Thank you SO MUCH everyone who has reviewed, favorited, followed, or even just read in passing. I appreciate each and every one of you! I know that a bunch of guests left comments and I read all of your reviews, every last one of them and if I did not respond, it's because I've been busy visiting colleges and have not really had the chance to go back and find them all in the trash heap that is my email inbox.
Special thanks to ehluvr3 for being such a sweetie! I just got your PM and it made my day!
Diclaimer: I own none of these characters, except a sassy slightly maniacal theatre technician and what few original ideas you can find in here.
Working as a light and sound technician for the local theatre had been just a way to pay for the necessities. Now that she had been offered an escape from the mundane activities of normal existence, her very own golden ticket to a life of excitement and thrills, she had packed up her equipment and hightailed it to New York. There, it had been one scare after another. Being a small town kind of girl, the pomp and flash of the big city had unnerved her, and she had to ask at least twelve people before she found the old building that the address on the card had lead to. She had just set foot in the entryway when a gloved hand grasped her wrist and pulled her through the door as it slammed shut.
The minute she had that hand grip her wrist, Harper began fighting, hissing and spitting like a wildcat when a voice that she supposed was connected to the disembodied hand whispered a word that immediately made her cease and she was immediately released. "Who are you?" She demanded of the darkness, as if glaring into the shadows would force them to give up their secrets. The hand merely gestured her to come closer. Yeah, no way Jose. I've seen what happens to those suckers in horror films. And I am not going to be the first five minutes of Supernatural! She grumbled in her head. But, if she didn't follow then she wouldn't get answers. And Lord knows, some of those would be pretty useful right about now. So, she squared her shoulders and breathing in, followed the hand into the dark.
The hand, which she now saw was indeed attached to a body, led her up a set of rickety stairs before stopping right outside of a door. The hand reached out, never saying a word, but she knew what he (it looked like a "he" at any rate) was asking for. She fished her card out of the back pocket of her baggy jeans and handed it over. Only then did the owner of the hand speak. "The World." It breathed. And there it was on the card, written in flawless calligraphy and decorated with a woman hovering over a planet, a staff in each hand, and surrounded by vines. She tried to gauge the persons reaction but he stayed in the shadows, thwarting her from see ing his face.
Suddenly he looked up at her, a hoodie shielding his face from view. "Are you ready?" He questioned. She looked from his darkened face to the apartment door and back. taking her card back from the offering hand, she nodded. "I have been." She couldn't tell but she could have sworn the person grinned. "Then on you go, Ms. Lee." And with that, the door swung open.
A day later, the rest of the recruits showed up. About damn time, Harper thought. The faceless man had told her that there would be others, she just had to be patient. Unfortunately, patience wasn't one of her virtues. She wasn't sure that she had any to be honest. Ah, well at least they showed up eventually, she told herself. Before my fiftieth birthday….
She could now hear voices on the staircase. They were trying to figure out how to open the door..Oh, shit she had forgotten to unlock the damn thing! She started chewing her nails. Wait, she had an epiphany. They're magicians right? They can just blow the door open or something… a click resounded throughout the still room. …or pick the lock. Well that was kind of a letdown. From her hiding place, she saw them enter. Her new "teammates". There was a pretty looking auburn haired woman, a self important looking mousy guy, a middle-aged guy with a crooked nose, and…oh.
The last one to walk in was attractive. REALLY attractive. In a, "devil-may-care" kind of way. He looked to be about her age, maybe a bit older and man, did he look confused. She smirked a bit at that. Yeah, looks don't take you too far in the brains department buddy. While she had been distracted, the others had found her little…surprise. She had gotten REALLY bored while holed up in the tiny room. She waited till the water had filled all the crevices in the pattern on the wood floor, then pressed the button for the dry ice. When one of them gasped, she heard mouse-guy say "It's just dry ice, I've seen it a thousand times." Still out of sight, she scowled towards him. Thanks killjoy. You must be a hoot at parties. Bet you've never seen this before though!
And with that, she pressed a series of buttons and knobs on her remote, causing the hologram that she, with the faceless man's instructions, had spent the past day programming. Sure enough, that impressed the magicians to her satisfaction. They gathered around, murmuring questions and compliments. But her eyes were on the youngest member of the group, watching for a reaction. He said nothing, only standing and staring in awe at her handiwork. She smiled to herself. She knew she was sufficient at lighting design and managing a stage but never had she been this satisfied at watching an audience react to her work. She mentally patted herself on the back and setting aside the remote, decided it was time for them to see her.
The light from the hologram bathed the magician's faces in a ethereal blue glow. Peering at the formations that floated inside the blue sphere, Merritt's normally quick wit was a bit slow in this situation. Daniel couldn't even pretend to act like he knew what was happening and Jack only gaped at the sight. Finally one of them said, "I wonder who did this?"
Henley remembered to breath out. "I don't know," She murmured. "But I'd sure like to meet them."
From behind her, a voice answered. "I did."
The four magicians all swung around, startled at knowing that they weren't alone. They were even more startled to see that the speaker was a rumpled looking young woman in baggy jeans, torn at the knees and a long sleeved black shirt. Her wavy dark hair was cropped short, giving her a boyish appearance. Her eyes regarded them curiously. She shoved her hands into her pockets and grinned halfheartedly. "Now you see me." The magicians continued to stare at the girl and Merritt could tell that she was uncomfortable with the attention.
