Vol. 05
Chapter 19
I'm Selina Chase, 18 years old, My birth metal is silver. I'm in the first year of college under the Managing Program, hoping to manage a hotel or a apartment building. I'm just a little clumsy and a bit of a complainer. That's about it. One day, a strange woman in black named Luna Lupo showed up and turned me into Guardian of the Moon. But she wants me to fight bad guys. That makes me really nervous. Oh well, I guess everything will be okay. Hopefully.
I'm Hermione Driscoll, 18 years old. My birth metal is quicksilver. I'm in the first year of college under the Managing Program, hoping to become 'the business' of New York City. I'm intelligent (Understatement) and also a trickster. One day, a werewolf named Luna Lupo transformed me into Guardian Mercury. Now I have to fight along side with her and Guardian Moon. I guess that makes me the brains in this team.
Inside a dark, cool cave, a very unhappy Pandora sits upon her throne having the talk with her Argo. Jason, who is not having the best luck so far. "If those troublemakers that appeared on Earth get a hold of that so-called Moonstone which we are looking for, we'll have a serious problem! My lovely box is the only one who should have that stone. I will show no mercy to anyone who tries to hinder our Evil Kingdom! Did you manage to find the stone yet?"
"I'm sorry, I have no trace of it as of now." Jason was on his knees.
"Look Jason, I hate to say this but you have already failed several missions, but I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. Collect the energy. And also find the warriors and kill them!"
"Yes, my Lady." Jason rose up and bow to Pandora and left to plan out his mission.
In the streets of New York City, police cruisers were flying through one by one. Selina and Luna were walking along the sidewalk by Central Park enjoying the day going home from college noticing the rush. "Did something happen?Hmm...Oh look it's Hermione up ahead! Hey!" Selina ran up to Hermione.
"Oh, hello Selina," Hermione looked up from her textbook as she saw Selina and Luna coming over. "...and you too, Luna." She had to greet her too, being polite and all.
"Good morning Hermione, off to home aren't we?"
"Yes, since me and her live in the same building and take the same route as since we also go to the same college together. Did you forget about that?"
"No, I thought you were planning on your next heist or at least have a business meeting about what building to take over."
"You have got to be bloody kidding me?"
"I wish." Selina just look at the two in disappointment.
"Alright, that's enough! Let's not start the morning by digging in each others throats, OK? So are you going home?" Selina asked nicely.
"Actually, my parents set up a meeting and I need to show up in order to represent the family name."
"What? You have to take public bus to go to a business meeting? Don't you have fancy black cars to take you there even a plane, since being rich and all?"
"Yes, but I decided on trying to be a 'normal' person, like taking the public bus. And plus, I need to start taking responsibility now that I have a night job of being a Guardian here and there. So I don't have to rely on that werewolf." Luna gave Hermione a dirty look.
"Watch it sister! Don't start being all cocky now! You still need my guidance, especially when you have Guardian who doesn't have a clue what to do during battle." Luna responded and looked at Selina in reference to what she said. Selina was a little stun and upset by the comment. She checked her watch to check the time for the bus then looked up the street.
"The bus isn't here yet. Oh..." Selina and the other two saw another police cruiser pass by in a rush. "Did something actually happen?"
"Hey hey!" Ellie called out behind Selina. "Don't know you know the story behind this bus route?"
"What gossip do you have up your now, Ellie?" Selina doesn't want to hear another dumb story from Ellie's mouth.
"I heard a bus with some passengers which left here just after six in the evening suddenly disappeared."
"Really? Why don't you give it a shot? It will give me a break of hearing your ridiculous stories."
"You can be cruel sometimes, Selina. There's nothing fun about this bus! You know there's a bus stop up ahead called St. Mark Street, right?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah, that's where the street starts to get really steep, not even bike riders go there."
"Right. I heard that a bus with about fifty passengers just suddenly disappeared around there! The police suspected it could be a mass kidnapping and kept it secret for a while, but they announced what had happened and started investigating the incident." Ellie was pretty confident on her story.
"A cursed 6 o'clock bus..." Hermione wondered.
"What are you thinking in that head of yours?" Selina also wondered.
"It's quite scary, considering that this bus route is packed around that time, rush hour!"
"Wait a minute! How about the St. Mark's Church near that bus stop? I hear that they're famous for their rosary beads that can ward off evils." Luna was also thinking.
"Maybe you should buy one, just in case." Selina was joking around with Ellie.
