shadowignis

[shadowignis]

Don't mind me-

@astridhehe

Reload your page darling-

Please-

I exist-

[shadowignis]

Tainted - Chapter 4 - ???

My neck cracks as I walk out of the bushes. I could hear Masky was questioning the Operator’s orders asking Hoodie before turning their attention to me. “Well if it isn’t Mr. Rogers. Heh what took ya so long?” Masky’s voice calls out to me. 

I growl. ‘I hate that name, so god damn fucking much. Stupid bullies…’ I was tempted to just yell at him to stop calling me that ridiculous name. Hack him to bits like I did to Father dearest… Instead I kept the little remains of my patience and calmness and said, “Y-you b-bot-th are gonna sc-care the in-intruder off.” I twitch and glare at Masky, my stutter annoying me more than it could possibly annoy him. 

Masky chuckled, glaring at me as he spoke, “Nah. We won’t, I think you did though. So loud, unable to be stealthy.” 

I growl and grab one of my hatchets. ‘He thinks he can say that and get away unscathed. As if.’

“Woah. Toby. Calm down. We do not need to start a fight with each other. Imagine if this intruder worked for He Who Waits Behind The Wall. They would be able to tell that you two don’t fucking get along and then use that against us. Ok. No need for violence between us.” Hoodie says in a robotic tone. He steps in between Masky and I. He plays peacekeeper between Masky and I a lot, though, to be honest, I’m just waiting for him to just let us fight.. Let us show the other what we can do.

I hear one of the branches above us creak and hold up a finger to my mouth, twitching a little, trying to tell them to be quiet.

Hoodie tilts his head back and Masky tilts his head to the side, looking at me. I look up and see this girl with purple eyes looking at me, staying still… I think she stopped breathing as well… She then looks at the others with a criticizing look before glaring at Masky. I tighten my grip on one of my hatchets, thinking she might attack us. She suddenly drops and she’s gone. I look at Hoodie. “I th-think th-that was our int-trud-der.”

[shadowignis]

Tainted - Chapter 3 - Ignis

I watch him, only for a moment. 'What the fuck? Who is he?... Did the grin hurt when it got carved in?' My thoughts are racing about this pale man with his Cheshire grin as I climb down and head to another, taller tree that, with no doubt, had more hiding spots for me. As soon as I get high enough to be out of sight on a branch, I hear the man wake up with a start. He climbs out of the willow tree, as I try to get a better look at his face. Though, due to the distance, and the leaves of the tree, I couldn’t get a good look.

 He looked around like he was trying to find something. Seeing him start showing signs of frustration, I try to carefully climb down the tree without a noise. I needed to keep moving. Who knows what he would do to me? My stomach rumbles, a sign of my hunger returning. A single thought runs across my mind, and it kind of… thrills me, excites me. ‘He looks like he has good meat and blood in his body. He would be like a 3-course gourmet meal for me.’

I needed food, and this guy was starting to get more appealing to the eyes and my mouth started to salivate as his blood filled my nose, a scent that I was only now smelling. The guy starts stalking towards the forest near where I was, grumbling and growling about something. As he got closer to me, I quickly hid behind the tree as I heard him cursing on how he somehow lost his knife. He goes past the tree I was hiding behind, gladfully unaware of me, or so I thought, and I see him going deeper into the woods. Well… It’s game on now… Time to start my hunt…

Over the course of the next three hours, I followed the man with his familiar, mouth-watering scent. Over the course of those three hours, I saw 4 pieces of paper tacked on the trees, so tempting, but I had to remind myself of my hunger, and my prey. Though, now I was lost… His scent was nowhere near anymore, and the sun had gone down, making the woods more dark…

