A Doll should just be a Doll [Cinematic, DE]

[Lorelei]

Thread Title: A Doll should just be a Doll
Participants: Lorelei, Aura
World: Human World
Death Setting: Death Enabled
Rating: R
Location: Karakura Town, Bunker
Special Conditions: None
Circumstances: Just tired. Wanting somewhere to rest. Don't want to be done so by Shinigami. Someone who understands. An encounter that could make it simple again. Back to sleep.

[Lorelei]

A threat had come to Karakura. Large number of people disappearing leaving some parts of the town empty in the day time. Unusual for something like this to happen considering the peak hours of the shopping district was often filled with life. People bustling their butts to get from point A to point B, trying to make the sweet deals on veggies and fish, while teenagers roamed the streets with their friends. Lorelei slowly began to learn patterns and recognized a few faces among the Humans that made it a habit, or rather a routine to go on certain days to pick up the peculiar items that they were hustling for. But today, and the other days that went by were just different. She didn't see many of those faces anymore.

People tended to get sick. That wasn't strange at all. Maybe keeping them in bed for a few days and being back before they even knew it. Must really suck to not really be able to move their body when it was riddled by a disease or an infection of some sort. Mod Souls never had that kind of problem. Despite inhabiting physical forms of those that they occupy, they still pretty much feel the same. The body itself may get sick at one point, but usually due to being stuck with just one spirit. Mod Souls don't really have a spirit. They are after all a mere pill that has been constructed and programmed to follow a set of directives. For Lorelei, it was the same.

Though there were a few exceptions to that altogether since Lorelei can think for herself. She didn't have to follow what she was programmed with, and that was okay with her. A lot of those functions were really exhausting and didn't benefit her in the least if were to follow them. Yeah taking down Hollows and other threats were good and all, but not much can be done when her Pill form isn't able to adapt to a body just yet. She had to develop her spiritual pressure and reiatsu more before being able to properly occupy a body. So, she spent a lot of her time in the stuffed bear that she grew accustomed to over the length of time in the World of the Living.

So, to help solve that little issue the Mod Soul spent her time around those who were more spiritually active. Humans who had spiritual power but not really knowing how to use them, let alone being aware of it. Karakura was full of Humans like that walking around. What Lorelei typically did was lounge around heavily populated areas and absorb the reiatsu that they emitted from their bodies. Completely unaware to them that their bodies leaked this energy. At the same time, a lot of this energy is recharged by eating and resting, so it did them no harm to remain as such, which was all the better for the Mod Soul to take in and develop herself all the more. But now in days, it was different.

The difference came gradually. People didn't start disappearing all at once, but a bit over time. Sure she saw a few of the faces that come and go often as usual, but others almost stopped coming altogether. Lorelei poked around town to find out if there were more shopping centers opening up, or perhaps new deals being made around other parts of Karakura. Nope. With her beady eyes she hadn't found anything remarkably close to having lure so many people away from their routine. This is what made her concern considering that the habits of the Humans were changing up without much of a notice. The Mod Soul thought this to be a bit too weird to be a normal.

Lorelei had to investigate the matter and that being done she found out that the few Humans that went missing were moving to another place. Somewhere that was recently opened near the outskirts of Karakura. A place that was similar to a sort of Nightclub. A nightclub that was recently opened up, practically out of nowhere, was receiving people. People going up there and starting to live there. At least, this was the rumor going around at night. Rumors that it allowed only certain people to join and even live within its facilities. Now this was weird by all means that she really had to get to the bottom of it.

One of the people that Lorelei happened to tail was a resident. They weren't allowed to talk about it in public, but more behind closed doors as living there was suppose to be kept for the "privileged" classes. She didn't know what it meant but definitely something that wasn't normal for a typical Human being. Only when following this woman that she was able to get into the facility. Located in a mountain, she followed closely behind to come to realize that the place itself was being converted into something entirely different. Looked much like a fallout shelter that someone paranoid Humans would make to help insure their survival should the world come to an end, but nonetheless, the entire interior was being drastically changed.

The upper floors were modeled and altered to make it look like a nightclub. Rooms for private dances, a large bar scene, with an upstairs lounge for "VIPs" whatever that meant. A few dozen people working left and right setting up the place as much as there were people on the lower levels. The more she looked at as a whole, the more Lorelei realized how massive this place was. There was so much room that even the Shinigami would be able to hid and house an army inside of it. But, it went deeper, and the deeper that she delved into the more the scenery changed. Drastically from modern times to that of the medieval times. Stone walls made from the mountain's own rock formation to torches that lit up the long corridors to chambers. But among them all was a single room that was bigger than the rest. Only one room that seemed to have seated some sort of royalty. A stone chair at the end decorated with support columns at both sides.

She looked around for a bit before feeling a presence that she never felt before. Something dangerous, something lingering inside the shadows. Like, as if someone was watching her. That happened to be fact considering the leader the newly risen Bounts stood there watching the small Mod Soul Bear. Despite the chamber being dark as it was, Aura felt the presence of something poking its nose where it didn't belong. A presence that Lorelei didn't sense until she stood directly behind her, looking at her small body wondering what exactly it was that she looking at. This scared Lorelei as much as it did the Bount.

