a/n Hello guys, welcome to chapter 12. Finally, it is time for Ren to face Shido and repay him for every horrible act the politician ever caused. So, without further delay, I hope you enjoy the read!
„No!" The small creature shivered and cried as it was being immobilized „Please, mommy, help! Why is Amamiya-san doing this!?"
„Not my son!" High Pixie begged, trying to escape Caroline's and Justine's grasp, tears quickly strolling down her face „Please, I beg you, not my son! I'll do anything! Take me instead!"
„GYAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ren enjoyed every little scene that his beloved Personas played out just for him before every fusion, but this one had the strongest potential to become his all-time favorite. „MWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
„You goddamn monster, he's only a child!" High Pixie screamed „What the hell do you want!? Do you want some money? Do you want an item? I'll give you whatever you want, just let Kodama go!"
„Ho, ho, ho!" Jack Frost, on the other hand, did his best to reason with the teenager „Violence is evil! Santa will find out about this, ho!"
Ren did not reply. He simply equipped his phone (He learned how to smuggle stuff to the Red Room a long time ago, back when it still used to be Velvet) opened a news portal, and held out the phone in such a way so the Persona could read what's being written on the screen.
„Santa Claus is dead." Jack Frost began reading out loud „The goody-two-shoes was attending a charity event in the Northern region of South Pole when his pupils became white and some kind of an unidentified black goo began to leak from his mouth, nose, and ears..."
Rapidly, both blades fell down, right onto the Personas below them, and both slashed through their necks.
„Wow." Ren backed away a few steps „Now this IS a Red Room."
„Help me mommy" Kodama asked as his head was hanging on one singular piece of flesh „This hurts very much."
„KOOOODII!" The female persona despaired, as Igor went to his desk and brought out the Velvet Saw to finish the job.
Something strange started occurring to High Pixie's body as despair and anguish overtook her. She became smaller and smaller, and more and more silent, so much that Caroline and Justine had to let her go, in order not to crush her.
„Looks like it'll become a skill card." Justine exclaimed.
„All right!" Ren yelled as High Pixie transformed into a round sphere.
„Indeed." Igor muttered as he was busy cutting down Jack Frost's head off „This is a Diarama skill card. Take it with you."
Finally, the persona's head both fell off and instantly their should connected, forming a brand new entity.
„My name is Oberon." The newly created persona introduced itself calmly, but as its eyes found its new owner, the creature's expression changed into that of a full terror. „Holy shit, not you!"
LINE BREAK
The more Ren thought about it, the more depressingly real it became: Morgana was not coming back. At first, he was sure the cat'll be back when he gets tired or hungry. He even bought a plate of fresh tuna to lure him in and placed a rat trap in front of the cafe LeBlanc door to trap him. Sadly, all that happened was Sojiro accidentally stepping onto the trap and needing to be taken to a hospital with two one finger cut out and another two broken – the accompaniment of heavy curses, in turn, making Futaba lose it once again, which only caused Sojiro to scream louder.
It wasn't all that bad, as upon noticing this situation the paramedics notified the cops who launched an investigation if he's abusing her. And Ren intended to prove once and for all just how much of a monster Sojiro Sakura really is, but…
But right now… right now he was walking through Shujin's corridor., alone, and thinking about his cat. No, not his cat. His friend.
Ren could hate Morgana as much as he hated anyone else, or even more, but deep down… deep down he always had some sort of a weakness for the cat. And just now, he was beginning to really appreciate the time he spent with him. Their first trip to Mementos, the time Morgana went after him to Kamoshida's Palace… hell, even in the real world… what about that time Ren went baseballing without a baseball bat? With Mona on his side, even that was hardly a problem.
He tried to fight it. He really did. But he couldn't, and as he stopped and clenched his fists, something wet made its way from his eye through his cheek.
Lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely
I have nobody for my own
Now I am so lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely
Wish I had someone to call on the phone
„What the hell do you want again!?" Ren yelled, answering someone's call on the phone.
„Amamiya-sensei… we really risked a lot. I'd like to ask about that payment you promised us.."
„I told you: You'll get the money after I see Shido's dead body. I need to make sure..."
He interrupted, noticing a sudden ruckus happening all around him. Students from different classes ran to the corridors and began observing something through windows, talking excitedly. Interested, Ren also peaked outside of a window and gasped audibly.
„I have to go." was all he said to his caller as he ended the call and ran to the school's patio, along with many other students.
„Class is still in session!" A panicked teacher yelled, but no one was listening to him.
A person was standing on the school's roof, clearly wanting to jump. Other students were gasping in terror, as he or she prepared themselves.
„Who's that!?" a male student asked his friend.
„That's… wait, holy shit, I think that's Takamaki-san!"
Ren gasped again and, pushing himself through the crowd, ran to the first row.
„Ann!" Ryuji Sakamoto yelled „Don't do this! She wouldn't have wanted that!"
