The Skin-Stealer [Closed]

[arden]

Time: 11:27 AM
Date: December 17th
Place: Abandoned church, New Jersey wilderness
Status: Closed to Arden and Sister Angeleanna

A light snow drifted lazily to the ground, slowly covering the trail of blood. A cougar, uncommon to the area, laboriously dragged a limp body up a flight of steps and through the open double doors of a small abandoned church. The animal pulled the corpse down the aisle and deposited it near the steps leading to the altar.

After the puma had made sure the body was laying spread-eagle on the wood floor, it grabbed the body's right foot and carefully leapt onto the platform, taking care not to disturb the carcass's position too much. The body now lay in an unnatural position: one leg was bent at an awkward angle and the other was propped up onto the stage. A small noose was placed around the corpse's foot and pulled tight to make sure it would not be coming off easily. The mountain lion turned and disappeared into the shadows of the great room. There was a loud crash and the cadaver was hoisted into the air. The body's blood began draining from a gash along the throat as the cougar looked on, as if in approval.

Now that it had finished hanging its meal to drain, the great cat stalked to the center of the altar and stood as though it were waiting for something. Suddenly it began to shake violently. Every muscle in the animal's body tensed up as though it were having a seizure. It let out a hiss of pain that escalated into a ear-splitting roar. The cougar dropped to the ground as several sickening snaps caused the body to go limp. Puffs of breath escaped the creature's muzzle in the form steam as it fought to stay conscious. Bones began popping back into place and the animal climbed to its feet. The beast's silhouette had changed and it seemed that the skin was too tight to contain the creature's bones. The figure reared up as the skin along its feet and hands began splitting, not unlike an over-stuffed plush. The tears traveled up the beast's limbs until they met at a point on its torso. Desperate to rid itself of the pain, the creature began clawing at the seam. The furry pelt started peeling off to reveal a second layer of skin underneath, this one naked. The animalistic traits of the beast's howl faded, turning the cougar's roar into the roar of man.

The puma hide slid to the floor and in it's place stood a naked man. His scream died down and he collapsed to the ground, panting. With what little strength he had left, he painfully dragged his body over to a spread out grizzly pelt and covered his nude body with a thick blanket.

[Sister Angeleanna]

Taking a slow even breath, the single figure of the nun stopped in the middle of the road and surveyed the scenery. She stood tall against the backdrop of white and green, an unnatural shape in the forested area and Angeleanna glanced behind her shoulder at the vague taillights of the truck that had dropped her off from the neighboring town, the spin of its tires a testament of the drivers panic. Mother Superior had contacted her two nights ago on a urgent mission that required her to temporarily leave the bureau, which took a little more than finagling to have Director Manning agree to. In the months she had been there and grown a part of that new world, she was first and foremost a Sister of the Order and had given her life to it. She had been goaded into letting agents accompany him but this was a holy mission and she had declined, if a bit too sternly. However she had given in to some of their demands, allowing her to carry the Bureau’s belt where the unnatural bulk of a sheathed sword lay prone against her side. Also tucked into the belt with its many pouches was a locator device and a cell phone. The last piece of equipment had been Mother Superior’s idea, a way to keep in contact directly with her subordinate though now Angel debated if reception could be reached out here.

Pulling the edge of a thick brown glove up, the nun wiggled her fingers and started walking again. The natural heavy layers of her habit coupled with the grey trench coat kept her relatively warm and as long as she kept moving, the snow wouldn’t be a problem. She prayed that it would remain light for the next couple of hours till the truck would be by to pick her up. Rock and snow crunched underfoot as she paced further into the forested area and to keep her mind from wandering, she went over the details that had been faxed to the bureau. The folder now lay in her room at the motel she had been put up along with some of her traveling gear. She was just passing through to size up what was going on and scout the local area. Mother Superior had not skimped on the details, the old church that had planned on being renovated had been taken over by an ungodly force, unknown at this time, but the men that found it in it’s bloody state refused to go back. The church’s former parishioner and Order member well into his nineties called the only person he knew to take care of it and with Angeleanna being the closet, it was the obvious choice.

The church wasn’t that far back, the map that was haphazardly folded in a larger pouch had been marked with a pink highlighter with roads and forgotten trails marked by blue and green. Even though Angel commenced on this mission alone, a fellow monk by the name of Brother Samuel was on his way though he wouldn’t reach New Jersey till the 20th, leaving three days on her own. Resting her hand atop her belt, Angel stopped to take a breather and cautiously look around. She had walked no more then a quarter of a mile but uphill, it had taken a little longer then planned. The uncanny silence of the forest had not gone unnoticed, the stillness an eerie feeling that left eyes to watch from afar. The nun touched the rosary on her belt and quietly prayed. From above a lone blue jay screeched as it was chased by a larger black bird, the two fighting in midair. It drew the attention of the woman before the snap of a twig sent the heavy veil of her cowl whirling as she turned towards it. The hand on her belt moved to grace the pommel of the sheathed sword, pushing aside a length of her coat in the process. Another snap followed and Angeleanna narrowed soft blue eyes towards the bush that hide a moving shape. She momentarily tensed just as a single silver colored rabbit darted out and across the road. Relaxing her stance Angel chucked to herself, her breath coming out in deep whispers of air.

