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dada_dragon • 10 December 2016 at 10:51 PM
James grabbed the matches with shaking fingers and went to work on getting the fire going.His first two attempts ended in failure, but he was successful on his third. Soon, he had a decent fire going, warming up the cave significantly. James took off his boots, setting them near the fire to dry."Well, I suppose it could be worse."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 10 December 2016 at 11:05 PM
@dada_dragon ~~~Vladan could feel that something was bothering him, but he couldn't really tell what it was. The man rubbed his hands together, then placed them in front of the fire. The heat was helping significantly, and he could feel his fingers again. He realized what was nagging at him when he felt his stomach grumble quietly."I haven't eaten since we landed." Vladan admitted.
dada_dragon • 10 December 2016 at 11:26 PM
James nodded. "I haven't eaten since yesterday... It's been a long day..."He sighed, setting another small branch on the fire."I wonder if the others are still waiting for us..." he said quietly. "I'd like to think Kita wouldn't leave without us, but I really don't know what to believe about her anymore..."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 10 December 2016 at 11:35 PM
@dada_dragon~~~Vladan glanced over at James with his bloodshot eyes. "What do you mean by that?" He asked moreso to keep the conversation going than out of worry or curiosity."My men wouldn't leave without me. Not after I just saved their hides." Vladan said, though he didn't believe his words. He knew that he was on bad terms with most of his soldiers because of his attitude and arrogance but then again...Vladan shook his head."They would never leave me." He repeated, trying to convince himself more than James.
dada_dragon • 10 December 2016 at 11:43 PM
"Kita is... I don't know..." he said, scratching the back of his neck. "I thought I knew her... all these years that we fought together... I never had reason to doubt her before... and now..."He tossed another branch on the fire."It's like I don't even know her... ever since she met you."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 10 December 2016 at 11:53 PM
@dada_dragon ~~~"I'm s-" Vladan stopped himself. When was the last time he said sorry? When was the last time he actually felt bad for something he did? "People change." Vladan finally said. "It might have been my fault. It might have been yours. Could also be her." Though that was what he said, Vladan knew that he had taken part no matter how little or large his role was.He picked up the knife, weighing it absentmindedly as he spoke."She..." Vladan trailed off. What was he going to say?She was the one that convinced me to come.She always talks about you.She loves you.Vladan went silent, then..."She doesn't like me very much."
dada_dragon • 11 December 2016 at 12:15 AM
"Could've fooled me..." James said coldly. "It seems like every time I turn my back, she's over at your place... She stopped visiting me... She kept secrets...""She won't confide in me anymore..." he added. "Whenever I was home, I'd wake up to her screaming in her sleep, and when I went into her room to wake her up... She wouldn't tell me why. I'm worried about her... Nothing used to bother her... I don't know what happened...""But I guess it's my fault... I wasn't there for her..."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 11 December 2016 at 1:05 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~"Maybe." Vladan said guiltily. The man cleared his throat awkwardly. He tossed the knife lightly from his right to his left hand. The man took in a light breath, and the cold stung his throat. He glanced towards the entrance of the cave. It was dark, and the wind battered angrily against the stones. Snow had begun to fall, and soon enough the tiny flakes turned into icy hailstones.It took a while, but Vladan finally broke the long silence."I let things get out of hand." Vladan admitted.He closed his eyes.---The loud screeching coming from the phone made him wince. He was worried, but wasn't sure if it was because Kita was in danger or because it sounded like his favorite car was being destroyed.Vladan passed it off as the car."You know, right now, the last thing I care about is your car, Vladan. This guy is trying to commit vehicular homicide and I am pinned." Kita said angrily. "What on earth did you do to get him so angry?"Even though the situation was dire, he couldn't help but grin at her attitude."Vladan, he's right on my tail. He-" There was a loud crack, and Vladan could see the smoke in the distance. The smile was wiped straight off his face.He stepped on the gas.