Something new has caught my eyes while watching whispers in auction halls and bazaar stalls.
Written by Dino--Draws for Art Exchange 2025 as a gift to
xexnoncores!
RECALL — INTENT: GOAL.
November 3rd, 2003
A dreary morning leads to a dreary day. Does it count as making an order at a coffee shop if I had to place the money on the counter, walk behind it, and make the drink myself? I think it's a technicality, but no one noticed me anyways. Helped myself to some breakfast while I was at it, just realized I forgot to pay that back. Whoopsies. In my defense, trying to strike up conversation with the waiters wasn't working out. Never does.
There's been a stubborn rainstorm that's persisted the whole week. It does pay to have water-proof paper in this new journal, I think if I had to deal with ink bleed I would lose my mind.
To write down a proper update, however, I’ve been doing a bit of snooping. Something new has caught my eyes while watching whispers in auction halls and bazaar stalls. Sparks, even, if I'm feeling up to a pun or two.
I’m appending a new note into my journal so I don’t misplace it. Read it, remember it, find it.
Perhaps I’ve found a way out.
The Sunstone
Quite the beaut, huh?
Aliases: Unknown.
Summary: A fiery-looking diamond of unknown origin, current in the possession of Marshall, Carter & Dark. It’s primarily anomalous property is its ability to revive the dead temporarily. You press it to the palm of anything from a fresh corpse to a skeleton, and it’ll snap back to flesh-and-blood life good as new. That little touch is all you need to get something to have pep back in its step.
Least for a little while.
Times seem variable, but nothing lasts longer than a few hours — and that’s if MC&D doesn’t put them back in the ground as soon as they get what they want.
The internal documents I dug up about the Sunstone say it’s roughly 750 carats, which didn’t mean much to me personally until I found out that 150 grams of pure diamond.
Threat: The only thing dangerous about it that doesn't revolve around the fact it sits in the hands of some of the most wealthy and powerful bastards on Earth is the spontaneous combustion. The things it revives don't last; eventually they crash and burn.
They probably handle it with gloves and tongs for good reason. Can't find anything in the documents I did nab, but either they don't know what happens when the living touch it, or they do and it ain't pretty.
Interest: It might be a way to free myself from this curse. For all intents and purposes, I am a ghost. No one sees, no one knows, and no one remembers. I'm a stubborn, nameless haunting left to wander the world. Yet I still draw breath, need to eat, drink, the whole nine yards. A dead man walking in a way that's a bit more than metaphorical.
So what happens if something neither alive nor dead takes it? Could it possibly draw back whatever shard of me that I lost and restore me to life if I combined it with the right magic? I play hop-scotch with the line between living and dead, something that could perhaps that could spare me from immolation. I could walk away a man, complete.
I think it's worth a shot.
And it's been a while since I truly let myself have some fun.
The biggest hitch in this all is that I don't know where the hell they keep the Sunstone. It changes hands and gets shifted around constantly, and perhaps that's by design. Most of what I've been able to poach from MC&D came from some real sharp feller who left his password under his mouse pad, so no one high up on their ladder, that's for sure. It's basic stuff, skeleton notes. But I can work with it, I know I can.
I know which part of their little group handles the Sunstone, and that's a good a place as any to start. The people playing a global game of hot potato all work for Carter.
To Do:
- Review the documents.
- Find where they're sending the Sunstone next.
- Check over my glyphs to see what spells I remember how to draw.
RECALL — INTENT: ARTISTRY, MAGIC.
| (SUN042/STE000/REV626) USAGE REPORT 032 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Revival Duration | Keeper | Notes | |
| 03/11/2001 | 3 hours | Verity Caldwell | Acquired full details of the cause of death, firsthand. | |
| 13/12/2001 | 30 minutes | Selina Ire | Liability papers were properly signed and notarized. | |
| 02/01/2002 | 5 hours | Verity Caldwell | Divorced finalized. | |
| 22/03/2002 | 50 minutes | Joseph Rogers | Got to say goodbye. | |
| 15/05/2002 | 8 hours | Verity Caldwell | Remainder of individual's contract was completed. Was allowed two hours rest before re-death for examination purposes. | |
| 17/05/2002 | 10 hours | Verity Caldwell | Location of asset was divulged by the individual. Further details will be forwarded to appropriate parties. | |
| 10/06/2002 | 10 minutes | Ruprecht Carter | Interrogation successful. | |
| 17/8/2002 | 13 hours | Verity Caldwell | A voluntary donation of 150K USD was received. | |
| 30/9/2002 | 27 hours | Verity Caldwell | Thaumaturgical application of previously deceased ashes lengthened revival period. | |
DIVINATION — INTENT: DIGITAL, RECENT.
