Post by The Circle Television Network on Dec 27, 2016 12:51:59 GMT -5
Chapter XVII (Part 2): Everyone Has Their Own Agenda
Argos Square
Downtown, Empire City
The streets were in complete and utter chaos after the attack on the coliseum. Two figures cut against the crowd, avoiding the authorities that frantically rushed in to secure the scene. Arella and the thing masquerading as Michelle Andretti had narrowly managed to escape the collapse of the stage, following Gaia’s bold attack on Superius, which had also spoiled their own plans. They had avoided Anka’s probing eyes, but now they were exposed and desperate to escape unnoticed. Michelle broke the silence, “WHAT HAPPENED?!” she spoke in harsh tone. “We had her! The angel was about to attack Superius in front of the entire city!”
Arella could only shake her head, “Someone else beat her to it. We will find another way to expose my mother.”
Michelle, looked over at Arella, her keen eyes piercing, “What do we do now? How do we salvage this?” She glowered, “I was promised power! Power to replace that which was stolen from this body!”
Arella spoke through clenched teeth, “I will find a way. This is not ove…” A shadow passing overhead caused her to stop as she looked up and grabbed Michelle’s arm. “We need to get off the streets!”
Michelle jerked away from Arella, “I want what I was promised!”
Arella looked up frantically, then narrowed her eyes as she focused on Michelle, “And you’ll have it…but first, we need to get out of sight! I can feel my mother’s presence, do you understand?” She grabbed Michelle and pulled her toward the nearest open building. As the two made their way inside, they passed a stone plaque which marked the corner as 12th and Argos, the location of the Argos Bank…the same bank that Spike Staggs had seen in his vision. The very same bank that he, Detective Jordan, and their winged compatriot were now baring down on…
High Over Argos Square
Downtown, Empire City
The wind whistled past Anka’s ears as her mind raced. Her day had been turned upside down. Once minute, she had been standing face to face with the man she held responsible for the murder of her family…and the next, she was looking into the eyes of a girl she considered family…one that had been dead for hundreds of years…
…Arella…
Was this another cruel joke that was now being played on her? Was the Almighty dangling another carrot in front of her face only to snatch it away when she reached out her hand to touch it? She was sick of being His plaything, but this was too tempting, even for her. She had to know if this was the girl that she had given up her quest for revenge to protect…and ultimately watch die in her arms…another victim of Rome’s vicious greed…or so she thought.
She peered down on the streets and caught a fleeting glimpse of the two women she had seen in the rubble of the stage in the coliseum. The blonde woman…the one who had been shrouded in shadow and Arella…or the girl that looked remarkably like her. The two disappeared as they ran into a nearby building.
Anka swooped down and landed outside the bank. She frowned as she was reminded of the vision that Stacey’s friend Spike had recounted. She absently whispered to herself, “…wings flapping…burning…” She glanced over her shoulder and her wings. She shrugged her shoulders and narrowed her eyes, “…my wings don’t burn…”
She took one last look around as she trotted towards the bank…
From around a nearby corner, a familiar face appeared…that of the firebrand known as Meepus. He stroked his chin as he watched the angel run inside the bank. He kneaded his hands in excitement as she cornered herself for him. She had something that he wanted…something that he intended to take off of her burning corpse! Nothing and no one was going to stop him from taking the ring from her. He was going to be a god…and no one was going to stand in his way!
Meepus moved with purpose as he headed toward the bank entrance. He hazarded one last look around, then flicked his hands, igniting the living fire within him as they manifested around his fists. There was no need to be subtitle…destiny was calling him…
Six blocks away, Stacey wove her car around barricades and groups of people trying to get back to their homes. Beside her, Spike Staggs held on for dear life as he kept his eyes on the road ahead, periodically sticking his head out the window to yell and wave pedestrians out of their path. Stacey pulled up to the corner across from the bank and jumped out of the car. As Spike did the same, she held up her hand. “WHOA! You stand down and let me check this out first! Remember, I’m the cop here!”
Stacey’s gun popped free of its holster and floated in front of her face. Spike grinned, “And you need to remember that I’m the meta!”
Stacey snatched the gun out of the air and re-holstered it. “If you touch my gun with that brain of yours again…I’m going to take your ass to jail!” She turned towards the bank and started walking across the street. “Best case…nothing even happens in there…”
Almost as in answer to her comment, the doors of the bank burst open and a screaming security guard ran out, his entire body engulfed in flames as he collapsed on the ground.
