Appearance: Light blonde hair and light blue eyes. Its wavy and goes down her waist. She as a clear face and light pink lips and little dimples. She is about 5'3 and slim, her slight build gives her an athletic look as she runs all the time. She wears cute clothing, (like hollister and abracombie clothing.)
Personality: Nice and laided back, she is funny and fun loving. She is very cute and sweet and maybe even a little flirty.
History (How’d They Discover Their Gift): She was at track practice at sundown when all of a sudden her hand started glowing. She ran to the bathroom then she realized her eyes where glowing and she hid in a stall she came out and found a note on the sink. She wrote her note saying she had fallen off the back of the bleachers at school and cracked her head and died from blood loss. Chloe had always kept a bag of extra pairs of clothing and a extra toothbrush so she waited in the bathroom with her stuff till they came for her.
Other: She is looking for love. Wants a running partner and is up for any sibling relationships.
So, I don't think anyone else had water female. However, if the water spots are already taken and there's another spot I wouldn't mind switching out my character. Just let me know.
Name: Clara Belle (Claire)
Age: 16
Gender:Female
Fundamental Class: Water
Appearance: Claire has brilliantly blue eyes which change according to her emotion. Light eyes means she's angry, dark eyes means she's sad, and the brighter they get the happier she is. Her hair is blonde, and falls down to her waste. Her skin has a tinge of blue, her parents thought it had to do with breathing problems, but mostly likely it comes from her powers over water. She has a crooked smile, is a little smaller than average, and her fingernails are always painted blue or silver.
Personality: Claire is overall a sweet girl. She doesn't speak much unless spoken to, but once you start a relationship with her she generally opens up. For the most part her emotions are calm and unchanging, but there are times when she reaches her limit and all her emotions rush out as one and make a confusing mess for eveyone. She's very timid, but extremely loyal. Once she makes a friend, they become a friend for life. No matter what. She'll do anything for a loved one. Claire is athletic and smart, but doesn't like showing off and won't use her skills unless needed. She loves poetry and carries a small notebook with her everywhere she goes. She's willing to do just about anything, and is always ready to help.
History (How’d They Discover Their Gift): Claire grew up with two younger brothers and distant parents. Her father worked for a mega-company that ran just about every product imaginable, and he spent all his time glued to work related things. Her mother constantly abandoned the children to spend time with neighborhood friends, and the two boys often ignored Claire because she was a girl. However, even while her family pushed her away, Claire fought to get closer. She stood up for her family without failure, up to the day when her mother told her straight out that she did not want a family. Her mother insisted that Claire's birth had been an unwanted accident.
Filled with anger and shock, Claire's reaction was silent and masked, but water began to rise up from the floor. Claire managed to control her reaction before hurting anyone, but her mother immediately sent her away to a mental institution. It was there that Claire recieved the mysterious note and the news that she was a Fundamentalist.
Other: Claire has a huge imagination, and likes to form sculptures out of water. She also had the ability to change water from liquid to gas or solid. Basically, she could make the entire water cycle happen in a few minutes right in front of her.
Last edited by Cailey on Sat Feb 16, 2013 4:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity. -Kafka
Fundamental Class: Light. Can bend, focus, and adjust the wave length of light. She can also create light, but only at about 4% efficiency (4% of the energy used is actually given off as light).
Appearance: Tall (5'11"-6'), with short blonde hair, wrapped into a pony tail, bright blue eyes. Spoiler
A picture of her, taken during a training exercise.
Personality: Always smiling, friendly, and willing to look on the bright side of any problem. The mildly emphatic nature of light spirits, combined with her own extroverted nature, drives Lucy to help everyone around her, and try to make the world a better place. As a paramedic, she dedicated herself to help people in their moment of greatest need, which she does . . . sometimes.
As a paramedic, Lucy's seen more people die than she'd like to admit, and she remembers each of their faces, but the dead aren't the ones who haunt her. The survivors who go right back to the vice that nearly killed them, are the ones she thinks about. She had a chance to save them, a chance to make their lives better, but she didn't.
When she was offered a position as a tactical paramedic with the area's SWAT team, she nearly turned it down. The prospect of not only seeing people die, but helping those doing the killing made her sick, but her desire to help managed to outweigh her disgust. Her ability to detect and connect with people, might, no, would allow her to save more lives than anyone else, right? Unable to justify not taking it, she accepted the job and began training immediately.
Sometimes she cries at night.
History (How’d They Discover Their Gift):
For the Camden family, magic is in the blood. Lucy's grandfather, George, was a fire fundamental, her father, Robert, was a fire fundamental, and they both expected her to be one as well.
As a baby, Robert watched her closely, looking for any signs of fire manipulation. Unlike other babies, Lucy never seemed to put on any weight, no matter how much she ate. Even after a doctor putting her on an ultra-high nutrient formula, she was still significantly smaller than other children her age. After a 3 am feeding session, Robert fell asleep in the chair next to her crib, only to be awoken moments later by a strange glow. When Robert saw his daughter all lit up, he knew she was special.
Lucy did well in school, but not great. Most of the time she was supposed to spend studying, was spent socializing.
After graduating college she went on to work as a paramedic, out of a local hospital.
When she noticed the signature on the note, she remembered a story her grandfather told her. "Someone fucked up," he always started, "they weren't supposed to start bombing until we were safely out of there. My unit was on an advanced scouting mission, when the fire hit. The trees ignited like matches, one of the big ones fell on Kowalski, crushing his skull like-"
"Jesus dad, she just a little girl," her father always interrupted.
"This important, after that, we started running, that's when a bomb dropped right at out feet. The blast evaporated the guys with me, but the flames didn't touch me, like the prophets of old. With the gear wrecked, and no way to call for an evac I walked until I found an allied patrol. After getting over their shock, they shipped me back to base for debriefing, but instead of an officer, they sent in this small nervous looking man in a suit. He introduced himself as being with "The Service," an organization which kept tabs on people like me. He said that one day they might need us to fight, and asked if I was willing. I agreed, and he gave me this gun," he gestured to the gun on the mantle.''
Lucy reached into the drawer where her grandfather's gun was kept, and put it in the pocket of her paramedic uniform.
Other: Up for love, but she'll be more of a big sister to the group than anything else.
A man without a plan, or anything else for that matter. (Except a review thread).
Ever since I "died" I've been in a weird haze. I've only felt this way twice before, once when I found out my mother killed my father, and again when I realized that I killed my mother. The low buzzing in my ears, like static or bees, told me that I was in a daze. If someone was talking, I didn't hear them. If someone was to touch me, I wouldn't feel them. If someone was around, I didn't see them.
The daze made me non-existent, erased the world around me, and that was nice at times.
