Chapter 7

The handsome man called Shu sat across from Camus, his eyes full of shrewd interest, his face remaining indifferent. Camus was now freed from his bonds as Shu had kindly cut the ropes, then brought a haggard looking seat from a dark recess in one of the corners of the cellar. He had sat down, saying nothing and they had been like this for a few moments before Camus said

"You know I could punch you out and escape."

"I know." Shu replied calmly with a hint of what Camus thought was amusement in his voice.

"So what the fuck…?" he said, trailing off as an opening for Shu to explain himself, the young man just smiled knowingly.

"But Bobby." He said "Don't you want to know why you've been beaten up and kept down here."

"I don't care as long as I get regular visits from that hot brown haired chick instead of that mentally unstable man-bear." Camus said bitterly, though what he said was obviously a joke, Shu laughed

"Oh you are funny aren't you." He said "Is it your reputation that makes you act stupid?" He added, still chuckling "Because I know full well your not, I know all about you. And your impetuous friend." He then said, all amusement gone from his voice.

"What do you mean?" Said Camus seriously, Shu stared at him with a similar intensity and said

"I have been keeping tabs on you, you and your less intelligent friend are two of the only Highland police officers who would be able to resist corruption."

"Oh." said Camus, he was not sure about what Shu had just said but didn't want to look stupid in front of this cocky man who seemed to ooze intelligence.

"I can understand you do not know what I'm talking about so I'll explain it simply. The Highland police force is going to be taken over by the Highland Mafia. Its probably happening as we speak, perhaps it already has." The mysterious young man said, standing up, betraying his impatience despite his calm composure. He continued at Camus' silence "We, we being the people who knocked you out and put you in a cellar, are a freedom movement, or terrorist, as you would call us. We have been working for nearly a year now, trying to thwart the Highland Mafia. We know have enough ammunition, men and resources to start a war with the Mafia." He said, pacing slightly

"So why do you have to tie me up and leave me down here."

"Because you're the least likely to succumb to corruption, and due to your excellent police record we thought you'd probably be a formidable ally, or adversary. We did not want you to tip the balance of power or act as a neutral force. So we tried to incapacitate you."

"Why didn't you want me to tip the balance of power? Don't you want to win, what if I chose your side?" Asked Camus, confused.

"That would indeed be an ideal plan, however if you were to choose their side, we were afraid you would tip the balance in their favour. It would be easier and simpler to just take you out of the game." He said, walking up the stairs.

"So why did you untie me?" Camus said after him

"Because I'm going to lock the door." Said Shu " And leave an armed guard by it as well, I just thought you'd be more comfortable not being tied to a chair." He said and walked up the last step and went to shut the door behind him, he then shouted back "If you try to escape you will be shot on site I'm afraid. Goodbye." He then shut the door just as Camus went to grab him and force his way out.

He sighed and slumped down on the steps. Ah well, he thought to himself, better make the most of a bad situation. He then waited 'til he could hear the guard come in.

"Hey!" he shouted to get the guards attention. "You like Sinatra?"

"Nice place you got here." Said Flik for no apparent reason, the young boy Futch was now making himself a sandwich in a small, plain but ver neat kitchen, he offered one to Flik who declined with a shake of his head.

"We'll only have to stay here for a few hours." Said Futch "The Mafia hardly ever patrol the club district, they practically own it anyway, I think they feel its pretty secure." Flik nodded.

"Won't your dad be pissed off if he found me here." Said Flik after a few moments pause

"Hell no." Said Futch, beginning to make his way into another room. "My dad hates the Mafia, he'll be happy to help. Your not a pimp are you?" Futch then added slightly suspiciously.

"Do I look like a pimp kid?" Said Flik, Futch noticed his scruffy appearance and the grubby blue bandana stopping his sandy blonde hair falling into his eyes and shrugged.

"Just checking." He said, and walked into a sitting room, switching on a small TV. The sitting room was also small but surprisingly homely for where it was situated, there were pictures of the young boy Futch on the wall with a tall blonde man who Flik assumed was his father. There were also pictures of the blonde man with a brown haired beautiful brown haired woman with dazzling green eyes, but Flik didn't give them a second thought, Futch was watching south park. Flik laughed despite himself as Barbara Streisand turned into a huge mecha godzilla beast and began to trash the town. Futch turned to him, and saw that Flik was standing leaned against the doorframe laughing.

