Shadra sat on the porch by herself. Night had fallen, so the only light was the half covered moon and the light from inside the cabin. The boys were inside, strategizing for the finals.
After Shadra had left the dark hall that Tala had been hiding in, she met up with her teammates in the stands. They had asked her where she had been, and she muttered something about the bathroom. They informed her of how the beybattles had played out and how the Masters had stolen the Majestics' bit-beasts. They had done it so subtly that the three European boys noticed after Tala's victory.
The Majestics had walked up to her and apologized for not getting Darker back. They had looked so dejected, shocked after losing their bit-beasts. It had broken her heart; she nearly started bawling. As it was, a few tears made their way down her face.
They all went to dinner together, salmon which she absolutely despised, the three teams. The White Tigers and Majestics offered the Bladebreakers their advice. Then they parted and her team came back to their cabin.
She wanted to rip the hearts out of the three Masters, but refrained because she was sure she wouldn't find the organ. She just wished that she still had Darker, with her faithful bit-beast she would've minced them. Why did Holly have to be so smart? This was all because of her.
She didn't blame Kai. He had been angry, and that rage had made him lose control. It seemed common with the Time line. Ray and Jenna were the exception. Holly had been calm and cool when she had made her decision.
So, if she wanted to get back at the Masters, she'd have to get her bit-beast back. It seemed impossible when one included the fact that Holly had not only one but many powerful bit-beasts at her disposal.
She could try some more unorthodox methods. That had some potential. But what if it encouraged Tala with his little story time? So far, the redhead had kept his quiet. How long would it last? She shook her head. The one story that she didn't want told would be the one he'd start with.
"I told you that Stonehenge would be more beautiful in the moonlight!" Shadra yelled to her sister. She stood at the edge of the circle. Their foster parents had brought them to the nearby village for summer vacation.
Jenna ran up, huffing and puffing. "Did we—huff—have to run—puff—all the way—huff—here?"
Shadra poked at her twin. "No, but you need to get in shape. We trying beyblade doubles this year, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember. How could I forget? You only always talk about it."
"Hey, what's that?" Shadra pointed and jogged over to the center of the ring. She stooped low, and started digging, uncovering some silver.
"It looks like a key," Jenna said, kneeling beside her. "And it looks old."
Shadra brought the key up to her face. "There's a chain too. Maybe it's one of those amulet necklaces. Maybe a priest used it when dedicating Stonehenge to the gods!"
"You're dreaming. The jewelers of the era wouldn't have enough skill or the right tools to make such a thing. Plus, it was before keys were even invented. A tourist probably dropped it here."
"You're probably right. But still, it's a nice thought."
Jenna abandoned her to go walking around the circle, looking at the monoliths. Shadra stayed where she was. Gently she pulled the necklace over her head to settle around her neck. The black jewels glimmered, catching the faint light of the stars.
"We better go, sis! A fog is coming in," Jenna yelled.
Shadra looked up. The fog was coming in swiftly, as if pulled by invisible winds. It wasn't too long before it covered them. Jenna rushed over to her.
"Come on, let's go!" Jenna tugged at Shadra's arm.
"You're not going anywhere." Suddenly, Shadra was to the side. She could see her sister turn around, but it wasn't Shadra behind her, it was some dark shadow person. A shadow person that was holding a silver knife. Shadra tried to yell, to run and help her sister. She was paralyzed.
"W-what?" Jenna asked.
"I said you're not going anywhere."
"Shadra, stop it. You're scaring me."
Shadra? But she was here. Couldn't Jenna see that? The shadow person turned its head toward her, and she gasped. The face was as shadowy as the rest of the body, but the features were distinctly hers. What was going on?
The shadow person turned its face back to Jenna. "Good," it said. It lunged at Jenna with the knife, who stepped back in time to only receive a shallow cut. The thing lunged again, this time successfully stabbing the girl right in the heart. She stumbled backwards, falling to the ground. Blood covered her chest.
Shadra was able to move again. She raced to her fallen sister. "Jenna…" she said, trying to staunch the bleeding. But the damage was too great.
"W-why?" Jenna asked, before the breathe went right out of her.
Shadra let out a wail. Her only kin, the only one who had ever loved her was dead. Tears poured down her face.
She was pulled roughly back. She saw the knife smoothly moved under her throat, pushing against her skin. The scariest thing was, it was her own hand that held it there. The last thing she remembered was feeling some wet droplets slid down her neck before she fainted.
The next morning, some tourists had found them and Shadra was rushed to the hospital, Jenna to the morgue. Shadra had to go to therapy after that. She had thrown the key away, but it had come back again and again until she had kept it and learned of its true nature. The scar on her neck and the nightmares she suffered would always remind her of that night. She didn't want them reminding her teammates.
"And where do you think you're going?" Holly demanded.
Tala turned back from the cabin door. "To have a chat with the Bladebreakers."
Holly shook her head. "No, you're going to help us get the White Tiger bit-beasts. In a few minutes, they're going to be called to the main office and we have to be there to get their bit-beasts. Chat with them some other time."
"This could bring Shadra—"
"Oh not Shadra again! Face it, she's a lost cause. She might turn around after we finish this, but not now. So forget it!" Alleon stormed up to them.
"We don't need her. She's not competing, doesn't have a bit-beast, and can't do a thing to stop us. There's no point wasting out energies there," Holly added.
Tala looked about to argue but conceded. With Iayah and Darcie on their heels, the three Masters set out to the White Tigers' cabin.
A girl running up to their cabin broke Shadra's reverie. The girl crashed her way up onto the porch and practically collapsed. A rope was tied to her wrist.
"Err, hello?" Shadra said.
"Are you Shadra?" the girl asked. Shadra nodded. "I'm Ziya."
Shadra struggled to think where she had heard the name before. Oh yes, Darcie's cousin.
"My cousin and these other two girls are stealing people's bit-beasts."
Darcie was in with the Masters? That surprised her. "Is one of them named Holly?" Shadra asked.
Ziya nodded.
"Do you know who the other girl was?"
Ziya nodded again. "I think Holly called her Daniel."
That shocked Shadra even more. Daniel was working for Holly? That must have been why Daniel's behavior when Shadra had said she wanted to be on the Bladebreakers back at registration. But why—they were akkae! They must be, otherwise why would Holly seek help from those two specific people? She'd have to watch out for those two in the future.
"Um, you wanna come inside, sit down for a spell?" Shadra asked. "Maybe get that rope off of your wrist?"
Ziya nodded, and Shadra untied the rope. Then the two of them, Ziya leaning onto Shadra, walked into the cabin together.
To be continued...