Nightfall Passing {Open}

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

Lightning intently watched his face as he flipped through each and every sketch, design, and doodle within the thick, leather bound sketching pad. Every single emotion in her personal encyclopedia was drawn out in every outfit that the boy looked at. With a smile planted on his face, he looked up from the colorful sketching pad and spoke once more. "They're beautiful, every detail is so exact. You must be really good at your job." Lightning's face flared the brilliant color of red at his complimenting words. She tried to speak, but words caught in her throat, and she ultimately decided to stay quiet.

Nobody had ever said anything about her drawings before. Many just flipped through her sketchbook, not even having any reaction to the intricate and delicate drawings that took hours to put together. Before this boy came along, the biggest reaction she had ever received had been a melancholy great. She had been too frustrated to show anyone the drawings ever again, but then came along the boy who actually took an honest interest in her art. He must have been the type of person that does art. Lightning looked intently at his face as he looked at all the drawings.

While he looked at her elegant drawings, he spoke yet again. "I am called Zee. Zee Umbre." Looking at him yet again, she mumbled his name under her breath. His name definitely suits him. she thought, as she looked him up and down quickly. She began to blush as she did so, and tried to distract herself by speaking to Zee. "Thanks, Zee. Nobody has ever complimented my drawings before. That meant a lot to me." Looking at her feet, she couldn't help but think that he wasn't a bad guy. Not at all. He was like her - a person accustomed to loneliness, they liked art, they both don't trust easily and so on. Lightning wanted to work up the courage to hang out sometime, but she couldn't find the words to do so. Looking at the ground, she tried to hide her scarlet blush from the boy next to her. "Well, what do you do in your free time?"

[Yetinsane]

"Thanks, Zee. Nobody has ever complimented my drawings before. That meant a lot to me."

Zee was amazed by her statment, No one had ever complimented on her drawings before? That was hard to believe, they were all so expertly drawn. To not say that they at least were admirable would be a lie, or a action taken by jealousy or maliciousness. Zee looked at one last picture, admiring it for its consummation and soft, delicate colors then he gently shut the sketch pad and looked over at Lightning.

She was looking at her feet, her face red with. . . Embarrassment? Stress? Blinking, he stared at her in minor confusion. Had he said something wrong? Then Zee decided that she had been flattered by his complement and was only a little embarrassed. "Well,what do you do in your free time? Lightning said, still keeping her eyes on her feet.

Zee thought over her question, then answered simply,"Nothing as significant as your drawings. I usually, after working in a factory all day, am forced to look after my little brother. I like to go to the library to read." He stopped a moment, but then thought that that needed more of an explanation,"Not because I particularly like reading, only the Capitol keeps a lot of experiences out of our lives and the only way to know is to read the words in a book."

It was true he'd been here in District 9 for fifteen years and he hardly knew what a forest, a creek, or a cave even looked like. He knew plently about factory buildings, crowded squares, and the clamor of machinery, but nothing about many other things the Capitol keeps seperated from the Districts. It also wasn't just that he'd wanted to know more about enviroments he'd never see, he unconsciously wanted to collect information knowing he could possibly one day use it as an advantage. Just like how he enjoyed to collect details from other people's actions, the way they spoke, and what they told him. Zee didn't call this sneaky, only observant.

He looked at her, noticing again her blush,"Is something wrong?" He asked as he held out her sketch pad to her, hoping she would look up to take it back.

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

Zee closed the delicate leather bindings and held it at his side, looking at the blushing Lightning. Answering her question, he stated "Nothing as significant as your drawings. I usually, after working in a factory all day, am forced to look after my little brother. I like to go to the library to read. Not because I particularly like reading, only the Capitol keeps a lot of experiences out of our lives and the only way to know is to read the words in a book." It was true. The Capitol only ever taught them book education, but they never taught them things you would really need to know in real life. Lightning lifted her head up a little, her blush going away.

Zee looked very confused, as if Lightning had just rolled around on the concrete. "Is something wrong?" Lightning contemplated this for a moment. What is wrong with me? I'm acting like an idiot. She realized that she hadn't had any human contact for so long, and after awhile, you begin to freak out when you actually talk to someone. Lifting her still slightly blushing face, she looked Zee in the eyes and said exactly what she had just thought. "Well, Zee... Lightning began, sure she was going to make a fool of herself. "I haven't exactly talked to anybody that was a guy in quite awhile."

Lightning contemplated what she had just said. I made a fool of myself, didn't I? I just spoiled a perfect friendship, huh? Dear God, maybe this is why nobody likes me. She didn't mean to say that she liked him out loud, or at least, she didn't mean for it to sound that way. Lightning felt herself blush again. Realizing that Zee held out his arm, intending to return the book, she snapped out of her thoughts. Reaching out to get the sketching pad from the boy, she accidentally brushed his hand, making her blush even more. Stop making a fool out of yourself Lightning! she nagged herself as she took the book and stuffed it in her bag.

