---

---

Paloma tilted her head and cocked an eyebrow in surprise as the creature that had been valiantly and pathetically trying to murder her started to plead with her instead. She was even more surprised to see a streamer of golden light thread around the face flap of David Smith, the Samaritan apparently buying right away that the creature was in desperate need of some help. It gave her a pause as the taunting smile fell from her face, replaced by a look of concentration as some rusted gears started churning.

Paloma never fancied herself as having a particularly high intelligence. She had been a below average student who went to an abysmal school. One of the highlights of her job was that she could completely shut her brain off and still do it. Still, she liked to think that growing up most of her life in South Cloverfield helped boost her wisdom score up a pip or two. After all, she had made it nearly three decades as close to unscatched as anyone could be who lived in one of the more dangerous neighborhoods in the area without the Samaritan by her side and while, yes, technically she had achieved this by largely being an indoor kid, she had still done it.

So, when the doppelganger started its “I’m actually a nice guy” routine Paloma could see the string attached to the bait. It also helped having the body of what remained of Caleb oozing out dark blood in her periphery, as well as the fuzzy shape of Vin moving in to strike the doppelganger from behind. Paloma flinched reflexively as the tiger bit down on a limb of the creature but kept one eye open. It was funny, seeing blood and viscera did almost nothing to her but an act of violence still shook her. The numbness of being in the medical industry, even in a role as small as her own. She was used to witnessing the aftermath.

The tiger must’ve overheard her; they offered to help lead an interrogation before being sent crashing through a wall alongside the doppelganger. Now there was a small conundrum. Technically, as long as she found out her information she was fine, and right now the tiger looked to be getting its ass kicked. She could play along with the doppelganger, knowing that whatever game it was trying to use on her that she still held the trump card. But Paloma had already been vaguely responsible for one death and the tiger had protected her. There was a budding kinship right there. How could she possibly hinder someone so sweet that they would protect a total stranger?

“Please, please girl, make her stop. I think I can fight this. I can come back,” cried the creature in David’s voice, reaching out to Paloma with its hand.

“Just an I think? Mm, not very promising,” said Paloma, crossing her arms and turning up her chin.

She had already made up her mind, but perhaps if the doppelganger kept trying to play its mind games it would allow for Vin to sink in a few good blows. Her eyes widened as Vin called out about it being an Apparition, the retort of I know dying on her lips as they revealed that they were somehow aware of the Samaritan. She looked towards Malik, who was beckoning to her to follow him out the exit, and nodded. The man was right. She would only just get in the way. The body of Caleb proved that. She turned to follow Malik out the door, pausing to look back at the vicious fighting just enough to say to Vin, “Try not to kill it.”

Paloma stepped outside and was immediately assaulted by a choir of voices from maybe a dozen or so people who had been within earshot when she had screamed. “Are you okay?” “You’re hurt!” “Let me call you an ambulance.” “Here, let me give you my coat.” “Do you need help in there?” “What happened?” Some in the crowd just stared and gawked, while others began to come closer to the house. Paloma gave Malik a side eye, hoping that he wouldn’t realize that they were only addressing her.

Malik, assuming he had an Emotional Field, would feel nothing more than a brief itch on his skin as she activated her Good Influence aura, but he would see the crowd of Blind onlookers stop as one as Paloma held their rapt attention. Without saying a word, Paloma sent a vibe through the crowd that it was dangerous here and that they should swiftly and carefully go somewhere safe. As one the crowd would turn and leave the scene in a hurry without any further questioning. Paloma turned to Malik, gum nearing falling out of her mouth as she gawked at him with faked confusion.

“That was weird. Sorry that your friend got…” Paloma voice, which had been solemn, sparked with curiosity as she noticed that Malik was on the phone. “Who ya calling?”

The Cozy Bakery
Downtown North District
Interacts: Freya and "James"(@NoriWasHere),

---

Today just got interesting, in the bad sense, Elijah thought as he watched the scene in front of him. The crying child, James acting more weird, the lights going out, the door locking, and now James, clearly a monster, is after their lives. Starting with him, Elijah could feel the adrenaline surging in his veins as he dodged backward from the doppelganger's attack. Barely avoiding the monster's claws and Elijah yelled at Freya, "Hide, this is going to get messy, and that is not James." He reached for his pen and uncapped it. It transforms into the Spear of the Hunter, an ancient spear made of bone and hardened steel. A weapon made to hunt and kill monsters like James, and Elijah knows how to use it.

"So a monster and I very much prefer to live in chaos you call life," Elijah said defiantly and held the spear in an attack position. While the Cozy Cafe is not the ideal place to fight with a spear, it was big enough inside for him to fight in here with it. He just has to be careful, is all.

As Elijah readied himself for a fight and gripped the spear with both hands with determination in his eyes, he could hear a child crying near him and realized who else was in danger. He would have to make this quick or risk others dying by this monster.

But Elijah waited for the doppelganger to leave the counter as attacking with the spear while it was behind there made attacking it a bit troublesome for Elijah's liking. So, he switched his stance to a defensive one and prepared for what came next. Hoping the doppelganger will come out into the open.

This would be his first fight with the spear, and it is time to see if his training is enough. Elijah hoped it will not just for his sake but for the rest of the people in this place as well.

---

Quill waited a beat after Lorenza left. It paid to be cautious. She was a mystery girlie through and through and as an avid lover of all things mystery you could never discount the person who hired the detective as the culprit. Granted she doubted the woman would hand over that much money if her intention was to mislead Quill. No there were things at play but $10,000 was $10,000.

But she needed information on this Varnan character. Which means she needed help.

---

Nico was constructing a post on Reddit that was going to make some people cry. Worth it. As much as he loved the internet it was also a minefield of idiots who thought they knew better. It was like a message board for pompous jack-offs to either pretend they were experts in their fields or be outright racist/homophobic/sexist bigots and hide behind an anime profile picture.

Before Nico could finish constructing his well-worded essay his phone vibrated and nearly fell off his desk. Nico glanced at the screen and rolled his eyes, though he did so with a smile. She never called him unless she needed help and she needed help a lot. He swiped the call and put it to his hear. "What do you want now?"

"Oh hey Nico. I'm fine actually, thanks for asking. How are you?" she said in response, jokingly.

"About to make some boys pretending to be men cry online. Hey Quill."

"I'd ask what for but I've learned not to get you on your soapbox. I remember the Fortnite incident."

"If you are going to be homophobic on a game meant for children you need to do a better job camouflaging yourself on the internet."

Quill chuckled. When Nico was on he was on. No one was safe. She considered herself to be technologically sound but he was something else. She was surprised the government hadn't snatched him up at some point. But maybe they had bigger things to worry about. "Anywho, enough social niceties. I need a favor."

"That was you being nice? Damn I'd hate to be on your bad side."

"Yeah that would not end well for you. I need you to look up information for me on a man named Varnan Ingram. I got a case put in my lap I couldn't say no to."

"Ooooh intrigue. What did this Varnan do?"

