There's something happening here...

[PmTick]

Johnny stuffed the envelope into his front pocket before starting his car. He drove beamed the entire way home. "What should I get a Dvd player? A new Tv? Hmmm." Johnny unlocked his apartment door and entered the small living room. As he threw his coat on the couch, he eyed a manilla envelope on the kitchen counter.

He walked over to the counter and examined the envelope. Written on it was Johnny's name in red marker. He unfastened the envelope and looked inside to find a series of black and white photos of the corpse he stole and of Mule's body. "What the fuck?" Johnny just realized someone could still be here. reached into the closet and picked up his Louisville Slugger. Creeping around the house, bat in hand, he examined all possible places someone would hide in the apartment.

After looking for an intruder for two hours he locked up and headed to bed. He would deposit the money before he went to work tommorow morning.

OOC: Magister I have an idea for the second character I mentioned earlier. Would you prefer if I PM you with it or post it here?

 

[Magister]

For Trish

Despite Trish's mental state, she did finally drift off into sleep, only to be awakened by a scratching at the window.

 

[geri]

Trish

I woke from a restless sleep to hear a scratching at the window. Confused at first I didn't know what to make of it but then I was drawn to look out of the window. Slipping from the still unmade bed I approached, eyes narrowed, trying to make something out of the darkness outside.

 

[Magister]

For Jeremy

Something awakens Jeremy from a troubled sleep. He sat up a bit to plump his pillow, then heard a faint scratching, as if from outside, and then movement from Trish's room.

 

[PmTick]

Johnny got home from work early. He sat at the counter and took a long look at the photos, why did someone break in and leave them here? Well it certainly wasn't safe here anymore. He packed a bag and headed for the Lucky Reds Hotel on 8th. He would lay low there for awhile, until this whole thing blew over.

Across town Hector Cruz walked out of the corner store. Most kids his age were starting their freshman year of college, studying to better themselves. Hector, on the other hand, had dropped out of school two years ago after his father was killed in a car accident. His mother Rosa, worked two jobs and only slept for 4 hours a night. In order to keep their tiny apartment, Hector had to drop out and start working.

As he walked down the crowded street, he felt some kind of warm liquid drip down his hands. Then he heard a scream, "Oh my god he's bleeding!!" Hector looked down and realized that he was bleeding from the wrists. He began to grow light headed and fainted. "Quick someone call an amublance!"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jeremy

What the...?
I listened, unsure if I'd heard what I'd thought I'd heard.
There it was again, what I would have sworn was scratching.
I got up and wandered over to the window, wondering if maybe Trish had gone outside and gotten locked out of something, was tapping the window to get my attention. Outside, all I could se was darkness.
Then I heard movement from Trish's room (I wasn't even thinking of it as the "guest room" anymore; it was her room), which was located right next to mine, the window looking out on the same patch of grass mine did, but closer to the back yard. I walked carefully out of the room and down toward the hall the short distance to her door. I stopped there, listening to make sure the sound was coming from inside, and wondering if I should have put on more than my boxer's before coming to check.
Oh, well. i thought. If something was wrong, it would be a minor issue...if not, she'd probably still be asleep.
I debated knocking on the door, then thought better of it. If she was asleep, I should let her stay that way. Besides, she'd left the door ajar, which meant she wasn't too incredibly worried about privacy. She'd probably not wanted to feel so closed off from me, from the rest of the world, not in her current state.
I pushed the door carefully open, making only the slightest noise as the bottom of the door rubbed against the carpet.
I saw her figure in the dim light from the living room (my, "we're home and awake" light, that my mother insisted I leave on at night; always respect Mom...) standing by the window, peering out.
I wondered if she'd heard the same sound, then figured she must have. For a moment, in the dim light, only able to see her basic form and not make out any details, I wondered if it wasn't really her. An irrational thought, but perhaps they were catching. In my mind, I pictured the figure turning toward me, and walking closer until it stood just outside of where the dim light would make its features clear enough to identify. Then, in a sudden fit of pathetic phallacy, lightning flashes outside the window and I see the figure clad in the same clothes Trish had been wearing the night before, her body shaped differently though, while still familiar, and Phyl's face staring back at me, her lips smiling wickedly...
A shiver creeps up my spine as I try to force that image away, to the back of my mind at very least. I look to the window to see the figure still facing out the window, pressing her face against the glass it seems.
"Trish?" I whisper, not wanting to be too loud. It seemed that a loud sound just then would shatter the walls.

