Lyfers: Amnesia

Chapter 52 - Come As You Are

 – Last verification. Weapons?

– Check.

– Bulletproof vests?

– Check.

– Hoods?

– Check.

– And one hella will to bring home the bacon?

–...Uh, check?

Dusk, sitting in the front of the van, nodded at Blaze's words; it meant that they were finally ready to step in. Everyone had put their hoods on, and were tightly holding their submachine guns, waiting for the signal to get out of the vehicle and race to the building. Venom, who had been driving, was about to give it when a phone began to ring, surprising everyone.

– Dusk, you forgot this in your list, he sighed.

– I'm sorry, big bro, said Dove, it's my phone. I thought I turned it off.

She grabbed it from her black pants' pocket with the intention of refusing the call, but when she saw the name written on the screen, she didn't refrain a surprised gasp.

– W-wait, she exclaimed, since when do I have Atlas' number in my contact list?

– What's the number? Questioned the blonde man, surprised.

– Ends with ninety-nine, twenty-eight.

– Yeah, that's Atlas' number, confirmed Dusk. That's... That's weird.

– Answer him, Dove, said Venom. Everyone else, shut the fuck up.

They nodded, and the young woman nervously picked up, putting the device to her ear.

– H-hello?

– Greetings, Dove, this is Atlas. Where are you, currently?

At this phrase, she exchanged a panicked look with the others; had they been spotted? Still, she collected all of her bravery to reply:

– I'm at the university.

– Good. Then come at the Starry Sky Nightclub, there's some matter we need to talk about. Just the two of us.

– A-alright, I'll come as soon as possible.

– Perfect. Don't take too long.

Atlas hung up, leaving the team startled; what could he want to her? Was it legitimate, or was it, on the opposite, an ambush? They didn't know, but they were well-aware that if she was to refuse, their entire plan would fail. Their alibis had to be preserved, and because of this, she had no other choice but to head there, leaving the others to themselves. In a growl, she took her hood off, putting her firearm down.

– Fuck, she exclaimed, if I turn him down, he'll know for sure.

– Hey, there's no way I'm letting you go there alone, retorted Sphinx. I'm coming with you.

– Didn't you hear him, told Phase, he wants to see her only. We can't risk it, she has to go. Dove, I promise you, we'll be alright.

– Sure?

– Certain. Go, don't worry for us. We'll bring Taro back.

In a resigned nod, she woke up and exited the back of the van, but the mint-haired man followed her, letting his gun and hood on the vehicle's bench. He grabbed her hand, worried.

– Are you sure it'll be okay, babe?

– Yeah, that'll be fine. But be careful, love.

– I will. Let's stick to our promise.

– Yeah, let's stick to it.

They showed each other a smile as she hugged him, and he bent down to kiss her lips, delicately. She joined the kiss for a few moments, before smiling again, then left on a wave, rushing across the street. Yes, they definitely had to follow their promise; they couldn't let the other down.

__________

Indeed, the nightclub was named accordingly to its interior decoration; the floors and walls were covered in black velvet, while the ceiling was sparkling of small, white lights that truly made it appear like stars. The furniture was utterly black too, some sofas being covered in glitter while the others were plain dark. At this hour, the only people present there were busy cleaning and tidying up, and none noticed Dove. If she wasn't in such a stressful situation, she would have highly appreciated this place, but right now, there were no ways she could. By messages, the leader had said he would be upstairs, and when she climbed to the next floor, she could feel her heart loudly thudding into her chest. What could he want to her? Did he know? Was it totally unrelated? She sure hoped so, but the nervousness was making her nauseous, and as she reached the door, she could barely hide it.

The entire floor was decorated similarly to the previous one, and the entrance opened to another set of stairs, leading to a platform, on top of what was Atlas, sitting on a sofa, legs crossed. It's perfectly designed, she thought, he... He makes the entire gang knows who's the leader there. Damn it, we can't fuck up, or we'll be dead. His head turned to her, and she could swear he was grinning under his mask.

– Dove, my child, I am delighted to see you. Come up there.

She nodded, and was about to make a step forward when another man approached the leader from behind. He was bulk, his red hair cut short, his only yellow eye staring at her, and at the sight of the two individuals there, Dove hesitated; why did she have the gut feeling she saw this duo somewhere else? Seeing her reluctance, the blue-haired one tapped the place next to him.

– Come here, he repeated, don't be shy. I do not bite.

This, I highly doubt... She climbed the stairs slowly, almost holding back her breathing as she sat at the other end of the couch, uneasy. Her mind was focused on a sole thing; getting out of there. Something wasn't right, and she could sense it; the presence of the other wasn't logical, while he said he wanted to talk to her only. But abruptly, Atlas waved, as if he read her mind.

– Jaw, out. This is a private matter.

– Sure, Master.

After a nod, the redhead swung around, but so did Dove. This name... She heard it before. In a blink, she was on her feet, facing the surprised men with a horrified look on her face as an image popped into her mind, blinding her for a second. When she came back to her senses, fear turned to rage, and she glanced at them with clenched fists.

– You... You are the ones who killed my parents.