Reborn
He awoke in an endless pure white room. There was mist all around up to his waist. He reached up… the mask was gone. Frantically he searched for it, but it was to no avail.
Where am I? Is this heaven?
"V." said a sudden male voice. It echoed all around him. He turned and searched high and low for the source of the voice. "Who are you?" He calmly asked as he searched the room. "V." It said again. "I ask again, who are you? How is it you know my name?" He asked again, slight irritation in his voice. Then, there was a bright light as the voice came again, "I'm right here V."
V shielded his eyes from the bright light. Slowly, he lowered his hand as his eyes adjusted to it. "Are-are you God?" He asked a bit amazed. "Yes I am. Tell me V, where do you think you belong?"
"I-I don't know honestly. I've killed, but I've helped."
"Tell me; is there someone precious to you? Someone you want to see again?"
At this V lowered his head and gulped slightly. Evey… He nodded slightly, "Yes there is." He closed his eyes as if to stop the tears that were threatening to fall down his cheek. The sudden image of Evey's tears as he lay dying in her arms came to mind. The effort to stop his tears ceased as it flowed freely down his face and he sobbed softly.
He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see a man's face. He was in awe at how beautiful and handsome the face was. "My son," He said, "I shall give you one chance, to be born anew again. You're business has not yet been fulfilled back at your home. You shall be born into a new body, but you will have all your memories from this life. When you are through, I shall come to you again in your sleep. Do you accept my son?"
The sudden thought of being able to see Evey again excited him so much that he was not in the least bit curious as to what it is that he did not complete. "Yes. I accept Lord." He replied almost eagerly, yet calm. God nodded and stepped back as the light surrounded V and transformed his body into a new one.
When he awoke, he saw that he was in one of his own masks, cape and hat standing before Parliament as his train blew the building up. All around him he could see the people of London who stood beside him. He smiled to himself, Thank you London… thank you so much. He then looked up at the sky, Thank you Evey. I owe you everything.
Nobody noticed as the man walked away.
Nobody noticed the tears of happiness that flowed down his cheek.
Evey tossed and turned in her sleep. She was having it again, the nightmare that has been haunting her since that day when V lay dieing in her arms. It started out the same as always. V had given her everything that he held in his possession. He turned away to walk to his death and she tried to stop him with a kiss. But he turned away and when he came back, he was bleeding so heavily that he would die within minutes. He finally confessed his love to her, and then he died. Evey wept and wept, but V was gone. She can never see him again.
But, then the dream changed. This had never happened before. V's body disappeared from her. As if he was dust being blown away by the wind. Then, there was a very bright light. Evey stumbled back onto her back and shielded her eyes with both her hands. "Evey…" Said a man's voice, a voice she knew all too well. Her eyes widened as she removed her hands and stared straight into the light. "V?" She asked, "Is that really you V?" In the light, she saw that the outline of man stood before her. The man replied, "I will always be there for you Evey. You may not know it, but I'm watching over you."
With that, he began to walk away. Frantic, Evey reached out her hand to him. "V no! Please don't leave me! I love you V please don't leave me again!" But he was gone.
Evey woke with sweat soaking her brow and shirt. She breathed heavily and placed her hand on her chest as if to stop her heart from beating so fast. V? Was that really you? She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and looked all around her new home. V's books were in the same place as they were. Evey didn't want to rearrange anything that V had placed. To her, it was the last thing she had to remind her of him. She looked at her table by her bed and saw one of his masks sitting carefully on it.
Like most of London, she too had received one of the masks on November the 5th. She stood from her bed and went to sit at her table. She picked up the mask and held it in her hands. It's been two years since that fateful day when he died. Last year on November the 5th, she had celebrated by watching the Count of Monte Cristo and listening to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. She even recited the poem that she heard him say the night he destroyed the Old Bailey.
It's the 1st now; the 5th is not too far away. She set down the mask and walked out of her room towards the kitchen. On the way she pushed a button on the jukebox and Cry me a River began to play. As she ate her breakfast, she pondered about her dream. It was different from all the others. What could it possibly mean? She looked at her clock and it was a quarter to eight. Victor's going to be wondering where I am. She thought. She stood and walked back to her room to get dressed.
Victor was a co-worker of hers. After the incident, Inspector Finch recommended that Evey work with him in the police department. She didn't do much, she was only his clerk. Victor was an investigator as well. He had been very kind to Evey and liked her for her. Unlike the others who were only interested in the facts and details of V. They knew that she was the one that had spent the most time with him. And frankly, it started to get on her nerves.
