Yippy skippy I wrote another chapter! I've really absolutely hated writing
this chapter. There were a few things in it that needed to be said, but I
didn't know how to end it the way I had planned without changing the
storyline just a bit, so here this is. I'm ready for the next chap cause at
least I've got most of it written already.
Big thanks to all those who've been supporting me! You guys are just so darn kewl! ^_^ Without you guys, I think I'd probably be locked in my room rewritting kumbaya over and over again. Special thanks to Blooknaburg for helping me get over my writer's block. The well is no longer dry. :P Thanks so much everybody and I hope this chapter doesn't disapoint anybody too much.
Chapter 5
Shaken in a Box
She was losing control.
Even her will was unable to gain power over the pieces flapping about inside the tin box of her entirety. She had spent time learning to manipulate those around her so that she could maintain a form of stability, but now all that was left was uncertainty. Nothing was going to be stable, for the Bebop wouldn't be so easily manipulated.
It was almost like everything she had created had been made to be broken. There had been so much care in creating a life that no one could ever take away. No one would ever be able to know the truth, but once long ago somewhere in her old life Faye had heard someone say that the things a person worked the most for were often the ones that were taken away.
No matter how hard she tried.
Everything was falling glass.
It was going to shatter.
How many more times would she simply disappear? No, it was too late for her to quit. There wasn't any backing away. She was on a course of collision with everything she had fought to gain as the price of failure, but life was always one large gamble, and she wasn't about to fold.
Another languid drag of her cigarette sent a long column of smoke spiraling towards the ceiling. Its mass less gray form hovered watchfully, the fringed edges beginning to shift, releasing the newly acquired memories from the depths of her mind.
For a moment Faye had just stood there, mind reeling for a way to change the events. With her new identity, she was supposed to be clever. She was supposed to be a master of escaping, but she knew it would be difficult to escape the Bebop. They wouldn't be so easily fooled.
Jet had simply nodded his approval at Spike's choice of bounty while Ed's eyes rounded into golden coins. They were content with his choice of bounty. It was just another bounty. One like every other, to them at least.
Finding her words had taken longer than she had expected. At first she had wondered whether he was already aware, but it was impossible. She had been too careful. "Why him?" A special stress was given to the gender.
Spike shrugged and simply questioned her in return, his words more from annoyance at her challenge than actual suspicion. "Why not?"
Her mind had made everything more difficult than any of it actually was. "No reason."
"What do you know about him?"
In a gesture of innocence she crossed her arms and shrugged. "Nothing that hasn't already been said on the news."
Much of the questioning ended when the Black Dog spoke up, his face contorted into a mixed expression of annoyance and excited ness. "Whoever this guy is, he knows what he's doing." All emotions that were present a moment before were replaced with that of a faraway look as though he was rerunning an image through his mind. "He's been able to keep all info on himself to a minimum."
Under different circumstances she might have taken the statement as a compliment, but with the ones present.it really hadn't been directed to her. It had been directed to someone who didn't exist outside of battle.
"I'm gonna go find out what I can from the victims' families." Jet kneaded his lower back, eyes landing on the girl at lying in a heap at his feet. "Ed, you stay and see if you can find anything that hasn't been stated in the crime scene records. Then check out the personnel files at the businesses and see if you can find a link in missing workers around the time that the murders started."
From the ground Ed had given an over exaggerated wave, her legs swinging around wildly in the air as she chirped. "Alrighty!"
Spike from his newly acquired position leaning against the door, one arm pressing against the door frame for balance while the other bent upward atop his shoulder, its fingers hooked inside his jacket's collar. The unworn material swayed as he pulled away from the door. "A little snooping around the actual places might pay off."
Jaw set and arms flailing, Faye had been the picture of her former self in disgruntled humor. "I guess I'm supposed to go to the usual hangouts and see what the lowlife bounties know about him!"
