363All right, I think I know who's going to be my favourite character in this one. Ten guesses who it is! 😉
Chapter 2- The Gel
It could have been worse, Danny could have ended up in the Youth Kitchen, and at least he could leave V-Town during the day and be on the water. He wouldn't have access to a weapon though, so unless he got drawn for the army or police next year, he'd have to rely on Jake in that area. And he couldn't figure out why Angelica lied about the job that was drawn…
The Adult Division looked no different from the Youth Division. His room was no bigger, they still shared community showers, and gardens in the courtyard all had tulips and daisies lining up forming the letter V.
When he arrived in his new room, he anxiously moved to the bathroom and yanked the folded piece of paper from his pocket that Willow gave him. He unfolded it and started to read.
Danny, I've been so anxious for V-Day so I could communicate with you. I've figured out the timings of the cameras and the schedules of the V-Guards. The cameras outside all rooms move in unison. The lamplighter keeps everything lit through the night. I know we didn't get off to a good start three years ago, but I'm hoping we can work together. If you're interested, please follow these instructions carefully.
At exactly 2:00am tomorrow night, go to your bathroom. Move quickly so you're not gone more than 30 minutes.
At 2:02am climb out your bathroom window. You only have 30 seconds until the camera turns back to your window, so move a little to your right, then run directly under the camera.
Danny continued to read through the instructions until he read the last one.
Then you'll arrive at the side of the V-Town Centre. The V-Town Centre is one of the places in town that does not have cameras around the premises. Strange I know. You should arrive there at 2:10am.
We'll only have 5-10 minutes to talk but I really would like to meet with you.
~Willow~
Danny folded the paper up again and tucked it in his pocket. He inhaled deeply. Maybe the only way to honour his mom now was to protect his sisters, if that was even possible.
He left the bathroom and made his way to the courtyard, hoping to find Jake. And he hoped more than anything that he was still awake.
He passed several people walking around as if in a trance including Trina and Emma who were sitting on a bench. Emma was white in the face.
"I can't believe I have the honour of being the All-Knowing V's personal assistant," Trina said.
"Yeah…" Emma nodded.
"And you're going to be in the army. You'll have the opportunity to protect this town."
Danny continued to walk, and a big smile spread across his face when he spotted Cam, Jake, and Josslyn in the camera-free zone talking.
He headed over to them.
Cameron groaned. "I'm not letting them force me to father a kid they're just going to raise in all this! And I don't want to be a dumb lamplighter. How are we supposed to fight all this if I'm just lighting the streets at night?"
"I know," Josslyn agreed. "And me teach kindergarten? I mean, I don't mind kids, but I don't think I have the patience for that many… plus, the teachers have to live there. I'll be separated from you guys."
"At least you can look out for Aiden," Cam said.
"True." She nodded. "And Avery and Donna. And Wiley will be in my class. I think he goes by Jonah now…"
"And Scout…" Danny walked up to them. "Maybe between you and Willow, you can protect the kids."
"Danny!" Jake smiled and hugged him tightly. "You're finally here."
Danny hugged him back and exhaled deeply. He didn't realize how much he missed hugs until that moment. Jake might technically be his cousin, but to Danny they'd always be brothers.
Cameron patted his back. "Jake told us you were awake."
"So…" Danny looked between them, then over his shoulder to ensure there were no V-Guards around. "That means you three are too?"
Jake nodded. "And Emma. Though we really have her back, she's had many moments where she almost caves."
Josslyn looked over at her and sighed. "And she's talking to Trina again…"
"Georgie's awake too," Danny said. "She's been my only confidant."
"Really?" Josslyn scrunched her face. "I saw her a few minutes ago, she seems so… spacey."
"That's just her personality," Danny said. "Sort of reminds me of Luna Lovegood."
Jake sighed. "I miss things like Harry Potter…"
"Well, I miss my mom and dad…" Josslyn said.
An awkward silence fell over them. Danny figured Cam and Jake didn't like to think about it either.
"Say, Danny," Cam said, changing the subject. "You're assigned to the Cargo ship… that means you get to go to Spoon Island and Kailano Island. I heard there's no camera surveillance on either island."
"I never thought of that…" Danny said.
"And Jake's about to have access to a gun," Cam added. "Maybe that can work in our favour."
"Okay guys," Josslyn interrupted. "There's four of us in the camera free zone and we've been standing here a long time… they're going to get suspicious."
"Okay, you and Jake walk away first," Cam said. "I want to talk to Danny a bit longer. We'll follow in a few."
After Josslyn and Jake walked away, Cam turned back to Danny.
"See if there's anything you can find there."
"Like what?" Danny asked.
