Angels and Absinthe

by Lady Stella Black

When she awoke from her three-year coma in an intensive rehabilitation ward in Gotham, they called her Dahlia after the mysterious Black Dahlia-because they don't know who she is. Nor does she. She possesses few keys to her past-a deep scar and a haunting memory of a dark tunnel and a man in a mask. More than answers, more than her own identity, she thirsts to find her killer.

Angels and Absinthe Prologue

"Angels fall in to save my soul

Sorry, Absinthe, you're much too slow

All that glitters and all that glows

Will find a way in as soon as I go"

His eyes are so empty. She extends the back of her cool palm to rest against his warm cheek, but he throws her hand away, regarding her with icy disdain. She squeezes her side, clenching her teeth and struggling not to cry out. She can't see a thing and wouldn't imagine he was fairing much better

"Batman," she whispers, her voice barely a whisper echoes eerily in the darkness. He stares down at her—her face so innocent and gentle—she was lying to him even now. He rests his index and middle finger against the side of her clammy neck—she was fading fast. Unfortunate really, the stupid bitch. He turned the switchblade over and over in his hands, caressing the smooth blade with the pads of his thumbs.

She doesn't see the knife and wraps her arm more tightly around her stomach, trying to save her breath. He would help her. "I'm scared. We can't stay here forever—what if he finds us?" Slowly, she lets her eyes flutter once, then shut, blocking out the thick and utter black, tasting small clots of blood on her tongue mixing with—and complementing quite well, actually—a dusting of rusty flakes that clung to her lips.

She doesn't look real, he realizes. Because she isn't real. At least, not to him. "Nothing to be afraid of, I won't leave you," he promises and takes her hand. But you aren't you. At least, not who I thought you were.

She slips her sweaty fingers through his ungloved hand and squeezes. "I know you won't. I love you."

"I love you, too…but you have no idea what you've done." With one fluid sweep of his arm, he sinks the switchblade into her chest.

She gasps once, then falls silent. Her plump red lips settle into a relaxed smile…she knows he won't let anything happen to her.

He doesn't look back.

"If you want wings, just tell them so

These are the things that make us grow cold

Break the code and then just go

Love is something you seek and destroy…"