Summary
PRE-GAME: Tantalus is a gang and, just like any other gang, has rivals. However, when a rivalry suddenly goes too far the theater troupe finds themselves in a panic, fearing for the life of their only female member.
Prologue
"I just can't do this anymore Zeake."
"So you're really breaking up with me?" Zeake, the eighteen-year-old, spikey black-haired boy that had been her pillar, her rock, her only source of comfort for the past six years, stared her in the eye with a barely contained anger that simmered just below its boiling point. She had never seen him look so insane, so...inhumane. "Well? Answer me!"
"Yes." Ruby stated a little too quickly, her voice a high pitched, nervous squeak now. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, relaxing her nerves before she began her explanation. "I ran into this guy named Blank who told me about a group of actors he's a part of-" who are also thieves "A-and you know how interested I've always been in becoming an actress-" and finding a place to call home "And he took a genuine interest in my acting skills-" and my swift thinking, "so I took him up on his offer to talk to his boss about joining." She paused and glanced up into the boy's bright blue eyes, having just realized she had been watching everything but him.
"So we're over?"
Ruby sighed, disappointed in the fact that this guy who had served as a friend and potential lover for so long, refused to be congratulatory or at least supportive, of her accomplishment. "Yes," she answered monotonously, coming to terms with the fact that maybe their friendship was only a bragging right for Zeake all this time. "I must move on the bigger, better things and maybe build my way up to a successful life."
At this, Zeake chuckled, his eyes taking on a dangerous glimmer that Ruby chose to ignore. "That'll never happen. I've see you try to act and, let's face it, monkeys put on a better show. Now let's go home."
His comment hurt, it really did, but Ruby only tucked a lock of soft blue hair behind her ear before snapping "No. My home is with Blank's group now. NOT you." They stared at each other for a silent, angry moment before Zeake smiled a smile she had never seen before except once and that had been when he first met Ruby's first ever boyfriend who, ironically, a week later, was never heard from again. But she wouldn't allow him to see the tears that were threatening to break free...And she would never allow him the pleasure of knowing how terrified she was of him at that moment. "Goodbye..." Was all she said before she turned away from him for the first time in six years.
"Don't worry...We'll meet again someday." Zeake called after her in an eerily calm tone.
Ruby just kept walking.