A/N: I want you to know the last year has been a busy one, so I haven't had the time to write much, nor have I watched TMNT past the space saga, I know Newtralizer – who appears as a "predator" in this chapter, makes an appearance in season 4 where we possibly learn more about him and his personality. I'm sorry this isn't following the series version of him very well, I started working this chapter along with its plot before I even found out he is to make another appearance in the show. I haven't had the time to watch the show, I just wanted to get this chapter out and to be honest I like the idea of portraying him as this merciless hunter. I also liked the idea of what would happen if Newtralizer ever found out April was a Kraang-human hybrid, so I decided to use the idea and have him hunting Oliver and his friends. This was good opportunity to explain what's with Marie and frozen water in few chapters back and see her using it in combat. Now Marie is not Elsa knock-off, her origins will be explained later on, in this chapter you only find out what she knows about her icy side.
Also, this has probably been the hardest chapter in the story so far. I had to restart it 3 times to get it right. One could say if it's so hard pick another plot, I wanted to do that but I knew this is an important chapter, it had to be written in order to explain what is going on with Marie and frozen water few chapters back as well as well as to show bit of her vulnerable side – though the next chapter will show this even more.
To those who were looking forward to another Raph/Marie chapter, know that the next two chapters will be dedicated just for that. Then we are free to start brand new storyline which is some-what for shadowed at the end of this chapter. If you have any ideas for the upcoming plot line, please let me know!
Chapter 12 – At the sight of a predator
It had started to rain some time ago. The sky had been gray all day but it had only started to rain during the evening. Three teenagers stumbled their way what seemed to be rather aimlessly since no one had any idea where they should be heading. No matter where they went, where they tried to hide, it would find them. It would always find them.
Oliver had a nasty feeling in his gut that it was only after him, not his two friends whom he had dragged into this. Looking at his two friends he could tell they both were exhausted. All three of them looked around anxiously waiting for the next attack as they ran maybe for their lives. Only few hours earlier Gargie had made humorous comment as they had run away from it.
"Let's not wait to be eaten!" He had told Oliver as he dragged him away from the creature, possibly it hadn't been humorous remark but now it felt like a foolish one, after all the running they've been doing. Yet no one believed the creature wanted to eat them. It merely wanted to wipe Oliver out and all those who sided with him.
However, they all found it, running away from it, to be in vain, and Marie knew why. It had purposely chased them here into a dark alley with no way out. They were trapped. They all heard how it, a predator made it's way closer and closer to its trapped prey. It knew there was no hurry, it had cornered its prey and it was only a matter of minutes – possibly even seconds when it would quash them like bugs that they – to it, were.
What on earth was going on here? How did they end up as prey to a predator?
It had been pretty much normal Monday to Gargie, Oliver and Marie. Only difference was that Marie had no ballet classes, as Gargie explained it to Oliver the windows were all blown up while Marie was inside and there would be no classes until the windows were replaced. This gave the gang of three teenagers opportunity to finally do some sightseeing together.
"Just no museums", Gargie had said. He knew Marie liked to visit them but Gargie himself often got bored in places such as museums. Oliver of course would do whatever Marie suggested, he was so over heels with that one, Gargie thought to himself bit amused. But Marie she wouldn't notice. And that he found amusing.
Their plan was very simple, they would go and see the one and only Empire State building and then have a snack before heading to the Central Park Zoo.
Now Oliver hated high places, but he didn't want to be the kill joy.
"You don't have to come up with us", Marie had told him.
"N-No, I much rather come with you guys than stay down here", Oliver said trying to hide his fear.
"Are you sure?" Marie asked.
"I'm sure", Oliver reassured her. He didn't want to be seen as a pitiful coward in front of the one person he liked.
"Don't worry, Olli!" Gargie said and gave him a firm slap on the back. "We won't let you go overboard!"
Oliver laughed nervously as they started to approach the enormous building.
"It... It looks so much smaller on TV", Oliver remarked nervously.
"You can say that again", Gargie said with a voice full of respect.
"I wonder if the Greek gods are really lurking in there", Marie said silently.
"Frosty, you read too much books sometimes", Gargie said while patting Marie on her shoulder.
"It was a joke you know", she remarked with a smile on her face. Oliver smiled too, for he felt pleasant being here with them. It was a lot more fun than it had been in good old miserable Pori a year ago.
As they got into the elevator to take them all the way up, both Gargie and Marie noticed how green Oliver's face was starting to become.
"Do you need a bucket?" Gargie asked.
"No, I'm good", Oliver told him though he had started feeling sick.
"Oliver, you don't have to do this", Marie said softly.
Oliver felt his cheeks blushing as he took one careful look at her face.
"I can't fear high places forever, can I?" He said trying to brush it off.
"There's no reason to be ashamed of your fears", Oliver remembered his mother's words. "Because fear is a natural feeling, it tells us when something is not safe. You ought to listen that feeling."
Oliver took a deep breath before they stepped out of the elevator. The place was full of people, tourists Oliver assumed. Surely no one would notice if one would faint….
But his two friends smiled encouragingly to him. Gargie standing on his left side and Marie on his right.
Here it goes!
How would Oliver loved to tell his sister he went there without any trace of fear, but as soon as they were about to gaze outside Oliver felt this jolt under his feet, almost losing hid balance he grabbed a hold of the nearest item – or in this case a person for a sense of security. Before he had understood what, he had done he heard Marie's rather awkward voice:
"I love you too Oliver."
Oliver quickly pulled himself away, embarrassed for what he had done, he prepared million apologizes but never got to say them as Gargie playfully asked:
"What I don't get a free hug?" That brushed all the awkward feelings away and they could laugh it off.