[Yetinsane]

Lightning looked up, her face still partly flushed, to look him in the eyes,"Well, Zee. . ." She trailed off before starting to speak again."I haven't exactly talked to anyone that was a guy in quite awhile."

Zee stared at her for a moment, his face had gone blank and he had become more tense. He wasn't sure how to respond to her words. She reached out and took the drawing pad back from him, her hand stroking his as she did so. Her face became cherry red again and she returned her book to her messenger bag. Was she saying that. . .she liked him?

Zee closed his eyes and chuckled lightly at the thought, then he looked at Lightning again. Now it was Zee's turn to be the one embarrassed."Well, I haven't talked to a girl as pretty as you in a long time. So our sitautions aren't too different," Zee said unsure why his voice thought it deem for him to say that. Emotionally conflicted between anger and embarrassment, he looked at the ground, his face bright red.

He couldn't like her too. At least, he shouldn't. He'd long told himself that he'd never love another human being, he didn't ever want to go through the pain it could possibly inflict. His face was contorted with worry and he was biting his tongue, ignoring the sharp pain that came as a result. He couldn't love her.

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

Lightning was shocked when she heard his next words. "Well, I haven't talked to a girl as pretty as you in a long time. So our situations aren't too different." After he said such surprising words, his face flared into a color equal to her own. Looking at him with a sense of... belonging , she recovered herself from looking like an absolute fool from her possible love interest. Not too many guys had ever liked her before. If there was someone daring enough to even glance Lightning's direction, it would be a total nerd, trying to win a bet.

But now she had found someone - that was a guy - to associate with. Nobody had wanted any form of communication with her to begin with, but the kindness of this boy - his complements, his kinds words - made up for the neglect of others. The fact that it was a boy instead of a girl made it all the more better; as long as she knew that someone opposite her gender liked her, then she knew that she wasn't at a loss of anything anymore.

Lightning calmed herself and restored herself from her flustered state. "Thank you for saying so." Trying to think of what to say next, she stood there awkwardly, looking up at the golden glare of the street light. They must have changed the bulbs. Lightning soon realized that the lights were on, indicating it was quite late. He should be home right now... "Would you like me to walk with you to your home?"

[Yetinsane]

Lightning was more placid now, having recovered from her momentarily emotional stress,"Thank you for saying so," She responded. She looked up at the street lamp suspended above them, its bright yellow glow floating down to the black pavement below, illuminating it to look a dark sandy hue. Zee had released the pressure his teeth held on his tongue, wincing at the ache that was left behind and he immediately regretted biting his tongue in the first place. He shifted his gaze up at he street lamp as well, closely examining it as if he'd missed some detail that hadn't been there before, like it had changed and some secret text had just magically appeared on the dull beam of steel beside him. He was under the impression that she didn't want to look at him anymore when she spoke, and he then understood her motive. "Would you like me to walk with you to your home?"

Of course, she'd realized how late it had gotten. It was true, the sky was pitch black and there was hardly any people in sight. The factory buildings loomed before them, giant black masses that consumed the dark sky. The air was cool and he'd almost forgotten the icy chill of the freezing water that ran from his head to his shoulder and neck, even stretching as far as to reach parts of his chest. He was quite far from his home, about three miles, maybe more. But that wouldn't be too long of a walk, he'd guess around twenty minutes, if one walked quickly enough.

Shivering, Zee looked at Lightning, and she was standing there awaiting his answer. He was still blushing, but he no longer cared how ridiculous he looked. Her question, she wanted an answer, he thought, hating how simpleminded it sounded as it rang through his consciousness. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, he was starting to become edgy again.

Uncertainty flashed thought his emerald orbs, shining brighter in color under the fluorescent light, originating from the stake nearby. "I think I would like that," He said and his eyes returned to there more normal cautious glare, which dulled only as he watched Lightning.

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

Lightning dropped her gaze from the darkened sky of night and looked at Zee, only to barely see his lips move. "I think I would like that." Taking in the words he just said, her face relaxes and her blush leaves her face to desert her for another girl who found someone else. Taking a hand and running it up and down the strap of her messenger bag, she coughed and then spoke. "Well, we should get going, night will only continue to come."

Lightning began the process of walking with Zee, her hands tucked neatly in her pockets as she surveyed their surroundings around them. A stressed out woman held out her pocket-mirror, examining her slightly tussled hair. A man walked with a suitcase at his side as his black dress shoes clicked on the concrete. The sounds irritated Lightning to nearly no end as she walked with the green-eyed boy who she was walking home.

[Yetinsane]

Zee lead them back the way he'd orginally came, as he surveyed the area he became wary of the other people around him. He wasn't used to being outside real late at night, especially in the middle of autumn when the temperature dropped drastically, but the dark isn't what put him on edge, it was the other beings the surrounded him. Zee didn't think there'd be so many people out at this time of night. They were still near the square though, so that would explain the unusaul buzz of activity. Well, the further they got from here, the better off he'd be.

