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Post by beastly on Jan 29, 2024 23:13:42 GMT -6
How could he have forgotten? Vincent shook his head, but looked elated at the news. Things were a fun surprise, if you forgot them. Really, he should work on doing better. There was a calendar app for a reason.
"I must've forgotten, I'm sorry, dear. That's wonderful. I'll make sure things are tidy."
He leaned his head on Malak's, mentally preparing himself for all they had to do today. It would be a good day, but an eventful one. They had things to do, places to go, and guests to host. He was certainly awake now with the new knowledge his brothers were visiting. It felt like ages. They hadn't aged a day, and he was in his mid fifties.
"I think fruit salad can turn breakfast around."
Even if the children had consumed the bagel bites.
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Post by jarahamee on Jan 30, 2024 1:59:32 GMT -6
Selsi stepped lazily in front of the cubs, stepping in front of Ashai; as much preventing him from further tormenting his sister as she was protecting him. She let out a loud grunt and lay down, partially pinning him into the ground, and then closed her eyes, as if she was going to take a nap. Her huge, terrifying mouth opened in a yawn. “A soft cushion,” she murmured, settling down and snuggling onto her son. “HEY!” Ashai cried, wiggling to free himself. After a few seconds of effort, he simply gave up and lay down, apparently defeated. His tail slapped the ground, and then he rolled over with a groan. Selsi turned, apparently satisfied, and tucked him under her arm, sunning herself with her belly up. On the shore, Kisra shook her head fervently, wiggling to escape Rika’s powerful forelegs, to no avail. She was thoroughly stuck. “I don’t taste good! I promise!” She whined. She had lay still on the sand, resigned to her fate. Her eyes squeezed closed. Her front legs slapped the sand dramatically to emphasize; “I’m not a good snack!”
A soft splash in the lazy river told Rika that a school of fish, likely large ones, were making their way through. Perhaps they were Rika's favorite kind. Or maybe they were the spawners that tasted like mud. She couldn't say without seeing them.
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“Yes. After you sit with me.” Malak inclined her head against his, enjoying their mutual warmth. The gesture bathed the side of his face in gentle golden light as he moved through her halo. She brushed his arms gently with her hands, and looked up at him fondly, before kissing the side of his mouth. With some willpower, she also unfocused her attention from the door, focusing solely on her partner. “I love you.” Her expression was uncharacteristically soft. Malak always made the most of their time together, however long or short. Even before they had been together, he could always count on her timeliness and efficiency. Her thorough handling on planning the weeks, months, even years, though she was often displeased and put off by surprises and setbacks. This morning was no different, though instead of a discussion that couldn’t involve the children (including Cinnamon), or any illicit activities, she simply enjoyed his embrace, his warmth and life. As a descendant of an Angel of Death, she knew full well that such times would not last forever. She tried not to dwell on it. When she was satisfied, she grumbled, pushing up her glasses to rub underneath them, and slid out of the side of the bed, pressing her feet into the slippers waiting on her side. She stood, brushed herself off, and adjusted the bottom of her nightgown, before scrabbling through the dresser to look for clothes. She was a tall woman, though not as tall as Vincent, and liked wearing suits, even when the situation didn't call for it. “I’ll make some orange juice then. You… like…less…pulp?” She picked up her phone, likely opening it to the ‘note’ page before glancing up at him. Evidently, she wasn’t sure and wanted to write down the answer this time. Vincent was finally free. A silk robe sat on the top of the bed, crumpled, and discarded, but he knew that the other side of the dresser had his clothing. The closet had the more expensive suiting that he only had to wear on occasion, or sometimes when he wanted to look very official as a teacher. In front of him, something bounced hard against the door. A ball? A toy? Vincent knew he’d have to go check on the children in very short order.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Jan 30, 2024 7:25:15 GMT -6
A laugh rumbled in Rika’s chest, and she touched her nose to Kisras. She was a feisty little girl, and she was glad for it. A strong personality made a strong predator, a successful hunter.
“Mm, are you sure?” Rika pretended to think, turning her head to clean some of the mud from the cubs pale pelt. “That sounds like something a tasty morsel would say.”
The taikura’s ears pricked, head swivelling towards the river at the splashing. She was actually hungry, now she thought about it, and she released the cub from her grasp to settle back on her haunches.
