Hiya everyone, before I start I'd just like to thank everyone who has supported this story so far and apologize over and over again to all of those people I have disappointed by taking so long in updating. As a weak defense personal circumstances have kept me away but things have settled now and so I can start writing again.
I've had a few reviews recently asking me to update so for you guys especially, without further ado, here is chapter twenty of 'The truth is hidden in Russia.'
Chapter Twenty: Betrayal.
"Adrian." Their captain spoke the name calmly, though the force behind it shattered the blanket of silence that had daunted on the rooms occupants.
"How can you be alive?" Kai asked rhetorically, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well I thought the answer to that was obvious." Raymond smiled slightly in amusement and lifted his arms as if to emphasize his point, "And my name is Raymond."
How can he stand there and--! "You're not even funny. Where were you when I needed you the most?"
Raymond flinched at that stinging comment, but Kai did not care in the least. The members of HOPE put their lives on the line to help the Chinese slave escape the Abbey only to be stabbed in the back. God he could still feel the pain of the punishment coursing through his veins...
"Kai, I would've come back to help you. I promised--!"
"A promise that you broke, so I'll ask again. Where were you?"
"Kai don't badger Raymond. He did his best to help you and the other children of the Abbey, just like we all have." Mr. Dickenson admonished, stepping into the verbal war.
"You mean you left us there to rot!" Kai retorted spitefully.
Raymond sighed heavily at the animosity the phoenix sent his way and tried his hardest not to retaliate. Betrayal was shunned to one side as intrigue bubbled to the surface of the captain's mind at the others sigh. Silence reigned once again as Kai tried to pull his jumbled thoughts together, decipher what it was exactly he was feeling towards Raymond and not be overwhelmed by the excruciating pain he had suffered the previous night.
Adrian, Kai noted, seemed to be genuine when he was with us. He remembered every time they sat on the rooftops of the Abbey and discussed nothing to everything, from the important to the nonsensical things in the world; Kai remembered that when he was with Adrian, he felt like a normal boy.
But Adrian was not who he believed him to be. Adrian was really Raymond Kon, a traitor.
"You were in the Abbey?" Ray stepped forward cautiously, sounding for the better part a little uncertain.
"Since before you were born, I never knew you existed until I was given my first letter from the Chief of our village." Came Raymond's whimsical response, "By then it was too late to change anything. I couldn't just walk out of the Abbey and it would've been too risky to send in another spy."
"But you managed to escape?" Ray retorted skeptically.
"With Kai's help." Raymond murmured, "Boris had found me trying to shutdown all the security mechanisms. You see, about six years ago Mr. Dickenson had decided it was time to make a move to destroy the Abbey, to uncover all its secrets and save the children. But I was caught--."
"--And used against us." Kai finished slowly, "I remember that, Bryan was still unstable when it came to using his gun on others. He didn't understand it when Tala, Ian, Spencer and Myself never killed anyone with the weapons we was given. But we were getting through to him when Boris called us in to prove our loyalty to him."
FLASHBACK
Five small silhouettes stood in a line like proud statues in the middle of the large training room. A fiery red head, a pale - violet eyed youth, a stocky youth, the smallest youth and the youth with four blue shark fins adorning his pale cheeks. They knew they were being watched, but they dared not say anything for fear of punishment from the one who was staring at them from the shadows.
"I have called you all here, because I have a little treat for you." Came Boris's smooth, yet slimy voice, "Since you've all been working so hard recently."
Kai could feel Ian tense beside him and felt a faint tremor run through his own trained body in response. It was hardly surprising though as that sugary coated tone stank of fowl play. Plus, he was hiding somewhere behind them, which was never a good sign. Just what was Boris plotting now?
He took a chance and spoke.
"Thank you sir." Kai intoned politely with a voice that oozed confidence even in his internally anxious state.
Even as he felt the eyes of his teammates shift on him with muted horror, Kai kept his eyes focused straight ahead and inwardly prayed he had done the right thing. The director of the Abbey was so unpredictable; it was hard to know how he wanted his students to respond. On some occasions he just required the student to listen, even if asked a question. On the other hand he sometimes preferred to hear a respectful answer, to show they were giving him their full attention.
Bony hands suddenly clamped down on his bare shoulders as hot breath ghosted across his ear. "You are most welcome young Kai."
