Chapter 64------The Nightmare Begins

Kai blinked back the fear in his eyes, wishing it would go away, wishing that it was all just a dream.

A smirk, "You want her? Come and get her!"

Mai's limp body was dumped into the cockpit and the buzzing helicopter took to the skies with the wind thrashing in his face. Kai couldn't even take one last look at them and soon the helicopter had shrunk into a tiny dot against the starless sky. He stood there motionless, his mind subconsciously replaying the events of the last few hours. Kai punched the ground under his feet.

He had been careless.

-16 hours ago…-

"AND KRAIKEN IS OUTTA THE DISH!"

Her blue orbs grew wide with delight as the green beyblade soared through the air away from the beydish—a good sign, a very good sign. Everyone watched in anticipation for the landing, that one clattering that would shatter the peace of her opponent's heart and bring glory to her name. Like Max, Rei, Tyson and Kai, she wanted to be on par with the big boys.

Kraiken fell with a loud clank—and the crowd went wild!

"YEAH!" Mai made a ball with her fist as she savoured the victory. All around people were cheering, faces smiling, speakers blasting the good news. She loved the feeling of winning. It wasn't everything, but this time it mattered more than anything.

Now Kai could see for himself how hard she actually worked.

"Good" was all he said, simple, impassive and dominating. They never apologised but things were getting better. Mai was grateful even when he spoke five words to her in a day. She had learnt to accept the fact that they'd never come to terms with each other but at least he didn't hate her; not as much as that day. Although deep down inside she wished she could understand him. That way he wouldn't get mad at her all the time. Maybe Kai would even treat her better.

Wishful thinking perhaps, but it didn't hurt to hope.

…

Mai placed her tray on the table and pointed to a huge sausage on Tyson's plate, "What's that?"

"It's haggis. Want some?" He sliced a piece for her. Unpleasant thoughts invaded her mind as she eyed the oversized meat roll. "No thanks, I'll pass."

Mai wondered how it could taste so delectable. Its contents looked like mashed up intestines, liver, stomach and whatever unwanted parts of a cow or pig stuffed into some kind of skin wrap yet Tyson seemed to enjoy every morsel of it. Tala took one side-wards glance at Tyson's plate and made a face. Mai gave a little snort. Tala was like Kai, only slightly better. He talked little, showed little emotion and commanded respect, but he was warmer and didn't ignore you when you spoke to him; although his words seemed a bit distant at times. He looked good, he spoke well and he battled amazingly. The redhead she had accidentally bumped into turned out to be Kai plus so much more. And the more she talked with him, the more she grew to like him.

"Hey Kai, how about dinner tonight? You know, catch up on things. Just like old times." Spencer patted him on the back nearly making him choke on his food. Kai didn't know which one almost choked him, the 'just like old times' bit or the idea of eating dinner with Tala, but it was definitely not the pat on the back.

Seeing Tala again after so many years wasn't exactly a tearful oh-my-gosh-I-finally-found-you moment. The first time he saw Tala with Mai, he pulled her away, staring at him like he had seen a ghost. 'He isn't supposed to be alive,' he told himself, 'not after what we've done. Voltaire would never spare us.'

-Flashback-

"What're you doing here?"

"Competing in the tournament," Tala replied as-a-matter-of-fact.

Kai knew it was bullshit. Voltaire wasn't that easy to read, somewhere there had to be a motive. And Tala managing to escape was as believable as pigs flying. No one could escape Voltaire's grasp that easily. He'd hunt you down, wherever you were. The man was pulling the strings behind everything and Tala here was just the puppet.

-End of flashback-

"I'm fine with that," Tala's voice bounced him back to reality.

"So how about it Kai?" Spencer pressed. Kai felt the back of his neck burn. He didn't want to but Tala and the guys had acted like they had in the past when all of them were together in Biovolt watching each others' backs and laughing when they had the chance to. Kai wanted that friendship back; he wanted to patch things up with Tala. However a part of him still doubted the situation. There were certain parts of the story that sounded too good to be true.

Sensing Kai's hesitance, Tala reluctantly added after much thought, "Your friends can come too if they like."

"Really?"

The Russian smiled and nodded his head. He'd have to tweak his plan a bit but as long as he managed to lure Mai and Kai away, everything would go accordingly.

-Back to the present-

Kai pushed through the crowd until he reached the table— "Mai's gone! Tala took her!"

"WHAT?" All of them jumped out of their seats. Questions were thrown at Kai and the girls expressions crumpled into worrisome looks.

Riya grabbed at Kai's shirt, "Where is she? WHERE?"

For the first time Kai looked scared to speak. It was one of the extremely rare moments he ever showed fear. He didn't want to face reality; he didn't want to relive his past with Nala again. Mai screaming and being dragged behind a heavy metal door… "He…He took her."

