Chapter 17

Cassidy shrieked, watching the huge white bulb of a plant swipe her to the side. Rolling across the cement, she hit the railing of the monkeys pen. Squeals and barking erupted from the startled animals, who leaped in a frenzy, punching the walls of their cage. The brunette winced at the sudden and chaotic sound, her dog ears drooping.

" Aw, shut up!" She growled, kicking the fence whilst still sprawled on the ground. Her calf was suddenly squeezed tightly, as she let out a yelp of pain.

A thin green vine clenched around her leg, cutting off her circulation and proceeded to lift her off the ground. She shrieked, feeling as if her leg was being pulled apart. She quickly shut up and sputtered, feeling a warm liquid drip on her mouth and lips as she dangled upside down. Glancing up she caught site of her leg cut up and bleeding from the plants appendages. Her eyes popped, and she heaved heavy breaths until finally breaking out into guttural screams. More blood dripped onto her face as she furiously swiped it away.

" Saline!" She cried, eyes red and gushing with tears. " Saline! Saline!"

The plant made a plopping noise, as the top slowly bubbled with a clear liquid. Tiny droplets bounced off it's tip, landing on the green mew, who's voice was now hoarse from screaming. The liquid burned her skin, and she heard a slight sizzle. Shaking her body she held her arms out and summoned her weapon. What she didn't count on was the combined weight of her guitar pulling her against the vines even more. They clasped around her leg tighter, as Cassidy let out a strained scream, dropping her weapon. Her cheeks pulsed with the blood rushing to her head as her leg lost all feeling. She moaned, her arms dangling limply. A gust of wind hit her, and suddenly she was falling. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and slowly place her onto the ground. She glanced up, eyes blurred not only by tears but by the dizziness that hit her. She saw a large cobalt blue eyes and face hidden under a silver masquerade mask. Her eyes slowly rolled back as she felt him let go of her.

" Cassidy!" Saline sprinted to her side, catching sight of a figure disappear into the ever looming Florida tree's. She glanced at the girls bloodied leg, and quickly lifted it up against a tree to prevent more blood loss.

" Who let her go!" A shrill voice cried. " Aw! And they hurt my chimera! The stinker!"

Saline whipped around, summoning her weapon.

" You're plants not the only thing that's going to get hurt!" She sneered, propelling herself into the air. Raising her fist into the air she swiped at Tart, who in a panic teleported. In his place, a vine shot at her, almost hitting her in the stomach.

" I don't think so!" She growled when it tried to retract it's appendage. Grabbing the vine, she ripped it from its root. The plant let out an angry gurgle, spewing its juices in her direction. She shot her attack, the pink burst of energy barely blocking the fluids. Landing on the ground, she stood and sprinted. Attacking once more, she slightly hit it in its stalk. It instantly recovered, throwing a bunch of its whips in her direction. She attacked once more, destroying a few vines, but getting tangled in the rest. The gripped her entire body tightly, and she felt her skin split on her forearms.

" Ha!" Tart reappeared, pointing a victorious finger in her face. " I showed you hag face!"

Saline glowered in response.

" Don't get angry! If it makes you feel better-" Tart stuck his nose in the air. "-you helped me prove that I could do what Kisshu couldn't!"

" And what would that be?" Saline hissed, feeling a vine creep around her neck and squeeze.

" Killing you." Tart smiled darkly.

Saline closed her eyes and struggled to breathe as the vine gripped her neck tightly. She felt a slicing sensation and her eyes snapped open. Without thinking she set off her attack, hitting the vines, Tart and herself. Spiraling to the ground, she hit the top of a cage and then tumbled onto the concrete.

Tart floated next to her, holding his rib cage. Eyes spiteful and blazing with fury, he limped toward her.

" Listen here." He coughed. " We're going to suck your planet and your people of their essence and there's nothing you can do about it."

" What do you mean essence?" Saline mumbled, head still plastered to the ground.

" The very energy that keeps your planet together." Tart wheezed. " Without it there would be nothing holding your planets matter together and a giant black hole would form. Don't you idiots even know that much?"

Saline frowned inwardly. They didn't since Ryou didn't give them much information to begin with.

" How could you possibly do that?" She played dumb. " That's impossible!"

Honestly, she didn't think anything was impossible at this point.

" It comes from the center of the earth." He grinned. " The core- that's where we'll get it. As for how? It's really none of your business."

He stuck his tongue out but Saline's head was still face down on the ground. She heard a boom, and tart yelp.

" Get away from her you cross dresser!" Cassidy's voice bellowed. " You think you can screw up my leg and then pancake my best friend?"

She strummed her guitar once more, sending Tart onto his back once more. Running foreword, her dog like sense taking over, she zoomed up to the plant and strummed her guitar once more. The plant slightly tore, but soon reattached itself. Scowling, the green mew strummed again. Landing on her feet she kicked at the base of the giant plant. A rush of clear goo exploded out and Cassidy yelped as she jumped back, legs once again scorched.

" Damn." She cursed, but to her satisfaction the plant shook in what she supposed was pain. Reeling on her heel, she strummed once more at the base. Vines shot at her, catching her wrist by surprise. Yanking, she snapped them and fended the rest off with her guitar. Back flipping through the air, she sent another hit, flattening the ambitious vines. Tart gawked from his position on the ground.

