Chapter Two

Running From Despair

Lana heard the door be kicked opened. She cut her inner thigh deep. The police was the last people she wanted to see. She freed all the hostages she could find as she left a trail of blood. She got to Klavier's cell and opened it. She said, "Go get medical attention, go get psychological counseling, and see your boyfriend. I cannot keep hurting people and I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. I wish we could have been friends but after all I did I know that is not an option. Now go!"

Klavier ran out of the dungeon as Lana limped to go find Miles. She wanted her conscious clean before either dying or being arrested. Which ever came first? She called Kristoph on her cellphone. "Kris, the gig is up! We either die here or go quietly your pick."

"Come here and carry this hostage to the paramedics. He cannot walk then just go from there," He said and hung up. She got to Miles and carried the sad man on her shoulders. They made it up the stairs to the living room. She collapsed and the paramedics grabbed them both.

-The Hospital-

Miles woke up in a warm hospital bed. Phoenix was on the bed next to his and he was sleeping like a baby. Who had saved him and his lover? In the back of Miles' mind he knew if he wasn't rescued he would have been savagely killed. The doctor came in and said, "You and Mr. Wright are healing well I see and I recommend both of you take counseling after this whole ordeal is over."

"How did I get out of there? I thought I would come out in a body bag," Miles asked.

"A woman named Khani Sultan saved you. She ended up in ICU because she helped all of you get out," The doctor said.

Miles eyes went wide and said, "What happened to the defense attorney Lana Loco?"

"Died with her lover Kristoph Gavin. He burned the whole place down after everyone was out. Rumor has it they made love as the building collapsed," He said.

Miles went through his checkup and after his doctor left. He got into his wheelchair and went to go find Khani Sultan. The celebrated and tragic hero of this whole event or so he heard people say. He found her room quite easy. She was in bed with a blank expression on her face. She looked up at Miles. She had the same features as Lana Loco. The blonde hair and everything, the first question out of his mouth was. "Who are you?"

"I am that attorney that is rumored to have bombed the courthouse but in reality it was K-Kristoph. I went back to my old name. I can't believe I survived. I thought I would have died in there with him. Sometimes I wish I did. These new emotions are a burden to bare," She said.

"They're called guilt and regret those feelings usually happen when you are with Kristoph and more so when you commit crimes with him," Miles said.

Khani said, "I wonder if my family would even take me back but I highly doubt it. Between the porn and torture I wouldn't blame them."

Miles said, "You're the daughter of Jean Sultan. He is the head of Sultan Security and his daughter had been declared missing. You were presumed to be dead."

Her voice was hoarse and she said, "I managed to escape my captor and the Gavin family took me in. Before the family took me in that bastard that kept me had named me Lana because he thought the name was beautiful. You should go the media will be here soon and my father."

Miles nodded and left. He felt numb and crazily enough sad that Kristoph was dead. And any evidence of his crimes burned beyond recognition. He went by Apollo's room to see he had awoken. Klavier hugged him tightly in tears. He could not stop kissing Apollo.

Miles went to his room to sleep. He shuddered at the thought of what Kristoph did to him. It was all over the Internet now.

Months had passed and Miles was finally able to walk. Phoenix got a robotic arm and Blackquill and Athena were married. Apollo and Klavier had married in the hospital. Miles and Phoenix finally had gotten their vacation to Jamaica. They were mostly at the beach and soaked their sorrows with alcohol. A blonde woman served them shots with the nametag Khani.

"Cushy life after the crimes committed against you and the one's you committed against others," Miles said.

Khani said, "I got a second chance here at the resort. My mother owns it and she is my guardian."

Phoenix said, "The justice system pretty much declared you legally dead after "Lana Loco" was perceived to have died with Kristoph in the fire."

Khani laughed and said, "Metaphorically yes."

"So you're not a crazy sadist anymore?" Miles asked. He had another shot.

"Of course I'm not!" She said.

In the evening Miles and Phoenix went back to their hotel room. They held onto each other as they got onto the elevator. Miles knew he would have to go to Los Angeles again at some point. They got to their room and both collapsed on the bed. "I don't know what hurts worse the torture or the aftermath," Phoenix said.