It came as a thundering echo, bursting from the treetops to rush and overwhelm every soul within its radius. The primal scream seared through Angel’s conscious and she viably winced under its power and leaned towards where it had come from, which wasn’t as easy as it sounded. It reverberated coming from all sides and the woman closed her eyes to concentrate. Reflexively she grabbed at the wooden rosary and listened as the animalistic sound transformed into a stable yell. There. Gripping the sword she swung it away from her legs and stepped off the road and slipped into a line of trees. The metallic tang of something freshly killed hung heavy in the air and Angeleanna bite back against the church of her stomach at the richness. Perhaps going on a empty stomach had been the better choice. The fine layer of snow that had settled over her shoulders and head was soon whisked off as the nun fell into a lopsided fast paced trot. She conceded she was an odd sight and on average, any normal person would run away from the terrifying sound but of course she was no normal person.

Branches clung and threatened to rip holes in her coat as she pushed through several narrow saplings to come upon a semblance of a clearing. Along the pristine white snow a jagged bloody red line cut through as if by a knife leading towards a single lone building mere meters away. It came about suddenly and the woman skidded slightly as she came to a stop, her breath curling up around her head. The bleached wooden walls were marred by tree growth ad ivy that spiraled towards the sagging roof. The brick and mortar seemed to be the only substantial support to the building forgotten by man but despite the run down feeling, several windows were decorated by colored glass in the shape of saints. The hoarse scream died to a palpable silence, bathing the forest in eeriness once again. It was natural to be afraid, she once said to help soothe colleagues, and it didn’t make them any less. Her gloved hand tightened around the leather wrapped handle and she moved steadily forward picking around a fallen branch. “Oh God,” she breathed, “who knowest us to be set in the midst of great perils.” Angel moved to side of the building. “that by any reason of the weakness of our nature.” The heavy habit trailed in the snow as she crouched slightly and leaned against the wall to take a moment to look around her. “we cannot stand upright, grant us such health of mind and body,” With nothing in sight but the endless sight of snow covered trees, she moved slowly. “that those evils which we suffer for our sins we may overcome through Thine assistance. Through Christ our Lord.” The nun carefully leaned forward at the first window and peered through the yellowed glass. “Amen.”

[arden]

Arden huddled under the thick blanket, shivering. His breath came in short bursts and the cold air wasn't doing much to help his current state. He attempted to curl into a ball to help keep himself warm, but transformations always took a lot out of him and he was having a bit of trouble getting his muscles to obey him. In about half an hour, he knew, he'd be able to move better. He decided that as soon as he felt up to it, he would get dressed. He could use as much warmth as he could get.

Much to his surprise, Arden suddenly became aware that he could sense a presence nearby; judging by the strength of the signal, he calculated that whatever it was couldn't be outside the clearing. He couldn't quite sense what emotion the entity was experiencing, and he didn't have the extra energy to spend focusing his mind on the individual. Mustering as much strength has he could, Arden rolled over onto his stomach and turned to the direction of the door. He had left it ajar and he hoped that whoever he was sensing wouldn't come in. He was in no state for a fight.

Arden could hear the crunching of snow over the sound of his newest victim's lifeblood dripping to the ground and sensed two things: one, that the being wasn't approaching the door and two, that it was human. Arden propped himself up on his elbows and sniffed the air - the winter was good in that it was like rain and masked most of the scents of the forest. He smelled sweat, which he could tell was coming from himself. He also smelled the blood of his kill, but there was another scent that was new to him. It was faint at first, but it gained strength as the human came closer.

Well, figured Arden as he laboriously climbed to his feet, he'd better scare them off before they came inside. Blanket clutched about his shoulders, he took a step and realized that his legs weren't ready to support his weight. Arden stumbled forward a few feet before he lost his balance and toppled into a pew. He stayed in that position for a few moments, leaning against the back of the bench, before attempting to walk again. Slowly but surely he made his way to the door of the church. He threw his body against the old wooden door in a conjoined attempt to open it and conserve energy. The door's hinges screeched in protest, but gave way.

Arden stepped out into the cold, willing himself to ignore the temperature. The tremors that shook his body increased significantly as his bare feet touched the frozen cement steps. The frost stiffened his joints, which he was both thankful and resentful for. He tightened his grip on the blanket and he stepped from the cement to the snow and awkwardly made his way around the side of the chapel.

A nun was the last thing Arden expected to see. But there she was, with her face pressed up against the window, peering into his makeshift home. Based on her stance, she didn't seem aggressive, but he had most likely caught her off guard, so he couldn't be sure of her intentions. He thought it best to remain silent and wait for her to make the first move.

