A/N: Good to see you guys are really enjoying story, and I'm quite interested at how much you guys want to see 'the boy' defeated. Anyway it's time to give him a name wouldn't you guys agree? This will help provide some insight into what's going on, and maybe raise a bunch of questions at the same time. So prepare yourself for a semi-emotional ride and don't forget to leave a review. For update information check out my profile!
A Very Whitechapel Christmas
Chapter 4: Ethan's Guardian Angel
11th December 2012 (AM)
Ethan wasn't surprised to find himself alone, Benny was pursing Erica, Rory chasing after Santa, and Sarah was following a lead on the location of the reindeer statue. He looked down at his food and felt a small pang of sadness well up inside him, he wasn't sure why but he suddenly felt very alone. He pushed the feeling far from his mind and instead chose to think about the strange boy's plan for stopping Christmas. It was obvious he was planning something, both his vision, and the attack and proved it, the question was where and how?
Ethan closed his eyes; he saw the feathers, the mutating Santa and tree, the missing reindeer, and the sad voices that had come from the ruined feathers. What was it about this boy that gave him such power? Better yet what was his power and what did it have to do with the feathers? The more he thought about it less it made sense, was he some kind of mythical being he'd missed during his previous researches? Or was he an entirely new type of creature?
The bell rang, Ethan looked down at his half eaten food and decided to toss it out. He wanted answers, no he needed them.
Benny watched Erica as she rounded the corner, and vanished from view. He slowly followed her from a safe distance and watched as she put a small wreath on her locker. She wished the boy next to her a 'Merry Christmas' before leaving.
"Strange," thought the young spellmaster to himself, he approached her locker, and waited until he was alone in the hall. He waved his hand as his Grandma had taught him and muttered a spell under his breath. Nothing happened. The spell was supposed to reveal any supernatural items in her locker, and apparently there were none, so what had caused her sudden change in attitude?
Benny thought about it and came to one conclusion: Ethan could figure it out. But to be on the safe side he would follow her for another day or two before reporting to his best friend.
11th December 2012 (PM)
By the time Ethan had finished his homework it was dark out, he looked at his cell phone. No texts or calls from any of his friends, it was beginning to bother him. Everyone was busy with their own thing, so why would it bug him so much now? On the desk the feather began to glow. Ethan looked around; there was no sign of the strange boy. He picked it up and felt himself pulled into a vision.
The young boy was doing his best to remain quiet. His black hair vanished as he slowly placed a beanie on his head. The boy laughed silently, he had seen Santa's sleigh in the air! But perhaps more importantly he had watch it land on the outskirts of town in the forest. If he hurried then he might be able to catch Santa-the REAL SANTA!
"Alec what are you doing?" asked his younger sister as she sleepily sat up.
"Nothing, go back to sleep," said Alec as he slowly put on a jacket. "I'm just going to see if I left my bicycle outside."
The girl murmured something and lay back down. Alec slowly exited the room.
Ethan was home again. The outline of Alec was standing at his door motioning for him to follow. Ethan grabbed his jacket and followed the strange aura.
"Where are you going?" asked Ross looking up from some papers.
"I'm just going to out to get something," responded Ethan as he followed the boy. Was it possible that this kid would one day become the creature they were fighting?
Sarah landed with a thud; snow did not make for the easiest landings. According to what she had heard a giant reindeer had been spotted on Sunday leaving Whitechapel. Thinking about what the boy had done to the tree and Santa, it made sense that he had brought the statue to life. She walked cautiously through the street, she was sure she could handle herself, but there was no need to let her guard down. It was then that she saw Ethan running a distance ahead of her; he looked like he was following something. She was about to call out for him when she noticed the feather in his hand. A mixture of fear and anger rippled through her.
Her first thought was to pursue and make sure he was ok. The second was Ethan lied to her
Ethan had followed the Alec out of his house, and then into the forest. After what felt like hours they arrived at a small slope, he watched the outline slide down and went after it. A few minutes later they were in some kind of depression, Ethan didn't recognize this part of the forest. Alec stopped in the middle of the field. Ethan was cautiously walking over when the feather activated his visions again.
