Terror & the city

[Bishop]

Normally he would have argued about being taken out of the fight, but there was no time. SOMEONE had to get these people out of here – and it gave him an opportunity to watch Delilah and the others’ backs anyway. Some of the civilians were running, and some seemed frozen. People were starting to get injured in the rush, and Bishop had to carry some of the patrons out of the Crystal Room himself. Brenda seemed to have a calming effect on the people: to Bishop’s amazement, the began to move quickly but orderly out of the building.

He stood by the door urging people to get the hell out of there…but not in those words. Looking over the crowd of those still needing to exit, something caught his eye. Two men with a familiar symbol on their shoulders: MysTech goons. Not wanting to alarm the people around him – or alert the goons - he slipped quickly and stealthily through the crowd.

Coming up behind the first goon, Bishop put his forearm against the guy’s neck and pulled him backwards into a dark side room. He dropped the goon’s body and went for the other, who by now had noticing the absence of his partner.

The MysTech goon didn’t care if he incited a panic, and had his gun drawn and was scanning the room. This one wasn’t as stupid as usual, and his eyes quickly found Bishop and fired without hesitation. Bishop dropped into a roll, drawing his gun as he came out of it. The goon had pulled one of the fleeing female patrons into his grasp and was holding the gun to her side.

“Predictable.”

He started to lower the gun then quickly raised it, sighted and fired. The goon died instantly and feel where he stood. Bishop picked up the goon’s gun. It hadn’t fired when the scumbag had died, but even if it had it would have only caused a flesh wound. If you’re going to point a gun at a hostage, aim for their head, dumbass.

The woman was screaming – apparently even Brenda’s powers couldn’t calm her after her ordeal. Bishop helped her outside and noticed that a police car had arrived. He left the woman to the paramedics that would surely follow and made his wake back inside to Brenda.

“You’re going to have to try and convince the cops to stay outside.”

 

[Matrix]

Rich rolled with the toss, already eyeing the wall he was headed through. But, he was plucked out of the air and redeposited back with his group by Silver Swan as the beast regrouped. She tried to tell them to run.

Nah SS! We came here together, we leave together. Besides, I am ready for round two.

He exuded familiar male bravado, but Brenda would notice something else. Namely he believed that, unlike the rest of his team, he would not be missed should he die. That combined with his previous death, had left him somewhere between unafraid and welcoming of death's embrace.

Round two bitch!


Rich yelled as he leaped at the monster...

...tuning into pure Nitric Acid upon contact. The liquid Rich oozed over the beast's face and shoulders, and into the workings of its gun, ruining it on contact.

 

[Seer]

night time

<< The battle is joined and it is terrifying.>>

<< The Persuer strikes with deadly rage and raw power. He is the eye of a storm of conflict.>>

[From the Persuer's point of view]

<< Richard, used to sudden change and adversity and already accustomed to living life as if each day could be his last, moves with the fluid grace like mercury as his body, a living weapon, transforms into flowing deadly nitric acid. splashing like a wave of fury upon the Persuer>>

[From our point of view]

<< We see MorningStar, the survivor of a team cut down too soon, now leading a fledgling new team into their first and perhaps LAST BATTLE, taking aim, clasping her fingers in a gun pose and firing a LASER BLAST.>>

<< a massive arm swings out, fist moving in a massive clockwise arc.>>

MorningStar: Artemis! SilverSwan! watch yourselves!


[swing around the the conflict. the fist SLAMS into the ground nearby but the two women DODGE...narrowly]

<< Artemis, bold, beautiful and never faint of heart, sails through the air in perfect form along side the creature, manifesting her golden energy bow and arrow and firing a rapid volley of three energy arrows.>>

[ zoom up above]

<< Silver Swan flies into view from above, crying out like a bird of prey. Her feminine, silver armoured form gleams and her silver eye mask enhances her look of agression. hefting a LARGE piece of metal equipment and as she zooms directly over head, she HURLS the massive metal structure down upon the creature.>>

<< A terrifying, unrelenting zoom IN toward the creature's face as it ROARS with anger before the impact from the various attacks.>>

