Chapter 1- How things change.
[12:06 PM]
A literal splitting headache wracks my mind, and an odd humming sound resonates through my skull.
"Where on earth is that dreadful noise coming from...?" I sleepily ask, receiving no real response outside of the humming becoming far more potent. Opening my eyes, I see nothing but darkness, but pushing forward yields a different conclusion. Wood. Moving a bit, I realize it is a box that I'm currently locked within.
"A box. I'm locked inside a- why am I in a box?" I ask, pushing forward, receiving a groan of the wood giving under my strength, "The great Arcenel Medici, stuck in some forsaken box!" With a powerful shove, the back of the box breaks open, causing me to pop out and land unceremoniously upon my face. A flash from the pain and the sudden brightness blinds me momentarily, and I raise my hand to attempt to block out the sunlight. Upon doing so, I discover my usually fair skin is gray and purple with bruising.
"Why is... oh yeah. I was at Madame Contiello's birthday celebration... then that vile Black Dahlia showed up." I take a second to glance about my surroundings, "Why am I in a dump?" Moving myself into a standing position and dusting myself off, I felt a tug on the back of my arms. Flipping my arm over reveals a strange pipe-like thing emerging from my skin and running down my arm towards my back. Pulling the strange device results in myself growing lightheaded, so I just let it sit where it is.
"Guess that would explain how I'm alive right now, considering I still have Dahlia's 'Parting Gift'." grabbing at my chest where my heart would be located, results in my hand and the clothing I currently have on sinking through the hole. Taking a deep breath of the somewhat smelly air, I look towards the town. A large tower looms in the skyline, rolling my shoulders I walk towards the city with but a thought in my mind.
I need to find Alberto, he'll know what happened.
[5:38 PM]
When I awoke, it was a little after noon, but making my way out of the almost impossibly large dump took a large portion of time. By the time I stepped out of the gate, it was nearing night. I hope being undead means I don't need sleep. I highly doubt I will be able to find a place willing to let me in with no currency. Looking around, I see a garden hose in a backyard of someone's home. Sneaking over, I quickly turn on the water and hose myself off, to remove a portion of the grime climbing out of the dump had given me. A few seconds later, I finished and got away before I was caught for trespassing. The clothing I was wearing was pretty much ruined, but a little while in the spring heat should dry them off.
"Now... where would the best place be to start my search?" I asked, looking around. Noticing a small cafe with a few patrons inside, I glanced at the name. Madman's Cafe.
I don't remember the name, but the location seems... familiar. Was this my usual milkshake joint? Walking up to the cafe, everything seemed normal.
Ah, they do have milkshakes! That girl over there seems to enjoy the one she has... with two straws? Oh well... guess everyone has their moments. An older man was watching the girl, and he seemed familiar.
A waitress approached me, "Can I get ya anything, hun?"
"No thanks, I'm just looking for someone," I replied, I knew I didn't have any money, and I didn't want to waste her time.
"You sure? You seem like you been locked up for a year," she said with a bit of jest in her voice.
With a scoff, "You don't know the half of it. Are the restrooms for paying customers only?"
"Help yourself," she said with a wave, and she left for the back of the store. I walked to the restroom, and noticed the sign signaling Unisex. With a small sigh, I walked inside and looked in the mirror. My blonde hair was now a filthy brown. My blue eyes had become... lifeless, the crystal blue was now a dull gray. My face wasn't as bruised as my arms, instead it was still my paled skin, with a hint of gray. Other features, such as sunken eyes and pale gums were present. At a glance I didn't look undead, but placing my hand over my gift reminded me that I was. No one gets a hole where their heart goes and lives. I took the chance to inspect the device upon my back, but I had to lift my shirt to see it, for it was located under the clothing. The machine was a small white box, that didn't really seem cumbersome, and had five wire-like pipes leading into it, one for each limb and another that went directly into my spine. Picking slightly at a limb pipe, I lost a bit of feeling in the corresponding limb. The box itself was attached to what I can only assume to be my spine, and made of a strange rubbery material. Etched on the surface of it was a picture of a cartoon heart, with a skull's likeness on it. Over the whole thing was a generic crossed circle.
Where have I seen this before... I feel like I should know. I lowered my shirt and began to rinse my face off. While doing so, I heard the door open of the restroom. Looking up, I saw it was the girl who was enjoying the milkshake from earlier.
"Oh I'm sorry, didn't know someone was in here," she said as she backed up.
I shook my head, "It's fine, ma'am. I was finishing up anyway." Shaking the water off of my hands I gave her a nod as I walked out of the room. Giving a wave to the waitress as I passed her, I walked out of the store.
Something about that girl... seemed familiar. I must be going crazy... I need some help. As I walked away from the cafe, I heard the door bust open, and the girl from before was running away, sans hat, which she was wearing when she went into the restroom and at the bar. Upon her head, where the hat would have been, was something akin to a pair of eyes and a row of teeth. Curiosity getting the better of me, I decided to follow from a distance.
[6:08 PM]
She finally stopped at a fountain, near the large casino in town.
Now that I remember, the River King Casino. Her hair seemed to move a bit and I swear pointed in my direction. She instantly turned around and glared at me.
"Why are you following me?" she questioned, the two yellow slices on her head pointed in my direction.
"Hard to not get curious when you go stomping out of a cafe with half a milkshake on the counter," I said with an even tone, "I was worried that something happened to you."
"Yeah, well it's none of your business!" a gruff voice said, as I glanced about for the source, her hair moved some more, "We don't need any help from some weirdo who looks like he's kicked the bucket!"
"Samson! Shush!" she said, giving her hair a slap. "I appreciate the concern, but Samson does have a point, we don't need any assistance."
"Well, that wasn't the only thing. You seem familiar to me, and I was wanting to ask you some things," I admitted, and her hair shifted to cover her.
"Kid, that's a telltale sign of a creep, lets get him before he gets us!" Samson yelled, and the girl got into a fighting stance.
