Welcome to Secrets Can Kill, number 25!

Wow, a quarter of the way to 100! Thanks, everyone! I'm so happy I even made it this far! On to the next chapter!

And by the way, I'm not responding to reviews anymore. If you have a question, you can PM me. Sorry, but I'm so busy I can barely write the chapter anymore.

Previously:

"Move, move, move!" Makarov yelled fiercely. "We need to get to Carbin Canyon now! Nicole's life is at stake!"

"Let's go!" Erza roared. "Our comrade is in danger. We must save her!" Fairy Tail gave a hearty cheer and began rushing for the guild exit.

"Where's Natsu-san?" Wendy asked timidly. Gray face-palmed.

"God dammit, he left early again."

…~~~:::***

"What's going on…" Golfer twisted his palm over once more and the lightning struck Nicole again. But her screams were dying out. "Is she dying? No, she's breathing…"

Golfer frowned, and thrust even more black lightning into the Ice Dragon Slayer's body. Nicole flinched, but nothing changed. Her screams were barely more than a whisper now.

"This is not good," Golfer muttered. "I need to kill her." Then he grinned.

"Excruciating pain, mixed with madness. This will surely kill her." Cackling, he pressed both palms together, and a red light mixed with the black.

"Unlock: Second Origin."

Chapter 25: Return of Lightning Palace, Part 3

Nicole's POV

…What is this?

Excruciating pain. It feels like a hundred white hot knives have pierced every pressure point in my body. It was fine before, but now it's so much worse.

Screaming. More and more screaming. Maybe screaming will drown out the pain.

No? Not working? Maybe I have to scream louder…

Pain.

Normal POV

"Go, go, go!" Jet hollered as he ran.

"Easy for you to say," Laxus grumbled, "You've got speed powers." He glanced up to see Gray, who hadn't even bothered to crack a smile. He's taking this way too hard, Laxus thought.

"I can help."

There was a strange, unfamiliar voice that stopped all of Fairy Tail (with the exception of Jet, who was so far ahead that he didn't even notice the guy). A man appeared out of nowhere, with shaggy black hair and in council robes.

Makarov raised his eyebrows. "Doranbolt?"

The man called Doranbolt raised his eyebrows. "I felt a summoning here, but I can't explain why. I overheard the entire thing. I want to help." The shocked guild members quickly recovered from the shock. Rapidly explaining his magic, the group huddled close as the council member concentrated.

It took all of Doranbolt's energy, but soon enough the group was standing in the Canyon, a large black castle not far away. The castle had a flag in the front, with a blood red lightning bolt on it. There were guards stationed at several points on the castle as well. The council member, panting, slumped against the canyon wall. "I've done all I can. Good luck."

"Why?"

Gray's quiet whisper echoed from the back of the group.

"Why did you help us?"

"I…" Doranbolt searched for an answer, but came up short. "I'm not sure."

"We're wasting time!" Lucy snapped.

Makarov nodded. "She's right. Let's-"

"Hey! How'd you get here faster than me?" The pink-haired Dragon Slayer had arrived.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Natsu! Nicole could be dying while we speak!"

And so, with a loud cheer, the guild charged, Natsu still grumbling as they ran.

Nicole's POV

I can sense them.

The Fairy Tail guild. My guild. Lucy, Gray, Natsu, Erza, Happy, Gajeel, Levy, Wendy, Master Makarov, Carla, everyone. They're here.

Maybe if I scream loud enough, they'll hear me.

No?

Okay.

I'll stop.

It's dark. Dark, hollow, silence.

I like it.

Pain. Red marks over my skin. Beatings. Pain, torture!

I scream.

Normal POV

"Golfer!" Sterling, a pudgy man with thick eyebrows, burst into the torture room where the limp body of the Ice Dragon Slayer was. Golfer raised his eyebrows and turned towards the sudden entrance of his guild mate.

"What is it, Sterling?" Golfer snapped. "I'm busy."

Sterling paled. "The girl's guild! Fairy Tail! They're here!"

Golfer cursed under his breath. "How'd they get here so quickly? It should have been at least half an hour on foot!"

"Golfer, they're already here!" Sterling protested, ignoring his question. "Leave the girl!"

An evil smile crossed Golfer's wicked face. "I'll take her with me."

Sterling could only watch in confusion as Golfer unshackled Nicole's chains and began dragging her limp form up stairs, to the highest tower.

***:::~~~…

"MOVE!" Gray hurtled past several Lightning Palace members and burst into the doors. He turned back to see Erza. "I'm going to find Nicole!"

The scarlet-haired beauty nodded. "Be quick!" She swung another sword and a screaming Lightning Palace member quickly fell. "We can handle things here!"

Nodding, Gray turned and tore his gaze forward, proceeding forward at an alarmingly fast pace. Turning a corner, however, a group of guild members, all bearing the Lightning Palace crest, stood in his way.

"Out of the way!"

Gray, creating his signature 'Ice Make: Floor!' continued on while his enemies kept slipping on his blanket of ice. "Nicole!"

A scream.

Gray paused and listened at a fork in the castle passageways. There were three passages- one leading straight forward, one leading right, and one leading left. Where did the scream come from? "Nicole! NICOLE!"

Another scream.

Gray took the left path.