Hey guys! I'm super happy to say that whatever writers block I've had with this story has completely evaporated. Fueled by fun-size Butterfingers and two liters of Dr. Pepper, I have successfully devised the ending to Hostage in two chapters. This, and then next.
And lucky for all of you, I might just have content enough for a sequel! I'm so happy right now.
Oh, by the way, happy holidays! I didn't update in time to say it when it was actually the holidays, but I still have New Years, so it still fits. I hope this count's as a late Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza/whatever present from me. :3
Warnings: A little more swearing in this one, some blood (which is a stupid thing to warn about, because it's not like it's visual. But hey, I want to make this warning section meaningful,) and I guess... a major plot twist? I don't know. It gets good here though.
AND IT'S A LONG CHAPTER! –High fives everyone-
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Stanley Dickenson picked at a fingernail, cursing the slowness of the elevator. Behind him, weak from sickness, was the youngest member of the white tigers. Holding him up was a large man with a bandana wrapped around his head, and beside them, Victoria Slade. There were only two other men still with them, as the others had left to place bombs in the building and ready the helicopter.
"Bloody hellfire, what is wrong with this elevator that it must move so slowly?" He asked himself in a hushed voice, riddled with anger. After giving up on picking off the hangnail, he decided the best method of removing the pestering outcrop of skin on his finger would be to bite it off. As his thumb was pressed against his lips, the boy behind him spoke.
"They'll find you. Even if I'm dead, they'll find out it was you and you'll be caught." Kevin said with a weak, but steady voice. Dickenson paused before glancing over his shoulder at him.
"Well if you'd be dead, why should you worry about that?"
Kevin chewed on his lip nervously. The man behind him tightened his grip on the boy's shoulders, as if to warn him that harm would come if he didn't shut up. Still, Kevin persisted.
"Just let me go, please, I won't tell anyone... I promise."
Dickenson smiled, and cooed with laughter for a moment. Kevin was getting desperate as the elevator grew closer and closer to their floor.
"I'm sure you wouldn't tell anyone, my dear boy, but I've already got a seat saved for you on the helicopter. It would just be rude to the pilot if you weren't to show." He snickered sarcastically. The man holding Kevin chuckled and sneered while Slade looked down at the child with the utmost pity.
"The police have helicopters out there. What makes you think you'll get away from them?" Kevin asked, closing his fingers into frail fists.
"That, Mr. Ki, is why the power to this entire tenth city will go out the second we step onto the roof. Police will have to set up generators for their equipment to work, and in that time, we'll have gotten into the helicopter and been on our merry way."
"Not to mention that the helicopter waiting for us is a police helicopter. Or at least, it looks like one." One of the men behind them said, laughing.
Kevin let his eyes fall to the floor, tears stinging them as he refused to blink. Someone had to save him within the next twenty seconds, or he would disappear from the radar and never return.
"Get away from him you bastards!" A shrill cry from about half way down the hall brought everyone's heads around. Kevin looked up, a few teardrops falling away from his face before his eyes fell upon the one person he had hoped to see again, though until just then doubted he ever would.
"Rei!" He gasped, shaking fingers falling out of the weak fists he had been holding. Three things happened following his cry, all occurring at roughly the same time. The elevator door opened, the two men behind Kevin, Slade, and the man holding him turned with guns at the ready, and Dickenson grabbed hold of Kevin's shirt and flung him into the elevator.
"Get in there and hold him, you idiot!" Dickenson roared at the man who had been clutching Kevin. Slade hesitated before pulling out her own gun, but didn't aim it at anyone as Dickenson stepped into view of the two approaching bladers, shielded by the two other men.
Kevin, who realized that this was his last chance at freedom, dove toward the hallway only to be caught by the man named Lloyd and held back. After a struggle, Kevin broke free and threw himself between the closing doors, just making it out before they sealed shut, trapping Lloyd inside. Landing on his left leg, Kevin stumbled and fell to the floor, the bullet wound burning in pain. Standing above him, looking down blankly, stood Victoria Slade, gun in hand. Kevin clenched his teeth and pushed himself back up, jumping as Slade snapped out of her trance and grabbed his arm tightly.
