TheShamanMaster presents....
Niko's Dilemma
Story & Script by TheShamanMaster
Grand Theft Auto IV © Rockstar Games & Take Two Interactive
Disclaimer: GTA IV and it's respective characters are properties of Rockstar and Take Two Respectively.
A/N: Thanks for all the feedback! Didn't realise that people like GTA fanfiction! Here's chapter 2!
Chapter 2: Kiara
Niko stood looking at the girl that stood in front of him. She was only still a child, yet she was living in a run-down dump such as this? To him, it was kind of disturbing, yet this girl seemed so familiar to him. Something he just couldn't work out...
"Hey." Kiara spoke loudly to snap Niko out his thoughts. "Are you just going to stand there all day and look at me? Pervert." She folded her arms in disgust.
"Sorry." Niko replied. "It's just....you look like someone I once knew...it's, how you say? Deja vu?"
She smirked fretfully. "Hn! Well, can you tell me what you're doing here anyway? Thanks for saving me from that guy. I didn't know people were so picky. All I did was steal his gold watches..."
Niko looked cross. "Stealing is wrong! Do your parents know about this?" As soon as the word 'parents' was mentioned, her face fell in sadness. The Serb looked at what he had done.
"Oh...I'm sorry. If you haven't got parents, I understand, I grew up the same way almost..."
Kiara walked over from the trash bin, and sat down on the mattress in the corner. Niko sighed and shook his head. This is going to be harder than I thought... He followed her over, and sat down next to her, with his hands clasped together.
"Hey, Kiara. Why don't you tell me, why you are here? If it makes you feel better, I won't say a word to the police." Her face looked up slightly.
"You sure?"
"I promise." Niko smiled gently. "Take your time, I have nothing to do..."
"First." Kiara said firmly. "I want to know why you are here..."
Niko took a deep breath, and exhaled. He spoke of how he was working for his boss and had discovered that a thief was living in the amusement park. She was surprised, and yet slightly insulted that she was called a hobo.
"Well, I'm not that big of a thief." She said in a small voice. "I just have to steal to survive."
"Survive?" He wondered. "Why though? Shouldn't you be in a whats-it-called? Foster home?"
"I ran away." She replied, hugging her knees, and lowering her head.
"What happened?" Niko asked.
Her eyes began watering slightly as painful memories came flooding back to her. "When I was only ten, my parents were killed. As a result, the police put me in a foster home in Alderney. I hated every minute of it. The carers were really nice at first, but then one day, everything changed. They began punishing me for no apparent reason. It was their 'pleasure' as they put it. When I turned 12, they almost did something to me that would scar me forever. I felt like dying. I was pinned down and....and...." Her sobbing grew louder, and tears came flooding out. Niko looked at her in distress, and cradled her softly. Her wet tears dampened his jacket as she rested her head on him, but it didn't matter. Niko had remembered that his father was a drunk who had used to beat him for no apparent reason, and he understood the pain she was going through.
"It's okay." He said calmly. "It's not your fault..."
"I was lucky though..." She continued. "Before he had the chance, I stabbed him in his eyes and made a run for it. For the next three days, I was living off the streets, getting whatever I could from what people didn't want. Clothes, food and water. Some vendors were kind enough to give me food for a few days, but it wasn't enough. In the terrible weather, I took refuge in alleyways and broken down cars, as it only gave me some warmth. I longed for the warmth of a parent. I wish I could've seen them again. After the third day, I began walking. I thought if I began walking somewhere, I'd get somewhere eventually. Somewhere I'd probably call home. Soon, I had lost track of time, and after hours of walking, I collapsed in the streets, hoping someone would find me. I woke up a few days later in a clinic in Broker. The doctor said I had collapsed from exhaustion and hunger. Soon after I recovered, I left the place as I didn't want any more help from the adults.." Kiara wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Finally, I ended up here at the amusement park. No one was here, so I decided to call it my home...."
"But tell me." Niko interrupted. "How did you get all this?" He looked around at all the stuff.
"You'd be surprised at what an abandoned amusement park has. I got the bed and boxes from the staff building, the toys and games from the prize booths, and I find some old books in the area on how to take things apart, so I was able to put together electrical circuits and learn how to cook for myself; but the rest I've stolen when people haven't been looking...."
Niko was surprised at all this. "I'm amazed. Most people would have given up, but I'm surprised you've kept going. What about food? Surely everything here is rotten..."
"Oh, that." She sat up slightly, Niko letting go. "There's this kind lady who works on the hotdog stand on the boardwalk. I've gotten most food from her, as she always has supplies. She also gives me a little money to get some other stuff when I help her out to clean and prepare the food. She's been the closest thing I've had to a mum for the past two years."
"Two years? So you're fourteen?" He questioned
"I'll be fifteen next month." She added.
