Heroic horrors

[herodrawing]

[1]
[Late at night, Sakihama Base's residential area is peaceful and quiet. Suddenly - bumping noises. Something thumps in the dark, followed by shuffles, as if a heavy object was being dragged on the floor. The source of the noise can't be far away... sounds of cutting, movement, and when you get close - fluids squirting, guide you towards a room.

A room where, as soon as the door is opened, the corridor's light illuminates horrible, orange organic mess on a table.]


Hey there!

[And here's a killer with a knife!]

[2]
[Izuru tumbles another (badly) carved pumpkin on its place, but he doesn't seem entirely happy with it. An idea is already brewing inside his head...]


Man, so much crazy stuff happened that it actually takes the edge off this holiday... I wonder, are there any haunted houses around? I mean real ones. We should totally visit one.

Comments

[herodrawing]

You could put it like that, yeah! Aren't you?

[fourth_rider]

I... see them often.

[herodrawing]

Really?

[Izuru shouldn't be surprised. It's Fyra after all.]

Umm. Do you see any... right now?

[fourth_rider]

[She shakes her head.]

But, you do not need to be somewhere haunted to see them.

[herodrawing]

For some reason, that's a relief...

But, you know Fyra. It's not about seeing ghosts or not. It's more about atmosphere, and the adventure!

[fourth_rider]

...Atmosphere? Adventure?

[herodrawing]

Ah, you know. Like... you are exploring a spooky mysterious place. What do you feel?

[fourth_rider]

Cautious.

[She's not sure what Izuru is getting at here.]

[herodrawing]

Really? Not, you know... excitement?

[fourth_rider]

If such a place may endanger others and myself, excitement could lead to harm.

Should I be excited?

[herodrawing]

No, but you see. Umm...

[Looks like the gig is up. Izuru sighs.]

It's not about actually seeing ghosts, you know? Just going to a creepy place is enough. Soak in the atmosphere a little, just for fun. No one really wants to get hurt or anything.

[fourth_rider]

Hmm...

[That gives Fyra something to think about. She suddenly turns around and begins to walk, beckoning Izuru.]

Follow me.

[herodrawing]

Eh? What's going on?

[Izuru follows derpily.]

You know a place like that?

[fourth_rider]

[The Rider nods at the question.

Not long after, the place she leads Izuru to is... an empty alleyway. She raises a hand as a signal to stop, and proceeds to draw a circle in the dirt around Izuru's feet.]

...

[herodrawing]

Are you trying to summon something?

[fourth_rider]

[Fyra suddenly stands straight. The look on her face is very serious, too.]

...No matter what happens from this point onward, please do not step out of this circle.

[herodrawing]

Okay... no, wait! What!

What are you going to do?

[fourth_rider]

Morte informed me that there are spirits here who are behaving suspiciously. I wish to speak with them, and ask them to cease if they are harming others.

This circle will conceal your presence. I do not know how they will respond to you if they see you.

[herodrawing]

What, real ghosts?

...

But they're possibly doing wrong things.

[Which means someone will have to stop them.]

Okay. Let's do it.

1/2

[fourth_rider]

...Remember, do not move from where you are until I say so.

[When Fyra turns away from the Rabbit and takes a few steps forward, the darkness of the surroundings begins to spread. What little light there is coming from the windows and backdoor signs are blotted out, and the only patch of normal ground that remains is within the circle around Izuru's feet.

Ahead, a few human-like figures that look like they are made of shadow begin to manifest. One is much taller than an average person with a thin, stick-like body. All of their faces are featureless, but their motions are as if they are staring curiously.]

2/2

[fourth_rider]

[The Rider seemingly enters a staring contest with them for a bit, until she decides to ask...]

I was told of your presence here. What is your objective?

[Before long, the tall one speaks in a distorted, whisper-like voice that even Izuru can hear from where he stands. It's not easy to tell if it's male or female.]

Who are you...? Why can I not see your face?

I can see other faces... but not yours...

[Slowly, the figures start to approach!]

[herodrawing]

Whoa! This is...

[It's real. It's no joke. Izuru takes a half-step forward - but he stops himself and stays within the circle.]

Am I really okay being here? No, wait! Fyra! Are you going to be okay, they're coming close!

[fourth_rider]

I am here... to make sure that you are not harming the innocent.

[Fyra doesn't move from where she stands. And fortunately, the spirits don't notice Izuru is there behind her either; just like she said - stay in the circle and you won't be seen.

The shadowy forms continue to approach the Rider, but stop when they are within arm's reach as they come to a realization. The tall one gazes at Fyra.]

I see... I see now. You are not like us... not like the others...

The black cloak wrapped around you... I recognize it. We all know of it.

You have come to take us there...

[herodrawing]

The black cloak?

[Izuru remembers what happened with Fyra on a mission. A certain imagery springs to mind.]

Hey, Fyra... what are you going to do?

1/2

[fourth_rider]

[The tall figure leans forward, so that its face - if it had one - would be within reach of Fyra.]

In all honesty, she doesn't know what to do. But the 'leader' of the spirits continues to speak.]

You are the one who reaps... who discriminates not. The last thing that the living will see.

The End.

[Fyra doesn't do anything at first. But then, realizing something, she looks up at the shadow, and slowly raises her hand to caress its cheek.]


...Is that what you seek?

[When she touches the shadow, her hand... turns skeletal. And then, gradually, Izuru can see what the shadows must have seen all along: a hooded figure in a black cloak stands where Fyra is.]