a pause and an uneasy silence between the three of them. The final individual had a look of fear in their eyes and turned to the other unknown for reassurance.
“I hope you’re joking, for your sake.” They growled spinning round to face Nybbas again.
“For my sake?” Nybbas said with what would have been a smile if he wasn’t already doing so. “You know, as do I, Berith, that there has been no news of the second coming throughout the entire kingdom has there?”
“Which proves that this is another one of your madness schemes or that you’re a bigger fool than even I had thought possible!” Berith said still raging.
The flicking of the coin stopped; the last catch more forceful and Nybbas held the coin firmly in his hand as he stood and turned to face his colleagues.
“No. It means that it is me who has been chosen to guide them, it is I who will show them the path or our lor-“
“This is ridiculous!” Berith claimed, raising his voice even higher.
Nybbas remained calm and the grin remained etched onto his face, but the eyes continued to show conflicting emotions.
“It is that.” He said solemnly. “But as I’m sure you’re aware this was not my choice, nor anyone else’s. As you know the selection process involve-”
“I know damn well how this works! Which is why I don’t believe a word you say!” Berith looked on the verge on completely losing control and almost made a dash for Nybbas before stopping himself.
“Is there a problem Berith?” Nybbas asked mockingly “You want to try and inflict me with some more pain? You’ve already broken my wings; I was hoping that would satisfy you. I fail to see the problem here anyway after all, the best candidate from both sides is always chosen. I am obviously the best candidate to lead the second coming down the path of our lord.”
“Ha, do what you want fool, I have had enough trying to talk sense to you, more than three hundred years with you has been far too long so at least if this is true I won’t be babysitting you anymore.”
With that Berith turned stormed off back into the fog and quickly disappeared from sight followed by his silent comrade.
Nybbas’ eyes appeared to show signs of happiness as he was left alone again. This was his time to prove himself, prove his worth to his master and his peers. Hell would have its own Messiah.
The bright blue skies of Friday afternoon didn’t make university life any easier, at least not for one student. Takahashi Ai. You couldn’t quite put your finger out what made her stand out from the other students so much, but there was definitely something, something that made you feel “odd” just being around her. Even someone passing her in the street would be forgiven for double-taking to catch a second glance of her, the strange thing being that most people didn’t know exactly what they were looking back for.
She was a moderately attractive girl but could have been so much more if she looked as though she actually cared about her appearance. Her long plaid skirt, woolly jumper and thick rimmed glasses didn’t help her but this didn’t seem to bother her in the slightest. This was no different from school for Takahashi, were one kid always has to put up with the pranks and insults of their peers, and this was exactly the same. From the instant she set foot in the campus grounds the mutter of her fellow students would be around her, the noise constantly rumbling around her like distant traffic. It had now gotten to the point were she didn’t care though, nor did she even notice it anymore.
On this particular Friday afternoon it had so far been an uneventful day and as per usual Takahashi sat on one of the marble benches outside the library, her face deep into her book. Usually any background noise didn’t disturb Takahashi but a large crowd seemed to have gathered near the library steps which was only around twenty feet away from Takahashi and was creating a large amount of noise. She looked up and saw around ten or fifteen people chatting noisily and throwing things at each other. All of them wearing loose-fitting clothes as well as chains, necklaces and caps; Takahashi couldn’t quite tell if they were students or not as this was hardly fitting clothing for the if they were, at least that’s what she thought.
Rather than annoy both herself and the group of youths she decided to continue her reading inside the library itself. As she hurriedly walked passed the gang she knocked into one of them who had her back turned and a cracking sound was heard split second later. Ai stopped for a moment but then decided it was probably best to pretend nothing had happened and decided to up her pace slightly. However, she had walked forward just a few more steps when:
“Hey! Where the hell do you think you’re going?” an angry voice called after her.
Ai slowly turned around to face who was berating her to see a furious looking girl with a mangled iPod in her hand. She was dressed in the same style as her contemporaries: baggy black and white combat pants, a yellow tank top and a purple coloured baseball cap worn almost completely sideways and at an obtuse angle. She may well have been the shortest of her group but the rest of them were simply stood in awe and fear, as though Ai had done something unimaginable.
“Oh I’m sorry” said Ai looking extremely worried, she knew this wasn’t exactly the most helpful thing to say but she didn’t know what else she could say.
“You’re sorry? No, no, you’re not sorry, you’re coughing up 30,000円that’s what you’re doing.” The girl replied advancing on Ai, and looking incredibly menacing considering her size.
“S-sorry I don’t have the money.” Ai replied.
Before she really thought about what she was doing and before the girl could get to close to her she turned and ran into the library. Maybe she was hoping someone would help out in there, she wasn’t quite sure; even though she knew full well that she had in fact been very likely responsible for breaking it. She had a quick scan of the library before darting off down the stairs to the basement floor and rushed to find herself a space at a free computer. She threw down her book in front of her and quickly turned on the computer in front of her, immediately starting to look as though she was very busy but all the time keeping her eye on the stairs that led down to the floor that she was on.
She started to calm herself down a little and her fast breathing started to slow itself, she probably had over-reacted by running away scared. But then again, she really didn’t have the money to pay for an iPod and she wasn’t quite sure what the girl was going to do to her. She was about to find out; Ai jumped as the girl slammed herself down in an empty seat next to her. Out of all the empty seats she chose why did she have to pick one in a booth with an empty seat right next to it? The girl leaned forward on her seat and brought it a little closer to Ai who started to breathe heavier again.
“Now, about that money…”
“I really sorry, but I don’t have the money to give you. I’m really sorry” explained Ai.
“Nothing at all?” The girl sounded remarkably well composed and already didn’t seem as terrifying as she did outside, maybe Ai had been quick to react.
“Well I have about 5000 円with me now…”
“It’s a start” said the girl reaching out her palm straight into Ai’s face.
At first Ai stared open-mouthed at the girls hand at the sheer cheek of her, but after looking at the girl’s face she decided it was best not to argue and took out some crumpled notes from her pocket and handed them to the girl.
“This goes some way to paying your debt” she said sounding much more satisfied as she stuffed the notes into her own pocket after a quick flick through them.
“I’ll try to get the rest to you as soon as I can, but I’m not sure how long that wi-” started Ai but the girl interrupted.
“Oh no, I don’t want anymore money from you now.”
“Oh, you don’t? Oh thank you so much! Still I’m very sor-”
“No, you’re misunderstanding.” The girl said smugly. “This was your easy way out, but now you’re going to have to pay off your debt another way, and I’m sure you know that another 25,000円won’t be easy to pay back.”
Ai didn’t know how to respond, what exactly was this girl talking about? Who did she think she was bossing her around like this?
“We’re going to get to know each other very well in the next couple of weeks” the girl said with a sly smile “So why don’t we start with names?”
“Erm, Takahashi Ai.”
“Pleased to meet you Takahashi, I’m Tanaka Reina, and I’m going to make the next few weeks of your life…hell.”
Topic: Cocytus (Read 4304 times)