A Little Too Close

[Jayant Nagaraj]

The young mother struggled with her bags, trying to put them in the rear of her car as her baby screamed from the back seat. She'd been having a stressful day and the thought of having to drive all night to her mom's had filled her with dread, but still, time away from the city for a couple of days would have been nice. Anyway, her mom hadn't seen the tot for a month now and would be fussing over him for an age, saying how big he'd got and why she should move out of the city, closer to her family.

That would be nice but she had a career to think of, and she really didn't want the added stress of a long-ass commute every day. She sighed. She didn't even hear the man approach.

"Can I help you with that?" he asked, smirking. She spun and let out a little curse, as she realised it was that guy from the apartment above.

"Jamie, you scared the life out of me," she chuckled.

"Sorry, didin't mean to." He always appeared surly to her, and tonight was no exception. He was always polite but there was something about him that creeped her out. Anyway, the help would be good.

"Would you mind," she asked, as another bag fell to the concrete. "SHIT!" she cried. Jamie rushed down to help, lifting and placing it in the trunk.

"Not a problem," Jamie said. There was a glint in his eye and he moved in, a little too close for comfort. She stepped away, taking it as a joke; Jamie moved closer.

"Please, Jamie, you're making me uncomfortable," she told him. He never replied, leaning in and trying to kiss her. She shoved him away, shouting at him.

"NO, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" She couldn't believe this was happening as Jamie lunged in and wrestled her too the floor, his pants suddenly undone. She couldn't hear what he was screaming at her but she thought her head hit the floor hard because the world went into darkness.

When the light returned, she was fully clothed and her baby was asleep. Jamie was nowhere to be seen. A note was next to her. It told the tale of the Little Lamb.

*****

Jayant didn't really care. The would-be rapist lay dead at his feet. The Naga had protected with over the top zeal. A fire burned. Jayant cringed. He smiled. He dumped the body in the river. It would be found.

He didn't really care. The woman and her baby were safe. That was all that mattered.

[Jayant Nagaraj]

Humanity check

2009-06-28 07:42:23Jayant Nagaraj rolls 5 to Humanity Check + 2 (10 Again)9, 8, 1, 2, 1 2 successes

Watching the body become one with nature as it floats down the river, Jayant knows that he almost crossed the line, his Naga so close to taking control once more. But, it was a necessary evil.

The next part wasn't going to be easy, either. Kneeling in the reeds on the river's bank, Jayant closes his eyes and focuses on the unbeating heart that nestles in his chest. The blood of the attacker is fresh and it would suffice, willing it too mend the damage caused by the atrocity that took so many of the city's Kindred.

The flesh on the left side of his face began to knit back together, looking less sore and more the man he was at the time of his Embrace. Even his left eye seemed more able to move within its socket. The missing fingers on his left hand began to regrow, becoming half-formed and his left foot seemed less stiff and more animated.

Jayant smiled in the dark, surrounded by the shadows and nature he so loves. A guardian of the world, a stoic survivor. There are worst ways to live a Requiem, he muses.

Healing

Spent 5 Vitae to heal 1 Aggravated health level