{Raven}
"Shoot, bastard." I provoked him and saw his purple shining eyes fixed on the gun. Being unable to move there wasn't much I could do... I was scared but I didn't let it show. It was because I couldn't predict what Rune would do. At first I was sure he could never shoot but after seeing him kill these people I lost trust in that thought. After all, I didn't know anything about him because all that he showed could have been a facade. It hurt and I hated myself for letting that guy deep enough inside my heart that I could feel betrayed now.
"I said shoot!" I yelled at him again but to my surprise he suddnely dropped the gun to the floor and stumbled back with shaking legs.
"I can't do it..." he whispered justifying how weak he was. It made me even angrier than before.
His head shot up at me again but suddenly he came at me again, his hands wrapped around my throat and pushing. The air stopped flowing into my lungs when I was caught in his murderous gaze.
"I have to! I have to kill you." He cried out and pushed harder. I moved my head from side to side trying to get some air to breath but he wouldn't let go. I was wrong... maybe he wasn't too weak... but how could I let myself die like this?!
I started seeing dark spots and a tingling feeling spread from my fingertips to my arms.
But just when I was about to lose consciousness he suddenly let go and placed his hands on both sides on the ground next to my face while heavily sobbing.
"Fuck! I can't do it!" He screamed when I started coughing hardly and getting oxygen back into my lungs. He pushed himself up again and stumbled back.
"Fucking bitch." I coughed out but he didn't even listen.
"I'm sorry mum and dad." I heard him whisper.
"But I can't do it."
And with these last words he was suddenly gone... he just vanished somewhere in this vast forest area. I felt one of his tears that had dropped on my cheek flowing down slowly.
Taking in a deep breath I tried regaining my calm. For gods sake this was some serious shit that I got myself into now. What did I do now? Should I tell Mr. Gray about it?
"Rave!" I heard a familiar voice yelling out my name before Vince's face appeared above my head. Why was he even here? He didn't participate in the game.
"I came here after an invasion of Mellontikos was reported. Where is Rune? I sensed him not even 5 seconds ago." His eyes trailed over the fighting scene before resting back on me and he pulled me up to lean against a tree.
"What happened here?"
I didn't know what to answer.
"I was attacked but Rune... killed two of them. Vince listen to me Rune is-!" My friend pressed his hand on my mouth preventing me to speak any further.
"Don't say it, there are people that came with me who might hear it." He lowered his voice and left me in utter confusion. It sounded like he knew...
"I'm sorry for not telling you but I had my suspicions about Rune being a Falcon family member for a while now. Don't go around telling anyone Raven." He demanded and I wanted to ask him what the fuck he was talking about but he didn't let me.
"There is no time for arguing. I know how you must feel but I think Rune could be very helpful in a new mission that was just announced by the leader. He is not an evil guy, you hear me?"
"Every Falcon clan member is reported a criminal here, Vince! How do you even consider doing nothing?! We don't even know his motives!"
"Yeah, but the Raven I know would use any opportunity to team up with a criminal and throw away the rules just to see how much fun it'll be. Don't you think we should consider the situation more closely before making a decision like we always do?"
{Rune}
I hung around in a café near the coast after running all the way to the city center of LA and changing into the clothing I had brought to the game.
Going back home was no option since I'd lead possible followers to Vera that way. If I wanted something there I had to do it secretly but right now I had to hide somewhere before leaving the country to go to London. The man that had been seen there was my only clue as of now because I could not stay here any longer.
Out of nowhere, I remembered how the gun in my hands had killed the two Mellontikos agents. I inhaled sharply... this would follow me from now on. It made me want to hurt myself for what I did but I suppressed it as good as I could. Sure... they could have had family and friends but what could I do now that I already did it? That feeling of helpless guilt was awful and suffocating as soon as I allowed myself to think about it.
"Coffee?" The barista came to my table and nicely asked and I nodded, ordering a Cappuccino with caramel flavor still keeping my hood down to cover most of my face. I had to get clear my thoughts somwhow.
Searching in my bag I found my second phone that the Inoue group didn't know about to call Vera.
The phone rang but she didn't pick up after I called for the third time making me assume she was busy with her job.
I then played with the thought of calling Granny... I also knew that she must be angry at me after our last call and that she had been right from the beginning. It'd be embarrassing for me but at the same time she was still the only parent figure I had and I trusted her. She also lived in a small village near London so she must have heard of the Falcon man.
The phone rang again when the barista handed me the Cappuccino.
"Rune, dear I knew you'd call again." I took in granny's happy voice on the end making my lips curl into a smile for a second.
