After a long break, I have returned with another chapter! And thank you to all the views, reviews, favorites, and follows that this story has gotten!
Warnings: Nothing major.
The return trip to Start was anything but pleasant. Whether the teenager said anything or not, it was obvious to Conan that his injuries were draining him and fast. Staggering up the staircase and walking close to the walls in the hallways proved this beyond any doubt. But, even so, Kai would simply have to endure it until they made it back to Start.
As they finally approached the room, they noticed one of the black-clad men waiting for them, a glare present on his face. "About time you lot showed up," he growled. "Now hold still. Any funny business and I have permission from Master to kill."
"Fantastic," Kai mumbled, "just take me out in one shot so I can rest easy." At the man's expression, he said, "Kidding. I like living." It was a small comfort, but Conan was certainly glad that Kai still had the energy to joke around.
The man growled something under his breath, but unlocked the door and pushed the duo inside before closing and locking the door once more. To both boys' surprise, the room was still engulfed in light at their return and the other captives' attention moved to them as Kai walked the last few steps to a nearby wall and collapsed against it, knocking Conan off of his back in the process.
The older boy's eyes closed as he fell into unconsciousness, leaving only the younger awake amongst the others. A few adults watched them sadly, while children gathered in curiosity, but they were stopped from getting too close by the others. After giving the boy some time to sit and rest, a young woman moved forward with a little girl timidly at her side.
"Now do you understand, Conan-kun?" she asked, meeting his blue eyes with her green ones, "our situation is hopeless." Her voice was familiar, one he had recently heard. Then it struck him.
"Akeru-neesan?"
"Correct," she answered. "Now do you understand? There is no escape. Regardless of what that idiot Kai claims, there is simply no reason to hope."
He shook his head, "you're wrong, Onee-san. We only failed once. There're bound to be other opportunities for us to escape." Akeru was taken off-guard by his statement, with others behind her openly staring at him in surprise. "Kai-niichan's going to keep trying, so I'm going to as well."
"Don't you realize it's futile? You'll be killed! Everyone that resists dies!"
"Maybe," he agreed, "but even if we don't resist, we'll still be killed. I don't want to die here, so I'm going to keep trying. I'm not giving up." This, he said in a tone too firm for his apparent age while wearing a resolute expression unfitting on his childish features. It didn't matter. This message had to be received.
"Couldn't have worded it better myself," Kai said, awake, though his eyes remained closed. "If I'm going down, I'm doing it fighting. And while I'm at it, I'll just get the hell out of here, too. We found the door out of here and we opened it… just need to take that last step out and we'll be golden."
Kai's words drew a surprised gasp from several of the onlookers. It seemed like no one expected them to have made such progress at all, let alone in one try.
"Kai-niichan!" Hoshiko, who stood near Akeru, exclaimed, "We're really gonna get out! I'm gonna see Mommy and Daddy again, right?"
The teenager grinned, "Absolutely. Just give me a little bit to rest and we'll be out lickety-split."
The girl beamed and giggled, her happiness quickly infecting the other children and even a good number of the adults. The excitement of escape and the chance to see home and family again was too good to pass up. Even Akeru had no rebuttal.
While the others chattered in excitement amongst themselves, Kai turned to Conan and murmured, "only real problems are that I'm drained… and that I think my arms are in shock…"
The detective sighed, it's not like he had much other choice though. If we don't get the others to feel hope again, we might not make it out…
"I'm going to try to rest… damn it… bullet wounds are the worst…"
"Ah, before you do, can you let me check your injuries?"
"Er… sure." Kai agreed, allowing Conan to look at his leg and shoulder wounds. To both boys' relief, both bullet wounds had both entry and exit wounds, which, while painful, at least meant the teenager wouldn't be likely to die of lead poisoning.
To Conan's surprise, it didn't seem like Kai was too surprised about his query. He was also surprised that the older boy seemed to trust his judgment on the situation, as if they'd already met before.
"Do you have any cloth on hand?" The boy asked, after his musings.
"Hm…? I think so…" Kai yawned. "Check my jacket's inner pocket…"
Nodding, Conan did so, taking a while to find anything useful thanks to the sheer amount of things Kai apparently kept in his inner pockets (rubix cube, check, lock picks, smoke pellets, and God-only-knows how many roses, check). After several minutes, Conan finally found several thin pieces of cloth and took them out to tend to the teenager's injuries. Strange or not for a little kid to know, Conan didn't care. Ensuring Kai was okay was more important.
