DAY FIVE
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HES GONE!?" Ardin bellowed slamming his hands down on the desk before him.
A bloodied James stood before him, two men on either side, supporting his weight. He had sat half awake in that fucking house for the entire night and most of the day. It was now late into the afternoon. He had been found by the two men at his sides, only for them to bring them to The Boss.
"He... snapped... found out about... you talking with... the gun dealers." James wheezed as he griped his ribs wincing in pain.
There came a roar of anger from Ardin as he thrust his fat body out of his seat. "He has the girl. Your' fucking car. And that FUCKER is nearly impossible to fucking find WHEN HE DOESNT WANT TO BE! FUCK!" He bellowed once more slamming his hands down on the desk. His heavy chest heaved and his face had gone bright red.
No one said anything door a long time, before Ardin suddenly pushed off his desk to sand fully. "Okay. This is what is going to happen. First. Get this dumbass cleaned up. Second. I want every. One. Searching for this skinny little FUCK. Send out the word. Thirty large for this fucks head. The Girl HAS to live. If she dies... I will kill every one of you myself." He snarled grabbing a case off his desk and thundering from the room.
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Men scrammed to vans, and cars. Some tumbling out onto the street. All in search. Noses to the ground.
Jack hummed an aimless tune to himself as he touted Sem' up a set of stairs. He had been lucky enough to fine a nearly empty motel on the fringes of Gotham.
He wasn't too sure about where he would go. But it didn't matter. He had Sem'. He smirked to himself as she picked up his tune and began humming herself. Her small hands mindlessly playing with his hair as she looked about.
"We're hiding here, Jack?" She questioned looking up at him, as he shoved the door open to their room.
It was as he suspected. Dirty, light brown carpeting, a single bed. A tiny TV on a small dresser. In all. It was a hovel.
He didn't want Sem' to be in this kind of place. But for the time being. It would have to do. Just until the heat died down, that was all. Then he would have her all to himself and he would be able to take care of what was his. He was sure of it.
"Yeah, Baby Doll. This is where... we're hiding." He drawled as he strolled in and set Sem' on the bed. She went willingly and as he pulled back he stared down at her.
Her massive green eyes met his, and that wide grin broke out on her face. She laughed l lightly. "Love you, Jack!" She called on a laugh.
He smirked and ruffled her hair playfully. "Love you too Doll." He murmured lightly, before turning away from her and going to the large bay windows on the far side of the grubby room.
Snow dumped from the sky in the pre-dawn light. He had driven nearly all night to the outskirts of Gotham. Three feet had accumulated in the past twenty four hours. He was hoping that the snow would give him some cover. Slow down Ardin and all of his goons.
He wasn't stupid. Jack knew that he would have to leave this little safe haven bright and early in the morning. But. For now. He planned on spending time with Sem'.
Sem' watched Jack with a mild interest. He had been looking out for the people that were seeking them. She was SURE that no matter what. Jack wouldn't let them be found. So, she wasn't very worried.
She sat Koshka beside her, and began to root around in her Pack pack. She withdrew her colors and her my Little Pony coloring book. Humming to herself lightly, she flipped to an uncolored page and began to color.
Jack turned to her humming and watched as she colored away in her book. She was laying on her belly, legs kicking freely in the air above her. She looked... he loathed himself for thinking it, but she looked adorable.
She was so care free. Nothing seemed to affect her in the long term. He had taken her from her home. Within a day she had clung to him like a second skin. He had brought her to this grubby hotel room. And now she lay as if she were at home in her own bed. Well... mattress-less crib.
Slowly, he moved towards her and before he knew it, he found himself sprawled on the bed beside her. He to on his belly, watching as she colored a cartoon horse with wings sky blue. "What uh... is ThaT?" He questioned moving, and pocking at the page lightly.
Her eyes turned to him and she smiled. "That's Rainbow Dash! She really fast!" She exclaimed moving her hand about the air quickly.
He licked at his lips still eying the pony. "Is she?" He questioned, slowly turning his attention to her.
