Christian gazed out across the tombstones as he rode his bike up to the graveyard Tanya had told him about. As he shut the bike off, he made sure to look around and make sure the site wasn't being monitored. There were a few people scattered here and there, but no more than eight in total.
Sighing to himself, he stepped off the bike. Pulling a sheet of paper from his pocket, he tried to decipher where Craig's grave was.
When he finally thought he knew where he was going he returned the paper to his pocket and began on his way. Having come out of his training for another break, he looked a lot like he did last time he'd emerged - dressed completely in black, boots, trenchcoat... The main differences now that his hair was still blonde and he was lacking the spider pendant.
And the brown speck in his left eye had suddenly taken over about a third of his iris.
He eventually found the grave. It was rather plain looking compared to what he'd expected. He made a mental note to make some adjustments later.
He read the tombstone carefully, quite a bit of it being news to him. There was no mention of him on it of course.
With a sigh, he knelt in front of it and just stared in silence.
Anita
Anita drifted towards her brother's grave, frowning a little, seeing someone else standing there. Who else would mourn for Craig?
She opted to ignore... whoever it was, and go about her business as always. She put down the flowers she had brought onto the grave.
Christian
Christian moved only his eyes as he heard someone put something on the grave.
Seeing what it was and that it was a woman, he looked up curiously.
"Who are you?" he demanded in the nicest way possible for his situation.
Anita
Anita's eyes flickered towards him.
"My name's Anita. And who are you? And what are you doing at my brother's grave?"
Christian
Christian's eyebrows rose.
"You're Craig's sister?"
He looked back at the grave, then gulped slightly.
"I'm his adoptive son."
Anita
Anita took a long look at Christian.
"Adoptive son," she said slowly. "He never mentioned you."
Christian
"Yeah well he never mentioned you either," Christian rolled his eyes.
He stood from his crouching position and folded his arms across his chest, debating with himself how long he should stay for.
Anita
"Well," Anita said slowly, "looks like we're both at a disadvantage."
She was quiet for a moment.
"Did you want to come over to my place for dinner? We could exchange stories about Craig. Or, if that's too sensitive, just get to know each other?"
Christian
Christian hesitated with a frown, before looking up at her as if to see if she was serious or not.
Finallty, he couldn't take it.
"You're serious?" he sounded surprised.
Anita
"Why wouldn't I be?" Anita asked. "I never got to see as much of Craig as I would have liked - for obvious reasons, no doubt. He meant a lot to me - although I generally tried to keep that piece of information away from the rest of the family..."
Christian
If it was possible to look more surprised, Christian did.
"Oh, ok. As far as I knew everyone was against him," he shrugged to himself, looking back down on the grave.
"You never contacted him or anything."
Anita
"That's because he never gave me any contact details," Anita replied. "But he kept in touch with me. I never told anyone - they would have made me bring him in - assuming I could have even arranged a meeting. But, this is not a discussion for out in the open."
Christian
"No, it isn't is it?" Christian looked around suddenly.
"I was just kind of glad to finally get out here. I hadn't seen it yet and he's been gone since February."
He sighed, then shook his head.
Anita
Anita nodded slowly.
"I'm parked just over there, if you'd like to come," she said. "Otherwise I'm sure you'll be able to find me if you change your mind."
She knelt down, touched her brother's tombstone, stood up, gave Christian a nod, and started walking away.
Christian
Christian nodded to himself slightly.
"I have a bike. I can follow you," he insisted, beginning to follow her to the gate.
He glanced back one last time as he went to retrieve the bike.
Anita
"Very well," Anita replied.
She got into her car, waited until she could see Christian in the mirror, and then drove off to her house. It was a very quaint little house.
She pulled up in the driveway and went to the front door.
Christian
Christian kept an eye out for anyone that might be following them the whole journey to her house.
He pulled up beside her car and stood the bike up, before following her up to the door.
Nice place.
Anita
Anita stepped inside and held the door open for Christian.
"Tea? Coffee?" she offered.
Christian
"Coffee. Thanks. Black, no sugar."
He looked around the inside of the house, taking note of some family photos on the mantle.
Anita
Anita went to the kitchen and started preparing their respective drinks.
"I have some cookies in a jar over there, if you'd like one," she said whilst waiting for the water to boil.
Christian
Christian glanced over at her, but didn't reply.
He continued his round of the living area, taking in the setting.
"So... what's your story?" he asked finally, picking up a small glass ornament to look over.
"There's not many people Craig knows who'd invite a stranger into their home."
Anita
Anita smiled.
