ROLEPLAY HQ - embracing-shadows

Nestled along the outskirts of the forest lay an abandoned, small, one-story house. Nearly all of its windows were shattered. Weeds and vines clung to the stormy grey walls like nobody’s business. A porch was attached to the front of the house. The equally grey-colored wooden support pillars were now brown with decay and rot. Despite the shattered windows and the building appearing one breath away from collapsing, the door to it was still intact and pretty secure looking. If one had a pair of sharp eyes, they’d be able to see the aftermath of something quickly shuffling out of sight within the foliage beside the house… ------

7:05 AM

“It still amazes me how you’re able to find these obscure, out of the way, and easy to miss details.” Sergeant Aeoi muttered in disbelief as he watched their newly caught culprit get cuffed and shepherded into the back of one of many police cruisers surrounding the area. Aeoi was a hearty-looking white man who had short, black hair. He always had a pleasant smile and an equally happy glint in his eyes. The man in question simply shrugged, equally watching the felon get hauled off. After a heartbeat of uncomfortable silence for the former, the young man spoke. “I guess it’s just luck, sir.” His tone was flat. It gave no insight into what he was thinking. “Thank god that bastard is finally getting what he deserved.” Someone barked out. The voice was slightly echoey and distorted, yet it was obvious and easy to tell that the owner was a young female. The tone she had was one of relief, similar to how a parent would sound once their kid finally did something that they’ve been trying to make them do for hours. Her announcement caused Colton to shift his attention off the car and onto the lass that stood not too far off from his right. She appeared to be around his brother’s age. She was a good foot shorter than he was. Her dirty blond hair was unkempt, yet it managed to still hold some sort of style; what exactly kind of style was a mystery, though. She had white splotches littered all over her olive skin. She wore an oversized light blue hoodie, baggy blue jeans, and galaxy-colored converse. When she turned to look up at him, her blue eyes were dull and lifeless. The eyes of the dead. .

7:05 AM

She gave him a wide, toothy smile. “Thank you for your help!” Her expression suddenly shifted to one of timid uncertainty. The quiet voice she spoke in caused him to strain his ears to hear her, “I do have one last favor to ask if that’s alright…” Colton tilted his head, a silent request to continue. “It will have to be done later tonight.” He wasn’t aware of the odd look the sergeant gave him. ------

7:05 AM

I should have said no… Nearly 12 hours after apprehending that thug, the wolf found himself standing in front of the gates of an abandoned zoo. It was midnight. “I’m surprised you actually came. Thought you’d skimp out on me.” The girl piqued as she floated her way over toward him from down the sidewalk. “Why would I? You’ve helped us catch your murderer. I am in your debt.” He explained with a furrowed brow of confusion. His answer clearly wasn’t satisfying enough for the girl based on the frown that immediately marred her face. “You’re no fun.” She deadpanned. He merely shrugged. After climbing the wall surrounding the zoo via vines and footholds, the ghost girl directed him deeper into the place. Despite having night vision, the lad was grateful that there was a full moon to aid him. This place made the back of his neck hair stand on end. “The place should be right around the corner.” The girl muttered after a couple of minutes of exploring the zoo. She was indeed correct, the place was right around the corner. It appeared to be the zoo’s personal park of some sort. It held only a few trees scattered here and there. The rest was just grass that was long overdue for a trim. In the center was a large three-tiered stone fountain that had an intricate display of animals engraved on it. When Colton got closer to inspect it, he noticed that the bottom well had hundreds of varying coins in it. Due to the lack of maintenance, the water had stopped working eons ago and has long since dried up. “What you’re looking for will be a small keychain, about the size of a quarter. It kinda looks like a red beaded asian doll.” The ghost supplied as he began to run his hands through the coins. ------

7:06 AM

He had no clue how long he was searching, but it felt like a couple of hours. His hands were covered in grime from the elements and the tinge of old copper was starting to annoy him. He let out a long sigh as he straightened to his full height to stretch. He grumbled slightly in satisfaction as he heard and felt his spine pop. The ghost had left him some time ago, having gotten bored of watching him shuffling through the coins, and proclaimed that she’d patrol the area for any unwanted guests. An ear-splitting scream suddenly pierced the air. The reverberation it had to it immediately told him that it was a ghost’s scream. The girl’s scream. Doll be damned. Before he knew it, Colton was sprinting toward the direction of where he heard the wail without a second thought.

