(19) A Sword Shall Pierce Your Heart "Luke 2:35"

Noah tried to find a better position in the chair before complaining at last, "This is the longest flight I've ever been on."

Jason just laughed. "This is very short for me. The longest I've been in the air on one trip is thirty six hours."

"Really? There's a flight that long?"

"No, I mean the entire trip going one way. It involved three different planes," Jason explained. "I do it twice a year."

"I think I would rather die," Noah grumbled. "I prefer travelling with Dad. He can just beam over any where he wants."

"But you've been on planes before?"

"Dad usually let me go on my own for most of the field trips," said Noah. "The longest flight I was on was only about four hours."

"This is the third time a trip was for America," Jason remarked. "He didn't allow you on those even though they didn't go to New York."

"Now that I think of it," Noah suddenly added. "I wonder if I was alone. He might have stuck someone from his Kabbalah group with me without my knowing."

"Wouldn't be surprised if he did," Jason scoffed. "This might be the first time you actually do anything on your own."

"Well, he is going to have to get used to it," Noah shifted again without much luck. "I've told him before that there isn't much he can do in a century or a thousand years. I'm going to end up all over the world, eventually."

"What did he say about that?"

"He wasn't too pleased but amazingly, he got the point." Noah twitched again before swearing in Hebrew. The plane shifted with him.

"Hey look," Jason pointed out the window. "There's America. We will probably see New York, soon."

"Have you ever been in New York City?"

"Only for lay overs," Jason answered. "I did get to see Ground Zero once while waiting for my next plane, but apart from that, I haven't really paid attention to the city."

Noah watched the approach for a while before stretching enough to arch his back out of the chair. "This descent is taking for ever!"

"Will you stop?" Jason laughed at him.

Noah ignored him as he stared down at a bluish green speck. As they got closer, he could make out the Statue Of Liberty. "I wonder where Dad lived?" He mused to himself out loud.

"I could look that up tomorrow," Jason said. "For now, we'll probably all be settled into the hotel & we can sleep tonight before the school takes us anywhere."

"Mhm," Noah continued to watch the land rise up to them.

"You'll want to pass out the moment we get into our room, with the way you've been fidgeting."

"Probably."

Jason cast his boyfriend a dark look. "What are you scheming now?" He finally whined.

"You know how these field trips work," Noah said. "Can't leave the group. Always have a buddy. We will only be able to go wherever the school had planned."

"Yeah, so?"

"So the only time I have to myself is at night," Noah pointed out. "I came here to find her & I only have three nights to do it in since the three days are for the school & travel time."

"You want us to go out into the heart of New York City in the middle of the night?" Jason gasped.

Noah waited for a bump of turbulence to settle as the plane adjusted its wings before answering. "Just me, Jason."

"You're going alone?"

"I need you to cover for me in case our rooms are checked," Noah said. "Besides, what about that serial killer? If he's still around, I can't have you killed on my account."

There was a thud as the plane landed. "I guess you're right," said Jason. "I could look up this serial killer at night while you're out. It's about twenty years ago right?"

"Around the time I was born," Noah nodded. "Dad took me away from here because of that killer."

"Alright, I'll start about a year or two before you were born & see if I can find the guy," Jason finally managed to stand up & pulled both their carry on bags out of the storage.

For a while, killers & immortal women were pushed from their minds as everyone disembarked & took their time getting sorted out on the way to the hotel the school had rented for everyone. The next thing was getting a good meal before settling into rooms. It was two students per room so naturally, Jason & Noah got one together. They dumped their stuff on the spare bed & lay back on the other one.

"So, where do you plan to start?" Jason asked.

"Can I borrow your phone?" Noah sat up. Jason handed it over. "I'm going to look for her first," Noah pulled up a picture of a young girl. "Natalia Montel. I looked into trying to find some names of people with abilities in New York & she came up."

"Does it say what she can do?"

"Not much," Noah said. "But it seems to have to do with helping you. See? Someone claimed they could see while she was near them even though they were blind. Here's another one. He could hear while around her but otherwise he is deaf."

"So her ability fixes someone's disability," Jason said.

