I thank everyone who has been reading and reviewing all this time. You all are indeed, my greatest encouragement to stick to my story and finish it to it very end.

BMFM is not mine, but may Ungar find the ability to bring them back for the new generation. My Characters (Amaris, Paladin, Cavalier) Are my own.

Chapter 13

Run!

Modo looked at the two other compatriots who were listening in at the door to the roof and his heart stopped right in his chest. He noticed that his surprise wasn't the only one, Vinnie and Charley had a mutual look of shock. He couldn't have heard what he heard, he tried to lean in closer to hear the response; even if it hurt him, he had to know.

Too bad it was also on everyone else's mind as the door gave way under their combined weights, causing the trio to spill to the floor. He looked up and saw Amaris.

Amaris covered her face as it flushed red in embarrassment at the sight of her other three friends. They were listening in, they heard that question. She felt her chest tighten up as her mind reeled on wether to laugh, scream or run.

She opted for the latter.

For someone so short she took a daring attempt at a long jump over the pile at the doorway and oddly succeeded without breaking a limb, or if she sprained something she didn't show it. Running down the hall and leaping down the stairs, she whistled for the dogs as she ran into the night, not even bothering with her car or their leashes. The dogs didn't understand what happened, but they knew a command when they heard it. With the bond to their original owner renewed, they ran with her into the night.

Throttle leaned over the edge of the Last Chance and could only watch as Amaris ran out with the dogs right behind her. Damn.

He turned and came face to face with three angry people. The two of the worst ones was Charley and Modo. Why Modo was upset, he didn't know, but probably it was because of his manners.

"What the hell do you think you're doing up here?" The leader of the Biker Mice asked, folding his arms over his chest and attempting to turn this situation around.

"What do you mean asking her that question!"

"What the hell happened at her place?"

"How could ask such a question so blatantly!"

A chorus of questions were directed at him and then suddenly he was picked up by the back of his vest to face a glaring Modo. "Did you sleep with Amaris?"

Throttle could only shake his head and opted for the truth, "I'm not sure..."

"YOU'RE NOT SURE!" Three voices hit him at once and Modo was shaking him.

"I can't remember it..." He sheepishly admitted, "It's why I asked her..."

"Man, if you can't remember it, then you didn't do it." Vinnie said quickly, noticing the rising anger on Charley's face, "Amaris ain't that kind of girl, right Charlene? Sweetheart, why don't you and I go look for her. She's upset and might be lost."

"Right." Charley replied, her voice with blade in it; and if looks could kill Throttle would have been skinned and buried. He watched as they left him in the very capable hands of Modo. Modo gave him a look his bro had never seen before and unceremoniously dumped him onto the floor, turning away from him. Throttle watched as Modo's fist's clenched and unclenched, not even looking at him he heard a strained, "Why?"

Why. If he knew a solid answer, he would tell him. Was it the caring way she touched him? The way she danced with abandon? Or the way she whispered those titillating lyrics in his ear? Maybe how her fingers moved as she removed some of his clothes without truly touching him? And when she had it felt like fire. Throttle rubbed the back of his neck in thought. No matter what he said it wouldn't make any difference. "I don't know, big guy. I just don't know."

He watched as Modo nodded and walked away. A few moments later, he heard the sound of Lil' Hoss' engine start up and go off into the night.

Limburger was ecstatic that the hunter had come to survey its quarry. He had sent it out with Greasepit as its guide. It watched from dark shadows as it saw the woman and the dogs run out of the Last Chance Garage, followed by a white mouse on a red racer and another woman in a truck. It had watched what conspired on the rooftop as the large grey mouse left on it's purple bike in the same direction as the woman and the truck. The tan mouse left the roof and then drove off in a silver little box, a black and silver bike followed without a rider. Greasepit got the shivers as it heard it's grating voice. "Trail the mouse on the purple bike, the old truck and observe the woman they're after. I want to know all actions. No one attacks without my orders. Is that clear?"

"Yeah, crystal." Greasepit replied before placing the orders to his goons. This hunter gave him the creeps and made him feel cold.

Amaris gasped for breath as she slowed into a trot through one of the larger parks. Finding a rock outcropping she slid down the ground, covering her face. She couldn't believe he asked such a question. Out loud no less! She had never been so embarrassed. She slowly went over in her mind what had happened that night...

