Chapter 5: Performance
"ᴏʜ sʜᴇ's sᴡᴇᴇᴛ ʙᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴘsʏᴄʜᴏ."
-ᴀᴠᴀ ᴍᴀx
Location: Westmount Apartments
Area: Sages Apartment
Sage awoke to a reiterated hammering at the door of his apartment.Speaking gibberish, he mustered energy to roll to the side of the bed, silky sheets tangled around his midriff. Arms hanging off his bed and fingers settled on the chilly wooden floor. Moist drops of wet water blended with glands of perspiration dotted his face. The maintenance guy was past due on restoring the AC, having yet another excuse yesterday afternoon when Sage ran into him in the storage to go get his bike for his evening cruise.
Sage caught him throwing the resident's items in a heap. His movements were wild as he desperately searched the trunks, talking to himself intensely.
Sage eased his way to him. He waved his hand at his dilated orbs. "What are you doing?" he asked as he lowered his palms to his knees.
The maintenance guy stuttered, "O-organizing." fumbling with his shirt sleeve, Drool slipped from his mouth.
Sage knew the maintenance man was lying through his bronze teeth. The way his body quivered, a pit of circles formed above his cheekbone revealed his truth.
Sage found out why the guy answered none of his calls. Why he was a no-show to his job until the afternoon. He was busy snorting away his life and stealing from the residents.
Sage questioned humans. How they could toss generations away for one trip? One night of euphoria, how could they prefer ignorance over fact. Over the real shit that the higher-up's hide from them. Why defend the light when humans Thrive in dusk.
straightening himself to his eminent height sage scorned at the pitiful man below. Unaware of the chain he was fated to. He gave him a pinched grin before he ruffled the maintenance guy's gray fro and laid a hundred-dollar bill on the stored trunk as he left. It was better for him to die from the powder that he consumed.
The ancient clock on the desk flashed. 8:53 am releasing a low growl, Sage forced himself up inwardly, cussing out whoever it was interrupting him from his sleep. He snatched his shirt off the grey sofa in the corner of his room; it was the focal point in the moody space.His wooden stool fell over from the rushed movement. He wasn't a Fashion type of man and never had a pull for interior design. The colors in his one-bedroom apartment comprised grey, black and beige. He had a black awarth table with legs connecting to make a star at the bottom that was the only "flashy" thing he owned. Tall candles scented the air of Oak. Tugging on his shirt before he hit the front door, he opened it.
Spicy gourmands wafted his nose, Jasmine, Orange Blossom, and Patchouli. Daniella Isla Larson stood in front of him wearing a white-collared shirt and a plaid skirt, her patterned thigh high socks traveling down her limber legs. A Michael Kors backpack on her shoulder. Her matte red lips set in irritation. Hands raised in a knocking position. "If you took any longer, I would have had no choice but to climb through your window," She gave him a big cheeky smile.
He scrubbed the sleep out of his orbs. Sage shook his head twice. Before staring at her in confusion. Daniella had a fetish for cosplaying.
He first met her at Groovy; his GPS led him to find CDs. He found a collection of Contemporary music. Daniella was the only employee there wearing a latex jumper. She assisted him. Giggling at him when he didn't recognize the slang she used. They had more things in common than he knew; they were both in their early 20s and they both had a love for music.
On The weekend the vintage shop would go from stacks of CD cases and pluggable headphones to rich tables and chairs. Daniella would perform wearing outrageous clothes. Presenting the fans with an exotic fantasy.
The resident's of the town gossiped of how slut like she appeared for showing her skin without remorse. It convinced Sage Daniella would walk outside buck naked if it wasn't illegal. Sage found her to be outgoing and chic. She was the first human he liked to chill with instead of whining about her life. Daniella bragged of hers and the cheap items she brought from thrift stores to accessorize her cosplay fits.
Crossed arms over his chest, Sage leaned against the chiffon wall for strength. His stomach growled for food. His eyes slowly swept over her outfit. "Danni, honestly?" he pointed to her outfit in exaggeration. "What is the purpose of this one?"
Daniella twirled gleefully, showing off her latest work, tanned skin peeked out from under her shirt. "I have a performance today, dummy and my character. If you must know, is an obsessed school girl who fell in love with a bad boy suddenly got dumped. Fucked, right?" she pulled out a pack of gum and opened her mouth like a gaping fool. Gently placing the mint flavored bar on her tongue.
Sage bowed his head in failure before he focused back on Daniella's absurd response. He fanned his shirt. Man, he hated heat." And your excited for this because?"
Daniella threw her hands in his face. "Hello, it's the touch of love That's what I'm interested in. The song itself is famed."
Her brow tightened in concentration."the artist is surprisingly open-minded and maybe a bit of a hopeless romantic."
Sage patted his denim pockets for his cigs. He nodded his head as Daniella went on about some artist named Billie Eilish and how her song. "OCEAN EYES" topped the Billboard.
Daniella devoted herself to the artist she portrayed. She ached to recreate what inspired the song with her own body and performance. Sage envied Daniella grasping her world of art. He wished he had something to be passionate about. All that came to mind was Saki and her silky braid. He told himself to stop thinking of a reality that 'could' have been.Saki was the woman of his dreams, but now she was on a mission that moved her further away from him.There was no denying she was the agencies they all were, they did what they was told no questions asked.
Sighing in despair. Sage bounced off the wall, placing a callused hand on Daniella's prattling mouth "Hush." He whispered in her ear. She could talk for hours if he let her.
