Providence of the Damned

Echo stood up shakingly as she heard Rouge, she knew she needed to take some hits or she wouldn't last too long from the withdrawels. The thing is she felt she needed to be on the good side of Sparks or things could go bad for her, also this woman had the drugs that would keep her sane. She looks to Rouge "Ill be right out".

She found herself walking towards Sparks, she saw the body of the boy and had to look away "Sparks. We are heading out, we are going to find a place to crash. Ill be back, I am still interested in the job if you have an opening. I will see you soon." She then mad her way out of the club and found Rouge.

"Lets find a place to stay before anything else and quickly because I am not sure how long I can stand or deal with this throbbing headache, I need to take a couple hits before these withdrawals take over me" she squeezed Rouges hand lightly then started walking down the street. "We really should not be out in the open especially when its getting dark, I have no intentions of wanting a run in with the Police." She looks in windows of places that look rundown as they walk, trying to find a place where they can crash and not be found by anyone.

As she was walking she saw a guy trying to help another guy who was bloodied and laying atop a car. Echo ran over her eyes wide as she saw the glass on the young guys face. "What happened? He needs help fast or he's going to die." She looked at the other male "I know that," Corner didn't mean to snapped at her; He bit his lip, trying to hold in his frustration, "Sorry, he's important to me. Just, um, can you get medical supplies?" She then looked at the guy whose life was on the lines "I'm Echo, I'm going to try to find something for you." She moved into the nearby building for help.

Rouge stopped in her tracks as Echo just ran off. She looked off to where Echo went, and then back at the scene. Glancing quickly at the rooftop above, and then the mashed up car, she thought She's gone mad.... "Echo! Wait!!" She chased after her. Grabbing her wrist, Rouge spun her around and stopped her. "Echo, are you crazy? I understand that you want to help them but... my god that was a mess. We don't know who those guys are or why they're in such a messed up place. One of them fell off of a roof for goodness sake!" She sighed. "If we go back and they're trying to kill us I'm blaming you. I don't know what Providence is like, but from what I hear it's like war."

Gunshots and screaming had interrupted the Punk's response to Trick's question. Trick and Punk jumped to their feet instantly, with Trick reaching for her knife and Punk smashing the bottle for a weapon. Punk dashed out of the room, with Trick (a bit slower due to her condition) right behind him. They darted down hallways and up stairs until the pair reached a bloody scene. Chaos seemed to be everywhere. Trick's eyes scanned the area, only recognizing Heartless. The previously stoic girl was leaning over another crumpled body. Heartless was in tears, cradling the bloody girl to her chest. Trick was still trying to properly assess the situation. What the hell even happened here? Punk darted towards Heartless, holding her against him and cooing into her ear. Trick froze for a moment, but decided to save that thought for later. The next thing that caught her attention was a car alarm, and metal hitting the pavement. Trick ran to the edge of the building's roof. The image below her stopped her in her tracks. Poet was laying on the ground-not moving. The shattered window of the car clued Trick to what had happened.

"POET!" Trick screamed. She was two stories up-she couldn't just jump down in her current state. She'd tear her stitches open, at the very least. Without another thought, Trick darted back down the stairs she had just so recently come up. Reaching the first floor, Trick had no idea which way to go. After running down and around a couple hallways frantically, Trick finally found the area Poet had taken her to in the first place. She burst back into the light of the outside, her eyes only resting on a single area for a millisecond as she searched for Poet. The color of the car caught Trick's attention in the corner of her eye. She dashed towards it, ignoring the pain in her shoulder from all the movement. When she finally reached Poet, her worst fears were confirmed. He still wasn't moving, and there was blood.. So much blood.

"Poet?! Can you hear me?" Trick didn't know where she could touch him. His entire body was battered and broken, and he was facing down, as if he had just crawled out of the car. Slowly flipping him over, Trick placed his head in her lap. She desperately stroked the hair out of his face, wiping the blood off as well. "Poet..." Trick's voice cracked. She wasn't one to show much emotion, but she couldn't help it while looking down on him. He had just saved her life, and she hadn't been there to save his. His breathing was ragged, and Trick couldn't tell if he was coughing up blood, or if the blood was from another source.

Trick grabbed the black bandana from her side and began wiping more of the blood away, continuing to whisper things to her fallen savior. "Please, keep your eyes open. Can you hear me? Do you understand anything I'm saying?" At that moment, Trick vowed to take revenge on anyone who had a part in what happened to him.

