All the Devils are Here

Late Night Swim

Fallon

Tonight, my nightmares are filled with visions from the past. Not visions about Luca but, about the night I was at the White Rabbit. The first night. I can see the look of shock in his eyes right before my silver blade slices through his throat. I can hear the quiet gurgles he made as he choked on his own blood. I can smell.....fresh blood and sweat and I remember the awareness that just a few floors below, there were people partying and having a good time. His name was Danny something.....or Dave. Or Dustin. In my dreams, I still can't remember his name. His face blurs and resembles the face of many others that I've killed and at a point it becomes Luca's face and that's when I'm startled awake because, that was the one kill that changed everything for me.

It's dark in my room. It's the middle of the night and it's the least noisy it's been since I've been here. Drew. That was his name. He was a rogue werewolf. They prefer to be called lone wolves but, really they were a menace to the city especially because they answered to no one. Werewolves in packs answer to their Alphas who in turn answers to the Alpha of the highest ranking pack - the Banes. And the Alpha of the Banes pack, Xavier Chase, he answers to the council of six. My father is one of the representatives from the human group as well as Asia Dawson, a non-hunter human whose focus was more on preserving the ignorance of the supernatural in this city. I know all these because I had to. As potential leader of the Hunters, it was expected that one day, it will be me at the council representing the hunter humans. 

Werewolves like the one I killed that night at White Rabbit; werewolves like Drew, they answer to no one. They act solely based on animal instinct and they are dangerous. 

In the absence of sleep, I roll out of the sheets and pace my room briefly before deciding to take a walk outside. Not outside the building but, perhaps around the facility and explore the pool. I didn't come here with pajamas or any loungewear so I've been sleeping in just my underwear. I'm too lazy to put pants on so I throw on a T-shirt and wear my old boots since it's the only other footwear I have. It's dawning on me that I suck at packing and general running away schemes. 

I unlock my room and step into the cool hallway. Now all I have to do is make it to the pool in this ridiculous outfit then I can take the shirt off and go in for a swim. I barely take two steps past my room door when another room door flies open. It's the one next to mine. I freeze expecting to see Rainer emerge out of the room but, instead it's a girl. She immediately sizes me up and says;

"Cute outfit", my feet are still immobile although I play it cool and nod at her. Right then, Rainer steps out. So he really is staying here after all. I wonder who this girl is that is leaving his room by this time.

"What are you wearing?", Rainer says at the brink of laughter but, he holds it in when he sees I'm not finding this moment humorous. 

"Just heading for a swim", I say as casually as possible. What I really want to do is cuss Rainer out but, I don't know who this girl is or the dynamic of their relationship. 

"Can't sleep?", he asks knowingly. I don't reply audibly but, I'm sure my body language gives it away that he's accurate. The girl cracks her throat, I assume to remind us that she's still here. 

"Oh yeah. Fallon this is Emily", he's barely done with his introduction when she sticks her hand out in excitedly in a hand shake and takes over the introduction herself;

"Fallon Evander. It's so nice to finally meet you. I mean we've crossed paths a few times when I go the compound but, we never spoke", somehow she embodies the sweetness I've been trying to fake since I got here. I shake her hand. If she knew me from the compound then she is either a hunter or a sentinel.

"Emily is a Sentinel that's based here in the centre. We're working together on that official assignment I mentioned earlier", thank you, Rainer - for all of this information that I didn't ask for. I'm about to blow them off and continue my journey to the pool but then, I remember I'm supposed to be Hera now. I don't need to keep being cold and disinterested. What would an interested person say right now?

"That's uhm. That's interesting. It's nice to meet you Emily", I even manage what I think is a smile but, I can tell I'm not convincing anyone. 

"The pleasure is all mine. Rainer tells me you're here on an official assignment as well?", Rainer and I lock eyes for a nanosecond and I feel a sense of loyalty from him that he'd lie for my sake but, also I wonder why he was talking to this girl about me in the first place. 

"Yes. Yes, I am. Official stuff. Can't talk about it", 

"Of course. We know you hunters deal with all the high end stuff", she says with a playful wink and then like a light bulb goes off in her head she adds;

"Hey, if you're going to be here long, you should probably get out of this dusty motel. I don't know why Rain likes using this place. I'm sure he recommended it to you. I have a much more nicer place, you could crash for the time you're here.", I know this is an invitation for me to stay at her place for free but, all my brain latches unto is that she calls him Rain. 

"That's very generous of you but, I'm not going to be here that long. It's just an in and out kind of operation so I'd be back at Uptown before you know it. But thanks for the offer", she seems satisfied with my response and Rainer is just reveling in the awkwardness of this situation.

"No worries. As long as you won't be here long.", she says chipperly and I nod as enthusiastically as I can and a few seconds pass by and I swear I can hear crickets;

"Alright then, let me go take that swim. And leave you two to be on your way", although they're dressed casually, they look like they were on their way somewhere. We share a few byes and I walk past them and head to the stairs on the right while they go left. 

Once, I'm downstairs, I navigate my way to the open quadrangle where the pool is located. Fortunately, I'm the only one here. I take off my boots and shirt, and get into the water quietly. I just let it soak me as I shut my eyes and enjoy the peace and quiet. If I listen close enough, I can hear faint voices coming from some rooms and I can hear vehicles moving outside the building but, I actively make myself ignore those noises. I think of anything to distract me from the visions from my dreams. I think of Emily and Rainer. I think of how directionless my life is right now and then finally I think of Sammy. The boy in senior year I had a crush on when I was a freshman. The obviously wasted man I just met again tonight. Although I never spoke to him in high school, I was aware of his reputation for having a foul mouth and being rather promiscuous. Then he disappeared from my school. It took me a moment to recognize him because he has changed in some significant ways. He's taller. He used to be lanky and boyish in his charm but, now he's built like an athlete and there's nothing boyish about him. His hair is as dark as I remembered it and he wears it in a way now that it fell over his eyes sometimes and it made him look cynical. He used to look sweet but, now he looks.......like danger. 

Despite my negative analysis of him, I can't help but think about our brief interaction tonight and I let myself reminisce about the look in his eyes when he spoke. The promise of a wild ride were hidden somewhere beneath his dark eyes and sly smile. I let myself think about these things because it's better than thinking about Drew and Luca and all the other faceless and nameless people whose lives I've taken.