Silent Angel Crashes Through the Sky

We walked into the living room, Pete close behind me. I could almost feel his cold skin radiating like dry ice, spreading the chill. A shiver went down my spine, but I tried not to let it show. I kept a small, cool smile on my lips.

I sat down in an arm chair, not wanting to give him the chance to sit next to me on a couch. He frowned, obviously seeing that, and sat down on the old floral couch. I cleared my throat.

"I can't apologize." His frown deepened.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not sorry, Pete." He threw his hands up lightly.

"How can I make you understand? How can I make you see that I am still your brother? I'm not just any old vampire, Annie." I glared finally dropping my ghost of a smile.

"Stop calling me that." He ignored me.

"I know you have a grudge. So do I! We all do! I understand you! So why can't even try to understand me?"

"You're a parasite-"

"I don't drink blood."

"You're a monster-"

"I've never killed a human being."

"You aren't my brother." He stood up suddenly, moving in front of me and coming down to me level.

"I am!" My hands balled up into fists.

"Stop, Pete."

"No, you stop! I will make you see. I will. You're my sister and I love you, and I know you still remember. You remember who I am, not just what I am." He stayed in that spot just looking at me. His eyes were gold, and for some reason they made me choke up. I wanted to cry as I looked deep down into his eyes, trying not to understand.

He blinked and stood up, going back to his spot on the couch. He clasped his hands together. I let out a breath, unclenching my fists. I looked down at them, noticing crescent-shaped dents from my nails. I looked back up at him.

"Pete, I can't leave Illinois. Patrick and I think Beckett's put a curse on me. Patrick thought you might want to know." He blinked.

"Since-"

"Since three years ago."

"Do you have any idea why?"

"No."

"Could it be because of me?"

"I don't know."

"We'll figure something out. Don't worry." I nodded. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly feeling dry.

"Ryan... Ryan talked to me. He's an Independent, you know. His eyes were golden...." Pete didn't say anything for a while.

"I know you miss him. Jimmy." This time I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say. "I know this has been so hard on you, Annie. I know. You've been hurt a lot. It's easier sometimes to hate people. To not want to be with people." My throat started to get closed-up, and I tried to swallow to open it up.

"It's not that I don't want to be with people." My voice was wavy and weak.

"I know. And, you're not alone. You have us. And... and if you don't want to be around me, you still have Patrick, and Andy, and Joe." He paused. "You don't have to be alone." My chest felt heavy.

"Th-thank you." I fought back the tears and controlled my breathing. We sat in silence. "I came to you four because we have to team up. I believe that the vampires are creating an army. All of them. Against the humans. Are you in?" I looked Pete in the eyes with a straight, serious face. Emotionless. He nodded.

"We are all in. We'll talk to any other hunters we might know. Have you talked to any others?" I shook my head.

"But, I think I have one in mind." He smiled lightly.

"Just one?" I rolled my eyes.

"I'm pretty sure he knows other hunters." Pete frowned slowly.

"You really have been alone all this time, haven't you?" I didn't answer. He stood up. "We'll start tonight. You talk to your hunter and we'll talk to ours." I stood up also. Pete looked at me one last time before walking out of the room. I bit my lip, sitting back down and burying my face into my hands.

Yes, I really have.

-*-

I made my way to Chicago after departing from the boys.

"You're going to come back, right, Clark?"

"If you don't come back, we'll hunt you down. It's kind of our thing."

"Of course I'm coming back. Don't worry about it."

They all tried to give me a hug but I ran away before they could. I still wasn't quite accustomed to their friendliness. It was all very foreign to me after being a hermit for three years.

I wandered the streets looking for his familiar face, but couldn't find him. I knew it was a long shot that I would find Shadows tonight, but if he was going to be in any city, Chicago would be the most likely. I wasn't sure where he lived, but I could try and find other hunters and ask around.

I was so screwed.

It was humid and cold, and unusual and rare phenomenon. Ridiculous.

I was absolutely miserable.

My thin hoodie was doing nothing for me as my teeth chattered and my skin crawled. The streets were pretty crowded for ten o'clock at night. It was about that time when all the stores close and babysitters need to go to sleep.

I checked down a few ally ways, hoping to catch a glimpse of any hunters on duty, but didn't find any. It took about ten bars before I found a hunter- an obvious hunter because he had a stake showing from the inside of his jacket. I walked up to him slowly, hoping not to make him suspicious. I tried to give him a solid look to let him know I was on his side.

"My name is Clark and I'm looking for someone." He raised an eyebrow.

"Look, kid, I don't-"

"Do you know a hunter named Shadows? Matt?" He raised his other eyebrow.

"A hunter? Shadows?" I nodded. He looked around breifly, as if to make sure no one was listening. He looked back to me. "Clark?" I nodded again. He took one of the bar napkins and a pen from his pocket, and started writing. He handed it to me. "Tell him Johnny sent you."

"Okay, thanks. And, just so you know, your stakes are showing." I turned around and walked out of the bar with the napkin gripped tight in my hand. I looked at it as I walked back out into the cold night.