Welcome to Gaia! ::

Annie reminded consistent in the blank expression she displayed strolling through the condemned streets. The destitute reside here and rarely anyone decided to roam unless they were desperate. The aluminum can clank and clattered around on the dirty pavement because of the girl kicking it around out of sheer boredom. Not many parents let their kids out because some intruders come and kidnap children in order to trade them for entertainment or protection. If a person receives protection from the dictator they are basically immortal. Living in fear of the deadly gases and poisons that intoxicate the city make everyone go insane just thinking about them. Luckily, even though she is an orphan, she hadn't been affected by the contagion. Furthermore, the white haired female has survived in the Slums for as long as she can remember, and so far hasn't been unfortunate.

The fourteen year old abruptly stopped by the metal trashcan and automatically began rummaging through it. Hopefully, there would use "treasures" for her to use. So far her collection of sorts was nothing to marvel at, expect for the army knife. A small pocketed weapon or in her case tool was scarce especially a child of her caliber to obtain. Pure garbage; no success today despite the sun shining through the clouds and clustered smog. The child took a moment to appreciate what little warmth the sun showed that the city could never offer in any shape, size, or forum.

She wiped the clinging dust away from her worn skirt and jacket to make herself look somewhat presentable. Although, no one was there to notice her disarrayed appearance so why did it matter? Her short white locks were knotted and her rough complexion was covered in black from all the filth. However, Annie was so use to the life style that it didn't bother her in the least. With a random yawn, the girl left the trashcan and continued down the sidewalk glancing into exposed windows now and then. Family was something foreign to her because she was so accustomed to being alone.

It must be pleasant to be accompanied by the ones you hold dear while consuming table scraps that are delicacies around these parts. Annie thought to herself inwardly as she peers through the window of a family enjoying their supplements. Her stomach grumbled adverting her attention from what little morsels the family won't spare; not on a homeless nuisance. Wanders like her should be flushed from the streets immediately before cause more unknown tragedy to a disrepair democracy. Again, that what the rich entrepreneurs and lowlife dealers out to save their own hides are for, right? She had already experience a wealth man's greed for entertainment only by kidnapping her and was going to make every precaution, even by force, to sign her up in the Underground Arena. Annie's intelligence allowed her to flee his clutches, but how long would she be free? Being a bird in a cage, metaphorically speaking, wasn't her forte. However, food was a priority and if incarceration was a price to pay for said food then she'd happily oblige. Until she was full.

Her captor wasn't totally harsh like supplying her with the necessitates, but having to fight blindly against an opponent scared her. The child didn't have the courage to beat or kill a stranger for that matter. They were probably just as terrified as she was, maybe more so. Human cruelty at its finest down in that dark abyss the Ringmasters call home. Speak of the devil, one just coincidentally approaches her after she tried to erase the memories of them and their ideal living quarters. A break from this madness was no where to be seen in her near future or present occurrence. Annie tensed from the shrill acknowledgement of her name and turned to see none other than the notorious, Olympia.

The woman's pink hair is her most potent feature which meant she could never be mistaken for anyone else. One of a kind and she knew the female liked the sharked tooth half demon to be accredited as such. Her title alone should be enough to identify what kind of soul she is. The Australian accent rang in her ears as the teenager asked her status. It felt like an interrogation since there were several questions that followed after that one and she had the choice not to answer, but did. Why? To be polite of course. Just because she was raised on the street didn't mean manors are obscured to the acquaintance.

Olympia eager jumped in front of her which signaled Annie not to take another step. She would just peruse her until she gets what she wants and that is a fact! With a couple of blank glances, she finally stared at the ground fiddling with the frayed end of her plaid skirt. "I'm okay. Still alive, right?" She joked to hopefully lighten the situation for herself. "I'm out here savaging like always. How are you, Olympia?" Obviously, she was dodging the last question, but it as enviable that she replied. Might as well get it over with.

The constant giggling make it difficult to answer properly because it continued to make her feel awkward. The pink haired monster is unstable in her opinion and she didn't want her to become more demented. "You know I'm not a good fighter. There are tougher robust child that I'm sure you can find to help you with your...predicament. Believe me, I'll just be a thorn in your side." The white haired pedestrian stepped back discreetly waiting for the opportune moment to run away.

