Chapter 50
Night-Time Signs
"Come on, you're being so slow!"
"I'm sorry, I'm trying my best." Riley couldn't help but smile as Becca tugged at his arm. He was surprised at Becca for being so insistent, but then again, he had been successful at slowly trying to get her out of her shell. The clothes were perhaps the hardest. Becca seemed to think that she shouldn't reveal any kind of flesh at all. Riley had all but forced the clothes off her, which resulted in the two of them play-fighting ripping each other's clothes off. It was a nice feeling, for both of them. Riley would have liked something after, but of course he wasn't going to force anything. Becca was fragile in terms of human interaction. He'll only follow what she was happy to do.
"Where are we going, anyway?" Riley asked, wondering why they were in the seedier sides of New York.
"I want you to meet someone." Becca said, before pausing at the entrance to an alley. "I've been visiting him when I go out without you. But I've been nervous on introducing you to him."
"What is he, your father?" Riley joked but froze as Becca stiffened. Stupid! Why did he even bring up something like that? Luckily, Becca broke out in a smile.
"I guess he is, kind of. At least more like a father than anyone else." Becca started pulling on Riley's arm again. Through the alleyway, Riley noticed a shelter in one corner. It was covered in cardboard and rags. Not willing to question Becca, Riley let himself be guided to the entrance of the hut.
"Hello, Patch! Are you awake?"
"I'm always awake for you, Princess." Came the half-tired voice. Movement in the hut followed until a thick-set man climbed out, grinning down from under his beard at Becca. He leant down; giving her two kisses on the cheek before realising Riley was there. Patch paused for a moment, the wary side of meeting a 'home-dweller' as some people liked to call the non-homeless. Patch evidently decided that Riley was a friend considering he was with Becca. "I'd shake your hand, but who the hell knows what I've touched." Patch gave a deep, rumbling laugh and despite himself Riley found that he quite liked the man.
"Patch, this is Riley Garcia."
"Nice ta meet you. The names Patch." Patch pointed to his two eye patches over the same eye. "Guess why."
Becca leaned inwards to Riley and said in a deliberately loud whisper, "Or if you want to irritate him, call him Annabelle."
"You call me that I'll scoop out yer brains and drink 'em like soup." Patch growled. "God, Sneakers haunts me even after death." Patch shook his head slightly before motioning to the two for a walk. "So, Mr Garcia-"
"Call me Riley, Patch." Riley said firmly.
Patch was evidently surprised, but nevertheless blinked it away under bushy eyebrows. "Well then, Riley, you're Princesses knight in shining armour, huh? Come to rescue her from her tower. Did she let down her hair for you to climb?"
"Stop being so dramatic Patch." Becca sighed, swatting at Patch. "Although, I guess it was kind'a like that."
"You just needed help." Riley half-shrugged, not willing to praise himself.
"Well, you better treat her right, ya hear me?" Patch growled in his gravelly voice again. "Or I'll find ya and break your legs, rip them off and use 'em as walking sticks. God knows my legs could use some help." Patch laughed immediately after. "You'll have to forgive the vivid imagery. It's a habit of mine."
"It's fine." Riley waved it away. "So, why is Becca nick-named 'Princess'? I mean, it's no so obvious as Patch."
His features creasing in, what Riley would call a loving smile, Patch reached for Becca and hugged her close. "She's Princess because she's the youngest, most beautiful little darlin' ever to tread these dirty allies of ours. Not like some hags," Patch cupped his hand over his mouth and suddenly yelled into the air, "Isn't that right, Hilda!?"
A faint reply could be heard shouted back. "Go drown yourself in porridge, you grizzly ol' bastard!"
"Always a charmer, Hilda is." Patch chuckled. "But yeah, Princess is our little princess. She's like a daughter to most of us and a grand-daughter to people like Hilda over there."
Becca blushed, turning away.
