The Half and the Whole: Tori

 

Prologue

 

This tale takes place in the colourful, yet complicated City of Tyrell. Colourful because of it’s wide variety of people and complicated also because of it’s wide variety of people. It’s not an ideal place to live; in fact, if you were to move to the city, then I guarantee that within a week, you’d be looking at houses in another city! People don’t move to Tyrell City. People from Tyrell City move to other places in Tyrell City because other cities in the country would probably discriminate them for their origin.

                I shall explain; within Tyrell City, there are four regions. The city itself is built in a small but steep valley and it’s houses spreading right out to the surrounding highlands, but stopping and giving way to a vast desert beyond. At the centre if the city is, the quite astutely named City Centre. This is where you’d find the typical shopping centres, the schools, train stations, monuments and tourist attractions. It’s a shame that the only thing that the City Centre is missing is tourists. This is in the centre of the valley, deep in the heart.

On one side of the valley, the gold of the grey city, is Boundary. Boundary is filled with big, modern houses built from pale bricks, wide, tarmac roads, black, neatly paved drive ways, posh cars, neat, well-kept front gardens, trees and, most importantly, Horizon House. Horizon House sits at the top of Boundary, gazing over the surrounding Valley and it houses the Mayor and the people who govern Tyrell. Boundary is where you would find the successful business men’s houses, the policemen’s homes, the most expensive schools and the people who are most well off and can afford their electricity bill, along with taxes and gifts for their children at Christmas.

The opposite side of the valley is called The Wynde. Looking at The Wynde, you would notice the tall, dark brown-bricked, historical buildings built extremely close together, the narrow, cobbled roads running up the steep hill like black veins, the black, slate rooves, some which had ancient gargoyles nestled in the corners. This is probably the most historical part of the city, the only part with the original, iconic, gothic buildings from centuries ago. It is here you would find the people who live in small, confined flats down narrow streets, people who have no real jobs but get income by other, more shady means, people who dress in a certain way, people who are looked down upon by the rest of the city. Oh yes, discrimination is a big part of life in Tyrell City! People who live on The Wynde live in a tight community, look out for themselves, concentrate on surviving, not luxury.

The last region of Tyrell City is the Outskirts. People out here are middle-class, normal, in-between people who aren’t defined by where they live. They aren’t defined by money or status but go about their daily lives, rarely involving themselves in the conflict between the prejudice and the survivors.

There is another part to the city, a part that people learn about in their history lessons and are told about in the form of legend. The city’s Underworld lies beneath The Wynde and spreads out beneath the whole of the city and some of the desert or wasteland that surrounds the city. It is only legend, not many people speak of it. Years ago, in medieval times, the king decided to ‘cleanse’ the city of the vermin. To do this, he decided to build a wall around the section of the city where the peasants lived and dwelled. Doing this, he entrapped the peasants and effectively, ordered his men to build another city on top of their city. Their city was buried deep beneath, the only hope for them were the people who knew better, who knew that one day, the kings plan would fail him; vermin would find it’s way back into society somehow. So a secret group was created, people who were part of the kings court were given keys to secret entrances to their underground city. These people who were entrusted to passages to the Vaults, which in turn, would allow passage to what the people called The Warrens. These people were called the Descendents. People in league with the descendents, were known as disciples. Together, they believed that one day, the people of the Warren would once again, rise and punish the king for his actions. Of course, the legend was soon forgotten about.

This is who we are. We are survivors, living against the harsh inner rims of society who call themselves sophisticated but are really just tyrannical beasts posing as human beings. Or so I say; I’ve yet to meet someone who isn’t form The Wynde, who actually accepts us and isn’t a complete bitch. People say, however, that a Black Parade will soon rise and take back the city. What once belonged to the myths of the Warrens and what was once held in hands of black and gold, of The Wynde and Boundary will be reclaimed. Those who claim they are gods, who drove the warriors beneath the city itself, will fall to it. And all it’s descendents.

At the top of The Wynde is Duskgate Mansion. My house. It sits at the peak of the hill, surrounded by trees; it’s huge, gothic structure reaching above the tallest pine trees. My parents are dead, so I inherited it. The mansion itself is only the tip of the iceberg, there are more chambers running deep into the earth, reaching the Vaults through the Archives and the Cellars, through it’s many rooms. The mansion itself rivals the beauty that of Horizon House, the two houses stand face to face, forever locked into each other’s sights. It holds authority; as do I. As my parents died, I and the house inherited the secret of the Descendents. I know for a fact that the rumours are true. I am a key holder. I see the future from my bedroom window.  I can see almost all of Boundary from my bedroom window. It seems a shame that so few people can witness such a beautiful sight.

But that’s just the way things work.

My name is Cynthia, and I can see The Black Parade rising in the east; we are ready.

 

 

Part 1: A Night to Remember

 

                Tori gazed at herself in the mirror. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the way she looked, on the contrary, she thought she looked perfectly normal... for someone who lived in The Wynde.

                The dress was black, hugged her figure giving her curves in all the right places. It wrapped itself around her body in folds of silk and shone in the light from the naked bulb. Her legs were average, not long and smooth like the girls had at school, but the shoes made up for it; black high heels with a lace pattern. It was gifts like these that she always cherished form her brother. Always cherished, yet always hidden out of the prying eyes of her aunt and uncle. She took the dress off, along with the shoes and put them back in the box beneath her bed. She then went to the bed, where a white dress lay along with white high heels.

