[INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B][SUP][SUB][H3]► L A R I S S A   |   S O M E R S E T[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/COLOR][hr][INDENT][I][B][sup][COLOR=SILVER]May 2016 - One Night After The Explosion[/COLOR][/sup][/B][/I]

At approximately 21:59, roughly 3 minutes after Evelyn Prince’s room was locked down, the New Hampshire general hospital's administrator, Gloria Akalitus, received a particularly troubling call. Why the call had even come to her in the first place was beyond her --as she was putting in extra hours for the upcoming budget proposal-- but the surprise of call made it that much more of an annoyance.

[b]"[i]One[/i] solitary night is all I ask to get this damn proposal out of the way,"[/b] she muttered as she stalked to the ward where Eveyln Prince was being held, [b]"Is that really so much to ask? Or I take it they [i]like[/i] getting their scrubs from the irregular section of a [i]Mexican medical surplus store[/i]!"[/b] She nearly spat these last words as she used her key card to override the lock to the ward, paying no mind to it. 

[b]"What the hell, Zoey?"[/b] Ms. Akalitus pronounced to the nurse heading the barricade. [b]"Why in God's name am I getting a call at..."[/b] she checked her watch "10 'o clock at night with a [i]federal[/i] agent on the end barking about the current status of his transfer patient?" 

Akalitus was exhausted. Funding of this research based hospital had been on a slight decline ever since their recent scandals. They relied heavily on Government contracts as it was and couldn't start pissing off connections due to incompetence. She took another step closer to Nurse Zoey, completely heedless of the room around her. The sooner she got out of here, the sooner she could finish that budget. 

[b]"Look, I can not and [i]will[/i] not take another scandal or slip-up from this nursing staff,"[/b] Akalitus told the nurse. [b]"First Jackie with the pills and then that temp nurse Willam with her sexual harassment case! Not.another.slip-up."[/b] She held up her hand to quell any of the complaints she could feel bubbling from the nurse. [b]"Hub-bup-bup. Not a word. It's above our pay grade. Get her stabilized, get her in the transport vehicle. [i]Now[/i]."[/b][/INDENT]
[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B][SUP][SUB][H3]► L A R I S S A   |   S O U T H   B E A C H[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][I][B][sup][COLOR=SILVER]May 2016 - One Night After The Explosion[/COLOR][/sup][/B][/I][/INDENT]
[COLOR=CADETBLUE][B][I]Thirty Minutes Ago...[/I][/B][/COLOR]

[INDENT]Sleep was something of a fleeting chore for Joseph Thoreau, at least that's how he felt about it most days as the ringing of his phone stirred the man from his power nap. Lights from the streets below, filtered up through his blinds as Joseph sat up with a groan, stretching his tired back and cracking his neck with a satisfying [i]'POP'[/i] before answering the cellphone on his bedside table.

[b][color=slategray]"'Ello."[/color][/b] He yawned as the voice on the other end chuckled.

[B]"Up and at 'em Joey Boy, Dispatch has a patient transfer for us. We've got to go down to Somerset and get a lass from New Hampshire General."[/B] The voice belonged to none other than Travis Young, Joseph's on duty partner.

[b][color=slategray]"There again?"[/color][/b] Joseph groaned. [b][color=slategray]"That's the fifth on this week, don't they have enough hands to take care of their intake. It's Somerset for fuck's sake."[/color][/b]

[b]"I think the problem is too many hands."[/b] Came the smug reply from Travis on the other end. [b]"Either way, be downstairs in five, I'll pick you up."[/b]

As the click in his ear signaled the end of the conversation, Joseph sat up and made his way to the bathroom. Splashing some cold water on his face, he ran a hand along his chin, the rough stuble scratching against his smooth palm. Running a hand through his hair, Joseph gave himself a shrug in the mirror as he decided it was good enough.

