Yami No Ou

Salem pointed to the beating heart in the coffin and asked "is that normal?"

((Again, was raised by dogs pretty much. He didn't do a whole lot of reading))

Looking into the coffin, he gagged slightly, "No. No, I don't think so."

Salem shrugged, then proceeded to dig his fingers into the heart.

"Very warm"

Derrick stuck out his tongue, he was always a little squeamish.

Salem finally pulled his fingers out and showed Derrick what he was looking for "Key..." The key Salem held had sharp teeth and the head was in the shape of a skull.

He put the key in his pocket and started licking his fingers clean.

Derrick dry heaved when Salem started to lick his fingers. Wiping his mouth, he rubbed his gut where Salem had punched him, "O-okay, now mine. Water, wholesome, and healing..."

Salem finished cleaning his hands and, deciding he should explain, said "I was raised by dogs. My parents wouldn't let me outside because of my condition and bought me canine friends. They only taught me essentials: Walking, talking, sex. But I learned the most from my dogs." As Salem thought about Water Wholesome and Healing he didn't realize the cut across his right middle and index fingers.

Derrick shook his head, "Then there is still much for you to learn."

Noticing the cuts on Salem's fingers, he sighed, "And you got injured to boot." He said as he pointed at the cuts.

Salem looked at the cuts and in between licks asked "learn what?"

"Social cues." He said simply, "I'll try to teach, but I was never good at that kind of thing. But shouldn't we directing our attention to my riddles?"

"Can't talk and think at the same time? You suck" Salem replied as he walked off. He added "Lake or stream. We have to find one. Healing and Wholesome? F*ck if I know"

((Excuse the double-post but everything is dead))

Salem called over his shoulder "I hear a stream. Coming?"

"Coming." Derrick replied as he hurried to catch up.

As they reached the stream Salem looked around and asked "the f*ck is Healing and Wholesome?"

Placing his hand on his chin, "Hmmmm... Wholesome healing waters? Perhaps somewhere along this stream is a spot where the water tastes pure or wholesome and would be suitable for cleansing wounds with it?"

Kneeling down on the bank, he scooped up a little and took a sip. He immediately spat it out, wiping his mouth, "Nope. Not here. Let's go that way." He pointed left down the river towards what sounded like a waterfall from where the water seemed to be coming from.

Salem took a drink and sighed "Swallowed a leech"

Sighing, "You really are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?"

"Glutton for Punishment?" Salem asked

"Simply put, it means that bad things happen to you more than anyone else." Derrick continued walking along the bank taking occasional sips of the water.

When he reached the bottom of the waterfall, he froze, "Right here. The water taste-" He stopped in mid-sentence, he noticed something sticking out from under some of the rocks. A key.

Pulling it out, "Found it. But now what?"

Again the voice from before rang in the air

"Yo ho! You found the keys! You found them! Now, return to the beginning and await instructions! Hurry! Hurry to the beginning!"

Salem glared at the tree tops and growled "I hate that voice"

Derrick looked around, "As do I." He grumbled.

"Let's go. If I'm right, the 'beginning' are the circus tents."

As they approached 'The Beginning' Derrick and Salem were greeted by the empty suits at either side, making a 'path' that lead to the largest tent. This tent wasn't there when the boys first came. It was pitch black with blood red stripes and a horned human skull, flesh still clinging pathetically to it, adorned the very top.

Derrick watched the empty suits carefully as he walked towards the macabre tent, something in the air made his skin crawl. He held onto the key tightly in his now sweaty grip, he didn't dare allow himself to speak.

As they entered the tent Salem rubbed his eyes in disbelief when he saw that the walls of the tent were made entirely of doors

"Yo ho! Which one? Which one leads out of Dark Woods Circus? So many choices! So, little heroes, how will you choose? What lies beyond the right door? What lies behind the wrong door?"

Salem turned to Derrick and said with absolute certainty "F*cked... We. Are. F*cked."

Derrick spun around, eyes not wanting to believe what he saw, "Holy. Shit." He muttered in agreement.

Salem went to the center of the tent and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and, after a moment of stillness, pointed at a random door and said "This one. This is the door." The door floated toward Salem and landed before him. He looked it over as the voice rang in their ears


Salem stuck his key in the skull-shaped lock and replied "must be. This is the only door with two locks"

Derrick walked over to Salem and put his key into the lock, "I trust you." He said to Salem.

((Slight powerplay, sorry TT_TT))

The moment the two opened the locks they fell unconscious. Salem awoke to the sounds of gunshots and explosions. Looking around he saw that they were in a foxhole in the very center of a war zone!

((S'alright))

Derrick woke groggily, and muttered, "Anyone get the plate of th-" He was cut off by an explosion nearby that rained the two with dirt and debris, "The shit?!" He jumped.

Salem, very carefully, poked his head out to check out the area. The bombs were falling from planes roaring overhead, the gunfire came from automated turrets that littered the field. Salem went back into the foxhole, covered his now watering eyes, and said through clenched teeth "Next level of Hell. Bomber planes over head and turrets everywhere"

((Because Salem is albino he burns easily in the sun and can't handle a lot of light))