                Putting them on, Tori sighed, sadly. The dress was perfectly fine, plain and what accounted for ‘normal’ in the society of Boundary. The shoes were fine... her long, bronze hair was fine...

                Her whole life was not fucking ‘fine’!

                Prom was in half an hour, the ball that signified her leaving the local school and moving onto somewhere else. It gave her tingles just thinking about where she could go, and what she could do! Like there was something inside her... waiting to burst free!

                There was a knock on the window. Then another... someone throwing stones?

                Tori went to the sill, looking down into the evening shadows. Opening the window, she called, “Drug?”

                Her brother came out of the shadows, clad in black, his black hair pushed over his face, his stretcher visible beneath his shiny fronds.

                “Hey! You ok up there, locked in your tower?” he asked, moving closer so Tori could see the glint of the black gun strapped to his back.

                “Not really.” Tori grimaced.

                “Look, you still up for tonight? You know what you’re gonna do?” he asked on a more serious note.

                Tori nodded. “Yeah, just a bit nervous is all.”

                “Hey, it’s ok, it’ll all go smoothly, y’know!” he smiled his cheeky smile that always caught the edges of Tori’s lips.

                “I hope you’re right. Just, make sure you don’t get caught.”

                “Then make sure Mr and Mrs Slave-driver in there don’t get you. Remember where my place is?”

                Tori nodded. This was it. She was getting out. Forever.

                “Victoria? Victoria! Who are you talking to?” yelled her aunt form somewhere in the house.

                Tori suddenly had an idea. Whirling round, she picked up the box that contained the dress and shoes her brother had given her. “Listen, Drug, take these and bring them tonight!” she held them over the edge and let them fall into his arms.

                “Sure thing, sis. See you tonight, Tori.” And with that, Drug disappeared into the darkness, as if on cue.

                Tori gazed after him, lapping up the sense of utter freedom he’d left in his wake. After tonight, she’d never have to go back to Boundary! She’d never have to be lectured by her aunt and uncle for dressing poorly, listening to Deadlight’s music. She’d take back all the confiscated wrist bands, art work, letters to her brother... her life!

                “No one!” Tori shouted from her bedroom door.

                “Well, come on down! Prom starts soon!” her aunt replied. Tori made her way, nervously down the stairs.

                Her aunt and uncle stood at the bottom, watching her in part awe, part scrutinising her for illegal objects or colours.

                “My! You look beautiful, darling.” Scoffed her aunt. Her aunt was an ugly person, wrinkles dug themselves into her face, almost painfully and it wasn’t helped by her drooping cheeks.

“Don’t you think, Steve?”  Her aunt turned to where uncle Steve was stood, a cigarette in his hand.

“Yes, very pretty.” He was never one for compliments, or conversation of any kind at all, really.

“Thank you.” Replied Tori, smiling a shy smile.

“Now, let’s get you to prom!” Her aunt motioned to the front door, where the Condor purred like a kitten. Tori followed her uncle, who was putting on driving gloves and got into the passenger seat.

 

The Condor rolled up outside the venue, among other flashy cars. The venue itself was decorated in lights and tinsel and banners. Tori looked up at the sign that said CLUB PHAROH, all the time only thinking about what was to come. Groups of students giggled and laughed, probably already drunk on pre drinks and atmosphere.

“Have fun, Victoria!” her uncle said, flatly before speeding away.

Tori was left to wander among the groups that thronged the street outside, heading for the entrance, where professional photographers stopped couples and groups to take pictures of them. Tori drifted past, ignoring the photo opportunity. She couldn’t think why she’d want to remember herself in this way...what use would she have for a photo of something she hated?

She drifted among the people of Boundary, the DJ pounding out music from the stage and bodies thronged on the dance floor, moving and convulsing together, like a beating heart.

Tables and chair were placed beyond, near the bar- her destination. All she had to do now was wait.

“Malibu and Coke please.” She said to the bartender, suppressing the urge to say give me a pint! Those kinds of drinks would not be served to girls in Boundary. It wasn’t the way thing were done. Far too manly for a girl to drink beer...

The bartender eyed her while pouring her drinks. “You don’t look like you fit here...” he murmured.

Tori regarded him with the same, nonchalance she gave everyone who’d said that to her in the past- and that was pretty often!

He past Tori her drink over the counter. “If I didn’t know any better,” he started, under his breath and well below the beat of the music. “’d say you were from The Wynde.” He raised his eyebrows.

“Well, that would be one hell of an accusation, since I’ve lived on Boundary my whole life and have several people that can vouch for me.” She replied, however, Tori felt her facial expression giving the truth away.

“If you say so.” He leant back and started to clean a glass. “But I’ve been bartending my whole life, and I’ve never pegged someone wrongly. Never.”

“Whatever.” Tori mumbled, turning away and sitting at a table on her own. From there, she surveyed her environment. She saw the venue slowly fill, couples snog, girls giggle, bitch fights happen, then broken up...

The whole cycle of a party slowly taking place before her sober eyes.  And not once did a single soul pay any amount of attention to her. They were too entranced by the electronic vibes pushing through the thick air, how their high heels hurt, dresses sparkling in the colours of the darkened room, the alcohol sinking deep into the minds of Boundary.

A black sheep...

The black sheep among the flock sat in silence, unnoticed, until her still figure caught the alcohol-blurred attention of someone who’d been the bane of her life for years.

