The Corroded Mind of Alexandra [GTA V]

A/N: Edited end of last chapter slightly, and added dialogue in the author's thoughts section. As I stated during the chapter, I wasn't feeling well and had overlooked some details. Also, I don't know if I'm doing a certain character's personality justice. You'll figure out his name in this chapter. Hopefully I'm writing him well.

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"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." - Max Payne, Namesake

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Now miles away from the crime scene, Alexandra walks down the filthy streets of Strawberry. Passing by the Vanilla Unicorn, she crosses over to the homeless camp, heading towards some electrical apparatuses. She walks down the stairs, eventually reaching a door, on which a warning is posted:

10,000 Volts

Reaching forwards, she grasps the handle, and opens it, walking inside.

Upon entering, the rampaging sounds of Los Santos grow quiet, replaced by an electrical hum. She breathes in, the smell of slightly burnt wiring reaching her nostrils, before releasing the breath in a sigh. 

Though dangerous, this area is shelter to Alexandra, though not a home, the word seemingly forgotten to the pale girl. Scarcely scattered around are simple comforts, such as a mattress and blanket, both heavily worn from use. A decrepit table sits at an awkward angle from a broken leg, lying against the grime-covered wall. Transformers lay scattered across the area, power whirring through their metal frames, dangerously close to just about everything. Alexandra could care less, though, as seen by her turning the area into shelter. The danger of electricity keeps the other homeless away. Some workers come every now and again to make sure everything runs smoothly, but they could care less about her being there. 

Alexandra sits down on the mattress, hand dragging through her hair, before she lays down and closes her eyes.

"Hey."

What?

"Seeing as we're gonna be stuck together, let's talk. I have some questions for you. You've barely spoken a word since you invaded my body, and I'd rather not have a malicious soul or something constantly ready to murder me. You could also ask anything of me, and I'll answer what I can. If neither of us want to answer something, it's fine not to speak of it. You good with that?"

The soul takes a moment to ponder the offer, before they assent to the proposition.

...Alright, then. A sound deal.

"Okay. As a sign of good faith, I'll let you ask the first question."

A criminal having good faith? Ha.

The soul thinks over their question, before firing the first shot:

Why are you in this situation?

Alexandra winces.

"First question and you're already going for a gut punch?"

She sighs and looks up at the slightly cracked ceiling.

"Parents died. I was 16, and watched them get gunned down in front of my eyes. I guess that's quite common in Los Santos. Helps dull the feelings that come crawling out."

Alexandra pulls her knees upwards, head resting on the makeshift pillow made of rags and clothes. 

"What is your name?"

Nicholas Fury.

Alexandra chuckles sardonically.

"That's a last name if I've ever heard one."

Why'd your parents die?

Her expression turns grim.

"Not answering that."

Sore spot?

"Yes."

Then at least tell me what their occupations were

"Criminals. Worked for the Gambetti family. Refuse to say anything else."

She opens her eyes, looking into the air.

"How are you inside of me?"

I truly have no idea, at least fully. I went to help you, and your soul somehow pulled me in. That's about it.

She doesn't respond, simply continuing to think.

What is your ultimate goal in life?

"At this point? To survive. It might change later on in life, as nothing is set in stone, but for now, I just want to live."

She closes her eyes, arms wrapping around tighter.

"What about you?"

Prefer not to say for now.

*Yawn* "Fair enough."

They both sit there in silence, before Alexandra eventually falls asleep...

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Walking out of the liquor store, Alexandra opens her bottle and takes a swig, uncaring for if she's in public or not. At the end of the day, who truly cares about a homeless woman on the side of the road?

Alexandra goes to cross the street, and while looking across sees a car pulling into the driveway. She sees Franklin open the front door of the white buffalo, wearing a track jacket and his typical jeans. She watches in interest as he walks up to the door, before supposedly hearing something and hiding back where he came from. She walks across the street to listen in, Franklin noticing her presence.

"Girl, I saved that poor boy's life" a woman says as she opens the front door.

"But you know what? It's getting to be a bit much."

The woman walking beside her speaks:

"I have no idea how you cope" the woman in blue says.

"'Course I cope. I'm a woman."

"Haha, girl, ain't that the truth." They both start giggling. 

