Chapter 9-"Outside Down"
A/N: the phrase is normally "upside down" But in the case of some lives things aren't up even a bit, and everything they do seems to make them an outsider.
A/N: #2 this chapter begins with an original poem by me
==================
I am less then human
And you beat me down as so
I am less then human
Something you forced me everyday to know
You molested my mind and my body
Sold me off like fresh meat
You let them use and abuse me
I was just a fuck with a heartbeat
You kept me chained to my bed
To keep me from trying to escape
You made me keep my eyes open
And witness every part of my rape
I was raped again and again
By men who had cash money
Sometimes fifty men in a day
And they all wanted to eat my honey
I am less then human
That is why I am in chains
I am less then human, like the others
Why we're all numbers, not names
The other girls and I
We are there only for you
Slabs of meat for your clientele
Selling unlimited screws
We don't moan here, we scream
And cry when each time's done
Our chains rattle after we "service" a man
And do another immediately after that one
I am less then human
But I figured something out while I was being used
Everything you told me was a lie
And now I'm pissed for being abused
You used me like an object
I was nothing but your whore
I was beaten into submission
So you could charge access to my candy store
But I broke out of my shackles
And there's nothing you can do
So the next time you wanna watch someone get fucked
Go give yourself a screw
Being "less then human" has hardened me forever
It has made me who I am
And turned my skin to leather
But I am still a woman
And I didn't ask to be this hard
I don't want to be abused
I don't want to have these scars
I want my life back
I want to feel alive
I'm tired of feeling used
And almost dead inside
I can't forget what you did to me
The memories will always be raw
I won't ever forget what happened
Won't ever forget the shit I saw
I will never be the same
But I will carry on
If you thought you could break me you bastard
You were dead wrong
I'm damaged goods now
As far as forever goes
I'm a different woman now
And I'm not the only one who knows
But here's something you didn't know
Why you'll soon find out you're loosin'
I'm a survivor, I'll make it
Because I'm NOT less them human
================
* * * *
FOGGLE TOWERS
"Cree?" Cindy was the one who opened the door and was shocked at who she found. A smile graced her lips soon after though "Girl why didn't you tell us you were comin' out as well?" Cindy enveloped her in a big hug.
"It was sorta last minute travel plans" Cree confessed, falling into Cindy's hug
"Not a prob sugah" Cindy pulled back "You always welcome here"
Cree adapted a smile of her own. "Hey Logan" she looked over at the man standing a few feet behind Cindy. She stepped over to him and offered him a hug.
He accepted it "You look really great"
Cree shrugged "California Sun. Once I hit it again I bronzed out" Her statement was very true. She had been pale when they first met, from the fact that she had spent most of her time for three years in a dimly lit room or in the dark. Now though, she was tanned a golden brown and she looked--healthier. She had put on some weight to cover her bones. Her hair was shorter, but not by much, it still went below her collarbone. Even her eyes, though they still had some darkness in them, looked brighter. Being back home had been good for her. "You look really great too Logan" she smiled "And I bet I know why" she shot a look at Max, still smiling before turning to her mom "You guys remember my mom, Ming-" she started introducing her mom to her friends again "Mom remember that's Cindy and Logan, Max's boyfriend"
Max didn't even deny it this time. Why should she? She was happier then she had been in a long time. Why lie about it?
Ming smiled at all of them warmly enough, but then looked to Logan, a look of business in her eyes "Where is she?"
*****
"Hello" Ming was inside Logan's guest bedroom where Jin-Mei was sitting tentively on the queen size bed.
Jin-Mei didn't even look up, just sat there, looking at her dress which she had been doing ever since she had been in there.
"My name's Ming Amston" Ming stated in Chinese, speaking softly so that the other woman wouldn't see her as a threat "I'm here to help you-"
Jin-Mei snapped her head up then, a quiet passion in her eyes "Are you a cop?"
"Yes" Ming didn't lie
Jin-Mei jumped off the bed then "Then I don't have anything else to say to you"
"Sit back down!" Ming ordered blocking the other woman's way
= =
How dare you say that my behavior is unacceptable.
So condescending unnecessarily critical
I have the tendency of getting very physical
So watch your step cause if I do you'll need a miracle
= =
"You need to check yourself woman." Ming's voice was still low but it was growling. "I'm not even from here so like I can arrest you." I've seen enough shit to know that life isn't going to just step up and hand you help to your problems, you have to take them as they come."
= =
You drain me dry and make me wonder why I'm even here
This Double Vision I was seeing is finally clear
You want to stay but you know very well I want you gone
Not fit to fuckin' tread the ground I'm walking on
= =
Jin-Mei still glowered at her. "You have NO idea what kinda problems I have lady!"
"I think I do" Ming growled
Jin-Mei got angrier "Have you ever had to watch someone you LOVE get taken away from you?
"Yes I have"
"Ever had a man beat you?"
"Yes" Ming answered her rapid fire
Jin-Mei went silent then.
"Ask me more" Ming growled "Go on girl, get all your shit out and rub it in my face cause I've been down all those roads and I KNOW the kind of pain they can bring. Now I'm offering you a way out. But nothing's ever gonna get started until you start trusting someone again. Mainly me cause I'm not in the mood to find out I flew three hours for absolutely nothing."
= =
When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
= =
*****
CHINATOWN
SEATTLE
"Wei?" (Hello?) the housing manager addressed Ming when she came inside the door to his office. "Can I help you?"
Ming stood directly in front of his desk, leaning her elbows on its surface "I'd like a set up for my friend in your housing area"
The housing manager looked over his shoulder at Jin-Mei who shrunk back, as if trying to be apart of the walls. "Does she have any kids?"
"Does she have any with her?" Ming snapped, matching his question with a snap back. "How much?"
"Eighty a week" he told her "Utilities included." He reached under his desk and pulled out a stack of papers "Does she speak English?"
"She just got here," Ming informed
"Still should know how to speak English"
"I'll translate for her" Ming stared him down with a fierce gaze snatching the group of about ten papers of the wooden desk surface.
She found some seats in the back and motioned for Jin-Mei to follow her. "You need to fill out this paper work" she handed the younger woman a pen.
"I guess you think I can write" Jin-Mei snatched the pen from her.
Ming didn't say anything, just patiently waited while Jin-Mei filled out the form.
*****
SEATTLE
LADDER 12
"Scuse me" Max caught the attention of one of the passing fireman.
The fireman stopped to look at the woman who had called him, REALLY looking at her once he realized what she looked like. "Can I help you ma'am?" he still addressed her politely, despite what he was thinking in his mind.
