A big thank you goes out to all my readers and my reviewers! You`re all so kind! I`m glad you`re enjoying it thus far, and hopefully there`ll only be one more chapter of boring until the real action begins!

Disclaimer: I claim ownership of the character Angela (a.k.a Coral), but I own no part of COTT nor the copyrights to any lyrics that appear in this story. I write solely for pleasure, not profit.

Chapter Four

Flying down the road, my bike eating the miles, I can`t help but fascinate about the beauty that is this country. I`ve seen so little of it from the few moments I`ve been here, but the scenery is breathtaking. The dirt road I just left eventually turned into black asphalt, and the tree-lined pastures and forest transformed into rolling hills and meadows. And everything is so green! I mean, back home during the summers, the leaves come out and the grass turns, but never have I seen anything so rich in colour! I might act like the tough guy, but even I can appreciate the wonder of Gaia.

I`ve been travelling for about fifteen minutes down this secondary highway when I spot a bright blue road marker ahead. I can`t help the small sigh of relief and the smile that crosses my face. For a few minutes there, I thought I`d gotten myself lost. I slow down a bit and inspect it as I drive by. In large block letters, it states that I need to take the next off ramp to take the Autobahn Route 8 north to get to Mϋnchin. Because I`m slightly immature, I snigger. I`m guessing that`s the German way of pronouncing the city.

I come to a complete stop next to the sign, now knowing where to go next. But first, there`s a little thing I need to do before hitting that highway. Fishing my MP3 from my bag, I lift my helmet and plug in my ear buds. Starting up one of my favourite songs, I rev the engine hard and take off once more. What song is it, you might be asking? Well, it`s called Long Forgotten Sons by Rise Against. It`s got an awesome beat, great lyrics, it`s fun, fast and gets the blood racing! Not only is it an awesome workout tune, but it`s great for one other thing...driving as fast and hard as your engine can take you!

Taking the destined off ramp, the song hits its first verse as I`m hit with a tenfold increase in traffic and the din of tires on pavement. I can`t help but thinking the words are eerily suiting.

Far from home on a road unknown,

Where the vultures circle on winds that blow

From northern skies that haunt these waking moments...

I open the throttle and give her all she`s got, pushing all negative thoughts from my mind. All the cars I see are high class BMW`s, Mercedes Benz, and Audi`s, each one either pacing with me, or flying by. A flash of hot rod red fly`s past on my left. Holy shit that was a Ferrari!

On shadows cast by the mountain range

On calloused soles we find our way

Through desperate eyes, we long for the horizon

While this sun is rising...

Adrenaline pumping, flying down one of the world's most famous roadway`s, a feral grin light up my face. I have to admit, I`m having a blast! Nothing beats the open road, whether it`s running or riding on it, even if it is a cold and overall miserable day. More signs pass by, all for turnoff`s to exotic sounding places. Brunnthal, Potzham, Hohenbrunn. I eventually cross paths with Route 995 and 99, which branch off to other destinations, like Zϋrich, and Prague, Lyon, Bern, and Milan. The freedom to be able to go to any of these exciting, romantic and historical places is invigorating. Every time the gang and I go somewhere exotic, it never ceases to amaze me, this feeling. If I take the next off ramp, I could be in Venice by sundown. It`s that close! The Europeans are so lucky, to be able to just hop a train to some exotic place full of history and charm. Then again, they may think the same about us, though back home I see little history, and it ranks zero on the charm scale.

Climbing over a low rise, I finally spot the city in the distance. It`s a mix of old world meeting the new, as Gothic spires and domes coincide with newer architecture. With my destination now visible, I try and go even faster, spurred on by the possibilities that await me. Driving on, I recall the last few lyrics of Long Forgotten Sons, now long since over, as the rain lets up but the air gets colder with approaching dusk.

Don't fall, I see lights in the distance

They're not far away

Stand up because the sky is turning gray

There's hope in these footsteps of persistence

So don't go astray

These lights get closer everyday...

