Sorry about all the non Loud stuff the last chapters.
For the Maggie fans, I need to read up on her. Watch a few episodes.
Always seem to catch reruns but never the new ones.
Okay. Enjoy.
Week 8 Friday
"Shit!" Echoed through the beach house. "The dimwit got the door open!" A man with strong Mediterrainian features, also proven by his natural tan and accent, dashed through to the den. His dark messy hair was quickly combed and he tossed on a white button up shirt.
"Couldn't have gotten far." The rail thin French woman turned casually and grabbed her car keys. She took a moment to put on her dark red lipstick and slipped her heels on after sashaying to the door. A quick check of her bob haircut and she seemed fine with going out into the world.
Out on the street a bottle brunett with messy hair, fair skin and a dazed look, stumbled along the sidewalk. She wore a long, blue bath robe and a pair of slip on Sketchers. Her fingernails had chips in them and there were small scratches on her finger tips. She nearly fell when she heard a siren and immediately tried to wave the officer down and failed. The police car sped off after a sporty looking car.
Her hair stood on end and something told her to hide. She tucked herself between some trash cans and made herself as small as possible.
A familiar face in a red convertable and black dress cruised by. Urgently searching for something.
"Some one. No, you, they're looking for you." The voice in her head wasn't hersbut it was oddly familiar, and it scared her. "Do not be afriad. I'm here to help."
"I want to go home!" The young woman sobbed.
"That is going to take a while." The voice sounded a bit on edge. "Not a lot of friends out here. I might know someone who will at least give you a place to crash. Just one thing."
"Yeah?"
"Do you know your name, hon?"
"Duh, I'm..." The woman got a surprised look on her face as she recognized the voice. "YOU'RE THAT ICKY THING!" She jumped up and ran, fast.
"Look, I've been doing a lot of thinking and... WATCH OUT!" Despite the warning, the woman slammed into a solid form. She rubbed her rear and stare up in fear as Nero glare down at her. "It's okay, folks!" He assured a crowd. "My sister just hasn't taken her medication."
Michigan
Lincoln woke up alone to the sound of water running. He stretched and got up to investigate. He was surprised to find a man tied up in an ice bath. He looked at Lincoln with pleading eyes and the Loud brother almost let him go.
Instead Lincoln fought the urge and poked around in the clothes on the floor.
An ID identified the man as Rueben Cardoza. The tattoos Lincoln saw on the man reminded him of the tattoos he had seen on the news, mainly because they had been shown on the Casagrande-Santiago cousin earlier in the summer.
Lincoln looked to the man. "Black Rattlesnake?"
Cardoza shook his head yes.
"Sorry bud." Lincoln tossed the wallet on the ground. "Make better life choices in the next life." He heard a chuckle behind him.
"Good one! Next time, don't touch potential evidence." Shinji walked over and gathered the captive's belongings.
"Remember, it isn't stealing once they're dead. So, only after they are dead, do you take the money. Leave any easily identified objects for the vultures. Never hock an item in the same state you aquired it, should you take one that is." She stepped up to the tub. "Just some helpful tips for the less profitable jobs you may take in life."
Her attention went to the man in the tub. "If you are going to join a gang, ask yourself why?" She then dumped another bag of ice into the already cold water. Cold enough to be forming frost on the outside of the tub.
"I'd sell his organs but they're probably too far gone after all the dope he's done." She pointed out the track marks above his elbow.
"Unlucky bastard. Found him trying to get into the trunk. Where the rifles and pistols are." She tossed a stray peanut from off the floor at the gang banger. "So. It's check out time.
"You're just going to let him freeze?" Lincoln asked.
"Hey, if he can get out, with all those prayers he's mumbling, I assume he's making deals with God..." Cardoza nodded quickly and pressed his palms together as if he were praying. "... He deserves a second chance. If he can get out and keeps his promises to God, that is."
She set all of Cardoza's belongings to the side, folded and laid out neatly. "Wish him Luck."
"Good luck." Lincoln felt a bit weird as he walked out.
At the front desk Shinji checked out. Calm as could be.
As they cruised away Lincoln looked over. "Is that guy in the tub really your friend?" Lincoln asked since she had told him to wish the man luck.
"No. Not at all. Drugs like heroine really mess people up, Linc. He got hooked and reeled in. File's full of petty shit. I figure he could use the second chance."
