Author

Author's Note: Contact me at theak472@aol.com. Thanks for all the reviews. Um, I don't think the ruffs will die. Well, you'll have to wait and see. Mwahaha. This is, yes, going to be long, very long (if I don't write myself into a corner). Oh, and in the previous episode, I forgot to have Blossom take their picnic stuff home. Well, she did. Write that into your imagination.

PS. This is going to be short. More of Brick's thoughts than actual content, heh.

Maybe I'm Twisted
by Rey

Chapter 8 - The Disappearances Begin
"Consequences that I've rendered have stretched myself beyond my means." - Staind

"D - Destroy her?" Butch stammered quietly, staring up at Bubbles in wonder. Why did you have to follow me? Bubbles, upon spotting him, hopped down into the room, smiling.

"Hi.. Butch. I'm... I'm sorry for what Buttercup did. Really..."

Well? What are you waiting for? She's Buttercup's sister. Buttercup did this to you, she hurt you, she attacked you, and made you helpless. In front of your brothers. In front of Blossom and Bubbles. In front of everyone, the voice laughed maliciously. The words spurned him on, as his rage killed his reasoning. It'd be just like hurting Buttercup. He could practice on Bubbles. He could take them all down.

"Butch?" Bubbles' consoling expression slowly turned to fear, as she watched Butch. His form was slowly stiffening, his green eyes going from mellow to harsh. She took a step back slowly. "..Are you okay?"

Butch roared, and lept at her. She screamed, and everything went black.

I did the right thing. I did the right thing. ...Buttercup will never like me again.

Brick was silent on the flight back towards the tower, but Boomer had a lot to say.

"It's your fault, asshole," the blonde growled, a navy blue streak alongside a dark red one. "We could have avoided this whole mess if you hadn't gone all squishy-mushy with Butterbutt. 'tleast you made the right choice in the end."

A roar, and a scream. Brick tilted his head, quickening his pace. "Did you hear that?"

Boomer paused his tirade. "Yeah."

"Come on. Something's going down."

Just like it said. Everything would be great for a while.

Buttercup watched Boomer and Brick disappear over Townsville. Reality slowly set in, and she broke down and cried into the dust. After a while, she managed to gather herself together, and blasted off, still sobbing, towards home.

But it wouldn't take long to crash.

Buttercup burst through the girls' room door, and fell upon the bed, openly crying, rubbing grimy hands into her eyes. Blossom jerked upright, eyes wide.

"Buttercup! What happened? Did he hurt you?"

"N-no... He's... h-he's g-g-gone..." She forced, sniffing quietly. Blossom sighed, climbing onto the bed next to her.

"I don't understand why you did that, Buttercup. I won't ask you about it, either. Alright?" Buttercup sniffed again, scrubbing her right eye, and nodded. She glanced around slowly, the tears running rivers down the grime on her cheeks.

"Where's... where's Bubbles?"

"She set off after Butch."

"... oh no."

..two down, it said.

Brick peeled back the trapdoor, and Boomer dropped down into the hideout.

"I don't see much, come on down," He called up, squinting through the darkness. Brick dropped down beside him, reaching to turn on a lamp nearby.

The light shone across the room, and Brick inhaled suddenly, his brother beside him blinking and rubbing at his eyes. The room was in ruins, furniture upset, burns from eye beams streaking the walls in charred designs.

And, traces of carmine against the stone floor. Blood. The scarlet streaks were splattered across the floor, across the walls, even on the ceiling.

Blood-streaked, tattered, there lay a black shoe. Bubbles' shoe.

...how many more to go?

Blossom and Buttercup dropped down into the Rowdyruff's room, just as Boomer bent to pick up Bubbles' shoe, hand trembling.

"WHAT DID YOU DO -" Buttercup began, but stopped abruptly. She stared around at the scene, digesting. Her eyes rolled up in her head, and she fainted.

Brick darted forward, supporting her before she crashed into the ground. He eased her down onto her back, his gaze flicking upwards to set on Blossom. "What the hell happened here?!"

"Why are you asking me?! We should be asking you that!"

Boomer shuddered, holding up Bubbles' shoe. A drop of blood eased its way down the polished surface and splashed on the floor in a miniscule puddle.

"Is... this... is this all that's left?"

There was a short pause, and Blossom gulped, closing her eyes. At Brick's feet, Buttercup stirred, and he knelt down to her.

"Bee-Cee. Bee-Cee, it's me, Brick," he said, shaking her gently. "Wake up."

"Oh... Oh, God, Brick. I'm sorry. Oh God, I just... I..." She blinked slowly, and sat up, staring at the gore which surrounded her. Her head bowed slowly. "..this is all my fault."

Boomer dropped Bubbles' shoe and exploded, "You're damn right this is your fault! Butch is gone and so's your queer sister!!"

"Boomer, shut up, okay?" Brick snapped. Boomer's mouth opened and closed, and he fell silent.

Blossom lay a hand on Brick's shoulder, steadying herself, cheeks pale. "Are there any other.. other clues? Other than her s-shoe?"

Buttercup slowly climbed to her feet, Brick managing somehow to support Blossom and help Buttercup up at the same time. "We haven't searched yet." Boomer looked up slowly, his gaze fixed on Blossom. He slowly shuffled over, taking her weight off Brick.

"...You don't look so good. Get some fresh air up there." He pointed up through the trapdoor. Blossom, who was now decidedly green, simply nodded and disappeared outside, the sounds of retching reaching their ears. Buttercup winced.

"Search for clues," Brick ordered, but his voice trembled. That was the two down. What about the rest?

"I haven't found anything," Buttercup mumbled, settling down next to Blossom. Boomer, followed by Brick flew out in front of them.

"Neither have we," Boomer said. Blossom shuddered, wiping her mouth.

"Is... then... then there's no .. no body?" She whispered, huddling down slowly. Buttercup gingerly set an arm around her shoulders.

Brick shook his head, and Blossom buried her face in her hands pathetically. Then there's a chance she might be alive...

Buttercup closed her eyes, holding her sister as comfortingly as she could. What have I done?

"Oh, look, they're not happy anymore!" Him tapped his wine glass with a huge grin, his sister seated by his side, dirty leather jacket and all. The TV in front of them flickered slightly, showing the four remaining children gathered together in a mess.

"Ah say, that weren' a noice thing t'do at all," Her frowned, sipping the champagne delicately. "Y'still think you've won, tho'?"

"Sister dearest, it doesn't seem as if you've done anything to remedy the problem."

"Noat yeet, anyway," Her burred like an English woman. Him chuckled.

"Let's see how you'll wriggle out of this one, hmm?"

Rey: Thanks for reading, comments welcome, address listed above. English exam tomorrow (compo and paper). I suppose this is like practicing for it.