Fearless people,
Careless needle.
Harsh words spoken,
And lives are broken.
Forceful ageing,
Help me I'm fading.
Heaven's waiting,
It's time to move on.

Time passed and the two seemed inseparable. Word passed around the school that the two were dating, but it was only a rumor. Rick had even begun to develop a new style of fashion, because of the constant trips to the mall with Jane, but he did manage to keep it all black. Nothing kept the two apart, and with his time spent with Jane, Rick began to change. His once cold and dark demeanor was beginning to deteriorate. The dark obsession he once had was put on hold and new emotions were beginning to rise to the surface.

Everything Rick had once kept to himself, surrounding his involvement with the Westside Kings had been revealed to Jane. Yet, this was one thing that he could not erase from his life. The Kings were the only thing he had close to a family.

Crossing that bridge,
With lessons I've learned.
Playing with fire,
And not getting burned.
I may not know what you're going through.
But time is the space,
Between me and you.
Life carries on... it goes on.

"I'm sorry but I can't leave the Kings….I just can't."

"Rick it's ok, I understand, but…why are they so important to you?" Jane grabbed Rick's hand and gave it a loving squeeze. The night was growing nearer, as they both sat on a park bench over looking a small pond. The water had become dark and murky, the trees surrounding were dying and showed nothing but bare branches, the bushes showed terrible signs of care. Yet there was a certain peacefulness to the area. Amidst the skyscrapers, busy city traffic, and the noise of everyday life this un-kept park gave a warming touch.

"They're my family…" Rick squeezed his fist as his eyes seemed to fixate on his shoes.

"Rick, you don't have to say anymore."

"Nah, it's ok, I wanna." He looked up and give her a shy wink. "It's kinda weird ya know, about eight years ago…I just found myself on the streets here. It was raining and all I could remember was feeling cold. Cars swerved around me and I thought that I was in hell or something. I have no memory recollection of anything before that day…anyways! I found myself wandering through alleyways in order to find a place to sleep, I tried sneaking in the back of a bar but I got caught. The next thing I know there's this Organ stealer breathing down my neck murmuring something about taking my eyes. I panicked! Here I was ten years old in a city I knew nothing about with this creep whose gonna cut my eyes out. When…she showed up…" A big grin grew over Rick's face as he picked up a rock by his side and skipped it across the pond.

"Who's she Rick?"

"…she saved me…she picked the man up and snapped his neck, and then she bent down to me…and was gonna…suck my blood."

"She's a vampire!"

"Hold on a sec. She spared me. She saw how desperate I was for a place to live, how desperate I was to find anyone to love me…and she took pity on me. S-She brought me to the King's hideout and from then on I was one of them…Default, the gang leader, became like a father to me. He wanted me to get an education, something he didn't have so he kinda forces me to go to school. They're all I have."

"What about that woman? The person who saved you." Jane grabbed a rock herself and attempted to skip it across the pond but with limited success.

"Her? She's been like a mother to me. She's always been there to help me…she loves me." Rick looked deep into Jane's eyes and he still felt the same bewilderment he did the first time he saw her. "You'll get to meet her someday, don't worry." Rick outstretched an arm and wrapped it around Jane as they watched the sun finally set between the monolithic towers.

Just say die,
And that would be pessimistic.
In your mind,
We can walk across the water.
Please don't cry,
It's just a prayer for the dying.
I just don't know what's got into me.

A few days later Rick decided he finally had to tell Jane the rest. The evening was drawing late, as the sun was about to set. The air was cool and brisk, as Rick and Jane walked across the roof of a tall skyscraper. Nothing had been said to her, except that he had something very important to show her. As the two neared the edge, Rick turned and looked back at Jane. Her green eyes were wide with excitement, her mind running over all the possibilities of what Rick had to show her. "Well, this is where I wanted to take you…" With a slight grin Rick stepped up on the ledge of the roof.

"Rick, come down you're going to kill yourself."

"Jane. What I am about to show you….must be kept a secret. You can't tell anyone, ok?"

"Yes. What is it?" Jane stepped forward extending her hand to help Rick off the edge. When he stepped off. Without thinking Jane ran to the ledge to see Rick fall, her mind about to break, unable to bear what Rick just did, and as she peered over the ledge she looked down into the blue eyes of Rick as stood in mid air. "R-Rick!"

"Hey, don't worry, I'm fine." Extending his arms Rick floated up eye level with her, as he extended his hand, "Come here." his voice was gentle, the low cold feeling of his voice had vanished as warmth flooded to his eyes.

"b-but.." nervousness washed over Jane as her mind tried to compound how Rick managed to stand in the air. Extending her shaking hand, she grabbed hold of Rick and stood on the ledge, "I'm scared."

"I would never let anything happen to you Jane, ever." the strength of his words set reassurance through her body as she mustered the courage to stand off the ledge, and floated right beside Rick.

"H-How is this possible Rick?"

"I'm special, that's all I can tell you Jane." clutching her hand, they floated out farther as Rick took her around the city. The two of them floated, no words exchanged, for what seemed forever. The sights of the city were breathtaking, the light gleaming against the glass of the behemoth towers, when they suddenly reached a clearing. Below them, the ocean stretched out for eternity, as they watched the sun set. Snuggling up close to Rick, Jane breathed in deeply, never feeling happier in her life than she did now.

