The Girl With A Dream

~Footsteps!

~Panting! 

On our way to the 5th Level, Majd and I were ambushed by a ship belongs to the Axiom, Jaden thought. We were forced to land in a mana deprived planetoid on the edge of the 4th Level, called Lucis. We found ourself in a small town named Maplewood. As a first impression, it seemed like we're back to the real world. This town felt to us like it was a warm place. It looked nice, sweet, innocent; despite all the North side South side segregation or so we thought.

On the long hospital hallway, there were raging footsteps heading towards a certain room. They were Julia, Toby, Cristina, and Eugene with Jaden following a little behind.

 We thought that bullying and finding a date to the dance were the biggest problems we might encounter, Jaden thought as he caught up to the others, and reached the room. 

 But that apparently is about to change..

"Oh my god, Kym!" Toby yelled. 

Jaden eyes caught Julia hugging her K-pop looking boyfriend as he shaded couple of silent tears. He was standing next to his father's death bed. Eugene was completely frozen in place, and Toby and Cristina were crying silently in the corner.

"He was there, Julls.." Kym managed to say. "We were about to have ice-cream at a store nearby, and" 

"I'm so sorry, babe.." Julia cried as she held him tight.

"He was shot by some masked guy I.." Kym backed off. "I couldn't protect him.."

Jaden was standing there in shock. He observed Kym's clothes as there were large stains of blood from his father.

He must have arrived here while he was still alive!, Jaden thought. C.O.D in this case is much likely shock. I wonder if it's the right time to ask further questions..

"How did he look like?" Eugene asked. "Do you have a physical description?" 

Majd?!, Jaden was surprised. 

"Hehe was wearing a black cloak, and a mask with a face of a skull.." Kym said slowly.

Black cloak?!, Jaden's eyes widened in shock. No way! Could it be?!

"I'm scared!" Cristina's body was shaking.

"Did he rob the place?" Toby asked.

"I don't think so.." Kym replied. "He didn't even hurt anybody else.." 

Julia then made him sit down, and as she was holding his hand she asked him if there were anything else he remembered.

"When he aimed at my dad," Kym explained. "They were both standing face to face, and right before he pulled the trigger, I stood between them. I protected my dad, but he did something weird and his hand sorta disappeared.." 

"WHAT?!" Toby, Julia, and Cristina exclaimed.

Eugene gave Jaden a glance and whispered "Sacred Art.." 

"....But this planetoid is mana restricted!" Jaden hesitantly said.

"I didn't get what was happening. And in a one moment.." Kym told them how it exactly occured. He replayed the memory in his head.

.

.

"NOOOOOO!!" he shouted.

"Kym, stand away!" Mr. Je-Yong told his son when he stood between them.

"I won't let you hurt him!" Kym yelled at the masked person who was determined to shoot.

A second later, the masked shooter's hand vanished into a round floating hole on his right side. "It's. Show. Time." he muttered before Kym heard the shot occurring.

~Bang!

"Huh?!" Kym turned to find his father shot in the chest. "Huh? Dad! No way dad, how did this..?!" 

As Kym kneeled down to support his father, he looked back at the mysterious masked shooter. He had disappeared! But in his place, there was a wrapped old golden paper.

.

.

"This is it.." Kym showed it to Julia. 

As she wanted to unwrap it, three people came storming in. The two were Julia's parents, and the third was the sherif of this town. He was wearing a police uniform with a hat which he took off immediately after he put his foot in the room.

"Mom, daddy!" Julia ran up to them. 

"I've already taken a look at the crime scene. The CSI team are doing their very best to get anything that can help us." the Sheriff said.

"Thanks, Sheriff. Scott." Julia's father shook hands with him. "We'll make sure Kym stays safe in our house till then." 

"Alright," Shriff. Scott was taking his leave, but then he noticed Jaden and Eugene. "Who are these two?" 

"Don't worry, sir. They are just friends from school." Julia replied.

"I see... they just seemed unfamiliar.." he said and walked away. 

Jaden then turned to Eugene after he said "It's already late, so please excuse us."

"Time to head home, Eugene!" Jaden glared at his friend.

"Ehh, well okay.." Eugene couldn't refuse.

After arriving home, Julia put poor Kym on tranquilizer in order for him to sleep the night. Afterwards, she went sitting with her parents. Her mother was the town's local newspaper reporter, and her father was an explorer. He had been to various places in the realm.

"I'm so sorry, baby!" Julia's mother, Jessica said. "If you're not feeling it, I got something that could help.."

