A/N: This chapter was incredibly hard for me, but I am kind of satisfied with how it turned out.
I hope you think so too. Feedback is always welcome.
Anyway, Enjoy. Really hope, you like it.
Diane sat in he middle of the room, trying to calm herself.
He had locked her in. She'd never thought he would dare and now she desperately tried to find a way out. It would be easy to leave the office once she found a way out of this god damn room. But nothing seemed to work. She looked around. She tried the window of course, but there was nothing to step on outside and the office was on the sixth floor of the building. There was no fire escape or gutter to climb down on and it was way too high to risk a jump.
She had tried to run down the door several times now and only paused because her shoulder ached terribly by now. This either was the most solid door known to mankind or Max had blocked it with a chair or something. She half expected him to, although she hadn't heard him doing it.
No, she simply needed something to separate the bolt from the lock and everything would be fine. Unfortunately, she couldn't find anything like robust enough to accomplish that. She'd tried various pictures and bills she could find, even very flat frames. But nothing.
Her eyes wandered around the room. If only she could think of something.
Her gaze fell upon the picture of Leo which Max had given her.
If all that he told her was true and by now she was convinced he didn't lie, she simply needed to find a way to help them. Even if she had to go so far as to do exactly what Max had told her to. She had been thinking about it too. It sounded so much as if Max expected something happen to him. It made no sense at all though, but then she always had to remind herself she didn't really know anything about him. And what was that about a car-accident he mentioned? Maybe he was just being careful.
She looked at the picture again. The lights of the city which cheated their way through the windows reflected in the glass of the frame.
She almost jumped up seeing this. This was it. Perfect. Exactly what she needed.
Quickly she took the frame off the ground and looked at it again. Then without hesitation she threw it against a large chest standing next to the door. She heard the glass crack and the splinter of some loose pieces of it on the floor.
Quickly she took the photo out of the shambles and careful folded it to put it in the inside of her jacket. Then she headed for a large piece of glass and payed attention not to cut herself lifting it.
"That'll do," she cheered and moved towards the door, praying it wouldn't be too large still.
She placed it in the gap between door and frame and felt her heart jumping for joy when it fitted perfectly. Slowly and with extreme caution she moved it down until she felt the resistance of the bar that locked the door. She tried to turn the glass a little, but it appeared to be more difficult than she'd expected. It slipped off each time she got closer to the lock.
"Okay, stay calm," she told herself and tried it again.
Then suddenly, she felt the bar moving and with a loud click the lock sprang back.
"Yes!" She nearly screamed with joy. Letting go of the piece of glass she turned the doorknob as quick as possible. Nothing had ever felt as good as feeling that door opening. Luckily Max hadn't thought about putting something in front of it.
She put on the hood of her jacket again and without thinking about it anymore, she ran out of the office, slumming the door shut behind her.
….
"So, tell me about him," Clara said, sitting down next to Leo and handing him a drink.
Leo must have looked at him very funnily, for he immediately started to chuckle. It was fun to see how strange the young guy obviously felt, sitting in that Inn. He looked around a great deal, not daring to say anything.
The place was divided into two rooms. The first and most obvious one right behind the entrance was filled with men and women of any kind and looks. They stood side by side and chatted or danced. After the first barricade of getting in and convincing Leo not to use his real name while registering (a much safer way not to get recognized, especially since a lot of people used fake ID's due to the many police controls), Clara had blamed it on the run-down image of the Stonewall at first.
But they'd headed straight to the second room in the back of the counter. And in a way it seemed to shock Leo even more, for it was filled with drag-queens of any kind, guys in playful costumes and women looking like men. He was the conspicuous one here obviously as not many 'normal' looking people spent their time in this part of the Inn. Clara had explained to him this was necessary in case someone came in here, who didn't need to see everything at first sight. After all, it was illegal for men to dress up like women and vice versa.
Only hesitantly Leo had followed Clara into a corner that looked more like an apposition of benches in an old sailor's pub than anything else and he'd looked around without saying a word while Clara had fixed them a drink. People stared of course. Mainly, because no one had ever seen Leo here; a fact Clara had expected. But he noticed the looks on the faces of the men around too. Firstly, because he hardly brought anyone with him and secondly because Leo was in fact a handsome young guy and caught the attention of many without even noticing it. Once or twice someone had tried to talk to him but he literally had ducked away trying to follow Clara until they had sat down in said corner.