"It's more what this Varnan knows that I am curious about. Some crypt keeper lady with an impeccable fashion sense came in wanting me to speak to him. More than likely there's weird things involved."

Nico was aware of magic and its existence in the world. Even someone as chronically online as him was aware of its impact on the world and even on the internet. He actively stalked conspiracy theory sites to check on validity of claims. Aliens in the ocean? Bigfoot getting married? Weirder things have happened. "All right, let me take a look here."

Nico got to work. A cursory search revealed the same information Quill got. Varnan worked at a bakery and lived in North Cloverfield. There wasn't much else about the man which made Nico's ear twitch.

Typically if someone had that small of a footprint online it was for one of two reasons: either that person was just born or they had something to hide.

Nico got to work deep diving. Quill waited on the phone and could hear Nico typing furiously. Credit given where it was due, Nico did work fast. He could find information on someone faster than she could standing in front of the person asking them the same questions.

"Ok I have something though what there is on here is still small. Varnan doesn't have an online presence before the events of the Cataclysm. It's like the dude didn't exist before that day which is impossible because, I mean, people don't just appear do they?" He wasn't asking for an answer, just piecing together information he had.

"I mean I wouldn't discount it, but I would imagine no. Anything else?"

"Besides his place of work which I imagine is most likely a front as this dude is magic. Like literal magic. I don't know what this dude's deal is but he had to have done something to hide himself."

Quill bit her lip as she put some pieces together. If Varnan had nothing in his history before the events of the Cataclysm maybe he was able to hide his records. Or manipulated something to make it that way. He was here for a reason.

"Right. Thanks Nico. If anything else comes up for him can you shoot me a text?"

"Course. I'll set up an alert for his name and any other connections I find. Just...I say it every time you call but be careful. There's weird people online but there's even more offline."

Quill smiled. It was nice having someone in her corner. "You too." Quill hung up and stood from her chair, cracking her back. First things first: she needed to see Varnan and the only lead she had was the bakery he worked at.\

---

Quill parked a few blocks away, which she may regret, but she preferred to walk. She took in the surrounding area and noted there wasn't much foot traffic. She mentally prepared what questions she would ask and what she may have to do to get the answers she wanted. If what she found out was true Mr. Ingram was a powerful magic user. She checked her pocket and felt the heft of the gun she carried. It wouldn't do well in most situations but bullets still hurt.

Quill neared the bakery and was about to open the door when she looked inside. She saw a few people in there but it wasn't your typical scene inside a bakery. There was a...heaviness. A tension one could cut with a knife. Something was happening.

Even if she wanted to get in the front door seemed risky. Instead she moved around the side street until she got to the back. There was another door thankfully. Quill tried it and found it unlocked and open. Whoever owned the place was either too trusting or trusted themselves to handle any trouble.

As Quill made her way inside she could make out some voices. Things were coming to a head. This was not what she signed up for but if Varnan was one of the people here she needed to speak to him anyway. Or speak to whoever owned the bakery since they knew him.

Quill checked around the corner to the front and made out the people. She didn't recognize anyone but the man, if he could be called as such with a menacing presence, behind the counter appeared to be the instigator. Quill stepped back, took a deep breath, and moved around the corner.

"Gods don't you just love the smell of freshly baked goods. Heard the croissants are out of this world." She looked at those around her, hoping to catch someone's eye as a trusted ally in this moment. "Is there a problem here that donuts can't fix?"

---

Raven's Rest, the Back of Bill's Tattoo Shop
_{Mentions: NA Interactions: Alejandro (@Tesserach)}

---

In hindsight, going down the highway at 300 kilometers an hour may not have been the wisest idea. Luckily for Lorenza and her driver, there wasn't a lot of traffic to weave through. And yes, the slightly icy roads made this particularly precarious. But they made it to Raven’s Rest in record time, without being worse for wear.

As it so happened, a certain tattoo shop was one of the first establishments they passed, now going at a more reasonable speed. Lorenza immediately noticed the shattered spill of glass on the pavement, and the car screeched off to the side to avoid it.

Either something had happened, or was currently happening.

”Pull around to the back, Deven.” Lorenza said in a firm voice.

Obediently, the car soon found itself parked off to the side, nearly boxing in a black SUV with its engine running. Lorenza opened her parasol and pulled it over her head as she stepped out, closing the car door behind her. She turned around briefly to make a hand sign - two fingers in a gun shape, gesturing to the alley. If things got messy, Deven had permission to leave her and split.

With that taken care of, Lorenza approached the driver's side of the black SUV. Nothing of note came to her mind when she glanced at the license plate, nor at the black siding. It was wholly unmarked. Black vehicles were never so simple, though - she knew.

Sounds of a fight could be heard inside the building. Lorenza only smiled softly at this, before her gloved hand rapped on the driver side window. She could see a young woman inside, looking abjectively terrified.

Lorenza addressed Alejandro with all the grace of a person wholly unperturbed by the possible risk of life just behind a door.

”Hello, love.” She said, flipping up her wallet and flashing what looked like ID.

”I'm with the City Council. Can you explain what's going on here?”

Playing the role of someone with automatic authority, even if it was entirely fake, would hopefully allow Lorenza to get some answers faster, without having to plunge headfirst through that shop's door, and opening whatever can of worms was banging around behind it.

---

Raven's Rest, the Back of Bill's Tattoo Shop
_{Interactions: Lorenza (@Estylwen)}

---

Alejandra was occupied watching the back alley ahead of her, listening to the radio communication going back and forth over the SUV's radio relay and the inscrutable code they used.

"Third flasher sighted." She could hear Jackson's voice over the radio. "Aural event has shifted street side."

Alejandra then jumped in her seat when something tapped against her window and she saw a blonde-haired woman with a rose growing out of her face pressing what looked like some sort of ID against her window, asking what was going on.

Slowly Alejandra rolled down the window. She was pretty sure this woman wasn't really from the city council, but she also wasn't sure what she was supposed to say so she just told the truth. "There's ah... some people fighting a thing in the street. Over there." She offered a polite smile and pointed helpfully in the direction of the ongoing monster fight.

---

---

Raven's Rest, the Front of Bill's Tattoo Shop
_{Interactions: Varnan @Blizz, Wild Bill/Elara @NoriWasHere and Bryn [@Fernfur]}

---

Jackson heard the creature move from inside as it leapt into the street, and he moved with it as Central ordered him to get video of the thing now that it was in the open.

He reached the corner of the building peering round and there it was, facing three adepts now. He called it in as he got the video going.

"Two here. Aural has gone red on the flashers. I have a clear shot." The creature's back was turned, it was distracted by the three adepts. Jackson wasn't inclined to simply throw himself at this thing, but this would be his best opportunity.

"Negative Two. Maintain position, document until your pack runs out then vacate. Air team will take over surveillance. CENTRAL out."

That was it then, just keep the video rolling and stay out of its line of sight.

