Dead Alice

What exactly is this GIMP thing? (Your character is quite...unique)

I like that commercial with the old lady trying to be ghetto. :P I dunno why, I have a soft spot for strange old people. I kinda like the Yeti-thing on those Pop-Tarts commercials. Just the way he talks... And that Taco Bell commercial. :rolleyes: "Guess who got full this weekend?" Pfsh. Oh yeah, the Kit-Kat one with the dancing guy rules.

(OK, so I took the title of this thread from American McGee's Alice. *sweatdrop*) I decided to post some of my...better poems, but not all at once. Cry (just as the title suggests...) Sorrow within hollowness Slowly bleeds in silence From eyes too empty Cold running blind to vanish On rosy cheeks Draining to be swept away Dark like moonlight?s shadow Burn away at flesh unstained While melodies of horror play Stripped of memory Fill with angel?s tears Sweet like wine Cast breath into a lifeless form Soul devouring the lungs And drown me in redemption Weak and broken glass Constructive criticism is more than welcome.

Wow... this poem is absolutely wonderful. It'd make a great song too. ^^ The emotions and imagery are so clear. Beautiful.

OOC: Yay for me. :p Oh and otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu to Kat, whenever your b-day was/is. (I'm 15 nya) ~~~ "You unfortunate thing, you," said Amaya half-heartedly as Kit groaned. "Thanks for the sympathy," he mumbled. "I'm kidding," said Amaya, kissing his cheek. "How'd Kurumi do that anyway?" "Some kind of orb thing..." "Figures. I heard you fought dirty and pulled her hair." "She hurt me worse!" Amaya shook her head. "Men..." "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Megumi smiled to herself as she applied ice to Kit's wound. "COLD!!! It's freezing! Amaya, can you help?" "I don't know... you were kinda mean to Kurumi..." Kit sweatdropped. "Even my girlfriend is conspiring against me..." ~~~ :rolleyes: Don't worry Kit, I still luv ya. :p (I like being mean sometimes)

Coolest~ Lord Darcia from Wolf's Rain. First of all, his appearance just gives off this wave of "coolness". He's calm and collected most of the time, and a very serious character. Dorkiest~ Zenigata from Lupin III. Can you consider him a villain? Even though he's a cop, but he's against the main character. As hard as he tries, he always manages to let Lupin escape, and of course gets himself into ridiculous situations. Best~ Hmmm... can't...think... Worst~ Team Rocket from Pokemon. (Do I even need to explain?) Smartest~ Legato from Trigun. He's definitely cunning, and thinks of the best ways to mess with Vash's head. Dumbest~ The Nebraska Family from Trigun. They may have a lot of physical strength in the form of two giants, but when it comes to brains they're about as intelligent as a group of chickens.

OOC: I forgot... It's been so long since I've watched the show, I can't remember. I think you're right though... Yeah, I think they were originally in Tokyo, and then there was the "Kyoto Arc" where Kenshin goes to fight Shishio and all that good stuff. (where'd Kurumi go?) ~~~ Amaya was the first to actually compliment Katana's cooking. "These are very good. Much better than my dad makes, anyway. I was never good at it..." Katana looked up from half-glomping, half-strangling Sano to smile at her. "At least [I]someone[/I] is appreciative around here." Kenshin nodded. "Now I won't have to cook as much, that I won't. Maybe you could help Kaoru-dono learn-" He received the "evil tanuki glare of doom". "-I mean, [I]improve[/I]." "Or maybe Kenshin and Katana can do all the cooking from now on," said Yahiko. "Instead of Ugly," he added. That began Kaoru's daily onslaught of Yahiko, and Yuka joined in just for the hell of it. By this time Sano's head was brandishing a sweatdrop the size of Mt. Rushmore. Yuki kept insisting that it could be used to drown Kaz. ~~~ Evil tanuki glare of doom... X3

OOC: *bows like Sakano* Sumimasen! Sumimasen! Sumimasen! (it's from Gravitation... n.n) Gomen for not posting yet, but I was having trouble thinking of a way for my character to enter the story (see my sign-up in the recruitment..er Adventure Inn or whatever it's called now). And I'm in kind of a slump with my RP's at the moment. ^^; ~~~ "Kanasawa-san? Kanasawa-san? Hello! WAKE UP!" "Ne...?" Michiko finally sat up after the teacher had called her name about a hundred times. "Unless you intend on failing my class, I suggest you pay attention." "Yes, Mr. Yamato..." [I]I can't help it if I couldn't sleep,[/I] Michiko thought. She managed to stay awake for the rest of the class, but her mind kept wandering. There were no cute boys in this class to stare at, and she had left her mangas at home. She wondered where that cute Kento boy was. [I]He wouldn't give me the time of day...[/I] ~~~ I'd post more but my brain is malfunctioning from lack of proper sleep...