"Probably. But I can take care of myself. I was the baby of the family, and Craig was the next youngest. I think he probably resented me as a child - just usual kid thing where you're scared that your parents aren't going to pay you as much attention or love you as much any more when a new baby is born," she paused a moment. "Maybe that is where it all started... but that's neither here, nor there. I think mostly from lack of attention from our older siblings, Craig and I became friends. He got a little protective of me in school, I think. Didn't really understand at the time, but our parents were worried he was enjoying the defending part a little too much."
She shrugged and gave Christian his coffee.
"More or less went downhill from there. He got more manipluative of other people, and eventually ran off. But he kept in contact with me. In the beginning he just send me letters under an assumed name - so that our parents didn't confiscate them before I could read them. And somehow he always new the best time to call me. Sometimes he even surprised me with a visit in person. And then, of course, I moved out, and we started talking more online and on the phone and less via snail mail," Anita sipped her tea. "Never talked a huge lot about his work, though."
Christian
"Well I am guessing you probably wouldn't want to hear it," Christian's eyebrows rose.
He took a sip of the coffee. Not bad.
Anita
"Probably it was better if I didn't know," Anita agreed. "So, what about you? How did Craig come to adopt you?"
Christian
"He kind of... took me in off the street at a very young age," Christian nodded to himself.
He started fiddling with the mug he held, slightly nervously.
Anita
Anita nodded, and took another sip. Best to be careful what questions she asked.
"Have a girlfriend?"
Christian
"No," Christian chuckled slightly, putting the mug down.
"Not really looking. I don't really need any unnecessary emotional attachments."
Anita
"I see," Anita said. "Seen much of the world? Or haven't you been out of the States?"
She smiled to herself.
"Craig liked to tell me about the places he had been. I got a little jealous sometimes."
Christian
"I went to Canada with Craig a few times but otherwise... I haven't left the States. Except to go to the space station sometimes," Christian shrugged, folding his arms and leaning them on his knees.
Anita
"Hmm, I went there last year - with the whole blowing up the world scare," Anita replied. "He seemed to spend a lot of time in Canada. But I remember he went to Europe, and Japan, and even to Australia a few times. Do you plan on doing much travelling? Or just going to go where the wind takes you?"
Christian
"Wherever the wind takes me," Christian shrugged again.
"I have some jobs coming up soon, so I don't think I'll be leaving the States for quite some time."
Anita
"Fair enough," Anita nodded. "Be sure to take some time off occasionally. Don't overwork yourself - you'll only get stressed and stress is not good for power control."
Christian
"But what is time off?" Christian shrugged yet again.
"I'm always on the run from something. Might as well make the time I have productive."
Anita
"No reason why you can't co-ordinate work with pleasure," Anita replied. "I don't think Craig ever took actual holidays either, but he always made a little time to wind down. It may only be an hour in a day, but it would have been enough. I think sometimes he would treat himself and stay in a 5-star hotel. And no doubt trick the staff into thinking he had already paid, or some such."
Christian
Christian smiled to himelf at the memories of Craig that surfaced.
"Yeah," he said simply, "that's like him. And don't worry about me, I get pleasure out of my work anyway. I wouldn't do it if I didn't."
He cratched his nose, then moved his sunglasses onto his head.
Anita
"Good," Anita replied.
Anita thought he looked a little familiar, but couldn't think where. But he hadn't given her his name, and she wasn't going to ask.
"Well, enough about work. Did Craig have any other adopted children I should know about?"
Christian
"Nope," Christian shook his head.
"Just moreso... associates. As far as I know I was the only one there from a young age. My parents were killed, so..."
He shrugged.
Anita
"Yes, I have to admit, your claim suprised me. But then, it also surprised me when Tanya came up too. Did you ever meet Tanya? I suppose you did... He used to speak rather fondly of her and then..." Anita frowned. "I don't know what happened... I thought things were going well. but something must have because he stopped talking about her. Changed the subject the few times I brought it up, so I didn't ask again. He could be quite stubborn."
Christian
Christian chuckled to himself.
"Must have been when he found out she was a YIRAAS agent. And yeah, I knew her. Know her. Still talk to her."
Anita
"Really?" Anita said, interested. "Well, that explains it then. Craig never liked to admit he'd been duped."
She sighed.
"It's almost a shame - I was beginning to think he may have finally found himself a partner. That would have been nice."
Christian
"Yeah, they were close..." Christian said softly, staring at the coffee table as he remembered those times of his past.
"It's why she became a psuedo momther figure for me I guess. She just had her first child in May and named him after me."
He couldn't help but smile at the thought.
Anita
"Really? That's so sweet," Anita said. "You must mean a lot to her. Naming your child after someone is no small thing."
Christian
"So I hear," Christian seemed amused at the thought.
"Still there's a difference between Christopher and Christian, but I know the thought's there."
Anita
"Pish, posh," Anita said, waving that aside. "Close enough. Avoid confusion."
Christian... name sounded familiar too. But then, he could just as easily be Christopher.
Christian
"Yeah, she calls him Kit for short anyway," Christian smiled again.
"I hope I get to meet him sometime soon."
Anita
"I'm sure you will," Anita said, assuredly.
Anita finished her tea.
"Well, now, would you like anything in particular for dinner? I have some pies I can put in the oven, or we can just order pizza."
Christian
"Either is absolutely fine," Christian insisted, waving her off.
"I don't remember the last time I was invited anywhere for dinner."
Anita
Anita smiled.
"I'll throw on the pies then. I'll be back in a minute."
She stood, taking her empty mug with her and went back to the kitchen to put the pies in the oven.
Christian
Christian finished off his coffee, then looked around a little more.
He soon picked up a book that was sitting on the shelf beside the couch. When he opened it, he saw that it was a photo album.
He began to glance idly through.
Anita
Anita closed the oven door, and then started back out. She stopped short and smiled, seeing Christian with the photo album.
"So, he's as curious about me as I am about him," she mused.
She went back into the kitchen, and came back out, saying loudly as she went:
"The pies'll be about 20 minutes."
Christian
Christian put the photo album back and waited until she came back into the room.
"Cool," he nodded, beginning to twiddle his thumbs as he continued looking around.
Anita
Anita sat back down.
"Well," she said. "Where were we?"
Christian
"How did you know he was gone?" Christian asked suddenly, looking up.
Anita
"Who? Craig?" Anita asked. "When he died, YIRAAS contacted his family. That would include me. I offered to take care of the funeral arrangements."
She shrugged.
Christian
Christian's eyes fell to the floor.
"What was it like?" he asked quietly, "were there many people there?"
Anita
"Not many," Anita replied quietly. "Mostly family members. Some people I didn't recognise. Probably some of Craig's friends, enemies and a YIRAAS agent or two. Probably to make sure he was actually dead."
The last words were bitter.
Christian
"I wouldn't blame them," Christian scratched his head awkwardly.
"I was..." he cut himself off, trying to remember.
"I don't remember where I was the day of the funeral actually. But I knew it'd be too dangerous for me there."
Anita
Anita nodded.
"Dangerous for everyone there. Not even the priest was safe. Yet, surprisingly, nothing happened. As if there was truly respect for the dead there."
Christian
"Surprising," Christian raised one eyebrow, before beginning to pick dirt out from under his nails.
"Today was the first day I'd been able to get out here."
Anita
"Don't make a habit of it. Habits have a tendancy to get you caught. Certain advantages of going where the wind takes you," Anita paused. "But feel free to visit me whenever you want."
Christian
"Yeah I know. And thanks."
He hesitated.
"So... what do you do for a living?"
Anita
"Believe it or not, I'm the resident 'Halloween guy'," Anita grinned. "My power is Ghost, you see, and... fronting, if you will, as a Halloween goods supplier gives me the opportunity to used my powers for other things without suspicion."
Christian
"Interesting," Christian nodded to himself.
"But what do you do for the rest of the year?"
Anita
A sly smile crossed her face.
"The other stuff," Anita replied. "Let's just say, I've met a number of people in my work who think they can exorcise me. More fool them."
Christian
Christian looked her over for a moment, then laughed to himself.
"You look so much like him it's uncanny," he murmured.
Anita
Anita's smile didn't leave her face. She paused briefly.
"Christian, was it?" she asked. "I think I know who you are now..."
She trailed off.
"If I ever appear to be intruding, just tell me to drop it."
Christian
Christian shrugged.
"It seems as if everyone knows more about me than I do anyway. And yeah... Christian. Thomas," he smiled.
Anita
Anita nodded slowly.
"I think Craig might have mentioned you once or twice, now that I think about it," she frowned, thinking. "Something about being a good lieutenant... or perhaps I'm getting mixed up with someone else..."
Christian
"Possibly," Christian shrugged.
"I'm telekinetic, so Lords knows what he'd say about me."
