Into the Breach: Choices can be deadly...

by Lottie M. Hancock

  This was the one she would kill.

  Everything that she had ever felt was being funneled into her at that moment. She screamed as she charged the beast. She was fast, but not fast enough, for as she got close enough to strike him, he struck first. His fist landed in her midsection and dug in; blood spurt forth and she couldn't catch her breath. For several moments, their eyes were locked. His teeth were dangerously close to her face and she could smell his putrid breath as his tongue darted between his teeth, savoring the scent of her exposed inner flesh. His eyes narrowed and she knew that he would rip her apart as he did her mother. This monster would get away yet again. Suddenly, the beast's eyes opened wide. Its narrow pupils rounded and an intense blue light shot from its orifices. Its grip on her intestines loosened and she dropped to the ground with a thud. The pain was excruciating as she impacted with the cobblestone. She looked up at the beast as its knees buckled and it fell forward, just missing her as it crashed down. Standing behind where the raptor had been, stood Sam with his dagger in his hand. Pale and horrified, he stared at the beast lying dead before him. It only took a moment for him to come out of it and he ran to Faith's side. He got down on his knees and tried to put his hand over the gaping hole in her stomach but there was too much area to cover. His hands hovered over the wound as he tried to think of what to do. She was going to die. He could see her intestines and she had lost so much blood that her face glowed white in the surrounding gloom. Drew. He looked around desperately for the other angel. His healing powers were all that stood between her and death.

  "Drew!" he shouted. Looking around once again, he realized that the raptor's army of reavers was either decaying into the street or shuffling back into the dark recesses of the streets and alleyways. Drew was on his knees about twenty feet away, but got on his feet when he heard Sam's call. He ran to where Sam was kneeling by the fallen angel. Tears streaked Sam’s face and he choked back a sob. "Do something!"

  Drew laid his hands over the wound and Faith's blood oozed between his fingers as they glowed red, his own pulse making it look more like a soft strobe light was lit beneath his hands. He was thrust backward with the force of his efforts fighting the young angel's own defenses. She thrust her head back and screamed in pain. He jumped back up to his knees and tried again with similar results.

  "No," he yelled at Faith. "Not like this." He came forward once again and she grabbed his hands with hers. She shook her head and attempted to smile. Drew's tears flowed freely as he continually begged her to not fight him.

  "Fuck you both," Sam pushed Drew back on his haunches and without a word he buried his hands into the angel’s open cavity. Faith screamed in agony before passing out. Sam was grateful that she did. He didn't know how but he somehow knew that it was her own strength that was fighting against herself. He also didn't understand how he knew what to do. He felt unusually at peace and only thought of Faith. Her smile, her fears, the quirky lilt she had in her voice when she got mad. A blazing light enveloped him. Drew scooted backward instinctively. Angel or not, this was something beyond him. He watched Sam's hands slowly rise as the flesh mended beneath his touch. After what seemed only a minute, Sam's hands rested on the bare flesh of Faith's abdomen. Other than the smeared blood, there were no wounds. Sam's hands were covered in blood as he sat back on his heels and stared at the girl's healed stomach. His heart was racing at the realization of what he had done.

  He jumped when Drew sat his hand on his shoulder. "Let's get her out of here." The chief was back to his human self once more as he patted her on the cheek several times. "Hey, hey, kid, you gotta wake up. Come on."

  Faith's eyes fluttered open and she looked at Drew and Sam. Seeing the blood that covered them, she instinctively put her hand to her stomach, feeling not a gaping hole but smooth skin. "How?"

  "Not important. Gotta put your wings away, Sweetie," Drew encouraged. He helped her stand and her opalescent wings folded in on themselves and vanished in an instant. She was weak, but the men had her by the elbows to steady her. She looked around them as the beasts faded into the pavement. All but one.

  Last to die, last to leave.

  Faith stood over the monster and took a ragged breath. It was finally over. Not the dark’s or the demons, but the fear that that thing would come after her next. She spun around and looked at Sam with new eyes.

