Home to Roost

Cover: Close-up of Jason and Sebastian sitting opposite one another at a table. They are staring angrilly at each other.

"...nd of course the big news story tonight took place right here just a few short hours ago.    For the past few days, police officers have been literally under assault by an unknown person or persons, who have left a trail of mutilated bodies throughout the city.  Well, that assault seems to have come to a head right here in the usually quiet neighborhood.     Official details are slow in coming, but what we DO know is that several officers lost their lives here tonight in a violent, extended shootout with one or more assailants.  Bodies are still being removed, and some of them are in... ummm... pieces.    On a related note, this neighborhood is the home of Maria Velazquez... the immigrant matron of the Velazquez family that was gunned down days ago in a raid by the state's Law Enforcement Division.  The only survivor of THAT attack was Tomas Velazquez, a four-year old mentally challenged boy who has not spoken a word since that incident.  We've just recently received word that Maria Velazquez's dismembered body was found in a neighbor's house.   Tomas was in the same room, alive and physically unharmed, but completely unresponsive.   It looks like the boy is, once again, the only survivor of a tragedy.   The boy is being taken to a local hospital for observation while police try to locate any other family members.     As I said, police are very reluctant to release details at this time, but several neighbors have come forward with statements of what they saw:   Mutilated bodies.  Gunfire.   A police shoot-out with a cloaked figure.   And an enormous wild animal that has been described as everything from a bear to a lion.   Varying only in minor details, these accounts differ from what little information the police have released.  Police are, at least for now, attributing the massacre to Jason Brooks... a man already wanted in connection with several murders.    There are reports that Brooks was indeed here at the scene, but neighbors say that the killing began BEFORE Brooks arrived.   Nevertheless, Brooks remains the prime suspect... and the object of a city-wide manhunt that is determined to bring him in before the sun rises....
 

t was a tiny, cheap hotel not far past the edge of the city.  All the room were the same:  A shower.  A bed.   A table.  Two chairs.  And a stench reminiscent of a un-airconditioned brothel in the heat of summer.  The smell didn't come from the bed or the carpet... it was just THERE.   Everywhere.   All the time.   There were very few complaints from the patrons about the smell or anything else... mostly because they weren't there long enough to complain.   Rooms were rented for the night with the general expectation that the 'guests' would be gone in a few hours.  The hotel was a cash-only establishment.   They took no reservations, and accepted no credit cards.

The proprietors were likely unaware of what had just happened on the other side of town... and only vaguely aware of the events of the past few days.   The news was only important if they were on it... which they tried not to be.    Still, the night manager was instantly suspicious when the latest guests arrived.   He didn't like the way they looked, or they way they looked at him.   They smelled strange.   They looked like hell... in more ways than one.    He knew better than to ask questions, but he couldn't help but wonder about them as he handed over the key.   Who were they?   Did they want a room for the same reason that everybody else did... or was there something else going on?   Assuming the latter... what should he do about it?

One of them snatched the key from the manager's outstretched hand.  They all walked out silently, as if the manager wasn't even standing there.     He watched them leave, then looked over at the phone.    The police.  Three digits and they'd be here... in about thirty minutes.   Maybe an hour.   By that time, whatever was going to happen would probably have happened.  It would also mean a lot of questions that he wasn't ready to answer.

The manager wasn't going to call the police, but he thought about it.   He thought long and hard... and he KEPT on thinking until, as if by magic, the thought vanished from his head and he went back to watching the small television set.  It would be another day and a half before he remembered what had happened in the past five minutes.

Meanwhile, a trio of figures... and one non-figure... sat down and rested for the first time in what seemed like days.   The action across town had ended in a bloody, frightening mess... but it was over.   Or at least, as over as it could be for now.   The fallout would come later, but before then, there were plans to be made and things to be discussed.

Oh yes... lots of things to be discussed.

