Cheyenne Fear Cheyenne sat on the ground, until she was pulled up to her feet by a strong hand. She looked up to see Ivanna in front of her, speaking to Dirk. "You okay?" Cheyenne turned to find Marty standing close to her as well. She nodded sharply, looking down at the shoes. She wasn't a kid... She glared at the knee that was poking through the coat draped around her. It hurt, but she wasn't going to let Dirk or anyone carry her because of it again. She brushed at her legs and bum, annoyed by the water that had seeped through the coat from her stumble. Her blouse would be ruined, and she didn't have a change of clothes. She shivered, as thoughts of home crept back into her mind. She jumped as a red haired woman knelt beside her, and began speaking quickly. "Hey there. My name is Rebecca. I've got some bandages here in my backpack. Is it ok if I wrap your knee?" Cheyenne pulled her lose leg back into the coat, and frowned shaking her head. *Not... Can take care of... N-n-not u-useless.* Her head twitched slightly, as the thoughts escaped her head. Though it was still her voice, it had a scratchy, robotic sound to it, and didn't sound as clear as it had before. Cheyenne pulled away from Rebecca, and placed herself next to Marty, when a thought occurred to her. She reached into her pouch, and pulled out Ivanna's phone, which to her horror, had gotten soaked. Her gaze fell to the puddled ground, and she offered the phone to Ivanna. *..S-orr-... G-got wet-, didn't mean-...* She felt herself twitch slightly again, as the waves surrounded her body. Maybe the coat was absorbing all the sound? ---- Dirk I Reynolds ---- “Kami took off with her new boy toy. They’re headed to her house,” she said spitefully. “Stupid girl. Let’s just leave her. She’s probably dead already.” Dirk raised an eyebrow at Ivanna. She really didn't care about anyone else, did she? She'd helped up Cheyenne, but that was nothing special. The girl couldn't take care of herself. Listen to yourself. Dirk massaged his temple with one hand, closing his eyes for a moment. He needed to be alone for a while, to sort out all that had happened. No chance of that yet... He pulled out his cellphone, and quickly replaced it with a curse, when he realized he'd pulled out the killed one out of habit. He patted his chest, then remembered... He moved to Cheyenne, and pulled his coat open, despite her trying to hold it closed. *Don't!* "One second," He said impatiently, reaching into an inner pocket, then pulled out the second phone. He stared at the soaked girl's frame, then grinned and let go, letting her pull the coat closed again. Definitely not a girl. He thought, amused, as he opened the phone, and dialed the familiar number. "Arnold?" "Hi Dirk, nothing to report; they left the place spotless." "I need you to go visit the DeSoras residence, a couple kids got left behind." "And if they don't want to come?" "Well don't force them," Dirk rolled his eyes, just give them a chance to come. You can take them directly to base, if they do." "Anything else?" "No." Dirk closed the phone, and turned to Ivanna. "Are you guys going to talk all day? If so, I'm getting back in the car. I can't stand this rain." Dirk peered at the one who had spoken. He couldn't make out her face past the umbrella, but if she couldn't get wet... Must be, Avery. "She's right, we need to get moving," He said, moving closer to the others, hiding a smirk as Cheyenne moved away from him. You're not usually like this... He locked eyes with Ivanna, "We should go on foot from here, you said you had one of them alive?"
Ivanna Testarossa "Hey there. My name is Rebecca. I've got some bandages here in my backpack. Is it ok if I wrap your knee?" Rebecca asked quickly. “It’s just a scratch. God, you act like the girl’s gonna die,” Ivanna murmured to herself. Cheyenne seemed to agree. She emitted a strange sound, informing Ivanna and Rebecca that she was okay and, more importantly, not useless. Ivan looked at her strangely, wondering when the girl had learned this new trick. She was speaking without moving her lips, as if the sounds came through her skin, instead of from her vocal chords. The girl reached into her pocket and brought out Ivan’s phone, which was soaking wet. “S-orr-... G-got wet-, didn't mean-...” “Whatever. It’ll be fine,” Ivan said as she turned off the phone and removed its battery. She stuck the phone in her back pocket and dropped the battery in her coat pocket. “The trick is to let them dry separately. Less chance of it shorting out.” When she wasn’t busy screaming, cursing, and pounding people’s faces in, Ivan could almost pass as a mentor of some sort. She'd lived a hard life and picked up all sorts of gems of random knowledge along the way. Dirk approached and snatched open Cheyenne’s coat, as if hunting for something. For a moment, Ivan thought he was going to grope the poor girl, and Cheyenne’s reaction suggested she might have been thinking the same thing. Oh get over yourself. You ain’t that cute, Ivan thought. A little strip search might do you some good, kid. On the other hand, Dirk didn’t seem like the sort of guy who had high standards. If someone put tits on a pig, he’d probably try to cop a feel. And if looks could kill, Ivan’s gaze would have murdered him a thousand times over. She glared at Dirk as he turned away to talk on the phone again. "Are you guys going to talk all day?” Avery complained. “If so, I'm getting back in the car. I can't stand this rain." "She's right, we need to get moving," Dirk said. "We should go on foot from here, you said you had one of them alive?" “Over here,” Ivan said and led him to the trunk. She paused to see if she could hear anything inside but there were no sounds. “Must’ve hit him harder than I thought,” she said as she unlocked the car’s trunk and opened it, revealing an unconscious man in a gray suit. She patted his swollen, bruised cheeks, but there was no sign of him waking. “Now what?” she said, looking to Dirk. “I hope this ‘base’ isn’t far. Stolen car, I can get away with. Murder, too. But carrying an unconscious man across town… not so much.”
