ROLEPLAY HQ - look-into-the-shadows

Stratford was a small town, a town where everyone knew everybody, where nothing really happens. The people there knew that when you leave, it’s rare for anyone to return. Surrounded by forest, and having its own little community, it seemed to be a perfect place. Stratford was a normal town, one that didn’t get visited by outsiders usually, but that was okay. Of course, that was only on the surface of this small little town. Eden was used to this town, having been the exception to the “never return” rule, having moved back to help her mother out with her father’s funeral arrangements. That was three years ago, and Eden never had left. In some ways it was a good thing, being back in the community that knew her, that felt for her loss. Yet, other times it was a curse. Such as now, with her car being stuck on the side of the road, currently stranded. She tapped the leather steering wheel nervously trying to keep her eyes from the edges of the forest. Trying to ignore the hair on the back of her neck standing up. Her mother would chastise her for letting her “imagination” run wild, because there was nothing out there to be scared of. The ghosts she saw wasn’t real, there were no such things as monsters. Yet, Eden knew that what she saw was real, even if the others ignored it. They said a town couldn’t be haunted, that it wasn’t possible. However she knew different, just by what she has seen. The dead didn’t stay gone, the ghosts aways seemed to stay in this town. And Eden always had the ability to see them, always able to feel them. The town of Stratford was suppose to be a normal town. But that was far from the truth. And right now, Eden couldn’t ignore the fact that something was out there in the forest, watching her. Taking a deep breath she looked at the time, 3:00am the dash. Mumbling a few curses, she turned the ignition key on once more. Hoping that the car would start.

9:05 AM

@Hell_Raiser

Watching. Waiting. Rogue had noticed those eyes long ago, months ago in fact, that seemed to notice her when not a soul did. A spirit of all things could feel when they were being sensed— which wasn’t a sensation that came often, especially for the darker souls, which Rogue very much was. Her assigned god, her superior, was worshipped by the people in this little pocket town. She’d been ordered to keep an eye on the towns people and keep any meddlers from intervening with the local cult that had rooted themselves in the area. She’d admittedly been a bit distracted from that task when she’d noticed a woman, whom she’d heard be called Eden, seemed to be able to see her. She could feel the fright that emanated from the human girl.. but Rogue couldn’t kill her curiosity. ’Can she see me?’ Lingering just behind the darkened brush of the forest Rogue watched, crimson eyes glowing lightly within the night. Her stare flow right in through the window and she watched as the woman gripped her steering wheel with unease. It seemed her car had given up on her. All Rogue could do was watch.. and creep closer until she was right on the edge of the trees, cloaked in shadows, observing her in eerie silence. She just needed a sign. Anything to confirm what she’d been wondering.. Could she be seen? @Sad Boi Micha

At the stall of the engine for the third time Eden couldn’t help but to sigh giving up on her endeavors to start the car up. So instead she leaned over to grab the flashlight from the glove box, and tied her hair up and out of her face. “Just like what dad taught you.” She mumbled to herself as she stepped out of the car into the cold night air. The flashlight came to life at a click of a button. The white light illuminated the area, as she moved forward. Glancing over to the tree line, Eden slowed down slightly, her gaze stopping to one particular spot in the forest. The light shown on the bush that Rogue was watching her from, the pausing being a beat longer than when Eden was casually scanning the area. ‘Is that..’ Eden blinked quickly looking away, as though she didn’t just see something weird, as though she couldn’t will herself to acknowledge Rogue. Instead she opened the hood of her car to look in it. Trying to keep her breath steady. “They can’t do anything to you.” She tried to reassure herself, keeping her voice low. “Just see what’s wrong with your car and get out of there.” God she felt like she was loosing it. Between the ghost that always seems to show up in the walk-in freezer at work, and now this? @Hell_Raiser