"Honey," her father, Peter, stopped his wife from giving a substance to her daughter. "This is a serious matter!" 

"It's okay, Daddy.." Julia grabbed her mom and made her lay on the couch. Near her, was the wrapped letter she wanted to check.

When her father followed her to the living room, Julia was already looking at what was written on it.

"What's that?" Mr. Park asked.

"This letter was dropped by that masked murderer before he leaves." Julia answered. "But it's written in letters I've never seen before!"

Mr. Park then, took a long look at the text on the letter. "This is probably bogus.." he said quietly. "But it's a crime scene evidence, so I'll have to take it to the Sheriff's office tomorrow!" 

Julia's father nearly snatched the paper from between her fingers, and left the room.

"Don't forget to put some blanket on your mom, okay?" he said.

"Yeah," Julia quietly replied. "Good night, Daddy.." 

Once they reached their ship, which at this circumstances was considered their home, Jaden and Eugene discussed what should they do next. 

"I can't believe that murder exists in a town so peaceful!" Eugene sighed.

"But it happened before.." Jaden said. "Those flyers, they were hinting that the mayor was about to get killed."

"But this killer," Eugene complained. "How come he could use Sacred Arts?!"

"That's the question.." Jaden muttered. "Anyways, we better be careful. Whoever this freak is, we're no match for him at the moment.." 

"What are you saying?!" Eugene exclaimed.

"What I'm trying to say: we gotta stay put till he goes away, and then look for someone who can repair the ship, so we'll be on our way!" Jaden uttered.

"What's wrong with you?!" Eugene yelled. "These people are our friends!"

"Our friends?! The AIs? You're outta your freakin' mind!" he yelled.

"Yes, they're actual people with hopes and dreams." Eugene replied.

"So, now we have to help them?!" Jaden yelled back. "You can't get it?! We can't use mana, and that masked killer can!"

"Since when you became a coward?!" Eugene argued.

"Picking your battles is wisdom, Majd!" Jaden shot back. "We can't afford to lose ourselves."

"We'll find a way!" Eugene replied. "But I'm helping them.."

Eugene went to sleep in his room on the ship. Before closing the door he told his friend "Being too careful doesn't look good on you, Mado.."

Jaden then walked into his room without saying a word. He put his head on the pillow and closed his eyes as his mind kept replaying memories hidden deep down inside his heart.

.

.

"..You wanted to play hero. I just gave an excuse.." 

.

.

.

.

"..You're just desperate, like other guys.."

.

.

.

 All of them are just rotten..

"Jaden!Jaden!" A voice was knocking on his very tiny room. Jaden slowly opened his eyes. "Jaden we have a visitor!" 

He recognized that the voice belonged to Eugene. Jaden got up, and pressed the door open to only find Julia standing next to Eugene. He looked at his friend in disbelief.

"Seriously.." Jaden sighed.

"I brought breakfast!" Julia smiled.

Later on, once Jaden was wide awake, the three were eating the bacon sandwiches Julia brought.

"This is really good..!" Jaden muttered.

"Yeah!" Eugene cried out of happiness. "I've never ate something like this before!" 

"Uh, I'm glad you loved it!" Julia replied happily.

"See, we don't usually accept guests, but you're welcome anytime!" Eugene declared.

"So, you came here this early to have breakfast with us?!.." Jaden grinned at her.

"JADEN!" Eugene exclaimed from his behavior.

"C'mon, her boyfriend's dad just got murdered last night, and she makes us bacon!" 

"Oh well, I wanted something.." Julia's face turned pale. "Last night I saw that letter the killer left behind.."

"Yeah, that letter!" Eugene said. "Wonder what was on it.."

"What was written on it?" Jaden asked.

"My Dad took it to the station as an evidence, but I've managed to take a picture." Julia explained as she picked up her phone. "It was written with weird symbols!" 

Both Eugene and Jaden looked at the photo she snapped.

"Those are not weird symbols!" Eugene replied.

"This is Runic." Jaden said. "A language found in old dungeons." "Language...?" Julia tilted her head.

"You don't know what 'language' means?" Eugene asked.

"Uh not really.." Julia stuttered.

"It's the specific form of wording a bunch of people use to communicate." Jaden said in a cold tone.

"Jaden, that was very academic!" Eugene mocked him.

"Oh, I understand.." she said quietly. "So this LANGUAGE.. Who uses it?" 

"The ancient Cetra!" Eugene answered while ingesting the still warm bacon Julia had brought. "But they're all gone long ago, so now it's only found in old dungeons, right?"

"Can I check it out?" Jaden took Julia's phone. Since he spent most of his life among dungeon raiders and demon hunters, Jaden was capable of reading Runic sufficiently enough. 

Let's see.., he read the Runic text.

"... FOR THE GIRL WITH A DREAM WHO WISHED FOR DAYS ANEW, DEATH GUN WILL SHOW IN TIME WHEN IT ALL COME TRUE..." 

"What the...?" Eugene muttered. "Death Gun...!"

"Could it mean..." Julia mumbled.

"Not done here yet!" Jaden held their attention. "WHERE THE SMELL OF ANTHEM ALWAYS SEEPS AND REEKS, IT IS I YOU WILL SEE, BETWEEN TWENTY TWO AND FORTY THREE.." 

"You lost me on this one.." Eugene muttered. 

Anthem!, Jaden heard this term before. Is it that same enhancer pills people in 077 take?

"Do you know anything about Anthem?" Jaden asked Julia.

"Of course! It's a terrible addictive drug that people on the South-side trade." her answer made Jaden more concerned.

Are these substances explicatingly this well known?! 

"Maybe the Azerrak Almanac doesn't forbid such actions..." he mumbled.

"But the last part looked bizzar!" Eugene said. "We'll see him between 22 and 43!" 

"Don't forget he mentioned the smell of Anthem, too." Jaden added.

 The smell of Anthem.., Julia clenched her fists before speaking.

"Maybe I know what that means.." she hesitated.

"Huh?"

"Sometimes, when there's late tutoring at school." Julia explained. "Some students pretend like they're attending, while in fact they make trades.."

"They sell Anthem.." Eugene replied. "Like it's a black market!" 

But that's absurd!, Jaden thought. If Anthem isn't actually banned by any law, then there won't be any need for shady trades! Something smells fishy here..

"But I don't think there's a room 43 in our school." Julia said.

"Maybe he meant something else!" Eugene replied.

"Like coordinates.." Jaden concluded. "A map would've been helpful."

"We need a computer to access the town's map." Julia said. "I suggest we use the school library." 

"Okay, let's move!" Eugene stood up. 

"Uhh not now, Eugene..." Julia looked down.

Jaden understood her fleeting attitude. "She still have to be at the funeral. Did you forget about that?" he told him.

"Oh, yeah.. sorry!" Eugene gave an awkward expression. 

Jaden then told Julia to meet them in the school grounds later that night during late night classes. 

 The South side and that glowing thing, he replayed the flashbacks of when he saw Carmen in the locker room. I'll get into the bottom of this, I have to...

"Sheriff. Scott, you wanted to see me?" Kym asked.

"Have a seat, Kym" the Sheriff welcomed him.

After his father's funeral, Kym was asked to check in at the Sheriff's department.

"I know exactly that losing a parent is brutal. I know that you might need some time to get out of your shock.." he said. "But no matter what I know, I'll never know how painful it is to you."

Kym closed his eyes. "Before he dies before he come down to visit, my dad told me he'd found a lovely woman.." Kym said. "He wanted to settle with, and start new. Ever since my mom died, he never laughed, but this time, he was laughing. He was lighter!" 

"I'm very sorry, Kym.." the Sheriff replied.

"It's all it was all my fault!" Kym cried quietly. "If I didn't insist on him visiting.." 

"Kym, son, you're dad was a brilliant guy. He never hurt anyone to die like that.."

"Sir, I" Kym stuttered.

"How do you feel about it?" Sheriff. Scott asked. "Doesn't make you angry?" 

"Yeah, a lot.."

"You know, Mr. Park was here today, and he filled me in on couple of handful things related to your case." Sheriff. Scott explained. "He suggested something that I'm sure you'd like.."

Later that night, at the school front door, Julia was standing near the entrance. She waiting for the two boys who agreed to help her out. Few minutes had passed, and nobody showed up. Julia's patience was just about to fade out. Her mind was rumbling about what could happen if that masked killer, Death Gun, would come out from any corner. Julia's body started to shiver, and her eyes were abruptly glancing at every direction. Then, she sensed a gentle touch on her shoulder. Julia lost her breath. Her heart was about to stop all together.

"Huh?!" Julia turned around in an instant.

Once she rotated her body, she saw both Eugene and Jaden looking back at her.

"Sorry for being late," Eugene said. "But Jaden apparently had to come prepared.." 

