Under the Light
“Who’s a good boy! Who’s a good boy!” You hold a bone treat in your hand. Pepper, a mixed breed medium-sized tan pup, wags his tail in excitement. Pepper barks, as if responding. You laugh and entertain him, “That’s right! You are!” Pepper flips over on his back and wiggles, asking for some belly rubs. “Alright alright, belly rubs it is.” You rub his belly and feed him the treat. Baby talking to him a little more before hearing a knock on the door behind you. Naya, your coworker is standing at the window giving a sort of disappointed look. She opens the door slightly, poking her head through the crack. “You’re supposed to be training him so we can put him up on the site!” Naya laughs at the view of Pepper still wagging his tail while laying on his back.
“You know the better trained they are, the higher the chances of them getting adopted.” Naya walks in completely and closes the door behind her. “I know I know but he’s just so cute!” You giggle, patting pepper on the head. “I wish I could adopt you.” You pout. “You’re still at that rusty place? What kind of person hates dogs?” Naya crosses her arms. “My landlord. My neighbors.” You sigh in disappointment. “What about your grandma's place?” Naya kneels down next to Pepper and messages the back of his ears. “She’s not the biggest fan. I also don’t want to burden her. Pets are a lot of work.” You give Pepper another bone treat. “Aren’t ya? So cute!” You wipe your hands on your apron and puff. “Alright Naya, good luck with this one. He’s just way too cute to train.” You state sarcastically. Naya chuckles at your comment and watches you as you leave the training area.
You head over to the employee lounge. Walking down the dark hallway. Only the kennel room lights are on, shining through the door windows. You were lucky that the animal shelter hired you. They saw you had a place in your heart for animals. Which you definitely do. As drawing as they may be. You yawn and stretch as you reach your locker. Opening it and putting on your winter coat. One picture of your family is attached to the inside of the door. You wave to Rosy the security guard, “I’ll see you Monday!” She politely waves back. Your shoes crunch at the snow beneath. You love the cold way more than the heat. Christmas is just around the corner and you’ve been saving up for a good gift for Grandma.
Meanwhile:
“We’re here! Earth-9786. Uh, it’s definitely a little lackluster.” Lyla blips next to Miguel. They stand far away from the city. Sitting on an elevated crate by the city docks. Lyla looks back and forward at Miguel, “So what’s the plan?” Miguel stands in silence, his heart rate slightly elevated. He sighs and looks over to Lyla, “What’s my alternate’s status?” Lyla blips around, “Hm, seems that Miguel O’Hara never existed in this universe. No record indicates family members.” Lyla looks over to Miguel, his face filled with worry. “Everything..ok?” Miguel snaps back, “Yeah yeah. Let’s find her before Reign does.” Miguel puts on his mask, his voice low and tired. “Miguel,” Lyla stands next to his shoulder. Miguel turns to her, “Never mind.” Lyla shakes her head, looking down.
Miguel starts to swing into the city, “you said she volunteers at an animal shelter?” Miguel’s voice sounds more alert. “Yeah, Empire Animal Shelter.” Lyla scrolls through your social media. “Oh! Looks like she was hired there.” Lyla smiles in surprise. Miguel smirks under his mask, of course, she did. “Any sign of Reign?” Miguel lands on a tall building’s rooftop. “Nope, looks like she’s incognito again.” Lyla looks at the map. “Uh, you know I’m all for the vampire look but you don’t exist in this universe, you could just- be normal?” Lyla gives a smug smile. Miguel rolls his eyes, his head giving off the motion.
“No? Oh please let me dress you up!” Lyla fakes the excitement. “I would roll my eyes harder, but you wouldn’t see it anyway.” Miguel climbs down the side of the building. “Animal shelter is a few blocks north.” Lyla points. Miguel jumps onto a smaller building and jumps across the roofs towards the shelter. “Any idea what you’re going to say?” Lyla blips in front of Miguel. “I’m not going to say anything. We watch out for Reign, get her out of this universe and that’s it.” Miguel’s voice is stern and heavy. “Uh yeah, right.” Lyla blips away.
Miguel stops on the roof of a bodega. “She should’ve left work by now.” Lyla reads your files. Miguel’s heart is beating faster. He can’t tell if it’s fear or excitement. Maybe both. Miguel hears the shuffling of a winter coat and footsteps approaching. Miguel perches on the ledge of the bodega. Finally, sees you there, walking nonchalantly. His heart beats even faster. He examines you, leaning in. Watching you as your cheeks and nose reflect the snow below. You rub your hands together trying to warm them. He squints in annoyance, why doesn’t she have gloves on? He begins to follow you hopping from roof to roof. Lyla just examines him, smiling slightly at the sight of him caring.
Miguel can’t look away from you, there you were, existing. Just walking in peace. He smiles slightly under his mask. His eyes softened, just gazing at you. He’s relieved that Lyla can’t see his expressions, otherwise, he wouldn’t hear the end of it. Suddenly you get a phone call and you stop in your tracks to answer. “Hello?” Miguel’s heart jumps at hearing your voice again. He’s slightly annoyed at how bewitched he is. He’s trying to keep it together as much as possible. “Yes, abuela, I’m almost home.” Lyla whispers, “She speaks Spanish in this universe.” Miguel shushes her, trying to bask in every detail. “I love you too. Adios.” You approach a street light and wait for it to turn green.
A car with 3 men approaches the crosswalk. The driver honks at you. You wait for the crosswalk signal, staring ahead. The man in the passenger seat leans out the window. You can feel his gaze eating at you. You don’t turn in his direction, avoiding all contact possible. The crossing light turns white and you begin walking. Suddenly the driver revs the car loudly causing you to jump and drop your phone. The icy road causes your phone to slip beneath the car. You clench your jaw and walk back to the sidewalk. Deciding you're going to wait for them to drive away to collect your phone. The guy in the passenger seat notices and teases you, “Go on, grab it. We’ll wait.” His voice is raspy and coaxing
Miguel clenches his fist at the sight. He’s still watching over you. You try and wave them off, “it’s alright, go ahead,” You say firmly. The passenger gets down from the car and approaches you. You stand your ground, staring right at him. “Let me,” he grunts, he kneels and looks underneath the car. Collecting your phone he looks back up. Examining you again while standing. “You got nice legs,” he gets closer to you. The driver also gets down from the car. Approaching you slowly, chuckling.
Cars pass by, unwilling to help. The driver leans in closer to you, “And pretty hair.” The smell of alcohol emits from his breath. Through all this Miguel has dug his claws into the concrete ledge of the roof, breaking off a piece. He doesn’t know how much more he can watch.
The passenger clenches your phone in his hand. “Hand me my phone,” you demand. The driver scoffs, “So brave,” his hand creeps up your arm, “yet so vulnerable.” He chuckles.
“Give me a little smooch and maybe I will,”‘the passenger teases. You roll your eyes and turn away, “forget it.” You begin to walk away but then you’re pulled by your arm. “Where do you think you’re going? We’re not done yet. The driver yanks your arm causing you to fall into him, he holds firmly onto you. You can’t be brave for much longer. You’re completely terrified and at their mercy. “Please,” you plead. “Oh? Please? Haha, not so brave anymore?” The passenger teases. You struggle against the driver. The passenger calls to the third man to keep watch. “No! Please!” You struggle against the driver’s hold on you. He begins feeling you, up and down your arms and sides. Snuggling his mouth into your neck.
Miguel doesn’t know at what point he threw all morals out the window. Next thing he knew he had the man standing watch by the throat. Miguel raises him up and then slams him against the car in full force. Denting the car roof, then making his way to his next prey. The passenger. Miguel pounces, grabbing him by the arm, breaking it, then throwing him against an abandoned apartment complex. Miguel isn’t done with him yet, he walks over to him, grabs him by the collar, and punches him repeatedly. It’s all happening so quickly, the driver just realizing what’s going on, lets go of you and turns to run. Miguel snaps like a predator on the hunt. Lunging full force at him, tackling him to the ground, and wrapping his arm around the driver’s neck. The driver yells and reaches out for help.
