Chapter 20 - Twilight Echoes
The same day, dusk was nigh...
"Where are you, my bounty..." Grace muttered to no one in particular as she crept through the boulders of Rinlow Stream, a quiet, rocky area on the rural outskirts of La Jar. The heat signature had been traced here. "Seems strange, him coming out here alone... It's obvious something ain't right... but I ain't lettin' this chance slip." Her inner monologue burned on, her sharp eyes scanning the fading hues of twilight.
Walking across opposing boulders and ducking between shrubs, she finally spotted someone.
But something was wrong.
"Hmmm?... What's—Grace!!" Doug's voice blared through her earpiece.
"I ain't deaf, but I think I'm gonna be later," she retorted, wincing.
"Ya gotta go back!" Doug snapped, his cowboy twang in full swing.
"Huh? What are you on about?" Grace asked, narrowing her eyes toward the figure sitting by the stream.
"Do ya even know what he looks like!?" Doug asked.
"Uhhh... Not that I asked, no. I thought it'd be an easy job as long as you showed me where he was."
"Ohhh well that ain't ma boy. That's someone else."
"This Frank... is he a kid?" Grace asked, now frowning at the demi-human teen by the stream.
"No he ain't. He's an adult. Human."
"Well... dang it," Grace muttered, standing up and walking toward the boy.
"Seems Frank used some kinda device or skill on the boy," Doug added. "'Cause I just sighted him at Sector 7's construction site... and he's in trouble."
"Is it the geeks?" Grace asked, stepping carefully across loose rocks.
"It damn is."
"So what are we gonna do?"
"Ah'm gonna go secure the prize, Grace. I can't afford to lose him again."
Then static.
Grace paused briefly, eyes back on the boy. She extended a hand—
CLANG!!
"Woah!!" Grace exclaimed as a blade clashed hard against her, forcing her a step back.
"What is this!?" she thought, watching the demi-human teen—no older than fourteen—rise with a firm grip on his sword.
"What might've taken you so long... stalker?" Kaido muttered, spinning his blade.
"You're the boy... part of the—"
"Yeah. The group with the guy you're tryin' to abduct... or kill?" Kaido cut in, circling her.
"He knows?... and that strength... odd for a kid... even odder that he's an adventurer," she thought.
"Nice lil' talk you had with your partner over the phone," Kaido added.
"Hmph... Seein' as you're no normal child, and got a strong hearin' ear... I could take you on," Grace said, lowering her stance.
"Goin' hasty, are we? Well, since you look confused..." Kaido smirked.
"But first, how did you do that?" Grace asked.
"Do what? Oh, the aura—like Frank's?"
Kaido grinned.
She stared blankly.
"Tch... it's a skill asset I own. Trained it for moments like this. Goin' somewhere with no cameras, only radars, was the best way to lure you idiots out."
"Alright, info attained. But... I'd like to leave now," Grace said, shifting back.
"He knows everything... but he clearly doesn't know where we're stayin'," she thought.
"Leave? So you can go back to livin' at that inn opposite ours?" Kaido quipped.
She scoffed, but his confidence shook her slightly.
"Well I'll be damned," she muttered, swinging a long spike from her hip.
"It's obvious I can't let him return with that info... but Douglas said Frank was in trouble... Killing him or goin' to help... Dammit!" she battled inwardly.
"Alright kid—"
"Stop callin' me that!" Kaido snapped.
"Alright... well what are we gonna do now?" Grace asked, circling him.
"Ain't it obvious? I came here to capture you." Kaido's tone shifted.
She squatted, placing a hand on the earth.
"Is that so? If you resist, I might actually kill yo—"
SHRRNK!! — Spikes burst from the ground where Kaido had stood moments ago.
"Huh!?" Kaido exclaimed, mid-air. He turned to see where he'd stood now filled with piercing spikes.
"How did she—"
"Quick on your feet, are ya now?" Grace taunted as she crashed into him with her foot.
BOOM! — A harsh crash into dirt and stone.
"Urgh... She's fast... Too fast," Kaido grunted, tightening his grip on his sword.
