Chapter 7

The first place Chloe ran to was Musette's house. When she got to Shirley's bedroom, she knocked on the door.

"Shirley?"

Without even waiting for a response, Chloe opened the door and stepped inside, only to find the room completely empty.

Of course, how can anyone sleep at a time like this? Chloe thought. She's probably out looking for clues as well. And the best place to look would be Coolidge's house.

Chloe went to Senel's house, but it, too, was empty.

"Damn...where could she have gone?" she wondered.

Chloe went back out into the street, fresh out of ideas. All she could do now was call out.

"Shirley!!"

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Jay moved silently behind the houses, forcefully leading Shirley by the arm. In a seemingly random location, he stopped, turning Shirley to face him, gripping his dagger in his other hand.

Shirley looked at him, studying his empty facial expression, while carefully watching the dagger in his hand. "Wh...why are you doing this, Jay?"

"I told you to watch your back," Jay said flatly.

"Shirley!!" Chloe's voice could be heard in the distance.

Chloe? Shirley thought. If she could just find Chloe, she could be of some help. But Shirley had no idea where the voice was coming from.

Jay also looked up at the sound of the voice. Taking advantage of this distraction, Shirley turned on her heels and ran. Jay quickly composed himself and promptly gave chase.

Shirley quickly ran around to the front of a house and ran inside, slamming the door. She pressed herself against the door, waiting for Jay to start pounding. Strangely enough, nothing happened. Shirley waited for a moment, while pondering to herself.

Whose house is this? Shirley wondered as she reached over, turning on the lights.

The living room was decorated with various small fragile figurines on the lightweight shelves. The brown sofa had a glass coffee table in front of it.

"Hello?" Shirley called out, hoping to warn the homeowner. "Is anyone home?"

No response. Shirley wasn't quite ready to let go of the door yet. Why wasn't Jay trying to break in? He didn't strike Shirley as one to give up so easily. But then again, Jay was a skilled ninja. There was the possibility that Jay had already gotten inside undetected. Shirley gasped at this thought.

Letting go of the door, Shirley stepped into the living room, haunted by the deafening silence.

"Jay...?" she called out softly.

When nothing happened, she quickly moved to the two bedrooms, checking them both. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

Both bedrooms were completely empty. Shirley went back into the living room, wondering where the homeowners would be at this time of night.

Suddenly, Jay burst through the window glass, rolling deftly to his feet.

"Ahh!!" Shirley screamed, covering her face.

Jay lunged at her with his dagger; Shirley grabbed his arm, trying to keep it away from her. As they wrestled for a few seconds, Jay pulled his head back, striking Shirley's forehead with a powerful headbutt, knocking her to the floor. Raising his dagger, Jay tried to leap on top of her, but Shirley rolled out of the way and got to her feet. As Jay rolled onto his back, Shirley tried to pin him down with her foot. Jay crossed his arms, blocking her foot, then gave a hard kick to Shirley's stomach. He followed with another kick to her face as she doubled over, sending her backwards, crashing onto the glass coffee table, shattering it to pieces. Shirley picked herself up on all fours, the glass cutting instantly into her hands and knees. Thinking quickly, she grabbed one of the wooden legs as Jay hopped over the sofa, clubbing him in the ankle as he landed.

"Argh!" the assassin cried out as he fell to one knee.

Shirley made a swing to his head, but Jay ducked, planting both hands on the floor. He went into a handstand, his back facing Shirley, catching her head between his knees. As she tried to pry his legs off, Jay brought his feet back down, flipping the Merines over him, slamming her head-first into the ground.

"Oww...." Shirley cringed in agony as she crawled forward, her only objective to get away from the assassin. She reached forward, grabbing a fireplace poker from its rack, using it to pull herself to her feet again. She then tried to bring the poker down on the assassin, who was still on the floor. Jay caught the poker in his hand, throwing a hard kick to Shirley's stomach, sending her slamming into the figurine shelf behind her. Acting more on impulse than anything, Shirley grabbed the entire shelf, throwing it down on top of the assassin. Jay curled up into a fetal position, shielding himself from the debris.

Shirley fled into the kitchen, where she paused briefly. What do I do? What do I do?? she thought in a panic.

