“Hunter or The Hunted”
Chapter 14


The week moved by pretty quick for the team as it was only two days from the mission. Christine sat in her room going over the layout of the compound for Sacred Hearts, when a knock came at her bedroom door.

“Come in…” Christine says not looking up.

Susie walks into the room with a gift box in her hand as she walks over to the bed taking a seat on the edge she says, “Still going over everything?”

Christine looks up seeing Susie with the box on her lap as she says, “Yeah there is not room for error on this mission I want it to work like a well oiled clock.”

“It will Chris, after all we are the best.”

Christine smiles at Susie saying, “Yes we are, but there is so much riding on this mission. If we fail and we are not killed, we will be hunted until the end of days. We have so many innocents to deal with and Jen’s brother as well we do not know what to expect from him. He was been with this group for so long. We are not sure if he is going to be friend or foe to us.”

Christine looks back down at the map as Susie says, “So you have not heard anything from Schwartz on him?”

“Not a word one, which has me wondering if he is still alive.” Christine replies.

“That’s not a good thought Jen will freak if something has happened to him.” Susie says.

Christine nods as she says, “I have to agree with you on that.”

“So are we going to have assigned hits?” Susie asks.

“Yes we will have assigned hits for the hunters and areas for the compound. That is what I am doing now is going over the compound to break it down for who will go where.” Christine tells her.

“Of course you have Matt right?” Susie asks in a worried tone.

Christine looks up at Susie, she sighed saying, “You know I will Susie.”

“Can we join in the fight with you after we finish our hit if you are still fighting him?” Susie asks her.

Christine shakes her head as she says, “Matt is mine Sus and I will kill him on my own. I will not need you or anyone else’s help.” Christine tells her.

Susie hangs her head as she says, “I worry about you Chris; Stac told me a while back that you use to wear all the cute and sexy dresses and then one day you just stopped. I think I know why you stopped, even though I do not fully understand, I know why you do this and I am worried about you. Aya was not the only one that was hurt or shocked by what he saw last week. We all were and it tears at my heart to know or even think about you doing this or letting someone else do this to you.”

Susie pauses looking at Christine as Christine was about to say something as Susie shook her head and stopped her as she says, “I was hoping that once we get this mission behind us we all could move on and maybe you will stop what you are doing. I got you a gift the other day Sebastian and I went shopping. I am sorry but I got a little nosy and went through your closet to see if Stac was jerking my chain about you wearing that stuff or not. So while we were shopping I saw this.”

Susie picks up the gift setting it on the bed next to Christine as she says, “I saw this and thought you might like it so I picked it up as a congrats on completing the mission and a incentive to maybe help you move over the other thing.”

Christine looks at the gift as Susie stands walking to the door to leave. “Susie don’t you want to watch me open it?” Christine asks her.

Susie turns smiling as she says, “Yes I would.”

“Then why are you leaving so soon?” Susie smiles as Christine picks up the gift sitting it on her lap and starts tearing at the paper around it. When she gets it completely opened, she lifts out a cute little sundress it was blue trimmed with a soft blue lace and ribbon.

Christine stands to her feet holding it up to her as she says, “Thank you Susie it is very pretty.” Christine looks at Susie as she smiles.

“I am glad you like it.” Susie says.

“I do it is very nice. Thank you again.” Christine says.

Susie turns going to leave the room again as she reaches for the door Christine says, “Susie…” Susie turns looking at Christine as she says, “I am sorry I never meant to hurt anyone with this and I promise once this mission is over and Matt is where he rightful belongs… it will stop.” Susie nods smiling as she opens the door walking out.


The next day came and went, Friday night was upon them as Christine, Sebastian, and the rest of Dragonfly sat waiting for Weiss to show. A knock came at the door as they all looked at one another wondering who was there, because the boys usually just walk in. Christine gets up going to the door praying it was not Brandon on the other side. Just as she opened the door, Christine saw Schwartz standing there as Weiss walks up behind them.

“Well what a surprise to see you four here. Everyone come in.” Christine tells them.

All eight of them walked in as the girls were watching as the guys filed in. Aya walked over to Christine giving her a kiss, Aya went and took a seat with the others.

“What are you guys doing here?” Stacey asks.

“It was our weekend to get off the compound.” Nagi tells her.

“Your weekend?” Jen questioned.

“Yeah they give a few groups a weekend off and our number came up.” Schuldich replied.

“So I guess no one saw you come here?” Aya asks.

“We are trusted they would not follow us.” Brad tells him.

“That’s good… So what kind of news do you have for us or do you have any?” Christine asks Brad.

Brad looks at Christine as he says, “I have good news and I have bad.” He looks at Jen when he ends the statement.

