Disclaimer: The following characters aren't mine, though the story and situation are.

Note: So here's Chapter 4, an the strange man at the end of the last chapter is introduced, though I'm not gonna give it away here. Wait to the end. Also this story focuses back on Angel and April initially. For those of you wondering the whereabouts of the 4, actually 5 (because Venus is in my continuity) Turtles, well they're around, but they probably won't be showing up here, this is a vehicle for characters I don't use as often. Sorry. Enjoy.

It's Not A Dream

Sleep...an escape from reality for a short period of time, but sometimes a dream can signify so much more. Sometimes a dream can be a window into a different reality, or more accurately a different part of this reality.

It was a dream that lead April to her, or something like a dream at least.

No.

No...it wasn't a dream, it was real.

Yet this time it was a dream, it had to be. It was the only explanation. He was coming for her again. This time though nothing seemed to be able to stop him, he was stronger, more twisted, and when he spoke he sounded like someone...no...more like something else.

Angel felt her heart racing. She could feel the pain of the metal being wretched from her face again. Letting out a piercing cry she bolted from her uneasy sleep. She was alone, and it was when she was alone that he would come for her.

Why was this happening to her?

What did she do to deserve this?

Nothing, she did nothing. Yet somehow she knew she had brought this on herself. Who else could be to blame.

Maybe she should have been a better person. Maybe this was her recompense for...for...what.

Sleep, yes she needed sleep. It was only a dream and dreams can't hurt you. She just needed to sleep.

Uneasily she fell back into sleep.

There he was again. He stood before her, gently stroking his finger along her face. A broad smile over his face, more accurately over the semblance of his face. He then began to speak again.

At first it was incoherent, but slowly it became clearer, "You are not the one I seek, but you will serve to sustinate me...for now. These wounds while not fatal, are a bit of an inconvenience."

The fresh wounds on her face seemed to rip open as she slept. Angel could feel the blood as it ran down her face, and though she tried to wake, she couldn't. She saw him withdraw a knife, she could feel him making slight cuts into her skin, none fatal, but each progressively deeper, and each forming a more complex pattern. He then raised the blade to her neck...

Angel found herself coughing, as if she was choking. In his eyes she could see the reflection of the person whom he was doing this to. It was a young man, and his silent gasps fell on no one's ears. Tears ran down his face. He had given into his fate, he was dying.

She was able to wake this time, as she felt around her midsection frantically. Relief flooded her shocked system as she felt there was no blood. It had all been a dream, no not a dream, a nightmare. The blood she had felt pour down her face was not present either, yet somehow she knew something was not right. That had been more than a dream, it felt too real.

She needed to talk to someone, and she needed to not be alone right now. The only person she could think of was April, she would understand. Angel dressed quickly and made for the door.

It was a short walk, but she didn't trust the darkness so she called a cab, and soon arrived at a small apartment complex. She knocked, no one answered at first, then she knocked again, this time harder.

April opened the door, seeing the fear on Angel's face she ushered her inside swiftly.

"I'm sorry, but I needed someone, I couldn't handle being alone," Angel was seated at the counter in April's kitchen.

"It's okay. I'm here,"

A facade of a smile creeped across Angel's face.

The lights in the room flickered, a power surge, that's all. Then the television in the background came on. A news report flashed across the screen, catching Angel's attention.

"That's him. That's the person I saw," Angel said frantically.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive, he's in trouble."

The report continued, "The body of Marcus Arellius was found outside the remnants of an old antique shop. The reports found the body to be marked with an odd pattern over the young man's midsection, his throat cut in what seemed to be a ritualistic sacrifice. Police are looking into this, as well as other potential links."

"It's too late, I was too late. He asked me for help...and...and now it's too late," realization overcame Angel.

"It's not your fault, it's not. I'm going to get some help okay, I promise."

Angel just stared blankly at the screen, as the television flickered off.

In the background April's voice sounded as she talked on the phone, "No I'm serious, she's convinced it's him, and I believe her. Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Okay we'll be waiting."

Angel sat, still silent as April approached her. Her reassuring hand on Angel's shoulder.

"He's after me April, I don't know why, but he's after me."

"Shh, it's okay Angel, I've got some help coming, it'll be alright. I promise."

