The Silver Bullet Club (Started)

Samantha Heikkinen
"Well about time," said Daniel with a laugh as he broke the embarrassing silence. He turned to Em. "You should have seen Andrea the first time she looked at Samantha. I thought she was gonna French her on the spot." I chuckled when I saw Andrea blush. I had noticed her staring that first day, but I had thought it was because of my abilities, or rather my thoughts about my abilities.

We all sat down in the kitchen, and I offered them some food while they waited. Andrea seemed far more embarrassed by the situation that I was, and I found it adorable. It was the first time I had seen her flustered, I hadn't known she even could get flustered in the first place. Daniel seemed distracted, and eventually he said: "Actually, Andrea.. Umm, I can't stay for the meeting. I have some personal matters to attend to. Oh, and congratulations you two." He pointed at us and I smiled, while Andrea looked away. Was something wrong? I suddenly became worried. Maybe I had gotten this wrong somehow. Before I had time to brood about it she took my hand and smiled reassuringly

Daniel left, and Jonathan came sprinting inside to take his place. He was pale and seemed afraid, like something had chased him. "I didn't see you in school today," I started, but Andrea suddenly got up, looking intensely at Jonathan. I knew that look. She was concentrating to make sense of his thoughts.

He was panting too hard to talk, and instead he held out his hand towards Andrea. He had told me about his powers, so why would he want to see Andreas death all of a sudden? She took it without hesitation, probably knowing something that Em, Chris and I didn't. He didn't hold her hand for more than a second before quickly pulling away like he had burned himself.

"That wasn't what I dreamt," he said with a slight frown, but then he shook his head. "Anyway, you, Em and Eli need to be careful. You're going to be attacked by some thug.. And he's going to rip of Em's arm and then crush your scull. If you see him you should run." Jonathan held out his hand towards me, and I took it. Once again he pulled away almost immediately. "That's what I dreamt. You're going be killed in the church, and there's blood everywhere."

An eerie silence settled in the room, we were all staring at Jonathan. Andrea seemed the most upset. She had no doubt seen what Jonathan had seen. After a while Jonathan sat down. "I don't think laying low is going to be enough."

"I herd about.." Chris stared, but was interrupted.

There was a knock on the door and Eli entered. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but the tension in the room startled him. "What has happened?" He asked, sounding quite worried.

Dakota | Paranormal Investigator's Office | Morning

A movement in the room. A something. A slow, uncurling of the hand and a fluttering of the eyelids. A breath escaped her mouth and slowly she stirred and groaned and sat up, her arm reaching back to rub a stiff neck.

Where was- oh. Dakota groaned again as she realised she'd fallen asleep on the apartment floor, curled up against one of the boxes, half folded over the device that had fallen to her lap. The young woman rubbed her eyes and slowly stretched out her cramped limbs as she remembered how to stand.

Had last night been a dream?

But there were no dreams where her abilities worked; she didn't have them.

Dakota moved into the small kitchenette and upturned a box of sachets. She found the kettle in a bigger box and turned the taps which sluggishly began to work, the water a little grimy at first but slowly running clearer. Better get that looked at.

She filled the kettle and ripped a sachet open, making a coffee in her big, sunflower mug and stirring it exactly three times before bringing it to her mouth to take a grateful sip.

Dakota spat the liquid back into the sink. It tasted sour and gritty and she quickly gagged and through it away. Urgh. Looks like I've got more to do than I thought.

Giving up on the idea of breakfast for now, she jumped in the shower and afterwards selected a smart looking outfit and blow-dried her hair before teasing it into an unruly ponytail. Her hands snatched the keys and a purse from the side and she headed down the stairs and out the back of the shop, locking the door behind her. Phil had the day off so she'd be fixing up the shop on her own later and hopefully those kids would keep out of her way.

Luna

The sun was starting to go down, so I could keep my shades off. It was also cooling down. The maintenance man wouldn't be here until tomorrow, which meant we'd be in the heat for another day. The shirt I was wearing had already began to cling to my chest and sweat was literally dripping off of my six pack I loved so much. Everything was almost done being unpacked except for a few boxes of stuff. Mom had gone out to meet someone about turning on the water, and Axel was somewhere in the house. I had sat down for a quick water break, when he called out to me. "Akiza, someone's at the door for you!"

Hm. I wonder who it would be. Probably a nosy neighbor. I hated small towns. People didn't know how to mind their own business. With a sigh, I stood up and headed for the door, and was pleasantly surprised to find Daniel standing there. I smiled. "Hey, Daniel. I was wondering when i'd see you again."

Daniel's cheeks blushed a bright crimson. Then I realized what he was wearing. A tight red t-shirt, a white thin sport coat, and tight black jeans. Hm. Dressed to impress, maybe? He did look handsome. I smiled again, sensing the nervousness radiating off of him. Then he pulls a rose from behind his back and held it out to me. Awww. He brought me a rose. His hand was shaking ever so slightly.

"A beautiful rose for a beautiful girl." he said quietly.

Wow. Did he really just use that line on me? Well, I guess it's the thought that counts. He such a sweet heart. I reached out to take the rose and inhaled it's delicate scent, all while looking at him, which I guess made him even more nervous because he started to fidget. Anxiety. More nervousness. There was something else.

"I thought maybe you'd like for me to show you around town and maybe grab a bite to eat. I mean, I've lived here my whole life, so there are reasons." he cleared his throat.

I looked at him for a moment, pondering. He tried to sound confident, as if he were telling me what he planned for us to do rather than asking, but no quite pulling it off. I let the Rose tickle the tip of my nose before moving aside and motioning for him to come in. He closed the door behind him and followed me down the hallway located between the two stairs and off to the left where the kitchen was. Everything in the kitchen had already been installed, so it was the only place in the house that look decent right now. He takes a seat on one of the many at the end table and turns to look at me.

"So," he begins cautiously. "I take it that's a yes?"

"Yes," I smell the Rose again. "you can take that as a yes."

I could feel the excitement and glee jumping around in him. He was probably screaming a cry of victory somewhere in there judging from the massive smile on his face. "Cool."

I set the Rose down and turned to head for the stairs. "Just let me take a shower and throw on something else to wear. It's been a hot day."

It didn't take me long to shower down, and the water felt so good on my skin. After getting out, I went over to a box I kept my clothes in, and pulled out a purple tank top along with a pair of camo cargos. I put my hair up in braid because I didn't feel like doing anything else with it and found lip gloss, which I put a little on to hive me lips a little shine.. Grabbing my phone and keys, I headed back down to the kitchen.

"Ready."



Instead of driving around town, we walked since we were live within walking distance of downtown. All the while he kept throwing side glances at me when he thought I wasn't looking, but I was always looking. He would blush every time and look away. It was so easy to get him flustered. The thought made me smile. He nudged me with his elbow.

"Oh hey. See that book store down on the corner?" He pointed.

I looked in the general direction he was pointing and nodded. It was small. Comfortable. Ginger red with Rose vines winding around it every which way and a sign that said Forrest of Dreams with the painted picture of a bridge like the one from the movie Bridge to Terabithia. Hm. I'd have to go visit that place.

"And look over there." he nudged me. "There's a record place I always go to. It has all of the best stuff."

I nodded, but said nothing. I just watched him point out other place he liked or thought I would like with a smile on my face. He didn't seem awkward or embarrassed anymore. He seemed more confident. Sure. I liked that. Who knows how long we'd been walking around before my stomach began growling. I hadn't eaten all day and was just realizing it. Daniel looked down at me with a smile. "Hungry are we?"

"I haven't eaten all day." I admitted with a nod.

"Well then," he stops at a door he's standing by, and opens it with a slight bow. "let's see what we can do about that."

"Why thank you kind sir." I curtsied before stepping inside. "How gentlemanly of you."

We walk up to the pedestal where a short brunette stood with welcoming smile towards Daniel and I. "Hello there!! Welcome to Sweep. Would you like a table or booth?"

"Booth." Daniel answered with another side glance my way.

"Alrighty then." she grabs two menus and motions for us to follow her.

As we head to our seats, people everywhere are yelling out 'hi' and 'hello' to Daniel and giving me curious looks. He must be well known here. Great. I could already hear the rumors spreading.

"And here you are. Your server will be right with you." she smiles and takes her leave.

I don't even get a chance to look at the menu before the server is here. She was taller, but blonde. She had the cutest button nose i'd ever seen and big brown eyes i'm guessing, but nothing about her looked innocent. The blood red lipstick and thick lashes with heavy eyeliner to the story for you, and so did the way she was looking at Daniel.

"Hey Daniel," she purred. "long time no see."

"Hey Nicki," he nodded, not really looking at her. "It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, this isn't your section."

"Damn straight it isn't," came an older woman from behind her. "

Nicki gave me a look that told me everything I needed to know about her before turning to the older grimacing woman with a sickly sweet smile. "I must have been mistaken for a second."

"Mhm," she nods. "now get."

She got. The older came up to table with a warm smile for Daniel. SHer skin was almost flawless. The only sure fire way you would be able to tell was by the faint lines just outside of her eyes. She went all natural. With skin like hers, she didn't need make up. Something about her just said mother. "Hey honey. How have you been?"

"Never been better." he smiled widely.

"And who is this beautiful lady you have with you here today?" she turns her Hazel eye my way slowly.

"This is Akiza," he smiles at me. "she just moved in today. Akiza, this is Jackie. She owns the place with her husband Hunter."

"It's nice to meet you." I smile.

"Same here," she winked before pulling out a pad and pen. "now what can I do you for?"

After ordering our food, we sat there in silence. Every once in a while, one of the staff would come by and say hi to Daniel. The people here must really care about him. That was nice to know. We got our food and both dug in. Before I knew it, we were done and heading out.

Daniel Nitram

And the night was going so well.

Akiza went outside as I paid, to wait for me, I said goodbye to every one and went outside myself. We strolled along and eventually she was leaning up against me as we walked. I nervously put my arm around her and she got closer. I looked up, "hey let's stop here." It was my favorite little cafe, Rivertown. We walked in and the barista as well as several of the patrons greeted me. We walked over to my favorite table after ordering and receiving our drinks of choice.

We talked about a lot of different things our hobbies and such, she told me a bit about her family and where she lived before. In the middle of our conversation a guy sitting near us leaned over to talk to me. "Hey Danny you gonna be performin' for us tonight?" He looked extremely hopeful that I would say yes, I almost felt bad to have to turn him down.

I shook my head, "no sir I wasn't planning on it my guitar is at home." I turned to look at Akiza and not looking at the man said, "I'm busy tonight anyway."

"So you're a musician huh?"

"Yeah it's kind of how most of these people know me." I shrugged, hey it's getting noisy in here let's walk on back to your place." We went back outside it was getting really late and even in a small town the streets weren't totally safe. I kept Akiza to my left as we walked away from the alleyways.

This was apparently a wiser decision than I knew suddenly a man walked out with a knife in his hand. "Hand over your wallet and no one gets hurt." I pushed Akiza behind me and reached in to my jacket pocket.

"Hey man just calm down everything will be just fine-" I threw my phone back to Akiza with the police already called. As I did the man attacked me stabbing me in the chest before I could respond. I looked down at the knife and back at the man quickly I subdued the mugger and removed the knife from my chest. I turned to Akiza I could feel the blood that had wet my shirt and chest. I knew she had seen the mugger stab me, there was no hiding it, "did you call the police?"

She nodded, "They'll be here in a minute." I wrapped my right arm around her shoulder making sure she was away from where I should have still been bleeding. The police arrived and we told them what had happened. They took the mugger in to custody and drove us to Akiza's house. The police officers hadn't asked about my wound and neither of us had told them. We went inside and in to the kitchen, she seemed terribly shaken.
Akiza made coffee and set a mug in front of me. I never really enjoyed coffee.

"So...are you okay?" I sipped at my coffee waiting for her to reply.

"Am I okay?" She gestured at me, "I'm not the one that got stabbed. That should have killed you and you didn't bother to tell the cops." She sipped at her coffee slowly, "ditch your shirt we need to clean that wound." My face was almost glowing red at what she was telling me to do but I couldn't give her a good argument. I removed my jacket and shirt and she looked at where the wound should have been she wiped the blood off my chest that had started to dry near the wound. She immediately noticed the missing stab wound, "I could have sworn he stabbed you right there."

I swallowed hard, "guess I'm a fast healer." I was subtly aware of her hand on my chest each finger searching for my wound. I looked down as she looked up at me it was the first time I'd ever seen her eyes they were strange but strikingly beautiful. I stuttered
nervous, "I'm fine so I guess I'll get on hom-" She pulled me down and kissed me gently.

"Now you can go home." She smiled at me and tousled my hair, "next time don't be so shy and nervous."

"So there's a next time?" She kissed me again.

"Definitely, you're the most interesting person I've met." I was afraid she had already guessed more than I'd said about my healing. It could be trouble but some part of me said it was worth it.

I left Akiza's home feeling happier than I had in a long time.

Eli-Soon to be at Andrea’s House

Eli had spent his first night after Silas had chased him out under a park bench. After that he had decided he needed a more secure place to stake out. (Especially a more comfortable place.) So he had went to the ghost town.

Lying a little outside of the town’s limits to the north, the mangled remains of about twenty or so houses and old mining sheds were generally avoided by everyone except the annual pranksters. With good reason too, Eli believed Jonathan when he said the place was crawling with ghosts. Nevertheless, it was secluded, and far away from Silas. Eli had picked up as much food and staples he could buy (and fit into his backpack) and had made himself quite comfortable in an old cabin. He had not gone to school, choosing instead to spend his days in the mountain ridge above the town, fishing and hunting down the stray demon or two.

It was in this manner that he first came across him. He barely caught a glimpse, but he wasn’t about to ignore the unease and unsettlement the stranger brought, especially with Silas in town. It was a kid about his own age, moving through the forest at a rapid pace. But it was the way he walked… effortlessly, plunging through every obstacle without heed. Like some monster or freak, trampling everything in his path. Eli had only needed to follow the stranger a short ways before he was certain of where the kid was headed--- towards Willowcreek. At first, Eli thought it would be best to stay put where he was. His presence tended to draw unwanted supernatural interest as of late, and he wanted to stay out here where he could fight without fear of harming anyone else. He attracted danger.

But something didn’t sit right with him, something was terribly wrong. As Eli headed back towards his cabin, he felt something disturbing. Something he had once felt a long time ago when a demon entered his house…

The atmosphere was different here, there was a trace of something out of place. It seemed to hover just above the ground. Eli knelt down and listened. For a split second he almost heard what sounded like laughter, and a sighing whisper. But then it was gone. Eli was about to get up when he felt his stomach twist into a knot. There were footbprints here. Someone had tripped, fallen over a branch…

Eli reached out his left hand. He placed it on the ground.

There was a sudden burst of brilliant golden light, and he was frozen to the spot, paralyzed and unable to move. It was the signature of a demon, laughter sounding all around him. And within the screaming of nonexistent wind and the blast coming from where his hand was still attached to the ground, he could hear strange cries and sounds, echoing everywhere at once. At first he couldn’t discern what the sounds were or where they were coming from. But as he channeled his energy, the sounds came into focus.

Confusion, fear, all were intermingled. And in the center a face of a dark eyed little girl. Then a voice calling out.

“Em!” Eli suddenly realized. And something cold wrapped around his heart. Something had touched her, something from the other side, and she could be hurt.
But Eli felt something else too. Along with the churning remnant’s of Em’s emotions was the faintist aura of some demonic power. It was weak, but Eli realized it was the “carrier” for what had happened to Em many days ago.

Suddenly there was a sharp burning in his arm. Eli tried to pull his hand away but he couldn’t, and the pain became worse, spreading throughout his body and searing into his being. Soon he felt himself being pulled in towards the darkness, the darkness that always lurked in the corners of his vision. Then he was drowning, suffocating under a veil of blackness. He couldn’t move, he could barely think, and he felt his will to live fall away. This was his price, his weakness. The more he used his powers, the more the darkness pulled him in. One step more and he would be lost forever.

In the end it was the old wound on his shoulder that saved him. The exertion placed on his left arm was too great, and the skin split open again. The new sensation of pain brought him back to his senses. He grabbed ahold of it and pulled himself back into the mortal world. With a sharp intake of breath, Eli found himself kneeling in the forest. Everything around him still and silent.

Without a moment’s hesitation he pulled himself to his feet and sprinted towards town. Silas and the new boogey-man be damned, he must reach the other club members at all costs. Especially Em. Eli didn’t know why he felt so compelled to be near her---them--- but in the back of his mind it he knew, instinctively, that it was the need to protect something. A willful desire, and one he had only felt once before… long ago when he stood between a demon and his parents…

The pounding in his chest had not lessened by the time he reached town. He ran doggedly ahead, barely paying attention to cars and passer-bys. It seemed like forever to reach Andrea’s house, although in reality it had barely been twenty minutes since he left the forest. If Eli could say one thing about his physical abilities, it would be that he could run.

Eli didn’t know how he knew exactly, where everyone would be. But Andrea’s house seemed the most likely place, and anyways, if they weren’t all there she would be the one who could easily pull them together.

The gray blue of dusk was falling on the town, and Eli’s breath made clouds of steam as he panted in and out. Finally he found her street. A moment later and he had thrown the door open.

Sure enough, most everyone was there. Andrea, the new-ish girl Sam (what was she doing here?) Jonathan… but Eli only relaxed when he saw Em standing there. He gulped in huge breaths of air, realizing for the first time that his legs were stinging. Eli glanced around. Everyone seemed a bit surprised to see him, but more importantly they all seemed worried about something.

“What… what’s wrong?” Eli asked. He quickly fixed his mind on the strange color of wallpaper and hoped Andrea had not caught any of his thoughts, especially about Em.

At first, no one wanted to reply, but finally Andrea spoke up.
“It seems there’s been a turn for the worst.” She said.
“What do you mean?” Eli asked.
“I’ve… seen their deaths.” Jonathan said quietly. Eli noticed for the first time how quiet the room was, also that he had left the door open. He quickly checked outside before closing it.

“Who’s going to die?” Eli asked as calmly as possible.
“Me.” Sam said. “Skull crushed in at the church, apparently.” Eli frowned. He began to pace back and forth in front of the door.

“I don’t think lying low is an option anymore.” Jonathan put in. Eli shook his head. “This is bad…” he murmured.
“Who else did you see?” Eli asked Jonathan.
“Em got her arm torn off… and you were attacked by some thug.” He said.
“That was in his dream.” Andrea added.
“Some thug…” Eli thought for a moment. “What did he look like?” Jonathan quickly described him. Tall, muscley, dark hair. It matched the stranger Eli had seen in the forest earlier perfectly.

“I saw that guy in the woods today.” Eli said. “He was headed towards town.”
“What were you doing in the woods?” Em asked.
“And why haven’t you been at school?” Sam asked. Eli shook his head.
“You think you’re being targeted, and you don’t want to draw danger towards us.” Andrea said. Had he slipped in to carelessness and allowed her to read his mind. Em frowned.

“Don’t you trust us?” she asked. “We can protect you just as much as you can protect us you know. You don’t have to do these things on your own.” Eli shook his head.

“It’s just that…” he sighed. “That’s not everything.” He told them about the night he had been tracked down by Silas. Everyone seemed a bit sobered by this. Finally Andrea spoke up.

“I think you should let Jonathan touch you.” Eli looked at Jonathan, who seemed exhausted, and backed up.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He said. But Andrea insisted; and Eli, with a great deal of misgiving, held out his hand. Jonathan warily reached out and took it. He frowned, and looked more wary than ever.

“That’s… strange.” He said as Eli pulled away.
“What is?” Andrea asked.
“There’s only… blackness.” He said. Eli felt his chest become tight. He would not allow his thoughts to stray there…

“What, what are we going to do?” Em asked. For a long while, no one said anything.
“I know.” Said Chris, who had been unusually quiet. “There’s a meeting at the church tonight.” Everyone looked up at this.
“So… what if we made the first strike?” Sam asked. “Would that prevent us dying?” she asked. Jonathan shook his head.
“Hard to say.”
“So, we’re going to just charge into the place where Jonathan saw Sam die?” Em asked.
“No, we need a plan.” Andrea said. “This is going to take some real brainwork… where’s Daniel when we need him.”
“I can go look for him.” Em suggested.
“No.” Eli said so sharply it surprised even himself. Jonathan cleared his throat.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go in tonight after all… we don’t really know what Silas is capable of.”
“Wait, I have an idea.” Chris said. He bent over the coffee table, taking a piece of paper and marking a series of strange lines across it with a pencil. Everyone looked over his shoulder.
“We could use a diversion, draw this thug guy out into the open.” He started. “Sam could go in as a member, scope out the situation. Andrea would stay behind for backup and Em and Eli…” he looked up. “Where’s Eli?”

Everyone looked around and realized at the same moment that Eli was gone, and the door left wide open.

Spoiler

I hope I wasn't god-modding here, herm... Also, the ending is unclear but I intended for Eli to rush out towards the church headlong before they could finish planning.

Chris Lanyard
At the meeting at the Greendale house

I showed up to Samantha’s hijacked house a little earlier than the meeting was scheduled, carrying Em and Daniel with me, and the first thing I saw when I entered was two girls locking lips. Although this would normally be something that I would have found attractive, today I was distracted. I needed to convey to Andrea the importance of what was to come.