---Vladan explained. "She shouldn't have borrowed my car. A lot of people want my head..." He trailed off. "She was just unlucky enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time."---He could see Kita tied up against the pole. He locked eyes with her, and realized what she was trying to communicate to him."DAWN, NO!" Vladan yelled out.Torch's arms exploded into a violent mess of red flames. It looked as if the fire was about to consume Dawn, but he could see her fall backwards. He blinked just in time to see Torch's entire body erupt into writhing fire. Vladan could see Kita grab Dawn's arm, and his eyes softened at the sight of her moving around freely.She would be okay.A loud bang caught his attention, and he focused back on the battle.---"It should have been me." Vladan said absentmindedly as the memories came flooding back.---"Vladan... It... Wasn't... Me..."He looked down at her collapsed body, then the flaming rubble that used to be Russel's car. "Vladan... I'm sorry..."Though Kita was the one apologizing, he knew that he was the one that should have been sorry.'Sorry for getting you involved.' he wanted to say.But he didn't.He remained stoic.---"Puppet..." Vladan said aloud. "He broke her."His palm hurt from how tightly he was gripping the knife, and he released it from his hand. It fell to the floor with a small thud."He has a way with people." he said. "Getting inside peoples' heads..." Vladan forced himself to look at James. "It's not like mine." He admitted. "It's no surprise she took it that harshly...I had to deal with him once..." Vladan shivered. "He's gone now...I made sure of that." The man remembered using the rest of the ammo in the gun to finish off Puppet, even though the freak was already long gone.He shook his head."I brought her back to my house." He said. "I'm not quite sure what happened after that..everything went black for me...but when I woke up she seemed fine."Vladan smiled to himself now, suddenly remembering what Kita had said on the way back.He kept it to himself.---"You were a pretty terrible friend." Vladan had to struggle to hear the second part, but what she said made it worth the trouble. "But you were alright on violin."He remembered smiling at Kita's words. She seemed to be the only one that could get to him the way she did."Dawn was pretty great... She saved that one girl... Didn't actually learn her name... And the twin... They were twins, right?... She saved the other girl."His breath caught in his throat at her next words."You're not so bad... Vladan." ---He knocked himself out of his revelation."She wasn't used to it." Vladan said matter of factly. "It was probably a huge leap from what you and her are used to."
dada_dragon • 11 December 2016 at 1:35 AM
James stared at him, stunned. He hadn't expected him to show remorse... Maybe it was the cold getting to him, but it was such a far cry from his usual behaviour that it startled him."Okay... you need to slow down..." he said quietly. "She told me about that night, but... She always seemed reluctant to talk about the details... who's Puppet...?"@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 11 December 2016 at 2:08 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~"Puppet was..." He trailed off as he struggled to find the right words to describe the deceased enabled. "Puppet was a monster." Vladan said. "Tall. Slender." Vladan paused, unsure now of how he could explain exactly what Puppet was. "Cruel." he added."He had mind control." Vladan said. "Something of that sort. Not like me though. Puppet could control people at will...like a puppet. No repercussions. I always felt...""I always felt a bit inferior, you know." Vladan said. "I knew him before this--" he laughed bitterly as he motioned at his red eyes. "Before everything."He reached over for a branch, poked at the fire with it, then shoved it in."Puppet was very vengeful." Vladan said. "He could make people say and do things...bad things.""I'm glad Kita was only with him for a little bit. It was a short amount of time, but it still took it's toll on her.""You know." There was a darkness in his eyes when he spoke. "He was mute."He went silent."Puppet lost his voice because of me."Vladan went silent again."He was my friend before he was Puppet." He whispered, barely audible.