Name: Michiko Kanasawa Gender: female Age: 16 Appearance: Your typical Japanese schoolgirl, Michiko stands at about 162.56 cm, or 5? 4?. She is of slim build and fair skin. Her eyes and hair are black. Her hair is cut in layers to about her shoulders, with wispy bangs in front. She likes wearing school uniforms, and will usually wear short skirts outside of school. She has a fetish for knee-high socks. (sketch: [URL]http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/9271455/[/URL]) Personality: Michiko is one of those girls that everyone gets along with. She has a very carefree, almost childish attitude at times. She will always stand up for others and thus is very respected among the so-called nerds and weaker students. She is somewhat of a flirt, but also has an intelligent side. When she?s on a sugar-high she can be very annoying. Bio: Michiko was born to an average family and grew up imitating her older sister Rei. Rei has always been her role model, but recently moved away with her husband. Now she is in high school, and seems to have a crush on every cute boy she meets. She flirts with all of them, but they all seem annoyed by it. She has the biggest crush on Kento, but doesn?t realize he?s not into girls. If she did though, she probably wouldn?t mind because she is a major shounen-ai fangirl. Michiko is studying to be a fashion designer, and loves drawing in her spare time. Her mother is in the business, which is how she got the idea. Her father is hardly ever home, and this she finds very depressing. Occupation: none Skills: good at giving make-overs; extensive knowledge of random shoujo-manga and cooking sweets

OOC: Hey ya'll! I'm thinking (THINKING) about doing a pic of all of us (yes, even Kaz). My art skills have improved a lot since that last pic. It's not guaranteed, I'm just thinking about it... ~~~ Once everyone was seated around the dojo with dinner (thankfully made by Kenshin), conversation erupted everywhere. Katana had purposefully sat right next to Sanosuke and was pestering him to no end. Yuka and Yahiko were arguing as usual, this time over who could eat the most rice. Kaz was attempting to teleport around the room and steal everyone's food, until Kaoru caught him and gave him a nasty bump on the head with a nearby wasabi bowl. Yuki was telling Megumi about the wonders of modern medicine. "...and they have these HUGE needles, like 3 feet long..." "Oh my..." Kurumi was conversing with Kenshin, and Kit and Amaya were watching Yuka and Yahiko's argument with interest. ~~~ Hope that's ok...

OOC: All fine with me. ~~~ Isabelle was surprised that a stranger would bother to help someone in this time of urgency, but was appreciative nonetheless. Her rescuer seemed a few years younger than herself, but he was confident and knew what he was doing. Her heart soared at the thought of adventure, after so many years of lonely boredom. "What's your name?" Isabelle asked amid the thunder of hooves. "Talon," said the young man without averting his attention from their destination. "I am Isabelle. Thank you for saving me." [I]Riding in a dress is very uncomfortable...[/I]