Memories flashed in my eyes of the last day. They came just as they said they would, right on time, and I knew I wasn't ready but that was no longer my choice to make. And they made sure I knew I was helpless in the situation. They copied my face onto a clone that looked like a mannequin; the only difference was that this mannequin could move on its own. He was faceless until they let him borrow mine, bloodless until they made me donate. He could talk with his mouth, my mouth, to The Service members surrounding us; could see with my eyes, hear with my ears, smell with my nose. He could hold that gun with his fingers, my fingers, and press it to his temple, and pull the trigger. On me. My body on the floor. My parents screams, very much their own, echoed through the house, and I had seconds to get out the window before my family was crying over the body. My body.
The Service, as they insisted I refer to them as, took me away in a strange black car. I was in that car for only a minute or two, or so it seemed, but when I got out again I was eight states away from home. Washington. They led me away to a huge building, which confused me. If they were The Service, and obviously meant to be a secret, why was the building so conspicuous?
"Go to the Conference Room," was all they said before they left me there - left me here, stranded in a empty hallway among what had to be a hundred empty hallways. I shook my head, clearing away the buzz to a low hum at the back of my mind, and started walking.
An impossible number of doors lined the wall in each hall, each with a plain golden plaque announcing its contents, most of them locked. It took me nearly an hour to find the Conference Room.
Opening the door revealed a bare room, equipped with only a long table and a hanging chandelier. I walked in cautiously, grabbed a chair, and sat down. Almost immediately the buzzing started up again.
"Oh god..."
“Not God, just The Service, but people often make that mistake.” I turned around frantically in my chair, nearly toppling over. Behind me was a woman with dead eyes and a thin mouth. He skin was wrinkled and spotted. She wore a tightly pressed suit and a cap that hid what hair she may or may not have. I looked down to the badge on her chest which simply read “The Informer”. She walked around the long table and sat at the head of it. I stared at her in confusion, she just stared ahead.
I swallowed down my near crippling confusion and cleared my throat.
"Ma'am, excuse me, but why am I here? What's going on?"
“That will be explained once the others arrived.”
Her voice was monotone and scratchy. The Informer was a scary type of serious.
“The others?”
“Yes,” she said, “the rest of the Fundamentals.”
"Fundamentals? I don't understand what you're talking about. Ma'am, I just-"
"All will be explain," she stressed, "once the others get here. They should not be long."
Just then, the door opened.
Spoiler
You're going to be picked up by The Service and then deposited at headquarters and then find the room. However long it takes you to find the room is totally up to you.
I was not, happy. The mental ward I got stuck in was the bottom line the last place I'll ever want to be in and I did not enjoy being there. I'll be honest at first I thought the letter was some joke by other people around the ward, I was slowly perfecting my power, learning, testing, attempting. Doing stuff in private, I practiced during the night, going by the moonlight that past though my room window. I was learning, becoming more powerful as practiced at the ward, slowly I knew I was becoming stronger more practiced, and soon, I would have been a while menace to society seeking freedom from its cage.
But The Service changed all that, they were good, professionals even. I knew they had deactivated the security systems around my ward because when they came, no alarms were set off. There was no evidence that The Service had forced its way into the Ward, which told me one of two things, one, this was some ploy by my father to get me to use my power in the open, or two, they were just that good at there job. I wanted to bet on the former, but something told me it was the latter, they had me donate blood, they took my face, my Ward outfit and gave me a comfortable outfit to wear.
The Service, they just were that good, they replicated me perfectly, genetics would tell my father that this was a fake and that the real Angel Raziel is still alive, but DNA testing would be taking things to far. I don't think dad would go to such distances to prove it wasn't me, but we would see soon enough. The mannequin, moved on its own, it became me, a fake me, and one if I ever saw after this, I would destroy.
The Service took me out of the ward, never signing me out, never doing anything that was normal procedure, I was ground level when I saw the imposter again, I was in a strange black car. The fake me, it jumped from the window that would have marked my room at, the body its the ground, and I can't help but flinch as it hits. That was my suicide, leaping from a window to my death, my ride was short, I was already in Washington and we were taken to one of the larger buildings in the state.
By time I got inside everyone had shut up and done there job, a lady who had a serious look to her lead me though the halls, I took in the place which wasn't much to look at since they barely did anything fancy with the place.
"Go to the Conference Room," they said before they left me, which was odd considering I've only saw this building from the outside a few times, I wouldn't know where this Conference Room was. It took me clear to an hour, hour and a half maybe to find this so said this room that they spoke of, I probably could have found it a lot quicker, if I wasn't such a slow walker. As I walked the fake plastic gun that the Ward let me keep and my Sunglasses which hid my eyes away from other prying eyes, useful for hiding thoughts since anyone who looked into my eyes could read my thoughts anyways.
Finally I came across a room that had a golden plaque that read "Conference Room" on it, yea, way to make it anymore obvious eh TS? Anyways I reached for the handle, and open the door, I could hear someone talking on the other side.
"All will be explain, once the others get here. They should not be long," a woman said.
I walked in and took note quickly that there was a guy and woman sitting at a long table, there was obviously more to this than meets the eye, because there were more seats than for just two people, and more people were bound to arrive. I went and took a seat away from the woman and guy, no one spoke it was about as quiet as a mouse, until I heard the loud explosion of course.
Haylee Knight Spoiler
POV change.
Haylee was not a happy girl, first she had found a note saying something about a secret, crumbled it, then got hit in the neck by a second note warning her to not do that again. Ha what a laugh, telling Haylee what to do, as if! Haylee crumbled the next note and threw it to the ground and then brought up her jacket collar to protect her neck, some stupid trick of Child Services, now they were just getting pathetic! It was some time before Haylee knew she had more problems than just Child Services, it wasn't until she turned an alleyway and saw felt a tranquilizer go past her face as she was turning into the alleyway. Haylee turned back seeing the dart on the ground, then dashed away and down the alleyway, now she had problems and she was being hunted. This couldn't be Child Services, they weren't this extreme, at least Haylee hoped they weren't.
Haylee wasn't used to be hunted, who would honestly? But her heart slammed in her chest as she was about to leave the alleyway, she pinned herself against a wall and then looked out showing most of her face. She quickly ducked back in as the dart came flying in, just barely missing her, her heart kept pounding as she was trying to think of a way out of this. She could just wait the sniper out, she just had something to eat, but she needed rest, so what harm could there be in just staying where she was? Haylee slid down the wall, and breathed deeply. It felt like five or ten minutes worth of rest seemed like hours, that was until the guy poked her on the shoulder, and before she could even scramble to a new hiding spot, her put the rage to her nose and mouth, and then Haylee was out like a light.
