Re: Streets of Manhattan

[JulietsCurse]

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Connor stared down at his phone, following the crowd. "Who's going with who?"He asked quickly.

[Guest]

Jake wondered why he always found himself assigning teams, he said, "Um you go with Seth, Luke and James go together and I'll go and..." He looked at the girls, he knew Evelyn would probably lecture him about him making her go with a guy and all that feminist crap, but the stupid abandoned places always had drug addicts, and whatever in them.

"Ashlee go with James and Luke, and Evelyn can come with me, the houses are near each other and the convenience store, Seth you and Connor take the end, James and Luke you guys can go start at the beginning of the block, and Evelyn and I can take the middle. Anyone finds anything out we just text each other." He said giving off orders.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn narrowed her eyes but didn't say anything with James in earshot. She simply crossed her arms over her chest and bit the inside of her cheek.

She was focusing on finding Alexis. But Jake was seriously starting to get to her. So the houses were probably not a good place for a girl to go alone. She got that. She really did. But why did he feel the need to monitor her himself? She'd have been happier going with Luke or Connor or even Seth. Seth, at least, wouldn't keep reminding her she was incapable.

But this was counter-productive. Just because she was going to be stuck with Jake until they found Alexis didn't mean she had to talk to him.

Seth was nodding and he and Connor began to head over to one of the houses. "Keep in contact," he called to Jake.

Luke started forward to the next house, seemingly eager to take advantage of the fact that James had, like Evelyn, restrained himself from commenting. "Come on," Luke said, nudging Ashlee as he passed her.

[JulietsCurse]

"Who the fuck is this guy?" Connor asked once out of ear shot, following beside Seth and keeping an eye out for his very drunk dark haired cousin.

[Guest]

Jacob nodded at Seth walking down the street to one of the houses, he walked past the front of the home towards the back, hoping over the fence without saying anything to Evelyn, she wanted to do stuff herself he sure as hell wasn't going to comment, he figured she was already mad enough at the arrangement but whatever, he could care less at the moment and he sure as hell wasn't ready to hear her bitch.

She wanted to do stuff herself so be it.


Ashlee nodded following Luke and James to one of the abandoned homes she looked between the both of them, when they arrived at a fence, she watched Luke climb over, and James.

"Um guys, can you help me I'm kind of bad at climbing fences." Ashlee piped up.

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke turned and shot James a bewildered look. Of course. This was why girls should be outlawed from scavenger hunts worldwide. He knew Evelyn was all about feminism, but some things, girls weren't meant to do. Facing potential rapists being one of them.

He sighed. "You boost her, James. I'll make sure she doesn't faceplant over on this side." That would mean James would have to climb back to the other side and then climb over again.

***

Evelyn gritted her teeth. Seriously? What a douchebag, she fumed. If he was so eager to momitor her, why was he leaving her behind? She glanced down at her knee-length skirt. Then at the spiky-looking wooden fence.

Hell if I'm going over that, she decided firmly with years of honed determination.

She walked along it instead and finally found what she'd been looking for - the tiny gate in between the two houses, that she pushed open easily enough and slipped through, following after Jake silently.

***

Seth decided, like Jake, that back doors were a better venue than the front. He led Connor around to it and entered through the kitchen. He glanced around, treading silently. "Basement," he muttered to Connor. "I'll look upstairs."

[JulietsCurse]

Connor nodded and silently went for the basement, in search for her.

[Guest]

James groaned, why did Evelyn and Ashlee insist on coming with them? Although knowing Evelyn he knew she probably charged her way through a fence anyway, he lifted himself back over the fence with ease landing on the other side. He cupped his hands together and looked up at Ashlee, "Okay put your foot in here and I'll boost you up."

"You're not gonna drop me are you?" She asked cautiously placing her foot into his hand.

"No Ash, I'm not just get in you're wasting time." He said boosting her up over the fence, "Luke she's all yours."

***

Jake watched Evelyn find the gate and he just shook his head, opening the back door to the shady looking ranch house he was lucky that they only basically had a floor to cover and a basement.

He looked at Evelyn and figured she could handle the upstairs herself, "Look up here and I'll go downstairs." He said going down stairs.

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke reached up and grabbed Ashlee's wrists as she came over. When she was high enough, and had one leg over the fence, he let go and stepped closer to the fence so she could use his shoulder as a handhold. "Just jump down, it's not a huge drop or anything."

***

Evelyn stuck out her tongue at the back of Jake's head as he headed downstairs. About time. She looked around and then, ignoring his instructions, headed for the kitchen cabinets, silently opening every drawer and cupboard until she found herself a solid-enough saucepan.

