Hilary paced back and forth, trying to think of some way to break the news to Kai. Mariah was sitting on the double bed in Hilary's sizable room, watching her friend pacing.

"You know, you're going to wear a hole through your floor in a second."

Hilary stopped and looked at her with an expression of twisted confusion and irritation.

"That's the best advice you have for me?"

Mariah stretched her arms and flopped back into the folds of the witchcraft purple blanket. The sun shone through the window and made her soft pink hair shine.

"Sorry, I really don't know what to do."

"Some help you are," Hilary said in exasperation, falling onto the bed beside her. "I don't know what I should do. I want to tell Kai but he's been so stressed lately, I just wonder if telling him would create more problems. Then again I could never tell him and just get an abortion."

"I thought you were against that?" Mariah said, raising an eyebrow. "Some form of murder didn't you say once?"

"I know," Hilary sighed, "I'll have the baby but I won't be able to keep my pregnancy a secret from Kai for very long. Sooner or later I'll have to explain why I have a huge gut."

"You could just say you put on a load of weight."

Hilary took her pillow and plopped it down on Mariah's face. Mariah laughed.

"Okay okay! So, what will you do?"

Hilary sighed again. "I'll have to tell him. He's going to find out sooner or later. I mean, I am already over two months along."

"Do you think that if Omen knew you were pregnant he might not torture you or try and kill you?" Mariah asked. "He seems like a proud person to me and doesn't seem like a child killing type. I mean, if you look at his past, he's never killed anyone younger than him, except Kenny..."

Hilary looked at her then back up to her white ceiling.

"I don't know," She said thoughtfully, "Maybe Omen would leave me alone... Then again, he might think that killing Kai's girlfriend and unborn baby might be his form of revenge."

"That may be true," Mariah said, "I still don't think that he'd do it though. He didn't even completely torture Daichi. He just held him under the water for a while then kept bringing him up for air. He was just messing with the kid."

"I really hope you're right."

----

Omen stole through the facility with all the stealth of a black cat, slinking through the shadows. He peered around the corner and saw on guard standing near the exit. Omen took his knife and pegged it at the guard. The knife blade slid straight into the man's neck, severing the vocal chords and carotid artery in one skilful move. The man gurgled in death then fell to the ground in a heap, blood pouring from his wound and pooling around his corpse. Omen walked out from around the corner and straight to the man, pulling the knife out of his throat. He wiped the blood off on the man's uniform then opened the exit door, stepping out of the complex. He took his phone out of his pocket and watched as the signal bars went from none to full in a manner of seconds. As soon as he was back to full range a message appeared on his phone. It was a missed call from Zane. Omen dialled his friend's number and started walking through the streets.

--

Zane and Kyata walked silently through the alleyways, checking each corner they came to. Several times they'd asked people for help and each time they were shooed away. The people of the lower districts were even less trusting than the ones anywhere else. Zane and Kyata had been written off as trouble-making run-away lovers before people even knew what was really happening. Zane was about to walk out into the street when his phone suddenly started ringing with the song Blinded in Chains by A7X. Kyata jumped in fright as the rock music played loudly. Zane cursed and quickly answered the phone, checking to see if anyone else had heard it.

"What?!" He hissed.

"Is that any way to answer a friend? How rude you ass."

A smile came over Zane's face. "Omen!"

Kyata looked at him with wide eyes.

"It's good to hear that you're still alive!" Zane said. "You had us worried."

"Of course I'm still alive." Omen said cockily through the phone, "This is me we're talking about! What made you think otherwise?"

"The fact that Boris isn't dead," Zane said grimly. "He's- oi!"

Kyata suddenly snatched the phone out of Zane's hand and held it close to her ear as though it would some how make her closer to Omen.

"Omen? Where are you? We need your help!"

"Kyata? What's going on?"

"It's your dad, the Boris man," Kyata said, "He's after us with all these soldier guys! Zane got shot in the arm!"

"Zane was shot!?"

"It's not that bad Kyata," Zane said quickly, "I can hardly feel it!"

"That's because of the endorphins!" Kyata replied, "Once they wear off you'll feel it! It's numb at the moment and I haven't seen you move your arm for ages! And look! There's blood all over you!"

Zane gritted his teeth, "I said I'm fine! Now gimme that!"

He took the phone and put it back to his ear.

"Where are you two?" Omen demanded.

"We're almost at Don's house," Zane replied. "We'll try and make it there without getting spotted. Meet us there."

