Chapter three – Pulses
Hello everybody! I'm here again!
I apologize for the long wait…
J'onn had the katana on his desk in the library. At that hour of the night, there was only him, Diana and Bruce. Clark and John offered to help, but he did not find it necessary. The bag was also on his desk.
"A hunter? What's the difference between me and a hunter?"
"Slayers were chosen by fate, the vast majority of hunters work for money and personal motivations." J'onn explained.
"In the case, a female hunter" Bruce said, lifting the backpack. It was purple, with stamped flowers. "This sounds familiar, though."
Diana thought for a moment, and the backpack was familiar too.
"A hunter? And do you study here? It seems risky for a girl."
Diana cast an inquiring glance at her observer.
"Serious?"
"You, Diana, have the strength to fight the darkness, without your gifts, would be like any normal girl, and that would be dangerous."
She nodded.
"Okay, let's keep an eye on it. Maybe we'll find this ... hunter ..."
Across the city, Shayera patrolled a graveyard. She was alone, carrying the huge, heavy beast in her hands. Damn time she lost her sword. Sitting on the edge of a grave, she waited impatiently for the vampire's moment to rise. Minutes later, the ground beneath her rumpled and the stunned vampire stepped outside.
"HEY!" She shouted.
The vampire went to attack her and she simply shot, and the vampire was dust. The redhead yawned. She heard the bells of the church announce at two in the morning. It was time to go home.
Outside, she heard screams and a woman ran to her.
"A monster!" The woman shouted.
They both looked back and Shayera aimed her beast, but a small, hairy dog turned the corner. Shayera lowered her weapon and faced the woman.
"Are you scared of a dog?"
Without answering, the woman simply kept running.
"Crazy girl…"
Hanging the beast on her back, she headed for her house.
The next day they found a dead woman. The same woman seen by Shayera. The rumors quickly spread and they reached her.
"You were not to blame, Shay." Wally said. The two friends were sitting on the grass in the warmth of the morning sun. "How could you know?"
"It was something, but I saw only one dog and let it go. What if the thing that came after her caught her soon after?"
"As I said, there was no telling."
She sighed.
"You're right, Wally." He took off his glasses. "Any sign of infection?"
"The yellow spots are increasing." He said, worried. "Your uncle know about this?"
"No need to worry my uncle now. He's busy on a mission to the Powers. I just need to not stress and feed myself properly."
The signal rang and they had to leave.
"Anything, let me know, Shay."
They followed different paths, going to their respective rooms.
John was waiting for Shayera and ran to catch up with her.
"Do you still remember the biology room?"
"No. Could you take me?"
"I'm going there." As he walked, John did not take his eyes off the girl. "So, what are you doing tonight? There's a great movie and ..."
She stopped and stared at him.
"Are you calling me out?"
John shrugged when she smiled.
"Why not? I think it would be cool, unless you have other plans."
Shayera thought of Wally for a moment. Her friend was a sweetheart, and they had one thing together, but she would not call it a relationship. John stared at her, and she realized she had been silent for too long.
"And then?"
"I think that's a good idea."
He grinned.
"Great. Just don't take Wally, after all, it would be just between us."
The redhead nodded and walked into the living room.
Maybe from the invitation, perhaps from feeling that he was betraying Wally, the truth was that Shayera felt her heart beat faster and stronger as time passed. The sound filled her ears and became deafening. When the bell rang, she ran out. Her heart quickened even more. That was weird.
Clark and Bruce missed the morning checking, and found that the dead girl, named Helena, had suffered cardiac arrest despite her young age and apparent health. They also discovered that she was studying at Sunnydale High, and she was not the nicest person to live with.
Diana and J'onn met Bruce and Clark later. John was not present because he had a date.
"Like I've never seen her before?" Diana asked. "Helena was supposed to be in my class."
"I saw her notes and Helena had a series of faults and other transgressions. I'm surprised she's still in school, not in a penitentiary."
"And the heart just exploded?"
"I would not say simply. It was unpleasant, painful and slow."
"Anything else?"
Bruce shrugged.
"I talked to her friends and said that she was stressed and scared about 24 hours before her death."
"Maybe we should look for other people with similar symptoms."
"And if we do, how will we help?"
J'onn thought for a moment.
"I'll look for something in the books. Hopefully no one else will be affected. Unless they got in touch with Helena."
The movie was excellent. Despite this, John did not take his eyes off Shayera, but not for the reasons he would like. The girl was restless, looking sideways and mumbling. She put her hand on her chest, it seemed to explode at any moment. Suddenly, the sound of shots on the screen made her jump.
Shayera could not stand it any more and ran out, followed by John. She left and found her on the sidewalk. His meeting seemed short of breath.
"Everything alright?"
"I just ... I do not really like action movies." She paused. "How about we take a walk? Maybe walking, I feel better ..."
They walked through the park, and Shayera jumped with any noise louder than a whisper.
"You do not want me to take you home? You look, I don' t know ..."
The girl nodded, and John took her home. She lived in a simple studio, no television, few furniture, but lots of pictures, especially her and Wally.
"Call Wally? I need him."
John obeyed, after all, Shayera looked even more nervous, if possible. A short time later, the redhead was there. Shayera threw herself into his arms, but even Wally's presence did not soothe her.
"What happened?"
John shrugged.
"We go out to see a movie, and she's like this ..."
"Have you left? Together? Like a date?"
"Wally, I can explain."
Wally stood up.
"No, you can not. And you should not do that to us."
She called him, but the redhead came out. Just to make your situation worse.
As the hours passed, and the redhead only got worse, John decided to call his friend Diana. The slayer might have found a better solution. A supernatural solution.
Diana and Clark rushed to Shayera's apartment. John opened the door for them. The trio found a Shayera huddled, muttering incomprehensible words.
"What gave her?"
"I have no idea, but it's been all day."
Diana and Clark looked at each other.
"I'm going to call J'onn." And for John. "Hope for him to have found a solution."
Bruce came and brought with him a glass containing a smelly green liquid. They made Shayera drink the contents of the bottle, and her heart gradually returned to normal. She opened her e yes that she did not know had closed and noticed the strange group in her house.
"She's fine." Diana said. "I think it's time to go ..."
And so they did.
As usual, Shayera was sitting in the sun. This time, she was alone. John approached her, holding a rose in his fingers. She opened her eyes when she noticed someone standing beside her.
"How do you feel?" He gestured.
He handed her the rose. Shayera accepted the treat, and inhaled the sweet perfume before looking at John.
"Strange, but I don't remember anything. Maybe it's better." She smiled. "Thank you for taking care of me."
"No problems." He said. "And where is your faithful squire?"
"Wally?" Her smile then disappeared. "Irritated with me."
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head.
"It's not your fault, John. It was me who ruined everything. But you and I are still friends, right?"
"Right." He paused. "Are you going to be okay?"
She gave a sad smile.
"I'm always good, though." Clearing a tear that stubbornly arose," she said. "I'm fine."
Ok, that's it!
Thanks!
