Among the Oil Derricks: Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

Emilie followed slowly. She wanted to allow Drake some time before she approached him. She had lost sight of him, but hoped to spot him soon. It was relatively flat desert land. He couldn’t exactly disappear. After several minutes she spied Spero by an oddly shaped hill. No Drake. Emilie looked around. Where was he? Maybe she was wrong, maybe he could disappear. No! There was his shoe print! Prints! Maybe she could follow them. They seemed to lead right into the hill. After awhile of loud searching, Drake’s voice suddenly said behind her, “I’m here, alright.” Emilie whirled around.

“Drake!” she gasped startled.

“What do you want?” he asked sullenly.

“I thought - I thought you might want someone to talk to.”

“Well I don’t.”

“Fine, you need someone to talk to.”

“In which case you know not think. I don’t need anyone to talk to.”

“Granted,” Emilie conceded, “I guess you don’t, but I’ve always found that having another person to listen helps me get over things and I know a lot of people who do. Even sometimes just having someone there is comforting. But, I’ll go if you really mind me. I just wanted you to know we care enough not to just let you go.”

“Really? Where’s Derek?” Drake challenged.

“I told him not to come, you didn’t seem ready to talk to him,” Emilie replied.

“Yeah, I’m not,” Drake slumped down, “I don’t mind you staying if you care to, I don’t have anything to say, though. Everything is going wrong.”

“I’m sorry,” Emilie sat down and said nothing more. There were several minutes of silence until Drake said, “Everything I ever cared about is gone or going away. It’s like everything and everyone is trying to take it and those who might have cared just can’t. It - it all started when Ashley died.”

“Drake, who’s Ashley?” Emilie asked gently.

“Ashley,” he murmured in a broken voice, “Ashley. She was my sister. The only one in the world who couldn’t live without me and wouldn’t want to if she could. She really loved me!”

“What happened to her?”

“She died… she died…” Drake sighed, he seemed to grow up so quickly, “When we were little, our parents drank too much and did drugs. We were left to take care of ourselves, so I took it upon myself to take care of Ashley. If anyone said anything bad about her, I’d beat them up until they took it back and promised never to do it again. Each time after Ashley would run up to me and hug me and tell me she didn’t need a prince charming, castles, or glass shoes because she had me and I was her hero.” Drake smiled a little. “But then she got sick with a fever. She shouldn’t have died. Many kids had had it and didn’t die, but she did need a doctor or something to help her get better. Mom and Dad were too drunk or out of it to know or care. I wanted to go to the police, but I was too afraid. One night when she was really bad, Mom and Dad didn’t come home. I couldn’t wait, I went for the police, but it was too late. I found out later Mom had dropped dead from anorexia assisted by a drug overdose and my Dad got angry about it and fought with the dealer who shot him. I was sent to foster care after than and has been in the system ever since.”

“Do - you think it was your fault?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think Ashley dying was your fault?”

Drake was quiet then nodded slowly, “I should have gone - I should have gone for the police earlier. Why did I wait? It was my fault.”

“No, Drake, it wasn’t your fault,” Emilie touched his hand, “you made a mistake in not going earlier, but - how old were you?”

“Eight or nine.”

“That was a confusing situation, Drake, your parents should have been there, your parents should have called the shots, that was what is natural,” Emilie explained, “It shouldn’t have been your responsibility, but by unfortunate circumstance, it was. No one would blame you, I don’t, and I know Ashley doesn’t, and God certainly doesn’t. It was very unfair.”

“But if I had -” Drake choked up, “if I had, she’d still be alive.”

“We don’t know that,” answered Emilie.

“It makes me so mad, but sometimes I am glad she’s not here,” Drake confessed, “we might not always be together, she might be adopted into some other family, and she wouldn’t like moving so much.” Emilie nodded. “I hate Derek.” he suddenly said.

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know, I shouldn’t, I know that, but I do,” Drake held his head with his hands with a frustrated look.

Emilie waited a moment before replying, “Is it because you actually like him and that makes you angry you are vulnerable to a man again? Do you think sometimes you might feel like something is your fault and so you hate yourself, but taking all the blame is just too much, so you hate and blame others, too, causing you to hate yourself more for not being able to hold it all in? You have a legitimate reason, Drake, but you really can’t take the blame for everything. Some of the things you blame yourself for is too much for you so what else can you do? And sometimes there are things that are really someone else’s fault and sometimes it is nobody.” It was a bit off topic, but Emilie felt that this was an issue important to discuss.