He mused on if he family was wondering where he was at; Strider was thinking of him, no doubt. He knew he needed to get home soon, his loved ones would have to be worried.

Frigid air hung in the abating wind, and a tiny slender frame of the moon floated in the heavens high above. Zee was happy to be out from under that street lamp, for the darkness suited him much better. Slinking through the shadows out and away from others had always been his way to get around; he believed it was better to keep out of the way and go unoticed. He wasn't that he was afriad of people, he just didn't particurally like them, specifically the unfamilair ones. He heard the soft pitter-pat of footsteps beside him, and he started, jerking away from the noise, his glossy green eyes wide with shock.

Immediately he felt guilty for mistakening Lightning for someone else, smiling shyly, he shot her an apologetic glance and took his place back beside her again. He noticed her face was contorted in annoyance, and the air around her was tainted with irritation, so much Zee almost felt it himself. He drew a breath to calm himself, "Is something the matter?" He whispered through clenched teeth.

Zee scanned the scene before him, recongized it faintly. In the dark it looked almost ominous, threatning. Zee was looking down a dark alley, littered with junk and other obsticles he could hardly make out in the nearly complete darkness. "Say we take a sort cut?" He asked, a mischievous pitch claiming his voice.

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

Her irritation had spread to the air around her, making her eye slightly twitch, her hands balled up into fists, ready to punch the next living thing that dare look her way. Zee suddenly jumped, as if Lightning had snuck up behind him, suddenly put her hands on his shoulders and shouted "ra!" loudly, something she only did with friends. She had only done that with friends - old friends. People hadn't bothered talking to her over the past couple of years, so she had no means to do so, and no people to do it to. Anyway, he shot her an apologetic look, signifying he didn't mean to be surprised by her presence, and they kept on walking in silence.

Lightning continued clenching and undoing the action of her fists while the duo walked down the street, but soon stopped as the aura of annoyance and irritation fled away, replaced by the air of calmness. That was how Lightning felt. Calm. She felt like she was in her happy place, a rare thing for her to ever have in her life. Lightning never had the ability to walk down a street and smile, she only had the ability to walk past people with dropped papers and snicker. Now, she didn't feel as if it was her duty to laugh at others' mistakes, or flick someones shoulder and pretend she didn't do it. Now, it felt like her time to just be with a friend and relax. The feeling felt very foreign to her, but she silently accepted the presence and just let herself relax.

Suddenly, the super hot green eyed boy with whom she was walking with paused his footfall, directing his attention to his left. For a moment, Lightning felt confused and looked at Zee before looking in the direction of the dark place he took an interest in. It was just an old alley-way, with trash-bags and broken glass bottles lining the edges of the two walls of two separate buildings. For a moment, she thought Zee saw someone drug-dealing, but realized that nobody was within the alley, just the junk and whatever obstacles lay in the distance. Looking at Zee with a confused look, he twisted his face into that of mischief, as if he was a child who was about to pull the ultimate prank.

Glancing down the alley-way once more, he spoke. "Say we take a short cut?" He looked at her with his mischievous face, a face that Lightning almost died for. He really is cute... Snapping herself out of momentary thoughts of romance, she looked down the alley-way again, thinking of everything that could be down there, even though she couldn't see it. She brought back the thoughts of drug-dealers, leering prostitutes, and tough guys with cracked bottles. Lightning didn't exactly like the looks of the alley, but she and Zee where fast runners; if anything were to happen, they could run themselves out of trouble. Besides, what would they do? They wouldn't cause any problems to whoever may be down there.

Looking at Zee with a slight face of determination, she sighed quickly and bravely spoke again, trying to keep herself level-headed. She wasn't scared , she was just nervous of all the things that could possibly happen. For a usually brave girl, she felt odd that she felt nervous. "Yea. Lets go." Slowly, she picked up one foot off of the safe sidewalk concrete, and set her foot into the long, dark alley, Zee by her side. I wonder how long his house is away from here? Pushing the thought aside, she just feel happy to be with him, a friend, with whom she could talk to.

Lightning looked at both of the walls that created the lengthy, wide alley that they took their temporary place in. Graffiti of all different colors decorated the red brick walls of the side of those stores, almost like the graffiti was giving them more personality. Snickering slightly, she ran a hand through her hair and looked at the boy with whom she was walking with and thought of the first word she could come up with when she saw him. It was a common game she played with herself; look at someone and make the first word you think come to yourself, and match it up with that person. The first word that came to her head when she looked at Zee was hot friend.

She took that word away from her thoughts and placed it into her mouth, not to be spoken out loud, but to taste the word and roll it around on her tongue and compare and contrast. What did the word friend mean when it applies to Zee? He truly acted like one, calling her artistic - pretty even! What kind of person calls someone pretty, an enemy? No. He acted like a friend to her, because true friends make others feel good about themselves, and Zee did so by giving her emotions she hadn't felt in awhile. These emotions were things such as belonging, calmness, and a sense of playful cockiness that one would use with a friend.

The two people walked down the alley, with Lightning looking around at all of the graffiti that decorated the walls, looking for inspiration for something she could draw for the night. After awhile, she got bored of looking at the messy spray painted art and turn her head to the gorgeous boy she stood next to. They had walked for about 5 minutes, and for some reason, the silence made her feel awkward, as if she wasn't really with him, as if she was walking the alley alone. She tired of the silence and cleared her throat, intending to talk to him.

Opening her mouth, she attempted to start a conversation. "So, have you had a girlfriend before?" The redhead artist immediately felt like slapping herself. She didn't mean to start such a conversation, but something in her just took over her vocal chords and her mind, making her say such a thing. Lightning wanted to apologize, but decided not to, thinking that it wasn't too weird of a question. But she also wanted to know the answer. He was very cute, hot even, so he should have had no excuse that he didn't have a girlfriend. Lightning looked in his direction, a blush creeping onto her face, thanking the heavens that the alley was very dark.

[Yetinsane]

"Yea, let's go"

Brave words. Lightning stepped into the alley and Zee carefully matched her gradual pace as they entered the pitch-black passageway. Zee would have been confused by her slight hesitation if he hadn't felt it himself. He'd never taken this short-cut at night when it was dark, in fact, he seldom used it. Anything could be lurking in this darkness, if something happened-Zee glanced around, checking the long alley way for any friendly, or possible enemy figures- there would be no one to help them. Zee could see no one in the blackness.

The alley was nothing but darkness. Hardly any light reached this far into this chasm. Every noise either of them made bounced faintly off the walls and straight back to them. He listened for anything beyond the sound of their shuffling feet. Silence. Glass, wrappers, cans, and everything else littered the ground. It smelled damp and puddles of mud and water sat along the walls and in any dip in the pavement. Zee felt chilled to the bone and he didn't really like it here, so he picked up his pace ever so slightly.

Zee knew this, or rather these, paths between the buildings that surrounded them on all sides now, trapping them, limiting them, to a small space between. The alley they were walking through right now was connected to a series of alley ways that lay among a cluster of storage buildings. Beyond this dark path lay more alleys, it was like a black maze with danger around every turn, and it would be harder to navigate through the paths when everything was so dark and unfamiliar.

He still felt the playful mischief that had overcome him minutes before, the momentarily uncertainty had only taken the slightest edge off of it. He put some pep into his gate and he looked over at Lightning. She was staring at the walls that were covered with graffiti; Zee couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked now that she was enveloped in this darkness. Smiling, he looked at a illustration on the wall nearest to him. It displayed a vile looking creature (or possibly a human, in the dark it was to hard to tell) with large teeth and it was circled with green. Interesting. . . He looked over at a different inscription, but he couldn't read any of its writing.

Home would only be about a ten minute walk after they reached the end of these alleys. If they had chosen to take the longer way, they wouldn't have reached his house until a much longer time.

It took him a few seconds to realize Lightning was looking at him, he turned his head toward her.

"So, have you had a girlfriend before?"

Zee was taken aback by her bizarre question. It was a strange thing to ask someone as you were walking down a shady alley. Zee recovered quickly and the shock left his face. When he spoke, he spoke slowly, carefully like he had to watch what he was saying. "Before? Of course," He shook his head his head from side to side bitterly, like he was trying to fight away some reappearing memory,"But never again." He didn't care to elaborate.

Ouch. He really did like her, but he didn't want to. He wished he didn't. He was about to say something again, when he stopped suddenly and looked around. He could've sworn he'd heard something. He had gone tense and he fought back the sense of fear. The noise had sounded like it had came from some place ahead them. It didn't sound nearby, but sounded to close to be comfortable. "Did you hear anything? Just now?"

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

After Lightning had asked that quite embarassing question, she felt as if she should just shoot herself. What kind of person just goes up and someone they barely even know and asks "hey, have you had a girlfriend before?" An insane person, that's who. Lightning thanked the stars that the alley was dark so he could barely see her scarlet face. She also thanked the stars for the fact she didn't have a gun to put an end to herself for that stupid of a stupid question. She sighed, realizing she couldn't just take back the question. Besides, it was a question that was tossed around between some people sometimes, so it wasn't too weird. That, and she was truly curious.

When Zee's ears caught the question, he gave her a look of insanity and uncertainty. It was almost as if he was secretly contemplating whether or not to answer her slightly intruding question. Then, to Lightning's surprise, he answered her. "Before? Of course," he answered her with a soft tone. "But never again." Even how soft the words were, even how delicate his voice was at that moment, Lightning felt as though she had been branded with a hot iron.

Even thought Lightning had just met him, this was her first male interaction she actually had in awhile. And even though how hard she forced herself to try not to like him, even more than a friend, she couldn't help but think of the thoughts of them being together. Even if she didn't want to be desperate, or sound desperate, she just needed something to attach herself to. After being lonely for so many nights and days, wishing yourself to be happy and not on earth, sometimes people get attached too quickly, even how out of character it was to that person - how out of character it was of Lightning.

