Battle of Bones (Anomaly Saga #5)

47

Vincent was playing Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr. Blue Sky", blasting at a loud volume from his phone, just as Chaps and his group descended upon the ground. All of them started approaching Leo.

Menshikov and Nadia entered the room after Vincent. Thorn and Jacob followed. Copernicus and the woman in skeletal armor also walked into the room, both dizzy and half asleep.

And finally, a hundred scarecrows came rushing into the room.

Leo smiled, But then Jenna picked him up and threw him into a wall. Leo slumped to the ground and coughed blood.

"Wait, hold on a minute," said Vincent. "What's happening here? Aren't we supposed to be the bad guys? We're supposed to go pew pew pew and help Chaos take over the world and cut off dimensional travel and stuff. But this . . . this is different."

"Only Chaos can help with that now," said Menshikov pensively, "but he is under mind control. I believe I saw something like this in favorite anime before. We must break Mega-Gorblus' hold on leader's mind."

"Agreed," said Nadia, readying her laser gun.

"Don't shoot him!" Jacob exclaimed. "Just beat him up. So that he comes to his senses and helps us out again."

"And gets us our pay!" exclaimed LaVarre, who came out of a hole in the cave.

Vincent clipped his phone to his space suit, still blasting "Mr. Blue Sky", and stared down the small army of mind-controlled people.

"Help," said Leo, standing up slowly.

"Chaos is all the way in the back," said Vincent. "We'll have to fight everyone else to get to him."

"Then let's go!" shouted LaVarre, and he dove into the fray.

Menshikov and Nadia got into a shootout with Camellia and Catricia.

Jacob found Preston and started beating him up again.

Vincent battled Sandy and Locket simultaneously in an attempt to get closer to Chaos.

Thorn and his army of scarecrows went straight for Chaps, who had once again summoned Nintendo Nunchuks out of nowhere.

LaVarre found Chandler and started fighting him.

Through the pandemonium, Leo tried to find Jenna again. He had to make her understand. Make her remember.

He ran into Alice, who tried to punch him in the face, but he rolled away from her before she could touch him. He got up, brushing dirt off of his clothes, and there she was.

Jenna approached him, her expression blank and her arm raised.

Leo started backing away. "Look, Jenna," he said, "it's me. Leo. Remember our wedding? Our daughter? The documentaries and ice cream? C'mon!"

Jenna didn't budge. She kept advancing.

"I know Mega-Gorblus said I messed everything up," said Leo, "but I don't think what I did was so bad. Because I brought her home, we have our daughter with us. I love her, and I love you. Please."

Jenna paused. She tilted her head, gasped, and fell to the ground.

"Jenna!" Leo exclaimed, and he rushed to help her up.

Jenna blinked a few times in quick succession, then looked around at the battle surrounding her. "What happened?" she asked. "Why is 'Mr. Blue Sky' playing? When did the scarecrows show up?"

"You're back!" said Leo with a grin. "You were being controlled by Mega-Gorblus."

"I remember a purple beam, and then . . . nothingness." Jenna paused. "But suddenly, I felt all warm inside or something. I dunno. And then I fell over and now I'm here and watch out!" She kicked Alf away before he could tackle Leo to the ground.

"Thanks," said Leo. "Let's go try to snap the others out of the Mega-Gorblus' control! All I had to do to get you back was get all sappy and talk about our memories together. I told you I loved you and there you were."

Jenna nodded. "Alright, then. Let's go."