The cluttered alleyway was dark. Despite the bright moonlight only a single beam pierced the shadows. This ray fell upon a young woman cheerfully sitting on a battered wooden crate. Her smile seemed to glow as she steadily kicked her heels against her makeshift chair, causing a thumping sound, almost like a heartbeat, to echo throughout the otherwise peaceful night.
Stilling her legs she allowed silence to settle around her, relishing the quiet before finally speaking in a hushed, respectful voice. “Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio.”
Falling into silence once more, she turned her focus away from the bloody mess in her hand to the massive dog who was patiently watching her. Looking at the dog, she gave her head a slight shake as she realized that her words were wrong.
“No. That’s not right,” she whispered to herself as she continued observing the dog.
“You’re...” Her voice trailed off as she began searching through her scattered thoughts. She knew this dog, but wasn’t sure who he belonged to. Regardless of who his master was, she found his company reassuring, like he was an old friend. She gazed into his eyes, which seemed to glow a smouldering red against his coal black fur, and smiled at him.
A moment passed before she blurted out a name. “Cobalt!” As her shout bounced off the alley walls she nodded happily at the partially surfaced memory. “You’re Cobalt. I don't remember why that's you, but it's definitely you.”
One mystery solved, she turned her attention back to the head in her hand. Holding it by either side, she inspected his face. “And I don’t actually know you either, do I? You’re certainly no Yorick!”
With a shrug and a simple thought the head burst into flame before she casually tossed it away, letting it bounce harmlessly into the darkness.
Focusing on her animal friend once more, she asked “So Cobalt, how did we end up here anyway?”
As if considering the answer, the dog's ears perked up and he tilted his head to better look at her. He let out a non-committal bark.
The girl sighed, knowing that was the best answer he could provide. Having no other options, she closed her eyes and let the voices flood her mind.
Searching the cacophony she eventually found her answer. “Ahhh... That’s right... It all began with The Creeper...”
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Daytime in a busy university hallway. A young woman in cargo pants and a baggy hoodie walks alone. She appears to be deep in thought as she passes a bulletin board covered in flyers. One particular flyer posted by Campus Safety briefly catches her attention before she continues towards class.
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The rumors were everywhere. Going to class she couldn’t help but overhear them, and the flyers were impossible to miss. Over the past few weeks people kept talking about The Creeper. Though the area around the campus was traditionally safe, it had gotten so bad that Campus Safety had officially recommended that women not travel alone.
The gossip said that a man was stalking the coeds. He magically immobilized them somehow before dragging them off. They would be found the following morning wandering aimlessly. Physically, aside from some minor bumps and bruises, they appeared to be unharmed, but their minds were shattered. When questioned some of them could only scream, while others lost all sense of their identity. None of the victims could explain what had happened. Neither Campus Safety, nor the local Corporate Security had any useful leads.
She paused to observe her reflection in a nearby window as she considered the one thing which was clear to everyone. The Creeper had a type, he liked women of slight stature. Women like her.
She decided that his reign of terror had gone on long enough and that she would end it.
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Dusk in a tiny dorm room, barely large enough for a bed, desk and dresser. The young woman from earlier is standing naked before a small closet containing a mix of practical and comfortable clothing. She is searching through the clothes.
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Not finding any suitably sexy clothes she quietly cursed her practical wardrobe. Often mistaken for a boy, she worried that she wouldn’t be tempting enough bait for The Creeper. Not owning any skirts, she settled for her normal cargo pants and quickly put those on. Eventually she decided on wearing her tactical vest as a top. When held closed just by the snap it both emphasized her chest and allowed her to conceal a weapon underneath.
Briefly examining her weapons rack, she reached for her dagger. As if caressing a lover she ran her hand along the blackened and burnt blade before sliding it into a sheath concealed by her vest.
Moving to her jewelry box, she dumped the contents on her dresser before carefully detaching its false base. The first thing she removed was a wire armband, the metal much like that of her dagger. She slowly wrapped it around her right upper arm, tight enough that it began to dig into her skin. When she finished a half smile settled onto her otherwise expressionless face as she placed her hand over the artifact. Gathering her magical energy she whispered a few words and the metal seemed to sink into her arm before disappearing.
Finally she removed a metal gear the size of a quarter from the box and pressed it against the top of her left wrist, where a person’s watch would traditionally rest. Wincing slightly as the sharp edges cut into her skin, she hissed out another spell as the gear embedded itself into her arm and slowly began to turn.
Her preparations done, she left her dorm, and the rest is history...