Nightshift 26: F21-30 Hallway

[ex_northswai344]

Ashe couldn't deny that she was a least a little relieved when the lights went out and the doors slowly groaned as they unlatched and opened. The transmitted and flashlight would of course be needed if she were to progress efficiently in her exploration of this institution; apparently, an entirely new level and a few choice foes had been selected

Comments

[moon_brained]

Usagi gathered her things as she slowly opened her door and slipped outside. There were already people leaving their rooms, but she kept her flashlight turned off.

Ami left a message on the bulletin board saying she would be waiting by the corridor near the bathrooms. Knowing Ami she was already there waiting for her. With less fear in her heart than the previous two nights she set out in the direction of her friend.

[To here.]

From F26

[sugarsweetblood]

Abilities having seeped back to her, though not in full force, Rhode had no choice but to run from the human girl she'd angered by catching her nails on the other's skin. Rhode had expected for this one to act the same as Phibby had in the game room, but that clearly wasn't the case. Rhode had forgotten that some humans weren't so weak minded as others.

Thankfully the doors had just opened via the Intercom's announcement. Rhode dashed for her door and, once outside, had the mind to skip down the hallway. She didn't though, or more couldn't. The air around her felt amazingly heavy for some odd reason and lost her some energy for the desired skipping away. It wasn't an Innocence doing this, but Rhode could feel the slightest trace of the culprit's emotion lingering - this one was twisted.

Not skipping, but taking a nice quick run down the hallway, she wondered what she should actually do for the night. Finding Allen again would probably prove much more difficult now that she knew just how many people were here. Now this aura person

[sugarsweetblood]

(( skipping two hallways))

[nadine_he_loves]

That voice.

Nadine froze when she heard it, remembering the 'dreams' from last night. Was she dreaming now? No, she hadn't fallen asleep. Nothing had changed but it was changing and God she hated that voice it sounded like him and she could remember....

"What... what's happening?" she demanded, wrapping her arms around her. No, no, this wasn't right. This couldn't be real. It was a hallucination, a dream, it was all in her head! "What are you doing?"

[ex_northswai344]

Turning back to the woman as she began to panic, Ashe knelt beside her one knee, remembering how the Knights of Dalmasca used to address her when she was younger. It would be unwise to touch the woman in an attempt to offer comfort; not only would it be awkward, it might have a completely different effect. Instead, beside her on her knee, the princess spoke.

"It is a hard thing to grow accustomed to. That voice is that of the man who keeps us here, or so I've been told. It is not sorcery, merely a fashion of transmitter set about this prison. When evening descends, we are to set out and play a game of his." Ashe paused, looking Nadine straight in the eye. "I am new to this place as well, but I will not soften the blow of it for your own sake. He seeks to drive us mad, or perhaps he has another purpose. Whatever the reason, we must explore this place in hopes of finding what the other man, Jack, gives us by way of hint. I shall accompany you, and I promise no harm will come to you along the way. If you should wish it."

[nadine_he_loves]

"No." Nadine shook her head, a rapid movement. "No, this can't be real. This can't be happening. It's all a dream. It's just a dream. It's just... my mind. My mind plays tricks on me and makes me see things and think things that aren't real. That's what they told me, the doctors and the nurses." Nadine just kept shaking her head. It couldn't be....

But it was. She knew what was a dream and what was real. She knew what was her own mind and what he put there. She lifted her eyes to the intercom. Was this his doing? She couldn't feel him.

Frightened, Nadine's hand went between her legs, pressing between them snugly. No pain. There was no pain, but she remembered him forcing her onto the floor of the desert, pinning her down, ignoring her screams...

"I don't... I don't want to go out there. I was out there last night and it was horrible. It was dark and dirty and it felt wrong and it was a dream! God, why can't this be a dream?"

[ex_northswai344]

"You must calm yourself." Ashe was sure to keep herself steady, close to reaching out and shaking the woman's shoulders lightly. Thankfully, she still managed to have some grace about her.

"I know not from where you hail, but I must seek a way out of this place. It is not my home, and there is much I must see to when I return there." The young woman sighed, appealing to Nadine once more. "I do not want to leave you here alone." Especially not like this... Compassion was not lost on the bitter princess, and she had too much of a heart to leave a delirious woman such as this to her own devices this eve.

[akarusa]

Here we go. Hokuto had been told to move fast, and she suspected it was for several reasons. They only had so much time--but just as important, if she ran as soon as the doors unlocked she was less likely to come across any monsters to slow her down. She had her flashlight and radio with her, but neither was much use as a weapon, and she was pretty sure she'd need one against most of the enemies found here.

With a nod to her roommate and a whispered "Good luck," she was off.

[[Going here.]]

[visualize]

[From here.]

"Indeed I do, and I hope that enthusiasm is genuine." They had reached another set of doors and Jade followed suit in the same manner as he did before. Already, this was all starting to become routine, but it was always to one's advantage to adapt into new situations as quickly as possible.

He was partly curious of what the young woman looked like, or if she was even young at all. Though he knew his friend well enough to have an idea of what he liked, so it wasn't hard to picture something generic before witnessed the real thing. It only took them a minute to walk in front of the proper door that read 'F24', and the Colonel set aside the mop for now.

"Remember what I said, Anise~" Jade reminded the girl before giving a few heavy knocks on the door.

[gald_digger]

[Also from here!]

"Of course!" The pitch of Anise's voice was about high enough to break glass.

After all, being mean to the girl would only hurt Anise's reputation. She wasn't going to do anything unpleasant. Maybe indulge in a little friendly competition--that's all! She wondered what this other girl looked like. What if the emperor really was into girls with glasses? It could be a problem... but she would find out soon enough.

[noblewhite]

[From here!]

Knock, knock, knock.

Cyrille stood up quickly, she wasn't expecting people to be coming to her room! Then again, if she was going to meet Peony by herself, she should have asked him where to meet him. It was the only logical for them to agree on a meeting point if they were to go with meeting at night. Oh, but it didn't matter now, you could just say that even geniuses fail to think ahead sometimes.

As it was to be Cyrille's first time in the darkness, she was unsure of what to expect. Certainly, when she opened the door and peeked through the crack she would have hoped that rather heavy knock was Peony's. It surely didn't seem quite his style, though. Cyrille imagined that even his knock would carry a whimsical and teasing sound to it... if that was possible, anyway. She couldn't help but also think of how bold he was! Coming to a young lady's room in the middle of the night, certainly he was daring... but it was more annoying than gentlemanly to Cyrille

[visualize]

It was always the young ones. Jade didn't bother to hide a light sigh at this.

"Good Evening Miss," Jade smiled down at the young woman, taking the time to study whatever features she bothered to reveal. If he were any less of a proper gentleman he'd have to applaud his friend for his taste in women, but the age difference was certainly something to consider. Of course, the Colonel had to remember that his Majesty showed obvious interest in Anise as well, so this was hardly a surprise.

"I'm sure you know of a man that calls himself Peony. We're actually both acquaintances of his. My name is Jade," He paused for a moment to gesture at the teen next to him. "And this is Anise, and we'll be providing whatever company you need until he arrives."

He chuckled lightly.

"I can assure you that it won’t take long. He was never one to be quick on his feet unless it was for women."