What We Thought Was Hell

Lily decided to go left of the stairs, heading down a familiar hallway. It was very dark and the only thing she heard was the beat of her own heart and the pattering of bare feet on the wood floors. The little kids might be where Henry might blend in to keep away from the hawkeyes of the Tattlers, but while feeling her way toward the noises, she heard the unmistakable voice of Butch...the rat boy. Lily could already smell the dried blood and decomposing flesh emanating from his room. He spoke to...Vynnka! Lily couldn't get to her ally without touching Butch since his back was to her, so instead she thought of how 'two is better than one' and stomped her foot against the ground. Not too loud, but enough so that they would hear her. That he'd have two girls to split his attention between.
 
"Quite a look you've got upon you there." he said, grining wide. his teeth where perfect at birth. and still today it seemed whateve strange things he did to himself, his teeht where unstained and clean, slightly yellow like the rest of them, but clean. his gums dissended from the porcelain of those chompers ever so slightly.

"Mischief of the gravest kind be happening tonight... Best ye hold your loved ones tight. Butchy knows a thing or two about the rats that comb this zoo." he said, backing up slowly away from Vynnka.


"So that means Neither of us saw eachother... right?" he said, his oily boots being as quiet as her naked feet.
 
"I loved your work with the garden." Iamora crooned to Brittana, attempting to stroke the girl's ego. "Such a marvelous performance, really. So much malice, so much envy for those around you. I doubt you would have had it in you if Mother hadn't disgraced you with your appalling appearance." In this, she wasn't referring to Brittana's forebearer, but to the true Embodiment of Hell, the witch that birthed Iamora unto the world so long ago. "You should prostrate yourself now, and speak your praises unto HER."The misshapen Brittana's mouth drooped open in surprise and disbelief, as she could not possibly comprehend what Iamora was commanding of her. "I could bestow the gift of beauty upon you, so that you may never again have to roam this forsaken world as the marred vessel you currently reside within. I can rebuild you into the likeness of a Diva, truly worthy of the affections of men." She spoke beyond her years, as if the very idea of aquiring the lusts of men would be something to appeal to Brittana. The child felt spooked, and was contemplating screaming her head off until the Head Mistress came running to her side. The woman seemed a valiant warrior in contrast to this child of evil, this being which exuded malevolence from every pore. "Ah, save your breath. Head Mistress is -my- puppet, not the other way around." She stepped closer, leaning in as to whisper a secret. "Old Crone is probably in her bedchamber surrendering her immortal soul to Gluttony or Lust or one of the other FIVE. You'd do best to take my offer. I'm quite impatient when it comes to tallying up souls for Mother."

Vynnka nodded, making no sudden movements. "Certainly.." She called behind him, cringing. The boy painted a grisly portrait of himself, statuesque in all his morbidity and the deterioration of his rat hide clothing. The scent of decay overwhelmed her, and she waited with baited breath until she heard the last of his footsteps. Kerosene! She felt a sudden sense of dread. Could Butch have something sinister planned for her? She was easy prey, after all.Not much of his efforts would be spent in disposing her, as she was but a caged animal at the moment.
 
Since Lily had apparently misjudged how far people would have to be to hear her foot tap against the floorboards and Vynnka seemed to be out of danger, Lily resumed her search for Henry. Where could he be? And Anya. Wasn't she part of the escape as well. Didn't she need to be gathered? Lily headed to the kitchen. Maybe one of them was collecting food for the trip.
 
Would it be alright if I play as the Gnolls who inhabit the forest? Ands an orc tribe at war with them? Could justify the "monsters" in the woods. If not I will delete this ooc entry, if so I'll get to work on a post right away.))
 
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Butch made his way out of the quarters and across teh grounds to the entrance into the grimmy kitchen. he walked in shadows like a snake hiding from the suns harsh rays. The sliver of moon above him did not betray his movements as he came to teh back door and produced a bone. a rat bone fashioned with little bits of twine and wire into a key. the skeleton key for the whole place.

He put the morbid thing in the lock,a nd spun it slow. so slow. delicately over the course of about a minute until it opened up and he stepped inside, closeing it behind him. now he was locked in the kitchen, and had his way of things.

