As many of you reading this know I emailed a challenge to many of my fellow Sorcerer's Apprentice writers to write something in honor of the Montreal Massacre.
For those who don't know what that is.
On December 6, 1989, Marc Lépine arrived at the building housing the École Polytechnique, an engineering school affiliated with the Université de Montréal, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and a hunting knife.
He went into a classroom, proclaimed that he hated feminist and that all the women in the classroom were feminist. None of the men did anything, they left. Mind you I don't think there's anything they could have done against a gun. But that not one protested…
After Lépine shot all nine women killing six he moved on. In total he killed fourteen women and injured ten other women and four men in just under twenty minutes before turning the gun on himself.
This is my own response to my challenge.
Please note it has not been betaed.
Disclaimer: All Publicly Recognizable Characters, Settings, Ideas, etc. are the Property of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. The Original Characters and Plot are the Property of the Author. The Author is in no way Associated with the Owners, Creators, or Producers of Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions. No Copyright Infringement is intended.
Dave wasn't a party goer, he much preferred a quiet evening at home reading, watching t.v, playing computer games, or practicing sorcery, without an imposing Balthazar telling him what he was doing wrong.
But Becky's friend was throwing a party and the blonde DJ needed a date, they had caught a ride with Andre and Cassie two guys from the radio show. Becky was the official designated driver, Dave had volunteered but Becky told him she never drank at parties, still skinny guys like him tented to be lightweights. Before he might have risked getting drunk but now that he was a sorcerer… well he was rightly worried about what he might do if he got to drunk. Then there was Balthazar, the apprentice shivered at the though of his master catching him with a hangover.
That would just notend well.
He glanced over at Becky, who was talking to another guy, now normally this wasn't a problem, but he was leaning in a little too close, also not normally a problem, annoying but not a problem. The problem was that Becky was leaning away and she wore an expression of disgust on her face.
Dave strode over to the pair, "Hey Becky, who's this?" He asked pleasantly wrapping his arm around her shoulder protectively.
"Dave, this is Kyle, Kyle this is my boyfriend Dave," introduced Becky. Kyle's mouth twisted into a sneer but he leaned back, putting some much appreciated distance between his and Becky's body.
"Pleasure," said Dave cordially. "If you'll excuse us I see a friend," gently he guided Becky away.
Becky was about to comment on Dave's new found ability to lie, when she noticed they were walking towards Benet.
"Thanks for the save."
"What was with that guy? You were practically screaming 'back off'"
"Apparently my short skirt and stockings negate everything else I do or say."
Dave looked down, Becky was wearing the same stocking she had been wearing the day he had met her again in Heinemann's class. He smiled.
They were very sexy.
"Guy's an idiot."
Becky nodded, she never understood why some guys thought that a girl dressing sexy made them think she wanted sex. Becky couldn't speak for every women out there, but she liked looking good and turning a few heads, it made her feel confident.
"Who's an idiot?" asked Benet interrupting Becky's thoughts.
"Some guy," replied Dave nonchalantly. "Having fun?"
The next hour passed pleasantly enough, Becky left Dave's side to talk to the DJ, and Dave was hitting it off with Benet's date. A fellow student named Chantal.
He glanced over at Becky in time to see her sway a little, she dipped her hand and her coke spilled onto the floor. She touch her forehead to help he concentrate in an effort to regain her balance.
Next thing Dave knew, he was beside her, he didn't even remember running over.
"Becky?"
"I don eel goo.."
Dave's eyes widened he wrapped one arm around her waist to steady her and pulled out his cell with his other.
"Bad timing Dave," greeted a annoyed Balthazar a few rings later.
"Becky's been drugged."
"Where are you?"
Dave gave him the location.
"I'll be right there, I'll teleport over meet me outside. Do you have the drink she was drugged with?"
"She spilled most of it, but there's some left."
"Good, keep it. I'll need it to figure out exactly what she was drugged with."
"Dave you okay?" asked a concerned voice.
Dave looked up to see Benet. "Yeah, but Becky's been drugged, Balthazar's teleporting over. Can you hold the cup? Balthazar said he'd need it to figure out what happened to her."
Benet nodded and reached out for the cup still in Becky's hand. Gently he placed Becky's now free arm over his shoulder to help Dave carry her out.
Together the three made there way outside the apartment, they had just made it to the elevator when it opened to reveal Balthazar.
"How is she?" asked Balthazar as the three stepped in. (Well Becky was dragged in, she seemed to have lost the ability to walk at the moment.)
"I don't know," replied Dave his voice shaky.
"Give me the cup," he ordered holding out his hand towards Benet.
"Rohypnol," hissed Balthazar. "Good news is, there is an antidote for this. Veronica left to get Brown, she'll be okay Dave."