"Congratulations, boys, you've shown a great deal of bravery to have continued up to the rescue of this retched little boy. What a shame it will be when the world finds out you are both dead. The Beyblading world will never be the same." Dickenson began poetically. Kai growled.
"Save it, you fat prick." He spat, watching the two men before Dickenson cautiously. One was pointing a gun at Rei, while the other him. Both had stern, solemn faces. Kai promised himself that they wouldn't be the last faces he ever saw.
"Oh, young Hiwatari, I'm afraid that kind of attitude won't help you here."
Rei growled, bringing the CEO of the BBA's attention to him. A smile spread across Dickenson's face.
"Rei, my boy, no hard feelings. I promise to keep your little friend alive a while longer."
Rei took a deep breath, and spoke softly, smoothing his anger. "You know what? I don't care that you're the one behind it all. I don't care that you've ruined the BBA, or even that you're willing to kill Kevin just so after all this shit you can keep your goddamn business." He said, anger beginning to show. "But I do care about Kevin. And you've hurt him."
Kai stepped in before Rei got mad enough to lunge forward and attack the armed men.
"Basically, Stanley, by hurting that kid, you've screwed yourself over."
Dickenson snorted with laughter. "And why is that?"
A pause, as Kai and Rei exchanged glances. Kevin looked passed the men and tugged to get away from Slade's grip, but couldn't take his eyes off of Rei. It was then that Rei looked toward him, making eye contact. As pleading violet eyes met focused golden ones, an understanding was made instantaneously, and Rei nodded. Kai smiled, and in the same time it takes a streetlight to chance from red to green, he had whipped out a handgun and pointed, aimed, and fired at his two targets. With excellent accuracy, both men flew back as the led pounded into them, hitting the floor. One writhed in pain while the other fell still. Dickenson jumped, suddenly realizing the sudden turn of events. Kai steadied his hand and aimed at the head of the BBA.
"What did I tell you?" He murmured, smirking. Rei pulled out his own gun and looked once again toward Kevin, who was hesitant in what to do. Struggling against Slade wouldn't do him any good. Rei suddenly realized the thick gauze that wrapped around his arms and legs. He had been hurt even more. Anger tore at Rei's heart like a cat clawing to get out of a small box. His eyes refocused on Slade, with nothing but the longing for revenge glowing in his glare.
Dickenson swallowed, and considered the situation. He was at gunpoint, for the first time in twenty years. On the plus side, he had the boy right beside him, and that would come in handy. Reaching over, Dickenson snagged Kevin by the neck and pulled the young teenager before him, pulling a gun out of his back pocket and pressing it against Kevin's temple. Rei took a half step forward before Kai caught him, not lowering his gun. Kevin squirmed and whimpered slightly. Slade started before setting her jaw.
"Victoria, get the elevator. Now." Dickenson instructed bitterly, a sneer curling his lips. "Is this the reason you two boys have been so bold today? This little brat? If you want him back so badly, Kon, why not come over here and get him?"
Rei seethed. Kai widened his stance. Victoria hit the button on the elevator. Kevin bit his lip and blinked back more tears. Everyone remained silent.
"No? And why not, Rei? After all, he is like a little brother to you. Or... is he?"
"Shut the fuck up, Dickenson-" Kai started, still not lowering his weapon. Stanley cut him off.
"I'm not going to kill him. He's small enough; he'd make an excellent test subject for a friend of mine. It's for the better that he comes; he'll be taking part in some important medical studies. You two, on the other hand... Come to think of it, your deaths would be wonderful publicity. Yes... I think it's for the best you too die here."
With those words spoken, Stanley re-aimed his weapon at Kai. Kevin, through the fog and fatigue of a fever, caught on quickly and played dead weight, pulling Dickenson down as he dropped himself to the floor. A single round was fired, smashing a potted plant that sat innocently on a table against the wall of the hallway. Kai jumped, swore, and looked with pity at the foliage now spread across the floor, while Rei broke into a run toward his childhood friend, and once respected elder.
