forum "Even with all the stars at my fingers, all I see is you." (Closed - OxO) (Mature)

Started July 07, 2023 by @bleeding_hearts

tune

He’s probably gonna be caught. Dude thinks that he’s close to getting enough money to get out of this life so he wouldn’t just give in. I want to give him a chance to at least try to fight lol

That makes sense!

Great! So where did we want to start this off?

Hmm, possibly the people catching Ezra? Leaving him for a sacrifice?

Yeah, that sounds good with me!

Sounds good! I'll get a starter up!

Okay, awesome!

Hi! I am so sorry about that! I was going to get a starter up but things got hectic lmao. Lemme get that starter up!

---

Many moons ago, before the earth took her first breath, before the gods existed… There was void. Void- emptiness, peace, quiet. But it was lonely. So… so lonely. Void wished for more. So they spread their hands and carefully created into being the first gods. Callyx and Soleil. Those of the stars, and those of the earth. The two eldest creations of the Void. One, a firecracker of energy but kind and alight with energy. The other, calm and graceful. These two were blessed with the abilities to create. Soleil, dubbed the mother of the nature, created nature. The world was hers. Callyx, the god blessed with balance. Moving the Suns and Moon so that Soleil's creatures could live peacefully.

But their worst mistake was worse to come.

Void- content with the first creations, settled on making more. Creating more in their energy. Gods of the smallest nature appeared, settling into the domain that Soleil had created. Soleil, eager to meet new people, welcomed the gods as if they were her own. Callyx was weary of these Gods. He was used to his solitude. And these gods were power hungry.

Callyx, first dubbed the god of creation made all things that live and breathe on the planet. Call it a project. Callyx created various things out of stardust, something gifted to him by the Void. They experimented, and Soleil eagerly welcomed the creatures into her embrace. Even… the humans. Humans- Callyx's most complex experiment. They could think for themselves, even if they were beast and heart. He placed into them his frustrations, his peace, his anger, his love… all of it into this odd… fleshy thing of a human. And let it roam.

And oh did he regret to let it roam.

---

Many years later…

To say the world had gone to shit was an understatement. Plagues, natural disasters, and wild life behaving oddly. No one knew what was happening. People spoke that the gods were angry. Some gods were unresponsive to prayers, others believed that the gods were having a war and the mortals were just the innocent bystanders. And as the world fell apart, many looked to the gods of protection, peace, safety. Many looked to their various gods, prayed their prayers… And finally- the world snapped.

Many believed it was Soleil's wrath as she watched humans massacre her creations left and right. Some argued that the gods had abandoned their creations entirely. Others believed it was the gods warning humanity was worse to come.

But it only seemed that the rich were the only ones relaxed about the state of the world. They did not have to fear where their food came from, stealing from the poor, sitting in their homes behind walls, and laughing as they threw lavish parties. Some of the richest suggested a scarifies to appease the gods. They offered that if anyone could appease the gods, the lucky few that appeased the gods would have a seat at their table.

And the man hunts begun. Some rich folk suggested various people that they simply wished to have discarded. Some placed prizes on a few popular thieves heads. In hindsight, it made the rich richer and the poor into animals that hunted each other for sport.

(Sorry, my wifi crashed right as I tried to post this so I had to rewrite it)

Ezra's steps are cautious, his senses heightened as he slips through the shadows of the dimly lit alley. He is on edge, aware that tonight's heist is a risky one. But the promise of a valuable artifact, rumored to be hidden within the grand mansion, has lured him into this dangerous game.

His contact, an informant named Marcus, had assured him of the mansion's vulnerabilities and the precise location of the artifact. Ezra's trust in Marcus had been unwavering—until now. Unbeknownst to Ezra, his ally had made a deal with the mansion's owner, a wealthy collector seeking to protect his prized possession.

As Ezra approaches the mansion's perimeter, a sense of foreboding washes over him. He clings to the shadows, his steps silent as he maneuvers past the security measures, relying on Marcus's supposed insider information. But as he nears the mansion's back entrance, a sudden shout pierces the night air.