Jason looked across the table and studied the man...boy... that sat there.   Disheveled blonde hair stuck to the boy's forehead, held in place by a thin sheen of sweat.  His face was hard.  His expression was harder.   And his eyes... the boy's eyes snarled at him despite the fact that his face was perfectly devoid of expression.   He was dressed head to toe in black, like some goth 'Return of the Jedi' reject.   His whole body was clenched like the single fist that rested on the table in front of him.   It was a tight, rugged fist... Jason could tell that even through the black gloves.     The other hand grasped the pommel of one of the swords that hung from his belt.    They weren't fancy edgeless imitations or flimsy lightweight rapiers, either... no, these were honest to goodness, medieval (with the emphasis on 'Evil'), Conan the Barbarian, dragon-killing, slicing people in half, SWORDS.   TWO of them.    And somewhere within the boy's fiery gaze was the unspoken declaration that he knew how to use them.

The boy looked back at Jason, regarding him with cold, angry heat that made Jason uncomfortable in his own skin.   Jason couldn't be sure... he wasn't positive... but he was reasonably certain that the boy hadn't blinked in the past five minutes.     They continued to stare at each other for several eternities before the inevitable finally happened:

"I don't like him,"  they both said at once.

"Who the hell is he supposed to be?"  Jason added.  "And how OLD is he... FOURTEEN!?!"

"He's eighteen-"  Donovan began.

"This man is a clown,"  said Sebastian.  "A buffoon.  Look at him-"

"Why I gotta be a clown, huh?   What are you trying to say?!?"

"Jason, please... this is difficult enough as it is."

"Difficult!?   YOU saddle me with all this supernatural CRAP... I'm out here fighting vampires and djinns and demons and cops... ALL SINCE LAST FRIDAY!... and THIS kid comes up to me and starts talking CASH SHIT to me, like he's the freakin' GOLDEN CHILD or something!   What's up with that, Donovan!?  If this is your kid, you tell him to step off before he catches an elbow to the grill!"

"I can't tell him anything,"  said Donovan.  "He can't hear me."

"You could find no one better than this?"  said Sebastian.  He was looking at Jason, but his words were directed elsewhere.  "All you've taught me about the nobility of the Gifts... about the responsibility... the honor... and THIS is who you choose, father?  THIS!?"

"Sebastian... Jason, tell him-"

"I'm not telling him NOTHING!  This kid is sitting here INSULTING me!"

"This man has no... no skill!  No courage!  No honor!"

"See!  He's still doing it!"

"No knowledge of what he is!   I know I wasn't there for you... I know you had to chose someone else... but THIS MAN!?!"

"It's not like I had a choice in this-"

"YOU had a choice!   You could have said no!  But you didn't!  You accept things of which you have NO IDEA... NO CONCEPT-"

"Well, I'M SORRY!   Okay!  Is THAT what you want to hear!?   And if its any consolation, I'm NOT enjoying this!"

"It is not for you to enjoy,"  said Sebastian.  "It isn't a game!  It is a sacred trust!  You accepted a pact-"

"I said yes to an old man that was dying in my arms!  What was I supposed to say, huh!?   No... wait... I'm not even having this conversation.  I don't need to explain myself to some kid.   As a matter of fact, its DONOVAN that needs to do the explaining!  Why do you have this kid running around in black pajamas acting like the freaking Highlander!?  Aren't there LAWS against that!?"

"Kid?  I'm older than this FEMALE you drag around with you!"

"Uhhh..."  said Ashley, who was sitting quietly on the bed.  "No, you're not, actually.   Sorry."

"SHE helped me ice that demon!   And what corner were YOU hiding behind when all of THAT SHIT was going on, huh?"

"I was doing what I had been since I came here:  Cleaning up YOUR messes.   Watching YOUR back.  Keeping YOU out of trouble-"

"Yeah, right.  Uh-huh.  Tell me another one."

"For God's sake, father... he didn't even have the decency to give you a decent burial!"

"Uhhh... what the hell are you talking about?"

"Sebastian, you didn't-"   Donovan began.

"Didn't what?"  said Jason.

"He left you in a morgue, to be... CUT OPEN and eviscerated like some... some experiment.  Like some piece of MEAT!"