Even though she knew he was being honest in answering her question, she felt crestfallen, and a knot formed in her throat. How should she expect him to want her if so many people had hurt him before in the past? How should she expect him to leap back into the very decision that could have caused him so much pain so long ago? How should she expect him to forget all about the girl - or girls - that hurt him, and go with her, a complete stranger who seem to be identical in personality? She knew that the last question answered her questions to the whole situation, but refused to hold fast to the answer.

Jamming her hands deeper into her pockets and refusing to believe that all hope would be lost with Zee, she recovered herself quickly and forced herself to just accept that it was the answer and that was that. A sound made itself present down the alley. Lightning couldn't explain what it was, and couldn't express what it sounded like. It just sounded... odd. Suddenly, Zee stopped in his tracks, his glowing green eyes laying themselves upon the slightly crestfallen artist. Looking at her with tense features, he questioned her. "Did you hear anything? Just now?" Lightning nodded slightly, ever so slightly and looked far down the alleyway into the darkness. Nothing moved. "Yes, and against my better judgement, I want to check it out."

Walking carefully with tentative steps as not to alert the noise-maker of their presence, she focused on stepping with toes on the ground first. Long ago, she realized that stepping forward as if you are stepping backwards is the best way to sneak up on someone - or something. At that moment, she felt the effects of flight or fight kicking into her body, a natural human instinct that has kept humans alive for centuries. The effect of it took place on her as she could hear her blood in her ears, her heart crashing against her ribcage, trying to escape.

Even how brave she usually was - or usually forced herself to be - she couldn't help but bring back up the heavily thought of topic. The Hunger Games. Lightning often thought of going to the Games to end her miserable book of her mere existence. Right now, she couldn't help but think. What if this was the Games and I had no choice? What if I had no choice but to risk my life for my own right to live? Bringing up the topic of the game of death usually spurred her to be brave, and suck it up, because somewhere in the Capitol, twenty four people her age are having the worst time of their lives. Compared to that, the tributes would have no problem doing this.

Keeping that thought at the back of her mind, she forced herself to stop shaking, and she carefully molded herself into the figure of confidence. With Zee by her side, she had reinforcements should anything happen. Being with Zee reassured her that she wasn't alone anymore, whether it be mentally or physically. The green eyed boy with black hair and the icy blue eyed girl with red hair were friends now, any way you looked at it. They were both neglected in their own ways, and miserable to their own respective states, and birds of a feather usually flock together. In that moment of time, that was the case as the duo approached the person or thing that had caused the ungodly noise.

[Yetinsane]

Zee watched as Lightning gave a small nod and shifted her gaze straight ahead, into the alleyway that lay before them.

"Yes, and against my better judgment, I want to check it out."

Who had he let himself get trapped with in this sinister alley, where they were surrounded by darkness and hearing strange noises in the middle of the night? A absolute crazy. She was suggesting they go looking for whoever-or whatever- that had made the sound. Still, hearing that noise did spark this odd, unexplainable curiosity within him. But. . . curiosity killed the cat, right?(Zee recognized the old saying that had been passed around for ages, even before Panem had even begun). This curiosity he felt now, it was nothing but deadly.

Lightning was taking small careful steps forward.The noise her feet made when the hit the ground didn't quite make sense because it sounded like she was moving away when, in reality, she was going forward. Tricky tactic. Zee didn't know how to do this, so he walked beside her trying his hardest to not give away their approach. His footfall sounded so noisy and clumsy next her precise, silent steps. Zee was usually good at sneaking around noiselessly, but she made even him seem amateur.

He imagined what must have made the noise that they were now walking toward.It could have been anything, a dangerous gang, drug dealers, a flesh-eating monster, really anything. But they were still walking to it. He hoped it was just a street rat or any other small animal, or maybe it was the wind that blew over some box that had made the noise. A few quick shuffles sounded somewhere off in the distance, behind a different building perhaps, but undoubtedly closer this time. Zee didn't say anything about it, Lightning most definitely heard it and he was too afraid he'd blow the little cover they had by speaking.

Zee steeled himself for what lay ahead, focusing on the sound of his own feet. Thats when he saw the shadow flash across the end of the alleyway. It was definitely a human figure. Gasping, Zee stepped back, startled by the sudden change of events. It seems like whatever there were looking for had found them first. Zee regained control of his emotions and returned to his place by Lightning, a challenge rising in his dark emerald irises. Who ever it was didn't look to tough (though he couldn't hardly see in the dark of the alley). The shady figure walked back a couple of steps and entered their alleyway.

It moved toward them slowly, like it had all the time in the world. Zee wasn't afraid of this lone figure, true, the character was much bigger than he, but Lightning had his back and it would be two on one if it came down to a fight. But then, another figure crept around the edge of the wall of the alley. A harsh giggle filled the air and some light from somewhere above caught a glare of hazel-green eyes. The laugh was feminine and it had sounded completely insane.

