Wayv

Chapter 4

Exxa reached the conference room and stopped for a moment, standing in the doorway, the light throwing her shadow far behind. There was something dangerous, almost menacing about the way she stood, taking in the room's details. Her hair swayed from the air conditioning cast down a vent over her. She strode through the conference room and did not stop until she was in front of the far wall which was not actually a wall but a row of windows that ran from the floor to the ceiling. The view exposed a large swath of the cityscape.

Alix's coworkers began to take notice of Exxa. Some were dumbfounded, watching while motionless, their eyes moving in tandem with her progress as she walked along the wall of windows. A few snickered to each other, glancing back and forth between Exxa and Davis and among themselves. Like Davis, Perlman had not noticed yet. He had begun his part of the presentation and droned on, "Currency fluctuations are anticipated to weigh on EBITDA in the fourth quarter and negatively impact cash flow by seven percent while borrowing costs are projected to increase by 125 basis points further eroding...th...th...th," Perlman stuttered to an end. His head was still tilted down toward the document resting on the table, but his eyes were stuck looking upward, stuck on Exxa. His fists pressed hard against the table. "This is a private meeting! How did you get in here?"

Exxa ignored him as if he was no more than a distant animal sounding into the air.

"Call security!" demanded Davis.

Exxa's hand pressed against the window before her and her eyes closed. "Stop speaking," she commanded.

Davis stood up and took out his cellphone. As he did so, Exxa smacked her hand against the window. There was a strange vibration that rippled through the room. Alix looked down at his coffee as it slowly settled back into place. What was that? Did she...no.

The moment Davis went to dial on his phone, he screamed, "Agh!" His hand writhed. For a moment, the phone turned dark red before it fell to the floor. His burnt and blistered hand shook and his eyes betrayed his panic. He ran for the doors, bursting out of the room.

"This is why you don't bring strippers to the office. It starts off fun but ends with a trip to risk compliance," joked Paul. "I should have said something before she messed with Davis' phone. I found her in the supply room. You know who brought her in?"

Alix tightened up; his heart rate skyrocketed. This treacherous leech is going to divulge our names. Jake remained silent and still, already plotting revenge. "It was those two..." Paul was cut short as another vibration, a stronger one, made the table shake and the saucers and cups rattle. He bolted upright out of his seat. Piss darkened his crotch and pants leg. Shame spread across his face. He sent his chair wheeling back against the wall, jumped onto the meeting table, stumbled across it, jumped off the other side, and then disappeared through the doors as Davis had done.

"Best meeting I've ever been to," remarked Jake casually.

A phone rang. It was a landline phone situated near a pile of binders where Davis had been seated. Perlman got up and answered it. "Mm-hm, mm-hm. I understand." He hung up. "Mr. Davis has suffered a serious burn, and one of the security guards is driving him to the hospital for treatment. Meeting's adjourned."

Alix shot up out of his seat. Perlman stopped him, "I need you to stay, Alix."

He knows. Security tipped him off. They'll have me on video in the lobby and outside of the building. Jake could end up as collateral damage. He looked at Jake, who shook his head and shrugged. Everyone filed out of the room but Alix stayed behind.

"It's time to leave," stated Exxa, still staring out the window.

"You, keep quiet!" barked Perlman, looking over his shoulder. He returned his glowering eyes to Alix. "I know you brought this woman. What the f--k is going on? Who is she?" Not waiting for a response, he whirled around at Exxa. "You're going to be arrested. You think you can break into our meeting and assault employees. It's prison for you."

Exxa looked at Alix. "I need you to come with me now."

"You leave and you're fired," threatened Perlman. His back remained toward Alix.

Exxa met Perlman's snarling stare. She slapped both of her hands backward against the window. The strongest vibration yet shook the room. "Earthquake," blurted out Perlman, making for the door. The lights went on and off, and pieces of the ceiling tiles broke and rained down. She hit the window again, and this time, the shaking knocked out the power; emergency back-up lights, powered by a generator in the building's basement, lit up from each corner of the ceiling. The light was dim and cast eerie shadows across the table. She met Alix's eyes. "It's now or never."

There was a moment of doubt. Alix wondered if the inexplicable events that he had witnessed had been nothing more than coincidences, or if Exxa was nothing more than a troubled magician who made reality appear altered. Yet, there was something extraordinary about it all even if it was no more than an illusion. He pushed aside his doubt, his disbelief. Whoever Exxa is and whatever is happening, I have to know. I must know. "I'm ready," he said.

In order to avoid security, the pair made their way down a stairwell which emptied out into a side alley. The same eerie light from the back-up power blanketed the stairs and the ghostly red exit signs burned through the light. Alix threw open the door at ground-level, and they exited into the warm night. Police sirens cut through the city clamor and sounded close by. "Now what?" asked Alix.

Exxa stopped suddenly, her eyes widened by concern. "One of them has come."

"Who has come?" Alix looked behind at the empty alley. "Do you hear the sirens. The police are coming for us. We have to get out of here, or we'll be interrogated. Do you know what that means? I get fired, maybe worse for helping you. What else? You end up in lockup."

"You're worried about prison," Exxa said matter-of-factly and then grinned. She peeked around the corner and then looked at Alix. "I hear no sirens. No one is waiting for us. Look." She grabbed his arm, and forcefully pulled him out onto the sidewalk.

It was Alix's turn to show wide eyes full of surprise but also fear. The street was empty and silent. The streetlights were strangely dim. "What? What is this? Where the hell did everyone go?" He turned in a 360 on the spot. Then, he stopped cold. A stinging strike of fear ripped through him. "By the gods!" A giant beastly creature came around a distant corner. Its menacing eyes took him in. It stood twenty feet tall and fifteen wide. Its skin was dark black and hairless. Muscle bulged, deep set eyes shone pale green, claws dug into the concrete street, and teeth bared. On all fours, it walked like a panther and emitted a deep low hum that was constant. Alix turned to run back to the alley, but he hesitated. It was like a shock, and for a moment, something vague that resembled euphoria hit him hard, but only for a moment and then it evaporated.

"Get behind me!" yelled Exxa, pushing Alix back. She walked forward with deadly intent marked upon her face. "One won't be enough. Where are your friends?" The creature took two great strides and leapt into the air as if it meant to pass clear over her head. She extended her hands above her head and opened them wide. Electricity crackled and shot between her fingers. It exploded off of them, surging upward, surrounding the creature which slowed in midair. It thrashed about, but with each movement, it slowed and slowed until it stopped moving altogether, suspended in its flight. Its eyes held nothing but rage. Exxa threw apart her arms and with that motion the creature tore apart. When her arms dropped down to her sides, the electricity vanished, and what remained of the creature sizzled as it fell. But before it fell upon them, it burnt off into smoke and began to rise.

Alix stared, his mouth open. He shook his head. "I don't...how are you doing any of this? How is this possible?"

"Vapor is winning. It's finally happening."

"I don't know what that means. I don't know what you're talking about."

"You'll know soon enough," promised Exxa.

Alix stared at his trembling hands. Dizziness struck him as the ground beneath him shuddered, and the vibrations soared through his body. He closed his eyes and welcomed the darkness. Taking in a great breath, he slowly released it. There was a rumbling noise and the ground shuddered again. To him, what came next, felt like he was being pulled, stretched apart. It was almost like moving through the air, but he still felt solid ground beneath his feet. Everything ceased and he felt right. The darkness brightened.

"Look," said Exxa. "Don't you see where you are?"

Alix opened his eyes slowly and gasped.