"Ty Aris workin' today?"
"Aris?" the man repeated "Yeah he's in the quarters watchin' TV. Who am I gonna say it is?"
Max shook her head "Not for me, got someone who wants to see him" she looked back to Cree who was standing behind her.
= = = =
"Cree?" Ty did a double take when he saw who was standing by the kitchen in the firehouse. He stood up from the sofa "Hey" he stepped over to her "What are you doin' here?"
"Great seeing you too Ty" Cree returned
"Sorry" Ty apologized; he smiled a second later and cupped her face for a long kiss. After he pulled back he looked at her "Is that better?"
"Much" she smiled, giving him a hug. She HAD missed him. Phone calls didn't cut it.
Ty looked over his shoulder "Think we're making Max feel left out"
"I'm fine with how things are going" Max reassured with a smile of her own.
Cree and Ty pulled back after a moment "So how long you gonna be in the city?"
"Dunno" Cree informed "A week at least"
You could almost hear Ty's eyes lighting up beneath the rugged fireman exterior. "Sounds good to me. How about I take you out to dinner tonight to celebrate your being in town? Cloth napkins, candlelight, the works"
"Thought firemen weren't made of money" Cree asked
"I have a little nest egg set aside for swooning a girlfriend" he reassured. He then looked over to Max "How bout we make it a double?"
"Won't that ruin your swooning mood?"
"I can swoon in any situation Max, believe me" Ty informed
Max managed a smile again "Then I accept"
*****
BANGKOK
CHINA
Mei-Mei came awake again, not to noise, but to a small bit of sunlight peaking out from the single square window recessed in the wooden boards that made up the walls of the shanty. She was still on the floor, but Jon, the strange man had thrown a faded blue blanket over her in the night. She pushed it off her body and stood up. Her back and limbs were sore and kinky from sleeping on the hard linoleum of the shanty floor. She stretched her arms over her head and saw a milk white button up sweater and a pair of old jeans laying across the cot. She fingered the fabric.
"They were my sister's"
The voice startled her and she stopped what she was doing. Jon stood in the doorway in the same clothes he had on last night, another cigarette in his mouth. "They won't do any good for her now"
Mei-Mei looked at the clothes, and turned her face up to Jon "I can't take these"
"If you don't want to look like street trash you'll take them."
Mei-Mei was still filthy and in the same dress she had worn for days. Blood and dirt and sweat was caked on her body and her looked like a mess of dead leaves, it even had dead leaves in it.
"There's a hose out back" Jon went on "This shanty town isn't hooked up for indoor plumbing. But I moved some boards in front for privacy and there's one underneath so you're off the dirt. There's a bar of soap there too" he puffed his cigarette again before snubbing it out with his finger and pitching it in the dirt outside. He walked inside his hut and grabbed another blanket off his cot "Use this to dry yourself" he was now assuming that she was gonna accept his offer. He turned and walked away then, to either give her privacy, or abandon her, she didn't know.
Mei-Mei finally decided that she WAS very dirty and there might not be another opportunity to wash herself. She gathered the items he told her about and headed outside. Jon was nowhere to be found, but she heard him lighting another cigarette so he was still somewhere nearby.
Three boards were lined up against the outside wall of the shanty with one resting on it's side to allow the person access into the enclosure. She draped the clothes he had given her over one of the boards to keep them from getting wet. Jon hadn't given her any fresh underwear so after she stripped she gathered the bra and panties to wash them before she bathed herself.
It was hard to bathe with just soap and a single hose that had only a thin trick of cold water, running out of it, but she managed to get all of dirt off her body. She squeezed the water out of her lingerie before putting them back on wet. She then dried herself and slipped on the clean clothes, leaving her worn dress in a heap in a receding puddle of water at the bottom of the board. The sweater was kind of small, but fit well enough once she undid the top two buttons. The jeans fit fine, she and Jon's sister wore the same size. She picked up her wet dress and removed the loose board so she could get out. She tore the dress into pieces and used one bit to put up her hair in a ponytail.
Jon had come back around the side of the house "There's a noodle house four blocks away. I usually by food there before I go to work. C'mon" he finished his last smoke and threw it away "I'll buy. You need to eat"
Mei-Mei slipped on her old high heal shoes and followed him
*****
SEATTLE
CHINATOWN
"You should be fine here" Ming looked around the room that Jin-Mei had finally been assigned to after that mountain of paperwork. She walked around and saw a single closet bathroom with an old bear claw tub, but hot water came out of the spout when she turned it on. "Things seem to work"
Jin-Mei looked at the double size bed with the tacky floral print duvet cover on it. Besides that there was a small kitchen with a mini fridge, a dresser, a TV, a folding chair and a night stand.
"It's not exactly the Ritz Carlton" Ming said "But it's safer then on the streets" she haded Jin-Mei the key to the 'apartment' along with a wireless phone "My number is speed dial one. Seattle PD is speed dial two." Jin-Mei took the phone "Don't use public phones" she also took out a manilla envelope and haded it to her "Keep this in a safe place"
Inside the envelope was one thousand dollars all in hundreds that Logan had supplied her with along with a phony ID, Social Security Number, Driver's Liscense, Sector Pass. "You're name is Michelle Kong" Ming told her the phony names on the ID's. "The money is for food, clothes. I've paid for two months to live here so don't worry about the rent." A long pause "Be careful when you go out at night"
She started walking away
"Thank you" Mei-Mei's voice made Ming turn back around
"You're welcome"
= =
I am a little bit insecure a little unconfident
Cause you don't understand I do what I can but sometimes I don't make sense
I am what you never wanna say but I've never had a doubt
It's like no matter what I do I can't convince you for once just to hear me out
So I let go watching you turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here 'cause you're all that I've got
(I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
= =
*****
SEATTLE
5:50
"You tellin' me that of all the times you've been movin' it with ya boy you STILL don't have anything to wear?" Cindy was watching Max rifle through her meager clothing selection in her bathrobe with her wet hair tied up.
"We've never gone out to dinner before" Max argued, "He usually just cooks something there" Max was starting to get frustrated at her selection of tank tops sweaters and jeans. NOTHING was worthy enough of being worn out to a half decent resteraunt. Deck would die ashamed if he could see her now acting all girly, but Deck could go suck eggs. "I don't wanna look like a bike messenger tonight"
"Sugah you never looked like a normal bike messenger" Cindy informed stepping over to Max "Sure your boy will love anything you're wearin'"
"I don't need his pity" Max returned
Cindy let that slide. She spied something in the back of the closet and pulled it out. It was the deep red halter dress that Max had lifted off that woman when she met Anselmo for the first time. "This is hot" Cindy looked harder at the dress "Girl I didn't even know you owned this"
"Think it's too hoocy" Max analyzed
Cindy cocked an eyebrow at her "Who told you that?" she didn't wait for an answer "It's good girl. Just let OC do your hair up nice and wear something dangling to cover where the scarlet don't cover your brown sugar and you'll be set"
Max looked at her "Really?"