---------------------------------

<< Across town. A place hidden far from prying eyes and minds.>>

<< The Harker Library Vault. A curious mix of technology and old world architecture. Mina Harker, the myterious mistress of this place, has successfully convinced Dr. Karen Victoria, Psy.D to relocate the talsimans and mystical artifacts of her daughter, the late Morgan Victoria[Spellbinder] along with fellow fallen witch, Alison Marble[Guardian] to the Vault for secure, safe keeping. The two have come along way from their hostile introduction the night before and as they talk, Mina finds herself wondering what SHE has gotten herself into as the lingering question of the curious grandfather clock in Alison Marble's apartment that is a massive mystical portal. It can't be moved and it can't be left unattended. >>

<< Mina may have had answers for many of Karen and Delilah's questions before but now she needed an answer herself. For that AND for how she even came to be here. The mystery of apparition that she saw, the same one Delilah saw...who saved her from certain death in the citadle. >>

<< Considerable time had passed and Karen had received a text from Delilah that she'd be at the Parthenon this evening to speak with Sharon.>>

<< While the doctor and the concert pianist were in the vault, they were unaware of the horror that was exploding above ground. But as they returned to the above ground floor and made their way toward the entrance, they saw the driver of Karen's limo in UTTER distress, screaming!>>

<< the two women rush outside to find the driver being attacked by someone...someTHING...a ZOMBIE.>>

<< and it wasnt just Karen's driver! other people could be seen all around running, screaming, being attacked by OTHER people....ZOMBIES. cars and storefronts nearby were ABLAZE and sirens were wailing.>>

Karen: HECATE! What's HAPPENING!?

<< what indeed!>>

<< the two women stood, hand in hand as they took in what could only be described as a scene out of HELL.>>

 

[Mina Harker]

Harker Library

Mina found herself more at ease with Dr. Victoria than she would have expected. The woman’s age – and thus maturity – may have had something to do with it. Mina had little in common with many of the young women of the day – flighty and without direction or purpose. Karen comported herself with dignity – and Mina respected that. She was also an incredibly knowledgeable and powerful witch, and Mina would have been a fool not to respect that.

In time Karen would be a useful ally – there were many questions of a mystickal nature that needed answering: why she had been brought here (other than to oversee the magickal objects, of course) and her mysterious vision, and the curiosity of the clock in Alison Marble’s former home...Karen could well be a much needed confidant. She felt that she could probably trust Delilah…but perhaps not fully, not yet. She suspected the mutant might be in over her head.

Delilah had sent Karen a text message indicating that she and the others would attend a performance at the Parthenon that night, so as night fell it was time for them to leave the library and part for the time-being. They exited the tunnels and climbed the stairs to the street, and as they stepped out into the open Mina immediately knew something was wrong. Karen tensed, and she heard screams, not only coming from a voice she recognized as the limo driver, but others out in the street as well. She gripped tightly to her cane, then to Karen’s hand as the doctor exclaimed. Mina spoke to her calmly but urgently.

“Karen, you must tell me what is happening.”

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Outside the vault

<< Karen was horrified by what she was seeing. It all hit her like a blast of painfully hot air.>>

<< Her heart rate went up a bit, her lungs tightened. Her opal blue eyes fluttered.>>

<< her limo driver was being attacked!!>>

Karen, you must tell me what is happening.

I....I don't know....it's...people are attacking other people! It's madness on a LARGE SCALE...it's....

<< at that moment, she thought of her daughter and delilah....>>

<< The driver!>>


Stay here Mina! Stay right here. I have to help him!

<< releasing Mina's hand, Karen lifts up her arms. A rushing chime sounds off as her suit transforms into her witch's flying suit.>>

<< Karen rushes forward from the entrance>>

<< out on the street, on the hood of the car, the driver, panic stricken, struggles with a large man who has overpowered him and has him pinned down to the hood of the car. the man seemed to be gripped with a RAGE.>>

HEY! STOP THAT!

<< Karen commands as she reaches them and attempts to pull him away with her now magick halo encircled hand.>>

 

[Seer]

terror has a new face

<< Dr. Victoria was a noted psychotherapist and a powerful witch. She was the mother of this era's soceress supreme. she was plenty capable but even she was not expecting what she'd find when she attempted to intervene on behalf of her driver.>>

<< As she got the assailant's attention, pulling him away, his skin felt odd...rough...dry. He slowly turned around to FACE her and that's when she saw the TRUE horror of this attack...>>

Karen: GODDESS!!!

