Monsterhearts:We're Just Beginning

Wednesday August 20th, 6:20 AM
Unknown Location
**Illiadius**: **Rolling for Liam to** **Gaze into the Abyss** **4 + 3** **+2 Dark** **is 9. Choosing to have the visions be lucid, but gain the condition** ***Drained*** **Marking Experience**

**A strange dream-like vision appears before Liam. A great stone hall, ornate but grey, carved into a large cave. The only color is a green moss that grows over the floor in large patches and along the carved stone, small crystal patches grow from it, and glow brightly, casting a pale blue light over the cold interior. At the far back of the cave is a massive stone sarcophagus, standing at least thirty feet tall, that is carved directly into the stone of the cavern. Seven chains, each seemingly made from what looks to be red-hot smouldering iron, criss-cross over the sachophogus's lid and are anchored into the back of the cavern.**

**Avarada**: **He walks into view, seemingly passing by Liam as he does, making his way towards the back of the cave. He appears small, hunched, and heavily robed. He looks like Liam, or maybe Shane, the smoking blackness that ripples around his head causes his features to shift between them, but also seem to hide bird-like features, such as a large beak and feathers. He hobbles through the cavern, nearing the back of it.** *I have brought to you the first soul.* **He pulls a bright white light from within his tattered robes and holds it out, as he does Adam's visage flickers through it every few seconds, a different emotion on it each time.**

**???**: **There's a great tremor as something within the . Dust and small rocks fall from the cieling of the cave. A layer of white clay, which rests within a small circular bowl at the center of the sarcophogus, shifts and floats away, forming into a simple white mask. A feminine voice roars out from the mask's lips, loud and powerful, resonating through the large cavern, and as it speaks the mouth on the mask moves.** A HALF-BREED? **The mask's face shifts to anger.**

**Avarada**: **Despite the defening voice he doesn't seem to wince or even react. His voice responds, dripping with apathy.** *Our agreement requried you only six mortal souls. No where was it said between us that they been a specific mortal.* **He holds out his hand and the white soul floats forwards until it takes the vague shape of Adam.**

**???**: **The mask shifts, squinting its empty eyes at the tall glowing white man before it. It decends until is hovers face-to-face with him.** I FIND YOUR CERTITUDE OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF *MY* DEAL OFFENSIVE. **The mask shifts, opening its mouth as if to scream, and Adam's ethreal form is pulled forwards through it, forming into a beam that strikes one of the chains like a welding torchthat slowly cuts through one of the chain's links. After a long moment, the beam seems to flicker and begin to weaken as it fades. Just as it vanishes the link cracks apart, and the chain falls heavily to the floor, where it cools and breaks into dust. The mask forms into an aggrivated glare and turns to look at the small hunched demon, then shifts to gain sharp and malefic features as rutementary horns grow from its forehead.** SIX MORE SOULS. SHOULD YOU WISH FOR YOUR POWER RETURNED, YOU WILL ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT WEAK HALF-BREEDS.

**Avarada**: **He takes a few steps back.** *As you desire, so shall I do...*

**Suddenly Liam is awoken by a loud slam on his bedroom door.**

**Otis**: Get your ass out of bed and get ready for school! **He slams his fist on the door again.**

**Liam**: **He groans, and then gets out of bed quickly, thinking about the strange dream as he hobbles towards his closet for some clothes, as he moves he makes sure he doesn't step on any stray pieces of glass that he might've missed last night. He opens his closet and pulls out some clothes.**

**As Liam opens the closet his "new" clothes fall off of their hangers, landing on the floor as puffs of dust flow upwards from them. The clothes look like they're decades old and have been locked away in some dusty closet for just as long.**

**Liam**: **He frowns, turning and looking at the small pile of his old folded clothes in the corner of his closet, he grabs some jeans with the knees ripped out of them and an old faded grey shirt that just says "Football" on it, in worn away white text. He reaches back and grabs them before looking towards his bedroom door with hesitation. He slowly moves to it and opens it to go to the bathroom.**

**Otis**: **He's standing in the kitchen, putting on a dark blue button up shirt, it has a tow truck logo on the back with "Reily's Towing" written under it. His hair is combed back and kind of greasy looking. He turns and looks at Liam, clearly angry.** You remember what I said last night. You go to school, and then you come straight home. You go out all night again, and you *stay* out. You got it? This coming home at midnight shit stops. *Now*.