“GODS!!” Stacey started calling for back up and assistance as Spike sprinted towards the building. “SPIKE! STOP!” She grabbed him, “There is a blanket in my car! Get it and help him! I’m going in there!”
Spike starts to protest, but Stacey is already running towards the building.
Stacey drew her gun. She knew she needed to wait for backup, but by the time it arrived, it would already be too late. She swore under her breath, then charged inside, not knowing what she’d find…
First Bank of Argos
A Few Minutes Earlier…
As Arella and Michelle ran into the bank, a security guard was there to stop them. “Sorry ladies…we are closed right now. We are going to need you to…” He paused, and a look of recognition touched his face, “OH MY GODS! YOU’RE MICHELLE ANDRETTI! CHANNEL 8 NEWS!”
The creature inside Michelle started to use its power against the man, but a tug from Arella stayed its hand. Instead, it smiled with lips that weren’t its own to disarm the man. “Sir! Can you please help us? There is a person following us! We just need a place to hide until the authorities arrive!”
The guard nodded as he gestured for the second guard to come over and escort them to the back. “Get them downstairs, I’ll call ECPD!” The guard led them out of the lobby and through the doors in the back. The guard by the door reached over to lock them, just as they were thrown open by Anka, charging in after the two women. The guard fell back, startled as he reached for his gun, then paused, “Wait…y-you’re the angel!”
Anka hated being called that, but after seeing the look in the man’s eyes, she could tell that it would be useful. She straightened herself, to present a more angelic appearance, “Where are the two women who ran in here?”
The man swallowed as he pointed to the back, “T-They said they…n-needed help…”
Anka turned away from him, “Stay where you are…help is here.” She stalked towards the back, intent on finding the girl she thought was lost to her more than 600 years ago. Anka ran pass the offices in the back, finding them empty she followed them down towards basement, where the vault was kept…
Upstairs, the guard stood there scratching his head as he wondered what to do next. He ran back to the door to lock it, when he was suddenly thrown back yet again. This time he did not recognize the person who came through the door…but he did recognize the threat that he posed as flames swirled around his fists. The man raised his gun, but a searing flame scorched his hand and the gun fell to the floor as the guard stumbled back, screaming out in pain.
Meepus walked in, looking around with a smirk on his face. “I am going to ask you this question once asshole! I sincerely hope you know the answer, since the wrong ones will defiantly get you killed!” He charged up the flames that whirled around his hands, “WHERE IS THAT BITCH WITH MY RING?!”
The guard looked around frantically, unsure of how to answer or what to say. “I…I…”
Meepus roared, “I WANT THAT RING!!”
The guard blurted out, “WHAT RING?!”
Meepus narrowed his eyes, “Oooooh, that was so much the wrong fucking answer bro!” Meepus grimaced as he brought his power to bear, waves of flame washing over the man and sending him running through the door, screaming like a macabre Roman candle. Meepus side stepped him with a grin on his face, “If I were you…I would have lied!” Meepus, sighed as he turned, looking for the angel, then headed for the open door that led to the back of the bank.
“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE YOU MURDERING PIECE OF SHIT!”
Meepus turned and found himself staring down the barrel of a gun held by one of Empire City’s finest, Detective Jordan. Meepus swore under his breath, annoyed by the interruption. At least the angel was trapped. He would get the ring from her after dealing with this annoyance. Meepus grinned sadistically, “Wow, you again? I’m gonna bag my limit on roasted pig today!” Meepus didn’t hesitate as he tossed a burning ball of flame in her direction, even as she fired her gun. The two of them dived to the floor, even as their errant shots missed one another.
Stacey moved behind cover as she cursed herself for missing him. “GIVE IT UP! YOU’RE LEAVING IN CUFFS OR IN A BAG, YOUR CHOICE HOT STUFF!”
Meepus laughed, “You’re funny…but you should know something about me…” Meepus concentrated the full potential of his internal fire, “…hot doesn’t even begin to describe me sugar tits!”
Stacey frowned, “YOU DID NOT JUST CALL ME THAT!!” Stacey rolled out from cover, “GET YOUR HANDS UP ASSHOLE!!”
Meepus hurled another fireball at her, and she unleashed a volley of shots…
BLAM
BLAM
BLAM
Stacey kept firing as she emptied her gun at Meepus, but he had only goaded her into shooting to show her the futility in it. He turned up the heat so rapidly that he literally burst into flames, vaporizing the rounds and setting off the sprinklers in the process.
Meepus laughed sadistically as he stalked towards her, the water on the floor boiling away into steam as he burned white-hot. “Play time is over officer…for you anyway!”
Stacey turned her face away from the blistering heat as she tried to reload her weapon, but they were both interrupted…
“So, you’re the Burning Man from my vision!” Meepus looked to the exit at Spike Staggs as he stood there holding a fire extinguisher. “CATCH!!”
Spike threw the extinguisher at him, but Meepus sent out a ball of fire that caused it to explode before it could touch him. He chuckled, “YOU GOTTA DO BETTER THAN THAT SON!! DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I’M MOTHERFUC…”
THOOM!!
THOOM!!
THOOM!!
Three explosions rocked the room as Meepus fell to the floor, his flames put out by three chemical extinguishers that had been telekinetically hurled at him from behind while he focused on the one in front of him. Meepus choked and gagged as he tried to re-ignite himself, but the chemical agent smothered the flames.
Spike reached down and pulled Stacey to her feet, even as he looked around frantically. “Chelly! Did you see her? Is she here?!”
Stacey ran over and kicked Meepus in the crotch, “I GOT YOUR FUCKING SUGAR TITS!” She rolled him over as he coughed and choked, slapping the handcuffs on him. She stood up, looking to Spike and then the open door, “Through there!” She got to her feet, checking her gun as she stepped over Meepus, “Come on!”
Spike looked down at wounded meta, “What about this guy?”
Stacey glanced up at the sprinklers as they shut off and then down at Meepus, covered in chemical retardant, “He’ll keep. Let’s go!” As Stacey charged through the door, Spike was right on her heels.
Down near the vault, the Security Guard with Michelle and Arella froze as he heard gunshots and a few moments later a series of explosions. The man looked terrified as he pulled out his radio and called for his partner without success. He turned to the two women, with the blood draining from his cheeks and beads of sweat dripping down his face. “S-Stay h-here!” He turned as he heard a noise on the stairs behind him, and fired as he screamed.
BLAM
BLAM
BLAM
Each round was deflected as Anka brought her wings up. She lowered them as the Security Guard stared wide eyed and on wobbly legs. “You should put down the gun and go stand in the corner.” Anka watched as the Security Guard gingerly laid the gun down and backed into the corner, terrified. Anka turned her attention to the two women standing by the vault, her demeanor changing as she stared past Michelle and at the girl standing behind her, “Arella…?”
Arella backed away, then narrowed her eyes as she attempted to use the same power she had employed to control Gaia, Reaver, and Vixxxen. Her eyes clouded over as she attempted to compel Anka to do her will, “Leave this place…NOW!” Arella staggered and fell to her knees, reaching out as darkness stole away her vision…but her power had no effect.
Anka moved towards the girl she had raised as her own child hundreds of years in the past. “ARELLA!!”
Michelle blocked her path, baring her teeth as she did, “NOT ANOTHER STEP!” Shadows darkened around her and Arella as it attempted to consume her completely and she melted from view. Michelle’s eyes fell to Anka’s hand and the ring on her finger. She pointed angrily, “GIVE THE POWER TO ME! GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!”
Anka arched her eyebrow, having no idea what she was talking about at first, then she looked down at her hand. “The ring? You want this?” She looked up at Michelle, “Come and get it!”
As Michelle prepared to square off with Anka, Stacey and Spike came running down the stairs. Stacey wasn’t exactly sure who to aim her gun at as she looked at both of them. “FREEZE! EVERYONE DOWN!”
Not surprisingly, the Security Guard was the first and only person to hit the floor. Anka and Michelle looked at him and rolled their eyes collectively. Anka glanced at Stacey, “Detective…please let me handle this I…”
Michelle seemed to melt into the shadows, then coalesced behind Anka, wrapping both arms around her neck in a vicious chokehold. Anka thrashed about, her wings beating frantically as darkness seemed to envelop her like quicksand.
Stacey trained her gun on them, but Spike pushed her sights off of them, “NO, DON’T!” Spike concentrated his power into a telekinetic push that sent Anka and Michelle flying across the room and crashing into the wall. As they hit the floor, Michelle’s grip was broken and she rolled one way as Anka rolled the other…still gasping for air.
Michelle reached for Anka again, the shadows still choking her adversary, “GIVE ME THE RING!”
“MICHELLE, STOP!” Spike screamed as he forced her back again. “MICHELLE! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT!”
For an instant, her eyes seemed to soften into those of the girl he knew, but they darkened again as the entire room grew dark for an instant, then she appeared behind him, kicking him in the small of his back and sending him crashing into the vault door. Spike turned, only to be slammed to the floor as Michelle grabbed him by his throat. “Your friend is gone…and soon, so will you!”
Before she could she could bring her power to bear, she felt the cold barrel of the detective’s gun pointed against her temple. “Let him go bitch!” Michelle paused, but for a moment, then disappeared into a black shadow, only to reappear behind Stacey with the Security Guard’s discarded gun in hand.
BLAM!
BLAM!
Spike froze in shock as he looked over and saw the bullets hit Detective Jordan high in her back. He had hoped that she was wearing a vest, but it was immediately apparent that she wasn’t as two bright red stains blossomed across the back of her sports coat. Michelle was stoic as she stood over the wounded detective.
Spike moved to get to his feet, but he stopped cold as Michelle turned the gun on him. Spike raised his hands, “Michelle…please don’t do this!”
Michelle paused, “Michelle is gone!” She looked down as the police detective wretched, gasping for air, through punctured lungs. Michelle looked back at Spike, the gun still pointed at his head, “Time to die…”
Michelle was suddenly knocked off her feet and sent flying halfway across the room from an unexpected blow. She skidded across the floor, then saw Anka crouched over the mortally wounded detective. She raised the gun and fired, empting the magazine.
TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!!
The angel’s wings bellowed like a blanket as she threw them up like a shield. Spike dived for cover as bullets ricocheted all around the room.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Michelle threw down the gun, vanishing in shadow for a moment, then appearing behind Anka again, but this time she was ready as she ducked around, grabbing the woman around her neck and quickly closing her wings around the two of them. Michelle struggled in Anka’s grip; “You think you can hold me?!” She attempted to vanish into shadow, but this time she could not as Anka’s wings completely encapsulated the two of them…an eerie ethereal light burning within them. She hisses, “WHAT IS THIS?! THE WINGS BURN!!”
Anka held Michelle in a chokehold from behind as she remarked on Spike’s vision of her wings burning, “Maybe they do burn…” Anka held Michelle as she screamed and then one scream became two as the Shadow Thing separated from her, frantically evaporating and reappearing as it burned and sizzled…a smell of brimstone permeating what little air remained.
The Shadow finally expanded with a screech and then burst into nothingness. Anka fell back, as her wings opened and Michelle’s limp body spilled to the floor.
Spike screamed as he held Stacey in his arms. “CAN YOU HELP HER?! SHE’S SHOT!”
Anka got to her feet, walking over and kneeling beside them. Anka frowned as she watched the life ebbing out of the dying police officer. Part of her wanted to just let the arrogant woman die, but she knew that it would have destroyed Brandon. She pulled the ring from her finger and slid it onto Stacey’s, then waited and watched. Her breathing, once shallow and rapid, began to slow.
She groaned in pain, but it was no longer tinged with the gurgle of blood. Spike began to relax as he watched on with wonder.
A sound from behind them made them turn as Meepus stood there, his with the handcuffs melted from his wrists. His eyes burned with desire and hatred, but the chemicals on his skin made it near impossible for him to use the full range of his powers effectively. He staggered back, cursing “You’re gonna to pay for this…you’re all gonna pay for this!” He raised his hands to try to ignite them, but they only glowed white-hot for a moment. The sounds of police sirens in the distance signaled to him that all was lost, for now. He pounded his fist against the wall, then turned and ran back up the stairs.
Anka stood up, frantically looking around for Michelle’s companion, “ARELLA!!” she screamed, but the girl was somehow long gone. Anka ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. She had to find her. She turned to run upstairs, but Spike grabbed her arm.
“Wait!” Spike said, “You can’t just up and leave!”
Anka removed his hand from her arm. “Take care of them…I have to go!” Anka headed up the stairs, not even giving them a second look.
Spike stood up looking down at the two unconscious women as he held his head, “How do I explain this shit?”
The terrified guard in the corner spoke up, “So…you’re not going with the creepy shadow girl just tried to kill us all?”