Eli, however, was not yet here, and I hoped he would be, because he was the exact person who would want to know about this situation. This was not good news that I needed to tell our two de facto leaders, but the fact that we got it a few days before the fact made it better news. Aryn, John Summers, Pippa, and Cedar were all on the way, and I figured it would be best to share what I learned when they all had arrived. Andrea looked a little distracted at the moment anyway. She obviously wasn’t focused on reading my thoughts.

So I found a seat on one of the couches of the large family room. I marveled, cynically, of how some people were so rich that they could afford 4 or 5 bedroom houses like this one, with two living rooms and a dedicated dining room, nine foot ceilings, and a two car garage, yet they only needed space for three people. Although I conceded that this was not Samantha’s real house, I still felt childish pangs of jealousy. Too bad that the Greendales had to pass on. They had a sweet deal going on here.

My mind was a little cloudy today. I just couldn’t shake this feeling that I had that I didn’t need to be here. I didn’t need to tell them about what I learned. I mean, what was in it for me? I wasn’t the target of the reptilian Rabbi, I didn’t have any powers, and telling them about something he said right in front of me will send his suspicion about my connection to Eli rolling uphill. I couldn’t risk persecution at the hands of this Snake charmer nut job Silas.

I had kids to take care of, while my parents were working at the auto body shop and the hair-dresser and drinking in bars, and living their “important night-lives” and attending self-help groups at the community center. I had kids to take care of, while my older brother Joey sits at a stool in Flanny’s watching kaleidoscope films on a projector and breathing into another glass of who knows what, spending money on something that will cause him nothing but pain in return for momentary relief.

No, I didn’t owe the Silver Bullet Club anything. In fact, they owed me. Who drives them to and from all these meetings? Who skyrockets the morale when they are all down in the dumps with a few well-placed jokes? Who gives up valuable work and occasional leisure time to put up with their stupid shenanigans? Me, Chris Freaking Lanyard.

I felt a wave of anger overwhelm me, yet I suppressed it, barely, sitting as still as I could on the couch. I let the anger wash through me, but I didn’t relieve myself of it with shouts or violence. I kept it down. However, as soon as it hit me, that inexplicable fear that others felt during my spells began to manifest in the kitchen to my right. Although none of the other members noticed me or my anger, they seemed visibly nervous, more so than they were just before my spell came on. Human instinct is an unusual thing, I’ll tell you that. They ability to sense dominating anger and to feel fear, without any other physical or mental stimuli.

By now, the others had shown up, and they were discussing quietly, almost unaware of my thoughtful presence, when I heard some disturbing news. Jonathan Summers had had a dream, and had used his Big Fish-esque death-seeing power on Andrea.

Apparently something was going to go down at the church. Something horrible and gruesome, and if John’s powers truly did work, then there was nothing I could do about it then to prepare them for what may seem like a random massacre. I could not keep this to myself, no matter how much I wanted to. I had to at least warn the others about the meeting at the Church, and I, almost in a daze, spoke up, drawing the gazes of everyone in the room. “I heard about-”

I was interrupted when Eli barged into the house, blood all over his shirt and a wild look in his eyes. He asked what was wrong, fixing his gaze on the wall, either in deep thought, or trying to block out Andrea.

As the others filled him in on what was to come, I hesitated again, my train of truth stalling on the tracks. I tried to convince myself that telling them the information that could have me moved into the cross-hairs of Silas was the wrong thing to do. Couldn’t telling them about the meeting just lead them to where they were supposed to be attacked or murdered? I tried to convince myself this, but my conscience just kept telling me that they stood their best chance as informed as possible.

Em asked weakly, “What are we going to do?” After a period of silence, I once again raised my voice, the inner machinations of my mind clicking into place.

“I know. There’s a meeting at the Church tonight.”

They discussed this briefly, and Andrea mentioned a plan. I blacked out the conversation, and began thinking of how to clear my conscience, a selfish but not futile attempt, and eventually remembered one of the reasons that Alexander the Great won the Western world. It was a risky tactic, but it just might work.

“Well, I have an idea,” I said as I walked into the kitchen, grabbing a paper and pencil. I wrote out an advanced flanking technique that I miraculously remembered from a random World History class from two years ago. I began to explain, saying, “We could use a diversion, draw this thug guy out into the open. Sam could go in as a member, scope out the situation. Andrea would stay behind for backup and Em and Eli…” I trailed off as I noticed one of the group had gone missing, and asked, “Where’s Eli?”

The door was hanging open, letting the cool night air in, and Eli was nowhere in sight. Everyone knew what had happened.

“Chris,” Andrea shouted, “Go after him! Move! You cannot let him get there before we do. He’ll get hurt!”

Instead of chasing after the man, as I almost felt compelled to do, I just sat back down and asked, “Why me?”

“Because you have a car to use, and you sprint like a freaking gazelle! Why are you just sitting there!”

I blinked at her. I cleared my throat, and I focused my mind on some dirty things, secretly destroying myself on the inside for my selfishness in not wanting to risk my life going after him. “Hey, nothing bad can happen, can it? John looked at his death, and it seems as though it doesn’t exist.”

“You arrogant bastard! Are you just going to sit there on your ass while he gets killed?” she asked and started running out the door. Em followed, much to John’s protest, and Cedar sprinted out. Sam also took her leave in a rush. He was obviously a better runner than me, and that should’ve made me feel better about myself, but it didn’t. Chaos had broken out in the Greendale household, and the shouting and running out took a few minutes to settle down.

Only me, John, Aryn, Pippa, and the dust bunnies were left in the house. They all sat down, and stared at me with nothing short of hatred. “Why, Chris,” asked Aryn, looking betrayed.

I tried to maintain my stony face. “Hey, I don’t see you guys running after him either.”

That seemed to spark something in all of them. Aryn stood up, pulling on her coat, and gave me another evil eye before walking out the door. “Do you need a ride,” I asked, weakly, hand clamping around the keys in my pocket.

“Thanks, but I’d rather walk.” She stormed out of the house. Pippa and John also stood up to leave. “Where are you all going,” I asked angrily, but they didn’t respond, but instead pushed past me to get to the door.

As he passed me, John’s skin touched mine, and I could see thoughts flashing before his eyes, no doubt my eventual demise in a handy dandy mental snuff film. However, after his apparent epiphany had faded, he looked at me, startled, looking down at my clothes and up at my face, a little scared. Then his face took an emotionless expression and he nodded, turning to go again.

“What?” I asked. “What is it? How do I go? Wait, come back here, dammit! What is it? John. John!” I stood up, shouting out at him, but he left, leaving the door still hanging on its hinges. I ran to the open orifice and shouted out at the departing Silver Bullet Club, people who used to be my closest friends, but who may never be again.

“I didn’t ask for any of this!” I tripped on the steps of the porch and fell straight on my face. As I lied there, the realization downed on me. My friends needed me, and I was feeling sorry for myself. I curled up in the fetal position on the porch walkway and felt my eyes burn with dry tears that wouldn’t fall. Down my cheeks, one of which bore a bruise form my collision with the pavement. Tears that would never fall.

“I didn’t ask for any of this.”

Em-Night-Snake Church

Now, I don't have anything against old churches, but this one gave me the creeps.

So I decided to sit at the back. Way at the back. Partly because the old guy everybody called Silas gave me the creeps. Something about his voice... it just wasn't right. It was like a cross between eerie and hypnotizing. Oh, and creepy.

Speeking of strange (creepy), Eli kept glancing at me from about midway down the isle. I swear, he was going to blow our cover. Not that he was being obvious about it or anything, but still.

Anyway, he stopped as soon as the sermon started. Which was good. I think.

Well, I was supposed to be blending in, so I looked up at Silas as he stepped up to the podium.

That's when I realized he was staring at me. And I mean right at me. He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. I shiver, but I don't dare break eye-contact. I've lived long enough to know that it was an extremely bad idea to do so. I'd might as well hold up a neon lighted sign saying;

"I'm weak, scared, and vulnerable! Please, eat me now!"

Though, I'm pretty sure my eyes betrayed the exact same thing when he made his first anouncement:

"Faithful diciples! I apologize, but it is witha heavy heart that I must anounce that this meeting is cancled."

Murmers rippled through the crowd. Silas raised his hands, "Please, exit the building single file through the front doors. We will meet again tomorrow. That is all."

I glance at Eli. He was watching a tall, muscular, (and somewhat scary) man standing by the front doors. He was scanning the crowd intently.

I swallowed nerviously. This must be the guy from Johnathan's dream. The guy who was supposed to kill me.

It hit me in this moment, that there was no way I was leaving this church alive tonight.

So I wasn't all that suprised when he stopped me at the door and asked/told me to wait inside.

I begrudgingly complied. No way I was leaving the others behind.

Besides, if I was going to go down tonight, I was going down fighting.

Angel - Snake Church - "Out of my way, or I'll hurt you badly,"

Dad's plan worked, like always, plenty of people had gathered and the fish that he wanted to catch had come, I was far in back leaning against the wall waiting as dad made his announcement canceling the meeting. People walk out single fill, I do my best to find the chick in the picture my dad showed me before the meeting. I kept the memory of her in my head, she was a pretty girl, I really liked her hair.

But finally I pick her out from the crowd, I was sure not to fail dad now, as she was leaving I stop her at the door and pull her aside holding her arm, soon almost everybody is gone except a for a small group of people who seem to be standing around. I get nervous as they look at me, and try to think of something to stay.

"Uhh, have a nice day, and uhh see you tomorrow!" I try to sound sincere.

"We would like our friend please," one pretty girl said.

"Uhh sorry, but my dad asked me to bring her to him," I said.

"You mean Silas? he ain't getting her!" a stupid guy said.

The pretty girl yanked her arm out of my loosing grip, I barely notice that she yanked away, I use my imposing size to back them away from the door, and back into the church. The group was backing up but only one pretty girl doesn't.

"Out of my way, or I'll hurt you badly," I threaten her.

"Try me big guy, just because I'm short, doesn't mean I can't kick your rear end!" she threateningly.

"Ha, ha, we shall see." I said.

She puts her hands up to fight and I just bring one arm up over my shoulder, and back hand swat her, she goes flying, her whole body going into the air and then slamming against the wall.

"Andrea!" the pretty girl I was after yelled.

She rushed to her though the benches of the church, the stupid guys follow behind her, trying to protect the pretty girl I was after. The guys hands were noticeably shaking as they just witnessed my strength and power of what I was able to do. I approached, one stupid guy ran forward and punched me right in the chest and, I would tell you, I barely felt it.

"I'm sorry, were you expecting something?" I ask him.

I don't give him a chance to answer, I bring my other arm up and swat him aside, sending him though the church.

"Daniel, I can't wake Andrea, and her arm, it's bent at a weird angel," she said.

"Damn it, first Andrea, now John," he breaths.

he charges forward, with lightning fast blows, I barely feel any of them as he just keeps throwing punches after punches. I finally get tired of it all and grab him by the skull and throw him with the other stupid guy, I approach again and another pretty girl approaches.

"No I won't let you hurt her!" she yelled raising her arms up to defend the two pretty girls.

I just smirk and grab her by the head, she freaks out and grabbing my arm and thrashing about, she was a feather compared to my strength, but suddenly everything about her changed, her body, her face, everything, I drop her and she looked like me! What in hell's name? I do the only thing I know best, hit her, and she goes down in one shot. I get up and feel the need to quickly get this pretty girl. I get up and walk over to her quicky grabbing her by the neck and pick her up.

"Hey let me go, put me down!" she yells protests.

"Just, shut up!" I yell angrily, and slam my head against hers hard.

She stops and just becomes limp, I need throw her over my shoulder and quickly made my way out of the church, I needed to leave now.

Akiza

The night was going so good. I'd found out a lot of interesting things about Daniel. I couldn't wait to learn more. We'd just left the restaurant and were heading home, when some idiot came out of no where holding a knife.

"Hand over your wallet and no one gets hurt." he points his knife at me.

And I thought small towns were supposed to be safe. A quick round house kick to the face would out him in his place, but before I could step forward, Daniel pushed me behind him and reached into his pocket. "Hey man just calm down everything will be just fine-"

Daniel threw his phone my way with the police already called just as the man lunged at him with his knife, watching as it sank into Daniel's chest. My heart stopped for moment as I watched him pull the knife out his chest after knocked the mugger out. What hell just happened?! Daniel turned to me, panting hard, his chest heaving with the effort. "Did you call the police?"

I nodded. "They'll be here in a few minutes."

He wrapped his opposite arm around me, keeping me away from where he'd been stabbed. The police arrived and we told them what had happened. They took the mugger in to custody and drove us to my house. The police officers hadn't asked about Daniel's wound and neither of us had told them. We went inside and in to the kitchen where I made him coffee. So many thoughts were swirling around in my head. What the happened in that alley? How did he just pull that knife out of his chest and then walk away? Should I take him to a doctor? Should I have told the cops what happened?

"So...are you okay?" Daniel sipped at his coffee, waiting for my answer.

"Am I okay?" I gestured at him, "I'm not the one that got stabbed. That should have killed you and you didn't bother to tell the cops." I sipped my coffee as I watched him over the rim through the steam that unfurled from the hot liquid inside, my gaze zeroing in on the giant blood stain where he'd bee stabbed.

I set my mug down on the table and said, "Ditch your shirt we need to clean that wound."

His face turned beet red he did what I told him to do. I didn't need to read his emotions the see the read hot embarrassment he was feeling. He removed his jacket and shirt as I stepped forward to touch the spot where there should have been a gaping hole oozing with blood. There was nothing. My fingertips brushed against his skin as I wiped away the blood on his chest. "I could have sworn he stabbed you right there."

Daniel swallowed hard. Nervousness. "Guess I'm a fast healer."

Deception. Caution. He was lying to me, but why? I shook my head mentally. Now wasn't the time to ask questions. At least he would be here to answer them, and that was the important thing. I looked into those beautiful grey eyes.

He began to stutter nervously. "I-i'm fine, I guess I'll get on home-"

I grabbed him by the back of his neck and lay a gentle kiss on his lips. "Now you can go home."

Shock. He was speechless. I smiled at him before ruffling his hair. "Next time don't be so shy and nervous."

"So there's a next time?" his face lit up.

I kissed him again. "Definitely. You're the most interesting person I've met.

Jubilation. Happiness. Relief. He smiled. "Good night Akiza."

"Good night Daniel." I picked up the coffee mugs with a smile as he took his leave and rinsed them off in the sink before going up stairs.

It wasn't exactly what I had planned for a first date, bit it was something.

Chris Lanyard’s Redemption
At the Battle of the Snake Church

You know, it’s funny how things turn out. One minute you are refusing to chase after your friend because you’d rather save yourself than him, and the next minute you are lying on the floor of a Snake Church, cut almost in half by a broken pew, your guts splattered all around you.

I owe a lot to Daniel Nitram. He was my friend, my mentor, my fellow member of the Silver Bullet Club. It was he who, as I lay, tearlessly weeping on the front porch of the Greendale house, picked me up and slapped me around until I quit feeling sorry for myself and acted like a man. It was he who had rejuvenated my urge to be a good person and who had planted the seed of my redemption.

And that was the seed that burst into exploding foliage as the hulking kid turned from the battered Daniel, locking his evil gaze on Em, the girl who was destined to die within these walls. The plant spiraled up and up as the giant ripped a pew from the floor of the church, breaking it into to pieces and hefted it over his head. And that plant blossomed as he threw the pew with all his might, a wild and unthinking look in his eye, that of an animal, straight at the sixteen year old girl.

And as I watched that pew soar threw the air, at the beautiful Em, who could not have seen it coming, I knew what must be done to redeem myself. If I didn’t do it, I couldn’t have lived with myself anyway. So I jumped.

My jumping body collided straight on with the pew as it cascaded towards Em, and my dense bodyweight was enough to rip it off it’s course and fall short of Em by a mile. She was fine, the flying piece of wood not leaving a scratch on her. I wasn’t so lucky.

The pew had torn my body almost in half, and my innards lay on the tiled floor of the church, spitting out enough blood and fluid to fill twenty jars, it seemed. The pain was so great that I barely felt it, and lay bleeding on the ground, uncomfortably numb to my fatal wound.

When it happened, I heard someone call my name, then others, and from my vantage point on the ground, I could see Andrea and the others charge after the monster of a kid with renewed stamina and ferocity, in retaliation for what he had done to me. They were good people, that club, fighting till the end for each other.

Em had fallen onto her butt, on the floor, eyes wide and hand clamped over her mouth, in a shocked silence. My palms were on the floor. I may have had the balls to make my body this mess, but I didn’t have them enough to inspect the damage with my failing nervous system’s sense of touch. I threw up next to me, but nothing came out. My stomach was no longer hooked up correctly to me. I saw Aryn charge towards me, intent on absorbing my wounds to make me better, but I held up my hand, halting her.

“Don’t you dare touch me, Aryn,” I said, with conviction, and she knew I was serious. She backed down. But then Daniel was over me in seconds, face battered with bruises and looking, without concern or pity, merely sympathy, at me.

“Shhh. It’s okay, Chris. You’re just fine. The pain? It will be gone soon.”

“It already is,” I said drunkenly, my vision beginning to blur.

“That’s good, that’s good.” His eyes were cam and reassuring. Good old Dan. He was much more mature than his physical age expressed. He always knew how to hand a situation. “Listen. Don’t worry about anything. Embrace your destiny. The kids? Don’t worry about your brothers and sisters, Chris; I will make sure that they are provided for.”

“Thanks,” I said, sputtering blood from my mouth.

“Shhh.” He put his hand on my chest, just above the massive incision. “It’ll be okay.”

My head lolled back and my vision blacked out, getting brighter and brighter. My life began to flash through my consciousness. I saw myself running around in the muddy, small backyard, being sprayed by an eleven year old, water-gun wielding Joey Lanyard and laughing my little ass off. I saw myself blowing out the candles of a little cake on my seventh birthday, one of my happiest days, the one where my parents were around to see me.

I saw long summer days of fun, evenings of street baseball and football with the other town kids. I saw myself being treated to ice cream by my neighbor, an old man whose death bed I had been at years later. I saw afternoons of marching band, screwing around and blowing my brains into the tuba. I saw my first kiss, a beautiful young girl by the name of Christina.

But most of all, I saw the Silver Bullet Club. I saw Andrea with that ever-present dark look on her face breaking into an involuntary smile as she laughed at one of my stupid jokes. I saw Eli shaking his head at my stupidity, then play-punching me in the shoulder. I saw Em putting a wig to help me with an April Fools day joke.

I saw John Summers-

I was now back in present time, on the Church floor, eyes open, bleeding profusely, and in solid eye contact with John Summers, who stood twenty yards away. His eyes were watering and I could see guilt and regret in them. Guilt for not telling me. Regret for not stopping what he must have seen when he brushed past me not an hour earlier.

I didn’t want him to feel guilty. I needed to do this. I needed to make that decision. I tried to convey that as best I could in my returned gaze to him, and, no longer being able to speak loud enough for him to hear me, I merely nodded to him, then painfully turned my head back to Dan, who was still over me, that calm look in his eyes.

“Is it time, Chris?” he asked.

“Yes, but… I n-need you… to remember… to use the uppdog.”

He smiled warmly. He knew but he played along just the same. “What’s uppdog?”

I smiled too, blood dripping down my lip. “Not much… h-how about y-you?” I let my head roll back and I chuckled on the inside. This was it. My timeline was over. My day had come. My hour had come.

My minute had come.

I closed my eyes slowly, embracing the darkness, yet feeling a bright light, and let my spirit leave my body.

You know you would look at me and think, Chris Lanyard? He would never be a member of one of the most powerful and important organizations the human world has seen. There’s not a paranormal or special bone in his body. Not one strand of superhuman DNA. Chris Lanyard, he’s nothing.

And they would be wrong. Because Chris Lanyard, resident Willowcreek kid, jester, and tuba player, desk runner and part-time mechanic at the auto boy shop, and brother of eleven siblings, was a member of the Silver Bullet Club. And he died for it.

It’s funny how things turn out.

Spoiler

Thanks for writing a good storybook with me everybody. I guess this means I'm checking out.

Also, you may be wondering how Chris and Daniel got there, but that will be explained in AdventureDan's next post. So don't worry about it.

Jonathan Summers
The man, the thug who I had seen kill Sam and Andrea, and who I had seen tear of Em's arm... When I accidentally touched Chris I saw him again. The scenario had changed slightly. There were two thugs now, and Sam had to be one of them. Through Chris' eyes I saw the man pick up a pew and toss it towards Em with a force that wasn't human. Em was about to die when Chris moved between them. He took the hit instead of her. The pain was indescribable, like being torn in half, but it disapeared as quickly as it had come. I saw myself from Chris' eyes. I looked guilty. Then there was a brief moment of happiness before he died.

I pulled away from Chris quickly. I didn't know what I should tell him. Would he act differently if I told him? If he did act differently then Em would die. If I knew Chris right then he would act the same way even if I told him. He'd die no matter what I said. I wanted to scream and shout, to stop them from going to that church, but it was too late. Should I tell Chris to stay? If I did that then I would be condemning Em to death, but not saying anything would be the same as killing Chris. No matter how I acted one of them would die.. I looked up at Chris, about to tell him, but I swallowed my words at the last second and took of after the others. Maybe something would change. Maybe it would all turn out alright.

---

The scene that played out in the church was everything except alright. At first I thought that it would change, just like I had hoped. When the thug sent Daniel flying into a wall I charged, well aware that I could do nothing against him. He hit me, and I was sure that I could hear a rib break as he did. The spirits in the church were screaming, and the horrible sound was probably what kept me conscious as I landed on the floor and slid into a pillar head first. For a while I couldn't move, and I had no idea what was going on, but eventually my vision cleared and the spirits settled down. When I got up the thug had left, and Chris was lying on the floor, nearly ripped apart. I knew he didn't feel any pain, but it was no consolation. If I had told him to stay away he would've listened. I could've saved him, and I didn't. Chris seemed to know what I was feeling, 'cause he looked at me and gave me a weak nod before turning back to Daniel. He pulled a last joke and died with a smile on his lips, just like I knew that he would.

I tried to wipe my tears away, but they just kept coming. Why did I even have this damnable power if I couldn't help anyone with it?! I slammed my fist into the wall, the sudden moved hurt like hell, as if someone had stabbed me in the rib cage, and forced me to gasp for breath, which of course hurt even more. I repeated this a couple if times, welcoming the pain, before finally falling to my knees and sobbing loudly. I had seen all this, felt it like it was my own death, and yet I had been able to do nothing. My powers were useless. I was useless. I had let my friend die.

Daniel Nitram
I thought I was helping...

Earlier That Night at the Greendale House

I decided to swing by where the club meeting was supposed to be to see if anyone was still there. When I arrived I found Chris sitting on the porch head in his hands I looked in through a window, no one was inside. "Chris what are you doing where is everybody?" I tried to sound lighthearted with my question but all he did was shake his head seemingly in shame. Something was wrong, I pulled him up looked him in the eye anger creeping in to my voice, "Where are they Chris?"

Chris looked at me fear in his eyes and shame, "Eli disappeared after we started talking about a meeting at the Snake Church and everyone followed after him." He turned his face from me, "It's not my fight Daniel I have my family to think about so I stayed here. I'm not like you guys I never asked for any of this."

The back of my hand connected with his face hard, he looked at me dumbstruck. I let go of him and he fell back slowly landing on his butt, I pulled him up by his collar again. "What the hell Chris you just let them go." He turned his face from me again ashamed "Chris the club is your family too, you've been like a brother to me your family took us in too we all take care of each other. But no, you mister hero with you world on your shoulders won't ask for any help. Chris you're important to this group not because you can drive but because you make us all laugh. None of us asked for these abilities but it's our life and we can't escape it either. Now everyone's in danger and your sitting here feeling sorry for yourself." I let go of him and looked him dead in the eyes, trying to seem more serious than he and I usually were with each other. "Now we're getting in your car and we're going to that church and making sure our friends are okay."

"Yeah, your right I'm sorry I was being a jerk to everyone. I forgot how important you all are to me." We hoped in the car and sped of in to the night. As we arrived at the church the moment we opened the doors we could hear the noise from inside. We ran in fast as we could and found an imposing young man holding an unconscious Em clearly against her will.

At the Church from Daniel's Perspective

I pointed at the guy trying to pull off my best action hero pose, "unhand that girl villain." Chris smiled at my little joke, the behemoth took a moment to respond so I whispered a quick plan to Chris, "make sure Em is okay I'll try and deal with this guy." Chris nodded as I squared up with the fellow I had challenged. We exchanged blows but I seemed to be doing almost no damage to him and his swings were fast and hard to avoid. Suddenly he had me up in the air and threw me with a ridiculous amount of strength at the wall. I could feel my body crumple against the wall like a piece of paper several bones broken and heart destroyed. I knew that if I couldn't heal from my wounds I would definitely be dead. I looked up and saw the man turn to Em breaking a pew as his weapon, I struggled to let out a yell to warn them.

I saw Chris look up and the pew went flying jumped in front of it splitting him open and sending the pew away from Em. In that moment I could see the others turn on the man that had killed Chris and hurt so many of the rest of us. They drove him from the church with a renewed vigor, I looked about now aware I hadn't seen Silas since that man had attacked us, so he was the source of the attack. I slowly got up blood dripping off me and slowly walked over to where Chris lay on the ground. I looked down at him sympathy in my eyes, "Shhh. It's okay, Chris. You're just fine. The pain? It will be gone soon."

Chris looked at me a slight smile on his lips, "It already is.

“That’s good, that’s good.” I began to have memories of the first time I'd ever fought in a war to the first time I'd lost a friend on the battle field. I thought of his family his little brothers and sisters, “Listen. Don’t worry about anything. Embrace your destiny. The kids? Don’t worry about your brothers and sisters, Chris; I will make sure that they are provided for.”

Blood came out of his mouth as he said thanks. I laid a hand above where the pew had cut him in half, "Shh, it'll be okay." He began to close his eyes and I sent up a brief prayer hoping it was over then his eyes opened again and looked at John. John's face seemed a mixture of guilt and grief, he had known it would happen. I looked back down at Chris, "Is it time, Chris?"

“Yes, but… I n-need you… to remember… to use the uppdog.”

I smiled it was one of the first jokes he'd ever told me, a tear rolled down my cheek slowly and I choked out, "What's uppdog?"

He smiled and the last words he ever said with blooding dribbling out of his mouth were, “Not much… h-how about y-you?” Then he passed the tears streaked down my cheeks and I was completely unashamed at who saw. John had known this would happen if Chris came to the church. He had purposefully not told him to keep him alive, but now I had made him get off his ass and come here. Now he lied there dead and it was all my fault if he hadn't come to the church or if only I had he would still be alive.

I got up slowly and looking at Chris in a last gesture to him pushed the to halves of his body together so he appeared at least slightly whole. "Goodnight fair prince this world wasn't good enough for you." I knew he would have laughed at that, I turned to John and crouched down next to him and pulled him close. I cried with him and the others gathered around us and near Chris's body. Normally if I could think clearly I would already be making funeral arrangements but grief, as I had learned, was a funny thing it erased your ability to think clearly, and survivors guilt even more so.

Andrea - "It was all because of me, it's my fault he died,"

What could I tell you about being thrown into a wall and everything going black? It wasn't a pleasant experience let me tell you. Now when I came to, I knew I was hurt how badly I hadn't the slightest clue, my head pounded, I could barely hear any thoughts. And the ones I did hear, were scrambled, confusing, and sometimes unintelligible, what had happened in the time I was knocked unconscious? the thug's strength, it was like that of the Hulk's except a lot less anger to it all, I couldn't move one of my arms, I could barely move my body, but I was able to make a pathetic call for help.

"Help...me," I said in almost a whisper.

"Andrea!" I heard.

Then I saw that thug again, I was to weak to call for help, I was at this guys mercy unless someone did something.

"Calm down, it's me Sam," he said.

"Sam...?" I moan in pain.

"Yes, it's me, just, hold on, we'll get you help!" she said.

"Aryn, Andrea's awake and she needs help!" Sam called.

Moments later, Aryn was with Sam she was over me, she carefully put her fingers to my skull, I started to feel more aware, my mind cleared up and I could hear thoughts again.

"Aryn!" Sam yelped.