 

[geri]

Trish

I stood for a long time looking out of the window trying to separate one shadow from another with the feeling that something was out there, something I should be able to name but could not.

I took one faltering step toward the window and then another, my gaze intent on the play of shadows outside. So intent on this was I that I did not hear anyone approach until I heard Jeremy's voice. "Trish?" he said and I could almost hear the worry in his voice. Again I wondered why he would bother to worry about me.

"Here," I whispered to him as my trance like state was broken and I was able to pull myself away from the window with a shudder,"I...I thought I heard something outside."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jeremy

I relaxed fully when i heard her voice. The fantasy that Phyl was alive (or dead) and here refused to let go until I knew better.
"You did," I replied, the words escaping before I could think better of it. "I heard it too. At least I think I did. A scratching sound on the glass, or something like it?"
I walked into the room, not turning on the overhead light, but instead heading toward the window and stopping next to her.

 

[geri]

Trish

As he stopped next to me I stepped over to him and wrapped my arm about his waist. I didn't care what he or anyone else thought at that moment. I was scared! I had been standing there looking out the window somehow hoping I would not see anything, the memory of my sighting of Phyll earlier, whether delusion or not, playing in my mind.

Taking comfort in Jeremy's presence and knowing he could feel me shaking against him I said,"M...Maybe nothing is there. I couldn't see anything." I paused for a moment knowing this was the part where Jeremy told me everything was going to be okay and to go back to sleep but something inside me said it wasn't okay and that there was danger in some form out there. "J...Jer?" I stuttered not knowing how he would take this,"I kinda don't want to go to sleep...alone...right now."

 

[PmTick]

Hector slowley awoke from his colma. He squinted as the bright lights over his bed burned his eyes. After his eyes had adjusted to the light he realized he was in a hospital room. His mother and Father Santoro from St. Thomas' across the street were sitting in the room. "Oh my little Hector, it's a miracle!" "Mom what happened?" "Oh I always knew you were special, I always knew." "What's going on here?" Father Santoro stepped forward. "Well Hector it seems you are a holy miracle." "Come again?" "Look at your wrists and hands, you began bleeding from the exact same spots christ was nailed to when he was crucified. You have stigmata." "How is this possible?" "Everything is possible with the lord, my son. You have been handpicked by God for some purpose, perhaps to perform miralces." "Miracles?"

The father opened the door and revealed a little bald girl in a hospital gown, that apparenlty had been waiting for him. "Hector these people are terminally ill." The girl, about ten years old, apporached the bed. "Heather here was diagnosed with cancer when she was just 8 years old. Doctors have done everything they could do but the tumors keep popping up all over her body. Please Hector, try to heal her." "I've never done anything like this before." "Just think of God and you will know what to do." Hector placed his hands on the girls forhead. "I can't believe I'm doing this." "Concentrate Hector" He closed his eyes and said a prayer to himself. Father Santoro smiled and looked at Heather, "Do you feel the power of god coursing through your veins?" "..I ....I think so." Heather opened her mouth and vomited all over the floor. The Father became very straight-faced, "I will take Heather back to her room. Hector, think about what I said, believe!"

 

[Magister]

Somewhere...

In a brightly lit boardroom, several figures sat. One woman, dressed in an extremely stylish and aggresive leather skirt and black top was standing before a large projection screen, on which was displayed a clip from the evening news. "Sirs, the incidence index of paranormal events is dramatically on the rise in Star City."

The clip displayed on the screen showed the scene of Mule's bloody death, then changed to show surveillance footage from the hospital, of Hector and his stigmata.

"I have identified a handful of civilians connected with these events." The screen displayed pictures of Johnny, Trish, Jeremy, and Hector.

