Her tears started falling in earnest. Thick, sad emotion clouded her voice.
He smiled at her, offering sympathy by holding her hands. Her crying stopped, and her hand wiped the tears from her face. She took a deep breath and regained her composure. “I don’t know what to say to you about your relationships, but I have a feeling the answer lies with your relationship with The Lamb... your Jesus Christ.”
The mention of his name made her face beam. “He’s wonderful. Even though I’ve always tried to avoid Him before, I’m drawn to him now.”
Shane said nothing, scratching his chin. Then, smiling wryly, he shook his head. “‘Jesus Christ.’ It’s odd how I’ve bandied His name about for years, but have really had nothing to do with Him. You know, you couldn’t be as bad as you say you are. In fact, you seem very nice. You’ve certainly answered many of my questions. You and I are both seeking Someone to whom you are supposedly opposed.” His smile broadened.
The light went off in her brain. “Could the Lamb love me as well? Is it possible for demons to reconsider their path in life? All I know is that for the first time in a long time, I’m beginning to hope.” More tears fell from her eyes. “Well, I’m proud that my heart is changing. She put her hand on his. “Shane, thank you. You may not believe this, but you’ve helped me a great deal. I’m very grateful.”
“You’re welcome…I don’t know what I could’ve done for you, but if I’ve helped you, then great.”
Shane got up to leave. “I hope you find what you are looking for.”
His words rolled around her head for a moment. Gaining courage, she said, “It’s scary, Shane, but I can’t turn back now. I have too much to lose. I intend to find what I’ve been looking for.”
* * *
Monday, October 6th
Poisonous actually enjoyed her first day of work. The orientation went quickly and easily, and Cydnie’s friendly demeanor put her completely at ease. A short time after she started, angelic duty called Cydnie away, but she didn’t mind.
“Gracious! There’s a lot of interesting information here.” A book called The Psychology of the Criminal Mind caught her attention. Wow, I think I’ll start with this one.”
The pages quickly turned, and the entire book was digested in two hours. The book returned to the desk, and she leaned back in the chair. “Huh. Here’s another one. Hmmm…‘The Power of Emotional Healing.’”
“Gracious, this is wonderful. I should have done something like this a while ago. Oh well, no time like the present, as they say.” The entire day continued like this: reading and learning. In the early afternoon, conviction hit her square between her eyes, and she made the call.
“Haywood.”:
“Chief Haywood. This is Perri Loliyekar. I need to have a meeting with you, Agent Hightower and Attorney Ordman. We need to discuss my crimes and what should be done about them. Can we meet tomorrow?”
After a brief silence on the other end of the line, Chief Haywood said, “Certainly. How about ten o’clock tomorrow morning?”
“That will be fine, ma’am. I’ll be there.”
The clock on the wall read 9:26 pm. “Oh dear. It’s late. I need to get home.” Her belongings returned to her purse, the computer screen went dark, and she headed for the subway. Streetlights and shadows covered the street as she walked. Apprehension clouded her thoughts as she walked through dark sections of street. Her recent encounter with rape left had left her less sure of herself.
* * *
Dark Death watched her leave the office of Mighty Warrior Security office to head for the Eastern Market subway station. This was the situation he had been waiting for. The train tracks would be the perfect place for her to die. “I think it’s time a certain traitor to all that is dark and evil met an untimely demise. Demons that defect to the Light will ruin us. Well, this blight on the name of all that is insidious to the detriment of human flesh, and against the Light, will soon be removed.”
He went down the escalator, and waited until she arrived, where he would make an end of her.
Minutes later, she waited by the train tracks. No one else waited for the trains; all other people had left. She kept her eyes on the approaching train.
For a brief instant, she felt that familiar sensation whose scent was unmistakable. Dark Death had paid her a visit, but she never got the chance to see him coming. Unnnngh! The breath flew out of her lungs, stretching her diaphragm so hard she stopped breathing. Her body sailed off the platform, heading downwards into the track bed. Time suspended for that brief moment, as the tracks loomed closer. Crack! She hit the track with such force that it broke both of her legs and one of her arms. She went immediately into shock, unable to move. Spasms from the pain shot through her body. The train bore down upon her. Her heart raced furiously in her chest, to the tune of over two hundred beats per minute. The elevated blood pressure made her head pound. Ringing in her ears and dizziness overcame her. Then, bam! A blood vessel exploded in her head from the elevated pressure. To her, it felt like a huge hammer had just collided with her head. The world around her went quickly dark.
Separating from her lifeless body, she saw Dark Death, standing on the platform, sneering at her with disdain in his eyes.
“You will learn that traitors are not tolerated,” he growled. “I hope you
