Strange Place to Live:
Coming Home
by Cynamin

"You're ruling the way I move
and I breathe your air
You only can rescue me
This is my prayer"
~Cherish the Day
Sade

Sunnydale, CA
Friday night

The sun had only recently set in Sunnydale when Father Riley walked from the Sunnydale Church of God. He was new in town. If he'd been there longer he might have known that it was best not to walk far after dark. But the priest's car was parked a good distance from his church, and no one had yet spoken to him about Sunnydale's more unusual dangers.

Father Riley was a young man, just recently ordained, and the Sunnydale Church of God was his first congregation. His predecessor had died unexpectedly - something about a neck wound and massive blood loss. When Father Riley had first come to Sunnydale, he was amazed by the number of churches within the relatively small town. He felt he was lucky to have come to a town this religiously inclined. Even his rather small church had a loyal following. Father Riley was not concerned over church attendance. What he was worried about was significant parking.

Today, Father Riley had had to park what seemed to be half way across town. While during the daytime it had been a pleasant walk to the church, the return trip after sundown was just a little bit scary. He couldn't wait to get back to his car. He was hyper-alert. The priest soon found himself jumping at every little noise.

A cry of pain rang out nearby, and Father Riley jumped for real. Then, heedless of any danger that might be involved, he ran down the street towards the source of the sound, around the corner and into a darkened alley. What he saw there surprised him. One figure - Father Riley assumed the one who had cried out - lay on the ground unmoving. A second masculine figure was standing over it, something sharp in one hand, ready to strike.

"Hey!" called out the priest as he ran towards them. The standing figure dropped his weapon and ran.

Father Riley quickly ignored the attacker and knelt over the fallen man. Thankful for the first aid class he'd been required to take back in high school, he checked for pulse and breathing. Finding none, he took out his cell phone and dialed 911. He explained the situation as clearly and succinctly as he could, telling them the location and what he'd seen. Then, the call over, he proceeded to attempt CPR.

*Now,* he thought frantically. *Is it five compressions and three breaths? Or five and one? Or maybe three and one?* Figuring that the young man couldn't be harmed at this point whatever he tried, the priest began.

As he leaned forward to try and get the man breathing again, a most startling thing happened. Father Riley's cross necklace swung forward and hit the man in the chin. It left a distinct burn mark. The young priest pulled back in surprise, touching his cross to see if it had somehow become hot. It was cool to the touch. But the young man had been quite clearly been burned by it. Father Riley felt himself becoming lightly afraid. *What the . . .* he pulled back, stopping CPR.

*Don't be an idiot!* he silently berated himself. *It probably didn't burn him. He probably already had the burn and you just didn't notice until now.* Somehow he was not quite able to convince himself. *He needs your help!* he finally yelled at himself. *Whoever - whatever he is, he needs your help.*

Single-mindedly the priest returned to his task. As he did so he began to pray.

Time seemed to drag by as Father Riley continued to try CPR. He was caught in the rhythm, his mind no longer on his task. Instead it was busy trying to think of any prayer he'd ever learned. He was not a doctor, just a confused priest, and there was nothing else that was in his power to do.

The sound of a siren approaching helped Father Riley focus again on what he was doing. His arms were exhausted and he knew he couldn't have continued much longer. He only hoped he'd done some good.

The ambulance came to a stop at the head of the alley and Father Riley was quickly surrounded by paramedics. They pulled him away from the young man to take over. He still wasn't breathing, but one of the paramedics announced that she found a weak pulse and they quickly moved him to the ambulance.

"Hey!" called out Father Riley as they ran towards the ambulance. "Can I come along?"

One of the paramedics shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir, but there just isn't room."

The priest continued to stand by them as they got back on the ambulance. He wasn't willing to just leave it at this. His common sense told him he'd done his act as good samaritan, but he couldn't listen. For good or ill, he had to know what happened. He couldn't just stand by never knowing what became of the young man, whether or not he lived.

As the driver climbed back into the ambulance, Father Riley called out to him again. "Wait!" he cried. "Where are you taking him?"

"Sunnydale Hospital," the man said. Then the sirens started again and the ambulance sped off into the night.

For a moment Father Riley only stood there in silence. Then, as the silence became too oppressive, he remembered that this had been the site of an attack and the attacker could still be around.

Hurrying to his car, Father Riley almost tripped over something. Looking down he recognized it as the attacker's weapon. He knelt closer to study it. It was wood - a sharpened piece of wood. He shook his head in bewilderment. Definitely not your usual weapon.

Finally the priest decided he'd had enough oddness for one night. Getting in his car, he headed for Sunnydale Hospital.

Part Two

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