She had been dancing to her favorite J-pop stars. It was easy to do, the beat carrying her easily and the drink in hand, a Slurrado 2, made her relax her inhibitions. She had been listening to Throttle and all his woes until she decided to cheer him up by dancing. She suddenly lost her balance and fell, Throttle catching her easily as he chuckled, "Silly Dancer." Amaris found herself settled between Throttle's knee's as she replied, "Yeah, I know." She felt his hands begin to slid up and down her sides as he listened to the next song come up, and she couldn't help moving her hips, it was her favorite song. "Hey, babe, what do those words mean?"

Maybe it was the drink, or maybe it was how nice his hands made her feel, but she leaned in close to his ear as the words flowed through the air, charging her mind. "You keep yourself at a distance... Ahhn.. But before I lose myself I got to ask...Is it alright to love you?"

Amaris was drawn out of her memory as she watched Paladin's ears switched forwards and the sound of a motor bike came to her ears. She quickly ran in the opposite direction, the dogs following her as she ran deeper into the park. It was night time and she began cursing to herself because in the darkness the park looked totally different and she was completely turned around. All she knew was that right now she did not want to be near anyone. She ordered the dogs to silence as she hid behind one of the large trees.

"Where'd she go?" Vinnie looked around, his bike's headlight scanning the trees. Amaris moved with the shadow's slowly. "I think we should head back, Vin. We'll call her tomorrow." Charley's voice sounded too close for comfort. "She's upset and more than likely embarrassed. God I feel like such an idiot."

"Don't be babe. We all wondered what was ruffling Throttle's fur, who would have thought it was Amaris? Ouch!" Vinnie shouted rubbing his arm, "I don't mean that in a bad way, y'know!"

"You head on back, I'll keep looking." Charley rolled her eyes at his hesitant gaze as she showed him a walkie, "I'll contact you guys if I need any help alright? Go on."

"As you want it, sweetheart." Vinnie said begrudgingly and drove off. Charley sighed as she turned on the flashlight, scanning the trees. "Come out Amaris, I know you're here."

The woman stood her ground, behind the tree.

"Look, ah," Charley tugged back her hair in frustration, "Would you please come out so we can talk this over?"

With a sigh the curly haired woman stepped out, the dogs following like silent sentinels. "I can't believe you were listening in, Charley."

"I'm sorry."Charley shut the light off and sighed, sitting down near a tree, "I was just so worried about Throttle. I knew it had something to do with you. I just.. Didn't think it was that."

"Wait a minute. You thought I- That I- That we- That...I-ya. Oh gods, now I'm doing it." Amaris sat down with a 'thud' and rubbed the sides of her face, trying to think.

"So... did you?"

"Charlene Davidson!" Amaris gaped at her, "No I did not take advantage of him in his weakened state, okay? I can't believe-"

"Okay, ok, ok.."Charley tried to shush her down, "But are you sure he didn't take advantage of you?"

Amaris looked like she'd swallowed something sour, "No. I was not as drunk as he was. Nothing, and I repeat for you, nothing happened." She sighed and rubbed her face. "Jesu, as if life couldn't get anymore complicated; I've only been back for a few hours..."

Charley patted her friends back comfortingly, when suddenly they heard something snap in the distance. Alarmed, Charley gripped the flashlight, waiting. Amaris lifted her head and looked around, noticing the strange silence around them, but also that the dogs had disappeared. The two women strained their ears to hear something, drunken muttering or an over amorous couple. Instead there was silence; Amaris tapped Charley and mouthed, "We run?" Charley waited for a few moments before nodding towards one direction out of the line of trees. Something was moving very quietly, and as it moved, it revealed that it wasn't alone. Amaris nudged to the opposite direction, and tensed, ready to run. They suddenly bolted from the shadows and deep into the trees. It wasn't as thick as a forest, but it would provide some cover. She heard Charley turn on her walkie, "Guys, a little help here! AH!" The walkie exploded into a clump of molten plastic as shots of light began to scatter. Amaris hissed as she got grazed, causing her to stumble as she checked her wound. Suddenly she was physically struck across the side of her head and back into a tree; smacking her head backwards into the bark and making her see stars. She heard laughter as she was surrounded by a bunch of over painted street punks. She tried to run and suddenly a fist was coming at her. Dodging the throw, she moved the arm to change it's momentum and hit one of the other goons. Despite her actions, it only caused them to slam her back into the tree, only this time hitting harder on the side of her face. She slumped down the bark and onto the floor, her ears barely registering Charley's cry of surprise. Amaris saw shadowy legs surround her, but through them, she saw Charley, cornered by some tall creature of darkness. The woman had turned on her flashlight; It absorbed the light, indistinguishing its features even as it quickly knocked it out of her hands. Charley tried to dodge left but it was in her way, so she tried to land a punch. The creature had caught it.. Amaris felt her heart ache with a deep despair. Her mind seemed to become jumbled with words...

