Time Warp: This Place They Brought Me To (Open)

[Deleted]

October, 2011

Oriel sat in the corner of his room, staring at the bed he'd yet to sleep in. Too nice. It was too nice. All of this was far too nice for a piece of scum like him. How they got away with picking up a no-good street-rat like Oriel was a mystery. Gave him a room, a bed, a desk, a lamp though he broke that shit on his first day; he even had clothes that fit him. A place to wash them, so he didn't have to wear the same shit every fucking day.

He didn't deserve any of this. Why didn't they just stop? Why didn't they just leave him where he was? He was...happy.

Oriel didn't need a fucking education! He told that Dr. Campbell that, practically screamed it at him when the dude came and picked him up. The jerk practically ripped him away from the old guy at the tattoo joint.

The 14-year-old kept replaying that scene over and over in his head, wondering if there was anything at all he could've done differently to keep this from happening. Oriel didn't want to leave New York. He was...miserable here. He hated this place.

It was too much. Oriel looked around the vacant room again. It...was it this big a moment ago? Oriel felt a surge well up from within him, one that wanted him to throw and destroy anything he could get his hands on. He couldn't breath. Yet amidst all the spiraling, Oriel thought in the back of his mind, I can't do that. It was too nice. They'd throw him out if he did that.

Thirty seconds later, Oriel was climbing down the side of the building and running across the grass of the courtyard towards the street that led to the town of Pilot Ridge.

The sun had already set. It was chilly out. There were few, if any, other students straggling about the dark campus. If anyone saw him, he didn't know. Oriel made his way through streets, illuminated only by a line of dim street-lamps. He pushed himself through the door to a convenience store, immediately heading towards the back coolers, and pulled two cans of some random beer from the racks. Oriel didn't bother looking at the attendant on his way out, though he did hear him yelling after him as the boy bolted down the street. He'd duck into an alleyway and behind a dumpster where he'd slide down against the wall and enjoy his profits.

[Rayne Vikenti]

((Due to pbs being a pain and Dia being lazy... Rayne looks fairly similar to how she does now. I.E this))

Rayne was glad to be a meta, even more glad that life seemed to be going her way and the petite girl had finally made friends outside of her brother's circle. She actually didn't care for the people he hung out with anyway. Especially that creepy goth boy who kept hanging around. But since she was living at Uncle Kent's rent free, dorm free, hassle free, she figured having to deal with Shaw was just part of the package.

Since she wasn't living on campus, Rayne often spent her evening walking around Pilot Ridge. Granted, the 16-year-old was not stupid and took her rather large, if overly protective rottweiler with her. Seeing Adonis seemed to scare away a majority of the people who would do the girl harm and until recently what her dog couldn't scare off, her near 7 foot brother could. But Antosha wasn't around anymore and pretty soon Mayu would be leaving as well. Leaving Rayne alone in the house with only Adonis and Kent for company.

Anyone else might have taken this opportunity to try and spend as much time with their sibling before they left. But Rayne didn't want to spend time with Mayu. In her mind it would only make the separation that much harder, even if it was months away. Instead the small girl had pulled away from her sister and spent more and more time out alone with only her dog and her thoughts for company.

It happened to be on that particular night that her cycle of wandering the streets was broken- in the form of a boy bolting down the street with echoing shouts. Rayne grinned some and flipped her recently dyed black hair over her shoulder before running after the boy, her dog barking in (what she thought) a mixture of confusion and excitement. The girl was far too used to her brother's antics to question what the boy was doing, or even to ponder any legal ramifications of whatever had just occurred. Instead she walked her skinny little butt into the alley with all the nosiness of a young girl and peered in the darkness for the figure she was sure darted in here.

Eventually her gray-blue eyes caught sight of a boy hiding behind a dumpster and Rayne quickly walked over, keeping a tight grip on her dog's leash as he strained to get closer to the stranger. Most likely to lick the boy's face, but Rayne wasn't taking any chances. "Well! Hi there! What's that you have?" Her voice was far softer and more subdued than what someone would expect when paired with the bubbling cheeriness piping through.

