Alright here's Chapter 8! I really want to do my best on this one because last chapter's response was kinda weak, but I kinda expected it though because like I said last chapter, it was pretty casual. But I'm glad a few of you guys liked it, and here's to hoping you'll like Chapter 8 even more!

Two weeks earlier…

-EUREKA, KANSAS

The United States Underground Air Force Base Center

and Technological Research Institute

-2115 hours (9:15 P.M.)

Inside the hidden Air Force base, General Scott Kelly arrives with Second-in-Command Louis Argon to the deepest chambers of the unit to enter the Conference Room, ten miles into the Earth's crust.

There was stillness in the room before General Air Force Chief of Staff Louis Argon spoke to conclude the session. "Well, I suppose that ends this year's meeting. Next time, make sure to add more details to the altercations within Maintenance committee, but other than that it was nice doing business with you men."

Kelly skipped out on the friendly gestures and small chat and instead exited the Conference room to descend upon the Subject's holding room. He took a quick peek into its archives to reveal stacks of aged paperwork withering by the touch.

Name: Unknown. Alias: H.I.M. Identification Number: 570634932. Duration of Confinement: Exactly eight years, three days, 4 hours, and 13 minutes. Duration of Remaining Confinement: Life.

Built and entire military base, created dozens of protocols, and established the finest advancements in National Security, but the General was just as wary of the demon as he was the very minute he was entered into the base under his care.

In the holding room lied H.I.M. in a 250 square foot cell, behind 10 layers of bulletproof glass, a mere puff of red smoke just clouding the entire space provided for the past 8 years. Nothing less, nothing more.

Kelly stood in front of the bulletproof glass within inches of his face, the red haze ubiquitous, almost lethal even. Imminent turmoil of an entire world could be at stake, the fall of humanity for that matter, and he could do nothing to prevent such from happening other than locking the problem up and tossing the key. Considering this, the General could finally confirm that he's never felt so useless in all of his life.

As he turned to exit the holding rooms, he could hear a soft hiss spread throughout the surveillance room, like a snake preparing to attack its prey from behind.

You know this is futile, General…

He whipped his head around to the glass cell, but everything was in place. Kelly twisted his face in confusion. How-?

Run while you can, Scottie! BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE…

Argon entered the surveillance room to check on his friend. "Hey General, ready to head o-"

"Check the holding cell."

"Wait, but–"

"CHECK THE HOLDING CELL!" the General shouted. His veins on his neck exposed and his eyes livid with anger.

Begin the first time Kelly's ever yelled at him, Argon conceded with a pained look on his face. After a few minutes of viewing the cell's status, he looked up to face the General. "Nothing. There not a damn thing wrong Genera, and it's been like that for eight years."

But Kelly was still frozen in place, unable to grasp what he just heard. Argon didn't know how to make it any clearer to him as he went up close to his longtime companion and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Scott… are you okay?" Kelly tried to come up with an explanation for the events, but didn't come up with a thing. No answer came, but he knew, he knew it all along.

Their day of reckoning was coming soon.

"…Yeah, let's just leave; this place gives me weird vibes."

As the two generals left the holding cell, H.I.M. remained in his cell as his plot was coming to fruition after so long. He couldn't help but let out a low chuckle which spread all across the holding room. Very soon he'd rise from the earth, and when that day comes, he wasn't just aiming for Townsville. No, He was going in for the whole lot of them.

Those three mongrels thought they were done with me, but the fun's just beginning…

HIM looked towards the exit doors. Soon, he'd be free of these chains, and when he was No one would be able to hide from his wrath. NO ONE.

You've been warned, General Kelly…

Chapter 8: Nailing the Coffin

Eagle Fitness

After picking up Bubbles from school, Gladys pulled up to the entrance of the gym to introduce Buttercup with the instructor for her classes. As they entered the large gym, a tall well built young man in his twenties came towards them with his arm stretched out to greet them. From seeing him Gladys met his hand delightfully and prepared to introduce herself.

"I believe you're Jeong-hun Lee?"

He gave them a ghost of a nod. "Yes. My brother recommended her?"

Buttercup muttered bitterly to herself. "Don't see why-"

"Bree has had problems adjusting to the city life." Gladys interjected right on cue, giving her a warning look.

Unlike the agent, Mr. Lee cast a sympathetic look to the dark haired teen. "That is very understandable. You've probably left many friends and loved ones you've known throughout the years, so the exchange can be rough for individuals."

