A/N: OMG, I am so sorry this is so late! It started off as a difficult chapter because, if you read the previous notes about this fic, this came to me in a series of dreams and inspiration through a song and I have the major events but none of the connections to each of them, so this whole chapter I needed to figure out what I wanted to do and how to pace it. So I spent some time plotting out what this chapter was going to contain, then found out the 10 page research paper I thought was due a month later was actually due in a week and then it was my final, and all the while I've been working like a nutter because I'm an accountant and it's tax season in the States, so…yeah. And then, needless to say, all the plotting I did resulted in a crappy chapter that I had to scrap and I finally said "the hell with it" and just started writing and I'm proud of what I came up with. Anyway, I'm so sorry this was late, but my final exam is over (for the semester) and tax season has only another month left (YAY!) and I'm making a promise to update this more frequently (maybe?). I'm aiming for at least once every week or two. We shall see how that goes. Don't give up on me. This fic will not fall by the way-side. I'm too proud of the ideas behind it to just let it slip away into nothing. Anyway, I'll stop rambling and let you get to reading (if you didn't already just ignore me and go to the fic). Sorry again for the delay. Enjoy the chapter!
FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE
Chapter Two
"Where have you been?" Nina demanded as soon as we stepped into the door. I sighed and pushed past the woman and down the hall to my room. I liked Nina, but in the end, she didn't care where I was and what I was doing or not doing. She only cared about George. She might get pissed about the brush off, she may come storming after me to tell me what an inconsiderate asshole I've been, but right now, I didn't care. I couldn't just sit back and listen to her bitch. I may have controlled myself enough to not eat the homeless man, but the urge was still there. It was just below the surface and I needed to be alone to get it fully under control.
I shut the door to my room, knowing it wouldn't really do any good. With Nina yelling, I wouldn't need supernatural hearing to listen to every word. However, it was a much-needed barrier to keep me from ripping her throat out. Not even the smell of the wolf would keep it away. I had let the monster loose and he wanted to kill. It didn't care about my conscious or what I needed. It was hungry. It was always hungry. And there was one thing that could satisfy that.
I groaned and flopped down on my bed, trying to get a grip on my thoughts. I was John Mitchell. I didn't need blood. I just had to convince myself that. Again.
"…I mean, how long does it take to pick up milk, George, honestly?" Nina continued on. "And look? Surprise, Surprise, You even forgot that!"
"Nina, I'm sorry. I ran into Mitchell and"
"I can see that, George. What'd you do, go down to the pub?"
"Look, Nina, he's…" George hesitated and I knew it was because he was trying to figure out how much to tell Nina. She was tough, Nina was. But some things are not forgivable in her book. I winced. I felt bad for George, I really did, but I am desperate to get Annie back. Killing that man seemed (still seems) like a good way to go about it. "struggling."
"George-"
"It's ok, Nina. I, we just, we need to do something." George told her, and I could imagine the two of them holding hands and leaning into each other and I felt a pang at that. While Annie and I had never been anything more than friends, I still missed her presence. She was the light in the darkness. I'd call her an Angel if I thought there was such a thing. Maybe there is. Maybe, if there are demons and hell, there truly are such things as Angels out there and Annie was one. I'd been around people I cared about and seen more of them die than I'd care to think about. Annie was the only one that it felt like a part of my soul was being ripped out.
"George, are we, is Mitchell safe?" Nina asked, her voice sounding worried.
Silence met Nina's questions and I knew the answer George wouldn't say out loud. I sighed and crossed to the window. I glanced back at the closed door and pulled it open. I didn't need to listen in on my friends. I didn't need to listen to them worry about me. I needed to figure out how to get into Hell and get back out again, alive. With Annie.
I quickly slipped out the window and back into the night, soundlessly losing myself into the night. The predator's interest piqued at being out on the prowl, in the darkness again, but I shoved him back. I wasn't going to let him be in control again tonight.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and let my mind wander to what I knew about the other side.
Fact: Only the dead can cross over without going insane.
Why?
I think it has something to do with the aspect of the soul. When the body dies, the soul gets released. Ghosts are created when the soul has some "unfinished business" that is so great, it cannot find peace. There's good ghosts, like Annie, and bad ghosts that become known as poltergeists and are basis for things like the Exorcist. If a living person crosses over, their body and soul is in a place they aren't meant for. The body cannot survive what the soul can; how many old people are there that are spunky as the day they were born, but they body is worn out? I think this…premature crossover wears on the soul without harming the body, thus creating something similar to insanity. It's only a theory, a bit sketchy at that, but it seems like it'd make sense.
Maybe not.
Moving on.
Fact: The Gatekeepers decide where the soul goes.
From my own brief experience with crossing over, when going through the door, you're met with reception. They eventually decide where you go as you move from reception from reception. Problem is, I never got past the first reception. Vampires don't get to find out where they would have gone. They just linger there until it's time to waken.