Jaden brought his Engineblade with him. He wrapped it in toilet paper.

"I'm so thankful it's you guys!" Julia sighed in relief while both boys looked confused.

Eugene, Julia, and Jaden were on their way to the school's library. They were able to hear few voices coming from the late night classes. 

"Check this out!" Eugene whispered. "This is actually night school!" 

"Pretty creepy, right?" Julia said. "But there are people who have jobs in the morning, so they got no other choice besides studying at night."

"So, it isn't only for highschoolers.." Jaden mumbled.

Once they were near the library, Jaden noticed a number of people standing a little distant.

"Isn't that Chico?!" he asked.

"And the rest of his gang." Eugene added.

"They're probably doing business.." Julia mumbled quietly. "...Unbelievable..." 

Jaden immediately noticed both Petra and Doulchry among the group with Chico, and he came up with a quick plan.

"Majd," he whispered. "There're people there who I might've got to know." 

"Really?!" Eugene whispered back.

"How about I tag along with Julia inside, and you be look out?" Jaden suggested. 

"Eh, but that's" Eugene stuttered.

"They don't know you. So, they would assume that you're here for some late night knowledge." Jaden explained.

Eugene ended up agreeing to his friend's plan, and when both Julia and Jaden went into the library, he stayed outside, pretending like he was waiting for someone. 

The Southern group began to walk closer near Eugene. Their leader, Chico took money from a thin sloppy boy.

"Yeah yeah!" Chico said, but then, he pushed him to the ground. "It's 40 short!" 

"Gehhaa!!" the thin boy groaned in pain.

"Uhh I think it's 15 short...." one of his lackeys added.

"SHUT UP!" Chico yelled and kept kicking him. "How dare you trick me!"

"Um I'm sorry... I'll pay the rest in a week... I swear!" the thin boy managed to say.

"How about you pay me now?!" Chico took out his knife.

"Chico, no! Please don't hurt me!" he begged in pain, but Chico didn't stop. He rose the thin boy up, and rested the knife on his cheek. But then, his arm was held by a rather strong grip. 

~Grab!

When Chico looked behind him, he saw a dark golden haired boy looking straight to his face.

"He said, he'll pay you in a week." Eugene said in a serious tone.

Meanwhile, behind the library walls, Julia and Jaden were looking for a computer to use. Once they found one, the librarian told them to sign a log.

"You go on ahead. I'll finish this and follow you." Julia told Jaden who did as she said.

The library was large enough for someone to lose their way in it. There were two floors full of contless shelves that housed thousands of books from all over the realm. The dark yellow lamps and the asthetic brown decor had given the place a warm slow vibe.

The moment he sat on a vacant computer, Jaden immediately opened the planetoid's map. It was vast and detailed. Jaden felt intrigued to know more about Lucis, and mana restrictions. He scrolled around Maplewood, and saw the large green areas that resembles forests, and wide fields. He also realized that there were towns and cities bigger, better, and much more advanced and energetic than Maplewood. He then noticed a unique structure on the map.

What's that? he wondered.

"That's Petitos dungeon." Julia said.

"Oh, you're here!" Jaden replied.

"Did you put in the coordinates?" she sat next to Jaden.

"I was waiting for you to see it!" Jaden playfully answered.

After he inserted the numbers, the map pin pointed an area in the woods. When Jaden requested a picture of the place, it turned out to be an old shack on the other side of the woods.

"Is that does he live here?!" Julia shrugged.

"It doesn't seem like anybody lived there for years!" Jaden said. "It's more like a set up." 

It's obviously a trap, he thought.

Julia looked down for some time, and then she said "It's fine let's go!" 

"For real?!" Jaden was surprised. "You're fine knocking on a killer's door?!" 

"I have to do this.." Julia stood up and started walking towards the door.

Jaden got off the chair. "And why's that?!" he asked. "It's not like it has something to do with you."

Jaden's question made Julia frozen in place. Her entire body went tense and then she sighed. "Last month, I delivered a speech at the Town Hall about my dreams.." she said. "I said that dream of a place free from segregation, greed, and sinners..." 

"The girl with a dream.." Jaden folded his arms.

She believe that Death Gun activities are provoked by her words, he thought. But why would anybody go through all this trouble to fulfill somebody else's wishes?

"I'm probably the reason my boyfriend lost his dad.." Julia's eyes were full of tears.

"That's not your job.." Jaden muttered.

"Or maybe it is.." she mumbled.

"Alright, then.." he sighed.

