okay I bet you guys thought I died or something didn't you? Well I'm alive and giving away free handouts! ^_^ *throws big pieces of salami* Okay so that was lame, but I got the point across that I'm back. This chapter was incredibly hard for me to write being that I just didn't know what to do. Thanks sooo much for all the support from you guys! It means so much to me! This chapter will probably be reloaded after a revise it. I'm not happy with the way it went, but it'll do for now. Can you tell I'm a perfectionist? Well here's the next chapter.
Chapter 2
A Fleeting Dream
It always watched her sleep.
Just like every morning it slipped into her room to brush a gentle hand across her face in a caress usually known only by lovers. Its golden rays roamed freely across the slumbering body, tickling her to consciousness.
Faye shifted underneath the sun's caresses. It's fingers trailed along her body sending a wave of heat through her veins.
An eye flicked open revealing the jade orb within. It quickly narrowed in disgust as the light flooded it in a torrent of yellow streaks.
Thin fingers inched the velvety blanket upward to tickle the crevices of her nose. A yawn forced its way free as the material was yanked from her nose to cover the rest of her face.
It couldn't be morning already.
A few minutes passed before the blanket was tossed away exposing herself to the sunlight. Eyes narrowed in defense as she surveyed the window. It was mornings like these when Faye felt that she could see every particle, every fiber of the light's existence. She could see the dust dancing within the golden rays as they squeezed through the blinds to land in long rectangles atop the bed in which she was draped across.
Faye abandoned the bed to open the blinds as another yawn found its way out. Outside the sun had replaced the clouds that had been covering the sky for the last few days. The gray puffs still marred the sky in splotches but they weren't enough to impede the day of its probable beauty.
A smile broke through the morning dulled senses to play across her features. Faye stretched in welcoming to the sun that stroked her pale skin. The sun always felt wonderful. It was probably the last remaining constant in the universe. No matter what happened to a person or no matter how much things changed and were forgotten, it was the only thing that a person could always count on. Always.
She turned away from the window in an attempt to rid herself of the smile and the thoughts that came with it. Faye's mind was clear of the thoughts on the universe's constants, but replaced with that of life. This was her life. The darkness, the emptiness, the....
The ebony haired woman glanced around as she found herself in the bathroom. She had become a zombie. She had programmed herself to continue with life's functions even when she was occupied elsewhere. It made life easier. One foot in front of the other. Continue moving. Never stopping.
Faye slid her shorts over her hips using her foot to toss the flannel material into a pile of old laundry. Her indigo tank was soon forgotten in the pile as steam filled the room. The temperature within the bathroom had already risen causing her skin to tingle in anticipation of the water. She needed the water to burn. She needed it just to know that she was still alive.
Her head pressed against the wall as the steaming water rushed against her skin. She had led a crazy life. More nights would roll by with her known as the Raven. There were no longer any nights with dreams that could hold illusions of happiness. She wasn't even punished with dreams containing memories of misery anymore. There was nothing. Each night that had followed her transformation was dreamless.
Her muscles screamed in protest to the burning liquid that was being allowed access to her body. Nerves opened to the pain accepting it as an alcoholic allowing it to dull the senses. Fingers curled inward into fists.
How long had she been standing there?
Moments later Faye found herself wrapping a towel around her waist. She had done it again. Her mind had caved in on itself.
She caught a glimpse of pinkened skin in the fogged over mirror as she exited the bathroom. Fingers glazed across the television screen relishing the cool beneath her fingers as they dragged over a switch. The meaningless babble of the tv echoed through the room as she retrieved an outfit from within a dresser.
Two anchors sat chatting and exchanging fake smiles. The woman's smile faded. "In other news, two people were killed in their home early this morning. WNRC's Dana Mitchell is outside the scene covering the breaking news. Dana."
A young woman stood in front of an apartment complex where officers and paramedics were hurrying about. "I'm here at the 'Star Gateway' building. As you can see behind me, there was a disturbance in one of the upper level rooms. A man and his wife were found murdered in their own home at approximately 3 a.m. this morning."
Faye lowered herself to the edge of the bed, ignoring the water dripping from her hair. Her eyes were locked on the screen.
"Neighbors phoned in to the lobby after hearing what could only be described as gunfire from within room 972. At this time the names of the victims are being withheld. Police have made no comment on the killer other than unconfirmed suspicions that it may have been the Raven."
Water had begun to seep into the bed leaving the blanket sodden but Faye's eyes remained on the woman. The reporter was replaced with that of a severe featured man.
