Chapter 11: The Shadow in Our Caves

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

"My schedule next week is open?" Keitoleinen replies to Linnea. He wonders why no one has sought any meetings with him. Maybe Linnea hasn't been doing her job. She has missed quite a lot of work. He frowns and leaves the airport, driving toward his office in Helsinki. "Well Linnea, do you have any insight on this. Usually my schedule is quite busy. Anyway, you seem nervous. Is something the matter, cream puff?" He asks with a smirk.

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

For over a month now, Malak remained in the custody of the Manalists. They had interogated him trying to find out information about the rebel movement, most importantly, the rebel newspaper, which somehow remained in production even after his capture. He was able to resist torture and tried to remain in good spirits, however, things were wearing on him. He missed his friends and thought particularly about Tuesday. He wondered if she had forgotten all about him now or even if she was safe. He wondered if she too was in a Manalist prison.

He leans against the wall of his cell and someone enters the room. It is another red robed priest. The hoods always hide the faces. These red robed agents of Manalism come and go annonymously. He isn't sure how many there are or if it is the same one each day.

"Because we have failed to gather any information from you, you will be visiting a friend of ours instead. He is always able to do what we can not." The robed man informs Malak. Malak only pays half attention.

[Lucio De Saldanha]

Like Malak, Lucio has also been in Manalist custody for some time now. The situation has taken a toll on his mental health. He was never that sane to begin with, but now he has taken to talking to himself and living in a complete fantasy world. He has also given no useful information to the Manalists, who are ready to just kill him because of the disruption that he causes.

"It is already late July and no one bothered to storm the Bastille. Maybe they forgot, or maybe it is next July. I don't really remember now." Lucio says to himself. He walks in a small circle, with marked agitation.

"There's this play I once saw, it has Tristan Tzara and Lenin in it. Does any one remember? It was in Austria I think, and they had this apartment. and nobody got along. I think that would be pretty funny. Art is senseless and politics is all we should really be thinking about all of the time. And we shouldn't go ice skating with the other boys. There's just no time for that."

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari travels to Cuba to cut the ribbon on the new Allmart there. Really it was a remodelled government building, which in an earlier time had actually been the vast mansion of a plantation owner. It was expanded and remodelled, so it looks very different, and far less historical.

"It always brings joy to my heart when another Allmart opens in the world. Never in the world's history has there been such a powerful retailer! And to think it all started with a dream from my poor great grandfather!" Dinari says joyfully in front of a small crowd of future Allmart employees.

Elsewhere in the city, some new hotels and a casino will open.

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

To Dr. Lonrott

Malak is put into a van and spends the next several hours being transported somewhere. He is tired and sleeps most of the way. He tries not to worry about what lies ahead for him. He has already been through so much that he hardly cares any more anyway. He wishes that the Manalists would just kill him, but that would be too simple. He spends the drive dozing and is awoken in an unfamiliar place. Beyond some gates and a well kept lawn there is a large white building which looks like a nursing home. It is on a slight hill and has a certain tranquility about it.

For a moment he even feels relaxed. This doesn't look like a temple or a prison.

He is brought out of the van and lead inside of this building, which he soon discovers is some sort of mental hospital. He wasn't even aware that these things existed any more. This world cares nothing for mental health services.

And so, he is brought to another room, this one less secure than a prison cell. He is told to wait there and that a Dr. Lonrott would see him shortly.

He wasn't sure who Dr. Lonrott was but was not afraid at the moment.

While waiting in the empty, white room, the Manalist driver and a priest informed Dr. Lonrot of the visitor and that his mision was to extract information from the prisoner using psychological methods.

Malak simply waited...

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

To anyone in the Enlightened Brotherhood

Bonifaz heads to a small apartment building. This place is thought to be a hang out spot for members of the Enlightened Brotherhood, a group of useless hippies to him. They are just a bunch of drug using pacifists and spiritualists. They are vegetarians and idealists. The idea of meeting them makes him cringe. These people are idealistic wimps to him. They are useless. But, his company needs allies. It needs consumers and hippies are the ones who often consume some of their drugs. If he could establish some sort of relationship with the group, he might have some allies. Thus, that is why he is there. He comes with gifts, the promise of more where that came from, and to scope out this group.

He steps up to an apartment and rings the doorbell...

[Li Violette]

IMPORTANT POST

It is that time of year again, one of the rare times when all of the powerful people in the world get together to celebrate their own greatness. It is of course, the banquet of the Blessed. This little party is held annually by the Manalists and held at a different location each year. This year, it will be held at the mansion of Jumala Keitoleinen in Helsinki.

