Enchanting {Frightening} A l l u r i n g [IaLoE plot]

[Kire]

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E Z I O L A S K A R I S

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Says, Thinks

There were eleven of us now. From the moment I had been kidnapped until now, I had continually been surprised and scared by the way our number had increased nearly every day. First it had been me, just me. I had sat in this room, on this carpet, all alone for what felt like forever. I had cried, I had worried, I had missed my parents. I still did the last two almost constantly, but I couldn't let myself cry anymore. I couldn't let myself cry from the moment Polly and that man had dragged Cyprian in. I was eleven, I was the eldest, I had to act like it.

Cyprian and I had quickly bonded, as most people in peril usually did. We knew we would have to keep each other from being scared, even if it was just through talking until we were let free. Even so, the darkness had pressed in on us from all sides and the only thing that kept it at bay was a single light that lit our rug and a small bit of floor around it. The rug itself was circular and comprised of rings of orange and red. It looked like a giant bullseye on the floor, but it was the only thing we had had. Polly had since brought us pillows and blankets to make sleeping easier, one for each child that now were clustered here like some strange herd.

After Cyprian had come Philo, the smallest of all of us by at least a few years, who hardly said anything at all. He was two, and he showed just how young he was by continually clinging to whoever was nearest like he would get lost if he didn't. For all I knew, that was actually how he felt. Sometimes I wished I had a hand to cling to, but I couldn't tell anyone that because I was the oldest and I had to act like it. I couldn't cry, I couldn't show fear or weakness. I had to be the strong one for everyone else.

Vita and Gaia had come in at almost the same time, the two youngest girls of the group. They were rather different, one who thought a lot about the world and one who thought a lot about herself, but they were more company and neither Cyprian nor I could complain. I did though, internally. I could hardly deal with being around Philo and Cyprian all hours of the day, and now I had to deal with two more children who were so much younger than me. I was literally twice their age, and that frustrated me. I really didn't like having to deal with others.

As each kid came in - Felix, Decimus, Livia, Camilla, Marius, Albia - I became more and more agitated. Having all of these people around was hard on me because I was so used to either being by myself or with my parents. Even at the parties my parents had taken me to I was mostly left to myself. There was the odd woman who would marvel over me, or a man who would compliment me on being a fine looking lad, but really most of the adults ignored me. I preferred it that way.

This gathering of chickens was grating on me and I felt like I was a wolf in sheep's skin. I was going to lash out one of these days and then the flock would run from me, but until then I was viewed as just another one of them. It was hard, but I would rather they be with me than me be left alone in the dark. I looked into the blackness around us, trying to see anything at all. Of course I couldn't.

When the door opened I jumped like I always did. I was on my feet in a moment and staring into the blackness. Would I have to deal with another kid? I was more than tired of having these ten others around me. One more and it might just be what puts me over the edge. As Polly's shape emerged from the darkness I realized she was alone and almost heaved a sigh of relief. The man that usually accompanied her when she brought in more children was absent, and I didn't know if that was comforting, or more frightening.

I watched Polly as she came to stand just at the edge of the rug. She didn't have any blankets or pillows in her arms - in fact, she wasn't carrying anything at all - and I wondered what she was here for. "Children," she started, looking at all of us while she waited for us to quiet down and pay attention. Philo ran over to her, arms outstretched and hands ready to grab. She stepped out of the way of him, grabbing him and not-so-gently plunking him back onto the rug. I was silent, bothered by the roughness she had showed. She had always been gentle with Philo, more than most of us were, and always lifted him into her arms when she came around. Philo sniffed and she scowled at him. "Shut up, you little brat." I didn't know what the others thought, but I know my mouth had fallen open. This was a very different person. If I was any younger, or any less experienced with adults, I might have believed that this wasn't even Polly. Every bit of evidence pointed in the contrary of that thought, though, so I knew it really was her.

Everyone was hushed at this point, so Polly looked at all of us once more and started to speak. "I came to let you know that you are all a pawn in Himself's game." There were small confused noises coming from everywhere, and I had no idea what she meant either. "Shut up, the lot of you. Like a bunch of bloody sheep, all bleating like that." We all shut up really quickly. "Himself is playing with you. Think of it like you've been reaped for Himself's own Hunger Games." I thought I heard a gasp or two and I began to feel sick. Did she mean we would have to kill each other? I looked at the other ten, from little Philo to Camilla the second eldest. I may get frustrated with them, but could I bring myself to kill them?

I didn't really want to know the answer to that.

