13,309 Words and 52 pages. This one should hold you guys over for a while while I write more angst.
Chapter 10: Kade
June 25th, 2:08 am, Sacramento CA
Bulletproof
The Sacramento Police Department's job got a lot easier for a while once Jim came to town, he had to of stopped at least five muggings or robberies a night. A few of them ran off, some he'd fight, only some of them he'd make an active effort to take to the police. By the second night, the news coverage was blowing up, speculation about him living in the city, others that he was just staying because of the crime.
On his third night, after he'd taken in several muggers and attempted assault criminals to the same officer one by one, the officer tossed down a pair of handcuffs saying, "Just chain them to the lamp post over there, I'll check it every so often." the officer, Jim found out his name was Officer Kade, had left Jim struggling not to laugh, with his annoyed yet grateful action. He was probably driving him nuts calling him every half hour to come get an unconscious criminal.
Later that night, Jim was wandering the streets with his tail around his waist, listening for any sign of trouble. When he walked in front of a jewelry store, open still. Which was weird considering the time, -big cities and their 24 hour services- he thought. A man pulled out a gun and shot it once in the air, the few shoppers inside and the worker, covered their heads and screamed, dropping to the floor.
Jim's shoulders slumped as he sighed, he pushed through the doors, he pulled the cloak closer, it was really bright in there, and if he wasn't careful everyone would be able to see him.
The man turned on Jim and pointed his gun at him, Jim pretended to ignore him as he walked over to the display cases and began idly observing the contents, he walked around with the gun still trained on him. Using his other senses to track his movements.
"Get on the floor!" the man yelled, "Or I'll shoot." he glared, holding the gun steady.
Jim hummed his acknowledgement, then spotted a ring with a rather large diamond encrusted inside white gold. He looked to the ring and said to the man with the gun, "If you manage to actually rob this place, you don't want this one." he stated.
The man's hold on the gun lowered just slightly, "What?" he said. "Why?"
"It isn't real, the diamond I mean. It's coloration is all wrong." Jim said, then he noticed another one with the same fault, then another, and soon spotted several. "Actually, you don't want a lot of these, their fakes."
The worker seemed to take offence and spoke up, "How dare you, these are all genuine!" She yelled, the man pointed the gun at her and shouted back.
"Shut up and sit down!"
Jim growled, "Hey, be nice. She doesn't need your negativity." he said sarcastically as he walked closer.
"What?" The man said.
"All I mean is that you're robbing the place, you could at least cut her some slack."
"You've gotta be nuts, sit down before I shoot you." The robber pointed the gun back at him.
Jim remained standing, the dark hooded figure the only thing visible was the cloak. "Well, I've been wondering what would happen if I got shot." small amounts of laughter could be heard from him.
One of the customers whispered to him, "Are you crazy? You die if you get shot!"
"That's debatable." Jim shrugged. "But, put the gun away before you regret it." he growled his words.
The gunman took a step back and his grip faltered once again.
"So are you going to put the gun down and leave, or are you going to make me fight you? Which by the way, won't end well for you." Jim tilted his head down slightly.
The man fired the gun, the sound rang through the small store, and one of the glass sides of the display cases shattered, Jim gripped his arm and snarled.
"Shit that hurt." Jim yelled, "But I've got good news and bad news. The good news is, I'm bulletproof. Bad news is, I'm going to kick your ass for shooting me."
Jim lunged forward, swinging his claws tearing the man's jacket. He fired again, nailing Jim's chest, this one didn't ricochet though. He growled, "Would you stop that?" He ripped the gun from the man's hand and discarded it across the floor.
"How aren't you dead!?" the man yelled.
"Dude, you're not the first person who's tried to kill me." Jim laughed in a dark manor. He punched the man, sending him to the floor and unconscious.
The other patrons slowly stood, glancing around for more danger.
"Is everyone ok?" Jim asked loudly, the sound of his growl slipping into his tone slightly.
One man, holding his arms protectively around his girl, said, "We're fine thanks to you, but are you okay?"
Jim rubbed his arm underneath his cloak, he could smell and feel the blood there, and the blood on his chest. "Well, it hurt like hell getting shot." He moved his hand carefully out looking at his fingers just inside the brim of his cloak, rubbing them together while scanning the blood. The dark coloration told him that it hadn't hit any arteries. "But I think once I get this cleaned up, I'll be fine." He smiled.
"Oh my gosh are your hands blue!" the worker screamed.
Jim's ears pressed against his head, and he winced. Pulling his hand back into the cloak.
"Yeah, you weren't supposed to see that."
Police cars pulled up with the of screeching tires.
"You called the police…" Jim grunted, "I'll just leave him here then. I've gotta get outa here." he said, walking quickly to the door.
"Wait!" someone called.
Jim ignored the call and left the shop, disappearing into the shadows and slipping away. He found a safe place high in a tree in a park to take off his cloak and check his wounds. The one on his arm had stopped bleeding, and the one on his chest he had to take off his shirt to look at.
It was still bleeding some, and the stone around it looked bruised. Following his instincts, he began to lick it clean. Wiping away the blood. And while he loved the taste of fresh blood in meat, he didn't necessarily like the taste of his own blood.
He licked at the one on his chest, then the one on his arm. Cleaning the area of blood. He started to relax and leaned against the tree, his tail wrapping around the branch. He noticed that the gunshot wounds were already healing, the skin around them darkening slowly. Jim took a deep breath, he didn't quite like the smoggy air of the city, but the park air was cleaner than most.
He'd taken about seven people to the police station, he could call it a night. He looked up through the leaves and glimpsed the stars and the sliver of the moon, smiling down on him like the cheshire cat. He smiled back.
Jim decided to clean the cuts Mace had given him on his other arm too, and before he knew it he was giving himself a full on bath, after he'd gotten done with where he could reach, he licked his palm and ran his hands through his scruff, in between and around his horns. He did this a few times till he felt his scruff was clean. It had gotten long since he'd left. He unwound his tail and began cleaning that, from as far as he could reach neer his back, all the way along the scruff that ran along to the small tuft at the tip.
Once he'd finished, he laughed out loud. He'd found another way to be more trollish. Then his smile fell, another reason for his mother and friends to hate him.
He snarled loudly, the few birds in the tree took flight, and he heard the scared screams of park goers as they ran the other direction. Jim sighed, after pulling his shirt back on he climbed the tree some more, finding a good spot to sleep for the night.
He hadn't been to this specific park yet, but it was kinda small. All the trees near a road or the pool he could smell on the other side of a pond. He poked his head up from the top branches, scanning the park from up high. Then he spotted a small island in the middle of the pond with a few trees.
A large toothy grin passed Jim's lips.
He jumped carefully down the branches till he reached the ground. He tested the air, no one was in the park right now, so he didn't bother pulling the hood up. He made a mad dash across the park toward the lake, jumpin the expanse. A good 50' jump. He landed roughly in the shallow water.
He laughed a bit walking towards the cluster of trees, dirt sticking to his wet feet, and leaving strange footprints in the damp soil. He found a low hanging branch where no light could possibly reach, even during the day. Using his arm to hold himself off the ground, he tested its weight, to see if it would hold him.
He was about to do a flip and settle in for the night, but the twitch against his dark scruff stopped him. He glanced around and listened for the cause of his ears flicking, small steps. Not of a human, but an animal. The small rustling of leaves, and the dragging of a long slender tail. He tested the air again, blocking out the smell of the chlorine filled pool nearby, the smell wasn't one he knew the name to, but he knew it was meat. He carefully moved toward the scent, crawling on all fours toward the creature till it was in sight. A small opossum. Jim's stomach growled quietly.