„Do it!" Ren yelled, standing next to him, and the blonde boy looked at him with shock „Do it! Jump, Jump, Jump! Let's go, Ann! On you go, girl! Let's hear it for Ann, everyone!"
For a few more seconds, the girl was still standing there, pale as a rock. It was clear she didn't really want to do this. But Ren's words seemed to be like fuel - they made her more desperate and more fragile. She took a step forward, lost balance, and….
„NO!" Ryuji yelled, and the world around him seemed to stop the moment Ann's body hit the ground
„YES!" Ren yelled, and the world around him continued to spin like nothing happened the moment Ann's body hit the ground.
A black-haired boy, also known as Student Council President Yuuki Mishima, looked like he was about to pass out. Not being able to take the pressure, he quickly ran in the direction of the school. Ren looked at him, surprised, and decided to run after him and investigate. And, because Mishima was a pathetic loser who couldn't do a single thing right in his life, he tripped after about ten meters and Ren caught up with him.
„Why have you been running like that?" He pushed him to the nearest locker „Huh?"
„L-leave me alone..." Mishima shielded himself with his hands.
Ren looked at the other teen. His with his eyes widened, and lips shaking. It was clear something was wrong.
„She jumped and tried to kill herself!" Ren yelled with awe „How do you do this to people!? Where can I learn that?
„Kamoshida-sensei..." Mishima mumbled
„What?" Ren raised his eyebrows. He has personally killed Kamoshida's shadow. What on earth was going on? „Just tell me. I'm not trying to get you busted. I won't say you talked, either.
„I just realized..." Mishima had difficulties speaking „He might have been a pedo…" He pulled his hair „I dated a Pedophile!"
„What!?" Ren closed his eyes and waved his hands around „What the hell!? I didn't want to know that!"
„You asked!" Mishima protested, slightly insulted.
„Like hell I did! All I wanted to know is what's wrong with Takamaki! Why did she jump from the roof!?"
„O-oh. So you didn't know? Her best friend died in the hospital last night."
„Whoa." Ren smiled to himself „Now that's what I like to hear! What happened? Did she suffer? Oh God, please tell me she suffered."
„Well… she probably did suffer, as she hasn't died naturally, more like… she was murdered. A bunch of masked guys just attacked her in her hospital room."
„Say what?" Ren said slowly as his smile faded and he remembered Igor's words from last night „Masked guys?"
„Yeah, it didn't really make any sense, either. I mean, they butchered her in front of her mother's eyes, shouting something about revenge and that their boss wanted her dead..."
Slowly, Ren reached into his pocket and equipped his phone.
„And something about a trial, too..."
But he didn't need to speak any longer. Ren opened his IM app and at the same time felt the need to throw up and to sit down.
„Damn you, autocorrect." was all he could whisper.
The message he sent to his henchmen clearly said kill Shiho.
LINE BREAK
Ren had enough. Yet another humiliation by Shido simply was too much. And, if all other plans failed, if his stupid gang members were too dumb to tell Shiho apart from Shido, then clearly it was the time. The time to use the drastic measures.
Shido's palace was a Raft.
And, the strangest thing was, it's owner was not even on board.
„Hello?" Ren carefully hid the knife in his backpack, next to a gun, a rope, and a sword, and looked around „Hello, Shido-san! You there?"
„Oh, thank god someone's here!" A faint voice exclaimed
Ren turned around and there he was. In the middle of the restless ocean, hanging on a single, singular piece of wood, there he was.
There was Shido's Shadow.
„Kid, can you help me!?" The shadow yelled, choking on the ocean water „I think I may be drowning!"
Theoretically, Ren didn't even have to do anything. He could just wait for Shadow Shido to drown, But, since he was already here, since he suffered so much humiliation from the politician after the man ruined his life almost a year ago… there was no way he would just leave without the pleasure of finishing his shadow off himself.
„What happened?" He asked in a worried tone „Did you fall off the raft?"
„What?" Shadow Shido yelled, „Sorry, I didn't catch that?"
„I asked if you fell off!" Ren raised his voice a bit.
„Sorry!" Shido yelled back „The Waves… can you repeat once more!?"
„What happened?"
„What!?"
„Goddammit, what happened!? Did you fall off!?"
„Oh!..." An extremely big wave nearly swept Shido off his piece of wood „No, I jumped!"
Ren looked at him dumbfounded.
„What? Why!?"
„When I realized..." Shido choked on the water „When I realized that there's not a piece of land anywhere it made me sad for all the little birds who would just get tired and drown…they were too scared of me to land on the raft, so I just took a piece off wood and jumped off… but I think it's getting too wet now!"
Ren facepalmed
„Hold on, I'll throw you the rope!"
„The what!?"
„THE ROPE! I'm gonna throw you the fucking rope so you can come back here!"
„No!" Shido yelled „You can't! Someone may need that raft more than I do! Just throw me another piece of wood or something!"
„Grab the damn rope!"
