"Officer!" Sunny cried, slamming her hands onto the desk, her breath heavy. "We need your help! It's important!"
The officer chowed down a donut, and he wiped his mouth. His eyes were already glued to his paperwork, and he didn't even bother to hear what she just said. However, he sensed her presence, and he burped.
"The heck do you want, kid? 2 to 3 months without the Prophet, do you know how busy we are?"
Anala butted in, "We don't mean any trouble. We came because our friend has been kidnapped."
The officer scoffed, "Look, kids. We're dealing with more worrisome things right now. Why don't you take your mumbo-jumbo somewhere else? This is the police station."
"That's why we came!" Hiro sneered, the wind becoming as rushed as his steps. "Heresy took our friend!"
"Are you friends with the Prophet?"
The three shook their heads, and the officer sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Kids these days…The youth think that they know everything…think they have the power because their bums have grown a tad bit."
"Please, sir!" Sunny folded her hands together, now begging him. "You're the only one who could help us! Heresy's out there and we're all gonna die if we don't do anything!"
"You all will be just fine." the ignorant officer reassured with a hand wave. "Leave the work to the crusaders, alright?"
"And where are they?!" Hiro yelled. "We never see them at all and you guys say that they're doing all the work!"
"That's because we don't always show things to kiddies! Now run along before I call security on you!"
"Wait! At least let us show you what we have!"
Anala dug in her pocket, before revealing Squeakers. The mouse lay on her palm, sighing in satisfaction and pleasure due to the sauna-like steam. The officer took one look at Squeakers, and he shrieked, his roller chair strolling backwards.
"A MOUSE!! Get that accursed thing AWAY!"
A group of crusaders barged out from an office, all of them glaring at the three. One of them raised their hands, and a giant gust of wind literally swept them all off their feet.
"Wait—"
But before Sunny could say anything, a ball of water smashed against her mouth, forming into a frozen gag. She muffled as hard and clear as she could, but no audible words came out.
"Alright, folks. Take out the trash." one of them snickered,
Together, they all drag them all outside, smashing them onto the ground. Anala and Hiro both got up, rubbing their aching backs. However, they turn to Sunny, who was lying in a comical crater, her face wet from the water. Yet there were tears mixing with the liquid. Hiro rushed over, his winds rising her upper body, which he cradled in his arms. He gazed upon her worryingly, almost like an older brother.
"Are you alright? That must've hurt.." he remarked. "Gomen…I may be the most wild one around here, but that really wasn't fun at all."
"Why won't they listen..?" she muttered. "I tried as hard as I could…But they wouldn't listen."
"Hey, there's no need to try so hard!" Hiro reassured, helping her up. "Those guys were jerks, kicking us all out…thanks to Squeakers."
Sunny growled, "This isn't fair! How could they disregard us just because they're searching for the Prophet?! Sure, he's missing, but we saw Heresy ourselves!" she breathed shakily, "He must've kidnapped him the same way he kidnapped Cynoce.."
Anala nodded, "We must be careful then. They're everywhere, lurking about. You never know what they're capable of."
***
Gamaliel walked with Theodor and Siegbert, all of them heading down the dark hallway. There was a faint glow that gave out an ethereal light thanks to the lights on the walls.
"There isn't any progress." Siegbert sighed. "We can't even find any clues at where he could be. Whoever abducted him must be very skilled at this…But this could also mean that he is very dangerous."
Theodor looked down, his eyes glistening. This was too much for him, especially since he was being burdened with so many tasks.
Tell them this, tell them that…
All he needed to do was remain hopeful for the people's sake, even though he's just as afraid as they were. Regardless of that, he didn't complain, now wasn't the time. Gamaliel opened the gem-adorned door, facing a dark and regal bedroom.
"Lord Nicodemus?" he called.
The elderly laid on his bed, his eyes focused on the big round clock that was stuck on the top of the room.
Tick…Tick….He muttered that sound. Tick….Tock…
It was all he could do as Gamaliel approached his bedside.
"Lord…Snap out of it." he pleaded. "It's no use."
Nicodemus didn't listen though, he kept staring at that clock, until his eyes closed.
"Gamaliel…Do you see that clock?"
Gamaliel faced the clock, which read "12:45". There was nothing so special, yet he wondered why it was to Nicodemus. Perhaps it was a delusion because of his old age? However, he nodded politely.
"Yes, sir."
