And When Heaven Comes Crashing Down to Earth

July XX20 21:30

A sharp pain viscously attacked Renèe's hand once again. It at first felt like a dog sinking its fangs into her flesh but then the pain had escalated to more of a knife trying to make some sort of artwork out of her hand. At the rate the pain kept nagging her, Renèe would be forced to cut off her hand. The weirdest part was there was no physical sign of any wound or some sort. It was all internal. Renèe massaged her hand in attempt to soothe the pain. It started this morning. Renèe wondered when it would stop.

"Are you okay, Renèe? You've been silent for a while now," a voice said.

Renèe suddenly remembered she was with someone. She faked a smile, "Yeah, I'm good. Sorry Kaede." she said, mentally cursing her classmate's presence. How long would he stick to her? She just wanted to go home now, not talk. Renèe couldn't believe she had let her friend Tsuki convince her she should go to the fireworks festival with Hinata Kaede. The guy was sweet, but he just wasn't her type.

Kaede smiled, "Oh that's good. Listen umm," he paused, looking off to the side, "Have you…have you thought about I said earlier?"

Great, he had to bring it up. Renèe inwardly rolled her eyes. She wasn't so good at letting guys down…gently shall we say. She always came off harsher than she meant to. Renèe took a moment to think how to reject him in a kind manner. It really was a lot more trouble rejecting Kaede. Maybe she would just accept his confession. After all he was moving to Fuyuki City for university so they would only have to meet once in a while. And he was a nice guy…there weren't any cons to going out with him.

Renèe quietly sighed before facing her friend, "I'm really happy about your feelings towards me," she started, "But I can't return them. If I went out with you, it wouldn't be sincerely. I couldn't do that to you Kaede. I like you," Renèe confessed. She dipped her head, "I'm sorry."

Renèe looked up to see Kaede force a smile.

The brunette laughed weakly, "Ah, I knew it was a long shot." His bangs obscured his face expression. Renèe felt guilty.

"Kaede it's not-"

"Renèe," Kaede drew in a sharp breath, "It's oh…kay. But I guess this is good-bye," he said sadly.

Renèe placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Not forever." She gave him a quick hug, "I'll come visit you…you know, once you…"

"Yeah," Kaede replied.

"Bye, bye."

"See you later."

Renèe turned away first and began heading home alone. Finally with a moment's peace to herself, the horrible burning pain returned, this time it felt as though someone was dripping hot wax onto the back of her hand. "Ugh, why?" Renèe exclaimed, shaking her hand.

As Renèe approached the front steps of her house, her phone rang. She pulled her phone out and continued walking while reading a text from her best friend. She blindly reached out to open her door and as she touched the handle, her hand began to burn. Okay this really wasn't funny anymore, Renèe was actually beginning to freak out. She had only been joking previously when she said she might have to cut off her hand. Renèe wanted to remain fully intact until the day she died.

Renèe rushed inside her house and ran upstairs to the bathroom. Immediately the short haired brunette shoved her hand under cold water in hopes it would soothe her pain. That seemed to do the trick and with a sigh of relief, Renèe emoved her hand. But just as she did so the pain came back. With a gasp of surprise, she immediately replaced her hand under the water.

"Don't tell me I'm going to have to live the rest of my life like this," she muttered, half joking. Three more unsuccessful attempts at cooling the back of her hand down, before Renèe learned that the pain wasn't going to go away. But she didn't understand. If she didn't cut herself, or burn herself, what was going on? Should she go to the hospital? Better yet would anyone believe her?

The wind outside picked up, howling in a sudden rage. The light in her bathroom buzzed nosily, threatening to burst. Seconds later it extinguished leaving Renèe to listen to mother nature's fury. Although it was currently typhoon season, there had been no indications that a rain storm was coming. It had been warm and peaceful out a moment ago. Heck she had even been star gazing with Kaede half an hour ago, and there hadn't been a single cloud in the sky.

"What the-"

It was not the spontaneous chaos outside that had Renèe's heart speeding up in panic. The girl of eighteen happened to glance at her hand, in which two things happened. The first being, there was no more pain. The second, satan was currently trying to communicate with her. No joke, Renèe 's eyes widened in fear as she watched unholy crimson begin to branch out on the back of her hand.

"No no no no no-" Renèe shoved her hand back under the faucet and began using a nail brush to scrub away the evil. Satan would not be taking over today. The ludicrousness of her entire situation rang somewhere in the back of Renèe's mind, but the evidence was right in front of her. Kind of going off point but Renèe 's major was European History, she was well versed in many folklore which included stories about the paranormal. The point being, she had come across many stories of times when a variety of different devils had tried to convert a pour soul into doing something evil.

Renèe had always laughed at the idea of holy water since there was no way it was actually 'holy', but given her situation she was ready to try anything. Her flesh had begun searing in hot pain again and the cold water barely registered against her skin. Going to a hospital was completely out of the question since she'd be instantly labeled as a troubled girl. But the idea of trying holy water was starting to sound pretty good to Renèe. There was a shrine thirty minutes down the road and if the purified water didn't work, she would try the temple and the church!

"Maybe this is all a really bad dream," the short haired brunette mumbled to herself as the pain once again subsided. Stepping out into the light of the hallway, Renèe examined her hand half expecting to find satan's face carved in her blood. She was surprised, however, to find a completely foreign pattern etched into her skin until she realized it was glowing. It sent Renèe back into panic mode. Had she brushed up against something radioactive? Would the government be raining down on her home to take her away forever?

And then it happened.

A loud crashing sound resonated from downstairs. It shook the entire house. Pictures fell off the wall along with books and anything else that was vertical. Renèe sank to the ground, her hands clutching her body tightly and eyes shut tight. If it was the government, she would let them take her without a fight. But nothing happened in the slightest. Opening one eye slowly, Renèe waited for officials to rush up the stairs and when no one appeared she was slightly confused. She could hear movement downstairs…

Well it was now or never.

Renèe, at first, trembled with every step towards the stairs. But as the seconds passed, her mind rationalized her fear that she was either about to die or not. And this simplified way of thinking gave her courage to run straight down to the danger that lurked below. She burst into the living room, her adrenaline pumping, only to change her mind midway charge which resulted in poor coordination as her legs didn't know which way to go. The short haired brunette fell backwards in surprise.

A tall, broad shouldered man stood centered in Renèe's living room; nevermind the fact that it was in shambles and that it looked like a bomb had exploded. There was a strange man in her house! In his right hand was a very real looking red spear. In his left hand was also an extremely authentic piece of gold weaponry. He slowly turned around, raising his red spear and pointing it directly at Renèe.

"Did you summon me?"

A/N:

Well I'm still alive and so is this story. It has definitely been awhile, but I never really stopped thinking about this story. Anywho there has been a slight change up in cast, nothing major. And there has been a name change Xena Pandora to Willow Sakai. I did some basic editing and re-writing of the previous chapter.

R&R

astraycat~