WAR GAMES
CHAPTER 12
November Rain
Written by Darkpower
Rating: 14 (Dialogue, Violence, Language)
NOTE: A warning about this particular chapter. It's more dreary in story than the other ones, and a few violent scenes are in it. I didn't call it November Rain for nothing, mind you (think of the Guns N' Roses song of the same name and you'll understand why I called it that).
Rubeus had been talking with the Metaria egg for some time now, and it didn't seem like he could stop. Even though he knew he failed the last two plans—which he admitted—he had also thought he knew why he failed.
"We need a plan that will take human behavior out of the equation," he told the bubbly egg. "Until we do that, we will never be able to recapture Beryl's soul like you want."
"I can see that now. But until we get such a plan in place, we have to continue playing on the Sailors distrust of Beryl, and now that Casto trusts her, it's only a matter of time before they all follow his lead."
Rubeus put a hand on his chin. "Hard to believe that loser actually won them over in the short amount of time that he did. It's almost as if he's brainwashed them or something. Do you remember a brother of the Moon Princess?"
"I don't recall seeing one, but...wait a minute, yes. There might have been some talk about some person fleeing the kingdom who was of extreme importance. That may have been him, but I cannot say for certain. I'll try to find out some more about him. Why didn't you have those questions before?"
"Didn't really think they were that important at the time, nor did it really matter to me before. You talking about him, though, as if he's their savior, makes me wonder what there is about him that makes them like him so much."
"He's calm under pressure and can think rationally even when infused with the same anger that Serena has been exemplifying recently."
"In any case," Rubeus retorted, "that only tells me that we need a new plan. And I think I have it in mind. We know Beryl wants to protect Reenie for some reason."
"It's because she was reminded about something from her past when she heard you attacked her. I had the hardest time trying to get her to follow through with the plan to extract the doll maker's energy. Even though I wasn't awake physically, I was still infused in her mind mentally, and I fought her will to keep her on the right track. As you can see, I had a few issues with her even then, though it was when she heard of Reenie that I started to lose complete control of her."
"Now you make me feel as though it was my fault."
"No, Rubeus, it is not. Remember, behaviors of others are not as easy to predict as it may seem, as you just said. Don't worry. I do not blame you for that. It was other things in addition, and there was no way you could've seen that coming."
"But what if we could persuade a feeling out of her? Perhaps we can make her think that she cannot protect her."
"Hmm," Metaria hummed. "How do we do that?"
"That's where my direct approach comes in. Instead of trying to frame Beryl for the death of Reenie, we just let people know it was us. That way, we would solidify our position and let everyone know who we are."
"That just sounds like killing for sport."
"But there is another element to this. We need to have Beryl there to witness us killing her, and have her try her damnest to save her. But she will be hampered by one of our Youmas. She'll feel as if she's a failure, and will be easy pickings from then on."
"Remember about the Sailors, though. They aren't going to just sit there and let you kill her."
"Hmm. I wonder..."
Rubeus was interrupted by a loud sound behind him. When he looked over, he saw Drillbit walk up beside him. "Rubeus, I think I may be of some assistance."
"D-Drillbit?" Metaria asked. "Youmas don't ever come to this room."
"I apologize, m'lady." He bowed. "Am I restricted from coming here?"
"I never said anything about it. Why do you come here in the first place?"
"It's about some of the Youmas. I've been thinking that maybe it's time they roam free in the kingdom. Since the person holding them in that cell isn't here anymore, we can stretch our legs, so to speak."
"It would be helpful," Rubeus added. "Perhaps boost morale, in a way."
"Don't know if that would be wise," Metaria answered, "but you have a point in them being too confined in that holding room."
"One in particular is Pandora. She's been restless for a while, and she told me that she wants revenge on Beryl for some reason. She didn't tell me what for, but something has been eating away at her."
"Pandora? You mean the sixth DD Girl?"
"Sixth?" Rubeus gasped.
"She only used five, but there were six altogether. The sixth one, if deployed, would've battled Sailor Moon on the day we got sealed into that hole."
"Pandora is calling that day the 'Day of Destiny'," Drillbit continued.
"What does she want revenge for, though?"
"She thinks that it was Beryl who sent her sisters to die. I told her such is what happens on the battlefield, but she is not going to listen to me."
"Actually," Rubeus interrupted, "that could work out really well. Drillbit could distract the Sailors, while Pandora extracts her revenge long enough to keep Beryl busy so that I can finish Reenie off."
"It might work, but you have to make sure Reenie is going to be where you will be, Rubeus," Metaria answered.
"Don't worry about that! I got just the idea, though it will have to wait for a day. We put our plan into effect tomorrow!" Rubeus disappeared.
"Drillbit!"
"Metaria?" Drillbit answered his queen.
"Make sure Pandora is true to her word. Something doesn't seem right about that. Never has a Youma that cared that much for any other life, even for the DD Girls."
"Beryl called them the Doom and Gloom Girls because of how they put their emotions aside. They didn't care if the other died or not, as long as the job was done."
"But Pandora...I don't know. Do what Rubeus asked you to do, but be prepared to assist Rubeus if need be. And inform Rubeus of my doubts. All the Youma hated Beryl, but only she had different reasons."
"Especially me, Metaria! All I have to say to that is...Praise Metaria!"
-xXXXXx-
"Toko," Patrica pleaded with the man on the other end of the phone conversation, halfway in tears, "teaching is my life. It's in my blood."
"I know how frustrating and disheartening this news is, and I wish it didn't have to be. But again, I told them everything you are telling me right now. They are standing by their decision."
"They sicken me," she growled, feeling herself tighten her grip on the receiver. "I know they have been trying to keep us from having any power left, but to just fire someone because they have a prejudice about a student?"
"I've looked at Serena's grades. They were improving, but it went from As and Bs to straight Fs in literally a day."
"Harold," she fumed. "How could you?"
"The week will be for you to gather your things from your room. Anything after that week will be confiscated and considered their property."
"They're not even waiting for me to deliver it?"
She heard a deep sigh. "I know. I wish there was better news."
"There has to be something I could do, Toko. Maybe file an appeal and plead my case."
"Trust me, I've already gone through some of this with some of the highest ups on the committee. There are a few people on it that are so adamant about wanting you gone that they said they would even deny hearing your appeal. In other words, Patrica, it's over. There's nothing more you or I can do."
