HIYO! Just in case you don't know, that's my way of saying hello. I'm kinda running out of things to say in author notes. But no matter what happens, they'll always end with enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter 10

Trapped

"Who're you?" Magdala asked quietly. The glow of the setting sun illuminated over everybody. Meno looked up and saw James and Aster.

"Aster, go get the girls." James whispered. Aster nodded. He ran over to the vent Meno was up against and helped her stand up again.

"James, get outta here, or you'll get killed" Hannah yelled. Magdala gasped.

"Did you say James?" Magdala asked. She turned back to James, her eyes shining. "You're my daddy?"

"Magdala…" James muttered. Magdala smiled.

"Oh, daddy." She whispered.

"Come on, we're getting you two outta here." Aster said, joining James by his side again with the two girls.

"Uh, I think we've got a bit of a problem right now." Hannah said. "Look at Magdala."

"She knows that I'm her father." James said. Magdala slowly began to walk towards James, smiling.

"Daddy…I've been hoping to meet you." She said.

"Are you really sure you want to do this?" Aster asked James.

"Do what?" Meno asked. James reached behind him in his back pocket for an object hidden by shadows. He clutched it.

"I'm sorry." James apologised. Magdala stopped walking, surprised. Suddenly, James pulled out a small handgun and pointed it at Magdala.

"Huh?" Magdala said. Aster turned away. An eerie silence enveloped all of them, until Magdala fell onto her knees. She stared at James, tears slowly leaking from her blue eyes. She smiled sadly.

"All this time…" She started. "That I was being made in that giant tube…I was looking forward to the day I'd see you." She sniffed and closed her eyes tightly to control herself, before she opened them again. "You would say…wake up…" Hannah clutched the edge of her dress. "I'd open my eyes…and there you'd be…with momma…waiting to take me home, so we could be together forever. We would be a proper family… and everyday…you and momma would say… "Magdala, we love you so much."" Tears welled up in Meno's eyes, and Aster bit his knuckle like Daisy usually would. "And now… we meet, just like in my dreams. But how could you do this? How could you?" Magdala squeezed her eyes shut. "You were supposed to take care of me!" She wailed. James lowered the gun hesitantly as Magdala sobbed and sniffed.

"It's my fault." James said. "Aster had the perfect opportunity to finish you. But he kept you alive because he knew you were my daughter." He held the gun back up to Magdala. "I have no right to be so selfish."

"But why are you doing this when you knew all I did was dream of meeting you how could you daddy?" Magdala sobbed. James hesitated for a few seconds.

"My son." James answered.

"Wha…" Aster whispered, looking back up at James.

"My son." James repeated. "He resurrected me from the dead without even realising it. I missed out on all the years of him growing up. I didn't even see him go to his first ever day of school. I'm proud of who he is. And yet, I had so many regrets as a spirit. I want to catch up with what I missed out. When our house was burgled on the night I disappeared, I thought of Aster and his safety. I will protect him with everything I can because I love him."

Dad… Aster thought, his eyes shining. You're doing all this for me?

"That's no excuse!" Magdala snapped, tears still falling down her face. "I'm your daughter, and yet you want to kill me because of big brother?!" Magdala looked down at her skirt. "I thought you loved me."

"This is dangerous." Magdala looked up with a gasp. Meno was tugging on James' arm; the one that wasn't holding the gun. "Papa, we should get out of here."

"Papa?" Magdala whimpered. "Why's she allowed to call you papa? She isn't your daughter. How can you abandon your own daughter and let another one grow up?" She glared at James with murderous intent. "How could you?" Part of her hair morphed into an arm and it sped towards Meno.

"Ah!" Meno gasped as it grappled her around her neck.

"Meno!" Aster yelled. Meno lifted off the ground and the arm slammed her into the same air conditioning unit near Magdala, her hands holding onto the arm.

"Papa, run…" Meno choked as the hand tightened its grip around her neck. Magdala smirked, wiping her face dry with her arm whilst standing up.

"Now then, I've got to finish momma's wish." Two more sections of hair sped towards James, Aster and Hannah. One wrapped around Aster, pinning his arms to his side, and he also lifted off the ground and hovered next to Magdala in the air. The other section morphed into another arm and grabbed Hannah by the back of her shirt, hoisting her off the ground and dangling her near the edge of the building.

"Ah! I don't wanna die!" Hannah yelled, trying to get herself free from the hair.

"Stop squirming or you will die!" Aster yelled. James stared at the three children, horrified.

