She would never be able to live that day down. No high would escape the twisting of her stomach as she stumbled into the apartment she had been to so many times, or maybe it was the one three doors down, or even her mind tricking her as she shoved through the already open door with her head pounding as though her skull was just a barrier to break down.
Their faces were startled as they took her in, but then again, her face was no better. Fumbling over her words, she stumbled around until the girl rushed out to catch her before her body hit the rotting wood floors.
The people around her had hissed whispers back and forth. tense arguments spewed as she lay slumped in the arms of a stranger, unbothered by the words that harshly left the lips of those around her. She was too far away, mind spinning like a wheel that wouldn't stop turning.
So, there she lay, spilled over in the arms of a stranger, in an apartment with no apparent drug stash, listening to people decide her fate.
"We can't just take an addict with us."
"What do you suggest then, Daniel, she's already seen too much." The redhead quips, shuffling her hold on the limp girl trying her hardest to keep her on her side in case of unpleasant illness.
"She doesn't have a card, she isn't a part of the plan." The boy argues further, looking at each of the magicians in the room, ready to dismiss the topic.
"Can I just-" the mentalist tries, motioning to the druggie in Henley's arms.
"No." Both respond nearly rehearsed, each shooting the other an exasperated glare. The silence in the room overbears like a pregnant pause, everyone at a stalemate.
"I think we should take her. I mean whoever brought us here had everything planned perfectly, they wouldn't have just allowed her to stumble in without a reason." The last speaks up, anxiously shuffling a well-worn deck of cards in his hands.
"The kid does have a point, she could be a part of this."
Everyone turns to look at the youngest member who seems to stand bolder now that he has some kind of plan for her, and in result, himself.
"Fine, you two take care of her. Just keep her out of the way. You have our mission, don't let some drug addict fuck it up." Atlas states, giving the girl another completely disgusted look.
She's mumbling now, her gaze locked on the dazzling blue and white outlines that run light up the walls. Her eyes trace them swiftly like she's taking them in with quick precision.
"What do we do with her? It looks like she hasn't eaten in weeks." Henley murmurs in Jack's direction.
He doesn't really acknowledge her question, instead trying to listen to the words leaving her trembling lips. When it becomes obvious that her words are completely incoherent, he looks back in the illusionist's direction.
"One of us has to take her." He shrugs, not looking too bothered at the prospect of taking the random girl with him.
"If you think she's going to travel with us, she's going to have to be sober." The control freak states giving Jack a pointed look.
"Why don't you take her? Just for tonight, and then we can figure out everything tomorrow, when she's not," Henley pauses to look over the girl "high like this." She continues "She has to be a part of this plan, or they wouldn't have let her in like this."
"Give her here." Jack smiles, and Henley gladly hands over all 100 pounds of the skinny girl.
"We can just figure out everything late." Henley sighs, gabbing he things quickly, heading away to bid the other two goodnight.
As soon as the door slams shut behind the redheaded illusionist, the high girl is on her feet. Distancing herself from Jack, she lets out a series of unintelligible cries, cuss words scattered between. He arms flail and her eyes scan the room, wildly she spins, planning an escape. The men left rush to stop her as she flings herself at a window.
Atlas is the first to reach her, and in any other situation Jack would have died laughing at the spectacle presented before him. The girl has managed to dodge all of Atlas's attempts to catch her, but is landing wild slaps to his face and neck.
"Well if this isn't a dream." Merritt muses, taking a seat on the worn-down couch "hit him harder, watch your right, atta girl." He hoots, initiating more irritation from Daniel.
"Do you mind? Can one of you please get her restrained?" Daniel gripes, holding the girl at arm's length the best he can.
"No can do." Merritt laughs, pretending to be occupied with digging through a massive pile of rubble.
Jack rolls his eyes, shaking himself out and moving to help Atlas.
"Hey, hey, hey, calm down." He commands, and the girl immediately stops her dizzying cycle to look at Jack with an unnerving gaze.
Shuddering under the hauntingly empty eyes of the wild girl, Jack finds himself stepping forwards, reaching out to her with a hand that could almost be timid.
"No-no." she stutters, dropping towards the ground "Don't come closer." Her body shudders like her words are physically draining her, and her small arms shield her face in preparation from something that never comes.
Jack raises his hands at her, a gesture intent on showing her his innocence, but a disconnect forces her into a corner. No one moves as the girl whimpers, cowering into the corner with her hands over her ears. She rocks, humming a tune to herself with panicked breaths.
Jack's eyes snap over to meat Merritt's, silently pleading with the mentalist to take her pain away, because somehow, he already wants more than just safety for her, in her mind, and reality.
"hey, it's okay, no more hands. I won't hurt you, I promise." Jack tries again. One hand leaves her ear, listening to him as closely as her mind will allow her.
"That's it, you're on your own. Be here on time tomorrow, we have lots to cover." The self-proclaimed leader turns on his heels, confidence from his new title oozes from him. Throwing open the door he exits abruptly, the door slamming behind him.
"Well, this has been fun." Merritt tips his hat, snapping his fingers at the girl until she looks at him.
The snaps don't stop, and the mentalist offers her words. She is entranced in them immersed in everything he's saying.
"And, sleep." He snaps one last time "she should be much easier to handle now, but heads up, she seems like she's the wild type." Merritt throws Jack a disgusting wink, before following Atlas out the door and down to the street.
"Okay, I guess it's just you and me sweetheart, just you and me." Jack takes her little body up into his arms, balking at how skinny she is.
As he does, something flutters to the floor, catching Jack's eye. With furrowed brows, he places the girl onto the tattered couch, moving to investigate further.
The card in his hand feels heavy with importance, and his eyes snap to the girl lying on the couch slack jawed.
The face of a tarot card glares up at him, and he can't help but feel relieved, she has a reason, a purpose.
She is THE MOON.