RuneScape Forum Archive | ||...Agony...||

Infinity A8

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"Georgia let's go!" Tristan yelled. Georgia looked up, startled. It was as if she had been in a trance while fighting. She surveyed the situation briefly before mumbling something and pulling Tristan by the collar. She hacked her way through anything in front of them and ensured that Tristan was safe as well. The creatures attacked from all sides and Georgia needed to exhibit the utmost skill to protect herself and Tristan.
Finally, she reached the ditch and flew over it. She hit the ground running, never even stopping to catch a breath.
"How far ahead is Edward?" she asked while she sprinted alongside Robert. Jaden was being helped along by Tristan who were a few metres behind.
"Not too far. Veronica and Natalie should have caught up to him by now." Robert explained.
They ran as they had been fighting: fearfully, blindly and without any thought. Their hearts hammered against their collective chests in time with their legs, terror driving them forward.
As Robert caught sight of Natalie up ahead, he realised that they'd ventured in fairly deeply. Due to Edward's frightened flee they'd also gone in a completely unknown direction. 'Lost' didn't seemed to be a powerful enough word to describe their situation.
"Robert!" called Tristan.
Robert slowed a little so he could address him.
Then stopped.
"Robert, stop everyone!" Jaden cried.
Robert wasted no time in grinding everyone to a halt. With his superior speed and lack of injuries he reached Veronica, Natalie and Edward posthaste.
"No! Can't stop running!" Edward screamed when he tried to stop him.
"Edward! Stop!" Robert then calmly instructed him to turn around.
Edward continued onward for a few more metres before slowing, then eventually twisting his head around to see.
No arms, no legs, no zombie-like creatures with immense dark powers and no regular denizens of The Wilderness. They were all completely alone.

29-Nov-2008 09:06:20 - Last edited on 27-Oct-2009 06:52:51 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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~Chapter XIV~
Huddled around a desecrated alter and encircled by a shallow river of lava the children sat. Though surrounded by the scorching river they shivered as if in the Ice Queen's own dungeon.
Tristan finalised treatment of Georgia's leg so that she could stand. Georgia proclaimed that she was going to climb the ruined structure they lay before, seeking a better view of their surroundings. Now fully able, her sword clanged noisily as she clambered upwards. Although it had been well bloodied in the previous battle, Georgia had ensured it was pristine clean as soon as she got the chance.
With Georgia tended to, Tristan turned his attention to Jaden who had cuts running up and down his legs. With Edward busy working on Natalie, Robert decided he would attempt to speak and comfort Veronica. She had her face buried in her knees and was sobbing gently.
"Hey," Robert called. "Are you going to be okay?"
No answer.
"Listen, we'll get through this. We'll be ok-"
"Our parents..." she whimpered, looking up into Robert's eyes.
"As harsh as this sounds, we need to put out survival before our sorrow."
A heave, followed by a choked cough.
"Veronica," Robert came in close for a whisper. "I promise you we'll be okay so long as we all stay strong together. Tristan and Edward look to you for hope, Natalie looks to you for comfort. I look to you for guidance-"
"You look to me for guidance?" Veronica inquired skeptically.
"Intelligence does not equal wisdom. I don't have the level of understanding for people that you do. I approach problems with the intent of solving them efficiently but don't consider the people involved to the extent you do. You're the most compassionate person here Veronica, if anyone can guide us through this it's you."
Veronica sniffed and looked away. Robert gave her some space to think and went back to leaning on a pillar. He closed his eyes and sighed, hoping to have a little snooze.

