The all out status war

*i am going to post just so we *may be* get this rolling again?*

Maria/Sam~~

Maria stirred on the cold tiled floor of the abandoned warehouse. She smelled the sweet smell of rotting wood and rusting metal. Around her head was a blindfold,

"Hello?!" She yelled through her blindness, she heard movement and directed her would be vision towards it.

"Who's there?!" She questioned, attempting to here the sound again for some clues. No sound answered her cries, she slumped back against the wall she was propped against. The silence insued, Sam was already blind but she felt more of a darkness consuming her.

Click

The sound echoed through the large hall of a room, Sam mentally narrowed it down to the main room of the warehouse. She attempted to move but she was tied down completely.

"Hello?!" She called again in vain, her voice was now strained.

"Hi Miss. Ma-ri-a," The familiar voice chimed throughout the smoggy air, it was the cabby from before.

"Who are you?! What do you want?!?" Maria's voice itself sounded scared, which she was out of her mind. She flt the edge of a cool blade against her skin and shivered.

"Aw the little canary is sca-wed?" The young man cooed.

"Someone help me!!" She yelled, tears now soaked the blindfold.

"No one can hear you little bird," She heard the man's grin, "Your in my nest now and you can never leave." Th knife left her neck and grazed down to her shoulder gingerly. "Such pretty skin little bird, but you have a blemish right here." The knife sliced Maria's skin and she screamed, the scream echoed through the warehouse.

"Aw little bird when are your friends going to come and find you? I bet they wouldn't want their little bird in pieces would they?" Maria felt his clammy hands run down her bleeding shoulder and swirl the blood in patterns down her arm.

Sam's skin prickled.

Andy

Someone tapped him on the shoulder just as he was going in. He turned to see a doctor looking at him, a mixture of sympathy and annoyance on the man's face, "I'm sorry kid...the patient in there's in a coma. You can't go in right now.

Andy deflated a little, "Oh." He looked up, a little hopeful, "It's not Emily?"

The doctor shook his head sadly, "Sorry, it is her. She's lost a lot of blood, and I'm not sure how long it'll be before she wakes up again." He paused, looked Andy over, "You Andy?"

He nodded. The doctor smiled a little, "You're lucky to have a girl like her. Paramedics said she wouldn't stop asking for you." He patted Andy on the shoulder, then pointed down the corridor, "Waiting room's that way, if you want to stay a while. I think the cops want to talk to you about what happened, as well."

Andy saddened a little. He wasn't afraid of talking to the police, he hadn't done anything wrong, and he thought he had a few names to give them as well. But he didn't want to be repeating to anyone how he'd let himself get separated from her in such clear danger. He felt responsible for her getting shot.

*Oh, okay. I don't know what to do.*

hm... well... what would Carlie be doing after just being attacked at the school dance? its up to you entirely but you could describe her fear, you could continue with her speaking to the police, you could even talk to Andy. he's there right now and its easier to play off of someone. are we waiting for me to post? whoopsies. i'll post later tonight. i'm working on it right now =D

this is long i know but i hope its good


Not a single drop of perspiration ran down Toni's forehead when the cops made their way in. Nor did it when they made their way toward Fletchers' band. It was the between that made the difference. Toni slid up to the police men with a smile that a shark makes before he eats a meal. Few words were traded between the men but Andy would know that Toni had swallowed them whole as the pair walked up to the boy for questions. It didn't take much, Andy had nothing on him anyway, but Antonio Lombardi was a ocean deep resource and no bucket would ever deplete it.

He moved past Fletcher without a second glance, and made his way past to speak to the doctor with the determination of a concerned father.

“Hey, how is she?”

The doctor peeled his eyes from his clipboard and hugged it to his chest. “She should be okay. The bullet missed anything serious but she's lost a lot of blood. You're lucky you got her here so quickly. Are you...”

“Her brother. Call me Toni.”

“Ah. Well, nice to meet you, Toni,” he said, and gestured down the hallway with a broad wave of his hand, “C'mon. You hungry? Lets go grab a bite to eat.”

Toni looked discomforted and shook his head, “I'm just going to stay here if thats alright with you.”

The doctor paused and looked over him a moment, then asked, “Ever hear the story of the two twin birds?”

Again, Toni shook his head.