Harsh laughter broke out from the directors' lips at the inevitable shiver that sprung through the Demolition Boys and glided around so that he faced them.
"Bring him in!" Boris abruptly commanded.
The Demolition Boys could only watch in silence as confusion morphed into utter despair and frustration as their only other friend was dragged into the room and thrown before Boris's feet. It was Adrian, and they shuddered as his battered body smacked sickenly to the floor.
"This man has decided to betray me ... for the BBA!" Boris swiftly announced, his eyes glowed like a predator from behind his bat-like mask, shifting from one child to the next, "I want one of you to show him what happens to traitors."
Kai blanched at the request, and Tala's soft gasp was barely controlled by the petrified youth. But even so, Kai knew that Boris was aware of their small movements. The phoenix was acutely aware of the sudden change in Boris's demeanor; the suspicion that radiated from him was palpable. ...He knows...
"Kai, as you are the captain, I'll let you do the honours." Boris's true intentions began to shine through the seemingly innocent facade as he snarled, "Unless there's something you'd like to tell me."
Kai shook his head, half-heartedly agreeing with the dictator, but mostly to deny what he was seeing before him, what was unraveling before his fiery eyes.
"Then shoot him." Boris hissed.
One of the guards threw a fire weapon his way, which was caught by the agile youth. Kai stepped forward, inhaling sharply at the bloody mess before him. It was surreal, the situation he had so suddenly been put in; he was standing on the edge of his sanity, he couldn't possibly kill his friend! In that instant he realized that his choice had been made for him, he had to act upon it.
So, almost choking on the lump that had lodged in his throat, he openly defied Boris.
"What did you just say!" Boris roared, practically flying forward - Kai never saw it coming.
One minute he was holding a gun in his sweaty hands, the next, he felt rough hands claw at his scarf and distinctly heard the gun clatter against the heavy stone floor before a great shove propelled him into the arms of a large lackey.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Adrian's desperate cry echoed throughout the training room.
"Shut up!" Boris spat down at the traitor, followed by a swift kick in the ribs.
A small whine of pain escaped Adrians blood-lined lips as he tried to huddle in on himself but only managing to writhe weakly on the floor. The dictator sneered down at the pitiful heap and turned towards his rebellious prized pupil.
"Your grandfather has given you everything." Boris growled, his demonic features were inches from Kai's, "And yet you throw it back in his face like some spoilt rotten brat!"
"I won't kill anyone!" Kai yelled, "It's not right!"
"Right?" Boris's laugh was manic, bordering on hysterical, "Since when has betraying your own home been right? Or siding with those that would eagerly imprison us? That slave works for an organization that would quite easily slit everyone of your pathetic throats without even batting an eyelid!"
"You're lying!" The phoenix hissed undeterred.
"You stubborn imbecile! You're going to a very dark place my prodigy." Twirling away from Kai, Boris's gaze shifted to the four other Demolition Boys who to his delight had remained in their positions since the beginning of this particular encounter. Boris stilled for just a moment, Kai could feel the fear rise within him at the directors' next chilling word.
"Bryan."
Kai couldn't help the desperate cry that tore through him, "NO!"
"Prove your loyalty to Biovolt." Boris's sneer was just above a whisper, but yet everyone could hear it over Kai's voice, "Give in to what you have been taught and shoot him!"
At that moment the guard tugged at his arms, twisting them behind his back and pulling him towards the exit. Kai's struggles against the beefy guard were valiant but in vain; there was no way an eight year old could overpower a full-grown man. All Kai could figure out was Boris's slimy voice infiltrates everything they had been trying to teach Bryan.
"Don't you yearn to smell fresh blood again? To feel the power over another?"
All Kai could see was the steel door looming over him. He tried to avoid it, digging his heels into the ground and jerking his body weight to try and throw the other off him; but it was useless.
"Can you feel the bloodlust, Bryan?" Boris urged, "Don't you want to taste it? Go on!"
Stubbornness and pure helplessness battled within the depths of the phoenix's soul, hammering away at his resolve to fight against the shadows of the abbey. The fear and doubt that curdled in his gut allowed the evil chained to the walls of the complex chill his blood.
And then he heard the sound of defeat. A gun shot.
