[h1][u]Ciara Ventura[/u][/h1] [i][color=gray]Wingram Academy, Main Building[/color][/i] [@Nanaya] [@ERode] [hr] [i][b]"I've been given a special privilege in this... weeding out process. This divine culling."[/b][/i] The resistance this academy gave really was on purpose. But why? Why did they only want a few select Ethos? Her expression darkened as she spotted the eyes watching her, keeping pace as she ran through the hallways. Was that how this student was keeping tabs on her? All hints of the auditorium's location were destroyed. Maps, directories. Hastily torn away. It was either this student's doing, or some of the teachers who were heavily interested in causing more difficulty than they initially intended. She felt a positive response while sending out an SOS on her telepathic link, her feet hitting the floor at a rapid pace. But, before she could get the full message out, [i]something[/i] grabbed ahold of her. Her entire body froze up, and instead of turning the corner, she smashed into the wall of the hallway, a surprised whimper escaping her gritted teeth. The dread set in instantly, her blood running cold as a new Voice spoke, either inside or outside of her head, she couldn't tell. She only knew blinding fear. The air was heavy with blood-curdling darkness. She couldn't see the hallway or the approaching Mannekins. She could only feel the claws digging into her skull. [b][i]"Time will progress apace, and as I am time, I decide when to move. You forget yourself. Perhaps a thoughtful begging will see you with more fortunate results."[/i][/b] [i]"P-please don't kill me-"[/i] Was all she managed to think before she was released, her thin frame trembling, supporting herself against the wall as she tried to regain her breath. The voice over the loudspeaker pulled her out of her existential dread just in time to see the glossy wig-wearing Mannekin sailing through the air, the space between them charged with static. She hissed, snapping back just in time, the bat catching the curls of her hair as it missed its mark by a hair's breadth. The ground shook, tossing Ciara back as she took the full brunt of the shockwave. She landed roughly, rolling to a stop on the floor, body twitching as lighting sparked over her body. The air was charged with singed hair and dust. She coughed weakly, trying to drag herself off the floor. She could hear footsteps. A bat scraping the floor as the lead Mannekin drew closer, others close behind. [i]"I'm hungry."[/i] Came the child-like Voice, whining. It echoed her thoughts, feeling the ache in her stomach. It was more pronounced in this moment. It always was when she was in pain. Her entire body was covered in bruises. Her mind still felt sore. It hurt. [i]"I'm... hungry."[/i] She thought again, half-raised off the floor, squinting up at the Mannekin towering over her, raising the bat for a final strike. [b]"I'm... HUNGRY!"[/b] She cried out, her shadow reacting faster than the bat could be swung. Tentacles sprung at the leader Mannekin like a python, constricting around its torso and limbs, wrapping tighter as she gritted her teeth. Her eyes darted to the other approaching Mannekin, and another tentacle sprung forward, knocking them off their feet with a heavy blow. Ciara stood, drawing the Mannekin closer to her. There was a maroon gleam in her eye, her expression darkening. She was so Hungry it hurt. Everything hurt. Her prey, squirming in front of her, was full of essence. Delicious essence. More so than the limp grass in her satchel. She wanted it... needed it... She brought the Mannekin face level, tentacles squeezing tight enough that she heard a pop somewhere in its 'spine,' and the Mannekin went limp. Drool escaped the edge of her mouth as she leaned forward, preparing to consume it, to breathe its essence in. Before cracks of thunder echoed behind her head. She blinked out of a near-drunken daze, alerted to the sound of another Mannekin toppling over. Ciara looked over, finding the dark one with his pistol raised, entering the hallway from what appeared to be a classroom. He had shot down the Mannekins that had tried to jump her unaware as she was, well, fully engrossed at the prospect of Eating. [i]"It interrupted-"[/i] The Voice whined, recognizing her new friend, yet torn at the prospect of nearly being satisfied. [i]"It saved us."[/i] She thought, coming back into her senses a bit more. Self-conscious. Hasily, she wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, offering her friend a prize: the leader of the Mannekins, wrapped tightly in shadowy tentacles. [b]"It can't move. I think I snapped something in its torso. Do what you want with it."[/b] Her eyes glanced at her friend's companion, the boy with winged boots. She recognized him from before. She stared curiously, noting he only seemed slightly banged up, before swatting at a Mannekin trying to attack him from behind. Her tentacle retracted, eyes veering to the Mannekin that was now sailing towards the far wall. [i]"It... looks kind of delicious."[/i] Said the Voice, watching the winged boot boy with interest. [i]"It... does..."[/i] She thought, eyeing the boy curiously, her face a blank. She painfully remembered she had been interrupted before Eating the Mannekin of its essence, and was still somewhat Hungry. But... [i][b]"Attention, all students. The time is now 9:30 AM on March 1st of the Sacred Record..."[/b][/i] She glanced at the dark one, a serious expression in her eye, trying to swallow the Hunger gnawing at her chest. They had other problems.