Julian seemed to be back where he started... back in the park. The angel girl was nowhere to be seen. He felt a palpable sense of relief that the roller-coaster of moving so quickly in different points in space seemed to have stopped, and took a moment to breath in the familiar scent of the park.
he had been given his ultimatum, and unfortunately there wasn't much choice but to comply. He called up some people on his phone, to explain how the gang was being disbanded. There was probably about ten people or so on the list, most of them untransformed. Julian had realised such people were the ones most fearful and willing... not to mention he could always run into the sunlight, an area most of them were very unwilling to follow him into. A useful advantage.
"I made... a ... boo boo," he said repeatedly. He burned with shame and anger in his voice, as he heard the chuckling laughter at the end of the phone. Bad-ass Julian was just reduced to being somebody's bitch... For the sole reason that 'someone' had got to the top before him. He consoled himself that he probably had the 'right' idea... that this new world had possibilities that were both amazing, and lucrative. To become a figure of power in this world did not demand an education, nor even the right transformation.... it just required one to be a little smart about things, and see what others did not see in terms of possibilities.
Right now, he saw the moon as a possibility... a crazy, crazy thought that even that world could be taken- though right now, it seemed to have a very angry claimant on it- but the 'possibility' was there, that there might be other things...
So maybe he 'did' have it wrong... waiting for the fall of civilisation was not the way forward. The tendency for organisation never did go away. If he was serious about attaining power in this world, he had to accept that there were those already in power, and they would keep it as strongly as he would himself.
Ricky couldn't believe his luck. He had found a few people willing to buy his pictures. They seemed to be nerds as well, probably interested in using the images in an RPG game? He explained that he was not allowed to give the images by E-mail though but said he could post them... but then came to offer to double the money and put it in his accounts instantly.
The tall nerd had to admit, that was probably not a 'bad' idea. After all they were pictures. Even if he did just send them by post, someone else would just scan them in and they might get on the internet anyway, right? Still he wanted to be smart about this. He examined the water mark on the picture. Using some software he was able to remove it. Ricky didn't know much, but he knew how to manipulate images very well. Soon they were pristine.
He uploaded the pictures up on a temporary server, explaining that each party only got one copy. As soon as the download was finished, he removed the picture from the server. He checked that the money was placed in his account... an easy $100!
But then came further offers. Some people wanted to have his picture of the space girl. Somehow a few of 'their' friends now heard of the pictures and wanted in on it. Ricky looked a bit guilty as he glanced at the empty spot of where his console was. He now had enough for it... but still... what about the games?
Well surly it wouldn't matter if he sent the 'same' picture before they distributed it themselves, right? Making that choice he re-uploaded the eight breasted devil-woman picture, and this time made it so that a unique code was needed to view it. He also uploaded the devil girl, the cat girl... It wasn't long before offers just came flooding in. What became two people turned into ten, then a hundred... dear god, there was a total of 144 downloads in less then ten minutes!
Ricky glanced at his accounts... he had just made $1000! What in the world could anyone do with that much money?
The teen was sweating. He- he couldn't believe it. The money was still coming in, and he was only using a few pictures- admittedly they were the best ones, but... he bit his nails nervously glancing again to make sure that his anonymity was maintained. Maybe he could upload more pictures? He had made more then enough... but... he was caught in the sheer surprise and shock that he was making so much money so quickly.
"Okay... this isn't a problem," he said to himself. "Let's just put all the pictures up, and...." he whistled as the counter kept on going up... as soon as it reached $2000 he stopped the system, and shut it all down. At this point, the tax-man would probably notice and that was something he didn't want.
He quickly ordered a new PS3, with ten games... feeling more then satisfied. He also bought a few other things, and was inside just grinning.
He then heard a knock on the door- feeling suddenly very worried he shut down his computer, and opened the front door to see Julian. He gasped... the wolf looked like hell itself had just rolled over him. "A-re you okay?" the tall teen asked concerned.
"You won't believe what happened... has anyone been here?"
"No," said Ricky suddenly even more worried. What trouble has Julian brought here?
The wolf nodded relieved. "Okay- look I need those pictures back. Some weird crazy bitch is on my case."
Ricky gulped. "I- but-" he bought those pictures! They belonged to him!
Julian was loosing patience. "Just give them to me. You had your fun with them, I ain't going to trade back." He didn't even have anything to trade them back anyway.
Ricky bit his lip. Well- technically it didn't matter, he had copies on his hard drive. He was glad to have had that foresight... "Yeah- er- okay Julian."
Julian gave him a stare.
Ricky with a shaking hand gave them all back. "So- er- no more picture?" He asked quietly.
"pft. Not from me. If you want a picture of the changed, you're on your own."