“Well, there were these two twin birds and they were inseparable. They soared over masses of landscapes together, the plucked worms from the earth together, they even built their nests in neighboring trees together. Until one day, one bird rose eeeaaarly in the morning, as he usually does, to collect his friend. You know what they say about the early bird? Well there's truth to that so they had to get a jump start. Anyway, the bird went to get his friend only his friend refused to move!

'Oh,' his friend said, 'I cannot go hunt worms with you today. My arm is crippled and I cannot fly.'

The bird check his friends wing and sure enough. It had been broken! The bird was so so so worried about his friend that he did everything for him. He brought him food, he fixed his nest, he washed his feathers and he even helped tidy up the house. Every moment that the bird was awake he was aiding his friend back to health.

And so, the friend eventually did get better! But the time came for their afternoon flight, and the bird went to his friends nest to retrieve him, he found that his friend could not come!

'Oh,' said the bird, 'I cannot go fly with you today. I have starved myself from helping you and now I am far too weak.'

So you see? If he had just taken a little bit more care of himself they would have that afternoon, and many following afternoons, to fly and play together.” The expression on Toni's face was one you would give to a traveling salesman. The doctor added with a laugh, "C'mon. Lets get you something to eat."

He was relieved to have his phone ring and interrupt the conversation with the doctor.

“Excuse me, doctor,” he said, holding up a finger and briskly making his way away from the man, “Hello?”

“Hey, the car...” Shauns voice from the other end cut out quickly and Toni cursed every cellphone call that ever dropped.

He flipped his phone closed and shot a quick glance toward the doctor, then to the police speaking with Fletcher and his friends, then to the clearly labeled EXIT sign. He beat a hasty retreat. Too many agendas still orbited around Lombardi's head like cartoon stars and he had to sort them out. Who shot Emily and why? Were they trying to get to him? Where's Mikeal? What was he going to do to Mikeal when he found him? What happened to Shaun? Really a dropped phone call or had Shaun been hit? He swore that if Mikeal hit Shaun that he was walking in skeletons boots. More importantly, or at least more presently, were the hell was Maria? Ah. Thats right. She was with Shaun. He had to get a hold of Shaun. Toni pulled open his car door and swung himself inside, zooming out of the parking lot.

His phone rang again he checked it before receiving the call. Shaun.

“Hey, are you okay? I lost you there.”

“Yeah, I am fine. Just had a little car trouble. Can you pick me up? I am on heartlin st. in old town.”

“Of course. Be with you momentarily.”

His car roared through the windy city streets of old town with a racecar drivers determination. Things had to get solved before the night aged into day and he knew it. The car pulled up to the spot at Heartlin and his brights revealed two characters in the middle of the road. Shaun, of course, and a topless kid about his age, a skater by the looks of it. Toni narrowed his eyes and leaned over to pop open his glove box, reached for his piece, and held it in his lap like it was his lucky ace.

“Hey,” Toni called out after rolling down his window. “What's going on? You commin' or what?”

Shaun finished whatever he needed to with the Goth then entered the car.

“Who's that?” Lombardi questioned cautiously.

“Nobody. Kid found my cell. I dropped it.”

Lombardi nodded a slow reluctant nod and began to drive off. “Where's Sam?”

“The hospital.”

Toni's gaze shifted to a blank stare out the front windshield. His knuckles turned white on the steering wheel, and his teeth felt like mortal and pestle. Shaun was hiding something from him and he knew it. He just didn't have time to address it.

“Where're we going?” Shaun asked, peering out the side window.

Lombardi turned an eye to him for a moment, then returned back to the road, and he scooped his cell phone from his jacket pocket. “Not sure yet. We got some answers to dig up and I'm lookin' for my shovel.”

He quickly Alfonzo's number and was greeted with muffled cries. His heart went cold and jumped up his throat. The sounds shifted like ruffling paper and a soft, but cruel womans voice spoke to him. “Toni, Toni, Toni,” she tsked, “Why is your friend here rummaging around in my affairs like some lost kitten? You heard what curiosity did to the cat, right?”

Blam.

“Killed it.”

Toni's fingers punched the buttons of his GPS in one rapid blur.

“Don't bother looking for this phone, Lombardi. Its tracking device has already been removed. Don't mess with me again or its you next time.”

