~~ The Dark City ~~

[Lady Violet]

The Dark City.
A lonely place for those seeking refuge. A once vibrant city that fell way to dispair. All thats left are hopeless dreams and dying wishes. They have to fight for their lives, to live another day. Yet as time passes, even the desprate begin to see a ray of sunshine.

On the main street is a town hall, long since abandoned. To the right and left, empty windows show once prosperous stores. Accross from the town hall is the newspaper office, a restaurant and a number of office buildings, all of them dust filled and vacant.

Various roads lead off to more business and to housing developments. Travelling on Sadle Rd will bring you to a park. A void surrounds it as a wind blows gently, causing the chains to creak on the swings. Furthur down Sadle Rd. the library sits among the trees, its turrets reaching towards the starry sky.

Inside the doors, past the checkout and the large wooden tables and chairs, up the main staircase and hidden behind dust covered books sits Arden. Her midnight eyes focused on a book, her velvet hair cascading around the pages. She will sit here while the sun sleeps, reading about far away places and far away adventures. As the moon begins to decend, she will leave the comfort the old texts bring to her and carefully make her way back to her house. Until then, her mind is at ease as its filled with knowledge.

OOC: Develop a character, and say where you are in the city. Anything goes, within reason. A simple city with a dark past. We'll go from there.

 

[faust]

The hunter becomes the hunted...

Jack "Dark Horse" Quincey ran through the empty alleys, his footsteps echoing off the crumbling walls. It was pitch black, so he would be safe for a while. He would have to find a place to hole up for the day. A place where he could have a pittiful meal of cornbread and catch up on some well-deserved rest. If all went well, he might survive till the next night. Of course, it hadn't always been this way...

A week ago, Jack had been a faithful employee of The Brotherhood. He was the one who would take care of the "dirty work", the one charged with eliminating those who dared anger The Brotherhood. A grizzly job, but it paid well. He had always known that he was living on borrowed time. The Brotherhood was notorious for having a very high "turnover" rate among its hunters. Once the hunters had outlived their usefulness, they would invariably be found floating facedown in a nearby sewer... Jack just never expected to become expendable this quickly. Now, his wife and kids were dead, his house had been torched, and he himself was on the run.

Ducking into a darkened doorway, Jack stopped to listen for his pursuers. No sounds - perhaps he'd lost them. He checked the barrel of his silenced revolver. Two bullets left. Damn. He had to get out of this godforsaken city. But first, he had to survive. He took off running once again, scanning the neighborhood for any kind of shelter.

 

[Lady Violet]

Arden

Putting her book down, Arden stretched her legs and arms, taking a look out the window.

"An hour before sunrise" she said to the books. "I better get going". She stood and carfully put the book back on the shelf so she'd know where to find it the next evening. Looking around her, Arden could feel the weight of depression pressing her down. "The library used to be so beautiful" she thought.

"Well, no time for such useless thoughts" she said. She was about to bend down and pick up her bag when she happen to glance out a window, and saw a man running down Sadle Rd., trying not to be detected. "Who on earth..." Quickly, Arden grabbed her bag and ran through the library, down the main staircase and out the door.

"Hey, hey you!!" she called out. "You shouldn't be out now, its almost light!"

 

[faust]

A chance encounter

A female voice seemed to come out of nowhere, catching Jack by surprise. Instincts taking over, he hit the ground, rolling to avoid an attack, his revolver instantly in hand. Tracing the source of the voice, he paused on the verge of squeezing the trigger...Somehow, he sensed that the voice didn't belong to a foe. Especially since The Brotherhood never hired women.

His eyes already adjusted to the dark, he could make out the stranger's silhouette. She was beautiful. He felt a sharp pang of pain as he realized how much she looked like his wife. The same build, the same flowing hair... Of course, his wife was lying in a puddle of her own blood, while this girl was still very much alive. At least for now. At least until the hunters arrived. The thiught sent him back into motion. He rushed into the doorway from which she had come, pushing her along. He softly closed the door behind them, careful not to make a sound. Then, facing her, he whispered, "Look, miss, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. I suggest you make no more noise, or you'll get us both killed real quick." Making his way to a small window, he peered out, knowing that the hunters could arrive any minute...

 

[Lady Violet]

He came at her so suddenly she didn't have time to think, and she let him push her back into the library, closing the door behind them. Arden was frightened at first, but soon realized he was more afraid of something else.

