Here we go again! Another thrilling chapter. Enjoy!

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The forest in Crysolia was always something I was cautious of. Something about it just didn't seem right, especially when it was dark. Perfect for someone to hide, right?

I had to trust my instincts that this was where they would hide. I did recall the time I was fighting with the twins. It was near the theater where Rin performed.

Slowly, I walked into the forest, seeing my vision almost become blind from the dark. I pulled my jacket over my shoulders, shivering. The thick leafy trees covered most of the moonlight.

This all depended on my other senses. If any of them were hiding here, my only chance of surviving their attacks. Of course, I didn't leave without the axe I had picked up before.

It seemed like an hour passed when I felt I was too deep in. They were probably somewhere else and I had guessed wrong.

I whispered a slight curse to myself in frustration and turned around. My ears picked up a sound that didn't come from me. A twig snapped that didn't go with the rhythm of my footsteps. I paused, turning my head slowly.

No one was there. No one's presence was there in front of me.

Suddenly, something blinded my vision as two hands went down me. I gasped, jerking away. I heard another sound and it was the sound of what I thought was my body breaking.

I felt the rough, muddy ground go below me as I let out a pained cry. I writhed around, seething. As if my body wasn't going through enough torture already.

“You know, Ritsuko, I used to think the curse of the Flower was some myth.” Asher's voice mentioned. “I was cursed at the age of 11 because of a stupid dare. Before that, I played a lot of sports.”

“Asher.” I heard Dominic next. Asher forced, “One of those sports was baseball!” A sharp metal clink vibrated next to me, earning a frightened yelp and jump.

“Did you know I was a good batter?”

I trembled underneath the sack that Dominic covered my head in. “Oh, I could club your face in right now.”

I whimpered, tensing up.

“Not yet.” Rosalina growled. Alexandra sighed, “Although I would like to do that right now.”

Dominic grabbed my arms and picked me up. I whimpered while someone else grabbed my legs. I guessed it was Asher.

I tensed up. “Now, let's take her to Michael to see what to do with her.” Rosalina ordered. I couldn't fight since my back was aching from the bat. I breathed heavily.

A while later, they put me down. I heard a door creak open. “We've got her.” Alexandra sang. She kicked my side out of spite and ripped the sack off my head. I could finally see!

Of course, the first thing I saw in my view was Rosalina's foot kicking me.

I rolled deeper into the room right beneath Michael. He smiled evilly at me, bending down. “Lovely, and she's wide awake as I see.”

I narrowed my eyes and tried to sit up. Michael scoffed, “You look so pitiful like that, Ritsuko. If I didn't know the demon you really are, I think I would actually feel bad for you.”

I was able to get on my knees before Rosalina and Alexandra forced me to stand up. “Now that you have me, what are you gonna do?” I questioned.

Michael smirked, walking up to me. “What do you think?” He looked over me and ordered, “Do it.”

I turned around just in time to see Asher swing his bat at me. I fell to the ground, now my shoulder was hurt. I yelped and stood up, leaning on the wall.

“Let's try this.” Michael offered as he grabbed my neck. He pinned me to the wall, choking me. I let out a stifled yelp and looked at him with wide eyes.

“For every person you didn't heal, we'll break a bone in your body. How does that sound?” I clawed at his arm, trying to get him to let go of me. “I'm not scared of you.” I forced out, gasping for air.

Michael chuckled menacingly, “Oh you will. Just like how Tadaaki did.” He let go, letting me breathe again. I coughed and tried to regain my breath.

Alexandra grabbed my arm, making me stand up. “Thanks for getting my axe back.” She smiled happily. “I used this same weapon to slash Emily's chest open. Hopefully, I can do the same to you.” She pulled the axe back. I jerked my hand away, knowing she was going to cut my arm off.

She slit a bit of my wrist, causing blood to splatter. I kicked her back, going up against the wall and wincing. Without having a chance to recuperate, Rosalina kicked my leg which was already in bad shape.

I cried out, stumbling forward. Michael stabbed my side, right below my ribcage. I gasped, freezing up. Alexandra handed Dominic her axe then he swung at me.

I shoved Michael off of me and pushed him at Dominic. He ended up getting his shoulder slashed. I stayed standing, though my leg was about to give up. Alexandra and Rosalina charged at me, both wielding sharp knives.

Rosalina lunged at me with a knife, to which I grabbed before she hurt me and threw her back. Alexandra ran at me, throwing a knife.

I mustered enough strength to stop the knife and make it turn. My mind could hardly stay focused on it, but I shot it at her. The knife went into her stomach. She fell to the ground with a yelp.

I grabbed a knife from the floor as Asher confronted me, lifting his bat. I gulped, jumping to the side and getting up. I heard the bat hit the wall and I took the chance to stab him in the back.

Asher grunted as I shoved him into the wall and stabbed another time, this time in the shoulder.  I took the knife and spun around to see Rosalina and Michael going up to me.

I went up right into Michael and dug the knife into his arm once before Rosalina got me in the shoulder .This was my chance.

Before Rosalina cut my neck, I grabbed the knife and turned her wrist toward herself. Now I was holding both knives and challenging her strength. “One thing you forgot, Ritsuko.” She smirked before the knife got any closer to her.

“I can destroy anything.” She held up her gloved hand and ripped the glove off. She grabbed ahold of the knife we were wrestling for and it immediately disintegrated.

I stumbled back as she pulled her hand back. The mark on it was glowing brightly. I lunged at her and barely dug the tip of the other blade into her shoulder. She placed a hand on my coat and I felt it slowly disappearing.

