Chapter 3: Orange
Falling from the west as a cold breeze passed, the sun had already began to set. Tall shadows of endless trees slowly stretched across the muddy ground along with the sun light in the deep forest. In other instances, Eurydice would have found this rather a sight to see, she'd even thought of taking a few pictures and painting it before adding it to her gallery if she only had her camera or phone. Otherwise she'd end up hanging around this strange place a little bit longer. Speaking of which-
"Where am I?" Eurydice wondered if the impact from the car crash had sent her flying across the other side of the country. She had been on her way towards Charles Studio when another car crashed against them, she hadn't thought she'd actually make it out alive. More importantly...did Loula survive as well? Eurydice began to think, her finger slowly chipping away at her nails, her brows knitted together in deep thought. Eurydice had barely managed to grab a hold of Loula before that car collided into them, to think such a thing would happen on such an uneventful day. She pondered over it for a while before standing up from the dirty, moist ground, patting off the dirt from her pants. Eurydice didn't seem to suffer from any injuries from the moment she woke up but the only strange thing was her not waking up in a hospital bed or at least in front of some pearly gates as she imagined. Perhaps the gods didn't want her. The very thought of it could make her laugh.
"I need to find a way out of here," Like a call for danger, just as she uttered those words, a noisy rustling of leaves could be heard from nearby. Footsteps followed right after as men laughed at a joke one of them had previously told. Eurydice turned with mild surprise at the group of men's sudden appearance. Such a disappointing surprise to see them in a remote area. They wore fine clothes but all of them had been filthy or at least looked like they had rolled around in dirt. Their entire body adorned gears as they carelessly carried weapons. From afar they look like they had been dragged through hell and back, caked with dirt and some strange liquid Eurydice couldn't make out. Whatever it was, the closer they got, the stranger and more disgusting their stench became. The noises, laughter and steps only stopped when they laid eyes on Eurydice, the once content look of normal chatter between friends broke into wide surprised grins. These men looked at least twice her age.
"Would you look at that," One of them smirked, "What's a pretty jewel like you doin out here alone, pretty fella?" Pretty fella. Eurydice couldn't hide the look of displease in her face, her eye twitching at every word out of that bastards mouth. The man only chuckled at the reaction, annoyingly, it only provoked him further to approach Eurydice closer but he froze as his friend raised a hand to stop him from going anywhere, a look of distrust and concern behind his eyes.
"Careful, boss. It could be a trap, if we get close we might get ambushed." Lackey number one stated his concern. It didn't seem to convince his boss, only agitating him a little. Lackey number three, on the other hand, violently scanned his surroundings in panic.
"What nonsense!" The boss took a swig of the alcohol bottle he carried around, letting the drink spill from his mouth before he let out a satisfied 'pwah!' , and wiped the trickle of alcohol on his lips. "You think I can't handle a bunch of no bodies? Who do you think is the strongest one in this arena? Is it not me?!" He preached, hands raised to the grey sky as he bathed in his self proclaimed glory. Eurydice wanted to roll her eyes. Only fools would believe such a monkey-headed speech. Then the fools applauded their boss.
"That's our boss!" Lackey number One nodded, proudly.
"He'll win this game in no time!" Lackey number Two said.
"Bear my children, boss!" Lackey number Three cried. Everyone fell silent. Their boss looked like he wanted to do nothing more than to feed Lackey number Three to the dogs. Why he hasn't done that yet? Eurydice knew just as much as she had to being dead. The boss, disturbed, annoyed and tired, only shook his head. A heavy huff leaving his lips, "Ronny, we've talked about this..."
"Oops, sorry..." Ronny, embarrassed, scratched the back of his head in shame.
