Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. Had to work again, online classes again, got covid in august 2021 and writer's block. Also went to a Dan + Shay concert for my 22nd birthday, it was fun! :) Not much to say but... RIP Ned Beatty, Richard Donner, Ed Asner and Betty White you will be missed :'(. Hopefully 2022 will be so much better, since I watched The Batman with my Dad. It was awesome! But enjoy the chapter everyone.
Author's note: Reedited on 5/16/2022
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Chapter 20: The Final Battle - Part 1
"Hello? Dad?" Carl kept trying to get ahold of his dad while Eve explained everything to a distraught Martin.
"It's me Holden. Sorry for not calling you sooner, I just got into a huge nightmare regarding a terrorist organization, and I don't what's going to happen to me, but in case if I don't make it, this is goodbye forever. Thanks for trying to set me straight. Figured it out a little too late I guess...okay bye."
Carl gave up trying to get ahold of his dad and sighed, he knew he was going to lose everything after being entangled with a terrorist organization that's demanding his presence.
"Not much luck?" asked a voice.
It was Holden.
"No. Not really," Carl sighed.
"Me neither actually. But we need to get going. Who knows how much time we have left..."
"So if I'm getting this straight, the housekeeper I hired was an assassin?" Martin's voice broke the silence in the room, sounding really upset.
"Yes," Eve responded sadly.
"Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner?"
"As said before, because, that company you worker for? Associated with a dangerous terrorist organization."
"I guess staying at my real home in Maine and probably have my children work for money should have been my second choice before moving here," Martin responded.
Eve glared slightly.
"Sorry, that came out right, did it? I still love my children."
Eve smiled and said:
"Thank you, much better."
"So what now?"
"The message said that if I don't head to Gina alone, she'll kill Ruby," Nate said, completely giving up on any last resort to hope and ready to surrender.
"And Rebecca," DJ added.
"And Willa," Holden jumped in too.
"Nobody's surrendering to Gina, alright?" Martin made himself abundantly clear to everyone. "Otherwise we are giving PEACE exactly what they want."
"But like I said-" Nate began before getting cut off by Martin.
"Yes I know, but my decision is final and absolute."
Nate wanted to have an argument, but he knew he wouldn't win.
"And you're expecting the captives to get killed?" Samuel jumped in on the conversation.
"Yes...no," Martin replied, also noting his choice of wording didn't come out right.
"And what if Gina decides to murder every single person on the planet until she eventually kills Nate?"
"I nearly lost Nate once, I'm NOT going to lose him again!" Martin replied, starting to get really upset.
Nate started to feel on the inside he could see Gina laughing while standing over Ruby's body in a mental image, and he was starting to feel upset too.
"Well so am I."
Everyone looked at Nate.
"...meaning I can't lose Ruby again."
"Ooooohhhhhh," Everyone went.
"But you'll die!" Martin pleaded, with tears close to his face.
"So will Ruby," Nate replied, also with tears in his eyes.
Then Nate burst into tears and ran to his room, slamming the door behind him and throwing himself onto the bed and cried into his pillow.
Downstairs, everyone looked at Martin.
"...what. What?" Martin asked.
"Not a clear example of what you're setting to your son," Villanelle chimed in.
"You're not helping."
"I know."
"But I have made myself perfectly clear. No one's turning themselves in, understand?"
"But sir-" Samuel started.
"DO YOU?" Martin raised his voice.
"...yes sir," DJ caved in slightly.
And that was it on the conversation/argument, no one could win against Martin. That's when Holden decided something:
"Maybe I should use telepathy- NO! You're better than doing so!"
But Holden knew that IF Nate and the following required people don't tun in to Gina, PEACE will murder the hostages. And it's not like Gina could gloat the losses to Nate or ANYONE else in this world.
"Maybe trick PEACE somehow that they think they are winning, but at the last second, BOOM. Captured or killed."
Holden smiled at the plan, then lifted his hand to the side of his head, and seconds later...
"Don't shout like that again, okay? I know you care for your family, but not in a tone of voice like that," Eve slightly scolded Martin.
"...yes ma'am," Martin said, now under mind control.
