𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓 | 𝐍𝐘𝐒𝐌

iii. spectacular displays

"Hmm." Merritt hummed.

Everyone entered the apartment and was greeted with a hallway, along with a quite unpleasant sight, taking out their phones and turning on their flashlights due to the darkness.

"What is this place?" Wondered Henley.

"Certainly not sanitary." Answered Nikita.

Henley opened the door on her right, to what appeared to be a rather filthy bathroom. "Wow. Thought my apartment was nasty." Said McKinney, disgusted.

"Oh, that's a disgrace." Commented Nikita, horrified by the current state of the apartment.

Nikita gathered that this place probably hasn't been touched in years. Although, there was still leftover furniture and other untouched nick-knacks. She had a million unanswered questions filling the depths of her mind. Why would the landlord still leave the things here? Shouldn't they be evacuated by now? Was it the result of a bribe? Or maybe close relations? There was some mould on the wall as well, probably from water residue. This apartment needed a serious makeover. If Elijah saw this, he would probably go on a murder spree. Nikita was left out of her thoughts when Jack spoke,

"Man, it's freezing in here." 

Nikita, of course, didn't let the cold bother her due to her enhanced abilities. She never felt cold, considering how she and her siblings ran through winter and autumn, sleet and snow fleeing from their father. That and the fact that hell probably already has a cage for her to reside in for the atrocities she committed.

They exited the hallway and were met with a room, probably the living room. There was an irregular symbol indented to the floor accompanied by a card and a white rose.

"What's that?" Asked Henley.

"I don't know." Daniel responded as he bent down to pick up the folded card.

"What's it say?" Merritt inquired.

"Now you don't." Daniel read out as he looked around the apartment, wanting to first figure out what was going to happen next.

"A rose by any other name." Said Henley while picking up the rose and walking backwards towards the vase and putting the rose in it.

Everyone pondered and watched as the water from the vase seemed to be pouring out.

"Guys, what's happening?" Said Jack.

The water travelled to the unusual shape as everyone stepped back in wonder. When the water fully covered the shape, it dropped down and an unknown vapour was mysteriously released.

Jack panicked and reached for the first thing he could find, which unfortunately happened to be Nikita's hand.

"It's gas!" He exclaimed.

"Relax. Just dry ice." Merritt stated.

Jack realised he was holding her hand and awkwardly let go due to the look she sent his way. He nervously put his hand on the back of his neck and looked down shyly. Nikita smirked at the fact that she could already make him bashful.

"Brilliant." Complimented Nikita, admiring the mechanism behind the craft.

"Wait. What do you think this is all about?" Daniel inquired.

"Hang on. Hang on." Replied Merritt, putting his hand to his head as his eyes closed and eyebrows furrowed in faux contemplation.

He exhaled sharply. "I got nothin'." He continued.

"Okay. Thank you. Thank you for the delay." Answered Daniel with sarcasm practically dripping in his voice.

"I'm just trying to create the space for wisdom."

"Okay, so you're like Buddha if he wasn't so enlightened."

"And you're like Jesus if he was arrogant and all of his miracles were fake."

"Goodness, the pair of you sound like an old married couple." Groaned Nikita, rolling her eyes.

"Danny, be honest. Did you do this?" Henley interfered.

Daniel asked Jack the same question. He was met with a negative answer. In turn, Jack asked Nikita.

"Believe me, darling, if I did this, I wouldn't be here with you lot standing around like oblivious idiots. Although, I might have an idea as to who the creator of this mechanism might be." She answered.

"What are you, the Queen of England? Sounding so posh." Daniel muttered under his breath.

"I heard that." She commented, nonetheless deciding to ignore the snide comment.

"Why didn't anyone ask me if i did it?"  Merritt asked, somewhat innocently.

The silence was deafening as they all avoided Merritt's gaze.

"Oh. Oh, great."

Nikita watched as Daniel played with the light switch and then pointed his flashlight towards the door.

"Electricity's out." Informed Jack.

"Well, let's check." Spoke Merritt, not having to reach up far to grab the light bulb and giving it a small twist.

Suddenly, the projector from the door shone brightly along with the one to the left of a broken window and another behind Merritt, presumably presenting a show.

Everyone stepped closer, fascinated by the sudden unknown light, trying to indicate what the show was about.

"Blueprints." Announced Henley in awe.

"They're incredible." Marvelled Daniel.

"Who do you think did this?" Questioned Jack to no one in particular.

Henley decided to answer, "I don't know, but I really want to meet them."

Nikita managed to hide a smug grin, thinking she has probably already met said fabricator, what being around for a particularly long time. She travelled far and wide, going nowhere and everywhere, exploring everything the world had to offer, both good and bad, meeting some established individuals along the way.

"It's a show." Continued Henley.

Nikita reached out, aiming to tamper with the still unknown symbol in the show. In doing so, expanding the scope of the spectacular display.