"Rico, the so-called Master and the big boss of the SRF, was the man she intended to speak with to get the answer she needed…and she did…" Rose Slayer thought as she saw Monica and a mysterious man with a full dark mask with a drop on its left. Rico was the only mafia boss who could be her equal in a battleground.
"That's where you were wrong, Monica. You see, the mistake that you made is betrayal. Of course, you know who I am talking about. I just put you in a place where you'll feel the pain, but the rest is on you. Everything you did is on your hands, including her death."
"YOU SON OF THE BITCH! YOU MADE ME KILL HER!"
Rose Slayer watched them fight, but it was not exciting since the man managed to bring Monica down to the ground, groaning from the impact. She even coughed, but the man tauntingly laughed before facing her again.
"No, Monica, you allowed them to kill her."
"What are you saying?"
"Hm, this is interesting news to hear…" She thought amusingly upon hearing their conversation about the past.
"Fine, I'll tell you what they did when you shot her here. She could have died here, but she's alive and barely breathing. They knew she was an eyesore in the service and took her into an abandoned warehouse. I think you know where it was. They played with her, making sure they wouldn't recognize the aspiring and outstanding general she was."
"You're lying…they…"
"Oh, please, they had a connection with the mafia and foolish gangsters out there. But I made the call, I made sure the police would get involved, and took her to the hospital, but that's my mistake. I should have taken her instead because as soon as she recovered, they made sure she was sent to the Black Tower Prison, that's where she died. Yet, haunting like a restless ghost."
"She's not a killer…"
"Oh, please, you've seen the news. She's the famous killer, and you admire her like you did when she was still the general."
"He has been watching me…and did nothing to help them…he used them for his entertainment." Amused, she concluded as her grin became sinister before adding, "What a sly fox he could be."
"It can't be…I…"
"My dear Monica, one by one, she's collecting debts."
"Then she's coming for you, too."
"Well, she will, but in a different manner, not like what you all did to her."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Well, it's between me and her, Monica. But I'll tell you something, I don't like what you all did to the only person who can get even with me. She's an eyesore, but she's a funny eyesore that I want to keep playing until one of us gets tired. Now, I'm entertained because she's back and none of you noticed it."
"You knew all along and planned everything…"
"Obviously, he did. I'm playing a part in his game without realizing it…" She rolled her eyes, but the sinister grin on her lips had never left before finishing, "But it will turn differently once we collide again. But for now, I'll skip him because my prey right now is shaken. I'll thank the Master about this later."
"I told you once, I don't mind playing villain in her life, and your move against her was something unexpected, but it worked, and she's here to collect your debt. See you around, Monica Johnson. That's if you survive her wrath."
"BOSS RICO, SHE'S COMING FOR YOU TOO!"
"Intend to."
As their conversation ended, Rose Slayer watched him disappear from the building, leaving a shaken Monica on the ground. She was looking at her trembling hands, weakening and crying for what she did to the person who saw her light despite her darkness.
"What I have done…I didn't just lose her…I'm the cause why she's gone...when all I want is her…"
"Really?" With a taunting voice, Rose Slayer sinisterly asked while watching in the shadows before adding, "Do you truly want her?"
"Rose…Slayer…"
"Hello, Monica. I heard you admire me." She greeted as she emerged from the shadow before tauntingly asking, "Wanna play?"
Monica was speechless. She could not say anything because the next thing she knew, she was thrown against the wall. It was harsh, making her cough up blood. But Rose Slayer didn't make it easy for her to regain composure. She quickly received a couple of punches and kicks, and later, random combos coming from both sides.
"Come on. You admire me, and now that I'm here, play the game you've been dying to do with me." She taunted, triggering a memory that they had shared before. "Spar with me, Nica. For the last time."
Monica jolted, not from the firmness and gentleness of the voice but because of the name Rose Slayer called her. It brought back something in Monica, a flicker of light from the past that she thought she had lost before. She gulped and looked surprised at her.
"You called me Nica…" She said weakly, trying to stand, bleeding after receiving combo attacks.
"Why? Is that a problem?" she asked innocently. Monica quickly shook her head before dusting herself.
"No…my general…she's the only one I allowed on calling me that." She admitted, composing herself for the fight Rose Slayer was initiating.
"Then, let's play Nica." She grinned, cracking her fingers in excitement before adding, "One last time."
"One last time, let me dance with my general." Monica softly said, as if she were agreeing with her opponent.
Hearing that response, Rose Slayer pressed something over her mouth mask, letting Monica see her once again. As her face revealed in front of her, Monica's eyes softened, and tears began welling in her eyes because Skylar, her general, was standing alive in front of her. She wanted to run and embrace like she usually does, but she didn't when she noticed her general's mannerism – cracking fingertips.
"You lied to Gregory…" Monica said softly, wiping her tears away, making Skylar grin.
"None of them matter anymore unless you still care about him?" Skylar daringly said, making Monica shake her head.
"It's my choice to let him go." She answered with a sad smile before adding, "He deserved better, and I thank you for doing that."
"You knew?" She wondered as she began stretching, but she added something, a vampire's undetected malice. She spread it around Monica to give her a time of her life with her general.
"Just now." Monica smiled sadly. Skylar nodded before standing in her usual combat position, challenging Monica as they had in their old time.
"Then shall we, Nica?" Skylar softly invited, making Monica do the same, and get ready for their fight.
