Chapter 11

The Devil

Noah leads the group further down the halls, talking as they walk.

"From what I hear you've been separated from your group. All you know is that you're playing here in Vegas Friday night, but you don't know where. Am I correct so far?"

They reached an office-like door with Noah's name labeled on a plate. The woman opens the door to allow them in.

"Thank you. Yes, that's just about it."

After both are inside, "Well, that sure is a dilemma."

Led to an inner office, Noah offers them chairs while she takes a seat behind her desk.

"Is there anyone that you can contact? Say, anyone from your office or maybe your parents?"

There was, but she would only call her father as a last resort, "No. I kept all of my contacts on my phone, and my phone's with my luggage with my friends. All I have are the clothes on my back and Usa-chan." Iori found it a bit strange, but nobody had said a word about her stuffed rabbit all day. Normally she'd get a question or two about it from staff working on whatever program or shoot she was doing. Maybe it was a Vegas thing to not ask too many questions.

"I see. That certainly is a problem. We live in a world that you can't get anything done if you aren't in contact with people. Not being able to talk to anybody is the same as having your arms and legs tied. Communication is the most important of all human abilities. The more people we know and can speak with, the further ahead we can travel. Not being able to get a hold of anyone you know is going to make this process very difficult. To be able to further help you reach your friends, I'm going to need to know more about you."

Something was striking Iori as odd, but she couldn't put her finger on it. As though there was a yellow caution flag about, she was becoming nervous that there might be a hazard from any direction. The cause of this sensation was uncertain. Looking towards Jordan, all he did was motion to her with his chin to "go ahead."

"Well, what do you want to know?"

"Let's start with your group."

"Okay. We are called Ryuuguu Komachi, and we," she proceeded to tell her about her band mates and Ritsuko. "We work for 765 Pro-" "Our concert was-" "Our flight-" "When we landed in Vegas-"

"Wait," Jordan interrupted, "your company hired a translator?"

"Uh, yeah. He was a really creepy guy and I didn't like him. Didn't I mention it?"

Jordan, who'd been neutral faced ever since he first noticed the men in the USMC uniforms, was finally showing signs of life. Leaning forward and placing his hand over his chin, it was clear he was deep in thought. Iori was growing increasingly concerned, but before she could give Jordan any more attention, Noah chimed in.

"Can you continue please?"

"Oh, okay. Well, after I left the airport we-" "That's when Jordan-" "In the morning we met with Vanessa-" "And here we are."

From start to finish, all of Iori's tale took a little over ten minutes. All the while Noah listened closely and intently. While she was talking, Iori kept glancing over to her companion, who at a point finished with his contemplation and rejoined the group. However, his attention was focused not on Iori's story, but on Noah. Analyzing her intensely, it seemed like he was sizing her up in a card game; searching endlessly for a tell that would reveal her bluff.

"I'm getting the gist of what's happened," Noah explains, "so in order to put myself in your company's shoes, there are a few things I'd like you to go into more detail. You said that your father brought the proposal to your President Takagi, correct. What exactly is the relationship between those two, and what is it your father does."

It almost seemed like she wasn't asking a question, but that must have just been Iori's imagination. For the most part, Iori wanted to skip talking about her family if she could, but maybe some of her father's actions might have left a hint to where her friends might be. After all, Ryuuguu Komachi only got this opportunity because a previous show had been canceled. Certainly such an event would have left a ripple in the Vegas community. She guessed that would be a good place to start.

"My father is-"

Jordan suddenly coughed, surprising everyone as it boomed loudly in this enclosed office. Then he coughed again. Again, except now he clutched his chest and bent over in his chair. Actually, it didn't sound as if he was coughing, but choking. Iori shouted as she rose from her chair, but Jordan rose his hand as to stop her.

"Is everything alright?" this was the first time that Noah actually regarded the man.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. It's my heart, arrhythmia. Irregular heartbeat. It suddenly starts going fast and slow, and I can't breath. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be fine. But," and he almost sounded shy about it, "can you take me to the bathroom? I don't think I can make it on my own."

Iori rushed to Jordan's side, but he simply waved her off.

"You might as well stay here, there's no way you'll be able to support my weight."

"Don't worry," Noah said. "I can take him. I have two older brothers so I'm stronger than I look."

Jordan thanked her graciously and leaned against Noah's shoulder after she passed from around her desk. The least Iori could do was open the door as they made their way out. It looked extremely awkward that a man as large as he was leaning over the small Noah's shoulder, but she managed his weight well. However, their pace was still as slow as a snail, and it would take them forever to reach the bathroom. Iori could hear the pair making small talk, but decided she couldn't listen to his pathetic voice after such an episode. For all she knew he was the perfect picture of health. Seeing him so battered was perhaps hurting her heart more than his attack. She let the door close behind her and returned to her seat in the office.