"It was just a body, Sebastian.  I didn't need it any more."

"He says it's cool."

"That's not what he said!"

"Yeah, it was."

"Uh-huh,"  Ashley agreed.  "Sort of."

"He wouldn't say that!  He's a hero!  You-"   Sebastian pointed at Jason.  "YOU Have no idea how many times he's saved YOUR life!  YOURS and everyone else's!  We've faced down things that you don't even know exist!  He deserved a hero's burial!  I GAVE him one while YOU were out leaving evidence of yourself all over the city!   Then I cleaned THAT up, too... since you're obviously incapable of taking care of that yourself."

"In case you didn't notice... I was kinda busy with vampires and demons, thanks to your dad!   Donovan, maybe you should get with some explaining, here... because if this kid opens his mouth too many more times I'm gonna put my fist in it."

"Explain?"  said Sebastian.  "Father, you haven't told him?"

"I thought you... he... was dead,"  said Donovan.  "I saw Brite kill him right in front of me.  If I had known-"

"The vampire?  Waaait..."  Jason eased back from the table.   "If Brite killed him...  does that mean he's a vampire now?  Because if it DOES, then we gotta put a wooden stake in his ass, pronto!   Or maybe a few dozen bullets."

"I'm not dead,"  said Sebastian.

"I dunno.... you look a little pale.  Fang-check, sword-boy... open your mouth."

"I'm NOT dead!"   Sebastian reached up and yanked his shirt down away from his left shoulder, revealing a huge purple and bruise.  There was a patch of blood-soaked gauze taped to his skin.   It looked like something had taken a bite out of him.   "Would a dead man need stitches!?"

Ashley gasped.

"Oh my God, what happened to you!"

"Vampire,"  said Jason.  "I came in on the last part of it... apparently there were parts of the story that Donovan neglected to tell me.  Right, Donovan?"

"Sebastian, I didn't know you were alive,"  said Donovan.  "Jason, tell him-"

"He didn't know,"  said Ashley.   "Does that hurt?"

"I got away,"  said Sebastian.  "After all we'd done, he wanted to kill me slow.   But he discovered the explosives and left me behind to die in our own trap.   I didn't.   I came after you, father.   I followed you... from a distance, so I wouldn't distract you again.   You caught up with him here, but-"

"But that's where I come in,"  said Jason.   "And you've been following me around ever since?   Why?"

"To see if you were worthy.    You aren't."

"And who appointed YOU to be the judge of that, eh?    I'm doing the best I can-"

"Your best isn't nearly good enough."

"You're saying you could have done better?"

"I HAVE done better.  You're an amateur-"

"EXACTLY!  So CUT ME SOME FREAKING SLACK, OKAY!  This time last week I was a computer programmer.  NOW, I'm some demon-hunting Knight with funky powers and all sorts of extra baggage I don't need.   That last bit was referring to YOU!   So, how about you tell me what it is you WANT!"

"Want?"

"Yes, WANT!    Why are you here!?  Why are you sitting over there staring at me like a teenage Charles Manson?  WHAT-DO-YOU-WANT!?"

"What I want is irrelevant.   I'm here to do what I've always done."

"Hang around and look creepy?"

"Fight.  And wait."

"Wait for what?"

"I've trained my entire life for one purpose... to be the next holder of the Gifts you possess.  I was to be the next Knight.   Donovan trained me himself, so that he could be certain that the mantle would be taken up by someone who was worthy of it... and prepared for it.  Someone who already understood what-"

"Yeah, I GET it!  But that didn't happen, and it WASN'T MY FAULT!    So why are you in my face now?"

"Donovan was supposed to pass the Gifts on to me, but you got them instead.  If your first week is any indication, you won't have them for very much longer."

"Ohhh, I get it.   You plan on shadowing me until I screw up, then you'll be right there to get the mojo when I die.   Real sweet kid ya got there, Donovan.     So, tell me... why don't you just kill me yourself, then?"

"Because then I'd be no better than the creatures we fight."