"Stop right there!" a voice booms, betraying his presence.

Ezra's heart sinks as he whirls around to face the source of the interruption. His eyes widen with shock and fury as he recognizes Marcus, standing there with a wicked grin. Betrayal etches itself into every line of the informant's face, a treachery that Ezra could never have anticipated.

The mansion's security team swarms around Ezra, their eyes filled with triumph and smug satisfaction. He is surrounded, with no avenue of escape. Marcus had sold him out, his greed trumping any loyalty or camaraderie they had shared.

"Thought you could outsmart us, didn't you?" Marcus sneers, relishing in his deceit. "You were just a pawn in this game, Ezra. And now, the game is over."

Anger burns within Ezra's chest, his fists clenched in frustration. He curses his own naivety, berating himself for trusting someone with his life. But in this moment, there is no time for regret or self-recrimination. The betrayal stings, but survival becomes his sole focus.

As the security team closes in, Ezra's mind races for a way out. He assesses his surroundings, searching for a loophole, a chance to evade capture. But fate, it seems, has turned against him. The weight of the impending consequences settles heavily on his shoulders.

Defeat mingles with anger as the security guards seize him, their grip unyielding. They bind his hands, stripping him of his freedom and autonomy. The taste of betrayal lingers bitterly in his mouth as he is led away, the promises of riches and escape fading into the cold reality of his capture.

Ezra's eyes lock with Marcus's one final time, burning with a mix of fury and a vow for retribution. Betrayed but not broken, he swears to himself that he will find a way to turn the tables, to reclaim his freedom, and make those who have underestimated him pay dearly for their treachery.

(No worries! Life has been chaotic so I haven't been able to write a proper response)

---

The people were pleased when they heard the whisperings of a possible sacrifice to the Gods. Perhaps the world would right itself. Perhaps Callyx and Soleil would forgive them if they offered up a human to the gods. Perhaps there was a chance of survival. The town celebrated the night that Ezra had been captured, people laughing and dancing. Music so loud the heavens could hear them played joyfully through the streets. They praised the wealthy collector that had brought them this opportunity. They praised the man that had willingly betrayed someone in order for some money. People were laughing about the death of someone that was just as human as the rest of them.

Soleil was in a partying mood. She was swaying with the music, her eyes bright as she watched the people dance and sing. "Oh Nyxxie, isn't this exciting? I haven't had such a jovial sacrifice in years. People are just sacrificing goats and sheep now. I miss human flesh." There was a wild look in her eyes. Ever since the humans had started disrespecting her, she had grown spiteful at Callyx's creation. Usually a kind and understanding god, Soleil hadn't been that kind of excitable character for some time. Not since the humans started sacrificing things that she had created. She grew angry at other gods, snapping when they pushed too many of her buttons.

And there were a lot of buttons.

"Even if the sacrifice is to you, Soleil. The creature will return to me." Callyx remained expressionless as he watched the people dance and sing. How odd. These were the creatures that he created off of himself. He did not know that they were capable of such things… but when he remembered how he had created them, he had no doubt they were able of great violence, or great peace. He had just hoped that it had been peace. But based off the laughter and chatter that he was witnessing now, it was most likely the violence taking over. Perhaps a reset was necessary.

The two gods watched as a woman wearing ceremonial robes walked to the center of the square and move to stand in the podium. She radiated power. She raised her hand and the festivities quieted quickly. She offered a warm smile. "Friends! Family! Loved ones! We are gathered here tonight because we have settled on a sacrifice for our beloved gods!" The crowd erupted into cheers and she continued, "Tonight, when the moons are at their highest, we shall bring the sacrifice to the sacred garden, where they will be left to be taken by the gods. Now, as I speak, the guards are walking the thief to their final destination in this life time. So eat, drink, be merry! And let the gods shine down on us!"

The town cheered once again and she stepped down from her podium to join the masses. She bowed a few times to people before leaving into the gated area of where the rich man lived.