“What’s wrong Brad, pleases tell me James is alright?” Jen exclaims.

“James… Who is James?” Ken asks.

“Jen’s younger brother Sacred Hearts has him.” Omi tells him.

“Why were we never told about this?” Yohji asks.

“I was going to fill you in on James tonight. I wanted to wait until the last minute because I was hoping we would get some news on him.” Christine tells them.

“So what about James?!” Jen exclaims.

Brad takes a deep breath and exhales as he says, “He maybe a hard case.”

“What is that suppose to mean Brad?!” Jen asks.

“They have got him brain washed. He thinks you are dead and they have made him cruel and unruly.” Brad says.

“You should know about that.” Aya says.

Christine looks at Aya giving him a displeased look as Jen says, “So have you talked to him?”

“Not much Jen, I was afraid if I gave him too much information with the way he is he might blow our cover for us, and then it would be all over.” Brad tells her.

“So he does not know I am still alive and trying to get to him?” Jen asks.

Brad reaches into his jacket and pulls out a picture of James and Nagi handing it to Christine he says, “This is what he looks like now after 6 years.” Christine looks at the picture as she hands it to Jen asking, “James is what… 15 now Jen?”

Jen nods as she looks at the picture and starts to cry Omi wraps his arm around her hugging her as he takes the picture looking at it.

“So what are we going to do with him?” Yohji asks.

“WELL YOUR NOT GOING TO KILL HIM THAT IS FOR DAMN SURE!!” Jen yells at him.

Everyone jumped at Jen’s outburst as Christine says, “He is off limits… If he attacks you knock him out, get him tied up, and somewhere safe, but I am sure after he sees Jen he will be fine since he thinks she is dead. He will see they have been lying to him all these years.”

“He will not be on the compound when you arrive in the morning he is going with the transport team to take the people to the reserve.” Fararello tells her.

Christine looks at Fararello as she asks, “How many people are we talking about Faf?”

“There are 20 total.” Fararello says.

“And what about children?” Yohji asks.

“Four children under the age of 15 they start at the age of 7 and the oldest one is 14.” Schuldich says.

Yohji shakes his head as Ken exclaims, “Their sick bastards all of them are.”

Christine nods as she asks, “And how many hunters are we talking about?”

“There are 12 hunters total that is the four big bosses and the eight others.” Brad says.

“What are we going to do with the others?” Ken asks.

Christine looks at Brad as she asks him, “How many times have the others graced Sacred Hearts with their presents.”

“Three to four times at least, a few of them even more.” Brad tells her.

Christine looks at Ken as she says, “They all die; if they can do this that many times they are no better then Sacred Hearts themselves.”

Ken nods in agreement as he asks, “Will we each have our own hits.”

“Yes and Nagi I want you to get the innocents out of harms way.” Christine tells him.

“Why do I get stuck babysitting?” Nagi asks.

Christine smiles as she says, “Because your powers can stop a group of attackers, we cannot do that.”

“And you thought you had to baby sit.” Omi says.

Nagi mocked Omi as Brad says, “Something I need to talk to you about Chris, before this all gets started and I want to do it alone, because I know what it is going to trigger once we start talking about it.”

“Talk to me here Brad.” Christine tells him.

Brad looks at her confused as he asks her, “Are you sure about that Chris?”

“Yes what ever you have to say can be said in front of everyone it is time this all comes out into the open.” Christine tells him.

Brad nods as he says, “Matt came to see me a few weeks ago.”

Christine could feel her anger start to rise as she takes a deep breath and exhales slowly as she asks, “What did he have to say to you Brad?”

“Your not going to like what I am about to tell you.” Brad replies.

Aya gets up from his seat as he goes to Christine’s side touching her shoulder Christine reaches up taking Aya’s hand into hers holding it tightly as she says, “Let’s hear it.”

“When he came to me he told me he was glad that I could let bygones be bygones and that he did not come to kill Tristan and myself only to show us that we should not have messed with him.”

Christine squeezed Aya’s hand as Brad looks into Christine’s eyes tears started forming as she blinked sending one down her cheek he tells her, “Matt said it was your fault that Tristan meet his end the way he did. He said you grabbed his arm and when he pulled away from you, Tristan was right on him sending his blade through his heart.”

Christine jumps to her feet screaming, “THAT LYING SON OF A BITCH!!”

Brad got up quickly going to Christine as he grabs her arms tears streaming down her cheeks as he pulls her to him holding her in his arms.

“He told me if anyone should be paying for Tristan’s death it should be you and if he ever finds you again he will be sure to send you to hell where you belong.”

Christine tries pulling away from Brad as he held her tight he tells her, “I know Matt was lying to me Chris. Nagi and Schuldich told me after he left. Nagi’s story was the same as yours.”