"Look... I don't know what kinda arrangement you and Donovan had, but it died when he did."

"But he's your Guide, he still has a say in this."

"Say in WHAT!?  It's not like I can just HAND the stuff over to you!  Can I?"

"No.  They only pass on when you die."

"That's right!   So it doesn't matter what you, I, or the Boy Wonder of there wants... you can't get the stuff until I croak.   I don't know when that's gonna happen, but I sure as hell ain't gonna have psycho-ninja-kid hovering over me like a vulture waiting for me to die!"

"You need me,"  said Sebastian.

"Oh, YEAH!  You're EXACTLY what I need... a sword-wielding psycho!   And who the hell uses SWORDS anymore, anyway!?"
 

ith his back pressed firmly against the wall, Ransom scanned the darkness around him... searching for the Enemy.   He hoped that it was as blind as he was... and that it couldn't smell his blood.  Ransom paused to tighten the cloth around the wound on his arm.    It was deep.  Bad.  But not as bad as the one on his side that still wept warm blood down his leg and into is shoe.  That was a clumsy move, and it had cost him.   This whole affair had cost him... and now, if he didn't kill this thing and get out of here, he was going to die.

He...it... was here somewhere.    He cursed himself for his pride and stupidity.   None of this needed to happen, but it was too late.  He'd unleashed it, and now it had to be dealt with.

Assuming he could find it.

Ransom leaned forward and peered around the corner.   The other room was dark, but there was a light switch just a few feet away.    If he could reach it... wait... wait...

NOW!

Ransom spun away from the wall-

WHOOSH!

The blade came down in an arc, narrowly avoiding his head.   If he hadn't moved, he'd be hitting the floor in two pieces. Ransom turned and blocked the second attack with his own blade.  Metal met metal, but the sound was hollow and ghostly... eerie... a sound that send chills down Ransom's back.

Ransom couldn't see... but he blocked anyway... skill and instinct telling him where the next attack was coming.  He was right.    Another spin, and Ransom was away.    His arm brushed across the wall, and the chandelier above him burst into white brilliance.

"HA!"  he blurted.  His blade sliced the air in long, dizzying arcs as he went on the offensive.  He charged the Opponent, seeking to overcome him with speed and force.   The Opponent rebuffed him easily, and a quick duck was the only thing that kept Ransom's head attached to his neck.   He went into a crouching position and sprang suddenly, driving his blade upward into the Opponent's gut.... but the enemy twirled away and blocked the blade.   Ransom threw himself to the side and sliced at the Enemy's feet.   The Opponent leapt over the attack and brought his blade down.    Ransom blocked as he rose.  Then spun and slashed.

WHOOSH!

A perfect attack that cut nothing but air.  He followed it with another, then backed away before the Enemy's retaliation.  Forced ever-backward by the assault, Ransom could do nothing but block, parry, and try to search for a way out.    The Enemy was too powerful.   Too fast.   Too strong.

And not human.

He had to get away.   He had to run.

Ransom turned one of his blocks into a spinning slash... and then turned that slash into a frantic run for the stairs.  The Enemy was between him and the front door, but if he could just reach the gun cabinet.    Maybe... MAYBE...

He bounded up the stairs, taking them two and three at a time.  He couldn't hear the Opponent's footsteps behind him, but he knew it was there.    It was ALWAYS there.   Always.

He was almost to the top of the steps when he heard it.  Running footsteps that weren't his.   He smelled it, too... and saw it.... a shimmering in the air IN FRONT OF HIM!

"YAAAAH"  Ransom stopped and spun on one foot in an effort to avoid-

SHLUCK!

He felt the cold, cold blade slice him across the back.  Pain exploded upward from the wound while everything below it went numb.   He saw the stairs rushing up to meet him-

CRACK!

Bright light and pain-

THUMP!

Something snapped... something he could hear but not feel-

KA-WHUMP!

