VIGILANCE
To Whom Much Is Given
| GM: Lord Wraith | Genre: Superhuman, Modern Fantasy | Type: Linear, Sandbox |
"Everyone to whom much was given, of them much will be required;"
~Luke 12:48
| RULES AND REGULATIONS: |
The rotting smell of mud and wood rolled down the streets, the heat of the summer having stirred up Dead Man's Bog and all its fumes. Sitting with his back against the exterior wall of a run down convenience store was and older man, his clothes ragged as he scratched a wool toque sitting atop his long mop like hair. In his hands was a small can which he held forward to each passerby, looking up with his grizzled face as he forced a smile, yellowed uneven teeth rising up over his lips as they parted. Old weary eyes twinkling with genuine kindness and deep sorrow as the same words escaped his lips over and over.
"Can you spare any change?"
Optimism and a belief in the greater good of man was the only thing keeping the man going at this point. He couldn't remember when he had his last meal, let alone the taste of a good hamburger. Not that he would likely ever taste one again, living on the streets came with the advantage of free samples. Unfortunately those free samples came with the cravings, the constant agonizing cravings. The man's hands began to shake as a handful of coins hit the bottom of his can. Nodding with enthusiastic thanks, the man pulled the can back to his chest as he slowly rocked his body, trying to easy the shakes.
"How about a hot meal and a made bed, Old Man?" The warm voice of a young man caused the older man to look up. In front of him, a well dressed man extending a hand towards him, a smile plastered on his face that his caused his perfect white teeth to glisten in the setting sun.
"I.." The man started, his stutter had always hindered him in job interviews."I-I-I couldn't p-p-possibly accept that."
"I insist, no strings attached, completely on me." The young man said as the older man nodded slowly, accepting the young man's hand and standing up. Tucking the day's earnings in his pocket, the older man nodded as the younger man motioned for him to follow. Opening the door to his glistening black sedan, the older man slid into the passenger seat as the other man ran around and climbed into the driver's seat.
"What'll it be, Old Man?" He asked with his dazzling smile on display for all to see. A key was pushed into the ignition as the engine roared to life, the brand new touch screen display lit up with a GPS just waiting for the input of the driver.
"A-a-a hamburger p-p-please." The older man said, his own smile warming the small interior of the vehicle.
"I know the perfect place." The younger man said as he put the car into drive, the GPS lighting up as a finger slid over the buttons, highlighting the quickest route to the Apollo Grill within the main city.
"T-t-thank you." The older man said, nodding towards the younger man as he rubbed his hands together nervously. It had been years since he rode in a car, let alone ever sat in one this nice. The sedan was definitely luxury, maybe even import. It had all the touches of fine German engineering, something the older man hadn't seen since serving over seas.
"Oh don't thank me yet." The younger man replied as suddenly a second man sat up in the back seat. A cloth was forced over the beggar's face as he struggled and fought only to suddenly go limp as the chloroform took its effect.
"You won't like where you're going." The man continued as he took the car off the laid out path and turned towards the Demon's Valley.
The melodic sounds of the cellphone alarm filled the room as Alexis Grimm was stirred from her sleep. Stretching out in her bed, she turned away from the the small screen that had illuminated her room mumbling about five more minutes. From downstairs, the gentle smell of fried batter wafted under the door to the dark room as the hiss of bacon hitting a hot griddle suddenly crackled through the air.
"Alexis, honey!" A woman's voice called from downstairs. "You don't want to be late or hungry on your first day of senior year!"
"Uhhh." Came Alexis' reply as she rolled over and checked the time on her phone. Sitting up in her bed upon realizing she had a text message, Alexis smiled as she began to read.
'Good morning Beautiful, can't wait to see your smiling face today.'
Her fingers flew into action, as Alexis quickly hammered out a reply.
'I can't wait to see you either Babe!'
Suddenly feeling awake, Alexis jumped out of her bed and scurried to the bathroom. The sensation of the hot shower was the only good thing that happened in the morning. Turning under the steady stream, she ensured the water touched every part of her body, inhaling deeply as a cloud of steam rose from the shower. Toweling off, Alexis slid into her room, throwing open her large walk in closet as she went through numerous outifts before deciding on a cute little number including both a pleated skirt and an adorable pair of boots. Slinging her bag over the shoulder, Alexis ensured her blouse was tucked in as she quickly clambered down the stairs into her parent's kitchen.
"Mornin' Mum!" She said with a peck on her mother's cheek. "Morning Daddy!" Alexis continued as she wrapped her arms around her dad and planted a raspberry on his cheek with a giggle.
"Get off me." He chuckled as he pulled out a chair for Alexis. "Well then, excited are we?"
"Not overly, but you went through all the trouble of cooking up a big breakfast, I figured I'd put on a face for you." She said, sticking her tongue out at the end before piling two pancakes onto her plate and dousing them in maple syrup.
