Ketek Tries To Write (Forum Edition)- Shaper

[Keteᛕ He/Him/His]

11.

Spoiler

Chapter 11.
Whill hesitated with the can in his hands.

It was heavier than it looked.

Not because of weight - he couldn’t even tell that properly - but because everything still felt wrong. Like his body had forgotten how to exist outside that corridor.

He stared at the rim.

No sound. No warning. Just the idea of trust.

He drank.

Whill’s stomach cramped as cold water slid down his throat, and for a moment his mind almost flinched like it expected it to be wrong. Poison. Trick. Something sharp.

But nothing happened.

Just relief.

His shoulders loosened slightly before he even realized they were tight.

Whay watched him closely, eyes half-lidded like he was reading something invisible on Whill’s face.

Good. 

The word didn’t reach Whill through sound. It formed more like meaning arriving late - like it had to travel through fog to get there.

The silence wavered. Whill opened his mouth.

“Where am I?” He felt the words form in his mouth, but couldn’t hear them.

Somewhere safe from the Bureau. We’re waiting for the others to come back before we tell you anything else.

“Others?”

Flint and Pearl. Flint can’t talk, but can sense a person’s true intentions when listening to a conversation. He’s great at blending into backgrounds. Pearl can warp people’s words into other things. She’s touch-blind, like me. I’ve already introduced Orin. 

Whill finished the water, and sat up fully. 

We saw what you did to the guard while you were in the compound. You can sense silence, right?

Whill nodded. 

Whay stood up. I think you’ll be a great addition to the team.

I need a break from writing, or at least plot ideas.

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

10 hours ago, Through The Living Ketek said:

10.

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Whill’s consciousness snapped back in pieces.

First came the ceiling- stone, dim, unfamiliar. Then the smell of dust and antiseptic. Then pain, dull and spreading through his skull.

He tried to sit up too fast and immediately regretted it. Everything hurt. He lay back down.

The room didn’t give him sound. It never did. But it felt different now. It was less like empty space and more like… occupied quiet. Like something living had learned how to breathe around him.

Footsteps nearby. Two sets.

One steady. One restless.

Whill stayed still, forcing himself to focus the way he had in the corridor. The silence here had structure too- softer, more controlled.

A figure leaned into view.

The restless one.

A boy about Whill’s age stood near the cot, arms crossed. His posture screamed impatience even without sound. He had sharp eyes that kept flicking around the room like he was bored of everything he saw.

The other figure stood farther back.

Calm. Still. Watching.

Whill pushed himself upright slowly.

The restless boy spoke.

Whill saw his lips move, fast and exaggerated, like he thought that would help.

Nothing came through.

The calm figure stepped forward slightly and spoke instead.

Whill caught fragments this time - not sound, but intent. The calmness in his expression helped more than the words.

Then, strangely, meaning formed in Whill’s mind without him fully understanding why.

A push of thought that wasn’t his.

Easy. Don’t panic.
It wasn’t sound. It was projected into his brain like an image.

Whill’s eyes snapped to the restless boy. The boy grinned, then said something to the other boy.

Ignore Orin over there. He’s a piece of work. Can you hear- no- understand me?

Whill contemplated not responding to the calm boy, but decided that these two were probably the best chance he had at learning where he was and what had happened to him.

He nodded cautiously. 

Good.

They turned to Orin and said something- unintelligible to Whill before turning back.

I’m Whay. Orin and I are also Shaped. He can detect any poison- but can’t taste. I can project into thoughts, but I can’t feel anything with my hands. 

No, I can’t hear your thoughts. I can’t project Orin’s too.

Drink. They won’t find us here.

Whay spoke to Orin again. Orin picked up a can, smelled the top, and tossed it to Whill.

It’s just water. 

Drink. And rest.
 

You need it.

 

5 hours ago, Through The Living Ketek said:

11.

  Hide contents

Chapter 11.
Whill hesitated with the can in his hands.

It was heavier than it looked.

Not because of weight - he couldn’t even tell that properly - but because everything still felt wrong. Like his body had forgotten how to exist outside that corridor.

He stared at the rim.

No sound. No warning. Just the idea of trust.

He drank.

Whill’s stomach cramped as cold water slid down his throat, and for a moment his mind almost flinched like it expected it to be wrong. Poison. Trick. Something sharp.

But nothing happened.

Just relief.

His shoulders loosened slightly before he even realized they were tight.

Whay watched him closely, eyes half-lidded like he was reading something invisible on Whill’s face.

Good. 

The word didn’t reach Whill through sound. It formed more like meaning arriving late - like it had to travel through fog to get there.

The silence wavered. Whill opened his mouth.

“Where am I?” He felt the words form in his mouth, but couldn’t hear them.

Somewhere safe from the Bureau. We’re waiting for the others to come back before we tell you anything else.

“Others?”

Flint and Pearl. Flint can’t talk, but can sense a person’s true intentions when listening to a conversation. He’s great at blending into backgrounds. Pearl can warp people’s words into other things. She’s touch-blind, like me. I’ve already introduced Orin. 

Whill finished the water, and sat up fully. 

We saw what you did to the guard while you were in the compound. You can sense silence, right?

Whill nodded. 

Whay stood up. I think you’ll be a great addition to the team.

I need a break from writing, or at least plot ideas.

Sorry for the late reply, these are both really good!

[Keteᛕ He/Him/His]

Should I do more perspective shifts (ie. a chapter from Whay's POV )?

