It was late at night when Stu pulled into Del's safe house. The place looked abandoned. Del should've at least had a guard. Stu was moving with extra caution.

“I don't like this. Del doesn't ever let this place go dark. Kari, you need to lock yourself in the truck while me and your mom check this out.”

Kari wasn't convinced.

“You sure you two don't need some alone time? I don't want to be left here. We need to talk to Del.”

“Kari! You need to listen to Stu. Something isn't right here. I know Del also. He's too cautious to let his house be dark. We are combat trained. You haven't had that much experience. So you'll guard the truck!”

“I'm not blind you know? I know you're both thinking it. I don't need two eyes to shoot someone!”

“Fine! It IS a worry but we need to make sure we don't lose this truck. It's our only assault vehicle. You have the least experience, so, you very the short straw. Stop arguing! We're in the shit now!”

They all went quiet. Stu and Anna disappeared into the dark. Kari hadn't wanted to address her left eye. She didn't think it would ever work again. It was a problem. She'd been trying to ignore it, hoping it would magically heal. It was time to stop running from the truth. Steel had taken her eye from her. She'd take his as payment for that debt. She'd never wanted things to end up like this. Hey uncle had once told her that there were times you had to fight. Especially, if your life was on the line.

Uncle Scrappy would be very welcomed to this party. She'd feel so much more safe with him involved. She made sure the doors locked and got comfortable. It looked like this might take a minute.

***

“Ok, Anna, this shouldn't be this easy. I'm pretty sure there were guards here when I left. They should've already stopped us.”

“I think I see why they didn't.”

Anna gestured through the next doorway. There were the guards. They no longer had a pulse.

“It looks like we were too late.”

Stu's voice held regret.

“I told that old fool not to get involved. We've been safe a long time because we don't get involved.”

“Well my daughter is thankful you did. I hate that it's cost even one life, but as a mother, I'd burn everything to save my daughter.”

“I'm sorry, Anna. You know I'm not upset we helped Kari. I just don't appreciate senseless killing. There's some irony coming from a soldier!”

They both cracked a smile.

“Guess we better better get in here and hope for the best”

As Stu pushed through the doorway, Anna got in position to cover him. It took only moments for them to assess the threat and realize. noone was there. No one was moving anyway. The guards were all dead for sure. Martha laid in the floor through the next doorway. Stu leaned over her with grief in his eyes. Upon inspecting of her pulse, there was SOME relief.

“Martha is still alive. If they didn't kill her, then Del is most likely alive. If they raided the place, there didn't seem any other reason to spare Martha.”

“He probably made a deal with them, Stu! He probably told where we were at to save his own ass!”

“There's got to be more to it than that. I've known him for too long to believe he'd betray us so readily.”

“Believe what you will, but it's as you say. Why is Martha alive. He either made a deal or she's bait for us.”

“Actually , that makes sense. If we came back and found Martha, he's banking on the idea that we call for paramedics. Demetrius is a crafty man for sure. He plants a guard at the nearest hospital as a way to know when she's being helped. Then he'll know someone is home. I

“Well, we can't just leave her..”

Kari sounded like she was pleading, but she'd made up her mind. Martha had taken care of her when she was down for the count. She wasn't about to repay that by doing the opposite. Stu and her mom acted disinterested, as if Martha was nothing but collateral damage.

“Fine! I'll get her myself. I have a friend who can help.”

Stu helped Kari get Martha to the car. Hopefully, the others made it out. They didn't have the luxury of time. After loading Martha up, Kari gave Stu the address and they were on their way.

Kari pushed the doorbell button on the house she'd led them to. It was off the road a bit. It it weren't for a porch light, the place might've looked abandoned or at least a junkyard. An old shed that was probably used at some point to cure tobacco. A few rusted old cars. It was the kind of place that normally housed a killer in the horror movies. The floor creaked next to the door as a voice showed through the door.

“Whoever you are you better get outta here! Not only am i armed, but if Demetrius finds out, you'll get the same treatment my late husband got!”

Kari stifled a small laugh.

“It's ok, Wanda! It's Kari!”

“It can't be you! You're supposed to be dead!”

“Well, if I'm dead I'm a ghost. That means your gun doesn't scare me and I could just walk through the door!”

“Not if I don't invite you in!”

“That's vampires, Wanda. Our problems are of a more human nature!”

Wanda cracked the door enough to see Kari's face. Then, she couldn't open it fast enough.

“Oh my god! Hon! I was sure you were dead when they told us about Tiffany! I can't believe it's really you! What in the hell happened to your eye? Was that from Steel hitting you?”

“Slow down, Wanda! I'm in a bit of a hurry. I need a huge favor. One, I need you to let me hide a friend here. She's been hurt and we can't take her to a hospital yet. Secondly, I need you to call in sick to work tomorrow. Please, don't be there. Some things are happening as I won't risk you.”

Wanda said she understood. She also did she had a hidden room that her former husband used to hide out in to sleep off the alcohol when the cops were searching for him. They moved Martha to the room. Martha finally stirred a little.

“Martha, honey, it's Kari. You've been hurt pretty bad. My friend, Wanda, is going to look after you for a bit. I trust her to keep you safe.”

“Kari….”, Martha forced out,”Del…...Steel…he took Del….I'm sorry….”

Kari whispered that they'd get him back as Martha passed out again. It was time to get moving.

“I'm sorry for this, Wanda. You're the only person left I can trust.”

“Just be careful, Kari. I don't want to lose you twice.”

“ I'll be back for sure.”

At that they left. It was finally time to head to The Crow. They needed the element of surprise..

“I knew you'd betray me, Steel. I just hoped it would come later on. Now,here we are. My plan ruined by your one act. It is taking everything in me to not just put a bullet in your head right now. But I'm not going to be angry. I'll find a use for you before I have you ended. For now, let's chain him to the bondage wall.”

Demetrius never once lost his smile. Even when he noticed that Steel was smiling as well.

“I'm glad I wrecked your dream. You don't deserve that much power. You and your “simple” bullshit. You're just another man. A man with foolish dreams. A man who won't live to see his dreams come to fruition.”

That had been the keyword for his men to attack. Shots rang out everywhere. Steel laughed out loud, waiting for the dust to settle. The scene took him a moment to process. His men had pulled out there find and fired, but they had shit HIS men. He was still taking it all in when Demetrius laughed.

“It's true. I live in a simple way, but so do most of your men. It didn't take much to convince most of them that they should join the winning side. The ones that we knew to be most loyal…well they are currently dead at your feet. Seems you did inspire some loyalty. You should have inspired enough to keep your men closer.”

Steel was moved to the bondage wall. He was at a loss. He had feared betrayal, but not at this level. More than half his men had turned. Precious few had died for him. This wasn't how things were supposed to end. He had to make one last play.

“Fine. You've taken my men, but I have one more trump card. I have Del. I'm sure you remember him. I eventually caught the old bastard add left him in the trunk of my car. I was prepared to offer him up as a peace offering,but your men got to me first.”

“I will accept your kind offering, but it doesn't change your punishment. I have one simple rule when it comes to betrayal. Never forgive it. If I were to let you live, you'd undoubtedly try this again and again. You're not gonna change, Mr. Steel. Once a snake, always a snake.”

Some men went out to check the trunk. They returned with the news that the trunk was empty.
It seemed the bargaining chip had escaped amidst the chaos. It was no matter. Del was a retired player. He couldn't cause much trouble these days.

© The Moonlight Bard