29-Nov-2008 09:06:22 - Last edited on 19-Jul-2009 14:25:40 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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Georgia succeeded in scaling the crumbling structure and surveyed the area. To her dismay, the eternal darkness of The Wilderess clouded even her sharp vision. She could only see a few metres past the river of lava despite her elevated position. An idea sparked in her mind and she called down to the weary Robert.
"Hey, can you cast a fire blast over there?"
"Why?"
"So I can see: it's too dark."
Reluctantly, Robert dug out the corresponding runes and fired the spell off in the direction Georgia specified, but even the great flaming ball could not pierce the murkiness. Georgia watched as the flame flew by and slowly dimmed before fading completely out of view which caused her to growl with frustration. She'd always prided herself on being able to see through any veil or fog but had never been confronted with a darkness so vast, so seemingly infinite that it restricted her vision to this degree.
"All done." Edward declared as he finished wrapping up Natalie's left leg. She quietly thanked him and rose to curiously explore the area.
"By the way," began Georgia "Who was it that screamed, 'Wake up' before we got attacked? 'Cause it wasn't me, it sounded like a girl which rules out Jaden and Robert, Tristan and Edward weren't on guard duty and I know Veronica can't scream that loud."
"Haven't you answered your own question then?" Jaden replied.
Georgia looked to Natalie for confirmation and with a blush, she nodded. Georgia laughed with delight. That the quietest among them could scream the loudest amused her. Other recently revealed traits of Natalie were also enlightening for Georgia, most prominently her fighting skills.
"You're really something Natalie!" she declared. Natalie didn't say a word of response and continued her walk behind the altar.
"Say, Robert," Jaden called. "Any idea where we are and how we're going to get out?"
Robert kept his eyes closed as if he was sleepy but responded in his usual calm tone.

29-Nov-2008 09:06:30 - Last edited on 22-Jul-2009 13:31:49 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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"I don't know where exactly in The Wilderness we are and as for getting out I haven't a clue as to which way south is."
Jaden shot a look of discontent towards Edward who had led them into this dilemma. Ed recoiled from the glare and momentarily stopped his work on Jaden's leg. Tristan, who had been watching began to protest on his younger brother's behalf.
"If he hadn't run away we'd still be in Edgeville with all those things. Wasn't it a good thing he ran?"
Jaden lazily looked towards Tristan and tried to think of a response. When he couldn't, he mumbled incoherently and beckoned for Edward to continue his treatment. With his brother saved, Tristan sought comfort with Veronica. He sat down beside her and initiated a conversation.
"Hey, where will we live now?"
"I don't know." was her response to the trivial question.
"Well we can't live in Edgeville anymore. If you could live anywhere in Gielinor, where would you live?"
Veronica could see what Tristan was trying to do. He was attempting to distract her from the loss of her parents and her town. But in her current state almost any word seemed to remind her of what happened, just the question of where they were going to live reminded her that they no longer had a home. It had been destroyed seemingly in the blink of an eye and then so suddenly they found themselves hurled out into a world of nightmarish peril.
"Entrana." she finally said.
"Huh? The place with all the peace loving guys?"
"Yes. No violence, no hate. Just peace."
"It'd be rather boring."
"It'd be safe."
"It'd be stagnant," Robert suddenly spoke, joining the conversation. "You don't really want to go there do you? It may be calm and secure but Entrana is a land of restriction, your options for enjoyment are severely limited. Plus you have to be a follower of Saradomin to live there and last I checked you don't worship any of the gods."
"They haven't exactly earned my favour recently either," Veronica replied. "I just want us to be safe."

29-Nov-2008 09:06:33 - Last edited on 28-Oct-2009 05:02:11 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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"Then why not Falador? A huge city with great big walls, the most powerful army in all of Asgarnia and one of the most highly desired places to live."
"It's expensive though..."
"So? Dream. If reality refuses you, you seek sanctity in the realm of your imagination."
Veronica and Tristan gave him a puzzled look.
"Eheh, never mind. It was something I read once. Basically if you're stressed out with what's going on in your life take a break from it, if only for a while."
Determined to do just that, Robert slid down into a lying position and attempted for the fourth time to have a nap. Equally sick of reality, Tristan and Veronica followed.

