It was a large, dark cavern that was dug so deep into the earth that the darkness seemed to stretch on forever. Cang Mu and Ming Ran stared down into the depths in something akin to awe. There was something about this place that seemed both majestic and horrifying at the same time. An inner cosmo beckoning them to enter, slowly, softly.
This place has a strange aura about it... Ming Ran signed. Cang Mu nodded, and held out his hand.
"There's probably a good amount of stars in here." He led Ming Ran into the maws of the darkness. A strange force stood between them and the cave, forcing them back. A light shined from their bracelets and slowly-- if not a little reluctantly-- the membrane-like force gave way, letting them pass through. Once inside, the bracelets stopped glowing.
As they continued downwards, the space began to light up with small crystals. Blue light softly glowing all around them. Ming Ran stared at the lights in awe. Cang Mu smiled and pulled him closer.
"Don't get too distracted." he reminded him. This was most certainly one of the demon dens, they couldn't let their guard down. As they walked bravely forward, Cang Mu glanced back.
"You did tell your siblings that you would be competing in the Thousand Year Tournament, right?" he asked. Ming Ran gave him and look, shaking his head. Cang Mu froze, "Are you crazy?! What's going to happen if they find us in here?" Ming Ran shrugged, shamelessly.
Why on earth would I tell them? They would have stopped me! He stepped forward, bringing Cang Mu along with him.
"Sigh. Yes, well, I can understand your withholding of information when you put it that way."
Ever since Ming Ran had disappeared for that month to train, his siblings had been even more overprotective than before. Smothering him in round the clock surveillance, unsolicited advice, and barring from meeting his husband. Cang Mu had employed Cang Yuan's help more than once. Literally. He actually had to pay the mischievous, old fart! Cang Mu growled just thinking about it.
This world was one that the strong thrived in. He knew that. Still, it didn't make the truth anymore annoying. Again and again and again, how many times would he have to claw his way to the top? How many battles of will and morals? A shimmer of light rippled next to them, Cang Mu shuddered as his attention was drawn to the image in front of him. It was him, but not the one he had grown used to.
Dull, brown hair, tired green eyes, bags that only increased as his career continued onwards, pale skin that only got paler every time he was forced to submit another damn report. He hadn't joined the force to feel like this! He wanted to help..! Wanted to help the people. Wanted to protect them. Wanted to give them justice. Wanted to give her justice.
Her name had been Elle. When he first saw her, that was all she was. Another girl left for dead in some godforsaken situation. They all had begun to look the same to him. How many bodies had he seen? How many parents had he tried to console? Husbands? Brothers? Sisters? Grandparents? People who had the last of their family stripped away from them? She was just another plain Jane who had been taken away by the wings of death too soon.
Ming Ran made a little noise as he felt his wrist crack under the pressure of Cang Mu's strength. Usually when he made any noise of discomfort, Cang Mu would immediately ease up and begin to treat him with extra care. It was as if he was making up for his carelessness. He didn't mind it when his husband pampered him or showered him with affection. It made him feel warm inside. This time, he didn't hear any apologies nor did his grip loosen. Ming Ran looked at Cang Mu. He looked into the darkness with a look of contempt. What was he seeing? Ming Ran looked into the deep darkness and saw himself looking back in the form of a young, bruised girl.
From an early age, Elle knew that she was not a wanted child. Her family was rich and very well off. They lived in a mansion, ate the best food, bought the best clothes, and lived extravagantly. There was only one thing wrong with their life, and that was the little girl who had been dumped in their lap by child services. Her mother was a poor girl who had been promised a life away from poverty by her would-be suitor. She gave away what was most precious to her, breaking the promises she had vowed before heaven in exchange for the sweet honeyed words of a devil. She was left on her own after a few nights, a cheap ring, and a child waiting in her belly. The baby girl was born into a house that didn't want her. Her grandfather thought she was the devil's child, her grandmother was only reminded of their daughter who died in childbirth, leaving them behind. Her grandparents passed away leaving the girl to a fate worse than death. Locked away- out of the way- in the attic, missing meals, staying quiet. Unwanted child...
...
The apartment had been cleaned again while he was gone, dinner had been made, and a warm bath was being drawn. It kind of felt like he had a wife or something. Caleb sighed and slowly a note floated over to him.
Welcome home...! >w<
A little character smiling and jumping for joy was on the page under the note. Caleb couldn't help but smile looking at it. The first time this apparition had doodled for him it was this little bunny with really long ears trailing behind it along with a "cheer up!". That day was a hard one and it couldn't be helped that he was in a foul mood. That was the first time he cracked a smile. The little note with the rabbit had bounced up and down as if the ghost was celebrating. Since then, his ghost would doodle for him.
"It's a chibi today, huh?" he tried to push down his smile and cleared his throat. He sat down to eat. It was good, as usual. A ghost that made him feel more at home in his little apartment than he had before he was being haunted. "Should I call you Casper?"
Call me Elle!
He placed down the fork, his mood dropping. Elle? Did that mean..?
"Ellenor Swanson?" he asked. The lights flickered on and off once. Damn. He was being haunted by the girl who had died in the woods. By the person who committed suicide.