Soleil glanced at her fellow god. "Are you going to pick up your new sacrifice?" She coos.

Callyx frowned at that. He made sure he collected every creation he made and usually he would create it into something new, something different. But watching people sacrifice others in his name irked him almost. Those were his creations. But he nodded to Soleil's question. "Yes. I will be back." He would go and collect this creation and see what would happen. To say his curiosity was piqued was an understatement.

(Sorry for my late reply. Work was nuts this week lol)

Hands seize him, pulling him back with a forceful yank. Despite his struggles, he can't break free from their grasp. With a mix of fear and frustration, Ezra knows he's been caught. There's no escape this time.

His captors drag him down a dimly lit corridor, their grip unyielding. Every step he takes feels like walking towards his own doom. The echoes of their footsteps seem to taunt him, a constant reminder of his failure.

Finally, they reach a heavy metal door at the end of the hallway. One of the guards punches in a code, and the door creaks open. Ezra's heart sinks as he's shoved inside the small, dimly lit cell. The door slams shut with a resounding thud, leaving him in darkness.

Ezra takes a moment to steady his breathing, trying to quell the rising panic within him. He can't afford to lose hope, not now. He must find a way to escape, to regroup with his allies and continue the fight.

The cell is damp and cold, the walls closing in around him. He can feel the weight of his capture pressing down on him, the uncertainty of what lies ahead gnawing at his resolve.

As minutes turn into hours, Ezra's determination flickers. He paces back and forth, his mind racing with thoughts of what he could have done differently. Regret claws at his conscience, but he knows there's no time for self-blame.

With a deep breath, he takes stock of his surroundings. The cell offers little in terms of escape options, but he can't give up. His comrades are counting on him, and he won't let them down.

Ezra examines the cell's corners, feeling for any weaknesses or loose parts. He knows that sometimes the smallest details can lead to freedom. But despite his efforts, the cell seems impenetrable.

As he slumps against the cold, hard wall, a surge of frustration washes over him. But beneath that frustration lies a newfound resolve. He can't allow himself to remain trapped here, waiting for his fate to be decided by his captors.

Throughout the ordeal, Ezra's mind races, formulating plans and considering every possible avenue of escape. He knows that he must bide his time, wait for the perfect moment to make his move.

As the hours stretch into what feels like an eternity, he remains vigilant, waiting for an opportunity. His eyes never leave the door, hoping for a chance to catch his captors off guard.

The heavy cell door creaks open, and blinding light spills into the dark enclosure, momentarily disorienting Ezra. Before he can fully comprehend what's happening, strong hands seize him and haul him out of the cell. His heart thunders in his chest, realizing that his worst fears are about to become a haunting reality.

Struggling against the grip of his captors, Ezra's protests fall on deaf ears. They drag him through narrow, dimly lit corridors, his feet barely able to keep up with their hurried pace. Fear courses through his veins as he realizes the direction they are heading – towards the dreaded maze.

As they draw closer to the maze's entrance, the air thickens with tension and despair. Ezra's mind races, searching for any glimmer of hope, any chance to break free from this nightmarish fate. But the guards are relentless, their grips unyielding, and escape seems an impossible dream.

The sounds of eerie chanting grow louder, and the sight of cloaked figures surrounding the maze sends chills down Ezra's spine. He knows there's no escape now; he has been condemned to this terrifying ordeal.

With each step, Ezra's heart sinks deeper into despair, the weight of his impending sacrifice pressing down upon him. He casts one last desperate glance back, hoping against hope to catch a glimpse of freedom. But all he sees are the shadows of his former prison, mocking him with their empty promises of escape.

As they reach the entrance of the maze, Ezra's captors push him forward, his feet stumbling over the threshold. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, but his trembling hands betray his inner turmoil.

The chanting grows louder, the voices a haunting chorus that seems to seep into his very soul. In that moment, Ezra feels utterly alone, abandoned by fate and left to face the horrors that await him.

