Search and deception

It was finally early in the morning. My alarm went off letting me know that it was almost time for everyone to leave. I turned off my alarm but found a text from my brother letting me know that everyone was given something last night to everyone's parents. We were given a button that let off a signal letting us know when they had completely left the outskirts of town to head to the hideouts. I woke up Twilight to let her know it's almost time for her to leave. She woke up next to me and made sure she got everything she needed and we headed outside where her family was waiting.

Twilight~ Well this is it, you're going to go find Rose and you possibly won't make it back…

Dante~ Hey remember what I told you last night. I'm always with you even when I'm not there in person. Is there anything you want to say before you leave?

Twilight~ I want to let you know that you are the best to have ever happened to me. You picked me up when I was knocked down and to me you are the person I'll always love no matter what. I love you Dante.

Dante~ I love you too Twi.

*Beep* *Beep*

Velvet~ Twilight come on! We have to leave asap!

Dante~ I'll see you when everything is taken care of, goodbye Twi.

Twilight~ Goodbye Dante.

I left and headed towards Donny's location. On the way there I saw everyone getting into their cars ready to leave the outskirts of the city and straight to their hideouts. Soon I found Donny standing on the hospital rooftop. I Night traveled onto the roof where Donny was standing waiting for the right time to start the search.

Donny~ When this light in front of us turns red, that's the signal to start the search. It lets us know that everyone is out of the city and the outskirts.

Dante~ Awesome, where do you think she's hiding?

Donny~ Anywhere in the city you have to remember how vast it is. It's a really daunting task but if anyone can do it it's you and me. Jamie would have also been here with us but sadly…

Dante~ I know it's sad but now isn't the time to mope. We have to find Rose and put her in her place.

Donny~ That's exactly how I would have said it.

The light turns red and Donny and I take off searching for Rose. We decided to split up to cover more ground and hopefully find her faster. Looking around, I found a lot of posters with my mother's face on them. They all said that she was wanted dead or alive. I knew the authorities wouldn't like my brother and I looking for her and starting our own investigation so we had to keep things discreet. I tried sensing her energy but had no luck. Soon I decided to start looking on the ground rather than the rooftops.

Dante~ Ok Dante you're alone for now but for good reason. Now is the time to put everything I learned to good use. I can continuously sense someone's energy regardless of who they are. I'll keep doing so for a few hours while searching the east part of the city, then take a break and regain some of my stamina. I'll keep doing this until I've searched all of the east side.

Before I could take off a woman stopped me in my tracks.

???~ Hey do you know the way to Amber avenue?

Dante~ Um yeah Keep going down the road then at the end turn left. You'll find a penthouse apartment building and a small mall across the street from each other. That road is Amber avenue.

???~ Thank you, hey why do you look familiar?

Dante~ Sorry ma'am but I'm really busy looking for someone I have no time to spare.

???~ Wait! Who are you looking for?

Dante~ Ugh I'm looking for a woman that looks just like that one in the poster.

???~ Wait…

The woman looked at the poster then looked at me again. Her eyes grew wide in fear as she walked away from me slowly.

???~ You-you look just like her…

Dante~ Ok and?

???~ Years ago my father was murdered by that woman, he was in the military… that woman killed him and you look just like her.

Dante~ Wait then that means… Ohhhh shit Ummmm… Gotta go!

???~ HOLD ON! GET BACK HERE!

I quickly fled from the scene and lost the young woman. I was so surprised I actually found the daughter of the man my mother killed long ago. Part of me wanted to go back to her and let her know how sorry I am for her but I doubt she would have listened anyway. Noon is starting to hit and yet no sign of Rose. I checked only part of the East side of the city and I still had a lot of ground to cover. The worst part about all of this is the fact that I have to stop occasionally in case I find something that could lead to Roses' location and then continue searching through the vast city. No doubt this task is tedious but I had to do it no matter what.

Dante~ *Sigh* This is really tedious. I've only searched a tiny fraction of this city and there's still a lot more. The chances of me finding something important at this rate are slim to none.

???~ HEY YOU!

Dante~ Oh god! I gotta get out of here!

???~ WAIT I'M NOT GONNA HURT YOU!

Dante~ Huh?

The woman ran up to me at full speed trying to catch up to me. I could tell she's been chasing me because of how tired she was.

Holly~ W-wait please don't go… Jeez hold on I've been… running for so long. I'm Holly… what's your name…?

Dante~ I'm Dante, why have you been chasing me?

Holly~ Your mother, I think I know where she is. My mother has been calling me lately. She's scared that someone is watching her. I think that someone is your mother.

Dante~ Where does your mother live?