Without thinking, Isabelle ran up to her room. She glanced around for sight of her mage's staff. [I]Where did I put it...?[/I] Finally she found the object on top of a desk that was rarely used, wrapped in cloth. She removed the cloth to reveal the smooth, twisted oak no longer than her forearm. The top of the staff curved, as if to hold an invisible sphere. With a wave of her hand, a faint white light appeared. This was the magic that had slept within her since the death of her tutor. Finally, she hoped to put this power to good use. Isabelle put the staff inside the large pocket on the side of her dress and went back downstairs. She decided to take the largest knife she had, just in case. It was a large blade used for cutting tough loaves of bread, with a saw-like edge. She put the knife in a leather pouch her father had made to reduce injuries and pocketed it. She walked outside and was immediately greeted with the atmosphere of panic and destruction in the streets, instinctively pulling out her staff. A shrill noise behind her made her jump. Before she could even turn around, a hideous creature landed in front of her, brandishing dagger-like claws that could've ripped a person in half. Her eyes grew wide in terror, a shaky hand nearly dropping her weapon. She quickly remembered her training and thrust the staff outward, producing a fierce green light that knocked the demon backward. It flew nearly 10 feet, but did not seem injured. Before it could stand up, Isabelle cast a spray of blue flames. They did not seem to be as effective as she had hoped, though the demon did shriek again, sending chills up her spine. The monster stood quickly, lunging toward Isabelle. She screamed at the wrong moment, allowing the creature to swipe at her. Its claws missed, but the force of its hand knocked her to the ground, nearly dislocating her shoulder. The demon was ready to pierce her stomach when she cried, "Freeze!" Almost instantly, the demon haulted, engulfed in a sheet of ice. Isabelle knew this spell would not last long, and her strength alone was not enough to vanquish the beast. Her only choice was to run. Heart racing, she stumbled to her feet and began to run as fast as possible with the slight limp recieved from the demon's blow. She was unsure of her destination at the moment, but knew she needed to find help at all costs. OOC: So how was that? No more bread-baking. I tried to make the fight realistic...ish because Isabelle isn't very experienced (but I don't want her dead...). Whatever, I'm trying to write longer posts. ^^;

Isabelle smiled at the weight of gold in her hand. [I]Today is a good day,[/I] she thought. After putting the money away, she went back into the kitchen and pulled out the loaf of bread that had been baking. It was warm but cool enough to handle, so she wrapped it in paper and brought it out to the waiting swordsman. "I am sorry to have kept you waiting so long. I am not so good with business these days..." "It's fine, thank you very much," said the swordsman courteously (sp?), handing her a few jin. OOC: Gomen ne again for the short post, but I wasn't sure what Dmitri_Dragoon would want his character to do...

Isabelle was so happy to see a customer that she nearly forgot her manners. "Ah! [I]Monsieur[/I], please feel free to look around. Most of my goods have been out for a few days, but I do have some bread in the oven. I have not had a customer in many days, even with the Harvest Festival approaching.." The tall man nodded, eyeing some of the sweets held in glass cases on either side of the counter. Isabelle noticed the great sword at his side and could not help asking, "Are you a Paladin? I have not seen many of them around, but I suppose you are traveling, yes?" She was about to say more, before she realized her rudeness, turning a shade of pink.

Isabelle woke from a pleasant sleep the next day, feeling a little more confident. She wore a clean blue dress and a white smock, her long blonde hair fastened at the back of her head. She decided to keep the shop open until noon, and maybe take a walk around town later. "If anyone comes in today, I'll bake them something fresh," she said to herself, fixing the sign on the door to read OPEN. She sat at one of the small round tables and ate a quick breakfast, then began cleaning and dusting the entire shop. OOC: Sorry it's short. I can't think of much to write at the moment.

OOC: Just found out this started. ^^; Just wanted to remind people, Isabelle has a French accent. And if you can't remember the name of the bakery, you can just call it the bakery. oO;; ~~~ Isabelle sighed heavily, leaning a flour-covered hand upon the empty counter. Her homemade candies, breads and cakes had lost their sweet aromas and were beginning to grow stale. Not a single customer had so much as peeked inside for the past few days. "When Papa was here, [I]La Boulangerie DeFerias[/I] was one of the most prosperous businesses in town," she muttered to herself. "Am I doing something wrong, Papa? Am I wasting my time, trying to be like you?" Isabelle glanced at the Help Wanted sign in the window and felt hopelessness wash over her. It was growing dark, so she decided to lock the doors and retreat to her room upstairs. It was too early for bed, so she knitted, occasionally glancing out the window into a night like any other. Many people were probably getting drunk or dancing until their feet were sore, while she remained away in her haven of loneliness. [I]I can barely stay alive if I continue this business... I spend more money on flour than I make in a week. Maybe someday I'll find my true calling...[/I]