Eve immediately noticed something was amiss.
The it didn't take too long to figure out WHY, because Villanelle pointed to Holden and Eve noticed what was now happening.
"What are you...doing?" Eve asked in confusion.
"I know this is a bad idea, but it's the end for us now," Holden replied sadly.
Eve began to protest, but a hand on the shoulder from Villanelle made her knew that Holden was right.
After knocking on Nate's door and telling him about telepathy on Martin and convincing him to pack his things, Holden took control of whatever situation they were currently in regarding the argument and messaged PEACE about they whereabouts and swore they would bring no help.
PEACE responded back:
"Where Nate Wright used to live."
Holden was confused at first but after Nate explained where he used to live, Holden knew where they were heading now...
"Back at where we apprehended Gina the first time around," Holden sighed.
So Nate, Eve, Villanelle, Holden, Carl and Randy (who haven't spoken much due to the guilt he and Nate played in Gina's downfall) were prepared to leave, now it was time to say farewell to the rest of friends and family.
Samuel and Dee Dee was the most saddest people in the crowd to say goodbye.
"Oh my god, Nate! I'm gonna miss you so much! I'm so sorry to treated you poorly-" Dee Dee sobbed hardly.
"The 'I'm not talking to you until you calm down?'" Nate asked.
"Yes!"
"It's alright," Nate assured his friend. "Nothing to worry about."
"Nate, it's been nice knowing you so much, thanks SO much for everything," Samuel stepped in and hugged Nate.
"Hey, no problem," Nate hugged back.
"Are we ready to go?" Eve asked.
"Just about," Nate responded.
Nate knew this was the end for Nate Wright. There was nothing he could say or do anything now to stop Gina or PEACE from taking revenge and/or taking over the world now that Gina was winning.
"Bye Nate!" DJ jumped in on the hug to Nate.
"Bye guys!" Nate felt close to crying now.
And after a very tearful farewell, Nate, Eve, Villanelle, Holden, Carl and Randy left the house and headed back to Nate's old home, unaware of what could be the biggest betrayal to Nate Wright...
Ruby's eyes slowly opened as she awoke with her start and began to wonder where was she at at this very moment, and it turns out she is in a cell with two other women.
"Ohhhhhh..." Ruby groaned, slowly getting up to her feet, feeling dizzy and tired, but falling down almost immediately.
"You okay?" said a female voice.
Ruby turned to see who called for her.
It was Rebecca.
"I'm fine," Ruby moaned tiredly, rubbing her sleep out of her eyes.
"Me too. Where are we anyway?" Rebecca asked looking around outside their jail cell.
"I dunno. Looks like an evil headquarters or something," Ruby responded, poking her head out and seeing what was the scenery like.
Another groan came from another woman, as Ruby and Rebecca looked back to see a female with slightly torn clothes and messy hair.
"Hi, I'm Rebecca and this is Ruby. Can I ask what's your name?" Rebecca introduced herself and Ruby.
The female didn't respond.
"You okay?" Rebecca tried to get closer, only for the women to respond by slithering away.
"Hey, it's okay-" Ruby tried to comfort the woman, only to be shoved away allowing Rebecca to catch her.
"Guess she hasn't had anyone to talk to or interact for quite awhile. The isolation in this cell must have messed up her mind mentally," Rebecca sighed as the woman moved away quickly again.
"We're gonna have to make the most of it then," Ruby replied sadly.
The woman kept moving around so much neither Ruby or Rebecca can stop her. Until finally-
"Hey! It's okay! We just want to talk!" Ruby cried jumped and clinging to the woman who finally began to calm down.
"...talk. Talk. Talk," the woman spoke at last.
"Yes, talk. What's your name?" Rebecca asked.
"Name."
"Yes, name."
"Willa."
"I'm Rebecca."
"Rebecca."
"And I'm Ruby," Ruby jumped in on the conversation.
"R..Ruby."
"Yes, Ruby."
"When I let you go, you won't hurt me?"
"Hurt?"
"Won't hurt me or Rebecca."
Willa nodded slowly and Ruby let go of Willa.
"How long have you been here?"
"Long...too...long..."