Adelaide Reynolds Adelaide sat in the back-seat with Avery, holding her mother in the palm of her hands. Adelaide rubbed a finger against the soft fur; now slicked with rain, of the mouse-like version of her mother. She turned to look at Avery, and asked her a simple question; hopefully not to worry her too much. "Avery, can my mum come back into human form? She won't appear.. y'know, naked or anything." Adelaide placed her mother on a darkened cushion that lay on the middle seat of the car. Soon, a flashing light appeared; and her mother turned back into the same person she always was. Abigail's wild hair seemingly filled with static danced about the room as she switched back into human form from her mammal exterior. Her mother was wearing a long plaid skirt, a loose-fitting red shirt with long sleeves, red flats with black bows and a bag held in bandoleer style around her shoulder. "Phew. I haven't turned back in such a while that I'm quite light-headed. I'll be just outside the door for some fresh air, dears." Adelaide's mothers voice was sweet and caring. Adelaide stepped out of the car to help out Abigail, who was sort of unstable due to being ill for some time. "Dear, I'm not sure I'm capable of doing this with you. You're all so young and athletic; and I'm just an aging woman. I'd be more of a problem than a help." Her mother said in a hushed voice, moving her fringe out of her eyes. "Mum, what makes you say that? Did you see how helpful you were back there? We need you.. I.. need you." Adelaide took her mothers hand. It was freezing cold. "Besides.. what if those grey suits come back? You definitely can't take them on alone. You need to stay here." Adelaide wasn't too sure how her mother would take that.. was it really fine berating something her mother could.. maybe not do? "Dear, I'll be fine. Do not worry about me.. you have.. other things to worry about.." Abigail issued towards the tattooed woman and the man who had just came across the street; the trunk was open and a grey suit was splayed out for all to see. "I.. understand." Abigail mumbled, giving her mother a warm hug even with the freezing rain pouring around them. Abigail nodded to her daughter, pulling her coat out of the bag. Adelaide gave a sheepish smile. She wanted her mother to stay, she really did.. but it was no time to worry. She had things to do. Having a grey suit in the back of the trunk wasn't something she was proud of but she couldn't let emotions get in the way. Adelaide watched, as her mother jogged around the corner of a building, the blinding light appearing once again.. the sound of a hawk cawing echoed in the distance.
Avery Funkhouser When the man continued to talk to Ivanna, Avery decided to slip inside the back seat of the car. They can talk in the rain if they want, but that doesn't mean I have to. Avery put the umbrella in the front seat, careful not to touch any of the water droplets clinging to it. She wondered if it was possible that the others might forget her and leave her behind. How long can you live in a car? Avery asked herself, Well, if I had food and…some source of fluid I could live here for a few days. Of course, this car is stolen, so after those few days I’d be living in prison instead. It’s not like anyone would care though. Avery turned her head to see Adelaide slide into the seat next to her. Well, maybe Adelaide would care. She studied her, from her dreadlocks all the way to her sun-kissed face. Within the few hours that their lives had crossed, Adelaide had already saved her life twice. It was strange for Avery to know someone loyal, someone so 'real' like Adelaide. Even Rebecca would do anything to help someone. She’d never met anyone to look up to before, she didn’t even have a mum she could admire. Avery let a smile spread across her face, but it quickly faded away when she noticed Adelaide had a furry creature resting in her hand. The mouse from earlier. "Avery, can my mum come back into human form? She won't appear.. y'know, naked or anything." She set the mouse down on the seat in between them. Before Avery had the chance to ask what she meant, there was a burst of light, and where the mouse had been there appeared a woman. She was much older, but bared a similar appearance to Adelaide. Maybe I'm dreaming, like Adelaide said. Avery blinked her eyes shut, only to open them to the same view. Nope. "Phew. I haven't turned back in such a while that I'm quite light-headed. I'll be just outside the door for some fresh air, dears." The woman went outside of the car, and Adelaide followed behind leaving Avery by herself again. Avery sighed. Sitting alone, she was starting to regret ever leaving the park. She should've went with those other two teens, the lovers. She felt like a third-wheel anyway, it would be better to be one. “I hope this ‘base’ isn’t far. Stolen car, I can get away with. Murder, too. But carrying an unconscious man across town… not so much.” Adelaide must have left the car door open, because she heard that voice again loud and clear. Avery scooted across the seat, and flipped up her hood, to peek her head outside behind the car. She knew exactly how they could solve this. "Hey, why don't you let Mr. Invisible carry the guy? It'd be great exercise. I've heard that one can never gain too much upper body strength." Avery smirked at Alexander, hoping for some revenge, no matter how small.
Alexander Butler Alexander was bored. He watched as the new group of people started mingling with some of the girls. One of the three, a tired looking, short man seemed to take some form of responsibility. Alexander quickly guessed that he was the ‘Dirk’ that the driver had spoken to on her phone. He watched as the women bickered over a newcomer who had injured her knee. Watched as Avery and the other girl slid back into the car. Watched as the driver showed Dirk the unconscious gray-suit. He waited with his hands behind his back, and water dripping from his hair. And he was bored. “I hope this ‘base’ isn’t far. Stolen car, I can get away with. Murder, too. But carrying an unconscious man across town… not so much,” said the tattooed woman. Alexander glanced once more at the cat that had planted itself under the car. It almost seemed as if it were mocking him. He looked away, only to be greeted by another voice, this time from inside the car. "Hey, why don't you let Mr. Invisible carry the guy? It'd be great exercise. I've heard that one can never gain too much upper body strength." It was Avery, no doubt fuming about Alexander’s past remark. He only gave her a short look of disapproval, as a parent might give a misbehaving child. There was no tolerance for immaturity in Alexander’s book. Ignoring her was likely to be a better insult than a retort. Even then, he couldn’t help but wonder to himself how he had angered the girl. It was obviously something he had said. He pointed out that he could see through her false expression… was that why? Why would such a claim anger her? He quickly brushed the thought aside as he finally moved from his location, and approached the trunk of the car with the unconscious man still inside. “If you insist on dragging him somewhere, I may have a solution,” he stated, as he lifted his arms, pointing them at the body. The image of the man wavered a little bit, and then quickly faded away. Alexander had never tried making another object invisible, but he had studied his power enough to know it was possible. Otherwise, his own clothes wouldn't have faded when he did. Soon, the body was completely transparent, leaving his ice-like shackles dangling oddly in the air. “Now if that’s all,” said Alexander, turning to Dirk. “I suggest we leave before law enforcement tracks this vehicle.”
Dirk Reynolds “Let’s get moving. It’s not far,” Dirk said with annoyance in his voice. When no one immediately volunteered for the task, he picked up the invisible gray suit and hefted the man over his shoulder. He briefly turned to Ivanna. “Deal with the car problem. The base is in a dead-end alley about two blocks south,” he pointed, for emphasis. ”Meet us there.” To his surprise, she didn’t put up a fuss. In fact, she didn’t seem angry at all. Maybe she likes destroying things. Hmph. Figures, Dirk thought as he turned away and gestured for the others to follow. The two blocks went by quickly. Not as quickly as Dirk would’ve liked, due to the weight of an invisible man bearing down on his shoulders. The crystal shackles vanished soon after parting ways with the Russian and, a few minutes later, they arrived at the alley he’d described. “Right this way,” Dirk said as he headed down the long alley, which seemed to be a dead end. But when they reached the enclosure he turned toward a heavy metal door, which was sunk into the wall and out of sight. “We have your dad to thank for keeping this place a secret,” he said to Cheyenne as he fetched a key and unlocked the door. “Now that he’s gone… well…” It didn’t bode well for Eximius, but the door was still well-concealed, even without Gary’s ability. They might be able to hang on to this base for a while longer. The group entered a well-lit hall. Once everyone was inside, Dirk shut the door and they headed to a large room, where two people were waiting. Trace and Monica. The latter smiled, but Dirk just scowled at her. “Keep an ear out. We’ve got one more coming,” he said in a disgruntled tone. “I’m going to see what I can get out of our guest.” They looked slightly puzzled by those words, until Alex made the gray suit visible once more. “Don’t bother me,” Dirk said as he disappeared down a back hall with their prisoner.