“Hey! Look, it’s that bitch-sucker! Hey bitch-sucker, listened to any depressing songs recently? Ahaha!” The shrill laughter could only belong to Penelope; the daughter of a rich businessman and designated popular girl in Tori’s year. She went out of her way to make Tori’s life a personal hell, but on the bright side, she’d never know how unlucky she was to own a laugh as loud and shrill and embarrassing as that.

Tori looked away; her efforts to avoid attention were futile. Penelope, flanked by a gaggle of friends who didn’t know any other colour other than pink, staggered over to her table and proceeded to throw insults at Tori.

“The lil’ emo bitch doesn’t even know how fugly she looks!” cackled Penelope, her friends finding it immensely funny. “I’m surprised she’s even here, in public!”

Tori only listened to the echoes from her friends.

“Such a ‘tard...”

“Ugly cow...”

She didn’t need this. It wouldn’t be long now. Tori got up and moved away from Penelope and her friends, who hadn’t noticed her departure at all.

It was almost midnight. She counted down the minutes. The room was in a state of euphoria, things moving in slow motion, almost.

The party was in full swing. Everything was going fine...just fine. Just a normal, everyday...party...

As soon as the big hand reached the 12, Tori looked around for signs.

There were the sounds of a commotion from the entrance, and dark figures with large cases appeared in the doorway. The music continued as the people of the party moved out of the way, some shocked, some angry.

Yet the figures kept moving towards the stage, the people creating an easy access. They reached the stage, then leapt up onto it. One of the band members tapped the DJ on the shoulder and punched him, square in the jaw as he looked round. The music stopped.

Silence fell over the room. Tori braced herself.

Within seconds, the band had assembled. Then, with on, long, heavy chord, they began. When the people heard the music, they recoiled in shock, some shouted, threw bottles, but deadlight carried on.

People began to leave, but Tori caught sight of other people, dressed the same- black clad, black hair spiked up or covering faces, piercings, guns strapped to backs or nestled in holsters. There was only a couple of them, but they seemed to Tori as if they were a small army. Tori smiled as her brother took centre stage, a microphone in hand and a box in the other.

Tori went to him and took the box, looking over her shoulder to see Boundary authorities trying to get in, to intervene, but the gang members were having none of it.

With almost all of the party disbanded, Tori took off her dress in the middle of the floor. She didn’t care whether she was noticed or not, but no one seemed to stop or say anything. She kicked off her shoes and reached into the box. Stood there for a moment in her bra and knickers, she donned the silky darkness of her black dress and shoes. She looked up at Drug, who smiled and shouted the lyrics to the song.

“Tori! I knew it! I fucking knew it!” Came a shrill, familiar yell form behind her. She saw Penelope, staring wide-eyed at her.  “Oh my God, I knew it!”

Tori cringed. This was it. Now everyone would know. Not that it mattered...

“So, what’s it to you, bitch?” Tori spat in her direction.

Penelope blinked through her drunken haze, seemingly confused at Tori’s hostile reception. Tori had always been so quiet and accepting of the life they’d given her. Until now.

“Hey! Don’t you talk to me tha’ way!” her voice slurred, her small group of friends slowly diminishing around her. This was a fight not worth the breath. “You’re the one that’s a low-life emo cunt! Go crawl back to The Wynde!”

Tori raised an eyebrow- it wasn’t like sophisticated Boundary aristocrats to use language such as that.

“Go die in a hole, I’m beyond caring.” Tori muttered beneath her breath, turning away from Penelope and facing the full force of the heavy music emanating from the stage.  She didn’t even notice Penelope drift form the room, her friends in tow.

Gang members flanked the room; Tori knew a few of them, but none of them closely. She knew her brother, rocking out on the stage. As far as she was concerned, she was alone on the dance floor. She began to dance, without really knowing what she was doing; she went where her body and the music took her.

 

 

Part 2: Obey

 

The music had died down and Drug looked at Tori, who stood looking up at him. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have the freedom she felt at her finger tips. The night was still deep and the room still dark and buzzing with the life of The Wynde.

“Want your last prom dance?”  asked Drug, putting his mike to the side and hopping form the stage.

She nodded as Deadlight began to play a slow, acoustic track. Tori drifted into her brother’s arms as he gave her what she wanted; both a goodbye and a hello through the transition from one life to another.

Despite the obvious distance, Tori and Drug had been close siblings form the beginning. After the death of their parents in a raid, Drug had vowed to take care of the 3 year old Tori, but she was snapped away from The Wynde and all that she loved by her aunt and uncle. As far as Tori was concerned, the couple were already angry at the fact that her parents had chosen to live on The Wynde in the first place and when there became the idea that an orphan would need looking after, they’d jumped on the chance. Her aunt and uncle had never been able to conceive. Maybe it was a sign from a God, or punishment for being so subjective and discriminative of The Wynde. Tori was just angry that it had to be her they’d seen and taken away. And the fact they’d left Drug on The Wynde added to Tori’s pain and hatred for her aunt and uncle. Apparently he’d been too ‘conditioned from being on The Wynde’ to start a new life. Tori new better. They didn’t want to contaminate her with anything that could mean her turning back to her heritage.

She had no pity for them. Not anymore.

Tori danced in her brother’s arms, feeling the weight slowly being lifted off her shoulder. She was only saddened when it was over.

“Tori, we have to go. It’s almost dawn.” Drug whispered. Tori nodded and watched the band members packing away equipment. Outside there were Boundary authorities already starting to show up. Cars with flashing lights started to appear from the darkness, so Tori followed the gang members through a back entrance and into the darkness of the perfectly polished maze that was Boundary.

