stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns

Harley could not keep that urgency from her voice as she called out for the warlock that wasn't supposed to wander off in this hellish place that could too easily lead one to their demise. It was impossible to know what or more likely, who lurked around each corner, behind each door, or within every shadow. The thought alone made her move with far more haste as though she felt as an icy trickle down her spine. It was unsurprising that the warlock was unable to sit still in this wretched room alone. Of all doors she could have chosen, why did it have to be a modern-day version of a torture chamber? She knew. She knew the queen of felines had one... she suspected it up until now.. Of course. Why couldn't she have simply shoved him into a closet?

Her head whipped from side to side, to scan the darkroom, noting the distant glow of what looked like fire from across the room. She called out to him... that better not be a fire burning down the place.. there was no way Risque or Darcy would let her live if she ended up burning the basement down on her watch.... The pair shouldn't have even been down there... It was then a reply from the repairman drew the were closer toward that curious glow where she heard his voice come from. She slunk around the disturbing instruments of torture, careful not to touch anything as she half expected to find the warlock upon the floor in the fetal position.... Only.... As she rounded that corner with that often intimidating, narrowed, defiant stare of hers, those words were all but cut off by what she saw. What the... fox. That was not at all what she expected to see, her head tilted to the side as both fire fox and Harley ended up in staring match, the woman openly gawking. They seemed to eye one another as Sly looked perfectly content, even considering where he stood. How could anyone be relaxed... inside a fucking torture chamber? Especially if it was not your own. The man either had balls forged of steel or he simply didn't know where he stood. He had to suspect something. He didn't appear to have screws loose.

Her light purple stare shifted from the seemingly sentient fox creature to the repairman who she questioned if he knew how to repair at all. It would be just her luck too. She could hardly help that question about the cute creature as it rose to its back legs and sniffed at the air within her direction to scent her, at least... it would appear that's what it was doing. She lowered her hand as she would a dog getting acquainted with her smell. Ok, this was entering weird territory. It had to be aware of her, right? She could feel the heat that rose from it which meant that touching was a no go, no, not... that she had been tempted at all.. who would risk touching fire? The orangey-yellow light it gave off was welcomed as it enabled them to see. However, it was Sly's insistence that the fox was mundane seemed to offend it greatly and only created more questions within her. The look on that creatures face could have rivalled her own when being called short. "I don't think he appreciates being called that all too much.. and if that's what you call mundane... that I would like to see you would call.. impressive. Seeing as you made him that way." Amusement lined her words, as she realized she had grown distracted by her purpose.

Hanging out at the back of a torture room was probably not the best place to linger more than necessary.. They needed to get down to business. They needed an escape plan. That iron door seemed to be the most promising thing in this place. It had to lead somewhere that would hopefully lead to some kind of exit. Harley inquired if he knew where it went, as if he had already investigated it in his time alone. It would appear not as the sarcasm flowed once more, his arms folded across his chest. Oh, she was supposed to know where that door went? Did he not see how many doors this place had? Nor did he notice she hadn't known where the electrical room was? She only knew of one exit and that wasn't anywhere close to here. Wherever here was. " I'm flattered you think I possess an intimate map to this basement. But if I were to guess... Probably hell.. Maybe Narnia..." She shrugged boldly, as she took those final strides toward the door, refusing to be a sitting duck any longer. Inaction would only lead to a certain outcome she had no desire to explore. They don't call them dead ends for no damn reason. Her fingers wrapped around the cool handle that gave way, the door squelched loudly open before that blast of putrid scents came from whatever loomed below. It nearly singed her nostrils and felt her stomach lurch in disgust.

"Bleh. Eau du... putrid death. Yes, definitely... hell." She uttered sardonically into the nook of her leather-clad arm that rose instinctually as if it was enough to cover the smell. Maybe this place was like dante's inferno... and there were 9 circles of hell.. What would that make this one? Maybe they kept a monster down there.. A monster cat that they threw people to occasionally.. to eat from time to time.. Was that really the only way to go? She was quick to close that door with probably more sound than she should have made... Yet the smell seemed to stain the stagnant air around them.

Maybe now was the best time to rip off the bandaid and deliver the bad news. She lowered her arm after the worst of that gut-wrenching scent subsided and her gaze settled upon her newfound companion once more, her face awash with the glow of flaming creature that seemed to remain close. Her lips parted as she was about to speak when the sound of distant muffled voices could be heard. Shit. Didn't she get rid of the janitor? Did he rat them out? Fucker. Her eyes widened as the pair whirled to eye the door from across the way. This was not good. Time was ticking... and it was the voice of Sly that broke the tense quiet. Was that the bad news she referred to? Her lips pursed to a flat grim line before she groaned. "No.. That's just whipped cream on a shit sundae." There was only one way to go.

