Gotten into Deadman Wonderland, the idea spiralled from there.
Enjoy!
/\/\/\
A girl, around fourteen, sat upon a large tower, overlooking a seemingly rundown amusement park, where hundreds of men were slaving away. There were no women. All her skin was bare, soaking up the sunlight. Her skin was a strange thing. It was pale, despite how many times she'd bask in the sun, enjoying its light and warmth, while anyone else would've probably burned, and covered in green circle patterns, around her shoulders, thighs, knees, and the right-side of her chest. The green lines matched her emerald eyes. Her ash-blonde hair flowed around her naked shoulders in the hot breeze. She smiled at the sky, seeming quite happy, despite being trapped in this prison. Her happy expression soon turned serious, as she leaped to her feat. Once again, she smiled, only this time it was determined.
"He has come."
/\/\/\
The albino teenager hefted a huge pipe to a large pile of debris, panting. This wasnt fair. He didnt do anything to deserve this. He growled to himself, exposing his sharp teeth. Despite how jacked up the whole manual-labor thing was, he still needed to stay in shape, and he definitely needed to stay sane.
"My name is Soul Evans." He sighed to himself quietly, for possible the one hundredth time today. "Though people here call me Soul Eater. Or Inmate 42-42-564. I was sent to this place, this Death City Wonderland, because I was framed for something I didnt do." He winced, tears threatening to spill. "The murder of my entire class. All my friends. But I didnt do it." He insisted, though no one was here. He sighed again, the sun searing his body as he worked. I wish I'd just die, He thought to himself. There's nothing left for me here. A soft thud came to his left. He passed it off as more debris coming in for him to pack away and clear. But, judging by the metal pole that would've hit the back of his head and knocked him unconscious if he hadnt ducked, it most definitely was not.
He jumped to face his attacker. A girl, with hair like wheat and eyes like emeralds, and odd circular markings on her pale body, smiled at him, swinging a pole expertly in her hands. She seemed... Familiar.
"I can kill you if you want!" She grinned. "In one quick swipe!" And then Soul realized it. A horrible realization.
She wasnt wearing anything.
"W-what the hell?!" He yelped, scampering away from her. "You - what're you doing?!" She made to hit him again, but he leaped aside. The girl pouted, eyeing him like a disobedient puppy.
"I cant kill you if you dodge!" She whined. She reminded Soul of a little kid.
"Wha- kill?!" He cried. "Stay away from me, crazy!" The girl smiled at him pityingly.
"Oh, silly, my name isnt Crazy! It's Maka!" The girl, Maka, took another step towards him. Soul took a step back. She looked at him, confused, tilting her head. To Soul, it looked kind of... Cute. "Oh, I see!" She smiled, clapping her hands together. "That was a fib back there, wasnt it?"
"H-huh?" Soul gasped. Oh. So that was what she meant. "Hey!" He snarled, glaring at her. "Are you calling me a liar?!"
"Yep!" Maka cheered. "Look!" She took another step to him, only Soul couldnt back away this time. He had backed up against a wall. Maka knelt before him, placing her hand on his chest. Also giving him a perfect view of hers. "See?" She smiled. "This place doesnt want to die at all. Not one bit." Soul got lost in her smile. It seemed brighter than the very sun itself. "So dont go thinking about dying, ok? Some people arent lucky enough for the choice." Her words cut deep, but her sweet smile softened the blow. "Lets try again." She stood back, holding out her hand. "I'm Maka. Who're you?"
"I-I..." Soul stammered. Wow, she really didnt care, did she? He looked away, hoping to hide his blush. "I'm Soul. Evans. But they call me Soul Eater here. 'Cause of the teeth."
"Hi Soul!" Maka cheered, clapping. "It's very nice to meet you!" Soul frowned. She thought it was nice to meet him? She'd be the first.
"Uh, here." He mumbled, handing her his blanket from the survival-pack the wardens had given him on entry. "A-a girl shouldnt show that much skin unless she's married." Maka got the message, wrapping the cloth over her shoulders.
"That's nice of you, Soul." She flashed him a sharp-toothed grin. "Not many people are like that."
"No problem..." He returned her grin. "Maka." She laughed, the sound making Souls chest tighten oddly. Weird. Footsteps echoed behind him. Maka jumped at the noise.
"Oops! Gotta go!" She giggled. "Well, you're my new best friend, and I'm gonna eat my snacks with you from now on, byyyye!" She ran off. And that was when Soul realized something else.
It was true, she hadnt been wearing anything before.
Including a prisoners neck-band.
/\/\/\
"So, did you see the creepy girl, too?"
Soul looked up from his cell floor, where he'd been sketching meaningless patterns in the dust. His cell-mate, a very loud boy named Black*Star, though he was told by the other inmates his real name was Blake Starlet. 'Black*Star' stood over him, his normally laughing face now serious.
"I dont know what you mean." Soul huffed, going back to his doodling.
"Dont gimme that crap, Eater." The blunette growled. "Everyone sees the girl, only on their first day. But it's normally just a little glimpse. She actually talked to you."
