{Rune}
"Ready, set, go!" Mr. Gray announced the start of our capture the flag game through the speaker placed on both entrances of the forest.
This piece of landscape was secluded from the city so we needed to drive an hour to get there. There were no people allowed here because it was in private use of the Inoue group.
I tried recalling my advised part in our strategy and went in first to spot enemies quick enough from some high hiding spot. In each group there were about 20 people, both seniors and newcomers of the Inoue group. Me and Raven were in the blue team while Jane, Kate and Ed were part of the red team. Once someone was hit by either a paint bullet, paint grenade or any other weapon like knives or nets they were out of the game and had to go back. Apart from that each group had to protect a flag that the other group had to take and bring to the marked middle of the forest area. It was simple to understand and I was told to have fun but as soon as it started everyone else suddenly got so serious as if it was a real war. The only reason I had to care for winning was that the winning team got free food at the cafeteria for a week but this wouldn't be much fun with the position I was assigned to. I'd rather be part of the team that went looking for the flag of the other team like Raven was but there was no way anyone let me decide about this.
I climbed up a cliff like rock and gave the others signs of two red squads that I saw approaching from the south and east. A bullet came flying my way but I dodged it easily with no one seeing. The others advanced forward and soon both groups were beginning to fight somewhere between all the bushes and trees.
I joined them by jumping down and taking a red team member by surprise before my paint knife hit his side and he was out.
If I wanted I could just use the advantage of surprise using my speed ability with no one noticing all the time but that wad too risky so I kept only fighting people if I necessarily had to and instead focused more on watching the situation.
At some point when only about 3 people from 15 fighting there were left I decided to throw our strategy away and do my own thing. Team play or not, I wouldn't bore myself to death here.
They put me in the wrong position there and I did want to enjoy this game as much as possible if I was forced to do it.
After 10 more minutes of silently advancing forward I was suddenly attacked from behind before my reflexes kicked in and I squatted down to avoid getting hit by yet another paint bullet that was shot at me. When turning around I saw Kate and immediately pulled the trigger of my own gun. The bullet hit her knee coloring the fabric of her pants blue.
This time it was real and I didn't have to hide my skill as much to not stick out. I didn't hesitate and shot somewhere with no risk of hurting her but still, her eyes widened when she came to the realization that she was out.
"Rune... that was amazing." She stated in awe and I grinned and jokingly winked at her.
"See you when we won." I said back and turned around to continue approaching the south east end of the area while Kate had to go to the middle area.
It felt satisfying to finally show a little more of what I could do and not be scolded for it by Raven all the time.
But after 20 more minutes sneaking through the bushes and woods, it felt odd not having met any other person although I had already reached the south end. Of course there was a possibility I was watched by hidden enemies but why not attack when I had to be close to where their flag was located? Another thing that was weird was how none of our team mates was here already. The area was large so it could be a mere coincidence. That was what I kept in mind when continuing to go east and search for the flag.
At some point I finally spotted 3 of the red team mates strolling around some rocks where the flag had to be hidden.
I climbed up a tree and watched them quietly. From where I was I could try to shoot them but my aim was bad and in close combat against possible Inoue family members I had the disadvantage because of their strength. Should I go back and search for back up now that I knew about their location? Or should I try to get the flag with a strategy?
"Someone's there, shoot!" One of the three people there shouted all of a sudden. It was a guy who aimed his gun in my direction. I panicked for a second before realizing that he aimed at something on the forest ground underneath me. From my location in the tree I could make out 2 men but it was easy to tell that they weren't part of the game. The taller one of them eyed the red spot on his arm where the bullet had hit him and hissed.
"For fucks sake." He grunted before continuing forward.
Now the 3 red group members also realized that something wasn't right here. Who were these people?
"Where is Raven Inoue?" The tall one asked but the three youngers kept their fighting position and didn't bulge.
"Who are you? This is property of the Inoue group." A girl stated with confidence but her shaking hands called her out.
"Fucking bitch, I asked you a question!" The tall man was quick to push her and stomp his foot on her chest. She tried punshing him but apparently she didn't get enough air to bring up enough force to move.
I had my suspicion that this person had to be from the Hwang group that was able to increase their own body weight immensely. If he was pushing her down with that weight in his leg, her ribs had to be close to be broken.
