Continuing to spar against his opponent, Enzo displayed an impressive prowess in his fighting abilities. His unorthodox fighting method The wind howled in their ears as the train sped along the mountainside. His hair flared wildly like a black, flaming torch fighting against the wind, and so did his eyes when they stared at the enemies before him. Close to his side was no one but Connor, the last person Enzo ever thought would fight by his side. Connor also, like Enzo, performed very well, displaying great prowess in his skills. He and Enzo swung their machetes swiftly and aggressively, and their skills often put their opponents aback.

The head attacker soon became frustrated and began shooting more carelessly. In the process he made his own comrades fell, but his reasons being personal, he didn't even care whether he was left alone or not. And in the end, he was left nearly all alone with blood spilled in all places which belonged to his own companions.

"Fool!" yelled a man, punching the wild shooter. Grabbing the collar, he brought the other man close to his face. "Are you mad?? You're killing off our unit!"

"We don't need a reckless fool amongst us," seethed another man, shooting him in the head without hesitation. He shocked the rest of the remaining unit, but they refused to say anything about it. The only thing they could do was stare at his corpse before it was kicked off the car.

Turning to his colleagues, the man quickly hurls a new command. "You men! Get rid of the two bastards! The rest of you, come with me and get that woman!"

The men quickly did as they were commanded.

Surrounded once more, Enzo and Connor readied themselves with their present weapons.

"We've got to get back to the others," said Enzo as he found himself back to back with Connor.

Connor narrowed his eyebrows at him with disbelief. "Think about that once we get everyone out of the way. What a pain in the ass," he sighed.

"Their aim apparently is to get to Ann! We have to get out of this fast!" yelled Enzo.

"Fuck you and your infatuation! If you haven't figured it out, they want her because she's the key to all this!" said Connor.

Enzo glared hard at Connor. "I already know that."

Connor smirks. "Once we get out of here, we have to get all the details from Angelica. We can't allow her to hide everything from us until the very end. Her confession from before was just to shake us off her tail. She may have confessed her past, but the completely left out the point in all this and why this is happening. I don't know about you, but I can't fight for something I don't know."

Hearing that, Enzo knew that his partner was right. They have been fighting blindly and they don't even know why. Why would Angelica simply fight to save the papa of the Arcana Famiglia? Would she actually go through the whole trouble just to save one man? No one knew, and the thought about it made Enzo suddenly hungry for answers. It made him even more determined to get out of the current mess they're in and then confront the woman he had come to love.

* * * * * * * *

Worming herself through the train, Ekundayo shoved people out of her way. Beads of sweat dripped from the side of her brow as people continued to shove each other impatiently. Since the ruckus earlier that evening, everyone went into a panic and began rushing towards the middle or front section of the train. Everything was in utter chaos. People get slammed against the window, people get trampled on, and other people just simply get hurt due to the selfishness of others. Some children were even separated from their precious parents, and were only left to cry alone in a corner or the place where they were left behind. Ekundayo witnessed all these things with Alfieri close behind her. And he, too, expressed his indignation and annoyance. But unfortunately they couldn't do anything about it and fought to see their friends.

Soon enough Ekundayo's amber eyes caught sight of Abelle's annoyed face, his eyebrows pulled together into an exasperated glare. Without hesitation she wormed her way forward and Alfieri followed without a word because he too saw their tall friend.

"What the hell's going on?" Abelle grumbled loudly when he saw their friends. The others with him quickly get up from their seats as well.

"Hey, what happened at the back?!" demanded Celestina, slamming her hand on the table. "Everyone's rushing to the front right now! It's annoyingly crowded right now!"

"Where's Enzo and Connor?" Azad asks, making eye contact with Alfieri.

Alfieri gave him a nervous smile.

"A bunch of hooligans raided the train from the back and demanded to get Angelica. He even promised a reward for those who bring her to the leader. I wouldn't be surprised if half of the people here are attempting to Ann into custody," he replied. "As for Enzo and Connor, they're currently fighting with some of the bastards after protecting the people at the back."

"Damn, and to think we would get to Regalo safely without any trouble," grumbled Celestina, grabbing her head exasperatedly.

"Should we get to Miss Angelica?" asks Pietro with a worried look on his face.

"I agree! If we stay here someone might get to Angelica first," declared Jahan. "We have to prevent that from happening!"

Abelle cocks his brow at his friend. "But how exactly? It's impossible to try getting to her at this rate," he remarked while gesturing at the noisy crowd around them.