--

Omen was running along the streets towards the downtown districts, still holding the phone to his ear.

"Alright, I'll be there as soon as possible. You, both of you, be careful! Got that?"

"Yes mum," Zane replied insolently.

Omen smirked. "Hey! For once in my life I'm being serious! These guys will kill you if given the chance."

"Oh really? I didn't know that! I just thought that they were shooting at me because they wanted scare me away. Though you'd think I'd get some sort of hint after hearing Boris roaring at the top of his lungs KILL HIM!"

"Being a smart ass gets you no where," Omen replied, sprinting down the centre of a road and jumping into the tray of a ute heading downtown that was temporarily stopped at the traffic lights. "What did you do to piss Boris off?"

"Kicked him in the face." Zane replied. "Omen, he came to Kyata's house. She's the one that he's after. I heard him. He wants me dead and her alive."

Omen gritted his teeth as the ute drove through the now green light.

"She's alright isn't she?"

"Yeah, she's fine. I'm fine too, thank you for asking. You're concern is just touching."

"You said you were fine before." Omen replied.

"Well I... Shut up! Be at Don's soon got that? Got to go. Later."

"Bye," Omen replied and shoved his phone into his pocket as the ute took him closer to where his friends were.

----

Bryan opened his eyes groggily, barely able to remember anything that had happened to him in the days that he'd spent in Boris's complex. Spencer lied beside him on the cold, cemented ground, still unconscious from the thorough beating Omen had given them several days before. He looked at his hands. There was dirt under his short nails and dried blood stained his skin. He closed his eyes, trying hard to recall what had happened in the forest.

Flashback

Bryan and Spencer fought Omen with the best of their double team attacks but no matter what they threw at him, he always knew how to defend against it. Soon, they made their way into the bushland that started just past the end of the last football field. Bryan punched at Omen's face but the murderer was quick and avoided contact all together. Bryan smirked and a knife slid out of his sleeve and into his hand. Omen saw the glimmer of metal and pulled away quickly but not before Bryan cut him across the cheek. Omen kicked the teen away and raised a hand to his cheek. He looked at the blood on his fingers and glared at them. He looked ready to kill. Spencer was panting and Bryan was also.

"This is ridiculous Bry," Spencer whispered angrily, "It's like he knows which moves we're going to do next. The only people who know our techniques are Tala, Kai and that scum, Boris."

"That means we'll have to try some thing new." Bryan replied. "Let's go!"

Omen smirked as Bryan and Spencer ran at him.

"You two are so lucky my boss said not to kill you. Ah well. When I take you back to the complex maybe I'll be allowed to torture you."

Spencer went to tackle Omen around the knees but he jumped up and out of his grasp. Unfortunately for him, Bryan came up and tackled high, grabbing Omen around the chest and bringing him to the ground. Omen growled and drove his elbow down hard into Bryan's shoulder, and then brought his knee up into his stomach. Bryan coughed in pain and released Omen who kicked the teen off him immediately. Omen jumped to his feet and narrowly avoided being punched in the face by Spencer. He ducked away then spun around, delivering a hard kick straight into Spencer's ribs. The taller boy yelled in pain and fell to his knees, holding his sides in pain. Omen was caught off guard and had to quickly grab Bryan's wrist as he brought the knife down towards Omen's chest, right above the heart. Omen held Bryan's wrist uncomfortably, not anticipating the sudden attack. Bryan tried to force the knife further down so it would pierce through Omen's heart but every time he felt as though he was making progress, Omen would push him back again. Omen suddenly brought his knee up into Bryan's side, making him loosen his grip on the knife. Omen immediately took it from him then slashed him shallowly across the chest before kicking him in the stomach. Bryan fell to his knees and Omen jumped up to his feet, circling Bryan and Spencer like a wild animal circling its prey. Both boys found it hard to get back up. Omen suddenly grabbed their hair and pulled them up onto their feet.

"Come on boys, up you get. You aren't giving up already are you?"

Bryan kicked back while Spencer punched but both missed as Omen's cat-like reflex's kicked in and he backed off sleekly. Bryan and Spencer attacked immediately but in a manner of moments Omen had injured them so badly that they fell to their knees, hardly able to continue. Omen was panting also, knowing that he wouldn't be able to tolerate much more of this until he'd have no choice but to draw his knife and finish them both off. The two boys brought themselves back to their feet.

