The Calling
By the Mark Dacascos Mailing List
Note:The character of Kiara was borrowed from Carla's story, "The Guide" but
the stories are not related.
Disclaimer: We do not own the crow stairway to heaven or Eric Draven they belong to Pressman and James o' Barr
Eric Draven was sitting at the window of his apartment thinking of Shelly
when the Crow landed on his shoulder.
Eric: "What now? Why can't you just let me be?"
A few weeks ago, he had found out that Shelly was able to come back as a
crow. Unfortunately, this also set off the cosmic balance. It took Albrecht
and Eric to find Shelly and then at that, they had to rush her back to the
portal. He came back to reality when the bird yelled Caw! He allowed the
bird to pass on the visions to him. A woman walking down an alleyway and
being attacked by two big men. They knock her unconscious and drag her to a
nearby rundown apartment building:
Eric: "Show me where she is."
The bird flew out the window and Eric ran out the door and down to his bike.
A few minutes later he's at the building he saw in the vision. He felt the
Crow wash over him and before he knew it he was changed. It was getting
harder to stop the Crow from coming and he feared that one day he would
become the Crow permanently and there would be no more Eric Draven, just the
Crow. He walked into the building to see the woman tied to a chair in the
middle of the room. He walked towards her knowing it was some kind of
ambush. The two men that had captured the woman stepped out of the shadows.
They were Snakes.
"Well, well well looks like the little birdie came for the bird seed." Said
the first.
Eric: "Let her go."
The 2nd Snake: "Make me, birdie."
The Crow smirked: "If you insist."
The first Snake attacked, throwing punches and kicks wherever he could. The
Crow dodged them easily and when an opening appeared, he kicked the Snake
square in the chest, knocking him over. The second Snake pulled out his
Snake knife and attacked, the Crow easily dodged the knife and jumped out of
the way. The other Snake was up now and was charging towards the Crow, knife
at the ready. The Crow grabbed the other Snake quick as lightening and took
his knife and used it against him. Before the Snake knew it he was dead. The
room was filled with a bright green light then the Snake was gone.
Eric: "One down one to go."
The other Snake was still running towards him. The Crow stood still watching
the Snake run towards him while throwing the other Snake's knife up in one
hand. When the Snake was close enough with one quick movement from the Crow
the Snake was decapitated and in a bright green glow it was gone, leaving
the Crow and the woman in the room. The Crow walked over to the woman and
untied her. She took one look at the Crow and ran out the door.
Eric: "Doesn't the hero get a thank you?"
Eric gained control again. He was beginning to get tired of this, it had
been five years since he had come and he still felt as far away from Shelly
as he had after he killed Top Dollar. He was beginning to think he'd never
be with her. The world around him had changed a lot in the past five years
but he remained the same, forever trying to set things right. What's that
supposed to mean anyway?
By Shaz
THE LOFT
Eric is sitting in the window frame, half in half out, crouched, looking out
over the city. His melancholy mood deepens and he steps back in the window
as he senses someone coming down the hall. There's a brief knock and Sarah
comes in.
Now eighteen years of age, she's his equal in height. She's slender and
still has a slight awkward teenage walk, but Eric knows that will soon stop.
She's wearing tight jeans and her midriff shows slightly. He sees the
awkwardness will be gone shortly, there lies a beautiful young lady coming
to bloom...another reminder of how he is frozen in time. Everyone moving
forward with their lives but him. Never growing old, waiting day after day.
Doing deed after deed, hoping that he can "move on" and be with Shelly.
Sarah: "Eric? What is it?"
Eric shakes his head and just waves his hand to not worry about it.
Sarah: "Eric...talk to me!"
Eric looks at her and she sees the sadness in his eyes. She walks to the
window and just stands there looking out. He walks beside her and cocks his
head, looking at her.
Eric: "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"
Sarah: "No, not really...I just missed hanging out. You know, just like I
used to when I didn't want to go to school."
Eric cracks a small smile and looks at the floor.
Sarah's eyes narrow: "That's it, isn't it? I mean, things are changing and
you're she looks around the loft still here."
Eric: "That hasn't changed. You still know how to read me. You and Shelly
are the only ones that could."
He gets a far off lonely look in his eyes...
Sarah: "Eric, You need to get out and talk to somebody. HEY! How about that
shrink?
Eric gives her a skeptical look: "A shrink? What shrink?"