Spike raised his hands as police swarmed the scene, guns drawn…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Michelle Andretti … Delia Darling
Arella … Orchid
Anka ... Kenzi Grey
Meepus … Kaden Kessler
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Spike Staggs … R.C. Tucker
Security Guard #1 … Billy Burke
Security Guard #2 ... Dot Bridges
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Guilty Pleasure
Argos Square
Downtown, Empire City
The streets were in complete and utter chaos after the attack on the coliseum. Two figures cut against the crowd, avoiding the authorities that frantically rushed in to secure the scene. Arella and the thing masquerading as Michelle Andretti had narrowly managed to escape the collapse of the stage, following Gaia’s bold attack on Superius, which had also spoiled their own plans. They had avoided Anka’s probing eyes, but now they were exposed and desperate to escape unnoticed. Michelle broke the silence, “WHAT HAPPENED?!” she spoke in harsh tone. “We had her! The angel was about to attack Superius in front of the entire city!”
Arella could only shake her head, “Someone else beat her to it. We will find another way to expose my mother.”
Michelle, looked over at Arella, her keen eyes piercing, “What do we do now? How do we salvage this?” She glowered, “I was promised power! Power to replace that which was stolen from this body!”
Arella spoke through clenched teeth, “I will find a way. This is not ove…” A shadow passing overhead caused her to stop as she looked up and grabbed Michelle’s arm. “We need to get off the streets!”
Michelle jerked away from Arella, “I want what I was promised!”
Arella looked up frantically, then narrowed her eyes as she focused on Michelle, “And you’ll have it…but first, we need to get out of sight! I can feel my mother’s presence, do you understand?” She grabbed Michelle and pulled her toward the nearest open building. As the two made their way inside, they passed a stone plaque which marked the corner as 12th and Argos, the location of the Argos Bank…the same bank that Spike Staggs had seen in his vision. The very same bank that he, Detective Jordan, and their winged compatriot were now baring down on…
High Over Argos Square
Downtown, Empire City
The wind whistled past Anka’s ears as her mind raced. Her day had been turned upside down. Once minute, she had been standing face to face with the man she held responsible for the murder of her family…and the next, she was looking into the eyes of a girl she considered family…one that had been dead for hundreds of years…
…Arella…
Was this another cruel joke that was now being played on her? Was the Almighty dangling another carrot in front of her face only to snatch it away when she reached out her hand to touch it? She was sick of being His plaything, but this was too tempting, even for her. She had to know if this was the girl that she had given up her quest for revenge to protect…and ultimately watch die in her arms…another victim of Rome’s vicious greed…or so she thought.
She peered down on the streets and caught a fleeting glimpse of the two women she had seen in the rubble of the stage in the coliseum. The blonde woman…the one who had been shrouded in shadow and Arella…or the girl that looked remarkably like her. The two disappeared as they ran into a nearby building.
Anka swooped down and landed outside the bank. She frowned as she was reminded of the vision that Stacey’s friend Spike had recounted. She absently whispered to herself, “…wings flapping…burning…” She glanced over her shoulder and her wings. She shrugged her shoulders and narrowed her eyes, “…my wings don’t burn…”
She took one last look around as she trotted towards the bank…
From around a nearby corner, a familiar face appeared…that of the firebrand known as Meepus. He stroked his chin as he watched the angel run inside the bank. He kneaded his hands in excitement as she cornered herself for him. She had something that he wanted…something that he intended to take off of her burning corpse! Nothing and no one was going to stop him from taking the ring from her. He was going to be a god…and no one was going to stand in his way!
Meepus moved with purpose as he headed toward the bank entrance. He hazarded one last look around, then flicked his hands, igniting the living fire within him as they manifested around his fists. There was no need to be subtitle…destiny was calling him…
Six blocks away, Stacey wove her car around barricades and groups of people trying to get back to their homes. Beside her, Spike Staggs held on for dear life as he kept his eyes on the road ahead, periodically sticking his head out the window to yell and wave pedestrians out of their path. Stacey pulled up to the corner across from the bank and jumped out of the car. As Spike did the same, she held up her hand. “WHOA! You stand down and let me check this out first! Remember, I’m the cop here!”
Stacey’s gun popped free of its holster and floated in front of her face. Spike grinned, “And you need to remember that I’m the meta!”
Stacey snatched the gun out of the air and re-holstered it. “If you touch my gun with that brain of yours again…I’m going to take your ass to jail!” She turned towards the bank and started walking across the street. “Best case…nothing even happens in there…”
Almost as in answer to her comment, the doors of the bank burst open and a screaming security guard ran out, his entire body engulfed in flames as he collapsed on the ground.
