Chapter 7
The Evil Sorceress Returns

"Mikoto, I don't know what the hell is the matter with you," Miranda pleaded, who was still held by Bruce, "But you cannot do this!"

"Mikoto?" Hanai gasped as he halted, "No… her?"

Mikoto cackled, "Are you such an idiot after all those months? You should've gotten my name right, except that you would've remembered it…"

"What are you talking about?"

Mikoto then smiled and said, "Remember Sara Maynard?"

"Mira's sister!" Harima thought aloud.

"What does she have to do with you, Mikoto?" Erika called out.

"Isn't it obvious, ya rat?" Maris snickered, "This girl is the murderer of Sara."

"No! You… cannot be…" Miranda was shocked.

Mikoto snickered as she brushed her hair back.

"You're a fair-weathered young little cricket now, have you? You finally remembered!"

She threw her cape to the ground and shouted, "Remember me, Miranda Maynard? I… AM… BAAAACK!"

"No… Meiko?" Miranda cried.

It's true! Mikoto Suo was possessed by Meiko, the same evil sorceress who killed Sara Maynard, thirteen years ago, who was later killed by Miranda, ten years later.

"Ding, ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!" Mikoto, in Meiko's voice, cried.

"No… it can't be…" Erika moaned.

"Meiko! What the devil possessed you to hurt her?" Miranda cried.

"Devil is right!" Meiko shouted.

She brushed her hair back and jabbed the dagger at Miranda's left arm. Blood started to spurt out a bit. She started to scream in pain.

"Aw, did it hurt?" She snickered, "What a sad way to waste you like that… and after all these years, I'll finally get my revenge on you and Erika Avery! How delicious, since Erika came at the right moment!"

"You… you evil harlot! How dare you hurt Miranda?" She cried, "And why would you attack Yakumo and Eri?"

"HA! If you think I'd be very evil before, think again!" Mikoto/Meiko shouted, "Once I finish her off, then nothing will stop me from obtaining her soul!"

"My… my soul?" Miranda asked, "Why?"

"It's simple…" she stated.

She then told the story of how she died:

"If I recall correctly, you, Avery, and that robot had to go after me, because I killed Sara; well, I did, and you got your revenge. When you killed me, my soul was being removed from the world! I was sentenced to Limbo, for not freeing my own soul! Jacob, Sara, and many people I killed were all vessels for my plans of Eternal Youth; when I was sent there, they knew I was determined to return to the Earth. The devil decided that I must return to the living world, but ONLY to do one task: And that's killing YOU, Miranda Maynard!"

"Me?" She gasped, "Hell must've kicked you out, eh what?"

"Shut up, you brat! It's thanks to you, I have at least five days left before I can obtain your soul! Otherwise, every soul I collected will be free and my spirit will go to hell."

"Then… my sister…"

"Oh, please, I only took a part of her soul, just like the others. I need a soul of 100% satisfaction; namely the one who killed me: YOU!"

Miranda snickered a bit and shouted, "Oh, Meiko, how time flies when you're having fun! I take it that you wanted me dead after all these years and you took a part of me, to which I loved the most."

Meiko then pointed the dagger at Miranda and cried, "You're lucky I cannot jab this thing in your wide trap! But I have bigger plans for you."

She pointed at her chest and was about to lunge it in.

"Vengeance will be min-!"

"HOLD IT! MIKOTO!"

Hanai arrived and was crossed.

"Four-eyes?" Harima shouted.

"I'VE SEEN ENOUGH! LET THEM GO NOW!" He shrieked, "HOW DARE YOU TAKE MY CLASSMATE AWAY FROM ME?"

"Hanai?" Mikoto said in her normal voice.

"Who the hell are you?" She shouted in Meiko's voice.

Just as Hanai was about to answer, Erika stomped on Maris's foot and jumped out. She went to Harima and freed him.

"Miss Boss! The Avery urchin!" He cried, "She's getting-!

"QUIET! Can't you see that I am busy with this four-eyed bugger?" Mikoto shouted.

"But, boss!"

Erika then smacked him in the back of his head with her elbow.

"But, boss, nothing!" She cried.

Harima jumped in and decked Bruce with a fierce punch, freeing Miranda, who was severely cut.

"Mira! Are you okay now?" Erika cried.

"Yeah… I think so," Miranda said, "But… I cannot believe…"

"Don't hurt yourself like that!" Harima shouted, "We cannot let Mikoto have her way!"

"You're right! We'll have to save Mikoto and help out Hanai!"

Runt appeared and said, "I'm afraid you'll have at deal with us first."

He, Bruce, and Maris stood side-by-side, while Miranda, Erika, and Harima were getting ready, despite Miranda's injury.

"I may have one arm, but you cannot defeat the hero of Argos!" She shouted, "Let's have at it!"

All six of them charged at each other. Harima socked Maris with his fist, Miranda nailed Runt with a side kick, and Erika delivered a few body blows to Bruce. All three of the thugs stumbled down. Miranda stomped on Maris and picked him up.