<< The man was NOT human...not anymore>>

<< worse. her driver had already been bitten, MAULED by the man...the CREATURE and as he slid off the car, seemingly DEAD...a few seconds later, he too rose up, looking more like the creature now slowly closing in on Karen.>>

<< she gasped with shock as she backed away.>>

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Outside the vault

<< Karen recoils in horror as the man...the CREATURE turns his attention to her.>>

k...keep away!

<< she backs up as the creature closes in on her. Her DRIVER, having died from his deep, deadly neck wounds, has now reanimated as well and is coming after her.>>

Oh NO!!

<< the look of shock and terror on her face says it all as she exclaims with distress.>>

<< She could PANIC...MOST people would in a situation as unbelievable and terrifying as this! But she HAD to defend herself, not to mention Mina. They were in mortal danger now and something TERRIBLE was happening all around them. They had to get out of here. but to retreat into the Vault? What about Delilah?>>

<< Karen's mind RACED as she continued to back away toward where she left Mina.>>

STOP where you are! BOTH of you!

<< they dont respond. they dont obey. they wont...because they're not human. they're not the people they were mere minutes ago.>>

<< she lifts her hands moving from an defensive posture to OFFENSIVE as halos of dark magick form around them>>

I can't....but I must!

I ...will use FORCE to defend myself from you!

<< Fighting with DIANA was one thing. Diana was a PEER. She had super powers and she was clearly malevolent. She'd destroyed Karen's family. But these two. Her driver and his assailant who was now advancing on HER, they were normal baseline humans. Defenseless against her magick! and that's when the zombie closest to her moans and bares its teeth, making a deadly pass to her like a predator about to sink it's teeth in its prey>>

NO!!!

I must ACT to protect myself and shield Mina from danger!

<< Karen screams. Mina can hear the near PANIC in Karen's voice as CHIMES sound off>>

Hellspawn demon creature of DEATH
FIRE shall take your very BREATH!

<< her voice reverberates as she swings her outstreched arms. a sound of power is heard as sparkling red HELLFIRE manifests and spirals out toward BOTH zombies, slamming into them with the impact of a mack truck. the zombies gurgle and moan before EXPLODING.>>

<< Karen looks on with an intensity in her opal blue eyes. She seems transfixed by what she's just witnessed but then she snaps out of it as she hears Mina calling for her. Blinking twice and shaking her head she quickly turns and runs to Mina.>>

Mina we have to flee this place. We'll be trapped if we stay here. But I CAN'T leave Delilah...I couldn't save my child...I won't leave her to whatever this...this NIGHTMARE that's unfolding is.

Those men that just attacked me...my driver...he was DEAD but he returned to life and joined the other one in attacking me. I had no choice but to defend myself.

We have to get out of here!

 

[Arsenal]

We have to get out of here!

You DAMNED right you do!! Those are zombies, like the movies. We have to get out of here!!

Karen turned to see a large, well-built man in a police paramilitary uniform with guns EVERYWHERE.

He moves quickly picking off zombies with head shots. He checks the car and then comes back to the pair, quickly checking them over. He grabs Karen's hand and pulls them to the car.

Get in the car. Drive away quickly. Do not stop for anyone or anything. I saw what you just did, reminds me of stories I heard about someone I kinda knew once on the force. Whatever the fuck that is you can do, be ready to use it. Because if they bite you, you're dead. GO.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

outside the vault

You DAMNED right you do!!

<< Karen gasps as she quickly turns back to see...>>

Karen turned to see a large, well-built man in a police paramilitary uniform with guns EVERYWHERE.

The NYPD! they're out here in force and well armed. They're trying to protect the city and the citizens. Just how wide reaching is this...whatever THiS is!?

Those are zombies, like the movies. We have to get out of here!!

OFFICER!

<< she took a moment look at him. she couldnt help but feel RELIEVED at the moment that someone else was out here...someone who would HELP.>>

What's HAPPENED!? Zombies attacking humans...in the middle of the city!?

<< Karen was a woman of structure and organization. She did better when she was informed. As a therapist she used information and knowledge to help her guide her patients.>>

He moves quickly picking off zombies with head shots. He checks the car and then comes back to the pair, quickly checking them over. He grabs Karen's hand and pulls them to the car.

