246 43 Surprise

"Now!" Rick cried out. As more enemies came pouring out near the entrance. The rest of the group came charging out from behind the bushes. Rick cut through a few of the enemies with ease. "Sena!" Abbey cried as drew her sword, running in front of her. She began panting. "I knew you'd be reluctant..." she said, between breaths. "But!" Sena yelled. "I need to be of use somehow!" She cried out. "If you wanna be of use," Keren began. "Shut that pretty mouth of yours and throw punches!" She shouted. Sena gave a determined nod. "Chris!" Rick shouted. "Yo!" He replied. "How ya holdin' up with Maru!?" He cried out. Maru, clinging to Chris' shoulder whimpered. "Fine!" He said, as he kicked an enemy. The enemy quickly got back up. "Tch!" Chris grumbled, kicking him again. "Stay down, ya d.a.m.n c.o.c.kroach!" He shouted. One of the enemies from behind him began chuckling. Chris quickly turned. "Your kick are weak, here you think you'll be able to protect that gir," Chris quickly kicked him in the mouth, knocking him down. "Shut the h.e.l.l up!" He cried. "Chris..." Tammy whispered, as she dodged an enemy. "The h.e.l.l are there so many of them for!?" Keren cried out. "A door!" Tammy cried out. Rick quickly ran up from behind her, cutting down enemies. "d.a.m.nit, watch your back Tammy!" He yelled. "S-sorry!" Tammy examined the door. "Where's the handle..." Rick quickly slammed into the door, blocking it from an incoming enemy. "It's some sorta weird metal..." Norio ran up to them, pressing a b.u.t.ton next to it. The door opened. "Everybody inside!" Rick shouted. As Chris ran toward the door, an enemy grabbed him by the ankle. "Let go!" He cried, stomping on his hand. The man let out a cry. "Tch..." He then looked at Maru. "I've got ya, shrimp..." he said, as he stroked her hair. Maru whimpered in response.

As everyone made it into the room, Norio quickly pressed a b.u.t.ton to shut the door. "We all made it..." He sighed in relief. "Round one, complete." Rick chuckled. "This is a weird set up though..." Tammy pointed out. "Eh?" Rick said, as they turned to her. "Why would there be food here..." Suddenly, there was clapping. Everyone quickly turned around. Stepping out of the shadows, a man continued clapping. Behind him, was a young woman. "A good observation, Tammy." He smiled. Abbey quickly drew her sword. "Why you b.a.s.t.a.r.d..." The man simply chuckled. "What's the matter, Rick, Norio," he smiled. "You two look like you've just seen a ghost." Everyone turned to the two, who were frozen. "M-m..." Norio's lip quivered. "You're Mikael..." Rick whispered. Mikael began walking over. He placed a hand on each of the boys shoulders. "Save it for later..." The woman said, keeping an icy stare. "Wait a second..." Rick said, looking at her. "Iris Azalea..." Mikael chuckled nervously. "Sorry, your sisters right..." He said, getting up. "Hey..." Chris whispered. "Yes, Chris?" Mikael turned to him. He gulped. "If you know my name, are you...the threat?" Mikael smiled. "Oh?" He said. "Is that what you've named me?" He chuckled. Keren frowned. "Ya coulda just said in parenthesis who ya were..." She said. Mikael closed his eyes. "I suppose...but that would have just sucked the fun out of it." He smiled. "Anyway..." Mikael said. "I promise the foods not poisonous," He began. "Please, eat up, you'll need the strength..." He smiled. "We'll use this as our first base, there are beds as you can tell. He then smiled shyly. "You'll have to sleep two in a bed, and two of you will have to sleep on the floor though..." he chuckled. "Sorry about that..." he said. "Hold on..." Rick spoke up. Mikael turned to him. "What about the enemies, they could easily press the switch to get in here..." Mikael smiled. "Don't be silly, you've already cleared the first group of enemies successfully." He said. "This...is being played off as a game." Chris said. "How do we know you're not the one who planned this...?" Iris Azalea drew a knife, and held it to Chris' throat. "Don't be dumb." She muttered. Chris threw his hands up in a panic. "Nah..." Rick began. "It's not Mikael we have to worry about, but..." he looked at the floor. "I don't like what I'm getting at..." Norio looked at him. "You don't think..." Rick smiled sadly. "I wouldn't put it past him, Nori." Norio looked down. "Yeah..." he whispered. "Oi!" Chris suddenly cried out. They turned to him. "A little help here!" He cried. The two began chuckling. "IA, leave him alone." Mikael scolded. Iris Azalea quickly withdrew the knife. Chris sighed in relief.

As night came, everyone lay asleep in their beds. Rick, and Norio left on the floor. Maru, fast asleep, laid on top of Rick. "Hey..." Rick whispered. "You awake...?" Norio, staring at the ceiling nodded. "What would have happened if I had reached out to you that day..." Norio kept staring at the ceiling. "Beats me..." he whispered. "Wasn't in your control..." Rick holding Maru nodded. "Sorry about your kid." He said. "Don't be..." Norio kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "I have a feeling we'll get her back." He whispered. Rick smiled sadly. And closed his eyes.