This is it. This is the feeling I have had. I love her. Yes. You do. Aren't you glad I showed you this path? Yes. Mustering all the courage inside of him, Rick turned to Jane as their eyes locked. "Jane. Ever since I met you my life was forever changed. I was covered in darkness until you came along…W-who would have thought that you coming up to me that day of school would have led to this? I have never felt happier in my life than when I'm with you, which is why I showed you what I did today. Jane…every part of me is screaming inside to reach out to you, to grab hold of you and never let go," leaning in to her ear to whisper, " and I'm never going to. I know this is all kind of weird but….I love you." Looking deep into his deep azure eyes, she never felt so happy and safe in her life. Her face burned with happiness as her eyes lit up, she couldn't contain herself anymore.

"I love you too Rick!" she wrapped her arms around his neck as he leaned in and kissed her passionately on the lips. Everything seemed to blur together, as she closed her eyes, lost in his warm lips. Nothing could ruin this moment….or so they would have liked.

"Oh, how touching." The cold words ripped through them, as Rick turned to see two people floating, a man and a woman, as he did. The two stood similarly dressed, he wore a dark black suit, white shirt and black tie. She wore black skirt and a tight fitting jacket and tie. "I'm afraid we may have upset them," our newly found antagonist grinned staring down Rick, his blonde hair looked as if it was a blaze in the setting sun as did his companion's. Their ice blue eyes shot daggers at the two of them.

Jane clung to Rick, as thoughts raced through her head: There are more people like Rick? What the hell is going on?!?. Rick gave Jane a reassuring squeeze as he whispered, "I said I would always protect you." Rick's gaze shot back to the two strangers before him, I know them from somewhere, but where? Your final test is about to begin. What-? "Who the hell are you guys? And what do you want?" Rick stood stern, he had fought and killed dozens of shadow runners many of which who were twice his size, he wasn't about to let two suits get the better of him.

"Oh look, it seems as if we may have upset him sister." The blonde haired antagonist gave a sly smirk and winked at our hero.

"Hmmm, it's strange I don't think he remembers at all who we are, don't you brother?"

"I'm going to ask you one more time, who are you?" Rick voice became hard and dour.

"Surely, you must remember your own brother and sister, Rick?" The blonde haired woman raised an eyebrow as she stared across.

"I don't have any siblings!"

"That's where you are wrong Rick, you do. Come now, that feeble brain must contain some memories of your dear brother Kyle?"

"And your sister Sophie?"

Rick could only stare with bewilderment, I have a brother and sister? Focus, and stand your guard. As he lowered his hand and reached behind his back, "I don't know who you guys think you really are, but I suggest you leave me alone and get lost before something bad happens," Rick's hand tightened on the pistol hidden in the back of his pants. "Jane…I love you."

"I love you too Rick."

"But you see Rick, we have left you alone for far too long, and father wants you back now." Kyle undid the button on his suit revealing a shoulder holstered pistol.

"I'm not going back to anyone."

"You will or we'll make you." As a sly grin grew across Sophie's face.

Within one swift motion Rick drew his pistol and fired four shots at our two unsuspecting siblings. No thoughts of pity or remorse passed through Rick's head about what he had just done; He had no family and he certainly wasn't about to be taken under his will with people he didn't know.

The bullets rocketed to the air and as they neared their targets they stopped! The bullets hung in mid air as both Sophie and Kyle raised their hands. "You are making a BIG mistake Rick!" Kyle shouted, but it didn't matter that had given Rick enough time to fly off.

Rick's mind became an absolute blur as the two of them, Rick and Jane, flew through the city at incredible speed. His vision had turned red as Rick weaved them in and out of buildings. Everything seemed to have been put on hold; the only thing running through his mind was to get Jane to a safe place. As he looked back he couldn't fathom anyone being able to keep up with him and he was right but that didn't slow him, not while possible danger still existed.

They rounded a building and he could see it. Ahead there was a small warehouse, home. Rick slowed as they reached the entrance, and Rick gently touched the ground. "We have to come inside quickly Jane."

"Where are we?" Jane managed to stutter out as Rick pulled her quickly through the doorway. Once inside they came face to face with two of the Westside Kings, Solo and Fox, both were heavily armed Minotaurs each carrying large machine guns giving Rick and our Femme fatale stern looks.

"Oh it's you Omen." Solo grunted as he closed the door.

"Are you alright?" Fox said with a little more concern in his voice.

"I'm fine guys, what's going on? You two seem pissed off or something." Rick said catching his breath as he made his way to the middle of the warehouse.

"Talk to Default, that's all I gotta say. Oh and you know he's gonna get pissed off about you bringing someone here." Solo said as he opened a panel near the door revealing a red and green button.

"I know, I'll take care of it don't worry. I'll be back up later to bring ya guys some beer, ok?"

"Sounds good." Fox said giving a sly grin before returning to his post. Solo pushed the green button and the ground beneath them began to shake.

"What's going on Rick?" Jane whispered clutching Rick's arm for support.

"I'm bringing ya to meet my family." The two felt themselves lower as a large circle on the ground began to descend, what lied before Jane she hadn't the faintest clue.

I'm crossing that bridge,
With lessons I've learned....
I'm playing with fire,
And not getting burned....
I may not know what you're going through.
But time is the space,
Between me and you.
There is a light through that window.
Hold on say yes, while people say no