The Warden #2: Hide and Seek

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"You never know when you lost your heart till you lost it. Few will say that when it happens you know exactly the moment it happens as that source of love dissipates. God wept when Lucifer turned, and it broke his heart to send so many of his children away... I guess even the all powerful know this pain too. This is why we all strive so hard to keep our hearts safe no matter where they may be."
~Eli Archangel of Creation


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"Damn it Kiara keep up..." Warren cried out to her as he chased the alleys after the evil specter luring him through the maze of a city. He was not going to lose Lucy... That little girl did nothing to anyone and now somebody wanted to rape that from him. No no he would not allow such evil to occur. If it meant trading his life so be it he would not lose her.

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Allister's skipped faster from wall to wall be trailed by the Warden. This was not a bad thing nor was it good, but it was better this way to have company when the diseased hell hound decided to face off. His cold white eyes focused on that shadow of a being with his small hat cocked so slyly like a thief amongst a gathering of nuns ready to strike and profit.

"Come on collector... Zis iz pathetic... Show your face."

He roared to the night as the sound howling hounds woke up the night with its sirens and noise. It was time to wake up the dead, but sometimes the dead are more alive than we think. They alley finally broke off into an entertainment district with a crowd, and Allister knew not what to do. The shadowed man before disappearing dropped a card onto the damp cement of the alleys exit and there wait another clue... another turn... another chase.

Kiara fought to keep up with Warren as her fear and worry kept her shaken up and distracted. She stopped putting her hands on her knees as she doubled over and panted. Her sides burned as she struggled to regulate her breathing so she wouldn't pass out. "I can't...." she said but quickly stopped as she stood up and ran to his side agian.

Warren stopped her slowly ordering with no place to argue, "Do not force yourself... I am going to call out a search." He told her bringing out his cellphone dialing the number pacing back and forth. He argued out the case with the station issuing out officers needed to be placed out and the search area. Sickness bottled up inside him like a fever so rotten it fell apart and reemerged with venomous bile in his throat burning.

Kiara fell to the ground sitting on her legs and then falling to her hands as she panted. Tears fell from her eyes as she allowed herself to stop for a moment. "My baby....." She said softly as her body once agian shook in sobs. She felt so weak, so defenseless without the one she was used to protecting around. She felt vunerable and horrid.

Sirens were out and about tearing up the streets like a disheveled room trying to find a pin so small amongst its darkness. Warren paced and slowly took his own jacket off wrapping it around Kiara who collapsed there in front of him. "Kiara... Stay here I am going to be back..." He then told her wiping his brow in frustration as he made attempt to reach the rest of the Alley. The darkness and the cool damp moisture in the air souring his senses with the brisk breeze. His eyes wondered around to the end of the turn where he noticed another card upon ground its gold backing flickering in the light of the city lamps.

"He iz not goingz to give up eazily." A voice of a man echoed above the alley bouncing of its walls. Warrens eyes darted around searching for the figure but found nothing as he picked up the card reading it.

Quietly she will sleep...
Under the light of this neon alley.
Unaware of the need...
In your decisions and delay.

Make haste...
before the mid of night
And if late...
hope an angels wings take flight
For if not down here...
Where the flames do billow.
There will no forgiveness...
And only pain she will know.

Kiara sat down against the side of a building waiting for Warren as she caught her breath and steadied herself. She mentally kicked herself for being so weak especialy now. She pulled his coat tighter around her as she shivered again. She soon relaxed a bit though her mind wondered why. It was almost as if a piece of Warren had been left on the coat. Shaking the thought from her mind she looked up watching and waiting.

Colts drawn with their silver barrel and glimmering ivory handles shining under the light were pointed at Allister as Warren backed up the card he was holding safely stored inside his pants pocket. "Who the heck are you? And where did you take Lucy." Warren growled demanding furious as Allister the white demon invisible to everyone except the spiritually gifted.

"You may call me Allister, and it was not I who touched your daughter." The demon spoke lightly his hands in the air as Warren was quick to correct saying, "I am not her father, but I could be as I am the closest thing she could ever have to that." The colts were still drawn as he kept his distance. Alister gave this foe a small grin apologizing, "My miztake then it just seemed you cared more than mozt men would over a child not theres. Now let me give you an anzwer before anything bad comez of zis. " The clicking of a hammer being pulled back was sounded and Allister just gave a sigh.

