It wasn’t the cold air or the stalling of cars that made Winter the worst season for Lana, but the static that was generated every time a jacket was removed. She’d shock door handles, people, phones, and even the medicine cabinet of her apartment’s bathroom. Though they were little shocks, they still managed to give her a fright even when she was ready for them. They were unavoidable, and left her hoping somebody else would open the door for her whenever she was out. Now there was a risk of being stunned if she opened a refrigerator.
Lana was familiar enough with Vincent’s penthouse to use the kitchen, which was nice when she wasn’t a fire hazard. Being an independent adult, it wasn’t as though she could just ask one of the others to make food for her. She would have to get it herself, in whatever way she could. The only thing standing in her way of a plate of midnight breakfast was the electricity that ran so freely through her, and so, she would need a good insulator to prevent any unwanted bolts.
Biting her lip, Lana knelt down to look through the cabinets below the sink. Cleaners, brushes, sponges, and— “Gloves!” she whispered to herself, tossing them next to the toaster with a satisfied grin. “My toast is mine, hahaha. Fuck you, Pikachu hands.”
In a few minutes, her hunger was to be sated. Taking a few slices of whole-wheat from the bread box, Lana expressed her lack of sleep through singing narration of her actions. From a seemingly safe height, she dropped the bread into the chambers before pulling on the rubber gloves to turn the dial. If she looked stupid, she didn’t care… she just wanted the toast.
Rachel sat by the window of Vincent’s apartment, looking out into the nightlife that covered every inch of New York. Everything looked just the way it should be. Everything was the same. Except for her. Today, she felt different. She pressed her lips tightly together, curling up her legs and resting her chin on her knees.
Hours had passed and the images would still not leave her mind. They were fresh like the scars she had earned that day – physical, mental and emotional scars. All the blood, the screams and the faces of the dead she had passed. It was too much to take in, especially for her. She was surprised she had not fainted yet. She wondered when she was going to let all of it go. Sure, she had already done so with Ivan, crying and hurting him without meaning to. But that was only a fraction of the guilt she had inside of her. She still had more tears to shed and screams to let out.
Soon enough, the tears welled up in her eyes. God, she felt terrible. Ivan did not deserve that at all. She wiped them away before they could fall. Looking at her hands and imagining the blood that once covered them, she whimpered softly. This was too much for her comfort. She got up quickly and rushed to the bathroom before anyone could see her. Locking the door, she pressed her back against it and slid down. The lump in her throat was starting to ache and with one final breath, she let out a small cry and shut her eyes tight. She curled up her legs and buried her face in her knees, hoping to drown the sound of her cries.
After a few moments of trying to compose her, she walked out of the bathroom – clean and no longer teary-eyed – and made her way over to the rooftop to get some fresh air. The crisp, night air soon filled her lungs and she was calm at last. Her face was impassive. The smile that often graced her features was no longer there. Her eyes were tired and mournful and she felt as if she aged twenty years. She let out a heavy sigh and leaned her arms on the rail.
Rachel stared down at the busy traffic below. She could jump, never having to deal with this pain or guilt any longer. She would not have to deal with nightmares, the upcoming war or anything at all. It would be easy. Who needed her here anyway? Vincent said they had the numbers. What was the harm in losing one soldier? Her family did not need her. She was not their real daughter. Her friends? Maybe they would mourn her but they could move on. And Ivan? Well, enough was to be said about him. She hurt him more than anyone has ever done. She did not want to live with that thought for the rest of her life.
The girl closed her eyes, a lone tear streaming down her face. The thoughts were selfish. She was satisfying herself and they only fueled the pain in her heart more. She could never do those things to them. It was not like her to do such a thing. Rachel nipped at her bottom lip, trying to prevent herself from breaking down again. For now, she would just have to deal with it; no matter how much pain it was going to cost her.
The heat of the water pouring over his sore skin, Ivan felt a shudder run through him. He was not used to so much activity, so much fighting. He was used to boxing, fighting dirty but he went up several flights of stairs and killing agents left and right. There was so much blood on him; so much gore...what could he do? He found himself gripping hard to the wall as he turned up the temperature of the water.
As Rachel's tear-filled eyes ran through his head as well as her words, he couldn't help but feel his chest tighten and his bottom lip to tremble just slightly. He knew the blood of those men were on him and filling his mind but he couldn't admit that there was a part of him that enjoyed killing; enjoyed stabbing them and feeling that hot crimson life flowing against his skin. What was he to do, though? They were after Rachel. They were after the one woman that meant the most to him.
