The Flaw With Perfection

Chapter Fourteen: "When people are desperate"

"We need to find Lucky bat...now"
Lou had a look in his eye, it sent chills down Mandy's spine.
He then stood up on the rubble to elevate himself and addressed the crowd "everyone, Lucky bat is missing, we need all of you to help find him" he paused "no one is safe until he's been found, and is dealt with"
Searching for Lucky bat, in theory, was a great idea but none of them knew it would take this long. They had all been searching for over four hours now and no one had the slightest idea where he could be.
Lou sat down, his legs were killing him. Mandy quickly followed in turn, they were exhausted. Lou waited a moment to catch his breath then said "where do you think we haven't checked yet" Mandy replied in a rasped voice "that's the thing, we've looked everywhere, its almost like he's gone invisible" Lou thought for a moment if they had missed somewhere. He bit his lip in frustration, then had a thought " what about my old place, has anyone done there?"
Mandy thought back "actually I don't think anyone's gone there since you were sent to confinement. I doubt anyone would have thought of it" Lou smiled "ok then, let's go"
He roughs to his feet and stretched out a hand to help Mandy up, she took hold of it and dusted herself off, Lou smiled then began to walk.
~~~

When they reached the huge double doors of Lou's vila, Mandy was struck with amazement, she didn't know how such an extravagant house could even exist.
Lou tried for the door and it just swung open, it hadn't even been closed.
Lou and Mandy both found this suspicious so they proceeded carefully.
They walked down the stairs of the entrance, there were life-sized portraits of Lou everywhere, it sent shivers to them both not because it was s much a large portrait, but what they found unnerving was how each and every portrait had its face ripped out.
They continued down the stairs all the way to the bottom and in the centre of the room sitting in a chair was exactly who they thought they would find.
"So this is where you've been hiding," Lou said "i wasn't really hiding, i was just waiting for you" Lucky bat said with a chuckle. His hair was a mess and his eyes looked...deranged.
He was clearly at the end of his rope, he was desperate, and when people are desperate they do desperate things.
Lucky bat then stood up, he walked forward and Mandy and Lou took a step back.
They saw that in his hand was a knife, a small one but a knife nonetheless. Lucky bat raised it and threw the knife at Lou who dodged it by diving onto the ground.
Lou thought it was unnatural for Lucky bat to make such a brash move it was almost amateurish, if he really wanted the knife to hit Lou he wouldn't have revealed it a moment before.
Lou then looked up and saw Lucky bats true plan, he had wanted Lou to dodge it, it was a distraction.
Lucky bat now was holding onto Mandy in a chokehold and had something in his hand
It was a detonator
"Did you really think i was done? After i saw that you had survived the demolition i came here and made myself another bomb." Lucky bat let out a hysterical laugh then said "do you know how easy it is to make a bomb! I have strapped it to my back and after i push the button it will go off in five seconds, which isn't enough time to save Mandy and isn't enough time to run away either, well unless you start now" his smile grew wider "go ahead i won't stop you, just know that Mandy will go up in flames just as i will."
Lou was at checkmate, he knew it. No matter what he did it would all end up in flames one way or another, just then he looked to Mandy, she didn't have fear in her eyes, not a drop. Instead, her eyes said,
'be ready'
Lou nodded, Lucky bat made a confused expression and let his guard down just for a second but that second was strong enough for Mandy to take ahold of the situation, she grabbed his arm which was around her neck and bit it. He screeched in agony and released, Mandy tasted blood in her mouth all metallic and salty.
She rushed to Lou's side and looked back to Lucky bat who was now laughing through his pain, "you might have won everyone over but never will i submit myself to be punished for wanting a better world, i will not be at the mercy of you or anyone. I am the only one who will decide how my end will be." He raised the detonator high in the air "i will rather die than see you at the head of this world again!" He pushed the button and Mandy ducked behind a wall
5 seconds
Lou ran to Lucky bat and ripped the bomb off him
4
Lou pushed him to the ground
3
He pulled his arm back and threw the bomb out the window
2
He jumped onto Lucky bat shielding him from the explosion
1
It exploded in the air, it wasn't a big bomb but it would have been big enough to kill all of them. The force broke the windows and sent pieces of rocks and dirt flying through them.
Then all was silent. Mandy emerged from her hiding place behind the wall and saw Lou shielding lucky bat, it was truly remarkable. Lou got up and Lucky bat in his stunned state said: "why didn't you let me die?"
Lou glared down at him "you don't deserve the silent peace of death, you will spend your days thinking about how much time you wasted hating all the people who cared about you" Lou turned away
You will live in regret, that is your punishment."
Quickly people began to pour in through the doors, having seen the explosion, two dolls took Lucky bat by the arms and dragged him out.
"What are we going to do with him?"
Mandy asked
Lou then replied, "he will be sent to confinmernt...but every day the same person will visit him and try to heal his inner wounds, and maybe he will change."
"Why would you decide on that after what he did?"
Lou turned to Mandy and smiled
"Because everyone deserves a second chance."