Haunted 10: Mist (Final)The atmosphere was eerily quiet, so much so that one could hear the light scurrying of a mouse. A heavy patch of mist blanketed the entire field, but unlike their previous visit to this domain, not a single sign of marble-like trees, grass, or shrubs could be found. Jac slowly opened her eyes to find herself laying on a cushion in what appeared to be a house.. or rather, what was left of it. The flames had chewed out a large portion of the abandoned structure, which allowed the heavy fog to seep inside. The first thing she could discern as she gazed up was the charred remnants of what appeared to be a mural painting that had been discolored and withered over the span of ages. It depicted a battle between a woman wearing white robes and a large, multi eyed black monster with multiple people scattered about on both sides cheering them on. "Ah! You're finally awake!" The baritone voice shook Jac out of her laying position. She turned to find an older gentleman who wore a black cowboy hat. "I brought you over here to rest up. There was quite a commotion out there earlier. Destroyed this old place, it did." The old man sighed. He looked up at the mural when he noticed the young woman had taken an interest. "And to think that this was one of the few things that survived the onslaught. Such an odd thing, that fate is." "Am... I dead?" Jac said reluctantly. "Oh no! You still have that cord that's chained to your body. You can't see it, but it's there. You'll live. Oh!" The gentleman recalled. "There's someone outside who's waiting to see you. He's been worried sick about you ever since you arrived, and he kept on apologizing--" Without another word Jac sprung up, and while she struggled to maintain her footing, she managed to make her way past the burned up corridors until at last she found an opening. There on the Veranda stood a lowly person who carried a large plumage of red and gold feathered wings on his back. His arms were folded on the guardrail, and his face was completely sheltered in them as he slumped low in deep despair. Jac paused for a moment, before she found her voice again. "...Aiden?" The familiar red head swung his head back the instant he heard her voice and immediately lunged himself forward to wrap his arms around her. The young woman was no less shocked than she was a second ago, but she would nonetheless embrace this moment by squeezing him tighter. "I'm so sorry Jac!!" Tears were running down Aiden's face. "I didn't know what else to do to get rid of that witch, but I was so worried you might have--" "It's alright. You... saved me.. but..." Jac looked down at the enlarged wings on his back, and upon further inspection discovered that they were transparent. Tears started to form in her eyes as well, as she planted her face onto the chest of the puzzled Wile. Jac said nothing to alleviate his confusion but her crying grew louder all the same. "What's wrong?" Aiden sniffed. "You're dead, that's what's wrong..." "WHAT?!!" Jac then brushed her fingers on the tip of his wings, and that's when he realized what she was referring to. "OH! Oh no. This?" He then began to lightly swat at the wings while saying "Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!" And they in turn gradually faded out of sight. "This is just what happens when I use my powers too much and wind up in, um... limbo, of sorts." Aiden placed a hand behind his neck. "I may be gone for a little bit, but I promise I'll be fine, okay? I just need some time to recover, that's all." "Are you an angel?" Jac asked with sadness in her voice. "No.." "Are you... satan?" "NO!" Aiden grumbled. "I'm just a regular Wile giant who just happens to have magic that's a bit different from everyone else." "You weren't kidding..." Jac chose to drop it for now; she's seen him come back before, yet this was the first time she got up close and personal with witnessing his spirit form. Speaking of which.. "How long have I been here for? I hope it's not too late before I--" "No need to worry about that." Said the older gentleman as he stepped out to greet the two. "Even if you spend a long time here, it'll only be like a few seconds in your world. So you can take as long as you need to unwind.. Or not. It's your choice." "Oh. That's... convenient." Jac uttered. She felt a large weight thrown off of her shoulders upon hearing that revelation, but it would not be long before a new problem caught her eye. She turned her attention to the edge of the veranda, where she spotted two bright lights that were perched atop the railing. Jac squinted her eyes before she decided to have a closer look. The glow of the two objects had cut through the mist, as if they were a beacon from a lighthouse, except of course much smaller. "Is that...?" Jac gasped when she immediately recognized the glowing butterfly, which was laying on its side with what appeared to be a broken wing. "Yeah, that's her." Aiden spoke with a slight crack in his voice. "I burned up her spirit, so her core is all that's left. I believe all of her magic is gone." Jac breathed a sigh of relief. "Serves her right. Well, what is… who is that glowing bug standing next to her?" "I'm not sure. I found him inside of the collective demon's body, believe it or not. He actually helped me to get my head together and fight back." "You're kidding!" "Hold on just a minute!" The gentleman with the black cowboy hat pulled out his monocle and began to look very closely at the small speck. And upon a thorough examination, he nearly dropped his glasses in his flabbergasted state. "Mr. Jones!" He said rather bitterly. "Hello Reginald." The firefly replied after a brief moment of silence. With that confirmation, the old man took out his leather wallet and swatted at the poor bug, which caused audible squeaks to be heard from the two youngsters behind him. "I should have known you would show your face around here again! Scoundrels like you never get Tickets!" "Hey hey hey, no need to resort to violence, okay?" Aiden said as he stepped in between them. "He helped me out, so I brought him here. I had no idea he was...that guy..." "It's alright." The white speck said with a strained voice, though he was otherwise unfazed. "I had it coming for a while. When I was in the body of that beast I had about a hundred years to reflect on my past transgressions. I deserved every bit of punishment that I had received during that time, and I've accepted the fact that I won't be forgiven for most of them." He then turned to the golden butterfly and paused. "I haven't caught wind of everything, but it seems as though my wife had done all of these things with the sole purpose of trying to bring me back to life. If only she knew, that would have been impossible..." "After what you've done I don't understand why she would go through all this trouble!" Reginald huffed. "I knew of those rumors, and I understand why you don't see me as trustworthy. But mark my words, I've never cheated on her since we were together. When I made my vows to her... I wanted to change because she became the light of my life... and now..." The light of the firefly had grown to a mere flicker, as his voice began to well up uncontrollably. "Now she won't even speak. She's been unresponsive ever since she got here! It's as if she's dead, even though souls can't die... I expect some form of damnation. But not like this..." "Now now. There's no need to go that extreme." Reginald sighed. "I could transfer a little bit of my energy to her, but I don't believe it'll be enough to revive her." Nothing was said for the next few minutes as the room grew heavy with the Firefly's increasing grief. As much as it pained her to do so, Jac was also trying to come up with a solution despite her grievances against the witch. "Are you absolutely sure she can't regain her magic?" She asked the Wile. "Positive." Aiden replied. "Wait, why?" "Does your regenerative powers work on others?" "I... I never considered using it that way before. I don't think it's impossible, just... hard." "I have a suggestion." The firefly said after giving it a bit of thought. "Perhaps, lad, I could ask you to give a little bit of your energy to me so that I may use it to try to revive her myself? We have what you folks call, a Link, a contract of sorts. I can help her, but not if I'm trapped in this... pitiful state." "Well, I