"Sleepover at Athena's!" Trucy broke the silence.
Athena reacted at the magician, "Wait, what?! Why my place? Why so sudden?!"
Trucy eyed Pearl. Pearl gave her that look of understanding, giggling mischievously to themselves. Athena placed her hands on her hips angrily, wanting in on what the the spirit medium and magician were up to.
"Welllll…." Trucy blushed as she rocked on her heels. "Daddy is going home with Maya. Alone." She snickered. Pearl grappled Trucy's arm eagerly, hugging it close to her chest. "Yeah, Mr. Nick needs his time with Mystic Maya!"
Athena and Apollo finally caught on. 'Oh no…'
Athena covered her face in shock. 'Now I know why...'
Apollo had his back facing the girls, nervously sweating as he finally understood on what they meant. They wanted Phoenix and Maya to have some 'alone time'.
"Please, Athena!?" Trucy demonstrated her greatest puppy dog stare while Pearl added to the fluff by protruding her lower lip out and her eyes glassy. Athena kept her stern face, having difficulties keeping it on as the two non related siblings strained themselves. Athena's defense's were breaking. The way how Trucy had her cute eyes wide and Pearl's adorable glassy white face and little lip quiver were breaking down Athena's emotional brick wall. They were chipping at it easily. The more Athena stared, the more she was giving in to Pearl and Trucy's demand.
'OH! Darn it… I can't resist those faces!'
Athena let out a hefty sigh in defeat, her arms limped. "Okay…"
The saddened beggar faces transformed into grins of overwhelming joy. "YAY! Thanks, Athena!"
Athena was worried what she might get herself into. 'Why can't Apollo take them?!'
Apollo twisted on his heel. His arms crossed in front of him with a shit eating grin on his face. "Looks like it's you're babysitting tonight. Don't worry, I used to be in your shoes with Trucy." That stupid wicked toothy grin still holding steadily on his face.
"Shut up, Apollo!" Her lips pursed agitated at him. She didn't mind having the duo be with her, it's just the reason why they wanted to stay. Athena became red as the reason floated in her head. Widget was displaying her emotions in the most obvious fashion. The robotic voice whimpered a few words, "Oh no…"
Apollo kept his smile on his face even though it was obvious he was tinged as much as Athena was. Apollo thought to himself that maybe picking on Athena would brush away the dirty thoughts from his mind, having the knowledge that his boss and his girlfriend had 'plans' for the night.
"Looks like the boss isn't the only one with his hands full tonight." Apollo mocked.
Athena clenched her fists tightly. She wished there was someone to throw besides the two girls at Apollo just like back at Nine Tails Vail, except this time it would be intentional. She thought of throwing the gift box, but the glassed peacock was too valuable to throw at the teasing attorney. Apollo merely chuckled at the stressed junior attorney in front of him.
"Says the guy who can't even stare at their dance partner!" Athena retorted, almost kicking the box on the floor.
Apollo's brows raised up as Athena's words sunk in.
"Oooooooooooooooh!" Trucy and Pearl teased, adding more tension.
"You forced me to dance with you, Athena!" He replied, trying to defend himself. His arms were now unfolded.
"Hmph!" She contorted forward with her hands tight around her hips. "I did it for the boss. I thought you would at least realize that, Apollo!"
The word emotionally stung. She actually enjoyed dancing with Apollo. The way how he acted shyly, she thought was adorable. Athena heard his heart beating sporadically when he held her waist and she had her hands on his shoulders as they swayed lightly to the music. It wasn't from nervousness entirely, but from the sudden presence of her against him.
The words didn't slug for long. The taxi finally arrived. It was about twenty minutes early, but at least it bothered appearing. It hummed lightly and honked the horn for the small clan to enter the car. Athena pouted, her chin up, demonstrating her displease. Apollo kept his expression straight, but didn't want to admit he did feel like a total jerk. "Pearl you can sit in the front." Trucy suggested.
"Ok!" Pearl jumped into the passenger seat. Apollo and Athena placed their gift boxes into the cab before closing the back hood. Athena kept her view away from Apollo as she entered the taxi. They closed the doors, buckling their seatbelts onto themselves. Trucy sat in the middle while, separating the two attorneys. The febreezed car smelled like a smoker was in it recently. The seats were lightly worn but nothing to complain about. The driver kept his gaze at the wheel, "Where are you headed?"
Apollo gave him his street address. Athena's muttered hers. The cabdriver typed in the locations into the GPS before driving off.
"Athena…" Apollo nudged Athena trying to get her attention, lightly guilty.
"What?" Athena responded, her arms crossed in aggravation. Her voice contained distaste.
"Are you okay?" Apollo asked carefully, as if a misplaced or misheard word would offend her sorely.
"Yeah." The word escaped her lips without even exchanging her view to him. He knew she was lying. Not only was his bracelet tightening, but Widget's face was glowing red. The car ride remained silent. Apollo kept staring at Athena, hoping that she'd finally turn her head, but his hope was a lost cause.
'I'll apologize to her at work tomorrow'. His mind couldn't couple the words together properly at the moment.
"How was the party?" The taxi driver asked suddenly, startling the clan. Pearl jumped upward, the seatbelt kept her from hitting the dashboard.
"Uhhh… It was okay. Fun." Apollo scrambled nervously. 'How does he know about the party?'
"Oh yeah?" The tone of the taxi driver lowered.
"Yeah…" Apollo's brows furrowed. He held onto his bracelet, there was something weird about this man. The taxi driver did a wide turn before skidding the car. The GPS recalculated the route, displaying a change of direction. Apollo was becoming suspicious now. The vibes the attorney felt made him unsteady.
