SPD: In The Shadows
Chapter 3: A Performance to Awe.
A/N: I do not own the song in this chapter, it is purely for entertainment :3
The destruction of Valco's plan sent a pair of ruby eyes off with rage. As quick as his heavy feet could trek, long strides through the halls made their way toward the child's room That's it! She failed me for the last time! Fury laced his thoughts as his hand kept a tight grip on the staff he carried. Through the doors that hissed open automatically, strode the Emperor. "I told you if you failed me, you would not be happy!" The moment he lifted his charged staff, its illuminated sphere reflected its light against her face and he watched her take several steps back.
"No, please! Don't do it! Don't turn me back!" Pleading, Mora didn't like the idea of any kind of torture he had in mind and it certainly seemed to amuse the skeletal lord.
"I think it's time the grown-ups have fun!" There his staff went, wielding it with both hands, out can crimson power that shot out and covered the girl despite her words. Strange, foreign tendrils rose around the girl's feet and kept her hidden inside some sort of cocoon.
Not even a minute passed when it shed itself from her and revealed an adult form of the said child. "How could you?!" Whining, and sniffling, the doll in her arms was about the only thing that didn't change.
"They grow up too fast! Hahahaha!" To him, it was the most amusing to see such unhappiness on her face. The long black hair, gothic attire, and violet streak under her cheek at least suited her adult form. His steps became lighter on his way out of the room, for thoughts of the woman soon clouded his mind and raised more anger.
"Now, to get that card back! How I'm going to do it- is another matter... What if she used my money already? No! That's not possible! That pathetic human wouldn't even know the code to accessing it, nor have the brains to figure it out and Earth doesn't have any connections to my planet's bank, since I've yet to conquer that filthy floating rock! I could pry it from her hands or vaporize her, but then that would risk me being spotted by those pesky Power Rangers! I could hire someone to steal it from her- but then that could also risk the card getting destroyed in the process and have them get caught by those Power Rangers!" As he pondered and wandered through the halls, aloud he spoke.
After a moment of silence and thinking, a very unpleasant theory occurred and made his head fly back irritably. If he had human eyes, they'd roll to prove his annoyance, for the very thought of such a thing was something that only weak creatures would resort to. "I have to get close and gain her trust, to find my card! AAAHH! There must be another way!" Furious now, he began to pace back and forth in the hall with a finger to his chin.
"I could follow her to wherever she sleeps at night and search there! There is no one I can trust to do the job for me. Yes... There is another option as well. A trade... Teaching her to be fearless instead of a coward in return for my card. The former sounds more pleasing," Mumbling the last bit to himself, hasted steps trekked the halls more and left through one of his teleporters.
~~~
The morning sun beamed right through the makeshift shelter Feige sat in. In her underwear and tank top, she watched the news as she sat on the cushion next to the plastic crate and ate some toast. A cement block and a metal plate were barely visible through the plastic and sheet over her shelter, most likely that was how she made her food.
"Wow... So that's what all of those quakes were about. I'm just lucky none of that came barreling towards my home... I feel bad for all of those citizens, though. Maybe that's how there are a lot of homeless people, the battles between the Power Rangers and Criminals just seem to crush houses sometimes. I can't imagine where all of those pieces of that giant robot went," One last bite finished off her food and a tin can of water was slurped. Feeling the warm metal on her fingers was unsettling, but was used to it regardless and kept her eyes on the television.
From the TV to one of her boxes in the corner, her eyes lingered on the black makeup she stole. It wasn't long until she stood up and made her way over. Reaching down and taking the black lipstick, the twist of the transparent cap made it open. "If I put this on... That woman won't recognize me. At least- not at first glance. I could wear this and go visit that cafe I saw and it looked pretty open too, with no doors. It might be worth checking out... I just hope I don't run into that smelly alien again," From top to bottom a cold chill trailed her spine by the mere thought of the guy and prayed deep down that she'd be able to hide from him.
With a quick sigh, she reached into the other box to pull out some clothes. "Hm... What if I wore a bathing suit top, instead? Would that reduce the heat under my jacket?" Knitted brows and a tilted head, she was curious enough to try it.
Hastily she began to get dressed. A purple bathing suit top she was happy had covered up enough of her chest, and cloth black shorts with a few deep pockets. Next, her socks and faded, tattered, purple sneakers were put on.
Outside of her tent, after she put on her jacket, her pale hands picked up a metal plate she used to sunbake her toast. Luckily it made for a decent mirror, using her jacket's sleeve as a hot pad to hold the plate and examine her lips. Small and cute, the black lipstick trailed along them. Next, she carefully outlined her abnormal violet eyes with black eyeliner and soon patted at her eyelids with dark shadowy dust.
