Chapter 3: Lucky day it was not

Cell's tall form approached, his right hand on his hip, his face looking very proud and pleased with himself. I tried desperately to find my voice so I could beg for mercy, although a small part of my brain told me he wouldn't listen. I managed to scoot back, but I don't know why I bothered. After the two murders I witnessed, I dared to think he'd play with me like he was a cat and I was a mouse. Taka and Chuck had no chance—what made me think I had one?

My dry mouth opened and I was able to get out a, "Please."

At first I didn't think he heard me. Oh, how I wish he hadn't heard me. It was a stupid thing to say. In fact, I think it convinced him more to pull me apart limb by limb. I vaguely recall asking myself how dangerous he could be with such a lovely voice. Now I wish I never asked such a thing because that danger level spilled over the top.

"Please?" He repeated in a mocking tone. "Are you begging me to spare you?"

I nodded and tried to stand up, but my legs were much too shaky.

"So what should I do with you?" He asked when he met the edge of the ring. He put one foot on the platform and leaned on that knee with one arm. If it was a different situation, a different person, I'd say his face was almost…handsome.

I cleared that thought immediately. "You should let me go…"

My words made him break out into an audible laugh, his eyes tightly shut and head thrown back as he laughed up a storm. "You must be joking," Cell replied when his hysterics calmed. "You made the mistake of coming here, so you must deal with your fate."

"I…I…" It was all I could get out. If I could fly like he could I would've been gone ages ago. As it is, I don't know why my body was so stiff instead of attempting to run away.

Cell stepped up on the arena floor and finished closing in the distance between us. I stared up at him with wide eyes. I figured my makeup was running all over my face from my tears. At one point I felt like throwing up, but even then I figured I was too scared to do so.

"I'm amazed at how frightened you are after you displayed such a strong character when you arrived," he commented, his eyes sparkling in the sun. There was just something about his eyes that caught me.

"Wouldn't you be if you were me?" Finally! My voice had returned, even if it was a little scratchy.

"I would have used my head and not come out here if I knew what would happen," he said rudely.

I frowned. "I didn't know anything about you! I was out of town until this morning!"

"Keep your tone normal, woman," he snapped. "Your attitude will only bring about your demise quicker."

"Then kill me already!" I yelled, finally getting my nerve back. "You wasted no time murdering my friends, so why do you hesitate now?"

Cell smirked and looked down at me without moving his head to do so. "I wanted to stare at that pretty face a little longer before I twisted it into nothing."

My heart stopped beating. I didn't know how to take that statement. He had just tried flattering me, yet he already predicted what he was about to do to me. My emotions were so confused I wanted to burst out in rage. "You lie…"

Of all things to say to him, I said that. I don't know what had come over me, but I knew it was a huge mistake before it even finished rolling off my tongue. His face frowned and his eyes narrowed. He reached out and grabbed my neck, his long white-gray fingers enclosing around my throat tightly. I could feel my feet slowly leave the ground and panic struck me hard.

"I do not lie," he said in a low voice that was so cold I could feel the ice on my face. My oxygen intake was being minimized quickly and painfully. My hands had instantly jumped to grab his wrist, my muscles contracting to their limit to try to lift myself up so it wouldn't hurt like it was. If I was thinking clearly I would've realized that what was on him was no costume—it was actually his body. His hand was what I hadn't expected—smooth and warm instead of rough and cold. His arm itself was a little different, but more along the lines of a fake, soft leather.

"P-please," I gasped, a tear leaking from the corner of my eye. I began to feel my lungs stop working; my body was getting heavy and I wanted to go to sleep. I realized I was dying, but I also knew there was nothing I could do about it.

"I—" Cell started, but for whatever reason he had stopped. My eyes were half closed by now, so I barely noticed that he turned his head to look behind him. I felt his hand release some of the pressure and I wondered why he was going backwards with his actions.

"I see I'm just in time, Cell," another man's voice said. I forced an eye open, but I couldn't see anything behind my captor. The voice sounded stern and confident, but somehow I knew he wasn't friends with this monster.

"Ah, Goku, you're later than I figured you'd be, but I suppose that makes no difference now." Cell had turned slightly, probably to allow himself more freedom of sight instead of stretching his neck.

"Let her go, Cell," the other said softly, yet firmly.

"Why? I don't think its any of your business what I do with her."

"As a matter of fact," my maybe-to-be hero started, "I think it is. She's no concern of yours."

"It's her own fault she trespassed on my territory. She will receive whatever I give her."

