#mcd-au

“Roommates?”

After Aphmau finished tying my hair in a low riding pony tail I looked in the mirror smiling.

I haven't felt this good for a long, long time. It was nice.

My new shoes felt comfy too.

"So what was your name?" The guard, Laurence, asked, crossing his arms.

"Oh. It's um..it's Artemis." I wasn't sure if telling these people my name was a good idea, but they were really far out in the frontier. 

Perhaps...they didn't know what I did?

"Artemis? Such a pretty name!" Cadenza smiled.

"Laurence?" Aphmau spoke up.

"Yes, my lady?" Laurence turned to Aphmau.

"Could Artemis stay at your house until we can find her a more permanent place?" Aphmau asked politely.

"What?!" Laurence and I said in unison. 

"If you don't mind, Lady Aphmau, I'm fine with pitching a tent somewhere-"

"Her staying at my house?! With Lumi there?! Did you not hear that she tried to drown Lumi?!" Laurence shouted, raising his arms.

"It was a misunderstanding!" I snapped at him.

"Enough!" Aphmau silenced us, "You two have to work this out! There's no room anywhere else and I doubt Logan will let her stay at the Inn for free!"

I bit my tongue, nodding. I knew how to keep in my place. Laurence however did not.

"But she's an outsider!" Laurence shouted.

"Says the man who was once a Shadow Knight!" Cadenza shouted at Laurence. "You don't have the best history either, Laurence! For Pete's sake you used to be a womanizer, brother!"

That shut Laurence up.

I sighed, breaking the silence. I wasn't sure what a Shadow Knight was but it didn't give me warm and fuzzies knowing my new roommate used to be one. I could care less about the womanizing part.

"C'mon." Laurence sounded defeated as he started walking towards the door. It took me a moment to realize he was talking to me. I followed him promptly.

He was silent as we walked through the busy streets. I suppose I really messed up. I knew for sure that this wasn't as bad as prison, so I put up with it. 

"We're here." He sighed as we stopped in front of a door. The house was framed in a dark wood and lined with a light colored concrete or clay. It was small but looked homely.

"If you so much as think about hurting Lumi I'll kill you." He growled, still facing the door.

"Right.." I mumbled.

He unlocked the door, opening it. He entered, the door closing behind him. I rolled my eyes, entering the house.

The room inside was warm. To my right was a sitting room with a fireplace, Lumi sat in one of the chairs at a table drawing on a piece of paper. She hummed a lighthearted tune as she swung her legs.

I looked forward to see Laurence trudging up the stairs in silence.

I went to go follow him but Lumi glanced up.

 "Oh! it's you!" She chimed, "Wanna see my drawing?"

"Huh? Oh. Sure?" I walked over to see her masterpiece. 

"What do you think?" She smiled.

I heard a thumping against the wooden chair she was sitting on. I looked to see a scaled tail with a tuft of fur at the end wagging slightly.

I looked up at her drawing trying not to be rude.

It was a picture of a shooting star falling into the water  and becoming a fish. It looked like one of those ornamental koi fish.

"Neat. What does it mean?" I turned to look at her. 

"Its you, silly!" Lumi giggled.

"I'm a fish?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Well, fish become dragons eventually…" Lumi fidgeted. 

"I like it." I patted her shoulder.

She giggled in glee.

"Hey, Lumi, was it?" 

"Yeah?" The antlered girl looked up at me.

"Is there a guest room, or…?" I scratched the back of my head.

"Oh? You're sleeping over? Yay! A slumber party!" Lumi cheered.

I laughed a bit at how cute this kid was. Looking at her now, I saw she had a tuft of blue feathers on her head coupled with orangish-blonde wavy hair cut short. She had two peculiar scars on her back.

She hopped up, taking my hand, breaking me away from my thoughts.

"C'mon! You can sleep in my room!" Lumi sung.

She led me up the stairs to a short upstairs hallway. Behind the door to the right was the sound of deep snoring. It must be Laurence's room. Lumi giggled as she opened the door to the left.

"My room is above the kitchen so it always smells good after Lauru cooks!" Lumi stated with pride.

"'Lauru'? Is that what you call him?" I laughed a bit.

"Yeah! 'Laurence' is a long name after all!" Lumi argued.

"How about ‘Artemis’?" I mused.

Lumi paused going into deep thought. Her face lit up.

"You're nickname is now Arty!" Lumi announced.

"Arty, huh? I like it." I smiled. It was the name Nell would call me.

