“So you went on a vendetta?” Dr Wright asked curiously as she jotted down some notes
Penny placed her cup on the table next to her. She sighed heavily.
“All . . . all I could think about was taking down the chamber,” she replied, “that all that mattered I . . . guess I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“It sounded like a pretty tall order even for a person with your abilities.”
“It was. I hardly slept, didn’t really eat. All I wanted to do was stop them . . .”
~ Rage Club, Phoenix Arizona – 3 days ago ~
I’d been hunting demons for almost a fortnight by now and everyone was a dead end. None of the demons I killed had ever heard of the chamber let alone know where they were but I go this tip from this vampire that I had to follow . . .
The line winding back from the club entrance was long. People waited anxiously for the chance to enter the exclusive club known to be frequented by the rich and famous. Suddenly the crowd was startled by Nighthawk dropping down from the roof. She landed safely on the ground then slowly elevated herself up to her full height. Her outfit had lost most of its shine as four day old demon blood covered its surface. Her hands and face still carry the blood from the fight in the studio eight day ago but she wore it like war paint.
Her long hair was a mess. Matted and clumped together from various demon organs from previous fights. Nighthawk had a wild presence about her that scared the people in the line. They parted quickly as she walked up to the door. Before Nighthawk entered a bouncer put his hand out in front of her.
“Sorry lady I can’t let you in like that.”
The bouncer was tall and well built with a shaved head. Slowly Nighthawk turned her head and looked at him. With lightning speed she grabbed is wrist and twisted it around clockwise forcing him to double over. As the bounce bent down Nighthawk kneed him in the face sending him flying over onto his back unconscious. The crowd was shocked at how quickly the bouncer was incapacitated by the woman half his size. Nighthawk didn’t wait around she stormed up and kicked the double doors off their hinges. She forced her way through the crowd until she arrived at the manager’s office. In front of the door stood two security guards and as Nighthawk approached they stood in front of the entrance.
Nighthawk took a moment and stared at each of them intently. She noticed one of them was reaching for his radio. Nighthawk narrowed her eyes and moved in. she grabbed his arm and pulled it forward she spun in and elbowed him in the stomach. Nighthawk shot her head back sharply smashing it into the security guards face. As he fell Nighthawk swung around and kicked the second guard in the chest followed by a kick to the head.
By this stage the crowd had stop dancing and turned their attention to the scene. This didn’t phased Nighthawk as she kicked down the managers door and stormed in. the manager looked up at her in fear.
“Oh God!” He exclaimed as he held the receiver of the phone in his trembling hand.
Nighthawk frowned at him angrily and grabbed him by the collar and tossed him out of the room. The manager flew across and landed hard on the dance floor. Nighthawk approached slowly.
“Where are they?” she asked menacingly
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” the manager replied
Nighthawk sneered angrily at him. She drew her sword and extended the blade. The crowd started to step back in fear as she stormed up and placed the tip of the blade under his chin. She tilted her head slightly giving her a more vicious appearance.
“Where . . . are . . . they?” Nighthawk asked forcefully
The manager of the club closed his eyes and cringed as he felt the sharp blade of the tip press against his skin.
“God! I don’t know!” he yelled
Nighthawk pressed the blade in hard. A small stream of blood began to pour out of the wound.
“I case you haven’t noticed kinda not in a patient mood,” Nighthawk replied, “I’m gonna say this one more time. Where are they?”
The manager didn’t have any choice. Slowly he turned his head until he was looking at the door leading to the basement. Nighthawk followed his eye line. Satisfied with his answer she turned back and looked at him.
“Thanks” she said coldly before knocking him out with the hilt of her sword
The crowd moved aside as Nighthawk stormed over to the entrance to the basement and ripped off the padlock. She opened the door and walked slowly down the darkened staircase. When she reached the bottom she flicked on the light. Cowering in the corner was a family of Turon demons. When they saw Nighthawk approach they hugged their young girl tightly.
“Please don’t kill us,” the farther pleaded, “We’re peaceful demons we don’t want to hurt anybody.”
Nighthawk kneeled down to match the father’s eye line. The anger in her eyes didn’t fill him with much confidence.
“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Nighthawk replied reading her weapon, “Where’s The Chamber? Where are they hiding?”
“I would tell you if I knew,” the father begged, “please just let us go.”
“I’ll let you go . . .”
Nighthawk moved in slamming the father’s head against the wall and pressing the blade hard against his neck.
“. . . Once you tell me where they are?”
“I don’t know where they are!” father yelled, “Not all of us are working for them!”
“Wrong answer.”