"I don't think it's permanent," said Noah. "Just when they're around her. She's in Manhattan, anyway."

"What will you do if you find her?"

"I'll ask her if she knows about the one I'm looking for," said Noah.

Jason sat up. "From what I've been seeing, a lot of these people with abilities are fighting each other as well. What if she attacks you?"

"Well," Noah got up & grabbed one of his bags. He pulled out a dark greenish official looking shirt & a slightly darker cap to match. "She can go ahead & try."

"You brought your uniform here?!"

"Not all of it," said Noah. "Just this bit. I didn't bring any of the weapons, don't worry."

"I can't wait to put this on next year," Jason touched the IDF badge on one side of the shirt.

"She'd be crazy to try attacking an Israeli soldier," Noah pointed out. "Commander Tohar said I was unusually stealthy for one just starting. It comes naturally to me & is a great quality to have as a sniper."

"I guess going around New York City at night will be easy for you," Jason said.

"Most likely," Noah laughed. "It's finding any of them that I'm worried about. I hope I have enough time." He turned the cap over in his hands a few times before adding quietly, "I have to find her, Jason."

"I know," Jason moved to sit beside Noah & put an arm around him. "But you be careful. You can't die, but you can get kidnapped. I want you to take my phone to keep contact with me at all times. I'll keep your phone & I can use the computer here to follow you while I try to find that serial killer. My phone has a GPS in it so you can call up a map to follow."

"Alright," Noah glanced at the window. "It's getting dark. I better get ready." He started getting changed while Jason put a map of Manhattan onto the phone.

Jason looked Noah over as he passed the phone to him. Even with just simple black pants, Noah still looked like a soldier who had lost his rifle. "That looks really good on you."

Noah took the phone. "Someday it might look better on the floor."

"Ok! I think you've been hanging around your Dad's office for too long!"

"I think you're right!" Noah turned away, laughing.

"What am I going to do with you?" Jason asked rhetorically.

"I'll think about that, let you know some other time."

Jason leaned closer to Noah. "Tease."

"You like it," Noah said before kissing him.

Jason pulled Noah close. "I just thought of something," he began. "How do you plan on getting out of here without getting caught? The four teachers that came with us are all on the first floor & probably still hanging out in one of the lounges." Noah soon pulled away & went to the window. He opened it, looked down outside, then got onto the ledge. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Jason shrieked, hauling Noah back inside.

"Relax!" Noah ordered. "We're only on the second floor. I can easily jump down."

"You could break a leg."

"So what? It'll heal before I know it." Noah looked around outside the window. "I can use that tree to get back in when I come back."

"When do you plan on coming back?"

"Before dawn, of course," Noah said. "I would like to get a little sleep before we have to go with everyone else. Where are we going, anyway?"

"Some of the museums & Ground Zero for history," Jason replied. "Also two other schools for the other classes like biology & I think chemistry came with us as well."

"Ground Zero is on my to-do list," Noah pulled himself onto the window sill once more. "Now, I'm just going to drop down. I'll be fine." He moved back until he could hop off. Jason leaned out the window to see Noah land on his feet on the ground, then crumple over & lay flat on his back. A moment later, Noah stood straight & shook it off. He looked up at Jason, waved & ran off into the night.

Jason turned the light on in the washroom & opened the cold water tap in the sink before closing the door. That way if anyone came around, he could just claim Noah was in the shower & hope for the best. He went to the desk next in one corner & sat down at the computer provided for each student pair to work on. He put Noah's phone beside the keyboard, then found a GPS tracker program to follow his phone to keep track of Noah at all times. Lastly, he got a second tab open to start looking up recent New York killers.

It wasn't far to the big island of Manhattan. A half hour cab ride took him to the center of it. Noah had gotten American money with Jason who also showed him how to use it, including the fact that America also has a tipping system, so he used that to pay the driver.

Noah held on to the driver's hand for a moment. "There's an extra fifty in here. If anyone asks about an IDF soldier, you don't know anything, understand?"

"Thank you, sir!" the driver smiled. "No problem! No idea!"

