The boy laughed quietly. "Imagine seeing you here, Kristo." He quickly ran a hand through his hair to get the February snow out of it.

Leapfrog Kristo leaned back into the chair he was sitting in. "Promise me you're not in any kinda trouble... I don't wanna be involved in it if ya are."

Gecko Swanson laughed. "Trust me. I'm not. You have enough trouble as it is, don't you think?"

Leapfrog nodded. "Ain't that the truth."

Gecko quickly scanned the paper for headlines. "Mmm... minor knife fight in the Bronx. Sounds like a mass serial killing to me." He nodded. "Yep. Mass killing."

He walked the streets of Bay Ridge, keeping his eyes focused towards the ground to avoid looking at the bright sun. Before long, he was grabbed into an empty building, a knife at this throat.

"Listen, Swanson. You're goin' back with me. You don't have a choice, so I suggest you agree. The more you fight, the more blood ends up on the ground."

Gecko gulped. "Y...yes, sir."

Gecko opened his eyes. It felt like days since he had been accosted off of the streets. He scanned his surroundings, and was quite alarmed that he couldn't see much of anything. A door opened in the far corner. In walked a man so vile, you could almost see the black aura surrounding him. Most people actually thought it was part of his body.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my old friend Jay. How's life been treatin' ya, kid?" The man sneered.

"Fine. Or it was fine, until you came along."

"Things have changed around here, Jay. People who try and run get punished." The man slowly walked over to him. "Punishment fits the crime." He quickly pulled a knife out of his pocket and held it up to Gecko's throat.

"I didn't try and run, if you do remember. In fact, I was the one who tried to get you away from the police."

"That's not the story I've heard, Swanson. You turned me in. You should pay the consequences." The man paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "But you could prove useful." He removed the knife from Gecko's throat and looked at him. "I want information."

"On what?"

"You know what I want to know."

It had been three days. Gecko had fully recovered. After a successful attempt at navigating himself in the dark, he had found his knife laying on a table somewhere. He hid behind the door and waited for it to open.

It opened quickly. "Swanson! You've lied to me! I'm a very unhappy man!"

Gecko shut the door and pushed him into a corner. He held the knife up to his throat. "And you've made me feel even worse. Now promise me you'll never come near me again, or I'll slit your throat and it won't be a pretty sight."

The man snorted. "Fine. Run from me, Jay. But whenever you think of how you survived, remember me. Remember Bear."

Gecko rolled his eyes. "Bear was a tyrant. He raped my friend's girl and killed her. I think you'll have an easier time remembering me." Gecko took his knife and stabbed the man in the shoulder. It was a good thing he did, because an instant later, a gunshot could be heard several miles away. Gecko survived.

Leapfrog frowned. "You shoulda told me that earlier. I woulda forgiven ya."

Gecko nodded. "I know. But do you now?"

Leapfrog nodded. "Don't have much choice. Just promise me... to get more information about how... why... you know."

Gecko smiled. "Great to be on the winning team for once."

more to come...