~.: "Panic Room" :.~
~.: AU/RA :.~
~.: De's POV :.~
Eery howling coming from all directions around us and the sudden appearance of the two wraith-like canines startled us more than it should have and it took me by surprise when Aria and Lexie split off from our group, isolating themselves in the process. Agitatedly, I groaned while running a frustrated hand through my twig-tangled and thorn-embedded hair. So much for safety in numbers, I irritably thought as I scowled at the tall gnarled trees shrouding out any possible path of escape.
"God, I just wanna get out of here..." I whimpered softly, rubbing my forehead, "I don't even know where 'out of here' issss, " I couldn't help the pitiful edge in my complaint as I rubbed my arms in anxiety, "I wish Dick was here with me..." I sighed softly, kicking up a few pebbles as I continue on my way towards whatever direction I was going in. Hell if I know where the heck I'm going. Can't see anything it's so foggy...
"Why would you want him with you when I'm right here, babygirl~" the hairs at the back of my neck stand up in alarm as the sound of someone's familiar voice sounds right beside my ear, "I can protect you better than he ever could~" I shudder as the sensation of someone's hands along shoulders throws off my senses. It's this stupid place. Seth isn't here, it's not him. Have to keep moving.
Heart in my throat as adrenaline courses through my veins, I hurriedly jumped over a decaying bramble bush, hoping against hope that I'd somehow run into Aria or Lexie in this god forsaken place. Is anyone else here? Or was it just Lexie, Aria, and I here? My thoughts spiral around uselessly in my brain as I focus on getting as much distance between me and the threatening whispers as humanly possible. There has to be a way for me to find them. I need to catch back up to them somehow- Crunching leaves underfoot nearby froze me in my tracks as I paused beside the gnarled base of a towering ancient oak but before I could get into a defensive stance, the very owner of the footsteps appears like an apparition out of the dark in front of me and my stomach does a mini somersault.
"You won't be able to find them," Ryan chuckles, only it's not Ryan. I know it can't be him, the light in his eyes is too distorted with hate that it just can't be him. I refuse to believe it even as his form gets closer, my heart pounding ever faster in my ears, "They've got their own demons to worry about. Just like all the rest of your friends."
My eyes narrow at him in caution as I back away from him, tripping over a vine that seemed to have sprouted out nowhere from the heavily worn ground beneath us, "What do you want from us?" I snapped, scrambling as far out of range from him as I could whilst struggling to wrench my ankle from the vine, "Where are we?" My inquiries are merely a method of stalling so that I can escape before the wraith can close the gap between us but it's clearly not working because within the blink of an eye, Ryan evaporates and re-materializes near inches from my face. A panicked squeak escapes my lips as I fall backwards, kicking my legs out uselessly in defense when his hands surprisingly force me backwards.
Two feet appear to my left side and I squint upwards to see that another wraith has appeared, this one taking the appearance of Seth. This place probably is able to invade my inner fears... I suddenly realize, swallowing thickly as I quickly yank my ankle away from the restraining vine and rolled out of Ryan's and Seth's grasps. Which way should I go? My gaze darts hurriedly between Ryan and Seth before settling determinedly on the open path laying behind them. The wraiths aren't paying attention to where my gaze is and I easily dart between them, keeping my arms tucked close to my body so that neither of them can grab me. Just keep going, don't look back!
"Where ya running to, Princess?" Seth calls out after me, "You know you're just running in circles, just give up already!~"
I gritted my teeth in agitation, briefly screwing my eyes shut as I determinedly shake my head to force out the sounds of the wraiths voices chorusing behind me. Gotta find the others, they're bound to be around here somewhere, I know it. If I could just use my powers maybe I'd be able to send some kind of message to Aria or something! I irritably focus on summoning my telepathic powers and for a moment, they're there and they're working but, within a millisecond, its like a switch of some kind is flipped and my abilities fizzle out like a flame doused by spilled water.
"What the..?" I breathed raggedly, trying to steady my racing heartbeat as I glance shakily down at my palms, "Dammit, why can't I use my powers?" I hissed, shaking my head agitatedly as I come to a brief pause in the middle of the pathway.
"That would be because of me, little deer," an unfamiliar voice leeringly states from somewhere above but when I cast my gaze upwards, only the sight of the towering tree branches greets my eyes and I narrowed my eyes suspiciously as the voice continues, "You see, if you or any of your friends for that matter were able to use your powers, that would've been considered unfair to the people playing who don't have superhuman powers like yours. ~"
The things that this voice is spitting out are just infuriating me further as I turn my gaze back towards the way I'd come. Neither Ryan or Seth has followed me, thankfully, but I don't feel safe enough to take a resting break. Sighing irritably, I decide to tread deeper into the tree line seeing as that's the only option I have now. Just how did we all end up here? One minute Dick and I are in our hotel room and the next we're here... wherever here is exactly. So what happened? I purse my lips, staring firmly straight ahead, Dick and I passed out, that's all I remember... I woke up here in the woods with Aria and Lexie though... So where's Dick?
"Ya lost, babygirl?" Seth's voice chuckles softly from somewhere beside me but when I turn my head to see where he's at, my gaze catches nothing and I inwardly face palm myself. Of course I can't see him, he's a weird ghost thingy that can appear and disappear whenever he wants, I mentally scold myself as I put a little more speed in my step. In my haste to get away from him, however, I failed to take note of how the ground suddenly sloped downward into a steep ravine and I just barely catch myself before I can tumble over the edge.