OOC: Is it just me or are we kinda lacking female characters? *cough*

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][size=1][B]Name:[/B] Isabelle DeFerias [B]Age:[/B] 19 [B]Gender:[/B] female [B]Occupation:[/B] Baker/Mage (lol) [B]Weapons:[/B] mage?s staff made of oak, with a small orb of energy at the top (obviously used for spells); also keeps a bread-cutting knife in her pocket in case of emergencies [B]Personality:[/B] Isabelle is very friendly but can often be quite stubborn and quick to anger. She won?t take no for an answer, and won?t tolerate people who don?t listen. It?s definitely not a good idea to get on her bad side. However, she is usually calm and will help anyone who helps her in return. People often ask her advice in tough situations. She can act much more mature than her age. (She also speaks in a slight French accent.) [B]Appearance:[/B] Isabelle is about 5?5?, and of average build. Her eyes are usually a misty green but can become hazel-colored when she?s angry. She has fair skin, as she tends to stay indoors or only travel at night. Her hair is a dark blonde, and reaches about her mid-back with long bangs on the side of her face. When she is at work, she usually wears a plain light-blue or sandy-colored dress and white apron (often covered with flour), with her hair tied back with a cloth or bonnet. When she is not at work she typically wears conservative, inexpensive dresses. She likes to avoid revealing clothes, despite several protests from the village perverts. [B]History:[/B] Isabelle grew up the daughter of a prosperous baker and his seamstress wife. She was an only child, but was never spoiled. She led a normal life, deciding to follow in her father?s footsteps after his death when she was 14. She took over the family business and kept up its reputation as the town?s finest bakery and sweet shop. She and her mother were well off living above the bakery, until her mother disappeared. Isabelle never discovered the reason for her disappearance, but vowed to continue with a firm hope and unrelenting determination. About a month later, when Isabelle was nearing sweet 16, a mysterious stranger gave her a visit. She discovered that the old man was a mage seeking to give the last of his strength to a young apprentice before he died. The mage explained that he had come to Glen Haven and sensed power yet to be awakened within her. Apparently her mother had been a mage in hiding, which could have explained her vanishing. After a while the old man convinced Isabelle to become his apprentice. Over the next three years he helped her awaken her true power, but unfortunately was unable to finish his training. He passed away after suffering a heart attack. Now Isabelle waits for the opportunity to put her abilities to good use, while keeping herself alive with the meager pay of her one-woman job. [B]Note on Magic:[/B] Isabelle can do average white and black magic, such as healing and using elemental attacks. Her power is not the strongest, but is powerful enough to take down most average demons and such. She also works well with other mages in combined attacks.[/size][/COLOR]

I've only read one of his books (so far) and that's [U]'salem's Lot[/U]. (got it at a flea market for a dollar hehe) I loved it, though it wasn't that scary (for the most part). It was just so intriguing, and his writing style amazes me. And of course I love vampires. ^_^ Right after I finished the book I watched the movie on TNT and that was the most dissapointing thing I've ever seen. They totally ruined it. I saw a little bit of Carrie (the old version) and it was pretty cool. (I even drew a picture of her.) I watched Rose Red when it was on ABC and loved it. I watched one episode of Kingdom Hospital and thought it was weird...

