Closure

[Shaon]

Con Candour woke up suddenly. All she could see was white. She was sitting on an infinite white plane, except for the door in front of her -- she couldn't place exactly what color it was, but it most definitely was not white.

She stood up, examining the area around her, though she couldn't see anything except for the door that towered above her. Where is this? she wondered. Is this heaven? Does my kind even go to heaven?

She looked at the door. Maybe this is hell. Dunno.

Cautiously, the demon extended a hand and gripped the doorknob that was eye level with her. Can't exactly get any worse, anyhow.

She turned the knob. The hinges made no sound as the door glided effortlessly open.

The first thing she heard was a shriek.

A person was on the other side of the door, hiding behind a thin jacket. All Con could see was a familiar shade of silvery hair--

"... Caretaker?" Con asked, questioningly.

The person paused and lowered the jacket. The girl was most definitely the Caretaker, someone Con had become a passing aquaintence of. She looked blankly at Con with her white irises, her distinctive markings a cloudy pea green. The door led to the Church of Discordia, Con noted, looking around.

Con took a step in. The door closed behind her. "I didn't know you put in a door here. Where's the crucifix?" Where the door was is where the oddly-placed crucifix normally was, on a small linoleum pedestal.

The Caretaker cautious placed her jacket on a nearby lawn chair, never taking her eyes off Con. "I'm- I'm not the Caretaker," she said, carefully. "You must be mistaken. My name is-"

"Caretaker, don't play games. I don't know how I got here. Last thing I remember is falling asleep at HQ... HQ-" Con suddenly remembered. She glanced at her wrist, where her wristband computer and Sleeping Princess would be-- but they were gone.

The Caretaker continued to pick her words cautiously. "I-- I didn't know anyone could-- you look familiar, who are you?"

Con quickly checked her pockets for business cards, but they were empty as well. "I'm Candour, remember, Caretaker? Con Candour. I'm a warp explorer, we knew each other pretty well."

The Caretaker sighed carefully. "Good, you're just a Visitor for now. Listen, do you like your---" Her voice suddenly went quiet, though her mouth still moved as if she were talking. Con could not read lips.

"I'm sorry, I must've heard you wrong. What did you say?"

"Is there anything back there you would---" The same thing.

Con stared blankly. The Caretaker's markings were suddenly a pale orange.

"Oh, yes," the Caretaker muttered, "the Rule. I forgot. I never met a Visitor before, not even one I had known before."

Her hand on Con's shoulder, she guided her towards the other door in the Church, one that led back to the streets of Psychotopia. "Welcome to the Void, I guess."

Con stretched her arm to grasp a hold on this doorknob, but her arm was gripped suddenly by the Caretaker's hand. Her markings were a vivid purple.

"Wait," she said quickly. "Don't mention how you knew me before. My name's not the Caretaker -- it is back there, but my name is actually Taiker. Kaye Taiker."

Con nodded quickly, and opened this door.