Mirage Mind - Chapter 5 - The Decision

Ran retreated to a corner like a frightened animal desperate for refuge. He was shaking and sweat dripped from his chin. Manx tried to comfort him but he pushed her away. The nurse was ready to secure him. Doctor Evan held up his hand and shook his head.

"No, we mustn't interfere. We have to let Ran do it in his own way," Cautiously, he knelt beside him. Ran was trembling and making little groans. "Ran, I know it's unpleasant yet it's something you have to go through. You are doing fine. Ran, make your time. There is no rush."

Night swept its darkness upon the lighted pubs and discos clubs. Music was playing thunderously over the lustful atmosphere. After paying the taxi driver his fee, Aya walked down the velvet red carpet and entered through the glass doors. Brushing through the dancing bodies reeking of booze and sweat, he slipped past the naked ladies strutting their stuff beside the poles. At the back, he spot a skinhead man drinking beer at the counter. It was the overseer. Without hesitation, he went down and took a seat next to him. The overseer turned and stared extremely hard at him. Aya said nothing and returned the stare.

"You have a lot of guts to show yourself in front of me," the overseer growled, "After what you did to me." He removed the glove on his right hand, revealing a robotic hand. "For nights, I have been dreaming of crushing your fragile neck with this." Aya felt the icy steel upon his throat. "How did you find me?"

"I have my sources," Aya replied, undaunted. "I have a proposition for you."

"Is that so? And you think I will accept it from the man who cut off my hand?"

"You will take it."

"And why?"

"Because you will accomplish something that no one else has done before."

"That is?" The overseer lifted the mug with his other hand.

"The assassination of Weiß."

The cold beer merely touched the overseer's lips for a second and flowed back into its glass prison. Licking his lips, the overseer locked his dark eyes onto him.

"Do you take me for a fool? I know you are their leader."

"Yes, I am. I created it and now, I want to destroy it."

"Then, do it yourself."

"I can't. I don't know why. Look, I know you are here to kill us..."

"Wrong," The overseer shot his finger at him. "I'm here to kill you."

"Done. As soon as you kill the others, you can kill me. In addition, you will receive twenty million dollars in any bank, in any country and in any currency you chose."

The overseer left his mouth wide-opened. Arching his brow, he said, "Are you paying me to kill your men and you?"

"Yes, that's right," Aya was trying hard to keep his face straight. "Well? Will you do it?"

The overseer lifted his head and laughed. It sounded hollow and hideous.

"Very well, my pretty assassin."

"Man," Ken groaned, pressing an icepack on the dark purplish bruise on his forehead. "I don't feel so good."

"That's what you get for trying to be the hero," Yoji muttered, tying the ends of Ken's bandage. "That idiot red head! What's gotten into him?"

"It's Yequoel," Rex spoke up, clicking the keyboard. "I have just received an email from Doctor Hikaru. From the test results, some of the ingredients used to manufacture Yequoel contains neurotoxins. The usual dosage given to those street punks is too little to cause any potential harm. Judging from the Yequoel injuries and the fact that he was in deep direct contact with it, it could explain his irrational behaviour. For instance, the headaches. Most of the victims said they often heard voices during the headaches."

"What about last night?"

"Neurotoxins generally attacked the nervous system. It can also shut down the respiratory systems and interfere with the heart functions. However, the attack is instant. In Aya's case, it happened two months after he was in contact with Yequeoel. Doctor Hikaru can't confirm anything solid at the moment. Right now, she is formulating an antidote, which I think all of us will agree that it is the first priority."

"He said he is going to destroy Weiß," Omi buckled a belt of darts around his waist. "Do you think he will do it?"

"I believe Yequoel is causing him to say or do illogical things. What's more important that we find him and bring him back here so that Doctor Hikaru can..." Suddenly, the screen went blank. "What the heck..." Then, a pumpkin skull appeared. "Halloween greetings?" She clicked the icon.

"Greetings, Weiß Kreuz..."

"Damn. It's the overseer. How did he locate us?"

"... Meet me at the Yequoel warehouse within two hours or else you can bid farewell to a friend of yours." The screen moved to the right, revealing Aya chained to a metal table, bruised and battered. His limbs were sandwiched between a strange mechanism. "In the olden days, prisoners were tortured for entertainment," The overseer turned a wheel. The mechanism began to move towards each other. Aya leashed out a terrible scream. "See that I mean."

