On the run (Phoenix)

[Jamie]

Clothes were being thrown into the maroon suitcase without a care in the world; she had to leave this place real quick it was the only way to get out here in time. The black gun was in plain view on her bed as she just stared at it. She had taken a life, a man’s life. This gun, had been the gun he had turned on her, and she was grateful that she had taken those judo classes and a had a can of pepper spray in her purse at all times, her mother the old hag always pushed her to buy firearms and Athena (yes her mother actually named her that) always refused. She lived in Chicago nothing bad ever happened well, not to her at least she lived in a safe neighbourhood there was nothing to fear. He had come out of nowhere, this hooded fella’ grabbing her wrists and pushing her against the wall with a fierceness that made her cry out. He grabbed at her chocolate hair and whispered words into her ears that made her whimper. The cool barrel of a gun pushed against the nape of her neck, and she was sure she was dead.

Her arms wriggled in his grasp. Her purse not far from her grasp and so she continued to wiggle, and he grunted and tried to still her moving frame her fingers stretched and pushed against the leather of shoulder bag and out popped her pepper spray. She had told her dad, when he bought the can as a precaution that she’d had no need for thing, but now she was glad she had it – he had insisted she took it everywhere with her. Athena being the good girl promised and so she held her promise, harsh cold hands gripped her frame and pushed her so their noses were close together. “Smile for me.” He said which made Athena turn her head away. He let go of her, and it was enough. This small relief of hands was enough for her to bring the can of pepper spray to his face she emptied it at him, and he screamed swatting at the air and Athena grabbed the gun from his grasp and aimed it at him. He wildly lunged at her and Athena, a young and sweet innocent girl who couldn’t even harm a fly pulled the trigger ending this man’s life.

She had stood there the blood pooled around her brown shoes, you know the ones her mother had bought her for Christmas it took her a moment to register that she had taken a life, and he stared lifelessly at the black sky above their head. Blinking out of this paralyse she ran, ran straight from the alleyway he had held her in moments ago and to her apartment, and there she began to fill her suitcase with a variety of items of clothing. She didn’t care what went in there. She didn’t even have time to pick up her mobile phone, unknowing to the fact that if she had taken it she would be able to be tracked through it. Instead she grabbed her car keys and scurried outside opening the boot of her car – throwing the suitcase inside it and locking it up before lunging into the driver’s seat, she wasted no time fumbling for the engine key, stuck it in and revved it a couple of times before finding the biting point and off she went into the night, driving away from Chicago. She had no idea where she would go how long she’d have to drive for, all she knew was that if she stayed here she’d go to jail. She’d seen the programmes on the telly she knew what it was like there and she didn’t want that.

Two days later

The car had broken down, and she was out of money the woman’s matted dark tendrils stuck to her face, her suitcase clutched to her chest as she walked down the side of the road in the pouring rain, her trainers soaked through down to her socks, so much that her feet began to ache but the thought of being caught and going to jail spurred her on, she didn’t know where she was she knew she had crossed the border into Canada at some point last night, but she didn’t pay much attention to anything else, it was sad really. Cars drove by her, their music blaring out of the windows driving by without any care as they drove into puddles and continuously splashed her until she looked like a drowned rat. Athena was all cried out, she had shed her tears at her steering wheel as she cried, now she felt incapable of feeling, and it was coupled with the numbness of the rain.

Athena looked up then, to find a sign. Her hazel eyes look at it. ‘Harper Rock’ it read, and ahead of her was a small tavern. She strived forward, the warmth of this small building drove her on twenty minutes later she was opening the doors to this building she went straight to the bar and looked at the man at the counter with a sad stare. ”Where am I?” she asked. “Harper Rock, Canada. Why?” Athena shook her head, she didn’t know if it was disbelief or if it was cold she slumped down on one of the bar stools and looked at this man again. ”I have no money. I need something warm, I am cold I’ve been walking.. for a long time.” she hoped this man would understand, instead he nodded his head and pushed a glass a water her way. “Water is the only free thing here. You want to earn money, go stand on the street corners.” ”But it’s raining” “Too bad?” His voice full of sarcasm, and Athena hung her head.