Aryn nearly doubled over Sam grabbing her and holding her up, I still couldn't move my left arm, but I could move my right arm just fine. I sat up, pain in my chest exploded but I endured it, I could see my arm now, and I knew it was broken just by looking at it, I used my OK arm, and felt my broken one, I flinch from touching the worst spot on it and knew my arm was broken. I braced myself and got ready for the pain, and slowly I repossession the arm the way it was supposed to be. The pain was just terrible, and I knew I wouldn't be using my right arm anytime soon, I breathed deeply waiting for the pain to settle.

"Sam, where is everyone else?" I asked.

"Everyone is fine, were tending to the wounded, and well, we-"

I saw it, the thought in her head, I saw Chris' he, he was dead, It was all because of me, it's my fault he died, I knew we had a long road ahead of us.

Em-Early Morning-Some kind of basement...

I don't remember waking up. But I must have at some point, because I was pretty sure no dream could possibly conjure up a headache this bad.

It was dark, really dark. And with a sudden jolt of fear I wondered if I'd been burried alive. Panicking, I scrambled to my feet. Only to be yanked back down by something wrapped around my leg. I felt along the wall and found a chain... it connected to a shackle on my left ankle.

No, this wasn't happening.

I felt further along the wall, searching for a light-switch.

When I finally found one I switched it on... and immediately regretted it. I would rather not have seen the weird runed floor I was sitting on. Or the old guy sitting in the corner (few meters away from me) of the small room. It was Silas, sitting in an old wooden chair and resting his hands on his cain. I glared at him.

"You're not like the others." He leaned forward now resting his arms on the cain."Are you? Emmalia."

I said nothing, but still held his gaze. So what? He knew my name. That didn't mean anything.

"I know what you can do."

Okay... well, maybe a little more than my name.

"I'm very sorry about your friend. His sudden demise was most... unfortunate."

Anger, no rage coursed through me. I hate him. I hate him I hate him I hate him.

I'll kill him.

I felt the familiar heat rise in my body. But wait, I thought. This is exactly what he wants. It was too late, however, I was already engulfed in flame and shaking from the effort to supress it.

Finally, it did. I looked down and breathed a sigh of relief. I was wearing my fire-proof clothing.

Shortly afterward I heard a strange hissing sound. It was comming from the staff. Silas breaks eye-contact and closes his eyes. Was he talking to it?

Suddenly, his eyes flashed open and landed on me.

"A demi-demon." He whispers.

Eli---At the Church (recap)

Something was terribly wrong.

Eli had felt it the moment he had spotted the bogeyman walking through the forest that day, but it was only a vague impression. He felt it again at the Greendale house--- a taunting sense of unease. But the full weight of the situation didn’t hit him until he had sprinted off for the church. The tightness in his chest, the pounding of his feet madly out of tempo with his heartbeat, he was afraid. Not for himself, but of what? What was it that he feared? Black snakes had curled around his thoughts.

Fortunately, Sam had caught up with him before he could reach the church. It was a little disturbing to find a double of himself running right beside him, but the technique had been effective. Who knows what would have happened if he had recklessly rushed in headfirst?

The club members who had come along waited in silence until actual members of the church started filing in, and they joined the crowd. The sermon was abruptly cut short with Silas’ announcement that the meeting had been cancelled… and as Eli looked around he spotted the lanky stranger by the door, and his stomach clenched into a fist. They shouldn’t have come….

He saw Em get up first to leave. She walked up to the door and was stopped by the towering doorman. Eli stood up. The thought that Silas was right behind him didn’t register as he rushed towards the human beast.

In an instant he was flying through the air, his fist in motion, but something was off, something was terribly wrong. Eli regretted it more than ever know. His fist chunked into his chest, but the human beast barely felt it.

“Run Em!” he shouted. “Run now!” Eli saw too late as the beast-man brought his forearm down, his elbow slamming down on his neck. Eli dropped like a rock, his vision swimming. Somehow he managed to get his feet under him and swung around for a kick. Maybe if he could knock his foe off his feet. But a split second later and the beast-man had pulled him off the ground. Eli watched eyes wide as the beast-man punched him in the face. He saw a white flash in front of his eyes before he felt himself hurtling through the air, incredibly fast. He wouldn’t land on his feet this time… Eli collided with something, his body flung up the air from the impact’s recoil. Then he hit the ground and skidded, splinters of wood flying as he crashed through the pews.

At first he couldn’t move. But he saw the beast-man promptly knock out Jonathan in the same, quick way and then grab Em.
“No…” he pushed himself up, but there was a searing pain in his back and ribs, and suddenly all his strength left him. He collapsed, helplessly watching the last of the fight as the world around him faded into black…

By the time Eli had regained consciousness, the church around him had gone silent. The lights in the church were out… and he smelled blood. At first he thought it was just the stuff in the back of his throat, but the sharp, warm scent warned him that there was a lot of it lying around somewhere. And he heard sobbing… someone was sobbing. With a groan he managed to stagger to his feet. He walked towards the door and stopped, frozen where he stood.

It was Chris… dead. He knew it the instant he saw the mangled body and wreckage lying around him. An image flashed in the back of his mind… the dead and bleeding bodies of his parents, the haunted, still body of the Rabbi. Why? Why did every one he came in contact with end up hurt in some way? Why was he so reckless?

Jonathan was knelt over Chris, and Daniel and Andrea and Sam. Eli felt like someone had stabbed him through the chest. His throat tightened, but no tears came. He had buried those emotions long, long ago, and his mind was numb.
“What happened?” He managed to get out hoarsely.
“It was that…that thing, Angel.” Sam said. “He took Em.” Eli said nothing, but his jaw clenched and his fists shook at his sides.
“So that’s it then…” he muttered.
“You’re bleeding.” Andrea pointed out. Indeed he was, a particularly nasty gash from a wood shard had left its mark across his chest. But he wasn’t paying attention to that. He wasn’t even paying attention to Andrea, who was trying to tell him something. He was moving towards the door…

Eli staggered, half delirious it seemed, out into the night. Whatever emotions he had felt before, fear, grief, were gone now. There was only one thing on his mind now, only one thought. A burning rage had seized him, and it blurred his vision. Every muscle in his body was tense, and every step he took became longer until he had started running. Running towards the ones who had taken Em, who had killed Chris. Things could not stand as they were. Eli was blinded by his anger, and had no awareness of where his feet took him.

But he found himself on the other side of town, close to the ravine where Silas had caused the crash nearly a week ago. Eli stopped, and his mind cleared a little. That’s when he saw the car. A black, low riding Cadillac snaking along the road. Its headlights casted strange shadows on the mountainside. Apparently, he hadn’t been out that long after all, who knows what fortune had led him here, for he knew it was Silas. He also knew that Silas would have Em with him, and that the… thing that had murdered Chris was with him too.

Eli had never before in his life felt the cold grip of revenge. He had never wanted to kill anyone. But he wanted to kill someone now. Wanted it so badly he could taste the blood of his enemies.

And so Eli ran through the forest, following along the ridge as the car drove up and into the mountains.

He would kill Silas. He swore he would kill him.

Spoiler

So, disclaimer for the end here. Just because Eli swore he'll do something doesn't mean it will actually happen. So no worries Shin/Silas. Anyways, it would be way too early in the story to do something like that.