[Perfect… Just my luck.]
Dimas turns to walk away. This wasn't his business. However, an idea pops into his head.
[Actually, this is perfect. If this girl's dad is as naive as she is, saving him would put him in my debt.]
"Did they mention a drop off location?" Dimas asks Lilee's mother.
The woman wipes her tears and notices Dimas for the first time.
"Th-they s-said to leave the Crild b-b-behind the house." The mother tries her best to keep the tears back.
"Afterwards, they'll bring him back."
"And if you don't have the Crild?" Dimas asks.
Lilee's mother opens her mouth to answer but is unable to. Instead, she goes back to crying. Holding on to her eldest daughter.
Dimas was never really good at reading other people's emotions. Anyone else would've been a little more sensitive to the situation but Dimas was not known for his sensitivity. In fact, Dimas simply turned around and rolled his eyes.
"Come on, let's go inside." Lilee says. Reaching for her sister's hand while also holding her mother.
"Please give me a minute." She tells Dimas.
He watches as Lilee calmly leads her mother and sister into the cabin. A small smile still on her face.
[I'm surprised she's not as hysterical as the other two.]
He lets out a sigh and tugs at the blue cloth tied around his left wrist.
[All I have to do is find the thugs and rescue the dad. Nevermind that these thugs might also be superpowered and I could also be biting off more than I can chew. Oh well, nothing ventured…]
"You're thinking of looking for my dad, aren't you?" Lilee is standing at the foot of her cabin's stairs. No smile on her face this time. She was using it to hide her fear from her family.
"Yeah."
"That's not a good idea, it'll be you against a whole gang."
"Won't be the first time."
"Can you even defend yourself?" Lilee crosses her arms.
"If I couldn't, my head injury would've been a lot worse." Dimas begins to walk towards the forest.
Lilee follows him. "Won't it be better to ask for help? We can probably ask Alastor. It's only a matter of time before my mom reaches someone in town."
"Doubt it. The whole town was gaga over Alastor. Besides, if whoever took your father see themselves cornered, they won't hesitate to hurt your dad."
Lilee stays quiet for a moment. She refuses to imagine the scenario. "What makes you say that?"
"Because it's what I'd do." Dimas answers.
"You don't think they'll do the same if you go after them?"
"No. I'm a nobody. They won't give me much thought. That should give me the edge I need to pull this off."
Lilee walks in front of Dimas. Blocking his path. "I appreciate the help."
"I'm not doing this for you." Dimas interjects.
"Whatever your reason," Lilee continues, "I can't stop you but I can't let you go alone either."
Dimas shrugs. "Okay. Do you have any idea where they might be hiding? An abandoned house, building, or an old cave."
Lilee closes her eyes. She goes through every possible hiding spot she could think of.
"Our house is the only building out here. There are a lot of empty caves around here. My sister and I play hide-n-seek in the ones closest to our house but we've never seen anyone." Lilee opens her eyes. "There is one area in the forest we're not allowed to go to. It could be worth checking it out."
The two begin making their way deeper into the forest. Dimas takes a moment to appreciate the scenery around him. The green shady forest was a nice change of pace compared to the mountains of his hometown.
His whole life was spent in a small town surrounded by desert and mountains. Whenever he wasn't training or studying, he would spend his time climbing or hiking the mountains. You would be forgiven for believing he did it for the love of nature. In reality, it was for solitude. It didn't matter the season or the weather. If there was no one around, it was perfect.
"We're close to the area." Lilee says. A small tinge of fear in her voice.
The duo can hear voices in the distance.
"You stay here." Dimas continues alone.
[I don't need a liability here anyway. You were more useful than I thought, I'll give you that.]
Following the direction of the voices, Dimas comes to a clearing in the forest. The only noticeable landmark is a high cliff to the right. In the center of the clearing are five guys sitting in a circle. None of them look like they're there against their will. He safely assumes the dad isn't amongst them. As he walks towards the group, he listens in on their conversation.
"That all you got? This is candy money!" One of the thugs smacks another on the head.
