Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Shadows ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8

 

~DREAM~

She was back at the mall, only this time, no one was around. Wandering from store to store, she discovers that she is alone.

 

“Hello?”

 

Hearing nothing, but the echo of her voice, Satsuki wonders where the people are. Stepping out of yet another store, she is about to walk further down the hallway to check another store when, suddenly, the lights go out. Surrounded by darkness, Satsuki stops still.

 

Where, before when the lights were on, there was nothing but silence, now she can hear something. Foot steps. Whipping around, Satsuki stares into the pitch darkness.

 

“Who's there?”

 

Silence. No longer hearing the foot steps, Satsuki takes a step toward where she had heard the sound.

 

“What's wrong, Satsuki?”

 

Whipping around, she stares into the darkness behind her where she had heard the voice come from.

 

“Who's there?” she calls out again, her voice shaking a little.

 

“Can't you see me?”

 

Again hearing the voice from behind her, she spins around. Nothing but darkness.

 

“I can see you, Satsuki.”

 

Spinning around again, Satsuki trembles.

 

“Stop it! Leave me alone!”

 

“I've only just begun, little one.”

 

Grabbed from behind, Satsuki screams…

~END DREAM~

 

Screaming herself awake, Satsuki jerks and falls from the couch. Hearing the sound of running feet, she pushes her back against the couch and looks around the room.

 

“Satsuki!”

 

Looking up, she sees her brother, followed by the other four Ronins, run into the living room. Kneeling down next to his sister, Sage grabs her arm. Wincing, she pulls away. While pulling away, the sleeve on her shirt shifts and the bruise on her arm is revealed.

 

“What's that?” asks Sage, as he takes his sister's arm again, this time avoiding the bruise.

 

“I…I don't know,” replies Satsuki, looking away.

 

Raising his left hand, Sage takes hold of his sister's chin and gently turns her back to look at him.

 

“Satsuki, who manhandled you?”

 

Jerking her chin out of Sage's hand, Satsuki glances around the room and finds, not one pair, but five pairs of eyes watching her and waiting for her answer. Silently, she stares at the floor.

 

“Was it Cale?”

 

Jerking her head up, she looks at Sage. Nodding her head, she looks away from her brother. Swearing, Sage shifts to stand up and, gently, pulls Satsuki to her feet.

“Why didn't you say so earlier? You told Sage that nothing happened,” says Rowen.

 

“I didn't want Sage to know,” replies Satsuki, staring at the floor.

 

“Why?” asks Sage.

 

“I was afraid-”

 

“Afraid of Cale?” asks Cye.

 

“No,” replies Satsuki, shaking her head. “I was afraid Cale was trying to bait Sage using me. I was afraid that he was trying to make Sage mad enough to come after him.”

 

“Oh, you better believe I'm going after that son of a bitch,” replies Sage, nodding his head. “He's gone too far.”

 

“Please don't, Sage,” replies Satsuki, placing a hand on her brother's arm.

 

“He's right, Satsuki,” says Ryo.

 

Turning, she looks at Ryo.

 

“Him coming after us is one thing,” continues Ryo. “Him going after you is something else.”

 

“It's probably what he wants,” pleads Satsuki.

 

“Then he's about to get what he wants,” replies Kento.

 

Shaking her head, Satsuki steps back. Glancing at his sister, Sage notices as her eyes fill with tears.

 

“Don't cry,” says Sage, placing a hand on Satsuki's shoulder. “I'll keep you safe.”

 

“It's not me I'm worried about,” shouts Satsuki, jerking away from Sage and rushing to the door.

 

Opening the door and slamming it shut behind her, Satsuki rushes to her car. Taking out the car keys, she opens the door and jumps into her car. Hearing Sage hurrying after her, she turns on the engine, puts the car into drive, and speeds down the driveway and away from the house.

 

*****

 

Pulling into the car garage, Satsuki hears her cell phone ring again. Ignoring it, Satsuki drives her car into a parking space and stops. Turning off the engine, Satsuki sits in her car.

 

A minute goes by, then two, before she makes any moves. Hearing her phone ring again, she slips the phone out of her pocket and shuts it off. Slipping the phone back into her pocket, she opens the door and steps out into the garage.