"There is so much time in the world for everyone else that I am running out of. If we all could spend our time wisely, then perhaps our problems could have solutions…No matter who we are."
"Lord, please..There's no use staying here in bed all the time."
"I cannot get up, child. I must be buried until the Prophet comes home."
Theodor rushed over to his side, his eyes glistening as his hands trembled.
"Lord, I'm doing the best I can!" he exclaimed. "I told everyone that it was going to be alright, and that you'd recover soon!...But, I just don't feel the same way, no matter how hard I try!"
Siegbert patted Theodor's shoulder, putting his head against his chest. He faced Nicodemus with a somber look.
"I checked in with the Forensics and we did our best to scan everything in the city. However, there is no trace of him…But we're not giving up, we're going to find him at any cost, no matter how hard it is!"
Gamaliel cleared his throat, "And I'm sending troops everywhere, they're all across the city—even outside of it. So don't worry, we have everything in control."
Nicodemus smiled, "Thank you, boys…"
Theodor sniffled, "It was no biggie…But please get well, I can't stand you like this!"
"Me neither, my dear boy…You're such a kind person, always keeping everyone happy and reassured."
Siegbert wrapped his arms around Theodor, hugging him. The latter rested his head against his shoulder, his arms wrapped around his waist.
"There, there…" he said, almost sounding like a serenading mother, before facing Nicodemus. "He's been like this ever since he heard you were bedridden from grief."
"Can you all blame me?" he asked, somberly. "Years have gone by, and all my family have withered off like valuable flowers…What's the point if we're all going to die soon?"
Theodor let out a heavy sob, his lips quivering. This statement was clearly not helping him out.
"That's not true…!" he whimpered. "There is a point! We're supposed to enjoy our life until we're gone!"
Siegbert nodded, "He's right, master. Progress will occur soon, we just gotta stay faithful. The Creator is good, he will help us out, at least send an angel or two."
"Find those angels then." Nicodemus pleaded, his eyes burning. "They could be anyone, we just need our boy back."
***
The Roaster walked down the street, his expression stern. The nearby folks cowered at his bulking sight. It was no wonder why he was so assertive and confident—They feared him. Suddenly, he bumped into someone, and he snapped like an angry bull.
"Hey! Do you need to be taught how to walk, pipsqueak—"
But out of nowhere, someone grabbed his collar. He was yanked downwards, finding himself face to face with Elliot. He had a stern expression on his face, which lacked any fear, unlike the Roaster's.
"Don't grab me like that, chump…!" he stuttered, his eyes starting to soften.
Elliot however didn't falter, and he spoke coldly.
"Don't ever talk to me again. You're not worth my time—Unless you want to be."
The Roaster chuckled sheepishly, sweat pouring down his face. His eyes darted down, and he sweated even more the moment he glanced at Elliot's spear.
"Now, now!" he sweet-talked. "Let's not do something we'll regret doing, shall we?"
Elliot growled, "Yeah, we better not, unless you ask for it."
The Roaster nodded, and he quickly scurried away. But a few minutes later, he growled like a bull.
"That little buddy..!" he muttered under his breath. "When I see him again, I'll show him who's boss here!"
Heresy…
The Roaster gasped, looking around. He felt a chill go down his spine, which was very unusual for him. He was never afraid—except for dangerous little boys, of course—But this fear was different. It was actually rational, and it was coming from something greater than him and every mortal on Mythikos.
Heresy…
The voice continued to repeat, and it was almost hypnotizing. Even he couldn't resist it. Darkness shadowed his mind, and his eyes blurred. He headed towards an alleyway, he couldn't see anything. However, he continued walking to the unknown.
Closer….Closer…
The voice commanded him. All hope seemed lost as he continued to walk like a mindless puppet. But all of the sudden, a burst of flame smashed across the alleyway's darkness, the voice screeched demonically as the Roaster snapped out of his trance. Anala appeared, and with her fiery ring, a bright light shooed Heresy. He scurried as fast as he could, screeching like a cat. Even the stray ones resting in the cardboard boxes instantly fell head over heels, their eyes bearing heart-shaped pupils.
Hiro came from behind, and with his winds, he swirled the damaged blob. He was raised into the air, tossed around like a broken ragdoll. Hiro laughed, taking delight in this little game until he found a manhole. He opened the lid, and the blob slipped right in like slime. However, he paused, and he laughed again. He raised him again, smashing him left to right on the walls and swinging him as if this were a roller coaster.
