Without Bastions (18+)

It was on a cold and rainy day that Yuan found herself on a greyhound bus taking her to Maine, it had been chartered by a group of people, but Yuan spent the rest of her money on a ticket. Her expression was as gloomy as it usually was when she was alone but despite this gloom her bland appearance made her hard to notice, as dark as she felt, others wouldn't be able to pick it up through the blandness of her exterior. She'd been fired from her job recently, the last thing that allowed her to support her hobby. Though she wasn't paid much, she wasn't very bad at her job, corperate work was difficult, competitive even. People didn't often remember Yuan's name let alone find anything that set her apart from other people. She was destined for failure in her most recent review, it stole from her the last bit of hope she had for her insignificant and mundane life. She couldn't support herself enough to play Terrasphere like before, without the ability to play, without 'Lucia' what good was she? Why bother struggling without that part of her to look forward to?

Yuan's heart only grew more reserved during the bus ride. It took a solid 6 or 8 hours to make it, she didn't check the time specially, but the sun hadn't yet turned completely dark which was enough of an indicator for her. For a weapon, Yuan didn't have one yet, it would only be more suspicious, she didn't have any real fighting experience either... if it was just dealing with the gore and the act of killing, she could handle that without flinching in the slightest. Lucia had dug through innards, experimented with undead and played in the organs of monsters to gain experience as a Necromancer. Even if she was a person on the side of light, those dark acts were necessary to advance after all. It was because of that experience, Yuan didn't flinch at the thought of killing someone-- if she could take the happiness from the person who was responsible for stealing her happiness... then she could die contently she thought. She wouldn't just take though-- she would destroy; the corperate head, the owner of the business that had once given her a job with a good enough salary to play Terrasphere was surely the reason for the budget cuts she rationalized. She would start there.

As she approached the mansion, she did so with a stoic expression, she was resolved to die; perhaps she even hoped for it to some extent. She would kill this person, and if Yuan didn't have to die with them?... Then she would move down to the woman's family, then to the building managers and their families, then the office managers, then the site workers-- With her fists tightening so much her knuckles turned white, her teeth clenching tightly enough for the grinding sound to be heard as she approached the mansion's gate. She was tired... Exhausted even, of this life-- this world and everything else. As if trying to hurry up and get it over with, she began climbing the fence, her lack of anything special about her meant she was average, but average wasn't always disadvantageous. It meant she also had no great flaws or failings. She was athletic enough to climb the fence even if she had to jump down and feel herself fall to her knees against the ground.

Forcing her battered frame back up from the soil, her clothes stained with mud but her blank expression didn't blink even when her glasses cracked from the fall. She didn't feel she'd need them where she was going anyway. She made her way to the mansion as the sun finally set. Arriving at the building just as it began to change and the sun began to rise. She'd peer through the windows, trying to find her target with a hollow, almost dead gaze.

 

"Oi, Noire! Leave your sister alone!" a familiar ebony haired girl snapped at an over energized black panther, beaming yellow eyes shot up to meet his caretaker's own sapphire blue. Giving a playful yap back in sass, slowly climbing off of his sister. Deciding it best to leave his sibling's tail alone. Keeping her stance strong, she picked up the feeding bucket and closed the gate. "Little brat..." she muttered an annoyed look about her. To the girl, this was just another normal work night. She was as her mentor called her, The "Herald of Cats". It didn't make any sense to Elly but she came to accept it. Making her way to the exit of the feeding pens she turned and gazed at all of the animals she had come to personally love in her own weird way, to think she would have to leave them behind. As Elly took to her thoughts, a small animal purred softly in the darkness of the room. Sneaking out of his cage to stalk the girl.

"Elly?" A masculine voice interrupted his protégé from her own inward dwellings. Tall and scraggy looking, the man shifted his uneven glasses to sit evenly on the bridge of his nose. His hazel eyes filled with curiosity. Looking to where she was gazing he smiled warmly. "Have you said all your goodbyes?" he asked, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Not alarmed by her mentor's sudden appearance she let out a sigh and nodded her head. "...yeah." She stated lowly, finding it hard to pry her eyes away from her friends. "I haven't been able to find Aslan, I'm afraid he might have gotten out..." She admitted her fear, almost tearfully.

"You know how he can be, he probably just felt all the recent tension and is hiding in one of his weird attempts of a burrow." The man chuckled removing his hand from the girl and turning to exit the room. "Come on, I need you to sign off your evaluation before you leave." He prompted for his protégé to follow, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallways of his clinic.Taking a deep breath Elly nodded in understanding and left, leaving the door open. Unaware of the shadow that followed her...