  "You killed him?"

  "Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I did."

  "And you healed me." She stepped forward.

  "Yeah, I think so. I mean...yeah, I guess I did." She ran forward and wrapped her arms around him in a crushing hold, taking the big guy by surprise. He laid his hands on her back and hugged her. "I would take hugs over fighting those things any day."

  They laughed and she pulled back to wipe the tears from her eyes. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. It wasn't another beast, but the elderly gentleman helping his wife up from the sidewalk. Faith gasped and started to run to help them, but Drew caught her arm.

  "In the state that you are in right now, it would distress them more than what has happened to them."

  "But they may need..."

  "No," he intervened. "Sam, get her back to my place. I am going to help the guy in the car first. Then the blood on my hands won’t seem so out of place. If they woke up, so did the squad room. I have to spin a yarn and fast."

  "Gas leak?" Sam suggested, raising his eyebrow.

  "You will do just fine in this business," he chuckled and tossed him his car keys. "The brass one is to my front door. Don't scratch the paint on my baby." He admonished Sam as he turned and ran over to the red sports car. People were slowly getting to their feet and milling around in confusion. He heard Drew call out to the victims to sit on the curb and help would be on its way soon. He always had the answers.

  The sky began to clear. Sam looked back at the raptor, remembering that it was in plain sight, only to see what resembled tar lingering in the crevices of the cobblestone.

  30

  F aith laid her head against the headrest with her eyes closed. Sam continuously glanced toward her, would see the vein in her neck throb softly, then return his eyes to the streets of Boston. Blood covered his hands as they gripped the steering wheel, smeared with oil and ash. Another reminder of what had happened only minutes before. Tense, he forced himself to look at the pedestrians walking on the sidewalks as they passed. They had no idea about the real world that they lived in. Nor could they fathom the battle that had just taken place in the heart of their city. A few weeks ago, neither could he.

  "Can we go by my place first?" her soft trill of a voice made Sam flinch, despite himself.

  "The chief said," he began, but she continued.

  "I know," she said, pulling the stiff cloth sleeve matted with drying blood, away from her arm. "but I just want to get a change of clothes. We can go right after and I will change at Drew's."

  Sam made the turns down the old streets toward Faith's apartment. She still looked fragile. Even more so now caked in blood and scratches over her face and hands. Sam thought about seeing her transform. In the past, he had thought of angels as delicate creatures, even with the Catholic teachings that portrayed them as sword carrying warriors. When he watched her battle those things, he not only saw the true nature of angels, but, also of Faith. Facing Camerlon was a fool's choice, but she survived. How long had that thing been tormenting human beings? It no longer mattered.

  They pulled into the small parking area of the old building as the sun shone high overhead. Sam turned off the ignition and grabbed Faith's arm as she tried to exit the car.

  "Are you okay?" She nodded and he released her, reluctantly. Realization of what they had been through was settling over him. He could not understand how she could stay so calm when just a few minutes earlier she was looking at death in the face. A death that somehow he saved her from.

  He followed her up the three flights of stairs to her floor, careful of his surroundings.
There was a young Latino man standing in the hallway in a thin, white tank undershirt tucked into his dark jeans. His fists were clenched and his face distorted with rage. Faith ignored him as she took the keys out of her pocket. Sam had thought that their appearance would be shocking to anyone they would encounter, but that man was oblivious to the blood and tears.

  "Where are they?" the man demanded to know.

  "Where are who, Mr. Perez?" she replied, blandly, refusing to look at him as she slipped the key into the deadbolt first.

  "My family, bitch!" he screamed. Sam grabbed the man by the throat and shoved him against the wall. His face was close enough that their noses almost touched. Perez gaped at him. It must have been a long time since anyone had bothered to stand up to him.

  "You will apologize to the lady," Sam growled, seethed through his clinched teeth, his eyes wild.

