"No, I have to go to Corinne's house. There's something I need to tell her," I said. "You understand. Don't you?"

And I turned around and walked to her house by myself. Man, Mitsu is a pain. I don't want to hurt her feelings or anything, but I really need to man-up and tell Corinne the truth. . . . again.
This must be the millionth time I did this. I thought to myself that I should just give up and never tell her. But, what happens if Taffial finds out? And I have this strange feeling in my gut that one day if creatures get smart enough to transport to Earth. . . .
No. Erase that thought Jake. It's not going to happen. Creatures will never be that smart.

Then I started to feel cold all of a sudden. This rain is really starting to get on my nerves. But I won't let something as silly as this stop me from going to Corinne's house. . . . will it?
I paused and turned around for a minute. Maybe it isn't so bad not to tell Corinne the truth today. After all, it isn't going to rain forever. I'll just tell her tomorrow, I thought.
And then I started to walk to my house. It sure was dark. I wondered what happened to Mitsu. Is she still mad at me? I hope not, or else my parents would get furious.
But I think she'll do fine in the rain, I mean, she does have an umbrella doesn't she? Nothing bad can happen.

As I walked on in the pouring rain, I looked up at the dark sky. It kinda reminded me of Odille's castle. I've been there so often that I even almost forgot that I even play Chaotic. I got used to the punishment. It didn't bother me anymore, although I have this scar. I looked under my soaked shirt to see if it haven't got infected or anything. It was still a huge pink scab the size of a fist on my heart. It might have gotten larger since my last punishment. I touched it slightly with my wet hand, and immediately drew back. It stung pretty bad, but I'm sure that it won't last long if I keep it dry.
I looked up back at the crying sky, teardrops falling upon me.
I hoped that Odille would do fine when I'm not there. She must be very lonely. . . . I must be her only entertainment, her only friend. She's been trapped in the darkness and solitude for over a thousand years! I mean, she is a ghost after all.

Odille.
I yearn for the truth about Adalard. I wish I knew why he hurt you. I wish I knew why there is punishment. I wish I knew why this has anything to do. . . . with me. . . .

Then, I thought I saw a flashing light.
I looked around, but there were no cars, and no people.
The thunder roared, and I saw a lightning bolt a distance away.

I ran as fast as I can. There were so many street lights around me, I was in trouble! I had to get to my house as fast as possible! I have to see Odille again. . . .
But I also don't want to leave myself to die here and live in Perim. I would rather die here, even if I break Odille's heart. I would not want the pain of not knowing if I died or not on Earth, and be terrified to ever transport back again. . . .