INTERNAL MEMO No. 24958
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: VERITY S. CALDWELL
PENNED BY: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
Hello, Ms. Caldwell.
I'm to congratulate you on your extended usage of SUN042/STE000/REV626 in both investigatory and interrogation efforts. You've turned a once glorified paperweight into quite the valuable asset, now that we've started to learn more of its usage. Mr. Carter was curious, though, on the nature on what you did September 30th, 2002?
INTERNAL MEMO No. 64958
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626-01
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
PENNED BY: VERITY S. CALDWELL
Oh, it is my absolute pleasure, Alphonse!
Just one of my little tests, no biggie. I believe there might be a sort of hidden potential within the Sunstone. I think that the ability to turn its revivals from temporary to permanent might be something within our grasp! If I turn out correct, it could be indispensable to us here.
The ashes from the previous usages seem to be able to compound upon its properties, and the Sunstone grows warmer and brighter by the day. I believe its continued use might be restoring its capabilities, for when you first proposed usage of it to me, it was dull as can be.
INTERNAL MEMO No. 64959
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626-02
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: VERITY S. CALDWELL
PENNED BY: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
I see. I would hate to interrupt your experiments, but I do have a proposition for you. Attached with this will be a bit of news, for the company. I think you can help us out of the… conundrum we have found ourselves in.
🔗 walters_obituary_2003.pdf
INTERNAL MEMO No. 64960
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626-03
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
PENNED BY: VERITY S. CALDWELL
Oh! Poor Theodore! Such a shame to see a valuable contributor to our work pass away so suddenly.
Did he leave loose ends for us to snip up? I figure that's why you're sending me news of a man's death?
INTERNAL MEMO No. 64961
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626-03
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: VERITY S. CALDWELL
PENNED BY: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
Indeed.
Mr. Carter has been… unpleasant, about this ordeal. Evidently, Mr. Walters went back on a deal or two that they originally had with one another, and has left us out of the will in regards to a handful of quite valuable things and a significant amount of funds.
INTERNAL MEMO No. 64962
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626-04
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
PENNED BY: VERITY S. CALDWELL
How rude! It seems we'll have to make a few adjustments, will we not?
Easy as can be, wouldn't even be the first. Name a time and place, my dear, and it will be done.
INTERNAL MEMO No. 64963
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626-05
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: VERITY S. CALDWELL
PENNED BY: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
He passed in his home estate in the upper Adirondacks, bordering Lake Meacham. He's going to be kept there until the funerary services. There should be ample time for you and a few others to conduct your business.
I'll have Mr. Carter give you clearance to enter, he should be able to mail you the key to the estate. I reckon the 10th gives you ample time to gather your people and secure SUN042/STE000/REV626 for transport?
INTERNAL MEMO No. 64964
ATTACHMENT CODE: SUN042/STE000/REV626-06
DATE: 05/11/2003
TO: ALPHONSE J. REDHEATH
PENNED BY: VERITY S. CALDWELL
Oh, plenty of time indeed! Being so close to our home in New York is a plus.
The biggest thing we'll have to contend with is updating the funerary services to detail a cremation.
Bingo. Looks like I've still got it.
The Walters' Estate will be one hell of a trip, but hey, probably some great views. The place itself seems like its got a smattering of history to it, too. Enough that I could nab a partial floor plan of the joint and get it photocopied. Probably 'cause its about the only damn mansion out in those mountains. Dunno how you even get the zoning for something like that when it's nearly smack-dab in the center of a state park.
It's an oldie, but that's enough to work with. A vague idea of the layout is better than no idea. If I'd venture to guess, the old man croaked in his bedroom. They'll be bringing the Sunstone straight to him. I've got a few open windows to nab it — between transits or on arrival. It is likely that Ms. Caldwell will be its keeper once more. Possible thaumaturgy will have to be something to look out for, but it ain't like I've got no tricks up my sleeves.
I'll need a way to be let in. Sure, people struggle to notice me, but cameras? I'd still trip sensors.
So that'll need to be handled. I might just have an idea.
