Disclaimer: Don't own any of the Witchblade characters, but the story idea
was mine, so are the characters that were previously unfamiliar to you...
Chapter 9 - The reckoning: Running out of time
Sara descended the stairs slowly, gun drawn in front of her. The damp air drifted towards them, carrying with it the smell of decaying wood.
"Has anyone even been here after they closed this section?" Gabriel asked from behind her.
Sara didn't reply as she moved to the bottom of the stairs while she strained to see in the darkness. They were moving further away from the opening, which was casting some light on the stairs, but the tunnel didn't go further. Reaching for her flashlight, Sara shone the small light beam in front of her, coming to rest on a heavy, old wooden door reinforced with iron.
Gabriel moved past her, giving the door a small push.
"It's locked and it doesn't look like anyone has been here in ages." He said as he turned around.
Sara looked at their surroundings. "This is the only way down. Nobody comes here, there's no sign of electricity. This is the place we were looking for."
Gabriel nodded. "You'd think so," he tried the door again. "Maybe there's another entrance? One we missed?"
Sara looked back the way they came from. "This was the closest to the subway entrance near your place." She moved back to the stairs and shone the light on them. In the thick layer of dust, there were two sets of footprints. She looked upwards again, motioning to Gabriel to come closer.
"No one has been here except us, look," she said, pointing at the sets of footprints. "Only our footprints are imprinted in the dust," she looked at Gabriel. "Do you have a map of the city with you?"
Gabriel checked his pockets. "No, but I do remember seeing one in the subway station."
Sara nodded and started towards the entrance upstairs. "The ancient text said the murders where a sign to show us where the killer is hiding, right? I'm betting there are subway entrances near the crime scenes."
"But still, where did the guy that was following me go to?" Gabriel asked, following her towards the bottom of the stairs. "He can't just have disappeared. If he didn't go this way down, it means there's another way down."
"Maybe he took the subway?" Sara joked as they continued upstairs.
********
Ian watched as Aenogh paced the room in anger. The demon had been telling him the legend for the past few hours, but had been interrupted by one of his servants.
"The Witchblade is interfering with the prophecy," Aenogh spoke in anger. "The third traitor was saved by the Wielder," he looked at Ian.
"Your plan is failing. Sara will never choose your side," Ian replied. "You won't win this battle."
Aenogh lashed out in anger; an invisible force throwing Ian against the wall. "Do not speak to me like this, traitor."
Wiping a trickle of blood away with his sleeve, he looked up defiantly. "You fear the truth." He shot back.
The door was pushed open slowly as Goloth entered quietly. "Master, the third traitor is under the protection of the Witchblade." He said as he kneeled before him. "The Wielder saw me when I went back to finish the work."
"Good," Aenogh replied, "everything is going as planned." With an evil smile, he turned to Ian. "Your precious Wielder is walking straight into my waiting arms..."
"Master, I've sent two of your followers to bring you the head of the fourth and last traitor." Goloth spoke. "I have brought back the head of the third one. While I was luring the Witchblade to us, I stumbled upon a soul who strayed away from our path."
"Good, good. Go now and prepare for the coming of the Reckoning. Slightly earlier than planned, but it will do. Do not disturb me until the Witchblade has arrived." The demon replied, dismissing Goloth.
*********
"Here's the second murder scene," Gabriel said pointing at the map, "and here is the subway entrance." He looked at Sara. "You were right."
Sara nodded. "It still doesn't tell us where they're hiding." She studied the map he was holding. "So far, we only know three of the five points; two from the murder scene and, assuming he was out to kill you, the third point is your place."
"If only we knew one of the other points," Gabriel said. "With the fourth location, we can extrapolate for the fifth location and when we have all of five of them, we would know what the middle would be."
Sara was about to answer when her phone rang. Answering it, she was greeted by Jake's voice.
"Sara? Where are you?" Her rookie partner asked. "I think I found something."
"What did you find?" Sara replied,
"I was reading through the book you brought back and although most of it could come straight from a fairy tale, I took a look at the locations of the crime scenes. Guess what?"
"What, rookie?"
