Let It Burn: Redemption Ending

Wow!  The poll ended up as a dead even tie between Redemption and Corruption.  LOL  Talk about the duality of Good vs. Evil.  There was only one thing to do, write them both!

Since I did two endings I decided to give them each their own post in the end.  Thanks for reading and thanks for voting.  This one was fun!

***

“You told me once that it’s never too late for a second chance.”

My eyes narrow suspiciously.  “Yes.”

“Do you actually believe that shit?  Or is it just another bit of meaningless heroic bombast?”

I look at Sin, trying to discern if this was some sort of trick or if there was an angle she was playing.  I honestly couldn’t tell.

“Ha.  I guess that answers that.  Yeah, me neither.”  She goes to sit up but I grab her arm and keep her beside me.

“Wait.”  I say.  “Yeah, I do believe that.  I really do.”

“Even for a villain?”

“I mean…with all you’ve done, forgiveness will be difficult to…”

“No.  No, no, no.”  She shakes her head.  “I don’t want forgiveness.  I don’t seek forgiveness or salvation.  Just…a second chance.”  She turns her head to watch the flames spread across some of the shattered pews.  Laying across one is her crimson nun’s habit style headpiece the nearing heat melting and blistering the garment.  “There is no heaven or hell.  And if there is…I’ve already bought my ticket to my ultimate destination a thousand times over.  I just want…a clean slate.  I just want a fresh start.”

“A clean slate?”  I say.  “You mean you want a pardon.  You want to walk away from all you’ve done scot-free.”

“Yes.”  She whispers.  “I’ll never be a saint but….just a chance to try again, you know?  A chance to live a better life not all twisted by notions of God and Satan.”

“Listen Sin, you can have your second chance but justice demands that you are tried and…”

She lets out a long sigh and just like that all of the openness and honesty she had just shared disappears.  “Never mind.  I was a fool to think you’d understand.”

She goes to sit up again.  Again I stop her.  We lay facing each other, eye to eye.  I trace a finger along the smooth contour of her cheek.  “What punishment can erase your crimes?  What reparation could ever equal the evil you’ve done?  What judgment can clean the slate?”

“Can justice absolve me of my sins?”

“No.”

“I’m not going away again Angel.  I can’t live in a cage for the rest of my life.”  She states fervently.  “Besides, we both know there is only one penalty that fits my deeds.”  Reaching up she grabs my hand and pulls it away from her face.  “But if I am going to die…it will be on my feet, fighting.”

Grabbing her hand I pull it into my chest.  “A second chance.”

“What?”

“You want a second chance?  You really want it?  Or is it another meaningless bit of bad-guy bullshit?”

She shakes her head.  “Would you stop…”

“Do you want it?”

“Yes!”  She exclaims.  “But it’s impos…”

“If you’re dead or jailed you might be nullified, but you need your freedom if you’re going to seek redemption.”

“Redemption!?”

“You’ll never erase what you’ve done in the past, but you CAN work to make the future better.  Perhaps redemption is impossible, but it is still worth fighting for.  No?”

“Angel…”

“I don’t see another way for you Sin.  If you want that second chance you must find a new way or will you just end up making all of the same mistakes again.”

“You…want me to switch sides.”

“Yes.”  I say.  “Who better to fight a villain than one who thinks like one?”

“Me.  Seriously.”

“Yes, you.”  I answer bluntly.  “You think you’re going to just sail off into a nice retirement?  No way Sister, you got work to do.”

“But…I’m evil.”

“I know.”  I say.  “For now.  But if your actions are good who is to know the difference?”

“We will.”

“We’re good at keeping secrets.”  I say.  “I think once you get a taste of the good life you’ll see it’s not so bad.”

“Ha!”  She laughs, but I could tell she was tempted.  “I’ll need another identity.”

“You’ve never worn a mask, seems a good time to start.”

“I’ll need another city.”

“There won’t be much left standing of this one.”

There is long pause as Sin ponders the opportunity.  Her eyes cast to the side.  I look to see her headpiece now completely engulfed by consuming flames.  For a quiet time she watches it, perhaps mourning the passing of Sister Sin and Sister Cinder or perhaps enjoying the chaos of the flames.  Eventually her eyes turn back to me as a look of peace comes over her.

“I’ll need…”  A grin starts to spread.  “…supervision.  In case I falter.”

“Oh yes.”  I nod.  “Constant supervision.  Someone to keep you on a tight leash.”

“Leash!  That will be the day.”  She laughs.  “You are an idiot for offering me this.”

“Probably.”

“I’ll end up betraying you.”

“I don’t think so.”  Grabbing her big wonderful ass I pull her in tight and kiss her.  “A little birdie told me that I was your best friend.”  I then wink.  “Have a little faith Sister.”

She smiles and cuddles in close.  “Is this justice?”

“Nope, not even a little.”  I say.  “I am not worthy of that moniker any longer.  It will die tonight, along with Sister Cinder.”  It was going to have to anyway, there was no way the Angel of Justice could live down not joining in on this foolish battle.  Tomorrow would be a second chance for both of us.  A chance to do it better, together.

“What are two more casualties in this war zone?”

“Exactly.”

“Sooooo, this has nothing to do with what we just did.  Right?  This is simply about redemption and second chances, yes?”  She asks with a devilish twinkle in her eye.  “You’re not just offering me this chance for the booty or to see my big…thick…hard strap-on, is it?”

“Sin!”  I say aghast.  “You forget, you are talking to an Angel!”

“Ha!  Yeah right.”

“Although…if you want to swing by your place to pick up a few things before we leave…”

“Ha ha ha ha!”  She kisses me hard.  “Let’s get the fuck out of here!”

Taking her soft body in my arms I launch the pair of us out and into the sky in a hail of shattered stained glass.  Behind us the cathedral burned.  Below us the neighborhood of our first battle burned.  Around us the city I had given my life to burned.  And, brightest and hottest of all, in Sin’s beautiful blue eyes a mixture of hope and passionate lust and dying hate and a fragile fledgling love burned.  And amidst it all only three simple words echoed in my heart…let it burn!

The End