A/N: Marlene is now working out to get into shape for her team's sake. It's unfortunate how well it all turned out at the start, especially when she was left in Peter's "capable" hands. Marlene's not the only one who is in need of training.
Chapter 65: Cry for Help
Patrick is sitting in the middle of the vault room. Mashika is looking over a book titled: "Meditation for dummies".
Ozpin is putting Patrick through another session of trying to gain better control of his Grimm Powers. One of the things Marina suggested was meditation. Ozpin sees it as a good idea, for, in his words: "Magic is a way of using your mind as a weapon, and for better control of your magic is to strengthen your mind."
Patrick has never been well-known for mental strength. While he is against the idea of doing something meaningless, he can't deny that Ozpin makes a solid point.
"Okay, so it says here that in order to achieve enlightenment, you must let go of earthly attachments and tune out outside distractions." Mashika says.
"That just sounds stupid. I'm trying to gain better control of my powers." Patrick turns his head away and whispers to himself. "Regardless of the fact I don't even want them." Then returns his attention to Mashika. "Not trying to achieve inner peace or go to some spirit world or however this goes."
"Honestly, if Akira were here, I wonder what she would say about that kind of commentary." Marina says.
Patrick only groans in annoyance. "I'm trying my best, love. Meditation is a lot more complicated than it sounds. I don't even know how Miss Rhysenshi does it with such mastery."
"She's been doing it all her life. She's a professional." Marina turns her attention to Patrick. "I know it's not easy, hon. Believe me, I had a hard time meditation when Akira was teaching me."
"Since when?" Patrick asks.
Marina sighs. "Well, since I was still having trouble with those nightmares about the Lovers Poison." Hearing that alerts Patrick, and Marina has taken notice. "I didn't specifically tell her what the nightmares were about, I only told her I was having nightmares in general. Anyways, I'm still only a novice but I have been doing it well enough to give some advice."
Patrick sighs in defeat. "Go on."
Marina asks Mashika for help to sit on the ground. Once she is sitting, she gets her legs positioned in a pretzel cross, a but painful for her to do but she still manages it. "From what Akira has told me: Meditation is all about Focus. Your mind and body detach from one another, allowing your mind to focus solely on concentration." Marina folds her hands, straightens her back, and closes her eyes. "Your body must focus on stillness and breathing, while your mind focuses on spiritual enlightenment."
Patrick turns his head and whispers. "This still sounds stupid."
"I heard that." Marina says. "Just...watch me."
Marina focuses on her meditation. Patrick only sits by and observes her. After seeing her meditating for a few minutes, Patrick sighs as he positions himself into meditation. Mashika can only sit by and watch the two. Marina is doing pretty well. Patrick, on the other hand, is showing signs that he is not concentrating as well as he should. It's not something that can be blamed for someone's first time meditating.
After a while, Patrick finally speaks. "I'm not feeling anything different."
"Don't talk. Focus." Marina says.
Patrick resumes his meditation but quickly loses interest after a minute. "This is pointless. Nothing is working."
Marina then gives up on her meditation. "You need to be patient, Love. Meditation isn't something you can master overnight. Miss Rhysenshi would probably say the same thing if she were here."
"Well, she's not." Patrick then gets back on his feet and storms out, leaving Marina and the disappointed Mashika behind.
Patrick turns in the night and wakes up early to find the room empty. Seeing what time it was, he figured Marlene and Selena were out for some more physical training. Marlene is out jogging in the courtyard. Selena only sits by and watches her whole holding a stopwatch.
Patrick then arrives to see what is going on. By then, Marlene had come to a stop and started breaking down in exhaustion. Selena stops the timer and looks at it. "3 laps in 50 minutes." Marlene then collapses in defeated exhaustion, letting out a loud sigh. Selena pretty much took it as meaning she was greatly disappointed. "H-hey, don't be so down. It's actually much better than last week."
Patrick crosses his arms. "Yea. 2 and a half in an hour."
Selena glares at Patrick. "You're not helping."
"No...He's right." Marlene then sits up. "But, I do know that I am improving. I only wish it could happen faster than it is now. It won't be long before we go out on a mission."
"Well, getting in fighting shape isn't that simple. It just takes time and practice." Selena says. As the two of them chat, Patrick feels something off. He then turns his attention to the tree several feet from where they are. His expression hardens as he looks straight and starts walking. Selena and Marlene have taken notice of his behavior and realize something's up. "What is it, Patrick?"