I am given the menial task of sending out personal invitations to all of the world's wealthiest and most powerful members. The invites also go to note worthy Manalists who are strong and loyal. Those who Scrag deems worthy of the title the Blessed. Every year there are a few new members of the Blessed, but usually the list remains the same.

And so, I send out hundreds of hand writen invites to important people in the world inviting them to the party. Members of the Economic Council. Global Bank, Manalist High Temples, Governing Council, and the world's rich and famous are all invited to attend.

(if your character is powerful, rich, or works for global bank, economic council, etc. you are invited to this party. More information will be announced...)

[Annika 25]

Annika is given orders from Global Bank to hunt down a rogue Creditor. His name is Akira 69 and he is no longer with the Creditors and taking orders from Global Bank. This is a problem since a Creditor Android on the loose could ruin the respected reputation of Global Bank and also has important financial information which could aid rebels. Annika takes this job very seriously and leaves Switzerland at once in search of Akira so she can destroy him. He was last seen in Helsinki so she heads there first, searching for her former Creditor comrade.

[Anya Louteius]

Anya stood before her crowd and she looked back at her band members while they were off stage. "This is so fucking lame. There aren't that many people out there. WHat the fuck? We usually sell out!" She kicked over a mic stand and she growled. This really pissed her off. She walked into her dressing room and flopped out on the couch and then looked up at the ceiling and she sighed heavily.

She grabbed her old Linkin Park CD and popped it in the player and sat back down. She flipped it to the 3rd song and she pulled out a small kit. She opened it up, inside there were razors, tourniqets, bandages, everything, including a bottle and a needle. She took out the bottle put it above her lighter and opened fire on it until it bubbled. She took the syringe and pulled the liquid in and tied the touriquet around her arm. She waited and then shot the liquid into her arm. She released the tie and she layed back as she felt her favorite high in the world rush over her. She closed her eyes and waited for it to all end.

When she opened them, she felt horrible. Her show was about to start and he still wasn't there. Had he forgotten her? She felt sadness bubble up inside her. She felt tears spill out of her eyes. She took out a razor and she kissed it softly, she felt the cold iron against her lips and she closed her eyes and then it happened, all in a flash, blood was going everywhere spilling out of her arm and onto the floor she quickly bandaged it and applied as much pressure as she could. She was to afraid to die.

After an hour the bleeding seemed to stop and she sewed it up and put the box away, after bandaging her arm. SHe took in a deep breath and headed for the stage. WHen the lights came on she smiled. This is what she lived for. She took in those lights and then she heard the music and then she started to sing. A voice that sounded so beautiful, that angels would envy it. It was so sad sounding, yet so strong, but disquised by weakness. She looked out into the crowd and she felt the rush as they screamed.

[Tristan Tuzanic]

To Anya

Tristan decided to attend Anya's concert since he wanted to check out some new music. He had never heard of her band before, even though he worked at a record store. So, he stood there in the front row and thought it was pretty good. A little too popular for him, since he only liked obscure bands, but still she had a good voice and he could appreciate that.

It was a good distraction, but he wondered if she would get in trouble in the lyrics did not mention Manalism and its virtues enough.

[Anya Louteius]

Anya finished her song and she leaned against the microphone stand. She was breathing harshly. Had she done something wrong with her drug, and not realized it? She cursed under her breath and looked up, the lights were multiplying and she was losing focus. She turned and looked at Heath, her bassist and she shook her head. He nodded and motioned for Scott and Sven to follow his lead.

It was a random bassist riff that he had created and Scott followed with the electric guitar. Sven added his drums and Anya....walked off stage. There was some disappointed booings and she smiled at the crowd. "Miss Misery needs a break! Chill guys! I'll be back! I swear it!" She laughed and turned off the mic and then took the stand and slammed it into an amp. She smirked at a random guy in the audience (Tristan). And she walked off.

She grabbed a bottle of water and collapsed in a chair and chugged the water. She looked at the stage and she laughed as she saw that the amp had caught fire and that it actually sounded better as Scott was playing. She watched as it was put out and it was replaced with a new amp. She shrugged and then she closed her eyes.....counted to 10 and got up to perform again. The entire time she walked to the stage, she was swearing as much as she could to all the manalist people in that audience. She didn't play for manalist people. She played for the pure rush that music gave her.