Lumi threw a few spare pillows and a large wool blanket on the ground along with a down comforter she grabbed from a chest.

"Is that a good sleeping bed?" Lumi asked curiously.

"Well. I bet it better than sleeping outside." I smiled towards her, "Thank you, Lumi."

"No problem!" Lumi giggled.

I heard a gurgling noise come from Lumi.

"You're hungry, aren't you?" I hummed.

"Maybe a bit…" Lumi confessed.

There are two realms. 

---------------------------------------------------------------- One is Modern-Futuristic and is set in a dystopian world. We will call this realm Dysta. Zane became King of The People’s Republic of O'khasis through sketchy political means [*cough* assassinations *cough*]. O’khasis has the highest technology in the area and most of the world there is wild as most people cluster in large cities. Villages [the few that are out in the frontier] are called Settlements. They are ruled by Representatives or Mayors. O’khasis has conquered all main cities except for the Frontier Settlements. There is no Nether or End. It is an active warzone everywhere and many buildings are in ruins. People live in fear and hatred, mostly. Shadows knights are called Exo-Knights as they wear armor [similar to SPARTAN armor from Halo] to give them their inhuman speed and strength. No magic need. A rebellion rose in this realm. A rebel by the name of Artemis killed Zane in this realm but caused a series of civil wars as rulers struggled for power and resources. Aphmau/Irene never saved the day in this realm. Many were killed by O’khassian Soldiers along with many Vampires, Werewolves, Daeconics and Meif’was. Magic users are called sensitives [as they are sensitive to an invisible force].

----------------------------------------------------------------

“Inner 𝍆𝌩 Strength”

“Hidden Meanings”

I approached the gates of Phoenix Drop, my brows furrowed. I carried my old clothes under my arm, having loosely slapped on my shoes. I hadn’t bothered to lace them. I didn’t really care to. 

It was the witching hour. I was a stressed out, frustrated mess of a person as I stumbled and fell, taking a knee to regain my senses. As I stood up, I stared at my reflection in Cadenza’s shop window. My eyes had a glint of blood red overtaking my usual pale green eyes. 

Perhaps it was because I was tired. 

I rolled my eyes continuing on. My gaze lazily shifted skyward, only to disappointingly see thick, overcast clouds. A shadow scurried along a rooftop, jumping and gliding out of sight into an alleyway.

I must have been seeing things.

I sighed, “Hopefully everyone is okay. I just wanna sleep in my bed.”

I walked down the path leading to Laurence’s home, humming quietly to myself to try and lighten my mood. I looked up seeing the same old house with night flowers blooming in the garden. Lumi must have planted them.

The front door was wide open.

I took my steps lightly as I entered, my glazed eyes shifting about.

The sitting room was empty, but nothing looked thrown about. 

A warm scent wafted in from the kitchen. It was bread.

I set foot into the doorway, yet stopped. Something inside me screamed that I didn’t belong here. I was frozen.

𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋

Lumi looked hummed cheerily as she turned looking at a sleeping Laurence. He had passed out while she was baking welcome home cookies for when Arty came home. Nellus was out looking for Arty too, which was good! Lumi couldn’t wait for her best friend to come home.

A floorboard creaked in the doorway. Lumi excitedly ran from the counter where she was kneading dough to greet the stranger. It had to be Arty! 

Lumi stared up at the red eyed figure, letting out a shrill scream, backing away. 

It was a Shadow Knight! They were coming to take her away too!

𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋

I stared down dully at a screaming Lumi. My lip twitched in irritation. Why was she screaming? 

I was home. 

I was finally home. 

That was a good thing. 

Right?

𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋𝌀𝍉𝍋

Laurence hopped to his feet, having awoken from the screaming. He drew his sword from its scabbard on his hip, charging at the figure. 

He wasn’t going to let them take anyone else.

He shoved past Lumi and swung.

𝌕

The pain across my chest was numb yet sharp.

Red blood dripped from Laurance’s sword, onto his hand.

I stared at his hands. His knuckles were white, still gripping the sword.

I looked to his face. It was white as well. His face was plastered with a face I couldn’t describe. 

The room around me was blurring in and out.

Radio static filled my ears as my world fell sideways.

Or was I falling?

𝍓𝌚

“Hidden Friends”

Corro sent a glowing slash into the obsidian gate, cleaving one of it’s supports in half. It began to crumble, falling apart. The purple smog dissipated as our pursuers’ voices were growing close. They faded into the sounds of the deep woods. I heard the clanging of metal as he sheathed his sword.