Something immediately caught her eye. Sitting perfectly center on the empty chair to her side, previously Jordan's seat, was his cellphone. Could it have fallen out of his pocket during his episode? But then Iori remembered that he carried it in a leather case on his belt, so falling out would have been very difficult. This was strange. All Iori could think to do was pick it up.

There were no buttons on the phone, only a large glass touch-screen that would have facilitated all it's functions. However, the moment she touched the phone it's blank screen lit up, revealing what appeared to be a text message that Jordan had been previously writing.

It read:

Noah playin you.

Iori gasps, then looks around quickly to make sure nobody else was watching her. Of course she was alone. Just as she started to ponder if that heart attack was all an act upon Jordan's part, she then shook her head to drive away all distracting thoughts. No wasn't the time. This message he'd left for her must have been important. It was imperative that she read this completely while she was still alone.

Iori continued:

Noah playin you. Know concerts local. Wants something so wont tell. Cant explain now. I have all pieces. If trust me, get out of there sneaky, and follow cashier once downstairs. If not, Noah will help, but for price.

How had he typed this entire message without any of the girl's noticing? But, it seemed very much like something he would do. The grammar and vocabulary might have been atrocious, but his theme was clear; Noah's lying to them and Jordan knows how to find the concert. However, for a price would Noah disclose the truth. What would be that price? It seemed that Jordan knew, but in a quick message he couldn't go into detail.

There was no time for debate. If Noah returned while Jordan was away, she wouldn't be able to escape. Exactly what dangers she might be facing Iori didn't know, but she trusted Jordan's judgment and would do as he asked.

Before she left, she saw that Jordan had left his backpack behind. It probably wasn't on purpose. Likely he couldn't think of a good reason to bring it with him without arousing suspicion. Whatever the case, Iori would take it with her.

Except that it was heavy! What in the world was he keeping in here! She couldn't believe she'd forgotten how heavy it was!

Opening the door and popping her head outside, Iori couldn't detect a single soul's presence. Swiftly she swung herself outside and gently closed the door behind her, allowing nothing more than a whisper to be emitted. The flooring was carpet, so her footfalls shouldn't produce much sound. Iori wasn't one for these kinds of stealth exploits, but she learned a thing or two from the Futami twins. Loving to play pranks, being about to move about unheard and unseen was key in their efforts for practical jokes. Though their motions were often exaggerated, they've more then once gotten the jump on the staff of 765 Pro. Mimicking what she'd observed that worked, Iori was able to move forward.

Noah's office was at the end of a long hall that spiraled around some of the smaller conference rooms. Right now it was quiet, but Iori couldn't expect it to stay that way when they had a booked house. There were muffled sounds of some people moving about, but she couldn't disclose the location of any of them. All she could do was move forward.

Not very far off, Iori noticed a big problem; there was only one path to make it out of Noah's office. That meant sooner or latter the two would cross. Iori doubted Jordan had the gall to ask the woman to come with him into the bathroom, so Iori couldn't expect that he'd be able to keep her completely distracted while the girl made her escape. There must have been a place for her to hide so she could allow the woman to pass. Then it came to her, the place so large that it could have hid an elephant. The ballroom.

To reach the ballroom was only another turn and hallway away. Iori began to hasten her pace as she knew that Noah must have been returning. Slow and steady started to feel as if it was doing more harm then good, so she instead began walking at a brisk pace. A creeping sense of danger began to rise in the pit of her stomach, and maybe she was even panicking a little. All she knew for certain was that she needed to move faster.

Uneventfully she made it to the ballroom, but by no means had she adverted a crisis. Now there were people working for tomorrow night's event. Two were handling a giant ladder and heading for a projector that was suspended from the ceiling. There were a couple in white uniforms standing in a doorway on the far left side of the room. That must have been a kitchen. If the room were not so massive they might have noticed her the moment she entered, but then again these men weren't the ones she was hiding from. They were perhaps too busy to care about a young girl wandering around. Still, the less attention she draws to herself the better.

Suddenly Iori could hear the "clomp clomp" of someone wearing heels. Immediately she thought of Noah and rushed inside the ballroom looking for a hiding spot. This was certainly a large room, but it was a large empty room. There wasn't really anywhere to hide. Except that there were rows of folding chairs leaned against the wall. Extending outward about two meters, in the space between two rows there was an unnatural shadow cast about them. Obviously this had to do with the lighting of the ballroom, and there was no better place that Iori could think to hide. As quickly as she can she finds a row that would be large enough for her and the backpack to fit and she sets herself down.