[Deleted]

The 14-year-old heard the sounds of a dog, which only urged him to run faster. It was what he was used to; running. He’d run pretty much anywhere just to get away from those who were chasing him, whether it was a store owner, a cop, or a stupid dog. Back then, he’ve found an alley to hop into and would’ve found some way to scale the wall into the fire escape, where he’d just keep going up to the top of the building. Maybe he’d duck down into someone’s window before anyone had a chance to see and just hide out in some stranger’s bedroom until the coast was clear. Or maybe that window belonged to a friend of his, or to another from whichever gang he was running with at the time.

Either way, Oriel rarely got caught. When he did, it was a week of the “good-boy” act after the cops carted him home and his fosters gave him a half-hearted earful about how much trouble he was causing them. A little bit of school just to appease them, get more earfuls from the teachers he hadn’t seen in over a week, maybe get in a fight or two with the asshole kids who liked to viciously point out every good thing they had that he lacked; then he was right back out on the streets again, running.

He should’ve swiped a couple packs of cigs while he was at it, but Oriel wouldn’t’ve had the time. The key to a good score was in how quickly you got it over an done with. All that sneaky shit was just a waste of time, just had to be in and out, keep your head down, and get out of there quick so nobody could follow you. Never hit the same store twice, or at least leave a couple months in between hits.

Sometimes, though, you get someone daring enough to leave their post and give chase. That’s what Oriel had almost thought about this chick who rounded into his alley with a big fucking dog! Holy fuck, that was a big dog!

Oriel’s breath caught in his throat as he saw the dog before he saw the petite girl attached to the end of it’s leash. He backed up and started inching away from the animal until he hit the corner of the wall and the dumpster. Oriel’s eyes darted up to the girl when she spoke. “Nothing!” he protested vehemently. “I didn’t do nothing, go away! And take your stupid dog with you, ugly bitch!” Oriel clenched his teeth, seeming to bare his own baby-lion fangs at the pair before him.

[Rayne Vikenti]

Rayne hadn't really been thinking much when she gave chase to the boy running down the street. Vague possibilities of the boy being in trouble had floated in her head but Rayne didn't think that was it given the fact none of those thoughts stuck around long enough to bloom into something. In fact if Rayne had to pick one reason why she was giving chase then it was because this would be something. Something in her life that wasn't hiding out in her room with books. Not hiding out in the library until Liam could find her and drag her out. Not staring out the window in hopes her brother would return.

Granted she really didn't know what to expect as she ran after the boy. For all she knew the boy could have held the store at gunpoint. He could hate metas. He could try to rob her. Though it would be really stupid to do so, what with the giant dog at her side that could easily tear out someone's throat at the first sign of trouble and would actually do so. If there was trouble.

Her footsteps hesitated at the opening of the alley as a thick feeling of apprehension washed over her. Did she really want to willingly offer herself up to someone she didn't know? To take the chance on them being nice? Rayne was still pondering as her feet made up her mind and continued forward as though nothing happened, being led by Adonis' desire to explore what they had chased. So she spoke and was a little surprised to be greeted by a familiar tone. Fear. The boy was afraid.

Rayne's stone washed eyes opened wider as she looked down at the boy baring fangs at her but offered a smile, tugging gently on Adonis' leash. The dog turned his large head to study her and cocked his head to the side. Rayne tilted her head back and clicked her tongue gently, just as Ant's friend had shown her, pointing to the opening of the alley. Without any further fuss or words spoke, Adonis walked over and plopped in the middle of the alley opening, his back to the two metas so he could watch the street.

With that done, Rayne turn back to the boy, somehow missing the fact that the stranger had insulted her. Instead she just gave him a hesitant smile. "There. Adonis is gone. That better? Done being angry?" She asked, glancing around the ground before kneeling down a ways from him. The only reason Rayne was holding her calm was because she recognized the 'I hate dogs' vibe being thrown off. She'd seen it many times before with her older brother and even exploited it on occasion.

[Deleted]

Oriel didn’t like dogs. That was the first thing that could be said as his eyes laid upon the giant rottweiler that stood next to the petite girl. Oriel might have taken the time to appreciate the girl, she had style and was fashionistic, but she may as well have been homely for all Oriel noticed in the face of the dog that had him two seconds away from chucking the beer can at, calling it a sacrifice, and running towards the nearest sanctuary he could find.

