Numbness

[Tatyana]

Continued from here

Tatyana didn’t wander too long after leaving Hayden’s bar. Her head still ached from hangover and the sounds of the city were enough to make her want to find solitude. Her note to Hayden said she would think about what he said. That’s what she did as she walked besides seeking water. 

Arriving back at the church, she found they were serving a midday meal. She grabbed some water and food before finding a place she could at least attempt to be alone.  She didn’t really want to talk to anyone. There were enough people here that would be difficult, but most understood that some didn’t want to be bothered. 

Tatyana pulled out her pillbox and took one after eating her meal. She’d allowed the pain to linger after she left the church, but it was growing more. Hayden’s words were still in her head. “You want to feel numb. If you were happy, you’d want to feel it.” Tatyana knew she wasn’t a happy person, but hearing someone else say it was a little jarring. She wasn’t sure it would ever change though. The one light in her life was gone. Knowing the pain was there kept it from becoming real, even if she dulled the pain through medication. Besides - she would honor her father in the ring. 

Tatyana sat in a corner, resting her head against the wall and closing her eyes. She thought about what Hayden had said. Kallisti could help her unlock her magic, but it would tie her to them. He had emphasized there would be no cost, but they would check on her. This Nox in particular would. She belonged to Zeke, and she didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. She didn’t think they would understand that. Still - the power would be useful. As for this organization- Second Chances - well Zeke was giving her a second chance. So Tatyana focused on Kallisti, weighing her options. Soon enough she’d have to decide whether or not to go.

[Tatyana]

Continued from Here

Tatyana arrived back at the camp. She sat in her spot, this time not really trying to hide, but not really interacting with anyone unless they spoke to her. Most didn’t. That was fine with her. Her high had worn off. The withdrawals wouldn’t set in for awhile. The pain was there, dimmer than it had been earlier. Right now, her body wasn’t screaming for its fix. It was easier to not focus on the pain. 

Nox was on her mind. Not because she liked him or anything, but because even though her first thought was that he reminded her of Konstantin, he had been extremely different. She hated how easily she had wanted to be drawn in. She had resisted, but part of her hadn’t wanted to. In some ways her fear of Nox had been mistaken. In this way, it had been true. 

She still didn’t understand it - how there was nothing expected of anyone for his help. He was some sort of white knight it seemed. She didn’t understand why anyone would be that way. She dismissed him from her mind. For now she could leave it alone she wouldn’t have to deal with it for a couple of days. She also could just not go, and then she wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. 

Tatyana pulled the ring out of her pocket and looked at it. It was clean. Even if she didn’t wear it, she did take care of it. It was the only possession she had that she really cared about. She turned the ring around in her fingers, looking at it from every angle, before sighing and closing her hand around it. 

She leaned back against the wall. Something and had said had come back. “Life is better when you have people to share it with.” She didn’t think it was true. At one time it had been, but now it wasn’t anymore, but as she looked around she saw people talking and children playing. Most of the people here lost everything, but some of them were moving on. Was that weakness or strength. Tatyana didn’t know, but her entire worldview was being questioned. She hated that.

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Madison rushed around the church like it was a race track Kenzie chased her. They ducked under pews and benches, slide across the floor and jumped over debris and people lying on the floor. No one bothered them. They had no parents. No one cared about them anymore. There were a few that checked in, Nox did everyday. He'd been there an hour earlier on his rounds. Said high, replaced their speaker with a fresh one and then was off with a promise they'd show up at the club for a lesson or three. Though Kenzie just grit her teeth through it all. She had no plans on going there. Madison was sad, but she stuck with her sister always.

They'd spoken to the woman before, she sat in the same spot, her things were like everyone else's sparse. She had a little ring sitting on the palm of her hand. Madison grinned and woven her path towards her. Best way to make people see them was to be a pest. Madison was good at that. Kenzie was better, but she it for now.

Madison ran past and scooped the ring up in her fingers. She didn't hear the shouts behind her as she darted off into the depths of the church and crouched through a crack that lead into the tunnels. Kenzie followed her though she wasn't sure what her sister was doing.

[Tatyana]

Tatyana eventually opened her hand again to look at the ring. She thought of her father then, she even let herself feel the pain more. She was briefly distracted by the twin girls who were running around and causing mayhem jumping over pews and people alike. Tatyana turned back to her ring.