All eyes in the room turned to one man at the far end of the conference table, who took a long draw on his cigar, then spoke. "Continue surveillance, and assemble two teams in case further measures need to be taken. Any sign of Withers' involvement in this?"

She took a deep breath before responding, "No, sir."

"Good. Keep a very, very sharp lookout for our dear Mr. Withers. If he is spotted, I authorize any and all measures necessary to sanction him."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jeremy

"Maybe nothing is there. I couldn't see anything." When she said that, I could feel her shaking against me, scared, and I wanted to tell her it was probably nothing, a branch scraping against the glass...except there were no trees on that side of the house, just a line of shrubs that were half as high as the window at best. And while I still could have said the first part, I found my arm hugging her tightly to me, as much for my own comfort as for hers. That image of Phyl, lit by lightning came back to me plain as day as we stood there. Was she grinning in that image, taking joy in the fact that we were frightened?
"J...Jer? I kinda don't want to go to sleep...alone...right now."
That brought me out of it, just a little, long enough to take my mind back to those thoughts I'd been having earilier today, about having a former juvenile offender at my house. Now my mind was focusing on a deeper version of that...they not only found out she had stayed in the house, but in the same bed...I was an adult, and so was she, but how professional does that look in terms of my reputation?
Then, another thought came to me. We couldn't stay in here, not given the night she'd had already, the last two or three minutes, each seeming hours long, taking precedent now. And in my room? Hell, I'd heard the scratching sound too. It was no safer than in here. And how long would it take her to realize that? Maybe all night, or maybe only seconds.
"Why don't we head out into the living room, and talk a little, huh?" I asked her, keeping my arm around her as I moved carefully toward the door, attempting to lead her in that direction.

 

[geri]

Trish

"Why don't we head out into the living room and talk a little, huh?" Jeremy said and I nodded numbly. Anywhere but here sounded great to me though my eyes were on the window as he lead me out and settled me on the couch. Before he could sit down I said,"Jer...do you happen to have some hot chocolate in the house? I know it sounds kind of childish but my mom used to...before she married my bastard of a step dad...used to sit on the couch with me while we drank hot chocolate whenever I had a bad night. Just don't tell anyone I told you that, okay?"

Once we were settled, hot chocolate in hand, I drew my feet up against my body resting the cup on my knees letting the warmth of the hot liquid soothe the cold that had gripped my very soul. Staring into the brown liquid I sighed and took a glance over at Jeremy. "Thanks, Jer. Thanks for being so nice and for caring what happens to me. No one has done that in a long time. Phyll was one of the only ones besides my sister," My eyes clouded over with tears as I thought of my sister, now in the care of my aunt and away from that bastard my mom had married but not allowed to contact me as I was considered a bad influence on her.

"My mom stopped caring when I came to her to tell her what her fucking husband was doing while she was away at work." I don't know why I was telling Jeremy about this. I had never told anyone but Phyll. Maybe it was the strain of the day and maybe it was the fact that I just felt I needed to talk and Jeremy had shown such quiet care that I had finally broke down. Whatever reason I found I couldn't stop once I started. "It was on the day the son of a bitch finally went the extra step and raped me that I decided I wouldn't let that happen to my sweet sister. No matter what I had to protect her. I talked to everyone back then. I talked to friends, family, my preacher...everyone and tried to tell them what happened. But my step father was so convincing of a liar and my mom so supportive they had everyone thinking I was just a troublemaker who had gotten laid by some boy and was now trying to find a scapegoat so I would appear innocent." I looked up and at Jeremy then,"He was my first. Aint that a kick in the ass? My first experience with sex at the hands of a lying pervert who took my mom away from me just as sure as if he had killed her."

I shrugged and set down my hot chocolate wrapping my arms around myself. "So I figured if they thought I was a trouble maker than I would use that to help protect my sister. If the eyes of juvy hall was on my family he wouldn't dare do anything to her. So I got into trouble by shoplifting at first and then other stuff, getting into worse and worse things as I went so that the social work people would keep nosing about. If they started slipping with home visits I would find something that would bring them back in. It worked. He didn't dare move against my sister even when I was in juvy hall. It was too dangerous for him to do it."