Finally she breathes again and allows herself to calm down. She can't hear the sounds of footsteps anymore, but even if someone was marching through the hallway with combat boots it wouldn't carry into the ballroom. How long will Iori have to stay before she knows it's safe to move?

"Is there a problem?" came a young and nasally voice. There was no doubt, it was Noah.

Iori covered her mouth in order to stifle a yelp. Even though she was under the cover of darkness, there was still plenty she could see. From the corner of her allowable vision she could see the young professional approach the two men with the ladder.

"Yeah. The projector. Doesn't it seem too dim?"

Iori followed the light and saw a golden emblem resembling a globe, anchor, and bird, over a red backdrop projected on a screen. It might have been because of the room's lighting, but it did look dull.

"I think you're right," Noah answered back. "Check the other one while you're at it. We have spare bulbs, right?"

They were just about ready to set up the ladder, "Yeah, two."

"Maybe we should go ahead and just change them both out. Jim's up there right? Can you tell him to throw the other on screen?"

"Gotcha." The lead man takes the radio from his hip and says, "Jim, boss wants you to throw the logo back on screen."

There was static and what sounded like a confirmation.

Iori noticed another image suddenly appear on the far wall directly ahead of her. Before at a crouch, the young pop idol in hiding dropped to the floor. While everyone's attention was on the image projected on the wall, it was still a far wall that should have left Iori completely hidden. Now the focus was on one much closer, and if they decided to turn around after looking it over Iori would completely be in view. She was in a shadow, but it wasn't exactly pitch darkness.

Iori can see Noah walking about 25 meters directly ahead of her. The young professional is looking over the image produced by the projector very carefully. A heartbeat begins to ring in Iori's ear and she can feel beads of sweat rolling down her cheeks. Soon she might go through what Jordan had been previously faking. Nervousness began to grow as a cold chill in her chest and it felt like her teeth were rattling. Helpless to act, all she could do was wait.

"That seems good," Noah declares. "We're not going to use it again for a while after tomorrow night, so just make sure to check it again the next time!"

"Got it! Jim, kill it."

Noah continues to stare until the image dims and quickly fades to nothing. For a once over, she glances over to the two men at the ladder and nods to herself. Then she turns around and heads for the doorway.

At this point Iori can see directly into Noah's hazel eyes. If that was true for the one in hiding, then so it must be true for the one in the open. Iori is still, deathly still, to keep from doing anything that might perk Noah's attention. From Noah's perspective, the strange mass crumpled on the floor wasn't in her direct line of sight, but neither was it in a blind corner. Someone as attentive as Jordan would have likely noticed it immediately, and for the one those men called "boss," she figured she'd be equally so. However, Noah kept walking without giving the slightest hint that she noticed something amiss. In a few short moments she's out of view, and not much longer than that, she's out of the room.

Iori couldn't take it any more. Crawling to the edge of the shadow, she peeks from left to right. The two men in white at the door to the kitchen are gone, and the other two are too busy with the ladder and projector. Not caring if she's noticed at this point, Iori pushes herself up and leaves as quickly as she can.

Noah had to have already turned the corner for the two long hallways back, and would discover her guest missing in about a minute and a half. Iori cared for nothing but speed at this point and quickly retraced her steps that led back to the escalator. She didn't even wave back to the secretary as she took her leave, thought with how fast the girl was moving she might not have noticed.

The sudden noise of the casino floor felt like a blast of cold air. Fled from enemy territory, she was once again in neutral country where no patrols could reach. For a moment she leaned against a nearby wall and took a breath. Never before had she been so on-edge. Not even confronting her father was as bad as this. Then she started to wonder if all that effort was necessary. After all, couldn't she just have apologized and left? It wasn't like her life was in danger.

Iori couldn't help herself but laugh. Her actions were near pointless and completely exaggerated. But it was thrilling and even fun. Words spoken by Jordan repeated themselves in her head, If you ain't having fun, you're doing something wrong. She laughs even harder, to the point her sides hurt.

Here's part 2 to chapter 10, but I guess I'll go ahead and call it chapter 11. Wow, this almost feels like I'm wrapping up a season for a show. In chapter 12 we'll have the climax, and 13 will be the conclusion with the cliffhanger ending. All of this will leave you wanting more, and you'll curse the entire year for make you wait for a season 2.

...

Okay, so that's not really how it's going to go down, but I do want to give you time to digest this chapter's pointless silliness before delivering 12. Chapter 12 is too pivotal to simply post immediately after a 2 chapter blitz. If I had planned this better I would have put chapter 10 up a few days ago, 11 today, and 12 tomorrow, but I was on a writing warpath and simply exceeded my expectations. For those of you who write yourself, you simply love days like this. I'd like to keep up this pace, but I know the momentum won't last. Ah well, strike while the iron's hot and all that.

~Kyle Castorena