Jim hadn't eaten in a few days, not since he'd left his pride on… what was it, Saturday. It was Wednesday night, maybe Thursday morning. Telling days by the nights was tricky.
Although he was ok with everything about himself, and he felt fine with the prospect of killing an animal to feed himself, this little thing wouldn't be more than a few bites for Jim. And he needed more. So he decided he'd find something when he woke up, he wasn't that hungry, but he would be soon. So he had to kill for his lunch, or go shopping…
Yeah, he was going to find an animal himself. He hated shopping, wearing gloves and the whole bit. Jim walked back to his tree, and backflipped onto the branch, his tail securely holding him to it. He held the cloak with his long toes and crossed his legs, holding his arms close to his chest.
He tried to ignore the slight pain he got from the gunshots, and the fact that his horns were digging into the ground slightly. Jim used his arms and pushed up allowing his tail to tighten a bit more so he wasn't so low to the ground. He sat there somewhat board, and not quite ready for sleep.
His curiosity got the better of him, Strickler sent him the video of Maddie and her brother a few days ago, but he hadn't watched it.
He pulled his phone out of the velcro side pocket and opened it up, he'd have to charge it soon. His battery pack was almost dead. He started the video.
The reporters voice came from behind a mic, others could be seen in the frame trying to get the story. "Miss, miss, can you tell us what happened?"
Others voices came asking a barrage of similar questions. Maddie switched her gaze from camera to camera, Jamie held tight at her side.
"We came to the zoo for a day of fun, and I had Jamie on my shoulders. Some people got rough behind us and he got knocked off my shoulders into the enclosure. I watched as one of the lions came forward and charged at my brother, I saw a guy in a cloak knock the lion away.
"The lion attacked the guy, but he dodged it, then he got his arms around it and kinda threw him to the side. The guy started walking back toward Jamie when it started to charge him again. But then out of nowhere, a lioness and a lion came out and protected him.
"After that they came over and like, brushed up against him. The guy started talking to my brother when the lioness came out and started sniffing him…"
"Scared the crap out of me!" Jamie yelled on screen. "Then the guy growled at it and she backed off and like… I don't know, listened to him. He took me toward the door, when the first lion was going to try and eat me again and he growled at him too, and he stopped!"
"Then he brought him up through the door over there," Maddie pointed, "And then he left."
The roar of questions came again, the one for the specific video asked, "Now when you say growled…"
"I mean actually growled, like it was kinda scary. He sounded just like an animal." Jamie explained with gusto.
"And did you see him or his face?"
"No, all I saw was his cloak." Maddie said, lying straight to the reporters face.
A barge of shouts came about the lion handler, the cameras panned toward him coming out the exit Jim had taken the boy. The camera was jarred as it was carried in his direction.
Jace held his arms up for everyone to calm down. Then pointed to a reporter off screen for a question.
"Who was it that rescued the boy?"
"I am unaware of who he is, or how he got in. Though I am glad that no one was severely injured."
"The story is that two of the lions protected the rescuer, do you know why?"
"They did?" Jace asked trying not to smile, "well, I honestly have no idea why they would do that." He said through a grin.
The reporters saw through that miles away, "You're lying. What reason would you have to lie?" one asked.
Jace froze momentarily, than let out a sigh and said, "Fine, I do know who he is, and how he got in to the enclosure. I've no reason to tell you who he is though. That's not your business."
That sent them into uproar, a series of 'why not?' 'who is he?' 'why won't you tell us?' and other questions.
Jace held up his hands again, "Fine, I'll tell you."
Jim glared at the phone as if he could glare at Jace.
"He's really good with animals, I've been having trouble with one of the lions. He came to help me out. He'd gained favor with the other lions, that's why they protected him…"
"Is he the guy who pulled the family from the crash, and stopped the mugging?"
"Yes, he is the one responsible for the rescues, the return of money and the capture of the King city mugger, and the stopped assault in Fresno."
"Then you know what he looks like? And who he is, his name?" A reporter asked.
"I do."
"What does he look like?"
"Who is he?"
"Can we get a name?"
The reporters yelled, multiple of each question thrown at him.
"Shut up! Haven't you ever thought there's a reason he wants to stay anonymous? He's doing these things because it's the right thing to do, not because it's going to get him recognition! He likes helping people. Just last night he saved me from one of the lions after I was being an idiot! Didn't even mention it afterward. Let him be."
Jace threw his arm down. And there was a moment of contemplative silence.
"Do you know where he is?" a reporter asked.
"I do." Jace nodded.
"Where is he?" a single person inquired.
"He's in the enclosure right now, as far as I know. And none of you are to disturb him. He's helping with the recovery of the lion cub. Besides, you would have to go in the enclosure. And I don't think any of you wanna chance that after today." Jace gave a smirk, then his tone turned serious. "If any of you try to bug him, I will have you kicked out of the zoo and charged for trespassing."
"Why are you defending him?" someone asked.
"Because, he's one of the only genuine people I've ever met. Strong willed, protective, a truly unique young man. I believe he deserves more than just recognition, but he has more self respect then most and doesn't need the media's praise to do good. If he were to give himself up, it would ruin what he does, let him stay nameless." Jace smiled a bit, "keep the mystery alive. Thank you, that's all." He held his and up and walked away, disappearing down the stairs through the door.
The camera turned to the reporter, a dozen cameras and reporters in the background. "There you have it. Saved a child from an adult male lion, saved the lion's handler, saving a lion cub. Only a few of his many acts. His name may be unknown, his face unseen, but wherever he is, his actions are not unnoticed. So we thank you."
He wasn't all too happy with Jace, but he guessed it couldn't be helped, plus he did say some really nice things about him. He replaced his phone in his pocket and fell to sleep, resting up for his next night of crime fighting.
Officer Kade had his brows pressed as he walked out of the SPD to get the first of the nights criminals, stopping Jim before he handcuffed him to the light post.
"You working graveyard all week?" Jim asked, sympathy for the officer spilling out of his tone.
Officer Kade shugged, "Gotta pay the bills somehow." He glanced down at the unconscious man on the ground. "Why are they always unconscious? They always wake up and complain about a headache. Which gives me a headache." the officer smiled, a scruffy beard beginning to form on his chin.
"You try getting a criminal to walk to the police station. Knocking them out and carrying them is easier." Jim shrugged. "Get some really weird looks walking down the street with a body on my shoulder though." He laughed.
"How old are you?" the man asked, he looked shocked at Jim's ability to lift the people he brought in.
"Uh, 16." Jim rubbed the back of his neck, "I'll be 17 in a few months."
Kade's brows furrowed even more, "Why are you out fighting criminals? Or a better question… How?"
"How? Well, that's when it gets a bit too personal for me to share. And why? Because what else would I do in the middle of the night? If I'm not walking aimlessly north, that is. "
"What else would you be doing?" The man stood in shock, "Playing video games, going out and causing trouble, hanging with friends, sleeping! Literally anything but crime fighting should be on that list." the man pointed at the ground, trying to make his point clear.
Jim gave a sad sigh and shook his head, "My 'friends' are back in Arcadia. But ever since the… well, let's just say my family and friends don't exactly like me anymore. And that's putting it lightly."
Kade took a brave step forward, and Jim allowed it. "If I can ask, what happened?"
A still moment of silence before Jim answered, "My best friend was avoiding me and is disgusted by me. I broke up with my girlfriend because she was hurting me. And my mom… well, not out loud, but she pretty much disowned me." He shook his head an grasped for his horn under his hood. "I really shouldn't be telling you this." he said, looking directly at officer Kade.
The officer took another step forward, "I'm really… that's… I don't even have words."
