Tuesday October 25th 1977 4:03 P.M. After finally getting my head clear from this morning events, I walked up the steps to the police station. Walking in, I saw that everybody was busy, walking around, taking papers to someone. Simple stuff.
I walked down the hallway to Trista's office hoping that Michelle would not be able to tell that something happened to me. *Knock, knock* "Come in!" A voice said a little loud. I opened the door and walked in to the sight of Trista, Amara, Michelle and Amy.
Trista was at her desk looking over some files. Amara was talking with Michelle as they looked over the town map. And Amy was sitting in front of Trista's desk reading a book. "Hey guys." I said closing the door. "Samuel! It's about time you showed up." Trista said looking at me. "Hello Mr. Ownby." Michelle said not looking up from the map. "Yo." Amara said not looking up either. "Hey Samuel." Amy said standing up and shaking my hand. "Hey Amy." I said shaking her hand. "I see your wearing your necklace." I said looking at the shiny blue sapphire. "Ya, I wanted to wear it like yours." Amy said looking at mine.
Amy then shot a glance into my eyes. "Are you ok Samuel?" Amy said looking me in my eyes. That seemed to get everybody to look at me. "Is something wrong with you?" Trista said getting up. "No, I'm fine, I just...had a busy morning." I said trying not to look guilty. "Oh, ok." Amy said sitting back down.
"So are we ready to get started?" I said sitting down at the edge of Trista's desk. "Ready when you are Samuel." Trista said as Michelle and Amara sat down too. "Ok then, before we get started with Amy, did anything come up sense last time I saw you?" I said looking at Trista.
Trista gave an uneasy look and took something out of her file and handed it to me. She said nothing as I took the piece of paper and started to read it. "Oh, I almost forgot, make sure you come unarmed, we won't want anything to happen to them, now would we?"
I tossed the paper back at Trista as Michelle raised an eyebrow. "Wait, where are you going Samuel?" I looked at Amara as she looked down. I just knew she didn't tell her yet.
"...The people that have Serena and Darien...want me and Amara to bring them 50 grand to the park in china town at midnight tonight in exchange for their lives." Michelle got big eyed and put her hand over her mouth. "Why didn't you tell me?" Michelle said in a sad tone. "Michelle, we didn't want you to worry about us." Amara said putting her hand on shoulder. "We knew you would be against it." Michelle just looked down at the floor.
"I'll be back..." Michelle said as she stood up and left the room. "Michelle, wait." Amara said as she walked to the door. I grabbed her arm as she passed me. *Amara looks at me* "Amara...just let her air out for a little bit..." I said looking at her. Amara just looked at me. After about 5 seconds, Amara sat back down.
"Ok, now Trista, I need to know what kind of plan you came up with."
"I'm going to be with the SWAT team on standby if something happens."
"Where are they going to be?" Trista shot a glance at Amara and looked back at me. "...Were going to be on standby at 13th Ave."
"...What? Are you serious? That's 7 blocks away." I said giving her a look of disbelief. "Samuel, you read what they wrote. if they as so much smell something..." Trista said looking at me with her arms flooded. "...Fine..." I said looking down at the ground. *Door opens*
Michelle walks back in and sits down next to Amara. "...You ok Michelle?" I said looking at her. "...Ya, I know you have to do this, just promise me...you will come back." I looked at Amara as she had the same look on her face. "...You have my word Michelle." I said smiling. *Michelle smiles*
I looked over at Amy. "Are you ready Amy?"
"Yes, what do you need me to do?" Amy said giving me a smile. I gave Amy the latter and Trista gave her a folder so she could take a look at it. "Hmmm..." Amy said looking through them rather fast. After about 5 minutes of reading, Amy lets out a small giggle. "I knew it." Amy said smiling.
"I take it you got something?" I said. "Well don't leave us in the dark, Tell us Amy." Michelle said as she got up and went to the mini fridge and got a coke.
Amy put the file next to her as she crossed her legs and put her fingers together. "What where dealing with is a textbook megalomania."
"And that isss?" Trista said leaning in her chair. "It's a Pathological state in which fantasies of control or omnipotence predominate."
Trista and Amara and Michelle just had a look of shook on their faces. "You got all of that from just reading some papers?" Trista said. "Yep heh, heh." Amy said. "But that's not all of it, if what Samuel told me about these men are true, then they are not the ones who wrote the latter or have something against us."
"What do you mean?" Amara said. "This 'Queen'...is after Samuel and Samuel only."
"What?!" I said a little surprised. "How is that possible?" Michelle said. "I'm not sure...but this Queen, she wants control over him, over his actions, over his thoughts, even his own emotions."
"Sound like you got a secret admirer Mr. Ownby." Michelle said taking a sip. "Maybe she'll send me some flowers."
"Everybody knows you like Sazanka's." Michelle said smiling. "It's not that kind of emotion, this Queen has a Megalomaniacal personality."
"Can we please just skip to the part to where we find out what this has to do with me?" I said standing up and walking over to the window. "I don't know Samuel, It might have something to do with past events or a grudge she has towards you." *Flashback to Seiya telling me about my Grandfather* "...I see." I said still looking out the window.
"Should we take her lightly then?" Trista said. "That's the last thing you want to do." Amy said looking over to me. "Samuel." *I turn around*
"This woman wants to pound on you till you crumble, she wants you to dance to her every tune and in the end..." Amy said as she looked away from me. "...She will kill you..." It went quite for a few seconds. "Well I guess I won't let that happen then." I said smiling at her. *Amy smiles back*
"Samuel, this woman is sitting on an awful lot of rage, and it could be manifested physically if she's stressed."
"So could it be somebody he arrested, somebody he pissed off?" Trista said. "That could be one hell of a long list." Michelle said with a cocky smile. "Ha, ha funny..." I said rolling my eyes. *Michelle giggles*
"Samuel, these types of people don't like to work anonymously, they want you to know who's doing it, so this 'Queen' is not an alias, this woman is a queen of something or her name could be some variation of that."
"Well I will look in our files and see if anyone stands out." Trista said standing up. "Samuel, you need to go home and get ready by taking any means necessary to keep you safe tonight." Trista said walking over to Amara. "And you need to do the same too Amara." Trista said putting her hand on her shoulder. *Amara nods* *Trista turns and faces Michelle* "Michelle?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want in on this?" Michelle looked away for a few seconds. "...Well, I know that Samuel and Amara will be fine, but I think I'll stay with you in the car if you need me for something." Michelle said standing up. *Amy stands up too*
"Well I know I won't be any help on the street, so I guess I'll go home and hope for the best." Amy said walking over to the door.
Amy opens the door and stops and looks at me. "...Samuel?" Amy said turning her head to me. "Ya?"
"...Don't do anything that might make Mina feel guilty." I was taking back a little bit by what she said. "...Ok." Amy gives me a smile and walks out the door. *click*
"Well Samuel, I have to admit, I didn't think you would actually get someone to help us out this much." Trista said sitting back down. *I walk over to her desk* "Ya, well I know people."
"Well me and Michelle are going to go and get ready for tonight." Amara said walking over to the door and opening it up. "See you tonight." I said waving to them. "See ya." Amara said closing the door. *click* "..." It went quite for a little bit. Neither of us knowing what to say.
"Samuel?" Trista said looking up at me as I turn to her. "You don't have to go tonight..." Trista said with a sad tone in her voice. "...No, I'll be there." I said looking away. "Samuel, you have too much to lose for you to go tonight, you have girls who love and care for you and you have a good job, you shouldn't be risking all of that." Trista said looking down at the desk.
I just stood there looking out the window. "...I know I have a lot to live for...but...there is something that I must find out..." I said walking to the door. I open the door and look back at Trista. "What time do you want to meet before we do this?"
"Were going to meet at 5th and b which is two blocks away, ten minutes till midnight. we will go from there." Trista said picking up her phone. "Ok, see you then." I said walking out the door. "See ya Samuel..." Trista said. *click*
As I started to walk out of the police station, I couldn't help but think to myself. "Mina...Amy...Ray...Lita..." I was going to be gambling on a lot tonight, I just hope that lady luck will be on my side. On my way back home, I passed a familiar place. I looked up at the sign and smiled to myself. "Ehh, What the hell, why not." I said as I walked into the nightclub.
Tuesday October 25th 1977 5:34 P.M. As I walked in, I headed to the bar and sat down and looked up at the stage to see a familiar black hair girl singing bye, bye love. *The bar tender walks up to me*
"What can I get you sir?" He said washing a glass. "...I'll just take some water for now." I said not looking at him. "...Whatever." He said pouring me some water.