can sure try. Sharing energy is a piece of cake. If you think you can use that to charge up your powers, then go for it." "I'm willing to try anything." The firefly wasted no time getting on the shrunken Wile's hand as soon as he was prompted to do so. Aiden cupped him with the other and closed his eyes, and within moments his energy wings reappeared as he began to take on a gentle, yet otherworldly orange glow. Beams of light were absorbed into the small form underneath his fingers. Almost instantly, a bright light flashed between his fingers; as soon as the Wile opened his palms, the firefly shot out and reemerged as a tall, dark man sporting a pompous suit and a tuft of hair on his chin. "Great Scotts! I... I'm free...." Mr. Jones was nearly speechless. "Wait... I thought you were a much older guy than... this?" Jac questioned. "You're looking at someone who is eternally 38 years young! Whoever gave you that impression?" The man said as he gave a teasing leer to his former butler, who only raised his arms coyishly in response. Without further delay, Mr. Jones lifted the lifeless butterfly onto his open palms, and tried to imitate what was done to him just moments before. After a minute of no change, despite giving as much of his own light to her as he could muster, he immediately knelt down, and embraced the tiny insect in a pool of tears. "I... I'm so sorry for what I've done to you..." He whimpered as softly as he could, "none of this would have happened if I hadn't... If I didn't... with my own..." Just then, he heard the faintest whisper from between his palms. "It... wasn't your fault..." The man opened his hands and his expression melted as he looked down upon his wife. The former witch was now a tiny little thing, with small, white butterfly wings on her back. Her robe was a pure sheen of gold unlike the dusty white of her past self, and her expression was that of bewilderment and simultaneously of overwhelming relief. "Bartleby...?" She gasped. "Evangeline!" He cried. "Why are you so big?" "I don't know! Why are you so little?" He laughed while shedding tears of joy. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that I can't make you any taller..." "I don't mind. So long as I'm with you, I don't care either way." "Likewise." The two shared in each other's warmth for some time, as everyone cried tears of joy for them.. except for Jac. Laughter was shared and formal introductions were made, and while the young woman was still incredibly salty about what happened just hours before, this would change somewhat quickly after it became apparent that Evangeline couldn't recognize her or Aiden, and had seemingly forgotten everything that had happened since her reawakening. Jac thought 'If she was faking her amnesia, she was putting up a damn good act,' but she eventually dropped making any mention of it further. Bartleby Jones called for a celebration, but Aiden and Jac felt that they had enough adventures for one day. "Time for you two to be heading home then?" Reginald asked. Aiden looked at his friend for confirmation and got it with a swift nod. "I want to rest up in my own body, I think. Aches and all." She said. "Well, that's understandable. Feel free to come by and visit any..." The realization settled in that the ghosts didn't have any home to return to, for their mansion had been left in shambles. "I'm sorry..." Aiden felt guilty. "It was an accident." Reginald said, and with a long sigh he gave a fraction of a smile. "I guess this means it's about time for me to get a move on. Got a Ticket for a train I've been meaning to ride for quite some time. I heard the destination is nice." "I wish you the best of luck on your journey." Mr. Jones said. "Unfortunately, due to my... actions in the past, I was never gifted a Ticket." "Heck, almost everyone gets one eventually. Even scoundrels like the two of you!" Reginald chuckled. "You just have to earn yours over time. It may take a millennium or two, but it will happen." "Well, that's plenty of time for us to explore the world at our own pace, isn't that right, Bart?" Eva announced. Bartleby smiled at his wife on his left shoulder. "I'll be glad to go anywhere if it's with you, my love." ….. After one last goodbye, Aiden took Jac by the hand, and with the lift of his magical wings he flew her en route back to reality. When he finally sets her back down to the spot where her physical body laid, the Wile too, would have to part ways. "I have to go build my nest now… I'm so gosh darn tired, I'll likely need a month to fully rejuvenate. I'll be on standby if you need me." "Wait!" Jac exclaimed. Aiden turned around and saw that Jac was on the verge of tears. "Thank you.... For everything... for saving everyone!" Aiden didn't feel like a hero, but he accepted that form of sincerity nonetheless. "No problem, Jac. I'll see you around!" And with that his spirit took off into the air, heading off to what was likely a place where he could use his Phoenix reviving power in peace. ..... "Jac... Jac...! Please... wake up..." Jac slowly awakened to the sound of her Wile giant's voice. And the first thing she saw was his face overtaking her entire view, with his nose propped up against her cheek. "Rich…ard...?" She said weakly. "Y...you're alright..." "I'm the one who should be telling you that!!" Richard cried excessively, though the volume of his voice remained low. "I thought I lost you for real this time!...I can't!... I just want to..." Jac watched as the Wile giant's lips parted, to which she immediately reacted with a sharp "NO!" But the smaller human was surprised to get a series of soft kisses, wet kisses, and cheek rubs back to back. Jac had no energy to make a fake protest against it, for the overwhelming relief of surviving all of this had finally started to set in, as she too released a cascade of tears of her own. "I'll be ok Richard! Don't worry! We don't have to worry about that witch or the curse, or anything anymore!" Jac held onto Richard in a tight hug for a good, long time. A new dawn approached, and this meant that that frightful Hallows Eve had finally come to a close. The friends would take it easy for many months thereafter, with Aiden reuniting with the gang shortly enough. He made up with Jillian, and thanked her for helping him to snap out of it during his rage. To which she humbly replied no hard feelings towards. Everyone avoided high magic thrills and paranormal hijinks for a long, long time. After all that excitement, they all deserved a little break.Haunted 9: SkullDarkness Absolute nothingness surrounded him, as the Wile felt like he was slowly dissolving in a pool of black gold. Such is the fate of souls that get usurped by the man-of-war monster.. As if that wasn't hellish enough, swarms of piranha-like teeth were gnashing him from head to foot. No wounds were shed, no bruises nor blood. The very core of his spirit was under attack instead, the pain of which exceeds that of any other. Aiden genuinely wished for anything to put an end to this, the madness he was slowly sinking into seemed inescapable. The evil spirits had made good on their promise to make his suffering slow and merciless... The Wile was unable to ignite his flame no matter how much he yearned for it to burn, for the body of the collective spirit had completely enveloped him, just enough to not crush him. He had long since gone past the panic stage.. overwhelmed, defeated.. he was too tired to even turn a head. He was forced into a state of isolation within his annihilation, frozen.. without hope… 'What are you doing, lad?!' A strong, yet unfamiliar voice echoed in his brain, which snapped him straight out of his trance. 'You have to keep fighting!' "I... I can't!" Aiden whimpered in his mind. 'Yes you can!' The voice shouted. 