This was not even remotely what Varnan was expecting to get into, tonight. But he was more than willing to deal with this regardless. Everyone was clearly ready to put this thing down and beat it into submission, him and these strangers whose town he'd come to. It really was a damn shame that Bill had been turned into this thing, or perhaps killed by it and then strung about like a puppet. Varnan raised his channeler and prepared to stop this thing where it stood.

"Two minutes? I have a plan. I'm going back in there. Don't rush yourselves, but don't waste time, either."

Varnan watched as the monster flung itself out. Ice and ash went flying. Varnan fired another Stasis Pulse at it. His body flickered for a second, and then Varnan jumped closer to the the broken window until he was only a few feet away from the imposter. And then, he clicked a button on the Timepiece, causing purple Lux to explode outwards in every direction.

A spherical field of distorted air, which pushed back against things that weren't Varnan himself. The Butterfly's Manse appeared, and he used it to try and box the creature into a corner. Varnan didn't attempt to fight it, but rather, he stood his ground. The apparition couldn't get past the edge, it couldn't push closer and try to kill Varnan once the freeze wore off, and if it tried, he'd now. Time quicky sped up inside to five times its normal pace, meaning everything outside appeared to be moving five times slower. Those two minutes for Elara and Bryn would be ten minutes for Varnan. But now, he was in a stalemate with the doppelganger. Once the Stasis Pulse wore off, "Bill" would be catapulted backwards into the shop, out of the Manse where its only options were to assail what was effectively a brick wall.

It couldn't get to him, he couldn't get to it, and it couldn't get to them.

All they had to do now was run the clock down. Though, the other two probably weren't going to feel amused when Manse shoved them away.

---

Raven's Rest, Bill's Tattoo Shop
_{In collaboration with @Tesserach
Mentions: Alejandro (@Tesserach), Varnan (@Blizz). Interactions: The doppelganger, Elara (@NoriWasHere), Bryn (@FernStone)}

---

Ah. The street.

Lorenza's parasol shifted as she appeared to peek down the other end of the alley. Indeed, the fight had shifted from the shop and had moved to the street. The figures were indistinct, all except for a dark-skinned man. Varnan.

What were the chances of running into the man she was trying to blindside?

Alas, Lorenza's found herself distracted, at least for the time being. She had a theory she wanted to confirm with the woman in the SUV.

There was a sound of a smile under her black parasol. ”You know it's considered loitering, sitting back here? …I'm going to need to know who you're working with.”

Alejandra forced a nervous smile, clearly having hoped the strange woman - who was almost certainly not a member of the city council - would be more interested in the battle than the intern keeping the vehicle idling. “We’re with the electric company. Anyway, I was just moving anyhow…” And with that she put the SUV in reverse, and started to back away. “Nice meeting you. Oh, and ah… there’s something on your face!”

Lorenza's parasol shifted, indicating a tilting head underneath. Could the woman see through fabric? X-ray vision wasn't unheard of, but it was certainly a strange application of Lux. White Lux, likely.

Regardless, the woman was backing up, leaving Lorenza to embrace the tantalizing smells of the street. Desperation, worry, anxiety. Delicate forms of pain and discomfort that were quite palatable, forming their mirrors in her own gut, pulling out shreds of empathy…

Lorenza stared at the street for a long moment. Before there was a slow exhale, and she approached the mouth of the alley.

“...hold out for a minute or two. Think we can manage,”

"Only a couple? We got this…

"...Don't rush yourselves, but don't waste time…"

One with ice, one with ash, and Varnan with… some type of distortion. She wasn't actually aware of his magic, thinking about it. Only aware he uh, well, didn't like her sort.

She scooted back a bit, feeling the distortion just barely brush past her. Ah, she was just out of its reach. Curiously, she tried pressing a hand against it. Instantly repulsed.

Curious.

She moved around the distortion, stepping into the street, noting the two girls who were within the distortions’ field. Not good.

Regardless, she gave both ice and ash girls a quick curtsy, pulling her black dress aside with a glove. Her parasol, of course, was pulled low over her face.

”Charmed. Perhaps I can help.”

She peered into the distortion, seeing Varnan and… someone. Or something, more like. The source of the contention.

Immediately, wisps of Blue Lux rolled off her aura, suffusing the air and snaking around the spherical distortion. Like little spindles, like little needles, they gathered on the side of the sphere where the monster was closest to.

The monster, the doppelganger, would find that the moment they exited the distortion sphere, they would be attacked by Blue Lux that would tear into their emotional-field ruthlessly. In the next breath, Lorenza would attempt to curse the doppelganger with Flesh Bane. If successful, and she only needed a fraction of a moment, the doppelganger would find their arms, chest and abdomen would burst in red and black flames, hungrily eating up its flesh, leaving third-degree burns in its wake, and devouring until there was nothing left of its shell. It would also curse the doppelganger with fever and chills, though she assumed that would be a less effective side effect.

Of course, Lorenza had her free hand held up and to the side, prepared to take on the recoil if her curse was successful - her arm getting set on fire. She stood behind the sphere of distortion, and behind Varnan, confident she had a line of defense in front of her in case this monster decided to attack her.

---

---

---

---

“Shit, I’m calling anyone who will come,” Malik nervously responded as he watched the crowd swarm the two. He eyed the strange girl with an apprehensive look as a strange itch began to present itself on his emotional field. He took a step back as the crowd fussed over the girl, tried to get her to safety and more. He then watched as the crowd dispersed a moment later. “The fuck, you some kind of cult leader-YES, we need backup,” Malik spoke into the phone, “Caleb is dead. Vin is holding it off but we’ll need a response unit…. Yeah, confirmed dead…. Yeah…okay get here quick.”

Malik placed his phone in his pocket as he looked back towards the girl. “If you don’t mind, we’d like you to stick around. We need to figure out what happened and all, and you got a really good look at the monster.” He motioned for the girl to follow him across the street as the sound of the fight continuing was still ever present outside. While this girl was not really his concern she was a local, and everyone had to look out for each other down here.

---

---

---

---

The doppelgänger roared as it saw that the girl did not take the bait and was escorted outside. He would be sure to track her down after the pain on its back was taken care of. The doppleganger shot forward at frightening speed, jumped up to the roof, before it grabbed hold of it. It held itself there for a second before it pushed off and sent the two crashing into the hallway below.

Fuck. Now this was a proper fight. Vin let out a grunt of pain as they once again were slammed into a solid surface. They shoved a clawed foot into the doppelgänger's back, detaching as they tried to roll to the side and away from it.

”That all you got? Hittin' me into walls?” they snarled, new wounds on their back ones again beginning to stitch up painfully. But they didn't show any sign of pain - instead there was only joy shining in their eyes.

The doppelganger just laughed, a sinister sound that echoed around the damaged house. It's arm twisted into a spear again that shot towards where Vin had been. Vin's strong arms came up, hitting the spear and redirecting it as they scrambled to the side. Ethereal black light coated them and the doppelganger as they magically defended against its attack. Their hand snapped out to grab the spear, sharp claws digging into it and yanking the Doppelganger towards them.