 

It soon became time to turn and say her final goodbye to Boundary. The city centre was gathered behind her, as if it was waiting.

She turned slowly. Instead of gazing upon the city centre and Boundary beyond, she saw the huge figure of the Condor and it’s soft purrs. One of the doors opened smoothly and out came her aunt. Tori could make out the shadow of her uncle in the driver’s seat.

“Victoria! Oh, goodness, your safe!” her aunt cried, almost tearful. She moved towards Tori, ready to pull her into a hug. Tori stepped backwards, making her aunt stop, the signs of feigned confusion creeping across her face.

“Victoria? Come home!” her aunt said, her voice less relieved and in the zone between feigning alleviation and anger.

“Sorry aunt, I don’t belong on Boundary anymore. I never did.” Tori wasn’t going to let them take her back. She wasn’t going to let them take away her freedom, not when it was within her grasp!

Her aunt’s face changed. “Victoria, you are not going to take one step on The Wynde! Steve!”

Steve got out of the Condor, taking off his gloves. Tori watched him, cautiously.

“Anything the matter here, Tori?” came her brother’s voice from behind her.

“I was just saying goodbye, Drug, I’ll be along in a minute.” Tori replied.

“You!” shrieked her aunt. “Get away from her! It’s you whose doing this, isn’t it? You’re poisoning her mind, aren’t you? We won’t let you take her from us!”

“It’s not me, it’s Tori’s choice. You can’t keep her from having free will, you witch.” Spat Drug. Out of the corner of her eye, Tori could see him reach for the holster at his hip, fingering the black handle of a pistol.

“I’m sorry, he’s right. I’m going home.”

“Victoria...? But, we took you in, we treated you like our own daughter, tried to give you a good upbringing, give you more than what you would have got on The Wynde! Are you going to deny us that?” her aunt’s face turned sad and for a split second, Tori almost felt sympathy. Almost...

“No, I want to go home, to my real home! All my life, you’re the ones who have been denying me what I want most! A real home!” shouted Victoria, angry now. “Leave me alone! Go back to the Boundary, where you belong and never come near me again!”

Tori expected them to shout back, expected them to put up a fight, try to force her, to cause her pain...something, but never did she expect the events that followed!

Her aunt and uncle turned and began to walk away. Just...walk away! Just like that. They didn’t even take the Condor!

Tori and Drug watched the pair of them disappear into the purple night, dumbfounded.

“What...? They just...walked away!” muttered Drug.

“I’m not complaining, but...why?” Tori turned to him. “Do you think...it’s because I told them to?”

Drug shrugged. “Hey, let’s not wait for them to come back, ok? Come on!”

Tori followed him, into the night and onto The Wynde.

 

Drug’s house wasn’t big. It was a small flat on one of the main streets of The Wynde, one the top floor of a long, terraced building. From the outside, it was the same, old black brick and a black slated roof that rose up five floors, causing the street to seem claustrophobic. The flat itself, however, was cosy and well kept.

Tori expected it to be worse, a guy living on his own, yet upon closer inspection, Tori caught sight of a photo of her brother with a woman. She smiled, despite the feeling of jealousy, and moved on to her room. It was small, bearing only a bed and a wardrobe, but that didn’t matter. On the bed sat a teddy bear. It was old, some of it’s fur chewed and matted from age. Tori recognised it immediately.

She’d had this teddy bear when she was 3 years old, a present from Drug, before tragedy struck.

It was this piece of her old home she held onto as she drifted into a peaceful sleep, and dreamt of the future.

 

Tori was awoken by voice shouting somewhere in the distance. They were muffled, and Tori was too comfortable, too happy to want to remove herself from the warmth of her bed.

The choice was taken from her, however, when her door burst open to blind her with light from the living room.

“You bitch! You sick, twisted psycho! You fucking bitch...” Tori sat up to see a blurry figure at the door...two blurry figures, in fact.

“Tori, erm, sorry, she kind of barged her way in!” came Drug’s apologetic tone form behind the struggling girl.

Tori got out of bed, still wearing her black dress form the night before. “Who...?” she started when she looked at the girl properly, through the thick folds of sleep.

Wait, she recognised this girl...

“BITCH! How could you!” the girl cried, tears causing the make up to run down her face in tears, her sobs wracking her body which was restrained by Drug. If Drug wasn’t there, Tori feared this girl might fly forwards and tear Tori’s eyes out.

Her clothing confirmed she was form Boundary.

“You know this freak?” Drug raised an eyebrow, struggling with the girl.

Tori nodded. “How can we get her to calm down?”

“Fuck knows...maybe, ah! I dunno!”

Tori moved towards the girl. “Look, we can talk about this, what’s your name?”

The girl let out a shrill scream. “WHAT DO YOU THINK, BITCH? WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK? YOU’VE KNOWN ME FOR YEARS, YOU KNEW HER FOR YEARS AND NOW SHE’S DEAD!”

Tori paused. “Wait, who’s dead, just calm down, we can sort this!”

The girl cried, going slightly limp in Drug’s arms. Still sobbing, she let Drug drag her to the sofa and sit her down onto it.

“Now,” said Tori, standing over her. “Tell me what’s going on?”

“She’s dead...you told her to go and die...and now she’s dead!” the girl looked down, sobbing.

“Who?”

“Penelope!”

Tori’s blood ran cold.

Go die in a hole...

Could she have... no!

“What happened?” asked Tori.