"YOU IDIOT!" The Zeelan threw a punch at him. He was panting with rage. He had warned her! He had warned her!

-7 hours ago…-

Drex held the door for her and she stepped into the room feeling a little uneasy. Copellia sounded serious when she said she wanted to talk to her. "Hey," Mai greeted her best friend but froze when she saw who else was in the room. He looked up at her from the bed and then looked away like he was ashamed.

"Good," Copellia placed her hands together, "now the both of you can have a little chat. Me and Drex will just be waiting in here." She pushed Drex into the bathroom and closed the door.

Mai stood there like a fool. She made a mental note to get back at Lia for this. The two held an uncomfortable silence and Mai thought it wasn't fair that she was the one standing while Riya sat down. But she didn't dare move. She didn't dare do anything.

"Copellia…"

'He speaks!' Mai looked up.

"She wanted me to talk to you." His violet eyes met her stormy blue ones and stayed there till he could no longer force himself to look at her. Mai stayed quiet, was it her turn to speak? But what should she say? She continued to look at the person she once loved: Riya's hair had grown longer and slightly tousled and his face spotted a tan, probably a result of all the training he did. She never knew the reason why he left her. Maybe now was a good time to ask. The truth would hurt but at least she'd know. She opened her mouth—

"I know I shouldn't be doing this, maybe I don't even deserve your time." He fumbled a bit, staring down at his knuckles. His words hurt her. She'd give all her time to him if he'd only let her. "But, that guy you're with, the one with the red hair, stay away from him."

Mai furrowed her brows, "What?"

"The guy's no good. Just stay away from him okay?"

Her heart was ablaze with mutiny. He didn't even KNOW Tala! And here he was telling her that she should stay away from him like she belonged to him? After what he did to her? "So now you're dictating my life? Who're you to tell me who I should or shouldn't see?" Mai's voice rose.

"I'm just saying that you should be careful," He stood up, his tone matching hers. Why was she being so difficult?

"Why should you care? You're the one who LEFT me!" Mai wanted very much not to cry at the memory.

Riya kept still at her words. She had a point. He had left her, he shouldn't be caring. It was against the rules. But he never wanted to, he was forced to. He loved her; he just couldn't be with her. It was a sacrifice Mai couldn't know about.

"You left me," the girl sniffed, "you idiot!" She looked at him with crest-fallen eyes. Who was he to just drop her like that and then tell her what to do? Was she a toy to him? Something you just play with for awhile then forget, and then start remembering how much fun it was? Was she that easy? Was she nothing more?

Mai headed towards the door but Riya grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "Let me go!" Her arm shook under his grip but he only tightened it, a red patch slowly forming where his fingers touched her skin. "Just listen to me." But she continued to struggle. "Mai!" the way he said her name compelled her to look at him. Her hard eyes bore into his and she saw them search hers only to find anger and sadness.

"Just be careful around the guy," he finally managed to say and let go of her arm. Mai pulled it back defensively, still looking at him with all the anger she could muster against this beautiful being. She could never hate him, even if she wanted to, even if her training had been fuelled by the very essence of seeking revenge for what he did to her. It was what she told herself and Riya a long time ago: 'I could never hate you…I'll always forgive you. Always…'

She placed a hand on the door handle—her voice came in a soft whisper, "Did you ever love me?"

"Not anymore," Riya's words fired like a string of bullets. There was no hint of hesitation, no imperceptible croak or wavering that gave his feelings away. But the words left his mouth with a ton of regret and hurt. He had to grit his teeth and grind those emotions into nothingness which dispersed with the wind when he said it. It was a good thing that Mai was facing her back to him. She couldn't see the pool of anguish residing in his glossy eyes.

…

"Mou ippai! (Another one!)" Mai slammed the glass on the table.

"That's enough. You've already had three." Rei pushed her back into the upholstery that was starting to peel at the top. The scabrous leather irritated the back of her neck but Mai was too drunk to care. The girl let out a dry laugh, "Nanda Rei? (What?) This thing only has three percent alcohol in it! It's not like I'm drinking vodka or anything." She laughed again and signalled to the bartender for another glass. This was Riya's fault. She was getting drunk over Riya. This was pathetic, she didn't even drink! But she was being stupid. Riya was a jerk.

Tala's lips curled as he watched her. She was making things easier for him. The pill would knock her out for hours, and then Kai would come looking for her only to find his precious lying unconscious in a helicopter bound for Russia. Just thinking about it made his insides squirm with excitement. In just a few hours, he'd give Kai the biggest smack-in-the-face of his life. Oh but it didn't end there, no it didn't. They'd have more fun when Kai returned to Biovolt.