"Oh." Niko said. "So, who's this woman? Does she know you've been stealing?"
"Her name is Mrs. Darell. And no..." She replied, her voice full of guilt. Niko really couldn't believe all this. A girl who had lost her parents, had almost died and was now living like this. How could anyone go on? It had to be her will that kept her going. Looking around him, he shook his head in vain. She couldn't take anymore of this. Standing up, he stretched his legs, and turned to face her. A little shaken up, Kiara shuffled backwards on her bed.
"Niko? What's going on?" She asked worriedly.
"Kiara." He said fowardly. "After listening to what you've told me, I've realised that you can't stay here any longer. If you get caught, you could be taken to jail, and be forced to live that painful life again, but in a detention centre. And I really don't want to let another person I know suffer because I didn't do something in time. I've already lost someone precious and I don't want to lose another. What I'm saying is, would you like to come and live with me?"
She was startled, as no one besides Mrs. Darell had been this nice to her. "Niko, I can't. I can't face another struggle. What if-"
"-And that's why you should come with me. If you stay here much longer, you could be attacked, or worse, end up dead. Please. I don't think you want to live here any longer..." She thought about it for a few minutes, before standing up with her face brightened up.
"Okay." She said quietly. "I'll come with you. But I need to see Mrs. Darell first." Grabbing her backpack, she quickly stuffed some clothes, a teddy and a few other little bits and heaved the bag on her back. "Okay, let's go."
Leading the way out, Niko was glad they got out of that dump. Looking at his watch, it had just gone quarter past two. The sun was still out, but it wasn't as hot as it was earlier. Walking down the path up towards the boardwalk, his mind was full of mixed feelings and thoughts. Was everything going to be alright? Did he really just accept the responsibility of becoming her guardian? What did he know about looking after a child? Perhaps Mallorie could be a positive role model for her? She was going to be giving birth in the next few weeks, so maybe she knew something about parenting? That would have to wait though. Now he just wanted to get out of this place and...
"Hey Niko!" Kiara called ahead of him. "Hurry up, slowpoke!"
Niko chuckled. "Alright, alright."
Both of them stepped upon the boardwalk, and walked a few metres to a food stand where a woman in her mid-fourties with brunette hair was preparing some food on the grill.
"Mrs. Darell." Kiara called out. The woman turned around to see the young girl standing there.
"Kiara, my dear." She said with a warm smile. "How are you today, love?" Looking up, her eyes made contact with Niko. "And who this is young man?"
Niko held out his hand. "Um...Niko Bellic. It's...a nice to meet you." He said nervously.
"Charmed." Mrs. Darell shook his hand. "Sorry about all this. I usually look a lot more pleasant.." She laughed a little. Looking back at Kiara, she continued speaking.
"So, Kiara, what will it be today?"
Kiara grinned. "Well, nothing actually. I'm going away to live with Niko..."
Looking shocked, she gasped loudly. "Kiara my darling, are you sure? Has this man ever..."
"Relax." The girl gestured. "I just met him. He saved me from someone who tried to attack me, and I told him everything. He says he wants to give me a better lifestyle."
Mrs. Darell really didn't look at all please. "Kiara, sweetie. In the past two years, you've been like the daugther I never had. I've always offered you to take you in, but you've said no because you feel you would be a burden. You have never been a burden from the day I met you, and I'm glad we've been this close. But now, of all things, you want to leave with THIS man..." Her eyes narrowed at Niko's appearance, which made him feel uneasy.
"Trust me, ma'am. I already have to look after my idiot cousin. I'm sure I can take care of Kiara..." He replied with a shallow expression.
"Kiara.." She returned to look at her friend with worried eyes. "Are you very sure you want to go? I'm always here and..."
She nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. Don't worry."
She gave a perplexed look, before biting her lip. "Alright." She opened the bag underneath the counter and pulled out a small envelope. "Here you go my dear, have something to start you off with." She gave Kiara an envelope with some money in it.
"Really?" The blonde girl looked inside to find around $250.
"Yes." The older woman said. "You deserve it. I just want you to know that you'll be safe...and here..." She quickly wrote a number on a scrap of paper and gave it over also. "Call me if you want to see me again."
"I will, don't worry. Shall we go, Niko?" Kiara gestured.
"Ok." He replied. As she went on ahead, Niko was stopped by Mrs. Darell.
"Niko..." She spoke.
"Hm?"
"I hope you take care of her. She's been through an awful lot. And don't tell her, but I know what she's been upto."
"You do?" Niko said with a confused look. "But she said..."
"Ah." The woman wagged her finger. "I don't tell her everything. Every night, I check up on her before I go home to see if she's safe. She's a sweet little angel, and if anything happens to her, I will never forgive myself. I've done what I can...now it's up to you..."
The Serbian smiled. "It's okay. I'll do what I can. Goodbye." With that, Niko followed Kiara back to his car, where they got in, and began to drive off.