The confidence left Zee's eyes and was replaced by shock. He stood motionless for a instant, then as he came to his senses, he flung himself into Lightning. He trapped her against the wall with his body, hoping the small cover the shadows of the wall gave them would be enough darkness to conceal them. "I don't think they are safe.," Zee said in a quiet but still urgent whisper, after a moment his voice became more rigid, "Don't move, I think they've seen us."

Zee green eyes were wild and they kept scanning the two figures-and sometimes Lightning- over and over, trying to calculate how bad the possible threats could be. The sudden movement had put his short black bangs in front of his eyes, and like usual, he itched to get them out of his way, but he forced himself to stay still. Any other time he would have been thoroughly embarrassed by holding Lightning against a wall like he was now, but a certain seriousness had taken over him and he knew he didn't have time to be embarrassed. It would only add to his problems.

The two figures had moved closer and now it was easy to tell that the larger was a man and the smaller a young women. Both of the new arrivals eyes were shining with insanity. Zee wondered if they were really mad or maybe just possibly drunk. He knew they were dirty because they smelt like trash. He guessed the lady had blond hair, but it was so hard to tell in the darkness.

"Come 'n out, We know 'yer there," A crazed, drawled voice said, male from sound of it,"Out! Show yourselves and we can talk this out, so things don't have to get ugly."

The words gave him the chills and he was sure they'd stepped into some serous danger. Taking this short cut had probably been a bad idea, but there was no going back now. Zee stepped to the side, allowing Lightning to move again. He hesitated before looking at her and nodding. It would be tough to get out of this situation, but he was sure they could do it. Stubbornly, he ignored the voices request and remained where he was.

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

Her silent footsteps advanced down the alley-way, her heartbeat picking up more speed as her pace slowed. Zee stood slightly rigidly beside her, his footsteps creating small, but slightly audible thump whenever he lifted up his feet to advance farther and farther within the alley-way. Lightning heard the slightly fast breathing of Zee, wondering what his thoughts were right now. Was he afraid? Was he scared of what could be at the end of the alley or even there where they stood? Tearing her eyes away from his pale, slightly freckled face, she looked ahead in the distance, trying to figure out what made the noise.

Suddenly, an apparition of a shadow flashed across the end of the alleyway, causing Lightning to stop dead in her tracks, taking a defensive stance next to Zee. The apparition wasn't just a trick of their imagination, but it was a person, as proven by the fact that a man, slightly bigger than the green-eyed boy appeared in front of them. He moved slow, as if he could tarry on like he had nothing better in the world to do. Lightning bared her teeth slightly and released what was almost like a feral growl, but Zee was too focused on the man to hear it. Another person appeared, a green-eyed woman who let out an insane high-pitched giggle full of malice and hate.

The boy who stood next to her froze in shock, his body rigid, as if he were a statue Lightning had created for her job in the factory. Suddenly, he leaped out of his position next to her, shoving her against the wall and using his body as a shield or some form of protection, completely pinning her against the wall. Lightning's eyes widened as she realized he was making a sacrifice for her; protecting her using his own body. She blushed as she peeked over his shoulder with a blank face with large, shocked eyes to get a look at the two low-lives who decided to pick the wrong fight. She was more surprised at Zee's sudden decision than the two people who had suddenly appeared.

Suddenly, Zee urgently whispered to the girl he protected with his body. "I don't think they are safe," he hissed, putting power and meaning into his words to allow her to know that he had a strong feeling of danger. Lightning moved a hand to cover her mouth, but suddenly, Zee spoke again. "Don't move, I think they've seen us." Lightning ceased movement, her heart calming down. They must be drunk. They could be easy to handle if this is done the right way... Swallowing her venom, she relaxed her face from its shocked look to an angry glare full of pure malice. If eyes were knives, those two low-lives would have been bloody ribbons.

"Come 'n out, We know 'yer there," a mans voice slurred. Oh yea, he has gotta be drunk. Normal people don't talk like that unless they are extremely tired. The stupid, drunk man spoke again. The man's words were slurred, but just intelligible enough for the duo to understand. "Out! Show yourselves and we can talk this out, so things don't have to get ugly." Lightning gave a death glare along with a classical Lightning smirk at the man, who looked around his surroundings, confused. Zee stepped aside to allow Lightning the right to move, giving her a short, curt nod as he stared head on at the challenge in front of them.

Taking one small step forward, she gave Zee a short nod of her appreciation for protecting him, whispering "Thank you for protecting me" before tearing her ice cold blue eyes away from the boy who tried to save her. She walked up to the man, saying loudly "You're drunk, aren't you? And I'm assuming the girl is too?" The girl stepped closer to Lightning. Looking at the whites of her eyes, she didn't see the red within them that drunk people have. The man, however, did. The woman isn't drunk, and the man is.

