Fantasy Into the Shadows [closed]

[Phadia]

The smell of disinfectant made Melissa's eyes sting as she continued to scrub the shower tile.
Despite scrubbing for the last hour or so, and despite the fact that her hands were starting to burn, she knew she couldn't stop.
It would take another hour or so until it was clean. And even then....
The young woman sighed, pausing to look down at her work.
A sudden noise made her flinch, practically dumping over the bucket of cleaner.
Her eyes widened instantly, head whipping towards the source of the noise.
"I made the payment! Just leave me alone!"
The words fell out of her mouth before she could stop them. Her voice sounded distant, bouncing against the cold bathroom walls as it returned to her ears.
"I know that."
A man's voice came from around the corner, and Melissa could see the heatwaves distorting the floral patterned wallpaper even from the tub.
"I was only checking in. It's common courtesy, is it not?"
Then there was a chuckle.
"You do know that the shower's been clean for the last forty minutes or so, don't you?"
Melissa squeezed the sponge in her hands, her knuckles whitening.
"What do you want?" she hissed towards the unseen man. "Surely you're not here to give me cleaning tips."
Then man chuckled again and stepped into the bathroom. He looked... surprising professional. Black suit, white shirt, red tie, black sleek hair. At a glance, he looked like a normal man. A lawyer or banker perhaps. Yet, Melissa knew he was more than that. He was the judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one.
As he entered the room, the bathroom mirror instantly steamed up.
In his outstretched hand, he held a yellowed piece of paper.
"Just a friendly reminder in case you were planning on.... breaking our agreement. Your life is in my hands, remember?"
The young woman forced her expression to remain level, dropping the sponge, and climbing out of the shower. She hurried to the sink, not facing the man standing in her bathroom.
"I'm aware of that," she spoke quietly and tried to hide the fear in her voice.
"Oh, really? Because I was told you considered backing out of the job last night. You know, there are thousands of other people who are willing to take your position. If you think the job is too much...." The man smiled as Melissa whipped around to face him.
"No!" She practically yelled, lunging for the paper in the man's hand.
The paper promptly vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Then you better be careful, human."
Then man's body began to distort and fade.
"And remember," he added as he disappeared. "You're never alone."
With that, Melissa found herself in the empty bathroom, staring at the place the man had disappeared. She absentmindedly rubbed her right wrist, thinking about the recent encounter.
Then, with a shake of her head, she grabbed her jacket from the back of the toilet, and ran towards the front door.
If she didn't find her next one by the end of the day....
She suppressed the urge to shudder, and ripped open the door, stepping outside.
Without slowing down, she headed towards the nearby park.

Kameron Esters-

 

[Kameron Esters-]

A young man opens his eyes and finds himself on the blackened ground. He rest there for a few seconds before raising to his hand slightly to take a good enough look at it and sees it's divided by lack and white static. The young man looks at his hand quizzically for a moment before bringing himself to his feet. He looks around and sees that he is in the middle of a road with buildings aligned behind the streets. And everything is defined by the static. As if it acts as both the lighting and the shadows. Everything the man sees before him is empty. Not a soul in sight. Not a sound to be heard. Even his own thoughts are mute. The young man began to feel like there was something looking down at him and sure enough as he looks up into the blackened sky and sees a giant side-ways eye looking down on him. The young man is frozen in fear as he can feels the eye's gaze burn through him. Looking through his very soul for something he didn't know what. The young man crouches down and wraps his arms around his head, cowering in fear from it as a vain attempt to hide from its stare and cover himself from its violating gaze. The eye finally blinks before an unholy noise ensues as the pupil of the eye dilates. The stars in the sky turn brighter and brighter before the young man is engulfed in its light.

The young man wakes up to the bright sunlight coming through a window and finds that he's sitting at his desk in his apartment. He looks around frantically along with his breathing and finds that it's empty. The young man steadies his breathing and his mind, then looks down at his desk and sees a form of some sort in front of him and a pen besides it. He takes the pen and proceeds to fill out the form. A few seconds pass and there is a knock at the door.

"Come in, the door is open!" Calls the young man

The door opens and in comes a well suited older man. He surveys the apartment and proceeds to walk to where the young man is seated.

"Is it wise to keep your door unlocked or were you simply expecting me?"

"It is a Wednesday after all. That's when you usually come around."

"So you really have been paying attention. I wouldn't have guessed seeing that you're always turned away from me whenever I come by."

"That's because I'm always busy."

"Busy doing what? Ignoring me?"

"It is a tough job."