Kisra clumsily copied the movements of her mother, lying almost completely flat against the riverbank, her pupils dilating with every splash.
“Go on, Kisra. Catch one for us.” She whispered, nudging the cub forward.
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Post by beastly on Jan 31, 2024 21:58:35 GMT -6
"I love you too."
Vincent returned his partner's expression, pulling his half-smile as he gazed at Malak fondly. He enjoyed their quiet mornings when they could grab them, the peace golden. He shared a comfortable lull in dialog and sat absorbing her presence.
The spell was broken when she stood up, and Vincent groaned and joined her standing, looking for where he'd discarded his robe.
"I don't have a preference, the vitamins are in the pulp."
He wasn't entirely sure if that was true or not, but it felt true and he wasn't about to question it. He didn't mind pulp, even if sometimes the children pulled faces. It was good for them, and really it had so much sugar they shouldn't be complaining.
Vincent had grabbed his robe and had it draped over his arm as he made his way over to grab some real clothes for the morning- but then there was a loud thunk against the door. It was not immediately followed by screaming or crying, but his instincts kicked in and he threw on the robe, search for clothing abandoned.
"I'm on it."
He settled for pulling the robe on and tying the sash, then opening the door.
"Alright," he began, looking for the source of the noise, "I'm up. What was that?"
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Post by jarahamee on Feb 1, 2024 1:21:59 GMT -6
Kisra wound up her body like a spring, bounding back towards the water. Her body collided with the surface, projecting water out towards the center of the body of water. Selsi snorted softly but did not comment. Rika knew that an experienced hunter would have understood that it was far too forceful an approach, but for this, it didn’t matter.
This hunt was a learning experience, and Rika and Selsi knew well enough that whether the cub succeeded, they would have more than enough food. And if she was successful and they were lucky, they might end up with the treat of fresh spawner eggs.
Selsi raised her head, gaze watchful, in case there was more than just other fish following the school. Rika knew that she could rely on her quick reflexes in a pinch.
The cub swam out into the lazy river, splashing her away after her targeted fish. She was quick, and her teeth sunk into one of the many slippery bodies making their way down the river. The front claws dug in and her head thrashed one way, then another, tugging on a fast moving shape nearly her size.
A fish. A big one.
Probably a large female from the bright red color. A breeding female in her colors, filled with eggs was a special treat for their kind. Kisra growled loudly as she struggled, but Rika knew full well she wouldn’t be able to land such a big fish.
Rika watched her body disappear under the gentle ripples of the river's surface as the fish turned, diving down and taking the cub with it.
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Malak raised an eyebrow at his ‘vitamins are in the pulp’ comment but decided not to tell him that /fiber/ was actually what was in the pulp, and that was also good for you. She merely nodded, and wrote down ‘with pulp,’ before putting down her phone and pulling her nightgown off over her head. She then reached blindly to grab her undergarments off the dresser.
Something about the sight was both strange and familiar to him. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it. She usually changed in front of him since they had been married, twelve years ago. Her body was lanky and curve-less with sinuous muscle. Her skin, like her eyes, had a faint golden glow. Like the finest powdering of gold dust where light touched her.
She glanced at him, offering a pair of his socks that she had found in her drawer, when she both heard the ‘thunk’ and watched his response.
Malak merely nodded in weary approval as Vincent made the executive decision to wear his silk Dragon Robe out into the house, shrugging on a bra in the process. She usually didn’t leave the room until she was fully dressed, and rarely took off more than her jacket when she wasn’t winding down for bed.
Vincent stepped out into the living-room, closing their bedroom door behind him. Unsurprisingly, he entered a scene of relative chaos.
Joey had brought his soccer ball into the living-room, and had been punting it across the floor behind Cinnamon and his sister. So that was what hit the door.
Despite his halo and angelic curls, their oldest child was boisterous and mischievous. The area around his mouth was still smeared with pizza sauce from his bagel bites. He glanced up as Vincent entered, almost guiltily, and stepped on the still-rolling ball. He had already changed into his soccer jersey and shorts, and Vincent spotted the skeleton gloves they had bought him for Christmas on his hands. Vincent might have thought his son was being proactive, then remembered that sometimes Joey was so lazy he would sleep in some of the clothes he was planning to wear the next day. That was probably it.