"Oh dear. We got to help her," Ruby said to Rebecca with worry in her voice.
"What do you mean? She could hurt someone again," Rebecca responded.
"You don't know that!" Ruby slightly protested.
Rebecca sighed with defeat.
"What does she see in Nate and everyone else exactly?" Rebecca thought to herself as she shook her head in defeat.
"Enjoying each other's company?" asked a voice.
It was Gina, with a grin so evil that it could have put any other iconic villain's smile to shame.
All three female hostages glared back at Gina.
"Oh, don't look at me like that! You ALL know why you're here? Right?...YES?" Gina asked trying to get the hostages attention.
"And when our heroes get here, the first thing they're gonna do is wipe that ugly grin off your face!" Rebecca bit back.
Gina pretended that she was shocked or scared.
"Ohhhhhhh, I'm soooo scarrrred! NOT!" Gina played for a bit then struck down her worries like a lightning bolt, startling the hostages.
"They'll be here soon," Ruby chimed in firmly.
"And when they do, particularly Nate, I'll destroy everyone and everything they love, then I'll kill him," Gina replied firmly to Ruby, who let out a slight gasp of worry.
"You wouldn't..." Rebecca started.
"Oh, I believe I do," Gina responded evilly.
"Don't," Willa tried to get in on the conversation.
"First time you've spoken to me or anyone for awhile," Gina said surprisingly.
"Don't do this...don't...don't..."
"And having trouble conversing obviously."
Rebecca and Ruby glared.
"So that's it?" Nate asked to the crew as they arrived at PEACE headquarters, which looked like a factory or castle, whatever you want to describe the said headquarters.
"Yup, that's it," Holden replied, closing the portal he made from California to Maine (another power Holden was starting to exhibit.)
Nate, Eve, Villanelle, Holden, and Carl looked on at PEACE headquarters while Nate took note of something.
"It's my old home state," Nate realized.
"It feels good to be back in Maine, but why am I not so excited as I should be?" Nate thought to himself.
"Nate, is something wrong?" Eve asked in concern.
"I wondered, had anyone took acknowledge, and Holden had time travel powers, would anyone want to prevent this...this..." Nate began as tears were starting to form his eyes.
"This ongoing ordeal?" Eve asked moving Nate into a hug.
"Yes."
"Trust me, I wish," Holden replied sincerely. "But that would mess up your meeting with Rebecca, Samuel and DJ. Not to mention, whatever happens in the past COULD be, and I don't mean it IS, COULD be an absolute outcome in the future."
Nate's heart sank. No going back now than he was when the PS 38 shooting occurred. And the substantial role he and Randy played in Gina's downfall (which I already said before), something that he will have to live with for the rest of his days.
So the crew broke into PEACE headquarters (courtesy of Holden's super strength) and began searching for the hostages. But something didn't feel right with the crew though. Was Gina and PEACE actually expecting them?
"Come on! Where are you?" Holden asked, trying to use his telepathy to find the hostages, but no luck.
"Could they be in the basement? Usually a generic place for victims to be at in movies, tv shows, video games..." Carl suggested.
And in no time, the crew arrived and saw...
"Nate!" Ruby seeing her knight in shining armor has arrived.
"Guys! We're in here!" Rebecca jumped in too.
"We're coming!" Eve cried as they made their way down the stairs and approaching the cells that Ruby, Rebecca and Willa were currently in.
And Holden wasted no opportunity pulling the bars CLEAN with his super strength to free the three female hostages.
Ruby jumped to Nate in a tight hug as if there was no tomorrow.
"I'm glad you're okay!" Nate exclaimed happily in a cheerful voice.
"Me too," Ruby said soothingly.
Nate was confused.
"What?" he asked to Ruby.
"I mean, I'm glad you're okay too!" Ruby clarified her words to Nate.
"Forgetting someone?" asked a voice.
It was Randy.
"Oh, yeah, you too," Ruby replied back.
"Willa!" Holden cried as he made his way towards Willa, who met him with hostility.
"Willa, it's me, Holden Matthews!" Holden tried to explain to herself, but Willa was having NONE of what Holden had to SAY as she avoided him constantly.
