CHAPTER 26

A breathtaking, honey silver, crescent, moon hung high bringing attention to the darkened sky alight with stars and such and to the untrained eye it would appear like any other night. However, unlike countless nights prior the streets were far from silent. Citizens were not tucked away in their beds closing their eyes and ears from the night and the inevitable darkness that swept the streets along with it.

Tonight was a symphony of soft pattering footsteps from young impressionable citizens, combined with the hissing of spray paint cans, and tires of blackened vans crunching through gravel. The swish of black bags and clattering spray paint cans tumbling to the ground were the only evidence of lives suddenly snatched away never to be seen again.

Many of the brave citizens creeping around after curfew were dressed in all black with thin plastic masks mirroring the hero that had become a household name in such a short time, V. One young woman burning with the fire of rebellion swung a strap over her shoulder before taking shelter behind a large dumpster, emerging once the coast appeared clear. Silently she made her way through the familiar streets taking routes less traveled by vehicles until she came upon her destination, a brick wall of a small building sitting just beyond a set of railroad tracks. Tossing the bag to the ground with a thud to remove a can she began painting the red insignia that symbolized hope and freedom unaware of the midnight shaded van cautiously inching towards her until it was too late. Men completely concealed in onyx attire outstretched their gloved hands slipping a black bag over the woman's head. She struggled with heart pounding in terror as the can fell from her fingers hitting the ground just as the door to the van slammed closed and disappeared.

On the opposite side of town, Evey had her hands full fighting off three Fingermen that stumbled upon two teens decorating nearby walls and storefronts with very different insignia while they filled the air with youthful idiocy. The two teen boys were now pressed against a nearby wall watching in amazement as Evey, in disguise, fought relentlessly.

Evey was glad that so many of the citizens reclaimed their long buried boldness and took to the streets. However, seeing that many, if not all, were completely clueless when it came to combat made patrolling quite burdensome. Finally the last Fingerman fell to the ground unconscious.

"What? You waitin' for an invitation? Get out of here, now!" Evey commanded angrily at the two gawking boys.

The anger in her voice broke their trance causing them to fall over one another as they scampered away, hopefully heading home.

"And stay inside or I'll beat your asses myself" She growled in aggravation.

Taking a moment to rest she sheathed her weapons leaning against an uneven brick wall poking roughly into her back. Despite the mild discomfort, she soaked in the moment's peace only to be interrupted by a sudden scream.

"Someone help me, please!" The feminine voice pleaded desperately. The sound echoing from an alley further away.

Evey could not help but groan in frustration as she headed in the direction of the voice.

V also seemed to have his hands full at the moment eloquently scolding a group of young adults defacing a monument erected for the victims that perished from the orchestrated dispersal of the Hail Mary disease. Though he didn't assault the misguided youth in any way they still shrunk away from him apologizing repeatedly once their star struck side effect wore off. A scream pierced the air drawing V's attention as he raced off into the night.

"Someone help me, please!" A blonde haired woman dressed in a beige trench coat cried in a nearby alley pass.

Two Fingermen descended on the young woman with lustful smirks unaware of the figure waiting in the shadows. V stood silently taking a moment to observe the situation judging whether the woman truly needed assistance. Being with Evey taught him not to presume every woman to be a damsel in distress, however, this woman was not his Evey. The suggestive taunt from one of the men barely registered to V's ears before a smack echoed off of the alley walls. The blonde woman looked utterly outraged and disgusted while the perverted Fingerman pressed a hand to his cheek shock morphing into smugness.

"You just assaulted an officer, wouldn't you say so Willy?" The Fingerman that once clutched his stinging cheek smirked.

The second Fingerman, Willy, stepped further into the light towards the two.

"You're Fingermen. Oh God, I didn't know" The woman stumbled horrified by her mistake.

The two men only laughed at the clear terror now written on her face.

"Please, I didn't mean...I'm sorry" The woman begged although she seemed unsure on what words would persuade the vile beings to let her go unharmed.

"Not yet you're not, but you will be. By sun up if you're not the sorriest piece of ass in London, you'll surely be the sorest" The Fingerman said walking closer towards her unbuckling his breeches.

"I'll go home I won't do it again" The woman pleaded on the verge of tears.

"What do you think mate?" The man asked his partner grabbing a hold of the woman firmly.

"Spare the rod spoil the child"

The woman screamed and thrashed in the arms of the man holding her captive while his hot breath that smelled slightly of Scotch blew past her ear and towards her nose making her already sinking stomach lurk disgustingly.