"Girl-" Cindy was still in awe at the way Max talked about herself "you're one of the finest momma's I've ever seen and ya still act like you need to wear a potato sack to hide ya self" a pause "Well not on Original Cindy's watch." She held up the dress to Max's body. "Tell ya this is gonna be sweet,like candy"
*****
FOGGLE TOWERS
Logan examined his choice of clothes for the evening. A black double-breasted pinstripe suit with a crisp white linen shirt and black silk tie. He was going to wear his blue one with the red tie, but decided that this one suited him better, and also made him look more like a man, not a little boy being dragged out to dinner by his parents in his Sunday suit. /All I need now is a gangster hat and a saxophone/
"Logan?" Max's voice echoed through the living room. She had obviously picked the lock and came inside.
"In here baby" he called back /Baby? Where did that come from?/ Before he could correct himself out loud he heard her footsteps approach.
He turned to face her and was take aback by her appearance
= =
Candy, I call my sugar Candy
Because I'm sweet on Candy
And Candy's sweet on me
= =
Max stood in front of him in the dress she had worn only once. The fire engine red hue was muted slightly by the light black designs speckled on it. Her hair was pulled in a lose sweep with a few pieces of hair falling around framing her face, making it look a little messier, but also defiantly sexier. Cindy's shoes were on her feet. A one inch black suede heal that wrapped around once near her ankle in a criss cross and buckled in back. To complete the look Cindy had leant her a dark burgundy colored tear drop shaped stone attached to a silver chain that sat just an inch and a half shy from the valley created by her breasts. Besides that her makeup was almost the same, except for the darker wine colored lipstick.
"Aren't you gonna say anything?" Max broke the silence "Or did I get all pretty just for something to do?"
Logan managed a light laugh then, in between trying to breathe normally. /My god that DRESS. I didn't even know she HAD that dress/ "You look incredible"
A smile came to Max's face then "Thanks"
==
He understands me
My understanding Candy
And Candy's always handy
When I need sympathy
= =
"You look really-" Max continued after a minute "Smooth" that was the only word she could think of to describe the way he looked in his suit. Kinda a combination between a street dangerous thug, and a wine and dine lover.A hot combination in her books.
= =
I wish that there were four of him
So I could love much more of him
He has taken my complete heart
Got a sweet tooth for my sweetheart
= =
Logan smiled then to "I guess we should get going then"
"Kay," Max agreed and turned to leave the bedroom, Logan following her.
Max's leather jacket was sitting on the back of his couch. She grabbed it and started to put it on but felt him stop her.
"May I?"
She turned to him "Well maybe just this once" she allowed him to help her on with her jacket.
After he finished he held his arm out, gesturing towards the door "Shall we?"
She offered him a smile "Love to" she walked out with him close behind
= =
Candy, it's gonna be just dandy
The day I take my Candy
And make him mine, all mine
= =
*****
SEATTLE
SECTOR ONE
The sector cop held out his hand, gesturing for the motorcycle to slow down. "Can I see your pass buddy?"
Jondy removed her helmet and let her wavy brunette hair drop down. "I'm new officer. I don't have one" she let a coo in her voice come out and pratically batted her eyes at him.
"You can't come in the city without a pass miss" the cop informed
"Please?" Jondy faked begged "What am I gonna do? You think a lil ol' thing like me's gonna hurt anyone?"
The cop looked like he was about to waiver, on the same route Cree had used to get into Seattle the first time too.
Another cop came out of the booth and whispered something to the guy at the barricade. The cop looked out to the night, then back at Jondy "Miss are you aware that there's someone behind you?"
Jondy turned around then and looked. After a minute she saw it, another bike a few yards behind her.
"Dismount from the bike ma'am"
"C'mon" Jondy argued "I don't even know that person. I couldn't do anything even if I DID know who it was"
"It's a precaution I have to take, even if I know you can't hurt anyone. Now step down from the bike please ma'am"
Jondy sighed, but dismounted.
"Over here please" the cop pointed to a spot on the road
Jondy complied and now stood a few inches away from the cop "Nice to know that you still believe my story."
The cop nodded "Sorry ma'am, but I have to do my job"
"It's fine" Jondy argued, then looked the cop square in the face "Too bad I'm a liar" she jumped up and kicked him in the balls. He fell, gasping.
The other cop came out with a Sig Sauer, aiming at Jondy "Freeze! I won't shoot, you're unarmed, but hands up!"
Jondy raised her hands in the air "Okay relax" she stepped over to the man
"Stay right where you are ma'am!"
Jondy kicked the gun out of his hand and then kicked him in the stomach, dropping him to the ground. Once he was down. she knelt over him "Whose says I'm unarmed?" she punched him in the face and knocked him out. She flexed her bicep around "These look like arms to me" she climbed off him and stared at the two sector cops "Nighty night boys" She climbed back on her bike and slid under the barricade.
She drove into the city a few more yards before stopping at a bunch of trash on the side of the road. She dismounted and turned around seeing the "bike" the cops were talking about stop a few feet behind her.
She approached the rider "What the hell do you think you're doing following me?" Jondy got up in Zack's face. He was the mysterious biker who had been behind her.
"You shouldn't have come here Jondy" Zack argued
"Yeah well you shouldn't have tried to fuck me back in San Francisco but it's a little too late for "shouldn't haves" Zack"
"I can't let you risk more lives by giving into phony sentiment"
"She's my sister Zack!" Jondy spat "Yours too in case you forgot. What ever happened to not abandoning you unit?"
"A lot of things have changed Jondy. This isn't Manticore anymore. This is the real world"
"You haven't changed, cept for a bigger head to store all that bull crap in"
Zack grabbed her by the shoulder then, whirling her around to lock his arm around her neck "I can't let you do this"
"Nobody tells me what I can't do but me" she pulled out of his grip by back flipping over his head and throwing him to the ground flat on his back "Welcome to the real world Zack" she left him there and mounted her bike again.
"You're only bringing the crap on yourself!" Zack called out to her
Jondy started her engine and flipped him off before driving away.
*****
GOLDEN POND
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
"Place is nice Ty" Max commented to the other man seated across from her at the round table.