dada_dragon • 11 December 2016 at 2:27 AM
James looked down at the fire. To be controlled like that... made to act against her will...He knew her... she acted tough, but she liked to be in control... take that away, and she would become reserved, almost anxious... Something like Puppet..."What happened between you two...? You and Puppet..."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 11 December 2016 at 3:36 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~"His name was Ero.""It..." He watched James as he processed the information, hesitated, then continued. "It was 2 years after my girlfriend was murdered." --The harsh knocking didn't make the pounding in Vladan's head any better."I'm letting myself in." Ero yelled. He barely had enough time to wipe the tears off his face.Vladan scoffed, and turned to see Ero barreling into the kitchen. He faltered when Ero tussled his hair. "Don't do that." Vladan said. He tried to make himself sound annoyed, but failed miserably when he cracked a smile."Hey--" He cried out in protest when Ero grabbed the glass of whiskey out of his hand. "That was mine." He grumbled. Vladan shoved Ero playfully, before standing up to fetch another glass. He poured it up to the brim."Why are you here this late at night anyway?" Vladan questioned."I thought I would come check up on you.." Ero's green eyes widened slightly with worry. "I know today was the day that Kirah--""Don't." Vladan interrupted roughly.Ero ran a hand through his blonde hair. Vladan watched in silence as Ero refilled the glass he had taken earlier. The pair took turns with the bottle, and soon enough the whiskey container was empty. The blonde broke the silence."You should find someone else." Ero blurted out. "You know...It's been 2 years, you should open your options to somebody new." He rushed through his words. "I know how you feel, Vladan. It must be lonely."Vladan grit his teeth in irritation. "I'm not lonely." He replied. Ero stood, before stumbling over and taking a seat besides Vladan. "I..I just need more time." He said, turning to Ero."Two years is more than enough time." Ero whispered. The blonde placed his hands on Vladan's cheeks."Ero..." Vladan trailed off in confusion, unsure of what was happening. "I...""Love you." Ero finished, leaning in for the kiss.Maybe he was right... Maybe this was what he needed... Maybe....It didn't feel right.Vladan opened his eyes. He pushed Ero away, all the while stumbling backwards. "I need more time." He said, a little short on breath. Vladan could see the hurt in Ero's green eyes. They maintained eye contact, and Vladan wasn't sure if Ero was doing it on purpose or not. He could sense the hurt, the sadness, the betrayal and the anger."She's dead, Vladan." Ero spat out angrily. "That ugly piece of sh--" Vladan tackled Ero into the wall before he could finish his sentence. He stared down angrily into Ero's wide eyes."I'm sorry I didn-""Shut up!" Vladan yelled.--"I forgot." Vladan said to James. "I didn't know what I was doing...I didn't mean for him to..." He gazed into the flames."I hate fire."--He watched as the paramedics rolled Ero away on a stretcher. Vladan made to follow them out the door, but was shoved backwards by an officer."We have some questions to ask you before you can go."--"They interrogated me for hours...thought I was the one that burned him." Vladan pursed his lips. "I guess I was." He chuckled bitterly."When they finally let me go, it was morning. I went to see him, but when I stepped into his room...he was gone. The nurses said that he had gone to sleep after the treatment. I suppose he escaped as soon as he woke up."A stray gust of wind blew through the cave, and the fire weakened a little bit. Vladan stoked it with another piece of wood."Ero died years before Puppet did."He looked at James."Go ahead, make fun of me." Vladan muttered. "You wanted to know what happened."
dada_dragon • 11 December 2016 at 12:19 PM
James shook his head."No... it's... I get it." He said. "Kita and I both felt responsible for what happened to Xavior... For the first month... she'd always break down whenever she'd come to visit. They didn't even let her in a couple of times because she... well... she dealt with her problems differently back then...""As for me.... I never told her directly, but I'm sure she knew how I felt... I was there when he died... I tried to help him, but I was too afraid to use my power to fight... I didn't want to hurt the guy too badly... and now look what happened...He sighed. "So... just... I understand..."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 11 December 2016 at 5:33 PM
@dada_dragon ~~~"It just feels like every time something good comes my way I manage to screw it up." Vladan admitted. "So I just stopped trying.""I want to give up." Vladan said. "But giving up is weakness and weakness disgusts me."He smiled at James."Being rude and insensitive is much easier than getting hurt over and over again."
dada_dragon • 11 December 2016 at 6:28 PM
"I suppose it is..." he said. "But you're already hurting right? It's just a different pain... And it isn't like Kita doesn't care about you..."He sighed, not sure if he was willing to admit it."She shut everyone else out when Xavior died... everyone but me... she cut off ties and only left the house when she felt like fighting criminals... or just fighting in general...""But you... she stuck around by you this long... Surely that means something..."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 11 December 2016 at 7:22 PM
@dada_dragon ~~~He felt his chest tighten at James's words. Vladan scoffed. "I couldn't care less about her." He knew he was lying, but forced himself to act aloof about it.Vladan looked over at Andrew."What are we going to do about him?" He said, changing the subject. "He's going to die out here...I'm sure his hospital clothes aren't very warm."
