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[stolenface]

Who: The Alices
What: The next World's door isn't opening, but the Cat's left something open behind him instead
Where: ▒▒▒▒▒
Warnings: Potential for (non-permanent) death, there's a few body parts around, an eye in a jar, and also mentions of a sewing needle; will update with further info

The Cat hadn't shown up the entire time everyone was in the Hub. It probably was a tiny bit disconcerting. But still, they are ushered on to the next World. But as they go, they'll be greeted with the Cat... Walking away with his back turned to them. He steps through a literal hole in the wall, perfectly round, on the far side of the room where the doors are. And then, it stays open. Should they try the doors, only the ones they've been to previously will open. That hole must be awfully tempting, if the Cat left it.

When they enter, they awaken to a very odd place indeed. An alleyway with one end fenced off and a large grave in the middle of it. The only other way to go is an old factory. Upon entering, they will find the space is off in itself. The machinery is all rusted, but there's the sense that touching the controls could turn it on. And in one corner, in an area that's far more warehouse because this place seems to be patched together from a factory, warehouse and basement, is an old mattress with bloodstains on it and the floor around it. Various body parts, some fresh, some far more decayed and only bone, all seem to be scattered around. There's thick thread--almost like wire--and a large sewing needle that's definitely seen use. On a stand next to the old beat-up mattress is a jar with a single eye in it, red in iris coloring. All of the text everywhere is garbled and unreadable, and the entire world is inverted in coloring. It's probably disorienting.

The Cat doesn't seem to be anywhere they can find, although scraps of cloth in a few places look similar enough to what he wears. There's definitely more to this place beyond the fence outside, but there's no discernible way to get past it. No powers that could help them get over it are accessible, and trying to use any extrasensory powers will earn a splitting headache and nausea similar to that caused by the mysterious voice from before. In fact, the entire area gives the sense that they're not normally supposed to be here.

Where did they get to now...?

Comments

[mearry]

[ Well, while some are dealing with the grave and the rotten body parts, C-ta's off in the old factory. The machinery, though old and rusted, grabs his attention. Tentatively, despite his heart that hammers away inside his chest, he presses the controls. What happens? ]

[worldkeys]

[ The machinery roars to life with a loud screech. Following this, it moves, and it's not easy to turn off. Accompanying this will be the sounds of several workers, although none can be seen. Some of the workers, as he listens, are obviously young. ]

[mearry]

[ Okay..... Okay! Totally normal! Totally fine, this is fine. Breathe C-ta, think about the situation. He hears the sounds of workers, but they're not around...could they be ghosts, or something? Let's try calling out to them. ]

Hello? Is anyone here?

[worldkeys]

[ No one responds, but the bustle keeps up. There's some shouting at someone to be careful around the machines, but otherwise it seems he's not interacted with by the voices at all. ]

[mearry]

Haha, just as I thought~

[ Well, that was worthless. Finally beginning to relax, C-ta continues to look around, observing the machinery from up close. Anything that might stand out? ]

[worldkeys]

[ It's very dusty, for starters, and the movement has kicked up the dust. But more obvious are the bloodstains in a few places, and occasionally if he goes past them he'll hear the invisible crowd interrupted by screaming. Otherwise, he'll notice that the machines seem to be in the process of making something. ]

[mearry]

[ C-ta runs his fingers past the bloodstains a few times-- the first couple in confusion, and the last to confirm. ]

....It's almost as if it's ghosts that are haunting this place... haha...at this point, who knows...? [ He gulps, trying to look over at the machine to see just what it's making. Anything that he might recognize? ]

[worldkeys]

[ Upon closer inspection, this place appears to be a textile factory. ]

[mearry]

Textile factory, huh...?

[ C-ta thinks back on the voices that he heard, plus the nature of the factory itself, and he thinks that he's able to come up with a considerate conclusion. ]

If I remember well from history class...kids used to be forced to work in these kinds of places, no? Back in the industrial revolution and whatever. [ There's a small chuckle from here. ] Must have sucked.

[ Nevertheless, he'll try paying attention this time towards the voices-- is there any distinct conversation that he can listen into? ]

[worldkeys]

[ A few distinct voices can be made out from nearby, at least. There are many nondistinct ones in other directions, but the closest ones are these two: a young girl and an older man. The smell of blood can be made out, ghostly. The girl can be heard whimpering. The man sounds like he's hushedly doing something to the girl, some sort of first aid. ]

I-it hurts... I-I'm sorry...

You should have thought of that before you put your hands so close to there.

[ He appears to be bent over the young girl shade's hands, wrapping some sort of wisp of cloth around them. ]