Chapter 3: Run

Train Station, San Francisco

Jondy had been waiting for three hours now… He should have been there a long time ago; no call; no notes; nothing but empty minutes. The last hours, Jondy started to panic more and more; this was nothing like Zack. If they would meet –or any other X5- they would be in time.

People were walking around in rush; not like the trains were actually going to ride, but the place was a very popular meeting spot for dealers, lovers and others who had dark secrets. One young girl more or less wouldn't make a difference and that's why she told Zack to meet her here.

Suddenly –almost unexpected- Jondy heard footsteps approaching and she recognized Zack when he spoke; "Come on."

Jondy had a lot question for her brother but remained silent for the moment and followed him into the crowd. Their appearances were swallowed into the rush and after a walk of twenty minutes, Zack held still and turned to Jondy in a small allay.

"There's a problem I need to take care of; Benn will have to wait…"

Jondy shook her head, "No; Ben needs help. Not tomorrow or in a week; he needs you now and whatever problem you 'have to take care of' I'll take care of it so you can look after Ben. I can't reach Ben; you can and whatever your priority is; I'll handle it." Jondy snapped back.

The muscles in Zack's jaw were tightening; obviously he was in dilemma; not sure he could trust Jondy enough for taking over and on the other hand he knew he was the only one to be useful if Ben had problems. "Okay what's up with Ben?"

"He's killing people; he moves from city to city and leaves corpses for Lydecker to track him down."

Zack swallowed in surprise, not sure to believe Jondy's story. "Ben is killing people?"

"Yeah, he thinks he can satisfy the Blue Lady and kills people to sacrifice the teeth. I ran into Deck yesterday morning and I got away but I needed to know why he was here so…"

Zack replied in anger, "You went after Lydecker? Are you nuts!!! He could have taken you out; you brought all of us in danger…"

Jondy, annoyed by getting interrupted, went on; "I spied on Lydecker and I stole a police report; it contains a description of Ben and a list of victims. He's in San Francisco; that's for sure… and if Ben is really losing it, it should be you to go after him and not me…"

For half a minute Zack didn't answer; he kept on thinking and shut Jondy out of his brainstorming process. Jondy was too tired and shocked to force Zack to speak up and let him think; in a while he would give her orders. She was right.

"Here's the plan: you head up to Los Angeles and Krit will fill you in…" Zack turned around and walked away in a hurry.

"Who's in trouble?" Jondy yelled at his back.

"Syl!"

"Zack… the reports!!! You need them…" Jondy replied, but Zack had already disappeared into the husky crowd.

Jondy shrugged and threw them in the garbage. "Time to leave San Francisco… time to run." She muttered.

Syl's apartment, Los Angeles

Jondy entered the apartment and smashed the broken door out of her way. She peeked around at the broken chairs and the splintered bed; nothing but a mess. She silently sneaked through the rooms and ended up in the kitchen. At the cold and icy ground, a body was surrounded by kitchen-stuff; a fork and some plates and a scissor.

Jondy swore and cursed Zack for not filling her in at the station. She ducked when another fork passed her left ear and expected to see a mugger. Instead she saw Syl –who was reaching for more kitchens-stuff- and at that moment she realized it was Krit at the kitchen floor. Her respond was quick and faster then Syl's –who was probably very confused- and Jondy smacked her sister to the wall; knocking her out in one slap.

Half an hour; Krit was nurses by Jondy and Syl was tight down at her –almost- broken bed. Krit was rubbing his head and Jondy gave him a playful push. "I'm not gonna nurse you again, got that?"

"Yeah, yeah yeah…" Krit shrugged. "Not like it's that much."

"Well; let's make the balance here; I saved you from a mixed up Syl, nursed you and counted your bruises while Zack's going after Ben… no you're right; it's not that much." Finally Jondy took a moment for her to overcome the last few days: A week ago everything was fine and now two of her siblings were going nuts and they had to fight against each other instead of fighting Lydecker. Softly she sniffed her nose, trying to hide her tears from both Krit and a possible wakening Syl.

"It's okay Jon; we'll find a way... we will be able to help her. I promise you that." Krit gazed at his sister. The bandage on his head was already moving and his right eye was swollen.

Jondy couldn't do anything else but laugh; it was ridiculous; the situation was to cry for but tears would make it better so she laughed. She laughed away the hurt and pain; the insecure that Syl might not get over it and that Ben went psycho. Five minutes later she was calm again and her face was red from the tense and tears. Gently, Krit wiped away the last tears on Jondy's cheek and they both watched Syl.

"What are we gonna do now?" He asked.

"I dunno yet; talk to her I guess…"

Almost immediately Krit got angry. "I've done nothing but talking to her; she won't listen; like there an iron wall around her! You wanna talk to her fine; she'll lie to you like she lied to me thousands of times. You really think a pep talk will be the answer she was looking for? And where the hell is Zack? He promised to be here in a few days."

"I know; he's send me in his place; he had to look after Ben."

Krit's anger grew with the minute; "Ben? Syl goes insane here and Zack's gonna chat with Ben? I don't believe this…"

Jondy, stubborn to keep Krit out of Ben's way, replied; "I dunno what was wrong with Ben he needed Zack… badly; so he sent me to you. Do me a favor and fill me in okay?"

Krit shook his head. "She's not like she's used to be…"

"I already figured that out myself!"

"Let me finish; she had nightmares; screams without a warning and the reason I called Zack is that she tried to cut off her finger."

Jondy looked up at Krit and gave him a weird look.

"She keeps on telling me she killed Avi and I think it's got to do with that. But I can't look inside her head so I'm not sure if there's more…"

"Hey you peeps", Syl had waken up and looked up to her siblings in confusion, "why am I tight down?"

"You don't remember?" Jondy licked her lips and hoped that Krit would take over the conversation.

Syl was tight down with her hands together; laying on her back and staring at the ceiling. Her hair was dirty and her face was covered with dust. The look in her eyes was confused but there was no doubt she was aware of what was going on in the room at that moment.

Krit and Jondy blinked at each other and the room was filled with tense. None of them was sure how to tell Syl about what'd happened. Luckily for them, Syl lost conscious again and she slept for two full days.

Krit and Jondy did not leave her bed.