His eyes bulged from their sockets, while his teeth were positioned in impossible angles. He was anything but attractive. "Yeah I was awoken by screaming in the room across the hall from mine." The man's looks weren't the only unattractive quality, but his voice contained a slow drawl. "It was kinda hard to make out what they was a sayin' but I could hear someone yellin' I hate you...you're gonna pay."
Lie.
Two things were wrong with his story, but the police would only discover one. One. If he was across the hall, then how could he understand the screaming at all? Two. There wasn't any screaming, but only Faye and the deceased would know that.
A younger woman flashed onto the screen. Her eyes were wide with unshed tears as she rambled incoherently before calming. "This is definitely a shock. I mean you hear about things like this all the time, but nothing like this ever happens anywhere around here."
She was naive. The girl had yet to be infected by the diseases of the world. Did she not realize that death was everywhere?
"I had just returned from my night shift at work when I heard gunfire in the room next door." The new speaker was a man who's age was nearly impossible to determine because of the misplaced gray strands of hair in a sea of unruly darkness. "I could hear crying and more gunfire and more crying and then there was silence. I was so scared that I called the cops after that."
Faye readjusted the towel that hung around her. Something had stirred within the shadows of her mind. It was quickly pushed to a side, but not before she could identify the words it was mumbling.
The words were lost as the interviews ended and Dana had reappeared. "As you can see the killings have many residents on edge. I was just informed that the police will be releasing the names of the victims later this evening. I will be back with more later as this story develops. Now back to you in the studio."
Develops? News reporters were ignorant people. There was nothing left to develop. What did she think was going to happen?
The broadcast was left running unheard as Faye abandoned the bed for the bathroom, her questions forgotten.
****************** ******************
The glass door pushed open allowing a myriad of aromas to invade her nostrils in a torrent of unseen colors. Each color was different from the one before it. They would attach to the previous scent becoming lost in a new odor.
The room held a peculiar mixture of people. A couple was seated in the corner, their heads propped together as they exchanged silent words. A group of men were standing near the windows, emitting trouble as though it were cologne. A family sat laughing and exchanging jokes while the youngest child cried. It's tears faded into the bustling of the shop unable to escape the strangling of society only to become just one small sound in the midst of countless.
Faye eyed the line to the counter before finally falling into step behind two old crones. Moments later the women began to flap their arms in an elaborate endeavor to frighten the other. The two women seemed more like hens squabbling over the same kernel of
corn than people.
One old woman tapped her cane against the floor. "At your age you should know better than to cut in line!"
"At my age!? Well I never! You're as old as me if a day!" The second white haired woman in a flower print dress squawked. "Besides I only reclaimed my place that you took from me!"
The two women bickered amongst themselves as the line slowly moved forward. Neither was going to admit to the fault. Both claiming the other had stepped in front.
The salesclerk sighed as the women continue to complain over who was first. "Excuse me." He shifted as though he half expected them to both lurch forward. "May I help someone?" His voice was filled with impatience as he watched with weary eyes at the spectacle before him.
Her eyes shifted between the elderly ladies. Neither had yet to notice the cashier's statement. Passing between the ladies in two brisk steps, Faye found herself at the counter placing her order. "One coffee. Black." She didn't glance over her shoulder, but she could feel their eyes against her back as they were trying to sort out what just happened.
The clerk grinned , his charcoal eyes laughing at the two women who stood a few feet behind in a sheer state of perplexion. He handed Faye a coffee and accepted her money while still maintaining a lopsided smile.
She turned to leave giving a sideways glance to the elderly women that had finally quieted. An eloquent eyebrow lifted at the women as the hot coffee burned its way down her throat. Both stared at her with eyes that had seen many things throughout their long lives. Neither had met Faye.
Muffled screams could be heard from outside as the buildings contents crammed in front of the window to catch glimpse of a man sprinting passed. Faye thrust the door open, ignoring the scene that was unfolding. It didn't matter. Besides she could stand in the middle of the street screaming while wearing a sign that identified herself, and yet no one would ever notice her. It was something that she had worked hard for.
Coffee spilt across herself as she was thrown backwards reeling for control only seconds after stepping outside. After a moment of flailing, she regained her balance to realize that her newly acquired drink was laying at her feet. She stared blankly at the white foam cup that rolled idly beside her boots. Jade eyes flicked from the puddle to her fingers that were covered with a brown steaming substance.
They didn't hurt. There wasn't even a tingle within the fingers. Funny, now she was losing the ability to feel physical pain.
Her eyes raised from her hands to the sky. The golden rays were only distant memory against her face. The pain. The warmth. It was becoming a fleeting dream.
