By nightfall, most people were in bed or at least lurking somewhere at home. However, there were night owls in town, who spent most of their time hanging out at the local pub. Here, there was a backroom, and inside, five men playing poker around a table.
"Hey, have you heard the latest rumor?
A man with a cigarette in his mouth sneered, leaning back in his chair. "Which one? The one related to the old man…or the one about the Phantom-"
Another man started to choke down on his drink, pounding his chest with his fist. "What, the," he sputtered, still coughing.
"Breathe, Larson. Last I heard it was only a rumor. Don't give yourself a heart attack. That's the last thing you need at your age."
Larson glared at him from across the table, not coughing, but not bothering to drink anymore for health reasons.
"Rick," another man chimed in, putting down his hand of cards for a moment, a small grin on his face, "what kind of sick joke is that? Oh please. Thought it would be funny? Well, I'm not laughing."
Rick, the man leaning back in his chair, shrugged absently. "I never said it was true. " The five men relaxed a bit, and Larson straightened up his chair, reaching for something across the table. "But," Rick added, a smug grin on his face, " I never said it was false, either." Things seemed to tense up again.
Anderson, the man who criticized Rick for the joke, leaned back in his chair, brown eyes observing quietly. Finally, he mumbled, "Complete bullshit." Rick's eyes fell to his own hand of cards for a moment, mind lost in thought.
"Interesting." A completely separate man from the group stood in the corner of the room, facial features barely noticeable through the dim light of the room. However, his eyes were obviously closed, and any and all emotion was obviously lost in the silence of the room.
There was nothing more said, because the man left the room, brown eyes devoid of any notion as to where he was going.
"I can't believe this," Meryl muttered holding the Leviathan above her. "How the hell did I bring this with me?" She could have swore that there was a headache forming in the back of her mind-she was sure she would regret all the stress later, because she had no medicine with her to help it.
"What was Al thinking?" It was something she'd been pondering about, since she found the gun thirty minutes earlier. And all the while, she'd been sitting on her bed, staring at the thing. She had to admit, he did a good job with it..but she didn't like it. She hated it.
For another two minutes, she continued to watch it in silence. Finally, she tossed it to the end of her bed, not wanting to bother with it anymore. To increase her chances of forgetting everything about it, she turned over on her side, looking across the room.
She smiled when she saw Millie, sleeping soundly in her bed. Well, the description was almost perfect-Millie was snoring slightly, but other than that, everything was quiet. She felt guilty that she hadn't talked to Millie at all. Earlier, she faked sleep, and soon enough, Millie was in bed herself. She was also concerned that Vash suspected something.
The last thing she needed right now, was that blonde haired idiot to get himself caught up in something none of them needed right now. As nice as Vash was, and as much as she liked him, she needed to deal with this on her own. And in a very small sense, she was afraid of what would happen if she couldn't.
Life hadn't been as easy as Millie's, and she was sure that if Vash and Millie knew anything about what had happened then-
She tried to shake those thoughts, rolling over on her other side, and staring at the wall. However, they wouldn't go away. That had to be the problem here. Her past was so mingled in with this town that things just kept coming back to her too easily.
For a minute, she closed her eyes, hoping a few of the images in her mind would go away. But the memories only seemed to strengthen..
Flash Back-
"We have a problem in town," Al, younger, yet still old, sat down on a worn couch, eyes gleaming mischievously. It was a room across from a closed door, but the two occupants in the next room could hear him easily.
Inside, Meryl was turned to the wall, lying still on her bed, and feigning sleep. Her eyes weren't even closed, but maybe if she stayed quiet, no one would no the difference.
"What?" called a voice in the room with her, reminding her that she wasn't alone. He was loud enough to be heard through the door, and Meryl nearly cursed at him. She didn't want to hear anything from Al at the moment.
"We've got a problem," Al repeated, raising his voice as if to emphasize importance. "The both of you get your asses out here. You have to fix it."