Oliver was relieved when they decided to change the place, since there wasn't a whole lot to be done anyway. As they came straight from the school, they were getting bit hungry. So, it was agreed that little bit of snacks wouldn't hurt.
Soon enough they found a cozy coffee shop and decided – as Gargie put it to crash in. Of course, they didn't do so literally, they only walked in, went to the counter and ordered some food along with sodas for everyone. As they found a free table on the corner, next to the window that offered a view to a busy street, they sat down.
"It's always busy here", Gargie sighed. "At times like these I do miss that small town."
"Well, that's something I never expected to hear from you", Marie said her voice full of wonder. "If I recall you said you hated the place."
"I do but after a while you do notice there was a certain charm to it", Gargie said.
"So where are you guys from again?" Oliver asked. Marie and Gargie told him they were both from small town of Loppi – it was a municipality with many villages located in Southern Finland but most people hadn't even heard of it. They told him again and this time Oliver in his turn told them he was from Pori, a city located in the west coast of Finland – a city that both Marie Gargie were familiar with at least by name.
After a little while waitress delivered the snacks they had ordered, Gargie smiled happily as he saw how eagerly Marie took a bite from a double cheeseburger she had ordered.
"Are you really a ballet dancer, Marie?" He asked jokingly.
"I hope so", Marie answered with her mouth full of food.
"Then why are you eating like that?" Gargie asked amused. "Aren't ballet dancers supposed to eat salads and stuff?"
"I'll work it out later", Marie said. That's what she always said whenever Gargie tried to tease her of her love of junk food despite dancing ballet. She hadn't changed. But still Gargie worried, he hadn't forgotten what he saw last night. Of course, it had been pretty dark, and he couldn't be sure what he saw but he had heard her talking with someone. Unless Gargie himself was hearing things...
"Are you okay there, G?" Marie asked.
"Yeah, sure why?" Gargie asked quickly.
"You just seemed bit distracted", Marie said. "Plus, you have barely touched that sandwich of yours."
She was right. Gargie had barely touched the snacks he had ordered. Taking one look at Oliver's way he however decided to turn the conversation around.
"Olli, hey Olli!" Gargie called out for him, but Oliver didn't notice. He looked out of the window but by his reflection Gargie could see he had rather disturbed expression on his face. Gargie couldn't quite describe it, it seemed to be the mix of fear and anxiety. Yet Oliver sat perfectly still but kept looking outside as if he expected to find the reason for his worries from out there.
"Hey, Olli!" Gargie called out to him again. This time Oliver flinched and quickly turned his head from the window to his friends.
"Are you ok?" Gargie asked. "You look bit pale."
"I-I'm fine. Fine!" Oliver squeaked with high pitched voice. As he had said his piece he blushed out of embarrassment as he had realized how loudly he had spoken. But his friends only smiled for a moment until they spurted into a laughter. Oliver laughed too but even so the worries remained.
After they had finished eating, it was decided they should go and visit the Central Park Zoo next. Oliver however seemed to be restless, constantly watching over his shoulders, as if he was waiting someone to strike. Gargie who was leading the group didn't notice but Marie who walked right next to Oliver did notice this strange behavior.
"Are you okay?" She asked, lowering her voice.
"I-I'm fine", Oliver stuttered.
"You know you are a terrible liar", Marie said. "What is it?"
"I... I have this feeling", Oliver said silently. "I know it doesn't make any sense but I feel like we're being followed by some…. thing."
"Like those robots?" Marie asked.
"No, this feels different", Oliver claimed.
"How?" Marie asked, since she couldn't really tell how those robots had made Oliver to feel very much uncomfortable, of course they had bothered her but now she didn't feel like they were in any kind of danger.
"More dangerous", Oliver said with a trembling voice.
Great, Marie thought. Just to be on the safe side she too looked at the surroundings. She saw nothing out of the ordinary, bunch of busy people, traffic, usual stuff. Maybe it was nothing, maybe Oliver was just under a lot of stress and imagined things.
But that was wishful thinking.
The Central park in size alone exceeded their expectations. Whenever Marie thought of a park she remembered that small playground people referred as park, where Marie used to hangout after school with Gargie and Liisi. But this to Marie was no park, rather than that it, it could have been some sort of huge well-maintained forest.
"I wonder if I should bring my dogs here for a walk sometime", Marie wondered.
"Just keep them out of the zoo", Gargie laughed. "I've heard they have bears in there."
"What an ideal place for a Karelian bear dog", Marie joked though she had no intention of taking Thorin anywhere near the bears, last time was more than enough.
"Are we going into the actual zoo or the one for kids?" Oliver asked.
"Aren't we bit too old for visiting the kids' segment?" Marie asked. It didn't really matter to any of them. So, they decided to go and see the sea lions first and then head to the tropic zone for starters.
"Have you guys visited a lot of zoos?" Oliver asked to pass the time while they were walking towards the sea lion pool.
"Nope", Gargie said. "We sort of lived middle of nowhere we had plenty wildlife there so what's the point?"
"You are talking about those scaaary squirrels, right?" Marie laughed.
"It wasn't funny, Frosty", Gargie claimed. "That thing just jumped on me for no reason!"
Marie laughed, she found it funny how someone could possibly get scared of a squirrel. Oliver liked seeing Marie laughing. It made him feel good inside. As they arrived at the sea lion pool, three teenagers looked at the sight of three sea lions swimming and racing in their pool, they looked like they were having fun.
"Do you think they are really happy living like that?" Marie asked out of nowhere.
"I don't know", Oliver said. "At least they get plenty of food."