Sarah: "Oh man! What was his name, you know...that guy when you went and
zoned on us and became that Indian dude."
Eric: "Dorsett?"
Sarah: "Yeah! That's him.... come on. What could it hurt?"
Eric: "Oh, I don't know. Maybe he could help someone else experiment on me."
Eric was losing his temper and he didn't know why.
Sarah: "What? What'd I say?"
Eric just shakes his head trying to get the mood out of his head.
Eric: "Sorry Sarah, it's not you, it's me."
Sarah: "Then you really do need to get some help. Just think about it."
Eric nods his head: "I'll think about it. Okay?"
Sarah smiles and elbows him playfully. Eric smiles and puts his arm
around her shoulders. She puts her arm around his waist and gives him a
squeeze.
Eric: "Sarah, you're one of a kind."
Sarah: "Yep, and Darla says her thanks for that almost every day. They both
laugh.
Sarah: "I hate to dash, but."
Eric: "Hot date?"
Sarah shrugs. Eric nods and gives her a hug.
Eric: "Thanks for coming by."
Sarah: "Hey, just because I'm busy, doesn't mean I don't care. Okay?
Remember that!"
Eric nods his affirmation as she turns to leave. She walks to the door and
turns and waves with a smile as she closes the door behind her.
THE BLACKOUT
That night Eric looks at Shea as she prepares to open for the night's
business behind the bar. She's still pretty, but the business is taking its
toll. She's looking very tired. She notices him looking at her as she's
counting the money for the drawer.
Shea: "What's up, Eric?"
Eric just shakes his head: "Nothing, you just look tired tonight."
Shea: "Yeah, I haven't been sleeping well lately."
Eric walks closer and leans on the bar: "Anything I can do?"
Shea: "No, not this time. But thanks for asking. She leans over and plants
a
kiss on his cheek you'll always be my knight and shining armour."
Eric gives a small smile: "Any time, anywhere. You know that."
Shea nods and walks around the bar: "Well another day, another dollar. Let's
open the doors shall we? She turns to the bartender "Ready, Mark?"
Mark: "Lets do it."
Shea looks at the stage as the band walks on stage and nod that they're
ready for the night's performance.
Shea: "Okay, Eric, you're the door man...open it."
Eric nods and heads for the door. He opens it and several of the
usuals are there waiting to get in the door. He smiles his welcome and they
walk in single file...
Later that night.... Several young men walk up to the door.
Eric looks at them and just shakes his head: "ID's man."
One of them shows Eric a twenty-dollar bill: "ID enough?"
Eric frowns, shaking his head no: "ID or leave now."
They all start laughing: "Oh come on man. Just let us in for a little while.
We'll make it worth your while!"
One brings out a packet and starts to hand it to Eric. Eric grabs the kid
by the wrist, gives it a twist and the boy turns his hand around in pain.
Eric grabs the packet and pours the contents out into the alley street. One
of the other kids pushes Eric up against the wall and another kicks him in
the stomach, making him bend down. Another kid punches him in the face
knocking him to the street.
Kid: "How do you like that tough guy?"
They all laugh and the leader starts to step over Eric. The Crow's hand
shoots up and grabs him by the leg. He pulls the kid's leg out from under
him and the kid slams to the street. The Crow does a pop up and smooths his
hair back out of his eyes.
Crow: "Going somewhere, BOYS?"
They all take a step back. The leader tries to get up and the Crow steps
heavily on his chest.
Crow: "Eh, eh, eh...I didn't give you permission to get up, school boy."
The group look at one another then nod. They all rush the Crow at once and
he meets them with a smile. He finishes them all quickly and he walks to the
leader who's now face down on the street. He grabs the boy by the hair and
then takes the kid by the jaw and turns his head slowly with an evil grin on
his face.
Crow: "Ready to learn life's ultimate lesson?"
One of the other kids looks at him in terror: "Please mister! It's his
birthday. We were just out for some fun. Honest! Please! DON'T!"
The Crow starts to shake then gets up and runs down the alleyway leaving
the boys to pick themselves up. He turns the corner and Eric begins to cry
falling to his knees.
Eric: "Help me! Oh please he looks Heavenward Please...HELP ME!"
By Carla
Shea comes out and notices what Eric is doing: "Is something wrong, Eric?"
