For Good or Bad, The Memories Remain.
Chapter 44 "The Missing, pt 2"
She stretched out on the hood of her car, resting against the windshield, hands behind her head. She stared at the morning sky. She was in a small park in Seacouver along a popular jogging route. She hoped the man she knew to be the best contact for the local area would hold true to his passion for fitness. She would rather meet him out here than come upon him in his own dojo. She had adjusted her dress and appearance to try to put forward a good impression. Her auburn hair was the shade of recently spilled blood. Her magically lengthened hair was braided into a single ponytail. Her attire was simple elegance; black pants, red shirt, grey greatcoat and thin white leather gloves. She took a sip of her coffee and leaned back to wait.
Duncan was out for a run to try to clear his head for the upcoming hunt but other worries kept intruding. Ritchie hadn't called or shown up in the last month, Methos ran out the other day after receiving a cryptic phone call, the anniversary of Tessa's death was looming and he was feeling very old. He ran down the park road trying to loose himself in the exertion. The feeling of another Immortal came on rather quick and strong. He slowed, scanning everywhere for the source. The only person he saw was the young lady lounged on the hood of the black '71 Superbird. Looking directly at him. Mystery solved. He began looking for escape route as she hopped off the car, then stopped as she tied the waist belt of her coat shut, effectively making it much harder for her to draw a sword if that was her intention. He was now a bit intrigued and slowly walked forward.
"I am Duncan Macleod of the Clan Macleod, and you are?" he queried.
"Willow, just Willow." She replied with a bit of a pause as if to gather her thoughts. "I've come here looking for another who might be in the area, just to talk."
"And who might this 'other' be that you think I might know? And while we are on the subject, why me and why should I tell you?" he asked. The red head seemed to collapse inward as if a great weight rested upon her shoulders, looking down at her feet. When she looked back up, he noted a change her eyes. They looked hollow, bereft of anything but stabbing pain. She undid her coat and pulled a sword out, tossing it point first in the ground between them
"Petra said you might be willing to help and would at least talk with me" she replied with great weariness.
Macleod moved forward with a mixture of pain and rage. "Petra's been dead for 30 years, what kind of trick do you think your going to pull! Were you the one to kill her?" he exclaimed as he strode forward to retrieve the sword between them. He recognized the Navy Boarding Cutlass that he had gifted Petra with, it suited her small stature and provided a devastating weapon rarely expected from one so small. Once he had his hands on the cutlass, he felt both better and worse. Better, that he armed himself, worse that the memories of a lost student were dredged up in such a manner. He was advancing on her when he saw her react to an unseen thing, moments later he felt it, another Immortal.
"Ah, I should have known! The little Girl Scout would run back to her Boy Scout teacher. Don't worry Macleod; I'm not here for you, yet. I'm here to challenge the little red head. She has been avoiding me for the last 800 miles." Macleod looked over to see a medium build older looking gentleman step from the trees holding a longsword. He looked back at the redhead. She seemed to be crying.
"Duncan, Petra's alive, you MUST believe me! I have to go and take care of this one, I never wanted to bring you trouble. I have to clean up my own mess." Tears are coursing down her cheeks. She fumbles in her coat for a moment then tosses him something. It's a cell phone. "Duncan, if he walks out of the trees, please take the car, get out of here and call speed dial number 3……..tell them Willow didn't make it" She was visibly shaking now. "Macleod, Petra's on speed dial number 4, but please don't call unless I don't come back."
"Willow, what did you do that this man wants you dead?"
"I exist," she said in a soft voice as she turns and walks toward the trees.
