The Case of the Manila Envelope--Chapter 17
by HA
When Shirley uncovered her eyes, she saw that the stadium was gone. She was back at the construction site, and there was no sign of Oblivion or any other Monsters. The deck she had been using was also gone, and when she looked to her left, Bo, Rika, and Sara were back on the ground.
"Shirley!"
Bo ran towards her, and before she could anything, he seized her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Once again, he could smell aloe in her hair. In the distance, Rika and Sara watched them with each girl wearing a small grin.
Initially stunned at her best friend's emotional display, Shirley began to appreciate it, but then she gasped for air. "Bo, I can't breathe," she managed to say.
Her voice plus being in physical contact with her made Bo break off the hug. As Shirley looked at him while catching her breath, Bo said with a sheepish grin, "Um, sorry about that."
"No problem," she said once she recovered. "Considering what just happened, I really can't fault you for being concerned."
"Yeah," he said, and his mind started coming up with what he could've done to show his concern. After the hug, he could've looked into her eyes, and from there, he'd stroke her cheek, maybe cup her chin in his hand, and then he'd lean in and...
"I can't believe it."
Shirley's eyes darted towards her defeated opponent, who was kneeling close by. An assortment of cards were scattered before her, and her head was bowed. The spiral medallion she wore hung heavily from her neck.
"I...lost," Tomie said, sounding shocked. "I've...I've never lost before."
"First time for everything," Bo cracked.
The four teens surrounded the defeated Gamer of the Dark, who was beginning to collect her Monster Battler cards. "This deck has never failed me before. How...how...?"
Her arms folded over her chest, Shirley looked down at Tomie. "You know, you can drop the act now."
Tomie lifted her head and shot Shirley a yellow-tinted glare. "What?"
"Although I'm aware that this is the first time you've lost, I doubt you should be worried about it." Shirley turned to Rika. "You know what I'm talking about, Rika."
"Nani?" Rika stared at Shirley. "What are you talking about?"
Bo looked at Tomie, then Rika and Sara, and then back at his best friend. "Uh, Shirl, what are you talking about?"
"You know," Shirley said, looking down at Tomie and holding out her hand to her, "if you just wanted to meet me, you could've just stopped by and said 'hello.'"
The Gamer of the Dark smiled, and taking Shirley's outstretched hand, managed to get to her feet. "We never fooled you, did we?"
"'We'?" Bo looked around and then he gave Rika and Sara a dirty look. "Wait a sec..."
"Uh oh," Sara said. "Busted."
"I have to admit that it was very clever for all of you to get me out here to meet you, Tomie Uzumaki," Shirley said, "or should I call you by your real name?"
"Real name?" Bo said, blinking.
"You can drop your disguise now, Yume," Shirley told Tomie.
"Yume?" Bo looked over the Gamer of the Dark. "Wasn't that the name she used when she was at Carson's?"
"She used it for a good reason, Bo," Shirley said. "It's her real name, right, Rika?"
Rika nodded. "Hai, this is true."
Tomie began to glow, and a brief flash later, the Gamer of the Dark was gone. In her place stood a Japanese girl with normal brown eyes and long black hair. "You know about me?" she asked the young detective.
"Only what I've read about you," Shirley admitted. "Bo, I'd like you to meet Yume Miraino, niece to the current head of the Miraino video game company, heiress to the Miraino fortune, and top expert on the Monster Battler trading card game."
Bo just stared at Yume. "Whoa."
"Ah, Yume, some things never change," Rika said with a smile. "The boys still like to stare at you."
Yume bowed her head. "I still wish they wouldn't do that."
Rika was taken aback. "Oh, sorry about that."
"Don't worry," Yume said, raising her head. "It's been a while."
Bo's hands were tightened into fists at his sides. "Somebody had better explain what just happened."
"I'll be happy to explain everything once we get to my house," Shirley said. "I assume you can teleport us back there, Yume."
