Chapter 9

Third Person:

As the sun arose to brighten the empire with light, Devon made his way out of Dirtsa's palace. His fingers twitched on his suitcase as he stomped on the paved walkway. Anger spread to his face, now making his eyebrows twitch. Thinking about Dirtsa's attempt to disgrace him, he thought nothing else could get him more frustrated. Within his eyesight, there was a younger man rushing his way. When he made out his face he sped towards him and gripped Zero's collar ever so tightly.
"You little bastard. What do you think you're doing?"
"Why do you care? Get out of my way."
Devon gripped the collar tighter causing Zero to choke. "Not after insulting my name."
"You're still on about that?" I already moved out of the house! You already killed Camille! What else are you going to do to me? Keep me from saving Astrid?"
"Astrid? You mean your replacement for Camille? Why would she be at Dirtsa's palace?"
"Mind your own business."
"This is my business. Dirtsa is my client. If you don't tell me, you won't be let off so easily."
"Fine, whatever. I'll tell you now would you let go?"
Devon releases his grip on Zero's collar, allowing Zero to breathe easier. "Start talking."
"It's a long story."
"Make it short."
"Let me finish! Long story short, Dirtsa stole Astrid's body to revive herself.
"Why her?"
"Let me finish! Because she is 'that certain someone' Dirtsa needed to come back."
"Her? Impossible."
"I thought it was impossible too but when I looked into it more, it made more sense."
"And how do you plan on rescuing her from Dirtsa's grasp?"
"That... I don't know."
"So you just looked things up and ran here without a plan?"
"To briefly say, yes."
Placing his hand on his forehead, Devon sighs in irritation. "Now that you realize your foolishness, what will you do now?"
"Umm... go to Dirtsa's place."
"And?"
"Save Astrid."
"You dimwit! How will you save Astrid without an official plan?"
"I don't know, how?"
"This leaves me no choice." Devon turns away, stepping closer to the palace. "I'll come along with you."
Zero suspects Devon's change of mind. "What are your actual motives?"
"Taking back the deal I made with Dirtsa by saving your girlfriend."
"Why?"
"Ha. You don't even deny her being your girlfriend anymore." Devon snickers. "From your appearance, it looks like she hasn't done her side of the deal."
"What was the deal?"
"Nothing that concerns you. Shall we go or not?"
"Okay but we aren't working together. We're just working on the same objective." Zero clarifies while walking toward the palace.
"With different reasons. Of course." finishes Devon as the walk with a distance between each other.

Dirtsa's POV:

"Oh how lovely to have some familiar guests." Dirtsa says as she brushes her brown knotted hair. "Or should I say customers?"
Neither fit for them.
"Oh shut up. You don't know anything."
Neither do you.
"Arg! I can't stand you anymore!"
So that's why you rarely sleep.
"Ethan!"
"Yes mistress?"
"Welcome our guests."
"Certainly."
When Ethan exits the room, Astrid's voice plays through Dirtsa's head.
So you're controlling all your chasers?
"I have no need to. They obviously want to serve under me."
Doubt it.
"Would you shut up for once you-"
"Why don't you shut up?" says Zero as he glares at Dirtsa with hatred.
"I'm deeply sorry mistress! They just barged in!"
"Oh. They're still under your manipulation?"
"What a surprise to see you two hear." Dirtsa smiles.
"Here. Let's put it on easy terms. You give up and give back Zero's girlfriend or I undo your control."
"What happened to our deal?"
"You didn't complete it within the time given so it's called off. I can destroy Zero's happy future myself. You being alive is enough trouble especially with minions."
"You're saying I rely on those idiots? Think wrong. Go ahead and undo your control. I'm capable of anything even without chasers."
"Lets see about that." Devon pulls out a potion and throws it on the crystal floor. It shatters without spill, leaving a stingy scent with shattered glass. The next moment, Ethan clutches his forehead for the next few seconds. He regains his posture in front of Dirtsa.
"Now what'll you do?"
"Well isn't it obvious? Ethan! Get rid of the trash."
"I'm not your slave anymore. Do your own chores."
"What did I tell you?" Devon snickers as he nudges Zero.
Dirtsa's expression darkens. "What? Fine!" She hold up her hand, preparing Lost Magic.

Zero's POV:

"Leave the fighting to me." I prepare my battle stance as Dirtsa prepares her magic. My cyborg side doesn't program. No. Not now! A warning appears right below my eyesight. Upgrades needed. Latest upgrade for $4.99 Shit. Bad timing. I ignore the upgrade and use my cyborg skills. Even if it's weaker without an upgrade, I have no other choice. I disable my human side and go full cyborg. I have 3 minutes without the upgrade. No problem. I start with my signature attack, 3 blasts and a side kick. Dirtsa blocks the first two but lets her guard down for the third and gets full damage from the kick. My turn isn't done yet. Before I can plan my next move, Dirtsa starts to heal. Fast healing skills? Oh right. Lost Magic. If I aim for the nape of her neck, her healing process will shut down. Then I remember Astrid. If I do that, it would affect Astrid too. Realizing this, I stare at the ground with my eyes widened. When I harm Dirtsa, I harm Astrid. Is there no way around this?
"I see you finally noticed it's useless to kill me. If you kill me, you kill Astrid." Dirtsa spat out as she crossed her arms, showing her healed arm. "Let me explain to the rest of you idiots. When one loses the other half of them, there will be a 50% chance they will die or survive. Either way, they'd die later on. Right now, we're in the same body so we have a 100% chance of living. When this body shuts down, it will affect both of us. Even if you don't kill me, I'll die and Astrid would be alive and unreachable as she is now. So now what's your plan?"
"...The same as before." I didn't think the day would come that I'd have to use this skill. Never yet, I didn't think I needed this skill until now. Astrid needs me, I need her. I'm willing to take the risk of not coming back. I steady my breathing and extend my arm to aim at Dirtsa's heart.
"You know that won't work."
I step closer to her, closer to Astrid. I can't bare to watch Dirtsa's expression on Astrid's face so I keep my gaze down.
"It's useless!"
I sense Dirtsa's rising panic as I inch closer and closer to save Astrid. I place my hand on her breast. Hey, it's not what you think it is.
"She'll die! You'll die! Are you listening?!"
I said I would save Astrid from her misery. She trusted me. I need to show my trust in order to become her friend. Well, maybe more than that now. I release my desirable powers into Dirtsa's soul, where Astrid is.

