Chasing Anne

Dinner With A Winged Police Officer

Mark heard a gun fire behind him and in a split second, Bartholomew lunged toward him with speed that Mark didn't think was possible. Jackson ducked and screamed as the bullet smashed through the window above him. Glass went everywhere. Mark lay still, stunned a moment and simply stared into the eyes of Bartholomew. But in the blink of an eye, he Bartholomew was on his feet and running towards the attacker. He pulled a sword out from nowhere and deflected the bullets that the enemy fired, continuing to rush him.

Wait. A sword? Mark scratched his head. He'd seen Bartholomew with a gun...but he had a sword now? Bartholomew back flipped and landed on the kitchen table, the attacker still on his tail. Another bullet fired, but Bartholomew deflected the bullet into a sofa's cushion. The man in black cursed and leapt at Bartholomew, but he fell back just as quickly as Bartholomew began to glow with a blinding light. Mark shielded his eyes and Jackson had to look away. When they were able to look back, Bartholomew was diving toward the attacker, but he was suspended in the air with wings.

This was just getting weirder and weirder. First Bartholomew had a sword, and now he had wings? What on earth was he? Was he an alien from some other planet? Was he a mutant or something? With a single thrust of Bartholomew's blade, the attacker went limp against the back wall, his gun falling harmlessly to the floor. Bartholomew launched a final time to finish it off, but then skidded to a stop when another winged man approached, morphing through the wall. Mark eyes went wide. Now there was more than one Bartholomew? The second man crossed his arms over his chest, obviously frustrated.

"Daring, but dangerous, Bartholomew. Your job is to protect, not fight."

"Mark would have died, Commander. I had to intervene."

The second man raised a hand. "I understand. Is the man hurt?"

"No, I don't think so. Shaken maybe, but not hurt."

The commander nodded. "Meet me at headquarters tonight, Bartholomew. Raymond is becoming more of a threat than you think. The forces at work around him are going to need more than just one guardian. Do you understand?"

Bartholomew nodded. "Yes, Sir."

The commander nodded, and then he once again disappeared through the wall.

Bartholomew shone brightly again, dimming without wings and his sword gone. He turned to Mark and outstretched his hand. "Are you all right?"

Mark scooted away from him. "What are you, and what do you want?"

Bartholomew smiled. "I'm here to help you, Mark. You and Anne. Your story and hers is very, very important.

"Why?"

"I can't explain now. But please tell me. Are you hurt?"

"No. Shaken...but fine."

Bartholomew nodded. "And you, Jackson?"

Jackson nodded, though he was too afraid to move. "I'm fine. I just...can't move right now."

Bartholomew smiled and walked over to him, touching his arm. "You're safe, Jack."

Almost immediately, Jack relaxed and smiled, his fingers letting go of the chair he so desperately had been clutching to.

"Who is that man?" Mark asked, nodding to the limp back figure.

Bartholomew's gaze became angry. "He's one of Raymond's. He came for you. Apparently, Ray wants you dead."

"Why? What did I do?"

"You're fighting for his Anne's heart, Mark. But he's not going to give it up easy. By now, he's probably told Anne that you don't actually love her and that you're with someone else."