Desiree awoke the next morning with a crick in her neck. She felt lethargic and decided to go for a run. The sun was already shinning and the cool breeze was blowing her glossy blue silken curtains, making them seem to dance. She sighed and felt momentarily happy, until the crick in her neck reminded her it was there. She sat up in bed, slowly rolling her neck. Feeling the muscles pull and stretch. She groaned, then her neck gave a loud cracking noise and the pain was gone.
She got out of bed fifteen minutes later, and pulled on her running attire. Once outside she breathed in the crisp air. Taking a moment to stretch she looked at the mansion that loomed in front of her. It was a clean white, it had only two floors but they seemed to stretch out for miles.
Each window was covered. On the bottom floor every window had a pair of yellow shutters and wooden cherry blinds. On the top floor every window had long silk curtains, each were different colors. The thing that always made her stop was the alien like green vines that scaled the house's outside walls. It was a type of climbing ivy, she suspected. It grasped the stucco walls from the ground, and stopped at the eaves. From a distance making the house look like it had white and green stripes.
Pulling her hair up into a pony tail she started her jog, with every stride getting farther and farther a way from the suffocating estate. As she jogged she thought absently about her childhood. Whenever she thought back on it she always remembered the same things.
Most importantly the fact that she never was treated the same. Whenever she entered a room people would always watch her so carefully, like she was a ticking time bomb. All of her father's and mother's friends treated her like a delicate flower. They seemed to pity her, and look at eachother whenever she said anything. Like they knew something she didn't.
Desiree looked nothing like her mother or sister, she even bared little resemblance to her father. Her parents were pale and blonde people with brown eyes. She had olive skin with red hair and green eyes. She never felt apart of that family, she felt like she was different from the rest of them.
Desiree was what the adults always referred to as a 'difficult child'. She didn't always obey her elders, she spoke her mind, read adult books, and climb trees with the boys from the other side of the tracks. Those boys were like her family, they accepted her, respected her , and most importantly protected her. But that all changed when she entered the fourth grade. Desiree matured early, and they started acting funny around her, treating her like a kid sister, and a sissy. So she ended up alone, fending for herself. Until she reached high school, when she found real friends.
Everyone fawned over China, she was always the star of the family. She was the cute little Shirley Temple that they adored, the young proper girl everyone complimented, and finally the radiant beauty everyone was stunned by. In their eyes she could do no wrong. She was tall and slender, a model, and a C+ student. Everything a upper-class family wanted in a daughter, wife, and all around woman.
Desiree on the other hand, was the opposite. She was not tall and slender and definitely not a model. Desiree was not a proper young lady, nor was she considered a radiant beauty. But she found herself one summer when she visited Vick, an old high school friend that had gone off to college.
She was from the hollow of New York City. She was a construction worker's daughter, who grew up on the streets. She was also one mean Hip hop and Jazz dancer. Vick taught her a few dance steps, and finally Desiree took up street dancing her self. That summer it kind of happened for her like it did for Baby in Dirty Dancing. Vick taught her day after day, week after week and before she knew it she was performing among college women and even professionals. Hanging out with the coolest of the dance crowd.
When she came back that fall for her junior year in High school she was a new girl, she lost all of her baby fat, and gained more muscle tone and more confidence. Naturally her father and China wondered what changed.
But that wasn't all that was different from China. Desiree had her honor role status, and finally acquired scholarship from MIT. Which she accepted gladly. That was her ticket out of that wreck she called a family.
She snapped back to present day when she realized she was no longer running but being pinned to the side of an unmarked blue van by two large men. Her head went light as she tried to breathe, but found it extremely hard to do so. Hearing a clicking noise she realized they were handcuffing her hands behind her back. She was relieved but soon tensed up when she saw a black handkerchief being brought in front of her eyes to act as a blind fold. Oh, this can't be good. She thought suddenly panicking.
Her stomach flipped as she was roughly spun around and made to walk possibly to the back of the van. Sure enough she heard the sounds of a latch being pulled and a creaking of metal hinges as someone opened a door. She was suddenly lifted up in the air and roughly pushed onto a hard metal chair that she was quickly and tightly strapped down to. She felt someone get in and sit in front of her.
This was a very uncomfortable position, she was firmly strapped down and her body's weight combined with the dense metal of the chair were gripping her cuffed writs and hands like a vice. The van sped away, turning a sharp corner, then another and another. The blindfold made everything black (obviously), but it also made her feel like she was riding in a car with her eyes closed, so she began to feel nauseous.
The ride smoothed out and she could tell that they were now on the freeway, although she couldn't tell what direction they were going. She didn't know who these people were. She had a pretty good guess that the reason that she was being kidnapped was because of her father. Sighing heavily she leaned her head back against the side wall of the van, taking deep breaths to try and calm her still suffering stomach. The van sped up and violently cut across to the next lane. A car horn blaring behind them.