Patrica could not talk any more, as she had to breathe heavily for her sobs to escape her. "This is all I have, Toko. This is all I know how to do, and if I don't have this, I don't have any other source of income I can fall back on, and if I lose this house, I don't have anywhere to go. I have to fight it somehow, even if that means taking a bullhorn with me."
"Worst thing about it is that Harold was the one to go to the School Authority and ask them for a permanent job at the school. He's wanted one for some time, I'm afraid. The opening was there, and he asked them for your spot."
"Please don't tell me he..." She was interrupted as she fell off the couch, her knees skidding a bit on the carpet. She dropped the receiver as she gripped her ribs again. The pain was strong, as if Rubeus had punched her once more. Maybe even two times. It wasn't residing, either.
"'While there is no reason to be worried, if they continue for more than about thirty seconds, call me and make sure you don't need to be readmitted.'"
Patrica continued to hear Toko's voice asking what was wrong through the phone as she was hearing Doctor Mesta's words in her head. It was fifteen seconds now. Or was it twenty? Either way, it finally receded a few seconds after hearing Toko's raspy voice once more.
"Patrica?"
She slowly picked up the receiver again. "I'm fine, Toko."
"You sure? That had me worried just now. You shouldn't even be out of the hospital if you're doing that."
"It's nothing, Toko. I'll be all right."
"I can..."
"I said it's nothing!" she screamed. "I-I'm sorry! They said I would be experiencing pains every once in a while, and that they would be nothing to worry about. I think it's just frustrating me because I want to work through it."
"I apologize. This must be giving you stress. Maybe this is for the best, Patrica. In your state, it might be good if you let them win for now until we can find some way to get an investigation going into why they are blind to his tactics."
"I want my benefits. I'm not going to resign, Toko. That's all I have. If they want me gone, they are going to be giving me what I'm entitled to."
"I have a feeling it won't be that easy. They are looking to see if they don't have to give you that much if it comes to that. And to think they did all this while you were on your death bed."
"Look, Toko, just make sure Harold stays away from my students, okay? If he ever harms them, I don't know what I would do."
"Like I said, he hasn't yet, and I'm trying to see if he knows any other subjects. I know how you feel about him, and I'll do my best, but the S.A. has had it in for you from the start, and I fear they are coming after me next. I can't make guarantees. I have to get to sleep, Patrica. I'm very sorry. I'll talk to you tomorrow." Patrica heard a click and then silence. She slowly pushed a button to hang up the phone, and nonchalantly tossed the phone on the end table by the couch.
"Serena," Patrica, "what am I going to do? I love you, all of you. I can't stand to not be able to see or hear your voices. If I can't teach...this house. I'm scared that I'm going to be kicked out soon, and I'll be..."
She felt pain once again. This time, however, she fought to her feet and began to stagger to the steps. She got to the first step when she collapsed again. The pain receded for a few seconds, enough time for her to run up the steps. Her heels touched the top step when she fell to her knees once more. This time, it was like a thousand Rubeuses pounding at her ribs constantly.
"No, go away, please! I can't be stressed now. I don't wanna go back there."
She couldn't even pay attention to the amount of time she was on the floor. She didn't really care as she attempted to crawl and scratch her way through the small hallway to the end door. The pain did not give at all as she pulled herself to her feet and was barely able to twist the handle open. Her full sized bed, covered in blue blankets, was at the center of the far wall, and that's what she was barely able to land on as she collapsed once more. It was more than thirty seconds. It was even more than a minute. But she flailed her legs violently and curled up with both arms clenching her ribs. She was in pain and in tears, and it took another full thirty seconds for the pain to finally end. As she stared at her white nightstand and the sliding door closet that was to the left of the bed, she could only let the tears fall onto the blankets.
-xXXXXx-
"Cat, we need to talk!"
Melissa Beryl stood right outside of the Four Sisters' apartment door. Though Catsy was half asleep in her dark blue pajamas, she smiled when seeing the familiar sight.
"Is something wrong?"
"There might be," Melissa answered.
"Here," Catsy said, moving out of the way, "come in. The other sisters are still asleep. I'm surprised you woke me."
Melissa went through the door and into a living room that now had the dimmest light available on: a small lamp that sat on the end table. Well, unless she counted a bright blue digital clock that was on the same table. "I have a suspicion it was the Hizrounswa that was responsible for what happened to you when she cleansed the world."
As Catsy closed the door, she hummed at Melissa's words. "We have that same suspicion, if you recall."
Melissa pivoted hard towards her friend. "But I'm all but certain that it was the Hizrounswa!"
"Here, Melissa, sit down." Melissa and Catsy both sat down on the couch as Catsy continued. "Now, what makes you so certain that it was the Hizrounswa's fault?"
"Raye came to my apartment tonight and told me that the Silver Crystal was the most powerful crystal in the world. But if it was, then how can the Hizrounswa be able to shatter it?"
"You don't know that, Melissa. It's legend."
"But it was also legend that the damn thing existed, Cat!" Melissa took a deep breath and looked towards her knees. "And if it could do such a thing, and it became uncovered by Metaria, then that could mean..."
Catsy gasped softly. "I think I get what you're saying. It could've changed our histories now that he has it."
"As much as that damn thing needs to be destroyed, I don't know if we could be able to without us doing anything to you four. If we end up destroying the Hizrounswa and doing something to it, it would alter the course of history, and since it would never react to Serena's cleansing, then..."
"We might never get caught, and it would exile us back to our own time."
"And if Rubeus has altered your time, what else about that time could he alter? What else could he change about your time?"
"I don't know. Now you have me worried. But listen, Melissa," Catsy said as she put a hand onto Melissa's shoulder, "he's got the Hizrounswa, but we're still here, so something has to be the same, right?"
"Because we didn't destroy it yet, and I don't want to be at fault for anything happening to you four."
"If it happens, it happens. I think we're all ready to accept it."
"No," Melissa growled. "I'm not about to just take that kind of talk."
"Melissa, there's nothing anyone can do to stop destiny."
"No!" Melissa yelled. "Catsy, I'm sorry, but I hate that word. For the whole two years after my parents died, I was told that it was my destiny to assume the role as queen of the North Pole Kingdom. I loved being queen after, but for those two years, I never heard the end of it. In fact, I heard that even before my parents' death, and it was the only thing I didn't want to know about."
"Destiny is something that is chosen..."
Melissa shot up like a bullet to her feet. "No, Catsy. It's not. That's what weak people always say, and I know you're not a weak person. The only one who can control your own destiny is you. I cannot accept anyone else telling me how I should live my life. I let something get to me and let it tell me how I should make my every move. I forgot everything that made me who I was."