With a final, cruel shove, the guards thrust him deeper into the maze. The entrance seals shut behind him, leaving him in pitch darkness. Panic rises within him, but he knows there's no turning back now.

Callyx watched this all with gentle eyes, frowning as he watched these things that he had created with so much thought and wonder turn against one of their own. It stung slightly. He understood that he created them so that they could bicker and live just as the gods do, but this seemed so… barbaric. It did not please him in the slightest. But he waited patiently as he watched the human fall within the maze. How cruel it was to leave a poor human stuck in a maze, lost much like a rat would be. The god let out a longsuffering sigh before moving towards the mess of a human. He took on his more… humanly form as not to startle the human and easily way made his way through the maze to where the human was.

"So they have decided to sacrifice you." His voice was steady, watching the humans every move. He was hidden in the shadows, nothing to be seen of yet. Yet he watched with curiosity. It had been a long time since he had been face to face with one of his creations. He could hear the humans heartbeat, how his soul trembled in the weight of being a sacrifice for a god. He watched how the humans hands trembled, how the chanting died once the doors had been shut. Curiosity filled his chest… how long it had been since he had checked in on his creations. He moved to get a better angle of sight before slowly making himself visible.

"Out of all the humans in the village. They have decided that you should be the one they sacrifice. How odd. I would have thought that it was going to be the head of the village. I suppose I owe Soleil for that." A bitter laugh left his throat as he moved to get closer to the human. "A wonderful creation nonetheless… but…" He clicked his tongue. "You fear of what is going to happen. Let me ask you this then, human…" He cleared his throat.

"Why should I let you live?"

(Sorry it's so short, currently on a time crunch!)

Ezra's heart races as he stumbles through the maze, his breaths coming in quick gasps. Darkness surrounds him, broken only by the faint glow of distant torches that do little to alleviate the shadows that seem to close in around him. Fear gnaws at his soul, each step feeling like a leap into the unknown. The labyrinthine walls loom tall and foreboding, shifting and twisting as if mocking his attempts to find a way out. The sound of his own footsteps echoes like an eerie heartbeat, a constant reminder of his solitude in this daunting maze.

His hands tremble as he reaches out to feel the rough stone surface of the walls, trying to keep his bearings. But the maze plays cruel tricks on him, leading him in circles and dead ends. Panic sets in, and he fights the urge to scream for help, knowing that his fate was sealed long before he stepped foot into this labyrinth. He stumbles over loose stones and unseen roots, his hands scraped and bloodied from desperate attempts to navigate the confounding passages. But each step seems to lead him deeper into the labyrinth's heart, further away from the light and closer to his seemingly inevitable fate.

Time loses its meaning within the maze, minutes feeling like eternity as fear and exhaustion take their toll. He wonders if the god watches him from above, amused by his futile struggle, or if he is merely an insignificant speck in the grand design of divine plans.

Ezra's heart pounds in his chest as the god's voice resonates through the dark maze. He feels both awe and terror in the presence of the divine being who stands before him, hidden in the shadows. His eyes dart nervously, trying to catch a glimpse of the god, but he remains concealed, a mysterious presence watching his every move. He can feel the weight of the sacrifice, the significance of this encounter, and the realization that he is nothing more than a mortal, insignificant in the eyes of a god. It isn't a comforting feeling and the question feels like a trap. There's no right answer. He's screwed no matter what he says.

The fear is starting to turn to anger and frustration. He can't help but feel a surge of indignation at the audacity of the god's question. How could this divine being, who created him and his world, threaten to take away his life and then ask why he should be allowed to live? His eyes meet the god's, the anger in his gaze mixing with defiance. "Why should you let me live?" Ezra repeats, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You're the one who brought me into existence, who gave me life and purpose. And now, you stand there, hidden in shadows, toying with my fate as if I'm nothing more than a pawn in some divine game." His gaze hardens, his anger giving him a newfound sense of courage. " will not beg for my life. I will not grovel or plead." With a final defiant glare, he waits for the god's response, knowing that his fate is still in the hands of this divine being but determined to make his stand for the value of his own existence.