"There, am I all set Doc?" the girl asked solemnly, turning to head for the exit.

"Oh, El-" Stopping himself he gazed at small ball of fur, swiftly pattering its way to it's adoptive mother. Chuckling he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his thumb against a piece of paper. A smile slowly forming on his expression, not many people could make him amused anymore. But this kid, she was interesting. It was a shame she had to leave.

"Wha?" Feeling something roughly bump into her calf, the girl glanced down to be greeted with an excited pair of emerald eyes. "Aslan!" Dropping her bag Elly leaned down and picked up the heavy lion cub, hugging the feline. Pushing her nose against his she brushed her cheek across his, giggling as she felt him lap her cheek. "You meanie!, I thought I wouldn't be able to say goodbye to you!" She chastised instinctively.

"Elly, I have some bad news..." the man spoke up, his tone dark and serious. Unlike his normal carefree, goofy self. Catching both the lion cub's attention.more adolescent teen at this point. And the girl's attention, he cleared his throat. "The Wildlife Committee and Zoo have deemed Aslan unfit for releasing to the wild, while denying him to stay in the habitat with his siblings. Umm...Due to his...condition..." He stated with a sigh, handing her the piece of paper he motioned for the girl to read it.

"Wha-...I mean, we both knew that Doc." She stated confused, forcing herself not to look at the cub's missing hind leg. A few months back, Aslan had snuck into one of the neighboring pens. An old lion's territory, he was being treated for an infected eye. One of the poor cat's eyes had already gone bad and the clinic was scared of the feline going completely blind. In the end, the old lion had perceived Aslan as a threat...thankfully Elly was able to calm him down while her Mentor snuck in and retrieved Aslan. Letting the cat leave her arms she gave a worried glance to the slip of paper. "I hope this letter finds you well Mr. Valoren, we reviewed your students work and history in the field. Elly's personal experience alone allows her to be a candidate let alone her research while under your tutorage. We are pleased to inform you that in consideration of the animal's condition and your student's skills, we allow Elyssa Fernandez to own the young lion registered as "Aslan". On her Estates and within her supervision outside of the premises on file. We have enclosed her license within this letter. Congratulations..." slowly looking up from the paper, she gazed towards her mentor. "I...can keep him?" Letting out a relieved breath she did her best to keep her composure despite the obvious tears in her eyes. "Thank you Doc, I'll be sure to visit every now and then." Not wanting to make the Doctor cry like a baby as he usually did in sentimental moments Elly turned and opened the door, motioning for Aslan to follow her.

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"Phew!, that was a long walk. Wasn't it little guy?" The ebony haired girl asked the question to her new companion. This had to be one of the best days she's had in a long time. The duo chilled by the night's cold she looked down and offered a kind smile. "Welcome home." She stated, the void she had felt for this long time seeming to finally fill lightly. Opening the door to her abode the lights slowly turned on, until it was at full brightness. Rushing past his new owner, Aslan skittered across the shined wooden floors. Bounding back and forth, exploring his new home. Finding a comfortable spot on Elly's bed he curled up and gazed at the girl. "Yeah, find the comfiest spot in available and take it." She chuckled, amused that her friend had taken to her home quickly. Kicking off her sneakers she shut the door, not bothering to lock it. Finding a twisted tea in her fridge she grabbed a salad bowl from a cupboard, filling the bowl with water She set it down by the kitchen counter. In the Feline's sight. "There,, now that we both have hydration lets find something to watch!". Tonight wouldn't be the time for Terrasphere, she would let her friend get accustomed to his new home then she would see how he reacted with her being in the full dive. Baby steps.

Falling asleep after downing the bottle of alcoholic tea, Elly snored softly. The lion cub laying next to her on the bed. Both slumbering through the sounds of an action comedy on the TV, the only source of light in the room. They were unaware of the presence lurking outside.

 

Yuan watched through the windows for a short while, seeing Elly asleep on the couch as she rounded the mansion grounds. A frown on her face as she came full circle, the ebony haired girl had a nice body and her pale skin had a certain allure to it, but Yuan's mind was elsewhere at the moment. This girl would suffer she thought. Yuan made her way to the mansion's front door, her plan already formulated even though it was partially improvised. She used a normal stone with the help of the stairs at the entrance to file down one of her own keys. She wouldn't be able to keep her home any more anyway after all, there was no need to worry about how she was going to get back into her apartment any more. Waring away the teeth from her key, she forced it into the door with a sharp thrust jerking the handle a few times to force it open by popping the lock.

