Times, are they changing?

Part 2: Things needed to be done

Balto, Steele, Jena and Aleu © Universal pictures

Clay, Connie and Ryan © me

warning: Poor language. I am not good at English, so pardon me.

Violence – There is… but not so much.

PROLOGUE

Not now. Not yet. There are things need to be done. And only I can take care of them. Nobody else! Just me. I have no intentions to die right now!

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CHAPTER 7: ... FOR I AM A BOLD DECEIVER!

Connie fell asleep. Ryan came near Steele. “You... I have a talk... with you,” he whispered, but in angry voice. Steele wanted to reply, but Ryan interrupted him: “Not here... go out.” Robert was sleeping, so he didn`t notice two dogs leaving.

See... Ryan knows... you were caught in your own trap...

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If this is the hell, It`s not as hot as I expected... Clay opened his eyes. Oh... and if this is the devil, then... the hell isn`t as bad as I thought.

“Look, he opened his eyes!” Jenna said in calm voice to Balto, Aleu and the other dogs in the boiler room. Balto sighed of relief and Aleu jumped near Clay and shouted: “Clay! I am so glad you live!”

“Yeah, you won`t believe me, but I am glad too,” Clay replied, stood up and took brief look on others. He didn`t know anybody apart from Balto and Aleu. “Where am I, please? Oh, and my name is Clay...”

“I am Jenna, Aleu`s mother, pleased to meet you,” said female husky regarded as the devil by Clay for the first time.

“Nikki.” furry and low one said.

“Kaltag.” replied his neighbour

“Star.”

“Great. Now, where am I?” Clay asked looking at Star. Quite weird, he though.

“You are in the boiler room in Nome; you were cold to death,” Balto smiled, “so we brought you here.”

“Thanks to you all...”

“Hey, Clay, you look like Steele, I must say! I wouldn`t be....” Star started, but then his chin met Kaltag`s paw.

“You know him!?” Clay barked out quickly in excitement.

“Yes, yes, yes... we do. And we know him well.” Nikki replied, looked at Balto who winked and he continued: “And he is really good. Great dog, I must say...”

No one said a word until Clay whispered: “You lie...”

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“I know lots about you.... you... are the worst one I have ever met... traitor and deceiver...”

“Oh, oh, calm down, Ryan... or, should I call you Rhein?” Steele smiled slyly.

“Call me... your death, scum...”

“Oh, what would your dear wife and kids say if they could hear you now?” Steele taunted him.

“Don`t you dare... to speak about them, du Schweinhund!” Ryan bared his fangs and growled.

“What a poor dad that kids have!” Steele laughed. “And what poor husband you are....”

“That`s... ENOUGH!” Ryan jumped and hit Steele. He didn`t even defend himself, just laughed like mad. “Give me your best, hahaha!”

Where is she... oh... great... according to plan!

Ryan pinned Steele to the ground and began biting him. He wanted to shed blood of this heretic, wanted to rip his flesh of. Steele began to cry: “Help me! Please! He is mad!” and then he smiled and whispered to Ryan: “Say hi to Connie... she`s watching you.”

And he was right. Connie stood speechlessly few steps behind Ryan.

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“Me? Liar? Oh no! Everybody knows it`s true! Isn`t that righ, Kaltag, Balto, Jenna?” They nodded, nervously.

“Look,” Clay came near Balto, “Just tell me the truth,” he said with reproach.

“Uhh... you know...”

“Do you think I am weak for hearing it?”

“Yes, but you save Aleu and....”

“If you want to repay me, then tell me the truth!”

They all began to look worried and then Balto said slowly and quitley: “So good... It was....”

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“Ryan...” Connie could hardly believe her eyes. “Why....”

Ryan wanted to shout: ‘Look at him! Do you know who is he? And what he did!? And he began!’

But then he realized HE pinned Steele to the ground, HE had not a single scratch on himself, while Steele was dishevelled. It was painfully obvious. And it was clear defeat for Ryan. Steele got what he wanted: set Connie against him and discredit him in her eyes. Now, he felt so great hatred towards that deceiver like he had never felt.

“Ryan.....” Connie whispered, “get out... whad did you do to Steele? And... Why?”

Ryan came down from Steele without a word and headed away.

“Steele, are you okay? What happened?”