"The killer likes to hide underground right? Both of the crime scenes are near an access to the subway." Jake said with excitement in his voice. "I think he is hiding somewhere down there."
"I figured the same thing, when I was chasing him down into the subway." Sara replied, looking at Gabriel, who was investigating the old subway map. Hearing Jake repeating his earlier question, she gave him her location. From what Gabriel told her and the fear she felt coming from Irons, she knew she needed Jake for back up. She would think of something to tell him later.
Sitting down on a nearby bench, she studied Gabriel as he studied the subway maps. He looked nervous, his eyes darting from left to right to keep an eye on the shadows in the abandoned subway station.
********
Ian rattled his chains, testing it once again for any weaknesses. He had been left alone while the demon went to prepare for the arrival of the Witchblade. He needed to find a way to escape his cell; a way to contact Sara and warn her of the upcoming danger.
Sighing, he yanked the chains one last time, but when they wouldn't break, he slumped against the wall. He had no idea what was happening outside of this small cell, except that the Reckoning was coming closer and closer.
Suddenly, he heard noises coming from the door; scratching noises. Could it be the wolf had actually come to find him? In that case, was Sara close by as well?
"Feanor!" Ian hissed, making an end to the scratching noises. Instead, Ian was surprised when the wolf materialized right in front of him. With a low whine, the wolf circled him as if he were studying the chains binding Ian to the wall. When he reached out with a paw and touched the chains, a bright light blinded Ian. When he opened his eyes again, the chains had melted.
Getting to his feet, he moved to the door and listened. Hearing no signs of life outside the wooden door, he opened the door and stepped into the damp hallway.
"Where are they?" he asked the wolf waiting beside him.
With a short bark, Feanor ran off into the dark tunnel. Ian looked once more around him, before he followed after the wolf.
*********
They heard the approaching footsteps before Jake appeared, ascending the stairs.
"Sorry it took me so long to get here," he spoke, panting, "but there's been a third murder." He looked at Gabriel. "Not too far from where you live."
Gabriel swallowed and wetted his lips. "How close?" His face looked pale in the dim lighting of the subway station.
"One of your neighbors..." he looked at Sara. "The man moved in recently, about a..."
"A week before Sara came to see me with that drawing." Gabriel interrupted. "Was he just a replacement because they couldn't get to me?"
"That or he was sent to follow you." Sara mused, before turning to look at Jake. "Where was he found?"
"In his apartment, so it's a small chance they attacked him because it was an opportunity," he replied.
Sara looked at Gabriel, who had turned even paler as he stared off into the shadows. "We followed someone down here who was following him, but he disappeared," she explained to Jake. "They must be hiding in the old sections that aren't in use anymore. There's an old map hanging over there," she motioned to where they had been standing before Jake arrived, "and we found a dead end down the stairs."
Jake studied the map for a moment, before he took out a folded map from his pocket. "This is a newer map of the subway system I found in the city's archives," he explained, "I marked the three locations of the murders..."
"Over here!" Gabriel called, "I found something!" Dropping to his knees, he seemed to be trying to pull something from its place. When Sara and Jake reached him, he had cleared the opening to a small crawlspace.
"Jake, can you see where this leads to?" Sara asked, switching on a flashlight and shining inside the tunnel. "It widens up ahead," she said, "enough space for a person to crawl through."
Meanwhile, Jake was looking on the maps for the small crawlspace. Frowning, he looked at the hole in the wall and back at his maps again. "I think the tunnel leads to another closed off section," he said, "and it's about ten meters long."
Nodding, Sara turned back and started to crawl into the small tunnel, followed closely by Gabriel.
"Are you sure this is a wise thing to do?" He asked, "I mean we have no idea where this will lead us too," he cried out when he banged his head at the wall. "And I can't see where we're going at all."
"Gabriel," Sara hissed as she slowed down all of the sudden, "be quiet. If anyone is waiting for us on the other side, there's no need to let them know we're coming."
They continued in silence, Sara's flashlight only giving them a small beam of light, before they saw light at the end of the tunnel.