Shea starts to walk forward to comfort him but Eric stops her.
Eric: "It's OK. It's just that I've been having a few problems, lately.
Nothing major though."
Shea: "You sure? I can give you some time off if you need it."
Eric: "It's no problem, really. Besides, who else do you have to protect
you?" Grins
Shea: "As long as you're sure then. See you back inside."
Shea walks back in and Eric just stands there for a moment. He walks up to
the side of the building and leans against it with his head forward.
'Shelly...I need you...can you help me?'
Some noise is made and Eric notices a bum noticing him. He then proceeds to
retreat to the Blackout.
He walks in the front door and notices the band on the stage. It's Puddle
Of Mudd playing their hit single, "Control."
He listens to it while they play.
I love the way you look at me
I feel the pain you place inside
you lock me up inside your dirty cage
well I'm alone inside my mind
I like to teach you all the rules
I get to see them set in stone
I like it when you chain me to the bed
but then your secrets never show
I need to feel you -- you need to feel me
I can't control you --You're not the one for me, NO!
I can't control you -- You can't control me
I need to feel you -- So why's there even you and me?
I love the way you rake my skin
I feel the hate you place inside
I need to get your voice out of my head
Cause I'm the guy you'll never find
I thnk you know all of the rules
there's no expressions on your face
I hope that some day you will let me go
Release me from my DIRTY CAGE!
I need to feel you -- you need to feel me
I can't control you --You're not the one for me, NO!
I can't control you -- You can't control me
I need to feel you -- So why's there even you and me?
I love the way you look at me
I love the way you smack my ass
I love the dirty things you do
I have control of you
I need to feel you -- you need to feel me
I can't control you --You're not the one for me, NO!
I can't control you -- You can't control me
I need to feel you -- So why's there even you and me?
YOU'RE NOT THE ONE FOR ME, NO!
Not his type of music but it has a nice beat to it. He walks around and
patrols the dance floor. Young adults dancing, enjoying themselves. For a
minute, he zones out. A couple he was watching turns into him and Shelly.
Eric snaps out of it. He looks around and notices Shea talking to a woman.
It's then time to go home hours later. He arrives in his apartment loft and
goes to the window. He stares at it for several moments.
Suddenly, a force unseen throws him through the window. He lands hard on
the cement below, rendering him unconscious for a few minutes.
Sarah comes back to the loft to check up on Eric but notices him lying on
the ground.
By Dead Man Walking
Sarah drops the bag she was carrying and rushes over to his side.
"Eric! What happened?" (There is panic in her voice)
He is lying on his side and she can't see his face.
"Eric are you ok?"
He starts to come around and sits up, looks at the window, and turns to face
Sarah. She is surprised.
"Eric there's no danger and nothing to fight so you can go back to normal
now...well normal for you, anyway"
Eric looks puzzled
"What do you mean?"
"The whole crow thing has come out"
Eric still looks confused.
She goes over to her bag at the door and brings back a small mirror and
holds it up to his face.
"See?"
Eric looks at his reflection and his reflection looks back with a mocking
black smile painted on its face.
Sarah is starting to look concerned
"You can change back now, Eric"
Eric concentrates for a while then looks up to Sarah with a slightly worried
look in his eyes
"I...can't"
"Then we need some help"
By Shaz
The Crow studies Sarah for a long, silent moment. "Help?" he repeats
calmly. "Don't you see, little girl? There is no help for me."
His voice is evolving as he speaks, changing very tangibly from something
gentle and worried to something harsh and inhuman. "There never has
been. Because, you see ... I'm dead."
He smiles, pushing to his feet, oblivious to the shards of glass digging
into the palms of his hands from the shatter of the window so far above him.
Blood drips slowly back to the earth, turning to ash as it falls. He rubs
his hands
together, closing the wounds like they had never been.
"Very dead. Very, *very* dead."
"Eric...." Sarah starts.
"Beeeep," The Crow responds, flinching Sarah with the harsh edge to his
suddenly loud, gameshow-esque voice. "I'm sorry, that's the wrong
answer, but thanks for playing. Care to try again?"
Unnerved by his tone, Sarah takes a single step back. "Don't," she
orders.
The Crow's eyes glitter. "Don't what?"
"Don't do that."
The twist of the Crow's lips turns cruel. "Do what?"