The truth was that Rogue happened to be more than just a spirit. She wasn’t a ghost haunting the earth, she wasn’t a tormented soul who couldn’t find their way out.. She was a demon. One of which possessed the ability to appear in either spiritual or physical form. She wasn’t really supposed to be causing any trouble or getting herself noticed by the townsfolk, and that wouldn’t have been a problem, had she not been so interested in why Eden could see her. She crept towards the tree-line just as a bright flashlight pointed her way. Rogue didn’t move, didn’t flinch, didn’t bat an eerie eye at the young woman. She continued to watch her. Eden hadn’t given her enough to convince her fully though.. seemed she’d have to press further to get the acknowledgment that she needed. ’I won’t be ignored so easily..’ The black haired demoness smirked to herself and vanished from the brush of the woods. She’d reappear, legs criss crossed, her body sat atop the top of the vehicle. Not a noise was made as she manifested there, watching the woman. “You.” Rogue finally broke the silence, eyeing the woman with irises that glow brightly within the night. Her hair black as the night sky, her skin pale as bones themselves. “You can see me.. even when I don’t want you to.” The conversation had been sparked without any introduction. “Who are you?” Her head tilted and her keen eyes narrowed. Rogue’s presence sometimes interfered with electrical signals and could’ve very well been the reason that the woman’s car wouldn’t start. Perhaps this was exactly where she wanted Eden to be. @Sad Boi Micha

Eden was in the middle of poking around under the hood when Rogue spoke. The sudden voice and presence startled her, causing her to flinch back, dropping the flashlight that clattered to the ground. “Shit!” She blurted out as her green eyes looked over to Rogue. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest as let out a few ragged breaths before seemingly calming down. “I could ask the same of you.” Eden spoke, her tone was calm, almost careful. She eyed Rogue slightly, as though trying to figure out what was going on exactly. Ghosts would normally try and interact with Eden, some more talkative than others, but it wasn’t this direct, Eden blinked for a moment, could’ve sworn Rogue looked blurry in her vision, almost out of focus for a moment. Yet, those eyes weren’t like the usual ghosts either. Eden knew what the eyes of the dead looked like, and glowing wasn’t one of them. She slowly picked up her flashlight, shining the beam over Rogue. Eden knew she couldn’t just ignore her on the car, she already talked to her, Rogue knew she could see her. “So..” Eden started taking a step forward. “What exactly are you?” @Hell_Raiser

The light of the flashlight would peer straight through the ghostly form that Rogue currently was. Her body appeared mist-like and hazy, but there was no question that she was real. She controlled the very air about her; her presence was very commandeering and demanding. Those reddened eyes of hers were the only thing to stand out within the night, glaring through the florescent light that beamed in her direction. She didn’t seem affected by its brightness. Rogue leaned her chin into her palm, long locks of raven hair flowing forward like free waterfalls. She smirked undeniably, stubby fangs poking out from behind the sheath of her lips. “I’m whatever you want me to be.” She chuckled, evading the answer that was truthful. “Would you believe me if I told you?” She chuckled with amusement. Her body then began to solidify and no longer was she transparent. Her skin was pale but porcelain and clothed in a black trench coat, and her weight was signified by the creaking of the roof of the car. Rogue sprang to her feet, boots clashing against the gravel road, and she walked around to approach Eden. She slightly tilted her head at her and extended out a hand, “You can call me Rogue, if you wish to.. and you are?” It couldn’t be ignored. Rogue was interested in why this human could see her. She wasn’t afraid like others might’ve been. @Sad Boi Micha

Eden watched at Rogue had changed, became solid. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as Rogue approached, but she didn’t step back. Maybe it was stupid, not turning and running, but something told Eden not too. So instead she let Rogue come near, the crunching of the gavel filling the quiet night. “Eden.” She nodded, before reaching out shaking her hand, before pulling away. “And honestly, I believe in a lot more than you think.” It was true, while this was the weirdest encounter Eden could say she had, the three years since coming back to this town have been strange. While in the past she would only have a few incidents with the spirits that haunted this town, ever since she came back it seemed that the activity had increased for her, as though trying to get her attention. Out of habit, Eden glanced around the surrounding area once more, becoming satisfied when no other spirit or creature was seen. “I know you are definitely not like the others.” She started again, studying Rogue now that she was closer. “None of them can take on a physical form..” Her words trailed off as she was thinking, trying to figure out if and where she had seen Rogue before. @Hell_Raiser

