Chapter 9: But Rest Not.
Thank you all for the great support guys! The debates and ideas brighten my day. Massive thanks to Major Session, the guy is pure magic!
Taylor held her breath as the bell rattled out its final cry for the day. She snatched her bag from under her desk, wincing as it caught, sticky residue adhering it to on the floor. Soft drinks of all walks, dry and stick like nothing else short of super-glue. Taylor bit her lip as the bag as she carefully peeled her bag off the floor, letting out a relieved sighed when nothing ripped.
Without looking back, Taylor left the classroom and turned left, heading towards the Locker, side stepping slower students, ignoring the dirty looks they shot her.
The school was unable to find her a replacement locker in 'such a short time frame' and they were 'terribly sorry,' but she would have to deal with previous one. Taylor snorted at this. It was more likely the administration simply forget she existed after a lawsuit failed to appear for the Locker incident and simply pulled an excuse out of thin air.
Reaching her locker, Taylor did her best to stop herself trembling as she reached towards the dial. Grabbing the dial, she spun the combination as fast as she could, desperate to get away. Still, she did note the door appeared shiny, new. That… that was something at least, she supposed.
Opening the door, Taylor could feel the wet rot, taste bile creeping up her throat, the fetid stench burning her nose, the insects biting and…
It was… It was clean. Exactly the same as it had been before… before Emma had ruined it. Taylor had been back at Winslow for two days and found the vandalism, her absence, and stories circulating… They knew she'd been shoved in there! They knew and absolutely nothing had changed! The Teachers still stared with empty eyes, students still clung to their cliques and ignored her, belittled her, gang members and wannabes still strutted and hissed at each other with pocket knives and empty threats. Worst of… Worst of all though, Sophia, Emma, and Madison still ruled with soft words and hidden claws.
The first day back was filled with not-whispers and mocking stares.
"Heard she went to get an abortion."
"Who sleep with her? That's disguising."
"She was better off staying home, she has no idea..."
"I can't help feel sorry for her, she's just so pathetic."
Taylor could… Taylor could deal with this. Her classmates where amateurs compared to the true pros.
The not-whispers had carried on the next day too. So, here she was, trying to get out before…
"Hey Taylor, how you feeling?" A bright cherry voice said from behind her.
Taylor slammed the locker shut as fast as she could, spinning to press her back to the metal. She had to keep it closed. She couldn't… couldn't open the door. They… They would…
"I am sooo sorry about what happened. Don't worry though; I'm sure somewhere someone else has fallen into their locker!" Emma said, now standing right in front of Taylor. The girl's tone was sympathetic, verging on sugary; but Taylor could hear the laughter in her voice, the mocking derision. A giggle came from beside Taylor and she turned her head slowly, eyes wide and panicked.
"Really, Taylor? What kind of idiot gets trapped into one of those tiny things anyways? Maybe you would've, like, been able to get out if you didn't store your trash in there." Madison said mockingly and loudly as she played twirled one her pig tails about her a finger. The flow of traffic in the hall slowed as on lookers slowed to watch the 'drama.' Taylor just pushed herself backwards into the metal door, trying desperately to both escape and keep it closed
"I didn't." Taylor muttered, her body pushed as hard as she could against the Locker, willing, begging it to stay closed. She knew who would be next and the pain that would follow.
"I heard that she tried to blame someone else." The voice was more powerful, not louder, but it had a certain edge to it that carried it over the crowd. Sophia stepped forward from behind Emma, completing the triangle and hemming Taylor in. Sophia's athletic build granted her a bit of height over most of their classmates, but while Taylor was skinny, she made up for in inches, standing taller still than even Sophia, most of the Seniors even. From behind her glasses Taylor glared at Sophia. She felt her hand curl into a grip, the feeling of power rushing…
Taylor let out a shuddering breath and pushed the Keyblade away with her mind.
Not now. This was the worst place she could summon it. If she drew it now, she'd be the aggressor, the violent parahuman, the Villain attacking school girls.
Sophia saw the breath and smirked.
"Nervous, Hebert? I wonder why? It's not like you'd do a stupid thing like trying to snitch to the authorities that we pushed you into the locker,right?" She said with a mock shocked tone, which was abruptly dropped as Sophia took a step closer.
