Kari woke with the sun. She couldn't recall if she's dreamed about Del, or if it had really happened. She didn't appear to be in a lot of pain. Her left eye was still unable to open. Definitely not all a dream. She was alive so it stood to reason the Del was really there. Thoughts of the situation had turned hazy. Wasn't she drugged? That explains the lethargy. She wasn't restrained in any way so kidnapping didn't seem logical. It's like her mind was trying to race with its shoelaces tied. Racing but getting nowhere.

"Welcome back." Del had entered the room. So definitely not a dream.

"I'm glad to see you're mending nicely", he commented in the jovial tone she was used to hearing. It didn't help to ease her mind though.

"What the hell is going on, Del?" She wasn't sure there was a better way to express her current confusion.
"I know I was on the stage performing for Simple Demetrius. Everything went black and started spinning. I remember Pop Tart being there. I must've passed out from the pain, but I'm not sure how I ended up here. I don't believe you'd kidnap me or harm me, but I have far too many questions and a dizzying memory. What happened?"

Del looked at her for a minute. There was no way for her to tell what he was thinking. He was having the same issue. His first step was going to have to be trusting Kari. If not, she'd spend all her time suspicious and they'd both end up dead.

"Ok. You need to know the truth. About a lot of things. Especially, if I'm going to convince you to help me end all this."

"O ..k…", that's all she managed to squeeze out. Without knowing what was going on, she's lost for sure.

Del began to explain about everything. He didn't have all the information. He assumed everyone else in the club had been spared but knew for fact that Tiffany, Tony, and Pop Tart hadn't made it.

Pop Tart hit her the hardest. Why had he given up his life to save hers? It didn't make sense. She barely had said three words to him and most of that was "thank you". It seems she owed him even more thanks.

Del told her that he had been in the game and a lot that went with that.

"Kari, I'm not sure what's going on. It was a strange move for Demetrius to even take over this part of town. There had to be something to be gained. Or I'm just thinking too much like someone with a plan. He may really be that simple."

"All I know is that something isn't right", she started thinking out loud. There had to be a reason. "Either way, even you are going through an awful lot for me. I'm just a small town girl. I don't have connections or any of that. I can't be worth so many lives!?!?"

Del didn't want to admit that he agreed with that statement. The math truly didn't add up.
" I'm not sure what it is about you, Kari. Maybe it's because you aren't like us. Maybe it's because seeing such a kind countenance after working these streets reminded us all that we are human. It could be as simple as the fact you're smoking hot and we all want you to owe us one?"

Del's attempt at lightening the mood almost worked. Kari had the briefest curve of her lips. Her ranting came back into place pretty quickly.

"Sitting here banging our head against the wall isn't going to help. I need to check on the other girls. I don't care about finding out entire truth. I can't even tell you why I want to go there again when I'm scared to death they will just finish the job. It's just impossible to sit here and wonder about anymore of it."

She stood from her bed and almost immediately fell back on it.

" You're going to need a couple more days before you can go on this suicide run you're planning. Until you can stand, I'm going to investigate. While I'm searching for motive, I'll make sure to check on the girls. That way we keep you alive, and I can find a way to the other side of this."

She resigned herself to this plan. She wasn't even sure what had come over her. Maybe that blow to the head rattled something loose.


© The Moonlight Bard