Nighthawk began to press in with the blade but the screams from the little girl cause her to hesitate. She looked down at the demon child as she clung on to her father. This wasn’t right these demons had nothing to do with it. Nighthawk pulled away from them and sat down on cold concrete. She closed her eyes and tried to fight the swirling emotions inside of her. After a moment she looked at the three demons seriously. Nighthawk sighed heavily and got to her feet. She looked at the child with mild guilt.
“If . . . if you find out anything. Tell me.” she said in a hesitant tone
Nighthawk turned and headed slowly for the door. The father looked at her curiously. None of what just happened
“Wait.” He asked, “Why did you stop?”
Nighthawk stopped walking and slowly turned around. She had a great sadness in her eyes as she looked down at the little girl.
“Every kid needs their family.” She replied
The mother hugged the little girl tighter. The father looked at the woman with interest. She wasn’t a killer something drove her to this.
“There’s a bar across town called ‘Nicks’,” he continued, “Demons like to go there to relax. If you’re looking for the chamber I suggest you go there.”
I still see the sight of that little girl screaming in my mind . . . no matter how hard I try it wont go away. As for The Wanderer and Megan they were trying to move on without me . . .
~ The abandoned mansion, Phoenix Arizona – the next day ~
Megan was double checking some of the notes she had laid over the table. All her research into what she thought the chamber was doing pointed in one direction and it was bad. The Wanderer walked into the room and flopped down heavily onto a nearby chair. Megan looked up at him with sympathy.
“Any luck?” she asked
The wander leaned forward and shook his head.
“Nope just the same old news a masked woman terrorizing demons all over town but nobody know where she goes.” He replied
Megan collected up her notes with her good arm and walked over to The Wanderer.
“That’s not the worst of it.”
Megan handed The Wanderer the pile of paper. He goes through it with curiosity.
“What’s this?” he asked
“When I was lying in hospital I thought about why The Chamber were so interested with those places then it came to me. They’re trying to build up resources.”
The Wanderer looked up at her.
“Resources for what?”
“That’s what I wasn’t sure of at first so I got a friend of mine studying economics at my college to look over what happened. When he came back with the results it became obvious what they’re doing.”
“What?”
“They’re building an empire;” Megan replied seriously, “The businesses they took were either making money or had the potential to make money.”
The Wanderer was still confused. The idea of Rorgia the corruptor trying to play the market didn’t seem to gel too well in his mind.
“This doesn’t sound right.”
Megan sat down next to him.
“It didn’t to me either at first that was until I asked myself why they would want them. And there was only one reason.”
Megan looked at him.
“They weren’t just building an empire they were replacing one.”
Suddenly the missing puzzle pieces were filled in The Wanderer mind.
“Wolfram and Hart.” He replied, “Son of a bitch.”
“Tell me about it,” Megan continued,”They’re trying to be the next big thing in badness. What are we going to do? Brett’s gone and Penny’s . . . you know. That kinda leaves us so what are we going to do?”
“Hope . . . That’s all we can do.” the wanderer replied
Brett was coping as best he could. I understood why he was angry at me. All I hoped was there was some way of fixing this . . .
~WNHK Studios, Phoenix Arizona ~
Brett sat down at his terminal. The fire from the power transformer caused havoc throughout all the computers and it was his job to untangle all that mess. While he was working Jarrod stormed into the room.
“Where the hell is Penny?” he demanded, “I’ve been calling her cell all week.”
Brett looked up at the reporter annoyed
“What makes you think I know?”
“You hang out with her more then I do I figured you were pal or something.”
Brett returned to the screen.
“Not anymore.” He replied softly
Jarrod rolled his eyes in frustration and tried to call penny’s Cell again and again he reached her voicemail.
“Oh that’s it she is so fired.” Jarrod retorted
Brett dropped his head in frustration. As much as he hated penny at the moment he couldn’t let this happen to her. Brett looked over to Jarrod just before he left the room.
“Wait,” Brett continued hesitantly, “I remember now she called me a few days ago and told me she was sick.”
“She called you? Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”
Brett gestured around the room.
“I case u haven’t noticed kinda in the middle of a crisis.” Brett replied
Jarrod folded his arms angrily and glared.
“What she sick from?”
Brett shrugged.
“I don’t know I heard the word mucus and that was enough for me.”
“Tell her she’s got a week before I start to advertise her job.” Jarrod replied before storming out the room
Brett sighed heavily as he returned the computer. Penny owed him big time for this.