"Dammit! A man shouted between pants. "You caused him to get away!" There was a pause as the man gasped for breath, but only caused himself to cough. "Uh...well guess it was me...sorry I guess." He was obviously a man that rarely admitted his faults.
"Faye!?" Her head remained in position as her eyes lowered to the man.
She had been right.
Spike was alive.
"What the hell am I apologizing to you for? You think you're gonna get half the bounty don't you?" It was the same fuzzy green hair. The same cinnamon eyes. It was the same Spike. She waited for the hurt and anger. She waited for the confusion and happiness to flood her. It never came.
"No." She pulled her navy blue trench coat closer, her fingers falling into the pockets.
He shrugged obviously not aware of the circumstances for her disappearance. "Jet finally gets rid of you, and then him and Ed decide they want you back."
They wanted her back? Why would they want that?
"Do you know how hard it is to find you?
It was that way for a reason.
"They've been looking for you for a long time." His eyes ran her over skeptically. "They said something about you being gone for nearly two years now, but I guess that means you actually made two weeks without eating up all the food."
Yes. Nearly two years. It had been a long time.
"Faye?"
She blinked glancing around wildly, realizing that she hadn't spoken in quite awhile. "What?"
A cocky grin found its way to his lips as his hands lowered into his pockets in the position he usually held when discussing himself. "Are you mad at me?"
She couldn't contain the snort that erupted from her lips before she replied. "Should I be?"
Faye shifted underneath his gaze. Even a child could tell that he was picking up changes within her. "Well uh..." He rubbed the back of his head, unsure of how to continue. "Well I don't want you, but Jet's my friend and if he and Ed want you back, then I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't try to bring you back. You wanna just go somewhere and talk it over?"
Her eyes trailed back to the ground where her cup lay in ruins. "I've already had coffee." She turned stepping into the crowd of people moving along the streets. Faye found herself disappearing as she walked amongst the group. Maybe she needed a change. Perhaps she could take some time off from being the Raven and allow the world time to forget her. Her feet slowed beneath her as she found herself turning to face Spike. "Well, are you coming?"
Sooo that's it for this chapter! Umm next chapter should be up soon, since I think I have some idea of what's going to happen. I've got an ending and a few ideas of events I want in the story and some subplots, but I'm in desperate need of some ideas. I don't know how to tie things in. Well, from what I'm planning this is probably going to turn into a very very long fic. I don't mean to, I just get way too detailed and it just gets longer and longer. Well..that's it for now. Next chapter "Fire and Ice" should be out shortly.
Chapter 2
A Fleeting Dream
It always watched her sleep.
Just like every morning it slipped into her room to brush a gentle hand across her face in a caress usually known only by lovers. Its golden rays roamed freely across the slumbering body, tickling her to consciousness.
Faye shifted underneath the sun's caresses. It's fingers trailed along her body sending a wave of heat through her veins.
An eye flicked open revealing the jade orb within. It quickly narrowed in disgust as the light flooded it in a torrent of yellow streaks.
Thin fingers inched the velvety blanket upward to tickle the crevices of her nose. A yawn forced its way free as the material was yanked from her nose to cover the rest of her face.
It couldn't be morning already.
A few minutes passed before the blanket was tossed away exposing herself to the sunlight. Eyes narrowed in defense as she surveyed the window. It was mornings like these when Faye felt that she could see every particle, every fiber of the light's existence. She could see the dust dancing within the golden rays as they squeezed through the blinds to land in long rectangles atop the bed in which she was draped across.
Faye abandoned the bed to open the blinds as another yawn found its way out. Outside the sun had replaced the clouds that had been covering the sky for the last few days. The gray puffs still marred the sky in splotches but they weren't enough to impede the day of its probable beauty.
A smile broke through the morning dulled senses to play across her features. Faye stretched in welcoming to the sun that stroked her pale skin. The sun always felt wonderful. It was probably the last remaining constant in the universe. No matter what happened to a person or no matter how much things changed and were forgotten, it was the only thing that a person could always count on. Always.
She turned away from the window in an attempt to rid herself of the smile and the thoughts that came with it. Faye's mind was clear of the thoughts on the universe's constants, but replaced with that of life. This was her life. The darkness, the emptiness, the....
The ebony haired woman glanced around as she found herself in the bathroom. She had become a zombie. She had programmed herself to continue with life's functions even when she was occupied elsewhere. It made life easier. One foot in front of the other. Continue moving. Never stopping.