My face had set with an anger I always had when speaking about my mother's husband. "It didn't last though. I came home one day to find him just about to do to her what he did to me. I broke and went all over his ass. I got hurt pretty bad but in the end he was on the floor, naked and with a gash in his head, my sister was on the bed sobbing and clutching some covers over herself...virginity still intact thankyouverymuch...and I was on the phone to the police telling them if they didn't come get the bastard I was going to be in someplace worse than juvy and for first degree murder. When the cops showed up I was on the bed holding my sister and he was just waking up. Didn't have time to even zip his fly. They took him away, charged my mom with accessory after the fact and my aunt took my sister in after the court ruled that mom wasn't a fit parent."

I sighed and rested my chin on my knees. "Me? My aunt didn't want my influence on my sister. Even though they knew my story was true now I was also known as a juvinile deliquent and my aunt is a bit of a prude. But sis will be okay and thats the important thing. I knew I was headed for foster care so I ran away. Hell, I only had two more years before I reached 18 anyway and they weren't going to use the extra effort to find someone with my record. What family in their right mind would want to house someone like me anyway? Not even my own family wanted me. It was then that I met Phyll. She took me in and actually cared about what I had to say, what I felt and, most of all, what happened to me." Tears started falling again and I brushed them angrily away. "God, Jer, I miss her so much!"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jeremy

I listened to her talking, and I saw what I had been almost certain of. I'd known her back in those days, when she'd still been living with her mother and step-father, though she'd never told me these things before...
Most of the information was in her file, the various crimes she'd committed, mostly misdemeanors, and those that weren't were nothing to be overly concerned about, mostly just higher crimes because of her record. I'd also read about the charges brought about on her father and mother, though there had always been doubt surrounding the issue...again, because of her record, and the past allegations she'd made. I hadn't really stopped to think about whether or not I believed her, which I felt guilty about now. Then, she was just a case, someone I'd see every month or so, talk to for a few minutes, if that, and send back out with a slip of paper going to a case worker to explain what I felt she should be doing, or kept from doing, or forced to do...
Then, looking at her, I didn't doubt for a second that she was being honest, and I knew then that she really hadn't opened up to anyone in a long time, and that Phyl was someone that she could never replace.
But I'd heard something else there, that perhaps she hadn't realized she'd said.
"You said something that caught my attention, Trish..." I began. "Too your Mom away as sure as he had killed her...Have you tried to contact her? Recently I mean, to talk about...I don't know...anything but what happened? Not your sister, and not your aunt or step-dad, but just her. You obviosly care about her, otherwise the memory of the hot chocolate wouldn't help at all...and she may not be the center of your life, or even a part of it...but she isn't dead, and she'll always be your mother."
I felt like her dad, giving her advice like that, and it made me uneasy. I had liked Trish for a while, not when she'd first come in (her age had made her an annoyance, and my age had made me too immature to realize that beneath the surface, she only wanted help), but as she neared 18, and the times I'd seen her after that. I'd seen her grow to a new maturity, and I'd seen her as an equal since she was that age, someone to see eye to eye with, a peer. ANd talking to her otherwise made me feel as though I were talking down to her.
I had no right to do that...
"I'm sorry if I sound...parental, but..."
I frowned, looking down, then glanced back up at her.
"I just want to help...a friend..."

 

[PmTick]

Another case of mistaken identity

Johnny walked down the street into the 7-11. It was 3:30 am, so the only other person in the place was the cashier, who napped peacefully behind the register. As he was peering through the latest issue of Penthouse, Johnny noticed a big rig pulled up to the store. The driver looked so familiar, where had he seen him before? Oh shit, it's Mr. Smith!

Johnny was pretty sure this Smith guy was behind the break in, he was also almost positive he was being followed. Johnny dashed into the overpriced ceral isle as Smith walked into the conveince store. The man woke up the clerk and ordered a chili dog and a big gulp.