"I'm guessing," Clara said, while Leo still looked at him questioningly. "You said you were hiding what you are and you backed away when I kissed you. Not exactly the kind of behavior one would expect. So, what happened?"
"I..uh...well," Leo stuttered and noticed a blush on his face.
"Unless you don't want to," Clara smiled. "Sometimes it's hard to speak about someone who disappointed you."
"What makes you think...," Leo started, but of course Clara was much quicker again.
"Leo, please!" He grinned. "I've been through all this as well. And if you really wanted to live freely, you'd just do it. Hiding means living up to the expectations of others or trying to forget something that could have become a problem in this society. We all have to arrange with it in a way or another."
"Or maybe it's something else you don't think about," Leo answered, avoiding his eyes.
"You never denied it though," Clara said and took a sip.
"I...I can't deny it," Leo answered hesitantly. He stared at his drink, thinking about how to put it. "I've been with a man. For a long time even. That's true. But..."
"But you're not sure?" Clara stared at him again. Leo could feel his eyes on him without looking up.
Then he shook his head.
"He..he was my life," he answered silently.
"Hm, I see," Clara answered, slowly putting his glass down. "How long have you been together?"
"Ten years," Leo answered.
"Then it must have been something serious," Clara said softly and for the first time, Leo lifted his head to look at him.
"I thought so too," Leo's face was blank though. No smile. No dreamy eyes as he talked about him. Clara noticed immediately. As did Leo, for he quickly lowered his head again. "I guess it was my fault though. I gave myself to an illusion I thought to be true."
"After ten years?"
"I noticed too late what this was. About a year ago," Leo explained. "But then, well... When things got more dangerous he decided to get rid of a little 'pastime'."
"Did he say that?" Clara asked, now looking a little shocked. Much to his surprise Leo nodded. "You loved him, didn't you? Of course you did. I can see it. You still do."
Leo didn't respond.
"Was it the first time?"
"I was married before," he said. "To a woman. And he ruined it."
"He split you up?" Clara asked.
"I don't know. He said so, but to be honest I don't know what to believe anymore."
"How can you be sure he ruined it then?"
Leo hesitated for quite a while. He felt tired thinking about it. He'd gone through any possible scenario and had asked himself the same questions over and over again with no conclusion at all. It felt so surreal; so far away in a way and yet Max's words echoed inside of him as though he was standing in front of him right now.
"I guess," Leo started. "If he was telling the truth he ruined it in more ways than I imagined. Because he made me realize how senseless it had been. And how wrong I had been marrying her. And… and how much I was able to love another person. How happy I could be... even if it meant facing everything society was against. How much I was able to change, not least in my own thinking, agreeing to myself I loved a man and didn't care at all."
Clara looked as though he couldn't believe it. A story like that was new somehow. He'd heard a lot of things that happened to various people over the years and each one of them was unique in its own way. But he must admit he'd never heard of anyone literally playing with another for that long a time. If he had paid him it would have been more common. But it sounded very much as though Leo had been in a real relationship.
"Damn it buddy," he said after a while. "That sounds rough."
Leo smiled at him. He saw a smile on Clara's face as well as their eyes met once again. And suddenly there was a deep sympathy for the stranger he met in the streets arising inside of him. Maybe meeting him had been a little sign meant to lead Leo in the direction he needed to go. And Clara seemed to sense it as well.
"So what now?" he asked.
Leo shrugged slightly and shook his head. "If only I knew..."
"Do you think this is what you wanna be? One of us?" he asked.
"I don't know," Leo answered. "It was all about him. Maybe I'm not one of you. I can't say. He was the only one I changed for."
"Well, maybe it's time for someone new then," Clara responded softly. "All you need to decide is whether you stay on that path or go back to who you were."
Leo knew. He'd been thinking about it for a while now. And as much as he tried to deny it at first, he knew there was no way back. Max abandoned him. He never wanted to see him again. And worst of all Leo was certain he meant it. He was way to familiar with Max's decisions, which lasted forever once they were set. He didn't even know if he really wanted him back, for as much as it hurt not being with him anymore, he was devastated even more thinking about the horrendous things Max had said to him.
