IC: Whispers of the Past Chpt 2: The Dawning [m]

[Wattz]

Time: Tuesday, Late Evening
Date: Hospital

Duke had thrown himself out of bed the moment the nurse left. He found his clothes next to his bedside and got dressed, wincing in pain with every movement, but he knew better than to stay here. He had no insurance, and was sure that they had already called his emergency contact.

The last thing he needed was to see Addie again.

He made his way into the hallway with care, being quick to move forward rather than waste time. Duke thought about finding Bao, but he remembered the look in her eyes, the nails digging into his skin, then wondered if it was really worth it at this point. He’d left her behind many times before, always winding up right next to her again. Duke didn’t know if he was willing to go through this psychotic breakdown with her. With any luck, the bullshit would pass within a few days.

But luck was not on his side, for right down the hallway he saw his ex-wife walking down the hallway with a nurse. Her fried-blonde hair and her stiff gait were impossible to miss. Duke turned abruptly with a group of people getting into an elevator. He kept to the back of the crowd, but didn’t realize the elevator was going up instead of down. Any distance was needed. Any distance at all.

It took all of his willpower to not push himself out to the front of the elevator, though his hands shook violently with the need to remove himself from the stuffy crowd. Had she seen him? Was her hand moving to point? Did she mouth his name? Duke’s paranoia left his heart beating strong in his chest, so much that he was sure he’d have a heart attack. Finally out of the elevator, he made his way down the hallway, searching for a sign marked with stairs. Instead, he heard the sound of three voices, one of which was familiar.

Looking around the corner, he saw Bao standing with three men in suits and that one guy from the docks….

Duke flung himself inside of a storage closet.

* * *

Bao had to stop herself from itching her arms. She had felt a furious pain in her arms again when she lied to that Erebus fellow, but luckily he’d left to go find that Trixi woman. Even now, she still felt the itch, remembering the strange spikes that came up out of her skin when she’d told her lies, but thankfully this seemed to have subsided for the moment. Itching right now would have made her look guilty in front of these three lackies of Erebus’s. Composure was everything in crafting a good lie.

But even more crucial at this moment was the fact that she saw Duke disappeared just as quickly as she'd seen him, a good long distance down the hallway. Hopefully no one else had seen him.

She smiled at the three men, shrugging her shoulders. She quickly rubbed her arms together to help relieve some of the itch. “Guess we’ll have to wait, then? How long do you think this will take?”

[Kris]

Date: Tuesday
Time: Evening
Location: hospital

"Probably your lucky day", Erebus taunted back, without a hint of a smile on his face, or even a slight amusement sounds in his voice. He glared at Wes, and then back at Bao, with cold icy glare, "I got my eyes on you", he announced.

Marking for the three officers to follow him, Bao realized that the Inspector was called elsewhere...


****************

Few Hours later

****************


Date: Wednesday
Time: 01:30 AM
Location: Outskirts of town, crime site






"So... what do we have here?"

Inspector Erebus Smith felt the rough cold of the night hitting against his sunken cheeks. He seemed to be much more bothered by it, than by the mark engraved on the floor, symbolizing the location of a found dead body, or by the heavy red and blue lights coming forth from the police's cars and the ambulances.

"... I was called just few hours ago to find an escapee by the name of Jefferson Wayles, and there you have him, dead body and all... How convenient... poor Jeff", The sarcasm in Erebus's voice was clear as day light, "What happened?"

"We got an eye-witness, saying she saw two women, one of them Asian looking, driving off with the guy...".

"That's not answering my question... What happened? I was sent to find a run-away, not a body... Speaking of which, where is the body"

"In the lab for an autopsy..."

"Well... you were quick about it... What? no need for formal files or anything of the like?", Erebus chuckled, "Not that I can blame his mother if she want to abuse his body after death... considering his records...-"

"Inspector..."

"-I heard he punchered her lung-.... What?"

"Okay, look, we know it's not the normal procedure to wrap things up so quickly but..."

"But...?"

The paramedic sighed, "The blood in the scene was unnatural..."

"Oh?"

"It was all over... As if he was torn to shards in several different places..."

"Yeah, murders tends to get messy..."

"NO!", the paramedic cried, and Erebus saw the terror in his eyes.

"Calm down! deep breaths!".

The paramedic sighed once again.

"What happened there, Thomas?".

There was a long pause before the paramedic spoke again, "It's a top classified issue, Inspector. I'm not sure they want you on this case or not...".

"Tell me!"

Another pause.

"Tell me now Thomas!", Erebus gripped the young's man shoulder tightly. There was a faint glow in the cold eyes that sought answers, "Tell me...".

Thomas dropped his hands to both sides, feeling the pressure under his shoulder, unable to look away from the Inspector's eyes, "The body... was intact...".

Erebus titled his head in a surprise, "What do you mean?"

"Just that... The body was found in a perfect shape... no cuts... nothing... As if he was sleeping...", another long pause, "Not just that... The blood doesn't match... yet... it is him... How the hell can another person look so much like him?!".

"So you are actually running a DNA test?"

The paramedic nodded.

Erebus let go of the young man, "Okay then... good job...", he turned around and started to walk for the dark road ahead, "Try to find those two women that were with him... Maybe they know something..."

"Hey! Where are you going?", cried Thomas after him, "Hey!".



***


This was very frustrating... All that Erebus could do was wonder around and try to set his thoughts back on track.

But there were just too many strange events going on...

Walking ahead, as if pulled by some magical force... the Inspector wandered into the night...

Maybe hoping to find some answers in the darkness?

[Koti~]

Location: A back road from the city
Time: 2 am
Crow seemed to materialize from out of nowhere, his smile set and demented. His clothes were still dark, silent as the night around him as though he had been cut from the inky black and given the face of a human. A pair of red eyes glowed as Caloc alighted on his shoulders, following the walking man as he pulled away from the grove of trees. A dagger slid out of his cloak and appeared in his hands and followed him

“Good morning… inspector.” Crow whispered as he had caught up with the man, his voice echoing oddly in the darkness. The man turned around, a quick flash of something crossing his face but remaining calm. Crow chuckled at this and backed up a bit, his smile still rather dark.

“Ah, a bit jumpy, aren’t you. It’s not like I had planned anything” Crow said, twirling the dagger in his hand. He chuckled some as the man’s hand traveled towards his belt

“State your name!” The man shouted out, drawing his pistol though keeping it pointed at the ground. Crow spoke not a word and advanced forward, seeming to glide across the ground.

“That isn’t needed sir, other than… you are something.. I need. But for now… sleep…” Crow said, speaking a few quick words as the mans eyes rolled back up into his head. Crow snickered and plucked the gun up and stored it into his pocket. Pulling a rope out of his pocket he tied the man up, chuckling some as he lifted him up. The duplicate body he had left at the lake had worked wonders.

“Come on Caloc… time to go. We have some work to do.” He chuckled as three corpse like bodies rose from the woods to carry off the man into the darkness, Crow following along with.


Location: An alleyway in the city
Time: Wednesday Morning 2:45 am

Heavy footsteps headed after him, and he did nothing to adjust his pace, keeping an easy gate. An arm grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him forcibly, though nothing came of it. The man glanced in fear at the pure black cobra now wrapping itself around his waist. Crow stepped out of the man’s reach carefully, keeping his free hand wrapped around the kids soulless body, his thin fingers holding the girl lightly by her shoulders.

“Ba…bastard! What did you do to her, and why do you want my Eileen!” The girl’s father bellowed in rage, the snake’s steel like flesh and scales keeping him from racing forward and slugging the old looking man in front of him. Crow smiled and bent down, whispering something into the girls ear, and sent her off with a reassuring pat on the head, still smilling as he advanced towards the man.

