A Bizarre New World, Chapter One: Cat’s In The Cradle

[The Dog]

The dog kept clear of Lucy's treat, not so much out of caution as it was too preoccupied by the elevator once Suzie called it. Having been at the utmost top floor, the lcd display ticked down from 5 until it reached them, metal doors parting.

Bounding into the elevator, the hound launched itself onto its hind feet and slapped the number 2 button with its large paw. Plopping back down on all fours, he gave out a short bark and why he could have been indicating anything, it really seemed like he was telling them to get on.

Jamie blinked before nodding and stepping into the elevator with the incredibly bright dog as she said "Alright boy, I guess I'll follow your lead. Might help keep people from freaking out or trouble starting if I go with you anyways."

[KingofPie]

She smiled a bit before patting the seat across from her, "Here. I will show you something good."

"Something good?" Miguel questioned. He stood up, scratching his chin with a slight smirk. "A little vague...Mind elaborating a little?" he asked, approaching the European woman. He didn't sit down quite yet. After all, among strangers it payed to be cautious. And she apparently used magic...it's not like he didn't approve of it more than he wasn't particularly impressed by it. Still, it didn't mean she was a bad person at all. Besides, who was he to turn down such an invitation.

[MrSandman]

The dog kept clear of Lucy's treat, not so much out of caution as it was too preoccupied by the elevator once Suzie called it. Having been at the utmost top floor, the lcd display ticked down from 5 until it reached them, metal doors parting.

Bounding into the elevator, the hound launched itself onto its hind feet and slapped the number 2 button with its large paw. Plopping back down on all fours, he gave out a short bark and why he could have been indicating anything, it really seemed like he was telling them to get on.

Momentarily dejected as she was, Lucy didn't hesitate to step onboard the elevator when prompted by the.....stray dog. If the situation had been any stranger, the irony of following a barked order without question might have dawned on her...

Instead she was more impressed with the dogs seeming knowledge of how to use an elevator properly.

[Yun Lao]

"Something good?" Miguel questioned. He stood up, scratching his chin with a slight smirk. "A little vague...Mind elaborating a little?" he asked, approaching the European woman. He didn't sit down quite yet. After all, among strangers it payed to be cautious. And she apparently used magic...it's not like he didn't approve of it more than he wasn't particularly impressed by it. Still, it didn't mean she was a bad person at all. Besides, who was he to turn down such an invitation.

She smiled," I knew I liked you. So many here are so afraid of the unknown, but you... you've seen strange things, yes?"

"I am Cassandra Truth. Some call me a fortune teller, others a seer or oracle, some even call me a witch. I prefer a different title... but that doesn't matter. What matters though is that..." She said, pointing just over his shoulder, although Miguel would see nothing.

The barkeep stepped out of the kitchen, Sandra's ribs in hand. Sighing, he placed the plate before his patron, "There she goes again."

[Tami]

Despite her earlier demands for them to leave, the girl was pleased to see Jinny approach.

<edit>

"Can't you feel it? That boiling cauldron of hate within you? The incubator of life within a life... the slippage of the mask that is "you"; the revelation of your true self."

She began to giggle, "It never ceases to amaze me..."

Time seemed to slow for Jinny as her senses heightened and for just a moment, she would see the shadows shift as the silhouette of a creature approached quickly. Another unseen impact struck her, this time accompanied by the sensation of a liquid spilling forth. Had the attack drawn blood?

No, Jinny would find that it was... paint?

Flowing and shifting, the living paint coalesced into a humanoid form.

"How beautiful..." The girl seemed almost enraptured by her handiwork, and for the first time, Jinny could see the "unknown force" for what it truly was.
<edit>
Resembling a small primate, the creature's hands and head were encased by a thick metal, the top of the latter topped by crown-like vanes.

"It's a shame that a newborn must die, but you will not survive my「Coal Chamber」."

Still struggling under the effects of this strange creature, Jinny wonders if her own sanity is in question when a pool of multi color paint suddenly appears then forms into a human like form.



It, no she, then stood in front of Jinny, protectively. As she did, something strange began to happen.

The walls of the hospital corridor began to melt all around the strange girl and her even stranger companion.
Melting-Hospital-3.jpg


As the melting continued, the color began to drain away
Melting Hospital 1.jpg

The colors of Jinny's protector changed to match the surroundings, so much so as to blend in to the artscape. Jinny vanished from sight, as did John, and all that remained was a pool of dark, inky, black/grey liquid in what used to be the hospital.

