Chapter 2
Abbie needed to speak to her sister. She knew that talking to Ichabod about it was out of the question. Jenny had helped or knew how Ichabod was able to talk to her and see her on the astral plane so it stood to reason that she would be able to do the same. Just as Abbie resolved herself to wait until tomorrow to get started, a thump was heard in her bedroom. She no longer had her Python it was back in her dresser. She grabbed a knife from her kitchen and braced herself for action. As she slowly entered the room there was another thump, she turned around and heard the direction of the thump. It was coming from her bathroom. Abbie put the knife in the drawer her Python was in and grabbed her gun. Safety off and headed for the bathroom she peeped in and saw a small glow coming from the mirror over the sink. Tears came to her eyes when she saw him. "Abraham" she said as he smiled at her. Well, it's about time he said. "You are remembering more now that you can see and hear me. I'm glad that he was successful in getting you out." "I don't understand" Abbie said, "I know what I feel when I see you, but how did we become more to each other than enemies?" "I was brought here first by Pandora." Abraham said. "She needed my strength to bring that decrepit tree to fruition. I would not yield, and still not being whole she was strong enough to subdue me with her powers. I wandered the astral realm for months fighting other demons and wraiths, trying to find my way out of this accursed place. Then I saw you and you were talking to no one but notching a marker on one of the stone walls. I watched you for days after that wondering why I didn't want to take your life. I realized it was your courage that I admired at first." She was deeply enthralled with his tale of their times in Purgatory when he stopped abruptly and held his hand up in a gesture for her to be quiet. He then said, he had to go but would return to her later tonight. She nodded her head and watched his image disappear from the mirror.
Downtown Sleepy Hollow, at Fionn's Pub Ichabod waited nervously for Katey. She looks so much like Katrina he thought to himself and yet he knew it wasn't her. Images of that horrible day played back in his head. He wished the outcome could have been different. He knew he made the right decision; if he had not Abbie would be dead and no more. "I hope you haven't been waiting long" said Katey. "I'm still getting lost even with my GPS" she laughed nervously. Ichabod stared at her for a moment longer before he spoke to her. "I know it can be quite the challenge but you shall persevere" he said. Katey looked at him and said, "You talk so different and it's really cute." The two sat and ordered drinks. Across the tavern in a darkened booth sat Pandora with a smirk on her face. She uttered the words "all too easy" to the young lady sitting across from her with a satchel sitting prominently on the table. Back at the archives Nick Hawley looked with squinted eyes at Joe who was looking back at Nick with pity. Jenny came back in the room with the Intel she had gathered on Nick's latest booty call. Jenny thought to herself that she had dodged a bullet not falling for Nick's crap. "Well, her name is Lauren Faye" she said, "and she is from Ireland on a Visa. She is wanted for questioning in a art heist in her native land as well as grave robbing in Lumberton area of North Carolina" Jenny said. "It seems she has a thing for bones, her last three heists were all desecrations of skeletal remains." Nick looked at Jenny with some shock but no shame. "She's perfect for you" Jenny said with a smile. Joe just shook his head and laughed at Jenny's response. He knew then that his baby had no feelings left for Nick outside of an acquaintance. "According to my sources she's been hanging out at Fionn's, so let's take a drive over there to see if she's there tonight." Joe raised his eye brows and said "Isn't that where Ichabod was meeting that news lady" Abbie now wasn't tired or sleepy. The detective in her wanted the rest of Abraham's story right damn now! All of her gut instincts told her everything he said was true. She had faint recollections of him and her together. Some left her panting inside for more. Just as she was at her wits end her cell rang playing Sister Sledge's (We are Family) a ring tone she set for Jenny's number. "Hey" Abbie answered, "I assume you talked to Nick by now" Jenny said, in a rapid fashion "YEAH! BUT WE ARE NOW RUNNING FROM BULLETS AND PANDORA! "WE HAVE SOMETHING SHE REALLY WANTS BAD!" Jenny laughs, half screaming. In the background Abbie can hear Nick screaming "NO ONE STEALS FROM TRICKY NICKY AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!" Abbie then hears Joe scream, "YOU ASSHAT, JEN!" WATCH OUT FOR THAT HORSE!" The connection goes silent. Abbie quickly heads out the door like a bat out of hell. Jenny's gun a 454 Casull with silencer can take down a grizzly bear and yet it can't hit the broad side of that damn horse!