To Do:
- Grab a bite to eat
- Head for the Adirondacks
TRAVEL. INTENT: SWIFT, SILENT.
A bit of people watching while on the road.
Someone's gotta be witness.
Interception is a beautiful thing. All the observation pays off, one way or another.
MC&D may be bastards, but they play by the law. Don't see why I can't do the same. What's a few forged documents between friends, ey?
It'll cover my tracks enough to at least case the joint before they realize something's off.
CCTV: EXTERIOR B
Movement detected. Activated.
It is late evening, pouring rain.
NOBODY1 enters view of the camera from the driveway, walking up to the central gate. NOBODY retrieves paperwork from his coat once he ducks under an outcropping of the roof and taps the shoulder of the member of SECURITY.
NOBODY shows the paperwork to SECURITY, who regards it with a squint.
SECURITY: 'Bout damn time the notary showed up. What took you so long?
NOBODY: Storm's made a mess of the roads. Can barely see what's some five feet in front of me, half the time.
SECURITY: Hmph.
SECURITY hands the papers back to NOBODY. He turns around to unlock the gate.
SECURITY: Well, don't keep Caldwell waiting.
NOBODY tips his hat at SECURITY and steps through the gate into the courtyard. He hums as he turns away, vanishing from frame.
A few moments after NOBODY leaves, SECURITY stares at the open gate, perplexed. He closes it.
SECURITY: Can't see a thing out here.
CCTV: EAST WING HALLWAY
VERITY CALDWELL walks down the hallway, a metal briefcase carried at her side. It is covered in a complex series of runic carvings. VERITY turns to one of the two people flanking her with an audible sigh. They are SELINA IRE and JOSEPH ROGERS.
VERITY: Perimeter's secure, correct?
JOSEPH: The estate's locked down. Only folks cleared to enter are security and the remainder of staff. Only our people.
VERITY nods.
SELINA: And the notary, when he arrives.
VERITY: Wonderful. [She heaves a sigh] Everything in its place.
She drums her fingers against the briefcase.
JOSEPH: Yeah, the weather's annoying me too.
VERITY: Oh, it's not that. Well, perhaps a little bit. That, and another interruption.
SELINA: Guess you couldn't get the okay to run a test with ol' Theo here?
VERITY: No, sadly. Redheath didn't want me "endangering negotiations on the will," or what have you. The man is a wonderful record keeper, but he's so drab.
She huffs.
VERITY: No matter. Once this is done, I'll be able to get back to my tests.
VERITY braces a hand on the door to the master bedroom and smiles.
CCTV: LOBBY
NOBODY enters. He shakes the water off his hat before progressing through the space. The lobby is wide, open, and elaborate. Wooden facades and various plants decorate the interior, a member of security leans against a door frame. They see the front door open, but do not acknowledge NOBODY.
On the far end of the lobby are two massive, marble staircases. NOBODY pulls a journal from his pocket and opens it briefly, before choosing the left staircase and ascending. His footsteps are silent.
He glances over his shoulder, stares down at the space behind, and slips a pen behind his ear with a gloved hand. NOBODY's face is impossible to make out on footage.
CCTV: MASTER BEDROOM
VERITY enters the bedroom and places the briefcase on the bureau. SELINA and JOSEPH approach the bed itself.
Laid on the bed is THEODORE WALTERS. He is an old man; his thin hands are folded on his chest, resting on the covers that have been pulled halfway over his body.
And he is dead.
SELINA and JOSEPH remove the covers as to fully expose his body. The corpse is dressed finely; it shows no sign of decay. JOSEPH silently takes WALTERS' hands and upturns them so that they sit cupped on his chest.
VERITY places her hand on the center of the briefcase's deep-carved grooves. Golden flame flows out from her hand and into the carvings, flickering once, twice, three times — before a 'CLICK!' is heard. VERITY opens the briefcase.
Resting within the steel inside is SUN042/STE000/REV626. The Sunstone. Its facets cast a shimmer glow across the darkened bedroom, like an open flame. The light inside of it pulses in and out as though it is breathing.
VERITY removes a pair of tongs from the briefcase, and clamps them around the Sunstone. SELINA and JOSEPH step away as she approaches with the shining stone.
The Sunstone is gingerly placed in WALTERS' hands. VERITY steps back.
The feed from the camera erupts into a burst of bright, brilliant light. The audio distorts, and VERITY's pleased laugh sounds like scrapping metal.
A gasp is heard.