"Try not to vomit!" Hiro yelled. "That's a challenge!"
Finally, he smashed it onto the ground. Heresy groaned, his head-like top bearing a frown. Hiro turned around, and he yelled.
"Sunny! He's all yours!"
Out of nowhere, Sunny stomped on him, and she began to massage the blob. She snickered menacingly as she started to shift Heresy. The movement was detailed and her focus was intense. The Roaster watched, letting out an awed "Oooh!" while she sculptured it like a charred vase.
Stop…Stop!!
"Too bad." Sunny said. "You like toying with us so bad? We'll make you ours!"
A couple minutes had passed, and Heresy was now a flowery vase. She took some roses, and she carefully planted them in his giant hole.
"Alright, folks!" she called. "Make your bets!"
"20 Celestials!" Hiro exclaimed.
"No, 30!" The Roaster objected. "If anybody should have a pretty, little thing, it should be me!"
"Oh, really? Well, I'll give you 40!"
"50!"
"60!"
"70!"
"80!!"
Heresy suddenly began to melt, and he began to screech like a maniac.
I'm melting..!! Melting!
Yet his tone was mocking, he really wasn't dying. He began to leak into liquid, trying to reach the manhole as quickly as he could. Sunny grabbed his melting neck, and she glared at him with angry tears. She still hadn't gotten over Cynoce's kidnapping, and it still pained her.
"Where did you take him?" she shook him. "Don't you dare try to get away! We're not going to let you go until you show us where he is!"
Heresy didn't reply, he just snickered, his laughter bringing chills.
With us…
Sunny's breathing hitched, and she tilted her head to the side. What did he mean by "With us"? It certainly wasn't the answer she was looking for. Despite that, she angrily began to shake him more.
"Has anybody ever taught you what clarification is?! Or do I have to smack some sense into you?!"
Anala lightly gasped, "Sunny, your mallet! Use your mallet!"
Sunny quickly grabbed from her back her mallet, and she raised it upwards. She didn't mind the weight as she sent it soaring downwards, smashing the blob. She raised it again, and she continued to smash Heresy, who roared in fright as he struggled to get away. Despite his struggles, he began to race towards the manhole, the slushy liquid swarming inside.
"NO!"
Sunny screamed as Hiro and Anala held her back. It wasn't the right time, not at all. Yet she wouldn't stop yelling.
"FIGHT ME, YOU COWARD! FIGHT ME! If you're an entity of rebellion and destruction, THEN WHY DON'T YOU TRY TO DESTROY THOSE WHO TRY TO DESTROY YOU?!"
But Heresy wasn't the only one she was enraged at, it was also the Creator. Why wouldn't he switch on the Non-Law for her so that she could stretch her arms and squeeze him to death? She knew she wasn't supposed to feel this way, but she couldn't help herself as tears ran down her nose when she looked at the floor.
"Cynoce…" She sobbed. "Cynoce, I'm so sorry.."
Her knees were weak from her grief and frustration, and she fell on them, her gaze never leaving the floor. She sobbed heavily, clutching her chest.
"Why don't I have a Leistung?! Why do I even think of being a crusader in the first place?!"
Anala grabbed her shoulder, and she used her free hand to lightly slap her cheek. Sunny's hazel eyes were darkening, and her tears were starting to dry.
"Sunny, Sunny!" Anala yelled, tensely. "Snap out of it! Don't let him get to you!"
Sunny's lips quivered, and her tears returned. Veins bulge on her forehead, a sign that she was fighting back.
"What's happening to her?!" The Roaster yelled. "She can't be serious! I thought I told her to keep roasting!"
Anala gritted her teeth, "This isn't about roasting, Roaster! Heresy is trying to capture her mind and make her a part of him! She could only escape if she resisted him! She always saw the world through rose-colored glasses, so maybe she could use that to her advantage!"
"No…" a familiar someone muttered.
Hiro turned his head, a bit startled by that firm mutter. His eyes widened upon meeting the sight of the trembling Elliot, who looked rather tense seeing the situation.
"She can't possibly end like this..!" he whimpered. "I didn't come all the way to watch her succumb!"
Hiro winced, speeding towards Elliot and grabbing his shoulders. At first, he glared at the floor, until his eyes met his. Both of them were trembling, but Hiro was the first to speak.