Searing rage filled him and before he knew it the phone was crushed in his palm. Shaun looked at him with the eyes of a child about to be disciplined. The car zoomed forward, driven by his anger, as the car warned politely, “Prepare to turn left in point eight miles.”

“What happened?” Shaun asked.

“Nothing,” he responded viciously, “Just a cat with too many lives that needs to be ended.”

The only thing that kept him hopeful, his one shining silver dollar in the sand, was the tracking device planted on Mikeals friend, Mackenzie. Two inseparable birds and one would be the death of the other.

*I'll post something tomorrow morning. I'm working on my post.*

Mikael

I shot out of the grounds and round the corner, followed shortly after by four more motorbikes and two hummers. We blasted down lane until we reached the safehouse. Mac hoped off and i went and let him in.
"Mac as soon as you have that list you call me ok?" All i got was a quiet mumble in reply. I turned back to my arrayed goths.
"Ok boys and girls. As you know your leader was recently removed. I am his replacement. Some of you may know me from past exploits but i am not the hero the stories make me out to be. Killing is a grisly buisness and anyone who so wishes can back out now and i will put you on another duty." No one stepped forward.
"Ok. The man in that building is Level Red One. You guard him with your life. If he dies you die. You understand me?" There was a murmur of approval.
"Ok good. Fall out." The Goths permitted a smart salute and attention before marching off to there positions before i joined Mac in the house.

Shuan:

The expression on the boys faces was friendly, but still some how neutral. He extended his and to give Shuan the cover to his phone back.
“Thanks,” Shuan said. The blood still pumping though his body at phenomenal rates.
“No, problem. Say what are you doing out here so late?” Styler asked.
Shaun wondered if he had seen what had happened or if the boy just thought he was crazy.
“Just had some car trouble.”
“Oh, anything that I can help you with?” Shuan could see now that Styler was covered in sweet.
“No, I am going to have to take it to the shop.” Shuan didn't know what to say but he knew that he couldn't let the boy know what had happened.

It was about this time that Lombardi's Car pulled up and came to a stop.
“Hey,” Toni called out after rolling down his window. “What's going on? You commin' or what?”

Shaun flashed a smile at Lombardi and turned back to Styler.
“Hey thanks, I don't know if your interested but the peace makers are going to have another meeting.”
“Yeah, are you a part of that?”
Shuan heard what he said but was already on his way back to the car by the time that he responded.

“Who's that?” Lombardi asked.

“Nobody. Kid found my cell. I dropped it.” Shuan said softly.

What else should I say? Hey I was just attacked by a demon infact I think that it was the same demon that killed Scarlett. Oh, and I have been hold out the flash drive from you this whole time.

Lombardi nodded. “Where's Sam?”

“The hospital.”

With that Lombardi got quite and started just focusing on the road.

“What's going on?” Shaun asked, peering out the side window.
No, I need to tell him what happened. But how do I do it with out looking crazy?

Lombardi glanced over at Shuan for a monment and then fished his cell phone out. “Not sure yet. We got some answers to dig up and I'm lookin' for my shovel.”

Lombardi seemed distant and not just because he was on the phone, since he left Lombardi's house things have been weird. Then again The events of the day were pretty crazy between The all night stakeout Shuan was on the night before and the Ninjas that attacked Lombardi things could have gone better.

Toni's fingers pushed some buttons on the GPS.

“Prepare to turn left in point eight miles.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing, just a cat with too many lives that needs to be ended.”

“Hey there is something I should tell you...” Shuan started. Lombardi turned his head.
“This had better be good news.” he said coldly
Shaun paused for a moment.
I can't tell him, not yet.
“Don't you think we need Maria to help us out here?”
“I guess your right. Where is she?”
“She was at the hospital last I knew.”
“ My house is on the way so I will just drop you off you can take one of the cars and go find her.”
“Why?”
“Because she sure as heck isn't there now, I was just there.”

Lombardi took a hard turn into his driveway and spayed gravel.

Shuan slide behind the wheel of a late model muscle car and hit the gas...

** WOO! 200 posts! Keep it up, people! **

**Well, I assume it's my turn to post, so here goes**

Andy

“We’ve been informed that you’re the victim’s boyfriend.” The officer was saying to him. Andy nodded absently, “You wouldn’t happen to have any idea who’s responsible for this, would you? Vengeful ex, jealous friend, that kind of thing?”