dada_dragon • 11 December 2016 at 10:51 PM
James looked down at Andrew. His skin was pale, but he was still breathing."I don't know... once we make it to the plane, he'll be fine... but in the meantime, I'll just do my best to keep the fire going all night..."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 11 December 2016 at 11:10 PM
@dada_dragon ~~~"If that's the case, I'm going to try to get some rest...I haven't been able to get a good night's sleep since I got here." Vladan laid down on the ground, back turned to the fire. Rocks dug uncomfortably into his side, but he tried his best to ignore it."Thank you." Vladan said, before adding quickly. "Let me know if you want to sleep, I'll take over when you're tired."
dada_dragon • 12 December 2016 at 12:51 AM
James sat awake for hours, occasionally adding a branch or two to the fire. It was dull, and he could feel himself falling asleep, but he forced himself to stay awake.Finally, about an hour before dawn, the storm began to let up. It was still freezing cold, but it was bearable at least. He moved over to wake up Vladan."Hey... we should get going before they come looking for us."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 12 December 2016 at 2:16 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~The blood dripping from the large cut across his face hurt, but he wasn't sure what hurt more--the fact that he was the reason Kirah died or that everything he had done for her was going to prove useless. His tears mixed with the dripping blood from the fresh wound across his eye. Vladan tried wiping them away, but winced when he touched the knife cut he had received a dozen minutes ago. The rain pounded angrily against his back, but he ignored it as he continued running through the forest.It wasn't long until the trees gave way into the empty city streets. Vladan found himself wandering through the roads. He was so deep in thought, he didn't notice the car pull over behind him.Somebody grabbed his arm, and Vladan nearly jumped out of his skin. He turned around, fist raised."Hey there, relax....what happened to you?"Vladan hesitated as he took in the stranger. Messy blonde hair, emerald eyes, a curious smile. "N-nothing." He stammered out."You look like you need some help...and that you've been involved in some things you shouldn't have been doing." The stranger looked Vladan's shivering form up and down. "Don't worry, I won't call the police. Just come with me and tell me what happened."Vladan nodded his head in compliance. Who else did he have at a time like this? With Kirah gone and several groups of armed men looking for him?"You can call me Ero." The stranger said.~~~He woke with a start, jolting awake and still delirious from the bad dream. The man lifted his hand up and felt his face, half expecting it to be wet from blood and rain. It took a bit, but he relaxed once he remembered where he was and who he was with."Y-yeah." Vladan said. "Right, let's get going." He said with fake nonchalance.He stood, then looked down at the patient. "You're taking him." Vladan commanded, slowly getting back into his usual swing of selfish arrogance.
dada_dragon • 13 December 2016 at 1:14 AM
James nodded, picking up Andrew, who was ice cold, but miraculously still breathing. They had to get him somewhere warm quickly..."I think there's a path that way." He said, pointing. "Maybe there will be directional signs or something so we can figure out where we are."@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 13 December 2016 at 1:25 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~Vladan scoffed. "I doubt it." He said, though he knew it was the best they could do in their current situation. The man made sure to pocket all the materials that he had shuffled out of the uniform when he had looked for the matches. He kept the knife out however, whether it was for something to do with his hands or for the sense of defense the weapon gave.The path had many dips, and Vladan found himself slipping multiple times throughout their long walk. Eventually, he lost feeling in his feet. He didn't know if it was because of the snow that had managed to creep it's way inside, or the thought that they were undeniably lost in the russian wilderness not too far from several hundreds of men that would pay to have their heads on a stick. He had begun to get used to the rhythm of James's and his own's footsteps hitting the frosty ground when...Vladan froze, and looked around with narrowed eyes. He held the weapon in front of himself defensively."Did you hear that?" He said to James. Vladan wasn't sure if he was imagining things, but he could have sworn there was an extra pair of footsteps.