Jim laughed a bit, "It's fine. What they think is their business. I'm gonna go, I'll leave you a few more gifts." Jim gave a sad smile and pointed at the lamp post. "Hopefully there will be less muggings tonight though."
Kade rolled his eyes, "Yeah, like that would ever happen." He looked down at the inert body and sighed as the figure wandered into the dark. He ran his hands through his shaggy but neatly combed back brown hair, watching the young man vanish completely into the shadows.
He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something really off about that kid.
…
The kid had left four more unconscious bodies attached to the lamp post that night. They were now switching pairs of handcuffs, he'd leave a pair next to the post when he took in the next criminal. He sometimes wondered if these were even criminals at all, but with the track record set…
Most the time, he'd send the victims to report the crime and they wouldn't be too long after the offender's drop off, and the victim would point the person out for whatever crime they had committed or were stopped from committing. Sometimes he'd just bring in a drunk, they were a danger to themselves. They could sober up in the cell before being released.
He couldn't help but think of how efficient the kid was, but it still bugged him that he was just that. A kid.
He took the most recent offender inside, leaving another pair of handcuffs nearby. It was a good system they had though, the kid would stop them, knock 'em out, bring them in, the victim would quickly identify them after they came in to report of give their statement. Smooth work, and it was making the officer's jobs much easier.
The man he was currently bringing in, a smelly, probably homeless, drunk. Probably attacked a random group of people. He was awake when he removed him from the street lamp, so put him in the holding cell with some others, then he started spouting nonsense.
"Officer! I gotta tell ya, the thing that tied me to the post! It was a demon! I swear, I'm not crazy, it was blue and had these big horns! A tail longer than I am tall. And his eyes, they were red, they were blue at first, but then they were red! He made sounds that aren't right! I swear I'm telling you the truth!" The man babbled on and on.
What a ridiculous sentiment. This guy was drunker than drunk, the person who brought him in was just the kid. He was probably on drugs too, if he was seeing that kind of nonsense.
Officer Kade was about to walk out the door when one of the others that the kid had brought in, spoke.
"Uh officer, I saw it too. It was the thing that knocked me out and chained me to the light post." one of the quieter men said.
A woman, slightly tipsy, brought in for assault, said the same. "It's tail was like a snake, it was reeeeaaalllly long." she slurred her words.
"I thought I was gonna die! I know I haven't been all that good in life, but I didn't know I'd meet the devil himself for taken' someone's money!" A man shouted.
Soon the whole holding block was in an uproar, all started because one drunk man opened his big mouth.
"I thought I was crazy, but if everyone saw it. It must be real."
Officer Kade narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath, "And tonight was going so well," he said, walking out of the room, leaving them to their own devices.
Without a word, he marched out to the light post, stood and waited. It was about four in the morning, he was exhausted, and the cheshire moon grinned down at him. He stood there and waited, about half an hour before the kid showed up again, a body slung over his shoulder. He walked up, looking a tad apprehensive that Kade was already waiting for him.
He gently lowered the body to the ground and stalked a bit closer, only then did Kade realize his steps were softer then a normal person's, and his every move seemed calculated and watched. "Officer Kade?" He said, his voice as low and raspy as always.
"Why would every single one of the offender's you brought in seem to think you're blue, have horns, a tail, big teeth, make inhuman noises, and eyes that change to red? All of them. Each one said something, and that something lined up with the others. No group of people who just met each other can lie like that, and they have no reason to lie about it. So, why would they say that?"
The kid reached under his hood, grabbing at his hair or something, muttering things under his breath, the only thing he could hear was, "stupid, stupid, stupid."
"So?" Officer Kade raised a single eyebrow with his arms crossed across his chest.
"Take this guy inside, and I'll meet you over there." The kid pointed to the west side of the building, a alleyway with a small amount of light from the back door light.
"What? You're not going to say anything about this?" Kade pressed.
"Well, I will say I need to be more careful when fighting these guys, especially if they're seeing my face." The kid said, then did something really confusing. He lowered himself onto his hands and kinda, just… bounded away toward the alley.
Officer Kade took the man in as fast as he could. Then he practically bolted out to the alley. He found the kid, still in his cloak, standing ominously in the light. He walked further into the dead end and spoke, "So, why do all the inmates seem to think you're a demon?"
"Demon?" His laugh started small, then slowly rose to historical. "Of all the names, demon is not one I thought I'd get. Better than monster though."
Kade let his head fall to one side, staring blankly with his brows pressed. "I'm just really confused."
The kid held out his hand… his blue, four fingered hand…
Kade blinked hard, trying to see the correct coloration of this hand, but didn't.
"You know that I'm the anonymous guy all over the news?"
The officer nodded, "Yeah, and you don't want people to know who you are because that would ruin what you do. I saw what the lion handler said."
"Yeah, he's not wrong. But he was actually protecting me, there's a different reason I'm anonymous." The kid laughed. "You just can't freak."
"Ok, what's the real reason you've decided to stay nameless?" Kade folded his arms and stared intently at the hooded figure.
"Well, I'm not exactly human." The kid said shyly. "You can turn back now, or I can show you my face." He said, "But you've gotta promise not to scream."
The officer's arms fell to his sides, he didn't know what to think for a second. But he nodded, "Alright, I won't scream."
The distance between them was small, only a few feet. So when he took off his hood, he stumbled back several steps.
The kid loosened his cloak, and his tail fell from around his waist, the hood sat idly round his shoulders, and his massive blue eyes peered back. Sadness filled them as he smelled fear beginning to radiate off Kade.
His long pointed ears lowered, and he took a deep breath. The movement of his mouth drawing attention to his large teeth jutting up from his lower jaw. His blue complection dulled the color of his grey-tan horns.
His attention was pulled away from the 'boys' face at the twitching of his tail, swaying back and forth in wide, ribbon-like movements.
As he stumbled back, he tripped on his own foot, falling on his butt. The kid stepped forward to help him up, but as he winced as he came forward. He stopped.
His shoulders fell, as did his ears, his tail slowed, and a long deep sigh was let out, only it sounded like a growl. "I promise, I'm not going to hurt you. Just, please don't be scared of me." he said, sounding so small.
He was still a kid, a different kid, but still, a kid.
Kade got up and tried to push away his rising fear and panic, he walked forward a few steps and held out his hand. "Kyle Kade." He smiled.
"James Lake, but my friends call me Jim." he said, pressing his lips. "Please don't tell the news crews."
Kade laughed, "Don't worry, your secrets safe with me… so, not human?"
"Nope."
"What are you?"
"I'm a troll," Jim said.
"And your friends and mother disowned you because?"
Jim snarled, and Kade jumped, "You had to go straight to that?" he bit.
The officer shrunk, "Sorry, just…"
"Look, if you have to know. My human mother, and human friends, don't like how I act. I used to be human. Don't ask how, it's a long story." Jim lifted his nose toward the officer and sighed. "I'm sorry I'm scaring you."
Kade's fear was drown out by surprise and confusion, "Did you just smell me?"
Jim nodded, "Adrenaline, and cortisol, the main two hormones and chemicals that the brain produces when someone is scared."
"And you can smell tha… Oh my Gosh! Is that a gunshot wound?!" he said, noticing the blood stain running down the front of his shirt.
Jim glanced down at his shirt, "Oh that? That was the jewelry store gunman last night. Got my arm too." he moved the cloak aside to show the darkened blue stone, walking a few feet forward.
"What the hell happened to your other arm!?" he yelled.