Luckily Johnny had brought his 9mm with him, he started carrying it with him after the break in. Johnny took careful aim at Smith's back and fired the pistol, killing the man instantly. Smith fell forward on his face and sloped down the counter, eventually hitting the floor. Blood had splattered all over the front counter and the clerk, who was now emptying the register.

Johnny held the pistol out and kicked Smith's body over. Looking closer he realized it wasn't Smith after all. "Fuck." Another case of mistaken identity. Now he had to clean up his mistake.

First, eliminate the evidence. Aiming the pistol at the clerk he told him to lead him to the video room. Johnny took the security tape and smashed the equipment with the back of his gun. Second, eliminate the witness. Johnny put two bullets in the clerk and left him in the video room. Now it was his favorite part, time to reward himself. Johnny took all the cash and put it in a plastic bag along with a few cartons of cigarettes, some porno tapes, a snickers bar, and a coca-cola slurpy.

As he sped away from the 7-11 he shook his head and sipped some of his slurpy as he thought to himself, "Staying clean is harder than I thought."

 

[geri]

I shook my head at his question. "No, I never contacted her because she didn't want me to. She blames me for the charges against her and for my step dad being in jail. She can't see what he did only that I was the reason he was caught. She still says I must have framed him that night and got my sister to cooperate." I gave a bitter laugh. "No, I am not wanted by anyone, Jeremy and it didn't really matter that much because Phyll was always there. But now I don't even have that and I don't know what to do. Oh gawd! I don't want to go back into that kind of life but what else do I know? I never did get a full education and only got a GED because a caseworker said I had to do it voluntarily or stay in juvy til it was done. All I know are the streets and stuff that gets me in jail. I am such a mess. God, but I wish I had died instead of Phyll. At least she had her life in order and knew where she was going."

Standing I went over to the window in the living room and looked out with a kind of morbid facination. "And she was never alone. She was always surrounded by friends. I never knew her to have a minute to herself much less feel lonely. She shouldn't be the one dead right now. She had too much to live for."

 

[PmTick]

Hector awoke to find Father Santoro again hunged over his bed. "Father...what are you doing here?" "Hector my son, I brought someone who wanted to thank you." Heather stepped out from behind Father Santoro and placed smiled at Hector. "I don't get it, what happened?" "It is a miracle Hector, the tumors disappeared overnight, doctors are astounded, they say she will make a full recovery." Heather leaned forward and gave a very stunned Hector a peck on the cheek.

"Father how is this possible?" "I told you, everything is possible with christ. You have a very special gift my son, use it to your full extent." "How do I do that Father?" Father Santoro opened the door and revealed a line of people in hospital gowns. "These people have come here because they heard about Heather and they believe that you can help them Hector. For some of them, science has done all they can, all they have is there faith in the lord, and in you. Will you help them?"

Hector shifted in the bed nervously, two days ago he was hanging out at the bodega, listening to P.O.D and now he was some religous healer. "Yes Father. I will try and help them."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jeremy

Survivor's guilt, or was she feeling sorry for herself...either could have been the case, but she'd earned the right to both of them. I was seeing a new Trish, however, one that was lost and needed help, and was letting her guard down. It was something that nothing could have prepared me for. Yes, I knew that juveniles were seldom as hardcore as they tried to portray, but that was what had caught my attention with Trish in the first place. While most delinquents played up the hard-ass role, to the point that it was more comical than could possibly be real, she hadn't even tried that routine. SHe'd gone a different route, the basic, I don't care route, but without an oversell. Her mind wasn't on the punishments at any given time, not really. Always somewhere else. And I was hearing about that somewhere else right now.
I had to give her the chance to let it out...to trust someone she hadn't trusted before. Otherwise she might never trust again, and that would be a lonely, and probably short life for her to live.
And lookinga ther, even as she faced in the opposite direction, I realized I would miss her greatly, even if we'd really just met.
"You'll always have a place here, Trish," I said, unsure of where I was going with this, but knowing I meant that. "Phyll might have passed away, but the last thing you are is alone. If you don't want to contact your mother, then don't. I just wanted to point out that...forgiveness is still a possibility, whether she realize that it isn't her right to try to forgive you or not. You could always forgive her, if you ever decide you're ready, and at least it'll be at rest inside you, where it causes the most grief. I think if you'd open up just a little more with people, you'd realize they'd like you every bit as much as Phyll did, as much as I do. You're a strong woman. You prove that everyday...and you can take your own life anywhere you want it to go...I can show you anything you want to know about living on the right side of the legal system, and about living off the streets."
I sat, watching her stare out the window, hoping she wasn't seeing anything out there...wondering if the sound would repeat itself...