[Sister Angeleanna]

Her yellowed reflection stared back and Angel frowned in reply to the displeased look she gave her doppelganger. The window had scummed over by the natural debris of the wilderness, leaving it difficult to see through. She reached up and rubbed a gloved finger through the thin film of dirt and only succeeded in making her mirror image clearer. She wasn’t getting anywhere with this window and leaned forward, resting her backside against the building’s side. Observing the lazy snow she folded her arms loosely beneath her breast and tapped a finger against her bicep in thought. The sound had originated from this direction and this looked very much like the description of the church she had been given. Carefully she listened to the sounds around her and constantly measured the wooden area. It was easy for something to simply come upon her without notice.

Angeleanna moved to the next window, this one a couple of shades lighter then the previous and rubbed her hand over it to clear several cobwebs and braced herself with one hand to peer through it. There were basic shapes of furniture and a cross, maybe it was the pulpit but nothing was discernable. It was time to leave now, she decided. It would be foolish to go barging around and into the church without a partner. The blood trail should have immediately sent her backtracking but that urge to never leave a soul behind forbid her to abscond without checking. She sighed, fogging the glass and distorting her vision. The hair on the back of her neck prickled and the fuzzy awareness of sharing previously empty space stirred. She drew a hand upward to the heavy veil as she turned to look over her shoulder and from her peripheral vision a blurred shape lumbered into view. Angel rounded about and her boots slid a fraction in the slick mix of mud and snow underfoot and she pulled herself from the wall to stand to her full height.

It was just as startling to see a soul out here, let alone a nearly naked and dour looking man. She closed her eyes briefly before opening them to met his vivid and blue eyes, shades darker and brilliant then her own. He looked half starved by his face alone and the nun blinked as her vision never wavered nor dropped below his shoulders. “My goodness.” Her voice was tinted with surprised and concern and she unconsciously pulled her coat over the handle of her sword. It was a little disconcerting when a woman of God carried a weapon. Where did he come from, it had to have been from inside the church. What poor soul sought refuge inside a cursed building, save for… Angel raised a hand towards the man slowly as if to shush any loud noise he might make and took a step forward, the snow crunching softly.

“Are you, all right sir?”

[arden]

Arden instinctively took a step backwards as the woman reached out towards him. His figure shifted into a sort of crouched position, looking more like an animal poised to run than a cautious human. His eyes narrowed as he inspected the nun, inconspicuously sniffing the air around them to try and figure out if there were any others lurking about nearby.

"Yes," came Arden's blunt reply. His voice was slightly hoarse from the screaming earlier, and it didn't help the offensive air he was trying to give off. Visible tremors shook his thin frame as he pulled the blanket tighter about him in an attempt to fight off the cold.

He watched the nun carefully, trying to determine if she was a threat or not. He couldn't feel any hostile emotions coming off her, but he did see her move to gather her coat about herself. Concealing a weapon, perhaps? He didn't need empathy to tell him that she was anxious about something. The thought that it was he that caused her uneasiness caused him slight pleasure, and the corners of his mouth twitched in a small smile.

"The f**k do you want?" he asked finally. The cold was starting to get to him, and he was sure his feet, among other things, were going to get frostbite if he didn't get back inside soon. He was getting tired, though, from all of the effort it was taking to stay upright. He almost never had to use up so much of his remaining energy after a transformation and extreme exhaustion was starting to set in. He stumbled then, closing the gap between himself and the nun before catching himself. He was nearly on top of her, much too close for comfort.

[Sister Angeleanna]

The man’s sudden drawback caused the nun to lean slightly back on her heels, drawing the fingers of her outstretched hand inward into a loose fist. She pulled back at the obvious body language and rested her outstretched hand across her heart over the cross that hung there. Her heart went out to the stranger, it was beyond freezing and she was sure that was the viable reason for the stranger’s trembling. She broke his gaze long enough to look around at the snow littered forest. None of the previous birds had picked up in their singing and that was starting to become disconcerting.

"The f**k do you want?"

The language was biting and as sharp at the air around them. She frowned, lines creasing around her mouth and eyes but she refrained from the admonishment that threatened to drift to the surface. Instead she sighed, a puff of cold air as her reply just as the man staggered. The human instinct was to jerk away and protect yourself when someone stumbled/lunged at you. Angeleanna stepped forward and pulled her coat partially aside to reveal the bulky belt around her waist and reached for one of the pouches. “I’m here to help,” she answered softly as she unsnapped the flap and pulled free a black colored package. She brought it to her mouth and ripped the edge off allowing it to expand slightly as air filled it. She slipped free a silver object and quickly shook it out to reveal a tightly rolled up space blanket.

“Is there anyone inside?” The nun glanced up at the man before continuing with her barrage of questing. “Put this on underneath your blanket, it will help keep you warm. What are you doing out here?”