I Knew You Were a Weirdo

00000

VI - This Girl is on Fire

"Nana?"

"Oh Buster, when I heard the news, I was so distressed."

"I-I know, it was a terrible shock. For all of us."

It was early in the morning when Buster Moon had received an anonymous tip with a number. He dialed the number and almost immediately, there was an answer.

It was oddly comforting to hear Nana Noodleman's severe voice.

"I wanted so terribly to call, to see if everyone was alright but something in me held me back."

Very wise. Buster sighed over the payphone. "There's a good reason behind that. We have to minimize our cellphone use because this Sean DiMarco may have hackers on his payroll, hackers who could track us through our phones."

"My sources told me as much so I took action in whatever way I could in your favor in a way that would not endanger any of you."

"You did huh?" Buster said. "Well...thank you. We really appreciate it. But what did you do exactly?"

"My pleasure. It required some pulling of the strings and a few favors. As for your question, let's just say I've set some events in motion to assure your people were escorted safely from the hospital."

Buster gasped. I knew those calls they got at the hospital and at the same time weren't a coincidence! "Nana, you did all that?!"

The old sheep chuckled. "With some help, it's all a bit complicated so I'll have to share the details once this bloody mess is sorted out. Now tell me, any intel I received was contradictory, but Noelle, how does she fare?"

"Noelle? Oh, you mean Nooshy."

"Ah! Yes, Nooshy of course. I understand that she...hates her given name."

"So I've heard," Buster said. "But why? It's a perfectly fine name."

"I really couldn't say but I have the impression that it is a deeply personal issue. Therefore it is her story to tell and hers alone."

"Of course," Buster said, nodding. "Isn't that her mother's name too?"

"It is. Any further speculation is inadvisable Buster. It borders on gossip, which I don't care for."

"Understood. Will we see you soon?"

"Yes, in my penthouse suite in Manhattan."

Buster blinked. "Wait, what?! You want us to come to New York?"

"Yes Buster." Nana sounded very severe but there was a twinge in her voice which seemed to register foreboding. "There has been...a development. Jersey may be too dangerous. I've made arrangements for you to leave for New York before nightfall."

"If that's true," Buster said, incredulous and alarmed. "Then shouldn't we stay put?"

"If I thought DiMarco wasn't closing in, yes."

Buster nearly dropped the phone.

"Are you still there Buster?"

"Yes."

"I know that this must be very scary but I need you to keep your heads. There are good police officers patrolling the area. DiMarco won't make a move hastily, especially during the day."

"I thought this place was safe," Buster stammered.

"It is but it was provided on very short notice. It was only meant to be a temporary setting. It will not provide a guarantee of security, not under these circumstances."

"But your penthouse will?" Buster flinched, realizing how insolent that sounded.

Nana Noodleman did not seem too put off by the question. "It is among the top 10 secure buildings in the city and I should know because I have paid for most of the security. You will be safe there."

"I...I'm sorry Nana, that question was very rude."

"Indeed, but it's alright Buster. I know the situation is very...delicate and dangerous. You'll receive a special transport at 4 this afternoon. Until then, you and the others stay safe. Keep your heads down and do not leave the safehouse alone."

"Thank you Nana."

"You're welcome. Good luck."

00000

The Moon troupe rushed through breakfast.

They were having French Toast, courtesy of Clay Calloway.

Meena and Ash were sitting at the kitchen bar. Porsha was sitting across from them, looking quite stricken.

Johnny was sitting at the far end. His nose was bandaged. He was quiet and looked rather downtrodden. He appeared to have barely touched his breakfast.

Nooshy was sitting in the living room space. She just looked annoyed but she was quite troubled. She was eating her breakfast at an alarming rate.

"At least she hasn't got a new phone yet," Meena whispered.

Ash shook her head. "No, but when she does, the message will come through on the new one and that video will be the first thing she sees."

Porsha flinched, looking shame-faced. She had wanted to say something but the words wouldn't come out. She was so upset.

"Your French toast is going to get cold Porsh," Meena said, pushing the wolf's plate closer to her.

Porsha sighed.

"Look," Ash said. "It was an unfortunate accident, a freak accident, so we're not going to lash out at you for it Porsha."

"And you really need to eat, keep your strength up," Meena said.

Porsha put an elbow on the counter, leaning her face in her hand. The universal gesture of sulking.