[Phoenix]

Despite past affiliations with clubs and bars all over town, it wasn't often these nights that Phoenix bothered leaving her apartment. Her old haunts were still thriving in Harper Rock's dangerous night life, but the urge to get out and drink herself stupid was all but gone. There was something to be said for how an intolerance to alcohol made one much more reluctant to mingle. And it wasn't like she had a date to tow around for the dancing aspect...

No, every time she went out, she ended up the seemingly easy target of whatever creep decided that they wanted a tiny little ginger to take home for the night. That got old fast. Of course Nix could handle herself just fine, but she'd tired of breaking fingers ages ago, and not even the look on their faces when they realized what a horrible mistake they'd made was enough to draw her out of hiding.

So how it was she'd found herself sitting at a table in Rossi's, Phoenix had no idea. Boredom, she supposed. Aimless wandering in search of something nasty to kill had brought her to the stoop of the bar and the redhead hadn't fought the urge to slip inside. It was a mild night for an Ontario winter, and the snow had melted into horrendously slushy puddles with brackish, icy water collecting at every street corner. Even if the bar atmosphere wasn't something she wanted to deal with at the moment, at least it was out of the rain and slush.

Maybe she'd stumble upon Prince Charming one day if she let herself give in to a bit of spontaneity once in a while. Nix meandered her way into the bar and dropped down at the least filthy table she could spot. When one of the waitresses came by, she ordered a rum and coke (not that she'd drink it), sat back and waited for something interesting to happen. After half an hour of lascivious leers and lewd commentary, the woman was about fed up. She'd pushed herself to her feet, fully intent on sneaking home for the night, when the door swung open and a very wet, very miserable looking woman slogged inside.

Inching closer, Nix eyed the girl who'd clearly not dressed for the weather and frowned. The least the asshole could have given her was a warm glass of water and a bit of civility. Phoenix was hardly a philanthropist, but she felt compelled to help this woman - she could, so why not.

Sliding onto the stool next to the soggy woman, she waved the bartender back over. "Get the ******* girl a hot chocolate and a goddamn sandwich. I'll pay for it." Turning to the woman, she arched a brow, then offered a smile. "Welcome to Harper Rock... I'll see what I can do about getting you something dry before everything freezes..."

[Jamie]

Athena gritted her teeth at the man; he had refused to give her anything that could warm her bones. The woman sat on this stool her wet clothes clung to her skin, droplets of water fell from the ends of her chocolate hair. She looked at this man flabbergasted. She had nothing to give him, she had little to no money she even had no bag with her. The car had wiped her of all money she had, spent on petrol. The one thing that ran through her mind was;

‘Why did I shoot him?’
And the response that her consciousness gave her was. ‘He would have killed you otherwise.’

Survival of the fittest seemed to fit into her thoughts, was she the fittest or was it just it pure luck, that she had to blow out his brains to get out of that one alive, it was just reflexes, instinct. Her pepper spray her father gave her didn’t work. Athena thought back to when she saw the whites of his eyes looking at her. How cold and angry they had been, even in death. Athena was too numb, too far in thought to see the fiery red head take a seat next to her.

Athena’s dark, wet hair touched the pale, cold skin of the other next to her. The woman’s words made her turn. The abrupt language, and then the way she looked at her with almost pity. Athena gave the woman a smile, a sincere smile that thanked her.

”You don’t have to pay for it…” she started as her hand began to ruffle through her pocket and pulled out two soggy notes, and a sigh escaped her lips. Well. There goes that plan the rain had ruined her money the hiss left her lips but it caught in her through and a shiver ran over her whole body and the woman looked back to the fiery red head. ”I can pay you back, once.. I find a place and a job.” she woman’s hazel eyes looked out of the window to the corner of the street. Would she had to become one of those woman, just to pay this woman back for her kindness.

”I don’t deserve your kindness.” she told the woman.

