Topic: Limits

Candy Hart

Date: 2012-10-24 14:45 EST
October 22, 2012 ? Monday, Late Night

FireStar continued to rage within her mind and Candy felt her resolve weakening. During the match at the Outback she'd resisted the opal's cries for destruction. She'd been too aware of how far it could take her and Matt Simon's presence nearby?waiting to witness the eventual break down. She'd held back the wrath of the fiery stone and with that went the energy it supplied. Her own resources tapped out, running on just fumes. The loss came as no surprise.

Despite the fact that Candy couldn't recall the last time she'd had something to eat that wasn't a Badsider, she turned Apple's offer of buying her a burger down. She didn't want Apple to be around her when the floodgates came tumbling down. With a beer in hand, Candy left the Outback. The cool night's air turned hot against the flesh of her skin and the stars that shined in the sky blurred with every step she took away from the building...

--

October 24, 2012 ? Wednesday, Afternoon

Chaos. A symphony of it ran through her mind. A hazy memory that whispered one moment and screamed the next. Images and sounds battled it out in the fields of her mind. Memories, dreams, realities that weren't, and realities that could have been. Stars sparkled against a night sky and then erupted into explosions of blood red and bone white. Faces and voices swam in and out, in and out, in and out... until everything went black and only darkness remained. A sound cut through the silence, a steady, slow-paced beep.

-beep-

-beep-

-beep-

Awareness of the sound solidified, it wasn't part of the dream. The pain that encompassed her body an all too real part of her reality as well. With effort, she cracked her eyes open. A white, blinding light met her unprepared pupils and forced her to close her eyes again with a grunt. A metal ring around her wrist halted her attempt to bring her right hand up as a shield against the unwelcomed brightness. She fought against the resistance with another jerk before her eyes were able to open and confirm what she suspected?handcuffs secured her wrist to the side of a hospital bed. She muttered a curse, voice weak and throat sore.

"You're awake."

Simon Murdock sat in a chair down toward the end of the bed on the right side. He didn't smile. Candy took in the line of his lips, the slight crease in his brow, and the apparent lack of any of his usual reading material used to pass the time. After a prolonged silence, Simon stood up to retrieve the water pitcher and cup beside the bed. Without a word, adjusted the bed into a sitting position before offering her the drink. Her left hand proved shaky but capable of managing the task. The water offered some comfort to her throat. Three short drinks later, she found her voice once more. "What's th' damage?"

"No one dead. No one pressing charges, but you'll be questioned. The situation's been left out of the papers."

It showed how well he'd gotten to know her that he didn't waste time telling her what she could already guess about herself and got to the real point of her question. She bobbed her head a couple of times, running through the vague recollections. Left out of the papers... for now.

"You've been out for over a day." Simon added, his voice edging between concern and anger.

No shock registered on the woman's face. She started to take another drink from the cup of water, not looking to the man that stood beside her.

"You need to retire that rock."

His words made her pause. No surprise that he felt that way, she'd felt it herself more than a dozen times. A short sigh issued. "I can't."

No argument sounded from the man, but at his side Candy could see his hand balled into a white knuckled fist. She couldn't help but recall her father doing the same when keeping his irritation in check against her 'stubbornly willful' mother. The thought almost made her smile, but a frown found her features instead. Jay had put the attention of the guard on her and even though they couldn't pin anything on her and had since moved on?it had been enough to ruin her plans. The guard had picked her up seconds before she could get her hands on her target and the man's realization of her unmasked intent haunted her. Her enemies had resources and it'd be enough to put two and two together. Cup settled into her lap, Candy looked up at Simon. "It's the only thing keepin' me alive."

She looked down, felt the metal of the handcuff pressed against her skin. "There are... people. An' they might be after me now. But ...they'd need me alive. So long as I got the rock... they won't try anythin'. Me with it..." Her words stalled out and she had to take another drink of water before going on, "too unpredictable. They can't control it."