Fact-ish: There's different parts of hell (from both Annie's declaration and rumors/history/religious teachings). This seems to be a bit of a universal concept.
Rumor: Dante wasn't wrong when he discussed the nine circles of hell; Limbo/Purgatory, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath/sullenness, Heresy, Violence, Fraud, and Treachery.
Are those the true organization of Hell itself? Who knows. There was a tale I'd heard when I was first changed that Dante was inspired by someone who had actually travelled through Hell. When he came back, his mind was so ravaged by his journey, he was barely able to speak. His mad ramblings were crafted together and we have The Inferno.
Fact: Annie is beginning to lose her mind.
Fact: Annie is being sent to Purgatory. Nothingness.
Fact: Technology can be manipulated by the Gatekeepers and souls (apparently, I mean, Annie's done it…) on The Other-Side.
Why? For what purpose? I don't see the Devil or whatever is in charge of Hell wanting to call and order a pizza or watch the newest episodes of Doctor Who and X-Factor.
So…why?
Something tells me that communication and spying aren't the sole reasons for that ability. Why would they need to be in contact with those on this side? Does that mean there are Gatekeepers in our world as well as in theirs? To control? For fear? Why?
Lights flickering in the corner of my vision caught my attention and I stopped, and turned to look at the display of TVs across the street. I had a moment of surprise that I had walked this far away from our small house. But another part of me, the predator too, felt weary. Alert. Like something wasn't right. I studied the TVs, looking for any anomalies in their broadcasts but nothing jumped out at me…at first.
"Mitchell,"
My blood went cold. I couldn't help the instincts of the predator as they took over. I knew my eyes would be all black if anyone were to look closely enough into them. I could feel the fangs extended in my mouth and couldn't hold back the hiss that escaped my throat as the predator prepared to fight.
"There you are, Mitchell the beast," The thing inside the TVs taunted. "The monster. Our killer."
"What do you want?" I asked, not letting the predator slip away. I wanted the fearlessness of the predator. John Mitchell was afraid. The Vampire wouldn't show weakness. I used both to keep myself calm. To talk to the beings before me.
"We don't want anything," The man laughed, a sick twisted sound that didn't sound human. Something dark lurked behind that news anchor's body. "We only have a message. For you." The thing laughed again and I winced, the pitch hurting my ears. "About Annie." It said, it's voice serious.
My blood ran colder.
"What are doing to her?" I demanded.
"Nothing she hasn't earned, Vampire." The thing stated, smiling at me. "But, we decided…well, it's been so long since we've had a visitor."
"What are you implying?"
"You, John Mitchell, are campaigning to save your Ghost." The thing stated, smirking at me. I clenched my jaw and forced myself to keep silent, to not fall into its verbal trap. If it had a message for me, it could come out and say it. I didn't want to play games. Not with Death. "We decided on…a wager."
"A bet?"
"If you will."
"What kind of bet?"
"We'll let you have the Ghost. Your…Annie Sawyer," The thing said and I stared skeptically at the being before me. There's no way Death was just going to let Annie go, as nice as that would be. No. There would be a cost. A price. There always was one for the things you care most about. "If you can find her."
"That's it?"
"Mmmm. You cross over, we'll let you search. We'll let you hunt. Take as much time as you need. You find your Ghost, you can both leave." It paused. "Provided, you can find your way back out again, of course."
"Oh. Of course." I found myself agreeing. "Are you insane?" I hissed at the TV and a woman walking passed me gave me a wide birth and a funny look as she moved past. The image inside the TV laughed all the while. I watched the woman, gave her a friendly smile and a wave.
"Reporters," I said, shaking my head incredulously. She gave me a nervous smile and continued on her way, as fast as she could. I watched her go a moment before turning my attention back to the thing before me, now looking smug as it stared back at me.
"You're going to just…let me cross over, poke around in your…operations, and then leave again?" I shook my head. "No, I don't buy it."
"What other choice do you have, Mitchell?" The thing asked. "You say no to this offer, than you'll be hard pressed to find a door and welcome reception. Do you know what we do to those who cross over who don't belong? Hm?" There was a pause as the thing let me think about this for a moment. "Do you want to find out?" It smirked, knowing it had won. "This offer is good only now. Say yes, We'll tell you when and where to cross over. Say no….well…We'd say good luck, but we both know that won't do you any good."
I closed my eyes and released the breath I was holding slowly. It was right. I didn't have a choice. If I wanted to save Annie, I wouldn't have another opportunity like this. The predator told me it was a trap. I knew it was a trap. Every instinct within me screamed to say no. To find another way. But what other way was there? Wander around hoping for someone to die? Then what? I cross over, yeah…if that soul presents a door. And then what? As the thing stated, the Gatekeepers wouldn't just let me waltz around. No. Was it even possible to die on the otherside? I shivered at that thought. I had to do this. I didn't have any other choice. No other option. I wasn't going to just leave Annie there. I couldn't. I needed her too much.
"Tell me where."
The thing just smiled.