Meanwhile, Mikoto and Hanai were about to fight. She charged at him and tried to take him down with a couple of martial arts kicks.

"Even for a dead girl, you can control her ample movements!" Hanai shouted, "But you lack skill, even for a ghost!"

"Shut up!" Mikoto cried, "I'll have you know I fought the best and killed them!"

She threw a punch to Hanai's chest. He slipped in front of her and tackled her down. He started to slap at her continuously, but she blocked the attacks.

"Is that the best you can do, ya wuss?"

"Nobody calls me a wuss, not even the girl I met back in Elementary School!"

He then choked her neck and cried, "NOW GIVE MIKOTO BACK!"

Miranda ran towards Maris and drop-kicked his head. He fell down and was out cold.

"You were right, Erika," she said, "They are weak."

Harima then delivered a flying kick to Runt's torso.

"HURRICANE KICK!"

He flew right into a tree and fell face-first.

Bruce saw them on the ground, and was shocked. Erika began to glow and held up a round of arrows in her hand.

"Leave them to me, guys!" She cried, "I'll teach them not to hurt Father!"

"Who?" Harima asked.

"It's a long story," Miranda responded.

She held her bow up and fired her arrows.

"STARSTRUCK ARROWS!"

The arrows fired at all three of them. Five hit at Bruce's chest directly, four flew past Runt, who was terrified, and six of them nailed Maris in the head. They all fell to the ground with a thud.

"That was for my father, you bastards!" Erika cried, "And don't you EVER come near me, or any of my friends, again!"

Maris got up and let out a shriek and dashed off in terror.

"NO MORE! NO MORE! GET HER AWAY FROM ME!" He screamed.

"He's getting away!" Harima shouted.

Bruce and Runt got up and followed him. They went as far as they could, but Miranda started to glow red. She grabbed her sword and fired three fireballs at them.

"OH, NO, YOU DON'T! FIREBALL SHOT!" She cried.

Each fireball blasted onto each of the thugs. They fell down and were out cold.

"Nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it! They'll ALL fall, even the ones who wish themselves back from the dead!"

"Whoa!" Harima thought in shock, "What power! They are certainly not your average people, that's for sure."

Meanwhile, Mikoto/Meiko broke out of Hanai's grasp and choked his neck. She started to turn a demonic look on her face.

"You filthy, arrogant brat! I'll teach you to treat a beautiful woman like me as your own punching bag! DIE!"

She raised her hand up and was about to sock Hanai, when Miranda grabbed her hand and tossed her down. She stomped on her chest and held her down.

"All right, Meiko," Miranda shouted, "Explain yourself! What do you want from me?"

Mikoto/Meiko responded, "Okay, if you must, I'll tell you; but rest assured that I will kill you the next time we meet."

"There won't be a next time, Meiko! You killed my sister, and now, I killed you! You deserve to go to hell!"

Harima then looked down and asked, "So you're Isabella666, right?"

"I have a name, sucker!" She shouted, "I am Meiko, the sorceress (Or in spirit) from Dark Argos; Isabella666 is my screen name for Twitter. Don't dark realms use computers nowadays, as well?"

"I knew it," Erika scoffed.

"Okay, now that that mystery is settled, why are you gonna kill me?" Miranda asked, "Start talking!"

She responded, "Simple, I wanted you entire soul in eight days; but I have to hurry or I'll burn in hell forever. You've already wasted the first three days when you arrived in Japan."

"You never told us that there was a limit," Erika said.

"We're aware of that! Any particular reason why you've possessed Suo?" Hanai asked.

"HAH! This little brat is nothing but a mere mortal," Meiko grinned, "Although, the devil told me to return to the living in a body that matches my suitable measurements and distinguishing characteristics; and as luck would have it, Mikoto, as you call her, was a perfect match! But now that you think about it, Mikoto and Meiko sounded the same, doesn't it?"

"NO, IT DOESN'T! DO NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT!" Miranda screamed, "And the reason you wanted me dead is your sick and twisted dreams!"

"Have you forgotten that I am the daughter of Isabella, Queen of Dark Argos; or is that pea-brain of yours too inexperienced as your sword fighting? We share the same dreams: Domination and death!"

"So, that's why your dark forces attacked the kingdom years ago," Miranda growled.

"Recalling the past, are we? I'd be more afraid, if I were you. But you have no choice, since I've already surrendered. And to think I wanted to reunite you with Sara! WAH, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"

"SHUT UP!"

Miranda grew angry. She held her sword high and lunged at Mikoto with a scream.

"Miranda, wait!" Harima shouted.

Miranda stopped, nearly piercing Mikoto at the chest.

"Have you forgotten that Mikoto is our friend?" He shouted, "You can't waste her away like that!"

"Yeah, but…"

"Mira, listen to me; there's got to be a better way. Killing isn't gonna bring Mikoto back."

"But… she's…"

"An evil sorceress, no; a spirit-possessed girl, yes."

She dropped her sword and was upset. She removed her foot from her chest.

