And here we go again, my dear readers. Sorry that the next chapter took ages (like...year and two months?!) to publish. But this time it's different: I have an actual apology! TBH I think it makes a better story than the chapter itself. Read on.
The writer's block took its price, not mentioning that my computer started acting weird, it just didn't seem to notice that I inserted the flashdisk with the unfinished chapter already, some programs didn't run at all and what was the best, it was restarting itself randomly...yup, I loved it. Nothing could please me more. But I was being told that it'll pass, that I have to be a little patient...like hell I was. And just when it seemed to cure it's dementia, guess what? The sucker broke down and was being repaired for like a month. Later, not only my stationary computer, but even the school notebook broke down – both on Friday 13th. Can anyone blame me that I'm superstitious?! Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention...by then the flashdisk STOPPED WORKING. So I rewrote the whole thing but it got deleted with all the other stuff during the Friday 13th incident. This is a third version of the same chapter and I'm seriously starting to think that the whole story is cursed.
*takes a deep breath*
Ah, that felt good. Nevertheless, I'm back again. That is, until there's a sequel for the Story of the idiotic computer(s) is out, or...until I get another writer's block, yay.
So, just in case you don't know, I do not own Constantine, the movie, the book, the Hellblazer comic, Keanu Reeves (too bad), any other actors...to cut the story short, I don't own a thing. Still, I own some of my own characters that may appear in this story.
Chapter four: The Crime scene
„Seriously?! Are you really supposed to meet her in her apartment? And you've been there several times already? Man, that sounds serious!"
Constantine rolled his eyes. As much as he enjoyed having Chas back, why the hell wouldn't he shut up for a while? The exorcist didn't get any sleep, because with Chas legally dead, the boy had no place to go. He stayed with John for now and frankly, the buzzing of all the Beeman's creatures couldn't get more annoying than Chas' constant theories about Angela's feelings towards Constantine. His head was getting ready to explode. One more word and...
„Y'see, women don't usually let men to see the place where they live, they think it's incredibly personal. That means she trusts you and suggests she might want to-"
He just had enough. His life depended on the whim of the damned double. The morning was gray, rather unpleasant, and he was late for the meeting with Angela. „Chas, for the sake of every bloody being on Earth, shut it! Have you ever thought that since the police is trying to hush the whole thing up, as not to disturb the public, I shouldn't really just suddenly walk right to the place, knowing exactly what happened there? You really have some brain, bo- I mean, Chas."
„That was close," the half-breed grinned, amused. „Now, where were we?"
„This is hell."
„Tell me 'bout it. Still, there's an apparent attraction between-"
„And just for your information, we're not meeting her in her apartment, she'll come downstairs. Now give me a break."
Chas frowned. „Downstairs? That's not much of a date."
Constantine's patience didn't have to be tried any longer, because they just arrived to the building. Chas leaned on the wall, watching John press the doorbell. He was still quite exhausted because of the events of this morning. The reason for them being late was quite simple. If either of them thought that entering a room with the half-breed wings was hard...well, exiting the flat certainly exceeded their expectations.
Chas spent most of the night excercising the movements of the newly obtained limbs. Just another reason why John didn't sleep that well. The half-breed almost managed it then, but when they were leaving, the stress ruined all his efforts.
Unsure of what the effect will be, he stretched one of his wings. „Hey, I think I finally got it!" The wing silently passed trough the door.
The exorcist had to chuckle at Chas' childish excitement. „You have my sincerest congratulations."
„You can laugh, John, but I am a free guy now! I don't have to walk anymore, I can use the bus! I can walk trough a door without getting stuck there! Ah, what a beautiful day!" Right when he finished, Angela answered.
„Yes?"
„It's me."
„Us!" stated Chas, earning a killing look from Constantine. There was a long silence.
„...us?"
The exorcist shot another annoyed look towards the half-breed. „Now explain it, genius!" Then to the microphone: „Well, you should know, something unexpected happened..."
„You can tell me when I'm down there, okay?" Constantine breathed in to explain that she might be quite surprised, but all that could be heard was just a silent click! as she quit their conversation.
„Damn it."
Chas was obviously amused. „What? If everything else fails, maybe she'll be so shocked that she'll jump right into your arms and while you-"
„We're talking about Angela, Chas. When shocked, she probably doesn't take her time to calm down – she shoots right away. And since you're...y'know...alive even though she attended your furneral, you'd better find a good cover."
„...uh..."
They both turned towards the door again where the detective stood, completely stunned. Chas instinctively ducked, as if waiting for Constantine's prophecy to fulfill, but after several seconds he dared to raise his head. Angela kept staring at him, the question how? clearly visible in her eyes. As if apologizing, he waved his wing.
Slowly, she smiled. „Now I understand. Welcome back." Turning to John, she added, „Well...you really should have told me before I came down."
„Hey, it's not like I didn't try to!"
She seemed to regain her coolness again. „Tried, yet failed."
The gaze of his dark orbs was as annoyed as ever, but this time they had a slight glimpse of amusement in them. „Now whose fault is that?"
„Yours, for not trying hard enough."
„Listen to her, John, she's got a point!"
God, how he needed a cigarette at that moment.
---
Neither of them understood how Angela managed to convince her fellow cops that a young boy should be allowed to a place where a murder was commited, but instead of asking questions that could wait till later they started to search the apartment, looking for any clues they could get. The crime scene really looked horrible – there was a stench in the air that made even Constantine sick. Chas only muttered something about being happy that he didn't eat anything for breakfast. The exorcist held his breath and started examining the figures that were painted on the walls in blood.
„Shit...that doesn't look good."
Angela was beside him within a second. „What is it? What did you find?"
He frowned as his fingers touched the bloody pattern. There was something wrong. Something weird... „Look at this. It looks like something connected to Mammon, only..."
„Only what?"
„Only that this time, your so-called God might have left you for good, exorcist. That's what you get when you combine the powers of Hell and Heaven." A strangely familiar voice made them turn around and stare at the person who just entered in disbelief. John Constantine, or more precisely his double, was standing in the doorway, smirking and lighting up a cigarette.
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Phew, that's it. Like it? Hate it? Anyways, reviews are always welcome (and heavily needed).