7:06 AM

@Deleted User

She was already annoyed having run out of cigarettes, her headlights bore into the night casting even shadows surrounding the beam of light. She didn't even need her headlights on, she had impeccable night vision, often finding herself awake in the night time hours, and resting during the day, if at all. Grabbing her monster in the center console, she put the can to her lips letting the euphoric liquid seep into her mouth taking a greedy, deep swallow. Breathing an uneven sigh, she set the can back into its slot. Several minutes later, passing street lights and empty sidewalks, she neared the Seven Eleven. Pulling in, she parked her Jeep unevenly inside almost vertically along the yellow lines. Grabbing her phone and wallet, she strolled inside the gas station. Walking over to the Energy Drink Cooler, she grabbed an armful of the BFC Monsters (Big Fucking Cans) and made her way to the cashier. As she approached, Hollow by Dabin blasted from her work cell phone. Struggling with the load, she set the cans on the counter, lifting a finger to the woman behind it and stepped away apologetically.

11:25 AM

It was the Sheriff's Office of Dublin County. Groaning, she hit the green cell phone, "Myriel Valden here." She spoke sharply, agitation heavily lined in her words. "Myriel, Love, it's Allyssa Trust! How are you, my dear?" Alyssa's cheerful voice rang out on the other side, Myriel couldn't help but to smile. Alyssa was in her mid thirties and a bubble of sunshine that always could light up her shadowy world, annoyingly. "Alyssa! It's been so long. How is the baby?" She spoke excitedly knowing she had just came back from maternity leave, her husband Justin Trust, a local police officer, that Myriel had run ins with often. They were the most disgustingly adorable couple that just oozed affection whenever they were together. "Oh thank you for remembering! We named him Trevor after Justin's late best friend! He smiles all the time and is just honestly the perfect baby. You should come by sometimes and I can show you pictures!" She gushed and Myriel could hear the love and adoration dripping from her voice. It honestly gave Myriel hope, hope for a better future that there were people like her and Justin in this world.

11:25 AM

"I'm sure I'll be stopping by tonight, I know you have something for me, what does the Dublin County need from their "local psychic"? I want an advance this time." It was still business after all and that's all she was after. A better life, an escape. "We have a young Investigator on a cold case that he just solved, however there is more that needs to be done to close this case and they need you out in the field. I can talk to Sergeant Aeio and see what advance they can make this time. We agreed to 3 grand last time, correct?" She was excited to assign this case to Myriel, but still there was a skepticism that she caught in the undertones of Alyssa's voice. "You're the best, Allyssa! Text me the address of where they need me." Hanging up, she turned her attention back to the Cashier, "Sorry, about that. Duty calls. Give me two packs of Marlboro Black 100's, please." Fishing out a couple 20s, she paid the woman for all the goodies and got back to the vehicle. Unloading her haul to her passenger seat, she chuffed a sigh. Her cell phone dinged several times as messages popped up on the notifications.

11:26 AM

400 Cypress Creek Rd. Typing the GPS in on Google Maps, she started her engine with a roaring rumble of life. She loved her vehicle, Black on White, and one of the newest vehicles she'd ever owned, a 2017 Jeep Renegade with a 3.4 liter engine. Her last commission helped drive it off the lot. It may not be brand new, but it's brand new to her with a thumping system. Grabbing her phone, she connected her Bluetooth and played her Spotify Liked List, with a twist of the volume button, she blasted The Death We Seek by Currents., just as she was about to drive off, another text by the Sergeant read, "Something was up with Colton when we apprehended a man for killing a young girl, but he looked like he was distracted by something else that I couldn't make out. I know it's a long shot, but the young Investigator is really keen on seeing things through. Can you follow up with any assistance he may require? Life 360 has him at the Dublin County Zoo. Report back when you find anything, thanks. Your next assignment will be briefed tomorrow." Myriel rolled her eyes, they always had her chasing after left overs they couldn't gather themselves. Not that they had the means, to begin with. Nonetheless, it paid the bills at her mystic shop Prominent Refelction, which was really just her dining room in her house.