"I'm sorry, Melissa. I know it must've been tough for you."
"I was at Raye's shrine earlier. I was having this meditation class with her grandfather. I saw a bunch of things in my dream, including myself. It was me embracing some corrupted thing, and that was all before it paralyzed me in the air and forced me to accept whatever that corruption was back into my life. It was a sickening feeling, and it scared me."
"Corruption," Catsy pondered. "Maybe that's what it is."
"Huh?" Melissa turned again, narrowing her eyes at Catsy.
"I think I've heard about that before. It's when someone is infused with any kind of evil in their heart. No one type of corruption is the same, and there are people that choose to be that way, while others cannot control it. In our case, I think it was us giving in to Rubeus, and that's what brought us to corruption."
"So you're saying..."
Catsy rose to her feet. "Don't be so sure that destroying the Hizrounswa would sacrifice us just yet. I know how you feel about me saying those things. I assure you, I don't want to have to think about what would happen if that time comes, or what we would do."
"If it were you just talking about destiny, I wouldn't have been so angry. I'm not about to let someone just sacrifice themselves, especially those I care about."
Catsy closed her eyes before she wrapped her arms around Melissa. "Don't worry, my friend. I'm not ready to leave yet."
Melissa sighed for a moment, and then returned the embrace. 'I need your support, too, Cat. I can't have you leave me.'
-xXXXXx-
"Is he walking all right?" Ikuko asked Reenie.
"Yeah. He was doing really good last night. You could hardly tell that something had happened to him. He's saying he wants to get back to school so he doesn't have his work backed up."
The morning had come, and Reenie seemed ecstatic at what she was saying.
"Glad to hear that...Sammy!" Ikuko saw him walking slowly down the steps, and made her way to the bottom. "Are you still...?"
"Mom," Sammy replied, "please don't!"
"I know you must..."
"Mom! I...I don't. At least not as much as did."
Ikuko shed a tear. "I'm sorry, though. You have no idea..."
"I know you're trying to make things right with me and you. I know you didn't mean to leave me there."
"Sammy," Reenie began, "do you still want to go to school tomorrow?"
"Yeah," he answered. "I think I can manage it."
"If you need anything, let me know, okay?'
"Sure, Reenie." He smiled. "You've been such a great help to me." He then looked to his mother. "And mom?"
"Hmm?" Ikuko asked.
"It's just been tough for me. I was so scared, and I felt so alone. I never thought I would ever know what that feels like until that night."
"Even if you hate everything about me, I will always love you, and I would do anything to protect you. And I swear on my life that I will never let anyone hurt you like that again."
Sammy tried to fight off a smile, though it was too tough to do as a small one showed through. Ikuko answered by hugging him gently. Sammy let his arms hang loose for a moment, then slowly returned the embrace. Reenie looked on with glistening eyes.
'Finally,' Reenie thought, 'Sammy is showing some forgiveness. I didn't think he really hated her.'
However, outside the house, Rubeus and Drillbit were beyond the brick barrier, listening in on the conversation via one of Drillbit's arm tools: a sound recorder that could pick up voices from afar.
"I didn't even know you had one of those," Rubeus said quietly.
"It's one of the new tools I got from the energy orb."
"Sammy is forgiving that witch, not knowing what we are about to do. This could turn out even better."
-xXXXXx-
Later in the day, as the sun had set and the Moon peeked out through the clouds, Rubeus and Drillbit appeared in Juuban Park, right near the center fountain that had been turned off for the night.
"He's going to have to come here," Rubeus said. "When he does, we'll go after him. It will get Reenie and Ikuko to come out to help him, and that's when we do it."
"But what about Beryl?" Drillbit asked. "I thought we had to make sure she sees what we do to her."
"She will come. Remember who is friends with Beryl now. Besides, I think she will have another person to deal with that will make her come, if you remember."
"Ahh, yes. How could I forget?"
-xXXXXx-
The next day, Melissa had begun her walk to the Crown Game Center, and though she was still feeling the psychological effects of the meditation from a few days ago, she only gave small sighs every time she thought about it.
However, her thoughts were quickly interrupted by construction that had started on the street she usually traveled on. There were orange barricades all around the street, though no one was around to begin the work yet. The construction included the sidewalk, so it was closed off to everyone, which meant that she had to find a way around it. She turned at a corner and began her detour, turning another and into an alleyway.
She got halfway through the alley, not even considering anything would happen to her, when she suddenly felt a stinging hit to her back. It was so hard that she bounced off the uneven brick.
"You're not so tough after all, Queen Beryl," a bold, booming female voice harked behind her.
Melissa gritted her teeth and looked to her attacker. She was about as tall as Melissa was, though a bit slimmer. She had similar characteristics, as well, only she had blue hair and green eyes. She also had pale yellow skin and was wearing what looked to be a two piece swimsuit and matching heels. However, what made Melissa gasp were the large wings on her back. They were reminiscent of another group she remembered.
"P-Pandora? The sixth...?"
"You do remember me, do you, Beryl? How could you do it? How could you send my sisters to die?"
"You were unstable, P..."
"No, I wasn't!" Pandora screamed as she quickly made a hand turn into a sliver of tentacles and smacked Melissa in the chest with them. "I was ready and able to fight them, and you just didn't give a damn about my feelings!"
Though she was in pain, Melissa fought to get to her feet. "Listen to yourself, Pandora. This is why..."
"Shut up!" Pandora's tentacle hand wrapped around Melissa's neck and began to strangle her. Melissa felt like her head was going to pop off her body given how hard she was being choked. "Feel that, Melissa? That's how I felt when I knew you were sending my sisters to their death sentence. I hate you for what you did to them! You knew they wouldn't be able to beat the Sailors and still be alive!"
'Only Youma that showed emotion,' Melissa thought as she gasped for any breath she could. 'At least the ones that were controlled by the Dark Kingdom.'
As Melissa fell to one knee, Pandora eased closer to her victim. "I don't care who sees me kill you, as long as I get to watch you squirm and die. I want to see you get put through the hell you put me through. At least your hell will end quickly. I had to spend an eternity with my nightmare."
"I'm not the...queen anymore. Metaria...is using you."