For one thing, Lorelei just ran across a being that could easily rip her apart. Being in a stuffed animal made it severely hard to fight back with fluffy stubby hands. She had no use of her reiatsu, and her physical abilities sucked in comparison. The only element that the Mod Soul had was her size and the shadows around them. But for the Bount, the fear that was growing in her was a possible spy. Someone who probably sent the Mod Soul, not knowing she was a Mod Soul, into the Citadel to get information as to what was going on. The feeding grounds and inner structure of their home becoming known to the people on the outside. Perhaps, even to the Shinigami. Too many people that could have been the likely suspect, or even Taka herself as she wanted some means beyond Naka, to keep an eye on them.

She couldn't allow it to leave. She couldn't allow the Mod Soul to escape the Bount home without discovering who it belonged to. Too many eyes were most likely being drawn to them with the increase of Bounts starting to recognize the presence of their own kind gathering to a single place. Alone they didn't stand out, but when gathered into a large group, their combined reiatsu would surely leak and cause others to find out what was going. This was how Aura and the others managed to obtain the few Bounts that were in hiding around Karakura. The few who didn't have homes, and those who were recently coming into town. Either way, they were growing at a rate that people have begun to notice the disappearance of people.

This wasn't due to feeding, but so much as their help in setting up the place. Human contractors were being brought in thanks to Leon's help, wit his resources at Uzaki Enterprises and from his previous jobs. The Humans were put to work on the upper levels while the Bounts were to work on the lower levels. Of course, the Bounts that worked alongside the Humans weren't allowed to use their abilities or Dolls. Nope. They were merely to keep within Human senses and capabilities to not bring suspicion to them. That being said, even the Humans weren't allowed to go past a certain point to the lower depths. Only being told that other teams of private contractors were in use to make sure that they were to stay out of each other's ways. That was the excuse any how, and one that Lorelei saw was working.

Any part of this was what Aura couldn't allow to be let out of the mountain. For that reason she couldn't let the little bear to run away. Thus the game of cat and mouse began with Aura giving chase, and Lorelei running around with her head cut off. Not literally of course. The stuffed bear ran amok through the chamber and out of the heavy steel doors. The Bount didn't make use of her Dolls as not wanting to destroy the environment let alone wanting to make their presence away of the Humans who were working above on the upper levels. Too much movement and power meant small tremors that would make people want to investigate the matter. Plus, seeing her chase a living stuffed toy around didn't seem natural in any sense of the sight.

Lorelei had her own difficulties when it came to escaping. Like there are a lot of henchmen walking around that most likely served the woman chasing the Mod Soul around. People that work for her or with her who would come to see her chasing the little Doll for a reason, which meant that they too will give chase. This proved to be a problem when moving around in the open because it gives Aura a chance to catch her. The Mod Soul didn't want to have to deal with more hands trying to snatch her. Nor did she want the Humans involved looking to get some money on a rare discover. "A walking talking doll with no machinery inside of it" will most likely make the headlines on local newspapers when they find that all that is inside of the bear is merely a pill. A pill with supernatural properties deep within it that causes whatever it inhabits come to life. Yup, Lorelei doesn't feel like being used as some sort of guinea pig for the Humans as much as she was one for the Shinigami. Nope, not happening.

All the more reason to high tail it out of the bunker with no one catching her, and seeing her. She already had the one girl following close behind as she used the vents to get away from her for the time being. Voices were heard from beyond the vents, voices and sounds that came from the girl that was trailing the Mod Soul a few moments ago. That meant she was spreading the word around about Lorelei. Also meaning that more people were going to be looking for her through the vents and everywhere else. The Mod Soul had to be more clever than ever. Rather than using the other vents to get out, she went ahead and used the other panels that led to other areas of the bunker. Air ducts, ventilation shafts that led to elevators, filters, narrow pipes that Human structures couldn't fit into. Good thing she didn't have bones or any muscles. If she had then would of ran the risk of breaking her body to fit into the tight spots.

That was pretty much the only advantage of having a plush body like herse. The bear body lacked any real structure. She was mostly made of cotton and stitches. No muscles to sprain. No blood vessels to give her oxygen or fear of bleeding out. Lorelei could stab herself multiple times without feel pain or worrying about losing her guts or blood over it. She was pretty much invulnerable. Sad that the Humans didn't have a body that was efficient as her own, despite lacking any real power that is. She only used what she needed to get by through this ordeal.

Whatever was going on inside the bunker was something that the girl didn't want getting out. The difference between the atmospheres of the upper and lower levels did take a drastic turn. Something about it didn't feel right to the Doll, and probably what made the girl feel the same way should people around town start talking about it. Rumors will be wide spread and most likely get to the wrong crowd. If this had anything to do with the spiritual realm then the Shinigami will most likely intrude on this place. Possibly a fight might break out and put everyone there in danger. Maybe they were criminals? Maybe some sort of cult that the Human government was looking for? Eh, she didn't know about any of that stuff as who would be on whose hit list. All that Lorelei wanted to do was get out.