**Liam**: **He nods slowly.**

**Otis**: And when I tell you do to something, you *do it*, and you do it *when I tell you*! **He grabs his keys and then walks over to the door and takes a blue hat from coat hanger.** When you come home today you're pulling all the weeds outside until it gets dark, and you're going to to that every day until this yard is weed-free.

**Liam**: **He lets out a quiet groan of irritation.**

**Otis**: **He opens the door.** And if I hear another one of those little sighs I'm gonna beat the shit out of you. You're lucky I don't toss your ass out to the road. **He walks out and slams the door behind him. After a moment Liam hears his tow truck start up and then drive out.**

***Later, in homeroom...***

**It's nearly the end of homeroom, only a few more minutes left before it lets out for first period.**

**Chris**: **He's sitting near Liam, but hasn't looked at him or paid him any attention at all since homeroom started.**

**Liam**: **He's quietly sitting at his desk, his whole day is already miserable. His dad piling onto the already horrible current events has pushed him to near-despair. Chris's continued abhorrence for him only makes it worse. He quickly feels like an outsider and a loner with no friends again.**

**Mr. Hammer**: **He sets a packet of work on Chris's desk.** Here's all the assignments you missed for my English class. Normally I don't give out work late, but you seem to have been in a genuinely dangerous situation while absent.

**Chris**: **He looks from the packet of papers to Mr. Hammer.** ...Thanks...

**Mr. Hammer**: I expect the work to be turned in by the end of tomorrow's school day. Also. **He puts a light blue slip of paper on Chris's desk.** Principal Foxx wants to speak with you, you can go to see her now. **He walks away towards his desk at the front of the class.**

**Chris**: **He looks at the referral and sighs slightly, knowing that it's probably nothing good. He stands up and grabs the packet of make-up work, heading out of the room. He makes a conscious point to not look at Liam. He's still furious about all of the trouble he's caused.**

**Liam**: **He watches Chris leave and looks down at his desk. He lets out a quiet sigh.**

**The bell rings suddenly, and everyone scrambles to pick up their stuff and get out of class.**

**Liam**: **He grabs his pack and stands up, heading for the door and out into the hall.**

**Dustin**: **He pushes passed Liam, nearly pushing him into a wall. He turns and looks at Liam as he walks backwards.** Nice clothes fuck-nugget! **He smirks. One of the skater kids that attacked them at the arcade last week is walking with him. They both laugh as they turn and head out.** He's so fuckin poor I'm surprised he can even afford public school. **The both laugh as they walk out into the quad.**

**Liam**: **He slouches his shoulders and slowly walks down the hall in dejected silence.**

**Someone suddenly grabs Liam, pulling him away and dragging him into the boy's bathroom with one strong motion. Before he can see who it is, or realize what's even happening, he's pushed into the large handicap stall.**

**Coty**: **He walks into the stall after him, shutting the door and locking it.** So you've had a nice *long* night to dream about my *offer*... **He smirks and seems to look Liam up and down before pulling his homework out of his backpack.** So here's Hammer's homework... I need it by 3rd period. **He holds it out to Liam.** Then we can *play*. **He doesn't seem to care if there's anyone else in the bathroom that can hear him.**

**Liam**: **He gulps, hesitating, looking at the papers and then looking at Coty, unsure of how he's going to handle this.** ...Uhmm...

**Coty**: **He raises and eyebrow.** ...Don't tell me that you need *more* convincing. **He takes a long step towards Liam, closing the gap between them.** I'm surprised... **He moves in close, wrapping his arm around Liam's waist, sliding his fingers firmly up the base of his spine. He moves his mouth close to Liam's lips and whispers warm soft air onto them.** You know I can be soft... Sensual... A *long slow burn* if that's what you *need*... Nice and *firm*... **He looks deep into Liam's eyes.** I can wrap myself around you real *tight*... **There's a softness to his clear blue eyes as he stares into Liam's.** I can see how *tense* you are... Maybe you just need me to hold you *close*... **Coty's strong arm wraps around Liam's back and holds him against him as Coty moves his head to the side, his warm breath rolling across Liam's neck.** I can make you feel nice and snug... If that's what you want...

