Title: Music for the Soul: Part IX
Author: Katherine Eve
Summary: The flashback continues as Angel makes his presence known and Eve's life comes to a crossroads.
Characters: Angel and Eve
Disclaimer: The dark, brooding character of Angel is Joss Whedon's creation. I do my best to make him as brooding, and yet hopefully still interesting, as possible.
Note: We're nearing the end, and I would like to thank the readers that have followed me on my first net-published-fanfiction journey.
Chapter IX
Drops of rain splashed in the gutters as she walked. She wore only sandals which began to cut into the sides of her feet. The pain did not slow her pace, though. The flow of blood steadily increased as she forced her legs to move faster and faster. She had to escape. But what was she escaping from?
Almost running now. The buildings that surrounded her didn't look familiar anymore. The blocks and street corners flew by, but she never looked at them. She saw her feet fly out in front of her as she buried her head down and stared at the ground as she ran.
Pain filled her every limb as the concrete met her back. What had happened? She had hit something. That was clear enough. The water ran down her face and blurred her vision. A fuzzy image of a man stood in front of her. The rain pounding on the asphalt was the only sound she could hear. Where was she?
"Need any help?" His voice was soft and trustworthy.
Wiping her eyes, she shook her head. His hand reached out anyway. Reluctantly she took it and was on her feet again in a second.
"I'm sorry. I guess I didn't see you," she apologized. She couldn't bring herself to lift her head from her chest and look the stranger in the eye.
His laugh was just as soft as his voice.
"It's okay. You were going pretty fast. A strange night to be out running. And those shoes probably are the best for it either."
The puddle of rain she stood in had taken on a reddish tint from the blood of her feet.
She relaxed and let out a slight giggle. "No," she agreed. 'They probably aren't."
Looking up, the face she saw was friendly. Short blonde hair and blue eyes. Laugh lines branched out from his eyes and mouth. Handsome.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Eve." She almost jumped as she heard her own voice say the word. What was she doing? He was a stranger. She should just thank him quickly and move on.
"So what are you doing out here in the rain?" he pushed.
"Oh, just out for a walk. I love the rain. It cleanses everything. It makes the city look so beautiful,." Still talking. Still standing there and smiling at him. She couldn't seem to move her feet. What she said wasn't even the truth. She had gone out when the night was still clear. Why was she making small talk with this guy? Just because he was cute didn't mean he was safe.
"Do you know what I think makes the city look beautiful?" He paused as she shook her head. "You."
Charming. How could she walk away from him after that?
"My car is just around the corner. You've probably already caught a cold, but I could save you a walk back to wherever it is you live. What do you say?"
She was getting cold, and she couldn't walk another step in her shoes. But she didn't even know who this man was. She had ignored a lot of things her mother had told her, but not getting in a car with a stranger was one she had taken to heart. She couldn't.
"Sure," she nodded her head and smiled.
"Stay right here. I'll go pull the car around." His shoes kicked up the water on the sidewalk as he disappeared around the corner.
What was she doing? That was it. When he pulled the car around she would just tell him she changed her mind. No big deal.
Expensive. How could she refuse a ride in that piece of work? The tires rolled to a stop and the blonde reached across the car to open the passenger door.
"Come on in."
She had to stop this. "You know what, I think I can just walk. It's not very far..."
"Girl, I'm not in the mood to argue. Get in the car." Charming? Trustworthy? Suddenly all that washed away with the rain into the gutters. Why had she talked herself into this?
Looking around at the empty street, the man flung open his car door and walked around to where Eve stood. "I said get in the car!"
His hand locked around her jacket as he tried to force her through the door. Lightening flashed and thunder roared, drowning out her scream. Was this the end already?
Before she could let out another cry for help, the man's hand was ripped from her jacket as his limp, unconscious body was thrown into the street. In his place, stood her guardian angel. Tall. Broad shoulders. Eyes so dark they were almost black.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
Frozen by either the cold or her fear, she couldn't speak or move.
"Are you hurt?" his voice came again.
"No." She managed to squeeze out the word.