She didn't have time to think much further. She quickly spun around as Jay dashed into the kitchen, swinging his dagger at her mercilessly. Shirley ducked and dodged as she grabbed a skillet from the stove. She then faced the assassin, blocking his dagger with the skillet. Jay made another thrust; Shirley parried it, spinning in towards him, striking him across the face with the skillet. Jay cried out again as he dropped the dagger. Shirley quickly stepped on it and kicked it out into the living room.

Jay paused, glaring at her with an icy glare, breathing heavily. Shirley took the chance to catch her breath herself.

But the assassin wasn't done yet. He reached over, grabbing a steak knife from the counter and threw an overhead attack. Shirley blocked it with the skillet again, while grabbing Jay's arm and pulling it down.

"Jay, please stop!!" she cried desperately.

Ignoring her pleas, Jay gave her a fierce headbutt, and as she reeled backwards, he threw a hard kick to her stomach. Shirley staggered back, hitting the refrigerator and sinking to the floor.

Shirley looked up from the floor, while Jay merely stood, holding out his dagger towards her. Shirley studied his facial expression. Jay tilted his head slightly, almost as though he were having seconds thoughts about what he was doing.

Jay...he's struggling inside, isn't he? Shirley wondered.

"Jay, I know you're in there..." she said carefully, hoping to encourage him. "You have to fight it...."

Now Jay turned his back, glancing down at the steak knife in his hand. Shirley carefully stood up, so as not to alert him.

"Jay...I can't stand to see you like this," she continued. "Please let me help you."

Jay turned his head slightly. "I don't need your help!"

With the last word, he turned and swung the knife at her. Shirley ducked and quickly moved past him. She ran through the living room, dashing through a door. Jay quickly pursued, managing to get into the doorway as Shirley tried to close it.

"Ah!" Shirley strained to close the door as Jay still tried to force his way in.

At that moment, Chloe entered the house, pausing as she saw Jay trying to force his way into the room. "Jay!" she called out sternly.

Jay pulled back, allowing Shirley to fully close the door, and then jammed the steak knife through the edge of the door and its frame. He then looked up at Chloe.

Shirley sank to the floor, leaning against the door, sobbing. "Jay....you were the only one who believed me...why did this have to happen?"

"What are you doing!?" Chloe demanded.

"Shirley....she doesn't want it, but I have to give her the gift," Jay responded.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"It's...the greatest gift that I've ever been bestowed with," Jay continued, gently resting his hand on his chest. "It's...filling me up....I can sort of feel myself floating away."

Chloe gave him an odd look. "Jay, you're not making any sense."

As if on cue, Will, Norma, and Moses entered the house behind Chloe.

"You'll understand when you wake up," Will said calmly.

Chloe turned her head slightly. "When I wake up?" she asked as the group surrounded her.

Hearing the voices, Shirley stood up, looking through the door's window. "Oh no....Chloe, run! They'll hurt you!"

"Wh...what's going on?" Chloe began to reach for her sword, but Will quickly grabbed her arm. She pulled her arm slightly, but Will's grip was strong and firm. They're serious.... she thought.

"Don't fight it," Will instructed.

Chloe glared at him. "That'll be the day...."

In a sudden movement, she threw her elbow back, striking Moses in the middle of his face. She then threw the same arm forward, punching Will in the face. Behind her, Norma grabbed a planter, nonchalantly smashing it into the back of Chloe's head, stunning her. As she reeled, Moses tackled her to the ground.

Shirley gasped in horror. Oh no, Chloe...I have to help her!

She tried to rush out to Chloe's aid, only to find that the door would not open. Shirley continued to jiggle at the doorknob, which turned just fine. But something was holding the door shut.

Come on...why won't it open? she thought frantically.

Once Chloe was on the floor, Moses straddled her waist, while Jay moved in to restrain her arms. Norma crouched down low, carefully watching Chloe's facial expressions and cackling insanely, while Will watched the scene without any expression.

"Ahh! No!!" Chloe screamed as she kicked and struggled, but it was all in vain.

Moses leaned in, opening his mouth and pressing it down hard on hers. Chloe's eyes widened as she felt something crawling into her mouth like needles. It crawled down her throat and down her body.

Shirley continued to pound on the door until she realized it was too late. "No!! Chloe!!" she cried, sobbing, and realizing that she had never felt this helpless since Fenimore died.

Once finished, Moses and Jay released the knight and stood up slowly. Along with Will and Norma, they all looked down at the prone knight, whose body twitched as blood poured out from the corners of her lips.