As the girl got done singing, she looks my way. I just looked the other way not really knowing why due to the fact that I was there to talk to her. Being able to sense when something's wrong, she starts to walk over to me. I turned my head back to the bar and drank my water as Ray sits down next to me.
"Well things can't be good if you're here." Ray said leaning her arm on the counter. "Ya well I'm a little on the edge tonight." I said not facing her.
"...You're really going to go through with this are you?"
"...I don't have much of a choice you know."
"Why is that?"
"Oh come on Ray, you know why." I said putting the glass down. "...Ok, fine, so what do you need to talk to me about?" Ray said leaning her back against the bar. "...How sure...do you feel that what you saw will happened tonight?"
"..." Ray said nothing at first. "...maybe 65% sure."
"Great..." I said leaning my head on the bar. "Samuel...you know you can change what might happened tonight." Ray said looking me. "Ya I know, but..." I let out a small sigh.
"What a minute..." Ray said as she looked at me. "What?" I said looking at her. Ray just kept looking me in my eyes. After about 10 seconds, Ray smiles. "Heh, who would have thought."
"What? thought what?" I said leaning up. "Samuel...you're a little worried tonight because...you're in love."
"What!?" I said a little too loud while blushing. "It's not like you to be so worried about something, I knew something was up." Ray said smiling as I look down. "Nooo...it can't be...can it?" I said looking at my glass.
"Well you might not know it yet, but it's writing in your eyes. you're worried about tonight because you're worried you won't see her again." I was just dumbfounded.
"...Well either way...tonight is going to change my life." *Ray nods* Just then, one of the staff comes up to Ray. "Ray, we have a problem."
"What is it now?" Ray said rather annoyed. "Jim lost the music papers, so we don't know what to play next." Ray gives a big sigh. "I swear...when you see Jim, tell him he's fired."
"And what about the music?"
"Just give me time, I'll think of something."
"Yes ma'am." He says as he walks away, Rays turns around to face me. "Well Now I'm in a tight jam. What am I going to do now?" Ray said looking down. I don't know why...maybe it was because I might die tonight...maybe it was because Ray was sad...but whatever the reason...
"Ray?"
"Ya?"
"...I'll take care of the music." Ray raises an eyebrow at me. "What do you mean?"
"I'll play a song with you."
"Really!?" Ray said with a smile on her face. "Of course." We could hear people getting nervous as they wanted a song. "Well Samuel, don't let me down." Ray said as she stood up and walked up to the mic. I followed behind her and walked over to the piano.
"Were sorry for the wait, but we are now ready to play the last song for tonight." Ray looks at me with a look at said (What song are you going to play?) I looked down at the keys and thought to myself. I let out a small smile and put my hands on a G cord. As soon as I hit that cord, Ray knew what song I was going to play. "Heh, just like old times..." Ray said to herself as she got ready to sing...
"When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to meee, specking words of wisdom, let it bee...And in my horrid darkness, she is standing right in front of mee, specking words of wisdom, let it bee...let it bee, let it be...let it bee, let it bee...whisper words of wisdom, let it bee...and when the broken heart in people, living in the world agree...there will be an answer, let it bee... for though they may be pardon...there is a chance that they will seee, there will be an answer, let it bee...let it be, let it be, let it be, let it beee...ya there will be answer, let it bee...let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be...whisper words of wisdom, let it bee..." *solo* "Let it be, let it be, let it be, ya let it bee...whisper words of wisdom, let it beeeee...and when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on meee, shine on till tomorrow, let it bee...I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to mee, specking words of wisdom, let it beeeee ya let it be, let it be, let it be ya let it be...there will be an answer, let it beeee, let it be, let it be, let it be ya let it bee...whisper words of wisdom, let it beeeee..."
As I hit the last cord, everybody cheered. I walk up to Ray as we both gave a bow.
Walking back to her dressing room, Ray lets me in. I walked in and sat down as Ray closed the door. "Well Samuel, I have to say, you still know how to play." Ray said sitting down as she took out her purse. "Ya well, they were only cheering because someone with a lovely voice was singing." I said smiling. Ray looked away and blushed a little. I let out a small laugh.
"...Thank you Samuel." Ray said still not looking at me. "For what?"
