[Weather: Chilly, but clear] [Katie is on her way to school.] [Session Start!] * Katie is on her way to school, a distant look on her face. Her gray overcoat's buttoned up, and her satchel's securely over one shoulder as she toys with the zipper. * Girl comes walking by the opposite direction, wearing a Sakuragaoka uniform beneath her gray overcoat. She glances at Katie and says, barely above a whisper, "I need to talk to you, Katie Andrews." * Katie starts. She jerks her head in the direction of the whisper, but the girl's already walking down another street, brown hair flapping in the breeze. She hesitates for a moment, then hurries after. * Girl glances over her shoulder. "Faster," she says, in that same quiet voice. "We don't have any time." She picks up the pace. "It's about Arcana." * Katie continues following her. "" she mutters to herself, before she gives a slight glance to the sides. Too many people. * Girl doesn't respond to that, but she seems to have come to the same conclusion, as she leads her along. "And it's about your friends. They're in trouble. I'd tell you more, but... in a second." * Katie winces, but keeps following. She reaches into one coat pocket, then the other, reassuring herself. The streets are looking more and more deserted. * Girl looks over her shoulder again, grins, and breaks into a run. * Katie dashes after her, gaining ground. * Girl laughs. "I said, faster!" she calls back, in a startlingly familiar voice. She takes a right and runs up some steps, hardly slowing as she flings a glass door open and dashes into the building. * Katie halts the door as it closes, running in. "What do you want, you-" She slows and blinks, looking around. It looks like a lobby, complete with desk, chandeliers, and covered sofas. But there's a fine layer of dust everywhere. * Girl giggles. * Katie turns to look in that direction, but nobody's there. * Girl calls from down the hall, "This way! It's something I need to show you, but I can't do it with a bunch of people around. You know how it is." * Katie swallows and walks, more slowly now. There's a tsk. Always so cautious, Katie Andrews. Guess I can't blame you. I mean, I'm cautious, too! * Katie turns the corner, hand in her pocket, and just stops. And stares. ( Katie comes face to face with... a Slinkie! ) * Girl grins, waving back. Brunette hair, gray eyes, even the satchel. It's almost like looking in a mirror. "I've always wanted to meet me." (Well, that *would* be stare-worthy.) But... you can't be... Oh, but I can. I'm here, aren't I? And before you ask, I'm not one of Meimi's illusions. * Katie opens her mouth, then closes it. She straightens herself. "But..." How? * Katie nods. That's a complicated question. It's something that's easier to show than talk about. Come over here. * Katie eyes her. She hesitates a moment, but walks forward anyway, not removing her hand from her pocket. * Katie2 walks backwards, stopping at a door, which she opens. "This hotel... it's important. Good thing it's abandoned now." * Katie nods, distractedly. "Really? How's that?" There's little bits of what Arcana used to be. * Katie blinks. Little bits? Yeah. Past lives, things like that. Maybe this was an old Tower. * Katie comes to a stop in front of her double. "Yeah? How does that work?" * Katie2 smiles a bit. "Again, easier to show than to tell. Look in there." She points into the doorway she just opened. * Katie glances in. "Looks like a janitor's closet. Cleaning supplies, wow." * Katie2 grins and steps behind Katie. "Yeah. Really something, isn't it?" * Katie's eyes widen, and she pulls her pepper spray from her pocket, only to stiffen at the feel of sharp metal on her throat. Aww, I only wanted to look over your shoulder. Don't need to pull the mace on yourself. * Katie2 pulls the knife slightly, drawing a thin line of blood. "Better drop it." * Katie winces, keeping herself from swallowing, and drops the pepper spray. "What- what do you want?" Just to show everyone what a lying bitch you are. * Katie2 sneers, yanking the knife to one side, definitely drawing blood this time. She shoves Katie forward. * Katie screams and stumbles, then spins just as her doppelganger slams the door on her. She lets out another shriek, louder this time, and scrambles for the doorknob in the dark. * Katie2 can be heard laughing from the other side. "I told you this place is special. Eventually, they'll find little bits of you." * Katie turns the doorknob as hard as she can, then slams against the door. "" she yells, near hysterics. I would but... no. No, I wouldn't. I have to get to class. * Katie gasps for breath, not bothering to wipe tears from her face. She pounds on the door, even as she hears the retreating footsteps. [End!]