Cell's hand had loosened a tad bit more, and I wondered if it was because there was a witness. Maybe he wanted the pleasure of killing me in private. I didn't care at that point though; it was giving me a chance to get more air and I was thankful for it. I begged the heavens that this man would save me.

I was able to move my head only slightly, but enough so my eye could strain itself to see who the other voice belonged to. He was human as far as I can tell, with wild blonde hair. Shorter than Cell, but built muscle-wise just the same. I started to believe him to be my savior and my mind started preparing a thank-you I'd give him later.

"Right now you're fight is with me, Cell," the man said. "Don't kill her."

Cell didn't reply at first, but finally I felt my feet touching the ground and his hand moved away from my throat. My own hands went up and grasped my neck, wondering if it was true, that I was free from the torment. This guy did it! He got Cell to spare me!

"You intrigue me, Goku," Cell said finally. "I'll make a deal with you. If you fight me first on the day of my Cell Games, I'll allow this girl to live until then."

I had been happy until he spoke. My eyes went wide and my jaw nearly dropped. Did I just hear him right? Did he just say "until then"? I wanted this guy, Goku I suppose his name was, to pound Cell into the ground and make him pay for killing my friends. What was he waiting for!

"What do you mean, until then?" Goku asked, as if he knew exactly what I was questioning in my own head.

Cell chuckled lightly and clutched my upper arm tightly. I gasped and looked at him fearfully and then at the blonde-haired man. "Honestly, Goku, do you really think I wouldn't keep some sort of insurance? I don't want you to go against our agreement and save yourself until last."

"I haven't agreed to anything yet," he replied, although I was mentally yelling at him to agree at least.

Cell pulled me closer to his own body and I saw the meanest look I've ever seen on someone before. "Don't push me, Goku," Cell said. "The girl's fate lies in your hands. If you find it unfair, I'll kill her right here, right now."

"Say yes!" I yelled out, but drew no attention to myself.

Goku was looking at me now, and whether he was trying to telepathically transmit something to me, I don't know. I tried to look at him as if begging for him to help me, but he said nothing for a long moment.

"I'm growing impatient, Goku," Cell told him, and for once I agreed for I was getting the same way.

"What will you do with her in the meantime," Goku asked.

Cell smiled. "I'll keep her here until then. I don't want to be bothered with trying to find her later. Besides, if I let her go, wouldn't that mean you won overall and what we agreed to was a pointless conversation? No, Goku. She'll stay here until the day of the Cell Games. Then, and only then, will I decide what to do with her."

"What? I thought you said you'd let me go!" I yelled at him and tried to pull away. I stopped when I realized that my efforts were futile and any further trying would make my arm rip off.

"I'll fight you first in the ring, Cell," Goku said, "but you must promise to do her no harm until then."

Cell released my arm. "Agreed."

I was exasperated. "No! You can't just think of me as some animal or prize! You can't leave me out here with him! Please! Take me with you!" I looked around for any sort of vehicle he used to get here, but the only thing I noticed now was the van. If he too could do some sort of flying like Cell could (I wouldn't put anything past anyone now) why couldn't he just take me too?

"You'll be safe," Goku told me, his face relaxing slightly as if to make me feel better.

But it didn't. "Safe? You call him safe? Did you see what he did to my two co-workers!"

They ignored me. The only thing they were interested in was staring each other down. My blood was boiling. I forgot about my fear for a moment as my body had a sudden urge to jump out and try to inflict some sort of pain on either of them; I didn't care which one, it didn't matter. Both were forgetting that I was a woman with needs! I couldn't survive twelve hours out here with this monster in the middle of nowhere.

"I look forward to our encounter, Goku," Cell said smoothly.

"Me too," Goku said with a sharp grin.

And then he was gone. I blinked several times to see if I had indeed seen him disappear. I looked around and it was true; he was nowhere around as far as I could see. During my investigation of the area for that strange man, Cell had turned and walked away from me. I turned around as well to face him, just to see where he was going. I figured he had a bag of tricks hidden somewhere around him and I knew I'd have to be alert and on my toes constantly for the next who-knew-how long.

Yet my guard was lowered a little when all he did was cross his arms and lower his head as if sleeping while standing. I was shocked. How could he just give up and become so calm so suddenly? He just killed two people, terrorized me, and argued with some guy that appeared out of thin air! Why couldn't I wake up from this nightmare?

I studied the distance the van was from me. I wondered—would I be able to run, get in, turn on the ignition and drive away before Cell had a chance to do anything about it? Probably not; with the speed I'd already seen him demonstrate, I'd be gone before my feet reached the dirt ground.

