Reality Crisis

Backdated to the day of arrival

They were no longer in a place with apartment buildings. Carlos could tell that they'd left the remains of the city and had ended up in the suburbs. It was a little surreal, because there were a lot of houses that were relatively untouched by whatever had gobbled up a good portion of the city between the last cataclysm and the most recent one. And yet, the grass was overgrown or dead in some places, the weather damage was apparent on the sides of some of the houses. It looked like a suburb given way to a ghetto, if he was being honest.

Still. It had been awhile since he'd been anywhere that had actual lawns. That was a little surreal.

There were sign-ups for housing. Belia, as usual, wanted her fingers in the pie and was rationing out houses. Which brought Carlos to a conversation that he would have preferred to have under different circumstances. Living together was a big step and it shouldn't be a choice made out of survival or because you were forced to uproot and choose new roommates. And yet, he wanted Mag close. He wanted to be able to wake up in the middle of the night and reassure himself that she was still in this world. He liked the idea of being able to come home to her after a long day out taking care of whatever this apocalypse had to throw at everyone.

So when the line to sign up for housing formed, he found his girlfriend and took her by the hand. There weren't many places for a completely private conversation, but they could at least take a few steps away from the crowd while they discussed this.

Carlos stayed behind until everyone was boarded onto the trucks and trailers that would take them all away from the remnants of die Festung. A few more chunks of the city had disappeared overnight. He realized once everyone and everything was loaded that he hadn't seen Harry or Murphy anywhere. A quick tracking spell was a dead end, which meant... Well, he knew damn well what it meant and it wasn't good.

He looked at the wall, which now had chunks that were taken over by prehistoric-looking plants, and then he looked at the group that was already starting to depart. He frowned.

There was no time to grieve. Not until he could do that on the move. He turned and hurried to join the group, looking for one particular familiar face. She had to still be here. He had to make sure of that. Had to touch her and hold her and possibly not let go for a good long while.

By the time she and Peter made it back to die Festung, the threat of the dragon was over -- though, by the looks of the carcass as they walked past by it, not by much. The potent stench of the beast turned her stomach, and she was glad she hadn't eaten recently.

She could feel her friend beside her aching to get home, aching to reach the woman who'd taken residence in so much of his heart. Evey couldn't fault him for that; she wished she were in a different city right now, herself. But there were others here that she wanted to check on -- not that she could do much if they were hurt or worse. But she still wanted to know.

With everything that they'd just been through, Evey didn't dare leave Peter until he was safely at his flat, with the woman who would take better care of him than even she could manage. And, once that was done, she headed down one floor and dropped her things off at her apartment. Then she went straight down again. Carlos first. She knocked on the door where she'd left notes before, then waited (hoped) for him to answer.

Mag couldn't help but hum softly to herself.

Ever since she had run into Peter in the cemetery she had not been able to release herself from the good feeling he had brought her. For a long time Mag was bound to music. It had consumed her life and she had finally been willing to give her life for it. Even here it had haunted her. But now, after the release of Chromaggia into the world Mag had felt her burden lift.

Here she felt no obligation to her talent. She didn't have to care about who was listening, being the face of a generation. She was free and while her burden would never truly cease she felt more at ease about revealing that part of her life to others.

Peter said music was hope, and he was right. These people needed all of the hope anyone had to offer and Mag's talent was a spring that hopefully would never dry up. She could only await the time that she could be truly able to share her voice with others. In the meantime, though, she would continue to do what she could. Especially for the people she cared about.

Mag had been spreading the word around the city in hopes that the city-born and Chosen alike would be as excited about the prospect of performance as she was. So far she had gotten a positive response from the locals she had mentioned it to.

For now she would put the idea behind her because there were more important things to do. Like visiting Carlos in hopes of getting a few moments with him. When they were apart she missed him dearly, though she was more than aware that they couldn't always be together in the same place at the same time. Both of their schedules kept them tied up and busy, but it was the little moments that they could capture together that ( mattered. )

Evey'd been serious when she'd talked with Peter about winning die Festung over. But without action behind her ideas, all she had were her own thoughts. Change had to begin one person at a time. To win die Festung, she first had to win the Chosen.