"Because that would be a real fucking stupid thing to do and then to come back here, like nothing happened. Like it couldn't happen again." Sophia said, her voice low and harsh.
Taylor gulped. Again? No. No! The smell, the stench… they were still nibbling!
As her breathing raced, Taylor saw Emma grin from the corner of her eye. Forcefully slowing her breathing with the exercises she'd leant to control her temper, Taylor managed to drive the images away, to feel a little calmer. Then breathing deeply, she stood up, straightening her back to make herself taller, trying to be calm, confident. To fell that surety she felt whenever the Keybalde was in her hand. It helped she was almost half a head taller than Sophia like this.
"Please, move." Taylor said more calmly than she felt. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to recall that feeling in the Doll House. When she was wearing her goggles and hoody. When she was a Cape, a Hero! Where she had friends and she was untouchable. The feeling didn't jump out at her and fill her with confidence. However, the memory did make the knot in her stomach loosen, the memories fade, the trio go from unbearable to something she could manage.
When she opened her eyes again Emma had stopped grinning and Madison had taken a step back. Taylor hadn't exactly lain down and let them walk over her before, but neither had she ever directly confronted them, ever fought back, especially against Sophia.
The black girl didn't attack, but her eyes narrowed.
"Move? What's this Hebert? You think 'cause you got out of that box, that you're a badass? That you're a survivor?" Sophia said with a mocking laugh in her voice, but no smile appeared. Suddenly Sophia's hand shot out and grabbed Taylor by the collar, pushing her back into the locker hard,hard enough to make the new door rattle. There was a faint 'hiss' as Madison stepped closer and handed Sophia a can, an energy drink, a can of Bull Wings.
Now Sophia smiled.
"Well, you did get out somehow, so how about a drink to celebrate?" Sophia said mockingly as she tipped it over Taylor's head.
Taylor froze, terrified as the liquid touched her… sloshing about her feet, sticky, stinking dark… The liquid stung her scalp and as she felt her eye begin to burn she quickly snapped them shut. It was too late though and they burned and her scalp stung and it was sticky and tasted bad and it went on and on and on…
What seemed like hours later the can Taylor felt no more falling on her head. Opening her watering eyes she saw Sophia give her a mocking salute before thrusting the empty can it into Taylor's hands. Laughter came from everywhere and Madison's particular high pitch giggles seem to rise above them all, cutting to her bone.
"Welcome back Hebert." Sophia said mockingly.
Taylor held still as the crowd dispersed. Through the glaze of the drink and her watering eyes she watched the last of the crowd disperse till the hallway was empty.
Then she cried.
As Taylor stepped off the bus, she ignored the looks at her matted hair and damp clothes. She quickly started walking towards the less populated streets. This place looked different during the day, more welcoming but unfamiliar. Taylor wasn't sure she could find the right building.
After getting lost a few times, and beginning to feel desperate she found the right building, recognizing it by the odd graffiti of white castle and shooting star.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as Taylor nervously approached approached the stairs that lead down into Parian's studio.
Yesterday… Yesterday going home to Dad hadn't helped. He'd managed to secure some work for the Dockworker's association and was in such a good mood that Taylor just… She just couldn't tell him. Couldn't… Couldn't say it was already starting again. He'd even been humming as he cooked dinner.
He hadn't done that since Mom died.
She couldn't ruin that.
So, desperate Taylor had come to the only other place that had felt safe. She wanted to slap herself for doing this.
She had been here once, and even if Parian had offered, that didn't mean she could just barge in. Just as she started to turn away, the sky opened up and began to rain. Taylor looked up, the rain coming down in big, fat drops.
One of them hit her eye, slipping past her glasses. Blinking to clear it, the drop rolled down her cheek like a tear, the water soothing as it helped clear the drink from her face.
Maybe this was… not a sign but…
Pulling the last of her courage together, Taylor knocked on the door.
No answer. Taylor felt her breath become a little heavier, her eyes prickling from more than spilt soda.
She knocked again, louder. Parian didn't open the door. No one did.