“Wait, Eileen, don’t lea-!” His voice stopped short as a dagger was now pressed against his jugglar, making him shake more. His arms bound by the rather large and unnatural snake and the strange man staring at him made him shake worse than a leaf in a thunderstorm

“Fear not good sir, your daughter… has been chosen for a very specific purpose. She will help bring a very important man to this place and time. She has. .. I mean, had a very bright soul, and she is still a virgin, which is rather hard to find now a-days. So as you can see, my pickings are quite”

“You sick fuck! What the hell do you plan to do to her you damn pedofile! I won’t let you get away with this! The cops will find and drag your ass off to!” Once again the man’s voice was silenced, but this time by the pressure of fangs against his neck. Crow just snickered at the man.

“You think your primitive police force will be able to do anything against me? I have done deeds that would make a grown man like you weak in the knees. And don’t worry, your daughter will be kept fine as I carve her body very carefully. Just be lucky you only had one child, or I might have taken them both.” Crow smiled at the man, watching as the man’s face twisted into a mix of white and red, from fear and rage. He began to struggle in vein against the snake holding him in place. Just before it struck, Crow held up a hand, causing the mutant snake to vanish back into a steel pipe, falling to the floor as the man charged forward.

“Zeual Ete Repizo levet!” Crow whispered as he made a small cut on his palm. The blood instantly boiled rapidly as shadows seemed to twist around it. The man, not even paying attention raised his fist to strike. He hurled what would be a near jaw breaking punch, was stopped mere inches from Crow’s nose, his entire body shaking as shadow like tendrils extended from his hand and entwined around the man, rendering him weak and sick as a two day old pup. Crow pulled out a dagger and a three vials from his pocket, smiling evilly.

“What….what are you!!” The man howled silently in pain as the dagger sunk into his flesh, a tunnel syphoning blood into a vial. Crow completed this three more times, filling the vials and leaving the dagger in for the third time, allowing the man’s blood to trickle out slowly onto the ground.

“I .. am what people fear most. As well, your blood will be quite useful to have around, so I’ll borrow some. And for you …. Well, it would be a shame to leave you just lying here. Eletenra Selvato Esuta” Crow whispered, twisting the dagger sharply while yanking it out of his body. The man fell backwards into a pile, blood pooling as his visage slowly changed to that of a man meant to be dead. Crow smiled at the near perfect image of Erebus, with three rather large stab wounds in his chest. Crow walked off, corking the vials and following after the girl.

Elsewhere-

A black king cobra slithered through the grass, the morning sun glinting off the rather odd Z on its back as it crept up to the house of Kant, it’s black eyes staring with the desire to main and infect, destroy and …

…FEED…

[Mysteria]

Wednesday Morning.
Lina's House.


With Zack now gone, Lina began her morning. She'd kissed the doctor goodbye and watched as he wheeled his car out of the drive. As she began to dress, first having poured a second cup of coffee, she flipped her phone on and saw the text message come in.

"Gotta see you, I'm worried about stuff" It was Cherri. Lina slipped her jeans on, and tossed a sweater over her head and with her blue tooth on dialed her best friends number, waiting for Cherri to answer. When she heard Cherri's voice she immediately grew concerned.

"Cherri, what's going on, what's wrong?"

"LINA!", was the first thing Cherilyn uttered when she heard her best friend. There was great pause of silence, before she continued, "You are well, right? No one...tried to hurt you or anything last night, right?", and before Lina could add something, Cherilyn said, "I got this... weird phone call the other day... And... dunno... It got me worried...."

"Cherri, calm down!" Lina exclaimed through the phone. "I'm fine." There was a pause as Lina tried to find the words to speak next. Cherri was obviously already upset, Lina would wait to tell her what all was happening when she saw her so she said in a very calm voice "Some stranger was bothering Zack and I, but it's okay." Her voice softened then as she flipped on the morning news.

"Now why don't you just calm down and we can meet up and talk about this, okay?"

Stranger was bothering Lina... Not good..

"Sure", Cherilyn said slowly, trying to hide her fear, "Listen, there's been strange report in the news, something about some even going on near your place, I dunno why, but I kinda want to go there.... maybe you'd like to snap some pictures there? I'll meet you up near the edges of town".

"Strange reports in the news?" Lina said, turning to mute button off so she might catch any breaking news. Just then a murder near her house was being talked about on the news.

"Sure Cherri, I'll meet you at the corner of Roswell and Vine in about thirty minutes."

Lina went into her bedroom, coffee cup in hand and flipped the tv on, still listening for the latest development as she brushed her hair out. She pulled a long skirt out of her closet and a warm sweater, dressing quickly and pulling on a pair of knee high leather boots.

Stopping only long enough to feed the animals as they rubbed around her ankles, then grab her camera she headed out the door pulling it shut behind her and making certain to lock it. As Roswell and Vine was only two blocks over, Lina decided to walk since it was nice out and see what she could capture on film. As she near the corner where the murder had happened she felt unusually odd as though someone or something were watching her. She even thought she heard the sound of a crow and she looked around half expecting to see the eerie red eyed crow she had seen before.

There was no crow yet Lina couldn't shake the feeling that she were being watched despite there were several people on the street, all apparently going to look at the same thing she was meeting Cherri for.

“Curse those fou *hic~*” Alex swore before he leaned against the wall, his head spinning as though the world had been turned on end. An angry scowl crossed his face as he pushed off the nearby wall and continued to stumble around. He had found a bar near his loves house, and learning that he could make a contract for repayment later, he had bribed the man into allowing a man by Zachary to repay the debt. He smirked at his supposed victory

“That’ll teach that sodden bastard~” Alex slurred while stumbling onwards, his goal to be Lina’s house. After that man had closed the curtains in the house, he had wandered off, unable to do anything as breaking in would scare the girl… his girl!

“Curse you to all damnations of the 7^th hells!” Alex shouted into the air, startling a group out of their rather leisurely stroll. He looked at the couple with venom in his drunken stupor, his mind hazily recalling that day, the one where he…

“Lina!” Alex said loudly, though the woman barely had reacted. She was alone! No Zachary, or whatever that damn puppet of that bastard was named. To him, she seemed distracted and followed her at a pace, keeping her in sight while hiding behind nearby objects. He trailed her, his mind trying to think of ways to approach her. If he didn’t do something soon, he might lose her, and permanently lose her.

“No, I cannot`… Lina!” Alex lurched out into the open as they neared a corner, joining the flow of a rather large group. He lurched forward and soon closed the distance, using the flow of the crowd to get close to her.

“Rosaline, please don’t leave me!” Alex said, his hand grabbing her roughly by the shoulder as he stumbled, his mind heading back to the day he had promised his life to her.

…The Past…

“Alexander, please don’t return to that fight” Rosaline begged him, pulling on the sleeve of his tunic. Smiling, he pulled her into a reassign hug and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. He tousled her hair happily

“Don’t worry, I would never leave you. Please, my love. I shall retu…” His voice was silenced as Rosaline kissed him, a bit of worry in her eyes. He sighed and hugged her again, the cold of his metal pressing against her bosom as they held each other together. She was pleading again, and he held her, to let her whisper and beg.


“Shh, my sweet Rosa, I will return safe. I will make you a promise. When I come back, I will make you my bride. No matter where I go, I will always be in your heart.” Alexander said, kissing her gently on the lips as she smiled wide at him. He patted her head and adjusted his weapon on his side. With another kiss to the lips, he left her resting in bed, a smile on her face, and worry in her eyes



“Please, remember. I know you can” He forced out, pulling her closer, as one who pulls a lover in.
~~


“You may now kiss the bride” Alex happily followed suit, sweeping her into a full embraced kiss as the gathering cheered in this happy moment. He had finally returned from the war front, and was dressed in the best of finery they could afford, though Rosaline was a different story. Dressed in silk white, she was the picture of perfection to him. The soft pearls rested against the skin of her neckline, leading to a well hidden, yet still shown cleavage. He smiled as he sat her down, kissing her along the way as his hand lifted up the hem of her shirt; his rough and calloused fingers brushing along her skin as the others looked on in joy. He found the hem of her garter, then continued to run upwards to brush against the cottony undergarments, resulting in a chiding from her end. He pulled back his hand and slipped the garter off her legs and pulled it off. Pulling it down and showcased it to the cheering crowds of their close friends and family as they smiled happily.