Holly~ 234 Amber avenue. I was heading there to check up on her. She lives in a penthouse apartment building.

Dante~ That explains a lot.

Holly~ Yeah can you take me there? You seem to know your way around this place.

Dante~ No problem I do need you to hold my hand.

Holly~ Ummm… ok

Holly and I hold hands as I slowly Night travelus to her mother's apartment building.

Dante~ We're here. So this is her building?

Holly~ Yup she lives in room 234, that's on the fifth floor.

Dante~ I'm guessing we have to check in at the front desk.

Holly~ Yeah they won't let us in unless we have authorization from my mother.

Dante~ I'm coming in with you. If Rose really is watching her then it's not safe to let you go in alone.

Holly~ No problem, let's go inside.

Holly and I walked into the building and almost immediately we were stopped by a man at the front desk.

Holly~ Hey I'm the daughter of Megan James Smith. I've been authorized to enter the building and her apartment. This is Dante, he's my bodyguard.

The man looked at me and back at Holly. He then gave us permission to enter her mother's apartment. We entered the elevator and headed up towards the fifth floor.

Dante~ Bodyguard?

Holly~ He wouldn't have let you come up the elevator with me if I had said anything else. Plus you're tall and a little swole so it made sense.

Dante~ I guess so.

The elevator door opens and we rush to the apartment. When we got to the apartment door it was cracked open. Holly and I entered the apartment letting anyone in the apartment know that we were entering.

Holly~ Mom!? Hello! It's Holly, I'm here to help!

Dante~ Hello!

Megan~ Oh my Lord, it's you Holly. I thought someone was trying to kill me so I went into hiding. How's my sweet baby carrot doing?

Dante~ Baby carrot huh?

Holly~ You didn't hear anything. I'm doing great mom.

Megan~ And who's this handsome young man standing next to you?

Dante~ I'm Dante.

Megan~ Hello Dante I'm Megan, Holly's mother. You two look like you could make a good couple.

Dante~ Sorry but I'm taken by the best and I'm here because Holly told me that you told her you think someone is watching you.

Megan~ Oh yeah it's everytime I walk out of the building. It's also the reason I moved here long ago. I thought I could escape the memories if I started fresh but after what happened not long ago it all came back to haunt me. I can't go anywhere and not have that feeling that I'm being watched.

Dante~ Do you have any idea who it could be that could probably be watching you?

Megan~ There is this, "person", she killed my husband long ago. Ever since that night I had nightmares almost every night. Her name is Rose and she's dangerous.

Dante~ Believe me when I say I understand what you mean by the word "dangerous".

Megan~ Hmm have you encountered her?

Dante~ *sigh* My whole life sadly…

Megan~ What do you mean?

Holly~ Mother, Dante is the son of the woman who killed dad.

Megan~ But… no way, it just can't be.

Holly~ Take a good look.

Holly held up one of the posters that was hung up outside next to me. Holly's mother couldn't believe her eyes, she looked like she had just seen something she wished she had never seen. I tried to explain that I'm not her enemy but she instantly ran to her room to hide in fear of me.

Holly~ I'm sorry Dante.

Dante~ No it's not your fault. I'm the son of Rose, the one woman your mom is afraid of and now she's afraid of me as well.

Holly~ Look it's not your fault that your mother killed my father. You were most likely a kid that didn't understand what was going on just like me.

Dante~ Maybe so but that doesn't eliminate the fact that I'm the son of a dangerous and really hated woman. I'm gonna contact my brother and let him know what's up. You stay here and calm your mother down.

Holly left to help her mother while I contacted Donny.

On the phone…

Donny~ Hey Dante I haven't found anything yet have you?

Dante~ Yeah I think, remember the man mom killed long ago?

Donny~ Yeah what about him?

Dante~ I found his daughter and she took me to her mother's penthouse apartment. She told me that her mother has the feeling that someone is watching her and she thinks that someone is mom.

Donny~ Send me the address. I'll be there in a few minutes.

Dante~ No problem, also she knows about our mom and how I'm her son, she's really scared of me now.

Donny~ It's ok, I thought something like this would happen. Just let her know that we are here to help and promise to keep her and her daughter safe.

Dante~ No problem, imma hang up the phone now I gotta see how she's doing.

The phone call ends and I make my way to Megans room. I found Holly standing in front of the door talking to her mother while she was on the other side.

Holly~ Mom! Please come out, he isn't here to kill us if he was I wouldn't have been here to help you. He could have easily killed me before we got here.

Dante~ Let me talk to her please.

Holly~ Good luck.