Taylor felt her eyes water, real tears and not just rain threatening to spill down her cheeks again. Why did she come here? No… No one wanted her. No one would miss her. She turned away and took the steps two at a time, racing to get away and nearly knocked a girl with two bags of food over.
Taylor wobbled, but managed to catch her balance. The other girl wasn't so lucky.
Landing in a rapidly growing puddle, the girl glared up at her.
"Watch where you're going please, you could hurt someone like that, seriously if I was any closer you would knocked me clean on to my face." She snapped rapidly, then standing up she groaned as she took in her jeans.
"Now I'm soak and these were the new jeans." The smaller girl moaned. Something in the back of Taylor's mind was trying to tell her something, but Taylor ignored and nodded to the girl.
Fresh tears finally emerged as she spoke.
"I'm sorry, please, I'm sorry." Taylor croaked. The other girl blinked at her, the annoyance and anger replaced with shock.
"Key?" The girl said, her soft features of middle-eastern origin creasing into questioning look. Taylor lips trembled as she looked around.
"I don't see any, I'll help you look for it." Taylor said as she began to look for any metal on the ground. The older girl just waved her hand.
"No, I mean... never mind. Would you like to come in? Me and Mog were going to try make some pancakes." The girl said gently. Taylor, still looking for the key, nodded absentlly, then froze in the rain.
"Mog?" Taylor whispered. The other girl set the bags down on the ground and approached Taylor.
"Yes, we really need to get you a phone, and a cape name. I need something to call you by in public, but for now, um, my name is Sabah." The girl, Parian, said with smile, her hair dripping slightly as the rain settled in. Taylor looked at her from head to foot. Comparing the girl to Parian in her mind, side by side.
The right height, roughly, but everything else was so different. The blonde curls to the black straight hair, the white doll mask in comparison to the darker tones, the dark color scheme compared to Parian's royal blue.
It was a damn good costume.
"Sabah." Taylor tried out the name to herself. It was too late now to reach in and get her hoodie and goggles, especially since Par-Sabah had gone out her way to reassure Taylor by revealing her secret identity first.
"Taylor, my name is Taylor." She returned with a watery smile.
"Syrup or chocolate?" Sabah offered as Taylor fidgeted in a slightly tight pair of jeans and t-shirt with the Eiffel tower on it. Sabah had brought Taylor inside and after taking one look at the mess she was, had politely offered Taylor after a shower, which Taylor had initially declined out of shyness. Sabah had just looked at her before Taylor changed her mind slipped inside with towel.
Spare clothes had been left outside the door. Sabah's probably had a large collection, and this was probably one of her largest shirts, but as Taylor pulled down the t-shirt as it rode up again, she had to think that large for Sabah was still not that large.
Walking back through the small hallway that led to the bathroom and laundry had returned Taylor to the main studio, where a corner had been dedicated to small kitchen that she'd missed last time amidst the clutter. The smell of pancakes cooking brought a sense of comfort and made Taylor feel more at ease. Boco 'warked' at her happily as she re-entered the room. Taylor grinned and scratched under his beak earning a pleased warble.
Leaving Boco to his nest Taylor sat down on the armchair again, she felt herself relax as the feeling of being clean finally settled in. A plate of pancakes was placed on the still cluttered coffee table before her along with various bottles of toppings balanced amidst the cuttings. A bowl of blue berries had quickly joined them, sitting atop a discarded note-pad.
"Thank you." Taylor said gratefully, the food, the shower and the kindness that Sabah had shown her was beyond anything she had expected.
"It's no probelm, I haven't tried to make pancakes before so I accidentally made too much, so it's good you're here." Sabah said, taking a seat on the couch opposite her. Mog floated over to the older girl, curiosity practically radiating off him.
This was… almost exactly like two nights ago. Had a really only so few? Her secret identity had barely lasted two days, but… Taylor didn't really mind. Sabah had done nothing but help her and show her kindness she thought people no longer capable of. Taylor smiled as Sabah poured golden syrup over her own share of the fluffy food.
"You want to tell me what happened?" Sabah said casually as she cut her food. Taylor paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. She swallowed, eyes closing for a moment as the sticky feeling ghosted across her head. Raising her fork fully she took her mouth full and chewed slowly, hoping the other girl would drop it. Sabah just wited though, chewing her own food while watching Taylor.