The mayhem got closer and suddenly the ring was taking from her hand. ”Son of a…” she said, turning to catch the thief - one of the twins. They had talked to her before. What were their names again. Her hand brushed against the fabric of one of their shirts and for once, she was glad she wasn’t high. She wouldn’t have reacted this quickly if she was.

Tatyana worked her way to her feet. ”Hey! Bring that back!” she said, beginning to give chase. They had a lead on her. She followed the girls through the church, heading lower into the church. She saw a leg going through a crack leading into - where.

Well shit! she thought. Then shrugged and followed. They were smaller than her, so got through easier, but she was able to make her way though. She followed the sounds of the girls. She wanted her ring back!

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Madison ran towards the old camp. Nox had built stone rooms for people to use, with heating and privacy. There was still little comfort but it was a nice place to get away. Kenzie would find her sitting in their little shared cubby cut into the rock. She hid under the bench while she waited for Kenzie to lead her this way. The ring was shiney and Madison clutched it in her hand and peered at it in the fire light.

Kenzie didn't shout her name, she only found her own place to hide in another part of the partitioned cavern. It looked like a maze and it kinda was one if you didn't know where you were going, though it was laid out in a grid so not really a maze but you didn' tknow that from the initial look at it.

[Tatyana]

Tatyana found herself in a cavern. Man made structure filled it, creating what seemed to look like a maze. It wasn’t likely unless the person who made it liked to torture people. There had to be some kind of pattern. She moved slowly, listen for sounds as she moved through it. The only light natural fire light. It gave the place an eerie yet comforting presence. It was odd.

Tatyana was thinking clearly and the exercise had eased her anger. She was still frustrated, but they were kids. She doubted they were being malicious. As she thought about it l, it felt more like a game. Were the twins playing? Had she been brought unknowingly into a game. She was irritated about her ring, but despite that, she felt the first real smile lightly touch her lips as she began to search, feeling a little bit like a kid again.

”Ready or not, here I come,” she finally said, dismissing all the anger and irritation from her voice as she began to search through the cubbies in the cavern.

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Kenzie hid in a crevice that was in a corner. It wasn't her favorite corner, usually Maddi hid here, but not today today she took refuge under their palette. The nook was a tight fit as they both grew. Their hidey holes were becoming tougher to fid.

The woman called out the classic game and Maddi giggled softly from her spot.

[Tatyana]

It was an odd feeling and one Tatyana hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe what Nox and Hayden were saying was right. Maybe life was better with other people to enjoy it with. She could be selective, but this little game was cheering her up quite a bit.

One of the girls giggled and it echoed a little in the cavernous area. Tatyana had never been here before, but she now had an idea of where the girls were hiding. She moved slowly. ”I wonder where they went?” She said with a smirk on her face.

She entered one of the partitioned areas. Tatyana was sure they were in here. She looked around. A pallet on the floor would make for a good hiding spot and there was a crevice in the corner. Both probably good hiding places for the girls. She decided to try the pallet first. She crouched down and looked to find one of the girls. ”Found you!” she said with a warm smile.

[Legione Sumus]

Madison & Mackenzie

Madison giggled. "Hi." She handed the ring back to its owner. "Sorry. You looked like you could use some fun."

She crawled out from under the pallet and sat on it. "We stay here sometimes. It's warm and dry and safe." She leaned in to whisper so Kenzie didn't hear. "Nox sometimes leaves uf food and he charges a speaker so we can always have music." Madison pulled her speaker out and pressed the power button and it sang out with one of her favorite songs.

Kenzie came out of her hiding spole. "Maddi we don't need to tell everyone that."

[Tatyana]

Tatyana took her ring back with a smile and placed it in her pocket. ”Thank you,” she said as she took a seat against a wall where she could see both the girls.

”I think you’re right. That was fun,” she said, surprised that she was serious. She had needed this.

Maddi mentioned his name: Nox. So these girls knew him and he brought them food and entertainment. There was a story there, but Tatyana wasn’t ready to bring that up yet. Now she just wanted to talk. She felt a kinship to these girls - perhaps simply because they had made her play.

”What is this place?” she asked looking around. They stayed here sometimes. Why? It was warm and out of the way. That would be nice. Maybe she could stay here sometimes too.

Tatyana turned her head to the girl who had returned her ring. ”Your name is Maddi,” she asked. The other girl had said it. Tatyana turned to her. ”What is your name? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but my name is Tatyana.” this one seemed to be a little more skittish.