That's one of the reasons why Evey stood knocking at Mag's door. There were many other things to do, but first, she'd see Mag. The woman had endured her helpless behavior after the earthquake -- she'd been kind and helpful, even when it was clear she felt out of sorts, herself. Evey owed Mag her gratitude.

And then there was the subject of Carlos. Evey hadn't seen the man since the earthquake, either, not with her own eyes at least. She knew her friend would be all right, at least physically. Peter had healed him. But as for the rest of him... It may have been that Evey was also at Mag's door because she was worried for Carlos and hoped for a read on him before she went to visit him as well.

She dropped her hand and waited.

A lot had happened in a brief period of time. From the earthquakes to Peter's rapid personality turnaround to getting hurt as a result and then healed. A part of Carlos just wanted to hide out in his newly repaired apartment and have a quiet day for a change. But that wasn't an option. There was still the matter of figuring out what had happened to the people who had had rapid mood swings. They needed to find out the cause and find a way to make sure that it didn't happen again. Even with all the damage that had been done, Carlos knew full well that they'd all been lucky. Someone with Peter's abilities could have finished the entire human race on this planet.

Carlos knew one person that he trusted enough to get to the bottom of things. After all, Harry had figured out a whole lot stranger. Not to mention that he would always be the guy who'd ridden a freaking zombified dinosaur skeleton into the middle of an army of zombies to stop a ritual that would have created a god.

So once Carlos got a full bill of health from the very surprised doctor who'd been watching over him, he made his way to Harry's apartment. He just hoped that the big guy was home. And preferably not making time with Murphy. Carlos wasn't big on intruding on those sorts of intimate moments.

Once in the basement of the Chosen building, he knocked on the door to Harry and Murphy's apartment.

After escaping from Evey with the timely arrival of Aidan, Peter went back to Carlos' room. It had been nearly half a day, what with the forced sleep Peter had gone through. He didn't think Carlos was going to be happy about him not having the collar on anymore, but there wasn't anything Peter could do about it. It wasn't as though he could have stopped Aidan from removing it, what with Peter being dead at the time.

Which was something he really didn't want to tell Carlos. Yeah, sorry, the vampire ripped it off my neck after he tore my throat out didn't seem like something that would go over well.

At least he didn't have to explain right away. Carlos was sleeping.

Peter crept to the edge of the bed. He had to fix things. That's why he had his powers back now. And once Carlos was well, he could help get a new cuff. Hell, even another collar. Peter wouldn't argue with that.

He placed a hand over the wizard's, and began to concentrate. Peter's hand began to glow with a soft golden light, that began to sink quickly into the wounded man.

( ---------- )

Carlos woke up to bustle of nurses poking and prodding him with needles and trying to get him to take some sort of herbal brew. He didn't have much chance to ask about Peter or anyone else in between the care. And by the time the bustle around his room stopped, he had already fallen back asleep. He woke hours later, feeling a little groggy and with no doctor or nurse in sight.

He didn't like staying still for long. Especially when he was needed. He especially hated not knowing how Evey or Peter were doing. He also couldn't help but wonder how Mag was and where she was.

He stared up at the ceiling and concentrated, trying to will his aching body to start moving. Slowly, he sat up and started to get out of bed. He wasn't sure where he would start looking for the people that he wanted to check up on, but the hospital did seem like a good place to start.

Carlos was concerned when he left Evey and Mag. He didn't want to leave either woman, but he needed to see what he could do to trigger Peter's bracelet remotely to shut down his powers. If it didn't work, the fallout would be ugly and he didn't want either of them in there. And since Evey had a mental link with Peter, he really didn't want to risk her tipping him off.

He still didn't understand why the two had a mental link at all because there were a lot of reasons that that was a bad idea. And last he'd checked, Evey was hung up on some vampire. Had she moved on so quickly?

He certainly thought that under ordinary circumstances, Peter was a better choice than a vampire. But right now? Well, Carlos still didn't understand what had happened or how his friend could pull a complete 180 like this. The betrayal stung, but now wasn't the time for that.

Carlos picked through the wreckage of the Chosen building and managed to wrest a few supplies from his apartment. They would have to do.

