| The Last Straw | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 25 2008, 03:39 AM (541 Views) | |
| Natara Hakim | Feb 25 2008, 03:39 AM Post #1 |
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Natara lay on a sleeping bag, in the loading bays of a random store in the market. Thankfully, she was alone. She checked her wristwatch; it read 3 a.m. She sighed. Natara had finally decided to run away, but she knew it wasn't going well. She only had the 34 euros she made last week. "Well, at least I finally got away..." Natara knew she was going to cry again. She was so strict and I had to run away; I had every right to. The previous night she fought with her mother again, however, this time her mother actually hit her. It was just a slap, but it still hurt Natara more than that. She was welling up now, all the thinking was making her upset. She pulled out a notebook and began drawing the small weeds in between the cracks in the concrete, to get the fight off her mind. Occasionally a teardrop would reach the paper, making a small wet spot on her paper. She put the paper down next to her and grabbed her backpack. She rummaged through her clothes, until she reached the bottom where she kept a few books. She stopped and threw the backpack down, and inhaled deeply. She ran her fingers up her forehead and through her hair, then laid back down. She began crying lightly, unable to stop thinking about the fight with her mother. She took off her glasses and put them into her bag. She was crying heavily now. She laid on the sleeping bag and waited for sleep to take her. |
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| Livia Meiland | Feb 26 2008, 01:02 AM Post #2 |
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Livia's hand slid over the back of a parked delivery truck as she approached the weeping noise from a loading bay. She shifted around in the dark, her wide clothes failing in their attempts to trip her up. Her blue parachute pants had patches in them, and her long coat protected her from the cold. Flitting about behind the backs of parked trucks she finally got herself in a good position to see her target. Somerled had decided to sleep tonight, which was best for him as she knew the territory and at least their sources let them know the new kid wasn't someone they'd need to kidnap. She watched as the dark skinned girl drew the weeds cracking up through the old pavement, crying softly. The crying bothered her a little, and didn't really tug on her heart strings, as much as repelled them. She hated seeing someone cry, mostly because their faces never look pleasant. Rising up, Livia dusted herself off and headed toward the girl, in plain sight. "Crying is not a good first impression." She stated, about halfway there, hands in her pockets, and her eyes watching the girl. She moved closer and closer still. Her heavy footsteps sounded muffled from under the hem of her pants. Upon getting near enough to have a conversation with the girl she took her hands out of her pockets and clapped them together. "Alright, lets get you packed up and we'll be on our way home, huh?" She gave a gritty smile. "Come one, come on." She said urging the girl to get up. |
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| Natara Hakim | Feb 26 2008, 01:28 AM Post #3 |
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Natara jumped at the sound of someone speaking. She threw her notebook down and recoiled into a corner, wielding a large pocket knife. She hid her face for a few seconds realizing the person had not attacked her. She lowered the knife and looked upon a girl, about the same age and seemingly the exact height. She wore large, and bulky clothing in Natara's mind. She finally realized that this girl had asked her to pack up and come with her. She didn't seem threatening but she still needed to know who she was. She folded the knife and returned it to her belt. "Who are you, any why should I go with you?" She tried to yell, but the scare had made her cry even heavier. |
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| Livia Meiland | Feb 26 2008, 01:48 AM Post #4 |
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A knife? She'd pulled a knife on her? Livia's cheeks burned as she struggled to keep her composure, but the girl put it up slowly after she realized what was happening. "Good, put that damned thing away, the Manor would have you terrified for a good bit of a week for that. Do not do that again." she said in a commanding tone. "My name is Livia, and, " she paused, "Gosh, I can't say this without sounding like the blasted American Intelligence Agency, but we've been watching you." "We don't much need you for anything, but your powers make you one of us." She paused for effect, but didn't manage it long with the girl's incessant crying. "For God's sake stop that stupid, infernal crying." She gently cradled her head in her hand, "Here I'm told I'll be dealing with a fueled, strong girl, and instead I get a degenerate pile of tear stained clothing. Seriously, stand yourself up and stop." Livia reached down to grab the girl by her arms, picking her up swiftly and getting her to her feet. "Now enough with the nonsense, I'm offering you a place to stay, a roof over your head." "Now come on, come on, pack up and come with me. If you don't I'll have to force you to come, and make you wish you'd politely taken up the offer." Her face was grim, and serious, the threat wasn't to be taken lightly. |
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| Natara Hakim | Feb 26 2008, 02:26 AM Post #5 |
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Natara stopped crying at the insult, nearly instantly. She stared at this Livia with piercing eyes. Who the hell is this girl anyway? She doesn't even know me and shes talking down to me. "Don't ever say crap like that again. You don't know what I've been through," this time she could get a yell out. She paused for a moment knowing that this girl saw her cry. "Fine, you saw me cry, don't tell anyone, it doesn't happen often so no one needs to know. I'm stronger than you think, you just caught me at a bad time. About the knife, you can never be too careful; for all I know you could have been some kind of murderer or rapist." She paused and studied this character. " Who's we anyway? Why have you been watching me?" Natara spoke with increasing hints of aggression and got closer to Livia and built up her form, to intimidate her. She stood waiting for an answer, but stopped, opting to put her things in her bag. She shouldered her bag and checked to make sure she had all her things. "Where is this place anyway?" She spoke with a much calmer voice, mostly out of exhaustion, however, she kept a steady hand on her knife, just in case. |
