Chapter Nineteen

Whenever we make our mistakes, we have to pay for them accordingly. When we pay, we pay not only to those mistakes we have made, but towards society and those whom we have affected. These people, effected by our mess-ups, our downfalls, our terrible times, feel differently. Some take on a peaceful nature, agreeing to work with us, to not rebel against the rules of our government, our morals, our culture. But then there are others, the vengeful ones, those who will do anything to take back what they have lost, or at least receive some type of payment for such…

New York City, New York

Her eyes flared up in rage. How could this have happened? How could this have been? They were supposed to run off together after the money came in, after he had finished the shoot with Summer. Yugi had said that he would end the affair with Summer, that it would be no more, that he would completely be devoted to her, to Candy. But no, in rage he had to go and get himself killed. But it wasn't really he that had killed himself, it was that girl, that evil bitch, that Summer. Candy's eyes narrowed to slits as she glared out the window across the street, towards the hotel building. She could see the couple eating dinner as if everything was fine, as if the female in the set wasn't guilty of murder, of vicious senseless murder. Candy, her face red, biting her lower lip, struggled to pull open the window. Was she had succeeded, she took the rifle in both arms and fell to her knees, sticking the end of the rifle out of the window. She aimed carefully at the girl's head, ready to fire. She was going to blow that bitch's head off, get rid of her once and for all. She had already tried to do this once before in jealousy of Yugi. But now he was dead, and he wasn't there to stop her, because that bitch that he had been so in love with had killed him. She was ready to fire, ready to rid the world of Summer forever. That was when there came a knock at the door, and a voice calling, "Hello? Is there a Candy Brown here?" Candy sighed angrily. Who the hell was it now? Whoever it was should die, because he or she was ruining her plans for vengeance.

She set the gun in the corner, careful to make sure the safety was on so that it didn't go off when she was answering the door, and called to the person, "I'm coming!" She hurried towards the door, staring through the peep-hole, and saw that it was an older, balding man. She pulled open the door after unlocking it ever so slowly. "Hello?" she said softly, as if she had been sleeping prior to his visit.

"Oh, did I wake you, ma'am?"

Candy groaned. "Oh, just my beauty sleep. How may I help you?"

The man smiled. "I'm Arthur Balding--" At this Candy thought how convenient his last name was, laugh, "--from the Balding and Sons Attorneys at Law."

"I'm familiar with your firm, sir," said Candy, extending her hand to shake his.

"Yes," he said, refusing her greeting and rather shoving the glasses he wore farther up his nose. He stared up at her as if she were below him, scum off of the earth, and piece of undigested crap. "I am here to talk to you about the Yugi Torero case. Do you mind if I come in?"

"Actually, sir," said Candy, leaning against the door so as he couldn't see past her, "I haven't cleaned today--"

"Just a few questions--"

"I think that it would also be best if my attorney was here--"

"Please--"

"No!" Candy slammed the door in his face angrily. That was it. No more answering the door from now on. She turned and walked back over to the window, staring back over towards her targets, but saw that they were gone. That was when she heard a loud BAM! from behind her, and she turned around, seeing that several cops had just kicked down her apartment door. They ran in, eying the gun, shields up, and screamed for her to get on the floor.

Damn, this was just her luck.

Newport, California

Ryan ran out towards the beach, ripping the shirt from his chest and diving into the water against the crashing waves. Everything was dark around him, and he couldn't see a foot before him. Even though he knew that the chances of finding Marissa in these conditions were slim to none, he had to try, he had to swim and see if he could find her. Someone was calling for help, and he could already see several lights appearing on the beach as people ran towards the scene, screaming for help and trying to see if Ryan and Marissa were okay, trying to find out exactly what had happened.

Ryan dived deeper into the water, swimming hopelessly around, the whole time screaming Marissa's name. When he came back up to the surface, he saw that he had only strayed no more than a few feet from the shoreline. He quickly ducked back under the water, eyes wide, burning with the salty water as it splashed against his irises. He screamed, knowing no one could hear him deep beneath the surface, but still wishing the whole time that wherever Marissa was, whether lying on the shore somewhere, or floating above the surface, she could hear him. He knew she couldn't, but there was still that hope.

Ryan swam through the crashing waves, trying his best to stay above the surface even though he was being driven back and down with every wave. He cried out as he hit one of the large wooden poles that supported the pier, looking around. He cried out for Marissa again, trying to find her, scanning the waves but to no success.

That was when someone grabbed him. Ryan jerked his head in the direction of the touch and saw a tall man floating on a motor propelled boat there near him. There was a large flashlight shining down on his face, and Ryan found it hard to see past the bright glare. "Sir?" said the man. He reached down and grabbed both of Ryan's arms with each other his. "C'mon," he said, boosting him up.

"My girlfriend's in there!" said Ryan as they steered in towards the shore.

He looked back hopelessly at the crashing waves, feeling as if they would never find Marissa Cooper.