[IC] [Closed 1x1] The Touched

[XenoCyanide]

Location: Motel
Time: 2:25 A.M.

---

Is there a God? I wonder if anyone still believes in that cruel, vile son of a bitch.

He stared at the end table, eyeing the empty glass. The motel was dark aside from the meager light that shined from a desk lamp that had all but one bulb burnt out. He sat at the edge of that uncomfortable bed, elbows resting on his thighs. The dingy interior of this motel was nothing short of decrepit but on the upside he still hasn't found any roaches. He didn't blink for quite some time, idly rubbing his hands together. He wondered many things throughout his life, but one question kept resurfacing as of late.

The irony of it all.

He reached between his legs and unscrewed the cap off the bottle. Jameson was his go-to drink. It burned enough to still let him know this wasn't all a dream. Funny as it was, it grounded him. It forced him to accept his fate even tho try as he might to escape it. Pouring himself two-fingers worth in the glass, he returned the bottle back onto the floor. He knew he still had a job to do, the files placed neatly in the brown folder next to him. He sighed, clutching the glass like it was his lifeline. Staring deep into the abyss of the bottom of that glass, he pondered a thought.

I wonder who they will send after me. Reyes? Oscar? That sadistic fuck Benson?

The prospect of it almost didn't seem real, but that burn definitely was. Taking the glass to his lips, he threw it back into his throat. The next step was the set-up. The preparation was complete. He knew the target. Memorized the face. Oh, the faces. They never went away. They never will, will they? For he is the messenger of God, sent to strike fear into the hearts of those who oppose him. With great fury will the sword strike against the wicked and condemned. The biblical God no longer existed. It didn't need to. The dredges of humanity have definitely taken up the mantle, hiding behind their suits and ties and mahogany desks. For now, though, he was the force behind the sword. He gathered his things for the night ahead. He wore regular street clothes. A t-shirt he found at Spencers of some band he never heard of laid over by a gray zip-up hoodie. His jeans were that retro faded crap he saw people wearing at times. The only thing functional were his boots, which he hid with the hem of his pants. He holstered his pistol at his side and placed a switchblade knife into his pocket. Funny story about that switchblade. Took it off some punk who wanted his wallet a few nights prior. Suppose he should've thanked him as opposed to break his jaw. His traditional Ka-Bar knife was far too conspicuous in this outfit.

He placed the files into a briefcase that sat at the edge of his bed and zipped up his go-bag. One last look around the motel, he headed out the door.

---

Location: City Streets
Time: 2:48 A.M.

---

The city was quiet tonight. He couldn't hear the yelling bouncing off the old, brick buildings of kids who would surely skip class the next day. Not even the cabs hauling their drunk patrons or spouses from their night of infidelity were out in abundance. There was something in the air tonight, Kyle could feel it. He had grown to have a sense about these things. A preternatural "sixth sense", as it were. He kept his hands in his pocket, tho he had cut a hole open in the right one to allow him to grab his pistol at a moments notice. His hood was pulled up, like any hoodlum roaming the dark streets of this city. His right hand slipped subtly towards the Springfield pistol, gauging the distance and reaction time it would take if shit went sideways. He knew exactly where it was, doing it more for the mental comfort.

His target destination was a park not too far from the motel. It took him exactly twelve minutes to reach it, having walked the path several times before. He wasn't sure why his mark enjoyed the park so late at night especially in the deep city. He figured she could protect herself, being Touched after all, so the danger was negligible to her. She sat at the park bench for what seemed like hours sometimes staring off into space. He knew why, of course. Her dossier told him everything. Her mother was murdered in that park by a group of men looking to get some easy money. A simple robbery took a turn for the worse, though. She was raped and beaten, left to die in some bushes. A tragic tale. He supposed she hoped the same men would come wandering back around and she would present herself as the victim.

When he arrived in the park she wasn't there yet. She arrived around three in the morning. He picked a spot that overlooked the bench and jogging trail and waited.

[oWhiteDiamondo]

Anastasia Hashiga

Location: Hoffand Park
Time: 2:50 A.M.

---

A lone blonde woman was walking along the path that went throughout the park early in the morning. It was still dark and peacefully quiet, giving her time to think as she traveled along the trail. No children insanely running around and being the young lunatics that they were. No screaming taxi drivers, groups of friends, arguing couples. It was completely silent other than the occasional rustle of bushes and leaves skidding across the ground. Anastasia enjoyed this time where the city was quiet. The time where everybody rested and the night owls roamed to have their peace. The air was a nice cool temperature, the woman only having a thin navy jacket, black jeans, and fluffy boots to keep her warm. She enjoyed the weather at this time, wishing that time didn't pass and it could stay that way forever. Her mind would fade blank as she took her slow but long strides along the park path.

Walking this way many times before, Anastasia didn't have to look up from her boots as she walked. Her feet guided her way through the area as she began to question herself. Thinking about the world they were in, and why it couldn't be as peaceful as it was now.