“It makes no sense, it has to be someone's fault, it always has to be someone’s fault,” Drake murmured, “I don’t like blaming other people, I’d rather blame myself, but - you’re right, it is too much and it does leak. I haven’t known him for very long, but he’s been the closest thing to male family member I’ve ever had, like an adult brother or cousin or something, yet -” Drake stopped. He didn’t know how to explain why he continued to push him away.

“Everything you hold close gets ripped away, the man who was supposed to love and grow you into a man ended up hurting you most?” Emilie finished his thought, “It is a justifiable fear, too. It is very unfair and even very unjust, which is worse. But you need to decide what you are going to do. You’ve been hurt, but its your choice to grab God’s hand and get back up, just as its Derek’s choice to make the right decisions in his new life and my choice to do what I know is right despite my feelings. God made us to be overcomers, God made us with the resilience with His strength and mercy to make it through whatever comes our way.”

“You talk about wisdom,” Drake mentioned, “but is it wise for you to go with Derek? I mean, looking at it honestly, you could just be a fancy of his.”

“I like Derek a lot,” Emilie admitted, “and sometimes I feel that I would give up everything just to be his, even despite my conviction and wisdom, but you’re right. I couldn’t just trust I’d change him for good after I’ve given him all of me. It’s a journey he has to take even while I’m still in question. I can’t even be his reason; he has to make that decision for himself. But he’s changed a lot. Drake, if you could see the man that he was and the man that he is you’d be amazed. Still, even now, I am waiting and hoping. He’s so close, but I still am waiting on the Lord to see if it is his plan.”

“God… now we get to Him,” Drake muttered, “you know, the Carlyle’s wanted to adopt me but they felt like God said no… why would God say no? Don’t you think it was more of the influence of money, subconsciously, of course? And if God really loved them, why would He let this happen? They loved their home and their foster kids. Why would God let that be taken away from them? Why would He let it be taken away from me? I just don’t think I can believe it.”

“This is a tough one to answer because there is a lot of hurt tied up into it,” Emilie had tears in her eyes, “and we all understand. Pain is very real, but Jesus understands too. I mean, don’t you think Jesus of all people would have a pretty good reason to ask how could God let what happen to him happen to him?” Drake nodded. “And we see that in the end, it was for a glorious purpose and the joy that came afterwards was greater than the pain, but the joy couldn’t happen without the pain. That is not the only reason. Sometimes we allow ourselves to sit in a dull pain because we are too lazy to move. God sees what He wants for us, but sometimes only bad things happening in the short run will get us moving in that direction. If this hadn’t happen, would we be having this conversation? Would you have met me and Derek the way we have? Sometimes trials is what gets us moving to the next leg our our journey home, where we won’t have this pain. And in all honesty, sometimes pain is just what happens in this life because we do live in a  fallen world, but we have comfort that God will not only never let us have more than we can handle but He also promises to take our trials and make us stronger, use them for good, and give us a reward for standing strong in the end, because this Earth is not eternal, but Heaven is.”

“I guess it’s worth it, after all. Giving up doesn’t make things better,” Drake shrugged acceptingly, “though it might make us think it does.” A light came into his face, “I understand it, now. I see the hope, now. I didn’t understand before, I just knew I had to hold onto hope, I needed it. It was so devastating when I gave up. It was like, I wasn’t ready to give up even on something that seemed to be failing me and taking so much energy to maintain. I see why now. It wasn't and somewhere deep inside, I knew it! And now I have it again!”

“Pisti, Spero, et Ama,” Emilie smiled, “Faith, hope, and love. Greek and Latin, right?”

“Yes, no one knew,” Drake laughed a little then grew grave again, “Does Derek really care about me?”

“You might be interested in knowing that I’ve never seen Derek care so much about another person besides myself. He hurts for you. Right now he hurts thinking he hurt you.”

“Why’d he let me go so easily in the caves?” Drake asked.

“You were breaking the rules, Drake, and we tried to find your right after. Why he let you run? Because he didn’t have the authority of a family member or guardian to stop you and he was afraid to use his authority as an adult and step-in guardian for fear of making you feel betrayed.”