"I told you to shut up!" Pandora tightened her grip on Melissa's neck, and she collapsed to the ground. She felt paralyzed and unable to even move her hands to assuage the pain, let alone call for any of her attacks. "Yeah, that's it. Let your body fall. It's only fitting that I am here to cause it!" She lifted Melissa into the air by her neck and slammed her back first into one of the buildings three consecutive times before throwing her back down into the ground. "That's for my other sisters!" She raised her other hand towards Melissa, a light beam forming within it. "I'll be able to shoot you constantly until you die!" She shot out a beam that hit Melissa's ribs hard. She screamed in pain, and she did so as another one hit in the same area.
"S...Stop, Pandora!" Melissa choked.
"Oh, you're begging for mercy, is it? Too bad you're not going to get it, you sick bitch!"
Melissa felt another hard shot to her ribs. She was in tears, and she was trying to do her best to get some air into her lungs. She could even feel herself turning blue in the face, and Pandora could see the discoloration of Melissa's skin and chuckled at the sight.
She was about to fire another beam when Drillbit appeared in front of her. "Pandora! What the hell are you doing?"
"She's gonna die for putting my sisters through hell!"
"Not now!" Drillbit smacked Pandora in the arm with his wrench tool. It was nothing more than a sting to Pandora, but it was successful at making her release Melissa from her tentacle grab. "You will have your chance, but we need to stick to the plan, remember?"
"How could you even think about anything like that? How could you let her live?"
"I'm not, but you have to follow orders right now! That, and you're not the only one who wants to kill her. Trust me, you'll get your chance. C'mon, calm down and let's get to the park. That kid will be there later, and we must prepare. We'll get her when we get to Serena."
It took Pandora a few moments to do so, but she finally nodded as she disappeared with Drillbit, leaving Melissa for dead.
Or so they thought, as Melissa gasped for air repeatedly, using the wall to get back to her feet. He back was stinging, and her ribs felt like they were broken. "Not...again!" She turned to her back and sunk down onto the ground, painful as it was to do so. "I don't want to go to the hospital again. I can't now. I'll be fine, though I'm going to be late for work." She fought to her feet and began walking, rather gingerly, towards the arcade.
-xXXXXx-
"Melissa?" Andrew asked as he saw his employee enter the arcade. He ran over to greet her, seeing the visible scars and slight discoloration on her face. "What happened to you? You look like hell!"
"Andrew, I'm sorry I'm late."
"Judging from how you walked in here, I can say you have a damn good reason. One I'm worried about. Did you get attacked by some thugs?"
"You...could say that."
"Police haven't been that adept lately. Election is coming up soon, too. Not sure why the chief isn't working overtime to win over those votes."
"I need to use the phone," Melissa said, ignoring Andrew's critique.
"Need to call the hospital?"
"Hell no! I hate hospitals! I need to call Serena."
"Sure. I'm not about to let you work in your condition, though."
Andrew led Melissa slowly to the back room, where a black table top phone sat atop a desk that was somewhat cluttered with papers.
"I can give you some privacy if you need it. I have to get some work done with a few of the machines, anyway. Let me know when you're done, all right?"
Melissa nodded and picked up the receiver as Andrew exited and shut the door. Melissa dialed a number and heard a ringtone.
-xXXXXx-
Ikuko had the house to herself for now. Kenji was well enough to be able to return to work, and all the kids were at school right now. This was the first time she had such peace and quiet, though whenever she got it, she soon realized how much she missed her other life. Still, though, it was nice to be able to have some time in which she didn't have to hear anything else but her thoughts.
She looked in Sammy's neatly kept room. She smiled and sighed as she looked over to his dresser. On it was the picture of her and her family. It was the same one that Casto had taken and then returned, though she didn't know of that. She slowly picked it up and moved it closer to her eyes. She and Sammy were sitting next to each other in the grass, with Serena wearing a cheesy smile and Kenji in the center, though standing tall behind everyone else. Ikuko's smile widened as she felt a tear escape her.
She was about to touch the picture when she heard the phone ring downstairs. 'Who could that be right now? Perhaps someone saying I'm behind on some bills or something.' She put the picture down and slowly made her way downstairs and into the kitchen. Though there was a phone in the living room, the kitchen's wall phone was closer to the steps.
"Hello? Sommers' residence!"
"Did Serena go to school yet or is she still there?"
"Uhh...yeah. She's in school. May I ask who's calling and why you're asking for her?"
"Yes, Ikuko. It's Melissa. Her friend that visited your house the other day?"
Ikuko's eyes widened. "You mean Melissa Beryl? You're that tall woman I was wondering about."
"Yes. Listen, Ikuko, I know you know who she really is."
That sent Ikuko for a proverbial loop. "Wait! What do you mean?"
"I'm...not who you think I am. Don't worry, you can trust me. I have no intentions of hurting your daughter, but I do know about your issues with Rubeus."
That name sent chills down her spine. "Rubeus! You know him?"
"More than I want to know, Mrs. Sommers."
"So you must mean you know she's Sailor Moon, right? And you know that I know?"
"Exactly. I need to talk to her."
"She is in school right now. But any friend of Serena's is a friend of mine. What's going on?"
"I got attacked today. Possibly by one of the monsters you've probably been seeing hanging around Rubeus!"
"Oh, my God! But you don't have one of those intercoms that they use?"
"Not yet. I wish now I had asked about that." Melissa grunted a bit, probably in pain, before continuing, "Ikuko, I overheard them saying something about a plan to go after Serena, though I don't know what it is yet."
Sweat began forming on her forehead. "Do they know you know?"
"I hope not. I tried to make it seem like I didn't even hear them as I was walking away. They thought I was unconscious."
"What do you want me to do, though?"
"They talked about some park and that a kid will be there later. Knowing about who is close to Serena..."
"She's been more protective of the family than ever. And they could be talking about Reenie or...oh, my God!"
"Sammy? Her younger...?"
"I told him I would never let anything bad happen to him again yesterday!"
"Ikuko?"
"Which park? Please, tell me!"
Melissa raised her voice as she heard Ikuko panic. "Calm down, Ikuko!"
"He's going to try to kill him again! I can't neglect him again! I need to know which park!"
"Probably the central park near the hospital, but...Ikuko!" Melissa heard the phone drop and bang a few times on the wall. It was left hanging off the hook.
-xXXXXx-
Melissa heard a door slam on the other end of the line.
"Ikuko, what the hell are you thinking?"
She heard the door swing open, and Andrew peeking in. "Is everything okay, Melissa? I heard some yelling."
"I'm sorry, Andrew. You don't have to pay me today. There's an emergency I have to get to right away!"
"In your condition? I don't know if I should let you work, let alone rush out..."
"I'm sorry, Andrew! Someone close to me is making a huge mistake!"