 

Shutting the car door, she starts to head for the elevator to take her to her apartment, when the lights suddenly go out. Stopping, Satsuki looks around. Though the garage isn't completely dark, Satsuki can't see much of anything.

 

Slowly, her eyes adjust to the darkness and she begins to walk toward the steps, figuring that whatever took out of the lights probably made the elevator stop functioning as well.

 

Half way to the stairs, she stops as she hears a sound. Laughter. Turning around, Satsuki glances behind her. Standing not 20 feet away, she can make out the figure of a man.

 

“Who are you?” she calls out. Though she can see that someone is standing there, she can't see much of him to know who is it.

 

“Come now, Satsuki. After all this time, you should know who I am.”

 

Stepping into a small pool of light, Satsuki's eyes widen as she realizes that man that is sharing the garage with her is Cale dressed in his subarmor. Taking a step back, she looks over her shoulder to see how close she is to the stairs.

 

“You won't make it.”

 

Jerking her head, she looks back at Cale and notices that he is now closer.

 

“I'd catch you before you even closed half the distance.”

 

“Why won't you leave me alone? I know it's you.” She was proud that her voice sounded level and calm.

 

“Whatever do you mean?” asks Cale, smiling.

 

“The dreams. I don't know how, but you're behind them.”

 

“Perhaps I am,” replies Cale, taking a step closer to her.

 

Taking a step back, Satsuki glares at him.

 

“You can't make up your mind if you want to be brave or not,” says Cale, taking another step toward her.

“Fuck off.”

 

“What a lovely suggestion. Perhaps you would like to help me do so?”

 

Glaring at him, she says nothing. Smiling, Cale takes another step toward her. Backing away, Satsuki takes a step back.

 

“You do realize that if I wanted you, I could just do this…”

 

Suddenly appearing right in front of her, Cale grabs her arms. Shocked at seeing him directly in front of her, where he had been almost 20 feet away, Satsuki can only stare.

 

“You never had a chance of getting away from me,” says Cale, smiling down at her.

 

Raising a hand from her arm, Cale strokes her cheek.

 

“Satsuki!”

 

Recognizing the sound of her brother's voice, Satsuki turns her head and looks toward the garage entrance. Running down the ramp, Sage was rushing toward her, followed closely by the other four Ronins.

 

Glaring at the unwanted company, Cale lets Satsuki go and takes a step back.

 

“Until next time,” says Cale and then fades away before the Ronins can stop him.

 

Reaching his sister's side, Sage glances at where the Warlord of Darkness used to be before turning his attention to Satsuki.

 

“Why'd you rush off? Are you ok? Did he hurt you?”

 

Bombarded with questions from her brother, Satsuki shakes her head.

 

“I'm ok.”

 

“But-”

 

Suddenly the lights turn back on and Satsuki blinks her eyes to adjust to the abrupt brightness. Refocusing her eyes on Sage, Satsuki raises a hand to stop her brother from asking more questions.

 

“I don't want to talk right now. I'm tired.”

 

Turning away from her brother, Satsuki heads for the elevator. Following her, Sage places a hand on her arm to stop her. Turning her around, Sage looks over his sister, wanting to reassure himself.

 

“I think it would be best if you came back with us.”

 

“No.”

 

“But, Satsuki-”

 

“No. I won't let him run my life or make me afraid,” interrupts Satsuki.

 

“But what if he comes after you when I'm not around?” asks Sage.

 

“You can't watch me 24 hours a day,” replies Satsuki, as she starts to walk to the elevator again. “I'll be ok.”

 

“But-”

 

“No, Sage,” replies Satsuki, stopping at the elevator and pushing the up button.

 

Shaking his head, Sage steps up and kisses Satsuki on the forehead. Leaning his forehead down to touch hers, Sage closes his eyes.

 

“If anything happens to you…”

 

“It won't,” replies Satsuki, forcing a smile.

 

Nodding his head, Sage turns back to his friends. Walking over to join them, Sage takes one last look at his sister before she steps onto the elevator.

 

Watching as the doors close, Satsuki leans against the wall of the elevator as it brings her to her floor. Hearing a ping, Satsuki watches as the door open and she steps out onto her floor. Walking down to her apartment, Satsuki uses her key and opens her door. Stepping inside, she closes the door behind her.