Let It Die
Chapter 1
Alice Gehabich turned towards the source of the sound. Two voices drifted into the atmosphere, and she was to her feet, speeding towards it. It was the cry of a Bakugan Battle! Bakugan was often played around the globe, but she didn't get much of a chance to see it.
Alice was home schooled from a young age, and her grandfather rather needed the company in his old age. Today was a rare occasion, coming once a month, when Alice would need to go out to buy groceries. Of course, she always stopped by the park near the store, in hopes of catching a brawl. Unfortunately, by the time Alice managed to reach brawlers, the brawl had ended.
Her grandfather was a big scientist there in Russia, but often had his experiments exploding in his face. Though recently, she hadn't be able to see him. He had been in his lab, researching on a place by the name of Vestroia. She hadn't known what that was when this had all started, by after catching a battle on the Bakugan Battle Brawlers, web page, she had heard her grandfather mention that was where the Bakugan came from.
Alice reached out her hand as two figures came into view.
"Wait!" she called.
When she reached them, she bent down with her hands on her knees.
"Are you alright miss?" she looked to her left, a boy with jet black hair spoke to her.
"Yes, thank you. Were you about to start a battle?" she asked.
The black haired boy nodded his head, showing her his Bakugan launcher. She clasped her hands together gleefully.
"May I watch?" she asked with stars in her eyes.
"Fine by me!" the boy said.
She turned to the other brawler. He had spiked golden blond hair and a blue visor mask covering a good portion of his face, despite his mouth and nose. She paid more attention to him. He had a white trench coat buttoned by traps on his chest, though towards the waist there are no straps. He also had combat boots and purple pants.
"And you?" she asked politely.
She sensed that he gave her a questioning glance, though she couldn't be for sure.
He scoffed and crossed his arms in front of him. "I don't mind having a witness to my victory." he stated simply.
As both boys readied their cards, Alice pulled out one of her own. The world around them slowed to a stop, a smaller world now surrounding them. Both brawlers picked their first Bakugan, and she spoke up.
"Could I know your attributes?" Alice asked.
"Sure. I'm a Pyrus Brawler!" the black haired boy called showing her his red Bakugan.
She faced the blond, who in turn faced her. He opened his hand to reveal a purple and black Bakugan. Alice grinned. Darkus attribute, her specialty.
"Bakugan brawl. Bakugan, stand!" the black haired boy called, and the battle began.
Alice stood, watching the battle between the two unknown brawlers. In her hands, a soft pink notebook was placed, a pencil moving swiftly across it. She noted the strategy of the Pyrus brawler, gazing intensely and engorged into the battle.
She wasn't too familiar with the Pyrus attribute, she actually knew the least about that one.
The Darkus brawler was also noted, by she also noted his mistakes, things he could have done better, and different ways to defeat the Pyrus brawler. She never knew why, but Darkus attributes seemed to come naturally to her. She knew their strengths and weaknesses, and how to use each to the players advantage.
What felt like only moments later, the world roared back to life around them, and the black haired boy was on his knees. She stared in wonder as his Pyrus Bakugan were dragged into a black vortex, and vanished.
With the blink of an eyes, the black haired boy was at her side, wiping excess tears away from his eyes.
"Would you be in need of any help home?" he asked.
She knew she'd need an alibi for being gone so long, as her old one was getting old, but another thought crossed her mind. She bit down hard on her lip and shook her head.
"No thank you. I must be going now." she bowed to him and ran in the opposite direction.
She saw him stop a few feet ahead of her, and she too stopped, not wanting to get too close.
"Do you need something?" the blond asked, not turning around.
"You're a masked Darkus brawler. You beat that kid under two minutes flat." she paused to catch her breath. He still did not turn around.
"And?" he asked.
"Are you Masquerade?" she asked looked straight at him.
The blond turned to her, took a step forward, and she could feel his intense stare.
"And if I am?" inquiry was evident in his voice.
His hand cupped her chin, and she realized he was a good two inches taller than her. Her dark eyes reflected into his blue tinted mask. He could see deep into her, yet she could see nothing of him.
