Reverie [The Distortionist x reader]

Chapter 10

(Art by dazzelmethat on Tumblr)

Bending light in a way that shows

Exactly how the story goes

-----*-----

No knocks were necessary. It was so easy to enter a public space. Stia wondered why not all buildings were public. What wasted potential! Well, this isn't even public anymore, what with the owner gatekeeping anyone who'd like to enter.

Still, she stepped foot on the worn floor without needing to climb in through a window, as she had other times with people she needed to speak with. And the bully acting like this was their own little hell was one of those people. This time, she had no worries about others getting in her way. Free at last to get to business.

Not to think wrongly, [Y/N] wasn't someone Stia would avoid if she could. She was so interesting to observe and speak to. But Stia never did have that choice. So, that journalist had to be off finishing the article, paradoxically so unimportant in the larger scheme at play yet so dear to its creator's heart.

The poor secretary looked up at Stia, alarmed by her sudden entrance. "I- I'm sorry, Miss, but Adres said-"

"I don't care." Stia hoped her apologetic thoughts could somehow reach the one at the desk, but a quick cut-off was necessary. "I need to speak to them. They can't say no."

Muted by her lack of commitment and being overpowered by the forceful one at the entrance, the secretary got up from her chair and hurried to the back room. "Adres!" Stia heard clearly through the thin walls. "Adres, she's come by again!"

-----*-----

"I just happened to be at this diner to drink good coffee, you see," Stia says. "I guess the hellkeeper needs to eat, since they were at a table across the space from me."

"It is a small city," you agree. "It's probable you'd bump into each other at least once."

-----*-----

"Are you a fool to come here again?" Adres asked incredulously. Their voice was mocking. Stia hated its rasp.

"Fuck off, I'm not asking to do anything this time," Stia retorted. "I'm ordering. You know what I can do."

"If you could do it, you'd have done it a long time ago," they sneer. "I apologize for theorizing, but... I believe Father doesn't have enough power to give you that much."

Stia couldn't control her condescending laugh. It was true, to an extent, but it was just because Stia wasn't ready. Not what Adres was implying. "You think Father lacks the power to not lend some to me? You're the true fool."

"You think too highly of Him," Adres said, exaggerating disappointment. "To make His power, He eats up all those under Him. You too, eventually."

Stia scowled. "We're veering off topic. I will call others if you don't talk to me."

"Ugh, fine. But no visiting my prisoners."

"Regarding Christopher Pierre, he's gone, correct?"

"Yes... Although I wanted to keep him. Not that interesting of a case, but a case nonetheless. And something else... But that's not important. You can ask more questions upstairs, I guess. Follow me."

-----*-----

"I tried to pay no mind to Adres at their table, but I couldn't help but notice this white-as-a-sheet girl arriving and sitting at the same table as them. And I don't mean she was spooked, I mean she looked just like our dear Christopher..."