"Ok look," Ash said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I think I may have been a bit hard on you, ok? What you were doing wasn't ok but…"

"No, it was not ok. Far from it," Porsha said bitterly. "If Nooshy sees that video, looking at the way they are now, it will make things worse. If Heaven forbid, they stop talking, Johnny will hate me because I helped drive her away and invaded their privacy. Nooshy will hate me even more for spying and making their...relationship weird."

"I don't think they'd go that far Porsh," Ash said, rolling her eyes. "But we can fix this, we just got to get a hold of Nooshy's new phone before she does."

"How do we do it?" Meena asked, drinking a glass of almond milk.

"Just find a phone store, replace her phone, and once her number is turned on and the message goes through, we delete the video and the message history. Simple as that."

Meena looked off to the side sadly. "They look so miserable."

"Yeah they do," Ash said. "I think anyone would be...like this after that mess last night."

"I thought it was kinda cute."

"No argument there," Ash said with a small smile. "But it was awkward."

Porsha nodded. "If that was me, I'd probably die."

Meena blushed and hid her face behind her eyes. "Ooooh, me too."

Ash scoffed humorously. "You guys are hopeless."

"Hey, you guys!"

The girls turned their heads to see Rosita poking her head out from the corner of the open kitchen door. "Emergency meeting, in the garage."

00000

The Moon troupe were besides themselves.

"We're going where?!" they shouted in unison.

Buster Moon cringed at the volume and intensity of their chorus.

"I'm afraid we have no choice guys."

"What do you mean?!" Rosita said. "We've barely been here a day and now all of a sudden, we're going to New York City?!"

"Well...yes."

"You're kidding?!" Ash cried. "Why New York?!"

"Because that's where it's been arranged."

"By who?" Meena asked.

"Nana Noodleman."

"What?!"

Buster covered his ears. "C'mon guys, there's no need to shout in unison."

"How is she involved in this?" Johnny asked, somewhat nasally due to his injured nose.

"Because she's giving us her personal penthouse suite at the Citadel Tower."

"Whoa! The Citadel?!" Nooshy cried in amazement. "I hear that a lot of old money go there."

"Old money?" Ash said.

"People who come from old rich families."

"Well, that definitely fits Nana's description," Buster said but then looked stricken. "Do not tell her I said that or mention old money to her, alright? She's touchy about her age."

"We won't Mr Moon," Johnny said.

"I will," Nooshy said, smirking.

"Noosh!"

"What? I'm kidding."

"Ok anyway." Buster cleared his throat. "You're probably wondering why Nana saw fit to have you moved to New York on such short notice?"

"Well...yeah," Ash said as though it were obvious.

Clay Calloway crossed his arms. "This has to do with DiMarco doesn't it?"

The Moon troupe was apprehensive at that suggestion, especially Nooshy. They all turned to Moon for an answer.

"I'm afraid so." Buster shifted on his feet nervously. "Nana, according to her sources, is certain that DiMarco is closing in on our location."

"How is that possible?" Rosita asked, fear growing in her voice.

"We don't know yet," Buster said. "But Nana assures us that he will not make a move, not yet anyway, but for our own safety, we need to leave as soon as possible."

Nooshy scoffed. "All this trouble just because I beat up his brother? I can understand going to the hospital to finish me off, but all this?! It can't be worth...um…" Nooshy paused when she noticed oddly quiet her friends were. "...guys? What's wrong?"

Everyone was silent. Silent as the grave, shifting uncomfortably and not even looking Nooshy in the eye.

Nooshy looked around at her friends. Why was everyone so deathly quiet? Even Porsha looked as though she ran out of words or rather was too afraid to speak. Not like her at all. "Guys?" she said, indignant at being left in the dark. "Something you want to get off your chests?"

No one answered her.

Nooshy rounded on Johnny. "Johnny? What's going on?"

Johnny rubbed the back of his neck. "Noosh…"

"No! I want to know!" Nooshy was angry but she was starting to get scared. "Tell me what you know that I don't or I swear I'll beat it out of you!"

Johnny backed away, intimidated not only by his friend's ferocity but also by what knowing what he knows would do to her.

Buster quietly approached Rosita. "You guys didn't tell her?" he whispered but the mother of 25 made a swiping gesture with her hand across her neck, indicating to Moon to be quiet.

Unfortunately, he was not quiet enough. Nooshy furiously rounded on the koala. "Tell me what?! What do you mean?!" She looked around incredulous and enraged. "What?! Did all of you know?!"

"Nooshy."

