Kimyo: Thanks to Flame Swordswoman, InsaneShadowFan, Dimitri Aidan, Irichi, and Rae Chan for reviewing!
FYI, the sound the woman makes in her throat will be communicated as thus:
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
o
o o
Chapter 6: The First One
o o
o
It was almost midnight. He didn't have much time.
No one who knew him would recognize the man who clamored over the wall and dropped down to land in the backyard of the Saeki house. He wore khaki pants and a hooded sweatshirt, both filthy. He smelled from lack of bathing. His hair was greasy, hidden under the hood. He had dry rags in the pouch pocket of his top, and a brand new, high quality lighter clutched tightly in his hand.
He had no qualms about going in this time.
Croquet shoved the doors open and strode in to stand in the center of the room, assessing the best way to go about it.
I only have one chance. If I fail, they're sure to tighten security.
He took a quick walk around the ground floor to make sure Pegasus didn't have any men stationed somewhere where they might see him, and stop him. The place was dead quiet.
He went back to retrieve the large red jugs of gasoline he'd left outside the gate.
He would start with the perimeter. If he set fire to the inside perimeter, firemen wouldn't be able to get in and fight the fire.
He took the cap off the first jug.
...nyaaahh... mrrroww...
Shut up. I'm already cursed, already damned. There's nothing else you can do to me.
...thump-thump. Thump.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-o-o-o...
Croquet looked up, and listened.
o-o-o-o-o-o. o-o-o-o-o-o-o.
Ignore it. They're trying to distract you. He tilted the jug and began sloshing gasoline against the wall, working along.
When he got to the corner, he stopped.
Crouched in the corner was a deathly pale little boy wearing no clothes. He opened his mouth unnaturally wide and screeched like a cat.
"mmrrryooOOW!"
He jerked and swung the jug to splash gasoline on him, and the boy vanished before a drop could touch him.
I have to work faster.
o-o-o-o-o-o. o-o-o. o-o-o-o-o-o.
Ignore that sound! Don't investigate! It doesn't matter what it is! Destroy this house! Destroy the curse!
The front door opened, and Croquet froze. It wasn't time yet; they were early!
He spied through slightly parted doors. Two of Pegasus's men entered, escorting a young girl with shoulder length brown hair.
Desperation etched itself upon Croquet's face. The first one is already here. Now what do I do?
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o.
Croquet's breath hitched. He sensed that someone was standing off to his side. He didn't want to see who it was.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o.
He closed his eyes and stepped backwards...
Pale arms wrapped themselves around his ankles. He stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. He groaned, getting up on his elbows.
Shit. What if they heard? What if they come investigate?
Something was on him. He felt the weight of something cold, but animate.
He looked, and a black cat was sitting on his ankles. It opened its mouth... "To... shi... oh."
Biting back a scream, he kicked it away and scrambled across in the direction of the double doors.
My lighter! Where the fuck is my lighter? It was just in my hand...!
He spotted it towards the side of the room, and crawled to it. I have to at least do this.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o...
Shut up, shut up! He tried several times before a spark gave way to a tiny orange flame.
For a moment, he was glad for the illumination. Then he saw her.
Out of the blackness came a woman with wide, soulless eyes and long, black hair.
o-o-o-o-o-o-O-O-O!
o o o
They led Anzu to the master bedroom. There was a low bed with a nightstand, and random scraps of trash were strewn about on the floor. Seeing the closet gave Anzu pause. The doors were sealed shut with hundreds of pieces of packing tape, pasted haphazardly over every inch of the door frame.
One man set out a camcorder on a tripod, focusing it on the bed.
Anzu sweatdropped. "I don't know what you think you've got planned.."
The other man thrusted a sheaf of envelopes into Anzu's arms. "Every three hours you will open the envelope labeled with the correct hour, and follow the instructions inside. Use the camera to record yourself. If you fail to follow the instructions, or follow them incorrectly, you forfeit your prize. If you step outside the house before twenty four hours have passed, you forfeit your prize. You are not allowed to have a cell phone, mp3 player, or any other communications or entertainment device. If any are found on your person,you forfeit your prize. If you die before the twenty four hours are up, you forfeit your prize. Do you understand?"
"I..."
"You'll be fine." He and the other man left very quickly. Their footsteps tromped down the stairs and out the front door, and Anzu was alone.
6
the first one
finish
Kimyo: I'm so evil.