First thing was first. he needed a rat or two.
 
"We need to find Echo." Mandy declared to Anya, referring to the small Asian boy who is supposed to be just a few months younger than herself, making him one of the oldest. No one was quite sure if he fully understood anything as he often repeated what people say to him, earning him the name. He was often in the small classroom, given the duty to clean it every after use. But he's taken that to the extremes and practically lived there. Mandy trusted his incredibly good hearing and memory.

He'll be the one to signal if the Head Mistress has fallen asleep, courtesy of the special chamomile tea that Mandy prepared for her. Mandy had been acting as a spy, having discovered what made a child a favorite, she learned to scrub herself as clean as she could and fix herself, to walk with the poise and elegance described in the fairy tales about princesses. She earned her spot as one of the favorites, soon enough. She secretly shared the extra rations with Anya, Echo and the other children and used her access to other rooms to steal tools like sharp kitchen and gardening tools as well as a lighter.

Brittana was her natural enemy. She was older and had learned on her own to act more graceful, earning Brittana's suspicions and rivalry. If she ever got wind of Mandy's schemes, it will all be over.

Echo was in the classroom, as he always was. He studied the building's floor plan which Mandy stolen from the basement. He was to steal a set of keys from...somewhere he wasn't entirely sure yet.

 
After combing through the ruin of his garden as best he could, Henry found himself retiring to his room. The plants he saved were meager, and the ones he could not, he quickly ate. It was the best he could do. Whoever had seen fit to go traipsing through the asparagus had made sure to have a heck of a good time. Oh he knew the culprit, but he did not interact with Brittana. She was not worth the skin off his back, literally. Headmistress liked the monstrous girl. She'd whip anyone the tattler seemed to have issues with. So of course he avoided her rat-like tendencies. He assumed she did it because of her deformity. Henry himself could care less of appearances, especially in such an aesthetically unappealing environment. Brittana would have been like any other girl in his mind if she wasn't a heartless witch of a female. As she were, no one liked her because of her abhorrent attitude, not her physical state.

On his 'bed' he sat, a small parcel beside him, having wrapped the precious few greens for travel in the remains of some garment of his that had long since dry-rotted away. It was twilight. The night was at its youngest and it would be time for them to go soon. He listened for sounds throughout the house, using the best of his abilities to figure out if anything was going on that spelled trouble. For the most part, the air was still. However, that was normal. The light vibrations in the floor told him that the smaller children were still up and running about. Curfew had not come just yet. They would settle when the time came or face punishment.

The air was cool, which meant Kerosene must have long since stopped her work in the kitchen. That hellish workplace had a way of heating the entire compound as if running off coals from the pits of Hell itself. He wouldn't be surprised if it did. Shuddering in remembrance of the faithful day he learned what the mistress had deemed fit to serve them, a distinct ache tore through his abdomen, "Uh..." A soft groan left his lips as he swiftly cast the thought away lest he cause himself to be ill. On that afternoon, Henry had eaten enough movement inducing plants to almost kill him with dysentery. He had been feverish for weeks. But... without the complete systemic purge, he probably would have killed himself in shame regardless. Needless to say he did not frequent the kitchen, or eat his meals for that matter. Savage works went on in that wicked place.

When he felt he had waited long enough to risk movement, he stood and tucked the food away against his stomach, using the loose hem of his pants. Hopefully it would stay still enough. Standing up on skinny legs, he shook himself to see if the package moved any. It did, just a bit. He would need to fix that. No doubt he would be running sooner than later, and it would take all he had not to collapse. He didn't have time to focus on what fell off of him. So he moved across the room to the bed of his room mate. He did not know where the other child was. It was a young girl with dark skin. He saw her in fleeting glance on occasion, but she managed to blend in wherever she chose too in the dark parts of the home. She came and went as she pleased. He had seen twine hanging beneath her mattress where the thing was falling apart. Surely she wouldn't care if he used some to tie his life's work to him for safe keeping. So he pilfered some string, looped it several times around himself well, and tightened until he was satisfied. And then he was out into the hallways, quietly padding on his bare feet, hoping he would avoid most of the copious splinters, even if his feet were used to getting the darned things stuck in them.
 
