Laina was enjoying herself. This was the first time she’d been to a convention without cosplaying. While she missed the notoriety of wearing something meticulously crafted and eye-catching, the anonymity was refreshing. She could browse the dealer’s hall without getting stopped for pictures. She could go to a panel without having to take up at least two seats with her props and costume pieces.
She was currently scoping out the Artist’s Alley. It was always nice to chat with the makers. As she discussed watercolor techniques with one of the artists, something jumped out in her peripheral vision. A figure in a dark hood. Not unusual at a comic con, but she glanced nonetheless. The figure waved at her and vanished. Not ‘into the crowd’ vanishing, but legitimate ‘blinking out of existence before one’s very eyes’ vanishing.
Laina mentally shrugged. Cons had weirdos. It was to be expected. You just had to ignore them, and they'd usually just go away.
She wrapped up her conversation with the artist and headed for the next aisle. As she rounded the corner, a hint of movement registered in the corner of her eye. She barely had time to think before something rather cold tightened on her wrist. She looked down to see a pale hand clamped onto her left wrist.
The hooded figure.
Laina attempted to wrench her hand away, but they held tightly. The figure looked up slowly, meeting Laina’s indignant glare with unearthly golden eyes. They spoke a single word in a voice like rustling leaves and lost mysteries.
“Get ready for an adventure, Xecanthys”
Their cold hand quickly became burning hot. She fully expected her hand to melt away into a puddle of liquified flesh. What felt like every single muscle in Laina’s body tensed.
And the figure vanished for a second time.
Laina was left very confused. Her hand was fine - not a mark left on it.
And - Xecanthys was her tabletop RPG character.
Maybe she’d hallucinated the whole mess. Maybe it’d be a good idea to go crash in the hotel room for a couple hours and take a nap. She was sharing the room with a couple friends, but they were both busy with the Con. She’d have some quiet. It would be good.
Laina pivoted on her heels. The exit was behind her. As she walked, she tried to coax her stomach and arms and whole goddamn body into relaxing a little. It didn’t happen. She was still in fight-or-flight. Or something.
The feeling didn’t go away during the ten minute walk to the hotel. She just got progressively more exhausted, like she'd just finished running a marathon or wrestling a bear. Her thoughts were all tangled up - who had that figure been? And why’d they call her by the name of her fictional __________?