The Crow

Black Feathers

By Alex Burchfield
Email  (n0rmnbates@aol.com)

 

Based upon the comic book series created by James O’Barr.

 

 

-- For Ginger --

 

 

 

Prologue

 

People once believed that when someone dies, a Crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it, and the soul can’t rest. So sometimes, just sometimes, the Crow can bring the Soul back to life, to put the wrong things right…

                

 

 

Introduction

 

            “I can’t sleep,” she said, “how come I can’t sleep? It’s usually easy for me to sleep.” The moon reflected in her green eyes as she looked up at the man. “Is it time for me to sleep?”

 

            “No,” said the man. He was dressed in a black leather trench coat, and wore a tilted hat that shadowed his face. His face was frightening, but not, both at the same time. It was a skull. He was the Skull Cowboy. He wasn’t fearsome because for some reason, Julie knew she was supposed to be speaking to him. “You can’t sleep yet… Not until you are finished.”

 

            “Finished with what,” Julie asked. “I don’t understand, I just wanna sleep…” She looked around her. “Where’s Kevin? He’s always there when I sleep…”

 

            “Kevin can no longer be with you,” The Skull Cowboy said, “All I can tell you is this. You were brought back in order to make things right. The Crow will guide you, just follow it.” A black bird flew up and landed next to Julie. The Skull Cowboy sighed, “Such a restless soul…” He disappeared.

 

            “Too much to do to sleep,” Julie whispered as she leaned against a gravestone that read: Julie Harris, 1973-2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

            The dark road was slightly illuminated by the star littered sky. An old ’87 Nissan was the only car that occupied the road. Inside the vehicle was Kevin and Julie Harris. Kevin drove the car while Julie sat nearly sleeping in the passenger seat. Kevin looked over at her and smiled. She was beautiful in the moonlight. The road seemed to get darker. Clouds began to gather in the sky. Little by little raindrops fell onto the windshield. Soon it was pouring. Kevin turned the wipers on and cleared the glass of the water. Puddles were beginning to form in the road. He slowed down but it didn’t matter, the left front tire hit a puddle at a turn and He lost control of the car, it began to spin, and rammed into a car parked on the side of the road. Julie jerked awake.

 

            “Oh my god,” Kevin said, “Julie are you okay?”

 

            “Yeah,” Julie answered, “what happened?”

 

            “I think I just hit another car,” he said, “but it’s so dark I can’t see.” Suddenly the passenger side window shattered--

 

 

            Kevin jerked awake with a gasp. Another fucking nightmare. It thundered outside his bedroom. It had been a year sense she died, yet he was still having nightmares of that horrid night. Kevin sat up and got out of his bed and walked to his dresser. He looked at a framed picture of Julie. God, she was beautiful, she had thick brown hair and green eyes. Her smile was amazing, she looked so happy in that picture. Lightning flashed, elucidating the room for a brief moment. Kevin went to the bathroom sink and got himself a sip of tap water. He looked up at his dark reflection in the mirror. He had bags under his bloodshot eyes. He hadn’t eaten much, and his body showed that, he looked like a skeleton. And worse.. he had to go to work tomorrow.

 

           

            That day, Kevin went to work, despite the fact that it had been exactly one year. People at work kept an eye on him. They knew how bad it messed with him. He really loved her, and she was taken from him. Every day he prayed that the bastards who took her would get their dues.

 

           

Julie walked down the isles of the empty theatre. “I used to act here ya know,” she spoke aloud. “It was so wonderful, the rush I got from being up on stage, and seeing the audience, or being blinded by the lights, but it was great…” The theatre was rundown, hadn’t been touched for a while. Seats were broken, the light fixtures were destroyed. And the stage, the stage was empty, and hung high above it was the Tragedy Mask. “But nobody’s acted here in a while… Kevin used to tell me I was the greatest person to walk that stage…” She spoke to the Crow but the crow responded with nothing more than a ‘Caw.’ The black bird flew and perched upon the Tragedy Mask that was hung above the stage. Julie looked at it, “I know what you’re saying…” She walked past the stage to the dressing rooms.

 

            One door had the name ‘Julie Harris.’ She pushed open the door and stepped in. The room’s floor was covered with papers and clothing. Programs and other such things were piled on the vanity that sat at the opposite end of the room. Julie walked over to the vanity and sat in front of it. She looked at her reflection in the dirty mirror. She was tired, she had bags under her eyes to prove it. “Oh god, bags… nothing a little makeup can’t fix…” She opened a drawer and pulled out a compact in which was white pancake makeup. She began to apply it to her face. The Crow flew and perched upon yet another Tragedy Mask that was mounted above the vanity. The Tragedy Mask looked down at Julie, crying for her. Julie’s face was chalk white, a creepy look. She walked out of her dressing room back into the hall. The crow flew out and into another room down the corridor. Julie followed.

 

It was the costume department. The Crow was perched on a rack of clothes, she walked to it and noticed a nice outfit she always wanted to wear. A black leather skirt, a leather jacket, a black tube top, and fishnet stockings, complete with high heel shoes. Julie took off the tattered burial dress she wore, and put on the tube top, then the stockings, next the skirt, then the jacket, finally she slipped on the six inch high heels. The Crow flew out of the room, Julie followed.

 

            The Crow led her to the storage room. The bird was perched on a shelf occupied with paint cans. Julie walked in, and a can fell at her feet, spilling black paint all over the floor. She bent over and dipped a finger in it, and ran the finger over her eyes, and her lips, creating the final effects of the Tragedy Mask. The Crow flew from the shelf and landed on her Shoulder. “Let’s get this done with… I need my beauty sleep.”

 

           

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

            Suddenly the passenger side window shattered. Glass flew all over the car, slitting Julie in the face.

 

            “Julie,” Kevin screamed, “are you okay?!” A man was at the door, he opened it and pulled Julie out. She screamed, Kevin was terrified, he didn’t know what to do. He opened the glove compartment and pulled out a can of mace. He jumped out of the car, and ran to the man who had Julie, but another man was there. Kevin dropped the mace. The second man punched Kevin in the face, and he fell to the ground, he looked at Julie the man back-handed her across the face--

 

 

            “Kevin,” said a voice, “Kevin, get up.” Kevin opened his eyes, and sat up. He was at the office. Andrew had woken him up. “Man, you’ve been asleep for over an hour. The whole sleepin thing is what people do at night.”

 

            “I know Andrew,” Kevin started, “But I haven’t been sleeping well lately. Bad dreams. Just like the one I was having. Thanks for waking me up.”

 

            “No problem,” Andrew said. Andrew was a twenty six year old African-American. He wore a business shirt and tie. “Why don’t you go home man? It’s past time, you’ve been here all day.”

 

            “Yeah,” he responded, “they offered me a couple days of this week off.”

 

            “Why didn’t you take em,” Andrew asked, “you know you need the rest.”

 

            “I couldn’t,” Kevin said, “I’d go insane at the house all alone.” He gabbed his jacked and turned off his light. “But I guess I should dead home. G’night Andrew.”

 

            “Night man,” Andrew said.

 

 

            The Crow flew off of Julie’s shoulder as she walked down the sidewalk. She ran after it, but something she saw out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She looked down an alley, and in it, a woman was being thrown around by another man. Julie walked into it.

 

            The man threw the woman against the brick wall. She was a teenager, not older than seventeen, she had long blond hair, and blue eyes, but her face was bruised, and her clothes were torn.

 

            “Bitch I warned you,” The man said, “I told you to pay me last week, all you fuckin addicts are the same, never pay on time. I’m in the wrong business.” He slapped her. She screamed with pain as blood began to come from her mouth. The man’s black hair went only as far as his eyes, and he wore a blue shirt, and faded black jeans. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a butterfly knife. He flung it open revealing a six inch blade. “In my book… Blood is many times worth as much as money.”

 

            “Then how about you pay me,” Julie said from behind him. The man jerked around to see her.

 

            “What the hell,” he said, “Another fuckin addict? God, don’t you people know your limits?” He raised the knife and slit her throat. Julie was startled, but the wound healed as quickly as it was made. She smiled. The man was amazed. “Huh?! What the.” Julie twisted his arm around his back jamming the blade into his spine. Blood seeped from his lips. He was paralyzed. The teenage girl ran away as Julie turned the man onto his back.

 

            “You question why these people are in pain,” Julie began, “but you don’t remember you are the one who put them in this pain…” She pulled out two feathers that were behind her ear, black crow’s feathers. “Can you see the bird?”

 

            “What,” the man asked.

 

            “Look for the bird,” she said shoving the black feathers into his eyes. Julie turned around and walked out of the alley… The bright moon blinded her, yet her eyes could look at nothing but it. She looked deep into the moon. She saw that night. The painful night…

 

            Julie saw herself being thrown to the ground. She saw Kevin being kicked in the side repeatedly. The two men began to beat Julie now. Kevin was left alone coughing up blood. One man picked Julie up and slapped her across the face. Suddenly the sound of guns cocking was heard--

 

            Julie looked away from the moon. She couldn’t bear it. But where she looked she saw the Skull Cowboy.

 

            “I told you to follow the crow,” the Skull Cowboy said, “I know you didn’t want to see all that, but it seemed as if you needed a reminder… Now follow the bid Julie.” Julie nodded, and blinked away a tear and turned to the Crow which sat upon a street sign. “And Julie…”

 

            “Yeah,” Julie said turning.

 

            “Nice touch with the black feathers,” he told her.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

            Kevin laid in bed awake, looking out the window and at the moon. It was full tonight. What a restless person he was. He couldn’t sleep. The pain that wrenched inside of him was unbearable. He really missed her. He knew deep inside that she would come back somehow, someday. There was no goodbye. No closure. He wished someday there would be some kind of closure or goodbye. He was burning without her. His face was shadowed a bit, but a tear could still be seen running down the side of his face. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to remember… The night…..

 

            … The dark road was slightly illuminated by the star littered sky. An old ’87 Nissan was the only car that occupied the road. Inside the vehicle was Kevin and Julie Harris. Kevin drove the car while Julie sat nearly sleeping in the passenger seat. Kevin looked over at her and smiled. She was beautiful in the moonlight. The road seemed to get darker. Clouds began to gather in the sky. Little by little raindrops fell onto the windshield. Soon it was pouring. Kevin turned the wipers on and cleared the glass of the water. Puddles were beginning to form in the road. He slowed down but it didn’t matter, the left front tire hit a puddle at a turn and He lost control of the car, it began to spin, and rammed into a car parked on the side of the road. Julie jerked awake.

 

            “Oh my god,” Kevin said, “Julie are you okay?”

 

            “Yeah,” Julie answered, “what happened?”

 

            “I think I just hit another car,” he said, “but it’s so dark I can’t see.” Suddenly the passenger side window shattered. Glass flew all over the car, slitting Julie in the face.

 

            “Julie,” Kevin screamed, “are you okay?!” A man was at the door; he opened it and pulled Julie out. She screamed, Kevin was terrified, he didn’t know what to do. He opened the glove compartment and pulled out a can of mace. He jumped out of the car, and ran to the man who had Julie, but another man was there. Kevin dropped the mace. The second man punched Kevin in the face, and he fell to the ground, he looked at Julie the man back-handed her across the face. There were two men. Kevin had heard their names: ‘Rick, Aaron.’ Rick seemed to be the one who was kicking Kevin repeatedly in the side, and Aaron was the one beating Julie. Kevin hated having to watch such pain being inflicted upon the woman he loved. Suddenly the sound of two guns cocking was heard. Rick shot Kevin twice in the lung, and Aaron shot Julie once in the heart. A third voice was heard screaming to Rick & Aaron to get into the car. They walked over to the dented and busted vehicle and got in and drove away. Leaving Kevin gasping for air, and Julie in a puddle of her own blood, dying, she died in Kevin’s arms…

 

            … Kevin was weeping. Such pain. Such sorrow. How could someone do such a thing? But this wasn’t one faceless person, it was two, possible three, was it two people who killed her and shot him, or was it three? Was it only one person with two guns, or did they both have one? Did the third person have a gun? Did a third person even exist?! It was these questions that Kevin didn’t know the answers to and it was killing him. He had to know. But no worries. He knew that the bastards who did this would pay. They wouldn’t sleep easy for long, because some how he knew that they weren’t going to get off easily for such a cruel act. They would pay… They would pay…

 

 

            The Crow flew above Julie in the night sky. Julie chased after it, fallowing The Skull Cowboy’s instructions. She dodged people and cars, trying to get wherever The Crow was leading her. She heard it’s ‘caws’ and was able to listen closely to the sound of its flapping wings over the night crowd. The only people out at this hour were prostitutes, druggies, dealers, or runaways, yet there were so many of each. Julie felt great pain for each who had to stay out on these spiteful streets every night. The Crow flew to a large building with a sign that read: ‘Condemned’ on the front door. Julie knew this was where she needed to go next. The Crow led her here. She kicked open the door and walked in.

 

            Inside the building laid runaways and addicts in corners. Julie walked through the building’s halls looking for whatever reason she was there. Her green eyes peered into each open doorway, searching for an answer, when suddenly The Crow flew past her to a door and perched on the doorknob. Julie walked to it, and The Crow flew to her shoulder, she turned the knob and entered the room.

 

            The room was an apartment. The first thing you saw when walking in was the kitchen. Julie could hear some pay-per-view wrestling match on the television in another room. She also heard a familiar voice. A voice that once held a gun at the man she loved. Rick’s voice. She walked into the living room where the television was, and sure enough, there Rick was.

 

            Rick had a black mustache, and long black hair. He was in dirty clothes, and covered with potato chip crumbs. He saw Julie, mainly because she stepped in front of the TV. “Hey,” Rick began, “Get the hell out, this is Rage In The Cage!” Julie shoved her foot into the television shattering the glass. “Hey!” He looked up at Julie and noticed her face. “What the hell.. Ya know I think ya got something on your face.”

 

            “Rick,” Julie began, “How can you live your life with your only concern being who beats the shit out of who on some pointless pay-television broadcast?” She walked closer to him. “There are better things you need to be worrying about.”

 

            “Yeah,” Rick said, “like what clownie?”

 

            “Like your life,” she replied. She walked closer to him, and bent over, now completely in his face. “If I were you I’d be worried about my life. Because your life is in jeopardy, you know that right?” Rick had nothing but a blank look. Julie picked up the Remote Control and looked at it. “How convenient. Enables one to change channels from a far. Also clog’s the windpipe.”

 

            “What,” Rick asked with a perplexed look.

 

            “You heard me,” she said, then she crammed the remote into Rick’s mouth, and down his throat. Rick grabbed his neck, gasping for air. Julie starred into his eyes. He starred back. “One night my husband accidentally crashed into your car. You took it a little seriously. You almost killed him, but you did kill me. I’m back. But you’re gone.” Julie could see the fear in Rick’s eyes behind the tears. He gasped one more time, and laid motionless. He was dead. Julie reached into a pocket of her leather coat and pulled out a program, and dropped it at Rick’s feet. The program had a picture of the Tragedy Mask, and the name ‘Julie Harris’ printed at the top, it was a funeral notice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

            At the theatre Julie took refuge. She sat in her old dressing room looking at an old picture of Kevin she had found in one of the vanity’s drawers. The black paint around her eyes seemed to make the green in her iris brighter. The flame of a small candle flickered making the room shadowy, and dim. The Crow was perched on her shoulder.

 

            “Caw,” The Crow said. It looked at Julie. Julie looked over at it.

 

            “I know,” she said, “but I need a break.” She slipped the picture into her pocket and stood up. “But I can’t sleep yet. The curtain hasn’t fallen yet.”

 

 

            Kevin had called into work telling them he was taking the day off. He needed the day off. He didn’t get a single wink of sleep the previous night. He remembered a single month when he was slightly happy. It went by so fast. He was pretty happy, but then it was back into the turmoil of depression due to the loss of the woman he loved.

 

            He walked into his kitchen wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a white undershirt. He had a five o’clock shadow and his hair was messy. He opened a cabinet and pulled out a bowl and put it on the counter. Then he walked to the pantry and grabbed  a box of Fruity Pebbles. Then he got the milk from the fridge, he made himself a bowl cereal.

 

            He sat on the couch in front of the television and began to eat. This had to be the first thing he’s eaten in over two days. Kevin’s eyes were bloodshot, but he turned on the television. It was the Channel Five News.

 

            The reporter was covering a story about a murder in a downtown apartment building. “It seemed a remote control was logged into his throat,” the reporter said. “The only clue police investigators could come up with was a funeral invitation that was laid at the man’s feet. On the invitation was the name ‘Julie Harris.’”

 

            Kevin spit the cereal out of his mouth all over himself, “WHAT?!” he screamed. “Could you mention that name again?..”

 

            “The victim’s name is Rick Zinks. He was once connected to gang leader Markus Gaves who ruled the downtown area of this city from nineteen ninety eight to early this year.” Kevin remembered the name Rick. And with the funeral invitation’s name ‘Julie Harris’ he knew something was going on…

 

            Julie walked down one of the isles in the Theatre, heading for the exit. The Crow was still on her shoulder. “Ya know what we need Mr. Bird,” Julie asked, “an after party…”

 

            “But you’re not finished yet,” said the voice of The Skull Cowboy from behind. Julie turned to him. “Don’t get off task Julie. You know what you need to do.”