"For tonight..." Ray said looking at me with a smile on her face. "Well I was happy to help." I said looking up at the clock. I saw it was already 6:30. "Well Ray, I better get going. I have a lot to do before tonight." I said standing up. Ray stands up and walks to the door. "Yes, I understand..." Ray said as I walked out the door.
"Samuel..." *I turn around* "Ya Ray?"
"If tonight is the last time I see you..."
"Ray..." Just then Ray hugs me. "Ray!?" I said a little surprised. I could feel Ray holding me tightly. Afraid that this would be the last time she would see me. "Samuel, I just want you to know that I'm really happy to have known such a kind a caring man in my life as you...you were the first person to ever show me what it means to have a friend." Rays pulls away and looks up at me. "And for that... I'm forever in your dealt." Ray said smiling.
I couldn't help but get a little chocked up. This was the first time I've ever seen Ray cry before. *I put my hand on her head* "Thank you Ray...You don't know how much that means to me...and don't worry, I'll come back, so long as there as a single sad girl that needs to be protected, I'm never going away." I said smiling at her.
"That is why you are so great Samuel."
"Ya I know heh, heh." I said putting my hand behind my back. "Well I'll see you later Ray." I said as I waved and started to walk away. "I hope so Samuel...I hope so..." Ray said to herself as she watched me walk out of the room...
Tuesday October 25th 1977 9:02 P.M. Walking up the stairs to my house, I saw my mail came. Grabbing it and walking inside, I put the mail on the table and went to the fridge. Opening the door, I saw that I forgot to go shopping today. *sigh* "Now what?" *Knock, Knock* "Coming!" I said walking over to the door.
I open the door to see Amara standing there with her hands in her pockets. "Yo." Amara said waving to me. "Amara?, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be getting ready for tonight?"
"I am...May I come in?"
"Ya sure." I said moving out of the way as Amara walks in as I close the door.
"So what's up?" I said as Amara stopped walking and turned around to face me. "Samuel...are you really going to go through with this tonight?"
"Oh my goood, are you serious?" I said walking back into the kitchen. "Samuel, I need to know." Amara said walking into the kitchen too. "Amara, you already know the answer, ok? you're the 3rd person to ask me that tonight." I said grabbing some water. "Samuel, I know you're going to go through with this...but if something happens...I don't know if I will be able to help you." Amara said looking at the picture of me and Mina. "...I understand, don't worry, I'm going to be ok. As long as my friends believe in me, I know I can do this."
"Heh, always looking up huh?" Amara said smiling. "You know me." I said taking a drink of my water.
"So you wanna go get something to eat before tonight?" Amara said looking back at me. "Sure, I didn't get my shopping done today so I don't have anything to eat."
"Great, let's go." Amara said walking to the door. "I'll be there in a little bit ok? I need some time..." I said looking at her. "...Ok, I understand, take your time..." Amara said as she walked out the door.
As I stood there, I thought to myself. "Is this going to be my last time seeing my house?" I knew that I was going to be gambling on a lot tonight. I had to save Serena and Darien. They did not deserve to die. But what about everybody else?
I walked over to the picture of me and Mina and picked it up. I really wanted to see Mina again. I wanted things to go back to the way things were. Maybe when this is all over...
I put the picture back down and walked out the door and locked it. I walked down the stairs and hopped into Amara's car. "So where too?" I said as Amara started the car. "Were going to go pick up the money and then were going to go get something to eat and then were going to pick up Michelle and then were going to go meet Trista." Amara said as she started to drive away down the street as looked in the mirror at my house… *6 minutes later *
Pulling up to the bank, Amara walks in and grabs the bag of money and walks back out. As she hopes in, she hands me the bag. "Do me a favor and put that money in that suitcase will ya?" Amara said turning the car on.
I look in the back seat and saw a suitcase about 2 feet long. As Amara started to drive away, I started to put the money in the suitcase. "Are we really going to give them all this money?" I said pulling the money out of the bag. "Don't worry, it's all fake."
"What? But won't they be able to tell?"
"Don't worry, Trista was able to get some strings pulled and got us this money, it's not real, but it would fool anybody." Amara said pulling up to a taco place. "So what do you want?" Amara said opening her door. "Just get me two soft tacos."
"Ok, I'll be back in two minutes." Amara said closing her door. I put the rest of the money in the suitcase and saw it already had been 5 minutes. "Must be a line." I said putting the suitcase back in the back seat.