Sage breath ghosted the side of her cheek. His face inches apart, he was in reach and yet miles away.
Daniella lifted her irises up at him. His charming curls rounded at his jawline. She gave him a dimpled grin, plucked his nose. "I wouldn't be trying to distract myself if you would GO GET DRESSED!"
Sage backed away from her. "Ow!" placing his finger on the growing red on his tender nose. "It was a form of telling you, let's hustle." he coddled his nose in his fist.
With narrowed eyes, she invited herself into his apartment. "Good thinking," she breathed, patting her cheeks.
Sage ran a hand through his messy locks before shutting the door behind them. "I was sleeping before you interrupted me, so I have to shower before we leave.'' he mumbled under his breath as he grabbed his marlboros from the counter. He was in denial about craving the twigs of tobacco for months.
Daniella smacked her gum as she grabbed a chair and used it as a footrest. "KK". She raked a hand in her wavy tresses.
Sage was ready in ten minutes. He succumbed to his growling stomach and took another five to fix him and Daniella a toasted avocado sandwich before they reached the suburban streets of Holly Springs.Wisps of pollen floated in the surrounding air. Ginger leaves crunching underneath their feet as they shuffled to Daniella 2012 Navy Ford Fusion.
Once Daniella's foot hit the pedal Sage felt like she sped down the street instead of twenty minutes away from Sages apartment building. Daniella being a professional at speeding while remaining under the radar.
Performance Part 2
Location:Groovey Discs
After they entered in the parking lot of Groovy Discs Daniella gave him a pat on the back before she scampered to the door at the rear entrance. Her backpack jingling as she left.
Sage stuffed his hands in his pocket as he waited for the front to clear. When he got in the doors, he sought his usual seat, his boots sinking into the Garnet rugs. White clothed Banquet tables spread throughout the room. Gold-rimmed chairs on each side, Miniature jeweled microphones were being placed in the center of the tables by the staff. Stage lights angled towards the front of the room, flooding the ceiling in icy stars. The theme a bit too refined for his taste. Sage took his seat as a group of noisy people poured in through the doors, a mix of walking and running to their seats.
Daniella appeared on stage just as the instrumental music played behind her.She walked with a bounce to her step. Her brunette pigtails flowed flawlessly behind her. She gazed at the audience, a sparkle of joy in her amber orbs. The stage was a perfect home for Daniella.
Stepping up to the front of the stage and caressing the microphone with both of her hands. She took a beat to close her eyes and inhale in the surrounding air, engulfing the beat of the tempo, feeling it pulse in her body. When she fluttered her eyelids open her ambers contrasted a shade lighter.
I've been watching you
For some time,
Can't stop staring
At those ocean eyes
Burning cities
And napalm skies
Fifteen flares inside those ocean eyes
Your ocean eyes
The tiny microphones were like speakers; they filled the room with her Angelic voice. Sage sat up in his seat, daring not to miss any second. Daniella wasn't singing, she was living. Her octaves filled with a soothing vibration. Daniella was striking, her beauty shone in the lights as she sang. Her curved nose taking in deep gulps of tune as she sang. She started low, building the story of connection, finishing with infatuation. She teased the audience by running her fingers down her fine waist. Men drooled over her, creating a vision in their heads. Women craved to be here.
I've been walking through
A world gone blind
Can't stop thinking of your diamond mind
Careful creature
Made friends with time
He left her lonely with a diamond mind
And those ocean eyes
She was stunningly poetic. As Sage sunk into the realm of melody, her tone forsook him.It became a hallucination. It Drew him into isolation; he saw an ascending wave hit him in the face.He gasped for air as he was drowned in the salty water.
Sage felt his mind being thrust out his body. He was in thrown into another hallucination. There were musical symbols wrapped around his head and limbs.Women with reptilian skin whispering sweet nothings in his ears.The beautiful women slithered around his frame in circles until he felt his brain feel fuzzy.
Daniella gave him a voluptuous sound of affection she bought out her arms as if she was holding him.Sage plunged further into the dim chasm. He shouted until his voice went dry and it was painful for him to breath.There was no answer.Pitch black.
A guy in a spotless suit strutted through the hypnotized crowd. His silver hair shadowing his face. A Sig Sauer P365 hidden in his coat. Hell, he itched to use it. The power in his reach, he stalked towards Sage Everio. The tip of his fangs revealed as he gave a sinister smile. This man was unknown as he maneuvered his way to the front of the room to Sage. Predator meeting Prey.
They enveloped Sage's eyes in a sightless grey, his body languid on the floor. The man in the suit bent to pick him up, his eyes straying to Daniella's voice. "Mistress?" he asked while catching her orbs on the stage. He waited for her reply with the obedience of a puppy. His gloved hands placed in front of his lap as he stood. Head bent in submission.
Daniella grabbed the microphone and chucked it at the sound box in one swift motion. The music cut off in a screech.
Daniella snapped her impatient fingers at him.Springing down from the stage, she skipped towards Sage's sleeping form. "How is it he looks better this way," She kicked Sages motionless feet.
"Under no circumstances. Are you to notify the conclave without my permission." she cocked her head to the bodies laid out on the floor. "I have trash to dispose of, take him back and stay out of sight."
The man hoisted Sage on his shoulder with ease. He lowered his white brows in agreement before blinking out of her sight.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone