Battle to the End - Create The Story Sequel

[starcrossed]

Battle To The End

The journey started as a simple night out for NYE. Now Megan is in the battle for all of mankind.

Come follow Megan, Justin, Marty, and Cloud as they finally face the hidden enemy. In the battle of a lifetime, and the conclusion to " A Lovehammer Holiday" - the Create the Story adventure...

Writers are you all ready to finish this? Then let the "Battle to the End" begin!!!

[Cheza]

*hmmm...where to start...must think...may post tomorrow evening*

[iwo]

Ditto here!

[Cheza]

I guess I'll be the brave one to try to get this party started...

BATTLE TO THE END

[/color]
Megan was still trembling in Justin's arms, even long after they had left his Montana estate. Cloud demanded, albeit gently for Megan's sake, that they return to Chicago at once. The four boarded Justin's private jet to make the journey, but Marty felt ill-at-ease and couldn't help but wonder if taking Justin's plane would ultimately be their downfall.

"Will the final battle be in Chicago?", Megan wondered. However, at the same time it would make sense. After all, Chicago was where Justin had introduced himself to Marty with the help of Marcus.

Megan felt unsure of Justin's men because they were huge like Keane, although she was sure he would not allow them to hurt her in any way. She was still reeling from killing Keane at the estate. "I'm a card-carrying peaceful girl...tree hugger and all," she thought. "What on Earth possessed me?"

Marty stared out the window. He still wasn't sure which side Justin was on. His eyes scanned the sky for the first inkling of the skyline of the city he loved. Cloud could tell he was deeply troubled, but she wasn't sure how to ease his troubled mind.

"Mind if I smoke?", Marty finally asked Justin.

"Go ahead, feel free. There's also a bar over there on the left. It's fully stocked," Justin said.

Marty lit up a cigarette. Megan couldn't help but be mesmerized by its glow. He deeply inhaled the smoke and blew it out. Instantly, he seemed to relax a bit.

Megan got up and went to the bar to see what it had to offer. She found a bottle of Jim Beam and poured Marty a drink and went to talk to him. Justin's eyes followed her every step of the way. Meanwhile, Cloud was staring at Justin trying to determine the answer to the same question that was running through Marty's mind..."Which side is he on?"...she sat deep in thought watching the other three interact. She couldn't afford to ignore her intuition twice; it had almost proven fatal with Keane.

Finally, the Chicago skyline began to come into view...

[starcrossed]

Beautiful start Cheza!!!!

[Cheza]

Thanks, Star!

[starcrossed]

I will post soon. I am just working on a few personal projects first, that I keep putting off. Maybe by this evening I will have time.

[starcrossed]

When they finally landed in Chicago, Megan felt slightly relieved. She wanted to believe the best in Justin, she couldn't deny her great physical desire for him, but she knew that he was still a vampire. She couldn't imagine sacrificing her mortalityto live forever in another's curse. The idea of a blossoming relationship, was just out of the question. Megan set her mind to focus on what was important. What was important was just staying alive.

The group decided that the best choice of action was to stay at a hotel in the city. If they felt that their safety was at risk at any time, they could easily change location.They didn't want to risk anything.

"What are we going to do, now?" Megan asked Cloud.

Cloud was looking out the small window of the hotel. The view of the city was perfect. The city of Chicago was perfect. Cloud loved visiting the mortal realm. It was so amazing to her that something so breath taking, could be so fragile. Life was so fragile.

She turned to Megan, "The Darkness will be getting desperatee enough thatt they will be taking more chances trying to locate you. All we have to do is let them know that you are here. Then they will come."

"That is great Cloud. Really...But how in the hell are you planning on stopping them? If the group is a s large as you say that it is, then what are we going to do to take them down? I think we should just call the freaking' police!" Megan was frustrated, that the whole horrible experience just couldn't end.

"Megan, do you think that the police would do anything to help us?" Marty began to speak gently to her, "I know this is a lot to handle. We just have to work on a plan and focus on that. I didn't ask to be involved in any of this, but I realize that this is the story and I am in for the length of it, so to speak."

"I just don't think that...."

"The idea is to take down the Darkness. The ancient leaders are only of thirteen members, the rest of the group are just followers. Almost like a cult, brainwashed emotionally vulnerable souls, that are easy prey. The ancients have traded there souls for divine power,"
Justin sounded monotone, like it didn't matter or his mind was miles from them.

"Are there only thirteen members at all times? not more...like someone that was after power too and made a deal on the side?" Megan thoughts returned to Rachel. She remembered that Rachel had told her that she had made that trade for power. Megan hated to bring the subject up, around the still grieving Justin, but it had to be done.

"No. Only thirteen members at any time. Why?' Justin inquired.

"I hate to tell you this...Rachel told me that she had traded her soul for power, before she was...She was part of the thirteen."

Justin turned away, not saying a single word. He looked as if he had already known , but did not want to admit the truth even to himself.

"They will replace her." Marty was sitting on the bed. He looked sleepy as he shifted uncomfortably on the edge.

"LH has a performance in a few days..." Cloud began.

