***

It does not take long for Olive to fold her laundry and now, the indented couch corner calls to her. Without hesitating, she sinks in and calls over Riley. He floats off his throne to grace her with his cuddles and cat biscuits. Olive caresses him and he purrs until he’s decided he's had enough and hisses in warning. 

“Love you too, my little psycho...”

Dismissed, Olive grabs her laptop from the coffee table and before processing what she's doing, her fingers are already dancing across the keys. 

The google search bar reads: Female vigilante with sword 

Her cursor clicks to the search tab and she skims through the search results.

What am I doing? 

*Another click*

The screen blinks to a community forum. 

Thread Title: Embrace The Supernatural

22  hr. ago • Original Post (by believer_365): Hey guys, I’m back. I am starting to think I was chosen; chosen to reveal the truth about the world we live in. Remember the mermaid sighting in the Hudson last month? Well this one is wild and you won't want to believe me but just last weekend, I was driving home from work, stuck in traffic, when I saw a MAGE…. Yep! A real Mage! What's a Mage you ask? well look it up because I saw her. I was stuck in traffic on 24th and 5th and I saw a tall black woman, clear as day, teleport across the street and attack a man with her sword. She was gone before I could get a picture. I was so shocked and didn't pull out my phone in time. But I saw her. THEY live among us. 

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Comment (by lizzybyday76): @dachos3nbeliever_4444, I believe you! My son Jake was taken by elves! I know how it sounds but it’s true. The police called me crazy. Said because he’s 22, he can leave as he pleases but I know my boy. He’s gone. Not at his own will. Be Careful out there people  • 7 hr. ago. comment • share • 👍👎

↳Reply (by 0nlyonegod): @lizzybyday0876, You both need Jesus. I will pray for you. You have let the devil take over your mind and tempt you to sin! • 6 hr. ago comment • share • 👍👎

Comment (by havesomefun_xxx): @believer_365, Looking for a hot date?? Click link in my bio 💋— • 3 hr. Ago

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Olive scoffs at herself. 

What am I doing? A supernatural forum filled with flat-earthers and ufo sightings. All this from a pretty woman with a sword? Why can't a woman wield a sword without it being magic? Women are strong! They can carry around medieval weapons if they want to. Can’t they? Is that against the law? 

Well duh Olive... 

She exits out of the article with the intention of closing her laptop and taking out the trash but her curious hands start again; abusing the keys. 

What’s a Mage? 

Olive clicks on the first link leading her to her first description.

Mage: Magic user who combines their arcane abilities with swordplay, using enchanted or elemental-infused swords to amplify their spells…

She slams her laptop is a little too hard for someone who can't afford to buy a new one. The ridiculousness of her actions tied with the day’s challenges, fueling a slow burn. The absurdity of her behavior floods her with embarrassment. Shame that the most exciting thing she did this whole weekend一or month for the matter一was…her; seeing a woman that radiates that much power and grace, takes over.

Me? Who am I? 

Someone who chose melancholy. Someone who’d rather be fine than take a chance at life and risk falling. 

The wind howls in response drawing Olive’s attention to the window. Or what's standing on the other side of it. 

In the distance, she can almost make out a dark figure, standing in the middle of the street. The sun has set now and the traffic is less frequent. Olive squints her eyes and steps forward. As she does, the figure seems to melt away like it was never there in the first place. 

Get a grip Olive! You can’t afford therapy! 

Olive gives her cheek a few light taps and presses her palm to her forehead. 

Breathe

It’s time to keep moving. 

Breathe 

It’s time to take out the trash. 

Shit! I almost forgot!

Olive hastily grabs her bag and makes her way downstairs to Elma’s Brew. Elma has long since retreated to her basement apartment, which is nicer than it sounds. It spans half of the building's floor, floors that are otherwise occupied by six apartments each. Frozen in time, its Victorian charm rivals the building’s unassuming exterior. Olive has fantasized about using the space as inspiration for a novel. 

A shadow wing of a modern building where rare artifacts are traded or lovers meet…or whatever.

The cafe is dark, save for the glow of the mighty neon “closed” sign. Olive cuts through the kitchen to grab 2 more bags and reach the back exit that leads to the dumpsters.

Out and in. Easy.

Olive kicks the paintcan used to prop the heavy door open and awkwardly shuffles to avoid the bags from touching her.

When she enters the night, a twig snaps, and her heart jumps. 

Rationality catches on quickly this time and she looks to the ground littered with debris and two shards of what used to be a chopstick under her foot. Calmly, she carries the bags to the dumpster and slings them in.

Mission accomplished.

Olive makes sure to look at the back door before making her way to the stairs. As she climbs the steps, she realizes she didn't lock her own door一something she never used to think twice about一for the short time she was gone. 

As she approaches her floor, she hears a thump in the distance, nothing out of the ordinary but every sound lately puts her on high alert. She quiets her footing as she climbs the last few steps to her floor. Peering down the hall, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Olive however becomes too aware of the fluorescent hue that rests over the stretched, wine colored walkway. The light above her door looks as though it's buzzing with an unfamiliar brightness in contrast to the others. 

Olive stills and takes a breath.

You’re just tired. 

She creeps forward, approaching her home when she notices something is different. 

Her door is not closed all the way.

Olive’s heart jumps.

How could I have been so careless?? It was one thing not to lock it but I didn't even make sure it was closed? 

Olive huffs out another sigh and reaches for the door handle. It's strangely warm but what is her brain supposed to conclude from that? She pushes it open and her jaw drops at what is waiting on the other side.