Chapter 36: The Grieving Heart

Thomas Kasuto

 

“If she went this way, there’s only one way she could have gone,” Lector said. “At the end of this hallway is a door that leads to the outside and to a small forest behind the prison.”

“Why is there a forest behind the prison?” Statuedramon asked. “This is like, the stupidest place for a prison!”

“Well, it certainly wasn’t my idea,” Lector said defensively. “Well, anyway, if she’s going to be anywhere, that’s where she would be. It’s the perfect place to hide…Wow, this really is a stupid place for a prison…”

10 Minutes

 

“Okay…maybe she isn’t here,” Lector said.

“We haven’t been searching for very long; she could still be here,” I said.

“Thomas, I think I see something up ahead,” Statuedramon said. He spoke with a serious tone of voice, as if troubled or anxious.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

“Thomas…I smell blood.” Without warning, Statch took off, leaving the three of us behind.

“Statuedramon, wait up!” We began chasing after the Rookie Digimon, who we had nearly lost sight of until he came to a sudden halt. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“…Thomas…” Statuedramon slowly turned around to face us. His eyes were filled with tears; tears of true despair, which was an unusual sight for him. He lifted a trembling arm and pointed at a rather large tree. Lying down at the tree’s base was the unmoving body of Victoria, covered in stab wounds all up and down her stomach and chest.

“No…Victoria! VICTORIA!” I began running over to her when someone tightly gripped me arm.

“Thomas…you don’t need to see it up close,” Lector said.

“NO! LET ME GO! THAT’S MY MOTHER, DAMN IT!”

“Forget it, Thomas; this isn’t something you need to experience,” Lector said. “I will…give her a proper burial, Thomas.”

“Why you?! She’s my mother!!!”

“He’s right, Thomas,” Statuedramon said weakly. “She…needs to be buried before a scavenger gets to her…I don’t believe either of us has the strength or the willpower to do it as we are now…I doubt we ever will…”

“I promise I will not let anything happen to her,” Lector said. I couldn’t even look at him as he knelt down next to Victoria’s lifeless body and picked her up.

“Thomas…are you going to be okay?” Statuedramon asked. His words fell on deaf ears, though, and without any warning, I fell to the ground, unconscious, before Lector was out of sight.

I awoke with a start; the first thing I noticed was that my head was resting in Zelda’s lap. One of her hands was resting over my chest, and the other over my forehead. Everything else, however, was still a blur and difficult to make out.

“Statuedramon, he’s awake!” Looking straight up, I saw Zelda’s sapphire-blue eyes looking down at me, completely filled with worry and tearful sadness. In an instant, Statuedramon was by my side.

“Are you okay, buddy?” he asked.

“What happened…? Are we…still in the forest?”

“Yeah; you passed out from the shock of…of losing her before Lector even left. You’ve been out cold for about twenty minutes now,” Statuedramon said. The Rookie level Digimon sighed wearily. “Not that I blame you; I’m not feeling too good about it myself…Also, Lector hasn’t returned yet…”

“…What should we do?” I sat up and looked around the forest. It was the middle of the day, and yet I felt completely exhausted. With a sigh, I forced myself to stand up, with Zelda doing the same. “Should we…go back?”

“Thomas…I’m sorry…about what happened. She told me that she was going to look for Michalis…and I didn’t try to stop her…” Zelda said, and without warning, she immediately pulled me into a hug. It was surprising at first, but I soon hugged her back. It made me feel better, not only because of recent events, but…when it happened, I felt fulfilled, as if I had been waiting my entire life for this moment...for her embrace, for her warmth…“I, too, know the pain of losing one’s mother…and even though my mother was a cruel drunk, she was still my mother…” As enjoyable as her embrace was, I was caught completely off guard by it; she had always seemed too shy and meek to do anything of the sort before. She must have realized this, as she instantly pulled away from me, her face a brighter red than I had ever seen it. “You’re right, Thomas…we probably ought to head back; I’m sure Apollomon must be worried about us by now.”

“You’re taking off now? So, I guess it’s okay for us to show up now?” said a new voice.

“That voice…Magnus, is that you?!” Statch yelled.

“Yeah…look behind you.” The three of us turned around, seeing Magnus and Clive standing behind us. Magnus, however, looked somewhat forlorn compared to the overeager Clive. “I, uh…saw what happened to Victoria…”

“Was it you who killed her?!” I asked.

“No, it wasn’t us,” Clive said. “I’m a rapist, not a murderer, remember? And this guy uses an axe, not a knife! Jeez, pay attention!”

“Wait…you were here this whole time?! Why wait until now to show up?!” Statuedramon asked.

“We aren’t heartless, you know — well, I don’t know about Clive — but I am definitely not heartless,” Magnus said, ignoring Clive’s protest. “Victoria…she was one of our more dangerous enemies, but I never had any intention of killing her, and I may be the most lecherous and greedy person on Arcadia, but I take good care of my possessions. As the future ruler of Arcadia, I need people to like me; if they don’t, then they wouldn’t be there doin’ what I ask ‘em to, and what’s worse for the greedy than having nothing?”

“So, you waited to ambush us because you felt sorry for us?” Statuedramon asked. “…You’re actually a nice guy, aren’t you…?”

 “…Who killed her?” I asked.

“Hell, I’m not telling you,” Magnus said. “Just because I felt sorry for you and that woman doesn’t mean I’m going to rat out who did! But man, was I surprised by who it was, though…”

“Why are you here? Michalis isn’t here with us. Did you come to pay your respects or something?” Statch asked mockingly.

“No; actually, we came for her,” Magnus pointed at Zelda.

“What?! No! You aren’t taking our friend away!” Statch shouted. Magnus sighed.

“Do it, Clive.”

“With pleasure!”

“Sword of Dragon’s Soul!” Clive held up his hand just as Statch unleashed his attack; the sword projection immediately froze and crashed to the forest floor, shattering into millions of pieces. “Damn it; Sword of—” Before Statch could finish, a sheet of ice encased sprouted from the ground at his feet and froze him over up to his shoulders.

“Statuedramon!” I began running over to my friend, but before I could make it over to him, Magnus swung his large poleax and struck me across the back of the head with its handle. I fell to the ground, barely conscious.

“No, please! Don’t hurt them anymore!” Zelda pleaded. “They’ve been through enough already!”

“If you come with us willingly, we won’t have to,” Magnus said.

“Zelda…don’t go…we’ll be…fine…”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt by these two anymore; you’ve been through enough for today,” Zelda looked down at me. “Magnus…I will go with you. Please…don’t hurt my friends anymore.”