11:26 AM

Roughly 30 minutes later, she arrived at the zoo. Only one other vehicle sat in the parking lot and she cut off her lights and rolled in. Black pools cast over the vast shadows of the entrance, walking to the gate, it was still locked. Whatever business Colton had, he was trespassing on the grounds. As she looked on at the well worn iron wrought gate, she couldn't help but feel an intense ominous feeling creep over her and settling within the pit of her stomach. Before she was about to scale the fence, she loosed the hair tie around her wrist and threw her hair up in a messy ponytail.

11:26 AM

Hands at her outer thighs and palms forward, she flexed her fingers outward as the shadows pooled at her tips and gathered at her feet. Approaching the gate, her right hand balled in a fist and slowly began to raise, the higher her hand rose, the higher the shadows lifted her up and over the obstacle and back to the ground. Controlling shadows was about just as easy as breathing to her, all she had to do was will them to where ever she wanted, and with aide from herself, she was able to form whatever she wanted to conjure. There was an eerie silence, an unspoken danger palpable in the air that made her arms break out in gooseflesh. Walking through the desolate isles, the animals tucked away either in fear or sleep, but not one was in sight nor did they make any noise. The further she went, the closer she got to that sickening feeling, an almost primal instinct willing her to run. But, it wasn't just her human side, it was also her Demonic side screaming of an ancient danger. The fear had her eyes widening as she pushed on. She saw a figure up ahead, a young one probably around her own age seemingly floating on nothingness. Myriel stopped, cocking her head quizzically as she approached the girl, "Well, I'd say you definitely look out of place. My name is Myriel." She gave a slight wave as the girl began to approach her. It was a short lived introduction as the girl opened her mouth, "My name is Rac.. Oh God what is that thing?!" She let out a blood curdling scream as Myriel looked in the direction to their right.

11:27 AM

A behemoth of a beast came awkwardly crawling menacingly fast. The cracks and pops of its joints let loose sickeningly, cutting through any silence there was. It's breathing ragged, wheeze with long guttural and choking growls as the bottomless pits of its skull fixated on the woman. Myriel had already felt the shift of her Shadows gather around her in protection. The beast was fast, the uneven thudding grew closer and closer, "R-Run!" Myriel shouted, she read about these things in her many visits to the Veil, she had met a man named Geoffrey that studied these things in his after life, he was an intelligent man, one whom she was glad to have come across to better understand that world.

11:27 AM

Myriel lifted her palms outward in front if her, her hair tie breaking and raven threads flitted within the night like snake-like tendrils as her shadows surrounded the massive thing, her palms closing together as her shadows swallowed the Devourer in vast darkness. She added more and more pressure to her palms, hearing the audible crushing and snarling from inside the black orb. Sweat beaded her brows as she focused, after several seconds of containment, bones shot through like pikes from the abyss, quickly releasing her shadows. Her breath was labored, heavy like she had just gotten ran over by a truck. Her legs weak and knees giving out, she kneeled to the ground. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! RUN!" She screamed at the girl who seemed as if she was paralyzed in fear, shaking her head, she snapped out of it she turned and only got a few feet before the beasts reared up on its legs, rib cage opening and maw splitting revealing rows and rows of jagged, rotten teeth that stretched the berth of its mouth.