"You…" Miranda shouted, "Leave now and never return! I want to do away with you, but not now… not ever. If I kill you and free your soul, I'll end up killing Suo."

Mikoto got up and asked why she would spare her.

"You've got five days left for you to kill me. If you can succeed in killing me by then, you've won; but if you miss the opportunity, then I am glad Sara will finish you off from the other side!"

"Mira, what are you saying?" Erika asked.

"Let the baby have her fun…" She grinned.

Mikoto left Yagami Park and was a bit angry.

"Miranda Maynard, this isn't over… not by a long shot," she thought aloud.

Miranda turned around and saw Hanai, who was traumatized over Mikoto's sudden appearance.

"Jeez, Four-Eyes! If I needed your help, you should've asked." She said.

Hanai started to cry.

"So, after all this, Mikoto has been possessed by an evil witch," Harima stated.

Erika informed, "She said that she has a job to do for eight days; and she has four days left, after tonight."

"Mikoto… no, Meiko…" Miranda thought, "She wants me dead; 3 years since our battle, and she wants my soul, and not just my head on a gold plate. I'll have to stop her, one way or another. And with 96 hours left, she'll not succeed; only then, Sara will get her revenge."

She clutched her sword and growled, "Meiko, uh, Mikoto, (Oh, God, I'm confused!) I swear I'll make sure you never make me come here! I'll have to send you back to hell by force! But how?"

Erika carried Hanai off by her shoulders. Harima followed as Miranda looked up in the night sky.

"Hey, Mira! Aren't you coming?" Erika called.

"You go on ahead; I have to go somewhere," Miranda said, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Erika was worried. She thought that Miranda has something to do. Miranda turned around and called to her, "Erika, one more thing, tell Yakumo and Eri about this; and when you do, get away from this area where Yakumo lives and hide somewhere until the five days are up."

She agreed and left with Harima and Hanai. Miranda went the opposite direction. Where is she going?

XXXXX

Later at Mikoto's house, she was getting ready for bed, when she looked at her mirror. She started to look at the cut on her face. She was very frightened by it.

"My face… what happened to me?" Mikoto thought, "Did I just cut myself?"

She then spoke in Meiko's voice, "Stupid little excuse for Sara Maynard's younger sister! She thinks she has her way after all!"

"GASP! Who- Who are you?" She asked in her normal voice.

An image of Meiko appeared in front of her mirror, with long lavender hair and an evil look. She looked at her hand and saw that she has the same hand as her reflection.

"No… who or what are you?"

"I'm you. And I need your help in destroying this Miranda Maynard woman."

"Me? But why? Why can't you do it yourself? Wait, what am I saying? Are you saying that-?"

"Shut up! It's thanks to her that she killed me three years ago, I want my revenge, and I thank you for your participation."

"But… I don't ever recall!"

Mikoto looked at her arm, which started to grasp her neck.

"Oh, you think you're so independent!" Mikoto, in Meiko's voice, yelled while holding her own neck, "You had a part at killing my enemy. Now, we must embark on a journey to end Maynard and Avery once and for all!"

"I… I'll never join you!" Mikoto screamed.

"DO IT! Or you will die! No, what am I saying? If I kill you, then it's all for naught; and I'll never get my revenge that way."

"No… I… I…"

"Mikoto… you cannot escape my vindication; I want my revenge, even if she had that bastard in the shades!"

"Shades? Harima? What does HE have to do with this?"

"Join me, and you'll understand… I must live again, but I need your help. You did capture Yakumo to lure her here; not to mention Harima, who was kidnapped by my cowardly EX-minions. So, why not give yourself a round of applause?"

Mikoto let go of her own grasp and started to quiver.

"I… I did that? No!"

She started to cry; her crying became laughter. She cackled at the mirror with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Indeed… I knew you'd see it my way. You know you did it, too; and I promise you, I'll be reborn again. I will have Miranda's head on a silver platter yet… and her soul, too."

She laughed evilly as she got up from her chair.

Mikoto Suo has been controlled by Meiko; will she be able to break free of her control? Maybe, but she has four nights left, or her soul with forever be sent away from down below.

How will Miranda and Harima counteract this folly, and what is Miranda planning?

XXXXX

At the church, Miranda entered the front door and saw Sara Adiemus in her garb.

"Sister, I need your help," She asked, "Can you do me a favor and let me pray for a bit?"

"Oh? Oh, right! You're Yakumo's friend," Sara responded, "Sure, but make it quick; we are going to close for the night."

"Trust me, I have four nights left; and I'll need the biggest help I could get."

Miranda approached the altar and kneeled down. What is she praying for?

(Kandy) This is Kandy Potter, resident robot of Argos. I am glad Miss Miranda and Miss Erika are in Japan. I'd love to travel away from Great Britain. Maybe I'll invite Mister Mike and Miss Cassandra to go on vacation around the world. But enough about that; on to serious matters; Miranda needs help. Mister Nick and I-.

(Nick): Uh, Kandy… I got some bad news.

Next Chapter: The Dark Past

(Kandy) Queen Isabella's profile?

(Nick) We better inform the King about this.