Fan Fiction: Crossovers
Justice Falls
Chapter 5:
It Has Begun
The weather reflected the mood of all, at the police scene in front of the warehouse, including the ones who weren't seen or noticed, but where paying close attention to what Captain Robert Welsh was telling Joanna and Linda what the situation was. Let's just say that it had gone from bad to the absolute worst situation imaginable… It appeared that it was only going to get worse. Despite the best efforts of the NYPDs' negotiators, the kidnappers were planning to go down in a blaze of glory, goddamn Americans. We rather go down in a horrible bloody gore then ever surrender, go figure… James wasn't impressed or surprised; all criminals would rather face Lucifer then Mans' Justice, he snorted disgusted as he turned towards Jwin.
Who appeared to be still listening, but what was it to listing to? Three hostages and kidnappers, what else was there to know? The exact the number of kidnappers, would've been nice, but it appears they had only guessed three to seven kidnappers. At this, Jwin seems to snort with disgust, only to move off towards the warehouse with James in tow. How she planned to get in without being seen by either NYPD or the kidnappers was beyond him. But, it appears she would rather act then plan, and that this moment James was happier to be doing the same. At one point she haltered, peering at the dark warehouse, pondering the best way to get in. But, it appeared she already had an idea as she leaped onto a metal fire escape, not making a sound as she leaned down and offered a hand.
James looked at the distance, realizing that she had leapt
a good fifteen feet without any trouble whatsoever… There was no possible
way, then again there were many things that James would've deemed impossible,
but not any longer. Sighing to himself, James leaped only to find himself
flying towards Jwin's offered hand, which he reached out to grab hold…
despite that fact that she was a small woman, she hauled him up with no
problem. From there she began to climb the ladder with James in tow once
more. It's as if she didn't trust him, perhaps she had a right not to
trust him for compared to her… he was an amateur. Only on the roof had
she waited as a siren of death itself, with an expression of one plastered
on normally expressionless face.
He was questioning my authority, and questioning himself… not a good thing. So it was time to end this little game, if that's what it was. Time to reveal all to Him, I sighed, knowing that I was either going die or scare the hell out of someone… most likely both. At this I bore a grim of death upon my face as He joined me upon the roof. I noticed his presence; I acknowledge it only to wait for Him to take the lead.
James saw death within her clouded eyes; she didn't expect to live through this night. But, somehow James knew that part of that look was a lie, which part he was uncertain of… However she was waiting, waiting for him to lead her into modern day hell. James had never been much of leader, but this night had changed all that. With a solemn grim nod, he with drew his 45s and head towards a broken skylight with her in tow, still bearing no weapons. He began to ponder if she even any weapons, what so ever, but Jwin as far as he could conclude was indeed a lost ancient soul seeking redemption and Justice. For what reasons or purpose, she only knew, perhaps shall only know. But, it bother him that she didn't plan to see another dawn… Why?
At the skylight, he paused not wishing to lose the only agent, no, ally who had answers to questions he hadn't even began to ponder. He looked at her; as she reassured him with a toothy grin revealing wolven canines, as he simply shook his head not knowing what to make of that grin. Although a few choice words crossed his mind as he slipped through the shattered glass of the skylight and straight into Hell, itself. And Hell it was…
I was in agreement on that last part, this was Hell, even thought it was lesser version of it… As James moved along the catwalk like a shadowy wraith, I peered at the darken abyss below. Seven kidnappers with three hostages; viruses to a newly arisen defender of Justice and an old pro. No, this wasn't going to liven things up a bit… more fun for me, with a great price to be paid in the end. I sighed knowing what had, no, must be done. But it was for his sake not mine, and so I followed him into a hellish nightmare. With preparations already made, for my own death. I breathe deeply stilling my own uneasiness as I noticed that he was waiting for me.
She was ready to face a destiny, no a fate that he wished she didn't have to face. But, there were some choices in life that weren't of our choosing; this seemed to be one of them. It still unnerved him that she had chosen what she had, although she most likely had her reasons. Seeing that she notice that he was waiting for her, she smiled another toothy grin only to wink a final farewell then leaped into the empty air of the blacken warehouse. James was halfway tempted to catch or even go after her, but something held him back. And he could place it exactly what it was…Guns firing rapidly into Jwin's falling form and kept right on firing till nothing was left of her, other then a blood splattered bullet ridden body upon the concrete floor.
That snapped any morals that James still desperly clung too, no longer was he James StCloud, he had become the shadowy man that haunted his inter most being. He was The Shadow, thus he roared with raged and began laughing as he also leapt from the catwalk firing his 45s into the kidnappers standing over his fallen guardian. Thus he brought chaos to hell…
The cops standing the rain outside froze in panic, realizing that guns had been fired, and were answered by a mocking hollow laugh and more guns. The sounds of the laughter and the barking .45s caused everyone, including Joanna and Linda, to panic. Forces had suddenly shifted in balance, but into whose was anyone's guess. No one questioned what had to be done as Kevlar jackets, guns and flashlights began to exchange hands. They planned to rush headlong into a conflict that they wished could've been avoided.
All perished, expect for the hostages and one lonely grunt, which He held at gunpoint. Justice had been serviced in his own bloody way, he felt more whole despite losing a someone who had only know for a few hours to an act of violence. His grip or aim did not falter as he stared into the man's very soul.
Send word, his uncaring tone echoed out everywhere and nowhere, that crimes shall no longer go unpunished or unseen, for I will be there, no matter where you hide.
"Who are you," the man managed even at gunpoint. At this the laughter filled the night's air, like an evil omen.
Remember, as the laugh faded, remember Kel Marsh, who spared you but once this night so that you can deliver my only message to those who hide within the night. The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow Knows… At this Kel gray eyes widen in sheer terror was this black clad figure seem to melt into the shadows, at the same time he heard the cops bust open the warehouse's front door. Wasting no time, Kel was up and out the back door into the drizzle of the fading storm, with only one thing compelling him to flee. Those icy orbs that knew no bounds and had no mirth about them. Kel swore up and down, after he delivered what The Shadow had sought him to, that he would never go back…
The NYPD was horrified and bewildered at the scene that they
had found within the warehouse. Seven dead bodies, six slaughtered with
a single or dual shots, while the other one was riddle with bullets from
its own comrades. Or at least how it first looked as they began outlining
bodies with chalk and escorting the hostages out unharmed. Robert scratched
his thinning hair, uncertain what to make of the whole scene, as Joanna
and Linda were shocked at the sight of Jwin's bullet ridden body. What had
happen, they were uncertain, but it was another unnecessary upon already
enormous pile. Was it, the death of his own guardian angel that had caused
The Shadow to go off the deep end? Only time would tell… Sickened, Joanna
covered Jwin's body with a dirty cloth she had found lying about, then proceeded
to walk outside with Linda comforting her.
As the marking of shells and the covering of bodies continued into the early hours of the new day, no one noticed that some of the splattered blood from bullet-ridden body began to reverse flow. Slow, but surely it was returning to its lifeless owner. With a few minutes, after all the officers had left; bullets clattered noisily to the floor. Only then did a left hand with a blazing Jade band reached up and pulled the draped cloth off. There among all the dead arose one, who had come, saw and left. Leaving only a single visible trace of its having been. A chalk outline, a draped cloth and a feather, all of no significance to anyone… Till the next day when James arrived decked out as himself, trying to keep his new nature in check.
He inspected the whole scene seeing nothing had been tampered
with, expect the her body was missing, while the others were being hauled
off to the morgue. Curious to know what happened, James moved closer to
the place where Jwin bullet-ridden body lay, only to find no body or blood
was left. Only a chalk outline, a once draped cloth and a feather. Seeing
the feather, he knelt down and picked up only to reveal something wrapped
in Tibetan silk. Something, his darken half knew all too well. The Phubra
was lifeless, but was already acknowledging its loss and expecting him as
its master. Without much thought or will, the living dragger snapped into
his waiting hand. Knowing that she wasn't able to return, James calmly placed
the dragger within the folds of his lab coat. Thanking that he had the chance
to met her, whatever she may be.
"She's a Vampyr," came a voice, that James knew as Ode's. He turned to greet one of his more unquiet agents.
"A what?" Though he wasn't in the guise of The Shadow, there was still power behind his voice.
"A Vampyr," sighed Ode, "a half-blood from a cursed union between a vampire and a saint."
"So," James nodded to himself, "that what she is and why she seeks redemption."
"Hardly." Commented Ode. "Why she seeks redemption or her own
bloody Justice, only she knows."
"Aren't they the same things?"
"Some days, master, they are... Others they are not..."
"So will I ever see her again." At this, Ode just shrugged, uncertain how to answer his question.
"Only time can tell. But, in my long life and in Hank's... she has an tenacity to arrive when she is most needed and sometimes when she isn't."
"Just one more question," as both of them made for main door, James's shadow cast his true form, "why?"
"Ask her..." was Ode's reply.
The End
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