And once more he drifted away; lost in his own thoughts. The music played in the distance and all the people around him were forgotten. Until he felt a hand grabbing his own, cutting through that veil of thoughts that seemingly concealed his perception.
"Well, you can breathe again," Clara spoke gently. "No one will judge you here. Believe me."
Leo was about to whisper a shy 'Thank you', but was interrupted by a loud groan running through the crowd as the gloomy dark atmosphere was illuminated by the bright neon lights that went on all of a sudden, dipping the old place in a cold grayish-blue light. Leo as well as Clara looked up. The light almost blinded them. The music stopped and everyone was quickly moving to the walls, lining up there. Most of them tried to hide their heads. Others lifted their skirts playfully as if this was just a game. And Leo didn't get what this was about at first.
"Not again," he heard Clara say, who got up immediately. "It's a raid."
"What?"
Leo looked around in panic. He'd heard of it. But he never wanted to be part of it. He tried to stay calm by telling himself they had nothing against him. They'd check his name and then he would be able to go. But then he looked at Clara and the scars on his body flashed in front of his eyes, causing him to almost stop breathing. His hands shook. And he could feel pearls of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Whatever he told himself wasn't true. Those scars were reality. A huge part of the people in here would probably get to feel what it meant to live like that. This was what was most likely to happen. It was foolish to think he could simply walk outside as if he had nothing to do with it. Heck, he was standing there in the middle of the Stonewall between hundreds of guys dressed as women and just because he didn't look like them, didn't mean anyone would buy it.
He moved a little closer to Clara and without thinking about it he took his hand. It felt safer somehow.
They stood close together and Clara softly put his arms around Leo, even though his gaze was turned to the entrance door and he looked worried.
"Don't worry," he whispered. "Nothing's gonna happen to you."
….
Pembroke looked at Max, who still stared at the pub in disbelief.
The officers had vanished inside and soon escorted the first screaming guests outside. All of them in handcuffs. Some used the chance to slip through the door and they ran as fast as they could to get away.
A small crowd of people stood around the scenery and their murmur grew louder witnessing what the officers did. They surely were used to pictures like that but Max was able to hear their outrage about the whole situation. "Not again!", "Unfair" and "They're doing this for fun" were only a few of the sentence fragments he was able to hear.
"They deserved what they got," Pembroke said, noticing Max's look. "All of them. We should do it with every last establishment in town and soon, that problem will be under control again."
"It's wrong!" Max replied, earning a rather furious look from the old man.
"Excuse me?" he turned to him.
"They don't have anything left but this dump," he said. "They don't run around the city. What is your problem with them? Why can't you just let them be?"
"They don't deserve anything," Pembroke answered angrily, now almost piercing Max with his eyes. "They shouldn't even be here! It's a shame they are. They shouldn't walk around ruining decent people and spreading that sickness!"
Max's breath became faster. He looked around.
The noise got louder.
More and more people gathered around. The small crowd grew to be a fair accumulation of people and somehow they just wouldn't stop. The murmur became a wall of protest. But the officers didn't stop dragging people outside the Inn. The first even started to fight them.
One woman was screaming. She tried to escape the grip of the huge man holding her.
"You cannot do this," her voice echoed through the crowd. "Let go! This ain't fair!"
She wriggled and somehow managed to struggle out of the arms of him. The crowd cheered. She tried to run, but was caught quickly again. Tears were running down her face as she desperately kicked around. The officer wasn't merciful though. He didn't think twice and pulled out his club.
When she fell to the ground a wave of groans run through the crowd again.
"What the hell is this about?" Max whirled around facing Pembroke once more.
"It's a lesson they need to learn," he answered. "They brought it upon themselves."
"It's not about them, is it?" Max remained steadfast. "It's about Scott. All of this. Am I right?"
Pembroke's eyes widened and his look changed. It almost appeared he didn't have any blood left in his face and could be easily compared to a skull. It gave Max goosebumps to see it.
"How do you know about Scott?" his cold voice whispered.
But Max wasn't able to answer.
The voices around them got so loud, both of them turned around again. The whole scenario had changed. The enormous mass of people was hard to believe. And still more and more people joined them. They screamed and protested. It seemed like a huge protest one could easily see these days, but never before had anyone seen so many queers standing together and fighting something that had become normal over the years.