Andy thought for a moment, Incriminate Lombardi? No, there’d be no evidence on him… “I…wasn’t there,” he said, clearly embarrassed, “But I know who fired the shot that hit her. It was a man named Perry something-or-other. You can find him, if he’s still alive, through a guy called Lombardi. Tony Lombardi. There were a couple of other people as well, who you’d want to check out.”

Andy’s eyes had hardened by this point, people were going to pay for what had happened to Emily, “A couple of people who were at the dance. The bass guitarist from one of the other bands – he had some kind of sound bomb or something. And there was another guy who was there, in a white suit, who I’m sure had some part in the whole thing. I don’t know their names, but I could pick them in a lineup.”

The cops nodded, thanked him for his time, let him know they’d ‘be in touch’, and left to find someone else to question. Andy knew he’d helped them very little, but that was just fine by him. If the cops didn’t bring these people to heel, Andy would find a way to do it himself.

A doctor startled him out of his thoughts, tapping him on the shoulder, “Mister Fletcher?” Andy turned around, nodded. The doctor looked lost for words for a few moments, then cleared his throat, “We’re very sorry, but Emily’s condition is getting worse. She’s not likely to be out of hospital any time soon…”

Andy nodded, “Thanks. Can I use your phone for a minute, I need to make a call.”
The doctor shrugged and pointed over to a public phone on the wall. Andy checked that no one was looking, then dialled Lombardi.

“Yeah?” The voice on the other end sounded impatient and frustrated at being disturbed.

“Listen, Tony,” Andy hissed, “You might be doing something important right now, but Emily’s getting worse. You’ve got money to burn, and I know it. I want you to get in the best doctor you can for her.” He paused, “If you do, I’ll consider it payment for your people getting her in here in the first place. And I’ll almost certainly take your offer as well.”

He didn’t like putting himself in that position, but he needed Emily to get better.

*Sorry I haven't posted I was gone on a prom trip. I'm working on my post right now.*

Carlie


She didn’t know what to do, Emily was getting worse by the minute and Andy was getting ready to take someone’s offer. She knew he didn’t want her to hear it, but when she walked by after getting some coffee out of the cafeteria downstairs. I wonder what Alex will think?

“Hey,” Carlie said while she sat close to Alex. She put her head on his shoulder and leaned into him, “You know I just heard Andy say something weird.”

“Really? What’d you hear?” He said as he laid his head on top of mine.

“Apparently he’s going to take someone’s offer if they get the best treatment for Emily.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he seemed desperate though, like he didn’t want to say it,” She raised one shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t know what to think.”

“Well, let’s just hope it works out. Andy is smart, he’s knows what he’s doing ,” Alex rubbed his hand up and down Carlie’s back to comfort her.

She loved just being near him, she snuggled in even closer and nodded her head as much as she could without dislodging Alex’s head from hers. “Okay, I trust him, and you.”

One word was placed into the blender of Stylers mind and it was on full force puree the entire trek home. He started a slow walk, then a brisk jog, which continued into a relentless race all the way home. Sweat drenched his head and his chest was tight from lack of breath and no matter how hard he pushed himself it repeated on a fifteen second clip like a bad television commercial.

Peace.

Was it even possible for the Goths and Colors to get together without gun play or sabotage? He doubted it. Recalling the payout for the last job he worked on the matter, 20 grand, he wasn't entirely sure he even wanted it. Still, it was all too tangible that there were like-minded soldiers on either side who were just sick of the fighting. But what chance would they have? Close to none, he assured himself halfheartedly. After all, the war was as much of his life as martial arts, as much as killing, hell, to him war was a full time job with Maui vacations and Tijuana getaways. What could a peacemakers meeting possibly mean for him? He'd be discarded like an obsolete machine, unable to perform the necessary tasks that the new world would create. Styler could not let this happen.

His mind was never entirely on the peacemakers meeting. Try as he might he couldn't keep Alex, Carlie, and Emily out of it; he found himself hoping they were alright. As soon as that crazy thought hit him he reminded himself to take another shot of bourbon as soon as he got home. He'd tallied sixteen by the time he arrived. But then, maybe this was it. Maybe he could actually change things. He'd been invited to become a member of an underground resistance. A peaceful rebellion. He could find his yang. The thought rolled in his head on repeat.

