Gina left her home with Jacob just outside the front door. She had to get back to the department and fast. With crime on the rise but still being maintained she had to help coordinate efforts again. She watched her son till she could no longer see him and turn her eyes to the road as she drove on.
She hated leaving him yet again. Every time she was home always she would be eventually called back to the city at times most inconvenient. Everything she did almost seemed like it was for nothing sometimes. Who was she protecting more? The city or her child?
Since the day of the attack that took away one of the only lights of her world she could not let it happen again. By Heavens above she did not. Crime eventually faded away but there were always more crooks trying to make a dishonest dollar from robbing or illegal bribing. From corrupt officials to gambling the city may appear to be a place of glory and safe haven but within it lied a darkness that always had to be looked out for. If one was never careful it could swallow you up.
Gina wanted to rid the city of the darkness that festered within it. She became the chief of police for a reason. The glorious day when she was made the Chief of the entire law enforcement agency was supposed to be greatest day of her life. Vowing to keep the city safe and making sure all Law enforcement abide by the laws and enforce them. But one swift moment the day became a nightmare that always haunted her since.
She may have taken care of so much of the city's festering squalling crooks, but it was never ending. Again, and again, there was always another one trying to make more than the last one had done. A Racketeering or gambling ring was taken down another seemed to eventually rise up.
She gripped the steering wheel tightly in frustration. Her grip was so tight that she could almost bend it. How can all just keep going as it did? Time after time she had conducted every kind of investigation and helped bring down criminal organizations and foiled many activities that would have brought harm to civilians and the city itself, but it was never ending.
Before she was the police chief the city never once knew such chaos. There was crime every now and so often but nothing acquiring the extreme presence of law enforcers that always were in need to be coordinated by the higher up's. Once it was never like this. A Peaceful town that gave people peaceful lives.
There was a time when she was so excited to become the city's police chief. She would be instilled in the history of the city itself. Be part of an agency she came to love and respect. It was a high responsibility and a high honor. She believed she was able to handle it all at one point. There was nothing going on in the city that demanded her time away from home as it was happening now. The Former police chief never had it like this.
It was even said so by the former himself. It was like he past over a car that was full holes and rotten parts and barely holding together. The City's safety was a heavy but at one point a relatively simple responsibility. But it all changed that day. Now Gina's days were filled with work and a lot of sleepless nights. It was not mostly due to the fact she was working away all that time it was due to the fact how miserable her son had become without her.
She stopped at a traffic light that was the last one for the last couple blocks before she would get to the department. She laid her head on her steering wheel and sniffled in sadness. Her child. The Boy she gave life to. The Legacy of her and her deceased husband was always alone. She had broken numerous promises all in the name of keeping the city safe.
How often did she dream of the times when she could be sitting at home and play with him. Helping him with his homework and making a meal he would enjoy every night. Reading him bedtimes stories. She hardly considered herself a parent anymore. What kind was she that always left her child alone like that?
She would keep telling herself she had to for the city needs her. If didn't do her job then another incident like the attack on the ceremony would happen and people would be made widows like her. Children could become orphans because their parents were killed in a senseless act of violence.
Gina would not allow it to happen again. No one should feel the pain she felt every single day. It hurt her deeply knowing her son was always alone, but it would hurt her just as much if she had to look up obituaries one day and see that a parent lost their child, or a child lost their parent due to a criminal activity that could have been stopped if she made sure all law enforcers were at their peak.
"I'm so sorry, Jacob." She apologized thinking of her son. She wiped a tear that fell from her eye. She wanted to quit her job at one point as it only kept her away from her son but there was no one else more qualified than her. Nobody else were more focused or determined as she was. There was no one that could do a better job than she would. If she quit now then criminals would go on the rise again and the ceremony attack would be feeble compared to what more could happen down the line if she left her job then.
Once the light turned green she drove her car down the last couple blocks before she came to the police department. A Towering station that stretched high in a skyscraper that was one of the many in the city.
It was always heavily guarded, and no criminal ever would dare come near it. The only ones that ever would go through it would always be in cuffs and would soon leave in a police van that would be heading to the county jail with them. It was one of the only zones in the city that was relatively free of any activities of crime.
