Disclaimer: Nope… don't own nada.

A/N: Aren't you lucky? You get two chapters today hehe.

Chapter 9

When I awoke, it was early in the morning, and from the bits of sky I could see though the canopy of leaves above me, I could tell it was a very gray, cold, morning. My head ached if I moved it, and my cut leg was stiff. I shuddered when I thought about how I must of looked. With great difficulty I managed to get up, but I couldn't put too much pressure on my left leg. But I didn't care, because right when I stood up, though a gap between trees, I saw an obvious path.. But not only that. I saw people! Two of them. One was talking very fast to the other he was wearing a joker's hat and every time he moved his head the bells jangled. His eyes were round he sort of looked familiar. What he was saying was sort of blurred and he was using his hands a lot. When he stopped talking the girl he was with, who was a bit taller then him, was moving her hands fast, not talking at all. Her messy black hair swished this way and that as she signed, and they both erupted into a fit of the giggles.

I didn't think when I saw them. I just started to limp as fast as I possibly could toward them. When I got close, I ended up tripping and I tumbled out into the road.

Right away the girl stopped talking to the boy. She looked around 19. Her friend around 16. They both stared at me as though they had seen a ghost, and the girl threw her head back and screamed so loud I could of sworn if any glass was around it would have cracked.

I clamped my hands over my ears and screamed out "Stop please!"

At this the kid in the joker hat stared at me if possible even more wide eyed. "Trudy?" He muttered. What he said was in a surprised tone, but it was muffled, like he was forcing himself to say it.

I heard him say it, but I figured I was just imagining things. My head started to pound and I staggered a little.

"Listen.. I don't know who you are.." I was a little scared at how hoarse my voice sounded. "But I'm looking for.. For.." I gulped. My eyes were starting to mist over, and it was getting harder to stand. "I'm looking for Fran.."

And that's all I remembered. My whole world went black, and that was it.

-

I groaned and sat up. I had no idea where I was, but my eyes ached when I tried to see anything. Finally a fuzzy outline of someone staring at me came to me. She looked short, and no older then 8. She came into sharper view and I saw she had sandy blond hair that stuck up in the front and was in two stiff ponytails on the sides of her head. Her black eyes were opened wide and she seemed to be oddly curious about me. It was then I realized where I was.

I was in a large room, in a bed with white linen. There was about 12 other empty beds lined up on each side of me, and the windows were open wide to let the sunlight and breeze in.

I looked down at myself. I was wearing a white medical gown, and it looked as though someone had bandaged up my leg. My head was still woozy, but not as bad. I smiled slightly to the little girl watching me, and spoke softly so I didn't frighten her.

"Hello.." My voice didn't sound like mine.. It sounded tired.. And strained. "What's your name?"

The little girl stared at me, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. She bit her lip, and ran off without saying a word.

I sighed and laid back down. My head hurt too much to think of how I got there and things like that. I stared at the ceiling for a while and didn't turn my head until I saw a shadowy figure sulk in. I studied them and saw they were wearing a while lab coat, and were holding a silver scalpel in their hand. And their hair was black dread locks.. Just like...

"Lex!" The word squeaked out of my mouth and the figure turned toward me. And sure enough that's who it was.

He grinned ad held out the small knife he was holding, and started to talk low and harshly. "I'll save this for later. " He winked, and I screamed out, rubbing my eyes furiously. When I opened my eyes he was gone again.

For ten more minutes I lay alone.. And cold. But most of all, I was confused. After a while, a kind girl came in, about 18, and walked over to my bed. She had sandy blond hair just like the little girl had, but it was down, and she had a butterfly clip or two in it. She walked over to me, clutching a plastic clipboard. The papers on it fluttered up and down in the breeze coming from the windows.

"Oh good! You're awake... You've been out 2 days. You woke up barely once and a while and we were able to feed you a bit but I'm sure you won't remember that." The girl paused and sat down on the bed next to me. "My name is Sadey. I run the White Hospital here in Bane city. My little sister, Ariel, is the one that told me your awake."

"I'm in Bane city?" I said faintly, sitting up a little.

"Yes. And you seem to have friends here. A boy named Paul was here. He said your name was Trudy. Is this true?" Sadey sighed slightly.

"Paul? He's here? Oh um yeah my names Trudy." So Paul was alive? I was bewildered. I hadn't thought about Paul for years. How did he get here?

"You're looking a bit peaky. Want me to get you something to eat?" Sadey looked at me with concern, and she got up and pressed her hand against my forehead.

"Food sounds nice. My baby is probably starving." I automatically put my hand to my belly when I said this. I hoped for the first time, my baby was all right.

"Your pregnant?" Sadey said in surprise. She suddenly pulled her hand away from me, and looked at me wide eyed. I noticed her eyes were black like her sisters. "Well you really need to eat then! I'll get food right away." Sadey started to rush out, but I called out to her.

"Sadey, do you know someone named Fran?" I watched as she stopped quickly and look back at me darkly.

"Yeah I know her... What do you want her for?"

"My friend told me to find her when I got here... Where could I find her?" I bit my lip.. Sadey didn't seem to like the girl.

"She works at the casino. She lives above it." Sadey said tightly.

"Then I must go to her... After I eat."

"That's not wise Trudy. She's from a rough crowd."

"But I have to." Sadey looked at me shiftily, and she danced nervously on her feet.

"Okay fine." She said after a little while. "But, don't say I didn't warn you." Sadey walked out of the room then, leavening me in a confusing, buzzing, quiet that I didn't like at all.