Disclaimer: I own nothing except original characters and storyline.
Whenever you need me Kiss the rain Whenever I'm gone too long.
If you're lips feel lonely and thirst Kiss the rain and wait for dawn. ---- Billie Myers
Chapter One: Kiss the Rain.
Rain drops padded loudly on top of the canary yellow umbrella. Slowly the clear beads of liquid would fall over the side of the bright material, falling around the young woman in an almost crystal like curtain. Gray clouds loomed over the small party of two. With each passing second, the light weight mist would once more bellow out another harsh and uncaring thunder clap. The sound seemed to echo in her ears unceasingly, following her wherever she went. Emerald orbs that were once filled with joy and bliss became masked over by despair and constant torment. 'This wasn't how things were to end.' She thought sadly, forcing back a soft sob while keeping her intense gaze upon the three coffins in front of her. ' Why? ' Chocking out a cry, the maiden turned her head towards the saturated ground. Muddy water seeped through bright green grass and pooled around her the black boots that adorned her small feet. ' Why? '
A firm, familiar and slightly comforting hand placed over top of her right shoulder. "It was their time to go." the owner of the hand said in a soft voice that too, was filled with sorrow and grief. The words barely pulled her from the trance like state of shock. "You tried all that you could, there's nothing more that can be done."
"It was my fault." she replied in a broken, feathery light voice. "I shouldn't have-" Like may times before that day, sobs escaped her pink lips while keeping her eyes down towards the ground. She couldn't bring herself to look at the wooden boxes again. She knew that it was her fault for their deaths, and she couldn't face them. ' I can't. This was my fault. ' With the back of her hand, she quickly brushed away tears.
"You did all that you could have done. No one expects anything more from you." Her body was pulled against his hard chest, strong arms wrapping securely around her fragile body like a father would to his small child. What little control the beauty once had was now gone. One hand clutched tightly onto the dry-cleaned black suit as the other struggled to grasp the umbrella. "Shhh." The older male whispered, rubbing her back gently in a feeble attempt to stop her tears. "They are in a better place now."
"You don't understand. This was my fault." She whispered again, trying her hardest to regain some sort of control over the pain that consumed her heart. This was all her fault. She had not been strong enough. She had not been brave enough. This was her fault and the remorse for her mistake would be something that she would forever have to live with.
"Bailey." The male replied in a sharp voice. "You didn't do a thing. You have realize that."
Weakly, the young woman pulled away from his arms, shaking her head. "You weren't there Marcus. You didn't see what happened." In what felt like a slow motion, Bailey slowly took a few steps forward to the various coffins. The diggers would return in an hour to burry each one. The time was limited and she knew that she needed to take one final look upon each wooden box before they arrived.
They had their own distinguishing marks that set them apart from the other three. One was sleek black with golden trim, on the center of the lid resided an emblem of a golden falcon. ' The Falcon ' She thought sadly, placing a gentle hand over top of the golden mark. Nimbly her fingers trailed up and down the feathers, outlining the large bird's shape. It was a tactic that she had performed many times while sitting next to the male whom she had known as her father. How many times had she traced that sacred emblem on her father's arm while he held her safely in his arms. The scent of tobacco and peppermints surrounding her like a security blanket would no longer exist. Moving on to the next coffin, Bailey contained a soft whimper of pain.
This coffin was different and yet similar to the one that was just to her right. Replacing the deep ebony color, was instead a dark scarlet. Like the one before it though, the outline was colored in a golden trim. No crest signified the corps' power, only a name written in black cursive. "Rachel Marshall." she whispered, feeling tears prick at the ends of her eyes. This woman had meant everything and more to her, and she had failed. Always she had been there, encouraging Bailey to do her best. A positive influence that gave the young woman strong sense of confidence in whatever she did. Yes, this woman had been her best friend as well as a mother.
Her eyes glanced over to the next coffin, forcing back more tears. It was his favorite color, and one that she used to make sure that all his gifts were wrapped in. ' Steel Blue. ' Losing her little brother hit Bailey hardest. Always he had looked up to her, seeking her guidance for any problem. Unlike many children in the world, he didn't look towards super-heroes like The Commander and Jetstream. Instead, the beauty before his coffin had been his only hero. She was all that he needed when a monster would be lurking under his bed or in the closet. She was all that he needed when the fear of his first day in kindergarten arrived; clutching her hand tightly with his own as he marched up the stone steps and into the building. Now, at the age of thirteen, his life was over - because of her. 'Oh Christopher…' Bailey thought a she brushed away a few tears.
A father. A mother. A little brother. The perfect family that she had always taken for granted was now robbed from her. Like a thief breaking into a house, stealing the most precious possession that could be found - her family. And her, unable to do anything but watch from the sidelines like a hopeless child. Once more her fragile body gave a hard shudder of emotion, tears threatening to stream down her face once more. "I'm sorry." she whispered in a shaky voice. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." The weight of the young woman's body was almost too much for her slender legs to support. The crushing burden of guilt seemed to choke out all feeling and warmth of her heart. Leaving Bailey feeling nothing but emptiness, shame, remorse and agony.
