The trigger felt so cold underneath his sweating finger, the tear that was falling down his face was ripped roughly from its path and was carried on the wings of the rising wind. His hand trembled and his eyes burned with insane passion.

"Virginia…" he rasped, trying to keep the insanity from seeping into his tone. Virginia looked at him, but not once did the resolve of ending his misery leave her expression.

"Gallows, stop this, I don't want to hurt you…"

(Gallows, please…SNAP OUT OF THIS!)

"Virginia…run….." He said, tightening his hand tentatively on the trigger, feeling another agonized tear run down his face. Virginia shook her head 'no' and edged the guns a little to the left and right of his head and closed her eyes.

(I am so sorry Gallows…I have to do this…)

The dual pistols reports were loud and cruel in the cool night air and the bullets cut though the wind like screaming vultures. Gallows' eyes widened as the bullets cut a strand of hair from both sides of his head and he dropped his gun in a state of shock.

(She….She….Just….SHOT me?)

Virginia smiled a little and grabbed Gallows' Modified Coyote from beside his feet.

"Game over…" she whispered breathlessly, unloading the shells from the chamber and throwing them on the ground. Gallows watched in dull amazement as the bullets fell to the ground with a monotonous clang. He blinked and then looked back up at Virginia with a look of anger and surprise.

(Yes! Way to go Virginia!)

Damn it! What the hell is wrong with you? Get the damn gun BACK!

(………No….)

"Vir…Virginia….?" He whimpered, reaching a shaking hand out for her.

( He could be reaching for his GUN, you idiot, throw it somewhere!)

Virginia nodded and gently tossed his gun to one side, spun her two pistols in a graceful circle around her finger and put them in her holsters.

(Now you see them, now you don't! All for your amusement..)

" I want to talk to you, not fight you! Gallows, come back to me!" she said, her voice trembling a little.

Gallows' eyes had returned to normal after she had pulled the trigger, but they were starting to regain their warmth as well! He smiled a little and dropped his hand to his side, a gesture of respect and amnesty. Virginia, noting this change, smiled and reached out her small pale hand, indicating that she accepted the cease fire with an open heart and a stilled hand. Gallows looked at her hand for a moment and then slowly brought his hand up and enveloped hers with a gentleness that surprised even Virginia.

(Man, I wasn't expecting him to be so gentle…He did just….No…NO!…He did NOT murder ANYONE!)

"Virginia?" inquired Gallows with concern, removing his hand from hers with a certain degree of hurt.

( I thought that she had forgiven me!)

Why should she? You are nothing but a..

(SHUT UP! JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP)

A cold blooded murderer… Face up to the facts, you damn moron, life will be much easier once you do..)

Virginia looked at him with compassion and walked up to him cautiously, causing him to look down at her with suspicion. Gallows shifted his weight and smiled a slightly bitter smile.

( Why is she looking at me like that? It's not like she cares!)

She doesn't, you little queer, and you want to know why?)

(Not really….)

It's because she doesn't like little, dirty, gay boys like you!

(Why don't you just go off and do something with yourself? You know, find a good porn and jack off somewhere..?)

That is something that you would do…

(……..)

"Gallows? Come on, Gallows, don't leave me again!"

With a sob, she threw her arms around him and gave him a desperate squeeze, putting every ounce of emotion that she could into it. As soon as her arms went around him, he snapped out of his stupor and pulled away from her embrace in a state of despondency, shaking his head slowly back and forth.

"No Virginia, I am not enough for you…" he rasped, closing his eyes solemnly to block her tearful gaze.

"Gallows, what do you mean?" she said reaching her hand out to touch his shoulder. His eyes snapped open and he backed away from her outstretched hand, causing Virginia to drop her hand to her side in a defeated gasp. Gallows did not look at her, he did not feel worthy enough, and he sure as hell didn't feel confident enough to meet her kind but distressed face. Perhaps the entity was right…perhaps he was nothing but a..

(Hey look everyone, it's pretty boy Carradine! Hey Carradine, kiss any cute boys lately?)

(I don't want to remember this…)

Hmmm…Why is that? Is it because it disillusions your MANLINESS!

