savetheearth | Reality is an illusion

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Reality is an illusion

Who: Alexa Vasko (

blind_devotion) & Maggie de Leon (

bibliofilo)
When: Backdated Dec 11
Where: Within the city, near Blood Key territory.
What: Alexa and Maggie have an unfortunate run in with some Blood Keys.

It had been so long since they had last gone to a bar, but now that this shared membership of the Numbers Club had been revealed, Maggie thought it was high time they do it again. Maggie had thankfully grown up a fair amount since her college days to see the extent of her clinginess and pushiness (which had been the cause of her relationships failing) so at the very least this time she had chosen a quieter lounge.

...but a lounge was still a lounge and she had bugged Alexa until she conceded. It had been nice, getting out, catching up, seeing what her old roomie was up to. Talking about everything but that which had turned their lives upside down. It was nice to get a distraction from it all, her sleep had been restless lately thanks to this anxiety of not being who she thought she was. Indeed, Maggie still wasn't sure if she wanted to get involved in the whole affair. With how little information there actually was about what they were or what this supposed 'enemy' was it seemed too risky to make any hasty decisions.

This trip out to get drinks was something she had needed, and now she was happy to be taking a quiet walk, enjoying the scenery and chill winds. Her eyes went skyward to the already dark sky. It had taken such a different significance now that she knew there was life out there. Not just out in space, but in so many different times as well. Her gaze turned now to Alexa and she gave her a gentle nudge and teasingly asked.

"You okay on your feet?"

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Alexa smiled. "I'm fine," she said. She hadn't had quite as much to drink as Maggie had, which was how these things usually went. She just had trouble unwinding, always had, but especially know that she knew there were people out there who wanted to kill her.

At least she had someone to share it with now. "How about you? I'm not going to have to drag you home, am I?"

Maggie pretended to sway on her feet, raising her arm to her forehead in a dramatic fashion. "I dunno. Mmmmmaybe." Fortunately she was pretty good at holding her own, despite her small stature, and all in all things had been okay. It was strange how quickly she had adjusted to being in the Numbers Club. Really, she had expected her life to drastically changed but so far? Not much to show for it. Hopefully that would stay the same.

Alexa grimaced, and put an arm around her. "You better not. I don't have the back to lug you around."

Together they wandered out into the street, snow crunching underfoot. They didn't even notice that, after around a block, there was nobody around. They were all alone.

She laughed straightening herself up. The image was certainly a funny one but she was glad she definitely hadn't drunk that much.

"Do you have any plans for Christmas?" She hadn't noticed the lack of cars in this street, that most of the doors and windows seemed barred. The quietness of the streets did make the extra steps on the snow audible, but she had yet to really think anything unusual about it.

"Not really," she admitted. "I'm not doing it with my family this year, and...well, I don't have a lot going on."

"Well, if you have time maybe you should swing by my place. I'm thinking of having something small with my neighbor. Maybe invite Michelle as well." Another friend of Maggie's during college--they had both belonged to the trivia club and Maggie might have brought her to their room sometime.

With her mother out traveling that left Maggie out of reach of all of her family. Most of her other friends would be spending their holidays with their family so this Christmas was looking rather uneventful.

"I...suppose I could," she said. "I'll definitely have time."

She tried to imagine what Christmas would be like with Maggie. Probably loud, and busy. Kind of intimidating. Still, it would probably be better than spending it alone, which was her own plan.

Meanwhile, a group of men in sunglasses slip out of the shadows, surrounding them.

Maggie was about to respond, to say something to encourage her to consider it when she finally noticed the men. The hairs on the back of her neck stood and she tensed. Her hand reached out to touch Alexa's arm to make her aware of what was happening.

A part of her considering just plowing on through, pretending she hadn't noticed but the actions of this group were very deliberate. She doubted it would be that easy, and a quick look around told her that no one else was around.

Alexa stopped dead as the men encircled them, clinging more tightly to maggie. Oh no. This couldn't be happening.

"Hey there, ladies!" one of the less-than-fine gentlemen called out as the circle was completed. As if it was some sort of signal, the air was suddenly full of hoot, howls, and mocking calls. Some of them lewder than others.

Panic began to course through her, but Maggie tried to keep her cool. Freaking out wasn't going to do anything. They would be okay. Right? Right.