Though it was a nice sight for her at times the Police Department had a sense of dread about it at this point. It was more like her prison. Once she was proud to come to work. Ready to carry out the days orders and protect peoples lives. The Day-to-day rigors were somewhat simple and at the end of the day she would be able to go home with plenty of time to take care of the house and her family.
Her husband she could always entrust to take care of anything if she was ever late. The Man she loved was handsome and hard-working. More than that he was loving husband and father. He was never anything less than someone she was proud to share her heart with. He gave way to the legacy they had and gave her glorious golden years of her life.
But now her life was nothing more than stress and hardship. Empty promises and broken hearts. She made the city feel safe day and night most of the time but what she wanted more than anything she could never have and that was to be home with her child far more often than she was now.
Alas it seemed only like a dream. She took some solace now that she had hired a nanny. She only hoped that Mary Poppins was being exactly what she explained were her methods of taking care of children were. Jacob would be good hands. Now he wouldn't be alone, and someone can make him proper meals and play with him.
Mary Poppins seemed to be someone of decent nature. Though how did she acquire the notice so fast about her in need of a nanny? That at this point was anyone's guess.
After she parked her car in the parking garage below the department she went past the security points and took the elevator up a few dozen floors till she was only a couple floors from the roof. Her office was settled on the far side of the building. She went through the halls going past all the officers that were at their workstations in various cubicles that spanned the course of the floor. All were going over daily reports and arrest warrants among so much else that swamped their days.
Gina felt their pain as she had just as much work as they did. At least they always got to go home and could stay there. Most of the time when there was an emergency she was the one who would be called and not them. How she envied them. She was once like them. A Boring desk drone.
If only she was ambitious and filled with dreams at a time. She made enough to sustain her home and family at that time. Why did she believe she would make a better difference if she was the Police Chief?
If she never was so ambitious then perhaps she and her family wouldn't have been at that ceremony and be caught in the fire of dozens of murderous thugs. The only difference if it was anyone else would be she wouldn't have been there to become entitled, and her husband would have still been alive.
But the past could not be changed at this point. She had to move on. The only dream that made her go on is the day when she could finally give up the role as the police chief and finally be home with her child. He was growing up fast and if she didn't find a way to finally end all crime in the city for good then, Jacob would grow up without her and a life him with no mother is not a life she wants.
She went to her office on the other side of the maze of cubicles as some officers gave her a friendly greeting. Though she smiled at them it was only to hide her frustration. Again, being called upon for another round of notes or some kind of important meeting. What was it this time?
When in her office she found her phone on the desk was beeping showing it had a voice mail on it. She peered over her desk to look out through the large window that was as wide and tall as her office letting see a full view of the city.
A once glorious sight of a peaceful landscape but now the view was just a reminder of how she was trapped within it. Not putting it off any longer she went over to the voice and pressed the beeping red button.
"Chief Owensworth this is Mayor Hill." The Message went on as Gina stood with her arms crossed with her face straining knowing what was coming. "The city officials are hosting a press conference in the park today. Diplomats and other officials from other countries and continents will be there. I need your present for it and to give a few words to the population about our current situation. I will see you then. Good Day, Chief." The recording ended.
"Oh, god dang it!" She growled slamming her hands down on her desk rattling everything that was on it! They called her back only to have her make face at a conference with a few officials and again say the same thing over and over again like every other conference they had?
That's all this job ever had turned out to be. Not just for coordinating police resources but to play nice with politicians. Always having to make good impression to others to help bring the city more influence and resources and on the best note new recruits for the police force. The more they would get the better chances they had at keeping the city safe.
At times however it wasn't always the case. Some days it would go better than most but other days its just a glorified get-together. Officials getting the best food and drink and getting their faces in public just to make good P.R. And Gina had to be there all the time. Without the presence of the Police Chief, it would look bad on the city's behalf.
She had no other choice but to participate. As good as it would be to be fired from her post it would mean the city would fall into chaos without someone of her experience behind the desk. She was a rather influential and popular among her fellow officers. She kept their moral up and with the force having such a high rate as it was the ones out in the city patrolling the streets were focused and aware ready to observe and take down the next criminal that tries to break the law.