Come on Poet. I'm not losing you.

He had finally calmed her down enough to get her to think rationally and make decisions. That was good, be wise Punk didn't have a fucking clue when it came down to leading and making important decisions. That's why he was always glad that he had Heartless around in the first place. She easily handled all that tougher shit, and Punk was around to write the theme song for it or something. Okay, so now wasn't a good time for humor, but he needed at least one positive thought in his head so he didn't break the fuck down. "That bastard is dead now, Heartless. He got what was coming for him. Don't worry about that right now." He said to the girl's first statement. Honestly, Punk wished he could have tortured the sick fuck who had caused all this chaos and made his closest friend, his savior, who never shed a tear, cry. But it was too late for that now. His dead body was already there, his soul gone from it.

When Heartless recited the directions from her memory, Punk nodded and wiped the tears from her cheeks. The Code Black needed to see all of their leaders strong right now. Or as strong as they could be. Punk eased Heartless off his lap, then he rose to his feet, taking her with him. "Alright. I'll carry her there. But we all need you right now, Heartless. We have to pick up the pieces together. We can fix all of this, I know that we can. We've done it before. We can do it again. But we need everyone to pitch in. Think you can be strong enough to do that for a while?" When he saw her nod, he gave her a small smile. "Good. I'll take care of Rosie, Hun. Don't worry about her." With that, Punk turned to Rosie's limp and bleeding body and picked her up, taking her down the stairs and out the door.

As he was walking, he saw Trick huddled by Poet, who was hurt badly as well. Shit. He thought to himself. He was already carrying one person, and Trick wouldn't be able to carry Poet on her own when she was fully healed, let alone with a bullet wound. "Heartless!" He yelled from the street. After a few moments, his friend came out of the building. "What is it?" "Help Trick carry Poet to Lauren's place too. He'll need all the help he can get." He said in a grave voice, then continued to walk down the street to Lauren's house.

After a few moments, he stood in front of the building that Heartless said was Lauren's place. He walked up and kicked the door with his foot a few times. It hardly opened and an eye peered out at him between the crack of tthe doorframe and door. "What do you want?" A voice said behind the door. "I'm looking for Alias, Balance Case." He repeated to the voice, not knowing exactly what ot all meant. But, he was let into the building. He had no idea what would happen now...

Echo headed straight into the building, wanting to find either medical supplies or someone that knew where she could find some. She then heard Rouge yell "Echo! Wait!!" she then heard the faint sound of someone running then felt her wrist being grabbed and she was being turned around to face Rouge.

"Echo, are you crazy? I understand that you want to help them but... my god that was a mess. We don't know who those guys are or why they're in such a messed up place. One of them fell off of a roof for goodness sake!"

She laughed and shook her head "I may be crazy, haven't figured that out yet. But I can't just walk away from this, my mother taught me aome medical stuff so I need to help," she then pulled her wrist from Rouge and turned around and yelled "Anyone here? We need help!" she was about to walk forward but heard Rouge say something else.

"If we go back and they're trying to kill us I'm blaming you. I don't know what Providence is like, but from what I hear it's like war."

This made Echo turn around, a serious look on her face "Look, if I get killed I will know I dis everything I could to save that guy. I am no longer going to run from things, last time that happened my girlfriend got killed. If you don't want to help you dont have to but I am going to do everything that I can".

She then turned around once more and headed down a hallway and yelled "Anyone here? We need help, there is a guy that needs medical help. Anyone?" she looked around, opening doors trying to find help or medical supplies, she wished the guy back there would of told here where to go. She wished she could stop shaking and that her pounding headache would go away but the withdrawels were getting worse but she couldn't stop till she helped that guys.

She then heard a noise and looked around the corner to see a guy carrying a girl out and another girl following him. She went after them and heard what they said, she watched as the guy carried the girl off and she went out and lookedbat the person called Heartless "Hey I wouldn't move his body that much. I can help him I just need some medical supplies and blood because hes lost a lot, im new here but my mom taught me some medical training."