I wonder if anyone will find out.

No, none of the people should know by now. It was only just beginning and she never used 'it' around anybody.

Maybe there's cameras that detect 'them'. What if there's technology that can find those people?

There can't be. If there were devices that could hunt down 'them', people wouldn't be paid to find them.

What if somebody is here right now for me?

This thought made Anastasia quickly stop on her tracks, looking around to her surroundings. An empty bench was nearby with a few lights to keep the pathway bright. It was a comfortable place to take a rest on and tempted her to go over. It was almost three. People might be waking up and begin wandering soon. She could either get back to her motel room nearby or take the last few moments resting in that peaceful area. It gave her a lonely feeling. Sitting there alone on that bench with nobody beside her. But the cityfolk were also crazies, causing fights between their own kind even if they're on the same side of society. She didn't want to sit with some stranger that could be a murderer.

Although the thoughts may have been bugging her, she decided to sit down on the bench anyway. Her thighs pressed together slightly in the cold shadows as her hands moved towards her hood, pulling it over her face and darkening the view.

[XenoCyanide]

Location: Hoffand Park
Time: 3:00 A.M.

---

It was chilly that night, but not quite so for the wind was barely blowing. You could hear the occasional rustle of leaves as they were pushed across the paths but not much else. The quiet was serene. Welcoming, even. Not many people took the time for contemplative reflection. Their lives were taken over by schedules and meetings and brunches. Did they want a venti frappuccino or a grande mocha latte? The trivialities were as such that if you were to take away this illusion of freedom they would kick and scream, throwing a fit like an undisciplined child.

Kyle barely stirred as a woman entered his eyesight. She pulled the jacket tightly around her as she sat on the bench, knees coming together either out of modesty or comfort. His head tilted slightly, his finger gently running across the grip of the weapon hidden behind his jacket like a lover. His eyes had adjusted to the dark, natural night vision taking in all the ambient light around him. The woman had pulled the hood up over her head, so he couldn't make out any details of her face but he saw that she was a blonde before she sat down. There was a lamp post not too far away from the bench pushing shadows across the ground as if hands clawing at any who pass by. The branches swayed in the wind and whistled with trepidation. Kyle barely moved when he noticed another coming down the path.

The strawberry blonde-haired woman walked the opposite direction from where the first woman came, wearing a long overcoat pulled at her midsection, accentuating her assets. She slowed when she saw Ana, curious to see another in this wretched park at the witching hour. She continued, tho, the clicking of her heels against the pavement stones being the only sound that pierced the night air. She was a beautiful woman. Five feet five inches tall with inviting green eyes. Olive skin wrapped around a lithe frame. Her hair was slightly curly and bounced with every step she took. The woman moved gracefully toward Ana taking the seat next to her.

"Good morning." She spoke softly in a tone that dripped of honey. "Don't see many other people here at this hour... except them." She said, gesturing toward what appeared to be a homeless person clutching a worn coat over their frame. If one would listen closely, you could hear the shivers between his incoherent ramblings to himself. A city was built on tragedy. It forgot those that needed to be seen the most and cast aside those that needed to be embraced. Life was, with no reservation, cruel and unjust. After a brief pause, the woman looked toward Ana whispering, "My name is Victoria."

Kyle looked on as the two women sat together. He knew the second woman was his target. He had watched her for weeks taking in every detail about her. Her gait and graceful walk. The way she smiled and greeted strangers with a nod of her head. Kyle liked to make a game of it in his mind. Like star-crossed lovers reaching out to each other. In some distant past perhaps they could have been together, raising a family and loving each other. The reality of it was, this is how Kyle coped. It was as if he was writing a novel and nothing he did was real. The texture of the grip running across the pad of his finger spoke others. Silently, he moved from his position, cutting around wide as to not attract attention. He stuck to the shadows and watched the placement of his feet as he flanked the bench. This new woman, however...

It complicated things.

[oWhiteDiamondo]

Anastasia Hashiga

Location: Hoffand Park
Time: 3:05 A.M.

---

Anatasia started to feel watched as her eyes scanned the park in her view. She couldn't tell why. It was just a sense of uneasiness was starting to crawl up her spine, like somebody was also there. She just waited to be jumped as her legs tightened against each other. Her eyes quickly shifted to the movement from the opposite direction from where she came from. It was just a woman walking down the pathway. Ana's legs would relax as she saw them. They were beautiful. At least, more beautiful than her- which was just about everybody she saw. She admired the woman's strawberry-colored hair bouncing along her shoulders as she walked towards the bench.

The blonde had to remember how to speak as the woman spoke to her. She agreed to herself as the woman mentioned not seeing a lot of people around this time. Only the homeless stayed around the area, but that was 24/7. Anastasia didn't count them. When she walked around the park she saw nobody else. People were either at a different section of the park, or they weren't staying long. She didn't want to think of what other people might be doing in the park, turning her attention back to the woman next to her. She was gesturing towards one of the homeless nearby. They shivered in their worn coat while mumbling to themselves, making Anastasia frown slightly.

