Well, someone needs to help, especially if our FBI friends won't. [ Although she does have the feeling Anderson isn't as bad as Casey. She's just wrapped up in the details of her own case. Somehow the ritual murders are tied to all this, and Jesse doesn't want to step on toes. That's the last thing she needs to deal with is bickering between agencies. ] Like I said. You can pay me back later.
[ She has no idea exactly what is going on in his head at the reaction to "Deerfest", but she can tell it's not good. If her touch helps ground him? She's alright with it, even if it does feel a little out of character with herself. Or maybe it isn't? Some part of her feels as if it's something she has done before. Like something she forgot, but the feelings stubbornly cling to things she can't really explain. Not everything in life needs an explanation, but she wishes she had one for this.
If she was better at people she would have some sort of comforting words to say. Except, she's not.
Jesse doesn't even notice that Alan has started to follow her. Her mind is focused on trying to figure out what she saw and communing with Polaris. She knows what the images are, and that isn't what has her attention. What has it is figuring out if it was a message on the Hotline, like Wake had sent before, or if it really was a memory. Polaris insists it is, but she can't seem to believe that.
« It can't be a memory. It's never happened. At least, not to ME. »
But, who else has powers like her?
Jesse steps into the women's bathroom and closes the door behind her. Locks it, even. She doesn't want anyone else coming in while she does... whatever she's going to do. She really hasn't figured it out. Maybe she just needs a few deep breaths and tackle the issue later. Alan and the AWE are the current focus. Unless, this is part of the AWE...
Polaris shifts and tugs her down to the ground.
Jesse tilts her head and follows the nudging. Her hands touch the floor of the bathroom. It seems familiar even though it's her first time seeing it--isn't it? She can feel Polaris vibrating through her hands and into the ground. Something harmonizes with Polaris. Almost like... almost like it's Polaris's own resonance in the area around them.
« But, there's no HRAs or amplifiers here. It's just me. You haven't spread this far out have you... »
Then, she hears a tapping.
And humming.
"Jesse, I've got your number. I need to make you mine. Jesse, don't change your number~!
867-5309.. oh!"
Faden snapped her head up at the familiar yet twisted voice. She looked over her shoulder and saw no one. A quick glance and she whirled around, flashlight and weapon given to her after being appointed Director pointing forward. The beam snatched onto a form that is familiar but not at the same time.
"I tried my imagination but I was---oh, who am I kidding? I don't have one! But, your number is 867-5309, isn't it? Oh. Wait." The man sticking to the shadows gave a low chuckle. "That's JENNY. Not Jesse! Oh, well, I don't think anyone will care if I do my own little rendition. Covers are all the rage now!"
Faden kept her weapon and flashlight trained forward. The man finally stepped out of the shadows. A easy going dress coat, slicked back long hair, familiar beard, and a smile that didn't sit quite right on his face. He took a deep breath, flicked out a comb, and slicked back the hair that didn't really need it.
"I bet I could make a better musician than he ever made being a writer. I've got the class, the daring personality, and well, all the ladies love me!" The man's comb flicked to point at Faden. "Including the little lost Ordinary Girl."
Faden squinted slightly, turning her wrist just enough to flick the light over the man. The man howled anticlimactically in pain, and disappeared from view. In an instant he was behind Faden, knife to her neck, making a clicking sound against his teeth.
"Now, now. THAT was a little uncalled for! I don't go flashing lights in your face, do I? Then again, I don't flash lights at anyo--"
The man wearing the twisted face of Alan Wake flung backwards and hit a stall. Faden turned quickly, shining the light directly at him. The doppleganger--Mr. Scratch--howled once more before darting back into the shadows.
"Feisty! I can see why he likes you. Moved from blondes to red heads... smart move. But, see, there's one little problem Miss Director. I want what he wants. But you, ah, well, YOU just won't cut it. You see, Miss Director of the Federal Bureau of Control. We have one problem."
God, he likes the sound of his own voice, Faden thought.
She sensed the shadow move and once again sent it flying into another stall. Except, the doppleganger had learned. He adjusted. He knew that she wouldn't be aggressive since sh was just buying time. That worked for him. He hadn't had fun in awhile. Wake was too good at thwarting him over the years. Well, not this time!
Mr. Scratch grabbed Faden by the back of the neck. A strangled surprised sound made its way out of the Director. With a spin, the twisted face of a man she was fond of had slammed her against the mirror over the sinks. A yelp of pain left her as the glass broke, splinters cutting into her skin. His other hand raised and twisted the hand that held her flashlight. It hit the floor and he kicked it away.
"We just don't VIBE together, if you catch my drift. I like it dark, chaotic, a little spunky. You.... you, well," Mr. Scratch laughed. "You're just too damn mellow for me, Miss Director. And, I can't have you killing my vibe like that..."