-this one he DID feel.  He felt it several more times as he tumbled down the stairs to the bottom.   A part of him wished the fall would kill him, or that somehow he'd impale himself on his own blade along the way.   It didn't happen.  Even before the dizziness faded, Ransom was moving... pulling himself forward with his one unbroken arm.  Blood was everywhere.    His blood.   There was a bone sticking out of his leg, but he thanked God that he couldn't feel it.

"...help me..."  he groaned, even though he knew that there was no one in the house to help him.   No one accept the Enemy that was even now walking slowly down the stairs behind him.   "Help..."

The thing's footsteps approached... then stopped.   Ransom felt something standing over him... he could FEEL the Opponent's iron gaze on his back.

"No... please... I beg you?"

Mercy?  From the thing he had unleashed?   No.   No that wasn't going to happen.

With his last bit of strength, Ransom pushed himself up at and angle and rolled over onto his back.  He looked up at the Enemy... blade held high, inhuman eyes glowing down upon him.

"What are you waiting for?" Ransom said.  "Do i-"

The blade came down faster than Ransom expected.   It cleaved his skull in two... opening his head from cranium to lower jaw.   Ransom caught a flash of his own blood spraying up like a fountain... and then there was nothing...

and then...

...and then...

then he was looking down at himself.   His face was unrecognizable; he didn't have much of a head left.  He hovered over his body for a moment, then rose... slowly... rising upward... until he felt the hooks sink into him and yank him back down.   It was a pain like no other... joined with a rushing, sinking sensation as the room spun around him.   He could not move... he could not struggle.. all he could do was rage silently as the Enemy's sword drank in his soul like water into a sponge.   Everything around him became metal and blood... and howls of pain and insanity from the others trapped along with him.  Theirs screams overcame him... washed over him and held him down while the things feasted.   He screamed, but his voice was lost in the roiling tide of insanity that was inundating his mind.   His head was full of screams and razor blades.  And teeth... eating his soul from the inside.    His will shattered, and Ransom was gone.   Gone, yet still there howling alongside the others... just another screaming drop of blood to lubricate the Great Machine.

" sword is a weapon of skill... something you'd know nothing about."

"I got the demon-killing mojo... I don't need skill."

"I've been fighting since I was four years old,"  said Sebastian.

"Yeah, right-"

"I've lived this life for years... you've lived it for less than a week.   You don't know WHAT you need."

"I don't need YOU!  I've already GOT a teacher,"  said Jason.  "Or did you forget?"

"I'm just a Guide, Jason,"  said Donovan.  "A ghost.  There's only so much I can do."

"You're not agreeing with him, are you?  Of course you are... he's your son-"

"Son or not,"  said Donovan.  "Having him at your side greatly increases your chances of survival.   You are in a very bad place, Jason.   Usually the Gifts are passed on to someone who already has the knowledge and training to make full use of them.   I didn't have that option, which puts you at and extreme disadvantage."

"But the kid is just waiting for me to die!  How do I trust somebody like that!?"

"You misunderstood-"

"Misunderstood?!   Oh, okay..."  Jason pointed at Sebastian.  "You... you're just waiting for me to die so you can get the magic goodies, right?"

"Yes."

"Gee, I dunno, Donovan... kinda hard to misinterpret that!  How's this kid gonna help me!?  He doesn't have a reason to lift a finger for me!"

"But I have helped you,"  said Sebastian.  "Not because I like you.  Not because I wanted something from you.  I helped you because it was the right thing to do, regardless of what I want.  I will continue to do so... either by your side, or from the shadows."

"You need him, Jason."

"The hell I do."

"I think he should stay,"  said Ashley.  "I mean... the ghost is his dad, after all."

"Ashley, how does that have ANYTHING to do with ANYTHING?"

"Just the opinion of a genuine psychic,"  said Ashley.  "And I thought we came here to rest and figure out what to do next... not argue."

"Nobody's arguing,"  said Jason.  "And what we're gonna do next is drop this kid off at the nearest daycare center for psychopaths and be on our way out of town."

"Out of town?  Hey, nobody said anything about leaving town!?"