"Let her go!" The other two attacked the man with their inhuman strength but their abilities in combat were visibly not even half as good as the man's. He easily dodged and simply let his hand fall down on their backs or head, seriously injuring them and causing them to be unable to fight back immediately.
"Now again... where is Raven Inoue?" He bowed down and asked the girl whose face was tear stained and red.
"I... I don't know!" She coughed and screeched making the man push down harder before the smaller comrade of his put his hand on his shoulder.
I didn't hear what he was saying but the Hwang group member let go. As far as I knew the Hwang and Inoue group were closely connected so there was no reason for them to attack the Inoue recruits, making me wonder if those two could be from Mellontikos or if they were simply unaffiliated criminals.
In that moment the smaller man opened his mouth emitting a sound that was so loud and high pitched that even from my location I had to hold my ears same as the tall man. The three red group members all fell unconscious immediately before the two men left to go further to the west.
As soon as they were gone I jumped down from my hideout and went over to the girl to check her pulse and breathing. I couldn't say if they were in danger to lose their lives but their injuries had to be treated as soon as possible.
"Shit!" I hissed and turned to all sides to see if anyone was there to help... but I was alone while I had to warn everyone and at the same time save these three. Where was Raven at the moment? He had to be warned first but how was I going to do that when no electronic devices had been allowed to the game?!
I weighed my opportunities and came to the conclusion that I'd take the risky way.
From here to the middle I needed 4 seconds if I ran at top speed and with someone on my back that was about 8 seconds so if I put those three close enough to the middle area where people would quickly find them they should be fine as long as I wasn't noticed. There was no way people could see me except someone with abilities like Vinces was present. He could sense gifted ones...
I didn't want to waste any more time and took the girl on my back before speeding to the middle of the area and putting her down next to a tree from where I could already see all the drop outs. 15 blues and 11 reds were there, Raven was not among them which meant apart form him and me there were 3 more of the blue and 6 more of the red team still in the game.
I fastly got the two other guys and threw a pine cone at Kate's head who stood closest to us before leaving again. That way they should immediately find them now.
I stopped somewhere mid forest, leaning against a tree and catching my breath. Running around in high speed was just as exhausting as running at full speed as a normal person except that per second I could run a lot more. If I went to tell Mr. Gray now my cover was blown because I could not explain how I brought the others here so fast. So I had to find any other person that was still in the game on the south side to warn them. I had to find Raven first. I-
Suddenly, I was confronted with a scream followed by gunshots and strange noises. These weren't paint weapons... these were real gun shots.
I ran where the sound had come from and what I saw next made my heart stop beating for a second.
The two men from before were joined by a dark haired woman. The smaller guy was unconscious on the floor after just having crashed with a tree before the woman had shot Raven's lower leg. I could tell that they had already fought for some time when seeing how the woman held her arm and the bloody bruises on all of them.
"I really thought one bullet of that numbing poison was enough to take you down but look, you even killed our friend there." The woman spat and put her hand on his throat while the taller man firmly held down Raven's shoulders and arms so he was kneeling on the ground. His head hung low but when the woman touched his throat a sizzling noise was heard when Raven yelled out in pain again. I had heard of this ability before. Heating up their skin was a trait of the Ricardo group... she was literally torturing Raven.
I held my breath. I'd expose my abilities if I went in between them but if I didn't, Raven... would die.
"Oh, I'm excited to see what your precious aunt will do if she sees that we have you hostage. Will she even care for your life?" The woman chuckled and kept pressing before I had enough of it.
There was no going back now.
I kicked her side sending her flying before sticking my fingers into the Hwang man's eyes. In pain he let go just giving me enough time to pull Raven away. I wanted to run with him on my shoulders but the woman had predicted my direction and reached her arm out so I almost burned myself running into it. I was forced to drop Raven and felt my eyes aching at the sudden heat when I just stood there trying to see clear.
"A Falcon family member... didn't think I'd see one here." The man remarked coldly and I realized that I was fucked now... I couldn't let them spread that I was part of the Falcon family. I swore to protect my sister and grandma so I had no choice but-
I took out my lenses that had taken damage from the heat and turned around slowly. It was useless wearing them now anyway. Both enemies were watching me closely while I didn't pay attention to Raven on my right side.