"You sadist!" Ken's eyes burned with rage. "I'm going to kill you!"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure you will," The overseer turned the wheel anti-clockwise. With his jagged sword, much like in the previous fight, he cut off the chains. Pulling Aya by the collar, he flung him the floor. Digging into his army jacket, he took out mini gun-like object. Attached inside the object was a tiny tube of blue liquid. "Do you what it is?" The overseer grinned like the Devil himself. "It's Yequoel."

"Impossible!" Rex cried. "There shouldn't be any left!"

"Wrong, sweetie. I have kept some for my personal business. 10cc of this could give me a ten thousand grain. In this little baby, I have 20cc. Let's see what happens when I give two times the recommended dosage..."

Blood and vomit splattered across the hospital floor.

"Ran!" Manx caught hold him, lay him on his back while supporting his neck with her arm. She touched his forehead. "He's burning up!" Pulling up his eyelids, she saw his eyes were unequally dilated. "Doctor! What's happening to him?"

"I... I don't know," His intellectual mask broke into smithereens. "It's not supposed to happen..."

Aya laid limply, staring at the dancing figures dimming into the darkness. He felt a vein in his head pumping the remains of his body fluids into his brain. Please, he begged. Don't pump anymore. I want to die. I want to leave this place. I want to feel alive again... He closed his eyes. Funny, I don't feel any more pain. This death is too peaceful.... There's a song that Manx used to sing, what was that song?

[ All alone... almost dead... even when I'm running...

And it feels like a dream I need to be awaken from...

I believe when it hurts, we must keep on trying

But what I want and I need

Is like the river needing the rain.

There's a bridge I need to burn before I leave

I just want to breath again

Like a summer day, I need to feel its heat again... ]

"Ran, listen to me!" Manx shook her brother. "I know you are frustrated over Dad, Mum and Aya's deaths. I know that it's senseless and unfair. I know that life is harsh and cruel to the point that you want to give up. You can't give up! You can never give up! Whatever is happening to you in Weiß, you can overcome it. You are strong, Ran! You can confront it. You have done it in Weiß. Surely, you can do it here..."

[ Here's the night, where are the stars? Cos' I need some guidence

It's like the night as I watched you walked away

There's a bridge I need to burn before I leave

I just want to live again

Like a stormy day, I need to feel its beat again... ]

"Ran, I don't care whether you live in this world or Weiß. All I want for you is to live! Live, Ran! Forget about Doctor Evan and his stupid theories. I don't want you to suffer anymore. Focus on living, Ran! Fight to live, Ran! Fight to live!"

[ I only want to keep the song from rolling

I only want to learn to feel the rain

Then maybe I can stop the leaves from falling

I only want to learn to freeze the flames.

I only want to be alive again... ]

Through the tears, Manx saw Ran weakly opened his eyes. There was a sense of contentment in his eyes. Feebly, he lifted his fingers to touch her wet cheeks. Faintly yet audible, he whispered, "I only want to be alive again..."

Ken winced at the cruel pressing on his neck. The overseer laughed, increasing the pressure on his leg by the seconds. Struggling to breathe, Ken stretched his fingers to reach his wolverine claws. So near yet so far...

Omi tried to move but his body wouldn't obey his command. Ken needs my help. I have to move. I have to...

Don't tell me that we are going to die like this. Yoji fought to keep himself awake. I can't feel myself... This is pathetic!

Suddenly, a deafening sound exploded. Ken felt the overseer's crushing pressure decreasing rapidly. Rolling to one side, he gulped in mouthfuls of air. Leaning on his elbow, he turned and saw the overseer standing. Blood was dripping from his fingertips. Looking ahead, he saw Aya holding a revolver. Turning to the others, they too had the same speechless expression.

"Why you..." The overseer spat, clutching his bleeding stomach. "You lied!"

Aya said nothing and continued shooting. Hot blood, guts and bits of flesh flew everywhere. At the last, the overseer fell to the floor. For a while, he twitched till he finally stopped and remained very still. Wordlessly, Aya dropped the revolver and collapsed to his knees.

"Aya," Ken slowly get to his feet.

Aya vomited a yellowish substance and lay on his back. He was breathing hard. Ken knelt beside him and held his hand.

"Stay with me. Rex's coming soon with the antidote."

"Ken." Aya feebly croaked. "I'm want to be alive again..."

Inside the ward, Doctor Evan examined Ran for a few minutes. Shaking his head, he looked at Manx and said.

"He's gone."

THE END

Song by Cher - "Alive Again" with slight alterations with the lyrics.

GeneWeiß thanks all those who has read this fic, especially Misura, tyne, Ranechi, melody-tune, Yukina10, Kasra, Beriath, konekomh, Star of Heaven & Phox1. *HUGS*