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| Livia Meiland | Feb 26 2008, 03:03 AM Post #6 |
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"There we go, it's good to know I didn't come down here for nothing." She ignored her stare, "Now I've given you my name, hopefully I get yours by the time we're done here." She frowned, "You know? Most of us at home, we've all been through something, whether physical or mental abuse, suppression, or neglect. I want to help you out, last thing you want to do is look a gift horse in the mouth. You're a smart and strong girl, but your not a friend of mine. I could take you there as one, or drag you home as a hostage, you'll take your pick eventually." She smirked, "that knife of yours is worthless compared to what you already have anyway." Livia crossed her arms and grew to 5 inches, and continued talking, "That's not going to work on me." she said, addressing the girl's intimidation tactic, "We live at Cathriss Gate, and we are a group of people such as you who live together and work together as a family. Cathriss, the Manor takes good care of us. You know those kidnappings, and thefts you hear of like common news now, that's us, that's the Manor." She waited till the girl stood back up, bag slung on her shoulder, " Cathriss is a couple kilometers into the woods, so be ready for a bit of a walk. If you seriously feel you need that knife, carry in around. It may help us get through the brush. " She began walking off towards the visible woods, "Come on, don't make me turn back around." |
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| Natara Hakim | Feb 26 2008, 03:23 AM Post #7 |
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Natara sighed. "I'm Natara Hakim. Just call me Natara. And I'd hope to go as a friend; I don't have too many of those." She smiled and shook her head in defeat, noticing that the girl had grown to a greater size than herself. Whether the girl had planned it, Natara herself became intimidated. "So, how many are there? and how did you learn to cover your tracks so well?" Truthfully, she didn't like the idea of people more intimidating or powerful than her, but it was better than home. She began to probe the mind of this one who promised salvation. She detected no real danger, other than this "Manor" entity that Livia spoke of. "Well I guess I'll go with her. I'm cold and would like to get to a shelter. So might as well follow her; better than a cold concrete slab." She spoke to herself. Natara pulled her bag down enough to put the knife inside her bag, as a gesture of trust. She ran up to her, and began following her into the woods. She normally stayed out of the woods, all of the stories made her afraid of the woods. Despite this she entered them, believing this Livia somehow was on good terms with whatever entity was in the woods. |
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| Livia Meiland | Feb 26 2008, 04:04 AM Post #8 |
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"There are a small amount of us now, most of the old residents have grown up and left, it was empty when I found it with the other two Runaways." She moved a branch above her head and shrunk back to her own size. Her pants were not drawn up at the cuffs so as not to catch on the roots and bushes about them. "As for the tracks, well let's just say we have a few tricks up our sleeves. Cathriss Gate will be our home until we're old enough to leave, so we never lose a resident, the Manor draws you in." She took a breath, "We all have different abilities, it really does help us. " She took a bit of time to get her legs over a log that was in their way. Her bare feet digging into the ground beneath her for balance. " So, Lassie, got any other lovely questions to ask me? We've got at least an hour and a half of trekking, we might as well try to see how much we can shorten it by talking." She grew tired enough of branches swatting her in the face, and so grew her right hands into a claw which she used to trim swat at the branches in front to her. She tried her best only to break the one's necessary, she didn't need a trail. "Careful what branches you break to make your way through, heavens knows, we've already got Nessie, we don't need another version of the American Bigfoot." She bent under larger branches as she went along, her left hand in her coat pocket. |
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| Natara Hakim | Feb 27 2008, 03:04 AM Post #9 |
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"Why did you all run away anyway? How did you find the Manor; were you drawn to it?" Natara felt like a child asking so many questions, but she couldn't help continuing. "Who are the other two and what are their abilities?" She continued behind her, watching her footing. Noticing how Livia stepped over something, she was extra careful not to trip; she didn't want to look like a klutz in front of this new acquaintance. Livia's question about if Natara asking questions made her feel as if she was being annoying. "Other than that, I don't have any other, and about the branches, let me help you." Natara mentally pushed the branches out of the way enough to clear a path wide enough for them to walk with ease. She felt proud of herself helping out, especially because it gave her the ability to show off her powers. |
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| Livia Meiland | Feb 27 2008, 03:41 AM Post #10 |