"THAT!" Sarah's angry, but she's also frightened. Determined not to
show it, she announces, her voice a charade of confidence unreflected
in her eyes, "I want to talk to ERIC. And I want to talk to him NOW!"
The Crow throws back his head and laughs. It's a vaguely maniacal sound
that resonates along the otherwise empty street. When he is finished,
his head slowly lowers until he is watching Sarah from beneath the
long, dark string of his hair. "Sorry, little girl," he whispers in an
almost sibilant hiss. "Nobody named Eric lives here any more."
Sarah's hands ball to fists at her side. Her shoulders are tight, her
face of clench of outright angry fear. "You're a liar," she spits. "I
KNOW Eric's in there. I KNOW it."
"You KNOW it?" he repeats, his tone a mockery.
"Yes! I KNOW it. Eric!" Sarah screams the name at him, as if calling to
someone a lifetime and more away. "Eric! Listen to me! Come back, Eric!
I need you, Eric!"
A shadow of confusion crosses the Crow's features. His black eyes
change marginally, and for a moment, he looks terribly lost. "Sarah?"
he whispers, staggering slightly.
Sarah jumps forward, grabbing him at the elbow. "Eric?" She tries to
brush the hair back from his face. He staggers a little more. She steps
closer to him, using the tensile strength of her slender frame to
support him now. "Eric? Is that you?"
His face is still a mask -- still a cruel caricature of black and
white -- but his eyes are frightened and casting about for some sign of
reason in a suddenly mad, mad world. His lip begins to tremble as he
says ... "No ... I ... I ... I..." the tremble mutates as he speaks,
"... I'm pretty sure it's still me." He pats at his chest with both
hands. "Yep, still me." He is smiling at Sarah now, all evidence of
Eric stripped away as if it had never been. As if perhaps it would
never be again.
Sarah tries to pull away, but he has her hand trapped in the crook of
his arm. He leans in closer to her, speaking through his hair, his eyes
the obsidian ice of a man on the rim of sanity. "Pretty cool, huh?
Would you like to see that again?" His eyes soften and his lips begin
to tremble. "Oh ... GOD, Sarah ... it's ... so ... UNFAIR..." he gasps
as if in literal pain. "This ... terrible ... terrible ... cruel ...
game ... I am playing ... with you." And he is all Crow again, laughing
at her, taking great satisfaction in the horror of her disbelieving
gaze.
She jerks away, stumbles back. Tears roll down her face as falls away
from the spectre in black before her.
"Oh, don't leave now, little girl," he calls after her retreat, "this
is just starting to get fun. I'm having fun. Aren't you having any
fun?"
Turning, Sarah begins to run. Within moments, the Crow is alone on the
street. The night sky begins to cry. Rain splatters against the cement,
glistening against broken glass there like it did the night that
Shelley died.
The Crow is laughing. He turns his face up to the darkness above him.
He laughs into the night, his arms extending as he begins to turn in
circles.
"Aren't we having fun?" he demands harshly of the emptiness.
"Aren't we having fun?" He begins to turn faster, his hair and his long,
black
jacket coming away from his body with the centrifugal force of the motion
like a pinwheel caught in the spawning moments of a killer tornado.
"Aren't we having fun, Shelley?" The Crow
shrieks at the sky. "Aren't we having FUN?!?"
By Beki
"We are, aren't we, Mr. bird?" The Crow looks at the bird with a funny look
in his eyes. The bird shakes its head and flies off back to the loft.
"Now Mr. bird thinks I've lost it, eh? Well, I've got news for you...I lost
it
a long time ago...hehehe. MAN...No one to have fun with now..."
The Crow walks back to the loft and looks around.
"What does little goody two shoes Eric have?" The Crow looks down and
sees a picture of Shelly.
The Crow's head suddenly whips back and he falls down onto his knees. The
crow starts to cry. He has now obviously changed back to Eric. He puts his
hands to his face to try to hold back the tears. "Shelly..............."
On The Other Side Of Town
Jeremy Davis is walking home from school when he notices a bright light
coming from nearby. He looks around and notices a mirror in the garbage.
He picks it up and notices it's in near mint quality. He looks at the mirror
itself and for a second, he thought he saw a face in the mirror. He looks
back and sees nothing. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices a very
bright light. The next moment, he's out like a light. He wakes up a few
moments later and notices the mirror now on the ground, cracked. He feels
slightly lightheaded but continues to walk home.