Buttercup raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the man's kind gesture. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" But the instructor only took in her response with a brisk nod and turned towards the center of the gym. "Let's begin the tour, shall we?"

As they walked across the gym, the two females looked around the gym trying to find the class location, but only saw treadmills, weights, and the track that ran in the back of the building.

"Where the hell is this place anyway?"

Mr. Lee turned and smiled brightly at her. "Sometimes the best directions in life are the ones we least expect." They stood on top of an open space in the gym before Mr. Lee pulled the switch that opened the middle of the open area. From there, the two saw an old staircase leading into an abyssal black room, bearing resemblance to the depths of Hell itself. Gladys and Buttercup exchanged alarmed looks.

"You brought me here! You go first!" Buttercup snapped. Mr. Lee calmly descended the stairs as the lights turned on with each step he took. "I prefer to interact with my students one on one without any directions from the surface. Therefore I placed them underneath the surface of the gym in soundproofed walls so there are no distractions."

And no escaping, Buttercup thought miserably.

When the three entered the underground room, they saw a small open space lined with punching bags, weight machines and a small hallway on the right side leading to four smaller chambers. Gladys gave the instructor a confused look. "With all due respect Mr. Lee, this just looks like another gym."

"That's because it is." At her confusion, the bodybuilder continued. "When this gym turned into the success that it is today, I wanted to make a greater difference beyond these walls. So I turned to the trouble youth and realized that the methods used to connect to them are greatly respected, highly esteemed," he chuckled lightly to himself, "and profoundly useless."

"What sort of angsty teen wants to sit in a desk and talk about her feelings? To say that 'I feel angry' is very ineffective when compared to actually SHOWING that you're angry. So for that reason I created my own method with this private gym. Whoever signs up can have access to these machines, finally release their bent out emotions and enter a state of tranquility, or at least partially before entering into the lecture where I teach them how to channel their anger into something of much better use."

Gladys started to consider this. "I must say, your methods sound… arguable. But the results seem to prove themselves." She looked up and grinned at him. "She's all yours." But before going back up the stairs she locked eyes on Buttercup one final time. "And you?"

The young girl groaned exasperatedly. "I'll be good, mommie." After Gladys left Mr. Lee turned to her with an expectant look. "Any questions?"

Buttercup strained her ears to the sound of hard rock vibrating off of the walls. "Is that the Disturbed?"

"Yes. In our private rooms you can work out to yourself, and take use of the speakers inside."

And that's exactly where I'm headed. "Okay Jet Li, with all due respect can you leave me alone? I haven't been in the best of moods and I don't want anyone to make it worse-"

As if things couldn't get any worse Buttercup suddenly ran into the redhead from yesterday. Waves of shock and rage flowed between them as they glared at each other before the girl finally moved aside to leave the gym as Mr. Lee watched the whole scene take place in intrigue. "I take it you know each other well?"

She rolled her eyes. "Too well for my tastes…"

-Brick-

One…Two…Three…

One…Two…Th–

No. No that's wrong. He's losing it. Shit, not again…

"STOP THE BALLS!" The team crowded around unsure of what they did wrong.

This is gonna be a long day. "C'mon guys, prelims are tomorrow and we're still doing the same mistakes! Danny, Lorenzo, can you guys count?! I've told you that you can't hold the ball for more than three seconds. By the time you have it in your hands, you should already know who's free and who's blocked, otherwise you'll be manhandling the ball until it's too late. Luis, stop caring about the defenders. You're mid. Mid is support. So I want your ass SUPPORTING my forwards! And Julian-"

I searched the crowd for a second. "Where the hell's Julian?"

Eric stepped out of the group avoiding my gaze. "He's in… the bathroom… sir?"

"Don't you fuckin lie to me! Now unless you wanna be glued to the bench tomorrow, I wanna know where the hell this prick is!" Jesus Christ. We need to get our team together in less than 24 hours and our main goalie decides to take a day off? I don't have time for this bullshit!

"Right here." Sure enough, he came right on cue over a half an hour late with a sneering look. "SIR Brent Jones." Always full of jokes. Almost as funny as the ones he makes of me in the locker room when he thinks I'm not there.

"Julian. So nice of you to join us." I won't give him the satisfaction of making me mad, but I decided that today he was gonna learn how to keep his mouth shut.

