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Elisha · (07-12-2013)

*The sky is blue. That's what Eric Rex keeps telling himself. The sky is blue. The sky is blue. The sky is blue. [/i] Over and over. It's the only thing he can think to keep himself grounded. He'd felt his grip on things starting to slip. The grip he had on The Academi, Lacey, Sal, Victor...his sanity. It was bothersome when it was in his head, but this has never happened. He's never let it slip in public the way he did during the interview with Steve Sayors. So, now he finds himself sitting in a field, alone, in his backyard, looking heavenward.

Does he feel threatened? No. He's never needed anyone so why, now, would he feel threatened of losing people? That would have to be it. Even if he thought he was walking into a trap, that would be of no concern. There's nothing these men can do to him that has never been through, he thinks. Sal. Is that part of what's bothering him? The fact that the man that has been closer than a brother for nearly his entire life, when he had no one else, seems to be lying to him? Is that it? Or is it Lacey? Who is the man that's been watching her? The man in the Oldsmobile. The man taking pictures through the window. The man in the suit. Who is he?

Is this some elaborate scheme put on to make Rex remember debts he owes? Remember who he's working for? He hasn't been contacted by any of those men in any other way, and he owes no debts. He's always made a point to pay up. He still has trouble believing that Eli would be out to harm him in anyway. The Emma-Lee ordeal and the attempted brainwashing have definitely left their respective marks on him. But, why? Why would Eli do something like that? The money was enough. The money was more than enough, really, to get Eric Rex's loyalty. It was more than enough to earn his partnership and trust. Again, he doesn't believe Eli aims to harm him, but he also knows that his belief isn't needed for something to be true.

Thunder crashes overhead. The rain begins to fall. Rex soaks it in for a moment, wondering if it's possible to just let himself be drowned by it. To seep into the earth with the water and become one with it all. His psyche was starting to crack like dry clay. Perhaps it was possible to use the rain to smooth out the cracks and blend in with the nature around him.

Craziness.

Lacey comes outside and finds her foster-father staring out into the trees, completely drenched. Mud splashing across his legs. She stands right behind him, nervous at his demeanor. His eyes are unblinking as the water drops off the lashes. Lacey haltingly taps his shoulder.*

Lacey: Dad? Daddy?

*Rex still pays her no attention. The sky isn't blue anymore, he notes to himself. The storm is here.*

Lacey: Daddy? Come inside, I'm scared.

*Rex grabs her hand gently, and stands up. He doesn't wipe the mud off himself before walking into the house with her. Lacey Witasick is immediately put at ease with his presence inside. The girl is, and has been, completely unaware of Rex's sinister intent behind his fostering her. At least, it was sinister to begin with.

She had been growing on him before, but now he is finally starting to see her as a daughter. He's begun to feel...empathy. At least, that's what he thinks it is. He's never felt it before, and he's had a hard time finding the word.

Lacey puts in a DVD as Rex steps into the living room. He goes to sit on his couch, but is scolded by the little girl.*

Lacey: NO, DADDY! You're muddy and gross!

*Rex never makes eye contact with the child. He just walks into the bathroom, closes the door, and strips down for a shower. He sets the water as hot as it will go and steps in.

Steam rises and fills the room. The burning water hits the claw marks he made on his own face during the interview, and he laughs. Laughing is almost as new a sensation for him as empathy. He turns the water off after about 10 minutes and sits in the shower.

His mind wanders. What would my spirit animal be? he wonders. Rex decides on a spider, if that even counts. Rex is nothing if not objective in his own mind. He's a schemer, he knows. He's opportunistic, he builds intricate webs of deceit to ensnare his prey, and he is extremely deadly when that prey is captured.

His mind drifts to the one constant in his life lately. The one thing that has brought him some sort of comfort. His mind drifts to KnightMask. At times he starts to wonder if he really hates him as much as he says. KnightMask had not uttered a word since he met him, yet here he was...The sole target in front of Rex's pointed gun. In his present state of mind, he only vaguely remembers how it all started. It was a con. Rex was to be a distraction. Nothing personal.

All business.

And Rex did the unthinkable. He let himself get too close to the situation. He let took Witasick's actions personally, when he tossed his contracted money away. Then he saw as KnightMask was chosen to be Witasick's golden-boy. He remembers thinking, "If I can get to KnightMask, I can get to Wallace and get my paycheck."

That payday has long-since passed, for Eric, but here he is. Seemingly caught in his own web. Trapped by his own words into a fight that he alone has made personal.

His pride will not allow him to admit any of this. His pride will also not allow him to accept defeat in this endeavor. The money may be gone, but, as Rex sees it currently, his word is more important.

And his word is that KnightMask will fall. Crimson Cobra with him. The Incredible People will be a footnote on the night that The Academi, no matter what is going through Eli's head, will take the gold.

Lacey taps on the door.*

Lacey: Daaaaaddddddyuh. You've been in there FOREVER! I'm soooooo hungry.

*Lacey's need brings him back. He's alert. Back to normal. For now.*

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