Angel wanted to believe. No, Angel needed to believe she told the truth.

The lights flickered again, this time they didn't immediately come back on. A familiar feeling encompassed April. A cold wind whipped through the room, and a presence seemed to make itself known. Lifting the phone April was not suprised to see the line was dead. Her cell phone had lost all service.

It was happening again, and this time April had to be the brave one. Looking around the room they were in April saw no one, but she pulled a very scared Angel closer to her.

"It's okay. I've got you. It's okay," April was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince Angel.

"Isn't that sweet," a familiar voice sounded.

He was right behind them.

"You, you are one of the Demon's Acolytes. You'll not get the upper hand this time Devil-Worshipper," his voice while the same, seemed different. Like two voices merged into one.

April felt him approach her. Then a hand fell across her face knocking her to the ground. She tried to stand, but he was on her again. He was moving faster than anything April had ever seen. Lifting her above his head with one hand he smiled, "Not so strong without your Demon master I see. Or perhaps through God's grace I have found a new strength." He withdrew a knife from somewhere on his person, as April saw the glint of the blade.

A loud noise echoed through the room before he could do anything with the knife. Letting out a loud scream he dropped April to the ground. He hit the ground hard, as pain...yes he felt it this time, as pain vibrated through his body. How was this possible, earlier the federal authorities guns had done no more than irritate him. He looked at the sourse of his pain, and he saw a grizzled man, leveling a shotgun in his direction. The he heard another voice enter the room, neither April nor Angel, nor this strange man with a gun. A voice that spoke in soft, foreign sounding words.

The words, seemed to effect him as well. They seemed to being tearing at the spirit within him. Behind him, he saw the Demon again. The Demon, of course, the cursed Hell-spirit was here, he was not prepared for the Demon...not yet. Lifting himself from the ground he rushed from the building as the Demon continued speaking. After re-entering the streets, he fled into the darkness.

Angel looked around the room, she saw several faces now. Aside from April's there was the guy who had helped her the first time, Casey, as well as the odd little creature she was still uncertain about. Then there was the new face, a bearded man in his middle age, wearing jeans and a black shirt he shouldered a shotgun.

Casey spoke, "Yup, knew it be a good idea to bring Master Splinter. You girls okay?" He paid no mind to the stranger as he lifted April to her feet.

Splinter on the other hand approached the stranger.

The stranger leveled his gun at the rat, "Do I even want to know what you are?"

"I mean you no harm, I am merely a friend to the people you see here," Splinter spoke calmly, showing no sign of fear of the stranger.

"Well I guess it's good to have a friend who knows about exorcisms," the stranger shouldered his gun.

"Excuse me, exorcisms? Like the movie?" Casey looked at the stranger.

"Something like that," the stranger replied.

"Yes Mister Jones, like the movie. Though I've never seen a regular shotgun do harm to a Demon like that," Splinter walked closer to the stranger.

"Oh that? The shells are loaded with rock salt. Won't kill a Demon, but sure hurts like hell. So, it looks like you have a bit of a Demon problem. It's okay, I know a thing or two bout these things. Name's John. That's really all the information you need. Now how bout you tell me what's goin' on?"

"Yes, that'd be nice," April spoke. "What is going on?"

"Miss O'Neil, it's good to see you are okay. As well as yourself Miss Angel." Splinter palced a gentle hand on April's arm.

"I got this. Accordin' to these two, this freakin' religious nut-job who's causin' these problems is actually possessed by a Demon or some such. You know, like the movie." Casey spoke, a hint of pride that he figured out what was going on.

"That's bad isn't it?" April looked around for assurance, "Also. why is he after Angel, and why did she see him killing that kid?"

"All excellent questions, but for now it's a shame that we don't have the answers. Perhaps Mister John here can help shed some light," Splinter looked towards the man with the gun.

"Perhaps," John spoke.

TBC

End note: Okay so his name is John, I mean that's only one of the most common names in the English language, but if you've ever seen the show Supernatural, John happens to be the father of Sam and Dean Winchester, therefore making him John Winchester, so this is kinda like a crossover, though with the amount of characters from different fandoms I use in my stories, s crossover is no big deal. So if you guessed correctly I owe you a cookie, send the type you prefer and I'll do my best. Later.