Yume stared wide-eyed at the young sleuth. "H-h-hai. Yes, yes, I can."
"Told you she was good," Sara said, and Bo shot her a glare.
"I can see that now, yes," Yume said. "Now, if we can get the bikes here with us. I don't think we want anyone to know we were here, yes?"
"That would be correct," Shirley said. "Oh, and let's try to appear near my house. My parents are probably still out, but Gran should be home by now."
* * * * *
It had happened so suddenly. Molly was about to finish her threat when Blake placed his hand behind her head and pushed her lips onto his. Molly's eyes widened as the kiss began, and for a moment, her body felt numb. She inadvertantly dropped the two photos, and they landed next to her feet. Then, she swore she could hear her heartbeat increase, she felt warmer, and her hand began to rise towards the back of Blake's head. Before anything else could happen, Blake let go.
"Well, how was that?" he asked.
Molly could only try to catch her breath, and then she spun around and faced the door. Her breathing had quickened, her heart was being beated rapidly by an imaginary hard-hitting taiko drummer, and she found herself gasping for air. Her face felt hot, and she was determined to continue staring at the wooden door before her rather than look at Blake. Seeing the photos on the ground, she bent down to pick them up.
"Are you all right?" Blake asked.
"I'm fine!" Molly said, raising her voice as she got up and felt her face heat up even more. "You can go now."
"But what about the...?" Blake began to ask.
"Just go!" Molly said, keeping her gaze on the door as she waved him away with one hand while clutching her chest with the other. "If you don't, you'll never get it back."
Blake stepped back. "Okay, okay, I'm going." He started on his way, and then he stopped. "Oh, one more thing."
"What?" Molly almost shouted.
"I think you look better if you wear your hair down," Blake said honestly as he held his bike up by the handlebars. "Good night, Molly."
Molly said nothing as she heard Blake's footsteps and the sound of his bike's wheels become fainter and fainter. After using her key, she quickly flung the door open and almost ran in. She was about to close the door when she saw Blake still leaving. Quietly, she closed the door to a crack and watched him.
*I'm just making sure he's leaving, that's all,* Molly told herself, keeping her eyes on Blake. *I'm just making sure.*
As she repeated that thought to herself, her face got even hotter, and her stomach started to churn again. Only when Blake was truly out of sight did she close the door and run up to her dorm room while clutching her abdomen.
* * * * *
While he wheeled his bike through the Sussex Academy campus, Blake reflected on the night's events. Overall, aside from not getting back his stolen property, the date went well. When he had agreed to take Molly out, Blake had hoped that by loosening her up a bit, she could've been persuaded to give back what she took from him. Granted, the activities he came up with were sometimes spur-of-the-moment and potentially annoying, but during the time he had been at Sussex, he swore that despite being surrounded by people and enjoying her high position within the school, she seemed uncomfortable occasionally. Shirley did occasionally tell him of the heinous deeds she committed in order to maintain her power (Shirley kept recalling how thanks to the blond sociopath, she nearly shipped herself to Rwanda in a crate thanks to false information concerning her then-missing mother), but she also told him about the few moments of weakness she noticed in her nemesis. She stressed that Molly Hardy had to be pitied, but also warned him of her manipulative behavior. Blake always responded by saying that compared to certain individuals, Molly was hardly a danger. In fact, he said that if Molly had a good friend, maybe she wouldn't go to great lengths to achieve her selfish goals. When Blake would share that insight, Shirley would raise an eyebrow at him and give him a look he noticed was always reserved for Bo.
Having been partly freed from his role of Molly victim, Blake found himself wondering if Molly had been enjoying herself. She seemed amused at the oath he had her take after apparently overcoming her revulsion, and she wasn't a bad singer, either. His thoughts then went to Shirley, and he wondered if she managed to find the Gamer of the Dark and was all right. He smiled. Something told him that Bo would've definitely made sure nothing would happen to her. As for his stuff, he wasn't sure if Molly would ever return it, but oddly enough, something kept telling him that it would be returned.