"Look, miss, you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. I suggest you make no more noise, or you'll get us both killed real quick." he told her.

"What.." She looked out the window too, and saw nothing. "Listen, I have no idea what you are talking about, but here isn't a really good hiding place anyway. I don't have time to explain but I live just a couple of blocks south. If we leave now we can still make it on time." Arden walked to the door and paused before opening it. "I'm leaving with or without you, and if you think you're afraid now, just wait and see how afraid you'll be when you get caught outside in the day time."

 

[faust]

What to do...

Jack blinked at the woman in surprise. She was about to leave? She was either very brave or very foolish... Or, more likely, she had no idea what was waiting out there.

"Miss, don't be fooled by the quiet out there." he said, motioning out the window. "The people pursuing me are very careful. They don't show themselves 'till they're ready to slit your throat. And they ALWAYS find their target."

She still didn't look convinced. For a moment, he considered letting her go. No, that wouldn't do. The hunters would catch up to her out there, and sensing his scent about her would kill her, just in case... More importantly, they would naturally come here too. This building was too conspicuous, a miniature fortress in the middle of nowhere. Damn, she was right.

"Allright, if we're gonna go, we have to leave right now. And run, for god's sake! By the way, I'm Jack. Jack Quincey. Pleasure to meet you, though I wish it was under different circumstances..."

 

[Lady Violet]

It was about time, she thought, and she held out her hand.

"I'm Arden" she told him, as he took her hand and shook it while she continued to look out the window. "Alright then, lets go"

Arden opened the door and took a step out, Jack right behind her. "Come on" she said, taking off in a sprint down towards the park. Jack, a little surprised at her speed, took off after her and followed her down Sadle Rd., through the park and behind a grey brick building.

"Take...a breath... here" she told him, learning up against the building. Jack bend down to the ground, attempting to catch his breath. "Is this... where you live" he asked her.

"No, a little more to go, but not far. I just need to pick something up. Stay here". She walked a little down the side of the building and disapeared into the wall. She emerged shortly after, by that time Jack had caught his breath and was standing again. He noticed Arden wore a large black cloak and now had two backpacks. "Here" she said, and passed him one of each. "Well man, don't look so puzzled, put them on. The cloak will help you blend in with the background". So he did, and they took off again, round the building and through peoples yards, only, there wasn't anyone around to shout at them to get out.

After another 5 minutes, Arden stopped again, this time in front of a single story house with wooden panelling, set back a little from the road and surrounded by trees on all four sides. "A good place for hidding, non?" she asked him.

"Yeah, great" he replied a little dryly.

She walked 'round the back, taking a key out of her pocket. After unlocking the door and pearing around first, she opened it and entered, beckoning Jack with her hand to follow.

 

[crysede]

Sasha
Standing in the park, Sasha surveyed her surroundings uneasily - there was something about this city that felt very wrong. Sasha had arrived in the city only an hour ago and was not intending to stay, at most she had hoped to find some shelter where she could rest for a few days. She never stayed anywhere for long: always fleeing from the ghosts from her past, although she did not know whether anyone still pursued her or not.

Seeing movement, she dropped to the ground, her dark eyes watching warily as the two figures ran through the park towards a gray building. She quickly realized that they were strangers, rather than enemies, but what were they running from? She had learned a lot about survival in her years on the run, and one of those lessons was to trust the instincts of the natives: clearly the man and woman were afraid of something, she was not going to wait in the park to find out what it was. She rose to her feet and sprinted after them, rounding a small wooden house just in time to see the woman disappear through the door way.

She came to a halt a few feet from the man. Sasha could tell her appearance had not startled him, he must be well trained indeed to have been aware of her silent approach: that also meant she need not fear him, for if he had wanted her dead she would be already. "What do you run from?" She asked, softly.

 

[faust]

A tourist?

Close behind Arden, Jack paused on the verge of entering the house. He scanned the area, relying on his keen hunter senses to probe the darkness. His nose immediately picked up a scent - human, female, and somehow alien... Aware of the stranger's presence, he wasn't surprised when she got up from her hiding position and approached the house. Scratch that - it was always a surprise to be approached by the strangers in this city of the damned.

Jack studied the stranger as she drew near. Nothing particularly distinguished about her... except her skin. It was nothing like the milky-white skin of this city's inhabitants, who rarely ventured out during the day. An outsider?! Something strange about her. She stopped a couple steps in front of him, asking him what he ran from. Definately not from the city. "A little nosy, aren't you." he smirked. "What are you doing here, anyway? Nevermind, just get inside!" He didn't know how Arden would feel about this, but he couldn't very well let this stranger face dawn outside...