"-You- can't control it."

Candy Hart

Date: 2012-10-25 14:57 EST
"-You- can't control it."

Candy kept her eyes lowered toward the cup of water she held. No dispute to be given over Simon's words. Silenced stretched on. Finally, she emptied the cup?handing it back to the man. "There anything to eat in this place?"

The question put him off his guard. They needed to talk, he needed to reach her before things got any worse... but he couldn't deny the fact that she needed to eat just as much. Maybe a brief respite would help? Give them both time to collect themselves.

"Nothing good, but you should eat anyway."

She nodded her agreement and rested back into the pillows of the hospital bed. Simon set the cup down on the table beside the bed and headed for the door, glancing back to the woman as he reached the frame.

"See if you can rest. I'll be back."

?

A chocolate pudding cup and spoon in hand, he returned only to find Candy gone.

?

October 25, 2012?Thursday Night

Every sound caught Simon Murdock's attention, filling him first with hope and then disappointment as he realized he remained the only person in his home. The fact that now he wished for Candy's arrival made him reflect back on the first time she had visited him at home, breaking in a covering his kitchen with bits of broken glass and blood. Trouble. There were enough people that saw that side of her and only that side?a fighter to earn money, a troublemaker looking for a fight, trouble best kept at arm's length. But Candy didn't need any help keeping a distance, he'd figure that out enough in the last year. With every small bit that made him think there'd been some headway between them... a wall came down suddenly to show him how wrong he had been to think otherwise.

He'd spent the evening looking for her?. Going first to the Overlord Isle, only to find that no one had seen or heard from her for several days. Simon kept his mouth shut about the hospital visit and her giving him the slip. He'd check the office she kept there, going through her files and looking for anything that would help. He'd seen her studying documents often enough, but had never been keyed in on the importance of the dossiers. Were these friends? Enemies? He took every folder he could locate, hoping he could use the information to unravel the mystery before the opal unraveled her.

After the Isle it had been the Cardinal Inn, the Seaside Manor, and a stop off at one of the local Watch precincts to speak with those Candy had, in some way, taken under her wing. Each another dead end. He left his number, letting them know they should call him if they heard from Candy. He didn't ask anyone to try and retain her?he knew how much of a risk that could be.

"Where are you?"

No response came. The photos, the documents, the notes in the folders spread out over his small desk and every other nearby surface gave no hints.

Candy Hart

Date: 2012-11-04 20:33 EST
October 29, 2012 ? Monday

Simon's home office had been hit by a hurricane?a forceful manifestation of his need to find the woman that kept him at a distance. She hadn't asked for his help, but he was determined she'd have it. As the days progressed Simon filled his time looking for any indication of a connection between the information Candy had gathered and her disappearance. Over the weekend two book shelves had been pushed aside to reveal an expanse of barren wall. Now photos, documents, notes, and string filled the space?creating a large visual for the pieces of the puzzle. Nothing before him gave him any sign of where she could be. Each connection he found spun the web a little larger and Simon's concern increased along with it. He felt a growing sense of unease, a fear that once again he'd be too late.

What if?

Often in his thoughts Candy's features changed into those of wife, Julia, and his heart raced with fear. Would he lose another person he cared for? Was it already too late?

Buried beneath a stack of papers, the phone rang. The sound sent him rushing to answer the call only to still seconds before he answered the phone. Candy? Simon took a moment's breath, letting the woman's name vanish from the tip of his worried tongue.

"This is Simon."

His receptionist's voice on the other line killed the hope that momentarily rose. He nodded and responded with some detachment as she updated him with the status of his patients. No big concerns. When she finished he thanked her for calling and hung up the phone. Sliding his hand from the phone to the pile of discarded documents, a name caught his attention. He read the name and read it again, wondering where he'd seen or heard it before. The collection of facts on the wall didn't have this particular name nestled into it yet. Then he remembered?the name, typed, on the edge of a police folder she'd gotten. She'd never told him her interest in the matter and he'd thought himself wise enough not to press. But now that folder wasn't with the rest of those he'd collected and the information it contained could be important. Without further thought, Simon folded the paper containing the name into his pocket and grabbed his coat.