"You're on bench."

The look on his face was priceless. "You can't do that! I'm the freaking goalie!" I kept my face indifferent to make sure he took me seriously, but that proved to be a challenge. There's nothing more satisfying to me than putting people like him in his place. I held out my hand for the shirt. "Not anymore. Gimme your jersey." If I could become the school's best forward in a week, being a goalie couldn't be that hard.

He gave me a harsh glare with his eyes narrowing into slits, the jersey still firmly in his clenched grip.

"Give me your jersey." I said sternly. After a long stare down, he finally shoved his jersey into my open palm and dropped onto the bench next to our water boy, Sam. Coach Paul doesn't believe in alternates; "it's either you're fit, or you're shit" was the quote he used in addressing any questions relating to such.

"Sam!" The scrawny freshmen looked up to see my jersey landing right on his face. "Looks like it's your lucky day. You'll be playing left forward. Danny, you'll be pulling up to my position, so you and Lo need to fill him in on the plays before practice is over, so I EXPECT you all to know every one of those plays by the time I arrive tomorrow. Midfielders, you know your jobs, and I better not see a CRACK in our defense tomorrow!"

Julian snorted. "There's no way you can fill goalie –"

"And you?" I said facing our former goalie."You better get yourself comfortable with that bench cause you're not going to be touching any balls unless it's that peewee pair you call your dignity." I put on his jersey and walked away trying to ignore him trying to charge at me from behind the arms of the team shouting curses at me.

"Think you're funny, huh? Think you're tough shit since you're swapping tongues with that BITCH!"

The minute he said the last word I froze in place. I knew I had to calm down, but with my fists shaking and the twitch coming in from my right eye, all I wanted to do was beat the shit out of him.

Realizing he caught my attention, he went on and even though I had my back turned to him, I could see the smirk on his face as he mocked me. Calm Down…

"Lemme tell you 'mano! Girls like HER…" he snickered to himself before finishing his statement. "they come a dime a dozen in the streets–"

I sent a punch straight for his jaw before I let the others pull me away. "GET YOUR ASS OFF THIS FIELD!" Eventually, he turned his back to the team and made his way towards the parking lot.

I turned to see the entire team staring at me in shock, but I was fed up with yelling. "Just get back to practice, guys." I'll deal with them tomorrow. For now I sat on the bench trying to clear my head over what happened in the peaceful silence.

"How's my FAVORITE soccer player!?"

And so my torment begins... "Brandon, what do you want? I'm not in the mood."

"Well excuse me for trying to be considerate!" I sent him a death glare. "Okay, I need the jeep."

"I don't think so. I need to be here early, this team's nowhere near ready."

He leaned in close so no one could hear him. "Brick, are you kidding me? You could nail that team by yourself, screw the others!"

"Watch your mouth." I growled. It's been almost a year and I still don't feel completely safe using our names. There's too much at stake. "What do you need it for?"

He looked down at the grass sheepishly. "…Y'know that new blonde?"

Here we go. "You want me to risk preliminaries for a chick?"

"Hear me out Brent! She's not like the others!"

"Don't feed me bullshit!"

"I'm serious! She's nice, smart, beautiful…" He started to get that dreamy look in his eye like he does every time he gets a crush, like some lovesick puppy in middle school.

Needless to say, I don't see this one being any different from the others. "You realize she's only been here for two days, right?"

"Brent! I'll do anything!" he whined. I thought this over with an evil grin. Let's see just how much he wants to be with this girl.

"You're our mascot tomorrow."

"But-"

"You said ANYTHING."

After a while, he finally gave in grumbling curses. "…Fine."

"That bitch better be worth it. You're looking forward to smelling sweaty socks for the next two hours." He plopped onto the bench muttering another round of curses while I snickered in delight over how much fun I'll have seeing him melt in the dreaded shark's suit.

After a few minutes passed, he turned to me with serious look. "Have you heard the news lately?"

"About?"

He scowled in response "Who else, Brick? I'm talking about Butch!"

I turned to Boomer with my full attention. He never gets this serious, so anything involving us must be pretty bad, especially considering Butch's record. "What about him?"

He stood up and tossed me a rolled copy of The Townsville Times. "Check for yourself. You might find something interesting." Before I could look up he was already gone, leaving me with something that could change our lives.