"You see, kid... if you ain't prepared, ya don't have to try at all. Still got time to back off."
"Heh... My mistake, thinkin' you wouldn't make the first move on a kid," Kaido replied, brushing dirt from his jacket.
"Ohhh... So you accept you're a kid after all?" Grace teased.
"Tch..." Kaido gritted, speed-dashing straight at her.
I underestimated her. She's highly trained. I'll need to activate all my skills at once, he thought.
A fierce clash of sword and spike erupted.
Seeing her knee close in on his face, he blocked with the flat of his sword—
CLANG!
"Guhh!!" Kaido grunted as the hit launched him.
FWSSHH! — Spiked projectiles sliced through the air toward him.
"Dammit!" Kaido deflected each with precise strikes, landing on his feet, but now noting a cut on his forearm—his jacket torn.
"I must say, kiddo, your reaction speed is annoyin' and impressive. Coulda got me by the stream too. Who trained ya?" Grace asked.
"Shut up! Shut up and fight!" Kaido roared, startling nearby women washing clothes at the stream.
This is a suburban zone... They're gonna call the authorities, Grace thought. I'd flee, but he won't let me. Though... this won't take long.
The area was a calm rural town just beyond La Jar's limits. Stone cottages with mossy roofs dotted the roadside. A weathered wooden bridge arched over the stream where boulders lined the banks. The stream itself shimmered under the evening glow, its gentle rush giving the place a haunting peace. Sparse lanterns swung on rusty posts, casting warm hues against creeping shadows. Crickets hummed. Trees leaned in, whispering secrets to the breeze.
She's planning something... Why's she—
THROB.
"Aghh..." Kaido winced, grabbing his forearm. Poison...!?
---
"Are you sure Frank's not in trouble?" Tayla asked, pulling on her jacket. "It's almost dusk and he's still not back. I can't even get a signal from his communicator."
"She's right... This feels like the perfect time to capture Frank," Joel said, setting a tray on the inn's table.
"Alright, Joel. Raymond's already out lookin' for Kaido, so you stay and keep the inn. I'll go out with Tayla. Frank said he was at Section 7. Not far." Elias responded, strapping his katana to his waist and slipping on his brown coat.
"Alright," Joel nodded.
"What if something bad happened!?" Tayla asked, clearly panicked.
"Hey, Tayla," Elias called. She looked at him.
"Nothing bad ever happens to Frank. He always finds a way out... and if anything did happen... I don't think they stand a chance against him."
Tayla smiled faintly.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" she replied, stepping out the door.
"See you soon!" Joel waved after them.
---
Walking into the bustling streets of Section 12, the sci-fi-meets-fantasy world came alive. Hover carts zipped between neon-lit stalls. Adventurers in exo-cloaks mingled with spellsmiths selling charm-weapons. Digital signs flickered in elvish runes. Steam-pipes hissed from underground vents while sky-towers loomed beyond the domed horizon.
"When did you lose the signal?" Elias asked, scanning rooftops.
"Few minutes ago," Tayla said, adjusting her sword.
"Then we gotta move fast," Elias replied, picking up the pace.
---
CRACK!!
"Argh!!" Jarvis flew backward from the iron rod slamming into his face.
"Is that all ya got!?" Frank roared, spiraling toward Astrid.
She swung her greatsword—
"Don't dismember him! Remember!!" Bill called from the sidelines.
"Easy for you to say!" Astrid snapped.
Frank twisted, shoving the blade into the ground with his foot, then grabbed her arm and hurled her toward Spike.
"You asshole!" Spike hissed, swinging her scythe.
Frank mirrored her strikes, evading in perfect mimicry.
SWOOSH! — A blade passed inches from his head.
"Woah!" he exclaimed, tilting his head.
CLANK! — Chains wrapped around him in a flash.
"Dammit!!" he barked as he crashed into a pile of cement.
COUGH... COUGH...
"Sheesh... All of ya ganging up on me, not lettin' me get a win in?" Frank muttered, dusting off.
To be continued...