"Mace, after I rammed him in the side for trying to eat a kid that fell in the lion enclosure. That's nothing compared to the bite I left on his shoulder though." The cuts were still raw, and sore. Mace had done a number on his arm, he hadn't realized how bad he'd gotten it before. He brought his arm up and licked it a bit, Kade watching cautiously.
"Do I even want to know anything about you?" he asked.
Jim shook his head, "No, probably not. Besides, I'm not really supposed to tell anyone about trolls. And no one is supposed to see me. Technically, I should be in Arcadia, teaching a class on troll history, but I'm here instead." He smiled.
"You confuse me." Kade blinked.
"Cool, I'll see you tomorrow night. I'm thinking I'll leave on Monday. So don't expect me to help you out forever." Jim laughed and he faded into the shadows again.
"Wait." He called out to the apparent nothingness.
Jim turned and waited for the rest.
"How do you do that? Disappear?"
"I'm a shadow, a distorted reflection of myself. But sometimes, dark is were the best things hide. He smiled his toothy grin, his eyes glowed for a second and he vanished again.
Jim headed back to the park he'd slept in the night before, he hadn't really smelt any animals there, other then the few opossums, and he kinda liked those little guys. He caught a few of them hanging by their tails. But he figured he could either find something there tonight, or wait another night.
He crawled around in the park with his hood up, testing the air, his ears swiveling around, listening for the small pitter patter of animal feet. When he finally picked something up, it was a medium racoon. A racoon and not a goblin. Jim smiled to himself as he crawled forward, keeping low to the ground, his tail swaying quietly and twitching at the tip. A silent growl settled in his chest, and he pounced.
He jumped with a loud snarl, and he clamped his maw around the creatures throat, tasting the blood that dripped onto his teeth and into his mouth. He carried it back to the island, and was glad he'd gotten some ziplocks for his phone and battery pack earlier. Since there was a chance he could not make a long enough jump and land in the water. He crawled back to his tree, and set the dead racoon down, mentally thanking it for his meal.
He set to skinning it, figuring that out for the first time was tricky, but let his instincts take the lead for this one. He didn't really want to eat the animal whole, but did his best to skin it. Which was fairly easy, given the fact he was doing it with his mouth, which was weird.
After he'd skinned it, he dug a whole for the fur and entrails and bones. He was only interested in the meat tonight. His stomach growled and he dug into his meal. It wasn't venison, but the taste of a fresh kill was calming to his nerves, and sat on his stomach well. He ate the whole thing, not wanting to be wasteful, and not sure if he could digest spoiled meat.
He cleaned his hands after climbing the tree and sitting against the trunk on a thick branch. He pulled out his phone, just as a new text from Strickler came through.
-Be more careful you shouldn't be getting shot!-
-But well done.-
The next text was a link to a new video.
A blonde reporter holding a mic, in front of the jewelry store. The wind blowing slightly, causing her hair to blow in her face.
"What occured here early thursday morning, around three, was nothing short of a miracle. And what we can only assume is the work of the mysterious young man. Witnesses say, that a gunman walked in shot once toward the ceiling and declared a robbery. Moments later, a mysterious cloaked figure strolled in without a care in the world." The video changed to small clips of the store inside with a voice over.
"The masked man claimed that several of the rings were fakes and that the robber didn't want them. While this left everyone confused, the gunman threatened to shoot. One patron said 'He didn't seem phased at all, in fact, I think he wanted to get shot.'
"And get shot he did, twice in fact. Forensics agents found one bullet that had rhichoched into a display case, and another where the young man stood. Both were said to have made contact with the young man. And his only response, witnesses say, and I quote 'it hurt like hell getting shot.' after getting shot once in the arm, and once in the chest."
The video changed to the anchors in the studio.
"And he's still alive."
"Amazing."
The man and the woman said, (Freaking scripted news anchors, they don't even react in real life.)
"But that's not the whole thing, after further investigation on the rings, over half of them were found to be fakes. The ones that had come in were genuine, but most of the ones in the display cases were indeed counterfeit. A new investigation has been opened up to reveal the cause of this. And it's all thanks to the nameless young man, who's saved more than just lives now. Back to you in the studio.
…
He kinda thought it was funny that he started a full blown investigation over a few stones. Stones that with one look he could tell were fakes, they probably had to have an expert come in to check them.
After spending almost a year down in trollmarket, and his enhanced vision, he could see the false coloration of the lab grown stones in a heartbeat.
June 26th, 11:44 pm, Sacramento CA
Max and KC
He needed a new shirt, even if people weren't going to see it, the smell of his own blood was bitter in his nose. He found a gas station that had a few T-shirts. Of course, the poor cashier probably wet himself when he came up with grimy gloves, and the whole dark hood thing. He quickly paid for the shirt, asked for a twenty, and left to the bathroom to change.
He discarded the other shirt in the trash, the white-T, was grime covered and torn in all sorts of places from the bullet, his horns, getting caught on trees, and the weeks of ware in one shirt.
He walked out of the store pass the gas pumps and started to head down the street, then behind him, he heard the pounding of shoes on pavement and the slamming of a car door, before the screeching tires of a four door SUV peeling out into the light traffic of the late night. A woman yelled, running as fast as she could after it. She started screaming as it drove further down the road, breaking the speed limit.
The woman tripped on her own foot and face planted, she got up without a thought and kept running, blood running down her scrapped face.
Jim ran up to her, and tried to slow her down. And she collapsed in his arms as she watched the vehicle turn the corner, "Hey, shhh, shhh, it's alright. It's just a car." he said. Than he noticed she gripped a small stuffed lion in her hand. She dug her nails into his arms as she cried. Holding his arm like a lifeline.
"No, my kids, my babies!" She wailed.
"What!?" He almost roared. He looked at the small animal in her hand. "Is this one of your kids?" He frantically growled.
The woman, too much in shock to notice the terrifying sounds of anger and surprise he was producing, nodded.
"May I see it?" He held out his arm in full view, too pissed off to care right now.
She reluctantly gave it, through sporadic breaths and tears streaming down her face at full force.
Jim brought it to his nose, and picked up on of the kids scents. He lifted his nose to the air and through a bit of trouble sorting out the various smells of the city, caught the scent. He gently handed the toy to the grieving mother and said, "I'll meet you back at the gas station, I promise, I will get them back." He stared her dead in the eyes, his face -though shadowed- was visible.
He locked onto the sent, and took off running, the hood catching air as he ran trying to come down. He kept pulling it up, but he had to slow slightly every time he did.
"Screw this!" He said. He growled and dropped to his fours letting his tail fly, and his hood fall back, he followed the scent, and though it took him almost an hour. When he finally found the car.
He followed an old back alley, leading to a group of large warehouses at the edge of the river, one of them buzzing with life, probably the center of a chop shop ring or something. He could hear the grinding of the machines inside, and the cries of two young children. He slipped in through a low to the ground window, and followed the scent, heavily distorted by the smell of machinary and car fluids.
He slipped into the dark side room being used as an office, fitting in with the shadows.
"You didn't CHECK?! Now the police are going to be looking all over for these two. A stolen car is one thing, but two kids?!" A mean looking disgruntled man yelled at the man who had stolen the car.
His scent mixed in the trail with that of the kids, and his sibling. A little girl, and a young boy holding her protectively. Both with tear stained cheeks and wreaking of fear.
"What are we gonna do with them boss?" The smaller man asked carefully.
"WE, aren't going to do anything. YOU, are going to drop their bodies in the river."
"WHAT?!"
"Your mess, your problem. Now get rid of them!"
The man grunted and grabbed the kids by their necks forcing them out of the room, yelling at the girl when she cried after stepping on something with her bare feet.
