Chapter 9: Sacrifice of Love
"This is it. You two remember what I told you and hopefully Kareem will believe us" Melissa commanded softly as she parked the van in front of the dock warehouse.
Her heart felt as though it was going to pound out of her chest with the fear that was welling up inside of her. It had been five years since the last time any of them had laid eyes on Kareem and she knew that no one wanted to see him. She wasn't sure what to expect but, her sense were on full alert for anything. She didn't trust Kareem twenty-five years ago and she wasn't going to start trusting him now. Especially since Alex's life was endanger.
"Yes, we remember" Melody stated as she stepped out of the van. She almost had to laugh when Tanaka stepped out of the van because; it lifted an extra six inches from the ground and rocked with his weight. She watched as her mother got out of the van and exhaled sharply.
"Here goes nothing" Melissa softly stated as she sensed Varick's presence nearby. She looked at the top of the building and saw his watery form along with Bashera's. She knew Mara and Carrie were waiting about a block away for a radio signal from Varick. Then they would come in with guns blasting and kicking ass all the way.
They watched as the door on the metal warehouse opened up. All three of them walked inside the dark room and the door closed behind them. Melody held onto her mother's hand for support along with Tanaka's. Melody felt the slight squeeze of his hand, reassuring her that everything was going to be fine. She wished that she could agree with him.
"Well, you three sure as hell took your sweet time on getting here. I expected you here exactly three minutes ago. Not a good way to treat someone who has your son" Kareem stated as one of his employees turned on the bright overhead lights, temporarily blinding their three guests.
"Well, you should know by now that New York has heavy traffic. Besides, I didn't think you would argue over three lousy minutes" Melissa forcefully stated as she released her daughter's hand and stepped forward. Her eyes had finally become adjusted to the bright light and were able to focus on Kareem, who was standing about ten feet away from them.
"I wouldn't be too hasty to be so testy. Alex's life still hangs in the balance. So, I suggest you try to be polite or I might just have his life ended" Kareem sarcastically stated as he took a step towards Melissa.
"Might I say, you look even more beautiful than I remember and twice as sexy" Kareem commented as he looked at Melissa, who was still dressed in her little black dress.
"I take it that you actually brought the interloper with you as well as Melody."
"Yes, he came willingly because he is a close friend of Alex's" Melissa stated calmly.
"I'm impressed" Kareem was not in the least amused as he watched the seething hatred in Melissa's blue eyes. He could still recall how her eyes grew wide whenever he had sex with her. He knew she hated it and that made him want her even more. He enjoyed it even more when she screamed and cried and begged for him to stop but, he never would. Even now, he desired her especially seeing her in that black dress that barely covered her assets.
"Melody, how much you've grown. You look very lovely" an older man's voice said as he stepped out of the shadows and into the light.
Melody's eyes grew wide because she recognized the sixty year old man who stepped out of the shadows. It was her fourth cousin, Mr. Duncan Cotter. Melody was trying to figure out why he was here when her father spoke up.
"As you're probably wondering why your cousin is here. He's the one who bought you and is going to marry you as soon as possible" Kareem stated.
"Are you crazy? He's old enough to be my grandfather!" Melody shouted as she balled up her tiny fists.
"So, I plan on becoming your wealthy benefactor. All I need from you is to give me a son and all my fortune goes to you" Duncan stated as he walked towards Melody. He watched as the large humanoid male kept a constant eye on him as he advanced towards Melody. It wasn't until he was within grabbing distance that the male that was with them pulled Melody back, keeping her as close as he could. The male even let out a loud growl, warning Duncan that he had best keep his distance from Melody unless he wanted to be dead.
"Like mother, like daughter. Both of which are harlots but, I think a little bit of experience for Melody is a good thing. At least there won't be all that crying during your wedding night" Kareem mentioned as he watched the Yautja warrior with a wary eye.
"Where's Alex? I want to see him" Melissa demanded as she closed the distance between Kareem and herself. She had enough of playing games and running circles with Kareem, it was time to get down to business.
"Guards, bring in the boy" Kareem ordered.
Melissa watched as a back door opened up and two men half drug Alex into the room. He had several gashes on his face; his shirt was ripped in many places where several of the guards had fun in whipping him, and multiple bruises on his fists, chest, face, and back.
"Alex" Melissa whispered as she looked at her son's battered body. She could see that he was having problems breathing, each breath he took was a struggle and his whole body quivered. She could see the neon green fluorescent blood flowing from several of his cuts and she knew Tanaka saw it.
