● Illusory ●

Chapter 22

Though, as I trudged along, allowing my dirty pink sneakers to squeak along the floor, I heard the sound of chatter from a nearby room. Deciding to distract myself from my misery for a moment, I snuck next to the dark mahogany doors and placed my ear against the cold wall. Inside, I could hear Kalle, Mr. Darkwing, Blanche, and Mr. Powell all conversing over some sort of subject. I made myself as quiet as possible to hear what they were saying.

"-And the girl was taken care of?" Mr. Darkwing's muffled voice asked from behind the wall. I already assumed this 'girl' was me.

"Of course. Someone had to put her back in her place," Kalle replied, to which guilt seeped into my heart for reasons unexplainable. The bruises on my body suddenly ached much more.

"So, what do you suppose we do with Miss Neverland and her bodyguard? You said they saw her, right?" Mr. Powell inquired.

"Yes, and we can't let them start an investigation here, or they'll find everything," Kalle responded, before he paused for a moment. He then spoke again, "We did mention renovations, so how about we give them a little tour the day after tomorrow? I'm sure they won't suspect a thing, and Miss Neverland would surely bring all the society members along."

"But wouldn't that let them start their investigation?" Blanche questioned.

"No, they won't even get the time, because all of us here at Agloe will be giving them quite the warm welcome," Kalle replied, his voice hinting at ill-intent, despite being muffled. I feared his plans.

"What do you plan, Kallum?" Mr. Darkwing asked with interest. I thought I heard Kalle snicker.

"Here's the plan: Darkwing, you and our army of our guards will take care of the latter of the Neverland members. Blanche, you will take care of Miss Neverland and her bodyguard, and I'll make sure to have Rose on standby in case you're in trouble," Kalle told them, "Father, you and mother will leave and take a short break in New York, since you need to keep our business alive, and so in case this all goes south we'll at least have surviving members, but I doubt they'll hurt us at all. Then, I'll let my sister take care of anyone who strays from their group."

"What about you, Kallum?" Mr. Powell asked. Now I truly heard Kalle snicker. I was starting to wonder if they all were intending to imprison Neverland like they had done me.

"I have some business with someone that the girl unfortunately couldn't finish for me. Perhaps I can bring an end to some certain drama in my life and live happily after this," he replied, to which a sick feeling started to grow in my stomach. I knew who he was talking about.

"Great, I'll send the invite out tomorrow then, alright?" Mr. Powell informed his son.

"Good. Then we'll take time to prepare tomorrow and tonight," Kalle replied, ill-intent like poison in his voice. I stepped away from the wall then, twisted realizations coming to my mind as I backed away, my eyes widening by the second. Then, as the door started to creak open, I bolted away, running as fast as my legs could carry me in order to avoid being caught again. Though, as I reached a corner of the hallway, I slipped and rolled to a stop.

I was lucky to find though that I wasn't being followed, and I was alone with my thoughts now, along with that sick realization. Though, now, as I recalled it, I was almost too scared to move, knowing that it may be possible that I could do nothing about this.

Kalle and the heads of Agloe were all planning to kill all of Neverland. There was no other explanation for the sinister tone the plan was delivered in. Kalle wanted Blanche to kill my sister and Nadine. Kalle wanted Darkwing to kill all my friends. Kalle wanted to kill Alex himself.

I was starting to panic, my heart racing out of fear as horrific scenarios played in my head of everyone I have ever loved getting brutally murdered by everyone in this organization. I felt powerless, with scared tears pouring from my eyes now. Even if they possibly didn't care for me now, I feared for how this would turn out for Neverland. I wanted to save them all, but I knew it wouldn't work. I'd only be killed like they all would. I'm disposable.

Though, I struggled to look for power inside of me. Enough power to save everyone I loved from imminent death. Though, I only felt pathetic. I was weak, just as Kalle had told me. I was nothing. I'm not strong enough to save anyone.

Though, as I drowned in self-pity, I was pulled to my feet by familiar hands that felt like needles to my skin. "Are you having a random emotional breakdown, Sei?" Kalle's honeyed, yet toxic voice asked me, wiping tears from my face. I recoiled from his touch the best I could though, refusing to look at him. Kalle's concerned look only faltered as I tried to pull myself away from him. "I see. You do not want to be bothered, do you?" he asked. I refused to answer.

"Anyways, I came to tell you that we're going to be going on a trip! Though......I won't get to go with you," he told me, though I didn't even need to know where he was going. I knew he was going to go kill. "I know, it's unfortunate, but I've very important business to attend to regarding this company."

"Why can't I stay here? Don't you want me to stay concealed from the outside world?" I questioned, wiping my own tears. Kalle frowned.

"I know you don't want to leave, but I can't afford to have Neverland knowing you're here. They're only going to hunt me and accuse me of kidnapping you," he claimed, to which I thought 'But you did kidnap me!'. "I don't want to leave you either but I have no choice."

I sighed. "Alright."

"I'm sorry, Sei. I'll have to make it up to you somehow when we reunite. But for now...." Kalle's voice trailed off as he leaned in towards me, only making me lean back. Of course he'd pull this now. I decided to push him away then, only to receive a hurt look from him.

"Sorry, I have an awful cold and don't want to make you sick too, especially since you'll be dealing with business," I claimed in a nice voice. Now probably wouldn't be a good time to tell him straight to his face that I'm not kissing him ever. Kalle paused then, and nodded.

"Right, I apologize," he said, before hugging me. "I should tell you that you will be leaving on the morning after tomorrow. Be ready then, okay?"

"Understood," I nodded, before he let go of me and smiled.

"I'll speak to you again before you leave, alright?" Kalle informed me, before patting me on the shoulder and leaving me to myself. I decided then that I would have to stop them from making me leave now, knowing that if I perhaps wanted to save Neverland, I'd have to be here first. Though, this would be easy with how my shadow clones can replicate my looks. I could hide here, then try to save my friends!

Needless to say, the first step to saving my friends was already a success, but I still had a long list of unknown steps to go.