"What makes you think he will take a second chance to live a good life?" Lincoln asked.
"Near death experiences can have an effect on people. Those ties shouldn't take long to loosen or break, so, he had a good enough chance."
"But you've been killing them." He pointed out.
"Not all of them. I need intel, and bangers aren't as loyal as the movies make them out to be. Money talks."
Roal Woods
Luna and Violet had scored tickets to an underground concert.
An opening to the show was put on by The Eebs. A small punk band that had big dreams. Well, it would have been if their guitarist hadn't have had a religious epiphany the night before.
"Hey!" The lead singer called over the sound system. "I got five hundred smackers here for anyone who can play a guitar."
Luna felt a nudge on her lower back. She turned to see Violet with a little smirk. Already glowing with a slight buzz. She leaned into her rocker girlfriend. "Just take the panties off and stand on the edge of the stage for me." She leered. "I know you want up there."
"I wan..." Luna was stopped by a finger to her lips.
Violet shook her head. "I want to see you up there." She took Luna's hand and walked her through the crowd. Pushing and shoving and trying to beat the other hopefuls to the stage.
Luna was surprised to see Violet pull a guy off the stage, he was already halfway up, luckily the crowd was happy to catch him. She gave Luna a shove, purposefully grabbing onto the Loud rocker's bottom.
Luna blushed as she rose up on stage, her panties were drawn down and the crowd cheered. Luna had no choice but to step out of the purple thong, and she watched with a goofy grin as Violet took a deep whiff of the garments.
"Okay!" The lead singer of The Eebs said. "We have a tie!" Luna looked over to see a teen around her age dressed in sweats and a sweatshirt with a pair of eyecatchingly ugly sneakers.
"Guitar battle!" The Eebs bassist yelled into the mic.
The crowd went wild, Luna had an advantage, being locally known, half the crowd were already chanting her name.
Luna looked to her competition. "I guess you start, dude." Luna took her guitar from Jordie, a friend of Chunk's who was acting as a roadie. "Good luck."
"I don't need luck, bitch." The challenger spit and went into the first lick.
Luna rolled her eyes. "Real original, man, you nicked that lick from Mick." She raised her guitar and belted out a seemingly practiced flurry of notes.
Her competition again played another stolen riff.
"The Bangors, I don't know many who know those guys." Luna looked back to the band. "I hope you guys don't mind being a cover band if he gets it." She sang to The Eebs as she played her turn.
This drew some laughs and some cheers for her creativity.
"You want to see original!?" The other guitarist stomped across the stage and got in Luna's face. Playing loudly right in front of her. She stood there stoic, unintimidated in any way. Almost everyone could agree that what he played was a bit of a mess, but he wasn't really focused on the music at that point.
"I'll skip this turn. A chance for you to get some more points." She had to jump back as the guy took a swing with his guitar at her head. Luna watched with a smirk as he lost his balance and fell onto his guitar breaking the neck of the instrument and crushing the body.
He stayed there after raising himself up onto all fours, staring at the broken heap in disappointment and shock. He finally got onto his feet and kicked the mess across the stage and stormed off.
"I really hate losing by default." Her quietly spoken words were picked up by the mic and everyone watched as she turned to the younger teen that Violet had pulled off the stage. She looked back to the band. "You guys ever have a lead and rythim guitar?"
"No, but, worth a shot." The lead singer answered. Luna motioned to the younger teen and the lead singer shrugged.
"Come on man!" Luna helped the kid up on stage then pointed to Violet. "You too Honey! You started this and I only came here to do something with you!"
Violet had no choice. Jordie grabbed Violet by the waist and lifted her onto the stage. Luna grabbing her girlfriend's arms and pulling her farther back. "Can she sing?"
"I don't know, can she?" The Eebs drummer said with a laugh. Luna nodded and the show began.
Week 8 Sat.
The set over, Luna and Violet drank a bottle of water. Both were sweaty from the heat of the lights. The fact that the drunken poet had been molesting her guitarist girlfriend, much to everyones' delight, since the second song. There were already photoes posted online. Luckily for Violet nobody had gotten a clear shot of her face, but Luna had already been tagged by several of her friends and her older sisters.