29-Nov-2008 09:06:40 - Last edited on 11-Aug-2009 09:28:25 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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~Chapter XV~
Veronica woke several hours later to unnatural silence. Weary from her sleep, she assumed everyone had gone and jumped to her feet and looked around fearfully. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realised they were all dozing as she had been and it was only chance that she had awakened prematurely.
Content with waiting for her peers, Veronica slid down beside the warm lava lake. She had just made herself comfortable before the natural furnace when she heard an agitated grumble behind her. Flicking her head around, the sound revealed its source to her; a recently disturbed Natalie. Veronica crept up to the younger girl and assured that she was awake and not just mumbling in her sleep.
"V...e...ronica?" Natalie said drearily, confirming Veronica's suspicions.
"Shh, everyone's still asleep," she hushed. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
Natalie shook her head, rubbed her eyes, yawned and sat up. "How long have I been asleep?"
"I wouldn't know, I went to sleep first with Robert and Tristan."
"Oh, right. I fell asleep after Edward. Jaden and Georgia were still up."
Veronica peered at their surroundings and noticed that the sky was perceptibly brighter than it had been initially. She pointed this fact out to Natalie who remarked it with curiosity.
"I suppose there's even a day and night here in The Wilderness."
"Hey, why don't you draw something? It's bright enough."
Without another word, Natalie made her way to the stone floor of the desecrated chapel. She whipped out her dagger and flipped up her glasses in one instant and was enthusiastically carving into the floor the next. Veronica watched with interest as the mess of lines slowly took form. Eventually, Natalie steps away from her artwork for Veronica to behold in wonder.
It's a circle, with a small opening near the top. A goblet of sorts is pouring some form of liquid into the opening which has half filled the circle. A skeletal hand seems to be holding the goblet.

29-Nov-2008 09:06:42 - Last edited on 11-Aug-2009 11:33:18 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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Natalie never cared to explain the meanings for her drawings. Whenever asked she would ignore the question entirely. Veronica and the others would tolerate this. Robert even saw it as a challenge as he attempted to unravel the secrets of her art and would study them constantly, sometimes for over an hour.
Veronica studied the picture with interest as she tried to decipher its meaning but she never came away with anything. Robert had often theorised on their meanings but never had them confirmed by Natalie. As eerie as the picture seemed, they were always like this even when Natalie was in a good mood. What went on in the girl's mind was a mystery, even to her family and friends.
"It's drawn well." Veronica complimented. Natalie didn't say a word but just stared at her own creation, eyes void of any emotion.
"So, uh..." Veronica began. "I've been thinking. It must have been morning when we escaped because you were on the last watch. So it would have still been morning when we got here, which means that if The Wilderness does have a day and night it would have been bright, right?"
Natalie didn't make a sound, which worried Veronica.
"Natalie?" she prodded her gently in the shoulder but Natalie once again ignored her and continued to gaze at her artwork.
"I have a theory." a sleepy voice from behind her called out, startling the young girl into a short scream. Veronica whipped her head around and sighed with relief when Robert's dreary eyed face peered back at her.
"And you're the one who says to be careful around me because I'm easily frightened," she scolded playfully. "How long have you been awake?"
"Not long," he replied, crawling over to the two girls. "I'd say I woke up soon after Natalie began drawing."
"What was your theory?"
"That the day and night of The Wilderness is the reverse of ours. When it's night in Edgeville, it's day in The Wilderness and vice-a-versa."