***

Seth headed upstairs, cringing as the stairs creaked underfoot. Some of these old houses were being torn down, he recalled. Good thing too. They'd fill up those prison spots.

He headed down the dusty hallway until he came to a rustling. Seth peeked around the partially open door. Nothing but a rat.

A large rat in a pile of germ-filled rotten food

Seth sneezed as dust landed on his nose. The rat glanced up - and dove at the door.

"FUCK!"

[Guest]

Ashlee made a face at Luke, and dropped down swiftly on her feet, she watched James hop back over the fence, and they went inside of the old home. Ashlee crinkled her nose at the scent.

"Damn, they should clean this dump, or tear it down." She commented on the grimy appearance.

James just rolled his eyes, "Um Luke do you wanna take upstairs or downstairs?"

***

Jake walked down the stairs quietly as he could, the old stairs creaking beneath him. His nose was filled with the real strong odor of something that most definitely had died, he pushed that thought aside hoping that, that wasn't the case. He stepped down on the concrete floor of the basement scanning over the old place.

He walked quietly, when something flashed by him, he looked down and watched a centipede make its way across the basement and jumped back. He cussed mentally to himself as he watched that thing slip through a crack in the wall, no doubt along with the other creatures that made this place their home, that he didn't even want to know.

Jake remembered he had to be quiet though because if that bastard was down here, he would surely hear him, he rounded around the wall looking for any sign of life, that didn't have a million appendages.

[Tiger-Lily]

Evelyn sneezed. And sneezed quietly again, muffling it with her hand quickly.

God, this basement staircase was dustier than the inside of James' brain.

In spite of the fact that Jake was going to kill her when they got out of this, she smiled devilishly as she reached level ground, scanning through the darkness for him. She didn't see him and came to a fork of sorts, taking the left one. Jake was left-handed, she'd noticed. Who knew?

After a moment of walking, she realized that idiot hadn't gone by his lefthandedness. He wasn't down here in this hallway.

She came to a right curve and followed it silently, holding her breath. Jake wasn't down here. Who knew what else might be?

Another turn and she wondered if she were circling around.

There was no lighting down here now. Evelyn made the decision to stick with that. Then she heard it;

A thud of soft feet up ahead. Evelyn's mouth dried up and her hands went cold as she gripped the saucepan.

It sounded like someone had jumped clumsily. She lifted her weapon up and then turned the corner.

A dark shadow loomed up ahead of her. Evelyn screamed and swung the saucepan at its head.

***

"Up," Luke said quickly. He reached down and picked up a piece of metal left over from some ancient reno and headed up the creaky stairs.

***

Seth stilled. The rat had run right past him. And he could hear footsteps up the stairs.

"Fuck fuck fuck," he chanted and dove into the Rat room, ignoring the germy mess. He ducked into the closet, sincerely hoping he wouldn't find Alexis' prone body in there.

[Guest]

Ashlee hated basements, well not really she just hated rusted out old basements where rapists could live so she decided to stay upstairs as well, looking around on the first floor with Luke as she watched James slink into the basement.

***

Jake heard a scream followed by a thud to the back of his head, he staggered around dizzily, almost passing out, he grabbed onto the wall for support and brought himself down to his knees.

"God damn it, fucking shit." He swore quietly, the fact he did though kind of amazed him because usually he'd be swearing a storm loud enough for all of Greenwich to hear, but obviously someone was in here, and saw him hence them trying to knock him out.

The scream though sounded feminine, and he really hoped it hadn't been Alexis. He picked himself up slowly, and looked around he couldn't really see that much since it had been pretty dark. He didn't want to say anything because if Brett had been there he'd take it as a cue to split.

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke grimaced as Ashlee tromped up the stairs towards him. "Be caref - " he began.

Crunch!

Ashlee's foot sank ankle-deep into the second-most stair from the top. Thw rotten old wood had given way. Luke reached over and grabbed her arm before she went through to the basement. "Lovely."

***

Oh God, I'm about to die, Evelyn concluded. She'd heard the slump which indicated her enemy was down. But a rustling announced he was moving.

She sank back against the wall, wishing she hadn't lost her hold on the saucepan. She'd hit whoever it was so hard it had flown right out of her grip. And she had a strong grip.

Evelyn felt her breathing quicken. She'd hit her target. But he'd gone silent as she slumped there against the wall. So maybe he was knocked out cold?

Now to get out of here. She didn't have time. She didn't care about apprehending Brett. He could take her easily enough. She'd rather she find him with Jake aiding her.

