Chapter 5 World's Apart

• When the dust from our argument with Rosy and her father cleared, I felt a pall over me. The stakes had never been higher and Leonard and I were suddenly in the crossfires of a combat we had never asked to fight.
• Leonard drew me aside and said, "We have to get out of here, Jenny," in an urgent voice. "They won't quit till they've destroyed us."
• Fear and resolve thumping in my heart, I nodded. "Where, though, can we go? They will be keeping an eye on everything we do."
• Determination stiffened Leonard's jaw. "We need to wait a little longer to decide what to do next. But Jenny, we cannot allow them to prevail. We have to respond.
• As we crept out into the night, our footsteps resonating in the darkness, I nodded silently to Leonard. Every sound and shadow seemed to be a possible menace. But motivated by an intense want to live, we persisted.
• Every corner we turned as we moved through the city, we knew there was danger. But I had never known courage or strength like I did when Leonard was by my side.
• Abruptly a person emerged from the shadows to obstruct our way. Excellently, excellently. See who's here."
• Rosy's father was walking toward us, hateful glimmer in his eyes. You really did believe you could get away from me. You believed you might ignore my family and get away with it?"
• Fists locked at his sides, Leonard moved forward. You don't terrify us, Mr. Johnson. We are not going to permit you to run our lives any more."
• But Mr. Johnson simply laughed, a spooky, icy sound that made my spine tingle. "Do you believe you can take on me? Nothing more than a pair of fools, destined for failure."
• Mr. Johnson suddenly shot forward, his goals obvious. But Leonard moved more quickly, his reflexes refined by years of luxury and authority.
• Leonard threw Mr. Johnson to the ground in an instant, their bodies hitting with a groaning crash. And I realized as they battled that this was just the start of a fight that would decide our destiny.
• Leonard and I struggled together, our hearts pounding as one, as the darkness roared around us. And I realized as we took on our adversaries that, as long as we were united, we could conquer anything. I had no idea, though, that the worst danger of all was still to come.
• Our lives were in jeopardy, I realized as Leonard and Mr. Johnson struggled in the dark. Their mutual tension sparked like lightning with each hit, ready to burst into a full-blown firestorm.
• "Watch out, Leonard!" I let forth a cry that reverberated through the night.
• But Leonard was unflinching, his resolve matching Mr. Johnson's in every step. "I'm not going to let you hurt her, Mr. Johnson. Neither now nor ever."
• The rage in Mr. Johnson's eyes flared as he fought Leonard's hold. Think you can outwit me, do you? Think you can take my daughter away from me and get away with it?
• Leonard said in a firm, unflinching voice. Mr. Johnson, Rosaly is deserving of better. She need to be in a relationship with a real lover, not with someone who uses her as a pawn in their power struggle."
• Mr. Johnson sprang free of Leonard's hold with a roar so fierce that his eyes blazed. Leonard, you will pay for this. You two will pay.
• But before he could move again, there was an abrupt noise out of the shadows that made us all freeze.
• They were a gang of disguised people, their identities hidden, and they came down upon us with brutal efficiency. And I grasped with a sickening sense that our problems were far from done as they surrounded us.
• You are who? With his voice echoing out in the night, Leonard demanded.
• But when the cloaked creatures moved toward us with frightening determination, they said nothing, their motives unknown.
• With nowhere left to flee and peril looming from every angle, Leonard and I stood together, prepared to take on whatever fate had in store for us. But the sense that our real struggle had really just started persisted as the cloaked figures drew near.
• Leonard and I armed ourselves for the anticipated battle as the cloaked figures drew near. Adrenaline rushing through our veins, our hearts hammering together, we were ready to meet our unidentified attackers.
• With whom are you? Leonard spoke up, a tone that was both fearful and defiant.
• But as they encircled us with savage accuracy, the figures said nothing, their motives unknown.
• Calling out, "We don't have time for games," my voice quivering with urgency. "What's your need from us?"
• Moving with fluidity and grace, one of the figures advanced. Leonard and Jenny, we have been observing you both. You've really impressed a few powerful people."
• The mention of our names made my heart race and my head whirled with questions. "Explain yourself. Anyone sent it to you?
• The person had smirked, their eyes glittering with resentment. Everything in due course, my dear. Assume for the moment, meanwhile, that you have drawn the interest of some very influential individuals. And your minor... transgressions have not pleased them.``
• Leonard fixed his jaw firmly and looked straight ahead. "We refuse to be scared. We won't let anything you're plotting stop us."
• The figure simply laughed, though, and the sound reverberated into the night. "Oh, I believe you'll discover that you're powerless over it. You see, you've happened into an environment that is considerably riskier than you could have ever imagined. And now its web has caught you."
• The creatures were upon us before we could respond, their movements a blur as they hauled us into the darkness.
• And I was left wondering, as the globe whirled around us, what kind of evil powers we had unintentionally let loose. And could we ever manage to get out from under their control? Time would tell, since our destiny was so precariously close.