"We do? I don't recall.." Marty began, then changed his answer,"I guess that we do now. So if you are acting as a manager now Cloud what percentage of the cut are you asking for? 10%?"

" I should ask for 15%...Marty just needs Megan to walk on stage for a moment. The Darkness will have a few scouts out looking for you at the concert. They will grab you and we will follow."

" Are you crazy? You want them to take me??" Megan couldn't believe her ears.

"We need to find out were they are. You as bait makes perfect sense. We wouldn't let them hurt you, we just need to get to them to end this." Justin still seemed distant.

"Megan, I agree with you" Marty started," The idea is too risky. If we lose her at anytime and they do finish the ritual? Megan is dead and the world lost. We should think of another idea."

Cloud was firm, "This is the only way. Megan will be safe enough, but he longer we wait means that the Darkness has more time to plan against us. We need to move in fast. We will find them and then we will destroy them."

"How? Are you planning on killing them all, like you did Rachel?" Megan regretted the words the moment that they left her mouth.

Justin turned to Megan, all hell's fury coming from his every pore. "Cloud killed my sister? "

[Cheza]

Oooh...I like it...but the English teacher is raring her head..."is there only thirteen" should be "are there"...since thirteen is plural...

I'll work on a post, but it may be tomorrow or later this week. I'm finishing papers tonight and trying to get ready to start an on-line course Wednesday...in addition to Relay duties.

Peace.

[starcrossed]

Sorry Miss Cheza. Correction made. I never even noticed the mistake. Maybe, I should have read it a second time.

[Cheza]

'Tis okay. Like I sait the English teacher's just raring her head since I'm in the throes of grading all this balderdash.

[guitargirl]

As justin asked the question to cloud, she didnt answer him and she tryed to lose eye contact with him but as he asked the question again, she lost control and looked into his eyes, she could see the Fumes as he raged on horror...

[bec1224]

Wow what a great Story....I just happened upon this tread...you ladies have me on the edge of my seat waiting for more!!!!

[starcrossed]

Justin's anger was unstoppable. Cloud stood proudly before him, without any sign of fear in her eyes.

"She was going to kill Megan. She had no soul worth saving, Rachel was part of them. The Darkness was all that she was." Cloud made no excuses for her actions.

Justin's anger over took his senses. Like a bursting dam, he charged forward, murder was in his eyes. His target was Cloud.

"You heartless bi*ch! She was my sister!!" Justin finger tips turned to claw like talons. He was inches from Cloud.

Marty leaped off the bed, and grabbed the enraged Justin from the back. "Cloud was only doing what she thought was right. I know that your hurting, but think about what would have happened! If Rachel killed Megan then we would all be dead by now. The darkness would have won. She sold her soul, man! That thing was not your sister."Marty struggled to keep his hold on Justin.

"I am going to kill you. She was my sister!!!" Madness seemed to control Justin. His feature's changed, and you could see his fangs starting to transform from his mouth. He was allowing his inner demon to come forth.

"I can't hold him much longer"Marty warned Megan with a look ,as Cloud stood motionless.

"Let him go Marty..."Cloud looked ready to kill herself.

"What is wrong with both of you!!" Megan demanded.

Megan was at loss what to do. She began to realize that she really couldn't do anything. Justin's pain and rage was too high to calm down. Cloud was to proud a warrior, to stand down. If she didn't defuse the situation fast, they were going to be one person short in the mission.

"Justin" Megan tried desperately to find a mental path to his mind. "Justin, you have to stop this. We can't fight each other. Justin, please..."She felt his mind stir from her intrusion, "Justin, this is not you. Stop it. I know that you are hurting, but you have to understand! I was dying, Cloud had to save me and bring me back. That person was no longer your sister...or my best friend. Please don't do this."

All the rage from Justin seemed to stop.He seemed to have heard Megan through the madness.

"Let me go." Justin struggled to free himself from Marty's solid grip."I need some air."

Marty released his hold, as Justin turned and stormed from the hotel room.

"Well, I think we could use some food and rest. I will call for room service,,what shall I order?" Cloud asked calmly.

Marty and Megan stared at each other. Complete disbelief on both their faces. How could anyone or anything, think about food after all of that?

[iwo]

A few moments later Justin returned with his head down. He turned-on the TV and watched without saying a word.
...."Forget the room service, we need to get to that revolving restaurant on top of our hotel", Megan finally decided for all of them in an attempt to reduce the tension in the air. After all we will have the best view of all the in-coming planes, but we won't be visible because of the high booths. Cloud & Justin agreed, but didn't want to dress-up "just to eat". Marty smirked at them, and pointed-out that they would stick-out in a high-end restaurant wearing their wrinkled travel clothes. Megan thought to herself "yea, stick-out" as she watched Marty paint his fingernails black, and pick-out his attire.
Marty was wearing one of his tight black jackets with scarlet red trim, pin-striped pants, black leather boots whose tips exaggerated to large points, and sunglasses as if to further make himself incognito. From a separate pouch within his luggage, Marty then selected a dozen-so leather and rubber bracelets. To complete his wardrobe, Marty donned a hat, not unlike chimney sweeps once wore. Mary noticed Megan staring at him, and rhetorically asked "you're not wearing that, are you?" ...Megan broke from her extended stare, and said no...and looked through her things for something to change into.
Megan finally settled on wearing....