The stiff, yellow weeds concealed the entrance to a manhole cover like a mouth behind a large bushy beard. Styler meticulously pushed them aside to prevent signs of his passage, then stepped up onto the foot clearance of concrete which the manhole was centered and finally pried the large metal disk covering it to the side. He climbed down the old metal rungs of the ladder with enough moon light to see a into what seemed to be a dark Hitchcock set. After taking a gulp of breath, Styler flipped on the light to reveal a furnished antique dining room set with dangling chandeliers and diamond silverware. Suddenly all of his thoughts stopped spinning and one word popped into his head:

Oh

-Before four automated turrets rotated on the ceiling, barrels aimed at him and spat lead furry at him, winging him in the shoulder, torso and thigh as he reflexively swung himself to the digital keypad.

Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn... the damn security system. Damn the security system!

The barrels swung to his new location, but rotated slowly to a stop; they would have killed him had he not known they were there. Styler breathed in heavily, leaning against the wall, grasped his bleeding arm, and cursed himself in Korean for being so stupid. His steel gray eyes turned to what would be his destroyer and realization came as if from the mouth of a pessimistic mentor:

Styler was war. He thought war, he breathed war, he bled war. Styler was war.

A beep indicated a text from the cell in his pocket. He flipped it out to see.

Big job. Requires discretion. 1Mil.

sorry! my posts keep getting longer and longer...

Antonio Lombardi ~

“Done.” The words strained out of his mouth because what he really meant was, “Emily is getting worse?”

Tears fought their way past his eyes but he kept his chin tight to dam them back. His darling sister, Emily, was hurt and it was his fault and he knew it. The guilt weighed heavy on his chest and drove him with renewed vengeance. He called his people, his people called their people, and those people called even more people until every doctor in the state would know about Emily's condition, and would hear about the ten thousand dollar bonus with paid expense to come down and fix her. This was Toni's first step.

His second step was investigation but Lombardi knew it was silly to attempt such a fools errand alone. He knew there would be thousands of guards by now. He sat in his car outside his house as he watched Shaun pull out in one of his other vehicles

“Marco,” he said after dialing his number, “Where you at?”

Marco replied in a slow voice, scratchy voice, “Still at the house. Whats up, boss?”

“Come outside. We got biz to take care of.”

“Aiight... whaddya want me to do with this guy?”

Oh, right, thought Lombardi, my attacker is still in the house.

“Bring 'em.”

* * *

His car rocketed down the streets as he followed the womans voice on his GPA. The coordinates had been sent to him via text from Alfonzo an hour before his death and he doubted anyone knew what he was up to. Not even Marco had much of an idea despite how much he inquired. Eventually he gave up and just sat contently in his seat. In less than an thirty minutes they had arrived at a massive house hidden behind the trees and shrubbery and Lombardi drove past the entrance without hesitation. He parked a few miles away and he and Marco hiked their way through the foliage as quiet as boys sneaking out for a midnight, lurking past the guard patrols.

Lombardi placed a finger to his lips before taking a careful peak above one of the large shrubs. The house was a matter of meters away and built from stone, resembling something from a classic Gothic fairy tale. The torches illuminating the outside walls and cast perfect shadows on the windows to disallow peeping toms but Toni was sure he could hear the faint sounds of an argument. He ducked back down and gave Marco a nod. Marco replied similarly and gripped his pistol tighter, lifting it to a readied position. The two made a quick dash across the yard, with Marco leading, and when they got there he ducked down, holding his hands together for Toni to use as a foot prop. Toni followed flawlessly, and hopped up into the window, from there he held his hand out to pull his friend up. They both sat, scrunched in the frame, like two boasting broad men trying to enter a door simultaneously, and listened. Toni could head the clicking of heels on hardwood floor in the adjacent room and he smiled. This was it. Time for his revenge. He descended to the floor, aided by Marco, and landed with barely a noise. He crept slowly to the door like the midnight burglar he was and pushed it open.

The look on Queen Mabs face was one he had imagined for some time. Shock, fear, and anger, with a mix of a thousand other emotions, much like a presidential candidate would look after a huge revealing story released in the news.

He grinned his Cheshire Cat grin, his baby eagle perched tightly on his trigger finger, ready to strike. “Hello, Mab. Happy to see me?”