Black eyes. She had only seen them once before, but the image was burnt into her mind forever. No reflection had been in the mirror, but she had seen his face outside her window. The memory flashed through her mind again. Her stalker and angel; one in the same.
Her savior was the one to break the intense stare as he turned his attention to the automobile parked on the curb, its engine still running and doors still open.
"You know, I don't think a guy like that deserves a car like this." Leaning inside the passenger door, the man reached for the parking break.
Realizing what he was about to do, she shot out her hands and took hold of his free arm with all her strength. "No!" she pleaded.
He turned back around and peered down at her. She avoided contact with his eyes this time and instead studied the rest of him. His clothes were worn and stained and his pale face was smudged with dirt not even the rain could wash away. His black trench coat was so battered she couldn't see the use in wearing it at all. Homeless.
She glanced at the crumbled body lying a few feet away from her in the street and let out a sigh. She owed the man who had rescued her an explanation for her actions.
"I just think he's been taught his lesson already. I could never forgive myself for getting revenge. After all, it was my fault for getting into the situation in the first place." She squeezed her eyelids shut as she spoke. She was so embarrassed by the lack of control she had shown. What an idiot!
"I was expecting you to say something like that. Its not in your nature to lust for revenge."
His words were so strange. He spoke as if he knew her intimately, yet he didn't even know her name. She was not frightened though, but more intrigued by the mysterious figure that stood before her. He seemed warm and kind, yet she could see only sadness in his eyes. The two stood silently for a moment while the intensity of the rain increased around them.
A forceful gust of wind wrapped around Eve's soaked shoulders, compelling her to pull her jacket tighter around her skin as she shivered. Without a change in his expression, the man slid the black trench coat off his shoulder and swept it around Eve's uncontrollably shaking body.
As he gently pulled her bedraggled red locks of hair from underneath the collar of the coat, Eve could feel his hands suddenly stiffen and pull away in great haste. She turned to face him just in time to see the fear behind his dark eyes fade away into his usual sullen expression.
"Let's get you home." Eve let a smile fill her face at his suggestion.
"It was you," Eve firmly stated as the two began walking side by side, leaving the charming snake-of-a-man and his car behind them.
Without needing an explanation for her comment, he nodded his head in affirmation. Having expected a somewhat different response, Eve was left not knowing what to say next. It was obvious the man was not going to offer any voluntary words of conversation, but Eve was determined to get as much information from him as she could. He had plagued her thoughts and imagination since that night. This was her chance to find out what he had been doing.
"Why?" Out of all the words that came to her mind, that one seemed to sum up everything the best.
"That's a question I'm not sure you want me to answer."
What kind of a response was that? Was he teasing her in some twisted way, or had she stumbled into some pernicious situation she wouldn't be able to get herself out of. She knew nothing about this enigmatic individual and the secrets he possessed. Yet, he emanated a sense of safety as she walked next to him. A feeling that was vacant from the blonde.
"Yes, I want you to answer the question. This is a big deal to me and I want you to tell me straight and simple what you were doing that night." Eve stopped to face him under the light of an overhead street lamp. In the light, she could see how pale and yet how astoundingly flawless the skin of his face was. The image was almost so unnatural Eve gave a slight jump as a feeling of dismay came over her.
"You keep your window open at night," he half-stated, half-questioned.
Caught off guard by his odd comment, Eve nodded slowly. "Yes. I guess I find the sounds of the street comforting in some way."
"Well, it's the same with me, except I'm just on the other side."
Eve only gave him a baffled look in response.
"You leave your window open when you sing..."
Eve's feelings of dismay were now morphing into a sense of pure horror with each word the man spoke.
"I don't know what exactly it was about your music, but I was drawn to it. It will take too much time to explain everything, but I didn't mean any harm. I... I just wanted to see the face that belonged to the voice." He was unsure of his words. His apology had sounded better in his mind. He hadn't had much practice with conversations over the last few decades.
Needing a moment to recover from the bizarre turn of events, Eve stepped back from the pale-faced man and out of the street lamp's circle of light. She didn't know whether to be horrified or flattered.