One hour earlier, Fionn's Pub. "So you know my price" Lauren said with a smirk of arrogance. Pandora's patience was wearing thin with this woman; however, she really needed to control the beast. "Yes" was all she said and Lauren couldn't hide her smile. "I hope that bag is for me, otherwise you're not getting shite" Lauren said with some anger. "What a vulgar woman you are" Pandora said. "I assure you what's in this bag, is for you" she said, smiling. Lauren lifted her beer and said "cheers". Just then, Nick runs up to the table screaming "THIEF!" at Lauren ignoring Pandora. Jenny and Joe both slapped their foreheads and Jenny whispered a boat load of expletives. Pandora surveyed the room looking for familiar faces when Lauren hit Nick with her beer bottle and he and the tablecloth went to the floor along with Pandora's drink. As if on cue a lot of the patrons started to leave quickly but orderly. It looked like a lovers' quarrel and that was not new at any pub. Pandora grabbed her bag that was at her feet and patted it before heading for the exit. Lauren finally looked down and grabbed her bag but it felt really light! Its content was missing and so was Nick! Jenny and Joe figured out Nick's ruse and had the truck running. "And the Academy award goes to..." Nick said triumphantly holding the stolen relic inside of the tablecloth he took to the floor with him. He would have continued with his BS but a bullet grazing his left ear had him jumping into the back of the truck bed quickly. Nick screamed, "Hall ass man!" Joe was driving and didn't have to be told twice! Lauren was aiming her gun at Nick's head again when the worst pain she had ever felt in her life came over her. She couldn't believe her eyes when it stepped in front of her. It was blackish green with large orange eyes and teeth like a shark. She momentarily forgot her pain when fear took center stage than she felt it again along with a crunching sound. "Oh God!" she screamed there is another one she thought. That was her last coherent thought. Screeching tires drowned out Lauren's screams as she was broken in half by Pandora's pets. They devoured her with brutal efficiency leaving only a stain of blood and fluids that to a passing pedestrian would look like puke. Pandora then said the word "revert" and her pets turned back into their seed forms. She picked the seeds up depositing them back into her bag, and patted it. Lauren Faye was no more. Pandora then saw the nightmare beast galloping down the street! She tried to use her powers to make it halt. As it approached she could see its red eyes glowing crimson red. She jumped out of the way just as the beast's thunderous hooves cracked the concrete where she just was standing. "I've been away from my tree to long" she said to herself. She then walked into the darkness and disappeared.
Nick said, "Did you hear that?" Joe looked at Nick and said, "Yeah, if you mean the hooves of our new friend back there!" "What the hell!" Jenny screamed, "It chases people without its rider!" She fired off a clip at it and it just got faster. Abbie didn't know what instinct she was going on but she caught up with her sister's group quickly. She saw the rear end of the horse and heard the shots but nothing passed the horse. As Joe's truck and the horse came to a halt on the outskirts of the Hollow, Nick and Joe were reloading and Jenny kept her Casull locked on the horse. Abbie screamed as she got out of her car quickly "Jenny! Don't shoot!" The horse turned to look at Abbie and his nostrils flared, he then neighed and trotted over to Abbie. She reached out to touch him on his mane and said his name, "Daredevil".
I would like to thank Blackwolfmajik, Cocoalounge, and foxgodess07. You three helped me immensely. Your encouragements, knowledge and criticisms are well appreciated and accepted. Thank you.