Nightshift 31: Staff-Only Outdoor Patio

[quickdrawbkiddo]

[from here]The door indeed lead to an outdoor area and the Bride paused in the doorway a moment to let her eyes adjust. She then moved out into the fresh air and looked around for any possible creatures or people. She didn't see any and noted the two doors. One was the one they wanted and the other... hadn't been on her map

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[kaerutokoro]

As promised, Rena had followed Arlene throughout the outing in silence. The only sound resonating from her was the tiny beating of her feet touching tile, and they were often drowned out by the movements of the other patients. The girl had to admit, this mission had an urgency unlike the other nights. She even felt her heart jump to her throat in anticipation.

Being outdoors didn't help that feeling. Though, she had to admit, the nightly breeze was refreshing after spending so much time in a stifled environment. If only it kept one's hair out of one's eyes... Rena had to curl a finger into her bangs in an attempt to pull them away from her line of sight.

She paused, however, when addressed. The town? Rena had to consider her words carefully at the woman's statement, partly because she honestly had no recollection of what occurred after Doyleton. Worrying Arlene would not be the best move on her part, at least for now. "Right..." she whispered.

[damned_monsters]

Tonight the danger came not from the giant birds that lurked on the rooftop, but from another sort of winged creature. The smell of sulfur and ozone was diffused because they were outside, but the stink still wormed its way through the air. Silently, a long serpentlike creature slid from the roof and toward the two intrepid patients. It was no bigger than the length of a man's forearm but armed with massive wings and at first glance seemed completely harmless. No beak, no claws, large pale eyes, nothing threatening so much as grotesque.

But even without a beak, the tempest ate. It craved blood and flesh and death like the rest of the monsters here. And it had one great advantage that not many others had here - it didn't need to get close to its victims. Slipping through the air, the snakelike bird landed on the outer railing, tilting its head at Beatrix and Rena. It watched them for just a moment, before it arced its wings back and snapped them forward - sending bolts of lightning shooting towards them.

[Kaze - sup sup]

[quickdrawbkiddo]

Beatrix had been moving toward the door, ready to usher Rena in when the stench of rotten eggs slithered up her nose. She stopped, muscles tense, as she peered through the moon-lit darkness in search of where the scent was coming from. She found the creature as it landed on the rail, confusion in her eyes for a moment; the Bride had never seen such a creature before. It if hadn't been so bizarre and disgusting in its disproportionate shape and the way it moved, one may have found it fascinating

[kaerutokoro]

A putrid smell fell on her nostrils, and the girl, too, was forced to search for its source. Imagine her surprise (and dread) when a most unusual-looking creature met her eyes. A snake? She narrowed her eyes. No, a set of wings immediately destroyed that hypothesis. Whatever it was, it appeared to have landed on the patio's rail, more interested in observing their activities than anything else.

Of course, its interest had to extend beyond the looking. Few inhuman creatures seemed to care for the cold shoulder philosophy. Rena supposed the attack was to be expected.

She hadn't, however, figured in the lightning. Much like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, the girl stared dumbly at the bolt of electricity coming toward them, only to regain her senses when Arlene shoved her toward a nearby table. She dove under the plastic cover, her hands and knees slapping roughly against the concrete. Though the pain was enough to make Rena cry out, watching the woman hit the ground caused her to scream.

"Arlene-san!" The cry was no