“As you wish, Milady,” Magnus said. “Please, follow us.”

“Zelda…wait!” I tried to pick myself up off the ground, but Clive glared at me, trapping my arms and legs in ice. I was completely pinned to the ground. I tried to force myself free from the ice as Magnus and Clive walked away with Zelda, but my entire head was beginning to ache from when Magnus attacked me, and before I knew it, I had passed out again. Statuedramon yelling was the last thing I heard.

Zelda

Magnus’s Hideout

2 Hours

 

“You’ve been a very cooperative kidnap victim; nice and quiet the entire time you’ve been here,” Magnus said. “Is there anything you’d like for me to do for you? Something to drink, perhaps?”

“…Why did you bring me here?” I whispered.

“Right to the point, huh? I like that,” Magnus said. “Well, as you may have guessed, I have no intention of letting Clive…you know…”

“You’re a lousy boss, you know that?!” Clive asked.

“And you can be replaced, you know that?” Magnus retorted. “Whatever; try to ignore that pervert over there. I brought you here because…well, you know what I am, right?”

“You’re a Bio Hybrid, aren’t you?” I asked.

“Exactly; it goes without saying that we Bio Hybrids are built a little differently on the inside than other Humans and Digimon,” Magnus said.

Oh no…does he—

“Now, being half Digimon, I’m able to…sense things about Humans and Digimon. Instinctively, I guess you could say. And right now, my instinct is telling me…you’re one of us.”

“W—What do you mean by that?” I asked. No…no…please don’t say it…

“What else could I mean? You’re a Bio Hybrid, aren’t you?”

Thomas Kasuto

 

“Hey, Thomas, how’re you feeling?” Statuedramon asked.

“My head’s still a little sore…Other than that…I don’t know what to think…”

“…Damn it, where the hell is Lector?!” Statch exclaimed. “Do you think he forgot about us or something?”

“No, I haven’t. Sorry it took me so long to get back…Just what in the name of all that is coated in chocolate happened to the two of you?!” Lector asked.

“Oh, well, while you were gone, we were ambushed by Clive and Lector again, and Clive…well, you know how he does things,” Statuedramon said. Lector sighed.

“Hang on; let me get you out of there.” Lector raised his spear and slammed the butt end of it onto the ice encasing each of our limbs, shattering it instantly.

“Thanks for the help! Come on, Thomas; we’ve got to find them!”

“Wait, where are you going?” Lector asked. “And where’s Zelda?”

“Magnus and Clive took off with her,” I said. “We need to find them as soon as possible!”

“Do you even know where he is?!” Lector asked.

“…Do you?” Statch asked. Lector sighed.

“A few eyewitness reports claim a pair of men matching the descriptions of Clive and Braig have been going in and out an abandoned warehouse a few blocks away from the prison behind us,” Lector said.

“Cool, thanks, buddy! C’mon, Thomas, let’s—”

“Wait just a minute! You’re just going to barge into his hideout? Just the two of you?” Lector asked.

“Are you coming with us?” Statch asked.

“I…I just don’t think it’s a good idea to go in general,” Lector said. “What if it’s a trap?! What if that isn’t really the location of his hideout?!”

“Even if it isn’t his hideout, we still have to try! I am not going to just leave Zelda there with those two!” I said. Especially not Clive! Just the thought of what that man did made me feel enraged. I pulled myself together quickly, and reminded myself that Zelda would undoubtedly have it worse than I.

“Are you coming with us?” Statch asked once more. After a short silence, Lector sighed.

“You two…go on ahead. There’s something I need to take care of,” Lector said.

“All right; we’ll see you there,” I said.

Zelda

 

“You are a Bio Hybrid, aren’t you?” Magnus asked.

“…Huh?” Really?! A…Bio Hybrid?! I almost laughed at the absurdity of his question.

“Please tell me you are!” Magnus said. Towering over me, he gave the impression that he could easily snap me in half with his bare hands; his large physique made me feel so tiny, and even smaller and helpless than I probably already was.

“…I…wish I could tell you I was,” I said. At least then, I would have a good excuse…

“Are you sure you aren’t?” Without warning, Magnus leaned down and sniffed me.

“Magnus, what the hell are you doing?!” Clive asked.

“…She’s right. She’s definitely not a Bio Hybrid,” Magnus said. “But she is…something…I just have no idea what that something might be…”

“Clive…I sense something coming…”

“Magnus, my shadow says he senses something coming,” Clive said.

“For the last time, I am NOT—”

“I can hear your shadow perfectly fine from over here, Clive,” Magnus said.

“I am NOT his fucking shadow! I just live in his shadow until I’m strong enough to leave! Why does nobody freaking understand that?!”

“Damn it, it’s probably Thomas and Statuedramon,” Magnus said. “I knew I should’ve incapacitated them myself!”

“Hey, I didn’t think they would get out of the ice I trapped them in! It’s not supposed to melt on its own!”

“The ice you trapped them in? That’s my ice you’re using!” Clive and Magnus continued arguing with Clive’s shadow, and they didn’t even notice when the only doors to the room we were in opened. Thomas and Statuedramon snuck past the two men and quietly made their way over to me. Unfortunately, before they got to me, they were noticed by Magnus.

“See what you did, Clive?! This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t frozen them, you idiot! I freaking told you ice melts!” Magnus yelled.

“I said I was sorry!”

“Well, you two have fun arguing with each other; we’re just going to take our friend back with us,” Statuedramon said.

“I’m afraid that ain’t going to happen,” Magnus brandished his large poleaxe, firmly gripping its handle. “Clive…get her out of here.”

“Where should I take her?”

“…Take her…to Cyclamen City. I’ve heard that place has been abandoned ever since the bandits that overran it were all killed,” Magnus said. “The less people around to see an escaped convict like you, the better.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Oh, and Clive…don’t you even think of doing to her what you did to Victoria,” Magnus said. “If you do — and I will know if you do — I personally will tear your head off with my bare hands. Have I made myself understood?”

“Y—Yes sir!” Clive said nervously.

Thomas Kasuto

 

“You aren’t going anywhere with her!” I dashed toward Clive, but Magnus swung his poleaxe and struck me across the back, making me fall down to the floor. Clive forcefully grabbed Zelda’s arm and pulled her out of the room, but before he left, he snapped his fingers. My legs became trapped in ice, and when I tried to squirm my way out of it, Magnus laughed. Clive slammed the only doors of the room shut, and they, too, became covered in ice.