“Hi dad.”
Closer to the television, Ilea, the youngest, clutched her plush stag beetle to her chest with one arm, and was stuffing her mouth with a bagel bite in the other. Quiet, with somber golden eyes, she resembled her father more than her mother. Her dark hair was curly, and her skin was perhaps a shade darker than his, but otherwise, the resemblance was unmistakable. She was wearing her 'Fiddling Cricket' pajamas, and her face brightened immediately, without a shred of remorse or guilt, and ran towards Vincent to hug him.
“DAD!!! You’re awake!”
The single remaining bite on the table appeared to be in the midst of consumption by their resident imp, and honorary third child, Cinnamon, who was standing directly on the children’s play table.
There were crayons and paper scattered on the floor. The television was playing a cartoon about a robotic boy and his pet robotic dog.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Feb 1, 2024 10:29:25 GMT -6
“Use your tail, Kisra,” Rika offered, and then sighed and slumped down as she watched the cub get dragged beneath the surface. It was a very large fish. But the best and only way to learn was through experience.
Selsi stretched languidly, and nudged Ashai forward with her blunt muzzle.
“Go on. Help your kin.” She instructed.
The cub leapt into the water with the same graceless enthusiasm of his sister, diving out of sight almost immediately.
They were still young. Clumsy, and plump like all well-cared cubs were. But day by day they became stronger swimmers, more vicious hunters. They’d either land the fish or they wouldn’t, and their mothers were both content to wait and watch regardless.
Selsi padded nearer, and Rika raised her head, purring as they bumped their heads against one another. The smaller Taikura flopped down, pressing against her side, and Rika rested her chin on the top of her head, slinging one broad paw over her side.
“Do you think they’ll land it?” Selsi murmured, twisting her head to absentmindedly groom herself.
Rika made a noncommittal noise in the back of her throat, eyes half shut.
“Maybe. They’re getting so big.”
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Post by beastly on Feb 2, 2024 22:53:07 GMT -6
Ah. The soccer ball, Vincent quickly identified. No one was hurt. There was no broken glass.
Vincent took in the scene, his children causing mild chaos. A regular Saturday morning, but his heart suddenly felt very full at the sight. A swell of affection for his trio of troublemakers.
Still. There was no soccer allowed in the house. Not with Joey's actual soccer ball, anyway. The rule had been instated after the death of a lamp, and now soccer balls lived outside or in the garage. Only soft soccer balls were allowed inside.
"'Morning, Joe-" Vincent paused to catch Ilea as she ran for a hug, picking her up, "Good morning, Ilea and Cinnamon."
He shifted to hold Ilea in one arm, putting his other hand on his hip as he addressed soccer boy.
"No soccer in the house, guys. You'll be playing plenty later, Joey."
Vincent took note of the mess the children had produced, spun Ilea, and then set her down by the TV. Things needed to be cleaned up, Ilea needed to get dressed, they needed to have some real food if they were still hungry, teeth needed to be brushed, hair done.
"Alright, crew. Are you all full on bagel bites? How many did you eat?"
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Post by jarahamee on Feb 3, 2024 2:40:06 GMT -6
Selsi huffed softly out of her nose, a warm ‘thwuff’ from her slitted nostrils. Her large dark eyes half-closed in a mixture of relaxation and trust in their cubs’ abilities. The two would land the fish. She felt it in her bones.
If they were gone under the water too long, she’d have to go find them, and that was that, but until that moment, she would just relax and sit there, and enjoy the warm summer air. She turned her head and licked Rika’s neck casually, as if she had just strayed a little farther from grooming herself, and was now grooming her mate.
In the water, the cubs disappeared for almost a minute, but Rika knew well enough they could hold their breath for longer than that. Just when they were hitting the cusp of a concerning amount of time underwater, the water-slicked backs of the cubs resurfaced, slapping the water violently as they struggled against the current and the very large fish trying to escape them.
The two pulled against it; a common predatory tactic, tugging the tail it was trying to use to power its escape towards the shore. It pulled against them, but Rika could see, even after this short fight, it was tiring.
The two fought with the fish for a good fifteen minutes, which Selsi counted as fifteen blessed moments of peace with her mate, never mind their occasional angry shouts as it slipped their jaws or tried to dive again.
