Well, what can i say? Sorry for the delay. Life's been a bitch these days, and work is even worse. But hey! i won't give up on this story, not when the good bits are about to come!
This chapter is mostly fun stuff, but it sets up the drama that is to come, so pay attention!
For Sheriff Lowe, the last half an hour have been nothing but a frenzied blur. The instant he saw the Dondai felt down the hill, his old teenage day's habits kicked in and he speeded away. As he escaped from the accident site, Lowe thought —perhaps too hastily— that if the kids were harmed —or worse— there was nothing he could do about it. Of course, he could ask for help on his radio, but that'll only lead to awkward questions. 'How did you find them?' 'What where you doing when you gave them chase?' 'Why does their car have those bumps? Did you crash against it or something?' The health professionals at the hospital were nice people, but they took the 'professional' part too seriously. All that prying couldn't be good for Lowe's health (or his job).
It was only when he'd reach midtown, 10 minutes after the incident, that it hit him: Holy shit! I left those kids to die! Lowe stomped on the brake, almost flying out of the window of his Cadillac. 'Always wear your seatbelt, Junior', would've said his father.
Following his newfound conscience, he reached for the patrol radio. Then he pulled it back in place. No, the ambulance could wait. Lowe should find the kids first, see that they are alright. Maybe scare them up a bit to make sure they don't go telling lies around town about a respectable police officer ramming his patrol car against them. Lowe was almost sure the town folks liked him enough to trust his side of the story.
But 'almost' wasn't good enough.
He made a U-turn, drove past a red light, and speeded past the limit, straight to the old bridge that connected the two sides of Death River. The hill there was smooth and clean of trees. Lowe knew it well. He'd drove his old Volkswagen under that bridge many times, when the river was dry and he'd wanted to hide from his Dad's incessant watch.
Obviously, there were some 'procedural differences'between driving a tiny hand-me-down 67' Beetle, and driving a long, wide modified 95' El Dorado. It was parallel to trying to kill a fly with a fly swatter, and attempting to do the same with a sledgehammer.
Lowe had emerged winner in the end, but the car had taken its tool. The hill was littered with rocks and the river bank wasn't much better. The Cadillac had to dodge the big boulders, and in doing so the wheels ate the smaller ones. The suspension whined and creaked, maddening Lowe to a never reached before point. In his frenzied state, he pictured the two rascals; crawling out of their flipped over tuna can of a car, trying to stop the multiple bleedings in their bodies and praying that someone, anyone, would come to help them. And that someone was going to be Lowe.
He drove a few minutes alongside the river bank when two walking figures appeared distance. It was the kids, andthey were alright. Not unharmed, judging by the scarlet reflection over their bodies, but they were not in the half-dead state Lowe had hoped to find them.
Lowe's bad mood didn't last long. This was better. MUCH better. Now he didn't have to be nice Officer Lowe, ready to save the innocents. He could be Sheriff Lowe, off to chase and catch any wrongdoers. And these two were criminals, if Lowe had ever seen one.
As the adrenaline from the chase came back to him, Sheriff Lowe speeded up to corner the suspects, not even bothering to turn on the siren. He stopped the car at a safe 6 feet distance and reached for his standard officer pistol. But his hand stopped and instead went for his standard officer rifle in the passenger's side.
He kick-opened the Cadillac door and jumped out, arm pointing onward. For the first time in a while, he felt like himself again. Sheriff James Lowe. The Law. And in a burst of pride he shouted at the delinquents:
"Police! Put your hands in the air, now!"
On the list of Worst Days Steven Have Ever Lived, this one had easily reached the Top Ten. Having to flee an emotionally unstable officer of the law was bad enough, but rolling the Dondai down a hill, potentially killing his new friend —assuming Soledad still think of him as such— put this day really high on the list. Walking by the river bank in the dark night, dodging the piles of rocks and soaking his feet in undetectable pools of water haven't been fun either. Now he was covered in dried blood, tired, drowsy-drunk, and descending into an spiral of self-hate like he haven't done in a while.
