I rolled over onto my stomach and pulled the pillow over my head trying to block out the sound of the phone next to my bed ringing non-stop. This was the third call within five minutes and I did not plan to answer it. I groaned as I waited for the machine to pick up the call, but hearing the message was not what I wanted either.

“Kay! I know you’re there. Stop ignoring the calls and answer. The last time anyone heard from you was when mom and dad visited you in New York. Since then you moved, and all we got was a number, what gives? Don’t make me have to come looking for you.. thats the last thing you will want, because you know the whole crew will come with me.”

I tossed my pillow from my head towards the phone as my brother Donta hung up on his end. He was right, I was ignoring their calls, and I planned to continue to do that too. How could I talk to them let alone see them? They might be family.. but its my fault my foster parents were harmed by the hands of Tyler Brooks. I trusted him. I let him into my life, and into their home… and when things went wrong, he struck home. I always heard people say that home is where the heart is… and its true. My family is everything to me… but because of that… I had to keep my distance. It helped that my brothers followed the sport, so they would know all about Heather by now too, and that would keep her from being near them as well.

To let anyone find out where I am now though? Where I live? I will be damned if I let that happen. No more camera’s within my home. No more walking down the streets that would give away my location. I couldn’t do that anymore. It was not worth it to me. That’s why I had to remind myself that it was necessary to get out of bed and get ready for a long ride.

 

-Hours later-

My blue dodge would always be my baby, so long as it continued to get me places. I rolled up the windows and opened the door before getting out and locking it up behind me. Walking through the pack of cars on board the ship I made my way towards the tail end of the boat and leaned on the railing looking out at the horizon. Something so small used to bring me so much joy when I was a child. Now, it was not as peaceful as I remembered it to be. That showed I had too much on my mind.

To be a kid again, and have no worries. Be able to play all day and enjoy life. That’s what I missed. Having no worries and enjoying life. It seemed like anymore, life around me was falling apart, and it was trying to bring me down with it, but the question is, am I  strong enough to get past it all?

My mind wandered for a while there, thinking about so many things, and so many situations, but then reality kicked back in as the sound of kids laughing came into my ear shot. Turning my head to the side I realized how close they were too me and knew I must have been out of it, after all, it seemed like they were there for quite some time. As the children stood up and ran off I noticed a doll sitting there on the deck and moved to go pick it up. I stared down at it for a long while and a smile came upon my face.

“She would know what to do.”

I didn’t even realize I spoke aloud as I started to head into the direction the children ran off in. As I was about to turn the corner, the little girl ran around fast and bumpped into me and took a step back apologizing. I shook it off before squatting down and holding the doll out towards her.

“I think you forgot her back there.”

“I did! I was just going to get her. Thank you Miss!”

Such excitement in ones voice as she took the doll from me and hugged it to her chest.

“You’re welcome. Remember something, as long as you have her around, you will always have a close friend.”

I stood up and turned away as the little girl took to skipping back to her mother. With a sigh I headed back towards the middle of the boat where all the cars were parked and unlocked the door to my truck. Climbing in I closed the door behind me before letting my head fall onto the steering wheel.

“Is it really worth it? I am sure we all ask ourselves that every day.” I stated before lifting my head and staring forward past the cars to the blue sky and water ahead. “As a child, you dream about what you want to be when you grow up, and most don’t follow through with their dreams. Others, they follow it and don’t let anything get in the way. In this business though, everything gets in the way. Every week we step into the ring we know that it could be our last time. Land the wrong way, your career is over. We train and train, and some make it to the top, while others can’t catch a break but don’t stop trying.

I can’t say that I have made it to the top, but I can say without a doubt that I don’t stop trying. I have failed the last few weeks, and I want to blame others for it, but its only my fault. I have been letting the hatred for The Syndicate stay with me so much, and I am not focusing on winning, but rather inflicting pain for everything they have caused.

This week when I step into the ring, that is not going to factor in. This week I go one on one with Eliot Ness. So Eliot, you know, you might be a former officer, but that alone, has me not liking you at all. Ya see, me and the cops, we don’t really get along. I had one run in with them before, and well, that has set my site on all officers of the law being the same way, complete jerks. So you… yeah, you can pay for the shit they put me through that night.”