Lily soon found that the door to the kitchen had been locked. If Kerosene or Henry were in there, they would be depending on Vynnka to help them, for Lily was no good at picking locks. So she headed towards the rooms. Maybe Lily had been overreacting this whole time and Henry had simply wandered off to his room after finding his garden in ruins. She was becoming impatient, so she sped up and headed swiftly toward the hallway of rooms where Henry lived, but she wasn't paying enough attention it seems, because she ran right into Mandy and Anya, stumbled, and looked up at them apologetically. They seemed to be heading toward the classroom, but she wondered what exactly was in there that would help them.
 
"Lily, it's urgent. Are you ready?" Mandy said quickly, but noticed the obviously distraught look on the younger girl's face. Mandy helped Lily up and asked, "What's going on?"
 
Lily opened her mouth for a second, but decided she wasn't ready just yet. Her eyes darted back and forth. Where was Vynnka or Henry or Kerosene? She tried to indicate to Mandy what she could by pointing at the kitchen or looking around her at the hallway that contained Henry's room, but there was only so much she could convey without speaking. Without putting them in danger. There was a reason why Lily never spoke and it wasn't because she was shy. The rats that scuttled by her bed have shown her just how her curse works and if she speaks above a whisper, they stand at attention for her. Every word she says they listen and follow her every command. She's since left them alone, but she never wants to manipulate anyone like that. Ever. Even if she knows that whispering won't affect anyone, she hasn't spoken to a human. Just in case.
 
Coming through the hallway, quiet as a mouse, he was only startled for a moment when he came across three of the girls he was supposed to be leaving with. Why they were standing so suspiciously right at the end of the hallway that contained his room would be a better question than what they were doing there. Suppose a tattler was near or even the Headmistress out for her rounds. They would all be punished or worse... "Are you all daft?" He whispered quickly, "Why are you simply standing here. There is no time for this. We must move." Curfew was nearing. If they weren't outside the house by then, all was for naught. The low din of regular activity would cease as soon as the last ray of light had left the sky. Then the house itself would be their biggest enemy. With its creaks and groans, it would be a miracle getting out of it without alerting at least one unsavory character. Henry was heading for the nearest, unbolted window. Sure there were plenty of ways outside, but most required more finesse then he had time to perform. Nothing would prevent him from leaving this place tonight.
 
Lily looked even more worried as Henry headed to the window. She was so glad he was okay, she almost smiled, but they couldn't leave without Vynnka and Kerosene! She darted forward and grabbed his arm. Surely he knew they were missing a few people! And she still had to get the blankets and towels she had stowed under her bed. She knew he must be anxious to get out of here, but surely they could wait just a few more minutes!
 
"Ah.." He felt the grip on his arm and turned to see Lily. His eyes softened when he saw the distress in her eyes. Stopping, he sighed, "Lily... you know we have to get out of here. If the house gets quiet and we're still inside, we're trapped.." He knew they were missing a few people, but they had certainly already discussed this possibility. They had to get out while they could, even if they weren't together when they did it. Heck, it was probably safer for the group if they weren't all together when they left the house. It would keep suspicion as low as it could be. Vynnka and Kerosene were probably outside already waiting for them. It was the first step of escape. They had to get outside, get to the fence, get over the fence, and then run for their lives. Simple sounding, but not so simple doing.
 
Lily bit her lip, but nodded. She held up one finger, telling them she'd be right back and raced back up the stairs. She rushed into her room, grabbed the bundle of blankets and towels and darted back downstairs as swiftly and silently as she could. She bit her lip and showed the small group what she had procured for them. She hoped she had helped. She hoped it was enough to thank them for taking her with them.
 
Rats where easy to catch when you knew how to bait them. Butch tossed the dead remains of his last rat intot he middle of the floor, lettign it land with a sickenign thud and sit there. Then he stood still. He heard the door behind him trying to be opened and in half as many steps as it took a regular person, he was plastered against the pantry door, silent as a mouse. from beneath his feet, a cockroach came beneatht eh door tot he pantry, chased out by a rather FAT Rat, who recieve a boot tot eh skull, Dead as a door.