‘I can’t find him…. The smell he emitted is gone as well…’ I look around more and try to find him but to no avail… I climbed into a nearby tree as it looked as though it was close to midnight… The forest made even a creature like me feel shivers go down my spine… I was invading someone else’s territory, I could tell… But I wouldn’t be able to leave till the morning. I look around from my new perch, still upset about losing my prey… Suddenly I hear ticking and cracking. Tic…. Tic…. Crack…. Tic… It keeps up with this pattern. This wasn’t normal for forest surroundings. Even if the place was different, it wasn’t natural. I start becoming uneasy as it still continues, coming closer and closer.. Tic…. Crack… Tic… Tic… Crack… It was getting on my nerves. Soon enough two male step under the tree I was perched in. The sound stops moving and I become nervous, anxious to move and pounce. My hunger was taking over my mind… 

The men seem to be talking quietly about something. Being barely able to hear them, I grip at the branch and lean down. There was one wearing a tan overcoat with what looks like a flannel shirt underneath, a white mask placed on his face. He had brown hair and I could smell the nicotine off of him. I cringe at the smell. I look at the other guy. A bright yellow hoodie, a black ski mask with sewn on red eyes and frown. “You sure this is where the Boss said the intruder was.” A robotic voice came from who I think was the hooded man. 

“Yeah. Here. They were following Jeff according to the Boss.” The masked man said and I realized they must be talking about me. I hear the weird tic, crack pattern start coming toward the clearing under the tree. Tic… Tic… Crack… Tic…. Tic... Crack… It was getting closer to the men and the men perked up. “Well if it isn’t Mr. Rogers. Heh what took ya so long?” 

This brunette male wearing this brown hoodie with a blue hood, amber goggles and two hatchets, one new with an orange handle, and an old one, rusted a little on the handle, comes out of the bushes and he suddenly cracks his neck in a very…. Very grotesque angle and back. I watch them. “Y-you b-bot-th are gonna sc-care the in-intruder off.” He stutters and twitches, making that tic noise. 

The masked man chuckled and said, “Nah. We won't, I think you did.” He said and I wanted to say no he didn’t. I wanted to tear this rude, nicotine-smelling man, to smithereens. I kept my mouth shut though and listened.

[shadowignis]

Tainted - Chapter 2 - Ignis

After smashing the TV and spray painting graffiti all over the walls, I grab my bag and my sweatshirt, walking out of the house. I slip the hood on my sweatshirt up before making my way down to the bus stop. I started thinking of how to find the two of them. ‘I mean this is Jeff and Liu that I am talking about. All I have to do is mention one of their names and I get pointed in their direction.’ I think. At least, that’s how it was around here in this town. I get on the bus, keeping my head low as I sat down. The bus slowly lurches forward, the bus filled with quiet chit chat about the news. I yawn, tuning everyone out as I curl up a little. It was gonna take an hour or two to get to Greenville… ‘Might as well take a nap.’ I close my eyes, before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

When I feel the bus lurch to a stop, the bus driver calling out that this was the stop for Greenville, I open my eyes. My stomach rumbles with hunger, but I ignore it, brushing my hair out of my face. ‘I hope the boys remember me.’ I get up and off the bus, trying to find a local, as they would know where the Woods brothers are. I came upon this woman scrolling through her phone. She seemed to be waiting for someone. “Hey, Miss? Do you know the Woods family?” I ask, trying to be polite as I spoke/

She looks at me, eyes full of disgust and shock. “Yeah I know them. Why would you want to find them?” Her words were full of hatred and repulsion, as if my presence made her sick. A teenager, who I could only assume was her son, walks up to us. He looks up and scoffs, but stays nearby, as if to make sure I don’t touch his mom, or something. 

I sigh, realizing that this was just a bitch, who needed a lesson in manners. “Look, lady. I’m an old friend of the Woods’s family. Okay? I just wanted to drop by. And knowing my friends, they would have made a name for themselves here by now.” I explained. ‘Why is she making this so hard? Just tell me where they are, and I’ll leave your presence.’ My thoughts raced. What if they moved again? What if I can’t find them?