The lynx turned to look at the young gorilla who approached her looking very worried and very pained.

Nooshy was startled by this. She never saw Johnny like this before, not even on his bad days.

"Nooshy, you know you're my best friend and I would never do anything to hurt you or scare you, right?"

"O-of course, but why-?"

She then gasped when Johnny got on his knees so he could address her at eye level. He took both of her hands, which were starting to tremble, into his own.

"Johnny...you're scaring me."

"No," Johnny said quietly. "I don't want to scare you but I have to be candid with you Noosh-"

"Just come out and say it! Don't sugarcoat it Johnny! Just tell me what everyone here seems to know!"

Johnny clenched his eyes as he breathed in deeply, through his mouth as his nose was hurting. "Nooshy, that guy, Gus DiMarco, the one who attacked you."

"What about him?"

"He had a faulty pacemaker."

Nooshy blinked, a void opening in her chest. The implication was already forming in her mind but it was too horrible to consider. "O-ok, so?"

"It was not safe for him to wear, it was not approved by the medical community, and...well…when he hurt you…when you defended yourself...when you tasered him…"

Nooshy gasped and pulled away in disbelief.

"Nooshy!" Johnny said, alarmed and scared.

"He's dead isn't he?!" Nooshy cried, her face awash with fear and despair.

"Noosh-!"

"HE IS! ISN'T HE?!" Nooshy screamed.

Everyone flinched and backed up a step.

Johnny looked at Nooshy with pity and sadness. "Yes, he is."

Nooshy's breathing started to sound erratic. Her heart was starting to race. This was too much for her mind to process. "I...killed him?" she said, barely above a whisper.

"You were defending yourself honey," Rosita said, her hands folded.

This did not ease the tension on Nooshy's heart and mind one bit. "Did all of you know about this?! All of you?!"

No one answered. They just averted their eyes from her. That was answer enough.

Nooshy snarled as her eyes began to moisten. "YOU LIED TO ME!"

"No no Nooshy, we didn't," Meena said, holding her hands up. She was starting to cry herself. "We were going to tell you eventually, we just didn't want to scare you."

"How long is eventually?! How long were you going to wait to tell me that I'm a killer?!"

"It wasn't your fault Nooshy," Clay Calloway said calmly. "You had no choice. That man tried to kill you. He would've if you didn't defend yourself. If anything he killed himself. He shouldn't have had that bum pacemaker and he shouldn't have tried to hurt you."

Nooshy looked at the old lion contemptuously. "You didn't deny that I'm a killer. I can see now why Sean DiMarco wants me dead so badly. Why he's putting out all the stops to make it happen. I killed his brother and now he wants to kill me." Nooshy furiously rubbed her eyes. "And maybe all of you too."

"Nooshy…" Johnny put a hand on her shoulder.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Nooshy slapped Johnny's hand away, an action that caused his anguished heart to split in two.

The action seemed to have caused terrible distress to Nooshy. Johnny was the last person she'd ever want to hurt but she didn't have it in her to apologize, not in the state she was in.

"Nooshy," Johnny said pleadingly.

"Get away!" Nooshy cried, backing away. Her head was swimming and she was starting to feel sick, very sick.

She stumbled, caught herself on the massive door of the private garage, gulped in a massive bubble of air…

...and vomited.

The Moon troupe watched horrified as one of the strongest members of their group emptied the contents of her stomach all over the floor.

"Nooshy!" Ash shouted as she rushed to her friend.

The lynx stood up quickly, back to the door, and she held her hand out. "No! Stay away!"

"Nooshy!" Rosita pleaded. "Calm down, it's ok."

"NO! No it's not!" Nooshy was hyperventilating. She wiped her mouth of the excess vomit and then she couldn't breathe. "It's not ok! It'll never be ok! I have blood on my hands! I'M A KILLER JUST LIKE MY MUM!"

Now this really struck the troupe dumb. Her mother? A killer?

"Nooshy no! That's not true!" Johnny stepped towards her cautiously as though Nooshy were a volatile time bomb, which she essentially was at this point.

Nooshy tried to avoid his hands as they grabbed her by the arms. "Let go of me!" she cried, tears streaming. She kicked at him, but he held on.

Even when her foot came dangerously close to his face, he did not let go.

And then, utterly exhausted, Nooshy fell into him, and he held her tightly but gently. She was heaving now, coughing, struggling for breath. Johnny did his best to console her but her heart wouldn't stop racing. It was like it was trying to burst out of her chest.