The girl did some weird things with her tongue, who the fuck know what it was, and the behemoth turned tail to go stand guard at the entrance to the alley.

Then the bitch opened her mouth and proved her idiocy.

Just because the dog was gone didn’t mean that Oriel was okay. He’d have been on guard regardless of the situation save for the one where he was left alone, to drink his spoils in peace. The fact that she had sent the dog away only made Oriel more suspicious of her, of the girl who could control the dog with a mere sound, and who had followed him into the alley after he’d done something that would naturally have caused alarm in the average person. For all Oriel knew, this bitch had already called the cops on him and was just buying time, keeping him cornered until they got there.

Oriel had no reason to trust the ebony haired girl.

“You deaf and dumb, ho? I said, go ‘way! Or do you need some extra persuasion!?” Oriel had eased his way onto his haunches, clutching the open can in one hand while the other rolled harmlessly at his side. He didn’t want to use them as weapons if he didn’t have to, especially not against a girl. But if she was going to be stubborn, then he’d lash out without holding back and make a run for it. The cops couldn’t be far behind after this chick showing up..

[Rayne Vikenti]

Rayne hadn't really considered that she might have been the problem rather than Adonis. Until meeting the male, Rayne had a fairly sheltered view of what people were like (Shaw didn't count). People either completely ignored her, or she ignored them. It wasn't until the start of the year that she made friends that Ant didn't introduce her to. And all the ones she met through her brother only lasted so long, but they were always nice to her. She'd never seen someone actively try to bully her since she'd first moved to America all those years ago.

So when the boy opened his mouth the second time, Rayne felt all her recently gained confidence slip away like water through cupped hands. She tried scrambling to find some kind of back bone so she wouldn't completely crumble under the hostility. Anything, really. After a few moments - during which her face because just a little paler and she bit into her lower lip - Rayne finally stood up. If only because the boy before her had, and she had seen enough horror movies (unfortunately) to know that if there was anger she never wanted to be unable to run.

"I, um..." She started off lamely, not really sure where to go from her half-assed sentence. Still grasping for her spine Rayne just tilted her eyes to the ground to avoid any further type of confrontation. "...Um... I come in peace?" Alright. She was fairly sure a movie quote wasn't going to help her. Why wasn't she running? Obviously it was what the boy wanted. But the thought of actually doing what the stranger wanted had fled right along with any nerve she had.

((Hrm...))

[Deleted]

The chick was the problem. The dog was the problem. This whole fucking town was the problem! Oriel didn’t want to be here! He’d had a perfectly nice life back in New York, friends, the old guy, he knew what was what and where he could go and what he could do and what he couldn’t…. This place….he didn’t know anything. He didn’t know anyone. He didn’t know the streets, otherwise he’d have plotted out a more effective escape route. There were rules he couldn’t follow, people he just wanted to punch, and a room with his name on it with nice clothes bought just for him and it was all just too fucking nice for a piece of trash like him!

And when he just wants to fucking relax by himself, he gets tracked down by someone he doesn’t know, someone with a big fucking dog, who he had no way of knowing if she was friend or foe. The fact that she spoke ‘friend’ didn’t mean shit to him. The term “liar” existed for a reason!

Oriel kept his back up against the wall, his stance at the ready to bolt if he needed to in a pinch, maybe shove the girl aside if he really had to. “Like fuck,” he said sharply. “Your shy girl act ain’t fooling nobody. How long ago’d you tip ‘em off, Miss Wednesday Adams Wannabe?”

[Rayne Vikenti]

She continued watching the boy, still internally grasping for her backbone. For a spine. For anything that would help her stand up in front to the boy before her. He reminded her somewhat of the boys she had first met when she moved to America. All bark and bite. Yelling at her for things she couldn't possibly help. Saying things she had no chance of understanding. At least now no one was making fun of how she spoke.

But she was a different person now. She was a meta. A rather special meta, if anyone asked the opinion of her brother. Maybe Rayne didn't fully believe it herself but she grasped onto Ant's sentiments. At the very least she could fake some confidence.