"You go get the girl," Spencer whispered to Bryan, barely above a breath.

Bryan nodded. "Be careful."

Spencer smirked then launched himself at Omen as Bryan ran in the other direction, back to the club house. Omen realised their plan in an instant and gritted his teeth. Spencer punched at Omen's face but the murderer was quicker and punched him in the stomach, right below the ribs. Spencer gasped and felt all the wind leave his lungs. He started to fall to his knees but Omen quickly drove his knee into the teens gut. Spencer choked, unable to breath. He finally fell onto his knees but Omen clenched his fist and smashed Spencer across the side of the head with a crushing blow. Spencer flew a foot then crumpled on the ground and lay motionless. Spencer had turned back and seen the whole thing. He turned again and ran but his body just couldn't manage it. He'd been injured a lot more than Spencer had and it had taken its toll on him. He staggered through the bushland, his vision blurring. He broke out of the tree line and staggered onto the field. He heard the male scream.

"I hope she isn't dead," He whispered. "There's nothing I can do. I... I have to get out of here... Quickly."

He fell to his knees and lost consciousness, the last sound he heard the soft steps of Omen's boots behind him.

End Flashback

Bryan brought his hands beneath him and pushed himself onto his hands and knees. He crawled over to Spencer and shook him.

"Spencer! Wake up!"

The taller boy stirred and looked up at his friend. "Bryan? What happened?"

He raised a hand to his head and felt the place where Omen had punched him ruthlessly. It had cut open and dried blood matted in his hair.

"My head is killing me," He groaned. "Where are we?"

"I don't know but I have a bad feeling about this place," Bryan said quietly.

----

Kai sat on his couch, completely bored out of his wits. He was too weary to train and if he continued at that suicidal level, he'd end up destroying himself before he could kill Omen. He sighed and pulled out his laptop which had dust gathered on the top of it. He blew the dust off and opened it on his lap, turning it on and plugging his internet card in. It didn't take long for the computer to load completely. Kai stared at the screen for a while then went onto the internet. He went to his e-mail account and groaned at the amount of unread messages that was in his inbox, some of which dated back to June, the previous year. However he was not interested in that. At the top of his list was an e-mail from Spencer Petrov. He opened it but wasn't greeted with some thing he expected. A little animated picture of a sadistic looking clown with blood for tears, laughed at him with words beside it.

Your friends thought they could warn you but they were foolish. Don't they realize just how easy it is to hack some one's emails and delete all the juicy information? Stupid boys. Bryan and Spencer are staying with me for a while. I have been debating with myself whether I should leave their corpses on your doorstep or send you their pieces, bit by bit until you have every piece to the puzzle! Have fun Kai! See you around. Omen.

Kai yelled in anger and had to restrain himself from throwing the computer into the opposite wall. He forced himself to calm down and he took his phone, dialing Tala's number. He waited until the red-haired Russian answered the phone.

"Tala, we have a problem."

----

Zane and Kyata moved swiftly along the sidewalk, watching their backs as the sun half submerged itself on the horizon. Orange street lamps started lighting up, bathing the path in its luminous glow. The sound of distant sirens reached Kyata's ears and she felt more vulnerable than ever.

"Don't worry," Zane whispered to her, "This place is basically the same as the other suburbs but there's just more recorded crime here. In all truth, the majority of the unsolved murders lately have been in the upper districts around where you live so ultimately, that makes this the safer place to be."

"Thanks Zane," She mumbled, "I'm not really sure if I feel better."

Zane shrugged then smiled as they approached an apartment building.

"Here we are!"

Kyata looked at the building. It wasn't dumpy though it also wasn't the classiest of places to be. It was mediocre. Zane went up to the door and pushed the third buzzer next to the name Dawson. A voice came out of the speaker box.

"Who's this?"

"It's Zane. Buzz me in." He replied.

"Righto."

Zane released the button and the door to the apartment buzzed and unlocked, letting Zane push it open and pull Kyata inside. He closed the door behind him and pulled her towards the lift.

"Come on. My cousin lives on the third floor."

"You sure we'll be safe here?" Kyata asked nervously.

"Positive." Zane replied. "We lost those dopey bastards around an hour ago so Boris doesn't know where we are. He'll probably expect us to go into the classier suburbs like Margate or something."

