Khalisha was dressed a bit differently than usual as she was hanging around in her room at the Blue Pegasus guild hall. She had a pair of long blue cargo pants on that were overly baggy, but somehow looked great on her (like most things she put on), and a tight-fitting black Tee that pushed her breasts up as accentuated her figure very nicely. Over all that, rather than her normal hoody she was wearing a long ankle-length blue cloak that hung open loosely but fluttered nicely whenever she moved. She had been playing a card game -- go fish -- with her friend Julia when she heard a loud, single knock on the door. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, she tilted her head to the side and looked blankly at the door for a few moments, wondering what could have made the noise. What the heck was that?...
Standing up quickly, Khalisha set her hand of cards down; she was losing anyway, because she'd decided not to cheat against the adorable little team mate of hers, so she didn't mind dropping the game for a moment. "Hang on, Jules, I'm gonna see who that was really quick, 'kay?" Khalisha walked up to the door as she spoke, her hips swaying like a runway model's as she walked. Opening the door, she leaned outside, bending over at the hips and pushing her butt up into the air like she always did whenever she bent over (it was a reaction to keep her balance, nothing quite as perverted as it may have looked). She looked from side to side in the hall, trying to spot who had knocked, but she had been too slow to catch the mailman. She looked down, now, and spotted the package that had been left for her, and her face lit up with excitement. Grinning widely, she closed her eyes and doubled over completely in an amazing cat-like show of flexibility. With almost no effort, she just folded over, her upper body parralel with her lower as she grabbed the package, holding the position for a moment to stretch herself out. Then, she stood back up and turned around, walking back into her room and kicking the door closed.
Sitting down, she plopped the package down in front of her and kept on grinning, now directing the smile at Julia. "Look, Juli!~ We got a present!" She said, being particularly fond of presents and just assuming that this was one. She hoped as much, anyway, because it would provide just the confidence boost that she'd been needing lately. She got out her magic cards and selected one out of the deck, channeling her magical energy into it and forming a box-cutter for her to open up the package with. "Here, let's open it up and see what's inside!" She said, dragging the blade against the top of the box and opening it up quickly, peering inside.
What she saw inside the package confused her, making her stop for a moment to try and process what she was looking at. It was a book, and what looked like an audio recording lacrima. She had no idea whatsoever who would want to send her something like this, and it actually worried her slightly. It was a present, so she was happy, but it was eerie that someone knew her name and saw fit to send her bloody stuff... Wait, bloody? Okay, now she was seriously creeped out.
What the heck? Is that really blood?! She thought, picking up the book and sniffing at the stains curiously. She recoiled at the scent, discovering that the blackish-red marks on the book (and on the lacrima too) were, in fact, some poor person's blood. She immediately found herself desperately hoping that whoever sent this was okay, and she had no idea why. She didn't even know the person, but this dark package shook her to the core in such a way that she couldn't stand the thought of the person actually being dead, especially since she immediately assumed that this was some sort of cry for help. Then she remembered that her team mate was just a child, and frantically stuffed the book back into the box and scratched the back of her head nervously. "Oh! Julia... Umm... Ehehehe... I... That was just... Ketchup! Yeah, that's all... Nothing to worry about!"
Soon after trying to cover up what was actually on the book, she realized she was being an idiot. She had to take her partner seriously, no matter what age she was, if they were gonna work dangerous missions together. "Oh, who am I kidding? This is really freaking me out, Jules... That's blood, on that book... I think we should read it, see if it gives us any clues as to who would send this to us...." She said, chewing on the tip of her tongue nervously as she finished speaking. She slowly took the book back out of the box, her hand shaking with nerves as she opened it up and started reading through it, reading it all out loud so that Julia could understand, knowing that the albino cutie pie couldn't read.
Shaken further by the strange text, Khalisha slowly put the book down, shivering and getting up. She walked over into the small kitchenette that she had in her room, pouring a glass of water for herself before coming back and sitting down once more, sipping it tenderly and activating the audio lacrima, trying to calm her nerves but knowing she had to learn more about what was going on. She needed to start what she finished, and in the end she knew she'd have to go help whoever sent this package. Knowing that, she figured it would be best if she learned as much as she could, and she had always been very good at maintaining her composure even against the scariest things, so she was sure she could handle it. Still, she wrapped an arm around Julia and held her close, not wanting her to freak out.