“How do you know what happen Nagi? And Schuldich you were not even there.” Stacey questioned.

“I read his mind the lies and deceit that that man has running through his head truly made me sick. He was shocked to see Brad was still alive he thought he was dead and that Fararello or I had not taken over Schwartz.” Schuldich tells Stacey.

Nagi looked at Stacey as he says, “I watched it all from the window in my room. CC, was nowhere around Matt when he ran his katana thought Tristan’s heart. She was on the ground about five feet from him. Tristan fell to CC’s side on the ground next to her after he pulled the blade from Tristan’s chest. What CC does not know was Matt was about to take the killing blow on her when she had covered Tristan’s body with hers. Matt heard the sirens coming toward the house and he ran off.”

Christine was still sobbing in Brad’s arms as she hears Brad ask, “I want to help you kill that arrogant bastard; please Chris let me help you send him to his grave? We can do to him what he did to Tristan.”

Christine sobs in Brad’s arms still when she finally pulls away from Brad she says, “I want to kill him myself.”

“I know I promised you that you could kill Matt, but after what he told me trying to tarnish your name and make him out to be the good guy in all this. I could not help but want to kill him right where he stood that day.” Brad says.

“That is probably the only way he can live with himself since he killed his brother.” Ken says.

“I do not care what he says or what he does to be able to live with his self I am going to kill him and I am going to do it with my own hands, No on will interfere with this is that understood.” Christine says.

“But Chr…” Brad was saying as she gave him a sharp look saying, “NO ONE!!”

Christine walks from the room going out on the back patio as she walks to the edge looking up at the evening sky the stars shown bright that night and the crest moon sat high in the sky as she cries whispering, “Give me strength God to defeat this demon that kills your children in cold blood. Give me the courage to face what I am afraid of and forgive me of the sins I am about to commit.”

Christine lowers her head as she cries her tears fall to the ground as she draws her hands to her face she says, “Lead me Tristan… Lead me to victory in defeating your brother tomorrow. Hold me in your embrace and keep me safe from the blows of his blade.”

Just then Christine feels someone wrap their arms around her as she looks over her shoulder she sees Brad standing there as he says, “I promised Tristan I would keep you safe and he leads me to do so, bring the wakazashi that hangs in the dojo with you tomorrow. Therefore, we can defeat Matt together for the last time, as it should be. You forget I loved Tristan like he was my own brother please do not take this away from me, I only want to help and I do not want to lose you by Matt’s hands as well, I love you Chris.”

Christine turns in Brad’s arms wrapping her arms around him pulling him close to her as she cries into his chest. Brad caresses her hair as he holds her close to him letting her cry as long as she likes.

Christine stops crying as she looks up at Brad; he wipes away her tears as he says, “Will you let me help you?”

Christine nods as she hugs him laying her head on his chest she says, “Together we will defeat Matt… finally giving Tristan’s soul the rest it deserves.”

Brad hugs Christine holding her close to him.


While inside Sebastian stood at the back door looking out at Bead and Christine, Aya walks up next to him looking out at them as well Sebastian looks over at Aya as he says, “You ready for this Aya?”

Aya looks at Sebastian confused as he says, “For the life I am about to take on with Chris or are you talking about the mission tomorrow morning?”

Sebastian chuckles as he was looking back out at them saying, “Both…” Sebastian looks back at Aya as he says, “Brad loves Chris and always has since they were young. He just honored Tristan’s friendship too much to act on it…” Sebastian pauses looking out at them again as he says, “Even now…”

Aya looks at Christine as Brad held her in his arms. Aya steps away from the back door walking to the couch and sitting down.

A few minutes later Christine and Brad walk back in as Christine says, “Let’s go over this one more time and make sure we all have down what we are to be doing tomorrow. I do not want any mistakes no one walks away from this, but the people being held there and us.”

“What time are we going to be there?” Ken asks.

Christine looks at Brad as he says, “The bus is leaving at 6am. You want to give it time to get far enough away so it cannot come back to help.”

“So around 6:30 is what I was thinking.” Christine says.

“That would be great.” Brad tells her.

“I have all the buildings that the guards use rigged to blow at 7am on the dot.” Schuldich says.

“What time will the hunt start on the others?” Aya asks.

“I heard one of the guys talking to Matt it will be starting around 9am. I am guessing that gives the hunted time to get out in the woods and the hunters more of a chase.” Nagi replies.

Christine touches Nagi’s shoulder as she says, “I know you feel I gave you a meaningless task Nagi, but I am counting on you to keep these people safe.”

Nagi nods as he says, “I will make you proud CC they all will come out alive.”

