(Since its been awhile that I put out any chapters. I'm going to put out 2 chapters this time. I'm in the progress with chapter 5. Let me know what you think of chapters 3 and 4.)

Chapter 4

Wendy and Van walked back into town, and he headed back to the inn where he was staying at. As soon as he walked in. The lady at the desk looked over to Van and pointed to him. She was talking to a feminine women. She was wearing a tight red dress that cut off at her knees. She had black high heels on. Her hair was jet black, and it was put up in a bun with chop sticks. Only makeup she was wearing was ruby red lip stick, since that's all she really needed. She started heading towards Wendy and Van.

"Crystal over there was telling me that you had some belongings stolen."

Van looked her up and down. Wendy saw Van check her out. Her heart starting to feel uncomfortable. She didn't like the way Van was looking at her. They aren't dating. So its not like she has the right to say anything, but Wendy felt he could be a little more discreet.

"Are you the manager of this inn?"

"Yes, I am. I apologize on the behave of this inn. Its just that these kind of things never happen here. From the looks of it you haven't found your hat or sword yet? The clerk never gave me your name"

Van continued to stare at the manager, without breaking eye contacting. Wendy was surprised that he hasn't, because her breast look like they're about to pop out of her dress.

"No, I haven't found them yet. Its pretty rude to ask for someone's name without giving one yourself. Don't you think?"

The manager looked at him like she wasn't amused. Wendy tried to hold back her chuckle, but it came through anyways. The manger glared at Wendy. Wendy hurried up and straightened herself out. The manager looked back at Van.

"My name is Ayme."

"That wasn't too hard, now was it Ayme? I'm Van."

"And I'm Wendy. Its nice to meet you."

Ayme nodded to Wendy and Van.

"If there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask. I don't want to sully my inn's name."

Van clicked his tongue, and grabbed the check that he had put in his pocket. He showed it to Ayme.

"The man that stole my stuff, and impersonated as this inn's manager, was named Mr. Green. He sold my stuff to a Mr. Goldspring. Have you heard of him?"

Ayme froze for a second when she heard Mr. Goldspring's name. She looked at Wendy, then back at Van.

"Yes. I have heard of him. I don't know of him personally. I know he has some sleazy goons down by the casino. Some of them usually hang out in the back alley."

"Thank you Mrs. Ayme."

"Oh, its not Mrs, Its Miss."

Ayme grabbed Vans arm.

"I put this ring on so it at least shy's away some men… You know, you're not so bad looking. If you every want to hang out with someone who can show you a good time, then let me know."

Ayme winked at him while she walked away. Wendy was biting her tongue. She couldn't believe how someone could ask that to someone they just met. She starts to calm down when she looked up at Van. He has no reaction in his face. Wendy feels relieved, but then again she starts to worry that he didn't even have a little bit of a reaction. Its like Van's been blocking out almost all his emotions since after that night. Wendy and Van head down to the casino. Its huge, with flashing lights everywhere. There were four fountains in front of the building. It pretty much looks like all casinos do. This one just looks a little bit fancier. You can see the people who've gambled all their money away, drunk, on the streets. Wendy gets disgusted.

"I can't believe people will spend all their money here. Why throw it all away for chance? Everything pretty much rigged in there. They lure you in there by having you win. Then they take it all away."

"Some people have nothing to lose."

Wendy looked up at Van. All she can think about is what could have happened to him between those 4 years that could have made him this way. Van starts heading down the alley. You can see about 5 goons hanging outside by the exit of the casino.

"Hey! What are you two doing here?! This isn't a place for you. You better start going back from whence you came."

"I'm looking for a Mr. Goldspring."

Wendy was shocked that he just came out and said that. She had a bad feeling about this. Wendy had her hand by her gun. Just so she's ready, in case anything were to happen.

"Mr. Goldspring… What do you need him for?"

"He took something of mine and I want it back."

The goons looked at each other and started to laugh. Van clenched his fist.

"Don't make me ask again! You wouldn't like what I did to the other guy who made me repeat myself."

"Look fella, there's no way that you're ever going to see, or even talk to Mr. Goldspring. So you might as well go back from whence you came. Like I said before."

Van leaped forward and grabbed him by the throat. The goon dangled. Grabbing at his throat. Trying to pry Van's hand away.

"I have just a little more patience left. I'll play it nice one more time. Where is Mr. Goldspring?"

The other 4 goons get up and start waking their pipes and bats in their hands. Van shoots the others with a death stare. Wendy grabs out her gun and points it at them.