"Why're you blushin'? I only state the facts, lil' missy!" Patch switched his gaze to Riley before looking back to Becca. "Or is it 'cause I'm embarrassing you in front of your boyfriend?"
"No, you're not embarrassing me, don't be silly." Becca brushed Patch away lightly.
"Uh-huh… wait, you didn't deny it?" Patch eyebrows rose high. "Give me a heart attack and call me Jim, Princess, you're actually a couple?" Patch chuckled happily. "I mean, that's brilliant Princess! I always thought you needed someone you're age to be a companion, not like us grizzled bears down here. I was worried you'd never get over what happened ta you."
"It does help…" Becca smiled to the fatherly figure, pulling Riley in close again.
"I'm sure it does, Princess, I'm sure it does." Patch suddenly stopped and barked laughter, loud and clear. "Look at me! I can't even get this grin outta my beard! I'm so happy for you, Princess, I mean… this is great! I'm gonna give myself a heart attack being this happy. Oh boy!" Patch took a moment to compose himself before leaning towards Becca. "So… have you two done it yet?"
"Patch!" Becca swatted Patch's shoulder, sending him into fits of laughter again.
"Haha, look at ya, bloody look at ya, Princess! So happy! It was only a few years ago I pulled ya bedraggled from the streets, muttering to ya'self. Now look at you, all happy and pleasant and womanly."
"Okay, Patch, now you're embarrassing me." Becca smiled sheepishly.
"Good! Now, excuse me." Patch suddenly grabbed Riley and pulled him away from Becca. "I just want to have a word with Riley here." Patch walked for a good few strides before pulling a bemused Riley in close. "Look here, you ever think of abandonin' her, you ever think of hurting her, if she even cries because of you, you'll have me to look out for! And trust me, you do not want me huntin' ya."
"Don't worry, I don't plan on hurting her." Riley assured the grizzled man.
"You better plan on making her a decent girl, ya hear me. She's gone through far too much for someone her age. Don't let her go, cause you make her happy." Patch smiled serenely again before pushing Riley lightly towards Becca. "Alright Princess, I need some more of my good ol' beauty sleep. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"
"I can promise you." Becca said with a happy smile. "As long as I'm in New York I'll visit you every day."
As Becca and Riley walked away, Patch called after them, "You remember what I say, boy! You remember it well! You put your life in front of hers, you protect her, you be her knight in shinin' armour!"
Riley acknowledged with a wave and both he and Becca disappeared through the alley. Patch watched for a moment before walking back towards his den. As he came to it he found an old woman standing next to it, her figure hunched and covered with old rags. A lit cigarette hung in her left hand.
"You ventured out here, Hilda? You got annoyed I insulted you?" Patch asked as he climbed into his makeshift home.
"You know you can't insult me, deary." Hilda smiled a toothless smile. "I was wonderin' who you was talking to. Was that Princess?"
"The one an' only." Patch replied.
"She's changed a lot. I'm glad for her. We're far too old to do what she did."
"Aye." Patch nodded before noticing that wisps of smoke were coming from her rags where her lit cigarette was resting against him. "You're smoking."
"You don't say." Hilda brought the cigarette to her lips and pointedly blew a puff of smoke in Patch's face.
"No, I mean you're now on fire." Patch smiled and used his gloved hand to put out the tiny flickers of flame. "Watch where you put fire, I don't think ya wanna be running around in flames."
"Pah." Hilda spat on the floor before a chill suddenly settled in both her and Patch's spine.
"Come on ya old hag. It's getting' cold. Come join me in here, I've gotta good feeling for a companion after seeing Princess."
Flicking the cigarette, Hilda nodded and climbed in with Patch, muttered, "Ya old dog."
"An old dog that's learned some new tricks." Patch chuckled, drawing a makeshift curtain over the entrance of the hut.
XXX
"Are you sure?" Dominika asked. She had definitely been frightened when Lukas had collapsed in her room, but was relieved to find out it was only exhaustion. Lukas had come back to her room after only three hours.