It hadn't been a total lie. Part of her wanted to learn what was known about her other self. It would give her the knowledge necessary for improvement, but so far it was exactly as she had worked to make it. No information.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a thick drawling voice that belonged to a man somewhere in his thirties. "I know who you are."
She lost her place. Her mind blurring creating a dense fog that separated her from her counter part in a honed preparation for a danger that might make itself known.
The drunk leaned against her, one arm finding its way to the counter for support. "You're the woman of my dreams."
False alarm.
Without hindrance the fog lifted, danger no longer living in the air. A tiny voice from somewhere inside her, wanted to laugh at the defensiveness that she seemed to be leaping into recently.
"You look like a smart gal, so you probably already know who I am." A sloppy grin filtered to his lips while one of his hands slowly wandered up her shoulder. Calloused fingers scrapped roughly over the curves of her skin.
"No. I don't." Huffing her cigarette disinterestedly, Faye shrugged the probing hand away.
His tongue ran the length of his lower lip, eyes focused intently on the skin his hands were forced to leave. "Sure you do. I'm famous."
It was time to end the conversation. Lips split into a challenging feral smile. "If you're so famous then why don't I know who you are?"
It was obvious that he hadn't expected her to rebuke his claim. It had probably been a line that caused many women to fall at his feet as though the goddess Venus herself had chastened her with a spell. "Ouch..well uh, you do realize that if I told you, then I'd have to kill you."
Losing interest and unable to quiet his ramblings of fame, the woman began wondering if there was a chance that he could contain some information.
"Well, only because" His eyes darted around suspiciously before he leaned forward, a hand cupping around his mouth in childlike manner. Voice dropped and breath of liquor, the words he spoke wasn't what she was expecting. "I'm known as Raven around here."
Faye nearly laughed openly at the absurdity of the lie. It was ironic that fate had allowed her to be the target of his claims. He was adopting her lie. They were both being caught in her web of lies.
Feigning intrigue, a sultry smile flashed to the drunk. "Really."
"Yeah." His eyes never strayed from the path they were tracing appreciatively along her body. "I take what I want without anyone knowing until its too late. It's usually life and uh." Rusty brown locks dove outstretched towards his eyes, that gleamed a rich chocolate in the dimly lit bar. "I'm thinking about taking yours."
It was a strange moment, staring into carefree eyes that belonged to someone who claimed to be a murderer. It wasn't a position to be taken lightheartedly, and yet men were actually using her other persona as a pick up line? He wasn't worth the bother for information.
Having spun on her backside and now facing the room, his words vanished from her ever present void. Soft yellow light was emitted from several small fixtures that were suspended from the ceiling by copper chains over the center of round wooden tables. A slender man bent over the pool table preparing for his shot, the stick jutting out behind him before a crack split through the room. Tables were littered with empty glasses where only one person was seated, lost in their own misery.
At the center of the room was a larger table, at which four men were seated amusing themselves with a game of cards, their eyes flashing towards her between sentences. Laughter ruptured through the group, glasses were raised and each man downed another round that was coaxed on by the man directly ahead. He snorted, eyes never leaving hers.
Faye found herself standing over the circle of men, all false personality gone. She ignored the other men, targeting the one who seemed to be in control. He hunched forward in his chair, a cascade of blond brushing against his shoulders, while stormy gray eyes stared up amusedly at her. His features were made severe by a narrow scar that extended from his jaw to somewhere beneath the collar of his loose shirt and jacket. The man blew smoke from his nose while holding three cards loosely between his fingers, another two were being slid across the table towards him.
She was directly to the point. "You've got something I need."
The men at the table dropped their heads, each snickering at their own obscene thoughts that they pulled from her statement. Reclining the leader smirked. "Yeah well I've got something that a lot of women need." Glasses were raised to his comment and another drink was downed between the laughter of the men.
"I need some information..." She continued unaffected by the leers and comments she received. "on the mercenary known as Raven."
Another cloud of smoke left his nose. "I don't just give away information."