But the real drop that flooded the dam, the hit that broke the Diamond, was that even since they began to walk, Soledad haven't spoke one single word. Her aura was spiking wildly with rage. Steven had wanted to talk to her. To apologize. To touch her and made her feel how sorry he was, how bad he felt for ruining her night… But he didn't. He hugged himself to ease the cold and kept walking towards town.
Hope hit them as a flash of light, and the diffused shape of a vehicle coming at right at them. Soledad ran towards the light, with Steven following close behind, overjoyed at the prospect of being rescued. Then Soledad stopped running and grabbed Steven by the hem of his shirt. Steven didn't understand why until the patrol car stopped in front of them, keeping a short distance.
Sheriff Lowe's shape manifested from inside the vehicle, carrying a rifle almost the size of Pearl's spear.
And once again, this day went up on the Worst Day List —and it might reach the Top. Sheriff Lowe was pointing at rifle at Soledad. Steven made a quick move to be in front of her.
"Quiet! Don't move," shouted Sheriff Lowe as he cowered a bit behind the open door of his car.
Not needing to be told twice, Steven stayed put, protecting Soledad with his left arm; his right arm was free and ready to summon his shield.
"Officer, if you would-"
"Shut your fucking mouth kid," Sheriff Lowe cut Steven up, and both he and Soledad cowered.
Their reaction only encouraged the Sheriff. "Good", he said as he came from behind the Cadillac door. His aura flashed blood red. "Do you two have any idea what you made me went through tonight? Do you?"
Steven breathed in to speak, but Soledad squeezed his arm. Her panic flooded Steven through their link, silencing any remark he could've made.
No, I don't think you do," Sheriff Lowe began a slow walk towards them. "Now, I don't have a clue what's wrong with you," he said to Steven. If only he knew, thought Steven."But you," he said to Soledad and laughed happily. "I know I've seen you before. So… why don't we all go to the police station so we get to know each other better, uh?"
Sheriff Lowe's left hand went to his belt. The handcuff glistened as he lifted them in the air. Oh no, that can't be, Steven thought. Soledad had to go to a hospital, if not to get treated, at least to get cleaned up. Besides, Steven was the real culprit. She was an unwilling accomplice at best. Her only mistake of the night was to think Steven was worth the effort, and she shouldn't have to pay for that.
Steven got Soledad's hands of him. She protested. The Sheriff shouted at her to shut up. Steven looked at her and smiled with fake confidence. Then he held his hands above his head, showing his empty palms, and began a painful walk towards the Sheriff.
This is alright, thought Steven, free of resentment. He may be held in custody, maybe even go to jail. But he didn't take it personal. He knew he'd messed up. And besides, not everything's been said. If Steven could sit down with the Sheriff, if he could get the Sheriff to calm down and hear him through, and if Steven could came out of his drunk drowsiness to think clearly, he knew he could change the Sheriff's mind. That's what Steven was really good for.
A loud VROOM! Rumbled and the three heads turned around to see a flash of light coming at them from the same direction the Sheriff had came from. The light zigzagged, masterfully dodging every rock in its way. In the middle of this snake-like motion, the shape of a bike could be seen, with two passengers over it. Their helmets had eyes on each side.
Steven recognized them and panicked in a true Steven-way. No, no, no! What are they doing here? He thought, really close to chewing his nails gone.
The Triumph parked right behind the Cadillac. The driver got out first and took out her helmet.
"OK. What the heck is going on here?" said Rain, her black eyes darting from one person to another. They glimmered even in the deep dark night.
It was like magic; Sheriff Lowe put his rifle down and straightened up. Soledad hunched over, full of shame. Even Steven was feeling uneasy; like White Diamond in person had come all the way from Homeworld to lecture him.
It was the Sheriff who first spoke, in a very un-sheriff like way:
"Aylin… What, uh, what are you doing here?"
Steven paid attention to this. Guess Soledad is not the only one who changed her name. But why's there so much bad blood between these two? The Sheriff was trying to look at anything but at Rain. Steven looked through the Sheriff's aura and… Oh boy.
Well, that explains it, Steven mused and muffled a laugh with his hand. Peeps, who came out of the bike and was standing next to Aylin, was just as entertained watching the blushing police officer.
