KP

"And what's your first name?" The Woman at the check in counter asked.

"K." He answered reluctantly.

"K as in K-A-Y?"

"No. It's just the letter K." He clarified for her. No one ever understood his name. He didn't have the patients to explain either. If it weren't for Carly, he wouldn't be checking in to the hospital right now anyway.

"Okay, you can follow me." She took him to the back. Carly and Tom stayed alone in the waiting room. With each step away from them, KP became more and more anxious and somewhat restless. Tom could easily take Carly and go. He needed to get back to them as soon as possible.

"Wait here, the doctor will be with you shortly." The woman took him to a room and closed the curtain. He got in relatively quick, but there's no telling how long he'll be waiting in there.

It had only been a few minutes since he sat in the room. Those few minutes felt like an eternity until he saw the curtains move again.

"Hello there. Before the doctor comes in, I'm just going to see what's going on here and get your blood pressure." Another woman came in and went over to the computer. "Tell me, what happened to you?"

"I was chased by a dog." KP repeated the lie.

"What kind of dog did you encounter to do this to you? I don't see any scratches or bite marks. Are you sure it was a dog?" She looked him over.

"A dog chased me and I fell in the ditch over by the construction site near the high way." He needed to adjust the story for a nurse to believe it.

"Oh that must have been one nasty fall. Doesn't look too serious, but you may want to get your head examined to make sure. Let me see your arm and get your blood pressure hun." She sat in the chair in front of him as he gave her his arm. This was usually the part where his doctor visits get cut short.

"Your pressure is a little high for your age. I'll be sure to let the doctor know everything Mr..." She looked at his name on the paperwork she had. It was the first time he heard a chuckle from a nurse after seeing his name. He didn't bother asking what was so funny.

He took that time to reached in his back pocket and grabbed a small syringe. He stepped behind her and shoved it into her neck and pressed down, injecting her with the fluids inside. It didn't take long before she collapsed to the ground.

He hurried to the computer and changed the information about him. To Midtown's records, KP doesn't exist, and he plans to keep it that way. He's been in these situations one too many times which is why he keeps his personally made knockout jell on him at all times. She'll be fine once she wakes up. She just won't remember this little encounter.

He went through the cabinets to address his own wounds so he could quickly get back to Carly before it was too late. Once he cleaned up and shredded everything with his info on it, he hurried out to the waiting room looking for Tom and Carly.

"KP." He was relieved when he heard her say his name.

"What did they say? Are you Okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Just a few scratches is all." He said hardly looking at her. He searched for Tom when he saw him walking in from outside. "I should be able to make it on my own from here." KP was still fixed on Tom. He realized he probably wasn't after Carly yet. They want him out the picture first before moving to her. If he's gone, then Nathen doesn't have to worry about rushing to take her in.

"Are you sure? How far is your home from here?" She asked. He couldn't very well lie and say he lived close. That could make her suspicious of him.

"I live on the south side a little passed the school."

"Seriously? We're on the opposite side of town. I know we've had our differences, but I couldn't live with myself if I let you walk in your state." Tom walked up behind Carly. It's been two years and his lying has gotten almost as good as his or Nathen.

"You shouldn't push yourself." Carly added. KP looked to her.

She obviously has no idea who Tom really is. She came into Midtown not knowing Someone was waiting for an Uptown resident to basically be their human sacrifice in order to escape. She has no idea what's going on, and that made it harder for him to get away.

"Since we're all going back that way, I guess it's no problem." KP said. Tom stood behind Carly, and if he saw correctly, he smiled a bit. He can see round two may be sooner than later.

The ride back had felt worse than the ride there. KP had complete visual of Tom and any sudden movements he may make. He kept both hands on the wheel as he drove and dropped Carly off first.

"Thanks for the ride Tom." She said as she got out.

"It was my pleasure. See you at school tomorrow."

"Take care of yourself." She looked to KP in the backseat. He waved with a small part of him wondering if he'll actually see her again tomorrow. Carly went inside her house before Tom slowly took off.

"Take care of yourself she says," Tom started, "If it weren't for her, you'd still be a walking corps." KP glared at him as he spoke. He finally showed his true colors.