"But Melissa..."
Andrew could say nothing else. Melissa darted past him and raced out the door. He was surprised at the bravery of his employee, and walked into the office to hang up his phone.
'What's going on, Melissa? Why do you think you can't tell me?'
-xXXXXx-
Serena and Casto were in their English class, close to lunch time. It was the last period until recess. For the two, there was a sense that the worst was over. They didn't see Miss Haruna enter the school, but they didn't see Mister Koa either. The latter was good news, though the former worried them slightly. Did Haruna have issues with her ribs? Did she have to go back to the hospital? Or was she just running late? Neither of the two had talked to any of their friends yet today, which was interesting seeing as the person who was instrumental in keeping them apart was thought to have departed.
That was a thought that dissipated as the now familiar salt-and-pepper haired teacher made his way into the classroom. It not only sent a shockwave throughout the entire classroom, but it also made the siblings' stomachs churn.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here when you heard of Miss Haruna's recovery and imminent return," Koa began. "Well," he continued as he put his books on his desk, "let's just say, you're going to get used to me now."
'No! Please no!' Casto thought.
'Patty,' Serena said in her mind, 'what happened? Are you okay?'
"You probably have heard the news around the hallways, but didn't know if you were hearing the truth or not. I assure you: it's all the truth, give or take some mis-tellings and some misinterpretations. I'm going to be here for the foreseeable future, and I do believe that I'm going to be instated as your permanent replacement."
'What the hell did you do to Patty, you slime?' Serena thought while clenching a fist and shedding a tear.
"This means that you now obey my rules in this class at all times, and if you do not," Koa chuckled, "let's just say: Hell hath no fury like a teacher scorned, right?"
One student in the back of the room raised her hand. As Koa pointed to her, she spoke, "What's going on with Miss Haruna?"
"She decided that her injuries were too much for her to be able to continue. She is going to resign this week. Though I don't think that's any of your business, now is it?"
"We loved Miss Haruna, though."
"I'm the goddamn teacher now!" Mister Koa screamed as he slammed a fist down on the desk. "I don't give a rat's ass who you loved! I'm the only teacher you will be listening to now. Go ahead! Someone else dare to ask a question about her! I'm hoping I get a chance to make an example out of one of you."
'For what?' Casto asked himself.
"Casto," Mister Koa yelled as he eyed the older sibling, "I'm sure you're going to want to say something about Miss Patrica Haruna! Ask something, you punk!"
Casto was at a loss for words. "I don't have anything to say, except I hope she'll be all right."
"Her condition is none of your business!"
Casto was going to say something else, but bit his tongue.
"C'mon, Casto! I know you want to make some smart ass comment about how I shouldn't act this way!"
"Just teach the class," he sighed.
"What was that?" Koa said, walking towards Casto's desk. "I thought I heard something."
"Nothing, Mister Koa."
Koa walked over to Casto and put his mouth near his ear, whispering, "I want you gone!" As Koa corrected his posture and walked back to his desk, Casto could only gasp. The only good thing right now was that he started the lesson right afterwards.
-xXXXXx-
"What's going on with Patty, Melvin?" Serena asked her nerdy friend at lunch, albeit in a secluded corner outside alongside Casto.
"Did he say something about Miss Haruna not feeling up to coming back?" The two siblings both nodded. "That's a complete lie. I know it is."
"Did you find anything out, Mel?" Casto asked.
"I can't confirm it, but she's is resigning, though not by choice."
Casto took a step back. "What the hell?"
"Yes, I know. I don't want to think of it myself. But someone was saying something about hearing of her getting fired."
Serena could feel her heart sink. "I have to call her!" She threw her lunch bag on the ground and headed into the school building.
"Casto," Melvin said, "I know I'm usually the one to hear these gossip stories, and I'm usually right. But this is the one time I hope I'm wrong. If she really is getting..."
"Mel," Casto interrupted, putting a hand on Melvin's shoulder, "if she's going to be, we're going to make sure she has the best damn people defending her."
"I hate that man," Melvin growled quietly. "He told my father that me and Molly were doing more than just hanging out, and that you were swindling Serena's family!"
Casto's jaw dropped, though his upper lip quivered. "I remember you telling me about that before. It's just as shocking now as it was then. How could he even think...?"
"Casto, forgive me for saying it this way, but," Melvin took a deep breath, "I wanted to run out of my room at that moment and rip that son of a bitch apart."
Casto's eyes widened slightly, though he smirked just as much. "Why didn't you?"
"I'm better than that, Cas. It's not that I can't fight. It's that I don't like to. I've been a diplomatic person all my life, and I hate these wars I keep hearing about. I just try to find a way out of fist fighting anyone. But something inside of me came alive when I heard him say that about Molly, and then that disgusting remark about you. I would never take advantage of her, and I know you wouldn't ever con anyone's family."
"I'm glad you said something. Listen, I..."
"Bro," they heard Serena say as she came back to meet them, "I need you with me. She's at home, and I think you have to hear this. The principal also knows what's going on."
"He does?" Melvin asked.
"Okay, sis. Mel, you can come, too."
"No thanks, Cas," Melvin answered. "I think I got my confirmation of what happened. I hope he gets his."
"We all do, Mel!" Casto said. "And by the way, if you ever feel the urge to kick his ass, let me know before you do so, because I would love to see you own him!"
As Serena cocked an eyebrow, Melvin smiled. "No prob, Cas!"
Casto turned and followed Serena into the building.
However, standing on the other end of the schoolyard, watching all of it, was a dirty blond male who couldn't be any taller than Melvin was. "Wasn't that Serena and Casto talking to that Melvin dork?"
"Yeah," a taller, black-haired male student answered. "They nearly took the bait from us that one day."
"That was when Miss Haruna broke us up and sent us to the principal's office, right?" asked one of the female students in the group. She was a bit different in that she wore black boots in the school. The tops were covered by her slacks—another unique feature of her school attire—so no one noticed or cared.
"The last day before she was injured, yes," a masculine, deep voice said.
"The doofus doesn't like to fight, right?" the last brunette female asked.
"Yes, Mokoto," the leader retorted. "That's exactly what he said. I want to see if he's true to that word."
"Let's just not do this until after school, Yumee," the muscular male suggested.
"I know, I know, Akira. You don't have to remind me that we'll be fighting him in a land mine right now. We'll wait until after school, and then, when he least expects it, we teach him the lesson he'll never forget."
"Five on one?" the first, purple-haired female asked.
"Not like anything else we've done, Mai!"
