Nubiana Chronicles- Ch.3
CHAPTER 3
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Many lives are faced with fate and coincidence, it's a natural fact though it is up to each individual to choose to decide what they are dealing with. Coincidence can have an eerie affect on one's outlook on coming events, it is in these times a question of fate is brought into the picture. Is it coincidence or just a matter of fate that really causes things to happen in our lives.
At the same time when what seems as coincidence after coincidence continue to occur one after another one has to question whether they have a choice or not. Given there is always a choice, are we directed by fate and consequence with our choices and actions based from how we choose to handle each seeming coincidence. In any cases we can only look to each seeming coincidence and ponder whether to trust our gut instinct or go against what we begin to feel that is right. After all, it is considered a individual has a set of destinies and outcomes in life, it's the choices with each set of coincidences that determines which of those fates we end up in.
Nubiana followed close behind the girl in front of her, even just a few yards of a walk for the girl but she was still skipping and bouncing down the hall. The hall itself seemed wore down, spots of graffiti covered some lengths of the beige colored walls while most of the florescent lights were either missing or hanging from the ceiling. The sight of a mostly darkened hallway and the flickering of the lights that were still intact only made the jackal girl wonder why she would even live in these kinds of conditions.
The jackal girl watched as Sarina moved her bag that had been slung over her shoulder and fished around in one of the front pockets on the large rectangular bag. The girl pulled out a small key and moved quickly to one of the doors in the hallway that had the same dingy brass numbering, reading 35, attached to the door. The number made her smile softly, watching spots of the grimed over brass plating glint in the flickering light of the hallways. Once the door was unlocked and opened Nubiana followed Sarina inside the apartment, the human girl closing and locking the door once they were both inside.
Nubiana looked back at the door as she heard the sound of the deadbolt sliding metal against metal until a clicking noise was heard. Sarina looked back seeing the demi goddess watching her and she sighed deeply, it was one of the first times she had seen a very serious look on the girl's face. The girl put a hand on the door, leaning into it for a moment before turning back around to face Nubiana, "I don't trust the people around here. I hate it here to be honest."
Before Nubiana could say anything Sarina moved through the front hallway deeper into the apartment, "i've lived here almost my whole life though. My parents bought two apartments and then we knocked down the walls in between them and remodeled the whole apartment." Sarina walked into the kitchen area, Nubiana followed looking around as she did so, noticing the clean soft beige colored walls of the apartment.
Most of the entryway had various picture frames hung from the wall and placed on the tall but skinny wood table that was painted black set aside to one wall. Nubiana noticed a few pictures which Sarina was in by herself, others she was accompanied by another human, a male figure that looked fairly larger and more built than her. His masculine features and darker skin tone contrasting against Sarina's own lithe carmel toned body. She found a picture of the same male besides a picture of Sarina, he wore a black hat with a gold star like symbol on the front, his broad shoulders filled up the bottom portion of the picture dawned in a black jacket also fitted with various symbols and medallions on the chest and bicep areas.
Nubiana continued on coming into the kitchen area where Sarina now sat up on the counter, her legs hanging and swinging lazily from side to side. She just seemed to be staring at the squared, glowing green numbers on the black stainless steel microwave which matched the array of black wood cupboards surrounding it and the rest of the kitchen. Her hands gripped the edge of the gray marble countertop keeping her in place where she say, the expression across her face was cold and blank, "you can stay here for a while if you want. It'll be nice to have some company here and not be alone all the time."
"I thought you lived with your brother, you make it sound like you live alone," replied Nubiana softly. She really didn't like the sudden change in the girl's personality. It was almost numbing, starting the day in a lost state of mind, regaining her sanity after meeting Sarina and now seeing the girl like this made her feel lost again.
"I do," Sarina replied depressingly, "but he's gone a lot because of work." The human girl looked back towards Nubiana and smiled, seeming to snap back into her normally ecstatic self as she jumped down of the countertop and began for the rest of the apartment. She led the demi goddess through the living room area quickly leaving her barely any time to look around and establish her surroundings.