"The multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him" V's dark but even tone spoke up as he appeared from his shadowed position.

"What the hell?!" Willy shouted.

"Bugger off. Official Fingermen business" The second declared over confidently smug as he revealed his government appointed badge.

V's knife slid from beneath his cape and into his gloved hands too swift for the man to notice until he sliced through his Fingerman badge. Spinning the knife V rammed the blunt handle into the officer's forehead and sent him flying into the opposite wall. By now he captured the attention of the second assailant who rushed towards V preparing to beat him to a bloody pulp for attacking his partner. Willy pulled out a gun but was far from being fast enough to pull the trigger as a knife pierced the wrist causing a howl of agony as the sickening crack of breaking bone could be heard through his howling. The woman scrambled back trying to put as much distance between her and the situation that suddenly took an unexpected turn in her favor. Finally, with one swift punch to the face V silenced the last conscious Fingerman watching his body sag to the ground. Soft pants grabbed his attention as his mask slowly turned in the woman's direction not wanting to frighten her further.

"Don't come any closer" She demanded pulling a can of pepper spray from her purse.

V's shoulders sagged with a silent sigh.

"Who are you?" The blonde questioned still caught in the heart thumping fear to thank the strangely dressed man in front of her.

"Who is but a form of what and what I am in a man in a mask"

"I can see that" She said with a twist of her lips showing her aggravation at being mocked.

"I am not questioning your powers of observation. I am merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is"

The woman lowered the can with brows pulling together.

"Oh. Right"

V's eyes swept over the young woman who was rather attractive with her slender features and golden locks the perfect reflection of sunlight on a calm summer's day. He would not shame the woman in lying to say she was not beautiful but that was all she was, to him anyway. She did not hold the same fight and fire within her like his Evey. Extending his hand he helped her up from the dirty ground when the echo of a gunshot rung into the night. His body stilled pinpointing the direction when another sounded. The woman opened her mouth to thank the man, judging from the low timbre of his voice, but was not given the opportunity as he fled into the night. Her golden locks bounced around her heart-shaped shaped features as she too rushed off to the safety of her flat.

Evey's Point Of View

Evey's feet pounded on the cobbled bricks leading into an older part of town that looked all but forgotten and in need of repair. She did not have time to take in too many inconsequential details as she ran around corners and down narrowed alleyways until she came across a blonde woman wrapped in a sandy brown trench coat standing in an alley way leading to a dead end. There was not much light to illuminate the distance between them aside from a light above a back door of a building. Evey's eyes searched for a threat and found herself confused since there only seemed to be the cowardly woman and herself.

"Are you alright?" Evey called gently stepping out of the shadows enough for the woman to pinpoint her location.

Ash blonde hair whipped around rounded features as Evey watched her ocean blue eyes stretch wide. The woman said nothing as she spun around running through the door with the light above.

Bam!

A metal door burst open slamming hard against the nearby brick wall and out stepped a tall, bald man dressed in a black trench coat with shining silver buttons. The rest of his clothing matched the blackened coat giving him a militant aura. A sadistic smirk played on his overly confident face, as twenty or so men spilled into the alley surrounding her. The sudden increase in soldiers made the grip on her weapons tighten. If she ever saw that woman again she owed her a swift punch in the jaw. Another door opened a bit softer than the first and a few more men stepped into the alley cutting off her only escape route. The click of weapons being drawn and aimed at Evey didn't distract her from the man that clearly was in charge of the ambush.

If V finds out I fell for the oldest trick in the book he's gonna kill me.

The thought of V scolding her in only the way he knew how, eloquent and spine chilling all at once, made her smirk. Evey took in the man's appearance some more, and now that she had a comparison to the men that surrounded her, she found the man's military ensemble to be very outdated. Just who was this man? Based on his smug expression she had no doubts he would soon tell her.

"Evelyn Hammond. We meet at last"

Evelyn froze from the sound of her name falling from the man's lips.

"You've been a busy girl" He sneered though Evey fought to keep her expression neutral despite her predicament and even managed an equally menacing glare in return.

The man chuckled taking a few steps closer in her direction.

"Such stubbornness, though to be expected I suppose. Apple not falling far from the tree" The man said with a casual wave as if the subject were boring him. "Still, it is quite nostalgic seeing the same look your father gave me before I put a bullet in his skull"

Evey's small shoulders drooped as her once menacing stare twisted into confusion and later, horror. The man chuckled and walked to stand on her side eyeing the locked gaze that did not stray from his. Blood pounded as the pulse of her heartbeat echoed in her ears. It couldn't be. This was the man that tortured her brother and father before leaving their bodies to desecrate the Holiest of places. This was the monster that she fantasized about killing for so many years. Right here, less than three feet in front of her. Evey's hands twitched before raising her blades. The soldiers shifted preparing to stop her.