Rogue was impressed with Eden’s bravery but not at all surprised. She’d been watching her on and off for a while now and she’d seen her interact with spirits that frequented the town nearby.. It was no shock that the woman was somewhat used to these types of encounters. Though Rogue was different from the rest.. by far. She shook the woman’s hand and nodded along in agreement. “I’m glad to hear it. A believer in this town may be the last thing they want, but, here you are.” She walked in a circle around Eden, looking her up and down and analyzing her every detail. She seemed relatively normal. “I was sent to keep an eye on the lot of you. Things around here aren’t quite as they seem.. though I have a feeling you’re already beginning to suspect that.” She stopped in her tracks and pulled a match from her coat pocket, propping it between her lips and habitually chewing on the stem. “I take it you’ve noticed things around here since you returned? It’s no secret to me that you can see things that nobody else can.” She huffed a thoughtful breath. “The fact that you can see me tells me you’ve got a pretty strong ability. You’re what we call a see’er.” Rogue then leaned back against the car and crossed her arms over her chest. The moonlight danced around them. “I’m here to warn you. Don’t busy yourself with worrying about what goes on in Stratford. You’ll get yourself into trouble— and it’s my assumption that you don’t want that.” She wasn’t being threatening but the warning was clear: don’t get involved. Don’t investigate. Rogue had been sent here to make sure that nobody caught wind of the cult and it seemed Eden was probably the only person she needed to concern herself with. @Sad Boi Micha

Eden frowned at her words, especially when Rogue mentioned a we. “I’ve always been able to notice things.” She mumbled slightly, before shaking her head. “Who’s we?” She couldn’t help but to ask that question, though she couldn’t help but to pull the flannel jacket closer to her. It was one thing that Eden could see things, on a deeper level she knew it only made sense for her to be watched by the same things she could see, but knowing it’s confirmed made her uneasy. In the back of her mind questions were running through her head, but she tried to focus on the matter at hand. “So, you decided to show yourself now to just tell me all of this?” Eden pushed a loc of red hair that had came loose from her ponytail, tucking it behind her ear so it was out of her face. “Look, you’re right I don’t want trouble, I try and ignore the spirits that are there in general.” She couldn’t help but to sigh crossing her arms against her chest. “Stratford always been a weird town, that is no secret. And I just want to go about my life like normal. Okay? But something just feels..” Wrong. Eden didn’t finish her sentence, letting her voice and thoughts trail off. What Eden said had some truth to it, she did want to go on with life as normal. But, Eden knew it was a wishful thing that wasn’t going to happen. What she could see and feel was growing stronger the longer she stayed in this town, but she couldn’t leave. Every time she thought about leaving again, a pressure would seem to build up in her head, as though something was weighing her down, keeping her tethered to Stratford. @Hell_Raiser

Midnight crickets chirping were the only other noise that Rogue could hear beyond Eden’s curious voice. She remained put, leaning against the vehicle casually and tracing after the mortal woman with her demonic eyes of red. She shrugged her shoulders, “I decided to show myself out of curiosity. I wasn’t sent to warn you— I’m doing it out of ‘kindness’. Consider yourself lucky.” Rogue was a mysterious and strange creature after all. Her motives weren’t clear. She then listened as Eden continued and she simply watched her with dull, deadened eyes. “Whatever feeling you sense, ignore it.” She warned again, brutally. “Don’t follow your gut. Don’t trust your senses. If you knew what was good for you, you’d get out of here while you can.” Rogue pushed away from the car and stepped closer and closer to Eden until they were nearly toe to toe. Rogue tilted her chin downwards to look down at the shorter woman. She reached a porcelain hand forward to caress Eden’s cheek. “Heed my warning. Leave Stratford and don’t ever look back.” Her chilled breath could be seen furling through the small gap of air between them. Somehow Rogue had taken interest in this woman.. and she knew she wouldn’t leave here. Not without a fight. “Demons will soon claim this land and all the people within it. That’s what we plan for.. and some of your very own plot against you. They’ve welcomed us in.” Maybe Rogue wasn’t like the rest though.. maybe she would help Eden, in the end. Why else would she tell her all of this? Rogue stare deep into her eyes. “You should run while you still can.” She then pulled her hand away, continuing to chew on the match between her lips. “And don’t ever tell anyone that I warned you.” She stepped back and with the snap of her fingers, Eden’s car started without a problem. “Get into your car and go.” @Sad Boi Micha