"Guess he's good for something" Cree made a joke of it, sipping from the water in front of her. "Ah!" she looked over at Ty "Did you just kick me?"
"Hey you asked for it" Ty joked back
Cree laughed, "Yeah well I guess I did" she set her wine glass down "Wow Max, that dress is, awesome. Only you could get away with it"
"You could too" Max argued
"No way" Cree complained, "I'd be hanging out in all the wrong places" Her own dress was a dark coffee colored silk high neck halter style dress that cut off about mid thigh. It was Ming's dress, who insisted that her daughter wear it out tonight. Like Max her hair was up, but in a high ponytail with the tail part curled in soft loose curls.
"Any kind of hanging out is fine by me" Ty said
Cree turned to him "Honestly boy, you need to put YOURSELF out tonight."
"You'd be the woman to do it" he wagged his eyebrows at her
The waiter chose that moment to come to their table "Are we ready to order?"
"Yeah I think so" Ty opened his menu "What do you have in the way of a chicken breast?"
This time Cree kicked him from under the table
"Ow-I meant thigh, leg--steak, how's you're steak tonight?"
The waiter shot him a strange look "Tonight's special is a three oz Porter House with a Wortishire and sautéed mushroom sauce and it comes with a side of asparagus and slivered almonds.
"That's fine" Ty agreed.
"And would the gentlemen care to select the wine for the evening?"
"No actually THAT gentleman would" Ty gestured over to Logan.
The waiter turned to him "And what is your desire Sir?"
"A 1998 bottle of Rochelle Chablis" Logan responded
"Excellent Sir" The waiter responded. After taking the rest of the orders he disappeared
"Say you handled that really well smooth talker" Max got in on Ty's ribbing
"I try Max, I try"
*****
SECTOR TEN
Jondy stood in front of a door of an old run down building. All her sources told her that this was the right place. She could just pick the lock, but something tonight made her want to knock.
"Hang on a sec" a voice inside announced. The door opened a second later to reveal an African-American woman standing there in bare feet. "Something I can help you with sugah?" she was also checking Jondy out. All of the X5's were created to be attractive. Helped in missions if there was a diversion
"You got a roommate?" Jondy hoped her sources weren't screwed up
"She's out on a date right now boo" Cindy still eyed her critically, she didn't just trust women just cause they were hot.
Jondy took out the image she had scanned and unfolded it in front of Cindy's face "Does she look like this?"
Cindy looked at the drawing "Yeah girl" she backed away, letting Jondy inside the apartment. She had a feeling she could trust her.
Jondy looked around the small apartment.
"Over here" Cindy pointed to a picture of Max and her she had stuck to her fridge
Jondy leaned in closer to the image, absorbing the way Max looked like all grown up. The drawing didn't do it justice. She pulled back "Is she-Is she happy?"
"Yeah pretty much girl" Cindy didn't get this woman, but she looked very sad, and moody at the same time. Something about her reminded her of Max.
"When will she be back?"
"Hard to say girl" Cindy informed "Sometimes she gets in real late"
Jondy turned around then
"Where ya goin'?"
"I have to go" she started heading towards the door, but then stopped and turned back around "Can I come by tomorrow?"
"We'll be at work" Cindy said "But you can drop by. It's at Sector 7. Place called "Jam Pony Express"
"Who should I say came by?"
Jondy opened the front door "Tell her it's Jondy"
"Just Jondy?"
"She'll know who it is, trust me" Jondy left out the door, leaving Cindy still standing in her kitchen wondering who she really was.
*****
"Hello?" Logan answered his cell phone after it rang
"Hey boy it's me. Is my girl around?"
"Yeah" Logan responded "Max" he handed her the phone "it's Cindy"
"Hey boo"
"Hey what's up?"
"You had a visitor tonight"
"What do you mean visitor?" Max stood up from the table so she wouldn't be rude. She stood behind Logan.
"Some chick came to see you tonight. Real fine sistah. Seemed real anxious to find ya"
"A chick?" Max picked up her wine glass and raised it to her lips
"Mmm hmm"
"She say what she wanted?"
"Claims she just wanted to see you. Said her name was Jondy"
The glass shattered in Max's hand a second later as she crushed it, forgetting to hold back her super strength because she was startled. The room got very bright, and she grouped at the table.
"Max-" Logan stood up "What's wrong?"
"Sit down girl" Cree informed, "You look a little pale"
Logan pushed her into her seat.
Max didn't pay any attention to them, still clutching the phone "Is she still there?"
"She said she would come back tomorrow. Told her where we work. Girl what is going on? And what happened? I heard something break. You okay?"
"Fine" Max reassured "I gotta go. See ya at home?"
"Aiight Sugah" Cindy agreed, kinda hesitantly cause she still didn't know what that sound was or what really happened
Max hung up
"What is it?" Logan was kneeling next to her "Max?" he touched her hair when she didn't answer
Max glanced at the others around the table "Scuse me" she stood up and headed towards the front door.
"Will she be okay?" Ty asked
Logan didn't answer, but got up to follow Max
Ty and Cree shared a look with each other
*****
= =
I've been searching for you
I heard a cry within my soul
I've never had a yearning quite like this before
Know that you are walking right through my door
= =
"Max!" Logan caught up with her outside near front doors, beside a potted plant "Wanna tell me what's going on?"
She stopped walking and turned around to face him "It's Jondy"
"Your sister Jondy?" Logan asked
She didn't nod, just went on "Cindy said she came to see me tonight. And left after she found out I wasn't there." She caught Logan looking at her "But Cindy said she's coming back tomorrow" a pause "but I still can't just believe it. I mean I haven't seen her since she pulled me out of the ice. She was only nine years old. A nine-year-old little girl, and now she's all grown up and she came to find me but I wasn't there. I wasn't there after she came all that way-"
"Max" Logan interrupted her rambling.
The looked at each other for the longest second before he stepped forward and hugged her.
She allowed him to hold her, not saying anything this time.
= =
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
= =
*****
Jondy stopped her motorcycle by an alleyway. She dismounted and leaned next to it. A rat hissed at her before scurrying away into the night.
Jondy crouched by her bike and picked up a pebble. She hurled it into the night before wiping at her face and trying to blink back the other tears
= =
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
= =
*****
Songs used are:
Ming fighting with Jin-Mei- "Harder to Breathe" (Maroon 5)
Ming talking to Jin-Mei in Chinatown- "Faint" (Linkin Park)
Max and Logan meeting at Logan's apartment- "Candy" (John Mercer)
Jondy and Max's scenes at the end- "Again" (Lenny Kravitz)
R/R please
A/N: the phrase is normally "upside down" But in the case of some lives things aren't up even a bit, and everything they do seems to make them an outsider.