All Poet could hear was the blood pounding in his ears from the adrenaline-laced jump. Everything in his body screamed for a release from pain. He slipped through the car's broken roof and into the driver's seat once he got out of the car he fell face-first onto the gravel and a yelp of pain escaped him. For a few minutes he just laid there, absolutely broken. Then Trick came to his rescue, the savior becoming the saved. "Poet, can you hear me?" The way he was lying put too much pressure on his lungs to talk. He could see her feet from where his face laid. She turned him over, and he couldn't keep the grimace from his face. A small pool of blood sat where his bloody nose had started. Trick pulled his head into her lap, brushing away his hair, and he gave her a weak smirk. He pulled up just enough so that when he coughed, the blood wouldn't spatter her clothing. He closed his eyes to rest for a moment. It just felt so good. "Please, keep your eyes open. Can you hear me? Do you understand anything I'm saying?" Poet opened his eyes and nodded, as painful as it was. He reached up with his bloody, horribly bruised, arm and caressed her cheek. "The rescued always become saviors, Trick," He rasped up at her, "and they save the ones they care about." Punk stepped out of the building, carrying Rosie. He sat up, and all the pain rushed to his head. With his head in his hands, he watched the scene.

For once, in Poet's mind, Heartless was right; he had to take his health priorities first. His best friend helped him to his feet, and his savior helped her carry him as best as they could. A girl told them that she was good at helping people, but both leaders were too stubborn. "No offense, but we need help from professionals, but if you go to the theatre a person can help you out with safe living arrangement." Heartless offered as politely as she could. She knew only one person could really help her friends. "Heartless, are we going where we did last time?" He asked. She glanced at him in her peripheral, and that was it. Poet would be back in the place he hated most. They trudged down the silent streets of Code Black's street, Savior Road, where their buildings full of members were open and watching their leaders be as strong as they could be. Everyone in Code Black raised their arms, hand in the rock and roll sign, their sign for respect. Punk started the initial entrance code, one he and Heartless learned very well. "Never thought I'd be here again, Heartless." Heartless nodded back at him.



"Alias, they're going to need our help." Alias promised herself she would never take in the kids from Code Black again. Johnny and Sarah hurt her too bad to ever think of helping them again. But, the look on Zero's face when she refused to help them. "Lauren hasn't seen either of them in years, she was a toddler when they came in. I have a feeling we're going to need your help. Especially by the sound of those shots, they're by practiced hands. Come on, Helen." Alias sent Zero the darkest, iciest glare, but gave in, "Fine, but once whoever is hurt is fine again, they're gone, back to their precious group." Alias growled at her younger partner. It made her think of the years since she'd seen either of them. Alias had greyed, Zero lived, and Lauren grown. As she thought of that, a few kicks to the door confirmed Zero's inferences. He walked to the door, eyes straight to a boy carrying a girl on his back, and asked his reason for being here. "I'm looking for Alias, Balance Case." That also proved that Johnny, or as he liked to call himself, Poet, and Sarah, or Heartless, were with them. Alias opened the door, and Lauren ran to the door to stand beside Zero, her father. She cried out when Poet was helped in by Heartless and Trick. "Set the injured on the tables in the back. You know where you're going, Heartless."

Heartless looked at Alias, unable to hide the guilt in her eyes with Alias's hurt look. Once Poet and Rosie were laid on the tables, Heartless went back to the three that took her in when she was thrown here. "I did what I had to do, you didn't want Poet, but I did." She hissed at Alias. Lauren ran past her, Zero on her heels, to see Poet. Alias and Heartless were alone for the first time in years. The first thing Alias did was slap the girl. "You betrayed me, and you almost killed Zero to save that boy!" She hissed right back at Heartless. "Alias, you aren't my mother, and the Police would have teared Poet apart. He was half dead when I found him." Heartless slammed back.

Alias walked into the room where everyone else was. "Zero, start on Bullet's wound, I'll take care of Poet." The fear on the boy's face was undeniable. Alias's glare set on Poet's body. "What the Hell did you do?" He laughed, which caught in his throat, and blood came from his cough. Alias started on the glass in his face. She took special care in each pluck to his face. "Alias, she's about to die, she needs your help." Zero's voice was unsteady, made them seem like they didn't know what they were doing. "Heartless, take your friends and Lauren out of here, now." Alias barked out, returning to Rose and ordering Zero to Poet's wounds. The bullet was in her lung. It would take most of her skill to even get the bullet out without killing the girl. But with the supplies they had, the supplies from the Capitol, she could do it. Zero put Poet into surgery as well, for his broken leg and multiple fingers; there was glass all over his body. If Zero was going to make him better, he would need a lot of splints. First, he would have to start the surgery on his bones.