  "S-sorry! I'm sorry!" the man stammered breathlessly. Sam looked over to Faith who seemed unchecked by the encounter. She put her finger to her chin and crinkled her forehead as if she was thinking.

  "Okay, I accept your apology." Faith looked pleased with her own theatrics as Sam let the man's feet drop to the floor and released his neck. The eyes of the two men remained locked, but there was less brimstone in the smaller man's continence than before.

  "They ain't here," he said. "Dios mio, their stuff is gone. Even the crib."

  Sam shook his head and turned to follow Faith into her apartment. "Go clean yourself up," he told the man, disgusted, as he glanced to the puddle at his feet.

  Faith laid her keys on the small dining table, and Sam shut the door behind him. "Want some coffee?"

  "No, I'm good."

  "I won't be a minute," she told him as she darted into the next room. The apartment was small with a simple living room, full kitchen, one bedroom and bath. There were lush plants hanging from hooks in front of the two windows peering out into the alley. Across the way there was another set of similar windows with their curtains open, exposing an elderly couple enjoying their lunch. Sam thought that at least it was a nice view after the morning they had had.

  Faith emerged with a cloth grocery bag he assumed contained her clothes. "Alright, let's go," she announced in her Celtic drawl. Sam stepped up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  "Are you really okay?"

  "Yes, I think I am," this time her smile reached her eyes. "For the first time in a long time, yes."

  Faith had gone straight up the stairs to shower and change when they arrived at Drew's home. Sam realized that he should have grabbed clothes from his place, as well. The smell of blood and rot emitting from him was acrid, burning his nostrils. He dared not sit down for fear of getting the chief's nice furniture tagged with the stench. The decor was quite different than the embroidered styles the priest had in his home. The couch and chairs were black leather with brass studs lining the edge of the arms and feet. The coffee table was carved from a dark wood that was unfamiliar to Sam. The surface was patterned with swirls and lines that gave it the appearance of mottled marble. Although the table was large, it was obviously made from one piece as there were no seams or breaks in the patterns.

  "I got it in Asia," said a voice from behind him. Sam turned to find Drew in a clean, light blue shirt and khaki slacks. Having his own office to change in was a definite perk to his job. "The padre found out that the tree was going to be cut down to clear the way for a strip mall. I never saw the man so mad," he laughed softly, his hands buried in his pockets. "He jumped into the cab of the bulldozer and pulled that workman out by his collar. They did manage to come up with a compromise, but the tree had to come down. Instead of it getting mulched as planned, he bought the whole damned thing and had it all made into furniture like this piece."

  "It’s unusual. If anything is unusual anymore."

  "Sam, you did good out there. How you did what you did..."

  "That's just the thing, man," Sam shook his head. "I don't even know how I did it. I knew what I had to do. I did it and that was that. It was as if I had done it a thousand times before and all I could think of was I was pissed. Pissed that I was in that situation. Pissed that you brought me in in the first place. Pissed that the two of you were giving up so easily."

  "I really didn't know that you could do any of that or I would have told you."

  "I know."

  "I can't say that I am sorry I asked you to join us."

  "I don't expect you to, Drew. I guess I just didn't want to be helpless anymore."

  "And you’re not. I hope you can see that, now. Sammy, you took out that raptor and saved countless lives today. The guys at the precinct woke up. That means that many others will, too."

  Sam thought briefly, "Allison and the senator's daughter?"

  "Got the call from the doc a little bit ago. They both woke up at 11:23 this morning. They are fine."

  "Can't say that about poor Charlie, though, can we?" Sam exhaled slowly.

  "I called down and told them to let him know she was awake. I pulled some favors. They letting him out on a PR bond." The men stood in silence for a moment, allowing themselves the small victories. "Where is Faith?"

  "She hit the showers."

  "Good," he told him. "You should, too. Go home for a couple of hours. The squad room is vacant at the moment so no need to go back there. Crazy thing about gas leaks. They can't even detect anything now, although it was strong enough to knock out an entire block."

  "Gas is funny."

  "Yeah."