'You've done it before! If not for yourself, then do it for--' Just then the Wile heard a nauseating scream. He followed the sound to the best of his ability against the intense pressure of his entire surroundings, when he saw that at least two of the foul spirits had ganged up on something that gave off a faint, minuscule light. Aiden could not understand why, but he had the sudden urge to squirm with everything he had. Pushing and thrashing his way towards the scene, the Phoebe Wile's internal ferocity was starting to build up, and with it the drive to slash his nails, loosening his hand just enough to reach out and grab the foul spirit that had just consumed the speck. With a quick squeeze, ignited with the heat of his mystical fire, the wisp-like blob let out a chilling shriek as the Wile ripped out its very core, revealing the weak essence of what appeared to be a glowing firefly from within. In their combined fury, the surrounding community of the single minded demons pressed down onto the Wile even harder, this time compressing his body to the point that it became difficult to breathe, let alone stay on the surface of the ever increasing black pool. But with a bit of good timing, Aiden was able to slip his arm pass the pressure point. Despite the numbingly intense pins and needles that snagged onto his loose appendage, he managed to grab the hapless firefly and absorb its essence into his body. And with it securely tucked away, and his main source of energy still exposed in the open, the Wile had just enough power needed to start wreaking havoc with his inferno. With his ferality no longer in check, the Wile set out a tremendous scream as he began to set himself ablaze. Aiden's renewed adrenaline gave him the perfect opportunity to push against the mass of blobs for just one second, which was all the time he needed to let loose all the chaotic energy that would make the kings of gehenna proud. ....... The chill in the air intensified as the entire yard became lit with a soft, yet unsettling white glow. Jac had kicked off her shoes and was walking towards her two dumbfounded friends. With each step she took, the grass would grow wildly around her bare feet- every blade of which taking on a dusty white color that gave them the appearance of marble. Her hair had turned a similar shade, and the light from her eyes had made her pupils a disturbing bleach. "Jac... what's happened to you...?" Richard spoke barely a peep. "Don't touch her!!" Jillian screamed. "Please," The witch and Jac's voice said simultaneously. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am called The Witch of the Dawn and I was once the goddess of the land you are standing on. Jac made a contract with me, and has become my host. She is sleeping now, but she will awaken and reunite with you soon enough." Richard had drowned out every word as he held Jac close and rubbed his cheek against her; tears ran down along his face, which had softened the glow of her hair somewhat as it made contact. He didn't care that touching her left his hands numb and caused his skin to crack, he just wanted his best friend back dammit! "Jac... This happened before, so I know you can snap out of it again! Please! I beg of you! Wake up~!!" Richard kept up his tight embrace all while Jac remained largely emotionless. A hint of reflection was spotted in her eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. She saw the damage done and the visible shaking of the giant's hands, which triggered a reaction that was likely from the possessed herself that caused her to jerk away and jump off onto the grass below. "The elf is right. It's best that you don't touch me while I am active." The witch said. With a renewed burst of rage, Jillian stomped on the ground. "What are you plotting, Witch? What is the purpose of all of this?!" "I came to reclaim what is mine." The witch proclaimed. "Where my long time enemy sought to reap what was left of this land, I choose to make it beautiful once more. I will do away with the industrialized cities that have encroached in my domain for far too long, and bring the forest back to its former glory! The way it was always meant to be!" "Your idea of paradise is a wild unchecked forest with weird looking white plants that don't even look edible and are already half dead. Got it." Jillian quipped. "Leave me out of it." "Talk down to me again elf, and I won't be so merciful next time!" The hair behind Jac began to rise ferociously, as it flowed eerily with the unsteady wind. Jillian remained firm but chose not to take it further, for any rash response could result in injury to Jac. Richard felt just as helpless, if not more so. He stared blankly at who he formally knew as his best friend, as she approached what was left of the cursed tree and began to spread her arms wide. "The time has come for me to reestablish my rightful place in this world! This will be the start of a new era! People will flock to my forest and worship me again...." Hints of tears began to fall from Jac's eyes, but it was unclear whether she or the witch had shed them. "Then my full power will be replenished and I will finally have enough strength to... bring him back to me..." The jewel in front of her chest began to float upward and took on a sinister red glow. The whirlwind then kicked up and surrounded her like a barrier which would have blown Jillian back if it wasn't for the giant hand that had caught her. The wild plants then exploded in size right where Jac stood, rapidly enveloping everything in her surroundings like an infestation of white, otherworldly weeds. "It's not safe here! We have to go!" Jillian shouted. "But... what about Jac?" The words that came out of Richard's mouth stung and the start of tears formed on Jillian's eyes as well. "I know! But we don't have a choice!" No matter what however, Richard wouldn't budge. It took a sudden lightning flash between them to break the Wile giant's fixation of his back-turned Link partner. The electrical current was situated at that very point in the sky before them- Jillian understood right away that this was far from any natural phenomenon, and her fears were confirmed when a ripple through space began to form just above the cursed snag. "Come hither spirits and lend me your power!!!" The Witch shouted with a fiery passion. “We shall take the night this All Hallows Eve!!” All of a sudden, just as the peak of the gusts were whipping, and the opening of the void had made a visible dent in the night sky, she heard a crack. And then another. And then... With a loud smash, the glass oval jewel shattered into a thousand tiny pieces. Immediately after, the storm had quieted and the disturbance had caused the magic to come to a complete halt. This left the Witch absolutely livid. "NO!!! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!! HOW IS THIS--" At that exact moment in time, something caused her to lose her voice, as she, and the others behind her, gave out a series of audible gasps. A set of bony fingers as intense as the surface of the sun appeared from the ripple in the sky. They began to pull it apart, tearing a hole in space just wide enough for it to go through. And out of it came the biggest and most horrifying giant that anyone had ever laid eyes on. A macro being engulfed by flames all over its body, with a torch that bloomed from the top of its skull-like head. Blotches of mass could be seen all over, which wailed individually, and yet all at once in sheer agony, in tandem to the enigma's earth shaking shrill. It sat its foot down, instantly igniting the path it treaded, swallowing up the last of the cursed tree as it made its way towards the haunted house. Jillian screamed as Richard finally broke from his petrified state to scoop her up and onto higher ground. But try as she might, Jac couldn't move. No matter how much the holy apparition screeched in her head, the jewel was no more and the ability to have control over her was destroyed along with it. Jac's natural fear of immense fire kept her firmly rooted in place, as the titanic monster was now just a few feet away. The beast locked eye sockets with the young woman and was about to reach out to grab her with a finishing hand. Against her better judgment, Jillian struggled to break free from Richard's grip and charged head on towards the fiery demon. Her personal safety was put on the sideline in a brief moment of adrenaline and sheer willpower. Just as the infernal being's finger was mere inches from the terror stricken witch's face, Jillian dived as close as she could just behind the wall of flames and began to scream at the top of her lungs. "DON'T HURT HER!!!" Much to everyone's surprise, the giant suddenly paused. "WHATEVER YOU DO! PLEASE!!! DON'T HURT JAC!!" After a moment of tense staring, the surrounding flames caused the girl to overheat and collapse. The hand immediately grabbed hold, but not before its fire was let out, revealing a