It was in the same moment that I decided to not tell her everything.
"I'm sorry that our last call had to end on bad terms but I hope you understand that I just want answers."
"Rune, you-"
"I'll be coming to London, Granny. I'm sure you heard of the man that was seen near the old Falcon group head quarters. He is part of our family, Granny so I have to find him."
The other end was silent for a worrying while before Granny sighed in worry.
"Rune, listen closely. Don't set your foot anywhere near London."
"Why? You keep telling me to stop doing things but how am I going to believe you if you never tell me the reason?" It seriously exhausted me always having those conversations. Why did she never tell me? I didn't get it.
"I can't tell you everything because I swore to your parents that I wouldn't but you should know this at least..."
she started and I waited patiently making the whole café feel invisible.
"Your parents, the leaders of the Falcon group researched on a medication that the other groups saw as a weapon that worked like a threat. This weapon disappeared along with all the Falcon group members and it's better that way. The man that was seen in London is no good man, Rune. From the beginning he wanted to use what your parents created as a tool to bring other groups down but he never got his hands on it. No one knows exactly how it looks like but I'm sure he is trying to find some kind of clue or blueprint to make it." I followed her explaining closely and took in the newly achieved information.
"What is that weapon?" I asked but she didn't want to tell me.
"It's better for you if you don't know."
"Then who is that man?"
"Someone you should stay away from. If he finds out the leader's child is alive he'll try to get his information from you. Don't put your life in danger any longer, Rune!" She kept demanding things of me without considering how I might feel about it. Even if he wanted information from me I was careful enough to not get caught and even if I was, then it'd be my problem and not hers.
"Grandma, maybe he knows more about why this happened to our family..." I interrupted her.
"That is a possibility but do you really think he'll tell you if you ask?"
"I can't know unless I try." I argumented until she finally accepted that she could not stop me. I was an adult, at least in Germany I was. In the US I was technically still a child.
Not wanting to keep the conversation going any longer I kindly said goodbye to granny and ended the call before writing a message to Vera telling her to call me later.
The weather outside drastically got worse and next thing I knew it was heavily raining and storming while I still sat in the café together with some other people that apparently didn't plan on leaving the building any time soon either.
Like that the whole afternoon went by until I couldn't endure sitting inside there any longer and went outside into the heavy weather to head to the next bus station that'd bring me to the airport. All my stuff was still at Vera's but I didn't need any of it at the moment as long as I had my purse and personal phone. The other one that had Raven's and all others contacts had already bern destroyed by me before I got here so there was no way for them to track me.
After not even 5 minutes the bus arrived and after another 20 minutes I stood in front of the airport soaked wet in the still falling rain. It was slowly getting dark and I was freezing a little because my jacket couldn't prevent all the water from leaking through.
"Let's go." I tried encouraging myself to not stress out and wanted to walk the last ten meters to join other people entering the building when suddenly an umbrella was held over my head from behind.
When I turned around it felt like time went slower. The water drained figure of Raven stood with me under his black umbrella.
His hair was sticking to his forehead and his face,showed exhaust when he stared down at me after pulling back my hood. Pearl's of water were running down his skin and lips. Like in a daze I was caught in his gaze.
How did he find me here? There was no way he could have tracked me right? Were there other people around?
I stepped back and wanted to run when I realized he held onto my wrist. If I didn't want to cut of my hand there was nothing I could do.
"Let me go." I coldly demanded but Raven didn't move an inch.
"If it hadn't been for Vince I would have killed you by now... but... he convinced me to make you come back to the company." The older stated and still kept closely observing me.
"How can I know that this is not a trap?" I questioned looking around us to think of a plan quickly.
"You can't... just as I can't know if you are nothing but a spy." he answered just as coldly as I was speaking and I could sense how he had to force himself to stay calm.
"I'm sorry but I have other plans now. My plane is departing soon so do me a favor and let go."
"So you can go to London?"
I found myself flabbergasted for a moment when that sentence came across his lips so easily.
"You know, it is rather obvious that you want to go there after another Falcon group member was seen there. But believe me... if you suddenly disappear form the Inoue group like this people are gonna get suspicious and you'll be in trouble. Me and Vince didn't tell anyone about it yet... but don't believe I won't if you decide to leave." He explained, narrowing his eyes and pulling me closer so our bodies were almost touching.
"This is not an offer but blackmailing, you hear me." He whispered and I clicked my tongue before moving away a bit. I knew he was right that I didn't have much of a choice.
"We'll be put on a mission to investigate the case in London so you'll get there soon anyway if you come along, Rune..."