She smiled and she looked out in the audience, her ocean blue eyes looking at random faces. "This next song, is one of my favorites." She laughed and she turned to Scott. "Scott....play me my favorite song." She said with a flirty voice and he laughed and did as he was asked. It was a fast, dark almost gothic tune that emitted from the amp. She smirked out into the audience as fog rolled in from the sides of the stage and she laughed softly.

((OOC: This is my song, so don't judge it to roughly <3))

(OOC: Not Screamo)
"You think you know this poor unfortunate soul.
The truth is darling, you don't begin to realize
The pain behind my eyes,
The darkness that lies waiting within.

You say I'm stupid, and I'm blind
But I see right through your lies.
What I need, sweetie you can't give me
So watch me turn around and start walkin.

(OOC: Screamo =D)
These streets I walk are paved with misery.
You think you can handle it but its just not your scene
All the lies and alibies
Sweeties I'm not falling for your game
So Watch as I walk away (held out)

(OOC: Not Screamo)
I sit and listen to your antagonistic ways
I barely recognize who you were
The road your walking is straight into the fire
ANd sweetie I'll walk right beside you
Just to push you in the flames.

I'm standing on the top
And boy you just don't have what it takes
So get the hell out of my way and let...me....live

(OOC: Repeat the screamo chorus 1x)
(Guitar solo)

So watch me walk away.
So watch me walk away yeah
So watch me walk away."

She smiled as she listened to the reaction. She smiled as she heard thousands of cheers and even more screaming and she took a bow and she punched her fist into the air. She smiled and she loved every minute of it. THere were a few more songs and then it was finally time to end. She pouted a little and she looked out at the audience. "Sadly this is it. But if you check out the tour list you'll find out where we are next weekend!" She laughed and then she turned off the mic to prevent screeching and she kicked the mic stand down and busted the microphone. She walked off stage and the curtain closed. She looked at Sven and Scott and then Heath. "No more working weekends. Now lets go get trashed!" She said as she skipped off to her dressing room.

[John Duddy]

“Sy would you like to join me?” Duddy responded to her statement. “I haven’t learned anything about you. I so far I do enjoy your company.” John extended his arm showing her to the table and removing her chair for her to sit. He did not realize it at first but Sy had been holding a bag in her possession the whole time, was it a Manalist recording device perhaps? One of Sy’s co-workers came around and John and Sy ordered colas and their food. “So Sy a beautiful girl like you must have a wonderful story to tell.” Duddy looked in her eyes and received a cold stare.

[Bambi Engel]

The next day, the sound of someone knocking at her door jerks Bambi awake. She shoots her hand out to grab the baseball bat she keeps beside her bed, only to feel air. Feeling confused and lost, she brings her puzzled gaze around. She must've fallen asleep on the couch.

She remembers that the door had been knocked on as she sits up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Glancing at the door, she noted the small envelope laying innocently on the floor. Bambi tries to remember the last time she had mail, but quickly decides against it.

With a groan and stretch, she stands and makes her way over to the door to pluck the envelope up. She tears it open carefully with her nail, pulling the letter with elegant hand writing out. After putting her glasses on she reads the letter in a matter of seconds.

Another groan escapes her throat, but this one is due to the contents of the letter. The annual Manalist ball, of course. How could she have forgotten?

She sits on her couch again with mixed emotions, going through the same thing she does every year. Possible excuses or ways to weasel her way out. As usual for every year, she finds none.

The ball was always torture to her nerves. As if she had gotten enough of that this year. There was something different this year, though... She chews her bottom lip unsurely, glancing toward her cell. After a moment of indecision, she puts the letter down and picks up her phone.

Scrolling through her contacts, she picks Aubrey's number and presses the phone to her ear.

((Post to Aubrey.))

[Aubrey 16]

Aubrey was just about to halt someone with terrible credit, and an even worst hair day, when her phone rang. She completely forgot about the person she was about to pursue as she listened to the bubbly polyphonic beat that was her ringtone.

She pulled it out of her pocket, and checked the screen, which Bambi's name was flashing across. Cute girl. Bad fashion. Aubrey was taking her under her wing, something that the fashion obsessed Creditor rarely did.

Hitting talk she pressed the phone to the side of her face "Aubrey here, 100% awesome 100% of the time." She liked to switch up the way she answered her phone.

[Linnea Korpela]

Linnea felt sick when he called her cream puff.
"No....I was afraid you would get upset because I was asking about your empty schedule. It has been really quiet around here or at least things haven't been coming past my desk," she tried to sound quite confident hoping that he would buy into this. but it wasn't an entire lie because she was nervous about his reaction.