If he couldn't find Candy's copy?he'd see about going to the source.

Candy Hart

Date: 2012-11-11 00:09 EST
November 6, 2012 ? Tuesday

Jameson took in the shade of red of the woman's hair, the way it contrasted against his toying fingers and the dark fabric of his black pants. The length of it spilled across his lap, barely unsettled by the movement of her head. The click of the door caught his attention before it eased open a few inches, not enough to expose the person standing behind it. His hand slid through the locks of red, finding her scalp and guiding her to not let the unseen visitor be a distraction to her.

"What is it?"

"Boss. We got news from the precinct. Eddie's file got pulled again."

"We find out who this time?"

"Yeah. Yeah, boss, we got the guy."

"I want all the information on him you can find, Benny."

"On it."

Benny retreated, shutting door. Jameson's grip in the girl's hair pulled her up. His thin lips smiled in dark delight. Malevolence burned a fire in his eyes.

Candy Hart

Date: 2012-11-19 19:58 EST
November 9, 2012 ? Friday

A calm filled Candy's mind, something that had been lost to her since the witch, Jesse, took back the tower and the balance it offered. No longer did the rock whisper like a living presence, always at the ready. She could still feel it there, small?pushed to the side and unable to take over. Only her mind knew peace as she stumbled out from the bunker she had secured herself within after vanishing from the hospital. The time spent alone, battling for control of her mind, took its toll on the rest of her. Concerned looking citizens gave her wide berth as she walked down the sidewalk. She felt worse on the inside than she looked on the outside. She needed a doctor...

--

Halfway to the door, Candy's hand stopped in the air. Even in the darkness she could pick up the thin gap between the door and frame. An uneasiness took over her gut. She held his name in her throat, unable to voice the call to see if he'd answer from inside. Candy wondered why she stopped carrying her gun, while reaching for the power of FireStar with her mind. Slowly, she exhaled, easing the door open and taking a cautious step into the house.

--

This is your warning

Candy stood in the middle of Simon's ruined home, holding the bloody calling card with the simple script written on its surface in black ink. The remnants of his office proved he'd been trying to put the pieces of her puzzle together. The corpse of the good doctor, sitting in his armchair with dead eyes, gave her a clue as to how close he'd gotten. Too close.

Candy Hart

Date: 2012-11-20 22:14 EST
November 10, 2012 ? Saturday

The solidness of the wall to her back seemed to be the only thing steady left to Candy. Hours passed while she considered what action to take next. Simon's dead presence a continual distraction as waves of guilt kept threatening to rise. It didn't matter that she never asked him to be a part of her revenge, somehow the fate due to her came to collect on the wrong person.

"I'm sorry this happened."

---

In the darkness before the early dawn, Candy leaned against the payphone and fed it coins. With a dial tone sounding, she dug out a business card from her jacket for the number she needed.

Audrey answered after the first ring, her voice incredibly cheery for someone working the hours that she did. "A to Z Cleaners. Audrey speaking, how may I help you?"

"Good it's you." Tired, Candy slumped against the box of the phone. She ignored the protesting pain of her body. "This is Candy.. Hart."

There was a pause on the other end; no breathing, nothing but the mirthful coos of an infant in the background. It was only after the shock had set in that Audrey spoke again. "...what can I do for you, Candy?"

"You do cleanin' right? I got a job for you. No press."

"I run a discrete operation, Candy. I'm assuming this has nothing to do with scrubbing toilets?"

"It doesn't." She paused and only a slow exhale could be heard across the line. "Got a body... an' his story needs a different endin'. That somethin' you can manage?"