Eden gritted her teeth slightly in an attempt to hold her tongue as Rogue touched her cheek, a touch that sent ice through her veins. It took all the self control that she had to not push her hand away. “I won’t tell anyone.” She finally spoke, her hands clenching into fists. “I can assure you of that.” But Eden couldn’t promise anything more. So instead she walked to her car that had now started getting in. Eden started to drive, keeping her eyes forward and on the road not sparring a glance to Rogue, knowing how useless it would be. It wasn’t long she finally pulled into the drive of her mother’s house, a small two bedroom cabin just a ways out of town. But it was a cozy place as Eden let herself in, and went to bed in her room. She would have a fitful sleep through the night, nightmares plaguing her at every turn. And in the morning, her mind replayed everything that happened last night. “Are you okay Firefly?” The voice of her mother pulled her out of her thoughts. “I’m fine mom, just tired and ready to go to work.” She sipped her coffee, but then paused. “Mom? Have you ever thought of moving—” “Oh, Eden after your shift can you pick a few things up for me?” Her mom quickly cut in, stopping Eden from asking her question. Eden sighed, getting up from the table to grab her keys. “Of course, I’ll see you soon.” She left out the door to start the drive back into town, where the local cafe and bakery would be opening up soon for their morning customers. “Please just let this be a normal day.” She muttered to herself as she clocked in. @Hell_Raiser

Watching the red glow of those taillights slowly fading into the night was a relief for Rogue. Her combat boots scraped through the gravel scattered across the pathway of the road and kicked a few loose rocks forward, a somber sigh escaping the demon’s lips. Rogue was questioning herself. Why did I warn her? She couldn’t quite figure herself out in this moment. She felt drawn to Eden. She was curious about her— curious about how things would end if she got involved and ignored the warnings she’d given. It wouldn’t be that easy to chase the girl out of town so, she figured she best follow her for now. Stay out of sight. Watch her. Keep her out of trouble. Her form transformed back into a misty haze of a vision and the ghostly woman travelled through veils of time and space, following the scent of Eden all the way back to a snug little cabin. From there, she’d follow her to the local cafe and bakery. The demon made sure to stay far enough away and tucked into the shadows, hoping that Eden wouldn’t notice her. There were plenty other spirits in this area to distract her. So far Rogue was both pleased to see that at least Eden was minding herself and staying out of trouble, and also disappointed to know that she wasn’t leaving town. She knew better though. She could feel how stubborn the woman was.. if only she knew what trouble lay ahead in wait for her. She could surely get herself killed if she wasn’t careful. @Sad Boi Micha

The day was busy, between putting in and completing orders, to helping the kitchen staff bake the pastry and breads, Eden didn’t even have time to focus on last night, or the spirits around them. It felt like a nice distraction, as long as Eden wasn’t alone, the spirits didn’t bother her. She would just ignore them. Five o’clock rolled around, and the final customers seemed to wonder out of the shop, allowing Eden to close the front and lock it. Giving a little sigh in relief. It wouldn’t take long for Eden to finish up the closing tasks, it was now just her and the owner of the store. She would get to go soon. “Hey Eden, I’m going to be stepping out, finish up here and you can just go home. Lock the back door on your way out.” Her boss, Abigail, hung up the apron on her hook as she gave Eden a smile. “Enjoy your day off tomorrow.” “Alright. Have a good night Abi.” Eden sighed as she heard the back door to the business close before she could say anything. “Let’s just get this done..” She put in some earbuds, playing music to help pass the time to clean. As she stepped into the kitchen, Eden paused as out of the corner of her eye she saw a tray that had been left behind. She grabbed it and made her way into the walk-in, propping the door open for a moment to get in and out. The cold air made goosebumps rise on her arms as she slid the tray back into place. The big light suddenly flickered as the door slammed shut causing Eden to jump. “Come on, open please..” Eden was quick to try the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “Help me..” A man’s voice was heard behind her. Eden flinched feeling the pressure of a hand heavy on her shoulder. Without thinking she whirled around. “Leave me alone!” She growled out. Realizing the mistake too late as the spirit tilted his head slowly, the dull dead eyes boring into her soul. The hand suddenly dug into her shoulder, Eden’s blood felt like ice. “Shit!” She hit the handle of the walk-in door once again.