Gina went over to the closet to her office. She had many uniforms dry cleaned and prepared for many different types of occasions. Having spent most of her times in the office instead of at home she always had many of her cloths ready to go at moment's notice. In this case a conference where she is required to where her ceremonial uniform that is decorated with medals and ribbons with colored sashes and cords over them. She had to look her very best for it.
She hastily put on her ceremonial uniform. Having been in it more times than she liked she was used to the rather tight fit and uncomfortable shoes she had to wear with it. "Time to go play nice…again." She seethed. She had to talk with strangers in high class suits and uniforms. They would talk like their someone's best friend and at times brag about their glorious status. Many hardly cared for those they represented. All of this was mostly just a way to make good P.R. Gina knew a lot of the people at this point having been the Chief long enough to know many officials.
It was never something she would have agreed to do if she knew just how strenuous her job was either than making sure the police force was keeping up to date with their riggers and efforts to keep the criminals of the city in check.
She immediately left her office getting a few compliments on her uniform. It was amusing at times, but the uniform was more of a burden by now than it was glorious. She took the elevator back down the parking garage and went to her car. She would drive to the designated parking area just a mile outside the park then take a shuttle meant for city officials to the park itself as the press and all civilians that were there to watch the conference were always taking up the parking zones.
Gina went along with the conference as any official would. She sat on a chair at the top of a stage while the mayor addressed the policies and issues that plagued the city. He promised to the crowd that everything would be taken care of him, and the civilians should consider themselves safe under him and all the officials that had come out that day to support him.
He was met with cheers and applause along with, Gina who stood on his behalf. It was just another long night for her. Hours of listening to speech's that always talked around the issues instead of getting directly to the point. Promises were made but hardly felt were kept.
Her duty was to keep the city safe but the conference though the crowd that gathered seemed convinced, Gina on the other hand was not. If it was so simple she would have had the streets cleaned up by now. She would be home with her child and not appeasing to the politicians and delegates from other countries and cities during the after party of the conference.
Many delegates had come from far and wide. During the after party of the conference all were enjoying themselves in the park as most of the civilians left leaving only those that came to enjoy themselves and partake in what the higher classes got to enjoy. Soft music from a live band. Food served on trays and tables from servants among so much that lower class would almost sell their own souls for.
Gina had been through so many of these that they were more than unappealing to her. All the music, food and occasional good conversation with a delegate or politician could not make up for the lack of having her son around.
She wanted to leave but for the police chief to leave so soon would make a bad impression on others. Unless there was an emergency that required her attention she couldn't leave till the time would come for all to disperse.
To cope with the long wait as the night went on she stood alone near one of the tables filled with exquisite food cooked to a delicacy that was closest to the band that played soft melodies with their violins. At least she could pass the time with a few pieces of shrimp and lovely music.
She gazed out into the crowd listening to the laughter and the joy all were having with the company of people of their classes or job similarities. Many were easy to point out that they were not from her own city due to the way they spoke or dressed.
As she looked out she saw two oddly looking folk casually graze through the crowd. Something about those two seemed off. They looked to be French but the way they were going about didn't seem right.
One walked with casual stance with a blank look, but his face seemed to hold something of a rather despicable grace. His eyes scrunched when the rather bulky one next to him would wink or flex himself in front of a female. Sometimes he would earn a flattered or marveled look, but a couple of others just scoffed and looked away to his disappointment.
"Enough with your pompous arrogance, Gaston!" The older diplomat snarled as he hated having been partnered with such an egotistical buffoon. Always having a need to be the center of an attention and to gloat over his proclaimed brilliance over everything. Albeit without an inch of education. His muscles may be large, but his brain is more of a peanut.
"Don't be such a sour puss, grandpa!" The Smug looking bulky man replied with smirk flexing his rather muscular arm in front of a woman who nearly spilt her glass at the sight of such an extraordinary man.
"Need I remind you we are here on a matter of importance!" The older man seethed but then eyed the lone chief near one of the tables who just scoffed at the sight of the brute of a man next to him. She seen many egos in her days, but that man had an ego so big it's surprising his head wasn't as big as his arms.
The older man smiled wickedly when he eyed the chief. There she was! His informants were correct she had to be the one who had bored the child that holds the key to salvation.