She held an arm out ever so slightly in front of Alexa and looked around from face to face, trying to figure out who was the leader, if any.

"Can we help you?" The words came out of her mouth without much thought. Try as she might, she couldn't come up with something that would get them out of this situation. Her phone was buried in her pocket--even if she could get to it before they stopped her who would she call? The network had made it clear that the cops were dangerous for people like them.

Alexa instinctively shrunk back, trying to cower behind Maggie...which was a bit of a feat, given how tall Maggie was.

"Well, ladies, sure you can help us," the apparent leader said. "You can start by handing over your purses, phones, anything worth money. Now."

Giving away her purse which would have her identification and everything was not something she wanted to do. Still, it was either that or her life--not to mention Alexa's. Somehow Maggie didn't think this group would have any qualms about hurting them. Either way, it was too much to risk.

She kept her expression stern as she tosses her purse before them. On her hand she had one ring which she took off and place atop her purse. Aside that the only other thing she had was a single earring resembling the Leo symbol in her left ear--that, however, was covered by her hair and she was hoping to keep it hidden.

Alexa likewise meekly handed over her purse, with her phone inside. She then began fumbling to take off her earrings - she didn't really have anything else worth stealing on her.

Maggie's earring wasn't going unnoticed, however. One of the Blood Keys steps forward and grabs her hand, twisting it backward. "What's this? You holdin' out on us? Not very nice, love."

The second he stepped towards her Maggie knew she had made a mistake.

Then for a moment, when she looked at the gang member gripping her wrist so painfully she sees something else. A dark figure that flickers for a moment and suddenly her fear turns into anger.

She doesn't think. She doesn't consider the consequences. A strength she never had before moves her and with her free hand she grabs the man's by his collar, yanking his head down and making a motion to bring her knee right up to his face.

The rest of the Blood Keys spend a moment in shocked silence as the one who grabbed Maggie fell to the ground in a whimpering heap, his nose broken. Then with a shout, they surge forward to get her.

Alexa falls to the ground in shock. She hadn't gotten a good look at what Maggie had done, but she could tell that it had pissed their assailants off, and crippling fear rose up through her guts.

That strange and uncharacteristic anger that had made her act to begin with remained. A good thing, for if not she would have been just as shocked by what she had done and just stared dumbly.

When the other men start to move in she quickly hefts the one she just injured up over her head as if he weighed nothing, and threw him at another, backing up to remain close to Alexa.

Wait. What had just happened?

Alexa looked up at Maggie in disbelief. There was no way...Maggie was in decent shape, sure, but not lift-a-grown-man-over-your-head shape!

Common sense was returning to her. There were too many of them. She, much like Alexa, had no idea how she had just managed to do that but it had bought them only seconds.

Maggie snatched up her wallet--not bothering with the jewelery that fell to the snowy sidewalk before grabbing Alexa.

"Come on! Lets go!"

Alexa, still a bit stunned, grabbed her purse, and was then pulled along behind Maggie as she ran. But she was just a little too slow to react, and one of the quicker men grabbed hold of her arm. "You're not going anywhere," he said through his teeth.

Alexa twisted and pulled and squirmed, trying to get away. "Let go!" she cried out, but his grip was adamant...

Then, suddenly, a flash of white in the moonlight, and he went flying back. A horse - a flipping horse had just appeared out of nowhere. Although nobody had seen it approach, it had been running full tilt when it crashed into the man attacking Alexa; said man was now slumped against a brick wall, apparently unconscious.

The horse snorted, staring at the other men as if daring them to attack.

Maggie was about to try and give the guy a punch, but before she could even lift her arm she was blinking, eyes pained from a sudden flash of light. When they adjusted again she was certain that she must be seeing something wrong because there, in the streets, was a beautiful white horse.

Where had it come from? Had it really just attacked that man?

The young woman was so confused and frightened by the entire situation she just wanted to cry. Instead she just started dumbly at the creature, before snapping back to attention.

"C-come on. Lets go!"

"R-right."

Alexa followed after Maggie, but not before throwing back one more look at the beast that had arguably just saved her life. It was still interposed between her and the thugs, who were looking somewhat hesitant to try and get past it.

As Alexa ran, the horse neighed, and then turned and followed after them.

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Reality is an illusion

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