[[ Content warning: blood, weapons, mentions of death ]] =========================================== Ellis was a murderer. They had killed. The fire danced before their eyes, and they stared into the flames hollowly. It was cold; dark; lonely. Where was Anton right now? The other alliance members? Were they surviving, or were they eliminated in a desperate fight for survival, or were they buried in snow, alone and forgotten? Ellis winced back to reality as they felt the heat burn their paws. They quickly pulled away; they hadn’t realized how close they had gotten. Ellis was a murderer. What would Quicksilver think? Was she watching right now? Had she seen the terrifying– thing– taking over Ellis? Surely that exciting battle had been broadcast front and center. The capitol certainly enjoyed watching the gentle orange feline go ballistic and feral, tearing ruthlessly into their opponent. Quicksilver would know that wasn’t them, they hoped. The two had been together for more than two years. Ellis had– never– lost their temper. Ever. Reluctant to hurt spiders in the house, preferring to bring them outside. Taking the time to formulate a balanced diet of proteins and carbs using only plants, unwilling to eat the flesh of innocent butchered animals. Taking the occasional antagonization or attack with a careless smile and a cheerful quip. So that was how they knew they weren’t alone. Now that they knew what to look, or feel, for, Ellis could almost feel the presence. It was there, quietly, as subtle as humidity in the air. But it was unmistakable— the same feeling that had roared through Ellis’s body, moving their limbs and sword against their will, funneling them forward. “I know you’re there,” Ellis said softly. At first there was no response, but Ellis wasn’t giving up. They weren’t prone to paranoia, so they knew this belief in a– ghost, spirit, whatever it was– wasn’t unfounded. Unless they were finally losing their mind. Was the Capitol, Quicksilver, watching? What would they think seeing the tribute talking to themself while cleaning their reddened sword? It didn’t matter. The presence was here, Ellis was convinced, and they refused to back down, not after what it had done. “Stop hiding,” they murmured plaintively. “I want to know. Why?” A moment more. Then, there it was. A brush of wind on their ear that didn’t make sense in a still enclosed shelter, rippling their fur and sending the silver earring jangling ever so slightly. Ellis felt more than heard the reply: “To save you.” “Why?” Ellis insisted. Their fur bristled; it still felt matted and wet, from melted snow or something more nefarious. Yes, they were alive; but they were a killer. They had murdered. They had snuffed out a light, a precious light. The air seemed to stir again, sounding like a soft sigh, but no more words were given. Ellis grit their teeth. “Why– how– how can you do that?” The air was poignant with an answer unspoken. Ellis could feel the presence, engulfing them, choking them, yet it remained unwilling to speak. “Who are you?” they finally spit out. The not-wind seemed to swell, before suddenly fading and leaving. Ellis felt disappointment crash through their chest. It was gone, well and truly gone; for now, at least. And they had almost as few answers as before. Who was this spirit, and why were they protecting Ellis? Curiously, cautiously, Ellis’s paw reached up to brush their still earring. Silver and ebony banded in a twisted spiral, over and over, stark against soft orange fur. Ellis thought they had an idea who it could be. [[ Part 2 in N&C ]]
Art, characters, writing: @windrider_PI THGRP: @Banana203 Music: "Alone in the Dark" by Vadim Kiselev =========================================== Darksilver felt more alive than she had in… ever. She hadn’t been sure she could do it, but desperation had a way of bringing out unexpected parts of anyone. She had been anxiously waiting for this moment as she followed Ellis through the arena, watching the battles and struggle for survival closely. In the final confrontation after the avalanche, she knew what she had to do. Ellis couldn’t kill. They didn’t have the heart. So she did it for them. Possession was surprisingly easy, once she knew what she was doing. She suspected it was partly due to Ellis’s vulnerable state, both emotionally and physically. It was almost like stepping into a room, and then suddenly she could feel– move– control. She was still her, but they were one; they had bones and fur, blood and a heart, fangs and claws. Her rage channeled through; she let it take over; she had killed before, she could do it again, and then Ellis wouldn’t have to. As she did the deed, ruthlessly lashing out against the other tribute, she was aware of Ellis’s fear at the lack of control. Maybe it was just the carryover, or maybe it was her own fear, but she found herself in awe of the unrelenting force washing through her. She had felt it before, during her first kill, in her own Games- that feral urge to tear, destroy, bleed. It felt as if she herself was possessed, even though she logically knew she wasn’t. Ellis was bright. She could see them putting it together, bit by bit. The only thing hindering them from reaching the conclusion quicker was their own logic working against them, saying it was all a lie, ghosts weren’t real, they were losing their mind. Oh, dear Ellis, you’re going to see a lot more ghosts before this is over. No one who came into the arena left thinking ghosts were merely stories. For now, though, she needed distance. A moment to pretend to breathe in the frigid air, looking over the glorious snowcapped deathtrap. A moment to think to herself. “Are you planning to fight all their battles for them?” There it was again, that other meddling spirit, the one who seemed to be intertwined with her. Darksilver scowled into the night. “If that’s what it takes.” She had said it before, and she stood firm. She would get them home. She didn’t bother squinting to try to make out her fellow ghost; it would be revealed only when it was ready, not a moment before. “It might take more than that.” Darksilver didn’t respond, opting to silently brood. “Huh. I didn’t realize blood could carry over here.” “What?” the silver and black tabby rose, confused, searching for a reflection she could use. Moving towards a patch of ice, she let herself be seen to her eyes, and froze as she noticed flecks of red on her muzzle, chest, and teeth. “Huh, would you look at that…” she murmured. She concentrated for a moment, reactualizing her appearance. Then she was normal again, as untainted as the freshly fallen snow, at least on the outside. “How interesting…” she said quietly. But she was alone again. The spirit settled for the night, staring up at the stars overhead and pondering.