Hello all! I haven't been here in a while so I'm gonna post some of my depressing poems for you all to enjoy (or not). To me they all sound kinda similar so... Yeah. I'll probably use this thread to post more stuff if anyone wants me to. Haven I long to stand where Boundaries have fallen To feel a true freedom Comforted by the light A vast abyss of life And there is only me Alone for eternity To escape reality Run from pain The night is my loneliness The day, my strength To hide on the edge of earth Until the world is faded And I am left with nothing But memories Demented Pale and lifeless, cold As the inconstant moon A void, spiraling Ceaseless and stopping at oblivion Empty, fragile like glass Transparent floating memories Growing, hiding in darkness Silence lingering, unstable mind Haunting melody?repeating The bitter taste, never leaving Blood, newly spawned Twisting horror of lies Waiting in quiet night, stalking Fresh victims, torture Empty existence, pain And you are my only love Death Damaged Butterfly Find faith in lost memories Fly on broken wings Run for cloudy skies When sunlight fades Scream into an empty soul Part the sea and drown Victim of danger?s seduction Being drawn by thirst for blood Like angels with torn halos Cast to hell in redemption And demons chased from Satan In darker sins of good Take my hand and pull me So I may follow into death The lingering silence And kiss the sky Bleeding Window I sit here at the window through which I see the world The glass would shatter easily at my touch I watch in silence the lies that flow through Transparent chaos I know all too well As the clouds are willing to die Blood descends like rain in torrents I hear screaming from an unknown source There is only darkness behind my fragile shield The earth cries as we are returned to her In a cycle of death and resurrection I stare blankly at the reality beyond my window Cold, lifeless existence I am here in my room of illusions Waiting for my nightmares to end Yet I am afraid to break the glass Afraid and at the same time eager To feel the pain of its sharp edges Draw dark liquid from my veins But I am still here at my window Being pulled separate ways My creators urge me forward Yet my angels hold me back While I wish to fly away And never return Falling Backwards In a world of candy canes and paper cranes the sky is green and no birds sing Where blood flows through rivers like wine and tears become the dragon?s spine The morning clouds pour acid rain and wait for night to come again Pain is a weakness from within a tortured soul Sitting in an upside-down room of clocks and mirrors Viewing outside the window where the earth is gone Spinning in squares; I?m falling backwards Stop me before I wake up and have to face the light beyond the veil There?s too much darkness; I can?t see anymore Time is ticking; it won?t wait for you to rescue me Hurry, I?m slipping through the black demon?s mist Grab its wings; don?t let it get away Stab through the surface as the silver bells chime Blood floating in the sky as golden raindrops fall from hell The signal?s gone; your time is up and back to the beginning you return I fade and reform again; my body is melting like ice Burn the ashes, torch like flame and listen to the fallen angels sing Death is stalking you, for you have failed Life shall be repeated as I sit here in my upside-down room A deaf ear listening to the frozen clocks on the wall Tick tock your time is up The mourning doves shall laugh at you as I sing my hollow song Forsaken I shall sleep peacefully Until I awaken from the grave Rising from eternal slumber Death shall be my slave Feeding from the darkness See the blood that's dripping Stolen life from mortals It's poison wine I'm sipping Fragile you shall break A new life unto its own Weakness comes from fear As my lust has grown Forsaken life shall be my curse To walk among the living And hide as an immortal With new-bound lives I'm giving An eternity of hell on earth Reality it's seeming Damned to fate as I would have it If only I were dreaming Falling Destiny Eternity of nightmares Shield me in loneliness, I pray Cradled by illusions I will murder reality My wings are tainted, feathered black Pain, the hidden release Reflect my sorrow in your eyes Ruby droplets descend gracefully I smile in the darkness Return me to the earth as your sacrifice My soul with cascade from the heavens Your guardian of night Your dreams are my tears Burning fragile lines of regret I am fortune?s fool The slave of fate. Sweet Nothing Can you see me, Daddy? My wings are breaking but You can still see them Aren't I your lovely flower blooming in darkness? Don?t you hear my voice, Daddy? I'm singing for you The melody is slowing and faltering with each breath But am I still your songbird? You don't know me, Daddy but I have tears inside for you If you could see my scars I could bleed for you, Daddy If you would listen If you could see me Would you stop me from fading? My faith lies in emptiness Do you love me, Daddy? Reflection no matter how you look at me i am not what i seem hidden in a lonely shadow an ancient vision dreams looking through the shattered glass a piercing angel's gaze searching for a sign of hope in these dark fateful days silent tears begin to fall as she comes to meet her end murdered by the endless wounds that only love can mend Cry Sorrow within hollowness Slowly bleeds in silence From eyes too empty Cold running blind to vanish On rosy cheeks Draining to be swept away Dark like moonlight?s shadow Burn away at flesh unstained While melodies of horror play Stripped of memory Fill with angel?s tears Sweet like wine Cast breath into a lifeless form Soul devouring the lungs And drown me in redemption Weak and broken glass

"I'm getting the [I]hell[/I] out of here," Lena said to herself. She walked swiftly over to the door, pulling and pushing at it fiercely, to no avail. [I]Dammit... I have to find a way out. I don't like this place at all...[/I] Her blue eyes scanned the cavernous sanctuary, seeking an escape. There were no other doors. She decided that her only choice would be the window. Drawing ebony handguns from either side of her hips, Lena set her target. She aimed for the stained glass above her. Two tight squeezes of her index fingers, and the mural of saints was shattered. Lena dodged the broken glass and replaced her weapons. "Now how to get up there..." Thinking quickly, Lena decided to climb the lofty statue of Mary that was convieniently placed there. This was fairly easy for her, considering she was used to escaping quite frequently. After gaining her balance, Lena was crouched in the space above the door where the window had been. She immediately got the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