"Slow down, it's not going anywhere." Her mother chimed in as Alexis' father shook his head.
"Let the girl eat Katherine, she's obviously hungry." The balding man said as Katherine moved her blonde hair behind her ear.
"If you insist Patrick." She said with a small smile. "I suppose I can lay off being a satellite parent for at least breakfast."
"I think they're calling you helicopter parents now." Alexis said, coming up for air as she smirked at her mother, her green eyes twinkling with mischief as she brushed her long brunette locks behind her ear.
"Shut up and eat your breakfast." Katherine retorted with a smile before biting into a peach held loosely in her manicured hand.
"I've got to be going anyways, meeting Zebulun at the school!" Alexis said, her voice being higher and more excited upon speaking the name Zebulun. Basically jumping up from her chair, the teen snatched the peach from her mother's hand before taking a bite as she gathered up her bag.
"Still dating the Michaels' boy eh?" Patrick asked with a small smile. "The girl learned well, she goes for money."
"Oh stop it." Katherine scolded her husband who began to clear the table. "Off to the gym Sweetie?" She asked as he deposited the dirty dishes into the washer and grabbed his own keys.
"Indeed I am dear, I have about three bacons and half a pound of bacon to work off before I head into the office." Patrick said before kissing his wife goodbye, peeking to see if Alexis was watching before giving Katherine a playful pat on her behind as he winked at her before heading out the door.
"Oh gross." Alexis' voice was filled with disgust as she quickly ran out the door to the sound of her parents' laughter. Climbing into her small sports car, Alexis adjusted the pair of black fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview window before lowering the top and driving out into the morning sun. Sun was rare in New Lilith, although if the local legends were to be believed, it was even more rare during the time Roman Locke rang over the city. The cherry red car had been a present to Alexis on her sixteenth birthday and the girl had taken pristine care of the car herself, rotating its tires, changing the oil and any other simple maintenance had been done by her, at least once her father had instructed her how to do it.
The drive to New Lilith College Academy was not a long one by any means. Her parents were more than wealthy enough to afford a house in the city's well off East end, although the school had been half the reason why they had choosen to live in that end of the city. Butterflies filled her stomach as she drove past the Faulkner estate, home to none other than Charles Michaels, the citiest wealthiest and most famous son. Charles Michaels was the new Bill Gates, having revolutionized the software industry with the humorously named 'Glitch' Operating System. Mr. Michaels also happened to be father of her boyfriend Zebulun, although Alexis herself had never met Charles, Zebulun's mother Drew was rather friendly despite her reputation of being somewhat cold.
Pulling into the school's parking lot, Alexis found a nice parking spot before hanging her parking pass on in front of the fuzzy dice. Closing the car up, the brunette lifted her large sunglasses to the top of her head as she walked into the school.
"Heya Beautiful!" Zebulun's warm voice called out to Alexis as she turned to find herself lost in the taller's boys deep blue eyes. She could stare at them forever, flecks of icy blue highlighted them, giving his eyes and intense stare that almost felt like he could look right through you if he focusses hard enough. Shaggy brown hair hung unkempt from his head as it curled slightly at the end of each strand. Highlights of gold and midlights of auburn could be seen within his hair underneath the bright fluorescent lights of the school hallway. Pressing her lips against his, Alexis could feel his arms wrap around her waist and pull her in close as they said 'hello' the only way lovers ever should.
"I could get used to that." Zebulun said as Alexis relaxed her lips and stepped back, her eye lashes fluttering slightly as the boy took ahold of her hand.
"Maybe I'll keep you around then." Alexis replied coyly as she began to lead Zebulun down the hall towards their first class. "Is your band practicing tonight?"
"Oh no, we decided to see how the course load is first and then figure out when the best nights to practice would be." Zebulun replied, waving to his friends and bandmates as they passed the pair in the hallway.
"So I have you all to myself tonight then?" Alexis replied, spinning around she leaned in closer to Zebulun who nonchantly shrugged his shoulders.
"It would look like it, what did you have in mind?" He replied.
"The park, the one beneath the over pass. There's something of a party going on there tonight. We should definitely go!" Alexis exclaimed with excitement. Word of the party had been plastered all over Facebook, Twitter and a few other frequented sites over the weekend.
"I think I might have enough freak left in me to do a party." Zebulun smirked as the pair took their seats in the corner of their first period English class.
"That's the worse thing you've said since you decided to call your band Extinguish/Ignite." Alexis retorted with a smirk of her own.
"Seriously, you're still on about that." Zebulun exclaimed in mock disbelief. "It's the perfect name to use in tribute to one of the greatest musicians to ever live." Turning to the closest student, Zebulun tapped him on the shoulder. "Yo buddy, please tell my girl why Kurt Cobain was one of the greatest artists of our time."