Dante~ Megan look I understand you're scared. Believe me when I say I know what it's like to be scared. I remember when my brother was corrupted with anger he wanted to kill me and wouldn't stop killing until I was gone. I was really scared at the time because I didn't want to kill my own brother. But I knew I couldn't do anything about it. One day I was out looking for him and I found him but not in the way I expected. I found him and he collapsed to the ground. That's when I found out someone stabbed him in the back… I was so furious that I lost control of myself and let my power run loose. I blacked out and he was hospitalized and thank God he survived. I met him in his hospital room and we talked. I don't remember exactly what I said but I know it stuck with him till this day. I was happy that he was gonna be ok and that he reformed himself.

Megan~ Where are you going with this?

Dante~ Fear is a powerful feeling, but what's even more powerful is the feeling that everything will be ok. I was glad to know that Donny was ok and that he was gonna return as a new Rogue. That's what you need to understand. With Holly, Donny, and my help I know you will be ok and you should know too. So please, come out and talk to us… please.

Holly's mother slowly opened the door and came out of her room. We all sat down together to discuss what she wants me to do about her situation. Before we could start talking a knock at the door was heard. Holly opened the door, finding my brother standing on the other side.

Holly~ Ummm hello? Wait, you're the one who helped my mother and I.

Donny~ Yeah that's me, is my brother here?

Holly~ Oh you must mean Dante ummm yeah he's here please come in.

Donny~ Hey, I'm here.

Dante~ Awesome I was able to calm her down and she's willing to talk to us.

Donny~ Hello ma'am I'm Donny, Dante's brother. Can you tell me what's been going on lately?

Megan~ I remember you, you're the one who helped my daughter and I escape Rose. I didn't know you were his brother.

Dante~ Oh yeah I do remember you told us what happened when you disappeared. I guess the amount of fear isn't a surprise because of what happened.

Donny~ Yeah but right now that's not important, what's important is understanding what's going on.

Megan~ I understand, what do you want to know?

Donny~ When do you get this feeling and how bad is it?

Megan~I feel like I'm being watched whenever I leave the penthouse. It got to the point where I had to get everything done online instead of me doing everything in person. Groceries, cashing paychecks, work, my entire life is on my laptop now. I feel caged in this building. I haven't been outside in days.

Donny~ It's that bad huh? I was informed that the "person" stalking you could be my mother Rose. Why do you think she could be after you?

Megan~ I don't know I did nothing to her. She doesn't have a reason to come after me. What could this mean?

Donny~ Normally Rogues like her won't stop killing until they are satisfied. She killed your husband long ago and still craves to kill. It's possible she hasn't been satisfied this whole time with just the death of your husband.

Megan~ But why me? Why not some other victim of hers? Why does she have to make my life a living nightmare?

Donny~ She feels like she lost everything because of the choices she made. She no longer gives mercy to anyone if she wanted to; she could have killed you long ago.

Holly~ Wait then why hasn't she?

Dante~ She most likely wants the whole family here… That means.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

We heard loud banging at the door. Donny slowly approached and placed his hand on the knob. Before he could open the door an envelope was slid under it. Donny opened the envelope.

Donny~ It's a letter to me.

Holly~ What does it say?

Donny reads the letter.

Donny~ "We are gonna play a game. You have one week to surrender Holly and her mother to me. Every day that goes by and I don't have them Dante will become even more corrupted by his Rouge power and he will be forced to be my servant for his life. This darkening of his heart will last until I have who I want in my hands. The clock is ticking. Will you sacrifice two lives to save your brother, or sacrifice your own blood. Tick...tock...tick…tock."

Dante~ Donny… I… I…

Donny~ Dante look at me. I promise you everyone is gonna be ok. We're not gonna play her game. She wants us to give them up and we aren't going to do that.

Dante~ But what if…

Donny~ Wear your necklace it should help fight off what she has planned. Where is it anyway?

Dante~ It's in my back pocket.

Donny~ Put it on and go get some fresh air. I'll stay here and talk with Megan and holly.

Dante~ Ok…

Donny~ Take all the time you need.

I left the apartment and headed outside the building. I jumped high onto the tallest building I could find and pulled out my phone. I looked at my messages and saw that Twilight spammed my phone with messages. Looking at them led to me calling her and I was glad I did.

Dante~ Please pick up twi. For god's sake I really need you all right now.

On the phone…

Twilight~ DANTE! Thank heavens you're ok!

Dante~ Ummm I wouldn't really say ok.

Rip~ What's wrong buddy?

Dante~ Am I on speaker?

Pinkie Pie~ YUP! we're at the hideouts and these are amazing.

Twilight~ Everyone is already making themselves at home but it's hard for me to do so knowing you're risking your life.