It was some time before Haylee awoke again, she found herself in a comfortable bed it had been a long time since Haylee was lying in a bed. Her eyes dart around the room quickly taking in the surroundings, No one else was in the room, Haylee was quickly regaining strength. She sat up and saw the wires in her arm and then saw the blood bag, now that rubbed Haylee the wrong way. She seen this before, she was in a hospital before and she did not enjoy these blood bag, things. Haylee undid the tape that kept the tubes in her arm secure and then slowly worked out the tubes, once done, she found some disinfectant in a near by cabin and some cloth with some tape, and the fixed up the injury.
Once done she took a look around, she found her jacket on a clothes jacket hanger, she grabbed it from there and put it on. Then she went for the only door in the room, and lucky enough it was unlocked, somehow they thought she wouldn't try and escape, well they were wrong, Haylee poked her head out the door and looked down the hall and saw no body, no security either, they must have believed that she wouldn't try and escape. Haylee walked out of the hall and went down the hall, she knew she didn't knew where she was going and she would have to guess.
Eventually she got a room that had a golden plaque that read "Conference Room" on it, so much for subtlty, Haylee looked down the ends of the hallway and saw no one, Haylee was about to move on when she heard voices on the other side.
"Angel Raziel correct?" Haylee heard.
"That's me," this Angel girl answered.
"Good, others will be here shortly, please be patient," the woman replied.
Haylee was curious, but it seems someone knows something, and Haylee wanted to know what this woman knew, she did something she shouldn't have, she went back and pushed the door open and quickly took note of three people, a guy and two chicks. Her eyes fell on an old woman who seem to glare menacingly at Haylee, she knew something, and Haylee wanted to find out.
"How did you get out?" the woman growled at her menacingly.
"Next time, lock the door, and then post security, it was easy to slip out if you don't have either one," Haylee said.
"But no questions, it's time for an answer who are you, and why do you want me?" Haylee asked.
"All will be explained in due time Ms. Knight, please have a seat while I notify security your with me now," the woman said.
Haylee did something she shouldn't have, instead of taking a seat she grabbed one of the chairs stepped up on it and then onto the table and moved down the table and right into the woman's face. Haylee's hand was about to go right around the woman's throat when she felt a sudden pain in her shoulder, it felt like she just got shot with a bullet. Haylee turned to look at direction the bullet came from, and saw a girl with sunglasses, and a gun in her hand and standing on the table.
"Hasn't your mother told you to never harm the elderly?" the girl in sunglasses said.
"Hasn't your mother told you to never snoop in other peoples business?!" Haylee said angrily.
"Only when it seems like trouble is brewing," the girl replied wittingly.
"Well then..." Haylee said standing up and cracking her knuckles and neck.
"Bring it on!" Haylee declared.
"This'll be quick," she said.
She took of her sunglasses revealing stormy gray eyes, if this was the first year Haylee was on the run it would have unnerved her, but it didn't the girl three her sunglasses and gun into the guy who seemed surprised by her sudden gestures.
"Here, hold these for me," she said to him.
Spoiler
Continuing this in my next post this is seriously long for an opening post for two characters.
An angel, a knight, a man who will bring light to where there is only darkness, I am the Morning Star, the Bringer of Light, hail to me as I am King Lucifer!
I shifted in the chair, feeling the cool weight of the gun pressed against my leg. I took another swig of lukewarm beer and looked back at the clock.
4:58, two minutes until they arrived.
Grandpa always said that someday they might come back for him, dad waited his turn too, both hoping their power would amount something. Yet, they're coming for me. Why-
The silence was punctuated by three sharp knocks on the door. The clock still read 4:58 as I got up to answer it. Set the clock to the right time when you get back. Three large men, dressed in suits and shades stood out in the hall.
"Ms. Camden?" The one in the middle asked.
"Yes, you must be with The Service," I replied.
"I assume everything's taken care of," he said, stepping into the apartment. "Before getting you to the car, we're going to need to search you, just a formality to make sure you're not going to try anything foolish."
Before I had a chance to answer, his hands started working their way down my body before coming to rest on the gun. In an instant I was pinned to the ground by the first agent, with the other two standing over me, guns drawn.
"Calm down, I'm not a threat, the note said-"
"Quiet," the agent on top of me barked. He gingerly took the gun out of my pocket, and put it in what sounded like a plastic bag, there was a quick popping noise, as they sealed the bag.
The agent stood up, then helped me up. The other two agents seemed to relax, and moved to put their guns away. "Would you mind telling me what a twenty-four year old paramedic from New Jersey is doing with an enchanted weapon?" The agent asked.
I sighed in relief, "as I was trying to say earlier, that was my grandfather's gun. He said that someone from The Service gave it to him as a a token of appreciation."
The answer seemed to satisfy the agent, he turned to leave, then motioned for me to follow him.
The clock on the wall read 5:00 am.
The agents helped me into the back of the car, then turned and walked back towards the building.
"I wonder where they're going," I mumbled to myself.
"To clean up, dear," a woman's voice said.
I turned around and saw a small, older woman with wavy grey hair, sitting across from me.
"Hello dear, my name's Marjorie, what's yours?" She asked.
"Lucy, Lucy Camden," I replied.
"Well it's nice to meet you Lucy," she said, beaming," I do hope my boys didn't scare you too much."
I chuckled, "what could possibly be scary about being grabbed by men in black in the middle of the night?"
"They do have a flair for the dramatic," she said, sounding like a doting grandmother, "but they would never hurt you. They know how important and special you are."
"Important?"
"Yes dear, out of all the people with a gift like yours, we chose you."
"Chose me for what? To fight?"
"We didn't choose you to fight, because we both know that's not who you are. We chose you to heal. Dark times are coming, and who won't just stand against it, but who'll help other stand as well." The car pulled up in front of a large building. "I'm so sorry I cant' tell you any more Lucy."She held out her hand to me, instantly the inside of the car was filled with a soft yellow glow. "I wish you luck Lucy Camden," she said as I stepped out of the car.
A guard at the door told me to go inside and find the conference room. When I got inside I saw someone else standing in the lobby, apparently trying to figure out which of the four hallways the conference room was in.
Spoiler
Whoever wants to take it from here, go right ahead.
A man without a plan, or anything else for that matter. (Except a review thread).
I watched from the car as grandparents cried, but I didn't even bother to listen to their words. The men from The Service, dressed as paramedics and policemen, spoke of my death. Of all the things, they had to choose suicide. Well, writing the note for my family wasn't the hard part, I was always good with words... But I would never kill myself. That just didn't make sense - I could hardly believe that my grandparents fell for it. It was almost insulting. It was raining, as it often did in this part of the country; the drops hit the car's windows as if they want to break the darkened glass, letting the people standing outside see that I'm still alive inside. I wanted to join them, smash the glass and get out, and tell them all I'm not going to follow anyone's plans - but I didn't. I didn't, like I never do, and I didn't even show what's going on in my mind.