Holy crap! This has to be the crappiest hotel in the history of crappy hotels! Having entered the city about a half hour ago, I drove around aimlessly trying to find some accommodations. Of course, as I am a man and it is hardwired into my basic brain functioning, I did not stop and ask for directions. I wouldn`t know how to communicate with the locals anyway, so why bother?

The place seemed decent at first. You know those ones that look like they won`t kill the budget, but still seem fairly nice? Yeah, well, in Europe, some are only disguised that way! It had a quaint little gated entrance, with a place to park my bike without fear of having it stolen, with potted plants bursting with flowers of all shapes and colors, made even brighter with the rain. It`s even made of red brick, which made it feel a bit like home. Unfortunately, all thoughts of `aww` soon turned into `ugh`. The brown carpet looks as though it was once white and pristine, and dust is everywhere. It`s like walking into an old tomb! Everything is decorated in white or gray, which is why I question the carpet`s current colour, making it feel like a hospital/twilight zone episode. Also, there`s the distinct smell of cat pee and mould hovering about. There`s also paint chipping from the corners of the walls. Real swell place. I think they better reroute some of their floral budget for paint. Or even just bring in a flower pot! Colour people, please! I mean, you got the outside right! Why did you hire Fester Adams to decorate the inside?

Walking to the front desk, I am not surprised to find it vacant of staff. I`d leave too if I had to work here. Spotting a clock on the back wall above a large segmented shelf lined with room keys, I`m surprised to see the time is already 7:30pm.

"Willkommen!"

"Gah!" Houston, we have a problem. I`m pretty sure my heart is now orbiting the moon. Jeez! Give the guy some warning, you nut case! Turning, I spot this tiny old man smiling at me as he descends a staircase on the other side of the room. I suppose he`s smiling like that because he`s noticed I haven`t turned tail and run. He`s got to be only around 5`2" and maybe sixty-five, with a bushy moustache that matches the small wisp of white hair on his head. He comes walking over with the energy of a man half his age, adjusting the small wire frame glasses perched on his nose. Disappearing in a door for a moment, he pops back up behind the counter. He and I are now eye to eye, which means he must be standing on something. Whatever works I suppose.

"Willkommen." He states once more. "Kann ich Ihnen helfen?"

I must look like a moron right now. I just gape at him, lost and confused in this foreign world. He must get this all the time, though, as he quickly understands my predicament and tries a new approach. "Hmmm, Italiano?"

Aww, he thinks I`m Italian! I like this guy! And he`s trying so hard...now I feel less like a moron and more like a jerk. "Do you speak English?"

"Ah, English!" he nods like it should have been obvious to him. "I am sorry. How may I help you?"

God, his English sounds better than mine, besides being heavily accented. Now I`m a moronic jerk. Best of both worlds. I`m also sold. Not only is this guy super friendly - or ϋber friendly, I should say – but he seems like he would help me out if I asked. It`s a win-win for both of us, since all 30 of the room keys are present and accounted for behind him.

Quickly purchasing a single room for a few days, which is dirt cheap, by the way, he hands me a large brass key with a tag embossed with the number 11. Palming the key, I thank him. He points towards the staircase, which has also seen better days, grinning happily. "It`s on the left. Best room!"

"Cool! Uh, how do you say `thank you` in German? It may come in handy."

"Ah. It`s danke schön, or simply danke if you want."

I roll the words over my tongue a few times, getting a feel for them before I nod. "Okay. Well, danke!"

He beams like a proud father as I give a small wave and climb the stairs. The smells slowly drift away, and the paint is replaced by a soft cream coloured wallpaper here on the second floor. Finding my room, I unlock it and enter. And what I find is actually very nice, with no strange smells. The walls are lined with the same cream wallpaper as outside, but the old world paintings on the wall give it life. There`s also a small bouquet of yellow and pink flowers on the writing desk near the window, with a small red chair. Dropping my stuff on the matching red comforter, I move to see the view from my window. The lower half of the glass outside is protected by a carved iron railing, which overlooks the gated entrance outside. From here I can see over the top of the houses and buildings around us. Off in the distance I spot the spires of an ancient Gothic-style building. Maybe a church. Behind the church stand a pair of green domed towers. I had spotted both these landmarks on my way in, and now looking at them from my vantage point, they`re more than breathtaking. It has to be the best view in the area as far as I`m concerned.

