Chapters:

Chapter 1 - Bells

DING~

DING~

DING~

"Gasp!" The girl woke with a start to the sound of a warning bell tolling above her head. She looked to the horizon to see a slim film of orange hovering above the edge of the hazy dessert. Great, first one of the night and yet the sun hasn’t even fully set. She sighs and jumps up in a flexible way, stretches, and cracks her knuckles. "Alrighty, showtime." She straps her dagger holsters around her hips and pats her pet flying squirrel, who was still sleeping in a furry ball. "I’ll be back Chee." She looks off into the distance from her high bell tower view. As she throws her royal red cape on, she spots a red lantern floating between two buildings. The common district eh... Don’t see much scum there. I should check into that... She thinks as she fastens the gear to the zipline pointing North West. After snapping her goggles to her face, she grips the handle fastened to the line and whispers a few words of a prayer just in case she accidentally let’s go.

"Here wE GOOOOOOO!"

She jumps off the high platformed floor and descends into the dark city-state she calls home. Dust off of the dunes blows past her and into her hair as she gains more and more speed towards the swinging red lantern. She gets about six feet from the ground and releases her hold. She goes flying through the air and makes sure to somersault to break her landing. She stands up quickly and pulls her goggles up on her head, making sure her things are in order. She starts walking down the alley she landed in and pulls her hood over her head. It keeps people from knowing the "Crimson Devil’s" true identity. People hated her, for her sword of justice... She headed calls for help and cut down any and all criminals. And she was on her way now, to help a person in need. She rounded a corner and picked up her pace when she heard a high pitched scream. It was near, only a few alleys away. She ran, boots padding against the semi-clean cobblestone ground. The commoners district wasn’t a bad place, she was surprised to see any trouble in this district at all. But every human produces trash, whether it be physical garbage or lies and deceit. And wherever there’s trash, rats will scurry their way about and find it. She skidded to halt at the end of a dark alley. Her eyes landed on the ground where a smashed red lantern laid with its flame of life flickering away. In the dancing shadows the light produced, she saw two monsters holding on to a young maidens arms. She was crying and when she angled her face just right, the "Crimson Demon" saw it was her long, childhood friend-

"Lyna" She breathed out.

"Amris!" The struggling girl cried out. The two goons quickly fixed their eyes on the hooded figure at the end of the alley.

"Shit!" One of them cursed. "It’s the Crimson Devil."

The girl, Amris, smirked at the scene. "Naughty little trouble makers, it’s unbecoming of men to get forceful with the ladies."

The one that spoke earlier growled in response and the other thickheaded man stood there aghast, probably pissing his pants. The obvious leader of the group threw Lyna to the ground with a fearful squeak peaking out of her. He whirled, and, trying to catch Amris by surprise, pulled a knife out of his tunic and made for her face. She quickly drew her right blade from it’s sheath on the back of her waist and blocked, the man’s blade locking into her hilt. She quickly maneuvered her blade and spun, knocking the man’s blade from his hand. He yelps in pain and she uses the moment of confusion to kick the man in the stomach, his back flying into the alley wall. His heads hits with an audible smack against the brick, and he’s sent sliding to the ground in pain. While the subordinated goon trips backwards over his own feet and having the wind knocked out of him, Amris motions Lyna to come to her. The victim struggles up from the ground and scrambles over to and behind the hero.

Amris holds her blade out defensively and turned her head sideways, looking back at Lyna. "Are you hurt?" She asks with genuine concern.

Lyna clutches on the back of her cloak and stutters out with a weary smile. "N-not physically..."

Amris starts to chuckle until she wips her head around to see the head goon charging her, knife in the air. She only had a split second to push Lyna away. Both girls fell none too gracefully.

The goon landed on top of Amris, her dagger scattering across the alley. He thrashed and yelled "I’ll cut you to pieces, BITCH!" He jabbed his knife at her and she luckily dodged in time. The knife got stuck in the cobblestone and Amris took the chance to throw the man off her. She drew her left dagger out of it’s back holster and step on the goons wrist so he couldn’t reach his knife. She used her right hand to grab under his jaw and pressed upward, immobilizing him temporarily.

She glared into his eyes and asked "What were you doing?"

He glared right back and stayed silent.
She pressed harder "Gah! Okok! We were gonna sell her to the slave trade."

Amris’s blue irises widen. "The slave traders? I thought I took care of them?"

The man shuddered underneath her. "H-he’s starting it up again..."

Now her eyes narrow. "Who?"

When he doesn’t answer she lifts his head and slams it in the ground. "WHO?!"