The teenager in question was asleep again. In Conan's honest opinion, he looked like a mess. He was paled from injuries and blood loss, his dark hair was disheveled, and his clothes were torn from the constant struggles. Granted, the detective was certain he didn't look so great either. But even so, even under the brutal assault, Kai was still brave enough to keep trying. He wasn't entirely sure why, but just this fact alone made it easier for Conan to keep his hope strong. He may not know Kai, but at least he could trust in the teen's strong will.
After wrapping Kai's injuries, Conan sat down once more to rest. His eyes closed, but he kept his ears open, just in case. With minimal distractions beyond the excited murmurs, the detective began to reflect upon his situation.
If what Akeru-san said is right, I was caught after the Kid heist. But if I was caught by Kid, then something's off… What was it…? Conan thought back to the heist, trying to recall exactly what happened. Kid got to the rooftop as usual… Except… he seemed to be in a rush… he almost seemed worried… Wait! That's it! That's what happened! Kid's ankle got grazed by something and he fell off the building! That guy, Forsaken Soul, or whatever he wants to call himself… he's walking perfectly fine. He's not Kid then. A bit of relief worked its way through the detective, though he wasn't entirely sure why. It wasn't like he and Kid were much more than rivals, after all, and yet, the relief remained.
"Um, Conan-kun?" Hoshiko's timid voice stirred him from his thoughts.
After blinking tiredly a few times, the boy in question asked, "What's the matter, Hoshiko-chan?"
"Um," she started, "can I sleep with you?"
Out of all the things he could've expected, this one took the small detective off-guard. "Uh… er… okay…?" he awkwardly replied, scooting over a little for her.
"Thanks Conan-kun," she chimed as she sat down by him. As the minutes passed and Conan began to doze, Hoshiko spoke up again. "Conan-kun?"
"Hm…?"
"You and your onii-chan are so brave… I wanted to thank you for it."
"There's no need to thank us, Hoshiko-chan. It's just normal for us." A faint smile worked its way upon the boy's features. It took him a moment to process that she thought Kai was actually his older brother. Do we really look that alike? Oh well, I suppose it doesn't matter here.
"Still… thank you Conan-kun. I'm gonna try to be brave too, just like you and Kai-niichan!"
"Good," he replied with a smile. After a yawn, the boy settled back down and allowed the heavy blanket of sleep to fall over him.
He wasn't sure of how long he had slept, or if he'd even slept at all. When his eyes opened, he was greeted with thick darkness and the shadowy forms of the other captives. The chatter from earlier was long gone, leaving only an abyssal silence to swallow all sound. Hoshiko was no longer by his side, though she might have just gone back to Akeru for all he knew. It was a lot like it had been when he'd first woken up, except, for some reason or another, the atmosphere felt heavier.
What's this strange feeling…? Something's different… but what? The young sleuth forced himself to his feet and took a few steps forward. Where are the chains? Weren't they here before? Wait, then is Kai around still…? Feeling a strange sense of dread, he started to move amongst the human silhouettes, searching for the older boy.
However, when he moved to the first silhouette, he found that it was a man rather than a teenager. I need to know what happened… he thought as he started trying to wake the man. It was to no avail, however. Is he…? Just to make certain, Conan checked the man's pulse and was shocked to find he was dead. That's what this feeling is… But what happened here?
Knowing there was nothing he could do, the boy continued to check the different fallen forms, finding each and every one a corpse. After each find, the sense of dread in his chest grew stronger. I'd better find Kai-san, Akeru-san, and Hoshiko-chan…
Though, search as he might, he couldn't find them anywhere within Start. Each place he searched held nothing more than unfamiliar corpses and empty space filled with the oppressive darkness. By the time he'd reached Start's door, his sense of dread hit an all-time high.
Footsteps echoed loudly through the emptiness, drawing his complete attention. A shadow formed near the door, freezing the detective in place. The beating of his heart pounded in his skull at a deafening volume. What… what's this feeling…? I… I can't move…!
…Why…?
Why? Why what? Whose voice is that? He thought as he glanced all around him, finding nothing but the dead.
…Why…?
"Wh-what?" he weakly asked, finding himself barely able to even speak from the frozen fear in his chest.
…Why… did you abandon me… Conan-kun…?
H-Hoshiko-chan?!