Ivanna Testarossa Dirk and the others departed, leaving Ivanna alone with the car. Well, not quite alone. As she slid into the driver’s seat, she stared at the annoying girl with a look that clearly said ‘why the hell are you still here?’ When it became clear Avery wasn’t going to get out of the car, the angry Russian stuck the key in the ignition and started the vehicle. “I saw an abandoned warehouse not far from here,” she said as she pulled out into the street. “We’ll ditch the car there and burn the evidence. If you keep quiet, you can tag along.” Maybe she’ll be useful, Ivan thought as she drove through the rainy streets. It wasn’t the first time she’d been tasked with getting rid of a stolen vehicle. She hadn’t needed a stupid girl with fire-powers before, so why now? When she reached the warehouse, she pulled around back. It seemed to be mostly empty, which was good; she didn’t want the fire to get out of hand. If everything went according to plan, the car would burn for an hour or two and no one would know. By the time the wreck was discovered, it would be only a scorched shell. The rain might even help keep the smoke under wraps. Ivan got out and checked the padlock on the door. “Easy,” she said with a grin as she created a blank key out of crystal and inserted it into the lock. After a minute or two of fiddle with it, the lock finally clicked open and she lifted the garage-style door leading into the warehouse. The floor was wide and open, just begging for someone to light a bonfire inside. Ivan jogged back to the car and pulled it inside. "Try not to do anything stupid,” she said to Avery as she parked it and began rifling through the glove box. She pulled out any papers she could find and gathered them into a bundle before getting out and heading around behind the car and opening the trunk. Once there, she tore and cut away the upholstery, revealing the bare metal, then made a crowbar out of crystal and used it to pry open the access door where the fuel pump was located. She removed it and began stuffing wads of paper into the hole. “Don’t ask how I know this shit,” she said to Avery as she worked. It was all very formulaic for her. “If you’ve torched one car, you’ve torched ‘em all.” When everything was set, she looked to Avery. “Alright. Hit it with your best shot, kid.”
Avery Funkhouser Avery was happy that she got her way, but her conscience kept nagging her on the fact that she'd only met the woman an hour ago. Avery brushed off the convicting thoughts. She was 16, quite old enough to make her own decisions. Besides, she guessed that there had to be something behind the woman's sharp words and mean looks. Because, nobody is that grumpy for no reason, Avery concluded. Ivanna came back from unlocking the warehouse, and quickly drove the car into it. "Try not to do anything stupid," she muttered, while she dug into the glove box, tearing a wad of papers out of it. Avery kept quiet, sensing her all work, no play attitude. This was no joke. As soon as she had a handful of paper, Ivanna bolted out of the car once again. This time Avery decided to follow, but before she got out, she grabbed up Rebecca's umbrella, not wanting it to get burnt in the process. When she finally made her way behind the car, Avery stopped short. What in the world is she doing now... Avery stared wide-eyed at Ivanna destroying the trunk, expertly prying into metal. She soon ripped through, revealing some sort of hole. If the woman had worked so hard to get to it, that hole must be important. Mechanical science and engineering wasn’t Avery's forte, being the only science she had a difficult time with. She cringed whenever she thought of her many hot tears poured over getting a C on that Physics test. "Don't ask how I know this shit. If you've torched one car, you've torched 'em all." Ivanna said, starting to stuff several of the car papers, into the hole. Don't have to worry about that, I'll assume. Avery smiled to herself, taking the brief opportunity to scan the warehouse. Why would someone abandon this place? she thought, Too bad they won't have the chance to use it again. "Alright. Hit it with your best shot, kid." Avery turned to see Ivanna staring at her. Had she just said...? Avery pointed at her chest. "You mean you want me to--" she started, but Ivanna's expression said it all. She was definitely serious. Since the woman had done everything thus far, Avery thought she would've found a way to torch the car without her. She'd certainly thought wrong. Avery wiped the surprise off her face, trying to bring back her usual stance, "Yeah, sure I can do that." Setting down the umbrella, she focused on the task before her. No one had ever told her to use her power before. Before today, she'd avoided using her power altogether. How should I go about this? Do another fireball? Or maybe just a small spark, no maybe big, how about medium? Avery bit her lip nervously. She couldn't do this wrong, not in front of her. Avery inhaled deeply, trying to calm her pounding heart. Just focus, she told herself, Act like nobody's watching. She concentrated on forming a baseball-size ball of fire, tossing it in her hand carefully. This had to be different than her lame display at the park. Well, at least this time her target was closer; and not human. Avery cupped her hand, readying herself for the launch. Please work, she prayed before letting the fire escape from her, blasting it towards the papered mess.
Martin Wheeler Marty stared up at the sky, straight up, so that all he could see was sky. It was quiet, peaceful. Only yesterday his whole life had been like that, quiet and peaceful. Now it was all running and shouting and Grey Suits and scrambling for his life. All around him Dirk and the others were talking and moving around like a hive of bees, but Marty shut it all out. "Stop and smell the roses," he said with a blissful sigh. “Let’s get moving. It’s not far,” Dirk said with annoyance in his voice. Marty blinked and looked down. Dirk was standing at the back of the car, and lifting... something out of the car. Marty squinted. He couldn't see anything, but Dirk's stance suggested he was carrying something heavy. "Curious," Marty said quietly and moved closer to the group, although hesitantly. Then the group was moving and he was moving with it, craning his head, trying to catch a glimpse of Dirk's invisible burden. They hadn't gone very far when they reached their destination. “We have your dad to thank for keeping this place a secret,” he said to Cheyenne as he fetched a key and unlocked the door. “Now that he’s gone… well…” Marty looked over to Cheyenne and an image of the trailer flashed in his mind. Three bodies: one man, one woman, one Grey Suit. She was alone now too. The first few years would be the hardest. They had been for Martin. Marty hung back as the group entered the building. He took a last look at the sky. If this all was a trap, he would probably never get to see it again. Dirk closed the door behind him and he entered a large, friendly looking room littered with games and tables. “I’m going to see what I can get out of our guest,” Dirk said. Marty looked over in confusion, just in time to see an unconscious man in a grey suit materialize out of thin air. Marty sucked in a breath and jumped back. They had brought back a Grey-Suit! These people were mad. No one else seemed terribly surprised, like this was all very normal behavior. For Dirk, it probably was. “Don’t bother me,” Dirk said as he disappeared down a back hall with their prisoner. "Wait, don't" Marty called after him, rushing forward, but he found his path blocked by a large, bald man with a walrus mustache. "Whoa there," the man said in a jolly voice. "Not to worry, Dirk will be back shortly. You must be Martin Wheeler." Marty groaned, did the whole world know that name now. "No, I'm Marty," he sighed, but without any conviction. The man gave him a funny look and moved off to greet the others. Marty glanced down the hall where Dirk had gone, but it was too late. He would have forgotten by now. Things were probably going to get very awkward very fast. On the other hand, without Dirk watching him, no one would notice he just slipped away. He had lots of questions about these people and this place, but answers weren't worth dying for. He started backing up towards the door, one step at a time. "Out of sight, out of mind," He told himself, taking another step. If he could make it to the door, no one would even remember him being there. He would be free again. Thump! Marty jumped as his back, bumped into to something. He spun around to find himself face to face with one of the women he had come there with. She had red hair and wore a pair of green gloves. "Oh, ah sorry... about that... bumping... into you," Marty stammered, trying to smile and failing. "Not what I was expecting, this place... friendlier," he said, trying to make conversation. He had the distinct feeling it wasn't going too well.