-Blossom-

"And here we are, almost 24 hours after the horrific scene ensued upon Townsville citizens with an unforeseen tape of the girl who rescued a child and perhaps hundreds of others from the robbery…"

"WE'RE HOME!" I shut the TV quick before turning to see Gladys and Bubbles come inside with some groceries. I forced a bright smile to shift my focus from the news. "Hey guys! How'd it go with Buttercup?"

Gladys strained to find the words. "She… cooperated. I'm just hoping she doesn't give Mr. Lee too much grief." I nodded slowly to myself in agreement. It could've been worse.

Bubbles trudged through the kitchen with a sullen face. Let's see if we can get her to smile.

"Hey Bubbles! I didn't see you there. How was dance tryouts?"

But she put away the milk cartons and walked past me to go to her room. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh," Just like I thought. Those girls probably didn't even give her a chance. But before she could open her door, I tried to cheer her up a bit. "Who needs them?! I'm sure they missed out on someone – "

" –I made it…" I raised my eyebrows in surprise. So why is she so sad?

"…It's a long story." She mumbled just as the song 'Royals' rang off from her purse. "Hello … H-H-Hey Isabella! I was just- … Wait how'd you- … Oo-kaay … But wait! Where do I–"

But all we heard was the dial tone. Bubbles face me with a stunned look over how spontaneous the dance captain was. "I guess I'm going to the soccer game tomorrow."

"Well that's nice, Bubbles."

"I guess… look I'll see you tomorrow Blossom. I just feel really tired."

"Bubbles," she turned back with that sullen look on her face again. If only the Professor was here instead of at the lab. "I'm sure that whatever happens it'll work itself out in the long run."

She smiled sadly at me. "Hope so. Good night Blossom."

"Night Bubbles." I turned back to see Gladys waving me goodbye before she headed for her apartment. I waved goodbye until she closed the door before turning back to the TV as I thought about what Buttercup said last night. The girl in the tape had the exact same clothes Buttercup was wearing last night, she came home right around the time the whole event was broadcast all over the news stations, the smell of charcoal on her clothes…

"She wouldn't. She would never do something like that."

But the facts are all there…

I rushed towards her room before she came home and dug through her piles of dirty clothes to find what I was looking for. Soon I found the green hoodie Buttercup's had since she was twelve, the same exact color as the girl's, and it was covered in harsh burn marks and gashes.

It was all there, but I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of Buttercup doing something so… so…

"So selfish..." HOW COULD SHE BE SO SELFISH! She already put us in danger with what she did yesterday and now THIS!? To risk our covers, our LIVES, for something so STUPID! What the hell was so important about a bank catching on fire when there are FIREFIGHTERS, the people who do this for a damn LIVING, TO TAKE CARE OF IT! Buttercup's done a lot of things to piss me off throughout the years, but this was where I draw the line. She'd better hope I don't see her tonight, otherwise it'll be a war zone, because I've just about had it with her crap!

As I marched out of her room, I took a quick peek at Bubbles's room. Her room looked beautiful. With my help, the walls were painted to look like a bright blue sky with billowing clouds with a dark blue carpet. Under a mountain of blankets and pillows, Bubbles slept peacefully unaware of what sort of risks her sister was putting her through.

And I plan on keeping it that way.

-Buttercup-

It felt good letting the cool wind pressing against my face. I missed being able to jog like this. Out in the open, no one judging me. It felt like I was normal for once.

I have to say it's kinda relieving when you don't feel so pissed off all the time. I'm not saying the classes were amazing, I still hate them. But, the way I see it, they could've been a helluva lot worse. I mean now I can at least I can pretend that I'm caving Ginger's face in.

It also got my mind off of other things. Thinking back to this morning, that was the first time a nightmare actually seemed so real; like I travelled back in time or something. The smoke, the fire, the pain… it was all there. Must be this goddamn city.

I tried to brush it off. Thinking about it was only gonna make it worse, and I didn't need another nightmare tonight. I stopped at the corner of a wide intersection to wait until I cross. Turning to my right I saw a huge poster of a shrouded figure in my exact same sweats. The Hooded Heroine!? They really couldn't have come up with a better name than THAT?

Whatevs. Not like I was doing that anytime soon.

