Things had certainly not worked out according to her plan. She'd been aiming to get the money from the armored car, get away, use the money for tuition and then never do anything like this again. And it had all been going so well too. The constructs had worked just like she had planned them too, the armored car had been taken out, and then some hero, she later learned it was the one called Lyger, had interfered and ruined everything. 

Now instead of paying for her college tuition she no longer had college to attend and didn't have to worry about the money, which was about the only positive thing she had going for her. Elaine had never been one to hate, but that guy had foiled her efforts to get something she needed, and it wasn't like she had been on a spree or anything. It was his fault she was in this mess now, his fault!

At least she kept telling herself that as the transport van rattled down the city streets. They were transporting her to the metahuman containment facility, and they'd been smart about it too, nothing she could manipulate or turn into a creation was touching any of her exposed skin. She tried to muster up the fire to keep on being angry, because at least the anger filled her with something, but it was slipping away and leaving only the emptiness of despair behind. Her life was ruined, because of one stupid thing and now...

Her pity party was suddenly interrupted with a bang as she heard the police officers in the front of the van shouting. It was hard to make out the words but she thought she heard something about the darkness. A sudden impact knocked the van over on its side, bouncing her around even though the restraints kept her from moving much. Then there was a horrible ripping and tearing of metal, the harsh barking of gunfire, and then screams, terrible screams of pain and fear. 

But the sound that really stood out was not the screaming, or the ripping of metal, or even the gunfire, no the sound that stood out was the laughter. It was a thick and heavy sound, a sound that was phlegmy and inhuman, a sound that seemed to come from deep within the bowels of a monster, if in fact there was something that could make that sound. And it was a laughter that made Elaine panic. She knew what had happened in the last few months, how a monstrous killer had stalked the city slaughtering at will and leaving destruction in his wake. 

"You have got to be kidding me." She spoke softly. "First the hero and the police, now this?" But then she fell silent, maybe it wouldn't check the back of the van, maybe she could still get out of this alive. There had to be a chance that it would happen. But somehow she doubted it. Nightmare hadn't been known for letting people survive, he had been known for slaughtering everything that stood in his way. 

Instead of the expected sound of more ripping metal there was instead a flash of brilliant light as a white flame obliterated the wall of the van. It was strange, not seemingly like normal fire as rather than burning what it struck simply seemed to vanish as if it had never been. Beyond the hole that now existed in the wall there was only darkness, a thick swirling miasma that was impossible to see through. Elaine readied herself for the worst, but the worst did not come.

There was no flood of darkness pouring in through the large hole. Instead a figure appeared, stepping forth from the darkness in a costume. And as the darkness broke around the figure more details could be seen. The woman was wearing a costume of some kind, a large pointed cone of a hat, half gold and half black was set atop her head and from the sides came a neck guard of fabric that flowed downward, the left half of her face was covered by a black mask of metal and the right half was covered by a golden veil. Two long streamers, one gold from her right side and one black from her left side hung down her back, the chest of the costume seemed to be armored with thin scales of metal under a layer of fabric that still managed to cling tightly to a generous figure. Her lower body was covered by what seemed to be a long skirt like garment that went down past her knees made of the same sort of armored fabric as the top part of the costume. Both of her hands were left free. Though around her right hand a flicker of the white flame still burned.

Elaine had no words at that moment and she could only wait for the death she was sure was coming. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the end. But instead of fire came a gentle laughter. It was a sweet and musical sound that lasted for a few seconds before she heard the woman speak with a voice like an angel's. "Oh my, Old friend it seems your slaughter of the policemen has scared the girl." There was no reply from the swirling darkness. "You can open your eyes young one, we mean you no harm. It's my turn to choose the new recruit."

Elaine opened her eyes when she was told and after a moment of silence where the woman seemed to expect her to speak she managed to say something. "You... You aren't going to kill me?"

And the woman only laughed again and shook her head. "Of course not. This is a jailbreak and an invitation."

"An invitation?" 

"Yes, an invitation. We have been leaving recruiting around for the last few months you know."

But before Elaine could say anything in response to this last comment a demonic thing stepped from the darkness. All bones and blades, with a visage that looked like little more than a barren horned skull and armor adorned similarly. At that her already overtaxed nerves failed and oblivion took her. 

"I thought we told you to keep some flesh on. They don't take it very well anymore." The woman's voice was highly critical as she directed it towards the skeletal figure.

"It itches. And who are you to give me orders As-- Helen. We are equals" A skeletal hand lifted a bone blade but stopped as another voice boomed, this one far louder.

[u][b]
"YOU WILL BE SILENT. WE HAVE NOT SLEPT LIKE YOU HAVE. WE HAVE LIVED IT AND I DO GIVE YOU ORDERS. SOULFIRE BRING THE GIRL."[/b][/u] 

And with that silence fell and the darkness poured into the wrecked van.