“I can’t believe the Woods ran around with a Tainted. Look here, you freak, you leave my son and I alone or else.” She spits out, stepping in front of the teenager and that is the moment that I remember.. I never put my contacts back in.  

“Lady, I just want to find my friends. Please.” I pleaded with her, hoping she would just tell me where they were.

 She ignores me and her kid rolls his eyes. “Most of the Woods family is dead. The only one living might as well be dead. He’s a serial killer now.” He says, as if this was no shock… I pause, one of my hands flying to my mouth. ‘No…’

“No. No they can’t be. Which one?” I mutter out, looking the kid in the eyes. ‘Which one?...’

“Jeff. But we all knew that he would snap and start killing everyone. He killed Randy, Keith and Troy. So it was bound to happen.” The kid laughs.

I growl before turning and walking away. Once I am far enough away from those two, I look to the woods and smirk. They looked to be dark enough, and definitely would be isolated… ‘I could stay there. The forests were always safe for me.’ I walked towards the forest, jumping over the house fence that was in my way.

As the sun set, I found myself walking by this river in the forest. Two things that caught my attention as I walked. An old willow tree that looked like the perfect place to sleep and hide. And a bloody kitchen knife with the phrase “Go To Sleep,” scratched into it. Maybe I could use that to hunt for food other than my fangs and claws. I bring the knife to my mouth and lick the blood off it, finally stopping my stomach’s hungry growls. I put the knife into my sweatshirt pocket and walk up to the willow tree, before my step faltered… I smelled more blood. It was close, but where was it?  I try to shrug it off and go climb into the tree.

When I reached this flat spot in the tree, a little platform, I see this guy wearing an eye mask, as though he was asleep. I carefully look closer at him, inspecting him almost. He had paper white skin, and charcoal black hair but… Two things told me he wasn’t a normal human. His white hoodie that had bloodstains, and a terrifying, Cheshire grin carved into his cheeks.

[shadowignis]

Tainted - Chapter 1

Ignis

“And now to the police on the news of the mud-” The Tv shuts off as my mother starts to put down the remote. 

She starts to talk to my brother, a silent groan escaping my lips. “James, what have I told you about watching the news? Don’t do it. I don’t want to hear about those dreadful murders!” She exclaims and my brother just rolled his eyes. He and mother never really got along, not after Dad died…

James turns to look at her, “Mother, I am 18. Technically I am the man, and owner, of this house. Dad left the house to me, not you. I can do whatever the fuck I want, and you can’t do a single thing to stop me.”

‘Oh boy. Here comes the tell-tale argument. Again.’ I think before getting up to leave. They never notice me anymore… Well, not unless I have something they need. Or to cuss me out.  Nothing has been the same since they found out that I’m a Tainted. 

I start remembering that night as I walk into my room. The one night that made my life worse. The night that the doctors had been called, because of my eyes changing colors and my canines falling out… I snap out of my haze and look at the mirror. I feel disgusted with myself. I never would fit my mother’s standards for me… Just because of my eyes and my smile. I never fit in at school because I’m secluded and act differently than the other kids. I sit down in the chair and take out the brown colored eye contacts, showing my violet eyes. My mother would call me a freak whenever she would see my eyes… Well really those were the moments she would actually talk to me. I try smiling and show my long, sharp canines, just right for drinking blood. I then stop trying to smile. 

I hear my brother and mother now yelling at each other. I sigh and look down at my desk, before noticing something moving in my mirror. I look up to try to see what it was, only to be greeted with the sight of someone… Wait no, some being in the woods from my mirror. Tall, slender… faceless… I turned around, trying to catch a better glimpse of the creature through my window, but all I saw were the trees that lined the edge of the Dark Woods. I groan. “Fuck… Now I’m seeing things.” I mutter to myself. I run a hand through my hair, before the disorienting feeling of my senses suddenly becomes more heightened.