"So what if she did?" Soul growled. That's how it worked here. Be assertive, but know your place. "Not like it concerns you."
"Bullshit!" Black*Star roared. They locked eyes, glaring daggers at each other. Finally, he looked away, sighing. "Look, the girl, she's... interesting. She's the only damn chick in this entire place, she has those weird markings, she isnt even part of this crazy ass prison, but they keep her here anyways. Y'know that stunt she pulled on you? She's done it before, she did it to me. My first day, I wanted to die. I didnt say it, I just thought it. Then she came down, she tried to kill me. I told her to leave. She did. And then, when I was getting ready for sleep, I looked in my pack, and I found this." He strode towards Soul, taking out a little slip of paper from his pocket. It was a photo, of a tall, foreign looking girl, with long black hair tied in a ponytail.
"And I'm guessing this is some girlfriend of yours?" Soul huffed. Black*Star barked a laugh.
"Her? Man, I wish." He sighed, smiling contently, looking into space. "Nah, she's just a friend. A really special friend. Some guy, he cornered her in the street, tried to..." He clenched his fist around the picture. "Tried to touch her." He shot Soul a look, making sure he was paying attention. "I killed him."
Soul shuddered under Black*Stars gaze. He was in a room with a murderer?! And what in hells name did this have to do with Maka?!
"O-oh..." He looked around the cell, making sure there were no pointy objects around. "You... You killed him?" His cellmate nodded sadly.
"Yeah, I did." He said softly. "Right in front of her. She was in tears, kept telling me to leave him. She was such a nice girl, couldnt see the bad in anyone." He gave a small, remembering smile, before going back to his serious expression. "I didnt even hear her, though, I was so angry. After a while, I heard her crying, so I stopped. By then, she'd already called the police, and I was being carted off to this shithole. I woulda gotten the death sentence if she hadnt said what I did. She still helped me, even then, but I wont forget the look she gave me when I left. That's why I'm looking forward to getting outta here." He gave a half-smile, looking through the cell window with determination in his aqua eyes. "When my sentence is over, I'm gonna apologize, and, even if she doesnt accept, I'll still be able to see her again, and make things right, one last time."
"Real sweet, man." Soul chuffed. "But what's this gotta do with Maka?"
"So that's her name?" Black*Star grinned. "Hm. Cool. And anyways, I was getting to that. Look, I didnt put this in my pack, no personal belongings are allowed here. And yet, here it is, clear as day. Look on the back." Soul took the picture from his cellmate, carefully. He didnt want to rip Black*Star's only belonging. There, scrawled neatly on the back, read:
You dont want to die. You want to live. You want to live for this girl. So dont go thinking about dying, ok? Otherwise, you'll never see your friend again, and that'll be bad for the both of you.
"Maka wrote this?" Soul frowned.
"Pretty sure. Like I said, she's interesting. She wont let anyone here die. She keeps leaving them signs. Drawings, photos, messages, you name it. She wants to help everyone here. But she never talked to anyone before." He shot Soul a knowing look. "Except for you." Soul stood abruptly, getting into his bed and turning his back to Black*Star.
"Guess I'm just special, then."
/\/\/\
"And now, we have three final competitors in our Dog Race!"
The blaring game-speaker roared over the cheering crowds. Soul panted at his spot at the finish line. Why the fuck was he doing this?! Oh, right. A red-bean bun.
Black*Star had told them about the Dog Race just yesterday. At first, Soul had been against the idea, though Maka really wanted to join.
Yes, he, 'Star and Maka had become friends in their time in Death City Wonderland. And it irked Soul a lot that she had returned the blanket to him, and swapped it for nothing. None of the inmates seemed to care, though.
Soul was never very athletic, there was no way he could win. And then 'Star had mentioned you get a red-bean bun for participation. And, considering he hadnt eaten for a couple days, he jumped at that chance.
'Star had warned them he had never participated, and, considering he was an inmate, not an amusement park customer, he'd never seen it, so he didnt know what would happen. And Soul had never suspected it would be this.
The Dog Race had been a blood-bath on a road. Soul had just watched as his fellow inmates were slaughtered around him. If it werent for Makas quick thinking, he would've died with them.
And now, here they were. At the finish line. It was all over now, right?
"Luckily, we're prepared for such an event! Welcome to our Sudden Death Round!"
Wrong.
An assistant girl, holding a glowing blue ball, stood above their platform of yellow tiles on a podium. Soul didnt like how she was smirking at them. Not one bit. And yet, Maka didnt seem at all fazed. She was just smiling and bobbing her head. An urge to protect her sprung in Souls mind.
"The last one standing with the Soul Ball will win the Dog Race! But there's a twist...!"
Oh, of course there is!
"These tiles wont be here forever!"
As if on cue, the outer row of tiles all glowed and fell, revealing a row of deadly spikes. Instinctively, Soul grabbed Makas arm.
"Three... Two... One... Go!"
The assistant girl tossed the ball into the air. The third contestant standing next to them, Giriko, Soul believe his name was, leaped to catch it. Soul jerked, trying to make sense of what was going on. Maka shoved his back, making him stumble to the next tile, as the one he was standing on previously disappeared.