"That was amazing!" Heath, the kid who Luna got on stage shouted as he took a seat next to the couple. "So worth getting grounded!" He gave the girls a hug. "Thank you! That was the most fun I have ever had!"
"You're welcome." Luna eeked out as she felt Violet's hand slip back up under her skirt.
"Sorry I pulled you off stage." Violet said with sincerity and shame.
"It's okay. I tripped a guy." He admitted. "I understand. Actually, you did it for her, so, I guess that's better." He turned his head slightly to look at Luna. "I hope I'm lucky enough to get a girl as awesome as yours someday."
Luna tilted her bottle to the kid. "Best of luck, Heath."
Their table was joined by The Eebs. "Good show!" Earnest, the lead singer praised. He set a few bills out on the table. Only fifties, one for each of the three, but getting paid was getting paid.
Heath couldn't believe it. "I played on stage and fifty bucks!" He stood up, holding the bill with both hands and hugged Earnest as well. "Hell yeah!" He proceeded to hug the rest of the band. "I have to put this with my savings! Call me!" He ran off into the crowd.
Luna nodded, a bit tired, a bit distracted but happy. "Thanks again, man!"
Violet ignored the money on the table. She was more interested on sucking on Luna's ear.
"X?" Gordon, the drummer, motioned to Violet.
"Yeah. Some guy tried to spike our drinks but gave us X instead." Luna and Violet both laughed, though Violet still kept her hold on Luna's ear. "He's passed out in a corner somewhere. Actually, we saw Herbert The Pervert in the crowd, he probably found the poor bastard by now."
Violet giggled. "If it wasn't for date rape I'd never get laid." She sung sweetly in Luna's ear causing everyone to laugh.
"So, our agent said we need to ask about using you in our live performance video. Consent or some shit." The bassist, known as Oso explained.
"Sure! I'm trying to get my name out there anyway." Luna looked to Violet, happily having to kiss her before she could ask her girl. Violet happily nodded yes as she slipped her hand down Luna's top.
"From what I hear, people know you." Earnest told her as he took a seat.
"Local name. Everyone knows us Loud kids." She smiled humbly.
"No, not just locally. We just found out that you are the Luna Loud that Mick Swagger is talking about." Earnest answered. "Song Bird!" He said playfully and Luna blushed.
Only Mick had cslled her that before Violet gave it a different tone, now it was endearing and personnal.
"That's why Geoffry, our agent, was so keen that we get your permission for the concert video. Publicity. Says some DJ in New York has been playing your stuff on the radio and The C.B.'s are doing covers of your stuff in Korea right now." The rest of the Eebs nodding along in agreement.
"The C.B's?" Luna asked but Violet turned to look at Earnest.
"The Carpet Buffers!" Violet's eyes sparkled and she sat up some as Earnest continued. "I think I know them!"
"They're on a working vacation in South Korea, we all know how they like to do impromptu concerts and crash parties." He explained.
"Wait, I do know them! I saw them before I moved to Royal Woods!" Violet said excitedly. "Kinda where I got the idea to do what I did with my Luna tonight." She grinned naughtily.
"Really! The Carpet Buffers?" Luna asked sitting up in her chair. She was intrigued that such a cult band would be playing her songs.
"Zoe and Adrianna are such a cute couple!" Violet cuddled more into Luna's arms. "Like an amazon and a doll!" She slipped Luna's arms around her.
Gordon snapped a pic, amused with the girls' PDA. "I think we got our album cover for the live recording tonight."
OHIO
Lincoln was amazed, they had just passed a Welcome To Ohio sign.
About four hours ago, Shinji jad woke him up, stuffed a bag of doughnuts and a cup of coffee into his hands and told him to drive.
At first he was nervous. It wasn't the back roads he had sometimes got to navigate in Royal Woods with his older sisters awake and watching him. It was also dark when he had started this drive, not the sunny days he was used to.
Now he was watching the sun rise as he changed lanes.
"Turn left up here." He heard from the back seat.
By noon they pulled into a suburban style neighborhood in a small town.
"End of the road. The blue house." Shinji informed as she slid over the seat.
"Why are we here?" He had hope that it was where Leni was being held.
"I figured out where and old friend is." Shinji took out a bottle of water and a tooth brush.
Lincoln couldn't help notice the toothpaste was flavorless and had baking soda.
They stopped and she spit as she stepped out the door.
