The Angel's Dance

The Angel lay, his eye's half open, staring at the ceiling of the room.  The shadow of the rain moving down the window held him transfixed, mesmerized as it were by the chaotic patterns there.  He rolled over, uncomfortable lying in that position.  From the room next door he heard the sounds of an argument.  Closing his eyes he tried to block them out, though unsuccessful in the effort.  The noises rose in volume, as he sat up and pulled on his a pair of black pants and a long sleeved black shirt.  He quickly put on his boots and his duster and walked into the hall.  After closing and locking his door, he walked slowly to his neighbor's door and opened it quietly.  He entered quickly and looked around.  Bits of glass from a shattered bottle lay on the kitchen floor, perhaps from a fight or an accident.  The sounds from the room in the back brought him back; he avoided the glass and made his way toward the bedroom.  Listening quietly he heard a woman crying and the unmistakable sound of someone being hit.  He nodded to himself and kicked in the door.  The man stood over the crying woman, holding a baseball bat.1

"The next time I tell you to do something, you're going--” He stopped in mid sentence as the bat was ripped away from him.  He turned and looked at the Angel.  "This isn't any of your business Shar.  Get out."  The Angel raised a brow and shook his head.  2

"No...  This has gone on long enough.  You're not going to hurt her anymore.  You get out.  Before something bad happens."  The man laughed and shook his head.3

"The only thing bad that's going to happen is that you're going to be taught a lesson.  And I think I'm going to be the teacher."  He lunged forward.  Shar sidestepped and the man hit the wall.  "Stop being a pussy and fight like a man!"  The man yelled, lunging at Shar again.  Once again Shar stepped out of the way.  The man cursed at him and grabbed a pipe from next to the bed.  The Angel stood quietly, watching the man's movements.  He tossed the bat away, never taking his eyes off of the pipe.  With a yell, the man charged, the pipe raised above his head, ready to split Shar's skull.  Shar smiled and sidestepped, grabbing the pipe as he swung it.  Getting a hold onto the back of his shirt, he forced the man to continue his original route, right out of the window.  The glass shattered and dropped like diamonds as the man fell the three stories and landed head first on the pavement, his blood spreading about him as the rain beat down.  Shar shook his head and walked over to where the woman sat crying.  She shrank away from his touch as he pulled her up.  4

"Look at me." Said Shar, holding her chin in his hand.  She looked at him, a sad look in her eyes.  "He's not going to hurt you anymore.  You're free now.  You should get packing.  The police will be here soon."  With that he turned and started to walk out.5

"Wait!"  The woman said, rushing after him.  "Thank you."  He nodded and went back to his room.  Grabbing a duffle bag he looked around for anything else that belonged to him, and, finding nothing, walked to the elevator and took it to the lobby.  The person behind the counter looked up briefly as Shar went out the doors.  6

The rain beat down, wave after wave, as the Angel passed through it, oblivious to the water.  Shar made his way at a casual pace, toward the center of town, stopping occasionally to stare at a tree or strange phenomenon caused by the weather.  The dusky light quickly failed, the street lamps taking the place of the obscured sun.  The Angel stopped beneath one and watched the rain fall past it.  Beautiful...  He thought to himself.  Shar tore himself away after a moment and continued on.  Upon reaching the town square he looked around, searching for a place to go.  He spotted a small bar and went in, shaking his dripping hair out of his eyes as he entered.  A few customers looked up from their card games or conversations long enough to judge him then went back to their activities.  He nodded to a few greetings in passing as he made his way toward the back of the bar.  After taking off his black duster he took his seat and pulled out a pack of Black Death cigarettes.  Staring at the motto he smiled slightly.  'I like 'em and I'm gonna smoke 'em.'  the pack read in silver letters.  "Damn right."  He said to himself as he pulled one out and lit it.  Shar watched as the blue-gray smoke curled from the tip and into a range of patterns.  He looked up as a waitress walked over.  7

"Would you like anything, Sir?"  She asked, smiling at the wet customer before her.  "A drink perhaps?"  He thought for a moment and nodded.8

"Chartreuse please, green.  Water if you don't have it in stock."  The waitress wrote down his order.  9

"We just had a shipment today.  I've not tasted it yet but I hear that it's pretty good.  Anything else?"  Asked the waitress.  Shar shook his head.  "I'll have your drink in a second."  He nodded and took a drag off of the cigarette.  The familiar burn of the cigarette calmed him down.  He alway had had problems with places where people gathered.  'Anti-social I suppose...'  Shar thought.  Minutes later the waitress came back carrying a bottle of green liquid and a small glass cup.  He smiled back as she set the bottle and glass down on the table.  "Enjoy."  She said, picking up the tray.  "I'll be back in a small while to check up and see if you need anything else."  He nodded and un-capped the bottle.  Pouring three fingers he capped the bottle and toasted the air before taking a sip.  10

"This is pretty good." said Shar, taking another sip of it.  "I think I can taste the hundred thirty or so herbs they put into this."  He laughed to himself.  From somewhere across the room someone yelled an obscenity as they lost a hand of Blackjack.  Shar turned and pulled a sealed manila envelope from the bag and opened it carefully.  Inside a few sheets of paper lay, along with four photographs.  Sighing, he pulled them out and leafed through the paperwork, memorizing the information on each before looking at the corresponding photo and placing them back into the envelope.  He quickly put it away, noticing the waitress on her way back to the table. 11

"Yes?"  He asked.  In her hands, she held a nondescript package, wrapped in brown paper.  12

"A package came for you.  I'm also supposed to be paid.  At least, that's what the person said.  I couldn't tell if they were a man or a woman.  Anyway, this is for you."  She said, putting the package on the table.  Shar reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wad of cash.  He flipped through the bills, but, finding none smaller than hundreds, pulled off four and handed them to her.  13

"That should cover the drink as well as the payment."  Shar stood up and slipped on his coat.  He looked at the remainder of his drink and after a second thought downed it in a single gulp before picking up his bag and the package.  "Thank you."  The Angel said to the waitress as he left the building and looked around.  The rain still poured down heavily.  He shrugged and walked across the street to the bank.  Inside he asked to see lockbox number two-oh-eight.  The clerk asked him for the key.  From the necklace around his neck he pulled a small but complicated looking key.  Nodding, the clerk asked him to wait.  Moments later a security guard came to escort him to the private viewing booth.  "Thank you."  He said to the retreating guard.  His reply was a bored grunt.  Shrugging he closed the door and locked it before sitting at the small desk provided.  He pulled the paper cover package before him and stared at it intently for a moment before pulling a knife from his pocket and cutting the cords on it.  Setting the knife aside, he pulled the top layer of paper off and glimpsed something glossy and black.  Smiling slightly he tore off the rest and picked up the object.  With the last bit of cording and paper, a black leather duster unrolled.  He pulled his old one off and slipped on the gift, staring at himself in the mirror on the wall.  Noticing a glint of metal he looked inside at the lining.    14

Leather strapping, connected here and there with buckles and clips, held row after row of throwing knives, each one no longer than four inches.  He continued his search and found four more weapons; a thin but extremely strong and sharp wire, hidden in a pocket at the end of his right sleeve, just inside the cuff, twin .357 Desert Eagles, matte black with chrome etching, and last, on the shoulders of the coat, a very thin and sharp blade rested, set so perfectly that they were invisible to an untrained eye.  He looked at the remains of his gift and noticed a small black bag.  From it, he pulled a key and a short letter.  15

'Shar, I hope you enjoy your latest toys.  I made the coat to your specifications as well as the guns.  You'll find that the key goes to a lock at the address below.  Redemption may be beyond your grasp, but that doesn't mean you can't take down as many fuckers as you can on your way.  Luck in the night, Purgatory.'  16

He nodded a saddened look on his face.  Putting the paper in his pocket with the key, he opened the lock box and removed the top of a hidden compartment.  From within he withdrew a pair of throwing spikes, two more guns, a passport, four pistol clips, and his last pack of Black Death cigarettes.  '...I need to get more...'  He thought as he put the trash and his old coat, after he'd cleaned it out, in the waste basket on the floor and closed the lock box before pushing the button next to the door to signal that he was ready to leave.  Seconds later another guard came and escorted him to the front door.  He thanked the man and left for the address his friend had given him.  The rain had still not stopped as he looked for 1240 East Mathias St. Apt. 450.  From behind him sirens sounded in the distance.  He shook his head and continued on, his own thought keeping him company.  Thirty minutes later, he arrived at a large apartment building.  Mentally he compared the addresses and walked in, positive that this was the place.  He looked around for a desk clerk, but finding none, went up the stairs.  He looked around as he slipped the key into the lock and pushed in the door from the side.  An arrow shot from inside and lodged itself in the wall, opposite the door.   He smiled.  Anyone who might have been standing there would have been hurt pretty badly.  He pulled the arrow from the wall and went inside, closing the door behind him carefully.  Moments later he opened the door again, his old bag replaced with a larger black duffle bag over his shoulder.  He checked the time in the lobby as he exited and headed back to town.  He still had an hour or so before began about serious business.17

The rain had turned into a heavy mist as Shar waited in the shadows of the bridge across from the club.  His duffel bag at his side.  A red aura stained the air around the building, caused by the numerous neon lights.  Shar dropped a spent cigarette into the puddle at his feet and checked his guns.  Nodding to himself, he hid his bag and started across the street toward the doors of The Red Eden.18

Known throughout the city as the hub of the child porn industry, Shar found ample amounts of business from here.   ‘A shame I can’t just blow it to hell...’ He thought wistfully to himself.  Though he wished in vain to brutally murder every single one of the baby fuckers, he had to keep his mind on the job.  The greater evil as it were.  Four of the club’s best customers were the Black Angel’s prey now.  “And how they will pay.”  He whispered silently to the old gods of ancient times.  19

Cecil Osgood, Chad Moss, Tommy Bakerson, and Marvin Lee, were the leading promoters and producers of the child snuff business.  Each one of them worse than the last, each one of them dead.  They just didn’t know it yet.  That was all about to change.  Shar entered the large double doors and walked into a small waiting room painted red with snakes and trees as a mural.  On the door, a nude woman with an apple.  Shar sighed and an annoyed look crept across his face.  “I wish I’d never given that bitch the apple...” 20

He could hear the music through the wall as he waited for the door to buzz open.21

Minutes later a green light came on above the door and it opened swiftly, revealing a dimly lit club, lights flashing here and there and a group of dancers on the floor.  A strong techno beat thudded into his ears.  The Black Angel stepped into the club and looked around a bit more, ignoring the large security guard demanding to see his member’s card.  Shar started to walk off when the guard’s large hand slammed onto his shoulder.  Mistake number one.  The blade on Shar’s shoulder cut cleanly into the guard’s palm, a poison of sorts seeping into the man’s bloodstream.  The guard blinked in confusion and fell to the floor.  The last thing he saw was Shar’s boots as the disappeared among the crowd.  22

Shar’s eyes gleamed as they swept the room searching for his targets.  Marvin sat at the second floor bar, speaking with a fellow freak.  He continued to look around and found Chad and Tommy sitting together at a table on the same floor.  Shrugging, he went to the second floor and looked out over the bottom floor.  An enormous aquarium without a top stood in the center of the room, water cascading over the edges into the pool below.  Suspended above it, a dancers platform, hung from a single chain that separated into four which connected to the corners of it.  Inside the tank, an electric eel swam irritable around in circles.23

Sighing, The Black Angel went to work.  Walking up behind Chad and Tommy, he pulled out a stun gun and applied it to Chad’s neck.  Tommy quickly followed suit.  He positioned the two as if they’d passed out and went after the other two.  Marvin still sat speaking with the man.  Shar walked up and tapped Marvin on the shoulder.  “A word with you please.  Business.”  Marvin smiled and told the man he’d speak with him the next day.  The Black Angel had doubts about that.  When he had Marvin alone, he put the stun gun to him as well and pulled him to the table as if he too were passed out.  That finished, he quietly went after the last.24

Cecil stood at the urinal, his thoughts on his up coming business deal.  He suddenly noticed the shadow fall across him and turned and fell as the stun gun was introduced to his throat.  Shar carried him out and to the table with the rest.  Pulling out a pistol, he pointed it at the air and fired off three shots, catching the shells as the fell and pocketing them.  The building soon was empty save for a few cowering in the darker corners.  Shar returned the gun to his holster and picked Cecil up again and walked the small bridge out to the platform.  Cecil’s eye fluttered open after a few seconds as Shar held the smelling salts under his nose.  25

“Ah, I see you’re awake.  Good.”  The freak’s eye focused on Shar and became large and fearful.  He tried to speak but found his voice missing.  “Not to worry,” Shar continued. “They say that actions are louder than words.”  With that, he slung Cecil out over the edge and caught him by the arm as he fell.  “Give hell my best.”  He said, swinging Cecil under the platform and into the aquarium.  He rolled over and squeezed off a shot at the chain, snapping it.  Water shot several feet out as the platform landed atop the aquarium.  The several hundred pound slab sealing it.  Cecil swam frantically around, searching for a source of air.  The eel came from behind suddenly and a surge went through the water.  Air surged from Cecil’s mouth as he tried to scream.  Unable to hold it back any longer, saltwater flooded his lungs, each nerve burning with pain.26

Shar watched without emotion as blood began to drift from Cecil’s mouth and nose.  He stood up and leapt onto the floor and with one last glance at the body; he went back to his targets.  Grabbing Marvin, he dragged him to pool table.  With a quick jerk of his arm, Marvin landed on the table, still dazed and weakened by the stun gun.  27

“Marvin, do you know what I do to people who do evil things?” Shar asked as he pulled a throwing knife from inside of his duster.  Marvin shook his head, tears coming to his eyes.28

“You know very well what I do.  It’s the same thing you did to all those children Marvin.”  Marvin’s hand went for his pistol and was suddenly pinned to the table by the knife.  The blood stained the green felt black.  Marvin screamed and tried with his other hand.  That too was pinned to the table.  29

“Now Marvin, you should know that struggling doesn’t get you anywhere.  I’ll be fair for you.  I’ll give you the same chance you gave those children.”  The Black Angel grinned.  Marvin began to scream suddenly.  “Which is to say, not a damn one.”  30

With that, he pulled out a bottle of lye.  Shar cut open Marvin’s shirt and poured the bottle onto the man’s stomach.  Nonchalantly, he sat down on the man’s thrashing legs as the corrosive powder ate into his skin.  His screams began to get more and more frantic as he thrashed and foamed at the mouth, his eye rolled back in his head.  Shar glanced at the two still left and noticed them coming around.  With quick aim, he shot them both in the leg and placed the gun back in its holster.  He waited for a few more minutes before getting off of Marvin’s legs.  Shar looked at the hold where the lye had eaten through his stomach.  The acid had completed what he had started, burning its way through his skin until it had reached his spinal cord where such pain as could not be imagined had been experienced, but sadly enough, Shar thought, Marvin had bitten off his tongue and drowned in his own blood.31

The Black Angel walked over to the last two and sat down across from them.  He lit a cigarette and listened to them curse him and promise death to his family.  Nodding, Shar simply ignored them after a time while he enjoyed his smoke.  A couple of minutes later he stood up and stretched.  32

“Well, back to work.”  He said to the two of them as he grabbed Chad by the neck and pulled him roughly down the stairs to the elevator.  With one arm, he pried open the door and kicked Chad’s head into it, letting the door lock his head in place.33

“You should have thought of the consequences Chad.” Said Shar.  “Since you’ve got to go, let me call the elevator for you.”  Chad began to scream as Shar made his way back to Tommy.  The screaming stopped as the chime on the elevator rang its arrival and Chad’s departure.34

“Well Tom, looks as if you’re the only one left.  Have anything of interest to say before you die?”  He smiled slightly.35

“Fuck you!” Tommy replied. “You won’t get anywhere with this!  We’ll find you and kill you! You can’t hide!”  36

Shar smiled again and tilted his head a bit.  “Ah, but I already have.  Remember this while you can; what pain you gave those children, you now will feel.”  Shar grabbed him and carried him over to the bar.  With a quick toss, Tommy landed on the other side.  The Black Angel pulled out his guns and climbed over to the other side as well.  Tommy trembled at the sight of the guns.  Shar placed the barrel of one of his pistols along the line of whiskey bottles and such.  A single shot and a rain of alcohol and glass hit the floor and Tommy.  Twice he did this before pointing the guns at Tommy.  37

“Enjoy being the star of your own snuff film, it won’t last long.” He moved the gun a fraction of an inch and squeezed off a round.  The phosphorous ignited and the alcohol caught.  It began to creep closer to Tommy.  He tried to crawl to safety but his hands slipped on the floor and glass sliced into his arm, severing a major vein. Shar continued to watch as he sipped a small glass of Chartreuse.38

“Five dollars says he bleeds to death first.” A voice said from behind him.39

Shar sat down on the counter and took another sip of his drink. 40

“Don’t you have anything better to do than bother me while I’m at work Neil?”  He asked his weapons supplier.  41

Neil shrugged and looked at Tommy’s flaming body.  “Agreed.  Besides, this gives me an idea for a book.  I’ll tell the home team to set up the payment.”  Without a sound Neil disappeared.42

Tommy’s skin melted off, leaving his naked unprotected nerves to be bathed in the flames and glass.  Finally, he shuttered and died.  Nodding to himself again, Shar yawned and walked out of the building.  Sirens got closer as he disappeared down an alleyway and into the night.  The rain started up again as the police and swat arrived, fashionably late.  On the bar under the glass of Chartreuse, sat a black feather.  It moved gently in the non-existent breeze.43