“If you want to get out of that ice…you’ll have to try a lot harder…like this!” Magnus swung his arm and struck the ice covering my legs with the blade of his axe. The ice immediately shattered; Statuedramon and I made a run for the doors, but Magnus leapt over us, landing himself between us and the doors. “If you want to get through these doors…if you want to find your friend…you’ll have to work your way past me! I’ve been itchin’ ta’ fight the both of you for a while now, ever since I heard you killed an Ultimate Digimon like Etemon!” Magnus reached into his pocket and pulled out a Digivice, sky blue in color. “Bio Hybrid DNA Charge!” Magnus became in a blindingly gleaming light that shined across the entire room. “Bio Hybrid Digivolve to, BioBlastmon!”

Chapter 35: Origin's End

Michalis

Valencian Prison, Yew

 

“You, my child, are a Bio Hybrid.”

“W…What?! You mean…I’m like Magnus?”

“Ah, so you are familiar with the term; good, that simplifies things,” Sephyrus said. Without any explanation, the man handed me a simple and ordinary-looking knife and a strange device. “Hold onto them; you may need them to protect yourself.”

“What? I don’t underst—”

“That woman, Victoria,” Sephyrus interrupted. “She doesn’t love you. She doesn't want you. She never wanted you; you were just the result of a tragic rape. Why would she want to keep something that reminded her of such an event? She was very pleased when they took you away to that lab...where they turned you into what you are now.”

“She...doesn't want me? She doesn't love me?” I asked.

“Correct; in fact, once you were gone, she soon replaced you with another child,” Sephyrus said. “One whom she truly loves and treats as her own...one who is not related to her by blood, but one whom she loves even more than a child who does.”

“No! You don't mean that! You can't mean that!” I yelled as tears began to well in my eyes.

“I only state the truth,” Sephyrus said. “Whether or not you believe it...that is up to you, Michalis. I’m quite sure she’s tried to replace you many times, in fact.”

“Shut up! Stop lying! Victoria…she…she loves me,” I said quietly. “I’m her son…”

“Yes, you are her son, but that does not mean she wanted you in the first place, as I’ve already explained to you. What may appear to be love and affection to you…is nothing more than a feigned emotion she feels she must show out of some sense of responsibility she clearly does not possess.”

Zelda

 

As Thomas, Statuedramon, and Lector began attacking Magnus, who quickly and nimbly dodged each swing of their blades, Clive wiped the blood off his face and looked at his hand, glaring angrily when he saw how much blood he had lost.

“You’ll pay for that!” The floor around Renamon and me slowly and gradually became covered in ice, and just before the ice reached my feet, Clive was shoved to the ground by Victoria. The ice receded back into Clive’s shadow.

“You okay?” Victoria asked.

“Yes, I’m fine…Thank you, Victoria,” I said.

“Hey, don’t worry about it; I’m happy to help protect you. You’re a very important person to Thomas, after all,” Victoria said, turning to leave. “I’ll be back as soon as I find Michalis!”

“Shall we?” Renamon asked me as Victoria walked off.

“Yes…we need to help our friends,” I nodded.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment; Diamond Storm!”

Michalis

 

“I don’t…I don’t believe you!” I shouted.

“As I’ve said, it does not matter to me whether or not you believe me,” Sephyrus said. “However, if it is the truth you seek…then you would do well to remember my words. That woman…she does not love you, and yet she is forcing herself into your life. The only way for you to be truly free…is for her to go away. Permanently. The only one who truly knows what is best for you…the only person who knows the real you, Michalis…is me. I’m the only one you can trust right now.”

“Michalis! Michalis, where are you?!” Victoria’s voice called out from around the corner of a wall. I turned around just in time to see her come running up to me. I briefly turned around, and when I did, the man calling himself Sephyrus was nowhere to be seen.

Where did he go?

“Oh, Michalis! Oh, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Victoria, sobbing, pulled me into a tight hug. “Why did you run off like that?!”

“I’m sorry…M—Mother,” I said. “If I had stayed there…Magnus would’ve kept hurting you…and Thomas…”

“Michalis…we have to get out of here,” Victoria said, finally releasing me from her choking but comfortingly warm embrace. “There’s an exit that way; come on, let’s hurry!” Victoria grabbed my arm and led me out of the door, and at long last, out of the cold, terrifying prison. “We have to hide somewhere…”

“Mother…there’s a forest over there,” I pointed.

“A forest right here? This wasn’t a good place to build a prison,” Victoria commented. “Well, it’ll do; come on!”

Thomas Kasuto

 

“Damn it…this is taking too long!” Magnus sighed, continuing to dodge my and Statuedramon’s swords, as well as Lector’s spear. “Clive…I think we need to go. This probably wasn’t the best idea; I didn’t think these three would be showing up to help out! I thought it would just be the knights we would have to deal with!”

“You’re making us retreat again?!” Clive asked.

“Just for now; I promise, this will be the last time!” Magnus said.

“We won’t let you escape!” Lector said, thrusting his lance into Magnus’s chest; the tip of the spear shattered into hundreds of pieces as, at the moment, Magnus’s chest had turned from flesh to pale blue, crystal gemstones.

“See you later!” Magnus and Clive escaped through the hole in the wall they had earlier created. We had attempted to follow them, but Clive sealed off their exit by covering it in ice.

“Damn it; now what?!” Lector asked. He punched the ice with his gauntlet-covered fist, but accomplished nothing but apparently injure his wrist.

“We have to find Victoria,” I said.

“Oh, yeah; where did she go?” Statch asked.

“She went to find Michalis,” Zelda said. “She went down that way; come on!”

“You coming, Lector?” I asked.

“I think that would be best; if any other knights find you, it would be problematic,” Lector said, and we all began to follow Zelda through the straightforward hallways of the prison.

Michalis

 

“You...are really my mother…aren’t you?” I asked.

“Yes...though it's been eighteen years, I am certain you are my child,” Victoria said as we headed deeper and deeper into the woods behind the prison we had just broken out of. “I'm so glad...I'm so happy we can finally be together again, Michalis...and now, all of us can live together as a family...”

“All of us?” I asked, slightly puzzled.

“Yes; you, me, Thomas, Statuedramon...and based on the way things are going, maybe even Zelda…” As she spoke, Sephyrus's words echoed in my mind.

She doesn't love you. She was happy you were taken. She tried to replace you...