"I know. It's just," Mai sighed, "I don't know. Just seems weird now. I have a bad feeling something awful will happen to us if we go ahead and beat him up."
"He isn't going to suddenly go ape shit on any of us, Mai," the tall male said.
"I know that, Itagki!"
"Then what are you going on about?" Yumee scolded.
"Some bad premonition, that's all. I hope I'm wrong."
"You'll see, Mai," Yumee replied, "he's not going to fight back. I'm sure of it. In fact, I'll make sure of it!"
-xXXXXx-
Melissa was racing the fastest her legs—and her beaten up body—could run. She didn't know how much time she had left until Rubeus put whatever plan he had into motion, and she remembered Serena telling her something about him going after Ikuko.
'Ikuko, I admire your bravery, but let me handle him. You don't know what he's capable of!'
She only wished she had some sort of way to contact the Sailors and let them know something was about to happen.
She turned another corner and began her sprint again. Just a bit up the block, however, she saw someone exit a restaurant and get right in her path. She couldn't stop in time, and she collided with him. While he collapsed where he stood, she somersaulted onto the ground. She got back to her feet as quickly as she could.
"Hey," the man yelled, "watch where you're going, woman! You almost killed me!"
"I'm sorry, mister!" Melissa said as she turned to face the male. This was a weird looking guy to her. She only heard of such a hair color as salt-and-pepper, but she had just seen such a color on this tall, irritating man.
"Well, you should say sorry to my supervisor who's gonna let me know about being late now. There's no rush though Juuban! I gotta get back to the school. I was running late as it is! Just be careful next time!" The man got into his car and swiftly drove off.
As she turned back around to begin running again, Melissa's eyes widened. She felt something unlike anything she ever had before, and it made her turn around at where that man once stood.
'Why am I feeling like this?' she thought. 'Those bad vibes are coming from that man! He said something about a school, and he looked like he wanted to kill me just now. Metaria, you're not trying to disguise the Youmas again, are you?'
Melissa was about to start racing after the man when someone else came out of the restaurant. It was a female, though a bit shorter than Melissa. "Did you see how rude he was? I hope he doesn't teach class like that!"
"Who?" Melissa asked the woman.
"Oh, hi there," the female answered, turning to Melissa. "That man who...wait, you're the woman he just got ran over by. That's probably the best thing that's ever happened to him."
"Why do you say that? Weird behavior?"
"Well, not for him. He's the new English teacher, God help those poor students at Juuban High."
'Juuban High? At least that eases my mind of Metaria infiltrating Sammy's school.' "Who was he, and why are you talking about him like that?"
"You don't know? That was Mister Harold Koa!"
Melissa coiled back slightly. "So that was Mister Koa!"
"So you have heard of him."
"Just some bits and pieces. Nothing I can really say are true or not. What do you mean new English teacher?"
"Something happened to Patrica's job. I don't know what for, but they don't want her teaching there anymore. Some of the kids who come in here for breakfast were shocked when I said what I knew."
'Patrica's...no. How cruel can one person be?' "Listen, thank you for talking to me. I was in the middle of heading to the park. Something's happening there that I'm running extremely late for. Please forgive my haste. Thanks!" Melissa zipped towards the park again.
"Weird woman!" the female said as she went back into the restaurant.
'That's the guy Molly was talking about,' Melissa thought. 'I bet that's also the person Casto was going to talk to me about. If he's done anything to Patrica, Zoy will never forgive me, nor should she. Hell, I won't even forgive myself for letting it happen.'
On the roof of the restaurant, Pandora rested in stealth behind an air conditioning vent. "Yes, Queen Beryl! Keep running to your fate. I'll get you yet."
She held out her hand in front of her. Materializing in that hand was a projected picture of her and her five DD Sisters. "I loved all of you. I told you the Dark Kingdom was bad news, but you wanted to keep fighting for what you thought was right. I tried and tried, but she was so evil to all of us. And the other Youmas told me that they knew what they were getting into, and that I shouldn't have whined. I was the only one who knew that the Sailors were too tough for us in our current state. If only Beryl listened, she would've beaten them, and she would've never sent my sisters to die for nothing. She manipulated them so much that they began to hate me for telling the truth."
She quietly looked around to make sure no one was had peeped near her position before disintegrating the projection. "I've waited so long to finally get my chance at revenge, waiting until she was most vulnerable before revealing myself to Rubeus and the new Youma. I want her to burn to ashes." She vanished into thin air.
-xXXXXx-
"This can't be happening, Patty," Serena cried through the phone in the main office of the school.
"Don't worry, Serena," she heard Haruna say on the other end. "I'm not going to just let them do this to me. If I can't get my job back, I'm at least going to make sure I get what I'm entitled to."
"You're entitled to your job, Patty! We need you!"
"Principal Demitri," Casto asked, "what were the stipulations?"
"She's to resign within the week," Demitri answered. "If she doesn't, they can move to terminate her at their leisure."
"Good lord!"
"And Mister Koa is the permanent replacement."
"Patty, I can vouch for you if you want," Serena pleaded.
"Thank you, Serena. I go before the S.A. Board tomorrow to discuss this, and what the situation is. I would love to have you by my side. But only if it's okay with Mister Demitri."
Serena took the receiver off her ear for a moment and looked towards the elderly principal. "Is it all right if I go and support Miss Haruna tomorrow at the board meeting? She says she wants me there, but only if you approve."
"I don't know how Mister Koa will like that," Demitri answered. "But I want some answers, too. That, and Harold answers to me if he wants to teach here. Serena, I'll be happy to grant you not only the excursion, but also the transportation there. I'm supposed to go there, too, and I can ride..."
"Serena," Patrica called out. Serena put the receiver back onto her ear as the now former teacher continued, "I'll pick you up from your house. I want to talk to you anyway. Let him know I'll go ahead and ride you there."
"Sure, Patty. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, Serena. Stay good, and just try to keep your cool around him until we can get all this straightened out, okay?"
"I'll try, and I hope Casto can keep his cool around Mister Koa, as well."
'As long as that douchebag doesn't say any of that shit Melvin told me about to my face,' Casto thought.
"I have faith in you, Serena. Remember, with great power, comes great responsibility. Talk to you tomorrow." Patrica hung up afterwards.
As Serena put the receiver back on the base, she looked towards her peers. "She's going to pick me up tomorrow, Mister Demitri. I hope that's okay. She insisted on wanting to talk to me."
