Out of This World Gaming [~ read description]

Chapter 19: Vengeance

The sounds of screaming pierced through the pipeline as the four of them ran towards the source. "Iris, slow down!" Clover pleaded. "I can't! What if Larkspur is hurt?!" She screeched in defense. The pipe came to an end and there was a small, concrete room that was dry for the most part.

Silence filled the area and had an air of eeriness attached to it. "Iris, we know you're worried, but this place seems too creepy to stand in. Come on, let's go back." Clover reached out to grab her companion's hand and tried to pull her back, but not without a fight. "I'm not leaving!" She shouted. "Yes, we are! Larkspur's screaming stopped, okay? She might be down some other pipe." she rationalized whilst pulling back her friend. "No, I'm staying." She pulled her body back in an attempt to get out of her hostess's grip.

"I don't have a good feeling about this at all, as a matter of fact, my gut's telling me that we should leave." The human explained. "I'm not going anywhere; I sense another life form in this room other than the four of us. Somebody's in here and I'm not leaving until I know Larks is safe and sound." Iris rationalized.

"I'd give up if I were you." Zerrin began. "Once Iris sets her mind towards something, she'll stop at nothing to attain her goal." She then redirected her attention to the child. "While it's a noble trait, it's never a good idea to just stand here and just claim our friend's in here without being completely certain. Just take advice for once and let's blow this popsicle stand."

"Even if what I'm sensing isn't her it's a risk I'm willing to take." Iris defended. "It's a risk you don't have to take. Let's just go." "No! I'll never leave! I want to make sure Larkspur is safe!"

"What a foolish Plaything."

They heard the sound of clicking in one of the pipes coupled with giggling while a figure emerged from the pipe. It appeared to be a young woman with black hair with light blue highlights and she wore a thin, white scarf. Her attire, for the most part, consisted of only black, blue, and white. Zerrin gasped as her eyes widened.

The woman laughed obnoxiously and wiped a tear from her eye and begun to wear an expression to convey ill intentions. "Well, isn't this a surprise? My rivals, my competitors," She gave Zerrin a death stare.  "and my arch nemeses?" The woman's young voice spoke. "And just who are you?" Clover questioned.

"That's..!" Zerrin began.

"Well, today's just my lucky day, isn't it?" The woman spoke before she snapped her fingers. Floating on both sides of her figure were two light blue orbs. Inside each of them was a young man and an older woman. "Zander!" Clover screamed. "Larkspur!" Iris called out.

"Just let them go, Satara. They're not a part of our spat." Zerrin demanded, only to be met with mocking laughter. "Let them go? You're just as sweet as I remember, caring for your friends like that. It's quite pitiful that you have yet to realize the magnitude of this situation. None of this would've happened if you all just left together instead of splitting up at the last minute." Satara explained.

Clover's apprehension was replaced with guilt and anger and the sight of Zander and Larkspur unconscious in their cells didn't help the situation. "Three of my arch nemeses all in the same room. It's quite an exquisite collection of different people, wouldn't you say?" Satara continued.

"What do you want?" Zerrin questioned.

"I'll tell you what I want." She walked closer and let her slow walking make her heels click ominously. Zerrin was standing in front of Iris and Clover in a protective manner with a look of determination being worn on her face as her enemy approached. "I want my father back." Zerrin's eyes widened and she slightly looked away. 

"Oh, yes, our father." "For the millionth time, I didn't kill him!" "Hah! Don't make me laugh, sister. You're not fooling anyone; he was murdered by your hands not too long after your tenth birthday. I had to wait, but thank the stars that wait's over. Mother isn't here to stop me from doing whatever the hell I want with a Shitcast like you anymore."