After a few hours, Alias called for Punk and Heartless. "Help me get Poet to the infirmary." She wasn't ready to talk about Rose's condition, and the glare she gave Heartless was sure to keep her quiet for a good hour, maybe two. That would be enough for her to make any adjustments.

"Once they recover, you all are out of here."

Before the phone call even ended, someone had broken through Nick's door. In stepped Lieutenant McAlpin, who made a gun-shooting gesture with his hand towards Nick.
"Bang!" McAlpin said playfully. "You're dead Erwin!"
Nick just shook his head and grinned.
"Look Lieutenant," Nick said. "I thought you were a more serious person than that, looking like you have something shoved up your ass all the time."
The two just smiled for a while, then remembered the case at hand.
"So," McAlpin said as he held a sack of Envitanyl in his hand. "You're telling me that a single gunman downed Napolitano boys and a couple others while you were hiding behind a trash bin?"
"He dropped them like flies in less than a minute. This guy was lethal with a hand gun. I couldn't get a look at his face too well, but he started running the opposite direction when he saw me."
"Where did this guy even come from? You think he was sent by the Romanovs?"
"Not sure. All I know is that he's going to be a hell of a headache for Antonio Napolitano for a while. And, we should be careful not to piss him off as well."

"The rescued always become saviors, Trick, and they save the ones they care about." Trick leaned her head into his hand against her cheek. Her own eyes were strained with pain, physical and emotional, and they went back and forth to each of his eyes searchingly. He continued to cough up blood, angling himself so it would just barely miss her. He shouldn't be moving. I don't care about the blood, Poet. Just don't strain yourself... Trick thought to herself. Punk burst out of the building, his eyes falling over the pair on the pavement. Poet attempted to sit up, and Trick aided his movements with a gentle but firm hand on his back. He then put his head in his hands, and Trick winced. She could only imagine the pain he was experiencing. Heartless came over to Trick, attempting to get Poet on his feet. Trick knew that Poet needed to get medical attention, but she didn't want him moving all the same. She especially didn't want help moving him from Heartless. Old habits die hard. Trick was always an extremely jealous person, to the point where many would consider her "just being ridiculous". Not in Trick's mind, however. She had reasons to explain why she was always so cautious.

The mangled group made their way to another building. Punk had said something to whoever was through the door, but Trick was only paying attention to Poet, and didn't catch any specific words. The boy was obviously focused on his pain; pain that was racketed through his body every time he coughed up blood. "Set the injured on the tables in the back. You know where you're going, Heartless." Heartless led the way to the back table, and Trick wondered briefly who these people were, and how Heartless knew them. Then again, she decided it didn't matter right now. All that mattered was making sure that Poet was alright.

"Heartless, take your friends and Lauren out of here, now." Trick froze. She was standing next to Poet, and absolutely no part of her wanted to leave him. "I'm not leaving." Trick growled. She didn't know who these people were, and she sure as hell wasn't going to drop Poet with them and take off. Trick's hand was still clasped tightly around his hand, and she stepped closer to him after the woman instructed her to leave. It was then that Poet make a weak noise; undoubtedly due to the lack of air reaching his lungs from all the blood clogging his throat. Trick had a serious decision to make: she couldn't stall his treatment any more with her stubbornness. Kneeling down beside him, the girl kissed the back of the his hand that she was still holding. Her other arm stroked more hair out of his face, and she blew cold air over him.

"I'll be right outside. I promise." Trick took her black bandana and used it to slowly replace her hand in his. Once Poet was clutching the material, Trick cupped his hand with both of hers, squeezing it for a moment before laying his arm back down. She turned and with only a single glance back, walked out the door. She stayed true to her word however, and she sank down against the wall just beside the door. After a few hours of silent contemplation with her head in her hands, Alias opened the door. "Help me get Poet to the infirmary." She ordered, and Trick jumped up immediately. She didn't even notice that the woman hadn't said anything about the other girl's condition, her mind was still focused on the boy who had saved her life. "Once they recover, you are out of here." She didn't have to tell Trick twice. Trick started for the entrance but stopped, her eyes flashing back and forth between Punk and Heartless.

