Gunshots where the first thing to ring clear as I returned to the present, my dive finlay completing as I slammed into the wall some sort of gun falling on my head as I fumbled and rolled attempting to pull the weapon into a usable position.

until finally the barrel was aimed where my attackers once stood, now however there lay four corpses and a doubled over Alexander

“Alasor, let's go, we need to get, a, move on, before the police, get here.”

Taking his last deep breath Alexander stood and lent me a hand helping me to my feet.

“Not sure where we should go, but I know cops will be showing up soon even in this area gunshots still tend to pull attention.”

He made it halfway to the door before I started after him. “Alex, Miss Blackwood is where we need to go.

Without slowing, he looked at me over his shoulder purple visor gleaming.

“She, can get her crown and should be able to have our connections to this job disappear.”

Alexander remanded silent as our dull footsteps turned into clicking as we hit the, sidewalk.

“Will do boss you call our driver and ill keep watch.” I froze truly takeing alexander in for the first time since he saved me, Alexander would never say that with any sensarity, and the ground, wasn't it raining when we got here why is it dry.

“Boss, you gonna call the car.” the thing in front of me doesn't really sound like alexander, It sounds like a hollow version of his voice.

“Yeah, sure, just keep watch, they might send more goons.” the creature just nodded and kept moving down the street as I began taking in my surroundings the world around me appeared normal, until I tried to read anything the moment i did it seemed to melt and lose all meaning but It felt right like that was just the natural state of this place, Am I asleep.

The world began to melt as the figure posing as alex twisted around it did not turn dint look ever its shoulder it twisted as tho it was made of clay rather then flesh and metal then it hissed out something sounding more like a melted haunting voice of many rather then the voice of a individual “HE IS WAKING.”

My perception shifted the world around me melting away as the safehouse came into view three figures standing around me each held out a palm alight with glow of a lilac eye

My weave began to push against me roiling and seeming to react as tho it was insictualy protecting me from whatever this was.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Force him back under.” one called out

“He will not return to the mind skape!”

“Something is resisting us.”

As they yelled and seemed to fight against each other I let that fall away focusing solely on my weave as it tried to rise and shater the bonds I placed on it, It wanted to be free to do as it wished and was tired of being subject to my wishes and now we had the gall to subject it to more of our so called order.

I tightened my weave forcing the pattern to hold even as it bulged and frade as one will scraped against another like knives clashing

Strands began to escape, small rope-like things that pulled away despite my efforts, so I let them go to focus on the true fight, closing off my senses to the world around me until the force trying to bind me in my own mind ceased and my weave grew still.

When all was finally quiet, I opened my senses and perceived the world around me once again and all at once it came into focus every detail coming into being at once like the snap of a camera.

This included a far, far to close alexander who was a slight sniffl away from headbutting me

“Alastor you alive.”

In that moment I had to remember this is the customer “Yes im alive, and may I ask for some space alex.”

He jumped back as tho he had expected me to very much be dead “Oh yeah, sorry about that but its hard to tell with you, I mean you breathing or pulse and wharf the time I dont even know what your looking at”

I let him ramble for a moment as I took stock of my current state checking over my weave with both my mental and physical perception, there was no sign of a breach in my weave no fraying or unraveled patterns I had held the weave tight throughout my, ordeal and my efforts appeared to have payed off.

“Alastor you there?” returning my attention to alexander I saw he didn't seem to be looking at me but rather behind me “Yes alex im fine, just gathering my thoughts.” alexanders headed darting to me “Alright, then could you mabie move your weird mind jellyfish, Its freaking me out.”

I turned around projecting as much calm and naturality possible, until the abomination came into view looking to truly fit the name alexander gave it

Its body appeared to be a lilac colored mound of undulating brain matter suspended by six sharp hair like tendreals that seemed to disappear when not directly observed.

“Alex, This creature is, completely harmless, however I suggest we move on and leave the, brain jelly here as a, diversion to help cover our tracks.”

Looking back at alexander he seemed to by it based on his more relaxed stance and slight nodding “Alright, so where are we meeting the car again.”

Real Life filled me as I stood “It will be waiting for us a block west of here.” some of my relife faded as I realized where that cab would take us “However alex the cab is supposed to take us to miss blackwood, she is the one who purchased the cab.”

However to my surprise alexander didn't seem to bother by the news “Ok, thats where we wanna be anyway.”

It was then I remember what happened just before this whole thing went belly up “Alex did you get the crown.”

Alexander seemd to straten up and stand just a little taller as he held out the crown in one hand “Of course I did, with my skills it was honestly harder to not get it.” even tho he was wearing a helmet I swear I could feel his smug grin in every word.

This, endeavor was a bit of a debacle but a, profitable debacle at least “Alright alex if, you have the crown then we should head for our cab...” a buzz had began to fill the air, slowly getting louder, closer, then it changed from a meaningless noise to a massive issue.

“WARNING: Rogue Xeno Detected! IXCU and Heroes Guild on route! Shelter indoors and avoid contact. This is not a drill. Stay secure until all-clear is given.”

“¡ADVERTENCIA: Xeno Roguero Detectado! IXCU y el Gremio de Héroes en camino. Refúgiense en interiores y eviten contacto. Esto no es un simulacro. Manténganse seguros hasta que se dé el aviso de seguridad.”

The IXCU countinued to play this message over and over again each replaying in a new language until it came full circle.

Jumping to my feet, I grabbed the crown from alexanders hands my gaze swept over the room until I found my briefcase darting to it and checked to make sure its contents where still within and stashed the crown “Alexander, we need to move right now.”

Both of us darted for the front door neither bothering to say anything els as alexander followed me out.