"The Crow: Devil's Night"

[Quiet_Cool]

"It's never too late," the priest had told me. Father Bennig was smiling in his mind, telling me it would be alright. "I will help you. You are far stronger and more capable than you realize."
I let the cross fall from my hands, the cross and chain making a clinking sound as it struck the wooden floor of the small mission.
When the wind picked up outside, the walls seemed to moan, as if aching from being abused by whoever had done this.
The mission had been torn to pieces, as though someone felt money was being hidden in the walls and beneath the pews. The large wooden benches lay turned over and chopped away at. The walls were beaten in in places, and spray-painted in others.
I stepped closer to the nearest pew and ran my fingers along its edge. An image of myself and Julie Stanley, holding hands when I was younger, probably no older than fourteen. I kissed her later that night in the parking lot, while her mother fussed over her brother and sister in the car.
My fingers slipped off the pew's surface, birnging my mind back to reality. Nothing too substantial. Julie died later I remembered, of an overdose. She didn't remain the innocent sweet Julie that sat with me that night for very long.
Of course, I hadn't stayed innocent either. But I'd gotten lucky, and with Father Bennig's support...
I stopped near where the collection plate used to be kept, seeing only a bare spot, with a place against the wall where the stand he'd left it on had protected the paint from aging. I pressed my hand against the surface of that clean paint wondering what I might find there...
Nothing; no memories, no emotions.
I walked back over to where the cross lay, grabbing it up and feeling the priest's presence once again. I clapsed the chain around my neck, laying both the chain and ornament above my shirt so as not to touch my skin.
A reminder, I thought.
I stood, looking around.
I had been here just yesterday it seemed, telling the priest how I'd done, that rehab was working out and I'd be home again to stay soon. He had smiled then, and hugged me. He'd always loved me like a son.
That was then though.
And this was now.

OOC: Just a started post, but obviously, the man has "returned" already shall we say. Just giving a new thread a chance...jump in if you have a character, but let's keep it to one "returner" for just now...

 

[sex-maniac69]

Christian

OOC:sounds like it could take off im in

Christian Bane
27
Short dark hair
6`1
Scar from a knife fight straight through his left eye
Head Bad Guy (if its ok)

IC:

I stood high in my private tower watching the city below.thinking to myself,"This whole city is mine for the taking," i had this terrible feeling that my world is about to turn upside down..

 

[Quiet_Cool]

The Returner (Jared)

I left the church behind me, forgetting for the moment, the priest and heading toward the apartment building. I'd shared the room with Angela, my friend, then lover. Before things got too...
I shook the idea off. It was as much my fault as thiers, I had decided, but I was a lost soul then.
Of course, I believe I am a lost soul now.
The building was a few blocks down. The neighborhood was totally different when I'd been here before, a year ago to the day almost. Then, it was well kept, myself being a part of the "bad element" and not many others joining in. This part of town seemed to be an escape from the worse ends, where the drug dealers and hookers owned the streets by night, and the cops drove past, not even bothering to look out the cruiser windows.
Now, it had become the areas I'd come here to escape from.The church had been destroyed, the streets were dead, save the homeless and the wanderig crackhead here and there. Now, the "element" wasn't even present. Or perhaps the night was just too early. Barely past eleven, they might be late risers in this area.
I could feel the thing, its feet clinging to my shoulder as my body rose and fell with each step. It was patient. I had to give it that.
I climbed the fire-escape, watching it take flight and perch on the metal railing outside the apartment window. Fourth floor, halfway up the building. Apartment 201.
I pulled the window open, finding it easy to do after unlatching it through the broken glass. A few shards of it cut into my wrist and forearm. When I looked at them inside the apartment, they'd healed already.
I shrugged. Another twist to an unpredictable day.

 

[Ravenloft]

Robert Sith:

Robby was Bane's number one drug runner, he'd been the small town kid just a year before, with all his small town friends, until he took Bane's bait. "Off those two stoner weights of yours..." He said. "And I'll give you a piece of the good life." It'd been fairly easy to do really, just laced their shit with every other shit he could lay his hands on, and shoved it into their greedy little hands. They smoked the shit down of their own free will, he was blameless, right?

