Chapter Nine

Mandra Ruins EVERYTHING!

The gang got off the tour bus down town New York and Gizmo was jumping up and down with excitement. They walked down the street a bit until they came to a small building with a big, neon lit up sign, it read "The Outlet."

"The Outlet? What is this? A small mall or something?" Nova asked.

"It's a night club." Gizmo answered.

"A night club? Seala, I thought you said you weren't into that kind of thing." Gibson questioned.

"I'm not. It's not a night club exactly. Have you ever heard of one of those places where people go to read poems or just to hang out?" Seala asked.

"Uh…yes, but what does that-"

"This is one of those places."

"Seala? You poem?" Elella asked.

"A little, yes. Gizmo and I have been doing it for years now."

"I can't wait to hear this." Elella sarcasized.

"Wait a second. We don't look the part like you four do. I mean, look at these old things Seala." Carbon pointed out.

"Good point."

"I've been meaning to ask this. How are you girls so caught up in fashion? I mean I know the guys aren't into fashion like you are." Nova asked.

"Well, we're girls. That's what we do." Gizmo answered.

"Okay…but I'm a girl and I'm not caught up in fashion."

"No, you are. You just don't realize it. Come on, let's go get you some clothes to wear in New York." Seala said walking across the street with Gizmo.

The rest followed close by to a clothes shop across the way.

"Okay, so you two are positive you can handle this?" Gizmo asked.

"No problem." Otto assured.

"Okay. Just in case you need one of us, here, take these." Seala said handing two cell phones to Gibson and Otto. "Gizmo is speed dial number 2 and I am speed dial number 3. Got it?"

"Seala, no worries. Otto and I have got this." Gibson said.

"Okay. Well, we'll meet you at the dressing rooms before the hour. Got it?"

"Got it! Good-bye!" The two boys said pushing the girls off and running the opposite direction.

An hour pasted by and everyone met outside in their new outfits.

"Whoa…that is all I gotta say to you boys." Gizmo said.

"I agree. Gibson, Otto, you two did a great job with them." Seala agreed.

"Same for the girls. They look positively-What's the word?" Antauri asked.

"I believe you're looking for unmatched." Melodie said.

The girls giggled at Melodie's small joke. Picture links are on my profile (did best I could with finding short links. Never really done that before.)

"Well? Are we going to the club are not?" Gizmo asked.

"Okay, okay. Let's go before Gizmo has a heart attack on us." Seala said pushing Gizmo across the street.

Everyone followed Seala and Gizmo to the door of the club, where a huge security guard stood, and waited their turn.

"Why is there a guard at the door?" Carbon asked.

"Because, it's an exclusive club." Seala answered.

"But we don't have anything to get in."

"Yes you do. You have Gizmo and I. We're exclusives here and we can bring anyone we want and as many people we want."

"Yeah, and since you're with us, you can come in too. Pretty neat system they got here isn't it?" Gizmo said.

They got to the door and Gizmo and Seala showed the guard their cards to enter the building.

"Oh, you two don't need to show me your cards. You're welcome here anytime."

"Aw…thanks Ernest. You're so sweet." Gizmo said.

"Hey, you two preforming tonight? You know how I love your poems."

"We're thinking about it. Maybe we could do that new piece we've been working Gizmo. That'd blow the roof off the place." Seala said.

"Can't wait to hear it. Break a leg you two."

"Thanks, see you after closing." Gizmo said.

"Next!" Ernest shouted.

The others started to walk in the door when Ernest stopped them with his hand, which Chiro walked right into.

"Uh…we're with them." Chiro said pointing at Gizmo and Seala.

"No card, no entrance."

"Ernest, it's okay. They're with us." Seala said linking her arm with Gibson's.

"Yeah, the ten of them are." Gizmo said linking her arm with Otto's.

"Oh…okay. But if they cause any trouble, they're out of here."

"They won't. We promise." Seala said.

Then the twelve of them walked in and it was so quiet, except for one person who was on the stage.

"Wow. This place is…um…" Nova couldn't find the right words.

"Dark? We should've warned you." Seala said.

"Warned us? About what?" Melodie asked.

"This place, it's for goths. Seala and I are semi-goths, not completely."

"And goth is what exactly?" Sprx asked.

"Dark…we don't like really light colors." Seala exampled.

"But not evil. No way would we ever be evil." Gizmo said.

"I'm okay with it, as long as they're not evil." Melodie said.

"So you'll stay?" Gizmo asked.

"I don't see the harm in staying here for a bit. What do you think Antauri?" Melodie asked.

Antauri nodded. And so it was settled that everyone would stay until Seala and Gizmo wanted to leave.

"Come on, our table is right over—Hey! What's that girl doing at our table?" Gizmo asked.

"I'm not sure, but it looks like—Oh no."

"What's 'oh no' mean?" Nova asked.

"Oh no, that's Mandra sitting in our seats." Seala said.

"How can you tell?" Sprx asked.