Or she would have. Until the boy spoke, once again enjoying insulting her. Or at least she assumed he was enjoying it since he kept on doing it. Rayne didn't scoot back any, but she didn't move any closer either. Staying still seemed like her safest bet, like he was some kind of wild animal.

"Um... I did not call anyone." Her voice was a bit too hesitant for the boy to be able to believe her. So she cleared her throat and reached into her pocket to pull out her phone as proof. "You... Don't have to be so, um, hateful.. See?" With that she turned her phone to show her recent calls.

[Deleted]

“Liar!” he snapped without hesitation. There was so little one could do to get past the boy’s hostile defenses. He was agitated, paranoid, on edge, scared….it was no surprise that all that emotion came out as anger. As hate for any and all who came near him. Because if he acted in the way he really wanted to, then that would leave him utterly defenseless and open to an unexpected attack. To trickery.

He wouldn’t be fooled. Not by this girl. That’s how they all started, sweet and ‘understanding’. Like they wanted to be your best friend. And then the second Oriel dared to trust them, they stabbed him in the back.

Oriel had to look out for himself, because nobody was going to do it for him. Nobody cared enough to do it, only for themselves.

Oriel twitched slightly as she reached into her pocket, sure that she might pull something from it. And not the something that she did pull. Oriel panned his eyes over her recent calls list….even for the illiterate boy, he could see that there weren’t any numbers on it that resembled 9-1-1, but that didn’t mean much. She could have called someone else. And what? Was he supposed to be able to see the tiny timestamps from that distance? He didn’t have hawk-eyes or nothing! “I’ll be however I fucking want!” he snapped, sliding his outside foot further to the side as he slowly tried to creep himself out from the corner. “You’re the one sticking your ugly nose where it don’t belong!” Though honestly, she wasn’t that ugly.

[Rayne Vikenti]

Rayne didn't know what to think of the boy. Really. She was trying not to let his snapping get to her but the accusation of being a liar threw her through yet another loop. How was she supposed to argue against that? Obviously the boy wouldn't believe her even if she beat the facts over his incredibly thick skull. Not that she would. Nope. She was more than happy to slowly sneak away from the anger-filled boy. Now if only her feet would listen to her.

After a minute of holding out her phone, she realized the distance meant he couldn't really see who she called. So, against the protests of her brain, Rayne moved closer. Unknowingly further blocking the boy from the entry of the alley as she continued holding out the phone so he could see the time stamp. "I. Didn't. Call. Anyone." Her voice was a bit stronger as she punctuated her words.

Why was she even bothering with the boy? She didn't want to be here. He was rude and angry and all she wanted to do was run the other direction. But her body didn't listen to her. The stray thought that her brother might kill her if she left a young kid alone on the streets also passed through her head. "I'm just... Trying to help...?"

[Deleted]

At this age, Oriel and rational were not the best of friends. Or maybe it was logic that he had issues with? Definitely trust thought. Oriel and trust had not had a decent conversation in a long time, not since…not since he was with his foster granny when he was seven. She had been the only woman that Oriel had trusted for a long time….if Oriel had his way, he’d still be with that old gal.

But no, Oriel was stuck here, around people he didn’t know and had no reason to trust. Why couldn’t people just leave him alone? Let him live his own life the way he wanted, he’d stay out of the way and never be a bother to nobody!

Oriel tensed as she stared to inch her way closer. His eyes flit from her to the phone in her hand. What was this, a trick? It was a trick for her to get closer! And then once he was pre-occupied with the phone, she’d turn all vigilante on him and then call in her buds who were just hiding around the corner with her dumb dog! Oriel wouldn’t be fooled.

“Stay away!” he warned, his voice sharp as a knife. Oriel swallowed, his eyes darting around the alley then back to the girl, expecting someone to come out any minute. To sneak up on them.

“S’what they always say,” he insisted. “They’re always trying t’help…then they stick you in a place exactly where you don’t wanna be.” Oriel knew all the tricks. He’d sooner become a runaway than let himself be forced someplace again.