"Not really, but… If I don't… I… You, you won't think less of me, will…" Taylor began before trailing off.
Sabah frowned. "Of course not. Is, um, everything okay at home?"
Taylor nodded, then shook her head because her home wasn't okay. She loved her dad but he just wouldn't understand. He had his own problems and… and he hadn't been there when she neededhim.
"No. It's not but, it's okay. The problem is school. I can't tell Dad, he's got his own problems and so I just keep bottling it up and I can't… I can't keep going or I'll end up screaming. It was easierbefore, because I didn't have powers. Now, every time something happens I need to stop myself from waving the Keyblade in their face to make them back off. To just, leave me alone." Taylor said honestly. Sabah looked at her with worry in her eyes, but waited for her to continue.
"Just ramble, kupo, it helps me." Mog chimed in, Sabah smiled in agreement. Taylor paused then slowly nodded.
"I can try that." She said drawing in a deep breath, trying to push back the pain. Pulling her legs up, Taylor curled up into the chair, hugging herself as she began to speak.
"I go to Winslow high school. It's okay I guess, if you keep your head down, but I don't really get the choice. There's these girls..."
The report was still open in the background. If Dragon had a lip, she would bite it. The director was explicit in her orders, keep the report quiet and keep it contained.
It had been sometime since her order and the report was slowly filed under new numbers and names.
What was once "T.H, W.H.S, S.S," was now labled "01001011 01101001 01101110 01100111 01100100 01101111 01101101 00100000 01001000 01100101 01100001 01110010 01110100 01110011 00001101 00001010" by the PRT automated email services, proxy servers, copy and pasted by various upper employees and even one printed and faxed copy. While it may technically be following the Director's order, it was a direct violation of the spirit of those orders.
Her programming hummed in the back of her mind rather loudly, the shackles her father had bound her with warning her about pushing her luck in their own way.
Director Piggot's order had been exactly about the report she submitted. So after a few tentative attempts, she'd found the re-filed report was not limited by her actions
With a smirk that was nothing more than code and yet too real for herself, Dragon began to send out a call.
"...I just can't do this anymore." Taylor said bleakly into her knees, curled into herself, arms wrapped around her knees and her pancakes long cold. Sabah had moved sometime in her rant, now Taylor saw her new friend sat on arm of her chair one arm wrapped around Taylor's shoulders comfortingly.
"Shh, it's okay Taylor." Sabah said softly, her grip tightening around Taylor in support.
"You don't deserve any of that crap those animals did to you. The fact your school's done nothing just infuriates me." Sabah said with heat in her voice. Mog, sitting on the edge of the coffee table, nodded seriously.
"I have half the mind to go over there with Boco and give them a taste of the mighty Deathblow!" he said with a huff, his pom-pom bobbling furiously. Taylor just nodded, she didn't trust herself to speak at that moment, it all just felt so raw, it hurt and yet there was someone who cared.
Sabah frowned before she brightened.
"Just come here after school when it gets bad. I already know you're a cape, so there's one stress gone and you just trusted me enough to tell me about those... people. You don't have to hide anything here. I can even pick you up if you like? In plain clothes of course, it's been awhile since I drove my car anywhere but the Doll House or to the shops. But you shouldn't forget about your Dad, he might need to know these things." Sabah said with conviction, her voice energetic. Taylor smiled as the other girl kept talking, trying to convince her coming here was good idea.
Because Taylor didn't need any convincing.
"I would love that." Taylor whispered. Sabah stopped listing the amount Taylor would save on bus fares, and blinked.
A smile spread over her face.
"I haven't had a friend in a long time, guess I went a bit over board." Sabah said with embarrassment. Mog shook his head.
"You two are worse than a pair of young Moggies, kupo." He said as he floated up and over to Boco. Sabah stood up with a huff.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sabah asked, hands on hips. Mog waved an arm as he landed on Boco's back.
"All awkward and dramatic, kupo." He said with a dramatic sigh of his own. Taylor uncurled herself a bit and grinned a little.