Kent, the second occupant in the room grumbled something, moving from his spot in the corner, and heading over to Meryl. She didn't move when she felt him slide down in the bed next to her.
"Figures," she mumbled miserably, "he causes trouble, and we have to fix it." For the next few moments, the two of them lay together, Kent wrapping his arms around her waist, and the only sound to be heard was their breathing. "I don't want to," she whispered, shuddering slightly.
As if protecting her from some unknown force, Kent tightened his grip around her waist, dark brown eyes lost in thought. "We've been over this," he said simply.
Meryl remained silent. She hated arguing with him, partly because she had yet to ever win an argument with him. However, he didn't misread the silence. He knew how she still felt.
"Want to get it out of your system Meryl? I thought that you understood the conversation we had yesterday. If you still feel the same way, tell me. We will discuss it." There was no hint of sarcasm or cruelty, in fact he sounded almost concerned. Still, despite his offer, Meryl remained quiet.
"Alright then. Come on, we'll go and take care of-"
"Kent…I don't think..Al should fix-"
"So now you want to talk to me." He apparently wasn't mad at her, he was smiling even. "I was beginning to think I was being punished."
"Kent, let Al fix his own problems. I don't feel good today." Meryl knew that wouldn't work as an excuse.
"You know better Meryl," he kissed her neck, "besides, if we get back early, we won't have to worry about being interrupted later." A mischievous grin took the place of his smile.
"I still don't want-"
"Come on Meryl. Don't make this any more difficult than it needs to be. I promise when we get back, you can hit Al upside the head."
"That's not the point. As much as Al needs someone to teach him a lesson or two, I just don't want…it can't..end up like it did before."
Kent hesitated, frowning slightly. "That kid."
"Kent I-" Meryl started, but cut off when his grip tightened further.
"You won't go, because of that kid. How long are you going to let that little incident get to you?"
"Incident?" Meryl tried to turn to face him, but his grip would not allow her to do so. "Kent, that incident, could have been avoided. It's not our job to-"
"How long Meryl? How long do you think it will be? Never? If you let something like that..why did you change? What happened? You are the Phantom. Something that can never be challenged, and you dare to let some stupid child ruin your reputation?" He stopped for a moment, and began to whisper, "You've worked too long Meryl. We both have. Don't give it away. Do you want to go back to what you used to be? Alone, desperate for help, crying and begging for someone to save you.."
"Stop it," Meryl muttered, shivering against him. "That's the last thing..I want." His grip loosened, and he raised a hand to turn her face, allowing him to kiss her.
"Then let's go, Meryl. I'm sure Al's pissed off that we're taking too long."
End Flashback-
Meryl was gripping at her sheets when her eyes opened again. She had to choke back a sob. The memories were so painful to her. How she had managed to keep them locked away so long, she didn't know. And ironically, they were coming back in full force to haunt her. "Kent was right," she muttered to herself, "you can try to ignore it, but it will just come back."
There was a light click at the foot of the bed, and when she looked, she found the gun sitting there neatly. She sat up, reached for the gun, but stopped when she saw something move through the window. It was dark out, but that didn't stop her from seeing the man outside.
She took a look, preparing herself, and sure enough, a bright light flashed in her eyes. She didn't know where the light source came from, but she knew the signal. "Dammit Al." Luckily, she was still fully dressed, and she pulled herself from bed, heading for the door. She stopped before she opened it, went back, and grabbed the gun.
Vash was waiting downstairs, below Meryl's room. The Inn doubled over during the night as a small pub. There weren't many people here tonight, five total, including three customers, and two staff members. So it was a surprise, when he saw Meryl come downstairs and head for the door.
He considered asking her what she was doing, and calling her over, when he halted. She didn't notice him in the least, and apparently, was heading out the door. It didn't take a genius to realize how late it was. Most people were in bed at this hour, and Meryl usually, was no different.
Car? No, if she wanted something, she would have gotten it earlier, right? Then what exactly, would she be doing, or rather, where would she be going? When she left through the door, he stood up, placed money down on the table, and went for the nearest window.