A man sat next to me, in the driver's seat, observing me carefully. I didn't pay him enough attention to notice what he was wearing or what he actually looked like, but I knew he holds his secrets. There was something I felt around him, something that made the Familiars grin and whisper, and I wondered if I could use my abilities to get away from that whole mess. No, I concluded. Even if I wanted to, I didn't know if I was able to control them. And Noise was too close, with tears in his dark brown eyes, hiding in his treehouse and not wanting to accept that I'm gone - someone at least. I would have rather wanted him not care so much, though.
Doe curled in my lap, letting me pat her, and the rhythm of her breathing calmed me down. It was for the best. My brother and the others weren't supposed to be involved - enough people got hurt already because of my lack of control. And this Service, they said they we the good guys. What choice did I have but to trust them? Who else I could trust but them anyway?
They took me to the airport, and in less than a day we were across the world, in a country and town I only ever heard about, so many timezones away that it almost felt like I traveled back through time. If only that could be. My driver and, obviously, the man who was to deliver me to the spot we were moving towards, tried to get me into talking during the entire journey. He spoke of it all being important and how soon I will hear all the explanations I need to hear. I avoided his glances and every possibility of touching him, and glared at the darkness people carried with them. If the personal demons had weight like material objects, the plane would have crushed.
We got out of the plane, to another car, and then drove to a high building. It stood out, seeming nothing like the headquarters of some big secret organisation. I figured that was either stupidity or a clever disguise - if it seemed suspicious, no one would actually suspect it - and let my leader show me in. "Go to the Conference room," he said, not giving any further explanations. I glanced at the empty hallways, hundreds of doors and rooms, and stayed where I was. Being left to find my way in random buildings, that was never my thing. I wasn't planning on meeting people as I happened to get lost in some hallway or room, nor I wanted to be there at all. I considered just turning around and leaving, when my host came back to me. He seemed somewhat annoyed.
"You won't move? I can't leave until you do."
Stayed silent, almost amused by how he tried to get me to meet his eyes. Blinking once, I looked aside as another car approached - another black car, very much like the one I was brought by moments ago. I didn't look long enough to see the people coming out of it.
My driver grabbed my shoulder and I backed away as quickly as I could. I saw the Familiars in the shadows grinning, and I hugged myself as if I were cold. It was more of a habit, really - while I was a kid, I would often feel colder when in a bad mood. Here, the temperatures were much like the ones at home, perhaps even slightly higher. The man seemed as if he regretted his move.
"Right," he said slowly. "Come, then. I can show you to the right floor and hallway." He moved, somewhat hesitating, and this time I followed.
The room was big, empty and it already hosted more people than I wanted to see. Two girls stood against each other, both seeming angry. Only one of the chairs was occupied, by a guy approximately of my age, with blue hair and a gun in his hand. It didn't seem to be his own gun, though, and he seemed kind of puzzled as he stared at the girls. One of them had red eyes, and I had to make an effort to ignore the offers of the Familiars. I didn't want to use whatever powers i had - or did I? For some reason, I felt like doing something. I felt like making it all dark and cold and just have them all disappear.
"Enough." The voice of a woman - whom I didn't even notice before - cut through my thoughts. What was I even thinking about? Some man walked in from behind me, separating the two girls, said something quietly to the woman and then left again, shifting so he manages to walk pass me. I didn't move a bit.
"You are not here to fight each other," the woman said. Her voice was calm, yet there was something in it that almost sounded threatening. I wondered what happened to the windows in that room. Everything seemed emotionless, cold and serious. Much like myself.
"Hi," the blue haired guy said, perhaps relieved to see he's not going to be the only one of our gender here. Not that I was much of company, or even cared for if he needed any. But he did greet me, so I nodded before choosing the chair at the opposite side of the table of the woman. It was the only place I'd take when it came to such meetings - there was no one blocking me from either side, and I could see everyone clearly.
"What is this place?" One of the girls asked - the one wearing black and with gray eyes somewhat darker than my own. She was frowning, staring at the red-eyed one, who slowly sat down on my right side, but the question was directed to the woman. She, on the other hand, just sat in her chair, her eyes crossing over all of us, with some unreadable expression. The Familiars gathered around me, but they for once kept silent. I didn't like that place. Not at all. *
• previously ChildOfNowhere - they/them - literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour
Please don't make him say or do anything, at all. You can attempt to talk to him and wait for me to reply, but I hate whenever people try to potray him from their POV and they change his personality, to where it's beyond stupid. So just don't, please. Thanks.
Michael Van Halen - Dark
The crisp, neatly folded note in his hands dissolved into dark matter as Michael let out a vicious snarl and clenched his fingers into a enraged fist. His dark indigo eyes blackened instantly with fury and his entire body tensed, the muscles in his shoulders flexing as he slowly turned around in a full circle, using his abilities to check every nook and cranny of the room. He was completely alone, yet he could feel eyes watching him from about a mile away - perhaps through a pair of high class binoculars.
Baring his teeth, Michael took three long strides and grasped the chain of the bedside lamp, yanking it violently and plunging the room into darkness. There, he worked efficiently, easily seeing through the dark with his night vision. He grabbed his black bag and shoved his three pairs of black jeans, t-shirts, socks, and underwear inside and yanked open the dresser and took out a woven, leather sack, which contained his parent's wedding rings and a photo of his family. This was all he needed, any necessities he could buy on the road. He patted his back pocket to remind himself of the leather wallet in his pocket, which contained over five thousand dollars in savings, and quickly left the shabby motel room. He had paid ahead of time, which was good for the concierge, because he wasn't planning on sticking around any longer.
Outside in the cold winter night, Michael secured his backpack over his shoulders and dived into the shadows of the motel, racing downtown to hop onto the nearest train out of that city. His senses were stronger at night and he was aware of two pairs of footsteps following him, steadily, quietly. They were much more faster then he had enticipated and Michael raised his hands, palms up. Two twins balls of swriling blue-black matter manifested, floated above his hands and waiting for his command. With a snarl, Michael turned to the side and flung them at the person closest, able to pinpoint their exact location. The icy cold shadow balls knocked the man down and he fell with a sickening crunch, unable to get up again due to the ice flowing through his body and robbing him of homeostasis.
One down, one to go. And this one was incredibly faster, stronger - he was less than five feet from the man.
"Fundamental, stop. You are needed for the greater good." The man said in a cool, even tone, not even sounding out of breath.