There was a ratatattatat on her end, the sound of a pen slapping her desk. "We can do that. I just need the location and about an hour to gather up some of my crew. Does that work for you?"

"Yeah. You got somethin' to write with?"

---

Audrey stood there, staring at the man with something like clinical observation. It should have disturbed her and perhaps it was more disturbing that it didn't. A sidelong glance slid Candy's way and just a spark of sympathy snapped behind her eyes. With a deep, steadying breath, she took a step forward and as she circled the body, she was careful not to disturb too much. "...it won't take long. You want the body and everything to disappear or...?"

"No." The disagreement came too quickly, a push of emotion from the usually distant woman. She took a moment, reeling herself back in. Clearing her throat before she spoke again. Her eyes focused on the wall just above Simon's head. "There's a plot for him, next to the wife he lost. He should get buried." From the wall, Candy returned her attention to Audrey. "Can you make his death look like somethin' else? Give them somethin' to put in the papers that wouldn't warrant anything more than the usual."

She scrutinized the man, the situation., her lips pursed together. It took her a second, just a second, to recover from the bite of that one word and she finally nodded her head. "Yeah. I'll see what we can do. Don't worry about the price...I don't want money for this."

"Thanks." No debate, Candy knew enough professionals to take Audrey at her word. Even so, Candy would acknowledge a debt to be repaid on a personal--if not professional--level. Once more her eyes regarded the man that acted as her personal assistant and confidant, feeling the guilt gnaw at her heart. Only an echo of it showed in the depths of her hard eyes. "I'll leave you to your work."

Candy Hart

Date: 2013-01-14 12:47 EST
January 1, 2013 ? Midnight

The dark night erupted with colors as fireworks from various locations took to the air. Thundering sounds from the celebratory displays interrupted the quiet of the cemetery. Candy's head tilted back, resting against rough tree bark, as she regarded the vibrant colors set against the black sky. Looking back to the graves with which she kept company, she lifted her Badsider in a toast to the headstones of Simon, Julia, and the unborn Jonathan Murdock, "Happy New Year." Only the pop of more fireworks replied. She washed down the toast with the remaining beer, dropping the empty bottle back into the six pack?with two full bottles left?and returning her eyes to the graves. If doing something two years in a row made a tradition, hers was spending the beginning of the new year with the dead. Though, Richard hadn't started out dead the year before... and Simon... he shouldn't have been dead.

A hard lump of anger coiled within the woman. Her knuckles tightening in response to that rage, even without anything present to take it out on. Simon shouldn't have been dead but he was and she needed someone to blame. Jay. She blamed Jay. There'd been no errors in her plans until him and that night. Everything went wrong then and Simon's death the result. That had been the thought that festered in her mind, building on the sense of betrayal the man had lived up to when she told him the truth about herself.

The truth about yourself?

The voice in her mind spoke calmly. Not her own voice and not that of the fiery opal. Candy closed her eyes and could see the phantom of the man the voice belong to. Simon. He sat with his back against his own headstone, the sleeves of his button-up shirt rolled up as he did when he'd been thinking and expecting a verbal battle from her. His light brown eyes lively behind his glasses, not as all as they had been the last time she'd truly seen him.

"Yes, the truth."

You told him a lie.

The Simon of her mind saw through her, plucking at the cord of truth she'd buried along with so much else.

You told him a lie to push him away and hated him when you got what you thought you deserved.

The shell of the hard lump cracked and the pain housed within bled out. Candy's teeth pressed together, not in anger but in an attempt to keep the waves of guilt and sadness at bay. When she opened her eyes, all that sat before her were the same gravestones as before. No Simon. No Jay. No parents. No anyone.

She was alone.

Candy Hart

Date: 2013-01-17 00:28 EST
January 11, 2013 ? Afternoon

Candy stood by the glass patio door that led from her private office out to the beach. A breeze swayed through the scenery beyond. She allowed the movement of the trees to distract her for a moment. A moment that ended when one of the staff members knocked against the open interior door.