Dropping my bag, I rummage through it for a dry set of clothes. I frown as I peer inside, and don`t see too many options. I never really had much clothes to begin with, and grabbed what I thought I would need. I was stupid to not factor in the weather. Throwing on my green t-shirt and sweats, it`ll have to do until I get a chance to pick something up. I wasn`t even smart enough to grab an extra sweater! With my hoodie wet, I`ll be going out with less clothing on than when I came in. It`s a wonder how I haven`t managed to catch pneumonia and die yet. Thank god for the perfect immune system! At least I won`t be catching a cold. Heading to the bathroom, which looks like it time-warped in from the late fifty`s, I leave the wet clothing hanging from the bath rail to dry, and then head back downstairs to the lobby. I have a small idea as to where to begin my search, but I`ll need the old guy`s help.

Luckily, I find him still behind his desk, hunched over a newspaper. As I get closer, I finally notice a pen in his hand as he jots down something quickly in the crossword puzzle. "Excuse me?"

In a flash his features go from smooth and concentrated to a manic level happiness. "Ah, how is the room?"

"It`s very nice, danke..." I reach for a name he never gave me. He doesn`t have a name tag to help me out with either.

"I am Jozef." He offers me a hand. I shake it, giving him a nod.

"Archie."

He beams, if possible, even brighter. I swear, if I make this guy any happier, I may have to phone the local psych ward. "I am so happy you like the room. Prima! Excellent! We had some flooding a while ago. Cause of the smell." Really? Strange, cause it smells like cat. What kind of flooding are we talking here?

"Sorry to hear that." Wonder what the deal is about the disrepair? Maybe he has no one around that will help him out. It looks to me like it`s owned by him personally. I haven`t seen anyone else here yet. "I was wondering if you could help me out."

"Ja, but of course! What do you need?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could tell me the location of the Canadian Consulate." Because remember, we`re not in the capital. Only capital cities have embassy`s. And they say I don`t pay attention is Social Studies. Well, Atlanta says that anyway.

As my mind wanders back to the love of my life, my heart gets heavy knowing I won`t be able to say good night to her, and that she`s no doubt worrying. Her, worrying over a dork like me! She`s way out of my league, so how is it that I got so lucky? My mind wanders to her sparkling green eyes, her ruby red lips, her soft fiery hair. I physically ache inside knowing I can`t hold her in my arms right now.

"Are you okay?" Jozef is looking at me with concern.

I shake my head clear and nod, reluctantly pushing away my feelings. "Yeah, I`m good," I lie. "What were you saying, sorry?"

"I was saying, the consulate is on Tal. Here, I`ll write it down for you..."

"On what?"

"On Tal. It`s a road. Very trendy area. Lots of shopping, restaurants. Very close to Marienplatz and Hofbräuhaus."

"Wait, who`s Marien?"

"No, no." I can tell he`s trying not to laugh. I can see it in his eyes, and they`re saying `stupid foreigner`. "Marienplatz is a square. Very large. Again, high end with lots of stores and restaurants. Also very touristy. Its home to the Neues Rathaus, or New Town Hall. It`s a large, gothic style building. You may have seen its large clock tower already."

"Yeah, actually." So it`s not a church after all. That`s excellent, though. Now I have a point of reference.

"From Marienplatz, simply go east, and you will hit Tal. It`s building number 29, though the flags should give it away easily."

"Thanks a lot, Jozef! You`re a life saver!" This guy is awesome! I`m definitely going to have to get him something or do something for him to make up for all this! Watching as he quickly finishes off his instructions, which are awesomely in English, he hands it over.

"Just be careful." He gives my attire a once over. "Be sure to bring a coat at least. The news says it`s going to get very cool tonight."

"Don`t worry, I`ll be back soon." Handing him my key, I give a quick wave before heading outside. The guy was right. Even now as I walk to my bike, I can feel the temperature has dropped significantly. I`ll have to buy a tacky sweater from some souvenir shop or something.

Popping on my helmet, I give my instructions another glance before I close the visor and head out.