"Yes." Lukas nodded. "I mean, Lisa talked to me and I realised that the smell and that magazine were clues." Lukas shrugged. "If I can see these clues, then I'll be able to help save someone, right? I want to go to the hotel, if only to get one of those walkie-talkies and tracker things." Sighing, Lukas sat on the edge of Dominika's bed. "I've been selfish. Just because I hate what Joshua did to you doesn't mean it was anyone else's fault. Joshua will pay, but I'm not willing to risk innocent lives because of a grudge."
"While I'm happy that you've chosen to do that, you really need to let this thing with Joshua go." Dominika reached for Lukas to stroke his arm.
"No!" Lukas shook his head. "He paralyzed you, Dominika. He hasn't even visited you. Then he woke up and immediately left without a word to you. At the very least he has to apologize to you. Until he does, I'm not going to forgive him, not one little bit."
Dominika sighed, but knew not to argue with Lukas. Lukas stood up again and grabbed his coat. "I'll be going now. I'll be back shortly, I won't be staying there."
"Be careful."
"I know." Lukas leaned down and gently kissed Dominika's forehead. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"What about the time though?" Dominika suddenly asked, looking to the clock. It was eleven in the evening.
"Lisa said come any time. So I guess it's a 24 hour hotel. I'll probably be back around midnight, maybe after. See you Dominika."
"Bye." Dominika raised a slim hand in reply and watched Lukas close the door behind him. The air from the door wafted over her face and Dominika couldn't help but notice the smell of smoke. He must've been smoking again.
XXX
He opened his eyes, confused and disorientated. What happened? Struggling to remember, Jason groaned and rolled over on the hard stone floor. The thin sheet didn't cushion it in the slightest. Oh… that's right. I was talking with Jennifer about my dad…
"Jennifer?" Jason grumbled, pushing up on the hard stone floor, his fingers digging into a crevice in the stone. His eyes adjusting to the darkness all again Jason peered about for Jennifer. "Jennifer… Jennifer?" Growing slightly worried Jason felt around on his hands and knees. He had searched every nook and cranny but Jennifer wasn't there. "Jennifer!'
Those bastards, I told them not to harm her, I told them not to touch her or I wouldn't cooperate! Where is she, where did they put her!
Panicking, Jason tried the aged wooden door but it wouldn't open. He banged on it, sending echoes through some kind of large chamber on the other side, but no one came. Of course no one came.
Trying to control his breathing, Jason walked to the middle of the room. On the way, his foot his something. Bending down and picking it up, Jason realised it was a packet of crayons, the kind a toddler is given.
That's right… I was given these before… before I blacked out.
Jason squinted, trying to make out the walls.
When I black out, I always draw those crazy drawings. Where are… Jason drew in a breath in shock. He was looking too close at the wall. Adjusting his eyes, he took in the detailed drawing.
It was a drawing of flame, using the orange, yellow and red crayons. It was expertly done despite the fact it was drawn in crayons. Inside the flames were various, smouldering objects Jason couldn't make it. One word trailed off into ash, the first few letters being: Mar…
Trying to make out the other burning objects, Jason couldn't figure out any of them. Maybe that was a chair? Or a table? That could've have been a door, but just as easily could've been a wardrobe…
But Jennifer!
His thoughts running back to Jennifer, Jason turned around and started shouting her name. After a few minutes he stopped, his voice hoarse. As he started to cough, a silent whoosh of air swept his hair back. "Jennifer?" Turning, Jason only saw that the wooden door was now open, as if inviting him to come through. Accepting the invitation, Jason stumbled towards it, coughing into his hand. It was far too dark for him to register the faint amounts of blood coming with each cough.
A/N: - Thanks to Gabe's-Girl-Forever for your review! Right, next chapter is the big chapter. Look forward to it, cause I sure am!
'Till then!