The creature still stood still, his back to me and displaying those cockroach wings and some odd looking thing that reminded me of a bee's stinger. Great…I'm being held hostage by a giant bug with a human-like face.

But he can't kill you, that little part of my brain reminded. He agreed…and he said he never lies. Not that it'd make a difference. Maybe he would kill me—I'm sure he'd get his way no matter what at those Cell Games of his.

"Hey!" I yelled out to see if he'd turn. Whether he'd keep his promise or not, I had a feeling I'd be dead in the end anyway—so why bother not being bold? I can learn not to be afraid of him…hopefully. "Hey you!"

The bug didn't make a sound nor did even the smallest muscle twitch on his powerful body. Maybe he was asleep and I could make a great escape. I hesitated for a second, but took a few steps back as quietly as I possibly could. He remained motionless. Inside I rejoiced—this was my chance. He had no idea what I was doing.

I gingerly stepped back a few steps at a time, pausing to see if he took notice to me. And each time I was satisfied he was still asleep, I continued. When I reached the edge of the ring, I looked down to make sure there wasn't something I could step on that would alert him. When the way was clear, I bent down ever so carefully, placed one foot on the earth and then the second. He was still standing in place. I smiled and stepped back, making sure I didn't trip over a rock or something in the meantime.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something—Chuck's camera. I wondered if I'd be able to pick it up without making a sound; that way I'd have a weapon to use if Cell did in fact come after me. I nodded to myself and moved sideways a little until I was able to reach for the piece of equipment. When I picked it up I heard a screw or something fall off, which probably became lose when it was dropped earlier.

I held my breath and looked up quickly. Apparently Cell hadn't heard it, even though it had hit a stone and made a small clinking sound. I stood frozen for the longest moment before getting a hold of myself. I had to keep going…I was halfway there!

I kept walking backwards as carefully as I possibly could, my hands tightly grasping the heavy camera, my arms ready to swing it at my captor. I glanced over my shoulder to see how close I was to the van. I wish Taka had turned it around; instead I'd have to turn it—it'll waste time. I'll have only a few seconds, if that, to get the hell out of there once he's heard the engine turn on; unless I'm really lucky and he's a heavy sleeper.

Okay…I was only a few meters away now. I was confident and ready. He still hadn't moved and I was pretty sure I'd be able to run and make it. I took a deep breath, prepared myself and turned as quickly. I ran as fast as I could, my twisted ankle yelling at me sharply for the torment I was putting it through. Until now I was able to ignore the pain, but I feared it'd give out completely and I'd lose probably my only chance.

I was at the van—I reached out to open the door.

And that's when I heard something appear behind me. I stared into the window of the driver's seat and the reflection I saw scared me out of my skin. I thank my brain for working quickly—I turned around and swung out the camera.

It shattered. He hadn't even moved and it shattered the moment it made contact with his shoulder. I dropped the pieces from my hands and backed up into the door of the van, my voice the only thing that was able to get away from all of this.

"Trying to escape?" That elegant voice asked, his eyes staring at me like I was nothing but a child. "Did you think I didn't know?"

I muttered something not even I could tell what it was, but then I asked, "H-how did…you…"

Cell smiled and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Simple. I have explicit hearing and I could feel your pitiful life force moving. I knew where you were the whole time."

"You're pulling my leg," I said very softly, perhaps to test out that hearing of his.

"Oh I assure you, I'm not," he replied and his ability to respond to my soft words confirmed his statement. What he did next though, gave me a heart attack. His leg shot out next to my body and suddenly the van rolled over several times before landing on its side nearly a kilometer away. I turned and glared at it and then my eyes shifted to his still-out-stretched leg.

"I suggest you not try something so fool hardy again," he said. "It's been your lucky day to live, but Goku's threat doesn't bother me—I have no shame in killing you."

I gasped and jumped away. If it had been my lucky day I wouldn't be still standing here taking this from him. "But…but that means you'll have lied!"

Cell looked away as if thinking. "Perhaps," he said. "So lets not find out if I actually would end up lying—it wouldn't be very good manners, now would it?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. But he wasn't finished yet and I forced myself to pay close attention to his words. "Also, if I were you I'd not leave the area of my arena, understand?"

"Why?" I muttered with annoyance.

"Because it might provoke me." And with that he turned and hovered back to the fighting ring. I stood there staring; just staring. What did I run into? What the hell did I do to deserve this?