One Last Down

Chapter 3 - A Death Sentence

Chapter Three

A Death Sentence

          Yuuno was silent as he drove madly towards the Headquarters. The speedometer never dipped down below 70 in this busy street. “This is why you got caught for driving.” Reyna muttered stupidly.

          “This is no time for games, Warrior Princess. Your father’s life is at stake.” Liuna said.

          Reyna stared at her. “You’re saying, this monster is heading towards my father?”she asked.

          Liuna started to nod, then her eyes widened as they got to 200 meter radius. “We’re too late.”

          “What do you mean…we’re too late?” Reyna yelled.

Liuna bumped her head in the car as Yuuno drove a 360, spinning madly just to stop. Then she, and Yuuno got out, locking the doors to prevent Reyna from escaping.

“Hey! Yuuno! Let me out! I have to save my father!” Reyna screamed.

“Sorry, Reyna but first we have to scout. Who knows if the monster is still there.” He replied, walking towards the Headquarters.

On the outside, nothing look suspicious. The Headquarters still looked great, a big white hall. A big fence of black, a few statues here and there. But the hall looked tired. It was tired of carrying all of….that.

Upon entering, Yuuno gasped. Every employee’s blood splashed the walls. Everyone he knew and cared for, his friends, his comrades, all of them. Ron lay on one of the tables, like a fish gutted and killed.

Liuna stared at the office now splashed with blood. Yuuno’s eyes got big as saucers. “Jamie,” he whispered before hurrying to Jamie’s office.

Gory. The word repeated itself on Yuuno’s mind. He couldn’t see Jamie anywhere. The white walls looked like someone splashed red paint on them. Then behind Jamie’s table, he saw something more horrible.

Jamie’s head was split open, his brains out, eyes out. His body was chopped, blood everywhere. On the floor read “A gift for you.”  It was written in blood.

Behind him, Liuna shuddered. “It’s  more bolder than before. Usually, it attacks at midnight. I think the way the world goes enhances its ability to mimic humans more.” She said, looking at the remains of Jamie’s body.

Yuuno slumped down. “To think, to think that only this morning he was alive, strong, commanding, ordering me not to go away, this is all my fault.” He muttered angrily.

“No, it’s not. Had you been here with him you’ll die too.”

“But he’s dead! It’s unfair!”

“Everything is unfair, Yuuno, Crucix. Everything. Was it fair I took all the blame for what happened in the 1800’s? Was it fair YOU lived this world without remembering anything?”

Yuuno glared at her. “I may not remember everything, Liuna. But I do see something. This is just-”

Liuna sighed. “You’re attached to him. I can’t blame you. This looks exactly like the time-” she faltered.

She killed your parents, Yuuno thought bitterly. He remembers fuzzy bits and pieces, among them being one of the Crucix family, the strongest family in the Hunters. Liuna is his partner, the one who lost everything, like him, who lost all his clan.

He stood up. Liuna eyed him. Finally she sighed again. “Go to your friend, Yuuno. You have some explaining to do.”

Reyna hugged her knees at the car. She can’t believe Yuuno locked her in this stupid car, going to the Headquarters with the witch, while her father might be in danger.

She tried calling him again, but still no connection. Is he alright? She wondered. That’s when she saw Yuuno got out of the Headquarters and threw up.

After a moment of barfing, Yuuno finally wiped his mouth and joined her in the car.

Dead silence. She decided to break the deafening silence.

She faced him. “What’s happening? Yuuno, is my father alive? Is he okay?” she asked.

Yuuno didn’t answer.

“Yuuno! Answer me, is my father okay?”

“We have to go away now.”

“What?”

“We have to leave now.” Liuna said, appearing. “The Idea sensed our presence. It will be here any moment.”

Reyna faced her. “What happened inside? Is my father okay?”

Liuna was silent. Yuuno started the engine and Liuna slipped beside Reyna.

“No, it can’t be. My father, my father’s not dead!” Reyna burst out crying. Liuna hugged her.

“I’m sorry, Reyna. I truly am.”

…

          The Idea growled in frustration as she smelled the scent farther and farther away.

          “You’ll never escape, my dear sister.”

…

          Reyna cried and cried in the whole trip. Liuna was hugging her, muttering comforts to her, but it she didn’t even bother listening. Her father is gone forever. She thought. What good are comforts to her?

          Liuna understands everything what Reyna is crying about. She also has grief like that when that happened. I will never forget that night, it was all my fault, she thought, but this girl has suffered as much as I have.

          Suddenly, Reyna glared at her. “Will you stop hugging me? And besides, shouldn’t you be happy? You’re a witch, after all.” She said.

          Liuna chuckled. “You’re taking this awfully calmly.” she said.

          “I’m not taking this calmly. My father just died. Well. I’m stupid to talk to you about that. You’re an immortal witch. You don’t feel anything. You can’t feel emotions.”

          Whatever Liuna felt for Reyna before – like pity – It was gone. Her pity for the girl was quickly gone and replaced by anger. “Well, I’m sorry, Princess. I forget, I am a Hunter. How can I possibly help you and your dead father? Oh no, no help at all. You might as well cry ‘till you die, because I’m not helping you.”

          Reyna glared at her but before she could retort, a yell was heard.

          “Would you two stop? We are on a death mission. We couldn’t afford to kill ourselves first even before this stupid mission starts.” Yuuno yelled at them.

          Surprisingly, both girls stopped glaring at each other. It was silent for a few minutes. Reyna broke the deafening silence.

          “Uh, where are we going?” Reyna asked.

          Silence. “The airport.” He finally said at last.

          “Why?” Reyna asked, curious.

          “Because the start of the 100 rune chase is in another country.”