After about 10 more minutes, Amara came back. Amara opens the door and hands me a bag. "How long does it take to make a taco?" I said as Amara started the car. "Oh, 2 minutes, but about 15 for them to convince them that I'm not immigration's so they could get the cook up from the basement." Amara said as she started to drive to Michelle's house...
As I got done with my taco, we pulled up to Michelle's house. Amara honked her horn as we waited for her. After 20 Seconds, Michelle steps out of her house and locks her door and walks down the stairs to the car. "Sorry it took me so long." Michelle said opening the door and hoping in. "It was only 20 seconds." I said looking back at her. I was taking back by what Michelle was wearing. She had on a lime green T-shirt and white jeans "Why are you wearing that?"
"...Just in case...you might need my help..." Michelle said looking out the window. I looked at Amara as she said nothing as she started to drive to the rendezvous point. No one said anything as we drove there. Everybody was on edge tonight and no one wanted to make things worse...
After about 6 minutes, we finally pull up to the place where we were going to meet. Amara pulled the car into a garage and turned the car off. "Why are we hiding the car Amara?" I said as we all got out. "It's far enough away that nobody would see it."
"True, but what if we have to get out of there and someone wants to follow us and see where we go?" Amara said grabbing the suitcase and locking her car. "It should be far enough away that nobody would follow us this far from the park."
"Ahh, ok." I said as we followed her outside. We walk out the door and saw an ice-cream truck at the end of the street. Amara starts to walk over to it as we follow her. *knock, knock*
"What kind of flavor would you like?" A voice said from inside the truck. "Vanilla." Amara said. 7 seconds later, the back door opens up to reveal a SWAT team of 7 members and Trista. "Get in quick." Trista said waving for us to get in. We get in and close the door. With us in there, it was a little tight.
"Why are we an ice-cream truck?" I said stuck in between Michelle and Trista. "Times are tough Samuel, we had to cut back on some stuff." Trista said looking at me as I rolled my eyes.
"So what's the game plan?" Michelle said. "We have someone walking by the park and there telling us that they are already there sitting on a bench." Trista said looking at us. "So how is this going down?" I said. "Put these on." Trista said handing me and Amara a tiny black speaker. "These are mics that I got, put them on the inside of your shirt." I looked at the mic. It was no bigger than a dime.
I put it in my right side of my shirt. Amara put hers on the other side. "At five till, you will walk up from the south side and meet them in the middle of the park, give them the money and get Serena and Darien and get the hell out of there. we don't know what to expect from them." Trista said looking at us.
"Did you guys get your vests?" Trista said looking at us. "I got mine on." Amara said taping her shirt making a clunking sound. "What about you Samuel?" Trista said looking at me. "...I don't have one." I said looking down at the floor. Everybody went quiet.
"Samuel...you can't go without a vest." Trista said. "Why don't you have one?" Amara said looking at me. "Money has been tight for me these last few weeks... I don't have enough for one..." I said looking down at the floor. "You can't go without a vest Samuel." Michelle said looking at the floor too.
"I don't have choice Michelle...if I don't go with Amara..." Michelle went quite. She knew I had to go. Michelle started to sniff a little. Amara put her hand on her shoulder. I just knew she was worried about me.
Trista looked at the clock and saw it was 11:40. "We have a little more time, did you guys bring anything to protect yourself with?" Trista said looking at us. Amara pulled up her sleeve to reveal a small derringer taped to her arm. "What about you Samuel?" Amara said looking at me. I pulled up my pant leg to reveal a small knife. "Good...let's just hope they don't find them." Trista said leaning on the wall of the truck.
Nobody said anything after that. We were all on edge tonight. Time seem to have stood still for a few minutes. After a little while longer, Trista looked at the clock and saw it was 8 till. "...Its time..." Trista said.
One of the SWAT members opened the door for us as me and Amara got out. Michelle gave Amara a hug and gave me a hug too. "Samuel...please come back ok?" Michelle said pulling away from the hug. *I smile* "I promise...you have my word." I said putting my hand on her head. Michelle smiles and gets back up into the car.
Trista looks at us and give a nod. "The save word is Serenity." Trista said as she closed the door. Me and Amara turned around and started to walk to the park...hoping we would both get to see them again...