"Hellooo... wanted by the police?  Dead cops all over the place?  Helllooooooo..."

"YOU'RE wanted by the police.  Not me!"

"I guarantee you your house is so full of cops right now that you'd think it was a doughnut shop.   I hope you didn't leave any embarrassing personal items laying around."

"But why would they-"

"They already took you in for questioning once, and then the next thing they know, here you are hanging out with me again."

"But that's YOUR fault... you came to ME, remember?"

"Yeah, and I'm sorry about that.   But now you're just as wanted as me.   Only maybe they'll only shoot you once or twice... Me?  I'm Swiss cheese the minute they see me."

"But I can't just LEAVE!"

"You don't have a choice.   Well,... you DO, but only if you call a cell in a woman's prison a 'choice.'   Or maybe you're into that kinda thing-"

"So you just show up at my door and RUIN my life!?!"

"Actually, I showed up at your door and SAVED your life.  You must have forgot that part."

"But we can't... we can't-"

"Sorry, Ashley.   That's kinda what I was trying to tell you when ninja-kid showed up... about us sticking together."

"See what you've done?"  said Sebastian.   "See what happens when you drag other people into this?"

"Yeah... NOW let's see what happens when I drag my FOOT through your ass!  I knew this wasn't gonna work.   The kid is eighteen and he's sounding like my grandmother!"

"So the three of us-"

"Four,"  said Donovan.

"Three,"  said Sebastian.   "The woman isn't coming with us.   Unless Donovan thinks its best..."

"It is,"   Donovan and Jason said at once.

"Very well,"  Sebastian said reluctantly.   "She can come."

"Gee, thanks guys.   Thanks for getting me involved in this and LETTING me hang around with you!"

"You're welcome," said Jason.

"So the FOUR of us lay low out of town for a few days," said Ashley.  "Then what?  We come back here, right?"

"Ashley isn't too clear on the concept here..."

"We could either leave town and start over somewhere else,"  said Donovan.  "Or accept the fact that you're going to be outlaws here.  I recommend the first option... the second isn't working too well."

"I don't like leaving, but I don't think we have a choice,"  said Jason.  "We've got the cash.   Weapons."

"I have friends here,"  said Ashley.

"Oh, and I don't?"

"Yeah, but all your friends think you're a terrorist or something.   I'm not leaving."

"I thought we were going to stick together?"

"That was before you started talking about leaving town.  I  have friends... a business... a house!"

"You have a trailer in the middle of nowhere,"  said Jason.  "I'll buy you another one."

"The money is for weapons and equipment,"  said Sebastian.  "NOT to buy things for your girlfrien-"

"Whooooaaa-"

"Hey, hey!  Me and him are not... I repeat: NOT-"

"Strictly business,"  said Jason.  "And it's MY money now, I can use it for whatever I want."

"Is that why you chose the cheapest hotel in his hemisphere?"  said Ashley.   "Huh, Mr. Money-bags?"

"They don't ask questions-"

"And how do YOU know about this place?"  said Ashley.

"Uhhhhh... heh... that's uhhh... a long story.   It's really funny, too... heh..."

"I'll bet,"  said Ashley.

"...yeah.   But we should get some sleep now.  We'll talk about what's next in the morning,"  said Jason.  "That is... as long as that's okay with the Boy Wonder over here."

"We'll rest now,"  said Sebastian. He leaned back in his chair, but didn't appear to be resting.   His eyes were still open... staring at Jason.

"You sure you don't wanna run of and hunt demons or something while us mere mortals catch a few Z's?"

"Don't be ridiculous,"  said Sebastian.  "If there were any demons in the area I wouldn't need to hunt them.  They'd come here."

"Oh.  Right."

he nurse was reluctant to leave him alone.   She knew that he was completely oblivious to her presence... but it still felt wrong to leave him here by himself.   No family had come for him.  No friends.  No one but the police, as if they could help.   If what the nurse had heard was true, then the very LAST thing Tomas Velazquez needed was police.