Growling in his chest, Ivan slammed a tight fist into the shower wall while he shut his eyes tight. The searing pain that ran through his hand was shot up his arm and up to his shoulder which only pushed him over the edge. He was bottling up his emotions, keeping everything sealed tightly within the package that was Ivan Malkovich. The thing is, was that who he really was? He knew nothing of his parents besides the fact that his mother gave him up for science. Why? To make extra cash for a dimebag of cocaine? He had no clue but he knew if the woman wasn't already dead that he'd find her and choke her with so much strength that he'd let her go before her last breath emitted.
Nipping hard on his bottom lip and causing the skin to only slightly puncture, he let his head fall backwards so he could let the scolding water cover his face. It stung his wounds, even caused a shiver to run through him...but he couldn't deny any of it. He was full of rage and his blood boiled to find out what these Originals knew about his parents. If they had a file on him, then they know about his past. There were so many questions that Ivan couldn't control his emotions anymore. Falling hard to his knees, he gripped to the shower wall once more before letting out a sob that wrecked his walls; the walls that kept him protected for so long.
He felt like it had been an eternity since he had been outside; as if he couldn't ever dream of being out there again. He still had his gun since Vanessa had given it back to him. He even had snacks with him in his pockets that nobody picked up. He was hungry, needed the icy air from outside, and even the shine of the moon illuminating the darkest of alleyways.
Hearing that they were finally being released, Andre made sure that the women and children were out first. He couldn't stand seeing them suffer as much as the others have. It was hard and children seemed to bounce back. Well, some children anyway. Though, once they were out, it was his turn to step out of the basement.
Making his way out and seeing guards blocking the way to the upper floors, Andre raised a brow and tried to look but the barricade was blocking even that. Sighing heavily and not having the energy to fight these men, he made his way out of the building and towards the front doors.
As he followed everyone else, he heard about people going to hotels. He didn't want to go to one. It reminded him too much of being stuck in a big building. Well, at least he didn't want to go to one right now. He wanted to just walk; to not think for awhile about what was going on. All of these people needed that as well as some who were closer to him than others. Who would be going to the hotel? He had no idea. He just wanted out of this building.
As soon as he stepped out, his eyes watered from the icy air colliding with his sweaty torso. Taking in long and deep breaths, he slowly made his way down the steps. He didn't want to go anywhere as of yet. He just wanted to wander; to keep his mind clear of all that had happened. There were too many questions that had gone unanswered while in there but he was certain this was something far bigger than just some simple security breach.
The question was...what was it? What had all of these people locked up in the basement? What kept these people in a massive building for an entire day? Shaking his head and smoothing his sweaty and trembling hands over the top of his head, Andre found himself blankly staring out to the night. He was right, though. The moon was out and the icy air caused him a shiver to run down his spine. He'd walk this entire night, knowing that he would end up somewhere familiar. His feet knew where to go...but he just couldn't put his thoughts to his steps. Not tonight, not for awhile.
That whisper was the most sweet what Isaac could listen in the world. Her voice was so soft, seductive, intoxicating. Even when he was absolutely conscious that was a power game, when she would do exactly what he wanted only for one reason.
"Tell me Isaac, what do you want?"
Irresistible. Isaac smiled and immediately he closed his face to her neck, smelling her skin. His hands began to slide slow for her hips, feeling her curves. Every single work has to end like this did. With a beautiful woman sitting in his lap, half naked, with the will to please to him in every single imaginable way. With a heavy breathe, finishing to slide one hand behind the skirt, searching something in the middle of her legs, something wet, Isaac finally sentenced:
"I want it all."
That was a memory or a dream? Sounded like an impossible question with an unbelievable answer. The night before Isaac was having the best reward in the world because his work as a lawyer. Now, he arrived to his loft absolutely tired, confused, and really upset. New York also has that kind of pleasures, but that night the big apple was a hell hidden in the CitySpire.
Why I didn’t stay in Las Vegas?
That thought was in his head even when Isaac was in the building. All because the information. If even he wasn’t a responsible lawyer… Isaac felt the need to make that night to worth, so, he went to his studio and turned on the laptop: time to do the backups.
Work was other drug for Isaac. The best. The only one when he really felt powerful, even when in that moment he was working for a man who makes to Isaac always win, and easily. But that night nothing worked. With the bourbon in his hand, he was trying to organize what hasn’t order.
The reason because Isaac felt so powerless was the lack of knowledge. Was impossible to try to say a single word about what happened this night. Not only because he really didn’t know the facts about whatever what happened in CitySpire. Was he has no clue what happened to himself.