"What's the price?"
The two guys flanking him leaned over, whispering inaudible words into his ears, receiving a nod and a grin for payment. When he returned his attention to her, his eyes held a mischievous glint. "How about we play for it?"
Faye narrowed her eyes. "I don't have any money."
He motioned to the man on his left. "Well Dias here was just about to quit anyways, so you can just play his chips." A chair was abandoned in front of her, its occupant bowing over exaggeratedly. "The boys are gonna keep playin' just to make it interestin', all you've gotta do is win all of mine and you get your information, but of course you can't keep the pile."
"Of course."
"Achilles. Just call me Achilles." He winked at her, smoke sneaking through his teeth that grinned suggestively at her figure.
What was left of the gambler inside her could easily overtake Achilles. She seated herself across from him, raking Dias's chips across the table to herself while no longer caring about the eyes that followed her body. It was going to be an easy game.
Hand after hand she slowly chiseled away at the group's hope of victory, the men moaning in defeat as they tossed their cards atop the table. Each coal and fire colored card hand brought her closer to victory. Chips of black and white began piling in front of her, forcing a player to drop out of the game. Those who dropped out turned to booze for comfort as they watched their friends gradually succumb to the same fate.
Strait. Full House. Four of a Kind. Strait. Her rivals hadn't had a chance from the start. It was the final hand, Achilles was on his final foot. Five coal face cards beamed up at her, even in the shadows that threatened to claim the entirety of the room. Tiny gold embers drifted to the table unnoticed, the ashes a grave for the small stub that remained from her cigarette, as she laid each card beside her bulky pile of chips.
Intakes of breath filled the room along with the realization that the game was over, Faye had won.
She watched Achilles shake his head, eyes staring in what could only be described as disbelief at the cards that were lying in the center of the table.
"Hmph.alright." At that moment the chair squeaked and Faye found stormy gray eyes inches from her own. "This is what I know. He's a thread of existence. He is but he isn't. This guy can just totally disappear from existence. It's almost like he doesn't exist. He's just really good at disappearing. Word is that he's in some sort of high society and has all these guys working on the inside to keep anyone from finding him."
A pause followed as Achilles' eyes trailed to a man who had just seated himself at the bar. "At first all the murders were in random places, but recently they've all been getting closer to each other. It's almost like when you see clouds and can the feel the moisture on your hand, but it's not actually raining. Raven's been getting all his murders closer in time, and it seems like time for rain." Deep gray eyes flicked back to the man who just entered. "There's something strange about him."
Faye watched him from the corners of her eyes, how he sat by himself with nothing to drink. Odd. Why would anyone go to bar if they weren't there to drink or socialize? "What?"
"He's only here once or twice a month or so." The man reclined in his chair, staring once again at the cards that had defeated him. "Come to think of it he's always here the night before and after someone's killed."
It was obviously a coincidence.
She gave a nod to her informant and stood turning towards the exit. "Thanks."
"Hey!"
Pausing, she glanced back to the man who was busy raking the chip back to his side of the table. "Leave Raven alone, this guy's totally fucked in the head."
She wouldn't have used that terminology, but it was probably the truth.
Words that didn't mean a thing slipped from her lips just moments before she could feel the sticky night air against her face. "Too late for that."
************************************************************************
It had been a quiet flight through the atmosphere into space. Even the vastness of stars that had met her was filled with a velvety silence that was thick and complete beyond any she had ever known.
At first sight of the Bebop, everything was meaningless as though nothing was really ever there at all. Her mind was falling through a gray fog only because there was no where else to go and no way to slow the decent, as she coasted the Redtail in for an easy landing that had become second nature.
Every footfall seemed unnaturally loud on the metal floor of the hanger, where only one other ship was parked besides her Redtail.
Faye stepped inside the door to the inner workings of the Bebop, her eyes scanning for signs of movement. Sizzling could be heard from the kitchen were Jet was undoubtedly preparing the evening's dinner, that sent a spicy metallic odor into the air.