[Keteᛕ He/Him/His]

12 idea, not final:

Spoiler

Whay was tired. Tired of the boredom he had endured for so long, waiting to find a replacement for Lev. 

And now, even as he looked at the kid he had found for the job, he still felt unfulfilled. 

Whay sat back down, looking at the scrawny boy, he was trembling eyes darting around the room as if he was going to be attacked at any moment. 

Come to think of it, Lev had acted the same way when he started.

Lev had been one of the best Shaped Whay had ever met. While he had been deaf like this kid, Lev had been able to do much more than just sense silence. He could create it. He had been the key for everything from sneak-ins to information warping - and while Pearl could do that as well, Lev had been able to do it without even knowing what was being said. 

But then Lev died.

Whay spent the next few months in denial, which just dulled into boredom. 

Blank, numbing boredom. 

Whay looked at Orin, who was humming to himself, zoned out. He hadn’t reacted to Lev’s death as much as the rest of them, but Whay  hoped he had at least felt upset.

Whay looked back at the new boy.

Kid, what’s your name?

“E-Elias…. but don’t call me that.” 

Then what should we call you?

“Call me Whill… please.”

Okay, Whill.

There was a knock at the door. Pearl and Flint were finally home. 

_________________________________________________
 

 

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

22 hours ago, Through The Living Ketek said:

12 idea, not final:

  Hide contents

Whay was tired. Tired of the boredom he had endured for so long, waiting to find a replacement for Lev. 

And now, even as he looked at the kid he had found for the job, he still felt unfulfilled. 

Whay sat back down, looking at the scrawny boy, he was trembling eyes darting around the room as if he was going to be attacked at any moment. 

Come to think of it, Lev had acted the same way when he started.

Lev had been one of the best Shaped Whay had ever met. While he had been deaf like this kid, Lev had been able to do much more than just sense silence. He could create it. He had been the key for everything from sneak-ins to information warping - and while Pearl could do that as well, Lev had been able to do it without even knowing what was being said. 

But then Lev died.

Whay spent the next few months in denial, which just dulled into boredom. 

Blank, numbing boredom. 

Whay looked at Orin, who was humming to himself, zoned out. He hadn’t reacted to Lev’s death as much as the rest of them, but Whay  hoped he had at least felt upset.

Whay looked back at the new boy.

Kid, what’s your name?

“E-Elias…. but don’t call me that.” 

Then what should we call you?

“Call me Whill… please.”

Okay, Whill.

There was a knock at the door. Pearl and Flint were finally home. 

_________________________________________________
 

 

Ooooo this is good

sorry for the late reply.

[Keteᛕ He/Him/His]

Should I do more Non-Whill chapters along the way?

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

2 minutes ago, Through The Living Ketek said:

Should I do more Non-Whill chapters along the way?

I mean, it's all great.

[Keteᛕ He/Him/His]

alright I finally have the time to write more of this....

Be back soon!

[Keteᛕ He/Him/His]

14

Spoiler

Chapter 14

Whill hadn’t realized how hungry he had been until he had eaten. He wasn’t sure how long he had been held captive, but they hadn’t fed him at all. 

Hey lay down on the cot-- it was all they had-- before turning to Whay.

“How did you find me?”

Uhh… -Whay shrugged- We needed another Shaped that could sense silence, and we learned you had said powers based on the footage of you fighting.

“What do you mean by “another”?” Whill asked, turning towards Whay.

He saw Whay suck in a breath. 

I don’t want to talk about it.

Whill hesitated for a moment before speaking again. 

“Who am I replacing?”

I said I don’t want to talk about it!

“Well I do! So tell me, I deserve to know this!” Whill couldn’t tell if he was yelling or whispering, but he thought he was being loud.

His name was Lev! That was his name! You happy? Whay’s face was red.

Was. Past tense. Whill paused before speaking again.

“....Was? What do you mean ‘was’?”

Just leave me alone.
 

 

Not the best. I know.

OH WAIT 13

 

 

 

Spoiler

Chapter 13

Whill Sensed the door at the other end of the room open. 

What was once two layers of silence became four. Four silences pressing down on his mind like an unmoveable weight. He grabbed his head as a headache appeared out of nowhere, his body shaking from pure confusion. 

Whill? 

Whill’s headache deepened

Whill!

Whill looked up at Whay, trembling.

Focus. Focus on how many there are, not which is which. 

Focus. Don’t rely on it either. Use your eyes.

Whill looked at the two figures who had walked in. A blond girl and a silver-haired boy.

The girl-- Pearl-- immediately plopped down on a chair, closed her eyes, and seemed to fall asleep.

The boy-- Flint -- was standing almost perfectly still, signing with his hands at Orin, who was nodding back. 

Whay looked towards Pearl, and without opening her eyes, Pearl shook her head. He looked towards Flint, whose eyes darted back to Whay before walking towards him.

Whill, meet Flint.

Whill acknowledged the boy.

Flint and I are going to try to teach you the hand signals we use to communicate with him.

Flint and Whay shared a silent conversation before looking back at Whill.

For the rest of the day, the three of them practiced all the different hand signs that Flint could communicate. The repeated practice helped Whill forget the shifting, pressing layers of silence around him. 
_____________________

At the end of the day, Whill had finally learned most of the signals.

[Hey kid, you hungry?] Flint signaled in his direction.

At the mention of food, Whill’s stomach cramped.

[...Yes.] he signed back.

[We’ve got food. C’mon.]

__________________________