Danielle found herself in a hotel room, wearing nothing but her undergarments under the covers of the bed she was in.

"You're awake."

Daven was on the bed, watching her. He was shirtless, his trench coat hanging over a chair.

"Relax, I only wanted to see if you were hurt. Besides, I called Mrs. Ediths to tell her we were spending the night here. I got some new clothes ,"

He assured her, placing a pair of black pants and a sleek halter-neck blouse before her. His features hardened.

"Tell me the truth. Now."

She sighed. And poured out her tale.

***********************************

AFTER DAVEN'S FUNERAL

The funeral service was short, solemn and held in secret. Daven's parents died a long time ago and Daven had few friends, so only Danielle, a few policemen and Mrs. Ediths attended. Refusing a lift from anyone, Danielle decided to walk home in the rain after the service. She was so absorbed in her grief she never heard a passerby scream, the screeching tyres, nor did she see the car going at 80 towards her. She just lay there, in a pool of blood, which was quietly being cleansed by the rain.

****************

Mrs. Ediths rushed into the hospital and into Ward 130 (where Danielle was), like a torpedo .A doctor and a nurse stood over her, their faces grim.

"Is she-?"

"No. Not yet. Her pulse is irregular though. She's lost too much blood..."

The fluttering of wings startled the trio. A dove had entered the ward (A/N: Her ward was open-air), landing at Danielle's side. It cooed. The doctor continued.

"She's not going to make it..."

"You don't know Danielle,"

replied Mrs. Ediths defiantly. She ran to Danielle's side and held her cold hand and prayed hard. The doctor and the nurse shook their heads at this deluded woman and were about to leave when the dove cooed once more. In an instant, Danielle's eyes snapped open and she sat up, gasping and crying for Mrs. Ediths. Their jaws dropped. So did their notes, which fell to the floor like birds with too many wings. Nothing in their medical education prepared them for this.

************************

Daven was silent throughout the story.

"I think...the crow raises people from the grave to take revenge...while the dove-here, Pearl landed on her shoulder and rubbed her little head against Danielle's cheek- simply raises people back from the dead to continue living on until it is their appointed time to do so."

Danielle ended. She touched Daven's arm.

'Forgive me for hiding the truth."

A tear ran down her face. And then another. She began to weep. Daven used his thumb to wipe away the tears. He traced the outline of her mouth soon after.

"Shh..shh..my love don't cry..."

He whispered, hugging her gently. The dove flew off and joined Edgar, leaning its head on the latter. The crow seemed to raise its invisible eyebrows. Tilting her chin, Daven kissed her gently before sliding under the covers with her. He simply held her and whispered sweet nothings in her ear as she drifted off.