He forced them out of the building and down to the edge of the river, the kids screamed and cried as he shoved them toward the deep, dirty, high current water. Squirming in his grasp as he shoved them into the water.
Jim ran past the man, sending a full force punch at his jaw. Not giving any restraint whatsoever. Jim hopped that he broke his jaw, and dived in without a second thought.
He grabbed the little girl, with his arm. Making sure to keep her head above the water, and searched for the little boy. He probably should have taken into account that his skin was stone, and that stone sinks.
He kicked extra hard and his tail thrashed violently in the water, doing it's best to provide support. He spotted the kid, and did a one handed doggy paddle over to him, he was struggling to fight against the current, but was staying afloat well. Once he got close enough, he wrapped his tail around the boy's waist, and he screamed 'cus something had grabbed him.
Jim yelled out, "It's ok! It's just…" Jim coughed, putting up water. He pulled the kid close and struggled to stay afloat while keeping the girls head above water. He looked for the best exit and paddled toward it. The boy keeping himself up was probably the only reason they made it to the edge and Jim was able to pull them all out.
He released the kids and crawled forward before throwing up half the rivers water, and last night's dinner. He collapsed on his back and turned to the kids, "Are you alright?" he gave breathlessly.
"Where's mommy?" the little girl cried, shivering.
Both of the kids were skin and bone, and chilled to the core. Sure it was summer in california, but the river water was freezing, and past midnight.
Jim pushed aside his fatigue and got to his hands, he crawled over to the kids, and unfastened his cloak. "Your mama's waiting back at the gas station. I'm going to take you to her." He beckoned the boy with his tail. "Come here, I don't want you freezing to death." He gave his nicest smile and held out the cloak.
The boy walked forward, pulling his sister to her feet and wrapping his arm around her.
"What's your names?" He asked.
"I'm Max, and this is KC." He said, trying to get himself warm.
Jim wrapped the cloak around the kids shoulders, and pulled it close in front of them. He couldn't tell them his name, but maybe… "I'm Atlas. Is it alright if I carry you?"
"Please! I wanna see my mommy." KC cried.
"Alright, it's going to take a while, but we'll get there." He said, he wrapped his tail around the two bundled up in his cloak. And despite the burning in his arms and legs from the exhaustion of the river, and the pain from the cuts that Mace had left, lifted them, and carried them for over an hour back to the gas station. Having to stick to the darker streets to avoid being seen.
When they arrived, the police were swarming the station. The tear stained mother talking to a dozen officers, her face with dried road rash. He stopped in a alleyway on the side of the store, and set the kids down on his lap. He listened carefully, and picked out officer Kade's voice.
"Hey, I'm gonna make a scary sound, but I don't want you to be afraid. OK?" He told the kids, he still had them tight in his tail.
The two nodded, and scrunched their faces, bracing for the sound. Jim let out a roar, and the entire parking lot stilled and went silent. A bit too loud, he winced.
"I'll check it out." One officer said, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"No, I've got this." Kade said, walking past without heading the argument the other tried to start.
He walked into the alleyway and pulled out his light, Jim let his eyes glow dully as he came in and turned on the torch.
"Hey, Kade." Jim said through heavy breaths
"Oh my gosh, are you alright?" Kade rushed forward, almost getting to his knees.
Jim held up his hand. "I'm fine, just, not a great swimmer. But, I got the kids." He smiled. He turned the bundle of shivering children for the officer to see.
"Oh my word… what… What happened?" The officer covered his mouth, eyes wide with horror.
"Not now," Jim panted, "Go get their mom, I think she's already seen me. If not, oh well. And some blankets, their freezing. And I'm too cold to make them warm." Jim said, he could feel his living stone aching at the cold. Most of the time trolls gave off their own heat, but right now, he felt like a glacier."
"Alright." Kade said, he took off for his squad car, he grabbed two fleece blankets and ran up to the mother, the other officers were making a plan to find the kids off to the side.
Jim was too tired to listen to what he said, but he watched them converse briefly before the woman stole the flashlight from his hands and took off toward the alleyway.
Kade on her heels yelling, "Wait, you should know…"
He didn't have time to finish when the woman's screamed for the briefest of moments and Kade put a hand over her mouth, and a finger to his lips. "Shhhhh!" He hissed.
"It's fine Kade, it's a natural reaction to seeing my face." Jim smiled.
"Oh my gosh! You talk!" She said, shoving the officer's hand away.
A small voice came from Jim's lap, "is… is that… that mommy?" KC's voice quivered from the cold.
"Oh, KC! Max!" The woman yelled and was at Jim's side in a second.
"Kade, the blankets." Jim said. He handed the blankets to the woman.
Jim struggled to sit up and his horns scrapped against the brick wall behind him. He loosened his tail, unwrapping it from the kids and letting it fall in a limp line on the dirty ground, he sat them up next to their mom. Who gripped them both in a tight hug, more tears staining her face.
"Mommy!" The kids shouted, but shivered harder in the open air. She quickly wrapped them both in a blanket each. And Jim started talking.
"It took me an hour to find them, their scent was covered by a lot of the city's pollution. The car was the target, I found…" Jim winced when he pushed on his arm that Mace had chewed on. "Found a chopshop, the boss ordered them thrown into the river. Had to dive in after them, took a while to get back, without being seen." Jim took deep breaths between his words, and tried to get his cloak back on, but just couldn't.
"That was you? That, that ran after the car and stopped me on the street?" She gasped.
Jim nodded, and his horns knocked against the wall again, giving a slight snarl at the annoyance. He leaned forward and crawled forward a bit, dragging his tail. Stumbling when he put pressure on his torn arm, and he snarled as pain shot through his arm. "Shit." He breathed.
"Ji…"
"No! No real names." He bit.
"You said your name was Atlas," Max shivered, getting his words out through chattering teeth.
Jim sat on the ground bringing his tail around his form, he scooted against the wall and rested his head carefully against the brick. "I did, and that's what you can call me. I just can't have the news crews knowing my real name." His eyes glanced at the two adults, and scanned the exit of the alleyway. He shivered, and pulled his body closer to itself.
"Kid," Kade grabbed the cloak and draped it over him. He sighed, "are you going to be ok?"
"Yeah, but… what time is it?"
"Uh," the woman checked her watch, "it's about 4:30."
Jim growled and let his head fall forward, "I'm gonna die if I don't get out of here soon."
"Don't be dramatic, you've got your cloak then no one will see you…"
"No, Kade, if I am in the sun. I. Will. Die." Jim tried to stand, but his legs shook so much from his own weight they gave out and he fell back down. His large teeth all the more apparent when he snarled as he fell. "This is just great!" He slapped his tail on the ground and curled it up near his back, he punched the wall next to him and snarled again.
He looked at his injured arm, and began cleaning it, slightly soothing the pain.
"What are you doing?" The woman asked, still holding her kids tightly.
He spoke between licks, "I'm… lick … trying to keep it from getting … lick … infected." He paused and looked up at her, "The water in the river is nasty, and Mace tore my arm up really bad, it's deep. And I don't have time to wait for it to fully heal."
"J… Atlas, who's Mace." Kade asked, his brows furrowed.
"He's a lion in my pride, he tried challenging me. Locked his jaws on my arm just as I was tearing it away."
"What?" the woman gasped.
"I'm the alpha male in a small pride of lions down in the Merced county zoo." Kade stepped forward and started checking his arm in between him licking it.
"Oh, when you saved that kid that fell in." She commented.
Jim nodded, "That's my pride, and Mace is just a bit rebellious." He gave a small smirk.
"A little rebellious?! These are really deep!"
