follow the leader -piggyperson-

[hef]

It started when she was in the bookstore. Ellie was looking for a particular book, One thousand and one torture devices of the Inquisition. Reading familiar books was always nice, even though she knew all the words, because her brain finally could focus on something that required no effort.

Her favorite was probably number fifty three, the chair of spikes. Mostly because she liked to think of ways that she could perhaps not feel the pain. People who walked on swords did so by stepping directly on top of the blade. So, hypothetically, if one sat directly on the spike, would they get cut? The skin had a fascinating amount of elasticity, so long as it was not snagged or cut, after all.

Though, number seventy eight was also interesting. The Judas Cradle. And, barbaric as it was, it was still used to this day, though mainly in Latin America. But while she thought on this, she felt eyes watching her. Looking around, she saw him. After all, he was sort of hard to miss. Lanky, six foot tall, pointy haired, glowering youth. Pretty noticeable.

Even if she didn't have Photographic memory, she'd remember those eyes.
Finding her book, Ellie paid, and hurried out of the bookstore. She wanted to put distance between herself and whoever that was. He made her uneasy, not because she was creep out by someone staring. Honestly, that should creep her out more than it did. But because he seemed familiar. Only Ellie didn't know his face. Therefore, he shouldn't seem familiar. Because it wasn't like she had met him and forgotten. So then, why did she have the feeling that she knew him, when she clearly did not?

Next she stopped for a pretzel, with cheese. The pretzel lady asked her if she wanted a drink, and while she pondered that, Ellie noticed him again. Just hovering, like a bat. She pretended to ignore him, deciding against a drink, and rushing off once more. Why did he feel so familiar? This feeling had never happened to her before.

Her mind was so consumed with the strange man that was following her, Ellie just followed her feet. They'd take her some place. Of that she was sure. And so they did. Ellie found herself in a store, JC Penny or the like. She wasn't sure. Some place tall, pale, and creepy need not be. And yet, there he was. Following her, like a shadow of doom. Her breath quickened, Ellie felt fear rush through her. What did he want? Quickly, Ellie jumped into a changing room, locking the door behind her. The bottom was open for the looking, and she could see his feet.

Well, this would certainly be her last mall trip, wouldn't it? She just hoped that that was because she chose not to go anymore, as oppose to being murdered or the like. Clutching her bag, she waited, wondering how long it would take for the strangely familiar man to get tired of waiting and go away.

[XERXES HARRISBURG]

She was the one.

His associates had seeked. His associates had searched. His associates had stalked beneath their veils of invisibility, through the long hours of the dark and listless night, flitting across the city and alighting on the rooftops, whispering to him her name, her whereabouts. From the millions of candidates pinpointed across the city of darkness and malevolence, he’d finally selected her.

And now he, Piglet, the Lord of the Villains, the mastermind behind every act of evil, of darkness, that had ever been enacted, was approaching her himself. She, hand-selected by the Lord of the Villains, was in for quite the surprise.

He began to follow her at a distance, first to a bookstore. Piglet lingered at a distance, cursing the nauseatingly conspicuous clothing that his host stubbornly chose to wear at all times during the day. Piglet was a creature of the night, so the style more than suited his necessities, but on the few occasions he chose to inhabit his host during the day, it was cumbersomely impractical.

He began to make his way towards her, ducking out from behind the nearest bookshelf to sneak a glance at what she was reading. Torture Devices of the Inquisition. Interesting, and certainly promising. Though Piglet was assured beyond a reasonable doubt that with The Lord of the Villains, his unfathomable minions, and infinite resources at her disposal, the devices of pure agony and hostility would far surpass any of this Inquisition.

Piglet crept along the floor at a safe distance behind her, casually blending in with the nearest passerbys. Her eyes seemed sharp, after all. His dear minions had not failed him.

Food was next on the list. Piglet bought a newspaper and took a seat on the far edge of the food court, pulling it open and scanning the pages, making sure that it veiled his host’s abominably tall hair from her view. Next came a sort of department store, where Piglet crouched behind the racks of clothing. The time was approaching. He could sense her anxiety, her fear, the emotions he craved. A few more minutes, and Piglet would strike.

And then she was behind a locked door. Piglet almost laughed. Any lock that could stop the Lord of the Villains would have to be quite the lock indeed.

With a subtle gesture of the fingers, every light in the department store went out. Piglet’s eyes glowed, two piercing points of pink in the pitch darkness. Unleashing a hideous cackle, Piglet reached forward and wrenched the dressing room door from the wall in a single fluid motion, standing before his prey in blazing, terrifying glory.

“Elisabeth Kyle,” his voice boomed, echoing eerily off the walls of the chamber. “My name is Piglet. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He smiled darkly, extending an arm. “Please, follow me.”