From a subtle click of the cap to her eyeliner and lipstick, effort was put into a small smile before the plate was put back. "Alright! Let's go I guess," Zipping up her jacket and flipping the hood over so it'd cover most of her face, she left her hidden area.
It took her less than a minute to squeeze through the concealed hole in the fence and out the other side. Now that she was among the crowd with her head low, a mental map through the slums appeared so she could explore and look for the Cafe she saw.
Through paths, into alleys, she strode. It took her a while to locate it again but when she finally did, there before her sat multiple tables and chairs. Further ahead was some sort of old shed or trailer with a kitchen inside, which she could see from a window where food was picked up.
Many aliens sat at the tables and some even had food and drink. No one paid attention to her, for she simply stood on the sidelines and hid in the shadows to observe. So, this is the Cafe'? Her eyes closed to take in the strange smell and the chatter, everything was otherworldly.
However, to her side, she could hear a familiar tune that brought back some decent memories. Her foot began to tap, her head started to sway with the song, and her lips soon whispered along with the lyrics. The radio on a stand next to her was quiet to not disturb anyone while they ate, but to her, it wasn't loud enough.
Louder... I want this louder, so bad. Her thoughts echoed as she continued to sing with the lyrics of the song. "Someone make me feel alive and shatter me," She whispered then looked around to view everyone's orders, they all seemed to eat the most disgusting and putrid foods.
"Ah- welcome! A new customer! May I interest you in some of my finest drinks? Or perhaps a Worm Danish?" The voice caused the woman to jolt and turn to see the same alien from yesterday. Red, with a strange mouth, and a unique choice of style.
"N- No thank you... I'm just here to check it out," It was awkward if anything, her hesitant feet stepped away and her head remained low to hide her eyes.
"Wait, aren't you the one who was singing on top of my Cafe'? Yes! You are! I recognize that jacket! I wanted to ask if you wanted a job or not!"
Although she wasn't looking at him, she could tell by his voice of how happy he was to run into her again. Past the edge of her hood, she could see his fingers, most likely spreading his arms out from the re-encounter. "N- No, no no, that's alright," Shaking her head, several steps back, denying his offer, there was no way she'd be able to do a job straight and not go into a panic.
"Please? I'll even pay you. Your voice could attract more customers to my Cafe and entertain them!" He gave her a quick peek under her hood to look at her in the eyes, but it caused her to rush backward and slam against the wall. "Hey- it's alright. We're all friends here! Extraterrestrial or human, I let anyone dine here. As long as they're willing to pay, of course," Persistent, he was, for he kept looking around to try and get a good look at her face.
"I have a lot of issues with people a- and if I were to sing in front of everyone- I'll... I'll most l- likely panic. If I panic, I might end up killing someone! So, please... Leave me alone," Shaky breaths, anxiety began to build the more she pondered the image of a blood bath in her mind and it almost made her burst into a sprint. It riddled her body, the fear, everything, the mere idea of singing in front of people was far worse than simple stage fright.
"If that's the case- Why not wear a blindfold? I saw how much you enjoyed singing by yourself yesterday! You were even dancing! Come on... Just try it once... Just once! If you don't like it then I won't bother you anymore. Please?" Almost begging at this point, watching his hands rub together, a couple of steps forward made her step a few more backward.
"J- Just... One time then. H- How... Much?" Lifting her head, Feige's eyes were barely peeking past her hood, and violet hues met dark ones.
"However much I believe your voice is worth. If you can attract a lot of customers, I'll pay you judging by that," With a nod of his head and a smile, both hands clasped onto his hips.
A simple nod in return, her attention moved back to the radio, and frowned. Even though panic filled her mind, the music behind her seemed to calm her a little so it was nice. "I... Um- D- Do you... Is there anything I can sing with? A- A mic or a stage I can s- stand on?" Nervous, her fingers kept fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. It's friggin money! Of course, I'll do it! I... Just need to figure out how. Gulping, thinking, despite her anxiety, she yearned for cash and if she could go without stealing somehow, she would.
"Well- it won't be an easy thing to do but I could let you use my microphone I have stored away and you could stand on one of the long tables. Is there a song you have in mind? Perhaps some sort of karaoke to get you started?" Considerate and curious, when his head tilted he received a nod.
"S- Shatter Me... By Lindsey Stirling," Hesitant, memories of singing that song to herself long ago came to mind.
"Alright! Just wait here a moment!" Eager, and excited, a glint in his eyes sparked to life when he ran back to his station and around it.