“I guess we are all sometimes stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Drake smiled ruefully, “I forgive him. I am beginning to feel convicted myself. I’ve been acting defensively and out of fear causing me to act selfishly. I now see what you mean. Mrs. C and Mr. C did so much that I was so oblivious to. You and Derek have, too. Even Lexie did some nice things and even if she didn’t - gee, I should have understood. It’s so hard to live with people when you’re afraid of them.” Emilie nodded. Drake stared across the sand and brush before taking a deep breath, “Maybe I ought to ask for forgiveness, I remember that much from what I learned years ago from church kids. Since you’re here, Emilie, will you forgive me for being selfish and suspicious. It was unfair and wrong.”

“Yes, Drake, I do,” Emilie hugged him, “I do, God bless you!”

“Can you get Derek? I - I still want some time,” Drake asked.

“Sure will,” Emilie stood.

“I’ll be around,” Drake told her.

“Don’t get lost,” Emilie rode back to the farmhouse. When she got there Derek was nowhere to be seen, neither was his car. Where was he.

*Bzz* *Bzz* her phone rang. “Hello?” Emilie answered, “Derek? Drake wants to see you. Where are you? I came back and the car is gone.”

Daruma Daishi

"If you fall down seven times, get up eight times."

God's Not Dead

Many of you may be aware that the movie God's Not Dead has recently been released into theaters. Apparently it is doing really well! I have seen it and can't help but recommend anyone who is interested to see it. It is great! If it's a choice between Noah, which I have heard is not Biblically correct AT ALL, or God's Not Dead... GND is the better worth your money! :D

- Lynsi

Among the Oil Derricks: Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Derek did not appear to have slept well, for he was bleary eyed when he came out of his room. He had other reasons to worry. He wanted so badly to be friends with Drake that he had made himself vulnerable in more ways than one. Despite the night ending well, like Drake, his dreams disagreed and filled his night with anxiety. On top of that, he had the worst sensation like a criminal hiding from the law. He was sure by the time he awoke that his sleep cost him more energy than waking would have.

“A silver Honda Odyssey was found T-crashed with a tan pick up off the interstate today US HWY 180,” a new reporter’s voice blazed through the radio on the way to the caves, “Two bodies were found on site. The police are presently identifying them. They had no IDs on them. The bullets that shot them were from an AK-47 assault rifle.”

Derek clicked the radio off with a short explanation of, “Depressing.”

Drake did not bother to protest, but couldn’t help but wonder if Hades had anything to do with it.

Out of the three, only Emilie seemed fully herself. She greeted them cheerfully when they arrived at eight before asking them if they slept at all the night before. Today she had a silver compass necklace. Both didn’t know exactly what to say. “Today we only have one more hike then you’ll have seen the bulk of Carlsbad Caverns, Derek. We’ll be done. We could put it off until tomorrow,” Emilie began to suggest.

“It’s okay,” assured Derek.

“If you are sure,” Emilie looked doubtful, “It’s the Slaughter Canyon Cave at one, so we have several hours. I turned in my car today, can I ride with you?”

“‘Course.” They climbed in.

“So, where do you plan to go tomorrow?” inquired Emilie with a tinge of sorrow.

“I don’t know,” replied Derek in a playful tone, “where do you want me to go.”

“Don’t ask that!” cried Emilie, “That is a silly question!”

“No it’s not!” Drake jumped in suddenly catching on to all of Derek’s fumblings in regard to Emilie over the past few days, “It’s a good one.” Derek winked at Drake.

“Oh, I see,” scoffed Emilie good naturedly, “You two schemers playing your boyish games. You two could be brothers!”

“You wouldn’t know what to do if we were,” teased Derek.

“Hmm…” Emilie was skeptical, “but you didn’t answer my question.”

“You didn’t answer mine.”

“I asked first.”

“Alright then, I don’t know,” answered Derek with satisfaction. Emilie smiled. Drake’s eyes wandered from one face to the other. Emilie’s cheeks were slightly flushed and Derek’s face hinted with a pleased but shy smile. A knot of emotion twisted Drake’s stomach, something between sorrow and joy, putting him out of mood.

