Tone of Deceit

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N:

Chapter 8 (The Devils of Night)

Although they asked her, Trina didn't give much of a reason for never telling the group that she was a police officer. Her reasoning was that she didn't see it as vital to divulge that information to people who may very well accuse her of shallower intentions rather than take her seriously.

Her response made them question, though, whether or not the Vega sisters even considered them friends at this point. Was it a matter of trust? Was it something else? Maybe being from one of the schools that looked down upon Hollywood Arts, they two looked down on them.

Seeking some mindless activity away from all the drama and questions, Jade convinced the others to take a walk downtown with her. She huddled alongside Beck on this cold evening, wrapping her leather jacket around her body and clutching it tight. Robbie and Andre walked behind them, gazing at all the street signs getting ready to turn on. Cat stayed in the center of the whole group, surveying the area.

Cat never was as much of a fan of the nighttime as the others, even though she didn't mind being out and about. "The sunset looks gorgeous," Cat marveled as she gazed at the neon sky above. Jade took in the scene with a starry-eyed grin, admiring how the orange sky folded over the purple clouds. "I can never figure out what I like best, the sunrise or the sunset. They're both equally beautiful."

"I love both." Jade looked over her shoulder, eyebrows raised. "But, I enjoy waking up to the smell of my dad's coffee pot brewing and having a cup while watching the sunrise." There was something perfectly serene about it, but no more or less than the sunset.

"I like the sunrise," Andre remarked, "It seems like a sign of a new day starting. Rebirth, if you will." The others joined in, each giving their own opinion. Of course, downtown after dark wasn't the prime place to be. Beck said he knew the downtown streets pretty well, so she always felt safer with him there at night.

Jade looked to her boyfriend in admiration, realizing she hadn't appreciated him much lately. She'd been so focused on trying to learn everything she could about the Vegas that she hadn't given him so much as the time of day.

Instinctively, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. His eyes lit up in bewilderment and he glanced at her with a smile. "What was that for?" She raised her shoulders and set her had upon his shoulder.

"Just wanted you to know I love you." She felt his fingers lace with hers and he gently kissed the top of her head.

"Love you too. Sorry if I've been distant lately, there's a lot going on with my dad and I just haven't been around much." He sighed heavily and shook his head. "Still reeling with everything going on."

"You know I'll listen if you want to talk about anything."

"I know. Just never want to worry you about things."

"I'm your girlfriend, it's my job to worry." He chuckled and slowly shook his head before looking straight ahead. His hand squeezed hers and she took in a soothing breath of air. "Thanks for sending Trina that text, though I'm surprised you did."

"Yeah, I really wasn't sure what was happening. I didn't want to raise alarm but I just…I knew Andre mentioned her being a cop so I thought maybe she'd have her dad come check on things-and she did. I know it was all playacting, but, it was a lot." He frowned and his eyes drifted towards her, she watched his shoulders fall. "Seeing you that upset, that scared-it had me scared. I felt like I needed to do something, I knew I couldn't very well attack Mr. Sikowitz. I mean, you attack a teacher and you're done; but I was about to. Trina sent me a text saying she was on her way and I was to do nothing."

"I'm just surprised they didn't raid the place," Robbie replied almost casually, "I mean that's some lockdown shit right there, isn't it?"

Jade shrugged, having already discussed it in detail with Trina. "She knew from Beck's text that it was me and Cat with Mr. Sikowitz. He'd already told her it was just happening in a skit thing but that he was concerned. Essentially they were just checking up, not answering a 911 call about a deranged shooter on campus or something. They had to assess the situation first, if they found something was happening, then yes, they would have to call for backup."

"Oh, I understand." Robbie pushed his hands into his pockets. "Did she say anything about Tori? Why she's been gone?"

"Yes. Tori wants to work on her mental state right now, I think. She's taking a break from Hollywood Arts." As they continued down the street, Jade spotted a movie theatre with a private parking lot. It was advertising the latest releases, though there were very few cars parked. "Hey Beck, how come you never take me out here to the movies? It's a lot closer than the theatre we usually go to."

Beck shuddered so that Jade could feel the shiver shoot all the way through her arm. "This place, yeah I wouldn't step foot near it." Her lips pursed and the group stopped to stare at the theatre. "It's gang territory." Jade's lips parted and she studied the location closely. "It's also where a really horrible murder took place a few years back."