"One down." he chuckled. Then He realized something... He was in the kitchen. There where KNIVES in the kitchen. HE picked up his dead rat and layed it in a piece of parchemtn paper he had stolen from a calssroom desk and shoved it in his inside coat pocket before roaming to the other side of the kitchen. he opened a single drawer, and there it was.

The edges where rusty and looked as though they had been hammered on, probably to break bones for the meat and beans they had every so often and for holidays. He scoffed at what the headmistress thought was proper.

"When i decide I'm sick of this place.. IThis will be the PERFECT send-off for that rancid dwench." he whispered, stealing the large knife and it's crooked wooden handle. He ran his fingers over the side of the eddge. it was rusty and bent, but the blade had been well taken care of. it smelled of animal fat. wait, what? why woudl the blade smell like meat when they hardly ever HAD meat? He grinned a bit and ran his tongue over his teeth.

"Your a perfect thing for me ta have, mate." he grumbled, takeing a leather strap used for sharpening(and beating) he shoved the knife intot he top ege. these straps where two pieces of leather with a thin tin plate between them. He shoved the blade in until it's handle touched the edge and ripped it off the counter it was hap-hazardly nailed too before shoveing the whole thing into his pocket. his bottomless tweed pants pocket. He tied it to his leg beneath with twine, and shook his leg a little. Perfect. the strap went to just above his knee, where he tied it aswell, rollign up his pantleg and testign it. it neither cut off hsi circulation, nor wobbled too much.

satisfied with his work, and gettign more than he bargained for, he made his way to the pantry, and ran a long fingernail beside the lock, jiggleing it, and th elock, it came open on it's crummy handle and he looked inside. It was almost bare up till the forth or fifth levels. typical....
 
Unmarked doors flew past Vynnka in a blur as she fled down the corridor, her feet striking each step in noisy rhythm as she continued in the direction of the kitchen. Her swift movements would come to a screeching halt as that of Iamora impeded her path. "I don't want you interfering!" The tow headed child exclaimed, gusts of air pelting Vynnka from every which way. She would be bidded the gift of flight upon a violent, upward draft, her body flailing as she was soared a great distance above the dining table. "Stop interfering with my fun!" Iamora's fisted hands were thrusted above her head, and she simultaneously stomped her feet.Vynnka continued to be subjected to the sheer ferocity of her demonic tantrums, thrashing about on a bed of air current until she was sent careening toward the opposite wall. The psychic abilities of Ravenwitch that were dormant within Iamora had awakened, and with it the sounds of her Mother's deafening laughter. Whilst she toyed with Vynnka, Lily was free to gather a number of the others and establish a meeting point, its size mimicking that of a small army. She would thwart her further advances at every turn, in some way.

It wouldn't be wise to debut her powers as to combat Iamora because the Sin Caster would have the ultimate advantage in Vynnka becoming stuck in an endless loop of body- battering torment. She figured the witch would tire of her soon, finally relaxing her telekinetic hold upon her as to discard her to the floor in a motionless heap. The hall that lay outside of the classroom Anya and Mandy were in attendance suddenly came alive with a cacophony of cachinnations, Brittana forcibly pulling open the door as to allow herself admittance. "What is this about locating Echo?" She teetered toward a desk, taking her seat upon the gouged wood of the tabletop. "Do go on..." She urged of Mandy, batting her tea colored eyes. "I won't tell anyone.." Her gaze would then divert from the visage of Mandy, to Anya, then aflutter toward the direction of the window. (I -do- wish to be a Diva, an object of adoration...)She inhaled a rather noisy breath. (What could be the harm in becoming a cohort to that foul creature? If she could really lift the afflictions of this accursed frame...)Her hands would roam the sides of her bodice, as she attemtped to stiffen her posture. (What harm would it do? A soul does me no good, nobody could see it anyway. And perhaps if they could, it would reflect the ugliness of my outer shell.) Kerosene heard what sounded like the rattling of a key in the door. Perhaps it was the real key, but even if it wasn't, it proved someone cared enough to forego the fear of getting caught as to fashion a makeshift key and attempt to spring her from her confinement. She felt instantly indebted to the individual, whomever he may be, and positioned herself in such a way as to throw her arms about him in gratitude for his act of heroism.