That night I made my move on the bar. by this stage I was so focused on what I wanted I didn’t care who had to die. Tonight was gonna be the night I ended it
~ Nicks Bar, Phoenix Arizona – that evening ~
The bar was bustling with activity. demons of all shapes and size milled around the bar having their own discussions about who they killed and how and also about this strange mask woman attacking them at random. Behind the bar the owner, Nick, was serving drink happily. Unaware of what was gonna happen next. As he served a surly vampire a glass of O positive the door to the bar burst off its hinges and sailed across the room. in the doorway Nighthawk stood. she scanned the room carefully studying each demon and vampire carefully once she was satisfied she went to work.
It didn’t take long for Nighthawk hack and slash her way through most of the demons in the room. each time she did she asked if they knew anything about the chamber before she struck pretty soon there was only one person left and he wasn’t happy. Nick walked out from behind the bar and threw his dish cloth over his shoulder. He looked at Nighthawk annoyed.
“Great,” he said, “Way to kill my clientele lady!”
Nighthawk bolted up and slammed Nick against the wall.
“Ow! Holy hell what are you doing?” he continued
“Unless the next words are where the chamber is you’re not gonna live through the night.” Nighthawk replied menacingly
Nick looked at the blood soaked woman in shock.
“You can’t kill me I’m human! That’s murder.”
“Where is the chamber?” Nighthawk asked
“In the back make sure you flush when you’re done.”
Nighthawk frowned furiously. she grabbed Nicks arm and slammed it against the wall. spinning her sword around she slammed it through is palm. Nick screamed in pain.
“Not very playful tonight,” Nighthawk demanded, “Tell me where the camber is!”
“I can’t! Rorgia’s gonna do a lot worse then you are if I tell.”
Nighthawk started to twist the sword in his wound. The pain was getting to unbearable for Nick
“What do you think I’m gonna do to you if you don’t?
Nighthawk forced the sword in further. Nick screamed again.
“Okay! Okay! I’ll talk!” Nick replied, “There’s an old office block downtown. Rorgia and is flunkies set up camp in there.”
That’s all I needed to hear. I now knew where Rorgia was and all I had to do was one thing. it’s funny how some thing never turn out how you plan them
~ The Chamber HQ, Phoenix Arizona – 1 hour later ~
Nighthawk stood in front of the large building. she’d been psyching herself up for the battle for the last few minutes until she felt she was ready. This was the night. The night where it ended where Rorgia met his fate. Nighthawk drew her sword and walked towards the building . . .
. . . until she was stopped a moment later by The Wanderer.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked in an annoyed tone
Nighthawk looked over to the old man and the bird on his shoulder.
“My job,” she snapped, “You remember my job right?” Slayer, demon, the killing of.”
“So you’re just going to storm into this building without backup?”
“I told you I don’t need your help!” Nighthawk growled
Nighthawk tried to walk to the building again but The Wanderer stood in her path. Nighthawk tilted her head curiously and looked at him.
“You gonna try and stop me?” she asked
“I’m here to help you Penny but I’m not your keeper,” The Wanderer replied in an even tone, “If you want to go get yourself killed I wont stop you.”
The Wanderer stepped aside. Nighthawk shot him one last look before walking towards the building.
“Do you think Alex would have wanted you to do this?” The Wanderer called out after her, “or Rebecca? or Shona?”
Nighthawk stopped. she closed her eyes and tried to fight back the tears. Slowly she turned to face him.
“I have to do this Wanderer!” she yelled at him
“Why now?” The Wanderer asked, “Why are you so determined to get yourself killed.”
“BECAUSE THEY HURT SHONA!” Nighthawk yelled
There was a long pause as her voice echoed off into the night. Nighthawk started to shake as she though about what she just said
“ . . . I mean Megan.” She continued
The Wanderer expression changed from serious to caring.
“Oh Penny,” he said softly, “this is what this is about isn’t?”
Nighthawk shook her head sharply.
“No I-I need to stay focused. Rorgia need to . . . I mean I need to . . .”
The sword slipped out of Nighthawk hand. She dropped down to her knees as a look of anguish crossed her face. The Wanderer rushed in and embraced her tightly. Nighthawk broke down. she sobbed heavily into the wanderers shoulder as reality finally began to set in.
“They hurt Shona?” Dr. Wright asked
“I’d been fighting it back for two years,” Penny explained, “tried to get it . . . her out of my mind.”
“You can’t keep these things lock away Penny. They will come back to haunt you.”
Penny laughed slightly.
“I found that out,” penny replied weakly, “but I guess its okay now, I mean, she’s dead nothing I can do about it.”
Dr. Wright looked at Penny in concern.
“Penny, this isn’t okay. Nothing about this is okay.”
Dr. Wright leaned forward.
“You’re fried died in your arms. You are allowed to be angry about this.” she continued
Penny looked at Dr. Wright seriously. The doctor was right how was this supposed to be fine? that demon stabbed Shona while she was taking to her. slowly Penny’s bottom lip began to tremble. She began to breathe quicker as she realized.