Pit of death it was. It seemed way more forgiving than whoever would have been waiting for them on the other side of the door. The distant sound of bickering voices suddenly quieted as if silenced. Which was never a good sign. There wasn't more of them congregating around the door was there? How many waited for their demise? Sly shifted closer to her, the pair's arms touched as if subconsciously they secretly sought out a form of comfort that neither would likely be willing to admit they needed. The fox issued out a warning cry that spurred the warlock into action. It was impressive really to see him take charge faster than Harley could determine what that cry meant other than a vague sense of impending danger. She should have seen the mist seeping in, Sly had already opened that noisy steel door and that fox changed shape into a bird of prey... That was admittedly cool. The movement of that mist caught her eye as that bird took off like a wild purposeful shot into the inky void. There was no time to exclaim the surprise as that deadly mist drew closer. Sly moved unflinchingly fast, his hand shot out to grab her own and pull her without a moment to spare down that wretched chute behind him.

They moved at an alarming rate into darkness down that funky slide to hell that was illuminated by his useful flaming bird. One moment they were sliding... the next they were suddenly airborne! That slide spat them out like it didn't like the taste of them.. The pair soon discarded upon the ground with an unpleasant thud. At least... the impact wasn't so bad. It took very little time for those puzzle pieces to fall into place only to realize that Sly's body had cushioned her fall. His groan caused his chest to vibrate against her cheek which was all but buried into it as the warlock and Harley somehow ended up in another tangled heap on the floor. Somehow her legs were tangled with his own, her own hands instinctually but blindly braced for that impact against his body where they remained trapped between them. She took a breath, the scent of him somehow a pleasant flood from the stench of death that surrounded them as she took silent calculation of her own body parts before muttering something muffled and incoherent into his chest.

It would seem that their predicament did not fail his notice, mentioning that he thought he was supposed to be on top that drew a snort of amusement from her. Good to know the fall hadn't knocked the sarcasm off of him. It was all she needed to fuel her, to push herself up, her fingers pressed into his ribs as she ended up sitting upon him, in yet another sex position. She shot him an all too defiant look.

"What? Afraid you might like it, Matches?" She challenged her own sarcasm quick to come out to play. Oh she really needed to not provoke a man in this position. Her mouth would be the end of her.

Sly managed propped himself up, drawing closer to her, but he seemed distracted by something behind him.... which allowed her the perfect moment to study him, which was truly an odd time to do so. The warlock seemed less than concerned of their current predicament with her straddling him and more concerned with.... Why was he wet? Harley seemed almost taken aback by his words.. Wet? Her mind went head first, nose dive.... straight to the gutter. She shook her head in disbelief.. "Wait, what?" That was when he shifted once more to show Harley his... back... oh..... Right. She leaned back to give him some room and better view his predicament. It didn't take much light to notice that his shirt was saturated with a dark, deep red hue that looked almost gooey. Blood but worse... so much worse. The look of it matched the smell of that room. She felt her face pale as she questioned if it was water... No.. That was definitely not water. She tried her best to sober the look upon her face... answering almost too quickly.

"Uhh... mostly water...it has.... a tint to it.. It... should wash right out...Or better yet.. Why don't you just throw your shirt out." Yeah that's it..She tried to keep the horror from her face and failed miserably... his shirt would need to be ignored for now. "There has to be a door of some kind down here.." Yes, focus on... something else. Oh right.. that would require getting up. She once again used Sly as her personal prop to get up, avoiding the bloody sand mixed with who knew what. Perhaps she should have been quicker to rise to her feet.. Or be less aware that she liked the look of him without his hat on. Only he quickly covered it up as he found his hat and drew to his own feet, swiping at the granules of sticky, reddish sand while Harley wandered and looked around that room, the glow from the falcon was decent enough for her to see at least most of that space.

Sly then claimed she had a weird job which caused her head to shoot toward him once more. That was what he could deduce out of all of this? He didn't even know the half of it. Which was probably for the best. She scoffed. "This is not my main gig.." Was all she said about the matter... "Its probably... just a disposal area.." Harley suggested as if that logically explained the smell.. And well... the everything... Just as she wanted to investigate the furthest corner that was, naturally, the least illuminated area of the place... The once silently patrolling firebird screamed its warning cry. The last time it warned them of Ruben.. "Oh come on.." She hissed, whirling around, looking for any signs of the mist of death. "Where is he?" Just like a horror movie, she saw that mist begin to spill into that room.. She did not want that touching her.. Not one bit... but it was coming for her.. There was no doubt about it that Ruben's mist form was heading straight for her. He began to materialize as his semi-formed state, looking almost like a poltergeist beast... as his clawed hand reached out for her.. He was much too fast and pissed off. Really pissed. Although she failed to see why.. He could have just let them go.

