Bug Hunt: Carlise Manor

[The Golden Witch]

The old vampire hangout was still in a horrid state of disrepair. The entire place looked like it was ready to collapse at any moment.

[Ryan Gabriel]

The formery winged X-Man made his way into the building, nimbly using each step to feel the sturdiness of the floor beneath him. He glowed white, and his steps showed every bit of his agility as he avoided allowing his weight to settle on any place too frail to hold him.

[The Golden Witch]

The front door had been modified with a large brass butterfly door knocker.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Hm. What the hell, Ryan thought, using the knocker.

[The Golden Witch]

There was no answer.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Well, there's one reason to be glad I'm the only one here, Ryan thought, opening the door and heading inside.

[The Golden Witch]

Sitting on a large armchair in the decaying parlor was a man with boils all over his body. Large clumps of his hair had fallen out.

A medical textbook page on the effects of radiation poisoning had been pinned to his body. The word "death" had been circled.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan gritted his teeth. Sick, twisted little bitch, he thought, checking that the man was dead before moving on. The room in the video hadn't appeared to be a bedroom, so he made his way lightly through the first floor.

[The Golden Witch]

Ryan crossed a hallway and into a living room in the back. As he spotted an intact stairwell leading upstairs he would hear a soft clicking noise coming from behind him.

A large probe was crouched on the ceiling, watching him with multifaceted eyes.

[Ryan Gabriel]

A low growl formed in Ryan's throat as he lashed out with his power, green-white energy slashing through the air toward the probe. No peeking, Nina.

[The Golden Witch]

The probe was slashed open and died with a horrid little squeek.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Huh. Well that's new. Ryan felt a little rush of power as he moved on, trying to find the hostage.

[The Golden Witch]

As he went up the stairs, Ryan would hear movement coming from one a large sitting room to his left. Inside was the hostage and an egg.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan swore and hurried carefully in, keeping an eye on the egg as he went to untie the hostage. "Just stay calm," he said, "I'll have you out of here in a minute. Can you walk?"

[The Golden Witch]

The woman suddenly screamed as the egg split open and something sprang out, attempting to wrap itself around Ryan's neck.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan backed hurriedly away from the woman, not wanting this... thing to get her if it decided he was too much trouble. Frantically, he tried to get his hands around the thing to pull it off and stretch it strait.

[The Golden Witch]

Slowly the thing began sapping the energy from Ryan as it glowed furiously and began burning white hot.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Oh no you don't!" Ryan growled. He glowed with a green aura... and to his surprise the draining feeling seemed to slow as he worked to pry the thing off, groping with one hand for something to smash it with.

[The Golden Witch]

Ryan managed to pull the thing off, it squirmed in his hand as he managed to grab a nearby candlebra.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan really didn't worry about being dignified here. He just basically took the candelabra and started going axe-crazy with the thing on a nearby dresser.

[The Golden Witch]

It took very little time. The newborn creature seemed to be fairly fragile and was smashed into a fine paste relatively easily.

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan shuddered at the sight, then turned back to the woman. "All right. Now as I was saying, can you walk?" he asked, like nothing had happened, as he started untying her again.

[The Golden Witch]

The woman nodded.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"All right. Let's get you out of here," Ryan said, finally getting her free. He thought for a moment, then glanced at the window, taking stock of the trees and such near the house. Yeah, taking her past the dead body downstairs, NOT a good idea, let's see, path to the ground...

[The Golden Witch]

Conveniently the window was connected to a small balcony with a staircase leading to backyard.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"All right, just stick close to me. The stairs might not be too stable, so just keep one step above me," he said, leading her out.