Noah patted the driver's shoulder once before getting out. While he thought it was due to his military training, Noah truly had no clue as to why he was so good at stealth & caution. He quickly disappeared into the dark night much like his father had done countless times down some of these very streets almost two decades before. Checking the phone, he called up the address associated with Natalia Montel. He located her apartment several minutes later. It was on the third level.

Noah looked upwards at the round of outside stairs until he found her balcony. He jumped up to grab the ladder & pulled it down before hurrying up. But once he got there, he suddenly realized how creepy this all seemed. A strange guy just climbing up to the flat of a girl he didn't know anything about apart from the fact she had a power would go over really well not only with the damsel about to be in distress but also any cops she would most certainly call on him.

Noah smacked himself on the forehead. "What am I doing?" He asked aloud. If he had known, he could simply thank Sylar's genetics for the rather awkward fix he had just put himself into. He stared at her empty balcony. All he had to do was climb over & tap on the glass. Most likely she would shoot at him, or throw a knife. Something defensive. Noah realized he hadn't thought this through as well as he had planned after all. He took out the phone, found a notepad app & began typing something.

Ten minutes later, he finally jumped onto the balcony. Looking in, he saw her curled up on the couch, watching TV, oblivious to his presence at the glass sliding door. "Here goes nothing," Noah muttered to himself. He pressed the phone to the glass before knocking.

Natalia jumped & looked around. Seeing him standing there, she quickly stood up & began backing away. Noah shook his head & pointed at the phone but she was too far to read his message. He sent her a confused look before coming up with an idea. He tapped quickly three times, then three slow taps, then three quick times again. Natalia stopped moving away so he tried SOS again. Natalia grabbed a knife from her plate & slowly moved towards him. Noah tried to look as pitiful & pathetic as possible, hoping she'd drop the knife, but she didn't. She looked down at the phone.

"I'm from Israel. IDF soldier in training. Not going to hurt you. Need help finding my Mom."

Natalia opened the door about an inch before putting up the safety lock. "You're a long way from home, Sir."

Noah lowered the phone. "Please, I'm off duty right now. You can call me Noah."

"What do you want with me?"

"Nothing really," Noah said. "I'm just starting to find out about others like me on my own. My Dad is a Rabbi in Israel. He oversees some special people in the Kabbalah who are like you & I, but old. Well older. But I found your name & you're the only one I know by name in America. I think my mother is here. I'm trying to find her in the next couple of days."

"What do you mean, like us?"

"You know, people with powers?" Noah said. "Some can fly. Some heal. My Dad can move things without touching them."

"It's very dangerous in America to be open about any ability one may have."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"I don't know you. What makes you think I know your mother?"

"Because she's here," Noah said. "My Dad thinks she died in an explosion. But I saw a video of her here in America. I'm hoping to find her in time before the holidays are over."

Natalia gave him a sharp look. "Jews don't celebrate Christmas."

"No, they have Hanukkah," Noah said. "It's a week long holiday. Almost finished."

"Oh right, I forgot about that one."

"Anyway I'm not Jewish."

"Why are you IDF if you're not Jewish?"

"Every Israeli citizen has to serve two years," Noah explained. "It doesn't matter if you are Jewish, Muslim, secular. If you are born in Israel you have to serve."

"Oh, I see."

"I will be converting to Judaism in the summer though," Noah went on. "My boyfriend is studying to become a Rabbi. Then he'll help me convert."

"Of course you're gay," Natalia giggled. "All cute guys are."

Noah forced a laugh before saying, "Actually, we're asexual. You can look that up on the AVEN website on your own time."

"Oh I know all about it," Natalia said. "Someone in my school is like that."

"Oh good," Noah leaned back against the door frame.

"So you think I know your mother?" Natalia asked. "What's her name?"

Noah looked at her for a moment. "I don't know."

"You don't know your own mother's name?"

"She died, or I mean, my Dad thinks she died just after I was born," Noah said. "I never met her & Dad—it's hard for him. Even now. I can tell they were close. He wants to talk to me about her some day, but then I found this picture of her in a box he kept locked away. I just know it's her. Then that video came out & she is still alive."

"Do you have the picture?"

"I have the video I saw actually," Noah said. "Give me a moment to find it." He began looking through Jason's phone.