Loft
Eric is at the loft window waiting for Sarah to return so he can apologise.
By Dead Man Walking
Back in the street
"Oh, no, not AGAIN!" sighs Jeremy seeing the whole bunch of "Black
Cranes" gathering at the end of the alley. No escape, no time to run
back, they've seen him already. Oh, nothing very dangerous,
physically, at least. the Black Cyranos called themselves "parody of
a street gang", all "good" boys, excellent students, certainly even
more clever than the average.
Unfortunately they used to spend their free time playing silly jokes
and tease poor, common, slightly boring folks like him, Jeremy.
"Guys, guys, please...I have no time today...please let me go..."
begs Jeremy, who two days before was compelled by the Black Cyranos
to go back from school wearing a bright yellow skirt and a pair of
high heeled shoes.
"Oh! What a lucky day, our little friend is here...what we can do to
make his day again? Let me see... something special today."
The gang leader snaps his fingers and his lieutenant with a deep,
comic bow, lends him a book.
"What we have today? AWWW! Arthur Rimbaud! "The drunken boat!"
Excellent!" Faking deep concentration the boy starts to read:
"As I descended Rivers undisturbed
I sensed the haulers no longer steered me:
howling Redskins took them captive
nailing them naked
like targets to painted poles"
He closes the book with a slight bang that makes poor Jeremy jump.
"Well, well...we throw him in the river or we paint his face like a
Redskin?"
"We could do both!!! It's for your sake, Jerry, your life is too
boring, YOU are too boring!!!" answers one of the group with a deep
laughter.
"NO NO NO!!!!" screams poor Jeremy overwhelmed by the small, laughing
crowd.
The red paint approaches his face...Jeremy stares at it in horror.
He hates to dirty himself, hates all the slimy, skiddy disgusting
matters like mud, paint, cream...his mother will KILL him, if he goes
home like that!!!
Suddenly the small crowd stops laughing and stares at Jeremy's face
in disbelief and superstitious terror. HIS FACE!
His skin has turned white as the skin of a ghost, a heavy, black
makeup surrounds his eyes and the trace of...a kind... of... of
something looking like a Snake skin bars his pale forehead!
"It cccan't be...ttthe paint was rrred!!!!" stammers the gang leader,
freezing.
"The paint was red, the fear is green, may God save you when I come
in!" chants Jeremy's mocking voice.
With a quick, extremely powerful kick Jeremy hits the gang leader in
the middle of his forehead. The young boy falls like a stone,
unconscious. All the others run away desperately, screaming with
horror, the faster they can, far, far away from there, far away from
the monster...
Jeremy smiles at himself, in deep satisfaction...
"I made a rhyme...," he laughs.
And walks away, slowly.
"Now let's look for the Bird..."
By Paola
In the loft Eric is standing by the window still waiting for Sarah to come,
he had been there all day thinking about why he had changed and why he
couldn't change back. The last thing he remembered was getting pulled
through the portal and waking up back at the loft not being able to change
and looking at Sarah's confused and worried face.
When he was in Crow form this time he wasn't in control, he could only see
the things that were happening as if from a distance. It was almost as if he
was trapped in his own mind. He didn't like that feeling and he'd done all
he could to fight it. The only reason he was back in control was because of
help from Shelly. And even though he was in control right now he could still
feel the Crow inside trying to find a way out...he was barely holding on.
The one thought that was keeping him from giving up was that he couldn't let
the Crow hurt Sarah again.
"She must be really upset.," he said to himself
He was tired of waiting and decided to go and find her and apologize.
A few minutes later he was on his bike heading towards Sarah's house.
By Shaz
Eric pulls up in front of Sarah's. He turns off the bike and dismounts. He
looks around and wonders what kind of reception he's going to get from
Sarah. He starts to walk up to the door when he gets the feeling that
someone is watching him. He turns around and sees a shadow. He turns toward
the alley and walks down it. Suddenly a hand taps him on the shoulder and he
turns.
The man that he calls the Skull Cowboy is there and that can't mean good
news for him.
Eric: "What are you doing here?"
Cowboy: "Well, Cousin. It's like this. Soon you'll be faced with some
choices and I hope for your sake that you make the right ones."
Eric: "What choices? Does this mean that I'm going to be allowed to join
Shelly?"