29-Nov-2008 09:06:49 - Last edited on 11-Aug-2009 12:18:30 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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"So you're saying we fell asleep mid-morning Edgeville time and woke up in the evening, which is The Wilderness' day-time?"
"We must have been very tired."
Robert sat down next to Natalie and stared at her newest work with interest. After he'd examined it efficiently, he studied Natalie with curiosity. She'd often look at her works a little after drawing them to ensure that they were completed to her satisfaction but she seemed to be staring at this one much more intently.
"What liquid is that being poured into the circle?" Robert inquired. He often did even knowing full well that Natalie never answered. This time was no exception and Natalie remained silent, though she did flip down her glasses indicating that she had finished. With no more to say to Natalie, Robert turned his attention to Veronica.
"So, where to from here? We can't just stay at this altar for the rest of our lives."
"Let Jaden decide this time," she sighed. "Last time I did we almost got killed."
Robert chuckled. "You're being too hard on yourself. You always act to ensure that everyone is happy, you know that."
"Still, it's his turn. But that doesn't matter, what do you think?"
Robert gazed at the bleak sky. "It won't be this bright for much longer I'd assume so if we're going to move it's now. Who knows what could happen if we chance falling asleep again? I say we try and find out way out."
Veronica hummed a response and told Robert she was going to wait by the lava river until everyone woke up. They'd decide on their next course of action then. Robert remained by Natalie's side and continued his study of the strange drawing, asking futile questions every now and then.
It wasn't any more than an hour that the other four awoke and that a meeting was called. Robert and Veronica explained all their theories and plans to the remaining members of the group and turned to Jaden when it was time for decision making.

29-Nov-2008 09:06:52 - Last edited on 11-Aug-2009 12:16:38 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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"I like Robert's idea," he concluded after a brief moment of thought. "It'd be stupid to think we can accomplish anything by staying here."
"But which way do we go?" asked Tristan.
"We can't split up, that's a certainty." Robert declared, eliciting an 'Aww' from Georgia.
"Right," Jaden continued. "We'll head straight after exiting this altar. The lava makes a natural sort of entrance or exit, so I'm thinking that they would have made it so that people walking into The Wilderness would walk north towards this altar. So walking out of it would take us south and back home, right?"
There wasn't much logic behind Jaden's theory but it was the best they could go on at the moment. The group took a few moments to mentally prepare themselves for anything they may encounter during their quest through The Wilderness. With the horrors experienced back in the town temporarily buried deep within the recesses of their minds they embarked into the most nightmarish terrain to even scourge the earth.

29-Nov-2008 09:09:17 - Last edited on 11-Aug-2009 12:34:34 by Infinity A8

Infinity A8

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~Chapter XVI~
"Jaden!" Robert called after half an hour of walking. "We should turn back, there's been no sign that we're going the right way."
Jaden spun around and scanned his surroundings. They were in a forest with all the trees long dead and decaying. It overlooked a small trench full of nothing but bones, some big some small. The only occupants of the Bone Yard seemed to be animated skeletons. Jaden called Georgia forward and asked for her to look ahead further, her superior eyesight a hefty advantage in this circumstance.
"All I can see are more dead trees." she declared.
"We'll go a little further," said Jaden. "Then we'll turn around and head back."
They quietly hopped over the Bone Yard, narrowly avoiding detection by the skeletal warriors and slipped into the forest. It was barely ten minutes later that Robert brought Jaden to a halt again.
"Jaden, I urge you to turn back. We've been in here far too long for this to be the right way."
"Just a little further, just to make sure," Jaden persisted. "Georgia, what can you see?"
"Umm," she squinted through the darkness. "Oh! There aren't any trees up ahead."
"You see? This must be the right way."
Robert remained wary but continued regardless. He managed a step forward when Veronica, who was at the back of the group, suddenly screamed. The group whirled around to see her pointing to the right, her face frozen with terror.
"Sp-sp-spider!" she shrieked.
"What's the big deal? Spiders aren't th-" Georgia began as she turned. When she managed to look at what Veronica was pointing at, she realised why she was afraid.
It was the largest spider they'd ever seen. It was a least as big as Edward with fangs the length of an arrow and the sharpness of a blade. It snarled and skittered towards them with its eight, slimy legs its insatiable hunger driving it forward in a mad rush. Georgia was quick to draw her blade and lunged forward, aiming to pierce the beast through the head.

29-Nov-2008 09:09:18 - Last edited on 16-Aug-2009 12:14:54 by Infinity A8

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