"I'm okay, mom" his voice was harsh and raspy as he softly spoke. His arms were cuffed behind his back. He knew that if he could get out of this mess, he had every intention of making Kareem pay.
"Save your strength" Melissa whispered.
"I told you I would keep him alive. I just didn't say what kind of condition I would return him back in" Kareem stated.
"You bastard" Melissa growled at him with all the finesse of a hunter. She had it in her mind that she was going to kill Kareem one way or another for the mistreatment of her son. As she began to advance on Kareem, he halted her when he pulled her own gun and pointed it directly at her.
"I wouldn't advise it" Kareem smirked as he watched her stop dead in her tracks.
"I will kill you Kareem. I have every intention of it and that pathetic gun will not stop me from doing so" Melissa growled as she stared Kareem down.
"I don't think so" Kareem said as he pointed the gun towards Alex's head.
"You are such a weasel. Using an innocent to protect yourself and your over-inflated ego" Melissa calmly stated as her eyes darted between Alex and Kareem, trying to quickly come up with a plan. That was until she heard the infamous roar of Varick and the new one of Bashera. She could also hear Carrie and Mara trying their best to mimic them.
"What the hell is going on back there?" Kareem commanded as he spoke loudly into the radio, only to receive blood-curdling screams on the other end.
"Well now, it looks as though all your plans are washed up" Melissa said sarcastically as she looked at Kareem with a snide smile.
"I guess so" Kareem all too willingly agreed with Melissa as Bashera and Varick entered the room, followed by Carrie and Mara.
"I guess we made it here in the nick of time" Varick stated when he saw the gun pointed at Alex's head.
It was then that he noticed the color of Alex's blood. It was the same as a Yautja. He looked up at Melissa with a questioning glance and she nodded "yes". That's when Varick knew that Alex was his son. He watched as Alex struggled to stand up but, was so weak from all the blood he lost that he was unable to.
"Ah, Varick finally decides to arrive to see the demise of someone he knows. You see, I would kill you for taking Melissa but, that would be too obvious. I would kill Alex for being your son but, I already have so why bother doing it a second time. I should kill Melissa for her infidelity but, that's in the past. I should kill him for his interference last night. I should kill Melody for being like her mother but, waste of money. Now, let's see who gets the privilege of dying" Kareem thought long and hard about his decision.
Varick watched as Alex again made the attempt to get up and this time he was successful. He struggled with the handcuffs that were behind his back and finally pulled hard enough to break them.
"Hey Kareem!" Alex voiced as he charged for Kareem and struggled to get the gun out of his hand.
As they fought to gain control of the gun, it went off and shattered the silence. Everyone stopped and stared at each other to make sure that no one was hurt. Except for Melissa, who was laying in a pool of her own blood with her eyes closed and a massive hole in her chest.
Varick rushed over to Melissa and lifted her head up, whispering her name as he did. But, there was no response. He lifted her limp body up into his arms and started to walk out the back door.
"If she dies, you die with her. Come on, let's go back to the ship. We have a lot to discuss along with several of us who need medical attention" Varick ordered.
Bashera and Tanaka supported Alex's weight as they helped him limp out the door. They knew that his adrenaline rush just ended and his body was too weak to walk by himself. Carrie, Mara, and Melody followed behind them in a somber procession. It was at this moment that Alex halted.
"There's something I need to tell you guys" Alex softly spoke in the Yautja language.
"There will be time for sentiments later, you need medical attention for your wounds, brother" Tanaka stated as he looked at Alex's pained expression.
"No, it's not that. Kareem implanted me with something in my chest. There was this huge egg and this creature came out of it" Alex started to explain.
"Then we had best hurry back to the ship. You don't have much time" Bashera stated as he quickly used his infrared scanner on his mask and saw inside Alex's chest. He had less than hour to live before the hard meat would burst through his rib cage and kill him.
POV:
"Don't even bother, I am already dead" Kareem whispered as he pick the gun up off the floor and put it to the side of his head. He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger.
POV:
"What was that?" Alex asked when he heard a shot ring out from the warehouse.
"I don't know nor do I want to know" Bashera asked as he sniffed the air. It smelled of fresh ooman blood. He realized that the greedy ooman male had just killed himself. He just couldn't figure out why.
"Come on, we'll find out later" Tanaka softly encouraged as he watched Melody hang her head as she walked past them. Carrie and Mara were both trying to sooth her pain without much success.
"I agree. Let's hurry back to the ship" Bashera softly agreed with Tanaka as they picked up the pace. They knew time was not on Alex's or Melissa's side. They just hoped they would both survive their ordeals. They all were very thankful that the park was just a couple hundred feet away from the docks.