He smiled at her, feeling like the happiest man alive.

~~
“I don’t want to lose you to him”
~~

“I won’t!” She screamed at him, tears crossing her face. She pounded against his armored chest, though he did nothing to stop it. He only comforted her.

“Please, you must know. I know you don’t want to, but…we have little chance of winning in the long run. With that bastard of a warlock Crow and that tormentor Zackary please, just go with this plan… I will find you again, and we will be together. Just.. stay safe.” He spoke softly with her, kissing her on the forehead as he led her to the bed before placing her on it. Kissing her softly, he left the room, closing and locking it as she tried to follow. He leaned against the door and listened to her sob, though he knew this was right. He loved her, and no one would harm her, even if it meant sending her to the future.
~~

“Please, remember…” Alex finished, pulling her in more.

Lina fidgeted her hands in front of her as she walked towards the designated spot where she was to meet Cherri. The feeling that she was being watched lingered and Lina would find out why when she neared the corner that she needed to turn down when she felt a hand wrapping around her shoulder and she spun to face the voice that had just called her name. When the man came into view Lina cowered back, recoiling from him but his grasp remained upon her.

Lina gasped as something she could only describe as a movie reel began to play out in front of her eyes. A movie reel where the stars appeared to be her and the stranger flitted in front of her eyes in black and white. And although the man was certainly a stranger to the petite young woman, his touch upon her skin did not feel strange. The reel seemed to play in slow motion in front of her eyes, each frame presenting itself and reaching into the deep recesses of her mind. The events that she saw felt familiar to her despite the fact that she'd never seen the man before the other day. They felt almost as familiar to her as his touch upon her shoulder did.

The brunette froze, her mouth had opened to scream but nothing came out. She stood staring at him, unable to move, to speak, to do anything but watch as visions of her and him flashed through her mind. Just like the last vision, once again she saw herself in his arms only this time she was crying and he appeared to be dressed in some strange clothing prepared for war. Lina took a step back but did not pull away from him. Her emerald eyes scanned him rather curiously. She didn't feel fear of him but she was so confused she didn't think that she could possibly be thinking straight either.

"Who are you?" Lina demanded of him rather strongly and then she remembered that this stranger had just used a name very similar to the doctor, and her lover, Zack. Her voice softened then as she tilted her head "I don't...." her voice faltered as she hesitated for the briefest of moments "You...how do I know you?" Lina hadn't said do I know you. She'd asked how she knew him because she was certain that at some level this man was someone that she should know, she just couldn't remember. She only knew that he was one of the few people who had come in contact with her ski, that hadn't made her feel ill. Her eyes darted back and forth "I...I don't understand."

“That’s right, you do know me. We were married, in the past. That is where you came from, our past. The war is over, but even now the enemy still moves on. Please, I cannot lose you. I know you can see our memories; you have the power to do so. It might have been pushed down since the warp, but still, you can remember. Please…. Maybe this will help.” With that, he pulled her close.

His lips pressed against hers as he pulled her in. Strong alcohol after taste was present at first, but soon passed by as he relaxed against her.

"Married..." Lina began to pull away from him as her mind flooded with the words he was saying. "Past...war...power...warp.." She wanted to scream at him to shut up. She needed time to think about what was happening but she did not receive that time. Instead the man who she now smelled alcohol on pulled her to him and his lips found hers. Despite the alcohol taste, something felt very familiar to her and for a split second she didn't resist then suddenly she pulled back away from him.

Her head began to shake back and forth as her body visibly began to tremble.

"I...I don't know you." Her words did little to convince herself that they were even true but she spat them out as she looked around the crowd for a friendly face but found none.

"Rosa" He'd called her Rosa. Her name was Rosaline, her friends called her Lina but even hearing him say the name Rosa had felt familiar to her. Too much about this stranger felt familiar to her and she began to become confused.

She started to plead with the stranger then "Please, just leave me alone..please.."

"HEY!", Cherilyn has popped up right from around the corner, seeing her friend looking so upset and unsettled was more than enough to make her realize that something was wrong. She gazed at Alex, "What's going on?"


Lina heard Cherri’s voice in a fog and felt herself being pulled away from the man. Lina’s eyes moved from Cherri back to the man and a lump rose in her throat in a moment of some type of recognition.

“Alexander?” Lina had barely said the word above a whisper, but it was enough that the stranger would realize that Lina was beginning to remember.

[Setsa]

Time: Wednesday Morning- 7am
Where: Trista's House


*Whine whine ...pant pant pant pant. Lick * Thor was laying on the right of Trixi in her bed trying to wake up his mistress. Maxum sniffing at her ear before lashing out a few wet licks of his own. "Mmmnh....nnnn.... Alright alright boys I'm up I'm up." The woman had a headache soon as she sat up with a fair but not great memory of having quite a few drinks at the pub last night and a good neighbor who happened to be there. Drive her home and hand her the keys to the suv after she go inside and went off to his own house. Thank god for good neighbors was all she could think about, making a mental note to bake up some banana nut bread for him and his sweet wife as a thank you.

Looking into the mirror at the site of herself with hair all over from tossing and turning. She pressed palm to temple letting out a small groan. "Erebus or not I'm not drinking like that again unless its worth celebrating with others." After letting the dogs outside to do their business and stepping into the steaming hot shower to get ready for a day at work. Her cell phone went unnoticed as the little red light continued to flash with a new voicemail stored inside. It wasn't until after she was fully dressed in uniform that she flipped open the phone and while taking some extra strength pain killers; seeing it was from Erebus's cellphone she listened to what she missed while sleeping the scotch off.

" Trixi?... It's... It's Su, oh god...I, I know this is the Inspector's phone... " There was a pause where all she could hear was whimpering. Something not like her at all which raised a high level of concern for the deputy. Su's voice was so high pitched and shaky she had to listen hard to make sure she caught every word.

"He....in the alley.. I was just walking on my own business I SWEAR! He came...he wouldn't stop! I kept screaming! Then..I had to Trixi! I took from...holster and...and..." The woman just sprayed out the last of her water all over her kitchen sink when the last few words were heard. "He's dead Trixi! Dead! Oh god p-leease help..help me! You know me... I wouldn't do such a thing!!"

.............click................"End of message if you would like to.."

Trixi closed her phone, her eyes as wide as a deer in headlights as she tried to make sense of what Su was saying. The inspector dead? Advancing at Su Lin without stopping?! Something was wrong...very wrong... Whistling sharply for the dogs as she fastened her on duty officer belt on. Her cellphone rang soon as she closed the back up with two very excited dogs inside. "Deputy here... Yes sir...is he really?.... Right I'm on my way.... No, no I'll talk to Su today...yea..bye." Flipping the sirens on the police suv Trixi floored the pedal as they raced off. Hoping as she made tight turns around corners that she'd get to least hit that dammed red eyed bird that been freaking people out. "This all just blew into high hell was all she could think of to describe the last 24 hours!!"

Speeding past the hospital she shaked her head back to sane-ville. Wanting to talk to Wes about all that just happened after this as he seemed the only one man that made her feel herself the past few days. By the time the vehicle pulled into her parking space at the Sheriff's office; the dogs were barking up a storm. Beco ming their own siren for those who may think of doing bad things within ear shot. Walking at a very brisk pace down to the south wing of the building where the crime lab and autopsy were at. There was still a glimmer of hope within her...if the past few days showed her anything. It was that she could somehow heal others if he was still alive...even a slivver...maybe..just maybe she could.