"Oh be quiet. You don't have to kill each other, unless you want to of course." The look on her face was so dark and horrible that I wanted to look away. I couldn't. "No, Himself has set up everything you need to face already." She grinned, looking directly at me. "The last one alive gets to go home, just like in the Games." Her gaze shifted from me and the prickle down the back of my neck faded a bit. A voice came up from the rug and I didn't pay attention to who said it, just what they had said "Why?" Polly seemed to find this amusing because she laughed, a harsh sound that made me want to cover my ears and cringe. I didn't though, I had to be strong. "Why? Because you just have to live, and that will be enough of a task."

She gave us all another look over, the smile on her face more terrible than I thought anyone's smile could have been. "Goodbye, children." With that, she turned around and walked back out the way she came, ignoring the cries from Philo and any other noises that were made. I turned my back on everyone and sat on the edge of the carpet, staring into the darkness. Away in the distance, as a bang was heard from the location of the door, came a deep bark. I looked out towards where I thought the sound was coming from, but it was hard to tell with how this place echoed. All I knew was that there was some large dog out there. And he sounded hungry.

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It had been two days since Polly had slammed the door after her announcement. No one came to visit us. We had only limited water left, and we hadn't had food since before then. I did my best to ignore my hunger and only drink a little bit, but I knew that the others were suffering too. If we stayed here too long, if we didn't find more water and more food, then we would all die. I really didn't want to die, and I really didn't want to see any of the others die. I stared out into the darkness, wondering if there were any good things out there, or if it was only death. We had to find out somehow, but how could I convince the others to leave the safety of the light or the rug. I only knew I had to try.

I stood up and turned around to look at the others. I was the oldest, I was the one that at least some of them looked up to, I was the one they expected to find some way out of here. I couldn't do that if I had no idea where anything was. "Hey, uh..." That wasn't a strong start. I had to be strong, otherwise they wouldn't listen to me. "Hey!" I waited for them all to look at me. Even Philo did, after a time. "I think we have to get out." My fingers twisted into the cloth of my pants, tightening and loosening again and again. I was never fond of speaking in front of a group, but I had to do it. "And to get out, we have to leave here." I gestured to the rug, to the edge of our circle of light and then into the darkness beyond. "We have to find things. We have to get food and water and we have to live because-" I coughed, trying to keep calm even with my stomach churning with nerves, "because I don't want to die, and I'm sure you don't either."

I looked at each of them. The only healthy thing we had managed lately was getting enough sleep, but even that was getting harder and harder because the dark seemed to crawl in closer and closer each night. The dog hadn't barked again since two days ago, but I could swear it was wandering around at night, coming up to us and being ready to eat us when one of us would move and it would scamper off. It wasn't afraid of us, but I was afraid of it. "We have to get out, and we can't do that by sitting here. Doing nothing is getting us nowhere. I-I vote that we do something." I forced myself to stand taller, trying to look like I was brave and confident and not about to piss myself. "I can't do this alone. I need you to help me." My eyes searched for Cyprian's and I hoped that he would stand with me.

"Who's with me?"

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OOC: There is no posting order for this thread, but please wait for at least two people to post before replying so that we get development from everyone. This thread will go until a decision is made about heading into the darkness.

[Knuckles]

Cyprian Achluo

Each day felt the same. The door opened, and another child was thrown in. First had been Philo. It was strange watching after him. Mommy and daddy never taught me how to raise a baby, and Philo was definitely a hand full. I'll never forget all the times he screamed 'no' at me before laughing his tiny head off. I sung to him sometimes trying to calm him down. It worked for me when mommy and daddy tucked me in for the night, but I guess every child is different. It wouldn't be w good world if everyone was the same. I started liking Ezio. He was smart, and he was there for me every single night. Every single day. It felt like an entire life time had passed by, but in all reality it wasn't very long. Somehow we managed to become friends, well at least in my eyes we became friends. I don't care what he says.

Now eleven of us share the same room. Each time the door opened the darkness grew larger and the monsters hiding in the corners grew stronger, and I could see them coming after me, yet they never survived once they stepped into the light. It was my only saving grace. I kept talking and moving around in attempts to distract myself, to make myself feel more comfortable, but in all reality that was impossible. In order for me to have any amount of comfort mommy and daddy would need to be here, but they aren't here, and I'm trapped with a group of children. At least Polly is nice. At least she cares for us. I can honestly say without her, I don't know where I would be, or how I could get through this entire mess.

The company grew larger and larger, and it felt amazing since I was meeting new people and all, yet at the same time it was strange. I felt at a total loss wondering why everyone came in with a bag over their head. Just like me. Like Philo. It never changed, but I enjoyed the company. I enjoyed talking to them, but I chose to stay near Ezio. He was the first one here, and I was the second. We've been together the longest. I've talked to him so much over the last little bit, and for some reason it feels like he knows how to keep me from using the bathroom on myself. I've only cried a few times in front of him, but now I try to not cry because it's not worth crying over. Yet I'm scared. Oh so scared.