"Overla-lord Hart?"

"Yeah."

"The documents you requested arrived."

Her eyes pulled away from the beach and toward the woman that stood within the frame of the door, holding a messenger's leather case. "You can leave it on the desk. Thanks." The woman moved, following Candy's instructions before turning back for the door. Candy headed toward the desk, waving a light hand to the woman's retreat. "Shut the door behind you, yeah?"

"Yes, Candy. Let me know if you need anything else."

"Got it. Thanks."

The woman softly nodded, stepping through the door and shutting it behind her. Candy stood beside the desk and pulled the leather case to her, opening it to inspect the contents: a case folder for one Denis Shea. A man known by many other aliases. A man known to Candy as the man she killed.

A mug shot of the man that had once been Jay's neighbor sat above listed alias and a description of Denis Shea. A second page gave a short summery of his crimes, those for which he'd been convicted as well as those he'd been suspected for though never brought to trial. All told, the crimes wherein he escape persecution greatly outweighed those that had landed him in jail for short stints of time. Theft. Breaking and entering. Fights. Disruption of the peace. Threats. Stalking. Attempted murder. Rape. Suspected homicide. With every technicality that got him off, it seemed as though the man had a fallen angel on his side?protecting him from ever being brought to justice.

The case file included photos of crimes scenes, victims, and witnesses. Victims and witnesses that either changed their minds or never lived long enough to testify. Photo copies of testimonies and statements from the guard made a time line of the man's criminal life, one that ended with his death. A death that remained unsolved. However, the man's death did not mean the end of the criminal investigation into his life. The scene of the man's death?his own apartment?revealed evidence connecting him to crimes he'd previously avoided as well as those for which he had never been suspected. Kidnap. Torture. Homicide. Girls and women, silenced by him forever. Only the bloody scenes left behind could act as a voice for the victims of those crimes.

It started with a wooden box found in the man's apartment. The guard member in charge of cataloging the various items found made a connection between a one-of-a-kind blue topaz broach and an unsolved rape-homicide. Of the thirty-four articles contained within the mementos box?necklaces, rings, earrings, charms?eleven had been attached to previously unsolved violent crimes. Final notation from a guard member commented on the belief that the remaining articles would be attached to similar crimes and that the department would continue in their efforts to match the items of the box with their original owners.

Finishing her perusal of the case file, Candy opened a locked drawer at her desk and pulled out her mother's necklace. One more memento from Denis' box. Unbidden, Bane's question from the previous evening came to her mind.

Would you mind explaining to me why you are not interested in dating me? I do not care why you will not date anyone else.

I... don't date anyone. She had no reasons for not dating him. She had no thought on it one way or another. The response had been automatic for so long, it kept her from even asking herself why she said it.

But since the start of the new year she had to wonder...

Was she protecting herself from another painful situation?

Or was she trying to protect everyone from herself?

The thought remained with her, taking the heat from her. FireStar cooed, in a voice that sounded like Candy's own, wishing for destruction. But Candy didn't respond. Didn't fulfill the opal's desire. She didn't have the heart for battle. She'd been too busy fighting phantoms and allowed the truly deserving to get away.

She found a nine by twelve envelope within another drawer and copied two addressed onto the front from another piece of paper. The first, the fanmail address for The Crew's Jay Capistrano. The second, the return address?belonged to an empty plot of land. She didn't include her name, knowing her scent would easily identify her to the intended recipient.

Jay's features from the night before. His comment about them fighting outside. She would have taken him up on it, if only for a chance to talk. But she knew it wouldn't have worked out that way. The same way she knew every time she'd seen him the last couple of weeks that he wouldn't be interested in any request from her to speak privately.

She needed him to know...

Even in this way he might not listen, but at least she could tell herself she tried.

Before she put the information into the addressed envelope, Candy stuck a yellow post-it to the front of the case file. She wrote one word there and underlined it once:

Why