“GODS!!” Stacey started calling for back up and assistance as Spike sprinted towards the building. “SPIKE! STOP!” She grabbed him, “There is a blanket in my car! Get it and help him! I’m going in there!”
Spike starts to protest, but Stacey is already running towards the building.
Stacey drew her gun. She knew she needed to wait for backup, but by the time it arrived, it would already be too late. She swore under her breath, then charged inside, not knowing what she’d find…
First Bank of Argos
A Few Minutes Earlier…
As Arella and Michelle ran into the bank, a security guard was there to stop them. “Sorry ladies…we are closed right now. We are going to need you to…” He paused, and a look of recognition touched his face, “OH MY GODS! YOU’RE MICHELLE ANDRETTI! CHANNEL 8 NEWS!”
The creature inside Michelle started to use its power against the man, but a tug from Arella stayed its hand. Instead, it smiled with lips that weren’t its own to disarm the man. “Sir! Can you please help us? There is a person following us! We just need a place to hide until the authorities arrive!”
The guard nodded as he gestured for the second guard to come over and escort them to the back. “Get them downstairs, I’ll call ECPD!” The guard led them out of the lobby and through the doors in the back. The guard by the door reached over to lock them, just as they were thrown open by Anka, charging in after the two women. The guard fell back, startled as he reached for his gun, then paused, “Wait…y-you’re the angel!”
Anka hated being called that, but after seeing the look in the man’s eyes, she could tell that it would be useful. She straightened herself, to present a more angelic appearance, “Where are the two women who ran in here?”
The man swallowed as he pointed to the back, “T-They said they…n-needed help…”
Anka turned away from him, “Stay where you are…help is here.” She stalked towards the back, intent on finding the girl she thought was lost to her more than 600 years ago. Anka ran pass the offices in the back, finding them empty she followed them down towards basement, where the vault was kept…
Upstairs, the guard stood there scratching his head as he wondered what to do next. He ran back to the door to lock it, when he was suddenly thrown back yet again. This time he did not recognize the person who came through the door…but he did recognize the threat that he posed as flames swirled around his fists. The man raised his gun, but a searing flame scorched his hand and the gun fell to the floor as the guard stumbled back, screaming out in pain.
Meepus walked in, looking around with a smirk on his face. “I am going to ask you this question once asshole! I sincerely hope you know the answer, since the wrong ones will defiantly get you killed!” He charged up the flames that whirled around his hands, “WHERE IS THAT BITCH WITH MY RING?!”
The guard looked around frantically, unsure of how to answer or what to say. “I…I…”
Meepus roared, “I WANT THAT RING!!”
The guard blurted out, “WHAT RING?!”
Meepus narrowed his eyes, “Oooooh, that was so much the wrong fucking answer bro!” Meepus grimaced as he brought his power to bear, waves of flame washing over the man and sending him running through the door, screaming like a macabre Roman candle. Meepus side stepped him with a grin on his face, “If I were you…I would have lied!” Meepus, sighed as he turned, looking for the angel, then headed for the open door that led to the back of the bank.
“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE YOU MURDERING PIECE OF SHIT!”
Meepus turned and found himself staring down the barrel of a gun held by one of Empire City’s finest, Detective Jordan. Meepus swore under his breath, annoyed by the interruption. At least the angel was trapped. He would get the ring from her after dealing with this annoyance. Meepus grinned sadistically, “Wow, you again? I’m gonna bag my limit on roasted pig today!” Meepus didn’t hesitate as he tossed a burning ball of flame in her direction, even as she fired her gun. The two of them dived to the floor, even as their errant shots missed one another.
Stacey moved behind cover as she cursed herself for missing him. “GIVE IT UP! YOU’RE LEAVING IN CUFFS OR IN A BAG, YOUR CHOICE HOT STUFF!”
Meepus laughed, “You’re funny…but you should know something about me…” Meepus concentrated the full potential of his internal fire, “…hot doesn’t even begin to describe me sugar tits!”
Stacey frowned, “YOU DID NOT JUST CALL ME THAT!!” Stacey rolled out from cover, “GET YOUR HANDS UP ASSHOLE!!”
Meepus hurled another fireball at her, and she unleashed a volley of shots…
BLAM
BLAM
BLAM
Stacey kept firing as she emptied her gun at Meepus, but he had only goaded her into shooting to show her the futility in it. He turned up the heat so rapidly that he literally burst into flames, vaporizing the rounds and setting off the sprinklers in the process.
