"Hey, Yohji," said Omi as they closed up the flower shop for the day.
"Yeah, little one," said Yohji as he locked the front door. "What's up?"
"Can you take me to the woods?" Omi asked in a sweet tone as he wiped off the counters.
"Why do you want to go to the woods?" Yohji asked.
"I haven't been there in a long time," said Omi setting one foot on the stairs. "I miss it."
"Sure," said Yohji. "Get our coats and we'll leave."
"Thanks," Omi said running up the stairs.
He dove into his room and grabbed his coat and hat before spinning out of the room. As he turned the corner to come out of Yohji's room, he collided with Aya who was just leaving the bathroom.
"Sorry, Aya-kun," said Omi taking a step back.
"What's your hurry?" Aya asked cocking his head to one side.
"Yohji and I are going to the woods," Omi said. "Wanna come?"
"Okay," Aya said walking down to his room. "Where did Ken go?"
"Um…I think he's in his room," said Omi as he knocked on the door to the right of Yohji's door. "Ken? Are you in here?"
"What's up, Omi?" asked Ken as he opened his door.
"We're all going to the woods and wanted to know if you wanted to come," explained Omi.
"Okay," Ken said as he grabbed his coat.
"Yohji's down stairs waiting," Omi said as he bounded down the stairs with the two older boys behind him. "Yohji, we're ready."
"So you talked them into coming too, I see," Yohji said as Omi passed him his coat.
"Yeah," said Omi. "I thought they might like to enjoy the out doors too."
"Ok, well let's get going," said Yohji opening the front door of the store.
Once Yohji had parked the red convertible and everyone piled out, Omi led the way into the woods. Something seemed to pull him deeper and deeper into the woods as they continued to walk. A faint crying sound filled Omi's mind as the trees closed in behind them.
"Where are you leading us, Omi?" asked Ken.
"Hey, kid," called Yohji. "You brought us here for a reason so spill."
"Someone needs our help," Omi said in a monotone voice as he continued to walk. "She's in serious trouble. I think."
"You think," Ken said. "So you're not even sure if there's someone here waiting for us?"
"I know she's here," said Omi. "She told me and I feel her leading me."
"Wild goose chase," Yohji said stopping.
"Let's keep moving," said Aya as he followed the young man.
"Are you nuts?" said Yohji. "The kid's imagination is just getting the better of him. Like last night when he saw someone outside my door."
"Fine," Aya said not looking back. "Go back to the car and wait for us. We'll be back in a little while."
"Fuck you, Aya," Yohji said hurrying to catch up to them. "If there's something here I want in on the fun."
"You just don't want to miss out on helping a lady in distress," teased Ken with a smile.
"Be quiet," Omi said in the same monotone voice as he stopped. "Up ahead, there's a cabin."
The three older boys filled in beside Omi as they peered down upon a log cabin. The cabin was billowing a small amount of smoke from the chimney and a soft glow could be seen from the windows. Quickly and quietly, they made their way down to the cabin and up to a dirty window.
They were shocked by what they saw inside. A young lady with long black and fiery red hair sat curled up on a lone bed on the opposite side of the room. Sitting at the foot of the bed was Nagi, a fifteen year-old computer whiz and part of a group called Schwartz, typing on his laptop computer. Also in the room was Schrudich, a twenty-two year-old man with the talent for manipulating minds, busy bandaging one of his hands.
"Help me, Omi," said the young lady. "Hurry, before the others come back."
"We have to hurry," said Omi.
Suddenly, the young lady sat up and looked around the room. She, apparently, had dozed off and was startled to see Nagi sitting at her feet. Nagi looked at her and smiled sweetly. Schrudich watched her closely as she climbed off the bed and went to his side. As she sat on her knees, Schrudich ran his bandaged hand over her cheek and smiled as he said something to her.
"What are they saying?" asked Ken.
"Schrudich is telling her to behave and cause no more trouble," Aya said, "or else they'll leave her alone with Farfello."
"He'd kill her in a heart beat without thinking twice," said Yohji. "What else are they saying?"
"She's apologizing for harming him," said Aya. "She thought he was Farfello in the dark."
They watched as Schrudich laughed at her innocent smile. He stood and turned his attention to Nagi, who looked up with a blank stare.
"Get down," Aya said.
As they sat there, crouching below the window seal, the window suddenly opened. "Does that help, Faye?" asked Schrudich walking away from the window.
"Yes, thank you," Faye said sweetly.
"You have rip in you dress," said Nagi as they heard the bed give under someone's weight. His gentle voice flowed out the window. "Let me help you fix that."
"Don't worry about it," said Faye as the Weiss boys looked through the now opened window. "It's nothing. Please don't worry about."
"But the rip might get bigger and then your dress would be ruined," Nagi said. "It would only take me a moment to fix it. Please let me."
"Okay," Faye said as Nagi pulled out a very small sewing kit from a duffel bag. "When are you guys going to let me go?"
"Stop asking that question," Schrudich said. "You'll know I promise."
"Brad and Farfello have been gone for quite a long time," Nagi said in an almost monotone voice.
Just then the cell phone on the wooden table rang. Schrudich quickly answered.
"Hello," he said harshly. "No, no one's out here besides us, boss."
"There, done," Nagi said.
"Thank you," said Faye.
"She's fine," Schrudich said looking at Faye with narrowed eyes. "All I have to do is threaten to leave her alone with Farfello and she's like a little kitten."
"What are we going to do?" asked Ken as they ducked down.
"Let's hope that maybe they bring her outside or something," Yohji said as he spotted Omi moving around the corner of the house. "Omi, get back here!"
Omi stopped and spun around. "I'm going to draw them out so be ready," he said as he continued moving around the corner.
"We'll watch out, boss," Schrudich said as Omi began to pound on the wall of the cabin. "Hold on."
All fell silent inside the cabin. Again Omi hit the side of the cabin with his fists.
"Someone's out there," said Nagi standing up. "We better go check it out."
"Get back here right now," said Schrudich as he hung up the phone. "We may have trouble."
Omi quickly rejoined his friends as they waited for the door to open. "Get ready to put Omi inside," said Aya as they watched the two Schwartz move towards the door.
"Stay put, please," Nagi said to Faye. "We'll be right back."
The door carefully opened and then quickly closed. Yohji picked up Omi and quietly slipped him inside. As Omi's feet touched the wood floors, a pair of deep blue orbs met his eyes. Faye smiled at the young man who stood before the window.
Faye stood about five foot seven and was dressed in a black knee length dress with long bell sleeves. The front of the dress was laced up with blood red satin ribbon and tied at the bottom in a bow. Her legs were covered with tan, thigh high nylons held up by a garter belt. On her feet was a pair of black high heel shoes with satin ribbon wrapping around her calves. Her waist long black hair had fiery red streaks running through from root to tip, as it fell around her young face.
Suddenly, a fight broke outside the cabin as the Weiss boys pounced. The Schwartz boys were quickly over come and knocked unconscious. Aya opened the cabin door as Yohji and Ken dragged in the two unconscious men. Faye took a step back towards the wall as the four young men stepped closer to her.
"Hi, I'm Omi," said the young man. "You lead me here."
"Omi, thank you for coming," said the young lady with a timid smile.
"Let's move before the other two get here," Yohji said.