Chapter 11:

I growled running through the town. I wasn't about to go collect on villagers. I could do this on my own. Like last night. I shuddered remembering last night. Marella and her stupid pony only got in the way. True she had managed to kill a few monsters but...she doesn't even realize how many I oh never mind. And the horse! UGHN! I wish it had just died! I snorted as I ran down the path.

As I skirted the out skirts of the town's I heard roaring in the distance. With a smile I jogged over the bridge that connected the town to the forest. With a battle cry I leapt through bushes and into a small group of monsters. With a few quick slashes I killed the monsters and wiped my face off. With a small growl I continued down the path. I could hear the monsters farther in the forest. I emerged on the path and my eyes widened as the sound of the monsters got louder. Scowling I headed farther into the forest.

A loud thrashing starts coming from behind me. I unsheathed my sword and leap sideways into the bushes. The thrashing got closer and I crouched ready to burst out of the bushes. I blinked as the thrashing quiets down. "Bunny?" Someone's voice hisses in front of the bushes. I tensed as the voice got closer to my hiding spot. "Bunny!"

A took a deep breath and jumped out of the bushes. I let out a battle cry as I landed on the man's shoulders.

"Bunny! I-Mm!" I placed a hand over the man's mouth and looked around. With a grunt I started pulling him into the bushes. I looked over the top of the bushes before taking a deep breath and releasing the man's mouth. "What was that for?" The man snapped.

I glared at the man. "Can you not hear the monsters just a little farther down the path?" I snapped back. "Vaughn if you had gone just ten more steps you would have been monster chow."

Vaughn's purple eyes widened and he glanced at the bushes. I raised my head until my eyes can see over the bushes. Thank God, I managed to get him. I could feel Vaughn's breath on my neck as he comes up behind me. I shivered slightly and lowered my head. Things don't look very good.

"Vaughn I need you to do something for me." I murmured playing with the gun's safety.

"Depends." Vaughn's voice turned icy.

"I want you to leave the forest, and help Marella and Calvin on the ranch." I raised my hand and raised Vaughn's head. "Vaughn please."

Vaughn locked eyes with me. "I-I can't."

I growled with frustration. "Vaughn please!"

"I said I can't!"

"And why can't you?"

'"Because I can't leave you alone." Vaughn grabbed my shoulders and pulled me towards him. I struggled as he held me.

"Vaughn!" I hissed. "Let go!"

"Why? Just so you can say I'm fine, and tell me you don't need anybody's help. Not a chance Bunny."

I sighed and stopped struggling. "Why me?" I muttered under my breath.

I felt Vaughn chuckle as he pulled me into a more comfortable position. "Because you seem to enjoy rubbing me the wrong way."

"I don't do it for fun!" I snap losing my patience.

"It seems like it sometimes."

I sighed and rolled out of Vaughn's lap. I stopped a few inches away. I laid on my back and watched the clouds drift. I don't know why but I felt calmer. Calmer then I have been in who knows how long. "Vaughn..." I started but the rest of the words seem to die in my throat.

"Bunny it's not your duty to protect the villagers."

I bolt up, furious once again. "I know how to protect them. Do I have to protect them? Fuck no." I sighed lying back down. "I made a promise a long, long time ago to do everything in my power to protect the innocent. Justice has not touched these people yet and there is no need for justice yet. Until there is I'll protect them."

"Who did you promise?" Vaughn leans over my covering my view of the clouds.

"You're going to laugh if I tell you."

"No I won't."

I sighed and pushed him away, before sitting up again. I leaned against the warm, damp bark of a nearby tree. "When my adoptive father was still alive, I had a dream. In this dream I saw a man. But he didn't seem normal to me." I tilted my head to the side remembering the man. "He had flowing red hair, and green eyes. He seemed to glow. He called me Aurora Castane. That's what got my attention." I paused then continued. "He called himself a God, but I didn't trust him. He showed me part of his power and it scared me. He made me promise to punish those who deserve to be punished, to always fight , and to always believe that justice is fair and should be used to protect people."

"All this happened in a dream?"

I nodded closing my eyes. "I've never told anybody about it not even Ella. I was worried she might think me a freak. But even before the dream...I always knew to do those things." I opened my eyes and smiled sadly at the sky. "I'm blood thirsty and ruthless. I'm a very quick person to anger, like with what happened with Phoebe, and I am not a very forgiving person."

"You're only talking about what you think people think of you. My opinion is different. Bunny you're caring, and are quick to stand up for those who get hurt. You protect everyone you know, you smart, and sarcastic."

"No really?"

Vaughn chuckled and continued. "You're not a bad person. It's just who you are."

I sat up and looked at Vaughn, his purple eyes are careful and for a fleeting moment I got the feeling he wasn't telling me something. Something important. I sighed and stood up. "Vaughn I have to go do something about those monsters!"

"You can do something later Bunny."