[b][color=slategray][i]The bed head look is hot right now anyways right?[/i][/color][/b]

With a smile smile in the mirror, Joseph grabbed the navy blue jacket off a nearby chair and headed out of his condo. A vibration from his pocket alerted him of a text as he pulled the phone expecting some smart ass remark from Travis about hurrying. 

[quote=Brynne]-Come over after work? I'm bored.[/quote]
Tapping out a quick reply, Joseph hit send on his phone as the elevator arrived.

[quote=Joey]-It's going to be a late night, are you okay to stay up?[/quote]
[quote=Brynne]-I don't work tomorrow ;)[/quote]
With a soft chuckle, Joseph stepped off the elevator and walked towards the door while sending Brynne another text.

[quote=Joey]-I'll let you know when I'm done Beautiful.[/quote]
[quote=Brynne]-I'll be waiting.
-In this.[/quote]
Joseph's eyes went wide at the picture on his screen as he climbed into the passenger seat of the ambulance. Leaning over Travis tried to peek at the screen before Joseph quickly pocketed the phone and gave the other man a mock scowl.

[b]"If you're getting laid later, you're driving."[/b] Travis said with a slug to Joseph's shoulder.

[b][color=slategray]"Then we're switching seats, move over."[/color][/b] Joseph retorted with a laugh as the two men swapped spots. Turning the ignition on, Joseph pulled the ambulance onto the road. Making himself comfortable, Travis put his feet on the dash as Joseph let out a heavy sigh.

[b][color=slategray]"I guess we're off to Somerset then."[/color][/b][/INDENT]
[COLOR=SLATEGRAY][B][SUP][SUB][H3]► L A R I S S A   |   S O M E R S E T[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/COLOR][hr][INDENT][I][B][sup][COLOR=SILVER]May 2016 - One Night After The Explosion[/COLOR][/sup][/B][/I][/INDENT]
[COLOR=CADETBLUE][B][I]Now...[/I][/B][/COLOR]

[INDENT]Ensuring the patient was secure, Joseph and Travis returned to the front of the ambulance. For the time being the patient, a Jane Doe was unconcious in the back and quite frankly Joseph preferred it like that. In a city like Larissa, the last thing you needed was some wailing lunatic fighting against their restraints while they drove across the city. 

[b]"I'll bet you someone in there got handsy with her."[/b] Travis stated as he fastened his seatbelt. [b]"This hospital has a rep for pervy doctors."[/b]

[b][color=slategray]"Honestly rather not dwell on it,"[/color][/b] Joseph replied as started driving the vehicle. [b][color=slategray]"The city is bad enough as is, the last thing we need are corrupt hospitals."[/color][/b]

[b]"Always so preachy man, you need to lighten up. Live each day as they come."[/b] Travis replied as the vehicle merged onto the highway. 

[b][color=slategray]"You'd think after being in our line of work, you would have realized by now life is fragile."[/color][/b] Joseph replied as he focused on the road.

[b]"And you'd think you'd have realized that we don't know how much time we have. Don't be so afraid to have fun, fall in love, do something silly."[/b] Travis argued as he cracked open a soda. Taking a deep swig, he smacked his lips together with satisfaction before wiping the residual sweet liquid with the back of his hands. 

A tense silence fell over the two for a few moments, interrupted only by the running of the EMT vehicle. It was abruptly broken by the crackle of the radio. [B]"Unit respond. Distress call came in from the Olympus District. Financial block area. Reports of a potentially fatal accident. Expectant mother believed to be involved. Over"[/B]

Joseph picked up the receiver, giving Travis a glance of mild confusion. [b][color=slategray]"Unit responding. We're close, but in en route for a patient transfer. Over."[/color][/b]

[b]"Tonight is being hit hard. You're the closest emergency respondents we've got. Over."[/b] There was another click and Joseph knew that was the end of the conversation. Really nothing to be done about it, and their transfer was stable. He gave Travis a shrug.