That's when the door opened again.

Immediately I was on my feet looking straight at the door expecting another bagged child along with the unknown man and Polly, however, it's only Polly. And something is wrong, I can tell by how she looks. She walked towards the edge of the rug (this rug has been the safe place. We all sleep here, and stay here, and it protects us from whatever lurks around.) but she has nothing. No blankets. No pillows. No food. Water. Nothing. It's just her. "Children. My eyes fixed on tiny Philo - He's so young. I only hope his parents are searching for him. - as he runs towards Polly with his arms stretched out wide, and her actions cause my chin to drop towards the floor, and her words were worse.

My heart pranced inside my chest, and my breathing grew quicker and quicker with each passing second. What's going on? I asked myself over and over again, but I couldn't figure out the answer until her words rang through the room. "I came to let you know that you are a pawn in Himself's game." Games were fun, and I enjoyed playing games, but I had the feeling that this one wasn't like any game I ever played before. And I hear the mumbling, the confusion, and I'm involved in it, but her words are harsh. She's not like mommy and daddy. She'll never be like them. She kept on going mentioning the hunger games. I've watched them so many times on the screen at home. I've cheered for them, and now I'm going to be apart of something similar to them. I'm only eight years old! It's not fair!

Yet when she says we don't have to kill one another, my heart settles into place again. And I don't want to hear the rest. I'm done. I want to go home. I want my mommy and daddy. I want this to be a dream, one of those nightmares I have all the time, but I know it's not. I've constantly closed my eyes and opened them again. This is real. This is so real. I shot a look towards Ezio wondering if he knew what was happen. I hoped he could answer me. That he could help me, but he was as clueless as I was. Probably everyone in this room felt the same. Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes, and it took every ounce of strength I had to not break down sobbing like a baby. "Goodbye children."

And like that she was gone.

And the monsters came to life.

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Two days. Two days since the horrible news came. Two days since the last supply of water was brought. Two days since I've seen or heard anything. The supply was running low, and my stomach was growling like crazy - it almost sounded like the monsters howling in the night. My eyes felt so heavy, and I was scared. My entire body shook every time I moved a little bit. I wanted to close my eyes and hide my face against Ezio's back, but I couldn't do that. I had to be brave like him, yet it felt impossible. I want my mommy and daddy. I want to go home. I don't want to die. Not here. I have an entire life ahead of me. I'm inly eight years old! And now I'm going to die.

Ezio stood up and turned facing everyone of us. He said we need to get out, and I agree with him. I want out. I want to go home. I want to go back to my mommy and daddy. I want to hear a bedtime story, and a song to put me to sleep, but his next words rest heavily on my shoulders. Leaving this spot. It's my comfort zone. It's where I've spent the last few days. It's where the monsters can't reach, but staying here would mean starving to death, and I don't want to die. I want to live. I want to grow up like mommy and daddy.

His speech tell us we need to move. To get away from here. The light grows smaller and smaller with every passing second, and I'm so scared. My breath catches in my throat, and I don't know what to do. I don't know what any of us should do. I can't do anything. I can't save them. I'm just a child, and so are they. We all are children. And Ezio wants help. He can't do it alone either. None of us can do it alone, but maybe by working together we all could make it out alive. "Who's with me?" His words bounce around through my skull over and over. In one hand I had the option of starving to death, and in the other hand I had the option of possibly making it out alive. I slowly climbed to my feet and walked over and stood next to him. I through a mask on saying I was brave, but in all reality I'm scared. Very, very scared. I cleared my throat before looking around.

"I am."

I take a deep breath trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall down my face. All I want is to go home.

"I'm with you."

hearing
Speech

[Loony]

G A I A   M E T R O S

I was completely aware of the growing numbers. When I had first entered this wretched place, I found myself with three young boys, each unique and more complex than I could ever understand. Ezio and Cyprian were the eldest, and it was clear to me that they had already formed a bond unlike any other. Vita was oblivious, a year younger and practically useless. But Philo was the youngest, a small body who clung to the person who could comfort him the most. I found him to be perfect, my mommy and daddy told me that mothers had the kids they raised, but as Philo clung to my arm I was convinced to take the best care of the little boy as possible.

The others began pouring in, Felix, Decimus, and the others streamed in, one after another. By the end there were eleven of us little children. We commingled, I tried to tell them all about how all my competitions, how I had won the rainbow of ribbons that decorated my walls, but they weren't listening. So I turned to the only person in this place who was willing to listen, little Philo. I would pet his small head telling him about everything that happened, and when he whimpered I was the one who comforted him. It was the perfect little world, without the glitz and glamour, it was her own little place to be herself.