"Well?! What are you waiting for?!" The urgency was evident in the girl's voice. Though the surgery had only lasted a few hours, it had felt like days to Trick. She had tormented herself with hundreds of thoughts on how the surgery could go wrong, and no she was absolutely restless. "Either move, or I will get him myself." Trick threatened through gritted teeth.

Punk had listened to everything he had been told to do, putting Rose down on the bed, gently brushing her hair back and kissing her forehead before stepping back. He knew he had no right to get in the way, but when he saw Heartless get slapped by Alias, he almost lost it. He wasn't close enough to hear what was being said between the two, so he didn't know if the slap was deserved or not. It didn't change the rage he felt at seeing his friend being hit. Not only that, but she kept just glaring at Poet, like he did something wrong. He was injured here, and this old bitch was still being rude. It only fed into the anger he felt. When they were told to leave the room, he obliged, before he ended up punching the woman who was supposed to be helping.

Thing is, his anger was also due to irrational jealousy. He could see how attatched Trick seemed to be to Poet, how she clung to him. She was getting cozier to him than she had even begun to do with Punk, and she and Punk had a whole conversation. He had fucking opened up to her! And here she was, throwing herselg all over a guy she hardly knew. Fuck her. If she wanted someone to sleep with, she'd be sleeping with Corner then. Punk wasn't going to deal with this kind of bullshit. He wasn't about to get burned again.

When they had all made it out there, Punk turned to Heartless, gingerly touching the red mark on her face. "Are you alright, Hun?" Heartless pushed his hand away, turning from him. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Punk wasn't buying it, he would let the subject drop. He finally relaxed a little bit since the attack happened, waiting for them to come back out to bring Poet and Rosie back. After about anan hour, the hateful old hag came back glaring at Heartless, saying to get Poet to the infirmary. Just the sight of her flared his anger once again. Then, there was Trick, dashing to be at Poet's side once again. And when he and Heartless didn't jump right up like she did, she had the audacity to snap at them.

Heartless wasn't happy abouts it either. "Listen to me, bitch- She began, taking one step toward Trick. Punk grabbed her around the waist and stepped between the two girls. He turned to Heartless for a second. "Let me handle this." Before she could protest, Punk turned back to Trick, his rage finally spilling out of him. "Listen to me, Trick." He said through gritted teeth, his tone dripping with acid. His ice blue eyes were cold and hard as steel. "You've been here for one day. You have absolutely no right to be ordering anyone around. You aren't even sure you're staying, last I heard! So you want to start making demands already? Well too fucking bad for you. You have to earn the respect that you are demanding right now. And you want to act like you're suddenly so close with Poet? Yeah, he saved your life. But guess what, Heartless here has known him since before the Code Black was around. So shut the fuck up with your distraught act. Maybe we don't look so concerned, but guess what? It's called a fucking mask, a wall. So don't say shit to me or her about anything."

With that, Punk shoved past Trick and guided Heartless to where Poet was, and together, they all moved him carefully to the infirmary. Punk looked to Alias, still not in a good mood. "What about Rosie?"

---

Poet woke up to a weird numbness in his body. He hadn't felt this feeling after surgery in years. The black bandana Trick gave him was loosely clutched in his hand, where two finger splints were preventing him from clutching it, and Zero sat by his side. "Morning, Sunshine." Zero joked, which Poet gave a weak grin, the most he manage. He tried to sit up but Zero pushed him back down. "Woah, Poet, you just got out of surgery. I'll get someone in here to move you." Poet heard a confrontation between Punk and Trick, it was something he never heard from the artist. When Punk and Heartless came in, he smiled at his two close friends, who helped him into the infirmary. "Chin up, old chap." Poet rasped out to Punk, pulling the sides of his lips into a grin. It made him chuckle, which unfortunately, turned into a coughing fit. "Poet had a broken leg, three broken fingers, and bruised ribs. There was internal bleeding as well, but we've fixed what can be fixed and he should be ready to move in two weeks." Alias was as sincere as she could to prolong Rosie's condition as long as possible. It would be hard, and even though the two teens hurt her, she couldn't bear to give Poet and Heartless the news of their young friend. Lauren ran into the room and stood by Poet's bed. "Johnny, are you okay?" Lauren asked, holding his hand with only one broken finger. She saw the bandana, and wrapped it around his wrist, where she thought it looked nice. Poet smiled, even with the old name plaguing him, and poked her nose affectionately. Lauren giggled softly.

