In the Darkness and In the Light

Disclaimer: I do not own The Crow. The Crow is owned by J.O Barr, and I use have used his idea and twisted it to fit my own idea of the Crow story. If I owned The Crow, I would have made it either a slash or a femmeslash. This also includes graphic violence (a brutal rape/double homicide flashback, and revenge murders). This is rated Mature for a reason. Please do not read if you have "triggers", because I would feel bad if my fanfic triggered you. Also the rapists/murderers in this fic justify their actions by claiming it was in the name of God. I do not believe that real Christians would do that, but sick people who feel God would approve of their sickness not real Christians.

Dedication: This is written for all those who have been murdered out of hate for their religion, sexual orientation, and race. RIP dear ones.

A.N: This is a femmeslash, and instead of using a crow I used a raven instead. Italics indicate a flashback and maybe a flash-forward. We'll just see where the plot takes me. Thank you LOVELESS-chan for being my beta for this story.

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Chapter One: Secrets in the Shadowed Mirror

I'm in heaven, aren't I? My eyes flickered open. As I came to I realized I lay in a field of wheat, and the air is chilled with white mist like ghosts. The sky is shaded twilight blue, and the red light of the setting sun in the west spilling out into the dark blue horizon. A crescent moon has risen in the east, a silvery reflection of the soul. This perfect place must be heaven, where else would I be? How in earth did I get here? I strained my memory, though there was only darkness.

I sat up clad in blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and combat boots. I look down and see that my hands and clothing are stained with what looks like blood, or perhaps only red wine. Why would I be covered in red wine? Maybe I'm not dead? I seemed to be alive and still in my body. Somebody have better answer my questions, or I am going to go crazy. I probably am already crazy; sitting in a hospital pumped full of Haldol. I sat there and contemplated my predicament, as the slight evening breeze played with my long dark brown hair.

"Caw!" Rang a chilling raven's song. A flock, no a murder of ravens swooped down next to me. Their leader perched upon my shoulder. "Caw!" It screeched again while I jumped slightly, "Follow me Young One." The Raven said in a hoarse voice.

I must have been dreaming or hallucinating, because this felt too real. "Where am I? How can you talk you're a bird? Where's Karley, my fiancé? And why?-" I took a deep breath. "-Why am I covered in blood- presumably mine? And did you have to caw so loud I'm right next to you."

The Raven stirred somewhat impatiently, and clicked its beak. Most likely thinking stupid humans and their damn questions, before replying, "You Trisha are a lost soul yet to enter the Gates of the Afterlife. You are dead but alive nothing can harm you, simply because you have a mission to complete before you go on. Karley is waiting for you at the Gate. Enough small talk- follow me and I will show you all you need to know." The Raven took off from my shoulder. It's flock followed behind. They flew towards the north. I followed my familiar, for a lack of a better word, through the field. Above my head and all around me the shadows shifted as silver and white wisps of smoke, presumably souls as they moved onto the next plane of existence.

We finally came to a dark wooded glade. A tarnished silver mirror hung by ropes from a gnarled branch from a Willow tree. The Raven landed on the branch. I didn't need telling or encouragement I knew what I needed to do. I walked tensely up to the mirror. My hazel eyes looked worn and tired, and my hair was matted with blood. My thin lips trembled slightly, as I noticed my violently slit throat crusted with dried blood. The dried bloodstains streaked down my neck. I gasped as the mirror started to warp to show me all I needed to know, and see.

…

My fiancé and I walk hand in hand down the crowded city street as dusk sets in. Our wedding is in a month and all our plans are completed, and I couldn't be any happier. I am about to marry the love of my life. Karley's pale as porcelain skin is practically glowing framed with her chin-length red as fire hair. Her green eyes dancing merrily, with her infectious smile across that lovely full mouth. I wrap my arm around her waist, and pull her closer. It was mid-September, and it was a slightly chill evening. Her jacket clings slightly to her full curves.

Suddenly I can feel the cold steel knife at my throat, "Help!" Karley screams, but people passing by ignore us so coldly not wanting to get involved.

"Here!" I yell throwing my purse at the two thugs. "Take what ever you want just let us go unharmed."

"Shut the fuck up, we don't want your money you dumb dyke." Said the taller and leaner of the two. His cool grey eyes are emotionless.

His short and fat friend with shorn off hair already shut Karley up and dragged her into a dark alleyway.

"Come on," said the thug that is holding me captive, his long greasy blond hair in a ponytail. "It's time we joined the party."

"No, don't you have a soul? Any compassion?"

"It's you queers that have no soul, and God wants us to clean out all the filth. Me and my friend though we all want to show you what you've girls been missing out on." He laughs, while pushing me into the alleyway.

No escape and trapped like an animal to slaughter. I am sprawled out on the ground, and fear keeps me frozen, and see my lover being violated. The shorter and overweight thug is trying to shove his small penis in Karley's mouth, but she keeps her mouth firmly shut. Until finally with a satisfied grunt he forces his way in. She bites him really hard, and he punches her across the face. Knocking her down. "Leave me alone!" She screams. He straddles her and removes her pants. She tries to kick him off of her, but she is weaker than him. I want to save Karley and myself but I can't move, and I hate myself for it. I start to cry like a child and I hate myself even more.

I look at the taller thug standing above me as he watches me carefully, almost like he is studying me. "I like girls like you. I can smell the fear off of you. Your fear stuns you into helplessness, instead of turning you into a wild animal like your friend there. You can be tamed and I will enjoy every second of it."

I close my eyes weakly, and I hear the sound of zippers going down. I feel rough hands on my body, and I hear Karley's screams right next to me. I can feel him enter me roughly, and his cold knife at my throat. I ignored everything going on. This wasn't happening to me, this was a nightmare. I clung to denial like a lifesaver. I numbed out, and I couldn't feel or see him finish. I could hear Karley's last scream cut short with a vicious throat slash. My angel lay dying crying softly as her blood flows out. I could barely feel the cold knife slit my throat viciously, and my blood draining out of my body. I could hear a distant screaming "CAW!" and what felt like a feather drop on my body. I died with my eyes closed, and was reborn with them open.

…

I came to and I was screaming with rage, this was my rebirth. I died with no emotion, but emotion was my baptism. I was blessed with the gift of vengeance. I could feel the change come over me, the black wings bursting out from my back, and I took off screaming like banshee. The Raven flew with me cawing also. I flew into the coming darkness. Tarnish my name, you don't deserve the air you breathe.