Something Wicked This Way Comes

Another Friction show was well underway, and thus far all had been relatively normal. Several matches had gone by, giving the spectators among the stands plenty to cheer for and talk about. Things became noticeably quieter when, during a period between matches, the lights suddenly dimmed significantly. Confused mutterings spread among the crowd, until something appeared on the screen.

It appeared to be a forest, though it was hard to say for certain with the trees largely hidden in the darkness of the night. Ominous music began to play as, moving forward, a small light quickly became visible in the distance. It was flame, larger than an ordinary camp fire. Advancing forward again, the fire grew larger as the distance closed. A branch was passed, from which hung a stick figure modeled loosely to resemble a human body. Several more of these were seen while drawing closer to the fire.

Soon the dark silhouette of a woman could be made out by the fire. A low, continuous chuckle rang out from her lips, the only sound occupying the space aside from the occasional crackling of firewood. Stepping closer to the flame, light illuminated her frame. Dark hair cascaded over her shoulders and flowed midway down her back. Tight, dark clothes with gold lining covered much of her, along with a black robe that hung down her back and came to the ground.

The woman held up a small knife with her right hand, and turned up her left palm and pricked one of her fingers to draw a drop of blood. Crouching down, she put the knife aside and picked up a humanoid stick figure resembling those hanging from the branches. That same, sinister chuckle again rang out as she looked at it, then rubbed the blood on her finger over the head of the figure. Then she held it up to her lips, and kissed the blood-soaked head.

“I will see you very soon…..”

With that she dropped the doll in the fire, her low chuckle now becoming a loud, cackling laughter. Then all suddenly went silent as the screen cut away from the dark scene in the forest, showing only a blood-red illustration of the wooden dolls hanging in the forest.

Spoiler:

The warning had been sent. She had not revealed who she was, nor who or what she was after.

Only that she was coming.