Faye slid her shorts over her hips using her foot to toss the flannel material into a pile of old laundry. Her indigo tank was soon forgotten in the pile as steam filled the room. The temperature within the bathroom had already risen causing her skin to tingle in anticipation of the water. She needed the water to burn. She needed it just to know that she was still alive.
Her head pressed against the wall as the steaming water rushed against her skin. She had led a crazy life. More nights would roll by with her known as the Raven. There were no longer any nights with dreams that could hold illusions of happiness. She wasn't even punished with dreams containing memories of misery anymore. There was nothing. Each night that had followed her transformation was dreamless.
Her muscles screamed in protest to the burning liquid that was being allowed access to her body. Nerves opened to the pain accepting it as an alcoholic allowing it to dull the senses. Fingers curled inward into fists.
How long had she been standing there?
Moments later Faye found herself wrapping a towel around her waist. She had done it again. Her mind had caved in on itself.
She caught a glimpse of pinkened skin in the fogged over mirror as she exited the bathroom. Fingers glazed across the television screen relishing the cool beneath her fingers as they dragged over a switch. The meaningless babble of the tv echoed through the room as she retrieved an outfit from within a dresser.
Two anchors sat chatting and exchanging fake smiles. The woman's smile faded. "In other news, two people were killed in their home early this morning. WNRC's Dana Mitchell is outside the scene covering the breaking news. Dana."
A young woman stood in front of an apartment complex where officers and paramedics were hurrying about. "I'm here at the 'Star Gateway' building. As you can see behind me, there was a disturbance in one of the upper level rooms. A man and his wife were found murdered in their own home at approximately 3 a.m. this morning."
Faye lowered herself to the edge of the bed, ignoring the water dripping from her hair. Her eyes were locked on the screen.
"Neighbors phoned in to the lobby after hearing what could only be described as gunfire from within room 972. At this time the names of the victims are being withheld. Police have made no comment on the killer other than unconfirmed suspicions that it may have been the Raven."
Water had begun to seep into the bed leaving the blanket sodden but Faye's eyes remained on the woman. The reporter was replaced with that of a severe featured man.
His eyes bulged from their sockets, while his teeth were positioned in impossible angles. He was anything but attractive. "Yeah I was awoken by screaming in the room across the hall from mine." The man's looks weren't the only unattractive quality, but his voice contained a slow drawl. "It was kinda hard to make out what they was a sayin' but I could hear someone yellin' I hate you...you're gonna pay."
Lie.
Two things were wrong with his story, but the police would only discover one. One. If he was across the hall, then how could he understand the screaming at all? Two. There wasn't any screaming, but only Faye and the deceased would know that.
A younger woman flashed onto the screen. Her eyes were wide with unshed tears as she rambled incoherently before calming. "This is definitely a shock. I mean you hear about things like this all the time, but nothing like this ever happens anywhere around here."
She was naive. The girl had yet to be infected by the diseases of the world. Did she not realize that death was everywhere?
"I had just returned from my night shift at work when I heard gunfire in the room next door." The new speaker was a man who's age was nearly impossible to determine because of the misplaced gray strands of hair in a sea of unruly darkness. "I could hear crying and more gunfire and more crying and then there was silence. I was so scared that I called the cops after that."
Faye readjusted the towel that hung around her. Something had stirred within the shadows of her mind. It was quickly pushed to a side, but not before she could identify the words it was mumbling.
The words were lost as the interviews ended and Dana had reappeared. "As you can see the killings have many residents on edge. I was just informed that the police will be releasing the names of the victims later this evening. I will be back with more later as this story develops. Now back to you in the studio."
Develops? News reporters were ignorant people. There was nothing left to develop. What did she think was going to happen?
The broadcast was left running unheard as Faye abandoned the bed for the bathroom, her questions forgotten.
****************** ******************
The glass door pushed open allowing a myriad of aromas to invade her nostrils in a torrent of unseen colors. Each color was different from the one before it. They would attach to the previous scent becoming lost in a new odor.
The room held a peculiar mixture of people. A couple was seated in the corner, their heads propped together as they exchanged silent words. A group of men were standing near the windows, emitting trouble as though it were cologne. A family sat laughing and exchanging jokes while the youngest child cried. It's tears faded into the bustling of the shop unable to escape the strangling of society only to become just one small sound in the midst of countless.
Faye eyed the line to the counter before finally falling into step behind two old crones. Moments later the women began to flap their arms in an elaborate endeavor to frighten the other. The two women seemed more like hens squabbling over the same kernel of
corn than people.
One old woman tapped her cane against the floor. "At your age you should know better than to cut in line!"
