Chapter 2: Dive in to the Heart
Taylor gingerly wrapped her fingers around the staff again. Waiting anything more than a few minutes was becoming impossible. A quick jog around the edge showed no hidden hatch or ladder to descend downwards. Taylor was feeling extremely lost in this space but not enough to throw herself into the abyss. No point in making Sophia and Emma's job any easier.
The warm, green wood fit into her hand like it was hand-made for her. She looked it over again. The mouse head wasn't metal or glass. Some odd crystal she felt as her fingers trailed over it.
"Is this the path you choose?" The voice's...voice lilted down around her. Taylor bit her lip as she examined the other two pedestals. The voice said these weapons would grant her power. Perhaps they were extremely advance Tinker tech and Taylor was being scoped out for a minion opening. They didn't look like they were technologically advance but what did she know about Tinker tech?
The sword was an obvious weapon but the fact was just that. It was a weapon. Swords were dangerous and purposed to hurt people. In her limited knowledge of the cape scene Taylor knew that one major hero who wielded a sword, Chevalier. It fit with his whole knight persona he has crafted in his hero career. Others may exist but she had never heard of them. Not that she was an expert on any Cape scene.
Outside the leader of Philadelphia branch, bladed weapons, especially knifes or daggers were publicly considered "villainous" and online forums declared non-villains using swords as "edgy". Taylor wasn't sure if the pun was an inside joke but she could see the point.
The PRT barely cleared non-lethal arrows on the grounds that most people, Taylor included, conjured images of Robin hood or a hero for the common folk when such a cape appeared. It was only after delving to deeply on the subject in class one time in Mr. Gladly's World Issues class about the subject of capes appearance on media that someone had mentioned how Shadow Stalker has spoiled the milk in that area some what by being caught with lethal arrows just before her induction to the Wards.
That kid, Mark, had been torn apart by Sophia in a rather brutal retort about how Capes had to choose in a matter of seconds to defend or attack. How Shadow Stalker fought general villains even before having a team. Sometimes Capes took measures to make sure the people they fought were put down for the reminder of the fight.
Even Emma turned to look at her as she finished. Everyone was surprised at the sudden passion. Sophia didn't give anything else to the class that day but Taylor did, hating it all the while, agreed with her.
Bringing herself back to non-reality Taylor once again dismissed the sword. The shield has a very different but similar problem.
The shield would be great for PR. It was all about defending, helping or covering. The problem was her own preference. Taylor didn't want to just stand there and hide behind a shield. She didn't think that Capes who powers revolved around doing something similar were any less powerful. Compared to her, Taylor the normal victim, they were still light years ahead in value.
But Taylor dreamed. Dreamed of flying with her fist in front of her. Lifting trains back on to solid tracks, helping people and halting crime with her powerful aura alone. Every little girl wanted to be Alexandria, every boy wanted to be Armsmaster or Eidolon, no one really wanted to be Narwhal.
Which left Taylor with the staff. It was a neutral ground in her eyes. A club, while capable of inflicting just as much damage as a sword with the right force, it was seen as more friendly. Taylor could still whack people with it too.
Wonder and ruin. Well Taylor decided her life was already in ruins so why not add some wonder?
Trying to see if she could choose both the staff and the shield proved useless as the staff refused to budge away from the pedestal after a step.
Taylor took a deep breath to steady her nerves and spoke upwards.
"I choose...this?" She finished with high tone. No cracks of lightning came at her so she breathed out a sigh which caught in her throat when the voice was almost in her ear.
"What will you give up for this power? All power has it price." it said somewhat sadly. Taylor blinked up.
"What do you mean? I don't have anything to give." She said a bit frantic, her pockets were empty as was the rest of the platform. The only thing she had besides her organs. and they were staying where they were thank you, was the other weapons.
Taylor frowned at their distant spinning forms. Did the voice want her to give up something that wasn't hers?
It didn't really make sense unless the game master was going to sacrifice the power source of one weapon to power the other? If that was the case at all. Taylor didn't want to be crazy. Imagining herself dying at this very moment.
This limbo being her way of escaping that harsh reality. But nothing made sense. Why wasn't this making sense if she was causing this.
Taylor's last moments should be happy ones, at lest in her head goddamnit. Laughing with dad, Emma free from whatever demon that held her grinning at her, mom on the couch reading her novel, Looking at her with a smile.
Not this. Not this dark empty place.
Walking over she barely noticed the staff staying in her hand, freed from whatever held it before. Taylor grasped the sword and with effort she said,
"This. I don't want this." Taylor wasn't brave, she was a frightened little girl who got stuffed into a locker. She had no friends, no hopes and no dreams. Taylor didn't have courage for each day in Winslow. Just a need to survive and get out.
The sword vanished in a shower of golden sparks. Taylor leaped back in surprised, jolted out of her gloom. The pedestals shook rapidly, all three of them and the then they capsized and the platform with her sleeping face cracked and splintered.
With a scream Taylor fell. The staff glowing ever softly in her hands.