[Phoenix]

The bartender shot Nix a look as if what he wanted most in the world was to pull a shotgun from under the counter and blow her arrogant brains out. Instead, he just fetched what she'd ordered as slow as he could manage without being reprimanded by his boss. Not like Nix really cared how fast she got the sandwich and hot chocolate, she just cared that the woman got fed so she wouldn't... you know... die of exposure or starvation or whatever it was that happened when you were wet, cold and hungry.

"Relax and put those away," she reassured the woman as she pushed the two $1 bills back. "For starters, they're American and they're soggy, which is gross. For seconders I can afford a sandwich and a drink. Besides." She nodded to the bartender, "He deserves a bit of humility. You don't need to pay me back."

After a moment of silence once the place and hot chocolate were set down and the whole paid for with a shiny new $20 bill, Phoenix returned her gaze to the soggy woman at her side. "Maybe you don't deserve my kindness, but you're getting it anyway, so deal with it however you need to and don't call it charity." The redhead drummed her black nails over the counter top as she watched Athena and her new food, a bit fascinated. It was almost selfish of her to live vicariously through this girl, but she'd have killed a lot of people to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of a bloody sandwich and mug of steaming chocolate deliciousness.

"My name's Phoenix, by the way. What's your story?"

[Jamie]

Athena watched this red headed woman with curiosity. Pushing bands if chocolate behind her ears, hazel eyes looking about her surrounds the scent of sweat mixed with alcohol (all types) filled her nostrils and it made her feel sick. It was not a smell she was used to, she liked the smells of lavender and fresh camomile all within her small flat, with a hot cup of green tea sitting neatly on a coaster, yet now she was sitting drenched in a tavern being told that any money she could make would be on street corners the only person who was showing her any kind of kindness was this woman with hair made of fire.

The woman told her that she didn’t have to pay her back and Athena nodded her head, her mother had been odd. She was a teacher (about fifteen years ago) she taught her pupils about Greek mythology. How odd that she named her own daughter Athena, the goddess of war and battle strategies. Odd considering tonight she was going to die though she didn’t know it right now but there was something deep inside her belly that told her there was something odd about this place – may it be that she caught the eyes of curious men as they looked at her as if she was something to eat.

The hot chocolate was pushed in front of her then the scent filled her nose and she hungrily lifted the warm mug to her lips and took a slurp, it was hot against her mouth – but damn did she enjoy it. Within seconds the hot, thick chocolaty liquid gone. Moments later a ham salad sandwich was pushed in front of her, white bread dotted with seeds it looked somewhat healthy she dug in then, picked at the sandwich like a hungry peasant who hadn’t seen food for years within seconds (again.) the sandwich had been devoured.

”Athena, yes like the greek god.” She gave a light shrug of her shoulders and a small laugh to boot. ”I got into trouble down in Chicago, I….had to leave and here I am. – You?” she asked as she wriggled in her chair feeling slightly warmer with that hot chocolate in her belly.

[Phoenix]

The redhead remained in perfect silence as Athena inhaled the hot chocolate and the sandwich. Always having been one to sip her hot beverages carefully while they cooled to acceptable, less than scalding temperatures, Phoenix found the sight of vanishing liquid fascinating. And maybe somewhat painful; that temperature had to hurt. Little Orphan Annie was going to regret that one later unless she had a mouth of steel.

Only seconds later, the sandwich was raised from the plate, never to touch its battered surface again. I she even chewing? that little voice inquired. Nix opened her mouth to ask this woman - Athena - if she'd even tasted the sandwich once she was done, but then the woman thought better of it. After the scalding her taste buds had just endured, she probably hadn't tasted it at all.

"Then we're both named after old Greek thinks. For the most part," she quipped dryly, flicking her eyes to the bartender who seemed to still be glaring at her. Silly man. All she did was smile in return before her attention flicked back to the Wet One.

"Trouble? That seems like an understatement... A flat tire is trouble. Losing your wallet is trouble. Getting harassed is trouble. You always go home after trouble," the woman mused idly, letting her words hang in the air between them as she beckoned the bartender to get another sandwich, when pointed to a take away box. She didn't think the man quite deserved the effort it would take to communicate verbally. Besides, he hadn't returned her change from the twenty. "I don't think I need to point out that this isn't home." However, she didn't push the subject. Instead, the woman answered the question she'd been asked.