The doors quietly slid open to allow her inside after relaying a hand signal to her two best dogs to stay back. Not needing a liver going missing or dog hair to taint any evidence, this was one place they were rarely allowed. An older man, in his 50's with almost a full head of grey turned to notice who had just entered. Seeing her eyes somewhat still bloodshot, and rapid breathing from those lips and hair tie holding her tight braid not of regulation... He was one of details and knew that she was in a hurry this morning..and that she knew... "Trixi..." embracing her in a tight hug before letting go with a soft nod. "Erik....is he?'.." The older man gave another nod, taking her arm to link around his as he led her down to the autopsy room, waving his assistant to stay behind and keep to what they were doing before hand. A dear friend of her parents he was an uncle to her and treasured as such for his wisdom and compassion towards the woman.

Walking into the autopsy room there were several bodies covered in medical sheets. Going to the one furthest to the left the man took a deep breath before pulling back the covers. Revealing a man who appeared to be Erebus with three stab wounds to the chest. Dead. "Oh god....oh god...." Not wasting any time she touched his now cleaned up chest and closed her eyes for a moment finding that same feeling of warmth and powered glow that she had the past few times. Wanting to heal him she now searched for his body's heart beat...pulse..anything she could link too but...nothing... Dead, dark, cold to the bone was all she got back in return.

"Come on....fight dam you....give me something!!" Trixi said as her voice started to shake, tears welling up as she looked at the motionless body for any sign of life. "Trixi dear....he's dead...what are you trying to do hun?" "I....I can heal...I've done it several times the past few days.... I thought if he was still here by a strand maybe I could..." Her hands were glowing on his chest but nothing happened still, slowly the man beside her took her hands into his to stop it. Feeling the rush of warmth channeling from her to him briefly. "By the gods....Trixi you...its miraculous but..he's still..." "Yeah, yeah I know, but I just had to try." Understanding as he has seen many deaths laid out on this table before, far more than her with the lapse of age. "Come now...this isn't the end...you two ended years ago so its no more a loss than just a friend's yes?" Trixi gave a nod as they started walking out. "We'll get to the bottom of this, he was a good investigator no matter how much of an asshole he could be at times." Such made her smile and perk up a bit, by the time they were back at the crime lab sector her tears were gone and looking much more like herself.

The Dr's assistant was however confused by all means... "Dr. Erik?....It's not him....the blood is..it's not his..."

[Storm]

Location: Outside Kant's Residence
Time: Wednesday, Dawn

Having awakened Su and explaining altered details on what had transpired, waited for Su to change into a white one piece pleather jumpsuit which zips up front highlighting her tan complexion and drove to Kant's residence parking across the street.

Still making small talk, Su softly giggles "I so feel like a stalker, you know..."

Gail offers her a reassuring smile "I know hun, but this is a necessary stalking if what I fear may be true."

Suddenly Gail becomes attentive as Su's face winces in pain as her stomach knots up as the King Cobra slithers across Kant's lawn. Gail lets out a sorrowful sounding
"We may be too late.." her eyes focused on the Cobra "...it seems that snake may harm or kill young Kant before we can call for help."

With Gail's words drifting through Su, her eyes already radiate a deep blue while she calmly opens the passenger door, in a low growling almost hiss, Su Lin spits out
"The ... HELL it will!"

Immediately Su extends her hand in the direction of the Cobra, the dew upon the ground in the path of the snake crackling as the molecular structure of the dew forms into razor sharp shards of ice while also concentrating heavily upon the naturally occurring static electrical partials around the ice accelerating and intensifying the electrical charge about the ice shards.

Zetro had spent most of the morning hunting down the boy he had been sent to take out, the slowly rising sun glinting of the pitch black snake. Suddenly his tongue flicked out of his mouth at the taste of magic. Something had disturbed the air as black globs raised in the air in front of him, giving off a few sparks of white. He hissed a bit and raised up some, longer than most other snakes his own size. Zetro bared its ebony fangs while turning to face the woman who had halted its progress. It was perplexed as it remembered the girl. It was the woman who had been the one who had owned Zetro when it was a sword. Baring fangs and eyes narrowing to slits, it raised itself off the ground to a high range, coming just at the range of the woman's chest and venom dripping from its fangs

An ethereal hiss rippled out of its mouth as it slithered closer, body swaying hypnotically. Though ordered to hunt down and harm the boy, it had no orders on what to do when stopped or threaten, and it decided on the one course that was natural and instinctual.

Attack.

Lunging forward from its position, ready to strike the girl along the neck or any sensitive area it could strike.

"Su-Lin!", Kant screamed, watching the giant... monster snake like, aiming for the woman, "Look out!".

Su Lin focusing upon Zetro as it slithers extends her free hand toward the lethal serpent. The atmospheric conditions surrounding Zetro compress tightly so as to restrict or at least limit movement as the beast strikes, the venom dripping from its ivory fangs seem to crackle forming ice particles as the temperature surrounding it drops. Su's eyes radiating a brilliant blue remain focused upon the Cobra while moving her other hand where the swirling electrically charged razor sharp ice shards continue to grow in mass and intensity in the direction of the Cobra causing the electrified ice cyclone drift toward Zetro. A snarl escapes her lips as she spits out as a stream of blood trickles down her nose
"Bite this!"

Having taken sight of Kant, Gail had already exited the car and was moving quickly to place herself between Kant and Su while calling to him in an effort to have him focus more on her.
"Young Kant, take cover... I think that thing may be moving away..."
A combined expression of pleasure and sorrow on her face. The closest thing she has to a daughter is displaying more power than she could have imagined, but what price will Su pay if she guides her to that vile creature whom visited that eve.

Zetro’s head snapped to the side as Kant appeared and Gail had moved forward to protect the boy. The air pressed on him and turned frigid, which made him focus back on the woman who was fighting. Anger flooded its eyes as the girl trying to fight him. Raising to its full 6ft of height, it raised its head and its entire body began to shake. Letting out an unearthly howl, that seemed to turn the world silent, the wind and frost pressing on Zetro suddenly vanished. In a flash, it had closed the gap between it and Su, wrapping along her arm until its eyes were level with hers.

“What a brave girl, such… intent to kill… what if.. it were turned elsewhere?” Zetro spoke just to her, sounding like a series of guttural hisses to anyone else. It flexed its muscles and soon her arm began to slowly move, heading slowly towards Gail and Kant, the sound, and her magic, returning slowly as its pause spell had ended.

"What the hell is that?!", Kant said asking Gail, "And...", looking at Su he added, "How can she do that?"

As the sun continues to rise over the horizon casting a gentle light onto the new day, Su focuses upon the serpent inching itself and her closer toward Gail and .... Kant. Drained from expending so much energy, she drops to her knees, the brilliant blue radiance of her eyes dulling as she whispers in soft gasps to the Cobra while trying to catch her breath.
"Spare him .... and I shall belong to you...".

With her words spoken and the flow of blood increasing, her vision grays as she crumples to the ground, eyes returning to a soft chocolate brown.

As the Cobra continues toward Gail and Kant, she looks toward him speaking more for the Cobra's benefit
"Young Kant, there are many things around nature in plain sight yet not seen by others..." while removing a small piece of the sheath from the sword which Zetro formed from "... Su is one of those whom shall only grow stronger, she needs you, can you be strong for her?"

Still looking now more at the sheath fragment, she softly whispers to the sheath. Having practiced white magic her entire life, to understand white magic, she also knew of darkness. Gail continues to chant a black voodoo binding spell to the sheath being it was a part of how Zetro was formed on the premise that no matter the power the Cobra had, the binding spell should for the moment control the beast. As she completes the voodoo bind, she firmly looks upon the Cobra ordering
"Now release the girl and return to your master..."