“Also…one other,” Victoria interrupted my thoughts. “It’s probably too early to see, but...” Victoria turned to the side and placed her hands around her belly, which had a very small, almost unnoticeable bulge I didn’t see earlier. “In a few months, you're going to have a little brother or sister!” Victoria smiled down gently at her stomach, gently caressing it.

She's replacing me...again?! For reasons I could not explain, I felt myself growing angrier and angrier by the second…but why? Did I believe what Sephyrus said to me earlier? I am not sure…

“Give me your hand; you need to feel this!” Victoria excitedly reached out for my hand, which she placed on her stomach. It was quite soft, and the small amount of skin of her belly I could feel was smooth and pleasant to the touch. For a split second, I felt the anger I felt earlier disappear for it to be replaced momentarily with wonder, curiosity, amazement… “The baby’s father left when he found out I was pregnant. I was sad at first, which was I went to find Thomas about a week or two ago. When I found him and Statuedramon…I felt all that sadness go away…” At this point, my anger returned.

She went to find him…she didn’t even bother to look for me! Was…was Sephyrus right?

“I had almost forgotten what it was like…to carry life inside of me like this,” Victoria said.

“Was I…like that once too?” I asked.

“Yes, you were,” Victoria smiled gently. “After nine months of carrying you around in my tummy, you were born…and you were…taken away from me…”

“You…were you happy they took me away?!”

“What?! Michalis, what kind of question is that?!”

“Why would any mother want a baby like me around to remind them of what happened to them?!”

“Oh…Michalis, please try to understand; what happened to me will haunt me for the rest of my life. I admit, I was scared when I first found out I was pregnant with you; I was only about sixteen at the time. But with each passing month, as my stomach grew larger and more round before my eyes, I was so…happy. I felt truly blessed to have you in my belly…when they took you away, I just…I couldn’t stop crying. Even after I found Thomas and Statuedramon, I cried every day thinking about what they said. They had told me you died…I never got the chance to cradle you in my arms, Michalis…” As Victoria spoke, tears began streaming down her lovely face. “Michalis…I love you…”

What may appear to be love and affection to you…is nothing more than a feigned emotion she feels she must show out of some sense of responsibility she clearly does not possess. Sephyrus’s words continued to ring in my ears. I couldn’t take it anymore. She does not love you, and yet she is forcing herself into your life. The only way for you to be truly free…is for her to go away. Permanently. My mind snapped; everything seemed to be a total blur, and my body seemed to move on its own, as if someone else was in control of me. In spite of this, I was completely aware of what was happening; my hand reached for the knife Sephyrus had earlier given me, the blade of which found itself stuck in Victoria’s chest. Victoria opened her mouth to scream; whether no sound escaped past her lips, or I just couldn’t hear anything, I am unsure. Her blood flew through the air as I — or whoever was in control of my body — continued to stab her over and over, creating stab wounds all over her chest and her belly…she had stopped moving a long time ago, and yet, I continued to stab. I continued to stab until all of the anger inside of me vanished. I was left alone, standing in the middle of the woods, holding the bloody knife as I looked at Victoria’s unmoving and unbreathing body.

“Sephyrus…this is what you wanted me to do…right?”

“Well…I can’t speak for Sephyrus…” The voice startled me, and I turned around, holding up the knife, prepared to stab whoever spoke. “You did a wonderful job, killing her.”

“Who are you?!” I asked.

“Just call me Abigail,” the woman said. “You’re ready to come with us. Michalis…our most advanced Bio Hybrid…even more advanced than Magnus…come with me…” Abigail held out her hand, and to my surprise, I took it, without even knowing where she would take me.

Chapter 34: Kinship's Bond

Victoria Kasuto

Valencian Prison, Yew

5 Minutes

 

This place is pretty big; if I’m not careful, I’ll get lost. I carefully glanced around the corner of a wall, sighing with relief when I saw nobody. As long as nobody notices me, I’ll be fine. I just need to find Michalis as soon as possible, and then we can go back to Thomas and Apollomon… I carefully looked inside each prison cell I passed by, ignoring the flirting and wolf whistles of the prisoners inside. Where is Michalis?! Where have they taken him?!

“Vic…toria…?” Michalis’s voice weakly resonated from a nearby cell.

“Michalis! Oh, I’m so glad you’re alright!” I ran up to the cell to see Michalis barely standing up, his hands weakly grasped around two of the bars of the cell’s door.

“Victoria…you came…back for me…”

“Michalis, are you okay?! They didn’t hurt you, did they?!” I asked.

“…No…I’m fine,” Michalis said. “…Are you going to get me out of here?”

I nodded.

“But…how?”

“Very easily.” I gently brushed my fingers against the back of his hand before reaching for my sword, which I used to slice cleanly through the door’s lock. “Come on; we have to hurry before the knights catch up to us!” I tightly gripped Michalis’s arm and began frantically searching for the door. “…There it is! We’re getting out of here, Michalis!”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.” Before I had reached the exit, the heavy footsteps and the loud, echoing clang produced by a person walking in a heavy suit of armor gradually approached me. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m going to have to ask you to release the child,” Lector said.

“And exactly how do you plan on making you do that?!” I turned to face the large man, sighing inwardly with relief when I saw that he was alone. “If you had brought a few other soldiers with you, you may have stood a chance against me. But alone? There’s no way you’ll be taking him away from me.” My hand reached for the door just as a massive lance struck the wood just inches away from my hand. The lance strike made the door completely jam shut; escape was impossible.

“Please…just hand Michalis over,” Lector said.

“Michalis…stand back.” I tightly gripped the hilt of my sword and pointed the tip of its blade between Lector’s eyes. “This could get ugly.”

“Victoria, stop!” Thomas’s voice echoed through the empty hallway of the prison. Statuedramon and Zelda stood behind him.

How’d he find us so quickly?

“Don’t do this! Just allow Lector to take Michalis with him, and it can be over with!”

“…How can you say that, Thomas?! Do you have any idea who Michalis is?!” I yelled. Thomas and Statuedramon stared blankly at me. I had even surprised myself; not once had I ever raised my voice to either of them.

“It doesn’t matter who he is,” Lector said. “He has committed a crime, and it is my job as a knight to deal with him.”

“No…please! Michalis…he’s my son.” Thomas, Statuedramon, and Zelda stared back at me in disbelief; I heard Michalis gasp with surprise; Lector, however, didn’t show any sign of astonishment, or any emotions at all. “Nineteen years ago…I was raped by a man named Clive. Nine months later, I gave birth to a small baby boy, only to have him taken away before I could hold him. That baby…had brown hair, the same color as mine, and an x-shaped birthmark on the back of his right hand…just like Michalis.”