Michael's eyes rolled in disgust and he manifested blazing fiery shadow balls this time, determined to burn this guy's mouth off. The greater good? Seriously? He sounded like a class C actor in a terrible action flick.
Michael swerved into a dark alley and hid behind a Dumpster, preparing himself to shoot. Raising his muscular arms, his mouth set in a grim line, he peeked cautiously over the edge of the Dumpster and was surprised to see no trace of the man. Feeling a warning yank in his gut, Michael barely had time to turn around before asharp object invaded his neck and plunging him into darkness.
-
He awoke inside of a car, his hands bound together by a chain. Michael sat up with a loud snarl and noticed three people sitting oppose him, two body builders and a woman. The men must've been the ones chasing after his, for one was craddling his stomach and shivering uncontrollably. The other one met Michael's murderous glare with one of his own, promising revenge as soon as he could deliver it. Michael sneered and fixed his gaze upon the last person, a woman who looked to be barely in her mid-twenties,her face free of make-up and her blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She was beautiful and she gave him a soft smile, of which he didn't return in the slightest.
"You've caused us a lot of trouble, Michael Van Halen." She said in a melodic voice, peeking at him from behind her golden-rimmed glasses, her green eyes twinkling with authority and warmth.
"What the fuck do you want?" Michael spoke in a deadly voice, leaning forward to fix her with his sinister blue irises, her teeth gritted together as he chaffed his wrists against the chains uselessly. "Unchain me, bitch. Now."
The woman's eyes narrowed and she leaned in as well, meeting his gaze. "You would do best to watch your tongue, boy, especially in front of the Informer. You will be unchained once you learn that you cannot beat us, and we will not hesitate to kill you if needed. For self-defense, of course." With that said, she replaced her sneer with a fake smile and sat back, tapping her fingers idly on the clip board in her lap. "What do we want, you ask? Well, I'll leave the entire ordeal to the Informer to explain to you, but just know that you are needed for a good cause indeed. You should feel honored."
"Honored?! You stupid, idiotic fucking dum-" Michael roared, his rage enabling him to snap through the chains and lunge for her throat, but he was knocked back by the biggestof the two men, his beefy hand grasping Michael's shirt and ripping it in the process.
Due to Michael's inability to control himself, the big man was assigned to pin his arms behind his back the entire ride back to "Headquarters". Then, Michael was yanked out of the vehicle and inside the plain-looking building, and led through a series of endless hallways before he was thrown into a room with an older, cold looking woman, two guys, one with blue hair, and three girls, two of which who were glowering at each other. Michael rubbed his wrists angrily as the door slammed shut, causing everyone to jump and stare at him. His dark indigo eyes set in a murderous flame, Michael moved away from the door and over to the darkest corner of the room, feeling comfort as the blackness eloped him and welcomed him home. On the way there, he felt the eyes bore into his neck and he whirled around, his teeth clenched in a snarl as he folded himself into the shadows. "Show's over, bitches. Turn around before ai rip your faces off."
Last edited by Iggy on Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
“I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then." - Lewis Carroll
Thomas Alexander - Earth The rising sun was warming my neck. Birds were chirping like there was no tomorrow, completely drowning out the sound of my footsteps on the soft pine covered ground. I had taken a week of from work to go hiking in the mountains. The trip was supposed to help me unwind a bit, since I had been home for a while helping mom with the boys who both seemed to having teenage crises at the same time, but I had not been able to think about anything else than how my vacation would affect our family's economy. Mom was only working part time and.. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Brooding would do me no good.
I finally spotted my cabin behind the trees. It was small and old, but the view of the mountains surrounding it was breathtaking and more than enough to compensate. I put my backpack on the porch and went down to the stream not far away. A deep breath before I waded out in the freezing clear water. It was refreshing, and I couldn't resist taking a small dive. By the time I had gotten back to the cabin I was hacking teeth and shivering, but I didn't mind. I had finally managed to work out a plan. I should take another job. That way I could take some time of once in a while and my family wouldn't have to suffer for it.
I opened the door that I had never bothered to lock and went inside. After changing and drying my hair I took a cold beer from the fridge and sat down on the porch. Maybe a second job wasn't such a good idea. Stress from an extra job combined with two rowdy teenagers was bound to make me lose my temper at one point or another, no matter how calm and patient I was. Last time I got angry I caused an earthquake. No one had died that time, but I couldn't let it happen again. If I could I would isolate myself in the mountains, where I couldn't harm anyone, but since my family needed me to support them, I couldn't. I needed to be there for them.
The hours flew by, and before I knew it it was dinner time. I must've dozed of. The muscles in my legs felt stiff, but that was only to be expected after a long hike like that. I went inside, leaving the door open, and took a look in the fridge. As I took out some eggs I heard something outside. I turned to look, expecting to see a bird or some other animal. Instead there was a note on the floor.
I frowned and picked it up. "We see you. We know your secret. Don’t try to fight it. We’re coming." For a moment my mind went completely blank. I didn't know what to believe. I was living too far away to have any neighbor play tricks on me. I hurried out on the porch to look around, but there was no one there. The birds had stopped singing, which I could only take as an ill omen.
There was a sudden sting on my neck as I turned to walk inside again. When I tried to swat it, 'cause I assumed it was a mosquito, I realized it was another note. "We’ll be here at five. Be ready." I was beginning to get scared. This obviously wasn't a joke, and they seemed to know who I was, but what did they want with me? My thoughts immediately focused on my family. If they were going to kill me, then how were they supposed to get by? Mom's salary wasn't enough. John would have to get a job, but he was only 15 and he should be focusing on school. Phil was only 13, too young to work. When I realized that I was far more worried about them than the fact that I was going to die I started laughing. It wasn't a very pleasant laugh, and I had to force myself to stop. I needed to think of something, and I needed to do it now.
I sat down in the couch and put both the notes in front of me. Life insurance. The answer suddenly came to me, and it was so obvious. Dad had invested in life insurances for all of us before he died. It wasn't much, but enough to get John through high school. After that he could get a job and they'd be fine. Well, not fine. The boys would have to go through losing another father figure, and mom would lose her oldest son. I shook my head. A family shouldn't have to go through all this. Why were these guys after me in the first place? Stupid question. I had killed more than a few people over the years. I hadn't meant to, obviously, but it had happened any way. Maybe I should try to run?
I looked down at the notes and realized that the words had changed. A small tremor shook the cabin. That wasn't possible. I stared at the note and read it over and over, trying to will the words to change back. Eventually I had no other choice than to nod twice. The words changed again, and I nodded three times. When the words changed for the third time I felt numb. Suicide. There was no way that my family was going to believe that.