"You see Warden I am juzt one of mizchief I give people something to fear not hurt, but what you are looking for iz something much more grave." Warren hearing this demon raised an eyebrow asking, "More grave? More grave than a demon?" Allister chuckled, "Yez the complete bane to you... a Collector... They fight Wardenz when they find them and kill them, and az the name suggestz collect soulz of innocent people. I know zis one... he goes by the name of Dead Draw in the underworld. He iz here for you Warren seeing az you are all new to zis." Warren gave a gasp turning around ready to get Kiara when Allister shouted, "I am coming with you Warden... I want zis man... He took something away from me." Warrens eyes shot back at Allister who for a demon showed the surest apathy and urge he himself had, "Then tag along I have to get Kiara."

Warren ran back to Kiara touch her shoulder saying, "Do you have any idea where the gambling district in western Gotham is? I think I know where she was taken." He told her caring as he picked her limp and shaking body up with his hands. "Don't worry Kiara I am going to make this man pay." Behind unseen by Kiara Allister hovered cross armed waiting to move on. The hunt is on.

Kiara looked up at him as he pulled her to his feet. Leaning against him for a second she nodded to his words. She shivered as she looked around feeling as if someone else was there watching, waiting. Shaking her head she turned back around. "I know where it is, I have potrols there every now and again. Is that where she is?" she asked desperatly wanting nothing more than her daughter, even if it cost her own self something grave. She wanted her baby back alive and safe and she knew she couldn't rest until she had Lucy in her arms again. "It's a bit aways from here..."

"Kiara I have suspicion she is in that district... This man is something dangerous so i want... Ok do not try to tell me I am wrong, but I need you to stay behind until I can apprehend this dirt bag." Warren started not needing her involved in his problems. Understanding all that Allister told him he felt the urgency to protect her from the strange. Some people could not handle strange and he knew Kiara as one of those people. Looking outside the box was never one of her key qualities.

Kiara looked up at him in shock. "NO!" She burst out. "It's my daugther and I'm going with you no matter what you say or do." Kiara grabbed his arm and held it tight in her grasp. "Please let me come with you. I have to know she's ok with my own eyes. She's my daughter and if I don't get her back or at least try then I'll have failed in my job to protect the only thing that I hold dear to me."

She looked up at him her eyes pleading as she held his arm all the tighter. She shook but she was controled now, she had to do this, she had to go. She looked down at the ground and then sighed. She knew this was time wasted but she had to tell him, to see if he would understand. "I have to do this because Lucy's....well different. I don't know how to explain it but there have been times when she's told me that we shouldn't do something and she was so scared of doing that, that we didn't and then I would hear later about an accident or something that happened....i don't know if I'm just paranoid or what."

Warren making a solid grunt shoved her off displeased by her persistence, but understood which is why he had to agree. With a tilt of his hat moving it forward to shadow his glare he muttered, "Fine... As long as you quit crying and do not expect me to baby you through this. Kiara I swear you get emotional and breakdown I will send you back without question... This is a serious matter." Looking up to Allister he saw the demon hovering above tapping his wrist signaling it was time to leave.

"Get your ass in my car pronto!" Warden commanded cold and official like a police officer should in this case, but not the type of officer who has been acquainted with the force for years. These people were family and as annoying and argumentative he found Kiara he saw her as someone he could trust, and has been one of the few to actually know her as a mother through and through. But he could not spare feelings now she needed to get her stuff together because it was about to become war.

Kiara gave him a deer in the headlights look as he ordered her into his car. She'd never heard him talk like that much before much less to her. Stunned for a moment she didn't move but then she turned and ran back something in his voice worrying her more than his actions. She knew that she couldn't act like this anymore, so she put herself into the midset of an officer as she kept running back to the Apartment Complex. Then agian no matter how long she took to calm herself down, her maternal insticnts would kick in and make her thing of what horrors were being brought upon her daughter.

As she reached the car she opened the door and slid in. Closing it she buckled herself up and then put her head in her hands as she closed her eyes, the smell of the car and the fact that the doors where shut giving her on an uncosious level comfort and the feeling of safety.

