The Queen of Darkness
Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel Properties. I make no money, please do not sue me! Please review, and enjoy. I only claim Janice Neck't and other Original Characters.
" " = Talking
' ' = Thinking
# # = Special Action or Sound
NOTE: I found the PERFECT soundtrack for Janice: Her Theme Music shall be; Nox Arcana "Night of the Wolf" Have a listen to it as she Falls into Darkness and sneaks around! I stumbled upon in on Youtube!
Chapter 29: Dark News
MUR SAFEHOUSE, MONDAY MORNING, 3:17 AM
I re-emerged from Darkness, next to the frightned girl. It was pitch black for her. Quietly I said "It's all right. You've just been freed by the Mutant Underground Railroad."
The girl frinched at the unexpected sound of my voice, but made no effort to move away, as she sat on the hard cement floor. it was then that I could see her left ankle was not right. It was puffed up three times it's normal size! I sucked in a breath, and said "Oh, your ankle! I didn't see it at first…"
Finally she said something. It was in a Californian accent, and tinged with real pain "H-how come I can't see?"
I answered her honestly "The lights are all off, sweetie. I'll turn them on for you, alright. It's OK. You're safe with us. I teleported you out of there fight after I cut the power to their Evil Machinery."
The girl was still afraid. Understandable, really. I carefully moved to the wall, and turned on one light. I was very glad to have had Allen put in a dimmer switch throughout the safehouse. Once on, and she could see, I very gently turned it up a bit, so that it would not hurt her eyes.
That done, I turned to her and introduced myself "I am The Queen Of Darkness. I am the Conductor for this Chapter of the Mutant Underground Railroad. I shall go upstairs, and fetch both an ice-pack and a fellow mutant like us, to aid you. Alright?"
The new girl said "Yes. Please." She kept still, to avoid agravating the twisted ankle.
Once upstairs, I called out "Hello the house!? It is I, the Queen!"
Sir Shade AND Statue came out of the same bedroom, looking sweaty and not sleepy at all! My, my! If I did not have my Johnny, I would have been jealous. As it was, I was rather touched, and smiled my approval. Grave Girl came in from the outside, where she kept her 'friends'.
I quietly told them what had happened in the shortest way I could. Statue grabbed a first aid kit before I was even done, and Sir Shade began making something for the new girl to eat.
Grave Girl quietly said "I'll gladly share a room with with her, and see to her needs, Majesty. It's the least I can do."
I nodded and thanked her politely. Then thanked Sir Shade, with an honest "Good choice." as I saw what he was preparing for the new girl. Statue came up the stairs, carrying the new girl. I told Statue of Grave Girl's kind offer, and went with Grave Girl as we prepared a bed for the new arrival.
Texting Johnny, I let him know the score, in code, of course. Reading his relieved responce, I was free to tend to other matters. It was time to find out just whom I had rescued.
The girl was layed out on the lower bed, as Statue was making her as comfortable as possible, while Grave Girl came in with the now activated ice-pack. With care the two women began treatment of the girl. When she was finally taken care of, and her injuries were cleaned, iced and bandaged, I stepped into the room from the doorway.
"Greetings, my dear. I am the Queen of Darkness, and this is the First Safe House. You are safe here and we will care for you as best as we us, dear, what name that you want us to call you by."
The girl looked at me and said "Um, hi. I'm Caroline. Call me Carol, please. I didn't even know that I was...you know..."
I finished for her "A mutant. We are all mutants here. It's perfectly fine to say it, when you are more comfortable. In the mean time, please tell us what your Mutant Power is."
The girl, Carol, looked ambivilant about being called a mutant, but said "I...I turn into a shadow. I can't really describe it better. I just...become a living shadow. I don't know how to control it, though. It just happened last night at work. I wasn't feeling quite right, and just, sort of...faded. I could see better, but in black and white, shades of gray really...That's when Jenny, my witchy boss saw me and screamed! I always hated her! That witch! I felt so scared, I couldn't turn back for anything! So I ran away. Well, flew, since I wasn't solid to be running on the ground, I guess. Anywho…#sigh#...I became solid at the WORST possible moment. A pair of police cruisers were parked nearby and the cops saw me. That was my last taste of freedom. I...I don't wanna talk about they did to me, OK? It's just too much, right now..."
I waved away her concerns. "No matter, my dear. We'll listen when you are ready to talk. We'll have to come up with a mutant name for you, so that if you are seen in your shadow form, we don't out you further by using the name 'Carol'. Understood?"
She nodded and looked up when Sir Shade came in with the food. I needed to be on my way. Seeing Carol being well cared for, I simply told the others to take good care of her, and that I will be back with a grocery run later, perhaps at sundown. With that, I Fell into Darkness…
JANICE'S SECRET HOME, BAYVILLE, MONDAY MORNING, 4:01 AM
I re-emerged from Darkness, and began working on the files that I had photographed. I had to write a cover letter telling the Editor that I was granting an Exclusive, but if he sat on the story, then I would move on to his competition.I had outlined the information, and mentioned the contributions from certain persons and the Police Unions in the area. Ditto the weapons.
Finished with the work, and having put everything on a fresh data key (a cheap 4 GB model), and I was Falling into Darkness...