Suddenly, the force on his arms lessened as a heavy weight lollopped on him. Unable to process what was going on and barely able to hold the dead weight now forced upon him, Kai shrugged off the bodyguard, utterly bewildered as the lackey did nothing to stop him. He slid to the floor in a mass of tears, crying pitifully on the floor clutching at his fresh leg wound.
Kai spun on the spot in utter surprise to find Bryan glaring in his general direction. Not at him exactly, but at the man lollopped on the floor crying like small child with a scraped knee. The Demolition Boys were just as stunned, barely able to contain their excitement at the thought of Bryan finally understanding what they had been trying to teach him.
"What are you doing?!" Boris roared in mingled shock and disbelief.
Bryan smirked, and then just as eagerly swung the gun on their director. Boris halted abruptly at the imminent threat cast upon him and smiled a weak smile.
"You wouldn't shoot me," Boris took slow, steady steps back but Bryan had him at point blank range, "I'm your mentor, you're loving tutor..."
Ian snorted in disbelief, Spencer cracked his knuckles and Tala had his launcher out. Boris knew he was sorely outnumbered and neck deep in boiling oil. Kai on the other hand had raced to Adrian, helping the other stumble to his feet. One lackey tried to intervene, but Bryan tutted sarcastically and waved his gun in silent warning, gesturing to the lackey to join his identical friends that stood behind the raging director.
"You wouldn't dare--!" Boris growled.
"Wouldn't I?" Bryan snarled, as if to emphasize his point, Bryan cocked the gun and aimed it at Boris, a sadistic grin plastered on his pale features.
Boris shuffled back at the not-so-subtle hint; blood red eyes widened in horror as his pupils openly defied him. Ian was quick to find some rope and tied their prisoners together at lightning-quick speed while Tala and Spencer checked for other security.
"What are we doing now?" Tala asked, glancing from one member of HOPE to the other.
Kai took a side-glance at their Chinese friend and asked if he was ok to run. Once he had confirmation of that, and checked with his teammates that there was no one outside of the room, Kai was quick to announce the only plan that had popped into his head. Plan - Make - A - Break - For - It!
With that, they ran through the corridors of the Abbey, but soon lackeys were hot on their tails, shooting blindly at their targets.
Bryan was the first to stop, and ordered the others to run. He blocked the corridor facing the lackeys, first using the gun he had until the bullets ran out, then used Falborg to deflect the bullets. Soon he was swallowed by the darkness of the Abbey. Ian and Spencer were the next to fall behind, swiftly followed by Tala. Only two of the original six actually saw daylight. Adrian and Kai fled into the courtyards of the Abbey, but Kai stopped abruptly and could only stare at the gaping hole that they had fled from.
"Kai what are you doing?" Adrian gasped, he took a few steps back and caught the phoenix's hand in his own to try and pull the boy away, but Kai resisted.
"...I can't leave them..." It was a mere whisper, but Adrian got the full gist of what the other was saying, and shook his head in denial, "Go!"
"You can't help them by staying here Kai." Adrian protested, "We've got to get out before it's too late!"
In the distance heavy footfalls could be heard steadily rising in force, heading straight for them, but in response Kai only faced the doorway and pulled Dranzer out of his pocket.
"KAI!"
"No Adrian!" Kai swiftly turned on the other and shoved him violently away. "Go and Tell the BBA what you know, bring them back and save us. But I will not leave without my team!"
Adrian could only stare at Kai's back with whirling emotions, of admiration and stupidity combined, before he fled from the scene. Kai faced the door as hundreds of lackeys poured forth from the gateway from hell, Dranzer in tow and bitter determination on his painted face. He fought with pride, but was swallowed by the shear masses that fell upon him. One lackey picked him up bodily as more lackeys raced through the courtyard to find the Chinese slave. A sturdy, heavy object collided into the back of his head, and Kai knew no more...
END FLASHBACK
"Raymond came to me with what he knew, but without concrete evidence we couldn't very well trespass on what is Russia's only Beyblade institute!" Mr. Dickenson responded, "And with him wanted as a traitor by Voltaire's men, he had to go into hiding."
"And you couldn't tell me any of this?" Ray spluttered, deciding that anger should be his main emotion for the moment, "I grew up thinking that I was an orphan when all along I had a dad!"