Now alone Warren took a deep breath and darted his eyes and voice at Allister, “Mischief maker you better be right or I will skin your hide raw and kick you down back to where you came from” Warren settled a look of concern and an enfeeblement coursing through his angered and rioting temper. The demon was quickly behind him hands on shoulder whispering into his ears, “Trust me… I want this one as much as you, but remember where anger is a flaw to some it is a weakness to you.” After that Allister began trailing off in Kiara’s direction leaving Warren behind staring at the trembling in his hand like a disease. In Allister’s words he said that Warren’s weakness is his anger… so maybe he was not being so philosophical on him.

Neon Alley… A Gotham Bar…

The air stained with smoke and the smell of cheap bourbon and expensive Columbian cigars wafts under the nostrils of a devious man relaxing with his short top hat tilted over his eyes. His slacks straight and firm as his white shirt and his comfortable dress shoes rest themselves with outsretched legs upon a chair. In his lap there lay a young six year old girl caught in all her mystical slumber not awaken by the sudden click of billiard balls as they struck by one another. His hand rests stroking her light blond hair back and forth with amusement whistling a tune of a nursery rhyme. This nursery rhyme being. “Ring around the Posies”. The man suddenly pulled out a thin cigar from his shirts front pocket with a pack of matches. The cherry red cigar resting in between his lips he now lights the match with a flare burning the tip puffing the obvious signal of success sitting there waiting for company to arrive.

In Warren’s car…

Warren now speeding his way down the street his eyes are hypnotized by the road following it all the while taking Kiara’s directions. He was one to tell her to not be emotional as he sat there biding all his frustrations and anxieties ready to combust in a series of primal roars and gun shots. He had no time for that, for Lucy was at stake. Poor little girl done wrong to no one, and she was the only one who ever thought him to be a kind man he was but rarely showed. Eyes glistening in the rush of worry he winced and disguised it with all too familiar determination. This was the type of determination that came from devotion to eliminate a threat. Suddenly feeling a surge of his anger he hit the gas and breaks at the same time turning the wheel hard to the left making a sharp turn. In the process he hit a trash can that was volleyed through to force crushing into the side of a wall scattering innards across the street.

“Somebody turn on the damn radio or something I cannot stand this silence.”

Warren urged still trying to contain the thoughts of what if Ariel… no he could not ponder that or fantasize it. It was not Lucy’s time yet. Warren with one hand straightened his hat like it was his holy sigil protecting him and others from all bad tidings, but it was more so a prison to physically keep his thoughts from running away with themselves. His colts were there vibrating response of his saddle that he sat pumping out more horse power through his mechanic stallion than these streets had known in a long time. Warren was gonna make this man pay and for good.

Kiara reached up and turned the radio on, leaving on the station it started up with. She leaned back her eyes still red and swollen from crying but she wasn't anymore. She checked the rounds in her gun and then put the safety on so she didn't have a chance of it discharging for whatever reason while they were in the car. Looking out the window she watched the familiar lights pass by her. "Funny this is the place I met Lucy's father," she said absently as the neon lights shone into the car casting colorful patterns onto interior.

"Neon..." Warren mumbled now tracing thoughts, clues, and patterns in his head trying to derive the exact designation of where Lucy was being held. The words from the card he now slowly gave a glance back to had the words 'Neon Alley' and he knew it meant something as it sounded so familiar. His hand on the wheel tightened as his eyes now scanned over the streets they passed and when he heard Kiara speak he slowly hit the breaks sliding up next to a curb saying, "Then maybe this man knowns more about us than we know... He may be playing head games." He slowly scanned around seeing the neon signs but had nothing.

"Kiara lets get out and search the parameters. I am sure he is here he said something about neon alley... and I do not understand it specifically." He told Kiara opening the car door letting his anger subside after having a short outburst. He needed to keep his composure and zeal to get him through this. He had the vaguest sense of trouble from his gut creeping to his senses which he always called a detective intuition... the thing that like a radar always told him he was close to the next clue.

Kiara stood there as she got out of the car. "Neon Alley?" she asked as she looked to him. Then it clicked a gamble. This was all a game. And her daughter was the prize. Now they just needed a wager. Sometihng to bet agaisnt this man. But what? What could she bet? "It's a bar...." she said finally. "The Neon Alley is a bar. He's betting us....betting us with my daughter...I'll kill him!"