Still, she had her rounds to make, and boy was in no physical danger.  He was in perfect health, in fact.   He was only here for the brain scans, and, after that he'd be off to wherever boys like him went.   Probably some 'special' hospital for children.   The nurse hoped they were nice to him there.

She nearly ran into the doctor as he was coming in.  She didn't recognize him, but he wore a coat and a nametag... and if he wasn't supposed to be here then he would have never made it past the police down the hall.

"I'm sorry, doctor,"  she said as she moved out of his way.  He smiled at her as he walked past.   The nurse didn't like that smile.  Not even a little bit.   "Umm... can I help you with something, doctor?"

"Nope,"  he replied.  "Just wanted to take a look at him."

Take a look?   The nurse liked that even less than the man's smile.  She was about to ask him who he was when the Head Nurse announced her name over the intercom.  She was late for her rounds, and the H.N. was a real bitch.

"Ummm... if you need anything, just-"

"I think I can handle it,"  said the doctor.    He walked over to the boy's bed and stood quietly...looking down at the child.   The nurse reluctantly left them alone and went about her duties.

"Poor child,"  said the doctor.  He ran his hand through the boy's hair, then pulled the glove off of his other hand and reached for Tomas' throat.

He placed his gnarled fingers over the main artery and felt the boy's pulse.   His smile widened.

"I just don't know if I can help you,"  he said.  "But I'll try.   That's right...  Dr. Braxis is gonna do his best to fix you up right as rain..."
 

wo hours before dawn, they left.   They didn't bother to return the key... they just left the door unlocked and put the motel key on the table.   They wore the same clothes they'd arrived in, something Ashley wasn't too happy about.

"Can we at least go pick up some of my clothes?"

"I'll buy you some new clothes,"  said Jason.   Sebastian shot him an evil look.  "Don't look at me like that, boy."

"You've been calling me that all night.   How would you like it if I called YOU 'boy'?"

"So you wanna stop by a dentist and try to get your teeth re-attached?  Is that what you just said?"

"Please, stop,"  Ashley groaned.  "You've been going at it all night!"

"Considering where we are, you might want to rephrase that,"  said Jason.

"You-"  Ashley pointed a slim finger at Jason.  "Good thing your mind is closed to me, because if it wasn't I'd have you barking like a dog-"

"You might wanna rephrase THAT, too,"  said Jason.   He pulled the car-cover off of the Corvette and stuffed it into the trunk, along with a laptop computer, quite a few weapons, and two briefcases filled with money.

"So where are we going?"

Jason and Sebastian answered simultaneously:

"North-"

"West-"

"Oh, great,"  said Ashley.  "We haven't left yet and we're ALREADY lost."

"Northwest,"  said Jason.  "Get in."

"Uhhh..."  Ashley watched Sebastian get into HIS car... a silver 1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT Convertible.  "I think I'll ride with him."

"Ride with Brooks,"  Sebastian snapped as he slammed the door.  "He wants to bring you into this, then HE can look after you.  Let's hope he handles THAT better than he's handled everything else."

"Well FINE, then!"  said Ashley.  She plopped down in the Corvette's passenger seat and slammed the door closed.  "SCREW YOU, TOO!"

"Donovan and I have hiding places in cities up and down the coast,"  said Sebastian.  "We'll move from city to city until we find one that suits us."

"Wait a minute..."  said Jason.   "Why does it sound like you're in charge here all of a sudden?   Donovan, you better tell this boy what the deal is before I have to break him off!"

"We're already outside the city, so we shouldn't meet much resistance.   But we need to cover as much ground as possible before dawn.   Do your best to keep up with me... if you can."   Sebastian started his car, revved the engine, and backed out of the parking lot.

"Keep up with him?  Keep UP!?  No he DIDN'T just say that,"  said Jason.  "Oh, It's on now!"

The Corvette's engine roared as it sprang out of the parking lot after GT.
 

Next Issue:We learn why you should never take an 'evil magnet' on a road trip: "Road Trip To Hell, Part One: Die By The Sword!"

copyright 2005 by Dark Icon Entertainment