Cheyenne Fear Cheyenne watched as Dirk left their group, with the suited man in tow. Up until now, she'd been staying close to Marty, but he had gone to the back of the group, so she decided to explore a bit. She walked timidly toward the middle of the room, taking in the tables and couches, and brick walls. It was cozy, but pretty darkly lit; there were no lamps, only a few flickering bulbs hanging from the ceiling. In one corner of the room, there was a small kitchen, complete with cupboard, counter, fridge, and sink. A picture hanging on the wall caught her eye, and she moved away from the group to see. There was a laughing bald man, with his arm around the shoulders of a young man clean shaven man, who was frowning at the camera. "That's Trace and Dirk," Cheyenne jumped, as a soft sweet voice spoke from behind her. She turned to see a thin pale woman, with long black hair, and long bangs almost obscuring her eyes. "That was taken some time ago. My name's Monica, what's yours?" Cheyenne forced a smile on her face, and focused on her name. *Ch-chhhhhhheeeeeeeeeee* Her head twitched again, and she frowned in frustration. "Nice to meet you." Monica said, with an understanding expression. She suddenly let out a small, "Oh" and turned to the rest of the group, "Are any of you hungry or thirsty?" She turned back to Cheyenne to give her a questioning shrug. Cheyenne shook her head, and removed Dirk's coat from her shoulders. It was rather warm in the room. *Cheyenne!* Cheyenne jumped, as the sound boomed through the room, blowing back Monica's hair slightly. Monica smiled again. Cheyenne's face went red, and she went to sit in a corner, apart from everyone else. "Nice to meet you in person!" An obese mustachioed man who seemed to have taken no notice of her embarrassment boomed back, "Call me Trace! Welcome to Eximius, all of you! You'll have to forgive the rather ordinary greeting, our meeting was unexpected at best, and we're not at full force today." "Do you know when Arnold is coming back?" Cheyenne heard Monica whisper to the man named Trace. "Ask Dirk," Trace chuckled, "Though, not until he's done with our other guest!" "Should I see if he needs any help?" Monica asked. "No no, don't disturb him, you know how he gets," Trace said, turning back to the group, "Pardon me! Just a chat between colleagues! Don't stand around, have a seat! Play some cards, have a drink! I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, if I'm able. Dirk will be back at some point, and Arnold will as well. He's another colleague! Now, no more standing around, make yourselves comfortable!
Kami DeSoras Kami ran to the door, and the two dogs went after her. Looking out her bedroom door, she watched as the two dogs ran down the stairs. "Please, leave her alone." "Mom, dad?" "Kami run!" She heard the two dogs growl, and shots were fired. Two yelps sounded. Kami ran down the stairs, and saw two men in grey suits, her parents huddled in the corner of the kitchen, and her two dogs laying on the ground, each bleeding. They weren't breathing. Kami started breathing heavily, and she'd never been so angry in her life. "You..." She looked at the two men. "Come quietly, and there won't be any problems miss." "You bastards! You killed my dogs!" "Relax there missy," one said, approaching her. "Relax? I'll show you how to relax!" Kami aimed her hand at the man and let loose the dirt and gravel she had been picking up while with Dirk. It blinded the man, and he fell backwards, covering his eyes. The other pulled his gun and fired at Kami. The bullet hit her perfectly in the stomach, and she felt some pain, but... it wasn't what she expected. She thought that being shot would hurt more, burn more. Then she felt it... She looked at the grey suit, who was staring at her, unsure of what was going on. "Let's see how you like it," she said, lifting her palm. The bullet shot from the middle of her palm, and into the suit's leg, right near his groin. "AH!" He dropped to the ground, clutching his hip. The other suit stood up, having gotten the dirt out of his eyes. "Hmph," Kami said, kicking the banister and breaking part of it off. "Miss dark and mysterious thinks I'm a human vacuum cleaner? I vacuum cleaner couldn't do this." She focused and held the banister, and the two suits and her parents watched in amazement as the five foot section of wood faded in front of them, finally vanishing altogether. Kami was even amazed, since usually she had to suck things in. But she felt it. It was there. "Get out of my house!" She faced her palm at the standing suit, and the wood launched from her hand, straight at his head. It connected perfectly, knocking the suit to the ground. He was out in a second, and his injured partner hobbled and grabbed him. "Now get out!" The injured suit drug his partner out the front door, and then Kami heard a car door shut, and tires squeal down her driveway. "Kami, are you okay," her father asked, as both her parents rushed to her side. "I'm fine," she said, wobbling a bit. Obviously absorbing things instead of sucking them in had its downsides. "Just a little tired." She knelt down, and looked at her dogs, laying there on the ground. A tear fell from her eye. "Those guys are going to pay."