Then I saw my house! I was home!
Another lightning bolt flashed not too far away, and the thunder roared again.
I sprinted to the doorway. I made it home.
I sighed in relief and I opened the door.
"Ma, I'm home," I announced, but got no reply. I guess she was still at work.
Before doing my homework, I thought I'd watch a little TV (I haven't played Chaotic online in a LONG time now). So, I set my drenched backpack on the couch and grabbed the remote off the table and turned on the TV. At first, it started to fuzz, but then it finally worked. It was the news. It was perfect because they should say the weather forecast for tomorrow.
"Duninton Weather Forecast!" the TV announced as the words circled around the sun. Perfect! Just on time!
"After this!"
Then, it showed two policemen holding a boy by the arms, as he struggled to pursue after something. And, it showed a small ambulance and one man rolling a bed with someone on it.
"Just today," a news reporter started, "a young woman was being stabbed by a boy just around the same age-"
"I'm home!" my mom said as she walked in the door. "Sorry Jake, there was a lot of traffic today, and plus I had to slow down because of the rain. Man, I hope it won't rain tomorrow. . . ."
I didn't say anything to her. I was too busy thinking. . . . about Adalard.
"Hey," my mom started as she came behind me, "I think they have the weather on channel 8."
So, I pressed the 0, and-
"Hey! THAT'S MITSU!" my mom yelled. But before I could go back or press 8, the channel went to 0, which was all fuzz.
"Go back! That was Mitsu! I'm sure of it! Didn't you walk home with her today?"
"No," I said, "That is not Mitsu. That is someone else lying on the bed. I would know. And yes, I did walk home with her today, because she had an umbrella."
"Oh. . . ." my mom sighed as she looked down. "Then I guess it was just me." Then she went upstairs.
I stared at the screen. Maybe it was Mitsu. After all, I left her all alone. . . . But how could it be? In the rain? It can't be. . . .
"MITSU! MITSU GOT STABBED!" my dad hollered as he burst through the door.
My mom ran down the stairs.
"Really?" she said very confusedly, "Then. . . . who-?"
"It was that boy! Demeetry something! The head of that gang I told you about!"
My mom covered her face in horror.
"That poor thing!" she finally said.
I thought about going away, but before I could-
"Boy!" my dad yelled, "Did you walk home with Mitsu today?!"
I couldn't be sure if he was worried or angry.
"Yes, he said he did," my mom answered, "because she had an umbrella!"
My dad stared at me and said, "I think we need an explanation."
I didn't know where to start or how to lie. So, I thought it out for a bit, then said, "Well, first I walked Mitsu home, and, when we got to close to her house, she said she would be fine, and asked me if I needed her umbrella. I told her that I don't need it, and so we parted. Then, I came home. That's it."
I shrugged. I thought that was a fairly good one. I hope I can get away with it.
"She was robbed, too," my dad said solemnly. He took the bait.
I sighed and looked at them with an apologetic face. "I'm sorry," I told them.
"It's alright son," he said, "You didn't know anything about it. . . . but are you sure you didn't hear anything as you left?"
I shook my head.
"Oh, then I guess it was later on, then."
I looked at my dad, then my mother. "Shouldn't we call her mother?" my mom asked worriedly, as if she felt like she was sorry and needed to do something about it so that we are forgiven.
"I'm sure-" I started before my dad could say anything, "that she's already in the hospital by now. Who knows how long it has been since it actually happened."
My mom shook her head. "Jake, we know," she said in a more calm voice, "but I'm saying about visiting her. We don't know where she is now. And we to apologize to her."
She picked up the phone and started dialing, while my dad stared at the ground with a sad or a furious look on his face. It was hard to tell.
And in since I felt like I was no help but more like a nuisance, I started for the stairs.
I couldn't believe this happened. It's all Mitsu's fault. If only she would keep out of trouble. I knew that someday like this would happen. She would run into some gang and instead of running away or fighting back she would try to reason with them. It was just pointless.
But she got stabbed? That's something new. I'm surprised that she didn't get killed instead. Most gangs don't have the idea of "torture." Normally, they would kill for revenge or money if that person fought back, or they would just rob. I wondered who would do such an idiotic thing. . . .
BANG! BANG!
It was on the door.
I turned around and saw mom looking at my dad frantically.
"D-darling. . . ." she started.
My dad also looked somewhat frightened.
BANG! BANG!
"OPEN UP!" came from behind the door.
I didn't know what to do. I stood frozen in shock.
"Jake. . . ." my dad told me severely, "Go upstairs now. GO!"
I ran upstairs. Then, once I was in my room, I got my scanner and hid under the bed, terrified.
"At least I'll be alive in Perim," I thought as I pressed the button without a second thought.
I was enveloped with a blue light with numbers and letters surrounding me. Then, I vanished to Chaotic.
But I was still here, on Earth. At least I won't suffer in that other world.
But even if Odille kills me, I'll die happily.

I got out from under the bed and heard my mother and father talking to whoever the mysterious strangers were. They sounded scared.
I quickly looked around for someplace to hide my scanner. But then I heard them stomping up the wooden stairs.
I had to hurry, and so before they stormed in, I hid it under my pillow, and I thought that they can find it there, so, I hid it in the pillow case-
"Jacob Kurosawa!" someone yelled.

I slowly turned around, and not to find gang members, but policemen!
I stood there, dazed and confused.
They all waited there as they let someone go through them, it was just another policeman, with my parents behind him.
"I'm telling you, my son had nothing to do with the incident, he didn't walk her hom-" my father tried to tell him, but got stopped when the officer turned around and glared at him.
"I have to interrogate with this boy myself," he told my father, "we need to know how this happened."
Then, he motioned the others and my parents to exit the room, and they did so without question.

"So," the officer started, "this is what your room is like, huh?"
He talked as although we met before, but I knew we didn't. He tried to be all friendly and put on this act so that he can get the truth faster out of me. But I had nothing to do with Mitsu's incident. So I'm going to tell the truth. The policeman wouldn't care if I ditched her now would he? The only thing I would worry about is that he told my parents. But I don't care anymore. I just want him to go away as fast as he can.
He started pacing around the room, observing the room and myself. I didn't say anything and just stood there, waiting for his first question.
As he turned around, I saw something shine in his pocket. It was blue and it camouflaged with his pants.

It was a scanner.