"Doesn't look all that abandoned to me," Jake said when they were standing in the middle of a dimly lit tunnel. He looked at Sara, who had pocketed her flashlight. "Do you think who ever you chased down here took the same tunnel?"
Sara shook her head. "We would've seen him," she replied, bending down to inspect something in the dirt. "But someone has been here recently. I found footprints," she said, standing back up.
"Over here!" Gabriel called, waving at them to get their attention. When Jake and Sara had joined them, he pointed at his discovery. "That looks like blood, doesn't it?" he asked, looking at Sara.
Jake inspected the dried spots in the sand and looked up at Sara. "He's right. And there's more over there," he said, pointing at a trail of dried copper-colored spots.
**********
Ian had been following the wolf for some time now, as the canine trotted onwards. He had no idea where he was or where they were going, but since he had been freed he hadn't seen one sign of life in the dark tunnels.
Suddenly, the tunnel they had been following opened up in an intersection and Ian could hear soft chanting in the distance.
'We're running out of time,' he thought, 'The Reckoning will commence soon...' He could feel Evil present in these tunnels.
Looking at Feanor, they both decided on their course of action and took off in the opposite direction.
***********
They had followed the trail of dried blood drops into the darkening tunnels, until the lights had disappeared completely. Turning on her flash light, Sara motioned to the other to follow her into the darkness.
When they rounded a corner, Sara slowed down when she saw two eyes staring at her from the darkness. She felt the others come to a halt behind her, and motioned them to silence.
"Is that you Feanor?" She whispered, taking two steps forward. The Witchblade suddenly felt almost painful on her wrist; a strange burning sensation. The wolf hadn't been on her side when they entered the tunnels; had he been looking for Ian?
The wolf came out of the darkness, making soft growling noises. Sara noticed his eyes were focused on the Witchblade. The burning sensation became stronger.
"Sara..." Jake spoke softly behind her, moving forwards until he was standing next to her, the Witchblade in the middle. "Who is that?" Jake motioned at Feanor, who was slowly coming forward.
Before she could answer, the Witchblade reacted, transforming into the sword, making Jake take a few steps back in confusion.
Chapter 9 - The reckoning: Running out of time
Sara descended the stairs slowly, gun drawn in front of her. The damp air drifted towards them, carrying with it the smell of decaying wood.
"Has anyone even been here after they closed this section?" Gabriel asked from behind her.
Sara didn't reply as she moved to the bottom of the stairs while she strained to see in the darkness. They were moving further away from the opening, which was casting some light on the stairs, but the tunnel didn't go further. Reaching for her flashlight, Sara shone the small light beam in front of her, coming to rest on a heavy, old wooden door reinforced with iron.
Gabriel moved past her, giving the door a small push.
"It's locked and it doesn't look like anyone has been here in ages." He said as he turned around.
Sara looked at their surroundings. "This is the only way down. Nobody comes here, there's no sign of electricity. This is the place we were looking for."
Gabriel nodded. "You'd think so," he tried the door again. "Maybe there's another entrance? One we missed?"
Sara looked back the way they came from. "This was the closest to the subway entrance near your place." She moved back to the stairs and shone the light on them. In the thick layer of dust, there were two sets of footprints. She looked upwards again, motioning to Gabriel to come closer.
"No one has been here except us, look," she said, pointing at the sets of footprints. "Only our footprints are imprinted in the dust," she looked at Gabriel. "Do you have a map of the city with you?"
Gabriel checked his pockets. "No, but I do remember seeing one in the subway station."
Sara nodded and started towards the entrance upstairs. "The ancient text said the murders where a sign to show us where the killer is hiding, right? I'm betting there are subway entrances near the crime scenes."
"But still, where did the guy that was following me go to?" Gabriel asked, following her towards the bottom of the stairs. "He can't just have disappeared. If he didn't go this way down, it means there's another way down."
"Maybe he took the subway?" Sara joked as they continued upstairs.
********
Ian watched as Aenogh paced the room in anger. The demon had been telling him the legend for the past few hours, but had been interrupted by one of his servants.