She looked back to the woman when she told her name in at a soft volume, just what she'd call a perfect whisper. Something was off about it. In her voice she seemed to have the same uneasiness as Anastasia had before. Like they were being watched, and the woman had to stay in secret. Victoria. It echoed in her head a few times. It rhymed with Anastasia. The tiny detail made the edge of her mouth twitch with a grin, but it didn't stay for long.

"Hello, I'm Anatasia. I don't see a lot of people either. I'm just enjoying the park right now," she told the woman, going along with the softness of her voice. It was not that easy for her to be quiet, easy to tell by the occasional rumbles in her voice as she spoke, but she managed. Even in a whisper her voice seemed stern, not as welcoming as Victoria's. Anastasia already knew that her expression was naturally blank. Like she was zoning out. Judging people. Scheming some sort of plan. It only bothered her now when another person talked to her.

[XenoCyanide]

Location: Hoffand Park

---

Victoria smiled sweetly at Anastasia as she told her name. That smiled crept along her face as she turned to look back toward the center of the park. The area was laid out like a circle, with the jogging paths breaking up the otherwise symmetrical layout. There were bridges and patches of land dedicated to the most beautiful of flowers. Of course, none of this could be seen at night. Those who visited during the day could make out the faint outlines of different colored roses and lilies but all the beauty was sheered off as if ripped flesh from bone. Ever since the War started it was as if the Earth herself pushing back.

"I understand what you mean. I come seeking peace as well." Victoria brushed her hair behind her ear. From the profile view, one could see that she was hauntingly beautiful. Crimson lips on porcelain skin. Her attire was impressive as well for she wore a dress of fine silk that seemed to glow when the light caught her just right. "It is dangerous out here, she said after a pause, are you not worried?" Her hands laid folded across her crossed knees. There was something certainly off about this woman.

Kyle had circled efficiently around the park, always keeping the two women in his view. He maintained a steady pace, but hunched over and pulled the hoodie closer to his body as if he were homeless. There was a bridge ahead and he slinked underneath it, gaining his composure. Over the years he had conditioned his mind to focus during times like these. Doubts and obsessions were locked away in the darkest recesses of his psyche. She was only an objective, he reminded himself. Yet the faces stared back at him tearing at the walls he had built. Were they truly deserving of death? At first he thought so, seeing first hand what they were capable of. He still carried the scars of the fire.

Only an objective.

Kyle moved toward the back of the underpass, pushing himself up the hill on the opposite side of where the two women were. He reached a separation wall that marked the boundary of the park. It rose only about three feet and Kyle scaled it effortlessly, keeping his profile as low as possible, hugging his chest against the stonework. He made sure the gun at his hip didn't scrap or tap the stone as he passed over, setting his feet down quietly onto the grass. He had referenced out the area around the bench, noting where lamp posts were and how many windows of the adjacent building passed before one was centered behind the women. Kyle stayed in a crouched position, moving swiftly through the night across the barrier.

It was seconds when he reached where the women were. He peaked his head up over the stones, seeing the backs of the two. He knelt on one knee and his right hand reached for his pistol. The familiar grip greeted him as it slid quietly from the waistband of his pants. He placed the slide of the weapon to his forehead, resting his elbow on his knee as he closed his eyes. He did not say a prayer to any god he knew. He wouldn't dare be so arrogant as to believe that his sins would be forgiven. Instead, he pleaded in his own mind, picturing the woman who's life he was about to end.

Forgive me...

Kyle peaked up from above the stonework once more. As silently as he had done before, he slid across the stonework like a serpent. The women were about twenty-five feet away from him at this point. Suddenly, the wind picked up, kicking some of the loose leaves around. Using this to mask his descent, he worked the distance, the leather soles of his boots soaking up any sound that may otherwise betray his location. Kyle pulled the hood further down over his face to mask his features. The other woman was the anomaly. A wrench in his plans.

Twenty feet.

He would more than likely have to incapacitate her.

Fifteen feet.

The shot would ring out loud and horrendous in the still night, at first rendering the woman frightened.

Ten feet.

He could always use the butt of the pistol to knock her out. Clean. No mess.

Five feet.

Kyle raised the pistol. He was only a step away from being point-blank with the back of her skull. You see, you squeeze the trigger of a weapon, you do not pull it. A big misconception in the accuracy of firearms. If you pull, the hand pulls the muzzle from its intended target. A smooth squeeze straight back. Professional. Cold. Detached. Kyle stopped when he felt the muzzle of the pistol touch the base of Victoria's skull. Seconds away from the woman's life spilling across the stones of the park walkway. However, Victoria smiled. She did not move at all but her lips parted, exhaling a wisp of hot breath. "Mr. Lucidius."

For the first time in his life, so close to the kill, Kyle froze.