“We followed her from prom, after those...terrorists showed up. We thought we’d escaped! But Penelope was...she was...just walking...she wouldn’t speak to us... She just, lied down in the street and...” the girl paused, sobs taking over. “She let a car drive over her! We just watched...”

Tori was silent. As was Drug. 

“Aunt and Uncle...” muttered Drug. “You must have... like a gift or something...”

She really wasn’t in the mood for this. Of course the very idea that she could have some sort of weird power was absurd! The look, however, on Drug’s face was not reassuring; it was as though he was thinking through something, as if things made...sense to him.

Seriously! Five minutes into her new life and she got this?

“Right, get out! Don’t come back here again, I don’t need this!” Tori said to the girl whose name escaped her. The girl didn’t move.

“I should go to the police, have you arrested...” the girl muttered.

So much for the weird power then!

“Well, not on The Wynde you won’t, and if you don’t want a bullet in your skull, then you’ll leave my sister alone.” Drug was suddenly on his feet and looming over the terrified girl.

Tori stood behind him now, watching the girl pause before standing up, shakily, realising she would not achieve what she came to The Wynde to do. As soon as the resigned look fixed itself to her face, she turned tail and left, her high heels she’d taken pride in hours before now cutting into her feet, angrily.

“Well, power or not, you should know that they’re not unheard of.” Drug said, turning to Tori. “In any case, I have to go; we’re playing a gig at Duskgate Mansion for a couple of nights. If you need anything, just come and find me, you’ll be let in. Everyone is let in. You’re among friends now.” Drug smiled, warmly, not relieving the sense of tension tightly knotted around her stomach.

 

Part 3: Re-shaping the Cracks

 

Living on The Wynde was not what Tori expected. In fact, it was extremely different. She could cope with the cosy flat, the lack of money, but it was the people that startled her. It was like they moved and breathed together. Like one beating heart. People smiled, said hello, asked her to peruse their stock in the market streets. It was friendly gestures and the relaxed atmosphere that broke her out of the comfort of the strict regime of Boundary. No one would dare say hello to a stranger in the street. No one would dare accost someone or try to sell them something; in fact, the idea of market stalls crowding the already claustrophobic streets would be unheard of!

Tori was wandering a particular street where boutiques lined either side and rows of shelves with books crammed into them and other objects were squashed in front of shop windows that were as equally as crammed. She’d just past a small group of strange looking people- one of which carried an unconscious woman- when a small child ran past. Having almost taken Tori off her feet, the child stopped, a look of horror on her face.

“Sorry Miss, are you ok?” she cried.

Tori smiled. “Sure I am, don’t you worry.”

The kid smiled and ran off, through a smaller alley way between the shops. Tori smiled to herself. Maybe this wouldn’t be so hard?

It was almost midnight by the time she’d finished absorbing the environment. She was sure she knew the way back to Drug’s flat, but she guessed it’d be a matter of looking for land marks in the blackened maze. There were still a lot of people thronging the street, yet when Tori took an alleyway that led to another alley way, the silence and lack of life disturbed her somewhat.

It was when she heard the sounds of laughter and a woman screaming when Tori finally became scared. She turned a corner to see a group of men standing over a woman. Edging closer, being careful to stay concealed in the shadows, Tori could make out the woman dressed in the style of The Wynde, however, the four men dressed in pastels and jeans- something that was seen commonly on Boundary.

Tori tensed, watching as the men circled their prey and proceeded to kick and maim the woman, one of the four managing to silence her screams by pulling her to her feet and clamping a hand over her mouth. Still watching, Tori watched as the men closed in around her.

The woman was turned with her back to the men, one of them hugging her to his chest. Pushing her to the ground on her front, one of the men laughed.

He crouched down behind her.

The woman got into her knees and was kicked down again. The men closed in even tighter as Tori heard the sound of ripping the threads of material go flying from the scene.

It was when Tori heard the puffs and groans of pleasure coming from the man who was now straddling the woman, in amongst folds of clothing...

Fear pushed itself to her heart which sped up immediately, making Tori gasp. Silence fell. She could sense the men stopping and turning. Tori turned and half-ran, half- crept away, trying to be silent, but failing when her footsteps echoed on the brick walls.

Yet, no matter how far Tori ran, no matter how deep into the darkness she found herself sinking into, the laughter and sounds of slurred voices filled with adrenaline were not far behind. It was like the Boundary followed her to the Wynde and wouldn’t leave her alone until she was firmly within it’s perfect, white fingers.

When silence finally fell, Tori stopped funning and felt the cold darkness press in on her skin. Her panting breath was the only noise, yet Tori wasn’t about to relax. Now she had no idea of where she was, let alone how to get back to Drug’s apartment. And despite her now walking, her heart still hammered her ribs, more from fear and adrenaline.

The alley ways became eerie and mist created a thick blanket over the cold air.

Silence...

“Ah! There she is, the little bitch!”

The male yell made Tori gasp and jump. She tried to run, but turned a corner and went smack into a tall, dark haired man, looming over her.

“Hey there, little emo.” The man laughed. For a moment, Tori’s mind seemed to distance itself from the situation. A little emo... in a city of emo’s... seemed redundant somehow.

It was when she felt someone push her to the floor, the hard concrete smashing her cheek bones. Fear paralysed her and no matter how strong the urge to fight back, to struggle free, to run for her life, she remained beneath the heavy bulk of the Boundary citizen’s body as it thrust it’s virile member into her.