Cowboy: "I can't tell you that. It wouldn't be right for you to know what
nobody else knows" He smiles and tips his hat.
Eric: "Why can't you speak in plain English?"
Cowboy: "Cousin, if I did that then anyone could understand and they, he
looks toward the sky, want you to use the mind that you have." He looks
behind Eric and smiles. "Remember, be careful of what you choose."
Eric looks around and then looks back. Skull Cowboy has disappeared.
Eric: "I wish he wouldn't do that." He walks out of the alley and goes to
Sarah's door. He knocks on the door and it opens...
By Jayme
There was a noise from inside and Darla answered. "Oh it's you."
Eric could tell from the dark rings under her eyes that she hadn't slept
much. "You
look tired," he commented.
"Yeah? Well, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately. I've been working
double shifts at the station, this is my first day off in three months and I
was hoping I would get to spend some time with Sarah but I haven't seen
her." She started to look worried "I thought she was with you."
Eric looked to the floor, not wanting to look her in the eyes. "She was but
I upset her and she ran off," he said with a guilty look.
"What did you do?" by now Darla was getting even more worried, Sarah always
called her when she was going anywhere. It wasn't like her not to call, what
if something had happened to her?
"It doesn't matter, I have to find her." He replied and turned and walked
down the hall.
Darla closed the door and went straight to the phone to call Albrecht.
Across town Sarah was sitting at a bar staring into her drink and thinking.
What had caused Eric to change? Why did I run out on him when he needed
my help to change back? You know why, Sarah...because you're a selfish
coward.
She remembered the way the Crow looked at her and said, "There is no help
for me." Maybe he was right, maybe I'm wasting my time trying to help
Eric...he has been stuck here for the last 5 years...how long will it take?
No! No! No! I can't think like that. Eric is my friend, always has, always
will
be, no matter what...I'm just angry with the Crow, not Eric!
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the boy sit down next
to her and order a drink until she felt him staring at her with a distant
look in his eyes. "What?"
He blinked "Oh sorry you look like someone I knew," he looked embarrassed.
"You just freaked me out a bit that's all," she looked at him closer "Aren't
you a bit young to be in here?"
"I could say the same thing to you." He picked up her glass and set it
aside.
"Come on we can do much better for ourselves than drowning our sorrows in a
place like this." He took her hand and led her out the door.
Half an hour later Eric pulled up outside the bar Sarah had been in, it
hadn't been easy finding where she had gone and it wasn't like Sarah to
drink after what she had gone through with Darla. He walked inside the
dingy room and headed straight for the bar and sat down. Immediately he saw
a
vision: Sarah sitting, thinking about what happened in the loft and a boy
coming up
to her. There is something strange about him, something not right.The boy
picks up her glass and sets it aside then leads her out the bar.
Eric opened his eyes and saw the glass was still there. He picked it up and
concentrated. He couldn't see anything but he felt something, something
evil, a familiar kind of evil. He couldn't put his finger on what it was but
it was strong and it had taken Sarah. He ran out of the bar to his bike and
headed towards the police station, the boy's face still in his mind.
By Shaz
Eric reaches the police station and jumps off his bike to reach Daryl as
fast as he can. He goes in the doors and sees Daryl at his desk.
"Hey, Albrecht, long time no see, eh?" Eric says as he walks towards Daryl's
desk.
"You look like you're in a rush, Draven. What's the deal?"
Eric says, "Someone kidnapped Sarah. And I have a feeling I'll really be
needing you."
Daryl responds, "A Crow needing me? Man...this is bad, eh?"
Eric responds with an unsure look, "Yeah..." He then pauses for a second.
"Albrecht, I'll give you an address to wait for me at. I have to return to
the loft and then I'll catch you there."
"Just don't take too long, Draven."
"I won't." Eric writes down the address and hands it to Daryl. "Catch you
later."
Eric then leaves and heads towards the loft while Daryl grabs his coat and
leaves the station.
AT THE LOFT
Eric sits by the window and says, "Shelly, I really need your help now. Tell
me what I need to do."
"Turn around" Eric hears this and turns around. He sees Shelly before him.
"I can't stay here for too long but I need to tell you something quickly.
Remember who and what you are. And don't forget the past. I Love you....."
Shelly disappears.
Eric says, "Shelly...." Eric reaches out to where Shelly was, meeting
nothing but air. "Well, I can't keep Albrecht waiting now, can I?"