Purple eyes blinked back and forth between Boss and Lackey number Three. A sudden conclusion came and about in her head. Just then, Eurydice turned on her heel. So they had that kind of relationship, she sees now. No matter, it wasn't her business to begin with. Who was she to judge? She should leave soon before they ask her to join their weird cult or something. She didn't even take one step ahead when out of nowhere, something flashed in the corner of her eye. The sharp blade that had only missed her by an inch had buried itself deep in the tree behind her. The night only grew colder by the second in the quiet of the forest.
"Where do you think you're going?" The boss, now focused back on her, said in a low voice. Eurydice is a young lady who in all her life had never once left the spotlight. She knew exactly how to act to get what she wanted, knew all the right faces, watched every change a person could make with their body. Everything she ever asked would be handed to her on a silver plate. After all, she only needed to focus on keeping everyone's eyes on her. Mommy will have handled everything else. Needless to say, she had grown to be the most sheltered girl you could ever find the world. She was born with hubris in her blood, and being sheltered came with aloof naivety. Fearless Arrogance and Pure Callowness. What a dangerous combination.
"Back home. I'd take you with me but we don't allow pets." every word spit itself out of her lips like venom off a snake hidden behind a smile. Something snapped inside the Boss the second those words left her mouth, an eye twitched in irritation. He laughed. He laughed louder and louder with every holler until every bird within hearing flew away. Even his lackeys wondered if they should flee. Then, in one deep breath, he swallowed all the turmoil in his chest.
"You don't seem to understand the situation you're in right now, little girl. Very well, big brother here will teach you the ropes. I'll even protect you and carry you to victory with me," The boss reached out his hand to Eurydice who only stared, unperturbed.
"What do you say? I wouldn't want you to come begging to me when it's all too late but perhaps...I might even show mercy. If you still won't accept, then all you have to do is run. I love a good chase." The way he said all that made Eurydice's skin crawl. She had no intention to join him ever but from everything he's said from the beginning, Eurydice could make up that even though she did die, it seems like she is now part of some game. She stood there for a moment, then she ran snatching up the dagger on the tree as she sprinted away as fast as she could. In the distance, she could hear that man's voice again echoing in the forest- laughing.
"I gave you a chance to be my bitch, girl! Don't blame me for whatever happens to you, I'll kill you like the rest of them!" Loud thumps on the ground soon followed when all the Lackeys came running after her. The boss, taking his time running after them. They had time, even if they were short on it, it was nearly impossible to catch up to the ranks now.
Eurydice, with her flats barely making it out from the deep mud and almost sinking, sprinted as far away she could. In situations like this made her wish she had chosen a more physically active hobby but there was nothing she could do now. She, in her relief, miraculously managed to lose them behind her tail, but it was only a matter of time before they find her, her mud trails easily gave her away after all. Her eyes hovered over her surroundings from where she hid behind a large tree, searching for anything she could use in her survival, only to find her best option being a twig. Huff, she sighed. Nothing it is. Silence breezed through the air as she continued to hide. Then something hard hit her, making her crash on the ground with a harsh thud. Lackey number two had spotted her hair behind the tree and snuck up on her when she let her guard down.
"Don't blame me, the boss tried to save you, you know? You're only getting what other option everyone else had." He said, an awfully sympathetic tone laced in his voice, but the condescending smile on his ugly face betrayed every form of guilt he could fake. He held her down with one hand, the other raising a blade over his head as it reflected on purple eyes. Eurydice kicked him off her easily, for someone who's pinning down another person, he didn't put his whole weight on her, relying on the fact that he was much stronger. Still, this was good luck for Eurydice as she pushed him on the ground, earning a disgruntled oof from him. In a rush of adrenaline, she took out a sharp silver steel from her pocket- her chisel. She has almost forgotten in the head of recent events but Eurydice would often carry it around as good luck. That had not worked well for her recently. After all, everything felt like a dream. Like everything here was never real. It couldn't be... right? Her trembling eyes gazed at the chisel in her hand, then at the man beneath her. If this really was a dream...then killing him wouldn't matter, right?
