Liz- patience…the brief will open…eventually. As for ALice and Shane…maybe someday they’ll talk…

Janet M – HAHAHA THere’s much more to come…trust me :)

CFone – thanks so far everyone’s loving the brief…an just wait for what comes next


bvhall – its a bomb…Janet has convince me to kill them all off..j/k its ok

AceofHearts – yes you read between the lines well..sorry for putting you on the floor, I can help you with that bruised ***** though ::winks:: oh an you can do whatever you want with your moouth, i’m not stopping you :) you’ll find more bread crumbs…your not looking.



L – your wish is my command master ::crosses arms and nonns head::

Maya- They need time but they’ll figure it out


Chapter 15

Shane paid the cab driver and he sped off leaving her standing in front of St. Judes church. She let out a defeated sigh and climbed the steps she knew too well. The steps that led to a haven for lost causes. Shane made her way to the basement and walked into the practice room they used for her classes. She crossed the room with her head down, not even bothering to look up at the kids who were whispering and scattering around the room.

Shane: Put on the music and warm up.

Shane walked into the back room she used as an office. She closed the door behind her and froze. Her head snapped up and she walked back out into the training room. She looked at the group and her jaw dropped.

Shane looked around the room to see everyone dressed in tie-dyed brown and white clothes. Their usual black practice uniforms were covered in bleach. She looked at the group and approached them. The teens parted to show Dash pinned on the floor by two larger boys. One was covering her mouth to cover her protests as the other had his full body weight on her.

Shane: Let her go!

Dash scurried to her feet but managed to sneak a quick punch at the boy who pinned her down. The boy lunged back at her, but Shane quickly grabbed him, stopping the pummeling.

Shane: Chill out Kelly. Go up stairs and get some ice from Van before the eye swells.

Kelly: Ill kill you…you ***** *****…Youve got us all looking like idiots.

Dash: you guys seem to be doing a fine job on your own.

Kelly lunged at her again, but Shane held tight.

Shane: I said up stairs…move it.

Shane tossed him towards the door.

Shane: Messiah…go with him.

The other boy stood and went with Kelly. Shane watched them leave and turned her attention to Dash. Shane pointed to the back room and Dash huffed as she stormed off to the room. Shane turned to the group.

Shane: Warm up…were going full contact today… lets see who steps up!

The group collectively livened up. It seems none of them could hold back their own happiness at the though of getting a chance to go one-on-one with Dash.

Shane entered the back room to see Dash sunk down in her chair with her arm slung over the back. Shane crossed her arms and looked the girl up and down.

Shane: So what …you think you showed me huh?

Dash had a wicked smirk on her face. She rolled her eyes and made the chair swivel side to side, as she peered up at Shane.

Dash: You said do the laundry….I just wanted to make sure the uniforms were clean…I know how important the groups appearance is to Father Joe.

Shane darted towards Dash and grabbed the arms of the chair. She was inches from Dash, and when they were face to face, she could see the black eye she was covering with make-up. Shane softened and backed away. Dash turned the chair so that her back was to Shane. She knew Shane saw the black eye, and turned to avoid her sympathy.

Shane grabbed the chair and forced her to face her. She wiped her thumb along her eye, removing a streak of make-up. Dash cringed at Shanes roughness. Shane tossed her face aside. She looked Dash up and down. The young girl was a mix of emotions. Shane knew the last person she wanted to see this was Shane, but it was inevitable. Shane knew the signs all to well.

Shane: Youre in the system?

Dash: Yeah what about it.

Shane crossed her arms. She brought one hand up and rubbed the bridge of her nose trying to think.

Shane: Go warm up, were going contact today.

Dash Thats it? What…the Hollywood ***** feels sympathy for me cause Im in the system? ***** you I dont need any favors from you Shane.

Dash stood up to leave. She brushed past Shane nudging her on purpose. Shane grabbed her and pulled her in close.

Shane: You dont know ***** about me little girl, so I suggest you get it together, before I do it for you.

Dash: Is that a threat?

Shane: A promise! (She spat back)
Shane tossed her towards the door and turned her back. She pulled off Alices shirt and tossed it towards the corner. As she began pulling on her black wife beater that was folded on her desk, Dash turned to give a venomous reply. She stopped when she saw the old scars on Shanes back. Burn marks near her ribs were barely visible to the unknowing eye. They scars could have easily been mistaken for blemishes but Dash knew Better. She looked up to see Shane in the small mirror on the wall. She could see something else was on Shanes mind. She looked upset not angry.

