Manifestations

JP with Jaxx, Redsword, Trustno1 and Cindy

That afternoon there seemed to be an odd calm that had descended over the city of Gary.

Alyssa awoke, in Peter's arms, she laid there for a moment, listening to the quiet before whatever new hassles of the day approached her. A black figured appeared in the corner of her eye, it made her jump slightly, then was gone. She swallowed, had that thing been watching her while she slept?

The hacker knew it had appeared to her before, but,in her dreams. This apparition though brief, felt far more tangleable as if it was manifesting a physicalness, of sorts.

Unsettling, at the very least.

Checking once more, it was definitely gone. Alyssa maneuvered herself out of Peter's hold, kissing him gently on his cheek, but not wanting to wake the man. She then made her way into the shower.

After waking up he decided to join the hacker in the shower. He noticed something seemed off with Wilson.

"You sleep ok this morning, white hat?" he asked as he grabbed her bottom.

"Sleep? Yeah." Alyssa sighed. "I had a rather rude awakening. That thing, the darkness, was in the corner of the room, watching me. It disappeared soon after I woke up." Alyssa paused. "Oh, I think the Darkness is a better name for it.”

"Watching you when you were sleeping? as in The Dark was physically in the room? You were talking in your sleep Alyssa." He said.

"Yes, it was physically there when I woke up." Alyssa responded, clearly not as okay over that revelation as she was pretending to be. "I think it's getting more powerful." Alyssa shook her head, "Talking in my sleep? Huh? I don't usually do that." The woman tried to remember what she had been dreaming about. "Oh, right .... the meeting... I dreamt about the meeting with the Prince, but there was destruction outside his window." Alyssa shrugged, not really knowing if it had been her dream or the darkness trying to scare her off from the meeting. As far as the hacker knew she didn't get premonitions.

"You think The Dark is definitely bad? May I soap you up?" Peter asked

"Yes, I mean it took my father, who knows what it did to him." Alyssa shook her head. "Sorry, but I'm kind of done with my shower." She wasn't in the mood to be touched. Her skin was still crawling slightly from the experience. "I'm going to get dressed. I'll wait for you in the bedroom." She needed some breathing room.

"Still beautiful anyway Alyssa." he said. He knew the hacker was upset at what she had seen. He finished his shower and got dressed. A few minutes later he reached to reassuringly take her hand. "You alright?" he asked.

The hacker dried her hair, and got dressed while waiting for Peter. She accepted his hand. "I don't know." Alyssa responded. "Truthfully? I don't know how alright I've been in years." She paused. "I got very used to dealing with this on my own, you know. I'm not that great at asking for help or talking about it.”

"You can always ask me for help. I'm here for you.”

Alyssa looked at him, and softly said, "I know. Just keep reminding me of that. I just ... I don't know if there's really any stopping it. Not completely anyway. " Alyssa wasn't sure how much anyone could really help with the dark. She didn't think it could be fought off forever. "I should probably eat though, should we head downstairs?”

"I can fight it with you Alyssa. " He squeezed her hand and followed her downstairs.

It was about mid-afternoon when they arrived in the kitchen, no one else was awake yet. Alyssa opened the fridge."There's plenty of sandwich makings, and plenty of fruit and vegetables." She then looked in the freezer. "Or there's a pint of double chocolate fudge ripple ice cream, that sounds much more appealing." While the hacker was trying to lighten the mood a little, the ice cream was a comfort food for her.

Sartre grabbed a sandwich spread and a soda. "Alyssa, you may want to unlock Vincenzo.”

"Oh, yeah. Our guest." Alyssa went upstairs, and knocked on the door to the room Tony was in. "Tony," she called. "I'm going to unlock the door. You're welcome to come downstairs to the kitchen, but don't try anything." In no time the door was unlocked and Alyssa stepped back and to the side. "You can come out, now.”

Meanwhile Agent Powers and Princess Ekaterina came in the front door holding two boxes of Gourmet coffee and a few bags of flavored bread. Just by looking at them they were wearing jogging outfits and appeared to have been working out on the grounds. Ekaterina was wearing a blue and red nylon jogging suit and Agent Powers was wearing a black and green cotton jogging suit. Agent Powers put the two boxes of gourmet coffee on the table as Ekaterina put the bags of various flavored breads on the table. Then they went upstairs to take a quick shower.

Vincenzo stepped out and followed the hacker to the kitchen.

"Tonight we head for Chicago, Alyssa." said Sartre.

Alyssa came into the kitchen with Tony. "That bread looks amazing." She pulled any additional sandwich makings. "Tony, help yourself to a sandwich, if you want." She started making herself a sandwich with some marble bread and grabbed a mocha coffee. Hearing Peter. "Yup. We should probably leave here at about 5, that should give us plenty of time for traffic and food." Alyssa turned to their guest. "Tony, I think we should let you go, after all, you most likely want to get changed before meeting with the Prince. However, a warning.... nothing that happened here will end up on your podcast, and the next time you want to have a meeting with us, text or call me. I cannot be held responsible for what might happen the next time you're caught sneaking around here." She then smiled through tight lips, 'I hope I've made myself clear." Alyssa took a bite of her sandwich, and finished it before continuing. "Or you're welcome to stay here and come with us to dinner and then the meeting.”

"I'll head back to my hotel," said Tony Vincenzo. The editor left through the front door.

Alyssa was glad Tony had opted to leave, once she was absolutely sure the editor was gone, she turned to Max. "Max, I need to tell you something.”