"Mandra has a ponytail and I don't think humans have tails either." Seala pointed out.

"We better hid before she sees us." Gizmo said.

"I don't need to be captured by her again. That was just torture." Gibson said following the others to the other side of the café."

"Come on, here's another table that's not assigned to anyone." Seala said sitting down.

"Man, that was the best seat too." Gizmo said pouting.

"It's okay Gizmo. We'll sit there next time." Seala assured.

Then Gizmo came out of her pout and smiled real big.

"Okay. Hey, when do you go on?" Gizmo asked.

"Next, and then it's your turn."

"Okay."

"Someone bounces back quickly." Nova whispered to Melodie.

"That was terrific Sara. Now, up next is Seala." A woman said.

She was dressed in black and her hair was short and dark brown.

"That's me." Seala said walking away from the table.

Everyone was snapping and the only one out of the eleven at the table snapping was Gizmo.

"Uh…why is everyone snapping?" Blaze asked.

"He talks." Elella joked.

Blaze just made a face toward her.

"Anyways…that's what you do here. Instead of clapping, you snap your fingers." Gizmo explained.

"I don't know how to snap." Otto said.

"Just put your fingers together, like this, and snap them." Gizmo said helping with Otto's fingers.

"Oh, I got it now." Otto said.

Then he tried it and got a small sound.

"You got it. A little more practice and you'll be really good." Gizmo said.

Then the microphone was tapped once and everyone's attention was drawn to the stage.

"Good evening everyone. My name is Seala." Everyone snapped their fingers. "Uh…I haven't been here for a while so I'm just going to wing it from up here. Sorry."

Seala's poem started with her talking.

"Close my eyes, I try to hide, I'm listening to my voice inside, What's one to tell me right or wrong, I need to know where I belong, For all the days I ran away, I never dare to ask me who could I be, Who can bring back the love that's inside meCould it be you/Or do I lose my way/I'm here but colorblind/Could It be you/Or do I break away/So leave the past behind/I only wanna feel the sunlight stop the fight and see it in your eyes/Wish I just knew what I should do/Could it be you/Somebody tell me if it's true I don't have a clue/Could it be you/Too many things said and done/Sure if you could be the one/To dry the tears I left behind/To chase these demons off my mind/I see your face/Touch your skin/Is this a fight/We both can't win/Sometimes the truth is miles apart/But it's hard to break your heart/Could it be you/Or do I lose my way/I'm here but colorblind/Could It be you/Or do I break away/So leave the past behind/I only wanna feel the sunlight stop the fight and see it in your eyes/Wish I just knew what I should do/Could it be you/Somebody tell me if it's true I don't have a clue/Could it be you/Baby I don't wanna waste your love/Though it's hard to just walk on/Well will this hurt be never ending/Where do I belong/Could it be you/Or do I lose my way/I'm here but colorblind/Could it be you/Or do I break away/Just to leave the past behind/I only wanna feel the sunlight stop the fight and see it in your eyes/Wish I just knew what I should do/Could it be you/Somebody tell me if it's true I don't have a clue/Could it be you/Maybe it is me/Used to plan to see that it's you/For everything I am everything I need lies in you"

Then Seala realized what she did and blushed hard on the stage and started to look like she was going to cry when something happened. The crowd went into a roar of clapping and cheering. And Seala calmed down and bowed a few times then ran down the stairs to the table they were at and sat down.

"What was that?" Gizmo asked.

"I'm not sure. I couldn't help it. I guess I got the singing b-b-bug up there."

"Well, I guess you'll be okay for now. It's my turn now."

Then Gizmo stood up and ran over to the stage. When she left, someone walked over to the table.

"Mandra, what do you want?" Elella asked.

"Just this." Then she slapped Otto on the back of the head, making him fall on the floor.

"Otto! What'd you do to him?" Sprx asked.

"Let's see if Gizmo likes her boyfriends evil." Mandra said before taking out a remote and pressing a button.

Then Otto stood up, face down toward the floor. Gibson stood up and walked over, gently touching Otto's shoulder.

"Otto, are you okay?" He asked.

Then Otto shot his head up and pushed Gibson to the floor.

"Gibson! Are you okay?" Seala asked kneeling down next Gibson.

"I think so. Otto, snap out of it!" Gibson shouted.

"I don't think he can hear you. Sorry. Come Otto, let's go."

"Not this time Mandra!" Carbon said before kicking Mandra across the room.

Everyone started screaming and running outside, running over Ernest in the process and knocking him out. After a few minutes, Gizmo stopped her poem and realized Otto was fighting with Mandra and ran off to help.

"Otto! What are you doing?"

Then Otto tried to strike Gizmo with a saw, but she blocked it with one of her saws.

"Stop this Otto! Come on! Please?" They started fighting each other and it started to look like a dance. But after a few attempts, Mandra noticed Otto was weakening.

"Otto! Retreat!" Mandra shouted.