"After good observation today, I think she'll be useful to us don't you think? Why didn't you just tell her who I was?"

"I only realized today that signal you transmitted the other day was to try and give me the slip about her." Tom smiled as he listened.

"You know our works are designed to attack specific things or people. I was sure she heard that transmitter but others around her probably didn't. And just like the last three times, without someone to help them, she'd probably end up killing herself from the fear of knowing what you all would do to her. It's better for her not to know now."

"It's just like you to try to protect people. They are but the subject matters needed for our escape. But because she found you so quickly, this isn't going to be as easy as it should have been. I'm going to tell you now," Tom stopped at a stop sign and turned to him.

"You stay out of our way. If you weren't from River City, I'd have done away with you myself. But because I don't have that power, I'll send you somewhere close enough to your death."

Tom suddenly drove toward a grocery store that closed down about a year ago. He turned into the empty parking lot and reached for something under his seat. KP made a reach for the door to jump out, but he couldn't open it. The safety lock was on.

"To have the likes of you in a car I drove disgusts me. But It's no problem, I'll just get rid of it. It's easy to get a car around here." Tom stopped the car at the back of the lot. He put what he grabbed under his seat around the rearview mirror. It was a small box with a small screen.

"I hope you can figure out how to get your seatbelt off through the smoke. And once the truck is nice and foggy, well, let's just say cover your ears." KP instinctively reached for the release of the seatbelt. The whole thing was jammed.

"I knew this would be a set up." He said growing angry and struggling to get out.

"It's been so long since we've gotten this chance. We thought this little reminder would bring back the memory of what we can do. I'd say you got about thirty seconds to try and escape. Just hope you can do your best with those injuries you got from a dog." Tom air quoted dog as he pressed the button, got out the car, and began to quickly walk away.

The screen displayed a ten second countdown. He didn't think he'd simply blow up his car like this. He didn't have the chance to prepare anything with their back to back assaults.

The timer ticked away. It was already down to the final seconds. The small box beeped and began spreading a dense grey fog. It had a strong smell to it that almost gave him a headache.

The fog was strong and thick. After a few inhales, he could feel something was off. His head felt heavy. His vision began to waver. Something was mixed in that fog. Carbon monoxide maybe. He probably set the box to self destruct once it was done. That's how he intends to get him.

He was running out of time seeing the dense haze moving closer toward the back. He managed to bring a leg through the lower part of the belt and kicked at the window.

The smoke was getting thicker. KP didn't have time to pull out his other leg to double the impact. He started feeling lightheaded, but can't give up without even getting the chance to fight back.

He channeled all his energy into one more strong kick at the door. With that one, it finally opened. He lunged out the car getting out of the seatbelt and landed on the concrete.

KP quickly shuffled back to his feet and made a mad dash for cover. The lot was opened without many hiding options. The dumpster that was up ahead was his only way of cover. He was almost there when a loud beep sounded and the explosion behind him commenced.

One of the doors flew over his head. The glass shattered, and he hit the ground rolling on the concrete trying to avoid more flying parts. He felt a new wound on his side open as he rolled for cover. The explosion went in every direction.

KP looked behind him and saw the car charred and on fire. The only good thing about this was there was no one around and this place was abandoned, so there was no unwanted collateral damage.

It was because of the wild stunts like this they pulled, things were going downhill in this town. Not caring who they may harm as long as they get what they want. How they've managed to keep their cover this long was a mystery.

It took KP a minute before he was able to get up. The store was located across from a neighborhood. If there was no one now, there was sure to be someone looking to see what the sound was. He needed to get out of there before he was seen.

Such a simple car prank like that wouldn't be enough to stop him. They've done far worse to each other. But keeping his eye on Carly was definitely a must. Going with such tactics so soon, it was clear that they're desperate. KP will give him the pass for today seeing as he sustain more injuries than he should have. But next time, it's his turn to return the favor.

-----------

I hope you're liking Midtown so far. Please member to comment, share, and vote. Next chapter should be out soon! It's going to keep picking up more and more from here!