Inner Turmoil- Chapter 16
The hallway was long and ominous. It was also deathly familiar.
Blossom moved down the long corridor, her body tense and waiting. She thought she could feel eyes on her back, but every time she turned to look, all she saw was lonely emptiness. She moved quickly through the barren stretch of concrete, somewhat lost, trying hard to follow Bubbles's trail. It was difficult, because it seemed as if her sister was running away from her. No matter how far Blossom moved, Bubbles always seemed to be just as far in front as she had been before.
The same went for Buttercup, and even the professor. It felt as if reaching them was going to be impossible. Something had happened to them, and Blossom suddenly felt very alone and vulnerable.
Something caught her eye to the left, and she stopped dead, feeling a pair of eyes on her from behind. This was just like her dream. Someone was behind her, and she'd end up running, down this impossibly long hallway, running for her life-
-There was a flicker of movement along the wall next to her, a growing shadow, expanding along the gray stone like a blackened pool of tangible horror. Its form was barely distinguishable except for a pair of matching crustaceanoid claws, held forward as if ready to pounce what was in its path; her.
Blossom spun around, crying out at the same time, her breath escaping her in one fell swoop. Absolutely, positively nothing was behind her. There was nothing but silent, unmoving air, heated in her tense anxiety.
Her heart thundering, she peered down the end of the hall, noticing that it seemed quite a bit longer than it had when she'd actually been traveling down it. It fell into near darkness, and Blossom could feel the rising sense of being lost grow inside her. She didn't know where she was going, and following her senses had become useless. She was trapped, like a rat in an impossible maze.
Blossom could have sworn that something had been behind her. Something had been creeping up behind her, silently, casting its hideous shadow just next to her. She'd seen it- it had been clear as day, but.
Nothing was there, at least not anymore. Blossom grabbed her head in her hands and continued to look warily down the corridor, as if hoping to see something come charging around the corner at her. That way, she'd know she wasn't going insane.
"I am not going crazy," she said firmly, her heart still thundering. This was just like her dream, and she knew that as soon as she turned her back, she'd have to run from something. From something that meant to kill her. from someone.
Barely able to stand the silence and anticipation any longer, Blossom turned and started running. She didn't bother waiting see if anything would start following her. She took off as soon as her back turned, kicking off from the ground at break-neck speed. The thought of death was grinding away at her brain, and it only fueled her to move faster. But she knew that standing there forever would have accomplished absolutely nothing. She had to move, and at least in reality she had a fighting chance to control her own fate. Her only option was running.
Sure enough, she felt it, but this time it felt different. It wasn't the sound of running footsteps behind her, but it was something much different, much more terrifying. She felt as if a wave of charged energy was crashing towards her like a raging flow of water. Blossom didn't dare turn, afraid of what she'd see, yet at the same time, absolutely positive as to what it was. She'd felt the same presence before, dozens of times when she'd been a child, but somehow in this place it felt ten times more terrible.
It was moving closer like a galloping stampede, the flow of blood in her ears making it impossible to judge the distance. She could feel it rather than hear it; she could feel the eagerness, the anticipation and the determination of the thing that wanted her, and it drew steadily closer. She was so close to the end, a door stood before her, beckoning to her like inviting warmth on a cold day.
There was a sudden surge of energy and Blossom was thrown forward, skidding on her knees before finally falling face down into the dry floor. Throughout the whole ordeal, a sound never escaped her lips, save for the breath that moved in and out of her lungs. Even now, as she felt herself smothered by something, by a sizzling, sensual heat that engulfed her like a hot blanket, she never screamed.
She lost consciousness very abruptly and knew no more.
***
Blossom awoke suddenly, completely startled and confused. She felt tired, weak and very flushed, and she slowly moved her body to a sitting position, trying to shake the bleariness from her eyes. She moaned lightly, trying to look around, but anything she saw didn't make any sense to her. She stared dumbly around the new room she was in, barely noticing the two other bodies laying next to her, also stirring with renewed consciousness. She also didn't notice the hoard of weapons surrounding her, all of them aimed directly at her face.