I was able to press the weapon deep enough to make her let go. A part of my jacket was gone, but that was the least of my worries.

Taking the knife, I ran out of the room and shut the door behind me. It was really dark in the rest of the house, so I just had to do my best to run away and hide.

My number. I should call my number. The thought came to me just as I closed myself into a room, putting anything heavy on it, including a chair.

I scanned the room and reached for the telephone, curling up beside the dresser in the room and dialing the number to my apartment. I whimpered quietly in fear, hands trembling as I held the phone to my ear.

“Hello?” Rin's shaky voice came through. I almost cried to her, but kept quiet, “Rin!”

“Ritsuko!!” Rin gasped through the other line. “Oh my goodness, I thought you were gone!! Akito and I were worried sick! Did you find anything? Are you okay??”

I looked down at the blood on my hands and my body and sighed, “No. They almost killed me.” I whispered. “I wasn't able to go with my plan, they overpowered me.” I looked at the door nervously when I heard footsteps going about.

“Where are you calling from? Akito was literally looking everywhere!”

I murmured, “I think this is Michael's home. I don't know, because they put a bag over my head and kidnapped me. Rin, I can't do this, I don't know how I thought this would work. They're too much to handle. Their curses have already gotten the best of them.”

Rin whimpered, “I know…Is it okay if Akito talks to you?” I swallowed and wiped the blood off my cheek. “Yes.”

The phone was passed, but I didn't hear anything for a few seconds. That's when his voice came through. “Ritsuko?”

I let out a big breath and nodded. “Yes, Akito?” He signed in relief, “Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you're still alive. What happened?”

I kept my voice from breaking and mumbled, “Akito, they almost killed me. I was about to find them and try to heal them, but it didn't work.” I brought out the Flower of Despair that was hidden in my coat. It was still bright and alive.

“They want me dead more than anything. I don't think there's any other way to get through to them.” I looked up and sniffled, blinking the tears away.

“Oh, Ritsuko.” He whimpered. “You shouldn't have done that. I can't lose you too.” That part he said more to himself than to me.

I closed my eyes tightly. “I wanna go back. This is too much for me to handle. These people need to be arrested somehow.” I begged desperately.

Silence took over the conversation, letting me hear every single sound in the house. They were still looking for me, I could sense it.

“Ritsuko, I need you to stay put. Stay hidden from them and don't let them find you. I'll be right there.” My eyes went round as I threw a hand over my mouth. “Akito....” I whimpered.

The phone hung up. I was left in silence with myself. “Take care of yourself, please……” the words spilled out of my mouth as I let go of the phone and leaned against the wall, breathing hard but quiet.

I didn't want Akito to risk getting hurt, but like it or not, I was going to die going it alone. I already believed I was close to bleeding out.

“She left. She isn't anywhere here.” Michael growled. I heard them through the walls. Dominic sighed, “And are we going after her? She's already badly injured, she won't get far.”

Alexandra groaned, “And I was going to make sure she suffered plenty.” I gritted my teeth at the comment.

Michael grunted, “If you want it done, you have to do it yourself, huh? Dominic, you're coming with me to look for her. Alexandra and Rosalina, you two go after Akito. I already took care of Maiko.”

Rosalina questioned, “What?! Don't you see Alexandra, right now? She can't be able to fight. She's taken too many injuries.”

“Just like, Asher, huh?” Michael sounded a little annoyed.

“N-no! I'll be fine. I can still go. After all, Akito won't put up a fight if we say Ritsuko is with us. He'll do whatever for her “ Alexandra argued. “It won't be hard.”

Rosalina mumbled, “Alexandra…” The twin responded, “I'm fine, Rosalina. Seriously.”

Dominic sighed, “Don't force yourself, that's all.”

Dominic and Michael left, but the twins didn't move.

“Alexandra, I seriously think-” Rosalina got cut off. “Rosalina, don't worry about me. They're just a few little scratches.”

Rosalina countered, “You're bleeding from your ‘little scratches’. It is my job to worry about you, I'm your sister.” Alexandra breathed, “I know, but I can handle myself now. I am grown.”

This conversation got my attention quickly. I perked up and put my ear to the wall.

“Alexandra, you don't get it.” Alexandra snapped, “Yes I do! You think I can't take care of myself, but I'm the one trying my best to get Ritsuko to prove to Dominic-”

“And I'm the one trying to get her for you so she can fix what the Flower did to us. It's my fault that you got hurt, it's my fault because I got you into this, too! If only I hadn't-“ Rosalina's voice broke.

I frowned at this and swallowed. “If only I hadn't gotten us cursed....” Rosalina finished, sniffling. I didn't hear them anymore, but I did hear quiet weeping.

“I didn't want to drag you into this. It was my stupid mistake that we got cursed. Because I didn't believe it, I obligated you to touch it. It's my fault that this is happening!”

Alexandra sighed, “Don't feel bad for that. We were little. Both of us didn't know what we were doing. I'm not doing this because you agreed to it first. I'm doing it because I want to protect Dominic and you. I want to get us healed of our curses so we can live normal lives and we won't have to worry about this.”

The twin sniffled in response, “You're so good, Alexandra. I wish we didn't have to go through this.”

“It's okay. It'll be over soon. I promise.” Alexandra comforted.

“Let's go.”

The sound of the twins walking away let me sigh in relief. Now all I had to do was wait; wait for Akito to come and save me.

To save me from the monsters who were once people I pitied.

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Well, I bet you're wondering what's gonna happen next since this last plan didn't work out so well for Ritsuko. Find out in the next update. Who knows, this plan might not succeed too. You never know. Thanks for reading!