Fifteen - Pt. 5 -

I felt my chest tighten and head swell as my heart started to rise and lodge itself into my throat.
Squeezing my palms tight, I lowered my arms the rest of the way it took to get to my sides, where my hand slowly reached for my holster.
My eyes returned to Gavin, who made a shushing motion with his finger as he cautiously let go of my chin and ever so slightly backed up, gradually reaching in for his sword.
Something was about to go down, folks, and it didn't seem to be pretty.

I instinctively widened my gaze as I caught sight of movement behind him.
What was worse, though..it wasn't the presence watching us from afar..nor the presence I now felt behind me. I rightfully felt surrounded. This was highly inconvenient.
And before I could say potato, Gavin whizzed around, slicing his sword like a freaking fruit ninja at the presence behind him, who then screeched inhumanly as he flailed himself back in pain.
Simultaneously, I spun on my heels, shooting my gun at the one behind me, who unfortunately ducked at a scary accurate timing, as if he saw my quick reaction coming.
I shot again, but he only threw himself into hiding among the darkness, cackling mischievously.

"Coward!" I sneered, challenging his manhood. "Quit being a wuss and FIGHT ME!"
I pounded my chest like King Kong, right before I was grabbed by the arm and subsequently pulled out of the battle. I turned my eyes just in time to see Gavin kick his assailant to the ground as he flew past him with surprising speed. "RUN!"
"SARAH DEMENS DOES NOT RUN!" I retorted, wiggling my arm and soon my whole body like a restless caterpillar to try and break free. But that boy has a strong grip, lemme tell ya.
"WELL SHE DOES NOW!"
How dare you belittle my honor, you stealthy grapefruit?!

He ran like he had a purpose, charging away from the fight, and we were getting closer and closer to where we started by the second. "I HAVE TO FIGHT!" I went on, jiggling my wrist despite being held by the forearm. "RELEASE ME, YOU BUFFOON!"
"My priority is getting you safe, your majesty!"
I couldn't tell if that last regal reference was sarcasm or not-- either way, I was offended.
"Boy, I hate you!" I whipped my head behind us. They were in pursuit.
Fast pursuit.
"See, now they're after us!"
He did not answer. Just kept running, as fast as he could. My legs could barely keep up, and when I run too much, I get tired easily. My sides start to ache fiercely and my lungs start to burn like fire.
I was gonna really have a bad time ahead of me.

The Phantom (Gavin's foe, left) and Hyde (my foe, right)

We were heading back the same way we came. But something felt wrong.
Something felt different. It now felt as if the very darkness itself was moving out of place..light returning to where it previously wasn't. That's when my side started to make noises and my eyes flicked to my walkie talkie. Someone was talking, but it was terribly jumbled and distorted.
My head was being too rattled to think, "We're only leading them back to Bane and the kids!"
"I know, you need to warn Bane!"
My walkie talkie did the thing again. I grabbed it and held down the button.
"GUYS!" More gurgles. I huffed. "Guys, there are two crooks after us! We're heading back now! Bane, get the kids to saf-" My eyes then caught sight of movement beside me and whipped my attention to it. The shadows had moved. I was sure of it.
I held down the button again. "Guys! Do you hear me?!"
That's when Master's voice cut in, "DEMENS!"
"Master!" "RUN!" His voice went screwy. "THE- AF -OU!"
"WHAT?!" I exclaimed. "TH----O--THE VA--NE---A!!!"
Oh my word, I can't stand incomplete sentences. "WHAT?!"
More movement caught my sight. I gulped. "Gavin..something isn't right!"
My head then snapped behind us. The two monsters were cackling with widened grins as they chased after us with eyes aflame, and the darkness itself was riding beside them.
My heart raced faster. "SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT!"

And I was right.

We arrived back to the disaster scene, the diner jiggling in view to my right.
I was about to call to Bane, but he was already running out, the kids in tow.
"Bane!" I yelled, him soon joining our side. "They're after us, we've gotta run!"
"SARAH!" The walkie talkie screamed. The jumbling seemed to cease. I brought it back up to my mouth. "Master, you there?!" "WHY WEREN'T YOU ANSWERING!"
"I couldn't hear nothing, you were distorted!"
I noticed the diner folk in the corner of my eye, still inside the building and watching with shock.
I waved them off, knowing that they were not safe where they were and needed to evacuate.
"Get out of here and get to safety!"
Carolina and the others screamed in terror and booked it out from the back exit.
At least they were safe. Now for us.
I was tugged by Gavin to keep moving, as I had to slow down to yell at them.
The fiends were hot on our trail.
"Likely bloody story!" Master exclaimed, luring me back to the conversation.
"No lies, it really was all jumbled!"
"Then they're interfering with the transmission!"
I thought about that a minute.. "Not them."
My attention turned to the dark corners of the town, remembering the presence lurking in the shadows, besides the ones chasing after us. "..Someone else."