"Stop it already! I wouldn't go their. The daughter who lives there is nasty rude, and she is trained in kick-boxing. I'm sorry, I'm not going to risk my ass for a string rosary beads. Even if they do work."
"Hmm...I would like to visit this girl." Selina thought out loud.
"Selina, if you're going, can you get me one of their rosary beads?" Hermione asked.
"What? Why don't you come with us?"
"No, I can't. The meeting is a stop before the church, if I go with you guys, I'll be late for the meeting. And I don't know long the meeting would take! I can't afford to get a bad rep on my family's name just for being late."
"Oh well, but you're at least going on the bus with us right?"
"Yes, at least." The bus arrived, Hermione and Luna went in but Ellie stopped Selina from going in.
"What are you doing? People really do get missing from on this bus!" Ellie warned.
"C'mon! That's just gossip, isn't it? Anyway. I'm going to ride the bus with Luna and Hermione! And by the way, how the hell are you getting to the church?"
"I'm going to walk there. Better than taking a curse bus. I'll see you there!" Ellie walked on as Selina gets on board the bus. She sat in between Luna and Hermione. Across from where she is sitting, Selina notice a girl with long, straight black hair, brown eyes, wearing a burgundy uniform with a brown tie, sitting very quietly with here school bag.
"She looks very pretty for a catholic girl." whispered Hermione. After a couple of stops Hermione got up getting ready to get off. "This is my stop I'll see tomorrow then. Bye!" Hermione steps off the bus, leaving Selina and Luna behind. They finally made it to their stop, St. Mark Street, the two and the girl in the uniform got off and walked towards the church.
"I feel like we're following the poor girl. Why is that?" Luna said.
"Well, I never been here before, so, I'll just take my chances on this girl, who is also going to the church by the looks of it. Wait a minute where did she go?"
"Selina, don't you think she just probably went inside that church over there?" Luna pointed the church out in the distance. Selina walked to the courtyard in front of the church and Luna walked in another direction. Before Selina could get in the church, to dobermans ran after her with snaring teeth. Selina ran out of her skin and went inside the church before the dogs could get her for dinner.
"What kind of church keeps dobermans?" Selina continue to walk inside the church and sat in one of the pews to catch her breath. She looked ahead and noticed three students in the same uniform as the girl, were praying inside, wishing for whatever young people wish for. "Lord, may the man I like also like me." "So, you too!" another girl commented on the prayer. At the back of the church, the girl from the bus was changing from her uniform to her regular clothes, a red workout tank top, a pair of sweat pants and runners.
"Time to hit the gym and punch those bags lifeless." she said to herself. Back at the main part of the church, a decent looking priest went up to the three school girls.
"Oh, you girls are so pretty. Wanna work as a part-time maiden?" he asked.
"We just came here to buy the rosary beads." one of them responded being nervous at the same time.
"I know, I know, I was just kidding!" the priest checked his watched. "It's 5:30. Perfect! Then, as usual, I will conduct a special pray for all of you so that your love will come true. O Divinum Jesus,
Pollicitus es ut quodcumque petierimus a Patre in nomine tuo aeterna dabitur. O aeternam Pater, In nomine Iesu Christi amorem in impletionem promissionis quia In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti." He end his prayer by blessing and bowing to the girls. "You girls came from the college across the street, right? Since you're here, why don't you draw a fortune slip, too? We also sell blessed paintings of La Madonna for passing exams. Wanna buy one?"
"Thank you for all your concern, Father!" the three girls ran out of the church giggling away. The priest just wave goodbye. Selina just sat there witnessing the cheeky priest's actions.
As the girls left from the church, they walked toward the bus stop. Luna was sitting by a park bench having a good view of the stop.
"I can't believe him! Was he hitting on them?" Selina was trying to erase the image from her mind. She got up finally having a normal breathing rhythm and walked up to the front.
"Aren't you a pretty girl!" the priest commented. Selina turned to face him not surprised by his comment.
"Excuse me?" Selina responded.
"Wanna work as a part-time maiden?"
"Atilio!" a girl called out. Selina looked at the girl and recognized her from the bus but in workout gear. "Stop hitting on girls already!"
"Oh, Marcella!" the priest responded in a scare.
"There are bad rumors about you going around in the nieghborhood." Marcella embarrassed Atilio in red.
"You're the pretty catholic girl in the bus! So, you're the girl that everybody is talking about. I don't see nothing nasty about you."
"What?" Marcella reacted.