Conan-kun… why did you leave me with him…?
"W-what are you talking about?"
If you don't hurry, Kai-niichan and Akeru-neechan will die too…
"Hoshiko-chan! Where are you?! This isn't funny!" But there was no reply. The door finally opened with no one in sight. The shadow seemed to have departed sometime during his conversation with Hoshiko. And with the shadow's disappearance, his immobility also vanished.
Taking his chance, Conan bolted out of the room, searching for the others. The hallways seemed longer, coated in darkness, and more decrepit than he'd remembered. Floorboards stuck up at odd angles and shards of glass littered the floors. Broken windows lined the walls and the doors were all covered in what the detective could only assume was blood. What the hell happened while he was asleep?!
As he turned his head to the side in his search, he noticed one the black-clad men leaning against the wall, injured, with blood at his abdomen and mouth. Conan slowed down. He couldn't very well let anyone else die, murderer or not. "Oi, are you okay?"
The man's head moved slowly, eyes meeting Conan's before he shuddered and collapsed. "Demon… Run, Boy…" He didn't speak again and there was little else the detective could do.
Demon…? He can't mean something like that exists. But something so dangerous that even our captors want me to flee…? I don't like the sound of that… he thought as he continued his search.
After what felt like a small eternity, Conan found the path to the basement drenched in blood and corpses, both of the black-clad men and of the other captives, and carved open as well. Suppressing a shudder at the appearance of a child's corpse, he moved down the rotting stairs, hoping that none of them would break during his descent.
Whether by luck or fate, he made it to the bottom unhindered. While it had originally been cold down here, now it seemed like the room was made of ice. He could see his breath without trying and whatever droplets of water had lined the walls seemed to have long ago frozen solid, creating crystalline formations where they stood. He couldn't help but shiver from the cold that quickly seeped into his bones. He'd have to search here quickly and then get out unless he wanted to get frostbite. Hopefully no one was actually down here, but somehow, he knew it wouldn't be the case.
As he neared the door, the shadow returned, seemingly staring through him.
Heheheh! So you're here… But too late! Too late!
"Wh-" was all the boy could choke out. The cold and pressure he felt from the shadow were too much for him. His limbs froze in place, refusing to listen to him even as his mind screamed run!
He could almost hear the shadow's grin. You were too slow, Tantei-kun! Now, the real Demon of the Moonlight has appeared! It approached him soundlessly, growing larger and larger and less and less human with every step. There was a glint as a blade appeared in the shadow's hand.
I-I can't move! Conan thought in panic as the shadow brandished its blade.
Of course you can't. I won't let you. You should have heeded their warnings… You shouldn't have left me alone in the dark…! the shadow seemed to screech inside the detective's head before slashing downward and cutting the boy's right side.
With a pained yelp, Conan found he could finally move again and fled into the next room. I need to get out of here! The shadow followed, but lowered its blade as it walked to the metallic table. It almost seemed depressed.
…You left me here… the shadow accused, moving its head to glance at the bleeding detective. Now, see what's happened? It gestured all over the room, showing frozen corpses chained to the walls in awkward positions, blood spattered all over the walls and floor, and finally gestured back to the table.
Rather than Kai, Akeru, or anyone else he'd seen, the one lying dead on the table was Kaitou Kid. The thief's chest was torn apart and his limbs appeared broken. His monocle and hat were nowhere in sight.
Why… why is Kid here? Conan wondered, still wary of the shadow and now holding his side.
The shadow didn't reply. Instead, it turned and stabbed the blade through the detective's chest.
"Gah!" Conan gasped, practically jumping from his place against the wall and looking around wildly. Everything was dark again. "D-don't tell me this is another dream…?"
"Loud, aren't you?" Kai's voice came from his side, a bit of concern laced in his tone.
"K-Kai-niichan?"
"Yep," he answered with his typical cheer. "Must've been some dream."
"You could say that," the detective replied, checking his side and chest for wounds and calming down upon finding nothing. He let out a steadying breath. "How long was I asleep?"
"Eh, not quite sure," the teenager replied nonchalantly. "Slightly longer than me. Maybe minutes, maybe hours." Conan was fairly certain if Kai's shoulder wasn't injured, the teen would've shrugged.
"Helpful."
"You can't seriously expect me to know anything about time when I wake up to darkness like this, can you?" Rather than sound indignant, Kai sounded like he was on the verge of laughter for whatever reason.
