Epocheia

[FoxTrott]

It was raining hard, and now there was a crow trying to get into the cage with Ericken. He groaned and took off his jacket, putting it on his head like a sort of shield from the precipitation. Dread overtook him when he glanced down, seeing the surf so many feet below. He whimpered slightly, and pulled the jacket closer around him.

~~

Vincent couldn't help but stare up at the ceiling, wondering what made a beast, so fiercesome that groups of it were called murders, whimper.

[Sparrow]

The crow continued to work through, and then finally fell to the floor of the cage. It quickly got to its feet and stared up at Ericken. For now it kept silent and fluffed up its feathers to shake the water from them.

The crow watches the dark void silently for a moment more before looking back down to Vince. It starts cawing out the window repeatedly until it hears a reply. It watches out the window as the group of crows that attacked Ericken draw closer. The one on the sill looks back down to Vince and dives off the ledge just as several crows fly in one by one. In all there’re twelve crows circling above. Several make poor attempts to land and cling to the walls, but eventually seven mange to hold on. The rest continue to circle.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken stared back at the crow. "You know, it would be a lot more beneficial if you crept out of the cage instead of into it." He moved his jacket so it covered him and the crow in a gesture of kindness.

A definite murder of crows slowly poured into the room. Vince wished he had an armory with him so he could shoot those crows out of the sky once and for all.

[Sparrow]

Taken by surprise the crow allows Ericken to cover it. It tilts its head at this gesture but does nothing else for several moments. After another increase of pouring rain, it hops over closer to him.

By now all the crows have clung to the wall. They each keep a silent watch on him for about a full minute. The one that had rested on the sill originally is the first to dive, swooping in from behind but not snagging onto him. Instead it passed overhead a few inches away. It then flies up to another crow clinging to the wall. The clinging crow drops and swoops overhead, the previous crow clings to where the other rested. The crows take turns switching places like this several times before they all resettle to the wall. Then they call in a clucking manner to one another.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken sighed, and did his best to shield both himself and the crow from the rain. He had a soft spot for animals, especially animals in need. This one just happened to be in need of shelter.

Vince instinctively ducked as the first crow whooshed by. Eventually, he grew used to them flying far too close for comfort, and plugged his ears to try to drown out the annoying chatter.

[Sparrow]

The crow stays next to him. The cage shakes, as if the chain holding it was jostled. A Reaper dressed in black stood on the wooden pole above just next to the chain. The reaper watches him silently.

The crows fall deathly silent and watch him unblinkingly. After several minutes they all spring off the wall and dive towards him, aiming to make impact. A split second before they reach him a cage drops down and lands over the platform, it is the width of the platform prior to loosening rings. It reaches to the water below. One crow that had gotten closest, the original one from the sill, had been struck by the falling cage and fell into the water. The fish kept well away from it, as it panicky flailed. It clung to the cage side to avoid drowning. Above on a ledged platform hidden in the darkness stood a reaper dressed in black. Its red eyes lit on its mask as it looked down to him. All the other crows flee out the window in panic after noticing the reaper.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken yelped in surprised as the cage shook, and looked up. He frowned at the sight of the reaper. "Can I help you?" he grumbled.

Vince hit the platform like a soldier diving away from a grenade, except he didn't really move anywhere. He only uncovered his head when everything had stopped moving. He glared up at the reaper, but didn't say anything.

[Sparrow]

The reaper made a small light laugh in response. It took something from its pocket, a blowdartgun. It moved its mask aside, though the cloak kept its face hidden, and fired a small dart at him.

The reaper watched Vince silently for a moment before taking a blowdartgun from its pocket. Its face was still hidden by the surrounding darkness as it fired the dart.



Edited: Typo! D< *kills typo*
Edited II: More typos. o.o *zaps typos*

[FoxTrott]

Ericken had made one of the creepiest things he had seen laugh. He shuddered slightly, only to jump as the dart hit his arm. Not before whatever drug was in it could take effect, he pulled the dart out and tossed it aside. He made a small "nnggh" noise before flopping forward, K.O.'d.

Vince watched the reaper right back, daring it to move. He noticed too late that there was a dart speeding towards him. It struck his neck, and he prayed to whatever god happened to be listening before lying on the platform, pretending to be unconscious.