Dante~ Yeah and it's been crazy so far. Donny and I found the wife and the daughter of the man my mother killed long ago. Things aren't going her way and she needs help.

Rip~ Hey don't sweat it bro if anyone can help it's you and Donny.

Dante~ It's not that easy… *sniff*

I started to cry a little. I tried to keep it hidden for some dumb reason but it wasn't that easy to fool my friends.

Rip~ Dante are you ok I'm getting bad vibes from you.

Dante~ I'm ok it's just things escalated really quick but I'm ok.

Twilight~ Dante I know you're not ok. What happened?

Dante~ *sigh* Rose sent Donny a letter saying that we have one week to turn over the wife and daughter of the man she killed.

Rip~ What happens if you don't?

Dante~ Each day they aren't turned over to her she forces my inner Rogue to show… up until I don't even recognize myself. But if we do turn them over she's gonna kill them. And the choice is up to Donny.

Pinkie Pie~ That doesn't sound fun at all.

Rip~ That heartless bitch, how could she use her own sons like this?

Twilight~ And to make matters worse it all boils down to Donny's morals. Is he willing to let go of you to save two people or let go of those two people to save you.

Dante~ And she's treating it like it's a game. Guys I don't think I can do this… I can already feel my heart getting blacker and blacker as the day goes by. I rarely ever say it but… I'm scared.

Twilight~ Dante at this point in time it's ok to be scared.

Rip~ Yeah it's not everyday you're forced to become a Rogue. This is something that can't be done without a little adrenaline rush.

Twilight~ Just know we believe in you. Each and every one of us believes in you.

Rip~ Sunset, Applejack, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Twilight, Me, you name it.

Pinkie Pie~ Yeah! We're always gonna be here for you. Unless someone starts unbelieving and then you don't have the strength to stop Rose. And then she takes over and kills anyone in sight along with your brother.

Dante~ PINKIE! Not helping!

Pinkie Pie~ Sorry.

Twilight~ The point is what you're feeling right now is natural and you have all of us behind you even though we aren't physically behind you.

Rip~ You got this and everyone else thinks so as well.

Dante~ Thank you guys for the words of encouragement and I'm glad to have you all in my life. I have to go right now my brother is calling me but I want to let you all know that I will be coming straight back to you all when this is over.

Twilight~ One more thing before you go. I know it's hard but please be careful out there.

Dante~ I will Twi, I love you.

Twilight~ I love you too, goodbye Dante.

Dante~ Goodbye Twi.

I hung up the phone and headed towards Donny who was standing outside the building.

Donny~ I'm sorry to interrupt you but I got some new information on Rose. It turns out she was on the news this morning for making an appearance at the mall but disappearing minutes after she was spotted.

Dante~ Someone had to have known what direction she headed towards.

Donny~ Exactly what I was thinking. Holly and her mother are staying here where it's mostly safe. You know the mall like it's the back of your hand so I'll let you take the lead on this.

Dante~ No problem, follow me I know the fastest way there.

Donny~ Ok let's go.

Donny and I made our way to the mall and found this place completely empty.

Dante~ That's weird, nobody is here.

Donny~ Well the workers are still here, let's question them.

Dante~ What store was she found at?

Donny~ She was found at a store for gaming technology.

Dante~ That store is named "Gaming Creatures". It's all the way down the hall. Come on, let's go.

We ran down the hall making it to the store where Rose was found. The store wasn't completely empty. There were some workers and a few customers but not that many to call this busy. Donny decided to question the customers while I questioned the employees.

Dante~ Hey can I ask you a few questions?

Rick~ Ummm yeah what's up need help looking for something?

Dante~ I guess you can say that. Were you here when a wanted woman was found here?

Rick~ Yeah why do you ask?

Dante~ I need to know where she ran off to. My brother and I are investigating her whereabouts. Can you tell me what she bought?

Rick~ She bought one of our newer laptops. Actually it was the most expensive we had.

Dante~ Can you show me what that laptop was?

Rick~ Yeah it's right here.

The employee pointed at a laptop in a glass container.

Dante~ Can you tell me what it's capable of?

Rick~ Not much but I do know it's expensive for a reason. Pretty sure it's because of its wide range of sending signals. I heard it can send any signal from across the entire city. This is a five thousand dollar laptop and I'm pretty sure it can live up to its expectations.

Dante~ Do you know which way she ran off to?

Rick~ She ran out of the store and went left around the back exit. That's all I know about her.

Dante~ Thanks for cooperating. I'll be on my way.

Rick~ No problem.

The employee left the front desk and headed inside the back office of the store. Donny then walked up to me.