Anita
"I'm sure it was all good," Anita replied. "And I'm not just saying that. 90% of what we talked about was all good things. Craig liked to keep our conversations light and fluffy, as it were. Didn't want me to worry about him, I suppose. Not that I would have - he's always managed to take care of himself."
She paused for a moment, as if considering those words under the light of her brother being dead.
Christian
"Yeah, he did. He just kind of went off on a tangent..." Christian sighed.
"Did they tell you anything about how he died?"
Anita
"Not really. Something about someone killing him in self defence," Anita replied. "They like to be oblique about things concerning deaths of criminals and YIRAAS agents."
Christian
"Probably because they're usually bloody," Christian murmured.
"I'm not all that sure how it happened either. I just felt it. I had a Fridith in my head."
Anita
Anita frowned.
"I'm afraid I don't know what that is..."
Christian
Christian glanced across at her.
"Sorry," he said finally.
"It's a telepathic thing. A sort of connection that activates when one of the connected pair dies."
Anita
"Interesting..."
Anita gave Christian a long look.
"So, what does this make you? His heir?"
Christian
Christian turned his head to the side and scratched it awkwardly.
"Kind of..." he admitted.
"I mean I'm not telepathic."
Anita
"Makes little difference. You've got his connections, plans, so on and so forth. So your powers are different, that only means your talents lie in other areas," Anita replied.
Christian
Christian hesitated, staring at the floor.
Finally, he looked up at her.
"Why is this so important?" he asked finally, seeming to change the subject.
Anita
Anita blinked, wondering what exactly he meant by that.
"Why is anything important?" she asked at last. "Sooner or later someone makes a decision that something is going to be important to them. That emphasis on that thing will effect others, whether we want it to or not."
Christian
Christian contemplated that for a moment.
"That'd be the only reason I'd ever despise Craig," he said finally, looking away.
"He was so sought after, and now that he's gone it's going to be even harder for me than it was when people just wanted to use me to get back at him."
Anita
Anita nodded.
"Your survival is important to you. And so continues the circle," she said. "Fact is, the fight to survive never ends, and in the end, we all lose. We will all die. Well, except perhaps those who are Immortal, but I imagine that that such a gift comes with a high price."
Christian
"Yeah, boredom," Christian chuckled.
"No one even wants me dead. They just want me so they can tell everyone that 'wow, I have Christian Thomas'. Or the Spider's heir. Or Taylor Hanson's clone. Or the Little Radier. Or whatever else."
He shook his head, feeling annoyed.
Anita
Anita raised an eyebrow. She recognised some of those names. Interesting, very interesting.
"I see," she said slowly. "So you feel you're being regarding as a prize bull? Then the goal isn't so much survival as it is becoming untouchable. Of course, that only makes you a greater prize, but once you are one, it's tough ceasing to be one."
Christian
"I'm never going to be able to shake it," Christian shook his head.
"Especially now that I've evaded Guffery twice."
He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling his sunglasses down and changing the colour of the rims to silver.
Anita
"Of course, there is always 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'," Anita said. "Take the offensive instead of the defensive. Make alliances - becareful with all alliances, mind you. Even among allies one can never be certain who has what agenda."
Christian
"Except in my case..." Christian used his hands for emphasis, "it's a case of my enemy's enemy just wanting me so they can laugh in the others' face. I'm like a lone rat or something. Don't really belong anywhere until I establish myself as an individual. Which I can say right now is far from happening."
Anita
"Pit them against each other then," Anita suggested. "Let them eliminate each other for you."
Anita started to wonder how they ended up talking work.
Christian
"Most of them are against each other already, but they generally stay out of each others' way," Christian shook his head.
"Like Guffery and Racer. Or Manning. Though Manning was on our side. He kind of disappeared after the initiation..."
He pondered that for a moment.
Anita
"Ahh, but that's the trick, isn't it?" Anita smiled. "Putting them into each other's way. "And you have the perfect bait - you know already what they want. You."
Initiation?
Christian
Christian hesitated rubbing his chin, before looking up at her.
"Do you have an idea or a plan you want to share with me, or are you just going to let me guess what I'm supposed to do?" he asked innocently.
Anita
Anita smiled.
"I'm afraid that this is Craig's world, not mine. I can only suggest ideas, or tactics, but I don't know Guffery, or Manning or Racer, nor any of these others, so I can't really tell you some plan I've hatched. If you weren't smart, Craig would never have made you his heir, though, so I'm sure you'll think of something," Anita paused, hearing the timer on the oven sound. "That would be our pies... I'll just be a moment."
She stood and went out to the kitchen.
Christian
Christian hesitated before leaning back into the couch.
It was a surprise to talk to someone who hadn't heard of any of his enemies. Kind of... refreshing in a way. But annoying in another.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to clear his thoughts.
Anita
Anita returned not long thereafter with two plates in her hands, along with knife and fork, and of course, the pie. She handed one to Christian.
"However," Anita went on. "if you want to talk stategy with me, I'd be happy to help you formulate a plan. Make a nice change from my usual line of work."
Christian
"Thanks," Christian murmured, taking the pie.
He looked it over for a moment, considering.
"I'm not sure if it'd help if you didn't know anything about what we're up against."
Anita
"You can always fill me in," Anita said. "I like to think I'm good at tactics. But the choice is ultimately yours. Whatever you decide, I was always there for Craig, and I shall always be there for you. Family is very important."
She started eating her pie.
Christian
"Family..." Christian trailed off, almost laughing.
"But I wouldn't want you to unnecessarily get involved. It could cause more harm than good, and I don't mean in general."
Anita
Anita nodded.
"Craig felt the same way," she said.
Christian
"Well..." Christian began, "he had good reason to protect you."
He began eating his pie.
Anita
Anita smiled.
"Probably," she took a bite of her pie and chewed thoughtfully for a minute. "There is an alternative. Manufacture your own allies. That is to say, find people who are already going down that path and snap them up before anyone else can. Develop your own following."
Christian
"You mean like Craig did with me?" Christian almost chuckled.
"Not much hope of that happening yet. I'm a drifter right now."
Anita
"I was thinking more about... friends in general," Anita replied. "As a drifter, however, you might want to think about creating a few havens in your travels. Just a few places you can disappear to in times of trouble. I imagine Craig had quite a number of them, but if you know about them, there may be others that do... in any case, it wouldn't hurt to have a few of your own."
Christian
"Hey, I have friends. I'm not that deprived," Christian finally chuckled a little, "well not any that I travel with, but there are people I can stay with and such."
He took another bite of the pie and swallowed hungrily.
"And I remember a few things Craig had... I had... well, I recieved a pendant from him which basically told me everything I needed to know. But I was in a bit of trouble at the beginning of the year and it was taken from me," he scowled, "I'll get it back somehow. It's worthless to anyone but me anyhow."
Anita
Anita nodded.
"I'm sure you will get it back," she said. "Do you have anywhere to go or stay tonight? I have a spare room, and time is starting to get on."
Christian
Christian swallowed what he had in his mouth, then thought for a moment.
"I was just going to head back out tonight actually. I'm in the middle of training and I only really have a week or two off, so... trying to make the most of it. But no, nowhere to stay around here. I don't think I've ever been here in my life."
Anita
"Very well," Anita replied. "And if you are ever in the neighbourhood and need a place to stay, you may come here. Or..."
Anita considered for a moment, then took a scrap of paper and a pen and wrote down an address.
"Or you might consider going here. It wouldn't be much good as any kind of permanant residence, mind you, but it'll keep you dry and safe for a night. The local's rarely go there - they think it's haunted," she said, that sly smile returning to her face. "Only foolish children go there, usually from a dare."
Christian
"Is this just another house you own, or is it council property?" Christian raised his eyebrows.
He leant over to take the piece of paper.
"Thanks."
Anita
"It's a residental property - the owner has long moved out though - haven't lived there in years. Intestate I believe. Been trying to sell the place for years too. Places rumoured to be haunted don't sell very well, I'm afraid," Anita replied.
Christian
"Well I guess in the case of people like me that can be a good thing," Christian smiled.
He put the paper in his pocket and quickly finished off his pie.
Anita
Anita smiled back and finished off her own pie, then she took up the plates and utensils.
"I suppose you'd like to get going now?" she asked.
Christian
Christian stood.
"Yeah, I don't like to stay in one place for very long," he admitted.
"Can I have your number or something?"
Anita
"Sure," Anita replied.
She wrote this down on another scrap of paper, stood and handed it to him.
Christian
"Thanks," Christian said again.
He took her number and added it to his pocket, then began for the front door.
"Thanks for dinner, and ah... a little insight to Craig."
Anita
Anita walked Christian to the door and held it open for him.
"No problem," she said. "And thank you for talking to me about him... and yourself. Good luck."
Christian
"Bye," Christian nodded, before heading outside.
He made his way to his bike, started it, then began down the road.
Might as well head back for Tulsa.
Anita
Anita watched Christian ride away, then closed the door and headed back inside.
And to think, after Craig died she thought her life would end up rather dull.
Guess not.