Act II Finale

Chapter 52

Tragedy in Darkness

Lisa coughed, bile rising in her throat before she spat it to the floor. A hand patted her back.

"Are you alright, ma'am?"

"Perfectly fine. A little shaken, but perfectly fine." Wiping her mouth, Lisa nodded reassuringly to the firemen. They had reacted quickly and already two fire trucks were on the scene. Unfortunately the fire was far too big at the moment, and considering the hotel was separate from out buildings by a courtyard surrounding it, they decided to let it burn to the ground first and monitor the sides so it wouldn't spread. They wouldn't even check for survivors. They had grimly stated that it was far too dangerous to go in, and that any survivors would be gone by now.

Feeling a pang in her stomach, Lisa looked for a companion to distract her thoughts of Lukas, Riley and Becca. Then she remembered that she didn't have anyone she felt that close too.

"How're you?"

Surprised, Lisa turned to see Richard sitting next to her. He had black smudges in his hair and around his eyes. "Um… I'm fine."

"Good. Good." Richard sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I'm having bad luck with my research, huh. First Willingboro is destroyed, and now I lost all my research in the hotel." Richard chuckled sadly before looking to Lisa. "Not like it matters. You were brave in there, Lisa. Braver than a lot of us. I'm sure a lot more than three would be gone if you hadn't taken lead."

"I've had experience." Lisa merely replied, watching the flames that were like a beacon in the night.

"Evidently." Richard said before putting a hand on Lisa's shoulder. "You're doing a fine damn job, if I do say so myself."

"Yeah." Lisa sighed. "Yeah, I guess."

"It might be a stupid statement, but you sound more down than usual."

"You think?" Lisa sighed again. "I mean… Lukas had only just agreed to work with us. And then Riley and Becca… I'm starting to feel like Joshua must have done. I'm starting to appreciate it… but…"

"But..." Richard prompted.

"But…" Lisa looked to Richard with eyes. "It's just so damn tiring… I'm just so damn tired. I mean… really… all this work? What for? What are we preventing? It's just going to keep happening right? It's just going to…" Lisa started shaking. "I mean… Joshua and Miles… me and Fisk… we're rare cases. One in hundreds. What are we actually doing? Preventing the inevitable? What-" Lisa was cut off when Richard reached with one arm behind her back, pulling her closer to him.

"A human life saved once is a worthwhile venture, as far as I'm concerned." Richard said into Lisa's ear. "Think about those that were saved, not those that were lost. Think about Alexander and Jay. Think about Chloe, Jeremy and Nick. Think about me. I told you, we'd all be dead if not for you." Richard paused and Lisa was surprised to find that she was pulling closer to him, seeking his warmth.

Just like I did with Isaac… No! I can't have this kind of contact!

Lisa suddenly pulled away, prompting Richard to look at her.

"What's wrong?" He asked, looking confused.

"I… I can't just…" Lisa put a finger on her forehead. "This isn't…" Suddenly she paused, squinting into the fiery front doors of the hotel. "What the…" Richard looked in the direction she was looking and was surprised to see the doors kicked open. One door fell off its hinges, slapping against the floor. A shadowy figure seemed to walk straight through the flames into the smoke.

"Is that… is that a person?" A fireman ahead of the two gasped.

It was. The figure walked out into the light and most everyone on the scene gasped. The… figure was barely recognisable. Skin was missing, skeletal teeth could be seen. One arm hung limp. In the other was another form, this time covered in soaking wet clothes. Black jeans and…

"That's his shirt!" Lisa shot up, sprinting ahead of the surprised firemen. She put both hands on the figure's shoulders and the figure flinched.

"Ow! Kind'a hurting here, mother." Came the reply.

Lisa watched in amazement as the skin slowly formed back. Hair sprouted from the scalp and muscles knitted back together. Everything merged back into human form until Joshua stood naked, carrying the unconscious form. "…Joshua…" Lisa breathed.

"The one and only." Joshua flashed his signature grin. He lowered the unconscious form and placed him on the ground. "Got him safe and sound. Currently unconscious from smoke inhalation, but he should recover." Joshua pulled his wet shirt from Lukas' head and chest, buttoning it back up. He then took his jeans and pulled them on. "I lost my damn underwear and shoes." Joshua growled in irritation, reaching into his jeans pocket and pulling the headband back on. Shaking his head, Joshua grinned back at his mother. "So, did I look awesome?"

Instead of praise, Lisa grabbed Joshua's ear in a pincer like grip and pulled him down to eye-level. "Are you crazy?"

"Ow, ow, ow, ear, ear!"

"Joshua Valentine, you are one hell of an idiot! Fire? I mean… you know… fire…" Lisa shook her head in disbelief and suddenly let Joshua's ear go, before hugging him tightly. "Christ… I can't tell if you're a hero or a bloody fool."

"Go for a bit of both." Joshua smirked, looking at the top of his mother's head. His features softened. "Sorry I worried you mother. I know fire isn't exactly the best choice for the likes of us. But I was in the mood for a good deed and hey, I saved a life. That's gotta count for something, right?"

"I... I…" Lisa's voice was muffled, her face in Joshua's wet t-shirt.

"Now you're getting tears in my shirt." Joshua smiled again. "Don't cry, moth… mom. Stop it. Dad wouldn't want to see you like this."

Seeing Lisa's prone side, Joshua just couldn't help but think: Maybe ten years is enough to forgive her.

XXX

It took Jason a good minute to realise he was in a church. Oak pews lined on either side of him, with great thick stone pillars and an alter at the far end with a large wooden cross behind. Jason couldn't make out the statue on the cross, although it was fair to assume it would be Jesus. Jason took a few more steps forward when two candles either side of him flared up. Jason took a step backwards in surprise.

Another set of candles lit, and Jason watched as more and more candles lit up. His eyes tracked them until they stopped at the base of the cross. Two lanterns lit up above, lighting the cross in mild light. Jason looked up and froze. His eyes slowly widened, his jaw slowly dropped. His hands started shaking and before he knew it he fell to his knees.

"Jennifer… oh no, Jennifer…"

Instead of the statue Jason had assumed was on the cross, Jennifer's motionless body was hanging. A nail had been hammered into each hand and foot, a crown of thorns placed upon her head. As if that wasn't enough, she had been stripped naked with a violent slash across her throat, gaping wide like a mouth of hell. Even in Jason's shocked mind he could quite clearly see that there was no life in those open, pleading eyes.

She wasn't just dead. She had been crucified.

A/N:- Thanks to Gabe's-Girl-Forever for your review!

And… Jennifer's death concludes this Act. How will Jason react in the next act – Act III: The Revelation of Death? Things are only just heating up, don't you worry!

I've also caught up with myself, so I'll be writing 'live' like I usually do, which is writing the chapter and releasing it straight after a spell check.

'Till next time!