Weeping Angels

Part XXIII: Objects In The Rearview Mirror.

   The night sped past him like a blurred tunnel of lights, snow, and shadow. His panting breath and bootfalls on the cold, hard concrete filled his ears, but only one thought was on the mind of Kettu Kinson;

     Nina.

   He had no time to call Ben, to find a ride. His primal instincts drove him forward, on foot, running like mad through the night. If Joseph got a hold of her, hurt one hair on her head...The thought threw Kettu into a frenzied rage, his blood boiled. The fear that once crippled him was gone now, replaced only with the unquenchable thirst for vengeance and the unwavering need to be rid of him once and for all.

  And still he ran into the night, his black boots pounding the pavement, his breaths ragged and strained, the cold winter air chilling the sweat on his forehead, but he didn't care. He had to reach Nina before he did, and ensure her safety, then he would be gunning for Joseph.

   One way or another, Kettu thought to himself, this will end tonight.

   Kettu burst through the door to Nina's apartment building, panting and sore. His veins felt as though they were pumping battery acid, but his determination and resolve were stronger than ever.

  304. He reminded himself. Her apartment number is 304. He looked up at the stairwell, three flights of stairs seemed like a mountain to him right now, a mountain covered in worn brown carpeting, keeping him from accomplishing his task. His body was worn out, and could not withstand much more, but he pressed on, bounding up the stairs, doing his best to ignore the painful cramping in his legs until he reached the third floor. He pushed his way tiredly through the door, into the dimly lit hallway, his chest burning with agony. Ahead, he beheld a sight that made his heart sink.

   The door of apartment 304 was open. Not just open, but broken open, hanging precariously from its bottom hinge.

  "Nina?" Kettu couldn't mask the panic in his voice, he stumbled forward, "Nina?!"

  Inside her apartment were certainly the telltale signs of a struggle, her abstact paintings were hung on angles, broken glass covered the floor. Tables were overturned and chairs lay on their sides, And Nina was gone.

Kettu felt his heart sink into despair. He was too late.

He stepped forward into the apartment, his eyes darting around the small bachelor-sized room, searching for something, anything. He scanned the room quickly, adrenalin pumping hard into his veins, filling him with a renewed vigor.

Then, he spotted it.

 On her bed was a piece of paper, on it, dark black ink spelled out a chilling message.

           12406 Miller Street.

           If you Call the cops, The girl Dies. If you come with your little comrades, the girl Dies. If you show up with anyone other than yourself...you get the picture.

                                                                                                                      -Daddy.

Kettu growled, balling his hands into fists.

  He had no choice but to go alone, but there was one thing he needed first.

   "Big K?" Shit, man it's like, two in the morning." Ben's voice crackled on the other end of the line.

  "He has her, Ben. Joseph's got her and I need my gun."

  "Whoa, whoa, Slow down, man! Run that by me again?"

  "Joseph, he called my apartment and told me that he was coming for Nina. I rushed over here as quick as I could but I was too late." Kettu explained, his hands were shaking with fury. "I got here and found a note left by Joseph saying that I need to meet him at a certain location, but I'm not going without my gun. I'm going to put him down."

   "Kettu, can you hear yourself?" Ben asked, "You're talking about killing a man, Listen, you need to call the cops."

  "If I do, Nina dies."

  "Shit." Ben cursed, "What about if I come..."

  "He'll kill her if I don't go alone." Kettu stopped him cold.

  "Kettu, listen-" Ben said resignedly.

  "Please, Ben."

A tense silence overtook the conversation, lasting what seemed to be an eternity of uncertainty. 

 Ben sighed, "Fine, I'll be right over. Just stay put. And Kettu?"

 "What?"

  "You'd better damn well know what you're doing."

Click. The other line went dead.

  "I know exactly what I'm doing." Kettu said, putting the phone down, looking around at the room around him, his burning rage quieting to yield the way for fond memories to cross his mind.

   "Even if I go to prison, I can be happy knowing that she's safe, and that Joseph Kinson is finally dead." He said aloud.

And meant every word of it.