And then she went limp.

"Nooshy?" Johnny looked down at her and her head fell back. Her breaths were coming out in short, hitched gasps, like she couldn't get enough air into her lungs.

"Noosh?! Nooshy?!" Johnny laid her down on the floor.

The others crowded around her, horrified.

Rosita knelt down beside Nooshy. "Nooshy?! Nooshy, can you hear me?!" She placed a hand to her head and she gasped. "She's burning up!"

Ash was at the elevator in a flash, she tried to press the call button on the intercom but couldn't reach it.

Clay Calloway was already behind her and he pressed the button for her.

"Nurse Sue! Nurse Sue, are you there?!" Ash called out, practically screaming.

"Ash? Yes yes, I'm here, what's wrong?!"

"It's Nooshy, she collapsed! She has a fever!"

"Alright, alright I'm coming! Ryan, get my medical kit! Meet me in Nooshy's room! Hurry!"

00000

Nurse Sue wet a towel in a bowl of water and wrung it.

And she laid the cool cloth on Nooshy's forehead, who was lying in bed, breathing hard as though it was painful to do so, bright red in the face and ears, and she was already developing a cold sweat.

The Moon troupe stood around Nooshy's bed, looking beyond distressed and devastated at this most unfortunate turn of events.

Except Johnny, who was outside the room, sitting up against the wall with his face in his arms.

"How did this happen?" Rosita said, wringing her hands. Norman was by her side, putting an arm around his wife.

"It was most likely the stress of the surgery," Nurse Sue said as she checked Nooshy's pulse. "Infections have been known to happen. They most likely show no signs of it until days later but the infection can accelerate through stress. What she was just told was clearly too much for her."

Johnny cried out in despair from the hallway.

Meena and Porsha looked at each other. Each getting a silent message from the other and then from Rosita who herself was too distraught, they both left the room and sat on either side of Johnny, trying to console him however they could.

Meena held Johnny in her arms as he cried his eyes out. Porsha rubbed his back as soothingly as possible. She had no experience in comforting anyone but she received plenty of experience for when either Buster Moon, Clay Calloway or Rosita Witherspoon had helped her through the trying times of having no living mother or a father who wasn't a homicidal maniac doing time for attempted murder.

"Will she be ok to move?" Ash asked.

"That depends on how gently she's moved," Sue said as she took a thermometer and very gently applied it into Nooshy's mouth. "Mishandling her will only serve to aggravate her condition."

And when she took it out to examine it, she gasped.

"Nurse?! What's wrong?!" Rosita cried.

"It's a hundred and four!"

"WHAT?!" the Moon troupe cried.

"Shhh," Nurse Sue said. "Not so loud, please."

"What are we going to do?!" Ash said, starting to cry. "She was getting better! Is she going to…" She couldn't finish.

"No!" Nurse Sue said firmly. "She's not going to die and I'm not going to let her. She'll need antibiotics and we're going to need ice to help cool her down. Stat!"

Meena called out. "Alfonz, we need ice! Now!"

"I'm on it babe!"

Johnny stood up suddenly and came into the room, out of breath and holding onto the frame of the door to steady himself.

"I'll get the antibiotics, just tell me where and I'll get it."

"Um...ok," Nurse Sue said, uncertainty in her voice as she took out a prescription notice, wrote something on it and handed it to the young gorilla. "There's a pharmacy just down the road. Those particular meds will be there. Can you hurry?"

"You bet," Johnny said, assuredly. "I'll be back before you know it."

He turned to leave and Nooshy started to stir in her bed.

"Jo...Johnny…" she croaked softly.

He stopped dead.

Johnny turned back and went to Nooshy's side. "Nooshy?"

The dancer reached out very weakly for him and Johnny took her trembling hand. It felt cold and clammy.

Nooshy's eyes were slits as she didn't have the strength to open them. "Don't...don't go…"

"I have to Noosh," Johnny said softly. "We need those antibiotics so you can get better, ok?"

Nooshy looked unfathomably sad but she nodded. She placed her other hand on Johnny's cheek and caressed it.

Johnny grunted nervously as his face heated up.

"Come...back...safe...or you're dead."

Johnny chuckled sheepishly. "You got it."

Nooshy laughed weakly. "Weirdo, weirdo, weeeeeirdo!" she said in a delirious singsong voice.

Stunned by how silly Nooshy was being, there was some snickering coming from behind Johnny that he almost didn't notice.