Zetro snarled at the woman as it was held in place, if not only slightly. It was magic, and though weak, is was enough to stop. Realizing that with the girl passed out, and Gail protecting Kant. It would be a mess. Hissing again at Gail, zetro slithered off, coiling the length of his body before heading back into the tall grass, one sharp glance at the lot of them before he all but vanished in the undergrowth.

Kant fall on his knees beside Su. Truthfully, he just wanted to know what was going on... or more to say get the hell out of it. He wasn't sure he was going to stay for anyone sake but he still leaned down and pet the woman's face, "Are... Are you...", his hands shivered all over her cheeks, "Are... you... all right?", he kept panting, some part within him worried, the other paralyzed by fear.

As Kant was leaning over Su, Gail slowly replaced the small sheath piece back in the slit of her jacket focusing toward where the Cobra slithered off. In a motherly yet firm tone, she glances down upon Kant and Su
"She saved your life young Kant..."

Su's chocolate brown eyes slowly open gazing up toward Kant not quite processing Gail's words. His touch warm upon her chilled cheeks as a soft smile forms across her lips. The blood flow from her nose reduced to but a trickle as she softly gasps out
"You are okay? ... You are ... all ... that ... matt...." before slipping into a mild and restless unconsciousness.

As Su slips into a sleep, Gail continues in a soft and motherly tone
"I feel you may have a desire to flee young Kant. That you may, yet you shall only be fleeing into what destiny had originally in store for you. One can not hide from our fates, only change what it has written for you."

Gail takes a step back watching the youth upon the morning grass as the sun continues to rise into the new morning skyline. She will let the words entwine with the young man's mind.

"I have no idea what you are saying...", Kant shock his head not before raising the body of Su and carrying her up, "But I'll be damned before I will let anyone who tried to protect me to be kept like this".

Which was true to him in so many levels. He had little to no idea what was going hell. Fate?! what the hell what this crazy woman talking about? By lifting the body of the beautiful woman known as Su, Kant agreed to help, even if he knew deep inside he wasn't ready yet to anything else aside of that. He would at least do that.

"Let's carry her back...", he nodded, "You can update me once we are at her place".

With that said, Gail reaches on her pocket removing her keys and remotely unlocks the car.
"If you can lift her into me car young Kant"
all the while studying the young man for some small trinket she may be able to obtain from him. All her life she had sworn she would never dabble in the dark arts yet with the small taste of dark magic, she is filled with more of a sense of power she had ever felt. Her thoughts drift on how she could place young Kant under her spell so as to better control Su Lin. Gail opens the passenger side door waiting for Kant to place Su in the car so as to take the opportunity to remove a small possession while he focuses upon safely fastening Su's seat belt. Her tone soft and motherly
"Please do get in too, I shall fix us some tea when we arrive at Su's place, we do have much to discuss young Kant."

[Kris]

Date: Wednesday Morning.
Location: Around the corner from the crime scene.


"You okay, Lina?", Cherilyn asked, looking back and forth from her friend to the new guy. Cherilyn made sure there was a safe distance before she asked Lina again, "Do you know him?".

It looked like he wasn't familiar to her, but on the same time, did she happen to hear Lina calling him by his name? And did he so happen to turn around, even slightly, to approve this?

Lina looked from Cheri back to Alexander and then back to Cheri shaking her head slowly.

"I...I'm not..no...I...I'm not sure." Lina moved closer to Cheri and further away from the stranger but her gaze continued to fall upon him as she said the name again questioningly "Alexander?"

Lina felt rather light headed and grabbed onto Cheri to steady herself, almost becoming more light headed when she touched her friend. She was still staring at the man she saw in her vision "Do I..." She shook her head no firmly then adding "Who are you?"

Lina didn't know who this man was or how she knew him but undeniably his touch was familiar to her and she instinctively knew that she knew him despite not knowing how or even when.

"Let's go... Lina", Cherilyn said, trying to push her friend away from that man, whoever he was. Maybe some walking will do better for them both. Once she made sure the man was keeping his distance away from the two, they started to leave slowly.

"I'm sorry... about what happened", Cherilyn kept looking back, making sure they were not followed, "I hope you are alright?"

Lina began to walk away although she felt a slight bit of reluctance inside of herself to do so. She repeated the name "Alexander" one more time although she still wasn't certain what, if any signifigance the name held to her. Her gaze returned to Cheri's then "I'm fine I'm just..I don't know..." She said the words, giving her friends hand a squeeze but holding onto her arm for a minute.

As she did, she got an uneasy feeling in her stomach, not the same sick feeling as when she'd touched others before, but a slightly quezy feeling as a flash of a woman who she could have sworn was Cheri, only dressed differently in something that looked like what was it...Lina couldn't put her finger on it. A doctors coat, or lab coat or...something simliar but with a very different look to it. Not white like most coats were, but of a much heavier material and much darker.

Quickly withdrawing her hand she looked at Cheri again, certain that this was the same woman she'd just seen in her vision mere moments before, but she said nothing about it but rather instead offered "Cher, let's get there and get the photo's taken. Then maybe you can walk home with me for some coffee?" Her gaze lingered on her friends face then, her tone turning serious but her eyes having a very distant look in them as she finished "We need to talk..."

"Okay, let us go".


***


Date: Wednesday Morning.
Location: crime scene.


They arrived at the crime scene soon after. Not much was left aside of the "Keep back" yellow strips that the police have hanged around and some officers lurking around. Although it was a small town, Cherilyn was still surprised at the fact that a crime scene hadn't drawn much more attention to it.

Cherilyn told Lina almost everything about her stalker, aside of the fact that he mentioned Lina. Lina had much on her mind already, there was no need to make her even more worried.

"So this guy... for some reason or another... knows my name and this-", Cherilyn withdrew her necklace for Lina to gaze upon, before stuffing it under her shirt again, "Which was rather weird...". And scary... but better for Lina to not realize how scared Cherilyn really was. There was no need to make Lina more worried, especially after seeing that weird guy that grabbed her and wanted her to recall of his name.

She turned to look at Lina who snapped some shots as they talked, waiting for her to say more.

Lina worked through taking pictures that her editor possibly might need, but her mind continued to return to the stranger, Alexander, and to Cheri's story about this other male had suddenly burst into Cheri's life, rather unwanted as he was.

Lina hurried through the shots that she thought would serve their needs best, then said to Cheri again "We need to talk." She reached out and grabbed Cheri's arm, turning her away from the crime scene and back in the direction of her home. Lina appeared rather nervous, looking around and half expecting to see Alexander again.

"Cheri, let's just get back to my place, we can talk then okay? I don't have a good feeling about talking about it...here."

"Let us go back to your house, then", Cherilyn agreed.


***


Date: Wednesday Morning.
Location: Lina's place.


The two women spoke little as they quickly made their way back to Lina's house, Lina often looking over her shoulder half expecting to see someone following them. Things in Kingsport were getting stranger by the moment and Lina was happy to turn the key in the front door.

As soon as they entered the house, Lina offered "How's about I make some coffee first, and then we can go see what the film has captured, okay?" Lina could use digital photography and often times did, but she enjoyed the dark room and developing the pictures, sometimes finding things in the film quicker than she did while viewing pictures.

Moments later, Lina was pouring coffee for both women, taking a seat beside Cheri. "We have got a LOT to discuss."

[The Imposter]

Time: Tuesday, Evening
Location: Hospital

Bao kept her smile on until Erebus and his officers left. She slouched, then covered her face with one hand. "I can't believe our luck," she murmured to Wes. Before she could say anything else, a door burst open at the end of the hallway, and Duke came stumbling out.

They looked at each other for a full minute, an awkward silence filling the area. The silence was broke by Wes, who sighed heavily in relief as the whole sequence of events processed in his strained mind.

'Luck? Yeah, someone has a horseshoe up their arse for sure. Looks like Duke is alright...'