For a moment everyone pondered for solutions. It took more than a moment after they began to really rack their brains for ideas. While they thought and thought, they soon heard pounding noise on the roof of the car. Then without a second thought everyone knew where they needed to go.

"To the roof!" cried Alfieri, rushing for the window while everyone did the same.

Stepping out, the man quickly grabs the upside railings and heaved himself up with one swift movement. His hands were quick to grab ahold of the other railings on the side of the car. After much struggle, Alfieri soon found himself in midst of a war. Bullets sprayed in the air from both sides of the car, forcing the man to get his head down.

"It's seriously active here too??" exclaimed Pietro who took his place beside Alfieri. "We're gonna die!"

"Shut it, Pietro," spat Abelle, slapping the guy on the back of the head. "I would just get up and fight and get this all over with. May I remind you that if was you who decided to join the thrill—not me."

Pietro pouts at those words. "Can't you be nicer to me, Abelle?"

Abelle gives his friend a wide smirk.

"Hah! Yeah, right! Like you need it, you little nut head!"

Pietro continues to pout.

"Damn you."

"Just hurry it up, idiots!" yelled an annoyed Celestina.

"I thought we're supposed to be in a hurry," remarked Ekundayo who quickly got on the roof regardless the chaos close by.

"We must make haste. We still cannot tell whether those men have gotten their hands on Miss Angelica or not," Azad told his friends sternly as he got up the car.

Jahan under him just smiled incredulously. "Strict as ever, Azad," he remarked, lifting his hand towards his friend.

Taking his hand, Azad lifts him up with ease and helped the others up as well. As soon as they all got up, they saw the distant battles on either end of the train. They were surprised to see the thrilling scenario, and what surprised them more was the fact that either side were not using their given abilities, the Arcana. Both sides weren't using any form of firearm either. Despite feeling the thrill, they could feel the explosive amazement within their hearts and the sudden desire to wish to be by their side as equals.

Feeling a smile curl on her lips, Celestina pulled out a knife and a pistol, while Abelle pulled out a pair of pistols. Pietro did the same, except it was a single one; Ekundayo pulls out a whip from underneath her garments. Then the two royals quickly pulled out their own bladed weapons. Alfieri though didn't pull out anything and simply grinned.

"Man, it seems like Angelica did round up a bunch of badass fighters," he remarked, suddenly pulling out a cigarette pack from his pocket. It surprised everyone around him because they had never ever seen him smoke, nor did he even carry the stench of a smoker. The man didn't say a word as he got out one stick and lit it up. He continued to be silent while he exhaled smoke. His friends didn't say anything either, and just waited for his instructions.

The group's aura had completely changed since the time they have brought out their weapons. Even the cowardly Pietro became serious. And fighting her opponents on her own while covering Luciano's back, Angelica could feel their spirits set aflame, feeling that new exciting passion within them. The feeling of adrenaline running through her veins brought a smile on Angelica's lips.

"I guess I didn't need to do anything at all after all," she muttered as she closed her eyes, hiding the shining light from within.

"Luciano!" Angelica called her partner's name.

"Yes?" the redhead replied, kicking his opponent in the balls.

"I'd like you to get back to the others. Bring them to Regalo and see to the famiglia's wellbeing," said Angelica as she took down her last opponent. "I don't think we will be left unmarred. There are currently four fake Arcana users aboard the train. The best choice of action at the moment is not defending me, a blind fortuneteller. But it's protecting the powerless passengers here. We have to secure our hold on the train's control room and make sure these bastards won't! If you weren't thinking of the passengers at all, and you thought that the entire situation was just to secure my protection then I can't help but feel disappointed with all of you!

"I appreciate your compassion to care for me. But I am just a woman who is fighting for the Arcana Famiglia, an honorable famiglia who fights to protect its mother town. But in due time, the famiglia will grow and would accept any form of help or need from anyone who asks! That is my vision! I may be blind, but I dream of a world of peace: a world with no suffering. A world where no one needs to be alone! A world where people could raise families and live a life of happiness! This isn't my story, and never was in the first place. This is the story of the rise of the Arcana Famiglia!"

Unknown to Luciano, the woman had actually relayed the message to the rest of the team who heard her voice through their Arcanas. It surprised them at a great length to hear her voice inside their heads. But without putting a say to it, everyone, though a little disappointed, began getting back into the train by the usage of hanging on the railings above and underneath the windows.