He stopped as he could feel that natural calming vibration coming off the woman. Fucking hell, what a bitch. She just didn't want to listen, does she? He was trying to explain her situation to her and she had the audacity just to keep on going! He always knew he preferred them quiet.
Mr. Scratch moved in time to stop whatever it was Faden had planned. He pulled her back by that ponytail braid and slammed her head into the mirror once more. In return, however, Faden managed to get one strike in. A broken piece of wood from the one of the stalls sailed through the air and pierced Mr. Scratch right into the back. He snarled in agony before slamming the Director down into the sink. Then, he dropped her onto the floor.
Faden was dazed and seeing red. Not the same red she had seen stalking the halls of the Oldest House. No, this is her own red.
Mr. Scratch pulled out the comb once more and slicked back the hair that had been dislodged from the attacks. He knelt down beside Faden, tsking her as if she were a child in over her head. Maybe she was. She had no idea the darkness that lurked in the Dark Place--what could surface from Cauldron Lake.
"You know, I think I know a great place for you. There's a little old abandoned place nearby in Watery. And, mmm, let me tell you. They have some wild parties! I should know, I set it up. They're usually to die for, but, I think it's best if I ship you there after we're done talking. Oh, and, one teeny little detail I missed out." Mr. Scratch threw the comb behind him and a sleek knife comes out from his pocket. He flicked it side to side. "You can only enter by being a heartless bitch. Which, if your brother is any indication? You'll be a VIP."
He grabbed her head once more and slammed it down into the bathroom floor.
All Faden knew was darkness, but not the kind Wake knew.
Jesse finds herself jerking once more. She stands straight up, backing up, finding herself against the mirror of the bathroom. She breathes heavily, eyes darting immediately behind her to expect to see something there. Maybe Bright Falls is making her insane, as she swears she sees herself look back at her in the mirror an raise a finger to her lip.
She's seen something like that before, back with the mirror in the Oldest House...
She shakes her head and blinks again but her reflection is normal once more. Jesse shakily steps away from the mirrored wall to look at the ground below her. The floor, mirror, sink, and stalls are in tact. There's no evidence that she even fought in this room, let alone that there was someone in there with her. She raises her shaking hands to look herself over once more.
Her tactical gear? Wasn't she wearing something else?
« It really is a memory, isn't it? I died. WE died. But, how? We're not dead now. What... »
no subject
[ She has no idea exactly what is going on in his head at the reaction to "Deerfest", but she can tell it's not good. If her touch helps ground him? She's alright with it, even if it does feel a little out of character with herself. Or maybe it isn't? Some part of her feels as if it's something she has done before. Like something she forgot, but the feelings stubbornly cling to things she can't really explain. Not everything in life needs an explanation, but she wishes she had one for this.
If she was better at people she would have some sort of comforting words to say. Except, she's not.
Jesse doesn't even notice that Alan has started to follow her. Her mind is focused on trying to figure out what she saw and communing with Polaris. She knows what the images are, and that isn't what has her attention. What has it is figuring out if it was a message on the Hotline, like Wake had sent before, or if it really was a memory. Polaris insists it is, but she can't seem to believe that.
« It can't be a memory. It's never happened. At least, not to ME. »
But, who else has powers like her?
Jesse steps into the women's bathroom and closes the door behind her. Locks it, even. She doesn't want anyone else coming in while she does... whatever she's going to do. She really hasn't figured it out. Maybe she just needs a few deep breaths and tackle the issue later. Alan and the AWE are the current focus. Unless, this is part of the AWE...
Polaris shifts and tugs her down to the ground.
Jesse tilts her head and follows the nudging. Her hands touch the floor of the bathroom. It seems familiar even though it's her first time seeing it--isn't it? She can feel Polaris vibrating through her hands and into the ground. Something harmonizes with Polaris. Almost like... almost like it's Polaris's own resonance in the area around them.
« But, there's no HRAs or amplifiers here. It's just me. You haven't spread this far out have you... »
Then, she hears a tapping.
And humming.
Jesse finds herself jerking once more. She stands straight up, backing up, finding herself against the mirror of the bathroom. She breathes heavily, eyes darting immediately behind her to expect to see something there. Maybe Bright Falls is making her insane, as she swears she sees herself look back at her in the mirror an raise a finger to her lip.
She's seen something like that before, back with the mirror in the Oldest House...
She shakes her head and blinks again but her reflection is normal once more. Jesse shakily steps away from the mirrored wall to look at the ground below her. The floor, mirror, sink, and stalls are in tact. There's no evidence that she even fought in this room, let alone that there was someone in there with her. She raises her shaking hands to look herself over once more.
Her tactical gear? Wasn't she wearing something else?
« It really is a memory, isn't it? I died. WE died. But, how? We're not dead now. What... »
Her eyes widen.
Alan can alter reality. ]