UNFiNiSHED BUSiNESS

Prologue


He didn't like to be alone.

Tucked neatly into a corner, a little boy began to cry. Tears spilled over his cherry red cheeks, just a small child who was alone and afraid of the dark. And dark it was. There was no light from the crack under the door here ; there was no nightlight plugged in near his head. Here it was dark.

Softly, a cooing came from the shadows. A gentle, soothing sound that stifled the little boy's cries by leaps and bounds. The child's ragged head turned toward the source of the noises with eyes glazed with sorrow. He hiccupped and the calming sound drifted through the night air. All he wanted was his mommy ..

And then, a pale beam of light streamed from a window that had been opened. There, perched on the sill sat a dove. Purity at it's finest and singing it's flawless song to guide the sun back to control the sky. And light it was. Here there were no clouds to shield the comforting rays ; there were no darkened pathches of sky to disrupt perfect warmth. Here it was light.

The child gurgled happily and unballed his fists to reach out to the bird, to welcome it. Somewhere outdoors a heavy metal cage was triggered and the bars closed atop the dove. It was too late to fly to freedom now.

Perched atop the roof, sitting perfectly still, a member of the police department sat. In his hands he held a lengthy rope that was tied tightly to the cage below. A smile spread across his face as the peaceful cooing died off and an anguished wail escaped the small room below.

"Corvis, you will pay," he told the white bird as he pulled at the rope. "Because I have you now, you bastard."

Erin Randall leaned against the cold stone of Lauren's grave, taking in the setting sun. How long had it been since they had left her? Less than a year she knew but it felt like much longer. Her gaze wandered over to the less noticable grave labeled Alex Corvis and smiled at the bird that was standing near it.

A crow, dark and mysterious tilted it's head and looked up at her. Of course they were supposed to be very intelligent, but this one seemed well .. a little too clever. After a moment it looked away and began to preen the sleek feathers adorning it's body.

"Well Alex, I should be going," she told the crow as she glanced down at her watch. "I'll be back tomorrow though, you know I will." With a small nod she turned to exit the cemetary. It was a beautiful morning too. The sun shone with a brilliant sparkle that it usually lacked that time of year.

Only the bravest of leaves lingered on mostly bare branches and everywhere little children were excitedly getting ready for Halloween. It was only a few days away after all. Quietly she flipped open her cell and smiled slightly at several missed calls from "Matt". He just refused to give up on her didn't he?

She was so preoccupied by the phone that she was oblivious when the crow dubbed "Alex" began to caw in a frantic manner and quietly took to flight. Powerful wings sent him airborne and off toward a tall and distant building in the very center of the city.

Someone was fucking with his soul. His reincarnation. His one shot at life again.

The dark bird perched on the maw of a large stone gargoyle and watched as a man grinned in triumph at the dove locked into a metal prison. No matter now hard the little white bird tried to back away it would never be able to escape.

And so the crow sat, anguish mixed with determination filling it's animalistic eyes. Yet somehow they contained a human element of emotion in them. He could save his pure counterpart ... he just needed some help with the job.


"Hi Matt," Erin smiled as she took a seat next to him at the booth. She just couldn't resist the temptation of a good meal when offered to her.

"Hi Erin," he replied happily. Persistence paid off and now he had the date set to perfection. "I think you'll like what I have planned for this evening." His face took on the expression of pure innocence at that point.

"Oh I will, huh?" She raised the glass of water supplied to her lips and took a sip. It was time she moved on and let the past be. She couldn't dwell on what had become of her family just under a year ago. And plus, Matt was such a sweet guy.

The waiter appeared promptly to take orders. Erin chose a simple burger even though the place was a bit classy. Moving her straw through the maze of ice in her cup she glanced up at her date.

"So, what makes you think I'm so great? You follow me around like a puppy," she finished with a grin, actually curious for the answer. He took on a light pink hue to his cheeks for a few seconds before regaining his composure.

"You're just such an interesting person I guess," he replied sheepishly, looking at his hands. It was endearing in a way that he was so shy around her when he had gone to great lengths to capture her attention.

"I've had some .. pretty damn strange experiences you could say," she laughed at the memories that hid in the back of her mind everywhere she went. They never truely left her alone. They never would either.

"Oh? What kind of experiences?" He looked at her suggestivly, all traces of his former shyness evaporating. Erin was about to respond when a soft rapping caught her attention. It was almost like the sound of rain tapping against a window.

Or a bird.

Instinctivly her head twisted to look out the window where a large jet black bird was pecking at the glass. Seeing it had her attention it spread it's wings opened it's beak in a silent caw that didn't quite penetrate the thick glass of the window.

"I'll .. be right back. I have to check on something," she told Matt, giving him an apologetic look as she gathered her purse and dashed out of the resterant. As soon as it heard the chiming of the little bell when the door was opened it took flight. It was all Erin could do to follow it and not lose sight.

After a few blocks she came to a realization that she was headed toward the graveyard. She shook her head a few times to clear the thoughts that quickly clouded her mind. But then, standing in a thick fog that had appeared from what seemed no where stood Alex Corvis.

He was half concealed by shadows like he usually was, and he was wearing that tight black sweater that clung to his slim frame like a second skin. Somehow, he hadn't changed in the time he had been gone. Tears in his clothing where he had been stabbed multiple times were still there. The burns that scarred his face from the execution still marred the skin and gave him the mask of the crow.

As she simply stared in utter shock, he smiled. A kind of welcoming smile that clearly showed he was very relieved to see her. In truth she was elated to be able to have sight of something that was familiar but she han't quite gotten over the fact that he was there. He had died, come back, and left again. What was there here that he needed?

"Hi Erin," he greeted her quietly. The words seem to knock her from the stunned trance she was in and her eyes rapidly filled with tears. Only a few moments and she was hugging him tightly, buiring her face into the crook of his neck.

He wrapped his arms loosely around her and patted her back. It was good to see that she was still okay now that no one was here left to protect her. Even he couldn't really do anything to help here from the other side.

"Alex ... how are you here? Why?"

Her voice was full of question as she wiped the tears from her face and pulled back. He looked thoughtful for a few moments, then a smile broke across his face. A sad and questioning expression reaching his eyes behind those awful markings that adorned him.

"Erin, I need your help for something ... will you help me?"


/Prologue>

I know as of now, this is a bit confusing but it's intended to be. Don't worry, I'm putting my heart and soul into this and all will be explained in the next few chapters. Oh, and as far as length is concered this story will have more than it's fair share.

Until then, take care.