[oWhiteDiamondo]

Anastasia Hashiga

Location: Hoffand Park

---

As Victoria smiled at her, Anastasia couldn't help but attempt to make a grin equivalent to that. Her expression only shifted into a smile of worry and clear uneasiness, like she was hiding the dark look behind the smile. The atmosphere may have been calming but it didn't do the same effect to Anastasia. She followed the woman's eyes towards the center of the park. Anastasia has never gotten the chance to see the park in the daylight. She chooses not to go down that path whenever it's day. It made her like a vampire. She didn't go out in the sunlight like the other cityfolk. She only tried to stay in her motel room. With herself. With the burden that was given to her only about a week or two before that early morning.

When Anastasia turned back to the woman beside her, all she could do was frown again. Why was a woman like her trying to find peace in a place like that? The history of that pack, of that city, wasn't the greatest. Maybe it was something bad in her past gave her that reason to be there? The blonde was there for that reason after all. Her attention was popped back when Victoria asked her a question. Dangerous... Of course she knew. Worried?

Not at all.

"No. I have nothing to be worried about. There's a lot of things that could happen and the feeling of danger is the least of my worries," she would respond in a monotone voice. That park was losing its calm feeling anyways. She already knew they were in danger at that very moment. But, like she said, that feeling wasn't the worst part of it. It was going to come soon.

Closer...

She could feel it in the atmosphere. The cold temperature seemed to shift, but it was only her that could feel it. Her fingers would twitch as she looked around her, only moving her hazel eyes to check the area. Somebody was definitely out there. It was like a predator circling its prey. Only the prey could sense it, and only had moments notice to run. But they weren't moving. Victoria just sat around and actually seemed to be...

Waiting for it.

Maybe Anastasia was just overthinking the situation. Maybe it was just her past poking at her. That people could be waiting to kill her at any moment. Maybe they were already waiting for her.

Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

Then it happened. A calm wisp of Victoria's breath was let out as she smiled. Anastasia steadily turned her head to see the muzzle of a gun waiting on the woman's skull. She was surprised, yes, but not intimidated. Her face was only blank, her eyes partially closed, giving a squint to the attacker as he was frozen in place. They were both casual about the situation. Maybe too casual.

Anastasia didn't say anything about it. With a small shift of her head, she was back in her previous position. She just waited for death to be brought upon them. It didn't mean for both of them, just... them.

[XenoCyanide]

Location: Hoffand Park

---

Kyle didn't flinch, the muzzle caressing the back of Victoria's skull. She knew his name and this surprised him but it isn't what stopped him. It was a combination of things. That calm demeanor of hers was unsettling, yes, but it was her seeming precognition of him. How did she know who he was or even that he was tracking her? Kyle's eyes shifted to the right and for a moment he locked eyes with the blonde's. This was all wrong. It felt wrong. "You have many questions I am sure, Mr. Lucidius, Victoria began, only turning her head slightly to the right to train her eyes on Anastasia, but perhaps the most telling is how do I know who you are."

There was something about her voice that Kyle couldn't put his finger on. He had long ago trained himself to keep a level head during hunts. Having an elevated heart rate destroyed rationality and accuracy behind a weapon. Even so, he always felt some type of anxiety. A myriad of things could go wrong on a hunt and he had to be open to dealing with them as they came. You must be fluid and adaptive. Suddenly, Kyle shifted, the weapon moving from Victoria's skull to Anastasia's left temple. Almost as quickly, Kyle's left hand gripped the switchblade in his pocket, shot the blade out, and placed the tip against Victoria's brain stem.

She said his name and for most that was a death sentance. "I have a proposition for you, should you choose to listen to it. I can help with your... predicament. After all, you are one of us." The corner of Victoria's lips twitched into a smile, her body slowly rising from the seat. This revelation made Kyle furrow his brows. Us... She said us... His eyes moved toward Anastasia. Is she Touched as well? He didn't have much time to think about the implications as Victoria spoke again, "You have been watching me for some time, but I you far longer. They know, Mr. Lucidius. Go to where the Pale Man dresses and we shall discuss more."

Kyle's eyes shot up, examining the buildings around them. Roofs, windows, doorways. Victoria smoothed out her dress and turned around, "I suggest you run... and do take the young one with you. She will prove useful to you." With that, she bowed her head and that smile creeped back along her lips. Without warning, her entire frame collapsed into what seemed like a thousand pieces of glass, transforming themselves into dust as the wind carried her away. "Fuck...

Without hesitation, the knife was back in his pocket, his body pivoting so his left hand grabbed Anastasia's bicep. The pistol was at his side and his eyes spoke urgently. Now was not the time for deliberating choices. There was only one. Everything Anastasia feared was true. There was an organization that hunted them. There was no trial. No jury of your peers. Just execution, left to die without dignity in some empty street or alone in your bed. An echo of a tire screeching bounced off the city buildings. They were close.

"If you wish to die, stay. Otherwise..." Kyle twisted and began to run back toward the barrier. There wouldn't be much time before 'They' arrived.

