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evermore_crystal Vice Captain
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 Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:23 pm
This should not be a difficult task. Accomplishing the insurmountable is part of Strae's job description, and this child practically has "Kidnap Me: I'm Gullible!" written in bright neon signs all over her. All she had to do was wait until the girl's guardian left her alone, and just wing it from there.
Like now, on a perfectly good and event-less summer afternoon where bird go chirping and puppies go barking and children go splashing. Strae walked up to the apartment's front door and...knocked. She had seen the young woman go out on her own, likely on some household errand. As far as she knows, nothing else in the house poses as a major obstacle.
If all fails, it's a simple grab-and-run. Well, more like grab-and-stuff, though that doesn't have the same ring to it. But Strae prefers a bit more dignity than that if she could help it.
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:29 pm
The unfamiliar rapping on the door pulled Evelyn away from the floral arrangement on the kitchen table.
"That's odd... Mommy shouldn't be back for another half hour."
She stepped cautiously toward the door, her cat Suki following in suit. Her oddly colored eyes squinted to look through the peephole and her eyes befell an unfamiliar lavender haired woman that stood at her door stop.
"Yes? May I help you?"
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evermore_crystal Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 10:57 pm
For all intents and purposes, today Strae is an amiable lady-next-door type who likes to bake cakes and loves little kids. She smiled; an easy, open, and friendly expression; and said, "Hello, is Evelyn home?"
A sudden stroke of inspiration. There was a slight pause as Strae clasped her hands together and did something with them -- though the motion is barely perceptible to the casual observer, much less a child looking through a peephole.
"I have a message for her."
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:11 pm
'Who would have a message for me?'
Despite her better judgment, she hung the chain of the door and peeled the wooden obstruction open. She peeked from the side; the woman seemed pleasant enough. perhaps she was someone she was a new tenant that needed help with gardening.
She stuttered, "Um, I'm Evelyn."
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evermore_crystal Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:22 pm
"Oh, hello! I imagined you'd be a pretty little lady from your name," Strae said, her voice as full of the happy friendliness as her countenance. "I'm Kallistrae. It's nice to meet you." She held up one of her hands toward Evelyn to reveal a tiny lavender envelope a little smaller than the palm of her hand, sealed with a sticker in the shape of a feather. "I've been told to deliver this to you. The sender's identity is a secret." Her eyes twinkled with the merry mischief a mother would carry when handing a child a birthday present.
Thank god the mastery of method acting came as an instinct rather than an acquired skill for them.
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:33 pm
Evelyn smiled and reached her arm out for the envelope. "Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you Kallistrae."
At her feet Suki sniffed suspiciously at the woman and pawed at her foot. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and hissed at the woman.
"Suki, that's rude," she said in an accusing tone.
She picked up her cat and held him in her arms, "I'm sorry. My cat doesn't get out very much. Though he's not usually this mean when we have guests."
She released the chain and pulled the door wide open. "Won't you come in? I can get you a drink."
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evermore_crystal Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:47 pm
"Just Strae's fine," she remarked casually. "Don't worry about it, cats will always be cats. You can never tell what exactly they're thinking."
"Thank you, but I'm afraid I can't." An apologetic smile. "I'm in a bit of a hurry today. So much to get done! If you need anything, have any questions about the note other than the identity of the sender...Shen probably knows where to find me. Just go pay her a visit." She waved goodbye at the girl before turning to leave the apartment complex.
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:11 am
"Oh, I understand." there was a hint of sadness in her voice. Guests didn't come very often.
Her head tilted to the side at the mention of Shen. 'How does she know about her...?'
But before she could ask, Strae was was gone.
"Huh... Odd..."
She closed the door and locked the deadlock on the door. Suki leapt out of her arms and onto the couch, startling her. The little envelope fluttered to the ground at her feet.
"Oh!"
She bent over to pick it up and sat beside her cat on the couch. She carefully peeled the feather sticker on the opening and pulled out the letter. "Well, here goes."
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evermore_crystal Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:24 am
The note was written in an elegant, slanting hand in dark blue ink. Somebody Good day to you, dear child.
I hope all is well with you, for my request is not for the bed-ridden body and helpless soul. There is an adventure waiting; a game, if you will. At the very least, it will present itself to you as such. Your participation holds a greater significance than simply that, of course; the ultimate result will greatly benefit many who are in need. But you need not concern yourself with those trivialities.
Do you accept the challenge to this game?
If you do, tear this note into thirds and lay the pieces in a triangle around you.
If not, disregard all that has been said.
We will try our hardest to ensure your well-being during this time.
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:53 am
Evelyn blinked in confusion.
"A game?"
She pondered, 'I'm sure Mommy won't mind if I play a game...'
She knelt on the ground and almost folded the paper into thirds vertically. She almost winced when she tore at the delicate paper and laid the two piece on either side of her, slanted inward from the top.
Suki stared at her in wonder.
"I know, I'm confused too. But it's what the note says."
Suki hissed in protest and attempted to tear the pieces that were already on the ground. Evelyn picked him up and nuzzled his nose. She placed him on the couch and pat his head before placing the last piece horizontally behind her.
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evermore_crystal Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:05 pm
As soon as the last piece was put into place, a circle of silver-white runes sprang up from the ground, spinning around the girl; spiraling up, up, until the blur of light formed a delicate yet impenetrable shell around her. The light grew steadily brighter, building up to a brilliant flash --
and vanished.
Nothing but a stretch of carpet lay encircled by three shreds of blank paper.
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:17 pm
Suki mewled and leapt off the couch to investigate the spot where Evelyn vanished. He pawed at the shreds of paper and curled up into a sleeping position, ears folded down, where he could only wait for her return.
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