While his associate was making a scene of himself it would provide the perfect distraction as some began to gather around him to see more of his muscle and hear tales that one would question if they were over exaggerated.
Gina only looked away from the scene taking another sip of wine from her glass before she realized she had a rather unwelcome person standing too close to her.
"Good evening. May such a lovely pendent you have." The Slim and devious looking figure complimented on the necklace on, Gina's neck.
"Thank you." Gina replied not sure if that compliment was suggesting something more behind it. She didn't like the look of this man. "Who are you?"
"Frollo. Claude Frollo. A most humble and pleasant greeting to you." Claude bowed lightly keeping a grin on his face that showed his clear white teeth but behind that smile held something that Gina didn't like.
"Are you one of the French diplomats?" Gina asked feeling like she should move away but anytime she moved a step he moved closer to her.
"Indeed, my dear. I am here on many occasions. To talk these rabble is not worth my time. But to see you among these buffoonish and sinful masses shows there is a light is this dark endeavor of a conference. Perhaps you may enlighten me more than the others can." He insisted as he came so close that his shoulder began to touch hers.
Gina flinched her shoulder away from him. "I would rather not, thank you. Enjoy your evening." Gina turned around facing away uninterested into talking with this man. However, Frollo wouldn't have it. She was the one that could lead him to the child that was hers.
"Please. I must insist. We have a lot to talk about. Do show better mannerisms than the rapacious crowd that surrounds us." He asked reaching over to her. His hand touched her shoulder and that was it for Gina.
She turned around and slapped him in the face. Frollo growled at her. "How dare you defy me, woman!" He pointed at her as if he was condemning something to the fiery pits.
"Security! Arrest this man!" Gina called as security guards quickly came to the aid of the police chief. They immediately seized Frollo by the arms.
"Unhand me you sinful lot! You dare touch me?!" Frollo tried to struggle but the guards were too many and they dragged him away. His associate was slightly amused by the scene but then his eyes turned to Gina. Frollo was after her which meant she had to be someone of importance.
He pushed through the crowd coming up to her as glasses shattered on the floor as he stormed up to her. "You're coming with me!" He grinned as this would be much more easier than picking up woman at an Inn.
Gina saw him coming to her. It seemed the man favored his muscle and wither or not he was going to try and kidnap her for a reason she was not going anywhere and waited for him.
"I don't think so!" Gina snapped as the bulky man stomped up to her with his arms out ready to grab her but just when he got close enough, Gina's reflexes were faster than the man's running mouth.
She swiftly kicked the man square in his groin making him gasp grabbing his now very sore crotch dropping to his knees. He was then met with a knee to his face before, Gina swiftly knocked him out with a punch. She rubbed her sore right hand but grinned.
"Thanks for that. Needed let off some steam this evening." She thanked feeling a little better from all the anxious and guilty feelings she had built up. "Security get this piece of scum out of here!" She ordered as more security came and seized the knocked-out man whose ego took as much as a blow as he was hauled away.
The Rest of the night was mostly uneventful. Nothing but more bureaucrats and aristocratic nonsense. Gina almost wanted someone to come up to her with ill intentions again. A Good fight would indefinitely do her good as she still held much pent-up feelings over everything that has been happening.
Thankfully the night was coming to an end, and everyone was finally leaving the after-party. All the guests were either drunk from one too many beverages or some were escorted away to their vehicles that waited them.
Most of the politicians were gone and eventually only the Chief was left having said her goodbyes to the Mayor and all the others she had a rather friendly talk with especially after she showed two goonish diplomats the error of their ways but what they were seemingly after her for was anyone's guess.
The city was gloomy and quiet. It was already past midnight and there was hardly a car driving in the lowly dimmed streets.
"Can't believe it! Not even one taxi!" Gina groaned in irritation as walked along the sidewalk to the parking away that was only half a mile away by now. This was not how she expected to end her night by walking through the blocks to get to her car.
"I'm going to have to talk to the mayor about adding more funds to the taxi service." She told herself making a note but then a chill went up her spine nearly making her leap in surprise.
She kept walking but a mist started to fill the streets. The Air became bitingly cold. She shivered in her thin clothes. The Dress she wore for such events were only for looks. Everything else it wasn't useful for.