“That means nothing,” Lector said. “Surely, there must be hundreds of children Michalis’s age that fit that description.”

“No! Michalis is my son!” I shouted. “He doesn’t have any memory of having any kind of family because he’s been locked up in that laboratory all his life! He…he couldn’t have done…he couldn’t have…”

“Victoria. The only thing that matters is that Michalis has committed a crime, and now he must face his punishment,” Lector said. “Michalis will be coming with me!”

“That’s where you’re wrong, big guy.” Without any warning, the wall behind Lector caved in. Clive walked into the hallway first, and was followed by Magnus. “That kid’s going to have to come with us, I’m afraid,” Magnus said.

“You…who are you?!” Lector shouted.

“Never thought I’d be back in a prison,” Clive sighed, sounding obviously displeased with his predicament.

“Quit complaining,” Magnus said.

“Your arms…what’s wrong with them?!” Statuedramon asked, gazing at Magnus.

“You’re a Bio Hybrid, aren’t you?” Thomas asked.

“Yes, I am,” Magnus looked down at his arms; they were much larger than they had been yesterday, and were encased in gauntlets covered with gemstones. “I guess you could say I’m somewhat of a more advanced Bio Hybrid than Abigail or Adrian; I’m able to turn only certain parts of my body into that of my Digimon form at any time I want. These arms you see right now are the arms of my Digimon form!”

“Enough idle chatter; state your business at once!” Lector barked.

“I already told you, old man; we’re taking that kid with us, and you ain’t going to be able to stop us,” Magnus said.

“I bet you never would have realized it was us who sent you that false report that Michalis did something bad,” Clive said.

“CLIVE!”

“Wait…that was…you…who gave us that information?” Lector asked. “You lied to my superior officers about what that child did…they were going to make me end an innocent child’s life for nothing?!”

“You tried to have my son taken away from me?!” I glared angrily at the two.

“Damn it, Clive,” Magnus shook his head. “Well, whatever; if there’s anything you can do about it, just try and stop us!”

“Time to start earning my pay!” Clive placed his hand on the crumbled remains of the wall he and Magnus had just destroyed, and instantly, it became completely covered in ice.

“Well, it looks like we’ve picked one hell of a bad time to show up,” Statuedramon said. “Apollomon is not going to like this…”

“Worrying about our futures can come after making sure there is one,” Thomas said. “Time for the two of us to do what we do best!”

“Sure…go ahead and fight us. That is…if you think you can win,” Magnus said. “Remember who you’re dealing with, here. I’m a Bio Hybrid; I don’t go down so easily.”

He’s not looking; now’s my chance! While Magnus was speaking to Thomas, I ran up to him and swung my blade at his back.

“You fool…you really think I’d be dumb enough to have my back turned without protecting it?!” Magnus turned to face me just as my sword’s blade split in two.

“What?! But…how?! Just what are you?!”

“You really want to see what I can turn into?” Magnus asked, reaching into his pocket.

“Magnus, don’t! This place isn’t big enough for you to do that!” Clive said.

“Ah, you’re right; apologies, Victoria. It seems I’ll have to show you later.” Magnus looked behind me over at Michalis. “Well…now that your sword’s broken, there doesn’t seem to be anything stopping me from taking that kid. You were, after all, our biggest threat, Victoria. A pretty cute threat, but a threat nonetheless.”

“To use your words…that’s where you’re wrong!” Lector removed his lance from the door and thrust it into the wall between Michalis and Magnus.

“Oh, come on; do you really think you can stop me?! If Saias were here, he could have stopped me, but you?! You don’t stand a chance!”

“Sword of Dragon’s Soul!” A transparent projection was released from Statuedramon’s sword, striking Magnus in the side of the head. “Victoria, take Michalis and go! We’ll handle things here!” I quickly grabbed Michalis’s arm and began running for the door once again.

“Oh, no; I didn’t let you get away last time, and I won’t let you do it this time!” Clive’s shadow extended over the door, and it too became covered in a thick layer of ice. “Come on…scream for me, bitch. Just once, I’d like to hear what that sounds like…”

Should I tell him? Maybe that would distract him long enough for me to…No…no, he doesn’t deserve to know Michalis is his son!

“Come forth, Renamon!”

“Power Paw!” The astral form of Renamon suddenly appeared, kicking Clive across the face, sending the man crashing into the wall, his face a mess of minor burns and blood.

“Victoria, are you okay?” Zelda asked.

“Yes…yes, I’m okay…” My heart was still beating rapidly, and I was trying my best not to think of Clive, and of what he did to me.

“Hey…where did Michalis go?” Lector suddenly asked. My heart skipped a beat as I looked all over the hallway; Michalis was nowhere to be seen.

Michalis

 

All that fighting…if anybody were to get hurt, it would be my fault. Victoria…she came here to save me…if she got hurt…if she got hurt…I was looking steadily down at the floor as I ran, and though I was running aimlessly through the prison, I felt as though I knew where exactly I was going. But how? How do I know where I’m going? No, never mind that; I just have to get away from everybody…if Victoria finds me again…she’ll be hurt for sure!

“You look as though you are in need of assistance.” I looked up and saw a strange man. His very presence disturbed me…and yet, his presence seemed to calm me down, as well.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“You may call me Sephyrus, my child,” the man said. He spoke calmly and gently, and his eyes were filled with patience and understanding. “I know who you are, Michalis. And…I know what you are.”

“What I…am? I’m a Human…aren’t I?”

“No, Michalis. You, my child, are a Bio Hybrid.”

Chapter 33: False Information

Thomas Kasuto

Saias’s Villa

 

“We are placing this man under arrest,” Lector’s grip tightened on Michalis’s wrist. The boy attempted to pull himself free, but the large and imposing knight pulled him out of the villa.

“Wait, Lector, why are you doing this?!” Apollomon and I ran after the knight, and Apollomon grabbed his arm.

“I’m sorry, Apollomon, Thomas,” Lector said. “This…child is wanted for the murders of countless individuals throughout Valencia.”

“What?! That…that can’t be…” Apollomon let go of Lector’s arm. His own arm fell limply to his side.

“I have no such memory of doing so!” Michalis protested. Lector stared long and hard at the boy.

“…Be that as it may, I must do my job,” Lector said. “Your trial awaits. Now, please stop attempting to free yourself; it’ll make it easier on the both of us.”

“Wait, Lector! Please, don’t take him away!” I shouted.

