Room 530, Sunday Evening

[tasenburn]

With things going on as they were, Elle was having one of her "not feeling very social" kind of days. She could practically hear Cassidy telling her not to hide, though, and so her token attempt at being social today was leaving her door open

Comments

[onlysmokesnics]

Gotham's streets could never be cleaned up for good, even with the efforts of Police Commissioner Wayne, or the masked men and women who operated outside of the law.

Like Red Hood, known only to a select few to be Hayley Fitzpatrick, former drug addict and Fandom High student. But that evening, something was very, very wrong. Streets were gone. And even though her memory had never been perfect, she felt like she was missing bits that she'd had before.

In a moment of panic, she pulled the collar of her leather jacket up and ran for the nearest payphone. Slamming her coin in the slot, she picked up the receiver and got the operator to connect her to someone she'd not talked to in... in too long.

"Oh geeze, pick up, pick up, pick up," Hayley said, listening to the dial tone.

[tasenburn]

Elle jumped when the phone rang; she hadn't been expecting it. She dropped her textbook and reached for the phone.

"Hello and thank you for distracting me from my studies."

What? She felt that part was important to add. Politeness and all.

[onlysmokesnics]

Hayley let out a familiar nervous laugh, the kind that threatened to turn into a mad cackle if she was pushed just a little further. She'd been better of late, far more confident and self-assure. But when faced with whatever it was that was in Gotham today, she was no longer the tough, hooded fighter for justice. She was back to scared little Hayley, the girl who so easily got in over her head.

"It's good ta hear ya," Hayley said, trying to sound like it was just a routine call, but the fright was still in her voice. "Sounds like the schoolwork is still all boring, huh?"

[tasenburn]

"Boring is being nice about it," Elle said, making a face and sprawling out on her bed. "But I don't have too much longer to worry about it -- just a semester and then I'm done. I can't really see college in my future, anyway."

She laughed softly. "So, what's got you calling all randomly and stuff? Anything good going on?"

She was praying Hayley said yes. There was too much not good going on as of late.

[onlysmokesnics]

"Oh, you know, just a boring day in Gotham," Hayley said, her lips twitching a bit to form a nervous smile as she spoke into the phone. "Things disappearing, I think I'm goin' crazy again, just the usual."

She swallowed down the urge to laugh again, she wanted to sound strong for her friend... even if she'd called out of desperation. "You havin' a good weekend? I bet you had a good weekend. Things are probably nice and safe there, right?"

[tasenburn]

"It's Fandom, so... the usual, really." Elle sat up slowly. "Wait, a minute. Things disappearing? What kind of things?"

It was the same thing that was making everything else disappear, she just knew it, but she had to ask. Had to make sure. Had to know if she had to be terrified for her friend's safety.

[onlysmokesnics]

"Places. People, I think. I keep tryin' to remember who I can't find and I just... it's like there's just fog in my brain, like back when I still smoked the nics and I just can't remember," Hayley said, her voice quaking even more. She looked down the empty street, the fact that any street in Gotham was empty at night was terrifying just by itself, but this evening it was worse. At the far end of the street, she watched in horror as a streetlight went out, and there was only darkness beyond.

"I guess maybe I should called Karla, huh? Maybe she coulda come magic me away from all this."

That's when she started crying, unable to hold it together.

[tasenburn]

"I'm sorry," Elle said, her voice cracking slightly. "I'm sorry I can't help you. I'm sorry I can't do anything for you. But if it's gonna get you, stay on the line with me until the very end. I won't make you face it alone."

It was all she could do for her friend; by God, she was gonna do it.

And then possibly go get drunk. No, not possibly. Definitely.

[onlysmokesnics]

Another streetlight went out down the road, the darkness getting closer.

"We had some really good times, didn't we?" Hayley said, her voice quivering. She sniffled a bit, and used the red silk hood that she'd stowed in a pocket to wipe the mascara stained tears from her face. "We probably coulda faced anything together. You, me, Karla, Hinata."

Another light succumbed to darkness, and Hayley drew in a quick gasp of breath.

"Guess this is what I get for trying to strike out on my own, huh?" She laughed a sob-mingled laugh. There were only two streetlights left, one of which was right above her. But then the next one went dark, and Hayley turned away, her breath coming in short, terrified gasps.

"Hey, Elle?" she said, shutting her eyes tightly.

[tasenburn]

The four of them could've taken over the world, Elle had a feeling.

"Yeah?" Elle replied, forcing her voice to be calm and even and not at all hysterical like she was suddenly feeling. "I'm here, Hayley. I'm right here."

And she would be until Hayley no longer was.

[onlysmokesnics]

"I just wanted to say," Hayley said, swallowing one last nervous gulp of breath, "I lo--"

Darkness.

And then, a dead dial tone.