Dave nodded Dr Jonas Brown was a doctor Balthazar knew back before the urn incident. The man wrote notes for Dave excusing him from class and getting him extensions when Dave sustained injuries from his encounters with trolls, imps, grindylows and various other magical creatures and sorcerers.
Balthazar wrapped his arms around Dave and Becky, Glancing at Benet as he did so. Benet nodded his understanding and removed himself from the group. The next thing the African-American knew the three were gone and he was alone in the elevator.
Dave blinked and he was in Balthazar and Veronica's guest bedroom.
"Put her on the bed," ordered the master sorcerer. "On her side, rohypnol can cause vomiting, if she's on her back it could cause her to choke."
Dave nodded, using Becky's arm to prop her head up.
"Where's Brown?" asked the apprentice not taking his eyes off his girlfriend.
"Veronica will bring him over as soon as she can, calm down and tell me what happened."
Dave turned to look at Balthazar, "I don't know— we were at the party neither of us were drinking. Becky's the designated driver, she was talking to the DJ and I was talking to Benet's date. I looked over and she was having trouble standing. I asked her if she was okay, she said she didn't 'feel good' I called you."
He turned back to Becky gently combing his fingers through her hair. She let out a low moan, but showed no there signs of consciousness.
'If I hadn't gotten her out someone would be raping her right now…'
The thought chilled Dave, and his already pale complexion became whiter.
"Stand aside Dave," said the gentle but commanding voice of Dr Jonas Brown. Dave stepped aside and the doctor placed his medical bag beside Becky he pulled out a syringe. "This will be easier if she's on her back, I also need you to roll up her sleeves."
Dave nodded and did as ordered while Jonas filled the syringe with a clear liquid.
"I'll give her two hundred μg every one to two minutes, until we see some effect, which should be in about six to eight minutes." Said Jonas before careful injecting Becky, "Okay, Dave roll her back onto her side will you?"
"Sure," said Dave, gently he positioned Becky back onto her side.
The procedure was repeated another two times, about a minute after the third injection Becky opened her eyes.
"Dave?"
"I'm here," assured Dave holding her hand in one hand and her cheek with the other. "I'm sorry, I should have paid more attention, if I had…"
"It's okay, where are we? How long have I been out?"
"Ten minutes, I called Balthazar he came and brought us to his place using teleportation. Veronica got Doc Brown to help. He's been giving you something to help with the drug."
"Where is everyone?"
"Just outside the door, do you want Doctor Brown?"
Becky started shaking her head then thought better of it. "No, I'm fine. All things considered," she added.
"What happened?"
"That's what I don't understand, I was just talking to the DJ, my drink in my hand… Dave, I never left it alone I don't understand—"
Tears started falling from her eyes Dave leaned in so their foreheads were touching. "Hey we'll figure it out okay? All that matters right now is that you're safe and the whoever did this didn't get a chance to finish."
Becky smiled, Dave was right she was safe, but that guy, or guys for all she knew was still out there, she was lucky to have Dave, a lot of girls weren't so lucky. Her eyes widened in fear as a thought occurred to her. "Dave, what if he goes for someone else tonight? I mean I'm not there, what if he brought more drugs?"
Dave leaned back, that hadn't occurred to him.
He turned when the door opened and saw Jonas. "Becky, this is Doc Brown."
"Hey," greeted Becky with a smile.
"You're awake, good, excuse me Dave."
The apprenticed moved aside to allow the doctor a good look at his patient. Jonas waved a flashlight in front of Becky's eyes and asked a few questions.
"You should be fine, we'll let you sleep of the remained of the drug I want to see me again tomorrow afternoon to make sure you're okay, maybe a couple times after. You should get some sleep. I'll leave you two alone."
Dave took Beck's hand in his own. "I can go back to the party, make sure no one else hurt, find the guy who did this."
Becky smiled, "Thanks for everything."
Dave leaned in and gave a kiss. "I'll be back soon." He assured her. "Get some sleep." He stood and left the room.
"Does Becky need something?" Asked Balthazar, he'd figured he'd have to literally drag his apprentice kicking and screaming before the young man would leave the room.
"No, she's… okay for now. She's worried the guy who drugged her might try it on someone else."
"Teleportation's pretty draining Dave, once we get there I won't be very helpful."
"I'll handle it," said Dave a dark edge in his voice. Balthazar nodded. "I'll tell Veronica, she's making tea in the kitchen grab the cup will you?" asked Balthazar gesturing to the styrofoam cup that had held Becky's coke.
"Ready Dave?" asked Balthazar a few moments later.
"Yeah, I'm ready."