"A murder?"

"Couple girls were out trying to have a good time and catch a movie when they were jumped by a few gang members." A chill came over her as the story sounded eerily familiar. She looked to Cat, who had a similar look of surprise etched on her face. "Apparently they fought back, but one of the girls died." As they made their approach, each taken by the intrigue of curiosity and all under Beck's now watchful eye, Jade couldn't help but to feel her stomach churning. "Not to make it sound spooky or anything, but it's suggested by some that you can still see where the blood stained the wall and floor."

Cat raised her hands over her mouth and shut her eyes and tried to stifle a moan. Jade looked ahead, wondering where the attack occurred. "Was it off to the side of the building?" Beck cocked an eyebrow and shrugged.

"I think so. The cops pressed down harder on gangs in the city after that, but it seems like the war will never end." They carefully approached the side of the building and while Jade couldn't see stains of blood, something else did catch her eye.

There was a cross bolted into the ground, likely to prevent being defaced by the gang. It was surrounded by flowers and vegetation, and in the center was an oval photograph that looked professionally painted on. It was of a teenage girl with creamy brown hair done in a ponytail that wrapped over her left shoulder. She had milky white skin and dark brown eyes, her mouth was open in an eternal laugh.

Jade felt her entire body tremble as she stepped closer to the marker, her heart grew heavy as she recounted the story that had been told to her before. Cat approached from behind and set a hand upon her shoulder, making her jump before turning to her.

"Is that Lindsay?" Cat asked shakily. Jade peered down at the marker, acknowledging how surreal this feeling was. "Was this where it happened? You think Trina placed the marker?"

"Think she'd ever come back here?" It didn't matter who placed the marker or not, what truly mattered was that it was there. It signaled where the murder happen, and in a way, beautified an otherwise brutal location. "Could've been the theatre management for all we know…"

Flashes of the prior scene with Mr. Sikowitz came to her mind and she thought about the tragic loss that both the Vega girls suffered. Her knees started to buckle as tears sprang from her eyelids. Cat looked at her with concern, reaching over and taking her hand. "You okay, Jade?" Jade pulled her hand up over her mouth and shut her eyes.

"No." Her heart continued to sink and she turned away from the cross, overcome by a feeling of grief and nausea. "I just, thinking about it, it scares me." Her friend, on the verge of tears herself, hugged her tight. It was warm and comforting, but yet Jade still felt uneasy. "I want to get away from here."

"Me too."

Beck approached them, likely having heard the last bit. "It's getting dark, I'd like to get away from the theatre before we're noticed." Jade reached out for him, placing her hand in his. "This place, and the mall that's in the abandoned part of town, are hubs for gangs. I'd like to be nowhere near."

"How do you know so much about the gangs that are here anyway?" Robbie questioned. Beck's lips went flat and he looked to the others, even Jade was curious now as it hadn't passed her just how knowledgeable he was.

"Beck?" She raised her head to him, her voice quivering. "Why do you know anything about the gangs and their frequent places? Have you run into them?" She knew there was a period of time when his depression was at its worse, and he had told her that he'd once been a part of something that he wasn't proud of; but never quite divulged what it was. "I won't judge you."

He closed his eyes and dropped his hand slowly. "I was a part of a gang once." Her jaw fell open and the others each reacted with gasps and yells. "It was the Black Knights, or better known now as the 'Knights of Destruction'." Jade whimpered as he turned away from them and surveyed the area. "They're small-time, but they're powerful and scary. They hold more weight than they seem, and they're bolder than a lot of small gangs."

"Bolder?"

"In their willingness to actually frame big time gangs for their crimes." Beck crossed his harms and let out a heavy sigh. "When I was a part of them, I didn't realize just how bad they were. One of the things they had me do was plant drugs on a major leader of the Hells Sabre."

"What?" Robbie gawked and took a step back, his voice echoing into the sky. "My father prosecuted one of their leaders for drug possession a few years back. They're one of Los Angeles's most violent and largest gangs."

"Yeah. Jerome Winston, I think was the guy." Beck scratched his head and Jade noticed the color in Robbie's face drain. "The Knights were not happy with some offense that he committed against them. I'd reckon they would like to become the most powerful gang in the city, and they'll probably manage."

