Chapter ten!

I sat in the hospital waiting room. It was only at Liza's request that I go; so here I was, waiting to be called upon. I was tapping a tune on my knees with my fingers to pass the time.

"Katie?" A woman's voice called out, breaking my amusement. I stood up. She led me into a room and I sat up on the bed. She looked through my file, a frown present on her face.

"You have had an unbelievable amount of injuries you have sustained since you were ten." I nodded.

"It says here that everyone of them had been inflicted by your dad." Another nod.

"Is he back in the picture again?"

"No," I lied, with a shake of my head, "I was clearing the gutter at home when I fell off the ladder."

"You know you can tell me anything right?"

"It's the truth."

"Okay then. Lets have a look at that leg." The woman lifted up my pant leg and felt around. I hissed in pain when her fingers touched my shin.

"Good news," she said, "It's not broken. Bad news, you do need to be in a cast for a few weeks." She then plastered my leg and I was allowed to go. I left the hospital and started down the street. The further I walked, the more I noticed more and more people wearing grey suits. I wouldn't have been suspicious had they been moving and not watching me. I kept my pace and stuck with the crowds. I pulled out the slip of paper Karai had given me. The address wasn't too far away. I sped up; going as fast as I could on crutches, heading towards Karai's home. Those in the grey suits followed, keeping their distance. I made it to a large brick building. I went up the three steps, raised a fist and knocked. The door was opened by a man in his mid to late thirties. He was large, at least twice the size of a regular man. He was well muscled with blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a black, thick sleeved singlet and black pants. A purple dragon tattoo wound its way around his left arm. A sinister grin found its way onto his face.

"My, my, lost are we?" He said, in a deep voice. I shook my head.

"No," I replied, "Karai gave me this address and told me to come by when and if I needed help." His face held a look of sudden realisation.

"You must be Katie." I gave a small smile as I replied.

"That's me."

"Yes mistress Karai informed us that you may be coming along. Come on in." I thanked the blonde haired man as I entered the building. He led me down a series of hallways and into a large room. It was a Japanese training dojo. Karai was fighting off some young people, between the ages of twenty and thirty. I watched in stunned awe as she beat them all. When she looked over and saw me, she smiled; wandering over to me.

"Katie, welcome to my home."

"Thank you, it's really nice." Karai picked up a towel and started to wipe away her sweat. The man left us and walked out.

"What can I do for you?" She asked.

"I would like a place to lay low for a while. I'm sure Ethan has people scouting the city looking for me."

"You can stay for as long as you wish." I followed Karai out to a courtyard in the back. We sat down on a bench.

"You know," she continued, "We could arrange for your father to...disappear." I frowned.

"How?"

"I am the leader of a group of 'very' powerful people. At my word we can find him and bring him in. It will be your choice as to what we do with him." I thought about it. Did I want him gone? Quick death or slow? It was then I realised that I wanted him to suffer. I wanted him to be tortured; feel the pain I had felt.

"I want him brought here alive; on one condition."

"Which is?"

"I want to be the one to kill him. I want to make him wish he never messed with my family." Karai chuckled.

"That can easily be arranged. I just need you to do something for me though."

"What do you need me to do?"

"I want you to join me and my group. I want you to help fight with us in our own little war against some of your...friends."

"What friends?"

"Oh, they are green, have shells on their back and have a rat as their master." My eyes widened.

"I can't fight them. I have no training and besides they were friendly to me."

"Trust me they're not. They act as if they are the good guys and then the moment you trust them, they will kill you." My stomach dropped.

"They have Lauren! They have my sister!" Karai gave a small sigh.

"I thought this might happen. She will be safe for the time being. She can be used as a bargaining chip against you. I have to train you to use guns so that you can take them out from a distance."

"I want my sister to be moved here. I want them kept safe."

"Of course. Anything else?"

"Yeah. I want to learn hand to hand combat. If I have to, I will fight along side you." Karai placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You are very brave. It will be an honor to teach you. First things first though, you need to be branded with our groups mark. It will mark you as one of us and you won't be messed with." I held out my hand and Karai took it.

"Deal," I said.

"Deal," she replied.