<~{ World of Heroes }~> ...it begins... (LSUs welcome)

[Mew Master]

TPM Comics Presents...
HELLFIRE
Washout
Robert Wiles~#~Hellfire#~#Male
Time: 12:12 PM EST
Location: New York's performer square, destroyed

Robert felt the ground shake under him as the gargoyle blabbered something about another test. The concrete under and around him buckled as he felt the shift in inertia. Such a brash movement caused his head to hurt even more, keeping him from even calling forth his wings to get away. A set of molten hands burst forth, ripping apart the concrete and brick of the performer’s square.

What could best be described as a golem comprised of molten rock and lava pushed itself up, knocking Robert down, grabbing onto the edge of the hole it had made as it pulled itself up with a rumbling roar. The artist’s head was burning and hurt, unable to keep a hold of the edge of the pit-fall, and he feel down below to where the now walking mass of concrete and rebar that had been there.

His landing was hard as he ended up soaking wet and three feet down in water. Kicking himself up, even with the weight of his satchel and coat, he broke the surface, gasping for air, his body being carried away by the current.

Robert struggled to keep his head above the water. The combined weight of his clothes and satchel were making it difficult to keep his head up. His feet kicked against the water as he struggled to get to the side, reaching for a ledge. Fingers brushed against stone. A ledge! He kicked harder, against the current.

Grabbing the edge, he reached for a piece of piping, giving himself some more leverage and pulled himself out of the rushing water. His glasses were in his hands, they would have been swept away if he hadn’t grabbed them as he fell. Pulled out of the water, soaked, exhausted and head still hurting, Robert tried to look around to where he was.

Not in the sewer, he thought. Doesn’t smell that bad. He pushed himself up, using the wall as a brace. Flicking the water off his glasses he slipped them on. Water droplets distorted his vision, but he could still see somewhat. Must be the water works.

Robert looked back to where the water was running from, and where he had been. He couldn’t hear the sounds of the gargoyle or its summoned golem. Just as well, he really didn’t want to deal with it anymore.

Using the wall as a brace he started walking along the flow of water. His clothes were heavy and he was soaked to the bone. Robert was even sure that his art supplies and drawings were soaked and might be destroyed. When his headache was gone, he could dry his stuff off and then find his way to his home, if it wasn’t destroyed by now.

First he needed to get out of the water system.

He walked for ten minutes, following the path of water, looking for a way out. The water on his glasses had dried, but through the water caked lenses he could see what he was looking for.

A grate.

His headache was subsiding, and he jumped up, letting his wings out to jet him up for a little extra push. The grate gave with a loud creek, turning out and away from him. He dropped back down, smirking to himself. One more push… he jumped, letting his wings out again so he could grab onto the edge of the ledge.

Taking a bit to swing himself and haul himself up and through the grate, which luckily he could fit through. Pulling his satchel up, and resting it on the level he was climbing up to, Robert managed to get up and out of the water circuit. Moving away from the grate, he stood up, letting his satchel drop to the floor with a wet slurp.

He rolled his shoulders and peeled his trench coat off, and started to wring it out, small torrents of water splashing on the floor. Glancing around, the floor seemed dusty, and the dust would come off when his stuff dried. So he tossed his coat down on the ground.

Robert grabbed his satchel, and could feel water moving around in it. So he held it by the edge, and tipped it, pouring the water down on the ground.

“And who are you, praytell?” he heard a woman’s voice behind him.

He glanced back at the voice, learning that he wasn’t alone. There was a woman standing there, her arms crossed and looking at him, interested in the artist. Great, he thought. Someone’s home or something. Oh well. Five minutes and I’m gone.

Calmly he stood up, taking out his various wet drawings. Holding them out-front on the palm of his hand, he started turning, causing individual pages to stay, and floating in the air. His movement caused them to float around him, surrounding him like a floating dome of drawings on paper. He could still see through it, and she could see him.

He replied as he concentrated his fire, causing the paper to dry and straighten out. Steam rose from the paper, floating around and dropping to the ground. “Hellfire.”

The woman looked at him for a bit, watching him, almost taking him in. A smile came over her face.

“That’s not a very polite way in which to introduce yourself… Robert.”

Robert’s eyes widened from his concentration, the papers wobbling before he regained his composure. Narrowing his eyes at her.

“Telepath?”

What is a telepath but one who can see through the windows of the mind? he heard her voice echo in his mind, like she was finding him amusing.

“Telepath,” Robert replied, keeping his concentration on drying his work before they were all ruined. “Who are you?”

“Poltergeist,” she said vocally this time.

“Poltergeist?”

The dead have no names.

Robert didn’t like this. Facing an art-themed gargoyle with rock and earth was one thing. But he didn’t have much of a defense against anyone manipulating his mind left and right.

~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~

There ya go Dru. Enjoy.