MANIFESTATION — INTENT: STRIKE, DISORIENT.
CCTV: EAST WING HALLWAY
NOBODY's head perks up at a sound from down the hallway, a 'WHOOSH' akin to a flame igniting, and faint commotion. His eyes fall upon a large door, staring at the red-orange light that flickers from underneath it. The light fades as NOBODY approaches.
Before entering the master bedroom, NOBODY pauses. He pulls his journal out from his coat, and swiftly scribbles a symbol down onto a page. He tears it out, and affixes it to the door frame.
NOBODY then joins the others within the master bedroom.
CCTV: MASTER BEDROOM
WALTERS is sitting upright in his bed, audibly wheezing. He's blinking rapidly and attempting to compose himself. VERITY has the Sunstone back in the grasp of the tongs.
NOBODY enters. He raises his head and announces his presence.
NOBODY: Pardon my delay, weather was nasty.
SELINA glances over her shoulder at him; she squints as though struggling to focus. VERITY, however, smoothly swivels her head to stare.
VERITY: Ah, the notary public, I presume?
NOBODY: At your service.
WALTERS adjusts his position, eyes wide and darting between those gathered.
WALTERS: Notary? I — are —
He pauses, blinks, shakes his head. The old man glowers at the trio, and his eyes lock onto the pin on VERITY's suit.
WALTERS: Oh.
JOSEPH: I suppose it goes without saying that Ruprecht sends his regards?
WALTERS glowers, but he is shaking.
WALTERS: What do you bastards want?
SELINA cross her arms.
SELINA: The boss ain't happy on the agreements you've walked on. You owe us a great deal, sir.
WALTERS: Can't you just thieve it all and be done with it? Rob the vaults and strip my home?
VERITY: Some things do need to be signed over.
VERITY turns and places the Sunstone back within the briefcase, putting the tongs back too. NOBODY swivels his head to look at her.
NOBODY: Oh! Do you have a pen? The fellow will have to sign with something, after all.
She nods.
VERITY: Yes, yes — one moment.
VERITY turns away from the briefcase, leaving it open, to crouch down and retrieve a pen from her bag. She clicks it a few times, before walking across the room to press it into WALTERS' hand. He does not grip it. He stares down at it shakily.
VERITY: Oh, what's the dramatics for? It's not like you have heirs for us to be stealing any inheritance from.
WALTERS just glares at her, silent. VERITY shrugs and returns towards the briefcase. NOBODY is standing closer, she glances at him.
VERITY: Get your papers ready. He'll sign eventually. All you have to do is watch.
NOBODY hums.
NOBODY: You should, too.
NOBODY lunges forward, uncapping the pen from behind his ear. The pen knife glints briefly in the Sunstone's fiery light before it slices into VERITY's side. She yowls, stumbles back in alarm, and shakes out her head in time to see NOBODY seize the Sunstone from the briefcase.
JOSEPH and SELINA startle visibly. SELINA grabs a service weapon at her hip.
VERITY: BASTARD!
NOBODY flees.
CCTV: EAST WING HALLWAY
As NOBODY darts out of the master bedroom, his hand strikes the torn page affixed to the door frame. Seconds after, and the same moment that JOSEPH and SELINA pass through the doorway, the sigil on the page bursts. The portion of the hall fills with a thick smoke.
NOBODY glances over his shoulder, seeing the silhouettes of the two as they cough and stumble amidst the thick cloud. An audible snarl from VERITY can be heard as the woman charges through the smoke. NOBODY shakes their head and continues his flight.
JOSEPH fumbles for his radio, shouting into it about the scene unfolding.
The Walters estate is now on alert.
CCTV: LOBBY
NOBODY dashes into view of the upper lobby's camera. He pauses at the top of the stairs, then cries out as a gunshot pierces his shoulder. Crimson oozes against grey, and he stumbles. SELINA scowls, gun raised, as both she and JOSEPH recover from the smoke.
VERITY narrows her eyes, thaumaturgical energy sparking off her hands. She clenches a fist and flings a hand upwards. Before NOBODY can make a dart for the stairs, a brief burst of energy across his path causes him to scramble back and away. It singes his leg in the process.
While SELINA and JOSEPH both struggle to focus on NOBODY, VERITY's aim remains true. A bolt of energy from her extended hand nearly knocks him from his feet, between that and the bullet wound, it disorients him for a moment too long — VERITY lunges forward. She snags the Sunstone from NOBODY's grip, tearing off one of his gloves in the process. She bares her teeth at him as the two circle one another.