sun-like glow to an otherwise normal giant hand. Against the ground, the being laid his hand gently over the fainted Jac. And with a light tap of a finger against her chest, a part of her spirit fell out from behind, along with that of the Witch of the Dawn. The Witch desperately tried to get away but it was no use, for the giant instantly snapped her up. With the foul spirit now in its clutches, the glowing giant then proceeded to crush inward while reigniting its hand. With a horrendous final cry, the witch was disintegrated into hundreds of glowing butterflies, each one burning with an intense flame which had made all but one disappear as it's embers went out. When that was over with, the enormous skeletal beast pulled back and looked upon Jac with great concern. In this very position it gradually faded away, and along with it the flames it had left in its wake had all gone out at once. In the giant's place, a multitude of faint white orbs began to float into the sky, as if they were being pulled into the moonlit night. This gorgeous scene was overshadowed by the young woman who lay still on the forest floor, in front of where the tree once stood. Richard wasted no time to return by Jac's side, and with tears anew, he held her limp body to her face, and pleaded. "Please wake up Jac.... please! Wake up....”Where's the Magic?"How come you don't use magic anymore?" That question cut through the intense focus Richard had, his fingers slowed to a halt at last. His silver eyes peered to the side onto Jac, yet his face remained glued towards the screen. "Hmm... Does it look like I have any use for it right now?" Was his answer. Jac kicked her feet slightly as her thumbs moodily twitched in her pockets. "After work.. or on days off... You don't suppose you could..?" She trailed off before stopping then and there. Richard continued to tap away, expertly filling out a paragraph in mere seconds.. before he paused for a second time. He swiveled around to meet her eye to eye, his face nearly brushing against the miniature form situated on his bookshelf. "Was there... any particular reason why you're so interested all of a sudden?" Jac glanced at her feet and puckered her face. Her smile grew brighter the more she mused, as her excitement bloomed out in the open with a giddy skip. "I miss the wind puffs you used to make!" "Wind... puffs?" Richard's voice remained flat in turn. "You know!" Jac rested her arms atop his nose. "Back when we were in high school, you used to show me all the neat little tricks you could pull off using wind magic." "Oh, yeah." "We used to gather these little weed flowers, and then you twittled your fingers around and then they sprung up in the air, almost like they're dancing with a woooooop! And then they come down with a whooosh!! Puffs everywhere!" "Mmmm-hm." Jac sighed, enthralled by such an enchanting memory. "Oh what I would give to see that again! It was.. well, magical!" "Uh huh." "You don't sound very enthusiastic right now." "I got files piling up, Jac." The Wile spoke with a huff. "This is nice and all but, I really do need to get back to work." Richard pulled back to a more comfortable position on his desk, as he glanced at the high stacks of paper on the side with a slight grimace. "Unless it could get any of my workload done, there's no real reason to do that stuff anymore. I have little energy as is and.. it's hard to expend more than I need to for that sort of thing." Jac sighed through her nose. She leaned back against the much-too-tall books, as she watched her friend steadily wind up like the cogs in a machine. The mere sight of this seemed pitiful to the woman. "Where's your sense of whimsy? C'mon! Don't you want to do it for just a few seconds? You know, for old times sake?" "Jac.." Richard was locked into his files at this point, typing a storm while he spoke. "I guess to you it seems like a big deal, but to us Wiles, what I did there was the wind equivalent of blowing bubbles. We're not kids anymore.." "You can clap your hands to make a gust of wind! That's a bit more prevalent!" Richard groaned. "I don't even see you do basic Wile giant stuff either. It seems... unnatural." Jac looked down again, the concern in her eyes were subtle, but spoke for themselves. Nothing was said between them for a few moments, as the human began to brood over thoughts that ultimately was not what she needed to linger on. 'The modern zeitgeist of the Beanstalk Society runs deep..' Eventually, Jac climbed down the built-in steps to reach the second story shelf. She rummaged through a sprout-sized dresser until she found what she was looking for: a clothed knapsack filled with "pixie" dust. She was running a bit low on it, crud sakes, so she had nothing to show for her efforts. "What are you doing?" Richard finally said. "Going through my things.." Jac replied in a sing song way. "Jac, you're not setting off any sparks in the house. That stuff is highly flammab--" "I know, I know! Yeesh. I ain't gonna say nothin' to set it off!" "Just checking!" Jac gave out a nonverbal hiss before returning to her usual self, her curiosity perked more than ever. "You were the one who taught me how to use this... with the magic energy you gave me through the Link. Does that mean.. you can do spark type powers too? I always thought you were an air elemental.." Richard then hunched closer to the screen, as if to say now was not the time to hear this. Jac placed the bag away before she began to gaze upon the dresser, and soon beyond, for a moment or two. "Why did you give me this to me? What was the purpose again?" Richard took a breath, yet her words were loud and clear despite it's soft utterance. "I thought maybe you could put it to good use. In case a hostile giant tried to attack you or something, then that would usually be enough to make them back off." "Well, if it's ok for me, to borrow your magic, then why should it be an issue when you use it?" "I hate to be cynical... but our size is a contributing factor." Richard steadily slowed his pacing, his fingers barely getting a word in, along with his mouth soon enough. "Just because I'm small it's deemed okay in society's eyes?" Jac exclaimed. "That doesn't make it right!" Richard remained silent. "And here we are just showcasing the double standards this place runs on! Nobody bats an eye when I use magic! Heck, when we first Linked, you gave me my silver eyes through magic!" "I, still feel bad about that.." "Nono, it's fine! I know it wasn't intentional, but, I like it! It's pretty!" Jac put on a wide grin that hopefully got the message across. The giant's eyes remained somber however, but at least he was looking directly at her direction again. Seeing his expression only fueled her frustrations. "It's just... for some reason nobody paid attention to it! Or, at least folks never directly acknowledged it to me. You guys get a lot of flack for something as trivial as having metallic colored eyes." "Or for even breathing sometimes.." Richard began to slump a tad. Upon the human's realization that the mood had soured, she quickly ducked her head in a nonverbal apology. "It's fine.. We needed to vent at some point." "I didn't mean to... I just, don't enjoy seeing you so restricted all the time. It's doing a number to your health." "I know..." Richard squeezed the bridge of his nose before he leaned back on his recliner. "I know what you want me to do. Embrace the moments where I can." "Yeah! And fight the good fight!" "Where applicable." Richard then growled slightly before continuing. "It's never that simple Jac... but..." "But?" "I'll admit, wind magic isn't really something that I take that great of interest in to begin with. Beanstalk Society aside, I find it hard to have any practical use for it outside of the occasional self-defense. And you know how much I value getting some use out of things." "Yeahhh, I know.." "And yet..." "Hm?" "I... wasn't even aware that you liked it so much." "I don't just like it Rich, I loved seeing your magic make petals dance all around me. And to make the sparkly dew float gracefully towards the sky... It's, little moments like these that make life special to me. And.." Jac drew closer to that large face she was so accustomed to, resting a hand against a cheek before the rest of her followed suit. "I know it sounds like I'm only interested in the magic aspect of