246 41 My Promise To You

As they began walking toward the dojo, Abbey momentarily stopped. "So what's the game plan, leader?" Abbey asked. "We go in with our guards up is all." Rick said. "What the h.e.l.l kinda vague plan is," Before she could finish, Rick, carrying a sleepy Maru, looked over his shoulder at her. "One of you will stand outside with Maru, Incase." Abbey frowned. "But still..." She sighed. "Maybe Tammy should." Sena spoke up. Tammy looked up. "Eh...?" Chris nodded. "You're the second youngest here, plus you're not," He quickly shut his mouth. Tammy looked at him. "Not what Chris...?" She asked. "I think what they're trying to get at is you're not... physically on par with the rest of us." Rick said. Tammy frowned. "I guess..." Rick smiled. "'Sides we'll be inside if there's commotion out there, we'll hear it." Tammy nodded.

"Well, here we are." Chris said. Abbey stared for a moment. "Abbey..." Sena said, reaching for her hand. Abbey blushed. "I'm good, really Sena." She smiled, taking her hand. "Hold up." Rick said, as he handed a sleeping Maru to Chris. "What's up...?" Chris asked cautiously. "It's...unlocked." Tammy quickly opened the text. "The threat said there'd be a key though..." Before anyone could say anything, the door began to open. Everyone quickly got on guard. As the door opened, it revealed Keren. "You guys too..." Keren whispered. Norio, seated in a chair looked out the door, his eye widened.

"Here, this is the letter..." Keren said, placing it down in the middle of the table. Rick grabbed it, quickly skimming through it. Norio kept his head turned away. "Well?" Abbey said. "Read it out loud." Tammy whispered. "It says," Rick began. "Glad to You've all made it. By now I'm sure you've learned there's no serious threat, yet. However, the true danger will be found at the location listed on the back. Please stay on guard, your life depends on it. I left a few weapons around the building as well, thank you Abbey." Rick then flipped it over. "This is..." Rick looked at Chris. "Isn't this another part of the labs?" He asked. Chris leaned in to take a look. "Yup, that's a secluded, abandoned part of the labs." He paused. "It's somewhere near Ocleau Forest." Keren looked up. "But we live in the forest...how have we never seen it...?" Norio scoffed. "The forest is big, dummy." Keren puffed her cheeks in annoyance. Chris started at the paper then sighed. "This really isn't a joke..." The room fell silent. "What are the weapons...?" Tammy asked. "Three swords." Abbey said, as she knelt down to pick them up. "Only three...?" Keren asked. "When there's...seven adults." She turned to Norio. "Did I count that right?" Norio nodded his head. "Who here knows how to fight using a sword?" Chris asked. Sena, and Abbey raised their hands. Chris turned to Rick. "Raise your hand." Rick grumbled, raising his hand. "Oh...that's only three of us." Tammy looked around. "Are you three really ok with that...?" They turned to her. "Using the sword would mean you'd potentially be killing..." Sena looked at Abbey concerned. "Listen," Abbey began. "They're threatening our lives, it's all in self defense." She crosses her arms and sighed. "I have no qualms..." She turned to Sena. "You ok...?" She asked. Sena nodded. "You're right...I just." She looked down. "I'll just try my best to avoid using it unless I need to I guess..." Abbey smiled sadly, taking her hand. "If you don't want to I understand..." she stroked her hand. "If that's the case... I'll be your s.h.i.+eld, just until you can unsheathe." Sena looked up at her. "Abbey..." she whispered. Rick turned to look at Maru, who was asleep in the corner of the room. "I'm fine with whatever." Chris chuckled. "We kinda a.s.sumed so." Rick turned to Norio. "Anyways...why are you here?" Norio closed his eye. "They have my kid." Keren nodded. "They kidnapped Emersyn a couple of nights ago..." Rick's eyes widened. "That doesn't make sense...why would they take your kid and not..." Norio frowned. "Maybe they didn't see the opportunity, and that's why we're all here." Chris looked around. Someone knows what's up over there..." He grumbled. "Maybe the threat is giving us a chance..." He sighed. "Are you saying the threat might be on our side?" Tammy asked. Norio looked up. "Or this all some sick joke to lure us in." He shut his eye. "I refuse to kill," He began. "But, I took lessons in hand to hand combat." Rick looked at him and gave a nod. "Well, whatever's waiting for us over there," He began. "I think we're ready to face whatever may come." He looked at Maru. "I don't want her to be exposed to all of this, but..." He sighed. "She's really been through enough at her age." The room fell silent once more. "How about a blindfold...?" Tammy suggested. Rick looked at her. "Someone will just have to carry her, I guess." Rick gave a nod. "I'll go home and get mine."

As everyone stood up to leave, Rick paused. "Listen," He began. "I put my trust into each and everyone of you...I won't let any one of you die," He paused. "That's my promise to all of you." Everyone smiled. "Yeesh, do you have a promise kink or somethin...?" Chris said, laughing. Rick chuckled. "Just shut up, and don't die...I'm counting on you." Chris nodded. "Ah, I'll do whatever it takes to make your promises come true." Chris watched as Rick left. And let out a sigh. Abbey gave him a playful punch. "Let's go Romeo, we don't have all day to flirt." Chris chuckled. "Funny coming from you." Abbey blushed. "S-shut up..." She grumbled. "It's just...I'll do anything to see the man who gave my life a purpose happy." Chris said, shutting his eyes and smiling.