Meepus laughed sadistically as he stalked towards her, the water on the floor boiling away into steam as he burned white-hot. “Play time is over officer…for you anyway!”
Stacey turned her face away from the blistering heat as she tried to reload her weapon, but they were both interrupted…
“So, you’re the Burning Man from my vision!” Meepus looked to the exit at Spike Staggs as he stood there holding a fire extinguisher. “CATCH!!”
Spike threw the extinguisher at him, but Meepus sent out a ball of fire that caused it to explode before it could touch him. He chuckled, “YOU GOTTA DO BETTER THAN THAT SON!! DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? I’M MOTHERFUC…”
THOOM!!
THOOM!!
THOOM!!
Three explosions rocked the room as Meepus fell to the floor, his flames put out by three chemical extinguishers that had been telekinetically hurled at him from behind while he focused on the one in front of him. Meepus choked and gagged as he tried to re-ignite himself, but the chemical agent smothered the flames.
Spike reached down and pulled Stacey to her feet, even as he looked around frantically. “Chelly! Did you see her? Is she here?!”
Stacey ran over and kicked Meepus in the crotch, “I GOT YOUR FUCKING SUGAR TITS!” She rolled him over as he coughed and choked, slapping the handcuffs on him. She stood up, looking to Spike and then the open door, “Through there!” She got to her feet, checking her gun as she stepped over Meepus, “Come on!”
Spike looked down at wounded meta, “What about this guy?”
Stacey glanced up at the sprinklers as they shut off and then down at Meepus, covered in chemical retardant, “He’ll keep. Let’s go!” As Stacey charged through the door, Spike was right on her heels.
Down near the vault, the Security Guard with Michelle and Arella froze as he heard gunshots and a few moments later a series of explosions. The man looked terrified as he pulled out his radio and called for his partner without success. He turned to the two women, with the blood draining from his cheeks and beads of sweat dripping down his face. “S-Stay h-here!” He turned as he heard a noise on the stairs behind him, and fired as he screamed.
BLAM
BLAM
BLAM
Each round was deflected as Anka brought her wings up. She lowered them as the Security Guard stared wide eyed and on wobbly legs. “You should put down the gun and go stand in the corner.” Anka watched as the Security Guard gingerly laid the gun down and backed into the corner, terrified. Anka turned her attention to the two women standing by the vault, her demeanor changing as she stared past Michelle and at the girl standing behind her, “Arella…?”
Arella backed away, then narrowed her eyes as she attempted to use the same power she had employed to control Gaia, Reaver, and Vixxxen. Her eyes clouded over as she attempted to compel Anka to do her will, “Leave this place…NOW!” Arella staggered and fell to her knees, reaching out as darkness stole away her vision…but her power had no effect.
Anka moved towards the girl she had raised as her own child hundreds of years in the past. “ARELLA!!”
Michelle blocked her path, baring her teeth as she did, “NOT ANOTHER STEP!” Shadows darkened around her and Arella as it attempted to consume her completely and she melted from view. Michelle’s eyes fell to Anka’s hand and the ring on her finger. She pointed angrily, “GIVE THE POWER TO ME! GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!”
Anka arched her eyebrow, having no idea what she was talking about at first, then she looked down at her hand. “The ring? You want this?” She looked up at Michelle, “Come and get it!”
As Michelle prepared to square off with Anka, Stacey and Spike came running down the stairs. Stacey wasn’t exactly sure who to aim her gun at as she looked at both of them. “FREEZE! EVERYONE DOWN!”
Not surprisingly, the Security Guard was the first and only person to hit the floor. Anka and Michelle looked at him and rolled their eyes collectively. Anka glanced at Stacey, “Detective…please let me handle this I…”
Michelle seemed to melt into the shadows, then coalesced behind Anka, wrapping both arms around her neck in a vicious chokehold. Anka thrashed about, her wings beating frantically as darkness seemed to envelop her like quicksand.
Stacey trained her gun on them, but Spike pushed her sights off of them, “NO, DON’T!” Spike concentrated his power into a telekinetic push that sent Anka and Michelle flying across the room and crashing into the wall. As they hit the floor, Michelle’s grip was broken and she rolled one way as Anka rolled the other…still gasping for air.
Michelle reached for Anka again, the shadows still choking her adversary, “GIVE ME THE RING!”
“MICHELLE, STOP!” Spike screamed as he forced her back again. “MICHELLE! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT!”