“You saved me! He... he went mad and... Then he tried to kill me!” Steele said gratefuly and looked shocked. He wasn`t lying, at least his last words were true. Ryan really tried to kill him.

“I am sorry for him...oh, Steele, how he could...,” she had tears in her eyes.

Steele stood up slowly, pretending to be hardly injured. “Don`t sorry for him. Now, you can see who he really is... “

“Let`s go home... all you alright?”

“I think I am, Connie...”

Very good...

Really?

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“... and I have never seen him again....” Balto ended.

“But we have,” Kaltag added. “It can be two or three days... he was in Nome, again.”

“What? You didn`t tell me that,” Balto was surprised.

“Uhh... sorry... “

Clay was gazing at the floor. “That`s all?”

“What do you mean?” Jenna asked him.

“He hasn`t changed himself too much, I must say...”

Everyone gasped in surprise. Clay saw their faces, smiled and then said: “Oh that... I owe you an explanation. Well, since you have told me all about him, I will tell you the truth as well. Thing is... I am... his brother.” The rest of dogs didn`t know, what to say. They knew Steele had to have a family, of course, but they`d never imagine they would meet any member of it.

“I thought it when I saw you for the first time,” Balto whispered.

“But you are different than him. You... saved Aleu for two times, and I am very grateful for that.” Jenna added.

“Yes, that`s nice...but I must find him now. There are things needed to be done...”

He grinned and headed towards door.

“Clay....,” Aleu whispered, “will I see you once more?”

“Oh that.... I am pretty sure that`s not the last time you see me..., hi!”

And he left boiler room.

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Steele and Connie laid themselves near the fireplace. And now it was Connie, who looked after Steele. “You are hurt....” she whispered and began licking his wounds.

And then Steele said something nice to her: “I love you, Connie... when I saw you for the first time I... I...”

“Don`t say a word... I love you too, Steele.”

Now, my revenge waits... one is out and second loves me. It can`t be better....

You fool! It can`t be better, but it will be WORSE! You hurt her, but she doesn`t know. Are you such merciless or just stupid?

SHUT UP, finally!

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CHAPTER 8: WHO ARE YOU?

Ryan returned just few hours after Steele and Connie. He felt such helplessness and hatred. Like Steele hated Balto, Ryan hated Steele. Connie welcomed him with the look full of aversion and Steele with grin full of slyness. Now, he hated them both, Connie and Steele.

Steele, for he was ... he didn`t find the words that could describe what Steele was.

Connie, for she was so stupid and naive.

And he hated even himself for being stupid, too. He moved under the Robert`s table and fell asleep, there. But before that, he had turned his back on them. He didn`t want to see them.

He didn`t want to see himself, either.

But he had to. And one more important thing happened. One of Robert`s friends, who passed his cabin, asked Robert if he could borrow Connie for to ride to Nome. One of his sledge dogs was injured near Robert`s cabin, and he needed replacement for it. He rode to Nome because he needed medicine for his wife, so Robert agreed. He knew his friend was good and trusty, so he lend him Connie and took care of the injured one.

Day passed. Robert stayed with his dogs and the injured one, so Steele nor Ryan hadn`t any opportunity to kill each other, if they didn`t want kill themselves infront of their master`s eyes.

Connie didn`t speak with anybody, and in Nome she took a brief walk. She thought of Steele and Ryan. And it was dark thoughts. She didn`t believe and understand it. Calm Ryan turned himself into the bloodthisty beast. But – she had to admit - he had been nervous and suspicious since Steele came. But was there anything wrong with Steele? No, he was so cute, pleasant and... she loved him.

‘But wait... maybe Ryan wants to protect me. But then he must know something I don`t... I said I didn`t care about his past... his past... Oh, Steele. I love you, but who you are?’

She was about to cry. She sighed deeply, and everything she wanted to do was to coil up and cry.

‘No, no.... I mustn`t think like this. Just smile...’ and after short battle with her thoughts she managed to smile shortly, but sadly. Then she saw two dogs coming her way. One looked like wolf, but second – and Connie was sure about that – was purebred husky.

“... but after all, he was nice to everybody...”

“Yes, love. Aleu wants to see him again. I think she has taken a liking to him...”

“Maybe she sees an older brother in him. You know, I