But no freedom, that's what Marie thought. Zoos weren't really her thing anyway, but at least she was here with friends, it was nice and quiet afternoon, what else could you ask for?
After that they continued their way to the tropic zone.
"Hey look, isn't that one kind of familiar?" Gargie pointed to the black and white lemur. Both Oliver and Marie looked at it.
"It kind of reminds me of your jumper", Gargie said and grinned.
"It does not", Marie said.
"It does too!" Gargie pointed out. As the two friends were bickering, Oliver felt uneasy, he had tried to repress the feeling, he didn't need to feel that way now that they were supposed to have fun. But no matter how he tried he felt the danger coming closer, Oliver didn't know what it was nor how did he feel this way, he couldn't even explain the feeling he had. He just felt the danger. While his two friends were bickering Oliver looked around him, but he saw nothing that could indicate danger. Just other people and animals. None of these felt like they were the danger he sensed.
This doesn't make any sense, Oliver thought. Why was he feeling this way? What was wrong with him? Yes, there had to be something wrong with him for feeling these things. Yet he felt the danger coming closer and closer. Why couldn't he just stop?
As Marie and Gargie put their playful bickering aside, they moved on. There weren't that many people around as they started their walk towards the next destination.
"It's because of this rotten weather", Gargie said. "I think it's about to rain."
"Rain is good", Marie pointed out.
"Not when it's cold", Gargie said. He had a point, the wind had started to feel cold. Oliver had no idea where they were going, neither did Marie and Gargie, it didn't seem to matter. They just kept walking, they kept talking about everyday life, school. Oliver felt good about it. He felt good because while listening to them he was almost able to forget that sense of danger he felt. They would just walk, and wonder off, forgetting they should be seeing the sights of the zoo.
Then it came, out of nowhere. Not one of them knew exactly where it came from, only that it jumped in front of them, but they didn't know where from. Oliver only knew that this was it. This was where the sense of danger came from. He wasn't quite sure what it was, it looked like a big lizard – in size it was at least two times bigger than any of them and it wore some sort of gear. One look into its yellow eyes was enough to convince Oliver of the danger. He couldn't really explain it, but he knew they needed to run from it. And fast.
"Run", he said, so silently Marie nor Gargie heard his voice.
"Okay, who let the giant lizard loose?" Gargie asked, trying lighter the atmosphere but seemed only to anger the lizard as it started to make a sound Marie identified as growling.
"I... I don't think it appreciated your comment", Marie said nervously. She had never encountered a growling animal that growled because it was happy.
"Run!" Oliver said with high pitched voice, this time loud enough for his friends to hear.
All three of them turned around and sprint to run.
"What the heck is that thing?" Gargie asked while running. Before anyone had a change to answer they heard a peculiar noise coming after them. Gargie noticed something orange flying towards them in great numbers.
"Shit!" Marie cursed. She had heard a noise like that every time she had encountered Raph and those creepy alien robots. It was the sound their laser guns made when they were being fired.
"Was it something I said?" Gargie wondered while looking back at the creature who no longer stood there completely still but was now running after them.
Could it be something like Raph was? Marie wondered. She wasn't exactly sure what her sort of friend was, nor had she ever thought of it. She had never asked him what he was, since it didn't seem to matter. It had looked like a big lizard but it seemed to have similar weapon like those brain shaped aliens, so where they working together? Was this another plot to get Oliver?
"We need to hide!" The boy squeaked. "We need to hide so it won't find us!"
"Agreed", Marie said. She looked at Oliver who was trembling in fear, breathing in and out like there was no tomorrow.
Was that the thing Oliver had sensed before?
"Let's find some place we can hide in!" Gargie yelled at them as he dodged one of the laser bullets. Three of them kept running while looking at what was behind them. To Marie something seemed very off. That creature could make it to them with one or two jumps, yet it chose chasing them instead. Why was it doing so?
They eventually found their way back to the zoo, still occupied by some people. Oliver seemed out of breath, though they hadn't run very far from the zoo, Marie looked at him worried, Oliver looked right back at her nervously.
"That was it, right?" Marie asked. "That thing you sensed."
"You can sense Lizardnators?" Gargie asked, Marie couldn't tell whether he was being nervous or amazed.
"Well I..." Oliver stuttered.
"Come on guys, we need to find some place to hide if that thing comes back", Marie said as she could tell Oliver didn't mean to let Gargie know about his… abilities. Marie tried to look for the creature, to see if it was still tailing them but she couldn't see it and those lasers had stopped firing as soon as they had returned to the zoo. Now if it was wise, it would stay hidden from the people.
"Oliver, can you sense it?" Marie asked.
Oliver stopped walking and closed his eyes. He stayed like that for few seconds and opened them again.
"I don't think so. But we should still go somewhere out of sight in case it decides to return."
"We can go to a gift shop or something", Gargie suggested as it was the nearest place they could go in and wait for the danger to pass. Both Marie and Oliver agreed and so all three of them made their way to the entry point.
And it was waiting for them to do so.
They didn't even get to go inside the gift shop. Marie had no idea where it came from, it suddenly just appeared out of nowhere and delivered a blow with its tail sending Marie flying to the ground. It was fast as Marie's friend hadn't even had the time to register what had happened when Gargie too was lying on the ground few feet away from Marie. Only one left standing was a fear struck Oliver. Knees trembling and in shock he didn't know what to do, in his mind he already knew whatever he tried, the creature would be faster than him. It stood there, Oliver could sense it was merely thinking what to do with him, what would be the most sadistic thing it could do to him. It already knew it had won. Then Oliver heard screaming coming from the gift shop, whether it was an owner or just a customer coming out of the shop, someone had started screaming at the sight of the creature. It was enough to distract the thing for few seconds and that was all Marie needed. She got up and ran towards the beast with her school bag in hand, jumped and hit the beast's face with all she got. While Gargie grabbed Oliver's arm.
