Dempsey walks up to me after he was done cleaning his ears and face from the blood. I was facing the room, and Dempsey was facing me. He leaned in, trying to be subtle, going to whisper something to me. "Any reason why Takeo hasn't stopped glaring at you for the past few minutes?"
Maybe the voices were saying something to him making him glare at me. But I don't really want to inform Dempsey of that while everyone else is in the room. "Um.. maybe he's annoyed that I just screamed my ass off." I sarcastically point out making it seem like it was obvious, but I knew that wasn't the answer.
Dempsey looks me in the eyes now that he isn't keeping our conversation quiet. "Yeah, and why would that be?" He raises his eyebrows at me, expecting an answer.
I shift in place, uncomfortable, my eyes looking anywhere but at him. I clear my throat like it would cough up the hesitation. "Well, that might just be a story for another time."
He gives me a look making me roll my eyes. If I don't want to fucking tell him, then I don't have to. Plus, I didn't even say I wasn't telling him! I only said he'd have to wait for the story. "It obviously has something to do with Takeo, so I need to know."
I make my eyes finally meet his, the anger in mine making his body frame shrink in fear. "And I fucking told you that I'd tell you later. Do not push it, or you'll know nothing at all." I angrily get out through clenched teeth. I take a deep breath, trying to think of my new plan of action. I mean, my mind is going a million miles per hours. Fucking Takeo is planning to kill me, and I have to worry about Samantha's ass. On top of all of that, I need to get these fuckers out of here. I honestly don't even know what's going to happen after I get them out. Black Ops 3 hasn't come out yet! Well, with how long I've been here, I bet it's already out. Fuckers.
I close my eyes, resting my body onto the wall. I just need to relax even if it's only for a second. "Aoife," someone whispers to me. I groan while opening my eyes. Dempsey walked away from me and went to Takeo, probably to talk to him since I'm not really giving any information. Who the hell whispered to me though? I turn my head to the left and see a grinning Russian. Oh, thank God. I thought I was having another one of my moments. "Hi!" Nikolai squeals with a smile.
I chuckle while leaning my head back onto the wall. "Hello."
He stands next to me still, rocking back and forth on his feet. I couldn't help the smile that made it's way to my face at him being all giddy. "Sooo," he drags out making me raise my eyebrows, telling him to continue. "You know how we haven't gotten the Ice Staff yet?"
I laugh, looking down at the floor, my hair falling down around my bowed head. After I was done laughing, I look back up at him- on my way to look at him, I saw a glaring Dempsey- and respond kindly, "yes, you can have the Ice Staff."
"Yay!" He shouts, throwing his arms around me in a bear hug. I laugh yet again and go to wrap my arms around him as well, but Dempsey ripped him off of me, glaring at Nikolai in an unspoken threat. Nikki got the hint with his hands raised in surrender and backed off.
Dempsey turned towards me, an unreadable expression, but you can bet your ass mine was readable. I had my lips puckered, my eyebrows raised, and I was giving him an expectant look. I mean, I kind of knew what was going on, but I didn't want to say it out loud and embarrass him. But I knew, he was jealous. I hum in thought while a smirk forms on my face. Its kind of flattering that he was jealous, but I will punch him if he does that anymore. I look him in the eyes, now noticing that his cheeks were completely red. I decide to not be an asshole and smile. "It's okay, Dempsey." I lightly coo.
His cheeks become even more red, which I didn't think was possible, and he looks like he's pouting a tiny bit. I shake my head at him with a grin. He turns away to walk over to Takeo. Wow. What a fucker. I'm really gonna fight his ass now.
I roll my eyes, letting my grin drop into a scowl. Whatever, I don't need to be nice to people right now. I need to get the Ice Staff for Nikki.
We fucking finally got every part, but it took forever with Dempsey and Takeo lagging in the back. Not to mention the zombies were fucking us up. I used my Ray Gun and Tommy Gun though, so it's okay. But I'm becoming very suspicious of Dempsey suddenly talking to Tak. I mean, at first I thought it was only because he knew Tak wasn't happy with me, so he thought he'd make me mad by talking to him. You know, childish shit. But, they actually seem a little too close. Maybe I'm just imagining it, but.. I don't know. Like I've said, Takeo is fucking planning on killing me. Dempsey is talking to my soon-to-be murderer. This isn't good.
"Aoife," I hear someone whisper to me again. Oh, fuck. It was not Nikolai this time. I turn away from the Original Four and the staff holders and see the same old lady in front of me from last time I was down here. I look at her expectantly, waiting for some Irish chant, so the Ice Staff would be created. But she says something that catches me off guard. "Beware King Richard III." Then just like that, she vanished.
Who in the flying fuck is Richard III? Like the historical figure? He's from the past, so I wouldn't have to worry about someone in the past... right? Maybe she was only messing with me, knowing I would overthink it. Or maybe she said that as a warning of some kind. Like I would have to decode it.