“Toni,” she gasped and quickly looked back for aide from one of her private guards.

Toni allowed her only a partial turn and cocked the trigger back so her eyes were on the right place. “Ah ah ah,” he said with a tsking tone, “I'm over here. I need some answers from you.”

Her mood shifted to cautious curiosity and she tilted her head in a dog like fashion. “Oh?” She attempted to cross the room and take a seat. Toni lifted the barrel higher as a response. “Toni please. I'm an old woman. What am I going to do?”

“Shut up. Stay put. And answer my damn questions. Tonight I was attacked by five men dressed all in black and one of you bastards shot up my sister. I wanna know why.”

Mabs dark eyes regarded him with the amusement a mother offers her child. “Really?” she laughed, “And you expect I would know?”

“Of course you do. You sent 'em.”

This moved her entire body with laughter, and she placed a hand on her stomach as if to hold it back.

“Whats so damn funny, lady? If you ain't gonna listen to me you're gonna listen to this.”

He stepped closer to put the gun against her nose. Her eyes crossed to look at it, then settled back on him. “Aw, whats the matter? Did my Lieutenant Mikeal's betrayal really break your poor little heart? You must have expected it.”

The name enraged him so much that he nearly blew her face off but she must have sensed it because she quickly added in a rushed voice, “Lets not be ridiculous! Even if you did kill me how would you expect to get out of here?”

“I got in. I'll get out.” His tone then turned harsh, “You gonna answer me or are we going to have to discuss this over lead drinks?”

She sighed and shook her head, changing pace with a slow, strained reply, “The reason I thought it was so funny, Toni, is because I asked Agresta the same thing. I have no idea who attacked you. All I know is it wasn't me.”

Toni blinked. “Agresta? Why?”

Another long breath escpaed her lips and she waved her hand dismissively, “I don't know, Toni. Why don't you ask her yourself?” She jerked her chin to something behind him.

He whirled the barrel around to see Agresta in the doorway with a silver blade pressed against Marco's neck. “Agresta,” he growled in a deadly tone.

“Antonio,” she replied, politely. “Lets drop the gun, shall we?” She tapped Marco twice on the neck, pricking him just enough to bring blood to the surface.

Toni paused, then tucked the gun into his pants. “Best you're going to get, Agresta.”

She waited a moment, feeling him out before giving a nod. “That'll do.”

“So, we gonna figure this out or what?”

“What do you want, Antonio? You know I can't tell you that.”

“You're gonna have to. Or we're gonna have a problem.”

Her patience dropped and she glared at him with icy contempt, “Need I remind you that you have no bargaining chips here.”

“Maybe I don't. Then again...”

“Before you even continue, Antonio, I want you to realize this: I don't know who sent the men. All someone has to do is hand me a file and I give it directly to my agent. Most of the time I have no idea what my spies are doing. So, before you come in here shouting out like a cowboy, consider that.”

Even though Toni was not satisfied with the reply she did have one thing right. He had no bargaining chips. All he had was a thirteen shot pistol and there were too many to take out by himself. He had to play this safe.

“Alright, Agresta. Fine. Let 'em go and we'll leave. Right now. No body follows us and no body gets hurt. Yeah?”

“Toni, you're in the middle of the Goth headquarters. Do you really think I'm goin-” Mab started.

Toni whirled around and glared at her, “We can settle this now, Mab. You can take me out right now. But if I wind up dead in your house you can bet your ass the Council will be crawling all over this place.”

Mab narrowed her eyes at him. “Fine. Dante, please escort our guests from the premises.”

Agresta slowly released Marco and let him return to Lombardi's side. Dante, Mabs henchman, led the two out as they slowly backed away, cautiously looking behind themselves for any unseen attackers, and were gone.

Toni let out a slow breath when they finally made it to the car and he wiped his forehead clean. Rage was in his blood and boiled his vision, and made his hands shake as the shifting faces of his aggressors changed in his head. Agresta, Mab, and finally Mikeal. Teeth nearly splitting from fury, his hands settled on the trunk of the car to level his jumping emotions. The only thought in his head now was revenge. The third step. He would take care of it appropriately.