Polly only stopped by to drop off another kid, she didn't fulfill her promise, she said she would listen to me. The promise she had made in the white van was not fulfilled, leaving Gaia to find other ways to vent. The last time she visited, she dropped off Albia.

I like the darkness now, I've adjusted to the new darkness that accompanies being out in the dark woods. I've become a nocturnal creature, moving around within the dark room. I'm no longer scared, because its time to be brave, to be more than just a little girl. I want to speak up to the older kids, but they don't listen to me. I watch over the other small kids, they're running around like monsters, threatening to wreck havoc on the room. I've tried telling them stories, lying to them that it would all be okay, and hope that some day my lies would become true.

It was almost night, and the memory of home came racing back. My mommy use to tuck me in, she told me that she loved me, she was always there for me. Maybe she used me for her silly little pagent shows, but she still loved me. She was there. Always there for me. But now I'm alone, with only these whiny kids to watch over. I don't want to be here any more. I want to go home, I need to go home. Tears almost pushed there way over the edge of my eyelids, but I'm hold them back. I can't let anyone see me crying, I need to appear strong, even if its just for myself.

All of a sudden Polly was back. Calling together all of the little children onto the rug. "I came to let you know that you are all a pawn in Himself's game." my brows pull together wondering what she could possibly mean. Why did she use Himself as a pronoun? What is going on? "Shut up, the lot of you. Like a bunch of bloody sheep, all bleating like that. Himself is playing with you. Think of it like you've been reaped for Himself's own Hunger Games." Philo whimpers, and I pull him close, trying to protect him from the harsh words. He probably doesn't understand what Polly is saying, but tone enough has caused him discomfort. This is not the same Polly who promised me attention, rather a wicked woman, whom seemed to care so little for her.

Mommy only let me watch one Hunger Games. She sipped from her flute and laughed at my reaction to the gore that splattered the screen. I was disgusted, but entranced. I couldn't possibly kill these people, I couldn't dare do those things on those screens.

"Oh be quiet. You don't have to kill each other, unless you want to of course." she looked evil, eyes sullen and a dark fire burning behind her eyes  "No, Himself has set up everything you need to face already." a dark smile creeps up on her face, "The last one alive gets to go home, just like in the Games."

"Why?" Philo's voice startles me, as he asks the question we all were thinking. His voice is full of innocence and I'm tempted to hush him, but I'm too eager for her answer.

"Why? Because you just have to live, and that will be enough of a task."

With that she stands and proceeds out the door, leaving us to our own devices, but not before hauntingly turning back and whispering, "Goodbye children."

And I started to cry.

() () ()

Its been almost two whole days, and we are no longer faring well, our stomachs are monsters within us, clawing us from within. The dog that barked outside remained, growling and barking, reminding us of the things that await us. My lips are dry, and I watch with a sick envy as Philo suckles on the last few drops of our water. I want to snatch it from him, but he's smaller, and his my responsibility. I've always wanted my own doll, I suppose, but I'm not ready for a kid, I guess...

It's becoming clear that we're going to die, the others are becoming restless, attempting to figure out a pathway to escape. I want to cry more often now, something I never did when my parents were around. But the only thing that did was cause me to be shoved out from the group and told to suck it up.

I want to help the others, explain to them that we can escape if we could distract the dog. But every time I approach them, I'm told to stay with the younger kids, like Marius and Vita and Philo. I don't want to stay with the littler kids, they aren't doing anything to help the group. I want to help.

I told my plan to Philo, but all he did was smile and ask for his water.

"Hey, uh... Hey!" Ezio's voice catches my attention. He's nicer than the other kids, and he is also the oldest, so I'm content listening to him. He proposes we start figuring a way out, something I've been worrying about since Polly left. Should we stay in this awful place? No. Should we head out into the dark? Maybe not, but we don't have much of a choice. The darkness is better than starving to death. We have to leave.

"Who is with me?"

Was I willing to leave this place? Am I strong enough to do what I need to do? I hope so, because there is the really real chance that staying here could mean certain death. But I'm worried about the others, how could they possibly expect the other kids to last more than two minutes out there. There are more dangers out there, and more a chance of dying in here. There is so little left in here... and so much out there. How long could we do either of these things? How long would we last? I don't know.

"I am. I'm with you."

 Of course Cyprian is the first one to agree. I look at the two, debating whether or not I'm going to leave with them. This was my chance to finally prove to everyone that I'm more than another small body to drag along. I'm going to show them my use.

"I agree, we need to leave this place," my voice starts small, but builds when I remember my mother telling me that it's important to speak loudly when on stage, "But promise me that you will all listen to my ideas."