"Oh Johnny," Rosita said, covering her mouth. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok," Johnny said, tugging nervously at the neck of his undershirt.

He looked down at Nooshy and saw that she was staring at him in an odd way.

"What?" Johnny asked, less than comfortable.

Nooshy's look suddenly became dreamlike. "You have...the most wonderful eyes Johnny."

Johnny grunted in surprise and embarrassment as he felt his entire being heat up. "Wh-what?!"

Shock gasps and snickers were heard behind Johnny and he looked back at the others with an unimpressed look.

"C'mon you guys!"

A stunned Ash looked at the nurse. "What's wrong with her?"

"She's delirious," Nurse Sue said.

Johnny felt a twinge of pain in his heart. Oh.

"Oh," Gunter said, slightly disappointed. "So she's having, how you say, und fever dream?"

"More or less."

"I'll just go then," Johnny said, sounding very downtrodden.

Nooshy watched him go and she very weakly reached out to him, silently beckoning him not to go.

As Johnny walked through the door, he bumped into Alfonso who was carrying bags of ice under his arms.

"Oh, Johnny!" the ice cream man cried. "Sorry."

Johnny did not seem to acknowledge him.

He continued down the hall and around the corner, out of view.

00000

Johnny handed the prescription notice to the local pharmacist. She looked it over and went to the medical dispensary. She checked over several pill bottles and other packets of Mexican and took two down.

"There you are sir."

"Thank you ma'am," Johnny said as he took the medication bottles, one containing pills and one hypodermic, that is it must be injected.

With that, Johnny turned to leave.

He nodded to the figure coolly standing by the door.

It was Ryan. He was not wearing his tailored suit but rather civilian clothing consisting of a hoodie and jeans.

"We'd better hurry back," Ryan said, checking their surroundings, and then moving on down the sidewalk.. "They'll be finishing soon."

"Yeah," Johnny said idly, not really paying attention, as he put his hoodie over his head.

"Johnny," Ryan said, sounding concerned. "You alright?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine."

Ryan was not buying it. He considered prying but he hadn't known Johnny all that long. What he did know was he was the sort to wear his heart on his sleeve. He was passionate, loyal to a fault and courageous.

I mean...he was timid at first but when he faced Mr Kickenklober...I mean wow! That has never been done before.

"Listen dude," Ryan said. "I get you must be really torn up about Nooshy-"

"No you don't get it Ryan!" Johnny snapped.

Ryan put his hands up defensively. "Whoa dude."

Johnny's anger and frustration, as quick as it came, vanished, replaced by guilt and shame. "I'm sorry mate."

"No, it's ok," Ryan said assuredly. "Ok, maybe I don't get it but I'm your friend. I'd like to help if I can."

Johnny pursed his lips nervously. "...I don't exactly know how to say this."

The young gorilla said nothing for a moment.

"You like her?"

Johnny sputtered frantically, almost in a panic. "What?!"

Ryan smirked. "It's pretty obvious. I mean just the way you look at her. Not that I blame, she's not unattractive."

Johnny narrowed his eyes. "Hey…"

"Easy, I got no designs on her. She's not my type anyway."

"That's not what I meant-!"

"Why don't you talk to her? Tell her how you feel?"

Johnny bit the inside of his cheek. "Tell her how I feel?"

Ryan nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I mean c'mon Johnny. I hope you're not put off by her. I mean inner racial relationships are not uncommon."

Johnny blushed madly. "Ryan please…"

Ryan sighed. "Ok...not sure if I should say this…but did you know how she looks at you?"

Johnny turned with a start. "You what?"

Ryan smiled. "She has the shine in her eye when she watches you bust out those moves. And when we call out to her, it's like she can't even hear us."

Johnny turned away. "Ok...so what? So she likes my dancing."

"Plus, she's super protective of you."

Johnny scoffed. "She's protective of anyone who she calls a friend."

"But you're a special case Johnny."

"Yeah," Ryan said, very excited to tell this story. "Do you remember when we performed Out of this World in Chicago? April of this year, do you remember?"

"Yeah?"

"There were some punks after the show. Street punks who have nothing better to do than talk trash about others they don't know. They were saying some things about you. They called you a wuss, a fruit, among other nasty things."

Johnny sighed, annoyed by the insulting gossip. "Ok? So what's your point?"

"Nooshy was close by and heard it all. She confronted them and demanded they take back what they said about you."