"Good evening."
Blake turned around and found himself facing a pair of red eyes on a chalk white face. The rest of the figure wore black, and the eyes were topped off by a distinctive spiky haircut.
"Hey, Damian," Blake greeted upon recognizing the Stranger, and he noticed that he was holding something. "What're you holding?"
His pale face showing no sign of emotion, Damian Thorne lifted his hand so that Blake could see its contents. In Damian's gloved hand was a mass of melted plastic and glass. It was mostly gray with a blob with a mix of red, yellow, and white on the side.
"A camcorder?" Blake said as he stared at Damian's hand.
Damian nodded as he adjusted his red goggles. "The gentleman I found over there"--he pointed out the location to Blake--"had it on zoom and was watching you. He ran away while screaming something about vampires roaming the Earth and this job not being worth that much money and his life."
Blake shook his head, and formed his mouth into an amused grin. "Molly Hardy, you're quite the piece of work." He returned his attention to Damian. "How long have you been watching me?"
"Ever since you arrived at Sussex to meet with her," Damian said.
"Did Shirley put you up to this?" Blake inquired.
"No," Damian answered simply.
"I see." Blake let loose his next question. "If you were here, then why didn't you just get back my stuff?"
"I believe you know why," the other answered. "We both know what will happen."
"Hmm." Blake looked at the dormitory. "Is it that obvious that I'm that optimistic about this?"
"I cannot blame you," Damian said. "I have encountered people who make her seem like a saint."
"Oh, really?" Blake's curiosity became piqued. "Um, Damian, by the way..."
"Good night, Blake Hewitt," Damian said as he walked past him. When he was a meter away from him, he stopped walking and said, "One more thing."
"What?" Blake said.
"Tell your two other friends to be more careful next time," Damian said.
Blake watched as Damian disappeared into the night with his black coat flapping behind him. Once the Stranger was gone, he mounted his bike and rode off for home.
END OF CHAPTER 17
by HA
When Shirley uncovered her eyes, she saw that the stadium was gone. She was back at the construction site, and there was no sign of Oblivion or any other Monsters. The deck she had been using was also gone, and when she looked to her left, Bo, Rika, and Sara were back on the ground.
"Shirley!"
Bo ran towards her, and before she could anything, he seized her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Once again, he could smell aloe in her hair. In the distance, Rika and Sara watched them with each girl wearing a small grin.
Initially stunned at her best friend's emotional display, Shirley began to appreciate it, but then she gasped for air. "Bo, I can't breathe," she managed to say.
Her voice plus being in physical contact with her made Bo break off the hug. As Shirley looked at him while catching her breath, Bo said with a sheepish grin, "Um, sorry about that."
"No problem," she said once she recovered. "Considering what just happened, I really can't fault you for being concerned."
"Yeah," he said, and his mind started coming up with what he could've done to show his concern. After the hug, he could've looked into her eyes, and from there, he'd stroke her cheek, maybe cup her chin in his hand, and then he'd lean in and...
"I can't believe it."
Shirley's eyes darted towards her defeated opponent, who was kneeling close by. An assortment of cards were scattered before her, and her head was bowed. The spiral medallion she wore hung heavily from her neck.
"I...lost," Tomie said, sounding shocked. "I've...I've never lost before."
"First time for everything," Bo cracked.
The four teens surrounded the defeated Gamer of the Dark, who was beginning to collect her Monster Battler cards. "This deck has never failed me before. How...how...?"
Her arms folded over her chest, Shirley looked down at Tomie. "You know, you can drop the act now."
Tomie lifted her head and shot Shirley a yellow-tinted glare. "What?"
"Although I'm aware that this is the first time you've lost, I doubt you should be worried about it." Shirley turned to Rika. "You know what I'm talking about, Rika."
"Nani?" Rika stared at Shirley. "What are you talking about?"
