I couldn't wait any longer. Devin had been gone for almost an hour and he hadn't called.

I didn't know if he met Marcus, if he was taken or if he was dead. I shook my head trying to get rid of the undesirable thoughts.

He'll be back soon.

Another hour passed and Devin still hadn't returned. He could be in trouble. What was taking so long? I hope he didn't go do something stupid. 

I could see yellow and orange hues glowing over the horizon. Regardless of whether Devin came back, I couldn't stay here any longer. The police would start patrolling soon, looking for juveniles like me. I had to move.

I packed up our bags, securing the money Devin left with me in my socks. I'd be passing wanna be gangsters who preyed on teenagers like me. If Devin was here they wouldn't attempt anything, but I was alone.
I tried calling Devin again before I left, it rang without answer. 

After an hour of walking my back was hurting from the weight of both of our baggage. But it wasn't as heavy as the thoughts going through my head. I silently prayed that Devin wasn't out there making a grave mistake. I had my suspicions on who could take Dahlia, but it would be foolish to act on it without backup- without me.

I found myself before the North Berlington police station, the one were Marcus was working before he was suspended. The air around me was cool, yet to be warmed by the rising sun. Sweat beaded across my forehead and dripped into my bushy eyebrows. My arms glistened, giving my light brown complexion, a slight glow.

I still hadn't heard from Devin. The police would be looking for him, not me, I convinced myself. Could they have caught him? Did they know about Dahlia?

I paused at the entrance to the station and looked around. Maybe I should wait a little longer. The last thing I wanted to do was say something to incriminate my brother or Dahlia.

I stood there for a few minutes, biting my lips and contemplating my next move. I knew Devin would be upset if he found out that I went to the police. But what was I supposed to do? He wasn't answering. Maybe I should go back to Charles Street. I made it halfway down the concrete steps before turning around and marching back to the entrance of the station.

Maybe I would see Marcus or just ask about any reported kidnappings, or suspicious black vans.
I timidly stepped into the outdated building, all of my faux confidence forgotten at the door. The hardwood floors creaked under my weight as I walked. The air inside was held hostage by the closed windows and screens, causing the atmosphere to feel stuffy. It seemed as if no one had time to open a window.

The only other person inside was an older lady, an officer, at the front desk. We were separated by a glass screen coated with dust, but I could still see her brilliant frown. She looked like the type of person who would be in a lot of physical pain if they tried to smile. 

Regardless, of her unwelcoming manner,  I managed a half smile. At the wooden counter, I set down my bags on the floor and leaned against the narrow ledge.

I didn't trust anyone in this town, not even the ones meant to serve and protect. Yet, here I was, hoping that this officer would feel inclined to help a minor out. Needless to say, my expectations were low.

"Hi I am looking for DC Nicholson"

"He ain't in yet," she said, then turned her attention to her computer. When I didn't move she looked up again and frowned even deeper.

"You need somethin' else?"

"Yea what can you tell me about Dahlia Vicker?"
She was well known in the force with her record of shoplifting. Plus, being with Marcus didn't help.

"Why do you care?"

"I heard she was missing, that's all"

"Well, shit nobody reported that. And I don't blame them, the less hooligans out there, the better". Her wrinkled dark face was stern, showing no real emotion or compassion, not even for a missing 19-year-old girl.

I stood there staring incredulously at this lady talking shit about my sister.

I kept my cool, I didn't want to cause problems by disrespecting a police officer. Part of me was glad I was the one asking, and not Devin. His mouth would have definitely gotten us in trouble.

"Where's your parents, kid?" She asked. Now she wants to act like she cares?

"Dead". I took up my bags and turned to leave. I wish I could say that this was unexpected, but it wasn't.

The police in this town were mostly corrupted. The few who weren't made it a point to show that they didn't care about anyone lower than the middle class.

The poor and suffering got no sympathy from those who swore to serve and protect. Life, in this city, was cruel and unforgiving.

After escaping from Barry and Margaret's, we've had to fight to survive; something that my 14-year-old self should not have to do. But, it was our reality. Devin, at 17 became Dahlia and I's guardian, even though she was two years older than him.

I walked outside not knowing what my next move was. I silently kicked myself for thinking this was a good idea. I took out the phone to call Devin again.

"Hey!" a voice called from behind. I turned around to see Marcus, in regular clothes, standing outside the station. I looked at him confused.

"I thought you weren't here. Well, that's what that lying ass lady inside said."

"You got a mouth on you like your brother." He said half smiling.

"Well it's a Vicker thing", I told him. He laughed a bogus laugh then gestured toward the camera that captured video of the front of the station.

His back was turned to it so he gestured using his eyes for me to go down the block. I couldn't understand until he mouthed the words "Cramer" to me.

Cramer was an old diner, that has probably been around longer than city itself, snuggled between a liquor store and day-care centre, down on Lyndhurst road. Mr Cramer, a small frail man, used to give us free food whenever he found us snooping around.

