Angels in the Shadows

Chapter One: The Life You Save

Pain.

Unimaginable, unendurable pain. That was all Anthony was aware of. He couldn't move, and with each shallow breath he took his cracked ribs ground together in a way that made him whimper quietly in anguish. He was being crushed by the combined weight of Seamus' body and the giant 'E'. He stared up at the stars, resigning himself to the fact that he was most likely going to die alone in a stinking alley. All alone, with not even an Angel to comfort him.

He shunted aside thoughts of Dylan-they would do him no good. But she hadn't even bothered to come and see if he was still breathing, and that irked him. After all, she knew that he had survived the explosion at Knox's Carmel Castle-and that was much more devastating than being stabbed and falling off a roof.

Anthony shut his eyes, his breathing growing slower as he waited for the tender embrace of Death.

"Amy! Amy, you have to come see this! There's a couple dead guys in this alley!"

A young woman of 26 rounded the corner, gazing in sisterly exasperation at the girl who had spoken. She had on a red blouse, black jeans, and sandals, and her brown hair reached down to her shoulders, where it curled slightly. Her eyes, which appeared grey under the light of the streetlamp, were flecked with bits of silver. She was tall, with a body that was well proportioned and slim. "Kitty, I told you to stay with me. I don't want you getting lost."

Katherine Chase frowned. "I'm sorry, Amy." Katherine Chase, like her sister Amelia, was tall and slim. Her hair was brown, but she had dyed it blond on her fifteenth birthday. She was wearing a dark blue blouse and low rider jeans-much to her older sister's chagrin. Her eyes were a deep green, and she wore her hair in a short bob. "But you've gotta come see this."

Amy allowed her sister to drag her into the alley, wondering why she had allowed Kitty to talk her into going clubbing in the first place. She hated being hit on, she wasn't a big drinker, and she had observed that most of the males that frequented the clubs were either colossal pricks or gay.

"I wonder how they died?"

Amy looked over at her sister, a gobsmacked expression on her face. "You're kidding, right? There's a huge object on them, and a sword through them both, and you're asking…HOLY SHIT!" She dropped to her knees next to Anthony, mouth agape. "Did…did you just blink?"

Anthony tried to focus on the voice, but he kept hearing a strange echoing sound. He blinked again, and heard a harsh intake of breath. He felt warm fingers press gently against his neck, and a low, "Jesus Christ."

Amy felt a sense of unreality as she felt the slow pulse of the man in front of her. "Right, okay. Kitty, call 911. This guy's still breathing."

Kitty gawped in disbelief. "How?"

"I don't know! Call 911, damn it!"

Kitty nodded and pulled out her cell phone, quickly dialing, and Amy reached down and linked the man's left hand with hers. "I don't know if you can hear me, but help is on the way."

Anthony squeezed her hand once.

Amy smiled. "One squeeze for yes, two for no?"

One squeeze. 'Yes.'

Amy nodded. "Alright then. Can you move at all?"

Two squeezes.

"Is your back hurting you?"

Two squeezes.

"Do you want me to take the E off your chest?"

One hard squeeze and an eye roll. Amy sighed, looking at the E. It was rather large, and she wondered if she would be able to move it without further injury to… "What's your name?"

Two squeezes.

"Right, yes or no answers only. I'll try to get this thing off you, but I'm not making any promises, okay?"

Squeeze.

Amy let go of his hand, then hooked her hands under the E, straining mightily to get a purchase. "Son of a bitch…come on…"

"Ambulance is on the way, Amy." Kitty came forward, staring at her sister. "What are you doing?"

"Katherine, less talk, more help. Get underneath this thing; we're going to lift it off him."

The combined efforts of the two women proved effective, and the E went tumbling over to land on the alley floor in a shower of sparks. Anthony drew a deep, harsh breath, and then yelped in pain as his ribs ground together. He made a frantic grab for Amy's hand, and she quickly linked her fingers with his, speaking in a soothing voice. "It's okay, I'm here. I haven't left. The ambulance is coming. You'll be okay."

A half squeeze.

Amy smiled, interpreting the question. "I'm sure. Is that sword yours?"

A squeeze.

"Cane sword, isn't it?"

A squeeze and a raised eye. Amy chuckled. "I'm a bit of a sword nut."

A squeeze and a slight smile. Amy looked over at Kitty. "When I tell you to, I want you to pull the sword out of his body."

"But…"

Amy sighed. "No buts, Katherine. Get ready. One…two…three!" Katherine yanked the sword out, and Amy quickly slapped her hands over the wound, stemming the flow of blood. Anthony yowled in pain, and Amy spoke. "It's alright, I promise.

Kitty turned at the sound of a siren. "The ambulance is here."

Two EMTs came forward, and one spoke. "Ma'am, we'll take it from here."

Amy nodded, and then moved so she was staring straight into Anthony's eyes. "You'll be okay now, I promise."

Anthony stared back at her, transfixed by her silvery eyes and the sight of his blood on her hands, and more amazed by the realization that she had saved his life.