Even as the Mod Soul crawled and squeezed through the narrow spaces, the discovery of the Citadel to the wrong people could mean utter death for an entire race. The Shinigami had more than enough reason to purge the Bount race regardless if they committed a crime or not. It wouldn't be long before a single Bount would come to embrace their natural instincts to feed. Such feeding would result in a soul being lost forever. That lost soul being consumed meant that the soul wouldn't be reborn, it wouldn't rejoin the life cycle. That lost would that the Bount would eat would ruin the stability that the Shinigami were sworn to keep safe. This is what made the Bounts dangerous and a extermination target. Not by choice that the Bounts would have to feed or not, as it was due to the Shinigamis that they are forever cursed with such a fate.

Lorelei had to get out. Aura couldn't allow the intruder to escape. Two fates resided on the opposite ends of the spectrum that would result in one surviving and the other dying. All it took was a matter of time. The air vents led Lorelei to an elevator shaft. This took the girl easily near the top floors as this unit was devised to serve the residence of the bunker. It made it easier to get top side without having to climb the dreaded stair system. Like honestly, each step up or down was the same height of the Mod Soul's body. While Humans and other beings like them can manage easily, for Lorelei herself she would have to hop up to climb a single step, or drop down.

There were times where Lorelei just threw herself down the stairs if there weren't too many of them. That got her down faster, though when it came to greater heights, she had to make sure that her mouth was qorked shut to keep the pill inside. Last time she didn't it was an utter pain trying to get back into the bear body again. Never, never again did she want to do that. She didn't want to spend the days again trying to willfully roll her true form over into the bear's mouth again. That was sheer horror, plus the ground was dirty too. But alass, she learned from it and how to prevent it from happening again.

At least she didn't have to consider throwing herself off anything here. Instead, she had to climb. Having reached the top three floors, Lorelei waited for the coast to be clear before proceeding again. She checked her corners and heard the footsteps of running coming and going. Lorelei had to metal gear solid this whole mess with perfect evasion. The only downside to all of this was that she didn't have a box to hide under, and her body was already discovered by someone who told other people. That information must have gone wildfire. So playing the lifeless Doll that her body originally was isn't going to work. If she did that, the odds of her being caught were almost all but certain. She had to keep on the move or she'd be toast.

Down the hallway and climbing up the stairs. She didn't risk using the freight elevator because it made too much noise and there were a lot of people using it. It's open and out where everyone can see it, so a brown stuffed animal would stick out like a sore thumb. Lorelei couldn't afford to make a mistake like that. She heard footsteps running. Her tiny padded feet bopped one after the other getting up the stairs. She still heard people running and shouting to check the rooms. She was almost there to the top floor. Almost to the exit and out to where she could at least spread the rumors about. Something that would draw attention to this place and what might be going on. Whatever it was, Lorelei had a sinking feeling about it all.

Her head poked out from around the corner of the staff stair case. She didn't see anyone around. The top floor leading to the exit was completely unguarded. Not even the Humans that were there before were no where in sight. Probably out on the other levels looking while the Humans were told to leave for the time being. Now was the best chance. She had to take the risk of leaving the place before she was trapped inside. Her only hope was leaving the doors open for the Humans to leave would give her assailants a reason to keep them open as they didn't want to raise any suspicions. It was now or never.

The Mod Soul took the risk knowing that there was a set up. But being as small as she was and a bit more maneuverable around larger objects, she had the advantage. Fighting was a no go as she didn't stand a chance against the people around her. Her only hope of winning was escaping the bunker and getting into day light. With that amount of exposure, the people chasing her couldn't risk of being seen chasing something that was alive out the door. There would be a lot of questions being asked as to what was going on inside there. One thing leads to another and bam, secrets revealed. Even though Lorelei would be in the spot light for a bit, a little hiding wouldn't hurt her that badly seeing that her spiritual pressure would grow into something stronger, even to the point that she would be able to occupy the body she has been making for herself.

Everything was going smoothly as she got near the door, or least what she thought was a door. The blurring daylight she saw was nothing more than an illusion made by lighting of spotlights put together with contrasting shadows to make it look like a doorway. The door was closed, and the Humans that were thought to be gone were still around. The only thing about them was the fact that they appeared to be in a daze as they stepped out from the shadows. Soon after, the people who were chasing her came to surround the Mod Soul from behind. She was completely encompassed by her pursuers, and the Humans who were hypnotized. She was stuck.

Soon, the woman that started it all came forward. The others around her peeled away to let her pass to confirm the Mod Soul's very being. Aura didn't smile. She didn't frown. She did nothing more than recognize the threat that was standing in front of her, being caught. Their secret was safe from the outside world. She whispered something to the person next to her as the others closed in. Lorelei couldn't do anything. There was no way for her to slip past, and no space to use to maneuver around their combined grip. She was by all means stuck. It was here that Lorelei would be taken back down into the depths were the Doll body would be observed, torn open, and pulled out. Her main body exposed. Her main body grounded to dust. The only thing that did remain was the teddy bear figure that she had spent her life in, serving as the fragment of memory that the Mod Soul did exist.

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

26 paragraphs = 520 TP awarded to Aura