Chapter Twenty-Three
Spotted!
Back in Chicago, as the sun was setting over the city, Diablo, Rex and Samson were sitting in their hideout, after only welcoming Chastity into their group a mere few hours ago.
The white dove was only just managing to get to grips with her new body, she was trying to work out how to use her wings which felt like extra limbs on her back.
"I know the feeling." Diablo said as he watched her trying to control her wings, "You will get used to having those on your back, and like me, you will learn to fly!"
Chastity opened her arms and as she did her wings followed suite.
Samson and Rex kept their distance so as not to be knocked over as well as give their new member the freedom to move.
"It's so overwhelming." Chastity said as she looked at her wings, "Yet my new body, it scares me."
"I understand sweetheart." Samson said, "Rex and I felt the same, but realise what you can do with it, you're a lot stronger now."
Diablo nodded.
"So much stronger!" he smirked as he opened his wings "So much more than when you were human!"
The Raven then looked out into the night.
"If you'll forgive me friends." he said "I must scout, and find some more food, I shall return soon."
"Okay Diablo." Samson said.
"Look after our new member, and help her adjust." Diablo requested "I will return with food and hopefully news."
"Yes sir!" Rex said with a salute then turned to Chastity "How about we go over those wings again my dear?"
Chastity nodded in agreement and opened her arms again trying to get her wings to move at the same time.
"Don't worry hun." Samson comforted "We'll help you through this and you'll be able to rule the skies."
That last remark made Chastity smile slightly.
"When I was a child," she said "I used to wish I could fly, well there were times I wished I could fly away from my hard life."
"Well, you no longer have to worry now." Samson smiled "And with Diablo and Rex's help, we'll find that bastard who hurt you, and we'll make him pay!"
He smirked at the last part.
"I made the ones who killed me and Rex pay, and we can do the same to your abuser and mother's murderer."
Diablo looked back at his followers as they spoke.
"I'm sure with the right research I can find out where Chastity's abuser is, and I can rely the information back to her, then she can help us make him pay for his crimes! Or if she would rather not participate, then I will do the deed."
Diablo then leapt out of a hole in the wall, opening his wings as he took off into the night.
"I just hope those damned Mutopians aren't looking for me!" he growled as he scanned the city below him.
Meanwhile, Jake had spent all day searching for Sophie, he had gone to all the places she was last seen and checked out the nearby areas, but he couldn't find her.
Now, sitting in an all night diner, Jake sipped some coffee as he looked out into the city, he sighed softly as he looked at the skyline where the sky was turning a dark blue and some starlight could be seen.
"I know you're out there." he said under his breath "You can't hide forever brother, you can't keep running, one of these days we will find you and bring you back to Mutopia so you can pay the price for your actions."
He placed his mug down on the table and a blonde haired, tired looking waitress sauntered over pouring a top up into his mug.
"Rough day?" she asked as she analysed him, as well as noticed the red scars on his face.
Jake looked up at her.
"What?" he asked peering through his glasses.
"Rough day?" she repeated.
"Huh? Oh yeah, has been." Jake replied, he rubbed his eyes under his glasses and yawned.
"I've never seen you before." the waitress said "You new to Chicago?"
"What makes you say that?" Jake asked.
"Your accent, it's different." the waitress said.
"Oh I see." Jake chuckled "I'm originally from Wisconsin."
"The Land of Cheese!" the waitress laughed "What made you want to come to the Windy City?"
"Change in scenery." Jake responded "Wanted to make my mark in the world."
The waitress smiled but she jumped as she heard her boss calling over to her.
"Miss Rice! Quit chatting to customers!"
"Sorry sir." the waitress grovelled before quickly turning away from Jake.
"I don't pay you to chat, I pay you to serve!" the man growled, the waitress nodded in embarrassment and went around asking the other customers if they wanted more coffee.
Jake sighed sadly as he watched her, then looked out the window again sipping his topped up coffee.
Just then, the door of the Diner opened and a dark haired woman walked in with a young girl no older than five with bouncy curly hair and wearing a white dress.
"Annie!"
Miss Rice looked up and beamed as she saw who had arrived.
"Maddie! Claudia!"
The five year old girl ran over to Miss Rice and hugged her tightly to which Miss Rice responded.
"Mummy!" the girl squealed.
"Hello darling!" the woman smiled as she knelt down and hugged her daughter tightly.
The woman who had been accompanying Claudia walked over to Annie and smiled.
"She's such a good girl." she smiled "It's always a joy to have her."
Annie stood up and grasped Claudia's hand.
"I can't thank you enough for looking after her Maddie."
"Any-time babe!" Maddie replied "Anyway, you're free to head off now, I'll take over!"
"Thank you again!" Annie said kissing Maddie's cheek as she removed her apron and hat "I'll see you tomorrow!"
Jake watched as Annie held her daughter's hand and they walked out of the diner, he smiled, glad that she was free from her shift and he glanced over at the manager who started talking to Maddie.
Turning back towards the window, Jake sipped his coffee then he blinked as he saw what looked like a dark shape flying across the skyline.
Narrowing his eyes, Jake stood up from the table and watched as the shape moved, and he was sure it looked like a large black bird!
"Diablo!" he whispered, he fished a ten dollar bill out of his pocket and placed it on the table before grabbing his belongings and running to the entrance of the diner.
