Without Silver Lining

Chapter 2

Karen entered the abandoned warehouse slowly; one foot in front of the other, quiet breathing. She still wasn't entirely certain that it was safe even though Daniel told her it was. "That idiot, always looking for a fight. He is going to kill himself one day," Karen thought shaking her head. She climbed up the old rusted stairs as quietly as she could, still not wanting to make a sound.

Her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room as she saw two figures lying on the ground. She sighed bending down towards them. Daniel's dark brown hair covered his face. He hadn't cut it in a while so it had grown out in shaggy locks. He often complained about it getting in his eyes but did nothing about it. His face was contorted in an expression of annoyance, eyebrows knit together and his lips in a tight line. Karen was tempted to laugh at this fact. Being knocked out by drugs is a simple annoyance to Daniel, not a big deal.

Ricky on the other hand had a smirk on his face. Karen rolled her eyes at his expression. She knew that his expression was meant to annoy her. Ricky knew that she didn't approve of what they did. She had told them multiple times to knock it off before they got hurt. The smirk on Ricky's face was meant to send a message to prove her wrong. Yea we kicked butt and we aren't injured. It was kind of ironic since both of these fools are passed out on the floor in the middle of a warehouse.

Karen turned her head to the side and saw another figure in a pool of blood. Her jet black hair tumbling down along her beautifully chiselled features. She took in a gasp of air at the sight and looked towards a passed out Daniel. She had pretty much figured out what went down fifteen minutes before hand. Karen didn't see Daniel as a killer. They were childhood friends. She had come back from Vegas where she worked as a bartender at a rundown hotel on the outskirts of the city. She had witnessed plenty of fights and had her fair share of spilt blood but when one fight ended in death, she quit and moved back. She met up with Daniel again and found out that in his spare time he would run around playing hero for the city, trying to clean up the drug ring that served as the black market.

Daniel was a killer though and Karen knew it. His intentions were good but he would somehow end up with blood on his hands every time he went out to fight. Karen has a special place in her heart for Daniel, she would be there for him as he would be for her. That is why she is in the middle of a creepy warehouse, waiting for these two morons to wake up so she could punch them right in the nose.

Ricky turned his head slightly and looked up to see Karen watching him. He smiled and propped himself up on his elbows

"The next time you decide to risk your life again, don't expect me to come and pick up the pieces," Karen told him.

"Aw, come on Karen. You love taking care of us. Maternal instincts and all that," Ricky replied, flashing an innocent smile.

Karen shook her head in response. "I thought only Daniel was drugged."

"So did I." he told her. "Found a little surprise stuck in my thigh after a wrestling match with bozo over there," he said holding up a needle, thumb pointing toward the dead body.

Karen stood and walked over to Daniel and started to shake him. He opened his eyes franticly but calmed down after he saw Karen.

"Kare bear, you came," Daniel said.

Karen scoffed, dropped him and stalked off towards the stairs, leaving the two boys to follow her.

"I think we are in trouble this time," Daniel said to Ricky standing up.

"Definitely," Ricky replied.