Get in the car. Drive away quickly. Do not stop for anyone or anything. I saw what you just did, reminds me of stories I heard about someone I kinda knew once on the force.

Delilah! She was a police officer up till the time Morgan died...He must have worked with her, he must have KNOWN she was a mutant....maybe I should....

<< Clearly he was aware of mutants. He saw HER use magick and didnt flinch. In the midst of crisis, one MUST look for a point of order to start making sense of things. For Karen, Michael was it at that moment.>>

Whatever the fuck that is you can do, be ready to use it. Because if they bite you, you're dead. GO.

<< She was prepared to do just that....but at that moment, She resisted his pull a bit. She didnt want to be too far from Mina, who Michael didnt yet know was blind. She'd already left the woman alone once before. She knew she shouldnt do that again. She reached back for Mina and was about to take her hand and quickly help her to get into the car.>>

<< Karen was visibly distressed.>>


But officer...I...

 

[Mina Harker]

The sounds of struggle and Karen reciting her spells reached Mina’s ears, but there was no clue as to who or what exactly it was that they faced.

Those men that just attacked me...my driver...he was DEAD but he returned to life and joined the other one in attacking me. I had no choice but to defend myself.

Zombies?

She didn’t like the zed-word – it connoted something supernatural when in general, reanimation was a scientific creation – and disaster. She knew that it had happened before, but here and now? Not in some lab with a young foolish bio researcher, but on the streets of New York!

She heard a policeman tell them to get into a car, and Karen took her hand. Mina squeezed it.

"Let's go Karen - I'm afraid you're going to have to drive. I don't see so well at night."

She deadpanned the last bit, a small smile coming to her lips after, despite the gravity of the situation. She needed Karen not to lose it, and humor was the best shield against reality Mina knew.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

driving through the city

<< Karen got into the driver's seat. Michael closed the door behind her and gave the door a hearty double tap wth his hand. a "good luck" gesture. As Mina deadpanned about Karen having to drive due to her "not seeing at night", Karen ran her hands through her blonde, flipped hair and slowly exhaled. She looked over at the woman, who was smiling a bit.>>


<< Mina was seemingly calm and collective. Karen felt a flash of embarrassment.>>

<< As Michael waved them off, Karen took off, driving quickly. >>

That brave young man. May the goddess protect him. ALL of them.


<<They passed more scenes of chaos.>>



By the dark moon....I havent seen anything like this in all my years...but then....

<< FLASH!>>

<< images of Christopher Victory in one of his expensive designer suits and a lab coat. In a dark lab, raving about bio technology experiments. >>

<< Images of Christopher Victory in his study at the Victoria family home, on the phone with Dr. Adam Chandler. MORE bizarre conversation about the T Virus. >>

<< Karen didnt know what it meant. Despite both of them being doctors, Christopher's career path took a decidedly different, DARK turn when he joined forces with Chandler and Diana.>>


<< But then she thought about it...zombies...monsters....MONSTERS....>>

The CITADLE

<< The place where MORGAN....DIED.>>

<<FLASH!>>

You were WARNED, Daughter. But I should have known you would not listen. You're just like your BITCH mother. ALWAYS interferring. ALWAYS defying me! I offered you and Blaze BOTH a life of adventure and prosperity in the SERVICE OF MYSTECH. You could have been magnificent but instead it's come to THIS. You're both too much of a threat and liability. You know too much. I regret it has come to this.

now on the ground and badly hurt, Morgan can hardly respond to her father, who looms over her so large and twisted. no longer the man she once knew, love or trusted. He hadn't been THAT for sometime. But NOW? He stands before them, over them. Black is closing in. She's injured, shivering...she can't fly...or even teleport.>>

<< She attempts to cover and shield her sister from Black's assault but it is of no use.>>

Obedience breeds discipline. Discipline breeds unity. Unity breeds power. Power is LIFE!