Passing the kitchen without so much as a glance, she made her way to her room where oddly enough the door was cracked. Darkness clung to the edges fighting for release from the small room. It had probably been Ed, wanting to play a prank on her.
In any case, one hand gently nudged the door open, her mind already telling her to step back. It was nearly impossible to make out anything other than the mishapen outlines of objects inside.
Nothing. Only seconds after she clicked the light on did she change her mind. Lying on the center of her bed was a pearl envelope, with black sigils. Briefly she studied a sigil, the form of a black bird with its wings outstretched, ready for flight.
A raven.
Somebody knew. It couldn't have been a coincidence.
Time lapsed itself and Faye found herself in the kitchen doorway in search of answers to questions that were setting up camp inside her. "Hey Jet. Did anyone come on board today?"
"No. Not that I know of." Abscently swishing the contents in his frying pan to receive a hissing sound, Jet gave a dubious glance over his shoulder towards the woman. "Why?"
"No reason." Faye had already whirled back towards her room before she had bearly finished speaking. Whoever it was had slinked on board without anyone ever knowing.
Only one step inside her room this time and she had already shut the door, her back pressing against it for a cold comfort, eyes locked on the envelope that was mocking her from across the room. It was a piece of paper that could end everything for her.
Kneeling next to her bed, Faye split the corners and shook a folded slip out from within the envelope. Her mind reading than rereading the note from inside.
It was easy for her to know what the note meant.
Everything was about to be shaken in a box.
In my over used, end of chapter words..whatdya think? ^_^ On a side note for anybody that's still wondering, this will eventually turn into a Faye/Spike fic..I think :P Well college is fun, but tough. My English professor gave me a D on something I spent around two weeks working on! Grrrr..he went from being so kewl to just something I don't like. I just thought I'd say that, so you know where I am if I can't update too soon; working on class stuff that is. LOL I'm just you're average girl trying to make it on a favorites list...aww gee now that I've said it, I feel kinda bad. I think I'll go cry out of remorse now.
Big thanks to all those who've been supporting me! You guys are just so darn kewl! ^_^ Without you guys, I think I'd probably be locked in my room rewritting kumbaya over and over again. Special thanks to Blooknaburg for helping me get over my writer's block. The well is no longer dry. :P Thanks so much everybody and I hope this chapter doesn't disapoint anybody too much.
Chapter 5
Shaken in a Box
She was losing control.
Even her will was unable to gain power over the pieces flapping about inside the tin box of her entirety. She had spent time learning to manipulate those around her so that she could maintain a form of stability, but now all that was left was uncertainty. Nothing was going to be stable, for the Bebop wouldn't be so easily manipulated.
It was almost like everything she had created had been made to be broken. There had been so much care in creating a life that no one could ever take away. No one would ever be able to know the truth, but once long ago somewhere in her old life Faye had heard someone say that the things a person worked the most for were often the ones that were taken away.
No matter how hard she tried.
Everything was falling glass.
It was going to shatter.
How many more times would she simply disappear? No, it was too late for her to quit. There wasn't any backing away. She was on a course of collision with everything she had fought to gain as the price of failure, but life was always one large gamble, and she wasn't about to fold.
Another languid drag of her cigarette sent a long column of smoke spiraling towards the ceiling. Its mass less gray form hovered watchfully, the fringed edges beginning to shift, releasing the newly acquired memories from the depths of her mind.
For a moment Faye had just stood there, mind reeling for a way to change the events. With her new identity, she was supposed to be clever. She was supposed to be a master of escaping, but she knew it would be difficult to escape the Bebop. They wouldn't be so easily fooled.
Jet had simply nodded his approval at Spike's choice of bounty while Ed's eyes rounded into golden coins. They were content with his choice of bounty. It was just another bounty. One like every other, to them at least.