11:28 AM

A foul odor permeated the air as tendrils launched out from the gory, cavernous opening of its midsection, catching the girl by her throat, arms and legs and began to yank her back to consume her essence. Myriel stood, her last remaining strength pulsating her vision making the shadows denser, darker; She knew if she didn't act now, she would be unconscious and that girl be consumed. Putting her hand out before her like a claw, her shadows snapped between the beasts maw holding it in place not allowing the creature to bite into the girl and formed a net with her shadows to catch the ghost before she entered the Devourer's body. She couldn't hold it for long, spikes formed as her Shadows began to pierce the back side repeatedly, a blackish green substance shot out from its hide and it let out an unsettling rattle in promises of death as the head slowly turned its attention to Myriel. Shit.. Was the only word that formulated in her mind before yelling at the top of her lungs, "Colton, you little shit, where the fuck are you?!"

11:28 AM

@Blue Hound

Not in a million years did he wish to think that a zoo should be small… until now. Despite being able to hear the terrified scream, it was distant and faint. The fountain he was scrounging through was located on the completely other side of the damn zoo from where she was at. So much for patrolling the nearby area. Colton’s patience in running in human form only lasted a few minutes in human form before cursing at how slow he was. In mid-stride, he leaped into the air. Thick brown fur, similar tones to his own hair, erupted from beneath his skin, and the sudden sound of all his bones breaking at once cracked through the surrounding air. A heartbeat later, a larger than life wolf landed the jump that the human had started. His transformation was seamless and quick. If one were to blink, they’d have missed it. The only sign that his human form had been there was from his clothes, which fluttered to the ground in utter shreds, and the remains of his shoes. No world renowned seamster or seamstress could fix that. Thankfully everything was fairly cheap… aside from the shoes. In his new form, Colton was able to pick up sounds and smells he hadn’t been able to with his already enhanced human senses. The musky smell of mold, dirt, and other elements assaulted his nose; though years of experience allowed him to block out everything he didn’t want to know. The sound of midnight insects that were too quiet to hear now buzzed and chirped annoyingly to one another. Now with four limbs propelling his muscle bound form, he swallowed up the ground with alarming speed. It didn’t take long for him to be able to catch someone yelling. A human yelling. .

7:23 AM

Fear seized his mind like a vice. What was a human doing here at an abandoned zoo at this time of night? Ghost hunting? Colton would have scoffed at that inside joke if he hadn’t caught the interwoven panic in their voice. Spurred on by the desire to make sure the ghost girl and the stranger were alright, he pushed himself faster. Danger. The wolf faltered in sudden newfound terror. His hackles rose to his sudden shift in emotion. His instincts were screaming at him to turn tail and run the completely other way. There was something ungodly and full of evil where he was heading. He wanted to run away. He wanted to run away so bad… He shook his head furiously, growling. *They need help*. He was not going to have more blood on his hands than it already did. Shoving his primal desire away, he regained his stride and continued onward. ------

7:25 AM

Colton’s form came skidding into view from behind one of the buildings. He was too focused on thinking of protecting the girl on the ground to fully comprehend what was attacking her. All his mind supplied was that there was a giant beast with an unprotected neck. With the creature distracted with the human, he bounded forward before leaping at the abomination’s throat with outstretched jaws and daggered fangs. He held back the snarl that threatened to erupt from his throat, worried that if he drew too much attention to himself, the thing would most likely turn to look at him, thus covering his opportunity for an easy opening. His jaws sprang shut onto the grotesque trachea. Blackish green ooze sprayed within his mouth as his teeth ripped through its hide. The momentum he had from his leap carried onward throughout his body, causing his form to swing forward and shred even wider holes within its throat. The creature immediately reared back in surprise with a choked screech, floor girl forgotten. The sudden eruption of pain lacing across his shoulder and stomach immediately caused the wolf to release his grip, though he managed to twist around in midair and land on his feet upon reaching the ground. His gaze snapped onto the creature just in time to see some kind of bone-like material receding back into its body from its shoulder. The monster’s attention shifted down to him. It let out an ominous howl before charging forward with a speed that Colton found quite unsettling. He hurled himself to the side right as a new pair of spikes came flying forward. He darted around the thing, planning to attack its side, but upon seeing strange shadows writhing on top of it, he aimed for the next best thing, the loosely dangling intestines. With newfound vigor, he lunged toward its stomach. .