Miles held Phoenix and stroked his hair. Miles said, "It's the fact we cannot get justice that hurts me the most."

They fell asleep in each other's arm. They awoke to room service and a huge breakfast. Miles put on his glasses as he grabbed something to eat. He grabbed a croissant. Phoenix took Miles sweaty clothes off and his own. "Miles, let's make love like we used to and move on with our lives," Phoenix said.

"Sure do you want to start anew somewhere other than Los Angeles," Miles said as he moved his lips down Phoenix's neck and shoulder blade.

Phoenix said, "With all the tragedy surrounding LA it is best to leave. Apollo will lead the Wright Anything Agency and do you know who your protégé will be? Chief Prosecutor is a powerful position."

Miles said, "I'm thinking of Klavier Gavin as the Chief Prosecutor. He would make a strong leader. He still wants to do his job after what happened." Miles grabbed Phoenix's cheek and pushed his mouth on the other former attorney's mouth. He had him pinned to the bed.

"Good idea I just hope they don't get too pissed at us for our early retirement," Phoenix said. He was under Miles and he took the opportunity grab Miles length. Miles moaned and pushed him further onto the bed.

Miles enjoyed the lovemaking. He thought about where Phoenix and him would go and how to break it to Trucy and the others about them leaving LA. After they climaxed they ate the still warm breakfast. "Where do you want to go?" Miles asked.

"Somewhere beautiful and in the countryside with a huge mansion," Phoenix said. Miles fed Phoenix a grape and smiled.

"Yeah and does Khani really have dissociate identity disorder or is this an act of hers?" Miles asked.

Phoenix said, "I don't think it was an act. She had changed her identity to hide some sort of trauma."

"Yeah at least she wasn't completely like the bastard Kristoph, " Miles said coldly.

-Several Months Later-

Miles talked to Klavier the night before Phoenix and him were leaving for Okinawa. Klavier drank some red wine and said, "I am honored to be Chief Prosecutor now and that you choose me over your adopted sister Franziska but do you really want to leave LA behind? You are just running from the tragedies you eventually have to face."

Miles said as he slipped some wine, "I was diagnosed with PTSD and my doctor recommend me leave. Phoenix and I picked Okinawa due to its countryside. My doctor also said if I stay here any longer and face these traumas there is a chance that I will eventually snap. There is a chance of killing others or myself. I cannot stay here. Hell I can't even go into a courtroom anymore due to the crippling trauma. I will visit when I get better."

Klavier sighed and rubbed his temple with his hands. Klavier said, "I did not realize that you were that broken."

"I will make sure to video chat you and Apollo every night in Okinawa and I will still help you with the duties of Chief Prosecutor," Miles said. He hugged his close friend tightly.

Tears fell from Klavier's eyes as he said, "Kristoph's death left more questions than answers and no closure. Khani/Lana got out only with supervision and going to the mental health center in the resort. Build up your confidence and spirits and we can find peace."

"We will and Miles, how did you stay strong for so long?"

"I wouldn't say I was strong but I learned how to lock up my emotions. Let's go see how Phoenix and the rest are. Trucy and Pearls are excited but pissed that we are moving and taking them with," Miles said.

"And Apollo has been baling his eyes out but he knows it is for the best," Klavier said.

They went to the living room where everyone else was. It was had a tone of a funeral for a going away party. Larry had changed the tone to be a lighter when he got crazy drunk.

Larry had knocked over a plant. Miles laughed and said, "Good thing the mansion is going to Blackquill, Klavier, Apollo, and Athena."

Miles and Phoenix did not drink much. They were saving that for Okinawa or at least the plane ride. They went up to bed after the party got too rowdy.

The next morning they packed and their friends took them to the plane. They made their final goodbyes and got on. Recovery was key. Miles and Phoenix were finally going to take care of themselves and spoil themselves. Trucy and Pearls sat behind them on the plane. They speculated about Japan.

"Did we do the right thing?" Miles asked.

Phoenix answered, "I would say so."

They disappeared in the clouds and maybe they would finally be able to recover and find another job helping people.