It's Christmas Eve, a time for some to celebrate the birth of their savior, while others cherish another year spent with their families, some do both. Not Tandy Bowan. Tandy acknowledges neither of those things. Instead, she lies awake in the middle of the night, asking that same savior why she had been cursed.
Why she and Tyrone carried the burden of these powers, why he had let this happen to them.
Tyrone was sleeping a few feet away. Since Father Abrams had been killed the pair had taken up residence in one of the citys many alleys, and since then Tandy had not done much sleeping. Actually, Tandy didn't do much of anything anymore. Everything just seemed so meaningless.
A breeze blew into the alley, biting the womans skin and sending a chill down her spine. There were light snowflakes falling to the ground. Tandy held her hand out, watching as they melted into her skin. She missed her old life. She missed the lap of luxury, the big Christmas tree in the living room, the feeling of waking up to unknown surprises on that special day, and the way her Mom would smile at her daughters excitement. It was such a warm feeling.
"It's not real," Tyrones voice filled her ears.
"What?" she asked, startled by his awakening.
"That feeling. It isn't real."
Tandy stared at her only friend, hating the fact that he could now read her thoughts. It was a recent development, and an unwelcome surprise. Apparently when someone was 'feeling' something Tyrone could pick it up, like a radio signal. It seemed like his powers became more and more complicated everyday.
"Just because you've never experienced it does not mean it isn't real," she snapped.
"You're lying to yourself Tandy. Think about all of the times you wanted to be somewhere other than where you were. How warm were the smiles of your mother then? It's time, time fools you into believing things were better then, that this is all wrong, but time is wrong, this.....this is real. Bitter, harsh, cold, damp......these are the things time erases, these are the things that are real. People just lie to themselves after time passes, wanting to believe that the past is better when the future looks bleaker."
Tandy took in his words, biting her lip to keep from lashing out. The two of them looked eachother in the eye for what seemed like an eternity. The sound of trashcans falling over broke the silence. Apparently they had a visitor in their humble little abode.
Out of the shadows a man wrapped in a ragged corderoy jacket fell to the ground. In one hand he he held what Tandy assumed to be licquer in a brown paper bag, and in the other was a can of baked beans. Arising to help the vagrant to his feet, Tandy saw a small chukle escape Tyrone.
"Ever the good samaritan, aren't we?" He smiled.
Tandy ignored him, instead feeling for the derelict's pulse. It was there, but the man was freezing to death.
"How can you just sit there?" She asked. "Please, Tyrone, help me....this man needs us."
Without saying a word he stood to help Tandy with their visitor. Together they carried him to some of their nearby blankets. Tandy gathered some nearby cardboard and paper into a pile, and made them a fire.
About the same time Tyrone's new power began to develop, Tandy discovered she was also changing. She could now focus her light into a beam of such extremes that it became like fire. Unfortunately, it took so much out of her to do this, she rarely did.
The duo sat in silence, neither wanting to admit the other was right. Tandy knew her memories were flawed, just as Tyorne knew his bitterness stemmed partly from never knowing those feeling himself. Eventually the stranger awoke, breaking the lull.
Slowly the man sat up, moaning as he did, rubbing the back of his head.
"Where am I?" He asked.
"An alley, you fell down," Tandy answered.
The man looked around at the fire and the blankets thatwere covering him.
"You did this? Why would you help me?"
"Why not?" Tandy smiled.
"Well," the man began, standing up woozily, "I was on my way to the shelter to get some Christmas dinner, would you two like to accompany me?"
"No," Tyrone quickly answered.
Tandy glared back at him, then turned to face their guest.
"We'd love to," she answered.
Tandy stood to follow the man out of the alley, again looking back at Tyrone. A small grunt escaped his lips as he rose to follow.
At the shelter the three of the were greeted warmly, and though she did not truly feel the cold, it was nice to be inside a heated building. Around them were large tables, and sitting at the tables were droves of homeless men, and women. A small, stout woman walked towards them.
"Victor!" She exclaimed. "Glad to see you could make it, Merry Christmas!"
Victor greeted the woman with a smile.
"I see you've brought along some friend."
"Well, we just met, but they helped me out a little, I fell down again, hit my head, you know the drill."
"Vic, I warned you about that bottle," the woman repremanded.
Victor just smiled again.
"Come, all of you, sit, I'll bring you some turkey," the woman exclaimed, leading them to the tables, the heading off into another room.
"I'm sorry, I don't know your names," Vic said, turning to his rescuers.
"He's Tyrone, and I'm Tandy," she responded.
"Well, Tyrone and Tandy, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintence."
The three of them sat down, and when the food came, both Tandy and her partner ate graciously. The experience seemed very surreal for both of them, something they had not seen in a very, very long time. Victor talked and joked with those around them, as if this were a regular thing, and Tandy supposed it was for him.