" Yeah, you better be afraid you midget!" Cassidy screamed at him, face red with ire.

Swiping at a few petals, and ripping more vines, she ran foreword once more and summoned all her strength into her guitar. She strummed once more, screaming, and a hole burst into the plant. It let out a throaty gurgle, toxics exploding like a volcano. Cassidy landed on top of one of the zoo's concession stands.

" If you weren't eight years old, I'd punch the hell out of you!" Cassidy raised her fist.

" You don't scare me, bull dog face!" Tart replied feebly. Cassidy's eyes narrowed in malice. ". . .okay, maybe a little."

Cassidy jumped off the roof, and her bleeding leg gave out from under her. Falling on her butt, she hoped the small alien hadn't seen. Looking up she discovered that he'd disappeared. Crawling over to Saline, she placed a shaking hand on the pink mews shoulder.

" Saline!" Cassidy asked. " Are you okay?"

" I should be asking you that." Saline croaked out. " Is your leg alright?"

" No, I can barely feel it." Cassidy winced. " But your face. . .shit, your neck is bleeding!"

" It's okay." She rolled onto her back. " It's not like my jugular got cut or anything."

Cassidy winced at the others face. Her entire left cheek was red from a deep scrape, and black from the dirt and debris that she had scraped it against, and her lip was bleeding profusely. Cassidy's fingers hovered over the others neck, which was lined with purple welts on her busted skin and a dark, bloody cut rung around her flesh.

" It was a Amorphaphalus Decus Silvae." Saline mumbled. " It's rare; the zoo's going get mad."

" Whoa, how'd you know?"

" I read the placard on it's cage a few weeks ago when I came here." Saline tried to smile, but her split lip burned at the pull of her skin.

" You're arms are bleeding." Cassidy remarked.

" You're leg is purple from blood loss." Saline countered. " They'll send back up, don't worry."

" Here it comes now." Cassidy, who was now lying with her leg propped up, stared at Ryou's figure. He dashed towards them. Cassidy faintly noticed both her and Saline turning back to normal.

" Good, keep your leg propped up like that Cassidy." Ryou remarked, kneeling down. His eyes widened at Saline's face. " Saline, don't move!"

A black jeep rushed to them, halting a few feet away. Keiichiro and Marissa jumped out, eyes bulging. Pulling the two girls into the jeep, Ryou sat next to them. Keiichiro started the car and pressed the gas. The car shot foreword.

" We're going to take you two to the café." Ryou said. " Going to a hospital might cause to much suspicion."

" Are you insane?" Cassidy coughed.

" Trust me." Ryou looked out the window. The café soon came into view, as Keiichiro skillfully avoided traffic. Keiichiro helped Cassidy come out, holding her up by putting her arm around his shoulders. Marissa also helped on Cassidy's other side, as they helped her into the café. Ryou grabbed Saline swiftly, lifting her out of the car and shutting the door with a kick. Walking into the hallway, he trailed after Keiichiro and Cassidy through a door and up stairs. Ryou placed Saline on a bed in one of the rooms and quickly retrieved the first aid kit.

" Go to sleep." He commanded. " We'll handle your parents, what you need now is to sleep."

" First. . ." She croaked, voice scratchy. " Tell me how the aliens are going to steal the earths essence."

" I don't know yet." Ryou responded. " I'll tell you everything tomorrow. For now, go to sleep."

Saline slowly closed her eyes and fell off into a dreamless sleep. In the other room, Cassidy struggled against Keiichiro, who tried to apply antiseptic.

" It burns!" Cassidy hissed. " I'm sorry, really, I'm trying to be still."

" I know." Keiichiro gave a tired smile. " Ryou could you help Marissa hold her down."Ryou sighed, and pushed Cassidy down with an iron grip. Cassidy blushed at the contact, which was barely noticeable considering her cheeks were always pink. Keiichiro continued to apply the antibacterial liquid to her cut up leg and soon bandaged it up.

" Do you think you can walk?" Keiichiro asked. Cassidy hesitantly got up, leg giving away momentarily. " Alright, lay down for an hour or so, I'll bring up some orange juice. You're probably just experiencing blood loss but you're okay."

Cassidy nodded, relief flooding her expression.

" I need to speak to Cassidy for a moment." Ryou smiled. Keiichiro looked at him with furrowed brows and exchanged a glance with Marissa. " It won't take long."

Keiichiro nodded and beckoned Marissa to fallow him out, closing the door behind him. Cassidy looked up at the blond nervously who kneeled down to look up in her eyes.

" I have a few requests I'd like to ask of you." He smiled once more. " It's a secret though, between you and I."

Cassidy nodded.

" I'd like to know a few things. . ." Ryou spoke quietly. " I've seen and heard a few things. . .Some people. . .if I tell, you have to do what I tell you. . .yes?. . .good."

He slightly lifted himself up and leaned into her ear, whispering. Cassidy's eyes widened and jaw dropped.

" WHAT?"

A/N: Ah! Secrets! It's pretty important to the plot. . .but I won't tell, you'll just have to read the next chapter. . .: )

Title of the chapter inspired by Kesha's song Take It Off. I was listening to it the entire time I wrote this; it's so addicting. Also, some of the chapter names have been changed to title's or excerpts of songs I listened to while writing them. I figured since the mew mews use music to fight, I should use song titles for the names of chapters.