Disclaimers: I don't own Beyblade. I have permission to use Sam Granger, The Cloaked Man, Grace Granger, Seiran "Sei" Kon and Lily Namtura from their owners Samstar1990, Trunksgal, Mariam Tiarko and Tifafenrir09. Kirsty and the beast shadows are mine
WARNING: This chapter contains violence and strong language
Chapter 7: Kidnapping, Lies and Videotapes
It was late afternoon when Judy Tate had returned home with Taro from the hospital. She was resting in the living room and Taro was making dinner, waiting for Max to return when there was a knock at the door.
Taro: I'll get it!
Taro answered the door but there was no-one there, then he heard his wife scream.
Taro: No not again, Judy!
Taro went to the living room where his wife was, Judy was unconscious but she looked unhurt. Taro went to try and wake Judy up.
Taro: Judy? Wake up!
Judy stayed unconscious but she was breathing, Taro was about to call a hospital when he saw a cloaked figure. The Cloaked Man laughed.
Cloaked Man: Don't worry your wife is fine but you need to go nighty-night too!
The Cloaked Man waved his hand at Taro and then Taro fell unconscious. The Cloaked Man went to the unconscious Tate couple with a pendant in hand.
Cloaked Man: And now you both join the nerd's parents muhahahahaha!
Meanwhile at the Granger Dojo a tearful Sammy had explained to Tyson, Lily, Grace, Kai, Sei and Ray about what Kirsty had told her earlier, what she herself saw and the shadows going into Max and Kenny. They became rather concerned.
Lily: So the creatures came from Max and Kenny?
Sammy: Yes, from their feelings of low self-esteem.
Grace: But how? Emotions do not take physical form usually.
Sammy: Dark magic is involved and I believe this Alex Gage person that they have been seeing is the source of it.
Ray: So he is instigating Max and Kenny at the meetings somehow combining them with his dark magic and that is when the shadows started appearing.
Sei: And the more he got inside their heads and making them feel worse the more his dark magic made the shadows become full-on monsters.
Sammy: That sounds right but…
Tyson: But what?
Sammy: His way of getting to people is scary…it sounds like he is someone I know…
Kai: Another thing is why? Why does Alex want us to be killed by these monsters? That is what it seems he is aiming for.
Tyson: Yeah and we have never met the dude, what does he have against us?
Grace: I wish we knew bro! I really do!
Sei: I think it is best of we stuck together until we know this threat is over.
Lily: I am with Sei on this one! We don't know if these shadows are going to come back or not.
Sammy: I think that is a yes and no answer…remember the shadows are in Max and Kenny now.
Grace: Don't forget how they went all freaky and fangy on us!
Ray: It is like the shadows and Max and Kenny are becoming more connected.
Kai: I say tomorrow we try and track them down; Max, Kenny and Alex and nip this in the bud!
Tyson: What about Kirsty? Is she in any danger? And will she still be with them?
Sammy: I cannot say for certain about the danger part…but if I know her, she will be with Max and Kenny at all times.
Grace: Sis like I said before Kirsty is going to be OK! I am sure Max and Kenny won't hurt her, especially Max.
Sammy: Alex might though, and Max and Kenny have been very much out of character…I can't be sure of anything.
Sammy's eyes welled up again; both Tyson and Grace went to their younger sister and hugged her tight.
Grace: Things are going to be fine!
Tyson: This is going to end tomorrow! Even if it is the last thing I do, and we are all here right guys?
Lily: Oh yeah! You can count me in!
Sei: Me too! I promised I'd help protect you!
Kai: Hn! Yeah sure I am here.
Ray went over to Sammy as Tyson and Grace let her go from the hug. Ray held Sammy close to him and they looked deeply into one another's eyes.
Ray: And you know you can always count on me right?
Sammy: Yes thank you, thank you all!
Everyone else chorused "You are welcome" as Ray and Sammy shared a close embrace and a kiss.
Max, Kenny and Kirsty in the meantime had gone to Alex's office to find that no one else was there so they went to Kenny's house but again it was pretty much abandoned.
Kenny: Why the hell isn't anyone here?
Kirsty: I dunno but this is getting stranger and stranger.
Max: Fuck it! We'll go to my house then.
So they went to Max's house, all this time people gave looks to Max and Kenny. With fangs, roughened up hair, amber eyes and claws they stood out and Max was quick to growl at whoever stared at him and Kenny.
They reached Max's house and were surprised to find that Alex Gage had opened the door to them; in his hand was a pair of videos.
Alex: Oh boys I am so glad I found you!
Alex had a sad look on his face.