She was kicked out of her delusion as she was grabbed very forcefully by her hair, and lifted roughly to her feet. In a fit of barely aware panic she tried to lift her hands in an effort to ease the burning pain at her scalp, but found with biting horror that her arms were bound in front of her. She cried out angrily, finally shaking the feeling of sleep from her fogged brain. She heard someone, a man cry out her name, his voice cracking with tearful rage.
"Wake up you little bitch," a cold, cruel voice spoke, and Blossom realized it belonged to the man in front of her, who shoved her backwards violently. In her weakness, she barely regained her balance in time, almost tripping over her two sisters who were shakily lifting their bodies from the floor. There was another angry holler from the sidelines.
Blossom looked at the man bitterly, and gasped at what she saw. She'd seen the man before. at the library. he'd been watching her at the library. and now he was right here, treating her like an animal that deserved to be punished for something.
"You." she hissed, eyeing the man with fire in her eyes. He smiled widely, a much too pleasant gesture in the otherwise very dire situation. Blossom wanted to slap that grin right off his face, but couldn't, because her hands were tied.
The binds.
She tried to look nonchalant as she began to wiggle her hands in the wire that held them, trying to determine if she could break them. She kept a cold glare trained on the man, trying to keep his attention on her stare, but he noticed what she was doing almost immediately.
"Ah, I'm afraid I can't allow that. You see, those were especially designed to contain you," he said off-handedly. "You won't be able to break them."
She dropped her shoulders in defeat and glanced downwards. Bubbles and Buttercup were looking around, both of them confused and looking as if they'd just woken from a very long nap. They didn't seem to notice her, but they were definitely aware of each other. Buttercup had her hand on Bubble's knee, trying to regain some sort of support for her fatigued body, and their tired eyes were both locked together in a stupefied stare.
"There won't be any tricks by you three. but of course, that was rather clever what you did. sending in a decoy like that."
Buttercup's head moved upwards, suddenly snapping out of her stupor. She growled, attempting a shaky stand, but barely made it past her knees.
"Fuck off." She said bitingly, and was rewarded with a very swift kick in her gut. She fell gasping against Bubbles, who looked absolutely shocked. She was staring wide-eyed at the man, looking as if she was seeing something that nobody else could.
Blossom dismissed it, turning her attention to where they were. It was some sort of large chamber, completely devoid of color. There were at least three sets of doors along the walls, and at least three dozen armed men who looked ready to kill at a moments notice. She was trying to sort out a plan, coming up with all sorts of convoluted possibilities, all of them very likely ending in a high body count. Not that they would matter-
-But she stopped short, jumping, when her gaze fell upon her father, standing just ten feet away. Two armed men were restraining him, but by the look of his physical state, it probably wouldn't have mattered if the men were carrying weapons or not. The professor wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. He was staring at Blossom, his eyes very red and stressed, his hair and appearance a horrid mess. For a second Blossom almost burst into tears and ran to him, but restrained her sobs and stood her ground, knowing that it would probably end up with either her or the professor getting smashed in the face. These men didn't seem too concerned as to how much they hurt them.
Blossom turned back to the man and walked a few steps forward, feeling a few of the surrounding men rustle with renewed anxiety at seeing her move. Blossom looked at him firmly,
"I believe we've already met. library spark any memories?" she asked haughtily, her voice harsh and uneven.
The man moved his hand up to his chin, a gesture that seemed all too familiar, and looked at her intensely.
"Ah yes. I do remember." he smiled. "It was so nice to see you again. I knew that I just had to have a repeat honor."
Blossom looked down, trying to make sense of everything and at the same time, trying to be alert of her surroundings.
"And who may I ask, do I owe this honor?" Blossom said softly. The man looked at her carefully, reading her. Then he spoke,
"Yes. Doctor Alex Levigne. but you may call me Father," he said joyfully, turning to cast an acid glance at the professor, who looked absolutely horrorstruck. Buttercup made an unintelligible noise in her throat, which was most likely, a sign of distaste. Blossom narrowed her eyes.
"I wouldn't go that far. You mean absolutely nothing to us," she said tonelessly, at the same time wondering exactly what had happened that had caused her to blank out earlier. She was so sure that someone in particular had been around. but where was he now?