"Kiara if he is truly this mad to be playing head games then all I can say is you will not make such a move. He is betting on me... It is a dare. I do not know him but he knows me and all I can say we are in way over our head. This is dangerous. Our normal company barely grazes the type of madness this man has, and Kiara I know you understand what I mean by company." Warren quickly replied as he parked near a sidewalk. His mind shook with battling emotions when calm is the only thing he should feel. It was hard, but being who they were Kiara and Warren could always mask the true problems that lurk deep in their souls.

"We should find the bar, but I want you not make any moves until I say so. I am not saying this because of my rank and as commanding officer, but as a friend. Luc is going to be back in your arms trust me Kiara."

Warren was now rummaging through his trunk through a series of select boxes after speaking. From one he pulled out a rather large hunting knife and its sheath. Strapping the leather holster near his ankle under the jeans he brought forth two Neo-Gen Kevlar Vests tossing one to Kiara commenting, "This Vest will be needed... go inside my car and place this on under your shirt. This thin vest will provide defense against projectiles and be unnoticeable. When we go in we are going to being first Recon... Scope the perimeter then we are going to corner this Jerk and force him to surrender. On my word though we may have to take fire and kill. I am sorry kiara but I am going to ask if you are completely ready. You need focus." All the whil talking he had been removing his jacket and T-Shirt applying the thin conforming vest to his torso. Finally placing the clothing back on he held his hat firm as Kiara would see a shot gun shoot up out of Warren's trunk into his hand and him cocking it ever so freely slamming his trunk shut.

"It is going to be war."

Kiara looked at him curiously for a moment when he mentioned the company that they were normaly in she could think of a few things that that meant but she decided on the one she thought fit the situation best and that made her even more uneasy though she hid that feeling deep beneath her cold facade that she used when she was working to keep herself distant.

Stepping out of the car she followed him to his trunk and then watched him as he pulled out the knives, guns, and vests. "I'm an officer why the hell do I care what you see?" she said taking the vest but turning around and slipping her shirt off, and then shurgging the vest on over her undershirt. She adjusted it and then pulled her shirt back over.

"I can't promise you that I won't make at least one rash movement but I'll try not to," Kiara said as she turned back to him. She bit her lip for a moment as if having a personal battle with herself and then looked up at him, keeping his gaze with hers for a moment. "I trust you. I trust you with my life, and my daughter's."

Inside Neon Alley...

The tension filled the air with the lights on dim... He felt it he was getting closer to the prize. Yes the death of one Warden and a future Warden. Acquiring the information was one thing, but this was whole new echelon greatness for Huxley. It was time and with the click of pool cue hitting it's bal the syary was set off. Huxley let a small portion of his card deck fall onto poker table. Each card took a solid position. Lucy lay curled up in a chair asleep from combinations of shock and fear.

"Ladies and Gentlemen may I have your attention..."

Huxley announced with Brim of his hat shadowing his eyes in darkness. His arm were spread and the 12 people that were inside the bar took to notice. Huxley caught their attention, but he needed their eyes on his,s o without further word he took off his cap and enticed the crowd.

"All of you have a chance to win over a grand in money by the houses favorite game... Quick Draw."

He slowly pointed to the twelve face down cards shuffling a his deck of cards laughing lightly with a jovial spin in his eyes.

"Rules are simple you have to either guess whether your card without looking is higher or lower than the top card of the deck... You get a chance to say reload... if you do I must shuffle the deck and split it in half. You pick the half you want either helping you or dooming you. If you guess right you win... By chance their is a draw we have a face off where I will introduce a coin and we flip for the win that being a Dead Draw. If you understand would all come and stand in front of the designated card."

It seemed an easy game just a thing of chance and all 12 of the people in the bar were itching for a chance. When all were seated Huxley gave the coined trademark smirk of satisfaction he had them all in his cross hairs. One by one he shook their hand each receiving an eye to eye encounter taking each of their souls unsuspecting. The restrained charge of energy now was let loose and his eyes began to glow white resonating the entrapment of all the souls. Suddenly the twelve cards flipped over and held the portrait of their corresponding soul. With the flick of his wrist he opened his deck box and the twelve cards flew into it.

