Another fairly short chapter. I hope you guys like what I'm doing with
this. Let me know what you think. Enjoy. I don't own GH characters, and I
don't make money with this.
***** Niki made arrangements to be met at the airport and driven to an appropriate place to stay until she could find a permanent home. Permanent. Niki scoffed at the idea. It seemed nowhere would ever be permanent anymore. Sometimes she didn't even know why she stuck around this miserable life. It's not like she had a purpose anymore. Oh wait, her purpose was to kill people. How noble. No one really cared whether she lived anymore, and many wished she would kick the bucket. There was one person who might have cared, but she didn't want to think about him at the moment. It was useless to do so. Maybe she stuck around because the idea of suicide disgusted her. It was weak and cowardly and she would have no part of it. But that didn't make oblivion seems any less enticing each day.
The car was there as she'd hoped. It took her across town and into a lonely, run down neighborhood and to a tall but very narrow house. It looked about three stories high. The once blue paint was faded and falling apart in the weather. The roof looked recently patched, though poorly, and the yard was overgrown. She had expected better accommodations, but she was far too mentally and physically exhausted to complain. Any place would do for now. Bitterly she instructed her men to take her baggage inside.
Going upstairs she found the small bedroom on the 3rd floor and sat down on the dirty, stripped mattress. It was still light outside, but the tattered curtains only let in a small amount of light, which was already dimmed from the grimy windows. She put her head in her hands, depressed and upset with her lack of luck. While she was wallowing, one of her men was coming into her room with a couple of her personal bags and saw her slumped over. Quietly he came up beside her and put his hand on her shoulder. Startled she shot up, and seeing who it was, relaxed again.
"Hey Anthony."
He was her most trusted employee, and the closest thing to a friend she had. Since they first started working together, each had earned the other's trust and respect. Anthony had a good idea of her loneliness, having lost his wife a few years ago. Though they weren't much for words, they shared an odd sort of bond that gave each some comfort.
"You know Niki, they picked this place out because it would make you invisible until you were ready to be otherwise. I know it's not anywhere near what you'd prefer, but it's the best they could do."
"I know. The place may be musty and about to fall apart, but it's fine. I understand the choice."
"If it's not the house, than what's bothering you?"
She paused for a moment, not knowing exactly what to tell him.
"It's just hard to pack up and leave a life behind, no matter what kind of life it was. You and the rest of the men get to go home when you're done here, but I have to begin again, and that doesn't even guarantee I won't have to do it again."
Anthony sat down beside her put his arm around her, and squeezed her shoulder.
"Don't worry. We can't change the past, but new things come and soon we don't have time to think about it anymore. No matter what, life keeps coming and new things arrive to cover the old. Maybe luck will come your way this time. It's not impossible."
They smiled at each other and sat for a moment in silence before Anthony got up. With one last comforting look, he disappeared around the corner, leaving her to her thoughts again.
Maybe he was right. She'd eventually have to stop thinking about it so much. Unfortunately, that could be a long time from then. Deciding nothing was going to get solved in that evening, she curled up on the bare mattress and quickly went to sleep
Back in Florida Lorenzo was still waiting for word on Niki. So far his men had come up with nothing, so out of desperation he decided to search what was left at her house. Maybe she had left some clue behind, as unlikely as it seemed. If nothing else, it would give him something to do other than wait and pace.
He drove over and with practiced skill, made his way into the house. Things were everywhere. Most of the furniture was still there, but they had been moved around and some were tipped over. Anger probably. This reminded him of what his place looked like after getting word Luis died. Papers, dishes, books, and other things were scattered here and there, very unlike the order the house had the last time he was inside. His mind drifted to the first night he was there. The warmth of the fireplace, the hot chocolate, the soft scent of candles, talking to her like an old friend. No, he had to focus. On to the task at hand.
Starting from the door, he began meticulously going over all her left behind possessions. Quickly he found out it would be very tedious, and without much pay off. Most of the papers were useless, so he figured she must have taken the important ones with her. There was nothing useful in the living room, nor the kitchen. He searched the closets and the bathroom, finding nothing in either. The guest room, the study, all the same. He was very discouraged by time he made his way to her room at the end of the hall. Nothing in the shelves, bookcase, dresser. No clue in the books, magazines, papers. He looked through the closet, under and in the bed, in the bathroom, and everywhere else he could think to. Defeated, he sat down against a wall to rest, his face just beginning to glisten in the effort.