With each hot wave of pain, something stirred within her, getting bigger and stronger each time. Fear still clung to her veins as she let out a tiny whimper and tears fell from her ashen face. Maybe the tears were not for the fact she was being contaminated, being made dirty, but for something else... new and inhuman inside her...something scary...something that had already killed Penelope...

Something dead...?

But Tori’s fear was on the brink of leaving her. Something hot and violent rose to the surface, causing Victoria to fling back her head and let out a scream that vibrated off the hard, jagged walls, through the veins of The Wynde.

The men’s laughter stopped abruptly. Victoria lay there, unable to move, possibly from the utter shock of what had just taken place. A small part of her, however, was looking up at the four men- at the fear in their faces that had been, minutes before, belonging to Victoria. 

The anger was now bubbling in her throat. She turned herself onto her back, leaning on her elbows.

“Go die in fire, you son of a bitch!” Victoria growled at the man on top of her, still straddling her, his penis now as limp as soft leather. Victoria, already confused yet more occupied with her anger, watched in fascination as the man got up and took a small, metal object from his pockets around his ankles.

Then, Victoria noticed something strange. As he stood, the rapist’s face became pale, and his eyes went from the dark brown they were to an electric blue; almost the same pigment as Victoria’s own. Not only this, but bright blue veins spread from his iris’, to the whites, to his tear ducks and down his cheeks and temples. It looked like a disease, but it spread down his neck, the angry blue-purple veins itching and crackling.

The rapist held the lighter in the air, as if to click it. Before he could, he sobbed.

“Joe, what the fuck are you doing?” One of his companions yelled, yet not moving to help him.

 “What...why can’t we...what the fuck?!” yelled one of the others, who were now murmuring in fear.

They could only watch as the rapist lit the lighter, whimpered, then dropped it at his feet, watching as the flame caught his trousers and his wet boxers. As the flames licked the bare skin of his legs, he began to cry.

Victoria stood, watching the man, unable to move or save himself...just stand there, in pain, feeling every ounce of it...as he slowly died...

When his ashen body fell to the floor, still festering in flames, Victoria looked at the other men, who looked back, drenched in fear. She willed them to stop talking and they did.

It hit her like a heard of bulls when Victoria finally came back to her senses, the gap between her mind and her body snapping closed, and she began to scream.

A scream on The Wynde...who would hear it?

Yet, when Tori began to run, she sensed the men had been freed of whatever alien force had tied them to the spot. She didn’t know what they did after that. She didn’t care. She just wanted the warmth and the safety of Drug’s flat. She wanted to curl up and forget...

 

 

Tori sat in the bath, sobbing. What had just happened to her? She wanted to know, but it was like her mind repelled any memory she might have had. All she felt was the same feeling of fear that still shook her body with each sob.

She was past sobbing when she got out and walked herself to bed, as if she was distant and each step was cold and numb.

She lay in bed, not thinking, not moving...nothing...

 

And when she woke, there was Victoria.

 

The gun store was empty, as it usually was on a Wednesday. Turned out most people prefer to be elsewhere at midday. The gun merchant sat behind the counter in the stuffy little room, loading and reloading a Glock out of boredom.  His fried breakfast with extra breakfast had left him too full for lunch, yet he was already picturing a steak with all the trimmings when he returned to his flat tonight.

He didn’t look up when the tiny bell rang as the door opened, and heavy boots clomped across the wooden planks which separated the top floor form the cellar.

“What can I do for you?” he asked, as he always did.

There was no answer for a while, so he looked up to see a bush of long, bronze hair and a face that seemed to be made of stone. The same stone that held up the very foundations of The Wynde.

“Erm...Miss?”

She didn’t look up, but instead gazed into a cabinet full of ammo.

“Stand up.” She said, her voice flat and void, yet had a hidden element of power that the shop owner just could not resist. He stood, his round figure struggling against his withering bones. The girl only smiled as she continued to gaze into space.

“This shop belongs to me. I want you to do as I say.” She said again. “Give me a gun. A pistol.”

The merchant found himself going into the back. He picked a pistol from a drawer where he stored them, and took it back out front and laid it on the counter.

The girl picked it up, testing it. He could tell she’d not used a gun before, but when she pointed the barrel at his forehead, he became immediately fearful. He’d had guns pointed at his head before- many time, in fact- but none of those people were girls who knew nothing about guns.

“Stop!” she suddenly gasped. “Stop being scared!” And the merchant stopped.

She smiled again. “Don’t eat. You need to lose weight.” She whispered, lowering the gun and turning it over in her hands. “Is it loaded?”

“No.”

“Load it for me.” She laid it on the counter and the merchant immediately went over to the glass cabinet, taking a bunch of keys from his pocket. Taking the ammo, he loaded the gun within seconds.

“Thank you. I’m leaving now.” And with that, she strode from the shop, leaving the merchant stunned.

He wasn’t sure quite what to make of what had just occurred, but he wasn’t scared...he should have been, but she’d told him not to be.

It was only when he went back to his tiny flat in the evening that he realised he couldn’t eat. Physically, whenever he tried to raise the fork to his mouth, something inside him wouldn’t let him...

Don’t eat, you need to lose weight...

But he couldn’t be scared of the girl...

The state of emotional deficiency could have driven him insane.

 

Part 4: The half and the Whole.

 

Victoria looked at the gun. She knew where it needed to be pointed. The only question was, how would she find them?

Of course, she knew the answer. Even the most polished, cleaned and ordered places had their underworlds. In the sanitary maze that was Boundary, somewhere lurked the three rapists. Tori wanted to hide in the darkness and sleep forever. Victoria wanted to go find them...and cause them pain...