Ricky had to wonder what in the world happened to the wolf. He had become very reserved, very quiet as if... had someone threatened to kill him? Oh hell- maybe that devil-woman? "You going to be okay?"
Julian gave a wolfish laugh. "No man... I just got my tail handed to me by a bigger gang member. I gotta play by their rules for now."
"Oh.. sorry," said Ricky trying to be sympathetic. He didn't like Julian that much but still... someone must have beaten him up really badly to affect him like this. Or did something cruel? Whatever it was, Julian was not saying and it had to make him wonder. However the wolf really looked as if he had seen the face of death itself, and such a haunted look was enough to elicit empathy from the tall teen. It was a familiar look... a look Ricky had worn when someone stronger or bigger hit them for no other reason then they simply could.
...yet... Julian maybe deserved it?
Julian looked at Ricky as the two shared the strange look to the other. It was of a broken man looking to the condemned, and one probably didn't know which was which.
Finally the wolf broke the silence. "Look man, I ain't stupid...not any more," he said. "I know you probably made copies for yourself." he said the words simply.
Ricky swallowed.
"I... ain't going to do anything about it," said the wolf. "Though you will wish it was me." He said it simply and as matter of factly as he could.
"What do you mean?" asked Ricky.
The wolf stared at him with the face of death. "I mean, that someone else has suddenly decided it's their business, and they are coming after you next. I couldn't hide you from them. Sorry dude." Julian was genuinely sorry. Hiro betrayed him... he did not betray his own- his own pack, until now. A pack he believed Ricky could join. The wolf inside him was sickened with such betrayal, but he consoled himself that there was nothing he could have done against a mind reader.
Ricky cringed even more. The pictures were already on the internet... unless... maybe he could say that Julian put them up there? He simply helped him? That cover story could work. It might at least ensure that they didn't hurt him. Julian knew nothing about computers, and he knew how to maintain anonymity. If someone came he could just say he did it under duress! Yes! Julian forced him!
...but looking at Julian right now, like the sick and withered puppy he was, Ricky was of two minds at the moment. They had to make a plan. "What do you suggest we do?"
Julian shrugged. "Honestly? You might want to take your chances in the sunlight and hope that you become something unrecognisable. It's either that or wait for an insane girl to torch this house."
"T-Torch?" Ricky raised his eyes. "My family- my mum and dad- are these people really going to kill us?"
"Dunno. Maybe," said Julian as he scratched his ears with his hind leg. That act seemed to calm his nerves a little.
Ricky was now very tense at the gravity of the situation. "L-lets call the cops! I'm not dying over some pictures!" Ricky said trembling.
"No cops! Julian barked.
Ricky cringed as he took a slight step back- to make the curtains keeping out the sunlight ripple slightly. He was caught between an angry wolf and.. the light.
Julian rushed towards him, gripping him by the scruff of his shirt. "Do you have any idea of the hell I've just been through! Do you have any idea?!" He punched Ricky, eager to give him a taste of just what it was.
The tall teen fell limp down gasping for air.
Julian felt good now. He wasn't able to do anything against that angel... but Ricky, yes... he could do a lot to him. He might as well before the angel got through him too. If they were both dead, what was left to lose? He snarled and ripped Ricky's shirt in his teeth, as the terrified teen begged for mercy. Julian didn't draw blood but, he had to assert his dominion having had it lost and taken from him before.
Finally he felt satisfied that the tall teen was at least submitting to his authority.
"P-Please Julian stop," he said whispering it.
Julian gave another snarl. "No cops. Unless you want them to know our little secret..." He ripped up the photos.
Ricky felt a pang of loss at the sound of the ripping of the original copies. They were just.. so beautiful. But at least they were on his computer.
Julian then left the house, much to Ricky's relief. It was over... "Oh thank God," he said to himself.
Outside, Julian glanced down seeing a rock on the street.
"Heh... He may even thank me for this." he said before tossing the rock through the window. The sound of the shattering pane was only broken by the sound of a scream.
Julian howled at the screams instinctively, then darted away. The wolf lamented the loss of his gang, and of course, of Ricky... who might as well be dead. Unfortunately, this incident has meant that they would have to stay away from each other. Maybe if he became something of value, he would become his pack leader.
Ricky had ran back into his room as soon as the glass broke. He glanced down at himself anxiously. The sunlight probably didn't hit him. Yes- he was very quick and fast. Touching his body he felt relieved that no changes were apparent...
...maybe his luck was changing.
He got up- and noticed that his trousers must have been pulled when Julian lunged over him. They trailed a little over his feet much like his loose shirt. He liked these jeans too...
Ricky sighed in relief that at least, it was all over.
