Drip, Drop (PADX fanfic)

Chapter 3: Back Again

Chapter 3: Back Again

Lance woke up with a small groan as the light shined into his room. He cracked open his eyes and found himself lying on top of his bed. Guess he passed out. He looked at the folder lying on his desk, he never thought he would find a few files so intimidating. Lance turned a bit to see Devi sleeping soundly on his pillow, smiling softly as the devidra snored. Lance quietly got out of his bed and slid over to his desk. Opening the files again, he shifted past the ones about tracking down the Star Fragment and his hometown. Everything after that was more general info on what the people were up to. However, the reasons for why they were looking for the Staff Fragment remained unknown. Lance reached the end of the file and saw a small folded note. He opened it to see a message written in black ink.

Lance, the Star Fragment you have isn't gone. I'm afraid you are still knee deep in the muck, and someone dangerous is after you. Even with the abductions as of late. Please keep your guards up, it's the only thing keeping you alive.

-Shiro

Lance got a bad feeling from that. It was from the dragonoid of their group, the one with an appearance similar to his own. What did he mean by the fragment wasn't gone? Ace destroyed it. It was the reason why Lance was able to return to himself. He placed a hand near his chest, where the fragment was fused, but all that was there were scars.

"WHAT???!!!" Lance jumped a bit as Devi was startled awake by Ace's high screech downstairs. The two looked at each other before leaving. Lance left the files for now, pocketing the letter. They ran downstairs to see Ace talking with Angine and Vahaton.

"Why are the guild missions restricted?!" Ace asked as he looked at the two elders.

"We were informed by a girl named Wasp, saying that you and Lance are in grave danger. While I am on edge depending on what she said was true, I cannot take that risk, especially with the disappearances going on. You cannot find Charo if you go missing yourself." Angine said.

"Wasp?! She was here? I spotted her partner, a guy named Trick at the library last night. He refused to give us any information, but he knows something! He won't give us information because-" Lance stepped in while Ace was ranting.

"Because we may have to kill to survive, right?" Lance asked.

"Wasp told you too?" Ace asked, calming down a little.

"She told me that I am on the top of their hunting list. That it will be very dangerous if we tried to help. She told us to lay low and hide until they resolve it." Lance said, however that seemed to make Ace more frustrated.

"Gah! Those jerks, we are perfectly capable of handling some thugs." Ace said.

"But what about the guns they mentioned, tama?! Everyone flinched when he pulled out his pistol, tama!" Tamazo said, this made Angine widen her eyes.

"He what? Did he point a gun at you?!" Angine asked, worry evident in her voice. She did not like the idea of her grandson being held at gunpoint.

"Well, yes.....he told me that I won't have time to think. He took me down quickly before I could disarm him. Then he made me hold the gun and point it at him. Telling me to shoot. I don't get his deal." Ace said, recalling the events. Trick's serious stone stare made it rather memorable, good reasons or not.

"He asked you to shoot him?!" Vahaton asked, equally shocked.

"He said if we can't handle taking a life. Then we can't handle helping on this mission." Ace said, Lance frowned as he recalled the discussion with Wasp.