Chapter II:

At that very moment in which the boys were decorated and received the congratulations of the Veteran Anna Ferrara of Venice and the "Witches", the scenery began to change, heading through a vast sky that was becoming gray, cold and with an incessant rain that did not seem to stop. And with it, a ship of the "Shadow Neuroi Forces" could be seen crossing the Firmament until it stopped in a huge "Hive", which was located in an area completely unknown to those present and which was far from any satellite presence and military radars. A series of ships patrolled the surroundings and the perimeter of that huge bastion of conquest, while inside, it was a veritable hive of activity. Data and more was exchanged like money, from hand to hand, showing that they knew no rest, only work so that this "Empire" could establish itself worldwide.

Some "Shadow Neuroi" conversed among themselves, in a "language" that only those three sisters could interpret and that for any expert, even for a lover of "Artificial Intelligence" was impossible to understand. One of them walked past until he got lost in one of the corridors, in which a wooden door with 19th century details and edges ranging from gold to silver could be seen. Inside, those responsible could be seen sitting in an armchair and looking through the screens at the latest news reports.

Marie stood up and turned them off, sat back down, threw her head back and with it came a Servant, who brought them something to drink. They took the glasses with a refreshing drink and he withdrew in silence, while it was May who proceeded to give him a drink to quench his thirst. Or was something else happening to them? There was a deep, icy silence in the room, almost as if it were a cemetery or someone's funeral.

For the Kanker Sisters, the last few weeks had been a time of heavy defeats for their forces on fronts ranging from Europe to Latin America. Since the fall of the "Third Hive" that things ended up turning into a series of setbacks never seen before. Although, that military defeat was not the only thing that had affected them, but they also lost in another "field", a private one and they hoped to be happy, however, their dreams were cut short by those girls with "Magic" and military.

Lee was the one who didn't say, May and Marie talked but their spirits were down and for the redhead, adding the injuries she suffered after her fight with Francesca, she kept feeling completely useless when she lost Eddy. She still remembered the words he had given, that she was not an object of his and that she was free to be with whomever she wanted, choosing the black-haired Italian girl, a situation that led her to fight against them and where she suffered a very humiliating beating.

- This is the beginning of the end of our "Empire". It was a pleasure to have fought against them.- She said, giving that farewell tone.

- What do you mean by that, sister?.- Lee asked, standing up and looking at her coldly.- Are you going to give up?

- Open your eyes and stop wasting your time being Alexander the Great. We don't even measure up to him or even the Pharaohs of Egypt. No, we ended up just like King Antiochus III The Great of Syria after the Battle of Magnesia. Twice we lost and more when we had the numerical superiority to take them on and triumph, but we got carried away. Now, look at us, we are in ruins.- She said and they were face to face.

- Oh.- The redhead let out a "sigh. - So I have a sister who wants to give up?.- She asked and began to acquire a mocking tone, even though she was still dejected.

- I'm not a quitter, I'm just being honest!.- Exclaimed the blonde, raising her tone.

- Don't talk to me like that, May!. You're a Kanker, not a crybaby, did you hear me?! We haven't been defeated yet, it's just a delay in the operations!

- Yes?! A "delay"?! How can you say that when we have just been defeated, now, in Prague?!.- The other one reproached her.- You claim to be somebody but you only live a fantasy! We have nothing to defeat the "Witches", we lost three "Hives" and now we won't know what to do from now on!.- She added but, at that moment, she noticed that Lee was looking at the floor, silent. She feared that he would slap her but there was none, instead he turned away and walked away from them, sitting back down on the couch.

There was a moment's pause, neither of them said anything, their expectations and dreams were shattered and all that remained were the memories of a campaign that was ending in the worst way for them. Suddenly, Lee stood up again and looked at the screens that were turned off.

- You know something?.- She asked, turning his back to them, while his eyes were getting wet with tears, but he kept from bursting into tears.- When we started this war, I was afraid that a moment like this would come, where our enemies would overcome us with some strategy or magic trick, just like the one that magicians do during birthday parties, do you know that? she said and after that, neither of them said anything. It is, but it's not easy to get back in and I'm not one of those who gives up and that's the end of the story. No.- At that moment, wiping her tears, she faced her sisters.- They have beaten us, yes, they have destroyed three "Hives", that's right and they have taken away our boyfriends, unfortunately that's right, but, from now on, I don't care what my heart dictates, the only thing I will do is to follow my mind and at this moment my soul is darker and colder than the Winter nights in Peach Creek and I want you to say it too. Come on, go ahead.- She encouraged them but neither Marie nor May took a step forward.- Or are you cowards and would rather see the Eds on an altar with the "Witches"?.- She asked and that led the dark blue hair to clench her fists and hit a wall hard.

She took a deep breath and from there she wiped away the tears that suddenly came down from her eyes.

- May those bitches go to Hell. They took my Double D away from me, those two from Finland and Russia!. Does my little Bomboncito want to be with them? Then I'll give them back...but in a black coffin!.- Marie swore, while that "poison" was corrupting her insides.

May watched the emotional change in her sister. Her hands and legs were shaking, she didn't know what to do, but those words were making an impression inside her, they were encouraging her to join. Why waste time? It was foolish to just stand there, standing there like a statue when things were getting extremely interesting. From there, Lee's and Marie's faces turned to hers, who swallowed saliva.

- Well, May, are you going to say something or are you going to stand there like a fool?.- The dark blue haired girl asked her.- Do you want to see your Ed holding hands with that blonde from Karsland again?.- And that "movie", the moment when he told her his truths and she had to leave, had been more than enough to awaken an icy darkness that lay inside her.

- No...- She said in a low voice.

- Speak a little louder, I don't think I heard you!.- Ordered Lee, who went to her.

- NO!.- The blonde's scream seemed like it would make the windows explode because of the trembling it produced.

Her chest was rising and falling, her reasoning was clouded by hatred and with it were the most terrible and dangerous desires a person can have. At one point, May turned on the screens and from there the "Room" they were in came "alive".

- I want Erica Hartmann dead...I want her shot, I want her killed in the worst way, no matter how it is, just do it!

- Relax, you will know the plan we will carry out.- Promised the redhead with a serious look on her face.

Once that was said, she took out a key that she carried in her pockets, which had the image of a Star engraved in its center and from there she proceeded to open a drawer of the desk she had and where she read the reports that her forces brought them. Then, in the middle of the silence, she got a "USB Memory", which she connected to a computer and this transmitted all the information to the screens, which turned on and were full of images, data and others for what they had planned to do.

- This time there is no turning back, girls: Now it's all or nothing, is that clear?.- She left that last warning to the two sisters, who nodded silently.


[This chapter, I know it's short, but don't worry, it will only be this one, don't worry. What I will try to do will be to write up to and including chapter five.

I send greetings and thanks to Matfix, Franco M. Romano and the other followers.

Take care, friends and good Wednesday from me].