it, but truth is... I care because you are the one performing it. It's beautiful.. art that you've crafted with your own power. A part of you that should be treasured, and... not locked away entirely." Jac continued. "You care a lot about expending energy and all that, but I think it's good for a person who has magic in their blood to let it out every once in a while. Even if it's just for fun." Richard was careful with his breath, as he leaned in slightly to the tiny woman who nestled against him. His eyes rolled to the side as the bridge of his mouth perked up. Leading to a purr that was barely audible, yet was clear as the dawn for Jac. "Well..." The Wile whispered. "I guess I can't say no to that. Those words you spoke worked wonders." "Does that mean..?" "Yeah. Sorry I was a bit nippy earlier." "That's ok. I know where it's coming from." Jac then side-glanced to the paper tower. "Are you sure you don't want to wait? You said magic can wear you out." "Mmm-hm. Like you said, just a few seconds should be fine. Truth is... the fact that you genuinely cared about it beyond it being just a novelty.. moved me. A little." "Oh?" "If it was just me, for my sake I wouldn't bother. But... it goes beyond that now." Richard perked up as he finally looked directly at Jac's increasing smile. "If it really makes you that happy... then, well. What am I to deny you that right to see it? Cause to see you happy.. that's what I want most of all." "That's what I've been saying all along!" Jac folded her arms in an obviously fake pout. "Sorry, I was thinking about myself at the moment again." "You're fiiine. But, I'm just glad you came around. Because you certainly need to not bottle up so much!" "Y..Yeah.." "Well? What are we waiting for?" The gibbous moon glowed bright across the bed of stars- a perfect backdrop for the queerplatonic couple as they made their way towards the balcony. Jac jumped off of the giant's open palm before the latter began to clutch his fingers together. He uttered a soft incantation, short, brief and to the point. He then flipped his hand around and presented a finger tip to his friend. "Here." Jac felt it, a small yet very present force. She scooped up the invisible spell from Richard, and it was there where she could feel the telltale sign of the wind between her fingers, all bundled up in a compact form. "A wind puff..." Jac gasped in delight. "Richard... thank you so much." "No problem." The side of the Wile's face bore sweat, even such a minor spell did that much. "You were right, I am a bit out of shape." "I'll treasure it as long as I can.. to make up for it." "It won't be long before it wears out, but you can do whatever you want with it until then. Have fun!" As Richard returned to his quarters, no doubt to his remaining papers, Jac began to move the wind ball across her arms. She pulled it along, unwinding the wind like string to pick up every dandelion nearby before setting them up high to greet with the awaiting stars. Jac continued to dance like a ballerina on the porch, nothing else mattered in the entire world at this time. The perfect gift, one of enchantment, fueling her child-like wonder. Grateful to still have it after all these years, even for this brief, yet wondrous moment.The First DayThe bells chimed their melody of eight. As if on cue, the halls came alive with the shuffling of shoes and the clanging of lockers as an increasing swarm of students pooled in, a scene that quickly escalated into a chaotic rush that was typical of the events that plagued every Monday. Far enough away from the stampede to not be swept up by it was Richard, who stood facing his locker on the furthest side of the room where sunlight from the window could not reach. If one were to look upon him, one would assume he was in some kind of trance; in truth, he was deep down the rabbit hole that was conjured up by his own dark ponderings. Among the few neatly organized things kept in his personal storage was a small, round mirror that stood on a pedestal. Richard silently seethed as he gazed into the pool of silver that colored his eyes- his reflection revealing that their sheen lacked the soft, inner glow that normally beamed from the magic within. The slit of his pupils, however, were just as predominant as ever. "Another year of this..." He spoke in a voice that was barely audible, with a tone flat enough to hide the bitterness that was gnawing him. Nonchalance is the front he puts out, for he tries his damndest to hide his true feelings. Why did I come back here? Perridi High doesn't care about the treatment of Wiles, Being isolated is the same as if I don't exist at all... Once upon a time, Richard was proud of his eye color. He used to boast that his silver was a cool shade, not fancy like the bronzes and golds of other Wiles. To him, they were just right. But as he grew older and he began to mingle among the rest of society, his eyes became a burden. Silver gives away a person's status as a Wile, and Wiles are known to possess wild and at times uncontrollable magic. And to others, that spelled danger. Without understanding the deeper meaning behind these abilities, no student dared to look straight at him after doing so once. The hymns and lullabies passed down through the generations among his kind spoke of how the world would treat them- as monsters- but Richard could not fathom that there would be actual truth to these lyrics in this day and age. For civilization at least in this side of the world has become more accepting of the many different types of mystical people of all shapes and sizes, encouraging them to coexist in harmony, or so the ad campaigns claim. But as the cold shoulders of many a passerby have shown, time and time again, he was greatly mistaken. Richard took a deep, sound breath, before abruptly and firmly slamming the locker shut. He had mentally tossed his frustration inside before swinging the door, making an internal scream all the while. So what if they're afraid? They aren't worth my time!! After a moment of pause, Richard placed his hands, one atop the other, facedown in front of his chest while slowly breathing in, and then out through his nose. Through this silent meditation, he quickly calmed down. But not before something, or rather, someone, abruptly broke his concentration. "HEY! WHY DON'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOIN'?!" A voice, hardly an utterance, but one that his ears could pick up with ease. Richard didn't have to look far to find the source of the near high pitched shriek, for his keen senses were quick to pinpoint, zero in, and lock onto his target. Pacing across the crowded aisle with a look of increasing frustration on her was an unfamiliar student, a human by the look of her. As she stormed her way up the hall and back, it became all too clear to her onlooker that the girl was hopelessly lost. Richard wanted to offer assistance but stopped short at the thought. He would dare not approach her without warning, as that would likely scare her out of her wits. Which is typical of how these kinds of encounters tend to be. His size was an obstacle in of itself, let alone him being a Wile. And yet, Richard could not bring himself to take his eyes off her. The young man pulled out a notebook from his backpack, using it as cover as he continued to watch the events unfold.. upon realizing this, he was taken aback. He felt like he really shouldn't be eavesdropping on the lass, even though his range of sight could span out to see her regardless. But she would repeatedly do something so strange, so bizarre, it... fascinated him, perking up his curiosity. Which in turn made her increasingly impossible for him to ignore. She tried talking to the other students. Students who were ten times taller than her. Students who were all too oblivious of her presence, and could have easily trampled her underfoot if it wasn't for her quick maneuvering skills, which were impressive in of itself. She would continue this exercise of yelling and dodging several times; either the passing giants had failed to pick up on her voice or- a more nefarious thought- she was being disregarded on purpose. As someone who was born and raised in an integrated part of the Beanstalk Society, Richard is used to the occasional appearance of Beansprouts - a collective term to describe the smaller folk, which included elves