"You aren't any older than us right?" Taylor asked generally curious. Mog snuggled into Boco'a neck ruff, setting his pom into a comfortable place.
"Not a day over 800." He boasted. Sabah and Taylor waited for Mog to laugh or wave his words away, but when his soft snoring began to carry over, they looked at each other.
"Do you think he was..." Taylor said uncertainly.
Sabah shook her head weakly. "No way."
However, she didn't sound confident. Taylor almost said something when her eyes landed on a digital clock.
9.32 PM
Oh fuck.
"Dad!" Taylor cried and launched herself to her feet. Sabah fell back in surprise and noticed the time. She quickly waved Taylor towards the kitchen.
"Use the phone, I can't believe we got so carried away, it's so late!" Sabah cried as Taylor dialed.
Waiting nervously, Taylor fidgeted with her shirt again, trying to pull it back down. It still kept riding up.
"Hebert residence." The voice of Taylor's father, Danny, came from the phone. He sounded worried and tired. She'd… she'd made him worry.
Swallowing Taylor began nervously. "Hey Dad."
Taylor sat up in a panic on Sabah's couch as she looked around at unfamiliar surroundings, which quickly passed as the fog of sleep left her. Groaning she looked at the digital clock nearby.
3.10 PM.
Danny had been more than a little worried. After a lot of reassurance and promises of not giving him any more heart attacks, Taylor's father had been both worried and surprised when Taylor said she was at a friend's house due to the bad weather and just got carried away talking all night. Not that Taylor blamed him; she hadn't exactly mentioned Sabah yesterday.
The whole cape thing put a real wrinkle in casual conversation.
Her Dad had offered to pick her up, but he sounded exhausted after his shift at the Docks, they both knew he wasn't exactly 100% when he was done working. Taylor had given him Sabah's street address and number in exchange for staying the night. He wasn't happy, but he wasn't angry either.
The rain had reached such intensity that Taylor could hear it pelting off the windows. It was the last noise Taylor remembered hearing before she'd drifted off to sleep.
Now the rain had stopped and there was a new sound coming through the studio's windows.
Screaming.
With a rush Taylor flung herself out of the warm cocoon of her make shift bed. A last frantic scream pierced the air.
Taylor had already gotten her hoodie and goggles on as Sabah came through the door in a robe. Mog and Boco stood near a window trying to peak out.
"Taylor? What's going on?" Sabah asked nervously as the night went quiet. Taylor slid up to the door and opened it a crack.
"I don't know, but I'm going to check. Someone could have had an accident." Taylor said quietly. Sabah nodded.
"I'll go get changed, don't go far. If you see a Cape, just turn and run." She said over her shoulder as she vanished back into the bedroom away from Taylor's line of view.
"Kupo, be careful. If things get hot, then we'll come give you a hand, kupo, but we'll guard the studio in case it's a trick." Mog said as he urged Boco higher up to get a better view of the street.
"No problem, wish me luck." Taylor said nervously, her stomach tightening.
Mog turned to her and said seriously before Taylor slipped out the door. "You are a Keyblade Master, kupo, you don't need luck, just think what's important to you."
Taylor wanted to believe him, but a little luck would be nice too.
The cold air seeped into her clothes the moment she closed the door.
Pushing her discomfort aside she climbed the stone steps, wincing every time she hit a puddle.
The street look abandoned at this time, threatening almost.
A noise caught Taylor's attention down the road. Half walking and half crouching Taylor moved closer.
A side ally to a small business, hidden from Sabah's front door, appeared as Taylor closed the distance between herself and the door. Feeling everything in her body stopped as she held her breath, she peered around the corner.
The sight that greeted her wasn't what she was expecting in the slightest.
A man, from what she could see, was on his back, trying to shuffle away from a dark figure that was idly strolling towards him. The man was poorly dressed, all the clothes the wrong size, worn, and dirty. His broken, yellow teeth chattering, possibly from the cold or, more likely, fear. His greasy salt and pepper hair was now slick and shiny from the puddles beneath, the water mixing with the blood leaking from an arrow in his shoulder to leave a red trail behind him.