"Athena?" Apollo whispered.
"What?" Athena actually responded back, surprising him. Yet, he didn't relax. The urgence actually became worse. He concluded that Athena was also becoming aware of the suspicious driver.
"Doesn't that guy sound familiar?" Apollo was breathing his words lightly. "I don't know, but I'm getting a weird vibe from this guy... He keeps twitching."
The ride remained quiet for a while until the car halted at a red light. Pearl was innocently gazing at the stars and how the dim lights lit up the streets. She stared at the cab driver, eyeing him until she asked. "Mister, why are you wearing shades at night?"
The taxi driver kept his eyes on the road, but his face twitched, almost flickering in appearance. A smile was slowly blossoming on his face. Pearl felt uncomfortable being next to the man now. His face wasn't visible in the dark car. His head rotated to the spirit medium as his toothy grin became the only visible spot on his face. Pearl was in panic now. The driver teasingly reached his hand over to the automatic locks on the driver's side. A loud click hummed in the car. Locked. Athena was starting to shake. This evil and terrible darkness completely shrouded her ears, practically deafening her with the man's sable heart. She covered her ears, wincing in pain. Suddenly, the man pulled a lever on the side of his chair and pushed back his seat forcefully onto Apollo's legs. "AHH!"
The man gripped onto Athena's dress tightly, lunging her forward from the back seats and out the car door. The dark man covered her mouth as he quickly jolted a tap on the back of her neck. She gasped in pain before her eyes closed shut. The darkman threw her unconscious body over his shoulder before escaping the scene.
Apollo struggled to yank his feet from under the seat, crushing his legs.
"ATTHHHEENNNAA!" Apollo screamed, gripping onto the cushioned seat trying to break free. Trucy quickly lunged to the front seat and pulled the lever. The seat collapsed forward, allowing the blood to rush back into Apollo's legs. Apollo lunged over the seat and sprinted towards the darkness. Pearl and Trucy were left inside the taxi, utterly distressed on what just happened.
Apollo kicked his feet onto the ground, gaining more friction and speed. The wind blew back his hair, drying the sweat that rained down on his face. Part from the adrenaline, the other from total apprehension. The black vest tightened as each turbulent breath escaped and entered the attorney. He finally caught a glimmer of the man darting away with Athena's limp body. The man kept his pace, displaying no sign of wearing out. The same couldn't be said for Apollo. They've been running for several blocks now, each approaching with tunnel vision. It was then, he regretted teasing Athena. Fear stricken that if he didn't keep up with the man, he would never see his friend again.
The figure finally abruptly stopped and turned, facing the oncoming attorney. Apollo ran until he was about a few yards away. His legs tensed and burned as the muscles expunged energy to save his friend. The darkman removed Athena from his shoulder and held her by her underarms with one arm. The dark hat covered his face and partly Athena's as he knelt his head towards her face. Apollo felt a lump in his throat as the man brushed lightly against his cohort's face.
Apollo approached closer before the darkman stared at him, behind the shadows of his hat. "Uh... uh… I recommend keeping your distance, lest I do something devastating to her." The man threatened with malevolence.
Apollo took a step back, trembling from pain and perturbation. The man raised Athena higher with both his gloved hands. He held her chin high, stroking and trickling his fingers down her neck and to her bosom. Apollo swallowed as the man teased the unconscious body in front of him. "A simple laceration here...," The man drew his finger against Athena's jugular with evil intent, "Her blood would spill against the ground in my grasp and all you could do is watch the red curtains flow!" The man guffawed roughly.
"She won't even know. Quick and Painlessssss…"
Apollo felt the evil words strike him, stabbing him deeply. His eyes wide, staring at his colleague, his partner, his friend…
Apollo gasped as a figment of his childhood friend, Clay Terran, flashed before him. His smile that Apollo remembered, scarred him, knowing that his friend was gone. And he wasn't there for him. Apollo clenched his fists, and closed his eyes. The sweat dripped down his face and onto his chin. He wasn't there for Clay during his murder. 'I won't make that same mistake again.'
Apollo opened his eyes, a tear escaping with determination glimmering in the lachrymal essence. He lifted his courtroom finger towards the darkman, still clutching tightly onto Athena. His index finger pointed directly towards kidnapper with absolvement. The finger that pointed towards criminals and set justice in the courtroom. But this wasn't the court and the amount of injustice that splayed in front of him, he believed can only be solved one way. He inhaled deeply, acknowledging it may be his last breath, before shouting with endearment, "I WON'T LET THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO YOU, ATHENA!"
The darkman tilted his head, confused by the attorney's declaration. Apollo, kept his posture firmly, "Take me instead."
An evil smile crept onto the face of the kidnapper. He laid Athena, flat on the pavement, fixing her dress and Widget properly before glaring at the black vested attorney. The man stepped over Athena carefully, pacing towards the attorney with swagger. Apollo kept the stoic expression until the man was a breath away. Apollo swallowed, awaiting what wicked, sick, and deplorable action the man was going to do next. He was confused when the man suddenly turned his head to the side. Hesitant at first, Apollo viewed the direction of the darkman's focus. It was quiet. Apollo had a quick glimpse of Athena, still unconscious on the pavement before returning to stare at the unknown. A sudden growl was heard from the direction they were facing.
"She's here…" The darkman whispered before backing up quickly.
Apollo froze, confused as the darkman walked backward, before large clawed black hands dragged him into the darkness.