Ivanna Testarossa The girl seemed to be taking her sweet time gathering a fireball. Maybe the hothead isn't so hot after all, Ivanna thought with a cynical grin. C'mon. Just throw the damn thing. With the fuel tank exposed, it would't take much to get the fire started. Ivanna stood with her hands on her hips, feeling the familiar outline of the lighter in her pocket. She considered using it instead, but Avery finally released her finely-crafted orb of flame. It hit the wad of kindling with a satsfying 'woosh' and a splash of embers. Soon, the paper began to burn. It was slow for a few seconds, until the fuel caught fire, sending up a large plume of flame. The entire back half of the car was engulfed almost instantly and it quickly spread through the passenger compartment, turing the black sedan into a raging inferno in the middle of the warehouse floor. "Not bad," Ivanna said as she smacked Avery on the back and turned to leave. "C'mon. We should go before the smoke gets serious." In a warehouse this size, with high ceilings, it might not be an issue, but the place could have smoke alarms or sprinklers. Either way, she didn't want to hang around. The rain outside was still coming down and she noted the way Avery huddled beneath the umbrella as they walked. Ivanna let her have it all to herself, mostly out of pity and a stubborn refusal to acknowledge the rain. She conjured a small crystal cup and held it out as she walked, letting it slowly fill. "Fire shouldn't be scared of water," Ivan said, watching the glass. "Ever seen a grease fire or one of those 'eternal flame' memorials they have in cemetries?" She looked at Avery and slowly shook her head, as if disappointed. "You don't even know what you're capable of, do you?"
Avery Funkhouser The happiness of her fireball success faded away when she stepped outside the warehouse with Ivanna. The rain just wasn't going to give up, was it? Avery stepped carefully over a puddle, clenching her teeth in frustration. It was like a death-trap, with her only safety being the borrowed umbrella that could easily blow away. It was worse that Ivanna didn't seem to mind the rain at all. Avery watched her form a crystal cup out of thin air, which quickly began to fill up with the dreadful liquid. "Fire shouldn't be scared of water," she said, her eyes not leaving her creation. "Ever seen a grease fire or one of those 'eternal flame' memorials they have in cemeteries?" She suddenly broke her gaze, looking at Avery. As she slowly shook her head, droplets of water flew off her boyish hair. "You don't even know what you're capable of, do you?" Avery slowed her walk to give Ivanna a hard stare, even if not visible through her dark shades. Someone was being quick to judge. "Sure I do," Avery snapped, "You think after three years I wouldn't? Controlling it is the problem. Fire is hungry and doesn't stop until its full. Once I destroy, I can't go back. I don't want to have that regret. My power has already hurt me more than helped." Avery tried to shake away the horrible reminders of the past that haunted her once again. The times that she wanted so bad to do what her heart desired most. The hardest was when she continually fought her invisible battle, her life still stayed the same. Same school, same oblivious parents, same having no friends, same…everything. Nothing had changed, up until this day; this very moment. But, Ivanna could never understand her past, no one ever would.
Ivanna Testarossa "Sure I do. You think after three years I wouldn't?” Avery said. “Controlling it is the problem. Fire is hungry and doesn't stop until it’s full. Once I destroy, I can't go back. I don't want to have that regret. My power has already hurt me more than helped." Ivanna just laughed. “Really? You’re afraid of your own power? If that’s the case, you should be glad it’s raining,” she said snarkily. “But you’re not. You’re scared of the rain because it’s the only thing that can keep you under control. And, deep down, you don’t want to be controlled.” She grinned, thinking she had Avery all figured out. “Typical angsty teenage bullshit.” Ivanna stopped under a small awning and turned to face Avery. They had reached Bink’s art studio, halfway to the safehouse. The cup vanished like mist and the water fell harmlessly to the ground. “I was gonna chuck that in your face for a good laugh, but I’ve changed my mind. You really are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, aren’t you? You’d probably dissolve if I did.” Ivanna shoved her hands deep into her jacket pockets and began walking again. “I thought we had something in common, but I guess not,” she added with a sigh. “Toughen up, little girl. Pull your balls outta your back pocket. I’m not scared of anyone, especially not myself, my power, or some stupid rain. Regrets are for dead men. You’ll never control anything until you stop being afraid of it.”
Alexander Butler “I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, if I'm able. Dirk will be back at some point, and Arnold will as well. He's another colleague! Now, no more standing around, make yourselves comfortable!” exclaimed Trace, indicating the array of cozy looking seats that lined the side of the room. Alexander took a moment to examine the new environment, noting the almost homely look. Game tables, a kitchen, and various household furniture pieces were scattered neatly around the room. It was hard to imagine that this was any sort of secret facility. That being said, there were lots of dead giveaways. Alexander immediately noticed multiple bumps in the ceiling, strategically placed to look like a simple pattern. No regular home or workplace would ever require such high-end surveillance systems. There were small areas of the wall that protruded ever so slightly from the rest, which he deduced were also hiding security devices. And this was obviously not the only room in the facility; there were multiple hallways that led off into the depths of the building. The place was a fortress, dressed to look like a home. It reminded him of his own. Alexander waited until everyone else seemed somewhat settled. Then he placed his hands behind his back, and addressed the large, jolly looking man in front of him. “Eximius. An organisation created for people like us. People who have developed abilities: the Exceptionals,” he started, reminding the man that he wasn’t entirely clueless. “But outside a simple name, there’s a question I’d like to ask. Who are we? What are we?”
Adelaide Reynolds Adelaide sat on the leather sofa and leaned in every inch of its comforting cushioning. Adelaide hadn't been too relaxed, what with all the strange happenings; but now she felt relaxed, her head was clear and her heart was beating to the hypnotizing whirr that seemed to come from a fan or a computer somewhere in the building. Adelaide had barely even realized that the shawl that held her dreadlocks up had now become ruffled and twisted around her neck, her dreadlocks flowing free. Adelaide felt so relaxed that she could have slept if not for the commotion that was rising from different areas of the room. She could see Cheyenne sitting in a corner. She couldn't really tell what emotion she had, but she seemed at peace. Alexander was standing across the room with his arms behind his back; talking to a portly man with a large mustache. Not only did the man seem to tower over Alexander, but he towered over almost everyone in the room. Adelaide could tell even behind his jolly exterior that you wouldn't want to annoy him too much. Adelaide couldn't even bring herself to raise herself from the seat. It was like she was stuck to it. Even if she couldn't see her face, she could tell by the glance that Rebecca had given her that she looked hilariously zoned out. Adelaide gave a charming smile back to Rebecca; who was wiping some dust off of her gloves. Adelaide then noticed a quite petite woman with flowing dark hair approaching her. She seemed to carry an ornamental tray with an array of sugary snacks and juices. "Excuse me, miss.. ah..?" "Adelaide.. Adelaide Reynolds." Adelaide replied to the woman; gazing her up and down. She was quite pretty; thin and pale with a large fringe obscuring her eyes. "My name's Monica. Would you like anything from the tray?" she spoke in her sweet and almost lullaby-like voice. Drearily, Adelaide spoke up; "Uh.. A juice will be fine." Monica reached, her eyes locked onto Adelaide; and picked up the glass of juice. She handed it to Adelaide with an understanding smile. Adelaide just smiled sheepishly back and placed the drink on the coffee table in-front of her. She yawned a bit before sipping the sweet beverage; soon she realized two figures entering from the door which they came in.