She and Victor had started out as acquaintances, but slowly it grew into friendship. Now she and Victor are so close that people swear that they are an item. Evey always makes up an excuse and says that they are best friends and nothing more. In truth, Evey couldn't imagine herself with anyone else but V. You would think that after two years she would be over it, but she wasn't.
She surveyed herself in the mirror one last time before grabbing her purse and coat and walked outside.
On the streets, repairs were underway for the new house of Parliament. They decided to make it bigger, and the damage caused by the explosion was so sever that nearly 200 men were working on it to make it better and more resistant.
She walked past them avoiding all contact. In front of the coffee shop, she could see Victor waiting for her. She smiled, as she greeted him. It wasn't that Victor wasn't a great man or anything, in fact he was a very kind man and handsome to boot. His brown eyes matched perfectly with his tan skin and black hair. His hair fell below his earlobes, his smile was always bright and cheerful, and the man was very well built. With those broad shoulders and strong arms, Victor was indeed muscular, but he was lean so he didn't have the look of one of those ugly weight lifters you see on television.
"Good morning Victor!" greeted Evey happily. Victor smiled, "Hello Evey! When will you tell me where you live so I can pick you up instead of waiting forever for you?" Evey laughed, "No way in hell am I ever going to tell you or anyone else."
"Ms. Mysterious as always. Now, shall we go to work before we get in trouble with the boss?"
Victor offered his arm and Evey smiled as she slipped her hand in the crook of his arm. Together they hailed a cab and were on their way to work. Inside, Evey rested her elbow on the door handle as she rested her chin on the back of her hand. She had a far off look on her face. Victor noticed and grew somewhat concerned. "Evey?" He asked, "Are you ok? You seem troubled today, is there something you need to talk to me about? You know I'm here for you."
"Hm?" said Evey as she snapped out of her trance-like daze. She shook her head, "Oh no. I just have several things on my mind. Nothing you need to worry about." Victor wasn't convinced, "Come on Evey. I've known you for two years now, I know you better than that." Evey smiled, "Honestly it's nothing! You don't have to get so worked up over me I'm fine!" Victor sighed; he knew that once Evey made up her mind she wouldn't change it.
The car pulled over at the station and the two stepped out. Victor paid the driver and the two went inside. Once inside Evey headed straight towards her desk while Victor met up with some colleagues. She immediately sat herself down and began to engulf herself in her work. Two hours passed by then Victor came to her desk. "Evey, after work would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" Evey sighed, "I don't know Victor. I'm really busy tonight and I have some work I have to do at home." Victor reached out and he placed his hand on top of hers, "Evey, you work too hard. It's not healthy for you. Just for one night I want you to have fun so please, come with me tonight." Evey sighed, she still seemed reluctant. "I-I don't know Victor." He smiled, "I do. Please meet me in front of La Lanterna tonight." She sighed, "Ok, but only for a little while." Victor smiled and walked off. Evey looked unsure and nervously tapped her pencil on her desk. Victor saw her and smiled to himself.
That night, Evey was putting the finishing touches on herself. She wore a midnight blue dress with sparkles to make it look like the night sky, it stopped just below her knees, the top was cut so that she only showed the tiniest bit of cleavage, and it was sleeveless so Evey decided to wear a black silk shawl around her shoulders. Evey's hair had grown back, but it was not as long as it used to be. It reached only to her shoulders and no further. She had curled it and left it down. Her black heels completed the outfit and she had decided not to wear stockings. She looked at herself one last time in the mirror and nodded in approval. On her vanity table, she saw the mask and picked it up once again.
She stroked it lovingly and smiled to herself. Oh V… She set it down and began to slowly walk out the door. She felt like she was betraying him in some way.
Perhaps, maybe it is time to finally move on.
Victor arrived early and stood outside the entrance waiting for Evey. He wore a black tuxedo with a red rose pinned to the front. He put his hands in his coat pockets and looked up at the starlit sky. How long has it been since I last looked at the night sky like this? He sighed contently, closed his eyes and breathed in the night air. He didn't hear Evey walk up beside him. "Victor? Are you alright?" She asked. Victor snapped out of his dream-like stage and faced her. "Oh I'm sorry Evey. My, you look absolutely stunning!" He offered his arm, "Shall we proceed to dinner?" Evey smiled as she held his arm, "Why yes I would be delighted!" The two walked inside and Victor talked to the host, "Cunningham for two." The host nodded, "Ah yes we've been waiting for you. If you would please follow me your table is ready." Victor nodded and gave Evey a pat on the hand and smiled.