"Is everything alright?" the lady librarian interjected.

"Yeah," Julia quickly covered her face.

"Totally!" Jaden gave her a thumbs up. 

And now we're drawing attention!, he thought. Hope she didn't hear anything. That masked freak could end up being anyone, so I gotta be careful.

Jaden quickly took Julia's hand and went near a window. 

"Oh, what are y"

"Listen," Jaden shushed her. "We're gonna sneak out, okay?" 

"Do you think the lib?" 

"In fact, anybody who knows about your speech is a possible suspect." Jaden whispered.

"That means the entire town!" Julia complained.

"Exactly.." he replied as he slowly opened the window.

Right outside the library, Eugene was having a confrontation with the baddest Southern, Chico.

"And who's this punk?" he said quietly. 

"Must be a Northern!" Chico's lackey answered.

Petra and Doulchry gazed at each other simultaneously.

"So, that's how's it gonna be!" Chico tried to punch him fast, but Eugene dodged.

"This school is getting rouge boys!" Chico declared. "This is my second fight in a row!" 

"So what? Are you afraid that I would humiliate you in front of your friends?!" Eugene said.

"No way, vanilla boy.." Chico charged towards Eugene with incredible speed, and tried to kick him. Eugene successfully dodged it, and countered with a punch of his own which hit Chico and dropped him down.

"Whaaaaa!!" everyone around them yelled.

"Get up Chico!" his lackey yelled.

"Shut up, Frankie!" Chico got up fast, but this time, something about him was different.

Eugene noticed Chico's eyes slightly glowing. He then evaded one of his attacks. But Chico didn't stop, and kept his assaulting. One of his punches hit Eugene hard in the stomach, and sent him flying towards the wall.

~Slam!

"Guhaa-uh!" 

"YEAH!" Chico's gang cheered.

Eugene struggled to pull himself up. 

What sort of strength is this?, he wondered. It's like a thousand men punched me all at once. 

"What's up fancy bitch?!" Chico taunted him. "Can't take another shot?" 

Chico was on his way to deliver another deadly punch, but there was someone blocking his way. It was Doulchry who was also shaking on the inside.

"The fuck you think you're doing!" Chico said. "Petra, get your bitch out of my face!"

"Don't you think all this is just unnecessary, Chico?" Petra came forward. "We came for the Anthem, and we got 'em!"

"Don't forget he got the money too!" Frankie added.

"Yeah, nice job mate!" Doulchry shot back. 

Hey!, Eugene started to feel a familiar sensation. I can feel mana coursing through my body, but how?! 

"...System Call..." he whispered, and his body responded with a gentle blue glow.

"This Northie-ass has to die," Chico wanted to push his sister and Doulchry using might. "OUT. OF. MY. WAY!" 

"What's going on here?!" another voiced was heard. Mostly belonged to an older woman. "What's all this ruckus?!"

She walked in a hurry, and made everyone frozen in place. 

"Miss. Crumble!" said one of Chico's gang.

"Fuck!" Frankie mumbled in terror.

Miss. Crumble was teaching Politics during Night School. She heard most of what happened. But for the sake of school rules, she had to remain impartial.

"I want all of you in the principal's office." she said in a serious tone and assertive look.

"Well, c'mon Miss. Crumble!" Chico tried to persuade her, but it wasn't useful.

"I said, principal's office!" she glared firmly at Chico. "Is that clear, Mr. Vatos?.." 

"Crystal.." Chico and his folks backed off and walked to the office. 

Doulchry and Petra helped Eugene up, and went after them. 

During that time, Jaden and Julia were already walking through the western forest. They were heading towards the shack where the masked killer Death Gun presumably resides. Their escape through the library worked out smoothly. Jaden wouldn't have wanted to risk exposing their actions, even to friendly quiet Librarian.

Once the two of them reached the edge of the woods, they saw an abandoned shack in the middle of a wide open space with little to no vegetations. Jaden tried to focus at the surroundings of the house.

It's more like an old house than a shack!, he thought. And there's a storage room to my left. Maybe he'd try to ambush from there!

"I'll go.." Julia said.

"Uh, okay!" Jaden stuttered for a moment. 

It's obvious that she's scared to death, he thought. But she's also determined to see it all the way to the end. Don't know if it's out of guilt or she's just an idiot, but she sure earned my admiration...

Jaden witnessed Julia stepping forward towards the front door.

"Hey.." Jaden whispered to her. "I'll check that storage place first. Be careful in there!" 

