Chapter 11

Kid's Suspicion

A small town in New Mexico

"So just the one night, then?"

"Yes," said Kid, pushing the cash towards the disgruntled innkeeper. "Personally, I'd rather be just passing through, but that's not an option right now."

"Okay," replied the innkeeper. "Enjoy your stay."

Kid said nothing as he turned to carry his bag-or rather, to wait for someone to offer to carry it for him.

"It's not happening this time, Kid," stated Soul, a look of exasperation painted across his face. "It's just an inn." Kid frowned as he took his bag into his hands, and started to climb the stairs to the third floor. When they arrived, Maka and Soul split off from the group to their own room, while the rest continued down the brightly lit hallway. Kid opened the door and smiled for the first time in days.

"Well, he's happy," Liz chuckled, as Kid attempted to carve a snow angel into the floor (mind you, the exact center of the floor). Suddenly, however, he sat up, once again frowning.

"Something wrong, Kid?" Patty said, bouncing on her heels.

"I don't know" he mumbled. "It just… feels like we're being watched."

"You're too paranoid, Kid," Liz said.

"…Maybe you're right." Kid got up from his perfectly symmetrical floor and left, his partners in tow.

45 minutes later

The group sat at table near the inn, deep in conversation. Soul had thought that Kid was going crazy, but Maka had agreed with him. Now Maka was looking around cautiously, half-expecting something to jump out at her. Since it was late, they decided to head back to the inn. Kid still believed that there was something going on, but he was loosening up as the day wore on. By the time he arrived back at the inn, he was almost free of suspicion.

Almost.

Something still nagged in the back of his mind, a persistent feeling that something was going on. He still didn't wholly trust the town yet. However, exhaustion won out in his mental battle, and he crawled into bed.

In Soul and Maka's hotel room

"I'm telling you, there was something out there, Soul!" Maka yelled, her face almost bursting with a mixture of anger and panic.

"There was nothing out there!" Soul shouted. "I can't believe you're still going on about this!"

"So I'm hallucinating, then?"

"Yes!"

"No, I'm not! I'm going to get Kid." The pair of them stormed down the hallway, barging into the room. Before long, the situation was explained, and Kid was watching the window.

"I knew this would happen. I told you something was off about this place!" Kid said. "But none of-"

He stopped, peering through the window, as if he was getting a better look at something.

"What is it?" Liz asked, obviously creeped out.

"I don't know, but it's definitely a Keishan egg."

Soul licked his lips, his anger replaced with a spark of curiosity. His eyes glinted maliciously, and he jumped the window. The rest soon followed, giving chase to the Keishan egg. It turned, staring at the two (the rest had morphed into weapons) with hunger. Its long clawed hands shimmered, giving off some sort of mirage.

It lunged at Kid, its arm outstretched. Kid parried with one pistol and brought the other around for a clear shot, but it jumped backwards, farther into the forest. Maka charged, her scythe brought down in a deadly arc. However, once again, it leapt backwards. They continued this evil dance for several minutes before Kid stopped.

"Wait, stop," he said, switching his guns back into human.

"What is it?" Maka asked.

"Why would a single attacker go for us, then attempt to draw us into the forest? And why would he attack us now, in the middle of the night?"

"What are you trying to say, Kid" Maka asked.

"I'm trying to say that if we go any further, we might be walking into a trap."

"Actually," said a woman, her cold voice dripping with hatred, "you've already walked right into it."

Hey guys! Sorry about not updating in a while. I've been busy with finals and stuff, but I can get back on track (hopefully). See ya next chapter!