It was something she'd found on the internet, unfortunately the things you could learn there were numerous. Yuan wasn't particularly stealthy, but she moved through the house like a ghost. She was naturally hard to notice by nature, so she wasn't afraid of someone recognizing her as a stranger any more. She moved through the house until she came to see Elly snoring loudly, the lion cub on the bed, all sorts of hate filled thoughts shot through her head such a cute woman had done so much to harm her. She couldn't help shaking her head, her gaze icy and frosty from indifference she stepped forward suddenly sitting on the sleeping girl's lap. Whether she woke or not, Yuan would lift a hand trying to swing it across to slap her cheek loudly to wake her. If she could leave a red hand print, all the better as she looked down at the girl with a cold hate filled gaze.

"Wake up."

She demanded sharply looking down at the girl who had stolen her last bastion of happiness and safety. She wanted to just choke the life from her now, but she waited... There wouldn't be any suffering that way. Yuan didn't want it to be quick, if she had to suffer through this hellish life of her's, she wanted Elly to die the way she'd have to live from here on out.

 

Being startled from her dreams Elly let out a loud yelp as a sharp pain resonated throughout her head, Snapping her eyes open she attempted to sit up. What the?. Finding the action fruitless she panicked and felt movement on her legs. Shooting her gaze upwards at a feminine figure the girl's heart raced, adrenaline pumping through her veins now. Who was this?, why were they in her house?, Aslan!?. Jerking her body forcibly to the right side of the bed she used all of her force to shove the feline off of the bed, the action hurt her but, it was to save him. "RUN ASLAN!, GET!, GO!" Roaring at her companion, she could only assume the cat left the room by the sounds of uneven skittering along the wooden floors. "I'm sorry..." she whispered the apology silently. The first night her adopted friend was home, something like this happens. Not daring to move again, saving her energy. Elly turned her head, shooting a glare up at the woman's eyes. Only to be met with almost evil eyes, thirsty, craving. That look, it reminded her of something she kept only in Terrasphere.

"Listen, I don't know why you're here. But whatever you do, don't hurt him..." she asked, more concerned for her already pained friend. Those eyes, now she knew the woman's reason for being here. Not the understanding or motivations behind but, a look of a killer is something that Elly can recognize clear as day. they also tempted something deep inside of her to come out. A primal surge of energy, if she wished she really could tear this woman apart. But that wasn't her, it wasn't right, and she could find a way out of this without hurting someone else...

Taking a deep breath the ebony haired girl gazed upwards at the intruder, her expression softening. "Please, if you're going to kill me. Tell me at least why?"

 

Yuan looked down at the frightened woman, not missing a beat. Naturally she was adept at reading someone, Yuan's persona in Terrasphere was a stark and earth shattering contrast to her real self. To play the role she naturally had to understand the mind set, while being ignored, Yuan had plenty of time to watch people, to study and learn them. If she did have any 'unique' skill in reality, it would no doubt be that ability to catch flickers of another's feelings. Elly seemed like the fiery type despite her meek nature; Yuan caught this quickly from that brief flicker of a reaction. Yuan's response however was also very natural in her own mind, she lifted a hand to the girl's neck using her weight to push her back. Not quite choking her, but merely maintaining control and asserting herself. Her gaze was still as icy as before, the bite of her frigid glare dulled by the blandness of her expression and the stoic indifference she used to glance down at Elly while she was questioned and begged.

"Yesterday morning, a statement was issued--" Yuan started, her tone of voice very neutral, there was no excitement or adrenaline from her actions that could be perceived easily. She looked down at Elly with a disturbing neutrality and indifference, as if she were just going to the grocery store or picking up some laundry. "--Budget cuts for the low level corporate offices managing data for small businesses. There were layoffs, not many, not enough for normal people to kick a fuss up over, a very typical business move." Yuan spoke, as she did her tone or inflection didn't change, as if she were teaching a class on math or english, she was very direct and to the point with her understanding of the reason and acceptance of the move made. "It would have been fine if it wasn't me, this wouldn't have had to happen, but you demand 'better then average' from your workers. 'Average' just doesn't cut it for you I suppose." She spoke those words that in a sense were to be expected, one would naturally expect more from employees, but for Yuan who was cursed with mediocrity it was almost a death sentence.