Another figure walked into my vision.. followed by another, once they came out of the shadows, I realize it's Evil Richtofen and Origins Richtofen. It doesn't really look like them, though. They don't have the same vibes as each Richtofen. "The past is in the present, and the present is the future if you do not change it." They harmonize before walking away. What in the fuck is going on? What the hell does that even mean?!
Finally, Samantha walks up to me. I expect a coded answer from her as well and my expectation is met when she says, "not everything is as it seems. Someone is playing the role of the innocent flower, but they are really the serpent beneath. You need to fix it, Edwina." Again, she's gone.
WHAT IN THE FUCKING FUCK IS GOING ON? Okay, Aoife, calm down and collect yourself. This is not the time to be panicking. First of all, that lady said to beware King Richard III. Then, I was called Edwina... that reminds me of something in history, actually. But that's not the point. Both Richtofen's said that the past is in the present and the present will be the future if I don't change it. So... is that like some transitive property shit? Because the past = present, then present = future, that means the past will equal the future.. if I don't stop it. So I need to stop an event that I don't even know is going on. Great... then Sam says someone is not being truthful in this group.
What the fuck is this Macbeth shit?! First the fucking three apparitions, and then a Lady Macbeth quote! What the hell! What's next? No one of woman born can kill me? I already know the loophole for that.
A firm hand grips my shoulder and roughly throws it back, so I would face them. I close my eyes for a second to regain my stability, since whoever did that was not fucking around, then look up to see who did it. Oh, no. It's Takeo.
I immediately take a step back, not knowing what his motive is, but he gives me a small smile. His body language reading that he was comfortable like we were the bestest friends in the whole world. I saw that deteriorate when he put his left foot forward and his right hand back, balling it into a fist.
I gasp and clench my eyes tightly closed, expecting a hit to land on me at any moment. It doesn't though. I open one eye to make sure the coast was clear, then open the other one when I see that Takeo is in slow motion. His fist moves at one millimeter per second. I study him with confusion when I hear a voice.
"Now." Evil Richtofen booms from the stairs near us. I move out of Takeo's way and move towards Richtofen, the confusion rising in every step, but I figure he'll explain why he's here. "Every single choice you make or don't make creates an alternate universe of what could have happened." He informs, not even looking in my direction. He was looking above me, observing the statues in front of him. He finally looks down at me with seriousness glazed in his eyes. "This could be a time where you could use that deadly scream. I wouldn't recommend doing that though." His faces morphs from serious to cocky. Like when you know something someone else doesn't, and you know when you tell them, they'll be all over you trying to figure out what you're talking about. "You may need that for later.. well, if you want history to repeat itself, that is." He steps menacingly down each step, making sure he took his time on each one to thicken the suspense in the room. He reaches for me and slowly pulls a hand up to my face, petting it. "Besides," he puts his hand down, rolling his eyes while finishing, "you need to stop fighting with your voice. Start fighting with your fists." He positions me in front of Takeo, backing up when he's proud of where I stand. "You can start," he snaps his fingers when saying, "now."
I suddenly feel an immense amount of pain erupt on my cheekbone. "Oh, FUCK!" I shout, spitting blood out of my mouth and onto the floor. With my head still low, I look up, the challenge of Richtofen's words echoing in my mind. "Okay," I mumble quietly to myself, "you want to play? Let's play." I jump up, ignoring my aching face. I put my fists in front of me. "Let's go, big boy."
Takeo tries to punch me yet again, but I catch it midair, twist it, and latch my legs around his neck, letting gravity take the two of us down to the floor. Obviously, though, with the way I positioned myself, he was taking all of the fall. I jump up, bouncing on and off of each foot, feeling the adrenaline rush through me. Takeo gets up on his knees, ready to stand fully, but I don't let him. I land a right hook right into his nose, sending him to the floor again, going in and out of consciousness. What? I don't need this fight to be any longer than it has to be. He picks his head up a tiny bit and looks at me funny. "Aoife?" He asks, confused. What is he confused about? Does he not remember attacking me? I throw my fist in the center of his face again, completely knocking him out.
I take deep breaths trying to calm my racing heart, my aching cheek and knuckles, and to relax myself now that we're done fighting.
"Aoife, what the HELL IS GOING ON?" Richtofen shouts at me while running to the unconscious Takeo, falling on his knees next to him to inspect him.
I respond with an, "I don't even know," then look back to the stairs, seeing Evil Richtofen smiling at me. He nods his approval of the situation before vanishing. I smile to myself as well, realizing that although he may be crazy, there is still some 'normal' Richtofen in him.
Dempsey comes next to me and begins nursing my fucked up hand. Without a single word the whole time, he helps me. But I break the silence with a quiet, "why were you hanging out with him when you knew he wasn't happy with me?"
He looked up at me for a split second before continuing messing with my hand. He mumbles, ashamed, "I was trying to make you jealous." I fucking knew it!
I only nod in response, watching Dempsey's face while he cleaned my hand from Takeo's blood. I sigh, finally happy that the Takeo thing is done with for the moment when something echoes throughout my mind, "beware King Richard III."
