The Crow: Badge of dishonor
First I'd like to pay respects to James O'barr for a incredible story And also to Brandon Lee for portraying Eric Draven in my favorite movie of all time.
Chapter 1: A young mother
The sun was setting putting a period at the end of a busy day for Beth Collins but it was only the beginning of the long night ahead. She sat in the dressing room in the back of the theater waiting for her part in the play to arrive. Hey buddy what are you doing she laughed at her son? Erin Collins thru his dark hair a feature he got from his mom looked up with his bright green eyes another trait she had passed on to him and replied playing. I see she said smiling brightly at him. Hey are you ready for me to take him yet came a male voice Beth knew instantly belonged to poppa Mike? It's poppa Mike baby she said to Erin. She loved poppa Mike like a father he had taken her in and raised her like his own after her parents died in a car crash. She was 14 when they died and Mike Lewis saved her from foster care.
Ready for the big show said poppa Mike? Yeah well it's far from broad-way laughed Beth. The town they lived in was fairly small not like miniscule they had bars a mall, the theater and the docks witch lined the back of the theater and created fishing jobs for much of the people in the town of Light-point. The closest neighboring town was 400 miles away. Let me get on my make-up Beth said turning toward the desk behind her. Erin loves when I play the old time clown. She dipped her hands in the white creamy make-up base and covered her face and neck completely. Poppa Mike laughed welll right now you look like a manikin. She pulled out black face paint and a small brush. After a few moments she was finished and looked at Erin with all around her eyes painted black with a small line up and a small line down on both sides. Her lips were also painted black with the lines extending past the lips like a drawn on smile. Erin began to laugh out loud. She loved to hear his laugh and was glad that poppa Mike had staid by her side when her boyfriend left as soon as he found out she was pregnant. In fact most of the town stood by her and loved her and Erin even though she is only 24 and has a 5 year old boy. Mikes going to take you to watch mommy act alright sweetie? He nodded and she kissed his forehead leaving a dark smudge from her make-up.
The show ended and Mike met her backstage here is the star he said pointing to Beth. That's mommy Erin giggled not a star. Well I'm going to leave you guys alone and go fix some dinner I'll be waiting to feed you guys don't be late Mike laughed walking out of the dressing room. We won't Beth chimed after him. Mommy ducks said Erin. Alright sweetie we will look at the ducks let mommy wash her face first. Beth dunked her face in cool water and to a wash clothe across her face cleaning away the make-up. She looked at the clothes she had brought her to change into after the show but was wearing black pants and a stripped black and white shirt from the show. Everyone else had made there way out of the theater so it was just Beth and Erin. The front doors would be locked and the back door would lock when she exited. No one believed in high security in this town everyone knows everyone.
Beth decided what she was wearing was good enough to walk outside and to the docks to show Erin the ducks. The door closed behind her and she walked carrying Erin 20 feet or so to the docks seemingly deserted tonight most likely do to the church having its town feast. There they are she said pointing to the creatures in the water. Ducks Erin laughed loudly. Beth noticed 6 people making there way down the docks from where one of the bars was located. Fear never crossed her mind she knew everybody in the town. As they got closer the man walking in the front waved to her hey Beth he said leading the other five toward her. Hey Jimmy how are you she greeted him? She knew he had liked her for a long time but she wasn't interested . Drunk he replied and your sexy. Thanks I think she said but don't talk like that in front of Erin. Why won't you give me the time of day he asked his eyes glassy and mouth open a bit? I'm just not interested Jimmy she said. He ran his fingers thru his light brown long hair his matching eyes bored into her. Why the fuck not he screamed. Jimmy I asked you not to speak like that in front of Erin Beth said loudly.
The man to Jimmy's left touched his shoulder she thinks she is better than you. He was clearly drunk as well. I think Tim's right you think your better than us snarled Jimmy. The whole group was getting louder now with taunts and jeers. The only one of the men remaining quiet was James She noticed. You were slutty enough to lay down and pop out this bastard but not to date me yelled Jimmy? Stop cussing in front... Jimmy's hand hit her face hard spinning her around and sending her to the ground. Everything went a little blurry as she could hear Erin begin to cry. Her mouth was filling with a warm liquid as she got into push up position. She opened her mouth and her crimson saliva made a pool on the dock.
She was about to rise when she felt hands grab her pants at the waist. No she screamed fearing what was about to happen. Beth kicked her foot back catching Jimmy in his groin. He moaned and fell over. Tim's foot caught her in the ribs lifting her off the ground with great force. She landed and rolled to her back. She couldn't draw a deep breath her ribs were broken she knew it. Nathan stepped over her head looking down at her smiled his brown eyes glassy and said you have looked alot prettier you know. Jimmy tried to squeeze himself between her legs but she she thrust her palm upwards smashing him in the eye. He let out a yell as he recoiled. Tim the only black friend in the bunch reached his hand down with quick motion punched her in the face connecting under her right eye. Beth felt the swelling start right away. She tried to muster a scream but couldn't muster enough breath. Mark grabbed her hands away from her face and pulled them over her head locking them into his grabbed her pants around the waist and yanked them off her. She could still hear Erin crying in the backround. They were rapeing her in front of her boy and she was powerless. Beth was fighting to stay awake when everything seemed to be over. She could hear Erin's cries and Jimmy talking to someone. Well what do I do he asked ? What? Ok we will be here when you arrive. Jimmy stepped into her view again you should have just give it up willingly now I have to do something I wish I didn't have to do. Chris give me your knife yelled Jimmy. James spoke up for the first time what the hell for he asked?
Well I'm not going to tickle her with it dipshit he laughed. Oh man said James turnning to face the water. Chris handed Jimmy the knife and Jimmy smiled as he plunged it downward into Beth's stomach. She let out a moan and things began to fuzz over. A car door sounded was someone here to help she wondered. Dad She herd Jimmy say. Good Jimmy's dad was the police captian he would help. Why is the boy still alive Jimmy's dad asked? We didn't know we were supposed to kill him to Jimmy answered. Well he can talk dumbass so he goes replied Jimmy's father.
Tim walked over to Erin still in tears and said hush as he cracked his neck as easy as snapping a pencil. nooo Beth moaned as looud as she could. Damn boy you can't do anything right yeld Jimmy's father who stepped into Beth's view with the knife she had already been stabbed with once. I'm sorry Beth but family first and he stabbed into the left side of her neck and slid th knife all the way to the right. Beth could not breath and pain echoed thru her whole body then darkness.