"The Witchblade is interfering with the prophecy," Aenogh spoke in anger. "The third traitor was saved by the Wielder," he looked at Ian.
"Your plan is failing. Sara will never choose your side," Ian replied. "You won't win this battle."
Aenogh lashed out in anger; an invisible force throwing Ian against the wall. "Do not speak to me like this, traitor."
Wiping a trickle of blood away with his sleeve, he looked up defiantly. "You fear the truth." He shot back.
The door was pushed open slowly as Goloth entered quietly. "Master, the third traitor is under the protection of the Witchblade." He said as he kneeled before him. "The Wielder saw me when I went back to finish the work."
"Good," Aenogh replied, "everything is going as planned." With an evil smile, he turned to Ian. "Your precious Wielder is walking straight into my waiting arms..."
"Master, I've sent two of your followers to bring you the head of the fourth and last traitor." Goloth spoke. "I have brought back the head of the third one. While I was luring the Witchblade to us, I stumbled upon a soul who strayed away from our path."
"Good, good. Go now and prepare for the coming of the Reckoning. Slightly earlier than planned, but it will do. Do not disturb me until the Witchblade has arrived." The demon replied, dismissing Goloth.
*********
"Here's the second murder scene," Gabriel said pointing at the map, "and here is the subway entrance." He looked at Sara. "You were right."
Sara nodded. "It still doesn't tell us where they're hiding." She studied the map he was holding. "So far, we only know three of the five points; two from the murder scene and, assuming he was out to kill you, the third point is your place."
"If only we knew one of the other points," Gabriel said. "With the fourth location, we can extrapolate for the fifth location and when we have all of five of them, we would know what the middle would be."
Sara was about to answer when her phone rang. Answering it, she was greeted by Jake's voice.
"Sara? Where are you?" Her rookie partner asked. "I think I found something."
"What did you find?" Sara replied,
"I was reading through the book you brought back and although most of it could come straight from a fairy tale, I took a look at the locations of the crime scenes. Guess what?"
"What, rookie?"
"The killer likes to hide underground right? Both of the crime scenes are near an access to the subway." Jake said with excitement in his voice. "I think he is hiding somewhere down there."
"I figured the same thing, when I was chasing him down into the subway." Sara replied, looking at Gabriel, who was investigating the old subway map. Hearing Jake repeating his earlier question, she gave him her location. From what Gabriel told her and the fear she felt coming from Irons, she knew she needed Jake for back up. She would think of something to tell him later.
Sitting down on a nearby bench, she studied Gabriel as he studied the subway maps. He looked nervous, his eyes darting from left to right to keep an eye on the shadows in the abandoned subway station.
********
Ian rattled his chains, testing it once again for any weaknesses. He had been left alone while the demon went to prepare for the arrival of the Witchblade. He needed to find a way to escape his cell; a way to contact Sara and warn her of the upcoming danger.
Sighing, he yanked the chains one last time, but when they wouldn't break, he slumped against the wall. He had no idea what was happening outside of this small cell, except that the Reckoning was coming closer and closer.
Suddenly, he heard noises coming from the door; scratching noises. Could it be the wolf had actually come to find him? In that case, was Sara close by as well?
"Feanor!" Ian hissed, making an end to the scratching noises. Instead, Ian was surprised when the wolf materialized right in front of him. With a low whine, the wolf circled him as if he were studying the chains binding Ian to the wall. When he reached out with a paw and touched the chains, a bright light blinded Ian. When he opened his eyes again, the chains had melted.
Getting to his feet, he moved to the door and listened. Hearing no signs of life outside the wooden door, he opened the door and stepped into the damp hallway.
"Where are they?" he asked the wolf waiting beside him.
With a short bark, Feanor ran off into the dark tunnel. Ian looked once more around him, before he followed after the wolf.
*********
They heard the approaching footsteps before Jake appeared, ascending the stairs.
"Sorry it took me so long to get here," he spoke, panting, "but there's been a third murder." He looked at Gabriel. "Not too far from where you live."
Gabriel swallowed and wetted his lips. "How close?" His face looked pale in the dim lighting of the subway station.