Luna was sitting at the bench still keeping watch of the bus stop. The girls continue to chat on inside the bus shelter while waiting for the bus, then they stop talking and just sat there.
Inside the church, Marcella heard the two dobermans barking insanely. "Will you excuse me?" she told Selina. Marcella ran out of the church to check out what was going, Selina followed. When they both got to the courtyard, Marcella went into a sudden stop and Selina got to close to her from behind. The dogs saw Selina and attack her instantly. One dog charge at her, Selina jumped out of its way and paid attention to other canine. The other jumped at her, she ducked down to the ground making herself flat out to keep herself from touching the dog. When both dogs missed their chance, Marcella lunge at her with a high-kick but Selina managed to grab her leg before it hit her head.
"HEY! What are you doing?" Selina tried to reason with Marcella,
"You attacked my dogs!" but instead Marcella swung a massive punch unexpectedly toward Selina's head and knocked her out. Selina did not see that coming.
"HOLY SHIT! What did you do?" Yelled Ellie as she just witness a chaotic mess.
"What?" Marcella was confused.
"What's a matter with you? Those dogs were attacking her for no reason! Oh my God! Selina are you okay?" Selina wasn't responding.
"I thought she was a threat? This is going to be bad! Help me bring her inside." Marcella and Ellie worked together to get Selina back into the church.
At the back of the church, Selina was resting on a bed still knocked out. "Here Marcella, I have brought you a towel and water."
"Oh, thanks. Just leave them on the table over there." Atilio came into the room with the stuff and set it on the table.
"Why do you always have to beat someone up everytime the dogs bark?"
"Atilio, I'm handling this!" Marcella yelled at him.
"Fine! But we're not finish talking!" Atilio left with a bang on the door.
"He's not happy with you." Ellie commented trying to make conversation with Marcella.
"I'm gonna get it tonight!...Oh, I think she's waking up." Marcella was hoping that Selina is in some calm mood instead of the obvious. Selina got up slowly not knowing where she is, she rubbed her head in pain.
"Oh man...what a headache! I don't remember drinking anything. Where am I?" Selina looked around and saw Ellie.
"If you were drinking, you'll be out for a couple days." Ellie mentioned. Selina turned to Marcella and instantaneously remembered everything.
"You!" Selina grew furious.
"I'm Selina, right? I apologize. I was mistaken and thought you were a threat, I was sure I got the bus kidnapper but I was wrong..."
"CLEARLY! Does it look like I'm the type to drive a bus?"
"You see, my dogs Fear and Terror don't usually attack people..."
"Well you need more control of those dogs!"
"I discuss it with Atilio."
"Is that priest your father?" asked Ellie in curiosity.
"You can say that...he adopted me when I was four years of age from an orphanage." Selina looked at Marcella differently as if she can relate to her in some way. "He likes to hit on everybody regardless of gender. I don't call him daddy because he's not my father. I can't call him father because he doesn't behave like a priest!"
"You have a very interesting father." Ellie commented
"Oh...How rude of me! My name is Marcella Guerra, you can call me Marcy." Marcy brought her hand for a shake.
"I'm Selina Chase, but I guess you already know that." She took her hand and shake it firmly.
"You must understand my situation. There is something strange going on these days. I have a theory about the kidnapping that goes around here, but whatever I try to do, it becomes a big mess." Selina had the urge to help Marcy in this situation but didn't know how or anything about the case. KNOCK, KNOCK! "Excuse me, where is the priest of this church?" a matured woman barged into the room not looking too happy.
"He should be at front. What's the matter?" Marcy responded.
"My daughter didn't come home after she left to buy your rosary beads at your church! I hear that your so called priest always does his special blessings at around 5:30. Are you sure he's not trying to force people to take the 6 o'clock bus?"
"Please don't make crazy accusations! These blessing have been offered for a long time! A policeman was here early this morning, but if you want to report someone as missing, just go to the police! This has nothing to do with my father! Now, get out!" The other two girls were shock of how Marcy reacted to the woman.
"My! I cannot believe you! How rude!"
"You're the one that's being rude! Please leave the church grounds!" the woman storm off and left the church.
"This is way I want to find the son of a bitch who is taking these girls, so they can stop making bad judgments to this church!" Marcy was very angry and meant every word that she said. The three girls left the room and went to the main of the church, they saw a woman kneeling at the first row pew praying in tears.