7:26 AM

He expected those to be simply organs. Not organs that also leaped out at him. With the speed he was going and the distance already close, it was impossible for him to move out of the way. The squirming things whipped around his neck, upper chest, and forelegs. It yanked him into its midsection without hesitation. Colton’s vision immediately became obscured with throbbing innards and alarmingly tiny needle-like teeth. The stench that consumed his nose was foul enough that he had to choke down his own vomit. The tendrils had shifted onto wrapping around his lower stomach and rear legs, attempting to shove the rest of him inside. The needle-like teeth were grabbing into his fur and skin, aiding in the process of burrowing him deeper within it. Thinking fast, he took note that the binds on his forelegs and neck had receded once his front half entered the belly of the beast. With his fangs and claws free to move about, he hastily began tearing away at the house of horrors. The tendrils that held his lower half recoiled right as he started ripping into its belly, giving him enough leeway to pull away from them. He started clawing at it with his rear legs as well. The pain that shot through his whole being from colliding with the prickly walls in his fighting frenzy was shoved aside. After what felt like an eternity, he finally felt the creature’s whole body seize. He felt his stomach leap within his throat as it suddenly tipped over. A yelp escaped him as he felt the side that crashed onto the ground slam into him. The skyward side of the creature collapsed on top of him, though it wasn’t nearly as painful. .

7:26 AM

With the beast now dead, he scrambled out of the thing’s now shredded stomach, desperate to leave his near deathbed. Soon enough, he was standing beside the dead monster, sucking in lungfuls of air. Granted, it smelled awful, but it was millions of times better than breathing the stench within a stomach. Ignoring his body’s protest, he vigorously shook himself, sending a shower of the monster and his blood through the air and onto the ground. Despite his best efforts to rid himself of all the blood, he could already feel trickles of it running across his skin underneath his fur. No matter, his quick healing body would take care of that soon enough. He turned his attention toward the ravenette, pale green eyes burning with concern and silent questions.

7:26 AM

@Deleted User

Myriel was panting and grunting, sweat visibly dripping from her chin as she gritted her teeth through the strain. The girls shrieks and thrashing made it all the more difficult to tether the webbing she devised in hopes to keep the spirit from drawing closer into the split chest of the foul thing. It was like she was looking in the blackest pit of Hell within the cavities where eyes should have been. It had no features on its face outside of a sickly, pale.. Skeletal. Yet, it had flesh on its hide beneath structural bone. She could have easily killed the creature, if it hadn't been for the girl. Or.. Perhaps she was still enept to use her abilities even through all her training, the mental strain was still exhausting. Her focus was wavering, her shadows weakening. It seemed as if hours had ticked by before she heard loud, quickly approaching steps. It wasn't a person, but a wolf. She couldn't resist the undeniable roll of her eyes as the wolf launched itself through the air.

9:01 AM

She had a long seeded hatred for the beings, they were always so full of themselves, always the loudest of the groups, always the ones picking fights and always boasting about their packs. Werewolves were noisy, smelly, and just all around arrogant shit heads. Having fought with a few time and time again, they always step toe to toe with her begging for a fight. Looking for a fight. But, she could immobilize them by just looking at them, being as typically the fights start at the bars she frequented. This one, though, willingly threw himself into the cusp of danger, almost certain death should she not have the Devourer contained within her Shadows. Her eyes never leaving the wolf, watching as its talons hit and clawed, rupturing the bone and flesh eviscerating where ever they struck. Within a matter of minutes, the monster fell still and the wolf emerged from the depth of its stomach.

9:01 AM

She grimaced releasing her Shadows back to the darkness as he shook the sinew and gore from his pelt. For a moment, it was stunned silence that struck her, which was odd Myriel always found a way to never shut the fuck up, even during the worst of times. Spirit girl momentarily forgotten as she stood in dumbfounded silence. For the love of God and everything that is Holy.. This mother fucker is Colton.. She bitterly thought to herself. Bringing her hand to her face, she stretched her hoodie down into her palm and used the fabric to swipe at the sweat dripping down her face. She was about to open her mouth when his eyes laid upon hers, a striking dull emerald forest gazed back at her. Her mouth suddenly felt like the Sahara and all words seemed to fail her at this moment, quickly, she scowled in distaste.