Now it was a proper fight. Facing each other, no hits to the back, no slamming into walls. The maw on its torso sneered at them. Vin sneered back, lips pulling back to reveal their sharp, bloodstained teeth.

They jumped forward, claws digging into the doppelganger’s shoulder as they tried to kick its legs out from underneath it again. With sickening crunches, its legs snapped to the side. The spear curled back around and stabbed into Vin’s shoulder.

Vin didn’t even flinch. They twisted their head to the side and bit down on the appendage- snapping the bone and further. Crunching it until they ripped it off. The sharp end remained in their shoulder, blood sluggishly leaking around it. They smiled, licking blood off their lips. Bitter.

The doppelganger’s lengthened appendage shortened. Its arms, now like strong tendrils, wrapped around Vin’s waist. They were thrown through the hall wall, leaving behind a tiger sized hole before slamming into the back wall. Plaster fell on them and they grimaced. More broken ribs, even as the others started to snap back into place-

Gnashing teeth and sharp claws fell on them as the doppelganger launched itself onto their slumped body. Claws like theirs, but different - shorter, more like thorns - ripped down their chest. They kicked where it’s dick would’ve been- part of them hoped it was still there.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t, but it succeeded in dislodging the doppelganger slightly. Vin flipped them, arching their back to avoid the chomping maw. Teeth and claws tore into flesh as they grappled. Each time the doppelganger hurt them there wasn’t pain- just thrill. To have something that could hurt them so much. The blood- its and their own- went to their head. A rush, grinning as they tasted iron on their tongue.

If only this could last forever.

Their back slammed into a wall again- ah, that was getting boring.

Snaps, cracks, bodies contorted in near tandem. Short and sharp bone spears stabbed through Vin’s stomach as their legs and tail morphed. Feet lengthened, claws become sharp enough to decapitate anyone lucky enough to be at the other end of them. The thick tail balanced them as they delivered a powerful kick to the doppelganger’s lower half.

Two.

Limbs went flying. Excitement filled Vin’s chest as they watched a twisted leg, bone completely broken, fall to the ground. Excitement turned to elation as the doppelganger completely replaced the limbs. It’s stronger. Oh fuck- finally!

Hoarse laughter bubbled up in their throat. The doppelganger’s arm shifted into something akin to a club, slamming into Vin’s arm like it was made of steel. The cracks that followed were like music to Vin’s ears. Intense pain, breaks so bad their regeneration could just barely knit the torn muscles together- It’s going to be so fun when I kill this thing.

Even with the broken bones they could still use their arm, muscles threading back together in a strange form of regeneration that aimed to keep them in animalistic fighting condition. They slammed another foot into the doppelganger and pushed it away, scrambling to the side.

A sharp coldness froze them.

Another mouth. What remained of David’s head, barely hanging on, teeth elongating into fangs that bit into Vin’s shoulder. Icy poison shot into their veins. They fell onto their stomach. They struggled to flip themselves over, chest heaving up and down. It was difficult to move. Venom like theirs.

Weaker than theirs. A mimicry of theirs.

Work work work work work- All the ribs that weren’t broken shoved through their back, spearing the doppelganger as it went for their throat. Sharp bone shoved into its body and poison enhanced with black lux caused enough pain that it reeled back.

Three. Ribs pulled into their back with a squelch, and kangaroo legs lengthened back into a tigers. They had to finish this soon. No more transformations. End it. It was hurt. Tear it apart.

Vin pushed themselves to their feet, swaying slightly as their vision went blurry. Pain and blood loss was starting to take its toll… But not enough. They refused to go down, and if they did, they’d go down fighting.

”Last chance to surrender,” Vin grunted, eyes narrowing at the doppelganger. It was a mess of flesh and blood, black smoke curling from all the places Vin had hit it. Its arms shifted into thick tendrils, spikes made of sharp bone shoving through. Its gaping maw formed a mocking grin and it laughed.

No answer, no surrender. Good. Beat it, bound it, serve it up to the girl for questioning-

Using the wall as leverage, they launched themselves at the doppelganger. Teeth tore through already damaged flesh, and their claws scratched whatever they could reach. Trying to find the most vulnerable spots- to reach its organs.

The spiked tendrils wrapped around their waist, slamming them into the ground before it followed. Their leg shot up to kick it away, going right into the gaping maw as it moved to catch them.

It snapped shut, jagged teeth ripping through fur and flesh. Grotesque snapping filled the air as Vin's leg shattered, bones fracturing into multiple pieces. The doppelganger chomped down again and again, trying to devour their leg as if it was a piece of chicken. A thorn covered tendril wrapped around their body, creeping around their throat. Stabbing, choking.

Agony. Dying. Fight. Survive. Kill.

For them.

Dark green and black mist curled out of their hands as they channeled all of their magic into one final spell. The Final Blow.. It was kill or be killed. No time for thoughts. Only fight. Kill. Survive.

”Die.” A savage hiss ripped itself from Vin's mouth as they bent at their torso, forcing their entire body up even as the doppelganger slammed them into a wall like a dog getting especially aggressive with a toy. Their claws ripped through its back and powerful black lux surged through their skin.

It tore the Doppelganger apart as much as Vin's claws did.

It gave one last dying bite before the blow killed it. The mutated body went limp on Vin, and they kicked it off with their other leg. It revealed what was left of the one it got to. A mutilated mess, skin and muscle ripped apart to reveal the cracked bone within. It was hanging together by thin threads of sticky, red flesh. Blood painted the floor red.

It was agony. Now that the adrenaline was gone it was even clearer. They were going to die without a healer… but that wasn't the only concern.

The final blow... No magic.

What little magic they had sustaining their beast form, regeneration pathetically cauterising the wounds so they wouldn't just die, was snuffed out. Fuck, fuck, fuck-

Vin bit into their good arm to suppress their scream. Claws pulled back into their fingertips, leaving bleeding holes. Bones snapped and twisted as they pulled back in, growing shorter and more human. It was agony. Their vision went black as their body was forced to transform back in its battered form. Their injured leg jerked, skin painfully shifting. It was worse than being a chewing toy of the creature- all the pain multiplied as their body tried to twist itself back into its normal shape, through broken bones and barely hanging together flesh.

They leaned to the side, throwing up the alcohol and bread they’d eaten earlier. The agony from the transformation subsided, leaving only the agony from all of their injuries. Fuck. They’d live. It was difficult to get back to their feet- well, single working foot. They leaned heavily against the wall and hopped towards the open door. They couldn’t get much further. Didn’t want to like this. They slumped back down, legs shoving out and into the path leading up to it.

They were a state. It was only made more obvious now that they were human again without the covering of their striped fur. Bruises bloomed across their tanned skin, sports bra and boxers combo hiding very little of their injuries. There were deep wounds all over them- a particularly nasty looking laceration where claws had ripped into their side still bleeding, and another across their cheek and dangerously close to their tired brown eyes. Their right arm hung limp at their side, shards of bone shoving through it.