"I came out for dinner, and then realized I wasn't all that interested in what this place had to offer. Take the sandwich and follow me, you can stay on my couch. I might even have something warmer that fits you." She paused, just long enough to ensure Athena had heard her, had understood, before turning and heading for the door. The woman had no real choice... unless she wanted to take the bartender's advice and enjoy the cold, wet street corner.

Halfway to the door, the stick-like creature paused and flicked honey brown eyes over her shoulder, a delicate ochre brow rising in silent question. Are you coming?

[Jamie]

The empty cup sat idly on the counter as the chocolate haired woman pushed the cup away from her using the back of her hand as a clothe, because thats how she had began to do things, like a cave woman she had been exposed to the outdoors for days, she hadn't had proper food in her belly in god knows how long -- and now this woman in front of her with fire for hair was showing her kindness.

The question she really wanted to ask was; 'Are you going to murder me?' because thats what murderers did. They lulled you into a false sense of security and then stabbed you multiple times and watch you bleed out on the -- the whites of the males eyes came flashing into her mind, for a moment in her seat in this tavern, Athena jumped and let out a small shrill. The man looked at her and I mean REALLY looked at her. Such emptiness, his deathly stare bore into her golden irises and she turned then, so her stare found Phoenix.

"Errrr.."

She felt the need to purr through her peach lips, as the woman continued on beside her, Athena did what felt natural to her, she slouched her chin resting against her palm - as her elbow leaned against the mahogany counter.

"Your named after a greek goddess too?"

Now she was interested, perhaps there was something about her parents generation that screamed 'lets name our children after gods that probably weren't even real' seemed logical, at the very least.

TROUBLE.

Phoenix said those words - to her. Mulling over her story she thought what the hell, if she told the truth well the other would probably think her crazy - think the cold had got to her head.

"I killed someone."

She said, her words edgy, rough.

"I liked it."

Well, she didn't really know if she liked it or not, but she wasn't a bubbling wreck like she thought she would be - she was far from it, actually she was holding herself together pretty well for someone who had just committed murder, it made her feel as if she could do it again.

"That's why I ran."

There, so the truth had been spilled was this woman going to believe her? she hoped not, even if this person did and decided to call the cops well, she had no where else to run - she could always run further north, run to the North Pole and freeze to death, Lovely Athena.. how much more morbid could you be? -- she thought.

'You can stay on my couch, warm clothes, take the sandwich'

Athena blinked and did as the woman said, she grabbed the remnants of her sandwich and followed Phoenix out into the cold again, clinging to the wet clothes around her thin frame. "I don't want to be a bother." She said.

[Phoenix]

Phoenix probably should have been a bit more worried by someone flat out admitting that they’d killed someone and liked it, but she just wasn’t. The jumpy little squeak Athena let out just kind of amused her, too. She’d almost blurted out something along the lines of “just one?” before realizing she was sitting in a human bar where murder – especially mass murder – was just not all that acceptable. You know, it was just kind of frowned upon in most societies. At least Canada wasn’t too fond of corporal punishment.

As Athena followed her out into the night, the redhead couldn’t keep the smile from her lips. She felt like she’d found her little psychotic protégé, albeit one half frozen to death.

“Trust me; it’s not a bother at all. You can just clean my apartment to pay me back or something. God knows I’m not exactly a domestic goddess… I’m not exactly Little Miss Innocent, either,” she admitted as the bar door swung shut, admitting them to the cold night air of Harper Rock. “I’ve done my fair share of dastardly things, but you’re safe with me. I just kind of like taking in stray puppies, so why not take in a stray people?” With a wink thrown over her shoulder, she set off in the direction of her apartment, hoping Little Miss Ice Cube would – or could – keep up.