9:01 AM

A smirk soon taking over her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You must be… Colton. I'm Myriel. Your new partner." Sizing the wolf up, her finger tapped against her forearm. "I'd shake your hand and all.. But, I'd rather not have you shift in front of me and…" Looking over to the girl, she was sobbing damn near uncontrollably and Myriel had to resist the urge to roll her eyes, instead she did it inwardly.. in her head. "Ghost Girl might like a show though. Being.. Dead and all." She said unsympathetically. "There are reports in a chat I frequent that there are shifts in the Veil. I have acquaintances that have seen monsters from the Veil break the Threshold of our world and what people call Limbo or Purgatory." She looked to the wolf, knowing Colton could grasp the concept of what she conveyed. "There are also reports, Colton.." His name rolled off her tongue so smoothly that she had to clear her throat. "That you're hiding your ability to see the dead. You've climbed the ranks through the department with how quick and clean you've solved cases. Even solved cases that have long been forgotten."

9:02 AM

The reports she received were inconceivable, incomprehensible, and utterly terrifying. Even Myriel, a half demon with the power to control all the shadows within her sight and then some, trembled with an unspoken terror that could wreak chaos, and.. the unknown. There was so much she didn't understand of The Veil. Only traversing to the plane to bring cases to light that have gathered thick layers of dust. She may be an asshole, but she definitely wasn't heartless. She had no friends, no family anymore, nobody would miss her should she ever go missing nor would anyone look for her should she die. And that caused a pull at the very thing she despised. Yet, her work, she strived to ease the suffer, the pain. Her past was dark and her world even darker. Did she even want to pull this Colton, one who just risked his life so carelessly to save a girl that was already dead and Myriel that was but a stranger?

9:02 AM

Numerous sighting of beasts she never heard of nor seen in all the times she went to the other side. Even within her short spans within, she never came across such creatures as this. And she couldn't help but to take a closer look leaving both the wolf and the girl behind as she approached the decrepit being. It was majorly compromised of bone, with blackened, charred looking flesh beneath. It's face alien like with a jagged jaw and crooked, yellowing teeth that looked almost.. Venemous? She needed to reach out to one of her acquaintances online and see if they could bring out an analysis team. See what the hell this thing was capable of. The lining of bone to its back was detachable, able to unravel itself from the flesh and act as some sort of impaler. It's claws were long, dagger-like talons that could easily shred skin into ribbons effortlessly. Even now in its death, one could probably lose a finger should they attempt at toying with it. Precautions would definitely need to take place.

9:03 AM

Grabbing her phone, she dialed Jonas Andreas, a colleague she knew had the equipment and the lab at his disposal. After just a few rings he answered, "Myriel, baby, how are you?!" He droned in a voice dripping with want and she couldn't help but feel dirty at his tone. "Fuck off, Jonas, I told you to quit talking like that its disgusting." She hissed against her cellphone. "I've got a Veil creature, it's a Devourer, I need to see what and how dangerous these beasts are. I can clearly see its fangs are venemous." She said, giving the skeletal face a kick with her boot. "Uhhh.. Yeah, I can send my team out to bring it to my lab, but it'll be a few days before I get results. Is that okay..?" He paused for a moment, she could tell that she was going to regret his next words. "I'll do all of this.. if you let me take you on a date, Babe." He cooed. Her face turned to disgust as she lifted her hand and unraveled her hair from the ponytail she put before scaling the walls of the zoo. Her hair flowed like the shadows she possessed down to the small of her back, her blackened eyes flickered with the same disgust in her face and seeped to her voice, "I'll eat with you at the lab, with my.. Partner." She looked to Colton devising a plan to get Jonas off her back, a devilish smile crept along her lips revealing ivory canines beneath full lips.

9:03 AM

@Blue Hound