"Lauren, why don't we get something to eat?" Zero got the child out of the room so Alias would have no choice but to give the news. Alias sat on the edge on the next bed, a big sigh expelling from her lips. "Rosie was shot on the bottom of her lung. I managed to reflate it, but she's fallen into a coma, and after three days, there's slim to no chance that she'll wake up again. If she wake's up, she'll need an oxygen machine for most of her life, and a handicap like that can only ruin her chance of living in Providence." Alias was just as sincere as she was before. A choked sound came from Poet, and Alias turned towards the boy. Tears streamed down his face in deep streams. "Let me see her," Poet declared, sitting up slowly but surely, despite Alias's protests, "I need to see her." Alias gave in to his demands and gave him crutches to walk on. It was slow, and very painful, but Poet made to the bedside of his Rosie, who was like a little sister to him. "Rosie, come back to me, please," More tears stained the tough poet's face. He held her hand with the utmost strength he had, "Rosie, please." Heartless turned into Punk, the closest person to her, and tears stained his chest.

---

"Go, my child, and this time, don't return without a new Police." Dallas Kennedy's smile turned in the corners into an evil smile. If only Caesar knew what he was expelling out. Four boys followed behind her. "Sparks has another infiltrator for the Police, and next time, we'll get him in there and pull a Queen of Hearts." The boys didn't get it. They were as literally intelligent as rats. She motioned the sign of which she was speaking, and the boys understood. "I gave to teach you guys something." Dallas grumbled to herself, walking through the streets to Damned. "Never seen a girl pimp, but hey, it's Providence we're talking 'bout here." A Hispanic man stepped out from the alley and brushed up against Dallas. With one fluid motion, she had him against the wall with a pistol to his head, daring him with her eyes to try something else. The man scuttled off and dropped a book on the way. Dallas walked over and picked up The Republic. "He must know Sparks, better keep this." Dallas whispered, placing the book in her trench coat. It was Mouse's, the boy she dangerously fell in love with, and had her heartbroken when she placed the pistol to his head. She roughly pushed away little tears from her eyes.

She walked into Damned, shedding her trench coat for a leather jacket. A boy behind her pulled it on for safe keeping. Her skimpy outfit only helped her gain more information. She slid into a seat by the bartender, who knew her very well. "Why did they do that to him, Shred?" Dallas almost forgot only Sparks knew her real name. If anyone around her knew she was Caesar Kennedy's daughter, there would be Hell to pay. She gulped, looking up at the bartender, "I don't know, really. Sparks really got him though, you should have seen Caesar's face. He's coming in next time I'm here, but I have to get an infiltrator for Sparks. Speaking of Lady Luck, you seen her?"

"No offense, but we need help from professionals, but if you go to the theatre a person can help you out with safe living arrangement."

Echo heard Heartless and nodded, she watched them take the hurt away they she went and found Rouge "Im heading to the theater, its safe place we can sleep, if you want to but im going. I need some sleep". With that Echo started walking, she hoped Rouge would come but she understood if the girl didnt.

She walked slowly, her body shaking with need of the drugs. It seemed that it took forever before she was standing in the doorway of the theater. She opened up the door and walked in, she looked around for someone thay could help her. Then someone came up to her, a young woman that looked a couple years older than her "Hello can I help you?"

Giving a weak amile she nodded "Well I was told by a woman by the name of Heartless that there is safe living arrangements here? I just got here today". The woman looked her over "Wel we can help ya out. Whats your name hun? And your shaking pretty bad, you on something? If you are we have plenty of people that can fix you up here."

"My names Echo and yeah I am but I got some stuff to help me just havent been able to take it yet". The woman held out her hand and Echo took it "The names Dot, and well let me show you to a cot so you can get settled in and such, looks lime you need some rest too". Dot then took Echos hand and led her to an area with a few cots set up, some were taken others were empty. Dot led her to an empty one with already a couple blankets set up "Well here ya go hun, if ya need anything ill be out front".

"Thank you" she said and watched as Dot left, she sat down on the bed and took out the bag of crank. She looked around with her eyes and saw the bathroom and headed that way with the bag of drugs in her hand. She went into the bathroom and set a couple lines of crank on the counter, taking out a rolled piece of paper she kept always in her pocket and she got her fix.