"Ok, ok, ok. Everyone calm down. We don't want unnecessary blood shed. You see, we don't know where Mr. Goldspring is. We just collect for him."

"What are you collecting for him?

"Mr. Goldspring runs a black market in Central City. If he wants something. His right hand man finds us and tells us if we have to retrieve something for him. When we do. His right hand man comes and gets it. Some things Mr. Goldspring sells, some things he keeps. That's pretty much it."

"Then were you the ones that Mr. Green sold my hat and sword to?"

"That was y…"

The goon looked at Van a little more closely. His eyes widened. Like he knew who he was. Wendy saw the goon recognize Van. She wants to know what's going on, but right now isn't the time to ask. She keeps an eye on all four goons to make sure they don't do anything stupid.

"Now you better tell me who's Mr. Goldsprings right hand man is. Whats his name?"

"Well to tell you the truth, I'm not absolutely sure about that."

Van shook in anger.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! YOU MEET WITH HIM FACE TO FACE, DON'T YOU?!."

Van shoved him against the wall. The other goons just stared, not knowing what to do. Wendy jumped a little by Vans actions.

"What I mean is I don't know his real name. I know him by Number 7. That's what everyone calls him."

"Then you should at least be able to tell me what he looks like."

"Uuuuhhh, yeah... Sure... He's as tall as you. Dark hair. He usually has some sort of cross on him. He also has a scare on his….."

There was a loud bang. Van got something in his eyes, when they started to clear up a bit. He could feel his hand was wet. He looked at the goon and there was a bullet wound in the side of his head. He looked back at Wendy in anger. She shook her head. There was no smoke coming out of her gun. The other goons scattered. He looked further down the alley. There was a tall figure. Van threw the man on the ground and started running to the figure. Before Van could reach where that person was. He disappeared. Van looked all around. There was nothing. Just drunk, broke, men in the streets. Van punched the wall.

"DAMN IT!"

Wendy ran up to Van and put her hand on his arm.

"Van, its ok. We at least got some of the description. It shouldn't be too hard. How about we at least go to Central City and search around."

Van was silent. After a bit, he started to walk back to the inn. Wendy watched him as he walked. She worried even more. Clenching at her chest. They both walked back into the inn. Wendy looked around. No sign of Ayme. She sighed in relief. Van walked up to Crystal at the front desk.

"I need a room with two beds for one night."

"Right away, Mr. Van. And this time the room is really on us."

Van said nothing and took the key from Crystal and headed upstairs. Wendy fallowed behind him. Van took off his coat and he laid on the bed. He put one of his hands on his face and just laid there and said nothing. Wendy stood there and watched him. After a bit, she walked over to her bed and took off her gun and sat it on the desk next to the bed. She sat on the end of the bed staring at the floor.

"Van…"

Van said nothing.

"Can you please tell me what's going on now?"

Van was silent for a minute. Still covering his face with his hand.

"What do you mean what's going on?"

"Please don't play games with me. You're not how you were when we met at that diner. Its like the next day you changed. Also… That night…

Wendy thought about telling him about the kiss and what he said, but she decided not to. Its not the right time to bring that up.

"You told me that you would tell me later, and you haven't."

"Wendy, I told you. I don't remember that at all. I remember passing out on your bed. That's it."

"Even if you don't remember, can you at least tell me something?!"

Van was still silent. Wendy threw herself back on her bed and curled into a ball.

"FINE! Good night!"

Van moved his fingers to peek at Wendy. He see's that she has her back to him. He rolled over.

"I told you that I was looking for something… Its really not something. More like a someone. But I'm not for sure yet. So I don't want to say anything, or even say who I'm looking for. Right now all you have to know is that we need to find Mr. Goldspring and get my stuff back"

Wendy doesn't say anything. She still keeps her back to Van. She holds her hands close to her face.

"Who could he be looking for?"

Wendy thought.

"Is it someone he's afraid of to tell me? I do remember he was in love with someone before… But she died. Claw killed her. Could she still be alive? I know that Van has to know at least a little bit of my feelings for him. Maybe the reason why he wanted me to stay home is because he didn't want me to get hurt by this, or maybe…

Wendy's mind just keeps coming up with question after question. The only time Wendy has ever seen him worked up this much before was over that girl. Wendy starts to feel a bit lonely. Her eyes start to tear. Van can hear her sniff a little bit. The only thought that goes in his mind before he falls asleep is…

"I'm sorry, Wendy. I can't tell you yet. I'm not for sure if this persons alive, or not. I don't want you to worry, but I don't know how to comfort you right now."

To be continued…