Vanessa was an enigma. He wondered why he couldn’t act like usual: being selfish and letting her there, with her problems. Isaac went to pick up a laptop and after that he decided to not go to home, he went to search her. That agent was the worst encounter he could have before to find a Vanessa and then, have a big fight.
Isaac can be honest with himself: he didn’t need to Vanessa. He likes the pills, of course, but he has other kind of addictions. Even he knew how find that and more. So, why he was stick to her. Why he cooked for her? What happened there?
But the worst was thinking in Elizabeth and that special talk. Words and arguments are his speciality, Isaac was more than confused, was completely angry about himself. How he spoke in that way, answering every question with the complete truth? He was sure he did that against his will. How? Why?
The anger. Isaac was so close to crash his glass to the wall, but that was good bourbon. His relationship with women was for him something easy, a simple interchange. Like with that hooker in Las Vegas: she pleased to him because he gave to her money. Easy interchange. Vanessa and Elizabeth were complications he didn’t need.
Isaac didn’t take the right decision about them, both. He knew his curiosity will domain him and he will continue talking and being close to Vanessa until he know what happens. And he knew he will search to Elizabeth, until he can discover what really happened to him. Even when he knew also, everything were a mistake.
Backups finished. Isaac knew he could have a long sleep because the building was closed now. Until Vincent appears and calls to him, because, obviously, he was the king of that place and Isaac has no doubt Mr. Smith has something to do or to tell about what happened, for sure.
Isaac would give all he has for return to Las Vegas, to whisper again to her ears without concerning about tomorrow. Was a mistake to return, that was the only sure.
Elizabeth finally managed to get a hold of Robert once the government opened the doors back up. As soon as she heard the noise on her cellphone, she pulled it out of her pocket and quickly called him. Once she had confirmed that he was alright and that he'd managed to get April out of the building, but of course he was coming back for Charlotte. She rolled her eyes and hung up the phone.
Feelings caused distractions and that was the last thing the two of them needed in the predicament that they had found themselves in. They were surrounded by their enemies, and the people that she had sworn to protect against the Originals were now beginning to be just as corrupt. Liz hadn’t expected a human government to take these kinds of actions, to experiment on their own people and giving them their powers.
She was starting to believe that both the Originals and the humans were a lost cause, that her kind should let them battle it out to see who would really come out on top. Her faith was faltering after what she witnessed today and she wasn’t sure there would be a way to bring it back. Not unless something changed drastically and soon. The humans were on a path to war, one they didn’t even realize they were going down, one that she knew the hybrids wouldn’t be able to stop. This must have been was the Originals had been planning and it made her sick to her stomach that she hadn’t caught on sooner.
Finally making it out of the building, she pulled her coat tightly around her and headed back in the direction of her hotel. Instead of going straight up to her room, she made a stop down on the first floor int he Bull & Bear Bar. Elizabeth needed to dull the memories of the day, if only long enough for her to get a few hours of shut eye before assessing the real damage tomorrow.
Andrea did as she promised and woke up Charlotte when she heard them coming down the hall to get them. The two women where split up once again. As they pulled Andrea down the hall, she turned her head and smiled at the younger woman. "They are probably just taking us back to get our clothes on. It'll be fine. It's almost over." She didn't believe it and didn't expect Charlotte to believe her either, but she thought voicing the words would boost morale.
When they turned their first corner, Andrea pulled out of the grip of the man escorting her. She had been experimented on, stripped, and thrown in a room to rot, she didn't want any of them touching her. The medical gown they had her in did nothing to keep the chill of the sterile facility from her, and the floor was covered in debris from the riots that cut into her feet as she walked. Despite her current situation, she walked with a purpose and dignity.
The guards on either side of her pushed her into another room with a gurney set up as a bed. "This is where you'll be spending the night, Doctor. Just behave yourself and no one will hurt you. None of that shit you pulled in the hallway or we'll be using those." The man extended a finger pointing to the gurney. At first she didn't see them, but then the restraints attached to the bed caught her eye.
Andrea didn't respond to his threat. "Leave me," she said firmly, turning her back on him. When she heard him exit, her eyes scoured the room to determine the complete layout of everything. There were a few blind spots in the room. One, thankfully, by the bathroom, but no blind vents big enough for her and being in a basement, no windows. She flopped down on the gurney, trying to keep herself completely covered. Who was she kidding though? There was no way out for her. She laid down in the bed on her side and pulled her legs up to her chest. There would be no sleep for her tonight. She wondered if or when this would break her. Part of her was interested in seeing if there was anything left inside her to break.
