Heart of Darkness
O.O 109 reviews…. 109 REVIEWS! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
YAYNESS!
Yeah. I'm a very happy bunny right now! Okay, now that that outburst is outta the way, I'm changing the format slightly for these final few chappies. Replies to reviews will be at the beginning, now! (Don't ask me why) Here they are:
brezzybrez: Thanks for reviewing! Here's the update!
Soullesswinds: Thanks for reviewing! You're also my 100th reviewer! Yay! (hands over '100th reviewer badge') He'll recover…… ahem….
Crimson Eyes: Ooh! Another new reviewer? Yay! I'm glad you like it! Here's the update for ya!
SN: I'm glad you liked it, thanks for reviewing, here's the next chappie!
darkphoenix07: Hehe, thanks for reviewing, yeah, I'm evil, I know. I love Kai just as much as anyone, but …… blame Boris! It wasn't me! ….. ahem…..
Storms-winter: Yeah, it is kinda twisted/freaky/…. interesting… ahem…
HeartlessDevil: Thanks for reviewing, yeah, I didn't wanna hurt Kai…. But yeah, Rhea to the rescue… is it that obvious?
i love athrun: Mmmm…. Thanks for reviewing, here's the chappie…
CrimsonSkye06: Thanks for reviewing; I'm glad you liked it so much. Well, Tala kinda owes Kai coz Kai freed his sister… Anywhoo, here's the update!
Kyogue: Perhaps…. Hehe, yup, we all know Boris is a deluded madman. Tala and the others will get their revenge… very soon….
Phew! Well, that's the replies! Now onwards with the update! Enjoy! Then leave a review!
Chappie 23
Night had fallen over Russia, and the Bladebreakers team were short one captain. After being thrown out by Boris's guards, they had scrambled to the edge of a small wood which overlooked the abbey's main courtyard. It was on top of a steep hill, and gave them a good view of the building's exterior walls. Because of the cover of the overhanging tree branches, the grass beneath their feet was devoid of snow. They had spent the remainder of the day hiding there, trying to work out a plan; so far, though, they had had no luck.
"Alright, Rhea, hadn't you tell us exactly what you know?" Tyson spoke to the dark-haired girl as the darkness descended upon them.
Rhea sighed and thought for a moment before answering. "How much has Kai told you about me?" She asked.
"That you're Tala's sister, and that you took Dranzer." Ray said. His voice was calm and thoughtful, without bias, unlike Tyson, who was seemingly blowing his top.
"Okay…" Rhea sighed, wrapping her arms around herself as she sat beneath a tree. "I am Tala's sister, yes. His half-sister to be precise. We have….. We had the same father. But Boris killed him, along with… my mother." Rhea explained.
"Rhea..." Hilary comforted.
"It's alright." Rhea stopped her. "You can't expect anything less from Boris. You see, I never trained in the abbey; I lived with my mother near to it. I already knew Tala trained there, along with the rest of the Demolition Boys. Although he was never allowed off the premises without permission, he always managed to sneak out right under Boris's nose. We would often train together; he taught me practically everything I know about beyblading." She smiled. "When the World Championships came along, I was in the stands, watching all the battles. After my brother's defeat to you in the finals, Tyson, Boris came up with another plan for World Conquest. It involved the Black Dranzer. Do you remember it?"
"Yeah, it was the blade that sucked in everyone's bit beasts!" Max nodded.
"That's right. When Kai gave up Black Dranzer, Boris took control of it again. After months and months of remodelling it, making it stronger, and avoiding the authorities sent after him by Mr. Dickenson, Boris was ready to begin. That was 3 months ago." Rhea explained.
"But you joined us about 3 months ago!" Tyson said.
"Yes. Boris sent me… to join the Bladebreakers… because he wanted Kai." Rhea confessed.
"What? Then, what about your 'no family' story, and you 'travelling from place to place?'" Hilary asked.
"All lies Boris told me to say." Rhea's voice had gone very quiet.
"Why, Rhea? Why did you do it?" Tyson asked.
"Boris took my mother and father hostage. He said I had to go, or he'd kill them."
"But... but why?" Tyson asked, trying to fathom Boris's actions.
"Why would he kill them? Because that's the kind of sick, twisted person that he is. Imagine if someone took your grandfather, and held him at gunpoint, Tyson. Told you to carry out a task, or he would be killed." Rhea explained. It seemed harsh to the team, but it was the truth.
"Death by shooting it relatively tame for Boris… some of the other methods he uses…" Rhea trailed off, leaving a trail of gruesome images in the team's minds.
"That's horrible…" Kenny muttered.
"But what does Boris want with Kai?" Hilary asked. "Why did he want him?"
"To be perfectly honest with you, when I set out on this task, I had no idea. I just thought Boris wanted him to be a member of the Demolition Boys." Rhea said.
"He joined Boris once before, when he had Black Dranzer. Kai's not just going to sign up again." Tyson laughed.
