"Water Torture" part 2
By Ruby
It. Forever without a name, without a real definition. None who had ever experienced It could ever give It a proper title. Some have tried calling It fear, anger, and evil, but those could not capture the essence of what this shadow was. Created and fed by the darker side of human nature, and banished from the minds of many who were too terrified to acknowledge the presence. An unopened Pandora's box just waiting for the perfect person… And always will It be as long as there were prey.
The creature fed off the thoughts and emotions of the living, and the stronger the reaction It received from the victim the better the meal. That sudden twitch in your arm in the middle of the night? The low moan of the floorboards as an unknown treads across the room? A chilling creep on the nape of your neck… you're being watched. Being stalked by It, a specter seeing what makes you who you are.
The shadow seeped through the sleeping mind… again surprised that no two were exactly the same. There were some that were similar--tediously similar--yet identical to none. This boy, so naivete and trusting, with all his experiences… The dreams It would leave on a mind such as this! Such delicious fear.
And It was hungry.
With a silent howl the creature attacked.
***
The salty air whipped around him as he stood on a cliff. Far beneath him an ocean awaited in the setting sun, waves beckoning him in. Cye smiled at the serene view. Taking three full breaths he leapt off the edge and dove into the water. Its icy blast made him chatter yet that didn't stop him from diving deep to the bottom.
There in front of Cye was a perfectly shaped oyster, its oval shell bare from any of the surrounding moss. Grabbing it, he spent a moment gazing in awe of the surprising weight. Then he carefully opened the living treasure chest, interested in what he would find.
As the shell gradually opened, he found himself looking at a giant black pearl. Before he could touch it, though, a dark light burst out, blinding everything around. Cye let go of the oyster in fear, but the light stayed. Something cold and smooth brushed his face.
***
Mia yawned and rubbed her eyes, blinking at the bright light streaming through her window. It was late morning when she finally got out of bed, but she suspected the Ronins wouldn't be up until lunch. That didn't bother Mia, she liked it when the house was quiet. That meant no Dynasty, no trouble, no stress-induced bickering… just peace.
As she headed downstairs to get the mail the dull buzz of a TV left on with a finished tape filtered trough the air. White Blaze greeted her at the bottom of the steps and she gave him a friendly scratch behind the ears. Blinking those large eyes in satisfaction the tiger gave a light growl--the closest sound to a purr that he could make.
"Hey, White Blaze! How was your morning, huh?" she cooed at him with a smile. "I bet you're bored waiting for everyone to wake up." Mia scratched him under the chin, causing the large feline to growl-purr even louder. If the guys ever caught her fawning over the cat like Yuli she would never hear the end of it. Who didn't dream of being friends with such a majestic animal? "Let's go see how the others are doing, 'kay?"
Quietly, though not nearly as silent as White Blaze, Mia tiptoed into the living room. The TV was playing to a comatose audience. They were all dead asleep around the couch, with the exception of Rowen who was probably in the comfort of his own bed. The tiger sniffed at Ryo's face hopefully but his master simply rolled over as whiskers brushed the teen's still face.
"Don't worry," Mia chuckled as she clicked off the television. "I'm sure Yuli will be here to play with you after lunch. He won't pull on your whiskers again--he knows you don't like it." He gave a decidedly mournful look towards her.
After picking up a few empty bags of food from Kento's general vicinity she started for the kitchen, but a slight warning growl from the tiger made Mia glance back. By the couch White Blaze was nudging Cye's head softly. Cye's brow was furrowed, as if in concentration. He muttered something.
"What is it?" she asked calmly. Every movie night it would happen to one of them. After the video marathon someone would have the odd dream or so about the tapes. It was interesting to hear what they had to say when they awoke, Mia remembered Rowen's dream after watching 'Poltergeist' of being a ghost and haunting them. His ears had turned a nice shade of red when she teased and asked if he saw them going through their daily routines… like showers.
Wondering what Cye could be dreaming about, she slipped out and went to make herself some breakfast.
***
Gone was the light and ocean, but in its place were thousands of fish. He watched warily as the flock of small, sharp-toothed silvery bodies circled him. He tried to swim to the surface, but the group blocked his way and created a living wall of scales. Forced back to the river floor, he waited. As long as he wasn't injured they would leave him alone.