Zane hit level three and the lift took them up. Kyata looked around. The lift was clean and looked respectable. The apartment buildings in the down town suburbs of Redhill shire were nothing like what she'd heard. It was the same as all the other suburbs in the shire. The lift stopped and opened. Zane led the way out into a cream carpeted hallway, lit with globe-less ceiling lights that showed off the slightly peeling walls. She followed him down the hallway and around the corner, stopping at room number 36. Zane tested the door knob then groaned, resorting to knocking on the door. It opened and the handsome brunette man who had taken Pete to the last club he'd ever go to, stood there with a smile.

"Hey squirt. To what do we owe this pleasure? Oh, I see you have a girl with you. Need a room for the night huh?"

"Not even Don," Zane replied. "This is Omen's girlfriend and my friend, Kyata."

Don smiled. "Alright then, come on in. What are you two doing together then?"

"That little shit get a girlfriend did he?" said another familiar voice.

Zane looked over to the lounge and saw Ben and another man sitting there. Zane smirked.

"You still have a grudge against Omen?"

Ben pulled a sour face. Don and the other man laughed. The other man looked like both Ben and Don except his hair was brown with blond highlights and he was slightly taller than Ben.

"How are you Lucas?" Zane asked.

"Pretty good mate." He replied. "Take a seat and- what the hell happened to your arm?!"

All three brothers looked at their younger cousin's arm which was still bleeding from the shot wound. Blood, both fresh and dry, was lined down his arm, dripping off his finger tips. Zane held a hand to his arm and winced at his own touch. It had bruised.

"Just a flesh wound, it's fine."

"Like bloody hell it is!" Ben said looking at the injury. "That's a shot wound. Sit."

Zane sat down on one of the stools along the bench as Lucas pulled a role of bandage, some numbing cream and Betadine from the cupboard. He examined the injury and smiled.

"Well, you were right. Just a flesh wound but it cut you deep. Hold still."

He applied the Betadine to the gash and Zane hissed in pain. Lucas put the bottle down then slopped on the cream and wrapped the clean bandage around Zane's shoulder and chiseled bicep. He secured it then smiled.

"There you go kiddo. All fixed up."

"You feel like telling us why you and Omen's girlfriend are together and here?" Don asked, flopping down on the sofa and putting a lit cigarette to his lips. "And just why you were shot?"

Kyata looked around. The place looked just like a regular apartment. The door opened into a short hallway, leading into the dining room with the small kitchen on the immediate left. A bench with three chairs pulled up to the opposite side provided the barrier between the kitchen and the lounge room where two sofas' and an arm chair surrounded a sizable flat-screen television. To the right of the large lounge room was another hallway which led to four bedrooms and a single bathroom.

Zane offered Kyata the armchair and sat next to Ben and Don on the sofa.

"It's a long story," Zane replied. "Okay, in a few simple words. Some guy is after us. He wants me dead and Kyata alive and has sent out a load of armed soldier guys to look for us."

Don, Lucas and Ben stared at him. The cigarette dropped from Don's mouth.

"You fucking serious?!" He asked, picking up his smoke again.

Zane nodded. Kyata shifted uncomfortably, knowing what questions were going to follow.

"Why are they after you?" Lucas asked.

"Where's Omen and why isn't he helping you?" Ben asked. "What I really want to know is why this guy wants you dead and the chick alive."

Zane looked at Kyata who was avoiding eye contact with him. Zane couldn't tell them what really happened, it would be like sharing Kyata's horrible little secret with the world.

"Well uh…" Zane mumbled, "I made him mad and kicked him in the face and Kyata… uh, she-"

"He raped me." Kyata said sullenly.

Zane gagged on his words and looked at her in surprise.

"Ky! You didn't have to tell them!"

"What does it matter?" Kyata muttered. "You said we could trust these people so I'm trusting them. Besides, they were probably going to find out anyway and after all, they are taking us in. We could at least tell them the truth."

Zane sighed and looked at his cousins. They were all looking at each other. Lucas stood up and went over to Kyata, kneeling in front of her.

"When did it happen?"

"Yesterday," She replied quietly.

Lucas frowned and put a hand on her shoulder. "You should go and see a doctor. You're going to fall into post traumatic stress disorder. I recommend you see a psychiatrist. This is very serious. I think we should call the police."

"No!" Kyata said quickly, "You can't!"

Ben and Don looked at her strangely.

"Why?" Ben asked.

Kyata bit her bottom lip. Zane sighed.

"Alright, I'll explain. Kyata was raped by the same guy who has been taking care of Omen and said that if she told the police he'd kill Omen."

"Shit," Don said, the shock almost overwhelming. "So I'm guessing Omen went all psychotic and ran off to kill the guy?"

Zane shot Don a warning glance then flashed his eyes in Kyata's direction. Don instantly got the message that she didn't know.

"I mean uh-"

"Don't worry," Zane replied. "Yes. Omen was going to go and kill him for raping Kyata. The guys name is Boris by the way. Anyway, Omen left me to look after her while he went and took care of business. Then a couple of hours ago we saw Boris walking up to the house."

"So what happened to Omen?" Lucas asked.

"We don't know," Zane continued. "We saw Boris coming so we bolted out the back. He ran after us and grabbed Kyata. I fought him and told Kyata to run for it. Next thing I know there's like six soldier guys coming at me with guys. I had to bolt so I jumped the fence and Boris's minions shot me. I was lucky I wasn't killed. Anyway, I ran for it, found Kyata then we came here."

"So do either of you know what happened to Omen?" Don asked.

"He's alright," Zane explained, "He called us a little while ago. He had no idea that Boris was after us."

Don was about to say something then stopped. Footsteps were coming down the hallway.

"What's wrong?" Kyata asked.

"There are only two other people who live down this hallway and they don't get back from work until midnight." Ben said quietly.

"You think it might be Boris?" Kyata asked, her voice a small, frightened squeak.

"Zane, Kyata," Lucas whispered, "Go down that hall and stay out of sight just in case it's those people who are after you."

Zane nodded and pulled the emo girl down the hall that led to the bedrooms. He stopped and peered round the corner, watching the door. The footsteps stopped in front of the door. Don shot his hand in between the cushions of the sofa and pulled out a HP Browning. Kyata looked at it.

"He had a gun in the sofa?!" She whispered.

"Shh," Zane replied.

There was a metallic click and the door opened. Don was about to shoot but stopped and lowered his gun. Zane almost laughed as Omen strode into the room and merely looked at the gun in Don's hand, completely unconcerned. He closed the door behind him.

"Don't point that thing at me. That's no way to treat a guest. Especially one as awesome as me."

"Smarmy as always." Ben said with a cold smile. "Why couldn't you knock like a normal person!?"

"It's not as dramatic." Omen smiled at him. "Hello Ben! How is that little shit box you drive? Hasn't got any scratches in it yet does it?"

"Omen!"

Omen looked around as Kyata threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly. He was surprised for a moment then smiled and held her lovingly.

"Kyata, I'm glad you're alright."

Zane came out from around the corner and smiled at his best friend.

"Impeccable timing as always,"

Omen was about to say something when he noticed Zane's bandaged arm. His expression darkened.

"Is that where you were shot?"

Zane looked at his arm sheepishly.

"Yeah but it's no big deal. It's fine."

"You won't be saying that once the pain sets in." Omen replied. "Trust me. Besides, it is a big deal. If that bastards hand had shifted slightly to the left he would have killed you."

"He didn't and I'm fine," Zane replied. "So drop it. What happened to you?"

"Managed to stab Boris but was pulled off him before I could drag my knife through his heart."

There was bitterness in Omen's voice. Kyata couldn't help but notice the dried blood on her hands.

"After that he tortured me until I lost consciousness." Omen continued.

"He tortured you?" Lucas asked, "But there's hardly a mark on you!"

"Internal." Omen replied. "I was unconscious once and he operated on me. Stuck this little device thing in my heart and it's controlled by a remote. When Boris turns the dial on that remote, I am tortured from the inside out. Not the nicest thing in the world and I'm still in pain from it."

"He tortures you?!" Kyata whispered to her boyfriend.

Omen looked down and her.

"Don't worry about me. It'll take more than torture to bring me down."

"You guys are mixed up in some seriously fucked up shit!" Ben said, sitting down on the couch in utter shock. "Torture, rape, attempted murder? It's twisted!"

"It's life," Omen replied. "Sooner or later Boris is going to find out that I escaped and he is going to start turning that dial. When he does I'll have to leave because if I don't I have no doubt that he'll kill me and if that happens then God knows what he'll do."

"Sounds like you guys need a plan," Don said, "By the way, you said that the little device inside your heart is remote controlled? I might have a way to destroy it."

Omen stared at him, a sadistic and excited smile on his face. "Tell me!"

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Hey, hope you liked!! Sorry I haven't updated in ages, just lots to do. Please review!!

xoxo