.Author's note. Hey look what I did! I finished a chapter in a decent amount of time! Yaaaay! It's a Christmas [in July] miracle!

Ehem, well the chapter is a little shorter than most of my other ones, but I really like where I ended it. The beginning was kind of rocky, but once I got to that page break halfway through, I flew. It was lots of fun to write this, especially the ending. I love parts like this one.

I also had a little fun with Riley here. I tried to twist her personality a little; because even though she's gone through everything she has, she still has been exposed to society for the last months between the events of Lie to Me until now and she is a teenager, so some of her thoughts should reflect a mixture between her upbringing and society/hormones. That's really what I've been trying to do throughout this fic, but I feel like in this one, it's the most evident.

Well, this is where the plot takes hold. I literally have nothing (besides my general plot) outlined from here on out, so things may get a little messy. It'll probably take a little time to get it all put together, so there maaay be a little bit of a delay in the next update (which honestly isn't very uncommon with this fic...).

But please, please, please tell me what you think of this chapter! The idea that inspired this basically is what motivated me to write the last two chapters or so, so I hope this is worth all of my excitement! It doesn't have to be a big review; anything is good for me and greatly appreciated! (Plus it helps me stay motivated with a story)

So with that said, enjoy this latest installment and R&R please, loves~! :)

—Chapter Five: Our Ultimatum

Aww man, I can't believe how late I am! My feet were moving double-pace this morning down the walk, running in place at the crosswalk till I was given the walk sign and then dashing across for all I was worth in hopes that no idiot would come flying through the intersection and mow me down. But I digress; this morning, I was pretty certain that I was running faster than most of the cars. I'm late, I'm late, I'm late! And I blame Max for it too! Him and his dumb dinosaur…

I shook my head to remove those thoughts, knowing they'll distract me and slow me down. Thankfully it was still early-ish so there weren't many people out walking around that I'd have to dodge or else face a head-on, catastrophic collision. Although there was hopscotch on the sidewalk that of course I couldn't just pass up.

Hop, hop-hop, hop, hop-hop, hop, hop-hop, hop—sprint!

After what seemed to take way too long, I finally got there, burst through the door (the jingling bell nearly scaring the crap outta me – I hadn't gotten quite adjusted to it yet), and basically collapsing on the floor while striving for breath. This commotion caught my boss's attention, so I quickly explained myself in the midst of my battle for air, "I'm so sorry I'm late! Ya see, this morning I went to put on my work uniform and it turns out that my friend's dino—er, dog chewed a hole in my blouse, so I had to look for a patch to sew on it, which took a really long time, and then I had to actually get it sewn on, which is a much more difficult task than it appears—" At this point, I showed off the funky, near-profane patch from a new anime called Free! sewn on my shoulder. "—I tried to get here on time! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It won't happen again!" Before I knew it, I was bowing more times than ever before, desperation leading my actions.

Then for some reason, Miss Greene began to laugh. Despite that I had no idea why, I did enjoy hearing such a sweet voice. But I stopped enjoying it as soon as she explained herself, "It's Saturday, honey. That means we don't open till ten."

I felt my face automatically deadpan. "Excuse me," I uttered, practically stomping over to the phone behind the counter, dialing quickly by stabbing each button, and as soon as I heard a half-hearted hello I was ready for bloody murder. "It's your fault, Max! I hold you personally responsible for the destruction of my work clothes, nearly getting hit by like five cars, and making me give an unnecessary apology to my boss for being early!"

Apparently Max had taken a nap after I left the house, because he didn't sound quite awake yet. "Eh? Riley? What are you talking ab—Hey, Chomp, don't eat that!" I heard the pattering of him frantically setting the phone down, quickly followed by some quick, light rebuking that I couldn't hear the distinct composition of. But he was quick to come back and say, "Sorry 'bout that. You know him…"

My face automatically contorted at his last remark. "Of course I know him! He's the whole reason I'm calling, Max!" I could almost hear him cringe at my tone, so I felt my mood droop like a wilting plant. "Look, when I get back, you're gonna come with me to buy a new blouse, got it?" Aka, you're gonna pay for this new blouse. "You'll be home, right?"