"I'll go get your drink," the redhead offered and got up. Smiling, he took the glass from the bartender and inconspicuously dropped the pill inside it. He swirled the glass a little, making sure everything dissolved before returning to the group. "Here." Mai took it and emptied the glass in one long draft.

"Okay that's enough Mai. No more for you." Rei pulled her hand back down just as she was about to call for another glass. Mai muttered something in Zeelan and slumped back in her seat. Her eyes scanned the room: there was the dance floor with its mess pool of sweaty bodies, the bar, the second floor where people flung their arms over the railings like meat hung out to dry, and her friends, all seated in a circle located in the corner of the dimly lit boom box. The girl laughed. Thinking about it, everything was so ridiculous, what was she so depressed about? She felt so light-hearted like there was nothing bothering her. Riya, the tournament, Kai, all of them were such trivial things. She had a life to go on living; she could drop these things like mud splat on the ground.

She could, anytime.

The music thumped and Mai's head grew heavy as every beat added to the weight on her head. Her head lolled back and she brought it forward again, opening her eyes wide. 'Why am I…?' She dismissed it for fatigue and just let the music fill her ears. She wasn't paying attention to what her friends were saying and the music was just sound, no tempo, no rhythm, entering one ear and out the other. She couldn't keep focus.

"C'mon," Tala pulled her up and led her to the dance floor. Mai just followed, she knew she was being asked to dance and her friends had merged into the mass of bodies along with her. However her brain was a blur, it was being left behind; it was her body that was moving forward, step by step, plunging her into impending danger.

Around her the shadows danced, looming in closer and drawing back again. 'Let me sleep, let me sleep,' her brain chanted. Someone touched her waist and she clumsily swatted the hand away. Her eye lids were protesting, threatening to shut themselves.

'Let me sleep…'

Her body stopped and the music played.

'Let me sleep…'

Her head fell forward and everyone danced.

'Let me sleep…'

She could see Tala and no one else. Where was everybody? Where...

"Dare ga… (Someone…)"

She collapsed.

'Tasukkete… (Help)'

Tala held the girl against his body, "Mai? Mai!" He searched the room for her friends. "Don't worry, I'll take you outside!"

…

Spencer's mobile rattled in his pocket. 'About time!' he was getting sick of making idle chitchat with Kai. He pressed a button and held it to his ears. He spoke in Russian, a language Kai hadn't rehearsed in years. Still, he understood every word. Spencer slid the mobile back in his pocket and got up, "We'll make a move first. Bryan here's getting too drunk. Right?" He gave his friend a playful shove. "Have fun," Spencer threw him a smile and walked off—

"Wait! What about Tala?"

"Oh, he already left. Had some business to take care of."

"What?" And then he remembered, 'Mai was with him!'

He ran after them.

…

Spencer and Bryan burst threw the swinging door and bounded up the stairs to the roof. They had never run so fast, Kai was like a serial killer behind them but they enjoyed the thrill of it.

Kai raced after them, all he could think of was Mai. Was she okay? Why did they want her? What was going on? Would he ever see her again? He wasn't going to lose her, was he?

'Mai!'

He pumped up the stairs.

'Mai!'

Spencer and Bryan's backs disappeared behind a door and he followed, past the door, emerging into a white light of revelation.

"Mai!"

The wind hit his face and he moved forward, halting at the bullet's line of fire. Kai's body stiffened, he could see Bryan and Spencer climbing into the helicopter, and Mai clinging to the devil himself. Tala held Mai with one arm, the other pointing a black shotgun at his so-called friend.

"Surprised, Kai?"

"Let her go!" Kai shouted over the wind but Tala just pulled Mai closer to him. The redhead stepped back slowly, signalling for Bryan to take the girl. Kai moved—

"Ah! I wouldn't do that if I were you, lest you want a big hole in yourself." Tala's gaze dropped and he smiled, "But maybe Voltaire wouldn't mind if I went for the leg?" Kai locked his jaws so tight he could grit the enamel off his teeth. He was helpless and he hated it. Every move they made on Mai made his heart do double duty. He was losing her, and Tala made sure he witnessed every minute of it.

"Why are you doing this? Mai's got nothing to do with you!"

"But it's got everything to do with YOU!" Tala spat out the 'you' like it was something revolting in his mouth. "Remember twelve years ago?" Kai's head jerked. "Do you know how much I suffered? And I waited Kai, every day I waited like a goddamn fool! But you never came." He took some time to breathe before continuing, "You took what was precious to me then, so now I'm returning the favour." A wicked smile cracked on his face as he climbed into the seat next to Mai.

"You want her? Come and get her!"

And the helicopter levitated above the ground as the wind beat in his ears. Kai shielded his face and when he finally removed his arm—

They were gone.