Chapter 9 (Season 1 Epilogue)

Plip. Plop. Plip. Plop.

The first thing Leona noted as she drifted towards consciousness was the dripping of water close by, and the damp, musty smell of the air. The ground beneath her was rocky.

Then she became aware of the ache of her wounds, as well as the stiffness of her muscles from lack of movement. How long had she been out? Where was she?

Boots scraped the stone near her, and Leona jolted upright.

When she shifted, the clink of metal alerted her to the presence of cuffs on her arms, each of which chained her to the wall behind. She was kneeling in a cave, dark aside from the light borne by the person in front of her.

"You?" she exclaimed, recognising the red-head wearing an eye patch. Hwaryun, she thought her name was.

Everything came rushing back. Bam. He'd been sinking through the water. She eventually got to him, but not long after... Somehow, she'd been struck unconscious.

As she tried to gather some Baang of shinsu, in case she needed to fight, she realised that she couldn't. The cuffs were probably completely blocking her ability to control shinsu. She couldn't even reach her Lighthouse – but that might have been because it was out of range.

"Yes, me," said Hwaryun impassively. But she was looking down at Leona as though she was a puzzle that was missing a few pieces. "You... You weren't supposed to be there."

She didn't really get what she meant, but it seemed like the girl was talking more to herself, anyway. And Leona was more concerned with other facts. The person before her was the very one who'd targeted Bam back in the Crown Game, something that hadn't seemed suspicious at the time, but now...

"All this... Whatever scheme this is...you were part of it." She clenched her jaw. "Where's Bam? What did you do to him?"

"I'm just leading him down the correct path. I'm the guide, after all."

Well, that explained the elaborate machinations. And she must have been working with Hansung Yu, since he was the one who set up the whole 'test'. Really, it had been a trap from the beginning.

But what was their goal? What did they want with Bam? It didn't seem as though they were Jahad's people, since if that were the case, they would have simply killed him. Leona had an idea, then, who they could be. But she'd need confirmation before she assumed anything.

"You, what are you?"

Leona was taken aback at the sudden sharp question. "What do you mean?" Being a guide, she wondered what Hwaryun could possibly see about her.

"First, you show up unexpectedly. And somehow I only see after crossing paths with you, that you're an Irregular. And still, even now, your paths are all unclear."

Leona was bewildered. "Like I would know about that... Since you're not telling me anything about Bam, then tell me. What do you plan to do to me?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

Can she not give even one straight answer?

Abruptly, Hwaryun tilted her head to the side, then turned to leave. "Well, it's time to go." She didn't look back, regardless of what Leona called after her.

Then, she was plunged into complete darkness. She hugged her knees to her chest.

Somehow, she doubted there was any chance of escape. At least, not on her own.

Where were Kai and Shira? What had happened with the test? If Bam wasn't successfully retrieved, had the others failed? Were they looking for her and Bam?

With nothing to do, the questions spiralled out of control until, weighed by exhaustion, she finally fell asleep.

"So, have you made up your mind yet?" said Hansung Yu, standing a pace away. "It's already been four days. I think it's time."

Why are they doing this to me? Bam thought. All he'd wanted was to be with his friends. He didn't want to kill the king. He didn't want to be a weapon at the beck and call of these people.

The test director sighed. "I guess it's come to this. Follow me."

Even though he didn't really want to, Bam had no choice but to get up and follow him through a series of passageways. They came to a cave, where—

"Miss Leona!" Bam shouted. He tried to go to her, but Hansung Yu stood in his way.

She was out cold on the floor, in chains.

"She's here because of you," the coffee addict said simply. "She tried to save you, and look where that got her."

Miss Leona... The friend who always treated him with kindness and warmth. Who helped and protected him. One of his precious friends was now in danger. If it was true that he was the cause of this, then... The burden of guilt pressed onto Bam's heart. But he didn't give in so easily. He wasn't the one who'd done this to her. Bam clenched his fists.

"It's not just her who's in danger, though," he continued. "Before your teammates went on to the next Floor, I gave them each a ring. I told them they were memorial rings, but in fact they're tracking devices. I can find and have them killed at any time. If you refuse to become a Slayer... I'll kill them all, starting with the one you see here."

Bam shook with fear, and with anger.

"And then maybe Rachel?"

That was the last straw. "No!" Bam yelled.

"I don't understand. She betrayed you, yet you still try to save her."

"All this, it was all done by you!"

"No, it happened because she decided to go up the Tower. It's because of her that you're here, and your friends are in danger."

Why? Rachel... Are the stars really that important? Why did she have to push him off? Even though it hurt, he believed there had to be a reason.

"Maybe for her, the garbage at the top is more important than you." Hansung Yu turned away. "You'll start training to be a Slayer immediately. If you hesitate... Your friends die one by one."

"So...it was...FUG, huh?" said a weak voice. "You bastards... Leave him alone."

"M-Miss Leona! Are you—?"

"Don't worry...about me, Bam." Leona was sitting up, leaning against the wall, but the smile she gave him was lacklustre. From her dazed eyes, she appeared barely conscious.