I growled and glared at him. "Why later?"

Vaughn scuffed the ground with his boot. "Well..."

"Spit it out!"

Vaughn pulled his hat down low over his face. "Ella's passed out."

I snorted. "Ella always passes out. Why do you think she uses a bow and arrows? She can't fight because she faints when she loses a milliliter of blood or at least that's what seems to happen."

"I see."

I sighed and headed for the path. "Alright let's go."

"Go?" Vaughn asked his voice laced with confusion.

"To the ranch."

"What?"

I tapped my foot impatiently. "Did the glimpse inside my insane mind really shake you that much? I'm going to go back to the ranch, because you asked me too."

Vaughn narrowed his eyes. I waited for him to say some smart mouthed comment but he just brushed by me and headed down the path. l gritted my teeth in annoyance and followed him. The path turns to stone as we get closer to Harmonica Town. I felt the hair on the back of my neck start to rise as shouts and cries of pain echo in my ears.

I started to run and quickly flew past Vaughn. The man reached out to grab my arm but missed and only managed to brush my fingertips. I scowled as the noises seem to grow quieter. I gritted my teeth and pumped my legs faster. The trail took a sharp turn to the left around a deep bramble thicket. "Fuck." I muttered.

I lowered my head and ran through the brambles. I winced as several scratched my face fairly close to my left eye. I let out a sigh of relief as i erupt from the bramble thicket the town laid out before my. I stopped as the sorry sight greeted me. Monsters patrolled the streets. Human bodies laid in heeps. Most were moving but I saw a few that laid as still as stone.

I unsheathed my ever present sword with my left hand and grabbed my gun with my right. I unclicked the safety on my gun. Monsters heads snapped in my direction. I smiled when I saw the monsters creeping towards me. I heard Vaughn's footsteps behind me. I closed my eyes when he placed a hand on my shoulder. "I have a reason to fight for this." I murmured.

"What reason now?" Vaughn's voice was close to my left ear.

I opened my eyes and gazed lovingly down at the towns and the ranch that could be seen in the left part of the horizon. "I'll tell you later."

I walked towards the town. A monster came running out of a dark alley on my right.I raised the gun and and grinned. I pulled the trigger and the monster collapsed to the ground. I checked the exit hole and smiled in grinned in evil satisfaction. The exit hole was the size of the top of a jar. Maybe having the top part of the bullet's as lead has it's good points. I stood and made my way through the town.

I heard cries of pain and terror. I stopped outside the town's hospital. I knocked on the door. I called through the door, "Dr. Trent, Dr. Jin? Are you there? It's Aurora."

I heard someone sigh and then the locks on the door being unlocked. The door opened a crack and I saw Dr. Trent staring at me with wide eyes. "Aurora come in quick!"

I slipped through the crack and to my amazement see all the villagers. I looked around and saw Vaughn standing amidst the crowd. "How -"

"Shortcut." Vaughn smiled and everyone around him gave him funny looks.

I sighed and backed up until my back was pressing against the door. "Everyone stay here please."

Everyone turns to look at me and Hamilton, Taro and Thomas step forward. "Where are you going?" Thomas asked.

"Or better yet. What are you going to do?" Taro muttered.

I smiled and turned the doorknob. "I'm going to protect something."

"Protect what?" Hamilton asked rubbing his hands together.

My smile grew even wider and I raised my gaze above their short heads. I winked at Vaughn and chuckled in my head as he blushed. "I'm going to save my home."

"The stars look so bright." Marella murmured.

I smiled and nodded. "Yea. Maybe it's because we achieved something today."

Marella shifted beside me. "You really think of the ranch and islands as your home now?"

"I do."

Marella and I laid in the middle of the field and watch the stars slowly turn in the night sky. It was peaceful and the monsters were either dead and being buried by the villagers or running for the mountain. I watched the sky and sigh. "You okay?" Marella asked

"Fin-" I broke off as a jagged piece of lightning came crashing down on us. "MOVE!" I screamed pushing Marella away from the piece of lightning. We rolled away from the spot and came to a stop five feet away from where the lightning hit. I covered Marella's injured body with my own ignoring the recent wounds I received from the monsters.

I raised my head a little and looked at the spot. My blood turns to ice as I noticed the shadows coming from the ground. "No." I whispered, my voice cracking.

"What? What is it Bunny?" Marella asked trying to worm out of my protective grip.

I pointed and she gasped. Monsters were rising from the ground where the lightning struck.

OMG RUN FOR YOUR LIVES IT ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS! ! lol. Ah I'm sorry it took so long to post this one, I had too much homework and school things. Even as we speak my partners cussing at me cause I won't hurry up and finish chapter 17... Yea yea, I'll get to it as soon as I can. :P If you guys are reading this the first thing you should say (if you review) is Kenzo is totally awesome and makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever! XD Anyways hope you guys enjoyed it, more coming soon (I hope :P)