Max trying hard to keep the growl out of his voice asked, "Why? What is wrong Alex?"
Alex: Oh Max it was terrible! Your parents have been abducted, yours too Kenny!
Max and Kenny's faces darkened in anger giving their already scary appearance a more edgy look while Kirsty gave Alex a suspicious look.
Kirsty: So who took them?
Alex: That is a good question my dear, let us go to my cottage and we'll view what the security cameras caught on these tapes here.
Max: The motherfucker who took our parents is gonna pay for this!
Kenny: We'll fucking kill the bastard if we see him!
So they went to Alex's cottage where they viewed the two security tapes in the living room with Alex and Kenny on one sofa and Kirsty and Max were on the other.
Both showed the same person each time; Tyson giving Max and Kenny's parents a beating, tying them up and then taking them away. Max and Kenny were becoming more and more furious; Kirsty's face wore a suspicious and cynical expression. Alex took this all calmly as he spoke in his silky voice.
Alex: I guess not wanting the two of you to get better wasn't enough for Tyson, he wanted to take your parents away from you both too.
Max: *growling* That fucker is gonna DIE!
Kenny: He will be torn limb from fucking limb.
Kirsty: Tyson would never do that, those tapes are a fake!
Max turned to face Kirsty with an expression of rage on his face and he grabbed Kirsty by her ponytail.
Kirsty: OW! Max what are you doing? Stop it!
Max: YOU WATCHED THOSE FUCKING TAPES WITH US! YOU SAW WHAT TYSON DID!
Kirsty: Please don't shout at me! And please let me go Max!
Tears fell down Kirsty's face as Kenny also had a go at her.
Kenny: THOSE TAPES WERE FROM THE SECURITY CAMERAS! HOW CAN THEY BE FUCKING FAKE! YOU JUST HAVE IT IN FOR ALEX DON'T YOU? DON'T YOU?
Alex smirked at the sight of Kirsty crumbling as Max and Kenny lost their tempers with her. He enjoyed watching the usually boisterous, blunt and happy Kirsty being hurt by her loved ones
Max: JUST FUCKING LISTEN HERE KITTEN! YOU ARE EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US GOT IT!
Kirsty: Max please…you are hurting me.
Max's face softened slightly and he looked horrified by what he just did, he gently let Kirsty go. As he did one of his claws got snagged on Kirsty's hairband and snapped it, letting Kirsty's shoulder length auburn hair down from the ponytail and around her tear-stained face. Max stood up from the sofa he was sitting in.
Alex: You are both welcome to stay here for the night.
Max: Yeah sure, I need to get some water coming Kenny?
Kenny got up and followed Max out of the living room leaving a shaken and tearful Kirsty with Alex Gage. When Max and Kenny were out of earshot, Kirsty got up from her seat and got in Alex's face, her bloodshot green eyes looking into his conceited-looking brown eyes.
Kirsty: You are messing with their heads! STOP IT NOW!
Alex: Why stop my dear when we are having so much fun. *smirks*
Kirsty: This…this is not fun this is evil…you made those tapes somehow and I know it! I also bet that you took their parents too!
Alex: So what if I did, you can't stop me and what I am doing to your precious boyfriend and friend Kirsty.
Kirsty: What are you doing to them? You seem to be turning them into monsters…
Alex: Funny you say that…shouldn't you be going home now young lady?
Kirsty: No! I am not leaving Max and Kenny alone with you!
Alex: Suit yourself, just hope you enjoy the show! *smirks evily*
So Kirsty stayed the night with Max, Kenny and to her dismay Alex too.
At the Granger Dojo before bed Tyson checked his email box and found an unread email it said;
Hey Tyson,
We wanted to say sorry for how we have been acting recently and wanted to talk this problem through with you, us and Alex Gage, meet us at Alex's cottage tomorrow afternoon. The address and map to the cottage are attached to this email. Come alone.
Yours sincerely,
Max Tate and Kenny Saien
Tyson printed off the email and attachments and then went to bed, so he would be ready for tomorrow.
Next day Tyson got ready to leave for the cottage. He was about to leave the dojo when he was stopped by his sisters, Sammy and Grace.
Grace: Where do you think you are going Mr.!
Sammy: On your own?
Tyson: Girls this is really important you need to let me go!
Grace: So you could get hurt or worse? No way!
Sammy: We know about the email and we are all suspicious.
Kai came up behind Tyson along with Lily, Sei and Ray.
Kai: ALL of us!
Lily: Did you really think we were going to let you go on your own Granger? Because if you thought that, you were wrong!