Rei grew closer and closer to the pair struggling on the floor, Kevin doing his best to get the gun away from Dickenson while the older man tried to make it to his feet. Just as Rei was about to dive onto Dickenson, however, Slade stepped into his way and aimed her gun, firing. Rei felt the intense pain of a bullet ripping across his arm and pulled back, barking in pain. After only a second of examining the wound, Rei decided it was shallow enough to keep going, and before Slade could refocus the gun, he had dove for his own weapon, lying idle on the floor. From behind her, Dickenson struck Kevin across the forehead with the butt of his gun, rendering the young teen unconscious if only for a moment. Free of the struggling neko-jin, Dickenson rose to his feet and smiled, catching his breath. Suddenly, an overwhelming feel of confidence surrounded him. Though it was an unwanted delay, the plan would continue on as planned, with the only alteration being the death of Rei Kon and Kai Hiwatari.
Of course, the second he thought this, the sound of gunfire ripped through the air and pounded into his upper leg, right about the spot where Kevin had been shot all that time ago. Yelling and dropping his gun, Dickenson fell to the ground beside Kevin as the boy began to regain consciousness. From down the hall, Kai smiled and lowered the gun.
Direct hit. He thought smugly. It was the first time he had shot a senior citizen, and he didn't feel a shred of guilt. Recognizing this and a self achievement, Kai happily turned his attention to Rei and Victoria Slade.
Slade, standing with her weapon trained on Rei, was undeterred by her bosses state of being. Something about Rei Kon intrigued her. So much initiative toward helping another human being... Though she had grown a strong liking toward her little sweetheart, she was still dumbfounded at the White Tiger's devotion to his young teammate.
"You." Rei seethed, standing slowly, gun tightly in his grasp. "You're the one who starting this whole thing."
"Indeed I am-" Slade began in her smooth voice, but was cut off by a bullet hitting her hand, sending the gun flying to the other side of her hallway, and blowing off two fingers in the process. Screaming and pulling back, Victoria gasped in shock and looked up at the neko-jin, eyes wide. She grasped her hand, blood streaming down both of her wrists.
"You shot Kevin three times. You hurt Mariah. You shot me. And you got away with it. Give me one good reason not to kill you here and now."
Kai took a step back. Perhaps it was best he stay out of that battle for a little while longer... He looked toward Dickenson, grasping his leg in pain. The old man seemed focused on his leg, and his employee, but couldn't decide which was more important. Kevin pushed himself up onto his elbows and tried to turn so that he could see what was going on.
"Well?" Rei seethed. It was unlike him to feel so much hatred toward anyone, and yet, the only thing he wanted to do was to kill this woman.
Slade was facing a different problem. She didn't want this to continue. She didn't want to run out the door of the roof and escape with a helicopter, only to do it all again at some other location, with other people. She didn't want to take orders from Stanley Dickenson, and she didn't want to shoot children. Though she hadn't realized it until then, Slade began to recognize that she would be better off dead. This life had nothing more for her. So, instead of answering the question, she straightened out and spoke freely.
"Allow me the dignity of a final farewell to my sweetheart." She said solemnly. Rei, expecting the woman to beg for her life, paused and nodded, glancing at Kevin for an okay. His childhood friend was now kneeling on the floor, facing them, breathing quickly. He looked from Rei to Slade and caught her eyes, recognizing a sincere sorrow in them.
"I do not regret what I have done to you, honey. I regret that my actions have brought you to this place. All my life I've wanted to find some reason for the things I've done, and I think you've become that reason; you're the first person I've given a damn about other than myself since I was young. And if it weren't for you, I would have probably shown more force toward these two," she said motioning toward Kai and Rei with her one whole hand, "rather then just stand there. You've helped me come to the realization that I'm better off dead. Thank you."
Kevin just stared at her, eyebrows furrowed slightly. So, basically, this woman was going to let Rei kill her because Kevin was a good hostage. What a positive thing to say to a budding teenager. Of course, as she ended the short speech, she turned her attention back to Rei and she pointed to her heart.