Rebecca Woods The building looked like an abandoned warehouse on the outside but on the inside it was welcoming and joyful. There were several game tables, couches, chairs, and a couple of new faces she hadn't seen before. Everyone seemed to immediately spread out and make themselves comfortable. She looked around for her friends. Adelaide had reclined in a comfortable chair on the other side of the room. They made eye contact and smiled. Avery, on the other hand, was no where to be seen. Neither was that russian woman. Maybe they were exploring, or just hidden in the crowd. Either way her legs were tired and she needed to sit. Rebecca stepped forward and began moving to what looked like a comfortable set of couches when suddenly a body, the homless man, bumped into her. Thankfully it wasn't hard enough to give her a bruise. She made eye contact with the homeless man that had arrived with the new group at the art studio. "Oh, ah sorry... about that... bumping... into you," The homeless man said attempting to smile. "Not what I was expecting, this place... friendlier." Rebecca smiled and pushed a red curl out of her eyes. "Yes, I was just noticing that myself." She studied his face. He looked nervous and agitated. As if being a place like this with so many people was the worst thing that could happen to him. In an attempt to make him feel more comfortable she held out her hand and said, "I'm Rebecca. What's your name?" "...Marty," the man said slowly, starring at her hand as if it was a rattle snake. After a moment he reached out his own hand, covered in a ratty, black glove. He gave her hand a quick squeeze and let go, but not so quick that she didn't notice that one his fingers was missing. The moment she touched his hand a feeling went through her. It wasn't anything she could explain, even in her own mind. It was dark, mysterious; more like a shadow appearing in her mind just long enough to let her know something was different about this man. Must have something to do with his powers. I wonder what he can do. She shifted her backpack as she attempted to figure out the best way to phrase the question. Finally she decided. "So, I can create a shield of energy and send out waves of energy. What do you do?" Marty lifted an eyebrow and shuffled uncomfortably as she mentioned her abilities. This clearly wasn't an easy topic for him. Finally he shook his head and said, "I don't have... not me... just borrowing. It's all Martin. Martin has the power." Marty's eyes flicked back and forth nervously then he leaned in closer. "He makes them forget," he whispered to her. When he stepped back again his eyes were still scanning the room, but he seemed to be getting more comfortable. Martin? What does he mean by that? Did someone else give him powers? Does he have a split personality? Before she could ask he spoke again, "Your power... how old... When did you find out?" He was sounding a little less scared and more curious. "Oooh." Rebecca sighed as she took a nearby seat, setting her red backpack on the floor. "I first discovered them the day my parents died. I was 6…a drunk driver hit us and we rolled down a hill. My parents were killed instantly but I wasn’t hurt. The doctors all said it was miracle that I didn't get even a cut, but I knew that something special had happened; even on the worst day of my life. My instincts somehow knew to put up a shield right before we crashed. I just wish I had known before. Then maybe I would have been able to..." Rebecca trailed off. Thinking such thoughts only made her sad. Circumstances couldn't be change...dwelling on the past didn't help anything. She breathed deeply and put back on a pleasant face. This Marty was nervous enough. No need to make him feel more uncomfortable with her feeling sorry for herself. "You said you...or Martin...can make people forget. What did you mean by that? Can you erase people's memories?"
Avery Funkhouser Chills ran down Avery's spine when she heard Ivanna's gritty laughter, as if what she had just said had been some kind of joke. “Really? You’re afraid of your own power? If that’s the case, you should be glad it’s raining. But you’re not. You’re scared of the rain because it’s the only thing that can keep you under control. And, deep down, you don’t want to be controlled.” She gave Avery a nasty grin. “Typical angsty teenage bullshit.” Avery stared down at her suede boots, her anger simmering with every word. She was used to other people talking bad about her, but not straight to her face like this. Ivanna spoke like she could see into her very core. Was the woman right? Was she really that weak, scared even? No, the woman didn't understand a thing. Before Avery could say the words that lingered on her tongue, they stopped abruptly at the art studio from before. Ivanna rested under an awning, and the crystal cup that she held vanished from her hand, the rainwater landing on the concrete with a splash. “I was gonna chuck that in your face for a good laugh, but I’ve changed my mind. You really are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, aren’t you? You’d probably dissolve if I did.” Avery took in a quick, sharp breath through her teeth. Was the woman testing her, trying to get her angry? “I thought we had something in common, but I guess not,” Ivanna sighed, picking up her previous pace, “Toughen up, little girl. Pull your balls outta your back pocket. I’m not scared of anyone, especially not myself, my power, or some stupid rain. Regrets are for dead men. You’ll never control anything until you stop being afraid of it.” Avery threw down the umbrella, now engulfed in flames. The green coloring of the nylon melted, dripping down like slime. Rebecca sadly wasn't going to get her umbrella back. She pointed her slender flaming finger at Ivanna. "Shut up! Stop talking like you know everything, that you know me. I'm not scared, only cautious. You have no idea what kind of consequences comes with my power. Everything can backfire on me," Avery clenched her fist, upon feeling the cold rain quench her flame, "You're right that I don't want to be controlled, but I fight against that. I fight the urge. In an instant I could wipe out anything, but I don't. You know why? Because it won't help anything or anyone." Avery took a deep breath, shoving her hands into her hoodie pocket. "When I first discovered my power I exploded stuff, made fireballs, melted things, gave in for the fun of it. But, as soon as I did that, it didn't satisfy me. I stooped so low to want to set fire to my own house. And, not only that, but then I accidentally hurt myself really bad. You think I wear sunglasses for fashion?" Avery scoffed, tapping her dark lenses for emphasis, "After that, I stopped, well...I tried. I hate what its made me feel on the inside. I already had a sucky life, and it only got worse."