The hulking man and the Pines twins ran as fast as possible to keep pace with me and Gavin.
"What is going on?!" Exclaimed Dipper.
"We're running!" Gavin yelled back, grabbing the two children and jerking them to in front of us, so they were not lagging where the fiends were heading.
"Never mind that!" Master shouted, once again returning me to the convo.
"Did you hear me earlier?!"
I didn't answer. I was distracted by Bane yelling, "We need to return to the T.A.R.D.I.S.!"
"I agree," I replied. "But SOMEONE is leading us to uncharted territory!"
I eyed Gavin with extreme attitude. "Sarah!" My walkie talkie yelled.
But I was once again distracted. Mabel screamed.
I snapped my gaze to her. "What?!" Her head was pointed behind us.
"THE SHADOWS ARE MOVING!!"
My breathing quickened, as I came to realization.
"Oh crap..oh crap..it can't be!"
"DEMENS!!"
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!?!!" I sobbed, Gavin now practically dragging my lamenting body across the pavement.
"YOU NEED TO RUN AND DO NOT STOP! THE VASHTA NERADA ARE HERE!"
At that point, I lifted my head to the sky and wailed, as it couldn't get any worse.
"IT FREAKING IS!!!"

I felt Gavin tighten his grip, amongst my blubbering and despair.
The freaking Vashta Nerada, ladies and gentlemen. I was done.
Might as well lay down and surrender.
"DID HE JUST SAY VASHTA NERADA?!" Gavin exclaimed.
"He did!" I weeped, pathetically. "And you know what the Vashta Nerada is, right?!"
"Vaguely-- I only know a little bit about Doctor Who!"
My despair was cast aside as my senses went on high alert..not because of fear..but because I had now been tasked with a mission. A mission from God himself. The opportunity to mentor the lad in the ways of the geek. And I perked up.
"Boy, mighty things 'bout ready to change if you gonna know me!"
Never mind the monsters on our tail, I needed to prepare him for the journey ahead.
I now led HIM in the chase. "Right now, you have every reason to live..you follow me now!"
He looked at me in extreme confusion. "What?!"
Love, don't use your high voice. I jerked my arm upwards so that his hand was slid into mine and I met his gaze-- the adorable chestnut was blushing like mad as he quickly looked away, clearly not knowing what to do. You're not allowed to be awkward and nervous, only me.

"They're getting closer!" Dipper called.
"DEMENS!" I flinched and tossed my vision to the owner of the voice running upto us.
In came the Timelord, with Moriarty and the Joker blazing the trail behind him.
"BOYS!"
"They're catching up!" Jim cried, now outrunning the other two.
We were all heaving and rushing faster than the speed of light, trying to evade the fiends behind us.
And now we had to deal with Vashta freaking Nerada.

"What are you doing here?!" I questioned the others. "And why didn't you bring the T.A.R.D.I.S.?!"
"YES, Master, why DIDN'T we bring the T.A.R.D.I.S.?!" J was giving him such a death glare, I almost dropped to the ground just to laugh.
"He charged off as soon as he saw you were in danger, the Romeo!" Jim teased.
Master looked as if he were about to punch him like before. Again, I was prepared to give my life up just to laugh. These guys and their 'tudes, I swear.
I flicked all three of them a scolding expression. "Well don't think this as a good enough apology, you owe me a Pepsi for before!" "Yeah yeah yeah, as long as you RUN!"
"Why are you guys arguing at a time like this?!" Dipper screamed.
We zoned in on the child, feeling as if we were caught in some criminal act.
Even Jim and J looked sheepish.
"Force of habit for us!" Joker said.
"Especially at times like this!" Jim added.
"YOU'RE INSANE!!!" The boy was almost now trying to get away from us, as well.

Moriarty caught a glance at the ones behind us, "Under normal circumstances, we would be running with them!" "Oh please!" Master scoffed. "With the grunts? I'd be the one giving the order!"
"You know what I mean, you sissy!" "YOU'RE a sissy!"
"ENOUGH!" Bane barked, taking the Pines twins' hands and quickening the pace.
"What the heck is a Vashi Neradi, anyway?!" Mabel yelled.
"The Vashta Nerada," I corrected. "Basically a swarm of creatures that live in the dark that are known as piranhas of the air due to them stripping the flesh of anyone they touch!"
The Pines twins both shot a glance at eachother, which followed with Mabel proceeding to scream her head off, running even faster. Yes, as you can tell, I am too honest with children.