Astrid's POV: (Forget third person. ;P)

Just when I gave up all hope in getting out of here, a silhouette of a hand was outstretched to me. Somehow, it reminded me of Zero. Ha, to think of Zero at a time like this. Why should I even think of him? He's the one who said he was to be trusted and he let my trust go to waste. He could have prevented this by not only staring at me during training but also helping me train. I thought it was pretty obvious I was having trouble with my sword. I'm not blaming him or anything. It's my own fault for not telling him. I just wish he knew more about me. He says he'll become my friend by how? Just knowing me isn't going to get you to be friends with me. No one ever knew me, especially Zero. I thought I had a feeling or two for him but I bet it's gone by now. Knowing that reaching out for the hand is basically suicide, I reached for it anyways. What's the point wasting eternity here when I can just end it here? I can finally end this misery... myself.

Zero's POV:

I felt a hand, Astrid's hand. Oh god, I am so glad it worked out. I pull it out before she can change her mind. Dirtsa falls to the ground on all fours.
"You... have chosen... wrong..."
I didn't even care to listen to Dirtsa final last words. I had Astrid in my arms again. I don't need anything else. I smile and peer at her face, not bothering to get up. Her eyes are closed, unable to see the everlasting happiness I'm feeling. Impatiently, I shake Astrid by her shoulder. I hear a groan in response.
I sigh in relief. "What did I tell you?"
Her eyes open half way."No..."
"No?"
"You tell me... life isn't a fairy tale... and you act... as if it is..." stutters Astrid.
"What are you talking about...?"
"Don't tell me... you thought you could just... release me from her... and everything would be alright?" Astird coughs and a drop of blood slips out of her kissable lips. "You obviously... aimed wrong."
"I aimed wrong? Isn't the heart where the soul lies?" I really wanted Astrid to stop talking and start healing but I just had to know what was wrong.
"Remember that... soul I ate?"
"Wait, you actually have two souls?"
"Had. It's in Dirtsa. I only... have this half..." What? Then the other soul would be on the other side of the heart.
My smile disappears. "No... this can't be happening..."
Astrid's eyelid give in. "You also... thought you were... my friend." Astrid wheezed. "You were never... a friend..." I feel her pulse slowing down. This can't be. And I thought Dirtsa's revival was my worst nightmare. Unable to keep track of my thoughts, I fail to respond. Tears fill in for the words.
"But..." Astrid trails off. I feel for her heartbeat. I caress her head to my chest, trying to keep my thinking straight.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Such a sour love story, huh?" laughes Dirtsa wickedly.
"You could have given him a moment." says Devon.
"It's done sir." Ethan appears at the doorway.
"Done? What's done?"
"You're about to see it... or should I say feel it?"
With a haunted look, Dirtsa put her hands over her chest. I had a feeling I wouldn't want to look so I stare down on Astrid's lifeless face. I'm not going to let Dirtsa get away with this. After a moment of choking sounds, I feel a different kind of spiritual pressure. I look up to see the same exact soul Astrid once eaten. I have an idea. I snatch the soul away from Dirtsa's reach and push it in Astrid's mouth. I didn't even listen to what Dirtsa had to say. When it went through, I wait. I wait and nothing happens.
"That... isn't going to work." stuttered Dirtsa.
"What are you talking about?"
"Someone who... wasn't meant to exisist... doesn't have a soul..."
"What? But- She- Why-"
"Her purpose... was to revive me... with my soul. She... never had her own... soul to begin with." Horror fills my face. So there's no way to bring back Astrid?
Dirtsa falls to the ground, face forward. All the questions I held remained unanswered.

Third Person:

Zero was left with a dreadful expression motioning Devon and Ethan to let him take a breather. They left without a sound as if nothing happened. Zero just stood there for hours, trying to get it together.


The starry sky filled the upper view as Zero started to walk aimlessly. He didn't even know what to do. Maybe just wander around and find another replacement. He shook his head.
"What am I thinking? How could I replace Astrid?" He recognized these words. These exact words spoken on the day Camille was taken from me. As he walks endlessly he sees a crying girl near a post. He approaches her with curiosity. He looks down at her, extending his hand. Then it struck him.
I'm such a monster.

A/N: You guessed it! This is the last chapter of Solitary Chase. The ending isn't really clear to normal thinking so if this story gets 30 views (4 more!) then I'll consider an after story chapter. It'll pretty much be chapter 10. Sorry for my horrible formatting back in the earlier chapters. See you next time! ;D