Finding her words had taken longer than she had expected. At first she had wondered whether he was already aware, but it was impossible. She had been too careful. "Why him?" A special stress was given to the gender.
Spike shrugged and simply questioned her in return, his words more from annoyance at her challenge than actual suspicion. "Why not?"
Her mind had made everything more difficult than any of it actually was. "No reason."
"What do you know about him?"
In a gesture of innocence she crossed her arms and shrugged. "Nothing that hasn't already been said on the news."
Much of the questioning ended when the Black Dog spoke up, his face contorted into a mixed expression of annoyance and excited ness. "Whoever this guy is, he knows what he's doing." All emotions that were present a moment before were replaced with that of a faraway look as though he was rerunning an image through his mind. "He's been able to keep all info on himself to a minimum."
Under different circumstances she might have taken the statement as a compliment, but with the ones present.it really hadn't been directed to her. It had been directed to someone who didn't exist outside of battle.
"I'm gonna go find out what I can from the victims' families." Jet kneaded his lower back, eyes landing on the girl at lying in a heap at his feet. "Ed, you stay and see if you can find anything that hasn't been stated in the crime scene records. Then check out the personnel files at the businesses and see if you can find a link in missing workers around the time that the murders started."
From the ground Ed had given an over exaggerated wave, her legs swinging around wildly in the air as she chirped. "Alrighty!"
Spike from his newly acquired position leaning against the door, one arm pressing against the door frame for balance while the other bent upward atop his shoulder, its fingers hooked inside his jacket's collar. The unworn material swayed as he pulled away from the door. "A little snooping around the actual places might pay off."
Jaw set and arms flailing, Faye had been the picture of her former self in disgruntled humor. "I guess I'm supposed to go to the usual hangouts and see what the lowlife bounties know about him!"
It hadn't been a total lie. Part of her wanted to learn what was known about her other self. It would give her the knowledge necessary for improvement, but so far it was exactly as she had worked to make it. No information.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a thick drawling voice that belonged to a man somewhere in his thirties. "I know who you are."
She lost her place. Her mind blurring creating a dense fog that separated her from her counter part in a honed preparation for a danger that might make itself known.
The drunk leaned against her, one arm finding its way to the counter for support. "You're the woman of my dreams."
False alarm.
Without hindrance the fog lifted, danger no longer living in the air. A tiny voice from somewhere inside her, wanted to laugh at the defensiveness that she seemed to be leaping into recently.
"You look like a smart gal, so you probably already know who I am." A sloppy grin filtered to his lips while one of his hands slowly wandered up her shoulder. Calloused fingers scrapped roughly over the curves of her skin.
"No. I don't." Huffing her cigarette disinterestedly, Faye shrugged the probing hand away.
His tongue ran the length of his lower lip, eyes focused intently on the skin his hands were forced to leave. "Sure you do. I'm famous."
It was time to end the conversation. Lips split into a challenging feral smile. "If you're so famous then why don't I know who you are?"
It was obvious that he hadn't expected her to rebuke his claim. It had probably been a line that caused many women to fall at his feet as though the goddess Venus herself had chastened her with a spell. "Ouch..well uh, you do realize that if I told you, then I'd have to kill you."
Losing interest and unable to quiet his ramblings of fame, the woman began wondering if there was a chance that he could contain some information.
"Well, only because" His eyes darted around suspiciously before he leaned forward, a hand cupping around his mouth in childlike manner. Voice dropped and breath of liquor, the words he spoke wasn't what she was expecting. "I'm known as Raven around here."
Faye nearly laughed openly at the absurdity of the lie. It was ironic that fate had allowed her to be the target of his claims. He was adopting her lie. They were both being caught in her web of lies.
Feigning intrigue, a sultry smile flashed to the drunk. "Really."
"Yeah." His eyes never strayed from the path they were tracing appreciatively along her body. "I take what I want without anyone knowing until its too late. It's usually life and uh." Rusty brown locks dove outstretched towards his eyes, that gleamed a rich chocolate in the dimly lit bar. "I'm thinking about taking yours."