She was shocked out of her thoughts to realize the doctor was walking towards her, quickly, his eyes budding with rage. The professor had started struggling against his captors, trying to get to his three girls, but he never broke free.
Levigne stopped just short of where Blossom was standing and remained silent for a few beats. Then he moved his massive hand, quick as lightening, and struck Blossom in the face. She cried out harshly and fell back to the floor, dazed by the incredible blow. At the same time, her entire family simultaneously let out an angry uproar.
"I suppose my brilliant scientist forgot to teach you three some manner of respect. You forget one thing: I made you, and I can destroy you just as easily."
"That's where you're wrong," Blossom choked, trying to lift herself back off the floor. "The professor is the only man who deserves any sort of credit."
"You think so?" Levigne said lightly, turning to face the professor. "Even though it was I who really controlled the entire program? As a matter of fact, you three are nothing more than my property. I own you, and its up to me what happens to you."
Buttercup finally stood, her voice low and harsh.
"What you did was illegal anyway." She spat, her arms jerking as she attempted to snap her restraints. "Besides, the professor is the only man we owe anything to. He saved us. from you." She looked at him scathingly, and then turned to Bubbles, who was still staring at Levigne, her mouth dropped in a silent scream. She didn't say a word.
"My dear girls. all I wanted was to have you three back. You're very special you see. and I just wanted to see how special you've really become. is that so much to ask?"
"There are other ways to go about it," Blossom said, causing him to turn his attention back to her. He smiled.
"Mister Utonium stole you from me. a very unfortunate turn of events. if he had never defied my undying trust. things would have been so much different."
"I doubt it." Buttercup said swiftly. She took in a harsh breath, and looked at the professor, who for some reason looked completely baffled.
"But I never saw you then." he croaked weakly. Levigne looked at the professor incredulously.
"That's because I never showed myself to you." He snapped, then broke into another one of his leering grins.
"Did you really think that we'd just submit ourselves to you?" Blossom said, a fresh plan forming in her head. It would be incredibly risky, but it was the only thing she had.
"Ah, but without a free will. there is no resistance."
Everything grew silent as the words sunk in. Evidently, they had planned to hinder their individual wills, making them nothing but mindless zombified slaves. Levigne could have made them do anything, and nobody would have been able to stop them. It could have been nothing short of a disaster. Because they had retained their free wills. they had decided to use their abilities to help people. but absolute power corrupts absolutely. and with their power in his hands, Levigne would have been nothing short of unstoppable.
Blossom looked at the professor once more, who seemed to have given up on struggling. He looked tired, and he met Blossom's gaze, his expression completely unreadable. She tried to tell him with her eyes that everything would be okay, that she had a plan. but she couldn't make him understand.
Then she looked at her sisters. Buttercup was watching Levigne with suppressed anger, and Bubbles looked as if she would have a fit at any moment. They didn't notice her stare.
"Alright," Blossom said finally, breaking the silence. "You win."
"WHAT?!" Buttercup shrieked very suddenly, her face going a bright crimson. Bubbles suddenly turned and looked at Blossom, her eyes scared and pleading.
Levigne turned and looked at her, cocking his head to one side. He smiled.
"Whatever do you mean, Blossom?"
Without stopping to think how he possibly knew her name, she kept talking.
"I give up." she trailed off, awaiting his next response.
"So you willingly give yourselves up? Just like that?" he raised an eyebrow and continued his scrutinizing stare. Perhaps he didn't believe her.
"That isn't what I said. I said I give up. You can get all the information you need with just one of us-"
"Blossom, what are you doing?!" Buttercup asked angrily.
"No!" the professor cried.
Bubbles still didn't say anything, but her eyes had gone at least ten times wider.
Levigne was smiling again, and he walked a few steps closer to where Blossom was standing. She moved back, eyeing him warily.
"I'm willing to give myself up, but on one condition."
"And whatever would that be?"
"You promise to let my sisters and the professor go."
There was silence as Levinge appeared to be considering the offer. He looked once at Bubbles and Buttercup and then at the professor. Then he turned back to Blossom.
"You realize that once I control you again, there is no turning back?"
