S I D

Location: Hotel Room [Inside > Outside]
Interaction(s): Johnny (Texting) @Jasper19

Jerking awake with wide eyes, Sid shot up from the floor into a sitting position. He scanned the room intently for a couple of moments before realizing no one else was there; Nothing out of the ordinary was there. Just him. Rubbing at his eyes with a loud sigh, realizing there was no immediate threat, Sid leaned forward to give himself a few long minutes to actually wake up. It felt impossibly early even though he could clearly see the sunlight beaming into the hotel room from the window.

A few long minutes later, after trying his best to let the troubling feeling fall from his shoulders to no avail, Sid pushed himself off of the floor. He dug into his bag quickly for his travel-pack before heading to the bathroom, checking every corner of the room in the process. He made quick work of brushing his teeth and his hair, but found himself slowing down before he got to wash his face. The feeling of someone behind him was damn near impossible to brush off. He knew there wasn't anything there but the intense feeling simply wouldn't go away.

With a great deal of mentally convincing himself, Sid kept his attention forward and his eyes down away from the mirror. He focused on the chilled water as he splashed it on his face and the sharp prickly feeling of stubble he needed to shave off. It helped divert his attention but he found himself still rushing through the motions. Determined to finish the task at hand while still being too anxious to look in the mirror to see what was there- even though it was nothing!

Then it happened mere moments after he turned the faucet off. A small shift in light from the window had Sid lifting his head to look in the mirror. Almost instantaneously he felt relief. Not a single thing was there, like he knew there wasn't. But the feeling only shifted from someone being behind him to a more anxious energy of needing to leave the hotel room.

Grabbing his stuff from the counter, Sid moved quickly to change his clothes- his back close to a wall so he could keep his gaze on the rest of the room. If today was going to be a bad one, he decided it was alright to wear his favorite clothes. A simple tshirt, a well worn pair of jeans, but most importantly of all, his hooded jacket. It was a bit too warm already to be wearing it, but he felt he needed the extra layer for his own comfort.

After his backpack was secured on his person and all his belongings were squared away in the correct pockets, Sid finally grabbed his phone. Now that he was dressed and ready to leave, he felt a lot better, leaving him to smile faintly as he tapped the screen to read his unread messages.

Should have just woken me up. He replied to Johnny through text.

Heading out now. Good luck. Leaving it at that, Sid backed out of the hotel room a bit awkwardly. He didn't let himself take a breath of the fresh outside air until he heard the hotel door lock closed. Time to head off to the Spoon for a quick meal before heading off to another trail. He didn't think he'd make it in time to meet the old man, but hey, he was hungry, especially now that he wasn't feeling to trapped.

Brand pounded at the door, getting irritated. “Come on, if you won’t keep a listed phone number, at least answer your door!” He didn’t like the look of this place. He’d busted into places like this, but based on his file with the local police, at least this ‘Ozzie’ character wasn’t the sort to have dogs, or traps.

After a moment of silence, he began pounding a fifth time, and shouted, “Mr. Shaw? Please, if you’re home, you’re not under arrest, but I need to talk to you; this is Agent Brand, with the FBI! We-” He glanced when he noticed someone, a local, he figured, walking by and just shaking their head as they watched him, seeing them mouth the words, ‘fuckin’ stoners..’ “We met briefly yesterday evening, do you remember? Mr. Shaw, it’s urgent that I speak to you, and as soon as possible!”



At the crime scene, MacPherson was talking with the deputy, behind the tape, but his back to the body. “I agree, Deputy, this looks a lot like those missing animals and cattle, but, I'm not so sure this is an animal, now…”

“So, you agree with Mr. Fancy-Pants, now?”

“There’s no need to be hostile, deputy; he’s been nothing but professional, here.

"Evidence thus far does not point to a mere animal attack, Deputy. I may not be a wildlife expert, but I know how to read toxicology reports, and there is nothing in this area that is both possessed of ‘necrotoxin’ venom, and capable of doing… That… to a dog, nevermind anything like this…”

“So, you think, what? Some kind of sicko? A serial killer, here, in Nowhere?”

