"No one will ever love you. You think people will appreciate you."
These bitter words bombarded Adam's scalp as he glared at Kitsune. He however regained his composure, reassuring himself that he was on the right. He could see the resentment in her eyes as she bit her lip in disdain.
"It's all for the best," he thought as he sat back, "people would never understand."
"Kitsune San, please be quiet!" said Adam, "your barking is only hurting my ears. If you can't I will be inclined to rip your throat out."
The rest of the journey was followed by a deep silence. The driver made rounds in the shopping district no doubt to check if they were being tailed. After all, they had just kidnapped the daughter of a wealthy man in Japan.
Kitsune's mind kept sending her to her smartphone in her pocket but dropped the thought as Adam was watching them like a hawk. They eventually stopped near a forest.
"Your phones, Ladies," Adam said.
They reluctantly handed them in. They were also instructed to leave any jewelry in their possession in the car. They then embarked on a hike.
A night had crept in. The wind was cold carrying the mountain air with it. The sky is cloudy and starless. The only source of light was a yellow flashlight shown by Adam.
After twenty minutes of silently walking, they stopped in front of a tall, metallic, rusted rowed gate. It made a 'cricking' sound as it was pushed open, giving them goosebumps.
They walked through a narrow pathway that led to a church up ahead. The grass around them was suspiciously tall about eighteen inches, slick, bristly, dry, and complex. Crickets could be heard all over.
The huge wooden church door was slightly open. It had high-relief carvings of a saint in robes holding a baby on the left hand and a flower-like plant on the right. Adam pushed it open and ushered them in.
It was dimly lit with candles and a blinking bulb that drew insects. There were two rows of pew kneelers and a path in the middle leading to the altar. There was a dump, a musky smell of old book mold in the air with a mixture of dust.
The walls were worn out. Bricks exposed and gritty, frayed, and grey paint formed patches on the wall. The ceiling was bare, with piles of dry rot making it a rusted mess. The church was anything but Godly.
"Adam you are late," a girl's voice came among the rows of seats.
"I apologize," said Adam heavily.
The girl was slightly older than Kitsune and Akira. She was tall with a slender body that was hidden in her dress and cloak. She stood ignoring her guests and walked to the altar then opened a huge book.
"We have no alternative, Adam, kill them both."
The words shocked Akira and Kitsune. Adam turned to the duo and raised his palm. A red glow began to emit, and a flame formed.
"Adam, wait!" said Kitsune pushing Akira behind her.
Adam hesitated. This drew the attention of the mysterious girl, and she noticed his hesitation.
"Adam, you are better than this, I may not know you, but you don't want to be a soldier."
"Adam, are you disobeying me? Kill them now, Adam, it is necessary for the new world."
He was about to attack but saw the frightened look on the girl's face. A look of desperation. This was not what he wanted.
"Adam, please," said Kitsune, "you can be a hero. Just, stop now."
Adam stopped and started holding his head feeling a sharp pain as a flood of memories overwhelmed him. Screams of terror, cries of defeat. All caused by him.
"But you said no one will acknowledge me, I will be the villain," said Adam.
"I said that I am sorry. But you can always choose, now is the time. You may have lived as a villain, but you don't have to be remembered as one. All you have to do is come over to my side and we can run away . . . "
"Aaadam, are you going to listen to the words of this child instead of your master."
Adam screamed out in pain as a wave of shock pulsed through his body.
"Adam, remember who protected you all this time, remember what I promised you."
"I do master,"
"Yes, good, now, KILL THEM for me."
With a flick of his wrist, a flame erupted from his palm targeted at the girls. Like an instinct, Kitsune pushed Akira and ducked in the opposite direction. She noticed a slight burn on her shoulder but swallowed the pain.
"Wait, Akira is not a part of this, Spare her please," pleaded Kitsune.
"Agreed, come to me and I promise I won't kill her."
Taking a deep breath, Kitsune winked at Akira and stood up. She put up her hands and stood in the middle of the rows.
"Tsune what the hell," said Akira, "why the hell are you trying to be a martyr? How do you expect me to live knowing that I killed my best friend?"
"Aki I . . . "
Kitsune was interrupted by Adam who came out of nowhere and grabbed her by the throat. He then pushed her and pinned her against the wall her feet suspending just a few centimeters above the ground.
His palm turned red and Kitsune started feeling a burning feeling on her skin. She screamed out in pain but also out of shock. She did not imagine it would hurt that much.
Just then a loud "bam" sound was heard accompanied by Adam's deep and heavy grant. He turned to face Akira who was holding a broken wooden rod.
"Sorry," she said giving a flimsy smile.
Adam furiously clenched his fist and then smacked Akira on the jaw. She was thrown back landing on a pew kneeler breaking it. She felt dizzy for a moment, a lump-like e pain on her jaw, and then the taste and smell of blood in her mouth and nose.
"Am fine, I think," she said getting up dizzily.
"Leave her alone!" shouted Kitsune.
In a fit of rage, Adam shoved Kitsune, with his inhuman strength across the room landing on an old piano. The keys made a sound as she broke them.
As her body bombarded against the wood Kitsune felt a familiar pain. Ringing noises filled her ears and her vision became blurry. In the distance, she heard the calling of her name.
"Tsune, breathe slowly," came Akira's voice.
She took a deep breath of the air mixed with dust and struggled to stand up straight, but her legs trembled, and she could not.
"Your struggle is futile," said Adam as he walked toward them, "At any rate, since you two won't part I shall grant you both mercy by giving you a quick and painless death."
He raised his hand again and a blue flame formed on his palm. This time the biggest, in the form of a ball. It was so hot that they felt the intensity from afar. The candle wax in the room melted as a result.
The massive flame was released. It sped toward them at a ferocious speed. As the heat came closer Kitsune took Akira shielding her.
As the second transition between life and death, a memory crossed her mind. Then it clicked.
"Help me," she said, "Cain!!"
An explosion followed. So loud it was that the ground shook violently. The wall behind them was obliterated. Smoke, dust particles, and sounds of crumbling noise filled the air choking their lungs as they inhaled. All saw the silhouette of a tall man standing in the smoke.
"My, my. It seems I arrived in the nick of time," a manly voice spoke.
The smoke cleared revealing the man. His crimson red pupils that glowed like iron immersed in a flame flashed across the room. The remains of his attack evident on his palms vanished as he clenched his fist.
His long black trench coat swayed with the changing direction of the wind. He wore a dark blue shirt and a pair of black pants. He took a step, his black pair of waterproof Durashocks steel toe work boots, crushing some stone, and he turned to the young girls behind him.
He said reassuringly, "Sorry I am late."