SOUL EATER: ~AFTERMATH~

Chapter 16 - Escaping Death's Watchful Eye... The Stubborn Guardian?

Dani and Jake were sitting in class listening to the rumors circulate like a trail of gunpowder after being ignited. From student to student the tales became wilder.

"I heard that new kid was expelled for killing a teacher." someone whispered.

"Well, I was told that he attacked Lord Death himself!" someone else said.

"THAT'S IT!" Jake shouted slamming his hand on the table. He stood up and headed out of the room.

"Jake where are you going?" Dani asked catching up to him.

"I'm going to find out just what Lord Death is planning to do with Messor."

"WHAT? But he tried to kill you! How could you be worrying about him?"

"I'm not worried about him, I just want to know what Death is really up to." he said reaching the door to the Death Room. He didn't even knock before entering.

"Lord Death!" he nearly shouted.

"Huh? Yo! How's it going Jake?" Death gave a thumbs up.

"Don't 'yo' me. What are you going to do with Messor?" he couldn't help but be serious.

"Oh, him? He left... Yeah. Isn't coming back either." Death lied.

"Don't try to lie to me. I want to know what you really did with him!"

"We... um, overheard you mentioning 'black blood'?" Dani explained.

"Oh..." Death paused for a moment. "You don't need to worry about Messor. I've taken care of him and his weapon, Ryder."

"We also heard you talking to someone about extracting the black blood from him." Jake told him.

"... You children should be on your way now. You're not supposed to be barging into my Death Room without permission now." he said shoving them towards the door. Before they could reach it someone from the lower levels of the school opened it and fell inside. He was badly wounded and had trouble speaking.

"What happened?" Death stopped pushing Jake and attended to the fallen employee.

"He... he escaped..." they managed to choke the words out.

"WHAT?" Death shouted in a voice that didn't sound like his corky one the kids were used to.

"There was nothing I could do... I'm sorry..."

"Does he mean Messor escaped?" Jake asked ignoring the fact that Death was trying to help him.

"Now isn't the time for this Jake. Return to your class."

"No. If he's saying that Messor escaped then I want to go after him!"

"WHAT?" both Dani and Death sounded confused.

"Jake are you crazy he almost killed you last time and that was with Lord Death's help!" Dani said in a high pitched voice.

"She's right kiddo. I can't have you go looking for him. What if I'm not there to help you when you do find him? Besides the black blood coursing through his veins gives him a huge advantage over you." Death told Jake without actually looking at him.

"I don't care... He hurt me and Dani. I want to get him back."

"Jake, it's okay really! I don't care that he hurt me. I just don't want him hurting you." she was beginning to sound upset.

"Listen to your partner on this one... It would be suicide for you to search for him."

"Then I'll look for him without your permission." Jake turned and started making his way to the main entrance.

"JAKE!" Death's voice boomed from behind him. "...if you really want to go through with this be aware of one thing. While the black blood may make him powerful it is also very unstable. His body hasn't seemed to fully accept the blood, but it came very close during your fight with him a few days ago. If you find him try not to provoke him. It will only cause the black blood to bond with his body faster."

"Okay..."

"Well... you aren't going to let your meister go alone are you?" he asked looking at Dani.

"...No... I never would." Dani answered walking to Jake's side.

"He was headed to the east..." everyone was shocked at the injured man's willpower after being so badly injured.

"That's in the direction of the Witch's Mass. Jake if he makes it there I want you to leave him and report back to me. Do you understand?" Death sounded concerned.

"Yes sir. Let's go Dani."

The two of them were almost out of the building when they ran into Death the Kid. He was hanging posters symmetrically in the hallway with the help of Liz and Patty.

"What were you two talking to my father about?" he asked without looking away from his current project.

"We're going to look for Messor." Dani answered with disgust.

"OH! You mean the meanie who beat up your boyfriend?" Patty asked pulling on Jake's cheeks. Dani smacked the palm of her hand into her forehead.

"The very same." Jake answered for Dani, pinching Patty's cheeks back.

"Don't let him kick your ass again." Liz said sounding sarcastic but Jake knew she was being serious.

"I don't plan to. Come on Dani, we've wasted enough time already." he grabbed her hand and they finally got out of the building.

"Which way took to head east?" she asked him. He tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to a path that looked like it had been recently slashed into the trees. "Oh..."

They made their way along the fresh cut trail until it came to an open circle in the woods. Jake froze then slowly began to shiver.

"What's the matter?" Dani had started to ask but stopped when she saw what he was looking at. Tattered pieces of student's uniforms were laying on the ground with fresh blood stains on them. Jake looked at Dani and she could see the fear in his eyes.

"They must've been practicing when he came through..." Jake was trembling as he spoke. Dani covered her eyes and gasped.

"He can't get away with this... we have to find him now."

"Right..." Dani collected herself and seemed to have calmed down. Jake could tell she was still shaken up by the fact that Messor had killed some of their classmates. They continued until the reached the edge of the woods and came across a tall wall with a large wooden door in the center. A skinny man seemed to be standing guard. Next to him was a large dog with a spiked collar, its ears perked up when it saw the kids.

"Excuse me... but we need to go through we're looking for someone." Jake told the guard.

"Nobody goes through..." he said stepping forward. He was taller up close.

"You don't understand. We're searching for someone who went through here."

"Nobody's come through here... nobody is allowed to come through here. On the other side of this gate is a path that leads straight to the Witch's Mass and it's my job to defend it."

"You don't understand, we're following his trail and it led us here." Jake was beginning to get impatient.

"NOBODY HAS COME THROUGH HERE!" he was shouting now. The dog stood and bared its teeth when its master yelled.

"Jake... maybe Messor hasn't made it this far yet." Dani whispered in his ear.

"I AM GORDON MASATAKE! DEFENDER OF THE WITCH'S PATH! ME AND REX HAVE MADE SURE THAT NO ONE HAS GONE IN OR COME OUT OF THESE GATES! If you refuse to leave I will have no choice but to deal with you by force!" Gordon was yelling loudly.

"LOOK ASSHOLE! We're searching for a very important person and I'm certain he's gone through here. We're only wasting time by sitting here and listening to you introduce yourself now let us through!" Jake was yelling back at him.

"...So be it. REX!" he shouted holding his hand out. Jake and Dani watched, stunned, as the large dog transformed from a vicious looking animal into an even more vicious looking battle axe.

"That dog is a weapon?" Dani was amazed at its transformation. Gordon swung Rex in front of him then held him like a master would wield an their weapon.

"It looks like we don't have a choice Dani." Jake said holding out his hand. Dani nodded as she changed.

"NOBODY WILL GO THROUGH THESE GATES, EVER!" he shouted at Jake and Dani.

Jake held her in front of himself. "Alright then... We'll just see about that."

Chapter 16- FIN