Hi again! Now, on to teh reviews!1

diddly day: Well... if it wasn't for Henry, I wouldn't be doing this story, nor would I have done any of my other stories. Heh. About Haley and Eileen 'abandoning' Henry... at first, it was just to show Eileen as a bit of a less favorable person, but as I saw the reviews... I decided that Eileen 'isn't quite feeling like herself.' You'll find out why in later chappies. Yes, Haley is somewhat in love with Henry, but she'll find someone else later on. I don't mind creative criticism; I think that's the best thing a person can say to an author other than telling them they liked the story. I'm so HAPPY I creeped you out! Thanks!

Literary Alchemist: Thanks! Gaia can be scary... :hides:

Gaia Faye: ... No, I don't. Hmm. Like I said in the response to diddly day, I didn't mean to at first, but then I realized how I could use this bit of a out-of-characterness to my advantage. Brad doesn't really influence her about the call to Haley, but Brad does take away her attention. Another advantage that came to me today; the relationship between Haley and Henry, considering how... I don't know. That will probably be explained later on. The numbers on Henry are those lovely little numbers that were supposed be cut into him when he was killed, but that never happened, did it? However, there will be a new set of numbers in this chapter. ... :laughs at Brad-comment and legos:

SaddenedSoul: ... Some advice: Take a chill pill before you see, hear, taste, touch, or smell anything to do with Walter. ... But I got cocoa puffs... Don't remind me! ... Ebil Cynthia!

You know the warnings... Spoiler, mainly.

Eileen, Henry, and everything else except for Haley, Brad, and the 'AntiSacrament' deal belongs to Konami. 'The Hardest Part' is a song sung by Coldplay.

-

The Hardest Part

Chapter Three: I Wonder What It's All About...

-

"Do we have to do this...?"

"Yes, Haley."

The young brunette glared at her companion contemptibly as Henry turned the steering wheel of his car to the right. He was aggravated, worried, but overall, he was nervous. After the 'incident,' Henry found himself on the edge of his nerves every waking moment of the day, jumping at the smallest of noises and calling Haley every hour or so to make sure she was okay. At first, Haley enjoyed the thought of Henry worrying about himself and about her, but after the third day, it wasn't so 'breakthrough-ish' anymore. She began to get irritated with him more and more until one day she called Eileen and asked her to call Henry since she hadn't spoken to him since the 'incident'...

"But, Haley... I don't remember calling Henry... I didn't even know something had happened to him..."

She had sounded so timid and scared... asked her how he was doing and if there was anything she could do. Being polite, the college student told her everything was taken and found out that the date Eileen had planned for them to meet up was actually the twenty-fourth. However, Haley didn't truly believe her, but after thinking about what all had occurred that day, she was ready to forgive and forget since Henry didn't want to go meet Eileen and Brad alone. He had at first, however, tried to talk her out of joining him to the restaurant to see them, but he let it go after she proclaimed that he might need help if he had another 'attack.'

Besides... Henry wanted to keep a close eye on Haley.

After explaining the nice little phone call she received after finding Henry facedown in his own blood, Henry was stressing over her safety more than he ever had. Every little thing she did, he wanted to make sure she would be all right no matter what. He called her cell phone often, along with secretly following her whenever she went to the store for something. Hell, even if she was in his apartment with him, he checked around the room for anyone or anything that could cause them both harm, though Haley didn't exactly relish this new overprotectiveness he had picked up really out of nowhere.

But she would have to deal with it until he figured out what this 'AntiSacrament' thing meant. He had never even heard of it, and yet he was sure it had something to do with Walter, since '21121' was found carved into the side of his neck, but he wasn't sure what the connection was. He scoured the notes and scraps of paper he found throughout his ordeal, but none of them mentioned it. ... For all he knew, it could be someone to fight along with the Sacraments and destroy Walter's 'lovely little nightmare'; it could be someone that chops of the ghosts of the victims to little pieces so they don't have to wander the purgatory-like worlds for the rest of eternity... It could be someone to take out his trash, but he wasn't going to take any chances... not with Walter having something to do with it.