"Come on Olli, let's not wait to be eaten!" He yelled and dragged Oliver towards the exit, but the poor boy didn't quite grasp he was supposed to be running.
"Come on, run!" Gargie yelled into his ear. Then there went Marie flying at them again, hitting the ground right on their feet. Her whole body was trembling from pain, but she bit her teeth together as she got up with trembling feet.
"Run you idiots!" She yelled at them with a voice stained by pain. She grabbed Oliver's other hand and together with Gargie they dragged Oliver to the exit as fast as they could.
Marie's ribs were aching. Never before had she been thrown to the ground like that. She hadn't done lot of fighting in her life, she had been taught to defend herself, Kiriko always said she'd need it one of these days but this wasn't what she had in mind. This creature wasn't like any of those robots she had faced before. It had brute strength Marie herself could only dream of. And that speed, Marie had barely witnessed it moving before she had been sent flying through the air.
"Any bright ideas?" Gargie asked while they were running for their lives.
"Can't we just go home?" Oliver asked.
"And what if it comes there?" Marie asked. "You'd be putting your sister and aunt in danger."
"I know but what can we do?" Oliver asked.
"Well we can't go running around aimlessly", Gargie sighed. "We need a plan."
"To do what exactly?" Marie demanded to know. She hated showing it but she was starting to get really scared. She needed to get her friends out of here, no matter what, out of this situation, but how? She stopped walking and looked at her friends.
"It's too fast for us, how can you beat a thing like that?" Marie asked. "Tell me what we can do against it if we need a plan and all of that. That thing has a weapon, and what do we got?"
"I don't know about the rest of us, but I know what you could do", Gargie said. He didn't mean it as a nasty comment, he knew Marie hated to talk about it and he knew that she'd probably get angry when he even suggested her to use her icy side to get them away from the pinch.
"Don't you dare", Marie said with muffled voice.
Oliver had stopped listening. Because he could tell this was going to turn into not so playful fight. And because he knew it was coming. For him. Not necessarily for his friends.
"Maybe I should just go", he said after thinking about his encounter with the beast.
"What?" His two friends asked at the same time.
"Look, it's not you that thing is after", he explained as calmly as he possibly could. He started walking, expecting not to be followed.
"You can't know that, Olli", Gargie said catching up with him.
"I can", Oliver said. "It attacked you because you were with me, you were on its way."
"If that's the case there's no way we are leaving you alone", Gargie said. "Isn't that right, Frostbite?"
Marie nodded as she had the feeling Oliver was right. What a stupid time to be fighting. Oliver needed them. Marie didn't want to be called a friend who left when things got harsh.
I'm not like that am I? She asked from herself. I don't leave my friends behind, no matter what. Yet she didn't know what she could do for Oliver. She had tried to fight that creature as decoy and it throwed her into the air like she was nothing. At the time like this Marie really wanted to call out for her dogs, Storm, Thorin, Roy – anyone of them would do. She felt unsafe and vulnerable without her trusty companions. But they were at home, there was little to no change of Marie and her friends of reaching that place before that creature attacked them again.
"It must be near by", Marie said. "Let's keep walking till we get somewhere with lots of people. There's a change it won't attack us in front of many people."
They were all starting to be tired when they got back from Central Park. This was meant to be a quick sightseeing tour after school, not run from your lives kind of thing. And now they were tired, hungry and paranoid. Oliver felt bad for dragging his friends into this. Gargie didn't really know what to think, except for what the hell was that thing anyway? It sure was ugly! And then Marie, she should've kept closely eye on the surroundings, yet she was lost in thought.
What if it were to come back and Marie was sure it would, what could she do to keep her friends safe? How could they get out of this situation? Would Marie be able to fight it off somehow? What could she possibly do? Part of her wanted to go, grab her friends and run for it. And go where? Where could they go where it was safe? Was there even such a place that thing couldn't get to?
And what was worse, she knew they couldn't last forever. Marie was sure that creature knew it too. It was as if it was hunting them. Was it...?
Wait...
And so, she stopped walking. Her dad was a hunter, this situation they were in, was one of the methods used in regular hunting. Tiring the animal that was their prey only difference in this situation was that now animal was hunting them.
"Marie?" Gargie asked. "Why are you stopping? You just said we should keep walking…"
"I know. Sorry", Marie said. "It's just..." But before she had a change to explain her theory it happened. There was a rain of laser beams coming at their way, each one of them ran into different direction to avoid getting hit by the lasers. Marie to the left, Gargie to the right and Oliver kept going straight away from the laser beams. Then he felt a hand of sort grabbing into his jacket and pulling him up. He could only let out a surprised yell.
"You", a raspy voice muttered. "You reek of the Kraang."
Oliver wasn't quite sure what the creature meant by it, he didn't want to find out, he didn't need to find out, that's what Oliver felt. He was going to die anyway.
"Oliver!" He heard Marie yelling at him. From the corner of his eye Oliver could see Marie's figure charging and delivering a kick – almost. Before her kick found its target, the creature managed to grab a hold of her foot and tossed her away like she was merely an insect – that it thought Marie was. Oliver wasn't quite sure how he knew what that thing thought of Marie, but he just did. Oliver tried to wiggle himself to get free from the monster's grasp – though he didn't know what good it did while Marie was tossed to the ground. Marie's whole body was trembling, from pain and fear. If it wasn't certain from last time now she was well aware of the fact she probably wasn't match for that lizard thing. What could she do to get Oliver from its grasp? Directly attacking didn't do anything good, since it was able to move so quickly and grab her by the foot and toss her a side like she was nothing.