Her head bounced on the wall of the van as they hit a huge bump. Smartly she lifted her head off the wall, and held it up right. She braced herself as the van rattled and shook, emitting loud scraping and creaking noises as it randomly changed lanes at very high speeds.
But the constant creaking of the van was soon drowned out by sirens. Holly shit! She was in a run away van that was being chased by a mob of police, Oh daddies gonna love this! She thought cynically. Her heart raced as the van plowed on and the sirens grew louder. Suddenly she heard male voices. "Shit!!! Five more bastards just joined us!" The man yelled that was in front of her, there was probably a window in the back of the doors or something. Her chair gave a sickening crunch as they plowed over something in the road. She heard thing crashing and falling on top of the roof.
She felt her chair tilt and loose a bolt, as they careened into some other road debris. She was praying that this chair held out, it was already wobbling and tilting like it was drunk. She heard the sirens grow farther away, and felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Damn it, why can those cops keep up with this van. It's only a van, not a Porsche for crying out loud. Then her hysterics were temporarily alleviated when she heard the sound of a helicopter's choppers up ahead.
"SHIT!!!" The guy in front of her swore, "Those pricks just won't leave us alone!" He said angrily. "Shut it back there! I'm trying to concentrate!" A familiar male voice ordered. It sounded like Donavan. Traitor. Not like she caredbut the fact that her Father's right hand man was kidnapping her, just did not add up. Suddenly the unexpected happened and they ran over something sending her chair off it's last couple of bolts. She crashed to the floor landing on her side, then the van turned and sent her shooting towards the opposite wall. This just keeps getting better and better! She thought.
The van's back tire blew and sent the vehicle swerving out of control. The driver floored it and sent them spinning. It then hit something solid and flipped over, and for a moment she swore she was weightless. The van ended up back on it's tires. It seemed like centuries before they stopped, but by the Desiree didn't notice, she felt too sick. Pain radiated up her right arm. She let out a slight moan, her eyes screwed shut behind the blindfold. There was a momentary silence, then sirens and helicopter propellers filled her ears. There was a commotion forming outside. She didn't know whether to be happy or wary, because she was still inside the van.
"You are surrounded, come out with the girl and your hands up. Then no one will get hurt!" An almost robotic voice commanded from the outside. Yeah great idea Einstein I'm already hurt! She fumed pissed over the whole situation. A moment later she gasped as the van began to move again, only this time it didn't get too far. Shots rang out and punctured the remaining three tires, and the van once again became immobile.
She let out a sigh, that should stop them. But it didn't and they kept on trying to move. "Stay where you are! If you don't come out, let the girl out." The same voice said. Please just let me out. She thought, getting tired of all her weight pushing down on her now throbbing arm.
A moment later she heard the door of the driver's side opening. The guy got out. "We know your in there come out now!" He ordered, to the man in front of her. But there was no movement. She had an eerie feeling that the man in the back of the van with her was more then just knocked out. She mustered all her strength and pulled herself up to a sitting position. The doors of the van opened and to sets of hands pulled her out, she felt sunlight hit her skin, as the cuffs came off, her arm started to burn. "Ouch!" She hissed. But the blind fold stayed on.
She was slowly walked over to what she guessed was a waiting ambulance. While she heard a buzz of cameras, and reporter like voices. "It's it true you are the daughter of Demeterious Thorn?" "Any ideas who kidnapped you and why?" "Miss Thorn?" "Miss Thorn?" Snap, flash, flash, snap. "Back up! Back up! Go on get out of here! Harvey, Thompson, Jacobs, Smith, take care of the press will ya!" A manly voice ordered.
It took a moment to get through all the press, once inside the ambulance she sat on what felt like a thin mattress. "What's your name miss?" A patient male voice asked her. "Desiree Th-orn" Her voice cracked, as she realized her throat was dry, and so was her mouth. "Alright Miss Thorn, stay still, I need to take a look at your arm." She had no problem with that, and she probably couldn't do anything else.
She gritted her teeth and hissed with pain, as he moved it gently. "Well?" She asked softly. Her upper body resting against the wall of the ambulance. "You're lucky it's only sprained, not broken. It'll take about a month and a half to fully heal, but in three weeks you can start to use it again." He said, standing up. "You'll need a sling, I can put that on for you." She nodded, "Can't I get some aspirin?" She asked her voice still cracking. "Yeah. One moment." She felt her arm slowly lifted and being put through something cloth.
She felt her good hand being taken and two aspirin put in it. She popped the pills into her mouth, and then was handed some water, that she was thankful for. After that was done she let out a tired sigh. Then she heard a commotion nearing her. Oh, what the hell now? She thought, can't they just leave me alone?
