Yeah! Two reviews! That makes me happy enough to post this! Although…this isn't the happiest chapter. In fact, I think I'm going to have nightmares…but that's because I know what's coming.
DW: *folds her arms* And I'm the one who spoil's everything?
Me: Um…let's just start the chapter…
Ethan's POV:
Okay, so maybe I was a little mad. Alright I was really mad, but do you blame me? What kind of girl lift's your heart, breaks your heart, heals you heart ever so slightly, and then shatters it again? I'm just saying…it's starting to get a little annoying.
So after I stormed out of the garden I went to the shooting range, because I seriously needed the practice and the distraction. Stayed there 'til 10 at night then went back to the juice bar.
"I just don't get it!" I confided in Johnny, "She's so…"
"Interesting?"
"No…" I sipped on my cranberry juice.
"Unique?"
"Well yes, but that's not the word I was looking for."
"Pretty?"
"Johnny…" I sighed in frustration.
He smiled and placed a cup of ice cream in front of me. "I know, I know. You're looking for appealing, yet appalling. She's so amazing and you think she's perfect at some points, but at other points…"
"I just can't stand her and want to punch her in the face."
"Pretty much. You my young friend have a serious love/hate relationship." Johnny polished the glass in his hand…again.
"So what am I going to do?"
"Well-" the bar tender cut off as the door opened.
The night had been really slow business, so I ignored the door.
"Well if it isn't One-Shot boy. How are you today?"
I heard footsteps and someone sat down next to me, "Hey Mr. Johnny, I'm fine."
"Your usual?"
"You bet!"
I looked over at the new comer.
I found a gray hedgehog who looked about my age. The only thing that was eye catching was his gold belt, but other than that, I couldn't see anything special about him.
Johnny came back with a large cup of milk and placed it in front of the stranger. "Anything else I can get you?"
"I'd like an ice cream sundae if you don't mind."
"Coming up!"
"Hey, Johnny," I held up my empty glass, "Could I get some more juice?"
The old man smiled, "Sure thing sonny." He walked away to get the orders.
I turned towards the hedgehog. "Never seen you before…name's Ethan. Ethan Lavar."
"Manic Kingsley. Nice to meet you." He held out his hand and I shook it.
"Nice to meet you? Who the heck was this guy?" Never in my life had a mercenary said that to me. Another off thing was he had no insignia. Nothing at all; not even a pin.
Johnny returned with the ice cream and cranberry juice. "There you are boys. Enjoy." He paused and leaned across the counter, "Ethan, have you heard about this guy?"
I looked over at the hog, "Not that comes to mind…"
"Oh man, it's a great story. Okay, so this one night-"
Manic interrupted him, "It's not that big of a deal. I'm sure he doesn't want to hear it."
The bar tender shrugged then walked away.
"Sorry about that, people can't stop talking about me?" He drank down some milk.
I smiled in sympathy. "Join the club…I got quite the story myself."
A small bark echoed from the floor. I looked down and found a large dog sitting at Manic's feet.
The hedgehog only smiled, "Oh don't mind Mint his bite is worst then his bark."
"I assume you meant his bark is worst then his bite?"
"No…I meant his bite is worse than his bark." Manic dropped a small slice of banana and the dog licked it up.
"Hey Lavar! You're in my seat…"
I groaned and turned around, "For the last time Sammy, this is anyone's seat, not yours."
The weasel only smiled and grabbed me by the wrist. "I said; get out of my seat…"
Surprisingly it was Manic who spoke up, "Hey, Sammy was it? Leave my friend alone."
"So we're friends now?"
"Shut it, Lavar."
I started to like this strange kid.
Sammy motioned three of his friend's over. "And what, are you going to do about it?"
Manic only shrugged. "Something like this…" He grabbed Samuel's wrist and flipped him over the bar just as I launched myself at two of his friends.
Gray boy jumped at the other goon and tackled him to the ground.
Five minutes later (and a few smashed tables), the four of them lay moaning on the floor.