In the end, you'll kill everyone you know...

Hime-chan, your gentle nature is going to get someone killed..

Monster.. Get away!

Bad Luck Princess...

Stupid Freak! Why don't you just die!

Ahhhhaaa! Look at the 'fraidy cat! You can't even fight back! Look at her cry! Cry baby, Cry..

And suddenly swimming in her mind, was a young Charley clenching her fists and punching Bobby Fritz in the face after he had shoved Amaris in the mud when she had worn a dress for her birthday. Charley defending her against some of the jocks in High school, with Jack by her side. Images were coming to mind, all of Charley defending her against anyone and everyone who tried to hurt her.

Charley...Amaris gripped the image of her friend tightly in her hands, Charley... you were the one. You were always there to protect me.. I had always wished to help you, and I kept failing, but you've survived, and you were always there... Always..

"Gezz Amaris what's the point in you learning to fight, if you don't fight back." Charley winced at the sight of the bruises on her friends arms and back. Her guardian had really beaten her badly in the sparring match earlier that afternoon. Chance sucked in a breath and shook his head, "Amaris, I love you like you're my own daughter, but honey, you sometimes just have to stand up..."

Stand up. . . stand up. . . stand up! Another voice, a man's voice, commanded in her mind and suddenly she swung her leg around, tripping the three goons that were at one time grinning. With her leg swung over, she placed her foot in front of her body, got her hands under her and shoved herself up. She heard a strangled scream from Charley as the creature had her by the throat. A hand gripped her arm and she whirled fast, clocking the goon across the face, another one tried to grab her from the back. Adrenaline running wild through her system, she slipped out of his grip and took a firm hold on him. She lifted the scrawny goon with ease and hurled it at the creature growling, "Get away from her- NOW!"

The creature involuntarily released it's prey, cursing in an unknown language as the goon hit hunter and sent them sprawling to the floor. Suddenly the roar of cycles could be heard in the distance. Amaris was once again grabbed from behind by her waist and she swung her already hurting head back against the goons face, who howled in pain. Amaris whirled and delivered a kick to the man's stomach before running to Charley.

"Charley? Charley are you okay?" Amaris' voice was shaken as she watched her friend choke air back into her lungs.

"Yeah.. Yeah, I- Amaris!" Charley screamed as the shadow creature grabbed Amaris, whirled her by the shoulders, hit her in the face before grabbing her by the neck and dragging her away from the fight.

"You.." it hissed; its voice a gravel whisper, "You have.. Much."

Amaris gasped as she felt an icy tendril enter her mind, "N-no." Her plea was cut off as it tightened it's grip and it hunted through her mind, and it found something and laughed, the sound running chills up her spine, "More... I must have... MORE!"

The scream that echoed through the park made the fur on the Throttle's back go on end. As he finished off the last goon he ran deep into the shadows of the park. The dogs had found him, lead him to the fight and now they had disappeared. He heard Modo cry out and wheeled Lil' Hoss along one of the rocky slopes. Vinnie was at Charley's side, who gripped his hands tightly as she heard the pain and sorrow in the near inhuman howl. "Amaris.." she whispered.

Suddenly there was a set of howls more animal following Amaris', and a hissing scream, a blaze of lights from the guns and the smell of ozone. Together Vinnie and Charley followed in the wake of their bro's.

Amaris trembled, curling into herself as the creature released her and moved fast into the darkness away from the light and the calvary. She saw the blaze of fire that sent it off, and merely huddled against an oak. I'm okay, I'm okay... oh gods, I'm not...

"Amaris?" Modo's baritone voce cut through the darkness, as he reached out for her. Throttle ran further ahead, before turning around, noticing how the petite woman looked smaller now than she ever did, curled in on herself.

"Don't touch me!" Her strained scream cut through everyone as she shivered uncontrollably; a sob escaped her lips as she tightened her arms around herself as the tears spilled down. The dogs returned, Paladin in the lead, and dropped a piece of cloth at Throttle's feet. Cavalier went to Amaris and nuzzled her, whined his concern as she shoved him away. Charley wanted to cry at the sight of her friend, but knew that wouldn't help. Swallowing against the thickness lodged in her throat, she walked to Amaris. "C'mon Amaris. Lets get you home.." Charley, let the tears fall as she saw her friends eyes, how haunted they looked. It was only a moment of time, and whoever that was had tortured her to this. "I-I'm c-c-cold Charley.." Amaris whispered as she fought to stand under her own power, "So cold." She collapsed against Charley and even as her friend braced her and wrapped an arm around her waist, Amaris couldn't help but flinch. They walked to the truck, Vinnie grabbed an old blanket from inside and draped it around Amaris' shoulder's, careful not to touch. Charley watched as Vinnie bit his lower lip, his hands clenching into fists as Amaris shuddered and clung to her blanket as she shuffled slowly into the truck. In silence they followed behind the truck, Throttle's black and chrome bike well hidden between the other two as he drove the Scion to the warehouse that served as Amaris' home. As they parked outside, Charley stepped out of the car, "She's asleep. Modo, will you carry her upstairs?"