And then... I attacked. I was faster than their eyes could follow me or their guns could hit me but I could not get too close to the woman without burning myself nor could I really use force on the man. I ended up throwing a rock at the womans head before taking away her gun and firing at the man. Both of them dropped to the floor livelessly and bleeding from their heads. If I had thrown the rock like a normal person the woman could have dodged... the speed that a Falcon family member possessed really was far stronger than any other power in combat. Maybe they could've come up with a strategy to take me out but I had the advantage of surprise on my side.
Just then when I saw the two corpses in front of me, I realized what I had just done. I killed someone... I brutally murdered two people.
With wide eyes I stared at my own two hands and dropped the gun. I had crossed the line now... I did what I despised other people doing.
"No..." I couldn't do anything but cry out when tears built up in my eyes and I stumbled back.
"You..." Suddenly flinching at the noise I turned to the side slowly when Raven got up from the floor still struggling from the numbing effects of the poison. He was also there... he also witnessed it.
For a few seconds we held eye contact, Raven's narrowed eyes emitting disgust and disappointment.
"Your eyes... so that's their real color, Rune Smith. Or is that even your real name?" He tilted his head but I didn't answer because there was no need.
"I had my suspicions from the beginning but when I saw you going into Vera's house yesterday I remembered that I should be more cautious around you."
I tensed at the mention of my sisters name. If he knew that we were related she was in danger meaning I had to do something. Cautiously, I took a step closer.
"Who could've known that the pretty, nice and arrogant Rune is actually a member of the Falcon family? Say, why did you want to join the Inoue group so badly since we met in Germany? Want to take revenge? You have no family you said. I guess they were killed for their crimes." His eyes gleamed blissfully as his jaw clenched.
I shouldn't let myself be triggered by his words but I could not stop it. How did he dare bring my family into this while blindly accusing them of crimes with no justification. He wasn't better than anyone else out there...
"I don't intend on harming your group. If I wanted to I wouldn't have saved you back in Germany." I formed a fist with my hand and took another step closer being prepared for an attack anytime.
Raven's eye brow went up at that mention giving me some kind of satisfaction.
"Yes, I saved you when you were about to be discovered by others of Mellontikos and I also was the person that prevented them from killing you in that back alley before Jane and Vince found you."
"Hah, so you held back the whole time? How pathetic to play the hero and then fool everyone into thinking you are someone completely different. How much of what you said and did was actually your real self, huh?" He now also stepped closer despite his injured leg until we were closely facing each other.
"Even those tears right now. Are you trying to make me empathize? Saying I'm a good teacher, singing in the park that evening, wanting to become friends? You did that to manipulate me... to make me an easier target." He spat and aimed his fist at me. I dodged and pushed him against a tree before pointing the gun at his head in less than a second. Tears were still running down my face but I was forced to be serious at the moment.
"I want to be your friend and I'm not faking my personality but I knew once I revealed my real identity, stuck up people like you would start to hate me. I never did anything to you." I explained myself in desperation when he suddenly jumped forward forcing me to step back. I didn't realize that a small rock was behind me so I ended up tripping giving him the time to punsh me hardly into the guts before he grabbed my face with his hand and pushed my head down on the forest ground. I welped in pain.
"Don't come at me with that shit now! You feel guilty for killing those people but now you have to kill me Rune. Fuck your false affection and face it. Someone from the Falcon family is not welcomed in this society and I won't let myself be killed by one." He reached back to punsh me again when I landed a kick on his injured leg and managed to break free.
He was right... I had to kill him because he knew my secret but saying it like this sounded so wrong.
I didn't hate Raven so how was I ever going to kill him... it was impossible.
Just when I was about to aim the gun at him again the older suddenly sank down on his knees. The effects of the poison had to be stronger than he thought. I knocked him back so he was laying on the ground now... pretty much unable to move. Right now I could do anything I wanted, the power was in my hands.
"Discrimimating on a person because of their origin is wrong, even you should know that. But maybe you are right... I will be hated by everyone from now on but that is your fault. Yours and every other groups fault." I coldly told him and pointed the gun at his chest.
"Shoot, bastard." Raven grinned like a mad man.
I put my finger on the trigger. I already had to live with the weight of having murdered two people. One more didn't make a difference. I had to push all feelings back and face reality... I needed to kill him in order to survive.