Puppet

CHAPTER 37:


Blood from three good officers stained the gray colored carpet. A dark energy was
released throughout the room. Four mortals quaked with fear.

Kiyoshi was still. He lay there on his stomach. His arms lay out in front of him as his raised head stares off before him at a treacherous sight. His beloved Luke was gone. This monster has taken his place. “L—Luke…” Kiyoshi sniffs, trying to hold back his tears, “Luke, what’s happened to you?”

This new Luke stayed in his kneeling position. His dark eyes never once blinked. They continued staring onward at Ra, whose wicked laugh echoed throughout the building. The pocket knife stayed trapped in Luke’s bleeding palm. Luke was breathing heavily. This black aroma seemed to lift out of his body. His skin looked paler then before, and his voice was more rough then usual.

“I must say,” Ra laughs, “I’m very pleased that you crawled out of your skin! To think you’re nearly just as powerful as I am!” Ra turns to glare at three trembling mortals.

Akina has crawled over to Topper and Officer Wakehiko. Both embraced her tightly. They stayed back against the wall.

Ra keeps his dark eyes on them. “To think that you only came out in order to protect these…” Ra took a pause as he licked his lips, “These rotten mortals…” Ra turns his attention back on Luke. “So, are you now willing to accept your fate?” Ra receives no answer. Luke’s gaze stays on Ra; it never leaves Ra. “You could join me, you know?” Ra cackles, but still gets no respond from Luke. “You and I could easily take over this world together! We are the most powerful beings on this planet! We are invulnerable! We could be more!”

“You…” Ra’s eyebrow rises as Luke attempts to speak, “Don’t you—dare! Don’t you dare hurt—don’t you!”

Luke’s eerie voice sent shivers up Kiyoshi’s spine. Luke’s voice would make a ghost shriek with fright. Luke spoke randomly; spoke those words as if he had no idea what they meant, but he wanted to. He wanted to so badly!

Ra began to laugh again, but it died down to a snicker. He kept the pocket knife placed in Luke’s hand. “Well,” Ra speaks amusingly, “Even though you’ve awakened, you still cannot fully control the power. You’re insane, Luke. Hah, you are insane!”

Ra released these words over and over. He continued to laugh, and make fun of Luke. He never realized that Luke’s rage was growing.

Luke’s head was lowered again. His immortal skin tried healing the wound on his hand, but the pocket knife was blocking the skin from healing itself.

Ra gave off a victorious smile. He gave off a loud grunt. “Hah, you’re pitiful!”

Ra spoke too soon, for out of nowhere comes this incredible force. The lamps bulbs all began to break one by one. The glass from the bulbs fall to the ground, making Kiyoshi, Akina, Topper, and Officer Wakehiko protect themselves with their arms. Ra’s own hat fell from his head, and released his long silvery hair.

Ra’s eyes widen. He could barely withstand Luke’s new, unbelievable power. He kept his eyes gazing into Luke’s. Those cold deep brown eyes were empty once again. “What the fuck is this?” Ra asked, though no longer laughing. He could barely hold himself up. Matters worsened when he felt something wet touching his lips. He lifted his finger to wipe, and looked down. It was blood. Ra was more bewildered now. His nose was bleeding. Ra gaped in shock. Turning his head back to Luke, he could see Luke’s eyes were burning with this fire. They appeared devilish. Ra suddenly began to feel frightened. This power—was impossible. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing! “Damn it…”

Ra tried pulling away. His hand seemed glued to the pocket knife. He grabbed held of this arm with his other, and desperately pulled. He kept cursing, angered at Luke, wanting to kill Luke. He could not!

Luke never left his kneeled position. His teeth were now clenched together. He was breathing like a wild beast. His muscles were tightened. The grip he had on Ra was unimaginable.

Ra, however, was soon able to pull away. The pocket knife came with him as he fell back and landed beside Kiyoshi.

Kiyoshi jumped; startled that Ra had been pushed back by his love. Turning his head back on Luke, Kiyoshi felt scared to see Luke has risen to his feet. Luke stood almost zombie-like. Kiyoshi came to notice he stood almost that same way Ra had when Ra broke through the immortal hideout. Kiyoshi’s tears flew freely. He didn’t care anymore! This was not Luke, and Kiyoshi wanted the true Luke back!

Luke began to make his way towards Kiyoshi and Ra. His hungered eyes gazed upon Ra’s fallen body.

Ra tried to fly; tried to break free. He wasn’t able to. He cussed silently to his self, thinking how foolish he was. He was supposed to be the strongest! “I am the strongest!”

“Luke,” Kiyoshi suddenly yells, “Luke what’s happened to you?”