Julia responded with a thumbs up, and continued on her way. She tried to twist the door nob the moment she reached the doorstep. To her horrifying surprise, the door opened gradually.

Standing still, Julia gazed forwards and the scene in front of her was as dark and empty as it was terrifying. After taking a long deep breath, she put one foot forward, and entered. 

The moment she was few steps in, the front door was suddenly shut. 

~Slam!

"Ahhh!" Julia screamed.

"...Don't be scared yet, Miss. Park..." said a deep monstrous voice that Julia didn't recognize. 

"Huh?!" she tried to turn her head in every direction to find the speaker. "Wha what are you?! How do you know my name?!" 

"...Who doesn't know Miss. Julia Park! The girl with the dream. The one who wants to purify this town.." the monstrous voice replied. "You see, we have so much in common.." 

Is that him?!, she thought.

"No way!" Julia yelled. "I'll never take anyone's life to achieve my goals!" 

"Of course.." the voice said. "Your dreams were forged out of your kind caring heart. You won't have a problem if they remained dreams.."

"That's not true!" Julia tried to locate the source of the voice. "My dreams are what keep me going everyday! When all comes crashing down, I remember what I'm striving for. And I'll make them a reality! It's your vision that will never come true, you selfish killer!" 

Julia stepped into an empty room with nothing except for one small mirror hung on the wall, yet she didn't find the mysterious speaker or anyone inside. She stood there and heard the strange voice telling her "Maybe, both of our vision won't come true in the end. Our strife to attain justice is a far fetch illusion." 

"You don't have to worry about me!" Julia replied. "It's you who would never attain anything!"

"...Here is where we are different from one another, Miss. Park. You see, my dream my foul vision, is born out of pain, and deprivation!" the voice got louder. "As long as this pain drives me forward, all those sinners will be perished."

"But why?!" she yelled. "Mr. Je-Yong was a good man.."

"..And how could be sure of that, huh?" the voice echoed as Julia's body began to shake.

"...." 

"That's what I thought. There's still a milestone for us to be eye to eye.." added the voice.

"Huh..?!" Julia felt something near her.

"Take that black mask next to your feet, and put it on!" the monstrous voice said. "You'll understand.."

Julia reached for the dusty black mask, and slowly stuck her face in it. Then, she looked at herself in the mirror. Once she did, Julia noticed somebody was standing right behind her through the mirror. It was a guy in a black cloak and skull-shaped black mask. Julia recognized him from Kym's description. He was Death Gun.

"Nothing will change, dreams will stay dreams if the sinners who become like thorns and weed are on your way.."

She wanted to jump and scream her lungs out, but her appearance behind the mask had her mesmerized.

"Ultimately, we are the same, Julia.." Death Gun added. "So, how about you join me? Let us show every sinner that our dreams will shine like a star in the morning!" 

Listening to what he said, Julia's mind was full of doubt and despair.

 Maybe everything I've done, she thought. Maybe all of it was for nothing...

"But.." she managed to say as her body was visibly shaking. "...But killing isn't the way!"

"It is the only way.." Death Gun replied.

"No I won't accept it.. It would only cause more pain, and raise hatred!" Julia cried. "I want people to understand each other, and love each other, and appreciate what we're fortunate enough to have... I want I WANT PEOPLE TO LIVE!" 

"Is that so...?" the masked killer raised his hand that was holding a gun towards Julia. "Let me show you how your dreams would practically work.."

Death Gun was aiming his gun at her. It was too late for Julia to think for a way to escape. Even her fall here would not add any value. She was in a clearly devastating situation. Her alert body had given up, and prepared to accept its misrable end. 

Before pulling the trigger, Death Gun said. "If you agreed to help me, we would make Maplewood a better place.." 

But in a fraction of a second, he changed his aim towards the back, and fired right away.

~Bang! ~Clink!

Death Gun's bullets was blocked by a sword's steel. Sparks from the impact had lit the place for a moment.

"She told you 'No'.." it was Jaden who raised his sword in his face.

Jaden twisted his hands, and dashed his Engineblade at Death Gun, but he jumped off.

"Too slow.." Death Gun muttered, and then shot twice. 

~Bang! Bang!

Jaden barely avoided his attacks, but he successfully grabbed his full attention.

Julia took the chance to run out of the room and take cover. Her body was still shivering. 

My hands can't stop shaking, she thought to herself. 

She tried closing her eyes to relax, but when she re-opened them, she saw Death Gun glowing eyes staring back at her up close.

