Anonymous (On Hold)

Chapter 9 The Missing Photo

Ethan

"An hurry up! We're gonna miss it if you keep walking slowly!" It had been four days since Ladia agreed to join me. So far, cooperating has been a problem, for both of us.

"Yea, yea just shut up already. You sound like an old lady." I rolled my eyes and kept running toward the train station. The sun was setting fast and that wasn't too good. We were on our way to the kingdom of demons to find the dictator Kanos.

He was the only person that knew where the ring of Victory was kept at. The plan was to let Ladia speak with him because he was her uncle. I was against it, but one look from her and I shut my mouth.

We could've made it there earlier instead of traveling by train, but we needed time to plan an attack on my kingdom. Enero wasn't a peaceful person, so we were expecting things to get nasty.

"Hello!? Haha look who's behind now!" I looked ahead and saw that Ladia was already entering the train car. I stopped and looked around. Found it. I stuck my fingers into the shadow of a nearby barrel and disappeared.

"Now where the hec- woah!" I appeared in front of Ladia and startled her. I laughed while she glared at me.

"Don't do that to me ever again!" I shook my head.

"I'll try, but I can't make any promises. Now come on! Lets find our room." We walked down five train cars before finding room 24 at the end. As we walked in we gasped. The place was amazing. Two seperate bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchenette, a flat screen tv, and a small balcony.

"I guess having a room in the caboose isn't so bad, now is it." I turned around to look at Ladia, but immediately ran to her side when I found her lying on the floor. Her heart was racing and I didn't know what was happening. I pulled my backpack off and searched through it for an oxygen mask. She was lacking air, but as I continued searching, I stopped when I found a blinking red light. A green gas was being produced from it and I didn't seem to be affected. I took the device and threw it out the window. I heard a gasp behind me and saw Ladia choking. I lifted her and carry her to the couch nearby.

"Just breath! Just breath! Yeah, just like that. It's alright. You're alright." I awkwardly wrapped my arms around her until her breathing slowed. Then she shoved me off.

"What was that?!? And...why did it only hurt me?" I shrugged my shoulders and she sat down.

"Well, whatever it was, somebody must have been tracking us. If someone was tracking us, then that must mean we are wanted for something. Did you do anything stupid?" I just shook my head and thought about what Ladia said for a second.

We couldn't have been tracked. If we were, the person would've had entail about us and knew that I wouldn't be affected by the gas. I had a fear that I wasn't the target...Ladia was.

Of course, I didn't say anything to Ladia. Knowing her, she would freak out and that wouldn't do me any good. I decided to keep quiet.

"What are you thinking about?" I realized too soon that I was really silent. Ladia suspected something was up. I needed to come up with an excuse.

"Nothing. I'm just...dozing off." Ladia seemed to believe me and I was okay with it.

"Well it's late. Time we go to bed."

"Right. Night." I turn around and walk to my room.

~~~

To be woken up at four in the morning by sounds of crying, is enough to make anyone jump out out of bed and investigate.

I had pulled on a shirt and opened my bedroom door just a teeny bit, to be held by the sight of Ladia crying her heart out. She grabbed a lamp and threw it at the wall. I flinched and her eyes caught my gaze.

"You! What do you know about this!?" She held up the photograph I kept hidden in my pack. I froze and moved to snatch the picture away from her. She tried getting it back, but I wouldn't let her take it away.

"Where did you find this?" Ladia shook her head and attempted once more to grab the photo.

"Tell me where you got this photo!" Ladia drooped to the ground and pointed to a corner in the room. At a first glance I couldn't see anything, but then a shiny pale figure appeared.

"Sh-he showed me." I squinted my eyes and stepped back when I saw who it was.

"What are you doing here?!" I pulled Ladia along with me as I kept going back.

"Surprised to see me? It's only been what, eight years?" I growled at Melody.

"Ethan, who is she? Why does she know you?" I glanced down at Ladia and shook my head.

"I'm sorry if I lie to you, but this is a secret that you cannot be involved with." My gaze was now turned to Melody. "Leave us alone...and don't come back." I grabbed my pack and started shoving things we might need inside.

"Uh-oh, was I not supposed to come here? Oopsy! Oh well, since I'm here why don't I just stir up a bit of trouble. Where to start though! So much potential everywhere. Let's start with Ladia. My dear do you know who I am?" A shake of a head and Melody continued talking, "No? Well I'm yo-" I jumped up and pulled Ladia away from melody.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I was afraid you would say something stupid. We're leaving, come on Ladia." I walked toward the window only to notice that she wasn't following me.

"You can't get rid of me that easily. I may be just a broken version of myself, but my pure essence still captures in my prey." I didn't dare turn around. Instead I ripped a piece of fabric off the curtain and wrapped it around my eyes.

"Why are you doing this? She didn't do anything to you. Just stop this now!" I used my fingers to find Ladia sprawled on the ground. I lifted her and carried her to the window.

"Heh. You do know what's in store for you, right? Don't pretend to be the hero. Give up. Just give up and hand her to me. I will win and you know it's true. Stop wasting your time. Give me her body..."

My steps quietly slowed to a stop. The voice of the siren was too powerful to be ignored.

"Just...show her the photo. Explain it to her. Can't have an ignorant enemy. Do that and you will be rewarded gratefully." Slowly, bit by bit, I dropped to the floor.

Pins and needles filled every corner of my body. I couldn't do anything but fall and fall.

"You're wrong. Melody, she's not the cause of your death. You are the cause. I might not be a hero, but I'm not letting you destroy my only chance to get back home." Using what little strength I had, I flexed my fingers, got a good grip on Ladia, and turned to the open window.

"Ethan, I allow you to run but I won't let you hide. My minions will find you and drag you dead or alive, back to my log. The log that began and will end this."

Chills crept up and down my arms. I didn't think twice before jumping out of the train and stumbling to the ground.