"Yes."
"BLOSSOM, ARE YOU INSANE!?!" Buttercup screamed, struggling even harder with the restraints on her arms.
Silence, then-
"Alright." Levigne said simply, a smile flickering across his lips. He made a motion with his hand and the men surrounding the room all moved forward. The two who had been holding the professor began to drag him towards a door at the far end of the room. Blossom took one last fleeting glance at him, and he was staring at her helplessly, mouthing her name repeatedly with his lips. She tried once again to tell him it would be okay. but he disappeared through the doors and was gone.
The others were moving towards Buttercup and Bubbles, their weapons ready incase they should try anything. It took at least five of them to restrain Buttercup, while still weak, was putting up an amazing fight. She was glaring at Blossom with loathing, her teeth bared, and Blossom knew that Buttercup didn't understand what she was trying to do. She couldn't possibly understand, and as Blossom gazed into her sister's eyes she saw Buttercup's eyes fill over with tears as she was dragged towards the same door the professor had left through.
Bubbles didn't struggle, but she looked at Blossom, her face very pale and fearful. Two men grabbed her arms, and as she was pulled away she glanced once at Levigne. Very suddenly she exploded into tears, screaming and crying,
"BLOSSOM NO! HE'S LYING! HE'S LYING!" she screamed, struggling and kicking at the men who were dragging her.
"It's going to be fine Bubbles." Blossom said quietly, but she never heard her over her screams.
"NO! NO! BLOSSOM! HE'S. HE'S." but before she could finish her sentence one of the guards pressed the barrel of his weapon against her throat. She stopped screaming, but angry tears continued to pour from her eyes as she shook her head in jerky, uneven movements. Bubbles disappeared through the same door, and it was only Blossom, Levigne, and two other guards who had their weapons pressed against the small of Blossom's back.
"Well, well. I have so much fun planned for you, my dear," Levigne said, and with a wave of his hand the two men behind her grabbed both of her arms tightly. They dragged her towards two double doors on the opposite end of the room, and as Blossom was pulled through, she thought she saw Levigne's eyes glowing.
The hallway was long and ominous. It was also deathly familiar.
Blossom moved down the long corridor, her body tense and waiting. She thought she could feel eyes on her back, but every time she turned to look, all she saw was lonely emptiness. She moved quickly through the barren stretch of concrete, somewhat lost, trying hard to follow Bubbles's trail. It was difficult, because it seemed as if her sister was running away from her. No matter how far Blossom moved, Bubbles always seemed to be just as far in front as she had been before.
The same went for Buttercup, and even the professor. It felt as if reaching them was going to be impossible. Something had happened to them, and Blossom suddenly felt very alone and vulnerable.
Something caught her eye to the left, and she stopped dead, feeling a pair of eyes on her from behind. This was just like her dream. Someone was behind her, and she'd end up running, down this impossibly long hallway, running for her life-
-There was a flicker of movement along the wall next to her, a growing shadow, expanding along the gray stone like a blackened pool of tangible horror. Its form was barely distinguishable except for a pair of matching crustaceanoid claws, held forward as if ready to pounce what was in its path; her.
Blossom spun around, crying out at the same time, her breath escaping her in one fell swoop. Absolutely, positively nothing was behind her. There was nothing but silent, unmoving air, heated in her tense anxiety.
Her heart thundering, she peered down the end of the hall, noticing that it seemed quite a bit longer than it had when she'd actually been traveling down it. It fell into near darkness, and Blossom could feel the rising sense of being lost grow inside her. She didn't know where she was going, and following her senses had become useless. She was trapped, like a rat in an impossible maze.
Blossom could have sworn that something had been behind her. Something had been creeping up behind her, silently, casting its hideous shadow just next to her. She'd seen it- it had been clear as day, but.
Nothing was there, at least not anymore. Blossom grabbed her head in her hands and continued to look warily down the corridor, as if hoping to see something come charging around the corner at her. That way, she'd know she wasn't going insane.
"I am not going crazy," she said firmly, her heart still thundering. This was just like her dream, and she knew that as soon as she turned her back, she'd have to run from something. From something that meant to kill her. from someone.
