Chapter 01: The Snake and the Apple
Part One: The Snake Pit
The bathroom was as dark as the club. And the black lights used to illuminate the small dingy room didn't do much in helping her fix her make up, but it did do a fine job in hiding acts people were doing in the stalls and in the corners and in their hearts. And even in here she couldn't escape the boom boom boom of the music that seemed to seep through every part of her body and settle in her chest, where it thumped thumped thumped until her heartbeat was pumping in time with the music.
Miracle made her way to the mirror and wondered who she was. What she saw was everyone else around her, she seemed to have disappeared a long time ago. She knew she was somewhere underneath all of the black makeup, underneath all of the black clothes, underneath the black of this city. She wondered just how far the blackness had gone though, and when this was all over, if she could ever wash the blackness away. She was putting herself deep into all of it. Everyone had told her to be careful, but she was young and naive. She didn't know anything, but she knew what she was doing. And all she knew about herself now was what she had become.
She reached into her purse and took out a small, black capsule and placed it between her teeth, biting down and felling it snap in her mouth. The cool, warm liquid inside slid over her tongue and the rush of adrenaline kicked in immediately. Her heart began to outplay the music, and her breathing became shallow and sporadic. It seemed those little black pills were the only thing that kept her going of late. When she lifted her head she caught her reflection. The thin features of her face had become smooth and powdery white and her short, black hair hung loosely in front of her face. Full lips painted black as night. The heavy black makeup around her eyes had made the brilliant blue in them look almost snow white. She stood and looked at herself. She was wearing a tight, low-cut shirt that hugged her so snugly that her tits were trying to escape into a very ample cleavage. The long sleeves flared at the wrists nearly hiding her hands. The tight skirt she was wearing had been made of black rubber and went down to her calves, stretching nicely over her ass and legs, but made it extremely hard to walk. Her black, leather boots had soles that were a good five inches thick and laced up to just under her knees. She could almost look elfish if she wasn't so tall. "Perfect gothic goodness," she thought and turned from the mirror.
She went to push open the bathroom door and took a deep breath before returning to the swirling, booming of the club.
Part Two: The 56th
Bull rifled through Miracle's desk not really sure what he was looking for and not really sure what he would find. He was hoping to find something that would tell him where she was. She'd been missing for the past week and he was on the verge of losing his partner. She had told him that she was working on something big, but didn't want to say what. She had said that he wouldn't believe her if she did and left it at that. And he didn't push. She was a good cop and knew how to take care of herself, but he was worried all the same.
He shut the last draw of her desk and sat back in her chair. "Come on Miracle, where are you," he said to himself. Then he noticed something on her desk. It was a matchbook. He picked it up and opened it. There was nothing written on the inside so he closed it and looked at the cover. There was a snake on the it and an address printed along the bottom.
"Well, it's better then nothing," he thought, stuffing the matchbook in his pocket.
Part Three: Adam and Eve and the Garden
Miracle made her way through the noise and up to the bar, ordering a Bloody Mary. It was the only drink they had here. She took a look around the club while she waited, concentrating on a far corner booth. He was there, like he was every night. Long white hair that fell around his shoulders, black three piece suite with a silver white tie. She had been following him for over a week now. He wasn't the end of what she was looking for, just the beginning.
The bartender returned and handed her the drink. She took it and made her way through the club, finding a spot where she could keep an eye on Mr. Three Piece Suit. She took out the piece of celery from her drink and sucked on it. He just sat in the booth while people moved around him. His eyes facing forward but not really looking anywhere in particular. All she new about him was that his name was Barlow and he was part of what she was looking for.
What led her here was murder. The latest of which were two bodies found in an abandoned building on the west side. The bodies were mutilated beyond recognition, with a crudely drawn symbol scrawled on the wall over them. Three circles set in a triangle. Something she's seen over and over throughout her short year on the force, but she'll never forget the first time she saw it. It was a long time ago. Something that she never wanted to forget. She drifted for a second, thinking about it. It was never far off in her mind. Always close enough to remind her why she was doing what she was doing.
Then there was a brief lull in the music which brought her back to the here and now. Barlow was getting up and working his way through the club. She put down her drink and mirrored him, keeping a pack of people between them. The crowd seemed to part, making a path for him that headed to the side exit of the club. He waited there, pulled up the collar of his jacket and went through the door. She made it there just as the door shut and counted to ten, the music and crowd behind her. She flattened her hand against the door then pressed it open slowly, just cracking it. She peaked through the crack and saw Barlow walking down the alley, rain falling in thick, heavy sheets. She waited until he turned, working deeper into the alley and stepped out of the club, leaving the controlled chaos behind her. She followed, trying to make sure she was quiet, the rain helped her, even though it soaked her immediately. She looked over her shoulder as she made her way down, making sure no one had followed her out. No one had.
The alley was stark, not much in it. Cold brick walls on either side of her, street lights flickering somewhere above her, straining not to go out. She could still her the thumping of the music out here, muffled only slightly by the walls and the rain.
When she reached where Barlow had turned, she pressed herself up against the corner and took a quick look into the connecting alley. This one was a bit darker, a solitary light that hardly gave her a decent glimpse. Garbage cans were scattered throughout, and a fire escape was on the far wall, but no Barlow. She looked up at the fire escape. Nothing. Nothing but rain. Reluctant, she turned into the alley and worked her way down, taking long, slow steps. Halfway down she could make out that the alley was a dead end, which only heightened her anxiety. He had to be down here, but he wasn't. She made her way to the end, making sure it was empty and slowly turned. It wasn't the first time that he had just disappeared from her, but she had never been so close.
When she turned, he was in front of her. Just a black shadow. His hair waving slightly even though there was no wind. He slowly took his hands from his jacket pockets and brought them together in front of him, fingertips touching lightly and stepped out into the single streetlight. He was a tall man. His shoulders looked strong and broad. The features of his face were plain, but his eyes twinkled like two jewels, a sparkling green even in the dingy alley. He stepped forward very slowly, like a child trying to ease his way to a kitten right before they lunged out to grab it. Miracle stepped back with each of his steps, feeling the cold, wet wall behind her.
"You seem lost little one," he said in a steady voice. "Was there something you were looking for?"