A woman with a sleeping toddler stepped out from the house they had stopped at.
Lincoln caught the way Shinji fidgeted slightly.
The woman saw the two, stare in surprise for a moment then smiled.
"Hey, Linda!" There was a nervous tone to Shinji's voice.
"Shinji." The woman said as she reached the two.
In the woman's house Lincoln stare at pictures along the wall. Three sets of baby pictures and some of those kids had grown up some.
Especially the girl. A sandy complexion, obviously a tan as he could see the lines on hee shoulders. Light brown hair topped her head, she had captivsting hazel eyes and was wearing a tight leotard. The medal around her neck was silver. A pair of uneaven bars in the background and the wraps on her hands told Lincoln that she was a gymnist. There was also a shot of her at a martial arts competition. She held a golden medal.
"Got that freshman year!" The sudden and happy voice caused Lincoln to jump. He spun and put his back to the wall to see the amused face of the girl in the photo. "I'm Rhonda." She held out her hand. "New to the neighborhood?"
"N-no, I uh, I'm here with my aunt." He held out his hand. "Lincoln."
"Boy, she must have gotten made fun of with a name like that!" Rhonda chuckled.
It took him a moment before he laughed. "Uh, no, I'm Lincoln. Nice to meet you!"
"You like ARGGH?" She asked and he nodded. "I just got the second season on DVD, want to watch it with me?"
Several episodes in they heard a call from the doorway. "Found them!" It was Linda.
"Hi, Mom!" Rhonda rolled over to the edge of the bed, swung her legs out and stood up. "Lunch?" She asked.
"Yeah, then practice. Bring him."
Lunch was awkward. Rhonda pointed put that her little brother Sean was missing. She also inspected Shinji from across the table.
"So, your husband, he's back on the force?" Shinji asked as she fed the two year old for his mother.
"Since last month." Linda seemed proud. "How are your cousins?"
"In trouble, as usual." Shinji grinned. "Your children are lovely! Rhonda takes after you, I see."
Linda reached over and stroked Rhonda's hair. The girl tilted her head some and smiled like any embarassed teen would.
"Too much. Sometimes I worry about her." Linda said affectionately. "Sean is like their father, brave to the point of stupid." Rhonda laughed at her mother's words. "So far Terrance hasn't shown any signs of being like either of us, there's hope I won't worry too much." Linda finished.
"Good luck with that." Shinji rolled her eyes. "My kids made a career of making me worry. Daredevil little imps, and one joined Navy, with the idea of being a SEAL."
"You've got kids?" Linda seemed like she had just found out the pope was Satan.
"I'm sorry I never told you about Thatch. I had another go with her father, now I have Pepper. Adopted another, Andria." Shinji handed a picture to Linda.
Rhonda leaned over to Lincoln while the adults were distracted. "I've only seen Mom look at Dad that way."
"I've never heard my aunt use that tone before." Lincoln replied. "Even when talking about her kids."
A few hours later the two teens sat outside.
"I never knew my mom lived in New York." Rhonda kicked her feet slightly, just enough to lightly swing. "Or that she spoke Russian and Korean."
"What do you know about your mom?" Lincoln asked.
"That she goes to every PTA meeting. She signs up for every bake sale. Takes care of my brothers and I. She always has dinner ready when dad gets home, even if she has to buy it. Goes to each of my competitions, plays video games with Sean and always seems to have Terrance around."
"Stay at home mom." Lincoln mentioned.
Rhonda nodded.
"Your dad must make good money to have a place like this." He looked around.
"No. Not really. Dad's a cop. Pay sucks and it's dangerous. He got shot last year and only went back last month." Rhonda looked over. "Mom pays for nearly everything."
"Maybe she does something on the computer, she seems to have that laptop all the time." Lincoln offered as an explaination. Linda carried it around since he and Shinji had arrived.
"I checked once. Nothing but videogames and porn. Lots of pretty women." She seemed to have realized what she had said because she let the swing go still. "I didn't mean it like that."
"I can admit when a guy is handsome. Doesn't mean I'm going after a guy. Actually, most the girls I know are bi, but that might just be because I hang around with a few of my older sisters a lot."
"How many sisters?" Rhonda wanted to change the subject.