Maybe she was nothing. There was nothing she could do to it, she wasn't physically strong enough to beat it in a battle, nor was she fast enough, she didn't even bring anything with her that could be of use. There was possibly only one way out.
No, you can't. She told herself. It's too risky. You could hit Oliver when you are at it.
Marie stood up, her knees trembling with only one thought in her mind. She had to get Oliver and Gargie away from that thing, it was her responsibility. Without much of anything else on her mind she charged once again. Only difference from the last time was that the creature finally turned to face Marie, after all these encounters, it had never done so, Oliver had been its target and it did not consider his companions as anything else than a couple of insects it could dispose of without even breaking a sweat. But Oliver sensed it started to get annoyed by this one insect that kept coming between it and its target.
Maybe it would be the best to dispose of the comrades of the boy that reeked like the Kraang. Then there would be no one left to protect him. He probably wouldn't resist his fate as much if his comrades were…
So, it tossed Oliver to the ground. It never considered having to use its weapon on something as weak and pitiful as these insects. It wouldn't need a weapon for getting rid of the insects like these, but it might do so as well. It expected nothing out of the girl charging its way – other than perishing her away that is. But even before it drew out it's weapon. The girl had frozen.
It happened when that thing tossed Oliver away, when Marie saw it, she remembered. The events on that night. She still could hear how they were fighting next door, it was a middle of the night. Fighting was worse than usual. She decided to walk over there and ask Liisi to come over just like she often did. Then when Marie reached their yard she heard a loud noise and tinkling of glass. Window from upstairs was broken and then someone fell... no, someone was thrown down. Marie didn't quite understand what had happened, but she was able to hear the cracking of bones as her friend hit the ground. It all came flushing in as Marie witnessing Oliver being thrown to the ground. It all came flying back at her, all those things she didn't want to think about. That night, tinkling of glass and Liisi. The noise her neck made when she landed. It broke, that's what Kiriko said. She was completely overwhelmed by the memory, as if she didn't see or hear anything else than her own weepy voice calling out her friend's name. She didn't notice the thing drawing its laser gun at her. She was completely frozen to the creature it probably seemed as if the girl had come to understand she was outmatched. Her state of mind didn't matter to it, only wiping out the target mattered. And those who allied themselves with it. As it was about to feel satisfaction for taking out one of the people standing between it and the target, it was interrupted by a firm shout:
"NO!" Oliver, the target shouted.
Oliver had no idea what had gotten into Marie, but he wasn't going to let anything happen to her. He didn't have any idea how it happened, but suddenly he felt full of some sort of power, he wasn't even sure what kind of power it was, but he unleashed it all, knocking the lizard thing away from Marie, making it hit the wall of some building.
"What the hell was that?" He heard Gargie's voice asking right behind his back. It startled him. Oliver opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Gargie didn't wait for it either, he walked straight to Marie who hadn't moved an inch from where she had frozen.
"Marie?" He asked carefully. But she didn't answer him, she just stared what was in front of her with glassed look in her brown eyes.
"Marie?" Gargie asked again, this time shaking her.
"Liisi", Marie mumbled quietly. "She fell through a window… she broke her neck… she died… I couldn't..."
"I know", Gargie said gently. "But it wasn't your fault."
One side of him really wanted to stop the time and give her a big hug and let her talk and cry it out because she hadn't really talked about that night to anyone else than that Kiriko lady. If the circumstances were different and there was no some ugly lizard thing wanting to kill their friend Gargie would have let Marie to cry it out, but now was not the time.
"I don't think it's going to stay unconscious for very long", Oliver said quietly. "We should go."
"Agreed" Gargie said nodding his head and then he took Marie's hand gently into his own. "Come on Frostbite, we can't stay here."
Shyly Oliver walked to another side of Marie and carefully circled his fingers around her wrist – he wouldn't dare to take her by hand because he felt like he had no right to do that, since they hadn't known each other for very long time. He doubted Marie would notice though, what Oliver could gather was that Marie was in some kind of shock, he sensed her to be full of agony and sorrow but knew better than to ask. Tear flown cheeks of Marie were evidence enough and there truly was no time, Oliver had knocked the giant lizard unconscious, but he was sure it wouldn't last for long. So, they ran away, again.
Either one of the boys wasn't quite sure where they had ended up while running so aimlessly.
"I don't think we are in the good part of the city", Gargie finally said. Oliver had the feeling he was right on that as there didn't seem to be lot of people around, and those that were didn't look too happy upon seeing three school kids running around wearing expensive looking school uniforms. Kids that were undoubtedly walked into a wrong kind of neighborhood.
"We should go somewhere out of sight", Oliver said. "Marie needs to rest." but in truth, Oliver was pretty tired himself. That's how it always went on those few occasions he had managed to use that, whatever it was, it always made him tired as hell. Gargie nodded and started to look for some place for them to rest up. Soon enough he spotted a building which looked like it could collapse any time now, but it had to do.
"Should we really...?" Oliver asked. "What if someone lives there?"
"I don't think we have a lot of choices here", Gargie said. Oliver knew he was right, but he didn't fancy on bumping into some thug who would in return rob them all. Even that would be more merciful than what the big lizard had in store for them.
Oliver knew staying in such a place would be dangerous thing to do, but right now they needed to rest even for a minute and they needed to get Marie out of the shock she was in. They sat her on some wooden unopened box while they would need to discuss the matter or at least what Oliver did back there and he had no idea what he could possibly say about it.