I stand up, only to feel my stomach cramp and pain shoot through my body. “Damn it. I need food. Soon.” I squeeze my eyes shut and then open them quickly as I hear the shouting stop.  I carefully listen to the house’s noises. I hear my brother and mother in their separate rooms, ruffling something around. I carefully stand up and move over to my bed. 

A couple minutes later, my mother leaves her room and leaves the house. I hear my brother leave his room and make his way to my room. He knew about my needs. He didn’t really notice me anymore but he still would on occasion. And well after the really bad fights before he’d leave for a week to calm down, Mother left for only a couple of days. I hear James knock on my door. “Ignis… Are you in there?” 

I sigh and carefully get up, “Yeah.”

He comes in. “Look. Nis… I need to go. I need to leave and I’m gonna be gone for longer than usual. I’m sorry.” 

I look at him. “No. Please don’t James. What am I going to eat, James? I don’t want to go out and kill people for their blood.” 

He groans and snaps at me, “Ignis. I am not just here for food-” 

I interrupted him, “Then for what else? You rarely talk to me, and when you do, it’s to tell me that you are leaving me in this goddamn house by myself again, that you are leaving and that I have to take care of that god damned witch that I have to call my mother, or you giving me permission to feed off you. That is all you ever talk to me about.” I flash my fangs at him and growl. “We used to be so close. Now you act like Dad.” I spit out, my anger getting the better of me before I pause, realizing what I just said. “James.. I-”

“Get out.” He spits out in return, his voice quiet, but his anger loud. “Get your shit and get out, Ignis.” He turns around and goes back to his room to grab his shit. “I better not see you here when I get back.” And with that, he walks out.

I hear him slam the door of the house and start his car up. His car leaves and immediately I get up and growl. I’ll deal with my hunger later. I start going around and start grabbing my clothes. I started thinking about where I could go. There were no safe places for the Tainted. I pause, looking out my window once more before being hit with a memory from just a couple years ago.

*********************************Flashback************************************

I run through the woods, trying to find a good hiding spot before looking up into the trees. I quickly pick one and climb up into one of them. I hear someone laughing. I smirk and wait patiently. Two boys, one my age and the other a little older, come into the area. Upon closer inspection, no one would be able to tell they were siblings but they yet they are. “Come on Nis. Come out. You know we shouldn’t be in here.” The older one yells out. 

I try my hardest not to giggle. The younger one looks at his brother like he’s stupid and rolls his eyes., “Of course she knows. That’s why she came in here, Liu. So no one can interrupt our game.” I can tell he is smiling just by the way he talks. 

Liu groans, running a hand through his blonde hair, his green eyes staring down at his brother. “Jeff! I was trying to get here to respond to me, you idiot.”

Jeff laughs and looks up into the trees before he finally spots me. “Flame. I found you.” 

I give an exasperated sigh but smile. “Okay.” I jump down, landing with no problem. I wrap my arms around both the boys’ shoulders. “So. Should we go back to society or should we stay here for a little?” I ask. 

I feel the boys tense a little. “Nis….” Jeff starts.

“We’re moving.” Liu finishes. 

I pause… “Moving?...” I mumbled out… and then it sunk in…. I let go of them, “No! Please don’t leave me.” I beg them, sadness filling my body as I get close to crying… 

They look at each other and then back at me. “Nis, we have to. You know what our parents say, goes.” Liu says. 

I sniffle a little and hug them, not letting them go. “Where are you guys moving to?” 

“Greenville apparently. Just a couple towns over.” Jeff says boredly. 

“Well I’ll come visit sometime.” I say sadly, though I try to smile, my fangs peeking through my lips. The boys smile as well as they know me fully smiling was rare. 

*******************************Flashback over**********************************

I frown at first. It had been a couple years since I last heard from the boys. Then I remember my promise. I smirk. “Here I come boys.” I say. I finish packing and go to my brother’s room. I grab a bat and a spray can. My brother could deal with the mess.