"Five older sisters and five younger sisters." Rhonda's eyes bugged. "Yeah, it can be tough, but, they're amazing! Makes me feel bland. They're so talented."
"I'm sure that you have some talent." Rhonda offered some comforting words.
"So I'm told." He pulled a comic he had doodled on a napkin and showed it to the gymnist. She laughed lightly. "You should see Lily's drawings or hear Luan's jokes." He said happily.
"Actually, Luan has her own website now!" He wrote the site down and Rhonda looked at him with surprise after reading it. "What?"
"I should have recognized you from the video." She broke out in a grin. "Now all I can see is you with pink hair and wearing that dress!"
"Leni uses me as a mannequin." His eyes narrowed and he looked away.
"That means Luna is your sister too!" Rhonda pulled out her ipod and hit play and Lincoln was greeted by the tune Play It Loud.
"Yeah." He smiled. "She used to sing me to sleep at night."
"How sweet."
MIAMI
"Trust me, Leni. Just go do your sewing thing in my room and let me handle this. He's coming for your body, he doesn't care who's inside."
Leni looked to the shackles on her feet linking her to the bed. Just far enough for her to draw at the desk. They only gave her crayons now since she had tried to stab Blanch.
Leni had also heard Nero talking with Blanch. She knew what he wanted. She knew that Blanch had given in.
"Why should I trust you?" She asked, hearing her voice echo in the concrete room.
"Lynn is unharmed. Lincoln is alive. Mika is..." The pause got the fashion designer's attention. "...is important to me. She wouldn't forgive me if I hurt one of you."
"What did you have to do with Linky?"
"I was there when he got stabbed. Come on. You go relax. Come now."
The feel of a hand on her cheek she opened her eyes to see Nero above her. The chains on her legs had been shortened and she was now cuffed to the rungs of the iron bed. "Time to play."
Leni let herself go and went into the dream world, just as she had been shown. It was scary here, at least it wasn't as bad in her new imaginary friend's home.
Yes, she was still certain that this was one of those traumatic personality splits Lisa spoke of to her class one day when Leni went to pick her up.
An hour later the girl she had been seeing in her dreams stepped into view and flopped down in her usual seat.
Always heard as a voice while awake or echoing through her dreams, Leni had never seen her except for the painting in the den. She found herself admiring the form of the other female.
"And you call me an Icky Thing!" The girl spat. "I brushed your teeth for you. You're welcome."
"Thank you?" Leni honestly didn't know what she was giving thanks for.
"Think I'll sit the next one out. Disgusting to put up with that nasty Nero." The girl looked over to Leni. "Would that be alright?"
"As long as it isn't me." Leni sighed. "I wanna go home!"
"As soon as I get my energy... Lincoln!" Leni was looking around at the girl's outburst. "No, no, he isn't here, but, when he falls asleep, I can bring him here and... !"
"Like, what do you need?" Leni returned to her drawing. A new swimsuit based off the girl's lively hair and the way it flowed.
"Nothing, I can tell him where we are, sort of. I'm not too sure." The dream woman leaned back. "Maybe get some of his seed as a reward." She tapped her finger against her smiling lips.
"Linky isn't very good at gardening, he like, pulls the weeds and waters the plants..."
"No, Leni, I men get him to have sex with me."
Leni's eye twitched but she managed to keep her smile as she turned. The girl was staring up at the ceiling.
"It's strange, but he's the first guy I've ever came back to sleep with. Without working on a deal that is." She looked lost in thought for a little while before she looked at Leni.
"Why does he keep asking me stupid questions like what my favorite food is or type of animal I like?" She straightened herself up. "Better yet, why can't I answer some of the questions he asks?"
Leni looked sympathetic. Maybe it was already sharing Lincoln with her sisters. Maybe it was the girl stepping in each time Leni was about to be drugged, hurt or used since being taken by Blanch and Nero. Even if at first she didn't recognize the voice and she had tried to run away.
Maybe it was her allowing Leni to use just about everything in the castle to make clothes. Whichever it was, Leni was starting to not feel so jealous about this strange girl anymore.
"It's late, Leni. Nero is worn out after today. I suggest you get some rest."
The girl ushered Leni out.
The fashionista awoke in the dark of the basement. She searched out the nail she had used last time and managed to scoot it to a spot nearby. Even if the weird girl was helping Leni, she planned on having a backup plan.