Star vs. The Forces of Evil - Never Hold Back

Chapter Eighteen

“Wait- LUDO???” Marco exclaimed in surprise and terror.

Ludo grinned, slowly raising her off the floor. Star choked and grasped onto Ludo’s mechanical arm, trying to pry herself free. Her wand was on the floor, far out of her reach. She was completely helpless...

“No wand, no power,” Ludo laughed wickedly. “You see, I made a deal with Toffee. Anyways, none of you shall pass beyond this point! Move any further and I'll snap her neck like a twig…”

Marco’s heart pounded with horror. It was a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation… Is there any way he could save her…? Maybe there was something that he doesn't have right now, but he can call upon… he needs something unexpected to happen…

Then, the idea hit him.

“Star...” he began. “Star, Star, Star, Star, Star Butterfly! Star! Star! Star is in danger!! Star!!! Star is in danger!!!”

Everyone paused, pondering Marco’s plan… An echoing growl of the distant battles rang through, but the boy shivered not. It grew louder and louder, as if a stampede was nearing. Just as it felt as if the room would collapse...

“LET GO OF HER YOU DAMN BASTARD!!!”

~☆~

Alfonzo needed not to look above him to know that the steel beams were falling, for his hearing of their screams as they bent and snapped was all he needed to navigate his way through the way. Grenades went off, smoke rose into the sky, and fire sprang to life in seemingly random places on the ground. With gargantuan monsters fighting on both sides, it seemed that the humans were in more danger than anyone else. They all huddled together in large holes in the walls and under strong structures, knowing that they were practically useless in battle at this rate. It seemed that they needed a guide...

~☆~

As the vortex of fire spiraled from the desk, blasting Ludo and Star away from each other. Star crashed onto the floor and recovered swiftly, while Ludo was flung against the wall painfully. Where he once was, Tom now stood, his eyes glowing a blood-thirsty crimson and his pointed teeth bared.

“What the hell was that all about?!” Ferguson exclaimed. “How did you do that??”

“Let's just say curses can sometimes be blessings,” Marco chuckled.

Marco was lucky enough to recall that Tom had set a curse on him that notified Tom whenever Marco mentioned Star.* Here, Tom had figured out that Marco was much less of a threat to Star than someone that had tried to kill her. Star herself grabbed her wand and stood, aiming it at Ludo.

“Thanks for that,” she began. “You and the others go about your business. Tom and I will handle this…”

“Yes ma’am!” Marco said firmly as he walked towards the vault.

While Marco and Oskar tended to unlocking the vault, Jackie and Janna went to take care of the general, and Ferguson stood guard. As for Star and Tom, it was about time they finally got their answers.

“Alright, Ludo,” Star snapped. “Where's Toffee, and what is he doing?”

“I-I swear I don't know!!” Ludo cried. “I'm just someone he hired to weaken the soldiers, but then YOU sabotaged our plan and got me almost killed by him, you little bitch!”

Tom growled menacingly as Ludo cowered in horror.

“I don't care what consequences affect you,” Star spat. “Now just tell me where Toffee is or else!”

Ludo whimpered hopelessly, eyeing Tom with constant dread.

“Okay okay I'll tell you!” he cried. “He's within this very building. We're ALL going to die!!”