"ENOUGH!" someone yelled and the crowd agreed in a loud roar. "STAY TOGETHER!"
Max couldn't make out who it was, but he noticed the people were so outraged by now, it was easy to lead them into anything. It was scary in a way. He felt a fear inside he'd never experienced before. All around them were people. It wouldn't be easy to escape and it was only a matter of time until someone would notice Pembroke standing there.
He heard a crash only seconds later.
Someone had thrown a huge brick-stone at the building and it hit one of the windows, which shattered in a million pieces. The officers around flinched in fear. No one seemed to believe what had just happened. The crowd screamed and more and more objects were thrown at them. The crowd gave the image of a raging stampede and now moved towards them quickly. The policemen stood there petrified for a moment and didn't dare to try regaining control at all. And when the crowd was a mere inch away from them they fled inside the Stonewall; the only place that suddenly seemed secure for them.
The people rammed the doors and pressed themselves against them, but they appeared to have blocked them from inside as fast as they could. But it was easy to see the doors wouldn't hold them forever. They almost cracked underneath their combined weight already.
A few people ignited flags and posters with alcoholic liquids and threw it at the old building. Soon, the window shutters the inmates of the Stonewall had managed to close glowed bright orange with flames and the crowd cheered with everything that hit the walls.
And then the crowd went berserk.
….
Roger literally had to drag Carmen with him. He walked a few steps behind him and looked pretty scared. Roger seriously wondered what was wrong with him. Normally it was no big deal for him to walk around the city at night and he was usually the one who tried to get Roger outside. But now, it seemed like trying to comfort a weeping child in a way.
Carmen even looked different; a fact which confused Roger most of all. Instead of his normal appearance in an elegant black coat or jacket and his chains, he chose a normal gray shirt for once and a dark gray hood. He had pulled it over his head and carefully paid attention it covered his face as much as possible. What the hell was he so damn afraid of? Roger knew he didn't like Christopher Street but he never knew exactly why.
He wanted to ask, but was distracted by a deafening noise the closer they came towards the street.
"Do you hear that?" he asked.
Carmen stopped and looked in the same direction, nodding slightly.
"Sounds like people," he said hesitantly and Roger had never seen his eyes looking more fearful.
"It's there," the taller man replied. "Come on."
He grabbed Carmen by his sleeve and started to run towards the illuminated corner.
Both of them stopped in shock though as they reached it and were able to see what was happening in front of the Stonewall. All of Christopher Street was full with people. And they weren't at all partying for that matter.
Both of them stood petrified. This was like a demonstration. A riot.
Thousands of people were throwing things, screaming all kind of insults at someone they weren't able to make out.
Roger looked at Carmen, who immediately pulled his hood closer to his face.
"I told you," he whispered. "And Leo's in there somewhere."
"Come on," Roger needed to see what was going on. Plus Carmen was completely right. Leo was in there. They couldn't just turn their backs on whatever was happening here.
They shoveled their way through the raging crowd, always careful nothing hit them. But they obviously were recognized quickly as one of their kind by everyone around them and no one dared to confuse them with normal passengers. Although everyone joining their screams was welcome. Or so it would seem.
They fought to the top of the crowd until they were able to see the huge black doors of the Stonewall. Carmen held his head low all the time, avoiding to look into anyone's eyes, whereas Roger tried to get what had happened there.
"It was another raid," he told Carmen after a moment of listening to them. "Apparently, they managed to lock some of us in there. The officers arrest one after the other once they are able to take them outside."
Carmen didn't really look up. "Can we get out of sight and search for Leo then?"
"He would love that," Roger said.
"Love it?" it was hard to scream against the crowd and he didn't really think he understood his partner correctly.
"Yes," Roger said. "He wanted all of us to stand together. To finally face this injustice. And suddenly it happens. He'd be delighted."
"You were the one who said it's too dangerous," Carmen argued.
"I'm here," Roger replied. "Nothing's gonna happen to you. But don't you see? This is our chance. It's this moment."
Carmen looked up to him and immediately regretted it.
One of the guys around them started to stare at him in the middle of yells and flying objects. He didn't waste a second to come closer and carefully tapped Carmen on the shoulder.
