[Center][b][color=ec008c]Shelby Jackson - Her Apartment above S&W Weaponry [/color][/b][/center] Breathing heavily, Shelby ran as fast as she could, but she seemed to keep slowing instead, her legs felt like she had cinderblocks for shoes. She turned the corner and froze in her tracks as her bound parents stared up at her with tears flowing from their eyes, “Please don't, Shelby, please, we love you. We had no idea what Mr. Fussiler was doing.” Shelby swallowed, “Yes you did,” she choked out just like she did when she was 15 years old. "Prove you are indeed worthy of such a request" Calypso said, handing Shelby the staff regarding the young woman's plea to join Calypso. Like she was watching a movie, Shelby saw herself walk over to her parents, without hesitation, they pleaded, apologizing profusely for anything they had ever done to the her. None of it fazed her, she spun the staff, and executed them right there, no tears, no remorse. She looked at Calypso, she smiled back at Shelby, "very well done indeed, we shall hone your skills my dear, come now." Shelby clapped her hands over eyes and fell to her knees sobbing, “I am so sorry, Mom…Dad. Dad….I’m…” She crawled back up, using the wall, “Forgive m….” her parents faded away. She turned and saw the glowing green smoke lurk closer and she started running again. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she desperately tried running until it felt like she was stuck in a swamp hardly going anywhere. When she did move forward, obstacles obstructed her path and the green smoke swallowed her. “Where are they? Where is Eliza? These so called… [i]Rough Riders...hmm [/i]?” Hissed Calypso. Shelby struggled in the bindings, the metal clasps dug into her wrists, “I....I don't know.” “Well, I trusted your decision and well, it put my life in jeopardy. [B]IT PUT MY EMPIRE IN JEOPARDY!!![/b]” Shelby winced in anticipation as Calypso screamed, “[b]LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL WHO CROSS ME, TO ALL WHO DO NOT FULLFILL THEIR OBLIGATION TO THE JADED EMPIRE!!![/B]” Calypso got by Shelby's ear, “And to all that I give a responsibility to whom make unwise decisions based on feelings.” The crowd roared like it was a sporting event when Calypso raised the glass imbedded whip and cracked across Shelby's bare back. Shelby bit her lip until it bled, her clasps chewed at her wrists like a rabid dog. Again, this time her legs buckled, again and her legs gave out leaving her stretched out. “Only 47 more lashes Love,” Calypso grinned then Laughed aloud. It seemed like an eternity before the last crack of the whip was heard and tossed next to Shelby, her blood stained the shards of glass and leather as she clung to a string just to keep her eyes open. “THREE DAYS, THREE DAYS SHALL SHE BE ON DISPLAY SHOULD ANY OF YOU DECIDE TO CROSS ME. UPON THE DUSK OF THE THIRD DAY SHE SHALL BE DRAWN AND QUARTERED,” Calypso kneeled down and pat Shelby's back causing her to painfully twitch, “Do enjoy your accommodations Darling, I shall see you in three days. ------------------------------------------------------------ Shelby sat straight up in bed drenched in sweat, she pulled her knees to her chest and rest her face on them and began to sob. She was thankful for the yelling in the street that woke her up from her recurring nightmare, or actually, remembering the severe sting of Calypso's whip. She gathered herself up, using the towel still laying on the bed to wipe off her face and sweaty chest. She swung her legs to the side of the bed, the floor was still warm from the heat of the day as she stood up on wobbly legs. Grabbing a makeup mirror she turned around, using it to see the scars of the 50 lashes Calypso had dealt. They made Mr. Fusiler’s whip scars look lile childs play. “Was I right? To stand up to Calypso?” She reached back and touched her wounds, there were spots that lacerated deeply that were still tender to the touch, “Apparently I should never have...fuck that, Calypso is out of her fucking mind.” She silently thanked Waylon for cutting her loose, and not only that, helped to escape after he stole a significant amount of caps from Calypso. Surely Calypso had noticed the missing caps along with her former protege, who knew if she had placed a bounty on them or not, or if Calypso still held a place for Shelby in her blackened heart and frail mind. Shelby slowly pulled on a pair of black leggings and a blue t-shirt. She sighed, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes and went up to the roof. She couldn't go to the diner in case that mutant was there, so she choose to have a drink up high in the roof and look down on the up and coming town. She reached into a cooler and grabbed her pint of oiss warm whiskey, twisting off the cap and throwing some back. “This is good. This is a good place to start over, start fresh. Kinda lonely, but safe for now at least.” “Yeah, a little lonely,” Waylon walked out onto the roof, “Nightmares again? I was awake, heard ya walk upstairs.” Shelby jumped, “Asshole. You want a pull?” “Brought my own babe. Let's take one together,” Waylon twisted off the cap on his pint. Shelby smiled and nodded, they both raised their pints. “To a new life,” They both said simultaneously as it had become their toast of choice and they both threw back their bottles.