Bo looked at Tomie, then Rika and Sara, and then back at his best friend. "Uh, Shirl, what are you talking about?"
"You know," Shirley said, looking down at Tomie and holding out her hand to her, "if you just wanted to meet me, you could've just stopped by and said 'hello.'"
The Gamer of the Dark smiled, and taking Shirley's outstretched hand, managed to get to her feet. "We never fooled you, did we?"
"'We'?" Bo looked around and then he gave Rika and Sara a dirty look. "Wait a sec..."
"Uh oh," Sara said. "Busted."
"I have to admit that it was very clever for all of you to get me out here to meet you, Tomie Uzumaki," Shirley said, "or should I call you by your real name?"
"Real name?" Bo said, blinking.
"You can drop your disguise now, Yume," Shirley told Tomie.
"Yume?" Bo looked over the Gamer of the Dark. "Wasn't that the name she used when she was at Carson's?"
"She used it for a good reason, Bo," Shirley said. "It's her real name, right, Rika?"
Rika nodded. "Hai, this is true."
Tomie began to glow, and a brief flash later, the Gamer of the Dark was gone. In her place stood a Japanese girl with normal brown eyes and long black hair. "You know about me?" she asked the young detective.
"Only what I've read about you," Shirley admitted. "Bo, I'd like you to meet Yume Miraino, niece to the current head of the Miraino video game company, heiress to the Miraino fortune, and top expert on the Monster Battler trading card game."
Bo just stared at Yume. "Whoa."
"Ah, Yume, some things never change," Rika said with a smile. "The boys still like to stare at you."
Yume bowed her head. "I still wish they wouldn't do that."
Rika was taken aback. "Oh, sorry about that."
"Don't worry," Yume said, raising her head. "It's been a while."
Bo's hands were tightened into fists at his sides. "Somebody had better explain what just happened."
"I'll be happy to explain everything once we get to my house," Shirley said. "I assume you can teleport us back there, Yume."
Yume stared wide-eyed at the young sleuth. "H-h-hai. Yes, yes, I can."
"Told you she was good," Sara said, and Bo shot her a glare.
"I can see that now, yes," Yume said. "Now, if we can get the bikes here with us. I don't think we want anyone to know we were here, yes?"
"That would be correct," Shirley said. "Oh, and let's try to appear near my house. My parents are probably still out, but Gran should be home by now."
* * * * *
It had happened so suddenly. Molly was about to finish her threat when Blake placed his hand behind her head and pushed her lips onto his. Molly's eyes widened as the kiss began, and for a moment, her body felt numb. She inadvertantly dropped the two photos, and they landed next to her feet. Then, she swore she could hear her heartbeat increase, she felt warmer, and her hand began to rise towards the back of Blake's head. Before anything else could happen, Blake let go.
"Well, how was that?" he asked.
Molly could only try to catch her breath, and then she spun around and faced the door. Her breathing had quickened, her heart was being beated rapidly by an imaginary hard-hitting taiko drummer, and she found herself gasping for air. Her face felt hot, and she was determined to continue staring at the wooden door before her rather than look at Blake. Seeing the photos on the ground, she bent down to pick them up.
"Are you all right?" Blake asked.
"I'm fine!" Molly said, raising her voice as she got up and felt her face heat up even more. "You can go now."
"But what about the...?" Blake began to ask.
"Just go!" Molly said, keeping her gaze on the door as she waved him away with one hand while clutching her chest with the other. "If you don't, you'll never get it back."
Blake stepped back. "Okay, okay, I'm going." He started on his way, and then he stopped. "Oh, one more thing."
"What?" Molly almost shouted.
"I think you look better if you wear your hair down," Blake said honestly as he held his bike up by the handlebars. "Good night, Molly."
Molly said nothing as she heard Blake's footsteps and the sound of his bike's wheels become fainter and fainter. After using her key, she quickly flung the door open and almost ran in. She was about to close the door when she saw Blake still leaving. Quietly, she closed the door to a crack and watched him.