"Are you a Peacekeeper or something? Because if you are, back the hell off." The woman suddenly spoke, breaking Lightning's confident face for a moment. Staring at her for awhile, the red-head girl responds. "Well, you won't allow us to leave, so we can't exactly leave you alone." The man stared at Lightning with the greatest hateful look anybody could ever churn up. The woman looked at Lightning with the same hateful look. And then, without warning, she leaps at Lightning, both of her hands balled up into fists, trying to punch her.

Her fist grazes her face and her hand collides with the wall. Lightning turns around for a moment to the wall five feet away from the woman. Grabbing an old glass bottle, she picks it up and smashes it against the wall, turning around sharply and holds the sharp, cracked edges out towards the two threatening people. "Zee, crack a bottle." Lightning doesn't let her guard down as the two growling people leer at the duo, threatening them. Lightning growls back, brandishing the cracked glass bottle and threatening them should they move again.

[/color] [/blockquote] [/justify]

[Yetinsane]

The two strangers had moved closer now, but Zee still remained where he was, standing by a stark wall of a dark and lonely passage.Lightning had stepped away from the wall and now she gave him a breif bob of her head, whispering,"Thank you for protecting me." Then, to Zee's horror, she walked straight out to about the middle of the alley so close -too close- to the two people that occupied it.

Protecting her? Zee slightly frowned and folded his arms. I guess those were my intentions, he thought, remembering the sudden sense of guardianship when he'd pinned her against the wall. "Your welcome?" He smiled inwardly, his previous confusion fading, as he said those words under his breath, knowing she was to far away to hear them. Lightning's clamorous tone of voice, snatched his full attention back to the action in the alleyway. He wondered if she had wanted him to approach he strange duo as well. "You're drunk, aren't you? And I'm assuming the girl is too?" Lightning had directed her words toward the man. This girl was as brave as he was.

Instead of the man, it was the women who responded,as she stepped closer to Lightning,"Are you a Peacekeeper or something? Because if you are, back the hell off." Well, first impression is. . . rude. Maybe crazy too. Zee spoke to himself in his mind, unsure why he felt the need to judge this fair-haired women. Lightning watched the lady for few moments and then she responded,"Well, you won't allow us to leave, so we can't exactly leave you alone." The glare of absolute animosity the man was giving Lightning made Zee uneasy and he rocked back and forth on his feet, switching his weight from one to another.

However, he stayed put. He knew that most likely the adults had seen him, but he didn't want to appear as a threat just yet, afraid if he did it would give them all to good of a reason to attack. He just hoped Lightning wouldn't do anything reckless, he didn't believe she would, but it was a thought. She was only a few quick strides away, so that made him feel better. The man's partner stood beside him, glaring at Lightning with pure hatefulness as well. An instant later, the women lashed out at Lightning, trying to punch her.

It all happened so quickly Zee was having trouble comprehending it all. One of the women's fist brushed Lightning face, but the other missed her completely. Then Lightning held a cracked glass bottle in one of her hands and she points it at the two adults, warning them not to come closer. "Zee, crack a glass bottle and they may go away."

Zee was glowering at the women and he had to try so desperately hard to stop himself from running over to her and attack. His heart was beating quick, and his breathing had become more sharp. He wondered if Lightning had been hurt. Finally, Lightning's words came through to him. He whipped around and almost crashed right into the wall beside him. He forgotten how close he was to the side of the alley. He scanned the ground until he spotted a glass bottle. He darted over to it, almost tripping on a rotting wooden crate as he did so. He glanced down at it and then to the three in the middle of the alley. He lifted a foot and brought it down on the end of the glass bottle, trying to smash it as if it were a bug. He quickly realized this wasn't working and swiped it up and broke it against the wall nearest to him and the sound of splintering glass filled the alleyway.

The bottle was of a faint shade of green, but shadows and age had taken an edge off of its former gloss. It smelled of alcohol, and Zee crinkled his nose at the repulsive odor. Holding the broken bottle at his side, he glided over to the women who had made an move toward Lightning. Growling like a peeved wolf, he pointed the shattered glass bottle at her accusingly,"Back away and leave us alone. Or I'll cut you." He breathed more heavily now, fighting back the panic and the violence that rose inside of him

The lady stared at the duo of children before her, disbelieving their threats, but she was still hesitant. The man, on the other hand, had locked his wild, bloodshot eyes on the cracks of the glass bottles, seemingly to spark something inside him. Savagely, the man stuck Zee, hard, in the chest sending him back toward the right wall of the passage. Zee had dropped his glass bottle and now it shattered against the pavement, sending glass flying in every direction. He stumbled backward and fell, a puny snarl escaping his lips. Using a hand to support himself, he struggled to his knees.