Barely able to stand the silence and anticipation any longer, Blossom turned and started running. She didn't bother waiting see if anything would start following her. She took off as soon as her back turned, kicking off from the ground at break-neck speed. The thought of death was grinding away at her brain, and it only fueled her to move faster. But she knew that standing there forever would have accomplished absolutely nothing. She had to move, and at least in reality she had a fighting chance to control her own fate. Her only option was running.
Sure enough, she felt it, but this time it felt different. It wasn't the sound of running footsteps behind her, but it was something much different, much more terrifying. She felt as if a wave of charged energy was crashing towards her like a raging flow of water. Blossom didn't dare turn, afraid of what she'd see, yet at the same time, absolutely positive as to what it was. She'd felt the same presence before, dozens of times when she'd been a child, but somehow in this place it felt ten times more terrible.
It was moving closer like a galloping stampede, the flow of blood in her ears making it impossible to judge the distance. She could feel it rather than hear it; she could feel the eagerness, the anticipation and the determination of the thing that wanted her, and it drew steadily closer. She was so close to the end, a door stood before her, beckoning to her like inviting warmth on a cold day.
There was a sudden surge of energy and Blossom was thrown forward, skidding on her knees before finally falling face down into the dry floor. Throughout the whole ordeal, a sound never escaped her lips, save for the breath that moved in and out of her lungs. Even now, as she felt herself smothered by something, by a sizzling, sensual heat that engulfed her like a hot blanket, she never screamed.
She lost consciousness very abruptly and knew no more.
***
Blossom awoke suddenly, completely startled and confused. She felt tired, weak and very flushed, and she slowly moved her body to a sitting position, trying to shake the bleariness from her eyes. She moaned lightly, trying to look around, but anything she saw didn't make any sense to her. She stared dumbly around the new room she was in, barely noticing the two other bodies laying next to her, also stirring with renewed consciousness. She also didn't notice the hoard of weapons surrounding her, all of them aimed directly at her face.
She was kicked out of her delusion as she was grabbed very forcefully by her hair, and lifted roughly to her feet. In a fit of barely aware panic she tried to lift her hands in an effort to ease the burning pain at her scalp, but found with biting horror that her arms were bound in front of her. She cried out angrily, finally shaking the feeling of sleep from her fogged brain. She heard someone, a man cry out her name, his voice cracking with tearful rage.
"Wake up you little bitch," a cold, cruel voice spoke, and Blossom realized it belonged to the man in front of her, who shoved her backwards violently. In her weakness, she barely regained her balance in time, almost tripping over her two sisters who were shakily lifting their bodies from the floor. There was another angry holler from the sidelines.
Blossom looked at the man bitterly, and gasped at what she saw. She'd seen the man before. at the library. he'd been watching her at the library. and now he was right here, treating her like an animal that deserved to be punished for something.
"You." she hissed, eyeing the man with fire in her eyes. He smiled widely, a much too pleasant gesture in the otherwise very dire situation. Blossom wanted to slap that grin right off his face, but couldn't, because her hands were tied.
The binds.
She tried to look nonchalant as she began to wiggle her hands in the wire that held them, trying to determine if she could break them. She kept a cold glare trained on the man, trying to keep his attention on her stare, but he noticed what she was doing almost immediately.
"Ah, I'm afraid I can't allow that. You see, those were especially designed to contain you," he said off-handedly. "You won't be able to break them."
She dropped her shoulders in defeat and glanced downwards. Bubbles and Buttercup were looking around, both of them confused and looking as if they'd just woken from a very long nap. They didn't seem to notice her, but they were definitely aware of each other. Buttercup had her hand on Bubble's knee, trying to regain some sort of support for her fatigued body, and their tired eyes were both locked together in a stupefied stare.
"There won't be any tricks by you three. but of course, that was rather clever what you did. sending in a decoy like that."
Buttercup's head moved upwards, suddenly snapping out of her stupor. She growled, attempting a shaky stand, but barely made it past her knees.
"Fuck off." She said bitingly, and was rewarded with a very swift kick in her gut. She fell gasping against Bubbles, who looked absolutely shocked. She was staring wide-eyed at the man, looking as if she was seeing something that nobody else could.
