[color=bc8dbf][b]Stormy[/b][/color]

Masks were removed, showing for some of those precious moments their faces, their true nature, as the masquerade continued, albeit, dancing to a different tune. And their hostess was becoming increasingly unnerving. Yet, somehow, Stormy had not fully committed to her decision. 

The bassoons and oboes of the fathomless blue only she heard soothed – no – subdued her mind. It was a surreal change to the routine Stormy had allowed herself to slip into, coddled by comfort and familiarity, and somehow she could not quite grasp the cold, grey instruments of pain and murder that were postured before her. Stormy rubbed her temple. She watched her feet shuffle and squash dirt and dust that caked the slabs of stone floor.

[color=26619c][b]IT. IS. SOON. TIME.[/b][/color]

These words had no voice, rather, they appeared in her mind as a deep and yawning understanding, a sentiment transferred to her across the ephemeral veil. There was a flash of the octopus, but something was different now…

[i]BANG![/i]

The thunder-crack was near deafening. Stormy whirled her attention towards it. In such a hard and flat space, the sound echoed and rang, fading eventually into a harsh ringing, and then into silence. Except it wasn’t silence; everyone began moving and acting, dancing to a new song of panic replacing that quiet string interlude of the ever-mounting tension. 

Stormy saw two bodies crumple, one onto the tracks, and the other into a corner. The police officer, that much she had gleamed even during her feverish state, quickly received help. Seeing the other man struggling to his feet, bleeding, and sweat pouring from his brow, Stormy felt obliged to aid him in some way. The world was uneven as she rushed over to him. 

Yes, this was surreal, but now it was mortally so; reality was now a frozen knife-point, pressed into the small of her back.   

[color=bc8dbf]“Darling,”[/color] She began, once in front of him, her arms flapped at her side, her hands reaching, and then shying away from him, [color=bc8dbf]“Uhm, I think you should lie down dear. You don’t look so great.”[/color] She looked around and gave an empty laugh, [color=bc8dbf]“Or maybe I can help you?” [/color]

It was then that another bolt of lightning split the world, and left Stormy’s ear throbbing. Turning from Oedipus, she almost gagged at the carnal amalgam that stretched from the body: globules of parietal and occipital lobe mingled with other viscera, blood, and shards of skull. Stormy stared, her hand slowly rising to cover her wide-open mouth. Tears fell freely.