"Yeah, I know." Jim said, using his tail to bat his and away, "And this is pathetic, I'm going to die in an alley!" he gave a pathetic laugh, his tail twitched as he draped it across his horns.
The kids still shivering, whimpered, "He's not gonna die, is he moma?" Max asked.
Jim moved his tail off his face, and picked up his head. He looked at the quivering kids and shook his head. "No, I'll be fine, I'm being dramatic. I just gotta get myself somewhere dark." He smiled. Jim looked at their mom and said, "You need to get them in some dry clothes." He pressed his brows, "Take good care of them."
The woman looked warily at him, "I'll be right back." She stood and led her kids away. And the police officers scrambled as she brought her kids out.
One of the men, after conversing with her for a moment , walked over to the mouth of the dark alleyway. Kade took notice after Jim's ears twitched and he looked in the direction. He got up and stood in the way of the entrance to the dark corridor.
"What happened?" The older cop asked, though it was more a demand than anything.
"The young man who's been helping us out, and the other rescues across the state. He's what happened."
The man looked over Kade's shoulder, and saw his form under the cloak, not noticing the long tail twitching at his side. He tried to walk past Kade, but was stopped by force.
"Stop, and wait." Kade directed, "He's exhausted, and his arm is torn up real bad. He's… different." Kade paused, he looked back to Jim. "Atlas?"
"Nope" His raspy voice came from under the leathery cover.
Kade nodded. He handed his keys to the other officer and instructed him to bring his car over.
"Thanks, I can barely stand." He sighed and poked his head up from under the cover. His face showed exhaustion, and his eyes were dull compared to the normally bright blue.
Jim started licking his upper arm again, the only thing that seemed to dull the sharp pain from the stinging river water. "Strickler would kill me if he found out how many people have seen my face." He tried to smile. But instead he dropped his head on his arm, and let out a deep breath.
"What's the matter? You've been busting criminal butt for almost a week!" He got down on his knees and pulled the cloak farther up his shoulder.
"I ran at my top speed around the city for over an hour. I jumped in a river after two kids, and my skin is made of stone, it took everything to keep myself and the girl up. I took in a lot of water, then threw it and my dinner up. I carried two kids through the city for an hour and a half, and my stone is freezing. I'm exhausted, and the pain in my arm is killing me." He took another lick at his arm, though halfheartedly.
The woman came forward as the car pulled up behind her and officer Tain got out of the car, returned the keys and left.
"Did he need a place to stay?" the woman asked quietly.
Kade whispered back, "I'm going to take him to my place, get him some food. Let him rest."
Mentally, Jim was screaming at himself. For being week, and hungry, and cold, and all the things that were out of his control. A cold wind blew past and he shivered under the cloak, Jim whined like a wounded puppy and curled up tighter.
"Oh, you poor thing," she cooed.
"I'm fa… fi… fine" He grit his teeth.
"Atlas, can you get in the car?" Kade asked.
Jim steeled himself, he set a determined growl in his chest and got to his hands. He pushed up on his good arm and used his achy legs to slowly limp his way into the cab of the squad car. He curled up on the floor and rest his head on the seat. Pulling his tail in a coil next to him.
"At… Atlas?" to woman said.
Jim gave a moan, acknowledging her.
"Thank you. I just, I can't… they're all I have left, and you brought them back. Thank you." She said, wringing her hands in front of her.
"Family is everything, I get it. I would do anything for my family." Jim said before letting out a long wide yawn, his tongue curled at the tip. "Now get them home safe." He smiled and closed his eyes on the chair.
She walked away back to the squad car with her kids to be taken home.
"You good to go, Atlas?"
Jim only gave a small whine. Officer Kade shut the door and got in the driver's seat, he set the cloak on the seat next to his head and pulled out of the parking lot. The sergeant in charge of officer Kade knocked on the window as he was pulling out and stopped him.
Kade quickly threw the cloak over Jim's head and rolled down the window. "Sargent Blaire?"
"News crews coming by in the morning at 10:00. I want you there. I know you've been working with that young vigilante. Was he behind this?"
"Yes, but there's more to this than a kidnapping." Kade said, "Atlas told me it was a chopshop job."
"Atlas? You got his name!?" HIs sargent seemed proud.
"It's an alias, but he needs rest, and food. The kids were thrown in the river after they were found in the car that was jacked. He jumped in after them, and carried them both back here."
"Do you think he could find the chopshop again? If that's what happened?" He said.
Jim growled from under the cloak, "I love how adults don't believe me just because I'm a teenager." He moaned.
"Kade, are you harboring this kid!?"
"You make it sound like I'm a criminal, all I've done is help people. What have you got against me?"
"Sargent, let him be. He's had a long night. I'm just going to take him to my house." Kade said.
The man grunted, "Hey kid…"
"Call me Atlas." Jim interrupted weakly.
The Sargent rolled his eyes, "Atlas. Do you think you could show us where the chop shop is?"
"I can, but not now. Get a team or something together, I should be back on my feet tomorrow night. I'll show you where they're at." Jim said, he adjusted his position.
"Eh, you're not sounding all that great, sure you'll be up for it?"
"Mhmm, just need some rest, and food. And I'll be good to go again." The sound of a faint smile passed the cloak.
Sargent Blaire eyed the kid's form warily, "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow night then." he said before walking off.
Kade rolled up the window and drove away toward his house.
Jim shivered and said, "Think you could turn the heat up, full blast." Kade complied and the heat kissed his stone and his muscles relaxed slightly. "There's a reason trolls don't swim" He muttered.
Trolls are normally fine with cold temperature, but with the water, it's contact to the living stone when cold, is harmful and tightens up their muscles. Making it harder for them to move, and their skin stiff.
With the heet on his stone, he began to feel better instantly. And he set once again to licking at his arm, trying to relieve the pain. By the time they were back, the wounds were closing again and Jim could move.
Kade pulled up into his driveway, a nice suburb home, Jim opened the door slightly, testing the air. It was cleaner than that of the cities, he also didn't smell anyone out so he exited the car. Doing his best to stand on two jello legs. Collecting his cloak, he followed Kade inside.
"Alright, I'm a bit afraid to ask this, but what can I get you to eat?"
Jim glanced around absent mindedly, the living room to the left office to the right kitchen in the back, a stairwell near the hallway. Breakables everywhere.
"Well, I won't be picky. But have you've got any meat?"
"Um, I've got some leftover grilled chicken." Kade offered.
Jim's face scrunched up and he stuck out his tongue, he smiled and shook his head, "Got anything raw?"
Kade's face fell to a frown, "Raw?"
"Yep." Jim said, popping the 'p'.
"I'll check," He walked into the kitchen and shuffled around in the fridge, "So, uh, the movie room in the basement doesn't have any windows. You can sleep in there, and get your rest…" He paused pulling out a package of meat. "Are you nocturnal?"
"Kinda have to be." He smiled with a toothy grin. His body still ached, and his clothes still damp. A small chill ran down his spine to his tail, sending it rippling and knocking into the banister. He consciously brought it forward and wrapped it around his arm.
"What are you doing?" Kade asked, forgetting the meat in his hand and gesturing with that.
"Trying to keep your breakables from breaking. My tail is long and it knocks things over a lot. It's why I sleep outside, and hotels are expensive."
Kade laughed, "Thanks? I found some steaks, will that work?"
Jim's tongue crossed his teeth and licked his lips, "Perfect." He almost purred. He paused and rained in his off putting behavior, then dug his wallet out of his pocket and ziploc, and handed him the $20.
"No, I can't…"
"Yes, you can." Jim assured, "This is your food, and your home, and I look like this… but you're still being kind to me" His eyes grew soft.