VERITY: When it comes to thieves, I wasn't expecting something faceless to crawl from the woods.
NOBODY: The cog in Carter's machine has opinions on that, mm?
VERITY: Oh, please. You'd be better off spitting that to someone doing grunt work.
NOBODY: Is that not what this little fetch-quest is?
VERITY squints.
VERITY: What damn reason do you even have for this? Its revivals aren't permanent, you aren't out to save someone.
NOBODY: Suppose that's true.
SELINA has lowered the gun, watching the two stalk in close quarters. She glances over the banister to spot a member of SECURITY rushing their way. JOSEPH pulls a blade from his hip, and darts across the foyer to slash at NOBODY. He dodges.
NOBODY: Cause I ain't somebody.
VERITY: So we're doing wordplay. You're out to save yourself, then?
She snickers.
VERITY: How cute.
NOBODY huffs and he taps the journal at his hip.
NOBODY: I venture to guess a bit of extra magic can go a long way.
VERITY: If it could, I would've figured it out by now.
NOBODY ducks to the side in an attempt to dodge another strike from JOSEPH's blade, only to throw himself right into VERITY's own lunge. She slams NOBODY down, magic arcing off her hand as she digs it into his shoulder. The other keeps the Sunstone in tight grasp.
VERITY: So leave me to my work, and search for solutions elsewhere.
NOBODY: Well, this is hardly a dead end yet.
VERITY: It's about to be. You're gonna be as headless as you are faceless, when we're through.
After a moment of struggle, NOBODY tears a piece of paper from his journal and shoves it against VERITY's chest. It shimmers, before an invisible force throws her off of him. She yelps and stumbles, struggling to regain her footing.
And then she falls..
There is an audible 'SNAP' as she hits the tile. JOSEPH and SELINA both freeze.
MANIFESTATION — INTENT: FORCE.
VERITY lay still at the base of the stairs.
And she is dead.
Silence on recording.
Then a surge of light. The Sunstone, clutched in her grasp, flashes golden-orange. VERITY jerks, gasping and choking with renewed air as its pushed back into her lungs. Downed still, she grasps her head with wide eyes.
The Sunstone is shining brighter then before, looking more like a lit match then a diamond, as it falls from VERITY's grasp and goes sliding across the tile. She does not notice.
In the midst of the panic and shouting that rises from the others, in the rush to reach VERITY, NOBODY darts down the stairs. He slips past the member of SECURITY that kneels by VERITY's side.
NOBODY grabs the Sunstone from the floor, bare hand pressing against the jewel.
And its light surges again.
For a brief moment, something sparks across NOBODY's hand. For an even briefer moment, his face is suddenly visible. Haggard, shocked, human. He opens his mouth to speak —
The Sunstone explodes.
It sends fire across the tile, setting plants aflame and immediately dancing to the banisters and wooden facades. Something moves in the smoke, glowing vibrantly against the dark. The sound of wing beats fill the room.
A brilliant phoenix hovers in the space where the Sunstone once was. Its feathers shimmer with firelight, as it rises from its crystaline ashes.
NOBODY lies half collapsed on the floor, clothing singed, staring in disbelief as the bird of flame lands on the tile in front of him. Its metallic gold eyes stare down at him, beak clicking.
The camera struggles to make out the man's face, shifting between the previous static and the glimpses of a person beneath.
NOBODY: Did… did you —
He's gasping, coughing. The creature takes a step towards him, examining NOBODY in silence as he presses a hand against his chest.
NOBODY: Close. Close.
The phoenix chitters and cocks its head. It ruffles its feathers as NOBODY hangs his head, shakily pulling himself to his feet.
NOBODY: Okay — change of plans. Fuck, fuck —
VERITY is rising to her feet, too, JOSEPH and SELINA helping her. NOBODY sucks in a breath, chest heaving as he stumbles to his feet. The fire is starting to consume more of the room.
NOBODY: We might have to take this talk to the road.
CCTV: EXTERIOR COURTYARD
The phoenix explodes through the glass foyer with a shrill cry, sending shards of half molten glass scattering across the soaked cobblestone. NOBODY stumbles out after it, glancing around rapidly. The phoenix shrieks and recoils as the water hits its burning feathers, talons scrambling across the rock.