<< Black attacks, savagely. Bombarding Spellbinder and Foxfire with nega energy. It slices THROUGH them to their very core...they're WRACKED with unearthly pain as their bodies seize and their insides RUPTURE. Their SCREAMS finally give out as Blaze dies and Morgan slumps over her sister, dead as well. Their bodies now battered beyond recognition and steam rises up from the circumference of the floor around them singed by the blast area.>>

<< she FELT her daughter's distress at the moment of her death. It left her nearly catatonic. by the time Delilah and Alycia finally came to her ...she knew. But she remembered Delilah mentioning that place....THE CITADLE. where all sorts of creatures and monsters lurked...>>

<< Even as she remembered, while driving, she began to shudder with grief and shed tears. Mina couldnt see her face contorted in grief but she could hear her.>>

<< sniff>>

Morgan....

<< Karen drove, dodging hazards in the road...but she was distracted by her mind racing for answers and her GRIEF.>>

<< it would cost her.>>

 

[Seer]

crash

just moments earlier. ZOOM UP to the roof top of a building.

<< A young girl, running for her life from a group of zombies, former co-workers, has been overtaken. Viciously bitten several times, she was now wounded and bleeding badly. As she screamed with pain and terror, in her last moments of life and freedom, she took the last bit of power she had and made SURE she would not become "ONE OF THEM." She JUMPS, leaping off the building to her death.>>

<< Jennifer. A woman with hopes, dreams, loves, fears and all things that make each human being special. All of that was now over. SHATTERED.>>

<< she falls TOWARD us. the look on her bloody, tear streaked face is frozen in the frame just before....>>


MOMENT OF IMPACT

<< SMASHING DOWN onto the hood and windshield of the car KAREN AND MINA were driving in! Karen see's the woman's face. her eyes STILL open!>>

<< the sudden, bloody, bone breaking, car damaging, terrifying impact is MORE than enough to catch the distracted doctor unaware as she SCREAMS. The impact jars Mina as well as the car SLAMS into and over a fire hydrant. No longer working, they are stuck.>>

<< there is no movement . only silence as the now steaming, wrecked car sits still partially lodged on the fire hydrant.>>

<< a few moments pass...>>

<< all around the wreck are signs of continued chaos and MURDER as zombies attack, victims scream and the NYPD does their best to try to control the situation. >>


<< they are nearby a bar simply named J's Bar. It's the closest place for much needed refuge to regroup now that they've lost their car.>>

<< soon, signs of LIFE from within the car can be seen as Karen, who is miraculously uninjured manages to slide out of the wrecked vehicle. she covers her mouth in dismay as the twisted, broken body of Jennifer lies on the windshield of the car. ducking down to avoid being seen by two zombies lumbering by in the alley, she quietly crawls around to Mina's side to help her. Mina, while visibly stunned from the impact, is also unharmed.>>

 

[Mina Harker]

Mina sat calmly in her seat - expressionless after her attempt at lightening the mood.
She assumed they were headed to find Delilah and her team, so she didn't ask. Clearly this was a job too big for the police department, and one that required a...special touch. She fastened her seat belt out of habit. Her manager always thought her strange because even in the back of a limousine, she wore a seat belt. Perhaps it was because she was blind, she like the security of it. Luckily for her.

Something heavy struck the hood of the car. It seemed to come from above - there was too much force for it to have simply been someone in the road. The car swerved and hit something else before coming to a stop with a jarring impact. Mina was stunned.

"Karen?"

The doctor was soon at her side, helping her from the wrecked car.

"Are you alright?"

Their predicament seemed dire, alone and without transportation. Karen probably didn't notice that Mina had removed her gloves before taking Karen's hand, and through her eyes she saw what they were up against.

"We must get off the streets."

 

[Shadow Weaver]

outside of J's bar

<< Karen quietly crawled....she feared that even the sound of her own heart beating was like thunder and that these creatures...these ZOMBIES as Michael called them, would hear her.>>

<< She she reached the passenger side.>>

Karen?

The doctor was soon at her side, helping her from the wrecked car.

shhhh. we don't went them to hear us...

Are you alright?

yes...yes i'm fine.

no i'm NOT fine...

a body... a young women fell from above, from one of thebuildings we passed and hit the car. i lost control of the car and we ran into a fire hydrant.

My career as a stunt driver...is over.

<< she joked, in spite of herself.>>

are you injured? I can heal with my magicks.


<< the sound of growling and gurgling was in the air around them. they were on a side street off the main road so it was relatively quieter but the danger was no less apparent. Karen helps Mina out of the car and directs her to crouch down beside her. Mina held her hand. Not noticing that the woman had removed her gloves.>>

Karen probably didn't notice that Mina had removed her gloves before taking Karen's hand, and through her eyes she saw what they were up against.