"Ok shells... act casual and prepare... Manager and Bartender keep the job and alert me of the progress I will be taking the girl to the back."

He slowly picked up Lucy and did as he said. He had a few more measures to take before the Warden would appear. He was going to be sure to light up their afternoon.

West Gotham city; Club, Bar, and Gambling district...

Warren slowly wrenched his neck loosening it as he surveyed the streets. He looked to Kiara who was already prepared and he slowly spoke, "Ok... Seeing this guys game... he would have the back secured because no one acts alone in these situations from what i am familiar with. We will go through the front acting casual in which we may get direct fire, but it is better than alerting them right away from the back. You will always stay behind me and guard our rear while I have the front. We must keep this because when surrounded I want to make sure we have maximum coverage."

Allister kept quite not caring for the plan this Warden had set... so primitive. If he were really a warden he could uses his senses to track down this Collector, but then again why give a possible future enemy a good idea as long as the goals to revenge were met. His eyes focused on the entrance now he would possibly need to leave the warden behind to get a one on one. Problem is a one on one would mean his end. He could not manage to win against an Elite collector as they held too much power and were clever as they come. So the previous idea of ditching the Warden was forgotten... he needed him if he wanted his goal accomplished and to exist in the end.

Kiara looked up at Warren. "So it's pretty much like other cases you see on TV....." She said with mild, dry, humor. "And if I had known we were going in I would have dressed nicer. Maybe one of those dresses that I own that I can hide anything in." She ran a hand through her hair letting her humor fall into nothing as she looked around her eyes carefully scanning everything around her.

Stepping closer to Warren for a moment she felt a tingle and looked around as if something was there. She could see nothing was but she still felt like there was something else there, something unnatural. She couldn't have known Allistar was there. Holstiering her gun she looked at her clothing and shrugged as she stepped behind him.

Warren found no humor in the moment focusing on the surroundings and the task at hand. Moving to the car again he opened the drivers door and reached under the seat and seemed to have opened a small compartment. It was a box and when he brought out the hand sized box he immediately opened it and stowed away the item into his Jacket without moment to pause or her to notice.

"Kiara if things get hectic and I tell you leave you do it... with Lucy and when that happens do not look back. You need to promise me this because I have the feeling something bad is gonna happen tonight... But I won't let it happen to you..."

His hat he removed and sat gently in the drivers seat and closed the door locking it. He moved to Kiara now one foot cautiously in front of the other. Holding the car keys he forced them into her unoccupied hand.

"You are the driver... why? Because you are her mother and you need to be able to take her and leave."

As he said it the realization of the moment came closer. The normal thrill he received in the Die-Hardesque situations was lost and replaced with a Lack Luster dread. He looked to the sky where Allister was now afloat and he motioned to him through his eyes the question, "are you ready." Allister the ivory imp of harlequin nature simply nodded.

"Argue if you want Kiara I am not going to listen. Because hell takel me now... I am not having Lucy possibly murdered or lost to us."

There was a frailness in his usually over powering voice it was the sense of what is never allowed to the police force... doubt. It was not doubt he would not save Lucy... no... It was doubt he would not be able to save himself. Selfish yes to think about his own life over others at stake; However, it is human nature to fear an eventful demise. This was not the usual force he was used tot dealing with, no this was mysticism and archaic religious babble brought to his feat. Who was he but the one to practice auto-da-fé upon the enemy that scorns his Leaders god who he is expected to believe due to a clause that he was so "fortunately" granted a purpose. It was absurd to him. Warren felt all this was just some big charade and illusion he would wake up from. He could not though and did not want to taste that poisonous venom of reality... the grim fact was he had to and he to bite down onto its rotten core and swallow it with hope it won't take him like the rest choking on it's remains that stick and haunt their throats like a bad soar.

Kiara looked at the keys in her hand and then stowed them away in her pocket. Looking up at Warren she felt her own strength waver as she listend to him speak and heard the tremor in his voice. Grabbing his arms at the elbows Kiara held him there for a moment as she looked at his feet. Suddenly she wrapped her arms aorund him and hugged him. "I don't care if you lie to me just tell me it will be alright. Give me that strength so I can promise you. Give me that hope that we'll all make it out," she said.

