Forlorn and Peculiar [QUICK]

[Daisy Solomon]

In between these walls so torn and thin
Everything is seen for what it is...


The world around her was flat and dry. Crimson and ruby sands swept the level horizon, and bit at the flesh that touched it. The sun bearing down upon her, unforgiving and its’ cruel bite attempting to blister her. It reached for everything that moved- threatening to steal the moisture. It was a remorseless landscape, vindictive of any life form- this place was not the type for the light-hearted.

For Daisy, this was as close to home as it got. She knelt down- her naked smooth hands catching the sand and letting it slip through her fingers and dance off with the sultry breath of wind . The sun threatened her, but it could not savage her with its teeth. Her skin was well broken to it, the heat she could thrive on.

But still she was lost. Well, lost would mean she had somewhere to go. But she didn't. Like the rain, she had been given no choice and was dumped here- in this cruel dome. But the rain was never alone, it battered down in an army of droplets. Daisy was purely alone.

She stood up from her crouched position, raising her hand to her golden forehead- shielding her eyes from the sun. Her cobalt eyes navigated across the sand dunes, looking… always looking. Nobody had followed her, in fact- she had not seen anyone else. The Authorities had pretty much dropped her in the middle of the desert.

All she had was the clothes on her back, and a bracelet her brother had made her. She hadn't been given a map, nor had she been educated on the civilization that already occupied this world inside a world. She felt alien, but at the same time felt as though she had been exiled.

Her throat had become as dry as the landscape around her. The far off horizon wobbled with heat patches. But, she would walk on. Allowing the hot breeze to urge her onward. And she did, she walked for hours. Stopping every now and then to scope her surroundings- like a sentry on patrol.

But it was lifeless here… no movement, except for the shifting of the sand dunes.

She had never felt as alone as she did now, she had never felt so lost.

Enduring the blistering heat to the edge of the world, she stumbled on what she would first think was a mirage. Tall palm trees rose among the sand dunes. A flag in the middle of the red sea. Their shadows offering tranquility and release from the sun’s ever nagging rays.

A silver ribbon of water trickled through the trees, a prize to all those who were new to this strange world, that had made it this far. Salutations to them- for they were made of something else.

Again, kneeling down to feel the sand at the edge of the pool- she felt coolness. Her mouth dry now- craving the touch of water, the smooth elixir of life. Just to touch her lips… just to seep down her throat like blood creeping from a wound.
She had put all her energy into walking straight into the Oasis- ignoring the fact that she might not be alone. But Daisy was so thirsty… ever so thirsty. Clearly new to this world- she had crept to the water- and cupped the coolness into her mouth. Drinking as much as her hands could hold. The relief that filled her small and thin frame offered the dilated blood vessels in her skin a chance to recover and not sit on edge.
Splashing her face, a refreshing breeze kissing it.
She closed her eyes, and allowed the cool fresh air to fill her.

This was not home.


Knowing life will win this great debate
Chance will have the final say
And I wonder for a moment
Will I break down

Song Lyrics: Birds of Tokyo- The Others

["Quick" Taylor]

He kept focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, on constantly moving forward. The desert sun and oppressive heat beat down on him as he helped some of the other Fallen members prepare themselves for the blisteringly hot summer they were sure to experience in the dome. They were putting up small overhangs to keep the sun out of their railcars while at the same time trying to keep the windows open to allow good circulation of air. It was rather simple, easy work. However, even the simplest task can be made dofficult when the heat saps your energy.

Having finally gotten a chance to break, the Fallen Beta was on his way to the Oasis to refill his water bottle. He'd emptied it over an hour ago, and the work combined with the heat had made his throat scratchy and dry. He was going to get more water before going back to his railcar to relax and cool down.

As he approached the oasis he noticed a strange scent. It definitely wasn't that of a Fallen member. It didn't smell like any of the Rings, in fact. There was something that was odd in her scent, something that was missing. He supposed that meant it was another rogue, just like that "Jetta" woman he'd met a few days ago. It wasn't too uncommon for rogues to wander into Fallen territory and get lost, especially in the summer when the heat dehydrated them. Even so he still needed to do something about it.

It didn't take long for him to get the rogue in sight as he approached the oasis. She was kneeling down by the water, drinking. She didn't notice him, or if she did she gave no indication that she had. So, he walked up as quietly as he could and, in a non-threatening voice,"You do realize you're trespassing on Fallen territory, right?"

As he spoke, he took in her appearance.she had blonde hair that shone bright enough to hurt his eyes in the harsh sun. She wasn't very big either, even for a girl. What struck him, though, was how clean she looked. She certainly didn't look freshly bathed, but she also didn't have as much dirt all over her as most. Her clothes also didn't look as worn and torn as most in the dome, and were certainly a lot cleaner than most, and definitely cleaner than his.

There was no denying it. She had to be new to the dome.

That must be what was so odd to him about her scent. She didn't have the same dirty smell of blood, fear, or anger that most in the dome had. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. There was no way for him to know for sure. Not without asking her or probing her mind with his telekinesis. He'd prefer not to jump into everyone's mind when he first met them. It was rude.

"You're new to the dome, aren't you?" He asked her a little more gently this time, his arms crossed over his chest,"Do you even know about the Rings?"

[Daisy Solomon]

When we first came here
We were cold and we were clear
With no colors in our skin
We were light and paper thin....