Then there was their leg. It was torn apart, skin stripped apart to reveal the shattered bone beneath. The only thing connecting their upper thigh to their calf was a few stringy threads of sinew. What little muscle and skin remained was torn beyond recognition, and the white bone was coated in blood - even if the active bleeding was now sluggish. It looked bad, it was bad, and it hurt like a bitch.

But they still had the energy to shout.

”Malik! When the fuck is a doc gettin’ here?!”

---

---

The doppelganger looked at Elijah’s spear, then up at the man himself. It’s far too wide, twisted smile parted and a sinister laugh came out. The lights flickered. “That’s nice, Elijah, but it won’t be so painless if you struggle.”

Its head turned towards Quill, skin stretched as it did a complete one-eighty without moving its body. Like an owl, jet black eyes staring at her as its unnerving smile didn’t shift. Knife like fingers screeched across the counter. “If you want a last meal, don’t let me stop you. I’ll make sure you have company…”

Its chilling laughter echoed around the bakery as it vanished again, disappearing into the shadows behind the counter. The lights dimmed. There were muffled, confused cries from the Blinds still in the bakery- trapped in there just like the few Paranormal. Then, they were silent. Two eyes turned to stare at Quill in the dim light. Another two stared at Elijah, and the final Blind started at Elena. Eerily, emotionlessly staring. Then, they started shuffling towards their targets.

“You’ll all have company.”

The doppelganger’s voice seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere.

Loni shivered as she stepped back out into the main cafe, slipping right past Quill without any acknowledgment. She just needed to get back to her daughter, she needed to get to Lu-

“Going somewhere, Alondra? Now, now, why don’t we continue our talk from earlier?” The doppelganger appeared from the shadows in front of Loni.

She screamed, momentum still carrying her forward. Her body twisted to the side as it swiped at her, knife-like claws tearing through her jumper and cutting deep into her shoulder. She fell forward, dropping the container. The lid came off and salt spilled all across the floor. No, no, no, I need that-

"Stay back!" Loni shoved her hands up, spraying the doppelganger in the face. It was enough that it reeled back with a hiss, neck snapping entirely and stinging eyes staring at the ceiling. Loni shuffled forward on her hands and knees, scooping up the salt as she did. She managed to get round past the corner, just, before it came for her again.

She had no choice. A foot and hand swept out, shoving the spilled salt into as wide a circle as she could manage around her. The other hand came up, black tendrils curling off her bracelet. A translucent, slightly shining barrier shot up from the salt circle as the Doppelganger swiped at her. Its hand hit the barrier and bounced off, pushing it back.

"C-come in the circle, it can’t get in!" Loni shouted, head snapping over to look at Elana with Luciana trembling in her arms. The barrier shuddered for a moment before it held strong. She just had to actively cast… ignore the pain in her shoulder, the blood ruining her clothes… get her baby inside. It could fit everyone. It was meant for everyone. She had to make sure Luciana was safe first- but she couldn't move. She could just keep it up and hope, heart thudding in her ears.

Undeterred, the doppelganger slipped into the shadows again. More clicking filled the air… whispers…

“Just accept it…”

Suddenly the shuffling Blind customers ran.

Two women came for Quill. Their eyes were blank, as if they had no soul. Once came from behind, arms reaching out to try and trap her. The other came from in front of her, grabbing a handful of donuts and shoving them towards her mouth- as if she was trying to choke her.

The man that had been cowering behind a table near Elena was now mindlessly running for her. He was older, his feet unsteady, but it didn’t stop his unnatural approach. Hands reached out towards her in an attempt to grab her shoulders, or anything he could get hold of.

“How do you do against people like you, Elijah?” The whispered laughter came from the shadows.

A young, well dressed man lurched towards Elijah, clenched fist aiming for his face. At the same time the doppelganger came out from the shadows behind him. It’s sharp claws once again went for the man, aiming for his back.

---

---

A spark of panic ignited within Paloma as Malik commented on the unnaturalness of the crowd of rubberneckers appearing. She gave him a rapid bat of the lashes as if she were shocked by his cult leader comment combined with her best innocent little “who, me?” smile, which probably would have done little more than fuel his suspicions if he wasn’t pulled away by the person on the other end of the phone line picking up. Paloma held her breath as she tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear so she could as nonchalantly as possible cup her hand behind her ear to try and pick up the voice on the other line. She leaned in closer to Malik, suddenly snapping back into place as he ended the phone call in mere seconds, hands drifting down to clasp together behind her back, glancing over her other shoulder back to the sound of the scrape going on inside, her curiosity mostly unsated.

“If you don’t mind, we’d like you to stick around. We need to figure out what happened and all, and you got a really good look at the monster,” said Malik.

“Hm?” Paloma looked back to him, acting as if she had forgotten he was even there, that little smile returning to her face. At the very least she had gotten a handful of names: Vin the tiger, Caleb the guy missing half a head. ”Oh, yeah.”

Paloma fell in step behind Malik and followed him across the street. She was hit with a momentary urge to flee, between the tiger getting a whiff of the Samaritan and Malik’s intuition towards her crowd control. Perhaps Gideon’s men were interested in something other than a statement. Paloma’s jaw tightened as she wrung her hands in worry. Still, she had to stay. Paloma had yet to get what she had gotten herself wrapped up in this whole mess for in the first place. Plus, one of them had gotten himself killed because of her. That sacrifice more than earned them the benefit of the doubt. A look of distress crossed Paloma’s face as that choice of a word bounced around in her mind–sacrifice. No, it wasn’t like that. It had been an accident, except an accident implied there was no one at fault.

A mistake, then. The man clearly had magic. The Samaritan hadn’t been the one to make him act. It had just been a mistake.

“Hey, Malik,” said Paloma, reaching out to tug on Malik’s sleeve. Her head was hung and she had even gone so far as to slip her gum up into her cheek like a chipmunk saving an acorn for later so she wasn’t snapping and popping throughout her whole apology. “I’m really, really sorry about what happened to Caleb. It’s my fault, isn’t it? If I had listened to y’all and minded my own business, he wouldn’t have had to…”

She gave a staggered sniffle. It had been a mistake. Caleb’s mistake. Paloma didn’t know why he’d stepped in the way. Perhaps it was overconfidence in his own ability. Perhaps it was an ingrained chauvinism masquerading as chivalry. Whatever it was, it had been his choice, so why should she have to shoulder any of the burden? Paloma gripped the sleeve of Malik’s jacket, twisting it as her breathing grew ragged. Her cheeks would’ve been crimson with frustration if they weren’t already painted red in his blood. Her mistake. His mistake. Her mistake. His mistake. She didn’t want to think about this anymore.

“...I’m sorry. Thank you for getting me out of there.”

”Malik! When the fuck is a doc gettin’ here?!”

Paloma looked up, her eyes dry, as Malik was freed of her tightening grip. Vin staggered out of the door to David Smith’s house but collapsed before making it out of the frame, the orange fur and black stripes replaced by bruised skin and bloody slashes. Paloma bolted across the street without a second thought, her breakneck pace only slowing as she got close enough to see the severity of the injuries as her eyes widened and a hand went up to cover her gasp. Vin’s leg was little more than a bloody bit of bad butchery and her arm was like a gnarly voodoo doll pricked with bone shards instead of needles. Paloma quickly tore off her jacket and her bloodied button up sweater as she dropped down to her knees beside Vin.

