“Strangers” is a novelette published in the collection Low-Key Calamities in 2023. Antonia finds a stalker following her on the way home, and sends a desperate call for help.
Warning[]
“Strangers” contains explicit violence, profanity, punching, leering, kicking, body slams, genuine charity, angry essay writing, explicit expletives, feminism, demons, pop culture references, attempted murder, elbowing, stabbing, grappling, portrayals of divine and demonic matters bearing little or no resemblance to religious canon, discharge of firearms within city limits, and resentful internal monologues.
Synopsis[]
Antonia discovered that a stalker was following her on the train on her way home, and sent a desperate message for assistance. It was redirected through the guardian angel switchboard to Alex, who was alone at home writing a term paper. Alex responded quickly and decisively, meeting Antonia at Westlake Station and then escaping towards Third Street with the stalker in pursuit.
Appearances[]
Characters[]
- Alex
- Antonia Vega, a single woman
- An advising but unnamed angel
- A creeper
- Lorelei
- Huan, of the conservatory (mentioned only)
- Professor Kinsey (mentioned only)
- Onyx (on the phone)
- Molly Murray (on the phone)
- Rachel (mentioned only)
- several petitioners, vagrants, panhandlers, and other veterans of the street
Locations & organizations[]
- Seattle
- Light Rail Line 1
- Westlake Station
- Third Street and Pine
- Suite 1705
Items[]
- Alex’s gladius (mentioned only)
Continuity[]
The story is set on a weekday in early April, after Past Due and between “Guardians”—or possibly “Like a Professional”—and “Accomplished”.[1]
Theories[]
Antonia should still have her guardian angel. That makes it unclear why the creeper decided on her as his target, and how he could claim that there were no angels around when confronted by Alex.
One possibility is that Antonia was coached by a messenger or other angel of limited power, unsure of their ability to stand against a creeper. One intriguing but admittedly unlikely possibility is that it was Donald.
The story gives name to and details the weapons collection that Alex has access to: “the arsenal of bullshit”. It only contains captured weapons, and includes an AK assault rifle, a .45, a gladius, a longsword, and at least two daggers. The AK and the gladius were salvaged at the Battle of the Bus Tunnel.[2][3] The .45 might have been salvaged from either the Battle of Blackthorne Manor or the Battle of the Bus Tunnel, but it is unclear how or when. There are no known references to the salvage of the longsword or the daggers.
Trivia[]
There is a Church of Scientology center outside the Westlake station exit that Alex uses, which could explain the life-improvement marketing.
The person organizing petitions having stolen an office chair is a reference to Tim Eyman.
Publication history[]
“Strangers” was first published on Elliott Kay’s Patreon on April 5, 2022. It was re-published in Low-Key Calamities on February 21, 2023.
References[]
- ↑ Timelines and Links: Good Intentions (Elliott Kay’s Patreon, July 4, 2022)
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 7
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 8