Winter's Storm

Hello again! This chapter is a bit different from the usual view of Leelu. It's still in first person setting, just a different character's view, another one of mine. But do not fear; Leelu, Knives, and the ever-so-cool Legato shall reappear. Review and enjoy! By the way, her name is Winter and she's 21.

Home, finally, thought this day would never end. I flopped down in a chair and poured some water from a pitcher it to a glass and tuned the radio to a news station.

"This just in," the radio hummed, "a body of a twenty five year old girl was discovered by Falcon Rock, about three miles out of town. The girl was identified by a necklace she wore. Rose Midland is the apparent name of the girl. Please notify the sheriff if you know anything about this young lady."

I turned of the radio after hearing that. "Damn you Rose, why did you have to disagree?" I thought.

To earn money after our mother left, we had to become waitress at the local bar, but that, sadly, was only half our job. We had to "please" local gang leaders and there gangs to keep ourselves in a stable position above poverty, but just barely above. Rose had refused Cobra's "offer", and I suppose she tried to run. She got pretty far actually, but now it was my turn to hold up the end she had left.

I didn't want to though, he rarely paid us, and I wanted to get out of the practice as much as she apparently had. But, I cherished my life over my pride, so I suppose I had to.

"But why can't you just run?"

I turned to face an empty room. "Am I hearing things again?" I wondered.

"You don't have to please filth like that, you could be much more Winter. You could have pride again and you could have faith in yourself again."

I shook my head and held my ears.

"What do you want from me?" I whispered to the emptiness.

"I want you to fulfill your dreams and destroy your enemies. And I want to understand your mind, for you confuse me from this distance."

"That doesn't answer my question," I whispered back to nothing. "And who are you anyway?"

"Your so simple Winter," another voice replied, "you always want to know everything but even then you can't see the big picture. So just listen to me, and I'll guide you through this."

"Ok, but don't get me into trouble," I answered, "I want to stay alive."

"Go west to Falcon Rock. He'll explain the details as you run."

"He?" I thought as I put my black dress shoes back on. "I don't know any guys that would be helping me…"

I opened the door and stepped out in to the blinding light. I had never been to Falcon Rock before, so as I headed west I asked a man on his porch for directions.

"Just follow that road out of town," he said pointing at a winding road heading toward the desert. "The road will end a ways out, but you'll be able to see the rock by then, so you shouldn't get lost."

"Thank you very much sir," I replied.

The road was not traveled often, and it was difficult to avoid the scorpions that crawled all over the dusty road.

"You must pass a test before you can achieve what you desire," the first voice replied.

"What kind of test?" I thought as I skillfully dodged a stinger of a vicious looking mother scorpion.

"Your sister left a ring a yard away from the rock's base. If you can touch that ring, you pass."

"That sounds easy enough," I thought. "What's the catch?"

"The Black Snake Gang has caught your trail and are following you as we speak, you best start running."

With that variable in play, I sped to a run and just kicked the scorpions as the came at me. The road was ending and coming to an endless sea of sand. The man was right though; I could see Falcon Rock, so I picked up my pace a little more and headed toward the rock.

As I finished about one mile, I realized how hot it was running in a black maid's dress, petticoat, black gloves, black tights and dress shoes. The shoes seemed to hang in the sand and slow my steps, but my energy dwindled because I had to constantly pull myfeet from the sand.

"Take off your shoes and use the pain of the burning sand to fuel your movement," the second voice replied.

I stooped for a moment and took my shoes from my feet. The heat burned the bottom of my feet, but I could run much faster and the pain kept me from stopping.

Then, about two and a half miles there, I heard shouting, gunfire and the motor of a car coming from behind me. I knew it was The Black Snake Gang, and they wanted me. I ran harder, sand flying from my feet. I was almost there, but then I felt a pain running through my back. I almost fell, but I caught myself and saw the blood running down my arms. They had shot me and that was probably just a warning shot.

I kept running though, and I saw the base of the rock and a small golden sparkle that had to be the ring. Two more shots hit me in the back and I fell. Blood trickled from my mouth but I reached out for that golden light. I felt my finger tips touch the ring, feeling the smooth band and ruby stone that sat atop it.

"Someone help me," I thought, "I would even be grateful for the devil himself…"

Two hands reached down and picked me up gently. I was cradled against a man's chest. I looked up at the man holding me. He had blue hair, golden eyes and a white trench coat.

"You pass," he whispered quietly in an identical voice to the first voice I had heard in my head.

He stared towards the car coming toward the rock. His eyes narrowed and the car exploded, leaving blood in a huge circle around the vehicle. I managed a weak "thank you" and a smile and then I blacked out.

Ah ha! Cliff hanger! I'm so mean I know.