'It would be okay to kill him...right?' She thought, her heart ringing in her ears. Eurydice hadn't wasted a single second before she raised her chisel and sent it flying down to Lackey number two's face. He stared in shock, a small plea he never got to utter out stayed stuck between his lips before Eurydice stabbed him. His blood ran cold as his skin was to touch. Then Eurydice stabbed his face again.
Then again.
And again, until the man's face was no longer recognisable. Every time her chisel sunk inside it's face pulled her in a trance, similar to the alluring sway of flames in a fire. Almost the entirety of Eurydice's face had been splattered red, like the beach paintings of her galleria. Only...this one made her feel. Unable to place what those feelings actually were, she couldn't care. As long as she could feel.
"Chart! Where are you? Have you found her yet, we gotta finish this up quickly before the boss gets mad!" This was lackey number one.
He grunted in agitation. What was Chart doing being so fucking slow. How difficult was it of a job to find the girl, beat her, then drag her back to the boss. It was as easy as-
Lackey number one froze, his tired wrinkly eyes spotting dirty white hair from behind the tree. He smirked. It seems like he had struck gold. If he brought her to the boss by himself without those stupid monkeys with him then he could hog all the credit. He is the better one of them all.
"Would you look at that, didn't have anywhere else to hide now did you?" Lackey number one walked in slow, careful steps towards the half hidden girl behind the tree. Like a predator eyeing on its prey. "I'll tell you what, why don't you come with me. I promise I won't hurt-" he had barely managed to stutter out the last part of the sentence when his eyes landed on the dismantled face of his friend underneath this girl. No way. He shook his head. Looking at Eurydice who now stood up, her back still facing him as she clutched her chisel. Then he turned to his ally once more, as if he would look away and then back again his friend would get up. There was just no way. His eyes had to be messing with him! Yeah!
It must have been the alcohol from earlier!
Eurydice watched him falter. Watched him almost fall as he took a step back, his body shaking to its very core. It seems like Lackey number one hadn't expected it was possible for any of them to die. Did they think they were immortal just because they had their boss to back them up? She took his hesitation as an opportunity to land in a strike, causing him stumble back and clumsily trip on his feet. In his moment of a fall, Eurydice took the opportunity to run the chisel across his neck. The last thing lackey number one saw being the feet of his comrade a few steps ahead.
Back from the original spot where everything had began, lackey number three and the boss stood impatiently on their toes, not knowing that their former comrades had already been butchered to their deaths. The boss kicked a rock nearest to him and sent it flying a few paces ahead. Those two were taking so long! If they get any later than this, he might miss the opening for Miss Sunshine's Opening Night. Miss Sunshine is a singer in a bar and only opened every second Friday of the month and he had so been looking forward to it. At this point, he couldn't even get back in time for ending finale act. How frustrating!
Just when he was about full on rage into tomorrow, Lackey number three spoke up in alert.
"Boss! Look over there!" Lackey number Three said, shocked. The boss immediately turned to where he pointed a finger at to see the figured of someone approaching. He squinted for a better look. It had become hard to see inside the forest in the evening with all the fog that started building up from the cold but Boss could nearly make out the person's silhouette. He grins, a flush of excitement bubbling within him. He may not come home to Miss Sunshine's finale act but one way or another, he's not going home empty handed.
"How stupid! You actually-" Lackey number three couldn't finish his sentence when he was met with a ground full of dirt as the boss shoved him aside.
"Look who decided to come crawling back! Did you miss me, love?" The boss chuckled. Looks like he didn't need those lackeys to fetch her at all. To think she was smart enough to come back on her own two feet. Seems like he'll be busying himself tonight. A long smile that stretched across his grimy face suddenly froze when Eurydice had gotten close enough. Something strange was amidst. Did she always adored a dark blouse? It took a long period of time before it dawned on him. The outfit hadn't changed color....sort of. It was blood. Where were Chart and Don?