"Hey, daddy…" Magdala started. James turned back to Magdala sharply, his gun still pointed towards her. "Would you be sad if one of them died?" Magdala asked. James' eyes widened. "If you don't know, I'll try it so we can find out." Two more arms whooshed towards Meno, hesitated then one by one they both simultaneously started punching her.

"Leave her alone!" Aster yelled. "She didn't do anything to you! Gah!" The hair around Aster tightened.

"Be quiet!" Magdala spat.

"Ah, I've got a new fear now! Heights!" Hannah yelled.

"It…hurts…" Meno whispered between punches. James hesitated.

"You still won't do anything?" Magdala questioned. "Then they'll suffer more, especially big brother." Magdala snapped her fingers. The hair around Aster tightened even more. "If only you didn't try to kill me, then these three wouldn't be about to die." Magdala sighed. "Big brother and that girl with blue hair are such a pain." Suddenly, the three sections of hair near Meno returned to Magdala to their original length. "Huh?"

"We're a pain?!" Meno muttered, standing up.

I've got a bad feeling about this. Hannah thought. Meno looked up, her face battered and dirtied.

"That's not pain." Her body began to glow pink. "I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT PAIN IS!" As she yelled, pink fire surrounded her body. The flames licked at the hair, immediately severing it and freeing Aster. Before he touched the ground, his phoenix wings activated and he flew to Hannah.

"Aster! You…you're flying!" Hannah exclaimed.

"Yeah, whoop dee do." Aster said quickly. "Hold on!" A pink whip cut the hair holding Hannah, who clung to Aster as he glided back onto the building and landed onto the ground again. The pink fire surrounding Meno suddenly burst out into a huge pink mushroom cloud on top of the building. James ducked behind a vent to shield himself, Hannah conjured an orange shield to protect her and her cousin and Magdala screamed loudly in the blast. When the cloud finally cleared, Magdala lay on the ground unconscious, her hair now shoulder length and burnt on the ends, and Meno stared angrily at her. She looked at Aster.

"That felt good." She muttered.

"Good?! That was amazing?!" Aster exclaimed. Suddenly, Aster fell onto one knee, coughing with one hand over his mouth.

"Aster, are you okay?" Hannah asked. "What's that red stuff on your hand?"

"Blood!" Meno squealed.

"Aster!" James yelled, running towards Aster, dropping his gun in the process. Magdala sat up weakly and stared at the four of them.

Why? Magdala thought. Why are they helping him?

"Are you alright?" James asked.

"I think so…" Aster gasped, wiping away the blood. "It's just a minor injury."

But momma's wishes are more important… Magdala stood up.

"BIG BROTHER MUST DIE!" Magdala screamed, her hair morphing into a giant axe that whooshed towards the group.

"Look out!" Hannah yelled.

Slish!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"

…

Karen lounged on a sofa, reading a book back at her home.

I wonder how Hannah is… Karen thought. Suddenly, she heard something crack. She looked up from her book. She glanced over at a photo of James and her when they were at a New Years Eve party at the age of nineteen. Karen was holding up an orange cocktail to the camera and winking, and James wore a green wonky party hat and had an arm around Karen. Karen immediately noticed that there was something wrong. Karen picked it up and examined it closely.

"Oh no." She said. "James' face is cracked." The crack ran down James' carefree face from the top of the frame to the left. "That's a bad omen."

James…I hope you're alright.

…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" Meno screamed.

"Am I dreaming?" Hannah asked. "Please tell me I'm dreaming." Aster didn't answer. He stared straight ahead of him horrified. What had happened was so fast; it was almost as if time had slowed down. James had shoved Aster away from the axe, just as it collided towards them and sliced the air, in the process slicing James across his chest in a shallow but deadly cut. Now, James laid on the ground a metre away from the kids, clutching his injury as blood leaked out.

"I…no…ah…" Aster stuttered. "DAD!" He yelled dashing to James body and kneeled down beside it. "Say something…anything…Dad!" Magdala stood as if glued to the spot, trembling after what she did.

"Daddy?" She whispered. Squeezing her eyes shut, she ran back to the stairs and went out of sight.

"Dad…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…it's all my fault…I…I…"

"Aster…" James muttered. "It's alright. I just moved on my own. Natural instinct I guess."

"This wound is beyond my healing abilities." Meno said sadly.

"Even if Meno and I combined our powers, James may still die." Hannah said.