"I understand if you run away," he continued, not moving from the light. "I know it sounds strange. I only wanted to thank you." This was not going the way he had planned. Eve's face was an open book, and he could read the fear displayed in her eyes.
"Thank me?" Eve's back pressed up against the glass of a store window. She hadn't even realized her feet had been continuing to move backward as he spoke.
"Like I said, it would take too long to explain, but you've come to mean a great deal to me." Stupid. How could she believe a statement like that was sincere?
Eve swallowed hard as her savior took a step forward. "But you don't even know me."
"Yes I do," he quickly responded. Eve pressed her back harder to the glass at his assertive remark. "I know your purity, your strength, your pain, your love..."
"Stop!" Eve took a confronting step toward him. "Look, I don't care. So what if you've heard my music, if you've seen me in my room, if you've heard my parents fighting. You don't know me. You don't know anything about me. Just get away. Stay away from me!"
Once again, she found herself barreling down the sidewalk, water flying up behind her as she ran. Blocks flew by and her feet bled steadily. Motivated by fear, she couldn't stop. Was he following her? She couldn't bring herself to look over her shoulder. Even if she could, the rain was too dense for her to see.
With her building only a few blocks away, she picked up her pace. An empty space still existed where her parents' car normally rested. They were still out and she would be alone and free to cry when she reached her apartment.
The building's front door had never seemed so inviting. With her mind racing, Eve fumbled through the pocket of her jacket she wore beneath the man's frayed trench-coat as she ran up the front steps to the main door. Her hands were shaking violently from the freezing rain and lost hold of the key once she drew it from her pocket.
Before she could bend down, another hand reached out and wrapped itself around the silver key shimmering on the concrete steps leading up to the door. The fear she felt did not freeze her body this time, but shot an impulse down her legs to start running.
Whether her feet got tangled up in themselves or the cuts on her feet had become too much for her body to take, Eve didn't know. Whatever the reason, her exhausted legs collapsed underneath her and sent her entire body flailing down the stairs. Eve's frail body remained crumpled at the base of the concrete steps; motionless.
To Be Continued... as we near the end!!
Author: Katherine Eve
Summary: The flashback continues as Angel makes his presence known and Eve's life comes to a crossroads.
Characters: Angel and Eve
Disclaimer: The dark, brooding character of Angel is Joss Whedon's creation. I do my best to make him as brooding, and yet hopefully still interesting, as possible.
Note: We're nearing the end, and I would like to thank the readers that have followed me on my first net-published-fanfiction journey.
Chapter IX
Drops of rain splashed in the gutters as she walked. She wore only sandals which began to cut into the sides of her feet. The pain did not slow her pace, though. The flow of blood steadily increased as she forced her legs to move faster and faster. She had to escape. But what was she escaping from?
Almost running now. The buildings that surrounded her didn't look familiar anymore. The blocks and street corners flew by, but she never looked at them. She saw her feet fly out in front of her as she buried her head down and stared at the ground as she ran.
Pain filled her every limb as the concrete met her back. What had happened? She had hit something. That was clear enough. The water ran down her face and blurred her vision. A fuzzy image of a man stood in front of her. The rain pounding on the asphalt was the only sound she could hear. Where was she?
"Need any help?" His voice was soft and trustworthy.
Wiping her eyes, she shook her head. His hand reached out anyway. Reluctantly she took it and was on her feet again in a second.
"I'm sorry. I guess I didn't see you," she apologized. She couldn't bring herself to lift her head from her chest and look the stranger in the eye.
His laugh was just as soft as his voice.
"It's okay. You were going pretty fast. A strange night to be out running. And those shoes probably are the best for it either."
The puddle of rain she stood in had taken on a reddish tint from the blood of her feet.
She relaxed and let out a slight giggle. "No," she agreed. 'They probably aren't."
Looking up, the face she saw was friendly. Short blonde hair and blue eyes. Laugh lines branched out from his eyes and mouth. Handsome.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Eve." She almost jumped as she heard her own voice say the word. What was she doing? He was a stranger. She should just thank him quickly and move on.
"So what are you doing out here in the rain?" he pushed.