Buring her face in his chest she nodded slowly. "I promise, I promise..." she replied her own voice trembling as she steadied herself agian.

Allister gave a small laugh and slowly spoke in words that Warren would hear, "You are prepared for the ultimate zacrice eh? Maybez you are a Warden" Warren just groaned and pumped his shot gun and spoke to his group of two plus this flying spook, "Lets get this over with." The ground below him felt nonexistent his marching steps were almost fluent. They were going forward.

Moments later... The Neon Alley

Still like manikins positioned to display and entertain. No movement, breathe, or noise came from them. The stale odor from before lurked and created a misty aura amongst orange glow of the rooms dim lights. It was almost scary to the degree that all 21 occupants comprised civilians and staff/management were frozen with the pale glaze in their staring eyes. No life, no will, no soul anymore. All that made them alive was gone, and now just shambling shells remain hollow to their core. Worse off is the music if you could ever hear it.. like the requiem for the depressed sung in unison by a choir of off kilter imps with sore throats.

The worst part was the inaction and the otherwise dead silence of the place. They were a combined Simulcra of the people they once were... no life or power. Then there was a march a sound that should cause fear when it reaches a door... but only action was to stare deadly at it... whatever was coming to them.

Kiara kept right behind Warren as they entered. It was like nothing she had seen before the people seemed dead, souless even but then what did she know about all of this. She bit her lip to keep herself quite as she tried to maintain a composure of an officer. Not a mother in search of her daughter, that would only cause weakness in this that was unnecessary. She didn't know what would happen but she prayed that it would end well.

A loud knock upon the door of the Neon Alley caused the lifeless shells to spring to life turning to face. There was another knock yet they did not answer. Few of them grabbed objects they use for weapons such as a beer bottle and poll sticks. Another knock still they did not answer. Behind the door came a groan then a yell as the door flew of its hinges splintering as a large muscular boot and leg forced through.

Warren stood with a pump of his shotgun and solid stone look on his face. Two people came at him, one with a chair leg on the left and the other a beer bottle on the right. Warren buckled his leg and poised for the closest charging man on his left who he bucked in the stomach with the handle of his shotgun, then rolled and tossed him over his shoulder with mere force flying onto the other man knocking them both into tables.

"You have the right to remain silent and all that jazz... Now tell me where the girl is."

His commands were unheard apparently as the rest in the room began to ready for assault. Rolling his eyes he fired his shotgun at a lighting fixture above them that feel between some tables causing a stall in the offense and clearing a small path.

"Kiara go ahead I have your back"

Kiara had her hand on her gun ready to pull it up as she moved in. Hesitating as she saw the lifeless corpes around she could almost feel her face drain of its color. She pulled out her gun on instict as one of them moved towards her. Shooting it a few times it fell over. She heard the sickening sounds of the skull breaking and felt it give way as she spun around bringing her heel up into the face of another one. With each hit though she felt her stomach churning threatening to let go of the food she'd eaten today. Swallowing the bile she tasted in the back of her throat she spun around again taking another one out with a few bullets.

Taking a quick glance to Warren she wondered how he could take all of this in and be able to keep his own constitution up. Then again, she thought, He is the one who sees all this supernatural stuff.... Backing up agianst the bar once she had cleared a path she reached back and picked up a beer bottle, swearing about not having enough time to reload her gun at the moment. Hitting it on the side of the bar she let it shatter as she used it to stab the nearest what she concidered a zombie as she reloaded the gun.

Finished reloading she glared at them working on killing off another one. "This is the most retarded thing I have ever done it's like playing Resident Evil or something. Minus the fact that playing that game I'm not ready to piss my pants...."