I could just imagine his deflated face as it murmured into the phone, "Yes…"

"Hey, c'mon, don't be like that." Aww crap. I call to ball him out and I end up feeling sorry for him. "We'll go for ice cream or something too. Heck, let Rex and Zoe know, and we'll all go together. Just make sure Zoe isn't wearing her shopping shoes—" Which when I say that, I mean the flats she always wears when she drags us along for a shopping spree. When she had other shoes on, they apparently weren't as comfortable, meaning she wouldn't spend the day walking around in them. "—and we'll be in the clear."

The smile that obviously formed on his face was almost audible; his tone instantly was much brighter and uplifted than mere moments before as he gave a light laugh that put a smile on my face to hear it. "Sure. What time do you get off?"

"At three. So I'll be home right after that." I glanced at the clock behind me and grinned. "I'll see you then!" I waited for his goodbye and proceeded to hang up. Placing the phone back onto the cradle, I found myself locking eyes with Miss Greene and feeling a blush overtake my face. "Sorry you had to hear that…" and in my mind, a voice continued, please don't fire me for losing my temper. I'm actually a good person! Believe meee!

She laughed shortly and waved off my light apology with a light smile. "It's quite all right." Another simple laugh. "Was that your boyfriend?"

Unimaginable. That's how my face was at that point. I could feel it contort, but into what expression, I had absolutely no idea. All I knew was that my eyelid was twitching. "No, no! Nothing like that!" I laughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassment manifesting on my face. Trying desperately to redeem myself and since things probably couldn't get much more awkward from on my end, I decided to add in a murmur, "He's my boyfriend's best friend…"

Whatever she said after that flew straight over my head; I was too absorbed in my own words. While I'd sometimes referred to Rex as my boy—not out loud, of course; just in my own head and occasionally in my journals—I'd never used the terminology boyfriend. Just the word in itself swirled around in my head and stirred up all sorts of warm sensations all on its own. Not that I would admit it, I liked the term and the way it sounded as it resonated in my mind. Rex Owen is my boyfriend.

Cloud nine was with me the time that ensued. Customers came and went, and I found myself growing more and more accustomed to this whole realm that was called The Job World. Social awkwardness seemed to dissipate over time and smiles became more natural as I took orders with ease and eagerness. Yeah, I decided after handing over a box of freshly-packaged chocolates, I think I'm beginning to really like this job. I don't think I'll mind coming here on a daily basis.

Miss Greene peeked around the doorway from the back room where the chocolates were made and stored. "I have to go and pick some things up and deliver a few local orders. Do you think you could handle the shop alone?"

I shrugged indifferently. After all, I hadn't seen Miss Greene since I'd first arrived at work until now, so her being gone wouldn't have been much different. "I guess so."

With a few words, a simple goodbye, and purse and box of chocolates in hand, she was gone. For a little bit, I let the sheer emptiness of the store set in, because this was the first time I'd been truly alone there, and the feeling was rather unusual and rather empowering. "It's not like I own the place, though," I uttered, imagining how barren of chocolate this place would be if I indeed own it. "Oh well…" I pulled out my book from under the counter next to the phone and plopped myself down on the floor. "This business is better off if I didn't run it anyway." I doubt the building would even be left standing if I did...

After a good while caught up with my book and its imagery's manifestation in my mind, I was abruptly interrupted by the loud jingle of the door's bell cutting through my busied mind and snapping me into attention. I closed the book with a small thud of the pages colliding and put it away as I rose to my feet. My instinct-driven smile instantly disappeared the moment my eyes locked on the figure standing before me; my feet staggered backwards automatically and my hands reached back to steady myself on the wall. It took a moment for my breath to find its way up my windpipe, but when it did, it whispered a single word.

"Seth."

My mind flickered, snapping upon images of that note, my fingers as they trembled with the paper crumpled between them. Don't think you're so safe. The words echoed throughout my skull, louder as I scanned his figure. He hadn't changed in the slightest; he was still thin but muscular, his posture still perfect, his face still composed, his crystalline eyes still like ice. It was as if no time had passed since I'd last seen him—since I openly defied him and betrayed the only family I had.

