The leaves were at their most beautiful, colours bright like her smile. Gusting down the street, they whirled around the shorter Earp. Nicole was stuck in place, watching this with a sort of awestruck look on her face. Her arm was outstretched, hand slightly trembling on the car roof. From the open door a gruff voice drifts upwards. She had forgotten about the other officer, his inquisitive voice failing to infiltrate her haze.
Waverly had looked mystical that day, like she controlled the very weather.
Her face was open and delightful as usual, ready to greet whatever happened with a joyful smile, eyes shining, hair floating on the breeze. A storm goddess with nature's symbols protecting her, spinning entities of crimson, emerald and gold. She never deigned to look her way, so focused was she on her own supernatural display. Quietly sighing, eyes never leaving the bewitching figure, she slowly took her now cold hand off the car.
Feeling shameful, her cheeks heating up due to watching this woman again without even introducing herself. She forced herself to drag her eyes away. As she lowers herself into the car she feels her stomach tug and she's quick to reassure herself that it was due to some bad food choices and not because she had started falling for someone whom she'd never actually met.
Waverly had seemed even more magical the next time she saw her, when she finally worked up the courage to actually talk to her. That day...
She woke suddenly, hissing and then inhaling fiercely. Her brain felt blocked, hazy, unable to think except for pain. Omnipresent agony was a powerful distraction.
Her jaw ached. She could feel the swelling pushing up underneath her eye. The entire right side of her face was radiating so much blistering heat that she'd be surprised if there wasn't smoke expanding outwards. She was vaguely aware of a taste of blood but unable to comprehend anything except for the aching harsh pain. Not just in her mouth but her back, stomach, ribs... there wasn't really anywhere that it didn't hurt. Her entire body throbbed to an incessant miserable beat.
Deep breaths.
Through her nose - she didn't dare to let the cold air on her delicate wounds. After several minutes she felt a little calmer. Not yet ready for a full assault on her senses she kept her eyes closed. She notes the cold concrete floor beneath her and a slight breeze behind her. To test her feeble body, she attempts to lift an arm. It twitches weakly but it seems restricted. Anxiously she braces herself, cracks open her eyelids and exposes her unfamiliar eyes to the harsh glow. Immediately regretting this as the light burns on contact, she quickly closes them again.
Shortly she tries again, stubbornly determined, albeit slower and less confident. Eyes watering and partially closed, she takes in her immediate surroundings - plain, grimy grey walls and floor. Knowing the risk for her already damaged sight she nonetheless quickly glances higher. She makes out the windows which seem despairingly far away yet still manage to allow the hateful beaming sunlight in to torment her. Not noticing much of interest she gratefully looks down and observes that she is wearing a police seemed right but she could not remember why. Her sluggish mind tried to grasp at wisps of her earlier dream but this seemed to only aggravate the throbbing in her head. Trying a different approach she endeavored to move her arms once more but they were prevented by something behind her. A little logic leaked passed by the pain allowing her to work out the facts and conclude that she was tied up. To have any chance of escape she needed to see more of the room that she was currently lying in.
This was going to hurt.
She tried to pump herself up.
I'm a cop I should be strong...right?
She tries again.
I stop bad guys so I must be a bad ass.
That was better, maybe a bit dorky but it helped.
She takes another shaky breath. Attempts to give it her best shot.
Montherfuckermotherfuckermotherfucker...
She almost passes out. Spots burst out in front of her vision, increasing in number as a high pitched ringing noise invades her hearing, blocking out the constant audible, painful pulse vibrating through her body for just a few moments.
It takes her five more tries to sit up. Four more to shift herself around the pillar that she's been tied to. Countless excruciating deep breaths before the room stops shaking and her vision returns to normal. Gingerly she leans her head back against the pillar. The door before her looked depressingly solid, its thick steel mocking her.
Was that how she was brought in?
A tidal wave of pain crashes through her head, bringing with it disjointed memories, possibly dreams, she wasn't sure of anything in her current state. Certain information and images stood out.
What were those sinister red eyed creatures?
Purgatory had some strange goings on but demons?
It was a small town, the kind where everyone talks. She had heard some strange stories but she had always dismissed them as dark legends meant to scare children and entertain drunks.
They couldn't possibly be real...
...and who was that mysterious woman she felt drawn to?
Noise from the other side of the door interrupted her puzzled musings.