NOBODY: Oh god —
He visibly stumbles for a moment, glancing over his shoulder back towards the lobby interior. NOBODY is wheezing heavily, clutching his wounded shoulder.
NOBODY: Well, ah, little buddy? [He gasps in a breath] You might have to brave it for a bit. We both might.
The man whips his head around, glowering at the walls that surround the estate. The members of SECURITY at the gate are closing the gap and approaching.
NOBODY: Only way out might just be up.
The phoenix chitters and squawks. It bursts into the air to follow NOBODY as he scrambles towards the side of the estate, scattering steam into the storm.
CCTV: BELL TOWER EXTERIOR
NOBODY can be seen hauling himself up onto the roof, hands and boots scrambling against wet shingles. The phoenix darts to duck under some of the cover offered by the bell tower.
In a burst of energy, the pair is no longer alone.
VERITY stands on the roof, trembling and panting, a vial clutched in her right hand.
VERITY: Regardless of form, that's still an asset of mine.
NOBODY glares back at her, squinting against the torrential rain.
NOBODY: For all of a few hours. You're set to burst in the same way the old bastard who owns this place will.
The woman grins. There's blood smeared across her teeth.
VERITY: I'm not dying yet.
She uncaps the vial and dumps its contents into her mouth. They are ashes. VERITY swallows as she presses a hand against her own chest, light once again dancing beneath her fingers. Steam rises in the air and VERITY cackles.
VERITY: So I suppose I was wrong! We've time for one more test!
She closes the gap between them and swings her fist for the back of his head as he tries to run. NOBODY ducks under her strike and stumbles back. He grabs his journal from inside his coat. VERITY whirls around and laughs.
VERITY: You think your little spells are going to save you?
She raises her own hand, gathering sparks of energy in the air in preparation to strike. Nobody presses his pen to a page as VERITY sneers.
VERITY: It's raining, dear.
NOBODY presses his hand to the symbol.
NOBODY: Then it pays to have waterproof pages.
MANIFESTATION — INTENT: SHIELD, REFLECT.
The air in front of NOBODY shimmers and when VERITY fires off her blast, it bursts off the shield and flings right back. She grunts and staggers back as it singes her arm.
The phoenix is crouched in the bell tower, its talons beginning to scorch the wood beneath it. As NOBODY once again tries to flee from VERITY, it leaps from its hiding place and into the sky.
VERITY shrieks as the phoenix swoops down from the dark slicing its boiling metal talons across her face. She stumbles, but stays on the roof, glowering up into the rain as the creature circles above.
She gathers energy at her fingertips as to hurl a bolt at the bird, only for it to be knocked off course as NOBODY slams into the woman. The act sends them both down sliding down the side roof.
The estate is going up in flames beneath them.
VERITY hisses as her back slams against the shingles, her hands scrambling against the slick tiles to keep herself from falling further. NOBODY jolts back, before a solid kick to the ribs hurls him off of VERITY entirely. The man wheezes, shaking out his head.
The phoenix above shrieks, NOBODY jolts his gaze skyward as the bird's light flickers against the storm. The trees are trembling in the wind.
NOBODY: Ah.
He scrambles to his feet, the phoenix flying above, and dashes towards the end of the roof.
Beyond it, there is forest. The thick foliage of the state park that the Walters' Estate was built within.
VERITY regains her composure just in time to see NOBODY's blurred form leap from the estate's roof and into the trees.
The light of the phoenix's fire vanishes amongst the leaves.
And she is left standing on the roof, expression growing confused and empty, as the air turning hazy above her head. Smoke pours from the burning mansion and mingles with the rain, grey-blues and blacks against bright flame.
Soon to be ash.
Fresh air in my lungs, life. In that heartbeat between when my fingers touched the jewel's surface and it exploded into flame, it had worked. Then faded as quick as it came. But it's been hours now, and nothing's changed.
Probably because the jewel is… well… no longer.
I do wonder what that means for Ms. Caldwell and her quarry.
Regardless of their fates, I'm far from the scene of the crime now. There's much to do, much to see, other things to try, and a bullet wound to patch because oh my god ow. At the very least, that short gasp of being is enough to prove there is hope for me somewhere. It appears the only thing that has tailed me in my flight from the Estate is the beast that sprung from the Sunstone. Or, perhaps, was the Sunstone. Life, ash, diamonds — all carbon, are they not?
It rose from the dust all the same.
But it is interesting that it can tail me to begin with.
I certainly don't mind the company.
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