"I don't know… weapons, leverage. Or maybe you can hear the oh so amazing V," Cam rolled his eyes. "Talking plans to someone. Just keep your eyes peeled. Maybe we can come up with a plan. I wish I could go with you."
GHGHGH
Danny was to report to the wall by the docks at 8am sharp. He arrived a few minutes before in his V-Town uniform. Once the V-Guards ID'd him, they opened the iron gate and let him through.
It was as if he'd been stuck in a hole for three years and finally climbed out. The sky was blue, the sun bright, no drones, and the lake looked tempting enough to jump in.
A group of people, mostly men, were gathered around a large, black ship with the words The Gel written in white letters. He recognized Morgan Corinthos speaking to the group.
"You over there!" Morgan pointed to a skinny guy with curly hair. "You're in charge of the loading." He looked over and noticed Danny. "And you… The captain would like to see you."
Danny raised an eyebrow. "Okay…"
"In the captain's cabin!"
Danny slowly boarded the ship, his heart racing. He looked around and heard a faint hum. He followed the noise and it led him down some stairs. He pushed open a door, and his face was met with a thin amount of warm steam.
"Ah… I was beginning to worry about you." Angelica Marchesi sat in a hot tub, steam hovering around her, her silky hair sat freely on her shoulders. Her arms sat on the edge of the tub with her head leaning back. Her eyes closed and she moaned deeply.
Danny stared for a moment, then looked away when he realized she was in the nude.
"What do you think of my ship? The All-Knowing V… or Half-Witted V as I prefer to call him… wanted cameras on my ship. I told him absolutely not. His island and my father's island don't have cameras, so why should my ship? It's mine, not his. He's just as brainless as Father, you know. Have him wrapped around my little finger." She lifted her index finger upside down and grinned at Danny as she folded it towards her several times. "Come here."
Danny swallowed hard but walked over to her.
She leaned forward pressing her chest against the hot tub and reached up touching his chin, sending a tingly sensation through his body.
"Tell me. Have you ever seen a woman as beautiful as me?" she asked.
He looked down at her, gazing into her brown eyes. "Yes."
"Humph!" She sat back and crossed her arms, furrowing her eyebrows. "Well, who is she?"
"Someone I hurt greatly and probably won't be able to make up for it."
"And how does she compare to me?"
He grinned. "You don't even come close."
She rose to her feet in the hot tub, fully naked, but Danny turned away.
"How dare you!" She gritted her teeth. "Tell me who she is. I'll go kill her."
"I don't even know where she is or if she's still alive."
"Then who is she?"
"She was my mother."
"Your mother?" Her mouth dropped slightly, then she smiled. "I remember you."
He looked at her.
"That day at my father's warehouse. Matteo ripped that dress off your sister. I wish you hung around longer to finish your job on him."
"You mean when I kicked him?"
She nodded and wrapped a robe around herself. "Stupid little twit does anything and everything Father tells him to. He and Thadeo are jealous of me." She studied her purple fingernails. "Yes, I learned from a young age that Father never says no to me. They're both mini mes of Father and our uncle. My cousin Luca's okay. Quite the charmer with the ladies." She smirked at Danny and stepped closer, so her mouth was barely an inch from his and she whispered, "We all inherited the Marchesi charm."
"Angelica…" Morgan's voice announced his presence. "Where would you like—?"
She groaned and set her hands on her hips. "I told you not to come down here until I was finished with my new slave! And for the millionth time, call me Gel!"
Morgan cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Miss."
She turned to Danny and crawled her fingers up his chest. "You, however, can call me whatever you'd like."
"Miss Gel," Morgan cut in again.
Angelica turned to him and clenched her jaw. "What?"
"Where would you like me to dock the ship? We're almost at Spoon Island."
She threw her hands in the air. "I don't care! You interrupted me to ask that?"
"Well, you are supposed to be the captain," Morgan said. "And we'll have to start unloading soon."
"Then unload! I'm too busy for such matters. I'll come out when I'm ready."
Morgan nodded and disappeared up the stairs.
Angelica walked over to an ottoman and lifted some clothes and tossed it to Danny. "Change out of that god forsaken uniform, it makes me want to vomit."
Danny grinned and unfolded them to find running shoes, jeans, and a button-up plaid shirt.
GHGHGH
Danny groaned as he and Angelica stepped onto the docks and Valentin was standing there crossing his arms.
"You changed the name of the ship!?" Valentin gritted his teeth.
"Yes," Angelica said simply. "There's just too many V's floating around lately, it's hurting my eyesight. I don't want to end up with eyeglasses, it'll ruin my image."
His nostrils flared. "And you gave him different clothes?"
"I sure did."
"He is the enemy."
She smiled. "Keep your enemies close."