I was in shock. But after a little bit I turned around and chuckled.
"What's so funny? This is an interrogation!" he said.
"But you haven't asked me any questions, so I can't see how this could be!" I countered.
"Well," he started, but looked at the chair and asked, "Can I sit here?"
I nodded and he did so.
"Now," he started again, "I bet you are wondering why I have a scanner. . . ."
"Because you're old and you play Chaotic!" I thought.
"I heard of you, Jake. . . . In fact, I requested to have a match with you, but you never replied. In fact, Jake, a lot of people who tried to ask you to a match were denied. And, I heard rumors that when you arrived in Chaotic, you would port somewhere else right away. . . . and only one person caught a glimpse of where you ported. Al Mipedim."
How could they have known?! But, it could be anywhere in Al Mipedim; the Oasis, the Palace, somewhere in the middle of the desert. . . .
"How come you still go to Chaotic and haven't played any matches for about a year?"
He was demanding.
But I tilted my head and said calmly, "Well now, I don't have to go Chaotic just to play matches now do I? I could go on scan quests, you know. . . ."
I smirked. It was perfect.
"But I don't think that's all. . . ." he started gravely. "I think there's more, and plus you're not telling anyone about it. Someone's going to find out about it sooner or later, so why not just tell me now. . . ?"
"Heh," I sneered, "I thought this was about the interrogation with Mitsu's incident. What happens if your fellow cops comes in and finds out that you play Chaotic?"
"Then we'll just take you in for another interrogation," he countered.
"Anyway," he said after a quick check at the door, "we should play a match sometime."
"Maybe I don't want to. And just who are you?"
"I am Officer Thomas. Ryan Thomas. Or in Chaotic I'm known as Termin8er."

I've heard of this Termin8er. He's unbeatable! He has ultra rare scans and no one knows how he got them!
And I think that he is more than trying to just ask why he never got his match with me. He's trying to get the secret of Odille out of me! He knows that I'm going somewhere where no one knows of, and wants to get scans! Ultra rare scans that no one else will have!
The fussing of my scanner came into memory.
That's right! Odille can't be scanned!
But her castle can. . . . And. . . . if he can go into the castle during a match. . . . He can find out her secrets!
I could not let Odille down!
Just as I was about to tell him that I will never tell him the truth, the other cops came in.
"Officer Thomas, is the interrogation done?" one of them asked.
"Yes," he said, standing up. "Let's go. He's innocent."
I thought for sure he was going to take me in.
"Jake," he whispered to me before they left, "We will meet again. And I will get answers."
"Good-bye, Officer," I said harshly.
"Good-bye, Jacob," he said in a fake friendly voice.
Then, he took one last glare at me and exited out the door.

"My darling!" my mom said as she hugged me, "Did he hurt you in any way?"
"No," I said as I shrugged her off. Then, I went to the window and looked at the cops getting into their cars outside.
He's after Odille. I have to protect her and her secrets. I cannot let him follow me. That is why Odille only lets me port to her castle directly. IT is because she didn't want anyone to follow me. I finally understood. And, I'm glad she did that.

After I was covered in the blue light, hoping for my life on Earth, and I wished to see Odille.
But, as the light unraveled, I was not in her castle. Instead, a bright white light shone. I shielded my eyes with my arms. And, when I thought the light has gone away, it was all a blur.

I saw two figures, one small and one slightly larger. And the larger one drew a knife and stabbed the other one, pulling the knife out covered in blood.

Then, that bright white light shone more, and I had to protect my eyes again.

I saw Mitsu, she was being stabbed. By Demeetry. He was shouting and cursing at her and mumbling of revenge and what her and her family did to him. Mitsu was crying and was helpless. I couldn't help but pity her. Tears started forming in my eyes. I left her. . . . all alone. . . . and she was attacked.
It was all my fault.

The light shone again and I just closed my wet eyes.

This time, the light was gone.
I was in Odille's castle, and Odille was right in front of me. She had a sad look on her face as she stared at me.
"Oh," I delightfully said, "Odille! I missed you!"
She said nothing and looked down.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"You're terrible!" she yelled at me. And she swiftly floated away and turned around. I could hear her sniffle.
"You let her suffer! You're not a gentleman now are you?" she said suddenly.
How could she have known that it happened? It was on Earth?
"Why?" she started asking to herself. "Why? Why? Why?"
"Odille," I said as I put my hand on her transparent shoulder. She slightly turned her head and looked at me, with her head still hanging low.
"I'm terribly sorry for what I did to Mitsu. I'm going to tell her that once I get the chance. I'm not going to let her down again. I'll never leave her alone. . . . And now for my punishment?"
It felt more like I was actually talking about Odille than Mitsu, considering how lonely she was. . . .
She looked up at me with hope, and said, "Yes, let's get it done."
"But," I said. She stopped.
"I only have one wish. You can torture me until your heart's desire and even kill me afterwards. But I only have one wish.

Tell me about Adalard."

"Tell me. . . ." she started, ". . . .about Adalard."
"Yes, tell me about Adalard."
"Tell me about Adalard."
"Don't toy with me!"
"Don't toy with me."
"STOP IT!"
"Stop it."

Then, I felt something go through my chest as I vomited blood.
It was a giant pillar. I was in the air, in the same location where the punishment took place.

Odille floated up and looked at me with fury.

"I WILL NEVER TALK ABOUT ADALARD EVER AGAIN! YOU HEAR ME! NEVER!"

Then, I could feel too much blood exiting my body.
I felt dizzy. . . . then everything started to slowly become a blur, then darkness, then. . . .

nothing.