“Please, I’ll take full responsibility for—”

“I’m afraid I cannot let you do that, my friend.” Lector turned away from Apollomon. “This boy needs to pay for his crimes, of which you are not guilty, Apollomon. If…you need to contact me, I will be at the prison in Yew; pay me a visit there if there’s anything you need.”

“There must be some mistake!” I said. “Surely, Michalis is not the person you are after!”

“I have been told he is a brown-haired individual, roughly your size, Thomas,” Lector said. “Furthermore…the individual was last seen accompanying you and your friends, Thomas, and I reasoned to the other knights that he was deceiving you so they wouldn’t think you would be harboring a wanted criminal. Now, if you will all excuse me…”

“Halt!” Victoria shouted.

“…Do you need something?” Lector asked.

“I cannot allow you to take him away!” Victoria brandished her sword and rested its blade over Lector’s shoulder, next to his neck. “Michalis has done nothing wrong! I will not let you ruin his life for something he has not even thought about doing!”

“…I’m sorry…” Lector began walking away, dragging the unwilling Michalis with him.

“Wait!” Victoria started to run after him.

“Victoria, enough,” Apollomon said after tightly grasping her arm. “I don’t like it any more than you, but that man…he would never harm anyone who was truly innocent. For him to take Michalis away like this…he must have done what Lector said he did.”

“No…he…he wouldn’t have,” Victoria began sobbing. “He couldn’t have…he…” Lector was soon out of sight, leaving the three of us alone on the villa’s porch. Apollomon’s grip loosened around Victoria’s arm, and the distraught woman fell weakly to her knees. Seeing the woman who had raised me in such a way made me feel a jumbled group of emotions. Rage, pity, desperation…all of the emotions I felt for Victoria left me feeling more confused than anything.

“Come on…let’s go back inside,” Apollomon said. Victoria didn’t budge. Apollomon sighed and walked into the villa. As I prepared to do the same, Victoria looked up at me, her face wet with tears.

“I’m going,” she whispered. I stared blankly at her for a moment until I realized what she meant. I opened my mouth to protest, but Victoria placed her finger over my lips. “Please…let me go. I know he has done nothing wrong…” As she spoke, I looked into her eyes; they look so determined, so…passionate…I, begrudgingly, nodded slowly, and Victoria smiled and pulled me into a warm, comforting hug. “I promise…I will be back…I will be back as soon as possible…” Victoria gently pressed her soft lips against my forehead before letting go of me to leave. As she left, her long, beautiful hair flew out behind her, and as it did, a disquieting thought entered my mind.

Her hair…it’s the exact same shade of brown that Michalis’s is…

Magnus

Magnus’s Hideout (Unknown Location)

 

“That was an interesting story you fed to those knights,” Clive said. Once again, he sat perched atop a pile of empty crates. “Do you think they’ll believe it?”

“I hope so,” I said. “It’ll be easier to take the kid away from the knights than the mercenary guild.” I lay on my back on the cold, hard floor of my hideout, looking up at the plain, white ceiling. The lights were flickering, and in need of replacement.

“When should we go?” Clive asked.

“Hmm…knowing how eager-to-please-the-higher-ups those knights are…” I sat up and picked up my axe from the ground next to me. “They could have found him by now. Any minute now, they should be locking him up in that prison you were in before I found you.”

“That was a military prison; arrested civilians are taken to the one right next door,” Clive said.

“Well, whatever,” I said. “Either way, we shall leave within the hour.”

Thomas Kasuto

Saias’s Villa

5 Minutes

 

Apollomon and I had been sitting quietly in the living room ever since Victoria left, silently pondering what had just happened.

“I haven’t seen Victoria since Michalis was taken away. I do hope she’s all right,” Apollomon said, his sudden words breaking the disquieting and awkward silence. “She did seem quite fond of him…”

“She’ll be okay,” I said. I can’t imagine why she’d go so far out of her way to help this complete stranger…though, I suppose if she wasn’t that kind of person, I would never have met her…

“Do you happen to know where she is right now, Thomas?” Apollomon asked.

“Uh…last time I saw her, she was on the porch…” Damn it, he’s already getting suspicious?! Just what the hell goes on inside that head of his?! I could practically feel Apollomon’s intense gaze during the silence that followed my response.

“Thomas…what would you say if I were to say that I think you know where Victoria is?” Apollomon continued to stare at me.

“I…I’m not sure what you mean, sir,” I said. My eyes shifted around the large room nervously. Forget about suspicious, he already fucking knows! But…how?!

“What would you say if I said I thought, hypothetically, that Victoria chased after Lector to break Michalis out of prison?” Apollomon asked.

“…How did you find out?” I asked.

“Oh, I knew the entire time,” Apollomon smirked. “I could see how…affectionate she was for Michalis; almost in the same way a mother would be to her own children. I knew that once Lector told me that he was taking Michalis away, based on what I observed from her behavior toward the boy, that Victoria would immediately begin chasing after him.”

“Why did you wait until now to tell me?” I asked.

“I suppose I just assumed she would be back by now,” Apollomon shrugged. “Since she hasn’t returned yet, I can only gather that she had to follow Lector all the way to the prison to get him.”

“You thought she might be able to catch up to Lector before they got to Yew?”

“Always a possibility,” Apollomon said defensively. “Well, anyway, do you think—”

“I’ll go after her,” I said.

“Take Zelda and Statuedramon with you,” Apollomon said. “Now, no matter what happens, do not allow her to fight any Valencian Knights; if she does, she could end up endangering every last one of us.”

“Understood, sir,” I said. I knew well that if Victoria were to fight the knights, that she would emerge victorious. That wasn’t what had me worried. If anybody saw her coming back here with Michalis, the Valencian Knights would have us captured in no time, and even with Apollomon on our side, there’s no way we could last forever…

“Also…while you’re there…” Apollomon’s voice trailed away.

“If I find Irene or SlashAngemon, I promise I’ll bring them back with me,” I said. “It won’t be like with Adrian back when you sent us to Mandrake Town; I’ll make them come back with me, sir.”

“Thank you,” Apollomon said. “Make sure you all come back safely.” I nodded as I left the room to find Zelda and Statch.

Chapter 32: Midnight Confessions

Thomas Kasuto

En Route to Saias’s Villa

40 Minutes

 

During our entire trip back to the villa, nobody said a word. “Apollomon is going to be so disappointed that we weren’t able to find Irene and SlashAngemon,” Statuedramon said, finally breaking the silence.

