Chapter 3! A hint and a new character and impending DOOM! YA! FOR DOOM! I made Megg seem really menacing in this chapter, but we'll soon find out more about her and why she is the way she is. Don't forget to R&R!

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Chapter Three—Dark Fate

Slowly, Barry regained consciousness. How long had he been here? He hoped not too long. Dried blood had crusted around his eyes. He lifted a hand to wipe it away, but refrained from doing so when he felt how tender and bruised his flesh was.

Barry looked around at the dark room he had been thrown into. Several small lamps sat on three of the four walls, giving of barely enough light to see by. On the fourth wall, however, there was some strange art unlike anything he had ever seen.

A large silvery figure, nearly the height of the wall, stood proudly before him; it gave off a ghastly, mist-like glow. Beside it stood a green-gold figure and also a copper figure. Within the silver figure were a smaller silver figure and three golden figures. At the center of the entire image, a small, gold figurine sat.

Barry knew that symbol all too well; he had seen it so many times, burned into the wall of the victims' houses.

Extending his hand, he reached forward to touch it. Fingering the cold metal, a tingling sensation jolted up his arm and into his brain. At first it was a warm, lovely feeling then it became stronger and he felt happy, very happy. He suddenly longed to know what this symbol meant, what the silver figure was, what the three golden figures meant. The longing grew stronger; he could feel it growing inside him, almost an obsession…

Suddenly, four enormous torches in the corners of the room burst into flame, enlightening the walls. Barry yanked his hand away from the art in surprise. The tingling in his arm stopped abruptly, but the yearning for knowledge held strong in his mind.

A door slammed open on the opposite side of the room, letting in a vicious blast of cold wind. In the doorway stood Megg like some ferocious beast. Her eyes were wide and piercing, nostrils flaring, the torrenting wind threw her hair around like the wings of flying birds; and for the first time in his life, Barry understood why so many people were terrified of this young woman.

"You!" She yelled, walking toward him speedily. "You are not permitted to look at that!"

She grabbed Barry by his coat and threw him across the room toward the doorway. He landed with a thud and slid up to the wall.

Pushing himself upright, Barry rubbed the back of hi neck to ease the pain. Megg was strong, stronger than he could have ever interpreted. Before another though came into his mind, Megg had advanced on him. She grabbed his coat again and threw him through the doorway. He crashed into the table, breaking it was he fell. Within seconds, Megg had entered the room, picked him up once again, and pinned him against a wall; her forearm pressed tight against his throat, choking him.

"Under usual circumstances, I would kill you," Megg said aggressively, "But seeing the position you've put me in, I am obliged to let you live until you tell me everything my people want to know, Barry Anderson!"

Barry's already bulging eyes grew even wider. "How…how d-do you know m-my name?" He choked.

Megg's lips curled into a menacing grin; the kind that make's one's hair stand on end and skin crawl. She released her arm and let him collapse to the floor. He smacked his head on the cold concrete, then raised his hand to his forehead. His eyes were bleeding again. He was sure he had suffered a concussion from earlier.

Barry desperately gasped for air. Megg looked down on him as if he was nothing more than some disgusting, worm-like insect.

"You have severely underestimated the number of followers that I have, detective." She said calmly. "Did it ever occur to you that I have dozens of followers right under your nose? One of my followers works directly with you and has been informing me of your plans all year."

Barry panted, still on the floor. "Impossible."

"Oh, is it?" Megg questioned. "Several of my followers are genetic scientists and three of them have access to cloning and genetic modification facilities. One of my followers is a very powerful man in China and even the president's daughter is loyal to me. It is entirely possible, Mr. Anderson, and do not doubt it."

Barry pushed himself up against the broken table. Amidst all the pain, the longing still lingered inside him, and he asked a question he was sure could cost him his life.

"What does that symbol mean?"

Megg's eyes gave a threatening glare. "What?"

"That triangle symbol, what does it mean?"

"That is none of your concern." Megg spat back. "You were wearing a 'wire.' Who was on the other end?"

"The government." Barry said awkwardly. It seemed his concussion as finally getting to him. "And they'll be here at the stands in no time, to get you."

Megg glared at him. "Don't be so sure, we've been away from that stadium for quite some time now."

"Ah, but there's a tracking device too." The moment the words left his lips, he deeply regretted saying them. Megg's fury exploded like that of a god.

"WHAT!"

Barry recoiled in terror of her wrath. Megg ripped off his long coat and threw it against the wall. A small, silver object fell to the floor with a clink. It was giving off an almost inaudible beeping.

A young girl, no older than ten, rushed into the room. "Megg, what is it?"

"This is it!" Megg snarled, pointing to the object. "A tracking device brought here by this…this human!

Without question or command, the child came forward, bringing forth a large hammer, covered in elaborate designs.

Barry was amazed. The girl had to be no older than ten years of age, yet her weapon was a hammer that had to weigh at least 40 pounds; a weight he himself had trouble lifting.

He watched in horror as she swung her hammer on his tracking device, shattering it into millions of pieces. Megg turned to Barry, who was cowering in a corner of the room. She was a towering figure of power and fury.

"I'm afraid my people's questions will have to go unanswered." She said darkly. The two scimitars bloomed from her clothing once again and Barry knew that his fate was sealed. And the last thing he saw was a horrid flower of bright red burst from his neck before his world was consumed by darkness.

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MWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Die, Barry, DIE! Now things will get interesting. He had it coming. He never bothered to try and understand why Megg did the things she did. He just cared about getting her behind bars. Too bad for him, he failed.

R&R! I'm open to flames!