"That was so your fault."
"Was not."
"Um, yes it was," I argued with Tony.
"Okay, fine. How is it my fault?" he asked and crossed his arms.
"You're the one that told us to hide in the drainage. You're the one who directed us to a drop-off and you're the one who pushed me over it. See, your fault," I explained. I was drenched head to toe in dirty water… well I hoped it was water.
"Stop complaining," he moaned.
"Stop complaining? Stop complaining! You're not the one covered in who knows what!" He rolled his eyes and walked away from me towards the warehouse. "Don't you walk away from me!" I yelled and marched after him I could hear Mikey sigh behind me and follow.
"What happened to you?" Nudge asked as I walked through the door.
"He did. My annoying halfwit brother."
"You have a brother? He's your brother? I can see the resemblance."
"And you are?" Tony asked her.
"Nudge. That's Angel, Iggy," she pointed to the members of the Flock, "Total, Fang, Gazzy, Max and…." she pointed to Mikey, "I don't know who he is."
I wrapped my arms around Mikey's s shoulders, "This is Mikey. Mikey, say hi."
"I'm not a child," he mumbled.
"Say it," I said, but it sounded more like a threat.
"Hi."
"Does your brother have a name?" Max asked me expectantly.
"Tony," he answered. He spun around to face me, "Was Alley with you?"
I glanced around the room. She wasn't in the room. "She was."
Fang pointed towards a broom closet, "She crawled into there while mumbling something about more of her Flock dying and leaving her alone in the world."
"She's such a drama queen," I murmured and opened the closet door. She sat in the corner of the extremely small room rocking. "Are you finished having your breakdown or shall I come back later?"
She looked up at me, "Are they dead?"
"Yes. Tony survived the Erasers, but his tiny brain ceased to function and he flew into a brick wall and Mikey followed, like the little lemming he is."
She heard the sarcasm in my voice, "So they're not dead?"
"No, unfortunately."
She stood up and pushed passed me as she left the confinement of the closet. She walked up to Tony and punched him in the gut.
"What took you so long?" she yelled at him as he doubled over in pain. Max's flock took a protective step back in case Alley decided to throw any more punches.
"Umm…. Sorry?" Tony said hoarsely.
------
Ginger was curled up fast asleep next to Rogue, who on the other hand couldn't sleep. The man hadn't returned, but the thought that he could barge through the door and take Ginger away at any minute made her uneasy. Usually Mars would worry about something like that while the others slept. But Mars wasn't there to worry. There was only Rogue and Ginger. And as the eldest, the duty of worrying fell upon Rogue. She had to be the responsible one. She had to take care of both of them.
As Ginger slept, Rogue made a silent promise to her that she wouldn't let anyone harm her. Whether the others were dead or not, it didn't matter. All that mattered was that they had each other and Rogue wasn't going to lose the possibly only other survivor of the flock. She held Ginger closer in fear that she would slip away into the darkness and never be seen again.
"Rogue?" Ginger mumbled tiredly and rubbed her eyes, "What's wrong?"
She looked down at Ginger's sleepy eyes, "Nothing. Why?"
"You look…" she paused, in search of words to describe it, "Sad and… scared."
She pulled Ginger further onto her so she was seated on her lap. "I'm not sad… I'm just thinking."
"About what?" the child asked more cheerfully.
A sly smile crossed Rogue's face, "That time when Elise and Tony got into a fight and they both ended up in a pit of mud," she lied, but only to bring a smile the little face staring intently at her.
And she succeeded. A giggled escaped her tiny lips, "They were funny."
"Yes, they were idiots."
Ginger wrapped her arms around Rogue's neck and rest her head on her shoulder, "I wish they were here," she whispered.
"So do I," She rubbed Ginger's back, "Go back to sleep."
Ginger did as she was told with a smile on her face.
"I promise no one will hurt you," she whispered.
I promise…-----
"So you think they'll come here?" Sam asked.
"They have to, unless they want to starve," Mars answered as she sipped her coffee.
"But there's at least two other corner cafes in a 200m radius, why would they come to this one?" Dean asked.
"Because they love this place. Last time we were here this was the only place we are at."
"Right," Dean answered, unconvinced.
Mars rolled her eyes and took another sip. She didn't have to explain herself to anyone, especially him.
The waitress came up and offered to refill Mars' coffee. Mars accepted, then the waitress left.
"Well, hello," Dean said as he watched the waitress leave, he turned back to his bother and said, "I'll... er... be back," and went off after her.
"I do not know him," Sam stated and slouched down in the seat.
The bell on the door rang as the door opened and a man stepped in. Neither Mars nor Sam took notice. In the past hour thirty people had come and gone.
The man looked around the small cafe to find a seat. The cafe was nearly empty and the women behind the counter looked at him suspiciously. The man smiled at her as he finally found what he was looking for.
Sam watched the man carefully as he sat down next to Mars, who seemed completely oblivious to him as she stared out the window.
"Hello, little birdie," the man grinned.
Mars jumped and snapped her head around to look at him. She recognised him instantly, but was too shocked to speak.
"You're quite a hard one to fine," he grinned.
"What do you want!" she hissed.
"You know very well what we want."
Mars glanced around. The street outside was bustling with people. Surely he wouldn't attack her in broad daylinght in front of so many witnesses, unless he had gone insane. Thinking back to their last encounter Mars figured it could be entirely possible.
"No, I don't."
"Revenge, of course. We all do. We've waited..." he paused and counted on his fingers.
Mars rolled her eyes, "Twelve years," she told him.
"... Twelve years for the time we finally get to cause you the pain you caused us."
"You guys can feel pain? Mars teased, "That must be really embarrassing for you."
"I hear you've got your own flock now," he continued, ignoring her statement, "It would be such a shame if something were to happen to them."
"Don't you dare," Mars threatened, gritting her teeth.
"Look, I think it's time for you to leave," Sam butted into there conversation.
"Fine," the man said, "I know when I'm not wanted. I just came to tell you that we will get our revenge. And we will take what we are owed in blood. Whether it be yours, or someone you love." With those final words and a sadistic smirk, he left. Silence fell between Mars and Sam, until Sam finally spoke.
"So... you and him have... history?"
"If you could call it that," Mars mumbled and stared intently at her coffee cup.
Sam studied Mars for a moment, then spoke, "We'll find them. I promise."
"It's too late," she whispered, fighting back tears, "They've already taken Ginger." Her voice broke, "She's only a child. And Rogue. She'll only fight them and make things worse for herself. It's all my fault. I brought them into this." Tears streamed down her face.
Sam wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't promise nothing would happen to them.