8:06 AM

. It swung open, allowing Eden to stumble back. But the spirit followed, angry. The spirit was of a man, hands black almost frostbitten skin, but across his neck was a thin line, as though his throat had been slit. Lanky arms, and taller than Eden with a hazy outline. She tried to twist out of its grip, the spirit stronger due to its emotions. “You can.. see.. me” He hissed out leaning down closer to her face. “Help.. me.” It spoke once again. @Hell_Raiser

Keep trouble at bay. That’s what Rogue had been told when she’d originally been sent to Stratford. That had been about 4 months ago and since then, she’d remained a dormant spirit in the realm of the town. She didn’t interact with nor show herself to the townspeople. She’d learned to watch them from afar, noting their interactions and weeding out those who were of no concern to her. The main people she needed to watch were those who were involved with the cult.. Nobody else in Stratford seemed to know anything about what was going on behind closed doors. The town had been getting prepared for sacrifice for years upon years, witches and anti-saints having placed their mark on the town through seance and ritual to an Eldritch God. Rogue was the right hand of said god, and more often than not, followed his every order. Seemed this time around she may have had different plans for herself but, one couldn’t be so sure as of yet. Eden was a concern, no matter what side of the war Rogue would choose. She was the single soul in this entire place that could not only figure out what was going on.. but she could put a stop to it, if she truly desired to. Rogue recognized that potential in her the first time she’d ever seen her. It couldn’t be said why Rogue may have wanted to help her, but, the truth was that it didn’t matter. Hazy as fog the black haired spirit leaned against the wall of the bakery outside, awaiting for Eden to come waltzing out of that back door and back to her car. Too much time had passed though— where is she?

8:31 AM

It was then that Rogue sensed a secondary presence and she grunted to herself. Damnit to hell. She disappeared and would reform herself in physical form, appearing inside of the bakery and right in between the ghost of the man and Eden. She lifted her leg and planted her combat boot directly into the chest of the spirit, sending him barreling back into the freezer with a strong kick. “Nobody’s helping you today, bastard.” Rogue huffed, walking into the freezer and pulling a small pouch of salt from her pocket. She drew a pinch of the crystalline salt from the bag and flicked it towards the spirit. “Be gone. To hell with you.” It didn’t take much more than that for him to burn away. She turned on her heels and looked back at Eden. “I thought I told you to get out while you still could.” Her dark eyebrows furrowed. “Why are you still here?” @Sad Boi Micha

Eden had slid down from the counter onto the floor, her body uncontrollably trembling. Her was pressed against the shoulder that the fingers had dug into. The blood that seeped out was cold, just for a second before it finally felt normal. If she would’ve guess, her body was in shock. Eden looked between Rogue and the spirit, grimacing slightly as he burned away into ash. Her mind almost didn’t register what Rogue said, trying to calm the pounding in her chest. She blinked, and looked up at the woman who stared down at her. “I can’t.” She said, slowly standing her free hand gripping the metal counter. “I can’t just.. leave.” It wasn’t like the night years ago when she originally left the town. It was different now, but she couldn’t explain why or how. There was so many excuses that she could give, her job, the few friends she had, her mom, the feeling she gets every time she stared at the road that lead away from town for good. And with what she knew now— Eden took a deep breath as she looked past Rogue, the spirit fully burned away now. “.. Thank you.” She finally said. Slowly peeling her hand off her shoulder. Staring at the blood that covered it. “For helping me.” @Hell_Raiser