"Please Lord, I beg you to bring my daughter back home soon." the woman was crying in such agony. Marcy went up to the woman and knelt beside her and hugged the woman.
"God will always be by your daughters side. Always." Marcy whispered to the woman with strength.
Selina made it outside and wondered where Luna could be. "Luna! Where the heck are you?" Up ahead she saw Luna running up to her.
"Selina, something is not right! I think this has to do with our enemy. Contact Hermione; we have to figure out what to do."
"But, Hermione has to be in the middle of her meeting..."
"Those girls at the bus shelter are acting very strange! Hurry up and get that tycoon out of that meeting NOW!"
"Okay, I got it! Please, calm down!"
Luna and Selina met up with Hermione on the street across the suspicious bus stop. "So, this is St. Mark Street." Said Luna.
"Yup." Answered Selina. The three turned to see the stop and was shock to see so many people in one stop. "Whoa! There are so many of them!"
"Damn right! And they look like they have been hypnotized." Luna mentioned. The three ran across the street to the bus stop and investigate.
"Wow, so I guess all these girls came to visit the church." said Selina.
"I guess these girls have nothing better to do than waste their time getting their blessings! They should be at home worrying about their exams." Hermione commented.
"C'mon Hermione! There are some days that you need a little blessing from someone up above, especially for someone who deals with money all the time. As for me...I have my moments." Selina was actually thinking the moments when she thought she was going to die in almost all of the missions. But she reasoned with Hermione or tried to.
"Selina, I don't need to pray or hope for luck. I am confidant into my success, and I always succeed." Hermione made her point.
"This is why I don't like you." said Luna under her breathe. The three saw the bus coming to the stop.
"It's here! 5:59. That must be the bus! 'Red 66 Via St. Mark'." The bus driver was quite good looking, wearing his public transit uniform with glistening gold hair. "It looks like a normal bus."
"Yes, it does." Selina agreed. The bus came to a full stop at the the designated stop. It open its doors and the passengers went in a single file line, one by one. Luna and Hermione looked at Selina's reaction to the bus.
"Okay, Selina! Get on!" Luna pressured her.
"I rather not!"
"Oh, shut up! Here, lets go!" Hermione pushed Selina from the back with all her might. Selina fought back.
"I'm not going!"
"Here, hurry!" Hermione continue to push Selina to go into the bus.
"I said, I'M NOT GOING!" Selina looked up to the bus driver, he looked up and met her eyes. Selina froze at his sight. She stepped back and tripped on the curve and landed on her bottom. "Now, I'm definitely not going on that bus!"
"Selina, don't be silly. We have to get on that bus! Come on, where's that back bone of yours?" Hermione was trying her best of capping her temper to a minimum.
"Fuck off! I'm not going!" Selina got up and started to walk in the opposite direction of the bus. The bus shut the doors and drove off.
"Bloody hell! It left!" Hermione was somewhat disappointed.
"I can't believe you, Selina. You're such a coward!" Luna commented. Selina stopped as soon as Luna finished her sentence. She turned around and walked back to the two.
"Who the hell are you to call me a coward? I don't see you on the bus! Before you that snout of yours, I suggest you choose your words carefully, they can hurt somebody's feelings you know! I'm going home!" Selina walked off.
"It can't be helped, we'll come again tomorrow at 6 o'clock." Said Hermione breaking the tension.
"Oh...Geez, now I have to go home and see that mope." Luna complained. When the two were about to start off home, they saw the bus reacting strangely.
"What in the..." Hermione was able to finish her sentence. Selina stopped walking when she saw the bus being weird.
"What?" The bus floated off the pavement, up ahead a black hole appeared out of no where. The bus flew into the black hole being sucked in. "Oh, shit! No way!" The bus is completely devoured by the black hole and it disappeared.
"A black hole? A forth-dimensional space? Or a hole in the magnetic field? What was that THING?" Hermione freaked out from the sight of it. The other two were speechless.
Inside the black hole, the floats along. Inside it, all the passengers were unconscious. The driver check out the back to see and make sure everything is going as planned. "Today's operation was successful again. The energy in the girls is enormous. I think it's better to draw them out to me. After so many disappearances, they'll come after me, and I'll have my trap waiting. Their power hasn't been taken in full just yet. With my plan, we'll be able to offer up a lot more to our great leader! We'll give the energy, and that of the Guardians! I'm going to enjoy this nice and slow." The driver, Jason, raise his arms and made the bus into a vacuum for energy, draining the passengers of their energy dry.