“I-I work in a hospital. You’re going to be okay, Vin. Okay? You’re going to be okay,” said Paloma, her face very clearly say that they were fucked. Paloma gave the sweater a few rough folds until it was a square that was slightly larger than the still bleeding cuts on Vin’s side. It was unsanitary as hell, but Vin didn’t look like they had time for her to go find a fresh cloth. A tourniquet would be required for the leg. Paloma snapped off her long gloves and tied the ends together to form a long piece of cloth, setting the makeshift rope in her lap before picking the sweater back up. She held it out to Vin, the reddish-purple scars from where Nyrah’s acid had burnt her clear on her arms as she explained to them her plan.

“Okay, so you just need to hold this against your side and put enough pressure on it to stop the bleeding. Meanwhile, we’ll use this as a tourniquet to stop your leg from bleeding. Oh, except your arm’s, um, don’t worry, you’re gonna be okay. Malik can hold this, then we can tourniquet your leg, oh, and we’ll need something for you to bite on. Don’t want you to lose your tongue, right? Need that for grooming as well as other fun things, right Ms. Kitty?” said Paloma with a forced laugh and a teasing wink, her face immediately sinking as she realized this wouldn’t work. She was just a fucking janitor, what did she know about first aid? Vin was held together by nothing more than grit and a few bits of meat. Moving her would probably just get her killed. Paloma grimaced as she realized the one way to save Vin. She shook her head and dropped the bedside manners in favor of the actual truth.

“Actually, you’re not going to be okay,” said Paloma, her voice low as she made eye contact with Vin and didn’t break it. She placed her hand on Vin’s uninjured knee and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “You have two options.” She held up one scarred finger. “You can tell me what you want me to tell your family.” She held up a second finger. “Or you can trust me. We can save you.”

“Let him in.”

Paloma didn’t move. She didn’t blink. There was no spark in her eyes or pop of magic around her. Yet Vin would feel the sudden absence of the faint tingle of Paloma’s Sweetheart aura, likely unnoticed until it was gone due to the pain, as she hit Vin with the Bystander Effect. It would be like a jackhammer hitting against Vin’s Emotional Field, trying to punch through their forehead to perform a rough lobotomy. Vin would get the sense immediately that if they dropped their field they would be completely catatonic–they would not bleed out so they would survive, but their release would be fully in the hands of the annoying little busy body who had butted into their business. In that moment, Paloma opened herself up to harm as her defensive aura was suppressed by the Samaritan.

Paloma smiled, hoping that Vin would do the right thing. They didn’t need another Caleb moment. Then the smile dropped as her mouth hung open, her eyes widening in horrific realization. Shaking, Paloma slowly withdrew her hand from their knee. She no longer cared if Vin let her hit them with the Bystander Effect or if they bleed out right here in front of Paloma. Her scarred hands clamped over her mouth to prevent the scream as a single tear streaked down her blood stained cheek. For a second, fear gripped Paloma so strongly that she no longer even cared about her promise. There was only one thing in the world she wanted right now, and that was for this person in front of her to actually be Vin.

a post

---

The Cozy Bakery
Downtown North District
Interacts: "James"@Fernstone, Quill@PatientBean

---

Well, things just got a bit unexpected when a fresh face entered the bakery to a surprised and busy Elijah. "How did you... you came at a really bad time, and you should get out of here before you get killed." As soon as Elijah took his eyes off of the newcomer and back on the doppelganger, things just got worse.

Elijah watched as the Blind people in the bakery became thralled to the doppelganger. Things just got complicated, and this needs to end fast. He does not want to hurt these Blinds, he may have to, but he knows that the spear will not harm them. Being a harmless children's toy to them. A quirk that the spear's creator gave the spear probaly since he viewed non paranormals as unworthy of being honored prey.

So Elijah focused on the doppelganger, and he just needs to hit the thing with a stab or two or at least that is what he thinks. This spear has killed things much more powerful and dangerous than James. It should handle James fine. Well, it's time to go on the offense and stop this nightmare before people die.

When the doppelganger spoke again and the Blind was going to punch him in the face with the doppelganger appearing behind him ready to dig his claws back. Elijah had an answer to the doppelganger. "This," was all he said in a defiant tone as he used the spear's power to turn invisible. Dodging both the doppelganger and the Blind's attacks as they could not see him. Acting quickly, Elijah moved behind the doppelganger, and with his might, he the spear plunged forward into the doppelganger. Right into its head and becoming visible as he did this. Now it is time to see if this surprise attack will end James or if James is tougher then he thought.

---

---

The Doppelganger almost seemed shocked as Elijah disappeared, creepy, disembodied laughter temporarily ceasing. There was a horrible crack as the spear went for its head. Its skin stretched, shifting and snapping as all of its limbs were twisted to one side.

Where there had been a head was now an arm, sticking out from between two shoulders. The spear embedded into it and the Doppelganger stumbled forward. Blood dripped down the arm as it twisted around as if made out of putty, and reached out to grasp the spear.

“That was a nice trick,” it laughed, head turning one-eighty where it sat in the shoulder socket. A too wide grin revealed sharp teeth. The blow had hurt it- badly- but it wasn’t going to let its prey get away. It would kill this one first… it could leave the girls cowering in a ‘protective’ circle.

The man that had gone for Elijah and missed recovered from his near fall, coming around to his left. To his right was the man that had been going for Elena- head bleeding, face burning and barely able to see… but he didn’t need to when controlled like this. Their arms reached out in an attempt to grab Elijah.

Sickening crunches echoed round the room. Snap, snap, snap. The Doppelganger’s whole body twisted around to face Elijah, even with the spear still stuck in it. Nothing was in the right place anymore. The hand grasping the spear tugged hard, trying to pull it out of Elijah’s grip. The other arm came out of its stomach, lashing out with sharp claws for Elijah’s abdomen.

---

---

Each moment without anyone else in the protective circle was like torture for Loni. All she could do is maintain it and watch as a man tried to get Elena- and tried to get her baby girl. It was difficult to breathe. Just keep it up, just keep it up-

They made it. For a moment, she thought the man was going to get them, beginning to push up onto her feet to completely leave the circle behind. But they made it. Luciana was right there, held carefully by Elena. Thankfully she’d made the right choice…

Loni gave a shaky nod and a weak smile to Elena, body trembling. She could keep up this barrier for hours normally, but hurt as she was… she didn’t know. But

"Thanks- Can y’keep holdin’ her for me?" she whispered.

Luciana started wriggling in Elena’s arms. Soft cries of ‘mama’ over and over again spilled out as she reached her little chubby hands out towards Loni. The glowing barrier flickered again as her heart trembled, (sorrow) pushing through the apathy that came. It hurt so much to see Luciana upset like this, tears still flowing down her cheeks. Loni reached out with one hand, curling around her daughter’s. It didn’t stop her crying, but she stopped struggling. She was terrified, but she recognised that her Mama was there and she’d been safe while held by this stranger.