*I'm just making sure he's leaving, that's all,* Molly told herself, keeping her eyes on Blake. *I'm just making sure.*
As she repeated that thought to herself, her face got even hotter, and her stomach started to churn again. Only when Blake was truly out of sight did she close the door and run up to her dorm room while clutching her abdomen.
* * * * *
While he wheeled his bike through the Sussex Academy campus, Blake reflected on the night's events. Overall, aside from not getting back his stolen property, the date went well. When he had agreed to take Molly out, Blake had hoped that by loosening her up a bit, she could've been persuaded to give back what she took from him. Granted, the activities he came up with were sometimes spur-of-the-moment and potentially annoying, but during the time he had been at Sussex, he swore that despite being surrounded by people and enjoying her high position within the school, she seemed uncomfortable occasionally. Shirley did occasionally tell him of the heinous deeds she committed in order to maintain her power (Shirley kept recalling how thanks to the blond sociopath, she nearly shipped herself to Rwanda in a crate thanks to false information concerning her then-missing mother), but she also told him about the few moments of weakness she noticed in her nemesis. She stressed that Molly Hardy had to be pitied, but also warned him of her manipulative behavior. Blake always responded by saying that compared to certain individuals, Molly was hardly a danger. In fact, he said that if Molly had a good friend, maybe she wouldn't go to great lengths to achieve her selfish goals. When Blake would share that insight, Shirley would raise an eyebrow at him and give him a look he noticed was always reserved for Bo.
Having been partly freed from his role of Molly victim, Blake found himself wondering if Molly had been enjoying herself. She seemed amused at the oath he had her take after apparently overcoming her revulsion, and she wasn't a bad singer, either. His thoughts then went to Shirley, and he wondered if she managed to find the Gamer of the Dark and was all right. He smiled. Something told him that Bo would've definitely made sure nothing would happen to her. As for his stuff, he wasn't sure if Molly would ever return it, but oddly enough, something kept telling him that it would be returned.
"Good evening."
Blake turned around and found himself facing a pair of red eyes on a chalk white face. The rest of the figure wore black, and the eyes were topped off by a distinctive spiky haircut.
"Hey, Damian," Blake greeted upon recognizing the Stranger, and he noticed that he was holding something. "What're you holding?"
His pale face showing no sign of emotion, Damian Thorne lifted his hand so that Blake could see its contents. In Damian's gloved hand was a mass of melted plastic and glass. It was mostly gray with a blob with a mix of red, yellow, and white on the side.
"A camcorder?" Blake said as he stared at Damian's hand.
Damian nodded as he adjusted his red goggles. "The gentleman I found over there"--he pointed out the location to Blake--"had it on zoom and was watching you. He ran away while screaming something about vampires roaming the Earth and this job not being worth that much money and his life."
Blake shook his head, and formed his mouth into an amused grin. "Molly Hardy, you're quite the piece of work." He returned his attention to Damian. "How long have you been watching me?"
"Ever since you arrived at Sussex to meet with her," Damian said.
"Did Shirley put you up to this?" Blake inquired.
"No," Damian answered simply.
"I see." Blake let loose his next question. "If you were here, then why didn't you just get back my stuff?"
"I believe you know why," the other answered. "We both know what will happen."
"Hmm." Blake looked at the dormitory. "Is it that obvious that I'm that optimistic about this?"
"I cannot blame you," Damian said. "I have encountered people who make her seem like a saint."
"Oh, really?" Blake's curiosity became piqued. "Um, Damian, by the way..."
"Good night, Blake Hewitt," Damian said as he walked past him. When he was a meter away from him, he stopped walking and said, "One more thing."
"What?" Blake said.
"Tell your two other friends to be more careful next time," Damian said.
Blake watched as Damian disappeared into the night with his black coat flapping behind him. Once the Stranger was gone, he mounted his bike and rode off for home.
END OF CHAPTER 17