Well here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long. I've been pretty busy with homework and stuff. Homework during Christmas break is the worst. And now that school's back, I may be posting even less. But don't worry. I'll post. This is a story I plan to finish.
Before letting you go to read – if I even have your attention that is – I'd like to thank my fans first. That's right, I have fans. Hoo-hah!
A big thanks to AdlerGurl1989 for being a Crow geek. Now I can safely say that Sarah is indeed 18 years old in this story.
And a reassurance to Helsinki Demon: I will finish this story. Don't worry about that.
With that done, please continue.
The Crow and Dove
Chapter 2:
Sarah stumbled through the graves, leaning on the wet stones for support. The cold rain pelted her mercilessly, stinging her cheek. Her shoulder was sending waves of searing pain throughout her entire arm and her legs were burning from running so hard.
Sarah made her way slowly to a clear patch of dirt where only two graves sat side-by-side. With a gasp, Sarah collapsed to her knees between the two graves. She leaned against the one to her left, breathing heavily as she closed her eyes. Her hand pulled at a chain around her neck and a small object slipped out from under her shirt. Sarah clutched the ring, Shelley's ring, the same ring Eric had given to the one he loved; the same ring he had given Sarah before he left.
A wave of pain pulsated from her arm. She released the ring and clutched her shoulder and furrowed her brow in pain. She lifted her face to the sky and let out a long cry full of pain and her pent up fear that she had to keep bottled up during the chase. Fresh tears spilled from her eyes. She cried at the heavens, sobbing loudly among the two graves that belonged to her only friends.
As he cries lessened and her tears grew dry, Sarah collapsed to the ground, sinking slightly in the mud. She stayed motionless, quiet whimpers escaping from her mouth.
Tiredly, she lifted her eyes to the grave on the right. The engraved words shone clearly in the dim lights of the surrounding city: Shelly Webster. Sarah sniffled as she reached out a shaking hand to touch to cold stone of her friend.
Then she turned her eyes to the other grave, the one that she had been leaning on. She stared longingly at the name on the grave: Eric Draven, her dear friend and caretaker. She managed a smile at the thought of the handsome man that could always make her laugh. But the face in her memory was somewhat altered. Instead of the image of his clear, smooth skin, Sarah saw her friend the same way that she saw him six years ago: face coated in white make-up with black lips in the form of a dark jester.
Six years ago, Eric had come back from the dead to avenge his and Shelly's death. He had saved Sarah then, just before he returned to the grave. Now, Sarah wished with all her might that he would come back again, not to kill the men that pursued her but to take care of her like he used to. It was a selfish wish but Sarah didn't want to be alone anymore.
Her hand moved away from Shelly's grave to reach for Eric's. Her hand fell short but she strained to touch the gravestone. Her fingers stretched for the gravestone but she just couldn't reach.
"I miss you guys," she rasped in a ragged voice, exhausted from running. "I miss you so much."
Somehow, she still had a few tears left to spare as they trickled down her cheeks to fall upon Eric's grave. "I could really use your help," she murmured.
Her hand fell to the ground, only a hair length's away from Eric's gravestone. "Eric," she mumbled as her eyes fluttered close. She gave one last deep sigh and slipped into unconsciousness. The rain soaked her as she lay motionless in the mud, her blood seeping into the earth; her hand reaching for her friend.
Sitting in a tree that loomed near the two graves and the sleeping girl, sat two birds. One was pure black, melting into the darkness of the night. It turned its head to watch the sleeping form and silent graves. It ruffled its feathers, sending stray drops of water flying. It looked at the other bird, a creature that was its exact opposite. Its feathers were a shining white, smooth and soft even as the rain fell upon it. The dove looked back at the crow and they regarded one another for a moment. Then the crow let out a screech and flew up and away, disappearing into the night sky. The dove eyed Sarah for a moment before following the crow.
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Consciousness came before memory. With conscious came feeling; feeling Sarah didn't want have.
The dark dissipated behind her eyelids and the morning light warmed her face slightly. The sounds of morning struck Sarah's ears: the harsh sound of honking cars and the bustling feet of squabbling people. The smell of cool earth laden with fresh dew wafted to Sarah's nose.
She moaned, reaching for the comfort of sleep but it had already eluded her. She was awake and in pain. Her body was stiff from the cold. Her skin itched where the mud from last night's rain dried on her skin, irritating her sore cheek. Her shoulder was numb. It was better than feeling the sharp pain of the bullet. Her lips were cracked and her mouth was dry. Even worse, her stomach was empty and her body was still tired. The light was relentless and Sarah squeezed her eyes shut to ward of the bright light.
"Sarah?" a voice asked.
Sarah gave a start. Had her pursuers come after her again? No, they wouldn't have addressed her by her name. It had to be someone else: male judging by the deep voice.
"Oh God," she heard the man say. The sound of running feet amplified as it came closer. Someone dropped down to the ground beside her and reached out tentative hands towards her. Gentle hands slipped under her and flipped her carefully onto her back.
"Sarah?" the voice asked again with increasing worry.
Sarah pried her eyes open and peered blearily at the shadow looming over her. A smile cracked on her lips.
"Eric," she breathed. He had finally come for her.
The form leaned in closer and Sarah's smile vanished. She blinked but the face didn't change. The dark-skinned face belonged to her friend, ex-Sergeant Albrecht. He gazed down at her with eyes full of worry.
"Can you hear me?" he asked.
Sarah nodded numbly.
"What happened?"
Sarah opened her mouth to explain but no sound came out.
"Jeez, you look like hell. What trouble are you in now?" Albrecht asked as his eyes scanned Sarah's beaten body.
Sarah couldn't speak. She just stared listlessly at the officer. He watched her for a moment. Then, with decisive movements, placed a bouquet of flowers between Shelly and Eric's graves and slipped his hands under Sarah's prone body. He hefted her up into his arms with a grunt, clutching her shivering body to his chest.
"I come by to pay my respects and stumble upon a lost kid," he murmured to himself disbelievingly. "Now what am I gonna do with you?"
He looked down at Sarah as he started across the cemetery towards the open gate. Sarah just smiled gratefully at him. He sighed and shook his head. "I swear, the trouble you get into."
Still smiling, Sarah let her eyes close as she slipped back into a light sleep. Albrecht sighed again and carried the smaller girl to his car. With some struggling, he placed her on the passenger seat, belted her in and took his place behind the wheel. He looked over at Sarah once more before starting up the car and driving forward towards his house.
"This has to stop before she gets really hurt," he mumbled to himself. "She'd listen to you, Eric."
Albrecht drove through the muddy streets with his sleeping passenger beside him. A lone crow watched his car go from atop the church that stood before the cemetery. It acknowledged the presence of a dove as it landed beside him. They regarded one another. Then the crow flew up and into the graveyard as the dove took off flying after the car.
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And there's chapter 2. I hope you all remember Albrecht. If not, he's the police officer who kind of looked out for Sarah after Shelley and Eric's deaths. He was the officer who had their case and got in trouble for snooping around too much. He aided Eric in his pursuit of T-Bird's gang and was a great ally to Eric when rescuing Sarah from T-Bird. He's a great guy and I just had to have him in my fanfic.
Well then, until next time I guess. Hope you stick with me.