~*Athos Bay, November of 98' *~
The yacht drifted along the river, the vast body of water that separated Stilwater. Muffled noises in the distance of the city the young woman brought to heel. A portly man chuckled, some rehearsed spiel at her before his ploy was made clear, as he paced the length of the deck. "I am terribly sorry, my dear. I am running a little late. My bodyguards will deal with you once I am gone." A gesture had called a group of men to surround her.
Li turned to face them, inching back to the railing. "What, you planning on killing me?" looking at the men looming near, she heard beeping, faint, she continued to keep her eyes on the men grinning, awaiting the order to strike.
Li took another step back, feeling behind her, touched the cool metal railing of the yacht, if she needed she would jump and be away from Hughes' and his men.
Hughes chuckled to himself again. "Yes, I will be sure to thank you in my acceptance speech… Wait, what is that noise?" turning to find the irritatingly offending sound.
Within milliseconds Li scrambled to get over the railing, an explosion sent her flying, flashes of everyone who came to her mind. A mushroom cloud of flames and smoke shot up, cutting through the dark. She felt a stabbing pain, then nothing when she hit the chilled waters.
~
Troy ran to the edge of the bridge after the explosion knocked him back against his car. He frantically pulls out his phone. Dialing 911. Quickly to his feet he runs to the bridge to see the damage left. Nothing but flames from the burning yacht sat on the water, debris glowing, floating and sinking in the dark abyss.
His next call was less composed. "What the FUCK Julius, I said talk it out. Now she's gone…. I'm coming after you."
The man on the other end was apathetic to what his former lieutenant was saying. "You think she would have listened?" hung up.
Troy gathered himself, spewing curses. He knew he was now a dead man. His hands trembled as he held the phone to his ear. The orange glow of the fire was all he could see. When the phone picked up, sirens were coming loudly in full force.
"What?" came a growl of irritation from a man on the other end.
There was no easy way to think about what he had to say. Troy knew that, and he also knows it's his fault. "Gat… Gat, Ky... she's gone."
~*~*~
The Channel 6 News Just moments ago received word of Mayor Hughes' death.
"Good Evening. Jack Armstrong, this just into the newsroom. A deadly explosion has rocked the waterfront of Athos Bay. Jane Valderamma is live, already at the scene, Jane."
~*~
The sounds of generators whirring, cameras clicking rapidly, murmurs of crowded that gathered looking on, police holding back said crowd, water spray from the fire hoses, sirens still coming in, an ambulance honking and siren wailing.
The camera light pans around as Jane's face comes into light.
"Jack, waterfront residents, and the press, who were sitting just feet away were setting up their cameras and microphones to cover the gala fundraiser scheduled for mayoral candidate's Hughes' campaign, we're treated to an amazing site a few moments ago, as the yacht registered to the alderman exploded in a shower of brass and mahogany."
The cameraman pans the camera to show the spectators and other news crews all huddled together, on phones and some pointing at the burning wreckage in the waters.
"We were a safe distance away, so no one was injured, as far as we can tell, but we have no word as to who–if anyone–was actually aboard. We don't know how this happened, why this happened, or even who was aboard–if anyone–as no survivors have been located. I was inside the press tent when it happened, but witnesses outside say that the peaceful, serene evening was suddenly punctured by a viscous explosion that not only reduced the alderman's yacht to a pile of floating debris but knocked out windows and swamped smaller boats throughout the arena."
Johnny and Aisha hugging each other tightly as the news broadcast. They got the call a few minutes ago, finding out Li was on that yacht.
Dex had just finished the paperwork in his brand new office, heard the news on the radio, paused and looked out of the windows behind him, closed his eyes in mourning, sighing a heavy sigh, and packed up his things for the night heading home.
~*Stilwater, Nov. 2003*~
Stilwater Penitentiary is a lighthouse island that holds Stilwater criminals, from the common pickpocket to the most dangerous gang members. The guards are sitting around getting paid to watch one of the most notorious members of the gang known as the Third Street Saints, one Kyouki "Li" James.
One young guard coming into the room takes a seat with a soda in his hand. Cranking his neck, he looks to the monitors, watching the points of interest within the facility. "Barney, any idea why the Chief of police has this woman still on life support?"