The jackal girl ran her hand down the back of the couch, it was a familiar texture to her, leather also in black, contrasting against the white coffee table. The couch was pointed towards the far wall which had a larger silver flat panel like television. Despite living in the realm of the Gods, Nubiana and others like her had at least some small knowledge of the technology and events happening in the human realm, it was part of their duties as deities to at least try to keep up with current events of humans.
Sarina quickly walked through another doorway, reaching around the corner of the door frame and flipping the light switch, "so this is my bedroom." The girl was back to her usual self as it would seem, the bounce in her step becoming larger and more noticeable as she strolled into the bedroom. Nubiana walked in behind her looking around at the walls, each of them covered in an array of posters of all shapes and sizes as well as a wall covered in graffiti and splotches of paint. The room itself seemed spacious though the bed and easel like desk didn't take up much space as it was.
Sarina took a small hop then jumped, lying out on her back onto the platform bed which had a white frame and chester drawers while on top it dawned black and pink bedding and sheets. The girl then sat up and looked towards Nubiana who was standing in her doorway still changing her focus from staring at Sarina to looking around the teen's room. The girl cocked her head slightly, bringing a hand to her chin and rubbing her fingers against the skin in a thinking like display, "so we could either situate you two ways. One," Sarina held up her index finger extending her hand as Nubiana was slightly caught off guard and snapped back into reality, "we could share a bed for the time being. Or two," another of her fingers rose up displaying itself for the jackal girl to see, "you could stay in the hideout."
Nubiana cocked her head in ponder this time thinking over the given options, "what's the hideout?"
Sarina jumped up happily towards a far wall and pulling on the sliding door to her closet, which Nubiana could see the selection of clothing varied in the extremes of color. On one side, the closet held the girl's darker wardrobe while the opposite side held a wardrobe of bright and neon type colored clothing. The girl however fished out a small stool from the bottom of the closet and positioned it in the middle of her bedroom floor all the while looking upwards at the poster covered ceiling.
Once satisfied with the stool's placement Sarina climbed onto it, reaching up towards the ceiling and pushing against one of the posters. As she pushed, a small section of the ceiling slipped and began to move upwards. As the ceiling piece moved up and over a small frame a rope fell from the hole in the ceiling and hung down in the middle of the bedroom. Nubiana could hear a small giggle coming from Sarina as the girl began climbing up the rope and into the ceiling, the jackal girl only moved closer staring up as Sarina disappeared into the ceiling. After a few moments Sarina poked her head through the hole smiling widely, "this is the hideout," she spoke happily.
The jackal girl moved to the rope, she shook her head looking down then looking back up to the human girl with a mischievous grin, "step back kid." Sarina stared confused but disappeared back into the secret spot, slightly in a daze from Nubiana's expression and statement. Nubiana below, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, cocking her canine like lower legs and bounding up. She jumped high, making it up through the small hole in the ceiling before spreading her legs, planting her large canine paws on either side of the hole while one hand gripped the front edge of the hole to keep her balance. The demi goddess opened her eyes softly to find Sarina staring in shock and awe, silent and frozen in place.
A brief moment of silence and awkwardness passed before Sarina herself broke the mood, a large grin crossing her wide eyed face, "that," she paused briefly, "was so cool." The girl was giddy with glee and excitement still in awe over the vertical jump Nubiana had took to get up into the ceiling with her. Sarina shook herself and snapped herself back into focus, "it's not very big and it sometimes gets really hot in here. But if it does get too hot or if I don't wanna use the front door we have this," the girl stood up and pointed to another small panel like doorway in the ceiling of the small bedroom like hideaway.