"Oh, just out for a walk. I love the rain. It cleanses everything. It makes the city look so beautiful,." Still talking. Still standing there and smiling at him. She couldn't seem to move her feet. What she said wasn't even the truth. She had gone out when the night was still clear. Why was she making small talk with this guy? Just because he was cute didn't mean he was safe.
"Do you know what I think makes the city look beautiful?" He paused as she shook her head. "You."
Charming. How could she walk away from him after that?
"My car is just around the corner. You've probably already caught a cold, but I could save you a walk back to wherever it is you live. What do you say?"
She was getting cold, and she couldn't walk another step in her shoes. But she didn't even know who this man was. She had ignored a lot of things her mother had told her, but not getting in a car with a stranger was one she had taken to heart. She couldn't.
"Sure," she nodded her head and smiled.
"Stay right here. I'll go pull the car around." His shoes kicked up the water on the sidewalk as he disappeared around the corner.
What was she doing? That was it. When he pulled the car around she would just tell him she changed her mind. No big deal.
Expensive. How could she refuse a ride in that piece of work? The tires rolled to a stop and the blonde reached across the car to open the passenger door.
"Come on in."
She had to stop this. "You know what, I think I can just walk. It's not very far..."
"Girl, I'm not in the mood to argue. Get in the car." Charming? Trustworthy? Suddenly all that washed away with the rain into the gutters. Why had she talked herself into this?
Looking around at the empty street, the man flung open his car door and walked around to where Eve stood. "I said get in the car!"
His hand locked around her jacket as he tried to force her through the door. Lightening flashed and thunder roared, drowning out her scream. Was this the end already?
Before she could let out another cry for help, the man's hand was ripped from her jacket as his limp, unconscious body was thrown into the street. In his place, stood her guardian angel. Tall. Broad shoulders. Eyes so dark they were almost black.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
Frozen by either the cold or her fear, she couldn't speak or move.
"Are you hurt?" his voice came again.
"No." She managed to squeeze out the word.
Black eyes. She had only seen them once before, but the image was burnt into her mind forever. No reflection had been in the mirror, but she had seen his face outside her window. The memory flashed through her mind again. Her stalker and angel; one in the same.
Her savior was the one to break the intense stare as he turned his attention to the automobile parked on the curb, its engine still running and doors still open.
"You know, I don't think a guy like that deserves a car like this." Leaning inside the passenger door, the man reached for the parking break.
Realizing what he was about to do, she shot out her hands and took hold of his free arm with all her strength. "No!" she pleaded.
He turned back around and peered down at her. She avoided contact with his eyes this time and instead studied the rest of him. His clothes were worn and stained and his pale face was smudged with dirt not even the rain could wash away. His black trench coat was so battered she couldn't see the use in wearing it at all. Homeless.
She glanced at the crumbled body lying a few feet away from her in the street and let out a sigh. She owed the man who had rescued her an explanation for her actions.
"I just think he's been taught his lesson already. I could never forgive myself for getting revenge. After all, it was my fault for getting into the situation in the first place." She squeezed her eyelids shut as she spoke. She was so embarrassed by the lack of control she had shown. What an idiot!
"I was expecting you to say something like that. Its not in your nature to lust for revenge."
His words were so strange. He spoke as if he knew her intimately, yet he didn't even know her name. She was not frightened though, but more intrigued by the mysterious figure that stood before her. He seemed warm and kind, yet she could see only sadness in his eyes. The two stood silently for a moment while the intensity of the rain increased around them.
A forceful gust of wind wrapped around Eve's soaked shoulders, compelling her to pull her jacket tighter around her skin as she shivered. Without a change in his expression, the man slid the black trench coat off his shoulder and swept it around Eve's uncontrollably shaking body.
As he gently pulled her bedraggled red locks of hair from underneath the collar of the coat, Eve could feel his hands suddenly stiffen and pull away in great haste. She turned to face him just in time to see the fear behind his dark eyes fade away into his usual sullen expression.
"Let's get you home." Eve let a smile fill her face at his suggestion.
