Heart of Innocence
A ranger has the Heart of Innocence; and with it the power of immortal life... A power that a new evil is desperate to get their hands on...
AN: I've had an amazing response to this story on PRUnited and have finally gotten the time to post it here. Due to circumstances outside of the staff's control the forum is going to be down for another week or so and because I've finally finished writing this and only have the last few chapters to post I thought I'd catch everybody up on here. This story is also the reason why my other stories have been so rarely updated as this became my baby and practically took over my life (in addition to all the other things in life that are necessary like eating, sleeping, family and work). My other stories will by updated soon. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. And since it is already written I can – for once! – guarantee quick updates. And this is probably the longest author's not I've ever written in my life...
Chapter One
Dana closed her eyes and waited for the elevator to stop. It had been one of those days and all she wanted now was to go home and have a long soak in her bath. There were some days when Dana really hated her job; the days when she couldn't help a patient, and when that patient was an eight-year old child, it just made it all the worse. It was the cases like this that made her question how much one person could really help.
Sighing as the elevator came to a stop she opened her eyes and straightened her shoulders. Getting depressed would not help her through this. And it would not help her help the family through it either. She wouldn't give up, no matter what. She just had to go home, clear her head and come back tomorrow ready to start over.
Letting the other people in the elevator exit first Dana slowly made her way to the hospital exit, letting the crowds disperse around her, people milling about all over the place. Crossing her arms across her chest, her bag hanging from her wrist, Dana hunched her shoulders in preparation for the cold winter wind that had been terrorizing Mariner Bay lately. Finally leaving the hospital, Dana already felt her day's worries leaving her. In her first hospital internship her mentor doctor had told her that a trick of being one of the most successful paediatricians was to be able to disassociate yourself from your work. So in that first year Dana had taught herself to only think work thoughts when she was at a hospital. It didn't always work, but it helped.
Walking towards the bus stop Dana had a momentary flash of annoyance followed by a rush of affection. If her car ever got fixed she swore to herself that she'd never lend it to Joel again. Ryan had rung her earlier saying he'd come pick her up but Dana had told him she didn't know what time she'd be finished and that she'd just get the bus. He'd protested, saying he'd be more comfortable coming to pick her up but Dana had simply said that it wasn't like she couldn't take care of herself. He'd reluctantly agreed at that point, which led to Dana currently standing at the stop waiting for the bus.
The wind roared suddenly, a gust knocking into Dana almost making her fall. Just catching her balance at the last second Dana managed to avoid landing on her butt. Shivering violently, she dropped her bag beside her side, her blue eyes alert and scanning her surroundings. Something wasn't right.
The wind picked up again and as it rocked into Dana something else accompanied it. The next thing she knew someone had their hand clamped around her throat and a freezing numbing sensation rapidly crept down her body, leaving her as frozen as a statue.
"Do you have it?" A rough voice growled. "For your sake I hope you do. Otherwise you'll have died in vain."
The sharp point of a knife slide into her chest, just below her heart.
Dana gasped, tried to make a sound but nothing happened. She couldn't do anything. Her eyes widened in fear as she felt cold liquid run down her skin. The knife dug deeper.
"Your heart is... mine." The raspy voice growled.
"DANA!"
Falling backwards Dana was aware of a silver flash and a howl so fierce-some and ghostly, that it shook her very soul. Then the waiting eternal darkness claimed her.