"We must get off the streets."

Yes.

I need a moment for my skull to settle before i can attempt to cast a major spell.

<< Looking around quickly>>

There's a bar. It's intact. It's just beyond our wrecked car. We can get get inside and undercover...for a respite.

I can send a distress call to Delilah.


Are you ready?

<< Karen glanced around warily, making sure the coast was clear. The evening air was filled with smoke from fire and the glow of fires from buildings and cars. the screams of people, gunfire and gurgling of zombies were all at once distant and faint but also close and terrifying.>>

it's just a few quick paces and we're in.

 

[Seer]

Inside of J's Bar

<< A few cautious quick steps and Karen and Mina enter the dark bar.>>

<< Clearly there has been chaos here but now its eeriely quiet. Dark. the few lights that are still working, flicker. bar stools and furniture are strewn about.>>

<< surprisingly, the flat screen TV on the wall continues to broadcast emergency news reports of disaster in the city as well as a situation unfolding at the parthenon but they can't get inside for more details.>>

<< Karen leads, holding Mina's hand. She looks about, searching intently with her opal blue eyes but as far as she can see, no one is about.>>

<< Closing the door quietly, she carefully leads the way. A dead boy lays on the floor near a booth but from the wounds to his head, it appears he wont be getting up anytime soon.>>

<< each step further into the bar is like a step further into a terrifying unknown future. Karen, though a powerful witch and capable woman, is definitely fearful for her's and Mina's safety. It's a terrifying situation for anyone...super powered or not.>>

---------------------------------------------

<< elsewhere in the bar...two people. unseen for sometime and unoticed by Karen. One a petite young woman and the other a tall young man. they are the only survivors in the bar and have taken refuge. in a room off the hallway leading away from the main open area. They've heard Karen and Mina enter but as the two women try not to make a sound. they have no way of knowing if the new arrivals are ALIVE or...more of THEM >>

----------------------------------------------

<< Karen seats Mina in a booth further into the bar away from easy view of any window. she remains standing, looking around, following allowing herself to breathe a little easier.>>

Karen: << whispering>> From what i've seen....there's no one else about. Whatever happened here, was before we arrived.

<< Even as she whispered, she was unaware that one of the OTHER occupants of the bar, thus far unnoticed by her, COULD hear even that whisper. It was enough to confirm to the young woman and man that the new arrivals were in fact alive & NOT zombies.>>

<< Karen and Mina were about to be surprised that were in fact NOT alone.>>

 

[Ruby]

:: The petite, young woman's name was Cassandra Johnson. She was a barista at the bar when the zombies attacked. She swiftly managed to duck into the hallway off the bar, not before quickly grabbing the customer she was helping with her. They quickly hid in the supply room and barred the door as one of the zombies began banging on it. ::

:: Unbekownst to everyone around her, Cass was special. She had unique abilities that a regular human being could not even have or fathom...and she could hear murmurings from the front. It wasn't too clear, it was like a garbled radio station as a matter of fact, but she could still HEAR. ::

:: Jumping from the unused table she was sitting on, she straightened her miniskirt of her outfit and walked over to the door. She didn't like the flight attendant-like uniforms the other girls wore thanks to her, shall we say, 'special' abilities. ::

:: She softly opened the door. ::

"I'm going to check things out, okay? You wait here."

:: Without waiting for an answer, or checking to see if he was okay, she left the room and ventured down the hall, warily calling out to whomever was there in a soft voice. ::

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

 

[Shadow Weaver]

J's bar

<< Karen quietly checked around the area where she & Mina were. She wanted to make sure there were no surprises...of the zombie kind...lurking about. She found nothing, which was a relief for her. But there was more evidence of chaos. Even the cash register was open but the money mostly still there, some of it on the floor.>>

<< around the otherside of the bar, she found some bottles of water. she took two, one for herself and brought the other one to Mina, opening it and placing Mina's hands on it.>>

Drink this water.

<< She replies in a maternal commanding tone.>>

<< she sits across from Mina, allowing herself to exhale as she takes an earnest drink of her bottled water.>>

Okay...a few moments of a respite.

<< she says in a whispered tone>>

I'll try to contact Delilah and....

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

<< Karen jolted a bit at the sound...but it was a voice! A live human voice!>>

That came from the hall, just around the corner from where we're sitting!

<< Karen looks at Mina>>

Stay here...I'll see who's there.

<< She stands up...hesitating for a moment before stepping forward, slowly moving around the corner of the wall to the hall...her hand raised, once again encompassed by a halo of dark magick. >>

<< stepping around that corner to face the hallway was terrifying. But she breathed in , swept the cape of her flying suit back and stepped forward!>>

<< With her arm outstretched and hand lifted, She was prepared to fire upon ANY hostile contact. But the moment she came into the hall she saw...>>

a girl! a young girl...and alive!

<< Karen looked relieved>>

Oh thank the goddess...you're not one of those...creatures out there!

<< Karen drew closer to the girl, the glow of the halo around her hand allowed her to get a better view of the girl. She was indeed ALIVE. not a zombie.>>

Are you ...alone here?

 

[Ruby]

:: Cass continued down the hall, her movements very precise, very slow. She jumped backwards when an older woman came around the corner, her hand outstretched. Cass instinctively threw her gloved hands in front of her face. ::

"I...I come in peace!"

Oh thank the goddess...you're not one of those...creatures out there!

:: Detecting the relieved tone of the woman's voice, Cass lowered her arms. ::

"No, no I am not. They attacked the place. I-I hid..."

:: Cass was always safe to begin with. Zombies would never go for HER. She was not their type. Still, coming face to face with a cluster of them was simply terrifying. Even SHE was creeped out by them. ::

Are you ...alone here?

:: Cass gestured down the hall towards the room. ::

"No. I was helping a customer when they attacked; a young man. I grabbed him and we hid in the supply room. He was still alive when I left him there..."

:: Cass looked back at the room and then at the woman. She couldn't really see her clearly at all to be able to check to see if she was hurt. She took a small step forward. ::

"Are YOU okay? It sounded nasty out there!"

 

[Shadow Weaver]

J's bar

<< Karen noted the young woman's appearence and demeanor. She seemed as if she could be trusted in this situation and no doubt this had not been a pleasant evening for her either.>>

:: Cass gestured down the hall towards the room. ::

"No. I was helping a customer when they attacked; a young man. I grabbed him and we hid in the supply room. He was still alive when I left him there..."

<< she was quick thinking. fast on her feet. good for her. she couldnt help but think of Delilah or MORGAN when looking at this young lady.>>


I have a woman with me as well. She's blind so I must not leave her unattended for long.

My driver was attacked by one of those creatures. He died...but he returned to life and BOTH of them attacked me. I had no choice but to defend myself and Mina from them.

We managed to make it as far as here when ...someone FELL from off a building and landed on our car, causing us to crash.

:: Cass looked back at the room and then at the woman. She couldn't really see her clearly at all to be able to check to see if she was hurt. She took a small step forward. ::

"Are YOU okay? It sounded nasty out there!"

We are both unharmed. We came here for refuge and a respite until we could figure out what to do...

<< Karen continued to speak in a hushed tone. She looked over her shoulder back to where Mina was still sitting.>>

I must get back to her. Is the room you're in large? We can join you back there. I have....

<< She looked at the woman.>>

I have abilities...that will allow me to make sure where ever we are remains protected from intrusion.

<< more to the point, she meant she could cast a spell of protection to seal whatever she was in w/ a pentagram of protection that would ward off ANY physical intruders but how was she going to explain THAT to this girl? Neither of them immediately realized the other was other was "special"...>>

 

[Titan]

Bastard shite shite fockin’ taxi driver. Dropped him off thirty blocks from where he’d asked. By the time he’d realized it, it was too late, and there were no taxis to be seen. So he started walking. This was New York City - eventually, there had to be a taxi, right? This city was fockin’ known for them, wasn’t it? Shite.

He threw his duffle bag over his shoulder and walked north in the cool night air. He pulled up the collar on his light jacket. It was colder here than he had expected. He had zoned out for a couple of blocks, still angry at the taxi driver, when a bright neon sign got his attention.

Yes, a pub - thank you Heavenly Father.

He entered a place called J’s not his usual type of place but it would do. Nothing wrong with expanding his horizons now he was in America, eh? He set his bag on the bar and order a pint of lager. He watched the young girl behind the bar – who looked about sixteen – completely butcher the pour. But at least it was cold.

