|15| The Call.

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Don sat on the couch and breathed a sigh of relief. His right hand ached from striking Sky's jaw. He had to knock her out before taking her to the bathroom and locking her in there.

He unwrapped the bandage around his head. Though the wound stopped bleeding, his head still hurt from when Sky had head-butted him. Her head was as hard as a coconut.

But that wasn't what troubled him. After Sky had threatened his life, Don spent hours trying to make her give up the one who had hired her to steal the wings. But she said nothing. She was as silent as a grave.

He wished he had the stomach for torture. Maybe then he would have gotten the answers out of Sky.

"How can someone be so stubborn?" He punched the couch's cushion out of frustration. "Why can't she make it easier for everyone? She tells us who hired her, and it simplifies life for all involved." The only person he knew that could frustrate people like that was himself. He even tried bribing her with food after listening to her stomach groan for hours. But nothing worked.

Before he dwelled on the matter, the apartment's front door opened with force. Don stood and stationed himself into a fighting stance. Two men walked in carrying someone. Don had a closer look and saw Pipi. His best friend's face had lost its brown color.

"Is..." He gulped. "Is he dead?" His heart stopped beating for a second after asking the question.

"He's alive, Monsieur," one of the men said. He had tied his black hair into two buns, and black gloves concealed his hands. A gem was on each knuckle.

The two men placed Pipi on the couch. Pipi laid on his back; a bandage covered his bare chest. He was breathing.

"Are you members of The Outlawz?" The knickerbockers were proof. But he had to ask.

"Oui. I am Scarf," the man with the two buns said. Then, he pointed to the other man. "C'est Slim."

"Nice to meet you, yes?" Slim said, extending his hand, which Don shook.

"Laissez Pipi se reposer pour l'instant. By this time tomorrow, he would have healed," Scarf added.

"Nothing to worry about, yes?" Slim said.

"All right." Don nodded, then looked at Pipi. His best friend slept peacefully. He couldn't imagine it was the same man who had used him as a guinea pig when testing his weapons. "Can I know what happened to him?"

"We were betrayed. Mais pas d'inquiétude, our leader went after the one who did this," Scarf said. "When we catch him, nous le tuerons."

Slim put a hand on Don's shoulder. "We promise, no?" he said.

"All right," Don said. He hadn't understood most of what Scarf had said. The man kept switching languages, leaving him with assumptions. But Don guessed Scarf had promised to hurt whoever had harmed Pipi.

"We're leaving now," Scarf said. "Nous reviendrons to check on him." He grabbed Slim's arm. "Come on." He pulled Slim towards the door.

"Goodbye." Slim had waved at Don before walking out of the apartment.

A stray tear ran down Don's face. He rubbed it off with the back of his hand. Pipi was the only thing close to a family he had in this world. If he died, Don wouldn't know what he would do. Over the years, the small apartment had become their home. And home was nothing without the people living in it.

The telephone rang, taking Don out of his trance. He picked it up and answered, "Hello."

"Do you possess it?" a masculine voice asked.

"Possess what?"

"Do you possess it?" the man asked again.

"Have wha-" Don almost dropped the telephone when he had realized who was on the other end. "Ye-Yes. Yes, I have it."

"Deliver it at daylight, around eight. I'll be waiting outside the Pills And Potion drugstore in Modish."

"OK, Doctor."

The call ended.

"Shit!" Don turned to the unconscious Pipi. "We were to deliver the wings together. Who'll have my back now?" He shook his head, tears in his eyes. What if Slim and Scarf are wrong? What if you never wake up?

"What if Sky went with ya?" a feminine voice asked.

Don turned to where it came from and saw Barbie at the front door. He stood fast, expecting a fight after Sky's had warned him Barbie would return with help.

"Ah am not here to fight." Barbie raised her hands in surrender. "Ya can search me for weapons."

Not wanting to take a chance, Don searched her and found nothing. He looked at her. "What's your angle here?"

"Ah want ya to free Sky. And in exchange, she'll go with ya to whoever ya were talking to."

Don looked at her from top to bottom, then narrowed his eyes. "How are you not hurt after jumping out of the window?"

"Not ma first time," she said, then left it at that. She pointed at Pipi. "It doesn't take a smart person to know he won't wake until tomorrow afternoon, at the least." She crossed her arms. "Sky's ya best chance at protecting ya."

"I don't need protection."

"Sure, ya don't." Barbie looked at him from head to toe and rolled her eyes. "Do ya accept the offer or not?"

Don bit his bottom lip. Was he about to let the mercenary have his back after she had threatened his life? He groaned in frustration, realizing he had no other option. "Fine."

Barbie cheered. "All right, where's Sky?"

"She's in the bathroom."

Barbie gasped. "Ya locked her in the bathroom? For how long?"

Don looked away from her, not wanting to meet Barbie's glare. All night. He stared outside the window. The moon brightened the inky sky, allowing him to see airships. He reached inside his pants' back pocket and took out a key. He threw at her, and she caught it. "When we free her, make sure she doesn't kill me."

"She won't," Barbie assured.

"We will see." Having heard of how long mercenaries could hold a grudge for, Don didn't believe Barbie. "Follow me." He led the way to the bathroom. If it went right, then he would deliver the wings to Doctor tomorrow. And if it didn't, he was satisfied with the life he had lived.

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