"Aye, I just get paid to watch her sleep. That boy Gat, piece of work that one, has been monitored too, now that I think about it."
"Yeah, this is easy money. I hear Gat was worse than she was."
Barney nodded his response. A third guard came rushing in from the lower levels of the prison. "You're not going to believe it. She's awake!"
"You're shitting me?" Barney looked questioningly at the other two guards with him.
Joe shook his head, and he went to phone the Chief of police. "Chief, she's awake." Once he hung up headed out to make ready for the Chief's arrival.
When they reached the door leading the way back to the infirmary. "How long has she been here?"
"Years… I stopped keeping track after a while. Time flies when you're watching someone breathe through a tube. And ya know this woman murdered Richard Hughes, Mayor Winslow, Aisha, and Chief Monroe."
"Damn, that was one hell of a time."
"Damn real Fred, all being kept in intensive care on taxpayers' money."
"I'm surprised that Joe got through to the Chief."
"Yeah, they have bombarded him with the press."
"Oh, shit that was today?"
"All day on the radio, you should pay more attention."
~*~*~
A deep inhale, coughed dry air, Li groaned. She felt sore. She heard muffled voices rushing around as she tried to put together the voices and the place she could feel she was laying. Her head hurt. She tried to raise her hand and found it cuffed to a metal rail. She felt a needle go in her arm. Her throat was dry, as she couldn't say anything. Swallowing thickly, she tried to move again. She felt so heavy she gave up and just laid there.
Li opened her hazel eyes and closed them, too heavy to keep open. The room was too bright. Feeling the oxygen being pumped into her nostrils was cool in her lungs. She heard a door open from somewhere she was dozing back off.
"How's the patient?" Barney asked when he and Fred came in.
The nurse takes her blood and then injects a serum to wake the young woman on the table slowly. "Considering she's been in a massive explosion, pretty damn good."
"That's great. The Chief is on his way, told us to give him a call the second she was awake."
"Well then, I leave her in your hands. You will want to take your time with her. She's really weak right now, and I just gave her something to help wake her up."
"Thanks, Ann." Fred nodded to the middle-aged woman, taking the sample to be sent out.
When the voices quieted down, Li felt she slept for another hour.
~*~
Troy stumbled down the stairs getting to her. Bursting through the door, Troy saw her lying there sleeping peacefully. He spun on his heel, looking at the two guards, and straightened up. "Not a word. I'm just Troy, got it?"
The others nodded. Troy shooed them out of the room. As he went over to bed, Li was in, sitting on the edge. He watched her for a moment as he brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her eyes. "Ky, Ky Baby…. Can you hear me? It's me Troy."
Li heard her name being called and the voice of the man she knew, Troy. She smiled, trying to test her voice. "H-e.. y…. Tro.-y." She heard the cuffs clink on the metal railings. She felt herself being pulled up and a warm body pressed to her. Slowly she tried to lift her arms to hug Troy. "Troy… wha… hap-?"
Laying her back down, pulled the covers up over her, tucking her arms under the warm blankets. "Ah, nothing. Nothing you need to worry about, but I will tell you, you are in prison for your safety. I have to jet right now, but I have some people coming in for you." Cupping her face, his brown eyes met her hazel gaze and sighed, giving her a loving kiss. "I have missed you. I'll have some people come get you in a few."
Troy pulled a cigarette from behind his ear once he hit the door leading out. "I have people coming for her. Let no one see her when they come." The guards nodded their affirmation.
Li smiled tiredly to herself. She remembered Troy was supposed to meet with her, and then everything went dark. She kept reliving moments in her life when she was running with the Saints. " In prison, for my safety?" With her hands free, she went to rub her face. She could barely feel her arms. Her neck was sore when she swallowed and she felt stiff. She tried to turn over, weak, she couldn't move. She just laid on her back and sighed.
A few moments later, a gurney rolled in and a few guards were screaming for the nurse. From her spot in her bed, awakened to a loud clamor, and opened her eyes to see the nurse talking to the guards near her bed.
"What happened here?"
"Kid got shanked in the caf."
"Damn, poor kid, just put him here. I'll send up the report."
Addressing the young man, she went to get some bandages and supplies to clean his wound. Once she was finished with the examination, and binding up his wound, the nurse went to write and send off her report.