They were there for what seemed like hours, listening to stories of Christmas past, and Tandy even joined in the conversation with some of her own tales. Tyrone sat silent for the most part, occaisionally scoffing at some of the anecdotes. Finally he'd had enough.
"This is insane," he said to Tandy. "You're listening to the tales of criminals."
"So," she responded. "What does the past have to do with the present?"
"I brought you here for a reason Tandy, so you could see that not everyone deserves your grace. Not everyone is innocent! See that man there," Tyrone pointed, " he ran over another man with his car, and that woman, she beat her husband to death with a hammer when she caught him cheating. Everyone here is guilty of something."
The room looked on in shock as Tandy stood to face her friend.
"What do you mean 'you' brought me here?" She asked.
"Here. We're inside my cloak, Tandy, we're in the darkness."
Everything suddenly came rushing back to her, all of the longing she'd been feeling, all of the emptiness now made sense. This even explained Tyrone's newfound powers, though she wasn't sure about how hers fit into the equation. Somehow she had let herself get taken into the darkness, into Tyrone's world. All of these people, they were the sinners Tyrone had assimilated. They were living out there existence on this mirror world. A tear formed in her eye, welling up, then rolled down her cheek.
"Don't you see Tyrone, all you've done is prove me right. These people were sinners, they were criminals, but look at them now. They laugh and smile and care for each other, not dwelling on their past, but hoping for better things for their futures. Can't you see that?"
Tyrone looked at the room around him. He knew she was right. The moment the words formed on her lips, he knew she was right. The small woman who had greeted them at the door stepped forward.
"Son, I'm not sure how we got here, and I don't know why we are here, but I do know that each and every one of us has his reasons. We have repented for our past, and we choose to move on, perhaps it's time you did the same."
Tandy put her hand ove Tyrone's.
"Come on, let's go home."
Before she finished the words, Cloak had taken them back to the outside world. Back to New York. They were on top of a building, Tandy wasn't sure where.
"Why?" she asked.
"I wanted you to to see things the way I do, to see that not everyone is innocent."
"I know everyone has faults Tyrone, everyone is guilty of something, but it's the hope of becoming better than what you are, that's what I see."
"You were right, I'm sorry," he apologized.
In the distance a church clock rang in the midnight hour, and Christmas was upon them. Tandy reached for Tyrone's hand, andleaned into his body, placing her lips softly on his cheek.
"I love you, Tyrone. Merry Christmas."
Tryone said nothing, instead looking to the night sky. Not much could be seen throught the clouds, but there was one star that seemed to shine right through them, and for the first time in a long time, Tyrone Johnson felt happy.
Why she and Tyrone carried the burden of these powers, why he had let this happen to them.
Tyrone was sleeping a few feet away. Since Father Abrams had been killed the pair had taken up residence in one of the citys many alleys, and since then Tandy had not done much sleeping. Actually, Tandy didn't do much of anything anymore. Everything just seemed so meaningless.
A breeze blew into the alley, biting the womans skin and sending a chill down her spine. There were light snowflakes falling to the ground. Tandy held her hand out, watching as they melted into her skin. She missed her old life. She missed the lap of luxury, the big Christmas tree in the living room, the feeling of waking up to unknown surprises on that special day, and the way her Mom would smile at her daughters excitement. It was such a warm feeling.
"It's not real," Tyrones voice filled her ears.
"What?" she asked, startled by his awakening.
"That feeling. It isn't real."
Tandy stared at her only friend, hating the fact that he could now read her thoughts. It was a recent development, and an unwelcome surprise. Apparently when someone was 'feeling' something Tyrone could pick it up, like a radio signal. It seemed like his powers became more and more complicated everyday.
"Just because you've never experienced it does not mean it isn't real," she snapped.
"You're lying to yourself Tandy. Think about all of the times you wanted to be somewhere other than where you were. How warm were the smiles of your mother then? It's time, time fools you into believing things were better then, that this is all wrong, but time is wrong, this.....this is real. Bitter, harsh, cold, damp......these are the things time erases, these are the things that are real. People just lie to themselves after time passes, wanting to believe that the past is better when the future looks bleaker."
Tandy took in his words, biting her lip to keep from lashing out. The two of them looked eachother in the eye for what seemed like an eternity. The sound of trashcans falling over broke the silence. Apparently they had a visitor in their humble little abode.
Out of the shadows a man wrapped in a ragged corderoy jacket fell to the ground. In one hand he he held what Tandy assumed to be licquer in a brown paper bag, and in the other was a can of baked beans. Arising to help the vagrant to his feet, Tandy saw a small chukle escape Tyrone.
"Ever the good samaritan, aren't we?" He smiled.
Tandy ignored him, instead feeling for the derelict's pulse. It was there, but the man was freezing to death.
"How can you just sit there?" She asked. "Please, Tyrone, help me....this man needs us."
