The Unknown: Memories of Katie Rose

Chapter 15: [One Hell of a Team]

Thirty minutes earlier...

Katie lounged in bed, waiting with feigned patience. Even the comfort of the fluffy green robe she'd found in the closet wasn't enough to get her mind off of him. He sure is taking a while... These vending machines must be a real pain. Maybe I should keep him company, she thought. She was also worried about leaving for him to find their room empty, and then the sirens happen all over again. Her mind wandered. Is this what they call a one night stand? ...No, Leon would never do that. But he wouldn't leave me to worry either. ...Surely I'm being overdramatic.

Part of her wanted to put her clothes back on. Part of her was comfortable keeping them off. She thought about laying on the bed, enticing him for another roll in the hay. Then she died of embarrassment at the thought of mimicking those pin up girls in Cynthia's stolen magazines. It was already hard not to think of him after a night like this.

She turned on the TV. A drama romance unfolded on the screen, initially calming her with its budding relationship. However, the plot took a dramatic turn. The man received a phone call, started packing his bags, and declared he would never see his girlfriend again. To Katie's horror, the man was caught kissing another woman at the train station.

In tears, Katie cursed the malevolent TV for its evil influence and channeled her frustration by hurling the remote through the screen. As the TV shattered into pieces, she muttered, "Oops... He'll probably be upset that I did that. I'll just tell him it was cursed. It was for his protection." She silently nodded to herself, satisfied with her naive, yet flawed logic.

Her eyes turned to the clock. 12:32 am. Katie groaned. He couldn't have gotten lost, could he? Leon? Leon, can you hear me? The lack of response was alarming. There's no way he'd leave her worrying like this on purpose. Katie began putting on her sweater. A flash of light from her window made her turn to it. A fire from the docks... It was the cruise ship. The aft end had flames swerving and dancing, coming and fading in sparks. Her heart dropped. She knew where he was.

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A sharp crack echoed as Leon collided with the wall, the oldest sister's fist connecting with his nose. Blood trickled down his upper lip, but he grinned defiantly. Wiping it off with his sleeve, he said, "Good one-" He was abruptly cut off as Cynthia's blade threatened his face, narrowly avoiding a potentially disastrous encounter.

"I can see why Katie likes you," Cynthia remarked, licking his blood off her blade as she continued her assault. Leon ducked, weaved, and parried, fending off the relentless onslaught. Cuts marred his arms and legs as the sisters closed in, a relentless wave of carnage.

Embers danced from Leon's palms, swatting away the shadows Lilith sent after him. Controlling his newfound powers became easier by the second, but they wouldn't stop the sisters' blades from cutting through him. The book in Lilith's hand seemed to be the source of the shadows.

Every attempt to reach Lilith was thwarted by Isabella or Cynthia, their ferocious fighting style showcasing their harsh training. Leon barely survived their relentless strikes, evading and countering with every ounce of strength. The ship's expanse offered some respite, preventing him from being cornered.

Bounding over railings, climbing walls, and diving over heads, Leon engaged in a relentless physical exchange. The intensity surpassed any training he'd experienced. Despite his efforts, the sisters pursued him relentlessly, refusing to stay down for long.

Strangely unfazed by the chase, Leon's heart raced as he struggled to keep up with the nimble sisters. The loud scuffle seemed impossible to keep secret, yet no one intervened. He momentarily caught both sisters' arms, throwing them across the ship, only for them to swiftly recover. "This is more fun than I thought it'd be," he said, wiping away the sweat on his forehead.