"But…dad can't die…" Aster looked down at the ground, trembling. "He just can't…" He gripped James' blood covered hand. "If only I could heal then he would be okay." James' body glowed orange and the blood moved back into the wound. "Huh? Hannah I knew you'd be able to do it!"

"Er…Aster." Hannah held up both of her hands. "I'm not doing anything."

"Meno?" Meno shook her head.

"We're not doing it." She indicated Aster's hand. "You are."

"Me?" Aster asked. He looked at his hand. It was glowing orange. "My god I am!" Seconds later, the wound sealed up and not a trace of blood was left. Aster let go of James' hand.

"That felt weird." Aster murmured.

"Wake up papa. You're okay now."

"Dad? Were we too late?"

"No. He's still alive." Hannah said, feeling James' neck for a pulse. "You did it, Aster. You saved your dad's life."

"But…that was your power I used." Aster looked at his hand. "How did I do it?"

…

Where…where am I? James thought. Am I alive? No…I'm dreaming. James looked around. He was in a study, and he saw himself sitting at a desk, drawing a design on a sketch pad.

"Daddy?"

A five year old Aster had walked in, wearing dark blue pyjamas decorated with miniature rocket ships and rubbing his eyes.

"Morning, Aster. Is something wrong?"

"Where's mommy?" Young Aster asked.

"Of course." James said to himself. "This is the day after Miranda tried to kill Aster. I must've erased his memories later."

"Well…" Dream James started. "She's gone."

"I know she's gone. Where'd she go?"

"She's…she's gone to see grandma." James lied.

"Oh…" Aster looked at the ground.

"She went quite a few years ago."

"It's just that…I feel like I know her, but I don't."

"You were very young then; it's hardly surprising." Dream James picked up his sketch pad and showed it to Aster. "What do you think of this?" James asked, changing the subject.

"He's cool. He's got a wheel for a leg!" Aster exclaimed.

"Would you like to name him?" Aster nodded.

"Hmmm…he's looks like he's going fast…kinda like a motorbike…no, he's dashing like a rollerblader…ah ha! Destiny Hero-Dasher!"

"You're better at thinking of names than me." Aster laughed. James watched the two of them sadly.

I felt awful lying to Aster like that. But it was to protect him. James thought. The study started to glow white, until it turned into a playground. Aster, now seven, wandered through it with a yellow backpack over his shoulders.

"Hey, you!"

Aster turned around, and was greeted with a shove on the concrete.

"What do you want, Elliott?" Aster asked.

"You know there's a fee for going through my territory. Now give." Elliott thrust his hand towards Aster.

"But…all I have is my lunch money. I need it."

"Aw, shame." Elliott said, pretending pity. "Hand it over." Aster dug into his pocket and gave him two pounds. "All of it." Aster gave him the rest. Elliott poked at the money in his hand. "Hmph. We get more money at the orphanage than this. Even that Meno does." Aster stood up. Elliott grabbed his shirt. "Listen, punk. Just because you were adopted by that pro duellist The D, it doesn't mean you're better than us. There are other people who aren't as fortunate."

"No. You're wrong." Aster protested. "I have no family, just like you. I never said I was better than you. If anything, I'm your equal."

WHAK!

Aster stumbled with his hand over one side of his face.

"Don't give me that pathetic crap." Elliott spat. "You're nothing like me. You're not like any of us. There's no place for you to go. Nobody wants you here, so just do us all a favour and drop dead!" Aster gasped, and Elliott walked off, leaving Aster alone.

This is what Aster endured while I was gone? James thought. The scene changed once again to Aster standing in the kitchen.

"Elliott's right." Aster said. He pushed a foot stool to a counter, stood on it and searched through the contents of a drawer. "Nobody wants me here. I'm all alone. I'm better off dead." Aster pulled out a small cutting knife for chopping onions. He brought it to his left wrist. "Nobody will miss me." He pressed the knife into his skin. He winced in pain. "Being lonely is scary. I don't know where I'll go when I die, and that's scary too. But it's better than staying here." Suddenly, the knife was snatched from his hand. The D stood next to Aster, wearing a black suit with a purple tie and his hair neatly combed.

"What's the big idea huh?" The D asked gently. He pulled out a handkerchief from his front pocket and wrapped it around Aster's cut wrist, tying it in a knot.

"Nothing, Kyle." Aster answered. "Would you miss me if I died?"

"Of course I would. You may not know it, but there are a lot of people who will miss you." He placed a hand on Aster's shoulder. "You shouldn't die now. You've got too much to live for. Don't listen to what that Elliott says. You are more remarkable than you think."

