Crimson Sky

Slightly angered at the boy's lack of respect towards hunters and those that have died I extend both wrist blades and stare at him through my goggles for a moment in silence before flying up and looking out of the lift to see if any hunters are in danger.

I turn to ask the nearest civilian if they are the only survivors here (more of a whisper)

I groan and roll up into a ball, hoping that she'll leave me alone for now. I do however ensure that the blindfold is tied correctly.

"SIR YES SIR" I half say half shout in my best military impression, adding the salute for added authenticity, as I step into the lift.

The metal grates that function lift doors slide shut around you. One of a trio of hunters who were having a hushed conversation is pushed gently into the lift just before it closes. He begins pushing his way through the crowd to the lift controls.

Just as you turn, a vampire smashes into your chest, knocking you backwards into the lift. By the time you recover, two hunters have slid the metal grate that serves as the lift door past you. Three of the hunters are discussing something in hushed voices in the centre of the doors. Just as they are about to close, one of them gently pushes the third through and turns away. He begins pushing his way through the crowd to the lift controls.

The boy backs away, clearly intimidated, before quickly disappearing into the crowd. Over the heads of those assembled in the lift, you see that behind the line of those fighting back the vampires, several hunters are pulling the metal grate that acts as the door to the lift slowly closed. Right in the middle, two or three of them appear to be holding a hushed conversation. One is pushed gently inside the lift.

You see the newbie lean back to talk to someone. In his distraction, a vampire smashes him in the chest, knocking him back into the lift just as the doors close in front of him.

The hunter begins pushing his way through the crowd to the lift controls.

She calls you again, but can't seem to get through the crowd. The lift doors slide shut.

I drop back to where I was to finally ask about the identities and wellbeing of the people I had seen before. I ask the sobbing woman if she can speak, and if so, who she is.

A large hand grabs your shoulder and turns you. You recognise the captain of the Hunters, a tall, heavily muscled man with tanned skin, green eyes and dirty blonde hair.

"What?! How!?"

The hunter who was pushed through makes his way over to the lift controls and activates it. The lift shudders into motion, leaving many of the hunters stuck outside.

The hunter who was pushed through makes his way over to the lift controls and activates it. The lift shudders into motion, leaving many of the hunters stuck outside.

She continues to sob. The lift shudders into motion, leaving many of the hunters stuck outside.

The lift shudders into motion, leaving many of the hunters stuck outside.

Slightly confused about the strange man's outburst, I make a mental note to speak to him at some point; he seemed to have a unique and deadly way of fighting. Keeping one arm around the woman so as to avoid losing her, I head towards the middle of the lift to be easy to spot. I have to find someone that knows and can help the distressed woman.

"Does anyone know this woman?" I shout to the people in the lift. I raise one arm to make it clear who and where we are, and wait for anyone that knows her to present themself.

I groan and cover my head with my hands.

The captain shoves you back into the wall and turns away with a noise of disgust.

There are vague murmurings around you, everyone seems shellshocked. A jovial, but right now slightly subdued looking upper class man in a white tailed suit, stockily built with brown eyes and greying red hair, gives her a sympathetic glance.

"The poor dear was working in one of those lower class school places, the... children didn't make it I'm sorry to say. She saw it I think, its all quite terrible." Despite his lowered voice, the woman obviously heard his explanation and sobs louder.

"Hey hey hey watch it mister, "I mutter to myself in annoyance while straightening my - now quite dirty and disheveled - suit "this is a high quality suit and I'd hate for it to get even a spot of dirt on it."

I quickly turn back to the woman to see her reaction to the less than subtle explanation from the man. I speak to her to try and calm her down, a little more sympathy in my voice, and calmer than earlier now the immediate threat has passed.

I pull off my blindfold in a rage, attempting to initiate a staring contest with the man whilst spitting at his feet.

Those in the lift begin to spread out across the surface, you can see everyone.

I stare back down at my feet.

Still keeping the sobbing woman close, I head over towards Al and the girl he is with.

In a quieter voice I ask him: "What... happened when we were on the hunt?"

You see nothing of use. A young girl appears next to the woman in the red dress. She is beautiful, clearly from the upper class, and most likely augmented with unicorn blood. Her skin is pearlescent, almost reminiscent of the vampires held back by the hunters around you and her ringleted white hair falls about her face. It is longer at the back, pulled into a tail that reaches past her ribs and fastened in place by a blue flower, that in itself showing exactly how rich her parents must be. She appears to be bellow marrying age, perhaps sixteen or seventeen, it is hard to tell as those with unicorn blood tend to age slower than the average. Her dress further tells of her class, pure white and almost bridal in design.

She glares up at you through pretty grey eyes and thick lashes.

It is possibly the most unintimidating thing you have ever seen.

The woman shies away as you come close. Hiding behind Al for a moment, she looks around desperately, before disappearing through the crowd. Al sighs.

"The gong went off almost as soon as you left..." You understand him to mean the gong that is rung from the mines if they run into any caverns populated by creatures. "They just... swarmed all over us. In minutes they were... everywhere. It was horrible, so much mindless violence." He shakes his head. "All my work: gone. But that's hardly the worst of it. No supplies, nothing to help us survive on the surface. Most of this lot have never been before, and I've only seen it once..." He trails off, staring over the crowd worriedly.

"Kitty!" Emmarabella calls softly. Pushing her way through the thinning crowd, she kneels next to you. "I... I saw what happened. Are you hurt?" She glares up at the loud man.

"I am unharmed."

I reply quietly, still staring at my feet, blindfold dangling round my neck.

"Leave me be. I will have recovered by the eve."

"That girl, who was she?" I indicate the direction she left in, "I don't remember seeing her before." Before I can be completely distracted I ask who is now in command since several hunters did not make it.

The girl at the woman's side swallows at her words.

"...I..." She hesitates for several seconds before getting to her feet, casting another annoyed look in your direction, puffing her cheeks out slightly and pouting.

The woman continues to sob. Al give you an odd look.

"I wouldn't have expected you to... she's one of the upperclassmen's daughters, she's my assistant's friend, that's the only reason I know her... Emmarabella her name is." He shrugs. "I'd warn you of her father but I do recall seeing him being ripped to shreds at the beginning of the battle. The vampires murdered him right in front of the poor girl and she's always been ever so timid..." He sighs. "Too many good people died today."

He pauses as you ask who's in charge.

"The captain is still alive, so I presume he'll take charge but..." He shrugs again and looks up the lift shaft nervously.

"...I..." She hesitates for several seconds before getting to her feet.

"Since you seem to know everyone, do you know who this is?" I ask, gesturing towards the sobbing woman.