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user is offline ●
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I don't put the napkin in my lap when I eat, because I trust myself.
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Global Moderator
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Post by Rire-chan on Oct 27, 2015 7:33:07 GMT -5
Enkauston Challenge
Rules of Competition: - All the stories submitted will be checked for copyright. - All the stories have to be PG 13. - The stories submitted will have to adhere to the writing prompt. - Your character/ the account you are competing with cannot transfer the Eukaustan item/prize to another account. - You may only compete against one Enkauston every week. - Even if you didn’t win, you’ll still get something, depending on the quality your submission. - Everyone that compete gets at least 1 EXP. - Enkaustons are allowed to turn down any amount of challenges if they already won three that month. |
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user is offline ●
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Never say anything that doesn't improve on silence.
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Purple Lady
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Hyperion
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Post by Vivi Perish on Oct 28, 2015 20:14:04 GMT -5
The violet haired girl sat in a coffee shop not too far away from the Perish estate. Sitting across from her was a girl with a head full of air. Yeah, she was nice and someone to talk with, but very hard to relate to. Vivi had never been to a public school, didn’t spend her time day dreaming about cute boys, and didn’t have the spare cash to even think about buying clothes on a whim, or staying in fashion. Regardless, it was nice to talk to someone different.
Different in the sense that this friend was very unlike the other people she spent most hours of her days with. Their eyes were hollow and wanting, and their hands constantly grasped for material gain. Eyes always on the prize. They valued gold more than they valued their spouses or children--blood of their blood. It was nice to be around someone who thought about the simple things in life for a change. Unfortunately, there were plans that evening for a big get together with her family, extended family, and even a few family friends.
Vivi wasn’t above slashing her own tires to avoid going to this dinner.
“…And he was like—‘Wanna go to the movies?’ And his friend was like, smirking behind him so I thought he was just kidding and told him no!” the girl across from her moaned, “I found out later he wasn’t! I could’ve gone out with Blake but I messed up…”
Vivi was shaken from her train of thought and tore her gaze away from the window.
“Ah… maybe you should just tell him you thought he was kidding?”
“I would’ve! But he asked me again on April first, I said yes that time but then he was kidding! It’s too late to fix—”
“Fuck that guy, he sounds like a douche,” Vivi furrowed her brow and took a sip of coffee.
Her gaze flicked toward the window once more, and upon spotting a familiar vehicle pulling into the parking lot she couldn’t pay attention to what the girl said any longer. Her words became a muffled drone in her ears, and Vivi’s posture became rigid. Was it nearing five o’ clock already? That was the time when her sister Velour was told to come pick her up. The fact that she was driving Vivi’s car kind of irked her, but there wasn’t much to be done about it. Everyone always supported Velour. She might as well have been the car’s owner.
“Listen, I’ve gotta go, Chelsea,” Vivi stood up from the table and picked up her coffee cup, “Family stuff. I hope we can talk again sometime soon though… good luck with Blake.”
“B-but you said he was a douche!” she squeaked.
“Deep down, everyone’s a douchebag,” the corner of her mouth quirked upward slightly and she walked toward the door, “Later!”
Vivi stepped out into the chilly air of early spring, the breeze blowing her messy hair into her eyes. She combed it aside as she made her way to the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Yanking open the door, she clambered into the seat and cast a sideways glance to her sister. They were about the same age and looked a lot a like. Velour was just a year younger, but still a good six inches taller than Vivi. One of the main differences people took note of in their appearances besides the height difference was Velour was a lot more filled out and muscular. But what Vivi noticed when she looked at her was the lack of life in her blue eyes. They were like azure stones set in her face, and when she walked, it was as if malice dripped down her shoulders. She'd seen night skies brighter than that girl's soul.
Velour turned and offered Vivi a smile, lifting a few fingers from the steering wheel in a wave.
“Good coffee?” she asked
“Yup,” Vivi set the paper cup in a holder and fastened her seat belt, “But I’m so fucking tired. I wish I could sleep.”
“Just shoot for after the dinner,” Velour suggested as she pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road.
Vivi fell silent for a moment after that. If only she could. Hell, if she could, she’d take a quick power nap right in the car.
“What’s the matter?” Velour questioned.
“I just… really can’t sleep,” Vivi sighed, “I get a few hours here and there in the day, but my dreams are jacked up and it’s hard to relax. I keep seeing things."
“I've always thought your mind must be a horrible place,” Velour replied, “No wonder you can’t sleep. Are you sick?”
“Sick makes it sound like there’s a cure…” Vivi cast a quick glance at her sister before looking out the window.
Velour was almost never this chatty. Yeah, they’d had their deep conversations but she was never one for small talk. It made Vivi uneasy. Velour usually got chatty when she wanted something.
"Of course there's a cure!" Velour slapped the steering wheel optimistically.
“There’s a cure for PTSD and vivid nightmares?” Vivi arched an eye brow, "If there is, by all means, point me to it."
“What’s PTSD?” Velour asked.
Vivi let out a sigh.