He spared a glance over to Haley, who was brushing off her shoulders and picking the lint off of her black blouse. He smiled half-heartedly at her, feeling somewhat lost. She was young... too young and innocent to be part of any new ritual Walter had up his sleeve... that is, if he was still alive. But then again... he had killed Billy and Miriam Locane, so Haley was up for the metallic chopping block just like everyone else. Just like he and Eileen were...

And it was that knowledge that forced Henry to 'tighten up on her,' as she had so cleverly put it.

Scuffling her feet against the rubber mat on the floorboard of his car, Haley touched the fogged window and watched as the gray clouds rolled across the sky sluggishly and let out the rain around the city of Ashfield. She sighed, bored out of her mind before her delicate fingers began to trace childish images of cats and bunnies before she began to draw smiley faces and her name over her prior. She smiled blissfully, remembering her younger years when her mother would drive her to elementary school and she would trace pictures into the misted window of the back seat as she spoke excitedly of the school day yet to come. Her mother would look back at her and kindly beam at her, telling her how much she loved her...

But then... that seemed to change...

The memory became fuzzy and distorted, dark colors splashing across the cheerful face of her mother as her other hand gripped the cream-colored armrest tautly as her breathing became heavy. Scenes of bloodied corpses floating about a rusted and gory hallway, moaning incoherent sounds as they twitched. Disfigured dogs and double-headed monsters lashed out at her, screeching and roaring at her invasion of their mental world. Corroded gears churned reluctantly... dark, steel hallways flickered before her as a little boy watched her with a strange smile on his deceptively sweet countenance. Trees towered above her... an old, badly kept house whispered and chanted of manipulated version of God... Numbers... oh, so many numbers seeped into her frightened mind as the walls seemed to lash out of her through their flesh-like surface and ensanguined handprints mysteriously faded onto the gray wall.

Finally, her eyes became dark as she saw a blond-haired mans back facing her as he stared down a circular corridor before he turned his head to look over his shoulder at her, his schizophrenic grin chilled her to the bone. His eyes glinted maliciously as he twisted fully to face her, his azure coat shifting with his slow movement before waiting a moment and rushing over to her with a knife that seemed to have come from nowhere only to stab her in her abdomen. She recoiled weakly, jerking forward as her body shook coldly at the vision she was having of her own death as she watched him through a grainy, wavering picture carve psychotic numbers into her upper chest... just below her neck...

21221...

"My AntiSacrament..."

She flailed, screaming as she saw he moved down to lick the top curve of the first '2' and Henry gasped in horror as he managed to park the car safely without wrecking into anyone in the process. He faintly heard honking and screeching of brakes behind him, but he did not heed them as he hastily undid his seat belt to move closer to her screeching form. "Haley! Haley, what's wrong!" he yelled loudly, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her out of her terrible fit. She clutched herself to him, wailing noisily as tears cascaded down her pale cheeks.

Once she had quieted down, he began inquire the meaning behind her sudden episode.

"What happened?" he asked soothingly as she rubbed her face against his shoulder. She choked, crying as she hiccuped through her sore throat. "I... d-don't know... I had this... vis-vision-!" she squealed desperately as she pushed him away roughly and bringing her hands up to her pursed lips. She flopped her head into her palms as she shook with terror at the thought she had just recently while Henry watched her with scared eyes. She had terrified him with her almost insane spasms and he was sure they would have gotten into a gruesome wreck had he not been on the edge, expecting something to happen. He placed a hand on her quivering shoulder and began to rub it through the ebony blouse. "Tell me what you saw..." he whispered comfortingly, edging closer to her in case she decided to go crazy again.

"At first... oh, never mind!" she hissed frustratedly as she slammed her dainty fists into the dashboard. He winced slightly before trying to get out the truth from her. She seemed hesitant, replying that he would think she needed to go see a 'freakin' shrink,' but he assured her he had seen his fair share of weird stuff and that he wouldn't treat her any different. Her tears had thankfully stopped and her breathing returned to normal as she tried to compile the recent sights she had seen in her mind.