They followed the host outside onto the patio. There was a table in the center of the area with candles already lit and a bottle of wine waiting for them. "May I take your coats?" The host asked. It took Evey several minutes to register what the host had said. Victor tapped her on the shoulder, "Evey? Would you like to give your coat to the host?"
"Oh! Oh yes I'm sorry here you go." Victor also handed him his coat and sat down across from Evey. "A waiter shall be with you shortly."
"Thank you." Victor replied. Evey was in awe that Victor would go this far on their first actual date. "Victor this is amazing!" She said as she looked around. Victor smiled, "Do you like it? I hope it is not too much."
"Oh no it's perfect! How were you able to do this?"
"Let's just say that I'm friends with the manager."
It was then that Evey noticed the rose on his suit. "That rose..." She said. "Hm? Ah yes do you like it?" asked Victor as he adjusted it slightly. That rose…where have I seen it before? Evey pondered.
Then it hit her.
"Victor? That wouldn't happen to be a Scarlet Carson would it?" she asked. Victor smiled, "Why yes it is! I'm surprised that you know your flowers Evey."
"Yes…"
"May I ask how?"
"A friend of mine used to grow them."
"Are you inquiring to that terrorist V?"
"He wasn't a terrorist!" snapped Evey angrily. Victor leaned back from Evey's angry outburst. "I-I'm sorry." Evey lowered her head in embarrassment and covered her face with both her hands. "No no I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that I'm sorry." Victor reached over and took one of her hands. Evey looked up into Victor's eyes and he could see that tears were beginning to form. He immediately felt a sharp pang of guilt and some comfort, "Evey, I apologize. Can you forgive me?" Evey sniffed and wiped away one tear that fell with her other hand, "No, it's my fault. I-I just can't stand it when people call him a terrorist when he really wasn't. He was good man with a wonderful dream." Victor swallowed quietly before asking her, "Evey, can you please tell me what he was like?" Evey thought for a second. Victor's my best friend. I suppose there is no harm in telling him. "Well," she started as Victor let go her hand and sat back in interest, "I suppose if there was one word I could use to describe him, I would have to say 'Magnificent'. Actually, I don't believe there is a word extravagant enough to describe him. He was a genius. His knowledge of weaponry and literature always baffled and amazed me." Victor nodded, "He sounds like a very intriguing person."
"Oh he was, although he does have his bad points like any other person."
"Such as?"
"There was a, shall we say 'lesson' he taught me. It was rather harsh what he did."
She didn't see it, but Victor shrunk away at that remark and began to look uneasy.
"But," she continued as a dreamy look appeared in her eyes, "I'm thankful that he did. I'm not afraid anymore thanks to him. I just wish that I could've saved him. I couldn't stop him when he-he…" her voice trailed off as she broke into sobs once again. Victor stood from his chair and kneeled in front of her. He cupped one side of her face and whispered, "Evey, you loved him didn't you? I can see it in your eyes." Evey nodded as Victor held her in his arms and she cried into his chest. The host came up, "Is there something wrong sir?" Victor shook his head and host was off. Evey looked up, "I'm so sorry Victor. This has to be your worst date ever."
"There is no need to be sorry Evey. You are hurting and right now I regret having brought you here on this date but not for the reason you think. You must feel like you are betraying him by being here with me."
"No no I'm fine. Can we just forget this happened and continue with our dinner?"
Victor looked at her unsure, "Are you sure that's what you want?" Evey nodded, "I'm sure."
The rest of the dinner went by smoothly. By the end of the night the dinner date ended up being a success and the two walked to the cab in smiles. "I'm so full. That dinner was delicious!" said Evey happily as she entered the cab with Victor behind. He smiled, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Now, you have to least let me take you home."
"No no! I told you I'm not letting you or anybody else know where I live. I'll show you where you can drop me off."
"But what if you get hurt? I won't forgive myself if you do."
"No need to worry Victor I can take care of myself."
He dropped her off near an alley. He looked around as if to make sure that no one else was around, "Are you sure it's safe for me to drop you off here?" Evey laughed at how concerned her friend was, "Yes I'm quite sure. I know how to defend myself Victor." Victor smiled, "If you say so." He gave Evey a quick friendly hug before going back in the cab. She waved goodbye as the cab drove away. She turned, wrapped her coat more securely around her and began to make her way home.