Patrick then forms a sign language with one hand behind his back. Selena and Marlene don't understand Sign Language but they know this gesture well enough: 'We're being watched'. Selena and Marlene are on alert, Selena's pretty nervous realizing she's not in her disguise. Patrick changes his direction to move closer to the tree. His head doesn't turn but his eyes are set onto the tree. He secretly sets his Dust Bracers to be loaded with Lightning Dust.
At incredible speed, he dashes to the tree and tackles the person hiding right behind it. "Ow!" Patrick and the intruder both roll out from behind the tree and come to a stop with Patrick pinning the intruder down. He was ready to punch them until he gets a moment to look at them.
Or her.
"What the?" Patrick removes the glasses and mask from the intruder. "Amanda?"
"Shush! What are you trying to do? Blow my cover?" Amanda says.
"Personally, I couldn't care less about your cover." Patrick says.
"Oh, big talk coming from a guy who pretends to not be a fan." Amanda says.
"Shut it, big mouth." Patrick says.
"Big mouth?! Why you little-" Amanda is shortly interrupted when Selena interferes. She pushes Patrick off of Amanda and then helps Amanda stand up.
"Amanda, what are you doing here?" Selena asks in a whisper.
"Not here. We need to talk somewhere private." Selena takes Amanda to her dorm room. Luckily it's still early in the morning so not many students are up. They were able to avoid anyone having to see Amanda from SPiKA being in a huntsman academy. In the bedroom, Amanda looks bitterly at Patrick with her arms crossed. "I said somewhere private. Why is HE there?"
Patrick growls and glares at Amanda, but doesn't say anything for he knows Selena wants to say it. "Amanda, Patrick is my friend and team leader. Whatever it is you need that made you come to Huntsman Academy, then he needs to be here."
Amanda groans disgustingly. "Ugh. Fine...Listen, it's my little brother."
Hearing that alerts Selena. "Sonta? What's happened to him?"
"You know his little crush on Paige? Well..." Amanda explains to Selena that Paige's Birthday is coming up. So Sonta gets this crazy idea to buy her a special necklace to prove his love for her, but doesn't have the money. He asked Amanda for the cash but they got into a huge fight that ended with Amanda refusing to loan him the money. One night, he disappeared, and hasn't been seen since.
And that was only three weeks ago.
"I went around asking if anyone has seen him, and my search hit a dead end at some abandoned casino." Amanda says. "The sign was broken, but I think it was called 'End Rainbow.'"
Selena is silent for a moment as she thinks, but is startled when she hears a crash notice. She and Amanda look to see Patrick dropping some books with a shocked expression on his face. "Patrick? What is it?"
Patrick doesn't answer her. Instead, he rushs to Amanda and grabs her by the shoulders. "Did you say 'End Rainbow'?"
"Yeah, now get your hands-"
Patrick shortly cuts her off. "We need to move. Now!" Patrick rushes off, leaving Selena and Amanda behind looking confused. "I said NOW!"
Patrick, Selena, and Amanda manage to find a vehicle to drive in. Patrick takes the wheel and drives at incredible speed, so fast that Selena and Amanda worry, while Amanda shouts at him to slow down or to look out for whatever he's about to crash into.
It took about three hours, but they have reached their destination: A ghost town that is partially destroyed. Patrick and the girls get out of the car and Patrick starts storming off, with Selena and Amanda following him from behind.
"W-wait! Patrick!" Selena rushes to his side. "Can you at least explain what's going on?"
"Sonta's in great danger." Patrick says.
"How would you know that? I told you my search for him came at a dead end." Amanda says.
"That Abandon Casino you spoke of isn't a dead end." Patrick says. Selena and Amanda are confused to hear that.
Patrick then arrives at the abandoned casino. The sign 'En- - -he Ra-b-w' is barely dangling above the door. Patrick storms inside the building. Selena and Amanda follow in from behind. They look to see the place is completely ruined. They find Patrick standing behind the counter, looking at the cash register. Patrick presses various buttons on the register, then afterwards he pulls the lever, and then finally he turns completely around and pulls on a bottle on a liquor shelf.
CLICK.
There's a deep rumbling, which startles the girls. A group of broken slot machines starts shaking. All at once, they slide back several feet, then slides to the side. Revealing a hidden passage.
"Whoa." Selena and Amanda says.
Patrick then moves from the counter and starts walking into the secret passage. Amanda and Selena then follow him.
As they walk down the stairs, the two girls grow more concern and confused about all this. "Patrick, what is going on? And how do you know this place? And what's going on with Sonta? Is he okay?"
"This place is actually an underground Bar and Casino. It's actually one of the most dangerous places to be. Including and especially those who take gambling lightly." Patrick says. "My past involvement here is none of your concern. As for Sonta, I don't know how the hell he learned about this place, but he is both reckless and stupid to come here."