Her obsessive grinning sent shivers up, down, and through the child's spine. She answered the first question delightfully as if she was going to win a prize from it. The Ringmaster made her persistence explicit by piercing her solid blue eyes with her own confident pink eyes. She could swear that the woman was trying to see thought her and into her tormented soul hoping to repair it to her advantage. Annie wouldn't allow Olympia a chance to break her even if she was vulnerable and alone at the moment. Furthermore, she seemed all to eccentric about announcing her motives which pertained to her excellent health. The orphan wished she could read her mind and predict her actions and emotions because she was uncanny and relentless.

She processed to treat her like an adolescent brat convincing her of her flawless dueling expertise. The last person Annie fought she left them alive even though she was almost forced to end them. The crowd taunted her until an official came in and finished the job herself. As a penalty, two muscular men restrained her, held her lids open, and required her to watch. Afterwards, they impacted the back of her neck hard enough to the point where she awoke in a cell a day later. The body was deposed of in the local dump or so she heard and for hours she mourned over someone she barely knew. Just another adversary that served its, not his or her, ITS purpose. Those were the demon's poisoned words that still caused her traumatic nightmares.

Unsympathetically, she constricted Annie by placing her arm around her and enclosing the little atmosphere around them. At this point, the white haired girl knew she wasn't going to drop this conversation. Her valued placement in this unforgiving world is nothing more than a chess piece in the Underground. Quickly, she slipped out from under the teen's arm, backed up losing her balance, and ultimately falling off the curb. Her frail body smacked the road winding her slightly as she started at her predator. "Please...leave me alone." Warm salty tears trailed down her cheeks wiping the dirt clean from them. Her equilibrium rested on her elbows leaving her body half elevated because she was to paralyzed by fear to move anymore.

The road was corroded to the point where it was not accessible and falling on it was no cushion. The girl's frail back will probably be bruised, but that's not her main concern. The Ringmaster arched on her legs using them as support her frame while tending to the orphan. Her demeanor seemed less malicious despite her marionette smile glued to her face. The pink locks cascaded over her shoulders dragging around her head influencing her smooth complexion that remained paler than ever. It figures after spending so many years away from the sun lights nurturing rays. With a gloved thumb, she wiped the tears away like a mother would, and Annie actually believed she had a soft spot for her. However, this notion was highly unlikely because the woman didn't have a moral bone in her body. Her pink eyes lit up when blood was spewed across the somewhat saturated soil in the Underground Arenas.

Gesturing a relieving wink, Olympia dropped the whole matter in one sentence before erected herself. Annie is of course invited to the Underground any times she wants, although going back doesn't sound like an option any time soon. Bidding her farewell in a teasing way by referring to an old movie, the shark toothed fiend fled the Slums. The potent smell or rotting garbage and illness was probably infecting her keen mole like senses to affectingly. With a deep exhale, the child lifted herself from the ground but forgot to rid herself of dust...or was that intentional. Oh well, at least her adversary is gone so now she can continue her adventuring in peace and quiet.

Where did she leave off again? Right, she lingered aimlessly by a families window hoping to get a swift of their meal. The can of cat food sat in the navy printed pockets strapped to her legs. Annie wants to say it for a rainy day, but she couldn't resist the temptation any longer. Leisurely gliding back onto the sidewalk, she fumbled through her jacket compartments until she found her army knife. The blade was rusted slightly, however, she came across a box of matches the other day so at least she can sterile her tool. Wiping a faded red tip match across the side of the box where the black strip is, the stick was ignited. She ran the flame back and forth against the blade and then let it sit, cooling the metal with the open air and throwing the burn wood to the ground. Annie penetrated the aluminum lid, craved the outer edge, and began her feast which was more than enough for her.

Once she was done, she tossed the can in a near by bin preventing more pollution and advanced to the streets of the main boulevard. The streets were more lively there and she would be less approachable. Her memories of the Underground emerged as she tried to drown them out by humming loudly. Still maybe that life of agony and destruction was better than roaming around waiting for the end. No. She'd rather choose suffering than carrying a burden of despair for committing such a horrendous act.