Hey guys. All of your reviews made me feel much better. Thanks so much everyone. Right now the poles are tied so I'm going to have to pick a pairing. Oh, and I can't remember what color Boris's hair is so it's going to be purple. Sorry if it's wrong. Now for the poles and the replies.

Rei and Starr: 2 votes.

Max and Starr: 0 votes.

Tala and Starr: 2 votes.

Kai and Starr: ½ a vote. Friendship.

Tyson and Starr: 0 votes.

Stormy winter: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Here is the next chapter.

Omia: Me too! Me too! And now it is tied so I must chose. This is going to be hard. Well, here is the next chappie!

CrimsonSkye06: Well, guess what? I just updated. Ha ha ha! Sugar can do the most WONDERFUL things!

Skarmory: Thank you so much. Really. I didn't think I could write another chapter but then you reviewed so this is for you and everyone who liked my last chappie.

Storm of Insanity: That is what I am going to do so feel special! I do because this was my second choice for a pairing. Enjoy.

Atem's Queen of the Nile: I am very glad that you liked my last chapter and I hope you like this chapter too. The little conversation is for you.

Bottlecaps: I love that pairing! I do, I do, I do!

Kai: Are you getting married?

Bottlecaps: Yep!

Kai: Who is the unlucky victim?

Bottlecaps: You!

Kai: Oh shit.

Bladebreakers: I just updated. Go me! Go me! Sugar is awesome!

Disclaimer: I do not own beyblades.

Chapter 8: Rescue Efforts and Fate.

Tala's POV.

Someone banged on the bars of the cell and I woke up immediately. My first thought was to protect Starr and I glanced over to where she was. Her skin was pale and beads of sweat trickled down her face.

"Wake up, bitch." a man's voice echoed off the walls. I glared at him, recognizing short purple hair.

"Touch her and you'll wish you hadn't, Boris." I growled, standing in front of Starr's body.

I saw a flash of metal but before I could move out of the way, waves of electricity passed through my body.

"Starr!" I said loudly, trying to warn her of the danger she was in. I fought the pain as it flowed through my body, but the world escaped into nothingness.

Starr's POV.

I heard Tala yell to me, but my body was fogged with sleep. I heard a rustling sound and I opened my eyes to see...

"Daddy." I whispered in fear. He lifted me up with one hand by the front of my shirt.

"This seems so..." he paused for a dramatic effect. "Familiar."

"Shut up!" I screamed, Adrenaline raced through my veins, snapping me back to reality instantly. I struggled, kicking and hitting with my uninjured arm and leg.

"Don't you talk to me like that." Boris sneered threateningly and landed a heavy slap across my cheek with his meaty hand.

Red hot pain brought tears to my eyes but I fought them back. Staring at him defiantly, I spit in his face.

"Bitch!"he howled and threw me to the cell wall. I got up, wincing as the old wound on my shoulder reopened. Blood stained the homemade bandage dark red but I ignored the pain.

"What do you want from me?" I asked him fearfully.

"You know what I want." he said and my eyes widened in realization. Memories flashed.

"No." I whispered, horror struck.

"Yes." an evil glint in his eyes ignited terror in my stomach. He took out a gun from his pocket and pointed it at my head.

"Let's go." he demanded, motioning towards the door. I had no choice but to obey. If I ran, I would be killed.

Midnight blue carpet surrounded by black walls cast a deathly aura. Our footsteps were cushioned by the murky blueness and I had the strangest sensation, almost like we were walking on the bottom of the ocean.

"In here." he ordered me into an elevator and pushed a red button. I felt the floor beneath me descend. When we stopped and the doors opened, Boris pushed the gun to my head. I walked out stiffly, fearing the cold solid metal that rested gently against my scalp. I shivered slightly and knew he was smiling.

I recognized where we were going and it took every last ounce of me not to scream. Two steel doors opened automatically and admitted us into what looked like a glass walled room. Anyone with a brain would've known it wasn't. A single, giant beyblade stadium filled the floor. I glanced upward and could barely see the ceiling. It stretched on and on, making me dizzy. I shook my head and stared at the beydish.

"You have half an hour to prepare." Boris said with eagerness in his voice as he shut and bolted the door behind me. I knew he wanted to watch me suffer. And I was going to suffer immensely.

Kai's POV.

"Almost there." I said calmly, trying to break the uncomfortable silence that had settled over us all. Max had finally stopped throwing up, Tyson was staring quietly out of the window, and Rei sat in the seat.

"Are you worried?" I whispered to him lowly, so the others would not here.

"Yes." he replied. 'So he does know what I mean.'

"It will be fine." I reassured him.

"Strange coming from you." a small smile lit up his face before drowning in a sea of concern.