Her breath came out jagged and she opened her mouth slightly to speak.
"Are the rumors true about you?" she asked quietly.
She was quite uncertain of it, but she could have sworn his eyebrow raised a few degrees. He took a step back, releasing her chin touching his own.
"Hmf. Depends on the rumor I guess. Mind being a little more specific?"
"Do you really send Bakugan to a place where they can never return?" she asked.
"You saw that battle. Do I?" she recalled the Pyrus Bakugan being pulled into the portal and made a check in her notebook.
"What are you doing there?" he asked curiously.
She blinked looking up at him.
"Hey, question for question. You asked, now I get to ask."
She bobbed her head slightly and turned the notebook around to answer his questions. On it had been the strategies used in his recent battle, with also footnotes on what could have been done differently, if not better. There was also the name 'Masquerade' written beside a note that said 'Darkus Brawler.'
"Hm. You're quite the strategist, aren't you?"
She nodded yes and pulled her notebook back to her chest.
"What attribute do you play with?" Masquerade asked.
"I don't play." she responded.
He raised his brow. "You don't brawl?"
Alice shook her head.
"Why not?"
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, not looking directly at him. No one had ever really asked her why she didn't brawl. Most people just figured she didn't like fighting, and she didn't. That wasn't the full reason though,
"It's a long story." she whispered, her head down so he couldn't see her eyes.
"I'm listening." the blond responded.
As she looked around the surrounding area to make sure all was clear, soft music began to play. She grabbed her small phone out of her pocket and stuck it to her ear.
"Yes, grandfather?" Alice asked.
"Sorry, Alice, I don't mean to disrupt you while your shopping. I know you take this time to get away from your dear old grandfather."
"Oh, don't say that grandfather, I love you very much!"
"I know, I know Alice. Could you do me a favor?"
"Of course."
"Alice, I need you to stop by Mrs. Kellen's house, you remember the lady who lives by the market, and pick up something for me."
"What am I picking up. if you don't mind me asking?"
"It's a manilla envelope, her husband will know what I'm talking about."
Alice didn't ask what was in the folder, she already knew. Information about one of her grandfather's projects.
"Alright grandfather, I'll be home soon."
"Thank you Alice. Alice?"
"Yes, grandfather?"
"Has something happened?"
"No. Why?"
"No reason, just hurry home."
"I will. Goodbye grandfather."
Alice stuck her phone back in the pocket of her light purple jacket.
"I apologize sincerely, but I must be going." Alice bowed, but was pushed back to a standing position when the male's hand was on her chin once again.
"May I help you?" she asked him, her voice quivering.
"Maybe you can." his voice was low and she could barely make out what he was saying.
Alice gave him a questioning look.
"It's nothing." he sighed, "Run along now little girl." he released her chin and turned away.
"Wai-" she stopped, as with the blink of an eye, he disappeared.
She stood, staring after him for the longest time, but then realized she had yet to go to the market. Her feet carried her to her destination, though every couple of seconds she would look back, hoping to see the masked brawler.
Masquerade sat on a sturdy branch in an oak tree watching the girl's retreating form. She was interesting, and rather sweet, but he could sense the joy and amazement she felt during the battle, and when writing in her small notebook.
He glanced at where she once stood and noticed something in particular. On the ground, not too far from where their conversation took place, there was a small square shape.
He jumped down from his branch and walked over to the item. Grasping it in his hands, he opened it to reveal a journal. Inside the cover the name 'Alice Gehabich' was written along with 'Story of My Life'. He flipped through it and saw there were many entries dating back to the beginning of the Bakugan in the human world.
He closed the book and stuck it in the pocket of his trench coat. The girl hadn't told him why she didn't brawl. A smirk made it's way on his face. He moved the mask slightly, to make it more comfortable. A beep drove him out of his thoughts.
"What is it?" he asked to seemingly no one.
"Have you done you're job?"
"Defeated, and collected." with that, he pulled out a small black hard from his pocket and disappeared.