Eric gets up and is about ready to leave the loft, in what may be his last
time there, when he sees his guitar lying around. He picks it up and plays
"Inferno". As soon as he's done playing, Eric feels the Crow swell up in
him. "Hold it in man...your gonna need all the help you can get". Eric then
leaves to catch up with Daryl.
Eric arrives at St. Brandon's on his bike. Albrecht is leaning against the
outside wall of the church. "So Draven, why didn't you just tell me where
Sarah is?"
Eric: "Because I need you to do something I won't be able to do."
"And what is that?"
"Get Sarah the hell out of there. And don't look back."
"Don't be getting cryptic on me, Draven. What's the problem?"
"Well...lately the Crow has just been getting out of control. And I think
its because Top is back somehow."
Albrecht looks at him.. "Isn't Top Dollar dead?"
Eric nods "Yeah..but so am I and look at me" *grins* "Anyway, I think that
this will be a final showdown. Promise me you won't return for at least a
week."
Daryl looks him straight in the eye for a moment. He then extends his hand.
"I promise....and you better take care of yourself, Draven." Daryl then hugs
Eric.
"Hey, no worries, man." Eric gets on his bike and Daryl gets in his car and
follows Eric.
They arrive at the Blackout, Top's old hangout, half an hour later. Daryl
and Eric walk to the Blackout's doors and stop. Daryl pulls out his gun.
Eric gives him a funny look.
Daryl: "Well, this is Top Dollar we're going after right?"
Eric: "Good point."
Daryl is about to kick open the door when Eric stops him.
Eric: "Let me...as least they can't hurt me."
Daryl smiles and stands aside. Eric kicks in the door. It's later in the day
and no one is in the club, save for a few scurrying rats. Daryl looks
around.
Daryl: "Who fired the cleaning guy?"
Eric: "He doesn't come in until much later tonight."
The Crow flies around the outside of the building to the room where Top is.
Except it isn't Top.
Eric gets a vision and cocks his head sideways closing his eyes: "Albrecht,
someone is up there. The boy I saw in my visions plus Sarah...and ..oh
man..Shea!"
Daryl: "I guess that's another one to get out of harm's way."
Eric and Daryl walk up the stairs and are about to be in view when they
stop.
Eric: "Well, it was nice knowing you, Albrecht."
Daryl: "Same here, Draven. Now onto business."
Eric side kicks the door open to see Shea and Sarah are tied back to back on
chairs.
Top/Jeremy Davis: "Ah..The Crow returns to its nest...about time...I was
about to waste these two if you took too long. Time to pay you back with
some unfinished business, bird brain."
Top/JD throws a Snake knife at Draven which hits him in the leg. Eric falls
down to his knee, in tremendous pain. Meanwhile, Daryl frees Shea and Sarah.
He then urges them to follow him.
Sarah: "But Eric needs us...."
Daryl: "Draven needs to deal with this himself. My business is getting you
two to safety."
Sarah starts to fight but looks in Shea's eyes and sees that she agrees.
Daryl: "Sarah, is your mom home?"
Sarah: "She should be....why?"
Daryl: "We're going to hang there for tonight"
Daryl, Shea, and Sarah then leave the Blackout, to leave good and evil to
duke it out.
Top/JD: "What's the matter Draven? Have that stinging painful feeling?
Happens when you're dead and dying."
Top/JD then kicks Draven in the face. The knife is still imbedded in
Draven's leg.
Top/JD: "It'll be a damn shame to see you go...waitaminute...I'll be glad to
see you go...been a thorn in my side since I've killed you. And now, I'm
your equal."
He picks up Eric and throws him at the wall.
Top/JD: "C'mon,you gave a hell of a fight last time we met. What's up with
you, boy?"
He then picks up him up again and throws him at his desk. Eric's leg hits
the desk and causes the knife to fall out.
Top/JD: "So when will the great Crow fight back?"
Top/JD goes to kick him in the leg but Eric grabs his leg and pulls him
down. Eric then does a kip to get up. Top/JD does the same. Top/JD kicks him
in the stomach then follows up with a sidekick that sends Eric out of the
office, through the door. Eric lies on the ground, trying to catch his
breath. The Crow flies in and perches on the stairway.
Top/JD: "Well, Draven, it's been nice knowing you. Time for your end."