"Go ahead. You've worked so hard to do it, after all."
But Rei couldn't kill her. The urge, the hate, the anger, the longing for revenge, it all vanished after hearing what Slade had to say. Rei just stood there, unsure of what to do. Slade, who had closed her eyes, opened one to see if Rei was about to take the shot your not. Realizing he was hesitant, Slade opened both eyes and looked at him sadly.
"Please."
Nothing. Rei had wanted her dead when he thought she was a sadistic, homicidal maniac, not when she was asking for him to kill her. The scene, however dramatic, did not stop Dickenson from sitting up and grabbing Kevin, planting the tip of his gun firmly against the side of his head. The attention of the three others in the hallway was instantly turned toward him as Rei forgot about Slade completely, and Slade gasped at the situation. Kai slowly began to move forward, gun lowered but still tight in his grip. Kevin cried out in shock, and squirmed in the surprisingly strong grasp of the older man.
"Touching, really, but I think it's about time to keep moving. Slade, feel free to shot yourself, you're no longer part of my establishment. As for you two, you can do one of two things. Say goodbye to your friend, or say goodbye to your lives."
"Or neither." From a doorway nearest to Dickenson, a firmiliar, firm voice sounded. The chairman of the BBA looked around, startled, to see Lee's foot flying toward his face. It made contact, sending the man flying back to the ground. Kevin scrambled to his feet the second he could and dove behind Lee for protection. He had been in the hands of the bad guys long enough, and was more than happy to let someone else take care of them.
It was then that Kevin recognized Mariah in the doorway of the stairwell. He limped toward her quickly, throwing his arms around her and burying his face into her shoulder, finally letting himself cry. She returned the hug with greater passion, eyes still glued to Stanley Dickenson, unbelieving. Behind her, three other figures appeared out of the stairwell. One, a short Indian boy, stopped short at the sight of the two dead bodies on the floor, and whipped out an inhaler to help with his shock. The other two, one Caucasian and one African-American, didn't seem that started by the bodies so much as the guns, blood, and Victoria Slade. They both remembered her from when they had helped in the first hostage situation. Though Snakelock looked on, Ripple looked down at the shorter boy who refused to let go of Mariah. He looked up, tears welling in his stunningly violet eyes, and made contact with Ripple.
"Hi." He blurted, his voice shaking from the crying. Ripple allowed himself a half smile.
"Hey kid. 'Member me?"
Kevin shook his head and loosened his grip on Mariah. "N-no... sorry..."
"'Sokay. I'm Ripple."
"Hi Ripple. I'm K-Kevin..."
"I know."
Mariah pulled herself away from Kevin reluctantly, and guided him back behind her before returning her attention toward the rest of the people in the hallway.
Dickenson was on the ground, Lee standing over him threatening, looking even more pissed then he was the time Kevin had come to training with a black eye from being beaten up. Mariah only quickly remembered how Lee had spent the next two days plotting, hunting, and reaping revenge on the guy who had done it. Though they didn't always show it, Lee and Rei cared about Kevin more then the younger realized. It was a brotherly bond of sorts. The three looked out for each other. Rei was armed with a gun, which surprised Mariah, and instilled both relief and fear in her heart at the same time. Kai, who was hardly in her site and farther down the hallway was also armed. Victoria Slade, much to Mariah's surprise, was neither armed nor attempting to harm anyone. He was missing two fingers, her arms were covered in her own blood, and she had an aura of defeat about her. Mariah, focused so intently on this, jumped when Kevin tapped her shoulder.
"Mar, we need to get out of here, he's sent some on his people to put bombs in the building."
Mariah jumped, and gave him her full attention. "What?! Are you sure? Where? When?"
Kevin recoiled a little at her sudden outburst of worry. It gained Rei's attention though, who looked away toward them. Lee continued to stare fixedly at Dickenson with betrayal and hate evident in his expression, while Kai and Slade didn't seem to hear what Kevin had said.
"I don't know, but I heard Dickenson tell them to 'go rig the bombs', because we were about to 'fly out', or something..." Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over Kevin, and she swayed slightly, falling back into Ripples arms. He was in no condition to be the situation he was in, but then, none of them were.