Johnny's eyes widened. "By herself?!"

Ryan smiled. "Mmmhmm."

Johnny was shocked. "How many were there?"

"Four or five."

The young gorilla angrily got in his face. "You had to have seen it yourself if you know all this?! You let her take on a bunch of street thugs by herself?!"

"No! No! Johnny I didn't, I swear! We didn't even know about it until it was already over."

"Meaning?"

Ryan took a calming breath. "Me and Sam heard a commotion out by the alley, just two blocks away from the theater where we performed. We knew Nooshy went in that direction and we were running and by the time we got there…"

00000

A warthog wearing a leather jacket was just sent flying into a couple of trash cans. He had a panicked look on his face and he took off running, but was caught by the collar from behind and slammed into a brick wall. He was out before he hit the ground.

"You little tramp!" a large bear snarled, sporting a baseball bat. "You're dead!"

He stalked over, stepping over an unconscious wolf in a tank top.

"Darryl, just forget it!" an roughed up alligator said. "Just apologize and let's get outta here! She's crazy!"

Darryl turned the gator and growled menacingly. The gator whimpered and ran off.

A red boot kicked out and a soup can was sent flying.

It reached the gator's feet, causing him to trip over and fell on his snout.

He was seeing stars and he slumped to the ground, out cold.

Darryl watched this with growing horror and disbelief.

Nooshy smirked at him. "Still fancy your chances eh?"

Darryl bared his teeth, trying very hard not to seem intimidated.

"Whattya care huh? He's just some half-wit knuckledragger."

Nooshy lowered her chin, baring her teeth in fury.

She nonchalantly walked towards the bear gangbanger.

Darryl cried out in rage and charged at the lynx with the lumber over his head, preparing to strike.

Swiftly, Nooshy countered the bear's momentum, causing him to fall forward and his head connected with a silver trash can.

He too was seeing stars.

He looked desperately for the baseball bat he dropped but then squealed in pain when he felt his arms being wrenched behind his back by his thumbs.

"Apologize," said a clipped British accent.

Darryl snarled trying to break free but it only caused him more pain. The more he struggled, the more Nooshy tightened her grip.

"I'm sorry," Darryl groaned.

"Can't hear you!"

"I'M SORRY! Let me go! LET ME GO!"

"Good lad."

With that Nooshy released her hold. She stepped over the anguished bear and walked out the alley.

Darryl lifted himself up by one hand. "He's just a darn dirty ape, what do you care so much about him anyway?"

Nooshy turned with a cross look on her face.

Darryl whimpered in fear at the sight.

Nooshy approached him and kicked out from under him, swiping his hand which held him up and fell to the ground.

"No one...and I mean no one talks about my boy like that."

00000

"We were there by the time she had him in her grip, it was amazing!"

Johnny chuckles to himself. "She got into fights ever since she was 10."

"So I've heard."

"And she did all that for me?" Johnny asked hopefully.

"Mmmhmm."

"Why didn't she tell me?"

Ryan shuddered. "She said she didn't want you to worry. And she made us not tell you either."

Johnny gasped. "That bruise on her arm! Is that where she got it?!"

"Whoa whoa! I didn't know she had a bruise."

Johnny pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. We're going to have to talk about that.

Just a few more blocks and they were back at the safehouse and no one seemed to be following.

"Is anyone following us?" Johnny asked, alert and a bit nervous.

"Doesn't look like it."

They were just crossing the street when they came across a massive lot that was closed for construction. It looked like the steel skeleton of an eight-story office building.

The sun was setting behind it, giving the building an orange tinge.

And in the distance they heard the rough engine of a muscle and the screech of tires on cement.

Johnny and Ryan saw what looked like a red Challenger enter the lot of the unfinished building.

Instinctively, they hid behind a wall and peeked around the corner. Something tells them they did not want to be seen.

The red vehicle stopped. And two people stepped out, a gray wolf from the driver's seat and a black bull from the passenger's. Then the back doors opened and a large tiger jumped out dragging a young golden retriever out, who looked terrified.

The others however, judging by their body language were furious.

"You guys...you guys please!" the golden retriever said. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"He's gotta disappear," the gray wolf said.

"I'll leave town tonight, I swear!"

The tiger shook his head. "Not good enough, DiMarco will find him before he even reaches the bus." He turned to the bull. "Start the mixer."

The bull nodded and headed towards a pit that had a concrete mixer spout in it. He pulled a switch and the mixer started up.