~*~
Ky's eyes were slowly adjusting to the light as she watched the shadows of the nurse walk back past her bed. Li closed her eyes again, as it was relatively quiet once more. The sound of the metal rings scraping across the metal bar of the curtain being pulled open caused her to turn her head slowly on the intruding noise. Seeing a young boy old enough to be her younger brother lying next to her looking at her with the most awe-inspiring expression, she raised her eyebrows in question.
"You're Li."
Li made a noise that acknowledged him.
"I got shanked to come meet you. I want to help you when you get out."
Li turned her head back to him. "Nam..?"
"Oh, Carlos, I'm Carlos Mendoza. I heard you were in here. You knew my brother, you've been in a coma for five years!"
'What?' Li frowned and turned slowly to look back at him. "Fi-v… Yea-?" She swallowed again. Ky heard wrong. She was just out the other night.
Then on the radio that was softly playing in the background, called for the anniversary of Mayor Hughes' yacht incident. A flood of thoughts rushed. Before she could pinpoint a single thought, guards rushed in and wheeled her out.
"Carlos Mendoza, look me up when you get out!" The young man laid back down and held his side. He was going to run with the Saints, just like his big brother.
~*~*~
Two older women came to greet the young lady. Sweeping her up, they had a warm bath waiting. The soothing water touched her skin as they washed her body and combed and washed her hair. They dressed her warmly in an oversized sweatsuit. What seemed like minutes later lifted and placed in a wheelchair, rolled out into the night air. The smell of saltwater filled her nostrils. Cool winds on the Indian Summer night brushed her cheeks.
They stood in the shadows of the dock, waiting. Li was unsure, but she was sleepy all over again. Dozing, she jerked awake to see a boat that the women wheeled her onto. It set her mind into a panic. Still weak, she sat looking at the approaching land that was the City skyline. It looked different.
Testing her arms, she took a sturdy grip on the handles of her wheelchair and tried to stand. "Ms. James, please don't try to stand. You've just woken up." One woman said to her as she continued to stand on her own two feet.
Wobbly legs like a newborn foal, she sat, huffed and reached for the railing, taking an uneasy step she willed her other leg to move, she tripped, feeling hands grab her to help her up she tried to snatch away, grunting she gave in, but the women helped her to stand, Ky nodded to them both. By the time they reached the mainland, Ky was a touch steadier. Taking her time with the help of her new companions, they escorted her into a car and whisked away further in the city.
~*XXXX N. Hill, N. Hunterfield.*~
It was a good half hour as they drove through the city. The bright lights blur off like fluid laser beams behind them as the car turned, pulling up to a nice large brick face house in the quiet suburbs. "Ms. James?" The driver helped her to get out of the car.
Kyouki was unsure if she could support herself. She did not know where she was. There were no keys for her to even open up the front door. Lights pulled up next to them in the wide driveway. "I got her. You go on ahead." Troy announced once he stepped from the car.
He helped her from the car, watching as she took gentle steps, with his hands gripped firmly on her wrists. Holding her by her waist before he scooped her up in his arms. She was so much lighter than he remembered. Troy crossed the driveway, up the walkway, crossed the threshold, shutting the door behind them before he locked it. Carried her up to the second floor to the main bedroom. "Baby you don't know how happy I am to see you."
Troy nudged the lights and placed her on the bed, taking her shoes off tucking her in. "I have to get you to the doctor soon, maybe tomorrow, and gotta set you up with physical therapy." Troy laid next to her and stroked her cheek. Li raised her hand to his and kissed the inside of his palm. Troy leaned close, kissing her. "I will make sure you are safe from now on. I am sorry." He whispered against her lips. Troy felt tears in his eyes. She was awake.
All Ky could do was smile at him lovingly. Troy had changed a little. He put on a bit of weight and muscle. Ky could see he had been working out too and Troy's haircut was short. Unlike the mess he had before. Ky sighed when she looked at him. She almost did not want to drift off to sleep. Though she had no energy, she laid there saw and traced the worry lines on his forehead.
Li put her fingertips to his lips, with a weary shake of her head, she closed her eyes. Troy got up and removed his outer clothes, sliding into bed next to her, holding her close, listening to her soft snore. 'I need to let her know everything.' Troy kissed the crook of her neck before he dozed off himself.