They ended up hiking Guano Rode arriving back at noon. They ate lunch then jumped in the car to go the Slaughter Canyon hike.

“Here we are,” Emilie said at last.

“There looks like there is already a group there with a ranger,” Derek pointed out.

“We shouldn’t be late,” Emilie climbed out, “Maybe everyone else is just early.” That turned out to be the case.

Drake had never been on this hike before. The sun beat down relentlessly and he was warm. Usually he would not have cared, but because of his already bothered mood, it only succeeded in irritating him more.

The hike was several miles and Drake loitered behind. Derek stayed behind with him. Drake’s eyes aimlessly roved the surrounding forest. Suddenly he saw movement. What was that? The boy stared hard in the direction of the movement. Yes, that was cloth! That was, yes, a man. It was one of the men that had been with Hades! The stranger did not notice him, but creeped through the forest away from the group. Had he been with the group originally? Drake wondered. It didn’t matter now. What was he doing?

The path said no trail, but that was where the man was. Drake held his breath with anger trying to decide what to do. “What’s wrong?” Derek asked. Drake didn’t answer.  “Drake! Drake! Stop! What did you see?” The twelve-year old was running.

Derek gasped for breath when he finally caught up. “I have a feeling we weren’t supposed to separate from the group.”

“This is important!” Drake insisted in a low voice continuing forward, “I know I saw one!”

“One what?” Derek was at a loss.

“There!” Drake cried vaulting over a gate with the “No Path” sign and bolting after him.

“Hey!” an authoritative voice shouted.

“Drake! What-wait-come back!” Derek ran up to the gate and after hesitating jumped over.

Drake sprinted to the top of the hill. He glanced around frantically to see where the Stranger had gone when suddenly all he saw was earth. The next moment Derek helped him to his feet.

“Whoa…!” He exclaimed when Drake tried to run, holding onto his arm.

“I can’t get caught; they can’t catch me!” He gasped struggling, “Let me go!”

“I can’t come with you,” Derek let him go.

“Don’t!” Drake snapped in a bitter voice sprinting up the path into darkness.

“You, boy, stop! You’re not -” The ranger reached Derek who had begun to walk back down. “Is he your responsibility?”

“No,” Derek replied, “He’s just been - hanging out with us. I’ll - uh - I’ll be going now… to the tour.”

“What happened?” Emilie asked.

“Not now,” Derek answered in an after-shocked voice.

A thorough search was made, but no one found him. Cameras caught no sign of him. Some security were tempted to close the park early, but that was decided against. Derek was questioned about Drake and what he knew. Emilie escaped the questions because Derek didn’t mention her whatsoever. At this point, he was beginning to be afraid of getting in trouble with the police. He hadn’t fully thought of it before, but he supposed now that there was some sort of law declaring he ought to have told someone that he knew where Drake was, and that he probably shouldn’t have allowed him to stay with him.

“Where do you think he could’ve gone?” Emilie asked when he joined her.

“I don’t know, but he doesn’t want to be found,” Derek replied, his voice was heavy out of his concerns.

“He’ll need food and water and a place to sleep,” Emilie murmured, “You don’t suppose he’d steal, do you?”

“My guess is he’s too smart to go near any place with people and especially cameras,” Derek answered, “He’ll stay away from shops for sure, that’s where the rangers will wait for him.”

“Then where can he go?”

“This might surprise you, but I did actually read up on this place while you and Drake were doing the hike. There is a lot of edible vegetation around here. He can probably identify them. I think he’ll head back to the oil derrick, honestly.”

“That’s nearly forty miles!”

“But right now its the safest for him, isn’t it? And he got down here somehow, didn’t he?”

Meanwhile Drake had crept back to the parking lot as soon as he escaped from the caves. He listened to the conversation of tourists. “We’ll head back to our RV in Carlsbad for the night and come back tomorrow, okay, kids?” one father was saying to his family as they began to get into a truck.

“Daddy! Daddy! We forgot to go to the Gift Shop!” a little boy cried.

“Do you have to go, Eddie?” the father asked. Eddie nodded desperately. The father sighed, “Okay, why don’t you kids stay-”

“Oh, we want to go, too,” the second oldest girl exclaimed, “Please! Daddy! We have to go to the Gift Shop! We have our own money!”

