Disclaimer: I don't own any of Jak2 or 3, and I don't own any of the characters other than Trista. Naughty dog owns everything else.

Chapter Eleven

The second I heard those two words, I felt my whole world crash. I couldn't think for a moment and there was a dull roar as I wondered what happened to her.

"Where is she?" I asked, in a hollow voice that didn't sound anything like my own. Torn pointed to a slum house circled on the map and I stared at it. I knew where that house was, I had saved Rade from those guards from that house. The only person who would know about that would be Rade and Errol and those guards. I grabbed my sword and pack and started toward the door when Torn's hand on my arm pulled me back. I swung and glared at him, sending him the look that plainly said what the hell are you doing?

"Where are you going?" He asked. I almost laughed because if he thought about it, he would realize how stupid of a question that was. I smiled and shook my head slightly. If he wanted me to say that I was just going out for a walk then that would be what I would say. I don't think he would fall for it though, because I wasn't one of those people who just sat around and did nothing.

"I need to think." I said, and pulled my arm free from his grip and walked outside. I kept walking for a few blocks, turning at random corners just in case one of my brothers decided to follow me. I quickly ran around a corner and jumped onto the roof and crouched down. Sure enough, Jak and Jinx ran past.

"Where'd she go?"

"I don't know."

"Crap, let's keep looking." I watched them turn around and run in the opposite direction and exhaled a laugh. I knew that I should have let them come to help me, but I just had to do this myself. Because odds were that the people who grabbed Tess didn't want her at all, and were just trying to find me.

I shrugged it off and ran along the rooftops, and finally found the house I was looking for. I jumped down behind it and slid under a slightly open window, listening for any conversation I could hear clearly.

"Let me go you jerks! I didn't do anything!" There, that was Tess's voice. I knew I was right, they must have grabbed her on her way home from spying at Krew's place.

"Oh calm down little girl. It's not you we want but your sister, Trista. The baron really wants to talk with her again. I do too actually." Errol? I couldn't believe it. Had my cousin gone mad? Or was he just following orders again?

"I don't know a Trista!" Oh crap Tess, don't lie to them. They'll kill you for that.

"Don't lie to me. I know you know her. It's all a matter of time until she shows up and tries to save you. Besides, we won't kill her. We'll let her go once the baron gets bored of her. Can't say that she'll be the same person afterwards though." Errol's cruel and cold laugh sent chills down my spine. Now was the best time to get in there and get Tess out before they hurt her.

"She'll never go with you jerks!" I heard the sound of her boot connecting with something and I smiled. That's so like her, always living for the fight.

"You little bitch, I'll make you pay for that!" A guards voice now. I jumped up and dove through the window, rolling as I landed on the floor, with glass shards flying all around me.

I looked up and grinned at them, and drew my sword out of the sheath on my back. Jumping into the air, I cut the rope that was holding Tess in mid air. She screamed as she started to fall but I caught her and we both landed safely.

"Looking for me?" I asked, smiling at Errol and setting Tess back on her feet. She hugged me and then glared at the guards.

"Don't be so cocky Trista. I can have you're little friend here killed anytime. I'm here to offer you an ultimatum. Come with us peacefully and the girl can go. Resist, and, well, let's just say it won't be pretty." Errol smirked at me but I saw his eyes. They were begging silently for me to make this easy, so he didn't have to do anything to her. The cold cruel and hollow look in his eyes was gone, replaced by a certain kind of warmth. I sheathed my sword and looked at Tess, apologizing for what I had to do.

"Trista! No, I won't let you!" She yelled, throwing herself on me and clinging for dear life. I hugged her for a moment, and a lone tear rolled down my cheek. I knew I had to do this.

"I'm sorry Tess. I'll be fine. I'll see you again." I said. I pulled away from her and the two guards grabbed her arms, holding her back so I could step around her. She wailed and struggled to get away and yelled my name, but I couldn't hear any of it.

"I'm ready." I looked at Errol, and a certain type of regret filled his eyes. I held my head high and marched past him, and into the awaiting guard hellcat.

Twenty minutes later I was kneeling before the baron once more, and wishing more than anything I could run away. He smiled cruelly at me and grabbed my hand, yanking me to my feet.

"I knew you would come back. Like all those girls before you, you won't let the people you love be in danger. And now you belong to me." He grasped the side of my face and made me look at him. Behind him, I could see Errol standing by the doorway, and he looked away in disgust.

"Look at me you little street rat!" The blow sent me reeling, and I landed on the hard marble floor. He smiled and kicked me in the stomach as I started to raise myself back up by my elbows and I cried out and skidded a couple feet. I heard his footsteps and I looked up hatefully as he walked over to me, that calm smirk set in place. I felt blood running down the side of my face from where he hit me, and I bit my tongue to keep myself from yelling at the bastard.

"Yes, that's right. There's the look of pure hatred, but don't try and fool me my dear. You're shaking. I terrify you. You'll hate me with the very core of your being, but you'll let me do whatever I want to you because you don't want to die." He chuckled darkly, and it was almost enough to send chills down my spine.

"Get up." He spat, and I rose slowly to my feet. Errol had already figured out what I was going to do and reached out in protest, but decided against it and lowered his hand. If I survived what I was going to do, I'd tell all my family about how I thought about them. The baron wasn't as smart. He leaned down and roughly grabbed my chin and turned my face, and fiercely pushed his lips against mine.

I summoned up my courage and took one last look out the window in the direction of the hideout. I wondered if I would live to see them again. My family. I closed my eyes and bit down on his lip hard. He cried out in pain and rage and stepped back from me, staring at me and shaking with anger. A small trail of blood seeped from his lip as he glared and I smirked.

"I would rather die, than submit myself to you." I said. I ran to the window on the last word and hurled myself through it. The setting sun caught the shards of glass as they glittered around me, and I let myself fall. I felt the sting as glass entered my skin, but I was more focused on where I was going to land. Tears streamed from my eyes as I looked at the city below me.

But then I looked up and saw the baron at the window and I smiled as Errol appeared at his side. I closed my eyes as I started falling faster and silently said goodbye to all my brothers. I looked down and saw I was getting closer to the ground now, but wait…

Jinx was waiting right below me in a vehicle, and he tossed a small blue ball at me. It burst when it hit my arm and I was surrounded by a blue glowing shell.

"An eco shield?" I breathed as I slowed down, and was caught by Jinx's waiting arms. The shield disappeared and I stared at him in disbelief.

"Torn and Jak helped me make it. Good job, you got out of there and out from under their radar." I stared at him, not able to say anything, and he just smiled at me. Sobs shook my body and I clung to him, so thankful for the chance to see him.

"Let's go home." He said, and he drove back to the hideout, where, I'm sure, my brothers and the rest of my family were waiting for me.

Me: read and review. I'll update soon! Think I should have Errol and Trista meet and talk? Review me your votes!