Before I crossed, I saw the girl from last night across the street to my left yelling at a young woman. "MOMMIE! MOMMIE!" My face dropped as she tore her hand away from the woman and started running towards me with traffic inches away from hitting her. I couldn't risk my identity out here, so I watched helplessly as cars swerved and slammed their breaks, leaving a perfect pathway for the girl as she skipped across to my side of the sidewalk.

"IT'S YOU!" she cried with a wide grin. "I thought –

"–ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE!? You could've gotten KILLED!" Okay I admit, not very nice to say to a four year old, but how would you react?

She hung her head low as her face fell into a sullen look as water started to drip from her eyes. "S-sorry…"

Aw, Crap. "Okay, okay! It's alright, you don't need to cry!"

"I-I-It's j-just that I-I wanted t-t-to t-thank y-you," she hiccupped through her tears. "Y-You s-s-saved me… a-and"

"I know! And I would love to talk to you and your nice mommie -that's marching over to us as we speak- but… um …" What are superheroes supposed to do!?

"…but I'm on patrol!" I lowered my voice to a whisper. "You don't wanna blow my cover, do ya?"

"ASHLEY! What in the world were you thinking!" Her mom finally made it to the other side and looked up at the crowd with an apologetic smile "I'm so sorry about this, she's only five. What's the matter with you!? Those cars could've knocked you right off the street! You could've gotten so hurt!"

"Sorry…" she mumbled softly.

"Don't say sorry to me sweetheart! You'll have plenty of time for that at home. What are you going to say to this young lady?"

She looked up at me with her lips pressed tightly to keep herself from smiling. "I'm sooo-wwwy for dist-uurbing you throo-out your JOOOG, ma'am. I promise not to do it again!"

"Better not! Do you realize how hurt you could've been…!" Her mom kept lecturing her as she dragged her down the crosswalk. But before the girl disappeared, she turned back to give me a big wave goodbye while her mom wasn't looking. I smiled lightly at the girl. She kinda me of Bubbles in a way.

I looked up at the sky to check what time it was. Pretty late, guess I'd better make my way home…

Suddenly a rock smacked the back of my head, launching me right off the sidewalk. I hit the curb headfirst with a loud CRACK and crashed through the streets with parts of my body flying all over the place in the blur of lights and horns from cars rushing past me. When I finally stopped in the middle of the street, I couldn't feel my limbs as I laid there paralyzed with shock. The throbbing pain from my head spread down to my neckline, but I could still feel the blood pound against my head. Everything in my body just hurt!

"…shit…" I whispered hoarsely. But when I was able to sit up, I saw a truck coming towards me at full speed.

"SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!" I scrambled off the street just in time to miss the truck, but my sweater got caught to it and ripped halfway through, barely leaving the hood to cover my face. And that was my one of my favorite sweaters too!

At least I'm not dead. I made it to the curb to see the same dude in the ski mask from before with a steel blue city mailbox lying on the curb right where I was hit. I felt my face twist in fury when I pulled the pieces together. THIS DUDE ACTUALLY THREW A MAILBOX AT ME!

"Hand slipped," he said, but even behind his mask I could feel him grinning at what he caused. "So apparently you're a chick?"

This asshole didn't know when to quit! Even though my whole body ached, I charged towards him with my arm hooked in line for a hit to his jaw, but he caught it easily in one hand and shook his index finger with the other.

"M-mm!" He landed a punch straight to my nose and threw me across the sidewalk into the frightened civilians.

Okay, so this guy's a lot stronger than I thought. There was no way I'd make it in close combat with him, not when he knew all my moves. I ran into the nearest alley to try and find a hiding spot for a surprise attack before I felt someone yank what was left of my hood. The thief threw me in front of him and punched me in the left temple launching me to the back of the alley by my hoodie. I slammed into the back wall hitting the back of my head for the second time before dropping to the floor fifteen feet below. After that first hit from before, there's no way I'd stand a chance with this guy. Hell, I shouldn't even be alive after a hit like that!

"Not done yet kitten!" He took me by the collar and shoved me up against the wall hard enough for it to start cracking under my weight. As I groaned in pain he shoved me farther with the look of bloodlust in his eyes.

"Well, you sure sound like a girl," he snickered. "Let's see what's behind that little mask of yours." But before he could lean any closer I spat at him, taking in his death stare.

"Bite me." I muttered. His grip on my collar grew tighter and I made sure to look him dead in the eye to let him know I wasn't giving in. If I was gonna go down in this alley, I could at least say I put up a good fight.