Mr. Dickenson sighed and turned to the Chinese youth, but Kai cut in before he could defend himself and Raymond.
"What else did you need?" Kai spat at them, fury cascading off of him in tidal waves, "As if Adri--Raymond--" He sneered the name as if it were poison, "coming back battered wasn't enough, or the fact that there were children within the Abbey who would gladly speak the truth if given the chance!"
"But you were given the chance." Raymond said, trying to calm the situation as best he could, "You said so yourself, you had a choice... But you chose to stay behind..."
Kai could only stand in silence, mouth almost agape as he stared at the other stunned. You had a choice, could've helped them, chose to stay behind...stay behind...stay behind...
"You're blaming me?!" Rage flooded, battering against his self control until he snapped, "After all this time, after everything I've been through ... You've had years to find an answer and what, because you couldn't find one you'd thought you'd palm the blame onto someone else?! Onto me!"
"Kai, I didn't mean it like that--!"
Stumbling back, Kai shook his head in denial, eyes flickering from one adult to the next, until he could not bare it anymore. Without so much as a word, the Phoenix left, leaving his protesting teammates behind.
"Well that went well." Said Tyson with as much sarcasm as he could muster as the door slammed behind their captain, "I'm going to go find him, and try to keep this team together."
"I'm with you Tyson." Max said, following his close friend.
"Yeah me too." Kenny was quick to follow, leaving only one Bladebreaker behind.
Yet as much as he appreciated Kai as a friend, he was desperate to get to know his father. Standing mere feet away from him, it almost looked like Ray was gazing at his own reflection. Now he could see the other, it seemed almost absurd to think that until up to an hour beforehand, he had truly believed himself to be an orphan.
888
Standing on the small balcony that lead from his and Rays bedroom, Kai thought he was alone and so let the light, yet frozen breeze caress his slate bangs as the rage within him drained from his aching body. He could feel the comfortable weight of his blade resting in his pocket and let his fingers brush along the jagged edge as he felt for his bit beast. Dranzers soothing presence was soon sought and Kai sighed contentedly.
"I never really had a chance to thank you." Kai murmured, seemingly to himself, "For helping me, against Black Dranzer."
You don't have to thank me Kai. Came Dranzers soft response.
"Everything's been so chaotic since the Abbey." Kai continued, leaning heavily on the railing, "I remember so much now."
Kai could feel Dranzers spirit surge within the bit-chip, heat lanced across the metal before it shook uncontrollably. Kai had seen this scene a thousand times before and so just pulled out the trembling beyblade and admired how a bright scarlet light left the blade and took the human form of his counter-part Dranzer.
"Whoa!" Came the most annoying voice in the world, demolishing the peacefulness, "What is that?"
Kai and Dranzer turned equally fiery eyes onto the French doors where the voice had come from to find Tyson, Max and Kenny staring at Dranzers regal form in astonishment.
Dranzer just shook her head at the boys with a smile on her face before turning back to the Phoenix. Just know that I'm here for you always. And don't forget to tell them about the deal you made with Boris. You never know, it might just spur them on to win the championships!
Kai whirled to face Dranzer in shock, Wait, how did you know-?!
Kai please, I know everything you know, remember? Dranzer chuckled in his mind and left in a flurry of light leaving Kai and three utterly confused boys.
"She is so cool!" Max exclaimed while bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Does that mean all of our bitbeasts have human forms?" Kenny questioned, staring at the beyblade from where the spirit just vanished to.
Kai crossed his arms in his usual pose of arrogance. "Don't you pests know to knock before entering?"
He then left Tyson, Max and Kenny standing on the balcony while holding a secret smile once his back was facing them. True, he saw them as friends, but he wasn't about to admit it anytime soon. Behind him he could hear Max and Kenny enter the room after him, and wondered about Tyson for only two seconds, before that annoying voice exclaimed from the balcony.
"Wait! Was that Dranzer on the balcony?" Tyson practically whined, "Wait guys, don't leave me in the dark. I have a right to know if that lady was Dranzer! ANSWER ME!"
888End Chapter Twenty888
How's that for a comeback? I hope it's a good enough chapter to flow on from previous chapters. I should be back in the next few weeks to update. So until then, thanks for the continuing support.