"You two were out for most of the day," Akeru's voice interrupted. "They finished with everyone already and it's been a while. They're probably sleeping right now… or getting ready to start the process all over again."
"Process?" Kai asked.
"It's a type of torture schedule, if you must ask."
"Fun."
"Do you ever stop to think about what comes out of your mouth?" Akeru asked, irritated.
"Nope. Not really." Kai replied with a laugh. "Many more important things to think about."
"You're impossible," she growled, frustrated.
"I'm incorrigible," he said cheekily.
"Oi oi," Conan interjected, starting to get irritated. "So, the schedule… what exactly is it like?"
Akeru took a moment to compose herself before answering, "it's an order they set up about who gets tortured during what time of the day. The lights are turned on at the first and are left on until they're done."
"So yesterday we were first?" Conan asked.
"Right. I guess I should also warn you about something else while I'm at it… each day has its own theme, if you will. Some more gruesome than others. Most days have no specific order, however the ones that do tend to be the worst. The days are also dependent on how long each individual has been there rather than treating everyone the same."
The detective blinked. Kai seemed to have quieted down some as well. "So everyone's different?"
"Correct. Though you and Kai will likely share the same fates given the chains."
"Fantastic."
"Have I ever mentioned how much I hope you drop dead, Kai?" Akeru said, words dripping with venom.
"You wouldn't want Conan-kun stuck dragging my corpse, would you?"
"Guys," Conan said, trying to keep from yelling, "this isn't getting us anywhere."
"Fine, fine," Kai waved off the detective's tone, "I'll be nice."
"Somehow, I doubt that," Conan grumbled. "So is there anything else we need to know about this place, Akeru-neesan?"
"There's a lot you should know… but most of it you'll find out on your own."
Well, that's not helpful… Let's try being more specific this time… he thought, keeping his irritation down as much as possible. "Do you have any idea why we were brought here?"
"You're involved with Kaitou Kid," she answered simply.
"But that guy isn't Kid."
"Right. I'm surprised you figured that out, actually."
"What do you mean?"
"It doesn't matter. But you're right. He isn't Kaitou Kid."
"So why's that freak dressing similar to Kid?" Kai inquired.
"I'm not entirely sure," she sighed. "It could be as simple as framing him for the murders or it could be for any other number of reasons. Ask him yourself if you're so curious."
"…Pass."
The light suddenly turned on, blinding the conscious captives with its brilliance and drawing out groans. Others blinked, waking up at the sudden noise and light.
Like before, a handful of the black-clad men appeared, blocking the entrance and gathering around Kai and Conan before dragging them out of the room. Struggle as they might, however, their efforts only earned Conan a kick and Kai a sucker punch. The two were dragged, limping, back down the path toward the basement.
"I can walk on my own, dammit!" Kai growled.
"You lost that privilege when you tried to run! Now shut up!" one of them snapped back.
Well, things were going terribly from the start. Somehow, Conan felt things would continue to play out like this so long as he was chained to Kai. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or annoyed by that. Oh well, at least his sight was back to normal by now.
"Well aren't we here already?" Kai replied, irritated.
"Wrong room."
So they wouldn't be in the basement today. That was something to be thankful for, at least as far as Conan was concerned. The fragments of his nightmare placed a certain wariness of that place in him. A wariness he couldn't fully understand, but knew well enough to believe in. It wasn't like he expected that shadow to even exist, but he'd rather not push his luck.
"Now shut up and move, brats," another growled as he continued to drag them along, passing the basement and moving to a different room on the floor. Conan watched their surroundings, hoping to find the exit door again, but found that it never reappeared. Darn. Well, you couldn't buy luck like that, after all.
About the time they'd passed to the entrance of a large room with strange indents in the floor, Conan's leg gave out. "Gah…!" The detective was floored, tripping Kai as he was pushed over him, making a heap of their bodies.
"Shit…!" Kai completely froze, expression filled with pain. His arms probably didn't appreciate the fall any more than Conan did.
Conan cried out, writhing under Kai's weight and struggling to get free. Out of all of this, however, he only accomplished further stressing his damaged leg. "Get off!" he yelled, wincing from the injury.
Kai didn't seem to hear him, remaining frozen in place. His eyes were closed tightly and his expression remained the same. His breathing was quick and shaky. It wasn't until the men around them started pulling them up and away from each other that either was able to move once more. Though, looking up at Kai told Conan that the teen was still in a lot of pain and was unlikely to move by himself. Well, it wasn't like he was certain of his own ability to limp with his leg acting up, either.
