Silva

She didn't even blink, she was that still. For a moment. "To Prism of course," Compile said. "And no, I haven't got the foggiest idea of where that is, so don't ask. 'Leader' or not, I'm four, remember?" @Ark1002

Compile didn't make a sound. She didn't move. She didn't think. Well, she did think. Just very, very slowly. Lips pressed together and jaw set, she wouldn't give him the reaction he was hoping for. Compile refused to act like any other four year old. Besides, any other four year old wouldn't be in her situation. She stopped draining mental speed and managed to stifle a scream. Her brain only now accepted the true pain, it had been slower in coming before. Slowly she opened her mouth. "Hello, Crow," she said steadily, looking him in the eye."Leader is a pretty strong title that doesn't belong to me. But I'll borrow it for now if that's what counts as 'complying'." @Ark1002

So this: is an empty threat? Unless you plan to say that these are loyalty to Crow in which case I must ask: how easy or hard are these spikes to come by? If they were common, why did Hellbent call it his "last" one and if they're uncommon, how does Crow have?

Gasping for air, Light didn't know what to do. She wasn't afraid for herself, only the others. Slow your breathing, Light. she told herself. You'll figure this out - at least try. Buy her some more time. She tapped aluminum and let her Identity fill her. The simple action reassured her, however temporarily. After a moment she stopped. No need to waste more than was necessary. Light looked at him straight and with the Acute glare in her eye said, "Freedom isn't something you can chain down. If you could, it wouldn't really be free." Then she shut her mouth, bracing for more wrath. It was sure to come. @Ark1002

Sudiov was finally remembered and added to our PM.

I first read this as a joke. Then I checked the PM...

then capital letters stopped existing...

Welcome to the forums! There are a few writing communities here that you may enjoy joining if that's your thing. Otherwise/either way, feel free just to hop around and read through other stuff people have written about writing already in threads. Maybe it'll help. Congratulations on posting a piece!

Pry read the note from her contact again. But where was Vahara? I storming told him to take care of them! He knows how often they're alone - there's no way he wouldn't have been watching. He had to have been there... she took a deep breath and glared at the ground, as though that would change anything. Okay. Okay. What happened happened. Vahara didn't- she cut off the thought, realizing what must have happened. Oh, Harmony... And it was her fault. I get my hands on Hellbent, he is never going to get away. Ever. she promised. Freedom's free. Okay. One positive. But the others...Eon will be fine. Probably. Light should have his ring if she was responsible for once, though you never know with her and who knows the details of what happened that night. It's only a matter of time before the guard dude realizes Free is gone though and then we have trouble. Big trouble. Not good. she tapped the table she was sitting at quickly with her fingernails a few times before she gave up on sitting normally and stood up. Instead she began to pace. There's no way I can go in on my own - reports of an army attacking and it's a thief haven. It would be suicide. But they're my siblings - I can't do nothing. I have an address. That's where Free and her friend are. I'll go there and maybe things will fit together nicer. Because right now, they're rusting away like they've been to damnation and back. She hadn't really talked to many people, so she didn't feel bad leaving without saying goodbye. Other business was a little more important to her at the moment than pleasantries.

Welcome to the forums! Many cookies you may be offered are spiked, so don't accept them randomly.

....

Thanks @Sorana for aiding in my loss. Again. But the dress looks great! I still haven't finished my coat...maybe tomorrow...

There's always that moment when a joke gets lost....

Anything?

"No. We're quite fine," Gonev said, putting an arm around Freedom who didn't resist this time. They began to walk away again.

Gonev turned. "Us?"

When you say 'anything', do you really mean anything literally?

I've been wondering this for a while and this seems as good a place as any to ask. "Some people are just more equal than others" Why did you choose this particular adaptation to an Orwell quote?

Gonev fingered the chrysts in his pocket. Even after ten years he still felt like he hadn't paid off his debt to the kindly old man. He still gave half his profits to him. He found the fisherman standing at the end of a pier. Gonev pulled out the money and pressed it into his hand. The fisherman, like always, tried to resist, but eventually relented and closed his hand. Gonev turned to go, but stopped suddenly when the fisherman spoke. "Who's this?" he said. Gonev was confused for a few reasons. They hadn't spoken in years. There always was just a silence of acknoledgement between the two. And now he noticed the young woman standing behind him. "I-I-I don't know," he stuttered out. He had no clue. The woman seemed intent on staring at the crumpled pastry wrapper in the man's other hand hand. "Tuba?" she whispered. "Like Pry's tuba?" This didn't help Gonev's confusion. "My friend here has never taken anyone's musical instrument. You must be mista-" he started. "No, no," the fisherman interjected then turned his full attention to the woman. "she means the bakers. Not the instrument." She nodded slowly and Gonev noticed how close she seemed to tears. Not what he would have expected from a woman of her looks. Then he noticed the brand on her forehead. Something was off. "Who are you?" he finally asked her. "My name is Freedom Acute. Hellbent enslaved my siblings and me. I intend to rescue them," she said. "Can you contact her? Prism Acute?" The fisherman pocketed the chrysts Gonev had given them. "She's TUBA?" "Yes." "Then I can." Gonev was getting impatient. "I need to get going," he said. He was ignored. "Tell her time is of essence. Every minute is risk that he'll discover I'm gone," Freedom said. "I will. But till then, where are you going to be staying?" the fisherman asked. Freedom bit her lip. It was pretty clear she had nowhere to go. "I have a small shack nearby," the fisherman said. "It's not much but-" "She can come with me," Gonev said, making his mind up before he even started considering. He handed the fisherman a paper with a hastily written address. "We'll be here." The fisherman looked at him in surprise, but nodded. "I'll send your sister over there," he told Freedom who smiled gratefully at him. Gonev held out his hand, but she kept hers firmly at her side. They started to walk. "Any surprises I should be prepared for?" he asked her casually, trying not to fall into an awkward silence. Freedom chuckled and stopped filling her ring, reverting to her normal twelve year old appearance. "Oh," he said, joining into her laughter. "Well, that definitely wasn't the type of surprise I was expecting."

"You can give it to them," Gonev told Lena before she left. "I'll meet you back at the base." With that he left, not realizing he was being tailed. --- Freedom hurried after one of the people who had sold something to Crow. He looked so average she hadn't noticed him until he'd spoken. She was draining some age into a thin atium ring on her hand - enough for her to pass as closer to twenty and so she'd be able to pretend to be one of them. Precious would be able to cover for her and worst case even pretend to be her. They looked similar enough when Freedom went around at fourteen instead of twelve. Once outside she breathed a sigh of relief and continued to follow the man.