As he walked from the building Christian Bane used as his 'Headquarters', Robby couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine, as though he were being watched...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared

I looked around the room, deciding I was afraid to touch anything that belonged to her. I was learning beter, eve after only one visit to the church. Too much happened when I touched things.
I looked arund, wanting to find something that might help me remember what happened to me, why I could remember so little.
I saw what I remembered most about my life, the needle on the chest of drawers.
I stepped toward it, makng sure it was mine and not Johnathon's. I didn't want to remember him either. I took hold of the needle, wrapping my fingers around it.
My body grew weak, as I fell to my knees, the image of the room in front of my, blurry as though i were sick, but a feeling welled inside me that was nothng shy of pure pleasure. A pleasure I remembered had taken more than its share in return for the gratificatin it offered.
I could hear my heart beat, slow, then fast, then slow again, then heavily and at a medium pace. Something was...wrong.
My body clenched , and I groaned as my head began to ache and my stomach tighten, then convulse.
I leaned forward and dry heaved, then leaned back and groaned into the air above me, then leaned forward and dry heaved again.
WHen I opened my eyes, I could see Johnathon, who'd shot up first, already lying on the floor, his eyes open, but staring off at nothing. Next to him was a small pool of vomit.
"Shit," I heard myself say, but the voice was deeper than my own, and seemed to come from within my head instead of from my lips.
I let go of the needle, letting it fall to the floor with a light click that seemed to echo in the still night air.
I looked to the window, expecting to see the crow sitting there, but it was gone.I stood, barely able to just yet, though my strength was quickly returning. I saw another item of interest in the corner, a bra, red lace, hanging from the lamp shade.
Hers.
I stepped toward it, about to break the rule I had so recently made for myself, when the image came to me, not overpowering like before, but still clear. A man leaving a building, looking around as though he weren't comfortable.
I stopped and stood perfectly still. The image shifted slightly, as if I were above it, turning my head, and i heard a light squawk.
The bird was watching him, and I knew who he was.
I moved quickly to the door.

OOC: no, I'm not trying to kill him yet, just needed something to move on.

 

[Ravenloft]

Robert Sith:

Looking about as he pulled his leather trench coat tightly about himself, Robby saw a bird pirched on the edge of a window sill. It turned its head as if eyeing him critically. "Heh... 'Wretch!' I cried..." He joked as he watched the bird for a moment, then started off, for home.

Home was a single bed room apartment, with all the electronic shit a guy could dream of. DVD player, top of the line stereo, wide screen tv... You name it, Robby had it. All of it hot of course, through Bane... Rob sighed as he climbed the three step stair case up to his front door. He looked around again, as he had been reciting the entire poem, The Raven, in his head as he walked. He half expected to see the bird again, but it wasn't around. Slipping inside, he clicked his tv on, it was on the Playboy channel of course. All the women he knew were through bane, and they were either dust heads, or diseased sluts. Either way, he trusted his hand a hell of alot more than any of those bitches...

The woman on the tv at the moment reminded Rob of his buddies girlfriend though, and he sat back, with a smile as he slipped his hand down his pants. He thought about the night his buddy, Jared had died, and how he was playing the role of supportive friend to his girl. She'd been so easy... He just had to give her a shoulder to cry on, a little dope, and he got to fuck her... "Jesus, Jared, no wonder you liked that bitch so much..." Robby groaned as he remembered how good fucking her had felt. He tenced as a sudden wash of pleasure over took him for a moment, then sunk back in his plush recliner, smiling pervertedly as he lay there.

His smile faltered as he thought about how she'd disapeared only a couple days later... He knew Bane had done it, but never understood why... He just assumed she was killed, and that he didn't want to know for sure if she was... His smile dissapeared as he ran his free hand through his greesy hair, the pleasure he'd been feeling had fallen flat... Not even the bitch on tv was going to do anything for him for the rest of the night, so he clicked the tv off and closed his eyes, to try and get some sleep...

 

[Jeselynn]

Erin Massiz

Sitting in the corner of a dark, small apartment, Erin in currled up, knees pulled tight to her lean frame. In front of her a small spoon and a lighter lay still warm, a piece of large rubber band tied tight around her arm. Needle in one hand and empty. Dropping it she slowly loosens the knot.

Looking out her window the neon red sign flashes. M O T E L

The E burnt out.. It sometimes flickers. Staring out at the tops of buildings.

Feeling the drugs kick in, a rush. Standing up and walking to the window. Looking down to the ground watching the tiny people walk and hustle.

Moving towards the door, and falling to the ground 2 feet from it. Trying to get to the door. Lacking the strength.

Laying sprawled out and on my back staring at the ceiling and the flashing red lights.

 

[Jeselynn]

All while Erin slowly fades, everything around her passes by..

A knock at the door then a pounding.. the landlord finially unlocks the door looking for his rent.

Seeing her on the floor, he goes t the phone and calls for a ambulance .. she's barely breathing..