and humans. His city was built to accommodate them, yet sightings remain rare. Most would not dare to venture deep into Beanstalk territory, no matter what opportunities- or bribes- are given to them. Richard doesn't blame the Sprouts for thinking this way, for he has seen the hostile treatment of some of their people first hand. Which really makes the actions of this bold and seemingly reckless human all the more perplexing. Nothing's stopping him from going over to help her now, right? Since she appears to show absolutely no fear of the larger folk. However, he isn't like most others. Wiles in particular have been known for.. less than appetizing dealings when it came to Sprouts. Once again, his hesitation got the better of him. His muddled musings would cease however, as he started to instinctively pick up a sudden shift in the air. That was when he realized that the tiny human had stopped, for she finally noticed the Wile making side glances at her. Crap! The young man inadvertently ducked behind his papers once again, not that it would make any difference now that the jig has long since been up. In mere seconds, the girl sprinted into the crowd, diving and sliding past the heavy traffic of giant footfalls. The sight of this nearly gave Richard a heart attack. He bolted, opting to meet the crazy girl partway, but she had already made it through the crossroad of the main hall before he could even get a chance to react. She was obviously out of breath, but thankfully all in one piece. Richard had to get his bearings together. The Junior student shut his eyes and counted to ten, this time while braying out a long, shaky sigh. This couldn't have lasted for more than a couple of seconds however. Sensing that the smaller presence was close enough to the verge of being almost uncomfortable, he slowly opened his eyelids, and just as speedily looked down. The new student was now nearly touching the toe cap of his right boot. Richard spontaneously took a step back, giving out a startled, involuntary meep in response. "E...Excuse me..." The girl huffed weakly as she was trying to get air back into her lungs. She was positive she would have to repeat that, for it was barely audible enough for a giant to hear. Which made Richard's response all the more shocking to her. "I... It's ok... Take your time." That couldn't have been what she heard, could it? The girl then craned her neck as high as it could go, realizing right away that the titan had bent down to check in on her. As soon as she made eye contact however, Richard immediately averted his stare. But not before the sophomore caught a quick glimpse of that silver color. She never saw anything quite like it before. Richard didn't mean to be rude by that gesture. Of course he was too afraid to show his eyes to a regular sized person, let alone a Sprout. But upon sensing that the mood had not changed at the slightest despite being fully aware that she was able to see them partially, he slowly eased up as he found his voice again. "You needed help from a Beanstalk?" He spoke after clearing his throat, making sure to not verbalize too loudly. The girl had pulled back some of her long, light-brown hair that had flung to her face during her run earlier, revealing strong, determined eyes that took the young Wile giant by surprise. He paused for a moment and rolled his eyes back to her without realizing it. Even then, her confidence didn't waver, as she put on a stout yet relaxed tone that could only be indicative of someone who treated him as a person matching her own height. No, she definitely wasn't like the others. But he couldn't put his finger on whether this was due to sheer bravery, stupidity, or a combination of the two. Richard began to tilt his head like a bird, a typical habit of Wiles of his variety, examining the small one from head to sneakers. No doubt his inquisitiveness has reached its peak. He would watch as the human girl had closed her eyes, taking a long deep breath and-without further warning-shouted from the top of her lungs. "COULD YOU TELL ME WHERE I CAN GO FOR WORLD LITERATURE ART STUDIES?!!" Richard was forced to drop to his knees in haste, his shoulders quivering slightly. "Yeesh! Not so loud! I can hear you just fine!" He replied in a harsh whisper. "I was about to head over there myself! It's at room B-17." The girl blinked in surprise. She wasn't expecting to get an answer from him at all, much less his first choice of words. "R-really? Thanks! Sorry... I've been practically screaming my butt off all morning and you're the first person who actually heard me." "So I noticed..." Richard was still wincing, which the human scanned over with more curiosity than concern. "Are you all right?" Richard opened his eyes while grumbling something about noise under his breath before addressing her. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just took me by surprise, that's all." "You're the first giant person I met my whole life who didn't have terrible hearing." Richard had to do a double take. Did I just hear that correctly? Of all the nerve! He could not believe the words that just came out of this Sprout's mouth. He would then loom closer and look at her squarely in the eye, his face now completely obstructing her view. "Oh, so bold of you to say that in front of one of them." He crooned. "Well, it's a fact. I've been around Stalks for a few years now and I'm used to shouting to get heard. But I can clearly see, you're quite different." Throughout this conversation, the girl's eyes never loses focus on his. Richard cocked his eyebrow slightly, narrowing his stare as if he had the look of annoyance. But in truth, he was enjoying the moment for what it was as it is the first interaction he had gotten in a while. And furthermore, it was certainly entertaining. Though it became clear to him now that this person had no idea who she was talking to. Which, once this thought crossed his mind, caused Richard to hold back what he wanted to say in response. Instead, he curved a small grin. "What's that look for?" The human girl asked. Richard replied in a teasing tone. "Shouldn't you be keeping your eyes on that clock?" With that revelation, Jac immediately whipped her head around to the timer that was centered at the middle of the halls. The large hand was mere inches from the fifteen mark. "Damn! Uh... Hey! Do you mind if you can take me over there?" Richard's almost menacing smile lessened into a milder one as the calm began to settle in. That wouldn't last. "Sure thing! Think you can keep up?" "Uhh..." The girl replied flatly, "that's not what I mean..." Richard took a moment to completely comprehend what the Sophomore could have possibly implied with that statement before it hit him. Like a wreaking ball. His eyes flung wide open, hair jolting nearly on end. "You want me to do what?! His voice had a slight, shrilly crack to it, though he remembered to speak lightly in spite of his turmoil. Jac couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Didn't they teach you how to pick up Sprouts in school?" "Nooo?! I think it's voluntary, like learning CPR!" The Wile giant was obviously panicking. The girl waved her arms out and grumbled under her breath."Great! And here I thought the education system was supposed to be better around here? Fine... " The smaller student then made her way just under his right hand. She was still lightly fumed, but she didn't let that get in the way of her instructions. "Let me guide you through this," she spoke in a humdrum manner. "It's not that hard. Take out your hand." She was actually going to go through with this. "OH NO NO NO. I'm going to call one of the school officials and they'll --" "We haven't much TIME!" The girl jesters to the clock, which had shown that it was roughly three minutes before the starting bell. "I can't be late on my first day!!" "Okay, okay!" The sooner he gets this over with, the sooner he can alleviate his nerves and get on with his life. Even though deep down he thought his idea was much better. "What should I do?" "Just lower your palm on the floor face up." Swallowing, Richard reluctantly did as he was told. Now that the platform of flesh and skin was resting in front of her, the young woman placed her hands on the tip of his index finger to try to help ease the giant's rattled nerves, though it only aided to increase his