“We will try to be quick and we won’t be bad, Daddy!” the oldest girl added wisely, “It is not even evening yet. It will save us from sitting around bored in the RV. Please!”

“Alright, then!” the dad consented with good will, “Let’s all go in. But thirty minutes, max! Understand?” The kids nodded gleefully and skipped inside the shop.

After they had gone, Drake meandered up to the truck. The back was open. Looking around carefully, Drake jumped in and slid to against the back. When the family got in he would slide to under the window. He knew there was some road work that would force the driver to slow down enough for him to jump off without hurting himself. He held his breath as the family came back out.

“Thanks! That was great! I love my new pocket watch,” one of the girls was saying, “It looks like Bilbo Baggins a little, don’t you think, Ro?”

“I don’t know, Kay,” she shrugged.

“I love my new pocket knife!” the little boy exclaimed, “It has my name on it, too!”

“I have a magnet for a fridge so we can remember,” said the third girl.

“Great idea, Chris!” the girl called ‘Ro’ told her.

The four kids climbed into the truck, the father on the driver’s side. “Mom will be glad for us to be back.”

“I wish she could have come with us,” the girl called “Kay” said.

And so they talked kindly and lovingly all the way back. Drake heard each word from under the open window. Rather than feeling lighter with their words, he felt darker. His heart hardened with bitterness, nearly breaking with sorrow. This was how family was supposed to be! Something he had never had, something he would probably never have. Finally they were getting near the oil derrick. Drake knew the road work had to be soon. Abruptly the truck slowed down.

“Whoa!” one of the kids cried, “Dad! Didn’t you see that.”

“Does my breaking fast scare you?” the dad teased.

Now was the time! Taking his chances, Drake slide to the back and jumped over landing behind the truck. He didn’t hear any exclamations. That was a good sign. Quickly, he ran to the side of the road. It was less than a mile walk to the derrick, now. If he hurried he could get there before anyone who knew him could see him. It was not long at all when he strolled into his old yard. The Carlyle’s were gone for the day, he knew, but they hadn’t moved out yet and the horses were still there. Drake supposed he could saddle up Spero for one last ride and go to The Sanctuary. He had blankets and sealed food there. He also had his torch and all his journals. He even has some clothes.

“Drake! There you are!” a voice behind him exclaimed.

Drake whirled around to see Emilie and Derek. “What? What are you doing here?”

“What is going on?” Derek demanded.

Drake looked angry, but then he sighed. “Someone is trying to ruin my life and the caves.”

“What are you talking about?” Derek asked with considerable agitation while Emilie asked in a gentle voice, “What are you saying, Drake?”

“Some doctor! He bankrupted the Carlyle’s for their land, they’re trying to find my caves, and they’re lurking around Carlsbad Caverns for no good reason! I’ve heard them talk! I know he’s trying to steal, I just don’t know what, but I’m going to stop him!”

“Drake, you can’t do that!” Derek exclaimed, “You need to go to the police…”

“They won’t believe me!”

That was true, but Derek wouldn’t budge, “Drake, if we all did what we thought was right, it’d be a crazy world. Sometimes we have to sacrifice things so more isn’t taken away, it isn’t paying tribute, its being wise and patient to get the goal done as thoroughly as possible! The best way to know you’re doing things right is by following certain laws, principles, and morals  -”

“Morals!” Drake shouted, “Who are you to talk to me about morals? I’ve seen your movies… morals! How many kids do you have, Derek Walker? How many, if they haven’t all been aborted, and by how many different women? I know! My grandpa was an actor his wife was a model. They weren’t even married and they left each other immediately. My dad was brought up a spoiled actor’s son! Then my mom, she was a model, that is until they both were so messed up they couldn’t even hold those jobs. I hate you people! I hate the lot of you! You - you - you killed Ashley and destroyed everything I cared about! Just go away!” Drake ran away as tears poured down his face.

Derek stared after him not noticing how Emilie looked at him with something between a frown and a smile. He made a move to go after him, but Emilie touched his arm to stop him, “He’s not ready to talk to you, let him be. I’ll go find him.”

Derek was crushed. Drake’s rejection was touch, but Emilie’s now would destroy him. Emilie hurried down to the stables where Drake had just ridden out of on Spero. She saddled up Ama and rode after him at a much slower pace. There they go. With a heavy, sinking heart, Derek sat down on the porch, his face buried in his hands feeling like a failure.