Piranhas. They probably were the only fish Cye did not like. They wouldn't listen if he tried to speak to them like the way he could to whales and other marine life. Their instincts were too overpowering. One thought was constantly on their minds: eat.
He landed on something rough. Looking down Cye saw a large piece of coral under his hands. Curiosity piqued he gently explored the formation, forgetting for the moment of the carnivorous fish. Coral was unnatural in fresh water. There was a sudden, sharp pain on his hand. He had pricked a finger and blood was slowly trailing from it. He turned around.
Too late. Cye was violently reminded of the piranhas when they swarmed onto him.
***
A short yelp of alarm and an answering growl from a tiger woke Ryo. "What's da matter?" he murmured, still half asleep. Through quickly focusing eyes he saw Cye tossing and turning. "Cye?"
"Stop…!"
White Blaze growled again. Something was wrong. Worried, Ryo stood and shook the sleeper gently on the shoulders. "Hey, wake up." His eyes remained tightly shut.
***
He had to get away. The water was dangerous. Once his friend it now became his enemy.
Cye swam as fast as he could towards the surface. Something was hunting him. Thirty feet… twenty feet… ten… rising swiftly he just about reached the air when a large, dark tentacle wrapped around his ankle. He was caught.
Slowly, Cye was pulled down into the darkness to the beast that waited.
***
Mia dropped the plate in her hands as a terrified scream erupted from the living room. 'Cye!' Rushing in she discovered the guys trying to hold down the struggling and convulsing Ronin. "What's happening?" she cried.
"He just started yelling and fighting," grunted Sage, trying not to get kicked. "We don't know what's wrong!"
"Cye, wake up!" Kento shouted as he kept his friend's fists from his face. "Come on, buddy, open your eyes, we can arm-wrestle later!" There was a flash.
The Ronins stepped back as a dark light surrounded the couch. The purple glow started small, but expanded until the whole room was bathed in the unearthly light. For a moment all they could do was watch, and the air became thicker almost like a mist. Then the light disappeared.
Mia's hand flew to her cheeks in horror, Ryo and Kento shouted, Rowen leapt forward, and Sage stood with eyes wide.
Cye had disappeared too.
End of Part 2
By Ruby
It. Forever without a name, without a real definition. None who had ever experienced It could ever give It a proper title. Some have tried calling It fear, anger, and evil, but those could not capture the essence of what this shadow was. Created and fed by the darker side of human nature, and banished from the minds of many who were too terrified to acknowledge the presence. An unopened Pandora's box just waiting for the perfect person… And always will It be as long as there were prey.
The creature fed off the thoughts and emotions of the living, and the stronger the reaction It received from the victim the better the meal. That sudden twitch in your arm in the middle of the night? The low moan of the floorboards as an unknown treads across the room? A chilling creep on the nape of your neck… you're being watched. Being stalked by It, a specter seeing what makes you who you are.
The shadow seeped through the sleeping mind… again surprised that no two were exactly the same. There were some that were similar--tediously similar--yet identical to none. This boy, so naivete and trusting, with all his experiences… The dreams It would leave on a mind such as this! Such delicious fear.
And It was hungry.
With a silent howl the creature attacked.
***
The salty air whipped around him as he stood on a cliff. Far beneath him an ocean awaited in the setting sun, waves beckoning him in. Cye smiled at the serene view. Taking three full breaths he leapt off the edge and dove into the water. Its icy blast made him chatter yet that didn't stop him from diving deep to the bottom.
There in front of Cye was a perfectly shaped oyster, its oval shell bare from any of the surrounding moss. Grabbing it, he spent a moment gazing in awe of the surprising weight. Then he carefully opened the living treasure chest, interested in what he would find.
As the shell gradually opened, he found himself looking at a giant black pearl. Before he could touch it, though, a dark light burst out, blinding everything around. Cye let go of the oyster in fear, but the light stayed. Something cold and smooth brushed his face.
***
Mia yawned and rubbed her eyes, blinking at the bright light streaming through her window. It was late morning when she finally got out of bed, but she suspected the Ronins wouldn't be up until lunch. That didn't bother Mia, she liked it when the house was quiet. That meant no Dynasty, no trouble, no stress-induced bickering… just peace.