He dialed a number on his phone and as soon as it picked up he said. “Alright, Agresta. I'll play your way. I've got a job. It requires discretion. One million to whoever gets it done.”



okay so i have nothing else to do for the night so i elect that we move to the next day with the new round of posts (aka, after you all wrap up whatever you need to.) everyone down?

Maria~~~

Silence and cigarette smoke followed Maria's and cabby's encounter.

"Why are-," Maria finally manged to stammer.

"Doing this?" He interrupted, "Cause I can sweety, and some person is paying me triple of what I usually get." A maniacal laugh followed.

"So your doing it for the-money?" The words formed like jello in her throat.

"Of course not my little bird!" He laughed like they were just friends in a coffee shop, "I do it for the fun."

Fun? He did this for fun?! She was locked against a wall with a blind fold and it was all for this man's enjoyment. Her people on both sides must have noticed something by now, her disappearing off the planet earth and all, no wait they wouldn't because she was still at the hospital.

"Why so quiet?" He asked, "Did I do something wrong?" He actually sounded sincere.

Sam didn't answer.

"You know, I usually only work with blonds," He sighed, "But you pretty bird are an exception."

Sam still didn't answer and the sociopath went on.

"About four years ago I caught my best friend and my other best friend slash future girlfriend together in bed," He laughed, "I strapped them to the same bed and burned it. But then fire wasn't my passion so I moved onto knifing," The metal pressed against her neck again.

Sam couldn't help her whimper and her pulse rate went up, causing the earlier wound to bleed.

Her head got wet from an above source.

"You know I never completely got over the whole burning thing." He stated plainly.

Slash

"It's just funner to kill them first," A slash on the other shoulder bled but Sam's scream couldn't find it's way out.

She was going to die.

"Sorry," He apologized, "OCD gets me every time."

It all happened too fast, Sam couldn't remember which came first the gun shots or bright lights attacking her eyeballs.

"Babe," Griffin dragged, "You smell like herb and gasoline."

"What the freaking hell took you all so freaking long?!" Sam questioned and failed at the attempt to get up and realized that her feet were still chained. Her arms pulsed with pain.

"I'm having them take you home cupcake, no more fun cab rides for you," he bopped his Maria's nose with his index finger smiling, as some other goths relieved her feet of shackles. "You have a big day tomorrow."

"No way," Sam rasped.

"What?" Griffin leaned in.

"I'm through," She rasped again.

"No your not," He turned serious, "Your just hitting the tip of the glacier darling."

"I'm done, a sociopath just tried to kill me, I smell like a druggie, a poor girl is in a coma at the hospital because of a gun fight at my school dance, I have some kind of creeper and I'm 'working' for a guy that would chop my head off if he found out what I was doing for the other team." Sam's throat croaked and was gradual getting stronger.

Griffin didn't answer as he lit up.

"Oh did I mention that they would find my body at the bottom of the nearest-"

Griffin's hand covered my mouth, a lot of people were interrupting her today.

"They found Tanner honey," He let Sam's mouth gape open by itself, "And if he starts talking..."

"Go rot in hell Grif," She stammered looking down.

-----

Sam's phone buzzed off her newly purchased side table and hit the ground with a thump.

"Make me," She answered it. A few minutes later her door bell rang, "Everyone wants me today" she said sarcastically. She rolled out and her feet found the ground as she put her hair in a messy pony tail. She padded across the plush carpet, to the door for she didn't give anything for what she looked like right now.

"Oh my god," A girl stood on the other side, obviously a rocker.

"Yeah, I can understand that," The blond girl looked confused, "Are you gonna to try to kill me?"

"No.." The girl responded.

"Sorry, rough night. Come on in!" Sam opened the door wider and the girl walked in slowly.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Maria said dryly, "Coffee?"

"No I'm fine, I'm Carlie by the way." Carlie offered as Sam padded into the open kitchen, "Your Maria right?"

"Yep that's what they tell me," Complete truth and the other girl cracked a smile.

"What do you know about Emily?" She asked bluntly and Sam froze in her tracks for a second then composed herself like a good thespian.

"The chick who got shot?"

"Yeah you were at the hospital last night," Wow this girl was blunt, "Do you know anything about Andy?"

"Oh yeah he is working on something for a friend of mine," The house phone rung, those persistent buggers, "Do you mind?" Carlie motioned a no.

"Hey," She offered the caller.

"Where the hell are you?" The caller answered.