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"Let's just say my parents weren't as good at parenting as they should have been. It's not as bad a story as yours but enough verbal abuse and having expectations too high for anyone to reach drove me to the brink. No to mention an sign of 'abnormality' or creativity was out of the picture." She kept going forward and didn't look backwards at Natara. Her feet seemed to know their way around the path. Every once in a while her foot size and shape changed, mostly to keep the scent of of her. "Do try to drag you feet and hop about every so often, if you can. The manor doesn't like it when people follow us." She paused, "Whether we came across the manor, or Cathriss drew us to it we don't really dabble in. The place has a mind of it's own, follow the rules and you'll be fine. The 'other two' are Veran and Somerled. You'll have to get to know them better yourself, I'm not going to brief you until my tongue lolls out. Somethings you do need to know though." She mentioned, stepping over a puddle. "First, Veran cooks for you, he cleans, and does the majority of the housework. The house is fond of him, but if you wrong him it won't just be Cathriss after you, you'll be worrying about me too. Second, Somerled works on kidnapping the newcomers, but I get the supplies, anything you need you tell me." She finished, took a deep breath and massaged her jaw bone. She usually didn't deal with this, People in general weren't her thing. She didn't thank Natara for moving the branches. She didn't speak much for a while. 'That'd be useful with one of the groups that goes into town. I usually pick more stealthy people though. Talk to Somerled, you might be able to help him out." |
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| Natara Hakim | Feb 28 2008, 12:58 AM Post #11 |
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"Oh, sorry to hear that." Strange rules in Livia's house. Natara felt her request to drag her feet and hop, was rather odd, but she did it regardless. She wondered why the Verlan fellow had to do all the cleaning and whatnot, she thought it would be better for everyone to clean their own stuff. "Why exactly do you need to kidnap kids with powers? What's the point?" She asked, but didn't feel she would get an answer. "So what's my job going to be?" Natara didn't want to be jobless at this new house. |
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| Livia Meiland | Feb 28 2008, 01:31 AM Post #12 |
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Livia's eyebrows raised, Natara wouldn't see them, she was facing away. Why they kidnapped children? She didn't have the answer, no-one did, everyone came up with their own reason. "Let me ask you something, you grew up in a 'lovely' household, you've experienced more than most children our age do. And suddenly you wake up and you can move things, and you can read peoples minds. Your parents may have been quiet, but talk to some of the other kids like us at the house, hear their stories. How do you think my parent's would have reacted? What if somebody who didn't really know us got wind of our conditions? What do you think they'd do to us? Little kids and self absorbed people dream of superheros and villains, but do you really thin it would be the same if their dreams were real? I can't give you an answer, formulate your own. Cathriss gives us a family that understands us, Cathriss takes care of us, and protects us, you'll see." He face was hot, people and their empty heads irritated her, dreams weren't something to fiddle with. She disliked the idea of being someones hope and wish. Her head hung low and her feet were moving more slowly. She even yawned at one point. "It's late, we'll get there soon and then we can sleep. Pick yourself a bedroom or somewhere to sleep. Personally I like the parlor, with a window cracked open to let in the soft wind. As for the job, talk to Somerled about that, if he hasn't died from not moving. That kid reads way too much." The tree's were thinning out, and the brush was getting less dense. Her pants fell back down to her feet hemmed. "We're getting closer, you should see the manor soon enough." |
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| Natara Hakim | Feb 29 2008, 03:44 AM Post #13 |
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"Alright, I'll make sure to do that." Natara felt that Livia was angry. "Did I offend you? If so, I did not mean to." Natara had never believed in superheros but she had always dreamed of being important and doing good in the world. She felt offended that Livia only though kids and self absorbed people dreamed of superheros; Natara herself had idolized them. They did so much good in the world and would sacrifice it all for good. She kept walking, immersed in thought until she decided to ask about the rooms. "So how many rooms are there, and how many are taken? I'd prefer a bedroom; I just need my privacy sometimes. As for Somerled, I'm guessing I'd find him in a library or study?" Natara was relieved that they were reaching Cathriss. She was tired and greatly wanted to sleep. As she walked, she fell into a half conscious state, only following Livia, and hardly moving or speaking otherwise. |
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| Livia Meiland | Feb 29 2008, 03:56 AM Post #14 |
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"You can claim a a bed if your that kind of person, there's enough room for all of us. You're lucky because you have some of you things. Most children just move about and sleep on the first bed they plop on." Livia had been offended by Natara's previous question, but she didn't mention anything and just skipped answering that part. She was beginning to feel grass under her toes instead of the old rotting autumn leaves that coated the forest floor. She looked up and was able to see the broken stone walls the surrounded the Manor. "We're here, just go in through the front door you'll be fine, up the stairs and all that, pick yourself out a room, some have kids in them." She stretched out, yawning. "If you get lost try to make your way to the parlor I'll be sleeping there, if your hungry there might be some scraps on the kitchen counter that's through the Dining room , you'll find it well enough. I'm tired, good luck. Someone'll meet you in the morning." She Wrapped her coat tighter around her and headed toward the door. Opening it she disappeared inside, leaving Natara alone outside. She made her way to the parlor, where a pile of clothes welcomed her, and a couch with a blanket to keep her warm was he bed. She hanged into something less think and settled on the couch. Hopefully Natara could make her way about. |
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| Natara Hakim | Feb 29 2008, 04:10 AM Post #15 |
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"Alright I'll do that." Natara drowsily stepped through the front door. "Night," she said, too quietly for Livia to hear. She trudged up the stairs. "Now which room..." She went into the nearest room, closing the door behind her. She threw her bag to the floor and plopped on the bed; falling into a deep sleep. |
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