She nodded. "Yeah! She is so fast! She can do the Sonic rainboom! Rainbows go EVERYWHERE!" She called tossing her hands out wide and rolling to her back in the process. This put her nearly laying on Jacks back.
He felt himself grin, just before he rolled and pulled Sem' to his chest. She burst into squealing laughter as he curled his body around hers. His hands going to her side where he began to tickle her.
She struggled in his grip, all the while laughter was pouring from her throat. Jack laughed, rich and deep as he took in the massive grin on her face. Her tiny hands struggling to shove his hands away from her sides.
"Jack! Stop!" She squealed writhing about with breathless laughter.
He stopped and coiled his arms about her. Squeezing her lightly he reveled in her delighted laughter. She nuzzled her face into his chest and wrapped her arms around him. "You're my favit, Jack!" She stated into his chest.
Jhack chuckled lightly, and didn't bother correcting her mispronunciation. She was too cute for her own good. As they laid there, both breathing heavily, Jack began to think of what Sem' would become.
She could be great. With his plans... she would be by his side the entire way. He could teach her everything he knew. She would become a killer. A shiver of sheer pleasure ran up his spine. He would ALWAYS have what was HIS by his side. Using her to benefit him in the best of ways. Go kill this person. Go hide this body. It would be... Perfect.
He grinned to himself. That is what he would do. Protect her. Feed her. Teach her. Use her. He would not say that there wasn't some type of caring feeling there, deep in the pit of his gut. Because there WAS.
There was some unknown feeling that warmed him whenever Sem' grinned, or laughed. Whenever she would cling to him. He didn't exactly enjoy the feeling, but he couldn't say he didn't like it either.
Sem' pulled away from him slightly and studied his face. Her large eyes skipping over his scars as if they weren't even there. She liked that he had scars. The wounds on his face made them alike. Jack would never look at her like she was gross, or like he didn't want her around.
She loved Jack just as much as she loved Koshka. And she loved Koshka a lot. She began humming again as she rolled slightly I'm jacks arms to hold Koshka above her head.
Jack seemed to be in a good mood. She watched him out of the
Corner of her eye. He was still smiling lightly. Maybe... she could play in the snow?
"Can we go play in the snow?" She asked lightly not wanting to look at him.
Jack sat still for a moment. Weighing his options. They were far from Ardin and his little circle of territory. And even if they were to be seen. It would take time for the message to reach Ardin. Giving them enough time to get out of the city before anything happened.
"Sure baby Doll." He grunted as he pulled her small body to his chest and rolled off the bed.
Sem' squealed with laughter as Jack tucked her and Koshka under his right arm like a football and threw the door open.
Cold air slammed into him, and instantly, he began to re think his decision. Sem' didn't have a coat. Let alone SHOES. He didn't want her getting sick. The last thing he needed right now was a sick Sem'. She had just started putting some weight back on.
Sem' made a noise of wonder as she lifted her head to peer at the snow. It dumped from the sky quickly, and was even beginning to collect on the partially covered hallway. She began to struggle in Jacks grip. Wanting desperately to be put down.
Jack watched her face as her large eyes grew even larger. Slowly, he set her to her feet, and trailed after her as she took off down the hall, squealing with laughter.
"Snow Jack! Snow!" She called as she made it to the stairs to stare down them at the collected snow on the ground.
Sem' felt Jack come to a stop behind her, his pant legs brushing against her own bared legs. She leaned back against him and tilted her head all the way back to look up into his down turned face. She grinned as she stared up at him, small hands moving behind her to clutch at his pant legs.
"Are we gonna play?" She questioned lightly keeping eye contact with him as her left hand clenched into Koshkas soft belly.
Jack stared down at her. Eyeing the way she so willingly leaned against him. She was always doing this. Reaching out and touching him. As if she were making sure that he were really there.
He smiled slightly as Sem's cheeks grew red from him looking down at her. "Yeah... lets uh... playyy." He drawled motioning Sem' forward and down the stairs.
Slowly, Sem turned to peer down the stairs once more before she carefully started down them, right hand going out to clutch at the hand rail above her head.