"You like south park?" He asked

"Yeah." Said Flik "I'm a bit ashamed of it actually." He said, his head slightly tilted, he was still grinning.

"Why?"

"I dunno, I guess its 'cause I'm an adult, adults don't watch this kind of stuff." He said, kind of lamely

"Jesus, will you make up your mind." Said Futch "First you adults say kids aren't supposed to watch this, now your saying neither are adults, this is one of the highest grossing comedy cartoons in america, so a hell of a lot of people have to watch it, which is it kids or adults?" He said, a little impatiently, Flik was a little taken aback, but then realised that this was a perfectly true and fair statement. He replied merely with a neutral

"Meh."

And went back to watching the show, sitting himself on the carpet contentedly.

Miklotov awoke in a different room from before, the cold steel floor of the cell had been replaced with polished wood, the artificial lighting replaced from blazing sunlight from a nearby large window and the cold stone walls were now also wooden, like the floor, they were taking on a chestnut hue.

Everything about this room radiated warmth and for some reason Miklotov felt a little safer here, however he did not want to let his guard down for too long, tried to spring up but realised that he had been bound by a thin garrotte wire substance that would cut his main arteries before he even got up, however when he rolled aside he found that he was not gagged or bound, he was free, to an extent. Standing up cautiously he looked around and saw he was in a very nice but rather plain room, in the middle of the room was a very neat and luxurious four poster bed, on the wall was posters of crappy pop groups. Miklotov guessed this had to be a girls room, or this kid had to be shipped off to the army straight away. He was surprised when he heard someone enter the room, he span round, ready to fight but saw it was a girl, a short thin girl with raven black hair and a pale complexion, she was staring at him hard with her large blue eyes as she stood still, her hand still holding the door knob tentatively.

"Don't worry. Your safe." She said in a soft, soothing voice "I'm not going to hurt you." Miklotov was pretty hurt at the idea that she thought him so retarded that he was scared of a little girl

"Where am I?" He asked,

"My room, hi, my names Jillia, and you must be Julian." Miklotov was a little taken aback, he was so used to being called Mikki by Camus, he had almost forgotten his own first name.

"And what am I doing in your room Jillia." He asked trying to keep calm.

"My brother thought this would be a good place to keep you while he tried to think what to do with you." She said, sitting on her bed slowly, her eyes never leaving Miklotov's "My room is protected by high tech security systems, you won't be able to get away I'm afraid." She added, Miklotov was horrified

"What if I held you hostage or killed you? Doesn't he care." He asked, clearly alarmed, Miklotov had never had any siblings of his own but imagined that they'd be a little better to each other.

"No." Said Jillia, without a hint of remorse in her voice "He just saw my room as a good place to hold you." She said "Whether I was in it or not. But you won't hurt me will you?" She said, it wasn't a question, it was a statement, Miklotov was taken aback once again.

"How can you be so sure?" He said, suspiciously

"Oh, I'm just pretty certain you won't hurt me." She said, innocently enough, but Miklotov wasn't sure. He decided, however, that this girl was not a threat and sat down on one of the finely carved wooden chairs that dotted the room.

"So, who is your brother?" Asked Miklotov, he must be important, the tall cop thought, or else he wouldn't have high security guarding his sisters room.

"His name is Luca." She said it without any emotion in her voice but Miklotov gasped

"Luca Blight?" He asked again, shakily

"Yes." She said, quietly, the bottom of Miklotov's stomach dropped out. That's it, he was dead, this madman was going to come in here and kill him. He sank into his chair and buried his face in his hands. Jillia walked over, concern in her eyes. "Whats wrong?" She asked

"Whats wrong!" Shouted Miklotov, standing up so fast he knocked his chair down "Whats wrong is that my girlfriend dumped me a few weeks ago, she then came onto my best friend right in front of me, my job has been taken over by the Mafia, I've been hit over the head more times than I can remember, my friend could be dead and I've got a headache!" There, he'd done it, all the fury that had been inside was now let out, to a terrified teenage girl. He was ashamed.

Flik was ashamed that he had just laughed his head off at a satellite coming out of a fat kids ass.

And Camus was ashamed at the guard outside the cellar's hate for Simon and Garfunkle.