He turned around and surveyed the bar’s patrons. Nothing special going on, your usual cross section of humanity you’d find in any pub. He sat up a little as he saw a young-ish man walk into the bar – stagger, more like. He looked well bad off – worse than the time Andrew had had the flu so bad he’d needed to go to hospital. Andrew looked back at the bargirl, waiting to see if she went to his aid. And as he did, the strangest thing he’d ever seen – including a woman shoot laser beams out of her hands – happened. The man shuffled right up behind one of the patrons seated at a table and BIT into his neck.

“Holy fuck!”

Andrew jumped off the stool and back against the bar. This was fucked up. The guy must be some escaped mental patient or something. The man at the table started screaming, and the nutter would not take his jaws off the guy, no matter how he thrashed. Andrew crossed the room and pulled the guy off him, grabbing his arms behind his back.

“Alright pal, time to go.”

He started pushing the sick man – who actually started to snarl and snap at Andrew – towards the door that one of the patrons who had decided to high tail it away from the psycho had considerately left open, and threw him out into the street. Andrew came back inside, shutting the door and keeping a watch on the man as he called to the bargirl.

“Call the guardi- I mean, the police. And an ambulance.”

He watched the sick man get up and start stumbling away. Andrew was pretty sure he wouldn’t get too far, though, and he wasn’t about to try and contain some bitey sick guy until the police arrived. Who knows if the guy was catching? They could all get…malaria or something.

The few patrons who were left in the bar were now huddled around the lunatic’s victim, pushing bar towels onto his wound to try and stop the bleeding. The guy looked pretty bad off. A couple people who had tried to help had some pretty nasty scratches as well. His date looked like she was going to start screaming her head off any second. The bartender had gone to fetch more clean towels, when things started to go south.

It was as if things got very quiet and then very loud in a matter of seconds. The man with the injured neck got up from where he was sitting with his head on the table, and grabbed the woman he was with, biting her on the arm. She really did start screaming bloody murder then, and then the other people in the bar started clawing and biting at the people who were left.

What. The Fuck.

The guy really must have had some sickness, some kind of psycho sickness, because suddenly it seemed as if everyone in the joint was either crazy or screaming, except for him and the bartender. The girl seemed incredibly cool in the face of what was in front of them.

Those that could were running out the door. The mass of crazy people were between him and the bartender, and though he wasn’t stupid, and really wasn’t in the mood to get himself some rare tropical crazy disease either, he wasn’t going to leave her alone to deal with this. So he picked up a chair, and started swinging it at the people trying to bite him. Andrew connected with the skull of that first bitten man and he went down, motionless, his skull a bloody mess, but the chair was shattered to pieces in the process. The bartender came over the bar with some sort of bat, showing no fear. The two nutters who were left didn’t seem to care about the girl, their eyes were focused on Andrew.

Well, that’s good. I guess.

He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out the switchblade he always carried with him. Opening it, he held it by the blade and then threw it, striking the one between the eyes with it. Before he knew it, the bartender had taken care of the last from behind.

They stood looking at each other for a moment before the both got the brilliant idea that they needed to hide. He pulled the knife out of the motionless crazy’s head as she motioned for him to follow her. They holed up in a side room full of bar supplies. And there they sat and waited, listening but hearing nothing but sirens, until Karen and Mina walked into the bar.

The girl – WAY too headstrong – went to investigate.

Cass: "I'm going to check things out, okay? You wait here."

“Wait – are you mad?”

But it was too late, she had already slipped out of the room.

“Fuck,” he said under his breath.

He didn’t want her to get killed by one of those people, but he didn’t want to get himself killed either, so he slipped out a few paces behind her and concealed himself as he watched her and listened. She was talking to somebody, somebody who at least for now was coherent. He listened to the woman tell her story, before coming out of his hiding place and approaching.

We are both unharmed. We came here for refuge and a respite until we could figure out what to do...

“So it’s not just the people in here. It’s happening…out there…as well? Fuck. Me.”

I have abilities...that will allow me to make sure where ever we are remains protected from intrusion.

He looked the proper woman up and down.

"Well unless you plan on baking them cookies and telling them bedtime stories, I think we better get out of here and find help."