"So, Olli, that thing back there", Gargie started with his usual friendly, bit jokey way. "What was it about?"
"It wants to get rid of me", Oliver said. "And you guys too, for protecting me. It thinks I'll stop running if it takes you out."
"How do you know what it's thinking, or did I just miss it talking?" Gargie asked.
"I... I can sort of sense what it's thinking", Oliver answered quietly. "I don't know how or why. It just happens..."
"Like that thing you did back there?" Gargie asked in return. Oliver nodded and stayed quiet, he was pretty sure Gargie was going to point a finger at him and call him a freak of nature just like his dear old dad always did.
"Could you do that thing again?" Gargie asked. "We don't have any weapons to defend ourselves with and its way too fast for us to out run."
"I can't", Oliver said quietly. "Whatever that blast was, I can't just order it to come whenever I want." He took a careful look at Gargie expecting to find disappointment in him but instead found some sort of understanding in him.
"I just wanted to protect Marie. S-S-She's important", Oliver stuttered.
"Oh, I know she is", Gargie smirked and slapped his hand on Oliver's back.
"Besides I'm afraid I'm all out of fuel", Oliver sighed. "I'm sorry."
The room became completely silent after that. Gargie stared at the big tapestry on a wall, about some big purple dragon while Oliver stared at his hands.
"It thinks we aren't more than insects to be crushed", he finally said. "I think it's enjoying the hunt."
"I'm not going to let it", he heard a familiar voice saying. As he lifted his gaze from his fingers Oliver saw Marie standing on the ground in front of the wooden box.
"I'm not going to lose any more friends like that", she said firmly. "Not because of some crazy old drunk or whatever that thing is supposed to be."
Marie felt ashamed for freezing like that when she was supposed to be the one protecting her friends, but she also felt anger for the creature. How did it dare to think them as merely something to be crushed? They were people, their lives mattered, well maybe not to it but their lives were important to her. They weren't just a prey, they mattered. Liisi had mattered, she hadn't been just a daughter of a drunk whom he had accidentally caused to die. Gargie and Oliver mattered, they were far too important to get killed by something that didn't view them as something that matter. As if they were less than human.
"I don't think the fact that we are human matters to it", Oliver said. "It's not human itself so I don't think..."
"That it has humane feelings?" Gargie continued.
"I-It's just an assumption", Oliver said quickly. "I could be wrong, maybe it's just this one or..."
"Nothing gives it the right to just come here and decide we are some squishable bugs to serve it in its hunting game", Marie said silently. She felt anger boiling in her gut, anger for her own weakness, anger for the creature hunting them, anger for not being able to protect those she cared the most in this world. Kiriko might say what she will but there was only one way out of this situation. And that one way she would have never accepted but now there wasn't many choices nor did Marie care what she would have to do in order to get them out of the situation.
"Frosty, are you really..." Gargie asked and looked his best friend, worried.
"We don't have a lot of choices, do we?" Marie asked in return. "We can't take it on in combat, it's way too fast for us, it has weapons, we don't not to mention we are pretty damn tired." She took a long look at Oliver, who – to her seemed to struggle on staying awake. Marie couldn't say for sure her icy side would be able to get them out of this, but it was the only card they could play.
But what if things went badly? What if she would lose control and accidentally hit her friends with… a soak of water? Yes, Marie was aware how stupid that thought sounded but she didn't want to take any changes on hurting someone she cared for.
"That's a small change", Gargie said lowering his voice.
"We don't know that", Marie insisted. She knew this could be their only way out, but the doubtful side of her mind kept reminding her that it could also cause more harm than good, but it was that thing or her friends. Upon looking at Gargie's green eyes, Marie could tell they were thinking about the same thing.
"Just to be on the safe side", she said. "When the time comes, stay away." She didn't know any better way to say it. She didn't want to take any risks of hurting them, yet the other part of her mind was frustrated and angry. What was its problem? What made it to think it had the right to decide who to wipe out? What the hell Oliver ever did to it? Nothing. He did nothing. Even if he did do something to offend the creature it didn't give it a reason to decide:
"Hey, I'm going to kill that one very painfully!"
No one should have the power to make such decisions. No one.
Oliver hadn't quite understood the conversation between Marie and Gargie. Maybe it was because he was tired. In his mind he couldn't see how Marie could ever hope to beat up a creature twice her size and twice as fast as any of them. And with that laser gun…
Sure he knew Marie had a lot of guts, Oliver had seen it himself in the day those freakish robots had come to the school, Oliver had pretty much frozen, yet Marie kept them both going. It was then Oliver had wondered whether Marie was afraid of anything. Today it was clear she was, she had frozen like Oliver on that day, but Oliver doubted Marie had frozen for the same reasons he had. Now, from what Oliver could sense Marie was both angry at the creature and determined to see them through this. Yet she seemed to be unsure of something.
They had left their hide out in time for the rain to start. Rain always calmed Marie down. Water was her element, it was calming and soothing but in a blink of an eye it would turn into a danger if it so chose. Marie knew this, therefore she hesitated on using it. Kiriko had told her, she must never use it as a way out, she must always rely on her own strength and training she was given. Well too bad Kiriko never trained her against a giant talking lizard twice her size and twice as fast. And had a freaking laser gun when Marie herself didn't even carry that thick history book to use as a weapon. All she had was her school bag and so far, it hadn't done much good.
Kiriko would scold her from freezing like she had done.