"Don't shoot her. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves...yet"

A few men clipped their guns back into their holsters while their comrades rushed to attack the woman. Evey didn't like to kill and tried to avoid it as best as she could but this time there could be no avoidance, no mercy. If she didn't kill them they would just keep coming and she was out numbered as it was. This time when she struck she struck to kill. Her mind flipped to battle mode reviewing all the options available to strategically take the men down and since they weren't using guns she stood a better chance. One of the men lunged at her with a knife in hand. Evey reacted with no switch to turn her off until the last soldier fell dead at her feet.

These men weren't like the Fingermen she became accustomed to scuffling with on the dark London streets, these men were better trained for hand to hand combat. Although, having V as a teacher made it difficult to see them as a great challenge. It would take time because of their numbers but she did not doubt her ability to take them down. Her true target stood a safe distance away watching her relentless attacks killing one or more soldiers before snapping her attention to the next. One by one they fell into the filth that he was uncertain to be pools of water or blood, probably bother. The rumble of thunder rolling briefly distracted the man causing him to miss the plunge of a knife into Evelyn's side. Evelyn moaned in pain yet kept her jaw clamped shut to avoid crying out in pain. She removed the knife and slashed it across a pale throat earning a few desperate gags.

Blow by blow her movements began to slow from the blood loss and physical exertion of the nights' patrol. Her decline in swiftness caused her to easily lose the upper-hand as blows struck her side, her jaw, her gut. Evelyn wheezed struggling through the pain but her attacks only assaulted the chilled night air giving her opponents time to duck or dodge. Rough hands shot out clutching her arms tightly as a fist pummeled into her stomach taking her very breath and forcing her to her knees. She endured attack after attack until she regained her breath to cry in agony.

"Enough!" The man commanded and the soldiers stopped their vicious collision of bone to flesh but kept her firmly in place.

Evelyn's dazed eyes could not find the strength to focus on a hand wound painfully in her hair yanking her head backward. She had no choice but to obey as a whimper fell from her lips.

"Maybe I was wrong. At least they didn't cry. Disgusting" He spat releasing her head roughly.

"Tell daddy 'ello yeah"

Without warning, he spun around aiming his pistol directly at Evelyn before pulling the trigger without a second thought. Evelyn's body went slack as the soldiers released her to watch her fall.

Creedy smiled truly entertained and satisfied by the gruesome scenes he witnessed. He was seconds away from returning his pistol to its holster when a gurgled gag drew his attention to the soldier on the ground clutching his throat with one hand and clawing at the ground to drag his nearly lifeless body in Creedy's direction. Creedy's cold gaze fell on the pleading orbs with a sigh. Aiming his gun a bullet sped from the barrel burying in the man's skull. Lifeless, round eyes continued to stare as black boots turned to walk away. Creedy's back faced the recently slain soldier as he motioned for those that remained to follow him.

V sped through the night keen senses picking up the location of the shots. Nothing and no one would have been able to stop or deter him from his destination. Worry that easily morphed into heart clenching terror shot through his spine making dark thoughts circle in his mind. He needed to find Evelyn. He needed to know she was alright despite her ability to take care of herself. Midnight boots skidded to a halt in the alley littered with bodies and the stench of stale blood. Caution was innate to V and inevitably he traveled lightly taking in every sound though it did not seem to be anyone else alive in the alley. The sight was eerie as soldiers lay scattered like dolls abandoned carelessly by a child in favor of another toy. That's not to say V felt remorse but one body, in particular, caught his attention. It was slimmer in figure with a slender arm outstretched above onyx curls. The soft glow of a nearby light bounced off a knife fashioned to a curved hip. The face was hidden from view but V did not need any more clues as he leaped over bodies to rush to her side.

"Evey?" V called hoping with everything inside of him that she would answer, groan, or even twitch giving him some sign that she was alive.

"Evey!" V shouted falling to his knees to pull the woman into his arms. Her head rested gently on his chest with closed eyes and rested features.

"No! No, my love"

V gathered Evey more securely in his arms backtracking to The Shadow Gallery.

