Unforgettable Voices

The static creeped its way around the lacrima, brushing up against every nerve of Lilynette's body. This was her second time hearing the recording, and it had only gotten more horrifying as time went on. She looked away from the poor boy she had begged to come along with her, Jade, who was hearing all of this just for the first time. She didn't dare look at his reaction. Hopefully, he would be calm, undisturbed by the story unfolded by the lacrima; but Lilynette couldn't risk finding out. If she caught him looking even the tiniest bit unsettled, she would begin to panic. So, instead, she fixated her gaze towards the woods just a few steps in front of them.

Goosebumps coated the beauties body from head to toe as she glared into the darkness that lurked behind the tree line. Lilynette took a deep breath, holding her hands together in front of her chest as she clutched the journal pages that were sent to her doorstep within them. She had never been a religious girl, but she might have to make her way towards the nearest nunnery after this job, if it didn't get her killed that is.

The Rune Knights voice echoed throughout her head as if the recording of his voice had never stopped. The panting, the screaming, the fear, had all infused itself with Lilynette. Lieutenant Lars's fear had sunk its teeth so deep into Lily that it had practically become her own. Did she dare turn back to the guild hall? Had this all been a mistake?

She turned her head towards Jade, gripping the journal pages even tighter. No, this wasn't a mistake. Two members of sabertooth could handle the "spooky forest." Even if one of them wasn't a mage yet. Lily had to figure out what happened to the writer of these journal entries, what had happened to Lieutenant Lars, and what had happened to the girl named Mary. Most importantly, she had to find out why these things had been sent to her estate.

Lilynette reached forward, shutting off the Lacrima and finally putting the seemingly endless loop of static to a holt.

"Are you ready for this, Jade?" She asking him, tucking the lacrima and journal pages back into her bag.

That certainly wasn't the response that she was hoping for, but it was the response she had received. Lilinette and Jaden might have been the same rank, but she was older than him, and she was the one who brought him along onto this mission. "Alright then." Lilynette replied, composing herself as she turned towards back towards the woods. "Lets get going."
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The plant life spindled its way upon the trees, allowing for nothing but darkness to be visible throughout the forest. Every ounce of energy Lilynette had was now dedicated towards keeping her breathing under control, stopping her from panting, shaking, screaming. Mist filled the dark areas between the trees, making it even harder to see before herself. She took out the lacrima and turned it back on. The same static filled the area around her, causing her to feel so scared that nausea began to crawl its way into her stomach; but it provided light. Not a lot, but enough to see a good meter in front of her.

The thought that she should turn and check in on Jade occurred to Lilynette time and time again, but she refused to give into it. the sound of his footsteps is enough. she thought to herself; for Lilynette knew that if she turned around and found anything other than her fellow guild member, that would be the end of it all.

She didn't dare stop, look around, or speak. The quieter she could be, the better it would be for the both of them. What are we even looking for? She thought to herself. What kind of clue would we-

"What was that?" She asked, stopping dead in her tracks. Her eyes widened with fear as she began to hasty look around in all directions. "I heard something." She whispered, tightening her fist around the lacrima as she tried to figure out what it was she heard in the distance. "Jaden," She whispered, her voice shaking as if it was fire in the wind.

Lilynette held up the glowing lacrima, trying to get a better look at her surroundings. "I can't- I- I- I can't see anything." She whispered again to Jaden.

She took in a deep breath of hair and felt every nerve of her body scream. She heard it again, the crunching of leaves beneath the feet of something just a few meters before them. "Jaden," She whispered, taking a step back, and reaching for the boys hand.

The lacrima continued to let out static as her breathing shook in unison. Lilynette squeezed Jaden's hand tightly, for she now saw what was stepping on those leaves.



*Static*



*Static*



*Static*

Lilynette had screamed, the word "run" coming out of her mouth like an opera singers final fermata. Despite have screamed the word her legs remained motionless, unmoved by her call to action. All of her energy was spent on widening her eyes and fastening the pace of her breathing as a cloaked silhouette began to make its way towards them through the fog. Lilynette could feel the nausea tingling up her throat.

"Run..." She muttered again, helplessly paralyzed by her own fear.

"ru-" Before she knew it, she was pulled off in the other direction. Lilynette let out a yelp in fear as she had almost forgotten that she was with another person, Jaden. She snapped out of her confusion, the sensation of blood oozing over her fingers bringing her back into reality. She wasn't even concerned with who's blood it was, or if it was even blood to begin with; her only concern was sprinting through this decaying forest.

She could feel herself bubbling with paranoia. Every fog covered tree looked like the silhouette of a man. Her eyes darting from left to right, up to down, her head moving forwards and backwards as she tried to keep an eye out for the figure that they had seen just moments ago; but everything looked like a man. Everything appeared to be moving. Everything seemed to be chasing after them. Fear began to confuse her, engulfing her body with thought of horrifying worst case scenarios. Lilynette wasn't sure if she was hearing screams or if it was just the winds brushing past her ear. She wasn't sure if someone was grabbing at her neck or if her throat was simply closing up.

Where they about to die?

Was she about to die?

"TO THE LEFT! UP THE WALL! HURRY!"

Jadens voice snapped her back into reality as she watched him began to scale the small cliff before them. Lilynette wasn't even sure when they had arrived at the cliff, or when it had even appeared, but that wasn't the main concern. She reached up, gripping the first rock and getting her footing onto the cliff. She was just a meter off the ground when she began to hear it.

The sounds of someone sobbing.

She spun her head around, "Mary?" She whispered, inquiring if it was the girl written about in the journal, the girl who had gone missing in these very woods.