But we were running out of steam. And they were only getting closer.
There was no point to this. It was only a matter of time until they got us.
So..that's when I dared my fate.
I abruptly released Gavin's hand, swung around and planted myself right there.
They all skid, gawking at me. "What in the bloody--what are you doing?!"
"Sarah, we can't stop!!"
But I stood my ground.

"Forget it..we can't outrun them. Not without a distraction, anyways. The Vashta Nerada can be reasoned with, the Doctor's done it before..they're not usually so hostile, not like in the library."
They were close. "I'll buy us some time."
"You can't reason with them!" Master retorted. "They will KILL you! You will DIE!"
I looked right at him. "Keep running. DON'T stop until you get to the T.A.R.D.I.S.. Get them out've here." "This is insane, we're not leaving you!" Gavin cried.
"I'm the Queen, ain't I? So I better act like it, right?"
There was understanding in Master's eyes..but terror in Gavin's.
There was a knowledge that separated the two. One knew who I truly was. While the other only thought he did. It was clear. Gavin knew my secret...

I turned my head. "This is my job.."
Master and Bane were surprisingly showing actual frantic concern for my well-being.
While as Joker naturally hightailed it and Jim eventually peaced out with a hesitant glare,
"You heard the girl!"
Bane now reluctantly followed, rushing the children along by grabbing their hands.
"Is she crazy?!" Mabel squeaked.
"Don't worry..she is." Jim responded.

Master was the next one to flee. He grabbed Gavin along the way, who heavily resisted.
"No, I'm not leaving her!" But he was being dragged nonetheless, which took Master considerable force to do. He was bigger than him by two inches, but he had a bit more muscle than the swift little ninja. Don't get me wrong, though, Gavin still got some strength and muscle of his own.
But right now..it was being overpowered.

My chest pounded and my breathing was getting out of control at what I was doing.
I swallowed hard as the monsters neared. I then lifted my hand and yelled with a very loud,
"STOP!"
Just like that, they stopped. The one who attacked Gavin, the Phantom, aka the Green Ghost, and the one who attacked me, Hyde, the burglar ghost. They all halted..including the Vashta Nerada, in fact.
Its reach paused not far from the two monsters.
It was almost as if..they stopped because they had to.
Well in any case, they stopped, so, so far, so good, I guess.

"Listen to me! I know they told you to kill me..but you don't have to! You understand? I didn't just come to save the town..I'm here to save EVERYONE, and it includes you, too! I can help, but talk to me. Please!" My eyes shifted to the darkness laying too close for comfort.
"You, too, Vashta Nerada! I can get you back to your forests..and boys, I can free your minds and avert your transformation. Just please, you need to let me and my friends go. Let us help you!"
The offer I had was compelling. And very takeable.
The Phantom and Hyde glared at eachother, obviously taking it under consideration.
Holy burrito..if they didn't take it, I was toast.

I noticed a presence lingering behind me and I realized now that the boys had not left after all, only walked a short distance away. They never listen, I swear..but I suppose I would've done the same thing. I don't listen very well, either. However, in their case, they might have just been curious whether I was about to die or not. Gavin was obviously still held back by one of them, most likely Bane since he's the strongest, or else he'd be by my side.
They appeared to be just as shocked at the villains listening to me as I was.

"I know this world and many others are quick to treat you like monsters. And that makes you feel like garbage, like there's no point in being good. But I promise you..if you come with me now, I'll show you that there IS someone who cares..someone who wants you..I can take care of you. If you only give me that chance."

It was striking me with awe that even the Vashta Nerada was holding itself back.
It understood me..then again, with the T.A.R.D.I.S. near, it made sense for us to be hearing eachother's language. If only it would speak to me.
That's when the Phantom abruptly jolted and straightened up like a pole and he jiggled a little, something coming over him. He cocked his head to the side and slowly turned his gaze at me.
"Character Queen..."
My spine stiffened.
"...Sarah Demens......inhabitant of Earth.....savior of worlds.."
That voice..it wasn't his own.
"You've been expected....they have come not to kill you...but to take you..to him.."
My chin lifted. "To who?"
"..You will soon see..."
Ugh. Them and their secrets. Bunch of gossip queens.
"..Come with them..and you will not be harmed..I will ensure it."
I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes a bit. "..Who are you?"
"..That is none of your concern..."
"Come out of the shadows. I have a hard time trusting someone who's stealing someone else's body to communicate." The Phantom's eyes were fixed on me so fiercely, I felt violated.
"If you and I were to meet...it would be only to kill you."
Very blunt. I like that in a villain.