She heard footsteps nearby and looked down the far alleyway. There were blue lanterns in the distance. She cursed "Damn it! The Kānshǒu!" She looked back down at the goon to see him knocked out. I may have slammed too hard... She searches him and finds a peony hairpin in his pocket. She quickly stuffs it in her back pocket and pulls out a Dahlia flower from her side pocket on her pants. She quickly places it in the goon’s hand and runs over to Lyna."We have to get out of here."

Lyna nods and Amris grabs her wrist. They quickly run down the opposite end of the alley, away from the police.

They make it a few alleys away and stop to take a breather. Amris turns to Lyna and starts inspecting her for injuries. Lyna laughs, "That tickles! Haha!"

Amris pulls back and sighs contently "I’m glad you’re alright." She puts on a cheeky smile "Want me to walk you home?"

Lyna looks to the ground. "Actually... My parents apparently sold me to them..."

There was scilence until Amris grabbed Lyna’s wrist and started pulling her towards the bell tower. "A-Amris!" Lyna called but her friend stayed silent. Lyna knew her well enough to know that she probably wanted to kill them right now. She always had this thing about her, that her anger got so out of control, she almost ended up killing a few people. After she aged, she had gotten better at controlling it. Lyna hasn’t seen her get this mad in years. She pulled her hand into Amris’ and squeezed. Amris slowed her pace into a trot. Good, she’s calmed down... They walked along in satisfied scilence.

They stopped near a building, about a mile away from the bell tower. The light of the moon cast shadows into it’s the dark mouth, making it look haunting to any who pass by. The side of the building had crumbled over the years, making it look like a large pained face of sorts.

Amris and Lyna stepped over the remaining outline of the house and walked into the darkness. Traveling this path many times over her life, Amris expertly guided her friend through the bleak black. She stopped, Lyna bumping into her back.

Amris squeezed her hand. "I’m going to let go for a bit."

Lyna squeezed back in response, and then let go. She listened to her own breathing, feeling the black void close in around her. It was terrifying, standing there alone, seeing nothing, hearing nothing except one’s heartbeat. She desperately wanting Amris to return. Lyna heard her shuffle things around, wood knocking against things.

PSSH

Light filled the room, and Lyna sees Amris standing there, with a match in her hand, their shadows dancing on the walls. She uses it to light a stub of a candle on the wall. "I’ll have to replace that soon." She chided, trying to lighten the darkened mood. Lyna chuckled and watched Amris motion to the ladder on the wall. She looked up to find the ladder leading into the night sky, it’s stars glittering. She looked back at Amris, sees her nod in encouragement, and moved to grab the first rung of the ladder. She slowly made her way up, careful to step above the broken rungs. Her head emerged to find a taller building in front of her, the moon shining down on them. She stepped up onto what was left of the roof with Amris trailing out behind her. Amris walked over to the wall of the building and lied another nearby ladder against its side. And so they climbed up this ladder too, and the next, and the next, over many buildings, their altitude growing by the minute. The wind blew against them, sweeping dust off the desert dunes. Amris’ cape flew in the wind as she held Lyna from falling over into the streets below. "Careful Lyna." She chided.

Lyna giggled back "I’m sorry I don’t do this everyday."

Amris moved ahead of her and called back "Don’t worry, you’re not missing out on anything but sore legs."

"And an amazing view!" Lyna called back.

And it certainly was. The sun drooping to sleep behind the sand dunes, cast a beautiful halo of light across the city. The stars were finally coming into view up above with the moon patiently waiting for his turn.

Lyna stood there staring at the scenery until Amris quietly nudged her along saying "My tower’s got a better view, trust me."

Lyna was taken aback. "Tower? You mean the bell tower? You live up there?!"

Amris sighed. "How else am I supposed to be able to see the lanterns?"

Lyna walked on in scilence for a few paces, lost in thought.
She noticed a line going across the fading sky. She followed it at an angle to see it go into the city below. "What is that?" She asked, pointing to it.

Amris followed her finger, "A zip line. That’s how I get to the city fast."

"Ohhh..." She suddenly turned around with a wide grin and a giggle. "Can I ride one!?"

Amris’ eyes widened. "Wha- Absolutely not!"

"Awe come onnnn! I want to just try it! You could supervise me and everything!" Lyna pouted.

Amris sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Maybe-"

She was interrupted by Lyna grabbing her hands and jumping up and down.

"H-Hey! I said maybe and that’s only if crime settles down around here. My job’s not one I can just take a day off from." She pulled her hands back and walked on, all the while Lyna excitedly following behind her.

They eventually came up to the ramp that led into her abode. Amris wod have been here already, but she had to practically carry Lyna up here. She ushered Lyna in, as something fast and furry flew right into her face.

Lyna jumped. "W-what is that!?"

There was a happy squeak as Amris pinched the thing on it’s back and pulled it off her face.