shivering instead. She would then suck in a breath before finally jumping on board. It felt as if a dozen different emotions washed onto the Wile Giant all at once; on one hand he was vastly in awe of the sensation of feeling an actual tiny person on his hand, one who would go so far as to entrust her life to someone like him. On the other however, the sheer pressure of holding someone this fragile was beginning to overwhelm him, as indicated by the continuing tremors that rattled the smaller human's form, which seemed to intensify by the second. "H-H-H-Hey! Calm down!" The girl's voice reverberated with the rumbling. "Sorry.." Richard replied with a low whisper, as he slowly brought her closer to his face. "I'm worried about carrying you like this all the way.." Sensing the unease of the situation at hand, the girl had to agree. Time was running out and she had to think up a storm. "How about you cup your hands around me? That'll keep me secure at least." In an instant, largely due to his unrelenting panic, Richard brought his left hand up and clamped onto the human a little too fast. The girl squeaked as she was being squished against his digits, but it wasn't enough to do any damage as the young giant loosened his grip within seconds upon realizing his mistake. From the way it looked, Richard was in a lot more distress than she was. "Daijou--uh, I mean! Are you okay? Did I break anything?" "I'm fine! Calm down! Ok?!" She felt it best to move on quickly than to dwell on the matter, going back to the crash course where she left off. "Just! Keep my body against your palm and curve your fingers over my chest and legs like so. Your thumb should be kept behind my head to prevent--" "Over your what ? No way! I'm not doing that!" "Relax.. will ya? Keep it a loose hold and you'll be alright." The Sprout spoke with a huff. And with that she pulled his fingers in over her like a blanket as a gesture for him to get a move on. Richard was clearly unnerved by this but he didn't have time to react before the girl shouted. "OK! YOU'RE ALL SET! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET GOING! MOVE MOVE MOVE!!!" Richard scattered, returning to his senses just enough to pick himself up and start running (well, more like brisk walking) as he made his way through the massive halls. Wrapping both hands around the small one and holding her close to his torso, he felt the minute and a half it took to get to classroom B-17 to be the longest he's ever had. Keeping his mind focused on the task at hand both figuratively and literally, the Wile giant failed to notice the few students who were still about, eyeing the scene as he walked past. One of them shouted something at him, not surprisingly an insult, but he could not bother to pay any attention to it as he was so engaged in what he was doing and the sheer anxiety that came of it. Meanwhile, the girl was keeping silent while holding on tightly to the giant's paw. No doubt that this was a rougher ride than what she's used to, but all in all it wasn't nearly as bad as she was expecting. Keeping a firm but loose hold on her while stabilizing his hand with the other, the Beanstalk wounded up doing everything by the book. Not bad for a supposed first timer. After turning many corners and passing by what seemed like an endless row of doors, at last Richard had reached their destination at two minutes past the starting bell. Thankfully, the teacher had yet to arrive and the overall atmosphere among the students who were there was still relatively calm. They were early enough, which brought the two a much needed sigh of relief. Richard uncurled his hands and let the small one roll onto the dip of his palms. The Junior student looked down in horror when he saw that the Sophomore had curled onto herself. "Oh my gosh!! Are you ok!!?" She was slightly disoriented, but she wasn't going to let him know that if she can help it. "I'm good. Ya get so worked up over nothin'." She said as she righted herself up. "It was a pretty bumpy ride, but overall, I think you did okay." "This was my first time. What did you expect? " That got a chuckle out of the human. Seeing that she was smiling and thankfully well by the way it appeared, the Wile giant would let the feeling of success sink in, which finally allowed him the luxury to ease up quite a bit. Looking around his surroundings, Richard saw that the majority of the classmates were either Juniors or Seniors themselves.. and yet, he couldn't catch anything that signaled a place where tiny students would go safely. Every desk and chair was normal sized (from his perspective) not a single thing in this room indicated anything that would cater to Sprouts. 'Did I come to the right place?' He pondered. Just then, the class instructor walked in, a giant with a pompous chin and thinning grey hair. He immediately took notice of the young Wile giant, first by scanning down on the girl on his hands and then onto his face... and eyes. Richard knew that look. "Sir! I can explain!" What the teacher did next was not what the Junior had expected. The older Brobdinrang's expression quickly changed from perplexed to a much lighter mood. A wide, cheerful grin would then overtake his face. "Young man, I see that you've brought our newest student! We were expecting you, Jaclyn Fincher!" "Please. Call me Jac. I'm delighted to be here!" "Oh, but that's a boy's name! Don't you like Jaclyn? It's prettier and I think it suits you better." Oh brother. She could already tell she'll be having a swell time here. "I'd much prefer Jac, if you don't mind." "Well in any case, welcome to Perridi High!" He would then address the Wile. "If you would be so kind as to follow me while I show Jaclyn to her desk?" "It's Jac, sir." Richard corrected. "And, sure." Jac looked up at Richard with a thumbs up as he made that assertion. Without further ado, the teacher walked him through the class while Richard continued to carry Jac, making it past the main student body to a spot in the farthest corner of the room. This time all of the classmates had set their eyes on the three, and Richard in particular could feel the pressure of their judging glares tracking his every move. Despite all of this, the Wile giant was more confident in his ability to hold Jac, or at the very least, he didn't pay as much mind to it whether intentional or not. Jac was ultimately thankful for this as he held her without so much as a few awkward sways, being nowhere near as much of a rollercoaster as before. When they got to the spot in question, Richard could only see a bunch of potted tropical plants, nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. Upon further examination however, Jac quickly noticed the small entrance behind one of the giant leaves before the teacher could bring it up himself. When she mentions this, the older gentleman would nod his head, presumably impressed by her observation. "Good eye! Behind here is our state of the art miniature classroom!" The teacher then pulled some of the leaves back, revealing a square metallic box like structure complete with tiny windows and an entryway. Richard could not believe the remarkable detail that was put into it. "I'll give you two a minute to get yourselves ready, and then class will be in session." And with that, the teacher walked back to his desk. Richard was in awe upon witnessing this piece of architecture for the first time. Does every classroom have one of these? And furthermore, why did the folks who constructed these miniatures go through all the trouble to keep them hidden from plain sight? Jac cleared her throat, causing the Wile giant to break out of his trance. "Can you put me down now?" "Oops! Sorry!" Richard laid his hands in front of the entrance to the smaller facility. Jac hopped off and would proceed to make her way in. But not before spinning around and facing the giant once again, whose face was covering her entire view once more. "Thank you for helping me out. Honestly, I don't know what I could have done without ya." "No problem. I only did what I figured was the right thing." "I guess I'll be seeing you around then!" Richard was half expecting this to be the last time they would see each other up close, so upon hearing this, he perked up more than he thought he would. He couldn't help but smile for the first time that day. "Sure! I would like that." "I didn't