Shane looked up and caught Dashs face in the mirror. She hadnt noticed she was still there. Shane pulled the shirt down and turned to face her. Dash looked her up and down. She had spent so much time loathing Shane, that she never bothered to notice how beautiful she was.

Shane motioned towards the door with her head and unbuckled her pants. Dash hurried out to the group that was waiting for her.

Shane emerged from the room moments later, changed and ready to go. She could see Dash in the corner avoiding her eye contact.

Shane: Alright, pair up.

Everyone turned to Dash.

Shane: Dash your with me today.

There were Oh ***** and Come on Shanes around the room.

Dash: What are you gonna teach me a lesson?

Shane looked the girl up and down. She wasnt about to play in to her games.

Everyone was squared away free-sparring in pairs. Shane stood in her fighting stances in front of Dash, waiting for her to make the first move. Dash made a move for Shane…

::WHAM::

Dash looked up to see Shane standing over her with an out stretched hand. Dash swatted it away and flipped her body up into the air…using only her feet to get up. Shane had to admit she was impressed. Most of the kids who were around for two years couldnt pop up like that. Especially not after she tossed them on the ground like that.

Dash was growing angry and threw a barrage of arms and legs at Shane. Shane blocked her every advance without much effort. She made sure Dash knew her moves were amateur.

Shane: Stop trying to hit me.

Dash ***** you…

Shane: Youre thinking to much and its distracting you.

Dash Dont tell me what Im thinking….Im thinking Im gonna kick you *****.

Shane rolled her eyes. She dropped to the floor and swung her leg out while spinning in a circle. Dash didnt know what hit her, until she looked up to see Shane standing over her again. Shane offered her hand again. But Dash pushed it away. She flipped up, this time faltering and almost falling on her ***** again. Shane noticed the whole class had stopped and were watching the two go at it.

Shane turned to the class and they all took a step back.

Shane: You cant fight to win..when you fight to win your just fighting scared.

Dash lunged at Shane while her back was turned.

Dash: Im not ***** scared of you!

Shane blocked Dash and tossed her to the floor again. There was laughter from the room and Shane gave them a look that shut them up immediately.

Shane: Everyones afraid of something, even if its fear.

Shane offered her hand again. But looked to see Dash was already up, and doing some foot work. She was ready to go and Shane knew it. Shane walked over to the stereo and pressed play ~Smack my ***** Up~ blared from the speakers around the room.

Shane: When you fight…you can fight scared cause even if you win you wont defeat your opponent….you have to fight without thinking….to get there you have to let everything go.

Shane walked back over to Dash who had a feral look in her eyes and pointed to her forehead.

Shane: You have to get out of here….in order to do that you have to give up control…you cant care anymore…stop trying to win against me…you want to win because you are afraid to lose to me…your afraid to lose in front of them…***** them….be willing to get your ***** kicked….dont let anything distract you and be patient….defeating me is about waiting for the right moment not fighting your way in.

Father Joe appeared in the door way.

Father Joe: Spoken like someone knows what dere talkin bout

Shane turned to look at him. He looked exhausted. Shane knew he had a treatment today and should be laying in bed. She shook her head at him and ran her hand threw her hair.

Father Joe: Hows about you both work on facing your fear aye?

Shane gave him a questioning look.

Father Joe: You wanna go like old times Shane?

Shane gave him a nod and lowered her head. Dash could see her whole demeanor change. Shanes arms relaxed but her feet dug into the carpet. Suddenly it was dark. Pitch black until she saw flashes of Shane in front of her. Father Joe flipped of the light and turned on a strobe light.

Dash took a moment to adjust to her knew surroundings, as Shane circled around her. Shane had a look in her eyes. She was on the hunt and Dash was her prey. This time Shane made the first move.

::WHAM::

Dash felt a blow to the side of her head. She was having trouble keeping her guard up with the strobbing effect. She couldnt judge where Shane was going. She calmed down and started up again. The two danced back and forth. Dash made for a frontkick to Shane.

::Thud::

Once again Dash was on her back. She flipped up and put her hands up.

::UMPH::

Dash hunched over after she felt Shanes step-behind sidekick fold into her stomach. Dash remained hunched over and collected her breath. It was like a light went off inside. She didnt care anymore. She wanted Shane to pay. She wanted everyone to pay and she didnt care what happened to her in the process.

Dash stepped up looking calm and collected, but determined. She started with a spinning roundhouse kick and Shane stepped out of the way. She threw punches and kicks at Shane from every direction. Shane just bobbed and weaved, ducking out of the way. She didnt have to lay a single hand on Dash to block her blows.