Gallows looked at Virginia, his eyes an inferno of emotion, she looked at him just as intently and squared her shoulders with pride, shooting a glance at his Coyote.

( Why don't you…..?)

Prove to her…

(ENOUGH! I'VE HAD ENOUGH,GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND TORTURE ME LATER!)

There was an amused snicker from the entity and then an empty feeling pervaded his being, filling him with a sense of loneliness and fear.

" Why….?" He fell down to his knees and cradled his head in his bloody hands.

"I don't want to be…" he closed his eyes and shook his head back and forth, his hands falling slowly from his head and to his sides. Virginia looked at him for a moment and then dropped down in front of him, a small smile on her tear stained face.

"Don't want to be what, Gallows?" she said, pushing a strand of hair out of his face gently, and then dropping her hand to her side with a frown.

"Sasii…." He said softly, opening his eyes and looking at her with anguish.

"Sasii?" uttered Virginia, completely confused by Gallows' words.

"The Demon of……Malice…." He whispered, a shudder coursing through his body with a vengeance.

Virginia blinked at him and put her hand carefully on his shoulder, making sure not to make any sudden movements. Gallows looked at her hand and then looked her in the eyes.

"Can a monster love?" he murmured, closing his eyes so that what he felt would not be conveyed in their depths. Virginia smiled and removed her hand from his shoulder slowly, feeling an age old emotion that a lot of people would call "love". She scooted a little closer to him and put her hand on his face, feeling the fever of insanity seep into her flesh. She willed herself not shiver, but instead put on a very serious face.

"Gallows, anyone or anything can love…..I believe very strongly in that…And, if you are trying to call yourself a "monster", I will be very upset with you.."

Gallows opened his eyes and looked at her in a flabbergasted manner, she sure was blunt!

"……Virginia…?" he stuttered, trying to decipher her expression of seriousness (and failing horribly).

(Is she serious, or is she just sort of serious?….Mweh, women are confusing…I better stop while I'm ahead…) Gallows' flabbergasted look transformed into a small smile.(But she sure is cute when she looks at me like that.. It is as if she's saying, "Stop being stupid, you dumb man, and look at me!")

" Hey, are you even LISTENING to me, Gallows Carradine?" she snapped playfully, a big smile on her face. Gallows looked at her smiling face and his grin widened a little bit more.

"Yes Ma'am, I sure am!" he laughed playfully, nudging her softly on her shoulder. Virginia laughed and grabbed his hand as he was removing it from her shoulder.

"Uh-uh, you ain't going to get away that easily, Mr. Carradine, you still owe me a hug!"

Gallows blushed a little and scratched the back of his head.

"Come again? When where was there a mention of a hug? I don't seem to recall…" snickered Gallows, trying, playfully, to pull his hand away from Virginia's.

It was Virginia's turn to blush.

"It was a subliminal message…" she mumbled, the smile melting into a frown of concentration. Gallows watched this transformation with a great deal of perplexity, trying to figure out the best course of action.

He ceased his playful tugging and smiled a lopsided grin at her. She returned the smile halfheartedly and tightened her grip on his hand tenderly, trying her best to convey the warmth that she felt.

All of the sudden, a shrill shriek ripped through his skull and he closed his eyes with agony, trying to calm the howling tempest . A gruesome scene burned itself into his retina's and his heart accelerated to an abnormal pace. He opened his eyes and stared blankly at Virginia, tears of agony burning a path down his face, he could not blink, could not scream…all he could do was watch helplessly as the woman in his vision was ripped apart..

"No…." whispered the woman hoarsely, pulling her arm away from the unknown assailant. There was a dark laugh and then a hiss, a sound that froze Gallows' blood and made him feel ill.

"Woman…" mouthed the Entity, forming its words with Gallows' lips and strained voice.

"You made a deal with me…."

The Entity reached out again and roughly grabbed the woman's arm. The woman screeched loudly and tried to pull away again, her long white hair steaming in wet strands around her face.

The Entity laughed and gave her arm a pull, Gallows winced as he felt the woman's arm dislocate and then fall limply against his(?) clenched hand.

(No…Why?)