"Hey, the boss asked you a question!" Lackey number three yelled, oblivious to the sudden change in tension, "You're suppose to answer. Do you wanna die or something?" Those words had barely managed to make it out his mouth when something flew right at him. Lackey number three, still confused, turned around at his boss.
"Ahh! What the fuck!" The boss screamed in fear. Lackey number was confused, what happened? There was nothing around to be scared about, so why did his boss scream like that? Then something trickled down his face. Raising one hand, he cautiously touched the strange liquid. As he raised his hand to his head, he froze at something hard and cold.
"W-what is this?! Why's there so many blood?" He grasped on to the blade that stuck on his head, desperately holding on to it, unsure if he should pull it out or keep it there. He screamed louder and louder as time passed by. The boss, not knowing what to do, only stood there and watched before eventually, lackey number three fell to the ground, unmoving. By now, Eurydice was already standing in front of the boss. Feeling the shift in the tide, he cussed under his breath.
'I didn't even notice her getting closer,' He reached for the knife on his pocket. 'I have to do something...' Eurydice watched him make those small movements before ruthlessly running her chisel across and the boss managed to slip back. The graze on his neck making a light cut as blood trailed down drop by drop. It felt like seeing a completely different person from before.
"You-....you fucking bitch!" He growled, grasping on to the sword by his waist. Anger fueled his veins. Was this bitch fucking playing with him? Don was right, this was a trap. The Chastice Ensemble must have set this up to try and wash out all the Oddis. To think he would be pushed back like this. He won't let them get to him, not like this, not after everything!
Just as he raised his sword and lunged towards Eurydice, an arrow came flying towards them, piercing right through the man's shoulder, causing him to drop down on one knee as he cussed in pain. Eurydice's eyes immediately turned to the man behind them. Hidden behind the curtain of mist could barely be outlined was a silhouette of a man. His blonde hair rests u bothered by his shoulders as piercing grey eyes glared through the thin fog. Had it not for him, perhaps Eurydice would have already died if she hadn't already been dead.
"I fucking knew it! This was a trap!" The now injured man clutched tightly on to his bleeding arm. Before he could be caught any further, he dug into his pocket and took out a tiny sphere. The tiny object in his palm was smashed into the ground in a heartbeat, leaving only traces of his footsteps left from where he stood before. He disappeared.
'He was right here a moment ago,' Eurydice looked around through the mist of the forest but found no sign of where that man had disappeared. Only the dents on the ground and the corpses nearby served as an evidence that something had truly happened here. Eurydice clutched tightly on to her head. She must have lost it. Perhaps 18 years of living the way she had had finally made her snap. Ah, really. Dying in a car crash, being chased by these grown men, killing someone for the first time. Now that man had suddenly disappeared after taking out some weird thing. Eurydice used her hand to wipe the blood that has splattered on her cheeks, pale from the cold. It seemed like the worse was finally over for now, the moment she found out that she could relax, the weight of everything has suddenly came crashing down like a huge wave throwing her over spikey rocks. The blood that smeared on her hands, the messy wounds on now lifeless bodies...it all felt too real.
"Miss, are you okay?" The man clad in royal clothing of white, red and gold linings had now stood in front of her. Eurydice had to raise her head just to be able to look directly into his eyes. Those once cold, piercing gaze now replaced by concern, that troubled look leaving marks all over his refined features. Eurydice had seen her fair share of royal family members portraits in her life time, and the way this man in front of her held his head high, along with his neatly pressed royal outfit, she might have mistaken him for one in the museum. He held his bow in one hand, the other reached open for her to take. Eurydice stared down at it for a second before she heaved a heavy sigh. She couldn't answer him. What could she say after all? Yet, despite her zero response, this mysterious saviour of hers continued to talk in a panic with words she couldn't make out. Everything he said only fell into deaf ears. That was when this royal prince bend down, eye to eye for her. Eurydice could see his lips move, but nothing came out. And just like that, her vision fell into black with the last thing she saw being that man frantically moving towards her.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone