Pulse

[alphaf]

She stands on the outside, looking back in. The deck of her home, huddled up in the cold, British breeze, a slight shiver. She hasn't been able to be outside much, aside from when she goes to the store, retrieving the necessary supplies for survival. Food, groceries, random things needed for her home. All because of her... love. The deep thought she was entranced in at the moment, the absolute murder it was to her soul to know that he wasn't her's... yet she keeps him alive, keeps him hidden, keeps herself, tortured. Somedays, it's worse than others. This would be one of those days where she can't take it anymore, where she has to escape unto herself.

Everything that she was, she sacrificed for this man. The outdoors, the shooting, the hunting, all of it, to embrace the very person that appeared on her doorstep months ago, nearly dead. To embrace the source of the dim light in the upper, back room of her house, the one that she had inherited from her brother, the one she had lived in with him whilst he was still alive. The one that even HE had stayed in during his short time with the family, when their bond would be established to the strength that held true today.

A sudden winter blast whips up around her, causing her to turn away from the wind, facing her expansive backyard, staring out into it. The targets untouched in months, the wood shed, unopened. The snow piled up around everything, the only footsteps out there belonged to the dogs of the neighbors, none of her own... all gone when he arrived. Thoughts of leaving it all behind start to entire her mind, toying with her very essence, until...

A hand is felt on her shoulder...

You... you came out?"

She stiffened up at the firm grasp, clutching her hands to her chest, not turning to him...

[Burden]

Of course....

His grip tightens lightly on her shoulder, stepping closer to her. He's only covered his torso with an open hooded shirt, barely concealing the scars that are his signs of his right to live over the past months. His other hand caresses up her other arm, to her shoulder, gripping it as well, though not as strong through the recent damage that hand has suffered. His chest lightly touches her back.

I was, worried about you, Elizabeth... don't think I have no idea what kind of burden I've become...

He sighs, the cloud of freezing breath flowing in her line of sight. He takes a look around to the outside atmosphere, an atmosphere that had been nearly foreign to him since his arrival at her doorstep, healing. Keeping out of sight. This, was a risk, but Elizabeth was worth it to him. Even if it could potentially put her in danger should his risk not have dropped.

[cassandra]

Her objective had changed. Changed to that of the women. She was to keep an eye on that of Ms Knight now. Why?, she was never told.

She sat around the corner, in the same exact spot she had the last visit here. Watching the room, checking her files, calling for more information on the task at hand. Anything to pass the time until she was allowed to leave, and continue HER objective.

She pics up a file and begins sifting through the pictures that had been sent to her. Several pitures from back in the states...all of them from an unfamiliar area to her. From a place she had never seen before. Though she had been through this file several times since it's arrival, she figured it couldnt hurt but learn everything there was to learn from them....

...She comes across one picture that she seemed to find more interesting than the others. She didnt know why, and coulnt tell you why, it just seemed much more facinating than the rest. She looks up from the picture, to check the complex again, to make sure nothing had changed. But to her surprise, Ms Knight had moved to the outside of the house...to the deck. But she wasnt alone. There was a man...someone that looked familiar, but she couldnt tell from the distance set between her and the deck...

I... dont believe this....

...She takes her camera and zooms in, to get a better look. She than begins looking through the pictures again...to see if he was in any of them. She findsthe one she was looking for, and at te bottom of the photo someone had writtin that the man had passed on....She immediately pics up her phone and dials the number of her boss...

The dial-tone changes to ringing, until the voice she had awaited came across on the other side....

"You're never going to believe what Im looking at...or better yet..WHO Im looking at....."

[Burden]

Elizabeth... look at me...

He forces himself a tighter grip out of his damaged hand, clenching down on her shoulder firmly. He tries to wrap his arms around her, pulling himself in more towards her, only, in his surprise, to be pushed back from her, finally facing him, keeping him at her arm's length. Unsure of what is going on, he can't help but notice the tears already running down her cheek.

Elizabeth... please...

He knew he was the burden, he knew he interrupted her life. He wanted to make hers better, but didn't know how. He hoped coming out here for her would show that, as he'd barely come down from the upstairs room within her house. He tries to reach out to her again...

[alphaf]

She, her eyes are filled with tears. So much anguish, so much frustrations, and so much of...

this.

She reaches into the front pocket of his jeans, she knew it was there, pulling out the identification card that he normally kept in his pocket. She showed him the image on front, the picture of her...

"Why? Why should I? Every day... it's the same, bloody, torture..."

Tossing the card off of the deck, she continues...

To take you from nearly dead, to caring for you, day in, day out, nightly, trying to make you healthy again, to get you to where you're able to walk around, to LIVING LIKE THIS!"

A motion of her hand towards the yard devoid of the home owner's footstep paints all the picture that she needs...

"For what? To be the after thought? To be just "second," for everything that I've done for you? I mean, hell, ***... Years, and years, of my life has passed... and I've never, EVER, forgotten about you! I've never, EVER, used you!

I've NEVER made you feel the way that I feel right now..."

She pushes him back again, stepping away, towards the stairs on the deck, speaking quietly...

"How, you make me feel..."

Her voice barely floats over the harsh winds, with his ears perking up. She doesn't wait... she runs off, her emotions taking over.

[Salvatore Calderon]

cassandra said:

"You're never going to believe what Im looking at...or better yet..WHO Im looking at....."

He was speechless to say the least. He hadn't expected to hear what she had relayed to him only a few seconds ago. No, he was mainly concerned about another young woman and man at this point in time. But this did pose an interesting situation he thought. He was most sure that his newest associates would like to hear of the unexpected information Ms. Krause had came across. Replying back into the phone, he knew that this opportunity had to be taken, to make the first of many statements by the newly formed Council.

"Ms. Krause, are you equipped and prepared to dispose of the potential threat?"

[cassandra]

Of course Im ready sir..but wouldnt you like to know exactly who Im talking about....?

She wasnt expecting this. Disposing of this man at this point in time would only put Ms. Knights life in danger...and as far as she knew, that wasnt part of the plan...

Sir, I hope you realize that if is carries through, not only will he be gone, but were risking the life of Ms Knight aswell..and thats something we cant risk. We cannot put her life in danger, for the very sake of this mission. I dont want to be the one responsible if something happens to her sir...

She is automatically cut off....knowing that her plea was going to be ignored....

[Salvatore Calderon]

"Ms Krause! I urge you to think of what you're attempting to say to your employer before going any further. Are you telling me that you are not willing to carry through with this operation? You do remember what happens to those whom are cast out from our elite circle yes?"

"I would be careful with what words you choose to use with me Ms. Krause. This may not in fact be a part of our planned operations, but nevertheless, there are always sacrifices in war. Always casualties. Now if you can NOT complete the given task, a replacement can be sent within 24 hours to relieve you of your duties. And you will answer to the council directly Ms. Krause. Are we understood? That man is to be no longer among the living within the hour one way or another. Are we understood?"