A DAILY NEW YORK NEWSPAPER, MONDAY MORNING, 5:07 AM
I re-emerged in the bulding, inside a broom closet. Checking the offices with my Power, i am glad that I did NOT try to simply go straight to the editor's desk. He looks busy already! I decided to brazen it out and pretend to just be a messenger. Using my Powers, I located, and got a 'Bicycle Delivery Person' suit (female, of course), with gloves, and put it on. I was still a little disheveled from the earier activites, so I even looked the part.
Once the coast was clear, I stepped out and walked to the Editor's Office. Seeing the door open, I stepped in and dropped off the envelope. The Editor had a mustasche that reminded me of Hitler, and silver streaks on each side through his hair, while chomping on a cigar.
Smiling, I said "Here you go, Sir. Early by six minutes!"
He looked at me for a second, then did a double-take at my chest, and smiled. However, I had to go, and pretended not to notice the various men's attentions...Except for a young photographer, who (I swear) looked at me with alarm, then suspicion! Weirdo. Probably never does anything special in HIS life, so he is a sourpuss. He probably NEVER even cracks a one liner! Oh well, I go to the Ladies Room and when It is empty for a moment, I just shut off the lights and Fall into Darkness…
THE NECK'T FAMILY HOME, MONDAY MORNING, 6:03 AM
I arrived in my closet and am totally exhausted! My Father is comming in, so I call out to him…
"In the closet, Father, picking out my outfit…"
My Father stopped at the threshold, probably looked in to see my bed empty. He answered
"Alright, Princess. Breaking of the Fast starts when you get down stairs."
"Thank you, Father. Tell Mother, and Jamal that I love them, and will be down soon."
Father left with my message on his lips.
I grabbed my bathrobe, and went down to break the Fast. And get coffee. Lots of coffee…
BAYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, LUNCH ROOM, LUNCH PERIOD, MONDAY, 12:17 PM
I was an exhausted wreck. Johnny wasn't much better off.
I gave the excuse of nightmares keeping me awake "The Brotherhoodlums and the Instituted Freaks were killing and torturing the whole school! Predictably, even as she was being butchered, The Robot still wouldn't scream...She just tried to send them to the Office as they lopped off her head...You DID ask why I couldn't sleep!"
Mindy had the grace to say "Sorry I did...eww…"
Johnny said he had 'Romantic' dreams about me all night, and that was HIS reason for not sleeping.
THE NECK'T FAMILY HOME, MONDAY EVENING, 6:27 PM
I was a wreck due to a lack of sleep. Even though I had used my Power to have a bottomless tumbler of coffee, i was done. I did my homework-sort of, and said that I was going to bed early.
"I need my beauty sleep, for Johnny, after all…"
My family smiled at that one, and bade me good night. I do NOT remember even getting to my room, nevermind into bed.
BAYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, LUNCH ROOM, LUNCH PERIOD, TUESDAY, 12: 34 PM
I had a WONDERFUL amount of sleep, and I felt SO much better! I was able to make up for all of yesterdays acedemic blunders, and more! It was at lunch, however, that my day was REALLY made!
I could hear it on the lips of several students "The FOH has MILITARY weapons, near a SCHOOL!?" or "They have donations from the COPS?!" or "The Bayville FOH Leader has HOW much money!?"
Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus! The Daily New York Paper that I had leaked the dirt too, had come through! It seems that the paper in question never pulls a punch! Ever. Even if you are the Darling of the Editor, if you have a scandal, you WILL be front page news! So, for once, their headlines had NOTHING to do with a wallcrawling vigilante…
I say to my Minions and Minionettes "And too think: We had HELPED them!"
Looking concerned I added "Are we going to be in LEGAL trouble? They tricked us!"
They were NOT happy. I don't blame them, either.
Danny Carpenter, Mindy's boyfriend jumped in with "Yeah, with all the cash the leader had, we shoulda been PAID for bein' there!"
The others agreed, and I did not tell them, that being paid would have meant being INVOLVED. As in up to one's neck...All this I kept silent on, and just let them go sour on the Friends Of Humanity. That is what they did, whipping each other into a frenzy of resentment, and a bit of fear.
I just 'took solace' in Johnny's embrace. Johnny did not disappoint, either. I LOVE being heald in those big, strong, wonderfully well-muscled, masculine arms! #shiver#
THE NECK'T FAMILY HOME, TUESDAY EVENING, 5:57 PM
Supper was interesting. Father and Mother were after all that I knew of the FOH from my volunteering on Sunday. Jamal was paying rapt attention, as well, but let our parents ask all the questions.
I told them only that I felt that they tricked the volunteers, as they could have EASILY afforded to pay us! Also, that there were a few areas that we were told were 'Restricted Access', and as volunteers, would not be entering.
I told my parents "Can you imagine, MILITARY grade gear just a hundred yards from us volunteers! And we NEVER were given the SLIGHTEST clue! What if a FIRE broke out! Aren't bullets, and bombs really flamable?!"
I was NOT faking the outrage in my voice, as I got into it!
"By Anu's Grace, what IF something DID happen? I would have been clueless right up until that dump blew up in my face! I will NEVER go back there, EVER!"
Father and Mother agreed with that statement. I was now officially forbidden to voluteer there.
I nearly choked my family as I hugged them! I was so glad they were becomming perfect Minions! Not that I'd EVER admit that!