“Mamaaa.”

"I’m sorry, baby, Mamá‘s here. I can’t hold you but I’m here," Loni’s hand completely covered Luciana’s. It was a small amount of warmth against the coldness that was her Black Lux creeping in bit by bit. She looked up from the little curly head to Elena with eyes that looked a little more dead than before. "I gotta keep it up. Soon as I focus everythin’ on her it’s gone."

The circle wasn’t so large she couldn’t talk - with space for maybe two more, at a tight squeeze. But the active casting required at least half her concentration, and as soon as she held Luciana all of her focus would go to calming her down. Then they’d all be vulnerable again.

Loni’s head snapped around at the sound of a chair crashing into the ground nearby. It was the man continuing on his mission to grab Elena, following whatever commands had been pushed into his head. He was incredibly unsteady, with blood leaking down his temple, but he continued as if it was nothing. Shit- briefly, Loni’s eyes went black. There was still only one bright spot in her vision.

The man wasn’t an Apparition even if one was controlling him.

"Get away-" For a brief moment the lightly glowing barrier dropped, the man’s shoe toeing the line of salt. Loni pushed up, better arm snapping up and over Elena. There was a brief pungent scent in the air, a chemical compound coming out of Loni’s hand and hitting the man right in the face. The man stumbled backwards, hands coming up to scratch at his burning skin. Blinded eyes stared back at Loni as he half fell, then snapped his whole body around as if pulled by a thread in another direction.

Away from them.

With just a moment of concentration, the slight shadowy shield reforming from the salt circle. Even if it didn’t protect them from the people, it protected them from the biggest threat… the Doppelganger terrified Loni.

"It don’t protect against the living," Loni explained between panicked panting, slumping back down onto her knees. A hand moved back over to Luciana, comfortingly rubbing her head before taking one of her smaller hands again. An almost apathetic gaze moved towards the fighting in the centre of the room- someone wielding a spear, the horrible twisting of the Doppelganger as it took the hit.

The spear wielder clearly knew what he was doing. Loni was still panicked, even as the numbness of Black Lux was creeping in. She had to stay focused on keeping that up… but she couldn’t bear the cold feeling of apathy. She wanted to hold her daughter… but she couldn’t. Instead she just kept hold of her little hand, rubbing it comfortingly.

"I’m glad you got magic," Loni said quietly, turning to face Elena slightly. The barrier stayed strong as she talked. It helped her with the little feelings- the fear, the crushing guilt at seeing Luciana trembling in Elena’s arms while grasping Loni’s hand. But she had to be strong to protect her, half her mind on continuously casting. "It can’t get in our heads. It ain’t- ain’t gonna get us in here. It ain't livin' like we are, so I can keep it out. I wish I could do more- like my twin, they can fight these things, I can't... Thank you so much for protectin’ her."

---

---

”What, surprised by how hot I am without the fur?” Bleary eyes looked up at Paloma as she stopped in front of Vin, hand covering her mouth. Yeah, it was pretty bad. Bad enough that someone like her, even as a Southsider, would probably run or faint-

Or not. If Vin could feel much at all in that moment, they would probably feel shocked.

”Yeah, yeah, sure- I got another arm,” Vin grunted, taking the folded sweater square and pressing it into their bleeding side. There was no reaction even as they used their less injured, but still damaged, hand to press it hard into a nasty wound.

There was no reaction to Paloma’s scars either, even though they were clear as day. They’d seen damage like that. Nyrah’s acid burning away friends, and closer… But they had a fair few scars themselves, even if the acid hadn’t left a lasting mark on them, and would only have more after tonight. Magical healing was great but it didn’t fix everything. Shit had to be sacrificed- and a nasty scar was a small price to pay. They could already picture all the lines they’d have on their leg when it was magically regrown and spliced back together.

That was going to hurt like a bitch too.
If they survived that long.

”I’ve survived worse,” Vin let out a bitter laugh that turned into an aching cough. They knew she was right- they wouldn’t be okay for long. Normally they weren’t force out of their Beast Form like this. In that form they could heal from most things, and at least stabilise themselves. They just had to hope Malik had actually gotten help and one of the Hollow’s healers showed. If not… they’d be legless at best, dead at worst. Both had the same fucking end really.

Vin’s lips twisted into a frown when a magical sledgehammer slammed into their Emotional Field. The Ghost… it couldn’t get in unless they let it. Did they really want to let that in? To be frozen at the whims of an annoying, nosy woman? But it would keep them alive.

They had to stay alive, for Loni and Luciana. No matter the personal cost… the annoyance was a small price to pay.

Their emotional field dropped as Paloma’s reaction shifted. They were frozen in place squinting at her in confusion, one eyebrow slightly raised and still frowning. What was she scared of? That they’d turn back into a tiger and eat her- that would be fucking ridiculous. A few years ago they wouldn’t have bothered saving her but… ah. No, they saw it now. She thought they might have lost. As if.

But unfortunately Vin couldn’t even mockingly smile, frozen in place by the Bystander Effect, stuck with only their thoughts.

---

If someone had told her that there would be an attempt on her life later and that it would involve the world's best food (donuts), Quill would have told you that it was a good way to go, at least. What she hadn't expected was to partake in a freak show amongst the baked goods. Whatever that....thing was, it was not human. As it swiveled its head like a fucking owl, Quill, besides herself, raised her brows in surprise. "The fuck..." was all she uttered when the lights dimmed and things went from bad to worse.

She looked at the others and decided she rushed into things too quickly. But that was how life was sometimes. Before she could move to center herself she heard whispers. It was like she was hearing them in the back of her brain. She took a step forward before she felt a tug on her back followed by a strong grip, wrenching her arms behind her. She turned her head to see a woman, a regular average Joan apart from the dead look in her eyes, like her soul was wrenched from her body. Another came in front of her and, with a handful of doughnutty goodness, attempted to force-feed her like some sort of deranged mukbang.

She was not about to go out like this.

It wasn't their fault so Quill determined she would handle it as gracefully as she could. With some baked goods in her mouth she whipped her head back, slamming her head into the customer behind her. She heard a cry and ignored the pain seeping into her skull as she felt the woman's grip loosen. Taking the moment Quill pulled her arms free, though she only managed to get one as the woman had a death grip on her shirt. Still, one hand meant one fist as she clenched it, sending it forward into the woman facing her's face as she stumbled back. Quill swiveled, facing the woman behind her and backhanded her, sending her back. Now free she held up her hands. "Ladies, I don't want to fight you, but I will if I have to."

The women merely hissed and launched themselves at Quill. Quill dodged one but felt the other (the one she punched) grab hold of her and scratch her face, leaving a mark on her cheek. Quill reared her fist again, decking the woman before grabbing her and pulling her forward in time to kick high enough to connect Quill's boot to the woman's cheek, sending her flying to the side. The other woman got close and Quill spun on her heel and back-kicked her backward, sending her into the counter. Quill needed to knock them out somehow. The woman knocked into the counter slumped down and the other took a running start at Quill again.

