* Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, own The Crow or its characters (i.e. Eric Draven) or anything else associated with it. James O'Barr and the nice people at Miramax do. The only thing I own here are any and all new characters and the plot. *
*insert random words* = internal monologue
[Insert random words] = the raven's thoughts/voice
insert random words = memories
Chapter 1:
Reality Bites
"People once believed that when someone dies a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can't rest. And sometimes, just sometimes the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right." -Sarah's Journal ~ The Crow
One year later on the anniversary of that tragic night, a crow, the carrier of lost souls, flies low in the sky hovering around an ancient cemetery. Its lonesome cry could be heard above the soft pitter-patter of the Mother Nature's tears. The mournful creature circled high above, as if paying its respects to those beneath the ground. Lightening streaks across the sky, illuminating the polished headstones for but a moment. Amongst the sleeping are none other then the late Erik Draven and Shelly Webster. But as the bird takes its perch, it is not these graves that he chooses, but rather the middle stone of three in the back of the burial grounds. Landing on the curved top of stone the beast gives out one more forlorn cry before pecking away the cold hard stone.
[Come, it is time to awaken.]
A low rumbling comes from deep within the ground, quiet at first then growing, as if the thunderstorm was trapped beneath the earth rather then shaking the Heavens above. The bird cocks its head, listening intently to the growing fury buried beneath the dirt. A new sound is barely audio able over the rumbling. It's the rusty screech of metal hinges opening a warped wooden door. The ground above bulges then spills to the sides as the wet soil is pushed towards the Heavens. The crow all the while perched upon its cold, dripping pedestal watches sadly through his distorted sight.
As it looks on an odd figure clad in white pulls itself clumsily out of its shallow home and on to the mud letting out a scream mixed of agony, horror, disbelief, and confusion. The figure rolls to its back and cries out once more, surprising the bird off of its perch. It re-lands and continues to watch the figure of a young woman buried unnecessarily a year ago. Yet, this figure wasn't really the woman who's named was carved cruelly into the bird's former perch. This creature was merely a shell of her. It looked and moved like her, yet held neither her memories nor her warmth.
She pulled herself to her feet unsteadily and fell back down in the muck. Calling out loudly, the beast landed next to her causing her to cower for she didn't know what this thing was that sat next to her and cocked its head as if it knew her.
[Come, follow me.]
Stupidly the woman climbed to her feet and followed the bird and its ghostly voice as it made its way on wing down an alley way away from the busy streets of the city. She stumbled most of the time and fell twice but she continued to trail this strange creature that seemed to beckon to her. It seemed to her that she had no other choice but to hearken to its words.
[This way.]
She watched it veer to the right, down another aisle and shuffled after it. When she rounded the corner she saw it was balanced on the edge of a trash can. Frowning, she stepped towards him. It glanced down into the metal bucket then looked back at her as if there was something in there that he wanted her to see. She looked down in and saw boots.
[Take them; you're going to need them later.]
With two stark white, shaking hands she took them out and clumsily pulled them over her wet feet. Shivering she shoved her hands into balls under her arms trying to conserve precious body heat.
[We must continue. Come.]
Once again, the bird and girl were on the move. Rounding another corner the black beast landed on the railing of a rundown apartment building. Cawing, the bird gazed through the broken window of the door then flew in summoning the girl to follow. The door swung open causing her to frown as she stepped through it.
[Get use to it. Miracles are going to become common place from now on.]
The odd pair carried on up the rotting stairs and headed down a deserted hall to the left, to a door that seemed vaguely familiar. Yet the woman couldn't place when she had last seen it or if she had previously seen it at all.
[Do you recognize this place?]
The girl shook her head in response to the voice that had floated through her mind.
[Go in and you shall remember.]
A white, shivering, wet hand reached out and pulled down the yellow tape that had been banned across the wooden door then pushed it open. As she walked in confusion swept over her. She didn't feel a thing other then baffled as she gazed around the small living space.
A couch lay on its back amongst dusty shreds of glass in the middle of the cobwebbed room. A door to the right led to what was once a kitchen and to the left was what was left of the bathroom. The bedroom door had several holes in it and the tattered remains of the mattress could be seen from her vantage-point.
"What happened here?"
[A tragedy that should have never been.]
The girl's eyes rested upon an object on the floor not far from her. She knelt before it, picking up the one end and brushing off the glass particles. "My skateboard" she murmured almost happily. Suddenly she was flashed back to another time, another place…
"What are you doing'?" she laughed as Patrick advanced on her hiding something behind his back. He grinned devilishly and tried to get a hold of her arm.
"I don't think so!" she giggled dropping her skateboard and backing up a bit.
"Oh well, I do!" he said finally catching her arm. He dropped a bright blue water balloon on top of her head and it burst soaking her hair and shoulders.
"I can't believe you did that!" she squealed tackling him to the ground.
The girl let out a scream of anguish, "No!" She fell against the overturned couch and was hit with another memory…
"Why can't I see you now?"
"Why can't I see you right now?"