Remind me to never, ever complain about traffic back home again! This is absolutely insane! I`ve been stuck in traffic for almost an hour now, and I can barely inch forward. I bet a snail could have beaten me there by now! Frustrated, I ignore the horn behind me and flip them the finger. That`s been a very popular digit lately. Mine is getting sore from all the waving it`s been doing these last fifty minutes. I`m trying to alternate from left to right, but that isn`t helping either.

I eye the sidewalk with a heavy sigh, wanting nothing more than to mount it and ride off. Wow, that sounded ridiculously dirty. I give a laugh, and the guy in the convertible beside me gives me yet another strange look. Guess that`s what happens when you talk to yourself. I really just want to get this done so I can move forward in Operation Find My Sister. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I have named it. When? Well, about forty minutes ago when I first started getting bored out of my tree. I also knew if I didn`t do something somewhat constructive, I`d punch convertible guy. If not for his constant looks, then for his suit that screams `I am so much better than you! `

Okay, back to the sidewalk. I`d mount it, and then ride it – me and my dirty mind – but someone else decided to try that a bit earlier, and got pulled over by another motor cycle. Only the latter had flashing red and blue lights. The last thing I want is to get involved with the local authorities. I can even see the officer, trying to nudge his bike towards the source of this mess.

Some jerk-off a few cars down pulls out, cutting off oncoming traffic and causing more annoying horns to sound, but he clears a small path in the vehicles. Taking my chance I go for it, wary of the po-po. I manage to gain another twenty feet, then spot a small alley I hadn`t noticed. Waiting for my chance, I gun it, and rip down it to the next road, narrowly missing an alley cat. Hitting another main drag, I head towards the Town Hall. It doesn`t take me long to reach the cause of all the bad traffic far off to my left. A huge smouldering wreck, that only slightly resembles a car, is sitting right in the middle of the intersection. There`s not another damaged vehicle in sight, which makes me think hit-and-run. Bastards these days.

It only takes another ten minutes to reach the square that Jozef spoke of. Marienplatz. It`s really pretty, with a large statue on its centre, topped with a huge golden figure. The highlight of it all has to be the Town Hall. A huge gothic structure, it`s as long as the square itself and topped with a huge clock tower! It`s a little after nine, and it sucks I couldn`t hear the bells over the traffic. Plus the helmet didn`t help. Whatever. If I get a chance though, I`m going to take the whole gang here one day!

Moving on, I soon find Tal, though the street signs are so small I went by it twice. Driving for only a couple minutes, I soon spot the Canadian flags out of the sea of red, black and gold. Finding a spot to park isn`t hard, albeit a bit far away, and I`m quickly crossing the road towards my home away from home, helmet tucked under my arm.

The street lamps make the old district look mysterious and welcoming, but as I near my destination I spot a figure walk out and away from the consulate that makes my blood turn to ice. Ducking into a doorway quickly, I watch silently as the figure walks down the street, unaware of my presence. I watch silently as he moves through a group of awed tourists then disappear around a bend in the road.

I let out the breath I didn`t know I was holding. It really wouldn`t matter either way if I had or not as I find it hard to breathe. It feels like a clawed hand has taken hold of my stomach and crushed it. There`s no reason he should be here, unless...my vision goes red and I slam a fist into the brick facade. My knuckles bleed as I picture his self-assured gait, his salt and pepper hair and his air of superiority.

"Cronus..." I growl, not caring who hears me. I punch the wall again, imagining it`s his face under the broken skin. There`s only one reason he would be in Germany, in Munich of all places. My mind reverts back to memories of long, light purple hair, bright green, inquisitive eyes. "Damn you! Why can`t you leave my family alone?"

(-)

Thought I`d end it there so I could get this out tonight. Sorry about the late chapter. I`ve been dealing with stress at work and a bad break-up, so my mind has been elsewhere. I`ll try and have the next chapter up sooner next time. Also, if you ever get a chance to listen to it, Long Forgotten Sons by Rise Against is an amazing song! I love the band, and it has to be one of their best!

Please let me know what you all though of this latest instalment, and I hope you enjoyed it, even with its little cliff hanger. Until next time!

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