"At my age!? Well I never! You're as old as me if a day!" The second white haired woman in a flower print dress squawked. "Besides I only reclaimed my place that you took from me!"
The two women bickered amongst themselves as the line slowly moved forward. Neither was going to admit to the fault. Both claiming the other had stepped in front.
The salesclerk sighed as the women continue to complain over who was first. "Excuse me." He shifted as though he half expected them to both lurch forward. "May I help someone?" His voice was filled with impatience as he watched with weary eyes at the spectacle before him.
Her eyes shifted between the elderly ladies. Neither had yet to notice the cashier's statement. Passing between the ladies in two brisk steps, Faye found herself at the counter placing her order. "One coffee. Black." She didn't glance over her shoulder, but she could feel their eyes against her back as they were trying to sort out what just happened.
The clerk grinned , his charcoal eyes laughing at the two women who stood a few feet behind in a sheer state of perplexion. He handed Faye a coffee and accepted her money while still maintaining a lopsided smile.
She turned to leave giving a sideways glance to the elderly women that had finally quieted. An eloquent eyebrow lifted at the women as the hot coffee burned its way down her throat. Both stared at her with eyes that had seen many things throughout their long lives. Neither had met Faye.
Muffled screams could be heard from outside as the buildings contents crammed in front of the window to catch glimpse of a man sprinting passed. Faye thrust the door open, ignoring the scene that was unfolding. It didn't matter. Besides she could stand in the middle of the street screaming while wearing a sign that identified herself, and yet no one would ever notice her. It was something that she had worked hard for.
Coffee spilt across herself as she was thrown backwards reeling for control only seconds after stepping outside. After a moment of flailing, she regained her balance to realize that her newly acquired drink was laying at her feet. She stared blankly at the white foam cup that rolled idly beside her boots. Jade eyes flicked from the puddle to her fingers that were covered with a brown steaming substance.
They didn't hurt. There wasn't even a tingle within the fingers. Funny, now she was losing the ability to feel physical pain.
Her eyes raised from her hands to the sky. The golden rays were only distant memory against her face. The pain. The warmth. It was becoming a fleeting dream.
"Dammit! A man shouted between pants. "You caused him to get away!" There was a pause as the man gasped for breath, but only caused himself to cough. "Uh...well guess it was me...sorry I guess." He was obviously a man that rarely admitted his faults.
"Faye!?" Her head remained in position as her eyes lowered to the man.
She had been right.
Spike was alive.
"What the hell am I apologizing to you for? You think you're gonna get half the bounty don't you?" It was the same fuzzy green hair. The same cinnamon eyes. It was the same Spike. She waited for the hurt and anger. She waited for the confusion and happiness to flood her. It never came.
"No." She pulled her navy blue trench coat closer, her fingers falling into the pockets.
He shrugged obviously not aware of the circumstances for her disappearance. "Jet finally gets rid of you, and then him and Ed decide they want you back."
They wanted her back? Why would they want that?
"Do you know how hard it is to find you?
It was that way for a reason.
"They've been looking for you for a long time." His eyes ran her over skeptically. "They said something about you being gone for nearly two years now, but I guess that means you actually made two weeks without eating up all the food."
Yes. Nearly two years. It had been a long time.
"Faye?"
She blinked glancing around wildly, realizing that she hadn't spoken in quite awhile. "What?"
A cocky grin found its way to his lips as his hands lowered into his pockets in the position he usually held when discussing himself. "Are you mad at me?"
She couldn't contain the snort that erupted from her lips before she replied. "Should I be?"
Faye shifted underneath his gaze. Even a child could tell that he was picking up changes within her. "Well uh..." He rubbed the back of his head, unsure of how to continue. "Well I don't want you, but Jet's my friend and if he and Ed want you back, then I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't try to bring you back. You wanna just go somewhere and talk it over?"
Her eyes trailed back to the ground where her cup lay in ruins. "I've already had coffee." She turned stepping into the crowd of people moving along the streets. Faye found herself disappearing as she walked amongst the group. Maybe she needed a change. Perhaps she could take some time off from being the Raven and allow the world time to forget her. Her feet slowed beneath her as she found herself turning to face Spike. "Well, are you coming?"
Sooo that's it for this chapter! Umm next chapter should be up soon, since I think I have some idea of what's going to happen. I've got an ending and a few ideas of events I want in the story and some subplots, but I'm in desperate need of some ideas. I don't know how to tie things in. Well, from what I'm planning this is probably going to turn into a very very long fic. I don't mean to, I just get way too detailed and it just gets longer and longer. Well..that's it for now. Next chapter "Fire and Ice" should be out shortly.