 

[geri]

Trish

I tried to hold my tears in check but his kind caring tone and manner made it impossible. I didn't know why I instinctively trusted him but I knew now that trust was not misplaced.

"I don't hold anything against her," I said my voice soft, my eyes looking out beyond the view of the window to some place in time when I could remember my mother's smile and her kind words of encouragement instead of the accusations I had last heard from her lips. "She had a hard life raising two girls after my father's death and when she found my step father she thought she had found someone to care for her for the rest of her life. She had a right not to want someone to burst that pretty bubble. What happened happened and the only one to blame is that filth that could not keep his hands or other body parts to himself."

Turning around I walked back to the couch not touching the now cold chocolate on the coffee table but feeling the need to be close to someone. "And thank you for the words of encouragement. I survive. Each day is a struggle to do that but I manage. It was just a little easier when I had someone to tell me I could do it or even to tell me to do it whether I felt like it or not." My smile was a bit sad both for myself and Phyll. "She was the only family I really had. I guess I'm just not taking her loss very well. Thanks for being here. You're a special guy, Jer. Even if you are a cop." I flashed him a quick smile that was actually genuine as I said it letting him know that the appreciation did come from my heart.

 

[PmTick]

Johnny burnt the security tape when he got back to the hotel. He had to keep focused or else he would mistaken someone else for Smith. Sitting on the couch, his mind began to wander to the corpse he stole from the morgue. Where was it? Who had it and why? Why was he hired to steal it in the first place? And most importantly who was it?

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jeremy

"Tell you what...why don't we try to get some sleep...and if you need anything tomorrow, I'll leave my work number on the kitchen counter, by the phone. Just call and I'll listen..." I suggested.
I didn't mention the sound, or even look at the window. I was hoping that part of the night was behind us, hoping that we could forget about it, though what I really wanted to do was get my gun and head outside to investigate. Just one small noise was all it had been, i felt foolish reacting to it the way I had.
I smiled.
"If you want, you can slepp right here on the couch. I'll go get your blankets. How's that sound?"

 

[PmTick]

bump

 

[PmTick]

OOC: Where is everyone?

Hector finally settled back into his bed. The doctors at the hospital couldn't explain what happened to him, so they had to release him. He had spent the last three days at the church, healing people that had come in. Father Santoro said this is the busiest the church has ever been. Now he had to rest though, he was being interviewed for the news early the next morning.

 

[PmTick]

Johnny sat on his sofa relaxing when the evening news came on. The top story was an interview with a kid who apparently has the power to heal people, some people claim he is Jesus Christ returning to Earth. One woman said she gazed into his eyes and saw the old and new testament played out in them.

Johnny laughed to himself, "Fucking nutcases." Just then an envelope was slid under his door. Johnny grabbed his gun and ran to the door, practically ripping it off its' hinges. When the door opened though, no one was there.

Johnny closed the door, locking it behind him. He tore open the envelope, which had his name neatly typed on the front of it. "How did they know where to find me? I didn't tell anyone I was here." The envelope contained a neatly folded note that simply read:

His name is Hector Cruz, his address is 135 south street apartment 8h. Kill him.

Johnny peaked out the window, again no one was there. He lost it and kicked over the coffee table yelling, "Who the fuck are you people??? Why won't you stop bothering me!!!"

 

[Magister]

OOC: What's happening elsewhere (RL)

Sorry about the seeming deadness of the thread, and thank you for your continued interest. geri has been very sick, but will be back from the hospital today. I've been MAJOR swamped with school. Presuming I can get a lot of work done over the weekend, and she feels up to it, each of us will post at least once every other day next week.