Modo opened the passenger door and gently shifted the small woman into his arms. Her head nestled against him as he moved quietly away from the truck and into the building. Throttle and Vinnie followed, bringing the kennels back into the house, and noticed that the plastic in the lower level was now replaced by a wall with a window and a door.

Modo closed his eye as Amaris' hand reached out and clung to his breast plate, a distressing sound of despair escaping her lips, followed by strange words he didn't understand. She's having a nightmare, Modo thought sadly as she began to struggle in his arms. He loosened his grip and she relaxed again, muttering words sadly as she slept.

He looked around the upper level for any intruder's, but the dogs seemed to be doing that ahead of him as he went towards the back wall, where the three doors were. Charley walked ahead of him and opened the door on the farthest right, then opened the one to the farthest left. "In here.."She whispered pulling back the red covers of the bed. Modo laid her down, still wrapped in the truck blanket as he fumbled with her firm grip on his chest plate. Gently he lifted the fingers up and her hand slowly gave way. He placed them under the covers and slowly brushed away a curl from her forehead, his anger rising as he saw the bruises beginning to form on her face. Whoever it was did a number on Amaris, and he was going to pay. And he knew that Limburger was the one behind it all. But who was it that stink fish hired? He left the door to Amaris' room slightly open as he joined the rest in the living room area.

"Who's that nasty stink fish think he is?" Vinnie growled, thudding his fist on top of the armrest.

"More to the point, who did he hire." Throttle crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. Whoever it was had put the veterinarian through a mental ringer in under two minutes. He caught sight of Modo entering in, "How is she?"

"She's sleeping, but not all that well." Modo took a seat on one of the chairs, "Charley ma'am, what happened?"

Charley sat down next to Vinnie as she rubbed her arms. "It just came from nowhere. I couldn't hear it move or anything and then suddenly I was cornered. They'd knocked Amaris out, but then.." Gentle, never hurt a fly, would maybe get one punch in, Amaris had just jumped up and...

Totally whipped tail on those goons.

But it had costed her friend much, because in the end, Amaris lost. "When that.. Hunter... grabbed me, it was muttering something. I couldn't hear it, but I felt..."

"What babe?" Vinnie didn't like the way that Charley's eyes were getting, like she was terrified. He reached out and gently pulled her to his side, arm around her shoulders. She looked at him and then the terror faded, "Like it was trying to get into my mind. I felt like something cold was seeping into my head. And then Amaris..." Charley glanced back at the door, at her sleeping friend who had saved her from whatever that thing was going to do to her. She then noticed the silence around her, and saw their faces. All with anger; the kind of anger that bravado and bad puns or an eagerness to beat someone up never showed, it was the silent, seething kind.

"I say we go over and whip Limburger right off the map." Vinnie growled.

"And rip apart that hunter he hired." Modo, slammed his metal fist into his flesh one, his eye glowing bright red.

Throttle nodded and could understand their feelings. The new guy on Lard Butt's side had obviously violated their friend's mind, which is why she didn't want them touching her. A telepathic violation of the mind was something that every Martian abhorred, it was ingrained into them since birth. Anger burned in him just as much as his bro's, but he had to think clearly for everyone. "We'll look for him, try to get some of the goons to talk. I don't think it's safe for Amaris to be alone here."

"I'll stay here, of course. I wouldn't leave her, not now." Charley said with determination, her fists clenched. Throttle nodded, "Send us word as soon as something comes up, Charley-girl. Let's go bro's."

They all headed out, Vinnie gripped Charley's hand and gave it a squeeze as Throttle nodded to Charley and gave a sidelong glance to the opened door. Modo stared back at Amaris' door and he wondered for a moment if he should stay here as well. Charley patted Modo on the arm as he turned to follow his bros and gave him an encouraging smile, "Go get him, guys."

Thank you! What? You really didn't think this was the end did you?

So who is this interesting villan? Who will get Amairs? Will I ever get to see Paris (not hilton people-grr)?Till next time! Oh, and don't forget to review. :Leaves plate of cookies and ice cream: