Falling

• Author: Kay Drake
• Disclaimer: Joss is the man. I own nothing. Except.. maybe Caden and Tryna. So hey, wanna buy 'em? Give me a ring :)
• Setup: Post-unaired S5 premiere. Spike has returned, as a vampire with a soul. Only Angel remembers Connor. Cordelia is is in a coma. Oh, and I've never written a fic before...
• Rating: R for violoence and language
• Summary: Well duh. Read the story - then you'll know what happens.

  Teaser

  Fade in.

  Screen reads: New York City, 1996

  Dark ally, camera around the corner to reveal Angel (similar to how he was on Becoming I). He's pacing in front of an old, warehouse style door. After a few moments, the door opens and out comes a demon (should be obvious to us that he's a demon, but also obvious that he's not a bad one), who hands Angel some blood. This guy's a friend.

  ANGEL
  Thanks.

  ZITHRI
  Not a problem. Hey, I'd love to stay and chat, but I think I should keep on the move tonight.

  ANGEL
  (worried sigh)
  Why don't you-

  ZITHRI
  Look, I gotta stay on my toes. I'll see you tomarrow.
  (turns to walk away)

  ANGEL
  (stops him)
  Why are they so insistent on finding you?

  ZITHRI
  Long story pal, I'll tell it when I have more than ten seconds to spare. Check you later.

  Angel watches him leave. After a moment Angel moves down the alley to eat in peace, we follow Zithri. Out on the streets, looking over his shoulder, and picking up pace... he's being followed. He cuts quickly down another alley and turns to hide around a corner when we see - Caden: strong, cocky, and uncharacteristically young (14-15). This girl grew up rough and fast. Perhaps she born into this gig. Despite the apparent rough exterior, there's still an innocent youth about her. She's wearing dark, beat-up jeans, with combat boots, and a black t-shirt under a black leather jacket. She's got dirty blond hair and piercing green eyes.
  CADEN
  Zithri! God, *where* have you been??
  (she taunts him with a smile)
  Don't me worry like that...
  A fight erupts between the two. Caden is easily overpowering Zithri (not with strength, but skill and speed), in fact, for her, this is more of a game than a battle. He charges her, and ducking under him, Caden suddenly rises- throwing him into a pile of wooden crates and making a very loud racket.

  CUT TO: Angel, eating/drinking, but looking up hearing the not-to-far-away sound of crates crashing. He stashes the blood and goes to investigate...

  CUT TO: Caden, laughing. She toys with him a bit more.

  CADEN
  Jeez.. I can't believe they hired *me* to take care of *you*.
  Swings from Zithri, easily deflected and dodged.
  CADEN
  (smirk)
  This is getting pathetic.
  Caden corners Zithri, who is slumped on the ground, struggling to flatten himself as much as possible against the brick wall. She kneels down.
  ZITHRI
  (pleading)
  Please! I'll do anything! I'll pay him whatever!!!

  CADEN
  (sigh)
  Sorry pal. But it's not about money. Well... it is for me, but not him.
  (taking out a stylish knife)
  It's about payback.

  Caden grabs Zithri with her left hand and pulls him around so she's behind him. With her right hand she brings up the knife and brutally slits his throat. The camera focuses in on the alley behind her as we see Angel - staring in shock. Caden grabs something from inside Zithri's coat, putting it in her own pocket, and then turns, sensing another prescence. <
  CADEN
  Ahhh.. You must be Angel. The "friend".

  ANGEL
  (taking in the scene lik a bad horror movie, he's speechless... only not)
  Wh-.. What?? Why?

  Cadens smiles sadistically. She rises and saunters towards Angel.
  CADEN
  A job's a job, I don't pick and choose.
  (pause)
  Well, actually I do.
  (half smile)
  I'm in high demand. But you? No one payed me to look you up. You're quite the paradox Angelus. A *vampire* with a *soul*??? Heh, you must feel special. Wouldn't be surprised if we met again... real soon.

  Jaw dropped, Angel does little to stop Caden from leaving. She brushes past him as to exit but on second thought and goes back to Zithri's lifeless body, where Angel is knealing. She takes the knife she used to kill Zithri (ornate, but in a scary-could-slice-open-your-cranium kinda way) and uses his Zithri's shirt to wipe off the blood. In doing so we see markings on her wrists and/or forearm - but they are not seen clearly nor given special attention. With a half smile she hands it to Angel.

  CADEN
  Something to remember me by.
  (Turns and walks away with a slight wave-)
  Check you later.

  Angel only watches as she leaves, disappearing into the moonlit streets. The camera rises focusing in the moon the night before its full. After a moment the camera lowers and we see the exterior of the Hyperion.

  Block label: Tuesday - September 23, 2003

  CUT TO: Int. Hyperion

  Fang Gang is mulling about. Angel is organizing the weapons cabinet, Wesley is in the office. Angel is scanning the cabinet when he notices something in the bottom. He has to reach for it (caught in cracks?) and then pulls out the knife that we recognize as Caden's. Reminiscent look on his face as...

  LORNE
  Just how many times are you going to reorganize that thing?

  ANGEL
  (snapped outta memory, and defensively)
  As much as I want.

  LORNE
  I'm just saying sweetcheeks... there's only so many ways to show off your weapons.
  ( notices Angel's intense look at the knife)
  What's that?

  ANGEL
  (covering)
  Nothing. Old knife. A kind of gift actually.

  LORNE
  Only with you people does an instrument of death count as a gift. And only with you people does that not surprise me.
  (pause)
  Well, you and my family.
  (off a look from Angel)
  Please, like I have to explain? You met my mother.

  ANGEL
  (smirk)
  I doubt the former owner is even around anymore. Not really the most careful of types.

  CUT TO: Dark Alley - Night

  Block Label - 11:59pm

  Caden, fighting two demons near a bus station. She is noticably more subdued. Still a fighter, even a killer... but not having fun. In fact, she seems annoyed, disinterested. No more saunter or cockiness. Should be simple, conservative, even "average". After taking them out, she sighs, and looks around.

  CADEN
  So.... This is LA.

  Roll Credits.

Go on to Act I

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