Some didn't need to prodded and went straight for the control room. Those who went for the room directly were Abelle and Pietro, who were familiar with mechanics and the like. The rest began either throwing out the hooligans or knocking them unconscious while protecting the passengers all at the same time. It wasn't easy because before Abelle and Pietro could enter the control room, they had to take out all the bad guys in the first few cars of twelve. The two shot several bullets at their opponents, and the bullet shells clattered on the floor. Blood was spilled inevitably. The others weren't exactly having an easy time either due to the presence of the passengers, Azad though did an amazing job of protecting the people from stray bullets by creating a shield.

"Take it easy will you?" complained Celestina as she watched Ekundayo crack her whip at her attackers. "You're taking all the good ones!"

"Can it, Celestina," sighed the older woman. "You seem to be enjoying this."

Celestina smirked, playfully toying with her knife with her fingers. "Is it wrong if I have some fun?"

"Not really. But it shows the sadist you actually are," remarked Ekundayo.

"Tch. You don't need to preach me your high morale!"

Ekundayo frowns. "Who said I was?"

"Ladies," intervenes Alfieri. "I believe you could save your chitchat later once we get rid of all the pests here."

With those words, the man charges at a group of men ahead of the girls, quickly knocking them all one by one in a matter of minutes. Suddenly a man appears from the entrance, which caught the attention of Alfieri and the women with him. After taking a good look at the man, their eyes widened in shock and horror when they realized what was on him.

* * * * * * * *

Meanwhile at the top of the cars of the train, Angelica and Luciano had finally finished cleaning up the top, although there was a bit of blood smeared on the metallic roofs. Luciano appeared exasperated, and Angelica didn't seem the least surprised.

"Ann," his voice called against the wind. "I know you're doing this all for the goodwill of the famiglia, but I would like you to consider your wellbeing. You're planning on getting left behind again aren't you?"

With her hair against the strong wind, Angelica gazed into Luciano's eyes with remorse. It had gotten lose from the bun from all the action, but her dress remained safe and sound. "I already told you before: get to the others and stop worrying about me. Have a little more faith in me, Luciano."

"You're quite conceited sometimes, Ann! You often believe that you have to carry the burden of responsibilities of the Arcana Famiglia all by yourself. You push away hands of help, yet you extend yours to others. Aren't you being hypocritical?"

The woman stiffened at those words.

"You dare," she growled, clenching her fists. "I will not care what you think of me, Luciano: whether you see me as a hypocrite or not no longer matters because I know I'm not doing anything wrong. I believe I've told you that this is not my battle alone. But let me add this: I simply play on certain roles not everyone can take on. This is why I carry this responsibility. I hoped you would understand, but I guess I was wrong. Your infatuation for me is too great."

While she said these words, Angelica felt tears stream down her cheeks and her heart felt heavy. She knew her words stung, and she knew that she could have said them on a different manner. But she knew no other way, and Angelica did not care to rack her brain for anything else. All she could think of was to escape the pain in her heart, but all she could see was the man who had nudged that flesh that beats within her chest.

Before Luciano could say reply an explosion erupted underneath the roof they stood on. They were quick to jump off from the pit of destruction, but it made the distance between them even greater just like their hearts. Angelica stood by the end section while Luciano stood at the front where the engine was and where the sound of the siren screamed. For a moment their eyes were locked together, and both young people were saddened and depressed. Without saying anything, Angelica turned her face away. But her depression was removed from her mind when she heard gunfire in front of her. She quickly charged to attack, ignoring Luciano's cries.

"Shit," coughed Alfieri as the smoke around him dispersed. Then when he heard Luciano's frantic cries calling Angelica's name, the man jerked his head up with a look of horror. The roof was blown off along with most of the car. He had managed to protect himself and the women with him by instinctively using his Arcana. Clicking his tongue, Alfieri wondered what had happened in the battle that had occurred above him.

Coughing as she got up, Celestina slowly heaved herself to her feet while holding on to Alfieri. She appeared unharmed, and seemed more annoyed than worried about the damages inflicted on the car. Ekundayo also appeared unharmed, feeling rattled though about what had just occurred. Due to the train's high speed, the smoke was quick to disperse.

"Damn, those guys have suicide bombers!!" yelled Celestina, kicking around the rubble.