Anger boiled in Zee's eyes as he gazed up at the two adults and Lightning, he had looked up just in time to see the women gathering herself, preparing to launch another attack at the girl in front of her. Zee knew that they could possibly get away if they ran, but he wanted to them to stand their ground. He knew they could best the two drunk/crazed adults easily as long as they played things safe. Safer. They couldn't let themselves be injured, or they never escape the drunk man and the women. "Look out!" Zee tried to warn Lightning that the women was about to attack, but his voice come out only as a strangled croak. He hoped that had been enough to warn her, though the women was standing right in front of her, she would have definitely noticed. Focusing on catching his breath, he tried to work out a plan to get them out of the alley safely.

[SNOWFLAKES [Brik]]

Does Lightning Strike Twice?
Lightning Vox

As Lightning stood leering at the two with the cracked edges of the bottle, she saw Zee out of the corner of her eye. It took him awhile to finally comprehend the words out of her mouth. Following her instructions to crack a bottle, he picked up an old, green alcohol bottle and stepped on it attempting to break it. Just swipe it against the wall, just swipe it against the wall... she thought casually. After he realized his foot didn't have enough force behind it to actually break the green glass, he picked it up and nearly threw it at the wall. The glass fell to the floor like rain, but before the glass even hit the ground, Zee turned around, broken bottle in hand.

Zee released a growl; it was as if he was an animal who had gotten its food forcibly taken away from him. Lightning turned a head to him real quick to see what he would do next, looking at the shattered green edges of the glossy bottle, and then looking at the boy next to her. He stood his ground, a stale glare upon his face, looking at the two insane people who were putting up a fight. He brandished the bottle at his side like he had done this a billion times before, as if he comes to the alley every single day and picks fights with random alley-rats. He must know what hes doing to be so lackadaisical with that bottle. Lightning turned her head away from Zee, backing up slightly to take her place next to him.

"Back away and leave us alone. Or I'll cut you." The few words surprised Lightning, never expecting him to allow such words to leave his lips. Sure, she knew he was a tough guy. Besides, they were pretty much in the same boat, having to be so independent all the time. But how menacing the words were, so full of hate and anger were they that they surprised the red-headed artist. He must be pretty brave to have the guts to say that. Humoring his words, she turned the glass bottle slowly around in her hands to allow the low-lives to understand that they meant business.

As Zee's breathing pace picked up a couple notches, so did the drunk man's concentration on the sharp edges of both of their bottles. It was almost as if he was watching the waves on the shore of District 4, just as they saw in the background on that district's reaping. The lady, on the other hand, stood there, totally casual, as if she didn't believe the threats of the two teenagers. But there was something about her stance. It was something about the way she held her head, arms, legs, even her face. She is hesitant. She doesn't want to believe we could follow through with the threats.

Suddenly, with the speed of a mustang, the drunken man struck Zee hard in the chest. Lightning swore to herself that a look of panic struck his face as he was knocked down by the man, just as a look of panic struck her own pale features. She moved as if to cut him, but her movements were stopped by her conscious. The man isn't moving back in to hit him again. We should just get out of here as fast as we can. Lightning looked over at Zee to see how he was, and then looked at the shards of glass next to him. She realized he was defenseless. He had to get another bottle or use his own fists.

At that moment, Lightning wanted to go over to him, pluck him up and take him to his home, but with the way the world was, it was never that simple. Everything was so complicated. What made everything more complicated was that Lightning was going to have to fight one of them, but she was certain she must fight the woman.
She noticed her stance now, confident and leering, as if she was to lash out an strike Lightning. The redhead stuck out the bottle as she heard something from Zee.

She wasn't sure if it was a cry of pain or if he was saying something, but nonetheless, she turned her head around at the boy who was on both of his knees to see what happened to him. So much was her involvement with worrying about Zee did she not notice the woman run towards her, getting a punch in the face, knocking Lightning to the ground with a blank face, her eyes full of surprise. Landing next to Zee, she gave him the bottle for his own safe-keeping, and struggled to her feet as the woman taunted her.

"Aw, is the redhead going to hurt me?" The woman slapped a hand to her mouth to hide her snicker as Lightning slowly rose to her feet and glared at the woman with a smile equal to her own. Lightning pushed up the sleeves of her jacket, the white, angry lines on her wrists making the second appearance of the day. Balling her hands up in fists with a bittersweet smile upon her face, she slowly, tentatively walked near the woman, and punched her in the face.

Her hand collided with her nose, sending blood dripping over her knuckles. When the woman put a hand on the wall to stabilize herself, Lightning smiled again and punched her in the side of her face, sending her to the littered ground. Stepping over the woman, she put both of the heels of her feet on the woman's shoulders, pinning her to the ground. Leaning down just a bit into the woman's face, she smiled. "Yea. The redhead just hurt you."

Not even bothering to hide her snicker, she rocks back on her heels, making more pressure applied to the woman's shoulders, making her hiss. Looking lackadaisically over at Lightning, she smiles. "Do something useful with that bottle. That man looks like he could use an ass whooping." Turning her full attention to Zee, she sighed. Wow. Just 15 minutes ago, I was walking down this alley, and now here I am, crushing some woman's shoulders, she thought sarcastically.