"Why? What's wrong?" Amanda asks.
"Cause at this place, losing is the last thing you should be doing. If handled poorly, you'll wind up owing a great debt. And become a Debt Slave." Patrick explains.
Hearing that shocks Amanda. "Debt Sla..." Amanda shook her head. "No! You're lying."
"Believe me, you'll wish I was." The trio reaches the bottom of the stairs, where they find a short hallway that ends with two large doors. "We're here." He faces Selena and Amanda with a serious look. "Now, I want you two to do EXACTLY what I tell you to: Keep your heads down. Don't make eye contact with anyone. Don't speak with anyone. Stay close. And above all: Don't accept anything they offer."
Patrick then opens the doors and they all walk right in. Selena and Amanda are astonished by what they are seeing. Hidden below a destroyed and ruined village is a massive casino that could only be ranked as a Class Double S place. A massive place mostly painted in gold filled with a large crowd of gamblers.
Patrick starts moving, then he warns the girls to follow him which snaps them out of the awe shock. As the girls walk, they take notice of the place. It's filled to the brim with gambling games, most of the players appear as rich people, a large bar that serves countless liquor drinks. And above all: All the servants here are really attractive sexy Bunny Girls, whether they are Human or Rabbit Faunus.
"There's a Liquor Bar here?" Selena asks.
"I'm more confused about the bunny girl waitresses." Amanda says.
"It's part of their money-making scheme." Patrick explains. "They get people to drink themselves drunk to make them easy losing targets, and the bunny girls are to distract them in a lustful temptation matter to weaken their focus."
"And these women are just working here? Willingly employing themselves at such a greedy job?" Selena asks.
"Not all are willingly, some of them are Debt Slaves themselves." Patrick says. He looks down tightening his fist. "It's just disgusting."
Patrick, Selena, and Amada make their way through the casino, Selena and Amanda trying their hardest to not draw any attention. Patrick reaches the end of the line, where he finds a middle-aged businessman sitting on his 'throne' like a king with about four bunny girls swooning all over him. The sight of it makes Selena and Amanda feel a mixture of disgust and shock.
"Ivan McScoorge." Patrick says.
Ivan everts his attention from his bunny girls and turns to Patrick. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the Shadow Hunter himself. What a surprise." Ivan inhales his cigar and then blows out smoke. "You've got a lot of guts coming back here, boy. I thought we agreed that the Agency would be kept in the dark about your existence if you never interfered with me business here."
Hearing this confuses Selena and Amanda, even exchanging looks with each other. "Yeah, well, I got some bad news for you: You gave me a reason for interfering with your 'business here'." Patrick imitates Ivan's accept on the end of that sentence. "You've had a customer here, and I know you've made him into a Debt Slave. So I'm taking him back."
"Be more specific with who this customer is, boy." Ivan says.
"A little boy who goes by the name Sonta." Patrick says, expression tightening in rage.
"Ah, yes. The foolish youngling." Ivan laughs proudly. "Poor boy was such an easy target. Didn't even need to get him drunk. Just can't resist the charms of one of my bunnies." Now Amanda is starting to feel boiled. Even Patrick is trying to contain his rage, can even feel his Grimm Nature rising. "But, since you are here for him, then perhaps you can pay his debt."
Ivan hands them a long list. Selena and Amanda look it over and skimmed it until they reached the total in the end, and the sight of it shocked them. "10 MILLION LIEN!?" Selena and Amanda turn around and whisper to each other.
"Even if we combined all of our life savings it wouldn't be enough to bail him out." Amanda says.
"What are we gonna do?" Selena asks.
As they whisper wondering what to do, Patrick then speaks. "How about a little game then, Ivan?"
Selena and Amanda break off their conversation hear that. "What you have in mind, boy?" Ivan asks.
"You and me, a game of Grimmer. Hardcore match." Hearing that part intrigues Ivan but confuses Selena and Amanda. "If I win, you forget about Sonta's debt."
"Hmm...You playing dangerous waters, boy. I like that." Ivan says with a chuckle. "Very well. But if I win I get..." Ivan looks over Patrick and then points his cigar at the girls. "Them." Selena and Amanda are both horrified hearing that. "They bear a striking resemblance of SPiKA idols Selena Akimura and Amanda Hexa. If I can pull them off as their look-a-like Bunny Girls, business be booming."
"If I'm offering both of them, I want 100,000 Lien to even the bet." Patrick says. Hearing that shocks them, like they can't believe he's actually going with it.