Rain, however, was a pit of fire.
"It's Rain, Jim, you know that," Rain groaned. She was blushing as much as Lowe but for completely opposite reasons. "What I don't know is what're you doing here with two kids covered in blood? You should be taking them to a hospital, not pointing your boomstick at them!"
Peeps laughed brutishly. Rain asked him to 'check those kids to see if they are alright'. Peeps did so, and made an act of pat Soledad to check for harm —giving her a noogie in the process. When it was Steven's turn, Peeps ask-whispered if he was alright. Steven replied that yes, he was alright, but they shouldn't had come.
"Don't worry, Rain's got it under control," Peeps reassured him, pointing at Rain talking with Sheriff Lowe. It seemed the Sheriff was trying to explain the situation, but on a closer look, it felt more like Rain was reprimanding an officer of the law with impunity. Peeps winked at Steven and walked towards the older pair.
"Yep, these kids are almost dead. Looks like we got here just in time," Peeps said.
"What? That can't be it," retorted Sheriff Lowe. "They were alright a minute ago."
"Buddy, do these two look up to party to you?"
Peeps pointed at them. After a moment of hesitation, Soledad hunched over, groaning and holding her stomach.
"Ugh, man! This is killing me," she released a long, pitiful, overacted whine. "I think I perforated my …. Solar plexus thingy. Yeahthatsoundslegit. Right buddy?"
She gave a signal to Steven. For a moment he was lost of words before his old habits took over. "Yes! And I must have a… a collapsed lung!" said Steven, thinking fast —but not brightly. He threw a fit of raspy cough to seal the lie.
Their show of whining and coughing didn't seem to impress the spectators. Fortunately, Rain was there to save the day (or 'the night' in this case).
"Well, there you have it," said Rain, moving with great confidence. "Collapsed lung and a perforated… solar-thingy. What you gonna about it, officer?" she spat at the Sheriff.
Sheriff Lowe was like a puppy in a thunderstorm, afraid and confused. It was hard for Steven to not felt bad for him. Sure, a moment ago the Sheriff was pointing a rifle at his head, but Steven didn't take it personal; he choose not to. He'd found it made life easier to live.
"ALRIGHT!" shouted Sheriff Lowe, rifle by his side, like a soldier in formation. "I've decided —by my own free will— to take these two to the hospital and, eh, question them there."
The sudden wave of relief from his friends' auras was so wide it got into Steven. This didn't fixed the problem he'd put Soledad in, though. Perhaps, however, when they're in the hospital, and the moods had calmed —and with a bit of Rain powerful stare— not only could Steven get Soledad out of this, but he too could get a free pass!
It's a slim chance… but I'll take it, he decided, at the same time he decided he owed Rain a thank-you present.
"Smart move," said Rain, relief present in her voice. "Alright you guys, let's take you back to the Dondai. It's good to go?"
Steven scratched his arm. "Well, it's 'whole', but, uh…"
"Batterysdead," Soledad finished, as anxious as he was.
"Of course it is." Rain whined. Peeps giggled. Apparently he found this whole situation too funny. "Well, if you got cables in your trunk, we'll jump it." Rain then pulled her bike keys out of her pocket. She wasn't done saying 'Peeps can you drive the bike?' when Peeps snatched the keys from her hand and jumped onto the Triumph.
Rain joined Steven and Soledad, and Steven couldn't be happier to see her, creepy eyes on her arms and everything. Likewise, she seemed relieved to be there. She asked them if they were alright, and they both answered they were. Steven double thanked her for everything she did (and it still felt like a short apology).
"Don't mention it," she said. "Now let's beat it. It's freezing in here."
Peeps joined them with the Triumph. Rain told Soledad to get on with him, so it meant Steven would have to walk with Rain, probably to receive a Pearl-grade earful in private. Boy, that wasn't something to look forward to.
They didn't get to start the Triumph when a wave of strong mistrust flooded Steven. Immediately after, Sheriff Lowe shouted at them:
"HEY! How did you know they have a Dondai?"
They were all stunted. Nobody said anything, but it was the opposite of silence; it was as if doing so much as talking from now on was forbidden.