(It's all good!)

A small hum left his lips as he watched this human carefully. There was something interesting about seeing a human in their last moments. Some begged and pleaded, others bargained, some whispered their prayers to the gods, some accepted their fates… but Callyx loved the ones that stood firm. And that's what this human did. Stood his ground. Callyx's eyes shut for a moment and a small sigh left his lips.

Light flickered into existence in the suffering darkness of the maze. "Good. That's a start." He chuckles softly as he lets the light in his palm spread to surround them, allowing the human to see him. "I do not enjoy the games that my creations play. But even I… as a god. Have my hands tied by the gods." He sighed deeply. "Yes. I created you. Such beautiful, fascinating creations… Something I dedicated everything I have." He glanced over at the human, regarding him curiously. "The anger boiling in your chest, the way your heart races as he wanted the halls. The thoughts that complicate your mind." He let the light weave around his fingers. "You are no pawn. The divine game you speak of… there is none. Just my hands tied." He chuckled when he saw the defiant glare. "That is the answer I am looking for." He looked satisfied almost- like the cat that got the cream.

"Now, here's a more… accurate question for you. Why do you want to live? What drives a human to stand before a god in defiance, and say 'I will not grovel or plead?" That was the kicker, that was what caused his curiosity. To see the defiance in these creatures that he had created, stand in the face of death and laugh. To fight. Truly, it was fascinating. It was a beautiful think. He admired that. Admired those that stood for their existence despite the fear that might be the end. He moved closer to the human, his eyes wandering the creation that he had been so proud of.

"And. Depending on your answer, how would you like to be stronger?" That was a thought. Callyx was a rageful god. He had witnessed how his other creations treated this human. Seen how quickly they turn their back on each other, how quickly they held knives to each others throats. How they were left to die, how they were left to fend for themselves if they did not offer enough in the world. It was the battle of the strong versus the weak. Rarely did he witness the strong stand for the weak. He wished for a change. Not even the gods could defy him on that for his creations.

(Shit, sorry!! I found a cat a few days ago and have been pretty distracted lol)

Ezra's heart pounds in his chest as he faces the god. The light surrounding them illuminates the darkness of the maze, but it is nothing compared to the intensity of the emotions swirling within him. He takes a deep breath, steadying himself, and looks straight into the god's eyes. This is his one chance to survive and he will not squander the opportunity.

"I can't die yet. I won't die yet," He says firmly, his voice trembling but resolute. "I haven't truly lived. There's a whole world out there that I haven't explored, adventures I haven't embarked on, and dreams I haven't chased. I have spent my entire life running and scraping the bottom of the barrel just to survive. I was so close to freeing myself from a life spent in the darkness. I will not have that taken from me."

His mind races with images of places he longs to visit, experiences he craves, and moments he yearns to cherish. The live he wants and has worked hard for is right within his grasp. Had he not been double-crossed by someone he thought to be a friend, he would be done with a life of theft and lies. To have it taken from him now…..it's cruel. Perhaps he doesn't deserve a second chance as much as many others but that doesn't mean he won't fight for it.

Ezra feels the weight of Callyx's gaze upon him, and he knows that the god is testing him, seeking to understand the essence of his resilience. He continues, his voice steady and strong:

"I want to be stronger, not to seek revenge or inflict harm on others," He says, his voice firm and resolute. "I want to be able to protect those who cannot protect themselves so that no one else has to experience the pain and suffering I've endured."

He thinks of the nights he spent hungry and cold, the times he felt powerless in the face of cruelty, and the struggles he faced to survive. He knows the world can be harsh and unforgiving, but he wants for there to be a beacon of hope for those trapped in darkness.

Ezra's defiance burns like a fire within him, fueling his determination to stand up to the god who holds his fate in his hands. Anticipation envelops him in a moment of tense silence as he waits to see if he will live or die.