Sarina pushed upwards letting the panel swing open and slipping through another hole, Nubiana followed finding herself on the rooftop beside the girl looking out to the city skyline against the night sky. The demi goddess was surrounded by the ominous glow of lights from other buildings, neon signs and of course the cars and street lights down below her. She realized just how long she had been asleep in the storage room earlier, given she had found the place around midday and now she was staring into the night time of New Savannah.
Looking over, Nubiana found Sarina sitting on the edge of the apartment complex looking down at the street then across to the skyscrapers, "I like coming up here sometimes. This is one of the few places I can think clearly," the girl spoke softly while still having a small meek smile.
Nubiana smiled softly, taking a seat next to the girl, "I used to do this same kind of thing back at home."
"What's it like there, I bet it's better than this place."
"It has it's peaceful moments I guess," Nubiana sighed softly, her memories of her home were blurry and from earlier events she was trying not to delve into them any deeper. Nubiana stared at the moving traffic below the two girls, "but I'm still having troubles with my memories."
Sarina laughed a little looking over to the jackal girl beside her, "after what happened today that's ok. So," she began as she started to stand up, "we might as well get you comfy in the hideaway." The human girl walked back to the hole in the roof and jumped down inside while Nubiana followed behind, closing the roof panel herself, studying the wooden doorway quickly taking note to how it opened and closed on either side before closing it off.
Nubiana sat cross legged to the far edge of the small room, looking around and noting her surroundings in the hideaway. The walls were all mere frame work built of wooden bars connected to one another, the ceiling was smoother panels of wood nailed to the framework above. The floor where the two girls sat was covered with a layer of carpeting over panels of wood covering the similar framework beneath them. There was a small switch next to the opening leading back into Sarina's room, the switch controlled the single light fixture in place on the wall just behind the entry way, the light itself easily lit up the entire hideaway. The only other source of light was the small window fixture, placed in the framing of the brick walls that made up the outside structure of the complex. In all reality the hideaway was actually a quite cozy setting, Nubiana felt at ease and at peace here and as a bonus her human counter part would be right below her if she needed anything.
"Sarina," began Nubiana, "you know I have no clue how long i'll be staying right," she asked cautiously.
"Yeah I know," sighed Sarina, "but at least you've got a safe place to be while we figure out how to help you get back."
Nubiana snickered lightly, "I don't know how safe it is around me kid."
Sarina smiled and giggled along with the demi goddess, "please, you could kick any human ass around here. If they get out of hand you just do that one thingy and make them disappear. Besides, no one but me knows what or where you are," Sarina smiled and paused, "what could go wrong?"
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"Are you aware of what I had to do to summon one of those things," spoke the figure. His tone was cold and monotone, signs of annoyance and irritation riddled inside the same voice, as the figure looked out through the panes of glass looking down over the night skyline of the city. Very few buildings rivaled the height the figure now stood, noticing their own reflection in the cold surface of the glass.
Even in his reflection, his suit was pristine though his off white button up shirt had long been since untucked from the black neatly creased slacks covering his waist and legs. He brought a hand up letting the skin of his palm caress through his thick blonde hair as his other came up slipping his squared black frame glasses onto his face. His dark, cold brown eyes peering through the lenses out across the night time city once again before turning to face the small group of people behind him.
Front and center closest to him was a smaller young man, looking on in complete and utter fear, his dark brown hair in a complete shaggy mess hanging over his petrified hazel eyes. His smaller shoulders dawned a long white lab coat over his light blue button up shirt and dark blue jeans. His head was shifting nervously looking back at the two larger men in black suits behind him and the figure in front of him, "Mr. Morelli, sir please. We were tracking it, and then it had a spike in energy but then it just disappeared."
"If it has a spike in energy on the monitors how does it just disappear," Morelli's voice grew in irritation.
"Right before the subject disappeared, there was another blip of energy but both energy signatures just vanished off of the radar," the young lab tech replied cautiously.
Morelli glared at the lab tech with murderous intent, "what do you mean 'another' energy signature?"