Was this really how it ended? Wasn't there supposed to be a final reel? A blaze of glory? As if on cue, the fire creature dove down and into what was Ruben... That fire blasted into the gaunt vampire with such force, diving right through his materialized chest.. the proximity caused Harley to back up abruptly to avoid getting burned. That falcon had saved her.. or rather.. Sly did? Ash rained down upon them like victorious confetti. Did that mean he was dead? Sly echoed her thoughts she didn't dare say out loud as if it could reverse the effects of it. There was no sound.. only Sly's voice and her own wilding racing heart that she could hear.

She could not help a smile bloom that could not be seen in the dark.. He did it! "We are both still standing.. Soo.. I am going to say...Ye-...." the words.. Yes he's dead... never quite seem to make it before dying on her lips. The only thing truly dead at that moment. Harley spoke into the dark but her senses seemed to be aware of Sly's position, roughly in that room. It wasn't long before fire sparked within that all too quiet room once more.. That was when she saw it. The sand was rising.. Shifting and spinning around as if somehow taking shape into what could only be called a monstrosity. Why couldn't he just be dead? It was almost better off not seeing it coming. "Nope.. very...Not dead.." Harley yelped in surprise but it was too late. There was a blast and Sly was sent flying and with that cruel thud, eliminating the light... and what seemed like the elimination of her companion warlock with it. A sharp intake of breath. "NO." She heard the chilling sound of his body collide against that brick as that room cocooned her with a dismal silence and nauseating dread.

The light was gone and that impending doom that she was certainly next. She searched for him within the pitch.. but it was to no avail, it was too dark to see a damn thing. Didn't vampires believe in lighting? Basic fucking electricity? But she could feel that other nefarious presence coming for her. She felt in it her gut, with the whisper of demise. She could feel her feline begin to shift and stir within her. Oh, now she wanted out.. Harley continued to back herself until she met the solid wall.. her breathing shifted as her skin began to crawl. She felt something metal poking at her back.. What was that? She couldn't tell...

It was but a few moments later then that she heard the warlocks curse, a groan of agony that alerted her to him. Jesus fucking christ.. That hurt, exclaimed..

He was alive! Not nearly close enough but he wasn't dead. But he sounded hurt, there was no questioning that. "Religious type, huh? Well... pray to JC or something for a miracle right now." But that was when she felt the woosh of air and the first prickle of sand... brush against her face to know Ruben was near.

'Run' or words to that effect... came from Sly. Where?! She couldn't see where she was going.. She decided on a direction... bolting towards it, hoping she didn't crash into a wall or trip on something. Her feet sunk into the mucky sandy ground before slipping on something slick that nearly sent her face planting if she hadn't caught herself.

How she could feel that prickle of a shift threaten her.. So close.. There was no time for it. Bad kitty... she chided internally. Instead, she called upon her affinity for metal, calling it to her... The sheer urgency caused a metal door to rattle. That sounded promising. Hopefully he heard it too..

"A little light on this situation?" She hinted although she had no clue what the injured warlock was capable of. If she survived this, she knew that there might be a possibility of having the carry the warlock that might as well have been twice her size.

However, those thoughts were pushed aside. She knew Ruben was close... fuck she could feel that sand everywhere, she was pretty sure she would be covered in sand by the end of it...

Metal of all sizes, no larger than a fist began to swirl around her, the lift that was at the furthest part of that room was still shaking, groaning... as if it fought against her power. She was surprised how much metal was buried in the bloody sand. Weapons of torture, varied shrapnel that would be useless against sand monster thing... well at least for the most part... "Get to the back, where you hear that rattling...I think I found something back there.. Get ready with your fire... Please tell me you still have a little more juice." Her voice sounded strained... fighting off something within herself... along with keeping control over that metal. If only there was more metal than sand.

Could he even walk? Oh, she hoped so.. Their lives depended on it. If this plan would fail, she had no choice other than to give in to her inner feline.. That form that Ruben would be unable to resist.

She utilized whatever light Sly had offered her to use the various weaponous metal to fly through that sand. To break it up as much as possible. To interfere with it like it was bombarded with a thousand bees. It seemed to be working at least... a little anyways. She backed up, focusing on her one task of doing what she did best... and annoy the hell out of her enemies. One step back and then another.. They could do this.. They just needed to keep Ruben busy until they put more distance between her and Ruben.. and closer to the warlock and her plan...

Harley Westward