"Apollo, you home?" Ema called, as she knocked on the door it swung open on its own. "Apollo if this is some kind of joke it isn't funny…" she carefully peered round the door. The first thing that hit her was a scent, a mixture of leather and copper. It made her feel ill and as she took a breath in it clung to her throat and tasted foul. "Apollo?"

She was concerned now, either Apollo was a fan of bondage sex, a mass murderer or something bad had happened. She ruled out the first two (why she had thought of the first one at all she was unsure) as soon as she saw the couch. The couch was cream and there was a thick crimson stain big enough to cover her palm. She thought it was wine at first as she knew that Phoenix had several bottles of red wine in the house. As she looked deeper at the stain – taking note that the edges were slightly lighter she clicked on that it was blood and producing the foul coppery odour.

She was sure her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes shot to the floor behind the couch now where there was a thin trail of speckled blood stains across the floor. She followed them with her eyes to the desk and eventually to the wall behind it.

If you want to see Red Eyes again be quick about it! Angel xx I'm finishing what I started at 17 Ace Avenue

The blood was smeared all over the blue paint and Ema wanted to faint. She hastily worked her hands into her pocket and produced her cellphone. She snapped a photo of the stain. Then pressed 1 on speed dial.

"Lana its Ema. Meet me in Jake's office in fifteen minutes."

"Why?"

"It's an emergency!"

-x-x-

Apollo bit back the whimpering and whining as he was tossed between the two walls like a limp rag doll. As Angel's father and Gant let him fall to the floor in a slump he felt Angel sit on his legs and gradually work her fingers through the button holes of his shirt, as it fell loose from his shoulders she purred in delight.

"It's a shame…you and I are both much older now. I could do so much more to hurt you…" She pressed herself against him urgently, tensing all her muscles in her thighs. "And there's no mum or Joanna to stop me, no way of you escaping alone Red Eyes…" She turned to her father and then her lover. "You should leave us alone."

"Of course my dear…" Her father and Gant were roughly the same age.

"You work out a lot?" She pressed the side of the blade against his abs. "I have to admit you look pretty hot. Why hide it underneath these clothes?"

"What's it to you?" His muscles contracted involuntarily at the coolness of the blade.

"I'm going to take away the last bit of you I hadn't the guts to take before…" He could feel her trying to undo his belt buckle.

-x-x-

While Apollo was still being bashed around Lana had rushed to Jake's office to meet the sobbing Ema and concerned Jake.

"Show me the photo!" Lana commanded Ema. Jake and her leaned close.

"Red Eyes? That couldn't be…" Jake got lost in his thoughts.

"Couldn't be what?"

"Something Angel told me once. Her mom adopted a bambino who was quite a lot younger than her and Angel's father and her did some things to him… her mom was gonna get busted for 'murdering' this kid. Somehow though he managed to get away and get to the court house. He screamed something and just stood there perfectly erect with these piercin' red eyes and in no pain even though his throat had a huge cut across it and his chest was covered in 'em. When he stopped glowin' well…he fell to the floor in pain."

"His neck and chest?" Lana thought back to the wounds on Apollo. "That's Apollo! He has knife wounds on his neck and chest!"

"Do you know this address?" Ema zoomed in on the address.

"Yeah, that's her pop's house."

"We're taking my car, it's the fastest." Lana knew all three of them had the same idea.

-x-x-

She was still trying to undo his belt. He had drawn his legs closer together and was desperately trying to undo the cuffs biting into his wrists. Her cellphone began to ring.

"What is it?" Apollo squirmed and groaned in pain at the fresh cuts he'd received.

"Listen you! If you hurt Apollo I'll kill you!" Ema roared down the phone so loud Apollo heard it as Angel climbed off of him.

"Hm… maybe you'd like to talk to him…" She put the phone on speaker.

"Red Eyes, we're on our way cowboy!" Jake yelled.

"Ema, Jake, Lana!" Apollo yelled.

"shut him up would you my dear…" They heard Gant as he approached poor Apollo.

"Stay away from me!" He snarled.

"I'm not stupid, I know as soon as your adrenaline begins to pump you can stand without pain!" Gant roared at him.

"Dude, have a breath mint…"

"I've been in jail for a long time boy." He hoisted Apollo up by his throat, launching him against the other wall with ease. On the other end of the line they heard Apollo choke on the blood in his throat.

"Apollo…" Ema couldn't help but cry.

"Aargh…" Apollo rolled onto his arm with the cut on and crossed his legs to protect the most sensitive areas of his body. He felt as sudden spark, like a lightening bolt charging through his blood. "Adrenaline…" He whispered to himself. "I have to make more…"

"Keep him on the floor!" Angel barked as she ran up to Gant and kissed him on the cheek.

"That is…creepy…" Apollo groaned. "Jake! Lana! I was right and this is freaky…" A shadow came down the stairs, wielding a kitchen knife.