"All I have to do is make sure I fill out the paperwork to get you excused for the day to go up there tomorrow. But I have to warn you, Serena: those guys are brutal. It will take a lot to convince them that you are telling the truth, and even then, they don't budge easily."
"I'll be fine, I think," Serena answered with an uncomfortable sigh.
"Serena knows what to do, Mister Demitri," Casto reiterated."Trust me, she has a temper, and isn't afraid to tell someone how it is."
'Thank you, bro,' Serena told herself in her mind. 'I needed to hear that.'
"I know she will be," Toko said. "I have full confidence in her, though I think maybe you should go, too, Casto."
"I think she can do fine without any..."
"No, not as support, Casto, but as another witness. You, too, have been victim of a lot from Mister Koa. I think they should hear your stories, as well. The more they hear, the more likely they are to listen to what is being told."
"Mister Demitri, with all due respect," Serena replied, "the last time, they ignored an entire school to keep him employed."
"They didn't have anyone who's at risk to lose their job over him like they do now. Besides, this will be a very good opportunity to show that you two have learned something from this school and Miss Haruna. Now, I think you should be getting to your next class. I'll make an announcement over the comm in just a moment that Miss Haruna's health isn't at risk. I think that's what everyone was worried about. At the least, they can rest easy knowing that much about her situation."
The two siblings nodded as they made their way into the hallway.
-xXXXXx-
Patrica put the phone back onto the charger and collapsed into the couch. She was again in pain, but she could not help but shed more tears.
"If I can't work, I'm going to be kicked out," she cried. "I'm behind on my rent. I'm scared. I don't have anyone to go to. If I can't teach, I can't do anything else to get money. I'm so scared...of being homeless again."
-xXXXXx-
Melissa finally got to the park. She felt like she had ran a country mile to get there, but she finally saw the trees, grass, paved paths that weaved through the area, and numerous benches. She also saw the center fountain, where she found Rubeus waiting on someone. Right beside him: Drillbit.
"So, there you are," Melissa whispered. "But where's...?"
"Rubeus!" Melissa heard a woman call out. She recognized that voice from earlier today. Actually, she recognized it from a few days ago.
"Ikuko!" she gasped.
"You...gotta be kidding me," Rubeus was heard chuckling. "I know that voice."
"Who is it?" Drillbit asked.
"It's Ikuko. Serena's mother. Or should I say, adoptive mother."
"She was reborn, you idiot," Melissa growled beneath her breath.
"You will not harm my family again!" Ikuko continued. This time, however, Melissa saw her walk along the path, right towards the fountain where the two villains laid in wait.
"No! Ikuko, please turn back!"
"You decided to return to me, did you? You were too in love with me to resist crawling back," Rubeus laughed.
"Yes, Rubeus." Ikuko grinned as she found her target. "I'm here. I came back, and I loved everything you did to me. In fact, I wish for more."
"Wow, Rubeus," Drillbit said in shock, "you really know your way with the ladies, do you?"
"As long as I'm still alive, I will still haunt you, Rubeus. You didn't finish the job, and I wanted more. I loved when you made me bleed, and when I called you a piece of shit. Oh, hell yes! You don't know how much that turned me on."
"Ikuko," Melissa cried, though she still attempted to stay quiet and hidden in some bushes along the outside path of the park. "What the hell?"
"Rubeus, as long as you don't harm my family, you can have me. Do whatever you want to me. Abuse me, kill me. Hell, make love to me if you want to! I know you want me! I could see it in your eyes when you slapped me and choked me on that pipe. You fell in love with me. Don't deny it. C'mon, Rubeus."
"Rubeus, that's one hell of an offer," Drillbit smiled. "I'd tap that."
"If it's too good to be true, it probably is," Rubeus answered.
"I can't be here waiting all night, Rubeus. You know me. I can't be stood up for too long. If you're going to give me what I've been craving ever since that day, then we need to start. I'm aching for it."
"Okay, if you insist." Rubeus smirked as he began walking towards Ikuko.
"Damn it, Ikuko," Melissa whispered, waiting for the right moment to pounce, "this is insane. What sort of sick mind did he install in you? If you hurt her, Rubeus..."
As Melissa laid in wait, hoping that she could get her timing just right, Pandora appeared on the end of the park, on a path overpass. She had a perfect view of the entire situation, though she knew no one could spot her as she ducked down beneath the stone guard rail.
"So you're Ikuko," Pandora whispered to herself. "I was wondering who he was talking about all this time. Don't worry, ma'am. You are not a target, and I do not wish to infringe on your fight with Rubeus. My fight is with Melissa, not you."
-xXXXXx-
The school day was finally over, and for Melvin, it was a long walk home. Though he was still on probation, he was relieved that Mister Koa was busier with Molly than with him. That, and Melvin's dad trusted him enough to be able to walk home without any trouble.
Melvin was the last one to exit the building. He was running a bit late from having to fumble through his locker for his books. He just now realized how much of a mess that locker was. When was the last time he cleaned it out? Last semester? He used some time to get some of that stuff out of the locker, and by the time he was finally ready to leave, it had grown about twenty minutes later. It didn't help that the workers were scuffling in to begin the work on the computer lab. Another day of the school being closed was more or less in the books, as far as he was concerned.
He went onto a side street that was West of the school. He had heard of this shortcut from another student last year, though he didn't have any reason until now to use it. Though he knew that so many abnormal issues in a row, all at the same time, were a bad sign, he didn't want to think about it as he continued down the street.
There was a small area in the brick wall outlining the school premises that had a gap in it. Just wide enough for someone to go through. It wasn't an unfinished part of the wall, but rather a sort of emergency escape route. The other side of the school had the gymnasium entrance that he had exited from when he was abducted by Rubeus, though the brick wall didn't make it easy for him to spot where he actually escaped from, provided that he cared to look.
However, as he passed by that gap and neared another corner, he was met by a muscular teen with mustard hair. "You're not going anywhere, you geek!"
Without another word or warning, Melvin was shoved into that gap, and into another male's awaiting arms.
"Get in here!" he screamed as he threw Melvin behind him and onto the ground. "Good work, Akira!"
"And stay there, doofus!" Itagki screamed before kicking him in the ribs as if he was kicking a football. It made Melvin launch into the brick of the school wall.
"You really think you could get away from us, huh, Melvin?" Yumee said as he grabbed the kid by the shirt and dragged him back up. He punched him in the mouth, and then in the gut. The gut punch made Melvin gag, perhaps on his own blood.
Mokoto bent down near Melvin and spat on him. "There! That's as much as you'll ever be worth!"