The master sorcerer placed his hand on his apprentice's shoulder. Next thing Dave knew they were standing just outside the elevator on the floor where the party was.
"This way," said Dave as he started walking towards the party.
"Out of curiosity, what are you planning on doing to the guy? You can't use magic in front of all those people."
"I don't care about the rules Balthazar."
"David."
Dave stopped walking and turned to his master.
"Those rules are in place for a reason. You know, this isn't the first time I've dealt with a rapist."
"You have an idea?"
"We could chemically castrate him."
"I have no idea how to do that. And it's not enough."
"I'll do it, I have sufficient power left in me for that."
"It's still not enough."
"You want to kill him Dave?"
The apprentice looked at the floor.
"It's enough for tonight," continued Balthazar "Once we've identified him we can take our time. Now as for identification, you'll need to do that do you remember that sight spell I taught you?"
Dave nodded, there was a spell sorcerers could use to look into the past, all they needed was a connection, they needed to be in the place of the event or have an object from it having both helped. At least now he knew why he had, had to bring the cup.
"Where was she when it happened?" asked Balthazar once they entered the apartment.
Dave guided him to where it had happened, next to the DJ. The DJ who had noticed Becky's near collapses and Dave's rescue was surprised to see him again, but stayed focused on his work.
Dave took a deep breath to steady himself and help him focus. He saw Becky talking to the DJ her left hand held her drink, she was focused on the conversation. A blond guy with brown eyes came up and stood beside her his eyes focused on nothing in particular he reached into his pocket, Dave couldn't see what he held, but his hand drifted over Becky's cup and dropped two white pills.
"Got him," said Dave, but he didn't finish the spell, he needed to find the guy. The vision continued, Dave fast forwarded, he followed the guy as he walked away, as he watched Becky. The would be rapist glared when Dave showed up and took out his cell. He looked around the room and smiled at a brunette with a short red skirt. He placed his hands in his pockets.
Dave used his magic to once again accelerate the vision, about fifteen minutes had past since he had left with Becky and Balthazar maybe Rapist hadn't drugged the girl yet. He hadn't, she wasn't drinking anything just talking to some friends at least so far. Dave continued to watch while Balthazar frowned.
Dave was pushing it, maintaining a vision to the past was difficult, forcing it to accelerate even more so, fortunately the event was recent that made it easier.
"That's him there," announced Dave suddenly pointing to a tall blond guy. "He's planning on going after the girl with the red skirt, but hasn't yet, he's waiting for an opportunity."
"Where are the drugs?"
"Right hand pocket."
"Okay," said Balthazar he walked up to the guy, "Hey Sean!" greeted Balthazar cheerfully, resting his hand the would be rapist's shoulder. Dave noticed a blue light travel through 'Sean's' body.
"Oh sorry," said Balthazar "I thought you were someone else."
The guy frowned and shook his head, he couldn't understand why he was suddenly dizzy, and nauseous. Balthazar took the opportunity to transform the drugs in the man's pocket to salt.
He turned and walked back to Dave.
"Did you…?"
"That thing will never be able to have sex again Dave."
"We still don't know his name."
"Picked his pocket," assured Balthazar holding the wallet aloft.
Dave smiled. "Thanks, for everything."
Balthazar smiled and placed a reassuring hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"Dave!"
Dave turned to see Andre coming towards him.
"Have you seen Becky? Cassie got into a drinking contest and I think we should take him home."
"Becky had to leave," replied Dave, deciding to be vague. Becky would tell him if she wanted to. "I'll be driving, where is he?"
"Washroom."
"Oh Andre this is my uncle Balthazar, he'll be coming with us."
"You brought your uncle to a party." It wasn't a question just a statement, the raised eyebrow and tone said plenty.
"Long story, let's go."
oo0oo
When Becky woke up the first thing she saw was Dave asleep on a chair her hand in his. She gave the limb a squeeze.
"Hey beautiful," said Dave with a smile.
"Hey, did you find him?"
"Yeah, Balthazar chemically castrated the guy, I hope he hates his new found celibacy."
"Did he have more drugs?"
"Yeah, but we got there in plenty of time, the girl will never know she came close."
Becky breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks again Dave," she said he voice cracking.
Dave leaned in "I'm sorry, I wanted to pound the guy, but there were a lot of people at the party, I couldn't… We got his wallet though."
"I don't need you seeking revenge Dave, you came to my rescue and made sure he can never hurt anyone like that again. I don't know why I'm so upset, he didn't get a chance to touch me."
"He druged you, he took away your ability to chose what happens to you, he made you defenceless and he nearly…" he brought his forehead to hers. He whished he knew what to say, whished he knew magical words of comfort, but the only thing that came to mind were three little words.
"I love you."