Paying more attention, they seem to be lightly jogging, but the woman in green is already starting to breath heavily.

"But girl, I done done all I can do. But you know how boys are" the woman in green says, stopping in her place and panting slightly.

"Wait a minute... Oh, girl... Oh, hey, how much further?" she says, pointing down the sidewalk.

"We ain't even gone five yards yet" The other replies in slight anger.

"Okay. I know. I'm just asking." the woman in green responds, hands on her hips, taking deep breaths.

"This is spirit walking. Exercises body and soul. It's all the rage" the woman in blue says. They then proceed to recite a feminist song while speed walking away, one trailing behind the other.

Franklin comes out of hiding and walks towards the front gate.

"Damn" he says, looking towards where his aunt left, before looking at Alexandra. Suddenly-

"F is that your auntie?" The tall man from before, now walking alongside a dog, comes up too the front gate.

"Yeah, thank God I missed her crazy ass. She spirit walking and shit now, man. That's just her attempts to-"

"Hey, hey, don't be talking shit about your auntie, man, she got..." The other man cuts Franklin off, proceeding to hump the air.

"I mean she cool as a motherfucker, man, come on" he continues, then waves over Franklin, before being stopped in his tracks by the woman before him.

"You sure she's got anything?"

The tall man jumps back in shock, reaching down for his gun, before realizing who it is.

"Chanting all about female power, yet talking terribly about her nephew. She looks to be barely competent enough to even walk a foot, yet she talks about taking care of someone. She has no power, only inadequacy, and what seems to be a superiority complex."

Franklin looks to be in shock.

"You're a creepy-ass bitch, you know that?" The man says, looking at the piercing stare of the woman in front of him.

"Yes."

Franklin interrupts their conversation, his facial expression tuned back down.

"What are you doing here?"

She holds up a brown paper bag, the contents of which obvious.

"Drinking. Mainly from boredom."

'And a need to crush the desperate thoughts clawing a pit in my mind, but they don't need to know that.'

"Are you two about to go commit mass murder again?"

"Hell naw, this dumbass here started that mess. I would've rather got my as beat then get into a gunfight" Franklin says. 

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you shot more of them than I did" the tall man fired back.

"Surprising. The bloodthirsty can't aim and the pacifist barely misses. Irony at its finest."

"I have to save his ass most of the time" Franklin says.

"Man, fuck you" the taller man says.

"Whatever, man. Ay Lamar, what'd you come here for, anyway?"

Alexandra starts petting the dog.

"We gotta go pick up some shit around the corner, man. We can walk and talk at the same time, my *****" Lamar says, pointing down the sidewalk.

"Kind of redundant to say, seeing as we've been sitting here for five minutes" Alexandra says, scratching under the dog's chin. He starts panting in glee.

"Why the fuck we can't drive?"

"Around the block? With Chop? You need to walk with your fat ass" Lamar says, starting to walk away, causing Chop to follow him away from his petting. Alexandra frowns.

"Yeah, okay, you tall, lanky son of a bitch" Franklin responds, following Lamar.

Alexandra follows along, throwing her empty bottle of liquor on the street.

"I'm joining in whatever you two have planned, and that isn't a negotiation. Don't care if it's gang related or not."

Franklin and Lamar look back at her, before looking towards each other and shrugging, continuing along. Though a trail of suspicion lingers on Franklin's face.

As they walk around the block, Lamar and Franklin continue to speak:

"Come on, homie, we ain't got all day, let's go." 

"Fo' sho', but what you got up?"

"Kidnapping, fool. That clown D, that OG from."

"Dog, I told you; no more gangbanging, retro-vengeance bullshit. I'm trying to make some fucking paper."

"You gonna make some paper, loc. And ain't nobody out here gangbanging, it just look like that. You gotta know the difference, man."

"Fuck, man, great. My aunt will be very happy, homie. She wants me dead anyway so she can get the fucking house."

As they reach a certain building, around the corner is a white van.

"You driving" Lamar says, throwing Franklin the keys. He then leads Chop towards the back of the van and inside, to which Alexandra follows. 

She then closes the door as Lamar heads up to the passenger seat, and starts profusely petting Chop.

"We goin' up Vinewood Boulevard" Lamar says, entering the passenger seat.

Franklin starts driving away from the building, heading towards the location.