well, it's a lonely road that you have chosen

Ishiah appreciated the balmy weather that was the norm on Tabula Rasa. The days were sunny and warm, but hardly blisteringly so, thanks to the shores which comprised so much of the island's land mass, graced by steady winds and cycling air. Nights served as a nice reprieve from any glaring sun, light still teasing on the horizon and painting the sky in hues of blue and purple, fireflies mimicking the stars as they hovered about in the air. Although Ishiah knew that his primary objective was far from enjoying himself that night, he couldn't help but feel the tension leave his shoulder as he made his way on over to the Halloween party, intending to act as an unofficial chaperone for the night's activities.

But if the island often graced its inhabitants with ideal temperatures and climes, it still kept people on edge with its occasional and always unpredictable whims. That evening, the Compound was surrounded by a strange fog, lingering like smoke with occasional furls twisting in the air. Brow furrowing, Ishiah looked around for any possible source or cause of the damp air, running his hand through the nearest cloud, but could find nothing of special note.

So he stepped inside, and found himself burning under the sun in a flash of white feathers, barred with gold.

and it's a long time since your heart was frozen

He wanted to sleep.

Perhaps that was the first sign of trouble. Angels, after all, weren't created to require something so human as sleep. Their bodies were perfectly tailored to do their job in whatever capacity that was necessary. No need for extra thought or compassion. And as a newly formed peri, much of that had yet to wear away, Ishiah not overcome with any emotion in particular, but instead unable to process them at all. The sun blazed overhead, his wings dry and feeling the burn of sand as wind swept up like angry hornets thrumming around a hive. Blinking an eye open, Ishiah saw that his wrists were still held up and tied to the crucifix, the brittle wood splintering and cutting through his skin.

All around him, eyes sparkled under scarves, greedy and wary all at once.

How much time had passed, he wasn't sure.