“Derek Walker?” a police officer stood in front of him.

“Yes?” Derek lifted his face from his hands wondering how long it had been.

“Derek Walker, you are under arrest for harboring a runaway,” the officer brought out a pair of handcuffs.

“What?” Derek stood stunned. He could see two other officers down the road.

Anonymous

"There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs."

---------

Hey all,

So, there will be a temporary change. Weekly Quotes will be posted Friday while the Chapters will be posted Monday. There was just too much time passing between Wednesday and Monday. Hopefully I'll have more stuff to post, like fun facts, and Wednesday will again be a posting day.

-Lynsi

Among the Oil Derricks: Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

 “A body was found in floating down the Pecos river this morning, the police have not been able to identify…”

“Curse you, Johansson, curse you!” Asdis muttered furiously flipping off the TV. “Wefel?” she paged.

“Yes, Doctor?”

“Contact Scott Elem for me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

A few minutes later the phone rang. “Hello?” Asdis answered expectantly.

“Asdis, it’s me, Elem,” a rough voice cave over the phone.

“Elem, I want you to find some boys to - um - give Hayden Ares some hospitality.”

“What about Johansson?”

“I’ll invite him to my house.”

“I’ll get my boys to contact him immediately.”

“No! I don’t want a lot of attention.”

“Oh, I see.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Good, I expect to know how the dinner went over the news report tomorrow.”

“It will be a pleasant supper!”

“I am sure it will be. I hate to miss it, but I am busy.”

“One more thing.”

“Yes?”

“The payment?”

“This is a measly meal, you can afford a favor.”

“No, I can’t.” Elem replied cooly.

“Very well,” Asdis replied in exasperation, “One grand.”

“Nonsense, five.”

“Half a million? That’s ridiculous! You know I am on a limb bargaining over the phone!”

“Four,” the man replied evenly.

“One fifty.”

“Three fifty.”

Asdis hissed through her teeth, “Two.”

“Three fifty.”

“Two…”

“Three fifty or I’ll hang up right now.”

“Three fifty. The usual account.” Asdis agreed with a sigh. She knew she was trying to rip him off and he was too smart for that. It annoyed her, but she couldn’t help but a respect a talented criminal mind like herself.

*Click* She knew that she would soon have what she wanted. Three fifty grand was a small price to pay for such short notice. She had no idea where in the world Elem was or how quick he’d have to act to find the boys to the job. He couldn’t use his usual crew. She was actually asking for much, once she thought about the details of the job. At least she knew he wouldn’t fail.

“Hades, where have you been?”

“Trailing the kid, what do you think?”

“Did you hear the news?” Hades shook his head. “About the murder?”

“Was that you?” Hades asked hotly.

“It was one of Asdis’ men. They’ve been trailing us.”

 “Asdis has it in for you now,” Hades shook his head.

“You think I don’t know that?” Seth hissed, “And the police will be on the trail, too!”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Hades answered languidly, “Asdis won’t want you to get arrested because of the damage it might do to her. She’ll kill you first.”

“I know she will!” Seth nearly shouted.

“Why couldn’t you have taken care of him quietly? At least have thought of a better place to hide the body,” condemned Hades.

“So you think you could have done better?” challenged Seth, “Do you think you would have done better?”

“I did do better. I caught two of her men shadowing me earlier. Both have found their way to their graves just fine.”

“Is that what’s up with your face?”

“It’s not that bad.”

“No, it just looks like someone mistook it for a baseball with a bat.”

“Shut up, I didn’t use my gun so the bullet can’t be tracked, unlike yours, and their bodies haven’t been found, unlike your man.”

“What did you do with them?”

“One I hid in fresh cement and the other I dumped into a ravine.”

Seth stared at him. Fresh cement? He wondered what it would be like in twenty, thirty, maybe more years when the cement is dug up and a body is found. It was slightly amusing and slightly horrifying to him. “Two? And you managed them alone?”

“What did I say, leave the violence to me,” Hades didn’t mention that his entire torso and back were rainbow colors and sore as anything. “Anyway, what are we going to do?”

“Watch our backs, we’re almost done.”

“Getting the kid, but what about harvesting?”

“We can wait a few years,” Seth suggested.