Afterward, he made his way outside of the wall. It was best to not risk bringing vengeance inside the already half-destroyed town. Once he'd walked far enough away from die Festung, he started the spell to trigger the bracelet and shut down Peter's powers.

( Read more... )

(Backdated to the night after the earthquake, and after this.)

The mental link Peter established with her some weeks ago was still in place, but it had never felt like this before. Evey found herself staring at her feet as she walked, not to see where she was going, but to help her make sense of the feedback coming from Peter. He'd always protected her from the confusion of trying to separate the actions of two bodies from a pair of joined minds. He wasn't struggling to put his feet in the right place, but she certainly was. Every step, she checked to make sure she was walking through the city, not hopping over that crack in the earth in front of Peter, not kicking a fallen log out of the way, not... There were some things Peter was doing, in his anger, that Evey couldn't possibly confuse with her own limbs. But to feel his arm raise, to feel his power channel through him and into whatever hapless piece of forest got in his way -- it was horrifying.

Thankfully, she'd stopped trying to talk with him -- and he was leaving her more or less alone, as well. The anger, the hatred flooding Peter's mind was taking its toll on Evey. She raked a hand through her hair and stopped, took a breath, and looked around her. It was a matter of focus, focusing on the things in front of her, separating out what she knew was not her present position, and moving in a way that made sense for her. It was tiring. And every step felt more and more hopeless.

She'd been standing motionless for about 10 minutes in the middle of the camp just outside the hospital. Someone was in front of her. In front of her? She rubbed at her temples and looked down at her feet. Then looked at the feet across from her.. Then checked her feet again. No, that was definitely someone standing in front of her. She looked up again and focused.

"Mag?"

(Takes place just a bit before the Earthquake)

Mag had no idea that all of die Festung was set for quite the surprise. The day started like any other, and just like in any usual day of her life (because you definitely couldn't use a term like normal to describe her day) she went out to help the people. The sun was warm on her pale skin, and her brown eyes shimmered with it. After the nightmare future glimpse, Mag had been reluctant in joining back into the group of people. She had been unsure where she really fit after that point but something in her demanded she get out and continue to help as best she could.

That was the voice she'd listened to and that was how she made it back out into the city and back to her existence before the glimpse.

She wasn't going to allow her spirit to be broken by a mere dream, and she knew Carlos wouldn't want her just hiding in her apartment with nothing to do. She decided it was best to assist until all of the work was done. At least she hoped that the people would remember all of the good things she had done when that time came. If it ever did. The glimpse wasn't specific as to exactly when (if it would happen at all) something might occur. But she wanted to at least make herself known that she wanted to help the people and didn't have any ill will against them.

As the day wandered into the afternoon and then he evening, Mag found herself diverting her path from the usual route she took. After entering the Chosen building, Mag walked through the first floor to the apartment that Carlos had mention he lived in. Mag had yet to visit his place, usually they went to hers or out somewhere. It was a little exciting, the prospect of seeing Carlos' apartment for the first time. They hadnt really established what they were as far as a label, but Mag didn't feel that they should rush into any sort of an official title. She wasn't even exactly sure where Carlos stood in terms of them being together. She wasn't opposed to anything, welcomed the company and the interaction, but she didn't want Carlos feeling pressured so she simply didn't bring it up.

Mag paused outside of Carlos' door, waiting for a moment. She hoped she wasn't intruding. What if he wasn't even home or didn't have time to visit? It wouldn't matter. Even seeing him for a brief second was enough. She missed him dearly while he was gone. Slowly, Mag lifted a hand and knocked gently on Carlos' door. Her eyes flashed and shimmered, swirling as she waited anxiously to see if he would open his door.

Eric stood amidst the people that dwelled in dieFestung. He usually didn't spend much time in the city itself, preferring to wander. It was easier to keep tabs on things going on in the other sections of the world when he was out wandering, as well as trying to find a way back home which had always been his primary mission. Since he didn't require sleep, or food of any kind Eric never really stepped foot in the apartment Belia was kind enough to offer when he'd first arrived. But he knew that everyone needed a place of solace, some small area to call their own so he had asked Belia for the smallest place in the complex that held the living area for the Chosen. Considering that he didn't require much space, nor would he really utilize it.