Without saying a word he stood to help Tandy with their visitor. Together they carried him to some of their nearby blankets. Tandy gathered some nearby cardboard and paper into a pile, and made them a fire.
About the same time Tyrone's new power began to develop, Tandy discovered she was also changing. She could now focus her light into a beam of such extremes that it became like fire. Unfortunately, it took so much out of her to do this, she rarely did.
The duo sat in silence, neither wanting to admit the other was right. Tandy knew her memories were flawed, just as Tyorne knew his bitterness stemmed partly from never knowing those feeling himself. Eventually the stranger awoke, breaking the lull.
Slowly the man sat up, moaning as he did, rubbing the back of his head.
"Where am I?" He asked.
"An alley, you fell down," Tandy answered.
The man looked around at the fire and the blankets thatwere covering him.
"You did this? Why would you help me?"
"Why not?" Tandy smiled.
"Well," the man began, standing up woozily, "I was on my way to the shelter to get some Christmas dinner, would you two like to accompany me?"
"No," Tyrone quickly answered.
Tandy glared back at him, then turned to face their guest.
"We'd love to," she answered.
Tandy stood to follow the man out of the alley, again looking back at Tyrone. A small grunt escaped his lips as he rose to follow.
At the shelter the three of the were greeted warmly, and though she did not truly feel the cold, it was nice to be inside a heated building. Around them were large tables, and sitting at the tables were droves of homeless men, and women. A small, stout woman walked towards them.
"Victor!" She exclaimed. "Glad to see you could make it, Merry Christmas!"
Victor greeted the woman with a smile.
"I see you've brought along some friend."
"Well, we just met, but they helped me out a little, I fell down again, hit my head, you know the drill."
"Vic, I warned you about that bottle," the woman repremanded.
Victor just smiled again.
"Come, all of you, sit, I'll bring you some turkey," the woman exclaimed, leading them to the tables, the heading off into another room.
"I'm sorry, I don't know your names," Vic said, turning to his rescuers.
"He's Tyrone, and I'm Tandy," she responded.
"Well, Tyrone and Tandy, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintence."
The three of them sat down, and when the food came, both Tandy and her partner ate graciously. The experience seemed very surreal for both of them, something they had not seen in a very, very long time. Victor talked and joked with those around them, as if this were a regular thing, and Tandy supposed it was for him.
They were there for what seemed like hours, listening to stories of Christmas past, and Tandy even joined in the conversation with some of her own tales. Tyrone sat silent for the most part, occaisionally scoffing at some of the anecdotes. Finally he'd had enough.
"This is insane," he said to Tandy. "You're listening to the tales of criminals."
"So," she responded. "What does the past have to do with the present?"
"I brought you here for a reason Tandy, so you could see that not everyone deserves your grace. Not everyone is innocent! See that man there," Tyrone pointed, " he ran over another man with his car, and that woman, she beat her husband to death with a hammer when she caught him cheating. Everyone here is guilty of something."
The room looked on in shock as Tandy stood to face her friend.
"What do you mean 'you' brought me here?" She asked.
"Here. We're inside my cloak, Tandy, we're in the darkness."
Everything suddenly came rushing back to her, all of the longing she'd been feeling, all of the emptiness now made sense. This even explained Tyrone's newfound powers, though she wasn't sure about how hers fit into the equation. Somehow she had let herself get taken into the darkness, into Tyrone's world. All of these people, they were the sinners Tyrone had assimilated. They were living out there existence on this mirror world. A tear formed in her eye, welling up, then rolled down her cheek.
"Don't you see Tyrone, all you've done is prove me right. These people were sinners, they were criminals, but look at them now. They laugh and smile and care for each other, not dwelling on their past, but hoping for better things for their futures. Can't you see that?"
Tyrone looked at the room around him. He knew she was right. The moment the words formed on her lips, he knew she was right. The small woman who had greeted them at the door stepped forward.
"Son, I'm not sure how we got here, and I don't know why we are here, but I do know that each and every one of us has his reasons. We have repented for our past, and we choose to move on, perhaps it's time you did the same."
Tandy put her hand ove Tyrone's.
"Come on, let's go home."
Before she finished the words, Cloak had taken them back to the outside world. Back to New York. They were on top of a building, Tandy wasn't sure where.
"Why?" she asked.
"I wanted you to to see things the way I do, to see that not everyone is innocent."
"I know everyone has faults Tyrone, everyone is guilty of something, but it's the hope of becoming better than what you are, that's what I see."
"You were right, I'm sorry," he apologized.
In the distance a church clock rang in the midnight hour, and Christmas was upon them. Tandy reached for Tyrone's hand, andleaned into his body, placing her lips softly on his cheek.
"I love you, Tyrone. Merry Christmas."
Tryone said nothing, instead looking to the night sky. Not much could be seen throught the clouds, but there was one star that seemed to shine right through them, and for the first time in a long time, Tyrone Johnson felt happy.