I felt numb, and my thoughts were slow, not like my own. I fetched my backpack from the porch, emptied it, packed some clothes, put the sleeping bag and my water bottle back, took a shower and put some better clothes on. If I hadn't been so shocked I would've realized that The Service probably didn't care if I my clothes were worn. I took the two pendants from my drawer and put them around my neck before fetching my father's old leather jacket and going outside. Two men in suits were waiting for me. Their black van seemed imposing compared to my rusty old truck. I didn't pay much attention when they set up the scene of my suicide. Everyone who had ever met me knew I'd never kill myself, but these men didn't seem to care about that. I gave them some of my blood when that asked for it and then I followed them into the van, taking one last breath of the fresh air before they closed the door behind me.
I didn't say a word during the trip, and they seemed relieved that I didn't. I kept looking at my pendants, opening and closing them over and over, until we reached our destination. The trip felt much shorter than it should've, for when we got out we were in a city I didn't recognize, and I was pretty sure we had left Alaska.
They showed me into a large building and told me to find the conference room. As I looked for the door my thoughts began to clear. I wasn't going to die, my family would manage. When I thought about it this was actually a good thing. At least I couldn't hurt my family here.
It took me about half an hour to find the door. I took a deep breath before opening it. The tension inside the room was horrible. The people inside turned to look at me. Most of them were kids, just a bit older than John. "Hello," I said with a confused smile. I took my backpack of and sat down next to a blond woman, about my age. The others seemed almost relieved at my arrival. "Anyone mind explaining why I'm here?" My voice sounded much more relaxed than I felt. I fought the impulse to put my feet on the table.
"That will be explained once the others arrives," the older woman at the end of the table said calmly. I nodded and leaned back in my chair. Guess I had no other choice but to wait.
“Are you looking for sympathy? You'll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis” ― Thomas Harris
I ran towards the black car as soon as I saw it pull up in front of the school. Tears falling down my cheeks a rather large man helped me into a big black van. It is exactly 5:00 am and I am extremely tired. I closed the door and sat down next to one of the men. I pulled my knees up to my chest and buried my face into the soft material. I was wearing a light pink tee-shirt that said "Free Hugs!" and my favorite leggings with my cowboy boots. My long hair had been but into a side braid. I stared down at my hands realizing they were still glowing. 'what the hell is going on?' I thought as the car pulled to a stop in front of a building. The man who was driving helped me out and led me inside.
"Go to the conference room." He told me sounding bored and walking back to the car. I sighed and pulled my backpack higher up on my back.
I walked for what it seemed like a hour. I twisted though hallways and stared to jog a little trying to calm my self down. My hands were glowing like crazy so I shoved them in pocket embarrassed. I finally arrived at a large door. I opened it a peaked inside, There sat about 5 people about my age or even a little older and a woman. I smiled weakly smiled and waved a little discovering my lights had turned off thankfully. I walked in a little more and blushed as I crossed the room to take my set. I sat next to a blue haired boy, who in my opinion was rather handsome. I looked down at my lap and blushed a little aware that everyone was staring at me.
"So what do we do now?" I asked the lady sitting at the top of the table.
"We wait." She said and the others sighed.
"How much longer?" Said a girl with red glasses clearly annoyed.
"As long as it takes." Replied the woman returning to her book.
I'm sorry this is rough, I have a bad chest cold so I'm not at my best. if I missed anything please just PM me and I will gladly edit
Dante Trenton-Fire:
Dante moved down the hall of the dorms heading to his room. It was almost five in the morning and his Late night study group had JUST ended, and to top it all off he had to be up at six the following morning. He sighed, Just freaking great. He pushed his door open and threw his backpack into his desk chair
"You're two minutes late Mr. Trenton." Dante nearly jumped out of his skin, whirling about he faced the voice, the lights switched on and he blinked in the painfully bright artificial lights. Five men in dark suits stood in the room, all wearing rubber gloves like surgeons.
"Um.... What the hell?" Was the brilliant comeback Dante was able to muster. "Is there a Men in Black Convention I wasn't informed of?" The men exchanged glances
"Did you not read the letter Mr. Trenton?" the supposed leader asked head on one side like a curious dog.
"Letter? Who gives a crap about a letter? who the hell are you guys?!" Dante was slowly backing towards the door."
"I take that you did not receive our invitation then." The man smiled and walked closer, Dante went into a defensive stance,
"Back off man." The man pulled a gun.
"I win, now shut up and sit down." He motioned with the barrel of his gun to the desk, Dane eyes wide slowly went to it and sat, head spinning. A several letters were put into his hands, the men nodded at them, indicating Dante needed to read before any more explanation as given. Slowly Dante opened the first note and read.
We see you. We know your secret. Don’t try to fight it. We’re coming.We’ll be here at five. Be ready. And don’t try that again.
Dante looked up, "Try what again?"
"Keep reading." Dante hurriedly opened the other letters.
If anyone finds out about this we’ll make sure you pay, we have ways, Fundamental. Ways of making you suffer. Nod twice if you understand.
We will stage a suicide, your suicide, and that will be your cover. You will come away with us without fuss or complaint after that or else you will not be the only one who “dies” today. And your loved ones just may not survive the resurrection. Nod three times if you understand.
Good. You have thirty minutes to write a suicide note and grab one thing you wish to bring with you. Do not fear, young Fundamental, we are the good guys. Signed, ~The Service~
Dante glanced around the room,
"Um.... do I still have to nod?" There was a dead silence that made Dante's skin crawl, his heart hammered in his chest and he felt fears icy fingers claw hols of his heart. HE had no choice. If he didn't comply they'd go after his family. it was a perfect threat. no one would even know what really happened. He felt dizzy and sick.
"Write your note Mr. Trenton- you have five minutes." Dante looked over, big eyes pleading.
"Why are you doing this? what have I done?"
"Write the note." swallowing Dante pulled a piece of paper from his notebook and began to write, the letter was more scribbles then words but he tried his best- never having been suicidal he really didn't know what he was doing an hoped to god it was at least half decent, he didn't want these men going after his loved ones.
The leader of the men took the letter and carefully read it over, thin lips pursed.
"Good enough." he nodded, "Hurry up, you can take one thing." Dante mechanically obeyed. "Very good. Now it's time to go." He nodded at the others in the room and they began to move around- carefully staging something, while two of them had a long weighty package wrapped in plastic. The Leader and one other man escorted Dante out of the dorm and to a nondescript black car.
"Get in." The leader ordered, giving Dante a firm shove- sending Dante sprawling into the backseat and sending his face into the bosom of a middle age lady who was sitting there.
"Goodness!" she cried pushing him away, Dante blushing red to the ears stammered an apology.
"I-I-I'm SO sorry!" the woman had a comfortable Grandmotherly way about her that set him at ease, which frightened him even more.