"Shhh." Marcus cooed softly, taking the sister-like figure into his arms. It pained him more than anything to see the once strong and brave young woman crumble like this. Inwardly he seethed in rage towards the pack of villains who had done this to a family he loved so dearly. John. Rachel. Christopher. All of them had been snatched away from their friends and family before their time. How could they not of seen this? How could anyone predict such a painful, dark event to occur? Even if they had known, would they have been prepared to deal with the loss? Was that the reason why death always came so quickly, because no matter what a person did, there was no way for them to prepare themselves for it. "Shhh. It'll be okay.." He continued whispering, rubbing Bailey's back gently in soothing motions, "We'll get them back. I promise. We'll get them back."
Lightly the young woman nodded her head before pulling away from his arms. "I know." she whispered in a voice that was mixed with pain and hate. Rubbing at her toned arms, suddenly aware of an insubstantial itching in her left wrist, Bailey gazed up towards the rain. She moved the umbrella towards the left to allow the water droplets to fall on her puffy cheeks and swollen lips. Her eyelids closed, allowing the cool water to hit here there. On her forehead. Her cheeks. The bridge of her nose. Her eyelids. Her lips. Her chin. Her neck. Each droplet of rain was a small kiss from heaven above, a comfort that Bailey never knew existed. Then, her amber eyes opened.
Squinting in confusion, Ms. Marshall blinked as the light blurs of red, white and blue flashed across the sky. With each passing second, the disfigured forms came closer and closer to the funeral site. Soon though, Bailey was able to distinguish who they were. The Commander, Jetstream, and their son. "They're here." she said softly to Marcus, pulling further away from him.
"We came as soon as we heard," Jetstream said once the trio had landed. Moving over towards the young woman, the older woman wrapped her arms tightly around Bailey cold body. "I'm so sorry sweetheart."
Slowly her arms wrapped around the woman, returning the hug. "Thank you." she replied, closing her eyes for a second. "Thank you for coming." Bailey then pulled away from her arms and glanced over at the other two.
"Is there anything we can do?" Their son, Will, asked.
"I don't think so." Bailey responded, shaking her head for added emphasis.
"Are you sure?" she heard Jetstream ask.
"I am." Bailey nodded. For some reason, the once light itching in her wrist had developed into a tight burning. Rubbing the area a little harder, she gazed her eyes towards The Commander. Moments of silence passed between the two as she reflected the many nights her father and The Commander would go out to 'save the world'. All his life her father had spent many years trying to help as many people as he could, saying that it was for the greater good of the world. And now… who had been there to save him? Who had been there to save her family? Who was going to be there to save her? Forcing back the emotions of resentment and pain towards the world, the young woman forced out a weak smile. "My parents would have been glad you came." she said in a struggled voice.
"I'm sorry for what happened… to them." The Commander said in an uneasy voice. "Do you know who did it?"
Amber eyes closed tightly at those words. Did she know who did it? Would she of been there standing in the rain crying if she had? In response, Bailey shook her head. "No…"
"Don't worry sweetheart," Jetstream said, wrapping her arms around her once again.
"Thank you, Josie." Bailey replied before pulling away from the woman's arms once more. Something felt wrong. There was a sickening feeling that shot down from her chest towards her stomach that wasn't there before. The world around her seemed to spin in a rapid vertigo. Her sense of sight and sound intermingled as a deep shiver passed over her body. She was suddenly so cold. Why was she so cold? Moaning softly in response to the mixed emotions and feelings that centered in her body, Bailey felt her legs give way.
"Someone hold her up!" Will shouted, his arms grabbing at her right arm as Marcus held into her left.
"Bailey? Bailey!" Marcus said frantically, shooting bewildered and worried glances from the Strongholds to his childhood friend. "Bailey say something. Bailey!"
But she couldn't. Everything was so cold. Shards of ice felt as if they were pricking her wind pipe and her lungs as she took in each warm breath. Her hands went from becoming slightly warm to freezing. A blue tint surrounded her usual lush pink lips. Amber eyes became distant, almost as if she was looking at someone who was far away from the small group.
"What's happening to her?" She heard Marcus asked in hysterics. "What's wrong with her?"
"Josie, go get help now!" Commander yelled, as he watched the young woman tremble violently before him. Nodding at her husband's words, Jetstream quickly darted off into the sky, searching for the first medical aid.
"She's shaking." Will responded as he felt the young woman's arms shudder and tremble hard against his hands. "She's having a seizure."
"Quick, lay her down on the ground and hold her head in your lap." The Commander instructed to Marcus. Without hesitation the two males slowly lay the woman down on the ground, her head resting in Marcus' lap as she continued to tremble violently.
Tears spilled from his eyes as he stroked his best friend's forehead gently. "Shhh, Bailey. Please…hold on." Marcus sobbed in fear.
Deep within the depths of her mind, Bailey vaguely noticed how cold she was. It felt as if she had spent the night in a freezer. Trembling from the cold, the young woman watched as black pulled at the corners of her eyes. As it neared closer and closer to the center of her pupil, blocking out the concerned faces that she barely recognized, the beauty felt a sharp numbness overpower the cold that pulsed in her body. Biting down hard on her bottom lip, trying her hardest not to scream, the young woman finally succumbed to the darkness.
A/N: Alright. There you go. First chapter posted. Next chapter will include an appearance of a particular hot head. Oh, if anyone would like to help me proofread this, I'd be more than happy. Thanks for reading and for your reviews.