Well Kiriko could do as she freaking pleased. All Marie wanted to do, was to get out with her friends still intact. She must not let herself to freeze up again, she mustn't. She had to stay focused. She didn't want to lose any more friends like that.
"Do you think it knows where we are?" Gargie asked carefully.
"It better", Marie said.
"Do we have a plan?" Oliver asked. "What do we do when it catches us?"
What had Kiriko once taught her? Marie recalled she had once told her, sometimes it was better to see ones' surroundings better – it could even give you advantage were you able to spot the enemy before it did spot you.
Is that how it happened? Of course not.
Maybe it had been its intention all along. Maybe it had followed them longer than anyone could tell, waiting for them to go in some dark alley with twists and turns, where it would ambush them, making them to run for their lives until it finally had them trapped.
Oliver wondered if it was so, when it reappeared. Like once before, it came out of nowhere, shooting laser beams at them, hoping to drive them apart, hoping that they would run into different directions, losing each other. Though it didn't really matter to the predator, since the creature knew it would finish them off as easily either way, yet it preferred to drive them apart for any kind of prey would sooner or later lose its nerves and fall into despair once it had got itself lost from its companions. That was when they were easy targets.
This time however, the group of earthlings didn't panic as much as the predator had hoped. They had probably expected an attack but that made little to no difference to the predator's plans. Though the three earthlings had managed to stay together but still, they were exactly where the predator wanted them to be. Running down in dark alleyway with no way out.
Well if this was a plan to get them all out of this situation, it sucked. Marie had to admit to herself, she didn't have a plan. What could she do? Blast it with water? Make it slip into ice? She had a nasty feeling they wouldn't work on ground and that gun was a problem. Marie wasn't sure how lethal those lasers were, but she didn't want to test it out. Gargie to lead the way, Oliver was running between them and Marie came in last, in a way to see no one was left behind. It had seemed like a good idea at first but now that they had ran into a dead end with monster tailing them, it didn't seem so clever.
"Well if this is part of our plan, our plan sucks", Gargie said, trying to smoothen the atmosphere.
"Should we turn back?" Oliver asked. The group stood there in silence for a moment, listening.
"No", Marie said finally. "I think we're just where it wanted us."
How could she let this happen? They walked straight into a trap. As a daughter of a hunter, she should have seen this coming. Most common thing hunters did, was to lure their prey into a trap where it couldn't escape.
"Shit!" Marie cursed. "We are trapped here like rats!"
"Not necessarily", Gargie said after looking up for a second. There was a fire escape of sorts, if they were lucky, they could use it to climb to the roof top. Then an idea struck her, if they could reach a roof top, yes, they would be trapped there as well, but if the rain had wetted the roof top, Marie could possibly do a little trick which could save them.
There was no time for doubts now, Marie reminded herself. It's that thing or us. This has to work, or else...
They heard the footsteps getting closer.
"Help Oliver to the roof", Marie told Gargie as she turned her back on them.
"What about you?" Gargie asked, hesitant to leave his friend behind.
"I'll be fine", Marie reassured him. "I'll make sure it knows where we are."
"You do what?" Oliver asked, looking at Marie as if she had gone a little crazy.
"I have a plan", she said. "It's not necessarily a good plan, but it's worth to try."
Gargie nodded as he could see the determination in Marie's eyes. He grabbed Oliver by arm and lead him under the fire escape. He jumped and was well able to reach the fire escape and to climb over railing and reaching the platform.
"Come on Olli", he encouraged Oliver, reaching his hand to him. "Come on, jump!"
It took Oliver few tries before he was able to grab Gargie's hand but eventually he made it, though he would have much rather followed Marie than climb to the roof, but Gargie wouldn't have any of it. For he had seen that kind of look in Marie's eyes times and times again, and he knew better than to argue with her. So, the two boys climbed the stairs, both of them were surprised how easily they were able to get to the roof.
While Marie was sneaking, as silently she could towards the creature. Not to engage in combat but to lead it where she wanted it.
Two can play this game, Marie thought. But this time she was ready to escape, all she needed to do here was to make the creature know where to head next. Marie couldn't tell whether the creature was surprised when it finally saw her or was it something it had expected. It didn't matter to Marie, she merely stood there, looking at it, taunting it to follow.
Come and get us if you can. Marie didn't need to say a word, the creature understood, with its weapon on the hand, it was ready to pull the trigger on her, until she turned her back on the creature and started to run. This wasn't anything new to the creature. It was yet another game – what earthlings liked to call a game of cat and mouse. The creature had seen it many times before, but thought of it as useless, probably just a last line of defense. Whatever those earthling children were up to, it wouldn't save them. Though these children were little too persistent for it's liking. It saw how the girl jumped to reach the railing of the fire escape and climb to it. Still running eh? Well, let them run, this won't take long, so let them try and survive. It was ready to take the last glimmer of hope away from them. Whatever these kids were up to it wouldn't save them. The predator wouldn't hurry though, let them have their last minutes together, it thought.
It followed Marie to the roof top, in no hurry of what so ever, holding it's weapon on his hands, for it knew its prey was trapped, on the roof top there was no way out and when the time would be right, it would finish them all. Those two other earthlings it planned to take out fast, but the one with fair hair, the Kraang deformation, him it would take out slowly and painfully.
Once it reached the rooftop it was slightly surprised when it found nothing there. It didn't last for long though, they had just tried to conceal themselves from its gaze. What it didn't expect was a direct attack. Despite the creature's experience in battle fields and hunting, it somehow didn't even cross its mind, that it could be a victim of a futile surprise attack. Exactly what Marie had put her hopes into.
