HorseyGurl149, I hope you like the change, and thanks for your correction.

Chapter 19

The three teenagers walked in silence around the park, carefully avoiding the topic of Gaia's sudden breakdown that Luke had walked in on. Finally, Luke spoke.

"So… What do you think of Arcadia, Gaia?"

Gaia held up her hand to silence him suddenly. The sun had set probably an hour or so ago, it was kind of hard to see each other well. Gaia listened carefully and confirmed, they were being followed. Gaia did nothing to slow her pace, and pondered how to take care of this with Joan and Luke there. "Ok," Gaia began quietly. "Don't look back or acknowledge it, but we are being followed. Luke, I said don't look." "Sorry." "So, we'll stop ahead, say our goodbyes, and go separate ways. I'll take care of it if he follows me, which he will. If he follows you, don't worry about it. Ok, once we reach this tree up ahead." Gaia prayed they understood. "Well," Gaia spoke at normal volume now. "I'm going to keep walking, but you guys go home. I'll meet you up later."

"Yeah, ok." Joan said.

"See ya later."

Gaia continued straight along the path, and Joan and Luke took opposite ways. Gaia slowed her pace to be sure the man was following her. Gaia couldn't hear anything. Maybe he stopped. All of a sudden, Gaia heard a girl scream "Gaia!"

Shit. Joan. Gaia sprinted in the direction Joan had gone. She found her, not far off, in a secluded spot, with a man behind her, whacked her on the back of the neck, where she crumpled, unconscious. "Hey!" Gaia called. "Get away from her." Gaia's shoulders tensed as she heard the familiar, venomous chuckle.

"Gaia, Gaia, Gaia. It's been a while." The man turned slowly around to face her.

"Loki," Gaia breathed.

"Oh, don't sound so disappointed."

"You filthy bastard." Gaia had rage seething through her veins. "You have the nerves to show up here. On this day."

"Oh, and what day would that be?" His voice remained so cool and offhanded, it enraged her.

"You killed my mother. Six years ago." His lip upturned.

"I'm not proud of it."

"To hell you aren't. You killed my mother. You killed my best friend. You kidnapped my boyfriend." She took stealthy steps towards him with each name. "You killed Ella. George. Josh. Yuri. You are the reason I never see my father. The reason I can't take a single walk without you breathing down my neck. I mean, God! We are on the other side of the continent and you still would give it up. And you wonder why I don't like you."

"Gaia, Gaia. I can understand why you may be upset with me. But that's all minor details."

Minor details. His words echoed though Gaia's head. Rage overcame her. A million strategies raced through her head. Gaia waited for the rage to reach a maximum where her mind was clear. Not easy, controlling her rage, but her father didn't train her from age six for nothing. Gaia squatted down to a fighting stance, his smile growing, he too prepared for action.

They circled around each other slowly. Both waiting for the other to make the first move. The only light Gaia had to see by was a half full moon and a streetlamp a couple yards off. Gaia kept his hands in full sight. He clenched and unclenched his fists, and Gaia smiled as he faked with his left and punched with his right. Both easily blocked, but Gaia knew she had to be careful, as she knew from experience that he was as excellent and strong a fighter as her. They circled again, like boxers in a match. Gaia struck out with her right, blocked. Then it was his turn. It was almost like a choreographed ballet. So well rehearsed, Gaia could do it in her sleep. Gaia tried to change the choreography around a little, add a little flavor. She struck out with her right, striking with her left as he blocked her right. Her fist made contact, nicking his chin, a sloppy throw, but lucky.

She caught his raised arm to backhand her across the face, but he used her technique in punching her in the gut with his other arm. The air left her lungs and she stumbled backwards, tripping over Joan's still figure. Gaia hopped back to her feet and leaped into the air, kicking out her leg. Loki ducked just in time, and Gaia turned her leap into a tumble, not fighting the fall, and tucked into a roll. Gaia sprang to her feet again. Gaia knew she didn't have much energy left. If she didn't finish him off, she'd pass out, leaving Joan up for grabs.

Gaia noticed his posture wasn't correct, that he was leaning he weight off of his left leg. Gaia faked a punch, blocked. She repeated this until she could see him get a bit cocky and overconfident. "Slowing down, Gaia?"

Gaia didn't reply. Instead, she ducked to the ground and kicked out at his left shin. He groaned and stumbled forward. Gaia rolled to the side in time to not be trampled. She had to end this fast. She stood up and roundhouse kicked as he began to turn around, connecting her foot with his shoulder. She punched his face, hearing a satisfying crack as his nose broke. She grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, pushing it painfully. "Not looking to good are you, Loki?"

To her shock, he reached behind his back with his other arm and, getting a good grip on the collar of her jacket, he threw her onto her back in front of him. She'd have to remember that move. Gaia rolled over, feeling like her back had risen to her ribs. She staggered upright, regaining her composure. She aimed a kick to his chest but he managed to grab her heel an inch from his chest and slowly twisted it. She pulled and pulled at her foot, but his grip was iron stiff. He kept on twisting it painfully. Gaia breathed heavily through her clenched teeth. Gaia heard that painful snap which she recognized as a bone breaking. Gaia stumbled, trying to keep weight off of her broken foot. She fell to the ground heavily. He walked over and straddled her, pinning her to place. There was no need to really, since she couldn't move on her own, as she struggled to hold onto consciousness. He reached inside his coat to produce a small vial of clear fluid. He drew out the syringe, taking his time with filling it with the clear fluid. "Gaia, I wish you didn't make things so difficult."

Gaia racked her brain for possible ways out of this situation. But with the amount of energy she had, there was no way to throw Loki off of her and smack the syringe away. She just lay there, waiting.

"Get away from her!" Gaia and Loki both looked over to find Luke, trying to save the day.

Loki chuckled. He got off Gaia and walked towards Luke. Gaia felt like a weight had been lifted from her stomach. Loki started to reach inside his coat, pulling out a small gun. Luke backed up, petrified. Gaia found a new surge of energy flow through her. Not much, but Gaia Moore would not give up at her grave if someone needed her help. Gaia stood up, limping towards him. "Gosh, I'm jealous," she said, distracting Loki. "Here you are, all about rounding up Gaia Moore, but come along some teenager, and you abandon me. What kind of uncle are you?"

Loki turned toward Gaia. "Is this a friend of yours? Maybe a boyfriend?"

Gaia smirked. "I would think that you would know that normal isn't really my type."

"Well, it's hard to tell with you sometimes."

"Yeah." Gaia tried to hit the gun out of his hands, but of course she couldn't really balance well so she ended up having to stumble onto her broken foot, somehow remaining upright. Loki reached up his arm and Gaia couldn't really prevent him from bringing his elbow down on her shoulder, sending her back to the ground. Gaia began to see black spots cloud her vision. Gaia's good foot did fortunately make contact with his left ankle, except not enough to cause pain. But enough to surprise him.

Gaia began to hear men talking getting closer. Suddenly a few officers, including Mr. Sanders. He looked around at an unconscious Joan to Luke backed into the bushes, to Gaia clutching her broken foot, to a man he did not recognize but he had a faint idea. "What do you think you're doing?" He asked in the direction of Loki, except that he was already off. Not that he feared these officers, only of being rediscovered.

He knelt down next to Joan to check her breathing as Luke wandered his way over to Joan. Gaia would have found it amusing how he opened and closed his mouth several times but she was struggling to remain conscious. The last thing she remembered before passing out was him stroking her hair.