Alec ran as fast as he could and stopped when he reached the middle of the field. He looked up and saw something flying away in the sky, it could've been anything, but to him it was Santa. Alec let out a frustrated cry and turned to head back when the strange sound filled his ears. It sounded like glass cracking, he looked down. He wasn't standing on a field he was standing on a frozen lake.
Alec felt fear grip his heart, what was he supposed to do? When he tried to take a step forward the ice cracked even more. He began to cry; the tears blurred his vision and froze to his face. Despite the urge to live, the desire to escape, and the longing to see his sister again, he knew he wouldn't.
Deep down in his heart Alec knew he was going to die.
It came as no surprise when the ice finally gave way and he plunged into the arctic water below. It felt like he's been hit by a powerful force, pain and cold swept over his body. He tried to scream, and water filled his lungs. Bright lights began to flicker in front of him, Alec reached out for them. The voices of his family resonated deep within his mind. Eventually the lights began to fade into the darkness and a strange sense of warmth came over the boy.
He thought of of his family. He thought about playing with his sister, eating Christmas dinner with his grandparents, and even bicycling with his friends. No matter how Alec struggled to remember the memories, but they too faded into the black abyss.
When Ethan came to he realized he was crying. While he wiped the tears away, a sudden revelation came forth, he was standing in the exact same spot Alec had when he plunged to his death. He turned slowly and felt his heart sink when the sound of cracking ice filled his ears.
"I never thought that someone besides me could access the powers of the feathers."
Ethan felt fear overpower every one of his emotions. Standing at the edge of the lake was the strange boy. It was Alec.
"Why are you doing this?" managed Ethan through his chattering teeth.
"What do you mean by this? Do you mean the incident at the mall, or perhaps the theft of the statue? Or mayhap you mean what I did to your friend?"
"Alec, you don't have to do this," said Ethan as the ice began to crack even more. "You don't have to ruin Christmas because you died."
The boy let out a laugh. "My name is not Alec, and while I admit I do look like him, we are not one in the same. He perished here nearly eighty years ago, I have been around far longer than that. If you want something to call me by then allow me to suggest a name. How about what every kid dreads to find under their tree on Christmas morning? How about you call me Coal?"
"Then what about the vision?" asked Ethan shivering despite the jacket. "Why would you show me the memories of Alec's death?"
"I only gave you the feather, you unlocked everything else yourself. You have the power of sight; do not be afraid to use it in the pursuit of truth."
Ethan said nothing and prayed for a miracle. Coal looked at him; there was genuine sadness in his eyes.
"I thought you were my intellectual equal," said Coal as he began to move closer. "It's a shame to see you limited by the gift you hold so dear."
"Why are you doing this?" yelled Ethan in fear. The ice wouldn't hold out for much longer. "Why Whitechapel? Why now?"
"I've given you everything you need to understand me, and you still don't. Maybe it's for the best you die tonight; it'll just be another memory to add to the ever expanding collection."
His wings spread out behind him as he turned to leave. In a desperate attempt to escape Ethan yelled the only thing that came to his mind.
"I can help you! My friends and I, we can help you. It's what we do."
Coal turned to him, the sadness replaced by anger.
"You cannot help what you cannot hope to understand. Maybe in death those around you will learn what it means to be sad, and then forgotten. Then they will know what it means to be me. Farewell, Ethan Morgan."
Ethan watched as Coal slammed his foot down on the ice with an inhuman force. The cracks spread, and he felt the ground give way under him. The last thing Ethan saw as he plunged into the cold abyss was the snow falling from above.
Sarah rushed forward and locked eyes with the boy before diving into the water after Ethan. A moment later she emerged with her friend in tow, she looked at the boy again.
"The next time I see you I swear I will rip open your throat," hissed Sarah as she bared her fangs.
"Funny," said Coal as he turned to leave. "Your friend said something similar."
His wings arched out from his back and he vanished into the falling snow. Sarah picked Ethan up and ran as fast as she could to his house. His parents looked far from please to have their babysitter show up soaking wet carrying their unconscious son. Once inside and in dry clothes Sarah allowed herself to exhale a bent up breath. She was waiting in the living room by the warm fire when Jane sat on the ground next to her.
"Thanks,"
"For what?" asked Sarah confused.