He stood next to the chosen building, eyes cast down at the ground as he leaned against the wall of the exterior of the holding itself. One could tell he was of the Chosen rank because he was armed. Two guns rested at his hips, one on each side and he'd managed to acquire a small blade which rested gently against his back. Mostly the blade was for the Netvores. He had such fun killing them out in the Wilds. He wasn't honestly any different than they were save for the lust for flesh. He had no cravings except for the one to get back. To complete his mission.

His eyes were closed. He was seeing what the Crow saw as it soared over the city. Belia's city. If only she knew just how powerful he was maybe she would find her people more valuable. But that wasn't for him to decide, nor was he going to be anyone's slave. He was a vital asset to anyone that needed his service and he was willing to help anyone that needed it. Most didn't approach him, and he didn't blame them. He was probably one of the most dangerous of the Chosen that resided in this city but he certainly wasn't going to advertise it. He didn't want to let on that he had value. That he was an asset. That the Crow could see, and therefore he knew more than he should.

It was his burden. And he would bear it.

Mostly he didn't hang around because of the unrest. He could feel it. And it didn't sit well with him, but this wasn't the only place that unrest was felt. The Crow could feel it too. It was present in all of the communities. He wasn't going to tell Belia, or anyone. He didn't trust many so easily. Damon, the vampire, he knew but didn't know well enough to trust. He didn't have friends in this world, and didn't need them. He was quite alright being on his own, taking things as they came. But he wasn't opposed to the idea either. He just wasn't sure that anyone would understand.

With a shrill caw the bird swooped to the Earth, landing on a balcony above where Eric stood. Eric smiled a little, and opened his eyes, lifting his head as he peered out at the street. These people had no idea what he had seen. Maybe that was for the best.

Carlos had mentioned protective wards for Mag's apartment over dinner. It had taken him a few days to get everything together for the spells. He arrived at her door a few days later, arms filled with supplies. It would take awhile to put together a proper protection spell, but he was determined to do that for her. They had already seen proof that the wall around die Festung wasn't safe. Even if it was airtight, there was always the potential danger with the people inside the wall. The glimpse Carlos had seen had reminded him that there was always a chance that the people of die Festung might turn on them.

He supposed that needed to warn Mag about what he'd seen. The trouble was that he didn't know how to explain it. He had a pretty strong feeling that it was a future glimpse, though he couldn't say why or how. He just knew that he needed to do what he could to keep the people he cared about safe for whenever things went down.

He knocked on Mag's door, glancing down at the doggie door and wondering when he'd get to meet the creature that she'd adopted. There was a small smile at the thought of her apparent soft spot for strays.

The future glimpse-if that's what that was-wasn't far from Carlos's mind. There was a lot to turn over in his head. The first concern was in trying to figure out how they'd gotten to a point where attacking die Festung was something they were actually planning. What had happened to set the chosen against one of the only remaining colonies of humans left in this world? Worse than that, had he even been on the right side in that glimpse?

On a less urgent but still confusing note, there was the ring that Carlos had noticed on his left hand. He hadn't had much time for dating back home. And it wasn't like this place allowed much time for any sort of domestic bliss. Had that been a wedding ring? And if so, who did the other ring belong to?

He was doing his best not to think about that, but even a little glimmer of hope that this world wasn't doom and gloom caught his attention and refused to let go. The thought of having someone to go home to. Someone who cared enough to want him around for a lifetime's worth... he couldn't deny that there was a little part of him that wanted that.

He also didn't know what to expect with Mag or if the ring somehow had to do with her, but he knew that that first kiss had been great and he should have followed up sooner than this. It wasn't that he meant to be a jerk. It was just that there had been one thing after another. If only there were flower vendors in this city. Instead, he showed up at her door with a bag of food as a peace offering.

Carlos raised an eyebrow in surprise at the doggy door on the woman in question's apartment. He wondered where she'd found a pet and when that had happened as he lifted his hand to knock.

Carlos was in the process of double checking the spells on the wall around die Festung when suddenly everything around him changed. Instead of being outside, he was in a room that he didn't recognize. The only thing keeping him from panicking entirely was the fact that Peter and Evey were both in the same room, and the sense that he was somehow supposed to be there.

