Beyond the Shattered Glass

-whimper-: Gads. I got like...no reviews last chapter... I think everyone hates me for my political outbursts two chapters ago. Listen guys: I'm REALLY sorry if I offended ANYONE. I'm just reallll passionate when it comes to politics (and, no offense to anyone, but I despise Bush.) On another note: This chapter should prove...interesting. A lot of things are going to come together, as well as a whole NEW plot is going to be launched. After I finish this, I don't think i'll be writing on for a while. I'm planning on working on a novel I've had in mind for a bit, and think you'd like it. I may just put a chapter or two up on my fictionpress account, which is also Raining Dreams. Luff ya'll! PLEASE REVIEW... oh yes... I have a picture for you all as well, I think you'll like. So email me.

Beyond the Shattered Glass: File 8

Megan kept running, her chest feeling ready to explode, before she was met by a sharp tug on her collar. Before she knew it, she was dangling mid-air in the hand of none other than the infamous Gin. She coughed, struggling in vain.

"Put me down!!" she commanded loudly, kicking and squirming with all the might she could muster. "I can't breathe!!" she added, coughing again for effect. The man just shook his head slowly.

"No, no, no, my little fire ant. Where is Kudo?"

"He got out!! I tried to catch him and was chasing him until YOU pulled me up!" she snapped, her face slowly turning red with trapped blood. This attitude only resulted in her being thrown down, scraping her knee, elbow, and cheek against the rough concrete. She yelped, raising up and examining herself, looking up at the five men before her in horror. Vodka stepped foward, grabbing her collar from the front this time, lifting her up.

"Wrong answer, missy. If we don't find Kudo, we'll just have to play with you instead." She was thrown to the ground again, receiving more cuts. She winced, getting to her feet again.

"Fine. Whatever... you better treat me nicer though: I'm the one who's going to--" she stopped midsentance at a gun barrel being placed squarely between her eyes.

"Ah, ah, ah. Mannors, kiddo. You forget who you're talking to. Now, move." Vodka pushed her around so she was facing frontwards. She felt cold metal press against the back of her head and a nudge fowards. Her eyes fell to the ground. What have I gotten myself into...?

Back at the hotel...

Ai placed a hand on Jimmy's forehead, adjusting a blanket she'd draped over his shoulders. "You're still chilled." she informed him for the millionth time as he sipped quietly at a vitamin infused drink. It didn't taste very good, in all truths. Somewhat bitter. But he drank it anyway. Ai was putting up such a fuss he knew it was best to just put up with it all. He glanced nervously at the clock.

"Rachel...she's still not here. Do you think she's okay?" he inquired softly. Ai looked at the clock with a frown.

"I hope so... it's been twenty minutes. We need to get out of here... the Organization is uncanny for tracking people down when they stay in one place for too long." she mumbled, pulling a trenchcoat and hat from the small dresser the hotel supplied, handing it to him, pulling a disguise over herself (a wig and long coat). He paused, before tugging it on reluctantly.

"Shouldn't we call her parents? Richard is a lousy detective, but he still might help... And Eri has a level head on her shoulders." Ai shook her head.

"That's a last resort. We'll have so much explaining to do if we have to tell them. After all, from what I've seen of Richard and Eri, they would go ballistic on both you and me if they found out you were Conan thanks to my drug." She adjusted the black wig on her head. "Plus," she added. " This is Rachel Moore we're talking about. Karate champ and one of the cleverest people I've ever met. She can take care of herself." This provided some comfort for the boy.

"Yeah... I guess you're right." he said quietly, raising from his position on the small sofa, draining his drink. They checked out quickly, hopping into a rented car. They sped away, taking back roads, then switching to the highway, then back roads again. Ai knew what she was doing...

Across town...

"OUCH!" Megan rubbed her head with a small hand. "That hurt!!" she mumbled, gingerly running her fingers over a bump Vodka had made by hitting her over the head with his gun. They'd been combing everywhere for the past half hour to no avail.

"I think you were lying to us, kid." Whiskey began. "I think Kudo tricked you into helping him."

"Bad idea, sweetie." Vodka added, bumping her again lightly. Gin was silent. One thug had went to retreive the car... where they were headed, Rachel had no clue. She just knew it couldn't be good for her. The only thought that brought her any condolence was that Jimmy was safe now.

The car pulled up minutes later, and they shoved Megan between one thug and Whiskey in the back. It wasn't pleasant at all. Not only was she squished, but the aroma of body odor and alcohol was positively nauseating. She felt somewhere near ready to pass out... If she hadn't been so frightened, she probably would have. Vodka turned on the radio, and a news reporter's voice crackled through.

"...other news, the search for Rachel Moore continues. The karate champ has been missing for five days now, and the search parties are going strong..." Vodka laughed. He knew that she had supposidly been killed. That laugh made her want to throw up far worse than any smell... Something soon caught her attention further, however. After he finished his laugh, the reporter continued. "..disgrunted Eri Moore, with her seperated husband, Richard's, arm around her, sent out this plea earlier this evening:..." Rachel's mother's voice emitted from the speakers, and Megan's eyes widened. She was crying. "Please. Whoever has my Rachel. Please let her come home. She doesn't deserve this!" her sobbing got so hard that she couldn't speak any longer. Her father's voice came out, finishing for her. "Rachel: If you can hear this, sweet heart, we love you and we will find you." The child felt her heart clench, and she had to fight back tears once again. This was torture. It was at that moment that they switched the radio off.

"That always makes me smile," Vodka said with a chuckle. "Hearing parents call out to their dead children. So oblivious that their precious little brats are already long gone." Megan felt her fists tighten. "Now. Down to business. How are we going to find this Kudo kid?"

"We should call Sherry. She always knows how to find people." Whiskey offered, pulling out his cell phone, dialing in her number. Rachel looked up. That gave her some hope... They might mention she was there. Sherry could come help if that was the case!

Back in the car...

Ai's cell phone began to ring and vibrate, so she pulled over and answered it catiously. "Hello?"

"Sher. We have a problem. Kudo is missing."

"No!!" she said in a mock sound of concern. "What about the kid? Megan? Where is she at? He doesn't have her with him, does he?"

"No. The brat is right here... Vodka and Gin aren't happy with her. Not at all...why do you ask?"

"Just curious. Listen. Meet me somewhere. I'll grab Meggy and keep an eye on her for you guys."

"No...we have her under control. Help us find the kid, Sherry."

"Erm...where will you guys be if I need to bring him?"

"The old shoe factory."

"Mmk. I'll meet you guys there in about an hour. I'm taking a drive around the countryside right now, so it'll take me a bit to get there."

"Okay, Sherry." click.

She glanced at Jimmy, who was staring at her with an anxious look. "They have Rachel with them, but she's safe. They're heading to a shoe factory to hide out until they think up their next plan. They wont hurt her. Not for the next hour or two, anyway. After that, I don't know. We just need to get her out." Jimmy clenched his eyes shut. He had not wanted to hear that...

"Can't we just call the police?" he whimpered. For once he WANTED the cops to handle it...

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "They'll use Rachel as a hostage if we make that move too fast. We have to wait for that step. I'll have to get Gin out first. Vodka is more rational than that."

"I'm just afraid that by that time it'll be to late..." he whispered, staring out the window.

Dun dun DUN: Wow... this chapter was better than the last, but still really short. Um...-blink- this thing will reach it's climax next chapter, and the ending will be in the chapter after that. So 2 more chapters, guys!! I wanna reach 100 before I write that last chapter, though, so yessum. REVIEW or no endin' ;p