The Order of the Slice

Chapter 11

Luigi took a deep breath and knocked on Nancy's door. It took a second for it to open. Nancy opened it and glanced at Luigi.

"Hi," She said awkwardly. "Where's Gertie?" Luigi swallowed.

"She-uh-"

Nancy's eyes widened. "Is she dead?"

"No!" Luigi yelled automatically. "Officer Gertrude's alive, she's just-uh-been captured."

"Captured?!" Nancy repeated incredulously.

"What do you mean captured?"

"An Order of the Slice member was going to take Thomas back to The Oven," Luigi said. He realized she probably didn't know a lot about what was happening, but he continued anyway. "Officer Gertrude fought them off while we ran and-uh-never came back." Nancy stared at him.

"Why did you have to rope her into this?" She asked. Luigi opened his mouth to speak, but Nancy continued. "We have to save her," She said. Luigi shook his head.

"That's what I said to Thomas and Cheryl, but they said she'd be fine."

"Then we go alone." Luigi shook his head again. He felt more conflicted than he ever had in his life.

"Thomas would find out," He said. "He might try to stop me."

"You can keep a secret can't you?" Luigi nodded. He didn't want to keep secrets, but he could if he had to. "Great," Nancy said. "Let's save Gertie."

***

Trying to save Gertie was a lot harder than trying to save Thomas. They needed some way to get information about where Gertie was being held, and they didn't have Cheryl. Luigi couldn't get information because he didn't know anything about The Order of the Slice. But there was someone who was The Order of the Slice's weapons expert. Someone who was already scared of Luigi, but first they had to find him. Luigi thought that maybe Cheryl knew where he was. That was why Luigi was at the hotel they were staying in, standing in front of Cheryl's door, thinking about it his plan instead of actually opening the door. He was about to knock when Cheryl opened the door.

"What are you doing?" She asked. Luigi swallowed.

"I-I feel really bad for Barry after-after everything," He said. That was true. Luigi still remembered the terror in Barry's eyes. "Do you-uh-know where he lives?" Cheryl raised a brow.

"You barely did anything to him, why do you feel so terrible?" Because that was the worst thing Luigi had ever done. He had never done something like that before. The part that haunted Luigi the most was that he liked it. He had been a prisoner for so long, and then finally, he had the power. Barry's life was in his hands, and he liked it. Luigi shivered.

"I-I just feel bad okay?" He said instead. Cheryl narrowed her eyes.

"Okay." She nodded. "Let's go." Luigi eyes widened.

"You're coming?"

"Of course I am," Cheryl said. "It's either go with you or stay here with Thomas, and I'm pretty sure he hates me because I captured you." Luigi frowned. This could ruin his plans.

"Maybe that's why you should stay," Luigi said. "I'm sure Thomas has forgiven you." Why wouldn't he? Cheryl laughed.

"I think you know that's a lie," She said. "It's almost like you're trying to get rid of me."

Luigi swallowed. "W-why would I do that?"

Cheryl narrowed her eyes again. "You don't want me to come with you."

Luigi froze. Nancy had given him one job, and he blew it. "Are you planning something with Thomas?" She asked. Luigi shook his head. "I-I promise I just want to apologize."