After she was done she washed up her face then headed back to the cot, she laid down putting the blankets on her amd closed her eyes hoping sleep would find her soon.

"Wait, theater?" Rouge called after her, then sighed and decided to follow. Just for a while... Then I'll go solo. It'll be fine. Probably. "Wait up, Ech!" She jogged, catching up to Echo. She observed Echo's severe shaking, but decided not to get mixed up in drug problems of any kind, including people, like that Sparks person. After finding the place, Rouge listened to the woman speak for the first time. Everyone. Has. A. Drug. Problem. Must be how most people get here, I guess. Artistic isn't exactly the best way to go.

Rouge followed Echo in, only speaking to tell Echo she was going to look around. She jogged around a few rooms for a while, looking at various different medical supplies. There was nothing of interest to her. Just some people. She ended up leaning against a wall, singing a song under her breath she vaguely remembered.

Colourless world, spies like crows. Anything shining, in for the blow. The good guys die, the bad guys win. Now, we all bow down to our king...

Amelia leaned back in her reclining office chair behind a glossy white desk in her glossy white office. The neon color shinning through the small round window in the door changing the white constantly to different colors of the rainbow.

The loud music of the club thumping lowly in the sound proof room. It was almost 12 am and the club was hopping. People would not be making their way home for at least another few hours still.

Sighing Amelia stretched and placed her hands behind her head. It had been a long and eventful day. She couldn't get that poor kid out of her head . . . Mouse. He could have been very useful to her but more then that . . . he was just a kid. So much wasted fucking potential.

Wasn't that what Providence was after all? Amelia thought ruefully. Sure Code Black could go around trying to save every damned soul they came upon. But what good did it really do? Where did you go from there? There was no way out of Providence and nothing to do while you still breathed here . . . It was fucking Limbo . . . All one could do was wait to die . . .

Amelia's dark thoughts were broken when there was a knock at the door to her Office.

"What is it?" She snapped, in no mood to entertain anyone or their problems.

"Gotta someone asking around for you out here." Replied Tony, one of her trusty bar tenders.

It had to be someone worthwhile or Tony would know better then to waste her time with every Dick, Tom or fucking Harry that asked for her.

"Well then, you better send them in." Amelia said with false enthusiasm.

It was a few moments before the person in question was man handled and shoved into her Office.

"Anything else?" Tony inquired.

"No thanks Tony." Amelia said not taking her cold blue eyes off the new person before her "That will be all for now."

"Well, well, well." Amelia smiled calculatedly as she got up out of her seat and slowly paced her way to the front of her glossy desk, Gucci heels clicking on the marble floor as she leaned back against the desk, folding her arms across her chest.

She could feel the uneasiness radiating off the girl in front of her . . . It pleased Amelia no less.

"As I live and breath . . . Dallas Kennedy." Amelia said with a smirk "Don't tell me that bastard father of yours is such a fucking pussy that he sends his own daughter to pick up his junk now. Not that I'm giving him another fucking piece until my next shipment reaches the Capital fully intact and my payment is received." Amelia explained.

She pushed off the desk and walked towards the skimpily dressed girl and circled her like a Shark in water. Of course Amelia was more dangerous then any mere Shark.

Amelia brushed close against the girl as she moved around her . . . She had no sexual interest in women. Men were few and far between too. They were all cowards. She had yet to meet a man that truly impressed her.

It was just as she expected.

"Dallas, my sweet . . ." Amelia cooed "You're being naughty . . . I hope you of all people know better and won't be as foolish enough to use that gun you have there?"

Did the girl just shiver? . . . Amelia's grin widened as she finally stopped only a few inches away from the girl.

"Tell me Dallas sweetheart," She whispered in a low sweet voice "Did your daddy like my gift?"

"You've been here for one day. You have absolutely no right to be ordering anyone around. You aren't even sure you're staying, last I heard! So you want to start making demands already? Well too fucking bad for you. You have to earn the respect that you are demanding right now. And you want to act like you're suddenly so close with Poet? Yeah, he saved your life. But guess what, Heartless here has known him since before the Code Black was around. So shut the fuck up with your distraught act. Maybe we don't look so concerned, but guess what? It's called a fucking mask, a wall. So don't say shit to me or her about anything."