http://s165.photobucket.com/user/TrinityDemonia/media/Kitten Kaboodle/Vavoom.jpg.html

Iamora reminisced of her stent at the institute with a loving sigh. The sounds of the children overtaking their tyrannical elders, the billowing smoke sootied the heavens as she watched the great conflagration feed upon the wails of victims that were shut within its devouring flames. Again, she sat comfortably admist chaos. The Loot and Lute was little more than a dilapidated hovel, yet the steady inflow of patrons brought her playthings from far and wide. Travelers to the forsaken town had all made the same lasting impressions upon it in death. Everywhere she looked, there were but portrayals of grisly demises painted upon her shining black irises. A downcast glance upon the murky brew which filled the finely crafted china cup, with a small sweep of her hand the caffinated drink went tumbling to the floorboards. The broken fragments of porcelain were reduced to a chalky powder under her boot as she rose to take in all she could of the grisly scene.

A putrescent stench had perfumed the stale air, attracting flies and other pests that would revel in decay. Once rowdy men were reduced to rotting flesh and bone, and Iamora had not lifted a finger as to place them in that state. A tiny smirk played at her lips, she felt satiated for the moment. She approached the bar and poured herself some champagne, raising the goblet in a boastful gesture, and eyed some ravens fighting over some scraps of flesh that still clung to the Bartender's face. Oh, how her mother loved ravens. She had an affinity to these predatory birds, these carrion that feasted upon the dead and the living. Iamora possessed not this sort of bond, so she made dolls of which she had bestowed the gift of life, an army of pernicious little porcelain faced puppets to assist her in wreaking havoc everywhere she went. They were subjects of her abandoned youth, broken pieces of the evil effigies were scattered throughout the lands. Iamora sighed, her fingertip tracing the rim of the goblet. Who would come along next to break the tedium of the silence and listlessness around her?Something writhed within the childish vessel, working its extremities in a marionette like fashion. Iamora hurled the rather crude semblance of a goblet toward the window, where it connected with a clang but the impact wasn't strong enough to shatter it. The maimed bear leapt out of her arms. With each soul she stained, she felt a surge of power coursing through her veins. She siphoned the purity of the immortal essence of humans, corrupting it, changing it. She stood amidst the aftermath of her weaving of destruction, the remnants of those she had produced conflicted moralities. Whilst observing the people infected with Vanity was amusing, examining how they ultimately succumbed to their self inflictions, she wished for more.

The bear that held the malefic quintessence of Ravenwitch, her savage energies thriving upon every cottony fiber, levitated before the cracked pane of glass that barred the fresh air from entering. The Orphanage. Her travels, which made for her vessel to transcend the boundries of space and time would bring her there. Now, as the memories unearthed from the ancient Necropolis of her mind seemed to dissolve away, she decided upon a more adult version of herself, and knocked upon Henry's door. She heard no reply. "What of -you,- Henry? Do not recoil because I am familiar with what name you own." She would appear before him in wisps of black smoke. "Are you satisfied with your meager existence, do you not wish for something -more?- Do you wish to simply perish, and become stricken from the very pages of history? Your wasted soul unfettered by the walls of this place which binds you?"The very voice of the embodiment of Hell made the ground they stood upon quake, the glacial winds carried her raspy voice which would strike the ear so sharply, it would seem as if said anatomical part were assulted by a thousand razors. Iamora batted her eyes coquettishly. Even though she was nefarious of nature, it didn't change her want for companionship. Perhaps she could seek out his desires, shed light to the most shameful secrets he harbored. She knew that every human heart beats with the tune of these disgraces, that most mortals seek absolution only upon the precipice of damnation,in divulging these confessions with a wasted last breath. Ravenwitch led countless souls astray from the Gods. Now it was her turn, to congregate the people of this age in the shackles of sin.