“…I don’t have the time or crayons to explain it to you.”
It suddenly occurred to Vivi that Velour had turned down a different road than the one they usually took to get back to the estate. A detour? Normally that’d be no big deal, but a change in behavior with Velour usually meant bad news. Then again, she seemed to be in a good mood today so maybe she was just overthinking it...?
“Hey hold up—I think you made a wrong turn.”
“Nah,” Velour shook her head, “I’ve gotta pick Valentine up from dance class and then we can head back. Don’t worry, we won’t miss much.”
Honestly, Vivi would’ve been fine with missing most of the dinner. Spending time with her family and extended family especially was hell. The greed in their eyes, the women’s perfume, the men’s cigar smoke, the alcoholic breath, and the stench of ulterior motives… it was suffocating. One of the worst parts in Vivi’s mind was how Sir and Ma’am would pretend their children were such flawless and brilliant angels. Vivi was far from an angel, and hearing the flattering words from the same mouths that called her scum of the earth just made her want to shrink into her seat and disappear. If any of her extended family really took the time to get to know her, they'd see it was bullshit. Vivi was the biggest disappointment of the children, and easily the most misbehaved (and ‘misbehaved’ was putting it lightly.)
“I thought she was going to help cook?” Vivi arched an eye brow.
There was a pause.
“Yeah, she wanted to, but she had a make up dance class today,” Velour chuckled, “She whined a ton but Ma’am made her go.”
Bull shit. Valentine didn’t whine. But then again, Velour saw it as whining whenever the girl opened her mouth.
Turning her gaze back to the windows, she furrowed her brow. It seemed they were heading toward the quieter and more sparsely inhabited part of the city, the kind of place where a dance class of the caliber Valentine attended would never be found. Her heart rate sped up. After almost being run through with a spear, drowned, and pushed out of a jet by this girl, there was no way Vivi could believe Velour had a good reason for driving her into a dark, uninhabited part of the city. She opened her mouth to comment on it, but Velour began speaking before she could.
“Poor Sir seems to be losing the spring in his step,” Velour mused, “As the heiress you’ll probably get a mint of money when he dies.”
“Well—” Vivi began.
“Even after blowing up the bridge so our associates couldn’t make it out of the city with the cargo,” she sucked her teeth, “You sure made a mess of that mission. And then with Eponine Manor--”
“They were human traffickers! Why should Sir've been dealing with them in the first place?” Vivi blurted out.
Yeah, Vivi had fire at her back and blood on her hands. She was a liar, and a despicable human being in general, but human trafficking had never sat well with her. Even criminals had their limits, she supposed.
“You could’ve gotten everyone in the syndicate caught,” Velour sniffed, “Keep your loyalties in mind.”
“I do…” Vivi murmured.
The car suddenly came to a stop and Velour removed the keys from the ignition. They had stopped in front of an alley near a some dilapidated buildings. The sun had almost set, causing thick shadows to hang over the empty streets and crumbled in walls. It was the kind of darkness you could taste. The kind you only saw in places where the human form rarely or never passed through.
Here it comes... Vivi thought.
“Get out,” Velour snapped.
Her voice had lost it’s tone. It was empty as her eyes.
Vivi hesitated, but obeyed when she saw Velour draw a cerated blade from her jacket. The violet haired girl slammed the car door behind her and took off sprinting down the dark road the way they came. This definitely wasn't the first time Velour had tried to kill her. Judging from what she had just been saying, this time it was because she had money on her mind. And deep down, she probably still regarded Vivi as a traitor.
Vivi’s heart sank when she heard her sister’s swift foot steps behind her. Velour outclassed her in nearly every physical aspect, be it speed, muscle, and even brains. Once the girl was too close for comfort, Vivi whirled around and caught Velour’s wrist just as she had moved to bring the blade down on her body.
“Just fuck'n die already!" Velour screamed.
Velour twisted her wrist and jerked the blade against the top of Vivi’s forearm. She scrambled back, holding the torn up flesh to her chest and quelling a scream.
“I-I’m your sister! Why do you even need to!? I’m not a traitor and I don’t want the god damn birth right!” she yelled, her voice cracking.
“You’re always the one disagreeing and trying to change things,” she hissed, “And really, since when has our family line put blood before progress? I'd take a safe full of money over you, Valentine, or Veil any day. I won’t let you bring us down. You act all self righteous when you’ve probably killed more than I have! Than Veil and Valentine! You’re as much of a sinner as Sir. ”
It was true. But the difference was Vivi wanted to be different. Sir didn't. But it seemed the things she’d done were a brand to her back.
“I know it’s about the money too,” Vivi said breathlessly. She grit her teeth, doing her best to ignore the burning pain in her arm. Warm liquid soaked through her shirt and dripped to the ground.
"Yeah. It’s the birth right too. But who doesn’t want that?” she frowned, taking a few steps closer, “Sir’s got cash, land, and even gold. Lots of it.”
Velour was as greedy as the rest of her family. It made terrible sense their syndicate had been nicknamed Avarice. Here she was, valuing material gain over the life of her sister, her own flesh and blood. She had a choice between gold and blood, and she chose the first.