But her curiosity was a mistake. Lilynette let out a blood curdling  scream as a hand wedged its way onto her face, pulling her back into the fog. She opened her mouth but fear filled it faster than any words could exit. Her feet tried desperatly to jam themselves into the dirt, slowing herself down but alas it was no help. Her destination was no longer her choice.

She quickly threw her body onto the ground, freeing her face from the creatures grip for just a second, "JADEEEN!" She finally managed to scream. A slimy, vine-like structure began to wrap itself around her leg, and slowly drag her away in the dirt.

Lilynettes eyes opened wide as she watched the silhouette of the monster lift Jaden up. It had knocked her unconscious, laving her face first in the dirt while one of his tentacles remained wrapped around her leg. She could feel blood rushing down her cheek as the world began to focus itself before her very eyes. Her breathing began to quicken as she began to remember her situation. This had been a mistake. They were going to die here. And it was going to be her fault.

Tears swelled the woman eyes as she began to see her foolish mistake. This had been a death wish from the start. I should have gone to Master Aura, to Gaia, to Master Luceam! Even Mai would have been able to handle this situation, and she was a mere child! Lilynettes nails sunk into the mulch beneath her as she began to curse herself for being stupid.

"I'm pathetic," She spoke, tears beginning to make their way over the edge of her eye lids. "I thought I could do this. I thought I could be a mage... I-I-I thought this was be an adventure! But I'm just a pathetic, stupid wo-"

No! A startling voice shouted,  interrupting her train of thought.

Her eyes opened with confusion as she heard a voice bellow from inside her head. Could it be the monster? Could Jade have used some form of telepathy?

"Who-"

NO! The voice shouted, echoing throughout the walls of Lilynettes own imagination. you are a child of the knight of swords! Rage seemed to fuel the creatures voice as it scowled the helpless young women. Lilynette could feel an overwhelming sense of pride take over her body.

"Who... Who are you?" She whispered allowed.

The question is not who am I, girl. The question is' who are you?

Her eyes opened as a blue light began to illuminate from her chest.

YOU ARE MY CHILD! the voice raged on.


Calm yourself, child. And go forth! Go forth and slay any beast that may cause you or your kingdom harm!

Her breathing steadied as the glow began to feel like steel. Without looking at what was in her hand, the purple haired maiden slowly began to stand up on her feet. She tightened her grip on the object that had formed in her hand, and plunged it into the ground, straight through the tentacle that dared to lie in her path.

The creature let out a scream as she ripped the gift out from its flesh. The voluptuous beauty starred in a bit of awe at the object, it was a black sword, glowing with the blue energy that had come forth from her heart. The woman had never touched a sword before, except for one occasion where she held a prop for a photoshoot in Magnolia a few years ago. And yet, she knew exactly how to use it. It was as if she had been born with the muscle memory of thousands of swordsmen before her.

The creature quickly whipped one of his tendrals towards her, but Lilynettes boots of Asmodeus began to activate. She leaped up, landing perpedictular onto the trunk of a tree, swiftly using it as a pushing point. She propelled herself into the direction of the beast, slicing right through the tendril which held Jaden captive.

The monster let out another shriek, lashing out once more at Lilynette. Striking her in the side, the beast tossed her to the side like a rag doll. Lilynette could feel blood gush out of the cut left behind on her hip, but she didn't have time to concern herself with it. Her boots glowed once more with Asmodeus's energy, allowing for her to land on her feet. The monster was to busy paying attention to his lost tendril to notice, allowing for Lilynette to counter. Her corset began to glow in return. "Asmodeus's Revenge!" She shouted, watching as a burst of light from her chest, striking distracted beast in the back of the head, causing him to shriek once more.  

"JADEN! RU-" The creature had lost all interest in their lost limb. The creature lept towards Lilynette at full speeds, practically teleporting over to Lilynette in the blink of an eye. Before Lilynette knew it, a tendril had made its way around her throat.

Now was her chance. The Paladin Jade had joined the fight, freeing Lilynette from death by tentacle amd blocking the monstrosities incoming attacks. There was no time for thank you's, her boots of Amodeus glew one last time as she leapt forward, her sword raised high above her head.

The monster let out a screach louder than any they had heard before, and before Lilynette knew it, a tendril had formed a gash on her shoulder midair, just barely missing her throat. She opened her mouth in an attempt to make a cool, edgy resort to the lashing, but she just couldn't think of anything in time. Her flade sliced right through the creatures tendril, slicing off a piece of its arm as it had raised its hands up high to protect its face. Black blood squired onto Lilynette, getting in her eyes and causing her to stumble back.

"Oh g-d that's gross," The complained, dropping her sword to ground and stumbling back as she brought her hands up to her face in an attempt to wipe off the fowl juices of the beast.  

*Smack!*

One last tendril struck Lilinette in the gut, sending her flying back and landing before the paladins feet.

Her vision was foggy, but she watched as the monstrosity practically vanished into thin air. "What... What are those?" She managed to ask through the pain, watching as what appeared to be pieces of paper fall slowly onto the ground.

She slowly tried to get up, but it hurt far too much. She winced in a bit of pain and held her stomach in her arms, "Too soon for movement, understood." She muttered, rolling over towards Jade, and looking up at him from the ground. "I'll just need a minute," she managed to tell him through her clenched teeth, quickly giving him a half-assed smile.

"Okay, *winces* good to know we can hold our own out here, *Gasp*" She spoke fast and quickly took a deep breath in afterwords, the wind having been knocked out of her and send kilometers out of view. "Lets go home. We *winces* find Mary and the Lieutenant after I no longer feel like death*giggle* ow ow ow, okay hurts to laugh..."