MacPherson raised an eyebrow, “You pay me a great compliment, Deputy, to think I’m such an expert, but, no; I think this is more inline with my actual skill set. I think what we’re looking at is certainly a deranged mind, but directed in the interest of their own imagination- a hoax, a dark sense of humor that’s gotten… Out of hand. Still, you should intensify safety measures; maintain the curfew, of course, but nobody should go anywhere alone, this-” He nodded to the crime scene, “Represents a radical shift; the killer, for lack of a better word, has broken away from the primary affected area, that’s why we couldn’t find anything during our stake out at the McColm place! The culprit knew better than to be where they’d already drawn too much attention.”

The deputy tried to keep his cool, but was very nervous, and trying to calm himself as he replied, “Well, that’s good, right? It sounds like, uh, we spooked ‘em?”

Another nod to the crime scene, “Does that look anything like the work of a prankster who’s feeling discouraged? If anything this is worse; good god, man, it’s a radical escalation! We can’t prove who or what chased the McColm girl into the river, but this is absolutely our culprit’s work! This could happen anywhere, now, to anyone!” He was raising his voice now, “And frankly I’m getting a little tired of your attitude, it-” He glanced up, having caught a glimpse of something on the roof, was that… That red head he saw with Brand, last night? “… It’s enough to consider filing a complaint.” Some people in crime scene gear showed up, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, the experts are here, I’m sure you won’t mind if I go and do what I can to be helpful. Let me know if you come up with suspects.” And with that, he began to walk away.

“Any other brilliant suggestions, big shot, private eye?” The deputy was being defensive, his pride wounded, perhaps.

MacPherson didn’t let it get to him, glancing toward the rooftop again, “Road blocks.”

“Road Blocks?”

“Yes. Nobody without a badge get’s in, or out of town, that’s my recommendation at this point.”



At the diner, Old Man McColm stood next to Johnny, greeting him. “Top o’the mornin’, boyo. I appreciate your willin’ness to help me, and it means a lot that you believe me- say, where’s your friend? The native boy?” He looked at the door when the bell rang, seeing Sid walk in and flagged him down. "Ah, over here, you just made it!"

THUD THUD THUD

The Agent had found him. As he stood in the middle of his living room, freshly bathed with a towel wrapped around his waist, he couldn't help but be enveloped by a sense of panic. He started looking around for a weapon to grab before he dared make his way to the door. Fire-poker, he thought to himself. Everyone in the movies always go for the fire-poker! But he remembered he did not have a fire-poker, for he did not have a fireplace. What would the next best thing be, he wondered. A golf club! Or even a baseball bat. But Ozzie was not a jock and weapons such as those were out of his grasp.

THUD THUD THUD

Frantically he looked around his place as the Agent continued to demand entry. Empty snack bags, discarded dirty clothes, an inflated inner tube that was now serving as a guest chair... Then he saw it. Excalibur. In a manner befitting King Arthur himself, Ozzie gripped Excalibur and held it up, ready to strike should the need arise as he slowly made his way to the door.

His steps were gradual and wide, testing the limits of his makeshift skirt as he attempted to remain in a fighting stance at all times. Reluctantly, he pulled the chain lock out and let it dangle freely before unlocking the bolt and finally reaching for the door's knob and turning it.

As the door opened, the agent found himself greeted with the sight of Ozzie Shaw holding what appeared to be a 5 foot long glass penis slung over his shoulder like a a majestic sword with a little bowl sticking out of the area where the shaft met the balls. It was truly Ozzie's most prized bong and it's intimidating stature had earned its name.

Gripping Excalibur tight, the stoner finally forced out a greeting.

"...uh... Yo," he said. At that moment, the Ozzie's towel decided to stop fighting against his widespread knees and surrendered, immediately unraveling and falling to the floor. "Is this about me being a criminal mastermind?"

@RedVII

Agent Brand locked eyes on the obscene artifact, heard the words that came out of his mouth, pinched the bridge of his nose and heaved a beleaguered sigh. I only have myself to blame, at this point... "No, not exactly." He didn't bother verifying his identity; he'd had a quick look over his records with the local police force.

He forced himself to look this guy in the eyes, but he wasn't looking forward to this conversation. "Mr. Shaw, have you seen the news, this morning? There's been a dramatic turn of events, but I think it's better if we talk this over in private. May I come in?"