"This should keep you quiet!" Gant ran forward and drove the blade straight through his leg. The scream was blood curdling and it made Ema scream.

"We're coming Apollo!" The line went dead.

"Gant my dear, you stay here and watch my little brother, I'm going to stop them."

"Leave them alo-aargh." Apollo wanted to stand.

"Bye now bro." She took her leave and blew a kiss at the old man. Apollo felt another charge shoot through his leg up to his heart – this one more powerful than before. He just needed one more electric burst and he should be strong enough to stand. He hissed and whined in pain as he moved his arm. Gant saw this as a chance to strike and slashed his other arm. The charge happened and the blood rushed to his head, electricity ran wild in his mind.

He felt no pain as he struggled to his feet. Gant was shocked but still ran towards Apollo. He missed completely as Apollo stumbled to the side and grabbed his cellphone beside Angel's on the desk. He struggled with the cuffs still slicing savagely at his arms which were limp in front of his chest. Blood was dripping out of the fresh wounds and where his leg had been stabbed there was a long, thin trail of blood. He fumbled with the speed dial and dodged Gant again.

"Hello?" Leia's voice ran through the receiver as he forced his arms close to his head.

"Leia, it's Apollo. Need you to come to your ex-husbands house. I'm in trouble and it's an emergency." The line went dead. He knew she would rush to the sound of his voice. Gant had got another knife now and the attorney with the glowing red eyes was determined to get out. As Gant lunged forward, Apollo ducked down and the knife drove straight through the chain of the handcuffs. Now free, even though he still had the knife in his leg he crawled up the stairs to the kitchen. He waited for Gant to run after him and then slammed the door shut as soon as the man's face was close enough. Apollo quickly opened it and caught the now unconscious man, pulling him up into the kitchen and leaning him against the counter.

Apollo caught his breath and as soon as he'd finished the door was smashed and Joanna ran in.

"Apollo!"

"Jo, don't ask questions and tie this man in the back of the car or something."

"What?" Leia ran in, noticing the trail of blood and the blade in his leg.

"Tie him up please." They did as he said. "I've got to save Ema and the others." He knew that Leia's husband was a biker and his motorbike was out on the drive.

He kick started the powerful bike and his mind and body was still pumped with adrenaline – that was the only excuse he could think of for riding off with no helmet and his shirt still open. He was still going to obey the speed limits and rules.

"Where are you?" His voice was still hoarse as if he was still in pain as he dialled Ema's number.

"The intersection of Ace Avenue and Thames Avenue." Ema sobbed. "You sound in pain."

"Are you alright?" He dismissed her comment.

"Angel… she's here, threatening us she locked me in the boot of Lana's car. I want to help her. Huh… crap the boots opening, help me!"

"Leia, we have to get to the intersection!" He called to the two woman behind him as he guided the bike onto the road. "Follow me." For a just qualified driver he was superbly good – coupled with the adrenaline overload, blood red eyes and blade stuck in his leg it was a surprise he could walk. The bike skidded across the tarmac, it stopped with a screech as he pulled the brakes exactly in front of Lana's car.

"You little bastard!" Angel snarled at him. "Where's my Gant?"

Apollo signalled for Leia and Joanna to drag the unconscious man from the car. Her immediate reaction was to run for him.
"You two should go…" Apollo told them sternly.

"Not until you go to a hospital!" Leia snapped.

"I will." He heard the car screech as it drove away. Angel was over Gant and Lana saw this as a chance to stop her from killing Apollo completely. She snatched the cuffs from Ema and chained Angel's wrists behind her back before she had chance to react.

"Apollo!" Ema cried running towards him. The adrenaline had stopped flowing, the storm had passed in his mind. Unsurprisingly – due to his injuries he passed out almost instantly.

-x-x-

He woke in a soft hospital bed. His head was buried in a mountain of pillows and he could feel something on his head, another's palm, ruffling his hair gently.

"Red Eyes… it was piercing looking at him…" that sounded like Ema's voice.

"You should get some rest honey, you've been here for a while now." That sounds like Joanna.

"No, he wouldn't leave me if I was in the hospital bed…"

"Here." Lana.
"At least sleep for a while darling." Leia.

"Phoenix and Trucy should be here soon. Klavier too." Lana was whispering. The others got up to leave.

"I have to go to the office now, I'm so sorry." Leia said it with such sorrow. "I'll give you a lift to the orphanage as well sis."

"Can you leave me alone for a while?" Ema asked.

"Of course, I'm going to find Jake and see how he's feeling."

"Please wake soon Apollo…" She leaned over him, careful not to touch any of his soft sensitive skin. "I need you. We all need you. We all need to say thanks." She kissed his forehead gently. "We. Need. You." She choked back her sob before she began to cry.

Poor Polly! I wonder what Jake and Lana are going to do *cunning smile* - EvilWaffles