He saw her head around the Inn before he lost sight of her through the window. For a minute, he stood there. "Anything I can get you?" A man asked, cleaning off another table.
"No, I'm fine, thanks," Vash said, still looking out the window as if hoping Meryl would suddenly come back into view. "I've had enough tonight. I'm going to go out for a while."
"Well, be careful, young man. As quiet as the town seems, it's not all butterflies and daisies." Before Vash could ask what that meant, the waiter was gone, turning to another table, and then leaving the room.
Vash decided he really would leave. He'd leave to find out just what Meryl was doing. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but lately, things had been a little too out of the ordinary for him to take a chance and let her go anywhere alone. Especially if what he thought the waiter was implying was true.
Meryl had followed Al all the way back to the previous house she had visited during the day. The door was ajar from where her companion had walked in, waiting for her inside. During her whole session of following him, he had never turned to speak to her. Al was going to get hurt for making her chase him around town, and leading her to the one place she did not want to go back into.
Nonetheless, a few moments later, she ventured in, and just as before, the floors creaked in protest with every step she took. She closed the door behind her. Later she realized that it wouldn't matter anyways-a conversation could be heard through the broken windows.
She came to a stop at the broken table, crossing her arms, and looking around for Al. Her gaze stopped when she found him sitting on a worn couch across the room. Two candles were lit for light, and both were found on the small stand to the left of him. "What do you want now Al?"
He gave no answer, and didn't dare look up, his hood hiding his face. She rolled her eyes, walked over, and stopped when the eyes met hers. A warning signal shot off in her mind, but she was frozen on the spot, and didn't dare move. Suddenly, they broke eye contact, the cloak again hiding him from view.
"Al," she whispered, unsure, thinking perhaps she imagined something else. "Listen Al, you should take back that thing you gave me. I don't want it. In fact, I don't know how I left with it in the first place." Her voice was still low, as if her mind was still trying to confirm something.
Again, there was a small warning in the back of her mind, but she ignored it for the moment. Maybe Al was angry with her? Maybe he was upset that she had left with his gun in the middle of the conversation? Either way, he wasn't talking to her.
Her anger at him returned, and she shot him a glare. "You make me follow you here, just so you can sit there?" Al was silent, instead, he shook his head no, and stood. Meryl's mind really went on high alert then. She did not remember Al being so tall.
Before she could say anything, and before she could even remember to move back, he grabbed her buy the arms, and shoved her back against the wall, hard. She gasped at the pain in her right shoulder, but before she could do anything else, he pushed her across the room and into yet another wall. Forcing her to move, despite the ache now stretching from her right shoulder to her lower arm, she managed to turn to face her attacker, waiting for the opportune moment to head for the door. When he did give her the opportunity, she made a run for it, only to get to the doorknob and hear a loud bang from behind her.
She didn't scream, but the first thing she felt was a severe burn on her right shoulder. When she reached to feel what had happened, she felt a rough kick send her to the ground. Instead of leaving her there, he grabbed her leg, and dragged her to the couch, taking only an extra second to toss her up on it. She was in no mood to protest, the searing pain in her shoulder, and where he had kicked her receiving the attention.
"You're not Al," she muttered, gripping her shoulder.
"No shit," he responded, tossing the gun over his shoulder. So that's what was wrong with her shoulder..he had shot her there before she could open the door. However, that thought barely registered in her mind. His voice terrified her beyond words. She could have sworn it was the same voice; the same man.
"K..Kent.." she managed, half choking on the name.
He pulled back the hood, deep brown eyes blazing in anger, black hair a mess as always. "Hello Meryl. Long time, no see."
Vash had been in the alleys. Unfortunately, he had lost Meryl a while back. Damn. He should have gone right after her as soon as she went out. He had to just stand there.
To add to his frustration, he had to worry about how dark it was, how he couldn't call for her because of how late it was, and how tired he would be in the morning. Forget that. He probably wouldn't get up in the morning. Oh well. Wouldn't be the first time.
