With Heart of Black

Headline: Pyromaniac Stops Crime

Daniel drove carefully down the long road. The darkness outside engulfed the world around him, all except the few feet ahead of the car that were freed by its bright lights. Daniel drove slowly now, unable to truly focus on driving. He was tired now, and the dark night outside was beginning to blur with the haze in the corners of his eyes. Creeping shadows, lacing through his sight, trying to swallow his vision and with it his control of the car. Daniel forced his eyes open hard, willing his eyes to pierce through the veil around him and find a place to stay. I can't go back to the Church, it's too close, he thought, not far enough away. Not in an underpass, not in my car, they'll find me all too easily. I must find somewhere soon, please Lord, I have not the will to... the strength I have now is...

Just as his mind was drifting off, and the car was slowly drifting out of the lane, a light shone brightly, appearing out of thin air. Then it was gone, the bright green light fading away. Then once more it showed again, painfully bright to Daniel's weary eyes. He could just make out the words before they disappeared this time: Motel. Drawn to the alluring promise of shelter, Daniel pulled the car into the gravel lot. Opening and closing his car door, Daniel fumbled with the lock button for the car as he drags himself into the dreary lobby. He is welcomed by the sweet scent of cherry blossoms as he pressed forward, greeted by a tall woman at the front desk.

"One room. Please." Daniel near whispered.

"And how long will you be staying, sir?" asked the woman, eyeing him intensely as she took out a large record book.

"I'm not sure. Maybe, maybe two nights." Daniel looked the woman in the eye for the first time now. Recognizing her face, he instantly froze.

"Very good, that will be twenty dollars, Daniel." The woman now relaxed, leaning forward on her elbows, waiting expectantly for Daniel to pay. Warped burn marks were painted up the bottom of her left arm and right wrist over her naturally tan skin. "You can pay it, can you not?" She asked, a deep patience in her fierce brown eyes.

"You know I always keep just enough, Eva." Daniel had regained some self composure as he reached into his wallet and produced a twenty dollar bill.

Eva delicately takes the bill between two fingers, and puts it into the register on her right. She then crouches behind the counter for a moment, then pops back up with a well worn key. "Room 33, on your left when you walk out."

Daniel grimaced. He hated that number and she knew it. Taking a deep breathe, he took the key from her and pocketed it in his coat. "Thank you."

Eva grabs Daniel's hand as he turns to leave, holding it firmly enough to make him stop. "So when can we talk, Danny?"

Daniel grabs her hand with his free one, gently removing it from his wrist. "In the morning, I promise. But right now I have to sleep before I pass out right here in your front door. Goodness knows what that would do for your business."

She smiles at the thought, giving Daniel enough time to slip away before she can say anymore.

Sighing, Daniel forces himself to stay awake all the way to the hotel room. The cool fall air helps, but he can already feel himself slipping away.

Slowly sliding the key into a dirtied brass lock, he turned the key, pressing the door cautiously open. The room was dark, but instead of turning on the light switch, Daniel flicked on his lighter. Quickly scanning the musty room, he made his way to the nearest dresser and started looking through it, tearing open every new draw with increasing frustration.

There's no Bible, where's the Bible? Daniel thought. 

He was mad at Eva, he was sure she was responsible for there being no Bible in the room. Daniel was even more upset that his own body was forcing his eye lids closer and closer together, sapping his strength and his outrage. Slumping down into a heap on the floor, Daniel cradled his lighter close, like a delicate young babe. In another moment, he was out cold, snoring softly.

There was a knocking in Daniel's head. It pounded three strong beats in his head. Rolling over, Daniel head his head. But that didn't stop the pounding, as once again came three calm knocks.

Realizing it was the door and not his head being played like a drum set, Daniel stood up, shaking himself awake.

"Just a moment." He called out hoarsely, reaching for the thin chain link holding the door in check. Turning the knob, the door carefully opened to reveal Eva standing outside, carrying a large trey of food and drink.

"Good afternoon" Eva crowed cheerfully, a true chin spread across her face. "You didn't call for any breakfast, so I assumed you must be near starved by now."

Daniel shifted uneasily. "Erhm, yeah, sorry, I guess I just slept through most of the day. Please, please, come in. Join me for-" Daniel turned to face the digital clock as Eva walked inside. It read a quarter past two. "-for lunch, I guess."

"Mhmm." Eva mumbled as she balanced the tray in one hand while pulling out an old wooden table. Black strands fell into her face as slowly placed the tray down and pulled up two chairs.

Daniel pulled out the chair for her just as she was about to sit down. She gave a small smile as he then joined her for the meal. Daniel delicately picked up the silverware and began eating, trying to restrain his ravenous hunger. Eva giggled as he finally gave up and started shoveling food into his mouth. Daniel apologized between bites.

"So," Eva said as Daniel wiped his mouth after the onslaught of food "how're... things?"

"They're going well. They're going well." Daniel looked her over. Her dark hair was parted to her left, showing off her light brown complexion. A thin string is hung around her neck, slipping under her shirt and concealing the pendant hanging on it.

Eva catches him staring, and tugs out the string, revealing a small gold band containing a small diamond in the center.

  "I still have it, Danny. Everyday I wake up to an empty bed, touch this ring, and remember you."

Daniel sits silently, still keeping steady eye contact.

"Why, Daniel? Why did you leave me and go on this crazy-"

"It's not crazy." Daniel cut her off, now getting up to clean up the tray of food. "Thank you for the food."

"Forget about the damn food, I'm your wife. Or even your ex-wife if they'd get that stupid paper work through faster. But I'm still yours, I still love you Daniel."

He starred at her, a coldness in his blue eyes. "As far as I'm concerned, the so called priest that married us was never holy enough to join us in His eyes. I have met someone who is, someone who's lost everything, even his wife, for the Lord. He is a true priest, one that trusted in the Lord's taking of his angel, and leaving him on earth to guide lost souls on the Path of Righteousness. The only separation I have had from you is a legal one, nothing more." Daniel grabbed her arm suddenly, flipping it over to reveal the deep burn marks.

Eva pulled her arm away, eyes watering as she yelled at him. "How dare you hold that man in such high regard! The one who's ruined our lives, our marriage, our whole future!" She sobbed and gasped intermittently now, turning away from Daniel.

"I tried to die with you." Daniel said quietly. "That is why you hold those burns. I tried so hard to make us die together and ascend as one, but you rejected my love, rejected the Lord, and ran from me." Daniel suddenly embraced her, tears welling in his eyes. "I just wanted to be with you forever, and to bring you peace, Eva, why. Why would you run from that?"

Eva, looked up at him, all life gone from her eyes, now only holding a deep pain. "Because this is not the Daniel Frillo that I married. I would've happily died with him, but not with you. Not the monster that burned me. Give me back my Daniel!" She dug her nails hard into the skin of his arms. "You give him back to me!"

Daniel grunted and slammed her into the wall. "You're not the angel I'm looking for" Daniel said calmly, in an almost silent whisper. "Not anymore. So stop trying to pretend that I'm still yours." He reached his hand up to her neck, and tore off her neck, pocketing the ring as he turned to leave.

Eva now knelled on the ground, cursing at him through her tears.

Daniel slammed the door shut as he exited the room, walking briskly to his car. Unlocking the door, he entered and immediately started the car. Maneuvering out of the lot dotted with other lodger's vehicles, Daniel didn't look back. Gripping the wheel hard, he didn't look back as his car gradually accelerated to the speed the signs ahead allowed. 

Feeling the wedding ring jingle in his pocket against his lighter, Daniel decided to stop in a small patch of forest after a few minutes of steady driving. Building a small bonfire out of sticks and brush, he crowned the top of the pile with her ring. Lighting the fire, he sat still, contemplating, as the ring was slowly confused by the holy flames.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save her again, Lord." Daniel said, staring into the flames. "It's too hard for me to harm her. I refuse to harm someone with no guarantee they will die swiftly. Please, find another way to bring her peace, because I cannot do such great and violent harms to her." He stands up, turning away from the fire as he pockets his lighter. Getting back in his car, Daniel drives back down the road; looking for his angel, and running from his wife.