"Full of confidence, aren't you? All right. Deal." Ivan says. Patrick and Ivan take their seats. Ivan shuffles the desk. Selena and Amanda stand behind feeling worried. "This'll be a 3-time match. Best two out of three wins."
Ivan deals out the cards face down. He then places a set of ten cards face down in the middle of the table and then the deck down right in the center. "Ladies, pour on the charm."
Two of Ivan's Bunny Girls try to get Patrick's attention and they throw in some feminine charm to distract him. Patrick only offers them a glance and then turns his attention to the cards. Selena and Amanda wonder what they are doing.
"What are they doing?" Amanda asks.
"I'm guessing it's part of this 'Hardcore' match." Selena says.
The bunny girls try to subdue Patrick, but he is completely unfixated. Patrick and Ivan go on swapping cards, and can only do a total of two from the 10 set and three from the deck. Patrick constantly turns his attention to Ivan. Ivan really hides his motive with his poker face.
Finally, the two of them set down their cards.
"Three Beowolves." Ivan says.
Patrick's hand shows a Beowolf, a Saber, a Nevermoore, an Apathy, and Razorjaw. "Straights."
Ivan is disappointed. Patrick wins this round. "Well played, boy. But this is only round one. Now comes round two, and time to up the ante. Ladies? Get physical with him."
Hearing that alarms Selena. "Uh oh." She whispers.
Ivan's other two Bunny Girls both sit on Patrick's sides. One of them grabs him by the arm and the other one leans pleasantly close onto him, even breathing into his ear. Patrick is now finding this hard to concentrate. Normally he's not one to be subdued by female charms, but this feels above his level of endurance.
Ivan sets the cards and the two of them begin their match. Patrick tries his best to create the winning hand but the bunny girls are making it hard for him to focus. The two of them throw down their hands. Meanwhile, Selena grows worried for Patrick. She can tell that he is struggling to keep his mind on the game.
Finally, the match came to an end. They both lay down their hands. Ivan got Full House while Patrick only got two of a pair. This frustrates Patrick, and worries Selena and Amanda greatly.
"Final match, a sudden death match, boy." Ivan says. "Now to further up ante."
Ivan pours a liquor drink into a small glass and offers it to Patrick. Patrick looks at it disgustedly. "You know I can't drink. I'm only 17."
"Aw, come on, boy. Who's gonna know?" Ivan asks. Patrick only throws a sneering glare at him. "All right, all right. No drink. Instead, I further ante differently." Ivan orders the two Bunny Girls to also get physical with Patrick, then orders all four of them to raise the lustful temptation upon him. They both stand behind him, one of them embraces him in a hug tight enough for her chest to be pressed against his back and the other one is tasting his ear with her mouth. Not only that but the girl clinging onto his arm tights, pressing her chest on his arm.
Patrick is having a hard time concentrating on this swarm. 'Shit. Trying to ignore the lustful temptation of those girls is tougher then I hoped. I don't get it. I've seen everything from within the Agency. This should be child's play compared to that.'
While Patrick is growing more frustrated about it. That's when it hits him.
'In order to achieve enlightenment, you must let go of earthly attachments and tune out outside distractions.' Mashika's voice says.
'Your body must focus on stillness and breathing, while your mind focuses on spiritual enlightenment.' Marina's voice says.
Patrick then positions himself in a meditation stance. He even closes his eyes and focuses on his breathing. Amanda and Selena have their eyes set on Patrick. "What is he doing?" Amanda asks. Selena doesn't say anything. She just has her eyes set on Patrick.
Ivan deals the cards and then picks up his hand. He notices Patrick not moving but is instead focusing on his meditation. "Hey, this ain't a Yoga Class. Let's play."
Patrick picks up his hand, mostly still maintaining his meditation. As the game goes on, the girls are going all out with subduing Patrick. Despite their efforts, Patrick remains unaffected. Selena smiles, feeling impressed with his sudden focus on the game. Patrick and Ivan go on swapping the cards on their hands. Finally, the time as come.
Ivan sets down his hand. "Full House!"
Patrick lays down his hand. Ivan looks at it full of pride but then becomes shocked. "Straight Flush."
"Impossible!" Ivan shouts.
Selena and Amanda, well mostly Selena, cheers gleefully for Patrick's victory. The Bunny Girls back off of Patrick as he stands up. "All right, Ivan. I've won, now it's time you uphold your end of the bargain."
Ivan growls displeasingly before answering. "Fine. A deal's a deal and I'm a man of my word." Ivan looks directly at one of his Bunny Girls. "Get the kid."