Of course no one knew what I was talking about, and they wouldn’t either, but that didn’t stop me from thinking about it as I mentioned the incident in question. I was in my blue dodge riding down the highway heading home before the next show, and I had a camera rolling on the dashboard because I was recording something for my opponent that week. Of course I had many words for her. Ah yes, Aurora Matthews. The one and same that I concider to be a friend now.. well, maybe not now anymore since I don’t trust anyone, but… none the less. She was called “The Ghost” back in the day, and boy… did we have some words for one another.

I was so focused on what I was saying, that I was speeding home, and didn’t notice it until the red and blue lights started going off behind me causing me to pull over. Of course, the officers pulled up behind me before the driver got out of his vehicle and walked over towards my truck. I watched from the driver side mirror as he walked like he was something special, fixing his uniform as he went and puffing out his chest. I remember rolling my eyes before he finally got to me and remember the whole incident as if it was yesterday and not three years ago.

“License and Registration.” He stated in his stern tone trying to sound like he was the law. He was a broad shouldered male, early thirties so he looked, might as well just call him tall dark and handsome, the dark being the late hour seeing as he was a white male. 

I leaned over before opening the glove compartment and pulling out my registration, and my license and straightened up to hand it to him. “Mind telling me what you are pulling me over for?” I asked in an arrogant tone, after all I was already in a shitty mood, he was not helping things. 

He reached over and grabbed the documents from me before speaking once more, after looking at my license. “Might want to watch your tone there Ms. Evans, I am pulling you over because you were speeding.” He pulled his flash light out and turned it on before flashing it at me and speaking once more. “Have you been drinking tonight?” 

I laughed at this, after flinching when the bright light hit my eyes unexpectedly. “No, I have not been drinking. I have been kicking someone’s ass all night now I am on my way home. Can you just give me my ticket so I can be on my way?” 

The officer shook his head at her. “I am sorry Ms. I need you to step out of the vehicle.” 

I retorted quickly getting heated at his bullshit. “You need me to get out of the car for speeding? No, you need to write me a ticket so I can get out of here and get home; I have more pressing matters to deal with then sitting here going back and forth with you. I have to worry about Aurora and how I am going to take her out so she will not be in my way anymore. The longer I sit here dealing with you, the less time I have to worry about her and getting all the information I need to get the job done!” 

As I was going off, and the camera I had running still on my dashboard was rolling and catching everything, the officer had motioned for his partner to come around as he would be needing assistance. Seeing the other male, older and not as stunning, come over had me laughing. 

“You can not be serious.” The officer nodded and motioned once more for me to get out of the car. I groaned and rolled the window up before going and getting out of the car, grabbing my keys as I did so and tucking them in my pocket. The door was still opened as the officer went and cuffed me after telling me to face the vehile and place my hands on it. I could be seen in full view in the camera still and I was laughing.

“Don’t worry dear Aurora, I will be out first thing in the morning, and you will have seen this by then. I will make sure Tony and Adrean get it in to headquarters to run before I am out. Fear not Ghost, you will be hearing from me again…and soon.” 

The officer’s had both thought I was just insane now, talking about ghost and what not. They carted me off to their car, after locking my doors and what not.

I sat there thinking about it still before shaking my head, which had fallen back against the headrest.

“Getting locked up for speeding… it was a joke. Then again, they probably thought more of the situation when they heard me speaking about just wanting to get home to relax after beating the hell out of someone all night. Needless to say, I forgot to mention it was in the ring I was referring to. I am sure if I would have mentioned my profession I would have come out of the situation with just a ticket, instead, I had to spend the night in a stink ass cell until they got the call from my employer explaining the things I had said that they heard.

Lucky for me, Tony and Adrean were quick to get the tape to headquarters, and as they watched it, they knew there was a situation I needed out of.

So many people think the way I do Eliot Ness, and others… well, they do not. Myself, I have had one bad experience, and that has turned me away from all officers for good. Hell, most of you policemen, past and present, take the law for granted yourselves. I can not count how many times I have seen an officer turn their siren and lights on just to avoid traffic, or a stop light. Pathetic. How can someone criticize others about what they do wrong when there are so many who are breaking the law within the police force itself?

Makes you think…. how can you expect others to follow the law when you yourself are not setting the example? Lead by example right? Well, thats what I plan to do this week. I am going to lead by example in the ring. You are the example of what happens when an officer gets in my way.

Sorry Eliot, you just happened to be the one across me with the past that you have. You might feel some pain, but it will subside in time.”

I laughed before starting the engine as we pulled up to the dock and got myself ready to head off the boat for now. Gears of War might be soon, but I was not going to continue to let that stand in my way and distract me before hand.