Sei: You know something is up when an email or letter for that matter says "Come alone".
Tyson: Guys! This is a chance to end this nightmare, it is a big risk but I want to take it.
Ray: OK then but we'll come too and hide ourselves and if something bad happens we'll come and help, deal?
Tyson: Yeah it is a deal.
So Tyson, Sammy, Grace, Ray, Sei, Lily and Kai followed the address and map to a big old-fashioned looking cottage.
Kai: This Alex guy must be earning lots with this pep talk coach thing.
Grace, Sammy, Ray, Sei, Lily and Kai went to hide in the bushes as Tyson knocked on the door. Alex answered the door and let Tyson in.
Tyson: Hello there, Alex I presume.
Alex: Why yes, right this way young man.
Tyson didn't like the look of Alex, he seemed too arrogant and smarmy but Tyson kept quiet as Alex led him to the living room where Max, Kenny and Kirsty sat waiting. Tyson was taken aback by Max and Kenny's angry expressions and Kirsty's shaken look.
Kirsty: Tyson you shouldn't have come…
Alex: *smirking* Masters Max and Kenny I present to you your parents' kidnapper!
Tyson: WHAT!
Before Tyson could protest Max growled and angrily pinned Tyson to a wall.
Max: YOU KNOW FUCKING WHAT? WHERE ARE THEY!
Tyson: What? Seriously I don't know!
Kenny: DON'T FUCKING LIE! YOU BEAT UP OUR PARENTS AND YOU TOOK THEM AWAY FROM US! WE SAW IT ON THE SECURITY TAPES!
Max: AND IF YOU DON'T RELEASE THEM WE ARE GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!
Tyson: Guys why would I do that to both of your parents?
Alex: And that is not the only thing he did, he brought his pack with him too!
Kirsty and Tyson looked by Alex to see Sammy, Grace, Sei, Ray, Kai and Lily tied by bush vines. Max and Kenny felt rage coursing through their bodies.
Alex: I'm afraid they are all in on the kidnapping boys.
Kenny: FUCKING TRAITORS! ALL OF YOU!
Max: I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD ALL DO THIS TO US! YOU BA-AAARGGGHH!
Max let Tyson go as a sharp pain flooded his body.
Kirsty: Ma-Maxie?
Kenny: AARRGGGHHRRGGH!
Kirsty: Kenny? What is happening to you two?
Tyson stepped back from Max and Kenny. Kirsty began to shake and cry nervously, and everyone watched in horror.
Max's eyes became blood red and fur began to cover his body, his face became distorted, his hands and claws grew bigger tearing his green gloves off, his trainers burst open to reveal huge, hairy clawed feet, Max grew bigger and muscular shredding off his shirt and his orange trousers in the process and then he didn't look like Max anymore instead he looked like the werewolf-gargoyle monster. Kirsty crumbled and fell to her knees in tears…
Kirsty: No…no…my Maxie…Kenny you too?
The same was happening to Kenny except that it was less fur and some scales; he grew in size too but not as big as Max but big all the same. He too no longer resembled his usual self in appearance but was the wingless-dragon monster.
Tyson went pale, Sei, Kai and Ray looked horrified and Sammy, Grace and Lily had a look of pure fear in their faces. Alex then waved his hand and his cool and geeky appearance faded away to reveal the Cloaked Man. Sammy went paler…
Sammy: It was you? All this time it was you?
Cloaked Man: Yes indeed my dear, just another plot to try and fuse your souls together. Max! Kenny! You are stronger and can use some dark magic now! KILL TYSON!
The now transformed Max and Kenny made a grab for Tyson.
Tyson: Guys please no…don't listen!
Max: THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS!
Max and Kenny emitted a dark energy at Tyson through their hands, Tyson began to feel weak and Sammy felt the pain of her souls. Kirsty stood up shaking and looked at Sammy and then at Tyson, Max and Kenny.
Kirsty: I have to stop this!
Kirsty ran up to Tyson, Max and Kenny and with all of her strength pushed Tyson on the floor but out of the way of the dark energy, however now she was facing the brunt of it.
Max: Kirsty! What the fuck are you doing?
Kirsty: Trying…t...t..to…s..st..stop…this nightmare! ARGHHHH!
Kirsty's scream filled the room, Max and Kenny tried to control their attack and stopped it but Kirsty was now lying unconscious on the floor face down at their feet, her hair white from the attack, Max bent down to try and wake her up.
Max: Kitten? Kirsty wake up! Wake up!
Kirsty didn't move and Max howled with regret at what he had just done.
End of Chapter 7