For an instant, her eyes seemed to soften into those of the girl he knew, but they darkened again as the entire room grew dark for an instant, then she appeared behind him, kicking him in the small of his back and sending him crashing into the vault door. Spike turned, only to be slammed to the floor as Michelle grabbed him by his throat. “Your friend is gone…and soon, so will you!”
Before she could she could bring her power to bear, she felt the cold barrel of the detective’s gun pointed against her temple. “Let him go bitch!” Michelle paused, but for a moment, then disappeared into a black shadow, only to reappear behind Stacey with the Security Guard’s discarded gun in hand.
BLAM!
BLAM!
Spike froze in shock as he looked over and saw the bullets hit Detective Jordan high in her back. He had hoped that she was wearing a vest, but it was immediately apparent that she wasn’t as two bright red stains blossomed across the back of her sports coat. Michelle was stoic as she stood over the wounded detective.
Spike moved to get to his feet, but he stopped cold as Michelle turned the gun on him. Spike raised his hands, “Michelle…please don’t do this!”
Michelle paused, “Michelle is gone!” She looked down as the police detective wretched, gasping for air, through punctured lungs. Michelle looked back at Spike, the gun still pointed at his head, “Time to die…”
Michelle was suddenly knocked off her feet and sent flying halfway across the room from an unexpected blow. She skidded across the floor, then saw Anka crouched over the mortally wounded detective. She raised the gun and fired, empting the magazine.
TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!! TWANG!!
The angel’s wings bellowed like a blanket as she threw them up like a shield. Spike dived for cover as bullets ricocheted all around the room.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Michelle threw down the gun, vanishing in shadow for a moment, then appearing behind Anka again, but this time she was ready as she ducked around, grabbing the woman around her neck and quickly closing her wings around the two of them. Michelle struggled in Anka’s grip; “You think you can hold me?!” She attempted to vanish into shadow, but this time she could not as Anka’s wings completely encapsulated the two of them…an eerie ethereal light burning within them. She hisses, “WHAT IS THIS?! THE WINGS BURN!!”
Anka held Michelle in a chokehold from behind as she remarked on Spike’s vision of her wings burning, “Maybe they do burn…” Anka held Michelle as she screamed and then one scream became two as the Shadow Thing separated from her, frantically evaporating and reappearing as it burned and sizzled…a smell of brimstone permeating what little air remained.
The Shadow finally expanded with a screech and then burst into nothingness. Anka fell back, as her wings opened and Michelle’s limp body spilled to the floor.
Spike screamed as he held Stacey in his arms. “CAN YOU HELP HER?! SHE’S SHOT!”
Anka got to her feet, walking over and kneeling beside them. Anka frowned as she watched the life ebbing out of the dying police officer. Part of her wanted to just let the arrogant woman die, but she knew that it would have destroyed Brandon. She pulled the ring from her finger and slid it onto Stacey’s, then waited and watched. Her breathing, once shallow and rapid, began to slow.
She groaned in pain, but it was no longer tinged with the gurgle of blood. Spike began to relax as he watched on with wonder.
A sound from behind them made them turn as Meepus stood there, his with the handcuffs melted from his wrists. His eyes burned with desire and hatred, but the chemicals on his skin made it near impossible for him to use the full range of his powers effectively. He staggered back, cursing “You’re gonna to pay for this…you’re all gonna pay for this!” He raised his hands to try to ignite them, but they only glowed white-hot for a moment. The sounds of police sirens in the distance signaled to him that all was lost, for now. He pounded his fist against the wall, then turned and ran back up the stairs.
Anka stood up, frantically looking around for Michelle’s companion, “ARELLA!!” she screamed, but the girl was somehow long gone. Anka ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. She had to find her. She turned to run upstairs, but Spike grabbed her arm.
“Wait!” Spike said, “You can’t just up and leave!”
Anka removed his hand from her arm. “Take care of them…I have to go!” Anka headed up the stairs, not even giving them a second look.
Spike stood up looking down at the two unconscious women as he held his head, “How do I explain this shit?”
The terrified guard in the corner spoke up, “So…you’re not going with the creepy shadow girl just tried to kill us all?”
Spike raised his hands as police swarmed the scene, guns drawn…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Michelle Andretti … Delia Darling
Arella … Orchid
Anka ... Kenzi Grey
Meepus … Kaden Kessler
Detective Stacey Jordan … Nina Stokes
Spike Staggs … R.C. Tucker
Security Guard #1 … Billy Burke
Security Guard #2 ... Dot Bridges
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Guilty Pleasure