We Meet Again 2

Twenty- four

(Star)

After about five minutes of chewing this dickhead's face off, I fell backwards. I was starting to feel woozy. I know I lost a lot of blood from his attacks, and I am very grateful that Raven came when she did or else he would've ended me. I saw the damage I'd done and became disgusted by my actions.

He was a blood-soaked mess!

I still tasted the sediment in my mouth and couldn't decipher if it was his or my own! I quickly spit out the contents and looked back up at the 'sky box'. That's when I saw her! The Asian girl that murdered Agent Jillian Ramos! The very one that attacked me the night of the Mayoral banquet. She was standing near the older gentleman that was watching me at the mall, whom I assume to be Slade, and the Ravager... Rose Wilson!

The enemy is right there! I'm smack dab in the middle of the terrorist organization, Scathe! These events only meant that I was either being tested or to be killed. But from what I can tell, I was being recruited in this hell bound group!

Never in a zillion years will I be part of such a murderous faction! I will get my daughter and leave this retched place!

Raven appeared to be getting bored of beating the crap out of Mr. Zodiac, so she started walking away from him, back over to me then...

*******

(Rose)

I observed my cuz ripping Capricorn a new asshole. I mean she was really punishing him like nothing I've ever seen, painfully dragging it out, but why? It seemed as if she's protecting this recruit. Never since she's been in Scathe had she's shown any interest in anyone or better yet anything. But with every strike she handed to Cap, she was truly vested.

'Hum, it's like this is personal for her. She's defending this red-head girl for some reason.'

"Ro, that's the FBI agent from the Hussain assignment. She was the one that pulled a gun on me." Ivy whispered in my ear, and my eyebrows lifted.

"Really." I responded whilst my wheels churned. How could I use this to my advantage? I know that Beast gave me her word that she'd help me end my misery, but I am Rose Wilson! I'll believe it when I see it. Hell if I can't even trust my own company which consisted of my father, subordinates, or even the woman that stood next to me, who can I trust in other than myself?

I said nothing, I just continued to observe Beast brutalize this man that was almost 10 times her size and weight. Then... then...

'AWE!!!' (gasping) The crowd seemed to say at the same time!

Hmm, very entertaining!

*******

(BB)

I thought I was in between dreaming and reality with QB's statement. What was she talking about? What insight does she have? Did Raven contact her? Did she find Star and Mar'i? I jumped out of my bed and hit the floor with my bed coverings wrapped around my feet. I was still feeling the effects of Terra's quote-unquote family night to the point I couldn't focus.

"What do you mean QB? What information do you have?"

"Well I was trying everyone's number and got nothing, but when I thought to text Mar'i, she answered! She answered BB! She's okay!" I heard her try to hold herself from bursting out in tears. I literally felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Ric would be ecstatic to hear that his daughter is still alive, but I don't know about the okay part. I mean the girl is just turned seven! How 'okay' could she be?

I thought of my own son and what he had to deal with every single day of his life. But to his defense, this craziness it a huge part of him. He was born into it so it's his norm, unlike Mar'i. She's all cotton candy and pink balloons, not darkness and despair.

Being separated from her father, her home, and maybe even her mother, could be torture! And who knows what her captures had in store for her... so... to say that she's okay is like saying that I still love my ex, complete bullshit!

"Well where is she? Did she tell you?"

"Not exactly, but I have a gut feeling that she and Star are with Scathe. She said that it was daytime, meaning Mar'i and Star are not in the states, and who's not in the states?"

"Scathe! So they are with them. This is really bad QB." I said kind of staggering to my bathroom.

"I know but, Rae is there too, so maybe she's..."

"She's what? Ignoring us! Going all Beast mode on people! Being the little minion that she was crafted to be for these demons! You think she gives a fuck QB? HUH!!! If she cared then Star and Mar'i would be at home in their beds, excited about the first day of third grade, not missing in action!

"Gar! What's gotten into you? Why are you so... angry? I just called to relay that I have a lead, not get mixed up in you and Raven's tragic love story!"

"Yeah... well... maybe you should've had called." I swear my mouth moved faster than my brain could process what was coming out of it.

I expected her to hang up on me, but she didn't. There was a moment of awkward silence, then she sighed and continued...

"Look BB, all I want is to get our friends, our family back home... all of them! I figured talking to you would give me an option to come up with the perfect plan, but you're so deep under Raven's skirt tail that I'm starting to think this was a wasted phone call! You need to not be so selfish on the matter because you're not the only one who's fighting!

We all are! Ric is suffering, Vic is lethargic, and I'm at my wits end! I mean come on, think about Ric. His entire existence is gone! His wife and daughter are in the clutches of the enemy, and right now, they're all the enemy! You know full well that I don't give a flying frisbee about folks that harm children! So if it were down to Mar'i or Raven... who do you really think that I'd choose?"

I knew the answer, but I didn't want to say it. Raven would have a king-sized hole in her head if QB had to make the decision between the two. Not to be mistaken for my words, QB loves Raven as if they've came from the same mother, but Raven is different now, and all of us know it.

I guess I was very upset with Raven to the point that I was behaving like a world class jerk to everyone else. I felt the need to apologize to QB. It's not her fault that I was practically dumped by the love of my life.

Well at least she left me the kid huh.

"Listen QB, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"I know. You miss her, and it's perfectly normal to be a little snappy, but I just know she's going to come back to you. Don't give up on Rae so easily BB." She gave me a bit of comfort with her reassuring statement, which caused me to smile a bit, but I'm no dummy. It was like... the entire time that Rae was with me, she was trying to leave. I'm saying that I actually had to pull this woman out of the window! So don't blame me if I'm not that convinced.

'She's not coming back! Not for me... not for anyone!'

"Okay, so we can wait 'till the morning when everyone's fresh and make preparations to bring our girls back. I gave Mar'i instructions to give us her possible location, and I'm sure we will be going in full blast on Scathe ... but just keep a level head. I'm counting on you BB to be calm... okay."

"Huh... yeah I'll be fine QB. Let's just get them home. We'll talk more in the morning... now get some sleep because I know I am! Oh before you go, can you ask Vic if he could swing by Terra's and get my truck? He has a spare key, and I'll text her address.

"...What?" She paused before she made her comment. I knew she had a ton of questions running through her head at the moment.

"It's a long story. See y'all later. Good night, or morning, or... eh, you get the picture." I said and ended our call.

'I'm going back to bed, my head is still swimming, ugh.'

*************

(Edited 2021)

Let's continue...