"Quite alright. you're a tad late Dante. But no matter, better late then never." she nodded at the man in the drivers seat and the car pulled out of the parking-lot.
"Where am I going? what's going on?" Dante asked eyes darting around, he knew his chances were slim now- once a perp got you into a vehicle you were pretty much already on your way to a body bag.
"Not what your thinking Dante, but I can't answer those just yet. please put on your seat-belt, we want no accidents. Everything will be explained to you shortly."
Dante really had nothing to do but obey, which he did and spent the rest of the ride in silence, picking a scab on his elbow.
Upon arrival at a nondescript building he was ushered inside rather hastily and after a gruff direction by a man at the door to find the conference room Dante stared off, senses on overdrive making him feel slightly euphoric. The halls were plain and unadorned, nothing to give any sense of direction. He wandered aimlessly for a while until he heard voices and decided to follow the sounds. A door stood open on one side of the hall, the only door that was open and he stepped in. a group sat around a large conference table, and upon his entering they all turned to look at him.
"Um....hey." He said waving.
"Oh there you are Mr. Trenton, please come join us." a Woman in a crisp suit said nodding at an empty chair. he moved for it and sat- eying the others around him, they were all young- some just kids, but he sense they all had something in common.... he just didn't know what.
"D*** the torpedoes! Four bells! Full speed ahead!"~ Admiral David Farragut
Marilena’s breath quickened as she read the note, sprawled on her bed. She couldn’t believe what she was reading. Suicide? The Service? For a moment, she thought some elaborate prank was being played. But why, and by whom? Her mother was at Ale’s house, her father working, Emi was at one of his friend’s house, and Angelo…
Angelo. That must be it. Marilena felt sick to her stomach at the thought. The police had said it was suicide, but nobody had believed it for a second. Then he’d vanished… this must be it. It had to be it.
Maledetti bastardi…
Would her parents even believe a suicide, though? How would she even carry it out? Marilena wasn’t the type to kill herself, far from it. She supposed she could always mention trouble with school or friends…
A bitter chuckle escaped her, and she moved to her desk, facing the dirty urban skyline that was the business center of Rome. She should start on the letter, then. Anything to put off thinking about her predicament, even if only for a while. Hand trembling, Marilena scrabbled around for a pen. Finally, she found one.
She found a scrap of paper, and held the pen. She started writing something, then crossed it out. Her head was swimming. How could she even...? Shaking her head, Marilena started writing. Once satisfied, she turned away from the letter, not wanting to look at the thing.
Marilena glanced around at the clock. It was eleven am. Most of the city was still sleepy. It was quiet. She could hear a pigeon cooing. Completely normal, under any other circumstance. Now, however, it seemed surreal. Perhaps this was a dream? In a daze, Marilena looked around at her room. It was messy. She picked out random, seemingly insignificant details, as if she was a stranger. There was the bracelet Ally had given her when they’d gone on their field trip. She could see a scrap of what probably was that One Direction poster Martina had affixed to her wall, which she’d promptly torn down. The shirt she had bought at Zara’s the other Saturday.
Marilena almost felt like crying.
Three knocks sounded on her door. Marilena was torn from her trance. Fear gripping her once again, she was unsure what to do. Her eyes darted to the window, but there was nothing there. She was being silly.
Another knock. “Mrs. Spada, it’s the Service. Open the door.”
Marilena obeyed. She grabbed the note she had written and hastily moved through the kitchen of her flat. Marilena moved to the living room, almost tripping over the sofas arranged over the coffee table. She opened the door.
There were three men in black waiting for her, wearing gloves and sunglasses. Marilena couldn’t help but think of the movies.
“This will only take a moment, Mrs. Spada. We will be on our way to headquarters soon enough.”
They marched into the living room, and only then Marilena noticed they were shouldering something. The men unwrapped their package, revealing a mannequin.
What happened in the next few minutes was a blur. They made her donate blood to the mannequin. It could speak like her. It looked like her. The mannequin slit its wrists in the kitchen. Almost feverish, Marilena thought perhaps it was the one dying, and she could resume her life now. She felt woozy. When she collapsed, someone caught her.
*** ***
“Through here.”
The van had pulled into an underground parking lot, lit by white strip lights set in the roof. Marilena had no idea where she was, or how she had gotten to the place. The three men had blindfolded her as she got out of the car, after assuring her nothing was going to happen to her. ”We are the good guys,” they had said. How she was starting to hate that phrase.
Then, the three men had led her… somewhere. She thought she heard raised voices, and slamming doors, the hissing of shadows. She felt a tunnel, or a hallway of sorts. Then her blindfold was removed. Marilena found herself facing several branching hallways.
“Find your way to the Conference Room.” And just like that, the men vanished. Marilena was left alone. The hallway was darker than what she would have liked. Though it was lit, there were still deep pools of shadow in corners. There were those that looked like maintenance tunnels, and they were decrepit, like dark wounds in the walls.
She was unsure what to do. Where was the Conference Room, anyways? Was this some sort of test? It probably was. She hoped she’d be able to find her way there. There had to be a way. They wouldn’t just kidnap her and then leave her to starve in the tunnels… would they?
Marilena shuddered.
She hesitated, fixing the position of the small atrium in her mind. Then Marilena proceeded down the first hallway. It was bare, devoid of furniture nor indication. After about a minute, Marilena backtracked. She took the left tunnel. Again, no sign. The right hallway was the same.
Great. Just great.
Marilena tried to resist the impulse of breaking down and crying. That wouldn’t be any good. It would lead her nowhere. She decided to continue down the right-hand hallway. It was as good as any other. Marilena was about to take a step, when she heard footsteps. A timid call.
If she wasn’t mistaken, it was coming from the very same atrium in which she had started. Heart pounding, Marilena backtracked. Maybe it was another one like her. Or maybe it was a guard. Either way, it was company.
It turned out to be a frail-looking white-haired girl. Like her, she seemed to be afraid.
“Thank god someone’s here, finally,” Marilena said, hurrying forward. It wasn’t a guard. Marilena felt almost cheerful again.
The girl jumped. She too, however, looked relieved when she noticed it was Marilena.
“I thought they were going to leave us to die,” the girl agreed.
“My name is Marilena,” Marilena said. “Yours?”
“Alice,” the girl, Alice, replied. “Alice Belltris.”
“That’s a pretty name. And I like your hair,” Marilena remarked, trying to act cheerful. Alice blushed. “Oh, um, thank you. I like your eyes. Marilena is also a very exotic name.”
Marilena grinned. She motioned forward. “Come on then, let’s find this Conference Room.”
The two girls walked forward, into the center tunnel. Marilena found that with company, they weren’t so scary after all. Few things were, in truth. Another reason why you try to make so many friends, her conscience reminded her. Marilena tried to keep her wandering thoughts at bay.