"Move it," the man commanded, pushing Kai forward. The teen staggered forward, but only a few steps. His eyes were still sealed shut and his breathing was still a bit too quick for comfort. Granted, Conan wasn't doing so great either, limping badly after Kai's few steps. "What part of 'move it' don't you brats understand?!" Another push, another few feet of staggering, another few feet of pain.
"They're fine, Hideki," came the smooth voice of the pseudo-Kid. "Go about business as usual."
"Y-yes Master," the man, Hideki, stammered before fleeing with the others out of the room.
"And then there were three," Pseudo-Kid grinned. "I see you survived the night and found your way back to Start. I might keep you two yet."
"And what's that supposed to mean…?" Kai mumbled, coming back to his senses.
"You'll find out in time. But today, today we continue the game, Little One." He made a move, as if grab at the chains, but stopped and said, "How rude of me. I never introduced myself. I have many names, but the one you may use is 'Vampire.' I'm also quite fond of 'Master.'" Both boys glared at him. Fine, Vampire it was, then. "I wonder how long you two will last?"
Without further ado, Vampire grabbed the chains and yanked them forward, towards the biggest hole in the floor. It was a roughly adult-sized rectangular hole, filled with murky water that reeked of death. Either his dream had a bit too much of an impact in his waking mind, or there was something or many somethings dead in there.
"Who's first?" he asked with a smirk.
Both stayed quiet, watching the water rather than their captor. They'd both learned from yesterday that speaking to him was more often than not bad for their health. It'd be the luck of the draw who had to go first this time, at least that's what Conan assumed. But, once again, Kai managed to surprise him. "Fine. Let's get this over with." The older boy stepped forward, glaring at Vampire as if to dare him to move.
Kai's defiance didn't really accomplish much. Instead, Vampire's smirk grew into yesterday's predatory grin as he placed an arm around the boy and slammed his knee into his stomach, driving the breath from his lungs. As Kai doubled over, Vampire forced the teen's head and shoulders into the water.
Shit, he's going to drown him! Conan thought, looking for ways to distract Vampire and finding nothing within reach. Nothing I can use…! Damn it!
Kai started thrashing about as much as he could, trying to shake free from Vampire's grip as the water became disturbed and filled with bubbles. He thrashed and fought, trying to dodge the inevitable as long as possible, but shortly after the process started, he slowed down, succumbing to the water's hold.
He needs help, now, the boy cast a worried look in their direction. …Wait! If I don't have anything to knock Vampire off-balance, then there's one last thing I can do… Kai, you'd better be grateful! Conan took a deep breath before limping closer to Vampire and then putting his all into a tackle, effectively making the older man lose his grip on Kai.
The teen, in response, jerked himself up and out of the water as quickly as possible, gasping for breath and coughing up the repulsive water. He was visibly shaken, eyes wide and fearful, and all color drained from his features. As Vampire rose to his feet, Kai tripped backward and pushed himself with his feet to make some distance.
The man glared at them both before growling in a low and dangerous tone, "you shouldn't have done that."
"I'm not letting you kill Onii-chan," Conan replied, feeling less than confident and hoping that didn't show.
Kai had become completely quiet, coughing gone and breathing soundless. "Y-you… YOU BASTARD!" he screeched, terror transformed into rage as the teenager struggled to his feet and met Vampire's glare with his own.
"Hm? Oh, I take it my men neglected their duties last night," he shrugged. "Things happen."
"Wait, what happened? Kai-niichan?"
"He…" Kai growled in rage, seemingly without words to describe the situation. After letting out several unintelligible growls and half-statements, he finally snarled out, "He drowned Hoshiko-chan! Right here!"
Shocked, Conan moved his gaze from Kai to the water. So his initial thought was right. Something was dead in there… Hoshiko…
"You make it sound like you didn't expect something like that to happen," Vampire said good-naturedly. "Then let me clarify. You all are my toys. When I get bored of you, only then will I kill you off. I was bored of the girl, so I killed her. It's as simple as that."
Conan was at a loss. Sure, he'd faced murderers before and more than his fair share of death, but in all his cases there was a better motive than boredom. The deaths had actually meant something to the killers. But this guy… he was something else entirely. He killed without caring. Indiscriminate. Even children had no immunity… A strange taste made its way to his mouth; something bitter that he was certain was caused by his disgust in this man. Vampire indeed.