The woman screamed and watched as a river of blood poured out of the empty socket, her gray eyes wide with shock and horror. Gallows felt his stomach churn as he watched the veins sway and spray the woman's life energy onto the non-existent floor.

" You will never die…" snickered the Entity, still using Gallows' voice.

"Ever…" whispered Gallows, watching as the scene started to fade.

The first thing he felt was a droplet of warm water on his chest, he had inadvertently closed his eyes and was shaking with a mixture of rage and fear. His heart was still pounding in his chest and his throat was dry and scratchy, he did not want to open his eyes in fear as to what he would see when he did..

(Is it raining?)

Then his hearing kicked in and he heard muffled sobbing and sniffling, with a great deal of will power he opened his eyes and looked down at the source of the sobbing.

It was Virginia, she was sobbing bitterly into his shoulder, tightening her grip around his neck every time she sobbed. Gallows blinked and put his arms around her slowly, trying his best to make sense of it all.

"Virginia.." He said quietly, running his shaking fingers through her hair, trying his best to comfort the poor girl. Virginia's sobbing tapered off and her tears fell less frequently on his shoulder.

"Please don't ever do that again…Please…." She whispered, slowly pulling away from him and looking at him with an expression that could have broken Jet's heart.

"….." Gallows was at a loss for words, what was he supposed to say?

(Gee babe, I'm sorry, I'll try not to lose my mind so often….)

He released his hold on her and smiled at her bitterly, Virginia looked at him warily, not knowing what to do or say. After what seemed to be an eternity, Gallows' voice broke the monotonous silence.

"It's back…" he rasped with sarcasm, his hand shaking with silent fury.

Virginia nodded and took his hand into hers, startling him a little.

"I know Gallows, and I am not going to let it win…" she replied, in a very calm but determined voice.

Gallows looked at the ground and then at her, his eyes dull and lifeless.

"How are you going to fight what you can't see?" he grumbled, trying to pull his hand away.

Virginia smiled a little and tightened her grip, Gallows eyes widened, she had a very good grip!

"We fought a dream demon Gallows! Remember? We fought her and we WON! Doesn't that tell you something?! Doesn't that tell you that…." Virginia's excitement faltered a little and was replaced with a touch of embarrassment. "Doesn't that tell you that we all have something special..?" she whispered, placing her other hand on his face. Gallows blinked and once again was at a lost for words.

"Yes but…." Started Gallows, trying to snap out of his daze and failing miserably.

"No buts, I want you to look me in the eyes and say that you are special!" demanded Virginia, lightly tapping him on the face. Gallows blushed a little and was about to open his mouth when he heard the entities voice once again.

I just could not leave you alone! It is so BORING being good! Hey Gallows, you don't think that…?

(Shut up, this is my dream, not yours, go to hell!)

Goodness, aren't we the little bitchy one today!?

(………)

"Gallows….Come on, ignore it!" came Virginia's voice from a far away dimension.

(Ig….nore….it….)

"I….I…" stuttered Gallows, trying to piece together his words.

"Gallows, I know that you can do this! Fight it, Gallows, kick its ass" shouted Virginia fervently, removing her hand from his face and tightening her grip on his hand. Gallows flinched at the pressure and looked down at her other hand. Her eyes narrowed with determination and she grabbed his other hand.

"Gallows, it is NOT going to win! Do you hear me? IT IS NOT GOING TO WIN!" she shouted, tightening her grip on both of his hands. Gallows' eyes glazed over with tears as he struggled to win against this strange entity. The distinct sound of bones cracking made Virginia loosen her grip on Gallows' hands.

(I just broke his hands..)

She sobbed and slowly lowered them to his side, careful not to put additional pressure on them.

She looked at his face and sobbed a little bit harder, his face had no emotion whatsoever.

(Did he even feel his hands breaking?)

Gallows lips twitched into a smile and he looked at her venomously.

"You will not win, Virginia, Gallows is mine! His body, his soul…..everything…stop fighting the inevitable… You should know that you can not win!"

Virginia glared and slapped Gallows/Entity in the face as hard as she could.