Evelyn inched a foot forward. Her phone gave a quiet tremor in her hand - Facebook IM. She clamped it to her so the light wouldn't illuminate whoever was down here. She was aware she was sort of freaking James out but she honestly wished the others would come storming in right now. Her heartbeat picked up pace and seemed to hammer in the silence. Evelyn made her way along the wall, trying to see her opponent through the pitch darkness.

A soft glow illuminated his hand. What was he holding? Evelyn felt a lump build in her throat. She'd already given her position away. She edged along and tried to circle around him down the slim hallway - which was impossible at best since he was sort of slumped in the middle, she assumed anyways. Or maybe he was standing. She couldn't really tell.

If he was standing, she was just going to have to hit him again. She sank down a bit and ran her hand along the dusty floor in search of her saucepan.

[JulietsCurse]

Connor came back up from the basement, sadly unlucky from finding his cousin, nor her "kidnapper". Connor texted Seth, asking where the hell he was as he headed up the stairs, keeping an eye out. He squinted, seeing a figure as he got at the top step, but it disappeared as quickly as he saw it.

[Guest]

Ashlee yelped, and grabbed onto Luke to keep from sinking into the floor, "Jesus, what the hell!" She cried out.

James heard the noise from upstairs, and wondered if they were okay because he could distinctly hear Ashlee's voice, he needed to finish checking out the rest of the basement before he came back up though so he texted Luke, Everything okay up there?

He was starting to panic though because Seth had told him that someone had tried to knock out Jake, and now no one was quiet sure where Evelyn had went and she wasn't responding to him very quickly either.

James was ready to take off and go find her but he wasn't exactly sure which house they had went into, which this even worse and Seth hadn't remembered either so he was kind of stuck at the moment.

***

Jake rubbed the back of his head, and could of swore he felt something, it was gooey and running and he realized that he had been bleeding and that whoever had hit him, had got him real good.

He heard something vibrate, and looked down to see if it had been his phone but it wasn't, he thought that maybe whoever it was that hit him was still lurking around, but where?

Jake decided though that if this person had a weapon he needed to find something to fight back with, he reached down on the floor looking for something a pipe or whatever that could be used to ward him off, he felt around the ground and he felt his fingers brush against another hand, he instinctively grabbed this and said in a low voice, "Who the hell are you?"

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth replied, telling Connor he was in a closet on the first bedroom to the left.

And the closet door was jammed. Seth sighed and massaged his forehead. He was nearing freak-out. God knew where Jake was. What if he was caught and trapped by that psychopath? Brett knew Jake.

He tried Jake again. Their last conversation hadn't been going well.

He'd typed: Guy?
I think I'm about to get caught
I am in a closet. -__-
4:23amJacob
Iasje....
4:23amMe
...
Jake???
What the fuck?
4:23amJacob
fuck
4:24amMe
what's going on???
you sound like Alexis -__-
4:24amJacob
God damn that hurt
Someone hit me across the head....
4:24amMe
...
HOLY FUCK
4:25amJacob
Just uh...just ugh
Give me a second... I
4:25amMe
...okay
4:26amJacob
....
Excuse me I have to kill a Red head.
4:29amMe
...
what???
4:31amJacob
I i'll
I'll text you
4:31amMe
are you okay???
dude
this is not funny
4:31amJacob
I'm fine
I'm not being funny
Someone hit me over the fucking head Seth
Ahh jesus

THis wasn't a great rescue mission. Seth suggested to James that they converge. WHo knew where Jake and Evelyn were? Now neither of them were answering.

But first, Seth had to get out of this place.

***

We're okay, Luke replied to James, heading down the hall with Ashlee. News from the others? he texted James again.

***

Evelyn tried not to breathe through her mouth but her panicking heartbeat was ensuring she wasn't taking in enough air through her nose. The sound of her breathing was not helping stay hidden.

Well, she'd been caught. And very firmly.

"Who the hell are you?" a raspy voice asked. Evelyn tried to slide her hand free. This person had calloused fingers, like they used their hands often. Not good.

Oh God, it's the human equivalent of the Grudge, she concluded. Some half-dead hobo. She heard her breathing escalate and tried to hold back her fear. Holy shit, I'm about to get sexually assaulted by some dead guy!

Her imagination was running away with her. Panicked, Evelyn twisted the lower half of her body around and kicked out at where she thought the rapist might be.

[Guest]

James swallowed feeling his own heartbeat increase, he didn't know whether to add to Luke that now neither Jake nor Evelyn were responding to anyone, and on top of that he assumed Seth was trapped somewhere, and now Ashlee nearly fell through the foundation, all of this and still no sign of Alexis or that creep.

He replied.

Um... we may have a slight problem.

***

Jake felt a leg kick out and he grabbed it with his other hand, whoever this was now was fighting back, and he had come to the conclusion that it probably hadn't been Brett because Brett always had some sort of stupid witty comeback or line to drop before he fought.