"When did you leave?" Jade was sure he wasn't a part of that gang anymore, and from the way he spoke, he clearly wasn't.

"When I found out just how malicious they were. I mean, they sold all kinds of shit to other gangs and to clients in other areas of the country while trying to expand globally. They sold drugs, they sold weapons, they sold a variety of illegal and stolen goods, but-" He froze, the color drained from his face and his eyes filled with a great deal of fear. "When I discovered they were into human trafficking, I ran. I couldn't be a part of something like that. I didn't even want to be a part of something so violent, so disgusting and evil. I…I was depressed and wanted to get away from the world for a bit, but I didn't want to get involved in something so horrible."

Jade slowly reached around him, hugging him tight. She was thankful for his honesty, and glad that he realized all the way back then that he could be involved in better things. "Glad you came to your senses," she remarked, "I'm glad you got away from that." He smiled at her and gently hugged her back. The others gave him nods of support and approval, and for a moment, she could almost feel the relief fleeing his body.

"Oh look," said a voice, "There's a familiar face spilling all our secrets to his friends." Beck's entire body grew tense and Jade looked beyond him. A man who couldn't be much older than twenty, stood before them like a shadow of death. He was tall, had an average build and jet black hair that flowed loosely before his eyes. Dark stubble littered his chin and curved jawline, and deadly green eyes seemed to pierce into their souls. "How's it going, little wolf, got a new pack you're running with, I see?" He flashed a toothy grin and Beck slowly turned around.

"Jesse," he uttered with baited breath. Beck took a step forward, standing like a guard before the others. "We're just passing by, we don't want any trouble." Jesse's eyes narrowed.

"If you weren't looking for trouble, you might've stayed away from a place you seem to know so well." Jade could feel such tension in the air that she could hardly breathe, this man's presence was like poison. "You expect me to believe you're simply sightseeing with those loose lips of yours?"

There were two burly men walking up on the sides of Jesse, they had machetes hanging from their hips, pistols holstered at their belts, and knives in their hands. Jesse looked to either man, then back to Beck. "I thought you were told when you left the gang never to step foot on our territory again. I can smell your cowardice for miles. Did you think we wouldn't notice?"

Jade sidled up behind him, clutching his shoulder with a tight grip. "Let's just go," she whispered, "Don't do or say anything to provoke them, please. I don't want anyone getting hurt here."

"What was that?" Jesse put a hand to his ear and squinted at her, then lowered his hand with a malicious chuckle. "Don't worry princess." She growled in response. "Nobody's getting hurt tonight." He looked over to the cross commemorating Lindsay and let out a long, heavy sigh. "One permanent memorial on this spot is enough. We don't need to shed any further blood on hallowed grounds such as these."

Beck's chest expanded as Jesse walked forward, his stony glare fixating onto Beck's nervous gaze. "But I'll remind you what I said so many years ago." Jesse's hand moved swiftly, Jade almost didn't see it connect with Beck's side. Her boyfriend winced in pain and dropped to his knees as Jesse's fingers dug into him. "Stay the fuck off our territory and keep your mouth shut."

Jade fell to Beck's side while Andre and Robbie ran up in front of him. Jesse slowly backed away, raising his hands in the air and chuckling while Jade threw her arms protectively around her boyfriend.

"If we ever see you again little wolf, we'll make sure you can't see or say anything ever again." The man turned around and circled his hand in the air, signaling the two brutes to leave with him.

Jade buried her face into Beck's shoulder as he sucked in the air through his teeth. He started to tremble, holding his side before slowly rising to his feet. "Eh, Asshole!" He barked out to Jade's surprise. Robbie and Andre twisted around, their eyes wide. Jesse stopped walking and lifted his head up to the sky.

"Yes?"

"Let me say to you what I said before."

"If it amuses you."

"Go fuck yourself."

Jesse turned his head, casting a nonchalant, bored expression onto them. "So originally said, I stand in awe of you."

"Go to hell!"

With that, the man smirked. "I hear hell is quite nice this time of year."

Cat instantly cupped her hand over Beck's mouth while Robbie and Andre grabbed him up by the arms. Jade put her hands to his back and they started rushing him away from the scene before he could say anything else to piss off the gang leader.

So they discovered the site of the attack on Trina and Lindsay, among other discoveries to be made. What are your thoughts on everything transpiring here?