Ra couldn’t believe what Kiyoshi had just done. Kiyoshi had miraculously pushed to his legs, and he ran straight into Luke, wrapping his arms around Luke’s angered body.

“Luke please,” Kiyoshi cries, “What is wrong with you? Wake up Luke! Wake up!”

Luke gave Kiyoshi an answer. “He—he hurt you…”

“I know he did,” Kiyoshi sniffs, “He hurt me, and he hurt you, but Luke don’t you see? I don’t want you to be like him! You’re not like this!”

Ra took this as the perfect opportunity to escape. He could see Kiyoshi’s saddened words were having an effect on Luke.

“Please Luke,” Kiyoshi stares into his love’s eyes, “Please! I love you—don’t do this…”

Luke suddenly holds still. His arms stay dangling on his sides. His face soon turns to stare into Kiyoshi’s eyes. As Luke watched him, Kiyoshi could see Luke’s eyes struggling against something. Luke blinked; blinked twice. He shook his head, and his muscles began to loosen.

Kiyoshi watched hopingly into Luke’s eyes. Was his Luke coming back to him? Kiyoshi stayed silent as Luke gave him a pondering stare. “…Kiyoshi?”

Kiyoshi’s hope rests. He gives out a thankful sigh, and more tears escape his eyes. “Yes Luke,” Kiyoshi smiles, “It’s me.” Kiyoshi gasps as Luke falls to his knees gasping. “Luke!”

“Hah, why thank you Kiyoshi,” Ra suddenly shrieks. He now stands by the window. It soon shatters into millions of tiny pieces for Ra’s escape, “Thanks to your sweet kindness I am not yet defeated! Be aware, I will be back to haunt all of you!” Ra gives the three shivering mortals his best glare, “And I do mean all of you!”

Kiyoshi can only watch as Ra vanishes through the window. Ra did not matter to Kiyoshi at that moment. His friends, and his love mattered.

“Ugh,” Officer Wakehiko manages to stand. He moves over to Kiyoshi and Luke, “K—Kiyoshi, what the hell just happened?”

“Yeah,” Topper shakes his head at the dead bodies, “Who the fuck was that guy?”

Kiyoshi knew he had no choice. He had to tell the truth. He grabbed hold of Luke’s wounded hand, and raised it high for Officer Wakehiko, Topper, and Akina to see. “Look.”

Officer Wakehiko and Topper gasped. Akina was still out of it. “His wound,” Topper nearly chokes, “It’s gone!”

“Kiyoshi,” Officer Wakehiko whispers, his voice tired, “Luke—is he an immortal?”

Kiyoshi nods his head. “I’m sorry. I know I should have told you, but I was afraid that you’d get hurt. But now…”

“We—we…” All eyes turned to Luke, “All five of us have to get out of here. We have to move quickly, before the other officers get here. We—we have to get you three somewhere—somewhere safe.” As Akina lifted her head, and as the three men stared down onto him, Luke continued to speak, “Ra—Ra escaped. He will be back. He’ll—he’ll come for you; for us!” Luke stands to his feet with Kiyoshi’s help. He was a tad wobbly still. That bizarre power had wiped him out, “I have to—to fly you four to a safe place. We have to go—now.”

“But you’re exhausted,” Kiyoshi argues, “Are you sure you can carry all four of us?”

“Yes,” Luke breaths tiredly. Though out of breath, he managed to give Kiyoshi a small smile. “Do not worry.” Luke turns his head to Akina, “She’s in worse shape right now. I’ll fly us to a motel. Ra may not find us there. We must keep our friends protected.”

“Luke…” Kiyoshi then smiles, knowing Luke was correct, “Alright. Let us go.”

Topper turns to the dead bodies. “What about them?”

“Let the other officers’ deal with the mess,” Luke answers, “You three are all I’m concerned about. Ra is after you—let’s not make him be out for any other innocent lives.”

Kiyoshi managed to help pull Akina to her feet with the help of Topper. She never took her eyes off the dead bodies. As soon as the four were in Luke’s arms, he carried them off best he could.

--

“Wow, what a great view,” Topper speaks later that day, “At least this apartment is nice, ha Akina?”