Her grip on the girl's neck got a little more fierce, finger nails digging into her lower neck. She could feel Elly's pulse under her fingertips as she spoke. "Another job like this is impossible with my skill set. Any more cut backs to my lifestyle wouldn't be enough to survive on, because of what happened, I can't go back to Terrasphere... You took that from me; The place where I could be special-- The place where I was worth something-- The place I was needed... And you took that from me." Even as she spoke those intense words, her tone didn't change, the blandness and indifference drowning the intensity and only the icy chill of her gaze seemed to increase as her rage chilled further. "That's why." She explained blankly as if she was explaining her blood type or talking about what er parents did for a living.

 

Listening to the woman's reasoning, Elly's eyes narrowed. What was she on about?, genuinely confused, and afraid. In the first time in ages, she had feared for her life. Frightened, she couldn't move her body to struggle as the hand grasped around her throat. The pressure pushing against her causing a skip to beat in her heart. Doing her best to pay attention as the hand tightened more and more, the ebony haired girl's expression contorted in horror as a sudden realization dawned on her. This was one of her employees!, this woman must have been working at one of her companies...but she wasn't aware of any budget cuts?. Just as confused as she was worried she went to speak, though she had waited too long. All that escaped from her lips was a choke of a breath, nothing that could indicate she was trying to communicate.

No!, She wanted to explain she had no idea what was happening. At the last board meeting she had presented the charts herself, proudly praising the progress of her board members. There was no need for letting people go!. Face turning blue from losing air Elly felt tears welling up in her eyes, this was the end. Glancing to the side she could see Aslan cowering under a desk, his eyes filled with confusion and fear. Just as hers were. She had to try and live, for him. Struggling, the girl turned to face the intruder one more time. What could she do?

The dread draining from her expression, hope replaced the feeling of looming death. One word rang out louder than any other. Terrasphere. This woman played the same game she did!?. Now filled with determination Elly swiftly grabbed one of the woman's arms, tightly squeezing it in an attempt to gain her attention. Wanting to get past those blank, cold eyes. Not waiting to see if her action had worked, the girl franticly pointed to the small VR device on her bed stand. Pleading to whatever god was watching to let the intruder see what she was trying to say.

 

Yuan just simply watched her face change colors, her blank expression didn't even twitch. There was no sign of success or victory, no twisted thrills or pleasure from choking, not even sympathy or apology. It was only a frosty indifference, an emptiness, Yuan had given up on this life, on her reality a long time ago. The only thing she had left to live for was the avatar she played and the happiness she felt as someone else. Without that, all she had was the emptiness of reality swallowing her life back up again. She watched even as the poor girl struggled for a short while, until she glanced aside, as if choking the woman to death was only one thing she had to check off her list of things to do today. The helmet though made her frown, her brows dipping as she looked at it, as she thought of her own persona in game 'Lucia'. There was so much she had left to do; find her Thrall's soul, turn it into a Banshee, raise an undead kingdom, start a hunting business for adventurers. Her in game check list had been long and tragically cut short.

"It's a shame... so many NPCs in that place thought I was special..." She murmured, her hand dropping from Elly's neck to her chest to keep her down forcefully. Yuan's nails weren't necessarily sharp, but still dug into the girl's skin as she felt regret. "There I got to be a powerful necromancer, I had an undead lieutenant already; but you took that from me. Before I could even find love, you took it away." She spoke, that emptiness inside growing frostier as her eyes slid back down towards Elly. That frosty hate still strong as she continued in a blank tone. "Now all I have left is this boring life... This life of being an extra in my own show-- of being forgotten and left behind." She spoke with a furrowed brow trying to keep Elly firmly beneath her with her weight.

 

Gasping for air as the woman let go of her throat Elly winced as one of the hands had rested upon her chest, a sensitive area that brought a light blush to her face. Great, this person just tried to kill her, now they want to feel her up. Withholding a frown the girl listened, not daring to interrupt her. Just waiting. This was her one chance to talk to this woman, she couldn't mess it up. It seemed she had a lot to do, friends she had made, people to return to. Elly couldn't help but feel sad for her, if someone from her office had done this...Whoever did do this. She would make sure to punish, if she made out of this situation alive...

"Terrasphere!, you're talking about it now right?. I play it too!" She exclaimed, attempting to connect to this woman through the game. "I'm a Felis named Lai'ordi, I used Pyromancy and Beast Taming as my main skills. A member of The Heroes of Falderen." Making sure to use the knowledge as evidence to prove she wasn't faking it. That game, it meant a lot to this woman. Maybe just as much as it meant to Elly herself, had she really taken it away from this poor woman?. Forming a sorrowful and guilt ridden expression she looked back up at the lady, now knowing what was causing those eyes to be so cold. "About your job...I...I really don't know what to say, last I knew I was under the impression everything was fine. I was never informed we were to have budget cuts." Doing her best to not upset the woman any further, Elly slowly and softly reached for the lady's hand. "Can we talk?, maybe a in a more comfortable...position?" She asked, hoping she had gotten through to the woman.