**Liam**: **He lets out a quivering breath, and silently realizes that he really needs something like this The thought fades, and the moment is corrupt as he remembers Shane and everything that happened last night.**

**Coty**: **He whispers into Liam's ear.** Just say the word, and I'll be *anything* you *want* me to...

**Liam**: **He stammers over his words.** ...I... **He shakes his head slightly and suddenly catches his nerve a little, but he doesn't know how to refuse Coty. He doesn't need another enemy right now.** I'll... Have it done by third...

**Coty**: **He smiles and suddenly reaches up behind Liam's left shoulder. He pulls the collar of his old t-shirt down and moves his head forwards, running his tongue down the nape of his neck and to his collar bone, he smacks his lips against the surface of Liam's skin, and then pulls away from Liam, a devious smirk on his face.** You know you don't taste half-bad... **He smiles and suddenly presses his homework against Liam's chest, hard enough to cause a hollow thump and push Liam back against the bathroom wall.** See you at lunch... **He turns and grabs his backpack, unlocking the stall and walking out.**

**Liam**: **He shudders, looking down at the homework. He frowns at how wrong this is, and not in a good way. Even if Shane was possessed, he still feels like he's cheating on him, lying to Coty somehow, and just being undeserving of this attention. He slides the homework into his backpack and walks out of the bathroom, opening and closing his left hand several times.**

***Meanwhile...***

**Chris is sitting in the waiting room, waiting to he called in to speak with the principal. This is where he was the first day of school, where he first saw both Liam and Odie. The receptionist is speaking with someone, a guy Chris's age, maybe a little younger, though it's hard to tell. He's wearing black leather motorcycle jacket that's zipped halfway up his chest and black jeans. His most striking feature however, is his bright cyan and blue hair.**

**Receptionist**: And your name? **She's scrolling through he computer.**

**Nemo**: Nemo Vidente. **He leans forward onto the desk.**

**Receptionist**: ...I... Don't see you in here... **She tilts her head for a moment.** Vidente? With a "V"?

**Nemo**: I'm in there. Just transferred today...

**Receptionist**: **She scrolls a bit more.** Oh yes, here you are. Vidente, Nemo. I'll print out your class schedule, it'll take a moment. You can take a seat if you want. **She stands up and walks into the small back room.**

**Nemo**: **He walks over an sits down near Chris. After a moment he looks over at him.** So what's the verdict on this school?

**Chris**: Huh? **He looks over at the blue-haired boy.**

**Nemo**: The verdict? **Nemo's eyes seem unnaturally lucid blue, almost cyan in color.** What's this school like?

**Chris**: Oh, it's... **He speaks a bit quieter so that the receptionist can't hear him.** Lots of bullies, up tight teachers, and drama...

**Nemo**: So it's like any other school. **He shrugs and looks away.**

**Chris**: ...Yeah. That's probably right... I've only been here a few days though.

**Nemo**: Oh, really? **He looks back over to Chris.** You're new too then.

**Chris**: Yeah I guess so...

**Receptionist**: **He walks back to her desk.** Here's your papers, Nemo. **She puts them on her desk.** And the principal will see you now Chris. **She sits back down.**

**Nemo**: **He gets up and walks over to the desk, grabbing his class schedule. He looks at Chris.** Maybe I'll see yo around.

**Chris**: Yeah... Maybe. **He doesn't want to seem mean, but at the same time he has a lot on his mind. He grabs his backpack and walks into the Principal's Office.**

**The Principal's office is fairly large, with a window that looks out the front of the school, but it's not particularly nice, being old and worn down like most of the school's interiors. The walls are covered in various plaques from schools and other such accomplishments, along with a lot of student and faculty pictures.**

**Principal Foxx**: **She looks up at Chris, a serious expression on her face. She has long blonde hair and brown eyes, and is wearing a simple white business blouse and a pair of brown winged glasses on. She appears to be in her mid to late thirties.** Christopher Courier, please take a seat. **She folds her hands over her desk.**

**Chris**: Just Chris, please. **He takes a seat in front of his, scratching his bandaged arm lightly, though it doesn't actually scratch the itch as he's wearing his green jacket over it.**