[oWhiteDiamondo]

Anastasia Hashiga

Location: Hoffand Park

---

Anastasia kept quiet as the woman beside her spoke to "Mr. Lucidius", still waiting if they were going to be killed. It didn't seem to be happening soon, Victoria probably distracting him with her words and making him hesitate. Wasn't he supposed to be a hunter, a mercenary of sorts, and kill them off quickly to move on to the next mission? She felt uncomfortable whenever she felt the pair's eyes look towards her, knowing that they were looking towards her direction, even when she was frozen in the same position. The most movement that came from her was the shaky attempt of breathing rise and fall from her chest. Her eyes didn't want to blink. It was to make sure that she witnessed everything with her own two eyes before dying - if she did.

The blonde twitched her fingers when she felt the muzzle of the gun suddenly switch to her left temple. Almost simultaneously, a clicking sound that must have been a blade popped out before her. He was going to kill both of them off if Victoria didn't act quickly. Fortunately she kept speaking, even though it could have been both of their death sentences. But the woman seemed to have gotten "Mr. Lucidius"'s attention. To be honest, that was a little embarrassing. A mercenary not meeting their mission of killing their victim. It was just as bad as a predator having pity on their prey. Anastasia couldn't help let out a snort from holding back her laugh to keep serious.

Us?

She knew. Well, of course she knew. It wasn't a surprise if Victoria already knew the man with them. But it didn't make her relax, especially with the feeling of eyes moving back onto her happening again.

Where the Pale Man dresses? Where's that?

"Mr. Lucidius" must have knew where that was if Victoria was telling him the direction.

Before Anastasia could try saying something to reject being useful, she saw Victoria's appearance shatter to pieces to be carried away in the wind. Illusion magic? Possibly. But that definitely wasn't something she should be questioning right now. It was positive they were going to be hunted now.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the man grabbing her arm, making her bolt her head up towards him. Are you saying there's an option of staying, even though I'm not going to choose it? she thought while giving her another pair of squinting eyes. Anastasia sighed as he was already running off towards the park barrier. Might as well follow him if he knew the destination they had to go to. She got up and hopped the bench, following after the mercenary. Or, former mercenary. Ana caught up easily but kept herself blended in the darkness.

Wait, wouldn't that be difficult for her? Blonde hair, pale to olive skin, bright blue jacket...

No, she had other ways to blend in. Her footsteps could be heard near "Mr. Lucidius", but her appearance seemed to have just... disappeared. Anastasia didn't say anything about it. The first thing she wanted to ask quietly came out of her mouth. "What's your first name?" It was a dumb question but it was the automatic thing that came to mind. However, to him, it was more of the air speaking to him than the blonde.

[XenoCyanide]

Location: The Streets

---

Kyle had memorized several blocks surrounding the park. Where the alleys turn and end and which are divided only by a fence. He ran quickly through them as his goal was to put as much distance between himself and the park as possible. The organization was ruthlessly efficient. They cared little for bystanders and innocents that happened to cross their path. All that mattered to them was the extinction of The Touched and now Kyle was one of them. How they knew he hadn't the slightest idea. All that mattered now was that they did know and Kyle's choices were growing slimmer by the second.

He thought he had more time, truth be told. He knew he was manifesting powers, but why at the age of 33 were they happening now? Of course, he knew powers could manifest at any time from infancy to adulthood. Throughout his service he has seen many different types of powers manifest from the benign to the monstrous. He himself wielded a power that aided him in the hunting of the Touched. An irony he was well aware of, perhaps that is why the organization caught on to him. Regardless of all of that, this was the predicament he was in.

How the hell are you going to get out of this one? He thought to himself as he slowed his run, approaching a main street. He placed his back against one of the buildings and edged slowly closer to the corner of the building. They were about three blocks away from the park now but that did not mean they were safe. Peering around the corner he saw that it was, for the most part, deserted. Everyone had was gone. Hiding or asleep in their beds. People knew what it meant when the organization was whipping through the streets. It wasn't a secret.

The woman said to go where the 'Pale Man Dresses'. To most that would seem incomprehensible, but he knew from a few years ago there was a rumor about a Touched called The Pale Man. He became a bit of a folk hero to those with powers. He was said to embody the most powerful of abilities and was incredibly pale. Unbelievably charismatic, he was a natural leader. Almost like a vampire, some said. There was a secret head shop that dealt with the more taboo and occult things in the city. In the front it was a clothing store like any other but those that had the access were allowed into the basement. He could only hope that this was the place that the woman meant.

---

Location: Pale Dress Clothing Store

He heard Anastasia talk, but he didn't pay much attention to her. In fact, her speaking at all soured his demeanor. He would deal with it in time, he thought, as he sprinted across the street whilst keeping his profile low. Suddenly a shot rang out. It was faint, but he knew the direction it came from. He only saw one other person in the park and that was the homeless man that was near where the two women sat. No doubt the operatives didn't find his ramblings useful and shot the poor bastard.