"Come on, Soul!" She cheered, racing across the tiles. She had just saved him. Despite her childish insanity, Maka could be pretty cool.
As the tile beneath him began to blink away, Soul quickly sprang into action, sprinting around the arena of death. Giriko leaped across the gaps, keeping a desperate hold on the Soul Ball. Soul gritted his teeth. This Giriko guy was an ass, and there was no way he was going to beat him and Maka.
Giriko made one desperate jump as the tile beneath him fell away, the Soul Ball slipping from his grasp. And, somehow, he did not know how this happened, it found its way into Souls hands.
"Ok, kid." The elder man snarled as he advanced. "Give it." Soul froze, dancing around as the tiles depleted slowly. He didnt know what to do!
"Soul! Over here!" Maka called. Soul didnt budge.
"Look, kid, everyone knows why you're here." Giriko smirked. Soul bit back a snarl. "A killer kid. Who woulda thought it? But I'm gonna say this now. I'm a lot worse."
"I didnt kill anyone." Soul growled, ignoring Maka yelling that she was wide open!
"Sure you didnt." The older man snarled. "I know a murderer when I see one, kid. Takes one to know one. But you're still a kid. Just be a good boy, and gimme the ball." Soul glared. He was not a killer. He was not a killer! He swung his body around, swinging his heel into Girikos side. He howled in agony, leaping back as his tile began to fade.
"Let's get one thing straight, ok?!" Soul roared, his eyes filled with fury. "I am not a murderer! I would never hurt my friends! And my name isnt kid, it's Soul! Soul Evans!" He leaped over the tiles, keeping the ball in his grip, as Giriko chased after him. He tossed it across the arena, Giriko racing after it. Four tiles in a row began to deplete. He slid across them, trying to grab the ball.
He fell.
Soul forced himself not to look as he heard the sickening crunches of bones being pierced, and the sloshing noises of blooded dripping down the spikes.
"Soul!" He jerked at the sound of his name, turning to face Maka, who was on the other side of the arena. She held the Soul Ball in her hands, smiling. Just as he was about to cheer, the tile beneath her dropped away.
"Maka!" He cried, sprinting towards her, avoiding all the gaps in the arena. He sighed in relief when he saw two pale legs just holding on to the tile in front of him. But it was already fading.
Maka grinned up at him, the ball still in her hands.
"Hey, Soul!" She flexed her arms, tossing the ball up to him. "Catch!"
The tile fell away.
It felt like slow motion, Maka still grinning as she fell away, her eyes closed as she waited for the spikes to slash through her, the ball just an arms length away. If he caught the ball, he won. He'd get Cast Points. He'd be able to buy more of that candy-antidote thing that would keep him alive. What else mattered? In this place, you needed to provide for yourself. No one else was important.
Makas eyes snapped open as a grip secured itself around her ankle. Soul smirked down at her, and she noticed that one spike had pierced a blue, glowing ball.
"There is no winner!" The game-speaker declared, as Soul heaved her back up to the tiles, much to the crowds dismay. They booed and hissed, chucking their rubbish at them.
"Why'd you do that?" Maka frowned, her normally childish voice now serious. Soul gave her a small smile, and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her.
"Because we're friends, right?" He felt Maka smile against his chest.
"Yeah. Friends."
/\/\/\
The two chewed their red-bean buns at Makas favourite spot, the very top of a large tower, that must've been used for some amusement park ride that was now closed. Soul watched as Maka stretched under the sun. She was like a cat, he thought. An insane, dangerous cat.
"Hey, Maka?" Soul asked gently. She stirred from where she was napping, looking up at him with her ever-present smile.
"Yep?"
"If you could do anything... What'd you do?" Maka frowned, munching on her bun thoughtfully. Soul jumped a little as she pulled her top-half onto his lap, yawning. He smiled softly, quickly calming himself and stroking her hair as he watched the sun set over the desert.
"I'd... I'd make sure no one was sad, ever. And I'd make sure everyone knew you were innocent. And..." She trailed off, still deep in thought. Souls smile widened. She'd help him, even though all evidence was against him? She really was a good person, despite her odd ways. "And that big shiny circle thing! I'd have that!" And speaking of odd ways...
Soul tried to decipher what she meant. Big shiny circle thing? Did she mean the sun? No, she knew what the sun was. Then...
"You mean the feris wheel?" Soul frowned. "You've never ridden one?"
"You can ride it!?" Maka cried, incredulous, sitting up abruptly and bashing her head on Souls.
"First, oww!" Soul huffed, pushing her back down. "And secondly, yeah. Didnt you know?"
"No. I've been here my whole life." Maka sighed, snuggling her face into Souls shirt. "Oh, that's another thing, then. If I could do anything, I'd get out of this place. And I'd bring you with me. And Black*Star too, so he can see his friend." Soul beamed at her, going back to stroking her hair absent-mindedly.
"You're too damn nice, y'know that, crazy?" He sighed.
" 'M not Crazy." Maka mumbled as she dozed off. " 'M'name's Maka."
"Yeah, I know." Soul said softly. "And one day, we're gonna get out of here."