**Principal Foxx**: Very well, Chris, you likely know why you're here. **She pauses.** We're six days into the school year and you've already gotten into two fights with a student. While I want to give you the benefit of the doubt due to *who* you got into those fights with, your records from your old school clearly show that this is not a new problem... **She looks down at the papers on her desk and then back to him.**

**Chris**: I'm not gonna make excuses about the first time, but the second time I was defending a girl he attack. **He defiantly crosses his arms over his chest.**

**Principal Foxx**: ...Yes, very noble, but that doesn't change the fact that your track record here is very poor. Since you did the "right" thing, I'm willing to turn the other cheek, but you get in another fight and there *will* be consequences, understand?

**Chris**: **He nods slowly.** I understand.

**Principal Foxx**: Good. **She leans back in her chair looking more casual.** From what I'm to understand you were involved with the accident Odie was in. **She looks at Chris's arm.** I've heard that you and him were caught in a downed power line. How's he doing?

**Chris**: **He looks down.** He's in a coma.

**Principal Foxx**: Oh, that's terrible. **She sighs slightly.** I know his mother, perhaps I'll call her. **She shakes her head.** What a terrible thing to happen... If you need to speak with the councilor, Dr. Thredson, make an appointment with Laura, the receptionist.

**Chris**: ...Thanks, but I think I'll be ok. **He looks up at her.**

**Principal Foxx**: Well you may make your way to first period, Laura will fill out a late slip for you.

**Chris**: **He nods and stands up, walking out of her office.**

***Later, during lunch...***

**It's another cloudy day. The rain has finally stopped though, and it's become warmer, but not hot.**

**Liam**: **He grabs his lunch and looks around, unsure of where to sit as he doesn't think Chris wants to sit with him.**

**Chris**: **He walks up next to Liam suddenly.** Hey, my mother told me what's needed to help Shane. **He he looks to the lunch tables.** C'mon, I'll tell you about it. **He walks over to the table at the back of the quad, near the two dead trees.**

**Liam**: **He seems slightly happier that Chris is willing to talk with him now, waiting for a moment before quickly following after Chris. He sits down across from him.** So what do we need?

**Chris**: **He pulls out a list.** Seven candles, a stick of... You know what that doesn't matter, I can get that shit. **He unwraps his hamburger and looks at Liam.** We need *two* witches. You're one, right? That means we only need one more.

**Liam**: **He looks down at his chips, the only thing he could afford for lunch today.** ...I don't know Chris, I don't think I'm a witch...

**Chris**: My mother said you *were*, so you *are*. I doubt she'd made a mistake.

**Liam**: Aren't witches girls?

**Chris**: **He shrugs.** I don't know. **He takes a bite from his hamburger.**

**Liam**: I don't know any spells or anything, how am I supposed to be a witch?

**Chris**: **He interrupts the end of Liam's sentence.** Are you gonna fucking help or am I *seriously* going to need to find *two* witches to clean up *your* fucking mess *without* you? **He stares at Liam angrily.**

**Liam**: **He frowns slightly, his eyes still downcast.** ...Alright. What do I have to do?

**Chris**: I don't know, she won't tell me until I get everything she asked for. **He takes a big bite from his burger.** So since you're a witch, wouldn't that mean someone else in your family is one too?

**Liam**: **He rolls his eyes.** I... *Really* doubt it...

**Chris**: **He pauses, thinking.** I have no idea how witches work... Maybe I'll head over to Karen's after school... She seems to know a lot about this stuff. You should go to the public library after school, maybe they have some books on the occult or something.

**Liam**: I can't... I have to go straight home after school... My dad's pissed at me after what happened last night.

**Chris**: So? This is *life* or *death* Liam? Who cares if your parents... Ground you or something?

**Liam**: **He sighs and looks at Chris.** Not everyone has a trillion dollars to parade around with, and do whatever the fuck they want. If I don't do what my parents say they'll kick me out and I'll be living on the streets. **He grabs his chips and stands up.** So is that it? You just need me because I'm *apparently* a witch? That all?