A/N: #2 this chapter begins with an original poem by me
==================
I am less then human
And you beat me down as so
I am less then human
Something you forced me everyday to know
You molested my mind and my body
Sold me off like fresh meat
You let them use and abuse me
I was just a fuck with a heartbeat
You kept me chained to my bed
To keep me from trying to escape
You made me keep my eyes open
And witness every part of my rape
I was raped again and again
By men who had cash money
Sometimes fifty men in a day
And they all wanted to eat my honey
I am less then human
That is why I am in chains
I am less then human, like the others
Why we're all numbers, not names
The other girls and I
We are there only for you
Slabs of meat for your clientele
Selling unlimited screws
We don't moan here, we scream
And cry when each time's done
Our chains rattle after we "service" a man
And do another immediately after that one
I am less then human
But I figured something out while I was being used
Everything you told me was a lie
And now I'm pissed for being abused
You used me like an object
I was nothing but your whore
I was beaten into submission
So you could charge access to my candy store
But I broke out of my shackles
And there's nothing you can do
So the next time you wanna watch someone get fucked
Go give yourself a screw
Being "less then human" has hardened me forever
It has made me who I am
And turned my skin to leather
But I am still a woman
And I didn't ask to be this hard
I don't want to be abused
I don't want to have these scars
I want my life back
I want to feel alive
I'm tired of feeling used
And almost dead inside
I can't forget what you did to me
The memories will always be raw
I won't ever forget what happened
Won't ever forget the shit I saw
I will never be the same
But I will carry on
If you thought you could break me you bastard
You were dead wrong
I'm damaged goods now
As far as forever goes
I'm a different woman now
And I'm not the only one who knows
But here's something you didn't know
Why you'll soon find out you're loosin'
I'm a survivor, I'll make it
Because I'm NOT less them human
================
* * * *
FOGGLE TOWERS
"Cree?" Cindy was the one who opened the door and was shocked at who she found. A smile graced her lips soon after though "Girl why didn't you tell us you were comin' out as well?" Cindy enveloped her in a big hug.
"It was sorta last minute travel plans" Cree confessed, falling into Cindy's hug
"Not a prob sugah" Cindy pulled back "You always welcome here"
Cree adapted a smile of her own. "Hey Logan" she looked over at the man standing a few feet behind Cindy. She stepped over to him and offered him a hug.
He accepted it "You look really great"
Cree shrugged "California Sun. Once I hit it again I bronzed out" Her statement was very true. She had been pale when they first met, from the fact that she had spent most of her time for three years in a dimly lit room or in the dark. Now though, she was tanned a golden brown and she looked--healthier. She had put on some weight to cover her bones. Her hair was shorter, but not by much, it still went below her collarbone. Even her eyes, though they still had some darkness in them, looked brighter. Being back home had been good for her. "You look really great too Logan" she smiled "And I bet I know why" she shot a look at Max, still smiling before turning to her mom "You guys remember my mom, Ming-" she started introducing her mom to her friends again "Mom remember that's Cindy and Logan, Max's boyfriend"
Max didn't even deny it this time. Why should she? She was happier then she had been in a long time. Why lie about it?
Ming smiled at all of them warmly enough, but then looked to Logan, a look of business in her eyes "Where is she?"
*****
"Hello" Ming was inside Logan's guest bedroom where Jin-Mei was sitting tentively on the queen size bed.
Jin-Mei didn't even look up, just sat there, looking at her dress which she had been doing ever since she had been in there.
"My name's Ming Amston" Ming stated in Chinese, speaking softly so that the other woman wouldn't see her as a threat "I'm here to help you-"
Jin-Mei snapped her head up then, a quiet passion in her eyes "Are you a cop?"
"Yes" Ming didn't lie
Jin-Mei jumped off the bed then "Then I don't have anything else to say to you"
"Sit back down!" Ming ordered blocking the other woman's way
= =
How dare you say that my behavior is unacceptable.
So condescending unnecessarily critical
I have the tendency of getting very physical
So watch your step cause if I do you'll need a miracle
= =
"You need to check yourself woman." Ming's voice was still low but it was growling. "I'm not even from here so like I can arrest you." I've seen enough shit to know that life isn't going to just step up and hand you help to your problems, you have to take them as they come."
= =
You drain me dry and make me wonder why I'm even here
This Double Vision I was seeing is finally clear
You want to stay but you know very well I want you gone
Not fit to fuckin' tread the ground I'm walking on
= =
Jin-Mei still glowered at her. "You have NO idea what kinda problems I have lady!"
"I think I do" Ming growled
Jin-Mei got angrier "Have you ever had to watch someone you LOVE get taken away from you?
"Yes I have"
"Ever had a man beat you?"
"Yes" Ming answered her rapid fire
Jin-Mei went silent then.
"Ask me more" Ming growled "Go on girl, get all your shit out and rub it in my face cause I've been down all those roads and I KNOW the kind of pain they can bring. Now I'm offering you a way out. But nothing's ever gonna get started until you start trusting someone again. Mainly me cause I'm not in the mood to find out I flew three hours for absolutely nothing."
= =
When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
= =
*****
CHINATOWN
SEATTLE
"Wei?" (Hello?) the housing manager addressed Ming when she came inside the door to his office. "Can I help you?"
Ming stood directly in front of his desk, leaning her elbows on its surface "I'd like a set up for my friend in your housing area"
The housing manager looked over his shoulder at Jin-Mei who shrunk back, as if trying to be apart of the walls. "Does she have any kids?"
"Does she have any with her?" Ming snapped, matching his question with a snap back. "How much?"
"Eighty a week" he told her "Utilities included." He reached under his desk and pulled out a stack of papers "Does she speak English?"
"She just got here," Ming informed
"Still should know how to speak English"
"I'll translate for her" Ming stared him down with a fierce gaze snatching the group of about ten papers of the wooden desk surface.
She found some seats in the back and motioned for Jin-Mei to follow her. "You need to fill out this paper work" she handed the younger woman a pen.
"I guess you think I can write" Jin-Mei snatched the pen from her.
Ming didn't say anything, just patiently waited while Jin-Mei filled out the form.
*****
SEATTLE
LADDER 12
"Scuse me" Max caught the attention of one of the passing fireman.
The fireman stopped to look at the woman who had called him, REALLY looking at her once he realized what she looked like. "Can I help you ma'am?" he still addressed her politely, despite what he was thinking in his mind.
"Ty Aris workin' today?"
"Aris?" the man repeated "Yeah he's in the quarters watchin' TV. Who am I gonna say it is?"
Max shook her head "Not for me, got someone who wants to see him" she looked back to Cree who was standing behind her.
= = = =
"Cree?" Ty did a double take when he saw who was standing by the kitchen in the firehouse. He stood up from the sofa "Hey" he stepped over to her "What are you doin' here?"
"Great seeing you too Ty" Cree returned
"Sorry" Ty apologized; he smiled a second later and cupped her face for a long kiss. After he pulled back he looked at her "Is that better?"
"Much" she smiled, giving him a hug. She HAD missed him. Phone calls didn't cut it.
Ty looked over his shoulder "Think we're making Max feel left out"
"I'm fine with how things are going" Max reassured with a smile of her own.
Cree and Ty pulled back after a moment "So how long you gonna be in the city?"
"Dunno" Cree informed "A week at least"
You could almost hear Ty's eyes lighting up beneath the rugged fireman exterior. "Sounds good to me. How about I take you out to dinner tonight to celebrate your being in town? Cloth napkins, candlelight, the works"
"Thought firemen weren't made of money" Cree asked
"I have a little nest egg set aside for swooning a girlfriend" he reassured. He then looked over to Max "How bout we make it a double?"
"Won't that ruin your swooning mood?"
"I can swoon in any situation Max, believe me" Ty informed
Max managed a smile again "Then I accept"
*****
BANGKOK
CHINA
Mei-Mei came awake again, not to noise, but to a small bit of sunlight peaking out from the single square window recessed in the wooden boards that made up the walls of the shanty. She was still on the floor, but Jon, the strange man had thrown a faded blue blanket over her in the night. She pushed it off her body and stood up. Her back and limbs were sore and kinky from sleeping on the hard linoleum of the shanty floor. She stretched her arms over her head and saw a milk white button up sweater and a pair of old jeans laying across the cot. She fingered the fabric.
"They were my sister's"
The voice startled her and she stopped what she was doing. Jon stood in the doorway in the same clothes he had on last night, another cigarette in his mouth. "They won't do any good for her now"
Mei-Mei looked at the clothes, and turned her face up to Jon "I can't take these"
"If you don't want to look like street trash you'll take them."
Mei-Mei was still filthy and in the same dress she had worn for days. Blood and dirt and sweat was caked on her body and her looked like a mess of dead leaves, it even had dead leaves in it.
"There's a hose out back" Jon went on "This shanty town isn't hooked up for indoor plumbing. But I moved some boards in front for privacy and there's one underneath so you're off the dirt. There's a bar of soap there too" he puffed his cigarette again before snubbing it out with his finger and pitching it in the dirt outside. He walked inside his hut and grabbed another blanket off his cot "Use this to dry yourself" he was now assuming that she was gonna accept his offer. He turned and walked away then, to either give her privacy, or abandon her, she didn't know.
Mei-Mei finally decided that she WAS very dirty and there might not be another opportunity to wash herself. She gathered the items he told her about and headed outside. Jon was nowhere to be found, but she heard him lighting another cigarette so he was still somewhere nearby.
Three boards were lined up against the outside wall of the shanty with one resting on it's side to allow the person access into the enclosure. She draped the clothes he had given her over one of the boards to keep them from getting wet. Jon hadn't given her any fresh underwear so after she stripped she gathered the bra and panties to wash them before she bathed herself.
It was hard to bathe with just soap and a single hose that had only a thin trick of cold water, running out of it, but she managed to get all of dirt off her body. She squeezed the water out of her lingerie before putting them back on wet. She then dried herself and slipped on the clean clothes, leaving her worn dress in a heap in a receding puddle of water at the bottom of the board. The sweater was kind of small, but fit well enough once she undid the top two buttons. The jeans fit fine, she and Jon's sister wore the same size. She picked up her wet dress and removed the loose board so she could get out. She tore the dress into pieces and used one bit to put up her hair in a ponytail.
Jon had come back around the side of the house "There's a noodle house four blocks away. I usually by food there before I go to work. C'mon" he finished his last smoke and threw it away "I'll buy. You need to eat"
Mei-Mei slipped on her old high heal shoes and followed him
*****
SEATTLE
CHINATOWN
"You should be fine here" Ming looked around the room that Jin-Mei had finally been assigned to after that mountain of paperwork. She walked around and saw a single closet bathroom with an old bear claw tub, but hot water came out of the spout when she turned it on. "Things seem to work"
Jin-Mei looked at the double size bed with the tacky floral print duvet cover on it. Besides that there was a small kitchen with a mini fridge, a dresser, a TV, a folding chair and a night stand.
"It's not exactly the Ritz Carlton" Ming said "But it's safer then on the streets" she haded Jin-Mei the key to the 'apartment' along with a wireless phone "My number is speed dial one. Seattle PD is speed dial two." Jin-Mei took the phone "Don't use public phones" she also took out a manilla envelope and haded it to her "Keep this in a safe place"
Inside the envelope was one thousand dollars all in hundreds that Logan had supplied her with along with a phony ID, Social Security Number, Driver's Liscense, Sector Pass. "You're name is Michelle Kong" Ming told her the phony names on the ID's. "The money is for food, clothes. I've paid for two months to live here so don't worry about the rent." A long pause "Be careful when you go out at night"
She started walking away
"Thank you" Mei-Mei's voice made Ming turn back around
"You're welcome"
= =
I am a little bit insecure a little unconfident
Cause you don't understand I do what I can but sometimes I don't make sense
I am what you never wanna say but I've never had a doubt
It's like no matter what I do I can't convince you for once just to hear me out
So I let go watching you turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here 'cause you're all that I've got
(I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)
= =
*****
SEATTLE
5:50
"You tellin' me that of all the times you've been movin' it with ya boy you STILL don't have anything to wear?" Cindy was watching Max rifle through her meager clothing selection in her bathrobe with her wet hair tied up.
"We've never gone out to dinner before" Max argued, "He usually just cooks something there" Max was starting to get frustrated at her selection of tank tops sweaters and jeans. NOTHING was worthy enough of being worn out to a half decent resteraunt. Deck would die ashamed if he could see her now acting all girly, but Deck could go suck eggs. "I don't wanna look like a bike messenger tonight"
"Sugah you never looked like a normal bike messenger" Cindy informed stepping over to Max "Sure your boy will love anything you're wearin'"
"I don't need his pity" Max returned
Cindy let that slide. She spied something in the back of the closet and pulled it out. It was the deep red halter dress that Max had lifted off that woman when she met Anselmo for the first time. "This is hot" Cindy looked harder at the dress "Girl I didn't even know you owned this"
"Think it's too hoocy" Max analyzed
Cindy cocked an eyebrow at her "Who told you that?" she didn't wait for an answer "It's good girl. Just let OC do your hair up nice and wear something dangling to cover where the scarlet don't cover your brown sugar and you'll be set"
Max looked at her "Really?"