“How are we going to get to the people and hide from the hunters if we get there the same time they do?” Yohji asks.

“We won’t…” Brad says, “With the way we have the compound set up, if you get there at 6:30 we can shut down the compound in about 40 minutes give or take. So that means we leave out of there at 7:10 we get to the reserve at 7:20 it…”

“7:20!!” Ken exclaims cutting Brad off.

“Yes Ken 7:20 with the chopper Sebastian has we can make it in 10 minutes.” Christine replies.

Brad looks at Christine as he says, “Thank you… We find the people that where dropped off and get them to safety, leaving us hopeful time to get hidden and ready for the hunters.”

“You are leaving no room for error at all.” Aya says.

“That’s right because there will be no errors in this mission.” Christine replies.

“You cannot say that Christine, things happen things we cannot control.” Omi says.

“If that happens Omi you better find away to get it under control, and quick.” Christine tells him.

“But Chris Omi is right what if the people start getting involved. Do you want us to kill them as well?” Aya says.

“The people will not get involved. There are a few people there that know what is going on with Sacred Hearts and what they are doing. They have spread the word to the others as well, they too will be helping us keep the others safe.” Schuldich tells them.

“Well that is good to know.” Stacey says.

Schuldich nods as Brad asks, “Everyone knows where they are going once at the compound right?”

Everyone nods as Christine asks, “And you all know your primary hit once at the reserve correct. IF and this is only IF you have eliminated your target you may go help the others with theirs and like I said NO ONE walks from his mission but the innocents and us.”

“All right I have a question?” Ken asks. Everyone looks at Ken as he says, “Jen’s brother who is going after him?”

“I will…” Jen tells him.

“NO YOU WILL NOT!!” Brad, Christine, and Stacey say at the same time.

Jen startled by this looks at them as she exclaims, “WHY!!”

“You’re too emotional with this right now. Either I will go after James or Stacey or Susie will go after him.” Christine says.

“Why one of the girls?” Omi asks.

“Because I think he will find it easier to trust one of us then one of you guys.” Christine says.

“James and I got to be good friends while I was there. Let me go with one of you after him, please CC?” Nagi asks her.

Christine looks at Nagi as his eyes begged Christine for this as she says, “Fine you and Stacey can go after him.”

Nagi smiles as he says, “Thank you I know I can get him to follow us without a problem.”

Christine smiles as she turns looking at Aya she tells him, “Brad is going to help me with Matt, so you do not have to worry about me going after him alone. He is going to take out his hit and then join me.”

Aya takes Christine’s hand in his as he says, “Thank you I feel relieved now, knowing you will not be facing him alone now.”

Christine smiles at Aya as she says, “I thought you would.”

The group kept going over the plans until everyone knew what they were doing it was 10pm when Stacy says, “Hey if we are going to get some sleep or even just a little rest before this all goes down we need to get to bed.”

“Yeah and we need to get out of here as well.” Schuldich says.

They all nod in agreement, to what they said. The girls give Schwartz hugs and the guys shook hands as they told one another they would see each other in the morning.

Christine, Stacey, and Susie started cleaning up the mess in the living room as Christine was rolling up the map of the compound when she hears, “What time do you want to pull out of here?”

Christine looks up seeing Omi standing on the other side of the table as she says looking around the room, “Set your clocks to get you up at 5am. That is plenty of time to get us up, dressed, out of here, and to the compound by 6:30.”

Everyone nods, heading to either his or her room or their assigned room for the night. Christine stayed behind in the living room as she finished putting up the files and information on Sacred Hearts. She turned out all the lights and headed out to the patio she stood at the railing looking up at the night sky for quite sometime.

“Why do you enjoy looking into the night sky so much?” Aya asks standing behind her.

Christine turns smiling as she says, “Because it makes me feel insignificant to what this world really is, I am nothing compared to our universe, the stars, the planets, and of course God. I am a speck… It makes me think how beautiful things were back when everything was new and untouched. I look at what we have now and wish I could see what God really had intended for us in the beginning. How absolutely beautiful our world must have been.”

Aya wraps his arms around Christine from behind pulling her back to him. As they, both stood there looking into the night sky. Aya points into the sky as they watched a falling star descend to the earth.

“I was told long ago that if you saw a falling star you were with the one you loved.” Aya says.

Christine chuckles as she replies, “Are you a hopeless romantic Ran?”

Aya smiles as Christine turned looking at him over her shoulder he kisses her on the cheek whispering into her ear, “I am now that I am with you; you have opened my heart and shown me a whole new world is out there.”

Christine leans her head back resting it on Aya’s as they stand there in one another’s embrace.



Hunter or The Hunted Chapter 15