It was a strange moment, staring into carefree eyes that belonged to someone who claimed to be a murderer. It wasn't a position to be taken lightheartedly, and yet men were actually using her other persona as a pick up line? He wasn't worth the bother for information.
Having spun on her backside and now facing the room, his words vanished from her ever present void. Soft yellow light was emitted from several small fixtures that were suspended from the ceiling by copper chains over the center of round wooden tables. A slender man bent over the pool table preparing for his shot, the stick jutting out behind him before a crack split through the room. Tables were littered with empty glasses where only one person was seated, lost in their own misery.
At the center of the room was a larger table, at which four men were seated amusing themselves with a game of cards, their eyes flashing towards her between sentences. Laughter ruptured through the group, glasses were raised and each man downed another round that was coaxed on by the man directly ahead. He snorted, eyes never leaving hers.
Faye found herself standing over the circle of men, all false personality gone. She ignored the other men, targeting the one who seemed to be in control. He hunched forward in his chair, a cascade of blond brushing against his shoulders, while stormy gray eyes stared up amusedly at her. His features were made severe by a narrow scar that extended from his jaw to somewhere beneath the collar of his loose shirt and jacket. The man blew smoke from his nose while holding three cards loosely between his fingers, another two were being slid across the table towards him.
She was directly to the point. "You've got something I need."
The men at the table dropped their heads, each snickering at their own obscene thoughts that they pulled from her statement. Reclining the leader smirked. "Yeah well I've got something that a lot of women need." Glasses were raised to his comment and another drink was downed between the laughter of the men.
"I need some information..." She continued unaffected by the leers and comments she received. "on the mercenary known as Raven."
Another cloud of smoke left his nose. "I don't just give away information."
"What's the price?"
The two guys flanking him leaned over, whispering inaudible words into his ears, receiving a nod and a grin for payment. When he returned his attention to her, his eyes held a mischievous glint. "How about we play for it?"
Faye narrowed her eyes. "I don't have any money."
He motioned to the man on his left. "Well Dias here was just about to quit anyways, so you can just play his chips." A chair was abandoned in front of her, its occupant bowing over exaggeratedly. "The boys are gonna keep playin' just to make it interestin', all you've gotta do is win all of mine and you get your information, but of course you can't keep the pile."
"Of course."
"Achilles. Just call me Achilles." He winked at her, smoke sneaking through his teeth that grinned suggestively at her figure.
What was left of the gambler inside her could easily overtake Achilles. She seated herself across from him, raking Dias's chips across the table to herself while no longer caring about the eyes that followed her body. It was going to be an easy game.
Hand after hand she slowly chiseled away at the group's hope of victory, the men moaning in defeat as they tossed their cards atop the table. Each coal and fire colored card hand brought her closer to victory. Chips of black and white began piling in front of her, forcing a player to drop out of the game. Those who dropped out turned to booze for comfort as they watched their friends gradually succumb to the same fate.
Strait. Full House. Four of a Kind. Strait. Her rivals hadn't had a chance from the start. It was the final hand, Achilles was on his final foot. Five coal face cards beamed up at her, even in the shadows that threatened to claim the entirety of the room. Tiny gold embers drifted to the table unnoticed, the ashes a grave for the small stub that remained from her cigarette, as she laid each card beside her bulky pile of chips.
Intakes of breath filled the room along with the realization that the game was over, Faye had won.
She watched Achilles shake his head, eyes staring in what could only be described as disbelief at the cards that were lying in the center of the table.
"Hmph.alright." At that moment the chair squeaked and Faye found stormy gray eyes inches from her own. "This is what I know. He's a thread of existence. He is but he isn't. This guy can just totally disappear from existence. It's almost like he doesn't exist. He's just really good at disappearing. Word is that he's in some sort of high society and has all these guys working on the inside to keep anyone from finding him."
A pause followed as Achilles' eyes trailed to a man who had just seated himself at the bar. "At first all the murders were in random places, but recently they've all been getting closer to each other. It's almost like when you see clouds and can the feel the moisture on your hand, but it's not actually raining. Raven's been getting all his murders closer in time, and it seems like time for rain." Deep gray eyes flicked back to the man who just entered. "There's something strange about him."
Faye watched him from the corners of her eyes, how he sat by himself with nothing to drink. Odd. Why would anyone go to bar if they weren't there to drink or socialize? "What?"
"He's only here once or twice a month or so." The man reclined in his chair, staring once again at the cards that had defeated him. "Come to think of it he's always here the night before and after someone's killed."
It was obviously a coincidence.
She gave a nod to her informant and stood turning towards the exit. "Thanks."
"Hey!"
Pausing, she glanced back to the man who was busy raking the chip back to his side of the table. "Leave Raven alone, this guy's totally fucked in the head."
She wouldn't have used that terminology, but it was probably the truth.
Words that didn't mean a thing slipped from her lips just moments before she could feel the sticky night air against her face. "Too late for that."
************************************************************************
It had been a quiet flight through the atmosphere into space. Even the vastness of stars that had met her was filled with a velvety silence that was thick and complete beyond any she had ever known.
At first sight of the Bebop, everything was meaningless as though nothing was really ever there at all. Her mind was falling through a gray fog only because there was no where else to go and no way to slow the decent, as she coasted the Redtail in for an easy landing that had become second nature.
Every footfall seemed unnaturally loud on the metal floor of the hanger, where only one other ship was parked besides her Redtail.
Faye stepped inside the door to the inner workings of the Bebop, her eyes scanning for signs of movement. Sizzling could be heard from the kitchen were Jet was undoubtedly preparing the evening's dinner, that sent a spicy metallic odor into the air.
Passing the kitchen without so much as a glance, she made her way to her room where oddly enough the door was cracked. Darkness clung to the edges fighting for release from the small room. It had probably been Ed, wanting to play a prank on her.
In any case, one hand gently nudged the door open, her mind already telling her to step back. It was nearly impossible to make out anything other than the mishapen outlines of objects inside.
Nothing. Only seconds after she clicked the light on did she change her mind. Lying on the center of her bed was a pearl envelope, with black sigils. Briefly she studied a sigil, the form of a black bird with its wings outstretched, ready for flight.
A raven.
Somebody knew. It couldn't have been a coincidence.
Time lapsed itself and Faye found herself in the kitchen doorway in search of answers to questions that were setting up camp inside her. "Hey Jet. Did anyone come on board today?"
"No. Not that I know of." Abscently swishing the contents in his frying pan to receive a hissing sound, Jet gave a dubious glance over his shoulder towards the woman. "Why?"
"No reason." Faye had already whirled back towards her room before she had bearly finished speaking. Whoever it was had slinked on board without anyone ever knowing.
Only one step inside her room this time and she had already shut the door, her back pressing against it for a cold comfort, eyes locked on the envelope that was mocking her from across the room. It was a piece of paper that could end everything for her.
Kneeling next to her bed, Faye split the corners and shook a folded slip out from within the envelope. Her mind reading than rereading the note from inside.
It was easy for her to know what the note meant.
Everything was about to be shaken in a box.
In my over used, end of chapter words..whatdya think? ^_^ On a side note for anybody that's still wondering, this will eventually turn into a Faye/Spike fic..I think :P Well college is fun, but tough. My English professor gave me a D on something I spent around two weeks working on! Grrrr..he went from being so kewl to just something I don't like. I just thought I'd say that, so you know where I am if I can't update too soon; working on class stuff that is. LOL I'm just you're average girl trying to make it on a favorites list...aww gee now that I've said it, I feel kinda bad. I think I'll go cry out of remorse now.