Wes motioned him inside before turning his attention back on his son. The boy had various wires running from his head monitoring the seizures that had become more prevalent as of late. The familiarity of the sight made it no less easy for Wes to take in, his hand slowly clenched his son as if by some chance he could give part of himself to help his son. With all the strange talk of things happening and Ryan's appearances in his dreams. He couldn't help but hope that perhaps such a wishful thought might come true. However in the brevity of the seconds that passed nothing changed. Wes cleared his throat and turned to Bao and Duke.

'So, we dodged a bullet there. Duke its good to see you alive....you don't really look well though. Something up?'

Duke didn't answer. His eyes were wide with his usual anger multiplied, and his fists were balled up at his sides. The only thing keeping him from yelling out loud was the child laying on the bed, hooked up to a motley of tubes. He looked from Bao, then to Wes, then back to Bao again. She was looking down at the floor, and she still had some of his blood beneath her nails.

Bao finally said something. "We should probably leave him alone--"

"We?" Duke cut in sharp with a hiss, trying hard not to yell. He thought about Bao attacking him, about her running away with a crazed glint in her eyes. And now here she was standing in her hospital gown, acting as if nothing had happened.

He turned to Wes. He didn't expect any straight answers from Bao. "What are you two doing here?"

Wes instantly felt the hostility coming off of Duke. Realizing he had missed some event in the last several hours. He rubbed his face trying to think of some wise way to disarm the situation that was building in his sons room. The few moments that passed seemed incredibly drawn out.

'ummmm...I've been here a lot since I got bruised up. Then Ryan here had a spell at school. Actually I had just gotten out for a nice bite of real food when the damn diner blew up. Guess I'm not getting out of here for awhile. You two though definitely have something to talk about. It's all over both your faces....and to be rather blunt I would rather you work it out in a different room away from my son.'

Bao and Duke had fought in the past, but he'd never seen such grief in his sunken. His blood had only been cleaned from her fingernails a few hours ago. She wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to him alone. How many more lies could she make? Her wrists itched just thinking about it.

But Duke had made a decision. He turned around without a word, and began to walk away.

She sighed, then turned to Wes. "Good luck. To you and your son. maybe we'll see you later," she said, then began to follow Duke.

[Storm]

Location: Various
Time: Wednesday, Early Morning

A light mist covers a wide open field while a number of birds fly through the blue sky while the risen sun casts warmth upon the misty field, heavy mounted soldiers rumble across the gentle ground. The ground lightly rumbles under Su's sandaled feet who is wearing a silken white cloak highlighting her deep tan complexion while she steps out from a rich growth of trees on the opposite end of the field from the mounted soldiers.

As the commander of the thousand plus soldiers sets his eyes upon the lone woman entering the field rises a hand halting the advancing Calvary. The heavily armored leader starts in a full gallop halting yards from where Su stands alone. In a grizzly tone, the mounted soldier growls
"Do they send a mere lass to try stop us? Dear maiden, I shall bless you with a fast death, those whom sent you to die here shall curse their mothers for giving their births..."
while raising a spiked mace overhead.

Su merely lowers her hood focusing her blue radiant eyes upon the man upon the mount, her tone seemingly echoing through the calm morning air
"No m'lord, it twill not be I whom returns to the land tis morn, I only pray the souls whom mistakenly follow open eyes to what awaits..."

The armored man upon the mount's arm starts to crackle as his mace and arm freeze solid. The commanders screams of pain and terror fill the now silent air as he continues to crackle till such time he is but a solid block of ice. With a waive of her hand, air compresses around the frozen commander shattering him while small particles formerly the commander drift upon the field while his mount gallops off.

Focusing upon the thousands which seem hesitant to advance, she extends her hand in their direction encompassing the molecular structure of the mist covering the field as Gail stops in front of Su's house calling out "We're here.." stirring her from her dream.

Restlessly with her head upon Kant's chest, she gasps out "It is more clear than before" while subconsciously holding him close, her eyes a brilliant radiant blue which slowly fades as she looks around, a look on near confusion on her features realizing she is in Gail's car.

"Are you okay?", Kant asked, petting her hair. Her head was rested against his lap, and although he gazed down at her, he found it still somewhat difficult to look at her directly without feeling some kind of fear.

Gail opens the driver side door stepping out allowing the morning sun to shine fully inside the car as Su regains her realization as to where she is. As Kant's hand runs through her hair, her face blushes as she focuses her soft chocolate brown eyes upon him. All she could manage in an attempt to lighten the mood she is in and figuring Kant must be in, her tone soft "I am not a space alien..." comes out in almost a giggle recalling what the elders son had said days earlier.

Composing herself she continues in a more serious tone "I don't know anymore just what fine is. Are you freaked? I know I certainly am..."

Gail opening the back door interrupts "Let up go inside. There is much to discuss. Young Kant, I would ask you to place some faith in what I must speak to you and young Su Lin about." as she makes her way from the car expecting the two to follow.

"I will", Kant nodded.

There was a pause, deathly silence where he considered what to do next. Some part of him just wanted to get the hell out of there... forget... find... Cherilyn... and..-

His gaze have met that of Su and he swallowed hard, "I must be out of my mind", he chuckled at last before helping the girl out of the car, and then, by just urge of the moment, he lifted her up by his hands. She tried to protest, maybe out of shyness but he just hummed slowly to hush her, "Let me at least do that, I know you are not an alien... You are far greater than that", he smiled before looking at Gail, "Let's go inside, I want to hear everything".

Holding softly onto Kant's hands, Su softly closes her eyes momentarily leaning forward resting her face into his chest. As he offers her a smile, she looks up into his eyes as he offers to Gail
"Let's go inside, I want to hear everything"
while Su whispers softly
"I feel safe with you, I have a feeling I am going to need safety hearing what she has to say" as they start up the walk toward Su's house.

Gail already having opened the door, steps inside making her way toward the kitchen to put on a kettle of water. Not looking toward the door she offers in a motherly tone
"Please take a seat, young Kant... would you do what is required to see young Su grow and remain safe?" her tone trailing off somewhat eerily.

"Drop the attitude Gail", Kant said slowly, still standing and looking alerted, "I'm not prince charming or anything, I don't know how far am I willing to go, or what will be the right course for me, but for the sake of a woman who reached deep into my heart I'm willing to listen", he said as he took a deep breath, waiting for her to carry on.

Instinctly Su grasps Kant's hand leaning closer to him resting her head upon his chest. The woman who reached deep into his heart, could he be talking about her for she knows without a doubt this guy next to her makes her feel more than she has in the past. Her eyes slowly look up toward Gail who now is approaching from the kitchen. Su grips tight around Kant's hand while releasing a shocked gasp.
"Gail! What the...."

Gail continues from the kitchen with a large butcher knife, her tone low, almost ghostly
"Reached deep within your heart young Kant? You don't know how right you are young one, I promise I shant cause you pain, I shall make this quick."

Kant nodded, "Be quick then... Tell me the whole story".

Gail moves methodically toward Su and Kant whispering a soft chant to the blade of the butcher knife before casting her view upon Kant, her tone raspy
“My dear boy, there is much in this world you may not understand. The important thing now is you must allow your life to cease to that young Su may grow into what she once was from when she came.”

Su steps between Kant and Gail, her tone trembling, her eyes a radiant blue glow
“Please stop this Gail, you are frightening me, please…” while sub consciously extending her hand in Gail’s direction, bluish white arcs of static electricity snapping about Su’s hand.

"What do you mean by that?!", asked Kant, curious in his eyes. For a moment nothing stood in his way to get the answers he sought. Not even the pleading of Su.

Gail slows her pace as she lowers the blade, a soft motherly smile forms upon her lips as her tone resumes a more friendly nature
"Young Kant, know it or not, you may be the key to saving both Su and yourself."

As Gail lowers the blade, Su's eyes slowly fade back to a chocolate brown as she inquires somewhat puzzled
"Please, just what on earth are you talking about."