"I didn't know Aster tried to kill himself." James said to himself.

Once again, the room glowed white until it changed into a dressing room. Aster, now fourteen, sat on a stool staring into a mirror.

"Five minutes, Mr Phoenix." A voice said, tapping on the door.

"Thanks." Aster stared back into the mirror. "Well, it's my big day today. If I win this match, I'll be one of the top ten in the pro league." Aster glanced at a photograph hanging on the corner of the mirror. He removed it and looked into it. "If only you were alive, dad. I know how proud you would be." Aster rolled up his left sleeve, showing the ugly scar. "Even though I want to be where you are so much, I'll keep on living. For you." Aster closed his eyes tightly. "I'll make the most of life while I can." He wiped his eyes furiously with his arm. "Dammit, get a hold of yourself." Another knocking occurred on the door again.

"You're on soon, sir."

"Right." Aster stuffed the photo in his pocket, picked up his duel disk and made his way to the door. "Dad, please watch me, wherever you are." The room glowed white again, until there was only darkness.

"Where am I now?" James wondered.

"Nowhere." Present day Aster appeared in front of James. "What you saw was no lie. I endured all of this because of you. I had hardly any happiness despite being successful. You're the one to blame for my loneliness and suffering. It's all you." Aster smiled. "But I'm sure you'll be forgiven."

"What do you mean?" James asked. Aster slowly began to grow transparent.

"Your chance is near. There is someone waiting for you." Aster disappeared, and a white glowing consumed James and the darkness.

…

James' eyes snapped open.

"Papa, you're alive!" Meno cried, hugging him around his neck.

"What happened?" James asked, sitting up.

"You got injured by Magdala, but she ran off." Hannah answered.

"We really thought you were gone for a minute." Aster said, moving a section of hair behind his ear. James' eyes widened. On Aster's left wrist was a long scar. "Is something wrong?" Aster noticed James was staring at his scar. "Oh, this? I had a bit of an accident whilst cutting carrots. I should've been more careful."

He's lying about it? James thought.

"You're such a klutz Aster." Hannah said.

"Yeah, well accidents happen, alright? Live and learn." James grabbed Aster's wrist. "Huh?" James pulled Aster towards him and hugged him.

"What're they doing?" Hannah muttered.

"Something you won't be able to understand." Meno answered.

"Friends. Love. Joy." James said, still hugging a surprised Aster. "Almost everything good was taken away from you and it was my death that caused it." James began to stroke Aster's hair. "Aster…ever since the day you were born, even as a spirit, I never stopped thinking about you."

"Dad?"

"I'm so sorry Aster. For all the sadness I've caused you."

"Just go with it." Hannah whispered, seeing Aster's confused face.

"Dad… you don't have to apologise for anything. I've already forgiven you." Aster said. James pulled away and looked into Aster's eyes, smiling.

"Thank you."

"Now come on. We're gonna freeze if we don't get inside."

…

Domino police station

"Deaths at Pizza Hut. Deaths in the park. Who's causing them all?!" A head officer exclaimed, waving papers around as he walked past desks with other police officers. He sat down at his own desk eventually.

"With all due respect sir, we're all trying to find clues but there isn't a single one around. Whoever's behind this is an expert." Another officer said.

"This is almost like that eight year old girl Meno." The head officer's eyes widened.

"Did you say…Meno?"

"Yes sir." The officer nodded.

"What reports do we have on her?" The head demanded.

"Well…she killed many people at aged eight, and she got taken away at age eleven."

"Do you think it's possible she broke out?"

"Maybe. There were quite a few deaths similar to that of in the city where she was."

"It could be the same girl." Suddenly, the phone on the desk rang. The head officer answered it.

"Officer Jones speaking." He said. "What? Is this a joke?" He asked, eyes wide. "A pink mushroom cloud on a block of flats? I see…Understood." Jones placed the phone back in its holder and stood up. "Clarks. Round up all of our weapons. Banks. Phone our researchers. Evans. Send a message to the government." He demanded, walking quickly to the exit whilst pulling on a blue police jacket. "Tell them that Meno is loose."

…

"SCORE!" Hannah yelled, leaping off the sofa and punching the air.

"I thought you were supporting the eagles." Aster said.

"Well I've changed my mind. I'm supporting those guys in red." Hannah turned back to the television, broadcasting a basketball game. "Hey! That's a foul!" She exclaimed, slapping her forehead.

"Do you play basketball?" Syrus asked. "How could you play if you were blind?"