"Girl-" Cindy was still in awe at the way Max talked about herself "you're one of the finest momma's I've ever seen and ya still act like you need to wear a potato sack to hide ya self" a pause "Well not on Original Cindy's watch." She held up the dress to Max's body. "Tell ya this is gonna be sweet,like candy"
*****
FOGGLE TOWERS
Logan examined his choice of clothes for the evening. A black double-breasted pinstripe suit with a crisp white linen shirt and black silk tie. He was going to wear his blue one with the red tie, but decided that this one suited him better, and also made him look more like a man, not a little boy being dragged out to dinner by his parents in his Sunday suit. /All I need now is a gangster hat and a saxophone/
"Logan?" Max's voice echoed through the living room. She had obviously picked the lock and came inside.
"In here baby" he called back /Baby? Where did that come from?/ Before he could correct himself out loud he heard her footsteps approach.
He turned to face her and was take aback by her appearance
= =
Candy, I call my sugar Candy
Because I'm sweet on Candy
And Candy's sweet on me
= =
Max stood in front of him in the dress she had worn only once. The fire engine red hue was muted slightly by the light black designs speckled on it. Her hair was pulled in a lose sweep with a few pieces of hair falling around framing her face, making it look a little messier, but also defiantly sexier. Cindy's shoes were on her feet. A one inch black suede heal that wrapped around once near her ankle in a criss cross and buckled in back. To complete the look Cindy had leant her a dark burgundy colored tear drop shaped stone attached to a silver chain that sat just an inch and a half shy from the valley created by her breasts. Besides that her makeup was almost the same, except for the darker wine colored lipstick.
"Aren't you gonna say anything?" Max broke the silence "Or did I get all pretty just for something to do?"
Logan managed a light laugh then, in between trying to breathe normally. /My god that DRESS. I didn't even know she HAD that dress/ "You look incredible"
A smile came to Max's face then "Thanks"
==
He understands me
My understanding Candy
And Candy's always handy
When I need sympathy
= =
"You look really-" Max continued after a minute "Smooth" that was the only word she could think of to describe the way he looked in his suit. Kinda a combination between a street dangerous thug, and a wine and dine lover.A hot combination in her books.
= =
I wish that there were four of him
So I could love much more of him
He has taken my complete heart
Got a sweet tooth for my sweetheart
= =
Logan smiled then to "I guess we should get going then"
"Kay," Max agreed and turned to leave the bedroom, Logan following her.
Max's leather jacket was sitting on the back of his couch. She grabbed it and started to put it on but felt him stop her.
"May I?"
She turned to him "Well maybe just this once" she allowed him to help her on with her jacket.
After he finished he held his arm out, gesturing towards the door "Shall we?"
She offered him a smile "Love to" she walked out with him close behind
= =
Candy, it's gonna be just dandy
The day I take my Candy
And make him mine, all mine
= =
*****
SEATTLE
SECTOR ONE
The sector cop held out his hand, gesturing for the motorcycle to slow down. "Can I see your pass buddy?"
Jondy removed her helmet and let her wavy brunette hair drop down. "I'm new officer. I don't have one" she let a coo in her voice come out and pratically batted her eyes at him.
"You can't come in the city without a pass miss" the cop informed
"Please?" Jondy faked begged "What am I gonna do? You think a lil ol' thing like me's gonna hurt anyone?"
The cop looked like he was about to waiver, on the same route Cree had used to get into Seattle the first time too.
Another cop came out of the booth and whispered something to the guy at the barricade. The cop looked out to the night, then back at Jondy "Miss are you aware that there's someone behind you?"
Jondy turned around then and looked. After a minute she saw it, another bike a few yards behind her.
"Dismount from the bike ma'am"
"C'mon" Jondy argued "I don't even know that person. I couldn't do anything even if I DID know who it was"
"It's a precaution I have to take, even if I know you can't hurt anyone. Now step down from the bike please ma'am"
Jondy sighed, but dismounted.
"Over here please" the cop pointed to a spot on the road
Jondy complied and now stood a few inches away from the cop "Nice to know that you still believe my story."
The cop nodded "Sorry ma'am, but I have to do my job"
"It's fine" Jondy argued, then looked the cop square in the face "Too bad I'm a liar" she jumped up and kicked him in the balls. He fell, gasping.
The other cop came out with a Sig Sauer, aiming at Jondy "Freeze! I won't shoot, you're unarmed, but hands up!"
Jondy raised her hands in the air "Okay relax" she stepped over to the man
"Stay right where you are ma'am!"
Jondy kicked the gun out of his hand and then kicked him in the stomach, dropping him to the ground. Once he was down. she knelt over him "Whose says I'm unarmed?" she punched him in the face and knocked him out. She flexed her bicep around "These look like arms to me" she climbed off him and stared at the two sector cops "Nighty night boys" She climbed back on her bike and slid under the barricade.
She drove into the city a few more yards before stopping at a bunch of trash on the side of the road. She dismounted and turned around seeing the "bike" the cops were talking about stop a few feet behind her.
She approached the rider "What the hell do you think you're doing following me?" Jondy got up in Zack's face. He was the mysterious biker who had been behind her.
"You shouldn't have come here Jondy" Zack argued
"Yeah well you shouldn't have tried to fuck me back in San Francisco but it's a little too late for "shouldn't haves" Zack"
"I can't let you risk more lives by giving into phony sentiment"
"She's my sister Zack!" Jondy spat "Yours too in case you forgot. What ever happened to not abandoning you unit?"
"A lot of things have changed Jondy. This isn't Manticore anymore. This is the real world"
"You haven't changed, cept for a bigger head to store all that bull crap in"
Zack grabbed her by the shoulder then, whirling her around to lock his arm around her neck "I can't let you do this"
"Nobody tells me what I can't do but me" she pulled out of his grip by back flipping over his head and throwing him to the ground flat on his back "Welcome to the real world Zack" she left him there and mounted her bike again.
"You're only bringing the crap on yourself!" Zack called out to her
Jondy started her engine and flipped him off before driving away.
*****
GOLDEN POND
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
"Place is nice Ty" Max commented to the other man seated across from her at the round table.