"Gibbons, I don't think it's a good time to take her away. Look at hercan't this wait?" Another man's voice said, this time it was lower. "The hell it can't, this case is unraveling fast and were falling behind as it is. X is doing a good job, but we need her help." She supposed it was the man, Gibbons. "You think she can answer questions in her medical state?" The other man asked. "What, you heard the doctor, it was only a sprain. Now get off my backI have work to do." Gibbons ordered. "Suit yourself." The other man said, giving up the loosing battle.
"Come with me Miss Thorn." Yeah, like I have a choice. She thought as she was being helped out of the ambulance by another set of hands, then lowered onto the ground, she wobbled slightly, her legs not quite supporting her yet. She stopped walking when she felt like she was going to collapse. She could tell that Gibbons was waiting patiently beside her. "Alright." She said quietly and they began walking once again, her legs now stronger. She felt someone else come up beside her. She guessed it was another man. She felt his rough hand grab her good arm and steer her in the right direction. They got into what felt like a nice luxury car, and judging by the size of it, it might have even been a limo.
The car started up, and they drove away. "We got a long drive Miss Thorn, you can relax." Gibbons said. Great another ride. Uneasily she closed her eyes. Soon everything went black, and she fell into an uneasy sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life times later she woke up. Not recognizing her surroundings. For a split second she thought the day before was all a dream, but then she looked down at her arm and noticed the sling, then realized it was all real.
Sitting up she looked around the room. It was a nice hotel suite. Walking over to the window she opened up the curtain, and looked out to the city sky line. She was in what looked like down town San Jose.
She gazed out across the vast city that buzzed and clamored around her, like a well oiled machine. So alive and so busy. Suddenly the phone by her bed rang. Slowly she turned and looked at it, as it continued to ring. Her arm was still aching. She walked back towards the bed and sat on it, delicately picking up the phone. "Hello?" She said softly.
"Miss Thorn your uncle Mr. Harlem is here to pick you up. He said he was sent by Mr. Gibbons your boss." The desk man said. My boss? Gibbons? Who the hell was Gibbons. She tried hard to recall the events of the night before. "Yes, uh hold on a minute." She said vacantly, stalling for more time to think. It slowly came back to her. She was sitting in.the ambulancewhen a guy namedGibbons came and took her away in a car. She nodded. "I'll be down in fifteen minutes." She said, not knowing why she was so casual about this.
Glancing in the mirror she perceived that her clothes were in a mess. She noticed a pale blue US Army jump suit folded and laid out on her bathroom counter. Looking at her slinged arm she walked back over to the phone and called back the desk. "Desk, this is Ernie?" The same man inquired. "Hi, this is Desiree Thorn again, tell the gentleman waiting for me that I'll be down in forty five minutes, something came up." She said casually. "Will do. Anything else I can do for you?" He asked. "No. That's all." She said. "Alright, have a good day Miss Thorn." With that she hung up.
After a few trial and errors she finally slipped on the jumpsuit. Fifteen minutes later she headed down to the lobby, her tattered running clothes tucked under her good arm. Once in the lobby she walked to the front desk, noticing how fancy this place was. Ernie looked up at her with some interest. "How may I help you miss?" His voice in a more flirtatious tone. "My name is Desiree Thorn, I was told I have a MrHarlem waiting for me." She said casually. "Yes, he is waiting in the bar, down the hall, second door on your left." Ernie said slowly, in a more respectable tone. "Uh..thanks." She said peering over her shoulder, then turning on her heel and heading down the hall, wondering what that was all about.
She found her self in the bar, but not sure who to look for. The problem was solved when a small older black man, with short white curly hair walked up to her. "Miss Thorn?" He said casually, holding out his hand with a smile. "Chester Harlem at your service." She took his hand with a smile of her own, liking him already. "Nice to meet you." She said politely, "Call me Des." She said, not knowing exactly why she said it. "Alright Des, if you don't mind I've got orders, so lets just get going, or Gibbons is going to have a temper tantrum." He said jokingly, acting as if it was of little or no importance. Des nodded, "Sure, lead the way."
He led her to a lowered burgundy Escalade with heavily tinted windows. She got into the back, and strapped herself in, avoiding her arm. They drove in silence, until her curiosity got the better of her. "So, who is Gibbons, and where are you taking me?" She asked conversationally. "Ah, sorry Des can't tell you that, my job description is only to drive, not to tell. You'll find out soon enough. Just relax." He said lightly. She took his advise and settled into the leather, stretching out her legs on the seat next to her.
An hour later they pulled up to what looked like a new warehouse. With the help of Harlem, she got out. He walked her to the door, and gave it a rhythmic tap, it was opened instantly by a security guard. She gave Harlem a questioning look. "Don't worry, they usually don't bite." He said, turning and going back to his SUV. She stepped inside and was stopped by two heavily armed guards. "Wait here." One of them informed her. She did as she was told, judging by the size of the arsenal, she decided this was no the time to be rebellious. Sighing she awaited who ever it was that was coming to collect her. She couldn't help but wonder exactly what it was that she was getting herself into this time.