* * *
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."
"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.