"Guess he's good for something" Cree made a joke of it, sipping from the water in front of her. "Ah!" she looked over at Ty "Did you just kick me?"
"Hey you asked for it" Ty joked back
Cree laughed, "Yeah well I guess I did" she set her wine glass down "Wow Max, that dress is, awesome. Only you could get away with it"
"You could too" Max argued
"No way" Cree complained, "I'd be hanging out in all the wrong places" Her own dress was a dark coffee colored silk high neck halter style dress that cut off about mid thigh. It was Ming's dress, who insisted that her daughter wear it out tonight. Like Max her hair was up, but in a high ponytail with the tail part curled in soft loose curls.
"Any kind of hanging out is fine by me" Ty said
Cree turned to him "Honestly boy, you need to put YOURSELF out tonight."
"You'd be the woman to do it" he wagged his eyebrows at her
The waiter chose that moment to come to their table "Are we ready to order?"
"Yeah I think so" Ty opened his menu "What do you have in the way of a chicken breast?"
This time Cree kicked him from under the table
"Ow-I meant thigh, leg--steak, how's you're steak tonight?"
The waiter shot him a strange look "Tonight's special is a three oz Porter House with a Wortishire and sautéed mushroom sauce and it comes with a side of asparagus and slivered almonds.
"That's fine" Ty agreed.
"And would the gentlemen care to select the wine for the evening?"
"No actually THAT gentleman would" Ty gestured over to Logan.
The waiter turned to him "And what is your desire Sir?"
"A 1998 bottle of Rochelle Chablis" Logan responded
"Excellent Sir" The waiter responded. After taking the rest of the orders he disappeared
"Say you handled that really well smooth talker" Max got in on Ty's ribbing
"I try Max, I try"
*****
SECTOR TEN
Jondy stood in front of a door of an old run down building. All her sources told her that this was the right place. She could just pick the lock, but something tonight made her want to knock.
"Hang on a sec" a voice inside announced. The door opened a second later to reveal an African-American woman standing there in bare feet. "Something I can help you with sugah?" she was also checking Jondy out. All of the X5's were created to be attractive. Helped in missions if there was a diversion
"You got a roommate?" Jondy hoped her sources weren't screwed up
"She's out on a date right now boo" Cindy still eyed her critically, she didn't just trust women just cause they were hot.
Jondy took out the image she had scanned and unfolded it in front of Cindy's face "Does she look like this?"
Cindy looked at the drawing "Yeah girl" she backed away, letting Jondy inside the apartment. She had a feeling she could trust her.
Jondy looked around the small apartment.
"Over here" Cindy pointed to a picture of Max and her she had stuck to her fridge
Jondy leaned in closer to the image, absorbing the way Max looked like all grown up. The drawing didn't do it justice. She pulled back "Is she-Is she happy?"
"Yeah pretty much girl" Cindy didn't get this woman, but she looked very sad, and moody at the same time. Something about her reminded her of Max.
"When will she be back?"
"Hard to say girl" Cindy informed "Sometimes she gets in real late"
Jondy turned around then
"Where ya goin'?"
"I have to go" she started heading towards the door, but then stopped and turned back around "Can I come by tomorrow?"
"We'll be at work" Cindy said "But you can drop by. It's at Sector 7. Place called "Jam Pony Express"
"Who should I say came by?"
Jondy opened the front door "Tell her it's Jondy"
"Just Jondy?"
"She'll know who it is, trust me" Jondy left out the door, leaving Cindy still standing in her kitchen wondering who she really was.
*****
"Hello?" Logan answered his cell phone after it rang
"Hey boy it's me. Is my girl around?"
"Yeah" Logan responded "Max" he handed her the phone "it's Cindy"
"Hey boo"
"Hey what's up?"
"You had a visitor tonight"
"What do you mean visitor?" Max stood up from the table so she wouldn't be rude. She stood behind Logan.
"Some chick came to see you tonight. Real fine sistah. Seemed real anxious to find ya"
"A chick?" Max picked up her wine glass and raised it to her lips
"Mmm hmm"
"She say what she wanted?"
"Claims she just wanted to see you. Said her name was Jondy"
The glass shattered in Max's hand a second later as she crushed it, forgetting to hold back her super strength because she was startled. The room got very bright, and she grouped at the table.
"Max-" Logan stood up "What's wrong?"
"Sit down girl" Cree informed, "You look a little pale"
Logan pushed her into her seat.
Max didn't pay any attention to them, still clutching the phone "Is she still there?"
"She said she would come back tomorrow. Told her where we work. Girl what is going on? And what happened? I heard something break. You okay?"
"Fine" Max reassured "I gotta go. See ya at home?"
"Aiight Sugah" Cindy agreed, kinda hesitantly cause she still didn't know what that sound was or what really happened
Max hung up
"What is it?" Logan was kneeling next to her "Max?" he touched her hair when she didn't answer
Max glanced at the others around the table "Scuse me" she stood up and headed towards the front door.
"Will she be okay?" Ty asked
Logan didn't answer, but got up to follow Max
Ty and Cree shared a look with each other
*****
= =
I've been searching for you
I heard a cry within my soul
I've never had a yearning quite like this before
Know that you are walking right through my door
= =
"Max!" Logan caught up with her outside near front doors, beside a potted plant "Wanna tell me what's going on?"
She stopped walking and turned around to face him "It's Jondy"
"Your sister Jondy?" Logan asked
She didn't nod, just went on "Cindy said she came to see me tonight. And left after she found out I wasn't there." She caught Logan looking at her "But Cindy said she's coming back tomorrow" a pause "but I still can't just believe it. I mean I haven't seen her since she pulled me out of the ice. She was only nine years old. A nine-year-old little girl, and now she's all grown up and she came to find me but I wasn't there. I wasn't there after she came all that way-"
"Max" Logan interrupted her rambling.
The looked at each other for the longest second before he stepped forward and hugged her.
She allowed him to hold her, not saying anything this time.
= =
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
= =
*****
Jondy stopped her motorcycle by an alleyway. She dismounted and leaned next to it. A rat hissed at her before scurrying away into the night.
Jondy crouched by her bike and picked up a pebble. She hurled it into the night before wiping at her face and trying to blink back the other tears
= =
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
= =
*****
Songs used are:
Ming fighting with Jin-Mei- "Harder to Breathe" (Maroon 5)
Ming talking to Jin-Mei in Chinatown- "Faint" (Linkin Park)
Max and Logan meeting at Logan's apartment- "Candy" (John Mercer)
Jondy and Max's scenes at the end- "Again" (Lenny Kravitz)
R/R please