"An excellent point, my dear boy." Dickenson said, suddenly acknowledging Kevin. "You wouldn't want to all be blown to heaven, now would you?"
Finally, Kai had had enough. A leader by nature, Kai had decided that he had had his full of standing in the background and listening. He was going to take this into his own hands, and not a moment too late.
"Alright, Dickenson, cut the crap. What the hell is going on?"
The older man chuckled, sitting up. Lee took a threatening step forward, only briefly looking up at Rei. "In exactly..." Dickenson checked it Rolex, "5 minutes and 46 seconds, this building will be blown to kingdom come. The smart thing for you all to do would be to run, if you value your lives."
Silence. No one knew whether or not to trust his words, but unwilling to be blown up, eyes drifted toward Slade.
"... He's telling the truth." She said after a moment, staring at Dickenson. The older man smiled at her, but the disappointment in her betrayal was definitely there. At those words, Lee reluctantly turned away from Dickenson and raced toward the doorway. Rei began to follow before pausing and grabbing hold of Slade's arm, pulling her along.
"No, I deserve death-" She began, but it was useless.
"No one deserves to die." Rei said sternly, looking at Dickenson one last time, before turning toward the stairwell. Ripple had already gotten Kevin onto his back with Snakelock's help, and with Mariah and Mohan going first, they followed after, only to stop when Lee called them. The elevator had arrived.
"It'll be a hell of a lot shorter." He said, having not forgotten the long climb up the stairs. The order was the same. Mohan, Mariah, Ripple and Kevin, Snakelock, Lee, Rei and Slade all boarded the spacious elevator. Surprisingly, it was Slade who held the door for Kai, turning to look at Rei while she waited patiently for the Russian blader.
"I don't want to go to jail, Kon. I will not go to jail."
"No, you won't." Mariah said, glaring at her. She had no idea why Rei had brought her, but Mariah wasn't going to protest; they didn't have time. "You'll go to a mental institution."
"No better." Slade breathed, eyes falling on Kevin. He had been let down from Ripples back when it became necessary that all he would be doing was standing, and Mariah had her arms wrapped around him protectively. He avoided Slade's eyes.
"Kai, hurry up damnit!" Lee called, changing the subject. The pressure to get away from the building was rising quickly.
Outside the elevator, Kai was standing over Stanley Dickenson, gazing down at him with a blank stare.
"Run along, my boy." Dickenson said with a smile. Kai snorted.
"Why don't you, Stanley. I'd much prefer finding you later and killing you when there aren't so many police around."
The older man laughed. "Are you really going to let me live? After all this?"
Kai remained silent a moment, ignoring Lee's second call. After a pause he smiled.
"You're going to die either way. All that matter's is if you want to be killed by me now while you're on your knees, or later while you're running and hiding."
The smile vanished from Dickenson's face as Kai turned and walked to the elevator, stepping in a letting the door closed, leaving he old man to his choice. The elevator descended quickly, and as the doors opened, they were once again faced with a wall of S.W.A.T. team members, thick plastic shields and nightsticks in all.
Once the word was spread, the building was evacuated of whoever was left in it. The bladers were taken to the hospital quickly, and the buildings within a one block perimeter were emptied and the streets were cleared. Then, in the exact time Dickenson said it would, the huge hotel blew up, windows blowing out, fire and smoke billowing up to the sky from random spots along the length of the building until it calmed down. Smoke still poured from the broken windows, yet as the helicopters circled at a distance and fire crews set to work getting the ruins under control, no one seemed to pay much attention to the sound of a helicopter disappearing from the top of the roof, cloaked by the smoke and night sky.
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xChewy: FRICK. I rock. Oh yeah. -dances-
Kevin: I'm safe! I'm finally safe!
Slade: I have a soul! Yay!
Kai: I'm so badass!
Mariah: Why is everyone proclaiming the obvious.
Rei: Mariah is a spoilsport!
Everyone: Yay!
Mariah: -glare-