 

Yuan frowned a little, the woman's identity as a player was pretty clear already just from the way she acted. Hearing her introduce herself didn't change much in Yuan's mind though, there wouldn't be much sympathy merely because they had things in common. Even if things did happen indirectly or even unintentionally, they had still happened. Yuan simply wouldn't let this girl go so easily. "Lucia Mierz..." She spoke a name that was somewhat commonly known. She participated in the first ever raid, fought at the fortress for the elves and humans, was the first to evolve a high level mastery, the first to meet a Goddess. Her resume was much more dazzling then your usual player, her grief wasn't without reason.

"That's my character... The one you took from me." She complained again with a deeply furrowed brow putting more weight onto Elly's body to keep her down. When asked about a comfortable position though, Yuan merely kept the hand on her chest without care for the girl's opinion. Maintaining a dominant and in control atmosphere as she looked down at her. "I'll give you ten seconds. That should be enough right?" Yuan spoke firmly demanding that Elly hurry to get out eveyrthing she wanted to say. Naturally she wouldn't be strict in this timing, she did plan to kill the girl after all so a bit more time wouldnt hurt. She tried to convey a measure of urgency though, demanding she try to speed things up.

 

Her hopeful expression fading away into despair Elly looked at the woman, her sapphire eyes filled with a tortured feeling of guilt. She didn't take the character away from her, at least directly...but her lack of involvement with the corporations could be a part of the issue. She left the same people in charge when her parents where alive and running their own business's themselves...maybe that was the wrong choice?. The image of the woman's reaction to Terrasphere flashed in her mind, No. It was the wrong decision. She couldn't let other people suffer because of corrupt chairmen and greedy heads of the companies she owned.

Coughing as the woman's pressure on her got more heavy, Elly tightly tugged at the bedding. Ignoring the pain radiating through her. "What?, t-ten seconds!?" asking the question in surprise the girl formed a worried look, what was she supposed to say?, she knew she wasn't completely innocent...though she didn't deserve death. She didn't deserve this! Wait, that was it!. "I can't apologize enough for what happened to you, there are no words that can describe the amount of guilt I feel. No person should have something they love taken away from them, you don't deserve to have what you love taken away from you." She spoke honestly, an aura of frustration and irritation about the girl. Shaking her head she took a shaky breath. "-But I'm not the person who did that to you and if you kill me, you'll only be giving my power to the person who did take that from you." Saying the words through a cracking voice, Elly felt her body begin to shake again. Her ten seconds were up but, she wasn't done...

"I can give that back to you, I can give you Lucia. And for the person who did this to you..." Her voice, weak and shaky. The girl was visibly upset, her hands clenched in fists. "I can promise you, they will lose everything. For doing this to you, and for betraying my trust." Becoming more and more frustrated with the thought she shook her head and laughed. "what's it matter anyways?, you're just going to kill me anyways..." grumbling her last words, tears began streaming freely from her eyes. "I'm just a lonely girl in an empty mansion, clutching to the past through a video game."

"Pitiful..."

 

Yuan frowned a little at the girl's words, why wouldn't the owner be the one she wanted? Naturally it all fell on her head, Yuan was found it to be a poor effort to escape. Though hearing that Elly wanted to use her power to help, Yuan's gaze narrowed briefly, a monotonous hum escaping her lips. Yuan slowly began to stop pressuring the girl, the hand on her chest becoming a bit more gentle, she didn't hesitate to keep the girl down with her weight though. "Give it back to me and punish them..." She spoke but the fact that the mension was empty perhaps resonated the most with Yuan. This girl was lonely despite having so much money? Despite being so special? Yuan couldn't help feeling a little superior, it showed in her posture.

"No, after all this, you're going to have to give me more." She spoke, but Yuan's gaze changed a little, that frosty blankness melting a little, though the blandness was still there, her gaze slowly grew more serene and tranquil as Yuan considered the possibilities. She'd try to use a hand to grab the girl's head to turn her face to the side, pressing her down into the sheets like a dog who had been bad as she continued. "I'll not kill you, but I'll still take your life... and never let you go." She spoke firmly her words forceful and determined but it hinted in the reality that Yuan wouldn't let her be alone any more. "That's how you can pay me back." She spoke with a faint grin planning to use the next few days to persuade this girl thoroughly and properly.