Persona - Mask of Origins

Callen made Zero pay the doctor and listened to him complain on the way home. "I just think it's unfair that my credit card has to be maxed out first. Where's yours?" "I left it in my other pants." Zero scowled, "Liar."

Zain fiddled with a necklace he wore. The simple silver chain twined around his finger and slid off, "Hey, Yuki...when I mentioned my dream...you weren't thinking that I was going to die again were you?"

 

"What made you think that, Zain?" Yuki said, trying to hide her feelings.

 

He shrugged, "The fact that you do that every time I ask. You tense up like a freaking skunk has just stopped in front of you. And...the fact that I remember everytime I was out for a long time and you'd get mad. I thought it was just cause I was out late, but Nicholi told me when I died, you were a wreck. For a quiet guy, he's got a big mouth on him." he smiled at the thought of Nicholi being yelled at.

 

"He was right about that. You're the only family I have, and it kills me whenever something like this happens to you."

 

His smile faded away and he frowned, "I'm sorry Yuki, but it was my destiny....being a copy of the man I was...I don't know what my destiny is now. What do I do?"

 

"You forge your own destiny."

 

Zain frowned, "Right..." Zero jumped up behind them, draping her arm around Yuki, "Hey guys. Since Zain's alright, does anybody want to go celebrate? Maybe get a drink?" Callen swatted him, "Zain's too young to drink." Zain snorted and quickly tried to cover it with a cough.

 

"There's not really much to celebrate. We still need to get Ari back."

 

Zain's eyes widened and he started to growl, "Ari's...missing? I was wondering where she was when I woke up! Zero! Why didn't you mention this earlier!" Zero frowned, "I thought you knew. Well that sucks, I don't know where they'd be. How can I know." Callen sighed, "Nicholi knows where they reside. He'll know where they've taken Ari. Where's Nicholi?" Zero thought, "I thought he was with Toji."

 

"He was the last time I checked." Yuki said.

 

Zain hurried with Zero and Callen to get back to the house and Nicholi.

Nicholi had drawn up a map, his finger lazily traced the road the shadows traveled back to their 'hole'.

 

Yuki followed them and looked at the map.

"They didn't go too far."

 

Nicholi lazily looked up, "No...long distances bore them and they forget what they're looking for. They're called Retriever Shadows. I wouldn't be surprised if their leader isn't trying to try to take Ari apart....or sleep with her. Not that he'd know how." Zain turned a dark red with anger. "I'll take apart his face if he tries the latter." He stormed out and started down the road. "Is he going to be this way about everything concerning Ari now?" Zero sighed and followed him, "I'll make sure he stays alive."

 

Yuki went with them.

 

Zero followed the fast paced Zain down the road. He wished he'd taken a car. They neared a small cabin like house that looked run down and smelled worse than a pig farm. "Nice to know they cleaned up for us." Zain wasn't laughing. His lance drawn, he kept walking toward the cabin. Zero sighed and followed him.

 

Yuki began charging up an energy wave.

 

Zero caught Zain's shirt before he could charge into the cabin. It was silent around and inside. "You think they're home?" Zain nodded and as if on cue, Ari's panicked scream emitted from the cabin. Zain ripped out of Zero's grip and kicked down the door, "Let Ari go!" Fangs and claws flashed in the dim lighting. Ari was curled into a ball on a bed in the far corner. Scratches and bite marks were covering her body.

 

Yuki launched energy blasts at anything that wasn't a friend.

 

The shadows fried and scurried away. Their leader was crouched over Ari, his long tongue licking at her stomach. "You should've been here earlier, when she cried for more." Zain snarled much like the shadow he used to be and threw his lance into the shadow's heart, "I'll show you how much she cries for more you sick freak!" Ari cringed and curled into a tighter ball.

 

Yuki ran upto Ari and examined her.

"Let's get you out of here."