By the time the Lacrima had finished speaking, Khalisha realized she was clenching Julia so tightly that it was almost to the point of hurting the poor little girl. She loosened her grip, looking down at Julia and biting herself on the lip roughly. She knew for sure that they'd have to go take care of whatever was going on in the Spooky forest, and she also knew that it wouldn't be anywhere close to easy. IT actually scared her enough, already, to cause such an uncharacteristic show of nerves, but she knew she'd be able to handle whatever scary thing happened once they got there.... Or, at least, she hoped she could handle it, mostly for Julia's sake if she was gonna drag the little girl along with her. "Julia... You know we have to go and try to help them, don't you? It's our job now... They sent this to us with their last actions, whoever they were... Maybe it was that Lars fellow... Are you ready for this? You don't have to come with me if you don't want to.."
Standing up quickly, Khalisha set her hand of cards down; she was losing anyway, because she'd decided not to cheat against the adorable little team mate of hers, so she didn't mind dropping the game for a moment. "Hang on, Jules, I'm gonna see who that was really quick, 'kay?" Khalisha walked up to the door as she spoke, her hips swaying like a runway model's as she walked. Opening the door, she leaned outside, bending over at the hips and pushing her butt up into the air like she always did whenever she bent over (it was a reaction to keep her balance, nothing quite as perverted as it may have looked). She looked from side to side in the hall, trying to spot who had knocked, but she had been too slow to catch the mailman. She looked down, now, and spotted the package that had been left for her, and her face lit up with excitement. Grinning widely, she closed her eyes and doubled over completely in an amazing cat-like show of flexibility. With almost no effort, she just folded over, her upper body parralel with her lower as she grabbed the package, holding the position for a moment to stretch herself out. Then, she stood back up and turned around, walking back into her room and kicking the door closed.
Sitting down, she plopped the package down in front of her and kept on grinning, now directing the smile at Julia. "Look, Juli!~ We got a present!" She said, being particularly fond of presents and just assuming that this was one. She hoped as much, anyway, because it would provide just the confidence boost that she'd been needing lately. She got out her magic cards and selected one out of the deck, channeling her magical energy into it and forming a box-cutter for her to open up the package with. "Here, let's open it up and see what's inside!" She said, dragging the blade against the top of the box and opening it up quickly, peering inside.
What she saw inside the package confused her, making her stop for a moment to try and process what she was looking at. It was a book, and what looked like an audio recording lacrima. She had no idea whatsoever who would want to send her something like this, and it actually worried her slightly. It was a present, so she was happy, but it was eerie that someone knew her name and saw fit to send her bloody stuff... Wait, bloody? Okay, now she was seriously creeped out.
What the heck? Is that really blood?! She thought, picking up the book and sniffing at the stains curiously. She recoiled at the scent, discovering that the blackish-red marks on the book (and on the lacrima too) were, in fact, some poor person's blood. She immediately found herself desperately hoping that whoever sent this was okay, and she had no idea why. She didn't even know the person, but this dark package shook her to the core in such a way that she couldn't stand the thought of the person actually being dead, especially since she immediately assumed that this was some sort of cry for help. Then she remembered that her team mate was just a child, and frantically stuffed the book back into the box and scratched the back of her head nervously. "Oh! Julia... Umm... Ehehehe... I... That was just... Ketchup! Yeah, that's all... Nothing to worry about!"
Soon after trying to cover up what was actually on the book, she realized she was being an idiot. She had to take her partner seriously, no matter what age she was, if they were gonna work dangerous missions together. "Oh, who am I kidding? This is really freaking me out, Jules... That's blood, on that book... I think we should read it, see if it gives us any clues as to who would send this to us...." She said, chewing on the tip of her tongue nervously as she finished speaking. She slowly took the book back out of the box, her hand shaking with nerves as she opened it up and started reading through it, reading it all out loud so that Julia could understand, knowing that the albino cutie pie couldn't read.
- The Contents of The Book:
- "12 February, Day 647.
Today was a fun day. Me and Mary went on a picnic near the forest and spent the whole day talking about meaningless things. It really was a blissful experience and since she didn't have any problems today we were able to forget about reality, even if for just a day."
"19 February, Day 654.
It happened again. Mary collapsed again today and started mumbling about magical gates and how everything is going to be a nightmare. This is happening more and more often and I am getting really concerned now. No doctor knows what's wrong with her..."
"25 February, Day 660.
This is really getting out-of-hand! With each passing day Mary becomes more and more delirious. I don't know what to do any more. I've contacted every doctor and every mage I could find, but no one knows what's wrong with her. There has to be someone that can help..."
"1 March, Day 664.
This is my last hope. I contacted an exorcist who is said to be able to cure cases like Mary's. He's going to come tomorrow night. Maybe the end of this nightmare would finally come."