"Humans aren't playthings," Conan's voice lowered and his own cold glare met the killer's. "I don't care what I have to do, Vampire, but I will get out of here and I will make you pay for everything you've done." He wouldn't stand to let this man go free. He would stop him from continuing his game and he would get back to Ran and the others. Even if he had to do it all by himself.
"To you, perhaps," he admitted with a shrug, "but to me, they're little more than a nuisance. They get in the way of my art. And there's one person in particular that I'm simply waiting for. Once they appear, the killings will stop. Until then, however, might as well kill time."
He started shaking and realized his disgust had become a rage just as powerful as Kai's. This man was a monster. There was no other word to describe him. Snuffing out so many lives just waiting for one person… It was unforgivable.
"What's the matter, Tantei-kun?" he drawled, smile becoming shark-like, "Mad at me?" He shook his head, "you're mad at the wrong man. If you're going to be upset with anyone, be upset with the one that's allowing all of this to happen to good people. Blame Kaitou Kid. If he'd show up, I'd gladly stop everything."
He was waiting on Kid? Just who was this guy? What was going on? And what was the connection between Vampire and Kid? One question may have been answered, but now there were too many others taking its place. And was it just his imagination, or did Kai stiffen just the tiniest bit?
"Why the hell are you waiting on Kaitou Kid? What the hell does he have to do with any of this?!" Kai yelled, trembling with what Conan could only assume was rage. The teen may be soaked and it may be cool in the room, but still, with anger like Kai's, anything else just wouldn't make sense. Kai's indigo eyes, while typically easygoing, blazed with fury.
"He has everything to do with this, Little One. I wonder just how much it'll take to stir his conscience… how many more of his kin I'll have to take?"
"Sick bastard!"
"I agree, he really is," Vampire chuckled as he turned to Conan. "I suppose it wouldn't be fair to leave you dry, now would it?"
The detective sent a quick look to Kai and the teenager curtly nodded, understanding. As Vampire picked him up, Kai rushed his good shoulder into the man's side, making him drop Conan in the process, though, unfortunately for the detective, right into the death-water. He was joined shortly by Kai, who was knocked into the water by a swift kick.
"Now listen here and listen well," Vampire growled, tone low and lethal, "if you ever try any feeble resistance against me again, I will make you beg for death. Understood?" When Kai was about to retort, Conan put a hand on the teen's arm under cover of the murky water to keep him quiet. Being bull-headed in this situation wouldn't help them in the least. They had to think if they wanted out of this. And, unfortunately, to have time to think meant playing Vampire's game for a while.
Gritting his teeth, Kai instead muttered, "Fine. We understand. We'll play your game… and in the end we'll be the ones still standing, not you."
"I'll take that bet," the killer met Kai's glare. "Now get back to Start. And take that corpse with you. Those good-for-nothings forgot to move it for me."
"Do what?! No way!"
"I thought you were going to play the game?" he sneered. "That's part of it. Now get that corpse out of here before there's more than one to clean up." With that, Vampire snapped his fingers, drawing back his men, before leaving the room.
Growling softly, Kai got out of the hole. Conan followed, managing to get up over the edge with some difficulty. The men didn't seem to move from their positions, apparently waiting on the boys to fetch the body. Odds were they also wouldn't let them leave without doing so.
With a shared look of sorrow, they set about collecting the body. Kai stayed near the edge of the hole, keeping himself as low to the ground as he could without falling over, while Conan sighed and hopped back into the water for Hoshiko. If there was one thing he'd never wanted to see, it was a child's corpse. A child he knew no less. Forcing his head underwater, he searched around until he found her, left sunk by small weights tied to her limbs… He popped up to the surface for a breath of air before going back down to untie the weights. It took a couple of tries, but soon he had managed to raise her body to the surface and over to Kai before finally climbing out himself. Today would haunt him for a long time to come… of that he was certain.
Taking a few deep breaths, Conan, aided by one of Vampire's men, placed Hoshiko over Kai's good shoulder, making the teen visibly cringe and avert his gaze. Yes, this would haunt him as well. Yesterday's failure was nothing compared to today's. Lives were on the line and any wrong move could easily kill them all. He understood that now. And he was determined to never let something like this happen again.
The game continues... The bet is made...
