Me: (looks around) Phoenix! Where'd you go?

GS: He ran a LONG time ago…

Me: B-But…. (tears) He was supposed to stay here cuz Derek keeps glaring at me!

GS: …

Me: (sobs) Oh well… Edgey!

(No answer)

Me and GS: ….

Me: Edgey!

(A crack is heard)

Me and GS!

"Ow!"

"Move it!"

(Franziska and Edgeworth walk in)

Me: A-Ah! Ms. Von Karma! What brings you with Edgeworth?

Franziska: The fact he's being utterly foolish!

Edgeworth: …

GS: (stares)

Me: This will be a while…. I don't own Trauma Center or Phoenix Wright because
they're owned by Altus and Capcom.

oOoOoOo

Trauma Center: Treacherous Meetings

Chapter 7: Get Free

oOoOoOo

Angie was paralyzed not by fear, but from shock. She was barely registering what was
currently going on. What little came into her conscious was the hot breath against the nap
of her neck from the mysterious man and his wandering hands. One hand remained on
her breast while the one that was previously wrapped around her waist started to move to
lower. "Honey…" his voice entered her mind. It was deep and carrying a sickeningly
sweet tone for the situation, "Let's go and have… fun now…"

A piercing cry brought Angie back from her paralysis and to the matter at hand. "Get…
your hands off me…" she hissed venomously, disgusted even more as his hand trailed
lower. She could sense his face break into a horrid grin. "Sweetie…" he cooed, "Why
would I? I can't let you go… your mine… forever…" Her eyes narrowed but he
obviously didn't care as he kissed her neck. Julianna cried louder.

"That damn baby…"

This was the chance she had been waiting for as he turned his head. Moving swiftly, she
jabbed him sharply in his abdomen, earning a gasp. His arms, on reflex, withdrew away
from her frame. Angie spun around, surprised at his height but none the less, dropped
low, grabbing her assailant's wrist and tossing him expertly into the wall, earning a
deafening bang.

She panted, staring at the man. He didn't budge. 'Must be unconscious…' she thought.
Unconscious or not, she moved away and to Julianna's crib, lifting her carefully into
her arms, hushing her back to sleep. A low groan replaced the disappearing cries,
announcing the rapid revival of the intruder, making her heartbeat quicken. "What….
Was that for…?" he grumbled, rising to his feet. She stepped back as he returned to full
height, stumbling slightly in a daze.

Angie looked at the distance between the door and the space slowly fading between her
and the man. They were now backing into the room. "Planning to run away from me?" he
asked, tipping sideways a bit. She gritted her teeth, eyes scanning for another escape
route. The only way out was a window which would require something extra to break.
Her ankle tapped against metal.

'My landlord is going to hunt me down for this….'

SMASH!

oOoOoOo

Derek tried redial several more times, getting the same busy tone. "Come on Angie…" he
whispered, "Please pick up…"

A long break of silence replaced the busy tone…

-Click-

"We're sorry… the number you have dialed is no longer in service… please..."

He didn't hear the rest as he placed the phone on the receiver, anxiety growing. It took all
his will power to not pick up the phone for the millionth time. 'Maybe if I try…' he
reached for the phone again, but then mentally smacked himself. 'She might try calling
back… it was important…'
He hung his head, anxiety growing quickly. Everything and
anything bad was running through his head.

'What if he broke in? What if… what if…?' he clenched his fist while thinking. Derek
tried to fight against the horrible idea that Angie was in deep trouble, he knew that man
was sick enough to try. His eyes looked at the phone, expecting it to just start ringing
uncontrollably. It didn't. He left to his room to prepare for bed.

…..

Ring!

Ring!

A lamp, a side table, and a chair became victims as Derek stampeded to the phone
quickly. The infuriated chair had the last laugh however, sending him to the ground in an
instant. He caught the phone on his way down.

"Hello!?" he yelled into the phone. "Woah! Did you just run a mile or something?"
"Oh…" he replied dejectedly, "Hey Nick…" "Derek… is something the matter?"
Phoenix asked, "You sound kinda upset I called…" "No… it's not that," he said, "It's
just that… no, don't worry about it…" "Huh?" Nick sounded confused, "…Ok? I just
wanted to tell you that we might know someone who knew Sela."
"Really?!" Derek
exclaimed. The phone was dropped on the other side, "Ow! Don't yell!"