[b][color=slategray]"I hope this isn't setting the tone for the night,"[/color][/b] Joseph told Travis, taking the next exit. The financial district was right around the Larissa City Bank.

[b]"Let's do it to it, mang. Get that mother and child home safe!"[/b] Travis said, clapping Joey on the back as Joseph turned the vehicle onto the correct street. Covered in an eerie darkness, it seemed as though the power outrage still had a grip here. Outside of the direct path of the ambulance's high beams, there was nothing that could be seen. [b]"Would you look at that Joey, no street lights here."[/b]

Joseph's eyes widened as he saw a brilliant beam of light suddenly rip through the velvet darkness. A shudder and explosive sound followed and instant later, causing Joseph to slam on the brakes. The vehicle lurched and pulled as it was pulled into a sharp turn by the sudden halt in motion. Smashing his head off the dashboard, Travis slumped down limp in his seat as Joseph braced himself against the steering wheel until the vehicle came to a complete stop.  

The radio crackled to life once more, and on instinct Joe looked over at the device. [b]"Will you tap into the potential of [i]you[/i], expose the darkness hiding in white light?"[/b] The female voice on the radio said. [b]"Will you walk down the path, lifting yourself and New Friends in tow?"[/b] A short pause was followed by white noise on the radio and nothing more.

[b][color=slategray]"What. The. Hell."[/color][/b][/INDENT][i][b][color=ed145b][h1]Evelyn Prince[/h1][/color][/b][/i][hr][INDENT]The back of an ambulance, [b]Somerset[/b]
[i]The night after the blast...[/i][/INDENT][hr]

[INDENT]Something wriggled in Evelyn's palm, and then went dead before shuddering once more, buzzing all the while. [i]Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.[/i] She groaned in submission as her consciousness hit her like a brick wall, and she was thrown into a collision with the sensory overload that was 'reality'. Her hand instantly moved to her skull, which felt as though a hatchet was lodged into each temple, and her bleary eyes squinted as they adjusted to the world around her. 

It was dark. And it was moving. It didn't take a genius to identify the setting as the back of a vehicle, and even in her delicate state Evelyn was fully aware of two men talking in the driver's cabin. She was also aware of an irritating buzzing sound, coming from the device that she had let slip from her grip as she became alert.

[i]Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.[/i]

She could see the dim light of the interface illuminating with each vibration, an unidentifiable string of numbers lining the caller ID screen. She wearily assessed the situation, before hastily picking up the cellphone and answering the call.

"I need help," she whispered, her voice cracking through lack of use. "I've been kid--"

"It is your mind and your spirit that can bring about change." replied a woman on the other end of the line.

"What?" she asked, both confused and irritated by the cryptic response. "You don't --"

She was cut off by the voice yet again, and realised that it was automated. "Sometimes, all you need is a small amount of trust and a jolt of inspiration. Take the chance, follow the path. It won't lead you astray." The recording concluded its recital with a singular extended dial tone, before the line went dead.

[i]Fuck.[/i] she thought to herself. What kind of Riddler bullshit was this? Eve suspected that whomever was currently carting her towards unknown territory was also responsible for planting the spooky cellphone message. Inquisitively, she ran a hand over the device, concentrating as best she could through her migraine and trying to tune in on any psychic remnants of whomever might be behind this.

All she heard was that same woman's voice: "Leave no trace. We don't exist."

She had barely a second to consider the message before her vision flickered, and she saw two men. Driving. Panicked, not sure what. What the heck? Swerved, collided. Impact. Impact of wheels to curb. Impact of head to wheel. Black.

Eve had a moment of difficulty differentiating the man in her vision's pain from her own head trauma, but as a commotion erupted from the driver's cabin and Eve felt the screeching of rubber beneath her, she realised that her ordeal was not over yet. As the van her captors were commanding took a cruel turn, Eve found herself crashing into the double doors of the rear, which burst open and spilled her gowned body out onto the concrete. [/INDENT][/INDENT]