[Yun Lao]

Still struggling under the effects of this strange creature, Jinny wonders if her own sanity is in question when a pool of multi color paint suddenly appears then forms into a human like form.

It, no she, then stood in front of Jinny, protectively. As she did, something strange began to happen.

The walls of the hospital corridor began to melt all around the strange girl and her even stranger companion.

As the melting continued, the color began to drain away

The colors of Jinny's protector changed to match the surroundings, so much so as to blend in to the artscape. Jinny vanished from sight, as did John, and all that remained was a pool of dark, inky, black/grey liquid in what used to be the hospital.

"Mmmm... delicious... you think you can run after all of this? No matter..."

Electricity crackled from Coal Chamber, errant sparks trailing off in the air, although it was difficult to tell just what it was planning. The girl herself, faced with a disorienting surrounding, reached out and placed her hand on the door handle of room 214.

[KingofPie]

She smiled," I knew I liked you. So many here are so afraid of the unknown, but you... you've seen strange things, yes?"

"Moreso lately than ever before, yeah," Miguel admitted. "The trip here's been...muy atravesado. REAL crazy."

"I am Cassandra Truth. Some call me a fortune teller, others a seer or oracle, some even call me a witch. I prefer a different title... but that doesn't matter. What matters though is that..." She said, pointing just over his shoulder, although Miguel would see nothing.

The barkeep stepped out of the kitchen, Sandra's ribs in hand. Sighing, he placed the plate before his patron, "There she goes again."

"Hmm?" Miguel glanced over shoulder. Nothing there. Was it some sort of trick? Maybe Vivian was wrong and she was a stage magician just like him. Still, he couldn't help but be intrigued. "I can't help but feel like I'm missing something here," he stated, turning back to face Cassandra. "And I can't say I'm much for fortune telling but for you? I'll make an exception, Miss Truth. This entire trip up here, my luck's been nothing but sour. Would be nice to see if my fortune flips in the future."

[Tami]

"Mmmm... delicious... you think you can run after all of this? No matter..."

Electricity crackled from Coal Chamber, errant sparks trailing off in the air, although it was difficult to tell just what it was planning. The girl herself, faced with a disorienting surrounding, reached out and placed her hand on the door handle of room 214.

Or was it? Everything around her looked the same, melted together into a pool of black ink.

While she did this, something struck her in the midsection. It felt like she had been kicked by someone, hard enough to push her back and deeper into the ink.

[martial arts 1]

[Sub-Zero MKA]

She smiled," I knew I liked you. So many here are so afraid of the unknown, but you... you've seen strange things, yes?"

"I am Cassandra Truth. Some call me a fortune teller, others a seer or oracle, some even call me a witch. I prefer a different title... but that doesn't matter. What matters though is that..." She said, pointing just over his shoulder, although Miguel would see nothing.

The barkeep stepped out of the kitchen, Sandra's ribs in hand. Sighing, he placed the plate before his patron, "There she goes again."

Sandra's mouth was watering when her eyes beheld the smoking hot plate of ribs the barkeep had just set out in front of her. Her stomach growled in anticipation of her tastebuds exploding with euphoria. Ah! It smells so good! I can't wait to dig in!

"Eh?" She glanced to her side and saw that Miguel had moved from beside her to across from the mysterious woman, Cassandra Truth. She was droning on and on about that magic garbage. She only tolerated what little she had overheard from Vivian because she helped save her life. Any other prick babbling about that magic nonsense was just going to piss her off. "Tch. Wish those fuckin' nerds would keep their magic shit under wraps," she said with a shake of her head.

[Yun Lao]

Or was it? Everything around her looked the same, melted together into a pool of black ink.

While she did this, something struck her in the midsection. It felt like she had been kicked by someone, hard enough to push her back and deeper into the ink.

"So a child thinks she can fight a soldier?"

As if possessing a sixth sense, the girl turned to face Jinny as she rushed in for the attack, her index and thumb once again making the shape of a gun. Coal Chamber reacted, unleashing a field of electricity throughout the hallway, threatening to shock anyone or anything seeking to approach the girl.

"Sun Tzu once said, 'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.' As of right now, you know nothing."

[Yun Lao]

Jamie blinked before nodding and stepping into the elevator with the incredibly bright dog as she said "Alright boy, I guess I'll follow your lead. Might help keep people from freaking out or trouble starting if I go with you anyways."

Momentarily dejected as she was, Lucy didn't hesitate to step onboard the elevator when prompted by the.....stray dog. If the situation had been any stranger, the irony of following a barked order without question might have dawned on her...