Ivanna Testarossa Avery threw down the umbrella, now engulfed in flames. The metal frame glowed red hot and the plastic coating slowly oozed down until it formed a greenish puddle on the sidewalk, steaming in the rainwater. "Shut up!” Avery yelled, pointing a fiery finger at Ivanna. “Stop talking like you know everything, that you know me. I'm not scared, only cautious. You have no idea what kind of consequences comes with my power. Everything can backfire on me. You're right that I don't want to be controlled, but I fight against that. I fight the urge. In an instant I could wipe out anything, but I don't. You know why? Because it won't help anything or anyone." Wiping out the gray suits would help a lot of people, Ivan thought as she watched the girl continue her rant. Her gaze shifted to the molten umbrella, which was steadily cooling into a grotesque plastic disk. If they could find something to point this loose cannon at… "When I first discovered my power I exploded stuff, made fireballs, melted things, gave in for the fun of it,” Avery said after shoving her hands into her pockets. Ivan noticed her hoodie didn’t suddenly burst into flames; the girl had more control than she gave herself credit for. Perhaps it was the rain or perhaps Avery truly could quench her own fire… if she wanted to. “But, as soon as I did that, it didn't satisfy me. I stooped so low to want to set fire to my own house. And, not only that, but then I accidentally hurt myself really bad. You think I wear sunglasses for fashion?" Avery scoffed, tapping her dark lenses for emphasis, "After that, I stopped, well...I tried. I hate what it’s made me feel on the inside. I already had a sucky life, and it only got worse." Ivanna stooped down and scraped the remains of the umbrella off the sidewalk. The plastic had hardened into a warped green Frisbee and the metal parts were twisted at obscure angles, like a piece of modern art. “It must be hard on you,” she said as she turned to face Avery. “How can you sleep at night with all those dead umbrellas on your conscience?” She couldn’t help but laugh a little. But it wasn’t her usual, cruel laugh. This time is was a buddy laugh. Ivan was laughing with her, instead of at her. “What you really need is practice,” she said to Avery. “You’ve been playing with fire, when you should be taming it. I don’t know if it’s going to actually help you --you might be beyond help-- but it beats feeling sorry for yourself all the time, don't it? Just wanting control ain't enough. You have to reach out and take it." She gave a longsuffering sigh. This was too sappy. “Ayway, we should get moving. I wanna see the look on Little Miss Sunshine’s face when she sees this,” Ivan said, holding up the ruined umbrella with a smirk.
Cheyenne Fear Everyone was getting settled in. Only a few words had been exchanged, and now the room was silent. Cheyenne clenched her hands in her lap, trying not to squirm about in her chair as was her tendency. The boy had asked a good question, "What was Eximius?" and it seemed that everyone else was waiting for the reply as well. Trace stood, scratching his chin, and staring at a ceiling fan. He seemed to be thinking hard about something, but what, Cheyenne didn't know. "It's a hard question to answer," He began slowly, ushering Monica to his side, and plucking a glass of water from her little tray, "To outsiders, that is. You're all from different walks of life, and you've been brought together by your abilities; that doesn't mean we're all on the same side. Most of our information is secret, even to our own members, but what I can tell you is this: Ten years ago, I was going about my daily business; errands, shopping, the like. I didn't have anyone waiting for me at home, so I took my time, making sure I had all my necessities. When I did arrive back at my house, I knew it had been broken in. I turned to run to the police, but there was a man behind me, a gun in my face. I couldn't believe it was all happening in broad daylight. Worse yet, no one around me seemed to notice that anything was amiss. "I would have been done for, had it not been for Dirk. He took out the man holding me up, and took me into an alley. He'd been following these men, he said, and they were on a mission: To destroy people like us. He knew of my ability before I even told him, he's a very clever man. He said that he'd been following several other people with abilities, this was before we were dubbed "Exceptionals", and said he'd been trying to protect them. There were too many though, he wasn't able to take care of them all. "So, together we formed Eximius. It's a refuge for Exceptionals, but more than that. It's an army in the making. But when we first formed there weren't as many grey suits running around, and most Exceptionals passed us off as loons. We hadn't planned on building a force, we were more interested in hiding and surviving; but, over the years, the grey suits have exploded, and so have the Exceptional murders. Still, no one seems to notice them, except for us." Trace dabbed at his brow with a kerchief, and sipped his water. "Currently, we have four headquarters, and one hundred fifty-two members across three countries. We have even more members joining through our website. It's not a lot, and every few days one of us disappears, Gary Fear and his wife being among the latest. He's been with us for five years, and has been protecting our base with his power for that entire time. With him gone, we'll have to move again, or stay and risk getting caught." Trace finished his water, and stared at the boy, "But I'm rambling, does that answer your question to an extent? In short, we're normal people, protecting other normal people."
Avery Funkhouser “It must be hard on you. How can you sleep with all those dead umbrellas on your mind?” Ivanna said, laughing at her own joke. Avery watched in silence. Was Ivanna seriously still poking fun? After all she said, revealing bits about her life that she could’ve kept secret. But, as the woman laughed Avery did notice a slight change in her tone. It wasn’t a cackle, actually more like a laugh friends would share. Avery had to admit, it was kind of funny, the way the umbrella was deformed, jutting out at weird angles. Though, if Ivanna got a kick out of this, she could think of even funnier things she’d done before. Blowing up stuffed animals and baking cookies in her room were some of the best. “What you really need is practice,” Ivanna continued, “You’ve been playing with fire, when you should be taming it. I don’t know if it’s going to actually help you --you might be beyond help-- but it beats feeling sorry for yourself all the time, don't it? Just wanting control ain't enough. You have to reach out and take it." Avery listened carefully to her words. She was pleasantly surprised; Ivanna had more wisdom than met the eye. Not only in ways of violence and survival, but in real life issues. Who would've known? Ivanna sighed deeply, like she was now bored of being the wise one. “Anyway, we should get moving. I wanna see the look on Little Miss Sunshine’s face when she sees this.” Avery cracked a smile as Ivanna held up her one-of-a-kind creation. It was hard to believe she had really done that. "Why don't we just sell it to an art museum and buy Rebecca a new umbrella?" Avery joined in the laughter, letting all of her anger from the day slide off her back. The day had been stressful, more stress than she had started it with. She'd never complain about her short heat sicknesses again. She'd been chased by creepy men, witnessed murder, hung out with crazy people, burnt up a car; and as much as she wanted it to be over, Avery had a feeling that this was just the beginning. She might as well enjoy the peace right now. Ivanna picked up their previous pace, and Avery sped up, walking backwards to face her. "And, hey, thanks for the advice. I've never been able to talk to anyone about this kind of stuff before. Bottling up my feelings is sorta my thing. Then I get shaken up and explode," Avery laughed again, "I'll have to try and use all that 'angst' in a better way." Now that she had the woman's attention, Avery wanted to ask the one question that had been buzzing in her mind. The question that would answer a lot of things. "Now that we've talked about me, let's talk about you. You aren't from Coventry are you? What brought you here?"
Joe Williams Joe watched as everyone got settled around the room. It was average size with furniture scattered about. and a door way leading off to what looked like a kitchen. It was like a tiny home. And this is a secret base huh. Even more hallways lead off from this room. Joe wondered just how big the rest of the base was, for they knew it could go miles underground. The others took various seets around the room, the girl whos lap he had been sitting on striking up a conversation with a homeless man. Joe could hear her talking about her ability to create shields and waves of energy. Their conversation was interupted by the killer boy asking what exceptionals were. Surely the clue is in the name? Joe wondered, we're exceptional people of course. A man answered his question, explaining how Dirk had saved them and brought them here. Joe's attention drifted in and out as he explained. "...we have four headquarters and one hundred and fifty two members... That's a lot of members. Joe thought slightly saddened by the idea that there were one hundred and fifty two peope with powers like him. "In short, we're normal people, protecting other normal people." Now seems as good-a-time as any to make myself known. Joe headed into the centre of the room to speak. His form changed as he walked, slowly the back legs vanished with the rest of the body following as the head grew. The giant cat head turned to the man who had just spoken. "And what makes you think we need protecting?"
