[AN: This story is rated M for explicit language, some graphic violence, and existential angst. Content warnings will be posted for individual chapters.]
between the idea
and the reality
between the motion
and the act
falls the shadow
for thine is the kingdom
between the conception
and the creation
between the emotion
and the response
falls the shadow
life is very long
(TS Eliot, The Hollow Men)
The woman drove up in a hurry. She left the van's engine on, heedless of the cost. The man met her at the door. He was angry. She had never seen him this angry, or really, angry at all.
"Why are you bringing this problem to me? Have I not done enough to help you?" he asked. His eyes were stern, paternal.
"I didn't know what else to do." She kept her eyes down. "I just found him, lying there on the heath. He was so far away from — "
"And you thought the best thing to do with a dead body was bring it to me?"
"I couldn't just leave him there — "
"I don't see why not. They'll take care of it eventually." The man knew he was being unnecessarily gruff with her, but otherwise, would she ever learn how to take care of herself?
"Tell me what to do," she was practically begging now, "I can't go back there — they'll know I've been with the van too long."
"We'll have to toss him in one of those dumpsters a few blocks away. We should leave it in the district. Then it won't bring any attention on us. Or the vampires."
That was a good idea. He always had such good ideas. She nodded and ran back out to the van, and he followed behind. He ducked his head; there probably weren't any cameras working around here, but you could never be too careful. It's not like he'd be given a chance to explain himself…
"Don't worry, dear," he said quietly, as he slid into the passenger seat, keeping his head low still. He wished he had a hat. "The time is coming soon. It will all come to pass. It was foretold." He hoped his voice sounded authoritative.
"Yes, yes. I know. I have faith." She was nodding so hard she wasn't really paying attention to the road.
"I have faith," she repeated, "that we will all see eternity soon."