"2 March, Day 665.
It's a little before midnight now. The priest is going to come any minute and put Mary's troubled mind to peace once again."
"3 March, Day 666.
I... don't believe it. I remember last night... the purification ceremony... then something happened and I was sent flying, and Mary ran away towards the Spooky Forest. When I came to, the priest was lying on the ground with his heart gourged out. What on Earth happened last night? There's no time to waste, I know she's somewhere in the forest so I have to find her. I'll contact a couple friends from the Rune Knights and we'll set off to search for her. Please be okay, my love..."
From that point onward all pages are ripped from the book.
Shaken further by the strange text, Khalisha slowly put the book down, shivering and getting up. She walked over into the small kitchenette that she had in her room, pouring a glass of water for herself before coming back and sitting down once more, sipping it tenderly and activating the audio lacrima, trying to calm her nerves but knowing she had to learn more about what was going on. She needed to start what she finished, and in the end she knew she'd have to go help whoever sent this package. Knowing that, she figured it would be best if she learned as much as she could, and she had always been very good at maintaining her composure even against the scariest things, so she was sure she could handle it. Still, she wrapped an arm around Julia and held her close, not wanting her to freak out.
- The Audio Lacrima's Logs:
- "Date- 4 March. Time- 1:43 PM.
This is Lieutenant Jacob Lars, recording an audio log to document the investigation and search. I am assigned due to my expertise in the field of demonology. It seems that a woman has been possessed by an unknown type of entity, presumably a type of demon, and has escaped in the Spooky Forest. We are currently within the said forest ourselves, having a local guide us through. For some reason when we entered it a thick, almost unnatural, fog descended upon us but we were capable of navigating through the dense vegetation regardless. Currently we are standing in a forest clearing about 2 klicks north of the entrance. So far there's no sight of of neither hostiles nor the woman. It's unnaturally quiet. A bad omen."
"Date- 4 March. Time- 2:30 PM.
This is Lieutenant Jacob Lars documenting the investigation and search for the possessed woman in the Spooky Forest. This is log number two. It's been nearly an hour since the previous log and we've spent the time delving further north into the forest. It's crazy here. Everywhere you look there are huge trees and if you look up there is nothing but branches and leaves. The vegetation on the higher levels of the forest is incredibly dense, so there barely is any light down on ground level. It almost feels like we're alone in another world with no way out, and that damn fog isn't helping either. All this is taking it's toll on the minds of the others.
We're nearing another clearing. I guess we'll rest there for a while."
"Date- 4 March. Time- 2:45 PM.
This is Lieutenant Jacob Lars documenting the investigation. This is audiolog number three. Things are not looking good. The others are getting seriously paranoid and I can't really blame them. This place plays with your mind in a very freaky way. A few minutes ago we continued moving deeper into the forest, following our course north. The guys are really getting worried now. They say that every now and then they see someone's silhouette in the distance, just beyond the fog, watching them. Observing their every move. I have yet to confirm the existence of this shadow, but if it is there then it might be the woman we were sent to find. Next time the silhouette makes an appearance we'll go after it."
"Date- 4 March. Time- 666:666 PM.
*The sound of someone's ragged breath mixed with their crazed running could be heard for several minutes. After that the barely audible thud, as if someone being hit against a tree, interrupts the running*
This is Leu*static*nt Jacob *pant* Lars. We *static*eed help! We...we got sep*static*ed and the *static* took us out *pant* one by one. It's b*static*n watching us all along! Tor*static*ring us while studying it's *pant* prey. It's close, *static* the only one left *static* coming f*static* me. *static* *static* *static* the time *static* thre *static* ourty-five. (after that point the static becomes too great and you can't understand anything)
By the time the Lacrima had finished speaking, Khalisha realized she was clenching Julia so tightly that it was almost to the point of hurting the poor little girl. She loosened her grip, looking down at Julia and biting herself on the lip roughly. She knew for sure that they'd have to go take care of whatever was going on in the Spooky forest, and she also knew that it wouldn't be anywhere close to easy. IT actually scared her enough, already, to cause such an uncharacteristic show of nerves, but she knew she'd be able to handle whatever scary thing happened once they got there.... Or, at least, she hoped she could handle it, mostly for Julia's sake if she was gonna drag the little girl along with her. "Julia... You know we have to go and try to help them, don't you? It's our job now... They sent this to us with their last actions, whoever they were... Maybe it was that Lars fellow... Are you ready for this? You don't have to come with me if you don't want to.."