Natalia slowly opened the door all the way. She held up her knife as he stepped inside. "Don't try anything!"

Noah lowered the phone. "Natalia, I swear I am not here to hurt you," He spoke softly, soothingly just like his father, but unlike Sylar, he meant what he said. "I just want to find my Mom. If you don't know her, I'll leave & not bother you again." He held up the phone. "I'm sure that's her. She can't die it seems! Do you know of her?"

Natalia took the phone & watched the video. She handed it back & raised her knife. "Do you really think that woman is your mother?"

"I think so, yes," Noah said. "Why else would Dad have a picture of her?"

"Probably to remind himself of what she looks like to protect himself, maybe you as well, from that monster!"

"W-What?"

"I only know two things about her," Natalia went on sharply. "I'm sorry but last I checked, she doesn't have children. She can't be your mother!"

"But I don't understand."

"The other thing is, she is trying to kill my father!"

It was as if time stopped for Noah. He suddenly swore in Hebrew. "Oh!"

"What now?"

Noah felt cold yet hot at the same time. "Dad's New York killer!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Look, I was born here in New York."

"I thought you said you were Israeli?!"

"I am! Dad lied on my records so on paper, I'm Israeli," Noah said. "But Dad told me he took me away from New York when I was born to avoid a serial killer. If she's not my mother, then she has to be the killer he ran from."

"I wouldn't put it past her," Natalia said.

"Dad said this killer he knew killed without mercy, took a lot of lives," Noah went on. "Liked to slice people up just like in an old slasher movie."

Natalia slightly lowered her knife. "That doesn't sound like Claire's style."

"Claire?"

"That woman," Natalia said. "She doesn't go around cutting people up. She's a vigilante for the wrong crowd. Thinks my father is guilty of things he never did & is supposed to take him down in the name of some justice. As if there is any of that left for people like us in this country!"

"Has she killed anyone?"

"A few," Natalia said. "But her main target is Dad. I can go for months without seeing him when he is in hiding. She's been at it for years. I think she lost her purpose a long time ago."

"How does she kill someone?"

"She just shoots them," Natalia shrugged. "Not a slice & dicer. But that reminds me of some horror stories my Dad used to tell me about someone who did kill like that. Ever heard of Sylar?"

"No," Noah shook his head. "Hang on, isn't that a watch company?"

"It used to be, until that dreadful killer showed up," Natalia said. "But apparently, Sylar is five thousand years into the future now. We no longer have to worry about him."

"Five thousand years?" Noah gasped.

"Yeah," Natalia nodded. "It was around twenty years ago, just before I was born, when the world was finally rid of that one. I'd bet that's the killer your Dad was trying to avoid."

"The timing fits," Noah mused to himself.

Natalia sighed & lowered her knife again. "I'm sorry I can't help you."

"Oh you helped me quite a bit," said Noah. He looked imploringly at her. "Are you sure she never had children?"

"Quite sure," Natalia said. "She never had a steady partner in her life. Too busy trying to put the world right, or so she claims."

"Well then," Noah stepped back to the balcony. "As promised, I will leave you be. I'm glad to have met you, though."

"Same. It isn't every day a gal has a cute Israeli soldier drop in on her," Natalia teased, making Noah go red. "But maybe next time, try the door? You scared me when you first showed up!"

"Sorry," Noah quickly half-bowed. "Shalom aleichem (Peace upon you)." He grabbed hold of the railing to start climbing down.

"Wait," Natalia put a hand on his arm. "Have you ever considered a DNA test?"

"Yeah, that's my second option," Noah said. "But I really thought that girl ... oh well. It doesn't matter now. I mean if she doesn't have kids, obviously she isn't my mother."

"Maybe my Dad can help," Natalia offered.

"No," Noah sighed. "I'm only here for three days. On a school field trip. You said you don't see your father for months."

"But I always know where he is," Natalia said.

"No, no," Noah shook his head. "We don't want to risk his exposure."

"I have a way of contacting him," Natalia tried. "Only three people know how to get him. I'm one of them. Can you wait for a couple hours?"

"Sure," Noah came back inside.