George and Agatha relaxed comfortably in front of the television munching on leftovers in the refrigerator when V stormed inside shutting the door carelessly with his foot. George sprang to his feet taking a stance protectively in front of his sister. V ran straight for his room laying Evelyn on the soft bed. Once George and Agatha realized they were in no danger they followed behind V watching him lay down Evelyn. Hair clung to a face and neck that seemed void of color that should be there, her full lips were pale with a hint of bluish tint. George's eyes widened as he spun around blocking Agatha from seeing any more than she already witnessed.

"Go to bed Aggie"

"But..."

"Now" George ordered sternly.

Tears gathered in the small girl's eyes but she did as she was told running into their room and shutting the door behind her. George watched her go and didn't turn around to face a frantically moving V gathering supplies until the door shut.

"What do you want me to do?" George said bravely pushing his shoulders back ready to perform any duty assigned to him though he tried to keep his eyes from straying to Evey.

"Get out" V answered harshly, though he didn't intend on being sharp, the situation was dire and time was not something they could waste.

George nodded leaving the room to go into the one he shared with his sister.

V slammed the door closed before racing back to the bedside. He wasted no time ripping off his gloves, mask and silky cape that slipped from the edge of the bed and onto the floor. He tried to be gentle as he sliced Evey's clothes off assessing the most serious of her wounds, which seemed to be the bullet lodged in between her left shoulder mere inches from hitting her heart.

George pushed the door open to find his sister curled up on the bed, knees pressing to her chest as her small arms wrapped around them trying to make herself as small as she could. Her golden hair fell around her head curtaining her face from his concerned look though through the spaced strands he could make out the vacant stare that focused so intently on nothing in front of them. George closed the door and slowly moved to sit beside her. He knew words would do nothing to ease her fears and so he threw an arm over her shoulder offering up his own for her to cry on. The girl did not move and they sat in silence until tears rolled down her cheeks one chasing another until she had to blink and broke the vacant daze. Leaning herself more into George who stayed in place letting her cry.

"Don't worry Aggie. V helped you, he can help Evey" The boys firm voice said with so much confidence that Agatha couldn't help but feel some of her fear evaporate though she couldn't stop the tears at the moment.

Agatha's head was buried into his chest as George kept an arm around her keeping his body firm and unyielding playing the part of her rock. Agatha's breathing increased trying to catch her breath as she hiccuped and closed her eyes. With her head buried she could not see the intense yet unfocused emerald eyes staring wide eyed as tears fell.

"It's okay Aggie" His confident voice said gently masking the tears displaying the pain that filled his chest weighing down his heart.

Thousands of fears circled in his head. Was this his fault? Were he and Aggie a distraction? He should never have accepted Evey and V's help, well, maybe a little so that Aggie could get better, but after that he should have taken Aggie away. They were doing pretty good on their own. Despite everything they were used to being on their own, relying on no one else but each other. Now they allowed themselves to be taken care of and dependent on V and Evey. The fear of the two abandoning them was hard to erase but George was pretty sure the only way the two would do that would be if they were killed and sadly that was a fairly reasonable reality.

Try as he may to fight it the two adults cracked his defenses and in a way became a part of him. He cared for them more than he was willing to admit, but Agatha, she had completely latched onto the two seeing them as the parents they never had. George had noticed but he was at a loss on how to handle the situation and as the days passed he gave into his own comfortability. Yes Evey and V were constantly in the face of danger but they always came back, they always fell back into their routine until it was time for the two to leave again. Chewing on his bottom lip to keep his cries silent while Agatha slowly fell into an exhausted slumber he glanced down on his sister. He made a mistake. He had to keep himself prepared for the worst. He had to keep himself prepared to go back into the world and make it with just each other. Tears fell from George's eyes until they forced themselves shut having no more to spare and too weary to stay open. George gave a final sigh before drifting off to sleep.

Sleep was not something that would come so easily to V as he lay on the freshly changed sheets next to Evey. His eyes drilled into her as if he could open her eyes by mere will alone. Silver and gold constantly swept over her body looking for anything amiss as he kept track of her breathing and checked her pulse once more. The wound didn't appear to be infected, most likely from him finding her not long after she was shot. He eyed her now laying in one of his shirts with her hair tied neatly to keep from getting in his way. Because of her open wound, he could not bathe her properly so he settled on washing her with a rag and a bowl of warm, soapy water. Despite her injury, she looked refreshed and it kept him busy and focused on something besides his fear.

"I need you to awaken Evey. I can not lose you" V pleaded quietly into the unconscious woman's ear.

V watched her but there was no change as she continued to lay silently with the slight rise and fall of her chest. V lay next to her fighting the fatigue that plagued him relentlessly though it was inevitably a losing battle.