Subj: The Shadows Return Chapter 8
Date: 5/15/99 10:08:46 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Kim Monroe

Michael Mcguire hadn't intended to be out this late.Especially not on this virtually forgotten backroad. He wanted to get back soon.He had to find out where his father was buried. He could care less about whatever Mulder wanted. He had left the windows down; his Festiva was in the last years of it's life and air conditioning had died a couple summers ago. He was reaching for the radio when he heard the sound of tires spinning,followed by the sickening sound of metal being crashed. Mingled terribly wedged between the sound of fire raising, he heard the scream -- perhaps the dying prayer of the damned soul trapped inside the inferno, or a desperate cry for help as a last attempt to live. Michael floored the vehicle until he came upon the accident He couldn't tell what kind of a car it had been. The tree branches crashed through the front of the car, ablaze with what could only be a supernatural aura. He faintly heard a man's voice say, "Help her!" For an instant, the flames no longer surrounded the remains of the window and the branches no longer barred the way.

He reached in and pulled out the mangled body of a young woman, a knife protruding from her chest. As he dragged her a few feet away, once again the flame leapt to where she had been. He didn't know what to think, but the blaze had attracted the attention of a nearby resident, who called for the ambulance and fire department. He was unable to decide if the body he held was alive or not. He doubted it, but felt inclined not to let go of her.

Somewhere, he thought, she has a family, a mother and father who will be crushed by this. Maybe a young husband or child-- girls have kids awfully young these days. He felt her blood cover him. The wet stickiness alarmed him. She was sure to bleed to death if she wasn't dead already.

"Now, you stay alive. Don't make me tell your folks you died in my arms." He said. He knew that he should have left her alone and not moved her. He laid her down, more comfortably, (not that she was aware of it) and removed the knife.
The paramedics arrived, the siren announcing the long awaited help was on its way. As they loaded the young woman, he noticed the hat she had on fell off, allowing her hair to fall in waves. Long green, blonde and orange waves. He glanced at the knife he still clutched and noticed the engraving, Callista Blair, 1990.

He jumped into the back of the ambulance, he knew that she needed someone there. He knew that he had to deliver whatever news there was to the Collins Family.

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Carolyn was debating on getting married in her fancy dress that was green or her dress that was yellow when she heard Barnabas and Willie talking. Barnabas knocked at her door, and handed her the bag. "I believe you will find this accommodating, cousin Carolyn. It belonged to Josette Collins, it was to be her wedding gown." Willie didn't quite understand. Barnabas had held that dress and Josette's music box very dear to him. He had had another music box made for Julia, but the dress was a sacred possession to Barnabas. He walked into the drawing room, dressed in one of David Collins suits. He was glad David had returned a few months ago. Roger had never recovered from David leaving and never accepted that David came back. David was married to Amy Jennings and they had two children. Kirsten and Andrew Collins.

Carolyn dressed and Maggie curled Carolyn's hair. This hurried wedding was rather inconvenient. Elizabeth was wearing her robe and nightgown, and Roger was in his pjs. Carolyn tried to call Blair House, but there was no answer. Callista's phone didn't ring in. Everyone took their places, and Carolyn walked in with Barnabas beside her to give her away. The wedding went smoothly, and Carolyn and Willie had left within the next hour to a last minute honeymoon in Virginia Beach. After a few minutes, Barnabas noticed Roger asleep and Amy snuggled next to David half asleep. Barnabas glanced at the clock, 3:00 am.

"I believe I shall be returning home, I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome. Good night." Scully walked with Barnabas to the foyer.

"Dana, you weren't given the opportunity to answer me,have you decided yet?"

Scully took a deep breath, "Yes Barnabas, I think I will stay with you."

Barnabas took her hand and kissed it,"Goodnight Dana, I shall see you in the morning." As Barnabas left, Scully went to join Maggie in the Card Room.

"I'm just tallying up the missing people, Callista and the Mulder brothers." Maggie stated.

"Michael went to find some old records, I thought he'd be in sooner though, and I haven't seen Fox since I got here a couple days ago." Scully answered.

"I don't know why you people have to come here-- you don't even know how to act." Scully thought of female dog word to call Maggie, but decided against it.

She went to the Drawing Room. Taking her shoes off, she noticed the unplugged phone. She plugged it in, and went to pour herself a brandy when it rang. The room was vacant, save Roger, so Scully answered it. "Hello,"

"Scully, This is Michael, Callista's been in a bad accident. They airlifted her to Boston. I'm using a doctors cell phone. They don't think she'll live. She's in intensive care. I'm here with her, but I really think that you should have the Collins' get here as soon as possible.She's at Beringwill Hospital, in northern Boston."

Scully heard the click as Michael hung up. She ran to find Maggie.

************************************************************

Barnabas entered the Old House. He was about to enter the room that he and Julia shared, then stopped. He couldn't enter it yet. He turned and went into his current room. He was tired, too tired, he climbed into bed dressed, only removing his shoes. Sleep washed over him instantly.

************************************************************

Maggie and David were on their way to the hospital.Maggie's mood seemed to greatly improve upon hearing of Callista's accident. Scully ran to the Old House. She knew Barnabas should have been the first person she notified. Barnabas was asleep when he was jarred awake by a female voice calling for him. "Barnabas! Barnabas!"

He recognized it as Callista's. He quickly went down the stairs and into the drawing room, the room he was certain the voice had came from. He heard a sound at the window and turned.

"No!" he screamed as the bat from Hell flew toward him.

It attached itself to Barnabas' neck. Barnabas tried to free himself; after a few minutes, Barnabas sunk limply to the floor, the bat fading.

Scully raced between the pillars of the Old House. She flung open on of the heavy doors. "Barnabas! Barnabas! I need to tell you something!"

Scully raced into the drawing room, then stopped. There on the floor was Barnabas, blood slowly running down from his neck in two rivers from two marks in his neck. His lifeless eyes were staring at her.

"No, Oh God no." Scully, shaking, raised a hand to her mouth to stifle the scream threatening to emerge. She went to the phone and called Mulder.