"One of your neighbors..." he looked at Sara. "The man moved in recently, about a..."
"A week before Sara came to see me with that drawing." Gabriel interrupted. "Was he just a replacement because they couldn't get to me?"
"That or he was sent to follow you." Sara mused, before turning to look at Jake. "Where was he found?"
"In his apartment, so it's a small chance they attacked him because it was an opportunity," he replied.
Sara looked at Gabriel, who had turned even paler as he stared off into the shadows. "We followed someone down here who was following him, but he disappeared," she explained to Jake. "They must be hiding in the old sections that aren't in use anymore. There's an old map hanging over there," she motioned to where they had been standing before Jake arrived, "and we found a dead end down the stairs."
Jake studied the map for a moment, before he took out a folded map from his pocket. "This is a newer map of the subway system I found in the city's archives," he explained, "I marked the three locations of the murders..."
"Over here!" Gabriel called, "I found something!" Dropping to his knees, he seemed to be trying to pull something from its place. When Sara and Jake reached him, he had cleared the opening to a small crawlspace.
"Jake, can you see where this leads to?" Sara asked, switching on a flashlight and shining inside the tunnel. "It widens up ahead," she said, "enough space for a person to crawl through."
Meanwhile, Jake was looking on the maps for the small crawlspace. Frowning, he looked at the hole in the wall and back at his maps again. "I think the tunnel leads to another closed off section," he said, "and it's about ten meters long."
Nodding, Sara turned back and started to crawl into the small tunnel, followed closely by Gabriel.
"Are you sure this is a wise thing to do?" He asked, "I mean we have no idea where this will lead us too," he cried out when he banged his head at the wall. "And I can't see where we're going at all."
"Gabriel," Sara hissed as she slowed down all of the sudden, "be quiet. If anyone is waiting for us on the other side, there's no need to let them know we're coming."
They continued in silence, Sara's flashlight only giving them a small beam of light, before they saw light at the end of the tunnel.
"Doesn't look all that abandoned to me," Jake said when they were standing in the middle of a dimly lit tunnel. He looked at Sara, who had pocketed her flashlight. "Do you think who ever you chased down here took the same tunnel?"
Sara shook her head. "We would've seen him," she replied, bending down to inspect something in the dirt. "But someone has been here recently. I found footprints," she said, standing back up.
"Over here!" Gabriel called, waving at them to get their attention. When Jake and Sara had joined them, he pointed at his discovery. "That looks like blood, doesn't it?" he asked, looking at Sara.
Jake inspected the dried spots in the sand and looked up at Sara. "He's right. And there's more over there," he said, pointing at a trail of dried copper-colored spots.
**********
Ian had been following the wolf for some time now, as the canine trotted onwards. He had no idea where he was or where they were going, but since he had been freed he hadn't seen one sign of life in the dark tunnels.
Suddenly, the tunnel they had been following opened up in an intersection and Ian could hear soft chanting in the distance.
'We're running out of time,' he thought, 'The Reckoning will commence soon...' He could feel Evil present in these tunnels.
Looking at Feanor, they both decided on their course of action and took off in the opposite direction.
***********
They had followed the trail of dried blood drops into the darkening tunnels, until the lights had disappeared completely. Turning on her flash light, Sara motioned to the other to follow her into the darkness.
When they rounded a corner, Sara slowed down when she saw two eyes staring at her from the darkness. She felt the others come to a halt behind her, and motioned them to silence.
"Is that you Feanor?" She whispered, taking two steps forward. The Witchblade suddenly felt almost painful on her wrist; a strange burning sensation. The wolf hadn't been on her side when they entered the tunnels; had he been looking for Ian?
The wolf came out of the darkness, making soft growling noises. Sara noticed his eyes were focused on the Witchblade. The burning sensation became stronger.
"Sara..." Jake spoke softly behind her, moving forwards until he was standing next to her, the Witchblade in the middle. "Who is that?" Jake motioned at Feanor, who was slowly coming forward.
Before she could answer, the Witchblade reacted, transforming into the sword, making Jake take a few steps back in confusion.