 

            “Yeah,” she started, “follow The Crow, but he’s not goin anywhere, so I’m taking a break Skull-Face.”

 

            “Julie, don’t forget why you we’re brought back,” he said.

 

            “I won’t,” she responded, “I am going to return to my task as soon as a little bit of tension is released. I need to dance buddy.” The Skull Cowboy just shook his head and disappeared. Julie looked at The Crow, “Time to hit the club.”

 

 

            “Kevin took me here after my first performance at the theatre,” Julie said while walking through the Night Club. Strobe lights flickered over the dancing crowed while some Nine Inch Nails song was playing. “There were countless after parties that took place here.” She clapped once and started to get down. She flung her beautiful brown hair around as she danced in the middle of the dance floor. Dancing pretty well, she was with the rhythm of the song. The Crow flew up to the DJ and sat on one of the speakers and watched Julie dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

            The Crow had flown out of the Night Club, and Julie followed The Skull Cowboy’s orders and went after it. The bird flew high above the street, and Julie ran through the road, jumping onto cars, and over pedestrians. The stars were hidden behind thick clouds that had begun to gather during the day. The Crow led her to a small Pool Hall. She walked in; pool tables filled the vast room. Julie could smell the faint scent of marijuana. She picked up a cue as she made her way to the back of the room. The deeper she went, the thicker the smoke got.

 

            She could hear two voices. Soon she saw the two people. One of them she didn’t know, but the other was the man who shot her. Aaron. They were smoking pot from a tall bong. “That’s kind of illegal,” she said, “isn’t it boys?” They looked up at her and burst out laughing.

 

            “Where’d you get the idea for the face,” the unknown person said, “It’s fuckin cool man!”

 

            “It’s called the Tragedy Mask my stoned friend,” Julie answered, “You’ll find it if you ever go into Theatre.” The unknown person picked up a bottle of whiskey and took a swig. Julie took the bottle. “This is quite bad for you.”

 

            “Hey,” he said, “Give it back lady.” She threw the bottle at Aaron; it shattered throwing liquor and glass all over him. “HEY!” He stood up and slapped Julie, Julie retaliated by plunging the cue into his chest. Blood began to come out of his mouth as he fell to the ground. She looked down at him, and then turned to Aaron who was curled in the corner, covered with Jack Daniels. He was scared as hell, but was still able to take a hit of pot. He took a breath from the bong.

 

            “Aaron,” She began, “I know that there was a third person in on what happened…”

 

            “What are you talking about,” he screamed, “I don’t even know you!!”

 

            “About a year ago,” Julie started, “My husband Kevin accidentally crashed into your car. You had to have known it was an accident. But you for some reason decided to kill me, and leave my husband to bleed. I know that you didn’t do that on your own. You and your friend were told to… But I would like to know by whom…”

 

            “Markus,” he screamed, “Markus Graves! He was a big guy back then, he was always pulling strings to get what he wanted. But earlier this year he got thrown into jail for dealin. You can find him at the jail. I was just pressured into what happened! Come on babe! It wasn’t personal!”

 

            “Aaron,” she said, “do you really think I care weather or not it was personal?” She looked at the bong. “I think you need to learn the dangers of this drug…” She reached into Aaron’s pocket and pulled out a plastic bag full of marijuana. “Open your mouth Aaron.” Aaron refused, she but a shard of glass to his neck, he opened his mouth with tears running down his face. “Thank you.” She began to insert bits of marijuana into his mouth. She soon shoved the whole bag’s worth into his mouth, she bent down and picked up the Zippo lighter he had been using and lit a flame. She put the lighter into his mouth, he tried to scream, but couldn’t. She closed his mouth with her hands and put her nose to his. Smoke was coming from it, and she inhaled a bit of it. “You got ripped off, this is some crappy stuff.” She released his mouth and he spit the lighter out and it dropped onto his lap, setting fire to himself, igniting the whiskey and flames consumed his body. Julie walked away leaving him to burn. The Crow flew to her shoulder as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a hand full of Black Feathers, and threw them behind her and walked out of the building.

 

 

            At home Kevin was lying awake on the couch. His face was lit by the moon that shinned through the blinds that hardly covered the window. He heard the sliding glass door open. Kevin attempted to look behind him with little effort. “W-Who’s there,” he asked.

 

            “It’s me,” said a familiar voice that hadn’t been heard in a while. A large smile grew upon Kevin’s face. “Baby, I missed you.”

 

            “I missed you,” Kevin said. Julie laid down in Kevin’s arms. “How are you here?”

 

            “The Crow brought be back baby,” she said. “But don’t worry about that.”

 

            “I was wondering when you were coming home,” he said, “I’ve been waiting for you.” Julie looked up at Kevin with a slightly concerned look.

 

            “Baby,” she said, “are you okay?”

 

            “Hey, I like that face, its preeety,” he said. “Its all-black and white.” Julie was scared, she felt something, and she picked it up. It was an empty prescription pill bottle; the label said that it was an anti-depressant. He had downed the whole bottle. “I’m glad you’re home.”

 

            A tear ran down her cheek. “I’m glad too baby.” She laid her head on his chest. His heartbeat was slow, and week. She laid in his arms long after his lungs stopped taking in air, and his heart stopped beating, she figured it finally broke completely. She stood up and dropped the pill bottle. “Just one more thing and I can sleep too baby…” She took off her jacket and laid it over Kevin’s body as a blanket and kissed him on the forehead. Tears were messing up her makeup. A big no-no in the theatre. But it didn’t matter… She walked outside and The Crow was waiting for her on the mailbox. “Let’s go Mr. Bird.” The Crow flapped it’s wings and flew down the street and into the city.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6

 

            The black bird flew to the city jail. Julie had walked all the way there without having to even glance up at The Crow. The walked into the building and down the hall. To Markus’s cell. Guards immediately stopped her.

 

            “I don’t want anymore unnecessary bloodshed,” she declared. She was ready to be finished with this. A guard grabbed her by the shoulder. She quickly shoved his hand off of her and pinned him to the wall by his neck “I’m serious… this will only take a moment.” She felt the cold steel of a gun to the back of her neck.

 

            “Let him go miss,” the guard said. Julie closed her eyes in frustration and quickly pulled the gun from the first guard’s holster and knocked the gun that was pointed to her neck out of the way and shot the guard. The other guard ran. She continued down the hall.

 

            Markus’s cell was at the end of the hall. Julie sat down on the floor in front of it. “Markus,” she said. Markus seemed to be asleep. “Markus,” she spoke louder. This time the person sat up in his bed and looked at Julie and raised a brow.

 

            “What’s with the makeup,” Markus asked. Markus had a shaved head and a scar that ran from his eye to his chin.

 

            “Markus,” she said, “I want you to answer me a question…” Markus seemed to be all ears. “… Why did you kill me and leave my husband for dead that night?”

 

            “What,” he asked.

 

            “One night my husband and I were driving home from a movie and took a back road due to construction on the main road. It was raining and he lost control of the car and we accidentally crashed into your car. Why did you have Rick and Aaron shoot us?”

 

            Markus remembered. “You made me drop my lighter in my lap; it burned like a mother fucker. I had quite a short temper. The only reason I’m not yelling at you now or not questioning why you’re here right now if you’re dead is because I am highly drugged right now. I’ve answered your question mime-lady… I need to get back to sleep.”

 

            Julie pointed the gun at Markus and put a bullet into his head. “Yeah, me too.”

 

 

            The graveyard was damp at night. Julie walked down a path to her grave. She could see The Crow sitting on her tombstone…

 

            “Julie,” said The Skull Cowboy. Julie turned to him.

 

            “Do you ever appear in front of somebody,” she asked.

 

            The Skull Cowboy chuckled. “Sometimes… You did good. I am truly sorry about Kevin… But Markus is gone now…”

 

            “Yeah…” she said. “I really need some sleep… The play’s over now. Too tired for an after party…”

 

            “Go get some rest Julie,” the Skull Cowboy said.

 

            Julie nodded and walked to her grave. The Crow flew away into the night and disappeared into the darkness, leaving two black feathers on her tombstone. Julie could finally sleep.

 

 

 

 

THE END

 

 

 

Epilogue

 

I find it quite amazing that there was enough pain in this world to cause someone to create The Crow, and yet enough pain left for thousands of fans to relate to it... In this story Julie could be looked upon as a hero. But I think the true heroes are the people who survive the pain caused by losing a loved one. The one’s who endure the heartache and move on are the real heroes, at least in my eyes they are.

 

            - Alex Burchfield