"For making sure Ethan's ok. I know I make fun of him and his crush on you, but he's my brother, and I can't imagine losing him. Especially around now when everything is supposed to be about family."
Sarah reached out and gave Jane a hug. A few moments later Samantha and Ross walked in.
"Sarah we can't thank you enough for helping Ethan out," said Samantha, there were tears in her eyes. "I can't imagine-I'm sorry."
She left the room and Ross cleared his throat.
"What we're saying is that you mean a lot to this family, and if there's anything we can do for you in return just let us know."
Sarah nodded. "It's ok, I'm just glad I saw him when I did."
"Do you know why he was that deep the forest?"
"No, I was walking outside trying to clear my head when I saw him running into the forest. I'm glad I followed him."
Ross nodded. "I'll ask him when he's awake. But again thank you so much. Jane it's time for bed."
Sarah watched as Jane went up the stairs before putting on the jacket that Samantha has lent her. She gave Ross a hug.
"Can you let me know when Ethan's awake?"
Ross nodded and Sarah waved goodbye. On the way back to her house it suddenly occurred how much Ethan really meant to her. She stopped and let the thought bounce around her mind, was it possible? No, she couldn't be… could she? Was it possible she was in love with Ethan?
Before she could offer a mental rebuttal she caught sight of the large bronze reindeer. It took one look at her before vanishing darting into the forest. She debating on pursing it, but something seemed to pull her towards the street it has just come from. It was in ruins, every single holiday ornament was smashed and there was even a crushed car. That thing needed to be stopped before someone got seriously hurt.
12 December 2012
At school the next day Ethan refused to meet Sarah's eyes. He was used to being saved by her but never on such a large scale. There was no other way around it, Sarah had saved his life, and for some reason he was embarrassed by it.
"Ethan can we talk about last night?" asked Sarah as she tried to make eye contact. "Why were you in the forest, and why were you with that boy?"
"His name is Coal," said Ethan. "And I was following the memories in the feather-"
"I thought you got rid of that thing!"
"I thought it was gone, but it wasn't!" yelled Ethan as he finally looked up. "It keeps coming back and no matter what I do it always ends up in my pocket or on my desk. I don't know why, but I think it's the way to defeat Coal."
Sarah said nothing, there was a look of pain in her eyes.
"I'm sorry I yelled." Said Ethan
"It's ok, I didn't mean to get so mad at you," said Sarah as she tried her best not to appeared as worried as she felt. "It's just last night you almost died, if I hadn't seen you then you might not be here right now."
"But I am," argued Ethan.
"I know but after I left your house I began to realize that-"
Benny sat down at the table and looked between them. There was an awkward moment of silence.
"Good to see you're alive after last night," said Benny with concern written all over his face. "I heard what happen. Do do you have any idea how much you owe her for saving your life? Come one E, what were you thinking going into the forest at night when we have some kind of demon loose, not to mention the reindeer statue."
"Benny, I'm fine." Said Ethan as he looked between his friends. "Guys seriously I'm fine."
"I saw the reindeer last night," said Sarah. Benny's arrival meant the discussion of her feelings for Ethan were going to have to wait. "It's alive, not much of a surprise there, and it's attacking houses with decorations. Why?"
"There's more to it than that," said Ethan. "He sending us messages. We just need to figure out what it means."
"Ok then, I also have some interesting news for you," said Benny. "Erica seems to be in the Christmas spirit. Saw her singing carols, wearing a Santa hat, heck I'm not sure but I think she may have given away a few toys to charity. Something is clearly wrong."
Both Ethan and Sarah looked at one another. "Coal!"
"Coal, like what Santa gives me every year?"
"No," said Ethan. "Coal, is the name of the boy whose been causing problems. He told me he did something to one of our friends. What if he put one of those feathers in Erica?"
"Then why would she be so happy?" asked Benny looking confused. "Doesn't the feather turn people evil? I don't know about you but I prefer this Erica over the one we saw last week, I'm just saying."
"Did you ever find out what was wrong with her?"
"No," said Benny. "But I will, I'm going ask her after school today. And has anybody seen Rory lately? I swear it's been a few days since he's been around."
Ethan and Sarah shrugged. There was far more pressing matters at hand.