"I know ya'll are gonna steal it anyways so I'll just give it to ya." He would say, whenever the three of us walked in. When we were desperate for something to eat, we'd go in with the intention of running out without paying.

He was a good man. It's unfortunate that he had to die like that. Juno, Gills' second in command, apparently wanted to use the spot for doing underground deals. Mr Cramer wasn't giving in. He was one of the few good men left in this town. He was shot in the back of the head for not wanting to turn over his restaurant to Gills.

His son kept it open, though, but under the pressure of the drug world, I bet.

Behind Cramers I sat down on a stack of crates and waited on Marcus. He came a few minutes later.

"Boy, you must be stupid showing up asking for me." He said grabbing my upper arm until I was up on my feet.

"Really that's what you are pissed off about? Where's Dahlia? Where's Devin?" I spat.

"How the fuck would I know?" His grip tightened and I winced.

"Well Devin came to see you last night and he didn't come back plus your girlfriend, my sister got kidnapped". He released me then. I rubbed the spot on arm that he grabbed. I wasn't as scrawny as most boys, my age, despite our hunger. But Marcus had a vice grips, just as tight as Devin's.

"You said he didn't come back?"

"No, he didn't."

"Shit your brother is stupider than I thought."

"What did you just say?" You could say whatever you wanted about me, but not about my brother.

"Relax kid. I know where he might be"

Marcus told me how Devin suspected Gills of having something to do with Dahlia's kidnapping; how he might've gone to get some answers.

He didn't have to say much more. I knew where he was and I know why he didn't come back. He's on a suicide mission and didn't want me getting involved to stop him.

I don't know who took Dahlia but I wasn't going to let my brother kill himself to find out.

Marcus made his point that he wasn't going to get involved. Devin must not have been happy to hear that.

After he left I knew where I was headed. I took out the 3 star Devin had given me the night before and flicked it open. The blade glistened in the now risen sun.

"Hopefully I won't have to use this," I said flicking it closed and shoving into my jeans pocket.

~~~~

*Dahlia*

It felt like days had passed since Dahlia was tied up to the chair. It was so tight that it dug into her skin; the skin on her wrists was starting to blister. 

Her a gag was placed in her mouth to.muffle her tired screams. Her voice scratched whenever she tried to scream. She had a feeling that no one could hear her. She was on her own.

The gag was removed when a woman came in to feed her drops of water.
She inhaled the scent of flowers whenever she got close enough to pour the water in her mouth. Dahlia savoured every drop of the tasteless liquid.

The blindfold was put back in place after she saw the man in charge, and never removed since that moment. She relied on her sense of smell, hearing and touch to know who was around. During the night she had heard crickets on the outside, she guess she wasn't in the city anymore.

The main person around her was the goon who had been there from the start. She could hear him shuffling around.

Her only sense of time was the warmth of the sun on her face.

She heard the door creak open and her head snapped up. She felt someone grab her cheeks and turn it to the left and right. Then the person removed the gag.

"Wait" she heard her companion say.

"Who said you could do that?" The voice sounded like that man who had laughed at her pain. The one she had promised to kill. She intended to keep that promise.

"Are you really questioning me?" a female voice countered. She sounded lethal.

"Hey ain't nobody supposed to do nothing unless.... he says so".  Who the fuck is that? The boss?  Dahlia thought.

"The girl's gotta eat. We don't want her dying. At least not yet" Dahlia kept quiet to listen to the conversation.

Maybe find out who was doing this to her. Her first thought was Juno and Gill when she was grabbed but after seeing the man last night, she knew differently.

"Eat!" the woman said shoving a spoon full into her mouth. She spat it out and she could hear the woman stumble backwards.

It must have gotten in her face. A slap landed across her left cheek and it started to sting again.

Another spoonful was shoved into her mouth but this time the lady grabbed her cheeks squeezing them shut so she couldn't spit at her again.

"That's it you little bitch. See it isn't so bad right?" she said squeezing her jaw tighter. "Its oatmeal" Dahlia had despised oatmeal since she was a child. She never ate it, even when her mother cooked it. She especially didn't eat it when Margaret made it. This situation reminded her of living in that house. Bound without rope. The food was terrible especially the oatmeal. This one was just as tasteless as Margaret's. 

The woman's nails dug into her cheeks. If she held out any longer, she was sure her dagger-like nails would have pierced her skin. When Dahlia finally swallowed her cheeks were burning and sore.

"Here feed the girl"

"Me? Wh.." the man stopped mid-sentence.

She heard him shuffle from the right side, his tobacco and dirt cologne grew stronger.

He was now before her, she could feel his heavy hot breath on her face. His rough calloused hands caressed her cheek where she was slapped. Dahlia turned her head away in disgust.

Then he grabbed her head, tangling his fingers in her curly dark coloured hair. He pulled her head backwards, leaving her mouth gaping. He crudely shoved the spoon so far down that it touched the back of her throat, almost choking her.

"Eat bitch!"