open event starter
location: winterfest - Cafe Lalo Decadent Hot Chocolate and Coffee Station
“It’s been so long since I’ve had it!” And Nate sounded genuinely excited as he took a sip out of his cup. He was already freezing, having had just come out of the ice skating competition, and so far, he was really having fun. After all, so far, this had to be the best Christmas he’s had since he had moved to NYC eight years ago, and he was going to make it out. “Have you tried it already?” He turned to the person next to him, his enthusiam not going away. “I might be biased, but it’s worth every penny!”
The ice skating competition had been fun to watch. She’d skated a lot as a girl and she’d tried to get Bridget into it when she was younger but her daughter hadn’t cared for it. Thinking, both Bridget and Bennett hadn’t wanted to sit and watch the competition like she had, so she’d let them run off with their little friends. She frowned a little now, glancing around as she realised she didn’t know where the twins had gotten off too.
Kathryn pulled her phone from her pocket - calling first Bridget and then Bennett. Neither answered and it was all she could do not to roll her eyes. It annoyed her that she’d now have to look for them through this Christmas crowd. She needed something...but in lieu of privacy, a drink would do. Then she’d go searching for her twins.
She passed the Brooklyn Brewery stall and contemplated for a moment but then moved on. As much as she’d like alcohol at the moment, she’d always found it uncouth to drink in public. Instead she stopped at Café Lalo’s hot chocolate and coffee station. It took a moment but eventually the drink was in her hand. She was just swiping a dob of whipped cream from the top of the drink when she bumped into someone.
Already annoyed by having to look for her children, she uncharacteristically snapped at the person. “You should watch where you’re going!”
The blonde stood in front of the One Ball game stand as a couple of kids before her left with a defeated look when they couldn’t knock down the three milk cans even after five consecutive tries. Paying for three strikes, she waited for the carny to set up the cans once again and tossed her first soft ball at them and missed. The second time, Caroline managed to knock down two of the three cans. Frustrated, she tossed the third ball with more force than she ought to have only to have the ball strike down all the three cans and fly through the back of the stand leaving a huge hole behind in the wood. Slapping both of her hands over her mouth immediately, “I’m really really sorry... I didn’t mean for that happen--” The vampire turned around with a sheepish look when she heard laughter from behind her.
Anaki stepped out of her room, ready to head to the cafeteria for lunch. She hoped she would run into some of her friends at this time, since a great deal of them seemed to eat right around now.
She had been doing a lot better at this school now. Her homesickness had started to wane, she had begun to let her guard down ever so slightly. She had friends, she had people she could trust. She turned down the hall, her gaze drifting around the now familiar walls of the school. She had been so absorbed in her surprisingly optimistic thoughts that she didn't even notice the presence that seemed to loom behind her until it was too late.
The halls were empty at this time, everyone was either at lunch or in class, it seemed. So how the footsteps managed to remain hidden from Anaki's hearing was a mystery. Without any warning, a pair of hands grabbed the startled teenager and threw her against the wall, hard.
What just happened...? Who...? How...? What...? She was dazed for a minute, as her head had crashed against a locker rather hard. In that time, the attacker quickly climbed over her and pinned her arms behind her, securing her wrists with two zip ties. She instantly surged with adrenaline, kicking at the attacker and struggling to free her arms. She turned around with wide eyes, facing the visage of someone that she hoped she would never see again. His greasy black hair fell to his shoulders, his narrow, dark eyes stared at her longingly. Hibiki.
Then, he finally spoke in a manic tone. Anaki looked up at him in terror, as he had a grin void of any sanity aimed straight at her. "Hiroko...I found you Hiroko. Now I can finally touch you, I can hold you..." he panted, looming over her menacingly. "I'm not going away this time, Hiroko-chan. I love you. I'm not going to let anything keep us apart anymore."
"Why you--!" She hissed, but he instantly clapped his hand over Anaki's mouth to silence her.
"Shhh, you don't need to speak. I know everything about you, Hiroko. I love you. You won't leave me this time. I need you. You can never turn down someone in need. I will show you how good I can be to you. I will prove to you that you need me as much as I know you do." He panted, his hot breath rushing down the back of her neck. Anaki snarled and bit his hand as hard as she could, the taste of his disgusting blood entering her mouth. He barely flinched. Instead, his smile just grew wider. He seemed to be enjoying the pain. "Yes, Hiroko. I've waited for this moment. Where I can hold you, be close to you forever." He pulled out duct tape and made quick work of wrapping it around her head to cover her mouth. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't get free. He looped his arms under hers and lifted her up without much effort, pulling her to her feet and holding her close. He was not going to let go, not without a fight.
This was...no. He wasn't just obsessed with seeing her now. He didn't just think they were best friends. He had reached the point of pure obsession. He wanted to own her, he wanted to make sure he could have her and that no one else could keep them apart. He wanted to take her away. Anaki was too terrified to even speak. She kicked at him wildly, but as her heel made contact with his knee, she found that he had prepared for such an encounter; he had wrapped his legs in padding. He was very serious about succeeding in his sick mission. She continued to struggle wildly, thrashing her shoulders side to side in an attempt to loosen his grip. But it seemed that the terror that gripped her was no match for the sheer iron hold that the stalker had around her.
She couldn't get away. She couldn't make much more noise than muffled screams from the duct tape that covered her mouth. There was no way this could go unnoticed...right?
Unlike all the previous days, on the 27th of October, the dawn greeted the town of Bannerstone and all the participants of the Harrowing festivities in silent commemoration of the fallen - whether during peace or war, a close one or a stranger, everyone is invited to to send their silent respects to those that have passed.
At the edges of graveyards, small stands with candles, flowers and various other things were gracefully offered for free - though there were also open baskets and donation boxes for those who wanted to commemorate this day on a more positive light, with charities for all kinds of causes - orphanages, nursing homes and educational programes meant to raise awareness about violence and to keep the peace amongst the younger generations...
And most importantly, the significance of a moment of silence, for all those who passed.