Moments, turned into minutes, time passed when everything was getting set up and it wasn't long until it was all ready. There she was, the mic in her hand and scared to lift her head to everyone. The long table stood before her as the device started to play the song she chose. Quickly, with the blindfold on, before her anxiety, her fear took control, she hurried to the table and put the mic to her lips.
She was nervous, for the quivering fingers and ankles were proof but the tune she heard eased her quite a bit. Soon enough her head began to sway to the music, her foot began to tap and it did feel like no one was watching. So, finally, her lips opened to speak and an incredible voice boomed over the mic.
She had no idea that a shady customer entered the Cafe', hidden in the shadows as the lights grew dim except for what was above her.
(Play the song: Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling (Ft. Lzzy Hale)! 3)
"I pirouette in the dark, I see the stars through me..." She trailed off for a moment to wait for the violin piece. "Tired mechanical heart, beats until the song disappears..." A moment's pause ensued before she felt herself loosen up. "Somebody shine a light! I'm frozen by the fear in me- Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me! So cut me from the line! Dizzy, spinning, endlessly- Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me!" She began to dance, not so drastic but with the beat.
The heavy violin drop filled her ears and pushed her into the next line. "Shatter me!" Again she danced, kept her head low, and clenched her chest. "Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me!" The more she sang, the more loose she started to feel. Singing had always been what relieved her stress, her anxiety, it had always been her go-to but she couldn't find any places as of late to do so; until now atop the long table. With the blindfold and the silence as everyone listened, it truly felt like she was by herself.
"If only Clockworks could speak, I wouldn't be so alone..." She trailed off, hugged herself, and made herself look smaller than normal. "Burning every magnet and spring, and spiral into the unknown," Spinning in circles gracefully, soon pulling her knees to her chest and hiding more in the shadow. Feige was feeling more alive, for she rose back up to match the beat and picked up from there.
"Somebody shine a light! I'm frozen by the fear in me- Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me! So cut me from the line- Dizzy, spinning, endlessly!" She started with a burst, lifted her finger, and twirled it as she spun in place. "Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me!" Once again the violin piece came in and her emotional dance ensued.
From the eyes of the shady man who strode in upon her performance, she looked amazing. The way she danced to match the beat and her voice that sounded like a professional singer, all but enchanted him. No words, no thoughts, eyes wide with astonishment, never in his life had he felt anything that he did now.
The lyrics to the song also seemed to pique his interest, for he began to take slow steps towards her to get a better view and was almost against the table she stood on. All of the other customers were silent, in awe just as much as he was but his wasn't just from mere amaze.
"Shatter Me!" As soon as she screamed that part, the glass behind her broke and began to hover behind her. Reflecting all the lights above her head and sparkling like diamonds. Once again the violin piece came, for she danced as she had before while the glass shards fell behind the table to hide. "Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me! If I break the glass, then I'll have to fly!" The second she said fly, her form levitated beautifully into the air with a gentle whirl. "There's no one to catch me if I take a dive," Quickly she placed a hand over her forehead and fell head-first toward the table, just to easily land.
"I'm scared of changing, the days stay the same- The world is spinning, but only in rain," For a while, four minutes, however, the song was, she kept singing.
With a grand finish, when the song neared its end, shards of glass lifted behind her once more and sparkled like diamonds under the light. "Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me!" Finally, the song came to an end, as she stood there with the mic to her lips and her head leaned back.
Exhausted, she was, from the dancing and singing, however, it was enough to cause cheering from the audience that she could have sworn was small. Nervous now, several steps back, she climbed down as fast as she could and peeled the blindfold. "I... I haven't done that in forever," Whispers escaped her lips after she tried to retreat into the shadowy corners of the Cafe', but the owner was quicker.
"Wonderful job! Look at all of these customers! You brought a horde in! Your voice was amazing too, I'd love for you to sing for me again! Here's your payment! The name's Piggy, by the way," Delighted, he was, as he handed her some cash bound together by a rubber band.
"T- Thanks," Afraid, with her head low once more, she quickly turned to run out of the Cafe' and bumped into the shady man's shoulder. It was that moment when it felt like time had slowed when their eyes met. Violet, beautiful eyes connected with dark, sharp ones as both were full of astonishment. "S- Sorry!" Her feet trudged past and hurried through the exit, taken aback by the encounter with the same man from yesterday. She had no idea that he followed after her.
The cash she received was swiftly shoved into her pockets and did her best to ignore the stares of others. Into Clucker's Cafe, she entered, with the hiss of the automated doors, and not long came back out with two bags of food. Leftover change from some of the money she used to pay for it, clinked lightly upon each step. With one hand reaching into a bag, out she pulled a Chicken Sandwich and took a bite. The crispiness it had and the thick chicken inside, were like pleasure for her taste buds.
