#HELLO GIMME NIER

[aaternum-a]

There’s no reward in unmasking the things no one wants found. Typically met with contempt and violence — expected, but it was her job to meet the unpredictable on their grounds and prevent it from reaching light. It’s why she’s standing in the middle of an aged shrine. Untouched by any human in what seems to be decades, eerily perched at the peak of the mountain. Even in daylight, it's dark, the small windows welded shut with boards and iron. She barely spares a thought before surmising its purpose, barely whispering to herself, “  I wonder what’s hiding in here ... “   She paces around, humming softly, there’s plenty of oddities — broken floorboards, closed off rooms, torn up books — but it all lacks one crucial detail. Where were they? There were, presumably, a variety of ways to “smoke” someone out in hiding. Most required a level of artful stealth she did not possess. So what better way to lure out a demon, then by stirring the beast right out of slumber? It only takes a moment, blade steadied between her arms, hilt aimed at a particularly delicate piece of wood protruding from the windows. With one lunge, it cracks and falls to the ground, letting in a stream of sunlight. “   Good mooooorning!   ” She calls out, “    You’ve got a guest, it’s rude to make her wait, y’know!   ” Like clockwork, something stirs from behind one of the sealed rooms, splintering at the wood in a frenzy. It chips away, collapsing from sheer force, leaving just the figure of someone in its wake.

“   You should have stayed away, little bird.  ”

Her sandals slide against the floor, body lowered as she readies to charge. They were awfully still, perhaps trying to stay clear of the sunlight invading their hideout. She waits, squinted gaze watching as they raise a hand up towards her. It lingers in their air a moment, the curve of dry lips moving to form words, but she doesn’t hear it. It’s drowned out by the burst of darkness flooding the room. “ …!? “ The floor sinks beneath her, the shrine spinning around her as she falls below the earth. There’s barely a moment to register what's happened, an outstretched hand desperate to grasp something — anything. But she’s met with nothing but endless black. And eventually she falls to it.

 When the world finally regains itself of color, she’s met with unfamiliar skies. She gasps sharply, coughing violently as she finally regains consciousness. Pale lashes flutter wildly, wide eyed and confused. Where was she? There’s nothing registering about this scenic view. Bountiful green plains and flowers. Metal crates. A river. There’s the distant sound of sheep nearby as she rises to her feet, blade still tucked tightly in her fist. “   Where …   ? ” Up ahead there’s a bridge, seemingly stable. But her gaze is trained upon something beyond it. It’s dancing about the field as she walks on. Where did the demon go? It feels like she’d just woken up into a dream, unable to piece together the reality before her. As she nears, the figure takes shape — small, indiscernible really. Unmatched to any creature from this distance. Pink lips pull into a taut line, there’s someone else there. A person, just up ahead. They’re too far to recognize any features, just the glint of silvery tresses, but  .. 

“  Hey! Hey! Yoo-hoo! Can you hear me?  ”

starter for @againthemartyr​