Fallen Angel

Part 3

Mark cautiously approached him, kneeling down in front of him, asking curiously. "What do you remember"? Sean's eyes turned distant as he took the moment to think. When he looked back up into his eyes, he answered unsettled. "I remember arriving at the hotel". Mark tentatively reached out to calmly take ahold of Sean's wrists, before answering apprehensively. "Sean... That was six hours ago. We're all getting ready to go to the panel now". Sean lowered his eyes to the floor, mumbling to himself quietly. "Six hours ago...". Mark released one of Sean's wrists to slide a warm hand across Sean's chilled cheek. When Sean's eyes rose up again from the carpet to meet his, he asked him casually. "You don't remember anything"? Sean shook his head and then shrugged. 

Sean's eyes drifted away from his, replying shakily. "It's like recalling fragments from a dream. I was there...but I was just watching myself". Mark lowered his eyes to the ground feeling worried. This had never happened before. For months, Sean had been fine. Way was this happening now? More importantly, how could he help him fix it? Mark stroked his thumb over Sean's cheek, trying to comfort him despite his own fears. Giving Sean a small smile, he told him positively. "Maybe I should get you some more coffee? Sounds like you're sleep-walking". Sean smiled, scooting in closer to rest his head on his shoulder and hugged him. Mark ran his hand from Sean's cheek up into his hair, holding him close. He wanted to tell Sean about the pictures... but was now the time?

Sean was so spooked already. Mark was seriously debating about convincing Sean to cancel his solo panel, when he felt cool lips on his throat. Instantly, he was yanked from his thoughts, but he didn't move. Sean rarely kissed him and he wanted to enjoy it. Sean's kisses were always so light and innocent. Sean's hand slipped under the back of his shirt, his fingers tracing up along his spine. Mark closed his eyes, tilting his head to allow Sean to turn into him. Mark's hand fell from Sean's hair, hearing Bob's voice echo in his head about him being a bad influence on Sean. He didn't think he was... but Sean had never touched him like this before. Sean's nails suddenly scratched down his back and Mark jerked back from Sean. Mark opened his eyes to look Sean in the eyes. The gesture had startled him and it was so out of character for him.

The second their eyes met, Mark's heart stopped beating. Sean's eyes... They weren't blue. They were solid black. A familiar grin curled the corner of Sean's lips as Sean's voice pitched high asking him coyly. "Something wrong, Mark"? Sean started to giggle creepily and Mark scooted back from Sean. Although, he wasn't so sure it was Sean. Staring into those black eyes, Mark asked in a quivering voice. "Sean"? Sean raised a hand to shake his index finger, clicking his tongue disappointedly. Then Sean leapt at him, pinning him back against the floor. Mark struggled for only a moment, before Sean menacingly lowered himself over him to chuckle out. "Sean's not available right now. You'll have to call back later". Something about his voice brought back a flash of memory.

His muscles relaxing in pure shock, Mark whispered out to him in disbelief. "Anti..."? Anti's grin brightened, before he spat out. "You thought I was gone, didn't you? You wanted your little angel so bad that you just threw me aside! Well, I'm not going anywhere! This is all YOUR FAULT"! Anti suddenly sat back on Mark's waist, his head tilting to the side as Sean's voice rasped out in an almost inaudible whimper. "Help me...". Anti rolled his shoulders, jerking his head to the other side as he growled back to his other shoulder. "SHUT UP"! Mark propped himself back on his elbows, watching Anti shake his head and pull at his hair as he roared out. "GET OUT! You haven't chosen to end your life yet?! Isn't the pain you feel enough"?! Mark panted softly as he asked a little breathless. "You've been inside him this whole time? When? How"?

Anti's head jerked to his other shoulder and Sean's voice rushed out. "To make me whole-". Anti jerked his head back to his other shoulder screaming out. "DON'T TELL HIM THAT"! Anti's head jerked back and Sean pleaded out weakly. "Mark, help me...". Anti jerked his head back, clutching his own throat as he yelled out louder. "SHUT UP"! Mark stared at him, feeling speechless and helpless. How did this happen? He just didn't understand. Anti calmed down, lowering his hands from his throat to stare back down at Mark, growling out bitterly. "He's gone forever... but your old friend, Anti, is here. Say goodbye"! Anti raised a hand and Mark watched Anti's fingers turn black and grow out long sharp black talons. Mark flinched waiting for Anti to strike... but instead he heard Anti snarl in frustration.

Mark took a quick peek to see Anti staring at his raised hand with clenched teeth. Anti's hand shook in the air, but wasn't slashing down at him. Through clenched teeth, Anti growled out menacingly. "STOP RESISTING"! Anti's solid black eyes flashed an emerald green and he groaned out furiously. Mark could only watch Anti struggle against an internal enemy. He didn't know what he could possible do to help. So, he just watched until Anti's hand turned back to normal. Anti dropped his hand limply back to the floor panting heavily, his black eyes fading back to normal. Mark couldn't tell if Sean was back, or if Anti was just weakened. Sean's blue eyes rolled back, before he fell back across the floor unconscious. Mark quickly sat up to touch Sean's throat with his fingers.

There was a strong heart beat. He hated to say it... but they were BOTH ok. Mark pulled his legs out from under Sean's body, shifting onto his knees as Bob opened the door. Bob's eyes widened at the sight of them, asking apprehensively. "Mark? What's with all the yelling"? Mark swallowed nervously, whipping the sweat off his forehead with his arm as he answered breathlessly. "Bob... We have a problem... A BIG one". Bob stepped in, closing the door and asking seriously. "What happened"? Mark sat up a little, resting his arm on his raised knee, answering a little shaken up. "Remember when I told you about Anti? How he attacked at my mother's house"? Bob nodded, placing his hands in his jean pockets, adding in bluntly. "Ya. You traded your soul to him to help rescue Sean from the church. What about him? You said you haven't seen him in months".

Mark pointed to Sean's unconscious body, answering just as bluntly. "Ya, well... He's in there with Sean". Bob removed his hands from his pockets, uttering out perplexed. "Oh shit". Mark nodded solemnly. Bob moved closer to Sean's body, asking Mark curiously. "So, what do we do? His solo panel will be starting soon. Are we just going to wake him up and see who answers"? Mark shrugged, panting out nervously. "I don't know. All I know is that Anti is not happy with me". Bob glanced at Mark, asking curiously. "Did he say anything? How did this happened"? Mark shook his head, then recalled something and stopped to say casually. "Actually, Sean said something about 'making him whole'. I didn't really get it... Anti seemed hell-bent to keep it a secret".

Bob moved to sit down on the couch looking lost in thought. Mark forced himself to stand up, telling no one in particular. "We got to move him off the floor, before anyone else comes in. We should let him rest, until we can think of something to do". Bob leaned forward on his knees, telling Mark simply. "Well, what can we do? Separate them? You think an exorcism will work? You know any priests that can get here quickly to preform it without drawing any attention"? Mark rolled his eyes, dryly muttering out. "We are not doing that again". Mark carefully scooped Sean up into his arms, adding out grimly. "The last thing I want to do is go running to the church after what they did". Bob shrugged, telling him lightly. "I understand, but what other opinions do we have? You think Anti will just tell us how to fix this"?

Mark carefully laid Sean out on the other couch, before turning to face Bob with a worried expression. His voice becoming seriously concerned, when he answered Bob. "That's what worries me. Sean told me before that Anti wanted his power for his own. With them merged like this... Does that mean that he finally has what he wants"? Bob turned wide eyes on Sean's body, mumbling out. "That's a scary thought. How do you stop a Dark Angel of Death"? Mark and Bob both jumped, when Wade burst into the door, casually chiming out. "Alright, Sean! I got us coffee and some snacks! We should eat them before Mark and Bob...". Wade's eyes drifted from Mark's to Bob's, before he grinned and stated in surprise. "Oh. Hey, guys. Fancy meeting you here". To Be Continued...