"Oh- it feels so good to be able to pay for something. It makes the food you buy taste so much better," Heatwaves from the hot bun and chicken proved that it was just pulled off of the rack inside, however, her thoughts of that other Cafe' filled her mind. "I guess... It wouldn't hurt to keep singing there. I was paid well and... That blindfold did the trick," A small smile graced her lips as she strode through the paths and let Shatter Me linger for a while longer, the song itself left her repeating the lyrics in a whisper.
She felt it, her heart wanted to sing, but she knew there was no real safe place to loosen up and be herself. To sing and express herself through song or dance.
After ten minutes or so, she pushed the loose board over the hole out of the way and squeezed through the wood fence that her home hid behind. The light thunk from behind indicated that the hole was concealed again, for her casual steps made her way toward the makeshift tent.
She was too far from the fence to hear its faint thunk. A sound that should have alarmed her that someone else lifted the boards, however, the very man from before never set foot on the other side.
Minutes turned into hours, as Feige stretched and laid flat on her poor excuse of a bed. The sun was setting and the second bag she brought with her had just been eaten. The paper bag itself was used to stuff some other trash such as cans or napkins, which she almost kicked when she turned onto her side. "What a day... That guy though," Her arms curled close to her chest and her vision partially blurred when half of her face was snuggled into the blankets.
"I saw him again. Who even is he and why have I been seeing him lately? This makes the second day I've seen him and yesterday- he wouldn't leave me alone... The card- that's right, he tossed it to me. I still don't know why he gave me it. It's practically useless," Her fingers felt around beneath her head and pulled the card out from under the blankets.
Its distinct sheen and cybernetic lines truly confused her. Yawning, batting her eyes, the card was soon put back under the blankets and her mind drifted off into sleep. Although, it wasn't too much longer until the moon rose high and a faint rustle of the slit to her tent alerted her.
Irritably, her brows knitted and groaned upon the sound of a clank and thunk inside her home. "Ugh, wished these stupid rats would quit sneaking in here," With a roll of her tired eyes when she sat up, albeit in her underwear and tank, she grabbed a nearby pole and stood up.
What she saw stunned her on the spot. It was much larger than a rat, it had a human figure and it was kneeling in front of the boxes she had in the corner. Slowly she watched it stand to its full height and turn to face her, dark eyes soon met purple ones at that moment.
"W- Why are you in here?! T- This is my home!" The grip on her pole grew tighter and eager to swing, however, his reaction wasn't expected. If anything she thought he'd attack her to shut her up, or mindlessly stare at her unkempt appearance; no, instead his head thankfully turned away.
"I am here for one thing- woman... That card. Give it to me," An outstretched hand, he did his best to not look at her partially dressed form.
Quickly, from under her blankets she pulled the card out and carefully placed it into his hand. "Take it. I- I don't need it. It's useless... I- If you gave it to me and said it was useless... Then why w- would I bother? If that was all you needed then..." Awkwardly, she backed up and collected one of the blankets to wrap it around her. "Please, just leave," Next to her sad-looking bed, she watched him look at the card and confusedly over to her.
"Huh... I expected you to panic, scream, hit me, or refuse to return it," From a shake of his head he left through the slit of her tent and paused for a moment.
"W- Wait!" Her voice was the cause of his halt, for her hand opened her miniature fridge and took out a soda. Out of the tent and behind his tall frame, the bottle of soda was lifted toward him rather quickly. "Here... F- For at least trying to... Be nice yesterday by giving me the card and an apology gift for almost k- killing you," Very slowly her anxiety began to build, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as the first day he chased her; it felt normal to want to apologize. "I... Have no control over my power. I... Well, when I panic, I lose control and I almost..." Fidgeting under her large blanket, her purple eyes averted. She didn't know how to explain very well, how her anxiety would put her into a panic and lose control of her power.
"Stop your pointless chatter... I get it," Annoyed, he turned to his side and accepted the soda. The drink caught his interest when he examined it, which made Feige's head raise to see his reaction. "Hm," A quick hum from his rough and deep voice indicated contemplation before his feet trekked toward the fence.
The woman watched him easily scale the rotted wood and did some sort of parkour over the edge to the other side. His very action caused heat to rise to her cheeks, how cool he looked and how mysterious he seemed. It's got to take a lot of muscle to do something like that! Who even is he?! No- Feige! Get those thoughts out of my head! He's probably bad news, for all I know! Shaking her head from side to side and burying her face into the softness of the blanket, she quickly went back inside her home.