Shadow Taking Over

11- Caught

Ace's apartment differed from the others. The walls weren't dripping. Smooth, hard wood flooring without decay stretched the place. Despite the several intact light fixtures, only two lamps were turned on- one in the hall and the other beside a couch a long distance away. There was no ghastly smell besides the odor of a single man living on his own. Eve noticed a lack of furniture. What was there had a modern touch to it, a mixture of white and grey as the color scheme. He certainly wasn't rich, but it looked like he did alright. He seemed very ordinary, so why would Lance be after him?

It didn't matter. Lance wanted him, and she only had 28 hours to carry out her order.

A small chirp omitted from Senka, bringing Eve out of her thoughts. Senka floated carefully behind her. They nudged her to move. Eve crept along the hall. She mocked how spies from movies would move, one silent step after the other. One hand forward, gliding the wall and the other held back. Pausing at the archway that lead to the living area, she pressed an ear to the edge to listen. Muffled voices from a television set was all she heard. Senka nuzzled the nape of her neck.

"Senka, can you search the apartment for him?" Eve whispered.

In response, Senka slipped from Eve's shoulder, diving into the nearest shadow. They zipped away to carry out the request. Eve smirked in amusement for a fleeting moment. She then refocused. Her ear caught the sound of an incoming news broadcast. Curious, she snuck around the bend and stuck to the edge of the room. A blue tint washed over the room. Eve forgot how intriguing television could be. Lance forbid her from watching any shows, so the only experience with a television she had was at Tanner's house, which was a rarity in and of itself.

A brunette woman in a navy blue business dress sat at a circular table with a city backdrop. One porcelain mug rested neatly to her right, as well as a stack of papers.

"Good morning, America. I'm Diana Simmons, and welcome to channel five-five news," Diana shuffled the file in front of her. "Top story tonight- mystery fire woman attacks local man. Earlier this evening, there were reports of a young woman who emerged from the tram tracks. She then attacked George Roger, one of the passengers who was on his way home from work. Her hand, he described, burned straight through his suit jacket and white button up. The image we are about to show you may come as a shock. Viewer discretion is advised."

First, there was a CCTV video of Eve crawling off of the tracks. Her movements were spider-like and swift. Most, she realized, had left quickly with horror stricken expressions. After all, she resembled a creature rather than a person. Eve watched herself smack the man aside. In a blurry flow of movement, Eve had leapt to her feet and sprinted off screen. Roger had flailed onto his back, silent screaming.

An image was shown next. This was an up close photograph of Roger's exposed chest. A beet red handprint defined the right side of his chest. Around the print, there were thick, white blisters pulsating. Bits of skin were charred. She hadn't touched him long enough to cause severe damage- but this? From a simple shove? It was horrific.

Diana was back on screen. Her blushed cheeks were a sickly green as she held in her lunch. Composing herself, she continued, "Luckily, Rogers had already dialed 911 because he thought that the woman needed help. Tom Burns is at the scene now with more information- Tom?"

Eve felt her heart climb into her throat. She stumbled forward and gripped the couch for support. Her nails dug into the fabric as she continued to watch the report. The couch started to smoke, but she didn't notice. An older reporter, a male, appeared on screen. He stood in front of the tram stop with a microphone in hand. Beside him was a woman from the crowd. Normally, the audience would be greeted with his award winning smile. Today, his smile had dimmed.

"Thank you, Diana. I have here with me a witness to this horrific incident. M'am would you please explain what you saw?" He leaned the microphone near her lips.

"Well now, I just couldn't believe it. One minute I'm paying for my ticket, and the next, there's a young girl crawling over the ledge and collapsing right there! A whole bunch of people crowded her, and I was one of them. I have teenage boys at home, and she couldn't be older than them- such a frail thing all covered in sought and ick. A man, think they called him George, leaned down to help her up. Something must've spooked her. Saw it in her eyes.

She shoved George away, nearly burning a hole right through him! Her hair glowed like fire; I'd swear up and down on that. Oh it all happened so fast. She was there one minute and gone the next. I helped George up to the paramedics. Man was shook down to the bone. He's in the hospital now. That girl left him with burns worse than the time I burnt the turkey on Thanksgiving. Awful mess, poor man..."

Tom pulled the mic away, "Thank you, M'am." He directed his gaze upon the audience. "If you see this person," A sketch artist's rendition of her popped up on the screen, "call the local authorities immediately. Under no circumstances should you approach her. She is considered armed and dangerous. It is unclear the method she uses to cause such extreme burns."

A voice spoke from behind, "Wow. Scary."

Eve whirled around on her heels. Under the arch, Ace stood with a short glass of alcohol in hand. She had been so invested in the broadcast, she hadn't noticed him enter and pour himself a drink. How long had he been standing there?

He glanced behind her at the screen. "That kind of looks like you, don't you think?"

Her knees buckled under her. She gripped the couch tighter, unsure what else to do. Only now did she realize that the fabric had caught flame. Ace raised an eyebrow at the couch then her. A few shadows dripped down her fingers to smolder the small fire.

Ace approached slowly. On the side table, he left the glass on a coaster. He stood over her by a foot. A classic tactic to try to intimidate her- and it was working. His features were more defined up close. He was a handsome man of his early twenties with tousled black hair loosely pulled by. He had a firm jawline and was clean-shaven. His expression and his eyes portrayed a light-hearted cynic. But there was something else too.. something hidden. Eve straightened and maintained eye contact. It was easier to do so in the dark.

He spoke quietly, leaning down close. "Now what are you doing in my apartment?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but he cut her off smoothly. "- Because if you were here trying to run from the police, you wouldn't travel five floors and eleven feet down the hall just to hide. Especially since I'm the only one who locks my door."

Sensing the tension, Senka slithered out of Eve's silhouette. They shoved Ace a good five feet. He stumbled backward into a bookshelf. Books and papers collapsed over his shoulders. He barely flinched on impact. His only notable reaction was to blink the dizziness out of his eyes. Senka reformed as a grotesque, translucent figure with elongated, pointed arms and legs. They twisted their head at a sharp angle and imitated a deep growl. The shadows of the room crept away from Senka in a hurry. Eve smirked at this. A new found confidence flourished through her.

"I'd prefer that bring him in alive. So be delicate."