“I wasn't exactly named after a Greek goddess. My name’s Phoenix. It’s more of a weird Greek thing. Then again, it’s kind of fitting, what with the hair and the doing general phoenix-like things.” It seemed like a bad time to mention rising from the dead and all, so she kept quiet and let Athena think what she would of that enigmatic comment. A short while later, the door of Beta Towers came into view and the woman pointed. “I live here. We’re close, so don’t freeze to death just yet.”

[Jamie]

Athena didn't think she just acted, the red headed woman (and soon to be killer.) coaxed her outdoors into the night, the wet clothes she wore snaked around her hour glass frame and chilled her to the bone. How annoying that she had to kill someone, and run away. If she had stayed where she was she wouldn't be here in Canada. She would be in a prison cell, warm and maybe even fed.

That was better than being cold and following a stranger to her apartment. For a split second she felt bad, this woman was offering her a place to crash and god she needed it. She hadn't slept in a while, she'd been in a car driving and driving for 2 days. Her tongue lapped at her wet lips.

Phoenix.

Phoenix.

The woman's name rang through her ears. It was a mythical bird, she knew that much. She'd watched enough Harry Potter to know that if a Phoenix died, it would burst into flames and a new Phoenix would be born amongst the ashes a repetitive cycle that would never end, ironic that a parent would call their child such a thing. But she couldn't complain, no not at all. Her parents called her Athena; the goddess of war and battle strategies.

Ha.

Athena could clean the woman's apartment as payback, she laughed and nodded her head it wasn't the best of laughs it was croaky and sore.

"Of course. Anything to pay you back Phoenix."

But the woman went on about how she took in stray puppies, or more or less people. Did that make her a good person helping others in need, or - - there was a nasty thought that just popped into her head and it made her weary. Did every person she help ever get seen again?

She eyed the females small frame. She didnt look strong but looks can be deceiving. What if this woman was going to kill her? After what happened in the alleyway she was very weary of others now so untrusting, her guard never falling. Her golden hues looked at the woman again as she mentioned they were close to the apartment and the woman in turn looked for something that she could use as a weapon, just in case.

She spotted it on the ground there a rock with a rather sharp edge. Enough to make someone bleed, right now her gut instincts were telling her to run away that it wasn't safe, but her head was telling her it was warm where they were going and shed be safe. Athena tucked the rock into her trouser pocket, and followed Phoenix.

[Phoenix]

Although the movement was silent, Phoenix heard the woman pause and pluck a rock from the ground. She didn't turn back, though - she didn't need to. The scraping of stone against stone, no matter how faint in the frigid night, was unmistakable. She'd been able to sense the hesitation, of course, but a rock as a weapon? It seemed so weak... The redhead had to force back a laugh, which she covered with a cough. What the **** was Athena going to do with a rock?

Despite her emaciated frame, even in life, Nix could have taken on a man nearly twice her size without a problem. Muscle memory, or some such thing. Self-defense was second nature and had been since she was a child. Her sensei had made sure of it, especially after her parents had died. The silent laughter died from her lips at the rush of emotion caused by the recollection of a middle-aged Japanese man screaming at her. Perhaps not killing Athena would be homage enough to the ghost of the man who'd shaped her future in so many ways...

As the door opened, delightfully warm air greeted the pair. She was sure Little Miss Ice Cube would be uncomfortable as hell soon enough, so she rushed to the elevator. Thankfully, it wooshed open immediately. Once stepping inside, Nix jabbed the button to the sixth floor. As the elevator rose, the Shadow chatted.

"Once we get inside, I'd suggest you get in the shower right away. Don't turn the water on too hot - I don't want you going into shock or anything. There should be a clean bathrobe behind the door, so you can use that until I find you some of my old stuff. And there's a basket for the wet stuff..."

She'd managed to maintain her shadow during the time at the bar, but now in the strange neon lighting of the elevator, that concentration wavered. Later, she'd blame it on the rambling.

Of course, she acted like nothing was amiss as the elevator dinged and opened onto the sixth floor. With a spring in her step, Nix opened the door to her home and stepped inside the plush, boudoir-themed apartment.

"Bathroom's on the left," she called out behind her. Then silently, to herself, "What the **** am I doing...? This is a pretty elaborate set up for dinner."