She watched each foot as she descended and nearly squealed as her bare feet came into contact with the snow. Just about an inch of it had settled on the third step. It crunched lightly under her feet.
Laughing, she jumped into the snow, nearly tumbling on the last step as her heels barley brushed it, but catching herself as she tossed her hand holding Koshka.
The snow was very high, nearly to her belly button. The bitter cold stung her exposed skin, but she ignored it as she dashed forward, and farther away from the stairs. Snow flew away from her as she dashed about. Laughing brightly. Koshka drug through the snow behind her.
She stumbled slightly, but a large hand wrapped about her waist and swung her into the air. "Don'T FALL" Jack growled as he tossed Sem' into the air.
A shiver ran up his spine as Sem' shrieked with laughter as she fell back into his arms. Her dress covered with snow, and it clung to her ink black curls.
She clutched at his throat giggling, Koshka pressed to the side of his face. "Again! Toss me again!" She called grinning at him as she fought off giggles.
Without hesitation, Jack tossed Sem' and Koshka into the air again. He watched as she flew up, hair flying about her body, catching flakes of snow as it moved. The deep red of her dress contrasted sharply with the white the surrounded her. Her black hair... but what drew his attention. What ALWAYS held his eye. Were the massive green eyes her childish face held.
Her eyes were so bright. So sharp that they simply did not belong. Her eyes held that glint of happiness that he had only seen in those rare moments that he decided to swallow his pride, and play with her. Her bell like laughter filled the air around him. Tinkling like some gift given, and meant only for him.
He raised his arms, as she fell once more and clutched her to him as her small weight connected with his chest. A laugh bubbled from his chest, and mingled with Sem's giggles.
They played for nearly an hour before Jack saw Sem's teeth beginning to click together, and he decided to bring her back inside. He stared up the stairs with a laughing Sem' on his right hip. Koshka dangled from her hand, and thumped against his thigh lightly with every step he took.
"That was fun! Koshka likes the snow!" She giggled nuzzling her forehead against Jacks temple.
Jack said nothing as he hummed lightly, only for his entire body to go stiff as a slightly damp, warm pressure rested lightly against Jacks cheek bone, just below his eye.
"Thank you for playing with me. I love Jack." Sem' murmured as she placed another soft kiss in the same place.
She would have kissed Jacks cheek, but she did not want to risk hurting him.
Slowly, as if un-willing, Jack turned his head to peer at the rosy cheeks of Sem'. She had her eyes down cast, and her small hands were working the front of her dress.
An idiotic smirk fought its way onto his face. Slowly, Jack reached up and curled his fingers around the back of Sem's slim neck. Gently he pulled her forward, and kissed her forehead. "I love you too Sem'." He whispered in that gentle tone that was for Sem'.
She leaned into him and nuzzled against him. They stood like that for a few moments till Jack seemed to snap out of it and stared up the stairs again.
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She wasted the pair standing on the stairs with grim eyes. It was them. There was no denying it.
Her cheap cell phone was clutched in her trembling hand. Why did SHE have to be the one to find them? Why? She wanted to leave them be. Let them get away.
The way Jack had so willingly played with the tiny child. How gentle he was with her shocked her. How could this gentle, sweet boy, be the same as the MONSTER that had beaten her husband to a pulp?
Her hand slowly came up as she flipped her phone open. She pressed send once, and the dreaded number flashed onto her screen.
"If you see ANYTHING. You call me. Or I will have those two boys of yours SLAUGHTERED." The deep voice snarled in her ear again.
Tears welled to her eyes, and she clamed them closed. Before she could talk herself out of it, she pressed the send button for a second time, and pressed her phone to her ear.
It rang twice before Ardin himself answered. "Lilllyyy" he drawled into the phone.
She opened her moth, but the lump in her throat refused to let her speak. Clearing her throat slightly, she tried again. "I... I found them..." she whispered.
****DUN DUN DUUUUUNNNN! Okay! So if you don't remember Lilly… James's Wife. There will only be one more "chapter" For this. I have a fan art as well! Check it out on my profile!
