Traitor of All Traitors: Thank you very much for your review. I hope it lives up to the potential you see.
Ilovevocaloid93: Thank you for your review. I apologise for the chapter's shortness and will try to make them longer in future.
Fortunately the voyage passed without incident and before long they arrived at the mainland. It was early in the morning when they arrived and at Tyranno's suggestion they rented a car to drive to his hometown.
"It ain't far. We can get there in just a couple' a hours."
"Good thinking Sarge" Sadie agreed. "With everyone home from Duel Academy the taxis are probably really busy right now."
"That's just what I was thinking."
It did not take long to find a car rental. Soon after that they were driving down a motorway.
"So what's your town like?" she asked.
"It's a nice little place" he replied. "It wasn't always that way though."
"What do you mean?"
Before he could answer her there was a rumble of thunder overhead. Sheets of rain began to fall in a sudden heavy downpour.
"Dang it! I was hoping we'd seen the last of that rain on the ferry." The rainstorm had stopped before the ferry arrived at their destination but the skies had been heavily overcast since then.
"Anyway, a couple a' years ago there was this gang that terrorized the town. They were smashing up property, mugging kids, you name it." He hesitated for a long moment before adding in a low voice, "And I was one of them."
She looked at him in surprise. "That doesn't sound like you Sarge."
"Yeah well I wasn't the same guy then that I am now. One day the guys beat up this old guy real bad. They hurt him so bad he ended up in a coma. After that I just couldn't handle it any more. I went to the cops and told them everything."
"What happened then?"
"The cops rounded up the whole gang except for this one guy that fled town. I got off light since I'd help bring them in."
He again paused, seemingly lost in thought and then smiled. "Don't worry Say. That was a long time ago. Ever since then it's been a really good place. I wouldn't have invited ya if it wasn't."
As they conversed neither was aware of a black van that was following them a discreet distance away. Its black paint gleamed wetly in the rain and pale headlights, kept low to reduce the risk of detection, shone faintly in the gloom.
The driver of the foreboding vehicle kept his eyes fixed on the car in front of him. It shouldn't be long now he thought.
A few minutes later the downpour had increased. Although it was still afternoon it was dark as night. Tyranno frowned as he peered into the watery dimness. The rain sleeting against the glass reduced visibility to near zero, even with the windscreen wipers at full speed.
Just then he noticed something and fought off an urge to punch the wheel. "Darn it!"
"What's wrong?" Sadie asked.
"We're running out of gas" he explained. "The guy at the auto rental told me the tank was full."
"Oh dear. We won't have to walk the rest of the way, will we?"
"Naw, I know where we are. There's a gas station a little while away. We can fill it up there."
They came to the gas station a few minutes later and Tyranno parked by one of the pumps. "Hold on just a sec Say, this'll only take a minute."
"Sarge you don't want to go out in that weather, do you?" she protested.
"I'll be fine. A little rain won't hurt."
He opened the door and got out. Right away the downpour soaked him. For a moment he was amazed by how loud it was as the rain drummed on the metal surface of the car, the road, the puddles and the pump, the different sounds blending into an incomprehensible jumble.
As quickly as he could Tyranno filled the car's tank and then strode towards the station to pay for it, unaware that he was being watched.
Perfect, thought the observer. It was worth bribing that attendant to give him a car with the gas tank nearly empty. Soon it'll be time he got what he deserves.
Sadie peered out of the window, studying the patterns formed by the rain as it ran down the glass. Sarge must be crazy to go outside in this she thought. I hope he doesn't catch a cold.
Just then she saw Tyranno step out of the station, having paid for the gas and start back towards the car, one arm raised to shield his face from the driving rain.
As he walked past a black van a shadowy form sprang out and pressed a rag to his nose and mouth. He started to struggle but then slumped as the chloroform took effect. Within seconds he was out cold.
"Sarge!" Sadie cried as the shadowy figure opened the back door of the van and dumped Tyranno inside before hurrying around to the front. The van's headlights came on as the engine started and it began to drive away.
Without hesitation, Sadie slipped from the passenger seat into the driver's seat and started the engine. She quickly dimmed the headlights as she steered the car out of the station and drove after the van, taking care not to get too close while still keeping it in sight, no easy feat given how dark it was.
"Hold on Sarge" she said quietly. "I'll get you out of this."
The van soon came to a derelict warehouse, its windows shattered and boarded-up. It came to a halt and the driver hauled the still-unconscious Tyranno out. Having parked a short distance away, Sadie watched as he was dragged into the warehouse.