Holding this person's arm firmly in his hand he spun the person around, and took his phone out to use as a crude flashlight, he shone it over his attackers face and it was... "Evelyn?! What the hell are you doing?!"

[JulietsCurse]

Connor watched the hallway for a moment before going to the bedroom and over to the closet. "Seth?"He whispered, trying to yank the closet open.

[Tiger-Lily]

Luke halted Ashlee and showed her the text from James. He replied quickly, Explain. What now?

***

Seth perked up and nearly passed out in relief. He let go of the coat hanger he'd found as a makeshift weapon. "Hey! In here, guy. Do something."

***

Evelyn felt herself being lifted airborne. In disbelief she squirmed - and then her back met the hard floor as her assailant caught hold and pinned her arms.

Pain lanced through her head and she blinked dazedly as a bright light shone into her eyes. Someone was holding her down, clearly very easily. She felt ashamed about this for a second before her head throbbed and a sharp prickling cut through her ankle.

Someone called her name and she blinked again, squinting. "You're not God," she realized. "Oh Buddha." Jake, of course. On top of everything else.

[JulietsCurse]

Connor let out a breath and looked around the room for anything heavy. Thankfully, whomever that once lived here left a weight. He went over and grabbed it up, before going back to the door and slammed it against the handle. He did that a few more times before it went ajar.

[Guest]

Jake clenched his teeth and released Evelyn from the hold he had her in, he stood up and wasn't sure whether or not the "warrior" wanted to get up herself, or if he should help her up, "Evelyn what the hell? Are you okay? Wait a minute... I didn't hurt you did I?" That thought of letting her do stuff for herself went out the window.

He bent down and helped her off the ground, feeling a bit bad that he could have possibly sprained her ankle now.

Jake was reading Seth's messages, and wasn't sure what to do they said they were all coming, and then he decided that maybe they shouldn't they all sounded real freaked out but he didn't know what to do, he just responded telling them not to come.

***

Before James could reply to Luke, he was getting messages from Seth saying that Jake and Evelyn had been okay and instantly a huge weight had been lifted off him, as Evelyn responded to him as well.

When he told her that they were going to come though, she immediately protested the idea. Seth said that now Jake had been saying the same thing too and he didn't know whether to leave or stay or what.

He replied to Luke.

I have no idea what's going on anymore...

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth sighed and scrambled out. "You're a lifesaver," he exclaimed to Connor, thumping his shoulder. "Now come on, we have a bad situation. I think something happened to Evelyn and Jake. We'll meet and strategize."

He headed out the door adn down the stairs quickly, heading for the meeting spot they'd chosen.

***

Luke decided he and Ashlee should get back to James. He told James to meet up in the kitchen. Once they were all there, he asked, "What are we doing now? What is going on?"

***

Evelyn straightened, leaning against the wall as Jake pulled out his phone and typed furiously. "I thought you were.." She rubbed her shoulder, grimacing. "Never mind. Did I hit you too hard?" Guilt burned inside her. So she'd been mad at Jake, but she'd honestly never have done that if she'd known it was him. Her phone buzzed and she ignored it for the moment as she stumbled over to her aggravating colleague. "Let me see your head. I think you might need a lobotomy."

[JulietsCurse]

"Wait- I saw someone else in this house."Connor said, glancing back. "...either that, or it's haunted."

[Guest]

"We're meeting back outside where we earlier come on." James said walking out of the house, Ashlee following behind him.

***

Jake walked over to his obnoxious partner and lowered himself, he moaned softly his head was really starting to kill. He wondered if maybe Evelyn had given him a concussion. He didn't know how people acted when they had concussions, he asked her, "Um does it look bad?"

[Tiger-Lily]

Seth blinked and glanced around. "That might'v ebeen the local rat. Huge-ass monster. Size of Lucifer, at least. Luce would've loved it."

He glanced around again. "I'm worried about Jake though," he admitted. "But I want to keep on looking for Alexis."

***

Luke trailed after James. When they reached the street again, he asked, "What is going on?" James looked somewhat unnerved.

***

Evelyn took Jake's phone to shine the flashlight on his head. She turned him sideways and reached up as he leaned down, running light fingers through his hair. The dark hair made it hard to tell anything. She thought she saw a hint of red and swallowed.

"Um, you're definitely bleeding," she said quietly. She looked down at her fingers. Barely a hint of it though.

But that didn't mean anything. He could be concussed. She bit her lip and probed, pressing down just a bit on what she thought was a lump. "What're you feeling? I don't know if this is just internal bleeding or a concussion." She shone the light at him again.

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