While she goes off to pick up Sonta, Ivan puts together the other part of the bargain: The 100,000 Lien he owes Patrick. Finally, the Bunny Girl returns with Sonta, only he is blindfolded, handcuffed, in only a rugged short that goes down to his knees, and wearing a slave collar, which is attached to a leash being pulled by the girl.
The sight of him worries Amanda great. "Sonta!" Selena holds her back.
Hearing Amanda's voice surprises Sonta. "Ama-Uh...Sister?! Is that you?"
Ivan approaches Sonta. He first removes the blindfold. Sonta looks until he finds Amanda. Along with Selena and Patrick. Ivan takes out a key and uses it to unlock the collar, then unlocks the handcuffs. "All right, boy. Your debt is settled."
Sonta doesn't question it, only rushes to Selena and Amanda. "Our business is finished." Patrick says. With that said, Patrick makes his leave, and Selena and Amanda follow while protectively pushing Sonta.
Once they reach the surface, standing in the middle of the ruined village, that's when the argument breaks out.
"What were you thinking?!" Amanda shouts at Sonta. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is coming to these Casinos."
"What other choice did I have? You wouldn't lend me the money for Paige's gift." Sonta says.
"I am not paying anything for your little fantasy crush!" Amanda says.
"It is not a fantasy! I really am in love with my Queen Paige." Sonta says.
"Oh yeah! You being so easily distracted by those waitresses really screams your undying love." Amanda says.
The two of them go on bickering. Selena and Patrick only stand on the sidelines watching them. Patrick only rolls his eyes. Meanwhile, Selena starts to grow annoyed until finally she shouts. "Enough! Both of you!" Hearing her shout completely silent Amanda and Sonta even turned their attention to her. "Amanda, I understand about what you think of Sonta's crush on Paige, but it's no reason to belittle it." Selena turns her attention to Sonta. "And as for you, I understand you are trying to prove your love, but going to such lengths that'll put your life at risk isn't the answer. Imagine what Paige would think if she found out you made yourself a debt slave for her sake!"
Sonta looks down in shame. Selena then lets out a sigh. "Look, you two have been fighting and bickering for as long as I can remember. But you both need to remember: You are brother and sister. You're family. Amanda, you even went all out trying to find Sonta. And Sonta, I'm sure you've been thinking a lot about your sister the whole time you were held captive. Why don't you two just make up and love each other like siblings should?"
Amanda and Sonta exchange looks, then back at Selena. Then finally, with only a slow hesitation, they hug each other. "I'm sorry, Sonta. I'm just...I'm glad you're safe."
"I'm sorry too, Amanda. I shouldn't have come here." Sonta says. "Of course, I wouldn't have come here in the first place if you had given me the money."
Amanda pushes Sonta off of her. "Oh, we are not starting this all over again! I told you I wasn't gonna pay for the gift for your little crush."
"Stop calling it a crush!" Sonta says.
The two of them bicker once again as they walk off, heading towards the car. Selena slumps forward in defeat as she lets out a depressive sigh. "Well...Can't say I didn't try."
Patrick crosses his arms and looks at Selena. "That was quite the talk you gave those two. Any chance you have a sibling yourself?"
Selena shook her head. "No. But sometimes I do wish I had a younger sibling myself. But my parents were just too busy, then my mother being kidnapped and enslaved then my father died." Selena stands up straight and looks at Patrick with a smile on her face. "But...it's not so bad. I do still have you. And Marlene and Akira, and now Aria."
Patrick then looks away, his expression showing the feeling of regret. "Yeah...Selena...Listen uh..." Selena turns her attention to Patrick. Patrick then shakes his head as he looks at Selena. "No, it's nothing." Patrick reaches into the bag and offers Selena Ten Thousand Lien. "Here, give this to Sonta. It should cover that gift he wanted to get her."
"Shouldn't you give it to him yourself?" Selena asks.
"Actually, I have to look into something while we're here. I'll just..." Patrick pats on his leg. "Run back to Beacon."
Selena understood what he meant. She accepts the money and heads back to the car. Meanwhile, Patrick turns around to handle his business.
Ivan is enjoying his evening at his Casino, especially with his Bunny Girls. But comes to a surprise to find the bag of money landing right on the table before him. Ivan looks to see who it is. "You?"
"I'm here for official business." Patrick says.
Ivan looks in the bag, he realizes it's the debt he paid, but notices something. "This bag's ten thousand short."
"I'll pay the rest later, but first you are gonna tell me something." Ivan turns his attention to Patrick, who then looks at him with a serious expression. "Where is the Agency Prisoner: Hector Lu?"