Chapter Twenty-Nine

Abby's POV

I was ashamed at what I had done, but there was no time for apologies as Albert and Cree leapt down. And from the balcony, the Delightfuls opened a few doors to let a few of their minions in for us. Large steel shutters came crashing down, and the only was to get out was to defeat all of them. Without even thinking, I went for my sister. Like instinct, she smirked as I came for her, fist pulled back. I feinted my punch, and tripped her over instead. She hit the floor with a thud, and that was the signal for the rest to get into action. My sister sat up, and I stared down upon her.

"You know sis, you've gotten quite good." She said as she got to her feet. I back flipped a few times, and readied myself.

"Well, someone's gotta be." I replied, leaping up and flying towards her with my foot. She seemed like she wasn't ready for it, but I misjudged her. She grabbed my ankle, and started swinging me around. The same move she used on me all those years ago. She let go, and I collided with Fanny. We both went crashing to the floor, both groaning.

"Guys!" I heard Nigel call from afar.

I sat up, and rubbed my head slightly. I looked up, and saw Cree advancing on me. I looked at Fanny, who seemed a little out of it, but I had no time to help. I leapt up, and tackled my sister to the floor. She struggled to move, but I held her down.

"Where did all this strength come from?" She asked with a hiss. I smirked down on her, and used all my weight to hold her down.

"You see, unlike you, I don't need machines and stuff to get stronger." I leant down to her ear, and whispered something that made her eyes widen slightly. "I get my strength from my heart. And in my heart I keep friends. So, my friends keep me strong. Something you'll never know."

Cree roared, and shoved me off her. She grabbed me by the arm, and flung me away. As I skidded on the floor, I noticed she was advancing on Nigel. I growled, and got up to run to them. I skidded to a halt when she held him in a lock position, and held her ray to his head. He seemed a little too weak to get out of her grip.

"I knew you'd stop in your tracks." She grinned evilly. I took a step towards them, but she pushed the gun closer to his temple. "Uh, uh, uh. You take one more step, and he's as good as dead."

"Leave him out of this." I hissed. "We've got a score to settle, so we may as well do it now."

"Abby, just go for her." Nigel said quietly. "You know that we all have to make sacrifices."

I looked at him in shock, and shook my head. "I'm not sacrificing a friend because of her!" I spat as I pointed to her.

"Abby! You've got to do this!" He yelled back. "You can't think about us! The fate of the Kids Next Door is at stake!"

"NO!" I yelled back. "I'm not moving! I'm not going to let you die because my sister is using you as bait!"

"Abby…" Nigel began, but was cut off by someone crashing through the roof. The figure stood back up to full height, and I gasped at who it was.

Maurice stood and faced Cree, with marbles in between his fingers. He smirked, and threw one right at her feet. She shrieked and covered her face, and Nigel ran slowly from her.

"Maurice?" I asked, too astonished to move. He turned back and winked, then turned back to Cree. She waved the last smoke cloud away, and growled at the newcomer.

"So, come to spoil the fun, have you?" She spat before leaping towards him. He advanced towards her, and they clashed in the center of the room. I turned to Nigel, and looked at him in shame.

"You alright?" I asked. He didn't answer, and his gaze was behind me. I turned around, and blocked an attack from Albert. I looked at Nigel, and ushered him back. "Stay back, I got this one."

Albert smirked, and went at me for another swing. I did the same at him, and we met in the middle. Everything seemed like slow motion, as our eyes met as we both sailed past each other. We both landed, and he fell, holding his stomach. I felt pain in my neck, and felt dizzy. I staggered for a little, then fell face first. I couldn't see of move, but I could hear Nigel's voice faintly. I felt two hands roll me over, and slip under my body. I felt myself being lifted, and yet I couldn't do much else. And slowly, I felt my mind shutting down on me for the second time.