"So..." Kiara wondered. "Where ARE we going?" She was really happy and couldn't wait to see where she was going to go.
"My apartment in Algonquin. It's really nice and I'm sure you'll feel right at home..." He replied. As he got on the highway, Kiara sat on the front seat next to him, looking out the window with her elbow resting on the door. She soon turned to face Niko who seemed kind of down.
"Niko, you alright?" She was curious to see why he had such a blank, pale look on his face.
"Yeah." He said with a stale look. "It's alright." What is it about her? She does remind me a bit of me when I was young, but there's something else....
"Ah well." She stretched her arms, yawned loudly and placed her hands behind her head.
"Tired?" He inquired.
"Yeah." She yawned again. "Didn't get much sleep. Some man and his friends were playing their music loudly on the boardwalk, and I could hear it all the way from where I was..."
"Tough huh?" He chuckled slightly. "It's okay, my cousin used to keep my awake at night with his snoring!"
Kiara giggled. "You have a cousin?"
"Yeah." Niko smirked. "He runs that cab firm, Bellic Luxury Transport...though it isn't so 'luxury' as the name claims to be...Roman is full of himself at times, but he's the only family I have..."
"I see. So you two must be close."
"We're like brothers more than anything..." The conversation was interrupted by a phone call. "Sorry, one sec." Keeping one hand on the wheel, he answered his cell phone with the other. "Hello?"
"Nicky! How's things going?" Came a familiar voice. Phil Bell of all people.
"Hey Phil...." After all this, he really didn't want to talk to him.
"Woah, pal! What's with the negative attitude for? Did you check out the place?"
"Yes...."
"...and? Find anything?"
He briefly gazed at Kiara, before returning to look in front of him. "I...didn't find anything...." It was better to keep Phil in the dark about all this. He didn't want to anything else to traumatise this poor girl.
"Nothing huh?" He cameback with a rough tone of voice. "You sure? Because if this thief isn't caught I swear..."
"Damn you Phil!" He shouted. "I found nothing! For christ's sake, get off my fucking back!" He was really pissed off with Phil now.
Phil said nothing for a few seconds. "Nicky...."
"Sorry..." Niko apologized. "I just feel a little stressed is all...look, I'll contact you later in the week about it okay?"
"Alright. Just try to keep your cool okay? Pull something like this again, and I'll consider getting me a new errand boy!" He hung up the phone, and resumed with both hands on the wheel. Looking at Kiara again, she looked a little scared.
"I'm sorry if I scared you. It's just my 'so-called' boss likes giving me a hard time..."
"You're not going to hand me over are you..." Her voice as low as a whisper. She wondered if Niko had been talking to the authorities. and was scared that she was going to the police.
"No." He replied firmly. "You're coming to live me, and I promise I'll make sure no one hurts you."
Kiara smiled greatly. "Thanks Niko. You're the best." She stretched again, and resumed looking out the window.
Moments later, they had arrived in Algonquin. Niko stopped outside a tall building which looked like a hotel. Kiara had never seen such a tall building.
"This is where you live?" She admired it as she stepped out.
"Yep. Top floor." He pointed to the very top of the building.
"Wow. Cool!"
Both went inside, and got into the elevator. Hitting the 'penthouse' key, the doors closed and the elevator slowly rised. The elevator came to the very top floor. It dinged, and the doors slowly opened, and a magnificent sight greeted the young girl.
"Wow...." She was astonished at how the place looked. The floor had a nice crimson carpet. The walls were painted light blue, with a touch of black in places. The middle of the room layed a big leather-seated sofa, facing a larged television attached to the wall with surround system, along with a glass-plated dining table. Adjoined to the left of the door way, was the kitchen area with navy blue floor tiles with a neat kitchen setup of stove, oven, microwave, fridge-freezer and cupboards. In the far corner layed a big double bed with pillows, finewood cupboards and a small table. The shower room was in a little alcove just a few metres away from the right handside of the entrance doors. To the end of the room led the doors to the outside balcony with benches, a table with an umbrella and chairs, and a small jacuzzi (courtesy of Brucie of had installed and built for Niko a month or so ago.)
"It really is something huh?" Niko said. Before he could even finish, Kiara had jumped on the sofa, grabbed the tv remote and started to flick throught the channels.
"Oh boy. This is going to either be a complete nightmare, or a good thing coming to pass.." He said to himself quietly, slamming his hand on his forehead.
To be continued...
Hope you enjoyed Chapter 2! Next time, Kiara starts living the life of luxury. Niko decided its time to go shopping, and who else decides to accompany them? Well, there's our favorite testosterone-charged, over-reactive friend of course! Next time, Shopping with Brucie.
PS: I tried remembering the layout of Playboy's apartment as much as I could, but decided to make it cooler.