His heart clenched, to see her in that state. He didn't want her to suffer further because of him. Even if it meant doing what he didn't want to, that was a small price to pay for his friends' safety. Taking a deep breath, he spoke to the director. "I understand, I'll do as you say. So please, at least let her go. There's no need to keep her here now that I've agreed, is there?"

"Unfortunately not possible, Mr Jue Viole Grace. She knows that you're alive, so she can't be allowed to go free. Besides, she's a valuable hostage. Now, come." He started leading the way back.

So, she would remain here, no matter how hard he worked? No! How can he be so cruel? She doesn't deserve this! Bam couldn't stop the tears running down his face. "I— Miss Leona, I'm sorry..."

He turned and followed after the coffee addict, before he could take the excuse to hurt her.

"Bam," she said.

Hansung Yu paused, glancing back at her. "Please take note, Miss Leona, that this is now Jue Viole Grace. Bam has died, as far as anyone is concerned."

"Tch." It seemed she'd mustered all her energy; her eyes were now more unclouded than before. "What, you think that if you rename him as you please, that I should go along with it? Who's going to hear me, anyway?"

"I don't think you're in any position to negotiate."

"You're enjoying yourself, aren't you? If that's the case, then," Leona's gaze softened as it turned back to Bam, "Jewel. I think I'll call you that. It suits you, doesn't it?"

It was a small act of rebellion, one that may not have achieved much, but Bam realised it was her show of support. He felt a rush of warmth and gratitude, enough to assuage the loneliness of the past few days. Even though she was in pain, and in danger, she was trying to comfort him. "Thank you—"

The test director was dragging him away. "That's enough now."

"Jewel!" she called out, concern etched on her face. "It's not your fault! No matter what happens, please, believe that."

Then Bam was pulled around a corner and she disappeared from sight. But her words remained, echoing in his mind, a lone flicker of reassurance.

I will protect you, he promised. You, and everyone else.

When she woke next, Hwaryun visited again, this time with a doctor in tow. She also brought some food – simple fare, not that Leona cared, especially since she was starving – and Leona's possessions, including her Lighthouses. She was relieved to see Kai and Shira, though both were kept asleep in some sort of shinsu tank.

They were all kept far out of her reach, but Leona wondered if something was going on, for all her things to have been brought to her. Hostages to hold against the captive?

She hated to accept anything from FUG, but when the only alternative was to suffer and die, she couldn't refuse. So, she ate the bland food and allowed the doctor to see to her wounds.

After he left, Leona spoke. "So, FUG wants someone to kill Jahad, and they picked Bam. But there's something I don't understand... Why am I a mere hostage? You know what I am, after all." FUG needed an Irregular, and she didn't think they could afford to be picky.

Hwaryun gave her a knowing smile. "I didn't tell the higher-ups about it, though."

Huh? Leona had been sure that her secret was out, since the guide had no reason to do her the favour of keeping it close. What is she up to, then? "Why didn't you?"

"She ran it by me first," spoke a new voice, "and I told her not to."

A man stepped into the edge of the light, and Leona widened her eyes with recognition. "You?! What are you—?" She heaved a sigh, jaw clenched. "Oh, yes, of course. You're FUG, too."

"No word of thanks for helping you?" the man grinned wryly.

"Hmph. How the hell are you helping?"

"I got the others to allow a deal to be offered to you. So you don't have to be stuck here. That's really a waste, after all."

Leona laughed bitterly. "I didn't ask for that. Instead, if you really want to help, let Bam go, and I'll take his place."

"It's not your destiny," said Hwaryun.

You said my path isn't clear, so how would you know? Leona hung her head low. "And you think it's his? He isn't a killer. Why force him? If it's me... I intended to do it myself if I ever got the chance, so why not?"

"Do you really think they'll agree to let him go, just because you can take his place? Rather than saving him, you'd just be getting yourself into more trouble."

Unfortunately, she had to acknowledge that he had a point.

"Now, stop being stubborn and listen to the offer," he insisted. "It's a good one, as you'll see. I worked hard for it. If you agree, you may even have all these things returned to you."

"Oh, so that's bait for the captive." It was almost laughable. If they wanted something from her, the natural course of action would be to threaten her with her life, right? Since she was completely at their mercy. She eyed the man carefully. But perhaps they've realised that might come to bite them in the back.

Leona ran a hand through her hair. I really have no choice, anyway. She had no way to save Bam – at least, not as she was now. So clearly, she'd have to bide her time, grabbing the opportunities that came her way. This might just be one of those chances. "Let's hear it, then."

Author's Note

And that's it! Season 1 is done, I can hardly believe it!

Thanks to everyone who made it this far – if you enjoyed it, that makes my effort worth it.

Haha, what am I saying, eight chapters in, as if it's been such a long journey. This is just the beginning!

I'll probably be taking a break to draft my next few chapters. And when I get back, we'll have a few chapters that will be a sort of 'bridge' before Season 2.