**Chris**: **He narrows his eyes at Liam, seeing that he's clearly on edge.** Do you know the name of the demon?

**Liam**: **He thinks for a moment.** No. He never told me what his name was. **He looks away from Chris.**

**Chris**: That's apparently the most important part... **He shakes his head and goes back to eating.** Try to find it out. I'm sure he'll pop up again, like he did last night... **He sighs, the bumper of his car is all scratched up from the accident, and the airbags screwed up the dashboard, he had to have Agatha drive him today.**

**Liam**: **When he thinks back to last night, and then to this morning he remembers that strange dream he had with the demon in it.** ...I think there's something else... I think the demon is working for... Maybe with another... Demon? I had a dream about him, but I'm not sure if it was actually a dream, and he was speaking to this... Creepy mask... And it... Kinda... Ate Karen's brother's soul... **The dream rolls back into his memory.** I think... It said it needed... Six more souls... As part of some deal, something that would make the demon more powerful.

**Chris**: **He looks up from his food at Liam for a moment, then to the side, thinking for a moment before responding.** You're sure this wasn't just a dream? **He looks at Liam.**

**Liam**: Not entirely... But... It didn't feel like any dream I've had before... It was more like I was watching it happen.

**Chris**: ...Could've been the demon messing with you.

**Liam**: ...I don't see why he'd... Show me that though...

**Chris**: **He shrugs.**

**Liam**: I have to go give something to someone... I'll see you... Next class I guess... **He doesn't really wait for Chris to respond, instead walking off.**

**Chris**: **He looks back down and finishes off his hamburger, then opens his chips, not caring what Liam is walking off to do.**

**Nemo**: **He suddenly sets a a pizza box at the edge of the table.** Hey new kid, alright if I sit with you?

**Chris**: **He looks up at Nemo.** ...Uhh, yeah sure. **He takes a cheeto out of the bag and eats it.**

**Nemo**: Man that Biology class this morning, what's that guy's problem? **He sets his Dr. Pepper on the table and pops it open, taking a drink from it.**

**Chris**: Apparently he enjoys giving out mountains of work... I don't think my grade in his class is going to be very good.

**Lilith**: Oy! **She walks up to the small table. There's a few other girls with her that hang back.** So you really hang out with that -what's-his-name? Logan? **She looks in the direction Liam walked off in before looking back to Chris. Nemo looks at Lilith and raises an eyebrow at her before checking her out slyly.**

**Chris**: **He shrugs, looking up at Lilith.** What's it to you?

**Lilith**: Don't give a shit, 'spose I was just ask'n, mate. Wanted to thank you fer wot you did ta Blake, getting him expelled and such. Sorry 'bout giv'n you such a hard time before.

**Chris**: It's fine. **He seems unsure if she's being genuine or not.**

**Lilith**: Ya know lot'sa people look'n to get ya in the back, since Blake was their friend.

**Chris**: ...I'm caring less and less about school drama with every passing day... **He looks down and eats another chip.**

**Lilith**: That's the spirt, ay mate? Who gives a fuck 'bout them shitheads? **She looks at Nemo for a moment, then looks to Chris.** Shouldn't you be with the other blokes on the polo team?

**Chris**: **He raises an eyebrow at her.** I guess?

**Lilith**: **She smirks.** Yer a wierd'n, ya know that? **She shakes her head again and takes a few steps back, then looks at Nemo.** Kickass hair, mate.

**Nemo**: Just dyed it. **He looks up at her.**

**Lilith**: **She sees how his strange blue eyes catch the light.** Those contacts match your dye job?

**Nemo**: Not contacts. **He shrugs and pulls a chunk off of his pizza.**

**Lilith**: Huh... **She looks back to Chris.** Green and blue. You blokes look good together... Analogous colors and shit. **She nods, obviously just teasting them.** See'ya'round, Colonel Sanders. **She turns and walks off with the other two girls.**

**Chris**: **He watches her leave, idley wondering if he'd get the chance to hit that if he wanted. The thought vanishes quickly, as he'd rather just stick it out with Karen, since she a lot smarter and exciting than most girls. He looks down at his chips and eats another one.**

**Nemo**: **He looks back and watches her leave. She walks over to the tables with the jocks, Coty among them.** Looks like she's the hot stuff around here. Seemed to have the hots for you.