My eyes glanced to the corner, as far as they could go in the direction of my friends without turning my head. "..And the others?"
He now seemed to acquire a much more foreboding air. "..They are not necessary.."
I sunk at this. Sigh..of course not.
My eyes now fell to the ground and I gently shook my head.
"..Then we don't have a deal."
I lifted my head and gave them a firm stare, tightening my jaw.
This caught them off guard.
"My life doesn't mean anything. Not if they lose their's."

This obviously left quite the impression on the two sides opposite of me.
The ones in front were baffled I was choosing to risk my own life to the protect the ones behind me..and the ones behind me were shocked I was willing to lay my life down for their's.
Especially with all that just happened..the things I said.
The Phantom's head recoiled and reeled in his back, as the Vashta and Hyde were shifting.
I could tell they were getting ready to attack once more. "So be it."
He finished, before his body loosened from his stiffened state and whatever, WHOever, had been controlling him exited the scene. He shook himself back to his senses, getting prepared to charge once again. Crud. So much for negotiating.

I swallowed. They were coming. And they were mere feet away from me.
"Sarah, please, RUN!" Gavin begged. But I was frozen. It was no use, anyway.
I was done for.

That's when I heard distant squealing and my ears perked and my eyes widened and,
WHAM!

The Phantom and Hyde were violently thrown in opposite directions by a van.
And not just any old van. The Mystery Machine.
My mouth ran agape, "SCOOBY GANG!"
The Vashta Nerada reeled itself back in surprise as the van sped towards me.
Freddie skid the van to a stop as he steered next to me and the back doors were thrown open.
"Get in!" Mulder exclaimed.
There was little room, but hey, didn't have to tell me twice. I hopped in within a second and we rode, slamming the doors closed behind me. However, the other part of our group was still on foot and very much on the verge of a gruesome death themselves. I couldn't leave them.
Freddie raced with tremendous speed to catch up with my companions.
I turned my head to everyone, "We can't leave them, we have to get away from the Vashta Nerada!"
"The Vashta WHAT?!" Daphne exclaimed. "Jeepers, that sounds bad!"
I pointed. "The darkness that's following us, that is gonna strip the flesh right off our bones if it CATCHES us!"
Scooby and Shaggy widened their eyes and screamed, now shaking Freddie to go faster.
I had successfully unsettled everyone. Including the girl laying on the hard metal floorboard. She stared at me with a drained face and bloodshot eyes, looking a good 10% out of 100%. Same, girl, same.

I tapped her leg, "Welcome back!"
My eyes returned. "Move the van to the others and swap me out for Dipper and Mabel. Then all o' y'all split like a banana to the nearest hotel!"
"What about you?!" Mulder yelled.
"Me and the others have to get to the T.A.R.D.I.S., then we'll park it inside the hotel..we'll be safe there!" Freddie started to move. "Sounds like a plan--hold on, gang!"

He swerved over to our friends, who were currently busy running for their lives as the Vashta and now the recovered monster pair were in hot pursuit. Bane was holding Mabel and Gavin had a hold on Dipper. The other three were struggling to keep themselves moving.
I opened the doors and got close to the edge, "Y'all!"
They snapped their gaze at me and I jumped out. "Dipper! Mabel! Get inside!"
They wasted no time.
"We'll see you there!" Velma called. "Be careful!" Threw in Daphne.
I nodded and shut the doors. They immediately booked it down the road.
The boys ran ahead, me quickly catching up. "Turn right!" I exclaimed as quietly as possible.
As we got to a turn, we ducked inside an alley and picked up the pace.

 "Back to the T.A.R.D.I.S., I'm assuming?" Master guessed correctly.
I shook my head in agreement with a grunt.
"Why are we being secretive?" Jim wondered aloud.
"Because..someone is watching and listening." Bane saying it only made it creepier.
"Someone lurking in the shadows."
I silently pointed at the turn coming up and the boys nodded in compliance.
"Who the bloody *beep* is out there?!"
Gavin and I glanced in eachother's directions...we knew.
But we did NOT want to say.

"What's the plan when we get there?!" J huffed, out of breath. All of us were, tbh.
"I'll tell ya inside, we're not safe 'til then!"
J looked back, causing me to do the same. They were turning the same way. Blast..
"Gavin.."
He swiveled his head to me.
"..Throw one of your smoke pellets."
He perked.
"--Quick!"
He knew what I was getting at.
He hastily dug into his pouch, then pulled out one of his pellets, and just as we were approaching the turn, threw it at the ground. Smoke immediately dispersed everywhere.