"Back off!" A familiar voice shouts from somewhere below and my heart skips frantically as I recognize it as Dick's.
"Dick?! Where are you?" I shouted, my voice ringing out uselessly. Even if he can hear me, how am I supposed to- The sensation of warm breath on the back of my neck along with a single strong hand on the small of my spine causes my heart to momentarily stop. I know who it is before the voice even sounds against my neck, swallowing hard, I try to turn around, to try and run maybe, but find myself being shoved backwards. I catch a fleeting look of Seth as Ryan's voice sounds calls down to me while my body tumbles down the gravely hill.
"This nightmare is just beginning."
I clench my eyes tightly as I blindly stretch out my arms to catch myself on something, anything, but it's useless. I tumble and tumble for what feels like an eternity, my body crashing against a multitude of painful jabbing rocks and branches and broken twigs along the way. Part of me wonders how I'm still conscious, but I can't bring myself to even answer that question as I lurch to a stop finally amongst what I'm assuming are more thorn bushes, judging by the sharp stabbing sensations greeting my bare exposed skin. For a few moments, I can't even get up. My body just refuses to listen to me, and my heart jumps into my throat as a black mist starts to materialize from the upturned rocks nearest to me.
The mist twists and knots as it creeps out between the cracks of the knocked over boulders and shakily, I finally somehow managed to scramble into a barely standing position, straining my already bruised and aching muscles as I do so. I don't like this, is the only thought that crosses my mind as I swallow hard while glancing behind me for anything to fend myself off with. Coming up with nothing, I grit my teeth in irritation, shooting another quick glance over at the steadily formulating mist-figure, and with a determined hiss, I scramble my way over the boulder behind me, just barely keeping my balance. Soft whispers begin to emit from the strange shadow-like creature and my adrenaline kicks in once again, giving me just one more boost of momentary energy as I focus on getting as far away from this thing as I can manage in my already wary state.
Hope spills in my stomach as I spot an opening in the tree cover ahead and the sound of Acacia's voice screaming greets my ears thankfully while I steadily approach. If she's here then, maybe- My thoughts get cut off as I trip over another stupid vine, tumbling literally head over heels into the clearing. Seth materializes over me as I come to a messy stop across from Acacia, and as my gaze meets hers, Seth pulls me by my hair and throws me into the nearest tree so hard that it knocks the breath out of me. Stars fly across my vision as I struggle to get back up, but my limbs collapse under the weight of my body and I huff in exhaustion as Seth smirks arrogantly down at me.
~.: Dick's POV :.~
Almost as soon as I'd helped Acacia to her feet once more, Jared let's out another enraged growl before rushing at me while my back is turned. The only warning I'd had before he was on top of me practically was the whisping sound of his fist whipping past my face. I must barely dodged, sweeping out an arm to block another attack from him, Acacia's widened ice blue gaze darting frantically between the two of us.
"Trying to steal Acacia from me after everything you put her through?" Jared continues to rage as I manage to send him sprawling with an unbalancing kick to the back of one of his knees while he's whirling to keep up with how quickly I'm deflecting his blows, "You have no idea how much pain you put her through for years, Grayson!" He growls furiously, his hazel gaze clouded with frustration. I raised an eyebrow confusedly at him but just when I'm about to correct him, my focus is thrown off by the sudden appearance of Deanne tumbling into the clearing we're standing in. A mist like figure resembling Seth tosses her into a nearby tree but before I can react Jared tackles me to the ground.
"I don't know what you're seeing," I hissed blocking my face with my arm as he lashes out at me, "But I'm not stealing anyone or anything. In case you hadn't noticed, you attacked your own girlfriend," I manage to flip him off of me, shoving him out of the way, "Calm down. You're letting your emotions cloud your judgement," I snapped irritably as he glares indignantly in response. My gaze momentarily flashes toward Acacia who's shaking and covering her face with her hands but before I can reassure her, a loud thud sounds on the opposite end of the clearing and I turn to see that Seth has pinned Deanne by the throat to the same tree she'd hit not a few moments ago.
"De!" I called out, rushing towards her as Seth pulls one of his arms back to swing at her. Narrowing my eyes, I skid toward them, knocking Seth away from my girlfriend in the process as Deanne collapses to the ground limply, "Stay away from my girlfriend," I growled, glaring at the wraith like entity as it evaporates into thin air.
~.: Wally's POV :.~
My heart wrenches painfully as I over hear Aria's voice going on about hearing me say that I never loved her, "That's not true, Aria!" I cried out, "Please listen to me! It's this stupid place. It's messing with your head," I don't know what else to say. I mean how can you explain this entire situation? One minute we're totally fine, she's taking her meds and then she passes out. Amelia and I- Amelia! My heart drops into my stomach as I whirl around trying to see if I can spot her, but she's nowhere to be seen. Where's Amelia?
"You never loved me, Wally. I should've just died with Ryan in that car crash all those years ago- I should've just died on the bathroom floor a month ago- I'm so useless!" Aria's broken sobbing voice continues on and I feel my heart breaking at the very sound of how broken it is.
"Aria, no-" I cried out, heading towards the source of her voice but just when I thought I knew where it was coming from, it switched directions and I paused confusedly, "Aria, where are you?!"
~.: Jason's POV :.~
I smirked softly as Octavia turned and started running away again, "You can't run forever! I'll catch you soon enough," I laughed arrogantly, rounding a fallen tree trunk with ease as Octavia's form disappears behind a cluster of thorn bushes.
~.: TO BE CONTINUED :.~