“A few years!” Hades yelped, starting from his chair he had been laying in, “I’ve waited almost five!”

“She’ll be after you, too, you know?”

Hades grumbled something under his breath.

“I’m going to set some of my guys on to her,” Seth mouthed. Hades looked at him oddly then understood.

“I’ll check,” he mouthed back. He spent the rest of the evening searching through the apartment for bugs and cameras. If he couldn’t find them, they weren’t there and they weren’t.

“By the way,” Hades mentioned cautiously as Seth prepared for bed, “I’m going to be gone early this morning.”

“How early? Where?”

“Around three. I don’t know how long. I’ll probably be back before you’re up. If you hear the door, don’t come running out waving a loaded gun, okay? I’ll have one with me when you do.”

“Fine,” Seth closed his bedroom door as Hades closed his.

It was just before dawn and a tan truck sat pulled off the road. There weren’t many people driving down that road at that time. Two people sat inside. One in the driver’s seat and the other in the passenger seat. It was Selena and Hades. Selena had snuck out of the hotel room and met Hades around three that morning.

They chatted it up about nearly anything, alluding very little to Seth and Hades’ job. Hades had his arm over Selena’s shoulder, but that was all she would allow, saying that she didn’t like to move forward in relationships too fast. “Besides, if I give you everything,” she laughed, “before making you like me, then you’ll be done before I have a chance to show you how much you need me, because you do.” Hades did not protest.

“So, are you taking me to meet your boss today?” Selena asked as the sun crept up, her chair pushed down and her high heel shoed feet resting on the dashboard.

“I don’t have a boss,” replied Hades moodily.

“That’s a relief,” answered the young woman carelessly.

“Sure, I’ll take you to meet my partner today, but later.”

“Whatever you want, but I’ll be going in a few days if not,” informed Selena.

Hades glanced at her curiously then said cautiously, “What do you mean if not?”

Selena laughed awkwardly, “Well… uh… I don’t know.” Her eyes darted around the truck anxiously.

“I think I see what you mean,” saved Hades, “if Seth blows his top and I can’t calm him down, you’ll go back to your family. If he gives the A-ok, you’ll stay with me.”

“That about sums up what I know of it,” confirmed Selena.

“Then I think I’ll introduce you tomorrow,” Hades told her uncomfortably. His mind went over Seth’s possible reaction. If he couldn’t convince his partner she was a good idea, she’d be heading back to wherever she lived in the US with her family and Seth would have be furious with him. That was not a comfortable thought. Loyalty only went among criminals so far. Even the best of friends had to watch their backs for a dagger.

There was a moment of silence when Selena happened to glance out the window down the road. “Uhh… Hades!” she murmured anxiously.

Hades looked. Barreling down on them was a van with at least two obviously armed men inside. He muttered a four letter word before saying, “It’s Asdis’ people!”

“Who?” Selena sat up before immediately dropping back down. The van had squealed broad side off the road and a shot was fired out. Selena threw her arms over her face as she flipped over to protect herself from the shards of glass that flew around the cab of the truck mini-seconds later. Hades shoved open his door which was on the far side from the attacking van and crawled out. Selena scampered over the middle table and climbed out, ducking behind the tire and slamming the door shut.

Hades was crouching behind the open back door and pulling something out. Selena glanced up just in time to see him pull out a fully automatic AK-47. Slamming the back door shut, he crawled around Selena, cocked his gun, and, setting it on the hood of the truck, shot several rounds before ducking back. This time, Selena had her own semi-automatic glock out and cocked.

Suddenly, both she and Hades became aware that the van was driving again. It was driving straight towards them.”What are they thinking,” Selena cried rolling to the edge of the front of the truck. Hades was right behind her.

“If we jump out fast enough… hurry, this side,” he pulled her to the other side of the truck, “they won’t expect us from this end. When I say go, we jump, raise your gun and shoot.” Selena nodded. “Go!” The two jumped out of the way just as the van barreled into the truck pushing it. The van’s glass shattered. Selena’s eyes scanned the area. Where were the drivers? Hades lifted his AK-47 and shot two times. Her eyes darted to where he had shot. One then another bloody body fell to the ground. “Played right into her hands,” Hades shook his head and muttered.

“What?”