I looked around me, feeling horribly lost. The trees arched up, nearly blotting out the sky and the brush was thick. These were dark woods.

Corro began trudging away, a shadow looming over him. He seemed to be following a game trail. 

I followed him, wading through the underbrush and ferns.

“Corro…” I found myself saying.

He ducked under a fallen tree into what looked like a badger den without replying. I hesitated but eventually followed him inside.

The den was much larger than I thought on the inside. There was a table with a stool, a little alcove for storage and a cot with pelts on it for a mattress. The room was littered with papers with sketches on them.

“Corro.” I called out to him as he was removing him armor. He set the crimson set on a rather rough looking bench, “Or is that even your real name?”

He snapped a glare towards me, his grey eyes having a slight crimson tint.

“It is my real name,” He hissed.

“Why would you help them?” I asked abruptly.

He marched up to me, grabbing me by my tunic, slamming me into his table.

“Because I wanted to know why!” He shouted in my face, “I wanted to find out what would possess a person to wipe out an entire race!”

He sighed as he turned away, his eyes fading back to gray. I rubbed my now sore back, grumbling to myself.

“You should go home. If you follow the game trail past this den it’ll take you to the road.” He sounded broken.

I was silent.

“Don’t worry about me.” He gruffed, “No one really knows about my little hideout here. I’ll be fine. I also saved your old outfit from being burnt.”

I wanted to tell him about Nell and how he was a Daeconic as well but anger muted me. I swiped my clothes and shoes, in frustration. I turned, climbing out of the den without a single goodbye.

 Why was I angry? He had just saved me from an undesirable situation.

Something was different about me.

And I didn’t like it.

I followed the game trail as he said, coming across a dirt road. He never told me which way to go on the road. What an idiot.

I looked to the sky to see the sun was setting. I remembered the ocean I fell into was east of the village. A gust of wind brought the smell of salt from the left of me into my face. I followed the smell of the ocean eastward, my back to the setting sun.

I was coming home a different person, I feared.

“Old Scars”

Laurence stared down at the empty space in his bed, next to him. He had spent the majority of the past week looking for Artemis. No one had seen her. He got as far as the woods, following a blood trail until it vanished along with any tracks in the dirt.

His heart ached as he laid down in bed. He kept his window open as some sort of welcoming sign for Artemis to come home. It was stupid of him to do that but it made him feel a little bit better. Maybe it wasn’t the Shadow Knights that had her. Maybe she just left him to drown in his sorrows.

The fluttering of wings was heard along with a thud on his window sill. Laurance sat up, reaching for his sword at the edge of his bed.

“Wait.” A quiet, male voice cautioned him, as the winged figure held his hand up, gripping the window frame with the other.

Laurence stared at the shadowy figure, his gilded horns catching the moon light. One of them was snapped off halfway.

“May I come in?” The figure asked politely, “I mean no harm. I promise.”

Laurence paused, his thoughts racing before asking, “Who are you?”

“My name is Nellus Aquellae. I am Lumi’s older brother and heir to the Village of Heavens Gate." He paused before asking, "You wouldn't happen to know a friend of mine, would you? Her name is Artemis.” The figure stepped inside.

Laurence stood up, "Heavens Gate? I've never heard of a village like that." Laurence gave a questioning glare.

"N-Nell?" Lumi's voice shook as she opened Laurence's door.

Nellus' gaze softened as the sight of his little sister. Lumi sprinted towards him, tackling and hugging him, tears in her eyes.

Nell gave a sad look towards Laurence who stood in front of them, sheathed sword in hand.

"How do you know Arty?" Lumi looked up at him.

"We're both soldiers from the Phoenix Rebellion. We've spent a lot of time together back home." Nell softly smiled to his little sister. His face twisted into a frown as he realized something was missing, "Lumi, your wings…" His voice shook.

Lumi looked a bit sad for a moment, "The Shadow Knights took them and a bunch of my memories- but don't worry! I got away before I forgot everything! I'm strong! Just like you!" She smiled.

Nell stood up, turning his gaze to Laurence, "Where's Artemis? There are traces of her aura in this home."

Tears rolled down Laurence's cheeks, as his feelings overwhelmed him, "She was taken…"

"Tell me everything." Nell growled.

I stood up for the first time in two weeks. My legs wobbled under me but I felt a bit stronger than before. 

I cursed myself for even slightly acclimating to this hell. Perhaps I slowly was becoming one of the demons that resided in this fiery pit.