Her skin lapped up the moisture- savoring every last droplet that danced across the smooth palette of skin that was her face. The onset of liberation from the heat, even if it only lasted a few moments was a prize that would never stop giving.

Having been brought up in the harsh desert climate, Daisy had become well accustomed to just how precious this silver liquid was. And, just how essential it was to life. Already now, she was mentally kicking herself for not having anything to fill with water and preserve some for later. Perhaps staying here would be her only option. She had no idea where she was… none, zilch, zero… none.

With her eyes closed and her body appreciating the unruffled and tranquil peace this little Oasis offered, she had closed off all her other senses- and did not hear or notice the arrival. Paused on her knees in front of the water- she was a picture of the world outside the dome. Barely a scratch on her, she was shiny and clean like a new toy.

"You do realize you're trespassing on Fallen territory, right?"

Her eyes opened suddenly- the blue in them reflecting the ripples in the water. She was paused for a moment, as though she might be in shock. But she quickly scrambled to her feet and looked upon that who spoke to her.

The expression that crossed her face was one that was slightly confused, her lips parted as if she were going to speak- but no words dribbled from them. Her eyes travelled to the fellow standing before her, painting a picture of a man much taller than she.

"You're new to the dome, aren't you?"

She bit her lip and nodded, almost shyly.

Her eyes never moved from him. It could be said- that every hair on her body stood on edge- and while his position and voice showed no threatening behaviour- she was hesitant. She had heard about this place on the outside. Though, she never expected she would end up here.

He crossed his arms across his chest, giving her reason to believe he was just as curious about her, as she was him. Who was he? What was he doing here? Was he a shape shifter too? And how did he know she was new here?

"Do you even know about the Rings?”

An even more confused expression crossed her brow, as she tried to remember anything she had heard about this place. She hadn’t heard much though- being brought up in an isolated community, one was cut off from the constant gossip found in the large cities.

“Rings?” Daisy shook her head and sighed, “Look, if I trespassed on someone’s land… it wasn’t my intention. They just dropped me out here…”


And when we first came here
we were cold and we were clear
With no colors in our skin
'Til we let the spectrum in...

Song Lyrics: Florence and the Machine- Spectrum

["Quick" Taylor]

When Quick first spoke, the girl jumped to her feet, a look of shock and fear in her face. She had her mouth open like she was going to say something, but no words came. That was when Quick knew she was more than just new. She had been here for a few days, at the most. She wouldn't know where she was, what she should do, or how she should do it.

He found it hard to even be territorial with this girl. He let out a quiet sigh and rubbed the back of his head as she apologized for trespassing, explaining she'd just been dropped off there.

"No, it's fine. It's not your fault. Go ahead and drink. You look like you need some water," he told her, motioning towards the oasis. He kneeled down next to the edge of the water and filled his water bottle with the cool liquid, and then promptly drank it all. He just sat there for a few moment, thinking about what to do with this girl. He decided he needed to ask her some questions.

"So, what do you know about the dome already? Do they put anything about it on the tv or anything else?" He asked, looking over at her.

[Daisy Solomon]

I can’t stay here in this place,
I'm slowly freaking out, I’m slowly freaking out.

Daisy watched him with a curious eye, her own stance in particular unwavering- but at the same time ready for anything that may result from the situation she had now found herself in. She didn’t know whether the two of them were alone here… or whether there was others.

Her instincts weren’t stabbing at her though. A good sign right?

Watching him inquisitively, she at no point seemed modest or ready to shy away- like she first might have. Every moment they stood there, she built confidence. She was no stranger to the amity of men. Her mother and herself had been the only women in the household- and quite often Daisy had been considered one of the boys. But here, she probably resembled a damsel in distress- weak and pathetic.

"No, it's fine. It's not your fault. Go ahead and drink. You look like you need some water,"

He motioned back to the Oasis, taking a step closer to dip his water bottle into the water and fill it. Daisy took a deep breath, and relaxing a little kneeled back down in the sand. How did he have a water bottle? Had the Keepers given it to him? Where could she get one?

She was far too small, and was definitely no match for this brawny looking fellow- it was not like she could drop him and steal it. She actually wasn’t even going to consider that as a possibility- not unless she had a death wish. She hadn’t walked all this way in the heat to die just yet.

She cupped some more water into her hands and took another replenishing sip. Her mouth thanking every last drop as she swallowed it. The relief she felt from the cool liquid was outstanding.

"So, what do you know about the dome already? Do they put anything about it on the tv or anything else?

Catching his glance, she quickly looked back at the water, “Well, not much,” she sat back, “My outside life was pretty sheltered,” she traced her finger through the sand. Perhaps it was obvious that she chose her words carefully. She had been like this with the Keepers when they had first interrogated her. She had barely given them two word replies.
“There were always adds saying to turn people like me in…”, but she had never seen much on life on the inside. Well, from what she had watched anyhow. Her parents had always encouraged a more active lifestyle- not one where they welcomed the children sitting in front of the small television with dodgy reception.

There was sadness in her expression now. She suddenly realized that she knew very little about this world she was in… and she was very much alone. Taking a deep breath and swallowing deeply, she looked over at him… so innocent.

“The dome… it isn’t much like being out there, is it?”

I’m slowly freaking out, I’m slowly freaking out
And out and out again.

Lyrics: Slowly Freaking Out—Skylar Grey