Blossom dismissed it, turning her attention to where they were. It was some sort of large chamber, completely devoid of color. There were at least three sets of doors along the walls, and at least three dozen armed men who looked ready to kill at a moments notice. She was trying to sort out a plan, coming up with all sorts of convoluted possibilities, all of them very likely ending in a high body count. Not that they would matter-
-But she stopped short, jumping, when her gaze fell upon her father, standing just ten feet away. Two armed men were restraining him, but by the look of his physical state, it probably wouldn't have mattered if the men were carrying weapons or not. The professor wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. He was staring at Blossom, his eyes very red and stressed, his hair and appearance a horrid mess. For a second Blossom almost burst into tears and ran to him, but restrained her sobs and stood her ground, knowing that it would probably end up with either her or the professor getting smashed in the face. These men didn't seem too concerned as to how much they hurt them.
Blossom turned back to the man and walked a few steps forward, feeling a few of the surrounding men rustle with renewed anxiety at seeing her move. Blossom looked at him firmly,
"I believe we've already met. library spark any memories?" she asked haughtily, her voice harsh and uneven.
The man moved his hand up to his chin, a gesture that seemed all too familiar, and looked at her intensely.
"Ah yes. I do remember." he smiled. "It was so nice to see you again. I knew that I just had to have a repeat honor."
Blossom looked down, trying to make sense of everything and at the same time, trying to be alert of her surroundings.
"And who may I ask, do I owe this honor?" Blossom said softly. The man looked at her carefully, reading her. Then he spoke,
"Yes. Doctor Alex Levigne. but you may call me Father," he said joyfully, turning to cast an acid glance at the professor, who looked absolutely horrorstruck. Buttercup made an unintelligible noise in her throat, which was most likely, a sign of distaste. Blossom narrowed her eyes.
"I wouldn't go that far. You mean absolutely nothing to us," she said tonelessly, at the same time wondering exactly what had happened that had caused her to blank out earlier. She was so sure that someone in particular had been around. but where was he now?
She was shocked out of her thoughts to realize the doctor was walking towards her, quickly, his eyes budding with rage. The professor had started struggling against his captors, trying to get to his three girls, but he never broke free.
Levigne stopped just short of where Blossom was standing and remained silent for a few beats. Then he moved his massive hand, quick as lightening, and struck Blossom in the face. She cried out harshly and fell back to the floor, dazed by the incredible blow. At the same time, her entire family simultaneously let out an angry uproar.
"I suppose my brilliant scientist forgot to teach you three some manner of respect. You forget one thing: I made you, and I can destroy you just as easily."
"That's where you're wrong," Blossom choked, trying to lift herself back off the floor. "The professor is the only man who deserves any sort of credit."
"You think so?" Levigne said lightly, turning to face the professor. "Even though it was I who really controlled the entire program? As a matter of fact, you three are nothing more than my property. I own you, and its up to me what happens to you."
Buttercup finally stood, her voice low and harsh.
"What you did was illegal anyway." She spat, her arms jerking as she attempted to snap her restraints. "Besides, the professor is the only man we owe anything to. He saved us. from you." She looked at him scathingly, and then turned to Bubbles, who was still staring at Levigne, her mouth dropped in a silent scream. She didn't say a word.
"My dear girls. all I wanted was to have you three back. You're very special you see. and I just wanted to see how special you've really become. is that so much to ask?"
"There are other ways to go about it," Blossom said, causing him to turn his attention back to her. He smiled.
"Mister Utonium stole you from me. a very unfortunate turn of events. if he had never defied my undying trust. things would have been so much different."
"I doubt it." Buttercup said swiftly. She took in a harsh breath, and looked at the professor, who for some reason looked completely baffled.
"But I never saw you then." he croaked weakly. Levigne looked at the professor incredulously.
"That's because I never showed myself to you." He snapped, then broke into another one of his leering grins.
"Did you really think that we'd just submit ourselves to you?" Blossom said, a fresh plan forming in her head. It would be incredibly risky, but it was the only thing she had.
"Ah, but without a free will. there is no resistance."