Eyebrows colored in charcoal furrowed with unease in Eden’s direction as she shriveled to the floor. Only seconds had passed before the red haired woman got shakily back to her feet. “I figured as much. I didn’t take you for someone who would run away so easily.” She clicked her tongue against her teeth and shook her head. “Tsk. Unfortunate.” It would’ve been easier for them both had she been able to leave this town in the dust. But when was anything that easy? Rogue turned fully and approached Eden, eyeing her bloodied shoulder and glancing back towards the freezer. “Don’t consider it as helping you. I’m doing my job.” She didn’t want to be hailed as some hero— she definitely wasn’t one. “You’re going to need to have that cleaned and bandaged. I wouldn’t recommend telling the truth about what happened.” The black haired woman then reluctantly would offer her own advice, though she shouldn’t have. “If you’re going to stay then you should know that the amount of spirits walking this town is only going to increase. The longer that time goes on, the more unusual things are going to take place here. You need to watch your back and remember.. don’t acknowledge them. If they don’t know you can see them, they won’t even think to bother you.” She grabbed a clean rag and ran it under cold water before offering it over to Eden. “I won’t always be around to save your ass.” That might not have been true, but the more Eden could protect herself, the better. “And the spirits aren’t going to be the only thing out to get you if you get involved in this. People in this town are crooked and broken. The second they think you know something, they’ll kill you and burn your body until there’s nothing left.” Her voice had lowered to a quiet whisper. Rogue glanced around. “I can’t tell you anymore here. It isn’t safe.” @Sad Boi Micha

“Usually I don’t have a problem ignoring them.” She grumbled as she took the rag, reaching for one of the small medical kit that was in the kitchen. “Between everything already happening, and him startling me.” Eden just shook her head rummaging through the kit grabbing what she needed. She peeled off her uniform, having a black tank underneath, looking at the bloody sleeve. She would have to tell her mom something coming home tonight. “I’ve learned long ago not to talk about what I’ve seen.” Eden glanced at Rogue as she cleaned up the wound. It was where the spirits fingers had gripped her, claw marks bleeding. “I tried to tell my parents years ago what I could see. But even they didn’t believe me. So I decided to just.. stop.” Eden finished cleaning and bandaging the wound as she put everything back in its original place. She stopped taking a deep breath, in and out. She hadn’t felt panicked like that in a while, not since she was a teenager. “If you can’t tell me anymore, then where is safe?” She asked, tucking the shirt under her arm and retrieving her keys from her pocket. @Hell_Raiser

Rogue stood back from the scene of Eden peeling off her work shirt and tending to her wound with the help of a first aid kit. She leaned back against a nearby hand sink and crossed her arms over her chest, irises of crimson lingering along Eden in endless thought. What am I going to do with this girl.. It was unfortunate that Eden’s psychic gifts had been ignored and unacknowledged by her parents and those around her. It would explain why she wasn’t more in touch with the happenings around her when it came to the spirit world. If she looked closely enough and opened her mind, there was plenty more of the supernatural to be seen, if she tried to. “People don’t want to believe what they can’t see.” Rogue interjected in a neutral tone. “Just so happens that you can see more than they can.” She shrugged her shoulders and glanced around. She felt so exposed being out in the open like this. “You shouldn’t have given up so easily though.” Rogue may not have known, or cared to know, the full extent of Eden’s history with her parents or the people of this town. It didn’t matter. Had she spoken up and fought for understanding, the cult may have never formed. They’d have known better than to operate around someone who could see them for what they were. “It matters not now.” She ended the thought abruptly. The jingling of car keys perked her attention and she nodded. “Your car should be private enough. I’d suggest driving somewhere dark— someone seeing you talking to yourself might be concerning.” She chuckled with amusement at the thought. In her physical form anyone could see her but in her spectral form Eden was her only witness. It may have been a strange scene to see Eden yammering to herself in her car. Rogue would be sure not to be seen by anyone else, after all. “I can tell you more there.” @Sad Boi Micha

Eden gave a small nod before walking out the back door. Stratford was getting colder, the leaves changing with the season. The small green buggy being the only car in the employee parking lot. Getting in, she turned the key only giving Rogue a glance in the passenger seat. The drive was in silence, with Eden just staring straight ahead. She knew the perfect place to go, turning a left off of Main Street. The backroads lead off to a nearby park that had a trail leading to the lake. It was empty, as most people were home by now, and Eden never was bothered by spirits here. “This is safe enough correct?” Eden parked the car turning off the engine. She took a deep breath, looking over. “Listen, I’m not expecting you to tell me everything..” She stopped though, because she wanted answers. She needed the answers, answers the why and how. But Eden didn’t even know where to begin, what to even ask. She stared past the park, and out to the view of the lake. @Hell_Raiser