"They put some sort of beeper in the ball so I knew where it was." Hannah answered, not taking her eyes away from the television. "Yes! Free shot for the reds!"

"Was she like this at the zoo?" Syrus asked Aster. He nodded.

"Give her a break, Sy. She's seeing things for the first time."

"What's all the racket about?" Jaden asked, walking out of his room rubbing his eyes. "I was in the middle of a nice dream."

"Who're you?" Hannah asked.

"Don't you recognise me?" Hannah glared at Jaden. "Oh right. You were blind."

"Well, I kinda recognise your voice." Hannah thought for a few seconds. "AH HA!" She yelled, making everyone jump. "You're Jaden." She coaxed Jaden towards her. He hesitated, before walking to the sofa. "Why's your face red?"

"It is?" Hannah went closer to Jaden, until their faces were inches apart. Her cheeks were pink.

"You have a crush on me, don't you?" She asked.

"Er…" Jaden started.

"It's no use hiding it. Because I've had a crush on you too. Ever since I sort of saw you." She fiddled with a strand of her hair nervously. "Close your eyes."

"Wha…" Jaden muttered, but he closed his eyes. After a few seconds, Hannah leaned forward, eyes closed, and kissed Jaden. Jaden opened his eyes wide with surprise and almost pulled away, but he closed his eyes again and embraced her.

"Wow. She acts fast." Syrus muttered. Hannah parted her kiss with Jaden.

"I wasn't really expecting that." Jaden said.

"Yeah, well…I've always wanted to do that." She peered at the television. "Hey! Meno's on television!" She exclaimed happily, pointing at the screen.

"What?! Sy, turn it up." Aster said.

"We interrupt this match to bring an important news bulletin. The murderer in this city, where people's limbs have been cut off and other body parts, has been identified. The blue haired witness is in fact the killer from long ago. Meno, now thirteen, was confirmed to be alive when witnesses spotted a pink mushroom cloud on a block of flats."

"They saw that?" Hannah asked.

"Well, it was pretty big." Aster shrugged.

"Police are now searching for Meno, given the order to kill her on sight. If any further action is caused by Meno, then the army will be called in. Until this all is settled, everyone should be on their guard." Syrus switched the television off, shocked.

"They found out." Jaden said.

"What? Found out what?" Hannah asked.

"What're we gonna do? If Meno steps outside, she'll get killed."

"Should we tell her?" Syrus asked.

"Well, we'll have to." Aster said.

"Why?" Hannah asked.

"Where is she?"

"I think she went outside to…" Syrus stopped in mid sentence.

"CRAP!" Aster yelled.

"What's going on?" Haru asked, opening his bedroom door.

"Meno's on the most wanted, and she's outside. Aw, crud. If someone sees her, she's dead." Jaden exclaimed.

"But why?" Hannah asked, gradually becoming annoyed.

"What's going on then?" Melody asked, wandering into the passageway with Chloe, James and Hassleberry.

"We have to find Meno. She's in danger!" Jaden said.

"Come on!" Aster ran through to the bookcase with everyone except Hannah, who stood on the spot, confused.

"Will somebody please tell me what the hell is going on?!" Hannah shouted, exasperated.

…

"It's such a beautiful day." Meno sighed, sitting on the edge of a fountain in the park. She trailed her fingers in the cool water. "I wonder if papa would be worried about me if something happened?"

"Hey! You!"

Meno looked up and saw a police officer standing two metres away from her. "Is there a problem?" She asked.

"Yes." The police officer nodded. "You are under arrest for murder. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be given as evidence in court and…" Before the police officer could continue, Meno had run off. "Hey, get back here!" Suddenly, vines wrapped around his ankles, preventing him from moving. "What the hell?!"

"Sorry, officer." Aster said quickly, running past him after Meno.

"Seriously. We're actually the good guys." Jaden said, following Aster with Syrus and Hassleberry. Haru stopped to look at the police officer.

"If I were you, I'd try and forget about this." Haru said before running again, followed by James, Melody and Chloe.

"What the…" The police officer muttered. He pulled out a walkie talkie. "Officer Clarks. Over. Meno is in the park, along with civilians who are friends. Requiring backup. Call the army if necessary. Meno has to die."

…

"They know." Meno gasped, sitting by a tree. "They know. What am I going to do?"

"Meno!" Aster yelled, bursting through the trees. Meno yelled in surprise and fear.

"Aster! What are you doing here?"

"Gettin' you outta here, that's what." Aster answered. "It's not safe for you here." Everyone else ran through the hedges at this point.