Her face crumples into a glare when her eyes land on the corpse of the bomber. It reeked of gasoline and the flesh was badly burned. It's quite surprising that the entire car wasn't destroyed. But that moment of relief disappeared when Celestina's silvery orbs caught sight of another man, standing by the entrance, carrying sticks of dynamite. Her hands quickly forced Alfieri to turn his gaze at the terrorist who merely smiled creepily at them. The dynamites with him had their fuses already lit and before they knew it, he dashed passed them and into the front cars with the passengers. Horrifying Alfieri and the rest, the three quickly ran after the man.

Unknown to them the man himself was an Arcana user. Turning into smoke, he went through the train with no problem. People screamed at the sight, running out of the way as quick as they can which led them into crashing into each other. It was chaotic, but it seemed like the man was enjoying the entire scenery. Soon he reached the control room where Abelle and Pietro were stationed at, and after a moment's thinking—he attacked them.

"What the—?!" screeched Abelle, pulling out his pistol.

Shooting at the black mist before him, the bespectacled man becomes frustrated once he realizes that bullets hold no effect of attacks at all. The black mist simply continued to mock and taunt him.

"Damn it!" he seethed, throwing his gun at the mist once the bullets ran out.

"It's futile, boy," cackled the mist. "You'll die here, and the rest of you shall follow."

Abelle glared. "Tch!"

Suddenly the mist began swirling around Abelle, and whenever it touches the bespectacled man, pain like fire and pins and needles pierced his victim. Abelle fought to escape the mist, but his efforts remained futile when the mist stuck to him like bees swirling around a honey thief. His hands swung around, hoping to shoo away the mist. But even that didn't work; all Abelle could do was scream in pain.

Pietro who stood petrified at a corner of the room as he watched his friend suffer. His blue eyes trembled violently as his body shook. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead while the man racked his brain for ideas to help his friend. But the screams Abelle emitted only brought him intense fear and anxiety, however, as time continued to pass Pietro came to a realization: his friend was dying and the only thing he's doing was watch him suffer.

Anger began to swell up inside him deep inside. He couldn't bear to see his friend suffer so immensely, while he just sits like a coward cowering in a corner. He fought to stand up and once he stood on his feet with a brave face, Pietro took a deep breath. He could still feel the drops of sweat roll down the sides of his head. Deep inside he knew that engaging in combat might very well take his life if he isn't careful; Abelle is already suffering. And he couldn't bear the thought of making him suffer more by making himself suffer.

"Hey, bastard!" Pietro yelled, stretching his arm towards the mist. "Get away from Abelle!!"

Instantly his hand began to glow and lightning flashed from the back of his hand. Pietro found himself surprised but he quickly grasped the idea and shot at the smoky mist around his friend, and it instantly forced the fake Arcana user into his original form. Victory was at hand when their attacker's screams were audible and it signified a chance to make the tables turn over.

"This is for hurting Abelle!" screamed Pietro as lightning from his hand strengthened at incredible amounts that it sent the fake Arcana user out of the control room and onto the train tracks that was on the far curve. Relieved to have sent the bad guy away, Pietro quickly rushed to his friend's aid.

"Abelle! Abelle!" yelled Pietro, shaking his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry! I'm so weak, damnit! Damnit all!"

His problem didn't just remained at that. Not long after trying to tend to his friend's wounds, an explosion occurred that shook the entire train. It horrified Pietro and even woke up the once unconscious Abelle.

"What the hell happened?!" gasped Abelle, looking at his friend disbelievingly.

"You're awake!" cried Pietro, feeling his tears well up in his eyes.

"Yes, I'm awake," growled Abelle, getting up. "And what the hell happened??"

"Alright, alright! I'll check!" Pietro quickly replied. Not saying anything else, he left Pietro's side and hurried to take a peak outside. The sight he saw sent chills up his spine, making him tremble to the very core.

"Well?" Abelle's voice, interrupts Pietro's troubled thoughts.

"Th-The. . The. . The—The train tracks!! The train tracks!!"

"What about the train tracks?!" yelled Abelle angrily, forcing himself up his feet. But he instantly fell due to the pain from his injuries. He groaned from the stinging pain, but he managed to crawl towards the opening and see what had happened. His green eyes widened when he realized that the train tracks above the bridge had been destroyed. And if they can't escape the catastrophe ahead of them, they would surely die once they fall into the ravine below.

Abelle frowned.

"Tch."

~~~

Number of words: 3692

Guys, I'm so sorry for the late update!! I was super busy due to my school schedule and assignments that I couldn't find the time to write! But I'm quickly adjusting! I hope to be able to update regularly once again :D

Thanks and happy reading!!

- R