[center][youtube]https://youtu.be/sJcGo5pIoSA?si=wG7ca0v15Hk6hynl[/youtube]

[i]"If I could, I would [stop] this madness."[/i][/center]

[h1][u]Ciara Ventura[/u][/h1]

The fire of a distant gunshot. It was lost amid the display before her disbelieving eyes.

A cardboard sign pointing the way to the auditorium, nearly knocked over in the rush of puppeted mannequins wielding all manner of mad chef tools. 

But she had to be honest, these threatening mannequins were the [i]best[/i] thing to happen to her. She could use them. Spinning slightly in the rushing air, her foot came to rest on the chest of one mannequin before smashing it backward, toppling two to three other puppets as they broke Ciara's fall. She lept back as more mannequins closed the gap, her feet firmly set on the plaza grounds.

[i][b]"The beatings won't be too severe, for what it's worth~."[/b][/i] The same, unseen voice. Ciara had to assume it was one of the teachers of the school. She made a face, staring down the mannequins preparing to lunge at her, having recovered from 'softening' her landing.

That was when a glint caught her eye.

Her eyes widened as a distinct clap of thunder rang out, pinning her heart to the floor of her ribcage. Smoke blew off his gun as her eyes recovered from the flash. She followed the line of sight, watching the mannequins get explosively sent back again. Perhaps this time, they wouldn't be so keen to stand up as quickly.

So he wasn't aiming for her. Then... why?

[i][b]“A truce,”[/b][/i] he said simply. 

A smile that wasn't her own pulled at the corners of her lips. A Voice that wasn't hers cackled madly in her mind. She wasn't sure if it was intoxicated from the prospect of nearly dying, or if it was simply excited to work with a dark aura.

[i]"We can't die."[/i] The Voice chided her. She could feel the gleeful pride in its voice.

[i]"Real shame, that."[/i] She thought wistfully, trying to keep track of two conversations as the dark one spoke to her.

There was a knock in her mind, which she 'opened' the door to easily enough. A trip in Ciara's mind was, well, unlike most minds. If one had to describe it, there was the presence of Ciara, and then there was [i]something else[/i]. Like a sea of oppressive black from which angry red eyes stared out in a haphazard manner. Like a patchwork of different entities.

The Voices were immediately silent, simply staring hard as the dark aura's voice resounded in Ciara's mind.

[i][b]“Do you agree?”[/b][/i]

Ciara's head tilted curiously. It was... interesting, to say the least. She was used to hearing voices in her head, but not like this.

[i]"I agree."[/i] She thought, quickly and simply, detecting the impatience in his tone. Amidst the battlefield, there was no time for reason. Even if a part of her wondered if the dark aura would notify her if he found the auditorium.

She would have to trust him on this.

Howling from above. She looked up just in time to see. No, to feel. It was, it...

It couldn't be.

[i]"I want it!"[/i] The Voice shrieked in Hunger, forgetting its game of playing silent while 'guests' were in Ciara's mind. [i]"Give it to me!"[/i]

The Voice was, of course, echoing the very thoughts Ciara was having, staring up hungrily at the aura of the half-elf, soaring above them. It was so crisp, so bright and clean, so full of delicious, delectable Light. And, it just so happened...

Her bouquet of Light was getting torpedoed by a reckless child with winged boots. Any second, they would collide, and her Light would be hurt. Her precious, precious Light...

[i]"Save the Light! I want it!"[/i] The Voice howled in visible agony.

Ciara wiped her chin of the drool that had escaped her mouth unbidden, her eyes scrambling. As quick as a flitting shadow, black tentacles soared up into the sky. With pinpoint accuracy, they latched onto the ankle of the boy, stopping his senseless spinning in the air. The tentacles pulled, lowering him a few feet in the air so he cleanly flew a hair's breadth underneath the beacon of Light, saving both of them from a harrowing accident.

Visibly fighting with herself, she let go of the boy and retracted the tentacles, stepping back and disappearing into her shadow.

[i]"What are you doing?! The Light is back there!"[/i] The Voice snarled angrily.

She was maddeningly Hungry, but she had a job to do. The dark one, the auditorium. She had to find it. That meant ignoring the Voice. A dangerous thing to do in her line of work. But she knew, deep down, she could never give the Voice what it really wanted.

[i]"Ha, you think I don't know the Light will be here in our new residence? You just wait."[/i] A deeper, darker Voice spoke, more intelligent than the previous.

She shivered, her shadow trembling a bit as she moved. She [i]really[/i] disliked this Voice whenever it showed up.

She appeared for a split second on the walkway, emerging from the shadows there before disappearing again, appearing again within the next area of the campus. She kept her eyes open for another sign, or any indicator of where Wingram hid their auditorium.