"Hey pal," he said cheerfully. "Haven't I seen you before?"
Carmen quickly lowered his head. "I doubt that."
Roger noticed of course and quickly stepped between them.
"Excuse me," he said. "You've surely mistaken him for someone else."
"Maybe you're right," the guy said, still staring at Carmen. "I'm sorry, pal."
Carmen quickly waved his hand at him and hoped he would just turn his back on him now.
But all of them raised their heads as the crowd in front of them started to yell at an officer obviously trying to control a lesbian he held in his arms. She was kicking around and hit her more than once with his remaining arm in the face, but it didn't seem to stop her at all.
"No. No. No," Roger said seeing it. "This has got to stop!"
Carmen didn't reply, but almost ducked away, looking to the ground instead. He couldn't see someone being treated like that and it was more than obvious he didn't feel too good standing in between the crowd, which started to throw objects at the officers in front of them.
"ENOUGH!" Someone yelled behind them.
"STAY TOGETHER," Roger joined that unknown person and seconds later the young man who spoke to Carmen just minutes ago threw a huge red brick-stone at the Inn. It hit one of the windows and crashed it.
The noise seemed to encourage the crowd even more. They cheered, but to Carmen it sounded more like a lion's roar.
More and more people were pressing their bodies forward and soon the huge living wave marched towards the remaining officers in front of the Stonewall.
They looked so scared. There was no getting away. So, they ran into the old Pub as fast as they could and barricaded the doors behind them.
"Roger!" Carmen yelled, but in the jostling crowd he had lost sight of him somehow. "ROGER!"
The people went more and me furious. They rammed the doors and Carmen could easily witness the first ones inflaming things and ignited the nightly sky by throwing them at the Inn as well.
It went out of control. Carmen ducked away quickly and struggled himself free. He must get out of that crowd. It was the only way of having a chance to get away. But it was hard to fight against a human current like that.
"Carmen!"
He whirled around.
Someone called him. He'd heard it clearly but wasn't really able to make out who it was. Too many faces were there around him. He turned his head quickly and scanned everyone close to him, until he saw someone waving at him. It was hard to make out who it was for people always passed him. But as the person came closer, he couldn't believe it.
Leo was running towards him. He literally fell into his arms the moment they reached one another.
"Oh thank God, you are alright," Carmen sighed. "We need to get out of here."
"Are you kidding?" Leo said, looking at him sincere. "This is exactly what must happen right now."
"Leo, don't you see what this is going to be? We don't need a war," Carmen replied, but quickly shut his mouth again, seeing his young friend wasn't alone. He eyed the handsome tall man next to him quickly.
Clara didn't say a word, but stared at him with wide eyes.
"Who is this?" Carmen asked.
"A friend. He helped me getting out of there," was Leo's short reply.
"You were in there?" Carmen asked in disbelief. Images of what might have happened sprung into his head and it made him dizzy only to imagine it.
"Yes, but when the lights turned on we managed to get out through a backdoor before they could lock it," Leo explained. Then he grabbed Carmen's shoulders with both his hands. "Listen, We have to do something. This is the one chance we got to end all of their terror."
"No Leo," Carmen said, quickly putting his hand on the younger man's face. "This will cause more damage than you think. We need to get out of here."
But Leo shook his head. "Please, let me do this. I need to. For me. And you. And all of them. I don't want any of you living with this kind of treatment any longer."
"This won't bring him back, God damn it!" Carmen now screamed at him, looking as though he was about to cry any moment. If only he could make him understand. But Leo simply stared back. Then he stepped away a little.
"I'm sorry," Carmen added quickly. "I didn't mean to..."
"I know," Leo said. "But it doesn't change anything."
Carmen took a deep breath and slowly let go of Leo's arms. He nodded once.
"Alright," he spoke very quietly. "But please, promise me you'll be careful."
"I will be," Leo smiled.
"I'll wait here," Carmen said silently.
Another nod from Leo and he turned, ready to leave. Clara on the other hand didn't move. He still stared at Carmen and stretched his hand in his direction.
"It was an honor to meet you," he said, shaking Carmen's hand eagerly, who looked at him puzzled. Then he turned too and nodded towards Leo before both of them ran into the crowd again.
"What was that about?" Leo asked him when they didn't see Carmen anymore.
Clara laughed shortly. "Your friend just reminded me of someone, that's all."
….
Carmen looked after them for a moment.
"Please, be safe," he thought. It felt so strange. So familiar in a way. And seeing Leo running out of his sight felt more than wrong, but he knew for sure there was nothing he could have done. Leo had to do this, even if it was just to get his head clear. All he could do is keeping his promise and wait for him.
He looked around. Maybe if he climbed on something he would be able to see what was happening and maybe he even could keep an eye on his friend. It was even possible to find Roger in that crowd again, which he must admit would make him feel a lot better about this.
His eyes wandered. It was hard to make out anything because the crowd of people were standing everywhere, covering every last bit of a lookout.
He turned his head to the left, not prepared to find what he did though. He almost fell over in surprise and felt his eyes getting bigger.
Max!
This couldn't be. Carmen blinked once or twice, but there was no doubt about it. It was Max standing a little away on something that looked like a bench. And it hit the younger man even harder to find Arthur Pembroke standing next to him. The two of them seemed to witness everything that happened. A devilish grin was painted all over the face of the old man. Could this be? Max and him working together?
Carmen shook his head. No, there must be a logical reason why Max was with him after all. But suddenly, Carmen understood. He turned once more towards the crowd and back to Max and Pembroke.
"It was him," he said to himself in shock. "He did this!"
But why the hell was Max with him? He never thought the producer was able to do something like that. It shocked him deeply. What if Roger indeed had been right all the time? What if everything Max told him was nothing but a big disguise in the end?
He didn't know what to think anymore. But he knew he had to find out. So, slowly he moved closer towards them.
…
"Since when are you that compassionate about some fairies?" Pembroke asked Max, who still had his back turned towards them. "You let them go. You abandoned the ones you've worked with the moment I asked for it. And you even let that ridiculous partner of yours go."
"He has nothing to do with this," Max whirled around in anger.
"I KNOW WHAT HE IS," Pembroke screamed. "And I know you do too. Enough of all this talking around it. I know you think the same way or else you wouldn't have gotten rid of him as well."
"I AM NOT LIKE YOU," Max screamed back. "This is insane! I cannot imagine whatever made you believe I was in for that!"
Pembroke didn't answer. He just stared at him with his evil cold eyes.
Then he slowly pulled something out of his jacket. It took Max quite a moment to recognize it. The more shocking was it to find out he was pulling a gun, stretching his hand towards the crowd now.
The people had managed to open the doors of the Stonewall by now and it looked more like a brawl than a riot by now. The officers that had been trapped inside weren't in there anymore though. They came running around the building once more, accompanied by many more policemen, heavily armed, who marched down the street now. They must have climbed out of a window in the back of the Stonewall and somehow must have been able to call for help. It looked more like a military force marching towards the screaming people now.
"In that case I have to make you see," Pembroke finally said. "I am prepared though."
Max turned again and didn't believe what he was seeing. People were fighting with each other close to them and it didn't take him too long to make out who the tall guy was, on which Pembroke pointed his gun now.
Roger!
Max didn't know what he was doing here. He didn't even know why he hadn't seen him between the people before nor when he joined the crowd. But he immediately knew what Pembroke was up to.
"NO!" he screamed and jumped towards the old man. He was able to push his arm in another direction in the very moment Pembroke pulled the trigger. The bang of the gun was deafening. But luckily, with this kind of resistance Pembroke had had no chance to hit Roger as planned.
Max almost felt relieved, but felt a hurtful punch in his face the very next moment. The impact of that punch was so hard it made him fall to the ground. But it took him only a second to turn again, looking at the cause of it. Pembroke was much quicker though. He stood above him in no time, grabbing Max by his shirt and almost lifted him off the ground.
"I thought you were ready," he screamed and raised his hand which still held the gun. He hit him even harder with the handle of the gun on the other side of his head again. Max groaned.
"I thought you stood beside me," Pembroke said, letting go of him and causing him to crash to the ground rather harshly.
Max managed to steady himself with both his arms and breathed heavily. Small drops of blood shed on the floor and he quickly touched his forehead. His eyes widened even more when he lowered his hand again and found his fingertips red with blood. He could feel the warm liquid running down his face and suddenly felt the stinging pain of the wound Pembroke had caused right above his eyebrow.
He turned slowly.
"I never stood behind you," he started quietly, but his voice got louder. "And I never will. I swear to God I will fight this. You are the sick one here, not them!"
He could see Pembroke's chest rise and fall faster and faster and his face turned almost red with fury. He lifted his fist once more and Max ducked. He closed his eyes and awaited the next painful punch. But it didn't happen somehow.
"NO!"
Max knew that voice. He opened his eyes and whirled around again.
There was a person standing in front of him, almost like a barrier between Pembroke and himself. He spread out his arms wide and that movement made him lose his hood.
Max didn't believe it.
Carmen stared at Pembroke in a scowl without taking his arms down. And much to Max's surprise Pembroke seemed even more shocked. He wasn't able to take his eyes away from the young man, but then he didn't dare to move at all anymore. His arm was still up in the air and he almost looked like a statue for a moment.
But then, he lowered it slowly. His voice was quiet and more dangerous than ever before when he spoke again.
"Get out of the way," he said, never breaking eye-contact with Carmen.
He, on the other hand, didn't even think about moving a bit.
"No, please," he said. "This wasn't part of the deal!"
"Stand aside," Pembroke warned him once more.
"Everyone around me," Carmen said with a determined voice. "That was the only condition! And he is one of them!"
"For the last time...," Pembroke spoke again, now a little louder. Max sensed he was about to go berserk, yet immediately wondered what the heck they were talking about. Why did he stop in front of Carmen? He never seemed that hesitantly before.
"Get out of the way, Scott!" Pembroke said.
Max lifted his head. He didn't believe his ears. And for a moment he felt like falling. He teared open his eyes in shock. The noises around the three of them muffled and only them seemed to matter that second.
Carmen ignored him though. His eyes were still fixated on Pembroke.
"Everyone around me," he repeated. "You agreed on that!"
Their stare went on for an eternity. Or so it seemed. Neither of them said a word and Max didn't dare to move at all, but looked from one to the other.
But then, finally, Pembroke let his arms fall completely, looking calm for once. He closed his eyes for a moment, but replaced that blank face with the most evil grin he had ever accomplished.
"Very well," Pembroke spoke again, looking at Carmen in an almost demonic way. "One for the other!"
He snapped with his fingers once and Carmen as well as Max turned around again, looking at the scenery around them once more. Both of them had a frightened look on their faces. Neither of them knew what was going to happen. Until they understood.
They saw Roger still fighting with a few other guys and a couple of policemen. But the moment Pembroke snapped it felt like hundred more of them ran towards them. Some of them came running down the street behind Pembroke, others jumped out of the buildings nearby. And in the blink of any eye they jumped onto Roger, not caring about anyone else around him. It didn't even take more than a minute until he was led away in handcuffs, vanishing inside one of the many Police cars which left Christopher Street immediately.
Max didn't believe it. He stared after them, not really handling what had just happened. With Roger gone, everything he had tried had been in vain.
Someone teared him up to his feet again, ending his thoughts immediately.
"Come on," Carmen said into his face. "Get up. We have to get away. Quick!"
Max could hardly feel his feet, but let himself drag away by Carmen. Where ever they were running, he didn't know. That shock moments ago made him lose all sense of orientation. But Carmen just wouldn't let go of him and he didn't stop.
But then another thought shot through Max's head.
"Wait," he stopped, stemming himself against Carmen. "What was that about?"
"What? Max, we gotta go. Please," Carmen answered quickly and tried to keep him going.
"He called you Scott," Max looked at him still completely in shock. But more and more the picture got clearer to him. "He called you... It's you. Oh my God, it's you! You are his son!"
Carmen cut him off though. "Max please," he had tears in his eyes. "We gotta get going. Please! Let's find Leo and move on!"
"Leo?" Max's felt like having gotten another punch in the stomach hearing it. "He is here?"
Carmen nodded. "He's somewhere in this crowd."
"What? Why?" Max now grabbed his jacket, forcing him to look straight into his eyes. "You were supposed to keep him safe, God damn it!"
"Please, it wasn't our fault," Carmen said, looking desperate. "You know him. He just wouldn't listen to anything I said. We need to find him."
"Damn it!"