 

[crysede]

Sasha
Hearing the urgency in the man's voice, Sasha wasted no time on conversation and quickly entered the house: followed by the man, who closed the door firmly behind them. Safe for the moment, she examined her new companions with curiosity. The woman was very beautiful, but her face was marked with a sadness, as though she still mourned for something lost long ago. Despite her talent for reading faces, she could get little from the man's, at least, little of emotion: but she could tell by the way his eyes tracked even the slightest movement, that he was a hunter. But not one of those that hunted her, for they had the same raven black hair as she.

"I am just passing through, this town was in my path." She said.

 

[Lady Violet]

Arden gave a pleasant grin to the newcomer, letting her know she was welcome.

"Please, sit down" she gestured towards the easy chairs in the living room. A soft glow began to appear bellow the curtain shade in the window, giving the room an almost misty effect.

Arden took off her coat and took Jack's, hanging them on a nearby coat rack. She took the pack as well and passed by him through the open door way, and he watched her go down the hall into the kitchen.

They had entered through the back door. On the imediate left was the living room, then down the hall on the right a set of stairs seeming to have been carved into the wall rose up to a second floor. Pass the stairs was the kitchen and eating area. It was an open space with all the regular kitchen neccesities, with an added feature. To the right, instead of a wall, there was a fireplace big enough for a man to sit in comfortably and still have enough room to stretch about, and in this fireplace a huge iron pot hung from chains.

Arden took out the supplies from her backpack and put them in the cuboards. "Would anyone like something to eat, drink?" Arden called out.

"I really think we should talk about whats going on" Jack said.

"My mother used to tell me that it's best to discuss matters on a full stomach" said Arden, returning to the room balancing a tray of cookies and chocolates with one hand, the other holding a tray of small sandwhiches with vegetables and dip. "Don't be shy, help yourself" and she left Jack and the woman again to make the tea.

 

[crysede]

Sasha
She raised her eyebrows in surprise at the trays of food, it was not the sort of reception she had received from the few others she had run into over the years. But Sasha was not about to question hospitality: with a shrug of her shoulders she removed her worn leather jacket, placing it with the others. She settled into one of the chairs and started eating a sandwich.

Smelling a sweet, familiar smell, she turned to the kitchen: tea! As Arden returned with the cups Sasha greeted her with a warm smile, "It has been a long time since I have enjoyed this particular luxury, I must thank you. My name is Sasha."

 

[Lady Violet]

Arden

"Pleasure" replied Arden, handing out the cups of tea. "My name is Arden, he is Jack. I'm meeting all sort of people today in the most unusual of ways. I must admit though, I don't take it kindly to being followed, even if its by non-threatening people."

Sasha nodded, seeming to understand.

Arden looked to Jack, still standing by the back door, looking out the small portal window, his hand never leaving his back pocket.

"Really Jack, its not neccessary. I can assure you we are protected. The house and the land, is.. well.. concecrated." She heard a quiet gaspe from the corner of the room. Even Jack turned around in surprise.

"Yes, yes" said Arden, as she took a sip of tea and a bite out of a cookie. "Don't look so suprised. Did you not feel the engery when you stepped into the wooded area?"

 

[Paendragon]

He looked at the picture of the raven-haired woman again. Yes, that had been her he had seen near the park. But who where the other two? He knew of no accomplices. At least they had told him of none.

He replaced the worn picture in his right back pocket, and slid the tranquilizer gun into the small holster he wore in the small of his back. He could track them easily, even in the town, and would pick his chance to strike. The other woman, and the man were unknown variables, and in his line of work, the unknown could get you killed.
Then their were the others. He had barely seen them, hiding in the shadows as if afraid of the moonlight, but he knew there kind. Hunters, like himself. He would give them a wide berth, as long as they stayed clear of him and his prey. If not... he touched the silenced 9mm hanging in it's shoulder holster, and checked the knives he had hidden throughout his clothing... if not, he would have to deal with them.

He glanced toward the east, where he could see the first signs of the coming dawn. First, he would find shelter, and watch. Something about this town made him uneasy. He felt as if someone was... studying him. No, not someone... something. That too, made him uneasy

 

[faust]

Safe at last.