"No." The boy was begging now but it didn't matter. The tiger grabbed him by the arm and in what swift motion, tossed him into the concrete pit that was starting to fill up with wet cement.

"NO! DIEGO PLEASE! TURN IT OFF!"

Frantic but being careful to keep his voice down, Johnny handed Ryan the bag of meds. "Call the police and get this to Nooshy! I'll catch up!"

Ryan looked ready to protest but Johnny pushed him in the direction of the safe house. "Don't argue! Just go!"

Hesitantly, Ryan nodded and he ran.

Johnny turned to the murder scene that was about to take place and he observed packaging of several steel construction rods.

Those will do.

00000

The golden retriever was thigh deep in wet cement now. He tried desperately to climb out but couldn't. The walls were too steep and wet, and there was nothing to grip. And you can't swim in wet concrete.

"DIEGO! PLEASE TURN IT OFF! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

The tiger Diego laughed. "Sorry Jimmy, it's either you or us."

"Shut it off."

Diego and his two thugs turned with a start to see a tall figure in black, brandishing a steel rod. His face was covered with a black scarf and he had what almost looked like aviator goggles on.

"Who the heck is this clown?" the black bull asked.

"No idea, throw him in with the kid Ricky."

The bull Ricky grinned. "Pleasure."

Ricky approached the masked figure but the moment he nearly put a hand on him, the figure twirled the steel rod as easily as one would maneuver a toothpick, tripped him up and once he hit the ground, he was hit right in the snout with the blunt end.

He was out before his head hit the ground.

The wolf yelped in shock and pulled out a pistol from his jacket, which was knocked out of his hand by the steel rod and he too was tripped up.

His nose connected with the concrete and he too was out.

Diego snarled in rage as he charged the masked assailant.

The interloper was ready and with the back-flip motion, using the steel rod as a vault, he took Diego's momentum and launched him, sending him flying into the red Challenger.

The devastating force caved the car in.

Diego was stunned beyond belief.

But he tried to fight anyway. He stood up on wobbly legs, pushed himself off the wrecked vehicle, took three steps but lost consciousness on his feet and fell forward flat on his face.

"Help!" The cry got Johnny's attention. Getting some rope from one of the construction packaging, he lowered a strand down the concrete pit.

Jimmy grabbed hold and Johnny pulled him out.

"You alright?" Johnny asked.

Jimmy looked up at his mysterious savior and burst into tears. "Thank you! Thank you!"

Johnny, looking at the guy up close, could tell he was considerably younger than him. He's just a kid. What is he doing with these bums?

Then Johnny remembered how he was part of a gang himself that he wanted no part of but thought he had no choice in the matter. What did these thugs threaten him with to be a part of this mess? And what happened to make them want to bury him in concrete?

Poor kid. Johnny pulled Jimmy to his feet and led him out of the construction site.

"Police will be here soon."

Jimmy became frantic. "No! No! If my mom finds out what I've been doing-!"

"Kid, relax."

"No, you don't understand! She's sick! This will kill her!" He was crying now.

So that's it. "Ask for Captain Thaddeus of the 7th precinct. And ask for the attorney Buck Reynolds. They'll help you."

"But I don't know these people," Jimmy said meekly.

"They'll help you, trust me. Cooperate with the authorities, tell them everything that they did or said to put you up to this. It's your best chance, ok?"

Jimmy sniffled. "Ok."

Sirens.

"I have to go." With that Johnny, using the steel rod he appropriated, vaulted over a wall and ran down an alleyway, and vanished into the darkness.

Jimmy watched in awe. "Wow, he's like a superhero or something."

00000

Johnny discarded the disguise and the steel rod.

Can't believe I just did that. I hope the kid and his mom will be ok.

It was dark now. The others will probably be leaving for New York soon. He had to hurry.

If I can scale the walls like how dad did when he broke out of prison, I should be there in five minutes.

Thinking of his dad made his heart ache. I hope dad is ok. I haven't heard from him since we escaped the hospital.

"Impressive."

Johnny was startled but did not turn right away.

He turned his head but did not have enough time to see who addressed him before something hard and blunt hit him square in the right temple.

He fell to the ground with a crash.

And knew no more.

…..

A shoutout to my friend Puppies and Nightlock.

And I'd also like to dedicate this chapter to the brave truckers of the Freedom Convoy in Canada that has so inspired the world. FREEEEDOM!