“Asdis only hires professionals,” Hades warned, “These fools are obviously not. The only experience they’ve ever had is from action movies. Asdis set them up for something she knew I could handle.”

“Why?”

“Because an anonymous tip is going to float into the police station as soon as they investigate telling them about a tourist who might just be the one they are looking for,” Hades snapped irritably, “This is bad. Look, you’re in on this now, and the fact is, you can’t get out.”

“What exactly are you saying?” Selena looked him sassily in the eye.

“I’m saying it will be in your best interest to be willing to work with us. The good news now is that that Seth can’t say no unless he wants another murder.”

“Hmm… well, I didn’t want to go anywhere anyway.”

Hades smiled at her while saying, “I’m calling Seth.”

“Seth? This is Hades. Where are you?... Perfect, come out and get us, will you?... It’s not like I’ve not put myself in a risky position for you plenty of times, you get out here or else!” If he had been using a flip phone he would have slammed it shut, but as it was, he could only furiously press the ‘end-call’ button. Not nearly as satisfying. “Seth is coming. Here, let’s get into this field so nobody who stops can see us.”

He and Selena climbed through the barbed fence. Selena tore her skinny jeans, but they were already artificially torn, so it didn’t look much different. Her shirt though she’d be getting rid of as soon as she was home. Hades couldn’t have cared less about his clothes and if they were torn or not. He wore blue jeans and a basic grey T-shirt. Selena could tell Hades was worried someone would arrive and report the accident before Seth arrived, but thankfully Seth arrived first.

He was not very happy and glared as they approached. “Who’s that?” he nodded towards Selena.

“My girlfriend and our new confederate. Drive on,” Hades climbed in front seat and Selena climbed in the back.

“Your what?” Seth hissed pulling back onto the road.

“I said it once I won’t say it again,” Hades replied.

“Look, girl, what’s your name?” Seth looked back at Selena through the rearview mirror.

“Selena,” she replied.

“You don’t want this guy, he’s way older than you and he’s done things a kid like you can’t imagine. Why don’t you go back to your family or whoever before it’s too late,” Seth pleaded in a fatherly voice so far from his heart Hades nearly vomited. Instead, he crossed his arms angrily.

“That’s alright, I think I know what I am getting myself into,” Selena shook her head, “I think it’s wonderfully thrilling and I also think you’ll find me a more helpful confederate than you can imagine. I am eighteen, but you’d be surprised about what I know. For instance, your illegal AK-47 was bought on the black market in New York two years ago. It cost you a bit, ‘cause there were only forty in that shipment and plenty of demand for them.”

Hades started, “How’d you know that?”

“My boyfriend helped receive the shipment.”

“See, Hades, she’s taken.”

“No, I broke up with him three months later. He was a stupid jerk and when I say stupid, I mean he was unintelligent. I had no patience for it,” told Selena.

“You won’t get much better from this guy,” Seth grumbled. Hades barely restrained himself from a violent reaction.

“I think I will,” replied Selena coyly.

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Seth muttered.

“It’s too late, Seth, she knows too much anyway,” Hades interrupted. Seth glanced back at Selena and observed her until Hades exclaimed about a curve in the road.

“Fine, you’re in,” Seth gave a sharp nod returning his attention to his driving.

“You mean it?” Hades asked warily.

“I do,” was the resolved answer. Hades knew Seth’s voice when he didn’t really mean what he said, but he seemed very honest right here. He knew Seth wouldn’t risk killing her while he was on her side. Selena smiled in relief. She hadn’t realized she had been holding her breath.

“Hades! Hades!” a furious voice shouted several hours later from the living room of the apartment. Hades stumbled out of bed he felt like he had just climbed into and wandered into the room, groggy eyed. “Listen to this!” As it was, there was nothing to listen to because the anchor had just finished the report and was moving on to others topics. “The crash is all over the news! The police are trying to identify the victims! How much longer do you suppose until Asdis give her anonymous tip?”

“She won’t do it right away,” Hades replied in a morning voice.

“Thank goodness for that,” snapped Seth, “We have to move fast!”

“We can stick to the plan and bring him in tonight,” Hades said, “but we’ll have to grab him this time. No more psycho stuff.”

“Fine!” Seth relented. He was too prideful to admit that that had been a foolish attempt made for his scholarly curiosity.