Warren saw that she Kiara fired at the people that came at her when he gave a shout, "Do not kill them... they are mindless not dead... just... knock them unconscious!" Aleister shot behind him groaning after flying through a from a wall telling Warren,

"He is not here... I scanned the whole building.... He lured you into a trap. However there is that room ahead behind the bar.. I could not go through itz.. has some damned anti-demon charm." Warren swiveling tripped three others with the back of his left leg and rushed up to Kiara knocking two others out of the way going for a full body missile dropkick over the bar to the door. When his feet managed to hit the door there was a sudden sound of hollow contact then a retaliation that hurtled Warden back through the air in three other standing attackers into the wall across the room. Limp against the wall warren dusts off his hat and shakes his head, saying "What in the world?" The remaining possessed shells were volleyed and piled in the middle of the room by Aleister. Although it would just seem to Kiara her eyes were play tricks on her she actually saw people being flung into a pile.

"I need to get past that door." Was all Warren managed stumbling up to stand.

Kiara shrugged and put her gun away. She ducked to the side seeing Warren dive over the bar, hit the door, seem to stay for a bit and then fly back into a wall. She shook her head for a moment as that defied the theory of gravity. Then seeing the bodies getting pilled up by seemingly nothing just freaked her out even more. Shaking her head she walked behind the bar. Rolling her eyes she reached out for the handle and then turned to Warren. "Hey genius ever think of this?" she asked as she turned the handle and threw the door open.

She didn't move though just stood behind the door as she looked to Warren. Nodding in the direction of the open way she clenched her fists. "Get going."

Dusting himself off Warren groaned whilst Alister caught himself in a delightful giggle. "I... meant to do that." He simply groaned and tossed himself feet first over the bar giving Kiara a look of mixed pride ad frustration.

In the room it was a small little comfy lounge room with a desk in the back of the room. On the top of the desk however was a TV and a rather outdated VCR with a video tape resting on top of it. In basic writing it simply said "Play Me" on the video tape, and Warren was quite compelled moving in closer slowly.

"Come on Kiara... lets check this out something is not right about this."

Kiara looked to Warren and then shook her head for a moment, but she came anyway. She moved quickly to his side not straying any farther than that. She kept one hand on her gun and the other relaxed as she could be at her side. Looking around she saw the old VCR and TV as well. Shivering she took a step closer to Warren.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she looked around. "I don't like this at all Warren......in fact I hate this.........." She said as she looked up at him. "I don't like this feeling..."

Warren raised an eyebrow moving forward slowly then picked up the tape. "Really? This is so outdated... Video Tapes? This was before me girl." He commented popping the tape into the VCR. Slowly Aleister came beside him with a wary look. "Be careful... Zis men are masterminds of manipulation..." Warren swatted him away and slowly the tape began to play whilst Warren backed up back to Kiara.

"Mommy...? MOMMY?!" Screamed Lucy who sat in a chair similar to one next to Kiara.

"Oh... Warden I know it pains you... But do not fret she is just leverage and no harm will come to her, as long as you surrender to me willingly." Spoke a man who arrived at Lucy's side cloaked in darkness.

Warren cringed his fingers buckling into his palm.

"Do not fret now... Just come to the top of the old Gotham Creamery and Packaging plant Near the West Gotham Harbor... " The mysterious man spoke as he slowly stroked the neck with his finger like a knife across the whimpering young girls neck. A small cackle was all that was left as the tape stopped.

"Damn it..." Is all Warren could say as he turned to a quivering Kiara.

Kiara stood motionless besides the shaking. Her eyes were wide and staring with fear and fury at the blank screen in front of her. Her hands gripped the back of the chair. Her knuckles where white as she held onto the only thing that was keeping her up. She blinked once and then turned, as if to walk away from Warren but doubled over and threw up.

She managed to keep her feet planted firmly beneath her as she straigthened up after she finished. She wiped her mouth off with the back of her hand as she cried, not in an emotional breakdown, but because she was afraid. She had never been so afraid in her life, not even when she was on a particulaly bad case. Her breaths were ragged and quick as she turned to Warren. She cluched his arms as her knees finally gave out.

"Tell me she's okay. Tell me she's fine....please I beg you tell me she's okay so I can do this......" she cried as she gripped his arms in a tight hold.

With a groan he took his radio on his chest and clicked it on, "Back up at the Neon Alley in West Gotham..." Turning it off he straightened his hat and slowly grabbed the shotgun he had at his side cocking it holding Kiara.

"I don't know Kiara but I swear..." His eyes filled with determination flared strong as he forced her with one arm holding out the building with Aleister behind them... The hunt was on.

To be continued in the next issue...