False hope is nicer than no hope at all. - Edgar Allan Poe
How many times had he done this? He gave a dismissive chuckle. How many times had he worried about the future, about what could happen? Worried that he would fuck up, that someone - usually himself - would end up hurt or dead?
That was how many times he'd done this. So far, it had worked. Relatively speaking. He was still alive, after all. So were they. As long as he knew it wasn't a miracle maker. That was God's department. This was...
He sighed. He wasn't sure what this was.
Regardless, so far it had worked. That's why he kept doing it. Even though the guys would call it silly, superstitious, or just plain dumb. But that's why he didn't tell them about it. He didn't want or need their ridicule. Got enough of that anyway.
But mostly he didn't want to chance jinxing it. Didn't want them to make him doubt it. Because then maybe it wouldn't work. He'd been convinced from childhood that it would work and nothing had happened to make him change his mind.
Well, Father Magill finding out what Denise was teaching him came close. Face had decided he would never forgive the priest for sending her away, but the girl told him it was okay. This was the way it was supposed to work. Alvin knew what to do and she had other places to go, others to teach. And hiding it from Father Magill just made it easier to hide it from others.
Today was special. Today he had to do everything just right. He wasn't sure why - maybe because of that Frankie guy. Hannibal was too... accepting. Hell, the guy nearly blew him up, and he was okay with that?
But there was something more. He'd been uneasy ever since Hannibal started working on this film. People on the set who acted okay, but didn't seem to fit. Like Frankie, they knew what they were doing but...
He glanced at his watch. Time was wasting. He was supposed to meet the others in just a couple of hours. He felt funny, using his sniper rifle, but then again, nothing about this seemed 'normal'. Not this time.
He swept the area clear. No leaves, twigs, no debris. Then he drew the circle carefully, making sure the muzzle didn't leave any gaps. No gaps. The candles were placed precisely, using his compass to make sure. Then the blessing ceremony. He used the same one he always used. Today was not the time to chance something new.
He settled himself in the center of the circle, clearing his mind of all the negative energy. Thinking only of his friends, their welfare, their safety. His family.
He had to be careful now. This wasn't just protecting the team against the bad guys. This was a different scenario altogether. He didn't even know who the bad guys were. Or if they even existed. But there was something coming. A mistake they were going to make. A mistake they wouldn't see until it was too late. A mistake, but one that had to be made.
And he had to be ready for the aftermath.
FINI