Then Otto grabbed Gizmo's waists, twisted her around and kicked her in the back, causing her to go across the room and smash into a few tables. And then ran out the door, following Mandra. After everyone got to their feet, they ran over to Gizmo. Gibson and Melodie got the table rubble off of Gizmo, and Seala, seeing Gizmo crying, kneed down next to her and hugged her.

"Oh, it's okay. He'll be back." Seala assured.

Gizmo just cried as hard as she could for hours, even on the way to the hotel. She stopped after three hours, but buried herself in the covers of her hotel bed, crying silently. Then Seala and Gibson walked in the room, with a plate of food.

"Gizmo…we brought you your favorite. Extra cheese pizza with pepperoni." Seala said.

No answer from Gizmo. Seala hopped on the bed and sat next to Gizmo, putting her hand on sister's shoulder.

"Gizmo…Elella wanted to know if you wanted to play a few games with her." Gibson said, still receiving no answer.

"Oh, Gizmo, I'm sorry, but you gotta eat." Seala said.

Gizmo sat up, wrapped in the blanket.

"I'm not hungry." Gizmo said.

"Not hungry? That's not the Gizmo I know. Come on, you gotta be a little hungry." Seala said smiling.

Gizmo looked at the pizza then looked away.

"That was Otto's favorite too." Gizmo said sadly.

"Oh, uh…okay. Well, mom wanted you to come to the lobby."

"Why?"

"Because she…wanted to…make sure you were alright, but didn't want to come up." Seala lied.

"Okay. I guess if Mom wants me to come down."

Then Gizmo jumped off the bed and fell on her face.

"Gizmo! Are you okay?" Seala asked running over.

"Yeah…ow…" Gizmo punched the ground. "I can't do anything! Why did she have to take him? Why is she so mean to us Seala? What did we ever do to her to deceive this?" Gizmo shouted, starting to cry again.

"Gizmo, I miss him too. He was my brother." Gibson said kneeling down next to Gizmo.

Gizmo sniffed and wiped her eyes before questioning what she heard, "Was?"

Seala sighed then answered, "Yes…'was'. It seems that the device, Mandra had used on Otto to turn him evil, we can't stop it. We're sorry Gizmo."

That made Gizmo cry harder than before. Seala hugged her harder this time.

"I'll go get some water." Gibson said standing up and walking out the room.

Before he walked into the hall, Gibson looked back at the girls and remembered how he felt when Seala was gone all those times, especially when she was gone that one whole year. Then he walked to the elevator with his hands in his pockets, daydreaming.

"Oh Otto, how could this have happen to you?" Gibson asked the air.

Then the elevator opened and Gibson stepped inside and the elevator went to the lobby, where everyone else was waiting. When Gibson walked into the lobby, he looked like he wanted to cry, that was until Sprx walked over.

"Come on Gibson." Sprx said leading his friend to the seats.

"So Gizmo's still crying? What are we going to do?" Carbon asked before falling backward onto a single-person seat, so she was hanging upside down.

"Seala and I have calculated what that device was and figured that there is no way to shut it off." Gibson pointed out.

"So Otto's evil for good? No wonder Gizmo's so upset. I better go help Seala with her." Nova said.

"Wait Nova. Let me go see Gizmo first. I've got an idea." Sprx said stepping into the elevator before Nova.

"Okay…are you sure?" Nova asked.

"Yeah…I wanna help." Then the doors of the elevator closed, leaving Nova standing in shock.

"He wants to help?" Nova questioned her hearing.

She walked back over to the group and sat down.

"Nova, are you okay?" Elella asked.

"I have no idea. Either I just heard my—I mean Sprx say he wanted to help or I am hearing things."

"I've got a question Nova, not to change the subject or anything."

"Yeah?" Nova said.

"Why don't you call Sprx your boyfriend? I mean it's not like we don't all know." Carbon asked.

"I don't? I haven't noticed." Nova said.

"You switched it a minute ago." Blaze said.

"I did? Oops…I guess I haven't gotten used to Sprx and I, you know. I mean after everything we've been through just to get here…" Nova trailed off.

"It's okay Nova. I don't think Sprx has either. He does the same thing." Chiro assured.

Me: Hey! Ah!

*Karalynn tackles me to the ground.*

Karalynn: Why! Why did you have Otto turn evil? Why?

Me: Help! Ah!

Starr: Karalynn, stop it! We're protectors, not destroyers!

Melissa: Get off of SRMTMFGfan14 already! Sheesh!

*Karalynn gets off of me and I don't get up.*

Starr: Uh…I think we need a medic over here!

*Seala and Gibson rush over and fix me up.*

Melissa: You should say sorry.

Kara: What? No way! After what she did to Otto in her story? Heck no!

Starr: I'm mad too, but I didn't beat her up!

*Starr and Kara get into an argument.*

Melissa: SRMTMFGfan14 will update as soon as Seala and Gibson fix her up enough to write. Please review and wait for the next chapter, and please don't 'beat up' SRMTMFGfan14 like Karalynn did already, thank you. Oh, and the song was by Cascada (Could it be you).