Manipulated (Zakkol and Forlorn)

[Forlorn]

Sophie noticed Theo's change of mood, and curled into a ball, wrapping her arms around her knees. Had she upset him somehow? Sophie neglected to answer his question, instead falling silent and gazing off into the distance. What had she said that earned such a grimace from Theo? Sophie decided not to speak at all, too scared she would make him even angrier.

 

[vibrantsystem]

Theo hadn't actually noticed that Sophie had curled up into a ball for a few minutes after she initially did so. When he did, however, he was rather confused, considering he hadn't really seen anything he had said as offensive in any way to her. Whatever the problem, Theo decided that he might as well find out what was wrong. It wasn't like Sophie to be in this way.


'Sophie?' Theo asked, concerned. 'Are you okay?'

 

[Forlorn]

Sophie rested her head on her knees, slightly perturbed. After a while, she responded "Ya, why?". Sophie was still confused as to why Theo's mood suddenly changed, but disregarded it. Her eyes bore into the surroundings, which flew past her at inconceivable speeds. Sophie's strawberry blond hair rested against the window, an outlier against the clear white glass. "When will we be there?" She inquired

 

[vibrantsystem]

'Shortly,' came Theo's simple reply. 'They don't live too far away, thankfully,' he elaborated, providing a little more detail as to how far away they lived. Sophie and Theo had been in the car for about fifteen minutes at this point, and it would only take five more minutes to arrive, give or take a few minutes on either side. Theo was concerned for his parents following Sophie's happy news regarding the Gin, and he was most anxious to arrive to ensure that they were fine.

 

[Forlorn]

Sophie nodded and continued watching the urban scenery. After about 7 minutes, they pulled into a stone paved driveway, and Sophie screamed "stop" all the window drapes were drawn, and the lights had been silenced. The house had a sinister feeling to it, one that made the hairs on Sophie's neck prickle. "Something's wrong" she whispered

 

[vibrantsystem]

Theo, not one to believe that the Gin had already arrived and done something unsavory at the house, gave a dry remark instead. 'Or they have their curtains closed.' Came his slightly different outlook to Sophie's regarding the current situation. He really didn't know if he should stay in the car or remove himself from said car. It was really an interesting predicament.


'Well, what are we going to do then?' Theo asked, casting a look at Sophie.

 

[Forlorn]

Sophie bit the inside of her cheeks, something she was prone to do under stress. "If you don't think anythings wrong, then go with your gut. But I'm going with mine" she stated as she got out of the car. Crouching, she stealthily snuck to the bushes and circumnavigated the house to scrutinize the situation. There was movement, but Sophie was unsure as to who was moving. Was it Theo's parents, or the Gin?

 

[vibrantsystem]

Theo, being left in the car by Sophie as she skirted around the house, checking who was inside the building, decided to do something productive. Somewhat productive. Theo decided to focus on his wolf form, after not having been in since the previous day. It did seem like a slightly more appealing option, rather than having to be plastered to the ground as he crept around in his human form.


The transformation came somewhat quickly, much to his relief, and Theo was out of the car in no-time, skirting around the house himself, going the opposite way to Sophie.

 

[Forlorn]

(hey so is it ok if I decide whether or not the gin are in the house?) 
Sophie scrutinized the windows, deciding that there were indeed people behind them. After waiting a few minutes to see if one would make an appearance, Sophie walked over once gain to the front of the house. Hiding behind a bush, she pushed her palms into the ground and willed a vine to creep across the grass and onto the porch. It slithered up the wall and finally rested against the doorbell. With immense concentration, Sophie propagated a small branch that created enough force to ring the doorbell. Then she waited to see who would answer. After an extricating few minutes, she sprouted another thorn that rung the doorbell. This time, the door cracked open, and a man with a rather peculiar hat on peered around the corner. Seeing the vine, he immediately slammed the door shut and movement could be seen behind the curtains. "Theo!" Sophie screamed.

 

[vibrantsystem]

Theo's ears picked up Sophie's scream. It was a simple one. Just his name. It rang in the air, and abandoning all stealth, Theo raced around the house, his paws leaving marks in the muddy earth. Had it been raining? Or had the sprinkler been on? Theo didn't know. Racing past the front door, Theo noticed the vine, but didn't stop to think, knowing full well it was Sophie.


Coming around to her, Theo could see the man she had seen inside. The curtains were split open slightly, and he was staring at Sophie with a curious look. The man was clearly unsure of what she had been doing yelling the name "Theo" out aloud.


The wolf that was Theo cast a look at the man in the window as it came over to Sophie, unsure of what the problem was. Theo knew who the man was. It was his father. Of course, Sophie wasn't to know that. But then again, the man inside the building wasn't to know that Sophie was in fact one of Theo's friends, and the large canine beside her was indeed the man's son.


Theo, forgetting he was a wolf, ran to the window and put his paws up against it, only then remembering what form he was in.

 

[Forlorn]

"Shit" Sophie muttered, turning into a wolf and running to Theo. She grasped his scruff in her mouth and lightly tugged, signaling to get back into the bushes. Just as she did so an arrow shot throw the window, nearly clipping Sophie's ear. The queer weapon wedged itself into a nearby tree. "They sure have shitty aim" she spoke to herself.


Running back into the bushes, she realized the severity of the situation. They were holding his parents hostage; there was not a chance they would live through it. The gin doesn't leave loose ends, after all. Sophie turned human once they were far enough away, and whispered. "When that guy came out-presumably your dad-there was something on his back. Something shiny. Once I realized what it was, I called for you" Sophie breathed in before delivering the news. "They were holding a gun to your fathers back, Theo. They're hostages now"

 

[vibrantsystem]

At Sophie’s news, Theo felt like screaming. He had been so certain that his parents were indeed fine. It was horrible, and worst of all, he and Sophie had no way of getting in. However, there was one thing that Theo wanted to know. Why did his father have a hat on? It did seem a little strange, but oh well.


‘Well, what are we going to do now?’ Theo mumbled, awkwardly shifting back into a human as he asked Sophie.

 

[Forlorn]

Sophie was surprised by his lack of emotion. Was he in shock? Did he not realize that his parents were fated with death? Her lips pursed, but she refused to deliver such news until they were out of danger. "We do as I've always done. Run"

 

[vibrantsystem]

For Theo, running didn't seem like an appropriate thing to do here. His parents were in the building with the Gin, and he wasn't really in the mood for leaving them in there. Instead, he decided to run back around the side of the building to where the the ground was water-logged and muddy, where someone had clearly left the hose on or something else had happened.


And there is it was. And Theo began to focus on the water. He began to focus with intent.

 

[Forlorn]

Sophie gasped at his lack of subordination, however she wasn't surprised. If her sisters were in there, she would have done the same thing. Creeping up behind him, she awaited his next move. The Gin hadn't spotted them yet, and Sophie was ready to protect Theo if they did. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, igniting her eyes like fire. She jammed her fists into the muddy earth, ready to obey whatever Theo's orders were, if any. "Whats the plan" she whispered

 

[vibrantsystem]

Theo turned to Sophie. 'Good question,' he said, turning red slightly. 'Because I don't really know. We'll try something though.' And then, with a cry, the water was pulled from the sodden earth and pushed into a large oscillating sphere of water. 'Oh god it hurts,' Theo groaned, continuing to keep his gaze fixed on the sphere as he began to move it around and back around the house, over to the door. He followed it, stomping along, for his legs felt like they were encased in lead.