"Keep the change!" he called back as he ran out leaving the manager, Maddie and some other customers looking bewildered.
As he got outside, Jake looked around again to see where he saw the dark shape, he looked to the left then the right, then he saw the same shape again, this time flying over the high rooftops.
"Brother?" he said to himself, he took out his cell and wondered whether to alert Tyroth and the Knights, but he hesitated as he wanted to make sure it really was Diablo.
"If it is my brother." he thought to himself, "Maybe he can lead me to Sophie?"
Keeping the shape in his sight, Jake started to follow it, and hoped it would come to rest somewhere so he could investigate further.
Jake's guess was in fact right, for the shape he had spotted was indeed Diablo!
The Raven had found an all night store not far away from the Diner, and he had sneaked in at the back of it to look through the stock and had found some food, along with some newspapers that spoke about Sophie's disappearance and the murder and attack in her apartment.
Clasping a couple of shopping bags of food with his talons, Diablo read one of the newspapers that spoke about Sophie.
'Mother of missing young woman found dead and Brother-in-Law injured in apartment, mercy killing then attempted murder?'
'Girl attempted to kill Uncle because he knew too much?'
'Police searching for young woman suspect in attack and murder'
'If you've seen this woman, please inform the authorities right away'
"Damn, I've always hated the press!" Diablo growled "Chastity's going to love this!" he flew further on and before long he reached the abandoned church and flew it through a hole in the upper roof.
As he did, he saw Chastity was still learning to use her wings, and was soon opening and closing them without having to use her arms as guides and Samson and Rex were standing back and encouraging her.
Diablo smirked then placed the bags on a platform before landing on a beam above them, he was pleased that Chastity was doing well in learning to use her wings, even though it had only been a few hours since she had mutated.
Rex was the first to spot Diablo has he arrived back.
"Diablo, you've arrived!" he said, standing up straight and saluting and Chastity and Samson looked up.
"I have returned yes." Diablo said "And I come bearing food and information."
"That was fast." Chastity commented.
Diablo lowered himself down to the level they were on, then placed the bags of food before them.
"Dig in!" he said "There's plenty to go around."
"Thanks!" Samson commented before opening one of the bags and rooting though it.
Chastity stared at the bags then at Diablo.
"How did you get it?" she questioned.
"Don't worry." Diablo smirked "I enquired them legally, with the cash we swiped from those we attacked."
He then held up the newspapers.
"You might be interested to read these Chastity." he said handing them to the mutant Dove who took the papers then sat down to read them.
Diablo stood back and waited for her reaction as she read the newspaper, first with a frown of curiosity, then her eyes widened and her beak gaped open.
"Oh God no..." she cried "No!"
Samson and Rex looked up from searching in the bags and stared at Chastity.
"What is it?" Samson asked.
"They...they've painted me as a murderer!" Chastity wailed "The press are saying I killed mother, and attacked Dale! But no! It was him! He did this!"
Tears began to stream from the Dove's eyes as she threw one of the newspapers down.
"Dale's lied to the police and the press! I should have made sure he was truly dead before I ran away!"
Rex growled.
"I can sniff him out for you honey." he said "Make him pay for what he's done!"
Diablo nodded and folded his arms.
"That we can!"
Samson sat next to Chastity and put an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.
"Don't fret hun." he said "We will do something about this! If the police aren't going to do anything, and the press are going to believe a bunch of bull-crap, we're going to take matters into our own hands!"
"Oh we shall!" Diablo smirked and flexed his talons "We'll give that murdering liar a night he'll never forget, and make him rue the day he laid his hands on you and your mother!"
Chastity looked up from crying.
"We will?"
Diablo nodded.
"We will." he said "Do you trust us my Disciple?"
Chastity was speechless for a second, and she felt Samson squeeze her shoulder reassuringly.
"We can make Dale pay for his crimes, and clear your name." Diablo said "That is a promise! I just need time to plan this out, and when this is over, trust me when I say you'll have satisfaction!"
Chastity nodded softly.
"Okay." she whispered to which Samson placed a paw on her taloned hand.
Meanwhile, unknown to the four mutants, Jake had followed Diablo until he reached the abandoned church and saw Diablo fly in.
Curious, but also trying to be careful, Jake took out his gun and began to creep towards the building, hoping that Diablo hadn't spotted him.
He crept in through the doorway where there was a broken door, and luckily, Jake could squeeze though.
He then got on his hands and knees and slowly crawled over the floor despite the fact there was debris and broken glass.
Straining his ears to listen, Jake then heard Diablo speak, and there was no doubt it was his brother, then he heard the voices of Rex and Samson, and Chastity.
Hearing the Dove's voice then hearing the conversation Jake's eyes widened.
"No way!" he thought "Sophie?"
He listened to the conversation more then pieced together all the information he was hearing.
"Oh Damn!" he thought "It really is Sophie! Diablo and his followers must have found her, and convinced her to join them! I'm too late!"
So we've checked back with Jake, and by a stroke of luck, he's spotted his brother and followed him to his hideout where he's realised Sophie's joined the Raven and his Disciples!
What will be the outcome of this? Well stay tuned to find out!
Note: You might want to remember the waitress Annie Rice and Claudia, they are kind of important, what what role will they play? Well keep checking back and you'll see!