Instead she was more impressed with the dogs seeming knowledge of how to use an elevator properly.

With Jamie, Lucy, and Suzie entering the elevator, the doors closed and they head to the second floor. Briefly, the lights flickered inside the elevator car, yet thankfully, it managed to reach its destination as the doors slid open to reveal a warped and distorted corridor.

The dog hunched upward, growling fiercely into the ink blot darkness as he treaded forward.

[Yun Lao]

"Moreso lately than ever before, yeah," Miguel admitted. "The trip here's been...muy atravesado. REAL crazy."



"Hmm?" Miguel glanced over shoulder. Nothing there. Was it some sort of trick? Maybe Vivian was wrong and she was a stage magician just like him. Still, he couldn't help but be intrigued. "I can't help but feel like I'm missing something here," he stated, turning back to face Cassandra. "And I can't say I'm much for fortune telling but for you? I'll make an exception, Miss Truth. This entire trip up here, my luck's been nothing but sour. Would be nice to see if my fortune flips in the future."

Sandra's mouth was watering when her eyes beheld the smoking hot plate of ribs the barkeep had just set out in front of her. Her stomach growled in anticipation of her tastebuds exploding with euphoria. Ah! It smells so good! I can't wait to dig in!

"Eh?" She glanced to her side and saw that Miguel had moved from beside her to across from the mysterious woman, Cassandra Truth. She was droning on and on about that magic garbage. She only tolerated what little she had overheard from Vivian because she helped save her life. Any other prick babbling about that magic nonsense was just going to piss her off. "Tch. Wish those fuckin' nerds would keep their magic shit under wraps," she said with a shake of her head.

"So you're still blind to the ways of the world, yes? Okay... I can fix."

Rising from her seat, Cassandra raised her index and ring, making the sign of the horns or the evil eye. Reaching forth, she placed both fingertips on Miguel's brows before gently brushing downward, closing his eyes.

"Breath in deeply and prepare yourself. Things will never be the same once you open your eyes," Her voice was distant, having sat back down in her seat. For but just a moment, Miguel would find himself plagued with anxiety and paranoia, feeling eyes on the back of his head; it was a sensation that should be a familiar one for him, having suffered Night Fever, but this felt way more intense. Once he opened his eyes and looked back to where Cassandra pointed, he would see it.

[Tami]

"So a child thinks she can fight a soldier?"

As if possessing a sixth sense, the girl turned to face Jinny as she rushed in for the attack, her index and thumb once again making the shape of a gun. Coal Chamber reacted, unleashing a field of electricity throughout the hallway, threatening to shock anyone or anything seeking to approach the girl.

"Sun Tzu once said, 'If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.' As of right now, you know nothing."

A liquid wall grows out from the murkiness of the melted, greyscale corridor. As it does, it appears to catch the some of the electricity and send it back towards the girl.

Jinny is still there, but unseen within this artscape.

[The Dog]

With Jamie, Lucy, and Suzie entering the elevator, the doors closed and they head to the second floor. Briefly, the lights flickered inside the elevator car, yet thankfully, it managed to reach its destination as the doors slid open to reveal a warped and distorted corridor.

The dog hunched upward, growling fiercely into the ink blot darkness as he treaded forward.

Jamie stared into the ink blot darkness fearfully, reaching into her bag and retrieving her tire thumper again. Gripping the handle as a source of comfort, she began carefully walking into the darkness behind the dog, looking for anything that could be a threat.

[KingofPie]

"So you're still blind to the ways of the world, yes? Okay... I can fix."

Rising from her seat, Cassandra raised her index and ring, making the sign of the horns or the evil eye. Reaching forth, she placed both fingertips on Miguel's brows before gently brushing downward, closing his eyes.

"Breath in deeply and prepare yourself. Things will never be the same once you open your eyes," Her voice was distant, having sat back down in her seat. For but just a moment, Miguel would find himself plagued with anxiety and paranoia, feeling eyes on the back of his head; it was a sensation that should be a familiar one for him, having suffered Night Fever, but this felt way more intense. Once he opened his eyes and looked back to where Cassandra pointed, he would see it.

"Whew...that...not gonna lie, that was intense," Miguel exhaled heavily. "I don't know if that was magic or what, but that reminds me of-," Miguel idly glanced over his shoulder. Looking behind him, he suddenly leaped back into an empty seat. "F-f--fuck is that thing?!"