Chapter 12

"Your Friends are your Enemies!" I proclaimed. I turned to Alice and asked "Does this scene look familiar?"

"Yes" She answered "*Gasp* Syphile!"

"What's the meaning of this?" Masquerade inquired

"Oh, just another experiment of the Nashida clan. The last one to be exact" I replied "What now Alice? What do you feel now?"

"I…"

I laughed triumphantly. All of my years of planning are bearing fruit.

"I remember now…" Mark said "I'm Dezyn, just like how Alice is Masquerade. He would just take control of me while I pass out and remember nothing."

The mentioned names turned their heads away, trying to forget that past.

"Alice Gehabich, you are the reason why I am doing this! Masquerade sacrificed himself to you. In other words, you took Masquerade away from us!"

"You're getting it all wrong! It was my own decision to give myself up."

"Give yourself up for whom?"

"To Alice…" Masquerade weakly said

"Why did you never think of the others that cared for you?!" I tearfully said

"There are others that cared for him? I… I never thought of that"

"It's not your fault, don't feel guilt about it Alice" Shun said as he tried to calm her

"Tell me then, who cares for me?"

"I'll try to name a few. Mark and I, Ken, Nightraze, blue-wind, C.G, Seit…."

"Alright, you can stop now…"

"They won't appreciate it if I can't finish the list. You sure? …"

"Yes!" He said beaten "I never thought someone else cared for me aside from you…"

"Mark, let's go. Time to bring this show to an end" I ordered

"You wouldn't accept me anymore… I can feel it" He addressed to Shun and Masquerade

"But, you're our…"

"Can't you see? I could have killed all of you, if it had not been for Syphile's order. The 354 murder victims and 142"

"153" I corrected

"*sigh* 153 rape victims under Dezyn's name… I just…"

"Dezyn is an uncontrollable creature… and he was my enemy" I pointed out "But he agreed to be my confidant until the end of my plan. Then, I'll give myself to him. My life to be precise. It would be my final act of penance."

I then broke down in tears. Still, I continued what I was saying

"I never wanted to do this. I just… I just…Arghhhhh!!!" I was cut off from what I was saying as a sharp, stabbing pain pierced through me. I bowed my head for a short moment. I wiped my tears and resumed talking.

"See the other expire before your very eyes!"

"Something is wrong here." Shun said

"Yes, very wrong." Masquerade added "She wasn't like that as I know."

"Maybe a rush of emotions?"

"Yes, or something else. She seems to be holding back something…"

"......."

"All you need… is a friend." Alice said "It's loneliness that got you into this"

"No! You wouldn't understand!"

"Yes we would. We already felt it once, and we wouldn't want others to feel it too. That's why Alice and I came to be what we are now"

"But she's probably going to break up with you now, Shun" Mark commented

"Shut up…"

"Thank you for your concerns…" I said as my tone changed "but there's no foiling my plan now!"

The room suddenly erupted into flames, trapping everyone but Mark, Alice and me.

"Stop! Please…. It's me that you want. Let them go… I'll come with you. "

"This makes things a whole lot easier. Fine" I agreed "Set the prisoners free, Mark"

He complied with my order and the prisoners were released from the glass chambers. The flames died soon after.

"Don't even try to follow us. Or she'll never come back alive." I advised as we ran off. Mark followed closely behind.

*************

I silently followed Syphile through the winding corridors of the mansion. After a while, we stopped and entered a small room. She went ahead and I followed after Mark. Syphile and I were face to face. Then, I saw a knife on top of a table near her. I'm afraid of what she might can easily kill me.

"Don't worry, she just want to talk things out." Mark said "I hope"

"Away with you, brother."

Mark followed her command and went out of the room. He proceeded to walk in the path we just took until he was gone.

"Now Alice, tell me" Syphile started "Why? Why did you save them? You could have easily escaped"

"Because, they mean something to me, especially Masquerade"

"What's our difference? Masquerade also means something to me."

"As what?" I inquired

"As my master. He saved my life. And I want to repay him by giving him a body of his own. But that was the past"

"What about now?"

"How would YOU be able to understand when you know nothing about him?! While I; I spent more time knowing him than you do"

"You're right… I know nothing much about Masquerade. But I do know one thing… That he's always there to guide and protect me"

She turned around and slammed her hand in the nearby table. I could hear her sobbing. I tried to comfort her but she asked me to stay back. She continued

"Why did he choose you? It could have been Runo or me. I gave my whole life for him… and now, I feel betrayed"

"Uh… Runo?"

"Yes…He felt something for her long ago when he sees her even she's an enemy. Hydranoid once said something about hormonal changed or something like that. But still!"

"I see. It looks like I need to persuade him to be with you"

"Thank you Alice, you're so kind. Why are you such a kind hearted person? Even to those who could kill you?"

"I don't know… I feel that I need to help others"

"I wish that I could say the same… Arghhhh…."

"I can help you overcome your emotions." I offered

"No, get away! Run before I…Arghhhhh! *evil laugh* Now that your chat with her is over, I believe your time is up."

Syphile took the knife on the table and turned to me.

"The only way to set me free from THIS is to kill whoever brings me this misery. And that is you! " She said as she lunged forward.

Everything then moved slowly. My vision flickered between what is before me and what happened in my life. So, this is what feels to see your whole life flash before your eyes. I closed my eyes and waited for my end.

*drip, drip, drip, drip *

A warm liquid slowly flowed through my arm. I opened my eyes and noticed it was blood. I went pale. It didn't hurt, but why is there blood flowing through my arm? I looked up and screamed in horror.

************************

I quickly ran to find where Alice and Syphile are. I worry that another life might be lost. I continued on and search every room that I pass. No such luck. I carried on.

I can feel two different auras also trying to search for them. Who will find them, and will we be able to do it before Alice's life expires? These questions ran in my mind. I want to do this as an act of penitence. I feel responsible for this incident. It shouldn't have happened if I wasn't involved in it. Wait, what's gotten into my mind! Right, the words of a man must never be broken. Darn it.

I managed to find the two, and just in time. Syphile's already planning to finish Alice off. I immediately ran into her path to block the knife.

*drip, drip, drip, drip *

I successfully prevented the knife from reaching Alice, but at my own cost. The knife managed to wound me deeply and is lodged in my arm. My blood flowed and fell in Alice's arm. I looked at Syphile and saw her shocked at the turn of events.

Then, Alice screamed…

End Chapter 12: Savior (Syphile/ Alice/ Mysterious)

No, Bakugan certainly DOES NOT belong to me.

That's another tribute. This time, it's for the readers. Too bad Masquerade asked me NOT to complete the list. I'm terribly sorry to those who are not mentioned.