“But it is possible that they’re still alive,” I said. “They may not be with us at the moment, but as long as there’s that possibility, Apollomon won’t give up, and neither will I.”

“It’s also possible that they’ve returned while we’ve been gone,” Zelda said.

“I don’t know; I just…don’t feel right about all of this,” Statuedramon said. “Michalis, are you absolutely certain that our friends couldn’t have been taken to any secret area of that laboratory before it froze over?”

“The knights that always accompanied the scientists that kept me locked up in that place…they were rather unintelligent,” Michalis said. The young man was having difficulty walking, so Victoria had placed his arm over her shoulders to assist him. “If there was any secret area of the lab…the knights would not have known about it. Your friends, the knights, they all would’ve been with the scientists keeping watch over me. That I am sure of.”

“If you say so,” Statuedramon said as Saias’s Villa gradually came into view. “Well, anyway, Michalis, this is where we’re living, albeit temporarily.”

“Are you sure it’s fine that I stay with you?” Michalis asked.

“Of course it is!” Statch exclaimed. “What kind of mercenary guild would we be if we saw someone who needed help, and didn’t give it to them?”

“You’re obviously unwell, and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you,” Victoria said. “I’ve been told that I have a habit of adopting and mothering orphans…” Victoria looked over at me.

“Oh, and don’t mind our boss,” Statuedramon said. “He looks big and scary, but he’s actually a pretty nice guy, and…I believe that’s him standing on the villa’s porch!”

“He doesn’t look too happy,” I said. “Of course, that’s normal for him, but even still…” After a moment, the five of us made it to the villa.

“Uh…I take it SlashAngemon and Irene didn’t arrive while we were gone,” Statuedramon said. Apollomon sighed.

“I was afraid you’d say something like that…” the tall Mega Digimon rested his forehead in the palm of his hand. “They weren’t there, were they…”

“Perhaps not, but I believe they may have never been at Braig’s lab in the first place,” I said. “The place was completely iced over. According to this man, Michalis, anyone who touched the ice would have been instantly killed.”

“Killed?! Then…then they…” Apollomon sat down in a nearby chair and buried his face in his hands. “Irene and SlashAngemon…are they…”

“I do not believe they were at the lab at the time it was frozen over,” I continued. “If they had been, I have no doubt that they’d have been able to escape with ease; Michalis here was a test subject for the scientists inside, weakened from hunger and pain, and yet, even he was able to escape.”

“Yeah…I guess so,” Apollomon murmured. “But if they weren’t there, where did the knights take them?”

“That’s another thing I’d like to mention,” I said. “I’m not entirely sure of this, but I believe it to be highly likely; the note saying that knights had taken our friends had perfectly legible handwriting, did it not?” Apollomon looked up at me, his eyes wide with shock.

“Of course; why didn’t I think of that earlier?!” Apollomon asked, smiling wide. “The only knights I can think of that would have legible handwriting are Saias and Lector, and neither of them would do anything that was written on that note!”

“While I believe that to be the case, Sir, I must ask; is it not possible that there may be some knights who have at least decent handwriting?” I asked. Apollomon’s smile faded. “I know there is little evidence to go on, but I have a very strong feeling that it was not the knights who sent that note. Maybe it’s just that I don’t want to believe what that note said, but this feeling I have is really strong.”

“I understand,” Apollomon said. “As long as there’s a small chance that they’re alive, I can rest easy. I will not give up.” Apollomon stood up and clasped his hands over my shoulders. “Thank you, Thomas; I know that your instincts about such things are hardly ever wrong. Now, you, young man,” Apollomon looked over at Michalis. “What was your name again?”

“I’m…Michalis, sir…” Victoria had helped the young man sit down on a chair near Apollomon. “As Thomas said, I was a test subject of the madmen working at that laboratory; I’ve been there for as long as I can remember…”

“You are more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you need,” Apollomon smiled warmly at Michalis. “Or forever, if you wish.”

“Yes…sir…”

“Now, I’m sure you must be starving, having been locked up for all that time,” Apollomon said. “I’ll lead you to the kitchen and fix you whatever you’d like; how does that sound?”

“That sounds…great…” Michalis gave Apollomon a weak smile as Victoria helped him stand up. Apollomon led them and Statuedramon into the villa, leaving Zelda and me on the porch. As the others left, I looked down steadily at the wood-plank floor of the porch.

“Are you okay?” Zelda asked.

“Wha—? Oh, no, I’m…fine,” I said. “I was just…thinking…”

“Whatever you were thinking about looked like it was troubling you,” Zelda said. “What were you thinking about? You can tell me.”

“It was…about Michalis; I just think…Victoria might be trusting him a little too much and too easily,” I said. “He said he was able to escape from the lab before it was frozen over, right?” Zelda nodded. “He said that it was frozen over pretty fast, and that it killed all the scientists that were about to work on him, and yet he was somehow able to escape, and he barely has the strength to move without Mothe — without Victoria helping him walk.”

“You’re right!” Zelda said quietly. “But then…how did he escape? Was he even in the lab in the first place?”

“Also, while we were there last night, I fought a Digimon named Andromon — he said he used to be a Human.” Zelda was gazing intently at me. “He was brought to the lab against his will and turned into a Digimon; whoever did it was trying to make a Bio Hybrid like Garret, but they failed, and he was turned into Andromon.”

“…What are you saying?” Zelda asked.

“All I’m saying is…there might be more to that boy than what meets the eye, and whether he knows it or not, he…might be different from us.”

“And if he is? Should it be something we ought to be worried about?” Zelda asked.

“Well…he does seem fine. Maybe a little distrusting of others, but he’s nothing like Abigail or the others,” I said. “But if he is…they might go after him. Or, he might even be working with them, and he’s just spying on us for them. Of course, this is all just speculation; he could be just what he said. Either way, we need to keep our eyes on him; for now, at least.”

“Okay. If I see him doing anything strange, I’ll come to you immediately,” Zelda said.

“Thank you, Zelda.”

Zelda

 

All the other members of the guild had retired to their bedrooms for the night, and most of their lights were turned off. All except for one room. I slowly and quietly tiptoed over to that room, and quietly knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Victoria’s voice said. I opened the door and walked in. Victoria sat alone in her room, on her bed. She was smiling at me as I quietly closed the door behind me. She had taken her long, black coat off, which was folded neatly on her bed next to her. She wore only her red halter top, leaving her belly and shoulders exposed, and her matching, knee-length skirt. Like me, she was also barefoot.

“Um…How’s Michalis?” I asked.