"Weather said everything was supposed to be clear tonight." She breathed seeing her breath in the air. But then a soft warm wind blew to the back of her neck making her shiver.
She heard a small cackle come to her ears making her stop in her track. Gina breathed heavily as something made her root in her place. The cackle grew louder then something sounded like it unsheathed behind her.
Gina turned around quickly only to see a large sword come down across from the left. She fell backwards landing on the hard pavement looking up to see a black looking figure stand before her. It looked to be a man with a red cloak. He had a sword in his left hand but what shocked her more that the figure had no head, yet it was cackling loudly at her as it approached her waving his sword in the air.
"Freeze! I'm a police officer!" Gina warned pulling out her side arm that she hid in her back lodged behind the waist of her pants. She aimed it at the dark figure but he or would be an it she didn't know as nothing could be alive without a head.
"I'm warning you!" She warned one last time, but the figure kept its dark cackling at her as it came closer. Gina with no other choice fired repeatedly at it. She unloaded most of the rounds in the magazine of her pistol but the bullets past through the dark man like he was nothing but a ghost.
The Bullets didn't do anything as the headless cackling man took another swipe with his sword at her cleaning her pistol in two.
Gina crawled away in terror as the figure stomped towards her swinging its sword barely missing her by inches never ceasing its horrid cackles that ringed her ears.
She backed up to a street light that barely showed cutting off her escape. The Headless man was right on top of her and now within range. It raised its sword high and brought it down but then, Gina found herself being lifted.
Gina without warning was carried off the ground and she grabbed onto whatever just took hold of her swinging her up to another light post.
"Careful, milady. Don't let go!" A rather sincere voice told her getting her attention. She looked to see another figure was holding other while they stood on top of another street light high off the ground. In hand she saw the one who just saved her from being cleaved was wearing a dark head that was pulled over his head concealing his look.
The Horrid cackling drew her back to the headless man that ran towards the street light she and her savior were on. But then something came charging at the headless being. She saw another man this time wearing some form of armor. It looked rather ancient and indefinitely not of modern times. She saw the one running had his head down and he grunting as getting ready to strike the dark figure.
The Headless man heard something come to his right and just when he turned to face it the head of the attacker struck him so hard that he was sent flying into the air going so far into the distance that it soon disappeared as if it was indeed a ghostly entity.
"Well, that takes care of that!" The Man that wore the armor chuckled wiping his hands clean giving, Gina a smile and nod.
"Hold on!" The one near Gina said gripping her back to his side then jumped down from the street light with her catching her by surprise wrapping her arms around him again. She found herself on the pavement again quickly letting go of the one who was responsible for saving her life.
"Who are you?" Was all she could ask trying to look over the figure, but the dim lights provided only very little as the hood kept most of his body from being seen. She did make out that his hands were not skin but made of fur. And she saw what seemed to be a muzzle coming from where the head was.
"That is irrelevant at the moment. But in time all will be revealed. Have a good evening, Mi-lady!" The Figure bowed lightly before running a nearby alley with the other man running after him before he gave, Gina a wink before they vanished out of her sight.
"Hey, wait!" She called after them running into the alley but when she got there the alley was so dark she couldn't even see her hands. Turning on her cell phone light she peered into the alley, but it was nothing but riddled with garbage and a dead end at the far side. She couldn't see anyone. It was impossible. How could they have gotten away so fast?
"I didn't even thank them." She sighed in disappointment. Thinking of the figure that attacked her made her realize something terrible. "Those odd reports of strange sightings. Could it be?"
"I got to get home!" She looked back down to the alley. "I don't know who you were. But thank you both." She said hoping that she would find out who those two were before she ran for the parking area this time she would walk or stop she was getting home this night.
On top of the building that overlooked the street the ones that had saved the police chief watched her as she made it to the parking area and soon saw a car leave from it.
"You're welcome. Its what hero's do." The one who had knocked the headless man away smiled before looking at his friend. "Good save there, Robin."
"Not too bad of a hit yourself, Hercules." The Figure known as, Robin pulled back his hood revealing a red fox under it. "Let us hope this will be the last attempt for a while now."
Hercules shook his head. "Got a bad feeling its only just beginning."
"I'm inclined to agree with you, my friend." Robin nodded in agreement.