Irritated, the boy tied up tied the line up in a large knot, and, inspecting carefully for a few moments threw it so the knot landed directly on Shido.
„Just get on the raft!" The boy yelled, pulling on the rope.
„No, please!" Shido screamed, not able to move his upper limbs.
„Don't give me that shit!" Ren yelled, pulling the rope harder, finally dragging the politician to himself.
„If you keep this up I… I..." The Shadow threatened and tried to struggle.
„Shut up!" The teenager had to use all of his power as the Shadow tried to resist „Incompetent fools like you just need to shut their mouths and follow to where I steer this country!"
„Someone help!"
It wasn't easy, as the Shadow was trying its best to struggle and escape, so Ren had to cast Rakukaja and Debilitate him. But it was worth it as now, the wet shadow was curled up in a corner of the raft.
„Why..." He whispered „Why… who are you?" Suddenly, he paled „You… you are more than just someone who came here to rescue me, aren't you?"
„Long time no see." Ren took off his mask and kneeled down in front of his face. „Remember me?"
„You..." The Shadow's voice was panicked „Could you be the one from back then…heh… „The shadow chuckled „What an interesting turn of fa- OH MY GOD!"
He dodged in the last moment as the knife was about to hit him, and tried to escape to the other side of the raft, but Ren grabbed his shoulders and turned the shadow to face him again,
„You think YOU'RE worth causing ME trouble!?" He yelled as he shook violently „Huh!?
„You were trying to hurt that poor woman." The shadow replied weakly „I had to do something! I couldn't just ignore that!"
„Shut up! You're done for." Ren hissed, equipping his knife again and nearing in „You're gonna learn what happens when you cross me… You shall regret these foolish actions against me… in the afterlife!"
„Fine then." Shido stood up" If this really has to be like that… we'll fight. It's regrettable, but..."
BANG!
„Ow." Shadow Shido looked at the pile of red on his chest „Those damn guns…"
Slowly, the shadow simply leaned backward, and, finally, fell off the raft right into the murky waters below.
„Wow..." Ren looked at his gun „That was… rather anticlimactic..."
Everything around started shaking. The Palace was about to collapse, and so was the raft. Ren carefully stepped to the other end.
„I hope you rot in hell that you wanted to drag this country into!" He shouted one last time and activated the navigation app. When the connection to the real world was established, he took a few steps to return.
Suddenly, he lost ground underneath his feet.
He screamed as he realized he's falling down
And down…
And down…
LINE BREAK
Sojiro Sakura was browsing through Futaba's stuff. He didn't really enjoy it, because he felt like he was invading the girl's privacy. Also, many of the things brought back memories of Wakaba. But he had to do clean her room up, as since they moved in here and the strange incidents started to happen more and more, Futaba became more and more spiritually drained. Sighing, he began to change the girl's sheet.
That's when something fell out of the bed.
„What the hell?" The man wondered „An audio player? Futaba doesn't even listen to music.
Hesitating, he pressed play.
„Murderer!" The first voice exclaimed, „You killed her!"
„Why don't you say something!?" Another one shouted, „Say something!"
„You should be dead instead!"
Sojiro listened with his mouth opened, as the voices kept accusing Futaba, and not only of killing Wakaba, but of more and more ridiculous crimes. And the strangest thing was, they were all different variations of Ren Amamiya's voice.
„She killed her mother! Probably shot Abraham Lincoln, too!"
Sojiro stopped the recording and stared into the darkness. This… this would explain anything. Futaba's strange behavior since moving into LeBlanc, her auditory hallucinations. With her fragile psyche, Amamiya just had to play this a few times when Sojiro wasn't home and he had Futaba actually believing this trash.
He clenched his fists. This time that punk has gone too far. Whenever he was the target of Ren's psychopathic rages, Sojiro preferred to avoid conflict out of fear of the boy, but Futaba… Futaba was untouchable. By doing what he's done, Amamiya crossed the line.
„Just you wait till you come back home, you brat." Sojiro muttered, standing up.
LINE BREAK
„Ow… crap." Ren hissed upon regaining consciousness „Crap, my head."
Shakingly, he slowly stood up and looked around. With terror, he realized he doesn't recognize the neighborhood.
The teenager tried to check his smartphone, but shockingly realized it has been replaced with what looked like a sold mobile phone used during the 2000s.
„Where am I?" He whispered „It looks like the real world, but it's… some kind of a village."
There were only a few buildings in the area, but the road seemed to lead into a bit bigger town, and at least one person, dressed in an orange suit, was standing by the road. Ren did not have a choice. He didn't know where he is, or what just happened to him, so he had to try his luck. Maybe the person was from around here and knew what was happening. Although the guy (or chick, as it was rather hard to tell) looked creepy as hell, the boy neared in and spoke.
„Excuse, me, what's..."
„Oh." The guy/chick/person turned to face him. „Welcome to Moel, how can I help you?