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Impressions (13) : Destiny City is always getting torn up, so it’s also always in a constant state of repair. There have been signs warning about wet concrete for blocks, so you just need to be mindful where you’re stepping. Someone else wasn’t, judging by the footprints that–wait, just appeared? There’s no one else around, but there are clear markings of someone having just passed through here. And, stranger, it’s not just foot prints that might manifest–it’s hand prints. Even a face print. If you stare into the wet concrete, sometimes you can even see them appear. But it leads to a striking revelation–someone didn’t step in the concrete. Someone’s trying to push out of it. Sometimes the concrete bubbles, like something might almost be pushing through, but even if you scrape the concrete away, there’s nothing beneath it. After the concrete dries, the strange imprints are still there. And so, the process begins again.
s**t was always being repaired in the city. Damage from civilians. Damage from weather. Damage from fights. The city was ravaged by the specter of destruction but it was a damn good boon for people like his family. Their construction company held the contracts for a lot of the repairs, they built and rebuilt the various buildings that were damaged when those damn senshi stuck their nose where it didn’t belong. But Ben knew that they didn’t have the entire building scene of the city on lock. There were some companies that were definitely bigger, more global, and a few smaller groups that were more or less backyard contractors, so when the young man saw the signs about wet concrete he didn’t think anything of it. It just wasn’t one of his’ projects that was for sure.
Ben started to scrutinize the work as he made his way past, noting the crisp edges and smooth surface. They, whoever it was, did a decent job. A professional job. He would be proud if his crew had pored this sidewalk, it was just a shame about the footprints….
The young man did a double take and frowned at the clear footprints in the concrete. They hadn’t been there a few seconds ago and no one had been around who could have, or would have, run through the wet mix. Only someone who was oblivious, stupid, or a menace would do that. Cleaning clothes that had been ‘corrupted’ with concrete was a nightmare and they never really did come clean. They dried and ended up dusty and crunchy forever after. They soon became work clothes, stuff you wore when you were going to do anything that would ruin fabric. So if someone had been stupid enough to jog through the wet concrete then Ben would have spotted them, but he hadn’t.
As he was standing there, and as he looked at the prints closer, he noticed that it wasn’t just impressions of shoes, it was handprints as well. And then it wasn’t just the hands but other impressions as well. Beneath his gaze Ben watched as what he would have sworn was a face appear out of nowhere. Some invisible person faceplanted into the concrete, imprinting their face into the malleable rock. Except it didn’t look quite right. It was off somehow.
Unsure how, Ben carefully leaned a bit closer only to reel back in surprise, and not a little bit of horror. The faceprints, the handprints, and even the footprints… they weren't PRESSED into the concrete, they were raised OUT of the concrete . They were coming out of the stony slurry as if someone was trying to push, or jump, their way out of the puddle of cement and aggregate. He knew about burring bodies in cement, anyone who hadn’t didn’t watch TV, but they were typically already dead… Not trying to actively escape from their stone prison.
“s**t,” He muttered to himself as he backed away, glancing around to make sure he was actually alone. He was. There wasn’t anyone there to witness anything. Not him seeing the ruined concrete, not noting someone, or something, in the newly poured sidewalk, nor him walking away without turning around. He was NOT about to be mixed up in whatever this was. He couldn’t afford the scrutiny an investigation would bring to him or his family…. The bodies weren’t always just hidden that way on TV after all.
Besides, he didn’t see anything and no one can prove a damn thing.
No way.
No how.