Quill jumped back as the woman landed and stumbled forward. Quill grabbed her and spun her around, holding her arms around her neck and squeezing. The woman tried scratching Quill's arms, but her jacket protected her. She felt the energy lift before the woman's head slumped and she fell to the ground when Quill released her. Quill quickly checked for a pulse and felt one.

Quill let out a breath before she felt a hand grip her hair and pulled her back. Quill let out a yelp as she fell backward and landed on the floor, the final customer not finished with her yet. The woman put her hands around Quill's throat and started to choke. Quill had moments to think about what to do. She didn't want to seriously harm this person who had no control over her actions, but Quill wanted to survive more. So Quill used some force and poked the woman's eyes. The woman let out a gutteral yell as she stopped choking Quill and put her hands over her eyes. Quill pushed her off and sent the woman to the ground in front of her. Before the woman could stop screaming and get up for the next round Quill kicked her across the face as the woman's head shuttered before she stopped moving. Quill felt for a pulse on her too and found one, albeit lighter than the others.

Quill felt the scratch on her cheek bleed and felt a headache coming on. She took a few deep breaths while she kneeled on the ground.

She survived the encounter, but how did the others fare?

---

The Cozy Bakery
Downtown North District
Interacts: "James"@Fernstone, Anyone in the room.

---

To say he was in a pickle is an understatement. While he did manage to land a piercing blow on the doppelganger. It was unfortunately not enough to kill it. More so since it managed to eerily twist its body where he stuck an arm, not its head, and now it is stuck in the doppelganger. But it did look like it did hurt the thing badly, and now two mind-controlled Blinds were heading his way along with the doppelganger's own efforts to grab and kill him.

Elijah had to think fast, or he could easily die here after everything he had been through. He knows the spear will do nothing to the Blinds, even if mind controlled, but he still has a trick or two up his sleeve. The question is how the monster will react to it.

So, with his spear stuck in the doppelganger and danger closing in. Elijah did the unexpected, he let go of the spear and dashed backward from the three. Once in the clear, Elijah recalled the spear back to him, and it disappeared from the doppelganger's body and reappeared in his hands. "If anyone can help me kill this monster, it will be greatly appreciated," Elijah said tensely, and as soon as it said it. He turned invisible.

Now, instead of aiming for the doppelganger's head like he did before. Elijah opted to change his tactics somewhat just in case. While still coming from behind. Elijah used his might to again plunge the spear into the doppelganger's body. Not caring about its head this time. Trusting deeper into the doppelganger's body and aiming for where a heart should be. If it has one, that is. While he knows he is taking a risk of attacking from behind again. But this fight needs to end before someone dies. Either he or the people are still in control of their minds, and even the mind controlled Blinds. Well, here goes nothing, a final thought as he turned visible.

---

Loni’s gaze towards Elena as she described her plan could only be described as desperate. Fear pushed through the magic caused apathy. If she went out, she might get hurt- this stranger who’d already protected her daughter. Now she was going out to get something to help her. Loni wanted to tell her it wasn’t necessary. She was fine. She couldn’t even feel the wound on her shoulder! It barely hurt! Even if that only came from her losing touch with her body as she slipped away from her Green side…

But she couldn’t. She needed the help so she could keep protecting them. If the bleeding was slowed she’d stay conscious until she could get to a healer…

“Nooooo!” It was Luciana that protested the most, not understanding why she was being left. The warmth and safety was gone, her wails piercing through the cafe as fat tears streamed down her cheeks. She crawled towards Loni, chubby hands grasping her thighs as she awkwardly tried to pull herself up.

"I’m sorry, baby, ’m so sorry," Loni whispered, barrier wavering again as she pulled Luciana up onto her lap. The little girl waved her arms to get up higher- to be held close in her mama’s arms where it should be safe. But Loni couldn’t hold her like that. Not with her shoulder, and keeping the barrier up. She could only gently press her head down and into her stomach. "It’s ok, it’ll be ok."

But she wasn’t sure if she believed it, watching Elena reach the sugar. She looked over to the man who’d been actively fighting the creature. He asked for help before disappearing.

She could help now the creature was injured. But could she help, and keep the protective circle up? It would be a push normally… she had to. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t just sit here until her magic failed and it came and killed her. She wouldn’t let it get Luciana. It didn’t matter how hurt she got. She just had to hope Elena would get back and slow the bleeding before she pushed herself too far.

Loni didn’t say that she could help. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself. Instead, she just did.

Her eyes went completely black and emotionless. The barrier remained as stable as it had been, even as its casting was moved to the background. Threads of black mist came off her fingers as they carefully pointed towards the Doppelganger. That same faint black mist began to appear around it. Weakening it. She started to press against it with her Black Lux, actively suppressing it.

The barrier flickered, before solidifying. She put everything into casting. The world around her grew distant, as if there was a layer of film between her and it. She didn’t feel anything. She visibly paled, strain clear in her grimace and shaking body. Her chest heaved up and down as if she was running a marathon. She’d never weakened something this strong. She only could because Elijah had already hurt it so badly… but it wasn’t rebounding. She was doing it, no matter how difficult it was.

She didn’t let up - and she wouldn’t, until it was dead.

---

---

“Did you really think that would work a second time?”

The Doppelganger’s sinister voice whispered as Elijah turned visible- and it disappeared into the shadows before the spear hit it. Its voice seemed to come from everywhere. It was like it was right beside Elijah’s ear, but also on the opposite side of the room. The Blinds that had been frozen in confusion turned towards him, coming for him once again with unsteady steps.

But there was a tell now where it was even as it slipped through the shadows. A trail of blood across the floor from where Elijah had stabbed it. It led towards the counter.

“How surprising. Impressive, honestly.” the Doppelganger whispered from behind Quill. Before she had a chance to turn around it was gone again, eerie laughter echoing around the room. It seemed to be taunting them all… or was it buying itself time? “I’ll leave you till last, for giving me such a good show. Thank you. Don’t try to run.”

It reappeared for just a moment, slitting the throat of one of the women that Quill had knocked out with sharp, unnatural claws. But only one. Then it disappeared again.

More dripping blood, from behind the counter to around it. The Doppelganger reappeared in front of Elena- in between her and the circle. Its smile widened until sharp teeth took up all of its face, which twisted around and up to stare at her. It was mocking- telling her she’d made a terrible mistake by stepping outside of the protective barrier. It would be so easy for it to kill her- then, the rest.

“What a sweet gesture,” the Doppelganger taunted. Sharp claws raised up- and then it froze. A pained look crossed its unnatural eyes and the wound in its arm seemed to widen. It could feel its strength reducing, even as it fought against it.

It tried to slip back into the shadows but found it couldn’t. The hit from the spear had badly hurt it, and now this. Its unnerving smile didn’t shift. Its swipe towards Elena continued- but all of its movements were sluggish. It was slower, easier to avoid… and easier to hit.