Right as he tucked in his left arm for another blow, I heard sirens coming from the opening of the alley.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" a voice boomed. When I looked up I saw a hoard of police officers and SWAT members pointing their guns at us (most of them pointing at the guy in front of me). Perfect timing like always!

"Are you shittin' me…" he muttered to himself before pulling me close for the last word. "Guess we'll have to postpone this for another time. See ya soon, kitten..." Before the officers noticed, he climbed the walls up to the rooftop at lightning speed before taking off. I gawked at the police staring at the rooftops in shock. And they wonder why crime's so bad here!

With the police blocking the only way out of the alley, I had to find another route. So I burst through one of the doors in the alley that led to a supply closet. In it was a small window leading to the main streets, and my way out of this mess!

"Wait STOP!" Ha! Like Hell I am! I leaped for the window and quickly climbed off the window to take off into the streets –

"I SAID STOP!" Yes, because someone twice as fast as you just stops at the sound of your voice. I about how similar he sounded to Boggs, almost like replicas in a way.

"You won't be interrogated! Look around, there's no one here with us!" Sure enough when I turned around all I saw were civilians passing by, some staring at us over what the shouting as for. But why come after me with no backup?

"You…" He began as he slowly came closer, clearly out of breath."…are the only person that I know… may you be a guy or a girl… that has actually stood a CHANCE against that criminal… and he's been loose on this streets for two years."

I raised my eyebrow. Your point?

"We could use someone like you on our side." Hells No. I turned to start walking again before he tugged at my arm to stop me from going away. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" I yanked my arm back to my side and walked even faster. Why do people keep doing that?!

"Why'd you put yourself through that? The rescue, the fight, that whole bit when you could be sitting on your couch in God knows where! Why would a kid like you put yourself through so much torment for something that's just hopeless."

I turned back to examine at the captain. It was obvious that this guy was tired. With a five o clock shadow was a pair of bloodshot eyes, disheveled clothes, and worn out wrinkles. He was fed up with this bullshit, and I couldn't say I blamed him, but that didn't mean I'd join his side out of pity.

He went on. "I'm not saying that I know why, but my theory is that you're one of the rare type of people that actually gives a damn about the citizens here." WRONG. I couldn't give a damn about these people.

"So as someone who cares for the public, wouldn't it be reasonable to help people who are supposed to be on your side?" WRONG AGAIN. The police are toys for the government. I ended up learning that the hard way at an age where kids are supposed to believe these liars are there to help.

Even though I wanted to look him dead in the eye, I couldn't risk losing the cover I was so close to losing. "Firstly, I don't do this shit for nobody, let's get that straight. Secondly, I don't run with crowds, so whatever you had in mind, I'm gonna have to pass on that."

But before I left he blocked my way home. "In case you change your mind," he fished out a card from his pocket. "This has my number on it. It also has the address where we have a good feeling he's gonna hit next. I know you want this guy caught as much as I do. If you come to this address tomorrow, we just might do that."

"Sorry, but with all due respect sir, there's no WE in this." I scowled and made my way home. Nope. I could do a lot of things, but this is where I draw the line. After all the things I learned in the past few years, trusting anyone in this city would be just about the dumbest thing I could do.

But still… As I snuck into my room from the window (Yeah I had to take the risk and fly up to my window. There's no way I could enter the flat looking like I just got mugged!) I thought back to what that captain asked me.

Why AM I Doing This? I say I'm doing it for myself, but is it something more?

I thought about the captain's card with my mind full of questions. But trying to find the answers felt impossible, like trying to catch thin air.

I turned on the news. Still talking about the Hooded Heroine. I sighed to myself at the irony. The REAL me is supposed to be hanging at the stake and all they're doing is praising someone who doesn't even exist.

The news wasn't getting me anywhere, so I shut the TV and wiped the blood with the sleeve of my ripped sweater. I didn't want to risk looking at myself without feeling even angrier. Passing my hand over the swollen bruises from before, rage burned inside me, begging for another fight. But things have gone way past what I could've imagined.

The press are out for my blood, I've got some prick up my ass talking about making the next superhero dream-team, I've gotta plaster on a fake smile sounding like Barbie on crack so that all this stays out of my family's business, and now this dude's apparently supposed to hit up some big event and I'm the girl everyone's looking at to save the day.

