Working Title : Loki & Annie

Chapter Two

Annie climbed the stairs of her apartment building. Though she felt calling it a building was deceptive since it was a historical three story house that had been divided into apartments. Hers just happened to be the third floor. And the stairs to it were outside which was why she was now muttering under her breath.

She had her door key in her hand, ready as soon as she finally made it to her door. "Stupid, freakin' weatherman. Light showers? Light showers my sparkly, wet butt." Another clap of thunder shook the sky and the lightening was so close that she expected to feel the static electricity. She stomped up the last of the steps, her work boots gripping the wooden boards.

The key easily went into the lock and in seconds she was inside, leaning against the door. The only sound her dripping and sniffing. She turned and looked at herself in the mirror she kept on the door so she could see herself before she went out the door. A last chance to make sure she had brushed her hair and zipped her pants up.

 Right now she saw a woman of indeterminate racial background, brown hair in a bedraggled ponytail with hair that had escaped in various wisps throughout the workday and were now plastered all over her face. Brownish eyes stared at herself, if she had remembered to put any makeup on this morning, it was gone now. Her work uniform clung to her uncomfortably. A sturdy, long sleeved tan shirt with A Plus Maintenance stitched in black thread was tucked into black cargo pants. All wet and clinging tightly.

"Girl, you are a drowned rat. No insult meant to rats." She huffed out a breath and shoved hair back from her face. She plopped herself on the floor and started working on getting her wet bootlaces undone, she had no intent of walking on her hardwood floor while dripping water. At least here at the door she sat on a rug. "You're gonna get sick. And then have to ask Creepy Kevin for time off." She scowled at the black lace she was tugging on. "How can I not know how to do this?"

There was another clap of thunder and lightening, it felt like it was right overhead. She felt it in her bones. "Holy thunder bolts, Batman. That one was right here." She growled at her laces, they fought with her but she finally got one then the other untied and the boots off. She pulled wet socks off as well. Yelling to no one, "Water proof? Why yes! Let me pay extra for waterproof boots that soak through the first time they get wet."

She grabbed everything and headed to her large balcony. As far as she was concerned it was the best feature of the apartment and had sold her on renting the overpriced third floor unit. She stood in front of the French doors, her hand on the door handle as she contemplated opening it enough to set her wet boots outside for now. The balcony was large and enclosed on the sides. The roof covered half of it, it was perfect. Sun and shade. Except for right now when half of it was getting soaked. But the boots wouldn't get wetter.

Annie frowned and leaned closer to the glass. On the street behind her were stores, single and two story, she had a perfect view of the roofs. She thought she saw movement between them, which must have been a bird flying from one roof top to another but what bird would be dumb enough to be flying in the middle of a thunder and  lightening storm?

Her head rested against the glass as if those few inches would make all the difference. There it was again. She opened the door and dropped her boots to the side as she stepped out, closing the door behind herself. She squinted as she walked to the edge of the dry boards, it was hard to see through the downpour. There was little wind, just heavy rain and lightening.

Whatever it was, it was moving closer but she still couldn't tell what it was. "I'm already soaked." She muttered and stepped out into the rain. She walked to the railing and raised her hands up and cupped them around her eyes to block out the rain. Still squinting she stared.

Something, jumping. From roof to roof. With, something, on its back? A red lump. In its arms? A person jumping? Leaping?  A person? What the heck? It was insane the height and distance covered. What kind of crazy parkour stunt was this? Damned if this figure didn't remind her of a weird Santa Claus with the red bundle. Annie let herself give a loud noise of disbelief when she saw the person land and bring the bundle from where it was tied around its back to its front.

Somehow, through the rain and distance, the figure seemed to have heard her. It semi crouched and stared right in her direction.

Annie froze. Okay. She knew that lots of weird things went on in the world now days, she watched the news. But it didn't mean anything to her, she lived in the suburbs way out of any major city, namely New York.  So weird things should not be staring at her. The figure stood and kept staring. Well. They both stood there in the pouring rain. It knew she was staring. She knew it was staring. Without thinking her right hand came up and gave a hesitant little wave.

The figure settled the red bundle and leapt from the rooftop.

"Oh my God, Annie, you're gonna end up dead. Santa's gonna kill you."