Already turned and heading back to the kitchen as the kettle starts to whistle, Gail speaks to the two
"Do have a seat while I prepare some tea. Young Kant, I shall explain some things though you may have more questions than I answers."

As Gail pours the boiling water into 3 fine bone china tea cups with a natural herbal tea blend, she continues
"And my dear Su, your dreams you have spoken to me of, I do not believe those are dreams but memories of a different time. The aura you have is different than those of this time. I have no explanation of how but I do not believe you are of this time. More so, I have experienced a presence that may seek your abilities for his own gain."

As she turns with the steaming cups, her tone grows softer
"Young Kant, I haven't all the answers you may seek. I do know that young Su is special and I sense she has a greater purpose in a shifting natural balance. You will either provide her strength to face what is before her..." her eyes focus straight into Kant's "...or you will be the cause of her death. If this is something you are not ready for, walk away now and forget young Su. The beast from this morning I fear is only the beginning."

Gail looks toward Su who has her arms folded across her chest and a look of utter confusion "...and my dear child, should the boy remain by your side, these powers descending upon this time will surely try and do harm to the boy so as to persuade you to their goal. The safe thing would be for you to leave town and not look back."

Gail sets the steaming cups on the table. Su looks toward Kant whispering, a tremble in her tone
"I am sorry if I have you involved in something, I don't know what she is completely talking about but what frightens me is what she said makes sense though I don't know why."

Kant found myself to be even more confused and frustrated. Gail was still making no sense and yet, "Okay... what you want me to do?"

Gail takes a seat at the front table while picking up one of the tea cups sipping delicately at the steaming tea before looking up toward Kant, her tone soft and motherly
"First young Kant, understand that I have spent my lifetime studying and practicing the natural art of white magic, some call it witch craft and I nor elders I have spoken to of this have any answers. I only ask you have an open mind." She looks toward Su who is inching closer to Kant reaching her hand to hold onto his. "When I first met Su, she had an aura about her which was not of this nature ... or if you would ... of this time. Something had drawn her to this existence. As I had gotten to know the young girl she spoke of dreams of a place of old, I could see in her eyes that what she mistook for dreams were in fact memories. There is a reason young Su is here today yet I do not know why." Gail pauses a moment to sip the herbal tea to allow her words to register. She continues shifting her eyes between Kant and Su.

"There has always been a sensation of goodness within Su. How you are associated with how she is going to grow I cannot answer that, I only know her strength increases when thinking upon you or around you. Know this though..." her tone suddenly growing colder "...there is another entity that has presented itself as of late. It has an evilness about it I have never experienced before. What reason this evil presence has I do not know however it seems to be from when Su is from. Now you ask what I want you to do? Simply understand that you seem to be a key to Su's strength. Don't ask me how, for I have been studying nature and white magic my entire life and I do not know how. All I can say with any certainty is that you seem to be a key to her strength ... or to her destruction." Gail darts her eyes between the two waiting for a response or reaction.

"You're saying there is someone after her? and that I may prove to be some sort of a key....", Kant said and a silence soon after. Su however knew what the answer was going to be by the hard squeeze of her hand given to her by the youth. He waited for her to look at him before winking and adding a soft smile, "I can't say for sure I won't run away like a coward should evil come... but I'm willing to try... Don't ask me why... I guess I'm just insane as you do Gail", he chuckled.

Su softly holds Kant's hand looking to him for a moment before casting a uncharacteristic stern gaze Gail's direction. Her tone inquisitive, almost accusatory
"This morning was not just a casual drive, was it? You KNEW that THING was there, didn't you? Be straight with me ... what on earth are you talking about!"

Gail sits across from Kant and Su, her tone unwavering and motherly
"My dears, I fear there is a power descending upon this existence no one has experienced before. Somehow I also believe you have a suppressed knowledge of what this power is. Yes, I needed to endanger the boy so as to shock your senses into drawing out what I know you are capable of. I know not how, yet I have an odd feeling that young Kant is more a key to your abilities that is apparent."

Gail commences in small talk as Su and Kant take in what she said.

[Kris]

Date: Wednesday Morning.
Location: Lina's place.


Sipping some of the coffee, with somewhat shaky hands, Cherilyn tried to find the right words to start off the conversation. She gazed around at the all so familiar house of her friend, considering what will be her next words.

"So... aside of the small fact we both have some fans knowing about us more than we do about them, and unimportant incident of murder, I believe we had a pretty usual week", Cherilyn grinned, trying to relive some of the heavy atmosphere of their coming discussion, "So... This Alex guy... who claims to know you... And this guy that called me by phone the other day... You think there may be a connection there?".

Lina rolled her eyes at her friends cynicism. "Yeah, real usual..." Lina laughed, taking a sip of her own coffee, then her tone becoming serious. "Cheri, I don't know what's going on. I don't understand, first I'm having a great week with Zach, then all of a sudden this guy shows up and the funny thing is.."

Lina forced more coffee down, giving herself time to find the words so her friend wouldn't think she had gone completely insane "The funny thing is..I feel like he's not a stranger but yet I can't quite put my finger on why. He's tried to warn me about Zach several times and I see these things. Things I don't quite understand." Lina said the words, cocking her head at her friend and not certain how to explain it.

"Could it be someone from your past? Maybe someone from high-school?", tried Cherilyn to suggest, "I mean... it could be someone that have changed his appearance or so?"

Lina gulped hard at her friends words. How could she make her see what she had seen? She didn't know how to describe it to her, and she didn't know how to tell Cheri that she'd seen visions of her too. For a long pause Lina said nothing, afraid that if she did Cheri would call the good doctor again. Lina frowned then, Zach having never answered her calls or texts since he'd left that morning and she began to wonder...

No, no this was Zack. She knew he was a playboy but they'd had a connection. Hadn't they? Lina quickly focused back on Cheri, things were already complicated enough without her dwelling on the what if's with Zach, at least not for now.

Instead she smiled at her friend. "Cheri, this is complicated, I'll tell you everything I...I know or have seen but you have to promise me that you won't think I'm crazy, and call our friend the doctor."

She grasped her friends hand, suddenly tired and filled with concern "Promise me, Cher...".

"All-right?", Cherilyn shoot a gaze back, somewhat suspicious, but at the same time willing. One way or another Lina was acting a bit too odd to turn her words down. Looking down at her friend's hands she said, "I promise".

Releasing Cheri's hands Lina took another long pull from her coffee then set it down. As she began to speak, she gathered her camera and beckoned for Cheri to follow her into the dark room "You can bring your coffee, I'll tell you all about it while I develop this film. Just give your eyes a moment to adjust when I turn off the lights."

As she stepped into the safe room and pulled the door shut behind them, she opened the dark room door "Let's see if we caught anything on the film, especially since everything's been so odd around here lately."

For a moment the room went dark while Lina began flipping on safe lights to work by and as soon as her eyes had adjusted she began unloading the camera as she talked.

"I'll start at the beginning" Lina offered quietly, and then began to fill Cheri in from the very beginning when she saw the red eyed crow, to how she had seen visions of people that appeared to be a different time and place, Cheri included among those people, how she was beginning to become ill when she touched other people and how, she had not become ill when the strange man named Alexander had touched her, even it feeling a familiar touch to her. She finished then "I feel like I should know him Cheri, like he should mean something to me." She laughed then, trying to shake it off "Maybe I've had amnesia all of this time and I'm really just remembering things from my real life!" She joked but nervousness was still in her voice as she waited to see if her friend would think she had lost her mind or not.

Cherilyn shook her head, realization hitting her just enough to make her lose some balance. She slowly landed her coffee cup at some desk and then she tried to catch herself before losing to the weight of Lina's words.

Were it not for the simple fact that things were pretty weird as they were lately, she might have dismissed it all.

And yet...