Akina sat on her new adopted bed wearing a white robe. She had immediately showered to wash the blood from her face as soon as they were within the hotel. Luckily for Topper’s great lying the receptionist believed the blood on Akina’s face to be her own from a tragic fall. Akina was still a bit out of it. She had been in the shower for over thirty minutes. Topper had began to worry, but grew happy to see her immerge from the bathroom. Topper notices Akina’s empty face. He tries cheering her up again. “Luke must be rich! It was very nice of him to pay for however much days we have to stay here, ha Akina?” Still no answer from Akina, Topper gave up. He shrugs his shoulders and turns on the large television. He sits on the recliner, and begins to laugh, “I remember the last time I stayed at a fancy hotel like this. I was only seven years old and came with my aunt and mom and older brother. It was back in America, and we were on vacation in Hawaii. The funny part of the story was when my brother and I accidentally poked a hole in the water bed within our own hotel room. The entire carpet soaked, and the manager of the hotel was not pleased at all! Well how fucked up was that? Who has water beds in hotels, anyway? Hah!”

“Topper…” Topper was glad to hear Akina talk, though it was a whisper.

“Yes Akina?”

“Topper,” Akina looks up, “I’m—I’m cold.”

Topper hops out of the recliner, and moves over to Akina. “Well of course you’re cold,” Topper sets his hands on Akina’s shoulders, “You’re only wearing that robe. Sheesh, you’re shivering. Did you take a cold shower? Never mind, here get under the covers. Maybe you should try taking a small nap.”

Topper helps Akina under the covers. He gives her forehead and kiss and goes to leave, but Akina grabs his arm. “No, Topper please stay here with me!”

Topper nearly fell over at hearing this. He turns to Akina, and gives her a reassuring smile. “Sure, but promise me you’ll try to get some sleep.”

“I promise.”

--

“Ra,” Chen stares shocked, “What happened to you?”

“Had a little accident,” Ra smirks as he cleans the dried blood off his face, “But Luke’s true self finally showed itself. That made my day. However, this battle has just begun. I’m not done yet, and I know exactly where he had taken those pitiful mortals. He thinks he can hide them in some damned hotel? He never even realized I had waited to see where they would go.”

“What happened to Luke,” Chen gasps, “What’d you do to Luke?”

Ra stops undoing his tie. He sharply turns to stare at the trembling Chen. She sat on her knees; her black hood covered her brown hair. It had grown a little longer since she went into hiding. “Chen,” Ra’s voice grows dark, “You still love Luke, don’t you?”

Chen stares at Ra as if he were crazy. “What—no…” Chen begins to shake, “How can you say that?”

“I can see you’re lying to me Chen,” Ra’s body is now fully turned on Chen, “You hate how much I despise it when you lie to me. You’ve lied to me before, and now here you are again…”

“I’m not lying,” Chen cries, “I—I love you, master!”

Ra wishes to spit on Chen’s puny body. There she was cradling in a ball, whimpering like a wet, lonely dog. Ra was disappointed in her. “Ever since Luke has shot you down you’ve been nothing but useless to me,” Ra nearly yells, “You’re pathetic. You’re a pathetic whore…”

Raising her head, Chen’s body took in Ra’s icy words. They hurt. Chen cries. “Please…” Chen had not managed to get her sentence out before she was up against the wall. Her hood falls back, releasing her brown hair. She grew dizzy. Her green eyes began to widen in panic, “What—what are you doing, master?”

“Something I should’ve done a long time ago, Chen,” Ra moves over to her, and places his hand over her chin, “Poor, poor Chen. Tell me, Chen, are you afraid of death?” Chen shook her head. Tears began to retreat out of her eyes, and down her cheeks. “Oh, but I can see just how afraid you are. Everybody is afraid of death. Where does one go when they die? Is there a heaven? Is there a hell? Tell me Chen, aren’t you a bit curious? Wouldn’t you love to find out?”

“No,” Chen cries, “No—no…”

“It’s a shame really,” Ra sighs as Chen’s nose begins to bleed; just like his had, “It’s a shame that your darling puppet will never locate his play master. It’s a terrible, terrible shame.” Ra sticks his tongue out between his lips, and slowly licks up Chen’s sweaty neck. “You and I could have been huge, Chen. Too bad you only worked with me for the sex. You’re really cute too…” Ra sighs as blood now begins to flow out of Chen’s eyes, and from out her ears. “Goodbye Chen, it’s been—a blast!”

“No!” Chen’s scream broke as her head explodes. Her fresh blood splatters across Ra’s face, but he just smirks as Chen’s the remainder of Chen’s limp body falls to the ground.

Wiping blood from his face, Ra slowly licks it and sighs. “Well, that was the first time I’ve killed one of my own kind. What a blast it was. Just goes to prove that not even my kind are immortal. Well, all accept me.” Ra turns away from the fresh corpse and heads out into the cold air. Darkness has fallen over Tokyo. “Now,” Ra evilly glares, “It’s time for even more bloodshed. Prepare yourself Luke, I’m coming for you once again.”

*End of Chapter 37*