There were maps pinned to a bulletin board on the room. One of which that Carlos recognized as die Festung and the area around it. there were pins on each of the maps and he realized he was in the middle of gesturing at them as though coordinating something.

An attack. He wasn't sure why, but that answer felt right.

Carlos focused in on one thing in particular about his hands. He'd been about to pull them out of whatever gesture they were in when he stopped and stared at his left hand. Most notable, his left ring finger, which currently had a silver ring.

But why? Why did he have what looked like a wedding ring, and where the hell was he? He turned to Peter and Evey, searching their faces for any sign of similar confusion.

What the hell was going on?

There seemed to have been some sort of crisis, something that Mag didn't entirely understand. Walking dead? She knew what the concept entailed, the dead rising from where they had been laying to once more walk the Earth. It sounded like something out of a story, but then she recalled that when she first arrived at this strange place, the guards here had explained to her that she herself was fictional. So, she figured that anything could be possible. The fact that she was fiction had been a hard thing to swallow, and Mag still wasn't sure if she believed that entirely, but why would someone lie about that? Who would want to make a movie of her life? Much less watch something so dark and tragic? She certainly wouldn't want to watch something like that, especially not about the world she came from. Who could ever find that interesting? She pushed the thought from her mind instantly, and decided that the time was right to finally leave her apartment, the place she had been staying as the mayhem from the 'zombie' attack settled. That is what the citizens had been calling the monsters, zombies. What a strange name.

It had kept Mag from her daily rounds of the city, and she hoped that during the event nobody had gotten hurt. She tried desperately to stay out of situations like that, considering she wasn't going to be any good to anyone in the event of a catastrophe, and so staying where she was safe seemed like the most practical of things to do. She stayed in. It gave her a chance, as well, to do some cleaning, which proved to be both challenging and relaxing.

Finally, Mag had left her apartment, descending the stairs slowly in her heels, listening to the sound echo against the walls as she moved, finally reaching the bottom level. She pushed open the door, and stepped into the foyer, pulling her jacket tighter around her frame before heading out into the snowy evening. She hadn't forgotten her friends, and hoped that they all were well, and that they all were outside too so she might see them. She didn't have many friends, really, but she considered the few she had as such and she cherished them. She wondered what they had been up to, if they had seen the zombie creatures, and what had become of the creatures all together. That sure was a curious subject.

Slowly, Mag made her way through the city, arriving at the small cafe she had met Maurice at, not seeing the old man there in his usual spot in the bean bag near the fire, but she opted to wait for him, hoping he would show. She wanted to tell him that she had been to see Rosie again, and she knew that he would appreciate hearing the story. Much as she had appreciated him telling her about himself and his late wife in the first place.

She crept over to the small coffee table which had the vacant bean bag settled lop-sidedly next to it, before sitting in a small wooden chair on the opposite side, where she had sat many times before, grateful for the warmth of the fire, despite the open mouth of the cafe itself. It was comforting, the warmth, and she was glad that she had decided to venture back out into the city, and had been unaffected by the recent outbreak of walking dead. She hoped that others had been as fortunate as she, trying to stay positive.

It'd been three days since she last saw Aidan - not for lack of attempts on her part. She must either have the world's worst luck at being home at the same time Aidan was, or the damned blighter was purposefully avoiding her. It could have been either of those things. She'd admittedly been spending most of her waking hours outside - either searching for Carlos and Aidan in die Festung, or blurring her 'Chosen' status and blending with the rest of the people here so she could better understand the patterns and rhythms she'd have to duck at Belia's. But as far as she knew, it was Day Four since Aidan had anything to eat. They -- all of die Festung -- were nearly out of time.

Evey stepped back into the Chosen building about 30 minutes before sunset. It had been another full day of unremitting disappointment. The good news is that although she'd walked around the entire day full of caution and fear, she hadn't seen a single zombie, hadn't needed to run or hit anything. Maybe it was over. She blew on her hands, trying not to hope for something so wonderful as that, as she hurried down through the corridors toward room 104.