Under her breath she murmured;
“I know they are a lot, but sometimes, I wish they would never grow up…”
Somewhere within Rika’s chest was a strange feeling. A touch of dizziness. Then, somewhere in the back of her head, came words unbidden;
DO YOU LIKE IT HERE?
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“Ok, ok, not walls either.”
Joey shrugged noncommittally, picking up his soccer ball. He seemed to think that kicking it places besides the furniture couldn’t possibly be a violation of the potential rules. His halo glowed a little brighter as he juggled the ball with his legs, only to catch it in his hands.
He glanced at what was probably an empty bag on the counter, and then looked at Vincent with apparent sheepishness.
“I think… I ate ten. Are you going to make eggs and bacon?”
Joey’s face brightened at the thought of eating more food. Apparently, even after eating ten bagel-bites, he was more than happy to keep eating if it was something he wanted to eat. Vincent was reminded how much he consumed now that he had entered the beginning of his little growth spurt. Even his face was starting to lose some of its baby-softness.
“YAY! Again!!”
Ilea screamed with joy as Vincent spun her around, squeezing his arms hard with her little hands. She giggled with the pure joy that he knew only a small child like her could embody. She was getting strong, and heavy.
The moment he put her down, she squeezed his legs with her little arms, holding him tightly as she huddled up against him in a second form of a big hug. She looked up at him with wide golden eyes.
“I’m…. a snail. SQUISH!”
Ah yes. Another permutation of the bug obsession. At least this time she hadn’t come out in Vincent’s sleeping bag, pretending to be a worm.
She put her fist against her mouth, as if contemplating, nibbling on a finger as she stared off behind him.
“Um. One hundred!”
The empty package only contained twenty bagel bites, so Vincent knew it was not a hundred.
Behind Vincent, a fully dressed Malak walked out of the room. He didn’t need to see her to feel her presence; she was like a cold wind that crept up someone’s spine, and her long shadow often had a life of its own, distinct from either lighting, logic or reason.
She wore her black suit with a knit turtleneck. Black had always been her preference, and she had told him once that she preferred the kind of profile that suits gave her. Even during their wedding, she had insisted on wearing one, and he had worn a white suit jacket. The style had to be similar; she had always called the two of them a matched set.
She walked to his side, and placed an arm around his waist gently, then frowned at the mess.
“Who’s going to clean up the crayons and paper? ”
Malak asked in her most serious voice.
It was then that Vincent had the distinct feeling of dizziness that often came with feeling disembodied. His life with Malak had made it familiar, but this was different. Like another presence of him within himself.
DO YOU LIKE IT HERE?
It asked him.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Feb 5, 2024 21:52:09 GMT -6
Rika purred louder. She closed her eyes completely, soaking in the warmth of the sun on her coat and the repetitive, soothing rasp of Selsis grooming, feeling a content and blissful peace fall over her.
It was nice when it was just the two of them. They were either with the clan or out with the cubs. She loved Selsi for her ferocity and sharp intelligence, but she loved it even more when she got to experience the softer side of the Taikura.
“I know…they are so sweet at this age.” She murmured back. “But think of what fine hunters they’ll grow-“
A wave of dizziness and a sudden tightness in her chest cut her off, and she sat up abruptly, blinking.
Of course I do, she thought, why wouldn’t I?
Selsi’s muzzle wrinkled as she moved away, and she looked up at Rika expectantly, the tip of her tail twitching in irritation.
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Post by jarahamee on Feb 10, 2024 23:22:25 GMT -6
Selsi’s ears flattened, and she brushed her face beneath Rika’s. She was irritated by the sudden change, but there was a touch of concern there too. Something was wrong, and she seemed to be able to sense it.
Far off, in the water, the cubs were struggling with the spawner, but even now, Rika could see their slow progress. Bright red blood trailed around them, but they paid no heed. They were far too excited by the thrill of the chase and their game at hand. As they broke the water’s surface, thrashing gracelessly with the fish, she heard their intermittent growls and gleeful grumbles.
The voice in her head continued;
Do you want to stay here?”
Rika thought, “Where else would I go?”
The voice responded, “You can stay here, or you can go back.”
Intrusively, painfully, Rika faced sudden memories of her other life. Her /real/ life. But wasn’t this Rika also real? Her thoughts, memories and feelings were as real as she could ask and yet… Rika knew this wasn’t her reality.