"Huh!" she gasped.

But in split second, Jaden pushed him away. "Not so fast, you freak!" 

Jaden swung his weapon left and right, but the masked murderer's resiliance overwhelmed him. Death Gun then, changed his strategy, and broke out through the window. 

~Break!

Jaden and Julia tried to chase him outside, but when they got out, he had already fled.

"He's gone.." Jaden was panting.

Damn, my body feels heavy, he thought. He wasn't actually fighting me as much as he wanted to drive Julia nuts!

As he was still catching his breath, Jaden heard sirens. Julia who was still under a shock from what had just happened, noticed the red and blue lights blinking around. A second later, a number of officers had filled the place.

"There's only two people here!" they heard one officer said through a communicator.

The police took Jaden and Julia to the outside of the forest where they met Sheriff. Scott.

"You know that you two could be in a lot of trouble right about now!" he said.

Jaden found no other choice but to tell him the truth. "We're pretty much sorry, sir" he replied. "I'm ready to accept all charges if you'd keep Miss. Park's company and escort her home. It's getting really late." 

"I can see she's shaken up!" he lit a cigar. "Deputy, give Miss. Park here a ride home, and make sure her parents know about this!" 

"Yes, sir!" the deputy replied.

At the principal office, Miss. Crumble held a special kind of detention for the students she caught fighting in the hallway. 

"I'm not supposed to hold detention at this time of the day" she was saying.

"But we're night time..!" Frankie made a joke out of it, and he got few laughters, Chico's mostly. But Miss. Crumble kept her composer, and grinned at them. "Let's see how funny this would sound like!" she told them. "You're gonna be locked up in here until I'm done with my Level Politics's class which is still stretching for another two hours." 

"WHAT?!" most of the leather wearing people refused.

"Freedom!" Doulchry yelled.

"How'd like that, Franklin?" she then walked out of the room, and everyone heard her locking the door from the outside.

Eugene was sitting there in stupor all this time. The only thing was moving in him was his eyes. He gave the room a skim. It was small room with one large desk at the end of it and a ceiling fan. There was a large glass window that Eugene was able to see Miss. Crumble on the other side of preparing for her upcoming class.

"Look what happened to us because of you?!" Frankie accused Doulchry.

"Sorry, my bad that I accompanied your dirty asses.." he replied sarcastically.

"What'd you say, motherfuc" Frankie got up.

"I say we knock it off!" Petra yelled and stopped them.

Eugene quietly observed them, as well as Chico. But few minutes later, they heard a sudden strange sound.

~Bang!

It was so loud that it made Eugene jump off his seat.

"What the fuck was that?!" Chico asked.

"Better not be your friends, Northie!" Frankie pointed at Eugene.

"I don't have friends who make these sounds.." he replied.

~Craapkle! ~Crumble!

"Uhh, guys, I think I know where it's coming from.." Petra pointed at the classroom next-door, where Miss. Crumble was.

"Oh, shit!" one of Chico's lackeys said. "There's somebody else with her!" 

Eugene looked harder. He saw Miss. Crumble completely terrified from that person in front of her who wasn't dressed like anybody he had met in Maplewood.

"Check that freak out!" Frankie muttered. "Is he wearing a ski mask?!" 

"No, dumbass!" Petra replied. "He's wearing a skull mask!"

"Motherfucker got a gun!" Chico smirked.

"A gun.." Eugene remembered what Kym said at the hospital the day before.

.

.

"...He was wearing a black cloak, and a mask with a face of a skull..."

"...He shot my dad..." 

.

.

"Huh?!" Eugene snapped. "That's Death Gun! He's gonna kill her!" 

Inside that room, Miss. Crumble was horrified and confused. "Okay, listen you don't have to do this!" she was panicking as she was stepping slowly towards the door. But something unexpected occured.

"There are always things we don't have to do," Death Gun said. "But we end up doing them anyways, hehehehe.." 

Miss. Crumble realized that the masked killer she was about to flee from, is now behind her. 

"Huh?!" she panicked. "No, please don't do this!" 

Death Gun placed his gun on the back of her head."Hehehehe, Miss. Crumble.." he laughed a little. "..It's. Show. Time.."

Everyone in the principle office were desperately watching since they were locked up inside.

"No! Don't do it!" Petra shouted.

"Come on! SYSTEM CALL!!" Eugene was banging on the glass window. 

I was feeling my mana few minutes ago!, he thought to himself. This is not fair! 

"Generate ? Blizzard Element!" 