The watcher, Corro, smirked under his helm, his gray eyes twinkling, "You're getting stronger." 

I leaned my side against the netherrack wall. I stared tiredly at him. The air didn't burn my lungs like fire so much as it was like a hot summer's day. 

"It's not a good thing." I sighed.

The other Shadow Knights had found out I wasn't a Daeconic, yet still decided to keep me prisoner and not execute me. It was odd.

"See, but it is a good thing." Corro hummed, "You'll make a fine Shadow Knight."

There was a twinge of pain on Corro's voice during the second comment. It confused me that he'd feel pain from a weak person like me becoming a Shadow Knight.

Perhaps it was because I wasn't worthy enough.

Corro took his helmet off, letting it hang loosely from his fingertips. 

His white hair was tied back in a red string, with black locks mixed in. His gray eyes stared down at me as he rested his head back against the dark brick wall. He looked quite pale, more so than I expected.  The upper part of his ears were pierced with black bands. He had a scar running across the ridge of his nose.

He smiled at me, the first time I've ever seen him smile. 

"You look cute when you're in shock." He chuckled. 

I turned my cheek to him as he put his helmet back on as two Shadow Knights marched into the room It was the duo I first woke up to. Great.

"Corro," The crimson eyed man growled, "get her bound and ready for transport. Lord Zane is here. It's time."

Corro simply nodded in response.

"You know he doesn't like to wait." Zenix chuckled,  "He's worse than Gene, here."

"Hopefully we won't have to erase her memories either." Gene grumbled.

My heart rate picked up as the duo left the room. I slammed my fist against the scalding bars in frustration. The burning feeling was numbing.

Corro rested his hand on the blood red hilt of his sword, "Don't make this harder than it needs to be." He looked over his shoulder as he unlocked the cell. 

He stepped inside.

"Put your hands forward." He sighed. 

I did what I was told, regrettably, my wrists being shackled with steel cuffs. Corro clicked them, yet never locked them.

“So I get to meet the False King...again.” I grumbled.

“Hm? Again?” Corro peered down at me as he nudged me out of the cell.

“It doesn’t matter. I suppose the roles will be reversed this time.” I laughed quietly to myself.

Corro hummed we walked down a red brick path. I looked about to see a surprisingly small population of Shadow Knights. 

Corro’s humming broke out into whistling.

It was dull and annoying.

It was oddly familiar.

“Where did you learn that song?” I mumbled, musing over the possible origin of the tune.

“Hm? Oh! It’s just some random tune.” Corro laughed quietly, before pushing me forward resuming his tough guy demeanor, “Doesn’t matter. Keep moving.”

Soon I found myself entering a large room through double doors. On a marble and obsidian throne sat the Lord Zane. He looked bored as his gaze fell on me.

Corro forced me to my knees as Zenix walked over, his smug expression bearing down on me.

“So. What Village are you from? Seeing as obviously you aren’t local to Phoenix Drop, you must originate from somewhere.” Zane hummed.

I spat at the ground in front of the throne. Zenix grabbed my chin, nearly lifting me by it before Zane called him off.

“Let her speak before she loses her tongue.” Zane leaned forward. He seemed intrigued by my very existence. It made me sick.

“I killed you before…” I hissed, “I’ll kill you again!”

“See but this time you won’t live to tell the tale, little Rebel Songbird.” A chillingly calm, mechanical voice spoke up. 

My blood grew icy cold. I recognized that voice.

That voice. How-

I gasped, doubling over as a mass deep in my bad shoulder burned painfully.

Wraith hummed, walking in front of me, his rifle bouncing on his back as it hung by it’s sling. His armor was covered in an old, ragged coyote brown cloak.

“Lord Zane.” Wraith addressed the Lord, “I will gladly dispose of this undesirable filth.”

Zane sighed, thinking for a moment.

“Or, “Gene spoke up, “We could turn her against the people of Phoenix Drop.”

A sudden shout of pain was heard as a figure blurred past me, colliding with Wraith. Corro held Wraith to the wall of the throne room, his once blood red sword now a gilded scimitar, digging into Wraith’s shoulder.

Corro had a single raven wing, now, his white hair still tied back. A shadowy crest of feathers were raised in anger on his head, his ears flattened as he growled. His white scaled tail swished in anger, the black fan of feathers at the end shimmering in the glowstone’s light.