Everything grew silent as the words sunk in. Evidently, they had planned to hinder their individual wills, making them nothing but mindless zombified slaves. Levigne could have made them do anything, and nobody would have been able to stop them. It could have been nothing short of a disaster. Because they had retained their free wills. they had decided to use their abilities to help people. but absolute power corrupts absolutely. and with their power in his hands, Levigne would have been nothing short of unstoppable.
Blossom looked at the professor once more, who seemed to have given up on struggling. He looked tired, and he met Blossom's gaze, his expression completely unreadable. She tried to tell him with her eyes that everything would be okay, that she had a plan. but she couldn't make him understand.
Then she looked at her sisters. Buttercup was watching Levigne with suppressed anger, and Bubbles looked as if she would have a fit at any moment. They didn't notice her stare.
"Alright," Blossom said finally, breaking the silence. "You win."
"WHAT?!" Buttercup shrieked very suddenly, her face going a bright crimson. Bubbles suddenly turned and looked at Blossom, her eyes scared and pleading.
Levigne turned and looked at her, cocking his head to one side. He smiled.
"Whatever do you mean, Blossom?"
Without stopping to think how he possibly knew her name, she kept talking.
"I give up." she trailed off, awaiting his next response.
"So you willingly give yourselves up? Just like that?" he raised an eyebrow and continued his scrutinizing stare. Perhaps he didn't believe her.
"That isn't what I said. I said I give up. You can get all the information you need with just one of us-"
"Blossom, what are you doing?!" Buttercup asked angrily.
"No!" the professor cried.
Bubbles still didn't say anything, but her eyes had gone at least ten times wider.
Levigne was smiling again, and he walked a few steps closer to where Blossom was standing. She moved back, eyeing him warily.
"I'm willing to give myself up, but on one condition."
"And whatever would that be?"
"You promise to let my sisters and the professor go."
There was silence as Levinge appeared to be considering the offer. He looked once at Bubbles and Buttercup and then at the professor. Then he turned back to Blossom.
"You realize that once I control you again, there is no turning back?"
"Yes."
"BLOSSOM, ARE YOU INSANE!?!" Buttercup screamed, struggling even harder with the restraints on her arms.
Silence, then-
"Alright." Levigne said simply, a smile flickering across his lips. He made a motion with his hand and the men surrounding the room all moved forward. The two who had been holding the professor began to drag him towards a door at the far end of the room. Blossom took one last fleeting glance at him, and he was staring at her helplessly, mouthing her name repeatedly with his lips. She tried once again to tell him it would be okay. but he disappeared through the doors and was gone.
The others were moving towards Buttercup and Bubbles, their weapons ready incase they should try anything. It took at least five of them to restrain Buttercup, while still weak, was putting up an amazing fight. She was glaring at Blossom with loathing, her teeth bared, and Blossom knew that Buttercup didn't understand what she was trying to do. She couldn't possibly understand, and as Blossom gazed into her sister's eyes she saw Buttercup's eyes fill over with tears as she was dragged towards the same door the professor had left through.
Bubbles didn't struggle, but she looked at Blossom, her face very pale and fearful. Two men grabbed her arms, and as she was pulled away she glanced once at Levigne. Very suddenly she exploded into tears, screaming and crying,
"BLOSSOM NO! HE'S LYING! HE'S LYING!" she screamed, struggling and kicking at the men who were dragging her.
"It's going to be fine Bubbles." Blossom said quietly, but she never heard her over her screams.
"NO! NO! BLOSSOM! HE'S. HE'S." but before she could finish her sentence one of the guards pressed the barrel of his weapon against her throat. She stopped screaming, but angry tears continued to pour from her eyes as she shook her head in jerky, uneven movements. Bubbles disappeared through the same door, and it was only Blossom, Levigne, and two other guards who had their weapons pressed against the small of Blossom's back.
"Well, well. I have so much fun planned for you, my dear," Levigne said, and with a wave of his hand the two men behind her grabbed both of her arms tightly. They dragged her towards two double doors on the opposite end of the room, and as Blossom was pulled through, she thought she saw Levigne's eyes glowing.