After a good long while, he decided he might check back, but halted when he heard the gunshot. He could never mistake that sound-he knew it all to well. Maybe no one in town would think much of it, seeing as how they were either drunk or asleep, but he went on high alert when he heard it. For one thing, a gunshot was never a good thing, and for another..he had yet to locate Meryl. If she had gotten caught up in something bad like that..he wouldn't ever forgive himself if he never found her again.
Immediately, he started running in the direction the sound came from, sometimes looking down an alley or at a building to try and see anyone. He had his own weapon tucked away, but he didn't want to have a reason to use it. Hopefully, things definitely wouldn't come to that. And hopefully, Meryl wasn't somehow tied up in the situation.
"I wouldn't move the shoulder Meryl. It will hurt for a good long while."
Meryl was too shocked to say much of anything. She started to notice how badly she was shivering, but dared not truly realize how terrified she was. If she had even begun to think of that, she would never find the ability to get out of this.
"You're not talking to me, Meryl. My feelings are hurt. I'm sorry I had to shoot you, but I didn't want you leaving for a while." He glanced over the room briefly. "Remember this place Meryl? I do. Like it now? It's a bit messy. Oh well, we can get over it. Don't you agree?"
"Kent.." She tried to say something else, but only his name hit the air.
"You look afraid Meryl. What's scaring you?"
Again, nothing came out of her mouth. Only her shivering increased, and she could swear that tears were threatening to form.
He sat down on the edge of the couch, ignoring how she edged away from him, and bent over to meet her eyes, whispering, "We have a lot to talk about Meryl. Like I said, I'm sorry for hurting you, but leaving wasn't an option. I've found you again, and I'm not going to lose you as I did before." His hand went up to her injured shoulder, and pressed down.
"Kent…stop." She closed her eyes against the pain, urging herself not to scream. Even though it would attract attention to where she was, she didn't think she could do it. He had shot her for trying to leave. She couldn't imagine what he would do if she screamed.
"I couldn't believe it when I heard you were back in town. To think, I thought I would never see you again, Meryl." He frowned, as if concerned, a brief sadness wavering in his eyes. "I missed you Meryl. I have no intention of letting you go now. Now that you walked so willingly back to me, after all these years. That day you left me..it hurt. Really hurt. I'm sure your shoulder is nothing compared to how I felt. Do you know that? I guess, I also wanted to show you a fraction of what you did to me."
He pressed down harder, and Meryl gasped in pain, tears starting to fall. "K-Kent," she stuttered, barely managing to form his name from pain and fear.
"You shouldn't talk Meryl. You shouldn't talk." Before she could even bother to do anything, he moved on top of her, pinning her down on the couch. Now her side was aching from where he had kicked her hard, and his body weight wasn't helping her condition. "It's good to see you again Meryl..but I'm afraid some things just can't be forgotten." He sat up briefly, reaching in his cloak for something.
When Meryl saw the gleam of metal, she tried to move, only to have him press down on her shoulder again. He was holding a large knife, well polished, and clean. "I'm not one to hold a grudge, Meryl. So, don't worry. I just need to check to see if the bullet went all the way through or not."
"Kent..please." Her shivering had stopped a minute ago, but came back in full force now. He was using that lame excuse.."Kent..don't. Please. Stop."
"But Meryl..that bullet could be lodged in your shoulder. I'm not a tool man, and not a doctor, but I'm sure if I'm careful, I can check for the bullet with the knife." He was looking into her eyes, watching her cry, knowing she was afraid. She looked away, closing her eyes, afraid to open them.
Kent sighed, and closed his own eyes. "Sometimes Meryl, people do bad things. People, who make promises, break them. People, who owed their lives to others, dump them, trying to escape what they know they can't. What these people need to realize Meryl, is that there are consequences. Punishments for such things." He lowered to whisper in her ear, as he used to do, years ago, "I want you, Meryl, to feel those consequences. You deserve some of the hell I've been through."