Ivanna Testarossa As they walked, Avery turned to face Ivanna. "And, hey, thanks for the advice,” she said. “I've never been able to talk to anyone about this kind of stuff before. Bottling up my feelings is sorta my thing. Then I get shaken up and explode." She laughed. "I'll have to try and use all that 'angst' in a better way." “Yeah, sure, whatever.” Great, now the girl was getting clingy. I’m not your sister or you girlfriend, Ivan thought, but she kept a neutral face, and even a half-hearted smile as Avery laughed. They were in this together, so she might as well accept the friendship for what it was. "Now that we've talked about me, let's talk about you,” Avery said. “You aren't from Coventry are you? What brought you here?" “I brought myself here,” Ivan said. “I’ve been all over Europe. It was only a matter of time before I hit the UK. I don’t like staying in one place for long. Was thinking about crossing to America next, before I ran into… you people.” He hesitated at the ed, not quite sure what to call this new crowd she’d fallen in with. Ivan had been in all sorts of gangs and such, but this wasn’t anything like what she’d experienced before. They crossed a street and she paused for a moment, trying to remember Dirk’s directions. There was a brick alleyway that matched his description, so she headed that way. “Anyway, I’m from Russia, in case you didn’t guess,” she went on to say. “My parents are stupid rich and didn’t give two shits about me, but instead of bitching and moaning about it, I just up and left.” They were at the door now, so she stopped. She had timed it perfectly. Ivan had no intention of telling Avery her life story, so arriving at their destination was the perfect excuse to end the tale before it truly began.
Rebecca Woods Rebecca waited paitently for an answer from Marty. He squirmed and bit his lip as he tried to think of an appropiate answer. Just when she thought he was about to answer something else drew her attention. There was a T.V. she hadn't seen before in the corner of the room. It hung from the ceiling so most of the occupants of the room could see it if they paid attention. It was on mute but a picture on the news drew her eye. It was her. It was picture of herself, in her waitress outfit. She nearly ran passed Marty and few other people searching for the remote which she found on a little side table. Turning the volume up just loud enough for her to hear she listened intently. "Rebecca Woods, a waitress at Mac's fish-n-chips, disappeared from her home earlier this evening. The police recieved a distress call that 2 men in grey suits had invaded the home of the waitress. However, the police arrived on the scene to late. It appears that the waitress put up a fight but in the end failed to repel her attackers." Images of her home were flashed on the screen. There were cracks in the wall, furniture toppled over, and broken picture frames scattered on the floor. Rebecca sighed sadly as an brief video, of the animal shelter people carrying her cat away in the crate, appeared on the screen. The reporter continued, "If anyone has any information of Rebecca's whereabouts please call the number on the bottem of the screen immediatly." Rebecca muted the T.V. and set down the remote. Great. Her face was plastered all over the news just begging more grey suits to come after her. Maybe she should call the police. Let them know she was fine and not kidnapped. She took a seat on a nearby sofa. She couldn't call...could she. They would have too many questions that she didn't have the answers too. Also they might be able to track the call then she would put everyone here at risk. No...for the time being it would be best to remain silent and hope she didn't get in trouble when they discovered wasn't kidnapped.
Avery Funkhouser Avery listened intently as Ivanna talked about how she arrived in Coventry. She’d been all over Europe? Avery thought it would be fun to go anywhere out of England again; it had been ages since she’d traveled with her parents. On their vacations she usually did her own sightseeing, while her parents hung out at pubs, but thinking about it now, she missed it. Avery followed Ivanna across the street, wondering how much longer until they would reach their destination. She would’ve enjoyed the walk more if she wasn’t drenched. Her hoodie had soaked up a lot of rainwater, that was beginning to seep through her tank top. Avery grimaced when she looked again at the deformed umbrella Ivanna held. If only she had the power to undo time. “Anyway, I’m from Russia, in case you didn’t guess,” Ivanna went on to say after a brief pause, “My parents are stupid rich and don’t give two shits about me, but instead of bitching and moaning, I just up and left.” Avery’s mouth dropped open. Ivanna was like…her? With her parents anyway, they didn’t care about her either? Avery remembered the times she had thought about running away from her home too, but the saying that ‘you should never run away from your problems’ kept her from going through with it. Plus, she couldn’t bare to think about being homeless and dirty or having to scavenge for all her necessities. That would be a horrible life, worse than what she already had. Ivanna was cut off from her conversation, when she stopped in front of what appeared to be a brick wall in an alley. It was a dead end, why weren’t they turning around? Avery looked to Ivanna who just stared back. Was she missing something? She faced the brick wall again, this time noticing the sunken indents and a little doorknob. It was a camouflaged metal door, right in the wall! “Interesting…” Avery mumbled, reaching for the silver doorknob. She turned it to the left and pulled it open; surprisingly it was unlocked. As Avery stepped through the door, her past instincts kicked in. This better not be a trap… But, once inside her worries disappeared. She had walked into a nice room with a cozy feel to it, much like Rebecca’s apartment. The odd thing about the place was the silence. Some people were standing around, some sitting, ones that before today she would’ve passed by in an instant. There were a few other new faces too, one being a giant floating cat head. I can now officially say I’ve seen everything, Avery thought, watching the head float from side to side. She eventually pried her eyes away from the enchanting scene, and saw Rebecca and Adelaide seated on some of the couches in the room. What caught her eye more was behind them, a small kitchen area with a sink in the corner. Avery ran over to it, the rubber soles of her boots squeaking on the tiled floor, breaking the unsettling silence. What was wrong with everyone, cat got their tongues? Avery smiled to herself, as she peeled off her wet hoodie. It was such a relief to take it off, she didn’t care if anyone saw the winding scars on her arms. She held the heavy, dripping hoodie over the sink, squeezing as much water out of it as she could. After that, Avery slipped it back on, and spun on her heel towards Rebecca. She sighed as she fell into the soft cushions. It felt good to be able to finally relax and be in a dry place. She stretched her arms out on the back of the sofa and rested her feet on a small coffee table, then turned to Rebecca. She had a distant look in her eyes, and her hands were clasped tightly in her lap. Avery assumed she must be thinking hard about something, possibly something that had happened while she was away. Avery gave her an encouraging smile. “Well, I think that I’ve had enough adventures for one day, how about you?”