"Because I'm…"
"I'm sitting' alone in the dark wondering' where you are"
"Wondering' what went wrong"
"And I'm…"
"I'm crying' alone in the dark"
"Crying' over you and what we had"
"You said you couldn't stay"
"You said you had to leave"
"So now as I…"
"I sit alone in the dark I think to myself…"
"Why can't I see you now?"
"So what do you think?" she asked excitedly when they had finished what she had written for their new song. He sat quietly for a second.
"Well?" she said impatiently.
"I think" he began.
"Yes?" she nearly shouted. He was stalling because he knew it'd annoy her.
"I think… we have a winner!" he finally exclaimed clapping his hands together.
"You really think so?" Phoenix asked wide-eyed. He nodded.
"Alright!" Lila laughed. She jumped up dropping her bass on the bed and threw her arms around Patrick happily.
"Oh God! Make it stop! Please!"
The more she thrashed from the images the more they came. She was being bombarded by memories so real they could've been happening right then.
To her they were.
The crow, perched upon a wooden shelf high in the corner, watched sadly as she began remembering her life. After a while her body gave out and she crashed to the floor sobbing.
"This can't be happening. This can't be real!"
Suddenly she picked her small frame up off the floor and ran towards her room where she found shattered pieces of her life thrown about. Then she ran to the kitchen where an equally appalling sight greeted her. Overwhelmed by memories and reality she grabbed a butcher knife that had been lying on the floor next to the door and aimed the point at her stomach.
[That won't help.]
Ignoring the warning that had formed in her mind she plunged the blade in up to the hilt. Pain surged through every neuron in her body as she starred down at the bloody weapon. As if to make sure it was real she pulled it out and stuck her fingers in the hole it had made. Much to her amazement the blood congealed quickly then began oozing back into the wound.
"No, this can't be real. Nonono!"
The hole closed with out a single sign of it ever existing.
"No! This can't be!"
[But it is.]
Rage filled her once gentle heart and she whipped the knife angrily at the far wall, imbedding the blade into the wood past the crank.
"What am I?" she screamed aloud.
[You are an avenger of death.]
"What's going on?" she asked the crow's disembodied voice.
[You must avenge your death to rest peacefully.]
"No!"
[Yes.]
She shook her head as she began to understand her predicament.
[You have to hurry.]
With her heart hardening and her eyes turning cold she swiftly made her way back to the bathroom and dug out her old makeup kit. In seconds her once beautiful face was transformed into that of a hateful ghost's. Running to her bedroom once more, she dug through her clothes. Pulling on a sleeveless mid-drift and pair of black jeans she was hit with more memories.
Phoenix paced back and forth nervously.
"Yo Birdie, sit down you're making me jumpy!" Austral laughed, though it was a forced laugh.
"I can't help it, I'm nervous" Phoenix replied.
"Duh!" her sister retorted.
"Oh God, I can't believe we're doing this!" Phoenix continued.
"Relax, we'll do fine" the raven haired girl assured her best friend. Lila nodded in agreement and her sister reluctantly agreed.
"Yeah, you're right," she finally admitted, "we'll do fine."
Once dressed, the woman grabbed her jacket and headed downstairs and back out into the cold, rainy, night air.
[Come, we must find your friends]
"Friends?"
She seemed confused but followed anyway. Ten minutes later the girl and her pet were back in the cemetery. Cautiously the couple waded through the unfeeling graves to the back of God's acre where they found three tablets that stood away from the rest. Much to her amazement, her pit wasn't the only one open. Fresh dirt showed on the top of the other two graves.
"What's going' on?"
Just then she heard footsteps coming from behind. Taking a quick glance over her shoulder she dove into her own grave hoping against all odds who ever it was wouldn't look there. She squatted in the darkest corner and pulled her knees to her chest.
"Why are we here?"
Her head shot up at the materialization of a new voice.
"Who's that?" she asked her companion telepathically, but she got no answer.
The footsteps stopped at the foot of her hiding place. "H-Hello?" the person with a very familiar voice called out nervously over head of her. Before she dared to answer a new set of footsteps began approach from another direction.
"Who's there?"
Another new voice floated through the air. Shaking her mind clear she searched for her comrade.
[Come, pull your self out. It is safe.]
Hesitating for only a moment she reluctantly pulled herself from her hiding place up into the sharp night air. She was dusting herself off when a dark figure to the left of her caught her eye. "Austral?" a shaky voice full of fear and disbelief asked.
"What the hell?" she wondered turning around to face the voice.
"Phoenix?" Austral asked just as confused. The small-framed figure stepped into the light. Austral gasped and took a step forward then froze. Finally, both girls cried out in surprise and ran to each other, embracing one another and shooting both into memories. After a moment they released each other and stepped back.
"I thought I'd never see you again!" Austral stuttered.
"Well, at least in this world!" Phoenix giggled nervously.
"Uhm" someone cleared their throat behind them. "May I join in?" asked a timid voice.
"Lila!" the two cried out in unison. The three girls were once more united, but for three very different reasons…
~*~