"There were these... dead people... floating... and then there were zombie-like dogs and Siamese twins with huge hands... corridors... like in a prison... A forest... Numbers... handprints... oh, God... children were saying some freaky mess... And then there was this guy in a coat-"

"A what?" he yelled angrily, making her jump while he was unable to believe her for a moment before the information all sunk in. It couldn't be... she couldn't have any knowledge of Walter... He couldn't be after her, too... why would he be interested in her death also?

"A-a man... in a dark blue coat... attacked me and... cut numbers into me..."

"What were they?" he asked tensely, his free hand gripping the hem of his shirt as he desperately begged for the numbers to not be what he thought they would be. 'Don't be part of the Twenty-one Sacraments... Please, God... don't let her be-!' he thought as she spoke the number. God didn't seem to hear his pleading..."21221... I'm pretty sure..."

He stared at her, dumbfounded by her response. His hand fell limply from her shoulder to hit the side of his seat. Fear mixed together with disbelief in his eyes as they watched her with their emerald gaze and she noticed he had stopped breathing.

"Henry?" she waved a hand in his face now that her concern was off of her own problems. He sighed grimly in response, his eyes gaining a little bit of warmth as his chest slowly moved with his rhythmic breathing. Letting her own hand fall, looked down at the alcove between the seats before raising her head and wondered if he was all right to drive... she decided he wasn't, considering he hasn't moved an inch.

"Henry? Do I need to drive?"

He blinked before nodding, hardly thinking as she opened her door to walk over to the driver's side while he moved over to her prior seat. While putting on his seat belt, he glimpsed into the mirror to see the man in the blue coat grinning at him as he stood behind the car. He blinked, and Walter was gone.

He heard her turn on the radio, a song and her soft singing drifting into his ears as he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes for the remainder of the trip.

-

Henry had fallen asleep on the short way left to the restaurant and had been shaken awake by Haley, who had gained back her color and amiable composure as she smiled at him and told him they were going to meet 'the Bastard.' He had hardly chuckled at her comment while he undid his seat belt to get out of the car.

Once he shut shiny, dark teal car, he looked around the parking lot to find Haley waiting for him at the sidewalk of the restaurant, her arms crossed across her chest as she shivered in the New England air. Her right foot was tapping the pavement impatiently, and he could tell she wanted to get it all over with as quickly as she could. Heeding this, he went over to her, casually walking across the roadway with his hands in his coat pockets while his heart began to beat faster with each step he took. The feeling was almost euphoric as he stepped onto the gray concrete along with the college student who was proceeding to the gold-framed door and grasping the handle lightly before turning back and saying his name.

... He was going to see Eileen... with Brad...

"Henry... c'mon..."

He was going to watch the woman he loved... love another...

"Henry...!"

He felt... dizzy... nervous... stupid...

"Henry Townshend!"

He heard a soft growl of frustration and then felt a hand wrap around his wrist and pull him towards the doors to the restaurant, her hair flowing on the icy zephyr that gently blew against them. He became fixated on the strands of chocolate dancing along the breeze, the gray sky tinting the hair darker than want it usually was. They reached the entrance and walked through the doors to a lavish and expensive-looking room filled with antique furniture and dim lighting. The dark, rich colors hinted each other elegantly and Henry felt his stomach fall farther down the dark pit. There was no way he could afford at least one appetizer in a place like this, just by the looks alone. ... How was he and Haley supposed to pay for a meal here?

While Henry stared in awe at the luxurious cabaret, Haley spoke with a waiter and forced him to follow the waiter to the table where they were supposed to meet Eileen and Brad at, only to find the table empty. The brunette showed her anger by huffing and flopping herself down into a cherry-wood chair and crossed her arm hatefully while muttering curses. Henry, however, sat himself down quietly and passed the time by looking over the wine choices. After groaning in despair at the prices, he set the pamphlet down and picked up the menu, but found himself putting that one aside too.

"What's the cheapest?" she grumbled furiously.

"Well... let's just say that we probably need to split a meal," he answered stressfully as he ran his hand through his hair before placing his elbow on the table and holding up head. He felt tired now and he was sure that pigs would fly before Haley let Eileen live her 'betrayal' down.