You fall to the ground paralyzed in fear. Watching as the man twitches, losing all ability to breathe. The yells then turn into squeaks. After what feels like forever, the sounds go quiet. All you can hear now is your heart beating through your eardrums. Miguel lets go of the driver, his body falling limp.
Miguel is satisfied, he would’ve jumped sooner if it wasn’t for Lyla. She didn’t want the first encounter to be this way. Which Miguel understands now after looking back at you. Your face looks terrified, looking at him in fear.
The mysterious, terrifying thing stands and approaches you. It looks almost human, whatever it is, it just killed 3 people in a matter of 10 seconds. It towers over you, looking down. His claws reach out to grab you. You can’t help but scream out in fear. Hiding with your arms, afraid for your life. You tremble expecting to be picked up like the others. You brace yourself for the worst but nothing. You look up and it’s gone. You turn, looking around for any sign of it. You take a few moments to breathe.
Grasping your chest you finally gather enough to stand. You wobble over to your phone on the ground. The screen is cracked but still works. You turn to look one last time. You can feel a lump in your throat. You shake it off and begin walking home. The lump comes back and you try your hardest to hold back tears. You just want to go home. It's too much to hold back. That could've been it. Death, rape? It was terrible nonetheless. You stop in your tracks as tear drops scale down your face.
Miguel feels terrible. He watches you as you cry under a lamppost. Both of them are high up on a roof. He looks down, defeated. Lyla blips to his side, “Miguel.” She says softly. “Leave me alone Lyla.” Miguel’s voice is low. Lyla shakes her head, “Just listen to me-“ Miguel cuts her off, “Listen to you? Listening to you is what got everyone into this mess. Why in god's name did you have to tell me about her?” Miguel can feel his heart sink into his chest. “You should’ve kept it to yourself. I could’ve forgotten about her. I could’ve just moved on. Moved on like she never existed. Because that’s how this life goes. That’s this line of work, this symbol! You lose someone, you move on.” He rests his hands on his face. “you sure?” Lyla’s brows furrow, “you sure you could’ve just moved on?” Miguel doesn’t respond. Lyla rolls her eyes annoyed, and frustrated. She blips in front of him, “just say it, Miguel! She meant the world to you, she wasn’t just a nobody. She knew you, by name, by attitude, by your likes and dislikes.” Miguel growls, “and so what!” Lyla grunts, “you loved her Miguel!” Miguel holds his stare.
“What does that change?”
Miguel mutters, defeated. He turns away, staring at the ground. Lyla is surprised at the response, she expected an immediate denial. “Right, Nothing.” Lyla looks away, “look at her,” Lyla nods in your direction. You’re sitting on a bench, gathering your ground. Miguel doesn’t turn around. “We should go home.” Lyla rolls her eyes, “look at her, will you? Unless you’re scared just looking at her will change your mind. Miguel stays silent, turning slowly in your direction. You called a taxi instead of walking all the way home. You’re still trembling, wishing you were at Grandma’s place eating soup.
Miguel can’t leave you, not when he knows you’re in danger. All he wants to do is protect you, hold you, and bask in the illusion that you’re his. “Fuck.” Miguel sighs, “This is the worst.” He turns back around. Lyla giggles, “So I’ve heard.” Lyla blips around, “So does this mean I can dress you up now?” She gasps in excitement, “Please say yes! A full leather get-up? Or a cool, chill look. Maybe we can try putting your hair up in a bun again!” Miguel snaps, “No way.” Lyla frowns, “Just admit that you find it difficult and I’ll move on.” She pauses. Miguel gives a blank stare and rolls his eyes once more, “I have no idea how people do it on themselves.” Lyla laughs in amusement.