[starcrossed]

I like the outfit for Marty...nice work with detail Iwo.

[iwo]

Thanks Star, I tried my best...maybe we should pm Marty if he wants to add to the story?

[Cheza]

Megan couldn't decide on anything. Her mind was spinning too fast...a direct result of the nightmarish whirlwind her life had become during the past few days. "What a way to start a new year," Megan thought, "but I guess we are living this year with reckless abandonment as Marty encouraged us to do on NYE."

Megan looked around and realized Cloud had vanished. Marty stepped out into the hall to look for her, and Justin skulked into the bathroom to see if he could do something about his appearance for dinner.

Megan thought she saw someone on the balcony. Trembling she went to the sliding glass door. Thankfully, it was just Cloud. She presented Megan with a bag of clothes.

"Where did you get this?", Megan asked.

"I just thought you might need a few things, so I went incognito, snuck into your place, and packed a bag," Cloud said with a smile.

Megan was thrilled to have some fresh clothes after all these days on the run. As she re-entered the room, Justin came out of the bathroom and announced he was going downstairs.

"I want some time alone. I need some time alone," he said. He left the room before the last two words were completely out of his mouth.

Cloud was eyeing him from a position on the balcony where he could not spot her. She was still trying to figure out exactly whose side he was on.

"Go take a quick shower. I know you've got to feel pretty grungy after all this time traveling," Cloud said.

Megan shot her a worried glance.

"I'll stand guard. We'll wait until you are ready to go up to the restaurant," Cloud slowly but firmly encouraged her to go into the bathroom and clean up.

As Megan took her shower, the tension seemed to melt from her shoulders with the heat of the water. She had almost forgotten how good it felt to wash whatever the world had to throw at you off after a rough day, much less an unreal nightmare.

As she climbed out of the shower, she opened the bag Cloud had brought and found a sexy, red dress inside, and a pair of black stilettos.

"This is perfect for the restaurant!", she thought.

She let go a sigh of relief as she realized the stilettos were not her NYE shoes. She really had no desire to ever see them again.

Megan dressed quickly. She didn't want to keep the others waiting. She debated whether or not to dry her hair, but decided that would take too long. She noticed Cloud had packed some hair fasteners. She picked up the pair of red chopsticks for her hair and twisted it into a neat French twist.

As she wiped the fog from the mirror to apply her make-up, she heard Marty re-enter the room. He and Cloud seemed to be having a heated exchange, and the subject was Justin...

[guitargirl]

She tryed not to be a listener but she needed to hear what was going on. SHe listened very Carefully as she heard them say...

[starcrossed]

" I am telling you the truth, Cloud...I don't know what Justin is planning. When I knew him..he was out to take over the world. I thought that was what I wanted. I was wrong. I just don't trust him."Marty sounded frustrated.

Clouds words were clear and to the point, "I know that Megan has feelings for him. But , if Justin is in any way a threat to our mission, then I will kill him myself."

Megan stood in the bathroom quietly, she hoped that the two would leave the room soon and she could make a discreet exit from the hotel room. She was in shock about what she had heard. However, she had seen such an evil part of Justin come out that she didn't know what to believe anymore.

The voices still could be heard in the next room. Megan listened to the final exchange of words, in shock.

"Cloud, does Megan realize that Justin mentally forced her to kill Keane? I know that Keane was the bad guy, but the fact that Justin so easily used her to take a life? I hate that. " Sorrow filled Marty's words.

"She doesn't. I can't be sure what she knows. In my realm I can see everything. In the mortal realm, there are to many emotions all around me. I can't feel her. I think that she should know what Justin did. I think she does...deep inside. she is just so infatuated with the being that she doesn't want to see the truth."

"We should tell her..."

"Marty, we can't. She has to decide what to do on her own. Her mind and heart have to tell her what to do. The first step is for her to realize that Justin may not be her hero after all."

The two left the hotel room. Shutting the door behind them with a slam.

Megan opened the bathroom door. Her face was flushed. It was hot in their, but she didn't want to let Marty or Cloud find her in the room still. Megan sat on the bed. Her mind was so cloudy.

"He used me...he didn't even care about what taking a life meant to me.." Megan's thoughts raced through her mind.

Megan was furious. She could have so easily given herself to Justin. So many times did she just overflow with passion for the man. The reality of the conversation she heard was like a cold shower. She could never think of Justin the same way ever again.

For all that Megan knew, all her feelings were nothing but a mental game that Justin continued to play on her. She knew that she could still make a mental connection with him. Maybe it was still that simple for Justin to make a connection with her mind, and use her.

Justin and Rachel were both related. Megan began to believe that the desire for power and the emotional link to darkness within them, might mean that both siblings were destined for evil.

Megan wanted to kill Justin. At least she emotionally felt as if things between them from that moment on would be dead. She hated the man. The spell was broken.

So much for Megan's personal romance novel...