"Willa!" Holden cried as he used his powers to calm Willa down.
And he did. And after a few moments later...
"Holden...Hold...en..." Willa began as she struggled to her feet.
"At least she's starting to remember," Villanelle whispered to Eve, who gave a slight glare back.
"Alright is that everyone accounted for?" Carl asked.
"That's everyone," Rebecca replied.
"Alright, let's go everyone!"
Then everyone began to leave, but Holden didn't feel right with something.
"Wonder why my telepathy didn't work..." Holden said to Eve who shrugged.
"That's because it's lined with lead," said a male voice.
Everyone turned to the source of the voice.
It was Alfred, along with Gina, Nolan with his friends from Jefferson Middle School, Zack the bully from Nate's new school and the rest of PEACE members.
"Gina? Nate asked in shock.
"Glad you remember me," Gina smirked.
"Oh, how I hate her," Nate thought.
"We meet again, for the last time!"
"Not today, Gina!"
"You may want to take a raincheck on that this time around because no way you ain't getting past me this time!" Gina replied menacingly.
"Yeah? You and what army?" Randy tried to assist but...
All the PEACE members had their weapons ready to kill the targets in sight.
"Never ask that question again," Eve quietly scolded Randy.
"Sorry."
"Any final words before all this goes down?" Gina asked.
Nate tried to think of something, but if he didn't say or do something, everyone dies, so...
"Wait! Wait! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for pushing you too far! I mean... it was WRONG!" Nate cried despairingly.
Everything stopped.
Even Gina was taken aback.
"...keep going. Fill it with more words," Gina requested.
"I'm sorry for becoming your nemesis all your life and even outright destroying it with my own arrogance! I'm sorry for pushing you to the point where you lost your cool in front of everyone and leaving you out to dry when I should have stepped in! So take ME instead and let everyone else go!" Nate continued on as everyone listened to what Nate had to say.
Silence flooded the room for a FULL minute.
Then Gina opened her mouth:
"You know something, Nate? For once, you actually are sincere, I'll give you that."
The Gina turned to Randy.
"You gonna say something too?"
"For...?" Randy asked in confusion.
"For failing to stand up for me on my behalf. You were the key witness to my downfall. You saw everything, so why don't you apologize too?" Gina suggested.
Everyone looked at Randy, who looked down in shame.
"Okay, you were right, I knew what Nate was gonna do to you, but I didn't grow a spine and did the right thing for you or told the truth when I should have done so, so I apologize to anyone I may have offended!"
Silence again, then...
"You know, I was gonna let the hostages go and take you two instead, but because of your lackluster apology, I think I'm going to make everyone stay here a little while longer," Gina said firmly.
Everyone glared at Randy.
"You can't do that," Carl protested while still angry at Randy for being non-apologetic.
Then the most shocking thing happened:
"Yes, she can," Rebecca replied.
Everyone gasped in shock.
"Rebecca? You're-" Nate began before being knocked to the ground hard.
"Yup, that's right," Rebecca replied with an evil grin now.
And it took no time flat that Rebecca knocked out everyone else cold but Nate managed to gain consciousness long enough to weakly say:
"So that...that...hallucination...at school...I...knew...something off...about...you..." Nate replied weakly.
"And your theory about me was correct.
Then Rebecca whacked Nate again hard. This time Nate lost conscious for awhile.
"Good work Rebecca," Gina applauded, clapping her hands.
"Thank you. That 'past friend' I said to Nate once happened to be you, and he never caught on," Rebecca responded, so evil enough that there was no signs of redemption left inside her.
"Great! Wonderful! Now revenge will be ours!" Alfred declared in triumph, while all the other PEACE members cheered loudly.
Now the end looked very close for Nate Wright for good this time.
Author's note: Thank you everyone for your support, and AppalledWriter for ideas! Never thought I touch on this story for awhile due to lack of motivation and college work. But I did it! So what now for our heroes? Will this story end good...or sad? Anyway has anyone seen The Batman yet? It's so awesome, definitely recommend you watch it! Anyway share your ideas of what's next to come in The California Adventure in reviews or DMs. Hope to see you soon again! :)