~ Nicoletta Celeste Ardente ~
Raining, raining, raining . . . it just HAD to be raining didnât it? No, with her luck, it would be even stranger if it had not been raining cats and dogs. She knew that too. The whole day, it seemed like the sky might just open up and let the rain fall, but never had. As long as the sun was suppose to be out, everything was rather murky looking, all gloomy. Unpleasant and just horrible looking; it was the sort of day that made you want to curl back up in bed under your covers because it was icky out and cold.
Cold yes, but not cold enough for it to snow. Just rain.
This was where her story picks up, shortly after sunset, when the first bits of rain began to fall from the clouds above, thunder rolling overhead as she attempted to traverse the labyrinth-like confines of the section of a city called New Ithaca known as âXibalbaâ to the cityâs youth. It lay deep within the heart of Avalon; New Ithacaâs thriving downtown, and was rather infamous for all of the illegal activities that took place here, as well as the syndicates that made their homes within its confines. Most sane people, who had no business in Xibalba, always were explicitly careful not to wander into after dark. The things that could happen to a person after dark . . . oh, those are things one shouldnât even want to think about.
Unfortunately, Nicoletta Ardente had been taking the bus home from a little trip to the grocery store, and had found herself falling asleep as it went on. She had nodded off, conking out in her seat, no one bothering to awaken her from her slumber until the bus was making its final stop for the night. One of the last remaining passengers spotted the little blonde dozing away, shook her shoulder and informed her that it was time for her to get off. The bus was going to be heading back to the station for the night.
Perplexed, and lost in the clutches of post-slumber confusion, Nicoletta was guided off the bus by the passenger who had woke her up, and left alone with a wish for luck. As soon as the chilly rainfall hit her face, Nicoletta was brought back to her full senses, and she unexpectedly realized where it was she had been left. The bus pulled away, and Nicoletta was left unaccompanied, standing on a sodden sidewalk in the part of the Avalon district someone of her size did not want to be after dark; Xibalba.
It didnât take long for Nicolettaâs clothes to become soaked from the rain, and stick to her; same for her hair. Making as much haste as she could, Nicoletta began to walk off to the nearest bus station to try to find a schedule for a bus that would get her home as soon as possible. She knew that her brother would not be happy when she turned up at home late.
Of course though, it didnât take long for some rather unpleasant individuals to take notice of Nicoletta and her small stature. . . . As soon as she realized she was being stalked by several men whom were at least twice her size in weight, she took off in a sprint.
And this is where we join Nicoletta, in the midst of being pursued by several strange men on a cold, rainy night as thunder rolled overhead.
Damn it, she mentally cursed, rounding a corner as she took in a rather ragged breath of air, Damn it all, why did I have to fall asleep? And why did I have to be on the one bus that made its final stop in Xibalba of all places in New Ithaca?
The rain pelted her face, and her bare legs, she had picked a bad day to wear shorts, and the heels of her sandals clicked against the cracked and worn out cement of the sidewalk loudly. It was so dark, and so hard to see where she was going through the rain. . . . Nicoletta didnât know anything about Xibalbaâs layout, all she knew was where the bus stations were so if she wound up there, she could leave as soon as she possibly could. But, she couldnât navigate the confines of this labyrinth-like section of the city while running for dear life.
Behind Nicoletta, so close behind her, she could hear the footfalls of those pursuing her. She wanted to cry, part of her really wanted to cry, to scream out in mortal terror, but would it do any good? Would it do any good here In Xibalba? I wish it wasnât raining! If it wasnât raining I could scare these losers off with my fire. . .
âHeeey! Câmon now you pretty little thing! Why donâtcha slow down and talk to me and my friends? We ainât gonna hurt ya, yâknow!â Nicoletta heard one of the men behind her call out. She dare not look back; she knew one of the rules when it came to being chased was to never look back at what was behind you. It just slowed you down.
As if Iâd talk to you lot, With that Nicoletta rounded yet another corner, heading down an alleyway to what hopefully be a more open area. . . . Her feet splashed against water that had built up in the narrow parting between buildings as she darted through it, only to be forced to slide to a stop as she nearly hit a dead end. Nicoletta let out a light gasp, and a whimper, taking the slightest of steps backward, realizing that she was in quite the predicament. No, no, no this was seriously not happening to her!
There was a laugh, a sinister, rather ominous laugh that sounded out too clearly through the pouring rain to Nicolettaâs ears. With fear written into her bones, Nicoletta slowly craned her head around, and looking to the entrance of the alley she was now trapped in.
Standing there, still, was the silhouettes of several men. Their shadows and sizes were evident against the light that barely made its way into the little passage. âWell now, looks like yer trapped, ainât ya?â One of the men breathed out.
Nicoletta turned around, completely and instinctively she attempted to back up, as anyone would in her situation. When her shoulder made contact with the chain link fencing behind her, she let out a whine as it rattled on. Slowly the men were closing in on her; maybe they were actually going faster, but in the terror-laced mind of Nicoletta they were coming at her in a slow manner that made her skin go gooseflesh, it sent chills of utter horror down her spine. It made everything feel all the more worse than it was then.
Without thinking about it much, Nicoletta brought her hands out in front of her and attempted to conjure up any sort of fire she could. Please, please! To whatever omnipotent force out there who gave me these powers,I beg of you to please let me make a flame strong enough now to save my skin! PLEASE!! she prayed desperately.
She flexed her fingers several times, a small ball of fire forming in-between the palms of her hands, only to be snuffed out by the rain that fell. Nothing, she just couldnât manage anything up. . . . Seemed whatever gave her, her powers just wasnât listening to Nicoletta tonight. âDamn it. . . .â she seethed, looking up to see the men who had been chasing her were only a few feet from her, through the darkness Nicoletta could make out a sick smile upon the face of the one she presumed their leader.
Nicoletta pressed herself back into the fencing, as much as it would allow her too, and gripped onto it as a hand latched onto the fence right above her head, a bolt of shock and utter fright went through Nicolettaâs body at the noise it made. And before the man could say even a word, Nicoletta screamed out as loudly as her small body would allow her, âSOMEONE! PLEASE HELP ME!!â