The green Snake skin reappears on Jeremy Davis, who has now totally
transformed into Top. A Snake's knife appears in his hand.
Draven is starting to get up when he hears a familiar voice.
Kiara: "Eric."
Eric looks to the front of him and sees Kiara.
Eric: "Kiara?"
Kiara: "Yes it's me. Listen quickly. Remember what Shelly told you?"
Eric: "To remember who and what I am and don't forget the past."
Kiara: "Now remember back to when Top's group of thugs killed you. And
remember all of it."
Eric brought all those memories to the front of his brain and let them flow
through him like fresh pain. Top walks out of the room and is about to
attack Draven one more time when a light emanates from Draven. After about a
second, the light changes Draven into two Dravens. The one that gets up has
on the Crow makeup.
Crow: "No Top, It's time for your end."
The Crow jump kicks Top and it sends him back into the room.
Crow: "You took Shelly away from me..you took a future away....and now I
will take your future away!"
The Crow picks up Top and punches him then backhand slaps him. Top gets up
and the Crow uppercuts Top, sending him to the floor.
Top slowly gets up and tiredly responds.
Top: "You won't take this away from me...they promised me!"
Crow: "The Crow says, 'don't look!'"
The Crow then runs, and at the same time the bird flies with him. And then
in what seems like a blurred vision, the Crow and the bird become one. As
the union of one hit Top, Top leaves Jeremy Davis' body, leaving Davis' body
on the floor. The three of them go through the window of Top's office and
fall down, only to go through a portal and be returned to the land of the
dead. Eric wakes up and sees Kiara looking at him.
Eric: "What happened?"
Kiara: "You let the Crow free and he took out Top along with himself. I'll
see you on the other side Eric. Anyway, you have a friend waiting to talk to
you."
Kiara disappears and Eric hears a familiar voice behind him.
Cowboy: "Well done, Cousin. You do have a brain in that thick head of yours.
Now, I have some bad news and some good news."
Eric turns around to see the Skull Cowboy standing in front of him.
Eric: "And?"
Cowboy: "Good news is, you get to meet with Shelly and be in peace with her.
The bad news is, you have to go and say good bye to Sarah."
Eric: "That won't be easy..."
Eric looks into the room and sees Jeremy Davis lying on the ground, in the
action of waking up.
Cowboy: "Easy thinking there, wasn't it, Cousin? *grins* Anyway, you know
how to get back. See you on the flipside."
Skull Cowboy takes a few steps and disappears. Eric goes to help the boy up
and brings him to his loft.
After Eric brings Jeremy to his loft, they talk for a few hours. In the
midst of talking, Eric finds out that Jeremy remembers nothing about Top
Dollar and the last thing he did remember was a quick flash of light. Eric
hears footsteps and looks towards the door. The door opens and in comes
Sarah, suprised that both of them are in here.
Sarah runs to Eric and hugs him.
Sarah: "I thought I'd never see you again."
Eric returns the hug. Sarah then looks at Eric's eyes for a few seconds and
senses something.
Sarah: "It's time for you to climb your stairway to heaven, isn't it?"
Eric nods.
Eric: "Jeremy, I'd like you to meet Sarah Mohr, a friend of mine."
Sarah gives a funny look but Eric walks up to her.
Eric: "This is not the same boy who kidnapped you. He was possessed by Top
Dollar."
Sarah looks back at Jeremy with a cautious look then she puts out her hand
to shake but Jeremy grabs it and kisses her hand.
Jeremy: "Nice to meet you."
Sarah blushes.
Eric: "Looks like you two are hitting it off. I gotta get going."
Jeremy: "Where are you going?"
Eric: "Home."
Jeremy: "Well, it was nice talking to you, man. Later."
Eric and Jeremy shake hands.
Sarah then asks Jeremy to wait outside the room for her. Jeremy leaves the
room.
Sarah then gives Eric a kiss on the cheek and a big hug.
Sarah: "I'll miss you, Eric. It won't be the same."
Eric: "I know and I'll miss you. If it's any consolation, I'm leaving you my
guitar." *grins*
Sarah:"Thanks, Eric, and good luck."
Eric walks into the portal/window and disappears. A minute later an image
appears. It's of Shelly and Eric joining hands and walking towards the
light. The image reminds Sarah of Jeremy and figures she better go before he
wonders what's happenning.
By Deader
El Finito(The End)