Vivi took a few unsteady steps backward, her lips quivering. She liked to think she was tough… but Velour was always the exception to her act. She was terrifying. There were times when things seemed like they were going back to normal, but here she was again bringing the pain.
“Valentine’s a smart girl,” Vivi breathed, “She’ll figure out what you did.”
Velour spread his hands and a grin tugged at the corners of her mouth.
“I honestly don’t care if anyone finds out about this,” she replied, “No one will do a thingt.”
Velour dashed forward and shoved the knife towards her. Vivi knocked her arm aside and slammed her knuckles into the side of Velour’s face before backpedaling. Her sister’s head snapped to the side, but she slowly moved the face her again, spitting out a bit of blood on the ground.
Her hand shot out and gripped Vivi’s collar tightly.
“Give up. What’ve you got to live for anyway? Kaya’s dead. Your family hates you. You’re. Going. Nowhere.”
How the hell did she know about Kaya...? Panic rose in Vivi’s throat as Velour’s words set in.
“I’ve always got a purpose…” Vivi hissed and slammed her knee into Velour’s stomach.
She grunted, but this time her grip tightened and she drove the knife into Vivi’s abdomen. At first, it just felt as if something blunt had slammed into her, but a burning, piercing pain that spread through her body followed, and worsened when she jerked the knife out. Vivi’s knees buckled, and red and black swam in her vision.
The violet haired girl fell to the ground, clamping her hands down on top of the wound to slow the bleeding. Her breaths were short and raspy, but in spite of it all, she couldn’t cry. However much she wanted to, she couldn’t cry.
“If I could go back to the day I met you, I would turn and walk away,” Velour shook her head and wiped the blade off on a handkerchief, “At least that way my life would be less stressful, and you’d actually get to keep yours.”
Vivi knew she didn’t have much time. The only way she’d be able to do anything before she closed her eyes for good was if she pretended to die right away. Vivi dragged herself to the side of the road and curled up next to the side of the building. There, she allowed her muscles to relax, slowed her breathing, and closed her eyes.
There was silence for a while. A violent silence, where she desperately wanted to thrash and scream in pain, but couldn’t.
“Wild, wicked girl…” Velour murmured behind her, “Look what you’ve made me do…”
Foot steps. A car door slammed. Moments later the vehicle pulled away and out of sight.
Vivi sat up and clutched her hands over her wound once more, biting her lip till she drew blood to suppress her screams. She was falling away. There was no chance she’d make it to help in time or that help would make it to her. So what did she want to do with the last moments of her life?
Vivi took her phone from her pocket and stared at the bright screen. Five thirty on the dot. The dinner was starting by now. The violet haired girl scrolled through her contacts, and did her best to view them in spit of the blood she smudged onto the screen.
Valentine Perish.
If there was anything she could do before she went, it would be to have a nice conversation with her one more time. Vivi hit call, and waited. Moments passed and no one picked up.
“Don’t let it end like this…” Vivi whispered, staring at the phone’s screen, the lone speck of light in the darkness around her.
“I have to say something…”
Then, Valentine called back. Vivi frantically picked up and held the phone to her ear.
“Val…?” her voice cracked.
“Vivian!” she replied, “You gonna be home soon?”
“Yeah…! I just wanted to see how the cooking was going.”
“It’s going pretty good! I made an apple pie all by myself… I hope Velour doesn’t tease me about how ugly the top is.”
“I bet it’s beautiful.”
The tears came. She wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, and struggled to keep herself from sniffling.
“You’re a talented chick," the corner of Vivi's mouth turned up slightly, "I love you so much, Valentine.”
“Your voice is funny… are you feeling alright?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Are you lying?”
A pause.
“...Yeah.”
“I know you hide what you feel, a lot," Valentine said slowly, "It’s okay, I do it too.”
“You do?”
“Mm-hmm," she replied, "Sometimes you’ve gotta. You act so calm and kept together, but I know you’ve been having break downs. I keep an eye on you to make sure you’re alright.”
“Thanks a bunch, Valentine…”
“So you’re not alright?”
“I’ve finally gone in over my head,” Vivi drew a labored breath, “Couldn’t run fast enough this time.”
“Vivian, do you need help?”
There was a hint of panic in her voice.
“I think it’s a bit too late… for that…," she coughed and let out a wry chuckle, "But you’ve helped me enough. I just needed to hear you.”
“Vivian!” Valentine’s voice quaked this time, “D-did someone hurt you…?”
Vivi felt her arms slacken and she could hardly hold up the phone anymore. She laid on her side and set the phone close to her face.
“I’m fine… Think of it this way—I can finally get some sleep.”
“Viv—”
“Goodnight. Never stop being the badass little lady you are.”
Her head clouded over and she could barely hear anymore. Valentine’s words reached her ears sounding muffled. She had the strength to push out a few more words though.
“I love you.”
There was always an upside. Tonight, she’d sleep, but she wouldn’t dream.
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