"Papa!" Meno cried, hugging James around his waist. "They know! What's going to happen? I'm scared!"

"It's alright." James soothed. "Let's go home until we can figure things out."

"Uh…guys?" Haru started, staring through the trees. "We've got a problem."

"What is it, soldier?" Hassleberry asked.

"ATTENTION!" A voice through a megaphone boomed. "WE KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE! COME OUT QUIETLY WITHOUT ANY RESISTANCE AND WE WON'T SHOOT! ANY TROUBLE AND REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WILL LEAD TO AN IMMEDIATE ARREST!"

"Aw, crap!" Aster yelled, kicking a tree.

"What now?" Syrus asked.

"We'll just have to cooperate for now." James answered.

"Then, when they least expect it, we run for it?" Jaden suggested.

"That will only make things worse, idiot!" Melody snapped.

"I thought you'd say that." Syrus muttered.

"You're no fun." Jaden sulked. Aster moved a branch from a tree out of the way and peered through.

"There's a lot of police officers there." Aster said. "They've got tanks as well. Even a few helicopters. What the…is that a missile launcher?!"

"Sam hill!" Hassleberry exclaimed. "They've brought the army here!"

"What did you do Meno?" Chloe asked.

"I…" Meno started.

"It's alright. We'll face them and if they understand, you'll be okay." James stepped through the trees past Aster with Meno clinging onto him. The rest of the gang followed. In the clearing and around the fountain were hundreds of police and army officers, with at least seven tanks, a small missile launcher and a dozen helicopters were circling the area around the group.

"SURRENDER THE GIRL AND NOBODY WILL GET HURT!" Officer Jones spoke through his megaphone.

"Listen. There's been a misunderstanding." James started. "You obviously think my…daughter is someone else."

"WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR, THIS IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING. MENO KNOWS THIS. UNCONCIOUSLY, SHE HAS KILLED THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, AND WHO'S TO SAY YOU'LL BE NEXT?!"

"What he saying?" Haru asked.

"Meno could never kill someone." Jaden said. "Right?"

"Wrong." Aster and Syrus said at the same time.

"What do you mean wrong?" Hassleberry asked.

"It's a long story." Syrus said quickly.

"IF YOU DON'T HAND HER OVER TO US, WE WON'T HESITATE TO SHOOT!"

"Papa. Let me go." Meno said.

"Meno…" James started.

"It's alright. I'll be fine." Meno let go of James and began to walk slowly to the group of officers and military.

"THAT'S IT! GOOD GIRL!"

"Is she crazy?" Hassleberry wondered.

Meno stopped when she reached the fountain, just a few metres away from the men.

"WHY HAVE YOU STOPPED?"

"I'm not going." She declared.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING?!"

"I know what you're like when I'm involved. Even if there are people involved, you'd go to great measures just to exterminate me. You might even give my friends and papa a death sentence like you usually do."

"Death…sentence?" Syrus said slowly.

"I only came this far so you can hear me. If you are going to hurt innocent people, I'm not going."

"You little bitch!" An army officer yelled, running up to Meno.

"DON'T!"

The man hit Meno across her head with the rear of his gun. Meno cried out in pain as she fell and skidded two metres across the ground.

"Meno!" Haru yelled.

"SEIZE THE WITNESSES!" The man with the megaphone yelled. But nobody moved. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? THAT'S A COMMAND!"

"It's Meno." A police officer muttered. Slowly, Meno was standing up onto her feet again, rubbing her head.

"Oh dear." Syrus said.

"Huh?" Melody muttered.

"What do you mean? Meno's okay." Haru asked.

"If you want to live, don't say anything." Aster said.

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Jaden asked, gradually growing impatient.

"Meno has a split personality." Syrus explained. "It's the complete opposite of the Meno we know."

"Only me, Syrus and dad know about it. We saw her nearly kill a tough guy. And something tells me this is Meno's split personality showing."

"Here she comes." An army officer said slowly. The army officer near Meno stepped backwards slowly.

"Er…nice…whatever you are." He said nervously. Suddenly, his head was sliced cleanly off his head.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Melody and Chloe squealed.

"What the hell?!" Haru yelled.

"No way. She did not just do that!" Jaden muttered, shaking his head quickly. Meno looked up, her brown eyes lifeless. A pink vortex that reached up to the sky twisted around her body, making her hair and clothes blow in the light breeze.

I'll kill you all… She thought.

WOW! What a way to end this chapter! What will happen to everyone? Find out next time, only in Phoenix Fire.