We all covered our mouths as we passed and hurriedly rushed the rest of the way, making the sharp turn. "Follow me!" I yelled immediately, before we got any further from the fiends.
I jumped ahead and we picked up the pace once more as the monsters coughed and choked behind us. I quickly ducked into the turn on the nearest right and led the boys back towards the diner, this time running through the back entrance and cutting through the building, returning to the street of our glorious monster battle. We ran through the car wreckage and broken glass, then entered the alley the boys exited to earlier. And now, two streets later, we were running down the road that the gang found us in. I didn't dare talk as any noise would risk giving our location.
The others remained silent, as well, seeing that I was mazing about the area to throw our chasers off-track. And it worked. They were nowhere to be seen.

And before I knew it, the T.A.R.D.I.S. was there, waiting for us.
I couldn't help but beam. "Hurry inside!" Master exclaimed.
He jumped at the door and jiggled his key in. The rest of the boys hovered over him, Jim and Joker tapping him frantically. "Hurry!!"
"I'm doing it, shut up!" "Open the bloody door!"
He finally did so and swung both forward, the lot of them now scrambling inside.

I, like the clumsy fool I am, however, tripped over something.
Gavin skid and spun around, "Sarah!"
I rushed to get up, my legs sliding in and out to gain footing. "Just go!"
That's when something even more stupid happened. Just as I rose up, something reached in, took me by the ankle..and threw me to the ground.
I hadn't tripped, after all. I was being stopped.

My eyes swirled to my new enemy, as it wasn't the other monsters, nor the Vashta Nerada.
No..as I looked and peered down, I saw an arm sticking out from a manhole..and a pair of dark eyes were watching me. "Hey!" I retorted. "Get off me, you sewer dweller, or I'll press charges!"

Master rushed to the door, "Sarah, c-" His voice got caught in his throat.
"Sarah, no!!" Gavin cried, about ready to launch to my aid.
But I threw a hand up. "Just go, I got this!"
"Do you?" The voice hissed.
I squinted my eyes at him. "Listen here..you don't scare me, you little goblin. I'll come down there and kick your-" But, no sooner had I said, 'you don't scare me'...that he actually released me.
He sucked his arm back into the hole. I stared with confusion.
He..giggled???..and suddenly popped his head down and the manhole closed.
I breathed in relief and went to get up, when..ah yes..perfect.
They found us.

I swallowed. The Phantom and Hyde both laughed.
"Thought you could avoid us, did you?!" Hyde taunted.
Well, I would've gotten away with it, if it wasn't for that meddling sewer goblin.
I tried to hurry, but..well..crap.
The Vashta was rushing for me way too fast. And I couldn't get up fast enough.
And my heart sped as the darkness came like a great wave and my ears were drowned by the boys' screaming after me and I yelped loudly, squeezing my eyes shut, throwing my arm over my face, as the darkness took me.
...
......
.............
I could see nothing but shadow..
I felt my skin being consumed and cut by what felt like a million tiny knives..
I was expecting death to come at any second. My flesh ripped from my bones like I was being fed to a ferocious animal. My heart was racing out of my chest, my lungs restricting me from breathing.
But something was odd..a sound not unlike when you're dunking up and down underwater, when it's splashing rapidly in your ears, was the only thing I could hear..they were all over below my neck, the Vashta Nerada. But they were just...scampering all over, for a good long while.
And I almost detected..frustration?

And..suddenly..after what seemed like so very long..they were scattering.
They swarmed AWAY from me. And my eyes finally opened.
I breathed...I was alive.
I stared off after the darkness that was slithering in a whole nother direction.
And I wound up staring at myself in disbelief.
Was I dead? But no..I wasn't. I looked at my hands. There were dozens of tiny bite marks that stun, kinda like bee stings. But..I was..alive????
And the Vashta wasn't holding back, either. I literally felt them trying to consume me.
But they..couldn't..

My eyes lifted to the Phantom and Hyde, all three of us in mutual confusion.
Their mouths were hanging open.
"Impossible!" Hyde yelled.
The Phantom turned to him. "We must retreat to the master! The girl, she is..she is not right!"
They bailed, just like that. The Vashta Nerada obviously did the same.
My enemies were all confused.
My friends were confused.
I was confused.
No one knew what to do anymore.

My head snapped to the others just as Gavin had rushed in and grabbed my hand, pulling me up.
"Come on!!"
Despite what just happened, we had no time to question it out in the open.
We both raced inside the T.A.R.D.I.S. and slammed the door shut.

~ To Be Continued ~