Jack hesitantly stepped away from the doorway, giving the deadbolt one last push to make sure it was securely fastened. He eyed the house warily. It was a sturdy fortification, secluded, built of concrete and reinforced with steel beams. Just as he had thought - the wooden panelling on the outside was simply a diversion, a trick to give it an illusion of vulnerability...

Once again, he peered out the window. If worst came to worst, it would be as good a place as any to make a last stand. Of course, he was nearly out of ammo... He had a sudden vision of the hunters swarming around the house, showering it with bullets. No, he wouldn't be able to hold them back. For now they were safe, but he'd have to leave as soon as the sun set. Always on the run...damn, what a life.

He crossed the floor to the tray, greedily devouring the sweets and sandwiches. Reaching into his pocket, he brought out an old, dented flask. Uncapping it, he poured a small amount of clear liquid into his tea. Sipping from the cup, he set the flask down on the table. "Feel free to help yourself. Pure medical alcohol, strong as it gets. Fastest way to warm youself up this side of hell!"

He finished the rest of his tea, his head already slightly clouded from the booze. Leaning back in a chair, he studied his companions. "Well, guys, we should be safe for now. We've got maybe fourteen hours till sunset. How 'bout we begin by telling a little about ourselves?"

 

[Lady Violet]

Arden frowned when she saw Jacks flask, dismissing it just as quickly.

"Getting to know one another is a good idea" she said "but first I must take care of something." Arden finished her tea and rose out of her chair. "If either of you would like a hot bath and some clean clothes I'm sure I can accomidate you." and with that said, Arden disapeared upstairs.



OOC: whoo hoo new people. You are most welcome!

 

[faust]

Jack watched their host dissapear up the staircase. Strange woman. Much too kind to be living in a city such as this. Still, he couldn't get over her haunting resemblance to his dead wife...

He uncapped the flask, taking another small gulp. The liquid burned his throat on the way down, causing him to wince in pain. He knew that he was fucking up his body every time he did this, but what the hell, he probably wouldn't be alive long enough to enjoy the prospect of a blown liver.

Jack turned his gaze on the other guest. Definately an outsider... "So what's your story?" he asked her. "How'd you end up in this shithole?"

 

[crysede]

Sasha
Turning to meet Jack's gaze, Sahsa looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before answering. He and Arden made an odd pair, a study in contrasts: one cool and suspicious the other warm and trusting,... truly an odd pair.

"I arrived here running," she finally answered, then, with a touch of sardonic humor in her voice: "and expect I will leave in the same manner." She looked back down at her cup, swallowing the last drop of her tea. "And what of you hunter? What brings you here?" She asked, returning her eyes to his.

 

[Lord Kenshin]

New comer

Chris had almost stumbled into the stranger before it was too late. He had been fascinated by the woman he saw that he recognized as an outsider and hadn't been paying attention to where he was heading. A simple shift of weight and a quiet kick of dust was all he need to be gone from sight and hidden in the shadows.
He studied the man from his post in the shadows, his voice coming in quiet slow breaths, blending in with the soft rustle of wind. He at once noticed the picture of the odd woman he had seen and deducted that this man was a hunter of some sort, but he wasn't going to wait and find out.
He moved quickly and silently, years of a mercenary showing him how to move as fast as he could but yet be as silent as if he were flying. He made his way slowly down the alley that the three others had just been through, though he hadn't known that yet. He was searching for unlocked doors so he could hide himself for the night, taking this precaution from studying all the other people. The second door he checked was the one the strangers had gone into, yet he just figured it was empty or already locked up for the night.....


OOC: Just joining in on the story.. Char's name is Chris Kenshin. He's an ex-mercenary and he carries a silenced 9mm in a shoulder holster on his left side. He also has a small switchblade in his pocket. He stands at 6'1 with short blonde hair and sky blue eyes. He's muscular but not too bulky to refrain him from moving quickly. Any more need for explanation just ask.. lata

 

[Paendragon]

He felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck, and whirled, 9mm extended. There was no one to be seen. He would have sworn he felt someones eyes on him.

This town had him on edge. He replaced the 9mm, and turned back in the direction the trio had gone. Being careful to stay in the shadows, he followed their trail, skirting wide when he came to the park. It was too open. A man would stick out far too easily among the childrens rec toys, and one thing he learned ... never make a target out of yourself. Instead, he walked along the buildings on the outside of the park, eyes watching the ground ahead of him, trying to appear as natural as possible... a man not looking for anyone or anything in particular. Just out for a stroll.