They found it soon enough. They weren’t the first present either. The tension in the air was palpable. A surly, raven-haired boy was snarling at two other girls, who seemed to be ready to fight. There were a few more in the room, an even darker boy lurking in the shadows and a young woman, sitting calmly.
“Ah, here are our latest arrivals,” said a woman. This one was older, and seemed to be in charge of things.
“Meet Alice Belltriss and Marilena Spada. Both were kind enough not to make a fuss as they were brought here.”
The raven haired guy sniggered. Marilena glared at him. The guy raised his hands in mock innocence. Marilena flipped him off. He curled his lips in what could have been amusement.
“Well then, now that most of you are here,” the woman began, “we shall take your leave. You will be debriefed later on.”
The woman stood and walked through a door that Marilena hadn’t seen coming in. There was another click, though, and a person came in, wearing suit and sunglasses. From its stilted movements, she thought it was a mannequin, like the one that had killed itself wearing her face.
Some days I could see that the workers at the institution refused to leave me alone. The day I received the note was one of those days. It seemed every second a new employee would step through the room, and each employee would glare at me with colorless eyes. A new worker had arrived, and they brought him in to introduce me.
"She doesn't look crazy," I heard him whisper.
The other worker gave one short laugh. "None of them do."
"What's wrong with her?" I wondered if the man thought insane meant the same thing as deaf. He was wrong. I could hear every word just as easily as I could see his eyes drilling into my face.
"Tried to kill her mother," she other employee informred before dragging away the newbie. I wanted to shout at him before he left. I didn't! I din't kill anyone! I would never hurt her, even after what she told me...
I realized that for the first time that day I was completely alone. Almost as soon as I did I found the note. I read through it, and my eyes moved to the next note, and the next. I wasn't afraid, though I wondered if I should be. Things like this didn't happen very often, especially not in a high class asylum like this one.
"Are you ready?" I swiveled around to face the man who held out his hand towards me. Without knowing what else to do I took it and followed him through the hallways. "We've been waiting for them to leave you alone all night," he told me. I nodded, so had I.
I wondered how I would commit suicide, or at least, how they would stage my suicide. They took blood and I saw a manikin taking over my face. I closed my eyes before the manikin could kill itself- kill me. The man led me out of the asylum and into a dark car, and for a moment I wondered how we had managed to get out. Magic, I told myself. It had to be magic. Just like the way I had made all that water come shooting out of everywhere and spitting into my mom's face. Or the way I had made the cup of water spill just by looking at it. Or made the employee that I hated start drooling in the middle of his speech. It didn't make sense any other way, it had to be magic.
"Find the Conferance Hall," the man told me. I hadn't even realized that I was out of the car. My mind spun- I felt dazed and sick. I just wanted to curl up in a bathtub- my way of comforting myself. Instead, I let my feet carry me down the hallway. I opened a few doors on the way, finding a few empty rooms and a bathroom. I stopped in the bathroom for a while and let the faucet run over my hands. The water lifted in strange patterns before falling back in its normal stream. I decided the man had come because of this, because of magic. Maybe he could explain what was wrong with me.
I started running down the hallways, opening and closing doors without even stopping to see what lay behind each one. Suddenly a shimmer caught my eye, and I paused before a plack that read "Conference Hall". I waited a few minutes to catch my breath before opening the door and finding a thousand eyes glued to my face. I bit my lip and rushed in, finding an empty seat before burrying my face in my arms to block away all the other people.
"I want a glass of water..." I murmured from beneath my makeshift cave.
A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity. -Kafka
I've decided to give Alice a really dark past. I never really specified her family situation in her profile because I don't really take profiles too seriously but she doesn't really have an "ideal" family setting.
So I've killed myself.
Not my typical nighttime routine, but everyone's life needed a bit of a shakeup now and again. The mannequin made me cry when I first saw it. It turned its blank face towards me and I just bursted into tears. I couldn't help it.
A bottle full of pills later and it was on the ground. It looked exactly like me, and it's roots were showing. I'd missed my hair appointment last week, so that was to be expected. My split ends were getting pretty bad too. And did my skin really look that pale? Suicide pills. That seemed a likely way for me to die. I'm sure mom wouldn't question that method. They must have done their research, The Service. Too scared to put a gun to my head; afraid of heights so no building jumpings; ropes were out of the question, so pills. They really knew me.
"We're the good guys," one man in black explained as I starred down at the not-me lying on the ground.
"I'm sure you are," I replied.
My voice sounded hollow and empty, even to my own ears. The man nodded and whispered something to his little friends. They left the room and a few moments later I heard a car start up outside.
"You still have a few minutes to write a suicide note, Alice. We'll give you some time."
"Oh no," I replied with a small smile. "That's not neccessary. I have one already."
"Excuse me?"
I reached into my dresser drawer and pulled out my University binder. Behind the thick collection of un-finished homework assignments and neglected notes lay a single envelope, the corners crinkled and dirty and the ink on the front faded and smeared. I lay the envelope on top of my bed and turned back towards the man.
"We're going somewhere, then?"
He nodded curtly and led me out the door. An adventure? Well, anywhere was better than here. Plus I was one failed test away from getting kicked out of Uni, and I hadn't studied at all. Being taken away by strange men in black suits didn't look so bad when your life was falling down the drain.
I smiled as I strapped myself into the car.
"So," I drawled, "are the suits uniform or do you all just like looking fancy?"
--
"Go to the Conference Room."
"The where? Where is it?"
The man turned his back and walked away. I stumbled after him, my hands gripped the bottom of my hair in panic.
"Sir! Can I get a map or something?"
I watched his back until he disappered behind a door I didn't even notice was a door until it opened. It looked like part of the wall to me. Strange. How does one open a door without a doorknob? This place made my head hurt.
-
Thank God for nice ladies named Marilena.
-
The lady walked out of the room and I wringed my hands nervously together. This adventure was turning out to be stranger than I had at first assumed. Another mannequin man walked in after the lady's departure and I burst immediately into tears again.
"Alice?!"
"No, I'm fine. That thing is just..."
I shuddered and moved into the far corner of the room, as far away from the mannequin as possible. The room decended into an awkward silence and I cleared my throat and gave everyone a smile.
"My name is Alice," I announced to the room. A few people gave me a confused glance and I smiled. "When I was eleven I almost drowned in my friends pool. But I didn't. I guess what happened in the pool is why I'm here, but I'm not exactly sure what happened, you see."
The boy with the blue hair laughed quietly and walked over to shake my hand.
"The name's Antony," he said then, to everyone. "And when I was little I... discovered I could control water. I guess that's why I'm here too."