As she headed downstairs to get the mail the dull buzz of a TV left on with a finished tape filtered trough the air. White Blaze greeted her at the bottom of the steps and she gave him a friendly scratch behind the ears. Blinking those large eyes in satisfaction the tiger gave a light growl--the closest sound to a purr that he could make.
"Hey, White Blaze! How was your morning, huh?" she cooed at him with a smile. "I bet you're bored waiting for everyone to wake up." Mia scratched him under the chin, causing the large feline to growl-purr even louder. If the guys ever caught her fawning over the cat like Yuli she would never hear the end of it. Who didn't dream of being friends with such a majestic animal? "Let's go see how the others are doing, 'kay?"
Quietly, though not nearly as silent as White Blaze, Mia tiptoed into the living room. The TV was playing to a comatose audience. They were all dead asleep around the couch, with the exception of Rowen who was probably in the comfort of his own bed. The tiger sniffed at Ryo's face hopefully but his master simply rolled over as whiskers brushed the teen's still face.
"Don't worry," Mia chuckled as she clicked off the television. "I'm sure Yuli will be here to play with you after lunch. He won't pull on your whiskers again--he knows you don't like it." He gave a decidedly mournful look towards her.
After picking up a few empty bags of food from Kento's general vicinity she started for the kitchen, but a slight warning growl from the tiger made Mia glance back. By the couch White Blaze was nudging Cye's head softly. Cye's brow was furrowed, as if in concentration. He muttered something.
"What is it?" she asked calmly. Every movie night it would happen to one of them. After the video marathon someone would have the odd dream or so about the tapes. It was interesting to hear what they had to say when they awoke, Mia remembered Rowen's dream after watching 'Poltergeist' of being a ghost and haunting them. His ears had turned a nice shade of red when she teased and asked if he saw them going through their daily routines… like showers.
Wondering what Cye could be dreaming about, she slipped out and went to make herself some breakfast.
***
Gone was the light and ocean, but in its place were thousands of fish. He watched warily as the flock of small, sharp-toothed silvery bodies circled him. He tried to swim to the surface, but the group blocked his way and created a living wall of scales. Forced back to the river floor, he waited. As long as he wasn't injured they would leave him alone.
Piranhas. They probably were the only fish Cye did not like. They wouldn't listen if he tried to speak to them like the way he could to whales and other marine life. Their instincts were too overpowering. One thought was constantly on their minds: eat.
He landed on something rough. Looking down Cye saw a large piece of coral under his hands. Curiosity piqued he gently explored the formation, forgetting for the moment of the carnivorous fish. Coral was unnatural in fresh water. There was a sudden, sharp pain on his hand. He had pricked a finger and blood was slowly trailing from it. He turned around.
Too late. Cye was violently reminded of the piranhas when they swarmed onto him.
***
A short yelp of alarm and an answering growl from a tiger woke Ryo. "What's da matter?" he murmured, still half asleep. Through quickly focusing eyes he saw Cye tossing and turning. "Cye?"
"Stop…!"
White Blaze growled again. Something was wrong. Worried, Ryo stood and shook the sleeper gently on the shoulders. "Hey, wake up." His eyes remained tightly shut.
***
He had to get away. The water was dangerous. Once his friend it now became his enemy.
Cye swam as fast as he could towards the surface. Something was hunting him. Thirty feet… twenty feet… ten… rising swiftly he just about reached the air when a large, dark tentacle wrapped around his ankle. He was caught.
Slowly, Cye was pulled down into the darkness to the beast that waited.
***
Mia dropped the plate in her hands as a terrified scream erupted from the living room. 'Cye!' Rushing in she discovered the guys trying to hold down the struggling and convulsing Ronin. "What's happening?" she cried.
"He just started yelling and fighting," grunted Sage, trying not to get kicked. "We don't know what's wrong!"
"Cye, wake up!" Kento shouted as he kept his friend's fists from his face. "Come on, buddy, open your eyes, we can arm-wrestle later!" There was a flash.
The Ronins stepped back as a dark light surrounded the couch. The purple glow started small, but expanded until the whole room was bathed in the unearthly light. For a moment all they could do was watch, and the air became thicker almost like a mist. Then the light disappeared.
Mia's hand flew to her cheeks in horror, Ryo and Kento shouted, Rowen leapt forward, and Sage stood with eyes wide.
Cye had disappeared too.
End of Part 2