The scent of burnt metal fills the air and a crowd of onlookers draw near. Christopher Saynt is looking for Ashley, searching the soiled faces of the dazed riders. He crosses to the far side of the tracks and sees that Ashley has left the wreckage. She is making her way to the City Library. He calls her name but she runs when she catches sight of him. Chris follows despite the appeals from medical workers who are now on the scene. And the journalist, Mace Dockett, watches him as he goes.
Chris runs into the library and enters the Urban Room, a five story glass atrium that is filled with street vendors and busy library patrons. He sees that Ashley has taken the spiral staircase to his right. He knows, though he is not sure how, that she is heading to the roof top gardens above. Chris makes his way to the glass elevator, hoping to close the distance between them. But he is frustrated with the slow ascent and the realization that he is once again one step behind.
Ashley exits onto the library’s Crescent Wall with Chris in pursuit. She has climbed over the protective rail and is sitting on the edge that faces the plaza below. Ashley is sobbing. Who are you? she asks Why are you trying to help me? Chris doesn’t reply. Instead he climbs the rail and sits beside her. The entire valley stretches before them. They look to the shining sun above, to the snow capped Wasatch Mountains, and to the children who play in the fountain below.
Chris returns Ashley’s Book of Mormon and this gesture breaks the barrier between them. Ashley begins to accept Chris and they talk for hours. Ashley is afraid that her sins will distance her from God. She’s worried that God hates her, just as she hates herself. Chris sees the dark stains that scar Ashley’s sweet spirit. He looks within and finds the deeds that are the cause of her shame. Sometimes he says we do things were not proud of. Ashley looks at him with wet eyes. Then Chris decides to shares his heart with Ashley. It has been a long time since he has done so. He tells her of his love for Rachel, for his daughters, and his Savior. When he finishes, he’s near tears.
Ashley steps back over the protective rail. She tells Chris that she is afraid of the men in the alleyway. Chris feels an inexplicable prompting and tells Ashley to go to her aunt in Illinois. Ashley is surprised at Chris’s insight, but she lets her curiosity go. She tells Chris that she hasn’t spoken to her Aunt in many years. She’s worried that shell be turned away. But Chris knows the very opposite is true. He tells Ashley that her aunt has been waiting for her. Ashley takes Chris by the hand and looks earnestly into his eyes. She feels the spirit in Christopher’s words. Then she thanks him with a short embrace, and leaves.
Ashley passes Sam who is walking up the Crescent Wall. Sam is in a white suit and wearing dark sunglasses. Sam remarks on the beautiful day, but Chris says nothing. Instead, Christopher looks out into the blue sky. Sam congratulates Chris but Christopher expresses that he wants to be alone. Chris turns to catch Sam’s response but Sam is gone. Not surprised, Chris heads back into the library. He spends a few moments wandering in apathy through the rows of books. Then, finding that he is tired for the first time all day, Chris sinks into a chair.
It takes a moment before Chris spies the news article on the table beside him. It pertains to the murder of his family. Chris feels that the placement of the article is all too suspicious and he looks around only to find that he is alone. As Christopher crumples the article in his hand he is hit with a realization. He remembers the thug behind the coffee shop, the one who ran the other direction, and he thinks he knows the man. Chris springs from the chair, reinvigorated, and runs from the library. He’s determined as he makes his way back to the coffee shop. Determined, but unaware of the dark and malevolent raven that follows him from above.
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