Natalia led him to the couch. While he settled in with a glass of the wine she had on the coffee table, she went into the kitchen with her own phone. Noah sent Jason a short text. "I'm with Natalia right now. Will be here a couple hours. Her Dad might be able to help me find Mom. The woman who can heal isn't her, though. Natalia knows about her & said she never had kids. Her name's Claire. Talk to you soon." He turned the phone off & put it away.

"What do you mean, 'a cute Israeli soldier dropped in on you'?" A man half-laughed, half-retorted on the phone. "Stuff like that just doesn't happen!"

"I'm telling you, he just showed up!" Natalia insisted. "He thought Claire was his mother, at first!"

"Yeah, yeah I'm hearing all this but I'm not getting it," the man huffed. "What's his name?"

"Noah."

"Noah," the man repeated. "But not Bennet, right?"

"No," Natalia rolled her eyes. "He's around my age. He's been the perfect gentleman so far."

"Yes, so far," The man echoed in annoyance.

"Just come over, please?" Natalia begged. "If he's legit, you can get my Dad to help him find his real mother & if not, you can kill him."

"If your Dad finds out about this, he'll be the one killing you!"

"Get over here! NOW!" Natalia hissed. "I need help."

"I'm coming!"

Natalia closed her phone & went back to the living room. "He's on his way."

"Your Dad?"

"No," Natalia sat down beside him. "The one you have to convince before getting any where near my Dad." She poured herself some more wine. "It's my job to keep you occupied until he gets here." After taking a sip she said, "So, tell me about Israel. What's it like in the military?"

Noah laughed nervously as he sat up straighter. "Ok. I'll talk."

It was over an hour later when Natalia received a knock at her real door this time. She let the man in & pointed Noah out to him. "That's him, right there."

Noah stood up quickly, holding his cap in one hand. "Ahlan ... (Hello ... )," He cleared his throat. "Sorry. I meant hello."

The man stared at him. "I know we never met before, but you look extremely familiar to me. Who are you?"

Noah stepped forward, holding out a free hand to shake. "I'm Noah. I'm looking for my mother."

"So I was told," the man glanced at Natalia. "She says you don't know your mother's name."

"That's right, I don't," Noah said. "I guess I don't know what she looked like either."

"Do you know your father's name?"

"Yes of course!" Noah nodded quickly. "Gabriel Gray." This answer earned two very drastic responses from Natalia & her friend.

Natalia screamed, dropping her glass to the floor as she put both hands over her face. The man, however, gaped at him for a long moment before saying, "Your father is Gabriel Gray? Are you serious?" He grabbed Noah's hand & pulled him forward to inspect him. "Incredible! Yes, I see the similarities all too well, now. Simply amazing!"

"You know my Dad?"

"Know him?" The man scoffed. "I'm his brother."

"Brother?!" It was Noah's turn to be shocked. He looked the man over. He was older than Natalia. His brown hair streaked with some gray was held back in a neat pony tail that reached his shoulders. He had a small scar over his left eye.

"Well, half. Same Dad, different Moms. I'm Luke by the way, Luke Campbell." Luke finally released Noah.

"You grew up with my Dad?"

"No!" Luke all but whispered in a hushed reverence. "No. I only met him once & I'm lucky to be alive despite that encounter."

"What do you mean?"

"Every serial killer has some sort of code & his was to not kill children," Luke said. He leaned back on the table. "He let me go. I'm one of four people who survived his lust for blood."

Noah took a step back, raising both hands for a moment. "Wait, what?" He stared at Luke. "What are you talking about?" He glanced at Natalia who was still shocked into stillness & silence, hands still on face as she peered at him through wide eyes.

Luke stood straight. "You didn't know?" He let a moment go by. "Aw hell! I'm so sorry. I'm still flabbergasted at standing in the presence of the son of the greatest serial killer the world has ever seen: Sylar!"

"Serial killer?" Noah gasped weakly. "My Dad wouldn't hurt anyone except ISIS terrorists!"

"Oh is that how he is quenching his blood lust now?" Luke returned non-nonchalantly.

"He's just a Rabbi."

"A Rabbi?" Luke was once more gaping. "Rabbi Sylar is it?"