"You're the only person that stood a chance…" The FUCK!? That guy almost had me castrated if I didn't get lucky! It's like these people think I'm the next Messiah or something! All I did was save a kid! How could ONE kid cause all this …?

What would Pinky do…

Scratch that. Blossom's not dumb enough to be in my situation. I stared blankly at the brick designed walls never feeling so confused in my life. How could I have gotten myself into this mess?

Why am I even doing this?

That's a pretty damn good question, and I'm nowhere near answering it.

-Butch-

I strode through the alleys home with the same bitter look I had yesterday. It was like nothing changed! Just when I had the bitch, I thought bitterly to myself. Why do those pricks always come at the last second!

Butchie…

Crap. What do you want tranny?

I don't think that's the way you speak to someone who's given you a silver lining.

When I agreed to work for you on the outside, I didn't think that would make me your little errand boy. Plus, the telepathy's starting to get a little annoying!

Quiet! I have no time for your trivial bickering, I came because you have another job.

Perfect. Another way to spend my weekend. I thought about the girl in the hoodie with a smirk. At least I get to see her again. I'm all ears tranny.

Townsville's hosting this year's annual Science and Technology Exposition to present their latest invention, and I decided that you'll be making a… guest appearance.

Meaning I clean em dry. Not like I haven't heard it before. Blah, blah, blah. What do I get?

Why, what you've always wanted of course! Fame, fortune, notoriety as the top criminal in the nation–

–And how exactly are you getting this done?

You just let ME handle that situation. For now you'll just be the key to my second revival. With that, we'll dominate this planet, letting them know why you never underestimate a GOD.

I snorted to myself. That's big talk for someone stuck in a box.

Just wait child, soon our day shall arrive, and the first step lies within that Emporium. DO NOT FAIL ME…

I was already starting to ignore him. How long have I been working for this guy? 3 years? 4?

… watch for the girl. She's Closer Than You Think… Who, kitten? Bitch couldn't even land a scratch on me, there's no way she's gonna be a threat!

–BUTCH!

Calm your tits tranny, I'll get your shit!

And I have to admit though, the suspense is killing me. Her hoodie practically tore in half from the truck, almost giving me a look at her face. What the hell's she hiding behind that thing? And her eyes! when I locked eyes with her for the first time, they were a fiery crystal green color. In fact, it was like they sparkled.

Where have I seen those eyes?

-Blossom-

Crime Incident: Robbery…Weapons: Unavailable…Identification of the Subject: Unavailable…Description: Short (Approx. 5'3), slender (Approx. 116), green hoodie and 2008 edition black Adidas soccer sweats…

"Trivial… Irrelevant… Useless…" After reading God knows how many police reports, I began to lose serious faith in our law enforcement. Sneaking into the files Gladys had to read for tomorrow was bad enough, but I couldn't even imagine what would happen if she figured out the truth behind what Buttercup's doing. There can't be a single clue linking her to the girl on the news, so now I just had to remove it while I had the chance and figure out a way out of this mess!

But after two hours I threw the papers to the floor in aggravation, reminding myself to pick them up later, of course. All this time and still nothing! But before I left my desk, one of the papers on the floor managed to catch my eye.

A picture? When I fished it out of the pile on the floor I saw a clear image of Buttercup's face taken TODAY next to some SWAT team member. Her hair, eyes, skin color, everything was right in this picture! A wave of terror wash over my face as I thought of how many copies of this picture there could be out there. Hundreds? Thousands?

What would Gladys say? What would the PROFESSOR say!?

It was then that I realized that I just can't do this anymore. The hiding, the lying, the work, all for ONE person! Bubbles's team, the Professor job, my scholarship… I couldn't let her ruin this for our family! I couldn't let Buttercup ruin everything AGAIN!

Even if that meant betraying my own sister, I had to think of what's best for us all, and right now, she was a risk I couldn't take anymore.

The full name to Bubbles's ringtone is 'Royals' by Lorde.

Yeah, so this is a pretty short chapter in comparison to the last one. So for those of you that were hoping for a big chapter, you're just going to have to wait for the next one, which I must say I'm looking forward to because they'll figure out their real identities. (Finally!) I'll also include some other surprises that have yet to be revealed in the story, so I intend on creating two parts to the next chapter (which you shouldn't expect in a while...), and I just really hope you guys liked this chapter, but if not that's you.

So to cut this short chapter to an end read, review, and I'll see you soon ;-)