Her first note from three nights ago had been on the door when she came back the next night. And she'd added a second note two nights ago, when he didn't answer the door then, either. Both those notes were gone from the door now, and that gave her hope that perhaps, perhaps... She knocked vigorously. "Carlos!" she called at the flaking paint over the door. From somewhere else in the building, a door opened and closed, causing a shifting in the air here in the corridor. And a rustling. She looked to the sound -- squinted at the bits of paper whispering in the corner a handful of meters down at the end of the corridor. Surely those weren't...

She knocked again. "Carlos!" And waited again. And waited. And then stalked to the end of the corridor. But they were her notes after all.

Sylar knew what Peter's wizard friends looked like. They had long been a source of both curiosity and anger for him. He knew full well that the wizards and given Peter a way to shut down his own powers and Sylar could only guess that Peter was working with them to find a way to shut down Sylar's powers.

Sylar was determined not to let that happen. He was also intensely curious about magic. Was it genetic? If so, could he read that ability like he had with so many other wonderful, special abilities?

He had changed faces so many times lately in an effort stay hidden. He knew that Peter and his new superpowered friends would be looking for him. He knew that the confrontation would come soon. He just wanted it on his terms.

Today, he was outside the wall. The zombies seemed to be gone and life was starting to return to normal. Sylar wasn't sure where Peter might be hiding out and he'd given his word to Bane that he wouldn't storm the walls of Sanctuary looking for his foe. So instead, he was waiting out here while he contemplated his next move.

When one of the wizards walked by, Sylar grinned. He wouldn't have to go in after Peter. He knew exactly how to flush the other man out.

Carlos wouldn't even see Sylar coming. He didn't stop to take on a familiar face. He didn't stop to play games. He simply made sure that they were out of sight of any of the guards and raised his finger to point. His telekinesis sliced through the delicate skin on the wizard's forehead. As soon as the limp body fell to the ground, Sylar was there, looking. Searching.

A slow grin spread across his face as he realized that magic was, in fact, genetic. It might take some time to learn how to use the abilities properly, but the base skill could be obtained simply enough with a little bit of study of the brain. This world was a whole new candyshop for him. Where he'd thought that he'd obtained every ability that could be of use to him back in his world, now he realized that the possibilities were endless in this new world.

Going where she was needed was still something Murphy was getting the hang of. Michael Carpenter had sworn up and down that it simply happened by coincidence sometimes. Murphy was starting to buy into the theory because she just happened to be walking by one of the buildings near the wall when she spotted a zombie horde spilling into the city.

Coincidence or not, she was quick to draw her sword and even quicker to start hacking away at the creatures. Later, she might question what was hidden in that building and how these creatures had gotten past the wall. Later, there would be many questions. She just needed to make sure that she was alive to get those answers.

Zombies weren't smart like vampires, which worked in her favor. Then again, they were more feral in some ways so each attack just drew more roars and caused them to press in on her more.

One thing was for sure though. She sure as hell wasn't letting these things bite her.

Rapping her knuckles thrice on door 104 in the Chosen building, Evey wondered just how she got here.

Oh, it was nothing to find Carlos' place; but it wasn't nothing to be before his door. Evey had long ago learned not to rely on anyone - no one, save herself. Even when someone had the best of intentions, there was always the chance that they would let you down. But more than that, Evey also knew that everyone - everyone - everyone had their weak point. Press in the right spot, and anyone would fold. It was a trick to learn to live without weakness, to live completely free. And it was so much easier to do it when there was no one to care about.

Since Evey arrived in die Festung from some strange misbegotten twist of fate, she'd been on the losing end of the battle for her freedom. For the last two days, she'd been cloistered in her flat alone, trying to make sense of what she was doing. Every so often, she'd pace the side wall of her flat, pretending not to listen for sounds in the apartment next door. She knew what trouble she was in, knew that if she continued down the path she found herself on, she would create her own weaknesses. She would create her own chains.

It was a terrifying prospect. To know that she was the author of what might be her own downfall. To know it, and still to choose it. And choose it she had, as she stood here in front of Carlos Ramirez' door. To care about another person was to open wide your own defenses and to abandon the safety of the isolation that kept her inviolable.

"It's Evey," she called on the threshold, staring at the chips in the paint on the door in front of her. You're such a fool, she thought to herself, This is not wise.