Chapter Twenty Eight. Ryo's Warning to James
Outside the store, Kelly was already at the area.
"I better talk to Pablo and tell him what the fuck is going on." Kelly said aloud.
"I could not agree more."
Kelly turned around to see Twyla in front of her.
"Twyla!" Kelly exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
"I came here to find out what is going on with Ryo." Twyla explained, "He is acting weird and has been acting weird ever since the others got him back from Ruby's clutches."
"I see." Kelly replied, "Well, we should go find Pablo and James and we will find out what is going on."
Kelly and Twyla went into the hardware store.
At the cellar, James was with Zoe and Pablo as they were recuperating from the attack that the demonic forces sent on them.
"I'm really sorry about your friends getting killed and all." Pablo told Zoe.
"That must have been a bummer." James added, "I mean that rift was something else you know. I just had a bad feeling that something was up."
"I thought we were ready." Zoe replied as she wiped the tears from her face, "We had no idea what we were getting into."
The three were startled by rumbling sounds followed by a voice screaming, "Somebody help me!"
"What's that?" Zoe asked as she quickly stood up on her feet.
"Hello? Somebody there?" a voice called as the center of the writing formed green again.
"What the actual fuck?!" Kelly exclaimed as she and Twyla arrived at the cellar.
"I had no clue Ash had a cellar here." Twyla said before James motioned her to keep quiet.
"Hello? Somebody? Is somebody there? Anyone?"
"That's not good." Kelly said quietly.
"I think there's somebody in there." Pablo told the others.
The green center fully formed and what the group saw, especially Kelly, James and Twyla, surprised them. They saw Ryo in the green center.
"Pablo?" Ryo called, "James! Twyla! Can you guys hear me?!"
"Oh my god!" Twyla exclaimed in shock.
"Ryo?" James added.
"Guys," Ryo said with relief, "Thank goodness. Boy, am I glad to see your faces."
"What do you mean?" Twyla asked.
"I don't understand." James added, "Just where are you exactly?"
"What happened?" Pablo then asked.
"I have to be honest with you," Ryo answered, "I have no idea where I am. I was captured by Ruby and I was fighting her in hopes to buy the others more time to protect Ash. Ruby killed me with the Kandarian Dagger that she took from Kelly."
"What?!" James exclaimed as he jumped, taking a step back in shock. Twyla looked up as it all dawned on her.
"I am pretty much dead," Ryo told the group, "I am pretty sure of it."
"No!" James exclaimed in dismay as he shook his head in dismay. The group then heard a rumbling sound yet again.
"What is that?" Pablo asked.
"It's coming back!" Ryo exclaimed, "James! Warn the others!"
That was the only words he was able to yell out before the green center disappeared turning back into its red center.
"Ryo! Ryo, come back!" James shouted, "Pablo, don't just stand there! Bring him back!"
Pablo touched the writings and tried opening the rift again, "I'm trying!"
He tried for some time to open the rift, but to no avail before looking at James as he shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry."
"No. No! It can't be!" James exclaimed in anguish as Twyla clasped her hands in shock.
"Is your friend Ryo gone?" Zoe asked, "Was he a Ronin Warrior?"
"Yes and yes." Twyla nodded with tears down her face.
"Ruby took him!" James exclaimed.
"That bitch will pay for what she did to your friend. Ash and the others will see to that." Pablo assured his friend, "He died in the line of protecting Jefe."
"How will we explain this to Mia?" Twyla asked.
"We'll think of a way, but first we need to get to that dance and tell Ash and the Ronins!" Kelly exclaimed, "Because something or someone is possessing his body now as we speak!"
"We better get moving!" James told the group.
"I will keep watch." Zoe told James. He along with Twyla, Kelly and Pablo left the cellar and left the store and proceeded to head to the school dance at Kenward County High School to find Ash and the others.
Amerie was watching from outside the store. She appeared to be pleased that the heroes were catching on piece by piece, "It is only a matter of time before everyone knows and they will join together and stop this evil."