"What?" said Rain meekly.
"The car," said Sheriff Lowe. "How did you know they have a car?"
"I-You told me, man. Just now."
"No, no," the Sheriff shook his head left and right madly. "I said I gave them chase. I didn't tell you they had a car. And I'm sure as hell I didn't say they had a Dondai Supremo."
Even more boiling silence. "Do you… do you know these idiots?" asked Sheriff Lowe.
The sudden flow of fear from Rain's claw-like aura sent Steven forward.
"No!" he shouted. Now all eyes were on him and… now what? "I mean… Come on! We? Knowing them? Ple-ease. We," he extended his arm around Soledad's stiff shoulders, "are travelers. We're uh…"
"Engaged!"
Steven glared at Soledad. She gave him an apologetic look.
"Yeah, right. We are be… beth… we're engaged." said Steven." And we're, uh…
"On a road trip!" added Soledad. "For our honey…moon."
Soledad's voice became softer as she, like everyone else, realized lying was useless at this stage. Feeling the impending doom, Rain sighed and spoke calmly:
"OK, here is the thing," she said, as if ready to apologize. "I do know these kids-"
Sheriff Lowe roared like a mad beast. "I knew it!" he said while erratically laughing. His eyes felt on Soledad. "And you," he said and the girl meeped. "I knew I'd seen you before. You're that trap from the hostel."
WHAT THE FUCK, Steven internally yelled, which he later externalized in a rotund "DON'T call her that!"
Rain and Peeps vocalized similar, more foul-mouthed protests. Soledad went rigid, but her aura barely turned red. It was probably not the first she'd been insulted. That, of course, didn't matter shit, because Steven was fuming now.
BANG! The rifle erupted, sending a bullet into the air. Inside his chest, Steven's heart was ready to burst; and in his belly, his gem was ready to fight. Not now, please, he told himself. This was a bad time to turn pink and big.
"Shut up! All of you," Sheriff Lowe demanded, and he wasn't the same person that one minute ago. He was the mad-man that had chased the Dondai for miles and crashed against them; bloodthirsty and armed. "I don't know what's happening here, but I'll tell what's gonna happen."
"You, and you," he pointed the rifle at Steven and Soledad, "are going to the station to be locked up. And you two," he made a swinging motion and pointed at Peeps and Rain, "are coming too. For questioning. When I find out what the heck's going on, I'll decide what to do with all of you, because it's obvious you are all trying to make a fool out of me, and I won't allow it!
"For the love of God, Jim, is not-"
"Fuck you, Rain!" the Sheriff growled. "And it's Sheriff Lowe to you. Now stick them up, all of you."
Peeps and Rain voiced their protests, which only increased the volume of Sheriff Lowe's threats. Yelling came and went, ripping the silence of the night and drilling into Steven's brain. Sheriff Lowe's rifle made a swiping motion, pointing alternatively at all of them. The Sheriff's finger was getting awfully close to the trigger, and any effort of Peeps and Rain to calm him down were useless. Soledad was looking back at forth and clutching to Steven's arm. Hopelessness. Steven was feeling it as well; it wasn't the first time for him.
This went on for long enough. With this thought in mind and a ferocious rage growing in his chest, Steven pulled his claws out and walked forward.
"Listen, they had nothing to do-"
BANG! There was screaming and panic. The bullet flew lower this time, hitting a rock at Steven's feet.
"Shut the fuck-" Sheriff Lowe began but his mouth gave up when Steven began to glow.
With the new eyes of his Pink form, Steven could see Lowe as he really was. Small, weak. A mice thinking he was a lion with a stick in his hands, ready to harm anybody that messed up with him.
But Steven wasn't just 'anybody'. And it was time to show it off.
"No Lowe," commanded Steven, "I think YOU should shut up."
CLIFFHANGER! HA! Love them.
Seriously, i'll try to upload sooner, but i wont make any promises about when. Like i said, i essentially got double the work from now on. AND WITH THE SAME PAY! HA! Aint life grand?
Anyway, as usual please comment if you liked it. See you guys next time!