"Jim, what was going on at home that made you leave?"
"Just some rough family issues, I'm going back in a few months. Maybe then they'll be ready for me."
A bit of sun came through the window, nicking his skin before he snarled and he retreated down the stairs a bit, he looked at the burnt stone as it glowed blue then turned to grey. He growled at his hand.
"You ok?" Kade asked in the rays of sun.
"Just… trying not to turn to stone." He grimaced.
His face turned sour, "Alright, movie room is around the corner at the bottom of the stairs. There's a wet bar, try not to make a mess with the raw steak." He said slowly.
"Thanks Kade." Jim smiled, careful of his hand. And found his way to the wet bar, he ate the steak quickly, and moved into the movie room. As promised, it had no windows and was pitch black. Jim found a large bean bag and curled up on top, licking his hand and arm until he felt both were satisfactorily clean, and no longer in pain.
Jim didn't know if it was Kade's doing or not, but the heater kicked on, full blast. And he was able to fall into a deep sleep, not worrying about anything else. Safe, in a cops house, what could happen?
June 27th, 8:17 pm, Sacramento CA
Chopshop
Jim's ears twitched against his scruff, on the floor above he heard the pitter patter of little feet.
-Oh please no! Please don't tell me this guy has kids!-
He listened to the conversation on the main level, Kade talking to a woman.
"...that you would call before you came!?"
"Kyle, I don't need to call ahead to say hi."
"You have five little monsters, I'd like the chance to put away my stuff." He sighed.
"We saw you on the news, and wanted to stop by a day early." The woman said.
"Kaaceee," Kade moaned, "ugh… DON'T let them down stairs." Kade said.
"Oh fine, you were always so picky little brother."
Kade grumbled and said, "I'm older than you."
"By five minutes." Kacee taunted.
Kade moaned and stomped down the stairs, "Stay. Up. Here."
Jim turned as the door to the darkened and hot movie room opened. His big blue, glowing eyes peered up at the officer as the door shut behind him.
"I didn't know you had a twin." Jim smiled.
"And she likes to invade my house unannounced with her two sets of twins and her oldest." Kade sighed, "how did you know?"
"You said you're five minutes older." Jim slipped off the bean bag and stretched. He sat on his heels and rubbed his arm before looking back to Kade.
"Your hearing is that good?"
Jim gave a small laugh, "I can hear your heartbeat, and your family's up stairs. I can smell and track, see in the dark." He shrugged. "I freaking love being a troll." he smiled. "What time are we meeting up with Sargent Blaire?" Jim tilted his head.
"It's sundown right now, I told him we'd meet him at the station just after dark. So soon…?"
"Alright," Jim took a deep breath. "Once the sun's down we'll leave, I'll slip past your sister and her kids. I can meet you at the station, unless you wanna drive me."
"I can drive you no problem, but how you going to get past a bunch of little monsters." He said it with annoyed endearment.
"As long as they aren't looking for me, and not actual monsters. We'll be fine." Jim assured. "As soon as the sun is down, just stomp twice, then I'll slip into your squad car."
"Stellar planning skills."
"Thanks, you can get away from your sister?"
Kade rolled his eyes, "I've been avoiding her for the past 35 years."
"35? You look like, 25."
"Thanks." He smiled and left the move room.
It was another half hour before Kade stomped twice, Jim was cleaning his cuts from mace, but now having sufficient time to heal, and proppor care. Were starting to scar, and they looked sick. -in a good way.-
He pulled the cloak around his shoulders, covered his horns with the hood and crawled up the stairs. The house was still too bright to vanish in the shadows, but the family in the dining room was distracted, he silently slipped out the front door and into the unlocked car.
A few minutes later, Kade climbed into the car in full uniform. Letting out a long slow breath, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
His high blood pressure made Jim laugh a bit as his ears twitched listening to his fast pulse. "Hey, you might wanna calm down a bit before you blow a vein." he snickered.
"I love my sister, and her kids. Just…"
Jim put his hand on his shoulder, "She wants to spend time with you, I'd give a lot to have my mom want me again."
Jace stared idly at the wheel. "You're right."
"I normally am." Jim nodded, "Now let's go get those filthy criminals."
They drove in silence to the precinct, several undercover cars parked but ready to go, numerous swat officers standing around awaiting orders. They pulled up and got out, Jim being extra careful to hide his true form.
Jim walked forward in front of Kade, "Sargent Blaire, thank you for being open to listen."
"We take kidnapping very seriously, we want to catch the men who did this." Blaire acknowledged.
"You may call me Atlas, if we drive to the industrial wharf I'll be able to point it out to you."
"Then what are we waiting for? You'll be riding with me." the man glared.
Jim shook his head, "I'll be riding with officer Kade."
"Officer Kade is not ranked high enough for this kind of operation. Com'on, we're wasting time." the Sargent started to walk away.
"Would you like to try and find it yourself?" Jim spat.
"Are you threatening me?" He turned and marched up to Jim, who had his legs bent so he's about a foot and a half shorter and eyelevel to the sargent.
"No, I'm simply stating that officer Kade will be coming. Because he's the only one here who knows anything about me. And he's the only one who will." Jim said calmly.
"Fine."
The cars all drove to the wharf, Jim climbed out, still trying to look and act human. He lead the large group of men to the warehouse.
It drove the sargent mad when 'Atlas' took the lead, and that Kade was flanking him. The sargent was pissed that he wasn't leading. And even more that the kid was using hand signals perfectly.
It confused him that the kid didn't have any source of light, but wandered the maze of warehouses easily.
They came to a large building, right next to the river. The stolen car of the mother next to it. He started to walk forward more with his pistol in hand. But the kid stopped him by his waist, holding up his hand for the rest of the men to stop.
The kid turned, "This is the warehouse, but no one is here. Everything's been cleared out." he shook his head.
"You haven't even seen inside, how can you know?"
Jim slumped his shoulders, "Go and look for yourself."
He walked forward cautiously and then burst the doors open, the agents flooding inside with weapons ready to shoot. It was an empty chopshop, for sure. But all the cars and tools had been moved out.
"Probably shouldn't have broken the kidnappers jaw." A slight smile could be heard in his voice
The sargent narrowed his eyes, "You had confrontation!? They knew they were compromised then, and this whole thing was a waste then!" he turned to another detective, "We need to get forensics down here. Search for anything we can use to track them down."
Jim grabbed the sargent's shoulder, "Hey, this night isn't over yet."
"Kid, I'll admit, there was a chop shop here. And recently, the oil stains are fresh and several other things point that out, but because you attacked one of their men. They knew they were found out!" The sarget marched up to Jim and fisted his cloak. "Now if we never find them it will be your fault."
"I wouldn't do that…" Kade tried.
"Shut up officer Kade, this kid is nothing but trouble. A worthless vigilante." The Sargent glared at Jim, their faces inches apart. But it was too dark for Blaire to see exactly what he was facing.
A cold, bone chilling laugh echoed through the warehouse. Every well trained, heavily armed agent shivered.
Jim stood to his full height, the sargent's arm extending to reach. "I don't care much about name calling when it's about me. I really don't. I've been getting it for the past year. But I would advise you, to be kinder to those under your leadership. Officer Kade, is a hard working man who deserves more than a weak, control freak sargent. And I'll expect that he himself will make a fine sargent one day. So I suggest, you speak to him with a bit more respect." Somehow Jim managed not to growl at the man.
Blaire let go of Jim, balling his fists at his sides. "I suggest you speak to me with more respect, boy! I've earned my rank!"
Jim leaned over the man, "So have I, and I out rank you ten times over." Jim turned and walked away, over to Kade.