Gargie and Oliver launched themselves at the creature pushing it back towards the stairs. Apparently, it had not been expecting it at all and lost its balance for a moment. A moment was enough for the creature to lose a grip from its weapon and so it flew to the ground.
"Olli, go!" Gargie shouted. And Oliver did so, he ran towards the laser gun and then grabbed and threw it out of the roof. He knew they were starting to get on its nerves big time. It grabbed Gargie by his arm and threw him against the rooftop. But he seemed to be unharmed as he was moving and trying to get on his feet. The creature, as it had spotted its main prey, launched itself at the boy who ran across the rooftop trying to reach his friend. Just as the creature thought it had him on its grasp, the girl jumped what seemed to be out of nowhere between them.
"I don't think so, ugly", Marie hissed at it. The creature knew it could have just tossed her aside, but it could sense something had changed into a girl who had previously frozen as she was about to attack the creature. Despite its irritation the creature was some-what amused to see what an earthling as weak as this one was trying to do.
They were standing half a meter from the corner of the roof. The creature stared at Marie who looked focused on something. Something that wasn't the creature itself. She concentrated on a roof top, a wet rooftop. held her hand in the air and flexed her fingers and stared, not the creature but what was behind. She felt a cold chill going through her as she did so. She had done the same trick countless times before. She could already hear the cracking sounds, silent sounds water sometimes made when it had started to freeze. It had started where Marie stood, at the bottom of her feet. The creature had not attacked Marie for it had sensed there was something off about this girl. It wanted to see if this weak little thing was capable of something else than running away. It was a mistake as the creature soon found out as it started to feel it's feet slipping on something. As it looked down, when it went slipping farther and farther away from the girl, it noticed how the ground had turned into a layer of black glimmering ice. Try as it did, it tried to stop its feet from slipping on the ice, it was unable to do so. The creature was going down, and it knew it.
However, as it was about to fall, it was somehow able to stop its way just before it went over the edge.
"Oh no you won't", Marie said, for she would have none of it. She took few steps back and jumped. This time landing her kick at the creature as it was struggling to maintain its balance. And so, the creature fell. And it wasn't the only one who was about to do so, Marie had landed too close to the icy border and was about to lose her own balance, until someone grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the border.
"Need a hand, Frosty?" Gargie asked jokingly as he tried not to slip on the ice.
"Yeah, thanks", Marie said relieved.
"Now could you do something about this ice?" Gargie asked. "I doubt we are able to get back otherwise."
"It would be my pleasure", Marie smiled and then concentrated on the frozen water, she wasn't exactly sure how it happened, but the ice started to melt and turned back into its original form. Before leaving Marie took one last glance over the edge, to the ground where she saw the creature still lying.
"I freaking hope it stays there", Marie sighed.
"Me too", Gargie said as they headed back to Oliver, who by the look of it, looked both of his friends puzzled.
"Now you know, why I call her Frostbite", Gargie said to Oliver grinning as he did so.
Oliver took it in pretty good way, he didn't panic, or scream or run away. When they were on their way back he asked some questions, most what Gargie had asked a few years back.
"How can you do that?"
"I don't know", Marie answered as it was the truth. "Five years ago, on winter I just noticed I could unmelt the ice if I wanted to."
"So you're an ice queen of sort?" Was the next question.
"No. It's because ice is just frozen water, I just prefer freezing the water", Marie explained.
"Can you just make it appear like magic?" Oliver asked.
"Of course not", Marie sighed. "I can just control it a little. Mess with its temperature mainly."
"And does anyone know?" Oliver asked.
"Besides you and G here? No", surely Marie could've added Kiriko's name to the list but just thinking about her attitude towards Marie's… ability made Marie's head hurt.
"And it's a secret", Gargie added. "Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Why would I tell anyone?" Oliver asked, bit alarmed as if he would ever do something to harm his friends. "No one would take it seriously if someone like me would tell them, besides…"
Marie already had a hunch what Oliver was about to say, and she let him say it. There was no reason to hide it now as Gargie had already seen him blasting big lizard thing away from Marie. In a way Marie was relieved everything was out in the open. She felt some sort of kinship to Oliver as she understood his feelings as he told about them. He didn't understand why he had the ability to do what he did, he didn't know where it came from and there was no one who could tell him.
Except…
Marie felt it could be connected to those brain shaped face huggers. They had been eagerly after Oliver and there had to be some sort of reason for it. They even knew Oliver by the name, while they had only referred to Marie as a girl or a companion which could mean Oliver was important but why?
After Marie had walked both of her friends home, she had started thinking about this. What if they would get attacked like this in the future? What if Marie wouldn't be able get them out next time? She would at least have to get the bottom of this. She had to learn more about those aliens in order to keep Oliver safe. But how was she going to do that?
It was pitch black, clock was sometime after eight – or it had been when she had walked Oliver home. Marie didn't feel safe walking home alone, she should have let Dr. Granberg to drive her home, but she didn't want to be a bother, or having to answer any questions done by the persistent doctor. She heard a tree rustling nearby and instinctively turned to look if someone was walking behind her. But there was no one. Now that she was alone, it all started to get to her, fear she had felt, fear of dying, fear of not being able to save anyone. Fear of painful dead, fear of just disappearing and never being able to see her dad or Kiriko again. What would've they have thought if Marie had disappeared like happened to many others who just vanished without a trace. What would they do should that happen to her? As Marie thought that, the rustling noise kept coming closer. She could even swear she heard steps coming closer, like the steps on that dark alleyway when Marie was standing there trapped waiting for that predator to corner them.
Had it come back? Had it come to back to finish what it started?
Marie ran as she caught a glimpse on a shadow of a figure standing behind her. And the rustling noise followed.