"Well… Boris figured he… he would…" Rhea had gone quiet again.
"How?" Tyson asked, genuinely confused.
"Because of me… because I was under Boris's control." Rhea whispered. "Boris wanted me to… to join the Bladebreakers, get close to Kai… and lure him back here. Then Kai would trade, he would put himself back in the abbey so I could go free."
"That's too low." Tyson snarled.
"It's the promise Boris made to my mother." Rhea said. "He promised her Kai would turn himself over, and then he'd let us both go. But, of course, that is no longer the case…" She added.
"Then why'd you continue? If it was over?" Ray asked gently.
"Boris could quite easily kill anyone else, Tala's mother, any of the new 'students,' if any of them were to be killed, it would be my head resting on it. It would be my fault. I couldn't risk that, so I had to carry out my objective." She finished, leaving the team in silence.
"Alright, alright, fine." Tyson said after a long pause. "So Boris put you up to it, fine. I can understand that."
I doubt that you do, Tyson. Rhea thought to herself.
"But when we arrived in the abbey, you were saying to Boris 'don't do that to him,' namely, Kai." Tyson said.
"Yes. I did say that." Rhea's voice dropped, if possible, even lower. "When I returned to the abbey with Dranzer… Boris explained to me what he was… going to do to… Kai…"
"What?" The whole team asked her.
"He said something about… using Kai in an experiment with… the Black Dranzer." Rhea said.
"What… sort of experiment?" Hilary asked slowly.
"I… I'm not exactly sure, I was tired from the journey and I was only listening with half-an-ear, and-"
"What is Boris gonna do to Kai?" Tyson yelled.
"He's going to fuse… Black Dranzer's sacred spirit with Kai…"
"No way!" Tyson yelled.
"He can't!" Ray snarled.
"It's just not right!" Max gasped. Hilary and Kenny were too shocked to speak.
"But… but… that's impossible…" Kenny said. "Fusing a human with a sacred spirit… its just….its just… impossible!" He stuttered.
"Well Boris has found a way." Rhea shrugged.
"But, how does he have a clue what'll happen?" Kenny went on. "I mean, it's not something you can do a computer simulation of!"
"You mean… Kai could be hurt?" Tyson asked.
"Well it's untested data. Anything could happen; Kai might even lose his life!" Kenny said.
"No!" The team gasped, more dumbfounded than ever.
"I don't believe it." Tyson said. "Boris is an evil person, but he wouldn't do that."
"You go on thinking that, Tyson." Rhea said coldly.
"Well, don't think I'm just gonna sit around here and freeze all night." Tyson said, standing up and dusting himself off.
"Don't even think about going down there!" Hilary snapped, but it had a pleading tone in her voice.
"I'm not gonna do nothing while Boris does who knows what to Kai!" Tyson argued.
"Tyson, I wanna help Kai too, but we need a plan, first." Ray said, apparently the only one on the team thinking clearly.
While the team argued, Rhea was the only one who noticed the approach of a lone figure. "Who's there?" She yelled, standing up.
The team instantly stopped bickering, and looked at the stranger.
"You guys really should be quiet, otherwise Boris'll find you." He said.
"Tala?" They all gasped.
"Sssshhhh… you make as much noise as it is." Tala smirked, stepping under the trees.
"What are you doing here, Tala?" Rhea asked.
"I've come to help." Tala said. "I thought you might need it."
"Thanks Tala! You're a real pal!" Tyson slapped him on the back.
"Sure… I'm really returning a favour. Kai helped you out," he glanced at Rhea, "so now I'll help him out."
"Tala, I'm sorry…" Rhea began. "I messed up big time; you shouldn't have had to suffer the loss-"
"Its okay, Rhea. I know about it. I know what he put you through…" Tala nodded. "But we can discuss that later. Right now, our priority is Kai." The red-head turned to the team.
"I think this might help." Tala handed over a mini-disc to Kenny, who put it into his laptop. After a moment or two of loading, a series of maps and computer code appeared on the screen. The whole team huddled round, trying to look.
"Wow! It's a map of the entire abbey! Surface level and underground!" Kenny gasped, scrolling through various pop-ups and windows. "And it's the codes of every system!" He gasped. "Door keys through to supercomputers, I've got access to every system!"
"Woah, neat!" Tyson smiled.
"I thought you might find some use for it." Tala nodded.
"But these are all high-security files, Tala, how'd you get hold of them?" The Chief turned to the Russian blader.
"That's for me to know and you to forget about." He said. "What matters is you have it now."
"So what's the plan guys?" Max asked.
Kenny thought for a minute or two before he spoke. "Here's what we're gonna do. From here, I can shut down all the main security systems, which means you guys can get in undetected. With a system like this, though…" He clicked on a few more windows, "I might have to turn off other systems like cutting off power to things like the lights, but that'll only add to our advantage." He explained. "That should give you a little while to locate Kai and bring him back." The Chief finished.