"What have you done to 'out rank' me?" the sargent yelled.
Jim sighed, he stalked back to the Sargent, he lowered his stance to be at eye level, and his eyes burned red. "Survived hell, gave my life, and killed the most ruthless thing to walk this earth in all of time. Not that you'd know that, or even believe me." Jim glared, "I'm helping you by choice, stand back and let me work."
Jim walked around the room, every set of eyes on him. He discreetly picked up the scent of several of the men. He directed the agents outside and lifted his nose to the air. For some reason the idiot criminals were only a few blocks down. He signaled for the group to follow, and soon enough, they were at another wearhouse. This one brimming with life, the smells of car fluids and the sweaty men inside was overwhelming, and was a piece of cake to track.
"How did you find it?" Blaire asked, his tone less harsh than before.
Jim gave the man a side glance, "I'm really good at tracking. And these guys' scent is not covered at all."
Kade laughed at Blair's confused look.
In a hushed voice Jim turned to Kade, "they've got a lot of loaded weaponry. They're ready, and are expecting company."
"What are you going to do?" Kade asked.
The troll took a deep breath, "something I shouldn't."
"What?" Kade gave Jim a concerned look.
"It's going to be a firefight, and while I may be bulletproof. It still hurts." Jim ran a hand down his face, "Strickler is going to kill me if this gets out."
Jim signalled for the group of men to hold, he handed Kade his cloak and disappeared into the shadows. Mere seconds later, a flash of red was seen behind an old crate. And Jim came back out wearing his obsidian armor. Helmet covering his face, but tail in full view.
Kade stared at Jim as he came and stood next to him, his eye twitched. All the men behind starred in silent confusion. Jim signalled for them to follow, and after shaking off what they'd just seen followed.
With 'Atlas' in the lead, everyone fell in silent steps behind him. As they approached the door, he had them split off to find defence against the bullets that would soon come their way. He alone stood in front of the door.
Taking steps several yards back, Jim ran forward on his hands and rammed the front door down. Machinery shut down as panicked shouts came, and the bullets started to fly. A few of the men paused to gawk at the strange armor covered intruder. Bad idea.
Jim took out as many people as he could as the agents slowly and carefully filled in. the bullets clanged against his armor. After a few minutes, he'd knocked over half the men unconscious. The rest were held up at gunpoint and were being handcuffed.
As the comotion died down, Kade walked up to Jim, who was still looking around agitated.
"What is it?"
"The boss, he was here…" Jim snarled. Gaining the attention of the other people around him. Jim saw a shadow dash across the view of the window, "I'll be right back."
Jim ran out on his fours, he let his helmet vanish in a puff of red smoke and smelled the ground where he'd seen someone run from. He followed it along the ground, until he found him. The 'boss', about to pull away in a car, a large bag of cash on the passenger's seat next to him.
Before the man could put the key in the ignition, Jim punched the window, it shattered and the man was pulled out through the broken glass. He snarled at the man, dangling by the back of his shirt. Jim walked around and grabbed the bag of money.
He carried the man and the cash back to the chop shop, Blaire and Kade were conversing.
"He said he would be back, he said something about the boss?"
"He's never going to find him if he left in the middle of all that," Blaire said.
"Don't be so sure about that," Jim said walking in helmet on with the man dangling, and terrified for his life. But looking more upset that he was caught than anything.
"Atlas, how?" Blaire gasped.
"This is the scumbag who ordered the kids thrown in the river," he stated.
"There's no evidence…" Kade said.
"The office is completely empty, none of these men are talking." Blaire stated.
"You want evidence? Kade pull up the voice recorder on your phone." Jim ordered. Kade did as he was asked, he brought it closer to the man hanging by his collar.
"Confess." Jim scolded the man.
"I… I have nothing to do about any of this!"
Jim's ears twitched, he held his fist by his hip, he summoned Eclipse and the blade appeared next to the criminals neck. "Confess." Jim gave a violent growl.
"You… you wouldn't kill me, there's cops right here!" the man pleaded.
"Atlas, what the hell are you doing?" Kade yelled.
"You think I wouldn't? Everywhere I go. There's some scumbag like you, all you care about is yourself. Not who you hurt. Humans disgust me." Jim snarled. "Now confess."
"I didn't…"
Jim pressed the blade to the man's throat, a small trickle of blood ran down his neck and he yelled out in pain.
"Fine! I did it! It's my operation, I'm Levi Matt, I ordered the kids thrown in the river! I run the chop shop. Now please don't kill me!" Jim dismissed Eclipse, he dropped the man, and the money.
He walked up to Kade and took his phone. He listened to the recording and edited it to just Levi's confession before handing it back to the officer.
Someone had Levi cuffed and carted away, and soon they were back outside and in the dark. Jim retrieved his cloak, he pulled it back on before dismissing his armor and replacing the amulet.
"Sorry for getting all dark on you." Jim stated, though he didn't sound all that sorry at all.
"Is no one even going to ask why you have a tail?" a swat man questioned.
"He just about killed someone, and that's what you're worried about?" Blaire yelled, eyes blazing.
"I said I would, I had no intention of taking his life." Jim stated, level headed.
"Atlas, that's not how the police work."
"Kade, I know. I take my job extremely seriously. But I've never taken a human life. Nor do I plan to." Jim said again.
"Atlas, I'm going to ask you again. And I want a direct answer." Blaire stated. "What did you do to gain a higher rank? I watched you fight, and I can see your resolve. You obviously aren't a normal kid."
"Child soldiers are illegal, it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I just happened to be one who liked the work."
Blaire suddenly had new respect for Atlas, he gave him a simple nod of the head. "Thank you for helping us find the people responsible for the kidnapping. And for everything else. If you ever need anything, I'll be happy to help."
"Thank you Sargent. Kade, thank you for helping me, I owe you a debt of gratitude." Jim pulled the hood further down his face, "I'm not going to speak to anyone else. It's becoming too dangerous, and too many people have seen too much." Jim walked into the shadows vanishing, "I'll see you around." he said
0_0
Jim stayed there for two more days, he and Kade continued switching handcuffs. But true to his word, he stopped speaking to anyone.
He stayed in a hotel on monday, and left that night, but not before watching the news.
…
A picture of the woman's car was shown next to a news anchor. "Friday night, saturday morning, this car was stolen with two children inside. Their mother pursued, but was stopped by the young man, he promised her he would return with her children, and asked her to wait at the gas station she was at previously.
"She waited there for about five hours, speaking with officers and describing what had happened when Officer Kyle Kade, told her that her children had been brought back by the young man, who had been helping everyone across the state."
The camera changed and showed a clip with Kade, "I've been conversing with this young man, he's given me permission to give you a name. He goes by Atlas. He followed the kidnapper for over an hour, when the two children were thrown in the industrial part of the river he dove in after them. He saved them both and carried them back to the gas station."
The view changed to the anchors again, "The next night, an operation was set up to take down the chop shop ring that had taken the car. Atlas, led the attack in which not a single officer was injured, thanks to him. He was even able to track down the head of the operation, and got him to confess to his crimes. A trial will be held later for sentencing."
The male anchor spoke, "We would like to Thank Atlas, for everything he's done. Many lives would have been lost without him."
…
Jim plugged his phone in and flopped on the bed, he was hoping to hear if KC and Max were doing alright. But of course, they wanted to focus on the bad guys. Strickler sent him a copy of the video, it was the same one so he didn't bother watching it.
He couldn't help but laugh at how funny Strickler probably looked, surfing the web on his phone to find all of Jim's news stories.
Jim huffed and curled up in a tight ball on the bed, falling into a state of black sleep.
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