"It was you," Eve firmly stated as the two began walking side by side, leaving the charming snake-of-a-man and his car behind them.
Without needing an explanation for her comment, he nodded his head in affirmation. Having expected a somewhat different response, Eve was left not knowing what to say next. It was obvious the man was not going to offer any voluntary words of conversation, but Eve was determined to get as much information from him as she could. He had plagued her thoughts and imagination since that night. This was her chance to find out what he had been doing.
"Why?" Out of all the words that came to her mind, that one seemed to sum up everything the best.
"That's a question I'm not sure you want me to answer."
What kind of a response was that? Was he teasing her in some twisted way, or had she stumbled into some pernicious situation she wouldn't be able to get herself out of. She knew nothing about this enigmatic individual and the secrets he possessed. Yet, he emanated a sense of safety as she walked next to him. A feeling that was vacant from the blonde.
"Yes, I want you to answer the question. This is a big deal to me and I want you to tell me straight and simple what you were doing that night." Eve stopped to face him under the light of an overhead street lamp. In the light, she could see how pale and yet how astoundingly flawless the skin of his face was. The image was almost so unnatural Eve gave a slight jump as a feeling of dismay came over her.
"You keep your window open at night," he half-stated, half-questioned.
Caught off guard by his odd comment, Eve nodded slowly. "Yes. I guess I find the sounds of the street comforting in some way."
"Well, it's the same with me, except I'm just on the other side."
Eve only gave him a baffled look in response.
"You leave your window open when you sing..."
Eve's feelings of dismay were now morphing into a sense of pure horror with each word the man spoke.
"I don't know what exactly it was about your music, but I was drawn to it. It will take too much time to explain everything, but I didn't mean any harm. I... I just wanted to see the face that belonged to the voice." He was unsure of his words. His apology had sounded better in his mind. He hadn't had much practice with conversations over the last few decades.
Needing a moment to recover from the bizarre turn of events, Eve stepped back from the pale-faced man and out of the street lamp's circle of light. She didn't know whether to be horrified or flattered.
"I understand if you run away," he continued, not moving from the light. "I know it sounds strange. I only wanted to thank you." This was not going the way he had planned. Eve's face was an open book, and he could read the fear displayed in her eyes.
"Thank me?" Eve's back pressed up against the glass of a store window. She hadn't even realized her feet had been continuing to move backward as he spoke.
"Like I said, it would take too long to explain, but you've come to mean a great deal to me." Stupid. How could she believe a statement like that was sincere?
Eve swallowed hard as her savior took a step forward. "But you don't even know me."
"Yes I do," he quickly responded. Eve pressed her back harder to the glass at his assertive remark. "I know your purity, your strength, your pain, your love..."
"Stop!" Eve took a confronting step toward him. "Look, I don't care. So what if you've heard my music, if you've seen me in my room, if you've heard my parents fighting. You don't know me. You don't know anything about me. Just get away. Stay away from me!"
Once again, she found herself barreling down the sidewalk, water flying up behind her as she ran. Blocks flew by and her feet bled steadily. Motivated by fear, she couldn't stop. Was he following her? She couldn't bring herself to look over her shoulder. Even if she could, the rain was too dense for her to see.
With her building only a few blocks away, she picked up her pace. An empty space still existed where her parents' car normally rested. They were still out and she would be alone and free to cry when she reached her apartment.
The building's front door had never seemed so inviting. With her mind racing, Eve fumbled through the pocket of her jacket she wore beneath the man's frayed trench-coat as she ran up the front steps to the main door. Her hands were shaking violently from the freezing rain and lost hold of the key once she drew it from her pocket.
Before she could bend down, another hand reached out and wrapped itself around the silver key shimmering on the concrete steps leading up to the door. The fear she felt did not freeze her body this time, but shot an impulse down her legs to start running.
Whether her feet got tangled up in themselves or the cuts on her feet had become too much for her body to take, Eve didn't know. Whatever the reason, her exhausted legs collapsed underneath her and sent her entire body flailing down the stairs. Eve's frail body remained crumpled at the base of the concrete steps; motionless.
To Be Continued... as we near the end!!