[Sparrow]

The cage is brought up by its chain and Ericken is removed and taken to the infirmary for a quick check up, mainly to check blood pressure and pulse. The crow was brought as well, though not willingly. The reapers in powder blue ensure proper procedure is taken in moving him. The reaper that had darted him waits on standby in case it is needed. After the quick check up, he is placed in the same medical room as before, where the reaper in white asked him his fears. The mouse from before is on the medical bed, sitting next to him. It watches him while twitching its whiskers. The reaper in white is across the room sitting in a rolling chair. Its mask for now shows no detail, and the crow from the cage rests on its lap, with one of its wings in a sling. The reaper is gently stroking it as it naps.

A second or two after Vince is on the ground the cage raises and the platforms outer rings return. The crow that had snagged onto the cage is lifted with it. The reaper jumps down onto the platform to ensure that Vince is unconscious before taking further action.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken stayed unconscious through the entire thing. A while after he was set back in the original room, he bolted awake, breathing hard. The room was much more calming than the storm and the cage outside. He exhaled, and leaned forward, panting. "Oh, God," he muttered, "That was the worst nightmare..."

Vince was barely holding off the effects of the dart. When he heard the reaper hit the platform, he jumped to his feet, and grabbed the reaper's wrists to prevent it from grabbing anything. His voice was a hiss, a nasty, low tone. "What was the purpose of possibly killing me."

[Sparrow]

“Yes..... A dream... If that will allow you to sleep at night, go ahead thinking that.” the reaper in white says calmly.
It turns its head to look to him, its almond shaped eyes appear, its mouth remains yet to be seen.
“I’m glad you’re awake now. Are you feeling alright?” it asks coolly.

When caught by the wrist the reaper remains still, its red eyes narrow into further slits.
“What would be frightening if death wasn’t a possibility?” it asks in a warped tone, crossed between a squeaky fence and a low static.
It tilts its head and looks down to the water. The fish are slowly circling the platform.
“Nasty little fish aren’t they?”
It looks back to him,
“You seem tired.... Here’s a poem to help you sleep...”
It waits a moment before continuing in a creepily calm voice,
“Here come the nurses to put you to bed....”
It pauses not finishing the end of the poem.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken cursed in Forlian. "So that wasn't a dream?" he asked in a panicked tone, "Hell no I'm not feeling all right, I was hanging above the god-forsaken ocean in a cage that could break any minute, and next thing I know, I'm here!"

Vince watched the reaper's face, his own eyes locking onto the thin lines that took up the reaper's eyes. He stayed silent in response, mostly because the sudden movement had taken plenty out of him. He didn't dare glance over the side of the platform, because he knew what was down there. "I'm not tired," he insisted, his grip weakening.

[Sparrow]

“At least you’re not hanging over the cliff anymore.... That, and the murder didn’t get to you. They’ve been growing more and more daring.” It says calmly, stroking the crow nesting on its lap.
“Are you feeling well ...mentally? Is what I’m really asking.” It takes a clip board from a side holder on the chair, then clicks a pen open to write with.
For now it writes nothing, and only watches him.

“Oh really?” the reaper asks in a sarcastic tone.
It tilts its head back to him.
“Then I should finish the poem for your aid...”
It takes a moment’s pause, noticing his weakening grip.
“Here come the nurses to put you to bed...”
Suddenly the it catches him around the throat with its free hand, only holding tight enough to make it difficult for him to pull away.
“...But here stands a reaper to chop off your head.”
It snickers in a hissing laugh as a second pair of silted red eyes appear just above the first pair. Its grip remains firm enough to hold unless greatly fought against. Its hand has a cold almost metallic feeling to it, with apparent claws at its finger tips and thumb.

[FoxTrott]

"Mentally?" Ericken echoed. He thought for a moment. He wasn't convulsing or panicking, so he seemed to be okay mentally. "Um... I guess so." He finally noticed the crow and started at its presence. When he realized it wasn't going to attack him, he calmed down.

Darkness slowly enroached upon the edges of Vince's vision. He gasped when he felt the metallic fingers wrap around his neck. It seemed like the red eyes were the only thing he could see aside from darkness. Slowly, Vincent stopped struggling, and fell unconcsious.