"Sorry," Derek muttered. A small beep alerted someone on the second line. "Ah. Hold
on. Another call coming in," he told Nick. "Right! Call me back then…" the connection
to Phoenix disappeared. Derek looked at the phone, 'He didn't need to hang up… I don't
even know his number…
' He shook his head and hit Flash.

"Hello?"

"…"

"Hello?"

"Derek…"

"A-Angie?!" he gasped. "Angie? What happened?! How did the- - -?!" "He came in my
apartment…"
she whispered. "I can't go back…" "Did he hurt you in anyway?" he
asked, panic growing once more, "What about Julianna?" There was a pause as Angie
shuffled slightly. "Angie!" "Julianna's fine… I just," she took a deep breath, "I just
don't want to talk about it… not over the phone…"
"But Angie…" "He can hear
everything… he knows everything…. Caduceus… our conversations…"
she continued,
"He must have known about my Aikido as well…" "You didn't say…" "He knows where
you live even…"

Derek was silent. "You mentioned those threats… he could've done any of them at any
time…"
His heart practically stopped. "He didn't…" The silence on the other end scared
him. "I want to talk face to face Derek…" she said, avoiding the dropped sentence. He
shook to clear his head, "Where are you right now? I'll come and get you." "…The public
phone…"
she noted, "Near the park and church…!" He heard the gasp on the other end
and the phone started to buzz. "Angie? Angie!" he yelled.

"Dammit!" he roared, slamming the phone down once more. He grabbed a coat and raced
out the door, it too closing with a bang!

oOoOoOo

"Why are you in a hurry?!" the man called as Angie retreated from the phone booth. She
hissed quietly as her newly acquired cut throbbed, dying her leg a darker shade of red as
blood oozed quietly. She jumped away as the man lunged at her again, cringing on
contact with the cement again. Julianna had started to cry at the continuous rousing and
movement.

"Avoiding me?" he growled. He reached into his pocket and Angie dreaded what it
would be. It was, unfortunately, a gun which he slowly raised and pointed not only at her,
but Julianna as well. She was glued to the spot, eyes flicking back and forth between the
metallic killer and its holder. "Well, well…" he sneered, before ordering, "Come back
over here… anymore running and I'll kill both of you…"

Angie's leg quivered slightly and she was beginning to feel light headed from blood loss.
'Hurry Derek…' she thought. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized a bullet
graze past her cheek. "I didn't give you time to hesitate!" he snarled, "Now come over
here!" It indeed was no position for her to refuse. He was just about 20 or more feet
away, allowing a better aim and a higher risk of a fatal shot.

She started to move towards the figure…

He licked his lips excitedly…

An arm wrapped around his throat and another hand grabbed the gun. "Get away from
her!"

She couldn't believe her ears. "Derek!" she exclaimed. Indeed, it was the young surgeon
grappling with the mysterious criminal, trying to hold him back and wrestle the gun
away. "Let go of me!" the man snapped angrily, grabbing at Derek's arm with his free
hand, attempting to restore his breathing. Angie moved back as the two continued to
struggle. With a twist, the man gained the upper hand, sending Derek slamming into the
ground and took aim. The second bullet missed by a hair, ricocheting into the wall.

"Come on!" Derek exclaimed, jumping back to his feet. "No you don't…!" the man
barked, raising the gun again. He pulled the trigger, earning a click but no bang. The
momentary pause allowed Derek and Angie the chance to run. "Argh!" the man yelled,
raising the gun once more.

Three more shots rang into the night.

Someone cried out from searing pain.

Fat crimson drops splashed against the cement.

oOoOoOo

Me: I can't tell you what happened. You're supposed to be collecting clues like the
bullets fired.

GS: You mentioned that last time.

Me: I know, but I have to repeat that. It's vital.

Edgeworth: They could just wait until you finish.

Me: But then it wouldn't be fun! Wah!

Franziska: (tightens her grasp on her whip)

Everyone: …

Me: Eh… this is my readers chance to guess what characters will need defending. In the
mean time, I need to hunt down Phoenix and Maya… maybe Pearly too. Until then, bye!

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