[I]Come, child... Do not be afraid...[/I] The voice was sickly sweet, like poisoned honey. It beckoned her, ominous in the darkness. She could not stop herself from being pulled toward it. Lena knew she was dreaming. This cold emptiness couldn't be real... Yet it seemed like so much more than an illusion. She could almost feel something liquid under her feet, almost [I]taste[/I] the metallic scent of blood. She felt blind, as there was no source of light whatsoever. All she knew was that something, someone was calling her, and that it was getting closer. [I]Come, Lena...[/I] She opened her mouth to ask "Who are you?", and nothing came out. [I]Trust me, love...[/I] There was something sinister about that voice that sent shivers down her spine. She longed to open her eyes, though it was such an impossible task. Without warning, Lena started descending through the floor. The cold, sickening feel of blood over her skin made her realize her absence of clothing. She could almost see now, faint patches of crimson swimming before her eyes. [I]You must understand... how much you are needed, Lena. You are very important to us...[/I] By now the voice sounded purely loathsome, and Lena wanted to scream. [I]You will make an excellent sacrifice... Cooperate and you may recieve a quick death.[/I] "NO!" Her eyes shot open to reveal the dusty rafters of the ceiling, her breath ragged with shock. "...That was freaky." ----- OOC: Whoa... That was the weirdest dream sequence I've ever had... o_O I have a lot of those... They usually involve very similar things. ^^;;

"Where did all these crows come from?" Lena wondered to herself. A tiny black feather landed on her outstretched hand, blowing away in the bitter wind within a mere second. Countless flakes of white were still falling around her, only to vanish at the touch of her skin. She was beginning to feel used to the cold, having spent most of her time outside. [I]I wish I could just know the reason for everything... I'm so lost, I don't know if I'll ever find myself...[/I] Her eyes wandered again to the abandoned sanctuary, its slowly dying candles casting a faint light that seemed to draw her in. Her blue-green orbs were focused so intently that they seemed engulfed in the flame. Lena's feet began leading her inside, her mind entranced. Faster and faster she walked, until she found herself standing before the priest's wooden podium. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of delusion. She was about to turn around, when the doors of the church closed themselves with an ominous slam. Lena ran back to them, only to realize they were locked. "Help! Someone get me out of here!" She pleaded, pounding her fists into the hard wood. Obviously her attempts were futile, and Lena gave up. "Great... Now what am I supposed to do?" Her body was growing tired, and Lena decided she might as well rest on one of the benches, as uncomfortable as they may be.

[I]Why did Cortiga do that? She could've been killed... instead of me... Was I being foolish?[/I] Keitaro stared blankly at the walls, her mind focused only on her thoughts. She was confused, alone, and felt sick. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to save her. Her life was empty, wasn't it? She tried to convince herself of these things, yet something was repeating in the back of her mind. [I]What if he's still alive? What if you could find him? You'd have a reason to live then, wouldn't you?[/I] "Maybe..." Keitaro said quietly to herself.

[I]Something is coming... I don't know why, but I can feel it...[/I] Lena drew her leather coat tightly around her, shivering from the icy air. She sat against the door of her modest home, blue-green eyes scanning the snow-blurred street in front of her. A bitter wind blowed continuously through her scarlet-streaked blonde hair, taunting her to go back inside. [I]What am I waiting for? Something is calling me... I must know what it is...[/I] Her frozen body protested the harsh winter air, but she compromised by her decision to take a walk, hoping it might at least get her blood flowing. Besides, no one would care if she left. No one was there to watch her through the window. Lena's feet led her through town, her mind wandering to other places. She found herself standing before a church, the same place where she had seen...him. [I]Why do I keep returning to this place?[/I] She stared at the church, wondering if she should go in. [I]Has fate led me here?[/I] Something told her to go in, yet something else pulled her violently back. She could see right inside the empty sanctuary, its haunting melodies echoing somewhere in her mind. She saw illusions, almost [I]felt[/I] them. For a moment it seemed like any normal Sunday, with happy Christians filing into the pews, ready for the morning's sermon. It all vanished within an instant, returning to its normal, desolate state. Lena rubbed her eyes, assuming she was just tired. She heard the fluttering of wings, and looked up to see numerous crows. Darker than night, black with hunger and resentment...