Even so, deep inside Cherilyn would know that Lina was on to something which was true and honest. She knew it. Her books knew it. Hell, those creeps that were after them knew it.

Cherilyn sighed before speaking, "I don't even know how to say it... but I believe you... I... I really... can't explain it either... I....-", she shook her head a few more times unable to think of what to say next. Her skin turned to Goosebumps and she felt some chills and shivers visible all over her body, "What does it all mean Lina?!", she asked with a sudden realization and fear. All this had more meaning and effect on them than what she previously thought to be and they had to know how to act accordingly.

Pressing himself against the wall near the door, he cursed his misfortune. Having run off after the two had walked off, he had the worst luck of running into Crow. Suffice it to say, their conversation had not gone well. While he had tried his best to keep his side and press Crow off the trail of Rosa, he had been cajoled into working with Crow… for the time. Since there was both his assistant, the girl who looked like she was about 5 minutes from losing her lunch, and the strange man in the suit, who was knocked out and surrounded by 5 dead zombie like people.

“Well, at least he allowed me to take her.” Alex said, giving a shudder. Crow had given him a rather large chuckle when he learned that Alex wanted to save her, instead of having her killed. He didn’t like that reaction one bit, but he would have to go with it, for now. Luckily enough, he had been able to pick up on their trail and follow them to Rosa’s home. Face contorted into a scowl at Crow and concern for Rosa, he quickly opened the door, getting both a startled bark from Rosa’s pets, which he sent scurrying with a draw of his sword.

“Rosa! Where are you?!” Alex shouted as he stalked into the house, eyes roving the field as his ears were on high alert.

Wishing to ease her friends fears despite that Lina knew Cheri was correct, she had begun to reply "It's okay Cheri, we will sort this out one way or another. I think part of the key is to unlock the mysteries of the visions I've been seeing. Maybe there's something wrong with me? Maybe Zack can run more tests."

Lina knew that although something physical was definitely happening to her when she touched other people, there was nothing wrong with her mind. The strange crow, the sudden odd occurrences around town, the fact that Cheri apparently had someone stalking her now too were all indications that there was absolutely nothing wrong with Lina's own mind as she had begun to fear at one point.

Just then Lina heard her the commotion of animals beginning to react furiously to something foreign to her home which was immediately followed by a yelp and then sudden voice ringing out loudly.

“Rosa! Where are you?!”

Lina had just clipped the last piece of film to dry on the line when all hell broke loose and her hands immediately moved to Cheri's, grasping them firmly as she began to shake. "It's that man..Alex..." the brunette whispered "Shhh..Cheri he doesn't know your here. Stay here" she gulped "Just in case...let me go try to reason with him. He knows me, maybe he just wants to talk." Lina knew that couldn't be true, she'd already requested him to stay away from her but he persisted and Lina had a sinking feeling in her stomach but if he truly were someone who she had shared something with before hopefully he would not hurt her.

With a final squeeze of her friends hands that had Lina's knuckles turning white, she pleaded with her "Cheri, hide in here and whatever happens, don't come out until you know it's safe."

"Lina!", Cherilyn felt how the grip of her hand matched with the grip of her heart, "What if something happens?!", she looked up to her, "God... If he tries anything I'll kill him! Mark my word!", She slowly let go of her friend's hands, but she sure wasn't happy about it, "I'll hide for you, but I'm coming out if anything bad happens!"

Lina nodded quietly and stepped from the dark room into the safe room. Before opening the door she took a deep breath. Quickly she opened the door and passed through, stepping into her hallway and grabbing the only thing that could remotely be used for a weapon that was present leaning in a corner was her own personal baseball bat.

Cautiously she stepped forward, and upon seeing Alex she drew the bat back, questioning him.

"Who do you think you are, bursting into my home like this after you were warned to stay away from me?!"

With the bat poised to strike at any moment despite she noticed that he had a sword, adrenaline rushed through her small frame.

"What is it that you want from me, why won't you leave me alone!"

“What do I want? There is so much that I want from you. But right now, all I want is you. So drop the bat and come with me, else things will get uncomfortable.” Alex said, steel in his voice yet a pain hidden underneath. Seeing Rosa standing there, bat aimed ready to strike, made his heart long. She was his world, and everything he fought for, and yet, there she was, ready to attack with terror and fear in her voice, masked with confusion. His heart nearly broke at the sight, but he would have to hold out. Taking her captive was the only way to protect her, less that vile man take her life.

“Please, just… drop the weapon.” Alex said, his knuckles tightening a bit on his sword, but still keeping it pointed towards the ground.

Not only was there something in Alex's voicee that brought Lina to a brief pause, there was something distant in his eyes. The way he almost appeared to be pleading with her. Despite that she was standing with her trusty favorite bat at the ready, he'd not yet raised his sword towards her which she found to be questionable.

He wanted her to come with him, and his only threat had been that things might get uncomfortable? Yet, it had been a thread all the same and Lina stood her ground, refusing to give up the only weapon that the small stature of a woman could possibly use against him to protect herself and Cheri as well.

Cheri..oh God..she couldn't let him find Cheri and her knuckles began to hurt as she gripped the back tighter, pulling it upwards.

"If you want me...and my weapon, you'll have to take it from me because I'm not going any damn place with you. I'll give you one last chance to get out of my house!" Lina's words came sharp and cuttingly but come hell or high water if he was serious about taking her and taking her weapon from her, he would have to find a way because she would not go willingly. Under her breath, Lina prayed for Cheri to remain quiet and hidden.

“Damnable woman and your stubborn will!” Alex swore loudly, tensing just the bit as his eyes narrowed in frustration. She was resisting, though it didn’t come much of a shock, but again that stubbornness was there. He had firsthand dealt with her stubborn streak, and the first time he had silenced her with a kiss. This time… he would have to do things differently.

“If you won’t come peacefully then…” Alex began, before placing both hands on his sword and rushing forward. Shifting his body, he brought the sword up and turned into her arms, to minimize her skill to swing that bat with any luck. His sword tip pressed against the hollow spot of her collar bone, cold steel resting against warm skin.

“I will make you. Now drop the club.” Alex finished, a cold edge covering his voice as he stared into Rosa’s eyes. It was just enough to make him lose it, the scent of the woman, her luminous chocolate brown eyes locked in fear, yet still beautiful. All subconscious thoughts told him to lower the blade, to turn away from threatening his whole world, but now was not the time. He was going to have to fight his world to protect it no matter what.

Lina gasped as she felt the cold touch of steel touching her neck and slowly she relinqueshed her grip on the bat, allowing it to fall to the floor. He could have killed her on the spot, but he'd chosen not to and the only way that Lina could think to protect her dear hidden friend was to allow him to take her now. Inside however, she had felt a sort of certain satisfaction that she'd not given into him without a fight, at least if nothing else, she had tried to thwart his attempts even if it had not produced the results she'd expected.

Even as she stared into her eyes she began to lose her ability to stand, her entire body feeling suddenly weak and as she realized that he was actually touching her a vision flashed through her mind once more of him and her lying together entwined and totally naked. It would be the last thing that Lina remembered as she heard him whispering her name in the vision "Rosa..my Rosa."

As Lina felt herself slumping against the stranger, a slight whisper could be heard escaping her lips "Alex" before everything went dark.

“I’m sorry Rosa. I never wished to raise my sword to you.” Alex spoke softly in her ear before grabbing her around the waist. He slid his sword back in place and picked her up, cradling her like a child as a tear welled in his eyes, his heart broken in twain. Pressing her against his chest, he headed out of the house, heading towards an unknown location after leaving the door swinging free.

Cherri, after hearing Alex’s footsteps leave the house, finally emerged from the dark room, her arms still shaking with fear. Looking at the bat on the ground and the open door, she stood in stunned silence for a few minutes before doing the only logical thing she could think of.

“I need to call Trixie”



~End of Chapter 2~