Downtown: Sunset Spirits

[Regan Rourke]

It was the early evening and Regan was "walking" through downtown. Night was a pretty boring time for her. Without a need to sleep and not big on doing homework if she could avoid it, she was left with a lot of free time. So, she usually wandered the town exploring while people slept. She was a little early getting out today, but she had felt particularly restless. Besides, ever since Victoria had fixed her up a bit, most people couldn't even tell she was dead unless they touched her. Or noticed she had no shadow. And wasn't breathing. Or that she wasn't even really touching the ground.

Luckily, people didn't pay that much attention.

[The Book of Sins]

As the sun goes down, casting long shadows out across the harbor, the people wandering the streets thin out. Eventually there's only a few people left and almost no cars. Though it feels like the occasional person Regan walks past seems to stare at her. At first it'd probably seem like they noticed something being off about her, but she would soon notice that it's not the usual kind of look. It almost seems more like they're scared, keeping her eyes fixed on Regan as they walk by. But they don't seem to be scared of her either and once they're past her their heads turn to look ahead again or down at their smartphones and they keep walking as if nothing had happened. None of them say a single word.

[Regan Rourke]

Weird, Regan thought as she noticed the pattern. Finally, she stopped walking and looked herself over, trying to figure out what everyone was staring out.

[The Book of Sins]

Nothing at all is wrong. If anything she's doing better than usual in keeping her feet aligned with the ground. Close enough that she can feel it through the soles of her shoes even......

[Regan Rourke]

Regan shrugged it off and started walking again, keeping her head hidden in her hoodie.

It took her a few steps to realize something. Then she was so dumbstruck that she nearly fell over.

Reaching out, Regan tried to touch the wall of a nearby building to make sure she wasn't just going crazy.

[The Book of Sins]

That certainly was a wall. Though it felt a little too smooth and slick than you'd expect from a brick wall. And this was when a shriek echoes up the street from somewhere ahead.

[Regan Rourke]

Freaking out about her sudden move to a substantive form would have to wait. Regan took off running towards the shriek.

[The Book of Sins]

If she is still paying enough attention she'd notice that the streets are absolutely empty now. Except for the figure stumbling towards her, almost flailing a little. As she gets closer she'll notice that the figure's face looks very pale. Almost as if... not as if, it is wearing a mask. And looking pleadingly at Regan when it notices her, doubling it's effort to scramble towards her.

[Regan Rourke]

"Man, you buskers are getting uglier every year," Regan said, as she tried to summon her soulblade. She sounded a bit nervous, "Not a bad pop and lock act though."

[The Book of Sins]

The blade appeared in her hand as usual. The masked... woman? It's hard to tell, but she flinches back when she sees the sword, eyes wide while her hands keep weakly clawing at the mask.

[Regan Rourke]

Regan lowers the sword, actually looking concerned.

"Look, I'm going to try to pull that thing off your face? Alright?" Regan says, "So, just take it easy."

Regan takes a step forward, reaching out for the mask.

[The Book of Sins]

The woman holds still though her eyes still look terrified. The masks seems to be slightly stuck but it comes away when Regan pulls on it. Underneath some of the black stuff that had been seeping from the eye holes apparently kept it in place, but when Regan pulls it off all the way there's nothing but smooth skin except for a set of narrow lips.

[Regan Rourke]

"Well. That's just terrifying," Regan says.

"I don't suppose you can talk. That would probably be way too easy."

[The Book of Sins]

The mouth slowly opens. And then opens some more. Then the head starts splitting open like a snake's before the thing lurches forward and snaps at Regan with it's still disturbingly human teeth.

[Regan Rourke]

A year in Limbo had left Regan with more than just terrifying and haunting memories, she also had learned that when something started biting at you, peace talks had broken down.

"This is what I get," Regan snaps, bringing the soulblade up as she steps towards the creature instead of away. Clumsily, she attempted to thrust the blade into the creature's chest as it charged, "Everyone wants me to be nice, but the second I do things start trying to bite my face off."

[The Book of Sins]

Quite literally as the still widening mouth tries to snap at her. The blade sinks into it's chest without much resistance, but despite the dark, almost black blood spilling out it barely seems to slow the thing down, it's neck starting to stretch out to get to Regan.

[Regan Rourke]

"I think I bit off more than I can chew," Regan mutters to no one in particular, trying to wrench the blade free and keep the thing from chowing down on her at the same time.

[The Book of Sins]

Thankfully the blade comes free easily so Regan manages to stumble backwards as the thing's mouth snaps shut where her head used to be moments ago. It doesn't exactly let up though and lurches forward after her.

[Regan Rourke]

For a moment, Regan considered running. Just turning tail and getting the hell out of there. It was probably the option that made the most sense. It wasn't like there was anyone else around to get hurt and it wasn't exactly the quickest shoe in the closet.

Instead, Regan gripped the soulblade tightly, "Sorry. I hate women that get all mouthy."

Regan swings the sword more like a baseball bat than a weapon, aiming the swing at the creature's head this time.

[The Book of Sins]

The creature notices too late (or doesn't care) and the blade slices through it's head, separating the disfigured lower jar. The thing reels back and lets out a shriek that is garbled by the black goo bubbling in it's throat. It flails around for a moment, staggering back and forth before it collapses in a heap. Then it slowly begins to run apart, flesh and bone turning into dark blood that slowly seeps into the cracks in the sidewalk until the only thing left is the white mask Regan had pulled off, still looking out with panicked, very human eyes.

[Regan Rourke]

"Wicked. Souvenir," Regan says, picking up the mask.

[The Book of Sins]

The eyes follow Regan as she picks up the mask.

[Regan Rourke]

Regan stuffs the mask in the pocket of her hoodie. She takes a look around, noticing for the first time that there's no people around.

"...Y'know, I'm beginning to think something weird is going on," Regan says to no one in particular. Some people just like the sound of their own voice.

[The Book of Sins]

Slowly things seem to return to normal. A car rolls down the street, here and there people can be seen in illuminated windows and Regan's feet slightly sink into the sidewalk.

[Regan Rourke]

It was disconcerting to say the least. Regan tumbled forward, spinning head over heels before righting herself in midair.

"Well, fuckery." Regan mumbles.