'she's oded get a 'bus' over here... Yea she's still alive this minute! I want my rent out of her! HURRY up!' he yells at the phone

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared (The Returner)

I reached the street in seconds, but by then, the bird was coming back to me, ees shifting among the people who were wandering the street now. Two of them, fighting over the contents of a shopping cart. Both homeless.
I watched as they struggled with one another, then looked up at the crow as it landed on the railing of the fireescape overhead.
It cawed once, loudly, then looked down the alley.
I nodded, then asked it. "What's going on?"
It cawed again, then flew off down the alley, disappearing around a corner.
I looked around, feeling as though i should be certain no one was watching me. No one was.
I hurried behind it, down the alleyway and to the right, lost in darkness for a few second.
Then I saw the silhouette of the other side, and the crow sitting on the asphalt, watching me come. WHen I almost reached it, it took flight again, and I moved quickly behind it.
I followed it down alleys, then into streets, each one becoming more and more distant from the heart of the city, the streets becoming filled with the negative element, but in small amounts. There was nothing to get int out this way. Not with no businesses or many residents there.
It led me to an old shop with soaped windows. It perched on the Marquee outside, then looked at the door and cawed.
I hesitated, then looked aorund again, then thought. Oh, well. Here we go.
I drew back my fist and broke the glass...

 

[Johnny_Boy]

I was just getting home. My night had been hell.
"God Damn, another dead body. What is this fucking world coming to?" I flicked on my small 12-inch Black and White TV. "Damnit Karen, what were we thinking?" I thought to myself, "What about John, what were we thinking, bringing him into this shit hole of a world?!?"

Rubbing my eyes, I slip off my uniform and gun, crawling into bed. I have a sudden flashback. Karen, naked and knelling in front of me, gently sucking on my dick. I moan, than wake up from the memory. "Ohh, I miss you Karen." I say softly, than brings up the covers and fall asleep.

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

Lynn

I sigh again as I wander through the graveyard to my usual spot beneath a large, old tree. The sky is a bit overcast, but that is most likely from all the smog in this part of town. "Dammit." I mutter under my breath as I drop my makeshift pencilcase, sending the few drawing pencils I have to scatter over the ground.

I bend to pick them up and notice something odd. One of the graves seemed to have been disturbed. I shrug it off. Things like that happen all the time. Idiot kids looking for a cheap thrill dig up dead people hoping to find something worth pawning.

I take up my usual position at the tree. I lean back comfortably against it and prop my drawing pad on my raised knees. My pencils lay beside me within easy reach. Looking at the disturbed grave I start to put the image onto the paper.

I finish the picture and look at it. Something seemed missing even though there was nothing else there. I let my hand fill in the "missing" bit. A look at the completed image makes me gasp. There was now a large black bird perched upon the headstone....

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared (The Returner)

Who was the girl. I could see her through the crow's eyes, looking at her, studying her.
I was still in the shop, dressing in whatever seemed right. I wasn't who i used to be, that was for certain, and I wasn't meant to be seen or recognized, not for who I really was. That seemed to go without saying. What would someone who knew me in life say to their old dead friend who'd just walked up and said hello?I grabbed a pair of black pants and pulled them on, then pulled a black T-shirt on and threw on, what the hell? A black trench, leather. Seemed appropriate. I would be seen now, but I'd fit in with the Goth crowd that had a descent following back in the days when i ran the streets, pushing and selling from time to time, but mostly just hunting down something to get high off of. Even if that influence was gone, I'd just look like a leftover from that time, anyway.
Except, I needed one more touch, to sell the gothic image. I saw the make-up case, wondering if it was really something I should be doing to maintain a low profile.
A dead guy in make-up? No one would have a clue that was what they were looking at, not with my face so well-hidden.
About ten minutes later, I was moving through the streets again, already used to tracking the crow, knowing where it was.
WHen I wandered into the cemetery, I saw the girl and stopped, watching the crow look to her, then squawk, then look to me and squawk again.

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

Lynn

I look from my drawing to the emtpy headstone. At least that's what I thought. The large bird I had just drawn was perched in the exact position that I had placed it on my paper. Yet, it wasn't there when I drew it. I nearly screamed but instead gasped loudly.

It looked directly at me and squawked. Then it turned to a man whom I did not notice before and squawked again. I blinked several times, not sure what to say. I had read somewhere in one of my books about this sort of thing but never thought it could be real.

My eyes scanned the stranger. He seemed to be just as confused as I was.

"Who the hell are you?" I say. "And what's with the bird. That your pet or something?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared

"That's a good question," I responded, stepping closer. I wondered how she will react to the make-up, but decided it shouldn't really matter. I wasn't here for her benefit, or was I? The crow had led me here, hadn't it?
"I guess it would seem a little more the opposite," I mused, kneeling before her, trying to get closer to her eyelevel.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here at this time of night?"

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

Lynn

I set my drawing pad aside next to me as he comes closer. I look directly at his face. Odd makeup he had, but wasn't anything I'd never seen before.

"I asked first. Tell me who you are and then I might tell you who I am." I replied, a defensive edge to my tone. "As far as what I'm doing here. This is the safest place anyone can be at any time."

I change positions to one that would make it easy for me to stand quickly if I needed to.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared

"My name is..." I glance over at the grave, recently disturbed, with my name on it, and wonder if I should proceed. For some reason, I do. "My name is Jared. I used to live around here, a while ago. But things have changed since then, many things have changed. I guess you could say I've come home..."
I glanced to the pad she'd set aside.
"That's good," I commented, picking it up and glancing over the work. "I used to draw, when I was younger, but I was never this good. Of course, i stopped once I got into..."
My mind moved back to when i was thirteen. Pot. Simple enough, and it might have been if I hadn't gone for something "better," stronger, so quickly as I had.
I handed it back to her. "It's good. Now, my turn. What's your name?

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

Lynn

My heart nearly skips a beat as he tells me his name. It was the same as on the headstone of the disturbed grave. "This isn't possible." I think to myself, "These things are only myths. Right?"

I watch him closely as he reaches for my drawing pad and comments on my work.

"Thank you. My name's Lynn. I come here to draw. It's better than being at home." I say with a shrug.

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

"So... umm... why are you here?" I ask as I pick up my drawing pad again and rest it on my knees.

I sign my finished drawing and flip to a new page. Picking up my pencil I absentmindedly begin to sketch the outline of Jared's face, letting my hand control the pencil on it's own. I glance to the bird. It looks back at me and turns its head to the side and lets out a quiet squawk.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared

"That's an interesting question," I reply. "Why am i here?"
I ponder for a moment.
"I'm not sure." I reply, finally. "I guess that'll be something I must find out for myself...somehow."
I watch as she outlines my face, then begins to sketch in my features, nose, eyes, and lips. I smile. SHe was very good, indeed.
"How old are you, Lynn? And what part of town are you from?"

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

I pause from my sketching.

"You don't even know why you're here?" I say curiously, "Then what I read in my book.... is... true..."

I ponder that for a moment. My head spinning. This was so unreal. I go back to my sketch briefly, outlining the edges of his shoulders and placing the bird on one.

"I just turned eighteen, few weeks ago. I live about a ten minute walk from here. Not the best place to be." I say, dreaming of the day I can leave this godforsaken hell-hole.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared

Book?
She's piqued my interest, but I feel the sudden need to change the subject. I'm not ready to know, i decide. Not yet. If I find that out, maybe it'll jinx what I've stumbled into, and before i'd found her...
"I...I must go." I stutter suddenly. Wanting to get back to the apartment, to touch her clothing like Id wanted to in the first place, to find her and be with her...like it was meant to be.

 

[Jeselynn]

Erin Massiz

As the landlord waited the police and ambulance showed up 5 minutes later. Erin was still alive but barely.

As the haulded her ontop the gurney and took her down the stairs and out the door, her eyes fluttered.

I saw several flashes . bright lights . i felt like i was floating. so heavy though. I see myself being pushed into a ambulance and feel it lurch forward and start towards the hospital.

Fadeing into a dream I feel like there is water all around me .

As the emt's work on her, they pull upto the er entrance and open the doors after pushing her into a little room they adminster several anti -drugs to her. purge her system and put her on several drip systems.

Placeing her in a room by herself, waiting for her to regain concious...

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

I finish the sketch and look at him.

"Why must you go?" I ask, "We've only just met. Will I be seeing you again?"

He seemed to be hiding something. I was curious, but didn't want to pry. After all I had just met him.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Jared

I look the girl over, then nod, feeling certain we'd see one another again. After all, it seemed there was a reason we'd met this time.
"We will, I believe," I replied, "But i must find someone I used to know, if she's still around."
I hurried from the graveyard, the crow reluctant to follow. Through its eyes I could see the girl, sitting with her sketchpad before the tombstone. It squawked loudly, then followed me.

 

[AriaSilverfyre]

Lynn

I nod slowly at his responce. Before I could say anything more, he was gone. His bird looked at me and squawked softly before leaping to the air.

I looked at the sketch I had drawn of his face. I added a few touches to the bird's eyes then signed it. Standing, I flipped the cover over my drawing book and pick up my pencils. It was really late and I needed to try to get some sleep.

The walk back to my home felt longer than usual. Mostly because i was thinking about Jared, but also because a legend was based on truth. I decided to dig out the book when I got in and look it over again, just to make sure.