The lab tech scrambled, searching his pockets frantically before pulling out a small computer like device, his fingers working feverishly typing in at different keys and buttons before pacing to his superior and showing him the screen. Morelli held the small computer pad in his hands as the tech began to point at the screen, "now this was around one p.m today, the energy signature from the subject was normal, now watch this." The two watched the screen showing different heart beat and wave like monitoring windows, the red and yellow lines on the graphs beginning to increase. As Morelli watched the tech explained the findings nervously, "now see this spike goes on for between five and ten minutes. But see right here," the tech pointed to a jump in a series of green and blue colored graphs, "there's a second spike of energy. But the odd thing is, the blue and green graphs monitor barometric pressure, atmospheric pressure, humidity..."
"What does all of that mean," Morelli interrupted, "Jenson was it?"
"Yes sir," the tech stuttered, "those graphs measure surrounding weather conditions. All of these signs," Jenson stuttered again, "i-it's like a level F3 tornado just appeared, was there in one spot in that ten minutes and then this," Jenson pointed again, as the spiked levels were at their peaks and then the series of bars flatlined."
"Where did this happen Mr. Jenson," Morelli's voice was less strained, seeming more of a softer curious tone as he asked the frightened lab tech.
"It was at DeSoto Memorial Park."
"Do we have any cameras overlooking the park."
"None showing the direct angle where the incident," Jenson replied before cautiously adding, "but I can take a look at the cameras again to see if we find anything to help figure out what happened."
Mr. Morelli stared at the looping graphs again, watching the spiked bar graphs. He was lost in his thoughts and decisions while still holding the computer pad in his hand, still staring intently he replied monotonously, "if you would Mr. Jenson."
"Yes sir, I will get right on it for you Mr. Morelli.
"Jenson," the boss shouted coldly causing the young tech to freeze in fear. Morelli calmly looked up handing the tech his computer pad back into his hands before placing a hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Y-yes sir," Jenson stuttered nervously.
"Call it a night, head home and get some rest. I want a fresh, rested pair of those eyes of yours first thing tomorrow morning and we'll go over what you find. In fact have everyone call it a night."
"Sir," Jenson question nervously, "most shifts including mine aren't up for another hour."
Morelli patted the tech's back presenting the tech with a smile sarcastic smile, "well then that means an extra hour of rest for you and your colleagues Mr. Jenson."
Jenson nodded agreeing, "you're right sir, I'm sorry I questioned you Mr. Morelli." The tech scurried quickly out of the massive plush office, one of Morelli's guards following suite. A very large, muscular black male guard spoke in a deep rumbling voice, "Sir?" He still stood at his post, peering at his smaller boss before him with a gaze of respect, discipline and faint submission. His black suit neatly pressed and fitting to his very muscular build, while at the same time the white button up shirt under his suit jacket popped out in appearance against his clean chocolate toned skin.
"He's not a threat, if anything he's useful," Morelli replied turning back to his desk pouring an amount of honey and brown colored liquid into a small square shaped glass on the table. He brought the glass to his lips, throwing his head back quickly while the liquid rushed into his mouth, the usual delightful burn in his throat making the boss hiss with delight before bringing a sleeve across his lips. "Let him live. For now."
"That's not what I was wondering sir," replied the guard, staying true to his position and posture. "Do you think it possibly could be..."
"It is possible Marcus," Morelli cut the guard off, strolling slowly towards him, "but let's not jump to any conclusions before inciting the Lord about what we 'may' have found. However," the boss picked up another small glass handing it to his guard and friend, pouring them both another small glass of the liquid. They both snapped their heads back at the same time washing the liquids down their throats, "cheers my friend," Morelli responded before patting his larger friend on the shoulder.
Marcus let out a booming laugh, patting his smaller boss on the shoulder as well, "to the new world order."
Morelli grinned and laughed as well, "to the new world order."