Chapter 10

It was almost silent except for the occasional rustle of the trees. The group of teens walked slowly back to their abandoned factory, all deep in thought. The rough roads slowly began to smooth out. The graffiti lessened and lessened. Signs of life even appeared – Real life. Not the half lives of fearful masses forced inside by fear.

But even coming back to their safe place couldn't make it okay that one of theirs was bleeding out in the back of a government truck.

"Come on!" Leo exclaimed. "One of us has to have someone willing to bail out Yusei!"

"Forget it." Jack said, crossing his arms. "My dad promised to kill him next time he sees him, and let's be honest. They won't listen to a Felinis or one of the Sky People."

"People of the Sky." Caitlynn corrected, pointed ears flattened to her head.

"No, he's right." Crow murmured before the slump in his shoulders suddenly disappeared. He sucked in a breath. "But what about an elf? They would have to listen to an elf!"

All of them turned to Aki, fresh hope drawing up their shoulders and bubbling out of their mouths in happy murmurs that overpowered the elf's soft words. "But my dad . . . ." Aki dropped her gaze, a touch of desolation in her voice. She went unheard, excitement having already infected the rest of the group.

"This way!" Exclaimed Luna as she and her brother began rushing toward the city lights.

. . .

Aki walked slowly at the back of the group as they made their way up the pathway.

"Wow!" Crow exclaimed, wings fluttering in wonder. "You live here?"

It was a big place, huge windows glittering like diamond as they peeked into at least four stories. White windows stood against cream, vines creeping up. Flowers bloomed from the vines that seemed to lead the eyes down to the garden. On either side of the path were bushes, trees, flowers – All beautifully arranged and eye-catching.

Aki led them inside the ornate building and led them to a side room. She flicked on a light, showing them a fairly nice guest room with a bed, a desk and chair, and a window bench.

"Wait here." Aki stated, closing the door.

For an awkward bit, none of them moved. Then Caitlynn spread herself out over the window bench, making a soft noise between a purr and a cry. The rest of them followed, sitting and waiting through the quiet.

CRASH!

They all jumped, Leo smacking his hand on the desk and wincing.

" . . . ER LISTEN! JUS . . . ."

Luna swallowed. "Do you think . . . ?"

"I SAID NO!"

"No." Jack scowled. He stood, approaching the door. "I don't think."

The door opened itself, a very familiar older woman with auburn hair standing on the other side. Aki's mother was pale, but her hands were firm. She took another breath as another crash came from above. "I think you should leave."

"Yes. I think that would be best." Jack murmured coldly back. He brushed past the woman, but she didn't even flinch.

The rest of them followed him silently, glancing back just for a moment as the door shut quietly behind them.

"What now?" Whispered Caitlynn as the four of them left behind their elf friend.

"We get desperate." Replied Luna. "I have an idea."

. . .

"This is stupid." Whined Leo. "And it's not going to work!"

"Come on! I can't do it. You know how bad I am at transforming into other people." Luna pushed.

"But I can't do her voice!" He exclaimed. "I sound like a boy."

"Just use a higher pitch and draw out your vowels." Crow said.

The group of friends, or what was left of it at least, hid in the alley by Tyler Inc. It wasn't the nicest part of town considering the busted up buildings and a pair of shoes hanging from the tree branch down the road, but it was far better than where they had been just an hour beforehand.

"Girls don't sound like that!" Hissed Caitlynn. She turned her gaze to her young-looking friend. "Maybe we can give you a phone or something and have you mouth the words."

"No, that's stupid. Too easy to mess up." Crow snapped. "Listen, if you make a funny voice, they might feel too afraid to insult you, and everyone knows that people who are full of themselves draw out their words. It makes people have to listen to them talk more. Just high pitch and long words, okay?"

Leo hesitated. "But what are the chances of it working? Fairies have some sway, but -"

"Just do it!" Snapped Jack. "We don't know how long it'll be until they send him to the Penn. Just get in there!"

Leo swallowed before determination crept into his gaze. Nerves made his hands shake, but he nodded. There was a soft glow before he suddenly seemed bigger and far more feminine. Still green-haired and fair, an older woman stood before them in business attire. She seemed an exact match for Leo and Luna's mother.

Until she opened her mouth. "Look right?"

"Yes!" Luna exclaimed.

"And remember! Long vowels and high pitch!" Crow reminded. He yelped as Caitlynn pulled on his feathers, but he just scowled and continued on as Leo in the form of their mother led the group inside the police station up to the front desk.

A prim little woman sat there, taking a call. She nodded at them, quickly ending the call to turn her attention to them. "How can I help you?" She took them in kindly until her eyes fell on Crow and his wings. She grimaced, one sharp canine sticking out.

She was a vampire.

Leo cleared his throat, drumming the manicured hands of his mother on the desk. "Weeeeell." he began, immediately making the group internally wince, "I'm here about a boy that was taken in. I want him released."

"Oh? A family member?" She asked.

"No. He's a family friend." Leo slowly enunciated.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Yes. A boy named Yusei Fudo." Leo watched her, noting the lack of recognition. "Taken in earlier because of a fight?"

A shadow came over her face. "The werewolf."

There was a sudden silence. The woman's professional helpfulness seemed to be overcome by the sour thought of Yusei the werewolf, not the person, and all of his friends bristled in defiance, in his defense.

"Well." She gave them a pinched look. "I'm sorry. He'll be heading to Penn State Penitentiary soon. In fact, he's being processed now. His friend's already there."

"But he's still here?" Demanded Jack.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do anything. I'll have to ask you to leave." She smiled, reaching for the phone. "If you won't go kindly, I'll ask one of the officers to escort you out." Her eyes lingered on Crow.

Leo slammed his hands down on the desk. "But -"

The doors banged open, tearing all of their gazes. Aki walked in, eyes ablaze and her hair a mess. In her hand was an envelope. She marched up to the desk and slammed down the envelope, a fancy red seal holding it closed. "By request of Senator Hideo Izinski, I ask for the release of Yusei Fudo."

Surprised, the woman took the envelope. She inspected the seal before she looked at the group, white faced. "One moment."

She scurried away like a mouse, leaving the tense group to wait.

When she returned, it was with five officers dragging Yusei between them, his head down and looking far worse than they thought. They removed the cylindrical cuffs up his arms as well as a painful looking band on his ankle before releasing him to them, not saying a word. Not about paperwork, the Penn, or anything else.

Jack took Yusei's arm, the one that didn't look quite so bloody or torn up and led him outside, face cold and impassive.

The group followed silently. They moved at a slow but steady pace until they were a safe distance away. As Leo changed back, Jack helped Yusei lean against a wall as he shook. Though they all were worried, they stayed back, giving him space and leaving the one that had known him the longest to help.

"Thank you." Croaked Yusei, head still down.

"Your throat sounds bad." Jack told him quietly. There was anger in his eyes. It sounded like Yusei had screamed his throat raw. Dread filled his stomach. "Yusei, look at me."

His head shifted, but he kept his face firmly to the ground.

With slow movements, Jack placed a hand beneath Yusei's chin. "Please?"

Yusei made a low sound before allowing his face to be tilted up. Behind them, there were gasps, a hiss, horror, but Jack didn't move. He just looked Yusei in the eye and spoke very calmly. "They'll pay. I promise you I'll make them pay."

On Yusei's cheek was the mark of a criminal.