Her frilly black and white bodice fit snugly upon her nubile form, her skirts docked at her knees. A bloodstain had bloomed upon her bosom like a rare, beautiful blossom flourishing upon a carnage soaked earth, a vastitude of butchered flesh yielding as a sacrifice as if to sprout the Devil's rose.
 
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He wondered if anyone else could see the demon at his side. Such a strange thing to come bothering him, but for the sake of the establishment, he was not that surprised. Raking his eyes over the form of the obviously inhuman female, he leveled her with a blank stare. Why did it seem that everything that could go wrong with the night's planning was going into affect? They were missing people. Curfew was ever encroaching. And satan himself seemed hellbent on keeping them there. "Do you not have more important people to prey on than a small orphan boy? I wish for nothing that you might offer me..."

Most would be afraid. Henry had long since accepted the possibility of all things at any time in any place. Hell existed, because this orphanage did. Heaven also existed, because a fence separating it from the orphanage existed. And this woman-thing bloody and menacing that attempted to seduce his reactions most certainly was a demon if she were trying to keep him in this place. So no, he wished for nothing more. He had the means he personally needed to escape. What more could he ask for? There was nothing for her in him, and she would most likely see such.
 
((I apologize for being out of the picture recently, but I had just recently caught cold and wasn't allowed near a computer. Sorry. As for a recently asked question, you can role play creatures that dwell in the forest, but they're all either distorted beasts, poltergeists, or demons; most of which are barely sentient and exist to torment others. Sorry about that, I should have explained it earlier. HOWEVER, you can role play humans that live in the forest and are unable to find themselves out; they can either be older orphans that escaped years ago, or people that have either found their way into the forest, or gone their entire lives living like scared animals in the forest, constantly fearing death.))

((Also, for those of you with multiple characters or are planning on having multiple characters, do you think it'd be possible to have different colors for each character just so it doesn't get confusing? It would be much appreciated.))

Anya, attempting not to look suspicious, broke away from Mandy in search of Echo. She assumed only having around 10 give or take escapees would be a smart decision; it was just enough people to make survival in the wilderness possible, but not enough people for their disappearance overly suspicious, considering there were literally hundreds of orphans in this place. A ludicrous amount if you asked Anya, especially considering the truck that was to arrive would be filled with even more orphans that were in need of a place to stay...the poor souls had no idea what they were in for. Perhaps one of them would be placed in the room she would be leaving behind and they could find her journal; it would be a useful tool in learning to survive this place.

As she turned the corner, one of the open windows let in a breeze that made some of her newest scars on her back sting. She had acquired these the same way most of the other children had; being whipped be either the head mistress herself, or one of the other staff members that worked here. For Anya, this was an unfortunately common occurrence despite the fact she rarely acted out...this grand escape plot was her single exception. The door to the kitchen several meters in front of her suddenly swung open and one of the elder orphans and one of the few who had been whipped more than Anya, a fifteen year old named Thomas busted out, sprinting towards her. Before Anya even got the chance to gasp, he shoved a piece of bread in her mouth and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her along with him in a near silent sprint, one of the many things you learned to do while living here. The bread was fresh and possibly the most delicious thing she had ever tasted in her life, but even so, she was furious with him after she had swallowed the savory morsel.

"Thomas!" Anya hissed in a hushed tone "What on Earth do you think you're doing?!"

"Getting some food that's actually edible. You're welcome by the way." He replied in a voice just as quiet as Anya's.

"Honestly, Tom. I'm not sure whether I should be grateful or furious, This could jeopardize the entire plan! Why did you drag me along, anyway?"

"So you wouldn't be blamed thanks to being the closest one to the kitchen."

"Well, now I look like an accomplice. Besides, I need to go find Echo."

"No one was in there." Thomas replied, slowing to a walking speed and releasing Anya from his grip. "I'll go find Echo while I pass this along to the others, you just go give this to Prim." He then slipped a small piece of the bread roll into her hand and made his way down the hall.

Anya merely rolled her eyes ad did as told as she began to wander towards Thomas' sister's room.