Lorenzo couldn't believe there was nothing at all to go on. Not even a travel guide. Looking over the room one last time, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The small bathroom attached to her room had been searched, but through the crack where the door connected to the wall, he saw a small trash can that had been hidden behind the open door. Not looking too promising, he decided to check it anyway. Getting up, he went over to look through it. Inside the small metal container he saw the black, ashy remains of what was probably a notebook and some papers. He sifted through it with his hand, but they were pretty much destroyed beyond use. In frustration he grabbed the can and threw it across the already messy room, and sat down again to calm himself. That's when he saw it. Against the wall was a small ball of crumpled notebook paper that must have missed the trashcan. He reached over, straightened it out, and began reading:
"Well journal, this is my last entry. You have been a good listener, but like your predecessor, you will have to meet a fiery death. Can't have you telling everyone my secrets now can I? But since I have no one else to talk to at the moment, you will survive a little longer. Tonight things have fallen apart. I was really starting to feel something for Lorenzo, but I found out tonight that he's an Alcazar. The BROTHER of Luis Alcazar! What are the chances? I don't know how much he knows. Luis may have told him too much, and it's only a matter of time before he knows who I am, if he doesn't already. I've done so much to leave that time behind. I can't risk it, even for him. But God, I wish I could. I was happy for once. Can you believe it? But now I have to leave again and start over. I wish I could just stay somewhere and live without this weight over my head, but there's no use wishing. I know how it has to be. I will miss him though. Well, I have much to do. So long my paper confidant. Wish me luck. I'll need it."
Lorenzo was taken for a minute, a little shocked to read that she felt for him. Despite his situation he smiled at the thought. But what was she so desperate to get away from? What was this past that scared her into running when she obviously didn't want to? She had a connection to his brother, but he couldn't figure out what. Lorenzo didn't remember hearing her name before. She mentioned she knew Luis from a few years back. Lorenzo knew Luis had spent the last years of his life trying to obtain the love of Brenda Barrett and battling with that local mob boss Corinthos. It was the city he died in, the small, very dysfunctional town of Port Charles. Maybe Niki's history was there. It was worth a try. It's not like he had anything better to go on. Taking out his phone, he called one of his men.
"What can I do for you Mr. Alcazar?"
"I want you to get a plane ticket for tonight. I'm going to Port Charles, New York."
This was his only lead so far. He just hoped there was something in it.
*Preview: Lo finds some interesting answers in PC.*
***** Niki made arrangements to be met at the airport and driven to an appropriate place to stay until she could find a permanent home. Permanent. Niki scoffed at the idea. It seemed nowhere would ever be permanent anymore. Sometimes she didn't even know why she stuck around this miserable life. It's not like she had a purpose anymore. Oh wait, her purpose was to kill people. How noble. No one really cared whether she lived anymore, and many wished she would kick the bucket. There was one person who might have cared, but she didn't want to think about him at the moment. It was useless to do so. Maybe she stuck around because the idea of suicide disgusted her. It was weak and cowardly and she would have no part of it. But that didn't make oblivion seems any less enticing each day.
The car was there as she'd hoped. It took her across town and into a lonely, run down neighborhood and to a tall but very narrow house. It looked about three stories high. The once blue paint was faded and falling apart in the weather. The roof looked recently patched, though poorly, and the yard was overgrown. She had expected better accommodations, but she was far too mentally and physically exhausted to complain. Any place would do for now. Bitterly she instructed her men to take her baggage inside.
Going upstairs she found the small bedroom on the 3rd floor and sat down on the dirty, stripped mattress. It was still light outside, but the tattered curtains only let in a small amount of light, which was already dimmed from the grimy windows. She put her head in her hands, depressed and upset with her lack of luck. While she was wallowing, one of her men was coming into her room with a couple of her personal bags and saw her slumped over. Quietly he came up beside her and put his hand on her shoulder. Startled she shot up, and seeing who it was, relaxed again.
"Hey Anthony."
He was her most trusted employee, and the closest thing to a friend she had. Since they first started working together, each had earned the other's trust and respect. Anthony had a good idea of her loneliness, having lost his wife a few years ago. Though they weren't much for words, they shared an odd sort of bond that gave each some comfort.
"You know Niki, they picked this place out because it would make you invisible until you were ready to be otherwise. I know it's not anywhere near what you'd prefer, but it's the best they could do."
"I know. The place may be musty and about to fall apart, but it's fine. I understand the choice."
"If it's not the house, than what's bothering you?"
She paused for a moment, not knowing exactly what to tell him.