"Henry! Haley!"

Both of them raised their heads to find a smiling Eileen coming over to them and giggling happily as she approached. Henry sluggishly stood from his chair to hug his dear friend while Haley forced a smile at the man following close behind older brunette... he seemed... dissatisfying to Haley, like he wasn't enjoying being there at all but came anyway to prove some kind of point that she had missed. He gave her a snobby smirk and Haley mocked a laugh. She had been prepared for this ever since she first learned of him... But for some odd reason or the other, she found himself gritting her teeth harder than she should have, and she felt her fists clenching together in a hidden rage that seemed to bloom out of nowhere. She was mad and annoyed, yes... but it shouldn't have been that extreme... she shouldn't be tempestuously raging inside...

"Kill him, AntiSacrament... kill the Heretic... He'll harm Mother..."

Gasping, she twisted her head left and right swiftly in panic as she looked for the source of the low, stoic voice she had just heard. Everyone around was quietly talking or laughing at something that didn't concern a mysterious voice and once more the man in the coat came to her mind. Haley turned back to Henry, who was being introduced to Brad by a giddy Eileen.

"... She's ignorant and naïve... The Receiver loves her and yet she shuns him for the Heretic..."

Nodding slightly, she hypnotically watched the three talk together for a moment before shakily standing up herself and stepping towards them.

"And once he is dead... and the ritual is completed... we can be together... My AntiSacrament..."

She forced a smile at Eileen, who pulled her towards the group to introduce her to Brad when she felt the cold breath of the voice against her mentality, blue-clothed arms wrapping around her soul. The older brunette's words were muffled as if someone had pressed their hands against her ears and her expression remained emotionless as she reluctantly listened to the deathly whispers of this unknown man...

But never did she try to stop him...

"I'm here for You... Trust in Me... And soon, the Receiver will be happy..."

-

The day had gone rather smoothly since the voice went away and Haley found herself able to react again to her environment, but unfortunately, Henry wasn't having the best time. The younger brunette wasn't either, considering she didn't much like the fact that Brad and Eileen acted like newlyweds around them and that Henry was on the verge of expressing his distress and depression to the entire world if something didn't happen soon. And what made it worse was that the blond was noticing this and was using it to make Henry feel like dirt. Haley knew she had to do something stop that sneer 'gracing' those almost flawless features soon or else Henry would have a emotional breakdown, but she had no idea was to do. She felt that she needed to confide into the voice for some odd reason, but she relented, feeling His presence inside of her as it curled around her mind being enough for her to take.

When she saw their food coming, Haley was relieved when Henry straightened from his slouching position and showed interest in something other than being miserable. But it didn't last long, and the brunet was back to being his moping self. And yet, neither of the lovebirds had noticed his down mood. But, thankfully, the rest of the lunch had gone without trouble and Henry looked grateful when Brad had said he had to get to work.

"Where do you work at?" Haley asked rather quietly, though she truly didn't care.

The platinum blond grinned snobbishly at her once more, answering in his low, silky voice that he was a hotel manager. She grind her teeth together once more, but held down her temper as his ice-blue eyes flickered in amusement at her, as if he could tell just by movement that she was prepared to slit his throat with the steak-knife just laying just in front of her on the table...

He didn't tempt her, however, and after he paid for both his and Eileen's food, he kissed her good-bye and walked towards the exit. As Henry and Haley watched him go, they could still feel the smug ambiance that seemed to saturate his being.

Both of them turned to Eileen as she sighed lovingly, her head resting on her head as she was whisked away wistfully. Haley's left eye twitched at the irritating sound as she heard again and she saw Henry sadly poke at the remnants of his food.

Now would have been the time for the Voice to come back and say something to prove Himself on her side, but He stayed quiet, though she felt him kiss her mind's cheek affectionately.

"My AntiSacrament..."

-

End of Chapter Three

-

I am SO sorry this took so long... I've been busy this week and this week should be just as busy. I'll try to get the fourth chapter up soon...

Review!