Trick had barely heard Punk's words; she was too focused imagining the one hundred different ways she could bash Heartless' face in. The young punk started towards the girl, but luckily Punk stepped in between the pair. He spat harsh words at her, and in her already emotionally distraught state, Trick was going to react just as harshly. When the two disappeared inside Trick remained where she stood, her hands balled into fists. She swung at the door frame- CRACK. The rough building material split the skin over one of her knuckles, but she didn't feel it. She had to get out of there. Well, this isn't a fucking difficult decision anymore. Without looking back, Trick left the scene. She didn't care about her chances anymore. The image of Punk cradling Heartless, was burned into her mind. Just now he had held her waist to pull her back. It doesn't matter anymore. Fuck him, fuck her, fuck them. Briefly Poet's face flashed through her mind. She had promised the wounded boy that she would be waiting for him. Trick shook her head. She couldn't afford to think about that right now. He'll forget about me soon enough.

Trick walked in a completely irregular pattern through Providence. She wasn't paying attention to any of her turns, and before she knew it she was standing outside of a club that nearly bursting at its scenes with it's... dance music? Providence of the Damned, will you ever cease surprising me? Her combat boots stepped over a reddish liquid on the pavement and she nearly slipped and fell. Dabbing her fingers in it, she confirmed her assumption; blood. There was no body to be found, but Trick assumed it was a freshly made kill. Shaking her mind of those thoughts, she opened the club door. Trick didn't think the music could get any louder, but she was horribly incorrect. The floor vibrated with the music inside of the room. Her hesitation was apparently obvious, because after a few moments she was approached by a man with a wicked look in his eye.

"Hey baby, I haven't seen you around here before. I can show you around, if you'd like." His hand grazed her waist, and she froze. Back at home, Trick had always been a flirtatious person. Well, there's a way to get my mind off of things, I suppose. Flirtatious? Definitely. Reckless? That too. Trick flashed the man a seductive smile and brushed some hair out of his face.

"You're such a doll. I'm clueless about where I am right now. Could you show me the ropes?" The man's eyes danced. Got him. Why men find so much appeal in the 'innocent' type, I'll never know. The pair made their way over to a counter. She sat down on a spinning stool and turned to face the dance floor. She heard a few exchanges between the bartender and the man, but didn't turn back until a cold glass was pressed against her fingers.

"For you, my dear." Trick lifted the drink up to her nose. Vodka. Wonderful. This man could be useful yet. Taking the drink happily, and tipped the glass towards him. "To us." The glass clinked and the man's hand found her thigh. She pretended not to notice, and the two began having some stereotypical small talk.

Thank God for alcohol.

He was trying so hard to be strong for them all. He could see that everyone needed someone stable around them, desparately. Punk thought at first Poet might manage it, but the moment he had started to coax a smile out of Punk, he started coughing and the fear in the newer boy's eyes shone brightly. Is he gonna die? Will Heartless be able to handle it if he does? What is going to happen to our Code Black? Thoughts were racing through his head, and none of them were very bright, and Punk's previous anger was smothered by the crushing blackness of the grief he was holding in. He was surprised that he was holding up this well when his body was slowly freezing on the inside.

"Rosie was shot on the bottom of her lung. I managed to reflate it, but she's fallen into a coma, and after three days, there's slim to no chance that she'll wake up again. If she wake's up, she'll need an oxygen machine for most of her life, and a handicap like that can only ruin her chance of living in Providence."

Punk listened to this, and his blood somehow managed to run even colder in his veins. Was she saying ... Rosie would be dead no matter what? She had no chance whatsoever? That couldn't be true! Not Rosie! But as they were led over to her bed, he saw that it very well could be. Poet and Heartless fell to pieces, the latter crying onto his chest. He held her for a moment, before he realized his shock was wearing off. "Heartless, I need to go. I'll be... around somewhere." He mumbled in a gruff voice before gently prying the girl off of him. He felt terrible for leaving her, but he would not let her see him fall apart, not in a situation where she needed someone strong.

Punk walked quickly to the door and out onto the streets, and the tears began to sting his eyes. He walked wwithout seeing, his vision obscured, and he had no idea where he was. But he was breaking inside. Shattering into pieces, like the glass of a window. He couldn't handle all of the pent up grief inside of him. Finally, he fell to his knees in the middle of the street somewhere in Providence and let out a wail, and all of his sobs poured from his mouth. He crumpled to the ground, sobbing there, not particularly caring if a car came by to hit him. Not that many people had cars here anyways, but still.