He rediscovered the use of his vocal cords. "You did this? All of it?"
The girl nodded and scuffed the toe of her converse on the floor. "Well, I did most of it. The wood was carved up when I got here, I swear I didn't do that!" Merritt chuckled at that. "Okay, okay nobody's saying you did little bit." The girl glared at the nickname, though she looked slightly mollified that they weren't going to charge her for the floor. Until Daniel put his two cents in. "But how do we know she really did do that? How do we know that you're telling the truth and this isn't some sort of scam?" He frowned down at the young woman, ignoring Henley when she sang, "Control freak." under her breath. Keeping her face blank, the girl reached into her pocket for something and for a second they thought she was going to pull out a gun.
Instead she held up a remote control and pressed a few buttons. Immediately, the hologram was sucked into the device.
"Believe me now?" She glanced pointedly at Daniel who only glowered and went to stand by the window, muttering something about "smart-ass brats".
Henley chuckled and went to shake the girl's hand. "We're being awfully rude. I'm Henley Reeves, escape artist." She grinned. "And I think we're gonna get along just fine!" Putting her arm around the girl's shoulders, Henley led her towards the rest of the group and introduced each one. "Grumpy-gills over there is J. Daniel Atlas, our showman I guess you could say." She turned to the older man. "This is Merritt McKinney.." He bowed mockingly. "The mentalist, at your service." The girl smiled and thought, Oh, you're mental alright. She was brought back to Earth when Henley swung her around to face Mr. Puppy-Eyes. "And last but not least, Jack Wilder, lock pick extraordinaire!" The young man, Jack, laughed aloud and said, "I prefer the term, sleight-of-hand, but that's not bad!" She fidgeted, unsure of what to say when Merritt asked, "And what's your name, little lady?" She looked up at the people surrounding her, staring at her like all those "caretakers" in the foster home. But unlike the "caretakers" these people didn't look at her as if they were wondering how much she would cost them but rather how much she could show them.
And for the first time in a long time, she found someplace she wanted to stay.
"Harper." She said. "My name is Harper Lee." She pulled out her tarot card and flipped it so that they could see the illustration and title and invitation on the back. The others showed her their cards as well.
"Well Harper", said Merritt after a pause. "I guess you're our fifth Horseman."
She smirked and stuck her card back in her pocket. "How ironic." She mused.
Jack somehow overheard her. "What's ironic?"
Quirking an eyebrow, she answered. "Well, I never did like horses much." Jack looked like he wanted to question her further but before he could, Henley spun Harper around and laughed. "I'm glad I won't be on my own with these guys! Us girls have to stick together!" And then in complete seriousness, she looked Harper square in the eye and said, "But baby girl, we need to get you some new clothes."
Harper looked down at her faded jeans and dirty shoes. Shame flooded her senses and she lowered her head. Of course, who were you kidding Harper? You're trailer trash and they're money-earning magicians. So what you can shine a few pretty lights, big deal! You're still trash, still dirty trailer trash stuck in foster care 'cause nobody wanted you. To her horror she felt tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, threatening to overflow.
Through her watery gaze, she could barely make out a tissue being held up to her. Surprised, she looked up to see Jack's concerned face. He frowned towards Henley who looked shocked to see tears in the girl's eyes. "Henley, not everyone can afford leather pants like you, so back off." He looked back at Harper. "We forget that everyone comes from different places." He smiled tentatively, testing the waters.
Embarrassed, Harper snatched the tissue from his hand and turned her back to dab at her eyes. Looking up again, she started when she saw Henley right in front of the door. Don't these damn magicians make ANY noise when they move?! She thought, frustrated with them and with herself. "Oh, baby girl, I'm so sorry. I didn't think. But if you ever do want to go shopping, we will. My treat!" Henley looked pleased with herself at this little proclamation.
"You barely know me." Harper muttered. "Why would you buy stuff for someone you barely know?"
Merritt piped up from where he had made himself comfortable on some musty cloth covered chairs. Well Little Bit, the Eye chose you, right?" When she remained silent he prompted, "Right?"
She frowned slightly. "Right."
"And you got a tarot card, specifically intended for you and you alone, right?"
"Right."
"Then that makes us all equal. No better, and no worse than each other. Right?"
She rubbed her nose on the sleeve of her shirt, grateful to this man and realizing that though he acted nonchalant, he was actually smarter than she had given him credit for. "Right."
He grinned at her and got up off the chairs, unleashing a cloud of dust into the air. "Well then, I don't know about you Shortstack, but I'm starving. I'm thinking breakfast for dinner. You like Ihop?"
She turned to grab her remote and satchel from the corner in which she had been hiding. "I love Ihop!"
She glanced around the room as the others filed out, Merritt holding the door open for her. Thank you. She told the shadows as she slipped out the door. Thank you so much. And she could have sworn that the shadows whispered back, You're welcome.
I hope ya'll enjoyed the slightly longer chapter, please keep up the great reviews as it makes for a very happy wannabe writer!