"Falcon. The name is Rune Falcon, son of the Falcon groups leaders that your family murdered." I introduced myself hinting a little sarcasm and stretched out my arm for him to shake.
"Blessed to make your acquaintance." He took it with the same sarcasm but didn't let go and pulled me along with him.
I had decided to go with him for now because I was basically forced to trust him knowing how he couldn't lie well anyway. I was a naive person sometimes so I wasn't exactly sure if this was save though.
"Why trying to bring me back in the first place?" I wanted to know when he pulled me to the parking area.
"Ask Vince, it was his idea." Raven grunted.
"Can you let go of my hand then?" I continued not liking the feeling of holding hands together under his umbrella.
"I can't trust you. Maybe you'll attack me... so if you don't want me to knock you out and throw you over my shoulder you have to deal with this." He held on even tighter making me furrow my eyebrows in suspicion. The Raven I knew would totally do that.
As the storm got worse a wall of wind came blowing at us causing the umbrella to break and at the same time I was pushed against the other so I'd have fallen if he didn't support me.
I wanted to apologize immediately but Raven had already opened the door to a black car and pushed me inside on the front seat.
"Hey!?" I complained how harsh he acted before he shut the door and got in on the drivers seat himself. I rolled my eyes.
"Never go running of like this again. I hold a responsablitly over you and if people find out you could possibly be a spy I am the one to blame." Raven grunted and took of his coat to throw it on the back seat. His clothes underneath were all dry and I remembered how mine were totally soaked.
A shiver went through my body when I started feeling a little cold being in the rain for such a long time. I could've just stayed in the café so this was my fault.
"For gods sake, I can't believe you killed 2 people but can't even take care of yourself." Raven complained but it didn't sound offensive... it was almost kind but I wasn't prepared for when he leaned over to me and opened the zipper of my jacket.
"Take it off."
I did as he told me to or more like he did it before he reached back to grab a piece of clothing that I was familiar. It was another black hoodie similar to the one he had lend me when I slept over at his apartment. Memories of that day played in front of my eyes again. Raven and I had been through quiet a lot despite knowing each other for only two weeks. He almost killed me and vice versa but at the same time he saw me cry, brought me to his apartment that day and now he was here to bring me back. That day in the park I sang for him and hugged him and he went the whole way to the bus station with his arm around my waist.
My heart started beating a little faster noticing how odd our relationship actually was. I'd never been through so much with anyone...
"Do I have to put it on you or will you finally take it." Raven's annoyed voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I focused my eyes on his that were observing me again.
"I- uhm, no I just think that I still like you." I said that weirdly and soon noticed how wrong it sounded when Raven's eyes widened and he looked like he just saw a ghost.
"No no no! Not in that way!" I felt so stupid now that he misunderstood me.
"I mean that I really want to stay your friend and that I think you are a nice person despite what we've been through. I never faked anything in our relationship so I'm sorry. Oh god, please don't misunderstand!" I pleaded but it was already too late when I saw Raven's lips curling into an amused smirk. He'd make fun of me now... perfect.
"My dear Rune, maybe I was right all along and you only joined our group to get to see more of my unresistable charms. Half a day ago your opinion was much different though." He let his hand slide through his wet hair and I had to admit that it looked hella hot but this wasn't what I wanted to express!
"Do you prefer if I helped you out of your shirt too? It's so soaked, it leaves nothing to imagination anyways." He tugged at the rim of the white shirt I was wearing before I flinched back and slapped his hand slightly. Quickly, I put the hoodie on and crossed my arms in front of my chest.
"I told you I didn't mean it that way. What happened during the game was an accident. I'm sorry!" I subconsciously pouted slightly which was what caused him to break out into a little laugh.
"You're really something else, haha. One time you point a gun at my head and next you slap me with the force of a five year old girl. Scared that I'll harass you?" He started the motor and I quickly put on the belt.
"That I'm not scared of anyone was not a lie. I'm not scared of you and I honestly hope that you aren't the kind of person to do that." I replied shortly and watched him driving out of the parking area. Raven was still smiling and without noticing it a big weight was lifted from my shoulders now that he wasn't so tensed anymore.
"We'll see about that." He said almost not audible but I still heard it and hysterically turned my head to the side.
"Excuse me?! Is this a threat?"
"Perhaps? The reaction I'd get out of it would be priceless." He fantasized while I wasn't able to determine whether he was joking at the moment or not.
It was almost unreal how we went back to teasing each other just after what happened this morning. Raven couldn't feel the same as before now that he knew I was from Falcon. Maybe he was hiding it but there was no way he saw me in the same light as before.