Waiting to Die

Eve:<No problem.>

*Once everyone is ready, Tirea looks out in the direction of Grimm's house*

Tirea:<If the others...are around, they'll be heading to Grimm's. We should try and meet them there.>

*If the way is clear, Eve and Tirea head out, presuming Astarte will follow*

*It's probably a blessing in disguise that they got all discombobulated, as strafing between the back woods & deserted alley ways, they can see a number of suspicious unmarked vans parked near Grimm's house. They also hear walking in the bushes somewhere around, but they can't tell from where. It seems relatively aimless.*

Astarte followed, and whispered, "Those would be police staking it out. We can't touch the priest, they know."

*Tirea whispers back*

Tirea:<(Fuck. Then this was all for nothing?!)>

*She leads the way into an alleyway a ways away from Grimm's house*

Eve:<(So, now what?)>

*The night remains silent, save for the occasional sound of a passing car. Who or whatever is in the forest seems aware of their presence, & begins moving quietly towards them, from both sides of Grimm's house, indicating that there are multiple individuals.*

"Could be the others," Astarte whispered, slowly dropping into a crouch that could be pushed into a run at any moment.

*Eve and Tirea get ready to run as well, but remain where they are for now*

*Some of the sounds seem to stop, before retreating farther into the woods. The remaining footsteps grow louder, to the point where they should be right behind the bushes but are not visible, until a slender humanoid shape pops into view, having been crouching & appearing to have some kind of sword outstretched before it. A second later, a bright flash shines brightly in their faces, the sudden shift of luminosity hurting their eyes & briefly blinding them.*

L"Oh. It's you. Standing around gawking like that, you're lucky I wasn't someone else. I could've cut your head off just now."

*She points the tip of the machete in Astarte's face.*

L"In fact, in your case, I did consider it."

Tirea:<(We weren't...nevermind.)>

*Eve breaths a sigh of relief. Tirea sticks her hand out and squeezes Astarte's shoulder*

Eve:<(Oh, it's so good to see you!)>

"If it's going to be you..." Astarte mumbled.

L"(Okay, so I don't know what was taking you, or why you don't have your phones on, but in the hour or so I've been waiting, I think Schreiber & Vanessa arrived early on, there're unmarked cars staking out the house on both sides, & I saw the white owlman or whatever go into the attic. I don't know who or what else is in that house.)"

"We got forced across the river," Astarte mumbled. "If the place is covered by police and the things..."

Eve:<(The monsters attacked and forced us to jump into the river, and we all got separated. You know far more about what's going on than we do.)>

L"(Well, this is the best chance to get the priest. But we might have to make a diversion.)"

"...I don't like the odds of surviving that diversion."

Tirea:<(You better have a really good plan, because right now it looks like you have a death wish.)>

OOC: Why did nobody tell me that I've been up in this for a solid week?

L"(It's simple, if they're watching this place, they're probably not watching the church. We know Ira has been protecting that place, so if someone breaks in, we might lure away some of these cops. Who knows, you might even find something.)"

Tirea:<(Ira probably has more monsters protecting the church. And since this is your plan, why don't you be one of the ones to do it?)>

"The Shadow might be in there..." Astarte gripped her elbows in a self-hug. "I guess it could be anywhere."

L"(Oh yes, why don't I just take all of my weapons & go to church, just in case something might be there, because surely I'm more use there than here, where most of the enemy is known to be. And you can go in there & flounder about without any method of contact, instead of picking one up along the way. That all sounds like a fantastic plan.)"

*Eve grabs Tirea's shoulder before she can say anything in response. Tirea looks at her, then down at the ground, then finally back at Lilith*

Tirea:<...Alright then. Who do you think should go where?>

"3 guesses where she wants me to go."

L"I'm going in there."

*She points to the house with her machete, then she points it at Astarte & Tirea.*

L"You head to the church. Pick up a pair of phones along the way. Hopefully Eve & I can handle the priest, Vanessa, Schreiber, & whatever else is in there long enough to get back in contact with you."

Tirea:<Ok, can repeat your number for us? Also, Eve, can I have any cash you have?>

*Eve wordlessly opens her wallet and removes some still wet money, then gives it to Tirea. It's not worth more than 20 (US) dollars. Presumbly during this Lilith gives her phone number, after which Tirea says:*

Tirea:<Thanks. Good luck.>

*She nods at Lilith and Eve, then looks at Astarte before taking off in the direction of the church*

Astarte hesitated, but followed after Eve with her head bowed.