"Hah-ha. So, how are have been sleeping? No nightmares to speak of?"

"..."

"Having asked that, have you considered my offer?"

"Depends. Have you considered my answer?"

"I don't get it. What all would you have to loose?"

"My soul and my freedom."

"Please, freedom is over-rated. Simply think of the benefits. It sure would get rid of the nightmares."

"I'm not foolish enough to engage in an offer where the benefits are out-weighed by the consequences. Doesn't matter how much you sweeten it, my stance remains the same as before."

"You can only put it off for so long you know?"

"We'll see."

"I'll swing by next week to see if you change your mind."

"You might aswell save yourself the day."

"Oh wouldn't you like that."

With that, the door closes and at the same time the young man sets down the pen. He looks up at the sunlight coming through the window then back down at the form before getting up, getting dressed, and leaving the apartment with the form in hand. He heads down a couple sets of stairs until he makes it to the bustling street. It isn't long before he's being pushed and shoved by the hustle and bustle. One final push makes him lose grip of the form and it blows away in to the wind.

"Dang it!" The young man says behind half parted lips.

He moves out to the side off the busy street and follows the form that's blowing in the direct of the park.

Phadia

 

[Phadia]

Melissa hurried through the park, looking for her next mark.
Hurry, hurry....
Her inner voice was prompting her to pick up the pace. Who knew when the next payment would be due?
The thought of having to do it again made her cringe, but she knew it was better than the alternative.
She tried to to show any emotion as she scanned the numerous faces that passed her by. Any one of them could be him, after all.
Just then, a flurry of motion caught her off guard.
Something was flying right at her face!
She let out a startled yelp and swatted at the piece of paper. As soon as her hands met the thin parchment, she realized it wasn't a threat, and pried it off her face with a huff.
"Wh-"
She started to take a look at it, but saw a man hurrying towards her, reaching for the paper.
Giving a sort of awkward half smile, she held it out towards him.
"Did you lose this?"

 

[Kameron Esters-]

"Oh yes, thank you very much miss."

The young man returns a smile of gratitude towards Melissa as he reaches out and retrieves the form.

"You sure saved me an extra few yards of running" The young man lightly jokes.

He then proceeds to look around at the park and absorbs the its sheer beauty. The heavenly lights streaming through the trees and the many colorful flora in full bloom, accompanied by its many pollinators.

"My, isn't it just lovely?" The young man asks almost forgetting Melissa is still there

 

[Phadia]

"What...?" Melissa looks bewildered at first, then laughs lightly.
"You mean, that piece of paper...?"
The sky was beginning to cloud over, the fluffy white flecks suddenly forming into larger more menacing gray sheets.
"Or did you mean the weather? Because the sky looks like it's about to break open at any moment."
Usually, Melissa wouldn't be interested in small talk like this. Especially not after what had happened last night...
But this man...
Melissa eyes him intently. Red runes flitted underneath his skin, dancing in and out of his clothes, and twirling around his hair. She wondered if he noticed them.
She suddenly felt nauseous, but hid it with another nervous laugh. Social interaction had never been her strong suit.

 

[Kameron Esters-]

"Well, the weather *was* nice. But oh! My apologies if I'm disturbing you though!" Langden turns to look at her in a slightly exasperated manner.

He can feel the wind blowing slightly stronger than before. Langden increases the grip he has on the paper. Making sure he doesn't loose it the second time. He can feel small drops of rain and can see come civilians begin to move faster in movement.

"I must be going. Can't get caught in the rain, especially since I don't have anything to cover with. Good day, Miss." Langden turns to leave

 

[Phadia]

Melissa watches him start to leave, but a whiff of smoke makes her gasp.
"Wait!"
She can feel the heat on the back of her neck, and clutches her wrist. She hesitates, dreading what she has to say next.
"I... I live close by. Why don't you come back to my place for a bit?"
She inwardly shudders at the invitation, but not just because of the social awkwardness. Yes, this was a total stranger, and a strange man no less. But it was the thought of the future that made her grimace. Knowing it would be a mirror image of the past... Of the previous night...
Melissa laughs nervously again.
"Sorry for being so blunt," she speaks quietly, not making eye contact. Instead, she studies the red runes, watching their mesmerizing dance.
"At the very least, I can loan you my umbrella."

 

[Kameron Esters-]

Langdon looks at her in almost complete surprise at her sudden offer
"Oh...?"
He begins to chuckle lightly.
"I suppose. If it won't be too much for you."
(I am SOOOOOOO sorry! I didn't know you responded, I wasn't alerted at all and thought you had lost interest!)
Phadia