It wasn't long before they arrived at the side entrance to the store. Kyle tried turning the doorknob but found it locked. Cursing under his breath he looked to his right and left, satisfied there was no one else there. He focused on the handle his hand quivering as whatever essence spilled forth from his being. The latch sprang and the spring within snapped under the pressure. The door flew open only to be caught still as Kyle rose his hand to defy physics.

"Inside." he said. He wasn't sure if the woman was following him but as he stepped inside, he waited a second before closing the door. The story was empty and all the lights were off but he made it a point to move as slowly as possible. He didn't want any wanderers spotting him from the outside as he perused the selection of wares. He picked out a nice woolen gray trench coat and a skullcap. Taking off his hoodie, he put on the other cloths, placing his pistol into the right pocket of the coat.

"My name is Kyle, he finally said, What is yours?" He began his search for the basement.

[oWhiteDiamondo]

Anastasia Hashiga

Location: City Streets

---

The lone blonde didn't go out often, barely knowing anywhere else other than the motel area leading on to the park. She wanted to look at all of the details when passing the new places, but she couldn't. Anastasia had to keep up with Kyle as they quickly ran away from the park. The man must be trying to get as much distance as possible in a little amount of time. She already knew there were organizations grouped up to go after the Touched. But how would they already know was the question she had in mind. Cameras? Sensors? Detectors? Ana didn't know, but anything was possible at this point. They just had to choose the right path to take.

Occasionally Anastasia would try getting a better look at the man. He seemed a bit older than her, definitely, but only just got his abilities now. She got hers a bit while ago and managed to control the basics. After all, she running behind "Mr. Lucidius" completely invisible. For all she knew, he didn't even remember Anastasia was supposed to be there with him. It didn't matter now.

She slowed herself down beside the mercenary, casually standing beside him when he pressed up against the wall. Anastasia was lucky, having to turn invisible and all, then she remembered: If they already knew "Mr. Lucidius" was developing his powers, then they might be able to sense her as well. This made her bolt next to him against the wall, keeping close to him as he looked around the corner. Her cold presence could easily be felt but not seen.

What did Victoria say again?

"Go to where the Pale Man dresses and we shall discuss more."

That was it. "Mr. Lucidius" must be thinking of where to go at that very moment. Just as she thought about his next move, he ran across the street to some sort of clothing store.

---

Location: Pale Dress Clothing Store

Just as they were crossing the street, Anastasia heard a shot from the distance. She winced as her fingers twitched. They froze over almost immediately. If she wasn't invisible a thin layer of frost could be seen along her fingers. One of the easiest ways to tell she was anxious. Who did they shoot? The only other person there was-

Right, of course. He had it coming anyway. Poor guy. The thought of the blood running across the park grounds only made her run across faster. She quickly caught her breath after all that running, and when Anastasia turned back to the locked door- it was already open? The man with her must have opened it while she was distracted. She quickly got inside as told then reappeared in front of him again. She had her hands up against the top of her stomach in a prayer pose, her fingers quivering with the frost on top. It was melting slowly but surely as she looked around.

Kyle. Kyle Lucidius, she put together. "Anastasia," the blonde would respond in a whisper while looking around the shop. When going near the front window, she suddenly appeared out of sight again. A pair of Harbinger gloves disappeared from a rack. And you'd think she'd wear gloves to cover her fingers. A brown leather jacket disappeared off. Black shades, gone.

As Kyle searched around, Anastasia appeared next to him again. She was switched around with the clothes she chose. She looked completely different, which was perfect. Her previous jacket was across one of her arms as her hands fiddled around with the gloves. Close, open, close open. Whenever her hands opened, her fingers would freeze over. Whenever they closed, the frost quickly went away. She seemed unaffected by the cold. Ana did that with her hands while she watched Kyle look for- whatever he was looking for.

[XenoCyanide]

Location: The Pale Dress

---

Kyle was methodical. His eyes scanned every nook and cranny of the store. He was looking for the entrance to the basement, of course. There was another door in the rear that may lead to it, but he had to take care of something first. His eyes shifted toward Anastasia, watching as items faded from what seemed like existence. His eyes narrowed and his pace slowed. He ran his hand along the length of a wall, buying himself some time. There were so many questions he needed answers to. He wanted to know how they managed to find out about his manifestation. How they knew of anyone's manifestation. Did they solely work with spies and the disenfranchised eyes of the cities, luring them with promises of riches and rewards? Perhaps it was something far more sinister.

When Anastasia appeared next to him, Kyle moved incredibly quickly. His left hand wrapped around her throat, clutching tightly as he propelled her body against the naked wall. His right clutched at his pistol, moving swiftly to her forehead. The weapon worked on a series of safety mechanisms, having to actually grip the pistol to release the first. The second was built into the trigger itself. His finger slowly squeezed the safety catch back and was only a centimeter from releasing the firing pin. He wasn't sure what this woman was capable of, but he doubted she was quicker than an object traveling at 900 feet per second.