Rika rose, upset, and bump her head against Selsi’s. Rika was quiet for a moment, then replied;
“I need…to go back.”
Selsi looked concerned and licked the side of her mate’s cheek. She made a soft questioning sound.
The voice answered, “You can stay here if you want. Become my priestess and you can spend all your idle time with your loved ones. Happy, in the other world. Wouldn’t you want that?”
Rika stood conflicted. She spent another long moment thinking, then replied; “There are people who need me. If this isn’t real…I can’t stay here.”
The voice replied, “It’s real to her. This is her world. You could have been enjoying it…”
Rika answered,
“Take me back. This isn’t my real family.” She thought aggressively, though she pressed her forehead against Selsi’s. Her mate seemed perplexed but pressed her face back against Rika’s.
“What’s wrong?”
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Post by beastly on Feb 12, 2024 9:49:33 GMT -6
"Not within the walls," Vincent corrected, " If you're all still hungry, we can do some healthier food for your bellies."
He ruffled Ilea's curly hair, smiling as he felt his wife's presence enter the room. He nodded as she spoke, and looked over their little trouble makers.
"Your uncles are coming to visit today. We need to make sure everything is tidy."
Cinnamon scurried down the table, cheeks still full of pizza bagel, and grabbed a little fist full of crayons. He said something incomprehensible, pizza muffling his words.
Vincent was shook by the intrusive thought, not one of his, and not something Malak was responsible for. He was gripped with an unease. Something in the back of his mind squirmed.
What? Of course...
"I'm going to start breakfast," He announced a bit abruptly, "Clean up. Ilea, get dressed."
He patted Malak's hand and then pulled away to go into the kitchen and start prepping breakfast in an attempt to shake off the weird feeling.
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Post by jarahamee on Feb 12, 2024 18:18:54 GMT -6
“That’s today? When will they be here? Dinner?”
Joey spun the ball on his palm idly, his face brightening with the mention of his uncles’ visit. Vincent knew that at least some of that had to do with the gifts of toys and candy that his brothers usually brought with them, along with ‘forbidden’ movies and other kinds of spoilage.
Ilya let go of Vincent’s leg after one final squeeze, rubbing sleep out of her eye with the arm that wasn’t clutching her plush toy.
“They’re bringing candy?” She asked, less tactful, and more straight to the point than her brother. Her eyes glittered with immediate and intense interest as she trailed after Vincent, forgetting about the fighting-robot-boy on tv.
Malak slipped away from her partner, intertwining their pinkies briefly and smiling at him before heading up to the kitchen counter. It was something she had done since they were friends, which seemed to take the place of hugs. She’d never been a touchy person, at least not until they were very, very good friends…
Do you want to stay here?
The voice came again with a touch of disorientation. A little dizziness. This place was real. Vincent was real, but there was something more. A whole other universe of Vincent.
Vincent put a hand to his head, overwhelmed by the sudden resurgence of his other self. He remembered everything. He remembered the world where he had lead a very different, very violent life. Malakhi.
He didn't have his babies there. Or his brothers. He didn't have his class. The temptation was terrible- but he remembered what he'd been doing. The cave. The reality warping. He didn't belong. Malakhi needed him back. Cinnamon.
"I can't."
Why not? You could have it all. This is real. Another Vincent Hudson lived this life. You could be him if you became my Priest.
The voice was patient. Emotionless. Matter-of-fact.
Vincent's hands started to shake. He wanted it. He wanted to be this man. A much better man, a man without blood on his hands. The part of him that knew his babies, it hated the thought of leaving his wife and children.
But they weren't his wife and children. Other-Vincent married Malak. Other-Vincent had almost fainted when he had held Joey for the first time. Other-Vincent hadn't killed his brothers.
Horror, anger, and despair mixed.
"I. Can't. You need to put me back. N-now. NOW!"
He shouted at the ceiling, latching onto anger as the only helpful emotion he was generating.
Malak turned, noting his outburst, and walked back to his side, her expression dampened with concern. She reached out to take his hand, turning it over carefully to look at its palm, and then up at his face.
“Honey, lift your arms. Can you count backwards from ten?”
She asked, her voice level and calm.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Feb 12, 2024 19:55:55 GMT -6
Rika’s eyes squeezed shut, her claws digging hard into the sand, still pressing her face against Selsi’s.