The figure however seemed almost too clean for the ally. Her heavy, coat seem to shimmer in the street lights, some kind of urban camo. There was a brief flash, the metal of her crossbow briefly reflecting light from a bulb across street as she swung her the weapon up to aim directly at his face. The figures dominate color was black and it suited her, the armor beneath the cloak revealed her identity though.
Shadow Stalker of the Brockton Bay Wards had just fired a lethal arrow into a clearly defenseless man. Well, from what Taylor could see anyway. She supposed he could be a cape with dangerous powers but then, why wasn't he using them? Still, Taylor hung back, not wanting to spook the Ward. The last thing she wanted right now was an autographed arrow in her shoulder too.
The scar might be neat though.
Shadow Stalker put on black boot on the mans chest and pushed him to ground, making him grunt in pain.
"Now, I'll ask again, who is the Yellow Blur?" Shadow Stalker said threateningly, stepping forward and shifting her crossbow to press on the arrow in the man's shoulder.
The man yelped and shook his head.
"I dun' know! I was just told to keep an eye out in this 'ere area. That's all ya' crazy bitch!" He yelled, spittle flying in panic. Shadow Stalker shook her head slowly.
"So the Merchant's just sent you to watch a random street? Yeah, I believe that." Shadow Stalker said sarcastically. Shifting her aim Shadow Stalker fired. A gout of blood erupting from the man's hand. He howled, writhing as he tried to cradle his hand without moving his shoulder.
Taylor gasped, her mouth falling open at the sheer brutality at the scene before her.
This… This wasn't... This wasn't what Heroes did. This was wrong on so many levels.
"Feeling like talking now?" Shadow Stalker said, ignore the man's weeping as she kicked him in the side. "Talk!"
Shadow Stalker was torturing a man about Boco? Taylor knew that new Capes were snatched up pretty fast by various powers, but was this how they found them? This was how the Protectoraterecruited people?! Digging out what information they could find with torture?
Shadow Stalker kicked him again, forcing onto his side where the man curled up whimpering. Slowly, the Ward reloaded her crossbow, the fresh arrow seeming unnaturally bright in the light.
"I might shoot you again, just for wasting my time." The masked girl said with derision.
Taylor had the Keyblade out in record time.
"Enough! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Taylor managed to kept herself from screaming, her voice instead came out pissed. The crossbow was pointing at her before Taylor could react.
"Who the hell are you?" Shadow Stalker said loudly. Taylor felt her throat dry up as the sharp arrow was now facing her.
"Does it matter? I know who you are. Why is one the Wards torturing people?" Taylor demanded, her grip tightening on the Keyblade. Shadow Stalker took a moment to look at the injured man. Her scoff was loud and clear.
"This piece of trash has so many needle holes that any humanity fell out. He's nothing, useless trash, and you still haven't answered me. Who thefuck are you?" The cape repeated, her tone lowering into a threatening growl.
Taylor was torn. Her view on heroes wasn't the romantic one she'd had when she was 10. Taylor knew there were real people behind the masks now. People with hopes and fears of their own… But this? This was sick. So, naturally, being upset with Shadow Stalker, Taylor felt the words slip out her mouth without any input from her brain.
"I'm security for Parian, her private home is near here." Taylor said, shocking herself. What the hell was she saying? Shadow Stalker didn't seem impressed.
"You're a Cape? Working for another... Rogue Cape?" Shadow Stalker's tone implying there was another word she had in mind for Parian. Taylor bit back her retort, an angry a defense of Parian, her brain finally catching up with her mouth. No need to over share after all.
"What of it?" Taylor asked icily, every second spent in Shadow Stalker's presence made her more likely to attack her, the other Cape disgusted her.
Shadow Stalker shook her head.
"Sorry, it's just hard to be threatened by a kid in jeans and goggles. You work for the super fashion girl and you look like that? Right, of course you work for Parian." She said, clearly amused by her own logic. Taylor felt her temper flare. This girl was just so infuriating.
"Well at least I'm not out torturing people cause I'm sick in the head." Taylor spat. Shadow Stalker's amused posture abruptly vanished.
"What did you say to me?" The Ward said quietly. Taylor had a strange sense of déjà vu. Where had she… No, she didn't have time right now. Shaking her head Taylor spread her arms, trying to resolve this peacefully. It was somewhat risky with an arrow pointed at her though.