Yumee picked him up again, Melvin's face with a cut and drenched in saliva, and ordered, "Now, Akira!" Akira charged like a bull and rammed into Melvin with his entire girth. Melvin fell to the ground, now limp and unable to defend himself.
Mai, however, was only watching as her four friends pounded on the kid like a punching bag. 'I didn't know they hated him this much, though.'
Outside of the gap, someone had approached the point in which Melvin was blindsided, and he heard the action as he was fumbling for his keys. It was Mister Koa. As soon as he heard it, he quickly hid to the side of the gap, just enough to where he could see them beating Melvin up.
'Damn it,' he thought to himself, not moving a muscle, 'why did you have to go and do this now? You guys know they are going to think this is because of my influence. Not that he doesn't deserve it.'
He heard a voice shout to Melvin, "This is what we do to losers like you!" Another voice called, "You've already failed at life! Just so you know, Casto is going to be next!"
'No, let me handle Casto,' Koa thought to himself.
Behind the school, Melvin was becoming a bloody mess. Yumee was kicking his ribs as hard as he could. While they were doing so, Mai was looking on, seeing that Melvin's eyes were becoming blurry. She could see them through his now broken glasses, which Akira stripped from him and broke completely with his foot.
'Should I say something to them?' Mai asked herself. 'He looks like shit right now. I know I was agreeing to this earlier but...oh, God, what are we doing to him?'
She looked around, praying that someone—anyone—would come and put a stop to this massacre. She looked to her left to see the head of Mister Koa, looking on, though she was careful not to let him know that she had realized that he was there.
'Has he been watching this? He hasn't even done a damn thing, and this is school property. He has a duty to the school to stop this kind of stuff. He's the only one that can stop...'
"C'mon, Melvin, scream out!" Yumee yelled. "Cry like the wimp you really are!"
Akira stomped on his chest cavity, a move that made Melvin have to gasp for air. Akira responded by stomping him again.
Yumee, with widened eyes, picked him up yet again and punched him in that same area. Melvin could feel himself begin to lose consciousness, maybe even more than that. The attacker punched him two more times, with the second time more down to the gut, which made Melvin choke on his blood.
Mai saw Melvin choke while still gasping for air, and lost the battle with her conscious. She ran in between Yumee and Melvin. "All right, already!"
"The hell are you doing, Mai?" Yumee screamed.
"Enough's enough! You told us we would teach him a lesson, not try to commit murder! You're gonna kill him!"
"Not enough of a lesson, Mai! Move!"
"No, Yumee! I knew something bad was going to happen. Let's go! We've done enough."
"Should I teach Mai a lesson, Yumee?"
"What are you saying, Akira? Not right now."
"We're supposed to be friends," Mai cried. "I'm saying this as a friend: don't do anything you're going to regret."
"You agreed to it!" Yumee stated.
"I didn't know you wanted to kill him!"
"Maybe that's what it will take for him to know that he isn't wanted in this school!"
Mai tried to find more words to continue to get some answers out of him, but only said, "I thought I heard someone come close here, anyway. We're going to be caught soon if we don't get out of here."
"I don't care who sees this!"
"But I do! Let's at least make them think they don't have to fear us, and then surprise them." 'That and I got my mother and father that I'll have to face.'
"You're only so lucky that Mai has shown some mercy for you," Yumee screamed to Melvin. "She may not be here the next time I see you. Better hope to God there isn't a next time!"
The group began to walk towards the gym, leaving Melvin for dead. However, once the rest of the group turned the corner, Mai looked back at Melvin. She waited until he eyed her before mouthing to him, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She then looked towards the gap, 'No police to even be heard of. And Mister Koa! Could they have been right about you? You're one sick man to just allow us to do that to him.' She slowly began to walk away, hesitating as she did so.
'Mai,' Mister Koa thought, 'why did you have to stop the show? At least now I don't have to worry about Melvin blowing a whistle like he did in elementary school. Thank you, Yumee!' He walked away, fumbling with his keys once more.
Even though Melvin was near out on his feet, he still used the wall of the school to drag himself towards the gym door. It was when he neared it that one of the workers opened the door and saw the shell of a human kid.
"My God, kid! What the crap happened to you?" the worker gasped. "Guys, call an ambulance, now!"
-xXXXXx-
Melissa knew she needed to act fast, but she also knew that she couldn't screw this up in any way. Getting Ikuko out of danger was priority number one, but failing at doing so would put her at even more risk. Even with her trying to figure out Ikuko's strategy of luring Rubeus into what she hoped was a trap of some kind, Melissa was on her toes waiting for Rubeus to get close enough to the bush she was hiding behind.
What Melissa didn't see—nor did anyone else—was Pandora still on the overpass, waiting for the right time to strike her with her hard light beam. Pandora could see that Melissa was still in some pain, though she knew all about Melissa's tolerance of pain and how she had braved through it in the past to achieve a goal.
'You can't keep your injuries hidden from me, Beryl!' Pandora whispered in her mind. 'I'm about to finish what I started in that alley.' She aimed perfectly. She knew that one shot could be all she needed to kill Melissa.
"Rubeus!" Drillbit yelled out.
"Not now, Drillbit," Rubeus answered as he inched ever-so-close to Ikuko. "I'm about to get me some..."
"They're here!"
Everyone present looked to the south end of the park. Both Reenie and Sammy were making their way across the street, right near where Rubeus and Drillbit had planned to make their move.
'That's Sammy?' Pandora asked herself. 'Just some kid?'
"So, Ikuko," Rubeus smirked, "looks like you're just in time to watch me finish the job on your family."
Pandora gasped. 'What?'
"Reenie! Sammy! Run, now!" Ikuko cried.
"What?" Sammy uttered.
"Shut up!" Rubeus smacked Ikuko hard in the face, making her fall on her rear.
Melissa clenched her fist when she saw Rubeus pull out his Hizrounswa Gun. "Drillbit, watch Ikuko for me!"
"Sammy, go!" Reenie ordered. Sammy ran for his life and was able to get away from the park.
"It's not him I'm after anyway, Reenie," Rubeus growled as he pointed the gun at her and changed the gun level to six. "It's you!"
Will be a few more chapters to go in War Games. Got a bit more planned before I really unleash something you'll never be seeing coming. And sorry if this seemed to be more of a depressing chapter than the others you've read so far. Trust me, if you hated what happened to some of the people in this chapter...there's some revenge upcoming.
Thank you for reading. Good night and good luck.