“Nothing, my love.” She replied softly, even knowing it wasn’t her real mate.
This wasn’t fair. It had been so long since she’d been torn from her family. Been with anyone of her own kind. The years had passed by and she had made a new life for herself, and she’d missed them terribly for every second of it, but the hurt had finally become manageable.
And now it all rushed back, more painful than ever. Her heart ached from it.
“Take me back now,” she thought, with a rare surge of anger. She couldn’t stand to be here another second. To even look at the cubs or her mate. “Now!”
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Post by beastly on Feb 13, 2024 12:37:54 GMT -6
Vincent looked at Malak, and shook his head, putting his free hand through his hair. He didn't belong here. He wasn't part of this. He had to go. This was... a result of whatever was in that 'bubble'. His expression softened for a fraction of a second.
"N-no, it's..."
He looked back at a point in the ceiling he'd decided to direct his words to, speaking louder than he ever usually did.
"I'm n-not going to be your priest! Put me back! I won't do it!"
She must think he was crazy. He didn't know how real she was, or how any of this worked, if he was visiting the head of a different Vincent and messing up his morning. He didn't want to scare her. Or the children. But. He tried not to let that hold him back. He wasn't going to do whatever it was this thing in the woods wanted. He had to get back to Malakhi. He needed to make it back home. This wasn't home.
He grabbed the spatula from the counter and flung it particularly hard at that spot on the ceiling.
"NOW!"
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Post by jarahamee on Feb 13, 2024 20:38:22 GMT -6
There was a moment when the blood rushed in Rika’s ears as she squeezed her eyes closed. She could still hear the children splashing, fighting with the spawner in the river. The clatter of gravel around their feet was unmistakable as they struggled with the thrashing prey their own size. It was weakening, she knew it in her blood.
Next to her, Selsi licked her cheek, alarmed by her sudden thrashing, her outcry. She made soft bark of alarm, and the kits echoed it, pausing in their struggles as the spawner gasped on the shore beside them.
The Taikura saw stars behind her closed eyes, felt the dizziness intensify, and then the light-headed feeling that came with loss of consciousness.
AS YOU WISH
And then Rika opened her eyes again. She was a fit human woman, wearing the swat-like uniform of the WDSA’s field unit. In her right hand she held a flashlight, which illuminated the Cathedral-like interior of the natural cave. It was cool and quiet within.
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Things seemed to move in slow motion for Vincent. Malak moved to take Vincent’s throwing hand in her own, holding it tightly, her gold eyes wide with worry as she looked up at him. She quickly grasped his other hand, pressing herself to him, as if that and the strength in her thin arms would prevent another outburst.
“Vincent? What’s wrong?”
Her voice took a harder edge, one lined with fear, and she pressed both of his hands together in hers. Her fingers were deathly cold, and from this angle, he could see her wedding ring suspended on a chain around her neck. Her profession made rings difficult, but she had always made it work.
Behind the counter, he heard Ilya’s concerned voice pipe up.
“Dad?”
But the choice had already been made. He felt another wave of dizziness, the strange lightheaded feeling that he normally would have aligned with faintness. The light of his vision was extinguished, the sound of voices around him faded.
AS YOU WISH
Vincent opened his eyes. He was on his knees, wearing his hiking gear and pack. He was cold and his knees were damp. The cave around them was Cathedral-like, cool and quiet. Rika’s light had illuminated the interior.
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Merit was holding Rika’s hand in front of Vincent, having taken her work gloves off. There was a flash of concern in her dark eyes.
“Hello? Hey?”
Caverns branched off in every direction, pillar-like stalactites stretched from floor to ceiling against the walls. Rubble and debris were scattered around. Water dropped onto her forehead from above. There was a soft hum in the air, as if people were speaking distantly.
Against the far wall, a single beam of light from somewhere outside the cave illuminated what looked like a single piece of fallen green stone.
In front of it, a figure was stooped in a bowed position, as if in prayer. It was wearing military gear, their gun still strapped to their back. It was entirely motionless, like a statue.
Around the trio were a number of fresh-looking boot prints, apparently leading further into the depths.
Merit glanced over at Vincent, then over at the motionless, kneeling figure.
“Is everyone ok?”
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