I took my chance as the respective chaos ensued. I booked it out of the room, realizing the shackles were never locked. I found Corro sprinting next to me.

“This way!” He shouted, directing me down a skinny, netherrack path overlooking a pool of lava.

Wraith took aim, yet by the time he got a good sight line we were out of range. He lowered his rifle with an irritated robotic sigh.

Corro led me to an obsidian ring, a purple bubbling miasma flowing from it.

“Are you sure?” I look at him.

Sound effects from the same place, Freesound.org

Yeah. I found myself unable to listen to chapter 2′s original without flinching so...yeah.

“Alone”

Laurence jolted awake to Lumi shaking him.

“Lauru! Lauru! Wake up!” Lumi shouted at him in a panic.

“What? What’s going on Lumi?” Laurence looked around, still waking up, “Where’s Artemis?”

“I-I dunno, but there’s blood downstairs!” Lumi was in a panic, nearly crying, “I’m sorry I snuck out last night! I wanted to see the stars, but I looked all over the place for Arty but I can’t find her! What if she is hurt- or lost- or-”

“Lumi, shhh. It’s okay, we’ll find her.” Laurance got up, adjusting his shirt. His pale blue eyes looked around the room. Artemis was, indeed, not in the room. His gaze fell on the open window. A scrap of crimson fabric fluttered about, yet was pinned in place by a stray nail.

His expression paled.

“No...” Laurence had the wind knocked out of him, “Not the Shadow Knights…”

“They’re not gonna take her memory too are they?...” Lumi whimpered.

He held Lumi close to him, as he sat on the bed, trying to calm the little wingless Daeconic girl.

I jolted awake as my lungs filled with smoke. I struggled to breathe as the air felt like fire itself. The sheer heat crackled against my skin. The ground itself felt like it was burning. It threatened to crumble under my weight, yet held as firm as stone. My clothes were different, as I was in a red tunic and black pants.

My choking was interrupted by the clanking of something on metal bars. I looked up, pleadingly, only to see another crimson armored figure crouching in front of me. Steaming steel bars kept us apart. His brown eyes twinkled curiosity coupled with malicious crimson tint. He grinned from under his short burnt umber hair. 

“Are you sure that she’s a Daeconic?” The brown eyed man looked over outside the room to a figure leaning in the doorway.

“I told you, Zenix,” The crimson eyed man sighed, “She has to be using some sort of Illusion magick. Daeconics are known for their keen abilities with magick.”

This must be the Nether place that Laurence told me about. I coughed, struggling to breathe with the awful smell of sulfur and the crippling heat.

“I mean it makes sense that she wouldn’t be able to breathe,” The brown eyed man, Zenix, sighed, standing up, “They did originate in a village in the middle of the ocean.”

I went to grip the bars of the cell to pull myself up, only to scream in pain, letting go, as it burnt my hand.

The two men laughed at me as I curled up on the maroon pumice floor.

“We’ll leave her to dry out. Hopefully by the time Lord Zane comes to check on us, the Illusion will wear off.” The crimson eyed man left with Zenix.

Another armored soldier walked in, leaning against the wall. A watch guard, presumably. He crossed his arms after watching the two other men leave. 

Looking at him, I saw he was lanky but not entirely a beanpole. He had gray eyes and a tired look about him as he watched out the doorway. A lock of white hair hung in his face.

“What’s...your name…?” I gagged on the air. I needed to keep my mind off my situation, otherwise I don’t think I’d be conscious much longer due to hyperventilation. I needed to stay calm.

The watcher ignored me, continuing to watch outside the room. His gray eyes flicked to and fro. Was he watching something important?

“Shouldn’t you...be doing your job?” I exhaled, continuing to attempt to push myself up.

He snapped his gaze at me, a glare in his eyes, “Oh? What do you know about my job, freak?”

“Freak?” I echoed, laughing a bit to myself, “I’m just another human. There’s no Daeconics in Phoenix Drop.”

He rolled his eyes, “That’s against what our sources say.”

“Perhaps your sources are wrong.” I returned the glare, sitting myself up against the back wall of my cell.

There was a length of silence. Maybe I had struck a nerve? Good. These people were monsters, after all.

Hopefully I wouldn’t become a monster, myself. I coughed, feeling the cursed air poisoning my lungs with its foul taste.

“My name’s Corro.” The man sighed, pushing the stray lock of pale hair back under his helmet. It was funny. He kept his hair tied back just like Nell. 

My eyelids grew heavy.

I missed him. 

I closed my eyes, resting them.