I pulled the car to a stop among the side of the road and turned it off silently. Tyson and Max looked up.

"Here?" Max asked weakly.

"Yes." I said and I heard him sigh in relief.

"Now, does everybody remember the plan?" I asked.

Several silent nods followed and we slipped stealthily behind a thick tree trunk. The warehouse that Rei had described was surrounded by a concrete wall, 8 feet tall and at least 16 inches thick. A steel, voice-activated gate stood in the front. 'Abandoned my ass.' I thought.

"Now for some fun." I said and pulled out my keys. I pressed a button and heard the alarm click on. Tyson found a small rock and threw it at my car. The alarm sounded and as I predicted, several guards ran to the gate, opened it, and searched for the location of the sound.

"Follow." I whispered once the guards had disappeared out of view and we ran soundlessly past the gate before it could shut.

The entrance was secured by a password lock.

"Shit." someone swore. Tyson, Rei, and I turned to stare at Max. He blushed deeply.

"Sorry." he mumbled.

Just then the doors slid open. Tyson blinked. Rei blinked. I blinked.

"How did you know the password?" Tyson asked, once the doors closed behind us.

"I didn't." Max blushed even deeper.

"Never mind that. Security video-cameras."

"Taken care of." Tyson whispered and readied his launcher. Silently, he aimed at the wires and pulled the ripcord.

Several sparks flew as a small blur hit its mark. Dragoon landed silently on the floor next to Tyson's foot and continue to spin. We continued to walk up the hallway, destroying the video-cameras further down.

"This is too easy." I said. "They already know we're here."

"How?" Rei asked.

I was silent, unwilling to admit I didn't know. I saw an elevator button on the wall to the left of an elevator.

"They're waiting for us." I said, and stepped into the elevator. "You need to leave. Wait outside. If there are any guards, you know what to do. Rei, come with me." I put my hand out to silence the questions I knew were coming from Max and Tyson.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway and I turned to see their retreating forms. Rei followed me as the doors closed.

"Down is the only way to go, so that's where we're going." said Rei and pushed the button.

'I hope you're ready for this Rei.' I thought as the elevator descended.

Starr's POV.

I heard a tapping on the "glass" and looked. Boris was pointing at his watching and making a signal with his fingers.

"6 minutes left." I muttered to myself. I couldn't cry because I was too scared to do anything. Memories and thought flashed back and forth inside my mind. 'Ignorance truly is bliss.'

"Oh Starr. It seems like your little friends did come to save you after all." a mechanical voice interrupted.

A large holographic screen hovered several feet in front of me. Voltaire Hiwatari sat at his desk, hands folded. Deep hatred flared inside me, wanting to escape. My hands balled into fists.

"That's good. Accept the anger! Embrace it! Make it obey you!" He laughed.

I tried to fight it, but the sound of his laughter disgusted me.

"They should be arriving any minute now. Why don't you show them your power, hmm?" Voltaire smiled and touched something on his desk. A panel opened in the wall, revealing a small black box.

"You can't fight it Starr. You know what you want to do and you will." he laughed again. A cold, cruel, amused laughter.

It felt like time itself had stopped. I walked up to the box and opened it. A pitch black beyblade glowed and I could feel the dark power oozing from it. So tantalizing. So strong. I reached out and grasped the beyblade.

"Black Dranzer." I whispered as the dark power flooded through me.

"She missed you for so long, Starr." Voltaire said and the hologram dematerialized.

Power surged through my veins and I shivered in delight. 'How could I have been so stupid as to turn this down?'

I sensed the others coming and turned to face the direction in which they were coming. A loud explosion sounded and thick dust spewed into the air. Two beyblades spun on the ground and then returned to their owners as they stepped over the rubble.

"Starr!" Rei shouted and started to run towards me. Kai grabbed Rei's shoulder and pulled him back. Crimson eyes narrowed as he spoke.

"She isn't the same, Rei. If you want to save her, we're going to have to battle her." he said.

"That's right." I laughed cruelly. "The Starr you knew is gone. And now you have to fight me."

Golden eyes met crimson, and both met my gaze.

"You know what we have to do." Kai said, without looking away.

"Yeah." Rei tightened his grip on his launcher and Kai pulled his out.

We approached the stadium simultaneously. Launchers ready, fierce expressions crossed both faces of my opponents. At the same time, we all spoke.

"Three. Two. One. Let it RIP!"

How is that for a cliffhanger? I can't believe I updated two chapters in one week. That is just, wow. It took me a while, but I sat down and then idea after idea came to me. Only a few more chapters to go. I hope you liked this one. Please review because I need one more vote for a tie-breaker. Tala or Rei?