Donny~ I didn't get much but I was told that someone that random customer knew was here and she said that Rose did look like she had something planned but didn't know what it was. What did you get?

Dante~ She bought a laptop capable of sending signals using its wide range. She ran out the back exit of the mall after she was spotted.

Donny~ What directions are the exits facing?

Dante~ The front exit points north and the back points south. I was told she went left and ran out the back exit.

Donny~ Hmmm, doesn't this all sound a bit weird to you. She knows she's on the run right?

Dante~ Well yeah.

Donny~ So why would she be at an electronic store with a bunch of people there? She was bound to get caught. It doesn't make sense to me.

Dante~ Now that I'm thinking about it you're right it doesn't make any sense at all. Let's ask for this morning's security footage. Maybe there's something we're missing.

Donny~ Yeah that's a good idea, you wait here.

Donny went back into the store for the security footage while I waited outside the store. I decided to sit on a fancy looking wood bench in the middle of the hall as I waited for my brother. I didn't notice before but I saw a video being played on a TV screen that was being sold or at least was gonna be sold and it played the latest news in the city. I figured if they played what happened earlier today we wouldn't need the security footage and they did but something was off with the video. I was told that Rose ran left but the video showed she ran right and made her way out the front exit. It didn't take long for me to put one and two together and I got up in total shock that the employee completely lied to me. I ran into the store to look for Donny to inform him on what I just saw.

Dante~ Donny! Donny! Donny!

Donny~ Damn bro what's up you look like you saw a ghost.

Dante~ Where's the employee?

Donny~ In the back trying to get the camera footage.

I rushed around the desk and into the back office. Not a single soul was anywhere in that very office and that's when I knew we were completely lied to.

Donny~ What's up?

Dante~ DAMMIT! He lied to us. Mom never bought a laptop and she never ran in the direction he told us she ran. I saw the local news from this morning. They played it back and his story didn't match the video at all.

Donny~ Fuck! I knew something was off as well.

Dante~ What kind of random would lie about a wanted Rogue?

Donny~ The kind that was covering for her. She could have been in here the whole time and we missed her.

Dante~ I'm downloading all the footage from today onto my phone so we can look back at it when we get back to the apartment.

Donny~ Good idea, imma keep watch outside in case something happens.

I downloaded the footage onto my phone and walked out of the store with my brother. We were so frustrated we decided to call it a day and head back to the apartment. When we got back we found Holly and her mother on the couch watching TV. We sat down with them in total frustration.

Holly~ How did it go?

Dante~ We got played in the end.

Donny~ We were told one thing when Dante was able to pick up on what was really going on. He found out that the employee lied to us and completely took us off guard. We were able to get our hands on the security footage.

Dante~ Yeah we were. Hey Megan, is it ok if I use your computer?

Megan~ No problem, it's right next to you.

I grabbed and opened Megan's laptop then played the footage I downloaded onto my phone. Donny and it carefully examined the footage as we confirmed that we were lied to.

Dante~ Yup we got played… Damn.

Donny~ The video checks out our suspensions. She never even had a laptop in her hands. Wait, go back to when she was at the desk.

I rewind the footage back to when she first approached the employee.

Donny~ Right there, look, she's talking to the employee.

Dante~ It looks like she's trying to make a deal with him. She could be asking for him to cover for her if anything went wrong.

Donny~ All we know is that he's now an important suspect.

Dante~ If we could find out where he lives then that could lead to her hideout.

Donny~ How are we gonna do that? He knows he can't show up to the mall at any given time. Just like Rose he could be anywhere.

Dante~ Not really, I managed to snag his online application while downloading the camera footage. This says he lives in the outskirts just like you and I.

Holly~ You're from the outskirts?

Megan~ It's not surprising Holly that's how things are here.

Holly~ What do you mean "that's how things are"?

Dante~ People like my brother and I live in the outskirts of the town. We are people with hidden abilities. While the ones without powers basically live in the city.

Donny~ Yeah that's how things are kinda. Now everyone lives in peace because I exposed the real reason why the people hate us.

Holly~ And that was?

Dante~ Rose pretty much started a feud between the normal humans and us causing us to be split let's just say that.

Megan~ That doesn't matter now, what matters is the fact that you two know where this guy lives and tired or not you have to get there as soon as possible.

Dante~ She's right this might be the only chance we have to stop Rose.

Donny~ No time to lose then I guess. Let's go, you two stay here and don't open the door for anyone.

Holly~ Be careful out there.

Donny and I rushed out the door making our way to our suspects home. I was kinda happy to know that we're on the biggest lead to find Rose but something felt a bit… off.