Rescue, Part 1

Owen Solomon -Chairman of the International Pro Slayer Organization- steps through a set of doors and greets Grover and Jamie. "So I heard that you two failed your mission?" He asks.

Grover and Jamie explain the situation to the Chairman in a frenzy.

"Yes, yes, I know. In my notebook here, I have the details of every member in this organization and their current missions. That is my Cursed Ability," the Chairman replies.

"Yes, so can we please get some help to rescue Nick and Mikey?" Grover pleads.

"Yes. Slayer Renzu's squad from Queens is free at the moment, and I shall alert them they now have a rescue mission to save Slayers Hachi and Kaen. In the meantime, we will think of a strategy," the Chairman answers. "You two, go and alert the rest of your team that you are not to intervene.

"What?! Why not?!" The two cry.

"Hachi and Kaen were unable to control their emotions and got captured in a line of duty. Your mission was a simple infiltration mission in order to collect information, it involved no combat whatsoever. I am not inclined to rescue Hachi and Kaen. If they can't control themselves, then they don't deserve to be Pro Slayers. And the rest of your squad is even worse for not going in to rescue your comrades. If the Cards of the King and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse weren't such a threat, I would fire all of you. But when you need your power, for now, you are only suspended. Return home, your missions will resume in a week from now. Until then you're not to do anything. We may or may not save Slayers Hachi and Kaen," the Chairman explains.

"So you're just going to leave two of your own to die?!" Jamie shouts.

"No, you let two of your own die. If we save them we save them, if we don't we don't, it's as simple as that. Due to your squad messing up the mission, we have now lost potentially valuable information on the Cards of the King. So at the very least, you two can give us valuable information on the Card's of the King's member's Cursed Abilities and what little information you can provide," the Chairman explains.

Grover and Jamie do as they're told.

"Hmm…not bad," the Chairman smugly smirks. "Thank you at the very least for what little information you provided. Now, go do as I said and I'll see how I can help the situation. Share our conversation to your squadmates as well." The Chairman then turns and walks away from Grover and Jamie.

"What an ass," Jamie sneers.

"If this is the type of man that the Chairman of the Slayer Organization is…then my dreams are shattered," Grover growls.

***

"What the hell, so they're just going to leave Nick and Mikey to die?! And we aren't allowed to help?!" I cry.

"We don't know for sure if the Slayer Organization plans to help, but yes, there is a chance that they are going to leave Nick and Mikey to die," Jamie explains.

"But...we're going to ignore Mr Chairman's orders and go help anyway, right?" Ella asks.

"Hmm, I'm no longer sure if that is the best case scenario. Do you really want to get fired?" Austin asks.

"But what if the Organization doesn't go to help Nick and Mikey, they die! And they die knowing that their teammates didn't go to help them!" Grover cries.

"I don't care what you guys are going to do. If I get fired, if I die, none of that matters. I am going to help Nick and Mikey" I say.

"Luis, think rationally, if we don't all go then you're just rushing into your death!" Austin shouts.

"Think rationally?! That's all you've been saying for the past few hours!" I shout back. Then let's all go! What is there to debate? If we all go we're sure to escape with Nick and Mikey, and if the Organization helps us, then we're guaranteed to succeed! Who's in?"

Silence.

"Uh…no one?" I ask.

Silence again.

"We…we don't want to get fired…" Ella eventually whimpers, breaking the silence.

"Oh, screw it! I can't become the next Top Slayer if I can't save new friends! And If I get fired? So be it! I'll start my own organization!" Grover laughs as he raises his hand.

"Grover is right, we can't hold our heads up high if we abandon our friends!" Jamie replies.

"I'll…I'll go too!" Ella chimes in.

"Austin?" I ask as the four of us turn to face the boy, who pouches his nose in distress and sighs.

"We need you, you know," Jamie softly says as she places a comforting hand on Aistin's shoulders.

"DAMNIT!" Austin shouts as he looks up and furiously cleans his glasses in distress. "You're going to need a strategist for this plan if we want to come out with each member of your squad alife, and I'm your guy! I'm in!"

The rest of us cheer.

Austin then turns to face me. "If I, no…if any of us get fired for this, I'll never forget you," he says.

"We won't, I promise," I reply as I place a hand on Austin's shoulder and squeeze, staring up into his eyes. "Because we're going to win."

you'll need a plan for this mission, and I'm your guy! Count me in, too!" Austin said. "Great, let's think of a plan!" I cried.

Tomorrow at six...just twenty five more hours to go! Mikey, Nick...just hold on for a little bit longer, you two!

***

"Hey, old man?" Mikey asks, breaking the silence of his and Nick's cell.

"Uh…yeah?" Nick awkwardly asks, who had just been dozing off. Just like before, the two Pri Slayers sit back-to-back, now slightly bruised due to the "fun" that they've been having with Spade, who's now left the two Pro Slayers alone, after having his ass kicked by Nick.

"I'm…sorry…" Mikey chokes out, two words that pain him to so.

"For what?" Nick asks.

"For going against your orders," Mikey answers. "You were right. If I had listened to you…if I didn't let my emotions get the best of me…then you and I wouldn't be in this mess. It's just…a demon killed my parents, so when I hear people praise them, it makes me sick. I couldn't help myself, I had to make those bastards pay, even if it meant dragging you into my revenge."

"Why are you saying this all of a sudden?" Nick asks.

"Because before we're executed, and after we break outta' here…I'm never allowing myself to become soft again," Mikey answers, causing Nick to laugh. "I'd rather die than rely on the others to save me ever again."

"That's quite alright, Mikey, I accept your apology!" Nick answers.

"Thank you," Mikey replies. "I just have to tell you two more things, old man."

Nick raises an eyebrow. "What's up?" He asks.

"Thank you for inviting me to this squad, and-"

"Alright, get up!" A voice snaps -interrupting Nick and Mikey's talk- as a figure approaches Nick and Mikey's cell, causing the two Pro Slayers to perk up, and they see Clover unlocking their cell.

"We'll finish this later," Nick whispers to Mikey, who nods solemnly in response.

"Yer' dealing with me, now!" Clover snaps.

"Is it time for our execution?" Nick cheerfully asks.

"Of course it is!" Clover grumbles as he unlocks the bars of the cell and enters inside.

"Oh boy!" Nick exclaims.

"Don't sound so cheerful about it!" Clover snaps as he throws a sack over Nick and MIkey's head, blinding the two men.

"Why do you sound so happy?" Mikey grumbles to Nick as Clover undos their handcuffs, before tying a tight sturdy rope around the two Pro Slayers' wrists, which he uses to lead them out of the cell like leashes.

"Because our execution is when our friends will come rescue us!" Nick answers.

***

Tomorrow at 5:30. The day after Nick and Mikey were taken captive and we failed our Cards of the King mission. Ella, Jamie, and I take our seats in the front row of the sermon. We made sure not to sit together. The sermon is held outside in the church's backyard. We sit a few feet away from the church, with rows and rows of folding chairs that are set up facing away from the church towards a large wooden stage with a giant cauldron and a large guillotine set up on the stage. Next to the cauldron, is a ladder leading up to a cage which was hanging over the cauldron attached to a chain attached to a crane.

What the Hell, what an elaborate set up. Is this a movie or something? Who do these goons think they are, witches? And why do they need both a cauldron and a guillotine?! 

I think I sense a little bit of Cursed Power in the crowd. But it might just be Ella's or Jamies, I'm not too sure. I'm a little off my game right now. I'm too focused on our plan at hand than to focus on sensing Cursed Power.