"Where the fuck did you come from?!" he spat venomously, keeping his voice in a low growl. "Why were you in the park? His grip tightened over her throat, his thumb and fingers pressing into the jugular veins on either side of her neck as the webbing of his hand crushing into her windpipe. He relaxed after a second or two, meant to prove that he was not to be trifled with nor was this an idle threat. Kyle's life hung in the balance and he would do anything to preserve it. At least, until he got the answers he sought and wrought his vengeance against those who did him wrong.

[oWhiteDiamondo]

Anastasia Hashiga

Location: Pale Dress Clothing Store

---

Not even a second after she reappeared, Anatasia was slammed against the wall, a hand wrapped around her throat. She seemed to let out a "Hissss" like a balloon letting out air or a snake in danger. Her immediate action was to claw at the hand that held her against the wall. Anastasia's hands froze over quickly, the hundreds of jagged edges trying to rip through his clothes to his skin. Not even to the meeting with Victoria yet and she was being betrayed? The gun was up against her forehead as she was weakly clawed around against the wall.

Seriously? Did he expect her to answer while being in a choke-hold against the wall? Good luck with that. Kyle's webbing was pressing against her windpipe, too. She wasn't going to talk on low oxygen. Even if she could, Anastasia still wouldn't talk. She was an "innocent" Touched in the park. The blonde didn't have any important details. He relaxed to attempt showing he wasn't a threat, but it didn't help at all. Just as Anastasia felt his arm relaxing, both of her hands grabbed onto the one around her neck- and fully froze it over. So she wouldn't be shot from that, she immediately ripped open Kyle's fingers from her neck, the ice cracking as she quickly shuffled down to the floor. Just in case she was going to get kicked or shot from above, Anastasia rolled to the side and hopped back to a standing position.

When Anastasia recovered onto her feet, she quickly made the thick frost shatter with a whip of her own frozen hands. "Never do that again," were the first words that escaped her mouth before answering. "Now, if you really want information out of me, keep in mind that I don't do it when held around the neck, even with a weapon against me. I know you're trying to get out of this alive, but threatening the people who are working with you and for the same reason doesn't help."

She started with the first question he asked. "If you want the quick answer, I came from the motel down the street from the park." Anastasia would rub around the scratches on her neck and face with thin frost over her fingers in attempt to numb the pain. "And why I was there? The same reason the woman had: find peace, which apparently isn't possible," she spat. Anastasia quickly went invisible before he could try anything else, but didn't move from the place she stood at until the scratches were numb from the cold.

After numbing the patches of pain she would silently roam the store again. Kyle was trying to find something against the walls, right? Must be a door or something. Easy. Her hand lightly ran against items in the store so they wouldn't disappear off, checking them for any off feature. Her eyes ran along the floor as well to see if there were any signs.

[XenoCyanide]

Location: The Pale Dress

---

That was two powers he witnessed from her. The ability to cloak herself to her surroundings and slow the vibrations of matter, freezing things over. Very interesting. Kyle rarely did things out of character or in the heat of the moment. Yes, he was attempting to gain intelligence from the woman, which she freely gave after the fact, but he also discovered her innate talents. It was a risky endeavor, as she could have proved to have a much more dangerous ability. He remembered a teenage boy he dealt with some years ago. Brian, he believed his name was. A quadriplegic rendered useless in a state-of-the-art wheelchair but soon his powers began to the manifest. They ranged from inhibiting psychosomatic hallucinations in his victims to completely taking over their nervous systems. A string of random suicides lead Kyle to Chicago where he resided. They all had one common denominator among them and it was this boy. From nurses to doctors to insurance professionals. Those that screwed him or his family over soon met a tragic end.

When the ice coated his left hand, he recoiled back, clutching it to his chest as he took a step backwards. He looked at Anastasia and holstered his pistol into his waist band, turning his back toward her. His hand began to heat up, his internal body temperature rising as he pushed the heat to the affected area. His knuckles cracked as he flexed his fingers, the ice melting almost as quickly as it had appeared. After the woman ended her rant, his voice softly carried through the empty store, "Keep in mind who the predator in the room is. Make yourself useful and look for any signs of the Resistance."

The Resistance was a group of Touched that found each other a few years ago. It was in response to the establishment of the H.B.C.T.U., or, the Human Biological Counter-Terrorism Unit. This was the organization tasked with the research, tracking, and extermination of the Touched. At first it started out with good intentions. Those that would use their powers for evil were hunted with extreme prejudice but then a bill was passed in the federal government. Due to the increasing presence of the Touched, fear and panic was rampant. Akin to how Nazi propaganda during World War II, there were those in government that sculpted problems and pushed these fears across the public. The Afflicted Persons bill passed and the War on Terror took a turn for the worst. Prisons could not be built in time to house these individuals and a green light was given to the systematic murder of thousands. Kyle was part of the HBCTU. Or, rather, was...