Tori was weak.

Taking the gun, and putting on the dress that Drug has given her, and stepped out into the night air. She could feel the heat of the night resonating through the alley ways, and the anticipation.

She thought back to the previous day. By now it was blatantly obvious that she could do things that others couldn’t. For now, Victoria wouldn’t let that slow her down. A logical person would stop, think and maybe not use it for fear of being called a freak.

But she was from The Wynde. What was she, if not a born freak?

Yet making her way to the bottom of the hill, where dirty cobbles gave way to concrete and well-kept pavements, she could not stop the screaming in her head. They’d taken away her life, her parents, her brother...and now her dignity!

But she didn’t want to kill anyone!

Or do you?

Victoria’s inner conflict didn’t stop her from striding past the glass buildings; the rich shop fronts, the modern architecture. The difference between the rich and the poor. The arrogant and those who are humble. The half and the whole...

Victoria watched as people who were still devouring the night shot her glances like bullets- full of hostility. What was it, she wondered?

The colour black, her heritage...?

Whatever started this, it had to end sometime.

She carried on, looking for the cracks, the crevices where the truly evil dwelled. Eventually, reaching a part of Boundary that she found familiar, Victoria came across a line of terraced buildings with iron barred gates and elaborate designs. It reminded her of The Wynde, except much paler in colour and much cleaner. She passed through an alley way between the buildings, into another section where the houses became extremely close together. Prowling the streets, she passed groups of men gathered outside pubs and other establishments- some brightly lit with neon lights. Women wearing the bare minimum preyed upon the drunken man with money in his pocket, selling their wares and more than once, Victoria would see one of these whores disappear into a car or into the shadows, off for a night of...fun.

She followed the red lights, looking for a familiar face. For a while, it was as if she was looking for a needle in a hay stack, which was, of course, the case and she almost gave up when a glimpse of flesh and a gasp of pain made her stop. It was almost inaudible, but she still heard it. People regarded her with suspicion, but most were too drunk or too busy to even notice the young girl dressed in black.

Victoria followed the gasp of pain, only to find a man, concealed in thin shadows, pinning a woman to a wall. Her thin pale leg was wrapped around her back and the sounds of frustrated pain came from the slip of a woman.

Victoria could tell...just from the body language, this animal was her man.

The woman spied her, but did not say anything- the man pushing his weight upon her almost quenching her of breath.

“Stop.” Victoria spat. The man stopped. She could see the fear of the familiarity cause his skin to crawl. The woman slipped from his grasp and slithered away.

“Turn.” The man turned. Sure enough, it was one of the rapists. She recognised him immediately. “Do you ever learn? Perhaps not.” His breathing had sped up, his blood was cold. “You took something from me. Boundary took something from me. And I am going to take it back...corpse by corpse. Walk.”

The rapist turned in Victoria’s intended direction and she followed him as they made their way down a lonely road. It was narrow, but not as narrow as the ones on The Wynde. The road marked the gap between two pubs and was lined with large, black bins. Perfect.

The rapist stopped upon her request and he stood, whimpering. Did he know he was about to die. He certainly did when Victoria cocked the gun, the tiny click sending an earthquake of fear through him.

“Turn.” She said, holding the gun to the back of his head. His eyes grew wide at the sight of a barrel between his eyes. Victoria breathed out.

With her breath came the gun shot. Brains spattered the walls and the concrete. Satisfied, Victoria moved onwards. It wasn’t long before the authorities and the citizens of this pleasure district found the body.

It wasn’t long before the other two rapists would see their dead friend and know she was coming for them.

Victoria stood, concealed in the shadows, watching the scene unfold. Of course, she wasn’t a witness to such a horrific event; she was around the corner, minding her own business when she heard the shot. Such...a horrific scene awaited her...her fragile state of mind and innocence shall forever be marred...

She played the part well.

 

It wasn’t long before she located the second rapist. The same night in fact. His face gave him away. Especially when he found out who the dead body was- he just had to come see if it was true. The police tent was evidence enough. He stood, knowing that he was now being hunted. He looked around, perhaps searching for the girl.

Of course, he did not see her concealed in the shadows.

Victoria followed him. She couldn’t help but think back to when she’d been in his position- being followed by the rapists. She let a high pitched laughter escape her lips and hear the man gasp in horror.

She followed him through the pleasure district, remaining invisible among the people, and to the rapist’s eyes. Eventually, he made the mistake of taking a shortcut through an alley that led to a small courtyard at the back of a club. One lamp sent shadows flying in all directions, and white light intensifying the shadows.

Victoria stood behind him. If it had been day, she’d have been seen immediately, yet in the darkness, it was like she wasn’t there. She giggled. The rapist turned. They were face to face. He stared right at her, yet not seeing her!

She moved closer. She could feel his breath on her face. The thin veil between light and darkness was the only thing separating them.

She cocked the gun.

He gasped, his yell stifled by the gunshot.

The second gun shot that night.

The second corpse.

 

The third rapist, however, evaded Victoria’s eyes that night. After much searching, she assumed he must have been in the bed of some whore. She went back the second night, but once again, the hay stack successfully hid the needle.

She wasn’t about to give up.

She sat in Drug’s flat, contemplating where about on Boundary he could have been, when a familiar voice made it’s way through the thick forest of thoughts.

“Tori? Where have you been? Where the hell did you get that?” Drug stood in the door way, looking down at the table Tori sat at, where the gun lay.

