..What If.. -- Club Alien

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What if I'm a snowstorm burning?

What if I'm a world unturning?

What if I'm an ocean, far too shallow

Much too deep?

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If she wasn't so high, perhaps there would have been bitterness when the Greyhound finally rolled to a squealing halt in front of the oddly lifeless bus depot. Perhaps she had even craved the negativity of the emotion. At least then she would have feltsomething. It would have been a welcome change from the fear she had faced daily for the past two weeks...the fear she would of course never admit to.

As it had happened, the bus had stopped in a dirty town east of the mountains. Kat had gotten off to stretch her legs...the last 10 hours had left her feeling far too confined for her liking. It wasn't long before she'd drawn the attention of a shady fellow who had claimed to be heading for Reno. Kat had indulged him in a little conversation before deciding she would be happy to give him a little action in the bathroom of the terminal, all in exchange for a little packet of pharm goods. Uppers and downers, real good ones from the looks of his stash. And all she had to do was spend some time on her knees. It was a good trade.

Even the consumption of two large OxyContin didn't do much to quell her nerves though. She was quite literally running for her life, and no drug could make her fully forget that little fact. To make matters worse, she was running right into the past...right to the place that started all of her problems to begin with. She couldn't believe she was heading back to Cascade, of all places. She hated the city, hated everything it stood for...but the redhead wasn't stupid. If ever there was a place to simply disappear, the mountain city of supernaturals surely was it.

She grabbed her lone bag when the bus came to a halt, shrugging it on her shoulder before stepping off the bus. Her head was spinning from the effect of the drug, but even so she was struck with a wave of nostalgia. It was so thick and suffocating she braced herself against a telephone pole, closing her eyes for the briefest moment. Oh lord, did she need a drink. After a deep breath, she began to walk...no real destination in mind, simply letting her feet do the decision making. She hoped she'd find a little bar along the way, get a little vodka to wash another oxy down with if she could. From the looks of the city, it appeared that might be a harder task than she'd hoped for though. It was almost sad to see the abandoned storefronts, the empty streets. Especially when she had such clear and vivid memories of what the city had been.

She turned down an alley, her expensive heels clicking on the pavement. If memory served her, the neon green bar she'd used to frequent with her old gang wasn't far. She couldn't quite remember the name of the joint, but hoped it was still around. Maybe she could hear stories from the locals...find out the fates of those she had chummed with. Oh, she loathed a good many of them...loathed them for their abandonment, for their lack of loyalty. They had been the only family she had known, and they hadn't done a damn thing to protect her. Even the one person she'd cared for most had been gone without a trace. All of them suddenly no more than ghosts, and what had she been left with? Nothing. No money. No way to support herself. Too young to really know the vices of the world, her innocence had been gone in the first city she had come to. She'd learned quickly the only way to survive was to act with her only asset...her body. And now? She couldn't even stand the sight of herself in the mirror.

Lost in her sudden rage, Kat did not realize she was being followed until a silky smooth voice sounded close behind her. "Hey sugar, how you doin'?" She stopped, whirling to see two leather clad men standing behind her. They were grinning toothily at her as their eyes roamed her curvy frame. Kat was no stranger to men like these, and there had been plenty of situations that had been close calls in her line of work. She was confident with her ability to handle them, and so she purred a response. "Just heading to get a drink with some old friends, dolls. Sad to say I'm running a little late..." She flashed a fake smile, taking a step back as she gave a little wave. "Have yourselves a good night." As she took another step back, she connected with a large male she hadn't been aware of right behind her. In the next minute, he had taken a large fistful of her long red locks, yanking back her head painfully. Kat let out a surprised yelp, her hands instinctively wrapping around those of the assailant. "Looks like you're not going to make it for that drink..." The man hissed in her ear as he tugged harder at her hair.

Though her heart had leapt into her throat, Kat immediately went into survival mode. She threw an elbow back, connecting with the stomach of the man who held her captive. He cursed violently, and she began to struggle. Fists and elbows flew, the small redhead fighting for her freedom with every ounce of her 110 pound frame. She was no stranger to rape, and had learned long ago that men in groups were no better than a pack of dogs. If she allowed them the chance, they would tear her apart. She managed to tear free of his hold, her feet already beginning to run despite the fact that she was stumbling forward.

One of the first two used her momentum to their advantage, pushing her hard enough to the pavement that her breath knocked from her lungs in a loud whoosh. She struggled to breath, struggled to claw her way back to her feet...but it was too late. They were upon her, and she was flipped to her back, somehow still fighting. She saw stars as her head was cruelly smacked into the pavement as one of the men delivered a punch to her cheek bone, stunning her momentarily. She could feel them clawing at her clothes, but it felt like she was a million miles away in her daze. There was no pain, even as they hit her again...the oxy was doing its job well apparently. She felt warmth on her cheeks, but was unaware if it was blood or tears. She tried to squirm, tried to fight, but the weight of the men was too much. She could only pray it would go quickly and that they would leave enough of her intact that she could survive this.

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What if I'm the kindest demon?

Something you might not believe in

What if I'm a siren singing gentlemen

To sleep?

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