Requiem III: The Search for The Truth
by Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin
Part 31: Peter Confronts a Woman's Worst Nightmare
The pounding in Peter Caine's head and the ache throughout his whole body told him he was still alive. He had never encountered such power since he tried to fight the Dark Warrior. Being slammed into a wall with the force of a hurricane, he wondered at the marvel that he hadn't been killed at that moment. Peter laid his arm across his forehead, the right sleeve of his shirt falling away to reveal the brand of a tiger, the apparent tearing of the material the reason. As he laid there for a few moments, it was then that he noticed the bars above him and the gentle swaying of the cage that held him.
"Oh great, Caine," Peter said out loud to himself. "First I act like a rookie, not checking to see if there was a guard. I try fighting some old guy who turns out to have as much power as my father, maybe more, and to top it off, now I'm stuck in a cage. So what else is new. If Blaisdell or Simms saw me like this they would have chastised me for my foolishness. And if my father saw me like this, . . ." Peter did not finish the thought. He turned on his left side trying not to move the cage. The swaying was starting to make him a bit nauseous. But it wasn't until he looked down through the mesh floor did his senses really become disoriented.
"Oh, boy, heights. You'd think taking the brands would have solved that little problem, but I guess not. Don't look down." But Peter could not help but look down if he was going to sit up and be comfortable, whatever comfort meant while being held in a metal cage at least 15 feet off the ground. Squeezing his eyes shut, he managed to get himself seated in a lotus position. It was all he could manage with the size of the cage. As soon as he was settled, he opened his eyes and looked out across the area. His mouth fell open as he recognized the replica of the temple where his father had fought Tan and won. How did he end up here?
As Peter was looking around, a noise from behind him caught is attention. Something was happening below.
"Let me go. Please, Jake, why are you doing this?"
"I tried to warn you what would happen. The Master doesn't like traitors."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Jake spoke into a handset. "Roll that video tape."
A large screen came down from the ceiling. "You told someone about us. The Master isn't pleased, Mia. No one was supposed to know about the Master until he was ready to take over as the community's elder from the Ancient's untimely death and from the death of the Caines. Because of your betrayal, we've had to make an example."
As the video images came into focus, Mia recognized what she was watching. Suddenly, an explosion shook the area and huge flames could be seen shooting out through the windows of her Uncle's shop. Moments later, fire and rescue trucks appeared on the scene. They fought the blaze with all they had. She could see two of the firefighters enter the burning building with safety equipment. As the scene progressed, Mia was barely aware that the volume was being raised and sounds of activity could be heard coming from the video images. The firefighters emerged from the burning structure carrying a limp figure between them when two figures came forward and examined the old man.
"He is badly burned, but alive."
One she recognized having seen him throughout the streets of Chinatown and in her Uncle's shop. The other was much older but could have been the other man's twin, they were so much alike. She prayed that they would be able to save her Uncle. At that moment, the video tape ended.
"Too bad the blaze didn't kill him. I can't say the same for you."
The look of horror appeared on the woman's face. "What are you going to do to me?"
Jake grabbed ahold of Mia's arm, drew out a long knife and sliced it across her arm. Blood welled up to the surface.
Mia fell to her knees as the sudden pain sliced through her as surely as the knife had done.
Jake then headed to the only exit that was open. Before closing the door, he turned toward Mia. "If you want to live, you'll have to learn to fly. Only the crane can save you now."
Mia turned toward Jake, a puzzled silent question on her face. Something else caught her attention, a low growl that sounded like the rumbling of someone's stomach. She quickly turned to see a large tiger enter the arena at the top of the temple's steps.
"No!" Peter Caine cried out as he watched in horror as the tiger slowly descended the stairs.
Continues With Part 32