Max let go of him and nodded shortly. It was the first time both of they agreed on something without an argument and soon both of them were roaming the fighting crowd looking for the younger man. It even was the first time Max and Carmen worked as a unity. Two pairs of eyes working as one.
Max was desperate though. An unknown pain shot through his body and it didn't come from the wounds and bruises in his face. He didn't even feel the blood dripping down his face anymore. No, it was fear. The biggest fear ever. This had been the one situation he wanted to prevent Leo from in the first place. He didn't want to imagine what was very well possible. And he feared nothing more right now than finding him somewhere in the streets, defaced from the police or even worse.
"Please no," he kept on thinking.
But they didn't seem to find him anywhere. Too many people passed them. Even if Leo was around here somewhere it was impossible to find him. Max knew. And Carmen knew. But neither of them dared to speak about it. They just kept searching in a mad passion.
Max felt close to tears again. Until he finally heard Carmen's voice next to him.
"Max," he yelled. "There!"
Max turned and almost felt cheerful that moment. Leo was there. Right in front of him. He stood in a small group of people who seemed to talk rapidly about something. A drag stood next to him. They obviously argued about something. But then, the tall guy in a skirt pointed in three different direction and the group divided into three smaller ones. The first group ran into the west, whereas the second one turned east. Leo, the drag and another guy was left. They nodded at each other and were about to leave. They turned already. The air burned. Max felt a panic inside of him. It was now or never before it was too late.
"Leo!" he yelled and to his relief the younger man turned in surprise.
Their eyes met. Max felt as though he could cry that very moment, staring into his former partners eyes desperately. Leo didn't look less surprised. His eyes were wide open and his jaw dropped. Time stopped for a moment. It was almost as though the two of them were the only living creatures in New York right now.
But then, Leo's face changed. His expression turned to stone and without another blink he was about to turn his back on Max.
Another man approached Leo from behind though. Max saw him in the corner of his eyes. He saw him coming dangerously close, waving something long and supposedly heavy in his hands. A baseball-bat. He lifted it to gain momentum.
"No," Max noticed himself thinking in shock, before completely out of his mind he screamed on top of his voice: "LEO!"
Leo turned again but it was too late. He wasn't even halfway around when the wooden club hit him on the side of his head.
Time seemed to run in slow motion. The power of that stroke made Leo almost circle in mid-air and slowly he sank to his knees, collapsing to the street. His eyes were closed and slowly a red puddle of blood began to spread around him.
Max was petrified. This was a bad dream. He didn't even grasp what happened in front of his eyes that moment.
"NOOOO!" he heard himself screaming.
And seconds later he jumped towards his partner's lifeless body on the floor without really knowing what he did. His feet seemed to develop a life of their own. He had no idea what to do and he was was too shocked to think about anything. He couldn't breath. He heard his own blood pounding in his ears and felt his face getting wet from tears running down his face without him being able to control it. All he knew was, he needed to get there.
But Carmen jumped after him, grabbing his shoulder and holding him back.
"No," he heard him screaming. "Max! No! You can't do anything!"
Max didn't want to hear it. He didn't even recognize Carmen really. But he fought him with all his might. Carmen already hang on his body, trying to stop him, but nothing could stop Max right now. He struggled with everything he was able to.
"Max, please!" Carmen lifted his hand and slapped him across the face as hard as he could.
It was then Max awoke from that delirium somehow. He stared at Carmen with tears running down his face like waterfalls. Carmen didn't look any better. His eyes were wet as was his whole face too. But he kept staring at Max as hard he could.
"Please," he cried and his voice almost vanished. "We gotta get going!"
Max took a deep breath but wasn't able to answer anything. He looked up again.
A whole bunch of officers were running towards them. All of them were heavily armed and they had their clubs in their hands already, ready to use them.
Max took another breath. The crowd of them already covered Leo's body on the ground and it was hard to see him anymore. There were more of them coming from the left and the right as well.
Max closed his eyes for a short moment, feeling as though he was about to collapse any moment too. He heard Carmen's pleading. And the footsteps of the men approaching them, which sounded louder than anything else they've heard so far. It was as though a mighty wave was about to destroy them any moment.
But then, Max opened his eyes and nodded once. He cast one last look at the spot Leo had been and then turned and followed Carmen as fast as he could.
~To be continued~