“He’s fine, sweetie. He’s sleeping on a couch in the living room,” Victoria replied. “Seems like he’s going to be okay, too.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!”

“Yes; I’m quite happy he decided to let us help him,” Victoria sighed. “…Was there…something else you needed?”

“Oh…um…I was wondering…if you could tell me…” I could feel my face heat up and redden. “Could you tell me…what Thomas was like…when he was younger?” Victoria smiled at me.

“Of course, dear,” she said. She sighed happily and looked up at the ceiling. “When I met him…it was in Cyclamen City…”

~~~

Victoria

 

I had been visiting Cyclamen City for the first time. I was only about twenty or so at the time. This small child was following me. At the time, I didn’t know why, though…I was trying to leave the city as soon as possible because…well…You’ve been there before, right? You should know what I mean…

“...Why are you following me around, kid?” I asked.

“You aren’t from around here, right? I’m coming with you when you leave this city,” the boy said.

“Sorry. I travel alone. You should go home to your parents, little boy.”

“My parents are dead.” My heart skipped a beat. I turned to look at the boy, and he was gazing at me intently. I knew the second I saw those eyes that I would never forget them. They were so dark and full of life, but also...they were so piercing...like he was staring right into my soul. “If YOU don’t care about me, that's fine, but the least you could do is take me somewhere that isn’t here!” At this point, I had turned around, and knelt down right in front of him. I smiled gently at him.

“You must have been very sad when you found out about your parents,” I told him.

“N—No...they...they’re just like everyone else here,” he said. “Killing for no reason...that’s what it means to live here...”

“I'm sure your mommy and daddy only did what they did because they cared about you, their son.”

“...No. That’s the first rule of living here; care only for yourself. That’s how you succeed in a place like this.” I reached up and gently laid a hand over his cheek, and brushed some of his hair away. I knew right away...I couldn't just leave this child in a place like this. I had seen for myself exactly what he had described, and I was only passing through the city on my way home. I had to take him with me.

“You can come with me...if you’d like.” He looked down and away, as if frightened of me for some reason, or unwilling to trust me. It took me a while to realize it, but I knew what he was so afraid of; he didn't want to get close to me, and then lose me. “...A while ago...I lost my own son...So I know what it's like to lose everybody you know and care about...” I placed his tiny hand in mine. He flinched at first, but eventually relented, and wrapped his tiny little fingers around my thumb...just like my son did before he was taken from me. I pulled him into a hug, and he cried. I could only assume it was his first, and I'm guessing it was his last time, too. He cried — not because of losing his parents — but because he finally knew what it was like to have someone care about him.

~~~

Zelda

 

“Oh...Thomas...I...I didn't know,” I said in a shaky voice. Victoria smiled at me.

“You're very important to him, Zelda. He cares very much about you.”

“W—What? How…how can you tell?” I stammered. Victoria continued to smile kindly at me.

“I can tell from the way he spoke about you in the last letter I got from him before I came over here,” Victoria said.

“But…we only just met a few weeks ago, and…and…”

“And you feel the same way, too.”

“…Yes. I…Am I…falling…for him…?”

“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you,” Victoria said.

“…Never mind,” I shook my head.

“It’s really no surprise to me that he cares about you so much,” Victoria said. “I haven’t known you very long, Zelda…but you are, without a doubt, the kindest person I have ever seen…and he always did have an eye for beauty,” she added.

“…Thomas and Statuedramon said the same thing when I first started traveling with them,” Zelda said. “And…Thomas…did call me…beautiful…on several occasions…but…I don’t think…he’s…right…”

“Really? Why not?” I shrugged after a few seconds, and looked steadily down at the floor. “Well, I happen to think you are very pretty, Zelda. You don’t need to sell yourself so short.” Quietly, I shook my head, and I could feel myself beginning to blush once again. Victoria laughed quietly. “You know…you really are very adorable. And, with your style of clothing, you’ll have no problem working your way into his heart.”

“What do you…mean?” Suddenly, Thomas’s words rang inside my head. I could never say no to a girl with a bare midriff, was what he had said. “Oh…Oh! I…I thought he was…just kidding about that…” I tugged down on my shirt ever so slightly, feeling completely embarrassed.

“And yet…you have still chosen to wear your desert attire, after all this time,” Victoria smirked. “Were you maybe hoping he would notice you?”

“…Yes.” I smiled sadly.

“Well, don’t worry, sweetie. He’ll tell you eventually. I’m sure he’s just waiting because he’s worried it might be too soon,” Victoria said. “But, if you want to tell him…you could always use his “perpetual enamorment” to your advantage.” Victoria pointed at my exposed midriff.

“Oh…is that…ethical?”

Victoria shrugged. “I don’t see why not. How do you think I made him eat his veggies when he was ‘bout ten years old?” Victoria softly patted her stomach.

“But…aren’t you his mother?”

“Not by blood. I’m only his surrogate mother…a false mother…I’m sure he doesn’t even think of me as his real mother,” Victoria said sadly. This time, I smiled at her.

“Victoria…I heard him talk about you before when we visited Cyclamen,” I said. “He said, ‘As far as I’m concerned, Victoria Kasuto is my real mother.’ Trust me…he really believes that.”

“…Thank you, Zelda,” Victoria said. “It’s starting to get late…we should get to sleep.”

“Okay. Good night, Victoria.”

“Good night, Zelda. Sweet dreams.”

Thomas Kasuto

Early the Next Morning

 

After having slept for many hours, my peaceful, much-needed sleep was ended abruptly by the sound of somebody knocking loudly on the villa’s front doors. Annoyed at the sudden interruption, I crawled out of my bed and made my way through the dimly lit house to the front door, where I found Apollomon, Victoria, and Michalis speaking with Lector.

“Thomas…glad you could join us,” Apollomon said. It was evident that he had not fully awoken yet.

“What can we do for you, Lector?” I asked.

“I’m here on business,” Lector said, his face in an uncharacteristically serious scowl. “Eyewitness reports say that you and your friends found a young man with brown hair, roughly Thomas’s size, outside Braig’s laboratory yesterday afternoon; is this correct?”

Why would he need to know something like that? “We…may have found—”

“It is I who you ask about,” Michalis said. He was sounding a lot less weak, and he was able to stand without Victoria’s help. Without warning, Lector reached out and grabbed Michalis’s gaunt arm, then forcibly yanked him out of the villa.

“Lector, what are you doing?!” Apollomon asked.

“I apologize for my abruptness, Sir Apollomon,” Lector said. “We are placing this man under arrest.”