"Look, dude. You gotta do something."
"But…I can't!" Elliot hesitated. "I'll hurt everybody! I'm a Plutonian user! What's my use?!"
"That's what we need! She's going to succumb to Heresy's darkness! Just say something to her. Anything! As long as it saves her!"
Elliot faced Sunny, she was on her knees, facing the floor as her sadness started to fade. That wasn't a good sign, and his heart was wrenched. He sweated as he approached her, his hands trembling as he raised one to her.
"Sunny?" he called. "Sunny, I'm here."
His ears were blurred, yet she still heard his voice. She raised her head, facing him. Elliot lightly gasped, stopping his tracks.
"T-This never happened before…She isn't supposed to hear me—I don't understand."
Everyone watched the scene, their eyes glued to Elliot and Sunny. They silently prayed to the Creator that the latter would make it, they needed her badly. Elliot meanwhile found the courage to finally grip her shoulders, gazing at her with softened eyes of worry. This was totally unlike him, but he didn't care.
"Sunny, please. We need you. You're the one who brought us together….Even if there are some who left us.."
He held her hand, a look of longing in his eyes. Every moment he was around her, he felt safe and warm, unlike in Empusa. He worked as hard as he could to enroll in the Academy and become a crusader. This was all to protect her, as if she were a treasure she couldn't bear losing.
"Sunny, I'm so sorry," he finally said. "I was scared of myself, I was scared of hurting you that I couldn't join you guys. I didn't mean to make you feel lonely…In fact, I know what it's like to be that way…I never had a family, and the one who cares for me is a wicked witch…But don't worry, I'll make sure you'll never feel that way again. I know how much faith you have in me even though I'm not like any of you…And that's what I love about you. So please have faith in yourself, come back and have faith…"
He gripped her hands, his eyes starting to water. His head was spinning as he felt himself slowly succumbing to insanity. Hiro rubbed his shoulders, doing the best he could to console him. Anala meanwhile helped the Roaster up.
"You must leave." she insisted.
The Roaster however pushed her out of the way, "Out of the way, red-head!" But he then made his way towards Sunny, kneeling down and giving her face a huge slap. Everyone gasped, stunned by his sudden action.
"Get up, pipsqueak!" he yelled. "What did I tell you about roasting, huh?! Are you just going to be cool and freeze everybody?!"
"Jiminy crickets!" the wide-eyed Hiro exclaimed.
"Hey, that's my line!"
Sunny suddenly said, giggling cheekily as her sweet hazel eyes returned. Wasting no time, Elliot wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. He refused to let go as everyone let out dreamy sighs, even Anala, who smiled warmly.
"You're alive!" he yelled. "I could kiss you right now!"
Sunny suddenly grabbed his waist and bent him downwards into a dip. She gave out her adorably charming smile while Elliot flushed furiously.
"The pleasure's all mine, sugar." she said in a low, soothing tone.
For the first time, Anala began laughing, clutching her stomach while Hiro joined in. The Roaster snickered, patting Sunny's head.
"Now that's the hon I know and love," he said. "You've improved, you're more assertive…You fought back."
Sunny's cheeks turned pink, tears still evident in her eyes. She released Elliot, who watched as she approached the Roaster. She beamed with joy as she gave him a slight bow.
"Thanks…for everything, Roaster." she said. "I wouldn't be in the Academy or have confidence in myself if it weren't for you."
Hiro chuckled, "She learned that bow from me."
"Halt!!" exclaimed the guards.
"There you are, Roaster." Commander Alberto appeared, standing in front of the sea of soldiers targeting the group. "I've been looking for you everywhere. Tsk, and look at you, you're spending time with not-so-innocent children."
The Roaster scowled, pulling up his fists as he stood in the way. Puffs of steam burst from his nose like a mad bull. But his eyes softened as he turned around to face the group.
"You guys run off. I have business to tend to."
"But what are they gonna do with you?!" Sunny questioned, her heart racing.
"Hon, let's say I'm a bad man who's done some bad things. But that has nothing to do with you. You're a strong girl, and you've earned a gangster's respect. Now I'm sure you'll gain the respect of many others too, so run along."
The three looked at each other, and they all nodded in agreement. Sunny frowned, giving the Roaster a slight hug before pulling away, running off along with the others. The Roaster couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, before he turned around, holding up his fists as he cackled with delight.