"What? No. NO! Natalia? Who's Sylar?"

"G-Gabriel," Natalia whimpered. "Gabriel Gray. Sylar is his killer alias."

Luke called up something on his phone & showed a picture of Sylar. "Is this man your father or not?"

"That's him, but he usually wears glasses," Noah glanced back & forth between Luke & Natalia a few times. "Oh I get it. This is some sort of test I have to pass before I can meet your father. It's ok. But that wasn't very nice, you know. My father is a very gentle, kind man."

Natalia actually managed to snort through her fingers before she lowered her hands at last. "Oh you poor thing. Luke? I think he's legit. He really doesn't know!"

"I can see that," Luke pocketed his phone & beckoned for Noah to come over. "It really does tear me up inside to do this to you, but there's no going back now. Come sit down." He pulled a chair out from the computer. "Let me show you your father."

An hour later found Noah curled up on the couch, sobbing. Natalia sat with him, holding his hand. "You're safe with us, Noah."

Luke knelt down on the carpet, softly petting Noah's hair. "I'm so sorry, my dear boy. I really am."

"That can't be him!"

"Noah," Natalia tried to move closer.

"NO!" Noah punched the arm of the couch he was pressed up against. "He took me away to avoid the serial killer." He looked up at Luke for a moment. "He was framed." Luke started shaking his head but Noah persisted. "He has to be!"

"No, he was not."

"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!" Noah screamed at him through fresh tears. "That monster! He can not be my father! Dad wouldn't do that. He was framed! That's why he left."

"If I hadn't have met him," Luke replied in a low voice. "I'd say that was a possibility. But I was with him for a few days."

"He didn't kill you."

"Only because I was under age," Luke tried again. "If he sees me now, he'll kill me. Especially after what I just did to you. He will destroy me! The only blood that matters to him is what he can spill."

"No!" Noah turned away, crying again. "It can't be true."

"While I was with him," Luke went on. "He tried grooming me into a killer as well. But he also struggled to not kill me. I was already around sixteen by then. He eventually drove me away from him."

"Why were you with him in the first place if he was that bad?"

"Because I was young," Luke let slip a tear of his own. "Stupid. In awe of being in the presence of a celebrity. Sylar! A brother I never knew I had. My life at home wasn't all that great. I tried to escape by tagging along with him. My idea was 'oh he's my big brother. He'll want to look out for me.' Oh God! Was I ever stupid back then! He almost killed me to drive me away. I wouldn't even listen to him. I almost got myself killed!"

With a wail of anguish, Noah launched himself at Luke's throat, only to collapse into his arms as another wave of tears engulfed him. The truth pierced his heart like a sword. Luke sank down to the floor again, pulling Noah into his lap. He held Noah for a long time as Noah curled over, bowed down to the floor. He was murmuring something but Luke couldn't understand the language.

Natalia knelt beside Luke. "What's he saying?" She whispered.

"Probably nothing," Luke whispered back. "All we can do is hang on to him until he is out of shock."

Natalia bent her head closer to Noah for a moment. "It's Hebrew, I think. Yah roo shalom. I think that's Jerusalem. Yah hoovah. That's the name of God for the Jews."

"He's praying?" Luke asked quietly.

"He's converting this summer," Natalia pointed out.

"That'll go over real well with Sylar," Luke rolled his eyes.

Noah stirred & slowly sat up, away from Luke. He wiped away a few more tears. "My Dad's a Rabbi. He approves my conversion. He runs a Kabbalist group. The only people he kills are ISIS. It's war. Not murder. Just a war that's thousands of years old."

Luke closed his eyes & shook his head. The boy was not accepting it right now. He looked up at Natalia. "I think it's time to get to your father."

Natalia glared at him. "This is the son of Sylar! Are you crazy?"

"I've got Gray blood thanks to Samson sleeping around," Luke shrugged. "So probably. Natalia, Noah is not Sylar." He helped Noah up. "Anyway, your father has a lot of explaining to do. He told us Sylar was cast ahead in time but apparently, Sylar is in Israel right now. Besides, I know he will be extremely interested to meet this one. We'll be okay."