Agent Powers was done with a quick shower and came to check on things since he still debating on how to deal with the intruder from late last night. Ekaterina was still in the shower since she needed more time to enhance her natural beauty. As Alyssa spoke to him he gave her a smolder. Then he nodded and replied, "Do tell.”

"That thing that's been trying to get to me, it had manifested into a physical form, at some point last night. When I woke up it was in the corner of the room staring at me, then vanished." The idea was still rather unsettling, but Alyssa had promised to tell Max so she did.

Agent Powers gave Alyssa another smolder and a pause before he replied, "Just a few questions. Did Sartre see it as well? What did it look like? Was it able to touch or move anything in your room?”

Sung has been outside since early morning, doing exercises and meditations. It was best before the sunrise into the morning sky. He saw Tony leave and hoped that the team had given him a warning before he left. It was time to go in and get some tea and breakfast. walking in through the back door into the kitchen, he gave a nod to everyone, "Good morning, all. I hope that Tony guy did not leave without some type of warning." said Sung while making some tea.

"No, Peter was asleep when I saw it. It looks like darkness, black, it's shape keeps shifting. It wasn't any different than in my dreams, just feels stronger somehow. I don't know if it could touch or move anything in my room, I didn't see it for more than a second or so, but nothing in the room seemed moved." Alyssa stated, before addressing Sung. "He was warned before he left that nothing about us will end up on his podcast and to not come sneaking around again.”

Agent Powers paused then pulled out his phone and typed in a few things and paused to read the screen. Then he cocked his head to the side as he replied, "Epiales was also known as Melas Oneiros (Black Dream). "The words epialos, epiales and epioles denote the feverish chill, the demon who assaults sleepers. Then according to Japanese folklore, the baku, or “dream eater,” is said to prevent or stop nightmares by gobbling them up. Symbolizing fear, the presence of a black monster in dreams reflects the inner demons and unresolved anxieties that plague the dreamer. This ominous creature represents the overwhelming emotions and negative aspects of the subconscious mind that have not yet been acknowledged or dealt with. The blackness of the monster signifies the unknown and unseen aspects of our psyche. It serves as a reminder to confront and confront these fears in order to overcome them and regain control over one's life. This dream suggests that finding the courage to face these inner fears and challenges is essential for personal growth and transformation.” Agent Powers then looked at Alyssa and said, "Looks like it could be a serious issue. Should I ask my father to send some talismans for protection?"

Alyssa nodded, "Yes, thank you." She didn't know if it would help but it couldn't hurt.

Then Agent Powers began typing a long text to his father and when he was done he said, "And sent. Depending on out schedule you should have them before we go to sleep.”

Alyssa nodded, "Well, thanks again." She paused. "I'll let you know if anything else happens." She finished her sandwich though her appetite wasn't great at the moment.

Just then Ekaterina came down stairs looking as elegant as ever. She smiled at everyone as she said, "Good day everyone. Is our guest still here?" Agent Powers shook his head no as he replied, "Ya just missed him." Ekaterina smiled elegantly and replied, "I see." Then she looked at Alyssa and said, "Sorry if we made too much noise early this morning. Mr. Powers and I were enjoying a morning jog while checking out the property before I needed to freshen up. Did anyone see the coffee and sweet bread Mr. Powers ordered?" Agent Powers pointed to the table they left it on as he said, "I got enough for everyone.”

"Thanks, but I didn't hear you. I woke up earlier this afternoon." Alyssa stated, a little surprised, as it didn't seem like they had gone back to sleep, after the early morning wake-up. "Yes, the bread and coffee are really good.”

Ekaterina elegantly smiled as she said, "I know the carbs are bad for me but the banana bread, lemon bread and pumpkin loaf are divine. Sadly I have to limit myself unlike Mr. Powers who can eat ten loaves and not gain an ounce." Ekaterina smirked as she nudged Agent Powers in a playful manner.

Alyssa smiled at the comment, but didn't say anything. She could also eat without gaining much weight, but she was petite. "So, I was thinking we could leave at about 5. We'll all fit into my van, if that's easier.”

Ekaterina looked at Agent Powers drinking another coffee and then at Alyssa as she nodded and replied, "That sounds good. Are there any preparations we need to make before then?”

"Nothing I can think of. We, likely, won't be able to bring weapons into the meeting with us, so, be prepared for that." Alyssa paused. "Oh, would everyone prefer casual dining or somewhere fancier?”

Agent Powers swallowed his coffee and gave Alyssa a smolder. Then he replied, "I am not picky. Either way is fine for me, so it's best to ask the others." Ekaterina elegantly smiled as she replied, "I have learned to be flexible in my choice of food, but if Dahlia is coming we need to consider a kosher option.”

"There's a place, called the Marketplace, that has a wide variety of choices. It has a few Kosher places. They are food stands, kind of like a food court but better or so I've read." Alyssa figured that might work for everyone.

Agent Powers nodded as he had been to places like that before. He replied, "Yeah they have a lot of choices at those places." Ekaterina elegantly smiled as she said, "Like the food courts at the mall?" Agent Powers nodded yes and replied, "Yeah, kind of like that.”

"Well, that gives us about 4 hours before we leave. I think I want to double check the security system, in that time." Alyssa swallowed the last of her coffee, and stood up. "I'll be in the office, if anyone needs me." Peter could follow her, or not, it was up to him.

Agent Powers nodded at Alyssa and then began to clean up while talking to Ekaterina about their experience in the field.

Peter followed the hacker, as they would check the security system together. He was more concerned about the perimeter of the base that contained the Prince of Chicago. Prince Lodin.