Christmas Ball - Part 3

Battering stepped backwards. Mr Niño and Leoncia didn't turn around, their eyes were focused on General Kay. Topaz brushed

up against him, snapping, 'What?'

'Where's Cannon?'

'How should I know?'

'He's supposed to be around at least.. Just in case..' Battering leant forwards glanced over at the bar.

'He's not there!' he hissed. Topaz shrugged and looked back up at General Kay. Fuming, Battering slid through the
crowd, treading carefully until he reached the doors. He walked out into the wave of freezing cold air and fumbled in his
pockets. The doorman had disappeared. Battering pulled out his mobile phone and stuck a cigarette in his mouth before
dialling the number. He lit it while the tone rang and blew out a stream.

Cannon isn't here… some one has made sure he isn't here.

His hand shook.

'Who is speaking?' inquired a serious voice, coming from the mobile. Battering closed his eyes and took another drag,
muttering to the mobile;

'Inspector Battering speaking - doing an investigation at the Town Hall. I need back up - don't know why, don't know what
for - but I repeat, back up will be needed!



Sapphire ran her hands through Cannon's hair, licking his mouth. Dark liquid swirled up Cannon's throat and ran down their

lips, creeping and seeping everywhere it could. Like cracks between lips. Cannon felt her warm tongue in his mouth, and the

soft touch of her lips. Black, droopy threads hung from Sapphire's lips as she carefully pulled away. Dark gunk dribbled out

of the corners of her mouth. She closed her eyes and purred, 'This..this tastes funny..'

She swallowed. For a second, the darkness could be seen as it trickled down her throat, spreading through her veins like ink

through paper. She looked up at him with deep, dark eyes. It was like looking up at the night sky, but with all the stars

extinguished. She moaned and closed her eyes, curling up beneath him.

'S-Stop that now.. Cannon that… that makes me feeling funny..'

'Who's weak now…?'

'I-I..'

Suddenly, Cannon looked up at the bathroom door, licking his dripping lips. He stood up and took a silver cigarette case and

lighter out of his pocket. As he lit it gracefully and placed it in his mouth, his nostrils flared. Sapphire tried to sit

up, but she slumped back down, shaking. Cannon grinned.

'I can smell darkness.'



'Come on,' giggled Alex, opening the door and tugging Sam out, 'Let's go grab some more champagne.'

He allowed her to lead, smiling - but his face fell as she stopped abruptly. Down below, in the main hall, General Kay was

talking from the stage, reading out his well written speech.

'Commander Kay was more then a father to me - he was a friend and a companion-'

'What is it?' whispered Sam, peering over Alex's shoulder. She was trying to shuffle backwards, but she stood on his feet.

There was a man on the balcony, a few yards from them. Shadow's hid his face and half his body, but the fairy lights draped
above his lit up his pinstriped suit in festive flashes of blue, red and pink. He was holding a gun. It was cocked tight.

Sam's mouth dropped open.

Alex's screamed; 'He's aiming for dad!! He's aiming-!!'

BANG!

Sam clamped his hands over his ears and white light exploded in front of his eyes. He felt Alex grab his collar and yank him
down to the ground as a second, third - fourth shot rang out. There was a loud shattering of glass as the large light about
the hall shattered.

Everything went black.



Mr Niño moaned on the floor, clutching his head. By the light of the Christmas trees and fairy lights, the crowd began to
panic. Glass rained down on them, tinkling as they hit the floor.

'Stop!' yelled General Kay, 'Stay where you are! Mr Niño are you okay?'

'He hit me,' groaned Mr Niño, writhing. After jumping off the stage, General Kay ran over to Mr Niño and helped him up,
'Where did the bullets hit?'

'No bullets,' grunted Mr Niño, swaying in Mr Kay's hold.

'What? I misunderstand you.'

Mr Niño raised his hand and pointed with a trembling finger;

'Him.'

General Kay stared.



Cannon was standing where Mr. Nino had been a second before. He had his arm outstretched, his hand scrunched into a fist -
that had punched Mr. Nino out of the way seconds before. He was glaring up at the startled gunman.

'Cannon…' whispered General Kay. A metre separated Cannon and Mr. Nino, complete with crimson skid marks. Cannon's breathing
was heavy and slow, bordering on a grunt. The left side of his navy and gold jacket was drenched in the same blood which
splattered on to the floor in the silence. The gunman replied to Cannon's glare with one of his own - right into his black
eyes - lost in his disappointment for a second. Sam squeaked and lifted his head up off the floor, peering through the
cracks in the balcony to see the scene unfolding below. The gunman's neck clicked as he averted his gaze towards Sam, which
he quickly broke and started running for it.



Cannon lowered his head and his fist trembling. He spat out the cigarette.

'Sam! Dammit boy! Get after him!' bellowed Cannon.

'B-But..' Sam scrambled to his feet as the gunman reached a spiral staircase and leapt up it.

Veins stood out on Cannon's throat, 'Boy, you do what I tell you! If I tell you to run you run, if I tell you to jump

you jump and if I tell you to shoot you shoot! Now RUN!'

Whimpering, Sam set off after the gunman, pounding across the balcony's wooden floor. General Kay wrapped his arms round

Cannon's shoulders,

'Oh brother! You're hurt!'

'Get off me!' muttered Cannon, shrugging furiously to dislodge the clinger. He blinked furiously and pinched the bridge of
his nose. Cannon's iris slid into the colour brown. His left arm and shoulder felt like it was on fire.

'Shit,' he hissed, before sprinting up the stairs, bounding up two at a time. Sam grasped the metal rail at the bottom of
the spiral staircase and began the climb up the cold stone steps. Frantic footsteps echoed back to him, as well as snorts
and heavy panting. Sam's hands were trembling so much he let go of the rail and just ran as fast as he could.

He has a gun, he could just turn round and shot me, he has a gun- One false step and I'm going to be flat out on these
stone steps - He has a gun.

There was an open door up ahead.

Sam burst out into the fresh air. He stared up at the star strewn sky and then around at the partly flat Town Hall roof.

He's not here.

He squinted at the large silver dome that donned the Town Hall like a hat, but it was ten metres away - he wasn't that
fast, surely?

He shivered and walked over to the edge of the roof, wrapping his arms around himself. Small cars whizzed by, their

headlights sparkling. He stayed still for a while, watching his breath hang in the air, until he heard footsteps again.



Sam spun around as Cannon appeared at the top of the staircase, and was greeted with a scowl.

'Where is he?' demanded Cannon through gritted teeth. His left arm hung by his side.

'I-I don't know..'

'He's gone?'

'Disappeared,' whimpered Sam. Cannon snarled and stepped forwards.

'How could you let him disappear?? You were right behind him!'

Sam hung his head. Cannon looked at the ground as anger surged through his body, but it was over come by pain. He closed his
eyes and wished for it to go away.

'Cannon.'

'What?!'

Sam's whisper was barely audible.

'Why didn't you tell me that you and General Kay are brothers…?'

'It's not important,' snapped Cannon, 'It's my life not yours.'

'But if I had known then I could have asked Kay questions, he's on our side if he's your brother! He can help!'

'In what way can he help? asked Cannon bitterly.

'He could find out more about Mr Niño-'

'No, he couldn't. Why should he? He's a bloody busy man.'

'I-I was just thinking-'

'No, you weren't.'

'No one ever tells me anything…' breathed Sam, tears welling up in his eyes.

Cannon opened his eyes to stare at him.