get your name! I'm Jac, but you already knew that." "Ah. It's.. it's Richard. Richard Yamada. Well, I guess I'll see you later, then!" And with that, the looming giant backed up, spun around and stomped away. Richard was awfully proud of what he had accomplished that morning, for the first time during his attendance at Perridi High School, he felt exhilarated. Even if this was a chance of being just a one-off experience, no doubt this would be a day he would never forget. Little did he know, Jac would, for the first time in this entire morning, have a tingling hint of uncertainty in her mind. She turned to face the door of the Sprout tailored classroom, as she finally let out the breath she held back during this while. She darted her eyes onto her shoes and began to ponder, her thoughts even surprising her. Until this point, Jac had no reason to be fearful of Richard. That was, until she was caught by surprise when she saw his smile up close... really up close. That quick moment was just enough time for Jac to notice the unusually long canines that were protruding from within. She had heard stories of one particular kind of giant that were known for.. And yet.. That initial response, that bit of wariness, would soon pave way for unbridled excitement. 'A Wile giant in this school? So the rumors of this city are true..' Humans had always whispered about not making contact with Wile giants, and yet Richard.. was contrary to everything that she has heard. Typical...The kindest person she met since she had transferred to the Beanstalk Society was certainly someone worth checking out later. "I hope to meet him again over lunch!" She thought. And to that, a smile returned to her face as she charged into the classroom with a a bout of renewed confidence. "I wonder if someone as cool as that would let me be his friend?" Luckily for her, this wouldn't be the last she would see of the mysterious giant with silver eyes.Crystal Rain - I - Gone (HEAVY W.I.P.)“Ha…ha…ha…” Tiny droplets of water splashed as Rain ran forward, her breath hitching as the cold wind choked her lungs. Why her, of all people? The contemplation racked her brain as she ran on the endless stretch of concrete, eyeing one of the many trash bins that outlined this wretched street. She dove behind the steel pillar, squeezing into a small crevice near the wall. She did her best to remain still, but that beating heart of hers continued to pound her chest in like a large mallet. “Shit, shit, shit…” She covered her nose as those retched smells began to creep in, her senses magnifying them by an ungodly amount. Moldy food, rat corpses; Rain questioned the part of her that continued to prolong this mortal game of hide and seek. For what reason did she…? “Get back here!” Two dingy looking men stormed the dilapidated street corner, kicking, tossing, and destroying everything in their path. Rain gulped and shoved herself further into the crevice. Trash spilled all over the ground, and rodents would scatter. Their eyes were like searchlights; even if she wasn’t looking, she could feel them beam down upon her. “Man, fuck this! How’d that little shit run so fast?” He screamed, throwing one of the bins. “Fuck if I know. All I know is that if we don’t find this thing, our ass is grass.” His partner replied. “Damn right.” So their search continued, and with each slight alteration to her surroundings, Rain jumped. The sounds of numerous bins, bags, and other assorted garbage being tossed around was murderous, and it went on for what seemed like an eternity. She felt so wet and slimy, unable to tell how much of it was her own sweat or the mysterious liquid from the wall she found herself attached to. “Fuckin’ shrinkies!” The man’s foot caved into a trashcan, leaving a large dent as he stepped back. “Screw this, let’s get outta here!” The idea would immediately be shot down by his partner. “And let that little money bag slip away? Hell no!” The first man begrudgingly obliged. They would rip and tear everything to pieces, searching every nook and cranny. Rain’s body recessed further into the cracks. She could feel them getting closer and closer, and… “Found ya’!” The girl’s soul almost leapt out of her body as the giant, fleshy pillars gripped her form. She clung onto the grainy concrete, blood spilling from her hands as the sharp edges cut her skin. She winced and held on until she no longer could, but her iron grip was broken with ease by the giant’s mighty palm. “Look at 'er, what a beaut!” The man yelled as he stared at his prize. “How much do you think we can run her for?” He turned to his partner in crime, devilish grins forming on both of their faces. “Upwards of 10K, easy.” Rain quivered, clutching her body as the two greasy looking men discussed her fate. Was she nothing more than a product now? This feeling of violation only grew as the jeering got worse, the digits wielded by her captor poking and prodding at her like she was a toy. “Stop fuckin’ around. We gotta bounce.” “Buzzkill…” As the two turned to make their exit, a figure would rise from the shadows, staring at them with black, piercing eyes. The two men jumped back in response to the stealthy figure, who aimed her laser-like sight at their jittery forms. “The fuck!?” The first man cried out. “…” The other made not a peep, retaining his cool composure as he analyzed the woman. She was short and incredibly thin with a body type that resembled a twig, donning an enormous hoodie and baggy sweatpants to seemingly disguise her frail physique. Everything about her was scratchy and aged, and her thickly layered eyebags indicated a certain restlessness. There was a certain aura she held that screamed danger, and those killer eyes of hers did this woman no favors. “Why so jumpy?” The stranger in black spoke with a voice so cold it threatened absolute zero. “Hiding something?” She began to approach with an intimidating level of confidence, the two slowly moving back in the wake of their adversary. “Hey, wa-” The shadowy creature moved in on her prey before they could finish, equipping a canister from her side and ripping it on her enemies with great efficiency. They would scream and cry, falling to their knees as a firey sensation raptured their bodies. She shot an icy glare towards her prey, her callous voice wrapping around them like a viper. “I know you have it.” They seemed insistent on not giving her an answer, and in response she’d assail the two with mighty kicks to the groin, causing both of them to recoil. Goon 1’s fingers would uncurl, dropping the item of interest cleanly on the ground. “Thank you.” That’s all she would grant the boys before turning to her prize, eyeing it like a hawk. “I…Wha…Ah…” Rain struggled to formulate her words as she stared at the skyscraper that stood before her. The titan’s jet black hair extended for what seemed to be miles, and those eyes… they were like a set of black holes, draining the last remnant of Rain's will to live. Weighing her options didn’t lead to a satisfying answer; not a single outcome seemed ideal. She’d scurry back into a corner, the giant slowly pursuing when enough distance was generated. Her shoes resembled full-size RVs, fully capable of running over and crushing her body into a red smudge any moment they so chose. Her body screamed at her to run, but angering this entity was the last thing on her bucket list. She had to do something, anything, to ensure goodwill with this being. With great shame, Rain would bow before the enormous dreadnought that threatened her existence. The titaness slightly tilted her head, observing this creature with a vested interest. This strange ritual would be cut short as a fleshy prison snapped up Rain’s body and jerked it from off the ground. Rain closed her eyes as the wind tore at her body, getting worse and worse until it all came to a brief halt. Fuzzy cotton embraced Rain’s body and warmed her cold skin, protecting her from the newfound dangers of the outside world. She nuzzled herself into a corner, pressing her face into it as the gentle sway and bounce of this cozy prison kept her restless the entire time. Many thoughts raced through her mind as a contemplative frown crossed her face. This… this was the end, wasn’t it? The boundless dreams which gained nothing but ire from her peers, the stressful college life she prayed would come to an end... All. Gone.