“Oh god!” Penny exclaimed before breaking
She dropped her head into her hands as she sobbed openly. Dr. Wright moved in and hugged her. Normally this isn’t standard practice for a psychologist but this was a special case.
“Shona’s dead and it’s my fault!” Penny continued
Dr. Wright pulled away and looked at Penny.
“The way The Wanderer explained it you fought as hard as you could against impossible odds. There was no way you could have known that was going to happen.”
“No I should have kept my guard up I-I should have been more alert!”
“Could you?”
Penny didn’t know how to reply. She closed her eyes and tightens her lips. Dr. Wright hugged her again.
“This is where the healing begins.” She said
Later on that day. The Wanderer and Megan were waiting anxiously in the mansion. The door opened slowly as Penny stood awkwardly in the doorway. Megan looked up at her and smiled.
“Hey.” Penny said softly
“Hey Penny.” Megan replied and she got up and hugged her
“You just get back?” The Wanderer asked
Penny shrugged.
“Actually I’ve sorta been standing out the room for about half an hour.”
There was a brief pause as she looked at the both of them.
“I’m so sorry you guys,” she said sadly, “I didn’t mean to hurt you both.”
Again Megan smiled at her.
“It’s cool I’m just glad you’re alright.” she replied
“Though I think there’s someone you need to talk to.” The Wanderer commented
~ WNHK Studios, Phoenix Arizona – half an hour later ~
Brett had finished his last system. It had been a grueling eight hour session to get all the computers back on his feet and all he wanted to do was go home. As he faced the door he noticed Penny standing there. Brett rolled his eyes and folded his arms.
“Come to suck more emotions out of me?” he asked coldly
Penny dropped her head.
“I deserved that,” she replied, “God, I’m sorry Brett I didn’t mean to do that to you.”
This caught Brett slightly off guard but he didn’t want to lose his stance.
“But it happened didn’t it?”
“I didn’t know I needed that kind of support until it happened.”
“Wow you really know how to make me feel better.” Brett replied as he collected his stuff
“I lost everybody Brett.” Penny continued
Brett stopped. he looked over to penny curiously as she sat down in a nearby chair.
“I lost my friend . . . I lost my family,” Penny said sadly as she looked up to him, “I lost my brother in that battle. I only found out I wasn’t the last slayer when Brant told me.”
Brett sat down near her. The others told him briefly about the battle but he had never heard the full story.
“It just hurts all the time and . . . and I can’t make it stop. that night at the club you made me feel better about myself and I’m sorry I used you that way.”
Brett put his hand on hers. Penny looked at him curiously.
“You’re an amazing woman do you know that?” he commented, “Most people would have locked themselves away after what you went through but you kept on fighting and saving people. not many people can say that.”
Penny smiled at him.
“Thank you.” she said stunned
Brett smiled in return. He stood up and started to gather his things.
“But don’t think I’ve forgiven you yet,” Brett continued sarcastically, “’cause I a guy with guy needs I don’t think there’s anything you could to make me forget . . . “
His sentence was cut off by Penny standing up and kissing him. the kiss was long and passionate and Brett put his hand on the back of Penny’s to deepen it. after a moment they pulled apart. Brett blinked a couple of times.
“Sorry what was I talking about?”
Penny laughed. Brett switched off the computer and looked at Penny lovingly.
“so you wanna go do something?”
“Later,” Penny replied, “There’s something I have to do first.”
~ The Church, Phoenix Arizona ~
Penny sat quietly in the front pew of the empty church. In her hand she held an image of herself, Rebecca, Shona and Alex. She smiled to herself as she remembered the good times they had together. there was a tap on Penny’s shoulder that made her jump slightly. The Priest looked at her apologetically
“I’m sorry miss I didn’t mean to disturb your prayer.”
Penny smiled in relief.
“It’s okay I was just saying goodbye to some friends.”
“You looked troubled my child,” the priest continued, “Is there something the matter?”
Penny looked back down at the picture
“No,” Penny replied, “I think things are going to be okay.”
Penny stood up from her seat as the priest smiled at her.
“Go with God my child.”
“Thanks.” Penny replied as she walked down the isle
Penny was slowly beginning to feel at ease again. She never wanted to face Shona’s death properly but now that it has happened she’s feels relieved. The priest watched her leave the building. the girl had a heavy heart and hopped it’s burdened would be lightened. he thought about this as he wandered into his office. the priest picked up the phone and dialed a number and a moment later a gruff English voice answered.
“This is neighborhood watch,” the priest said, “you know that slayer who’s supposed to be dead . . . “
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