"I know where Kai is being held, leave that to me." Tala said.
"Alright, you guys should split up; it'll be too conspicuous if all of you follow Tala." Kenny went on. "So, Max, you and Hilary distract the guards on the eastern way, Ray, you and Rhea take west, while Tala takes Tyson to Kai. Everyone clear?" He asked.
"No, Chief," Rhea voiced. "I'm going with Tala to get Kai. It's my fault he's in there; I have to go after him."
"I agree." Tyson nodded. "And I think Hilary would do better to stay here with you, Chief."
"Hey! What do you mean by that?" Hilary snapped.
"Nothing, it's just… it'd be safer here… and…" Tyson muttered, beginning to turn red.
"I think he's right, Hil." Rhea stepped up, smirking slightly. "If we run into any trouble, we can defend ourselves." She explained quickly.
"Oh all right." Hilary sighed, sitting back down next to Kenny.
"So, Tyson, Max and Ray, you'll be on your own, while Tala takes Rhea to Kai. Everyone meets back here. Don't fight back unless you really need to, keep moving. Lose the guards. Confuse them, right?" Kenny 'briefed.'
"Piece of cake!" Tyson gave Hilary and Kenny a thumbs up before following the others down the hill.
"There they go…" Hilary sighed.
Getting into the abbey proved relatively easy since there were no infra-red wires or motion sensors to think about. Tala knew the abbey perfectly, and quickly pointed out the main pathways to the exits, so they would know how to get out. They walked together quickly, before they came to some 'cross-roads.' Tyson and Max went one way, only to split up once they reached a T-junction, Ray turned down the left passage, while Tala led Rhea deeper into the abbey.
Just as Kenny had forewarned, the lights were continually flickering on and off, until eventually, they were plunged into the dark maze of Balkov Abbey. Tala and Rhea were lucky, there was hardly ever anyone this deep into the abbey, so their 'journey' continued pretty much uninterrupted.
Tyson, on the other hand, wasn't having quite as much luck. Unwittingly he had turned down the path that led to the student's dorms, and was now being chased by several of them. Left… right… right… through the door… Tyson stumbled blindly down corridor after corridor, the sounds of the chasers echoing on the walls all around him…
Max was faring slightly better. Upon coming across no-one for a good 20 minutes, he decided to call them towards him. If he could get the guards to follow him, there'd be that many less after Rhea, Tala and Kai. Standing on a high balcony, and looking over, he saw a group of scientists taking notes from various machines. Picking up a loose stone from the wall, he threw it over, causing them to look up. Immediately, several scientists and guards were on his trail, and Max was off again, sprinting for all he was worth.
Ray had, however, had much more luck. Using his heightened eyesight and hearing, he'd redefined the game 'cat and mouse.' Luring his pursuers down dead ends, double-backing on himself and confusing them with twists and turns, he was rather enjoying himself…
After heading deep into the abbey for a full 30 minutes, Tala finally slowed his pace down. They were fortunate enough not to have met any guard on their way down, which Tala found slightly worrying. "You have to be quick, Rhea… I'm sure they're aware of intruders, and I'm sure they'll be here to check on Kai's status very soon." Tala said to his sister. "I'll keep watch here, and let you know if anyone comes. Here's the key to his cell." He handed it to her. "Be quick. I'll see you soon." Embracing her in a short hug, Rhea dashed off into the murky depths where Kai resided.
Allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness, Rhea walked carefully and slowly past empty cells. The floor beneath her feet was crumbled, and many loose stones had fallen from the surrounding walls. Walking to the very last cell, she looked in and gasped in a mixture of relief and shock. "Kai!" She whispered.
Unlocking the iron bar door as quietly as she could using Tala's key, she stepped inside. "Kai…" No moonlight filtered into the cell, it was far too deep underground, but at least it wasn't as cold as it was on the surface. However, there was light enough drifting down the passageway for Rhea to get a good look at Kai.
He was slumped against the wall, his arms held above his head in tight chains, fresh blood dripping down his arms from a wound in his left. There was dried blood on his forehead, too, and a trickle down his chin. His eyes were dark, and he had bad cuts and bruises. His hair was ruffled and he looked like he'd been attacked by a wild animal… but he was alive.
Rhea's eyes glittered, but there were no fresh tears. She stared, completely shocked by his appearance, before rushing over to his side. Kneeling down next to him, she unlocked his wrists from the chains using the key, and caught him as he fell forward into her arms, still unconscious. "Kai… I'm so sorry… forgive me, Kai… oh, Kai… what has he done to you…?" She whispered, fresh tears falling down her face, only to be lost in the darkness… the cold darkness…
And that's that! Haha! What did you think? Please review! I have no idea what my next target is, since I've already SMASHED 100! Hehehehehhe…. I'm on 109 at present; let's say 115 reviews, so, yeah! Come on! Until next update!