Shane was impressed. She could See Dash was letting go. She wasnt afraid to move in closer. Closer is where you can win or lose a fight and you had to let go to get there. Shane let her mind slip to earlier that day. She knew that she too had to let go. Let go of her past and the demons that plagued her in the dark. She remembered standing in front of the table of people she once considered her everything…her only thing. None of them said a word when she stood there. They must have considered her a lost cause.

Shane looked up and she could see herself in the Raven mystery that flickered before her. Both were fighting ghosts, only Dashs were still wrapped in her life. Shane caught an image in the corner of her eye, as she planted and elbow in Dashs rib cage.

Shane: Bette?

::CRUNCH::

Shane received a spinning-heel kick to the face. Her body spun around and she landed on her stomach. Shane regained her sense and could feel the carpet under her fingers. But she could smell something else. Something from her past. She could smell the stench of ammonia…she could feel the rough hardwood floor…She could taste the blood.

Shane flew in the air and was on top of Dash before she could stop her. Shane had her fingers wrapped around Dashs neck and her vise grip wasnt relenting as Dash squirmed under her.

Dash looked up into Shanes eyes. She could see a new evil she had never seen before. The flickering image of Shane began to slow down. The time in between the strobes slowed and Shane faded away.

Father Joe: LIGHTS!

The lights came on and Father Joe was on his back with his arms and legs wrapped around Shanes waist. Shane looked like a cat backed into a corner as she kicked and fought trying to get back to Dash. Father Joe frantically whispered in Shanes ear trying to calm her down.

Father Joe: Arresto…. Arresti Shane! La relativa approvazione… Siete relativo giusto non lui… Di calma bambino gi… Siete sicuri… Ascolti me… Siete verso l’esterno Shane… Ritornato a me, siete giusti….Siete Shane… che giusto nessuno pu danneggiarlo qui… Osservi le luci sono sopra ora.

Shane calmed down. Her breathing was shallow and ragged. She snapped out of her rage and went limp in Father Joes arms. Dash laid limp on the floor. Shane could see someone out of the corner of her eyes checking her vitals. Shane buried her face into Father Joe. She couldnt look at what she had just done…she couldnt go there.

Father Joe: Everyone go get changed!

Shane could hear the class filing out. She could still taste the blood and smell the ammonia in the room.

Shes ok

Shanes head snapped up to see Bette kneeling over Dash with her hands trembling. Shane was in shock. She didnt know Bette was really in the room. She thought her mind was playing tricks on her like it always did when she was in the dark.

Dash pushed Bette away from her.

Bette: Hey take it easy….Careful now…take your time.

Dash looked over at Shane rubbing her neck. Shane could see her eyes were bloodshot and tears were streaked down her face. Dash looked at Shane in Father Joes arms. She looked a mess. Thin blood was streaked down her face and mouth. Her shirt was wet and blood was splattered on her arms as Father Joe clung to her, not ready to let her go. Dash could see that she had broken Shanes nose and felt a pang in her chest.

Dash could feel the hot tears on her face and wiped them away. She was confused…why was she crying? Was she actually afraid of dying? She never cared if she lived before, but with Shanes fingers wrapped around her neck, she knew that there were so many things she wanted to learn. Things that for some reason she wanted Shane to show her….more than just letting go and conquering her fear.

Dash started to get up. Bette wrapped her arms around her and helped her up. Shane could see the fear that was in her eyes. She felt her insides crumble and Dash looked at her like she was just another one of the monsters who had attacked her.

Father Joe eased his grip on Shane.

Father Joe: Get cleaned up then well talk.

Shane nodded as Father Joe got up and walked over to Dash. He had blood on his hands and shirt. She could see blood splatter on the collar of his habitual clothing he wore. He stepped towards Dash, and she backed away. She hunched away and turned her back from him.

Father Joe: Its ok… its over now chyle. Come on, lets go up stairs and getcha cleaned up.

Dash looked down and could see that Shanes blood has dripped over her shirt and neck. For once she was covered in someone elses blood. She could feel her insides reaming. She ran to the trash and dry heaved, lurching her whole body in the process.

Dash could feel the unknown womans hands rubbing her back. She never felt a gentle touch like that before. Someone actually caring and nurturing her. She shook away Bettes hands and stood up to leave.

Father Joe: Come on les get ya looked at… Ms. Bette can ya stay here ehn…

Bette: Sure Father, just let me know if you need anything.