Chapter 26: Unveiling Nadia

It was a bright day, she noted, and even after being outside in the crisp air for an hour, she had just noticed how pure and empty the sky looked. It was a shame it was spring, she would've loved to walk these sidewalks in October instead. The sound of leaves dancing over the white cracked stone at the command of the wind pleased her. But it was spring, the leaves had yet to bud on the trees, and winter's last grasp was holding onto the Midwest as it usually did. Snow in April wasn't far from impossible. But the brashness of the sun was starting to give her a headache; she wanted to hide indoors, and she had just arrived too. Without even thinking she had gotten onto the first bus and was now walking downtown St. Paul. The river dazzled below between a valley of trees, and the skyscrapers towered behind her. It felt like home, and yet it had been so long since she had spent any significant time here it felt like a lost world entirely. It made her think of Minneapolis on the other side; it made her think of that fateful day, when everything had begun. The boulder began to roll, the picture was in motion, everything she had done over the last five years... it was that time when she felt great sadness. 

As she moved through the festive streets the memory naturally bubbled to the surface. 

The world felt silent, and strangely so. The sound of the city bus continued to roar in a plume of black smoke; the inpatient cars rolled haphazardly down the street; people coughed at the brisk intake of air; but it still all felt silent to her. Even Minneapolis could look like a backwater small town, she thought, thinking of grabbing a cigarette for the first time in two years since she quit. The buildings looked shabby and weathered. She was still young by all means, hardly twenty two years old; black haired, copper skinned with deep brown eyes full of quiet understanding. She had been well on her way to making it in the world, soon to be freed from bondage as a student. But that was all changed now. How could it be that the vast majority of her family was ill? Not just her sisters, but her aunts, and uncle, and cousins, and second cousins; they were all taking up ward in the various hospitals spread across the state. It was as if a sudden epidemic had struck her family, and only her family. Yet even months after their hospitalization she remained unharmed. 

Adjusting her coat, she made her way towards the nearest gas station. When shit hit the fan, who cared about health? The stress was killing her regardless. It was still a few blocks away though; she had time to think about it. It began just a few months ago. She remembered the ominous warnings her cousin had given her, and the rest of her family about the underground uprising that was building beneath them. He was always unnecessarily cryptic, and even now he remained enigmatic in his refusal to visit his relatives in the hospital. She was beginning to harbor bad thoughts of him. For someone who had once preached the importance of familial love; he had grown more withdrawn throughout the years. It was like the very shops she passed without a second thought. Ragtag, slapdash, out of order places that only old men visited because it was in their blood to do so. Tradition that was ages past. It didn't seem like anyone was willing to forge a new tradition. 

What of her cousin? That quiet young man had nearly lost his mind a year ago; some members of the family had thought him gone crazy, but he seemed to turn out, but perhaps he didn't? Just as those thoughts came and went through her head she caught a glimpse of him, amid the crowd of people walking towards her. His eyes were downcast, and his hands shoved into his deep pockets, and he looked all out of sorts. 

They stopped, almost simultaneously, as if they had sensed each other’s presence, and he glanced upwards for a moment and he saw her there and suddenly his expression darkened. It struck her as odd, he looked as if he was facing a potential adversary, as if she was his enemy. After his moment of hesitation he seemed to relax and he greeted her shyly as he usually did. “Hey…” It felt awkward. “Hey.” She returned. “We should catch up, if you’re not busy.” He seemed rather evasive. He was rarely direct, always beating around the bush or hinting at things and he never clarified unless repeatedly pressed. “Sure, where should we go?” She asked. “I don’t know, wherever you think is good.” He said vaguely, as was commonplace given his demeanor.

They decided upon a restaurant that would offer some level of privacy, where the waiters weren’t too noisy and the music was near nonexistent. As he sulked along beside her, she noticed that he was very much pale; he had a sick, sleep deprived look in his eyes and his hair was abnormally long. Unlike her, he was as white as a sheet, and his eyes were light gray. But even so, tired had always been his middle name.

“I bet, you have a lot to ask me, huh?” He began and she nodded slowly. “Where have you been? Everyone’s asking for you.” She stated, but she didn’t press him or emphasize the need of his presence. He nodded slowly. “I’ve been…working hard.” He reached into his pocket and placed a tiny black case on the middle of the table. She reached out and opened the case up and noticed a fine array of pill capsules, twelve in all she counted. A look of concern crossed her face. Drugs, She thought, though he would never resort to such things. Her cousin had been adamantly anti-drug his entire life; anything that altered the mind was evil to him. Yet he never was bothered by other people's use; he had surprisingly made a point of that many, many times. “What is this?” She asked withholding her judgments. He leaned in close. “An antidote…” he whispered. She became even more puzzled, but suddenly interested, unless of course her cousin, unimaginable as it may be, had become extremely intoxicated with a new drug he had cooked up to escape reality. “What’s it for exactly?” She asked, purposefully ignoring the fact that her cousin was nowhere near a medical expert. He wasn’t even fond of science, or even relatively savvy with medicines. If it was as he said, then how could it be that he of all people had made such a thing? Still she reserved some faith for him. Though it was at that moment she realized how little she really knew him.

“I know, it’s the most farfetched thing I’ve even done or said.” His voice strangely quavered as he spoke. “I’ve always been a maniac, but, please, at least you need to listen. What’s happening to our family is not coincidence!” He had suddenly grown cold and determined, speaking with conviction. “What do you mean?” She asked, for this time he would have to elaborate-- the sickness that ailed their family was something she took quite seriously. “It may be hard to explain, but I will try. If it’ll get you to believe me and help me…” He trailed off. “Continue.” He let out a deep sigh before launching into his story. 

“Okay, so there’s this girl who I went to school with. A real academic, but with the social capability of rallying people…the wrong kind of people a sort of 'dark charisma'…these liberal assholes who feel like the government is their enemy or something. The kind of people who have crummy upbringings so they have to preach baseless politics just because they are angry and feel repressed; simply put, your average rebellious teenager. So, it turns out that she uncovers this breakthrough in science, but instead of going public she starts to squander it, and apply her morals to it, and getting the people around her to follow her. A real revolution, just so suddenly out of the blue…it was if some god cheated and gave her that gift that strange idea…and what does it do? What is its purpose? It controls people and the people she can’t control just get sick, real sick and they don’t recover. She’s testing her product out every day on normal people…normal people who don’t believe in her ideals. Her first targets were those she claimed to be bigots or racists…the world doesn’t need hate right? Just take them over and make them think like her, like the system. I don’t know how it works, but…I had to find a way to stop her, because I knew. She tried to use it on me! For god’s sake, she came close to. But I got one over her. Yes…that is what this is. The prototype for the antidote that negates her evil schemes! I know it works, I tried it myself…the only thing is…it doesn’t work on those who can’t be controlled...As much as I worked, and worked..." He seemed deeply wounded and paused, but then he continued on. "Our family is…different. Our bodies fight it naturally. That's why everyone's getting sick.” He paused for a moment to indulge in his food and drink and then he began again. She listened quietly.

“Especially you, I don’t know why, but you…you’re practically immune.” She was taken aback by his statement. She was immune? What was that supposed to mean? His entire story lacked any evidence or proof to his claims, but what he had produced here seemed to be of high quality. He couldn’t just be bluffing, there had to be more to it. There had to be a more detailed explanation. At her change of expression he shied away. “Go into detail, how did you make this?” She asked picking one of the capsules from the case and examining it. “I can’t tell you—not in till you’ve had one. Even if you are immune…I have to make sure…her system is growing stronger…but I understand if you don’t, believe me, I can tell it’s hard to take in.” Then, without warning she popped it into her mouth and drank it down with her water. For a moment she paused, her body quivered and tingled with a strange sensation but then a sense of rejuvenation overcame her, a new life, springing from the depths of her core. This feeling is amazing! Her cousin on the other hand was looking rather aghast, or surprised that she had done so without hesitation. This...enlightenment, he created something like this? She could not believe what she was feeling; nor could she wrap her mind about her cousins story which she now took as the truth. 

“I trust you, for what it’s worth. We’re family.” She said, not once did she smile in their meeting. Like him, she was quiet and reserved. But he smiled, while she didn’t, it wasn’t one of those touching familial moments where everyone gets emotional. He smiled because things were going according to plan; she was grim because she would have to accept his horrible truth. “So what happens now?” She asked and he laughed to himself for a moment, he had suddenly transformed, he was no longer as shy, or reversed. He had evolved I realize. “I’m going to be leaving the country.” He stated quickly standing up. “We must walk and talk, time is important.” At this point, to her, it felt as if he had intended to run into her at that particular spot. As if everything he had done so far had been according to his plan and now that she had trusted him things were all back on schedule. It was bizarre, but then again, almost anything concerning him was bizarre. “Where are you going exactly?” She asked him and he looked up at the gray barren sky. “Hungary.” His one word answer brought even more surprise to her. “Why Hungary, of all places?” She asked, they were getting onto a bus, which he paid their fare. “An ally is there, waiting for me, an ace I’ve been hiding up my sleeve. But that is not important, you must stay here, and your name will be Nadia, do you understand?” He asked her and she didn’t, but nodded anyway. “Here are your papers. I need you to contact this man once I’ve left the airport, he’ll be expecting you somewhat and from there proceed as he instructs in till I return.” He was awfully proactive for someone who was notorious shy and introverted. “So, you were just waiting for me to walk down that way and…hopefully you could convince me to join you and all of this is your giant plan?” She asked and he had a distant expression of his face that didn’t tell her much, as if he was perplexed as she was.

“It’s not so much that I knew this would all happen but rather, I thought of an idea…and I began to assemble it piece by piece. There is no order…no method to my madness. But I am confronted with what I believe is the greatest evil humanity has faced. I hate those stories were there are underdogs or losers who win through miracles. I’m not a thorn in their side, I’m their superior. My enemies will fear me at every turn, wishing, praying that I disappear forever…this strange forwardness I have shown you today is my motivation to crush them entirely.” The bus stopped, and they got off at the airport. The terminal was busy and crowded and full of noise.

They stopped near the boarding gate for a moment. So much had happened and he had moved too quickly for her to grasp what was happening. “They will come for you…once they realize an antidote has been made, they will surely become afraid. I…I hate to leave like this, but I must, and so if you are willing, play your part well. Don’t let anyone know you are related to me. I will return, I most definitely will.” He embraced her quickly before rushing off to the airport. No bags, no suitcase, it was whatever he had in his pockets. She watched him go, vanish, just like that. But Nadia, as she was now, held onto her composure. His activity inspired her in a way.

The memory ended there. Too much had happened after that. In hindsight it was after that point that she wanted to forget. The four...five years she had spent running around at Cylinder's bidding had her confused and hurt, though like him, she wasn't going to give in and become a slave. Her being here was proof of that. Nobody had told her to come here, there was nobody left. All the fake Cylinders had vanished. Her tired legs had taken her all the way from St. Paul to dreary Minneapolis. As she passed by the same weathered buildings; their hand painted advertisements warn, their regular guests sat near the window with gray beards and aging faces. She saw the poor huddle together on the side of the street, no longer holding signs, no longer yelling at passersby. She knew all to well why that was. The cafe she had dined at was still in business. The birthplace of Cylinder. She thought with a light smile. Thirteen members in all, she guessed. The sky was actually darkening as she walked. Her designated hotel wasn't too far from the hospital, and she had the mindset of visiting her mother at least; maybe her sister though she had heard they were doing well. 

The hotel room was shabby, as most of her rooms these days had been. But the mirror in the bathroom did well to show her face. It looked very much the same as it did five years ago. She had remained unchanged in the years that past after he had gone. Indeed his premonitions had all come to pass except for his promise to return. She hadn’t seen head or tail of him since he left and there was a chance he never made it or simply wouldn't return. The things she had done for the world-- she wondered if they would always go unnoticed. The scars on her back; the memories of that pain, the weakness she endured, the humiliation she faced. Would she ever be recognized as a heroine, fighting for peace? Nobody here knew of her significance. She may be acting as a member of cylinder, but her true loyalties belonged to the schemes of her cousin who hadn’t sent a single order since he departed, and her source of information hadn’t heard of anything either.

That man had left abruptly to search for Sen and Tama. That overly curious scientist and his slacker friend had caused them a great deal of trouble after the stunt they had pulled in Stadweld. The man... Sen had shown far too much interest in Maki. That poor girl, Nadia had heard of her and of the exploding dome after she escaped the hospital. She wondered from time to time if the girl really was a demon. Or maybe she was just a poor, misunderstood girl who had yet to find her place in the world. She detested them for jumping to fantastic conclusions like that. Just how she had been forced to play the role of master infiltrator, only to find that a better candidate could be used. That bastard Trey. She knew all to well what he was about. But she had to pretend not to know. If the two most dangerous people in Stadweld had gone head to head it would've left them both with nothing. What pissed her off the most was that she ended up with the scars, and he was the one who used her.

But revenge was a luxury she couldn't afford. In the field of not drawing attention to herself, she was a master. Even the so-called underground would have trouble pinning her down. It was all in the execution. Who was Nadia? A weak victim of the Stadweld domes. She had been tested on for months by Hive with no results. Everything failed to work against Nadia. But what happened to that precious test subject? 

She gritted her teeth and let her mind stop. At least she had managed to escape before Hiro noticed. If there was anyone she regret lying to it was him. That young man who had the mind to comfort her. It was...somewhat true she decided. Even she, and the conditioning she had gone through, couldn't have prepared her for the torture. Her acting wasn't that great after all. She let out a heavy sigh.

Those empty days in Minneapolis were gone, and she missed them. Watching them drop one by one, it had chilled her, and from there she had even grown to distrust her own friends. All for what? Her cousin? For the sake of the world? For her family? It wasn't for herself! Why was she so unhappy? She stopped herself. She was not as driven as she had thought. She could only go as far as she could. This is my limit; I’m not a loyal dog or trying serve a greater purpose. I played more than my part; it’s time for a vacation. A much needed vacation. 

She hadn’t planned on abandoning them, but there was something about Nadia that made her different, and there weren’t very many people out there like that. Some called it an innate sense. Her cousin had something along those lines, but it wasn’t really his. That was the best way she could describe his strangeness. It was uncanny enough that he anticipated the downfall of humanity as he did, and that he had worked to save it. In all honesty she would’ve pegged him as an antagonist of humanity, not its savior. 

I took a beating for you…I trusted you for a while, and then some. But you wouldn’t have wanted that, would you? If you were here, you wouldn't have made me do that. I know because I am one of the twelve who took the real pill. You were never one for large groups were you? 

That was the one thought that comforted her. She knew. She knew how she was different from the others she had worked with. But her mind was beginning to antagonize people, and even though her legs were sore, she thought it was time to leave again. The night was oddly cold. It was dark out already, she had lost track of time again. There was a residential neighborhood between the cheap motel and the hospital. Visiting hours were over, but she had figured it didn’t matter, the doctors wouldn’t notice her. Feeling the brisk air around her felt annoying, she had had enough cold. It was time for something a little warmer.

She exited the building, walking down the sidewalk. There was the slightest bit of snowfall hovering around her like a mosquito net. It was agitating, but at the same time it felt like a moist towel had been pressed against her face. It was a sensation that washed away the negativity of her mind. It was silent. But it was a rich silence, one you can drink from the very air and feel alive. That precious time when the moment is your own. The stars gleam through the breaks in the clouded sky, the moon is a faded bulb among the colossal sky sea. The only annoyance left was the bleak yellow coming from the homes and street lamps. People, all ignorant of the beehive they slept on. The poison was in the air, she could feel it. A car had stopped suddenly, a ways ahead of her and a girl had emerged from it. It was still a ways off but Nadia slowed her pace, if for any reason to avoid a confrontation. 

The girl entered a particular house after an exchange of words and there didn't seem to be anything significant about it. Still, Nadia stopped dead in her tracks. The air had shifted, and in a strange way. A few houses head of her she could see, emerging from side yard a figure cloaked in a silver robe. Instantly, without thinking she darted into the nearest yard and out of sight. She pressed her body against the plastic siding and listened intently for any sound or indication of movement. A chime sounded in the wind, a soft wind blew and the chorus continued. Ding...ding...ding... Nadia moved around to the back of the house. 

"I'm looking for your son, Kaz." The girl was saying in a loud voice, and there was a tremendous thumping sound, followed by a pleading whimper. What the hell are you doing? Nadia cursed in her mind. Ding...dong...ding... The chimes were just on the other side of the house, the figure was moving. Nadia turned around the next corner, now, behind the silver figure. There's no doubt about it. A Cylinder, but...this feeling. It can't be a Cylinder. Only the true Cylinder have robes like that... She clenched her fist inside her coat pocket. The figure was standing just outside of the doorway, halfway up the garage. Nadia watched from the safety of a bush. Ding...dong...The wind stopped, the chimes continued to dingle against each other, lining the headdress. 

The girl who had entered the house seemed to be done. It had been a violent encounter. The girl exited the house. No, you fool, what are you doing? Nadia could hardly watch as the girl emerged from the home, holding onto a package and then suddenly catching sight of the silver robed figured before her. She stopped, and dropped the package onto the stone step. She seemed paralyzed. The figure approached. Ding...

Shit! She can't move? That can't be! The figure took another step, and then another step and finally it was within arm's reach of the girl. 

Nadia sprang into action. She dove from behind the safety of the bush and she raised her hand quickly. A series of shimmer white strings emerged from the sleeve of her coat and snaked through the air, entangling her opponent in an intricate netted web. The strings hissed as the figure flailed about wildly, forcing it's body into the girls. "Shit! Get away!" Nadia cursed under her breath, running forward and with the brunt of her hand she struck the robed figure in the stomach, and then once more in the chin. It fell back onto the lawn, motionless. The girl lay a few feet away, staring up at the sky with a vacant expression in her eyes. "God damn...here I was on my way over to the hospital, and I end up having to play baby sitter?" She complained out loud checking the girl's pulse before moving onto the robed figure. "Well miss Spider Woman, if you don't want to take care of her, I can take her off your hands." A slick amorous reply came and Nadia looked up slowly at a boy who was standing at the end of the drive with his arms crossed. "I saw the whole thing, you sure got some cool moves lady." The visage looked familiar to her and then she laughed softly to herself. "Ha! Theo's boy?" She scoffed, and his expression changed. "Oh, don't have a comeback for that one do you Klyde." Nadia stood up then staring the young man down. 

"Who are you then if you know my pops huh? He's got a lot of enemies you know, and I've been meaning to look after that girl." He said pointing to the crumpled figure on the lawn. "So, who is she? Your girlfriend?" Nadia asked. "If it means anything to you, she's Rey Pichanto, ring any bells?" So that's it. A look of understanding came to Nadia. This is the very same Rey who was in Stadweld, yes I've heard of her, but why did she come here? She took note of the package on the driveway. I heard her mention Kaz inside...but...no I shouldn't dig too deep, but still...leaving them like this isn't really my intention either. Damn it. She moved over to the silver figure once more. She undressed him as the webs had come undone by her touch. He was an unknown. No ID, but still an enigma. "So who are you? You didn't answer me." Klyde said menacingly coming up from behind. "Let's not play dirty now, you wouldn't like that." Nadia retorted turning to face him. "Here's the deal. Help me get these two back to my place. If you do that, I'll explain everything to you, and I mean everything." His brow furrowed and he looked from Rey to the unconscious man. "Either way I'm screwed. Fine, I'll take the bait, what the hell." 

Setting back down the road, Nadia glanced back just once at the hospital looming in the distance. I'm sorry...but it looks like I'm not done yet saving the world...please wait for me. 

/End

A lot was revealed in this chapter, I wonder how much you can piece together. Now I understand, there might be some holes since this is somewhat different from what I originally planned to do with Nadia...at least somewhat. A bit of Cylinder was explained... 

Next time on Scratch [The world]

Hiro and Norie have returned to Stadweld...in an attempt to make things right! But... who is there to greet them? Who is it that Micheal Reder trusts to get the job done? Find out in the next chapter of Scratch! Dun, dun dun! 

[Forgive me if the quality is less than what you expect, I've had plenty of time to write this, but then again I never said I was publish worthy.]

Scratch Recap

Previously on Scratch the World...

In the city of Stadweld an underground plot was beginning to unfold. It all began when Hiro Reder, a 17 year old student with aspirations of a famous life, was talked into attending a consultation hosted by the Japanese based chemical company Senba. Feeling that something was wrong, Hiro goes to the bathroom to think over his choice to attend the consultation. In the process he notices a man trying to leave, but he was forcefully prevented by the security placed around the auditorium. Fearing for his life, Hiro attempts to leave through the elevator...uncovering even more of a hidden plot he didn't quite understand. Hearing the sounds of distressed females behind closed doors drives his fear to a new level. He tries to go back up but is finally apprehended by a mysterious sadistic blonde woman, who blackmails him into working for her. She reveals that his parents are being surveyed, and if he doesn't do what she tells him to, they will get harmed. With his new found job, Hiro curses his misfortune, and apologizes for wishing for a bright future.

The story then takes a different turn. Michi Kasahara is about to attend her new school. Because of her parents work, she is forced to move around to many different schools and has a hard time hanging to friends as a result. Michi is different from most people in the regard that she has the ability to pick up any obscure detail no matter how minute it may be. When arriving to class she is greeted cordially by a girl named Norie Gladrin who sits by her. Norie asks Michi over to her house because her sister, Maki Glardin-Aihara is also Japanese. She is Norie's adopted sister. They spend some time at Norie's house after school before Michi returns home. When she arrives she notices something strange in the wall. Upon further investigation it turns out to be some kind of camera. Distressed she waits nervously for her parents to come home...only to realize that her father has gone missing...

The following day Norie is getting ready to school, to find that Maki once again does not want to attend school. Worried about her sister, Norie tries to figure out why, and Maki hints that someone knew about her past...late for school Norie didn't have any time to ask her stubborn sister anything more, but her words made her worry all the more. Norie decides to seek the help of a friend of hers who lives across town and invites the troubled Michi to come with. Along the way Michi explains to Norie what happened last night and the girl can't help but think of how similar Michi is to Maki. They arrive and meet Norie's friend Dare who agrees to look into anyone suspicious at the middle school, presumably a teacher who might have learned of Maki's mysterious past.

The story then swings in a different direction. Kaz, a lazy boy who doesn't have much hope for the future is working at his part job fast food job when a coworker of his explains about the mysterious things happening in the city of Stadweld. Dismissing the 'rumor lord' Trey Kaz goes about his business as usual...in till the drive through he's running is held up at gunpoint, and he is forced to hand over the cash in his register to the driver. After being interrogated by the police Kaz is given the day off and he sullenly walks home. En route, he is stopped by a mysterious blonde woman who admits to taking part in the holdup at his restaurant. She explained to him that it was a test, and that he had passed. She hands him a card that invites him to a special job offer in two suspicious domes on the outside of town. He tells his friend Jack who is the son of the Mayor. His friend claims that his father has been acting weird, and tha there is a school field trip planned for the two dome structures that were mentioned on the back of card. Jack feels uneasy about his father's strange behavior, and the weird field trip the middle schoolers are planning on taking. He asks Kaz to talk to Norie Gladrin, who is the sister of the girl who overheard the idea about the field trip originally...

After all that happens, the story comes back to Hiro. He is being transported from the hot stuffy room on the second floor of the auditorium, and is being taken to a strange place blindfolded. All in all he comes to a new place to carry out his task of inputting codes onto a computer monitor. During his confinement, Hiro begins to lose track of time, and his mind is racked over the possibility of their being a camera inside of his house. In his new cell he can hear a girl through the vents next to his own room. He begins a conversation with her and finds out that her name is Nadia and that she was taken months previously.

A new character enters the scene, or rather, leaves it. Lei, a quiet girl is the infamous school skipper. The number one rival to the school captain. Lei is on a mission, and so, she is in the middle of escaping her classes to complete it. Having skipped class so many times she expertly makes her way over to the middle school when she bumps into Dare by mistake and the two of them end up getting corralled into the planned middle school field trip. Lei was supposed to go on this venture because she had been blackmailed by a teacher known as Mr. Calvin. Dare got caught up in the mess while trying to investigate who was getting on Maki's nerves. The two of them arrive at the domes, but aren't on the same bus as Maki.

Taking a step back, we find ourselves in the company of the strict ruling School Captain, who beats up a bunch of delinquents. She is Rey Pichanto, the daughter of the same Pichanto family that is the ruling mafia family in Stadweld. Upset at her father's lack of action against the faulty Mr. Calvin, Rey decides to take it up herself, and in the process she too is invited to the field trip. On the bus by chance she meets a girl [Maki] who explains to her that's very dangerous. Maki has a flashback in her mind to the time when Mr. Calvin blackmailed her, calling her a demon and threatened to expose her.

As the strings closing come to one thread, we are introduced to the young son of the executive of Senba, Toru. While eating dinner, the young upstart figures out that his father is not who he claims to be, or is being controlled somehow. He threatens his old man with a gun and locks him in the closest. After many trials and hardships, Toru finds his way to the dome structures to take the Senba company out of his incapable father's hands, and secure it for himself. With great care, he infiltrates one of the domes in an attempt to undermine the usurpers of his company.

Things start to come together. Prior to the field trip, Maki received a note from a mysterious silver robbed person named C#1. Kaz, while searching for Norie, ends up running into Michi and the two collaborate with the information they've gathered. It's revealed that Michi's parents work for Senba and that there has been a divide within the company as of late. After spending the night at Michi's place, Kaz and the Japanese girl go to Norie's to try and find the girl...only to realize that she's been taken by the same organization. Desperate, they go on their way to the domes...where they run into Trey, whom Michi thought looked like a person she knew to be dead. The 'rumor lord' of Stadweld seemed intrigued by her reaction and then he leaves...the domes stand on the horizon...what will happen within?!

The story comes back to Hiro who is still putting in the codes. This time around he given an image feed to what he is doing. He can open up doors and close them as the prompt appears on screen. He witnesses a variety of strange acts. Such as a girl [Norie] being put to sleep through some kind of machine...all at his hand. If he doesn't follow the codes, or purposefully presses the wrong buttons, Nadia next door will pay the price. After noticing a man, who had clearly come into the domes to take them down, Hiro decides to help him by opening the doors to lead him down a different path. As a result, Nadia is heard screaming painfully next door...out of rage he smashes the computer and rolls up into a ball... poor Hiro...

The story then turns back to Lei and Dare, who make a quick dash over to the second Dome, known as Dome A. They enter just as the dome spirals downward into the ground. After disarming a guard, they proceed forward, only to find that the middle school children are already inside an amphitheater. When the hall they are in starts to get gassed they quickly rush into the first door they find...they bump into the lazy head of security. Dare has fallen unconscious, and holding the man at gunpoint, Lei orders him to hide Dare in the closest...she gets word that Rey is in the building and rushes off to find the school captain. In a nearby room, minutes prior, Rey is shot with a tranquilizer by Mr. Calvin. Maki is then escorted out of the room by a mysterious man who claims to be her ally.

The next chapter explains Norie's past, or Norina's past. The girl was picked on at school for being from a well off family... she is rescued by Dare and the two of them begin to bond. Dare's delinquent ways seem to rub off on Norie as she begins to rebel against her parent's who's attention begins to center around Maki entirely. Maki, who is worried about Norie tries to get her sister to calm down...in her anger, Norie upsets Maki to the point where the girl turns down a dark road...Maki presumably attacks Norina to the point where she is hospitalized. She then wakes up unsure of where she is...as she had been forced to relive a moment of her past.

Toru continues to be lead through the dome structures as Hiro is messing with the system. He eventually happens upon Norie's room and a gunfight follows. He manages to get Norie to a relatively safe place...as the fighting is stopped by a girl named Amy, who is the head programmer in the dome structure [this would be Dome B]. Norie is still sedated greatly, and Toru himself had become slightly gassed so he phases in and out of consciousness. Despite working for the organization that's running the domes, Amy doesn't seem to be hostile.

We swing back to Kaz and Michi who have become separated in their venture through the domes. Kaz was gassed and taken away, while Michi, who was immune to it, was taken to a special interview with Trey, who seems to be working for the dome structure. Trey explains that Michi's father is okay, but the two don't really get along...Trey cuts their meeting short to go off and 'visit a prisoner'. When Kaz wakes up, he finds himself in a very apartment like room, only to find his best friend Jack casually cooking as if nothing was wrong...

The story then returns to Rey and Lei, who have become trapped in an alternate world composed of their memories. As the school captain and school skipper exchange pleasantries...they come to a dark and mysterious revelation that they are in fact half sisters. They sit in despair with no way of escape in their own memories...

But then Dare arrives to rescue them from eternal defeat. He had been helped by a man named Sen who apparently was on their side. They escape the memory machine and are taken to Maki. Dare's past in the process is explained, and he retells of the moment when he and Norie were on dating terms...it was a dark night when he witnessed Maki's frightening power...with that same fear in mind they rush into the room she is being kept.

To go back to the moment when Maki was taken from the care of Mr. Calvin chapters previously...Sen was the one who liberated her. He also explained that he wanted to study the demon inside of her, and he told her that it was a separate entity than the girl herself. The scientist then cleverly gave Maki over to Mr. Calvin, whom Maki tortured to death shortly after. Continuing on, Michi thinks about Troy-- a student who had committed suicide at her previous school. Aside from mannerisms, Trey looked just like him.  Meanwhile, Kaz and Jack quickly fall into an argument. It becomes apparent that Jack is not himself saying ridiculously things and after trying to get him to take a drug, Kaz began to fight with his best friend all throughout the kitchen/living room. As a result, Kaz kills jack and nearly passes out himself in the bathroom. To top things off...the Self destruct mechanism was tripped...

Trey visits Nadia, even though she refers to him as Troy. She has been terribly tortured and can't move on her own. She asks Troy/Trey to release Hiro. The man does so and then quickly races off to another part of the dome. On his way, Trey runs into a recovered Toru who has set out to look for Norie's sister. The self destruct system has been tripped, and Trey tells him how to stop it. Meanwhile, Kylie comes out of her room having been kidnapped with her brother Jack--however she has not been sedated yet. She sees her dead brother on the floor and Kaz in the bathroom, she quickly becomes confused as to what's happening. Michi finds Kaz and they start to head out. Hiro and Toru meet and attempt to cut the power to stop the self destruction.

Trey goes to tell Meredith [the blonde sadistic woman] that they need to leave and that the higher ups are cutting the plan for Senba. Meredith insists that they grab Amy before they go. Amy, who is watching Norie, insists that they take the girl with them, in till they run into Kaz Michi and Kylie who were still looking for her. They give up the girl and then Trey, Meredith and Amy escape through a tunnel. Toru and Hiro manage to stop the self destruct system from Dome B. The two of them then carry Nadia out of the dome and they meet up with Norie, Michi, Kaz and Kylie. A bunch of helicopters come in and they are all prepared to take off to safety...Meanwhile, in dome A, the self destruct system does not have a turn off switch. The dome itself is underground so there are only two ways out: a tunnel near the end of the spiraling dome structure, or an emergency ladder that would be hard to climb out in time. Rey decides to go against the group's wishes of using the tunnel and races off to use the ladder. After the group leaves, Sen claims he is going to try and stop it...but instead he retrieves Tama [the Lazy head of security and they escape via elevator]. Sen thinks to himself that it'll be the ultimate test of Maki's abilities...Sen also tipped off a man named Johannes Einburg, that the domes were being destroyed. Irritated the doctor seals up his private lab and he and his assistant Sader, escape through the emergency tunnel and lock it behind them so that nobody can use it. Thus, Dare, Lei and Maki are trapped with time ticking down...Dome A explodes just as Rey climbs out of the top and gets to safety with all of her strength sapped from her body. Norie, who has become sober, realizes that her precious sister was inside of that dome and she screams and cries horribly in till she passes out from fatigue.

Following the incident, by a few weeks, the members who took part in the domes return to Stadweld to collect their possessions and move out with other family members. It's a very sad moment as many people in the city had become victims of a 'chemical leak' as the news explained it. Kaz ends up going home with his Mother and Sister {and brother} saying farewell to his now deceased father who suffered a heart-attack from the chemical outbreak. Rey visits her father who explains that she needs to contact the underground. He too is on his death bed. She is told to find Theodore Lavantes. Toru, who is extremely upset that his company had been infiltrated at the roots, leaves for Japan with Michi as well [consider that they are both apart of the same company technically]. Michi's father had escaped the country by the aid of a mysterious organization... Norie has become hospitalized along with Nadia. Hiro goes home and finds a message left by his dad, which explains that his dad had worked on the program which Hive [the evil organization] was using to control people. He tells his son to come back to Stadweld in three months to find someone who can help him make things right. Filled with bitter resentment Hiro resolves to do just that.

Now, three months later, the majority of the characters have gone to the Twin cities area in neighboring Minnesota. Kaz is on track to graduating early, and goes to the same school as Rey, Norie and Hiro. The story follows Kaz for a while, as he is planning on letting Stadweld fall behind him and move towards a bright future...that is in till Trey shows up unexpectedly to inform him that the members of Hive aren't going to let someone like him...who might know so much go so easily. Trey convinces Kaz to join his organization, the Arrows, which works at destroying Hive and reconstructing the world anew...[Scratch the World, and remake it]. However, Trey doesn't want Kaz alone...he makes him decide on a family member who must join him...Kaz is given a strange pill which is the antidote to the serum that controls people. And another to which he is supposed to give to a member of his family, or someone he trusts. Kaz has no doubt that he will give it to his sister Jessica to whom he is close with. When Kaz returns home, he starts having flashbacks to his fight with Jack and can't help but feel that something is not right. His family is acting strange...and his sister helps him down the stairs... in a sudden motion he forces her to take the antidote. It is revealed then that the rest of his family has been mind controlled. Meanwhile it is revealed that Amy and Meredith are both working for Trey...

The gears shift once more. Norie and Hiro have left for Stadweld, and already months have passed. We visit the lonely Reyna, who for the first time in her life is a nobody...finally she is free from the shackles of her family name. All the while she is plagued by vivid dreams of a glass tower looming in the distance...her strange, lonely peace is interrupted by the son of Theodore Lavantes, Klyde. The two of them try to enter the underground but are stopped because Rey is too dangerous of a target...being hunted, and having nowhere else to go, Rey appears at the front door of someone's home...

[[Whew! This took longer than expected. Well it's a lot easier to read this than 167 pages right? That is a general summery of what has happened thus far. I haven't written anything since March or April so believe me, it might be worth reading...even I might become inconsistent with my own story for god's sake! Well...even if you don't read it, the next chapter will be really interesting I assure you...]]

Continuation is confirmed.

Scratch the world, as a blog started in late september last year. I didn't think it would get as far as it did...it is my greatest literary feat. It began to fail after the new year with the end of the first real arc. The domes in stadweld have exploded and the main characters have gone their separate ways. But, clearly, this it's not the end.

I shelved this project when I felt that I was incapable of writing it. I thought that after promising to produce again and then failing I was not doing good enough to keep scratch alive and I turned to other projects, all of which have crashed and burned.

With the intention of getting back veiw counts to what they were, I begin again in September, exactly as I did a year ago. It is going to continue where it left off.. With Reyna in the spring. Though it is more fun to write about the fall when it's so cold out suddenly! If only scratch were a manga. That would be incredible. Maybe I've been reading too much bakuman.

This update is coming from my phone. If I can find  a Computer on campus I will definitely reach my two chapter a week quota starting this october I think...it will give me time to write chapters 26 through 31 oh so before I release. This is a test to my commitment to this series and my hopes of it getting popular. Eh, popular enough for fan art. Though it could become official if anyone wanted to draw the characters for me.

That is all
Dark ryan smiling.

Hibernation

Short Version: Scratch the World will be suspended perpetually in till further notice.

Long Version: Scratch the World was the longest running story I've ever written in the given time period. Spitting out five to eight pages of writing twice a week and editing it at least once was not easy, and at times I felt like I wasn't doing a good job. Either way, I was elated to find the views spike at the climax. I felt that the first twenty chapters were a success even though there might have been a slight inconsistency to the whole plot. However, I crashed after those chapters were released. I could not keep up the insane pace I had set for myself back in October.

I found my writing to be lackluster and I didn't feel like releasing anything that wasn't up to par. I launched a new blog the other day which is a comic, but of course I'm not an artist. I thought I would take the time to explain that this series is officially off the update hook. Even though a rough draft for the next chapter is hanging around somewhere. I had so many little secrets, some were more obvious than others perhaps. Oh well, good run. Maybe when I'm a year older I'll pick it up again.

It's been fun. - Ryan

Chapter 25: Wayward Reyna

* * *

On the tip of winter's air, rests a faint promise. It is a promise of warmer days to come. All things fall in the decay of autumn, and winter sweeps over the remains, cleaning the world, and what's left is a clean, lifeless, slate. Tugging at the corners of this lifeless world is the hope of change, the gentle caress of a mother almost forgotten. Winter may fight against this change with all its might, snapping and biting, but eventually, it relents, vanishing from the world with the last flake of snow melting into the warm earth. Nature's promise, that the world will be reborn from the ashes of winter. 

* * *

At the center of a strange bright world there was a glass tower that was so tall it cut into the cloudless azure sky. A warm spring breeze ceaselessly brushed against her body as she stared at the tower with wonder and fear; how could such a thing, so beautiful and pure, be here, in this thick jungle world? It was a beacon, it called out to her, a voice of a stranger who she wouldn't ever loved or cared for, yet her strict face was spread with tears as she slowly marched forward through the misty forest towards the glass pillar.

~

Her eyes opened slowly, even though she had woken suddenly. Her body was tensely pressed against her bed, covered in sweat. She eased herself, in till her heartbeat receded. She rose to a sitting position, placing a hand on her forehead, sweeping away at the beads of sweat. It felt so real, it felt more than just a dream, it felt as if she had been there before, or somehow knew where it was, yet as she turned her head to the melting snow on the windowsill, she knew it was a world aside from her own. She grimaced at the sunlight which was steadily streaming through her window, and while it was still March, she knew that spring was on its way. It was the month of chaos. One day it was a premonition of summer's wake, the next a harsh reminder that it was still far away. A new day had dawned, and her invigorated soul was quickly filled with the despair of a monotonous existence.

The day would begin with a shower, and then breakfast, just like any other schoolgirl her age, aside from the fact that she lived in an apartment alone, and had her own car, and all the money she would need to live for two years without the stress of having a job, which she was still considering. A normal life is what she had desired, and yet while her past remained, she was trapped in an empty gray space, like winter and spring fighting each other day and night, her own life was a swirling whirlpool, never in one place. It had been this way for the past five months, ever since she had come to this city, wake up, go to school, come back, study, sleep. Her diligence, although lacking determination, had been unwavering in those five long months of winter. A normal person might have fallen into despair quickly, crumbling under the weight of such a self-inflicting burden. Rey did not cry often. When she did, she felt weak, and she didn't want others to see. She never relied on anyone for help. But even in that resolution she constantly questioned herself. Is this who I am? She would ask herself every time she woke up and looking at herself in the mirror. Or is this the final product of my father's craft, perfectly molded from childhood into a silent warrior, cold and calculating, unforgiving and strong? When she showed heart, she was filled with guilt! When she was locked into the memory chamber, at that time she had been vulnerable, and she felt weak and even after what happened to Lei, she still could only feel guilt and shame for being mocked. The fires of revenge had been doused over the last few months as she worked to erase it from her mind, but even still, she knew that this could not last forever. She would not even make it two years like this, being entirely alone. But if anyone were to find out that she was hiding here, then, everything she would want, would vanish. Yet still, she desired, and that was enough to continue on, just one more day at least.

She left her apartment, throwing on her black overcoat, and then locking the door, and slowly descending the steps, stopping at the window halfway down to glance outside, a somber look crossed her face, as if expecting the glass tower to rise up in the sea of brick buildings, calling out to her. But that was not the case. In stepping outside, surrounded by buildings, and noisy cars, she began to feel the dream world that had so elegantly enveloped her fade, and the modernized, systemized world around her was blooming into a industrial flower of waste and conformity. She curtly tapped along the sidewalk, more similar to a businesswomen going to work than a high school student preparing for a day of class. Even as she started her car, and began to drive down the street in the direction of her school, she could not entirely erase the dream from her thoughts.

I'm the pitiful daughter of a broken family, who tries to rule others with threats, in an attempt at self preservation. They are afraid of death, they don't like others trying to push them around. My heart was nearly ripped from my chest with my father's bare hands as a child, as I would be turned into a monster, a suitable heir to take the lead in his terrible game. But...when I walk the paths of the misty jungle, I hear a voice echoing throughout the trees, I feel alive, invigorated. The voice calls to me, "Help me! help me, Rey! Free me from this suffering, this suffering which you can't even begin to understand, oh pampered girl!"  They taunt me, but draw me in. Who's voice is this? Is this self inflicting guilt? I can't decipher my own thoughts, because I am lost in the vastness of the trap. Hatred, and sorrow both swell within me, as the feelings I tried so hard deny have begun to blossom into what every human is given. Without my father breathing down my neck, I have taken the first step to becoming reborn. I refuse to relinquish my strength, but all else, you can have, destroy the monster my father molded from my mother's beauty!

School was the same as it always was. Everyone was parking their cars, and trudging across the parking lot towards the stout, dirty building. With an air of reluctance, Rey emerged from her car, holding onto her bag, which more or less resembled a briefcase. Her reputation at this school reflected nothing of her former status, aside from her silent resolution to isolate herself from most people, and try to not get involved with people whose idea of the world was influenced by the media they so easily accepted. Those who questioned were often of a similar mind as her, alone, and sitting quietly by themselves. Passing through the glass doors, she could hear the loud rancor of students chattering of their weekend of the lives they were shaping unaware that these events would turn to dust under the pressure of the adult world, or that is what Rey thought as she slipped passed them on her way to her class, where she always sat in till the first bell rang, and then proceeded the same throughout each class, aside from lunch, where she craftily slipped out of the fortress intended to keep her in, and headed out to eat someplace where the food was actually edible. Somewhere quiet, where the obnoxious, accumulation of gossip, wasted stories and party narrations were completely absent.

When she came to her classroom, she was irritated to find someone sitting in her desk, quietly reading a book, and she stepped up next to them. "Excuse me." She said and the person, a boy who she had never seen before, who had a baseball cap pulled over his long black hair, slowly stood up, and allowed her to sit. "Sorry, but I was actually waiting for you." He said quietly, and as she straightened in her seat she turned her head to look up at his grinning face. Oh please, this better not be some weird confession. I've had enough of those. She thought for a moment and an awkward pause followed. "What do you want?" She asked, trying not to sound annoyed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a strange vanilla envelope and placing it on her desk, as if it were some great secret document. Her eyes glanced down at the yellow package for a brief moment wondering what the heck it was, it looked far too formal to be a love letter, but then again her appearance might suggest that she was trying to be an adult. "Eh, sorry to be so forward in the morning." He said apologetically, yet there was a mocking tone layered in his words. She furrowed her brow as she turned the envelope over and saw that it was addressed to her. "You see, I didn't think you'd have looked at if I had mailed it to you." He explained and she nodded slowly opening the envelope. Like I really give a damn either way, weirdo. She thought pulling out a piece of paper that was typed up on a computer, and as she unfolded it, she realized that it wasn't written for her at all. Her eyes scanned down the lines quickly, and her heartbeat quickened as she began to feel a wave of tension come over her. She stood up quickly, knocking her chair back into the desk behind her, and she grabbed the boy who had handed her the letter and threw him briskly upon the wall. Even though the teacher there was watching. "Whoa, whoa, easy, easy...I'm trying to help you, why do you think I showed you that?" He asked smiling brightly. Realizing what she was doing, she slowly let him back down to his feet and stepped back. "Fine I'll believe you for now." She said looking at the teacher who had stood up for a moment, but then he sat back down, glaring at the two of them. 

"When can we talk?" He asked, and she shrugged. "Whenever you want." She too the papers and stuffed them back into the envelope handing them back to the boy. "Are you sure you don't want to keep that?" He asked and she shook her head. "It's fine, whatever, just leave me alone." He took them and then backed out of the classroom. "I'll see you after class then." He said with a wave, and soon as he left she put her head down into her arms. Shit. Shit...fuck! Her hand tightened as it gripped the wooden edge of the desk. They...found me. God damn it. Everything would be finished at this sudden revelation. The letter was between two families in which her own was a rival to. They had staked out Stadweld after news spread of what had happened. Even though it had been a decade since any of the Pichanto's were in the Twin Cities, a chance to take over the assets of the crushed Stadweld's front, would not be passed. What was she to them? A bargaining chip? A valuable hostage? Still, there was only one family here she could trust, and as she spent each period of class thinking of who the messenger boy was, it became more and more clear that he would have to be apart of one of the families. Most likely he had stolen that letter at some point, and because he had given it to her meant that he was somewhat of an ally. She was just one grain of sand on the beach in a normal situation, but because of her name, she was a shimmering pearl, just waiting to be sold off like some trinket. As strong as she was, alone, against an army of thugs, this was a dead-end street. 

The day ended after drifting through class lost in thought. As she walked out towards her car she noticed that the boy was already there waiting for her, still smiling, he waved as she approached. "Yo~" He greeted and her shoulders instinctively sagged. The very epitome of the media-influenced teenager seemed to be leaning on her beautiful sports car, and somehow she felt like it was being tainted. Her despairing look must have caught the attention of the boy who quickly dislodged himself from the side of the car. "Aha sorry, you're not going to buddy up with me that easily are you?" He asked backing away from her so she could get to her car. "I don't know what the hell you're thinking kid, but you're in for it now. Get in." She commanded, and he did so, still carrying his smile like a flirt who had gotten a date. "Don't act all cheerful, if I don't like what you have to say I may just beat you up and throw you into the river." She said starting the car, yet his youthful energy seemed to cheer her up in it's own way. His sense of style was overly mainstream, yet his hair was still overgrown and a little bit scene. But then again, Rey wasn't sure what exactly scene was, so she couldn't be exactly sure what to make of this guy as they waited to exit the crowded school lot.

 "I've never been out with a girl before!" He said loudly, and she frowned. "Shut up, it's not a date." She corrected. Man, he's kind of annoying, but at the same time charismatic. Why can he just shut the hell up and tell me what I want to know. "Oh, sorry, sorry..." He apologized in the same mocking tone as before. "Yeah, yeah, less jabbering and more explaining. Who the hell are you?" She asked. "Oh, interested?" 

"Go to hell you fucking asshole." She retorted. "Fine, I'll stop pretending already, seriously~! My name is Klyde, Klyde Lavantes." I knew it. Lavantes is it? He's probably Theo's son or something, I can believe that I suppose, though he could be just well informed. "Oh yeah? You have any ID?" She inquired. "Man you sure are thorough, well I guess you are a Pichanto! It's like we're cousins...oh but then that means I can't date you can I?" He said taking out his wallet.

"Stop fucking around!" She yelled, snatching from his hands, and pulling out his student ID, which was unmistakably him. "Ah, this will do for now." She said tossing it back to him. "Really, so where we going?" He asked as they pulled out of the lot and onto the street. "I don't know...somewhere, private perhaps? Know anything like that?" She asked, and he snickered. "Well of course!" He bragged. "I know everything about this city, inside and out. Eh, let's go to Carla's place then, my old man owns the joint so we can get special treatment." He continued with profound arrogance. "Ah, that's nice. Who's your old man?" She asked, and he slouched for a bit. "Ya don't know huh? I thought you'd have figured it out by now, really, are you as smart as they say?" She sighed. "You're a real pain in the ass. I have a GPA of 4.0." She said and he was surprised. "That's...straight As? Wow! What the hell, you're that smart?!" He exclaimed with disbelief. "I didn't think cute girls were smart...seriously, you're a real bookworm aren't ya?" He poked her side, and while she kept her hand steadily on the wheel she used her other to grab his wrist. Using her thumb to push his back, and her other fingers to push his hand down, she applied pressure on his hand in a very painful manner. "Ouch! What the hell!" He screamed and she released him. "How can you do that while driving, god damn that hurts." He rubbed his hand gingerly. 

They eventually reached the cafe and parked out near the back near the dumpsters. It was an old fashioned looking building, with a single glass doorway on the side and front of the building. The sign on the window itself was self painted, and not a print like most other coffee shops, such as Starbucks or Caribou. When they passed through the glass door, a tiny bell rang. There wasn't even anyone inside at this time of day aside from a single woman in her twenties who was reading a newspaper at the front counter. At the sound of the bell she turned her head and when she saw Klyde a smile appeared on her face. "Oh young master you're here to get something, or are you here to see me?" She asked brightly, and the boy scoffed. "Ho-ho, Carla! I'm happy that you're happy to see me!" He said coming up to the counter. "Hey listen, we need to talk in private...a couple of drinks would be fine...oh hey Rey, you want anything, I should really ask first shouldn't I, oh-ho-ho." He said, alternating between whispering to the girl behind the counter, and shouting back at Rey who stood a few paces behind. "No problem, anything for you." She said withdrawing a key from behind the counter. "Sure, I'll have a coffee. Black." Rey said and Klyde laughed. "Ah that's the spirit!" He placed a hand on her shoulder, and in return she jabbed him in the side forcefully, and he backed away. "Damn, you're too strong for a beautiful girl." He said as he led her to a door near the back of the shop, and he unlocked it with a key and led her inside. "Go in, go in, make yourself at home!" He said, and there were a collection of old sofas lined up around a single table, with an out of place flat screen TV hanging on the wall. The rest of the room was filled with books and notebooks. Rey took a seat on one of the couches, while the young man sat across from her. 

"It must suck to be apart of a dying family." He said, not sounding at all sympathetic and she shrugged. "That depends. I am going to inherit all of my father's wealth if he dies." She said and he sighed. "Man that's harsh, I wouldn't ever think of that about my dad. He's really cool." He said. I don't really care what you think about your old man. "Let's get to the point. The letter. Where did you get it?" She asked and the boy shrugged. "Beats me. Information for information. In our world, nothing is free, no?" He asked slyly and she nodded. So that's it. Instead of forcefully trying to seize the pearl from the clam, you would try to barter with it. "Okay. What do you want to know?" She asked. "I want to know what happened in Stadweld. Everything you know." She was taken aback by the request. Everything? What did she know aside from scraps of information here and there? Just then the door opened and the woman from the cafe came in and placed down there two drinks. "Take care now young master, and please be a gentleman." She said before bowing out of the room. "So? What can you tell me?" He asked taking up his mug. "There were two domes belonging to the Senba Organization. They exploded, and a chemical gas spread throughout the city, rendering 90% of the populace in an unconscious state." She recited the facts as if it were written in a history book and the boy laughed. "Seriously?! That's all you know. Even I know that much." His mocking laughter definitely angered her, but she didn't feel like going into further detail. "An organization other than Senba is really in control of the domes." She added and the boy nodding vigorously. "Yes, yes, that's it. Tell me more!" He pressed. "They have the ability to peer into your past and view your memories as if they were movies...you just hit rewind in till you get the information you need." She said, avoiding his gaze, and taking a sip of her coffee and he nodded. "Well now, I never knew such a thing was possible, but that's not really reliable information." He said placing a hand under his chin. "Oh yeah, there was something about a demon too, I saw it with my eyes in fact." She said recalling when she had come into the room where Maki was being held, and there one of the workers at the dome, had been tortured or so it appeared. "A demon?! Huh, I've heard about those in fairy tales and myths..." He said, feigning surprise. "That's all I know about Stadweld, unless you wanted information about the people who were victims..." She trailed off and he shook his head. 

"Because you've been honest, I decide to be honest." He said and she glared at him. He's smart, and crafty. I didn't think he would test me like that, and now whatever he tells me, I will be double guessing. But it doesn't matter in the end. She put her mug down. "Now may I ask you somethings?" She asked and he nodded. "But of course! I'm a man of my word." 

"Okay, where is your father, I assume you are the son of Theodore Lavantes?" She asked, and his expression changed from the confidant arrogance he had held since their meeting earlier this morning, to a somber quietness that irked her greatly. "My father? He's...not here, and he's not coming back." He said. "Is he...dead?" She asked, not wanting to be the one to bring up such a topic, and he shook his head. "No, he vanished into the underground. Not just the normal old underground you go to sell your drugs, no...this is something real! A secret place." Her eyes narrowed. "How does one get into such a place? I must speak with him, or someone else. They will know what I really want to know." The other families be damned! I don't care if they are after me, if I can disappear into the underground, then maybe, just maybe I can find a way to get back at those who humiliated me in Stadweld! Klyde stood up and shook his head. "I don't want anything to do with that. It's too dangerous." He crossed his arms. "Huh? Nobody's asking you to do anything, just tell me how I can get in!" She stood up as well. "There are only two ways into the underground." He said after a long pause. "One is pretty simple, but there's nothing you can do about it. Someone from the organization known as the 'Arrows' will come and bring you in. Though, there is no way to contact them directly, and they are very selective of those they choose I hear." He turned around and looked at her intensely. "See? It's not so easy!" He exclaimed childishly. "Okay, whatever, what's the second way?!" She demanded stepping in front of him. "The second way," he started quietly, "involves getting drugged in. There's a group who is trying to expose the underground, and some people are willing to purposefully let us infiltrate, and then once we're in, they'll give us some kind of antidote." Rey looked at him in confusion. "Drug? Like a sedative?" She asked and he shook his head. "Hypnosis. Complete hypnosis, if the rumors are true, you lose all ability to think and act for your own, and unless you get the antidote, you stay like that forever." He was scared, she could tell, in his eyes, he wouldn't want to risk what made you human, on a chance to get into the underground he spoke of. "I shouldn't have even mentioned it." 

A drug that could influence one's actions? More so than an ordinary sedative drug? Her mind was brought back to the horrible experience in Stadweld. How she had wanted to forget that, and how it had all gone up in smoke and flame. Is it all connected? She thought about her own wants, and needs, and the first image to appear in her mind was the glass tower, rising up into the untouched sky, and the voice seeking her aid. That is where she wanted to be. She knew that circling the deep unknown would not solve anything. The secrets of this world would not jump out at her from the darkness of the deep end. Yes, she would have to get wet, and if you're going to get wet, you might as well go swimming.

"Let's do it! I will do almost anything to get in. I have nowhere else to run to. I must go deeper." She said, filled with resolve, and Klyde grimaced. "You sure? You know once you go there's no turning back, right? You might lose your ability to think. This isn't just something you can take lightly..." He warned and she nodded. "I'm not a child I can make choices on my own; as for my ability to think...I don't care anymore..." It's tearing me up from the inside. She thought darkly. "Alright. We'll do it. Ah...I'll contact you later tonight once I've got everything arranged." He said picking up their drinks. "In till then, you better think about it more, alright?" He dipped out of the room and she followed after a time. This is...what I must do. It isn't supposed to be easy after all.  

There was plenty to think about, and she took the time to analyze everything. For the time, she returned to her apartment, securely locking the door, and keeping an eye out of the window for anyone approaching. It was obvious that Klyde knew where she lived, which meant the other families might. She could handle a grown man or a couple of delinquents, but trained killers? That was something beyond her skill. But how easy would it be to find her? She didn't even give the school her street address, and she didn't have any friends who knew of where she lived. She remembered back when she had first moved in, and found that Kaz was also going to her school and tried to have small talk with her. While she felt that if anyone could be her friends, it would be the sorrowful immigrants from Stadweld, yet she had to deny that friendship, for her own safety, and to a lesser extent, theirs. She had kept tabs on them secretly. Kaz had moved in with his family, and they were very happy, and ready to forget about the past it seemed. That was fine in till she heard he had mysteriously dropped out, and not just that, his sister had as well. Both had vanished into thin air supposedly, and the family is worried and stressed over it. Could it be that they got into the underground? Or even worse captured by that shady organization Klyde was talking about...?

There was also Norie and Hiro, who apparently went back to Stadweld, which she had left behind, so they were out of the picture. The only one who was supposedly linked to Stadweld and still somewhere in the area was Kylie who was an orphan because her entire family had died in the Stadweld incident. Based on that pattern, she was worried. Her location wasn't even known to her own family. Her father, bedridden, and probably still recovering while trying to maintain his foothold in Stadweld, had no idea where she was.

They had denied her entirely. The men who had pledged loyalty to her father saw her at best as a potential employer of her father, and at least nothing more than her mother's child, separate from her father's affairs. There was power in her intentions and words, but her lack of understanding of the Pichanto business caused her to fall from their eyes. There would be greed and betrayal. Only so many of her father's men knew loyalty and the best way to preserve the organization was to stay just as they were. All the while, in the chaos of those events, the girl had seized one of her father's bank and accounts, and with the funds she set up a budget that would suit her needs for nearly two years. She expected that by that time her father, and Stadweld would be back on its feet, and she'd be done with school to move onto college and better things. A future. Yes, the men denying her revenge was the best thing to happen, and now, one obstacle was crumbling...yet...

If nobody knew she was here, then how did Klyde find her at all? There was an agent at work. Something in the dark. She had gotten especially suspicious when Kaz, and his sister vanished. How could it be that both disappeared? While she didn't know much about the domes, admittedly, there had been scraps of stories she had picked up here and there. If such stories were true, she wondered, if it was possible, that everyone who was involved with the domes, was being targeted. No lose ends. Nice and tidy, that's how the mafia would handle it definitely. It was that mindset that nearly killed Lei before she was even grown. But to die shortly after the truth was exposed?

Thinking about her half sister made her sad, it made her angry, revenge was starting to grow inside of her once more. 

She also considered the possibility that Klyde had written the letter, and typed it all up with the names of the enemy families without them even knowing she was here, tricking her into this entire mess. If that were the case, then there was nothing else for her to do. She needed to end this monotony, this simple trapped existence between worlds. 

It wasn't in till after nightfall that someone came from the street and onto the sidewalk outside of her building. The man was not a tenet she knew, and he looked rather young from what Rey gleaned at her lofty spot at the dining room window. As a precaution she concealed a sheathed knife within the sleeve of her jacket. Her shoes were already on, and her money secured in her pocket. She was ready to flee at a moment's notice. Coming to the entryway of her apartment, she listened as someone slowly ascended the stairs. It comforted her that they weren't trying to mask their approach, but only slightly. The footsteps stopped just outside of her door and there was a repetition of two knocks on the door. Rey paused for a moment before answering. "Who is it?" She asked. "It's me." The boy replied, and she slid the chain lock and turned the deadbolt, and slowly let the door open. "Wow, it sure is dark in here..." He commented as he walked into her living room. "We should go." She insisted before he could comment further on her living quarters. "Chances are...you won't be able to return to this. Or anything for that matter. Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, and she nodded. "I want to move forward. Nothing else matters." Klyde paused for a moment, staring off into space, before nodding and turning around. "Alright, let's go." Behind his quiet words, she could tell, he was nervous. While she couldn't convince herself that it was entirely a good idea, she knew that the only way to escape, was to do this.

Klyde took her to the edge of the city near the Mississippi River, where there was a rundown pizza parlor that looked like it was on the verge of going out of business. Just behind the square building was a tiny fenced off area where two green dumpsters were locked shut. It was just behind the fence that they came, and the two teenagers waited for quite some time in the cold as cars zipped by on the road. Finally, after an hour of waiting, a couple of burly men came into the enclosure and closed the gate behind them. They were wearing heavy coats, and had their hats tipped over their faces. "Alright, this is how it's going to work." One of the men said taking a paper from his coat pocket and handing it to Klyde. "Fill out this paperwork, and we'll get an appointment for you. Then, when you've been taken in for infiltration, you'll be rescued, alright?" He coughed for a while, and Klyde looked over the paper work carefully, then with his approval, him and Rey both filled it out and handed it back to the man who glanced over it and then he stopped, and looked up at Rey. "No. This won't do. We can't have you enter the underground like that." The man said shaking his head. "What? Why not?" Rey and Klyde both asked. "I hate to tell you this, but Rey, you're on the list." He said taking out a cigarette, and slowly opening the gate. "What list? Why does that matter? Once I'm in they won't find me right?" She pressed and the man blew out a puff of smoke. "That's just the thing. The very people looking for you are the ones who can get you into the underground. You'll never be chosen for infiltration, even if we pull the strings from the inside, they'll remove you from the program and then you'll turn into a mindless puppet. In fact, we can't even assure that hasn't happened yet." The two men began to go back from where they came. "Wait! What about the Arrows? Can't you get them to recruit Rey?" Klyde persisted, and the man turned around briefly. "We'll see. But since the Arrows just picked up some new members...I highly doubt they'll take someone like her." With that they walked away, and disappeared into the darkness of the night. The two stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. "I'm sorry Rey...I thought I could get you in, but I can't..." He said quietly, and the girl shook her head. There was relief in his eyes, she could tell. "That's not important. If it can't work, it can't work. I'll find my own way." She said stepping out into the cold night, staring up at the moon. "They will find you. Sooner or later. These guys are everywhere. You can't stay here Rey, it's too dangerous. With the mob looking for you as well..." Rey smiled, turning to the boy. "You've done enough, Klyde. I...I'm not really good at thanking people, but, thanks. I owe you one." She parted with him there and began to set off. There was something she had decided to do, and whether it got her captured or not, didn't matter to her. She was going to find her own way to what she wanted.

After driving around for a half hour more, she found herself in the neighborhood near the school, and she stopped her car for a moment. It was only nine thirty she realized. There was still time tonight. She stepped out of her car and slowly made her way up the driveway of a particular house. Straightening her jacket, she reached out and rang the bell. 

/End

What house is Rey visiting and why? To find out more, stay on alert for another update! Scratch is back online~ Probably a weekly basis instead of a bi-weekly basis, but still...chapter 26 will come probably sometime late next week. Our dear author (talking about myself here) is moving this coming week, and in the chaos I might not have internet. I hope to move this along...for now. Rey's little arch will probably be about as long as Kaz's...[Remember chapters 22-24?] Rey's chapters = 25,26 and possibly 27. Then we'll finish up this little section with Hiro's and Norie's chapters, 28, and 29~30. Then I have a nice surprise planned... :) pay close attention in this chapter, there's something important in here.

Chapter 24: New Recruits

Within the confines of his mind he felt pressed. He was unable to focus. Instead of heading directly home, he meandered throughout the suburban streets despite the frigid air which fell around him like an unforgiving blanket. He watched as his white breath blew from out his lips. Winter was not the best of seasons. It looked good on a resume for tough guys, but actually living and experiencing it was not as adventurous. Nobody here was going to puff out their chest with a mighty roar akin to a Viking warrior; they were all too busy huddled behind layers of think cloth. And anyone who actually waltzed out in the open without a shirt, or just in, would be criticized for being cold, or a liar, like a lover’s broken heart in denial. After a while he stopped meandering, like a lazy river of molasses, and leaned against a towering lamppost. There were houses on either side of him, yellow lights stretched out from their curtain drawn windows, reflected off the untouched snow filled lawns. A few cars passed. A moment of reflective thought came to the young man who patting his pocket subconsciously to make sure the contents were still there. 
Everyone around him was warm, at this moment. There was warmth around him as well, yet just beyond the exterior coat there was cold, he could see it with his eyes, as each breath passed. Everything was so simple behind those doors. People might see it as complex, but was it really complex? Worrying about the kids getting to school on time, worrying about the doctor’s appointments, worrying about work, about things, that just didn’t seem to matter, to them it mattered, that was the power of perception. Normal life however, was more than just perception, it seemed to jump out of an individual, and everyone agreed upon it. A system, systematizing people…hell he thought. The world doesn’t even need an ‘evil’ organization to take control. Everyone’s a slave already. That’s what Plato thought anyway. A sour smile came to his face at the thought of the shadows in the cave. His teachers, the government, hell, even Trey. All of them were just shadows, playing tricks before his eyes. Yet, the truth was something that existed beyond the cave. Life isn't the most exciting thing sure, but it’s probably better than dying, at least from my point of view. It’s when you start thinking something is right or wrong, you start to ruin everything. It was odd how much sense that actually made. 


He let out a groaning sigh as he knocked himself on the head. “Snap out of this melancholy!” he demanded of himself. He wished he could ‘simply’ live, but everyone around him seemed bent on preventing him from drifting through life. He had become far too studious for his own good. His dad would be proud of him, if he were still alive.


He went home then, hands in his pockets, eyes slightly downcast. He pushed through the door, stomping his feet on the rug, an indication that he had arrived. The trouble would be giving the serum, antidote, whatever, to Jessica, and explain to her what they were going to do. He felt a wave of guilt. He couldn’t come alone, but he needed someone he could trust. His only sister had definitely been his pillar of support during the past few months. His father’s death was a heavy blow to the girl, and him the same, they knew they could cope with it together. Yet, to steal her future, or to give it to her, whichever the case, he felt like he was playing god almost. His contemplativeness was returning and he tried to drive it away. Perhaps he could give it to her, invite her to come with them, but still. He hadn’t realized he stalled out just halfway through the living room. 


“You look lost in thought.” His mother commented, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug in her hand, smiling at him. He nodded slowly, without realizing he was, and he laughed at himself, stopping just before the basement door. Should he try tonight? It wasn’t that late. “Is something bothering you?” She asked, and for a moment, he almost felt like telling her everything, and even handing her the antidote, and in an effort save his entire family at once by telling them to get away from this place as fast as possible, yet nowhere was safe. As his mind worked, he was spending more time, inquiring even more worry, and yet lying didn’t seem to come as an option. His mother stood up, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Kaz?” She inquired and he recovered. “I’m fine, just, had a thought and lost it.” He trailed off, sounding vague, and of course, it wasn’t convincing. “Would you like some hot cocoa?” She offered him, and he nodded. “Sure.” He took a seat at the table near the wall, the wall next to Jessica’s room. He wondered if she was in there. “Oh by the way, where did you go off earlier?” She asked as set the water on the stovetop. Her body wasn’t entirely turned towards him, the question was presented so offhandedly, he was about to say, but he caught the words halfway up his throat. “I was looking for something, but, I didn’t find it.” Why am I being so careful? Perhaps it was the secretive nature that Trey had bestowed upon him, and the only one he’d feel comfortable with from this point on, would have to be the one who took the antidote, which he would want Jessica to have. “Is that so?” His mother said, bringing a mug down and opening up a package of hot chocolate. 


Then Jessica appeared in the doorway, looking rather perky, her long brown hair was not done up, and she looked around the kitchen, excited to see Kaz was there, and her excitement seemed to put a smile on his tired and weary face. “What are you so excited about?” He asked drearily, and the girl frowned, jokingly, taking the seat across from him, clasping her hands together, and staring at him intently. “What? Did someone ask you out or something?” She seemed taken aback by the statement, looking confused for a moment. “Would you like some hot chocolate Jess?” His mother asked. “Sure! I’ll go ask Ed too.” She said sliding back her chair, and Kaz watched as she went, a dark feeling began to creep over him. As if someone was probing him, watching him. Everything seemed to develop like a storybook. He could feel something course through his body, uncertainty was rising as he took a deep breath in. His mother set down two steaming mugs of cocoa, Jessica was coming back into the room, and she saw him, gripping the table. After effects of the drug…? He thought. “You don’t look so good bro.” His sister stated, but he brushed it off. “I’m fine.” His hand went down to his pocket slowly, withdrawing the small pill capsule, but then he put it back. “So what were you looking for, oh wandering son of mine?” His mother asked, and then Ed came into the room looking very solemn for his age, and very politely he took his seat. “Nothing…I just needed some fresh air to get away from the stresses of life.” 


For some reason he was seeing images of Jack appear in his head, and his vision was beginning to blur. This can’t be happening, just like last time. He tried to raise his hot mug to his lips but he couldn’t make it reach, and he had to set it down. He stood up then suddenly, all eyes came to him. This can’t be happening damn it! His mind began to jump from one conclusion to the next. They had already found him, they had probably followed him here from Stadweld, they knew all along, they were trying to get his family, that is what this was, he was certain of it. “Kaz?” Jessica rose up touching his arm, as he staggered from the kitchen. “Go let him lie down, Jess.” His mother was saying but he waved his hand. “No. Come.” He whispered into his sister’s ears. He walked towards the basement door, feeling the corners of his vision steadily recovering, while what was in front of him was still in a dizzy blur. His sister was helping him down the stairs. “Fight it.” He whispered to her, out of earshot of his mother and brother, the two were left in the kitchen. “What’s wrong?” She was asking, but it wasn’t like her. They turned the corner; they were heading to his room. His one hand was in his pocket, she was leading him. Each step he was returning to his own strength. Forgive me…Jess, but I wasted too much time. He thought as his vision finally cleared and they stopped just within his room, and he moved quickly, she didn’t even see it coming, expecting him to be incapacitated. His hand came out of his pocket with the antidote, the palm of his hand wrapped around her mouth, and squeezing his fingers together he popped the pill into her mouth. Holding her still, he held her nose. “Swallow it Jess. Please.” He commanded a silent plea of hope, through his hands she tried to scream, uncertain of what he was going to do. Her eyes were wide with fear. She squirmed in his grasp for a moment, but he had her pinned now against the wall, and a terrible feeling began to rise inside of him. “Please…just swallow it…” He begged, the images of Jack persisted in his mind, and he didn’t want to kill her. She was his inspiration. He needed her to be on his side. He wouldn’t let those bastards take more from him. It had been quite a time before he heard the girl relent. He spun her around abruptly, staring into her bewildered, searching eyes. “Open your mouth!” He demanded, and she did, lifting her tongue, there was no sign of the pill in there, and he backed away from her slowly, sighing with relief.


He backed away from her and sat on his bed looking at his hands. He didn't want to look at her face for some reason. His sister was breathing heavily, looking down at her feet, but she didn't seem scared, she didn't run away from him. It must have worked, there was silence in the room, and they could hear Edward running just above them, eager to get to his room. His mother would probably come down the stairs. They needed somewhere to go. Leaving the house would not be a good idea, he would have to pretend to be ill. There was little time to explain. Without looking at Jessica, he instructed her.

"I'll explain later, tonight, but I'd rather wait till Mom was in bed." Was all he said, shifting his body over onto his bed, pretending to rest. The girl didn't say anything, turning and heading out of the door, she closed it and he listened as her soft footsteps ascended the stairs and into the kitchen, where a soft murmur echoed between the two women. All was well, for now. Guilt rose in his chest. He had forced her down into the rabbit hole.

Who would do such a thing to their own sister? Especially because I'm her brother. She doesn't understand yet, she might not for a long time. For a brief moment, I was an enemy, she was an enemy. That thought alone sickens me to the point where I wouldn't be able to go on. He shuddered in his solitude, wrestling with his consciousness. It wasn't in till he heard the soft timid knock on his door an hour or two later that he wiped the sweat from his brow, and opened the door to let her in. She walked in on cat's feet, and he closed the door.

"What's happened to me?" She asked first, and he wasn't sure what had happened to her, or what is happening--the effects of the drug seemed to have worn off, as if Trey's theory about the program was correct, she would have acted more strongly, or would have told her mother. They wouldn't let him escape, though there were obvious holes in that, still he kept quiet for a moment, allowing her to sit on his bed, while he leaned against the wall.

"Where to begin?" He had trouble understanding it himself. He let out a sigh, and his emotions were mixed like a chemistry experiment gone sour; all swirling around somewhere beneath his skin. Jessica's expression was of worry, as she looked down at her feet from time to time. There appeared to be nothing exceptional beneath the socks, yet that is where her eyes fell. "I was...trying to help you." He said finally sliding down onto his bottom near the door, keeping his ears open. "What's going on, tell me." She pressed, concerned for her safety if anything, he guessed as much. Her brother had forced her to swallow a pill, a side he had suddenly forced upon her. "The world's...gone to hell...it all happened back home." He shifted his elbows onto his knees. "Someone told me something inconceivable earlier today...and I had to make a choice...whether to believe it or not." He wasn't sure if that choice was hard to make or not; he had taken almost every word Trey said as the unmistakable truth. And, in all honesty, it was holding up as such.

Jessica continued with her downcast glare, occasionally glancing at him, finally she spoke. "It was odd...I felt like a veil had been lifted...I...don't think I could even speak for a while..." She admitted, looking at her hands. "It's like I've never used this body before almost...when I finally swallowed that thing...memories started to fade away...things I've done in the past hours. I found some homework problems in my room on the bed, I don't even remember doing them..." She looked confused and worried. "What's happening to me?" She asked. "What does this have to do with Stadweld?" He closed his eyes, and revealed the truth, piece by piece. The information Trey had told him, to the organization known as Hive to the underground he was pressured to join. The mind control serum, he concluded, must have been inserted into their home, he suspected that they were under it. He even got to talking about Jack again.

"Every time I am near the gas it seems...my vision goes blurry...I lose my sense of self almost...but I overcame it quicker this time..."

His sister had calmed down, taking what he told her with a nod of her head. "I'm sorry..." He eventually said, unable to stare her in the eyes. "I..." He couldn't get himself to say it.

"Don't worry about that. There's no turning back." She stood up.
"What is worse? Going to a future I can't call my own? Or abandoning that for the present? The choice is obvious."

He cracked a smile then, getting on his feet. "Well then, how about three days from now, we start kicking some ass?" He asked, in a voice that sounded far too bad-ass for himself. She smiled, and gave him a generic thumbs up. "We'll take back our world together!"


Nothing could have made me more happier in that moment, and seeing Jessica's resolve, it strengthened my own. Knowing that we'd be marching down this road together, it erased my depression nearly entirely...

* * *

~Three months previously~

Meredith stood at the end of the escape tunnel, arms folded, her foot tapping impatiently on the concrete floor, occasionally staring back down the dark passage. It was quite sometime before she heard the echoing sound of footsteps, and she let out a very irritated sigh. "What the hell took you so long?" She demanded as Trey came into view with Amy next to him, and he gave her one of his genuine sly smiles. "My, my aren't we a little impatient!" He said in a taunting voice. "Whatever, let's get going." She said, and the three of them passed through the exit coming up onto the street after a long climb, and there near the side of the road was a car already waiting for them. "Not bad, now we'll just have to regroup once everything is cleaned up." She said opening the door to the car when she suddenly stopped. Amy had just climbed into the backseat of the car, and while Meredith had moved to enter the drivers side she realized that there weren't any keys inside. "I'm afraid I'll be the one driving this time." Trey said stepping forward and the woman relented, backing away towards the passenger side and then as Trey got in he started the car and began to drive down the road at a fast speed. "Hey, do you know where to go?" Meredith asked, and Trey nodded his head slowly. "Yes, about that, allow me to explain what's about to happen." 

"Hive doesn't care about you, me, or anyone. As soon as that project 'failed', we all became dispensable. Don't you think that's a shame?" He continued to speak. "What are you saying? We escaped without anyone knowing about us! The self destruct mechanism is going to take out anything, we...we passed the test!" Her voice was rising, and Trey shook his head. "It wont all be destroyed, there are somethings in Stadweld they want to bury forever. So, I have decided to offer you a job, why don't you work for me instead?" He asked, as usually in his style, he was fairly cheerful. "You...bastard, you would betray hive?" She reached for her weapon, but he interrupted her. "If you'll notice, your seat isn't fitted with a seatbelt, if you kill me now, you'll only be killing yourself." He pointed out, and when she looked it was true, the seatbelt had been cut out of her seat, and at the moment they were traveling at about ninety miles per hour. The woman turned back to Amy who was pleasantly listening to their conversation. "Amy! What do you think about this? You can't leave Hive, you're one of their programmers!" The woman was practically yelling, and the girl shrugged. "Not really, I work for Michael actually, and I kind of got this job by luck...besides, Trey's job sounds a lot easier." She said with a smile. "Damn it! You even pulled Amy into this?!" She clenched her fist and her teeth, feeling anger well up inside of her. "Why are you so uptight? I know who you are...the only reason you are loyal to Hive in the first place, is because you wanted to carry out your illegal sadistic psychological experiments. Hive gave you ample opportunity to do those...little tests on those poor young people." For a brief moment his expression faded into a distance stare, as he turned to face her. "Keep your eyes on the road damn it! Fine, fine, so what? What will I have to do for you then?" She asked, bitterness swelling up inside of her. "Oh, it's not so hard, we're going to destroy Hive, and then once they are out of the way, destroy the rest of the world, I must say that Stadweld was a resounding success...if my assumptions about Doctor Einburg are right, he'll keep his system running, causing everyone to fall into a unconscious state." He laughed to himself, though it was an empty, hollow laughter. "You're insane!" 

That is how it had happened. 

Three months later, Meredith found herself, soaking in a tub of hot water, letting out a heavy, unburdened sigh. "Ah, this is so much better than Hive~ I can finally relax..." She turned towards the open door, where she could see Amy tapping away at a glowing computer. While at first she was adamant at joining forces with Trey, so far, it had been the best thing that had happened to her since graduating from High School all those years ago. With all the grant money stolen back from Hive, she had enough to sit around in this free apartment and do whatever she pleased... 

The door to the apartment suddenly opened, and Meredith saw Amy turn. "Oh, hey, Trey is finally back. So? How did it go?" The girl asked, as per usually, her greeting was cheery and full of delight. "Well more or less, we're going to have to get another apartment, but that shouldn't be much of a problem." Trey said as he stepped into the living room, and then he peered into the bathroom. "Oh hey! In the bath again?" He said poking his head and Meredith sank down into the bubbles. "S-stay away you demon!" She shouted at him fiercely, and he backed away closing the door with a bright smile on his face. Seriously...and I was enjoying my vacation...Living off the radar isn't really all it's cracked up to be at times...

It wouldn't be long in till the mysterious organization that Trey is a member of, to make another strike against Hive! The Arrows are going to point the world in a new direction!

/End

After a two month break, the new chapter has finally been released. With that, we shall end this short arc involving Kaz as the pivotal character. Very soon a very new arc will be released...don't forget about Rey's role in searching for Theodore... there is also Hiro and Norie's story. Soon, soon we will head into a new era of chapters, the real, second season if you will.