Just one thing kept bothering him ... he couldn't shake the feeling that natural, was as unnatural as it got around here.

 

[faust]

Story of a hunter

"Me? Just another lonely man trying to survive." Jack gazed into the stranger's eyes. They were beautiful, in that alien kind of way. "Used to work for The Brotherhood, maybe you heard of them. No? Well, they're the guys who do some business in this town...you know, extortion, protection, assisination - that kind of shit. Used to do some, uh, odd jobs for them. Till I got knowledgeable, started to know too much of what went down. Now I'm on the run. Pretty much all you need to know about me."

In the silence that filled the house, Jack suddenly made out soft noises coming from the outside. A footstep, a soft scrape... "What the hell?" He pulled out his revolver, leveling it at the door. Who could be out there at this time? No human should be outside during the daytime. Not if they wanted to avoid a very unpleasant death. The sunlight was the domain of wraiths, lost souls who wandered the streets from dawn till dusk...

 

[Lady Violet]

Arden took the stairs two at a time, hugging one of the bags to her chest. She hoped the others hadn't seen her grab it from the hall. Reaching the top, she turned to the left and opened the first door. A simple bedroom, done in hues of blue and purple. Arden sighed as she touched the lace curtains, memories of the past trying to resurface in her mind. She pushed them out and closed the door. She didn't have time to dawdle.

Continuing down the hall, Arden passed the bathroom and another door, closed at the moment. She knocked softly on the last door and upon hearing an "enter", she opened it carefully and went inside, closing the door behind her.


OOC: just some quick notes to clarify things.

Its Day Time!!! about 7 am at the time of this post.

During the day the people of the town have to hide because the Members of the Brotherhood are out and about. They want to get rid of everyone in the town so they can create their own race of perfect beings (something like that). They know if Jack leaves the city he can get help. Only a handful of citizens are left. Something about the night time doesn't allow them to roam as freely. I know, its a messed up story, but its fun eh!?

Arden is a witch, trying to save the town, fighting the bad guys not so noticably.

Jack used to belong to the brotherhood, but has since left and is now being chased by them.

Sasha is new to the town, quite unaware of what happened. She is also being chased by something/someone, unknown to Arden and Jack.

Paendragons charater(name unknown) is the one hunting Sasha.

Chris Kenshin, not sure. I think he's another citizen running from the Brotherhood. Maybe hes an infiltrator.... who knows!! lol

Mystery character in Arden's house (evil grin). Can be picked up by someone, or I'll write it. What I have in mind for him/her is that he/she is a witch too and is helping Arden but for some reason is hiding from everyone else.

ta da

 

[Paendragon]

OOC: Hi, a new friend just made me realize that you all have no idea what my character looks like. Sorry!

He's 6'0", dark brown hair, Green/brown eyes. Athletically built. Age in the mid twenties.
Formerly Marine Recon military, now a rather expensive Bounty Hunter. Doesn't do anything for less that 7 figures, which make Sasha very important to someone I guess.

He prefers to take his "prey" alive, but will kill, and is quite effective at it, when necessary. Not part of the Brotherhood.

Name: John Farland (although he never, NEVER uses his real name, and probably won't here as well).

 

[crysede]

Sasha:
"It seems to be rather busy here tonight." Sasha observed, with a wry smile. "Since you are the one armed, perhaps you could cover me while I open the door? I don't think Arden would approve if we failed to inquire whether this new arrival be friend or foe."

Seeing what she took to be a curt nod of agreement, she stepped forward and, standing to one side to give Jack a clear shot, opened the door.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Enter: Mideon

OOC:
Profile:

Name: Mideon
Ht: 6-0
Wt: approx. 190lbs

Bio/Description:
Short brown hair and brown eyes, Mideon was once a hunter. Found to be a threat, he quickly took flight, not moving fast enough and being caught and very badly injured, almost killed, by the hunters in pursuit. He gained consciousness some time later, and upon the end of his full recovery, was readmitted into The Brotherhood without question or explanation. While fully recovering physically, the trauma caused in the attack left him lacking in the areas of mental stability. His mind haunted by brilliant yet unteelling flashes of a past he can neither remember or understand, he roams the streets in the day and at night, rarely tiring, in search of his next assignment.
A man named Jack Quincy...