Colin's posts

The man nodded in response and accepted the card. Sure enough, he made his way to the front counter, was there for about 3 minutes or so, and then returned with her drink setting it down in front of her, and the card beside it.

"Here you go." he said.

"And yeah, I would look it up online on my phone, but... well this part of the city always seems to be a dead zone for me." he told her. "I have zero bars at the moment." he lamented.

"But yeah, I'm looking for an occult shop." he then said.

"I've heard there's one in this area, and they have really unique items and such." he went on.

"Called, like, 'something' Curios, or something?" he finished, trying to remember the name.

"Oh, well that's good then." the man stated.

"..." he was then silent, looking around.

"I mean, if you want, I can get it for you." he offered.

"I don't mind doing it, and all I ask in response is some information." he stated. "I'm trying to find a shop that's supposed to be around here, and if you could help, that'd be swell." he explained.

"And I'll make your life a smidgen easier in return." he chuckled lightly.

Just as she said what she did, and pondered whether she had the energy and desire to actually get up and replenish her coffee, she heard someone speak to her. A male, in a timid voice.

"Uh... excuse me." he said.

"I heard that little cursing." he commented.

"Is... is everything okay?" he asked.

"I was walking past your table and heard it."

"...damn it, right." Hal remembered.

"She's different. In the worst way possible right now." he said.

"So what the hell can we do?" Zeke asked.

"I don't know." Hal replied.

"We might need to enlist Kiah's help... as a Fyrane." he suggested.

"Because I don't know who else would, or could, work with a SOUL."

Hal paused, thinking about it.

"We'll need to get the crystal to him for him to touch it." he said. "You took pictures of him before the lockdown." he commented.

"...how many people ARE actually back to normal with the camera out of the way...?" Zeke asked hesitantly.

"Quick estimate, about 60-65% of the people working here." Hal replied. "But notably, Angela, Olivia, Izea, Ilias, Kiah, and... Hazel, I think." Hal then said. "Oh, and Aedan." he added.

"Pretty sure everyone else had their photos taken... and plenty OF them... before this lockdown." he sighed.

"Well, better than I had assumed." Zeke commented.

"Oh, and I'm not counting anyone that managed to escape having their pictures taken." Hal then clarified. "Such as Mira and Peyton, who are off on vacation, and Aly and Levi, who managed to avoid being run into by Jordan, thanks to them being away on a correspondence mission at another branch." he continued.

"I'm sure there are others who will be returned to normal, or are still just fine." he then finished.

Hal paused and thought about it.

"Hmmm. That could work." he said.

"I'll contact her, and her mother." he told them. "With the two working together, alongside the camera now no longer being an issue... we should be able to mitigate this place." he reasoned.

"And we should do it VERY quickly." Zeke added.

"To understate it." Hal mumbled.

"..." Hal was silent, before narrowing his eyes slightly.

"You said those whose pictures were taken before this lockdown aren't safe." he said. "And you KNOW that includes me." he told her.

"This lockdown is specifically for when those in command here are compromised. I have no way to lighten this. Not on my own." he continued. "Those that ARE cleared should be able to come and go as they please, but I agree on detaining and containing those that are still a risk." he then said.

"We can modify the dorms to make them isolation cells, effectively." Zeke then suggested.

"It's the best we can do for this." Hal lamented.

Zeke was about to answer, when they heard Hal call out.

"Both of you can come back in now!" he yelled.

They looked at each other, before heading back, opening the door and stepping in.

"I have hidden it away." Hal confirmed.

"And we need to start talking about damage control." he stated. "Many people here are still under her control, and missing their souls. Or pieces, anyway. We need to find a way to stop them from being a problem." he reasoned.

"And we need to do it quickly." he added.

Zeke nodded again.

"Yeah." he agreed.

"We'll need to quarantine them separately and ensure no communication between them." he went on, before pausing.

"...which means probably locking people in dorms." he muttered. "And activating external barriers and such." he continued, thinking about it, and then shaking his head.

"Regardless, this still is far from over. But this has been a small victory." he continued.

"At least she won't be able to use that damn camera again." he growled.

"Then we'll need to take the proper precautions." Zeke responded.

"Those in here still affected by her will need to be quarantined away properly." he said further.

"There's no other way." he sighed.

"Because we cannot allow Vanessa to have these pawns running freely." he reasoned.

"...and yes, that still includes you, given what you've just said."

"Understandable." Zeke replied.

"For now, we need to try and figure out how to help the others." he said.

"And we need to stop Vanessa. Once and for all." he said further.

"She's gone too far now. She needs to be stopped." he muttered.

"She's made things miserable for people for FAR too long..."

"..." Zeke was then silent, before sighing.

"Before you judge yourself so harshly, let others judge for themselves." he told her.

"And wait until this is over." he then said. "Because this is FAR from over right now." he stated further.

"I can't tell you how to feel, but don't presume to know how others feel about you right now." he continued.

"Especially the ones that STILL need help."

Zeke almost took a step back from her tone and words, but then shook his head.

"You say that, but you were in a vulnerable state." he told her. "You needed it, you got it. And from what you told myself and Angela, the story was very believable." he went on.

"I mean, what you say is not wrong, but don't act like you were being stupid." he said.

"Foolish? Maybe. Optimistic? Certainly." he continued.

"But Vanessa has outsmarted people far more clever than you or I." he then told her. "...please don't act like this is solely your fault." he went on.

"It's not healthy for... any part of you."

Zeke and Hal quickly exchanged looks, and Zeke quickly followed, his steps hobbling a little, as he felt himself start to become 'whole' again. He didn't seem quite like himself, though, and the best way he could describe it was that he felt 'whole', but not quite 'complete'. The pieces were there, but not fitting quite right.

He shut the door behind him and quickly followed her to the hall, looking at her.

"Hey..." he said.

"Hey, chin up." he told her.

"This isn't your fault." he said further.

"You're not to blame for this. Vanessa is."