dada_dragon • 13 December 2016 at 1:36 AM
James hadn't, but he stopped at Vladan's words and then heard what Vladan was hearing... Footsteps...James looked around for anywhere to hide, but they were in a clearing and all obvious hiding spots were in the direction of the sound.He leaned Andrew up against a tree and stood at the ready. There was no way they could run... not with feet as frozen as they were... There was only one person, which seemed unusual, but who was he to complain...? Perhaps..."I'm not going back without a fight... how about you...?"@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 13 December 2016 at 1:54 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~James's words flew right over his head. Vladan had been focusing intently on the footsteps, struggling to make out the direction of which they came. His grip had become deathly on the knife in his hand. Throughout their walk, he had tested the weight of the blade many times over, and found that it was very similar to the one that he had hurt Kita with not so long ago.Vladan couldn't hear the footsteps anymore, and he slowly turned his head to examine their surroundings. A small section of snow fell from one of the branches of a tree, and Vladan threw the knife.It embedded itself deep inside the wood."Come out or it'll be a bullet next time." Vladan called out, hefting the rifle.No reply.Vladan hesitated, then repeated the command--this time in russian.He almost mistook the man stepping out as a woman because of his feminine clothes. Vladan locked eyes with him, and his mouth opened into a small 'o' of surprise."You." Vladan said. "I thought you..." He saw the man fidget, and realized that the soldier was ready to make a break for it."Wait!" Vladan called out. "Don't leave, I won't hurt you this time." He said, maybe with a hint of desperation even.The other man hesitated, before stepping forwards with faltering steps. Vladan realized that since the man was one of Sochuv's men, he must be extremely familiar with these woods. And considering how he probably came from the vehicle that Kita and him had decided to trap him in...he probably knew the way back.The soldier was in terrible condition. He was shivering, and the wound in his leg looked absolutely disgusting...no doubt the cold was only making it worse."James." Vladan said. "Can you help him?"
dada_dragon • 13 December 2016 at 2:05 AM
James nodded.He walked towards the soldier, who flinched and began stepping back, before falling backwards into the snow as his leg gave out.James rushed over, startling him, but he raised his hands up in a gesture of peace."I'm going to help." He said quietly, as if to a frightened animal. The man seemed to understand, and relaxed slightly, though he watched Vladan very closely.He pressed his hand to the man's leg, which was nearly blue with cold and was like ice to the touch. He focused on coaxing the muscles together, knitting back together slowly to cause as little pain as possible. The skin healed over, leaving a pinkish scar, and the man let out a sigh of relief.@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 13 December 2016 at 2:50 AM
@dada_dragon ~~~Vladan ignored the soldier's wary glances. He knelt down in front of the man sitting on the icy ground. "All good?" Vladan asked with mock compassion. He placed a hand on the soldier's shoulder, rubbing his thumb against the man's collarbone."Do you remember where you came from?"A sharp yes nod."I want you to take us there." Another yes nod, this one a bit hesitantly."Yeah?" Vladan ridiculed. "If you act like a good boy, maybe I'll let you live..." He trailed off with a malicious grin. "Kita isn't here to protect you this time, eh?"Vladan stood now. He reached over the soldier's body and ripped the knife out of the tree. "Let's get going." He said, shoving the soldier forwards.
dada_dragon • 13 December 2016 at 12:07 PM
James didn't understand their conversation, but Vladan seemed to know what he was doing, so he picked up Andrew and followed. The weather seemed to have improved significantly, but all that meant was that the soldiers would be coming for them. They would need to move..."Do I really want to know what happened to him?" He asked Vladan, referring to the wound he'd just healed.@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 13 December 2016 at 2:04 PM
@dada_dragon ~~~Vladan gave James an amused chuckle. "Where do you think Kita and I got our uniforms from? She was a bit more lenient with her soldier, but I killed mine."He followed closely after the soldier, on edge and ready to attack should the man try anything. At this point, Vladan doubted it.
dada_dragon • 13 December 2016 at 2:54 PM
"That explains the lady's jacket, I guess." He said.They walked for a long while until the forest started to thin out. As they exited the trees, James spotted a vehicle with its window smashed and a hammer sitting conspicuously nearby."I take it we're not far from the plane now?"@bunnyshadow
bunnyshadow • 13 December 2016 at 3:25 PM
@dada_dragon ~~~"It should be..." Vladan said. He turned to the soldier. "Did you happen to see anyone when you were leaving..?"The man shook his head no."This was where we were dropped off." He said to James. "Do you have any way to contact anybody?"