**Chris**: I think I'll pass... **He eats another cheeto, making sure not to get too much orange crap on his fingers.**

***Near the end of Lunch...***

**Liam**: **He's sitting on the ground against the building with Mr. Hammer's classroom in it. He's pulled open his chip bag and is flattening it while he waits for the lunch period to end.**

**Coty**: **He's suddenly standing over Liam.** Got my homework? **He raises an eyebrow, seeing Liam messing with his chip bag.**

**Liam**: **He jumps slightly and looks up at Coty.** What? Oh... Yeah. **He looks down, and the grabs his backpack, opening it.** It's not AP English so... It was pretty easy. **He pulls out Coty's papers and another piece of lined paper.** I wrote all the answers on this one... So you can just copy them over, that way Mr. Hammer doesn't recognize my hand writing...

**Coty**: **He grabs the papers and looks the answers over.** ...You know a job this good deserves a nice, *big*, reward. **He looks at Liam.** What do you think?

**Liam**: **He looks away from Coty.** ...I'll do your homework if you want, but... That's all.

**Coty**: **His expression immediately changes.** ...What the hell are you saying?

**Liam**: I'm saying that I'm... Not comfortable with what you're... Doing. **He nervously starts flicking the edges of the chip bag.**

**Coty**: You were pretty fucking *comfortable* yesterday. Seemed like you *enjoyed* it... *A lot*. And then again this morning. I could practically *feel* your anticipation, so don't try and act like you don't *want* what I'm offering.

**Liam**: It's... I just... I'll do your homework, just don't beat me up, alright? **He looks up at Coty.**

**Coty**: It's Shane, isn't it? He's still got you on a leash, parading you around and making you beg for scraps, like a *dog*. You know last night he said you two were goin steady, but I didn't believe him. **He takes a steps towards and bends down, grabbing Liam's chin roughly, forcing him to look into his eyes. To other students it would look more like he's picking on Liam, rather than trying to seduce him.** You can be my puppy dog if you want, I'll treat you a lot better than he ever could. **He narrows his eyes at Liam.** I'm gonna let this slide. Maybe you're *conflicted* about this, think I'll think *less* of you if you cheat on him.

**Liam**: **He gulps and clears his throat, looking up at Coty, after a moment he realizes something.** Wait -You talked to Shane yesterday? After school -Last night?

**Coty**: **He sighs quietly and pulls his hand from Liam's chin.** He lives with me, what do you think?

**Liam**: **He looks down, thinking for a moment.** ...We're not going out... Or anything. I don't know why Shane told you that... It just got complicated... **He gulps slightly.** ...Between me and him... He's not acting like himself.

**Coty**: **His disposition changes to a sly smirk.** Yeah, he seemed a lot more contentious than normal. Guess that's because you turned him down huh?

**Liam**: **He looks down.** ...Something like that.

**Coty**: ...So what's the *problem*? I want some of you... You want every *numerous* inch of me...

**Liam**: **He's still looking down.** ...I... Don't know...

**Coty**: **He shakes his head and then rolls his eyes.** We both *know* what you want... It's time to stop being so fuckin *passive*, and make a move... **He takes a few steps back.** Seeya tomorrow. **He turns and walks away towards the quad.**

***Later, in the locker room before Swim Class...***

**Liam**: **He walks up next to Chris and speaks quietly.** I'm gonna help you. We're working *together* to save Shane, stop acting like a total ass about it.

**Chris**: **He takes off his shirt.** Alright, let's get this over with. **He shoves his shirt and jacket into his locker and looks over at Liam.** I don't fucking trust you. I'm not *going* to trust you, at *least* not until this demon is done with. Karen said we'll need to man up and get this done, I've manned up and decided *not* to beat the shit out of you for all the creepy shit you've done. **He turns and shoves his jacket into his locker, even though he isn't swimming he figures he can at least sit at the edge of the pool or something, so he's getting changed.**

**Liam**: What else did you need? You said you needed other shit to stop the demon.

**Chris**: I'll tell you after class. I have it written down. **He looks at Liam.** We done here? **He wants to finish undressing.**

**Shane**: *Oh I think we're just beginning.* **He smiles, as Liam and Chris look to him, his eyes glimmer gold.**