Eugene shouted out from the top of his lungs, yet nothing had occured. 

"God dammit!!" he banged the glass with all his might that it finally broke.

~Crack! ~Kalsh! ~Break!

Eugene fell out of the broken window onto the floor of the hallway. His hands were already bleeding. The others got out moments afterwards. But just when they thought they could do something...

~Bang!

 No!, Eugene got up in an instant.

He raced towards the classroom, but when he opened the door, he realized it was too late. Miss. Crumble was already shot through her head. Blood was coming out of an newly forged orifice on her forehead. A moment later, she was dropped down by Death Gun who was standing right before Eugene.

"You YOU SCUM!" Eugene shouted. "Why did you do this?! WHY?!" 

Death Gun turned around steadily and opened a magical black portal with illuminating cracks in the middle of it.

"Hey!" Eugene tried to get closer and catch him, but Death Gun went through, and the portal disappeared.

Eugene's grip was empty all of the sudden. He collapsed on his knees, and his fist hit the floor. 

"...Dammit! Dammit! God dammit!" 

"Nooooo!" someone behind him screamed.

"MISS. CRUMBL!!!" 

"SOMEBODY CALL THE COPS!"

After finally arriving home safely, Julia went to her room, and leaned against the door as she sunk silently downwards. She still couldn't shaken off that confrontation with Death Gun. It was a rough night on her. More rough than she ever could have imagined. 

Julia then, took herself to the bathroom, and took a hot shower. After she's done, she wore her pajamas, and went straight to bed. 

 It's over, she thought. That was a nightmare, and now it's over. 

But she was obliviously wrong. Right before she closes her eyes, Julia's phone rang. It wasn't a number she recognized, but thought maybe it was Kym checking up on her. 

"Hello.." she said first.

"....." 

"Uhh.." she stuttered.

"...Hey there, Julia..." a monstrous voice spoke through. Julia's body shimmered as she heard it.

"...It's me, Death Gun..." he said. "...Since I got your number from the school library, I couldn't stop myself from hearing your voice..."

"What do you want from me?!" she tumbled on the words. "What have I ever done to you?!"

"...Nothing..." he replied. "...That's the problem. I want us to be good friends... You see, since you turned me down earlier, I thought of showing you how actual dreams come true, but I won't spoil anything for now... but if you won't agree this time, every night, someone you know will just die!"

"Wha what would I be able to do?.." she asked hesitantly.

"...I need you to find me the glitch, Julia... That's all..."

"What's that?.." she asked him with tears running down on her cheeks.

"...An artifact that doesn't belong in your home, hehehe..." 

At the Sheriff's department, Jaden explained to Sheriff. Scott why he was with Julia at that abandoned shack. He also met Kym, who was planning to shoot a video in few minutes.

"Sir, the reporters are already here for your press." one officer said.

"Yes, thank you.." Sheriff answered, and walked with him.

During the Press Conference, Sheriff. Scott announced that he will issue an arrest form for the masked killer. The reporters were normally hungry for information about Death Gun, but the Sheriff kept all the details he obtained from Jaden disclosed.

After he was done, a deputy hurried towards him, and delivered the bad news.

"Sir, we've received a call from Maplewood High." he told the Sheriff as Jaden was there in office listening. "The masked killer showed up again. He apparently shot a teacher dead.."

Hearing that, Kym slammed the table, and ran yelling for a 'set'.

Few minutes later, there were cameras, a set, and Kym standing with bunch of other Northside boys.

"And rolling!" the camera man said.

"My name is Kym Je-Yong, and me and my folks are the Red Circle." Kym declared. "Lately there's been a series of attempted murders. And unfortunately, two of them were catastrophic. So, today, I hereby on my comrades' behalf, give an oath to all our Northside families of Maplewood, that we the Red Circle will protect your lives with our own. And that we'll catch this criminal once and for all." 

Jaden witnessed as Kym got an applause from most of the department employees.

"And as for the masked killer, known as Death Gun!" Kym continued with obvious frustration. "I'm informing you that we will not be afraid of you. You're going to haunt us no more. It's now in fact your turn to be afraid. Because no matter where you are hiding on the Southside, we will find you!" Kym got closer to the camera. "We will hunt you... And we will end you.."

Everyone around him praised his words, but to Jaden, something was resoundingly clear.

 Kym Je-Yong has associated the Southside with Death Gun, he thought. In other words, that speech was a direct threatening message to all Southerns..

"This is bad.." he muttered.