I grinned and dropped some money on the counter. "Here you go Johnny. To cover the damage…"
The man scooped up the money then grinned at me. "Are you kidding? That was awesome!" He smiled at me, "Your Dad would have been proud…" He shuffled away.
The boy smiled at me, "I want to meet your Dad. My Dad would kill me for doing that. But it sure felt good…" He glanced at his watch, "Ah, I got to go. Nice meeting you, Ethan."
"Want to meet here again? Same time tomorrow?" Okay, so I didn't think he was special, but I didn't think Charity was going to be a lot of trouble and I was wrong there. I actually liked strange Manic…and hoped we would become better friends.
Manic nodded, "See you then," then left the bar.
I finished my drink then went upstairs. I needed sleep after today…
Narrator's POV:
Manic ran across the roof tops. Why? Why not? Mint followed close behind, barking in his cheerful way.
The gray hedgehog paused on the edge of the building, staring across the skyline. Then he jumped down, hitting the ground lightly.
Mint appeared next to him. "Hey boy…" Manic scratched the 'dog' behind the ears.
Suddenly, the he started growling. The gray hedgehog kneeled down next to Mint, "What is it boy? You smell something."
Soft laughter filled the air, making Manic's quill's stand up on end. "What…was…that…?"
Mint started barking ferociously, growling and gnashing his teeth. Silently, Manic drew his gun and cocked it, his heart pounding. "Mint?"
The dog crouched down, as if going to pounce.
The laughter repeated, only closer.
Manic felt his blood go cold as Mint started turning in circles, "Oh Chaos he's lost the scent."
The dog sniffed at the ground whirled around and narrowed his eyes at Manic…
"Mint? It's behind me…isn't it?"
A few minutes later Mint laid in the alley whimpering and a large gash on his leg. He licked at the black blood trying to stop the stanch. Near him laid his owner's gun…one shell missing from the barrel.
Across the street, a different hedgehog cocked his gun. "Why don't we just kill the dog? It's not going to do anything."
"Patience Scourge…the dog is important to me right now. Let him be."
Fiona leaned on her boyfriend, "Yes Scourge let's leave the pathetic creature. It's not even worth a shell."
Slowly, the hedgehog nodded. "Fine. Now what do we do?"
"We wait for 2nd Generation to find us…it shouldn't take too long."
Fiona and Scourge nodded slowly, "You're the boss… But why didn't we kill Arianna? It would've gotten rid of a member and one less person to fight?"
The dark figure slapped their companion. "Because I wanted her alive, idiot! She is the key to the whole plan. Without sweet Ari, none of this would happen. Now let's get moving, before someone notices the dog."
The figures vanished into the dark without another sound.
Across town, Arianna woke up from another nightmare. She wrapped her blanket around her, trying to feel warm again, but to no avail. She just couldn't shake the feeling that something was after her…something that she was positive she wouldn't like.
DW: *has me pinned to the ground* WHAT DID YOU DO TO MANIC? THIS WASN'T IN THE ORIGINAL STORY PLAN!
Cosmo: *trying to pull DW off of me* Calm down DW! I'm sure he's fine!
Nikki: *runs into room just as Cosmo pulls DW off. Runs over to me and punches me in the stomach* What did you do to Manny Boy!
Me: *groans* I thought you weren't using that nickname. And I thought you hated him?
Nikki: That doesn't mean I want him to die! Star is going to kill me!
Me: DID ANYONE HEAR ME MENTION A DEAD BODY?! NO! NOW CALM DOWN!
*deep breath*
Sorry about that…I changed something because I think it brings the tension up even higher. If you really want to get scared; Go find a soundtrack from a really tense movie scene and re-read the Narrator's POV. That will get you freaked out…or maybe not. I know what's going on, not you so…you know what, forget it. Anyway, Review! Did you get scared? I know I'm scared of this angry mob so I'm off until they calm down… Hope to see y'all soon!