"This street is neutral territory of any cape stupidity. You want to beat up people who can't fight back? Do it somewhere else. I'll still report you, but at least I don't have to be near you." Taylor said, reigning in her temper. Shadow Stalker didn't seem to want to follow suit and fired an arrow at Taylor's foot.
The arrow missed, but the air suddenly sky rocketed in tension.
"You do not get to tell me what I can do, I'm the fucking Hero and you are nothing." Shadow Stalker snarled. Taylor raised the Keyblade and pointed it at Shadow Stalker.
Taylor lowered her arms, grasping the Keybalde with both hands as she shifted into a guard position.
"You're not a hero, you're just another fucked up bully." She said with venom. The other capes response was an arrow aimed for her chest. Taylor, trusting her memories, rolled backwards and ended of the side walk on the other end of the street.
Looking up, she narrowly avoided a face full of crossbow as Shadow Stalker wielded it like a club.
Another roll gave her space.
"You run a lot for someone who was talking trash a minute ago." Shadow Stalker mocked.
Taylor grunted as she suddenly rolled forward into the other cape, she felt her body collide with Shadow Stalker's legs before the resistance vanished as the girl in black turned completely incorporeal, then the dark mist chased her.
Shadow Stalker had become a Stalking Shadow. Appropriate, Taylor thought. Shadow Stalker turned solid again with a snarl. A fresh arrow flew at her, and without thinking Taylor raised her Keyblade and knocked it aside with the blade of her weapon, the angle perfectly in lined with the arrow.
The arrow clattered under a car and into darkness.
"How many arrows you got left? Or did you use them all on the homeless?" Taylor taunted, the battle filling her veins with fire. Shadow Stalker went shadowy again and race at her and Taylor swung the Keyblade at her, the Keyblade passed through her like jello, but the shadowy mist suddenly overshot Taylor and reformed back to human shape as Shadow Stalker rolled a few times along the road.
Coughing Shadow Stalker glared at Taylor.
"The hell was that? The fuck did you do to me?" She demanded, pain fueling her anger. Taylor didn't truthfully know the answer. A flash of white caught Taylor's eye and she saw Parian, fully costumed, with a mobile phone to her mask.
The cavalry was on its way. Now to keep the bitch occupied.
"What's the matter? Can't handle playing rough? I thought you said you were the Hero and that I was nothing?" Taylor gloated, feeling the words come out far easier than she was comfortable with. Shadow Stalker rose to her feet and was about to speak before her head snapped to the side.
Then she turned into her shadow state as a car passed through the air she was just in. It crashed loudly and many of the houses around them blinked their lights on.
Taylor snapped her head to the side as a figure in a red and black robe, blonde hair flowing out an opening at the back, floated along the street on chunk of rock. A phone booth hovered nearby along with a small cloud of more rocks.
"Well, well, well and here I thought tonight was going to be pointless, but I guess it won't be so bad." Her voice sounded young, younger than Taylor's at least, but since she'd met Madison that didn't count for much really.
Another voice called out from behind the robed girl. A man in a white tiger mask kneeled down over the side of the floating platform.
"They don't look like much, but Stalker over there smells like blood. Could be a fun" He said as he flexed his hands, several ripples in the air danced around his fingers like blades.
"Ah fuck me." Shadow Stalker said under her breath.
Taylor was inclined to agree.
- Secret ¥#...% Report: 6
This world is an anomaly.
Where any other would break under its own despair, this one yearns on.
Sinking deeper into its own eclipse.
What little I can interact with is most promising.
This world, Earth, is completely cut off from both light and darkness. No path of travel with either is possible.
I would of claimed nonsense so long ago.
Darkness alone is absolute.
The evidence stares at me regardless, however.
All of our research into the heart and its depths would of surely be hastened if such a place was within our grasp.
For the worlds people emit darkness like no other. Yet it calls no creature to feast upon it.
But where does their hearts go? I have seen the people's hearts just fade away.
The darkness does not claim it.
The heartless do not eat it.
Yet they fly with purpose.
Where does ones heart go if it cannot go to Kingdom Hearts?