Raven watched from the shadows as Jeff, Randy and their little family entered the arena. He could see the apprehension in Jeff's eyes and it made him grin. Even though he was pretty much a constant victim, the guy wasn't a complete idiot. He had to know that trouble was going to find him and his family no matter how careful he was. Raven just wondered if Jeff had any idea just how close trouble really was at the moment.
Raven ducked out of sight just as Jack looked in his direction. The boy had grown into quite the young man and he almost wished the boy could have stayed his disciple. Just by looking at him, Raven could tell Jack had a mind that would be fun and easy to warp. Maybe I'll still get my chance, he thought to himself as he moved some of his hair out of his face. Maybe I will get a chance to leave a legacy that will live on and make Jeff and Randy pay for helping to take away the last thirteen years of my life.
That thought was interrupted by a violent coughing fit that caused Raven to double over. He gasped for breath as he tried to stay quiet. The last thing he needed was for security to catch him and throw him out of the building before he could do anything he needed to do.
Oh fuck, that's not good, he thought to himself as he spit out a mouth full of blood. He took a few deep breaths to regain his composure before straightening back up. He felt like he was okay now, but he knew that the feeling wasn't going to last much longer. He was going to have to act fast if he was going to do what needed to be done. Bird man is going to go out in a blaze of glory: quote the Raven, nevermore.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Jeff couldn't bring himself to relax at all as he tried to get ready for his match. Not only was he scared and nervous about the Raven situation, but he had a bad feeling that his kids were up to something. They kept talking to each other off in the corner, and whenever he asked them what they were talking about, they acted way too innocent for their own good. "They're up to something," he whispered to Randy.
Randy raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean they're up to something? Why would you say that?"
"Oh come on, can't you see it?" Jeff asked. "They're planning something they don't want us to know about."
"Honey, are you sure you're not being paranoid?"
Jeff gave Randy an offended look. "Paranoid? You think that's what I'm being?"
Randy sensed that he was entering dangerous territory at the moment and tried to back peddle a little bit. "Well I'm just saying that this whole situation has all of us on edge. Maybe you're seeing secrecy and deceit where there are only kids who are talking about harmless things."
"Are you seriously saying this to me right now?" Jeff asked. He could not believe that after all these years, Randy would try to question his judgment on this. "After everything we have been through together, you're going to stand there and act like I'm crazy?"
"I never said you were crazy!" Randy said defensively. "Never once did I use the word crazy!"
"You said I was paranoid!"
"I said you were BEING paranoid! Jesus Christ Jeff, don't put words in my mouth! That's not fair to do."
Jeff folded his arms over his chest. He knew that this argument had to end. They did not have time for this crap. "Fine. You know what? If you're so convinced that I'm paranoid, why don't you ask the kids what they're talking about?"
Randy rolled his eyes. "Fine! I will!" He turned away from Jeff. "Kids--oh shit."
Jeff whirled around and quickly saw why Randy had said that. Maggie was the only one in the room with them. Jack and Sid were long gone. "Oh God," he said under his breath. "Maggie, where did your brothers go?"
Maggie stared at them with wide eyes. "What brothers?" she asked innocently.
Randy shook his head. "Honey, now is not the time to try to be cute with us. Where are Jack and Sid?"
"Uh…they're invisible."
Jeff looked over at the door, which wasn't shut all the way. "Oh fuck," he groaned. "They slipped out while we were arguing."
"Damn it," Randy said. "Jeff, stay here with Maggie." Before Jeff could protest that plan, Randy was already heading out the door. "BOYS! YOU GET BACK IN THIS LOCKER ROOM THIS INSTANT!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Sid winced as he heard Randy yelling. "Dad sounds mad," he told Jack.
Jack nodded. "I know he does. But we can't really help that right now, can we?"
Sid shrugged and put his BB gun over his shoulder. He figured they probably could by just going back and abandoning this entire plan, but he didn't say that out loud. He knew that wasn't what Jack wanted to hear. Not a lot of people ever accused him of being smart, but he knew more than he usually let on. He did understand that Jack was just trying to protect them all and he did understand that it probably wasn't the best idea in the world to try to catch Raven themselves. But he didn't think his parents were going to come up with a better plan, so he was just going to go along with this one.
Jenny and Aaron met up with them towards the exit of the arena. They were armed with a net and duct tape. "We better make this quick," Aaron said as they exited the building. "Dad is going to skin us alive once our diversion dies down and he realizes we're gone."
"Ours already knows we're gone," Jack said as they exited the building. "And Sid and I are so going to be dead when he catches up to us."
"So maybe that means we should just forget this idea and beg for forgiveness," Jenny suggested. She looked around nervously. "I mean come on Jack, this whole capturing Raven thing sounds like a crappy idea on paper, and now that we're out here trying to do this, I'm just realizing how much more idiotic it truly was."
"Well what a smart girl are. Too bad you grew a brain too late."
Sid gulped as a man stepped out of the shadows. His long, dark curly hair hung over his face and his leather jacket and baggy clothes covered up a way too thin body. His cold eyes pierced every one of them and Sid found himself hiding behind Jack. The man had to be Raven. He just had to be. "This was a bad idea," he muttered. "I don't want to do this anymore. Jack…"
Jack didn't a word. He just stared right into Raven's eyes.
Raven grinned. "Hello Jack. Long time no see."