"Don't tell me what to do, you disgusting son of a BITCH! I will keep fighting, I will keep struggling and I WILL win! I will not lose Gallows to you! Not now, not ever, so just give him back to me!" she screamed, clenching her fist with rage and contempt for the entity.

The Entity laughed at her and pulled back a clenched fist, Virginia's eyes widened when she saw him make that gesture. She knew that when one pulls back a fist, one is normally indicating that you are about to be on the receiving end of a punch! Virginia squared her shoulders and waited for the punch.

(If he hits me, it will be over for me! I must watch him carefully, I can not afford to make a mistake!)

(Like hell you will!)

With a mental heave, Gallows sent a shock of energy though his body, causing the Entity to fly back and land in a heap a couple of feet from Virginia!

(You will not lay one damn finger on her!)

But…how…?

"Gallows?!" Cried Virginia, running over to the young Baskar's side. Gallows shook his head and slowly got to his feet, swaying a little as he did so. Virginia was ready to catch him if he fell and was also anticipating an attack. Gallows smiled a little and dusted off his pants, looking sheepishly at Virginia as he did so. Virginia, seeing for a certainty it was Gallows, walked up to him and grabbed the hand that he was dusting his pants off with. He stopped the motion of dusting and looked at her with befuddlement.

"What?" he asked simply, trying to decipher the smile that had all of the sudden crossed Virginia's face.

"You….You fought it off…" murmured Virginia, her smile brightening into an expression of pride.

Gallows smile widened a little and he closed his eyes and scratched the back of his head.

"I guess that I did, huh?"

Do not hold a celebration party just yet, this is FAR from over, you may have one this battle, but you will not win the war!…..Tell your little whore that as well!

(…..You know what? I ain't even going to bother with you! And you want to know why?)

Not particularly, but I have a feeling that you are going to tell me anyway…

( I know what is in my heart, I also know that Virginia is not a whore, so, you're kind of screwed now ain't you! Ha! Now what do you have to say, oh great entity of DOOM!?)

Gallows smiled a lopsided grin and winked at Virginia, causing her to blush a little.

"Well, little lady, looks like we've got some talking to…" Gallows moved his hand and winced.

" Ouch…" Whimpered Gallows, looking down at his broken hands morosely. Virginia's face fell into a look of pity and she reached out and gingerly touched his hands with both of hers.

" I'm sorry Gallows, I didn't mean to break your hands…" whispered Virginia on the verge of tears.

To her surprise, Gallows laughed and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Don't you be crying over little old me! I'll have this fixed in a blink of an eye!……"

Gallows looked around for the Medium of Schturdark and found it laying on the ground a couple of feet from where he fell. He was about to pick it up, when he remembered the state of his hands. Virginia, noting the look on his face, picked it up and invoked the healing essence that resided within.

A warm glow emanated from the Medium and then tiny orbs of blue light shot from it, hung in the air for a moment or two, and then landed softly into Gallows' outstretched hands.

(It feels so warm..)

Virginia smiled and put the Medium in her vest pocket, Gallows watched as she did this a bemused smirk.

(She's so cautious now..)

The smile fell into a frown and he stuffed his hands into his pockets moodily.

(She's cautious because I am insane…)

"Gallows, are you all right?" Inquired Virginia, taking note of his melancholic disposition.

Gallows nodded his head and avoided her concerned gaze by looking at the ground.

"You know Gallows, if something is on your mind, I would be happy to listen.." said Virginia, putting her hand softly on his shoulder. Gallows finally locked eyes with her and chuckled a little bit.

"I just noticed that you did not give the Medium back to me…Why is that?"

Virginia smiled and took the Medium out of her vest pocket, holding it out for Gallows to take. Gallows took his hands out of his pocket, but did not reach for the Medium immediately.

"Go on Gallows, I trust you." She said, grabbing his hand gently and opening up his clenched fist. Gallows watched and did nothing as she placed the still warm Medium in his hands.

"Virginia.." he whispered, noticing that she did not remove her hand from his. He closed his eyes and smiled bitterly. She looked at him warily and was expecting the worse.

" There is something I need to tell you…"

Virginia watched as his eyes slowly opened and glowed a light blue, it was then she realized that Gallows was not who he seemed to be.