"Let's dance." Monica grinned and charged at her.
Monica gave her very fast attacks, from punches to kicks, that Skylar easily blocked with the same form. She even gave Monica some counters with heaviness, making her stumble, which creates an opening and attempt to give the final blow, but ended up doing an upper cut that Monica could not block easily. Skylar's combat skills were still over the top, and Monica was not even close to facing them. Monica's defenses have been great, but facing her general, her defense easily crumbled.
"Dammit. Still the strong general." Monica muttered as she tried to get up from receiving fatal attacks; her body began to give up.
"I never neglect my routine." Skylar corrected her before grabbing her collar to give Monica a headbutt. Monica had no time to react because their head had already collided, and she was out. "It's fun, last dance, Nica, but everything will be a dream."
Skylar pressed the same hidden button around her ear, making her metal mask cover her mouth again. She became Rose Slayer as her eyes began to glow. She grabbed unconscious Monica and tied her to a broken post before injecting her with the FRSil serum. She waved her hand, activating the web strings, tightening around Monica's body. With one flick on the chosen strings, her body began to receive fatal wounds before she stabbed her thigh deeply. Monica quickly jolted up, groaning in pain, but Rose Slayer wasn't done and made sure her blade would pass through her thigh. She squired on her spot, but it only wounded her.
"Did you have a good night's sleep?" With a sinister giggle, Rose Slayer teasingly asked Monica.
"Rose Slayer…" with gritted teeth, Monica muttered her code.
"Yes, that's me." She chuckled, playing with Monica's mind since she had no idea that she had already danced with her general.
"But you're also my general, am I right, top star elite General Skylar Saison." She said, smirking, but easing the pain in her thigh while the blade was still piercing it.
"Ohhoo, that name died a long time ago." She chuckled coldly, and her eyes flickered with blood, making Monica flinch.
"You're…" Monica trembled in fear.
"I told you, didn't I? The general you knew died a long time ago." With a taunting smirk, she corrected her. But Monica still doesn't believe her.
"Nooo…she can't…Boss Rico says so…he's twisted, but he never lies…" She kept denying it, which fell into Rose Slayer's game.
"Let me ask you something before I collect your debt…" She asked curiously, and since Monica looked confused and lost at her, she asked her anyway. "…do you still wish to be with your general?"
"I do, but it's impossible…" Monica weakly answered, slouching on the post where she was tied.
"What if I tell you that I could bring you to her? Will you let me help you?" she wondered, pacing back and forth in front of Monica.
"If I agree, what will happen to me?" she wondered, interested in her offer, making Rose Slayer grin.
"You'll know once you live with your general again." She smirked knowingly, and Monica didn't like it, but when she thought about her general, she finally decided.
"Then please, take me to her. I want to apologize." Monica cried, pleading and softly adding her longing. "I want to go home."
Rose Slayer heard the right word she hoped to hear from Monica. Her fierce, bloody eyes softened and approached her. Monica flinched over her deadly presence, but when Rose Slayer's hand touched her cheek gently, she felt her general. She burst into tears, crying like a lost child finding her home.
"Sky…" she cried, making the strings loosen, and Rose Slayer opened her arms. She made sure Monica would feel her general in her. "I'm sorry. Forgive me, please…"
"I forgave you, but…" Within her softest and gentle voice, Rose Slayer whispered and wished a condition. "…you have to heal…"
"Will you be there?" Monica weakly asked as her eyes grew tired.
"I'll be waiting for your return." She responded softly, and Monica collapsed in her arms before adding a whisper. "Your nightmare will end once you get healed. When it happens, come back to me, Nica."
Masking her care, footsteps began echoing where Rose Slayer felt Irina's presence, as she had asked.
"Mom, is that her?" Irina carefully asked when she saw Monica clinging to Rose Slayer's arms.
"Yes, like planned, please bring her to Silas. He knew what to do with her and informed him about the FRSil serum in her body." She asked, letting Irina carry Monica in her arms.
"But that's a prison." She said with a wondering tone.
"Not at all. It's also a rehabilitation, and Monica needs time to heal." She corrected her vampire daughter before she pressed Monica's temple, like linking something in her mind.
"You bring her a good night's sleep and something else?" Irina noticed and she chuckled while shrugging her shoulders.
"She needs it, and Ayed will thank me later about it." Rose Slayer smirked as they retreated and vanished around the area without leaving traces.
***
As Rose Slayer finished her hunt, instead of heading back home, she went to where she should meet her Night Hound. Without being seen, she arrived at the Black Tower Prison and was welcomed as if it were also her home.
"It was just two but felt like three years..." Rose Slayer mumbled as the gate had been opened for her. "...this prison became a home to me during those times.
She walked to the quiet, clear hall of the prison tower, and all the tormenting moments began playing inside her mind. How they toyed with her by becoming their punching bag, letting her feed on leftover foods, and drowning her before they electrocuted her. Everything she went through, she ensured all the people who caused her severe fall would pay with their lives.
"Hm, what a journey of pain and sorrow." She softly chuckled and stepped outside to the prison tower's graveyard. She walked with familiarity until the wind brushed her body and Vincencio's scent lingered, making her grin. "Like my grave, Hubby?"
"Say that again, I'll punish you." With a grimace, Vincencio growled as he possessively pulled her into his arms. "You're not alone anymore. We'll get it done."