[center] Karin Amsel

Grand Hall - Entrance[/center]

The faint, rhythmic tapping of high heels echoed through the otherwise silent and empty corridors like an eerie melody of sorts, signaling Karin’s approach. Her little adventure had turned up nothing interesting yet but it had only been a few minutes and she was determined to find [b]something[/b] with even a speck of intrigue. In a school this big and as mysteriously (some would say ridiculously) opulent, it only made sense for all sorts of dirty little secrets to have been hidden. The brunette hummed a tune under her breath attempting to shake off the uneasy silence that enshrouded the area. Several minutes later, her golden eyes alighted on an impressive structure a bit further away. The Grand Hall rose up in front of her, both imposing and magnificent at the same time. 

A sudden breeze blew over her, ruffling her hair and bringing with it the faint yet distinctive sound of multiple screams. An involuntary shiver passed down the girl’s spine as her stride slowed and she narrowed her eyes in the direction of the sound – the Grand Hall. [i]Just what on earth is going on at the orientation ball?[/i] Though she was inexperienced in such matters, even she knew that panicked screams were not part of a college orientation ceremony. Well, not unless it was some sort of creepy cult thing where they offered blood sacrifices and all that. Demeanor shifting from curious to wary, she began to walk towards the building. 

“Excellent plan, Karin. Walk [b]towards[/b] the screams, not away from it.” The girl muttered to herself as her feet carried her towards the direction of trouble. Approaching the building from a side, she tried the handle of a small, nondescript door. To her surprise it swung open without much protest. Feeling a bit hesitant, she stepped inside the unbelievably vast room. 

As she neared, she could make out a tall figure, obviously a male, with his back turned to her as he faced the massive double doors. His broad back hid any view of what he was attempting to do, whether it was to confine or release the students. The fine hairs on the back of Karin’s neck stood up in alarm as the man turned around, alerted by her arrival or perhaps because he was done with whatever business. The male’s identity was effectively obscured by a simple black mask, the light gleaming off it as he raised his head. His jewel green eyes, clearly visible through the eye holes suddenly shifted – their pupils contracting into hairline slits like that of a snake. A barely audible gasp escaped the girl’s lips as the masked man blinked, the action utterly unnatural on a human as it resembled exactly those of a reptile’s. Her mind raced as thoughts fell over themselves while trying to find an answer, a solution. Anything to help her get out of her current situation unscathed. 

Warning bells went off in her brain as her eyes widened in shock and horror. The fear in her desperately wanted it to be a trick of the light, the concept that someone who looked otherwise human could possess reptilian eyes was too alien, too horrifying to comprehend. Karin took a step back, unable and unwilling to turn her back on him though every instinct in her was screaming to flee. She was aware of the sounds of a fight, muffled by the Hall’s walls; all background noise to her as her heartbeat thumped an ascending beat in her ears. A stinging pain in her palms brought on the realization that she’d curled her fingers into fists, her nails digging into the soft skin of her palms. The brunette stood her ground, unwilling to show him her fear though her slender frame was partially frozen in place.[i]What happens now?[/i]

Fortunately for her, or perhaps unfortunately, she didn’t have to wonder for long. An inhuman shriek shattered the night air as a figure came hurtling off the balcony, landing a few feet in front of her. Though the fall was slowed down somewhat, it wasn’t the most graceful landing, as far as landings went. A woman, though Karin was unsure if she could even be called that, was bloodied and looked royally pissed off. Then again, getting thrown off a balcony was hardly something that’d leave people in cheerful spirits. Mostly, they’d just end up dead or very broken. [i]What the hell is this place? I’m beginning to regret ever coming here. And it hasn’t even been a day![/i] Karin thought disgustedly as she eyed the avian woman. Feathers grew out of her arms, almost forming misshapen wings matted with blood.

The dark haired girl felt as if she’d somehow managed to walk into an episode of Supernatural or some other paranormal show. Despite all logic claiming that no such creatures existed, she knew that the two figures facing her were very real. Adrenaline coursed through her veins like fire, giving her strength and a little bit of courage. Her best bet was to distract the two and get as far away as possible. Maybe eat a pint of icecream after she managed to get away. Deciding that it was now or never, Karin swiftly kicked her feet into the air, one leg after the other sending her shoes flying at bird lady. A satisfying thump echoed as the shoes connected with the Harpy’s stomach, causing it to utter a surprised squawk. There could’ve been thousands of more impressive and effective ways to take care of suspicious non-human creatures, like say martial arts or a flamethrower. Sadly, all she had were her stilettos. Stilettos were not to be underestimated– Beautiful and potential neck breakers but could serve as alternative projectiles in the case of an emergency.