His ran across a wall, his finger tapping occasionally to see if there was a false wall. In one instance it felt hollow, but such a thing wasn't possible. This wall was against the brick structure of the building. Of course, he has seen weird things in the past several years. "Here..." He began looking around the wall for anything. What he found was something interesting. Near the floor behind a shelving unit, he noticed small runic patterns burnt into the wood itself. As his finger passed over them, they shimmered in an amber color. Suddenly, the wall faded from existence and revealed a circular staircase leading into darkness. He leaned over the side and peered into the abyss, his hand reaching for his weapon. Holding it to his side, he looked around for the woman.

[oWhiteDiamondo]

Anastasia Hashiga

Location: Pale Dress Clothing Store

---

The predator? And who was that exactly? It must have been what he mentioned, the Resistance. Anastasia barely remembered what they were. If she remembered correctly, they were a group of other Touched people that "took care" of their own kind. But wouldn't that mean Kyle is- was part of it? He was tasked to kill the woman after all. Now he's getting chased down, too. This time, instead of asking him questions, Anastasia kept silent while checking around the store for clues.

When she heard the faint mutter of the word "Here", a quick turn of her heel got her to face his direction. Kyle was at a wall - but also the same one against the brick structure of the building. What was so special about that? What was the difference in all of the other parts of the wall? Anatasia frowned slightly before walking around the tables and racks to be near Kyle. She kept her distance just in case he did something wrong, but close enough to follow his exact movements around the wall.

Kyle seemed to have found something behind a shelving unit near the floor. Ana got curious to see it, using one leg to lean forward on and look over his shoulder. Rune patterns burnt in. Now that was something she could easily recognize. Anastasia saw them in shows, online, even occasionally passed or caught them on her free time. She managed to learn a few symbols, traps, and sigils herself as well. The woman would do them using ice instead of frost, the markings too clear for someone to see, having to use touch to actually find them. Maybe she could use them for this.

Just as the man touched the rune patterns, the wall that he checked earlier disappeared from sight, like it faded from existence. A staircase was circling down into the darkness. He was trying to find the- basement? Seriously? Out of all things? Actually, Anastasia shouldn't be asking that. What about him triggering a fire runes?

No, wait.

The question just answered itself. But it's always good to make sure, isn't it? She looked back to Kyle, who was already next to the staircase with his gun to his side. He must have been trying to look for sign of- Victoria? That was right.

Anatasia's face shifted to a neutral expression before reappearing back next to him. She still felt uneasy appearing so close to him, but she had to anyway. "So Mister Fire, are you just going to stand around or go in? We were looking for this to enter or do it out of spite? she asked in a low voice, rolling her eyes afterwards.

[XenoCyanide]

---

The staircase spiraled down what seemed to be a crudely cut circular tunnel, descending into who knows what. Kyle didn't even want to touch on the physics-breaking wall, but, then again, after the Touched were made known, little disturbances began to make a bit more sense. Things and events that made people narrow their eyes and tilt their head. That unknown factor you just couldn't put your finger on. There was silence in the store and Kyle leaned a bit closer over the staircase shifting his head to the side, listening for anything he may discern that dwelled below.

That was, until the woman began to speak again. Kyle clenched his jaw, her condescending tone slowly beginning to wear down his patience. One of the many reasons he chose to work alone is due to the fact that he found most people to be inept and every encounter he has had with them has proven him correct. His gaze slowly shifted over to Anastasia, the thought of grabbing her by the hair and tossing her down the shaft played through his mind. He could even gauge how deep it went by the sound of her broken body hitting the steps.

Dismissing the thought, he looked back down the staircase and carefully placed his right foot on the first step. They had managed to escape the government for now but somehow he felt that he was walking into the mouth of another lion. He had spent years hunting down the Touched, and he was being invited in by one of their envoys? No matter how you sliced it, this couldn't end well for him. But what would he do? He could spend the rest of his life running from the government with their almost limitless funds and technology. The next decisions Kyle would have to make would determine the course his life would take, for better or worse.

Satisfied that there weren't any traps or vortexes that he would unwittingly get sucked into, he began to descend the stairs into the pit.

---

After what seemed like countless rotations around the spiral staircase the tunnel opened into something that he could have never imagined. Something like this could surely not exist under the city, what with sewer tunnels and underground metro that ran the span of it. However, somehow here this place. The cavern opened to this massive expansion with rough columns chiseled into the rock and all manner of beasts sat atop them. Kyle stopped in his tracks when he saw them, his eyes unblinking. He looked for any movement from the seemingly innocuous carvings but, hell, at this point he wasn't willing to discount anything. He's seen his fair share of movies.

Kyle walked out into the room, two entryways ahead of him split off into what seemed like other rooms and there was a long corridor behind to the left of the staircase, which hugged the wall as they descended. Every footfall echoed across the chamber with a dull sound. Suddenly Kyle felt the fatigue of the day creeping up on him. He had his adrenaline to thank the past few hours but his body began to fight back. Finding his resolve, he marshalled in further across the main chamber.