"Riley." His voice was smooth but emotionless. Rather, void of anything I had always wished to return. "I hope you understand why I'm here."

I felt my eyes tighten, but my muscles loosen as I took a step closer to the counter. It, and several feet separated us physically, but deeper, much more than that. "To fulfill that threat, I'm assuming. Correct me if I'm wrong." My voice a little cocky and my gaze not moving from him for a single instant, my fingers reached under the counter and pulled the phone off its cradle. With one hand held over the earpiece, I clicked one button with the other. Redial.

His head cocked slightly aside at my current holier than thou attitude, but any sort of confusion wasn't present in his facial expression. "There is far more than that—"

Context. They need context. My mind and mouth couldn't have cooperated better as I cut him off, making sure whoever was listening on the other line just who I was dealing with here, "Seth! Answer me straight!" Praying that was enough of a signal, my voice lowered slightly. "Seth. What are you planning? What are you doing here?"

The tension that surrounded us was enough to be sliced with a blade. He let a strong silence emerge in the space between us before he gave that answer that I had long-awaited for, "I'm doing what I promised you for not completing your mission. I'm taking you back to the island where you belong." I saw something flicker within his blue eyes just; it pushed me back into confusion. What's that look for? "This game has gone on long enough."

My jaw tightened at how he referred to my new life as a game. It may have been trivial to him, but to me, it was my everything. "I don't know what sort of game you're playing, but I'm not gonna be any part of it." I quit having fun with your games long ago. Why do you think I begged you to leave the island that night those months ago? This is no game. Not to me.

He almost seemed pleased that I made such a statement, a chance to further elaborate upon his meaning. "You've been a part of this game since the very beginning. In fact, you created this game when you left Zeta Point and have insisted on playing it ever since." That look in his eyes emerged again, but was gone before I could analyze it further. "You must come back; you have…" His voice settled on his tongue briefly, as if he was settling upon the very best terminology just to irk me. "…prior commitments to attend to."

Prior commitments? What could he mean by that? My fingers tightened around the phone like a lifeline. Like a prayer. "…And if I refuse?"

Any other malevolent person would've grinned at my inquiry. But not Seth. Not my Seth. His face held nothing, no feeling or sentiment, and that is what terrified me. And his voice, so hollow, empty. There was nothing left of his real self—my big brother disappeared long ago. "You have no other option."

He pulled out a handheld device that was dark in color and had two golden spikes protruding from the front. If my memory served, it was called an Alpha Scanner, and that only meant he was serious. But that was Seth; he never was anything but serious. He slashed a Dino Card through and in a burst of light, a red tyrannosaurus emerged. Far too large for the building, his frame burst through the ceiling, and brought rubble raining down. A swift swaying of his large tail knocked down the walls, leaving him and Seth as the only things standing before me.

I took a step back, the phone clattering to the floor and skittered across until it tapped against the toes of my shoes.

The tyrannosaurus released an ear-splitting roar, but stood its ground in waiting for a command from that man that stood just below him. That man whose eyes were like ice, whose motives were exceedingly colder, and whose heart was lost within a ravenous tide. It had been drowning in those waves for longer than my memories wished to reveal; only single flickers of smiles and kindness were offered me and those may have only been apparitions of wishful dreams. Nothing like the Seth that I was opposing; nothing like the Seth from whom I had estranged myself.

This one I alienated from, this one here. I couldn't look away from him; I tried to read his face, but there was nothing I could recognize, nothing I could relate to. Because there was nothing there. No fresh, human emotion to see and interpret. And it was at that moment that I realized just as I had estranged myself from him, also had he estranged himself from mankind itself.

"If you oppose me," he seethed, his fingers grasping his Alpha Scanner visibly tighter; it was a sign to me, an open threat, "then that decision will be your death wish."

A/N: Gomen ne for the cliffie, but I couldn't resist! How did I portray Seth? I really love dark antagonists like him and they're just so fun to work with. But what are his motives I wonder? And will the D-Team get there to save Riley on time? How will Riley pay for the damages to the store? So many questions to be answered! You're gonna have to wait ;)