"I stole it off a kid! What'd ya expect!" The other thug retaliates with a punch to the arm.
The two thugs begin a scuffle. With all of them distracted, Dimas is able to get close enough to the group without anyone noticing. Two of the other thugs begin cheering and betting on the outcome. Leaving a single one to be the reasonable voice.
"Hey! Calm down!" The smart thug pulls the two fighting thugs apart. "Don't forget we got one of the Final Five! By the end of the day, we'll all be rich!"
Fighting thug A cleans himself off. "Are we sure it's a good idea to do this with Alastor in town? What if he comes for us?"
Fighting thug B smacks him across the head once more.
"You moron! Alastor is the only reason we're doing this! If he hears that a fellow champion is in trouble, he'll do anything to get him back safely."
"It's the perfect plan!" Cheering thug C chimes in.
"Perfect!" Cheering thug D agrees.
"Where's the captive?" Dimas asks, while the thugs pat each other in the back.
"At the camp!" Cheering thug D points at the opposite end of the clearing where Dimas had entered.
Dimas begins walking away.
[This could be easier than I thought.]
"Hey, wait a minute!" Smart thug screams. "Who the hell are you?!"
Dimas continues walking. It's not until he hears an odd sound, which can be best described as rock grinding against rock, does he decide to turn around.
Smart thug is sliding across the ground towards Dimas. He jumps and kicks Dimas in the chest. Dimas is pushed back as he was able to brace himself.
"Come on! Let's take this punk down!" Smart thug yells at his partners.
Soon all five thugs are surrounding Dimas. Circling him like sharks. Dimas sees that all five have the same Brío art. They seem to be sliding across the ground in a skating motion.
[Their ability is good for escaping but how about fighting?]
Dimas rushes thug B. Managing to get a good punch across the thug's jaw, he's sure that at least two teeth got knocked loose. Thug B goes down instantly. Thug C grabs Dimas, holding him in a lock while thug D strikes him across the face. Dimas slams the back of his head against thug C's nose. The sound of broken cartilage lets Dimas know that thug C will be snoring for the rest of his life. Thug D goes for another hit but Dimas blocks it with his arm. Dimas throws thug D over his shoulder and onto thug C.
Within a matter of seconds, three of the thugs are down while Dimas only took one hit during the ordeal.
"Either walk away or get your ass beat." Dimas threatens.
However, only thug A is standing there.
"I believe those are your choices." A gruff voice says.
From the direction of the gang's camp steps out a man with a buzz cut. Right behind him is Smart thug. This man is different from the rest of the thugs, he looks like he's actually able to fight.
"So, what's it going to be?"
Dimas readies himself for a fight. The man simply smiles and begins to walk towards him. He stands in front of Dimas, hands to his side.
"I'll let you get the first hit." The man taunts.
Dimas, not one to ignore an opportunity, aims for the man's solar plexus. After the hit, Dimas grabs his hand in pain. It felt like he had just punched concrete.
"I'm feeling generous. Go for one more." The man has a smirk on his face.
Dimas goes for a kick to the back of the man's knee. Same result.
[Mierda… Just my luck, I have to fight the Terminator now.]
The man grabs Dimas by the throat and begins to squeeze. Dimas tries to pry himself free but the man's arms are as solid as a rock.
"You like my Brío art? Stone skin. There's nothing you can do to hurt me." The man has a sinister look in his eye. The kind of look that seems to say 'This is how you die.'
Darkness begins to engulf Dimas once more. Only this time, Dimas suspects it might be permanent. He feels his hands go limp. They fall to his side as he struggles to keep his eyes open.
[Not like this… Not like this… Dammit…]
For a second, Dimas is lost in the darkness. The void calls to him but before he can answer, another voice calls out.
"Fight!" It's the voice from his dream.
With his last ounce of energy, Dimas places his feet on the man's chest and kicks. It works, a little too well. While Dimas does manage to get free, he's also sent flying across the clearing. The last thing he sees before passing out, is a pair of hands reaching for him.