"It's just hard to pack up and leave a life behind, no matter what kind of life it was. You and the rest of the men get to go home when you're done here, but I have to begin again, and that doesn't even guarantee I won't have to do it again."
Anthony sat down beside her put his arm around her, and squeezed her shoulder.
"Don't worry. We can't change the past, but new things come and soon we don't have time to think about it anymore. No matter what, life keeps coming and new things arrive to cover the old. Maybe luck will come your way this time. It's not impossible."
They smiled at each other and sat for a moment in silence before Anthony got up. With one last comforting look, he disappeared around the corner, leaving her to her thoughts again.
Maybe he was right. She'd eventually have to stop thinking about it so much. Unfortunately, that could be a long time from then. Deciding nothing was going to get solved in that evening, she curled up on the bare mattress and quickly went to sleep
Back in Florida Lorenzo was still waiting for word on Niki. So far his men had come up with nothing, so out of desperation he decided to search what was left at her house. Maybe she had left some clue behind, as unlikely as it seemed. If nothing else, it would give him something to do other than wait and pace.
He drove over and with practiced skill, made his way into the house. Things were everywhere. Most of the furniture was still there, but they had been moved around and some were tipped over. Anger probably. This reminded him of what his place looked like after getting word Luis died. Papers, dishes, books, and other things were scattered here and there, very unlike the order the house had the last time he was inside. His mind drifted to the first night he was there. The warmth of the fireplace, the hot chocolate, the soft scent of candles, talking to her like an old friend. No, he had to focus. On to the task at hand.
Starting from the door, he began meticulously going over all her left behind possessions. Quickly he found out it would be very tedious, and without much pay off. Most of the papers were useless, so he figured she must have taken the important ones with her. There was nothing useful in the living room, nor the kitchen. He searched the closets and the bathroom, finding nothing in either. The guest room, the study, all the same. He was very discouraged by time he made his way to her room at the end of the hall. Nothing in the shelves, bookcase, dresser. No clue in the books, magazines, papers. He looked through the closet, under and in the bed, in the bathroom, and everywhere else he could think to. Defeated, he sat down against a wall to rest, his face just beginning to glisten in the effort.
Lorenzo couldn't believe there was nothing at all to go on. Not even a travel guide. Looking over the room one last time, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The small bathroom attached to her room had been searched, but through the crack where the door connected to the wall, he saw a small trash can that had been hidden behind the open door. Not looking too promising, he decided to check it anyway. Getting up, he went over to look through it. Inside the small metal container he saw the black, ashy remains of what was probably a notebook and some papers. He sifted through it with his hand, but they were pretty much destroyed beyond use. In frustration he grabbed the can and threw it across the already messy room, and sat down again to calm himself. That's when he saw it. Against the wall was a small ball of crumpled notebook paper that must have missed the trashcan. He reached over, straightened it out, and began reading:
"Well journal, this is my last entry. You have been a good listener, but like your predecessor, you will have to meet a fiery death. Can't have you telling everyone my secrets now can I? But since I have no one else to talk to at the moment, you will survive a little longer. Tonight things have fallen apart. I was really starting to feel something for Lorenzo, but I found out tonight that he's an Alcazar. The BROTHER of Luis Alcazar! What are the chances? I don't know how much he knows. Luis may have told him too much, and it's only a matter of time before he knows who I am, if he doesn't already. I've done so much to leave that time behind. I can't risk it, even for him. But God, I wish I could. I was happy for once. Can you believe it? But now I have to leave again and start over. I wish I could just stay somewhere and live without this weight over my head, but there's no use wishing. I know how it has to be. I will miss him though. Well, I have much to do. So long my paper confidant. Wish me luck. I'll need it."
Lorenzo was taken for a minute, a little shocked to read that she felt for him. Despite his situation he smiled at the thought. But what was she so desperate to get away from? What was this past that scared her into running when she obviously didn't want to? She had a connection to his brother, but he couldn't figure out what. Lorenzo didn't remember hearing her name before. She mentioned she knew Luis from a few years back. Lorenzo knew Luis had spent the last years of his life trying to obtain the love of Brenda Barrett and battling with that local mob boss Corinthos. It was the city he died in, the small, very dysfunctional town of Port Charles. Maybe Niki's history was there. It was worth a try. It's not like he had anything better to go on. Taking out his phone, he called one of his men.
"What can I do for you Mr. Alcazar?"
"I want you to get a plane ticket for tonight. I'm going to Port Charles, New York."
This was his only lead so far. He just hoped there was something in it.
*Preview: Lo finds some interesting answers in PC.*