  "I had better go, then. You will make sure she, um, heals up?"

  "She is probably doing that now. Don't worry too much. I got it."

  Sam started for the door when he remembered that he drove the chief's car. "Mind pointing me to the bus?"

  "Oh, yeah, I forgot," Drew rubbed the back of his neck with a smirk. "Down at the end of the block is the train that leads to State Station. I think there is a stop closer to your place, can't remember."

  Sam thought in silence as he stared into space. He smiled. "No need for closer. I'll see you later."

  31

  T he people kept their distance from Sam on the train ride through the city. He must have looked rough. He knew that there had to be a few sighs of relief when he finally stepped off near Union Park. He had called from the train to make sure she was home, but did not give her any details. He was not sure if he could, even in person. All he knew is he had to see her. And he needed her to see him like he was. Perhaps it was the cop in him, but having evidence before you was always the best way to present a case, and the case he was going to put in front of her was going to be hard to believe.

  Sam pressed the buzzer by her apartment number at the front door of the red brick building and waited. Her voice came through the small intercom saying to come on up but he paused with his hand on the handle. It's now or never.

  He sprinted up the stairs to the second floor and walked up to her door. Sam raised his knuckles to knock, but she opened the door. Lisa raised her hand to her lips.

  "Oh my God!" she gasped as she stepped aside to let him in. Sam stood in the hallway with his back to her. Lisa stepped around him and looked him over with great pain. "What happened? Were you in an accident?"

  "No, I wasn't in any accident. That creep is gone. Wanted to let you know."

  Her face was blank, "Did you kill him?"

  "Yes," he stated flatly. If she was going to think any less of him, she did not show it.

  "Good." Lisa walked past him and into the kitchen. Sam followed as she pulled down two cups from her cupboard and poured hot coffee for each of them. "Your coffee will be here when you get out of the shower. There is a robe hanging behind the door."

  He knew better at this point than to disagree with her. He would never argue with the person who holds his coffee, especially if that someone had eyes like hers. Sam stepped through the bedroom and into the small bathroom tiled in light pink tones. He peeled off his clothing. The hot water felt good as it washed away the
decay and death that covered him. He did not deserve someone like Lisa. She was stronger than he would ever be.

  He rested his hands against the tiled shower stall while the spray beat on his scalp and he found that he was crying. What the Hell am I doing? he thought, but the tears kept coming. His body shook violently as everything that he had been through raked through him. He was sobbing uncontrollably. He was not sure how long he had been standing there, but he jumped when the shower curtain slowly opened. She stepped into the shower with him. Her body was something that he would expect on a goddess. Lisa silently slipped her arms around his slick body and held him as the water cascaded across their bodies.

  Sam took Lisa's mouth with his and allowed the rapture and passion he was feeling to envelop them. His hands traveled down her back and he cupped her against him, letting her feel his need for her, before he took her out of the shower and back to the bedroom.

  Sam held Lisa close. Her skin was soft against his, and he held onto the pleasure this brought him.

  "I love you, you know," Sam surprised himself as much as he had her. She raised herself up on an elbow and looked into his eyes.

  "I love you, too. I'm sure of it, now. Sam, what's going on?" Lisa's brown eyes were deep with concern. He had to say something. It was best to fall back on the truth.

  "I've been going through some...changes. God! I want to tell you everything, but I am scared."

  "Of what? That I won't believe you? Do you think I will give up on us? What?"

  Sam closed his eyes for a few moments to steady himself. If this was going to end them, he had to let it happen. His words were steady as he told her. He started with the train wreck and continued through his doubts and fears, his revelations about him being the Ascendant, and finally to the events of that morning and why he looked like a mangled wreck when he crossed her threshold. Lisa's eyes never left his as he recounted every terrifying instant of the last two weeks in detail. At times, a tear would escape down her cheek as he spoke of horrors and beauty, Heaven and Hell, angels and demons. But he did not stop. He continued up to the point of seeing Faith suspended in the air by the monster.