“A merchant gave it to me. Everyone on The Wynde has one. I’ve seen what people from Boundary do.”

“Still, that doesn’t mean everyone should have one.” He frowned. “Where do you go at night?”

Tori paused. “I wander. I like the night. It suits me.”

Drug sighed. “It suits us all. Anyway, I have to get going. Deadlight is playing another gig...”

Tori listened to the sound of his voice, not taking in anything he was saying. “Who is that?” she asked him, pointing at the picture of Drug with the woman with blond dreads.

“That? That was Rebekah. She and I used to date. Then she was raped and shot by people from Boundary.”

Tori looked at the picture sadly. The corpses of three rapists smiled and laughed. It made Tori sad, yet made Victoria angry.

 

That night she went, once again to Boundary; to the pleasure district. This night was different. There was a sense of speed in the air- a fast and furious race to exchange money for sex. It was like the entire male population of Boundary was horny beyond belief.

After what Drug had told her, Victoria wasn’t just satisfied with a bullet in the brain. She wanted more...pain...

She wondered the crowd, several men eyeing her- not, however, because of the way she dressed. Greedy eyes. Eyes that liked them young.

It was when she heard a voice she stopped, her ears pricked. It was hard among the voices, the crowded streets, but she could still make out a voice...a very familiar voice.

What...why can’t we...what the fuck...?

“Haha! Come on baby, don’t be that way!”

She knew, in an instant. It surprised her that he didn’t sound scared. Maybe he didn't know about his two friends.

She followed the voice to a man who was following a woman through the crowd. A very uninterested looking woman. She wasn’t dressed like a whore. Of course, men want what they can’t have. Men who want something...but can’t have it.

“Come on baby!”

His voice was slurred. He’d been drinking. Good.

Victoria soon caught up and put a hand on his shoulder. As soon as he saw her, he froze.

“Hey! Want some fun?” she took his hand and pulled him to a corner. “Come have some fun with me!”

He followed. Perhaps he remembered the power she had over him.

Victoria giggled. She pulled him down a side street. There, she pinned him against the wall, pulling down his trousers.

“Well now, we having fun?”

When Victoria heard the cocking of a gun, she froze. The man held the gun to her forehead, his hand shaking. He knew he’d never pull it off.

“Put the gun down.” She said. The blue veins spread over his face and the gun dropped to the floor with a metallic clang.

“Now, feel horny.” Victoria smiled. She proceeded to put her mouth around his erection and give him a blow job. The man whimpered- obviously not enjoying what men found most enjoyable. Men like him...anyway.  And there it was again, the void of emotion where someone else is feeling for you.

Victoria had had enough of playing with the man and bit down. Blood seeped from his groin and Victoria reached for a knife she’d taken from Drug’s kitchen. A crude object, yet it would do the deed. She watched as his penis fell to the group with a soft splodge.

There were tears coming from his eyes. She was in complete control of his emotions now...forcing him not to feel pain was going to kill him, eventually.

Victoria took a ball sack. The man gasped.

She put her head back and laughed. She took the gun from her knickers and pointed it at his chest. Of course, she wasn’t going to be that cruel. The man was going pale. Quickly.

“How do you feel?”

The man whimpered.

“Embarrassed? Humiliated? Raped of your masculinity? If I leave you like this, how many other people do you think you’ll rape?” she giggled again. “No, you’ll never even breath!” her voice became an angry cry.

She let him revel in the pain a little, before pulling the trigger.

 

Another corpse...

Another step...

But a long way off.

 

Entering the gun shop, she saw the merchant, looking decidedly thinner than he had been. He almost jumped when he saw her. He was tending to a customer. The customer was a man, young looking, a thin face with thick, black hair, bags under his eyes. He was dressed in jeans, boots and just a denim, sleeveless jacket with a hood. His bare chest was on show.

“Well I’m sorry, I don’t do freebies.” Sighed the merchant.

“I need my life back. To do that, I need a gun.” The man said, his voice void and flat. He was a man missing something, obviously. 

“Give him a gun.” Tori said, making her way to the back room.

“And why should I do that, Victoria?”

His attempt at defiance was feeble. She strode behind the counter. “Because I know a man who has nothing, but needs something. You will give him a gun.” When he looked at her in a way a winy child looks at it parents, she murmured, “You are part of this, are you not?”

Tori then disappeared into the back room, listening to the mumbles of the two men. When the bell rang from the door way, the merchant joined Tori.

“Lost me a good gun, you did. Expensive, they are!”

Tori paused. “You need to gain weight.” She felt her influence over him lifting.

“Why are you here?”

“I came to give this back. I used three bullets. I have no use for it anymore.”

The merchant looked surprised. “Who are you?”

Tori paused. “I don’t know. But I know where I’m going. A fight is coming. A big one.” And with that, she left the gun on the table and left the shop.

The gazed down the street. She could see the City Centre in the middle, it’s sky scrapers rising above the stain that was The Wynde. Gazing up the street, she could make out the trees at the far end; the tiny figures. Her brother had spoken of Duskgate Mansion. She could not fight this fight alone. Even if she shot everyone in Boundary.

She needed friends. Something she wasn’t very good at making. But on a district where everyone wasn’t very good at making friends, she doubted she’d find it hard. There were other black sheep like her out there.

She started her journey up the hill.

 

Oh yes, the stain would spread. The streets would run black with blood. The corpses would be piled high.

Boundary would pay!

 

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 10.07.2013

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