Picture of Alan Brice

"Uh, no we're not," I replied crudely, shoving Colette behind me. The man chuckled as the other two men behind him, joined in the laughter.

"You're a brave little one," he commented, smiling. "But I'm afraid it's not going to work today." I scowled at him, taking steps back with Colette confused as ever. She just threw weird glances between the gentlemen and me, not sure what the situation was.

"Come on little ones," one of the men said with an Italian accent. "Let's make this easier for the both us." My head snapped in his direction.

"How?" I growled.

"You come with us willingly, and we won't have to kick your face," he said. "That way, everyone walks away, possibly alive." Colette gasped behind me, her eyes wide with shock. I had no choice this time. It was either I went with them, or run. Running didn't seem like a good idea. These men were firmly built and by the size of their thick muscles, we'd never make it across the street.

"Come on Colette, follow them," I sighed in defeat.

"What!" she exclaimed. "Are you crazy?"

"Do you have a better way out of this?" I retorted. "I didn't think so. Now let's go." I yanked at her arm and pulled us along the way, following the mysterious, secretive man as he led us to a dark vehicle that was parked on the pavement. The back slid open, and he summoned us to enter, while the other two men took their place in the front at the wheel.

The interior was quite comfortable, almost like inside a limousine, but not as luxurious. Colette stuck close by me while the other man took a seat opposite us, picking up a bottle from a tray, pulling out three glasses.

"How old are you girls?" he asked while pouring the drinks.

"We're both sixteen," I quickly answered.

"Hmm... Do you drink?" I shook my head no, and he nodded, leaving only one glass for himself and taking a sip before he began to speak. "Call me Brice, if you please."

"Where are we going?" I demanded. Brice leaned back in his seat, examining us with his dangerous eyes and a dour expression.

"You ask a lot of questions," he observed. 

"Questions get you answers," I shot.

"Answers get you killed." He smirked. I shot him a glare before looking out the tinted windows, trying to recognize the location we were passing through. "Relax," he stated. "I'm actually dropping you two home. I just want you to cooperate." I raised an eyebrow at his demand, eager to hear what exactly he wanted.

"Don't listen to him, he's crazy," Colette whispered, clutching even tighter unto my arm.

"I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm not the only behind that note. There are others who are willing to do things you'd never imagine, just to get their hands on that."

"I don't get it." He sighed in irritation and leaned forward.

"I'm guessing you're a smart girl. So you must have figured out that John was Frank's younger brother, right?" I frowned. "Frank's the man you spoke to at the Samson Brothers..."

"Oh!"

"Exactly. And now, you're trying to figure out, who's S." I nodded slowly, wondering where he was getting at. "It's obvious he never got to tell her what he had to say."

"Her? Who's her?"

"Forget it. I've already said too much. Just give me the note." I rolled my eyes.

"I don't have it." He narrowed his eyes at me, licking his dry lips.

"I'm not as mean as you think. But I'm going to warn you. Some things were meant to stay buried, and people out there are going to make it remains that way." The van came to a stop, and I recognized my house outside the window. "It's only a matter of time before they find you."

"They? Who's they?" Colette spoke up.

"Just get out," Brice replied, pulling the doors open. "You may not like what you find." I quickly hopped out of the van, pulling Colette along with me. We gazed at the van, as it disappeared down the road, out of sight, leaving both of us speechless. I trudged through my front door, falling into a pile on the living room couch, replaying today's events in my head.

"Rhoda," Colette called, pulling off her coat and hanging it on the coat rack near the door. "I think we should drop this. This seems too dangerous." She crossed her arms over her chest, pouting at me.

"Why?" I asked, rising from my lying position. "We've only begun."

"I know, but aren't you scared? Did you not hear a word Mr. Brice said?"

"Sure I did. It just makes me more curious. I want to figure out who's her, and they and all the other subjects we can't put a name to." Colette groaned exasperatedly, rolling her eyes before focusing them on me again.

"It's none of our business. We might be dealing with the damn mafia for crying out loud!" I raised an eyebrow at her sudden outburst before relaxing into the couch. "You-"

The front door opened, and Jacé walked in with her head low, a beanie covering her dark yellow strands. We both stared as she walked into the room without noticing us until she removed her boots.

"Oh, hi," she smiled just a little when she realized we were right there.

"Where's mom and dad?" Colette asked with a slight frown.

"They went Christmas shopping," she replied with boredom dripping from her tone. "They could have never settled on one gift, so I left... to come here. Damn... I should have taken a note of the-"

A note? And then I remembered what I'd forgotten for a good while. The note my mother had found on the front door for me! I turned to face Colette with wide eyes, a huge smile present on my face.

"What now?" she moaned, glaring at the ceiling above her.

"Stay there," I instructed and flew up to my room, only to come back racing down the stairs with the note in my hands. I held it tight between my fingers for Colette to see.

"Are we supposed to fake being surprised?" Jacé asked. Her eyes looked drained of the life they once held. I only raised a brow, turning back to face Colette with a smirk.

"There's someone out there, who wants to help us," I stated.

"Who?"

"I don't know, but we'll meet them at..." I paused to turn the note to me and read the address. "147P, Gronise Street." Jacé blinked before yawning and walking out of the room. I figured she wasn't interested.

"We're meeting someone we don't know," Colette deadpanned. "How stupid can you be?" She turned to walk into the kitchen and made a beeline straight for the fridge.

"Why are you doubting this all of a sudden?"

"Because," she pulled out a jug of orange juice and a glass from the cupboards. "It's too dangerous."

"Fine. I'll go by myself."

"No, you're not." She stopped to glower at me.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to hear that they found you dead somewhere."

"Really? You care that much?"

"Actually no. I'd particularly be the last person to see you, and that'll leave me to talk to a whole bunch of police, which I do not want."

"Wow, I love the love you exert," I replied deadly.

"If you want to go so badly, why don't you ask Adara... oh wait, she's sick of you," Colette replied sarcastically. I rolled my eyes, before turning to leave.

"Don't worry, I find some way to convince you."

***

Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this.

Taja D'amore.