CHAPTER 7: Location: Downtown Manhattan (Black-out building)

The sound of down pouring rain howled through the dark night as the thunders roared to add the scariness. The clouds covered the entire sky, and with the darkness of its shadow . . . Manhattan would seem like the last place you would want to go at this hour. But at that same time and block, would you believe if I told you that more than 30 individuals scattered around here? Well you should, because that's what's happening.

The rain seemed to be showering heavily almost every night these days. But the strangest thing was . . . it didn't start snowing yet! The news reported that a raging storm could hit in a couple of days.

Of course, the weather isn't our story here.

After hearing from Draven that there was a situation going on downtown, I rushed to the PD and came back with a police force. The Lieutenant was highly interested in this case for some odd reason. He never did tell me about his thoughts . . . I mean . . . well . . . yeah . . . he gave me a 'piece of his mind' but . . . y'know.

When we arrived I found out that this was indeed not a lie. Draven spoke for the truth for the first time without using hard words!

At first, the kidnappers told us to give them 1 million dollars! 1 MILLION DOLLARS for four people! That's when I knew this guy was either nuts or completely crazy! I mean c'mon! People have over 20 hostages at a bank heist and they don't want One million! Anyhow, when I first heard that man crying out loud about the movement on the roof, I just knew it had to be Draven! Well most people were scared a bit at that . . . but believe it or not; I actually felt my soul in relief!

But when I heard the gun shot, boy! My heart literally sank! Well thank god that everything turned out right. The guys from the PD are now taking the burglars in. Two of the burglars are wounded badly . . . the third one is sounding crazy! He keeps exclaiming 'He was a Ghost! A GHOST I TELL YOU!'

Poor Lieutenant Betcen (A/N: I'm not sure what his name is), he must be thinking his brains out! I ignore the rain that's been splashing on my face . . . its sorta irritating. But when you're solving the crime of the of the week . . . its nothing!

"Wonder what he's talking about." States the Lieutenant, standing beside me holding his disposal cup of coffee.

"I wonder who he's talking about." I said as the young man gets forced into the van. The Lieutenant sips the last of his drink and throws the plastic cup in a near by trash can.

"Yeah well, I can't believe I'm saying this but . . . you did a job well done."

I nodded my head slightly, smiling.

I kept watching and watching until the kid, Sarah came out of the building with another young officer. She seemed pretty pale. The kidnappers must've tied her up. Darla Dohr, Sarah's mom, she came running in tears and grabbed her daughter. Both of them hugged for a while as I sighed in relief. Where could Draven be?

~~

"So that's my story, humph . . . some dead life huh?" The Crow was now gone, it was only Eric.

He and 'Spiderman' had found a comfortable spot on the roof of Blackout. The Web-slinger was clinging upside down to a wall where the thunder-growling rain couldn't reach. Eric, being the tall-dark and creepy one, stood at the brink, grasping a railing while the blowing air lifted his long-dark hair. Cold rainwater kept splashing in his face for the hundredth time this week.

"Well . . . at least . . . you returned," Spiderman started. Even with Peter's masked eye, Eric could still see sadness in his eyes.

"And?" Said the lost soul motioning his head.

"And what?"

" 'At least I returned' and . . .?"

Peter sighed before continuing: "Well . . . does everybody returns? As crow I mean." He lowered his voice at the last words.

Eric slowly walked towards his new friend, leaving the wind blowing weather and ignoring his dripping wet hair that was splattered across his face. He slowly climbed on top of the generator and crouched down face-to-face of his ally.

"I'm sorry," Eric shook his head slightly, "Only sometimes, just some people."

Spiderman's usual cheery mood changed that night, "Yeah, I guess so." He said swallowing hard.

"You were expecting your uncle to return?"

"Yeah . . ."

The Crow, now as Draven, sighed before continuing again, this kid is really having a bad time.

"Listen," He gripped Spidey's up side down head; "Your uncle isn't supposed to return . . . A crow will only bring the soul back, if things are needed to be put right. Weather it's for good or evil. But you, you are doing the right things for your uncle. Now he doesn't need to come back . . . he's soul . . . can rest in piece . . . thanks to you."

Peter agreed nodding his head. "So, how did you recognize me with my mask on?" He said lifting up the dark mood a bit.

"Smile. Well . . . when I touched your head in the vent? I saw your entire life just before me."

"You . . . can . . . read minds?"

"No! If I touch someone or something, I can visualize its deepest and darkest secrets . . . kinda like that guy from the 'Dead Zone' series." They both shared a smile but Spiderman flipped over as Eric took an a-back still on his knee.

"I'm sorry I hit you back their." Peter said positioning himself on the same wall, but vertically.

"No worries. It's not your fault."

"Well . . . now that you mention it . . . you were the one with the whole 'bad-guy-gonna-scare-ya-to-death-like-in-a-James O' Mar-novel-and-play-bad-guy' look!"

"That's my soul you're talking about! And besides you -" Eric was cutoff suddenly when a third person spoke from the shadows,

"Spiders, crows and vampires! Heh heh, what is this? A Halloween Party?"

"Brian! Long time no see!" Eric spouted out as he rolled his legs around and landed firmly on the floor.

"Hmm . . . it looks like we have yet another contestant in our little game of 'kill the bird'!"

"Peter Get out of here." Draven ordered in complete concern - he couldn't let another innocent die with him around.

" 'Peter' huh?" The Vampire smiled at the newly found information glaring at Spiderman with his evil-dead eyes.

"Nice work Draven!" Parker cursed out loud, "Now I have to re-name myself!"

Brian gave Peter a one eye-brow look, "You gonna change your name if you're alive by the end of the night!" He finished with a blood-sucking smile, which revealed his pointy teeth once again.

"PETER RUN! GET OUTTA HERE!" Eric screamed again.

"But I . . ."

"JUST GO!"

There was a slight moment of pause, but the Vampire Crow broke it with:

"Listen to your boss Spidey . . . I am dangerous y'know."

"Yeah I bet! You musta broke zillions of mirrors with that horrible, just plain horrible look!"

The Vampire tilted his head backwards, still smiling . . . but . . . he's body was fading . . . with a small 'whoosh' sound, almost as if he was . . . disappearing! A second or two later . . . The Vampire just . . . vanished! Into the thin air!

Both Eric and Spiderman were looked at each other. Surprised at this as they stood there in complete shock.

"I didn't know crow's can disappear too!"

"They don't. He's a Vampire Crow, and he's teleporting."

"Oh . . . Kay . . . I still need to do lots of home wor-"

The 'whoosh' sound happened again and . . . Christopher Brian's ghost re-appeared right in front of Spidey's face!

He grabbed Peter's neck and opened his own wide.

"NO!!!!!!"

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Author's note: Sorry I kept everyone waiting! I wrote the chapter over the weekend but I just couldn't type it in! I caught the flu! So I guess it may take another week or so for the next update . . . well it could be sooner! I dunno. Hope you forgive me. This chapter was about 8 pages long . . . I shorted out some of it . . . gonna put em' in the next chapter. I experimented with this one a bit . . . y'know the first part about Daryl? Is it okay that way? Pleaze tell me how did I do on this one. And Jesa, u helped me a lot on improving my stories! Pls keep up the reviews! Again, it helped me a lot! Oh and also, I made out 5 important things about making a story, I never heard of this before, I don't know if someone already made it or not, but the 5 most important tasks that's needed to be done when making a story:

Write Story, Type Story, Edit story, Revise story, And Submit/publish story. ;)